#seaglass cookie

[missfraise]

The Voices, the new Heroes of Earthbread

Decades after the defeat of Dark Enchantress Cookie, a new menace appeared: Shadow Witch Cookie.

The Ancient Heroes, GingerBrave & Friends, and other cookies tried to stop her, but their attacks only made her stronger in their first fight against her... All, but ten Cookies, graced with Soul Jelly, sources of Light and Dark magic, balancing each other, also called The Voices.

The ten Cookies, split into two teams, work together to find a way to stop Shadow Witch Cookie and her minions.

Team 1:

Choco Duo Cookie

Son of Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao, half-brother of Dark Choco and full brother of Trichoco, Choco Duo, also known as Chocoduo, Double Cacao Chocolate (full name), or "The prince of Secrets", is a young man who has a memory as good as Tarte Tatin Cookie.

As a child, he lost his arms and legs to save a dragon egg. As a thank you, the egg's mother replaces his lost limbs with new ones made of Cake Dragon's dough with the help of Red Velvet Cookie. The dough, at first shaped like Cookie limbs, became more and more like dragon's, and the boy became, well, half Dragon.

Today, he is one of the pretenders of the title of Dragon King (despite himself), and created the Two Moons Crescent Court with his lover Sunflower Cookie. He's always followed by North-Weast and South-Weast, two of the four little dragons following him and his sister around (who look a lot like the Twins Dragons ...)

His Soul Jelly is an orange crescent moon, the Voice of Memory, placed on his chest.

Trio Choco Cookie

Daughter of Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao, half-sister of Dark Choco, and full sister of Choco Duo, Trio Choco, known more as Trichoco, Triple Bittersweet Vanilla Chocolate, or Tritri by her bothers, is a young woman who's a hothead and loves fighting. She is the youngest sibling.

She is a big admirer of Berries Choco Cookie, Dark Choco's late mother, and wishes to be just like her: great and powerful. She loves her friends and family more than anything, but she will find any reason to train with them at any hour of the day and night. Even if she's known as the Voice of Victory, it is not unusual for her to lose her fights against her friends and loved ones.

Today, she is one of Dark Choco's advisors. She's always followed by North-East and South-East, two of the four little dragons following her and her brother around (who look a lot like the Twins Dragons ...). She is best friends with Pepper Jelly Cookie.

Her Soul Jelly is a red spike, the Voice of Victory, placed at the end of her spear.

Sunflower Cookie

Sunflower Cookie, previously known as Yellow Rose Cookie, is the eldest child of the Roses Family and Choco Duo's lover and "mind guard".

When they were a child, they were abandoned by their mother, Burgundy Rose, in the woods where she gave them up to the hungry beasts living there. In their journey to find a new home, they meet Choco Duo, who had run away from the Citadel due to the bully the little prince got from being a new half-dragon. After convincing the boy to go home and with the help of one of Affogato's icecream clones, the two children manage to go back to the Citadel, and seeing how much the freckled cookie helped his son, Pure Vanilla proposes to the child to stay with them.

Sunflower is a protective cookie that will hold grudges on anyone who hurts Choco Duo. One of his catchphrases is "The prince is merciful. I am not."

Their Soul Jelly is a turquoise crescent moon, the Voice of Reason, placed on his staff, on the sunflower's heart.

Blackberry Nightshade Cookie

Blackberry Nightshade, also known as Nightshade, is a citizen of the Hollyberry Kingdom and the youngest member of the team.

Born without arms, she uses the little of magic she has to make some and can sometimes turn them into claws.

She met Choco Duo, Trio Choco and Sunflower when the two royal siblings came to visit Hollyberry Cookie. The young girl was dared by her mean cousins to ask the prince to be her friend while handing her claw for a shake in public. The prince happily accepted it, to the surprise of every Hollyberian, including Nightshade, until she saw the two clawed hands around hers.

Today, she is a dancer in the Hollyberry Palace and is in a relationship with Pineberry Cookie.

Her Soul Jelly is a deep blue berry, the Voice of Resolutness, placed on her chest.

Tenili Cookie

Tenili Cookie is a decapitated mummy-like Cookie and the oldest member of the Voices with Seaglass Cookie.

Tenili is a silly daydreamer who loves butterflies, to the point he cut his soul jelly to give it a butterfly shape. He sometimes sent one of his butterflies to give hope to his friends.

Before joining the Team, Tenili "lived" mostly in the Digital Golden Cheese Kingdom, using his stips connecting his body parts to "fly" around (Spiderman-like). He is in a relationship with Seaglass Cookie.

His Soul Jelly is a marron butterfly, previously an oval, the Voice of Hope, placed on his hair.

Team 2:

Frangipane Cookie

Frangipane Cookie is the fourth child of Clotted Cream, Financier, Wildberry and Crunchy Chip. She is the biological daughter of Clotted Cream and Financier. She is the future head of Scone-Custard House and a talented technician and inventor. Her mentors are Espresso, Strawberry Crepe, and Mulled Juice.

She has to use a cane to walk medium to long distances and use her inventions for travel.

Frangipane is a very serious Cookie, to the point she sometimes starts fights with Trio Choco or Alpha Cookie. Although she likes children, they don't usually like her back, including her little siblings at first, which makes her a bit sad. Surprisingly, she is best friends with Seaglass Cookie. She is in a relationship with Jelly Pepper Cookie.

Her Soul Jelly is a peach clover-like, the Voice of Justice, placed on her shoulderplate.

Pineberry Cookie

Pineberry Cookie is the child of Strawberry and Wizard Cookie and the godchild of Gingerbrave and Custard Cream III.

Pineberry was born with only one eye, their Soul Jelly replacing the missing one. They use their magic scarf as a weapon, mostly as a shield, but have a good manipulation of ice magic.

They are a bit shy, but also pretty smart, usually the one the team asks for new plans or advice when Frangipane is unavailable. They are in a relationship with Blackberry Nightshade Cookie.

Their Soul Jelly is a white/ pale colors four branch star, the Voice of Forgiveness, placed where his left eye should have been.

Seaglass Cookie

Seaglass is a Gem Mermaid squid-like Cookie and the oldest member of the Voices with Tenili Cookie.

