#not sure if this counts as a trip

[solciego]

If you could write an historical AU (any era ) where they go on some sort of trip or travel that would be fun to read ! :)

The tenderness with which I hold you Words: 1217 Regency au (highly based on Bridgerton xd)

Mikasa definitely needs some time alone.

She wasn't a big fan of balls, and being surrounded by men seeking her attention this season was torture enough. Moreover, considering her aunt was persistently pushing her to marry Viscount Zeke Jaeger, a man much older whom she despised for the disgusting way he looked at her, the situation became even more unbearable.

Ever since reaching the age to marry, her aunt, Kiyomi, had become her shadow, and every social event was an opportunity for her to push her towards an unpleasant marriage and secure an advantageous union. Following the path society expected of her each day was becoming increasingly suffocating. Each time the idea of a convenient marriage with a wealthy man was mentioned, Mikasa felt her freedom and authenticity slowly fading away.

She was ready to give up and remain single for the rest of her life.

Tired of the leering gazes and suggestive comments she had faced at the reception, Mikasa finally decides to find a place to escape from that social charade. She carefully opens the door to the first empty room she finds and unexpectedly encounters Jean on the balcony, finishing smoking a cigarette. Their gazes meet, and Mikasa can notice a hint of surprise in Jean's eyes as he extinguishes the cigarette under his foot.

"I see I'm not the only one seeking some peace," he says with a smile as he approaches her. A faint smile also forms on Mikasa's lips.

"My dance card is filled with dates that will hardly materialize," she replies with a sigh, reflecting her disinterest in social activities.

"It's been a busy season, hasn't it?" Jean asks, trying to keep the conversation light.

She shrugs. "With Historia Reiss as the diamond of the season, my aunt has been more insistent than ever on finding me a husband."

Jean can't help but chuckle; he knew her aunt well and knew how persistent she could be when she had something in mind. "And what's been stopping you so far?" he asks curiously.

"It's just that... All those men are so shallow. The only one who's even remotely interesting is Armin, but I see him more like a brother," Mikasa confesses, revealing her most sincere thoughts. At each ball, she was pushed towards high-status suitors, but none of them sparked even the slightest interest in her. They all seemed to be interested solely in her foreign beauty, and none took the time to get to know her as a person.

Jean ponders for a moment before responding. "You certainly deserve better than that."

Mikasa smiles gratefully at him. "And you?" she asks, recalling that Jean had not found a wife and didn't seem interested in the matter.

"I suppose it's the same for me. They're only interested in my dowry."

As Duke of Trost, Jean held a position and fortune that irresistibly attracted many women interested in securing their future, especially ambitious mothers who saw him as the perfect match for their daughters.

Both fell silent for a moment, sharing a complicity in their struggles against societal expectations.

"Mika... Come with me," Jean suddenly proposes, extending his hand to her. Mikasa looks at him curiously, intrigued by the proposition. "Let's get out of here."

She hesitates for a moment, aware of the social implications of retiring alone with a gentleman. "Jean..."

"Come on, it's not like you have anything better to do."

She shakes her head, concerned about her reputation and what high society would say if they saw her alone with him. "It's improper. If we're discovered, my reputation will be completely ruined."

"If that happens, I won't let it affect your reputation. Trust me," Jean says with a passionate glint in his eyes.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Mikasa finally nods, letting herself be guided by her deep trust in him. She allows Jean to take her hand, feeling the comforting warmth of his touch. He leads her carefully and decisively, ensuring they are not seen as they slip away from the bustling ballroom.

The carriage glides smoothly through the paved streets, choosing less-traveled routes and shaded alleys, creating an intimate atmosphere between the two of them. Mikasa observes Jean, whose eyes shine with an enigmatic glimmer under the soft light inside the carriage. He smiles occasionally, trying to dispel any tension she might be feeling.

Jean keeps his promise to take her to a special place, and when they arrive, the scenery is enchanting. It's a serene stream, surrounded by trees and lush vegetation. The moon shines over the tranquil waters, creating silver glimmers that unfold across the surface. Both sit by the shore, Mikasa hugging her legs, and Jean remaining silently by her side as the night breeze envelops them both.

"I just don't want to marry a stranger," she whispers sincerely.

"What?" The uncertainty in his voice is palpable as he watches her attentively.

