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woso-dreamzzz · 10 months ago

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Carnival

Mary Earps x Child!Reader

Summary: Mary takes you to the carnival

Lockdown was both the bane of Mary's existence and the best thing in the world.

The worst thing because it meant confusion and fear and no football for a while. The best thing because it brought her you.

She fostered at first before moving to adoption when she found that she couldn't be parted from you.

With the lockdowns tentatively over now, things had started opening up again.

Like the carnival.

"They're rigged," You tell her.

You're still little but you speak well for your age, well advanced when compared to any of your peers.

"Rigged?" Mary laughs," Where've you heard that word?"

"I read it," You say," In a book."

"Oh. I forgot I was taking a genius out."

You make a little noise of acknowledgement before turning back to the carnival game.

It's most definitely rigged.

All of them are.

This one is one of those basketball toss games where you know the ring is only just wide enough for the ball to get through. If the throw isn't perfect then it'll hit the rim and bounce away.

Mary is looking at it with concentration though and you snag her belt loops, tugging lightly.

You hadn't meant to stop in the first place but you'd caught sight of one of the prizes.

One shot in got you a keychain.

Two shots got you a little inflated ball.

Three in meant the prize was a small toy.

Four was a medium sized toy.

Five was a big toy.

The big toys are displayed at the very top of the game. A lot of them a bears or big puppies but a handful of them are birds. They're in lots of different colours.

Yellow seems to be the most prominent colour but then it's pink. The one that caught your eye is blue though.

You like the look of it a lot but you also know the odds of winning it are slim to none.

Five perfect shots in a row is very difficult especially when the backing board behind the hoop is angled at a way that means if the ball hits it, it won't go into the hoop in the slightest.

"Mary," You say, tugging," Let's go."

Mary doesn't move though. "You want the bird?"

"Yes."

"Then let's try."

"No."

"You don't even want to try?"

You shake your head, scuffing your foot into the dirt. "It's not worth it, Mary."

"Would it make you happy though?"

"Yes."

"Then let's try."

"But-"

"Come on, birdie," Mary says," We'll try a few rounds and if we get it, we get it but if not that's fine too."

It costs five pounds for five balls and Mary fails abysmally for her first round.

It stokes something in her though, especially when your eyes dart away from the toy with every missed shot.

You've had a rough go of it, Mary thinks as she pays for another few rounds. Before her, you'd had a failed adoption. The couple had wanted you but then the wife had gotten pregnant and they realised what they actually wanted was a biological child.

It had fallen through and you'd bounced for a few days before being fostered by Mary.

She'd worked hard with you on understanding that she wasn't going to abandon you. She'd worked hard to get you to accept her as a maternal role in your life.

But that illusive word still evaded her.

She didn't need it, not truly. She knew what you thought of her and you knew what she thought of you.

She'd do anything for your happiness, including draining her bank to win you this stupid blue bird.

Your eyes had lit up when you'd seen it but you seemed fairly realistic for such a little kid.

These games were rigged but Mary refuses to let that stop her.

You want this stupid bird.

She'll get you this stupid bird.

Her hands are sweaty as she grabs her last ball. The others, surprisingly, have all gone in after nearly fifteen rounds of this stupid carnival game and it slowly dawns on her that this is the last shot.

She wipes her hands on her shirt.

"Mary?" You say and she looks down at you," Are you okay?"

"I'm just fine, birdie. One last shot and we can get your bird."

You glance down bashfully, fingers still threaded around her belt loop. "It's okay if you can't make it. We can go on the teacups instead."

Mary frowns, dropping to her knee so she can cradle your cheek in one of her big hands. "You don't want the bird?"

"I do," You say," But...I don't want you to feel bad if you can't get it in."

"Trust me," Mary says," I just want to make you happy."

You look into her eyes, searching for any hint of untruthfulness in them but you find none. You nod. "You should move slightly to the left," You say," And spread your fingers out a little more."

"Thanks, birdie."

She does as you've said and shoots.

The ball goes in and Mary breathes out a sigh of relief, already leaning over the counter to talk to the poor minimum wage worker that's had to sit through all her attempts.

"Yeah," She says," The bird. The blue one. Up top. Yeah, that one."

He has to get a big stick with a hook on the end to get it off and Mary takes it from him triumphantly.

She presents it to you and you gently stroke your hand over the fur.

She's still holding it but you bypass your new favourite toy completely, moving to hug her as tightly as you can.

"Thank you, Mummy."

Mary tries not to let you finally saying the 'm' word affect her, forcing back the tears that want to fall as she hugs you back, raining kisses onto the top of your hair.

"It was my pleasure, birdie."

#woso x reader #mary earps x reader #mary earps #woso community #woso imagine #woso fanfics #woso

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raaorqtpbpdy · 3 months ago

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The Casper Halloween Carnival

Ghost Powers vs. Rigged Carnival Games. Fight!

For the Prompts: People are shocked to learn that Danny's wickedly good at darts? {from @skarlettskwrl}, Tucker and Wes interacting (that's it, that's the prompt) {from @half-deadmagicperson}, and Danny enters an Invis-o-Bill costume contest at the Casper High Halloween party. It's a terrible idea, but he really wants that $50 gift card. {from @the-wizard-dipper}

Read Also on AO3

Ah, the Casper High Halloween Carnival. Danny had been coming to this thing ever since Jazz was a freshman, since it was one of the school's biggest annual fundraisers. It didn't hurt that Halloween was supposedly the biggest day for ghost activity of the year, so his parents wanted him and Jazz somewhere safe, even thought there hadn't been any actual ghost activity until the portal incident.

Just like the last two years, his parents had dropped off him and Jazz with some money and told them to have fun and they'd be back when it was over at midnight. Then they tore off in the Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle to some haunted house or cemetery to take readings or whatever until their inevitable return.

It wasn't so bad, really. At least there was candy.

And now that Danny was a high schooler himself, he wasn't required to stay within arm's reach of his sister at all times, so he could hang out with his friends instead. That meant he could finally participate in all the things Jazz had never let him before because they were "too dangerous." Sure, none of these games had been updated since the seventies, but nothing at a school carnival could be that dangerous.

First off, Danny slapped a five dollar bill down at the booth with the popping-balloons-with-darts game. This year, the balloons were all bright green and evidently supposed to be "ghosts", and the darts were called "ecto-rays". The gimmick made Danny cringe, but he accepted his three darts with a confident smile.

The pimply senior wearing a cheap Ghostbusters costume explained the game and then stood back to let Danny take his shots. Danny had been getting a lot of practice hitting "ghosts" with "ecto-rays" over the last couple months since becoming half-ghost himself, and all those hours spent improving his aim were about to pay off.

Three darts. Three high-point balloons popped.

The senior stared at Danny for a long moment, mouth agape.

The high point balloons were deliberately under-inflated so that they would be smaller targets, and so that if they weren't hit with enough force, the darts—which probably hadn't been sharpened in twenty years—would bounce right off. Danny knew this, and he held nothing back.

"Woah, nicely done Major Tom," he said, referencing Danny's astronaut costume. (He always dressed as an astronaut for Halloween, but he updated the costume every year to be more detailed and accurate.) "Lets see, that's seventy five points. If you can hit 'three more 25 point balloons you can get the grand prize." He gestured to a huge stuffed animal, easily three feet tall, and a frankly hideous burnt orange color. Danny couldn't tell if it was supposed to be a bear or some kind of dog, but suddenly he really really wanted it. "Just five bucks more."

Danny slapped down another five with a grin while Sam and Tucker rolled their eyes beside him. He had to have it.

Thwap Thwap Thwap.

Three darts, three balloons, seventy-five more points. The burnt orange dog-bear thing was his.

The pimply senior nodded, visibly impressed, and handed the creature, whatever it was, over to Danny.

That dart board in his room that he'd got for a buck at a garage sale had been a sound investment after all. No matter how many times Jazz warned him that he'd put his eye out.

