#return of the mini gingerbread men

[lovebugism]

Okay, for your Blurbcember what about "Don't you think gingerbread houses with gingerbread men are kinda morbid? I mean, it's a house made out of flesh?" with Steve? And reader just pauses, bag of icing in hand while the gingerbread roof slowly slips off and stares at Steve like boy, I love you but what tf is in your eggnog?

you might be genius for this one, anon. hope u like it!! — you, the grump of the group, try hopelessly to decorate a gingerbread house with your perfectly ditzy bf (grump!reader, established relationship, fluff, 0.8k)

blurbcember ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

“We can’t decorate this if you keep eating all the candy. You know that, right?” Your voice comes in a concentrated, half-annoyed monotone. You’d be grumpier about it if you weren’t so focused. Now, you’re more worried about piping even shingles on the gingerbread roof than your boyfriend eating all of your supplies.

Steve stops chewing with a cheekful of something sugary. “Sorry,” he apologizes, mostly muffled.

You lay the piping bag on the tabletop and flash a deadpanned glance to the boy beside you. With his hair grown out and pushed over his head, chiseled jaw scruffy and unshaven, and ugly Christmas sweater pushed up to his elbows — you think he’s the coziest he’s ever looked. Far too pretty to be mad at.

“Can you hand me the gumdrops?”

He nods enthusiastically, happy to finally help in some way. He reaches to his left for the plastic bag of vividly colored candies. The bag is lighter than he expected, and much much emptier. It shouldn’t surprise him. He’s the one that ate them all.

“Sorry…” he repeats as he passes the bag to you. He gives you a crooked smile in return, an enthusiastic glimmer in the honey of his eye. “It looks really pretty so far, though!”

“Yeah, no thanks to you,” you murmur. 

Dustin told you that this was usually a team effort, a friendly competition between the whole group, but your fingers are the only ones cramping now. You delicately stick each gumdrop into place and try to ignore how tense your wrist has gotten. You figure the Henderson boy must be much of the same in the living room — he’s too much of a perfectionist for anything else.

“You’re the one that told me to stop helping!”

“‘Cause you almost broke the ceiling off, remember?”

“You underestimate my strength, sweetheart,” Steve argues, only half-joking. He leans his elbow on the table and props his scruffy chin on a balled-up fist. “My strong hands can crack that gingerbread, no problem.”

“Yeah. Okay,” you scoff.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect, okay? We just have to make it better than Dustin’s, because I do not want to spend another year with that little shit bragging about making the best house.”

Dustin Henderson is a little super genius, and Nancy, Robin, and Will are the judges this year. The odds of beating everyone’s favorite smartmouth aren’t exactly in your favor. You’re not the most creative person either, but you are pretty competitive. To a fault, some might say.

Honestly, the only reason you took this gig was because you wanted to spend more time with Steve. 

He doesn’t need to know that, though.

“Well, you didn’t have me a year ago, did you?” you quip, eyes still trained on the creation before you.

Steve grins so wide that it’s audible in his sickly sweet tone. “No. I didn’t. I got real lucky this go around, didn’t I?”

His smile grows when your face screws up in annoyance. “You’re disgusting…”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Hand me the candy canes,” you tell them. And then, because you’re trying to be nicer — “Please.”

With his lips quirked in a lopsided smile, he hands you the plastic bag. You stick a couple of the mini sticks into the makeshift yard, then break the ends off to use as windowsills. You put two of them together in a heart shape and stick them to the front of your house, just below the roof.

Steve’s chest swells with warmth. “Aw, that’s cute. You big softie.”

“Shut up…” you grumble.

“It’s a compliment,” the boy laughs, a sunshine sound that turns the kitchen golden. He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. The bottom of his sweater lifts slightly, flashing a sliver of his stomach. “It’s real nice, you know, for a gingerbread house and everything.”

You squint at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, I mean— don’t you think gingerbread houses are kinda morbid? Like… It’s a house. Made out of their flesh.” He explains it all like it’s obvious, like it’s a thought he’s had a million times before. He scoffs out a laugh, amused by your visible confusion. “It’s kinda weird when you think about it.”

At a loss for words, you blink at the boy beside you. You don’t think you’ve ever been more dumbfounded — more in love with anybody else in the whole entire world.

Steve is so much different than you are. You’re sometimes too serious, easily annoyed, and a little bit gauche. And Steve is… like walking into the sun. He’s like walking into the sun for the very first time after a terribly long winter.

“What?” he says, chuckling at the silence. The plastic on the table crinkles audibly when he reaches for another gumdrop. He chucks three into his mouth at once, then remembers he isn’t supposed to be eating them at all. “Oh, shit— sorry, babe.”

“Did you spike the eggnog?” you blurt.

“No,” he scoffs, trying to get the candy out of the back of his teeth with his tongue.

You shake your head with a distant smile and try hopelessly to hide it from him. “You’re crazy,” you murmur under your breath.

Steve grins, lopsided and rosy, and with grains of sugar stuck to the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. For you.”

[monty-glasses-roxy]

aside from decorating cupcakes and other sweet treats, chica is also pretty good at decorating cookies (sometimes sun or moon joins in on the fun), she's the plex's resident baker for good reason and they had a fun time decorating gingerbread houses during christmas

Oh they love a gingerbread sculpture time of year be damned. Why sculptures and not houses? Look at the contestants. Do they look like people that can be limited to just houses? No, of course not.

Chica is the master of the classic gingerbread house. She likes to make something that looks actually good to eat and really pretty. She's a bit of a perfectionist, but honestly, this being what she's known for kind of makes her want to break it and do something else. The second she revealed this to either Roxy or Monty, they stared her straight in the face... and slammed their fist onto the gingerbread pieces. At first, Chica was horrified. How is she going to make a house like this?! "Don't make a house then, dumdum."

Monty and Roxy being there is what turns this into a contest. They're too competitive to work together for too long. They're trying - and failing - to show Chica what other stuff she can make with the broken pieces and eventually they both just have a little tower of pieces they've stuck together and called 'Modern Art'. It immediately falls apart after they name it because they don't know what they're doing. Chica fucking loved it though and now you have the three of them fucking around trying to make something nice with random gingerbread shapes. Every so often one of them will just punch the unused pieces or a new sheet so it's getting more complicated as time goes on.

They call in Bonnie and Sunny to show them their cobbled together winter scene of everyone made of gingerbread. It's an absolute mess but it's their proudest achievement. Bonnie praises it and asks if they can contribute, which, of course they can. He stacks a bunch of gingerbread pieces in the formation of bowling pins and rolls a gumdrop at them. While they play gingerbread bowling, Sunny vanishes and returns with those strawberry lace sweets and almost instantly, Roxy has ditched the game to start making an army of gingerbread Mini Music Men with them. Monty asks how many Minis there actually are, a little worriedly and Roxy just gives him a devillish smirk and asks "do you really want me to answer that?" The answer is nope. Nope nope nope. Arachnaphobia too strong for that no thank you! Anyway, Bonnie and Chica have started naming the spider army.

How long until Freddy joins them? Not that long I don't think. If Foxy's here, he immediately starts stealing gingerbread and stuff to make something for each of them. Freddy has been offering some input on that whilst he takes some gingerbread to build a rocket ship. They dim the lights a little so Moon can have a turn too and he immediately screams and smashes the final sheet of gingerbread with both his fists. He was waiting for them to dim the lights. He was waiting for this moment to scare the shit out of them. He planned for this. Sunny even convinced them to save a sheet or two for later incase they need it since they're fine with what they have now, all for his master scheme. Oh boy did he spook 'em lmao

Maybe they even drag Vanessa and the Minis into this? Maybe Chica starts work on making giant gingerbread sheets just for DJ? Oh my god Chica makes a shit ton and DJ stacks them up to the ceiling like a house of cards... it would be huge. He gets the pleasure of making it all tumble to the ground again before he starts trying to make little structures out of them again. What is gingerbread if not edible, and less durable lego bricks?

They have fun for sure! Definitely doing that more than once a year though. If not with gingerbread, than they'll find something else to do it with lmao

[lit-in-thy-heart]

There was a knock on the open door and Lancelot looked up, hand still buried in his hair. 'I thought you were out with the others.'

Elyan kicked off his shoes and wandered in, promptly closing the window. 'I got bored.'

It wasn't exactly a lie: he had whizzed around half of the town on his own beforehand anyway and spending much longer with Gwaine after being forced to spend one and a half thousand years with him and then house share would be a sure way to commit murder. But Elyan had also seen that Merlin was fretting about Lancelot -- and even Gwaine had been in his own way -- and had thought it would look less like Lancelot was being checked up on if Elyan were the one to return home.

'How's it going?' Elyan asked, peering across the table to scrutinise the watercolour.

Lancelot raked his hands through his hair -- there must have been some kind of enchantment in Avalon because it really was growing thick and fast -- and sighed. 'I don't know. There's something on the paper, but I don't know if I like it. And it feels different to the work they said they liked--'

Elyan walked out of the room and returned with a coffee cup. 'I brought you this. I thought it might help. You just need to try and not overthink it, or put too much pressure on yourself.'

Nodding, Lancelot gently accepted the drink. 'I thought we were banned from Costa.'

'We're not banned from every Costa in Bath. Not yet, at least.'

Lancelot had been about to take a sip. 'That was not a suggestion.' As Elyan grinned, he tilted back the drink and pulled it away soon after, eyes dancing. 'It's the gingerbread and cream latte!'

'Yeah, it is,' replied Elyan, trying to suppress his smile as he threw himself down on the sofa. 'Because it's now Christmas, not hot girl summer.'

'It's November.'

'Closer to Christmas than to hot girl summer.' Rummaging around in his pocket, Elyan pulled out something wrapped in a branded napkin. 'But I guess if it's too early to be Christmas, then you won't be wanting this...'

When he unwrapped a mini gingerbread man and lifted his head, Lancelot looked like he was about to cry. 'Elyan, if Gwaine ever does anything to upset you ever again I will help you steal his kneecaps.'

Elyan held the napkin out to him. 'Greatly appreciated.'

a ficlet set in the costa criminals universe to celebrate the return of the mini gingerbread men

[illusionsofdreaming]

How about the main three (Cale,Choi Han and Alberu) baking christmas cookies with the gender neutral reader?

Notes: And 3/3 of winter headcanons! Thank you everyone who's sent in prompts, I've received a lot of heartwarming and fuzzy suggestions! >//w//< I might answer a few more if I find time but for now, please enjoy and have an amazing Christmas guys <3

Ft: Cale, Choi Han, Alberu

Cale Henituse

only came to help out because the children asked him to

even then, his form of ‘help’ is just sitting down and supervising

when it came to decorating the cookies, where the dragon and kittens are having the most fun coloring their designs, his designs are the most basic and generic

gingerbread men: two eyes, one nose, three buttons

christmas tree: white diagonal lines and three red dots

star: outlined in yellow

decorated a total of three cookies and left the rest ‘for the kids’

ate so much cookies in the end (gifted by the children) that he had a stomachache for the rest of the night

Choi Han

when you were young you’ve always thought nothing was impossible so long as one has enough patience and persistence to see things through

“I was naive.” You said with a serene smile as you watched the kitchen burn down

-thirty minutes ago-

you were craving gingerbread cookies but it’s snowing heavily outside and it’s so warm indoors

baking gingerbread yourselves it is!

Beacrox was on break and you’re there to supervise! What could go wrong?

It’s Midas’s touch but reversed

anything he touches in the kitchen turns into disasters

Flour went everywhere but the mixing bowls, sugar and salt got mixed up, the dough was clumpy, chocolate melted, icing’s in your hair, the stove caught fire, sparks started spraying everywhere-

the kitchen is now burning down

Raon came to the rescue and you all got scolded. Well, you mainly, because you brought Choi Han into the kitchen

Store bought cookies were the best after all

Bonus: When Beacrox returned from his break, he was told a terrorist attack happened and the kitchen took the worst hit. He was suspicious (who in their right minds would want to attack the kitchens first?) until he caught Choi Han’s guilty gaze and decided quite swiftly, he’s fine with not knowing.

Alberu Crossman

you’ll have to sneak into the kitchens late at night to avoid getting in the way of the kitchen staff when they’re working

he’s never cooked a thing in his life but he’s great at listening to instructions

cookie dough is surprisingly delicious? you have to stop him from eating too much or you’ll be left with nothing to bake

you ditched tools in favor of cutting your own designs from cookie dough

unsurprisingly, Alberu is adept at carving delicate shapes despite it being his first time handling cookie dough

it’s also very unfair, how his first attempt at icing still looks more perfect than yours

you spent a lot of time decorating the cookies

the finished cookies were brought out the next day when Cale came to visit and the children were all very excited to find mini-cookie versions of themselves waiting for them in the tea room

[foli-vora]

there she goes

A/N: Soft boi has arrived! Literally only watched his episodes of the Mentalist because Patrick Jane, quite frankly, annoys/bores the absolute shit out of me.

Pairing: Marcus Pike/f!reader

Word count: 1.7k

Warnings: none that I can see but please let me know if you think something should be added!

+++

Standing in line at your favourite little café, you watch the rain pelt against the glass panels of the shop with disdain, cursing the bright sunny morning that tricked you into leaving your umbrella and jacket at home. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky when you woke and left for work this morning, and now it seemed like the dark grey clouds delivering the onslaught of rain stretched from horizon to horizon with no signs of a break any time soon. Typical, you thought to yourself. Like your day hadn’t been bad enough already.

Your landlord had dropped the bomb of a rent increase, your car had a flat, you had missed the bus and had to take a cab, your desk chair decided to die – leaving you practically on the floor trying to answer calls and use your computer and the office printer refused to print anything, no matter how many times you called it a piece of junk and kicked it. Suffice to say, you were more than ready for a strong hit of caffeine.

You’re dragged out of your inner grumbling when a finger gently taps your shoulder and you whirl to face the tapper immediately, sharp words of irritation dying on your tongue the second you meet their gaze.

Brown eyes, you notice instantly. Soft, soulful brown eyes. He was… nice. Understatement. He was gorgeous, with neatly trimmed facial hair and windswept dark hair falling just above his eyes.

He gestures towards the counter with a polite half smile, “Uh, you’re next.”

You blink in confusion before glancing at the young girl behind the register, seemingly waiting for you to step forward and order, and quickly apologise to them both. She smiles, making quick work of your regular order and then you’re stepping aside, throwing another apology towards the stranger before finding a seat and sitting with a deep exhale.

The rain comes down harder because of course it does. You mentally add embarrassing yourself in front of the first decent looking guy you’ve seen in a while to your list with a quiet groan. Melting back into the chair, you take a moment to fully bask in your somewhat dry clothes and shoes before inevitably having to end up running through the torrential downpour back to the office.

A to-go cup is placed gently in front of you, your name scrawled across the side, and you blink dumbly at it before following up along the arm until you’re looking at the man from the line. He’s smiling again, his own coffee in hand and the other now buried in his pants pocket.

“Someone’s away with the fairies today.” He notes light-heartedly, and then gestures over his shoulder. “They called your name – I hope it’s okay that I bought it over.”

You blink again, and only when his brow quirks ever so slightly do you snap out of your reverie. 

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I’m not usually this spacey.”

His face softens, lips quirking into a sympathetic smile. “Bad day?”

“Yeah, you could say that.” You reply dryly, eyeing the rain as you stand. “Thanks for bringing my coffee over. It probably would’ve been stone cold by the time I came back to Earth.”

You’re rewarded with a deep chuckle and it sends a little flutter through your chest. You made the pretty stranger laugh – not a total loss of a day, after all.

“I could try and make it better, if you want.”

You raise a brow, smiling shyly. “Oh yeah?”

He nods with a small smile, “Yeah.” He looks over his shoulders and shrugs lightly. “I could get you a slice of banana bread, a muffin, maybe… a gingerbread man? He has mini marshmallows as buttons.” His voice is light, playful, and when his grin widens, you find yourself unable to resist returning it.

You hum in thought, “Sounds like you’re a big fan.”

He chuckles, looking down as he nods. “Yeah look, I may eat colourfully decorated marshmallow buttoned gingerbread men more than a fully functioning adult of my age should.” He admits, grinning as you chuckle. “We could grab a table... maybe talk for a bit?” He watches you check your watch, hope growing in his chest at the thought of getting to know the pretty distracted stranger a little better over coffee.

“As tempting as that sounds, my break is almost over and I’m pushing it for time.” His face falls a little and you mirror his disappointment, briefly wondering if your boss would let you off if you tell her all about the pretty stranger at the coffee shop. “Thank you for the offer, though…”

“Marcus,” he smiles, shaking your hand firmly. The encasing warmth of his hand is enough to send a thrill through you, and your heart flutters in nervous excitement. The feeling doubles as he murmurs your name, pointing to your cup before you could ask how he knows.

You duck your head, smiling warmly at him before turning to the door and bracing for the wet chill that’s about to take hold. A warm hand softly pulls your arm back, and you turn back to him in question. He’s looking at your empty hands with a frown.

“Don’t you have an umbrella? Or a jacket at least?” Marcus asks, frown deepening when you shake your head.

“No, it was sunny when I left this morning – bad day.” You explain, a smile still tugging at your lips despite the downpour bombarding the street. There was something about this kind and pretty stranger that had you unable to stop smiling, and your cheeks were starting to pay the price with a lingering ache.

“Well, you can’t go out there without one, here – have mine.” He reaches past you and grabs the dripping umbrella propped up by the door, holding it out to you expectantly.

You recoil instantly, “What? No!”

“Please. It’s bad out there!”

As if to cement his argument, a snap of thunder crackles overhead, the rain increasing, and you cringe instantly.

Still, you shake your head and push his hand away, “I can’t take your umbrella! What about you?”

“I drove here – my car’s around the corner. Please, take it.”