Mikasa sighs and searches for the right words to express what she feels. "I think that's why I've taken so long to consider marriage. I don't want to settle for a forced or meaningless union. I want something authentic. I am more than just a mere title or someone to be joined with for convenience. I want someone to see me for who I am, not just as a wife or a decorative figure in their life."

Mikasa's confession flows with sincerity and passion, like a confident whisper that rises in the nocturnal air. She glances briefly at Jean from the corner of her eye, and under the silvery light of the moon, she can appreciate his face framed by his incipient beard.

However, he doesn't return her gaze, and in a desperate impulse, Jean rushes to her side and takes her hand firmly in his. The warmth of their skin blends together. "Marry me," he blurts out, his words echoing his own desires and dreams.

Mikasa opens her eyes, surprised by his unexpected declaration. "What?" she responds, trying to process what she has just heard.

Jean searches for the right words to explain what he feels deep within his being. "We've known each other since we were little. We've been there for each other in the toughest moments. I've seen every part of you, Mika, your strengths, and your insecurities. And you've seen mine too. We know the best and worst of each other, and yet, we're still here. Together."

Jean continues to gaze at her with his deep hazel eyes, a look full of hope and longing. For some reason, his expression is desperate, as if he were struggling to convey a million things at once.

Mikasa's heart quickens. He is right; she knows him better than anyone else, and he knows her in a way no one else does. They have shared laughter, tears, and secrets. There is a connection between them. Moreover, Jean holds a position of great influence and responsibility in high society. She knows her aunt would be thrilled with this union, making it convenient in more than one sense.

"Jean, I..." she stammers, her thoughts in conflict. But before she can finish her sentence, he looks at her with such intensity that her words fade into the air.

"Marry me, Mikasa," he insists. "Let me be the person who sees you for who you are."

[canisalbus]

I noticed you've been making more art of Machete and Vasco after they met again as adults - is this canon? Do they get to rekindle their friendship after all, or is it still brief and bittersweet? (I love your characters and art, btw!)

Thank you! I'm glad you like them!

It's canon, I believe. After their confusing and apprehensive friends-to-lovers involvement ended in their early 20's, their paths end up crossing again unexpectedly in their mid 30's and things gradually grow from there.

[sophieswundergarten]

There should be more content on the systemic rivalry of Curtain as a theatre kid and Milligan as a

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 10: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

Yesterday's poll decided that The Adventurer should join the travelers on the larger river boat for a short lunch ...

~

"Before he even fully musters the courage to shout a 'hello', the large group on the boat initiates contact first, gleefully waving at him, whooping and shouting as they near his tiny raft in the water. Apparently, some of them were betting over whether they'd actually find any other travelers out on the river today.. He fumbles over his words a bit, as always, but somehow manages to successfully get himself invited onto their boat for a quick lunch..

After safely securing his raft to the side of the boat with some spare rope, he climbs aboard, stumbling into the excitement of some sort of celebration. A few of them explain that they're traveling for 'kahesallei', an old elven holiday recently re-popularized in some of the larger cities nearby. Whatever it's true meaning and origins used to be, the current significance (at least to those within the city walls) seems to just be mindless feasting, drinking, and gaudy decor. Most of the traveling group are strangers to each other, only brought together by catching a ride on the same tour/party boat, but the mood is light, quite friendly between them, and perhaps a bit drunk.

While the boat itself is relatively plain wood, it's been strewn with gold and orange banners, flags, shimmery tassels, beads, and bushels of dark green ivy braided with fresh herbs and wildflowers. There are flat round tables of food and drink, plenty of cushions to lounge on, and one random guy perched precariously on the edge railing of the boat, gently strumming a lute for background music..

The elderly ship captain hobbles over to The Adventurer, sternly explaining that, no matter what the 'silly' passengers say, he's only allowed to stay for an hour because he didn't pay for a boat ride ticket, and thus really shouldn't even be allowed on board. By the time The Adventurer has mentally processed this information, the captain has already returned to his little steering room, slamming the door shut with a displeased grunt.. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to confront him or question the rules...... But! Hey, at least he has one hour at the party.. How should he spend his time? "

~

Additional Information

the adventurer's current main goal: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has

[mik-mania]

i have to be at work at fucking 645 tomorrow morning cus the UW in madison had ANOTHER fackin incident....