"Damn, Fenton!" He turned, fuzzy thing in hand, to see Kwan, dressed as him—well, as Danny Phantom, ugh, or should he say Invis-o-Bill—looking at the darts. He whistled, impressed. "Didn't expect you to be so good at darts. Hey, Dash! Look at this!"

"Attracting too much attention," Tucker muttered, adjusting his glasses, and the attached fake nose and mustache along with them. "Time to bail."

Sam grabbed both boys and dragged them away from the dart booth. Danny clutched his prize tightly so that it wouldn't be knocked out of his arm as they pin-balled through the crowd.

"Congrats, Danny," Sam said, crossing her arms, her long, flowing, lace witch sleeves draping gracefully as she did so. "That wasn't suspicious at all. Was your stupid bear thing worth it?"

"Bear? Isn't it a dog?" Tucker asked.

"I dunno," Danny said. "I'm gonna name it Laika."

"Danny, seriously," Sam urged. "What if people got curious about why your so good at darts."

"My parents taught me sharp-shooting," Danny replied with a shrug. "If you're so worried, why didn't you bring this up before I played?"

"I didn't think Kwan was gonna see and call Dash over," She pointed out. "One random senior who doesn't even know who you are is much less of a concern than your bullies who also happen to be some of your alter-ego's biggest fans."

"Relax, Sam," Danny said. "It's a carnival, it's supposed to be fun."

He then proceeded to clean up at the ring toss, the ball toss, the air-rifle range and every other accuracy-based game, accruing a number of various stuffed animals and tchotchkes, all of which he named after famous space-explorers.

"You've sucked at basketball your whole life," Tucker pointed out as they stood in line for the basketball shooting game. "You haven't practiced it at all. Just because you're good at other accuracy games, doesn't mean you'll suddenly be good at this one."

He took a step backwards, accidentally bumping into someone else in line and turned to apologize. "Oh, sorry Wes, that's my bad."

"No problem, dude," replied Wes, a member of the varsity basketball team, if Danny recalled correctly. He was in the same math class and Danny and Tucker.

"Anyway, Danny, ghost powers or not, there's no way you're winning this game," Tucker continued.

Behind him, Wes' eyebrows furrowed in confusion and he cocked his head. Danny discreetly checked to see if Sam had noticed, but evidently she hadn't. It would probably be fine, anyway. What could Wes even do about it if he knew about Danny's powers.

"You wanna bet?" Danny asked as they moved closer to the front of the line.

"Deal," Tucker agreed immediately. "If you win, I'll give you all my Milky Ways from trick-or treating, but if you lose, I want Armstrong."

Danny gasped and clutched the fluffy wolf plushie closer to his chest. "Not Armstrong!"

"Worried about losing, are we?" Tucker smirked.

"No!" Danny turned up his nose and scowled. "You've got a deal."

Sam scoffed and shook her head. "You two are ridiculous."

It took a few more minutes before they got to the front of the line.

"You get three chances," said the bubbly junior girl who was wearing her girls basketball uniform in lieu of a costume. "One basket wins you a handful of candy, two baskets wins you a full-size candy bar, three baskets wins you your own personal basketball! But don't worry, you can still pick a piece of candy as a consolation prize if you miss all three. You ready?"

"Sam, hold this," he said, handing her Laika, Armstrong, Aldrin, Yuri, and Sally Ride. She rolled her eyes, but accepted all of them without complaint. "I have a bet to win."

Three loud dings marked Danny's three baskets. "I don't really want a basketball, can I just have one of those full-size chocolate bars instead."

"Of course!" Replied the girl. "But only if you take this too!" She reached for a shelf in the back of the booth and handed him a flyer for basketball try outs.

"Haha, sure!" he agreed, taking both the chocolate bar and the flyer. Though, of course, he threw away the flyer as soon as he thought she couldn't see him anymore and took his stuffed animals back from Sam.

He held Armstrong in one hand and pushed him in Tucker's face. "Looks like somebody owed Danny all his Milky Ways," he said in a funny voice.

Tucker pushed the stuffed wolf away. "Yeah, whatever. I don't even like Milky Ways. You know I hate nougat. I probably would have given 'em to you anyway."

"Yeah, I know," said Danny, returning to his normal voice. "But it's the principle of the thing."

"Five minutes left to sign up for the Invis-o-Bill costume contest!" A senior girl announced from a stage. "The Invis-o-Bill Costume Contest starts at 9 PM sharp, and the prize is a fifty dollar gift card for Nasty Burger. Five minutes left until sign-ups close!"

Danny's eyes widened with manic glee.

"Danny, no," Sam said sternly. "This is a bad idea even for you."

"Do you know how much you can get for fifty bucks at Nasty Burger? The food there is dirt cheap! Fifty bucks could last me the rest of the semester!"

"His winning streak has driven him crazy!" Tucker declared. "He's obsessed!"

"I'm not obsessed, I'm on a roll," Danny corrected, eyeing the stage for the costume contest hungrily.

"This is a terrible idea," Sam reiterated.

"I really want that gift card, Sam."

She looked at Tucker helplessly and they both sighed. "Whatever," she said, holding out her arms to take his stuffed animals. "Your funeral"

"You're the best!" He dumped the plushies into her arms and ran behind the port-a-potties to transform.

His astronaut costume, it turned out, was too loose to transform with him, so he phased out of it and asked Tucker to hold onto it until the costume contest was over. Tucker accepted the costume and waved him off.

He probably thought Danny was out of earshot when he muttered: "Yeahh... this is gonna be a disaster."

Danny didn't have to look to know Sam was nodding in agreement.

Walking in his ghost form when he felt lighter than air and was so used to hovering and flying... it was a lot weirder than he'd been expecting. He made his way to the senior girl with the sign up sheet.

"Hi, I'd like to sign up," he told her brightly.

"Really?" she asked sarcastically, the shook her head. "Name and grade?"

"Danny Fenton, freshman."

"Alright, backstage is that way, stay behind the curtain until your name is called, then walk to the front and center of the stage, stop for a few seconds, then walk off the other side. You can pose if you want to, say a catchphrase. Whatever. I don't care. Once everyone has gone, I'll line you all back up to go on-stage together for the judges to announce the winner. Got it? Good."

"Who are the judges?"

"Some teachers volunteered. If your not backstage at 9, you're automatically disqualified." She raised her wrist and looked at her watch. "You got twenty seconds. Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen."

Danny booked it backstage, barely managing to stay on his feet and not start flying. He barely had any time to look and see who all else was participating before the senior girl made the announcement that the show was starting. Kwan and Dash were backstage, of course. Paulina was dressed up as a gender-bent version of him, which made him cringe. There were a few others he vaguely recognized from games and classes, some upperclassmen, and some people he could swear he'd never seen before.

Some of the costumes were pretty good. Others were... not so good. None of them held a candle to the real thing. He had this contest in the bag.

Since Danny was the last to sign up, he was also the last to go up on stage.

"And lastly, we have Freshman, Danny Fenton," the senior girl announced.

He strode confidently to center stage and struck a heroic pose with a big smile, making eye contact with the Judges.

The three judges were Principal Ishiyama, Mr. Lancer, and the art teacher, Ms. Gost.

After a few seconds, he walked off stage, and then immediately joined the line of costumed teens heading back on. They all stood there in two staggered rows, while the judges deliberated. After a tense minute, Principal Ishiyama stood up and climbed up onto the stage, taking the microphone from the student emcee.

"First of all, congratulations to all of our Invis-o-Bills that participated," she said. "It takes a lot of courage to stand on stage in front of a crowd, and we've seen some really fantastic costumes tonight. After careful consideration, my fellow judges and I have selected a winner based on creativity, effort, and, of course, accuracy. Without further ado, the winner of the Invis-o-Bill costume contest is..." she paused for dramatic effect, "Paulina Sanchez!"

Danny's mouth fell open and his shoulders slumped as Paulina squealed and danced to the front of the stage.

"Her unique twist on the costume by interpreting Invis-o-Bill as a woman demonstrated exceptional creativity, her use of makeup to mimic the blur effect always visible in photos of the ghost spoke to her dedication to accuracy, and our own Ms. Gost was duly impressed by the skillful sewing and tailoring of the costume, which Miss Sanchez made herself, by hand. Congratulations, Paulina Sanchez."

