#no space for a results option I'm afraid

[whistlingstarlight]

From what I can tell a lot of my mutuals are either around my age or younger, and as someone who (with a few exceptions) mainly grew up on shows my parents watched as children, it often surprises me when people don't know about media I thought was popular. So out of curiosity...

(Please reblog for more range!)

[bones4thecats]

hi can I request for Hades, Thor, Poseidon

y/n is mortal and the most calm, polite and gentle mortal they ever meet not even once they hear her raise her voice

even talking with them who hate human still in those demeanor

even trash talk about human still the same. yes the y/n don't have much love to her kind but she still mortal and they will trash talk about human and her

but secretly he like that attitude of y/n and with how y/n not afraid of them

as they trash talked about her. it is first time they hear her raise her voice, yet it still soft and gentle way. as y/n have been holding her anger and smile calmly to them. that is the first time she exploded

it was on that time they 100% to themselves who have been denied whole time that they are in love with y/n and proposed y/n prompt

this cause y/n blushed. y/n face have enter a new shade of red that human not supposed to have and agreed to marry them p/s: i'm looking at you Posseidon

A/N: I have four more requests to get through, and then I’m writing an old poll result and eventually making another poll. Now, enjoy!!

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💀 Your trash-talking of humans was what got Hades interested in you

💀 They were your kind, yet you dislike them with such passion, kinda like him and the Gods

💀 Hades would smile gently as you would speak to Poseidon about how annoying humans were, he was a family man, he needs his brothers to connect with you just as much as he did

💀 And when he heard from Poseidon that you were a good option for him, it made him set his plan into action

💀 He had made you a traditional Greek dinner and went on a walk on the surface of Valhalla with you, before stopping in the middle of a field, the same field you both met

💀 You looked at the stars and a small bird that flew overhead, and didn’t realize that the God of the Underworld was down on his knee until you turned around

“ My skull, will you do me the honor and rule beside me as my partner until death? “

💀 Hades smiled as tears began running down your face, knowing he was doing the same

💀 Twirling you in the air as you cried into his shoulder, hiding your very red face

💀 He couldn’t wait for the day you both pledged yourselves to one another, he though as he slipped the silver wedding band with an amethyst jewel on your ring finger

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🌩️ The way you stood up for yourself got Thor interested in you

🌩️ He was used to watching humans just skimper away and hide themselves behind others or in the shadows when in the presence of Gods, especially him due to his reputation

🌩️ Thor would listen as you trash-talked humanity, calling them puny and wastes of space when something horrid they did was mentioned

🌩️ Despite many protests from Forseti because of your Humanity, Odin and Loki both approved of you, saying you were the perfect match for their family member

🌩️ He had been planning this for months, and when he had watched you smile and pat a young elf child as they gave you a flower, he knew that was the nail in the coffin

🌩️ He was to propose that night

🌩️ Thor took a small walk with you after a family dinner with Odin and Loki, to which the duo gave him the ring and small pep-talk he needed

🌩️ He had stopped when a river blocked your path, and because of this, you were standing underneath a tree, but not just any tree, a crape myrtle, which symbolized love

🌩️ You held one of the flowers as it fell, which prompted Thor to get down and hold out the ring to you, and when you saw him, you erupted into a blush redder than his hair

“ Y/N, I’m not the best with words and you know that. But, no words can describe how in love I am with you, and because of that, will you do me the honor and become my official partner until death parts us? “

🌩️ You cried and hugged him so close as he held his own sobs back

🌩️ Once he laid the golden band with a diamond in it on your finger, the kiss that pledged you both to one another was initiated

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🔱 You were at a meeting of the Gods with your oldest friend Aphrodite and when they mentioned you being there was a distraction, you just snapped back, saying humanity was something you had the right to speak of

🔱 And hearing you not defend, but complain about made Poseidon glance at you in surprise

🔱 He had never in his millions upon millions years of life heard any human talk down on their kind as a whole

🔱 Aphrodite chuckled as Poseidon took more interest in you, and she teased him constantly about wanting to marry you and start a new family of human-haters

🔱 But what she didn’t expect was for you two to commit to each other quite fast

🔱 Poseidon and you had been tiptoeing around the topic of marriage, prefering to be where you are at the moment, but when he heard Hades bring up how cute you both would be together and starting a family, he had got a ring and set out to propose to you

🔱 You were just sitting by the coast, the same one where you both would just complain about humans and how puny they were compared to the Gods, and he had you stand up before splitting a small area in the ocean for you to follow him through

🔱 He took you to the middle of a coral reef and held out the ring, it was golden with two aquamarine gems and a gem that appeared to be your favorite one

“ You’re unlike any mortal I have met in my life, Y/N. And because of your uniqueness you have caught my interest since the day you first mentioned your hatred for Humanity. Now, will you do me the honor of becoming my partner in ruling the oceans? “

🔱 Your cheeks erupted in a dark shade of red, and he smirked as you nodded and hugged him, allowing him to hold you in the air as you wrapped your legs around his waist before dipping down for the most romantic kiss you two ever shared

[impishjesters]

warning(s): none note(s): This was a request that accidentally got deleted so I'm fuzzy on the exact words used, but I remember it involving a reader who makes clay things and that it was for Gangle. So my apologies to the requester if I missed anything! A/N: I don't remember if it was platonic or romantic, but this was written with the intention of the crushing stage because I just think it's so stinking cute. I definitely feel like Gangle would enjoy someone going out of their way to not only help fix her masks but make her brand new ones without her even asking for them. Too cute.

Gangle x Clay Maker!Reader

Gangle held her recently broken comedy mask for what felt like the hundredth time, and it seemed like almost every time was a result of something to do with Jax. The most recent case, however, was the new arrival, just to have it stepped on breaking it further. If she had a mean bone in her body she’d curse the damn thing for being so fucking fragile.

Luckily she had you, someone who worked with clay to make all sorts of little things. You had even taken to making her some new masks, some she wore, some she put up as decoration too afraid to risk them breaking. Even when you reassured her you could fix them up if that happened, that offer extended to her two original masks.

When everything had died down she separated from the group and headed for your bedroom. She had asked once before why you didn’t just ask Caine for more space or a new room, you had brushed it off by saying it’s not like you needed a fully furnished bedroom.

Besides Caine oh so graciously gave you all the things needed to make new clay stuff, asking for more at the moment felt like too much—even if you deserved it for being trapped in this shit hole, all of you deserved more than you got.

Gangle raised a hand to knock before remembering that it wasn’t necessary and instead opted to push the door open before calling out your name.

Your head rose from the project in front of you, throwing a quick glance at your guest. “Ah, Gangle. Broken mask?” Poor girl couldn’t catch a break.

“Yes…the newbie broke it…b-by accident!” she tacked on. “Then Jax stepped on it…”

Gangle crept over and you gestured for her to show you the pieces. Laying them out on the worktable she hunched into herself, hands fiddling idly. “I-it’s not too broken is it?”

