#is is weird to wish a stranger happy birthday??

[emeraldbabygirl]

OFFICIALLY LOST IT 🥳🥳🥳

I SWEAR IDK WHY I DID THIS 😭😭😭 I LOVE HIM OMG HE’S JUST *chef’s kisses* like NOTICE ME JIMMY PLEASE 🥺🥲 omgg I’m simping for him frfr Idk what to do I’m spiraling 🙈 JIMMY IS SO FINEEEEEE AHHHHHH OMG I AM NOW EMBARRASSED AND HOPE NO ONE SEES THIS SSKSKKSKS 👨🏻‍🍼

[bouquet-of-clumsy-words]

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[thebirdandhersong]

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[supernovafics]

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

word count: 2.7k words

summary: in which a moment at a party that led to a drunken kiss and a heartfelt admission pushes you and your best friend away from each other. after nearly a week of silence, it’s still hard to find the right words to say to steve and to find the right way to mend what feels as if it has been permanently broken. until you’re drunk at a bar and he is the one to come and get you.

warnings: bestfriend!steve, explicit language, underage alcohol consumption, angst with a happy ending<33

author’s note: this was sitting in the drafts for a veryvery long time and i’ve finally decided to let it see the light of day🫶🏾 (full “folklore” album series masterlist here)

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“i didn't know if you'd care if i came back, i have a lot of regrets about that.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The bar was comforting in a weird kind of way. 

It was pretty dark and empty for the most part, which partly made sense since it was ten o’clock on a random Wednesday night. You didn’t mind the music softly playing and the stool you were sitting on actually felt comfortable, or maybe it was the alcohol making you believe that.

Somehow even with the number of drinks you’d had in the past hour, it still didn’t manage to effectively push your thoughts far away from Steve and what happened at Robin’s birthday party. 

You couldn’t not think about the kiss with him, which you had abruptly and drunkenly initiated; it was a kiss that felt simultaneously wrong and right. And his words that followed the kiss played on what felt like an endless loop in your mind too.

“I’ve wanted this, I’ve wanted us, for practically forever. Ever since that moment our mom’s forced us to meet at that county fair thing when we were ten, I think I knew it was you.” 

It was hard to think about what you did in response to that, but still the quick, “I’m sorry, I can’t,” you managed to stutter out before basically running away from him played on equal loop in your head.  

The two of you hadn’t spoken since that Saturday night, with you returning back to your college that was two hours away from Hawkins early the next morning. And you were unsure if it was you leading this dance or if both of you were equally avoiding each other because the phone calls that would happen practically daily were reduced to nothing. It had barely been a week, but it was long enough for everything in your life to feel shifted; to feel a little emptier. 

“You look like you need to talk to someone,” The bartender, a woman who you were certain couldn’t be older than thirty, said as she slid you the latest drink you’d ordered. 

“No, I’m fine. It’s just…” You trailed off with a small sigh before taking a sip from the cold glass. “I did something stupid this past weekend and I regret it, but I also think it might have been the right thing to do.” You were unsure if you were referring to the kissing Steve part or the running away from him part. “I don’t know, I just wish that entire night hadn’t happened, actually.”

You knew that it wasn’t solely your inebriation that made your words seem as if they didn’t make any sense, because everything going through your head was so damn confusing even when you were completely sober. None of it, the emotions you were feeling or the situation itself, fully made sense to you and you forced yourself to not think about any of it by solely consuming yourself with your schoolwork for the last few days. And when doing that was no longer enough to silence your thoughts, you decided to come to this bar. 

It was dumb and probably only making things worse, you knew that, but it also felt so much easier. 

“Okay,” The woman said. “Can I have a lot more context?” 

You were unsure why you had the immediate urge to tell her everything. Maybe it was the alcohol, or perhaps because it was just always so easy for anyone to pour their heart out to a stranger. 

“My friend— my best friend, we’ve known each other since we were ten— me and him were at a party. It was actually our other friend’s birthday and she just turned eighteen, so of course, we had to make it a huge thing for her, and we did it at Steve’s house; my best friend, that’s his name. Anyway, it’s about two hours into the party and we’re all pretty drunk. Me and Steve are in his backyard sitting on one of his old patio chairs, and then I don’t know why, I blame it on my drunkenness and how close we were in that moment, but I kissed him. I pulled away almost immediately, but then he said that he has wanted this, wanted us, to happen for so long, and I didn’t know what to say to any of that. So, I just mumbled out a stupid “I’m sorry,” and then left.”

You had barely taken a breath as you spoke, spitting out what happened that night in one rushed go. Finally saying all of it out loud— recounting the story in pretty much its entirety— made you feel a little better. Everything was still a complete mess, but you felt like you could breathe the tiniest bit easier. 

“Why did you leave?” 

A part of you expected her to ask that question, and at this point, you should’ve had an answer to it that felt certain, but you didn’t. 

“It just… It felt like the right thing to do, I think.” 

The thought of anything more happening with Steve hadn’t ever crossed your mind, at least not consciously, and even now you still refused to think more about it. Because it wasn't just about Steve. You didn’t want anything more with anyone; you didn’t want feelings, a relationship, any of it. 

It wasn’t that you hated love or the thought of it, it was more so that you had been burned because of it so many times that you refused to fall into it so easily again. Falling for boys that you thought actually liked you only to be proven wrong and left heartbroken. 

“I get it,” The bartender ultimately said, her voice soft. “You guys have been friends for practically forever and if you started dating and then broke up it would probably change everything between you two.” 

We would never break up. 

The thought hit you so abruptly that it actually managed to surprise you.  

The woman looked at you, confused. “Okay… So, then what’s the problem?”

“What?”

“You said that you and him would never break up, so what’s the problem?” 

You hadn’t realized you said the thought out loud, and you couldn’t even feel embarrassed about accidentally saying it because all you could think about was how completely true it was. You and Steve would work so well together, you pretty much already did. You knew the ins and outs of each other; everything little that was annoying but also so endearing. It was what you loved about him— as a friend and as more.  

But still, it was so fucking hard to admit that out loud, and you wanted to forget about the entire realization.

“I– I don’t know,” You finally answered before folding your arms against the countertop and then putting your head down. You squeezed your eyes shut, hoping that that action would be enough to will away the tears that you could now feel threatening to spill out. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“and i ended up here. pouring out my heart to a stranger.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“Hey, you okay?” 

The voice was soft and immediately comforting and oh so familiar. It was enough to put a smile on your face, but your head was starting to pound so you couldn’t bear to do anything but groan.  

You lifted your head and mumbled out a soft, “Steve?”

You only vaguely remembered the bartender, whose name you eventually learned was Chelsea, asking for a phone number of someone that could pick you up. And although you should’ve given her your roommate’s number, you instead gave her Steve’s. 

“I never thought I’d be the one picking you up from a bar,” Steve said as he sat down next to you. “I always thought it would be the other way around.”

“Y’know what they say about college, it changes people,” You told him with a nonchalant shrug. The two of you hadn’t talked in days, but it still felt like second nature to fall back into the joking cadence you had with him. “I’m a total badass now.”

Steve laughed a bit and looked at you amusingly. “Mhm, yeah, sure you are.”

You weren’t as drunk anymore but you were entering the early stages of a hangover that would be a bitch, and you already knew that there was no way you’d be going to your eleven o’clock Statistics class. 

“I can’t believe you drove two hours to pick me up,” You said as you settled yourself in the passenger seat of Steve’s car after you paid your pricey tab and goodbyes were said to Chelsea.  

Steve offered you a small smile. “What else are best friends for?”

You couldn’t help but look away from him as you mumbled out a soft, “I didn’t know we were still that.”

“We’ll always be that.” 

There was so much certainty in his voice that it actually managed to soothe something inside of you. Only for a second, though, because then you were back in your head again. 

The drive back to your dorm was quiet with only the soft sounds of the radio to fill the silence. It was a short ride, only about ten minutes, and the entire time you could only focus on your dull headache and what you wanted to say to Steve because you knew that you had to say something. Although you didn’t want to, that night needed to finally be talked about.

When he was parked in front of your building, you still didn’t know exactly what to say, but you decided to start with something. “Listen, about Robin’s party–” 

“It’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it. Let’s just pretend it never happened,” Steve interrupted you. He pushed a hand through his hair and then met your gaze. “It was really dumb of me to say all of that stuff, and I partially blame it on all the drinks we had— definitely way too many. We’re just friends, I know that. And your life is here now, for the most part, and mine is back in Hawkins, so yeah…” He trailed off with a small shrug. 

You suddenly felt nauseous and you knew it had nothing to do with the alcohol. He was saying everything that you fully thought you wanted to hear— what happened at the party should’ve never happened, you two were just friends— so why did it feel so wrong? 

Things became quiet and Steve was looking at you expectantly, and you were unsure how long you’d been silent for. 

“Um, yeah, exactly,” You finally said as you unbuckled your seatbelt. Before you opened the passenger door to leave his car, you reached over and pulled Steve in for a hug. “Drive safe.”

“Thanks,” He said as his arms circled around you. 

For some reason, there was a huge part of you that wanted to say “I’m sorry” in that moment, but you didn’t entirely know why, so instead you said nothing and simply got out of his car.

You headed to the entrance of your dorm building and then turned around, giving Steve a final wave before he drove away. 

It was then— as he headed down the street and after a few moments his car became completely out of your view— that you wished you’d been honest; with yourself and with him.  

Because it was in that moment of you yearning for him to turn around mixed with you sincerely wanting to go after him that essentially sealed it for you. 

Steve was different and he always would be. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“and maybe i don't quite know what to say, but i'm here in your doorway.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

You felt slightly lucky that you only had two classes on Thursdays because when you woke up after sleeping through your Statistics class, you knew that you wouldn’t be going to your Psychology class that started at three. And the reasoning actually had nothing to do with your hangover. 

Aside from the slight headache, you woke up with your mind feeling completely clear for the first time in a long time. You knew exactly what you wanted and what you wanted to do, and before that feeling could go away, or you could convince yourself to push it away, you were in your car an hour before your class was supposed to start and driving to Hawkins. You were pretty much running off of impulse and hope.

The weather was terrible and you hated driving in the rain, but it didn’t matter to you right then because you needed to see Steve.

You had two long hours of driving in terrible rain to figure out what exactly you wanted to say to him, yet you still couldn’t form a coherent set of sentences in your head. But, similar to the rain, that didn’t stop you from ringing his doorbell. 

