#mina ✨

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the ask box of the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers. <3

thank you!! <33

- books/reading/writing

- dance

- listening to music

- my family & friends (including you guys on tumblr)

- cinnamon rolls

[from-izzy]

and this got drowned in my notifs 😭 thank you so much for reading mina! i'm glad you enjoyed loser chanhee hehe 🤭

playing to lose | the boyz choi chanhee | new

“Well, maybe you should win then.”

pairing » the boyz choi chanhee (new) x fem!reader

trope/au » strangers to (implied) lovers in the future, non-idol au, summer break/holiday au

genre » very fluffy meet-cute, shy chanhee who adores you from afar, changmin is lwk the real mvp in this story, chanhee is (kinda) whipped for you, you're kind of whipped too

word count; estimated reading time » 1408; ~5 mins

warnings (lmk if i missed anything!) » none!

navi/masterlist!! 🤍 the boyz masterlist

happy old day @sanaxo-o ! just a little something because i did tell you i was writing for your boy. thank you to @itsbeeble for some speedy proofreading too 🥰

Well, this has been an interesting summer break.

First, your friends have decided to book a surprise getaway. They say it’s for you who have been working hard on your priorities, but they just can’t admit that they wanted a reason to reward themselves too; you hope someday they will be able to reward themselves without guilt because they’ve worked hard too. You decided to spare the recurring lecture for later.

Because right now, you’re in a billiard competition.

Don’t ask how you got here. Your friends wanted to play on the resort’s beach, but you weren’t feeling like soaking yourself in salt water and washing the sand off your body after. Whilst your friends splashed water at each other, you took better cover from the sun in the nearby bar. Sitting in the chair yourself didn’t seem very vacation-like, but the fruit drink in your hand is as refreshing as the summer wind; so is the blonde man playing billiard right now taking your attention.

“I missed because of you, Ji Changmin! Be quiet for a second!” Seeing his cheeks flare red at whatever the boy beside him decided to whisper to him. True to his words, the white ball didn’t travel far due to his missed aim, which his friend celebrated.

You’re amused by the shine of his blonde hair from the overhead light. His side profile is beautiful, and you find the scowl on his face to be adorable. The way his jaw fell at his friend clearing and winning the game is priceless, and the loser slaps a couple of dollar notes into the winner’s hand. You are about to tear your eyes away when you realise you’ve been staring for too long when the blonde’s eyes meet yours unexpectedly. Your eyes widen in surprise, head ducking down and finger playing with your straw as if nothing happened.

If you could become invisible right now, you would. The heat spreads throughout your cheeks, and despite the fan cooling the room, sweat accumulates around your forehead. You’re certain that the tapping growing louder by each second isn’t because of your feet nervously tapping the floor after being caught. 

Just as you expected, it wasn’t.

“Hi?” 

“I’m sorry-” But when you raised your head, it wasn’t the blonde-haired boy that you were expecting. “I’m Changmin, and that’s my friend Chanhee,” pointing at the sulking boy trying to practice by himself. “I saw that you were looking over at him. Are you interested in him?”

“What?” Bewildered at the straightforward question. “Why does it matter to you?”

“Oh, nothing,” Changmin shrugs with a smirk on his face. “Don’t take this the wrong way but we have actually bumped into each other a few times. Well, without the bumping part. Mind if I take a seat as I explain?”

Intrigued, you welcome the seat next to you. “Well, we checked in on the same day yesterday, and Chanhee was just looking at you.”

“Your room number is circled over here, and you’re on the third floor. Enjoy your stay!” Changmin extends his regards to the worker before turning over to Chanhee next to him. “Let’s go.” 

But Chanhee is in another headspace, looking over to a distance, or rather to a girl laughing with the rest of her friends. Changmin takes Chanhee’s dazed state to his advantage, leaning over to snicker at the little smile he’s putting on because you lost rock, paper, scissors and had to pay for the taxi drive to the hotel.

“Pretty girl, isn’t she?” Changmin breaks Chanhee’s bubble, and the latter is flustered. “Let’s say hi-”

“No! We’re not doing any of that!”

You laugh at that, remembering losing your bet as the rest made fun of you for it. “It was an unexpected loss on this trip’s budget for sure.”

“Well, maybe not so because you got Mr Choi Chanhee over there to notice you.” You didn’t know how to answer the smiley boy, only chuckling in response as your eyes fell on the boy playing by himself. “Do you play?”