Little is known about Seaglass, but if you are somewhere with a source of water near, you can expect him to burst out of it and either cause trouble or help the ones in need.

Seaglass is a malicious troublemaker, but he loves children and babysits the Berries Triplets (WildChip's second set of triplets) often. He is best friends with Frangipane and in a relationship with Tenili Cookie.

His Soul Jelly is a black tear shape, the Voice of Vengeance, placed on his belt.

Pomegranate Mochi Cookie

Pomegranate Mochi Cookie, also known as Mochi Cookie, is one of Dark Enchantress Cookie's clones, created by Matcha Cookie.

Created to be a perfect clone of DE, Matcha treated her harshly, believing it would make her more evil, and therefore more powerful, than their original source, despite the love for her daughter. It however backfired, making Mochi powerful but kinder. When Shadow Witch steals DE powers, Matcha and Mochi run away with Red Velvet and the Cake army to warn the Heroes of the danger.

In the Creme Republic, she meets the Gem Mermaid Carnelian Cookie and falls in love with her. The only ones to know her secret are Choco Duo and Seaglass.

Her Soul Jelly is a purple pie, the Voice of Union, placed on her Shamisen.

Pepper Jelly Cookie

Pepper Jelly is the son of Eternal Sugar and Burning Spice and the first cookie who was able to injure Shadow Witch Cookie.

Unlike his parents, Pepper Jelly wants to help cookies, and works hard to prove he is a "good cookie". He is the first to find a way to hit Shadow Witch Cookie.

Pepper Jelly is a loud and brave cookie, who doesn't hesitate to jump into battle. His best friend is Trio Choco Cookie and he is in a relationship with Frangipane Cookie.

His Soul Jelly is a light green kite, the Voice of Trust, placed on his chest.

[bradshawsbitch]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎↠ 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 - ⅶ ↞

⁘ bradley bradshaw, the notoriously ill mannered head chef at the small franchise pub down the street, is quite content with his fast paced job. no commitments or obligations outside of his kingdom of sharp knives, pots, pans, prep work and a shot of jäger after a double. that is until a new waitress is hired, and suddenly his strict and rigid rules of no obligations or commitments starts to waver. . .

› pairing; bradley bradshaw x f!reader

word count; ~ 1.9K

× chapter warnings; swearing, banter

disclaimer; I am basing most of the chefs/waitresses on people I have worked with/encountered. Most of their traits will be as realistic as possible.

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“Heard you were coming for my job, eh, Cookie?”

Blue skies, chirping birds and a soft, warm breeze brought promises of a good day. The sun had risen high in the sky already, and it seemed as if the universe was smiling favorably upon you, lending you a hand in your plans with the sweltering heat.

It was odd, really, how quickly your plan had taken shape after Bradley had dropped you off yesterday. As you skipped happily into the shower - a soft, fuzzy feeling encompassing your body at the memory of Bradley’s lips upon yours - you knew that one step forward would most likely mean two steps back come morning.

The idea had taken shape as you pondered how to best tackle Bradley’s ever changing emotions and desires, with the simple answer that you wouldn’t. It was perfect, really. Deciding on forgoing your usual skinny black jeans, you opted instead for a black, skater lined skirt that cinched your waist and fell flatteringly just above your knees.

Angie had informed you that during hotter days, girls were allowed skirts, and the men were allowed shorts in the waiting staff. Pairing this with a short sleeved, simple black top with a little lower scoop neckline that you would usually wear to work. 

And as you walked confidently into work, tube socks neatly styled in your sneakers, you could tell it was a hit by the low whistle Jake let out as he stood by the window. The mere sight of his position had you smirking. It was Mickey though, who had teasingly jibed you about taking his position.

“Yeah, better watch out Garcia, head chef said you plate like a five year old!” 

Mickey’s eyes widened before he laughed heartily, your smile only widening as you turned your back on Jake and Bradley on the other side of the kitchen. Leaning on your palms against the window Mickey was in, a similar stance to how Bradley had greeted you, you bit your cheek to keep from laughing. You knew you were showing off quite a bit more skin than usual, and you could almost feel the two men behind you transfixed by the way your skirt swished against your bare thighs.  

“Say, Cookie - did head chef say anything about your performance plating then?” Jake’s voice was but a drawl, and you heard the whip of a towel hit its mark as Jake yelped. 

“Michelin. 5 stars, at least!” you turned to smirk at Jake, holding his seaglass gaze intently with yours, “ain’t that right, chef?” you didn’t look at Bradley, didn’t expect him to answer at all, just watching the realization wash over Jake’s features, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips as well. You knew he knew, knew that Seresin was down for what you were about to serve. 

Jake let his eyes roam your body, completely unashamed, silence stretching between the two of you. Bradley had stopped moving in the background, and you could almost feel the static tension that had appeared in the room. 

“So, Cookie… you’re looking extra sweet today,” Jake purred, the kind of voice he used on Mir when he wanted something. “Mind if I have a taste?” he licked his lips, the amount of mirth in his eyes not visible to Rooster, but all too evident to you. Bringing a hand to your chest, you feigned interest. 

“Why don’t you meet me in the back room and fi–”

“Alright, fucking get back to work and stop having a fuckin’ orgy in the middle of the god damn kitchen,” Bradley’s voice boomed surprisingly loud, interrupting yours and Jakes’ banter. Biting your cheek, you finally let your gaze slide over to Bradley. His brown eyes were stormy as his chest rose and fell a bit faster than normal. 

“Yes, Chef…” you said innocently, shrugging your shoulders before swiftly making yourself scarce. 

Outside, you met up with Mir who complimented you on your cute outfit, before going through the days booked tables. It was looking to be quite the night, almost fully booked. 

“Who’s head waiter today?” you mumbled as you scanned your station, taking in the intervals between their arrival. 

“It’s Ange,” Mir sighed, clicking on one of her own tables to see their pre-ordered meals. “God, this table is a fucking mess. They’ve switched up so many things it’s making me dizzy. I just know Rooster’s gonna be a pain in my ass about it. As if I specifically told them to fuck with him personally,” the Gods were truly smiling down upon you today. 

Your station wasn’t too bad, some of the tables were scheduled to arrive at the same time, but it was manageable. It was almost a relief when your whole station was fully booked, left no room for surprise drop-ins that fucked with the general work flow. 