In hindsight, it probably would’ve been smart to bring an umbrella because it was still pouring and from the short walk from your car to his front door, your clothes managed to become effectively soaked, but it didn’t bother you. 

“Hey,” He said when he opened the door, it was easy to tell that he was surprised to see you. “Did you drive all the way here?”

You quickly nodded at his question. “Yes.”

“You hate driving in rain.” 

“Yeah, but I… I just really wanted to talk to you, and didn’t wanna do it over the phone.”

“Come inside,” Steve said, pushing the door open wider so that you could step in. 

You almost followed him but then stopped. “No, wait… I kinda just wanna say this here.” 

Steve looked at you confused, but ultimately nodded. “Okay.” He then stepped out of his house and closed the door behind him; his clothes immediately got wet. “It feels wrong that you’re the only one getting hit by the rain.” 

You laughed a bit. “Thank you. That’s very considerate.”  

Things got quiet for a second and you suddenly felt nervous, but you pushed that feeling to the side.

“I know you said that we don’t need to talk about the party and we should pretend that it never happened. And although that’s exactly what I’d been doing for the past few days, I don’t wanna do that anymore.” It actually didn’t feel too hard to let all of this out; verbalizing exactly what had been going on in your head. In a way, it felt like a relief. “I think I kissed you that night because deep down I know that it’s you too. And that it’s always been you… Which is actually so scary to think about because we’ve known each other for so long and you’re the one person in my life that has been the biggest constant. You’ve seen every part of my very horrific love life and I don’t want us to end up like any of the stupid relationships I had before, and I think that’s why I ran away that night, which I do really regret.” You pulled your eyes away from his for a second. “But, what we have is different, and I want to try. I want us to try.”

You let out a long breath. “Okay, that’s it.”  

Steve didn’t say anything for a few moments, and it was then that you realized how loud the rain was, and somehow it was actually a bit calming to hear the sounds of the heavy drops hitting the ground. 

You searched his eyes to see if you could decipher what he was thinking, but before you could get a clear read on anything, he was closing the small bit of distance between you both and reaching up to cup your face in his hands before leaning in to kiss you. 

The abruptness of the action slightly startled you, but you were completely okay with this nonverbal response to you pouring your heart out. You were kissing him back almost immediately and suddenly the sound of the rain was gone and instead all you could hear was your heartbeat pounding in your ears.

The kiss felt perfectly new but also so insanely familiar; even though this was the first time this was happening sober. And so many things were running through your mind, but it was also effectively blank and you knew you wouldn’t be able to form a coherent sentence even if you tried. 

Most of all, though, everything happening right then— the way your hands fisted themselves in his rain soaked t-shirt to pull him impossibly closer to you, and how his thumb stroked your cheek so tenderly— it all felt so certain and sure and right; there wasn’t an ounce of doubt lingering in the air around you both or lacing its way within the kiss. 

When you pulled away to catch your breath and smiled up at him, a smile that Steve immediately matched with an elated grin of his own, it slightly killed you that all of this hadn't happened sooner.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“i just wanted you to know that this is me trying.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

let me know ur thoughts<333

[mint-8]

Platonic Yandere Doll Monster

Trigger/Content warning: Mentions of blood and dismemberment.

You received a little rag doll as a gift for your birthday when you were a child. A little toy that looks oddly like one of those voodoo dolls, for some reason. They have no clothes, nor hair and their body is littered with cuts and holes, with their old stuffing barely holding within the stitches. Only 2 button eyes, a little smile and stitched rosy cheeks.

- Yandere Doll who has always been somewhat sentient. Ever since their creator made them to curse their boss, or when they were gifted to that kid who wished for their parent to die, and when they were found by and elder that wanted to kill their spouse, to finally finding it’s way to your tiny hands. They have only known dead and suffering, with painful needles and cuts in their soft body, they assumed you would throw them away for being a creepy doll and would eventually have a new owner.

- Yandere Doll who is shocked that, instead of seeing them with disgust, a certain shine is in your eyes. You wish to fix this doll, and make them the most adorable companion ever! Or perhaps you want them to look badass? Perhaps making them even creepier? Either way, they love that you are seeing them with such warmth!

- Yandere Doll who loves you even more with each passing day. You always work so hard to fix their scars with needle and thread, making them outfits on the side and filling them with new stuffing. You take them anywhere you go, as a little companion on your backpack or bag, cuddling them at night and during naps, and keeping them close while you are relaxing, eating or working.

- Yandere Doll who, one night, hears something weird coming from outside your room. They aren’t sure what it is, but they don’t like it. They don’t even realize their tiny body is slowly moving towards the door, careful in not waking you up, and notice someone in the hallway, seemingly trying to not make their presence known. A burglar, perhaps? Or could it be a stalker or a vengeful ex? Either way, your doll isn’t happy with this intruder.

- Yandere Doll who stealthily avoids the stranger in your house, finds the kitchen and takes out the biggest and sharpest knife you own.

- Yandere Doll who charges in blind rage when they notice the intruder getting closer to your room. Forgetting to be silent, their steps become louder and heavier, their tiny body grows rapidly as to one of a small child and, when the stranger looks behind them, your doll has already tackled them to the ground and start to violently stab them in the neck. They don’t stop until their head has been chopped from their shoulder and only the horrified, yet lifeless face is left.

- Yandere Doll who doesn’t question how they grew in size or where their sudden strength came from, they only know that they must clean this mess before sunrise.

- Yandere Doll who searches all around your apartment for cleaning products and trash bags to get rid of the corpse and blood. They are so glad you took the medication that makes you extra sleepy.

- Yandere Doll who has successfully cleaned everything and use tons of air fresheners to hide the smell, and all that it was left was the bloodied remains of the stranger they just maimed. They can’t just leave it outside, your neighbors might find it and call the police! Then you could be sent to prison! And it’s not like they could just drag it all the way to the outskirts of the city, it would be morning soon and people will notice! Pondering on the best course of action, your doll looks at the knife they’ve just cleaned and their enlarged body. If they have changed so much outwardly, what about the inside?

- Yandere Doll who cuts open their stitched mouth with the knife, and discover rows of sharp teeth among the stuffing. They look at the cold corpse and start to enjoy their night snack.

You wake up. It’s the best sleep you have gotten in ages! As you start to move around your bed and stretch, you notice that your doll isn’t by your side. Perhaps you dropped it? You check under your bed, but it wasn’t there. Strange.

Once you leave your room, you notice how there are some of your cleaning supplies and trash bags in the middle of the hallway, for some reason. Perhaps you forgot to put them back when you were done with cleaning yesterday.

As you go on with your day, you keep searching for your favorite doll. Not in the shelves, or in the cupboards, nor in the closets. Were could it be? You don’t notice how the hydrogen peroxide bottle is almost close to empty, or how your knives aren’t arranged as you left them, or how the aire smells oddly like flowers, you simply keep going as usual, thinking that you will eventually find your dolly.

Night comes and who do you find under your desk? Your little doll! You can’t believe you missed it when you searched for it earlier in the day! You do notice that it smells somewhat different and that their mouth was somehow open wide, letting some of their stuffing escape from it’s insides. You chuckle to yourself, you must have thrown or kicked it in your sleep and it got torn open when it slammed against the wall. How silly of you!

You give your little doll a kiss as a sorry and start sewing their mouth back together while listening to the late night news. Apparently there has been an increase on crime lately, so you decide to shop for some new locks tomorrow. You’ll bring your little dolly with you, of course. Your little luck charm!

- Yandere Doll is so happy that you didn’t notice anything. They weren’t sure when their body was going to shrink back to it’s original size, so they hid from you until they got back to normal. The stranger was surprisingly tasty and they couldn’t wait for the next idiot who tries to enter your home! No matter their size, no matter their kind, your little doll will make sure to deal with any pesky flies that dare to hurt their precious owner. They won’t let anyone hurt you.

[zaldritzosrose]

Either Way, What Bliss (Gomez!Sihtric x Reader)

Summary: The list of why he loved you was endless, incomprehensible. But if Sihtric was asked where he would begin, he could speak about you ‘till he perished. You drove him to insanity, his devotion to you could border on lunacy. But you were his, and he was yours.

TW: She/Her pronouns, afab reader, Sihtric being a Gomez coded boyfriend, expressions of devotion, Sihtric being soft but a little crazy, romance, mentions of smut (Minors DNI to be safe).

Words: 1926

This is a very special gift for a very special lady @sihtricfedaraaahvicius . I hope you enjoy it and just know how very special you are! Happy Birthday! ❤️

There was nothing Sihtric enjoyed more than watching you. Whether in your garden, in your shared home or simply out in the wide world. He simply watched. Marvelling at the fact you had deemed him worthy of you. Always listing to himself the things he loved the most.

Your smile, the one especially for him when he was declaring his love at the most inopportune moment. The blush that joined it, the way you would bite your lip afterwards when he continued in his praises.

Your laugh, the soft, slightly embarrassed giggle when he would pull you close and kiss you in public. Hiding your face in his neck afterwards but secretly relishing in his need to publicly show his love.

Your eyes, the look of concentration whenever you would read a book or study your tarot. The sparkle when you would see something interesting. Especially about him. He would not often ask you for a reading, saving them for when he felt like you needed it as much as he did.

He could go on forever. He would never tire of praising you to anyone who would listen, whether they wished to or not. His friends were used to it, knowing anything and everything would remind him of you.

Roses, the ones in your garden. The deep red made him think only of your lips, when you leave the wine-red smudges on his skin after a kiss. The softness of the petals that made him picture your skin under his hands.

The sound of rain, especially on a window. Reminding of all the nights the two of you would curl together on in your living room, one of your favourite movies on the television. When he would wrap his arms around you, and you would curl yourself impossibly close into his embrace.

The smell of tea, freshly brewed and hot. You were never without a cup, tucked in your hand whenever you could. You would seek out a café wherever the two of you went. Refusing to stop until you had found it. The satisfied sigh when the warm liquid was finally consumed.

But Sihtric also enjoyed the deeper, darker, stranger parts of you. The parts that might put anyone else off you, he revelled in. It rolled off him when people called him weird, unusual. They were words that would likely hurt others. But they only spurred him on, desperate to live up to the persona people painted him with. And you matched him score for score.

The way you would light up when the weather would finally turn cool, when the leaves would become shades of orange and crunch beneath your feet. When you could clothe yourself in the darkest of colours.

But even more, when you would seek out novels on the most macabre of topics. Authors who depicted nothing but death and despair. The way you would eagerly consume the darkest of topics as though nothing excited you more.