You shoved your current project aside and gently collected the fragments like it was a puzzle, whistling when you saw the damage. “Nothing’s too broken, especially since you already told me you don’t mind the clay. It might take a little bit longer than normal though, but I can give you a temporary comedy mask if you want.”

She shook her head, there was a certain fondness for her original two masks that it felt odd to wear the mock ups you made. Though she was starting to fear the damage becoming too much that these two masks would hardly be original anymore.

“Do you think you could…maybe make more solid copies of them? L-like the others?”

The masks you designed were made a bit more durable then the temporary comedy masks she’d used before. They were temporary after all, more akin to a cheap Papier-mâché mask then a solid structured mask.

“What like a better version of your main two? Thinking of tucking these two away for safety?” Gangle gave a nod and you looked at her, mask shards forgotten to reach out and touch along the edge of the tragedy mask she wore. “You know you could easily just ask Caine to fix them up.”

Gangle tittered nervously at your tender touch, trying to focus on anything but how close you were. “I..I guess I could.. but..”

It was embarrassing to admit she liked your handiwork, and while she was worried about her masks you did bring up a good point. Caine would easily fix them if they got that bad, but it felt like a last option to fall back on. In fact he had fixed them up multiple times prior to your arrival, but it felt like she was a bother having to always find him and ask time and time again.

If she was being completely honest, she sort of just really liked the tender attention you gave her and the way you kept working so earnestly on masks for her. Masks she didn’t even ask for, it was completely your own doing! So sue her for sucking up all the attention you happily gave her.

When she never finished her sentence you took that as her being lost in her own head and gentle jostled her face. “Outta that pretty little head missy, you don’t have to explain it to me. But yeah I can make sturdier mask copies.”

You gesture to the free seat nearby and she scampered off to her usual spot. It gave her the perfect view to watch both you and your work while being just the right distance to not be in the way or for her heart to beat out her chest.

The project you had been working on when she entered was left untouched in favour of fixing up some of her broken mask as well as getting a fresher template drawn up. Gangle eyed the ignored project before her attention went back to you.

“What were you working on before I came in?”

“Mm? Oh, nothing too important, just some little clay dolls.”

Gangle pulled her knees closer as she listened to you talk about the dolls in question. She was forever grateful that her masks kept the exact object she was staring at vague, if you knew that her eyes were glued specifically to you she’d completely unravel.

Physically and mentally. Maybe one day she’d speak up on her feelings.

[putschki1969]

Do you think fictionjunction could do the ending or opening for the new madoka movie? I feel like since kalafina doesn't exist anymore, the more logical option to me is fictionjunction, Keiko is still there after all :( I would love so much if they get at least an insert song or something like that, it would give them huge exposure as a band, I feel like I'm the only one but I wish FJ could be like the continuation of kalafina in some way T_T

Hello there!

This feels like such a throw-back to 2021 when "Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht – Rising" was first announced. I made a post about it here =>

Everyone was super hyped and hoped that this would be Kalafina's best chance for a reunion. I think they even trended on Twitter for a while thanks to everyone's speculations. Who would have thought that it would take the creators another two years to get to a point where they could finally make some proper announcements and reveal a tentative release date. However, we still don't know who is going to be in charge of the OP/ED...*sighs* Just a couple of days after I had made the above post, I received an ask about whether or not I thought that Kalafina would be involved in the project.

Not much has changed about my opinion since then. As long as Wakana is with Space Craft, I don't see a reunion happening so it is very unlikely that Kalafina will be singing any of the tie-ins. As for other options, I still feel like a solo gig for Hikaru (maybe as FictionJunction feat. Hikaru?) would be the best idea. This way, the work is paying tribute to the original Kalafina songs but there's no weird sense of replacement. And let's be real here, no one needs a proper breakthrough more than Hikaru. I hope that she will eventually be able to sign up with Highway Star. In her current state as freelance artist, I'm afraid the Madoka Magica creators won't even consider hiring her (connection to YK notwithstanding). Having the support of a solid agency could probably restore some of the credit she has undoubtedly lost as artist during the last year.

Re: FictionJunction => Maybe it's just me but I am not particularly eager to see FictionJunction or even Hikaru and Keiko be in charge of a song because it would feel like they are trying too hard to be Kalafina 2.0. Yeah sure, Joelle or LINO can take up Wakana's role but for me, Kalafina is not Kalafina without Wakana.

I see your point of course and for many this option would probably be better than nothing but I wonder if huge exposure for FictionJunction is even something Yuki Kajiura would want...I don't think it has ever been her goal to gain mainstream success with her FictionJunction project. But who knows...

[birgittesilverbae]

“i never pegged you as a picnic person. it’s a nice surprise.” + Lilith/Ava (optional: Bea also) :0?

continuation of this

//

When Ava makes it to the end of the lakeside path, having taken ample time to enjoy the view and give Lilith the space she'd so clearly needed, Lilith has spread out a blanket on the grass and is unpacking the picnic basket. She glances up at Ava's approach, a stricken look on her face. 

"What're we having?" Ava asks, and Lilith's shoulders relax at the out Ava has so clearly served up.

There's an ease to Lilith as she details the contents of the basket, as though she's memorised them in preparation for the question. Ava transfers smoothly from her chair to the blanket and grabs her seat cushion, settling firmly on it with a sigh. Lilith reaches the tailend of her rundown of the charcuterie board, and Ava's lips curl into a smirk at her last addition.

"Chocolate-covered strawberries, Lil? What is this, a romcom?"

Lilith's ears go pink.

Ava ducks her head to hide her smirk and watches Lilith out of the corner of her eye. When Lilith has seemingly regained her composure, Ava speaks up again. "Can we talk about what had you running scared just now?"

"I wasn't running. Nor was I afraid." 

"Babe, you said you wanted me in your life and then took off like a startled rabbit." 

"I did not."

"You absolutely did. Wanna tell me why?"

Lilith shifts uncomfortably. "Not particularly."

"Lilith."

"You simply seem to have slotted easily into my life already, without me being conscious of it. So me stating that openly to you seemed like the natural next step." Lilith lays her hand on Ava's knee, palm up, and Ava takes it, threading their fingers together and giving a comforting squeeze. She strokes her thumb back and forth across the back of Lilith's hand as Lilith continues. "You do so well with Libby. Beatrice is enamoured by you, for some incomprehensible reason, and she said that Shannon likes you and Mary only looks like she wants to throttle you half the time."

Ava smiles gently. "Okay, but what about you?"

"You're rather exceptional in bed."

Ava stills her movement, twists her hand so that she can pinch the webbing between Lilith's thumb and forefinger in soft rebuke. "Lilith. Please."

"You'd just like to hear me sing your praises."

"I'd just like to hear something positive from you about me that doesn't involve how well we fuck," Ava says, gaining an edge to her tone. "It's getting a bit old."