Danny and the rest of the contestants left the stage while Paulina accepted her prize and made an impromptu victory speech to uproarious applause.

How on Earth had Danny managed to enter a costume contest for his alter-ego, as his alter-ego, and not only lose, but lose to a girl?

"Damn, tough luck, Danny," Sam said, but she was doing an absolutely rotten job of hiding her amusement.

At least she was trying, though. Tucker laughed openly, even as Danny snatched back his astronaut costume and changed back to his human right there in the crowd. It wasn't like anyone was looking at him, anyway. They were all looking at Paulina, who twirled to show off her Invis-o-Bill miniskirt. As if he would ever in a million years wear a miniskirt, even if he was a girl.

"Yeah, laugh it up," Danny said. "I promised Jazz I'd meet up with her at 9:30 to let her know I'm still alive. I'll meet you guys at the haunted house after."

He sullenly took back all his stuffed animals, rubbing his face in them, hoping Aldrin and Yuri might console him in his time of sorrow. Then he trudged off toward the popcorn cart where he and Jazz agreed to meet, the raucous laughter of his two friends fading into the din as he got further away. He could use some popcorn right about now.

If he told Jazz about his plight, she would be sympathetic to him. He couldn't, because she didn't know he was half-ghost, but if she did, she would have sympathy.

Later, after Jazz was brought into the circle, Tucker told her the story of the Halloween Carnival Invis-o-Bill Costume Contest.

She did not, in fact, have any sympathy for him.

#danny phantom #dp #fic #things i wrote #phic phight #phic phight 25 #halloween #danny fenton #sam manson #tucker foley #casper high school #halloween carnival #carnival games #costume contest

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joelalorian · 6 months ago

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Wonder in Winterland - Part IV

Hallmark!Joel x f!reader | wc: 3913 | masterlist

Series Summary: You, a city girl on a cross-country road trip a week before Christmas, find yourself stranded in a whimsical Christmas town. You soon discover there is more to life than big city dreams. Based on the Hallmark movie Love You Like Christmas.

Warnings: None (although the rest of this blog is 18+ mdni). This is utter fluff and whimsy, with a occasional foul language and lots of banter in the AU style of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Matchmaker!Sarah. Limited descriptions of reader and no use of y/n. Enjoy it with a cuppa hot cocoa and a warm blankie.

AN: This is it, my friends. The finale to this little mini series. I wanted to have this out by Christmas Eve, but my hubs surprised me with a PS5 and a zombie apocalypse game (Days Gone) that I haven't played before. Had to pry myself away to finish this lol. Hope you enjoy and Happy New Year's to you all!

Part IV

The fire burned out overnight, leaving you chilled despite the pile of blankets covering the bed. With hurried motions, you added kindling and wood, stoking the fire until it burned steadily. Back under the covers, feet snuggled in a wonderful pair of cabin socks you picked up at the general store yesterday, you gazed at the fire, recalling the moments you shared with Joel the night before.

The moon hung high above the mountaintops, its silver glow illuminating the snow-covered fields and casting shadows on the inn’s wraparound porch. It was quiet save for the occasional creak of the wooden boards beneath your boots and the distant hoots of a Great Horned Owl. The air was crisp, but you barely noticed with Joel sitting beside you on the porch swing, the heat of his body like a furnace where it touched yours.

��I’ve been thinking about it, you know,” you said with a wistfulness to your voice, breath visible in the frosty air.

Joel’s dark eyes flicked to you, the moonlight catching the warmth pooling in those rich brown irises. “What’s that?”

“About staying,” you admitted, shifting your body to face him more fully. “I want to, more than anything.”

“So, what’s stopping you,” Joel responded with an unreadable expression.

You glanced down, twisting your fingers in your lap. “I don’t know. An over-inflated sense of responsibility, maybe. Self-inflicted expectations. My life, everything I’ve worked so hard for, is back in the city.”

He eyed you for several long moments. “Is it?” Joel’s voice was gruff and tight, the question hanging in the air between you.

Your eyes darted upwards, breath catching at the intensity in the gaze that met your own. “What are you trying to say, Joel?”

Shrugging, he glanced down at his boots. “I’m just saying,” he began, voice softening to a near rasp, “maybe your life’s wherever you decide it is. Doesn’t have to be one place or another, one thing or another.”

His words settled over you like a blanket, comforting but too thick to fully wrap your head around. “You make it sound so simple,” you replied, voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course, it ain’t, darlin’,” Joel replied, leaning in with an earnest expression on his handsome face. “But sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones worth makin’.”

The swing slowed to a stop as the two of you sat there, the night air thick with more than the chilly temperature. Joel’s hand rested on the edge of the swing right next to yours and you both stared as his pinky reached out, tangling with your own.

Before you could second-guess yourself, you leaned in slightly, his unique scent brushing against your senses. Joel’s eyes flicked to your lips; his breath warm against your cool skin the closer he got.

“I probably shouldn’t do this,” he murmured, yet he didn’t pull away.

“Why not?” you murmured with a trembling voice. His large hand gripped yours fully now, other fingers tangled along with your pinkies.

“Because if I do,” he said, his lips curved into a faint smile as they almost brushed yours, “I might not let you leave.”

Your eyelids just fluttered closed when the sound of the door creaking open broke the moment, and the two of you pulled back as Maria’s voice called from inside. “Joel! Are you out here? Sarah’s ready for bed.”

Joel’s eyes lingered on you as he sighed. “Guess the universe has other plans tonight.”

You laughed, the tension easing slightly as you stood and led the way inside. “Goodnight, Joel.”

“Night, darlin’,” he replied with a soft smile, watching as you climbed the stairs to your room.

Heart fluttering madly at the memory of a mere almost-kiss made you wonder how it would feel to actually kiss Joel. With his pouty lips and the bristles of his scruffy beard, you imagined kissing him would be akin to satisfying a long-held craving. You lost yourself in daydreams for a few minutes before forcing yourself from bed and down to the dining room for breakfast.

The morning sun filtered through the inn’s frosted windows, creating a soft glow in the cozy common room. You sat on the couch in front of the hearth, letting the heat from the fire lick your toes until they were nice and toasty. The other guests were still asleep while Maria hummed in the kitchen, and Tommy shuffled through the door with a sleepy greeting, his hair askew and a bundle of firewood in his arms.

You phone buzzed loudly against the wooden end table, the screen lighting up with the absolute last person you wanted to talk to – your boss. A sense of dread settled in your chest as you answered the call.

“Hi,” you said, forcing a neutral tone.

“Good morning,” your boss replied, his no-nonsense tone immediately setting you on edge. “Nice work on revamping the campaign.”

“Thanks. Is that all you called to say?” You stood from the couch, restless, glancing toward the window. A fresh layer of snow made everything seem softer, kinder, pulling once again at your heart.

Your boss scoffed. “Are you on the road yet?” he snapped, his impatience slipping through any pretense at pleasantries.

Dread flooded your gut. “Uh, not yet. My truck should be ready this morning though.”

“The owner of our largest account getting married and personally inviting you to the wedding is a big fucking deal and we cannot afford for you to miss it. Why you didn’t just get a rental car and go instead of staying in that Podunk town is beyond me—"

“Hey!” you interrupted, not caring if you cut him off. “I love that truck. My dead father left me that truck and you damn well know what it means to me.”

He caved a little, shifting to a placating tone as he said your name. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. It’s just… I need you back on track, your focus where it should be.”

With a heavy sigh, you gripped the phone tighter. Silence hung in the air as you prayed for patience, before you finally huffed a defeated, “Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll expect an update from the road later today. You’ll barely make it as it is,” your boss replied before the line went dead.

The temperature dropped mid-morning, the cold more biting than ever with the wind cutting through the layers you’d bundled yourself in to pick up your truck from Jimmy’s garage. The old hunk of metal, held together by little more than the blood, sweat, tears, and unending love poured into over the years, rumbled to life as Jimmy went over the repairs made.