“Looks like it’s going to be an interesting evening. That table that had changed around the sides, they have any allergies?” Mir nodded solemnly, naming one of the allergies that you knew Bradley found rather tricky to be able to substitute, and still give off a well rounded and thought out taste palette. You could sing. 

“Excellent. And that table’s fifteen people. Incredible.” Mir gave you a withering look “Oh shush, you know I’ll help you with the drinks if I have a moment. Doesn’t look like any of my booked tables are scheduled to arrive at that time,” clicking aimlessly around the booking table, Mir and you predicted how the night might look.

There was a new waiter and someone to manage the dish room during service, starting today. You’d seen John walking the two men around earlier, which made the two girls ponder how the night would go.

As the night progressed, it felt as if the stars were aligning in your favor. You were on track with everything, every table arrived with impeccable timing for you to have time to give your best service, whilst still helping Mir, and annoying Bradley.

You had danced in and out of the kitchen, smiling and talking only to Mickey and Jake - bringing them sneaky red bulls and other beverages. Jake had asked for a jug of water and Mickey for his beloved pepsi, which you’d happily given to them, before rushing out of the kitchen yelling ‘duty calls!’ when Rooster opened his mouth. 

After the rush of Mir’s table, with a flurry of movement behind the bar as you helped her pour pint after pint and delivering it to the table, and hearing Bradley swear loud enough that you heard it in the front of the house (and also hearing Thea loudly telling him to shut the fuck up, he wasn’t meant to be heard by the guests) - you were pretty pleased as you stood in the closed down bar that was located where staff clocked in and out. 

Sipping on the virgin drink Thea had taught you how to make, you were surprised to see a frazzled looking Rooster march out of the kitchen towards that same bar you were in. You didn’t move however, you just let a secret smile tug at the corners of your lips as they sought out the straw you held between your fingers. 

“Cookie…” Bradley hummed roughly, moving behind you to fetch a jug. His large palm felt warm on your lower back as he moved to scoop up copious amounts of ice into it. You could almost feel the sigh he let out before he moved to stand by the soda gun, one hand moving upwards to rub at his face as he started pouring his preferred beverage. 

“Having good service today, Roos?” you chirped, eyes twinkling with mischief as you swayed slowly, twisting your body back and forth, making your skirt swish softly against your thighs. 

“No,” Bradley grumbled as he finally looked at you, damp curls already peaking out here and there under his hat “it’s a fucking mess in there.” he gestured vaguely to the kitchen. You knew that. The reason you were able to take a breather was solely because the food wasn’t coming out, and there was nothing for you to do but wait for Jake and Bradley to get their shit together.

“Had to go out for a minute.” Bradley rasped, causing you to raise your brows “I might have smashed a plate when Jake told me the sauce would be five minutes. Mickey took the grill for me.” blinking slowly, you bit your lip so hard you were afraid you’d draw blood to keep from laughing at his slightly abashed look. 

“It’s okay, Bambi, you can laugh,” he groaned, chuckling softly under his breath as you let out the loud laugh you’d been dying to release. He took in your form then, your head tilted back slightly as you radiated happiness. He let his gaze roam over your form, not unlike Jake had done earlier, taking in how soft your skin looked, and how much of it he was seeing for the first time.  

“What’s your poison?” nodding to the pink-tinged liquid in your glass. As your laughter calmed down, you swirled the ice cubes around slowly “Something Thea made me when I first started… just, roses lime and uhh sprite and–” 

“Grenadine.”

“Exactly. You know it?” you knew you weren’t as knowledgeable about drinks and alcoholic beverages as you should be, and you knew you’d invited Bradley to land a pretty solid reprimand at you for being naive. His brows only furrowed as he averted his gaze, staying silent for a moment, letting the jug fill before answering.

“Yeah, my mother used to make it for me when I was younger. She waitressed here… sometimes she’d have me tag along. Couldn’t find a sitter most of the time.” the revelation had your brows shooting up as Bradley shrugged, looking at the drink in your hand again. 

“She did?” it was an unintelligent answer, but you were much too surprised to offer anything more eloquent - surprised she worked here, even more surprised that Bradley would tell you. Rooster nodded slowly before gesturing to the upper floor 

“Used to have a mattress in the common room upstairs where I’d sleep if she had to work closing hours. She usually tried to get the morning shifts though,” 

“No kidding…” your reply was breathless. You desperately wanted to know more, but figured this was not the time nor the place to delve too deeply into that story. Bradley smiled softly at you, not yet moving to leave from behind the bar. 

“Well, unlike you, I have a job to do,” you teased finally as you finished your drink. Bradley’s mouth fell open, a look of surprised offense on his features “but if I hear one more person wave their hand and say ‘yoohoo!’ I might actually kill myself…” you grumbled as you saw a guest that wasn’t on your station waving at you. 

The sound of Bradley’s laughter rang in your ears well after you’d helped the guest that hailed you. Two heads snapped up in surprise, their eyes meeting with equally shocked expressions at the sight of their head chef booming with laughter - watching you walk away from him. 

Thea and Mir both wore looks of concern as they glanced between your sweet and satisfied smile, and Roosters twinkling eyes as amber eyes roamed your form for a moment before he shook his head, heading back into the kitchen.

next chapter

aight folks! sorry this one took a while and it's a little on the shorter side, I sort of hit a little block, and I was going to keep writing, but it felt better for me to start the next sort of scene I have planned out in the next chapter!

hope y'all liked it still if you still remember this dumb series lmaaao

[atinyladybug-art]

I FINALLY MADE ABIRT COOKIE!!!!

Abirt Cookie in Cookie Run Kingdom (cause I dont play Ovenbreak)

Name to be determined. Might call him Honey Amber Cookie but tbh its to be decided. Plus is a silly silly au thing so im not toooo like, particular and picky about his backstory and lore (i say that but proceed to infodump on abirt cookie lore)

Any pronouns. Magic and Middle.

Thinking his game stats is like, he's more tankier compared to a regular mage as well as the fact he has some self-healing passive bUT he has shit attack speed and tbh his attack power isn't that high too.

Lore:

Cookie Abirt lore is that he's a Historian from Hollyberry Kingdom but travels to and fro Hollyberry Kingdom and Parfaedia Academy because he's a professor there teaching Ancient History.