The joy you found in everything sombre and morbid, matching him perfectly. Enjoying filling your shared home with curiosities that would easily find their home in a gothic horror. All these things entwined him more to you.

Sihtric could not imagine his life without you. Your desires matched his. You brought out both his rage and his lust. You would awaken the beast within him time and time again. For better or for worse.

The way you would watch with a smile as he defended your honour. The times he would appear at your side like a shadow, the intense stare warding off any rival. He knew it excited you. Having a man like him so devoted and reverent to you.

When you would revel in his strength, his ability to bring you both pleasure and pain in perfect harmony. Letting him give in to his most primal desires whenever the mood found him, matching him in every way. The way it was as though your body was made for him. Welcoming him in a way that would take his breath away.

But also, when you would counter the rough with gentle. Soft fingers on his bare back as you laid entangled together. Soothing that fire inside as he whispered sweet nothings into your heated skin. When you would litter the softest of kisses across his skin when you could not find the words to express your own need.

These were the things Sihtric loved the most, if he was made to list them.

Sihtric was almost vibrating with sheer excitement. Your joint friends, who you had affectionately named ‘The Boys’ had helped him set everything up. And he hoped you did not suspect a thing.

Spontaneous trips out were not unusual for him. He enjoyed how your face would light up when he came to tell you he had a surprise adventure. Because they never disappointed you. Sihtric knew you inside and out, in every way imaginable. He could know what you wanted without you uttering a single word.

Sihtric and the boys had packed the car for all of you. You had not even questioned it, seeing the blankets and laden picnic basket, you knew where he was taking you. Your favourite little village. The right balance of quaint and spooky. It was only a short drive from your hometown and it was a place set solid in your memory, both with Sihtric and without.

You all loaded into the car. You and Sihtric sat together while Uhtred drove and Osferth and Finan in the next seats behind you. You could almost feel the excitement rolling off Sihtric in waves, it was infectious.

The drive was not long, as soon as you saw the sign and the trail of buildings that made you feel like you had stepped back in time. Your hand quickly tangled with Sihtric’s own as he helped you out of the car.

“Such a gentleman,” you teased, giving him that smile he loved when he pressed a kiss to your hand.

Between the four of them, the boys all carried everything from the car, shushing you every time you offered to take something. You could handle the reverence Sihtric seemed to hold for you but to have it transferred to his friends always caught you off guard.

Sihtric kept his fingers entwined with yours as you walked, making quick work of the short distance from the car to the park. He did not even argue when you began to wander. Hands reaching out to the shrub lined path. He could only marvel how at home you seemed. Where it was quiet, secluded. Nothing but you and nature.

The boys found a spot to eat, knowing better than to tear you away from any kind of plants. Sihtric gave you a few moments more, watching you pick yourself a little bunch of wildflowers before he walked over to get you.

“Come on, my little witch, you need to eat,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around your waist and easily lifting you from the ground. 

You barely put up a fight when he carried you over to the others, resting your head on his shoulder instead. It was only when he reached the edge of the blanket did he dare let you leave his embrace.

There was not a moment you did not feel like royalty with Sihtric. Even now, in front of his friends. When so many men would act differently, if anything, Sihtric took his affection to the next level. Staking his claim at times without even realising.

When you sat, his arm was immediately around you. The other grabbing a paper plate and your favourite foods before you could even move. Sihtric knew it would not seem unusual, but he could not help himself. He wanted all of this to be perfect, to show you his devotion before the bigger surprise.

The meal passed with nothing but laughter and relaxation. But the longer it went on, the more you felt like there was something bigger, something that was not being talked about but that everyone knew of except you.

Sihtric stood once he knew you were done, offering his hand to pull you up. None of the boys batted an eye as the two of you walked away. Knowing his plan, and knowing it was something meant for just the two of you. Well, except Osferth…the only one trusted to take photos of what was to come.

The two of you walked a little longer, close enough for Osferth to take photos, but far enough for privacy. It was only now that Sihtric felt the nerves, those little butterflies in his stomach. The same he felt the day he met you.

The field you had picnicked in became a small grove filled with wildflowers.

Perfect, Sihtric thought.

He waited for you to wander again, unable to resist the nature around you. He could feel his hand shake as he reached inside his jacket. That small velvet box felt both heavy and light in his hands. Like his entire future was now contained in this box. 

You could feel him behind you, your ever present and welcome shadow. But when you stopped hearing his footsteps crunching the grass, you turned. And the sight of him, down on one knee with the look of absolute love and devotion on his face nearly stole the breath in your lungs.

“Sihtric what are you…?”

Then you saw it, caged by his fingers but the black velvet was just visible. Your heart was pounding and you felt your hands begin to tingle with nerves.

“My little witch, my very life…there has not been a moment I have not pictured the day I would ask you this. Love is not about finding someone you can live with. It is about finding someone you cannot live without. And for me, that is you.”

You could feel the tears stinging your eyes, pure joy almost overflowing. You took shaky steps towards him, barely hearing what he said next.

“Darling, I have been straining mere lifeless words trying to express my love for you. There are hundreds of reasons I could give for loving you, for wanting to be with you for the rest of our lives and beyond. Hoping you want the same with me.”

He was ready to list them, but he knew from the shake of your hands and the tears threatening to fall that this was not the time for his long reverent speeches.

“Were you ever aware, dear heart, that the mere sight of you fills me with an indescribable joy? An ecstasy of the senses?” your voice was barely a whisper, but Sihtric’s heart swelled with every word.

You were mere inches from him as he took your hand in his, the box now open and displaying the most perfect ring you had ever seen.

“My sweetest love, will you marry me?”

Osferth was nearly in tears himself, the camera screen blurring as he snapped what photos he could. It was immediately obvious you had said yes, the way you leapt into Sihtric’s arms the moment he placed the ring on your finger was like something from a movie.

And the pictures he took? They were now pride of place on your mantel, adding to the collage Sihtric had made over the years. A testament to his devotion.

If Sihtric had to list all the things he loved about you, it would take him years. Luckily, he now had all the time in the world at your side.

Tags: @foxyanon @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @legitalicat @alexagirlie @thenameswinter99 @sihtricsafin @itbmojojoejo @towriteloveontheirarms

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Options for the next web serial Patreon vote

It's time to vote on what the next derinwrites web serial will be. Sample chapters for each option will be provided shortly, then a poll will go up so that patrons can vote on what web serial I should write next.

Inner Life

Nobody knows who they really are when they’re first born. But most people get time to figure it out, and when you’re a body-snatching alien parasite, you don’t get that luxury. The parasites that find themselves on the starship Jolly Codger don’t know what a human is, or what their spaceship’s mission is, or where they’re going. They don’t know who on the ship is an ally, and who is an uninfected human who’ll kill them the moment they’re detected. But they’d better figure it out, because the Jolly Codger has its own secrets and its own enemies, and the real threat isn’t the crew – it’s what’s chasing them.

Child of a Wandering Star

Tyk is a normal adolescent girl, interested in normal adolescent things – earning gems for her carapace, learning to be the best burrower for the hive, making her mother and father and altmother and altfather proud of her. But Tyk was born under a Wandering Star, destined to be a traveller, and it’s hard to really feel a part of a hive that raises you with the expectation of watching you leave them someday. Tyk doesn’t want to go. She’s ready to fight destiny.

But her destiny finds her when a star-egg falls from the sky and hatches a baby god. Soft-shelled, two-legged and clawless, this larva is all but helpless on its own and quickly attaches itself to Tyk. The Stargazers divine that it should be brought to Starspire, the place where earth meets sky, so that it can be returned to its people. This, here, is the destiny that Tyk was born to.

But Tyk’s not sure she’s cut out for such a gruelling journey, and she’s certainly not cut out for raising a baby god. Is this really her journey to make?

Silverbane

Jade was just looking to fulfil her jobseeker requirements and get her Centrelink payment. She didn’t expect to actually get the job working at the mysterious new pawn shop full of weird, creepy artefacts. She had no interest in dealing with bleeding knives, ghost dolls, and whatever the hell it is that keeps using all the mugs in the break room without washing them, even when nobody’s present in the shop but her.

Jade would like to be able to shrug and say that it’s none of her business. She really, really wishes that she was the kind of person who could leave things alone if they weren’t her business. But after snooping a little too deep a little too often, she finds herself tangled up in something a lot scarier than the occasional haunted doll, working for the kind of… “people”… who are perfectly happy to eliminate something the moment it becomes more dangerous to them than useful. And through them, she can learn more about how the world really works than she ever expected.

She just has to hope that it’s worth it.

Our Side of the River Styx

A woman who can see the dead joins forces with her zombie wife to become exorcists-for-hire, helping the dead and living alike find peace. But there’s something strange going on with the barrier between worlds; something stranger than murderous phantoms in white or menacing shadowy figures in hotels. Something… organised. Something growing.

The exorcists are out to pay the rent, not save the world. But when a string of supposedly unconnected jobs forms such an obvious trail of bread crumbs, what is there to do but follow it? Will our Styx-crossed lovers figure out what’s at the heart of this conspiracy in time to thwart it, or does this adventure end in a long-overdue funeral?

The Princess of Ruby Island

Every little girl dreams of being whisked away to be the princess of a magical world on their tenth birthday. But for Jessica Nyle, born on February 29th, finding herself in a strange magical realm on her tenth birthday at age 40 is surprising, to say the least. And what they don’t tell little girls about fantastical magical realms built from dreams is that they’re prone to environmental instability, which can cause mass famine. And that magical limitations can cause factionalisation and extreme power imbalances, which leads to oppression and war. And that the idea of an island made entirely of ruby sounds fantastic, but ruby loses its charm and value as a gemstone when it’s literally the ground you walk on and, as a probably unimportant side detail, one thing you can’t do with ruby is grow crops in it. So that’s less than ideal.

This isn’t the whimsical adventure that mass media had lead Jessica to expect as a child, where all you needed to do to save the world was be brave and true and hold love in your heart and believe in yourself despite everything. Being the Princess of Ruby Island is a dirty job that requires cunning, hard work, political acumen, and a whole lot of luck. And it certainly doesn’t help that forces festering on Ruby Island were quite comfortable filling the previous power vacuum and would very much prefer it if there was no Princess bustling about and messing up their plans.

This is gonna take the power of a LOT of friendships to sort out.