You weigh up your options, not wanting to leave the handsome stranger with nothing to keep himself dry, but ultimately, it’s his pleading puppy eyes that completely win you over and then you’re reaching out, taking the umbrella softly and desperately trying to get a hold of your rapid heartbeat.

“Thank you, Marcus.”

He shrugs, an easy grin stretching his features and your eyes fall to glance over it appreciatively. He had a damn good smile. “Don’t mention it.”

“My knight in shining suit.” You coo, chuckling at the flush of faint pink that washes across his cheeks. “I can’t tell you how much this has turned my day around.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” And he truly is.

You linger a moment longer, grinning as he turns slightly bashful under your heavy scrutiny. “It was really nice to meet you, Marcus.”

He beams, “You, too.”

With a small wave, you disappear into the rain and Marcus sighs softly, watching you go with a small flicker of regret at the missed opportunity. Umbrella and your number next time, Pike, he scolds himself solemnly.

His nose curls as he watches the rain for a moment and then sighs deeply, reaching for the lapel of his jacket. He pulls it over his head and briefly thinks about his car, still parked in the nice and dry parking garage back at the bureau. He’s not at all sorry for telling you a little white lie to get you to take his umbrella, you needed something in this weather and it was his absolute pleasure to provide. Knight in shining suit. It had him smiling to himself the entire run back to the office, despite the downpour that had him saturated in the first two minutes.

He keeps an eye out over the next few days, intentionally going for lunch at the same time as that rainy day in hopes he’d see you again. Every day, he was left walking back with a feeling of disappointment, but not letting it crush his hope for the next day.

It’s not until over a week later when he’s standing in line, the café busier than usual, when he hears a familiar voice pipe up from behind him.

“I’ve heard the gingerbread men here are pretty good.”

You’re already smiling when he turns to face you, a grin of his own creasing his cheeks.

“I’ve been keeping an eye out for you.” He admits, nodding when you tilt your head with a curious oh? “Just making sure you’re not holding up any more lines – people need their coffee, after all. Can’t be waiting around all day.” He teases, laughing when you softly shove him playfully.

Shaking your head, you step up next to him and lean in to his side, “So guess what?”

He chuckles softly to himself, looking at you expectantly. “What?”

“I took a long lunch. Well, actually, I’ve been taking long lunches all week hoping to see you.” You admit, somewhat shyly. Were you coming on too strong? You hope not. It’s only been a week and you had missed him like you had known him longer than five minutes. You weren’t sure whether to be slightly concerned that a literal stranger had you so caught up in a whirl or thrilled that you had finally met someone who seemed genuinely decent.

He smiles softly, relieved that this little thing between you both wasn’t one sided. “I’ve been hoping to see you, too. I actually –”

“Hey, move it along!”

You startle, turning to frown at the irritated man behind you when Marcus chuckles and offers a small apology over his shoulder, before reaching for your hand and gently pulling you the short distance to the counter to order. You barely take notice of him and the barista talking, instead focusing on your hand now wrapped up in his, his thumb rubbing softly across your knuckles, and how it’s making your body thrum with electricity. You smile to yourself, eyes flicking back up to his face to find him looking at you expectantly, brow firmly raised with a small smirk.

You blink. “What?”

[hazbinextgeneration]

Down The Rabbithole Ch9

(Disclaimer: The songs sung by the Twiddle Sisters are Wonderland by Natalia Kills, Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez, and Wonderland by Caravan Palace. I DID switch around and replace a few words, especially the Mad Hatter song, to match the storyland theme more, but I in no way own any of the songs or anything about them.)

Birds chirped along and the sky was a lovely blue as the lady in a red dress walked along the dirt road, even though this world had no visible sun that she could see it was still warm as if it was always summer here. And everything was always so bright, beautiful, and vibrant. The sweet smell of flowers was still in the air and lots of forest animals were about. Mostly birds and bunnies, but she saw some deer, a fox, and a turtle too. She wondered if they were regular animals or cursed princes or maybe they could talk like Cheshire or Marsh. They looked and acted like regular forest animals of her old home, and ran away from her as soon as she passed. Making her chuckle as she walked along. At least her feet weren't hurting anymore. Allison had shortly left the strange polka dot cottege after eating the food the kind Hatter and Hare provided her, once again reminding her of the way she needed to go in order to find these Twiddle Sisters. She certainly hoped whoever they were they would be as friendly as her previous guests were. She could only hope. Allison had followed the two crazy fellos' instructions and was already walking down her way towards the second fork in the road. So far she hadn't seen anything except for the lovely woods and creatures around her, that was until the path turned a corner to the left and as instructed she followed it. As Allison turned the corner she paused, and a big smile slowly spread across her face.

"Oh thank god! Finally!"

The second fork in the road! Finally! The second shiny GIANT silver fork stood tall and in the middle of the dirt path as she hurried towards it. Like the one before it, there was paths behind it but this time instead of two paths and two signs, there was three wooden paths and three wodden arrow signs. As soon as she got close enough she stopped and peered up at the signs that were somehow nailed to the giant metal thing. By now she stopped questioning things. I mean she just fell into a fairytale world of talking animals and storybook characters. How logical was that? As she approached, she blinked her eyes up to the three signs that pointed one each to the paths. One left, one right, and one pointing up probably symbolizing the path directly behind the giant fork. The left path apparently went somewhere called The Valley Of FarFar Away. The middle one lead somewhere called Godmother's Retirement Village. And the right which her old companions told her to go, said Enchated Vil. She smiled, before obviously turning and going down the right pathway. Everything looked the same as before as she walked along. Minute after minute passing as she continued to walk along for who know how long. The only difference was that the path began to slowly get bigger and bigger as Allison slowly walked along until it was as big and wide as a regular highway if the highway was made of dirt and smack dab in the middle of a dense and magic forest. The sweet flower scent in the air was nice as the gently breeze flowed throughout the air combined with...The smell of apple pies? She paused a little bit and sniffed the air a little more smelling the scents of foods in the air. And her stomach growled. Mini sandwhiches and cookies and tea didn't really fill one up so much. So naturally she sped up umbrella in hand as she folloed the smell down the road through the woods and-...And oh my goodness. She was now looking at the entrance of a small town the tree blocked off any buildings to the left and right, but from where she was standing she could make out the entrance to what looked like a mini town square of cobblestone and a fountain. Blinking she hurried forward. As she came closer the road slowly turned from dirt to cobblestone and she could hear her footsteps on it, and people walking around!.....WAIT! NO!! NOT JUST PEOPLE!! Walking talking animals and things! THAT THERE WAS A DEAR IN A FANCY DRESS CARRYING A BASKET!! AND THAT THERE WAS AN ELF!!....AND THAT THING WAS A TREE WITH ARMS, LEGS, AND WEARING AN OLD TIMEY SUIT!! She stopped where the forest met the town and her jaw dropped in absolute WONDER.

IT. WAS. A. VILLAGE. RIGHT. OUT. OF. A. FAIRYTALE!! Cobblestone everywhere, things out of stories walking around, and the buildings even looked like those old wooden cabins in storybooks, or cotteges with straw roofs. Either way it was fantastic. Umbrella still in hand and red eyes blinking around in wonder, she slowly stepped her way in looking at the brightly colored houses of different colors and designs and all the different people walking around. ...It really was real and so different and EXCITING AND AMAZING!! No one was the same from her first glance and she almost tripped from bumping into a giant walking spoon man holding hands with a giant plate wearing a dress and hat.

"S-Sorry," She called back before looking around again.

Her stomach growled smelling the good food again and she looked over and noticed there was a bakery opened not to far from her. Above the bakery's door it read "Muffin's and Gingerbread's Breads and Goodies." She guessed that must've been the Muffin Man's and Gingerbread man's family business. ...Too bad she didn't have any money or what was used for money down here. All this walking really worked up an appitite....What was she looking for again? OH YEAH!! Granny Cottege. She looked around and began to walk around aimlessly glancing at the many, many buildings around the place and peeking into alleyways. 'Mother Goose Library'. 'Town Hall.' 'GodMother's School House'....An actual one room school building with a bed like in ye olden days. 'Ye Olde Brave Tailor.' 'Merry Lane Doctor.' ...LOTS of fairytale puns. But no 'Granny's Cottage.' She must've been looking for what must've been an hour by now and still no signs of it. 'Can't miss it' huh? Against her better judgement she decided to stop someone and ask for directions. It looked like a wizard. The old man in a long robe and witch like hat stopped patiently and didn't seem too bothered by her question. In return to her question, he pointed down at an alleyway between two buildings and said it was just down that alleyway. She thanked him and hurried away towards where he had pointed. Darting between the mysterious people until she got there. The alleyway was dark but there was a light at the back of the tunnel, her desperation to find a way home somewhere overpowered any sketchy feeling she might've had and compelled her to walk down it. Allison was in complete shade for a few moments, but it disappeared as soon as she reached the end. The alleyway was nothing but a dead end with garbage cans and some litter laying about. But before her was a large black door and a sign above it read Granny's Cottage. FINALLY she found it! A smile came over her face as she approached the door and didn't hesitate to open it. Inside was NOT what she was expecting.

The loud sound of laughter filled the air and she catiously poked her head in and blinked at what was before her. LOTS of buff looking pirates and thieves she thought, witches and wizards wearing dark clothes, and other ruffians. ....Wow. She guessed there must've been ...'bad' people like classic story book villains and thieves but she didn't expect to stumble across a whole bunch of them. She took a few steps in and stopped wondering if maybe she shook turn around- She yelped and took a few steps aside as two buff looking men charged towards the open door with another third man in their grip she watched as they tossed him out laughing before one slammed the door shut and laughed even more and they turned and stomped back to a table of pirate looking men who held up mugs of she guessed beer towards them....She wondered if this is what Chesire meant by dangers of his world? She didn't have much chance to find out though as she sucked in a deep breath and began to walk towards the bar? This place looked like a tavern, an old version of a bar, only this one had a stage and giant old worn curtain near the far back. No one paid her any mind as she stepped around and under arms holding out mugs, dodging a few spills from the foul smelling beer. A man with an eye patch was wiping out a wooden mug at the counter and had that classic apron and small mustache like old bartenders had and looked up at her as she approached- Before yelping and ducking her head from a flying mug that landed on the floor behind the bar. The bartender didn't even flinch as it spilt at his feet and only gave Allison a bored look.

"Watcha want here girly? You seem kinda outta place in a crowd of rowdy ruffians like us." He sneered at her as she slowly looked around to make sure nothing would come back flying at her. Before blinking back up to the man.

"N-No! I d-don't want anything to drink. I-I'm just here looking for something."

"Uh huh. And just might who that be little lady? We don't usually see you're kind around here."

She looked at him and with a quiver in her voice said, "I-I'm looking f-f-for The Twiddle Sisters? I-I was told they perform here."

He huffed before going back to his cup. "Well, you're lucky then. They're about to perform now."

She didn't have time to even ask before the loud cheers of drunken laughter turned to cheers and whistles of joy and the bar tender looked past her, she looked over where he was looking and noticed everyone looking towards the stage near the very back of the whole place and she blinked.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A lady's voice sung out from somewhere as the cheers and whistles grew. "It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Twiddle Sisters!"

The old raggedy curtain rose much to the cheers and she blinked again. WHAT THE WHAT?! What was revealed was not one but TWO women sharing one body....L-LIKE CONJOINED TWINS!! The strange ladies were dressed in a dark pink burlesque outfit and a long feather boa.Like one of those old 1920's flapper girls. One lady had dark pink hair which she had in a ponytail. Her sister she guessed had MUCH longer very pale pink hair, almost light also in a ponytail. As they were presented they really hammed up themselves by fluttering their eyes, one head waved white the other blew a kiss towards the cheering crowd. Behind them was three witches. Backup singers?? Everyone quieted down as music suddenly began playing from somewhere and she-..Uh..They got into a pose as she watched.

"I'm not Snow white but I'm lost inside this forest.~ I'm not red Riding Hood but I think the wolves have got me.~" The twin with the short dark pink ponytail sang as she walked along the stage and put one hand to her forehead while the one on her sister's side remained on their hip. " Don't want your glass slippers.~ I'm not, not Cinderella.~ I don't need a knight, so baby take off all your armor.~" She stepped along the stage again and men cheered and whistled as they walked past. "Your be the beast-" They leaned down to poke a guy's nose as they past and his comrade pulled him back from the stage. "-and I'll be the beauty, beauty.~ Who needs true love, as long as you love me truly, truly.~ I want it all but I want you more.~ Will you wake me up boy if I bite your poison apple?~"

"I don't believe in fairytales~," both girls sung out this time as they stopped center stage. The three back up witch singers sang 'Oh, no, no, no.' as they said that. "I don't believe in fairytales.~ I don't believe in fairytales.~ But I believe in you and me.~ Take me to Wonderland!!" All five girls sung as one for the next few verses now as the sisters danced and swung their hips expertly in place. "Take me to, Take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Wonderland, Wonderland.~"

"When I lay down to go to sleep at night.~," the dark pinked haired twin sang again as her twin and the back ground dancers stayed silent now, but the backup singers bouncing to the beat. "My dreams consist of things that'd make you wanna hide.~ Don't let me in your tower.~ Show me your magic powers.~ I'm not afraid to face a little bit of danger, danger.~ " At the last 'danger' they reached one of their legs out to kicked back a burly one eyed man back from the stage with the sweetest smiles. "I want the love, the money, and the perfect ending.~ You want the same as I, I.~ So stop pretending.~ I wanna show you how good we could be together.~ I wanna love you through the night.~ We'll be a sweet disaster.~"

"I don't believe in fairytales.~" Again both heads sung as another 'Oh, no, no, no.' came from the witches. "I don't believe in fairytales.~ I don't believe in fairytales.~ But I believe in you and me.~" Again as they repeated the next verses they all sung as one and Allison had to admit that they all had good voices, especially the one sister who was singing. "Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, Take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~" That same expert swing dance in one place. Allison briefly wondered how long it took two sisters to agree and practice it? "Take me to, Take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Wonderland, Wonderland.~"

"Wonderlaaaaaand!!~ Oh!! Woah oh, oh!!" The dark pink haired twin sang loud and echoed throughtout the place. "Woah oh, oh!!~ Woah oh, oh!~ I believe in you and me!~ "

"I don't believe in fairytales!!~" Both heads sung together again only a little louder. "I don't believe in fairytales.~ I don't believe in fairytales.~ "

"But I believe in you and me!!~," The original sung out by herself.

"Take me to Wonderland.~," All five ladies on stage sung as one again, "Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~" "I BELEIVE IN YOU IN ME!!~" The original singer sung out as the other four ladies continued to finish up the song. "Wonderland!!~ Take me to, take me to!~ Take me to Wonderland!!~ Take me to, take me to!~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to, take me to.~ Take me to Wonderland.~ Take me to WOnderland!!~ TAKE ME TO WONDERLAND!!~"

The cheers and roars of the rowdy crowed was inevitable as all five ladies on stage took a bow, but that wasn't the end of the performance as Allison discovered when a different song began to play again from somewhere. The twins stood back up and took a stance as if to start another part of their performance. Allison blinked and found herself walking towards the front of the stage as the crowd began to die down from the first performance. This time a much deeper beat and music box sounding piano played from somewhere she couldn't see. Not that she was paying attention to anyone else but the two on stage.

"My friends don't walk they run.~ Skinny dip in rabbit holes for fun.~," this time the other sister with the longer very light pink haired ponytail sang out by herself as they slowly sashayed across the stage. "Poppin, poppin ballons with pins.~ Getting wild with barbarians.~ We paint white roses red.~ Each shade a different version of red.~ This dream, dream is a thriller.~ Getting wild with a small caterpillar.~" The paler haired twin suddenly reached up to run her gloved hand down her face. "Now I'm feeling the rush to my face.~ Cause I hate being so plaaa-a-ain.~ What's normal?~ They make me addled.~ The wilds.~ They make me feel safe.~" She suddenly sang in a louder tone when the next few versus came. "I'm nuts, baby.~ I'm mad.~ The craziest friend you've ever had.~ You think I'm Psycho, you think I'm gone.~ Tell our friends to follow along.~ Over the bend.~ Entirely bonkers.~ You like me best when I'm leading along.~ Tell you a secret.~" She made a motion as if to beckon the audience closer. " Im not alarmed.~ So what if I'm mad?~ The best people are.~ All the best people are mad, yeah.~ All the best people are.~''

Her voice like her sister's was very pretty, and sounded very different from her sisters. The light haired pink twin's voice was higher pitched but not enough to sound annoying. It sounded quite lovely and smooth.

"Where is my shrink potion?~" Allison was pulled back out of her thoughts as she began singing again. She now noticed the witch back up singers were gone and the dark haired twin who sung before was being very quiet smiling as her sister sang. "Witches, witches please listen.~ My forgetfulness is rattled.~ You can Alice, I'll be the Mad Hatter.~" She pointed out at the audience when she said Alice before pointing back to herself. "Now I'm feeling the rush to my face.~ Cause I hate feeling so Plaaa-a-ain.~ What's normal?~ They make me addled.~ The wilds.~ The make me feel safe.~" She once again spoke in a louder tone as she repeated the last verses from before. "I'm nuts.~ Baby, I'm mad.~ The craziest friend you've ever had.~ You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone.~ Tell our friends to follow along.~ Over the bend.~ Entirely bonkers.~ You like me best when I'm leading along.~ Tell you a secret.~" Again the motion to beckon the audience but they stepped back when another man with a giant mustache was yanked back by his pal. "I'm not alarmed.~ So what if I'm mad?~ The best people are.~ You think I'm really?~" They slowly started to step around stage as they sang. "You think I'm mad.~ So what if I'm really?~ All the best people are.~ And I think your funny too.~ I know you're mad.~ That's probably the reason that we get along.~" They turned around and started walking back towards the center of the stage. "I'm nuts, baby.~ I'm mad.~ The craziest friend you've ever had.~ You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone.~ Tell our friends to follow along.~ Over the bend.~ Entirely bonkers.~ You like me best when I'm leading along.~ Tell you a secret.~" They stopped back at middle stage and the twin currently singing held her hand up. "I'm not alarmed.~ So what if I'm really?~ The best people are.~" They stayed in one place and bounced to the beat as she sang. "All the best people are really.~ All the best people are.~ All the best people are mad, yeah.~ All the best people are.~"

The music cut out just as they finished singing and another loud roar of laughter louder than before came from the crowd as the girls bowed and blew kisses at their adoring fans and Allison reached up her own hands to cover her ears from the loud clapping and cheers. YOWCH!! THAT HURT!! Gripping the umbrella in one hand and stepping back, not noticing she stepped on one touch looking wizard's long robe. The music started up for a third time and Allison watched as they put their hands on their hips and just simply bounced along to the music this time, as the pale pink haired twin spoke.