"I…" Lilith's jaw works, but she comes up empty, lapses back into silence.

Ava pulls her hand away and Lilith's fingers stay splayed open on Ava's knee, the tender flesh of her palm exposed to the sky. "All of this is very sweet, Lilith, but the feeling I get is that it's formulaic. That this is what you think you should do, rather than what you actually want to do. Even this picnic feels to me like you've googled 'romantic dates' and pulled a checklist from the first search result."

Lilith swallows audibly. "I did," she admits. "That's what I did."

Ava sighs. "Lilith…"

Lilith withdraws her hand and fixes her gaze on the far shore, her jaw working as she picks at her cuticles. "I'm not good at this," she admits. "I've never been good at this."

"I don't need you to be good at this. I just need you to figure out whether you actually want me in your life or you just want me in you and think that this is the way to get that."

Lilith gives a wet little laugh, and it's then that Ava spots the barest glint of tears at the very corners of her eyes. "I want to be good at it. I want you in my life. You're kind and generous and compassionate and caring and I like you. I like being with you." She takes a steadying breath and her eyes clear. "I enjoy learning about you. I'm sorry that I haven't been as open about that as I could have been. I– I don't know that I've ever had to step outside of my comfort zone like this, and I like that you challenge me in a way that makes me want to not only do it, but actively improve at it."

"Okay. Wow. Okay. Wanna go finger me in the car?"

"Ava."

Ava laughs brightly. "Couldn't resist, babe." She braces her hand on Lilith's thigh and leans over to kiss her cheek. "Thank you for trusting me with that." She lets her weight sink into Lilith's shoulder and, with an exaggerated groan of annoyance, Lilith lifts her arm to allow Ava to burrow closer into her side. "I like you, too, you know. I'm so happy you're in my life. And I do really appreciate this gesture," she adds, motioning towards the spread. "You're very sweet, Lilith, no matter how much you want to pretend you're not."

Ava can feel Lilith's grumble in her chest, but then Lilith sighs. "I will allow that, the once. What do you want to try first?"

"Did you make the hummus yourself?"

"I did."

"Then that, definitely, with the crostini."

"Good choice, I made those too."

"Even better."

[maskthesimp]

Okay, so I played Resident Lover

Cass' route. Duh.

[MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD SO MOVE THE FUCK ON!!]

AND I GOT THE BAD ENDING 💀 Or one of them

I assume there's a few bad endings and a few good ones for each route. I got the one where we get blood spilt on us, and she uses me as a sacrifice (or is implied to cuz the game ends when she pins me against a wall after getting that crazy look in her eye and talking about a fourth sacrifice for the ritual)

Here's the thing, though. I'm afraid of upsetting people. So, of course I ignored the fucking shadow and decided to get on with the show instead CUZ I FIGURED IF I INVESTIGATED THE SHADOW, IT'D DELAY THE SHOW AND PISS HER OFF!! BUT NO!!

TIP IF YOU WANNA GET A GOOD ENDING FOR CASS, INVESTIGATE THE DAMN SHADOW BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE!! UGH!! SORRY I THOUGHT OF YOUR FEELINGS, BABE, I DIDN'T REALISE EMPATHY FOR YOUR INTERESRS AND WELLBEING WOULD RESULT IN MY DEATH 🙄

It's fucking fine I reloaded the game and investigated, then told her what I saw and shit turned out fine and she fucked me in her dressing room >_> I'll take it but that music and the art of her going all crazy-eyed saying she was gonna basically kill me is gonna leave some trauma, babes, I'm ngl

Istg I genuinely was unsettled and freaked out over it. The music does a lot for the game, and the composer(s) did a great job at making me piss myself in fear. Made me feel genuine anxiety and fear. Also, because I couldn't do anything about it, it made it so much harder to watch. Feels like Subnautica without the water. Or sea creatures. Or space ship. Or anything except the overwhelming sense of "you fucked up" that I get when I hear the music after getting drenched in blood, or the "approaching ecological dead-zone" message. It's the same vibe that makes me wanna cry from anxiety, and I applaud any game that evokes that reaction from me.

I'll definitely play through the other routes, probably Belas mostly, and I'll try to get some other results from Cass' route. I didn't investigate the 3rd floor because it pissed her off when I did it, so I reloaded it (don't judge, I'm a people pleaser) and chose to wait for her. Idk what other endings can come from her route. I know I can reject her and stuff, but I don't wanna. That's my wife motherfucker.

I'm most interested in Bela and Cass' routes in this. I like Daniela, but she's not as interesting as I kinda hoped she'd be. I like skater girls, but for Dani, she's too chill. I like the switch in making Cass more of a momma's girl and making Bela more argumentative with Alcina. Whereas in RE8, that'd be the opposite with them.

Cass is the rash child not doing what Alcina wants, and Bela has to pick up the slack and suck up to mother (or at least that's the vibe we got from the lore). And Dani is just...Dani. She's chaos incarnate. But I like the switch of having Cass now be the one who decided to follow in her mother's footsteps, whilst Bela is apparently arguing with her so much.

Btw, I'd adore if there was a mutli-romance option. I'd fall head over heels so easy XDD speaking of, is there any way to meet Bela in Cass' route? She never showed in my playthrough outside of a name drop from her sisters. I've seen screenshots of Bela and Cass in Y/Ns dorm together, I'm not sure what route it's from.

Overall, I'd say I had a lot of fun. I liked the stakes, I liked the romance. Some character depictions could've been better, but maybe they would be if I play again and choose Dani's option during a later playthrough. Maybe I just didn't get enough of a look at her character. Will definitely play again :3

[haleths]

Hello ashleigh! I hope everything is going well for you. I was wondering if you'd be willing to share how you created the text in this /post/650066869325381632/haleths-recently-a-few-people-have-asked-how-i post? the one who says SHARPENING TUTORIAL. Have a nice day.

hey anon! yes i'm always happy to help.... in fact i may have a got a bit carried away and ended up making a fullblown photoshop text tutorial hfsnfmbd i can only apologise 🙈 here's hoping its helpful!!

FORMATTING YOUR TEXT first things first, make a new text box and.. well.. put some text in it. then select your text layer and open the character options on the righthand tool bar (click for larger image):

there's a lot of settings you can change here, including the spacing between lines:

the spacing between letters:

stretching text vertically:

stretching text horizontally:

you can ofc change multiple settings at once depending on what result you want. for the post you referenced, i adjusted the letter and line spacing and left it at that but there really is no right or wrong here; just try things out and see what looks good 😊

BLENDING OPTIONS once you're happy with your text formatting, right click on your text layer and select 'blending options'.

again for the post you referenced, i added a shadow layer. you can make this very harsh and obvious:

or more diffused and subtle:

another useful layer to be aware of is stroke. this is also one you can tone down to make look more natural and is great for making your text stand out against a similar or multicoloured background:

there's a bunch more things you can do with blending options so i'd really recommend having a play around yourself if you can. the below examples were made using a combination of the shadow, stroke, and gradient overlay settings so maybe see if you can create something similar 😊

fingers crossed this all makes sense. if you have any more questions don’t be afraid to ask. happy giffing!!