He came across 963 which is just a magical artifact (not sure if I want it to be amber or honey yet). He took it to Parfaedia to study it and asked the experts over there for their input but they came to a dead end so he decided to make his way to Wizard City.

Along the way, she kinda got attacked by wild and violent cake hounds. The gem was activated from the amount of magic used while fighting. Abirt got distracted by the light which caused one of the hounds to attack her and she got smashed into half but the gem kinda like, exploded and stuck to abirt. it healed her by secreting honey that stuck her back together.

anyways, that was a while back. and now he's still going between parfaedia and hollyberry kingdom but now he also travels to wizard city occasionally to get a check up and get the magic gemstone studied.

The honey and wings were a side effect of the magic gemstone. He can fly but prefers not to cause it's tiring and he feels heavy. Also, overtime, like bits of them were broken off due to Cake Hounds and the bits were too smashed to be put back or that they cant find the pieces anymore. So some parts of his body is replaced and stuck together with Honey (Think like Phos with the gold from Houseki No Kuni.)

Since he's on the road a lot, he hired an Escort/bodyguard to protect him, a personal assistant to work for him, and a personal caretaker.

Oh and his partner is Seaglass Cookie (It's Dr Glass!!!) who is also another professor in Parfaedia Academy.

[randomfoggytiger]

X-Files Collector’s Edition: Curated melforbes

Ahhh, the beautifully atmospheric works of @melforbes. When I think of this writer's work, scent comes to my mind, first-- the clear, cold salt of a spring beach, the buzzed and antiseptic smell of the hospital, the bubbling richness of home-cooked meals, the fear-sweat of anticipation and domestic secrets-- followed swiftly by the innumerable fics about Mulder and Scully living something approaching a normal life. What's not to love?

Loose chronological order below~

@melforbes/@claup/everydaymsr (Ao3, WBM)

Christmas: A Symphony of Four Years

S1: ""I got you something,” he said as she donned her coat in the basement-office, as she wondered just how much snow was falling outside.""

Snow, Late February

Cancer Arc: ""Though he’d originally offered to sit with her during her chemotherapy, she’d deflected and asked him to drive her home instead; while she sat in that dreadful ward with all the other dreadful people undergoing the same dreadful treatment as she, she didn’t want him to see her lurch with nausea, didn’t want him to watch as she kept her eyes downcast and away from the women who were far deeper into treatment than she was. Then again, were any of these people worse off than she was?"" 

seaglass blue

Cancer Arc, AU: ""As they leave the church, their hands clasped in a bashful and half-hidden way, aimlessly thanking the overheard congratulations as they walk down the front steps, he asks her, So where to now? And she’s quiet as she slows her pace, and she brings their clasped hands behind themselves, as if hiding from herself, as if almost embarrassed, but when he looks into her eyes, he understands the embarrassment, the strange vulnerability of really caring about something, about someone. She looks at him wide-eyed and grows tense because she knows that he will give her whatever she asks for....

She doesn’t know where he’ll sleep tonight. They’ve kissed exactly once, and in a church no less. She could ask him to take her to the moon, and unfortunately, he would say, Well, I know a guy who….

“The ocean,” she manages, the parish behind her echoing with sentiments that don’t make any sense. This is the most chaste wedding they’ve ever seen, she thinks, then feels as if the exact opposite of that statement is true. “I’d like to go to the ocean.""

anesis

Post Redux II: ""the room was dark as she pulled “new skin for the old ceremony” off of the shelf, and in the kitchen, there was a plate of warm cookies waiting for them, maggie’s little way of convincing mulder that he was welcome here even if bill was still in town, still celebrating his sister’s miraculous recovery, and still questioning how exactly she could have been saved. with the sky turning to an evening red, she took the record out of the sleeve, her hands as graceful and steady as a surgeon’s, and when she brought it onto the aging record player, she seemed practiced in her motions until she set the needle down midway through the first song, skipping the introduction altogether.""

Oponthoud

S5?""He couldn't read the little guidebook to the Van Gogh museum because it was all in Dutch, so he followed her aimlessly through the exhibits. A museum of the world, not just of the country, he knew this was, but unfortunately, the art was wasted on him. Though she fit in here, a well-dressed woman in black pants and a cowl-neck sweater that made her look, in his opinion, like a casual supermodel, he was an outcast, a guy with holes in his coat who was tugged around by the prettiest girl in the room.""

Anonymous said: cold, ocean, phonebook

Drive: ""As dusk settled over the Californian sea beyond her, she flipped through a phonebook, thought of keywords for what she wanted: milkshakes, family-owned, titled as Chuck’s Place or Beverly’s Diner or even The Greasy Spoon. Biting her lip in concentration, she counted the waves beyond her little payphone, measured time with them as she looked over all of the listed restaurants from here to San Francisco. Loleta was an odd combination of seaside and rustic, rich and unpopulated; if she wanted a diner, she would have to drive, and after that day, she didn’t want to be stuck behind a wheel any longer than was absolutely necessary.""

in the woods

S7: ""he sets a steaming mug on the coffee-table beside her, the scent of hot chocolate curling her lips up. last night, he made them rib-eyes with spinach and mashed potatoes, used that ridiculously expensive grass-fed butter and everything; she picks up the mug, takes a creamy sip, and decides that she can summarize this weekend with the word rich.""

DC Cherry Blossoms

S7: ""it was late april in 1999 when padgett - or, rather, whoever was involved with padgett - tried to steal her heart, and as he remembers finding her covered in blood on the floor of his apartment, his heart speeds up anxiously; that night, she asked him to take her home, asked him to walk her up to her apartment, asked if he wouldn’t mind spending the night, so of course, he spent the night.... by six in the morning, she finally spoke.

“mulder?” he could remember her saying, his surname breaking the heavy silence in her home.

he hummed a response, faced her in bed.

“when do the botanical gardens open?""

What happens when mulder tries to wake Scully up? Or vice versa

S7: ""the last time one of these mornings occurred, she left the house in a pajama top by accident and had to drive back to change. after living with her for years, he’s developed a way to cope with mornings like this, so he stands up, sets her tea down on their bureau, and comes back over to the bed. 