"Just imagine a trip to a wonderous land.~ Of candy, and Jam.~ And ice cream.~"

"I gotta hit the road, you better watch it.~ With a little bag full of big tricks.~", The pink haired twin took over singing as her sister once again fell silent to her lead. "I got the voice, got the pitch, got to keep it undercover.~ All in the air, just to sing it out.~ See the stone cold face, try to knock it.~ I can't be stopped.~ Never walked.~ Gotta run it.~ I gotta be wit it, I gotta be with it.~ I gotta beda-"

A loud yell made everyone stop and look down into middle stage, Allison tripped and fell back on her bum just as the bartender was walking by with drinks. The wizard's cloak that Allison had accidentally been standing on had snagged on the wizard's neck when he tried to stand and choked him, he turned around furious not looking at Allison on the ground. Only seeing the baretender standing in her place. Angered he pushed the bartender without another word sending him flying back and spilling the beer all over the men behind him. The pirates yelled in anger as beer was poured all over them and in retaliation one threw his mug at the wizard who quickly ducked. The cup flew across the bar and hit another VERY large man sitting at a table of seven other beefy men and they immediately stood after their leader was hit in the head by a mug and covered in beer. Which lead to more beer and cups anf chairs being thrown, to people becoming more angry, to starting to throw punches, and TURNING INTO AN ALL OUT BAR FIGHT!! The women on stage covered their heads with their arms, before darting to the left of the stage as the curtains closed.

"HEY!! Wait!" Allison quickly scrambled to her feet and quickly made a beeline for the stage as the curtains closed. Lifting up her dress a little allowing her to jump over fallen men or chairs easier or move when ducking under something flying over her head. THIS IS WHY SHE HATED DRESSES!! Her heart beats picked up as she moved and once she got to the stage, she jumped onto the thing and pulled herself up onto it. Crawling umbrella in one hand fast to the curtain as it just touched the bottom of the stage. She took one last look behind her, winced at a glass breaking sound, and quickly pushed up the bottom of the old curtain to crawl underneath it. But she didn't stop there, quickly standing she looked left to where the twins ran and saw a brown door. She bolted towards it, ignoring the curtain moving or the noises of the stage as something hit them. The door burst opened and slammed when Allison pressed her back to it breathing heavily....before sighing and closing those red eyes, leaning her head onto the door. "Well, that went well." She looked back around and noticed she was in what looked like a hallway, blinking she pushed away from the door. The faint sounds of the bar fight still going on but fading as she walked along. It was barely lit and hard to see. But there was a few doors to the right, she looked at them pondering which ones the twins took.

"Well tonight was a disaster." She stopped and blinked at the sudden voice as it came threw the walls. "At least we won't get blamed for it. It's not our fault the guy made another person mad." "Ha! Yeah right. Did you see him tonight?" What sounded like two women laughing together was enough to encourage Allison to walk faster and followed the muffled sounds of talking and laughing until she found the source coming from the back of one of the very last few doors. She stopped in front of it. Should she knock? Taking in a deep breath, Allison shakily reached a hand over. And knocked on the door. The sounds of happy chatter on the other side disappeared immediately and Allison froze. .....A long silence passed until a voice spoke. "Who is it?"

She opened her throat to speak but her answer came out a nervous stutter, "I-I-I...I-I c-came to talk to you two...I n-n-need to ask you something."

Another long pause-.....

"You may enter." Allison's hand shakily grasped the doorknob as she took a big inhale. Pausing for a moment before letting it out and slowly....SLOWLY pushing the door open and letting it open by itself fully revealing the three women to each other. The room was filled with classic 'star' items such as a well furnished bed, a giant wardrobe, and a fancy vanity which the two were sitting in front of right now. The three of the held a small staring contest, before the sisters looked at each other then back at Allison. "Who are you?," The light pink haired one asked.

"A-A-Allison. ..*ahem* My name's Allison. I need your help...please."

...They blinked and looked suspicious. "And how can exactly can WE help YOU?"

"I-I need to know where to find the Fortune Teller." Both blinked in surprise as she frowned and looked at them. "PLEASE!! He's my only chance of getting home and...A-And I heard you two would know where to find him."

They must've heard the desperation in their voice because the dark haired one reached her hand out to come in. "Close the door." Allison quickly did so and the two relaxed back. Well the dark pink haired one was looking at her with a studying gaze as her sister still looked confused. "....Come in and sit down. I'm Deedee." The twin with the short ponytail pointed to herself as Allison slowly shuffled over to the bed to sit down. And then she gestured to her sister, the one with longer hair. "And this is my sister, Dumea. ...Why do you want to know where the Fortune Teller is?"

Allison swallowed under their hard gazes. "I-I...I'm really lost. I-I need a por-....Rabbit-thole to get back to there." Both looked surprised again before looking at each other. "PLEASE!! Please. I have a friend who might be hurt waiting for me and I was told you two might know where to find him!"

....."So the rumors were true." They looked back to her. "A human really did fall down here." They leaned forward and gave her a concerned look. "It's not safe for you here." "If the Queen or her guards find you," Dumea cut in tone worried, "You'll be forced to perform in one of her fights. And she never loses. Her magic's too powerful." Allison's eyes shrank and her eyes dropped.

"....W-W-What?"

"The Hearts are jealous and fearful tyrant family that's ruled for generations. They're a very old family with strong magic that gets stronger with each generation," They continued, "The worst was Queen Velvet Hearts' parents. They wiped out nearly all the Chesires and destroyed most of the rabbitholes almost fourteen years ago."

Allison's mind wretched back to Chesire...remember how he proclaimed himself last of the Chesires-....And leaned back with a disgusted look on her face. "...That's why he was against me coming here...That's aweful!" She looked back to them. "Why would they do that?!"

Deedee shook her head. "The family was always crazy. They blamed outsiders of treason for the history the Brothers Grim shared with your world. Since then all outsiders are viewed as enemies and if any of them were to come into the Hearts kingdom they would spend the rest of their lives in the dungeon...or worse." "Queen Velvet is MUCH better than her parents or other ancestors were, but she'll still see you as a threat and lock you away. But not before making you fight to earn your freedom back before she locks you up like she does with anyone else who upsets her."...."Like us."

Allison blinked and an even more annoyed look appeared on her face. "Make you fight her? What did you guys do to hurt her and What kind of punishment is that?!"

"A much fairer one than her anscestors would've given us." "The Queen...still has traits of jealousy and vanity in her heart as all Hearts do. We used to perform for the royal court, but the Queen proclaimed we were trying to ruin her performances. So she challenged us and...." "W-We lost and she banned us from ever stepping foot in the castle again. Now we have to sing and live her to get by." "It's not a bad punishment. I'd rather get banned than thrown in the dungeon-" "But that's why you must leave." Deedee gave her a frightened look. "She's too powerful for you to take on and already there's rumor's of the queen sending guards to capture you. If you look you'll be trapped here forever."

Allison face became wide in fear and she looked at them in desperation. "T-That's why I gotta find him! He's the only one who could know how to get me back! PLEASE!! PLEASE TELL ME ANYTHING!!"

...The two sighed. "It's true we heard rumors about where he lives, but we've never seen him. Only heard of where he might live and even we aren't sure."

"PLEASE!! I'll take anything! If it means I can go home!"

....."We do not wish you to end up in our situation." "So we will tell you what we know."

Allison thanked whatever deities were listening to her prayers and gave a shuddering exhale hanging her head and looking at them. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you so much!"

"No need to thank us. You might not even find the results you want." "We heard from whispers from the courtroom's nobles that he may live in the Giant mushroom Field east of the castle, but that's all we heard and it's not gaurenteed because no one's ever seen him and told the location of his hide away."

"H-How do I get there?"

"The mushrooms. Follow the glowing pink mushrooms, they always lead right to it.".....Another pause before one Twiddle sister pointed in the direction behind them. "There's a trail that just starts on the south edge of town. The farmers use them to go collect mushrooms on the edge of the misty field before coming home to not get lost." "You should leave now. While you still have time." They stood up as they ushered her off the bed. "We'll sneak you out the back way, but you MUST leave right away. Rumors travel faster than you think and if you can't find the Fortune Teller then you'll need the head start to escape the Queen."

Allison's heart picked up pace slightly as the sisters quickly ushered her towards the door and what would eventually be her back exit. ...Getting back home just got a whole lot harder.

[artificialqueens]

Ivy’s First Tree (Biadore) - Lemonade

Prompt: Wondered if you’d consider a Christmas family fic with Biadore and Ivy?

Summary: Ivy insists on having her own Christmas tree in her room this year. Roy and Danny capitalize on their alone time Christmas Eve morning.

AN: Thank you all for being patient while I worked on this!

“No!” Ivy yelled when Roy made an attempt to help fluff out her fake Christmas tree. “I wanna do it by myself!” Roy put his hands up and backed away from the small decoration. He crawled back to his spot next to Danny on the floor, leaning his head on his husband’s shoulder as they watched their child contemplate what to do next.

This year Ivy insisted on having her own mini Christmas tree in her room. A neon green one, of course. With pink lights. As someone who used to have their own pink Christmas tree up year round, Danny couldn’t say no to her. So the couple sat on their daughter’s bedroom floor watching over the project.

Ivy stood as tall as her tree did; Roy had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.  

“How do I do it?” Ivy finally gave in after minutes of staring down the tree.

“Do you remember when we took the big tree out of the box and it was really skinny?” Danny asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then we pulled all the branches down and apart and it got really big?”

“Mhm.”

“It’s the same thing with this tree,” Danny explained.

Roy made another attempt to help his child. “Can I?” Ivy nodded her head. “See baby,” Roy pulled a branch down and fluffed it out as Ivy intently watched his every move. “Doesn’t that look better? That’s all you have to do.”

“Okay. I can do it now,” Ivy proclaimed. Her small hand took hold of a branch, mimicking what her father had just showed her. Her mouth dropped in excitement. “I did it! Look!” She turned to her dads for validation.

“You did!”

“Very good!”

“Good job, Ivy.”

“It looks so pretty already.”

They swarmed her with approval and compliments. The child bounced happily before rushing to fluff the rest of the tree.

Ivy rested her hands on her knees, bending over and dramatically panting when she was done. Their child was as animated as a cartoon character, the fathers always getting a kick out of the things she said and did.

“You okay over there?” Danny chuckled. Ivy stuck her tongue out and nodded.

“Do you wanna do the lights next?” Roy asked, pulling a circle of Christmas tree lights towards himself.

“I need a break!” Ivy fell backwards on the floor, her arms and legs sprawled out as if she were making snow angels.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Roy started crawling towards her. “You know who’s gonna get you if you lay on the floor like that?”

“Nooooo!” Ivy squealed as Roy started tickling her tummy. The child laughed hysterically while trying to protect herself from the tickle monster. Whenever she’d push his hands away he’d tickle somewhere else, making her roll all over the floor in a fit giggles. Danny watched on with a warmth in his chest and smile on his face; laughing along with them. The love he had for the two of them felt like it might burst through his chest and spill over.

“Daaad!” Ivy calling for him broke through Danny’s moment of sentimentalism. His daughter somehow managed to get away from Roy, and was running towards him with full speed. “Hide me!” She leaped into Danny’s arms, taking the wind out of him. Danny coughed, trying to obscure the fact that being headbutt in the stomach by a four year old actually really hurt.

Roy noticed the discomfort on Danny’s face. His poor husband still trying to hold himself together as Ivy climbed all over him. Roy grabbed Ivy from Danny. “Alright, kiddo. I think Dad needs a break.” He placed Ivy down next to her tree, sitting the string of lights in front of her. “Start untangling these so you can put them on your tree.”

Roy kneeled back down next to Danny, who was trying to catch his breath without making a scene that would scare their daughter. “Are you okay?” Roy looked at Danny with concern in his eyes, his hand cupping Danny’s cheek. Danny huffed and nodded. Roy ran his fingers soothingly through Danny’s hair. “Maybe we should’ve gotten her a football instead of that soccer set,” Roy joked. Danny chuckled in agreement.

“I’m done!” Ivy announced when all of the lights were untangled from each other. She walked the cord over to Danny, dropping it in his lap. “You can do it ‘cause I hurt you,” her head hanging low as she offered. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

Danny pouted. Ivy was very smart and intuitive. She had picked up on the fact that her dad didn’t feel good and that it was caused by her. “Honey, you didn’t hurt me,” Danny assured. He reached out for Ivy, pulling her into his lap as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Yes I did, don’t lie.”

“Ivy, I’m fine. I promise. You ran into me a little hard, but I know you didn’t mean to. I love when you jump into my arms for a hug, okay? You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not upset with you.” Danny kissed Ivy’s temple and gave her a squeeze.

“Why don’t we put these up together?” He handed Ivy a section of the Christmas lights. She nodded, wrapping her small hand around the cord.

Danny guided Ivy over to the Christmas tree. “We’re gonna start at the top—“

“Bottom,” Roy corrected.

“Top. They look better if you start at the top.”

Roy rolled his eyes. “This is the KitKat wrapper all over again.”

Danny chuckled remembering the numerous fights they had over whether the KitKat wrapper was orange or red.

“Anyway, we’re gonna start at the top,” Danny continued. “Then you just wrap the cord around the rest of the tree.” Danny started Ivy off, allowing her to figure the rest out on her own.

“Like this?” Ivy asked as she walked in circles around the tree.

“Yep.”

“Just like that.”

Once she finished she dropped the cord, knowing she wasn’t allowed to touch the sockets herself. “Daddy, make it light up!” Roy plugged in the lights for her. Ivy gasped. “So pretty!” The whole room developed a bright pink glow. The color of the lights actually complimenting the color of the tree. Ivy clapped her hands, looking on with a proud smile as her tree started to come together.

“You know what’s next?” Danny knew it was Ivy’s favorite part.

“What?” Ivy asked curiously.

“Tinsel!”

“Tinsel!” Ivy yelled. She had the time of her life throwing that stuff on their tree in the living room.

Danny handed Ivy a box of it. “Go wild, kid.” The little girl jumped up and down before taking the box from her dad. She started throwing it haphazardly onto the tree. Roy and Danny felt like they were watching a little Picasso go to work on a new masterpiece.

“I love her so much,” Danny mused quietly to Roy as he rested his head on Roy’s shoulder.

Roy wrapped an arm around Danny’s body, laying his head against his. “I do too. Sometimes I can’t believe she’s ours, ya know?”

“Yeah,” Danny understood the feeling Roy was trying to describe. “It’s like, we have a whole fucking daughter.”

Roy chuckled before shushing Danny. They had agreed not to curse in front of Ivy.

“I love you, too,” Roy said to his husband. “I love our little family.” Danny beamed up at Roy, looking at him as if he put the stars in the sky.

“I love you,” Danny returned sweetly. He leaned into Roy for a chaste kiss. Smiles couldn’t be contained as their lips pressed against each other.

Ivy threw tinsel at her dads. “Hey!” She waited for them to stop kissing, which they purposely did longer just to tease her. “Stop it!” She threw more tinsel at them, getting ready to heave the box at Roy’s head.

The couple broke apart, nuzzling noses before turning their attention back to their daughter. “Yucky,” the child stuck her tongue out with a grimace. Roy and Danny playfully stuck their tongues out back at her, hearing the sweetest giggle in return.

“You’re almost done, baby,” Roy said to Ivy.

“All you have to do is put your ornaments on,” Danny pushed forward a box with all the ornaments Ivy had picked out for her tree. Characters from the latest Disney movie, green and pink balls to match the colors of the tree and lights, bells, snowmen, gingerbread men, and a set they found that looked like soccer balls.

“You can help me,” Ivy declared. She had insisted on doing most of it on her own, but since she always had fun putting ornaments on the tree with her dads she wanted them to be part of it as well.

The family of three decorated the small tree. By the time they were done it looked like they had put everything but the kitchen sink on it.

“I love it!” Ivy beamed. Her tree had turned out better than she could have ever imagined.

“Just one more thing,” Roy handed Ivy the star for the top.

Ivy eagerly took it from her dad’s hand. “Daddies look,” she put the star on the top of the tree. “I can reach all by myself!” Usually Danny had to hold Roy, and Roy had to hold Ivy to get the star on the top of the tree. They could use a step ladder, but their way was more fun.

Danny put the final touch of a Christmas tree skirt around the base. Ivy smiled widely. “I’m so happy!”

“Good,” Roy pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“We’re glad you like it,” Danny kissed the opposite side.

“Alright, it’s time for dinner, your bath, then bed, okay?” Roy was always the parent keeping them on track. If it was up to Danny they’d eat cookies all night and stay up an hour past Ivy’s bedtime. Ivy pouted, trying to break Roy into giving her some leniency. “That’s cute,” he kissed her cheek again, “but it’s still dinner time.” Ivy shrugged her shoulders, at least she tried.

“You know tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, right?” Danny asked as they cleaned up the mess left behind.

“Yeah! Then Christmas Day!”