With a heavy heart you drove back to the inn, feeling like your choice was made for you, parking the truck in the driveway to make it easier to load up your belongings. Snow started falling again, rubbing salt in the wound of having to leave. You left the truck running, wanting to make your goodbyes quick in fear that you’d cave to any pleas to say.

Maria stood by the door, her arms crossed tightly and your packed luggage at her feet. “You’re sure you want to do this?” she asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.

You nodded, barely able to meet her eyes and voice tight. “I’ve got to make it to San Francisco. My boss is already breathing down my neck and has made it clear what will happen if I don’t make it to this wedding.”

Tommy leaned against the porch railing, grinning despite the melancholy air. “You’ll be missed, sweetheart. You certainly left your mark, especially on that brother of mine.”

Before you could respond, Joel’s truck pulled to a stop in front of the inn and Sarah burst out of the backseat like a whirlwind. Her red beanie sat askew atop her head, and her arms clutched tightly to something as she ran toward you, “Wait! You can’t leave yet!”

You knelt to meet her as she barreled into you, holding up a small bundle of pinecone ornaments tied with a ribbon. “I made these special for you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, a sheen of tears in her eyes. “So you’ll always remember us.”

Heart clenching painfully, you clutched the young girl to you and sniffled, careful not to break the thoughtful gift. “Thank you, little bug. I could never forget you, but I will treasure these always.”

“Will we ever see you again?” she asked through a debilitating sob. “I sure hope so, bug,” you replied fighting back tears of your own. Oh, how you hoped so.

When you pulled back, Joel stood a few feet away, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. Wide, coffee-colored eyes held yours, both of your gazes filled with a potent cocktail of emotions. “Mind if I walk you to your truck?” he asked softly. “I’ll load up your bags.”

Words failed you and you nodded, following him down the path while the others lingered on the porch pretending not to watch while they gave you the illusion of privacy. The crunch of snow underfoot was the only sound for the too-short walk to the truck. Joel turned toward you, a guarded expression marred his brow, yet his eyes gave everything away – the longing, the thought of what could have been, all of it.

“You sure about this?” he asked in a low, mournful voice.

No. No, not at all.

You looked away, the ache in your chest making it hard to breathe when you looked at him. Once again reminded of all the things you have given up for sake of this damned career – this loss would be worst of them all, you knew it. “I must – you know that. I can’t just…”

Joel nodded slowly, his jaw tightening at the words you didn’t say. “I get it, I really do. But I wish—”

“Don’t say it,” you whispered, the tears brimming in your eyes spilling over. It was all too much.

He stepped closer, his presence a warm haven against the cold. The world went still, disappearing until it was only you and him under the falling snow as he took your hands in his larger, calloused ones. Your breath caught as he leaned in, dark eyes peering into your soul as he kissed the tear tracks scattered across your face.

The press of his chapped, warm lips against your cool skin made you weak in the knees. You turned your head suddenly, catching his lips with your own in a searing first kiss, one you would never forget. Forgetting yourselves, the kiss deepened, his tongue dancing along the seam of your lips until you gasped, and he licked into your mouth.

The sparks flew like nothing you ever experienced.

How could you walk away from this?

How could you afford not to?

A whoop startled the pair of you apart, chests heaving from the heady mix of want and lack of oxygen. When you peeked past Joel’s shoulder, you saw Sarah dancing across the porch, cheering and signing out your name followed by, “and Daddy sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g…”

Laughter bubbled from deep within, a watery smile spreading across your well-kissed lips as you met Joel’s amused yet bittersweet gaze.

Clearing his throat, Joel pressed his lips against your forehead, then the tip of your nose, and your lips once more before stepping back to help you into the truck. Once settled, he handed you a slip of paper with his phone number and address written in block print. “Please, drive safe. And don’t forget us because we will never forget you, darlin’.”

“Thank you, Joel,” you breathed, “for everything. You and your family made an impression, I could never forget you. I’ll call, I promise.”

He shut your door with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, patting the hood of the truck as you threw it into reverse. Your vision swam as you backed out of the driveway, rear tires slipping a bit in the fresh powder. You couldn’t look back, tapping the horn twice as you drove off, tears cascading down your face.

The winding snow-covered road stretched for miles ahead, flanked by towering evergreens that seemed to close in on you the further you drove away from the Millers. The ornaments Sarah made for you sat on the passenger seat, a bittersweet reminder of what you were leaving behind. The town’s charm and warmth that once loomed large, now grew smaller in the rearview mirror, and with it, your spirits. A bittersweet ache built up with every mile that separated you from the life and people you didn’t want to leave behind.

What the hell were you doing?

You thought it was the right thing, to get to that wedding, to return to your life back in NYC. So, why did it feel so wrong to leave Winterland and all it offered behind? The pit of your stomach ached.

Your phone buzzed with a text notification – your boss sending another sharp reminder of the importance of what awaited you in both San Francisco and New York City. You glanced at the screen only long enough to read the first few words, your blood pressure already spiking from the stress of everything weighing down on you. When your eyes returned to the road, a massive shape appeared in the middle of the road in front of you.

A moose, more massive than you thought any North American four-legged animal had a right to be, stood stock still in the road, enormous body taking up both lanes, dark form stark against the white snow.

“Holy shit!”

You pumped the brakes like your father taught you, the old truck not equipped with antilock brakes, your mind racing in the milliseconds that passed. There was no way around the moose, and you hoped you could stop the truck in time, the thought of hitting the breathtaking creature shattering your already fractured heart. The brakes locked up after all, the truck skidding on the icy road.

The moose bolted into the trees as you fought valiantly to regain control and the vehicle fishtailed, but it was a lost cause. Every movement of your hands on the steering wheel an over-correction, the truck spun sideways before slamming into a snowbank with a sickening crunch. Your head whipped to the side, striking the driver’s side window hard enough to make stars explode behind your eyes.

The truck shuddered before dying, and for a moment, everything went silent except for the faint hiss of the hot engine against the cold precipitation. Pain pulsed through your head, sharp and disorienting, as you struggled to regain your bearings.

Shaky hands searched the cab for your phone, finding it wedged in the bench seat, as the adrenaline drained from your system. You fumbled to unlock it, pulling the slip of paper Joel handed you earlier to type in his phone number, the numbers blurring. You had just enough signal to call for help.

“’Lo?” Joel’s crisp, deep voice rumbled through the phone, and you were both relieved and pained to hear it. Your head hurt so damn much, competing with the pain in your heart.

“Joel?” You fought to keep the tears from falling, but the effort strained your throat, clouding your voice.

“Darlin’? What’s wrong?” The urgency in his voice steadied you somehow. Sucking in a deep, rattling breath, you replied, “I need help.”

You needn’t say any more, already hearing Joel unlock his truck as he demanded, “Where are you? I’ll be right there.”

You gave him the closest approximation of your location, out by the highway. You hadn’t gotten too far in your failed attempt to leave Winterland.

“Stay put, sweetheart. I’m on my way.”

“Shit! Tommy!” Joel yelled frantically for his brother as his truck pulled up behind yours with a spray of snow and ice. The two men jumped out, boots crunching against the ice as they ran to you.

“Darlin’?” he called, his voice urgent yet strong as he wrenched the driver’s side door open. Tommy fetched your belongings while Joel helped you, stowing them away in Joel’s truck.

You blinked at Joel with slightly blurred vision. “I’m okay,” you mumbled, though the knot on your forehead and the associated throbbing suggested otherwise.

Wide, dark eyes scanned your face, his expression tightening when he noticed the bump, a small gash visible in the center. “You hit your head,” he replied, voice low and soft like he was handling a hurt puppy. “We’re going to the hospital.”

“Joel, I’m fine—”

“Can you stand? Walk?” he questioned doubtfully. Joel helped you out of the truck, large hand steadying you with a warm and reassuring grip. You wobbled, head spinning, proving his point that you needed to go to the hospital. “No arguments, darlin’. We’re going to the ER.”