[markmybirds]

A Seven Days Before Valentine Rant

Casual Watcher goes BRRRRT at the colour and naming schemes. I AM SAYING CASUAL BECAUSE some of this is just very "Mar's Theories" and may not actually fit completely with the show. TL;DR: Not just colours, ok mostly colours. BUT ALSO WEATHER!? Ok I'll go back to LITA again. Sorry.

There Are Spoilers Literally Right Away. Tread with Caution. Also it's tangenty and very everywhere. To Start: Hi~ I'm Mar. I'm an Art Historian/Conceptual Artist and Researcher. We must protect Q and Jared. There is a big Colour-Coding conversation about the blues and reds/whites, greys and blacks of this drama.. Which I am here for. Sun = Red, Starts in Black Clothing eventually ascends into white. Q (Sky) = Blue, starts in white eventually descends (Jared?!) into greys and then eventually touches on black. For the Black to White Changing I'm just gonna add that I love the diversity of greys in Everyone's clothing in this. "Why must there be black and then white? There must be ups and downs." -- To quote the song at the end of 7 Days Before Valentine. I know there are a lot of Biblical things about this floating around and I'm here for it. Esp with Jared being named Jared. But I won't cover that much. Just mentioning too that Q is Q for Cupid. Teehee. As I say this and my screenshots of choice are:

Something clicked in me at the Q's real name drop at the end of the series. (Which aforementioned is Sky). Sunshine said: "Erase everything that stops me from loving Rain.." Rain took away Sunshine's love and will to do his job: shine in the Sky. So in turn, Rain was erased because Sunshine couldn't do his job or love Rain because Rain just covered him up in clouds.

With cloud-cover/Rain in Sunshine's way, Sky(Q) was the only one given Sunshine's light (wearing white). Sunshine wearing black to show he is being blocked out by Rain's clouds. Rain loved the Air because the water cycle has to do with the air. However Air is a molecule, and there is a lot of Air. Whereas for Sunshine there is only one Sun. So he was never an option to disappear from the world. Sky was aware of Sunshine because you can't have a sky without the Sun. However Rain blocked him from his happiness. Sky was erasing every request/cloud that got in the way of Sunshine's light, that includes Rain (not on purpose and also by request of Sunshine). However, Sunshine took time to notice how much work Sky was doing for him. As Sun heals and comes to realizations, Sunshine became warm.

Sky takes on the storm clouds that Rain left Sunshine blocked behind so he is in the black when he left, the black we met Sunshine in. I mean. Not that Sunshine is ever in pitch-black. His black always has a heathering to it.

Q/Sky being dreary and upset also always had dark grey backgrounds like clouds. If Sunshine is off-screen you only see a haze of his golden tones but the background is always off-blue grey otherwise. Later in the show (like Episode 11) is my favourite to show gloomy Sky. Whenever Sunshine is in the same screen a golden hue of sunlight is added.

In the same scene, when Q has some sort of hope. Like. Sunshine says "I want to take care of you" Sky's black comes off as grey.

ALSO JUST.. FOR.. ADDITIONAL FUN.. Jared's name means "Rose" or "to Descend". His name is biblical. He also is generally in whites, reds greens and blues.

Look it these twooo~. Protect themmmm!

Just want to add some quotes: "Look at the sky, at the stars." -- Sky/Q "Romantic Kid?" -- Sunshine "I had nothing to do. So I watched the stars in the sky. I became interested in the solar system. I searched for the answers to everything. I wanted to know how we exist on this Earth in this Universe." -- Sky while staring at the Sun.

In the story of Q as a human: "The morning mist and the first light of day was what he remembered." "Icarus" - Sunshine to Sky's story about how when Q was Sky (alive, a human) he worked so diligently and hard to become a scientist and left behind his father. He fell hard and fast. Sky said. Icarus. Sky: I'm close to Sunshine now, will my wings melt? Sunshine: Not yet.

"Q!?" -- Both of them yelling it at each other in episode 12. Hello both were each other's Cupids!?. Also teehee colour coding. Look at that golden colour and them wearing whites and blue.

"Soaring into the Sky, challenging the Sun."