“scully, you need to get up,” he says with just a hint of glee; this is his last warning.""

Hesitation

S9, AU: ""though he wants to call out in search of her, he stays quiet, leaves the paper on the kitchen table, heads upstairs to see if will’s asleep. along the upstairs hallway, she hung pictures of him and his sister together along with her family’s various christmas cards of yore; though he thought looking at photographs of the dead would bring a darkness he disliked into their home, he pauses at the pictures, smiles softly at how bright samantha’s eyes had been.""

Unnamed

S9, AU: ""Softly, he grips onto Will, stands up slowly in hope that their son will stay asleep in his arms. “When have we ever been cranky in the morning?”

At that, she gives him a look, but the smile he returns makes her soften. 

“He read the first two pages all by himself,” Mulder beams, walking toward the stairs while Will sleeps against his chest; she follows him closely, trying to keep her footsteps quiet."" 

taking a pregnancy test

Post S9: ""then, she leaves quickly, heads toward the gas station quick-mart in front of them. as she walks away, she tries and fails to keep her gait confident; though she wants him to think she's indifferent, the sheer possibility of this has tears stinging her eyes. the terrible beauty of a second chance makes her feel as though the world isn't so bad anymore, as though they could live in peace together for the rest of their lives. though she knows she should feel empty from all that has been taken from her, the idea alone makes her feel whole. despite how she wishes she didn't, she wants this so badly with him."" 

19 please :)

Pre-IWTB: ""i like it,” he says through a mouthful; she stares up at the ceiling, her eyes softly transfixed on how white and unmoving such a thing can be. while they travelled, she stole and read a copy of american gods, could remember how shadow kept seeing little things that made him remember he was no longer in prison; the house keys, the car she bought in her own name using her own bank card, being able to order a pizza over the phone, the heady silence only known as home, they all came back to her with a frightening familiarity...""

where i live, it's snowing

Pre-IWTB: ""he could at least do the housework, keeping the sheets soft and clean, passing her a fresh towel as she stepped out of a steaming bath, washing the dishes even though he sorely despised the chore. however, no matter how educated he could grow in the ways of living far away from other people, there were some things that required more than just a manual saw and a geezer. 

“don’t call yourself a geezer,” she’d said while they’d watched their neighbors, outfitted with a chainsaw and young men’s naive muscles, chop the fallen tree from an environmental disruption to easily-burned wood.""

in the heat

Pre-IWTB: ""she pretends to stare at her watch, as though she were actually counting the minutes before he came out of the water; taking up a spot by her hips, daggoo sits on her towel, anticipating everything in a mirror-image of mulder himself. finally, she looks away from her watch, sucks her lips in as she says, “time’s up.”

then, his smile grows wider as he reaches down, takes off her sunglasses and leaves them on the towel; in swift motions, he picks her up, then throws her over his shoulder, walks straight for the water. as he starts to wade in, she can’t stop laughing.""

at night

Pre-IWTB: ""around eleven-thirty, something stirs him from sleep; groggily, he looks around for a cause, sees scully sitting up in bed. if it's passed eleven and scully isn't asleep, then there's a definitive reason, so he slowly sits up and joins her.""

having lunch

Pre-IWTB: ""the first thing she finds is a little sticky note, i love you! written on it in mulder’s handwriting."" 

sunday, 3am

Pre-IWTB: ""It’s okay,” he whispered, the bag of ice in his hand hovering before her, his brain buzzing in the overtired way he used to feel accustomed to. If his circadian rhythms were reliable, then he and his body estimated that three in the morning, maybe half past, had come and gone. A long time ago, she’d told him that keeping lights on from the nighttime hours of ten-to-ten harmed the brain’s ability to produce melatonin, but he figured that light would be the least of their worries tonight.""

downpour, early october

Pre-IWTB: ""his phone on speaker and left on the kitchen counter, he'd chopped vegetables for dinner while talking to her, his knife-cuts careful and slow. age had made his hands clumsy, as she so loved to point out when he got a little too cocky with his chopping. after last week's stitches incident, his thumb still intact but just barely, he wouldn't take any chances.""

saying "I love you" without saying anything at all

Pre-IWTB: ""...she’s stuck in stopped bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway, her eyes closing in annoyance that an accident just had to occur after her bad day at work. thankfully, the guy ahead of her lets his brake-lights off; they’re finally moving. she sighs in thankfulness, but nonetheless, she knows it’s going to be a long drive home.

her purse is on the passenger’s seat, so she figures that reaching into it and taking her phone out so that she can call mulder is a good idea; she could dial his number in her sleep, so she barely has to look at the screen as she starts to make the call.""

at starbucks

Pre-IWTB: ""her drink always comes up first, and as she picks up the cup, she immediately takes off its lid, sighs at the sight of whipped cream on top. though she always makes it clear that she doesn’t want whipped cream, she’s rarely gotten a coffee without the dollop on top.""

Bubbles!

Post IWTB: ""she presses against the water with her hands, moves away from you while you look in between sea-fans and fire corals. though you’re thankful for the change, for the difference, you know these colors could never exist in the states, at least not in the part of the states where you both live, no matter how greatly you wish they would. out there, everything is grassy and earthy, the colors being those of mountains, canyons, freshwater lakes, but here, cold and warm fluorescents light up the strangely-blue water, and though you’re wearing goggles, the world comes through in perfectly clear technicolor. the fish are like pizza shop open signs, the reefs textured and endless, the sand flitted with pink flecks that shine out most when they’re stuck to her hands. after the bout of winter you’ve had in virginia, the warmth and vibrance of the maldives feel life-affirming, the combination acting as a brash awakening to the varying beauties of the world. you’re glad that your first true vacation together was to somewhere that feels like another planet.""

at the beach

Post IWTB: ""he'll call their order in eventually, but for now, he just wants to sit by the ocean and hold her warm hand. with the scent of the sea, the sound of her breathing, and the taste of sweet lemonade on his tongue, he feels relaxation deep in his bones. though he's always searched for life on other planets - and though this planet has recently given him reasons to look elsewhere based on the news - there are some parts of his life on this planet that leave him in joyful wonder, in awe of how beautiful and pure these pleasures feel.""

anabiosis

Post IWTB: ""...he stumbled over his shed pants and leaned too hard against her bedside table. at the time, she huffed a laugh, then ignored the piece of furniture altogether.

they only noticed that i was broken the next morning when she didn’t hear her alarm go off. though scully had remembered to clean out the fridge and take out the trash, she’d forgotten to empty the glass of water she kept on her bedside table, so when she stared down at the table, now a pile splintering and aged wood, she saw unrepairable cracks, a wet spot, and an unsalvageable clock."" 