“That’s right! So tomorrow we’re gonna have a really big breakfast, then you get to open up all your presents from your dad and I. You’ll have the whole day to play with whatever you get—“

“And gingerbread houses!” Ivy chimed in, reminding Danny of a very important part of their Christmas Eve traditions.

Danny chuckled, “And gingerbread houses. Then Christmas Day when we wake up we’re gonna go to grandma’s. You’ll get to play with all your cousins and open your gifts from the rest of the family. We’ll have dinner there, you’ll get to play a bit more, then we’ll come home. Sound good?”

“Mhm,” Ivy agreed. “Um,” the child nervously started to propose something to her fathers. “Can I sleep in your bed on Christmas Eve? And Christmas?”

Roy and Danny looked at each other, silently communicating their thoughts with each other. Ivy always loved sleeping with her dads in their bed. They let her every now and then, telling her it couldn’t become a habit. They assumed it was something she would grow out of, but never really did. Danny slightly shrugged his shoulder at Roy. Ivy rarely asked, she never made a habit of it, and it was a special occasion. Roy nodded.

“That’s fine, honey,” Danny answered for the both of them.

“But you sleep in your bed tonight, okay? And you know you can’t make a habit out of sleeping in ours,” Roy laid down the ground rules.

“Yaaaaay!” Their daughter opened her arms for a hug that they both squeezed themselves into.

——

Danny slowly delved into consciousness, his eyes fluttering open. “Morning,” Roy said from behind him, nuzzling and pressing kisses to

Danny’s naked back.

Danny smiled warmly. He wiggled himself closer to Roy. “I love when you kiss my back,” Danny mused.

Roy smiled against pale skin and freckles, “I know.”

Roy continued drowning Danny in affection. “We should wake Ivy up,” he mumbled against Danny.

“Let her sleep in.” Danny turned around in Roy’s arms to face him, giving him Eskimo kisses. “Ya know, she’s gonna be in our bed for the next two nights. We’re not gonna be able to have Christmas sex,” Danny pouted.

“We can have sex after Christmas.”

“It’s not the same. Christmas sex is special.”

Roy didn’t mean to chuckle at Danny. He could tell he was being dead serious. There was a level of passion and emotion in special occasion sex; When you’re using your body to express to your partner how much you love them, and how grateful you are for them when words failed to do so.

Danny noticed the small smile creeping on to Roy’s face. “Watcha’ thinkin’?”

“I’m thinking you’re right, but what are we gonna do? We can’t tell her she can’t sleep in our bed when we already promised she could.”

“I know,” Danny assured. He had no intention of disappointing their daughter like that. “We can’t have Christmas night sex, but we can have Christmas Eve morning sex.” Danny adored morning love making sessions with Roy. The lazy strokes, the giggles that erupted between the two. The sweetness and affection that seemed to hit different in the morning time. Danny loved that he was comfortable enough to kiss Roy before brushing his teeth, and he loved that Roy never thought anything of it.

“So,” Danny scraped his fingers through Roy’s stubble. “Are you gonna make love to me?”

A sly smirk reacted to the glint in Danny’s eyes. Roy pressed his lips against Danny’s, softly kissing him. Danny moaned quietly into Roy’s mouth. Roy’s hand slipped around Danny’s throat. He gripped him with no real force behind the hold, his thumb pushing into Danny’s pulse point.

Danny whimpered at the increasing pressure being put on the sensitive area. “Fuck,” he whined against Roy’s lips. God, did he know the exact buttons to push to get Danny to come undone.

Roy’s free hand moved to grope Danny’s chest. Roy deepened their kiss as he pinched one of Danny’s nipples, rolling it between his fingers. The younger’s entire body bucked into Roy. He was always so sensitive and receptive to Roy’s touch. If Roy just played with his tits for long enough Danny was sure he’d cum from it.

Danny panted as Roy began kissing his neck. Both of Roy’s hands had moved to grabbing and squeezing Danny’s chest. “More,” Danny greedily demanded. Roy pinched then pulled on Danny’s nipples, making him yelp.

“More, Princess?” Roy’s breath against his flesh sent shivers through Danny’s body.

“More,” Danny whined, too stubborn to let Roy win this.

Roy snickered against Danny’s skin, trailing sweet, open mouthed kisses up his neck, across his jaw, and to his mouth. As they kissed Roy climbed over Danny, forcing him to lay flat on his back. Their blanket was still draped over them, a slight lift in their cozy tent where Roy sat on top of Danny.

Danny smiled warmly at the sight. He used to dream of mornings like this with Roy. Waking up next to him, knowing Roy was his, knowing their love from the night before wasn’t something that would be chalked up to alcohol and bad decision making. Danny wanted to marry Roy, and have babies with him. Even when their relationship was the most strained it’s ever been, Danny still held on to the hope. That little bit of hope the two of them always held on to for each other blossomed into their beautiful little family.

Roy began kissing a line between Danny’s breasts. His mouth moved to suckle on the delicate skin above Danny’s nipple, leaving a purple bruise in his wake. Roy made an identical mark on the opposite side of Danny’s body. His chest moved with his sporadic breathing, Danny ran his fingers through Roy’s hair as he looked at him with lust drunk eyes.

“More?” Roy said with a cocky confidence. Danny whimpered, his toes curling at the tone in Roy’s voice. They both knew the teasing between them could get body melting intense; Danny already feeling like a puddle beneath Roy.

Danny whimpered again, his fingers tugging on Roy’s curly hair. “More. Suck on them,” Danny finally telling Roy what he wanted. Another pull to his raven locks told Roy to hurry up. His lips latched around Danny’s nipple, sucking on the overly sensitive nub. Danny moaned loudly, his chest jutting into Roy’s mouth. He swirled his tongue around Danny’s nipple while using his thumb to gently tease the neglected one.

Roy scarped his teeth over the peak of his lover’s body, carefully tugging on it. “Bite me,” Danny breathed. A new, darker hickey had bloomed around Danny’s nipple. Roy only noticing it for a second before sinking his teeth into the opposite side of his chest. Danny inhaled a sharp breath. “Fucking—So good,” Danny muttered with his eyes half closed. Roy wasn’t sure if Danny even knew half the things he said during sex.

By the time Roy was satisfied, Danny’s entire chest was covered in love bites that perfectly resembled his mouth. “More?” Roy teased.

Danny grunted, pushing his hips against Roy’s. They had both grown hard between the first kiss and now. “You’re all wet,” Roy breathed into Danny’s ear as he palmed him through his thong.

Danny whined, his back arching slightly and his hips grinding his stiff cock against Roy’s hand.

“Bet I can make you cum without even fucking you,” Roy said as he traced the head of Danny’s dick through his underwear.

Danny writhed under his touch. “You have to fuck me! It’s Christmas.”

Roy couldn’t stop the laugh tumbling from his lips. “Is my dick your Christmas present?”

Danny brought his bottom lip between his teeth, looking up at Roy innocently and nodding.

“I hate how adorable you are,” Roy leaned down to kiss the tip of Danny’s nose.

“You love me,” Danny mused.

“I do.”

Danny blushed at Roy, his fingers tracing Roy’s cheekbones and jaw before pulling him down into a kiss. Their lips meshed and tongues played against each other. Roy snapped Danny’s thong against his skin, making his lover gasp. Danny nipped Roy’s lip in return; the two always going tit for tat in bed.

“I love you,” Danny’s words were muffled against Roy’s lips.

Roy sucked on Danny’s bottom lip, letting him go to growl, “I love you, too. So much.” The rasp in Roy’s voice sent a tingle up Danny’s spine, his fingers pressing into Roy’s heated flesh. Roy moved to slide Danny’s thong down his legs. Once the garment was on the ground, Roy trailed slow, sloppy kisses up Danny’s thigh. His legs twitched at the attention, his dick leaking and slick against his stomach.

Roy gently caressed Danny’s inner thighs with the tips of his fingers, making his husband whimper and squirm beneath him. Danny breathed Roy’s name, almost inaudibly. His fingers teased Danny’s stomach next, Danny’s muscles jumping at the tender touch.

Danny swallowed roughly. Intimate, gentle touches always took his breath away. Roy knew he could tease Danny to the brink of orgasm just by touching the right places.

Roy pressed a sweet kiss to Danny’s cheek as he traced circles on his stomach, right above where his cock lay in a pool of it’s own precum. Danny lifted his hips to meet Roy’s touch. “Please,” he whined. The pleading in his lover’s voice going straight to Roy’s balls.

Roy lowered his hand, a firm grip taking hold of Danny’s cock. His head fell back, and his hips arched into Roy’s fist. Roy, with a painfully slow pace, began stroking him. Danny moaned something that sounded like a thank you, but was too obscured for Roy to be sure.

“You’re beautiful,” Roy’s breath against Danny’s ear made goosebumps flare up on pale skin. “Always,” Roy pressed a kiss right behind Danny’s ear before nibbling on the lobe.

Danny choked. “You too,” he squeaked in return. Roy always showered him with loving words and affections. Danny wasn’t the sweetest talker in the world, but he did love Roy. He hoped he made Roy feel the same butterflies that Roy had always given him.

The scratches on Roy’s back were evidence of where Danny’s hands had been. He snaked one between the two of them, slipping past the elastic in Roy’s boxers. Danny took Roy, hard and heavy into his hand. Roy always felt incredible. The weight and girth of his cock as Danny held him just made Danny more excited to take him.

Danny used Roy’s own precum to slick his cock as he started jerking him. Roy let out a low, gravely moan that made Danny’s dick twitch in his hand. They stroked each other with the same increasing pace. Their moans mixing and filling up the otherwise quiet room.

They breathed profanities into each other’s mouths as they made out. Roy let his lips graze Danny’s. He hovered over him for a few seconds, teasing the promise of another sweltering kiss. Danny’s free hand tightened around Roy’s neck, yanking him down. His lungs felt like they were on fire when they kissed again.

An idea crossed Roy’s mind. He adjusted his position on top of Danny, reluctantly having to pull his lips away from his husband’s. He moved Danny’s hand away from him, earning a frustrated huff from the angel beneath him. Danny’s cheeks were flushed a bright pink as he watched Roy in a lustful haze.

Roy held their dicks together as he ground his cock against Danny’s smaller one. The precum spread over their lengths helped them glide together with ease. Roy began jerking them off together as well. Danny broke a loud moan, bucking under and pawing at Roy. A string of whimpers escaped plump lips. Roy admired the sight of his love going wild with a gaping mouth and blown out pupils.

“You’re perfect,” Roy praised. “So fucking hot, babygirl. You like that?” Roy leaned down to attach his lips to Danny’s neck. His tongue and teeth working the delicate flesh.

Danny’s hand raked through Roy’s hair, his neck strained to give Roy the best access possible. “I love it,” Danny returned, the breathy whine made Roy’s eyes roll back. “Fucking—love your cock.” Danny’s nails scratched from the base of Roy’s neck to the bottom of his spine. The older of the two hissing at the sting. Danny groped Roy’s ass as Roy ground against him. “Want you inside me so bad, Roy. I’m so close. I needa feel you—Need you so bad,” Danny mindlessly sputtered. His desperation for Roy at an all time high.

Danny’s words drove Roy insane. He tore himself away from Danny, kicking his boxers onto the floor with his lover’s thong. Roy held Danny by the back of the knees, pushing his legs forward and his ass up in the air. Grabbing a stray pillow, Roy used it to prop Danny’s hips up.

“Comfortable?”

“Mhm.”

A second later Roy disappeared. Danny’s eyes shot open when he felt a furious tongue lapping at his asshole. Roy wasted no time before devouring him. His husband’s pulsing hole was too much to resist. Danny’s moans grew louder with every pass of Roy’s tongue. The sounds emitting from his husband nonstop. Roy bit into Danny’s asscheek. “Don’t you dare wake Ivy up,” Roy warned. “You know what happened the last time you did,” he punctuated his statement with a slap to Danny’s ass. Roy’s lips went back to being pursed around Danny’s hole, gently suckling.

The memories of Danny’s “punishment” came flooding back. Roy spanked him for over an hour. The welts and bruising so bad Danny couldn’t comfortably sit for a week. He gasped when he remembered the hand around his throat, choking him until he blacked out. A tightness started to form in the pit of Danny’s stomach. His toes curled as Roy’s tongue prodded his hole.

“Roy,” Danny whimpered, his face growing hotter. His hands reached between his legs and tugged on Roy’s hair. “I’m so close. I’m so close, please fuck me.” Roy smirked against Danny, knowing exactly what he was doing to him. Roy continued to eat Danny out. One of his hands reached up to stroke Danny’s cock while his other one stroked himself. Danny cried out in pleasure, biting his lip when he remembered Roy’s warning. He ground his ass against Roy’s face. A small, strangled, “please,” croaked from Danny’s throat. Roy pressed one last suckling kiss to Danny’s asshole.

Danny made grabby hands at Roy as he crawled over his body. Leaning down, Roy caught Danny’s lips in a kiss. Danny whined as he tasted himself on his lover’s mouth, moving around awkwardly beneath him. Roy pulled away just in time to see Danny grab a small bottle of lube from under his pillow.

Roy playfully scoffed, “You planned this didn’t you?”

“Kinda,” Danny said smugly.

Roy rolled his eyes, pecking Danny’s lips before taking the lube from him. He sat up between Danny’s legs, popping the cap open. The liquid was warmed up between Roy’s hands before being spread onto his lover’s asshole. Roy squeezed a generous amount onto himself as well. Danny propped himself up on one elbow while he reached out to rub the lube into Roy’s cock. A quiet groan escaping Roy’s throat.

Danny continued to jerk Roy off. Roy’s eyes had fluttered shut, he had completely gotten taken away by the sensational way Danny was making him feel. He cleared his throat, gained his composure, and pushed Danny’s hand away.

“You’re an ass,” Roy was slightly out of breath when he spoke.

“Fuck me!” Was Danny’s only response.

Roy didn’t waste time before lining himself up with Danny’s hole. He looked up at Danny for an okay, Danny giving him a nod and a wiggle of his butt as reassurance. Roy smiled fondly at him. He adjusted the pillow under Danny’s hips before pushing inside of him. Danny breathed heavily, his mouth falling open and eyes rolling back. Roy muttered quiet curses under his breath as Danny surrounded him.

“Fuck,” Roy gritted into Danny’s ear as he leaned back down with him. Danny whined. He wrapped his entire body around Roy’s; his arms flung around Roy’s neck and his legs around Roy’s waist. Danny clung to his lover, wanting to be as close to him as possible.

Their chests pressed together as Roy started to slowly thrust. Danny gasped. “Oh my god,” left his lips in a breathy plea. His nails dug into Roy’s back where his hand lay. Danny began trailing kisses against Roy’s shoulder.

The first few minutes Roy warmed Danny up, allowing him to adjust and get comfortable.

“How do you feel, angel?” Roy’s voice shook as he checked in. Danny felt fucking incredible around him. No matter how many times they made love it would always be so exciting and new. Roy could never imagine wanting for something else.

“So good,” Danny croaked. “I want more of you.”

Roy caught Danny’s lips in a searing kiss. He cradled his head, his fingers fanning out in silky hair. With desperate permission, Roy’s thrusting steadily increased in pace until he got a good rhythm going. His hips collided with Danny’s body, the smacking sound filling up the room and bouncing off the walls.

Their moans were muffled by their kissing. Danny hummed into Roy’s mouth. He tightened his grip on Roy, pushing his body firm against Roy’s in an attempt to get impossibly closer to his husband.

Roy’s heart swelled at the affection. Danny was always so needy for him and it made Roy feel so fucking wanted. Roy thrust deeper into Danny; their kiss broken as Danny’s head fell back with a loud, high pitched moan.

Roy smirked, his hips moved a little faster against Danny as he angled his thrusts to hit his prostate. Danny’s chest was flushed as pink as his cheeks were. Roy looked down at him as his body bounced with each thrust, his neck straining and mouth wide open. Roy bit his lip as Danny screwed his eyes shut. “I’ve never seen someone as beautiful as you,” Roy whispered, his voice heavy with lust.

Danny whimpered in response. The hand Roy still had in Danny’s hair massaged his scalp, adding a sweet touch to their sweltering love making. Danny nuzzled his face into the juncture of Roy’s neck, kissing the sensitive area. He nudged Roy with his nose as Roy kissed his temple.

“‘M love you,” Danny panted.

“I love you too, babygirl,” Roy was just as out of breath as his lover. His hand moved from Danny’s long hair to his face, holding his love’s cheek. He kissed him so tenderly it made Danny tear up. Danny held Roy’s neck, not allowing him to break away from their kiss.

Danny trembled as their lips meshed together. He had been holding off for so long, wanting his time with Roy to last. His stomach started to tighten again. He whined into Roy’s mouth, his body began to writhe and buck against his will.

Danny bit into Roy’s bottom lip harshly, tugging on it as Roy let out a sound that made Danny’s toes curl. Roy moved to nip at Danny’s collar bone. He pressed his thumb into Danny’s pulse point again, amazed at the reaction he got. “Baby, I love hearing you,” Roy said as his lips traveled to Danny’s neck, “But please don’t wake Ivy.” The pressure on his pulse point added to the sensation of Roy’s mouth sucking on the opposite side of his neck made Danny’s eyes roll into his skull. Needless to say, Danny was too preoccupied to hear Roy’s warning.

Roy clamped his hand over Danny’s mouth, muffling the gorgeous noises falling from even prettier lips. Roy couldn’t help but to chuckle as he kissed Danny’s body, remembering all the times in their lives he had to physically shut Danny up while they made love. Some things never changed, and Roy was more than grateful for that.

Danny’s body twisted under Roy’s. Roy’s thrusts hit hard and deep, pressing against his prostate every time. Stray tears from the intensity rolled down Danny’s face. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, some of his hair sticking to it and getting in his eyes. His cheeks were so red Roy was almost worried about him burning up.