Tommy climbed into the backseat with your luggage as Joel helped you into the front passenger seat. You were shaking, half from the cold and half from the dissipation of adrenaline, and Joel reached over to turn your seat warmer on and covered you with his warm coat after buckling you in.

“The hospital is in the next town over. Shouldn’t take long to get there though,” Tommy assured while Joel worked his way around the truck to climb behind the wheel.

The ride was quiet except for Joel occasionally checking on you and the soft rumble of Tommy’s voice as he updated Maria. Joel’s grip on the steering was tight, knuckles white and jaw set as if holding back a storm of worry as he navigated the icy roads with precious cargo.

The small-town ER was surprisingly empty when Joel pulled up, rushing inside to get a wheelchair for you as Tommy helped you out of the truck. Once inside, the staff whisked you into an exam room, collecting information along with your vitals.

The sterile brightness of the hospital room felt jarring, and you scrunched your eyes against the harsh light. A nurse held an ice pack to your head with gentle pressure while Joel hovered nearby. His concerned smiles were a constant, grounding force.

“Looks like you have a mild concussion,” the doctor diagnosed after some assessment. “I’d like to keep you overnight for observation.”

Opening your mouth to protest, Joel jumped in. “She’ll stay,” he said firmly, holding your gaze as he spoke to the doctor. To you, he added, “No arguments this time.”

You fell back against the reclined hospital bed with a sigh. “Fine,” you muttered, the edges of your irritation softening when Joel pulled up a chair and sat beside you.

After receiving some medicine for the pain, you were allowed to doze off for short periods of time. The nurse came in at various intervals to check vitals as the day turned to late afternoon, Joel never leaving your side.

The buzzing of your phone stirred you from a light doze and you grumbled. It felt like you just fell asleep, dammit. Joel picked the phone up, scowling at the screen. “It’s your boss,” his deep voice a rumbling whisper as he handed you the phone.

Dread coiled in your stomach as you answered, turning the volume down to ease the lingering headache.

“You didn’t check-in,” your boss snapped in lieu of a greeting. “How far along are you?”

Teeth clenched, you spat back, “I was in a car accident. Didn’t get very far. I’m still in the hospital.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he said under his breath, though you heard every word. “That’s unfortunate. But it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve let me – and our biggest client, I might add – down. If you would have gotten back on the road when I told you to, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Silence settled for several long moments as you fought back tears and wracked your staticky brain for a suitable response. When nothing came, your boss heaved a frustrated sigh.

“If you can’t handle your responsibilities, maybe this isn’t the job for you,” he said with finality.

His words cold and detached, they struck harder than the crash. You sat there, phone pressed to your ear and staring into Joel’s kind eyes, as the weight of everything pressed down until something finally snapped.

“You know what?” you replied, voice calm yet firm. “You’re right. This isn’t the job for me.”

“What?”

“I quit,” you said simply, feeling the weight lift from your shoulders even as the words left your mouth. “Consider it one less thing to worry about.”

Joel’s eyebrows shot up, and though he tried to hide it, a small, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“This is ridiculous—” your boss began, but you cut him off. “Oh, go fuck yourself, Brad,” you spat, ending the call before he could respond.

Joel stared at you, eyes sparkling with barely concealed joy, the worry that clouded them earlier giving way to something brighter. “You okay?” he asked, his voice soft and sweet, the weight of unspoken relief slipping through in his tone.

“Never better,” you said, the realization dawning even as the words left your lips. “I think this accident was a sign that I shouldn’t leave. And him calling to scold me over it just sealed the deal. I’ve wanted to tell Brad to fuck off for so very long.”

Joel’s laugh was low and warm, his hand reaching out to brush yours in a gesture so simple yet full of meaning that your breath hitched. “Good,” he said, smile growing until the corners of his eyes crinkled. “That guy sounded like a real horse’s ass.”

A surprised burst of laughter filled the room, the sound breaking the tension that had been building in your chest for days. “He really is,” you admitted, your fingers curling slightly against his.

Joel’s hand tightened around yours, his expression turning serious, yet the warmth of his gaze never wavered. “So, you’re really going to stay?”

“I am,” you smiled at the warm, certain feeling in your stomach. “I just need to find a job and somewhere to live and move all my stuff from New York and…”

Joel didn’t let you finish. He moved with purpose, slipping into the hospital bed with you. His broad form barely fit, but neither of you cared. His lips met yours in a kiss that was soft yet full of promise, sending warmth cascading through you.

When he pulled back, his voice was low and steady. “We’ll figure all that out after the holidays, darlin’. Until then, you can stay with me and Sarah to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s the way you’re supposed to – with family”

The mention of Sarah made your chest tighten with joy. “She’s going to be over the moon,” you murmured, the thought of her bright smile filling your heart with a new kind of warmth.

Joel smiled, brushing his thumb across your cheek. “So am I.”

Hope bloomed in your chest, mingling with the beginning flutters of something a lot like love. You clung to it with every fiber of your being, realizing that maybe this was the moment your heart had been waiting for all along.

What else, other than the magic of Christmas, could be responsible for turning a simple traffic delay and breakdown on a snowy highway into something so special?

the end

tag list (i included anyone who previously commented, requested, or I thought might like to be added, but please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed): @abirdsnest @brittmb115 @harrysrosetatto @carolineesnell @tuquoquebrute @inept-the-magnificent @lovely-vamp-princess @kyberblade @bluestar22x

#hallmark christmas movie inspired #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller fluff #fluff and humor #ppcu fanfiction #hallmark!joel #BlueChristmasWritingChallenge2024

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empressofthewind · 1 year ago

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Full List of Near's Toys & Activities:

Chapters 59 & 61: Puts together a blank puzzle with "L" in the corner

Chapter 61: Builds a tower of regular playing cards

Chapter 62: Builds a tower of matchsticks

Chapters 63 & 64: Tries (and fails) to throw darts at a dart board

Chapter 66: Builds what looks like an entire city of dice, and then proceeds to wreak havoc on the city when his team members die

Chapter 67: Surrounds himself with multiple "plastic models" (as described in HTR13) - includes robots and several planes/air vehicles, as well as crafting supplies which he uses to glue the robot back together after purposefully breaking it

Chapter 71: Handcrafts a dart that looks like an evil narwhal, fails to throw it at the board and breaks one of his robots with it instead

Chapter 75: Sits in the centre of a Lego structure, surrounded by many other toys including his robots. Breaks one of the Lego walls using a robot

Chapter 76: Sits in the centre of a circular train track. Later when Mello shows up, he is playing with a robot and a plastic gun

Chapter 77: Plays with a few plastic robots

Chapter 78: Surrounds himself with a ring of tarot cards

Chapter 79: Plays with a "secret base set" (once again, HTR13 wording) which looks like a large diorama with palm trees, a road and some nondescript building in the background. At the end of this chapter, he can be seen breaking a robot

Chapter 80: Attempts to smuggle six robots into his new base; only manages to smuggle five (interestingly only five are mentioned on his toy list in HTR13, so I'm guessing this is actually just a continuity error)

Chapter 81: Plays with a robot, then builds a small structure using dice

Chapter 82: Reveals that the dice in the structure are actually boxes containing even more dice and empties them out onto the desk. Then moves on to his robots

Chapter 83: Plays with a toy plane

Chapter 85: Uses finger puppets to represent his thought process

Chapter 86: Plays with two remote-controlled rubber ducks in an inflatable pool

Chapter 88: Now has a total of 28 rubber ducks. Stacks several of them on top of each other, then fills the pool with them. 10 are left on the floor

Chapter 89: Builds a radio tower out of paper

Chapters 90-94: Once again uses models to represent his thought process; this time he has Lego figurines, a model of the NHN building, a plastic gun and a tiny notebook. He also decorates his Christmas tree with them in Chapter 92

Chapter 94: The finger puppets return in the second half of the chapter

Chapter 95: Plays with a marble roller coaster

Chapter 96: Works on Misa Amane's finger puppet

Chapter 97: Has kagami mochi on the floor with several plastic toys surrounding it; he can be seen playing with one of them

Chapter 98: Uses his puppets while explaining his rules for the warehouse confrontation, and also brings out the miniature notebook from chapter 90

Chapters 100-107: Uses his puppets again when necessary, and also wears a mask of L which he apparently made himself

Chapter 108: Plays with a robot and eats chocolate while surrounded by an array of plastic figurines

#made this as a guide for myself but someone else might find it useful :-)#nate river #near #near's toy list #deep dives

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ultram0th · 2 years ago

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The very second Derek walked into the cramped, dimly lit room, he struggled to maintain his composure. His eyes landing on the nerdy game board that rested on the tiny table in the center of the cramped room. Around the table stood three skinny guys along with Stiles, all of them dressed up in geeky cosplay— Stiles wore rubber elf ears.