“Kind of,” you shrug. “I’ve played before, but I’m not a pro or anything like that.”

That answer seems to be good enough for Changmin as he hollers to Chanhee from his seat, “Dude! You got a new competitor that wants to play with you! She said she wants to bet on something!”

“Wha-Hey!” Changmin didn’t spare you a single moment in the say, ushering you along to the pool table with your drink in his hand. “Come on!” You swore that you only followed him to get your drink back. It was just that. You swear it’s just that. It’s just for your drink- “I wanted to know her name but she wouldn’t tell me, but then she said that if you beat her, she’ll tell me!”

“What-”

Chanhee’s eyes widened at the sight of the girl that he’d been entranced with since yesterday. Looking at you closer, with better light, he takes in every detail of your face. Your eyes that he got lost in, your nose guiding his attention down to your lips. He gulps at you being within his reach, and he gulps, clenching the pool cue close to his chest.

“I’m sorry for my friend. Please just ignore him-”

You notice Changmin stepping behind the apologising boy, waving his hand around to ignore what his friend is saying and encouraging you to play along with him. This is absolutely crazy, and Changmin is absolutely living for the moment. Seeing you all frozen in front of Chanhee’s words, Changmin decides to get his final words by clamping his hand to his friend’s mouth.

“Oh, just play with her, will you?!”

Seeing the two being rowdy is the remedy for you. This is what the trip is about after all: to relax and have fun. Plus, it’s not a bad idea to play along since you don’t see how this will hurt anyone, and if Changmin is being honest with his cute little story about Chanhee, then you don’t mind showing him that you’re interested too. You walk over to pick up a spare cue stick, leaving the two boys behind for a while to argue behind you.

“You’re crazy!” Chanhee whispers while head-locking Changmin.

“Oh, just shut up and have fun! I know you think she’s pretty!”

“Of course, she’s pretty! She’s gorgeous-”

“So play with her and bet something else if you win!”

“Like what? A date? This isn’t a movie!”

“Anything can be a movie if you want it to be.” Changmin seems proud of the slightly confusing line, but it doesn’t faze his best friend anymore after all these years. “Besides, if you win, you at least get her name.”

“And if I lose?”

“Then maybe she’ll ask you on a date,” the boy shrugs with an innocent look in his eyes. “Just play!”

Chanhee is pushed away, his hands grabbing on the pool table to steady himself. He let out a sigh of relief at the potential accident and was about to turn to shout at the chuckling boy until you called out.

“Um,” you call out softly. “Should we play?”

Chanhee looks over to the table, seeing all the balls already in the triangle starting shape in the game. You extend your hand as a gesture of welcoming him to take the first move, but to your surprise, the boy doesn’t. Instead, he adjusts his stick on the floor, looking over at you intently with a soft smile. 

“So, I guess I’m playing for your name. What are you playing for?”

True. Usually in a competition, a reward for winning would motivate you. You hum in contemplation, “Well, I already know your name, so I guess not for the same thing. But maybe, if you’re free tomorrow, we could explore around together?”

Chanhee had to fight the way the corner of his lips was rising at that. “Looks like either way, I win.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” he shakes his head. “But wouldn’t it be weird if you win and then I don’t get to know your name?”

“Well, maybe you should win then.”

Choi Chanhee doesn’t usually like to lose. After all, whenever he loses in something, everyone else rejoices, but maybe this time, losing doesn’t seem like a bad thing after all. Playing to win or playing to lose, he’s already a winner with you being near him right now.

navi/masterlist!! 🤍 the boyz masterlist

tags: @deoboyznet @k-films @kflixnet @starlit-network @kstrucknet @blossomnet

@haneul-and-clouds @sanaxo-o

[pjs-everyday]

WIP/lineart: short straws pick up ice cream for the class 🙏

[tys-kitty]

Kit straightened up. “Nope, I’m good. Come on Brother Hauntingly Attractive.”

“There’s no need to mention this to Tessa.”

“And Yet,” said Kit, “I’m gonna.“

I may present to you Christopher Herondale

Here‘s the link to the matching Ty moodboard <3

[doodle-pops]

Haunted Mischief

Elrond x reader

Warnings: 1.8k

Words: none, all fluff and humour

Synopsis: Elrond takes a moment to share how much of a festive prankster he was in his childhood days.