The Cinder Boy

Owen is a wizard’s servant, and has been since he was old enough to walk. He doesn’t remember the mother who abandoned him there or the world she came from, and has never really thought much on the issue. Until the day the old crone comes to the wizard’s tower and, defying the wizard who tries to throw her out (Owen had never, until that moment, see anybody successfully defy the wizard), tells him that his mother was one of the Cinderellae, the hidden organisation of destiny-weavers named for the punishment doled out to them if they are caught – to be burned alive on the town pyre. Other people, she tells him, will try to get their hooks in him, and this tower can no longer keep him safe.

With the help of three friendly breezes trapped in the bodies of helpful mice and a shard of mage glass for protection, Owen must journey into the dangerous world that the wizard’s tower has sheltered him from his whole life. He’s watched the wizard weave people’s destinies for years, but until now, he’s never had to weave his own.

He’d better figure it out fast. Because danger is brewing in the kingdom, and he seems to be somebody’s pawn. He just wishes he knew whose.

Drops of Blood Like Neon Stars

This one is already being written on and off in my free time. Promoting it to main story would allow me to spend my full time on it and ensure weekly updates.

Vampires are good at stability. Life in the Scarlet City has been stable, despite the competing blood factions, for a long time, as has been their mutually beneficial relationship with the human city above. But when a drastic political play by young vampires coincides with a mysterious slate of human murders, Lissa needs to find out what’s going on and put a stop to it before the City is plunged into all-out war.

Holy Light

It’s been 164 years since the Rapture, and 157 years since the end of the world, but humanity’s still doing what humanity does best: holding on. Ageless and resistant to damage and disease, the people who had the luck and quick thinking to hide themselves from God’s purifying light as it uplifted every soul it touched a century and a half ago live on in the dark, doing their best to keep going forward in a world trying to end. But with no new souls coming into Earth, no children have been born since the end. And all it takes to be abducted to heaven is one mistake, one small kiss of sunlight. Eventually, humanity is going to lose this fight.

But Claire thinks she might have found an answer. A way to bring new children into the world once more, a way to return to the flow of normal time. And if it works, then just maybe, they can save the world.

I Am Not The Chosen One

Hannah is having mysterious dreams of a gate on a hill. Jake is getting urgent messages from a strange man in the mirror. Victoria might have accidentally summoned a demon, and Blaire is the luckiest unlucky seventeen year old in the world and has almost died three times this week alone, which is great for his tiktok career but less so for his long-term survival. But the thing that’s really interfering with all of their lives is the shadowy organisation of strangers who keep trying to abduct them.

They’re looking for the Chosen One. The Chosen One, firstborn child of the lost princess of Vanalia, needs to go with them through a portal to a magical land to save everyone there from a tyrannical dark lord, but anyone other than the Chosen One would almost certainly die. Hannah, Jake, Victoria and Blaire are pretty sure that none of them are the Chosen One, but the strangers seem dead set on trying anyway. The only way out seems to be to find this lost princess or her firstborn child for these strangers, and send them off on a magical coming-of-age adventure. But how does one even go about tracking down a Chosen One?

Denise Frank’s Feelgood Recipe Blog

Join me, Denise Frank, on my blog, where every week I share one of my favourite recipes! Every recipe blog needs long, rambling personal stories before getting to the recipe, and mine is no exception. I’ve had a lot of time to cook and not many people to talk to since The Event, so you can expect a high quality blog from me, full of recipes that have been tried hundreds if not thousands of times! Thousands of times over thousands of days. Thousands and thousands of days. I’d have thought I’d be noticeably older by now, but I’m not. I guess that’s what good food and a positive attitude can do for you!

Come and visit my blog for delicious recipes and happy memories, and positive affirmations to help you make it through the day! After all, we gotta get through today to see tomorrow, and there’s gotta be something worth seeing tomorrow! Experience suggests that it probably won’t be something pleasant, but it’ll definitely be something worth seeing! This has to end eventually. Join me to learn to make delicious apple crumble, a microwave brownie for every day of the week, and a beef jerky recipe that my husband used to love! Can’t wait to see you there!

I’d really like to see you.

[svtdreamdrafts]

Hearts in Conflict - Teaser

Pairings: Reader x Mingyu, Reader x Seungcheol

Genre: f2l, angst, fluff, potential smut?

Warnings: Reader is a mess, anxiety, adulting, alcohol consumption, swearing, arguments, heartbreak, unrequited love, family drama, happy ending?

Summary: Shit has officially hit the fan. Adulting is hard and your life has turned upside down. Soon to be graduated, you’re struggling to finish your last year in university while looking for a “real” full time job and dealing with family problems. You usually sought solace in your two best friends. But boy, you done fucked that up!

Your heart’s in your throat. You’re starting to hyperventilate.

Your mind’s racing with too many thoughts but you’re frozen in your spot. ‘This is not what I want’, you think. ‘He’s not who I want’.

Isn’t he?

The first time you laid eyes on him you were confused.

I know that’s a weird sentiment to feel about someone you met for the first time. But, you had not expected a stranger, a handsome stranger at that, to be at your 19th birthday.

He was tall and big.. with those big broad shoulders and big arms. His damned biceps. You were entranced. You didn’t how to react to someone like that wishing you happy birthday when you have never met.

But, here you are now. In this moment. All these thoughts you had back then, you were sure this was what you wanted all this time. Isn’t it?

“Y/N”, he sighs.

Your eyes were unfocused, you were staring at his shirt while he looms over you. Your hands are clenched in fists on your sides. Your back is pressed to the wall while he crowds you against it.

You swear you were just inside the bar, sipping on your (third?) rum and coke. When did you get here? How did you end up in the alley near the bar?

“Can you say something, please?”, he closes his eyes and leans towards you to rest his forehead against yours. “Please?”, he whimpers.

“I..”

“I don’t think this.. this is a good idea”, you whisper gently.

“Why?”, he urges abruptly making you wince a little.

“I don’t know, please..”, you’re not sure what you’re asking for.

You gasp softly as he lifts his head to look at you with heavy-lidded eyes.

You’re not sure how long you keep staring back at him for, but he seems to be fighting something inside him.

He opens his mouth but before he could share his thoughts, you cut him off.

“You.. we can’t do this. I’m not ready for this. You.. you’re not ready for this. This is happening too quickly.. and”, you take a long breath before you continue. “This won’t work out.. you know that”.

Frustrated, he runs a hand through his hair, “how do you know that? We didn’t even try. Give this a chance. Give us a chance”.

You start shaking your head, “Mingyu.. please.”

What do you want? You know he likes you, he told you that already. Even if he hadn’t, his advances towards you were anything but subtle for anyone not to notice, including your own friends. They even encouraged you to go for it, but..

He’s not Choi Seungcheol.

———————————————

Hi! If you made it till here, thank you(:

Please let me know what you think and if you’d like to read more?

This will most likely turn to a series. Follow for more!

Also, who do you want Y/N to end up with??

[formulacherry]

a carlando instagram au

(milestone edition)

liked by f1, carlossainz55 and others

landonorris 3 years! love you @carlossainz55

carlossainz55 Te amo 😘

liked by landonorris

fan1 i’m crying

fan2 HIS BACK?!!??!

lnfour couple goals!

fan3 my OTP 😭

liked by landonorris, carlosonoros and others

carlossainz55 Happy anniversary @landonorris. I love you 🥰

landonorris i love you more

carlossainz55 Impossible

fan1 IS THAT AN ENGAGEMENT RING ON LANDO????

scuderiaferrari Happy anniversary!

fan2 engagement ring? 👀

fan3 The bed photo omfg

liked by mclaren, landonorris and others

carlossainz55 My world champion 😘🧡 I am so proud of you for how far you have come!!

landonorris couldn’t have done it without you

liked by carlossainz55

f1 LANDOOOOOO

fan1 I’m crying

fan2 the last photo is so cute

mclaren That’s our boy 🥹

danielricciardo Yewwwwwww!!

liked by maxfewtrell, carlossainz55 and others

landonorris from strangers to teammates to friends to boyfriends and now husbands. i’m grateful for you every day. te amo ❤️

fan1 this is so beautiful

team_quadrant The husbands!

fan2 😭😭😭😭😭

fan3 I’m so happy

lewishamilton Congratulations you two! Blessed to have watched your love blossom over the years 🫶🏾

liked by landonorris, pierregasly and others

carlossainz55 Today I married my best friend. It was a long journey to get here but finally we made it. I love you mi Landito 😍

f1 We’re not crying, you are.

fan1 they’re the reason i believe in soulmates

charles_leclerc ❤️

fan2 I’m in tears I love them so much

fan3 OMFGDKDK CONFRATULAFIOJS!!!!!!

liked by carlossainz55, georgerussell63 and others

landonorris you were my first teammate in f1. you showed me the ropes. i know we’re spending the rest of our lives together but it’ll be weird not having you on the grid. congrats on your retirement baby, now you get to be my WAG 😁

fan1 i miss him already

carlossainz55 Thank you amor! Can not wait to be your arm candy 😎

fan2 no bc i can’t deal with him not being on the grid

fan3 Carlos hottest WAG #confirmed

scuderiaferrari Our smooth operator ❤️

liked by landonorris, scuderiaferrari and others

carlossainz55 I am so lucky to have watched you grow from a rookie, to a race winner and to a world champion. Congratulations on your retirement mi amor, I can not wait to see what the future holds for us ❤️

landonorris i love you

fan1 I DON’T WANT HIM TO GO

mclaren 🧡

fan2 all the best in the future lando!

fan3 🥺🥺🥺

liked by carlossainz55, lewishamilton and others

landonorris two becomes three 👶🏻 our baby girl was born at 4:55am on april 30th. she’s happy and healthy and we are absolutely in love!

fan1 omg 😭

danielricciardo I’m gonna corrupt this child

landonorris we know.

fan2 congratulations!!!!!

fan3 So cute! I wonder what her name is

f1 The newest member of the F1 family 🩷

liked by landonorris, fernandoalo_official and others

carlossainz55 Our little family is complete. Baby Norris-Sainz 30/04, 4:55am 🩷 Thank you to everyone for your good wishes!

fan1 she’s beautiful!!

charles_leclerc Tell her that her godfather loves her

carlossainz55 You are not her godfather

charles_leclerc @carlosainz55 ☹️

fan2 OMG she’s gorgeous!!!

fan3 girl dads confirmed

sebastianvettel Congratulations you two. Welcome to fatherhood! Seb x

liked by carlossainz55, carlosonoros and others

landonorris happy birthday to the best husband and daddy in the world 🫶🏼 we love you!

carlossainz55 Thank you mi vida, I love you both so much x

fan1 the best girl dad 🥺

danielricciardo Daddy

landonorris stop

fan2 The last photo omg

f1 Happy birthday @carlossainz55!

fan3 THEY’RE SO CUTE

[sword-is-bored]

I Met You Once

(Link X Reader)

Feminine (Y/n)!