[pyrochoreia]

Personally, I don't think that Ratchet ever would have felt betrayed by Drift because the kid never owed him anything and he never expected anything of him, nor would he have felt any resentment in the common fanon way of 'I didn't save your life so you could go do a murder'...

One of the key things that stuck out for me was that after they reunited they literally shared no panel time and Ratchet's literal first reaction to Drift going MIA was to worry about him. The punk was either fucked up or fucking shit up instead of escaping with them and in need of a slap, let's be real. Ratchet spent the next however long before they ever spoke on panel was putting himself directly in Drift's space.

Another thing I noticed is that Ratchet is acutely aware that Drift does not know how to defend himself unless resorting to violence; there were a couple instances where Ratchet has either openly stopped Drift from reacting on that impulse, scolding him for having that impulse, and Drift yelling for instruction because he doesn't know what to do as he was specifically told not to stab people. Drift seems to be more passive and confused when violence isn't an option, and seems to shut down or quietly cooperate as seen with how he deals with Rodimus (although a good portion of that was him letting Rodimus use him to keep him on track, more on that another time, because I'm upset by it forever). They had literally like, one argument on the Decepticon topic which crossed a previously undefined line that did result in Drift drawing a sword, highlighting both facts; Drift responds to feeling threatened with violence and that what Ratchet is feeling isn't betrayal since not only does it never really come up again but going forward he seems to instinctively know how to handle and approach Drift. It was also very clear that Ratchet wasn't afraid of him in that moment, so I'm also of the opinion that Ratchet never felt threatened by Drift and believed he wouldn't actually hurt him, knowing that the sword was being displayed defensively.

What I think that anger stemmed from was the fact that Ratchet felt responsible for Drift -- that him turning to the Decepticons was a result of him failing him when he needed help the most. Ratchet sees it as a logical choice from Drift's perspective; he was around since before the war, knew what Megatron stood for and what was being offered. The very sudden flip in Ratchet's handling of Drift following that incident was realisation that not only did he unintentionally make him feel cornered and likely hurt him, but the understanding that the anger he felt was at himself for not doing enough and not at Drift for taking what he likely saw as the only option at the time. After all, weren't they trying to do similar -- didn't they have the same end goal? Wasn't that the original conflict between Pax and Megatron, that after a particular incident their approach on the matter clashed?

Not to mention, some of that anger was fear that Drift might feel betrayed by him; after all they stood for in the past, Ratchet still chose the side opposing them. Did Drift resent him in some way because he'd left him before even fully chasing him out the door - had he felt discarded in that moment?

Since Cybertronians only have one sparkmate I'm of the opinion that there's a pull, that bonding is very literal in the old-old fanon way. While Ratchet wouldn't have fully understood his feelings towards Drift until much later (unless in the dumb AU I was plotting for my Shockwave) there still would have been that draw, and I 100% believe that he would have gone after the idiot if there was room for any sneaky hookups. They never did explain how or why Ratchet got kidnapped in the first place and never really came back to that topic, and it wouldn't surprise me if that was entirely because he'd just found out where Drift had gone, was personally offended by the discovery and decided that he was going to go collect him and unfortunately was discovered by someone else first.

Ratchlock nonsense in the canon story would be a lot of Ratchet bickering with Megatron for custody, more or less, and Megatron just Not Having Time For This Shit and probably calling Orion.

To be fair, a lot of the headcanon bits are because I write some of the other characters very particular ways - Megatron who would have forbade harm to knowingly come to the medical class, for example, that they would have had more ties with/offering aid to particular anti-government organisations and the Decepticon sympathisers (including some ocs here- madam Fireshine and the Pedlar's Inn), and Rathet's relation to my Trepan and Rung...

..........diarchy!Ratch though would have had that boy if he could help it, Deadlock or no.

Whirl heckles him in both stories. She Knows, even when he doesn't.

[jackwolfes]

maybe i missed something but i'm confused why jesper and wy are so sad and distant. is it because they left their engagement rings so theyre like oh we arent engaged anymore, we arent anything anymore? tysm and i love the little gift of seeing the updates when I wake up on fridays <3

so you aren't far off 👀 a few things to keep in mind about where they're at in this part of the narrative:

when they first get to the safe house they are in a VERY bad place. at the end of ch14 wylan had been bracing for his dad to come back and hurt him, jesper had been left locked in a room ready for someone to force him back into a situation with a man that just levelled a gun at him. they ran away under immense duress and are in a very tense situation where they are super afraid that someone is going to find them, force them back into that engagement, and then force them away from each other, possibly at gunpoint

both of them are unsure what the other wants because they aren't talking about it, and while we don't know what wylan is thinking JESPER is still struggling to understand that wylan actually wants to be around him when they aren't forced together. this entire fic is characterised by his insecurities and harsh lack of self-esteem, and he still doesn't quite see what reason wylan has to want to spend time with him

they left their engagement rings, but notably they called off the arranged engagement. as far as jesper is aware, they're in this safe house until someone gets them out, at which point he's assuming that wylan is just going to leave him ("Who wants Jesper Fahey for anything other than a tumble in the sheets?", "He would choose Wylan, given the option, but choice is a two way street.")

frankly jesper is making stupid decisions because he's really, really scared about what this means for his father, but in being so distracted he isn't really taking note of what wylan might want or need, and is doing things that are mildly insulting, all of which i think are fairly obvious things that are making wylan feel worse.

jesper also isn't doing well with being cooped up!! he is making everything worse for himself because he thrives on stimulation and sensation and PEOPLE, but is being locked in a house with one other person that is very, very scared! and the adhd is bouncing off the walls a bit for him

i also think there's something to be said for the fact that they're just. really fucking tired. they both had so many reasons to believe that they knew exactly where their life was taking them and what their life would be, but within the space of two weeks they go from almost fucking to nearly dying to jesper falling ill and wylan being kidnapped and jesper relapsing and all the emotional weight that comes with their reunion, followed by a huge drop when they get back to ketterdam. and theyre now at this limbo where everything is catching up to them but they still don't feel safe?? and a lot of the distance between them is a direct result of both their bodies just sort of shutting down because they reached a limit (except for the fact that jesper's adhd means he can't really REST)

[l-e-e-woso]

Mental health is such a important topic and should be talked a lot more!

I'm sorry that you had to go through that and didn't get the help you needed, but your stronger than them and got yourself the help you need. Sending virtual hugs 🤗

Am from Germany and for minors you can get relatively easily therapy. But a huge problem is in my opinion that there is not a lot conversation about mental health and friends from me realised they needed help and their parents denied them, because mental health is for them not a topic. If you feel you need therapy or just a safe space to talk don't be afraid to go to therapy, there is no shame in going and will most often help you 🤍

I agree, it’s often just pushed aside for a lot of people.