“Close,” Danny said in a small voice.

“I know,” Roy teased. He knew Danny’s body better than his own. He kept the pace of his hips steady.

“Just like that. Don’t stop,” Danny affirmed.

Roy pushed the sweaty hair out of Danny’s face. He wiped the falling tears from his eyes. Tender kisses were peppered all over Danny’s face as his orgasm approached. Roy choked when Danny started pulsing around him. “Such an angel,” he muttered to Danny. His hand slipped between their heated bodies, closing around Danny’s cock. Danny’s back arched off of the bed, his arms fell out to either side of him.

“Oh fuck, Roy. Fuck me—Fuck, please—,” his words melted into a whine as he came. Warm, white liquid spilling over Roy’s fist as he stroked him through it. Danny twitched under Roy. The bed squeaking as his body convulsed. Roy watched on with a smile, his emotions all over the place; He was so turned on by Danny’s orgasm and so in love with Danny himself.

When Danny started to whine and swat at Roy’s hand he stopped jerking him off. “Sorry. Too sensitive,” Danny said sweetly.

“I know,” Roy brushed his fingers through Danny’s hair. “I know how sensitive you get.” Roy kissed his forehead, moving to pull out.

“You didn’t finish.”

“It’s okay.” Roy really didn’t care. He was always much more of a giver when it came to Danny.

“No. I want you to,” Danny insisted.

“But—Are you sure? I mean, you didn’t even want me touching you a few sec—“

“Shhhh,” Danny pulled Roy into a kiss. “You worry too much, Willow.”

Danny smiled against Roy’s lips as they kissed. Roy didn’t move for a while, still wanting to give Danny time to recover.

“You better fuck me before you get soft,” Danny teased.

Roy laughed against his lips. Danny made the decision to switch positions, his cheek pressed  into a pillow while his ass was up in the air; on display for Roy. Roy grabbed the lube from earlier, spreading a new layer on himself and Danny. Danny trembled at the touch, making Roy reluctant. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I want you to cum inside me,” Danny moaned the request. Roy plunged into him. Danny gasped, his fists tightening around their sheets as he buried his face into their pillows. Roy’s thrusting was more untamed than before. His orgasm not far out of his reach. Danny purposely clenched around him, eliciting a guttural moan from his husband.

Roy’s nails dug crescent moons into Danny’s hips. “I’m almost there,” he warned. Danny’s body was ready to give out at any moment.

“Please, Roy. Wanna feel you fill me up. I want it so bad,” Danny mindlessly encouraged Roy’s climax. The last stroke was the deepest, Roy buried himself inside of Danny as he came. Danny felt Roy’s hands trembling on his hips. His love’s orgasms were always more subdued compared to his.

Roy caught his breath, leaning down to press kisses to Danny’s back. The salty taste of sweat lingered on his lips. He slowly pulled out, smacking Danny’s ass for good measure.

Danny crinkled his nose at the trickling sensation. Roy spread him open, admiring the sight. Danny felt so vulnerable, but safe enough with Roy to enjoy it. Roy’s mouth watered. He slipped two fingers inside of Danny, teasing the cum out of his asshole.

Danny whimpered, hiding his face in the pillow again. Roy pulled his fingers free, kissing Danny’s asscheek before letting him go.

Roy crawled beside Danny, laying down and taking his husband into his arms. Danny nuzzled his face into Roy’s chest. “That was really nice,” Danny said.

“It was,” Roy kissed the top of Danny’s head. His arms squeezed Danny a bit tighter to him.

“Do you think Ivy’s awake yet?”

“If she was we’d know it,” Roy said with a chuckle in his tone.

“Good. I just wanna cuddle for bit.” Danny’s voice was worn and raspy. The sound shot straight to Roy’s heart.

“Me too,” Roy nuzzled his nose in Danny’s hair. “Merry Christmas, angel.”

“Merry Christmas, my love.”

[ofcloudsandstars]

It is Gemini New Moon and I am back! (for now) My life is still a maelstrom but the dust is starting to settle.

I’ve been getting more into different forms of divining and I bought a pendulum while I was in Amsterdam that I would like to try out. I will probably give more info on that later. 

Some highlights from when I was away:

Aries Season: New Moon I had to leave the apartment cause my roommate was being extremely noisy again. I went to a gallery where some witches and artists had their things and a witch I met at Treadwells when I first moved here remembered me and we made friends. She offered me some free sound healing sessions at her place since she wanted to practice. I also met a wild aries witch who is an aries poster child in everyway, she also has short white hair and paints red markings on her face (I thought it was for tonight its an everyday look) and has futuristic tribal blade runner vibes. When I got home at 1pm I exploded on my roommates who wanted to have a party (They knew I had to get up at 5am for work) and declared I was moving out. Did a million find a new home spells and started hunting

Learned how to make bioplastics and bonded with the teacher at the design museum over alchemy. Making bioplastics is so similar to what alchemists were doing in their hunt for stripping down something to it's core elemental material and reshaping it to whatever they like. It also sparked my potential new interest for diving into industrial design as a career.

Went to see my sister in Paris and saw the Notre dame burn. The night air smelled like fire and brimstone

ended Aries season with a bang when my sagittarian witch friend was going through a breakup and bought me to an easter/spring inspired fetish party where everyone was dressed either as catholic gay kings, floral nymphs in pastel bondage or frisky rabbits. They had berlin DJs and the top floor was flooded with red lighting. I ran into the Aries witch there near some ritual of people in pig masks rubbing paper on someone's latex to cause some friction. I got home at 2 and had to get up at 8am for work.

Taurus Season After intense pressure hunting I found a new home though I knew I wouldn't be satisfied there. The woman who owns the house turned out to be pretty christian and doesn't want anyone bought over without her permission. So the house hunt continues.

Beltane was spent with some nice witch friends in the Heaths (of course) we found a nice clearing in the woods that was super secluded with bluebells growing everywhere. We had a blanket and bought everything from floral incense, to crystals (I got a jade crystal ring for everyone to charge and wear) to flowers (we each bought so many that we ended up casting a circle with flowers like roses, bluebells, carnations etc), and foods! I made truffle oil melted cheese sandwhiches and beetroot pea and spinach sandwhiches and sandwhich cookies with rose buttercream and matcha with gold dust and lemon curd lavender with silver dust. I also bought grass vodka to be mixed with elderflower soda. My friends bought a lot of things from blueberries to flower wines to weed to scented oils and candles. I also finished the last of my shrooms with them and the trees felt very much like sentinels though in the sense that they seemed to be watching us in our witchy shenanigans instead of a sense that they were protecting us. We each lead part in a ritual and told stories but I bought black heart candles to purify us from any attachments we had from former relationships to bring clarity or a fresh start. A new witch friend I made who was invited made us do some estatic dancing in the circle (in truth she was cold cause it was cold) but it was a great way to get the energy going and moved our sacral energy upwards when she made us twerk to attract love to ourselves lol. Then my sagittarian witch friend anointed us with oils for clarity and love and we all smelled really nice like nectary flowers. We stayed until it got so dark that the distant city lights were the only thing giving us light. We packed everything up and didn't leave a trace.

Eros moving into virgo amongst other aspects has made my sexual frusterations intense plus that venus mars square was really painful to go through. I got closer to my work crush who seems to like me too but it wouldn't work out as a FWB unless we kept it really secret because of our work position. So I decided to do a lust spell to attract another lover with a lust candle I made back when I lived in NJ. I gathered it when I was taking some stuff back during christmas and realized the love spell candles I made during last valentines day magic fair still had a lot of energy. There was only 1 lust spell candle left cause they all sold (The candles were all heart shaped and the size of your hand. The black was for cleansing relationships and was ylang ylang scented with added charcoal, the violet was for new friendships with lavender, the pink was for romance with rose oil and the red was for lust and hookups with red rose and cinnamon.) The history with the lust spell candle came from a previous successful lust spell when I used a huge red dick shaped hoodoo candle to attract a FWB on the taurus full moon and it was very successful but I still had a lot of the candle left over so I recycled the successful spell into the red wax for the new lust candles. Anyway I was going into this back story because I burned this on the full moon and it burned bright and strong the whole night into the next day for 13 hours straight. When it reached the end no wax was left, it instead grew into a massive flame which split into 3. I was mesmerized watching it, it seemed like the middle flame was me or someone having to make a decision. It went for a smaller flame on the left and they grew into a bigger flame as the little one died down then BANG!! the disk it was on E X P L O D E D and shards of glass flew Everywhere... There were pieces of dried rose petal which was the last fragment of the candle the fire had to burn on that scattered in the air like a mini meteor shower and lit little fires on the carpet of my bedroom floor. As I was cleaning I wasn't sure how to process the meaning. It was supposed to be a road opening spell to attract a FWB my way but the aggression seemed like an intense conclusion. So far I will see how it unfolds. My official Eros Return is the 10th of this month.

While I found a really cool dream apartment by the heaths I wasn't sure if it felt like the right place. I found a magical tree that was like it's own altar or temple in the woods. It had blood red leaves and the light underneath it shown like autumn. Stepping under it's cavernous-like red canopy felt like entering another realm. Underneath the ground was littered with shells from some dead seeds and the trunk of the huge tree had a large open mouth with thick saucer-sized brown mushrooms growing out. It looked like an altar so I prayed to it to help find me a home. A week later I found a nicer apartment on the east side to the park.

Gemini Season

Gemini season started off aggressively and with a lot of confusion.

I went to Amsterdam this past weekend! It's a beautiful city with big fairy energy. They are obsessed with flowers, you can buy bulbs everywhere and flowers are growing from every corner, there is nature everywhere, you can get shrooms and weed everywhere, the homes are old and beautiful with details that remind of you fairytales or iced gingerbread houses, the air is filled with sounds of chimes and bells from everyone's bikes, you have alluring enchantresses ensnaring dumb tourist men into their lairs as men glue themselves to the windows peering eagerly into their other worlds, you have shops with no clocks with the most comfortable seating to sell you joints for 4 euros while you sit there for god knows how long in a perpetual high as you eat snack after snack. Also since its the lighter half of the year the sun sets at 9:30PM and the sky isn't completely dark until 10:15. I tried to look into their urban planning and architecture centers to learn more about the city's design. It's so harmonious with nature its inspiring. I took home some shrooms (One I am excited to try is called Roaring Dragon which would be appropriate for Litha lol), some wizard like long wooden pipes, a mini mermaid tarot deck, a crystal pendulum, some goblin incense I was enticed to buy cause I was dumb high in this fairy themed shop (and in truth I wanted to buy everything cause I was dumb high and thought everything was GREAT) and a love attraction candle.

Now here I am ready to start a new moon cycle. I am really overwhelmed but I want to get my feet back on the ground lol.

[a34trgv2]

Why it Worked: Shrek

Intro: Shrek is a 3D animated film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, produced by Jeffery Katzenberg, Aron Warner and John H. Williams and written by Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman. Based on the 1990 children’s book of the same name by William Steig, the film is about a green ogre tasked to rescue a princess with his donkey companion. The film stars Mike Myers as the title character, Eddie Murphy as Donkey (yes, that’s his name), Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona and John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad. First screened at the Mann Village Theatre on April 22, 2001 before official being released on May 18 of that year, the film was a financial success earning a worldwide total of $484 million dollars on a budget of just $60 million. The film was met with critical acclaim with an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes (177 out of 201 critics giving an average score of 7.8/10) a 7.9/10 on IMDb and an 84% on Metacritic (based on 34 critics). The film won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, beating Disney/Pixar’s Monster’s Inc. and Nickelodeon Movie’s Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius respectively. It went on to spawn 3 sequels (with a fourth in development as of this post), a spin-off and tv show centered on it’s direct sequel’s standout character, Puss in Boots, a musical on Broadway (yes, really), a 3 issue mini-series written by Mark Evanier for Dark Horse Comics, and a slew of video games. Oh and also memes...lots and lots of memes. 18 years after becoming a juggernaut of a franchise, it makes one wonder how the film holds up today. Was this film truly lightning in a bottle? Well let’s look into that in detail, shall we?

The Plot: Shrek begins with the reading of a fairy tale in a storybook, in the same vain some of the early Disney movies (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, etc.). On the second to last page, our title character then rips the page out, laughs at the idea of a happy ending and proceeds to wipe his backside with it. This is immediately followed with the iconic pop tune, All Star by Smash Mouth, and the film just kicks off from there. The way the film is presented is in the style of a parody, specifically on Disney’s classic adaptations of fairy tales. It tells the age old “rescue the damsel in distress” plot and flip it on it’s head and it just keeps going. It wastes no time to subvert the most obvious cliches as well as taking notable pot shots at the Mouse House. In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Robin Hood and his Merry Men snag Fiona from Shrek and Donkey thinking she was captured by the accused “beast.” Whilst in song, Robin Hood is about to stab Shrek when Fiona kicks him in the face, knocking him out like a light. She then proceeds to beat the living tar out of the Merry Men before our heroes can continue on their way.  The scene goes against the stereotype that the “damsel in distress” has to watch idly by as our hero saves her and that’s all for the better. You see, here’s the thing about damsels in distress: while it’s nice that the hero saves them, it becomes frustrating when it’s always the hero that has to save them. This is all the more refreshing when we see Fiona save Shrek instead of the other way around.

The Characters: The characters in this film are not just funny in their own right, but they’re actually well developed throughout the film. Starting with the big green guy himself, at the start of the movie he’s very territorial and protective of his privacy. As we learn later in the film, the reason why he’s like that is because people didn’t give him a chance to show he’s really a nice guy deep down. This makes Shrek relatable and helps the audience understand where he’s coming from. Donkey, meanwhile plays the role of the comical sidekick (much to Shrek’s annoyance) and while he’s a funny character, it’s ultimately him that brings the film together (Robobuddies does an excellent analysis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_VIK6qeFcg). Fiona has starts out as a princess waiting for her true love, playing the role of the optimistic damsel in distress to a tea. Once she realizes that this isn’t the fairy tale she had in mind, she starts showing her true self: a spunky, funny and fierce woman who shares alot in common with Shrek. Especially the fact that she’s an ogre, as revealed later in the film. Then we have Lord Farquaad, the malicious dictator who puts all the fairy tale creatures in their place and mounts himself as the big boss (despite being 4 feet tall). Farquaad only wants perfection in his kingdom, where only humans live evidently. By the end of the movie, due to his massive ego and lust for power, he ends up being eaten alive at his wedding to Fiona. Lastly, the supporting characters all leave a lasting impression with their well timed jokes and memorable interactions with our heroes. You got the Gingerbread Man, the Dragon, the 3 Blind Mice, and of course Robin Hood and his Merry Men. The film makes elegant use if these characters as brief as their appearances may be.

Let’s Talk Animation: It’s hard to believe this was made in 2001. Let me provide you with some context. At the time of the film’s release, only 4 other animated films were computer animated (Toy Story, Antz, A Bug’s Life, and Toy Story 2 in that order), so it was still a relatively new medium. And yet, DreamWorks Animation utilized the medium to it’s full advantage at the time and the result still holds up to this day. The design of the characters have this distinct look that make them appear quesdo-realistic. They still maintain their animated appearance, yet the smoothness of the textures make them stand out from its competition. Shrek, for example, feels like a real character with his skin having a smooth and soft appearance. His clothes also feel like they’re made of real fabric and when he moves it feels natural, like how a character like him would and should move. The hair physics should also be commended as each strand of hair on Fiona and Farquaad’s heads move in rhythm as real hair does. There’s also the accomplishment in making all the environmental elements realistic and lifelike: dust, water, grass, wood, stone, metal, fabric and so much more. The animation of this film is unlike anything that was made in the past and animation studios took note on how to improve their craft from this film (and yes, even Disney).

Music: This film incorporates pop songs into its soundtrack, particularly from Smash Mouth. The opening, All Star, kicks the film off with a catchy tune as Shrek goes about his daily routine. The song itself is a such a jam to listen to with the lyrics and melody sticking with you long after you’ve heard it once. John Cale’s rendition of Hallelujah is used to great affect during the down time of the film, bring out the sadness our characters feel with it’s simple yet powerful piano play and the dowerness in the tone of Cale’s singing. Then there’s the closing number, I’m a Believer (Smash Mouth’s pop cover of the 1966 song by The Monkees). This song caps of the film with a big dance party at Shrek and Fiona’s wedding, the characters rightfully celebrating the happy ending our two leads earned and the downfall of Farquaad. Lyrically the song fits with Shrek’s character as it shows he’s changed ever he met Fiona and now he believes in happy ever after. Joan Jett’s Bad Reputaion was expertly used in Shrek’s brawl at Duloc, with the hard rock brilliantly adding to the comedy of the scene. Lastly there’s the True Love’s First Kiss score by the film’s composer, Harry Gregson-Williams. This song is beautifully crafted with a choir just making it sound majestic and awe inspiring. It’s so good in fact it became the official theme for DreamWorks Animation from then on.

Where it Falters: The misunderstanding the characters have to go through, while narrativly is necessary, still could have been resolved if the characters were to just talk it out. The song, I’m On My Way by The Proclaimers, is by no means a bad song, it’s just not utilized as well as all the others. Lastly, this has been bugging me for 18 years: who’s in charge of Duloc now? After Farquaad got gobbled up, the kingdom was without a ruler. Did someone else take over? Did the kingdom fall apart? The films never addressed this question and it wouldn’t be so nagging if the fairy tale creatures didn’t come return to the subsequent sequels. Don’t they have their own homes to go back to?