Ocarina of Time

“(Y/n)!” The young girl turned her head, finding a boy in green on horseback. She tilted her head, wondering how he could know her name. “I’m sorry… do I know you?” He looked a couple years older, but not by much. “Oh! I’m.. uh.. yes. I’m Link. I was talking to your older sister. I just wanted to meet you.” The young girl tilted her head and smiled. She knew her older sister enjoyed talking with strangers, especially when she ventured to Castle Town. Maybe… this would be a friend for her. After all, their quaint house tucked far away wasn’t something she was able to leave. The young fairy boy seemed keen on talking to her. “It’s nice to meet you, I haven’t heard anything about you.” She said. Link shrugged and got down from his horse. “This is Epona. I..” He blushed, holding out his hand. “I wanna be your friend. I’m ten. I heard you’re eight.” She blinked and slowly nodded. “Yeah. I am. I like your horse. She’s pretty.” (Y/n) took his hand and shook it. Link grinned. “Great! Come on and pet her.”

So, (Y/n) did. She stroked the mane of the gentle horse, still a young foal herself. The two began to chat more, and (Y/n) found she really liked this boy. He had traveled all around Hyrule and visited… everywhere! All the adventure she had yearned for in her young years. “I have to stay home, mom and dad want me to be the perfect lady.” (Y/n) said softly. “Why’s that?” Link asked. “Oh, when I get married.” She said nonchalantly. “Married?” Link asked slowly. “Yeah. I have a fiancé.” (Y/n) hummed. “A fiancé?” The young girl grinned at the boy’s question. “Yeah! It’s super cool! When I get big enough, I’ll get married. So mom and dad want me to know all the things I need to be the perfect wife.”

The perfect wife.

The words had rang clear through the young boys brain. However, he had witnessed a different fate.

Years later, when Hyrule was crumbling.

Tears that (Y/n) cried when he had met her.

“I hate him. I hate this man. I hate being married. I’ve… already had two children. My body is ruined. I’m ruined. I wish.. I wish I never agreed.” An older Link had witnessed this, and brought the memory back to the present. “Link… I wish… you’d found me. I love you. I’m sorry.”

“(Y/n)… you shouldn’t marry him.” The young boy whispered. “Why not? Mom and dad say he’ll treat me so nice.” Link stared at the girl, biting his lip. “Promise me something? We’ll stay friends, okay? And you can tell me anything. And I’ll do anything to make sure you’re happy.” He asked. (Y/n) thought it was a weird request, but shrugged it off. A friend. That’s all she’s ever wanted. A true friend. “Okay, and I’ll do the same for you.”

Years passed, and Link made good on his promise. He would visit at least once a week, if not twice. (Y/n)’s parents found him irritating, but he never meddled in her marriage again. (Y/n)’s 16th birthday was nearing, as were her preparations for her marriage. “I’m really excited Link. After this long, I’ll be able to meet my fiancé soon.” She gazed at him, as they sat in Hyrule field together. Link hummed, picking at the flowers around them. “Yes, I’m sure you’re excited. But is this something you want?” He asked, tilting his head. Throughout the years, Link had lost his childish charms. He had grown into a fine young man, and (Y/n) couldn’t help but to notice him. Really notice him. The way he protectively stood with her, how kind he always was. How he could make her laugh, even at the worst times. Something… she wants? (Y/n) had to sit back with herself. Did she want to get married? “And you’ve never met the guy? What’s so great about him anyway?” Link prodded. (Y/n) frowned and thought to herself. “I don’t know. I guess… the fact that someone wants me. I’ve been spoken for for as long as I can remember.” She murmured. “Don’t you think that’s… creepy?” (Y/n) shook her head. “Not even a little?” Link asked. “If I were engaged for that long, I’d at least want to know what my wife looks like. Her name, her face, the way she laughs… you know. Something.” (Y/n) brushed Link off. “You wouldn’t understand.” She mumbled. “But… (Y/n). That’s… forever. Marrying someone.” (Y/n) huffed and tugged at the instrument Link carried around. “Okay, whatever fairy boy. Play me a song. I don’t want to talk about that anymore.” Link rolled his eyes and took the ocarina back from her. “Yes, princess.” He murmured and began to play a soft tune.

He just… couldn’t shake the way she looked at him. And through these years he had fallen in love with her. The way she laughed, the way her eyes sparkled when she was truly happy. He needed to see that smile. He wished he could do more to show her how much he cared for her, as more than a friend. Sure, at first this was his heroic heart. He needed to save a girl who obviously couldn’t save herself on her own. It’s what was right… but… now? Now his heart was in on it. He couldn’t… shake what he saw.

(Y/n) told him she was fourteen when she married this man. He was thirty eight years older than her. Fifty two. Marrying a child. “He made me happy at first and then… he treated me like a slave.” And that’s all she was to him. A servant. And it crushed him to see her like that. He spends a few days with her, under the guise of being an old childhood friend. He… fell in love with her so fast. So hard. He figured he could save her before any of this. He was already altering the future, why couldn’t he do it again?

“Link?” He jumped up as she snapped her fingers a few times. “Hey, did you hear me?” (Y/n) asked sitting back in the grass. “Maybe. Maybe not, why?” Link asked, feeling embarrassed he had fallen that deep in his thoughts. “I told you I’m getting married. In a week.” His heart seemed to stop and he looked at (Y/n). “What?” He hissed. “I’m getting married in a week. I was told yesterday, isn’t that exciting?” Link slowly reached out and took her hands, staring daggers into the ground beneath them. “(Y/n). I’ve… I know what your life will be like with him.” He said slowly, delicately as not to scare her. “You cannot marry him. Please. You.. you have to trust me. Okay? Say the word and I’ll take you away. Far away. I’ll protect you, and make sure no one ever takes away your freedom to choose again. But you have to trust my word.”

(Y/n) searched his gaze, finding nothing but panic and pain for her. Her heart clenched and she realized in horror… did she love him? She pulled her hands away and stared at Link intently. “I.. I don’t…” The words escaped her mind. He looked up, his eyes finding hers. And for once she could see her future. Laughing and running, cuddles and soft kisses. Waking up in the night, finding his sleeping body beside hers. A comforting and fulfilling presence. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I’m scared.” She said simply. Link pulled her into a tight hug, nodding softly. “I know. I am too, but I promise I’ll protect you. And I promise you’ll be so much happier. Trust me.”

She did trust him. With her life.

“Okay.” She breathed, hugging back. He pulled back and smiled, gently tilting her head up to look at him. He leaned in close, and she did as well. They shared a gentle kiss before Link pulled away. “I will come to get you the night before your wedding. Take anything you’d like. You won’t be returning.”

The day came, and (Y/n) waited anxiously in her nightgown. Her window cracked open and the familiar head of her lovely fairy boy poked inside. Their gazes met and he held out a hand. She smiled and took it, climbing out of her window with him.

To freedom.

(Happy ToTK release my friends :))

[arialerendeair]

Happy Birthday!!!!!! May all your wishes come true!!!! Good health and wealth to you!!!

As a Gabe anon, I feel compelled to give you a little idea and here it is. A Sleepless in Seattle AU!

Hob is a recently widowed father to a precocious 10-year-old, Robyn. They lost Eleanor just the year before and to help themselves, they pack up and move out of the city she grew up in to move to Seattle.

On the other side of the country, Dream is preparing to marry Calliope, whom he met at work. The relationship is fine. He likes her well enough and she likes him well enough. Marriage is just something that makes this all seem real.

It's Christmas Eve and while on a long drive home, Dream tunes into a radio show where Robyn is asking for a new wife or husband for his father. He's been real sad since his mom died and he just wants someone to join their little family.

Then Hob catches him and sends him off to bed and takes over the call. He gets to talking about what he loved about his wife and what he misses most. Dream heart melts for this stranger so many miles away.

Dream decides to write him a letter. He wants to meet Hob and Robyn on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day, much to the chagrin of his friend Lucienne who rightly tells him he doesn't want to be in love in real life. He wants to be in love in a movie. He's also still engaged to Calliope after all. Dream thinks better of it and tosses the letter, which Lucienne still mails.

Hob meanwhile has moved on and has started dating again. Which Robyn doesn't like. He finds Gwen too weird for his tastes. Besides he likes Dream's letter the best. Which puts the house at odds. Robyn wants to go to New York for Valentine's Day, Hob wants to go to a cabin for the weekend with Gwen. They fight about it all day long until Eurydice, Robyn's new friend, uses her parent's travel agency to put him on a plane.

Robyn's going to New York to see his new dad <3

- 🤜 anon

ANON I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE GRATEFUL IN MY LIFE THAT YOU DECIDED TO COME AND GRACE MY INBOX WITH THIS. BECAUSE THIS IS GLORIOUS.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~

Hob has never been more panicked in his entire life than he was when he got the phone call from his babysitter that Robyn wasn't at home. The ensuing fight with Gwen had been quick, vicious, and frustrating. She had understood his need to go after Robyn, of course, but when she found out that Robyn had left to meet this mystery letter person, they'd had a fight over the love letter that Hob still carried in his wallet.

(Why did he carry the letter in his wallet? How long had he had the loopy handwriting memorized, how long had he known every single word, no matter how many times he'd read it....)

Hob had taken Gwen home, and had accepted her demand to delete her number from his phone and hauled ass to the airport, purchasing a ticket the second he hit the counter, racing to the gate in time. The flight was agonizing, and Robyn had clearly turned his phone off, no matter how many times Hob looked at it and begged for his kid to answer one of his dozen or so texts.

~!~

Perhaps Dream should have known that Calliope would not stand to play second fiddle to anyone, even an imaginary man who had no basis or truth in reality. Yet when she'd handed him the ring back with a regretful look, he'd felt nothing but relief. He had no doubt that in another world, they could, perhaps, find happiness together, but every time Dream looked at the Empire State Building... he wondered.

Strange that the sound of a single man's voice had made him decide to abandon all reason. But Robert Gadling (call him Hob, according to his adorable son) had sounded so wistful and so lovely that it had been impossible not to be drawn to the possibility of offering what it was that the man was seeking. No matter that he lived across the entire country and the possibility of him being at the top of the Empire State Building tonight was so unlikely as to be called impossible...