A lot of the time people parents will have mental health problems which can result in their offspring’s having mental health problems as well. I know that in my family literally has mental health problems which makes all the younger members of my family have a higher chance of having mental health problems.

I think ultimately me not getting help was personally could have been the best route for me but it would have been nice to have an option to have. I mean I once had a doctors appointment and they made me take a test for depression in front of my Mother, I’m just like why would you do that? It’s one thing to ask for help but to discuss it in front of your Mum? That’s completely different.

I think that there should be a way for teens to get mental health help without having to go through there parents for every single detail.

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

No CW/TW I am aware of

Topics: relationship, holiday, Relationship maintaining due cptsd, trauma responses

Any advice for when the partner is pressuring for holidays together ?

I told him i don't feel ready but he asks again and again because he's frustrated... he always tells me he put money in our holiday jar again... and I am feeling guilty not for not wanting this as much as he wants. He imagines a wonderful holiday and I only see the stress that will come from it.

I get why he's asking... I am always with one foot in the emergency exit just in case if things could get too overwhelming. I guess he feels a lack of commitment on my side. He might rationally understand why I am acting like this but not on the emotinal part. Planning holiday together I guess feels to him like the living proofe I want him around and I want to commit to him... (I guess I can tell him as many times I want - I guess he wants actions to show it)

I am afraid I will feel trapped alone with him alone at a hotel. Its just my brain being afraid and triggered by him just being around sometimes and my battery for that is very small in capacity. I need my space to recharge and I can't do that while he's around because hyper awareness and so on get the best of me.

I might go into full blown fight or flight or even worse fauning response because I need space (I know this feeling all to well because I feel like this on some weekends. If one full weekend can be too much for me, how could i ever handle a lot of more days and nights ?)

Going somewhere warm is no option due the clothing and going swimming is also no option for the same reason. It makes me feel too vulnerable...

I don't feel ready and I don't see any way this could work for now as things are.

I told him all this and he accepts it for a while even though he's disappointed but then again he catches on that topic but nothing changed for me even asks me in front of my friends or family and not all of them know the reason why this might be problematic for none but me.

Hi anon,

I'd like to share with you an earlier ask I answered where I described in-depth what relationships should and shouldn't have. The two things I want to connect from that post are trust and communication.

It seems like the communication in your relationship is poor, which is in turn affecting trust in both directions. Your partner may have some trust issues and as a result is using holiday plans to test your loyalty. He doesn't respect your boundaries either, which may also be a result of the poor communication and trust. I don't think it's your fault that the communication is lacking, as it sounds like you've done your part in expressing to him that you're not ready for these trips and you've tried explaining to him how you feel about that. However your partner is seemingly misinterpreting and otherwise ignoring you.

It sounds like your partner genuinely doesn't acknowledge how your trauma affects you and disrespects the subsequent accommodations you need. That is a huge problem because it's essential that your partner, regardless of who it is, acknowledges what you've been through and how that may contribute to things you need, like having some alone time or even just being treated with gentleness.

Considering that you said you've tried talking to your partner about this and he hasn't responded well, I'm not sure if this relationship is in your best interest. It's not fair that he uses holidays to guilt you into spending time with him and that he violates your boundaries (having alone time, declining trips) just to prove your loyalty to him. It's also not fair that he airs your dirty laundry in front of family and friends. You deserve a relationship with good communication, respect, patience, trust, and care, and I'm not sure that your partner could meet those requirements. That being said, it's your relationship, your choice. Especially as a trauma survivor, I think it's essential that you have a partner that loves and respects you, and doesn't pressure you into anything. If you think this is something you could talk out with him, I think it's worth a shot as long as it doesn't put you in harm's way.

I'm really sorry that this is happening and I hope that things work out for you. Let us know if there's anything you need.

-Bun

[health-products123]

Medicinal Garden Kit

Life in the city can be fast-paced and stressful. Fresh air often comes at a premium, and the idea of homegrown anything seemed like a distant dream – until I discovered the Medicinal Garden Kit. This little box of wonder has transformed my tiny apartment balcony into a haven of not only greenery but also natural remedies!

From Seed to Sprout: A Beginner's Delight

Let me preface this by saying I'm no green thumb. My past attempts at houseplants resulted in more brown thumbs than thriving foliage. However, the Medicinal Garden Kit was surprisingly user-friendly. The clear instructions and included guidebook made starting my very own medicinal garden an absolute breeze. The seeds came neatly labeled, and the biodegradable pots eliminated the need for additional trips to the gardening store.

Within a few short weeks, my windowsill sprouted a mini-forest of vibrant green seedlings. Each day, watching them grow was a source of joy and a reminder of the power of nature, even in a limited space.

Fresh Herbs at Your Fingertips: The Convenience Factor

It's also incredibly rewarding to know that these herbs are free of pesticides and chemicals. Growing them myself allows me to control the entire process, ensuring that my home remedies are truly natural.

A Gateway to a Healthier Lifestyle

The Medicinal Garden Kit has been more than just a way to grow fresh herbs; it's been a stepping stone towards a more holistic approach to health and well-being. Taking care of the plants – watering them, watching them grow, and harvesting the fruits (or should I say herbs) of my labor – has instilled a sense of calm and groundedness in my daily routine.

A Recommendation for Anyone (Even Black Thumbs!)

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or, like me, a complete novice, the Medicinal Garden Kit is a fantastic option. It's easy to use, incredibly rewarding, and a great way to bring a touch of nature and natural remedies into your home. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment when you harvest your first batch of homegrown herbs is truly unmatched!

A Few Tips for Fellow Gardeners

Location, Location, Location: Pay attention to the sunlight requirements of each herb and choose a suitable location on your balcony or windowsill.

Don't Be Afraid to Experiment: The guidebook provides a great starting point, but don't be afraid to branch out and explore new ways to use your homegrown herbs.

[itseasyhavinpals]

I Don't Think I Can Help It

Sort of missing the lockdown these days. All that's left of those unprecedented months is the Fear. I was very fortunate to not have to worry much during the lockdown. Sure I was terrified, but there was also this sort of bizarre magic too. Taking walks through rainy days, getting lost in music and thought. Sitting outside and, for a whole afternoon, just watching the shadows shift with the sun until it dipped below the horizon.

I was thrust back into a more ancient and true way of life. The work necessary was to get food and keep my space clean, and the rest of my time was for Being. I wasted plenty of it numbing out the terrifying truth of the history being made, sure, and I also spent lots of it feeling an immense amount of peace too. In the way peace sneaks up on you, in the in-between moments.

Everything's gone "back to normal" except it keeps getting worse. Every masked face makes me feel guilty and afraid. Every audible cough and sniffle makes me feel angry and afraid. Every mask I wear makes me feel protected and suffocated.