Conclusion: It’s no secret that Shrek is a great film and it’s easy to see why. The story was well executed with clever and well thought out jokes, funny and well defined characters, realistic and expressive animation that still holds up today and brilliant uses of hit songs that add to the comedy and story. This film made set a new standard for animated films in the 2000s and to this day. While the Internet can have it’s fun making memes out of the big green guy, there’s no denying that life would be much different without Shrek. Thanks for reading, be sure to like, share and follow me and I’ll see you soon ;)

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Usa today Gingerbread destruction raffle, toilet paper pyramid, Tiehm's buckwheat: News from around our 50 states

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Usa today Alabama

Hayneville: A teenager admitted to fatally shooting a sheriff who turn out to be attempting to disperse loiterers at a gas assert, a assert investigator testified Monday. Lt. Shawn Loughridge of the Allege Bureau of Investigation testified in a preliminary listening to that 18-three hundred and sixty five days-oldschool William Chase Johnson admitted after being arrested that he shot Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams Sr. Johnson is charged with capital assassinate within the sheriff’s death. Retailer security video showed the sheriff arriving at a gas assert and attempting to disperse a loud crowd that turn out to be blocking gas pumps, the investigator said. He said witnesses indicated Johnson first approached Williams in an “aggressive” manner, and the sheriff told him to reach to his automotive. The sheriff turn out to be shot after drawing terminate Johnson’s dusky Silverado truck, Loughridge testified.

Usa today Alaska

Juneau: One in all the longest-serving individuals on the assert Supreme Court docket plans to retire later this three hundred and sixty five days. The Alaska Judicial Council is accepting functions for the seat held by Justice Craig Stowers, who plans to retire efficient June 1, in response to Mara Rabinowitz with the assert courtroom machine. Stowers, a former Superior Court docket make a choice, turn out to be appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court docket in 2009 and later served as a chief justice. Of the hot justices, handiest Daniel Winfree has served on the Supreme Court docket longer. Winfree turn out to be appointed in 2007. The judicial council plans to meet in Could maybe to interview applicants. The names of finalists evolved by the council shall be sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who will originate the appointment.

Usa today Arizona

Tucson: Relish many city libraries, the one in downtown Tucson is a refuge for homeless americans attempting to get a bathroom, a computer or trusty a respite. Nonetheless workers at the Valdez Fundamental Library are attempting to be even extra of a helpful resource for men and girls americans having a onerous time. For bigger than a three hundred and sixty five days now, the librarians right here were conserving month-to-month conferences as share of the On the Streets program. Those experiencing homelessness can as soon as a month catch a meal and fasten with products and services. The program has helped mood friction that might develop when library staffers absorb to method americans which might be sleeping, bathing or bringing in a pair of items. A imply of 50 americans contemporary up for the month-to-month sessions. They receive a meal willing by a local meals bank and might moreover make a choice to quit for the meeting. They catch to form the topics of debate, too.

Usa today Arkansas

Small Rock: Allege officials launched Monday that the closure of a hog farm come the Buffalo River has been accomplished, months after striking a handle the strength’s owners. Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst launched that the phrases of the assert’s settlement with the owners of C&H Hog Farms Inc. are total. The shuttered hog farm’s owners absorb obtained $6.2 million in assert and private funds that turn out to be held in escrow since closing August, and the assert in return now holds a conservation easement for the property. Under the settlement, the assert shall be accountable for the closure of the waste ponds at the property. Gov. Asa Hutchinson in June launched the settlement with the 6,500-hog farm in Vendor, about 95 miles northwest of Small Rock, which had been the source of controversy since it turn out to be approved loads of years within the past. The Nature Conservancy supplied $1 million of the funding.

Usa today California

San Diego: A personnel of peer consultants has operated on an unparalleled affected person – a gorilla. A cataract turn out to be eliminated Dec. 10 from the left peer of a 3-three hundred and sixty five days-oldschool western lowland gorilla who lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the park launched Monday. The gorilla, named Leslie, turn out to be given a muscle blocker to acquire her soundless while a personnel that incorporated vets along with anesthesiologists and an ophthalmology personnel from UC San Diego Wisely being eliminated the cloudy lens and modified it with a synthetic lens that must closing for lifestyles. The operation turn out to be performed at the San Diego Zoo Global’s Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center. Cataract surgeon Chris Heichel, who led the personnel and has performed thousands of operations, said it turn out to be his first on a gorilla.

Usa today Colorado

Denver: An initiative to reintroduce grey wolves to the assert has certified for the November ballot. The secretary of assert’s assert of industrial said Monday that backers of the proposal turned in adequate valid voter signatures to qualify the measure. The grey wolf has been efficiently reintroduced to a series of U.S. states. It turn out to be eradicated in Colorado within the 1940s. Colorado ranchers and other interests strongly oppose the initiative, announcing it would threaten farm animals as properly as elk, moose, deer and other animals. The Rocky Mountain Wolf Motion Fund is campaigning for the opinion. It says voters absorb the synthetic to select for themselves whether to introduce the wolf, whereas efforts in other states are directed by federal flora and fauna officials. If passed, the initiative would teach the Colorado Parks and Natural world Commission to devise a opinion to introduce wolves on public land west of the Continental Divide sooner than 2024.

Usa today Connecticut

Westport: Gov. Ned Lamont is scheduled to seem at a public meeting this weekend to focus on his proposed transportation opinion, which might embody freeway tolls. Town hall-model meeting is deliberate for Sunday at a university in Westport, the set apart the Democratic governor is anticipated to be joined by Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. This might occasionally moreover moreover be hosted by assert Sen. Will Haskell and assert Earn. Jonathan Steinberg, each and every Democrats. A transportation discussion board that within the first assert turn out to be deliberate for Tuesday night in Westport had been postponed. “Bettering our infrastructure is a top speak for my district. That’s why I’m so enraged to host Gov. Lamont and leaders from his administration to listen to correct now from my constituents at this town hall meeting,” Haskell said.

Usa today Delaware

Wilmington: An 18-three hundred and sixty five days-oldschool man has been charged with throwing an incendiary instrument at a Deliberate Parenthood space within the assert, a federal prosecutor’s assert of industrial launched. Samuel James Gulick, of Middletown, turn out to be charged Monday in federal courtroom. Safety video recorded Gulick spray-painting the phrase “Deus Vult,” a Latin expression that method “God wills it,” in pink letters across the Newark constructing’s exterior Friday, the U.S. attorney’s free up said. Gulick then stepped away, lit an object and threw it at the front window sooner than running for camouflage. The object exploded, and a fireplace burned for a minute sooner than going out, the courtroom documents said. Gulick turn out to be arrested by the FBI on Saturday after investigators identified his automotive throughout the safety video and situated social media posts under his name containing the identical phrase he scrawled on the constructing, as properly as loads of anti-abortion messages.

Usa today District of Columbia

Washington: The viral art work phenomenon identified as “Infinity Mirrors” is returning to the Hirshhorn Museum on April 4. The Hirshhorn launched Monday that a mini assert of Yayoi Kusama’s work, “One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama within the Hirshhorn Series,” shall be on assert through Sept. 20, WUSA-TV experiences. The assert involves two “Infinity Mirror” rooms, including Kusama’s 1965 installation “Phalli’s Self-discipline” and a brand contemporary room which might be launched quickly. An early painting, photos of Kusama and the 1964 sculpture “Flower Overcoat” will moreover be share of “One with Eternity.” The Jap artist has created bigger than 20 of the mesmeric contemplate rooms, allowing company to bodily partake within the limitless repetition for which her paintings are identified.

Usa today Florida

Tallahassee: The assert’s environmental law enforcement officials gorgeous polluters this day lower than half of as distinguished as they did a decade within the past, sooner than former Gov. Rick Scott took assert of industrial and shifted assert regulators to a extra pro-change posture, assert files shows. By means of the principle week of December, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection assessed 352 penalties in 2019, totaling $4.4 million in fines for violating air, water, sewer, petroleum tank and other assert environmental regulations. By comparison, in 2010 DEP assessed 1,249 environmental penalties in Florida, totaling $10.2 million – bigger than 3 1/2 instances as many penalties and double the fines assessed this three hundred and sixty five days. DEP holds that the decrease figures imprint the success of the agency’s mission to encourage companies, utilities and other polluters to comely up their acts. Nonetheless the agency’s critics whisper the steep fall in fines shows an ever-softening stance.

Usa today Georgia

Atlanta: The city’s police chief has ordered a discontinuance to all police automotive chases after crashes that killed or injured americans. “I don’t are attempting to gaze us label somebody their lifestyles in pursuit of an auto theft person or burglar when the courts aren’t even going to acquire them responsible. I imply, how build we teach that?” Chief Erika Shields said at a files convention. Two men were killed closing month in Atlanta when their automotive turn out to be hit by a stolen automotive evading authorities, police said. The chief said the converse will quit in build while she reports a dash policy that has been in assert since 2018. Changes might embody allowing handiest highly educated officers to expend part in chases, Shields said. “I no doubt absorb no longer heard of any division entirely limiting pursuits without some exception” for indecent eventualities comparable to engaging shooters or terrorists, said Jack Rinchich, president of the Nationwide Association of Chiefs of Police in Titusville, Florida.

Usa today Hawaii

Honolulu: Motorway crews are working to restore a fraction of freeway that collapsed into the ocean as some residents set apart a matter to of the assert’s actions to strive in opposition to boulevard deterioration. Repair crews started working Sunday on Kamehameha Motorway in Hauula after coastal erosion caused the collapse of the shoulder and share of a lane. An assert north of Pokiwai Bridge will remain closed till extra earn, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said. Ed Sniffen, the assert deputy director for highways, estimated the repairs would label about $120,000 and expend a few week to total. The collapsed assert of boulevard is 12 feet long and 6 feet above the beach. Inspectors found the shoulder had been undercut for roughly 20 feet in each and every instructions, the division said.

Usa today Idaho

Boise: Gov. Brad Small says education funding shall be his top priority for the assert price range, persevering with a theme from his trusty-accomplished first three hundred and sixty five days in assert of industrial. The 65-three hundred and sixty five days-oldschool Republican governor delivered his 2nd Allege of the Allege handle to lawmakers Monday in what is opinion to be the kickoff to the legislative session. “I am dedicated to working with you to put money into education, proceed reducing regulatory burdens, and enlarge all Idahoans’ prosperity and quality of lifestyles,” Small declared. His price range limits unparalleled fund spending teach to 3.75%, a low cost from most modern years. His price range leaves a surplus of $60 million and increases the assert’s moist-day funds by $102 million as protection in opposition to a seemingly financial slowdown. The assert spends about half of its price range on K-12 education, or about $2 billion yearly. Small’s price range increases that by about 4%. In particular, Small is serious about rising the reading skill of younger college students.

Usa today Illinois

Chicago: Plenty of recreational marijuana dispensaries within the assert were closed Monday, with some owners announcing valid set apart a matter to of has caused a lack in provides and workers exhaustion. The trusty sale of recreational cannabis started Jan. 1 in Illinois, with customers spending about $3.2 million on the principle day and bigger than $10.8 million over five days. By comparison, Michigan, which made recreational marijuana trusty Dec. 1, generated $3.1 million within the principle two weeks of gross sales. Neal McQueeney of Midway Dispensary in Chicago said the shop stopped promoting recreational product Sunday and doesn’t ask to resume gross sales till Friday. Jason Erkes said Cresco Labs shut its Sunnyside shops in Chicago, Rockford and Champaign to all customers to “reset” and provides his workers a damage after working five consecutive 14-hour days.

Usa today Indiana

Evansville: A no longer too long within the past retired College of Southern Indiana professor already has a brand contemporary job, because the assert’s most modern poet laureate. The Indiana Arts Commission says Matthew Graham of Evansville started his two-three hundred and sixty five days time interval as assert poet laureate closing week. He succeeds Adrian Matejka, an Indiana College professor. Graham’s tasks will embody making public appearances at poetry readings or literary events and promoting poetry. Graham is the author of 4 books of poetry, including “The Geography of Home,” released in 2018. He’s obtained a series of nationwide, regional and native awards, including a Pushcart Prize, an Academy of American Poets Award and two grants from the Indiana Arts Commission. Graham co-founded and co-directed “The Ropewalk Writers’ Retreat” within the historical southwestern Indiana town of Contemporary Team spirit.

Usa today Iowa

Des Moines: To reduction up with a fascinating enlarge in passengers, Des Moines Global Airport is adding gates to its deliberate contemporary terminal years sooner than construction even begins. Deliberate with 14 gates when it opens in 2028, the terminal will as one more need 18 to handle the additional load, airport officials said Monday. The extra four gates hadn’t been slated to be constructed till 2040. The airport can absorb a mixed $60 million in additional capacity-boosting projects, including the $40 million label of the extra gates. Nonetheless for the reason that teach in passenger web page online visitors has generated additional income, the shortfall in funding for the $500 million project stays at $194 million – equivalent to 2 years within the past, when airport leaders were taking a absorb a look at scaling wait on the project to nick costs.

Usa today Kansas

Topeka: Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly proposed Monday that the assert give itself extra respiratory room in its price range by slashing annual payments to its pension machine for teachers and government workers, offering a brand contemporary version of a opinion that the Republican-controlled Legislature spiked closing three hundred and sixty five days. Kelly’s proposal would give the assert an extra 10 years to terminate an extended-time interval gap in funding for the assert pension machine. The transfer would unlock tens of thousands and thousands of bucks each and every three hundred and sixty five days for bigger than a decade, money that would moreover very properly be aged for colleges and social products and services. Nonetheless it’s no longer decided if her contemporary opinion will fare any better than closing three hundred and sixty five days’s proposal – which turn out to be listless from practically the 2nd she introduced it to lawmakers. The Kansas Public Employee Retirement Gadget projects Kelly’s proposal would enlarge the price of closing the gap by a total of $4.4 billion – comparing it to extending the scale of a home mortgage.

Usa today Kentucky

Louisville: The Kentucky Humane Society had its largest adoption three hundred and sixty five days on file with about 6,902 animal adoptions in 2019. The Humane Society said it turn out to be the principle three hundred and sixty five days that cat adoptions outnumbered canines. In total, 3,424 cats found contemporary homes in comparison to 3,398 canines. Adoption officials said cat adoptions were rising over the previous couple of years. Humane Society spokeswoman Andrea Blair said cats are properly-liked by seniors, busy families, renters and americans that travel for work. Blair said 1,583 cat adoptions took assert at Purrfect Day Café, which opened in August 2018. The cafe serves coffee, snacks and cocktails while patrons work along with adoptable kittens and cats. Entire adoptions were up 816 from 2018.

Usa today Louisiana

Contemporary Orleans: Residents who had trusty Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays are being asked to encourage the assert’s fisheries. Jefferson Parish is seeking volunteers to encourage with its annual Christmas tree recycling program. It’s the parish’s 30th three hundred and sixty five days doing the project. Volunteers, specifically individuals with shallow draft boats, are wished Feb. 1 to encourage transfer the trees out to Goose Bayou, in response to Seamus Riley with the parish’s Coastal Administration Department. The staging assert is at Cochiara’s Marina in Lafitte and begins at 9 a.m. The parish collects trees from residents and uses them to give protection to Louisiana’s shoreline. The trees are aged to develop wave-reducing fences and to absorb in man-made canals, The Instances-Picayune/The Contemporary Orleans Recommend experiences. In 2019, bigger than 6,000 Christmas trees were soundless in Orleans Parish and airlifted by the Louisiana Nationwide Guard into the Bayou Sauvage Nationwide Natural world Refuge.

Usa today Maine

Augusta: Biologists with the assert Department of Inland Fisheries and Natural world are getting willing to round up some moose. Starting this week, biologists shall be taking pictures and collaring 130 moose as Maine’s moose survival be taught about enters its sixth three hundred and sixty five days and specializes in a brand contemporary be taught about assert. The be taught about started within the winter of 2014 in western Maine, and a 2nd be taught about assert in northern Maine turn out to be added in 2016. Over five years, 475 moose were captured by helicopter-launched nets and fitted with a GPS collar. This three hundred and sixty five days, the program will embody a brand contemporary assert north of Moosehead Lake. The collars enable workers to remotely track moose areas and actions over time and to be notified if a moose dies. Adult cows are monitored each and every spring and summer season to uncover birth charges and survival charges of calves. For every and every collared moose, biologists catch detailed health files, including a blood sample, parasite loads, physique situation and winter tick loads.

Usa today Maryland

Annapolis: A newspaper’s overview of assert courtroom data has found an apparent loophole that enables documents filed electronically to be kept from the overall public. The Capital experiences courtroom documents filed throughout the assert’s electronic file-preserving machine might moreover moreover be made secret by attorneys, judges and clerks and their staffers with out a courtroom converse or public earn. In distinction, attorneys who desire a file kept secret ought to put an converse from a make a choice when filing by paper. That course of requires earn and one more for any enthusiastic occasion to intervene. The newspaper experiences it’s unclear how many data were so without complications sealed across the assert. In the case of the man accused of opening fireplace within the Annapolis newsroom in 2018, killing five workers, the newspaper realized through a public data ask that nearly 70% of the documents were designated “confidential,” preserving them from public search.

Usa today Massachusetts

Boston: The Metropolis Council swore within the most diverse neighborhood in its historical previous Monday. The council made up bigger than half of by girls americans and americans of colour turn out to be ushered in by Mayor Martin Walsh for the length of a ceremony at Faneuil Corridor, the Boston Herald experiences. The mayor swore in 13 individuals who incorporated four contemporary faces, which is an unparalleled amount of turnover for the council. Voters in November moreover elected the council’s first Latina member, Julian Mejia, as properly as district councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Kenzie Bok and Liz Breadon, the principle openly delighted woman to aid on the council. Metropolis Councilor Kim Janey will moreover originate historical previous because the third woman of colour to aid because the physique’s president. The council turn out to be a white male bastion for decades, nonetheless Boston is now a “majority minority” city the set apart whites comprise roughly 47% of the inhabitants.