Trying his best not to irk his boyfriend, Derek forced a smile on his face as he headed closer. “You almost done?” he asked Stiles, putting an arm around the human’s small shoulders.

Stiles, pursing his lips, shook his head. “I’m stuck at an obstacle and I don’t quite know how to defeat it,” he muttered, his eyes laser-focused on the tiny plastic figurines on the board.

Derek had never played Dungeons and Dragons before, so he was totally lost and didn’t really have much to offer his boyfriend in the way of advice. “That sucks,” he finally said, growing antsy and wanting to leave.

It was due to a combination of not having any interest whatsoever in Stiles’s fantasy game, and also because of the creepy stare he was garnering from some nerd dressed up in Halloween wizard clothes.

In fact, Derek couldn’t help but notice that the scrawny wizard’s stare was a little too intense for his liking, seeing the corners of his mouth slightly pull up to form a mischievous smirk.

“Stiles the Great,” a nerd who was dressed up in cat ears chimed, adding a fake accent to her voice, “doth thou desire’th to employ the usage of thine trusty steed?” She nodded at Derek, making him grimace.

Stiles, unfortunately, gasped loudly, indicating that he thought the nerd’s idea was a good one.

Derek’s broad shoulders fell and he knew that they’d be stuck in the cramped room for longer than he’d initially wanted.

“I run across my boyfriend, Derek the Hotness, and he uses his skills to defeat the aboleth—”

“Hold it!” the wizard interrupted, narrowing his gaze at Derek. “You can’t just add in another character midway without giving us his backstory!”

The others around the table murmured in agreement, making Stiles blush.

“Um,” he stalled as he tried to think up a backstory for Derek the Hotness, which Derek promised he’d bring up later that night, “Derek has twenty strength and—”

“What is he?” the wizard cut off again, making Derek swell down a growl.

Again, Stiles took a moment as he searched his mind for an answer, his eyes darting all over the board as he looked for an idea.

The wizard’s smirk grew even larger. “Why don’t you roll for it?” he suggested, reaching into his pockets and placing a ruby red die on the board. It shimmered under the faint light of the room, and the numbers on it had a glittery quality to it.

Stiles eagerly snatched the die off the board and shook it in his hand, even blowing on it for luck. “Fine!” he agreed. “With this die, I declare that Derek the Hotness is…” He tossed the die onto the board, letting it clatter around until it landed.

Eight.

The wizard cocked his head to the side, his smirk fully formed now. “It looks like Derek the Hotness is an orc,” he mused, snapping his fingers playfully.

At first, Derek cocked his eyebrow in wonder at the odd actions from the nerd. However, he was soon alerted to the tingling sensation that ran all over his body. His boyfriend gasped again, and Derek then noticed something terrible happening.

Holding his hands up in front of his face, Derek’s eyes widened when he saw his skin steadily darken to a greenish hue. Before he could further react, Derek tensed up as his body underwent further changes.

He couldn’t exactly see it firsthand, but all of Derek’s muscles began to inflate to obscene proportions. His arms packed on pounds of muscle, bulging with power. His chest grew to crazy proportions, tearing his shirt to shreds and further exposing his green muscles. His thighs widened and caused him to reposition his feet, his legs pushing against each other so much that his walk would now resemble something closer to a waddle. All of Derek’s muscles had pumped up, but they appeared more so for strength as opposed to aesthetic, as was evident by their rotundness and the lack of abs. Instead, his stomach had a powerlifter belly that hung over his tattered pants. Speaking of pants, the bulge in the front of them inflated and a large beer can-width snake crept down his pant leg. To top everything off, Derek’s lower jaw widened and dimples, looking large and cartoonish. His brow pushed forward, giving the hunk a brutish appearance. Finally, his lower canine teeth elongated and protruded out of his mouth, effectively giving Derek the appearance of a muscled up, dim-witted orc.

Stiles’s jaw hung low in silent shock as Derek swayed slightly to and fro.

Not understanding exactly what had just occurred, Derek shook his head and rubbed at his temples. “Uh,” he groaned, noting the much, much deeper quality to his voice, “Derek feel funny.” His eyes widened to the size of saucers, having intended to say that he felt weird, unsure as to why he’d sounded all slow and had spoken in the third person. Derek cleared his throat and tried again. “Why Derek talk funny?”

Finally, Stiles stomped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Derek’s green bicep. “Turn him back!” he ordered, narrowing his eyes at the wizard.

Derek shook his head, trying to clear it of the fog that seemed to be creeping up in it. He knew that something had definitely happened to him. However, he couldn’t stop but admire how cute his boyfriend looked and how perky his butt looked in his tight pants.

Without thinking, Derek wrapped both of his large arms around Stiles, grinding his enlarged cock against the tiny human. In his haze, Derek noticed something else. “Stiles…” he grunted in his baritone, “Stiles smaller?”

Stiles bit down on his lower lip, looking completely adorable as he did so, making Derek grind his hard cock into him even more.

The wizard continued to smirk. “Sorry Stiles the Great,” he mock-frowned, “the only way to turn him back is if you defeat the aboleth.” He gestured back down at the die.

“Fine!” Stiles shouted, snatching it back up off the board. “But let me warn you, once he’s back to regular self, I will personally kick your ass!”

[Fifteen Minutes Later]

“Yeah, sorry, I thought that I could win,” Stiles muttered, his head hanging low as he and Derek walked out of the house and towards the Jeep.

Derek lumbered as best as he could, trying hard to get the hang of waddling with his extra large, green muscles. His thighs kept rolling over one another, and his chest was so heavy that he had to arch his back in order to support his huge pecs. His muscle gut jiggled slightly with every step he took. However, his hard footlong cock waved tantalizingly in front of him, oozing precum at the sight of Stiles walking in front of him. Derek’s slowed mind struggled to piece everything together. He knew deep down that something had happened to him, but his brain was full of such lust for his tiny-looking boyfriend that it was hard to concentrate on anything else.

“Stiles cute,” he gushed in his deep voice.

“Yeah thanks, but focus, Derek!” Stiles said as soon as they reached the Jeep. “We need to go to Deaton to see if he can fix this!” He hopped into the driver’s seat and looked at his orc boyfriend expectantly.

Derek struggled to get inside the Jeep, trying to get the hang of moving his muscled body. His broadened shoulders kept banging against the sides of the door, preventing him from getting in head on. His lower IQ prevented him from immediately turning to the side until Stiles coaxed him into it. Once he was inside, his massive arms and pecs kept getting the way of him fastening his seat belt, leaving the orc struggling with the tiny strap.

Derek cocked his eyebrow in wonder as he stared down at his inflated, green pecs. “Derek has big muscles!” he gasped, his eyes widening in shock. The surprise disappeared as soon as Derek looked over at Stiles. “Stiles cute.” His hard cock bobbed in front of him in the air, twitching with want.

“Well…” Stiles mused, “maybe we can go to Deaton in the morning.”