The solidarity is gone, no one is clapping and banging pots and pans at seven in the evening anymore. It doesn't feel like there's much keeping us together, there's not much to remind us we're all in the same boat. We're all just fighting to survive in a society stacked against us.

Now our shared experience puts us at each other's throats. Everyone vying for the most superior moral high ground, posting their humble-brags online and selling their results as attainable.

Grind harder. Master your side gig. Eat cleaner. Stay woke. Stay young. Reduce waste; upcycle. Stay fashionable. Stay hydrated. Get sexy; stay sexy. Produce. Make money. Save money. Cancel your subscriptions. Make sure to subscribe. Buy this. Do the right thing. Always. Or else.

I think that's why I love snow days so much. It's nobody's fault, no one's responsibility, so we find it easier to take responsibility: we salt and shovel the sidewalks, we push each other's cars out of their icy prisons, we feed each other and check in on each other and dig each other out. And we understand when the shops are closed, and we go on walks to watch the snow.

After our last snow fall, the weather got unseasonable warm very quickly. It feels like Spring's upon us in mid-winter.

Not that I don't love the sunshine, but everything in my body seems to scream that something's off. At a time where one's very existence feels like a juxtaposition. When too many options leads to paralyzation, and our own fate feels like it's out of our hands, but it's up to us to save the world.

How are we meant to survive this?

The sheer power of pure, human resilience can only provide me with so much hope and comfort.

Mister Rogers said to look for the helpers. I know they're out there. Behind every helper, though, is a crumbling society necessitating the help. Or at least that's what I feel. So many of the helpers I perceive seems less like help and more like a mad scramble to momentarily tip the scales in our humble favor.

Though, I'm absolutely certain this perspective is swayed by my hours hours upon hours on the internet. When I look up from it for a moment, the world gets smaller, and the helpers I see are strangers holding doors open for each other; friends giving each other rides; people letting people pet their dogs; buying each other coffee; returning lost items; giving directions; picking up dropped things; putting a good word in; looking out for each other; dropping off supplies; helping each other up.

It's the day-to-day helpers that makes me feel like maybe life's worth living.

My world is definitely far too big when I spend a lot of time online. Inundated with the thoughts, opinions and experiences of other people, there's no room for my thoughts, opinions and experiences. Initially there's comfort in drowning myself out, but then I get stuck in the fray of all the news and compilations and reviews and video essays and how-tos and story times and break downs and hauls and get-ready-with mes and information and instructions and parodies and clips and previews and interviews until the very act of scrolling happens so fast I literally make myself dizzy.

And then I pivot, hard, into simplicity and quiet until the vibration of my own voice in my skull becomes alarming and disruptive, and the whole cycle begins again.

I'm disgusted by it. I give myself whiplash with these massive dips in quality of life caused by whatever mental, emotional, hormonal flux I'm experiencing, followed by panic induced lifestyle overhauls that never stick.

I think we're sold the myth of true balance, the myth of one right way to be, and how to feel good. What to strive for; what success looks like. And I buy into it. Maybe if I tried the latest viral health challenge, or gave myself more rules, or followed one plan or another, or read this self-help book I'd feel better.

For someone who really doesn't like being told what to do, I really do a lot of asking of others to tell me what to do. I already know what I'm going to do, though, it's true. I think a lot of the time, what I know I'm going to do, and what I actually want to do are vastly different things.

I seem to do a lot of resigning myself to myself, until most of what's left is disappointment.

I might be driving myself crazy, and I don't think I can help it.

But I just want to feel better. 

[badwolfweightloss-blog]

1-26-23 Weigh in Good.

January is officially in the books. I posted the results to WW. Here are the stats:

Start 216 Week 1: -2.3 Week 2: -2.6 Week 3: -2.2 Week 4: -3.9 Total January Loss: 11 pounds

That's really impressive, considering especially the binge that was wigging me out was this past week (week 4.) I'm happy that January was a success. February has me worried. I will be at Disney world, and its really, really hard to maintain, never mind lose while on vacation. I know from multiple instances that vacations trigger me REALLY BADLY. I have never EVER come back from a vacation and continued a weight loss program successfully. So, I need to come into the last week of February with the best plan to end all plans. I don't know what that looks like. Maybe set my expectation to maintain for February? (with the idea that I lose the first three weeks of Feb?) It just feels like a terrrible plan to gain potentially 6 pounds while I'm at disney world. (The 6 that I anticipate losing.) its like that work goes out the window.

What are my other options? Stay on plan as much as possible during my work week. That's difficult, given that the lunches are provided and I'm at the mercy of the buffet. Ugh, I hate eating in front of people. That's the worst!!!! Also, I am always afraid that I won't have enough food later during vacations by myself. So, how can I handle this? Breakfast will be eggs. Maybe a piece of toast and some fruit. Stay clear of potatoes. Stay clear of bacon and meat. Maybe substitute out the eggs for a sausage or something one of the days. For lunch, eat the lunch, stay clear of cheese. Try for chickens or turkey - as close to what you normally have as possible. For dinner on Sun - its sushi. Just get a roll and the soup. That should be fine. Get some fruit and pirate booty for the room. For Monday, its Epcot - you know where you are eating. Try to stay somewhat healthy in there. No alcohol. For Tuesday its Hollywood studios. Again, you have ideas on quick service. Look it up ahead of time and try to be reasonable. At least both of those days will be walking. But I can't count on exercise to save me. I have to be reasonable with my portion sizes and meals. Next is Wed. I have no dinner plans. I was thinking of going to circus de soil and getting something at Downtown disney. This is possible - maybe look for something reasonable. Or maybe even a quick service sandwich at the hotel before I go? Not sure. That's a big question mark.

For Thurs, the hubby and kids are there. Its going to be quick service at MK. Again, this is a fairly easy thing to control. Sandwich, take away the cheese. Deserts are a big thing once the family arrives. I might say no to MK desert. Maybe stick to popcorn - see if they have airpop option, no butter. For Fri its Epcot and this is definitely going to be a challenge. Space at night - I'm not staying on plan. i am dining at one of the most incredible and expensive restaurants - I'm having my dinner. This is a lets dip into points day. I may even choose to go non-AF on this day. Something challenging here is that we do not have any reservations for lunch or breakfast, so we have to figure out what that is going to look like. I might see if we can get breakfast in our room to eat ahead of time - low cal bread, eggs should work. Then lunch, again finding something lowish points. Snacks at the showcase would be good. I have to stay clear of the alcohol, that I know that Vincent is going to be going towards. I just don't want it. I want to be AF until space. (and even then...?)

Saturday - ack. Hollywood studios, another reservation, this time at Brown Derby. I'm eating all I can eat again. Possibly another wine choice. That's going to have to be the same process as the previousd day. And lunch, maybe we will find that lunch box quick service. I think there are reasonable things there.