“Most of my childhood days around this time surrounded helping my mother in the kitchen. I had a particular knack for wanting to eat any remnants of cake batter left in the bowl,” you chuckled as the memory resurfaced. You ran off with the bowl to hide under the dining table where the tablecloth was long enough to shield you from the rest of your siblings who came searching for you. “I had to fight off my brothers and sisters so I could have the entire bowl all to myself. They would normally get back at me though.”

A soft, yet hearty laughter echoed beside you from Elrond as you both took a stroll in the woods nearby, a well-deserved break from all his duties. “Sounds like you had quite a hectic childhood.”

“Indeed I did. Though, I was always the butt of all their pranks, especially during the harvest season. They would scare me with silly ghost stories, or dress as ghosts and made me run off to papa crying,” you grinned. There was a faint hint of annoyance laced in your voice as you recalled all the horrors your siblings gave to you, all because you were the youngest. “It caused me to both love and hate the harvest season.”

“Well, you have a justifiable reason, and I fully support it. I for one had my moments…” Elrond teased before silence fell over you both, leaving nothing but the sounds of the leaves crunching under your feet. You could tell he wanted to say more, yet he wasn’t sure if to continue and open up that memory box. By now you had grown accustomed to the silence that fell after statements, especially ones that involved childhood days. While he had promising moments with his captors, there were others better to be left unsaid.

Saying nothing, you two continued your walk, listening to the rustling of the leaves and observing the kaleidoscope of rustic colours swirling through the air. There were unkept piles of leaves at the base of a few oak trees, while the rest was scattered across the forest floor. The scent of rain was still fresh in your nose from the rainfall an hour ago, now mixing with fermented fruits and rotting leaves. While the scent should repulse you, instead, you welcomed it with heartiness and nostalgia.

“I know that my childhood wasn’t the best, however, I surely had wonderful moments with my brother, like you with your siblings.” He was the first to break the silence. You came to a halt and turned to face him, hands in your pockets and widened eyes, encouraging him to continue. “It is not often one speaks of such times.”

“It’s alright Elrond, you don’t have to if it makes you feel uncomfortable,” you murmured and reached your hand out to touch his arm gingerly.

He gave a slight shake of his head, a small smile—rare—slowly appeared on his lips while his eyes reflected the past. “Not at all, meleth. I have no intentions of reflecting on those, but rather the fond ones. Like yours…”

“Oh!” you quirked up in surprise. “You have enjoyable moments you wish to share with me from your childhood?”

“Many, in fact, but nothing scandalous—just…the mischief of two boys with far too much time on their hands,” he laughed softly, sounding like gentle silver bells chiming in the wind.

You shifted in your spot, back naturally straightening and eager to hear what he had to say. “You and Elros causing ruckus? That is what you are trying to tell me?”

“Indeed,” he smiled and motioned for you two to continue your walk. You both fell into a routine, your footsteps matching each other. “Elros and I, back when we were fostered by Maedhros and Maglor had our…mischief. In some ways, Maedhros and Maglor were like…fathers to us. But in other ways, they were far too serious for their own good. Especially Maedhros, he rarely smiled, you know. Always carrying that weight of his brothers’ deeds, the oath…everything. But Maglor—he was softer. He tried to make things easier for us, and in return, we chose to repay them in kind. Through pranks, of course.”

“Pranks?” you muttered warily, as if needing clarification for what you were hearing. “You two pranked Maedhros and Maglor?”

“More Maedhros than Maglor, he was always the…stiffer of the two,” he chuckled for his expression became conspiratorial as he leaned in closer, sharing his secret with the world. “It was all Elros’s idea from the start though, I was merely forced to tag along. He found an old cloak—dark, frayed at the edges—and convinced me to wear it while he arranged everything else. We waited until evening when the shadows were long and the light was dim, making the castle look even more eerie than usual.”

As he spoke, you felt the world around you shifting to ancient times as though you were transported to witness the event.

“Maglor was in his study, composing something on the harp,” Elrond continued. “And Maedhros…well, he was doing what he often did, pacing and talking to himself in the hall. Elros and I had set up a few…‘traps,’ you could say. Nothing dangerous, of course, just things that would make noise or cause a bit of a fright.”

“Like?” you asked, thoroughly amused by the thought of such a prank in the usually solemn household.