#Derek Hale #Tyler Hoechlin #Orc #Orc TF #Dungeons and dragons #D&D #Mythical TF #Muscle #Musclegrowth #Teen Wolf #Stiles #Sterek #Dumber #Loss of IQ

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egg-emperor · 1 year ago

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Eggy definately has a Sonic bop bag to vent his frustrations, but he hopes one day to have the real deal one day to wail on😈

lol YES definitely, he has a bop bag with Sonic on it, a stress board with his picture on it, a plush of him to beat up when he's mad like the ones that were made for E Series target practice, and his Hedgehog Hammer Whack-A-Sonic game in Adventure

checklist of what Eggman brings out when he's fucking PISSED at Sonic in hopes of the slightest ounce of catharsis

(I just made that third image on a custom dart board site I love it lol)

but Eggman is so strong and so mad that he commonly splits the inflatable from punching so hard, explodes the stress ball from squeezing too hard, the dart board has so many holes the picture is barely visible, he tears the plushies apart very easily, and the Whack-A-Mole Sonics are completely smashed to pieces. one day he hopes to do all of the above to the real thing!

#dr eggman #eggman #dr robotnik #dr. eggman #asks #my post #headcanons #stress relief

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ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly · 3 months ago

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The New York Times

By Joe RennisonDanielle KayeRiver Akira Davis and Eshe Nelson

Published April 2, 2025 Updated April 3, 2025, 7:13 p.m. ET

President Trump’s escalation of a global trade war on Thursday fueled the worst stock market sell-off since the coronavirus pandemic, as investors worried that the steep tariffs imposed on America’s trading partners would push the economy into a downturn.

The S&P 500 fell almost 5 percent on Thursday, its worst showing since June 2020, when the world had been plunged into a health crisis that brought much of everyday life to a halt.

The index, which had already fallen five of the last six weeks, tipped into correction territory, which means it has declined more than 10 percent from its latest peak and which is a line in the sand for investors assessing the severity of a recent drop.

The tremors spread further than just stocks. Measures of inflation expectations jumped, intensifying fears of an economic slowdown and sending the dollar down against every currency of the Group of 10 nations. Investors rushed to the safety of government debt.

Thursday’s sell-off was an extraordinary moment in markets that, despite being prone to big swings, rarely react so strongly to an American president’s rollout of an economic policy.

Mr. Trump and his advisers shrugged off the market turmoil and predicted that stocks would eventually rebound.

“The markets are going to boom,” Mr. Trump said on Thursday. “The country is going to boom.”

The turmoil erupted after he announced on Wednesday a 10 percent base-line tariff on nearly all imports as well as additional taxes on goods from a host of specific countries. Those increased total tariffs on Chinese imports to 54 percent.

In a period when the markets had already been racked with uncertainty, Mr. Trump’s higher-than-expected tariffs presented a new challenge to investors’ and economists’ outlooks.

While some economists forecast that inflation from the tariffs will keep interest rates elevated, investors are betting that the shock to the economy will force the Federal Reserve to cut rates more rapidly.

“Trump’s tariff plan probably represents a shift for markets to quickly move from max uncertainty to max pessimism,” said Jeff Buchbinder, the chief equity strategist for LPL Financial.

Other analysts and investors simply expressed bewilderment.

The Trump administration modified its estimates of the tariffs that other countries impose on imports from the United States to account for what it deemed currency manipulation or even other taxes, with analysts questioning the analytical basis for doing so.

“They might as well have been in a room throwing darts at a dart board,” said Andrew Brenner, head of international fixed income at NatAlliance Securities.

“Trump is going to war with countries on this,” he said. “It’s ridiculous. It shows no comprehension as to what he is doing to other countries. And it is going to hurt the U.S.”

The market reaction clearly reflected the surprise that gripped Wall Street after the tariffs were announced.

“Never before has an hour of Presidential rhetoric cost so many people so much,” Lawrence Summers, who served as Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, wrote on social media late Wednesday.

Many major U.S. companies sank as soon as trading began on Thursday. As the day unfolded, some of the worst hit were technology stocks: Apple fell more than 9 percent, Amazon just less than 9 percent and Nvidia 7.7 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index fell 6 percent.

Shares in consumer brands also slumped as the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs on countries that are manufacturing hubs for shoes and clothing — for example, 46 percent on Vietnam and 32 percent on Indonesia. Nike’s shares dropped more than 14 percent.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies, which are more exposed to the health of the economy, fell 6.6 percent. The index dropped into a bear market, defined as a decline of 20 percent or more from the latest peak. The Russell is now almost 22 percent below its November peak.

In Europe, shares of Puma and Adidas tumbled alongside the stock of Pandora, a Danish jewelry company that makes its products in Thailand, which fell 10.7 percent.

The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 2.6 percent on Thursday, with most sectors, including banks, technology and consumer goods, in the red. Shares in Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, fell on fears of a global trade slowdown, while big European banks including HSBC, Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank also slumped.

In Asia, stocks tumbled for a wide variety of companies, including technology and semiconductor giants as well as major auto exporters. Shares of the Japanese automaker Toyota fell more than 5 percent on Thursday and South Korea’s Samsung Electronics close to 3 percent.

Investors flocked to government debt as a haven. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond, which moves inversely to prices, fell to 4.04 percent, its lowest level since October. Mr. Trump has homed in on the 10-year yield as a measure of his success in lowering interest rates, but analysts warn that the recent drop reflected mounting worries for the economy.

The prospect of weaker global economic growth also weighed on commodities. Oil prices slumped even further after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies accelerated plans to increase supply. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, dropped more than 6 percent, settling at $70.14 a barrel.

Stock markets globally have been choppy in recent weeks, as investors have been whipsawed by the Trump administration’s mixed messages on tariffs. Mr. Trump previously announced, delayed, changed and ultimately imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts.

His advisers have asked for patience, while acknowledging that the tariffs could bring some short-term pain.

“Let Donald Trump run the global economy,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday morning on CNN. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s been talking about it for 35 years. You got to trust Donald Trump in the White House.”

The uncertainty around the tariff levels, and how long they might last, has made it difficult for investors, economists and policymakers to assess the potential ramifications for consumers, businesses and the broader economy.

The U.S. tariff rate on all imports is now around 22 percent, up from 2.5 percent in 2024, said Olu Sonola, the head of U.S. economic research at Fitch Ratings. That rate was last seen around 1910, he said.

Signs of worry have also been evident in the rapid rise in the price of gold, which has climbed alongside inflation worries. Investors sent it 19 percent higher in the first three months of the year, its biggest quarterly rise since 1986. On Thursday, gold was trading at more than $3,100 per troy ounce, while a market measure of inflation expectations one year from now shot up to around 3.5 percent.

Although many investors worry about the inflationary effect of tariffs, falling bond yields and a declining U.S. dollar suggest that most are more worried about waning economic growth.

It has led investors to suggest that the Federal Reserve might need to cut interest rates more aggressively. Traders had been betting on three more quarter-point cuts this year, but the chances of a fourth have increased, financial markets implied.

Some investors had hoped that the tariff announcement on Wednesday would cure some of the uncertainty in the financial markets. But few truly expected the news to be the end of Mr. Trump’s tariff talk and, with it, an end to the stock market volatility.

“Investors no longer see tariffs as a one-time event risk but an always-present risk,” said Mandy Xu, head of derivatives market intelligence at Cboe Global Markets, adding that the current expectation in the market is for volatility to persist.

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majorayardgamesinflatables · 3 months ago

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Best Corporate Event Games Near Me – Fun Activities for Team Building

Planning a corporate event and looking for engaging activities? Renting corporate event games near me is a great way to encourage teamwork, boost morale, and create an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s a company picnic, holiday party, or team-building retreat, interactive games help employees connect in a fun and competitive environment.

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Encourages Teamwork: Games require collaboration, strategy, and communication.

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Suitable for Large & Small Groups: Whether you have a small office or a big team, games are scalable for any size.

Top Corporate Event Games to Rent

At Major A Yard Games & Inflatables, we offer a variety of corporate event games near me designed for maximum engagement:

Giant Dart Board: Test accuracy and aim with an oversized inflatable dartboard.

Inflatable Obstacle Courses: Race your coworkers through tunnels, walls, and slides.