Sunday - last day, and arguably the hardest. Buffet! And not just any buffet - one of my favorite. Ever. Like in the world. Its at animal kingdom, and I just love it so so much. I think the key here is going to be loading up on low cal stuff and then getting small selections of the stuff I love. Which is everything. Ack. Well, this is is - this is the last meal and I would not be eating again till the airport, or something on the way to the airport.

This is not an easy thing to navigate, but all i can do it make the best choices I can. Eat at the three restaurants I want to eat at, and make somewhat healthy choices during those meals. The space one especially, I can enjoy the ambiance and eat reasonably. Brown derby - steak. Maybe a salad or soup sub for potatoes. Buffet - ugh. And that's it. Its vacation. Weight loss prayers, please. And, hey, at least we have january success!

[slfcare]

Hi, how are you? (Gen) ❤️

If you have time and space I'd like some advice. I have a friend and they say that they have anxiety around texting and I have severe anxiety around phone calls. They almost exclusively call me, while I try to strike a balance of answering calls and sending texts. I've brought this up before and they say they'll try but they don't try. It makes me feel sad inside. The texts that I send I think are low maintenance. It'll just be stuff like "how are you" or cute pictures I find on tumblr. They rarely respond. I see them constantly on things like Twitter, ig, and FB and whenever we're together they answers texts from other people. I don't necessarily think they are lying about texting anxiety, but I do think that they view my anxiety around phone calls as trivial. Phone calls, regardless of how they go, make me feel awful. I always feel stupid and empty after them, even if they go well.

Overall I feel neglected, unsupported, and unheard in this relationship. Am I just being petty? What do I do? I've felt this way for a while and have tried communicating but nothing changes.

Hi! I'm doing well, thank you for asking :) 🤍

I definitely don't think you're being petty. It sounds like you're putting genuine effort in and thinking about ways to make communication more comfortable for you both, while even compromising in ways, and they're not returning that effort.

If I were you, I'd bring it up again next time you're on the phone with them (something you're doing for them). It doesn't have to be an accusation, because that'll just offend them and result in conflict, but you can say something along the lines of, "It was nice speaking to you on the phone, I'll send you a text later, okay?" Make sure to get an affirmation for them. If they still ignore your texts after that, you can express your concerns ("hey, I'm afraid our relationship/contact will suffer if we don't combine calling and texting. I'm trying my best to make it work, but do you think we could talk about how to go about this?"), again, without any accusations.

I understand the complexity of navigating this. My best advice is to be open about your concerns, your doubts and your feelings without blatantly blaming them for anything. If it still feels like they're disregarding your anxiety and your effort, maybe it's time to reevaluate how you're feeling in this relationship again and if letting go might be an option.

[mattsvn]

CHANCE BALL LOVE!

Pairing: Ushijima Wakatoshi x gn!reader

Genre: Meet ugly! strangers to lovers! Getting hit in the head with a volleyball!

Warnings: Blood, head injury, concussion, did I mention getting hit in the head with a volleyball? Food hehe, that's all.

WC: 2.4K

Summary: After being hit with a volleyball by the ace and U19 athlete, Ushijima Wakatoshi, you find yourself laying in the nurse's office, with a bag of ice on your head and a boy apologizing every two minutes for that terrible accident. As the times goes by, you realize that not only you were hit by a ball, but by destiny, and more important, love.

A/N: I'm so excited for this piece! This is a collab for HQHQ (now Anilysium!) The masterlist is here! I hope you like this piece! Reblogs are appreciated!

Life is made up of 90% causality and 10% coincidence.

That was what your mother used to say, with her hands covered with flour up to her elbows, while she prepared one of those delicious desserts. Possibly as a result of all her years perfecting her technique as a pastry chef, but, as in that, she considered that everything had to be planned, measured, and calculated.

On the other hand, your father was always talking about how fate made everything line up perfectly for things in his life to come in abundance, he would happily tell about the coincidences in his life, although the answer was always the same, a debate between the two of them as to what was the truth.

A skeptical pastry chef and a dreamy lawyer, a match made in heaven.

Whatever it had been, causality or causality, you never thought a hit of luck would be so...literal.

It was unusual for you to be in Shiratorizawa's volleyball gymnasium, if you had managed to get into such a prestigious high school it was because of the impeccable grades you always had, sports were not a priority.

You weren't afraid of balls, but, the way everyone was spiking the ball was about to cause you a headache, especially Ushijima Wakatoshi, the school's ace, one of the best athletes in the country.

"Why are we here, again?" you asked, your gaze wandering between the various players and the sound of balls hitting everywhere making the conversation feel distorted.

"Because they" one pointed out, to the rest of the girls looking around the court excitedly "want to see Semi Eita, the pretty boy with the grey hair" she gestured to the boy in the corner, slamming the ball to the ground unaware that they were watching.

"Ah" you replied, somewhat bored, grabbing your backpack and standing up. "Good luck with that, I have to get home early" you said, waving goodbye to everyone.

To leave, or at least, to do it in a faster way, the door that led out of the building, and through which you had to go through the court, was the best option, as it took longer to take the way inside the corridors. The only option as you made your way down the bleachers.

The only thing you heard, with your eyes glued to the ground, trying to go completely unnoticed was a "WATCH OUT!" that made you look up before you saw nothing but darkness.

"I don't know, Wakatoshi-kun, looks like you did kill her" a voice was heard in the distance, the light irritating your eyes if you tried to open them. Still, only because of your stubbornness, you tried to get up without anyone else's help.

"I don't think it's best if you stand up now" you heard a deeper voice, but you didn't know exactly where it was coming from.

"I'm fine" you whispered, placing a hand on where you assumed you had been hit with the volleyball, feeling a warm liquid staining it. It wasn't possible that a spike had cracked your forehead open, right?

Right?

"I'm fine, I have to go" as you stood up, opening your eyes, everything was spinning. An arm went around your shoulders, stopping you from falling back to the ground, firm, but at the same time gentle.

"You need to go to the infirmary, you're bleeding" the voice now seemed to be closer, a little more stable, but, no way did you feel you could even move without throwing up or passing out again, what the fuck had that hit been? Could someone hit someone that hard just with a serve?

The answer was yes, and the name, Ushijima Wakatoshi.

You barely felt it when, just like that, he lifted you off the ground, although it seemed that your body felt it. A piece of something, probably cloth or gauze stopped the bleeding. You kept repeating that at least they let you walk, that you were okay, even though, clearly, you had the symptoms of a concussion.

"Are you all right, can you tell me where you are?" questioned Ushijima, entering a room. You had finally managed to open your eyes and recover from the dizziness.

"I'm fine, we're at the high school" you whispered, looking at Ushijima for the first time.

Even if you had gone to games before, you had never seen that look on Wakatoshi's face, a mixture of fear and worry, accompanied by his pale face and a barely noticeable bloodstain on his shirt.

"You can wait outside, dear boy," said the nurse, slightly terrified by what had happened.