The romantic in him couldn't deny it how much he wanted Hob to be waiting for him there. Even if Dream had no idea what he looked like, or how someone like Robyn would like him, it didn't matter. The possibility of it all was a break in the 'fine' that it seemed had been suffocating him his entire life.

So Dream raced to the Empire State Building, barely making it past the guard, promising a quick look before he left, and ran out onto the observation deck. The sight of no one there, only an empty chill, had his heart sinking, because of course he'd been foolish, of course he had wanted too much, wanted the impossible - when the door opened behind him.

Standing there was a man, with his son, and they were in the middle of an argument.

"I told you no one would be up here, they were closed-"

"But Dad, his letter promised! He promised!"

"I know, but sometimes adults make promises that they can't keep," Hob said, his voice softening, gentling.

Dream stared in shock, because it was impossible not to recognize both of those voices. He'd heard them in his dreams for weeks now, and they likely hadn't seen him because of his all black ensemble. He cleared his throat and stepped into the orange light from the inside.

"I am in the habit of keeping my promises," he offered up, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. He stepped closer, even tough it was clear that they were both in shock. A moment later, Robyn was barreling toward him, and Dream caught the boy against his legs carefully, well aware that Robert Gadling (Hob, Hob, his name was Hob) was watching. "It's a pleasure to meet you Robyn."

"I knew you'd come, Mr. Dream. You promised. You said that everyone needs to have dreams, and how important they are, no matter how fantastical they are!" Robyn said, his face pressed tight to him. "You're perfect for Dad, I just know it."

Dream swallowed down the instinctive disagreement, because he was far from perfect for anyone, and in fact, it was the distinct opposite, where he was often too much. "I think that will be up to your Dad and I to determine, Robyn. But I have you to thank for our meeting." He knelt down, uncaring of he cold granite on his knees and met the warm brown eyes of the boy who loved his father so much, he'd tried to do the impossible.

"No matter what happens, Robyn, never forget how important it is to-"

"Put magic into the world," Hob finished, quoting Dream's letter from memory, meeting the wild blue eyes that sent his heart stuttering all over again. "Because if we do not make our own magic, if we do not rejoice in the magic there is to be had, it will fade away before we even know what we have lost."

Dream's breath caught and he stared at Hob. "You read my letter," he whispered.

"Dad keeps it tucked in his wallet," Robyn stage-whispered. "He's read it so many times when he thought I wasn't looking. I think he needs a little magic."

Dream's lips quirked and he grinned as Hob began to flush, his cheeks growing more and more red by the second. "Does he now?" He reached out and gave Robyn's hands a small squeeze before standing and moving closer to where Robert Gadling was tugging at his ear lobe in embarrassment.

"Hello Robert," Dream breathed, his voice soft. "My name is Morpheus Endless, but I would have you call me Dream."

"Hello Dream," Hob repeated, his voice soft, reverent. He could feel his cheeks were flaming red because the most beautiful man he'd ever seen swayed closer to him. "Call me Hob, please? If that's not too weird?"

Dream nodded. "Hob," he agreed. "You kept my letter?"

Hob nodded and reached out to pull it from his letter, unfolding it carefully. "I, I used to be a medieval professor. No one hand writes letters anymore. But yours was handwritten."

"Of course. It was important," Dream whispered. "It had to be a little bit magical. For the man I fell a little in love with over a radio show."

Hob gasped, his eyes widening. There was a story in the way Dream's chin tilted up, unrepentant, but aware it was too much, that it should be too much. It was a story he very much wanted to discover. He swallowed and looked down at Robyn who was grinning wildly at both of them.

"I think I fell a little in love with you when you turned around to tell Robyn you always keep your promises," Hob admitted, his heart pounding. Pink streaked across Dream's cheekbones and he wanted to chase it with his lips. "But don't you live in New York? We, we don't..."

"As it turns out," Dream said, pushing his hands into his pockets. "I am a children's author who is quite able to work from wherever he likes. So perhaps, I could offer my guest room to you both this evening, and I could visit the west coast soon?"

"Really soon, Mr. Dream?" Robyn asked. "Please?"

Dream winked at Hob and looked down at Robyn. "If I can manage it, I have every intention of flying back on the same flight as both of you. I can't have someone else stealing your father away when I have decided to properly court him, after all."

The noise that escaped his throat was embarrassing, but hearing Dream say that he intended to COURT him was... he wasn't the one who should be COURTED, not when Dream was, was, he was the one who deserved to be courted!

"If he will have me of course," Dream added, meeting Hob's eyes again. "I am perhaps out of practice, but I will do my best."

Hob could see the hesitancy there, the worry, and if he wasn't halfway in love with Dream already from that small declaration, he didn't know himself at all. So instead, he reached out, tangled his hands in the collar of Dream's jacket and pulled him in close. "We can practice together," he breathed against Dream's lips, swallowing his gasp with a soft kiss.

They broke apart to Robyn's loud cheer followed by the pointed clearing of the throat of the elevator bellman. Hob laughed and pressed his forehead against Dream's, holding onto his hand tightly as they made their way to the exit. Perhaps it would end horribly, perhaps it was a dream not meant to last, but...

Dream didn't let go of his hand for the rest of the night.

Or on the flight home.

Or on the car ride back to his house.

Or when he offered the use of his guest room in return for Dream's kindness.

Or, when, three weeks later, he admitted that he had fallen in proper love, and he wanted Dream to stay.

Dream didn't let go, and Hob let himself believe in the magic of happily ever after.

[kg2hub]

🎭 Kindergala Starter Prompts!

here's a collection of prompts you can send into people's ask boxes to interact with them if you don't know what to say, or find it easier to just copy & paste something and send it!! :D

ofc, feel free to change, alter, or expand on these prompts if needed! these are all for different scenarios, but i'm sure you can figure which ones are which from context :'''D

❝Your mask is cool! What's it supposed to be of?❞

❝Ew. What are you doing here?❞

❝Are you... supposed to be me?❞

❝Oh my god. I am so sorry! I didn't mean to spill my drink on you!❞

❝This is really weird... You remind me of someone I know. But different.❞

❝Have we met before?❞

❝There's so many people... I'm getting kind of nervous.❞

❝What are you doing all by yourself? The party's over there.❞

❝Is it really you...? I thought you were dead!❞

❝Oh no, you are not getting the last slice of cake if I have anything to say about it! It's mine!❞

❝Fancy seeing you here. I didn't think we'd meet again.❞

❝I didn't know they let plebians in.❞

❝Why are you so old?❞

❝I remember being that young. I wouldn't ever go back to that.❞

❝Excuse me? I don’t think that's a very nice thing to say.❞

❝I noticed you staring at me for a while... Why?❞

❝I thought I should say hi to everyone here! So hi!❞

❝What even is up with all this multiverse stuff... Have you ever thought about it, like, on a philosophical level?❞

❝So... any mysteries from your world you can spill about to a total stranger?❞

❝I'm under a lot of stress here, so can you stop being so annoying!?❞

❝Do you think past lives are real?❞

❝How do you feel about dying?❞

❝I wish I got a better mask... Mine doesn't fit me that well.❞

❝You're carrying a lot of food there! Need some help?❞

❝Man... I hate the 'no violence' rule. Do you know what I'd do if that wasn't a thing?❞

❝You look like you're having fun! Can I join you?❞

❝You just look like you need some company. I can sit with you for however long you need.❞

❝Did you bring a date for the gala?❞

❝I'd really like to dance with you... Do you feel the same?❞

❝So. We're in the void, huh? I've never been here before...❞

❝You have a nice outfit. Very fancy! I want your style so bad!❞

❝I feel kind of silly, all dressed up for something like this... How about you?❞

❝I came here alone... Can I hang out around you and just be friends for tonight?❞

❝Whoa, hold up! What are you doing?? Isn't that dangerous!?❞

❝I'm about to pull the biggest prank ever, but I need some help. Are you in?❞

❝I bet I can chug all the punch in less than a minute. Wanna watch?❞

❝I'm glad I'm here with you. I'm glad we're here. Coming to this place with you was the best idea, truly."

❝—Wait, is it your birthday? Happy birthday!! Good place to have your party, huh?❞

❝I didn't actually want to come... I was dragged here, kicking and screaming.❞

❝I didn't think I'd have this much fun, but I am!❞

❝Hold on for a second— Your mask is crooked. And there's no mirror nearby... Can I fix it for you?❞

❝...Have you been in the bathroom this whole time?❞

❝Where have you been!? I've missed you!❞

❝Hey, my favourite song's on! Have you ever heard of them?❞

❝Do you think we'll get kicked out if we put ghost pepper powder on all the food and drinks?❞

❝There's so much space to run around and be free! Let loose a little, okay?❞

❝I guess we can't play hide and seek here... Unless you can turn invisible or something. —Wait, can you turn invisible??❞

❝I challenge you to a duel!❞

❝I wanna dance so bad... I'm so scared, though. I'll probably look terrible. I have zero sense of rhythm! I can't dance!❞

❝My group needs someone to take our picture! Can you do it? We'll treat you after, if you want!❞

❝I can't believe I cancelled plans for this.❞

❝Wow... How are you so cool?? I can't believe I'm meeting someone like you!❞

❝What did one mask say to the other? 'I got you covered!'❞

❝I don't think I've been this... calm... in a long time.❞

❝You have such a beautiful smile.❞

❝Jeez, you look like you really need to talk to someone. Like a therapist, maybe?❞

❝I took too much food at the snack bar... Do you want some? Please? I'm begging you, I seriously can't eat all this myself—❞

❝Do you ever know someone, but you don't really know them?❞

❝We might have gotten off on the wrong foot. Can we start over?❞

❝You just arrived? Welcome to the Kindergala! You're a bit late, so the dessert might be all gone if we don't hurry—!❞

❝Did anyone lose a wallet?❞

❝—Hey, is this yours? You dropped this while you were walking.❞

❝I am not cute. Don't you dare call me that.❞

❝I always do something funny before a picture is taken so the smiles are more genuine.❞

❝I thought there would be more adults here. Why is this a daycare??❞

❝The real question is... Where's Waldo?❞

❝...I can't read this. Can you read? What does it say?❞

❝...Sorry, who are you, again?❞

❝Come on, don't look at me like that!❞

❝Coming here was a lot nicer than I thought it'd be!❞

❝This place is so... away from everything. Like, in a good way. It's cozy and quiet— Can I stay here too?❞

❝Would anyone notice if we just take a nap, right here, right now?❞

❝I... brought a gift for you. I hope you like it! Here you go!❞

❝You should let your hair down more often.❞

[peachjagiya]

It doesn't matter how detailed your spreadsheet is. We will never know all the times any of them spend together -- and we shouldn't. So picking the ones we know, or think we know, and saying that's 1) comprehensive or 2) that we know the significance is dumb.