“Simple things,” he explained with a chuckle. “Elros hung a few items—bells, dried leaves—in places where they wouldn’t be expected. And I...well, I was the ‘ghost.’”

You nearly doubled over at the thought. “You, a ghost?”

“Yes,” Elrond said with mock solemnity, “and a very convincing one, or so we thought at the time.”

“And what happened?” you prompted, your smile widening.

Feeling himself building up laughter at the back of his throat, he tried to suppress it for the sake of telling the story. “It went about as well as you’d expect. Maglor barely reacted. He heard the bells and the rustling, but he just sighed and continued with his music, likely assuming it was the wind. Maedhros, however...stopped in the middle of the hall, his brow furrowed, listening intently. I think for a brief moment, he thought something serious was amiss. But then Elros—bless him—couldn’t keep from giggling. Maedhros turned sharply, and there I was, standing in the shadow of a column, draped in that ridiculous old cloak with my arms waving about, attempting to look scary and making terrible eerie noises.”

At that point, you couldn’t help but double over, slapping your thighs at the image of a tall, regal Maedhros staring down at a much tinier Elrond, dressed as a poor excuse of a ghost. His wide, childlike eyes looked up at Maedhros through the slits of the cloak while he continued to wave his short arms about.

“Maedhros just looked at me, deadpan, and said, ‘Elrond. Take off the cloak.’” Elrond chuckled, shaking his head. “I think he was more disappointed in how bad the prank was than anything.”

“And Elros?”

“He,” Elrond said with a fond smile, “tried to run. But of course, Maedhros caught him before he’d even made it to the end of the hall. He gave us both a rather stern lecture about not wasting time on ‘childish games.’ But Maglor…” He trailed off, his eyes softening. “Maglor was different. He found it all rather amusing. Later that evening, when Maedhros had gone to bed, he gave us both a pat on the head and said, ‘Perhaps you need to work on your pranks or try something different.’”

“So did you two ever try again,” you wheezed, wiping a tear from your eye.

He paused for a moment, tilting his head to the side as he contemplated adding the other failed attempts they had. Exhaling with an airy laughter, he nodded. “Umm, yes we did, but this time, we had Maglor assisting and providing the ideas. He was rather…enthusiastic about watching his brother grumble and mutter about how everyone was turning on him, even his own brother.”

“And what did you two do this time?” you mused as you kicked up a pile of leaves at your feet.

“Well, after that failed attempt, we had placed a bunch of dried leaves under the sheet of Maedhros’s bed, so when he laid down…well, you can image the effects of lying on dried leaves hidden in your sheets. Got a scolding, not before Maglor came to our rescue and took the blame, stating that it was his idea,” he laughed. “Maedhros was fond of his brother teaming up with us.”

“But we later redid our ghost prank, and better—or so we still thought,” he grimaced. “We gathered old sheets and tied them to sticks, hanging them in the hallways to sway in the wind, and even attempted to make them float by pulling them with thin strings. But we hadn’t accounted for Maedhros’ sharp eyes—he spotted every string we tried to use. Making eerie noises turned out to sound more like a dying person wheezing. It startles us more than our target.”

“Naughty children you two were. Giving your guardians a spooky time,” you laughed and shook your head in disbelief. It was still humorous that the Elrond standing beside you was capable of being a prankster and naughty.

“Once again, he had found the entire ordeal absurd but come to think of it, he appreciated our efforts to lighten the mood even if he would never admit it,” he whispered reflectively with distant look on his face.

You reached over to hold his hand, entwining your fingers with his cold ones—a trait due to the lingering mortal blood in his veins—and squeezing them. “It’s good to know that they allowed you both to be children at heart despite the harshness of the world.”

“I was indeed pleased to have experienced some good during those years. Made me look at them a bit differently.” Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to your temple, his breath warm against your skin. “Thank you for listening. It felt nice to share fond memories with someone dear to me.”

“It was lovely, indeed,” you grinned, your smile reaching your eyes to leave a twinkle. Continuing your walk while the leaves drifted down around you in a gentle cascade, the world seemed to slow. The world seemed to slow, the only sounds the rustling of the trees and the soft murmur of the river below.

After a time, you perked up causing Elrond’s attention to drift from the water to you. “Why don’t team up to prank a few of your Lords? I know Erestor and Glorfindel would be spooked the most, and I could do with a genius like you assisting me.”