Nerf Battle Arenas: Organize a high-energy team battle with Nerf blasters.

Dunk Tanks: A hilarious way to let employees or managers take a fun splash.

Bounce Houses & Interactive Inflatables: Add excitement with large-scale games for all ages.

How to Plan a Successful Corporate Event with Games

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, follow these steps:

Select Games Based on Your Team’s Interests: Choose activities that encourage participation from everyone.

Consider Space & Venue: Ensure your event location can accommodate inflatable games and interactive activities.

Organize Tournaments or Challenges: Adding a competitive element makes games even more exciting.

Schedule Breaks & Refreshments: Keep employees energized by providing water, snacks, and breaks between games.

Book Your Corporate Event Game Rentals Today!

Adding interactive games to your corporate event will make it memorable, engaging, and fun for everyone involved. Whether you’re planning a small team retreat or a large company gathering, we have the perfect rentals to match your needs.

Looking for the best corporate event games near me? Contact Major A Yard Games & Inflatables today to reserve your rentals!

Major A Yard Games & Inflatables 455 Wellesley Dr, Conway, AR 72034, United States

If you want to book an appointment, visit our website: https://majorayardgames.com/

#inflatable party rentals conway #connect four yard game conway #kids party inflatables conway

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inflatables-with-bouncy-rentals · 3 months ago

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How Inflatable Rentals Have Evolved Over the Years

Inflatable rentals, especially bounce houses, have become a staple of parties and events across the world. From simple bouncy castles to elaborate themed inflatable structures, these rentals have come a long way since their inception. The evolution of inflatable rentals has been marked by technological advancements, improved safety features, and more creative designs, making them a fun, safe, and versatile addition to any event.

Let’s take a look at how inflatable rentals have evolved over the years and what makes them so popular today.

1. The Early Days: Simple and Basic Designs

The first inflatable rentals were quite basic—simple air-filled structures that allowed kids to jump and play. These early versions were primarily made from vinyl or canvas material and were usually just large, rectangular bouncy areas. They were a fun way to keep kids entertained but didn’t have the advanced features and designs we see today.

In the early days, safety features were minimal, and bounce houses were often used on smooth, flat surfaces like grass. The designs were simple, often with just a basic color scheme, and the focus was mainly on bouncing rather than offering additional play elements.

2. Introduction of Themed Bounce Houses

As inflatable rentals grew in popularity, so did the desire for more exciting and personalized options. By the early 2000s, themed bounce houses began to make their debut. Suddenly, party hosts could rent bounce houses shaped like castles, pirate ships, or even favorite cartoon characters. This was a game-changer, allowing kids to feel like they were part of their favorite story or fantasy.

These themed inflatables not only made the experience more immersive but also gave party planners more creativity when selecting rentals for special occasions like birthday parties or school events.

3. Incorporating Additional Features: Slides, Obstacle Courses, and More

As technology advanced and demand increased, inflatable rentals evolved to include more than just bouncing. The addition of slides, obstacle courses, and other play structures made bounce houses even more exciting. These combo units, which include both a bounce house and a slide or climbing wall, became incredibly popular, offering a more varied and engaging experience for kids.

Inflatable obstacle courses were another major innovation, providing an interactive and competitive environment where kids could race through tunnels, climb over walls, and slide down inflatable slides. These inflatable courses often became the centerpiece of large events, like school fairs and corporate parties.

4. Improved Safety Features

With the increasing popularity of inflatable rentals, safety became a major concern. In response, manufacturers started implementing better safety standards to prevent injuries. Modern bounce houses now come with reinforced seams, safety netting, and higher-quality materials designed to withstand wear and tear. In addition, inflatable rentals are often equipped with sturdy, anchored tie-downs to keep them securely in place during use.

Furthermore, many rental companies, like Bouncy Rentals LLC, now provide staff to supervise the inflatables, ensuring that kids follow the rules and use the bounce houses safely.

5. Customization and Interactive Elements

In recent years, the demand for more interactive and customizable inflatable rentals has skyrocketed. Today’s inflatable rentals aren’t just for bouncing—they can be transformed into full-fledged entertainment experiences. Many rental companies now offer inflatables with built-in games like basketball hoops, dart boards, or even LED lighting for nighttime events.

Customization has also reached new heights, with inflatables being made in nearly every shape, size, and theme imaginable. Whether you want a bounce house designed to look like a giant unicorn, or an obstacle course with customized branding for a corporate event, the options are nearly limitless.

6. Eco-Friendly Materials

In response to growing environmental concerns, some inflatable rental companies have started using eco-friendly materials in their products. The materials used for modern bounce houses and inflatable rentals are more durable and sustainable than ever before. These materials are designed to minimize the environmental impact while still providing the same high-quality performance.

Additionally, more rental companies are becoming environmentally conscious by offering energy-efficient blowers that consume less power while maintaining the inflatable's stability.

7. Increased Popularity and Versatility

Today, inflatable rentals are more popular than ever before. They’re no longer just for birthday parties—they’re used at school events, corporate gatherings, weddings, and even holiday celebrations. The versatility of inflatable rentals has made them a go-to entertainment option for events of all kinds. Whether you’re hosting a small family gathering or a large-scale festival, there’s an inflatable that fits your needs.

Inflatable rentals are also available in a wide range of themes and sizes, making them adaptable to any venue. From small backyard gatherings to massive corporate events, inflatable rentals can cater to a wide variety of settings and crowd sizes.

Conclusion

The evolution of inflatable rentals has been an exciting journey, from simple bounce houses to the diverse and engaging inflatables we see today. With improved safety features, interactive elements, and customization options, these rentals continue to enhance the fun and excitement of any event. Whether you're hosting a birthday party or a large-scale festival, inflatable rentals have become a go-to option for entertainment that brings people together.

At Bouncy Rentals LLC, we’re committed to providing the best in inflatable rentals. From themed bounce houses to combo units and obstacle courses, we have a wide range of options to make your event unforgettable. Contact us today at (443) 579-5867 or visit www.bouncy-rentals.com to learn more!

#bounce house rentals #events #bounce house #party ideas #moonbounce #family #party

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esowncontroller · 5 months ago

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Fairground Games Research

Hook-a-Duck is a classic fairground game where players use a fishing rod to try to catch floating plastic ducks. Each duck has a number or colour that matches a prize. The goal is to hook a duck and win a prize, usually a toy. The game is simple and fun, combining luck and skill. Players try to catch a duck, but since they don’t have full control over which one they get, it can be a bit frustrating. However, the chance of winning a prize keeps them playing. The game is designed to keep people entertained while also making money for the fairground. It's a nostalgic and popular attraction at many carnivals and fairs, appealing to both kids and adults.

youtube

In the Darts and Balloons game, players throw darts at balloons that are attached to a board. When a balloon is popped, the player wins a prize. The goal is to pop as many balloons as possible to win a prize. The game is based on skill, as players need to aim and throw the darts accurately. However, it also has a bit of luck, because some balloons might be harder to pop than others, depending on their size or how tightly they're inflated. This game is a fun challenge, and players often keep trying to win bigger prizes. It's a popular attraction at fairs because it’s simple, easy to play, and has instant rewards when a balloon pops. It also helps the fair make money by encouraging people to play multiple rounds.

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The Test Your Strength game is about players hittiong a lever with a hammer to try and make a bell ring at the top of a vertical scale. The harder they hit, the higher the scale goes. If they hit it hard enough to ring the bell, they win a prize. The game is all about physical strength and timing. Players need to strike the hammer with enough force to send the marker up high enough, but it’s not always easy. The game can be a fun challenge, but it also involves some luck depending on the setup of the machine. Test Your Strength is a popular fairground game because it’s easy to understand and gives players a chance to show off their power. It also encourages people to try again if they don’t succeed, helping the fair earn money while offering excitement and instant results.

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#Youtube

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betterbounce-lee-scott · 5 months ago

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𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 - £495+vat 😲

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libidomechanica · 6 months ago

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Untitled (“And show the fewe such Liberty”)

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#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 5 #178 texts #ballad

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