People are allowed to have friends. I will never understand this argument that in order for one ship to be true, the other dynamics must be negative. There are several reasons why these are the two top ships, but one is that there is a genuine closeness. Jk and JM stayed up and played video games. Ok. So? If either was dating a woman, would this late night game sesh make you question it? It's weird. It also ignores a prominent third dynamic (which I think should get more shine): vmin - who are clearly close and love each other and have done for over a decade. JM is one of both of their best friends. Spending time with him isn't a gotcha. There is no villain here (unless it's BH/BPD, then cool, I'm fine with that).

But ok, if birthdays are your thing...none of them have said it's actually their thing. In fact, hasn't it been said that JM is the only one who is really into birthdays? JM and Hobi are regularly the only ones doing postings for everyone. The rest are pretty inconsistent. Tae who has said him and his siblings don't even recognize each other's birthdays. The same way people hype that video of JK wishing JM happy birthday -- would make sense if your close friend really prioritizes birthdays. This sounds more like a difference of personal preference.

And of course there is just the blinding inconsistency. They are closeted and need to hide their love; no they are filming their honeymoon! They are hanging out (from what we, the anonymous strangers of the internet know) and that is the measure of romance; nope, psych, they are tooo busy and it's actually kinda suspicious if you hang out publicly like that, clearly bro behavior. You can't only point at a specific period of time (that time being the present) to prove a relationship; see, it all comes down to a few nights in 2018.

You've got 8 weeks of content coming up (and merch!). Half your ship as an album coming out. Just put the spreadsheet away and relax.

Not much more I can add to this! 👏👏👏

Especially the bit about Vmin.

I don't want to seem superior but I feel like if we had 8 weeks of Taekook coming, we'd be having so much fun with it. Remember when Friends came out, and Inkigayo and type 1 and all these things this year... Maybe it's because I'm not hugely on twitter but we seemed to have so much fun with theorising and joking about and whatnot. But even if that's just my inaccurate reading of events, I know personally that my first thought upon getting a TKK moment isn't to go find the nearest JKKr and throw it at them. I tend to want to seek out other TKKrs to be silly and happy about it with. That's why I started a tumblr! I wanted to share my excitement.

So I don't know why 8 weeks of the travel show they've been talking about since Suchwita has brought out such bitterness when they call it a win (But then to be honest I never saw a jikooker talk about it with excitement, only in the context of how it was a victory over tkkrs or hypersexualised)

I wish they would just have fun with it and enjoy it. At this point, I genuinely feel like there are TKKrs more excited to see JK&JM interacting than the JKKrs are?!

Thanks anon! 💜

[redheadspark]

June Prompt Session (CLOSED)

Hello darlings and HAPPY PRIDE!

We are diving right into June and Pride month and I am SOOOO excited, it's a favorite month (also because it's my birthday month!). I wanted to wait a minute to do another prompt session since I was moving and wanted to focus on cleaning and sort my new space.

This is one of my fav prompts to right since we need to see more of this in fan fiction and in shows for that matter. And since we got a taste of this in the new season of Bridgerton, I decided I can write this for our new session.

This Prompt Session Theme is :

Friends to Lovers

Here are my rules:

1.) You may choose ONE character from my list Here. It’ll have the list of characters that I write for or have written for in the past.

*(If you have a character not listed that you wish for me to write, PLEASE MESSAGE ME AND CLEAR IT WITH ME FIRST TO SEE IF I CAN OR WILL DO IT!)*

2.) There are Twos Prompt lists for this session, so please request the numbers you wish for me to write.

Please provide BOTH the numbers you would like (Both the scenario and dialogue) AND the character to pair it with.

Example: May I have Azriel from ACOTAR with #5 for Scenario and #3 for Dialogue?

*I write out the requests as a first come first serve. I will try my best to fulfill every request that comes my way, but please bear in mind I work full-time as a teacher. Because of that, I’ll be busy most of the day so please be patient and I’ll write in my spare time as much as I can :) *

3.) If I get two requests that are exactly the same, (same character and same number) I will only write it once! Please don't be afraid to ask if someone has already requested the character and number, I don't mind answering that for you :)

4.) You can request in my ASK box neither as yourself or anonymously. Although I would LOVE to give you a shout if you request as yourself, anon is perfectly fine!

5.) I will stop taking requests for this prompt session on Sunday, June 23rd, at 3:00 PST

6) Have fun and enjoy :)

This Prompt Session was created by @creativepromptsforwriting

Dialogue Prompts

“We can’t go on like this. Like friends is all we are.”

“You know I love you, right? But maybe in a different way than you think…”

“We’ve known each other for so long. I can’t imagine my life - myself - without you anymore. And I really don’t want to.”

“I was always jealous of them and it took me some time to realise why.”

“Everyone is already thinking that we’re dating.”

“You and I together… would that be weird?” “No. No, I don’t think so.”

“We’re already basically an old married couple. What harm could it be to try it out for real?”

“I’m just scared of losing you.” “Don’t think of it as losing, it’s more like evolving. You’re not losing your best friend, you’re getting something extra.”

Scenario Prompts

Growing up together means that so many of their memories and experiences involve the other person, that if they talk with other people who never met their friend, those people still feel like they already know them.

Having had sleepovers together since they were little, it’s not uncommon for them to sleep in the same bed.

They have always known each other better than everyone else, so becoming teenagers and starting to change their behaviours in groups and having different hobbies is putting a strain on their friendship.

Because they have always been best friends, they accompany each other to every event, to family parties, sport events and school activities. When it’s time for their first school dance, they naturally want to go together, but they are at an age now, were this can become a little bit awkward.

Having so many inside jokes that just the two of them know, that other people often don’t understand their humor.

They had been best friends in their childhood, but then one of them moved away and they lost contact. Meeting each other again by accident and seeing someone they once knew everything about, but who is now basically a stranger is a weird feeling.

They have always been close and they are very comfortable with casual affections, hugging each other, laying their head in the other’s lap, even holding hands.

Having pet names for each other, that no one else uses, which confuse some people.

When they were in elementary school, they created a secret language to avoid their teachers reading their notes they passed back and forth in class. Now one of them uses that language to write a love letter.

There was always that one place they would both run off to - to escape parents, annoying siblings and just the world in general. They haven’t had contact in a long time, but when things get rough, they both end up in their safe place again.

Once again, I will no longer take requests on Sunday, June 23rd, at 3:00 PM PST

Happy Requesting and Happy Pride!

Tagging -@a-lumos-in-the-nox @botanicalbarnes @heliosphere8 @virtueassassin @ethereal-athalia @heartofwritiing @valeridarkness @pemberlyy @saradika @basicrese

[artiststarme]

Utter Chaos

Oof, this may be the dumbest and most chaotic thing I've ever written. I'm writing the second part to the fic where the Party forgot Steve's birthday so stay tuned. Please leave your thoughts in the comments!

~*~*~*~

Robin was his best friend, his ride or die, his Platonic soulmate with a capital P. He knew she still wasn’t comfortable enough  to come out to the Party just as he wasn’t. So when she accidentally made a gay comment that outed herself, of course Steve jumped to focus everyone’s attention on himself. 

Robin was talking to Nancy about the failures of dating or something when it happened. She laughed at Nance’s comment about having crushes on poor choices. 

“Yeah, I had a crush on Vickie until I found out she had a boyfriend.” Robin’s eyes widened as soon as she realized what she said. 

“I mean-“ her panicked eyes whipped over to Steve’s and he knew he had to fix it. 

“How’d you get over it? My crush on Eddie just won’t go away.” He asked, sounding confident and nonchalant but his insides were riling. 

His words caused Eddie to suck in a deep breath of air and start choking. Steve looked at him and patted his back which only seemed to make the choking worse. 

“Dude, are you okay?” Eddie just gave an undignified whimper in response. 

Nancy’s eyes narrowed on Steve, “so what, you’re gay now?”

He felt oddly defensive in the face of her scrutiny and narrowed his eyes in retaliation. “No, I’m half-gay. What’s it to you?”

Robin cut Nancy off from the tirade that was sure to come, “Steve, it’s called bisexual.”

“Yeah, I’m that. I like guys and girls.”

Nancy paled a few shades, “that-that’s a thing?”

“Um yeah, obviously. I didn’t really realize it until I saw Eddie in the boat shed though.”

Eddie’s back tensed under Steve’s hand and he made a muffled shout of frustration and outrage. Steve just gave his shoulder a pat in commiseration. Yeah, he’d been there for months. Welcome to the club, Munson. 

The rest of the Party was silent. Dustin was staring between him and Eddie in unbridled glee like all of his wishes had come true. Lucas and Max looked unperturbed like they’d known for months which knowing them, they might have. Will looked hopefully ecstatic and El was smiling happily. Mike though, looked pissed. 

“That’s disgusting!” Mike yelled with his lip curled in disgust. 

“Shut the hell up, Mike!” Nancy yelled at her brother. 

Robin, Steve, and Eddie whipped their heads toward her but she just shrugged. “He shouldn’t talk to you guys like that. Plus, I’ve had a crush on Robin for weeks. I just didn’t know it was okay.”

Robin gasped obnoxiously and started hitting Steve’s shoulder over and over again. “Oh my god, oh my god, Steve! Oh my god! Can you believe this? Oh my god, no, does this violate our bro code? Oh no, she broke your heart. Of course you wouldn’t want me dating her.”

Steve just shook his head, “Robs, I just want you to be happy. I don’t mind if you want to date my ex. But if Nance hurts you like she hurt me, I’m gonna go after her and make her regret it.”

“Oh, thanks Steve!” She hugged him and he closed his eyes. At least everything had turned out right in the end. 

He didn’t notice Hopper and Joyce at the top of the stairs. They were both staring into the basement in confusion at what they’d just heard. All Hop could do was look at Joyce in utter befuddlement and mouth “what the fuck just happened?”

She just shrugged her shoulders, how the hell would she know?