Usa today Michigan

Midland: It’s no longer what the Egyptians had in mind, nonetheless it absolutely labored: A neighborhood of excessive college college students made a pyramid out of loo paper – 27,434 rolls. It took 16 hours for college students to assemble the pyramid at Bullock Creek High College in Midland County. They are hoping to be acknowledged by the Guinness E book of World Records and sell the john paper as a fundraiser for the 20-member robotics personnel. “There turn out to be a vary of excitement after we purchased to the previous couple of layers, nonetheless the last roll at the pause turn out to be no doubt honest anti-climactic,” Maxton Herst told MLive.com. “Each and each roll you assert, you resolve to absorb it to be within the upright assert. It turn out to be trusty form of mind-numbing work.” Herst purchased the premise three years within the past after seeing a identical pyramid on YouTube. The college students constructed the pyramid for the length of holiday damage. Rolls of the two-ply toilet paper absorb since been positioned into 96-count boxes for resolve.

Usa today Minnesota

Winona: An employee has been fired after tweeting criticism of his agency’s holiday gift to its workers. A branch supervisor for Fastenal in Canada turn out to be fired trusty sooner than Contemporary Year’s Day after he posted a tweet chiding the corporate about its gift determination of barbecue sauce and a picket grill scraper. Fastenal says the tweet violated the corporate’s policy on social media posts. CEO Dan Florness said the policy about acceptable standards of behavior is given to each and every employee and posted on the corporate internet web page online. News of the firing has been widely shared on social media and introduced a few backlash, including loads of internet web page online posts and mobile phone messages that were deleted correct now because they were “wrong” or “threatening,” Florness told the Superstar Tribune. Fastena’l, based in Winona, says it’s the largest fastener distributor in North The US.

Usa today Mississippi

Jackson: Prisoner advocates are calling on the federal government to investigate the assert’s penal complex machine for seemingly civil rights violations, announcing the violence of most modern days highlights deliberate violations of inmates’ constitutional trusty to be free from merciless and unparalleled punishment. The Southern Poverty Regulation Center and other groups said they were sending the letter Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Justice. The letter warns that “it is no exaggeration to pronounce extra lives shall be misplaced absent rapid intervention.” U.S. Earn Bennie Thompson, Mississippi’s handiest Democrat in Congress, called Sunday for a federal investigation after inmates were killed by fellow prisoners across three prisons and an unknown series of inmates were injured in disturbances. Mississippi penal complex officials, who called in assert troopers and a different personnel of penal complex guards from Tennessee to encourage obtain aid watch over of the speak, absorb said four of the deaths are connected to violence between gangs.

Usa today Missouri

St. Louis: Gov. Mike Parson says he’s no longer convinced that unregulated and untaxed video playing terminals within the assert are unlawful, even as investigators in his administration work to discontinuance their unfold. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch experiences that Parson, the former Polk County sheriff, said he is monitoring a Platte County courtroom case that might offer trusty steering to the assert’s prosecutors on what constitutes a sport of probability versus a sport of skill. The video playing terminals, which work in a model equivalent to slot machines, were rolled out in truck stops, gas stations and convenience stores across the assert. Opponents argue that slot machines are handiest allowed in casinos. Nonetheless backers whisper the machines give gamers the option of viewing the end result of a wager sooner than placing a probability. The governor’s stance is in distinction to the Missouri Allege Motorway Patrol, whose leaders absorb made a determination.

Usa today Montana

Large Falls: A Native American tribe has deliberate a occasion after no longer too long within the past gaining federal recognition. The Small Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana has launched plans to host a occasion Jan. 25 in Large Falls. The occasion comes a few month after President Donald Trump signed the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act containing an modification giving the Small Shell Tribe federal recognition, officials said. The free occasion shall be held at the Vacation Inn from 5 to 10 p.m. and is open to the overall public, tribal council individuals said. The occasion involves dinner, ragged music played by fiddlers, and speeches by dignitaries and council individuals. Other tribes are expected to be represented at the tournament, councilmembers said. The final public is moreover invited to aid a pipe ceremony the identical day at 1 p.m. at the Shawn Gilbert Event Center, tribal individuals said.

Usa today Nebraska

Lincoln: The Metropolis Council is cracking down on unlawful dumping at recycling series sites. The council voted unanimously Monday to originate it unlawful to set apart recyclables anyplace nonetheless within the upright containers at the 19 series sites readily available to residents. The contemporary ordinance moreover bans dumping at the sites or within the recycling containers anything else that might’t be recycled. Folks absorb left rubbish and other objects at the sites, including hot tubs, tires, beds, televisions, picket pallets and pianos – all items that might’t be recycled. Cleansing up the resulting messes fell to the companies internet internet hosting the sites, Lincoln transportation and utilities assistant director of utilities Donna Garden told the council closing month. The ordinance moreover applies to recycling processing centers, salvage operations and commercial composting operations. Violators face fines of as much as $500 for the misdemeanor offense.

Usa today Nevada

Reno: An Australian mining company has agreed to a moratorium on contemporary activities at a deliberate lithium mine within the assert in alternate for conservationists losing a lawsuit to give protection to a rare barren region wildflower they are saying doesn’t exist anyplace else within the realm. The Center for Biological Fluctuate filed earn in U.S. District Court docket in Las Vegas that it turn out to be voluntarily withdrawing its lawsuit in opposition to the Trump administration seeking a ban on all drilling and boulevard constructing at the positioning on federal land since the newly reached settlement with Ioneer USA Corp. The heart filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Fish and Natural world Provider in October to checklist Tiehm’s buckwheat as an endangered species. The lawsuit filed weeks later accused the Bureau of Land Administration of illegally dividing the mining operations into two separate projects in converse to circumvent its bear regulations for any land disturbances greater than 5 acres.

Usa today Contemporary Hampshire

Manchester: Monks at a Catholic college confronted off in courtroom Monday in opposition to the college’s board of trustees in a dispute over an effort to limit the the monks’ strength – a transfer some disaster might lead to elevated secularization. A make a choice heard motions in Hillsborough Superior Court docket connected to a lawsuit filed in opposition to the Saint Anselm College board closing three hundred and sixty five days. The unparalleled conflict turn out to be situation in motion when the board moved to expend away the monks’ skill to amend the college’s bylaws. Michael Tierney, representing the monks, said the college’s constitution dictated that they protect the strength to amend regulations governing the college. The college turn out to be situation up and travel by Benedictine monks for 130 years. The board has argued that it has the authority under assert regulation on nonprofit organizations to amend the bylaws. It argues the transfer is severe to be decided that it has the major independence for reaccreditation.

Usa today Contemporary Jersey

Trenton: The assert might gaze a distinguished enlarge within the series of electrical autos traveling on local roads under a bill gaining momentum that might enlarge the assert’s network of charging stations and provides motorists a sizable rebate on a resolve or rent. The measure is considered as a cornerstone of efforts to decrease air air pollution, including greenhouse gases, in a assert that constantly receives failing grades for smog. The bill turn out to be permitted by two Meeting committees Monday as lawmakers push to breeze it sooner than the legislative session comes to a terminate subsequent week. To build those comely air reductions, motorists shall be given one of the most ideal incentive functions within the nation to resolve an electrical automotive. On the guts of the bill is a rebate of as much as $5,000 intended to decrease an electrical automotive’s sticker label to originate the sphere extra aggressive with gasoline-powered autos.

Usa today Contemporary Mexico

Santa Fe: The Legislature’s lead price range-writing committee on Tuesday urged a 6.5% enlarge in assert unparalleled fund spending and counseled plans to stash away a share of Contemporary Mexico’s windfall from oil production in belief funds to be decided that future financial balance. The Legislative Finance Committee that operates a three hundred and sixty five days-round policy and accountability assert of industrial urged a $464 million enlarge in sustained spending to about $7.5 billion for the fiscal three hundred and sixty five days that begins July 1. One other $325 million might be situation apart in an funding belief to underwrite early childhood education and products and services, alongside smaller trusts dedicated to highschool affordability and rural libraries. Legislators ask the assert will receive an $800 million surplus in unparalleled fund profits subsequent three hundred and sixty five days, in far extra than the $7 billion in contemporary spending tasks.

Usa today Contemporary York

Contemporary York: The country’s busiest put together assert would catch contemporary tracks, expanded terminals and better entry for commuters under a opinion launched by the governor Monday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he'll imply acquiring the block south of Penn Field to add at least eight contemporary underground tracks, which he said will build contemporary, greater terminals and enhance track and put together capacity by 40%. More than 600,000 americans breeze through Penn Field on an routine basis on trains travel by Amtrak, Contemporary Jersey Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, operator of the Long Island Rail Motorway and the Contemporary York Metropolis subway machine. The assert has 21 tracks and operates at corpulent capacity for the length of peak sessions, leading to rippling delays when trains or infrastructure damage down. The bigger than century-oldschool assert turn out to be opinion to be an architectural masterpiece in its day, and its demolition and repurposing within the 1960s provoked a public outcry.

Usa today North Carolina

Wilmington: A favored ferry route has closed for 3 months to enable crews to electrify repairs. The StarNews experiences the N.C. Department of Transportation closed the Southport-Castle Fisher ferry starting up Monday to substitute ramp tools at each and every ferry terminals. The division’s ferry division said contractors ask work on the roughly $3 million project has to be executed by early April. The work comes after a failure of the ramp machine on the Southport side of the ferry shut down the route for five weeks in August and September. The ferry closure shall be a headache for vacationers and commuters. What turn out to be a 30-minute time out over the water might expend an hour-plus by boulevard. Nearly 200,000 autos originate the Southport-Castle Fisher crossing each and every three hundred and sixty five days, the StarNews experiences, citing assert statistics.

Usa today North Dakota

Bismarck: A county commission that no longer too long within the past voted to limit how many refugees it would earn voted Monday no longer to set apart the speak sooner than voters in a nonbinding straw poll. The Bismarck Tribune experiences the five-member Burleigh County Commission voted 3-2 in opposition to a doable pollset apart a matter to of referring to future refugee resettlement. The vote breakdown turn out to be the identical because the commission vote closing month no longer to earn bigger than 25 refugees in 2020. That vote came after a four-hour meeting the set apart loads of refugees, in on the entire emotional testimony, urged the commission to proceed accepting contemporary arrivals. Had the commission voted a total ban on refugee resettlement in Burleigh County, home to about 95,000 americans and the capital city of Bismarck, refugee resettlement groups said they earn about it would were be the principle local government to construct so since President Donald Trump gave states and counties that strength.

Usa today Ohio

Columbus: Gov. Mike DeWine has asked the assert’s Medicaid unswerving to see into what might moreover moreover be executed in response to the most modern enlarge within the series of teens without medical health insurance protection. The governor’s directive came after a most modern file showed Ohio’s uninsured rate for infants, toddlers and preschoolers is now the third-very top within the nation, with with regards to 12,000 extra teens without protection in 2018 than in 2016, the Columbus Dispatch experiences. DeWine said he asked Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran “to gaze what steps that we can expend to handle this” and to gaze if there's a manner to “originate re-enrollment more uncomplicated” so that it is no longer a hurdle for those attempting to catch insured. The series of teens without medical health insurance protection protection climbed to five% in 2018 from 3.6% in 2016, in response to file released in December by the Georgetown College Center for Younger americans and Households.

Usa today Oklahoma

Oklahoma Metropolis: Two days of conferences and contemporary searches are deliberate this week for 2 16-three hundred and sixty five days-oldschool girls missing and presumed listless for bigger than two an extended time, authorities said Monday. Investigators with the Craig County District Criminal educated’s Residing of job and the Oklahoma Allege Bureau of Investigation shall be joined by the U.S. Department of the Inner’s Residing of job of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman in and across the former town of Picher, about 85 miles northeast of Tulsa, said district attorney spokeswoman Michelle Lowry. Lowry said a ask from Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma gradual closing three hundred and sixty five days caused the federal agency’s involvement. The OSMRE will exhaust an underground digicam and, if wished, lighting fixtures to search the flooring and partitions of mine shafts within the assert. Picher, which now no longer exists as a town, turn out to be incorporated in a federally funded buyout after a 2006 Military Corps of Engineers be taught about printed abandoned lead and zinc mines under the assert had a excessive anguish of caving in.

Usa today Oregon

Salem: Lagging snow fall early within the season might imply a cosmopolitan, dry summer season for farmers and ranchers across the assert. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Sources Conservation Provider says the amount of water from snow that’s fallen in Oregon trusty now might be trusty 45% of unparalleled statewide, the Capitol Press experiences. Water from melting snow is a prime for replenishing streams and reservoirs for farms and fish, specifically in jap Oregon the set apart the climate is drier. Each and every water basin is measuring under moderate for snow moreover the Owyhee Basin in southeastern Oregon, which stands at 117% of unparalleled. The bottom totals are within the Hood, Sandy and Decrease Deschutes basins at 25% of unparalleled and the Willamette Basin at 26%. The water three hundred and sixty five days, as outlined by hydrologists, begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30 of the next calendar three hundred and sixty five days.

Usa today Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: Voters in three Pennsylvania Condominium districts will make a choice contemporary assert representatives for the length of special elections scheduled for March, the assert Condominium speaker launched Tuesday. A top aide to Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, said the March 17 date turn out to be chosen to absorb seats that grew to change into vacant for the reason that incumbents were elected in November to other areas of work. The seats were most no longer too long within the past held by Earn. Tedd Nesbit, R-Mercer; Earn. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks; and Justin Walsh, R-Westmoreland. Nesbit and Walsh were elected to change into county judges, and DiGirolamo is now a county commissioner. Earn. Tom Murt, R-1st viscount montgomery of alamein, will succeed DiGirolamo as chair of the Human Products and services Committee, and Earn. Gary Day, R-Lehigh, will chair Aging.

Usa today Rhode Island

Windfall: Nonprofits within the assert were awarded grants totaling with regards to $300,000 for outreach to bear participation within the 2020 census. The Rhode Island Foundation launched the grants Monday from the Rhode Island Census 2020 Fund, a statewide, collaborative funding initiative. The aim is to give protection to the $3.8 billion a three hundred and sixty five days Rhode Island receives in federal funding for education, health care, transportation and housing based on census files, the root said. Twenty-six organizations obtained funding for functions to reach onerous-to-count communities, including the Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Training in Windfall, Progreso Latino in Central Falls, and Meals on Wheels in Windfall. Nonprofits, municipalities, homes of admire, and public companies including libraries and colleges can follow for grants within the 2nd round of funding.

Usa today South Carolina

Charleston: The Citadel is evaluating the college’s existing structures, infrastructure and landscapes to construct an extended-time interval opinion that might files future constructing projects and campus renovations. The campus grasp opinion will build a vision of what the overall public military college might see enjoy 15 years from now, The Post and Courier experiences. “After we absorb a opinion in assert, this might files all of our facility decisions going forward,” said Jeff Lamberson, vice president of amenities and engineering. The college finalized a $450,000 contract with Ayers Saint Snide, an architectural develop agency spearheading the project, in October. College officials absorb talked with a total bunch of faculty students, college and workers in bigger than 35 focal level-neighborhood conferences.

Usa today South Dakota

Sioux Falls: Legislators absorb invited the Crow Creek Sioux tribal chairman to lift the annual Allege of the Tribes handle after some tribal leaders threatened to boycott a deliberate handle by a member of Gov. Kristi Noem’s Cupboard. Lawmakers on Monday invited Lester Thompson Jr. to lift the handle subsequent week. The transfer is a change from plans to absorb Secretary of Tribal Family individuals Dave Flute give it. The annual speech is alleged to advertise cooperation between the assert government and the tribes nonetheless as one more grew to change into a level of friction when tribal leaders objected to having a assert employee give the speech. Last week, some tribal leaders said they would obtain their very bear tournament called the Large Sioux Nation Tribal handle. That tournament will soundless happen in Castle Pierre across the Missouri River from the Capitol nonetheless has been rescheduled for after the Allege of the Tribes handle.

Usa today Tennessee

Townsend: One in all the Large Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park’s most well liked sites has been closed to all autos till repairs to a prime entry boulevard tunnel are executed. The Cades Cove closure started Sunday night and is anticipated to closing till March. Fundamental repairs are wished for the interior drainage machine within the 121-foot long Bote Mountain Tunnel on Laurel Creek Motorway, in response to the Nationwide Park Provider. The tunnel hasn’t passed through distinguished work since it turn out to be inbuilt 1948. The cove’s campground moreover shall be closed till March. The nearby Elkmont Campground and the Smokemont Campground in North Carolina will remain open three hundred and sixty five days-round to accommodate displaced cove campers, in response to WATE-TV.

Usa today Texas

Dallas: A contempt of courtroom fee has been dropped in opposition to the Dallas County district attorney over a television interview he gave on the eve of a excessive-profile assassinate trial keen a police officer. All facets filed a motion to fall the contempt fee in opposition to Dallas County District Criminal educated John Creuzot, who gave an interview sooner than the originate of former officer Amber Guyger’s assassinate trial no topic a gag converse by Mediate Tammy Kemp. The white officer turn out to be convicted of assassinate for the shooting death of her unarmed dusky neighbor, Botham Jean, inner his bear rental. Kemp said in an converse that the interview, in which Creuzot outlined why he opinion Guyger turn out to be properly charged with assassinate in determination to manslaughter, turn out to be a “teach violation” of the gag converse she’d issued within the case.

Usa today Utah

Salt Lake Metropolis: The assert Department of Transportation has started making security improvements come a homeless helpful resource center the set apart autos killed three men, officials said. The division has set apart in email correspondence signs to induce drivers to be cautious and alert for pedestrians come the South Salt Lake center, The Salt Lake Tribune experiences. Salt Lake Metropolis leaders called for rapid pedestrian security improvements after three men were fatally struck while attempting to rotten the boulevard come the guts. Police consider all three men were homeless and seeking safe haven at the guts. Four crashes, including those keen the fatalities, absorb took place within the assert for the reason that November opening of the 300-bed men’s helpful resource center, police said.