“Now why would you believe I would do such a thing at a time like now?” you teased. “Pranking is no longer my motive.”

“I’ll bake you all the pumpkin and apple pies you want. I promise,” you begged, lifting your other hand with your pinkie finger. “Pinkie promise, Elrond. It’ll be harmless and not a soul would know it was you.”

He pondered. You could see his eyes drifting past you as he contemplated and weighed his options of enjoying your desserts in exchange for harmless, childish, pranks. Then, with a heavy sigh, he shook his head with a faint smile playing on his lips. “Very well, a few harmless pranks on Glorfindel. It is the season after all, and I have a fond idea in mind…”

Masterlist

Taglist: @lilmelily @ranhanabi777 @rain-on-my-umbrella @mysticmoomin @asianbutnotjapanese @batsyforyou @aconstructofamind @involuntaryspasms @sakurayaxd @stormchaser819 @addaigio @mcwentfandomtraveling @elficially-done-with-life @eunoiaastralwings

If you wish to be tagged, click the Taglist Link to join.

[from-izzy]

hehe 😚💗

GET TO KNOW DEOBOYZNET WITH QUIZZES

inspired by housemate spotlight, we asked members to complete three quizzes: clothing style, which tbz member they are and mbti !! bonus: click below to see the one word that encapsulates each member!!

izzy's note: thank you to everyone who sent in their answers! i tried to pick photos of the members according to the clothing styles but i know some aren't accurate sorry 😭 and to anyone who would like to do the quizzes above, feel free to do so!!

@slytherinshua & @stealanity

@from-izzy & @mars101

@jinisnuggets & @daisyvisions

@bella-feed & @sanaxo-o

@sungbeam & @cupidjyu

@jaehunnyy & @carrotsworld

@cupofikeu & @haechanhues

@winterchimez & @minastras

[cupcek]

⠀⠀⠀ ꕤ SENTIMENTO PARANORMAL 𖦹 ‧₊˚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[selfsacrificingandroid]

[chocolatkpopidols]

MINA + MISAMO ERA ↳ for @rosieposie♡

[dying-suffering-french-stalkers]

desperately need a bill wurtz-style history of arda

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

ALSO LOVE UR NEW THEME MWAH

THANK YOUUUU SOOOO MUCHHH!! I LOVE YOU 💖💖

[warwickroyals]

beginning - previous - next

@thegrimalldis

[TRANSCRIPT]

[good-beanswrites]

🫵pain and tasty

So you're saying it still is tasty! Don't you worry, I'll cook up something delicious soon >:3

(and bonus little guy)

[day-dr3aming]

Some drawings/sketches I made for fun and training

Just ignore the hand

Mina belongs to @twtysevapr

Pépito belongs to @rizdoodls

[good-beansdraws]

I got to be part of a super cool art circle with @yaraneechan, @waivyjellyfish, and @kyanako5972 -- the full thing is here! Featuring their ocs, respectively: Gifted Telepath, (it was for oc-tober but I'm ocless so blorbo be upon ye), Dokuro Mina and Waivy-doll, and Claire Inez!

It was really cool to work with their talent in such different processes and skills, it was a really fun experience :D

[doodle-pops]

T’was The Night of Autumn

Celebrimbor x modern!reader

A/N: I realised that I don’t post many Celebrimbor content and that needs to change. So, here’s something to enjoy your cozy autumn.

Warnings: none, all fluff

Words: 1.9k

Synopsis: As autumn finally rolled in, you decided to teach Tyelpë a tradition from your modern world, one that involves pumpkins and crafting.

The autumn season had arrived in Eregion, and with it came a crispness in the air that whispered of change. The leaves on the trees had turned rich shades of gold and orange, carpeting the streets with their vibrant hues. The scent of the season, a mix of damp earth and woodsmoke, hung in the air, reminding you of home. It was the kind of day that made you miss the simple pleasures of your world—hot drinks, the sound of crunching leaves underfoot, and, of course, pumpkin carving. Despite being in Middle-earth, so far removed from the modern world you had come from, there was something about autumn that felt familiar—comforting, even.

Today, Celebrimbor had a rare moment of respite from his duties, and you had been thinking about how to make the most of it, wanting to share something from your world with him. After all, autumn wasn’t just about the changing of the leaves. It was about warmth, cosiness, and most of all, traditions. And there was one tradition in particular you were eager to introduce him to.