How about if they try running together? Are they adorably frustrated with the height difference?

Post IWTB: ""though she invests in nice running clothes - most of them are incredibly expensive and from that one brand, something about lemons - he’s all about the cotton tee shirt and basketball shorts. however, this specific pair of basketball shorts has seen better days, probably ones sometime around 1995 or 1996. these shorts don’t stretch much anymore and have quite a bit of trouble staying up; she giggles under her breath whenever he has to pull them up.""

at a motel

Post IWTB: ""when he wakes, her side of the bed is empty, cold, and still a little damp; getting up, he looks through the sliding glass doors of their room, can just make out her red hair in the fog. her back to him, she stands just at the edge of the rocky beach beyond their motel, her gaze focused on the ocean. as pisces as can be, he smiles to himself as he puts on his shirt and shoes, then goes out to meet her.

they’re in new brunswick, but the weather and the surroundings still feel like maine, where they passed through in order to get here.""

beneath the stars

Post IWTB: ""we should install a skylight." 

"we can't install a skylight." 

"why not?" 

"because above us is the attic, not the roof. all we would get is a view of what we have stored up there."" 

coming home

Post IWTB: ""when she arrives home, her raincoat’s hood up to shield her from the unyielding downpour, he’s standing in the kitchen, a little cooking stain on his shirt; he stirs a large pot of soup, what he figures she’ll want after a long, cold day. as she steps out of her shoes - little duck-boots, too short to be worn in snow but the perfect height to wear when she needed to wear dress-slacks in the rain - and sheds her coat, he asks, “how was work?""

at chipotle

Post IWTB: ""he hovers behind her, both a step too far away and a step too close. as she’s complained before, these franchises are so loud, but they’re the healthiest fast-food she’s managed to find.""

at whole foods

Post IWTB: ""but scientists could’ve had their livelihood hinging on it, scully!” he says as she sighs but smiles, for she can’t take him into this store without having him notice something and go on and on about it until they’ve checked out. last time, he scrutinized over the bulk food section and how so many different varieties of the same-colored rice they had."" 

malneirophrenia

Post IWTB: ""she looks to him, then leaps down the porch-steps and races out into the grass.

she’s barefoot. she never goes barefoot.

as he always will, he follows her, his bare feet and aging heart protesting as he tries to catch up with her. though she’s tiny, she’s fast, faster than he can remember her being.""

having coffee

Post IWTB: ""she ducks into the shop, mulder at her heels as she closes the front door behind them; he retracts their umbrella, one that hardly kept them dry given the blustering winds outside. they came out here to damascus with the plan of hiking over the three-day weekend; however, the weather has had other ideas for them, has kept them holed up at an inn and reading in bed while the peak fall foliage rustles about outside.""

at the ballet

Post IWTB: ""he's not one for fine arts, particularly the modern or performance-based ones, but a month beforehand, she mentioned that she would love to take in a ballet, so here they are, him wearing a sport-coat and a tie she'd given him years beforehand, her wearing a little black dress and nude pumps.""

true minds (Ao3)

Post IWTB: ""There's..."

She paused, took a breath.

"I'd like to see something," she gave. "In the city."

"Are you asking me to go with you?"

She paused again.

"Yes," she gave, emphasis on the fricative, "but I'm not sure it's something you'd like to see."

"Is the ballet in town?" he half-joked.

"Meet me at the hospital as soon as you can?""

cioppino

Post IWTB: ""the flourless chocolate cake is settling in the fridge; the homemade gelato from that place she loves in town is milling about in the freezer; he baked fresh bread this morning, iced a bottle of sparkling cider just in case. now, he simply needs the cioppino to cooperate, and then, the night will be set, all of his variables taken care of; after that, all he needs to do is wait for her response.

he got the ring three days ago, claimed he was borrowing her car so that he could help an old lady from the library shovel her driveway.""

in sickness

Post IWTB: ""yesterday, scully came home with a cough, said that she must've picked something up from a kid in the emergency room; after calling in to say that she wouldn't be working the next day - she tended to play it safe when it came to sickness - she retired for the evening, her dinner being warm soup mulder made and served to her in bed; she was too thankful for the gesture than to complain that the vegetables weren't fully cooked. then, she mixed some honey and herbs - it was just a little cough, she swore, and all she needed was something to suppress it so that she could sleep - and went to bed with him alongside her. for hours, he knew she couldn't sleep, couldn't stop coughing long enough to let herself fall asleep. at one in the morning, he propped her up with some extra pillows, let her curl up next to him as she cringed against each cough.""

reazione

Post IWTB: ""for the nine hours they spent on a plane, he never once sought out entertainment. 

“and that’s a redox reaction,” scully explained over a series of inked and torn-up cocktail napkins, each advertising coca cola, deliziosa e rinfrescante in red text on one corner. “it involves a transfer of electrons, thus changing the oxidation number of the molecule.”

“so you lose or gain one?” mulder asked, the lighting above their economy-class - her insistence - seats sparse and dim, making him squint from behind his reading glasses.""  

on a bad day

Post Home Again: ""scully?” he asks, his voice softer than before, more aware. though he knows what day it is, he also knows that she’s best off when he doesn’t talk about it, when he lets her work and get through the day in whichever way she chooses. however, he cares deeply, sometimes to a fault, so now, he seems to see that there’s cause for concern. “are you alright?" 

then, she fully gives in to the sobs, hunches over on her desk, pushes that stupid salad out of the way. he can hear her - she knows that much for sure - but he stays silent nonetheless, waits for her to speak first. in between sobs, she wipes away tears, manages, "i miss my sister."" 

Love your stories! Please post one of your 'Scully is sick and Mulder takes care of her' fics...