Usa today Vermont

Montpelier: A bakery is internet internet hosting a probability to get the lucky person that gets to stride down a gingerbread village. In a first for Birchgrove Baking, the candy treat institution is promoting customers tickets “for the probability to resolve the trusty to homicide the village.” Initially, after the holiday season turn out to be over, the bakery struggled to get a creative manner to extinguish its gingerbread village. Birchgrove co-owner John Belding says the owners absorb within the previous resorted to destroying it themselves, getting out their very bear tension from the annoying three hundred and sixty five days. Sales from this three hundred and sixty five days’s raffle will breeze toward the Central Vermont Humane Society, an ongoing collaborator with Birchgrove Baking. Winners shall be launched Friday.

Usa today Virginia

Richmond: More americans earned bachelor’s degrees within the assert closing three hundred and sixty five days than ever sooner than. Info from the Allege Council of Larger Training for Virginia shows that a file series of degrees were awarded in science, know-how, engineering, arithmetic and health fields. Throughout the 2018-19 college three hundred and sixty five days, private and non-private nonprofit colleges and universities awarded 122,168 degrees and certificates – an enlarge of with regards to 50% from a decade within the past. In-assert college students accounted for 86,325, or bigger than 70%, of those awards. Bachelor’s degrees accounted for 46% of the entire, while graduate degrees made up 25%. Accomplice degrees made up 16%, and certificates made up 13%. The three most well liked bachelor’s stage functions remained unchanged from earlier years: change administration and management; psychology; and biology/natural sciences. Those three majors accounted for 19% of all bachelor’s degrees.

Usa today Washington

Olympia: The assert Supreme Court docket on Monday swore in a brand contemporary chief justice, as properly as its first-ever Native American justice. The Spokesman-Evaluation experiences Justice Debra Stephens grew to change into the courtroom’s 57th chief justice. A former Appeals Court docket make a choice and adjunct professor of regulation at Gonzaga College, she called it “the greatest privilege I'm able to consider.” Raquel Montoya-Lewis, a former Whatcom County Superior Court docket make a choice who is a member of the Pueblo Iselta tribe of Contemporary Mexico, turn out to be sworn in at the identical ceremony. Montoya-Lewis is the principle Native American to aid on Washington’s very top courtroom and handiest the 2nd to aid on any assert supreme courtroom within the nation. Stephens called it a historical day. Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday turn out to be a day when “a daughter of Spokane ascends to chief justice,” and the courtroom gets Lewis-Montoya, a “judicial star” who is a right listener, decisive, caring and compassionate.

Usa today West Virginia

Charleston: The Department of Natural Sources says anglers might soundless ask trout stocked in assert waterways for the length of the winter months to be smaller than celebrated. An extended dry spell across the assert from gradual summer season through descend is opinion to absorb affected the moderate “catchable” size of the fish, Jim Hedrick, the division’s hatchery supervisor, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. When the drought broke in October, the hatcheries’ water provides were replenished and allowed workers to launch feeding trout at the customary rate. Nonetheless winter weather quickly slowed the expansion rate again, Hedrick said. The expansion rate is anticipated to reach to unparalleled because the weather gets warmer, he said. The division is moreover adding feed to absorb a look at out to enlarge trout size. Hedrick said each and every of the 31 streams and 30 lakes designated for January stockings will receive as many pounds of fish as closing three hundred and sixty five days.

Usa today Wisconsin

Madison: Republicans made up our minds Tuesday to assert handiest President Donald Trump’s name on the assert’s main pollthis spring, developing barriers for any long-shot candidates to speak him within the assert. A committee made up of Republicans and Democrats met with assert election officials within the Capitol to select which candidates shall be positioned on the April 7 main ballot. The Republican committee individuals submitted handiest Trump’s name; he turn out to be permitted on a unanimous dispute vote. The Democratic committee individuals submitted 14 candidates. The Republican transfer will originate it extra sophisticated nonetheless no longer impossible for other GOP hopefuls comparable to former Massachusetts Gov. Invoice Weld and former Illinois Earn. Joe Walsh to catch on the GOP main ballot. They'd soundless be incorporated if they each and every catch 8,000 signatures by Jan. 28.

Usa today Wyoming

Casper: A college district has paid off bigger than $4,000 in student lunch debt after a crowd-sourced take a look at bounced. The Casper Police Department has opened an investigation into the “Feed Casper Students” fundraising campaign on GoFundMe aimed at paying off the Natrona County College District’s student lunch debt, The Casper Superstar-Tribune experiences. The district permitted about $19,000 in fundraising donations in April, the identical month the take a look at bounced, college officials said. The district paid off the lunch debt for about 250 college students out of its unparalleled fund, in determination to reopen the excellent debt for the college students, officials said. A college district administrator made loads of attempts to reach the woman who started the fundraiser, Brittny French, authorities said. More than one attempts by the Superstar-Tribune to contact French were unsuccessful closing week, including through GoFundMe. Police asked anybody who had donated to the campaign to catch entangled with police.

From USA TODAY Community and wire experiences

Read or Half this memoir: https://www.usatoday.com/memoir/files/50-states/2020/01/08/gingerbread-destruction-raffle-toilet-paper-pyramid-tiehms-buckwheat-files-round-states/40960031/

[northshorehealthandfitness]

Friday Faves

Hi friends and Happy Black Friday! I hope that those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving enjoyed a wonderful holiday with delicious eats and the company of those you love. While it’s a daily focus to maintain gratitude for the amazing things in life, I spent some extra time yesterday soaking it all in. I’m so thankful for my little family, the opportunity to spend some time in Tucson, a husband who works so hard and loves his babies, and YOU. Please know that I’m so thankful for you and consider you all my virtual BFFs. Thank you so much for reading this little blog and I hope you know how much I genuinely appreciate you.

I’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! I enjoy compiling this little list of the things that are making me smile each week, and also love to hear about your faves, too. Please join in the fun and shout out something you’re loving in the comments section.

Food and recipes:

ALLTHETHANKSGIVINGFOOD. I know this one is pretty obvious, but can we please take a moment of silence for the glory of Thanksgiving fare? I know that it’s more special to swim in a pool of gravy once a year, but I’d appreciate more stuffing, turkey and cranberry sauce on a regular basis. Maybe this needs to become a *thing.*

We woke up Thanksgiving morning and headed to our friends’ hotel room; Dave and Michele are staying two doors down from us. It’s pretty much the best thing ever. We’ve been friends for years, and since Michele and I are both from Tucson, it’s always exciting when our paths cross for family trips. 

(Shout out to madre who stayed with the girls one night while we went to Yard House for drinks and appetizers)

We had Thanksgiving morning mimosas with them while the kiddos played, then headed to madre’s house to watch the parade and eat breakfast. After a delicious breakfast, browsing sales fliers, and a family walk, P took a nap in her guest room, and then we went to my uncle’s house for lunch/dinner with my dad’s side of the family.

It was so so great to see everyone. When we’re back in Tucson, it makes me feel like we still live here. We jump back into all of the usual activities, and while it’s always so much fun, it still feels a bit bittersweet. I think I’ve written about this before, but it almost feels like a glimpse of the life we’ll have when we’re eventually back here. It’s definitely something to look forward to!

(I wanted to cry when I saw Everly, because I missed her so much, but had to hold it together so I wouldn’t freak her out haha.)

All of the food was amazing as usual. The girls ran around and played in the backyard with their cousins the entire time, and Livi spent 99% of the day playing frisbee with a silver Labrador puppy named Benjamin. Guess who’s been asking for a “big dog” now? (It’s not going to happen for a long time.)

The boys did their usual golfing shenanigans while the girls kicked back, drank wine, and brought out the desserts.

Afterwards, we headed back to my moms to see Uncle E and our cousins. Liv and P missed them so much, and all of the girls huddled in the living room playing with toys, laughing and watching the movie Sing. 

It was a great way to spend the holiday and I’m thankful that we were able to make the trip out here! We still have a few more days and adventures to enjoy, too.

Good reads and random finds:

The Nest. I started this one on the flight out here, and I’m enjoying it so far. Usually I scour book reviews online before purchasing anything, but didn’t have time at the airport. Turns out the reviews are pretty bad, so we’ll see how I end up liking it. Did you read this one?

The Sia Christmas Album. After listening to Michael Buble and Pentatonix Christmas albums for years, it’s nice to have something fresh and new in the rotation. Most of the songs are catchy and fun, but this slower more moody ballad is my fave track.

  This mini soap. It’s kind of a random fave but it’s the perfect little travel soap! You can use it as hand soap, body wash, dish soap, the list goes on. They have the small bottles at Target. I’ll be stashing one in my purse from now on and you can file it under the random things you’ll find in there, along with packets of Sriracha and a toddler fork for P. 

Fitness:

The much-anticipated return to Orangetheory. I’ve been itching to take a class ever since I was cleared for more intense exercise, but I wanted to make sure I was really ready before bounding through the OTF doors and high-fiving everyone with joy. I’m four months out from surgery and confidently strength and interval training again, so it felt like a safe bet. I modified some of the treadmill intervals – I can’t sprint super fast yet so I did a combo of incline walking and running -and the core work, but could do pretty much everything else. It felt so great to be back! My legs are also like WTF. They haven’t been this sore in a hot minute.

If you’re looking for a workout today, check out this Black Friday Frenzy workout.

Fashion and Beauty:

Black Friday deals:

While Thanksgiving is my #1 favorite holiday, Black Friday is also high on the list. I LOVE Black Friday sales – and usually use the opportunity to blast through Christmas list and stock up on house essentials – and thought I’d share some of the best sales I’ve found.

Here’s what we’ll be stocking up on:

–The Dyson I wanted is on SUPER sale. Half off, baby! Happening.

–gap is 50% off EVERYTHING with no exclusions (code BLKFRIDAY). I’m going to order some clothes for the girls in their next sizes. Old Navy is also 50% off and we love their outerwear (like this jacket) and pajamas for the kiddos.

–J Crew: 40% off ENTIRE purchase with code THANKU. I love their men’s polo and button-up shirts for gifts. They also have great pajamas.

–Homesick Candles are 25% off. These are a great “I’m not quite sure what to get you” gift.

–Nordstrom is extra 20% off selected sale items. These $17 Kate Spade earrings are SO cute and the perfect little hostess gift or stocking stuffer.

More fantastic sales:

Kohl’s: (extra 15% off today with code SAVEBIG15)

–The Instant Pot is only $79.99 at Kohl’s! I use ours at least a couple of times each week. It’s my favorite kitchen gadget right now.

-Our favorite bluetooth speaker is almost half off. 

–Shark steam mop

–Critter ballerina slippers for the kids $9

Ulta: (free 9-piece gift with any $50 online purchase)

-Love this Tarte lip set, these Philosophy gingerbread sets, and mini goodies for stocking stuffers

–Madewell: 25% off with code DONTSTRESS (need this floral dress)

–Revolve: up to 50% off! This is my favorite store online right now and they have so many gorgeous dresses, accessories and tops for winter. The earrings I’m wearing in some of the pics above are on sale for $39 here.

–Loft is 50% off everything! Love this top and this dress. The dress I’m wearing in the Thanksgiving pics above is on sale here.

–Banana Republic 50% off regular price.

–Kate Spade 30% off with code GIVEJOY

–ASOS 30% off with code EPIC30. I’m going to lurk this one for a holiday party dress.

I hope you have a very happy Friday! Are you shopping today? What’s on your list? I have lots of fitness gift ideas here for ya, too.

xoxo

Gina

The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.

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[childlifer]

During my recent travels to the Czech Republic, I had the opportunity to learn about two populations that I knew little or nothing about: the children of Lidice and the children of Chanov. Our hosts, Jiri & Marketa Krelovitz of the Klicek Foundation, arranged a day long outing to honor one group and to serve the other.

A few days prior, Marketa had given me a book

that told the story of the massacre of an entire village during World War II. It is a chilling and heartbreaking narrative of the fates of 82 children between the ages of 1 to 16. In response to the assassination of Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich in 1942, the Nazis sought retribution by shooting all the men of Lidice (aged 15 and up), transporting the women to concentration camps, and murdering the children en mass by gassing them in a truck. Not even the dead were spared, their graves looted along with everyone’s homes and businesses, before the Nazis burned everything to the ground.

We arrived at the historical site of Lidice, the midday sun unrelenting in the early Spring heatwave. We made our way over rolling green lawns to the memorial (Pamatnik Lidice) that overlooks the expanse of land where the village once lay. No book could have prepared me for the impact of the life-sized collection of sculptures embodying the 82 murdered children. I stood before them and wept for these children and all those murdered during the Holocaust. I wept at the cruelty of human beings. I wept for the legacy that lives on in the DNA of my life partner, his parents having survived Auschwitz at the tender ages of 12 and 15. They could have been these children. In some ways, they were.

The artist Marie Uchytilová created the memorial in the 1990’s, but died before she was able to complete the sculptures. Jiri described paying a visit to their friend, Marie, during her selfless work. The haunting presence of the children’s likenesses in the fading light cast shadows as they drank tea and chatted late into the night. “She informed us that she often spoke to the children as she crafted their images,” Jiri said. “And she tried to find out everything she could about each one, so that she could truly fashion their souls.”

  We left the children and walked in silence back to the van.  We traveled on, stopping for a tour of the pediatric ward of a hospital before moving on to the last leg of our journey. We had little idea of what awaited us as we drove north west to Most in Bohemia and the Chanov housing estate. Of course Marketa had told us about our upcoming visit. Borivoj, a brain cancer survivor, had attended the Klicek  summer camp as an ill teen. Marketa and Jiri stayed in touch with Borivoj and his family, visiting them occasionally over the years. On one such visit, Marketa took notice of the many children of the neighborhood, hanging out with seemingly little to do. She was moved by their plight, and vowed to return to set up an afternoon of play on a monthly basis.

“No one goes there,” she said as she prepared food for our day’s journey. “It is the poorest and most dangerous part of the Czech Republic. If people do go there, it is to make themselves feel better, handing out candy and toys, and getting back in their cars, not really just being with the children or connecting with them.” As Marketa described the situation, I thought of the untouchables in India.

According to Wikipedia, “[t]he Chánov housing is these days perceived by many Czechs as among the worst examples of ghettoization of the Czech Romany population and has been described as “the housing estate of horror”, “a hygienic time bomb”, “a black stain” and the “Czech Bronx”. The Roma tenants of Chanov fare dreadfully in today’s Czech Republic, relegated to institutionalized country-wide discrimination, racism, marginalization and poverty. The Roma are largely unemployed.  94% of the people have only a primary education, if that.  38% of the population are children under the age of 15. 

Word of our coming had spread, and over 60 of these children and their parents greeted us as our van pulled up in front of the Chanov school, skirted by an astroturf football field. The children gathered eagerly and Marketa divided them into two groups, challenging them to a contest.

“All right!” she coached them. “Let’s see who has better English, the boys or the girls!” I was the designated judge, and the girls surrounded me eagerly. “My name is Anuska,” piped up one girl sporting polka dot shorts and a bright pink t-shirt emblazoned with the head of a blue giraffe. “What is your name?”  “What color are your eyes?” “One, two three…”  Other girls chimed in, counting up to fifteen with pride. “How old are you?” asked another. Then, they all started to sing, “Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!”

The boys jockeyed for attention, keen to tease and one up one another in the process. “My name is…” began one, and several interrupted to shout him down with their own introductions. They jabbed and pushed one another, joking and laughing and even yanking down one boy’s shorts as they showed off their skills. Definitely a different energy than the girls!

Capitalizing on the bit if English they knew (way more than my Czech, I might add!)  I asked the children to show me some of their games, awkwardly pantomiming patty cake. After humoring me by joining in, the girls broke into a much more  intricate version, clapping their hands in a fast paced rhythm that left me in the dust. Then the kids introduced me to the game Baba (If I am spelling that right). Figuring out the rules was easy, as they ran up to me, tapped me none to gently on the back, yelled “Baba!” with great enthusiasm, and ran away from me. Oh, the Czech version of tag – I get it! In fact, there are many games that translate across cultures.

The children eventually broke off into smaller groups, some to draw on the parking lot with colored chalk that Marketa had brought, and some to start up a game of soccer. The play specialist volunteers set up a makeshift hair salon, brushing the girls’ hair and styling both boys and girls alike using many mini rubber bands.

Several children showed us their dancing skills, and my colleague, Marifer Busqueta from Mexico City, engaged them in a few Latina moves.

One group of boys made their way to a large sand pit at the edge of the football field. They dragged over two box springs, the rusty inner workings of mattresses, piling them up to act as a springboard for their acrobatics. And so the real show of the day began. The boys, singly and in pairs, ran pell mell at the springs and leapt upon them, catapulting themselves into the air in arching flips and tumbles. They showed no fear, but my heart beat fast and hard in my chest as they flew past me, landing triumphantly in the sand. I couldn’t help but think of the framed photograph hanging in my bedroom back home of children in a 1980’s South Bronx  performing similar feats of daring.

  Towards the end of the day, Jiri Jr. corralled the kids into the cement bleachers to pose for a group photo.  There was homemade gingerbread for all, and one child split her treat in half to share with Marifer, before enjoying the sliver left over for her. We spent 4 hours altogether with the kids, before collapsing exhausted into the van and heading home to the comforts of Malejovice. Hot running water and electricity would greet us, although no such luxury awaited the children of Chanov. The joy of a day of cross-cultural play with wonderful kids lay juxtaposed in my mind with thoughts of children in historical and current contexts. When hate and racism allow us marginalize, ghettoize, and incarcerate a segment of any population, keeping them from sharing in the most basic of human rights (employment, access to medical care, decent living conditions and education), how far are we from enacting the fate of the children of Lidice upon our own children?

The Children of Chanov and Lidice During my recent travels to the Czech Republic, I had the opportunity to learn about two populations that I knew little or nothing about: the children of Lidice and the children of Chanov.