[hexmaniacchoco]

So, Target has decided to fire employees who purchase a Stanley cup. Yeah the same Stanley cups that have lead in them. Target's reasoning is that they violated a policy which doesn't allow employees to gain an "unfair advantage" over customers when it comes to purchasing limited items. Managers' reasoning for allowing employees to buy the cup is that it's a cup and why on Earth should people not be allowed to buy them. My opinion is scalping is bad and a problem that needs to be better addressed by companies. The solution is not to fire employees for buying limited items, even if they put one to the side for themselves to purchase after work. I think a much better solution is one we already use, which is the good old fashioned purchase limit paired with not making only like 1 of something per every hundred of people wanting it. You want to buy a few? Sure, maybe you're buying the others for friends or family or something who also like the thing. You want to buy 10? 50? The entire stock on display and all in the back? Absolutely not, sir madam or other.

Also if you're a Target employee who got fired, definitely make sure to file for unemployment and have the state investigate for unlawful termination. It might not be considered as such because it was a stupid policy but still a policy, but might as well find out and have them go after Target if it is. (And no, "at-will" does not mean that an employer can fire you for absolutely any reason. They just want you to think that so you don't bother to track conversations in written (text/e-mail/etc) form and have state labor departments investigate when you get fired and are applying for unemployment.)

[coquelicoq]

hugo really doing his darnedest to make sure i learn at least three different french words for "shithole"

[cockmcstuffins]

there’s pure comedy in film red and the retcon of shanks’s daughter who was there the whole time and no it won’t ever not make me laugh that every single scene uta appears in feels like 2003 oc fanfiction come to life we came full fucking circle on this one

[cheezyharu]

Pokeddexy 2023 | day 30: Best Shiny

shiny Vulpix is the first shiny pokemon I hatched ever, evolved her into a Ninetales as quick as I can and holy crap I love the purple shades on her

[safyresky]

🙃🙃

[sonar-taxlaw]

here's some thoughts on transit:

i don't have a car and haven't used a car in my regular day to day since i moved about a year ago. i love not having a car and it's great that i live in a place where i can survive without one but it's still not convenient, even in a place where a car isn't strictly necessary. like, this is the bare minimum in terms of a place that's livable without a car and here was what my transit looked like:

monday: -walk to commuter rail -take rail to work station -take bus from work station -take bus back to work station -take rail back to home station -walk home.

tuesday: -walk to the bus station -take the bus to the dmv to get my id updated -walk from the dmv to get lunch -walk from lunch to the bus -take the bus to the train -take the train to a hub station [CAR TRANSPORT TO FRIEND'S HOUSE] -walk from friend's house to dinner -walk back to friend's house. wednesday: [CAR TRANSPORT TO TRAIN STATION] -take subway to commuter rail -take commuter rail to my stop -walk home.

thursday: -walk to bus -take bus to thrift store -take bus to second thrift store -take bus to food -walk home from food. friday: -walk to commuter rail -take commuter rail to subway -take subway to tram -take tram to hub area -walk to lunch -walk to activities -walk back to tram -take tram to a place near bookstores -walk to bookstores -walk back to subway -take subway back to commuter rail -take commuter rail back to my stop -walk home.

saturday: -didn't have any errands so i stayed home.

sunday: -walked to craft store -walked from craft store to get groceries -walked from grocery store to home.

which was in total about 20 miles of walking, about 30 dollars in transit fares (not counting the cost of my monthly pass for my local bus and transit to and from work which is about 75 dollars), more than 9 hours of time on transit, and almost getting hit by a driver who wasn't paying attention once.

absolutely not doable for everybody! i had time! it was my week off! i got a ride from a friend instead of taking another hour on public transit on tuesday and a ride to their close by subway station! i can carry groceries .5 miles and walk in the heat! i have the money to pay for a monthly pass and extra for trips outside my normal zone!

we need more, better, cheaper public transit so much.

[horizonandstar]

ok so about the borrower game, i went and looked at a few other games to get a rough word count and i think i underestimated it. so like chapter 1 should be about 20k-30k once its done, so this is going to take. a while

the ide still says i have ~6k excluding command lines, which i now realized includes comments, so the actual playable word count is <6k currently

anyways would people want random out of context screenshots while i work on this? theres not going to be a lot of them but i also want to go “*gesturing* look i made this :D” because unlike with the fish fic, the development time for the borrower au game is hell of a lot longer and i cannot go back and fix whatever mistakes i find later after i release it

[solpng]

the wedding was... ok.

[szczylpierdolony]

god i hate summer vacation

[basaltbutch]

....oh. huh. perhaps the horrors are not so bad, i only have 2 more classes to do and then i can transfer.