Revival: ""doctors make the worst patients, scully told him once during their days working the x-files. there’s something about understanding what is wrong with you, he surmises, that makes enduring something like the flu all the more traumatic; though you may know exactly what is happening in your body, you still can’t stop it from happening.""

on his birthday

Revival: ""what’re you going to wish for?”

the reality is that there is nothing more he wants right now, nothing more he knows he can have. of course, he wishes for things like world peace and…he wishes things were never so dire or dark for either of them, summarizes all of those wishes with just that line. however, of the things he could wish for or want for his future, there is nothing, not when he has their life together. however, that’s all beside the point, so he asks, “don’t people usually sing before you blow out the candles?""

on sunday morning

Revival: ""when she wakes, he’s sitting up in bed, his book in hand, daggoo at his feet.

“good morning,” he says softly as soon as she stirs; while she looks up at him, he looks down, smiles a quiet, warm smile just for her. 

though she has woken up this way for many mornings now, has grown accustomed to sleeping next to him, there nonetheless remains an exquisite sense of peace within her whenever she wakes up next to him.""

Hi! I don't know if you want to do this prompt but MSR In a power outage. It just happened to me and for some reason I thought of your blog lol

Revival: ""how is it that chinese restaurants always have power when we don’t?” he asks as she sets their monopoly box on the kitchen table, nearly knocking over the container of shrimp fried rice in the process.

“must be fate,” she deadpans as she pulls the board out of the box, sets up the cash one the kitchen table; she’s memorized their starting amounts, always acts as banker when they play.""

feeding the dog

Revival: ""all i’m saying is that we’ve seen forbidden planet many, many times, but it’s been a long time since we watched something...”

she trails off as she takes the bag of dog food out of the pantry, takes the chip-clip from off of its rolled-over top. inside, there’s a scoop, and next to her on the counter is daggoo’s little bowl, one mulder bought and painted himself. light blue ceramic, white polka-dots, daggoo written in black print. it matches nothing else in the house.""

paleomnesia

Revival: ""i’ve told you this a million times over,” mulder insists with a lighthearted laugh. “plus, you were there too. no matter how many times i recount those events to you, they aren’t going to change, and your memory of them isn’t going to change.”

“i don’t want them to change,” she says softly....""

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

[microchive]

this blog is a shoebox in which i collect mementos and buttons and disjecta membra and seaglass and bus tickets and loose screws and cookie fortunes and doll shoes and

[lovesick-level-up]

Seaglass anon back! Hope your day is going alright ^^

If it's alright, may I request a Pancake cookie stimboard, with themes of autumn, spinning, and flight? Browns or tans please!

hello, seaglass anon, nice to see you again! that's totally fine, i hope you like it!

~ mod len

[cardworksartblog]

Hi. Here are some weird slugcat (or weirdcats lol) adopts i made, im gonna be posting them to deviantart soon. Theyre priced at 1200 DA points/1500 flight rising gems and the treasure equivalent. If you want first picks on em before i post them to DA dm me lol

Also i have little lore snippets for these guys btw. They were made by the same iterator who made feather and frog, and as such they live either with Silent Catalogue/Sunny in her can or in the territory outside of it. I'll be making a post abt her once i. Actually design her lol

Armoured Digger -

With its hard as stone backplates and claws specialised for digging through the tough dirt of its territory, this slugcat is quite the hardy variant made by Sunny. It lives a fair stretch away from the tropical areas where most of the released weirdcats live, at the edge of the iterator's reach. Its territory borders a gigantic stretch of unlivable desert, and it has learnt how to cultivate many tubers to make up for the lack of prey available.

Gem Keeper -

This rather vain weirdcat is the scourge of the local scavenger tribe that Sunny watches over, living in a cave near the tropical coast that is slippery, dark and smells of brine. It has a rather curious obsession with keeping a manner of shiny objects, unfortunately picking pearls as one of their favourites. The strange protrusions on this slugcat can glow, often in mesmerising patterns, but if threatened can flash blindingly bright. It will sneak out at night and blind scavengers who threaten it if caught stealing pearls.

Seagrass Mimic -

This odd rivulet-deriven morph is quite the apex predator of the reefs, lying low in kelp beds and waiting either for stray sealife to swim over it, or for a terrestrial being to swim above it and send sounds down to jt. It will swim up towards the surface silently, before latching onto its prey and injecting a small amount of a paralytic toxin it got from eating many types of deadly sealife to aid in dragging its prey down and drown it before feasting. Due to the toxin secreting from its skin when threatened its both poisonous and venomous.

Thermal Lurker -

This weirdcat lives in the sulfuric volcanic vents around Sunny's can, being rather calm and unbothered by most creatures due to the blistering temperatures its skin produces. The outer layer of its skin is nearly always hot enough to melt metal, but strangely its underbelly is pleasantly warm. This volcanic friend is on peaceful terms with the local scavengers, being quite happy to fetch them sulfur from its den for their explosives in return for food and companionship. It also aids them with refining their spears to be much more powerful via helping them melt down seaglass to make a primitive sort of glass spearhead.

Cocoa Confectionaries -

One of the many of Sunny's experimental slugcat morphs who exclusively lives within her can in the containment enclosure, this weirdcat is not too different from the normal slugcats, physically. It lacks the short, smooth fur needed for them to slide though pipes however, and gets stuck trying to go through them due to their thick, wool-like fur. Its rather well mannered and is a loving companion towards Sunny.

Cookies N Cream -

A morph that is derived from a slugcat adapted to snowy enviroments, this weirdcat has surprisingly silky fur and is quite capable of sliding through pipes. Although, due to the threat of overheating in the tropical enviroment that surrounds Sunny's can, it is kept inside of an enclosure that mimics a snowy area akin to a pine forest with an array of other snow-based weirdcats. It enjoys hunting prey with a group of its landmates, and has been observed setting up traps and helping come up with hunting strategies that make use of their enviroment.

Snow Runner -

A frosted weirdcat whom has a unique coat that allows it to blend into powder s ow near-perfectly. This odd slugcat is rather shy, and surprisingly fast and good at running across snow due to being much lighter and smaller than an average slugcat. It will hide in drifts of snow, waiting for prey to come close enough for them to strike, before pouncing lightning fast and wrestling their prey. If their meal escapes, they will give chase and aim to exhaust it via travelling close behind and keeping pace for an extended period of time thanks to their extreme speed and stamina.