A couple of hours passed before they managed to let you go, after calling your parents and making sure you didn't leave the building unless you were accompanied. You didn't need stitches, and that was a huge plus, but still, you left the infirmary with a gauze pad on your forehead, some candy, and a chance to take the rest of the week off to rest, which wasn't such a bad outcome.

You closed the door behind you, looking sideways at Wakatoshi on the floor, who got up almost immediately, still looking scared, even his gaze lingered for a few seconds on the patch on your forehead, which reminded him of the fact that he had accidentally hit you with a volleyball while practicing his serves.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, looking disheveled, and as if he had done nothing more than wait in the hallway until everything was in order.

"Oh, don't worry, Ushijima-san, I'm fine" you assured, but it didn't seem to be enough for him.

"I'm so sorry, let me take you home to be sure you arrive safely" he asked, with his hands behind his back and his head slightly bent down, like a child discovered stealing the candy from the counter.

"My parents are here to take me home, don't worry" you assured, glancing sideways at the door, somewhat far away. "You can walk me to the car, if you like."

"Of course" he nodded, walking beside you. Up close he looked even taller than he was, his expression calm and his gaze fixed straight ahead, though, he seemed to have a doubt that would leave his lips at any moment "Would you allow me to walk you to school tomorrow?"

You looked at him with raised eyebrows, somehow, the sound of just both of your footsteps in the hallway was comforting, soothing. It wasn't awkward, or uncomfortable. Ushijma didn't believe in awkward silences, because to him actions said more than words, and, that a question shouldn't be answered right away. So, the way to the entrance was nothing more than waiting for an honest, and safe, answer.

"I got permission to miss classes for the rest of the week, in case the concussion gets complicated, because I have to rest" you began, letting again the calm silence take center stage for a couple of seconds. "Then I won't be back until Monday, but maybe you can come for dinner tomorrow?"

"If you accept that as my apology for hurting you, then by all means" he took the door, allowing you to leave before him, there was still a bit of a walk to the main entrance. "Although, I would like to cook"

"Oh, I didn't know you cooked," you smiled, looking up at him. Ushijima looked down, and, you could swear he was smiling too. "If that's what you prefer, I'd love to."

The rest of the walk was quiet, and calm. Ushijima said goodbye to you after introducing himself to your parents, and apologizing again. In the rearview mirror you saw him standing there, waiting until he didn't see the car to go home.

He was really worried, and it would probably take him a few days to stop being scared about what had just happened. He was even willing to be scolded by the coach for missing two days of practice, just to make sure everything was in order.

Likewise, even if it would be a whole day before you saw Ushijima, he decided to call you just before he went to bed. And at lunchtime, because doing it earlier would surely have woken you up. He didn't talk too much, he let you talk about how annoying the doctors at the hospital had been when you went to check that everything was okay, and all the boring time you spent there.

He called back as soon as he got out of school, to make sure the details of the dinner were ready, he would bring the food, and some dessert, and, you would bring the drinks. You had to convince him though, otherwise he would have bought everything, he would have even brought plates and silverware from his own house.

Wakatoshi took the job of bringing the food seriously, as much as he could buy anything on the way home, he decided to make something himself. The menu was simple, yakisoba, yukari rice balls with an egg on top of each dish. As for dessert, he decided not to risk it, and preferred to buy those box cakes that had been quite popular lately, and, some condensed milk truffles that Tendou gave him as a gift as, he assured, you would love them.

Your parents could be quite reluctant to invite a boy to the house, but, after proposing the idea that you could clean up the picnic table you had in the backyard, where there was a space convenient enough for them to peek in just a little to feel safe, they agreed almost immediately.

During the afternoon, the question you wanted to ignore came out of nowhere, could that be considered a date, and should you dress for the occasion? It didn't seem like anything would match a forehead injury, or that anything would hide it. The result ended up being something you would wear if you were going out with friends, simple, and appropriate for the sunny day out.

Ushijima arrived exactly at the appointed time, and, reluctantly from your parents, you opened the door without them intruding. Looking at him, you failed to understand the nervous feeling that traveled from your heart to the tips of your fingers, making them tremble. Standing with a bag in his left hand, his hair slightly tousled and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Yet another gesture of apology, right?

"Hi, I brought some flowers" he pointed out, extending them. Your hand gently brushing his as you took them, white roses with green accents that made the bouquet look incredibly elegant.

"I already told you that you didn't have to keep apologizing, Ushijima" you mentioned, taking the flowers. "We'll eat outside then you don't need to take off your shoes, but let me go get a vase."

"You look good today" he spoke out of nowhere, making you look at him even though you were already halfway down the aisle. "You look good in those clothes" he seemed to be trying to smile, but you weren't sure. You smiled anyway, grateful for the compliment.

You returned with the bouquet, which would now serve as a decoration for the picnic. You could feel the intense gaze of your parents even if they tried to hide when they peeked, or, according to them, "watched" that everything was in order.

"Are you feeling better then?" he asked, looking at how simply decorated the picnic table was but somehow looked incredibly cozy, with perfect tree shade.

As was now usual, Wakatoshi didn't talk more than usual, at least not at first, he wanted to hear about how you were feeling, and how many days you would be out of school, although you assured him that you would be back to your activities by next Monday, and that, your friends would take care of sending you the homework you needed. Then the questions about him began.

You learned a lot, how he learned to play volleyball at a young age, his interest in cooking but his almost zero ability to make desserts. My mother could make some, you laughed, drinking some cranberry juice in a wine glass, your father's idea. He told you about his new interest in plants, and his father's work out of the country. Even some good anecdotes about the volleyball team.

Dessert was something completely different, by that time, she started to excitedly explain his last game, and what it was like to be in the Olympics. Although it wasn't as noticeable, you could tell in the way his lips curved into a slight smile as he tried to find the right words to define how he felt.

Reluctantly, and after offering to do the dishes, you said no, keeping the bento boxes with the promise that you would bring lunch on Monday for both of you, and now a wide smile on his face, even when he had to go home.

The following Monday came terribly slow, with the only thing that made it better being that Ushijima had not stopped her constant calls, the day possibly delayed by dark clouds heralding torrential rain.

"You don't have to keep apologizing anymore, look, even the wound has healed" you said, to Ushijima who was standing at the entrance, now with a box of the truffles you had liked so much, and which he had now made.

"I know. But I'd really like to walk with you at school" he smiled. "If you'll let me.

"I'd love to."

Life is made up of 80% causality and 20% chance, and, although you wouldn't want to repeat the literal hit of luck you received, you hadn't wanted it any other way.

Going to the gym because your friends wanted to see a cute boy on the volleyball team, having to leave early because you had things to do at home, leaving through the door you had to walk through on the court, getting hit in the head with a volleyball, only to end up walking to school with him, fingers barely brushing, a tender kiss on the cheek before he left.

Eating now inside the house, holding hands, a kiss on the corner of the lips. Waiting in the bleachers for practice to end, a number one jacket covering you from the rain.

The worst way to get to know each other, and, somehow, it seemed you were made for one another.