“Tyelpë,” you called softly, using his Quenya name. He glanced up from his book, his sharp, grey eyes softening when they met yours.

“Yes?” he responded, removing his focus from the book he was invested in.

“I think you’ve spent enough time reading and cooped up in the library for today,” you said, stepping into the room and crossing over to him. “It’s autumn, after all. There’s something I want to show you.”

His brow arched in curiosity. “What is it?”

Smiling, you took his hand and led him out of the library, into the courtyard. “Just trust me,” you said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s a tradition from my world. Something we do every year during this season.”

Curiosity piqued—Celebrimbor followed you out to the courtyard where two large, round pumpkins sat waiting. You had found it in the market earlier that day, marvelling at how similar it was to the ones from home. And now, as the golden light of the late afternoon bathed the scene in warmth, you felt a wave of nostalgia wash over you.

“What is that?” Celebrimbor asked, eyeing the pumpkin with a mix of amusement and confusion.

“It’s a pumpkin,” you replied, grinning up at him.

Sighing with a bit of sass, he rolled his eyes nonchalantly. “I know that it’s a pumpkin. But what I meant was the purpose of it.”

“Pumpkin carving!” you cheered.

“Pumpkin carving?” Celebrimbor’s voice was rich with curiosity and a hint of amusement, as he approached to two, medium-sized orange fruit sitting on the table.

“Yes!” you replied, turning to face him with your excitement growing by the second. “It’s something we do back in my world during this season. It’s part of a tradition called Halloween. We carve faces into pumpkins, light them up with candles, and make all sorts of fun autumn-themed treats. I thought it might be fun to try it together.”

Leaning closer to inspect the pumpkins while you spoke, he smiled from the sheer enthusiasm you expressed for the love of this festive seasonal tradition. “I’ve heard you mention this Halloween before,” he said thoughtfully. “A festival for warding off spirits and celebrating the harvest, correct?”

You nodded, grinning. “Exactly. But it’s also about having fun. You get to be creative, and it’s a great way to embrace the season.”

“It sounds…whimsical. Very different from the customs of our people,” he murmured under low. “But if it involves creativity, I imagine it’s not too different from sculpting or forging. But I must warn you, if this pumpkin carving involves skill, you might be at a disadvantage.”

You playfully rolled your eyes at him, laughing. “Oh, come on, I’m not that bad. Besides, you’re the one who's never carved a pumpkin before. I might surprise you.”

Throwing an almost invisible competitive smirk at you, he chuckled. “We’ll see about that. But first, would you might showing me how it is performed?”

You handed him one of the knives, explaining how to cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the insides while he watched you closely as you demonstrated, his eyes intent on the task at hand. Once you were finished, he took his knife, his movements precise and steady as he made the first cut into his much larger and clearly better suited pumpkin, for carving.

“I have to admit,” he said, as he carefully removed the top of the pumpkin, “I’ve never worked with a medium like this before.”

You grinned as you passed him a spoon to scoop out the guts and seeds. “It’s a bit different from metal and stone, isn’t it?”

He nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Quite different. Though I can’t say this is how I imagined spending my day—it’s strangely satisfying.” He took the spoon from you, his lips quirking with amusement as he began to dig into the pumpkin. His movements were careful and precise—of course, they were, he was Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor. His entire life had been spent mastering delicate and intricate work. And yet, the sight of him here, elbow-deep in pumpkin guts, was oddly endearing.

As he worked, you scooped out the seeds and pulp from inside your pumpkin, explaining how in your world, people often roasted the seeds as a snack. And Celebrimbor seemed fascinated by the simplicity of it all, so different from the more elaborate customs of Middle-earth.

“And now, here is where the true fun begins.” You were bouncing on your toes as you passed him a smaller carving knife. “Time for us to start carving the faces. You can make it as simple or as detailed as you like.”

Celebrimbor’s eyes gleamed with interest. “A face, you say? I think I can manage that.”

You handed him a smaller knife and explained how to cut out a simple face—triangular eyes, a jagged smile. You decided to keep it straightforward for now, not wanting to overwhelm him. But as you suspected, Celebrimbor was a natural. You watched in awe as his skilled hands moved swiftly, the knife gliding through the pumpkin with ease. Despite his initial unfamiliarity with the task, his natural talent shone through. Within minutes, he had carved an intricate, detailed face into the pumpkin, far more elaborate than anything you had ever managed.