Permanent Tag List: @doubleb11 @nburkhardt @zerokrox-blog @newtstabber @i-less-than-three-you @carlyv @pyrohonk @straight4joekeery @ksherlock15 @conversesweetheart @estrellami-1 @suddenlyinlove @yikes-a-bee @swimmingbirdrunningrock @perseus-notjackson @anaibis @merricatty @maya-custodios-dionach @grtwdsmwhr @manda-panda-monium @lumoschild @goodolefashionedloverboi @mentallyundone @awkwardgravity1 @anzelsilver @jestyzesty @gregre369 @mysticcrownshipper @disasterlia @lillys-weird-world @messrs-weasley @gay-stranger-things @pnk-lemonades @coolestjoy30 @strangerthingfanfic @dangdirtydemons @bookworm0690

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

tumblr "deep friendship advice quotes" thoughts, 10 years later:

y'know i oft go all the way back in my draft posts, where i saved some of the popular deep ~friendship advice quotes~ back in the day (well, more like copied and pasted them, so that i coud use them on fb at a later date). but maybe. hm. maybe all those "don't chase people. let people come to you" or whatever the fuck posts i saved at like 18 to 22, mostly.... and actually did post on fb at some points in time, when i was younger.... really did ruin my self-esteem and ability to make friends or date people when i was younger.

yeah. they are good quotes, don't get me wrong. but like. they're made for a slightly older audience, really. like people in their late 20s- ie like me right now actually lmao. who have a bit more self assurance (although this is the internet. so maybe not. who knows) and judgement skills. as opposed to a lonely 18-22 year old who got caught up in the memes around fuckbois and losing friends at the speed of light in their 20s.... so, then you might as well cut out all strangers anyway. bc apparently everyone is "wasting your time" if they don't come to you, and you "don't wait up for those around you" and whatever utter bullshit i've got saved there in my drafts.

i get that some of the sentiment is that "you're marching to your own drum" and shit like that, that i ALWAYS got when i was in high school.... and posts in my early 20s on fb..... when someone would do one of those dumb asf "like and i'll tell you what what i like about you" statuses in like 2016..... so people would remember that they existed. but on the other hand, trying to cut out everyone for the weird stance that they're "wasting your time" and "NEVER chase people. wait for them to come back to you. those who care will always come back. they're the real people to fuck with. they give you the real universe vibrations" or w/e the fuck.... really did make me friendless in my 20s.

the above probably made my anxiety about having barely any friends, other than my primary school besties, and a couple of high school besites from public school, that i still talked to semi regularly.... worse... all bc i was also obsessed with the "keep your circle small. they're the ones who care deeply about you and give the energy when needed" or whatever the fuck. how the fuck will i know how to keep my circle small????? when like, yeah i've kept those 5 friends... which is cool... but when they're not available (i obvs give them space lol) or they move away etc.... who the fuck else do i turn to, when i believe EVERYONE ELSE is wasting my time... all bc they NEVER talk to me????

obvs people did try to talk to me in a way, when i wished them happy birthday, or when they seldom wished me happy birthday on fb.... but i always left those conversations at that precursory "how are things? i hope you're doing well!" from them, and a like on their post. bc it'd been so long since i'd talked to those people (say some of the girls from catholic school drama class in like 2017 bc i'd run into them at uni once or twice or while they were at work once.... or even Rich Boy™️ from the same school in like 2016- i hadnt spoken to him in 3 years, and it felt weird. like what the fuck do i say??)... but since they only did that nicety of wishing me happy birthday or vice versa that one year, i never bothered inboxing them bc.... again. they're wasting my time and they're "fair weather friends" bc they don't talk to me except once every 3 years or whatever.

"CUT THEM OUT bc the universe says they're not for you. they give you the LOW VIBRATIONS in your spirit" those posts advise. like honestly. i couldn't keep up with those people from catholic school anyway. bc they're the ones who bought houses in their 20s and some of them do expensive ski trips to europe or japan or america or canada (or do our summer abroad in the peak snow season in those countries working at the snow fields); or just generally here in winter in australia. i can't afford that. one of them proposed to their partner in fucking fiji. i could NEVER afford that, if that were me. or lived abroad for a year and a half in thailand and vietnam bc of their family's charity. something, again, that i COULD NEVER AFFORD. but again. i digress. but according to these posts, i cut them out (partially) bc the universe said that they're not for me, so therefore they're a waste of my time. and that also means that i shouldn't chase them or hit them up, ever. bc what if i end up chasing them anyway???? like yeah. it HAD NOTHING TO DO with the so-called "low vibrations in spirit" that those dumb posts espouse.

not only did this make me friendless, it made me unable to learn the lessons of shitty friendships in my 20s. all bc i believed everyone was either secretly, or VERY OBVIOUSLY wasting my time.... but how was i to know that.... when i never befriended jessica or dean or bella and hayden from my uni classes?? and ok, some of it did actually come from my shitty group at uni, who couldn't fathom why i picked philosophy over history and shit like that. but the thing was, i was so desperate to have any (semblance of) friends.... that i clung to that group out of sheer mortification, terror, and anxiety. despite that, i barely ever ended up in the same classes with them.

however, the girl who fashioned herself as the leader, always seemed to tell me that "you are too highly strung for law" whenever i expressed interest in doing law 101. she would openly mock my handwriting as "looking like a 5 year old's" whenever she could (including when i signed up for her history and archaeology club ans she manned the booth for it, and told me VERY DELIBERATELY to "pLeAsE pRiNt nEatLy *insert my name here*- turning to the guy next to her- see jordan, i told you she writes like a toddler")..... like this group was VERY obviously wasting my time.

but i didnt care, just as long as i had someone to eat thai food with every once in while. as long as i could turn up to engl336 social justice in kids lit, and sit with them and have my very seldom coordinated tute with them too. all despite *alex* (not her real name) constantly speaking to me like my year 7 (2008) geography and year 9 (2010) commerce teacher from catholic school, who would do this shit in front of the 25 kids of both those classes, who i L O A T H E D (and still do to this day tbh. the same guy also fyi.). but i didn't care, as long as i could have a subway and share a cookie with her once a week. uni is hell. and we're in it..... together??? i guess???

but yeah. my point is that, observing my saved copied and pasted drafts of all those typical like "friendship advice" quotes of "don't chase people. let people come to you" or "keep your circle small. they're the ones who care deeply about you and give the energy when needed" et al.... and all the sentiments and memes about people "wasting your time", really fucked up my social skills and friend making skills in my late teens and early 20s. bc they kinda almost gave me a reason to brush off EVERY interaction with other people- be it dating to just making friends or trying to keep old friend ties around (which i didn't/couldn't really do) as "time wasting" and "low vibrations of the universe" and whatever other fucking garbage.

i think younger gen z and the generations after them, need to be wary of this advice when they're young. because it's aimed at older people. who probably have better social skills and thinking skills etc, to ACTUALLY weed out people who waste time and energy... rather than an 18 to 22 year old who is just starting out in life... who is so paranoid about being friendless and single (relationships wise).... that they, in turn, make themselves these two things anyway..... bc for some reason they're also conversely terrified that everyone is either secretly or very obviously wasting their time......

when honey. you're wasting your own goddamned motherfucking time worrying about "they give me low spiritual and universal vibrations. so snippity-snip ✂️" (when like. what the actual FUCK does this even mean, for goddamned starters???) for some fucking reason... also, "not chasing people" and having such a minute circle of friends, that like.... when EVERYTHING goes to shit (ie 2020 pandemic and ALSO my health troubles in late 2020 and 2021), and they're suddenly NOT there or CAN'T be there, who else do you have to turn to (not counting family)???? or in general, if you need to to vent about someone you know, who else do you have when you're buried so deep the mindset about "never chase people, let them come to you" and again, the spiritual vibration tribe bullshit???

these posts are made for people in their late 20s and 30s. not your late teens and early to mid 20s, when you're actually meant to learn this shit. you're wasting your time talking about "the vibrations of the universe" whatever the fuck that means. you're not manifesting any-fucking-thing. get the fuck out of the house (maybe drop the hash brownies or shrooms too, every once in a while, if that's your thing) and ACTUALLY TALK TO PEOPLE. maybe message people from old groups or something, and see if they wanna hang or get a coffee or something. don't cut SO MANY people out of your life so swiftly because the memes say "wait for your tribe and high solar plexus and third eye vibrations for your complex mercury retrograde libra in the 10th house scorpio self"... maybe learn to chase people (and then don't); so you learn from your mistakes.

don't waste away on the depths of the internet- ranging from twitter (oh wait. sorry. X) to discord groups or reddit to this here hellsite. go and experience life, instead of letting your lack of social skills rot your brain away because you, "don't cut ties" instantly bc someone is "wasting your time".... bc again it bleeds into those small talk memes asking someone's fave coffee and you haven't instantly bypassed into "deep conversations about wasted opportunities and vibes with my fave 5 high spirit tribe girlies".

because the only way you'll find those people, is by actually talking to people and teaching yourself the lesson. that, for example, ben is wasting your time bc he never follows through on shit. or he was an absolute bum in your relationship.... bc he used all your money for weed and refused to pay rent bc apparently his NFTs count as rent. that francine is an absolute cow, bc she thinks it's great that she CAN NEVER let people have their say and settle in an argument bc of *insert excuse here*.... or that she's one only person in the world that has EVER SUFFERED EVER legitimately. and this is why it's healthier to cut both of these people out of your life, if you can't reach a compromise.

anyway, my point is, instead of desperately trying to "will into existence/manifest your tribe of high spiritual people" from shrooms_and_liquor_wisdom_thoughts-xoxo-761 or "shower thoughts" or "high vibe society" and whatever dumb asf title pages/groups/chatrooms on any of these sites.... that you'll magically have this fictional tribe of "high vibe people" by ironically NEVER interacting with people and having to learn life lessons the hard way, by ACTUALLY experiencing them.... you've got to literally go out and practice this shit..

younger generations need to learn that most of these sentiment posts are for an older audience.... not a teenager or early 20 something WHO NEEDS to learn these lessons.... but they use them as an excuse not to. go learn to chase people from time to time, even if it is a bad idea. you're young enough to do that shit. you are not wasting time learning these lessons. take it form me, from someone who took them too literally and was proud that she only spoke to 5 people. now im in my late 20s.... and am nearly 30, i realise what a fucked up error this was. (also, i don't condone purposely throwing yourself into unhealthy or toxic relationships or situations, just for the sake of learning these lessons, btw.... but that's a whole other post).