“Well,” you said, standing back to admire his work, “I think it’s safe to say that you’ve won this round, which is unfair.”

He looked up at you, a teasing smile playing on his lips, one that was rarely seen at all—symbolising his comfort and enjoyment. “Won? Was this a competition?”

Nudging him playfully, you laughed. “Everything’s a competition with you, Tyelpë. But yes, I admit defeat. Your pumpkin is perfect.”

He tilted his head, studying the pumpkin with a critical eye. “I wouldn’t say perfect. There’s always room for improvement.”

“Perfectionist,” you muttered under your breath, earning another soft chuckle from him.

“Now it’s your turn,” he said, handing you the knife with a flourish. “Let’s see what you can do.”

As you took the knife, not missing an opportunity to roll your eyes good-naturedly, you warned him. “Alright, but don’t laugh. I’m not a master craftsman like you.” As you began carving, Celebrimbor watched you with quiet amusement. Every so often, he would offer a word of advice or point out a better way to approach the task, but for the most part, he let you work in peace. When you finished, your pumpkin was far simpler than his—a goofy, crooked smile and triangle eyes that reminded you of the ones you used to carve as a child.

“Well?” you asked, stepping back to examine your handiwork. “What do you think?”

“Um…” his voice trailed off as he angled his head differently to capture the image of the face you carved, not wanting to leave you under the impression that it could do with a few touch ups…and more—typical artesian behaviour. “Do you…I can help in some areas…”

Your brown immediately shut up to defeat your artistic work. “Oh, what now? Is it not as artistic as yours even though you offered advice?”

“Oh, no, no, no. It’s um…artistic indeed, but just need a bit of…enhancement,” he sheepishly said with his hands up in defence.

“Ha, ha,” you dryly laughed and morphed your face to match the one on your pumpkin. “You can fix it, but just this once.”

The two of you spent the rest of the afternoon carving, laughing, and teasing each other about your respective pumpkins. Celebrimbor’s, of course, ended up looking like a work of art, while yours was more endearing in its imperfection. Still, you didn’t mind. The real joy came from sharing the experience with him—watching his face light up with each new detail, hearing the soft chuckles that escaped him when he struggled with a particularly tricky cut. It felt nice to see him stress-free since your arrival at Eregion. All your memories of him hunched over the anvil or some blueprint faded into mist upon his carefree laughter and smile.

You know such a simple act could appear that beautiful, nor did you understand why people labelled him as tempestuous and dangerous. He was quite the opposite.

As the sun began to set and the courtyard grew darker, you lit candles and placed them inside the pumpkins. The warm glow filled the small area, casting flickering shadows across the table, displaying your handiwork.

“I have to say,” Celebrimbor mused, “this Halloween tradition is rather pleasant. I can see why you enjoy it.”

You smiled, leaning into him as he bumped his arm into your shoulder. “It’s one of my favourites. And now you’ve got a pretty good handle on it, too.”

Turning to him with your heart swelling with emotion. “It means a lot to me, too,” you said softly. “Being here in Middle-earth, so far from everything I knew…it’s hard sometimes. But sharing things like this, it makes me feel like I’ve brought a little piece of home with me.”

Celebrimbor’s expression softened, his silver-grey eyes full of understanding. “I will always strive to make you feel at home here, no matter the distance between this world and yours.”

“Thank you, Tyelpë,” you whispered.

As the two of you stood there for a long moment, the flickering candlelight casting a soft glow over the room, you relaxed with the slight chill of the autumn breeze. You knew he wasn’t a person of many words, even though you had wiggled your way unexpectedly into his life, bringing minor changes, you understood through the silence that he reciprocated your thanks.

“Now,” Celebrimbor said, breaking the silence with a teasing smile, “you mentioned something about autumn-themed foods. I believe you owe me a taste of these seasonal treats from your world, and I hope they also involve drinks.”

You laughed, nudging him playfully. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got just a few things in mind. But you might have to help me make it.”

He raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. “If it’s anything like the pumpkin carving, I think you’ll find I’m quite capable.”

“Confident, are we?” you teased, heading toward the kitchen. “Let’s see if that holds up when we start baking and brewing.”

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