Peach Fuzz -

This weirdcat roams near the Armoured Digger's territory, and has collected a small pack of yellow lizards who follow its lead under every circumstance. It took a different approach to the Digger's way of survival, and instead opted to hunt the gigantic vultures who circle around the arid borders, via baiting them to come down via breeding vulture grubs, and then ambushing them with its pack of lizards. It quickly goes for their masks, ripping it off and clawing the vultures eyes out and letting it clumsily fly off, keeping track of it so when it lands to rest or succumbs to its wounds, Peach Fuzz and the yellow lizards can swoop in and take finish off their meal.

[professionallydeadinside]

6B with the fish boy, maybe finding some seaglass??? Either that or 2D with Parfait Cookie

PARFAIT COOKIE MY LOVE.....

[god1ngs]

dinner is soon omg

i want christmas cookies and apple pie

THATS WHAT BEEDUO IS LIKE APPLE PIE AND CHRISTMAS COOKIES THATS WHAT THEY TASTE LIKE WAIT OK

beeduo is apple pie and christmas cookies as well as a seaglass green (yes still transparent) with flecks of neon pink with a yellow-orange strip that looks like it was made by a paintbrush from the bottom left to the top right corners

oooh :0 thats so interesting

[pixiegrl]

“I bought you a beanie! Isn’t the pompom cute?” with fairy tale lashton

Meghna!! I’m so happy to revisit bad gift giving mermaid and werewolf Lashton with more gift giving gone wrong and then right! This is the sequel to this fic. Shout out to Amanda for editing this! 

On ao3 at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28254867

Luke’s stuck. It’s Christmas and he’s relatively sure that Ashton celebrates Christmas. Do werewolves celebrate? They must. Luke’s never celebrated Christmas, because he’s a mermaid and he’s still trying to understand human customs. Ashton’s spent his whole life on land, so surely he must celebrate this. As such, Luke’s picked out a gift for Ashton that he’s sure is perfect. It’s a beanie with a cute little purple pom-pom. Luke happens to think Ashton looks very nice in deep purple, complimenting his hazel-gold eyes and he thinks the colors of the beanie will be good for Ashton. The weather is getting colder too and Ashton never seems to have a hat, unlike Luke who has to wear three layers at all times. Luke texted Ashton an hour ago, asking him to come by the shop so that he could give Ashton his gift. 

“You’re excited,” Michael says from his spot on the other side of the counter, sorting through different gemstones for authenticity and their value.

“I have Ashton’s gift. It’s perfect and I can’t wait for him to get here so he can see it,” Luke says, bouncing on his heels and fiddling with his pearl necklace. Reginald bubbles in agreement to Luke. Michael rolls his eyes.

“You two are gross. It’s only been like two months and you’re practically married already. Maybe your gift should be an engagement ring.”

Luke blushes, “I couldn’t do that Mikey. It’s too soon.”

“Ashton gave you a pearl. That’s like a proposal already. Why don’t you just make it official?”

Luke’s saved from answering by the bell at the front door jingling, bringing Ashton in from the cold in a burst of cool air and a light dusting of snow. The door’s barely closed behind him before Luke’s rushing over, fussing over Ashton to make sure he’s not cold. Ashton laughs, pulling Luke in for a quick kiss.

“Hi Starfish. How’s your day?” He says when they separate.

Luke grins, “Better now that you’re here, Moonshine. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“It’s been four hours. Get a room you two,” Michael grumbles from the counter. Luke steadfastly ignores him.

“I have a surprise for you,” Ashton says, grinning widely, sharp canines on display. Luke’s heart flutters.

“What a coincidence, so do I.”

Luke tugs Ashton over to the counter, rounding it and pulling his gift from underneath, laying it out for Ashton. Ashton grins, pulling his gift from inside his coat. It’s a neat little gift, wrapped in silver paper. Luke picks it up, realizing that the paper is covered in little seashells. He laughs a little, earning him a bright smile from Ashton.

Luke tears into the paper. It’s the first Christmas gift he’s ever received and he’s excited to see it. Surely, Ashton’s gotten him something sentimental and personal now that they’re dating.

Luke is wrong. He pulls a white crop top out of the paper, with little purple seashells on the chest. Luke cocks his head to the side, glancing up at Ashton, who’s grinning earnestly at him.

“I don’t...um...get it?”

The smile drops from Ashton’s face, “The Little Mermaid? She has a seashell top she wears.”

“Did you just compare Luke to a cartoon teenage mermaid?” Michael blurts out, laughter edging at his voice. Ashton goes red.

“I thought it was cute.”

“It’s cute. Thank you, Ash,” Luke rushes out, trying to soothe over the situation quickly before the werewolf’s mood drops even more. He’s already drooping as is.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes it’s very cute. I’ll wear it when it’s a little warmer out. Why don’t you open yours?” Luke says, gesturing to the package and trying to distract Ashton. Ashton perks up, tearing into his own wrapping paper. He pulls the beanie out, frowning slightly at it while he glances between Luke and the present. 

“A hat?”

“It’s a beanie! I say it and I know you never have a hat, so I bought you a beanie! To keep you warm! Isn’t the pom-pom cute?” Luke gushes out, leaning over to bat at the little pom-pom.

“Luke, this is very sweet, but I don’t use a hat because I don’t get cold,” Ashton says, looking up at Luke sheepishly.

Luke freezes, “What?”

“I’m a werewolf. I don’t get cold. Internal body heat and all. I’m practically a furnace.”

“But it’s cold out. Don’t you need a hat sometimes?”

“Not usually. It’s cute though. Thank you for the thought,” Ashton says, taking the beanie and putting it into his coat pocket. Luke’s filled with despair looking at it.

“You’re welcome,” He mumbles, crestfallen. Ashton smiles, corners of it not reaching his eyes as he leans over, pressing a kiss to Luke’s cheek.

“I have to run. Thank you for the gift, it was very sweet. I’ll see you later,” Ashton says, raising his hand in a wave to Michael as he leaves the shop.

There’s a beat of silence when Luke huffs, morosely and looks down at the crop top. Michael clears his throat.

“You’re doing it again,” Michael says. 

“Doing what again?” 

“Failing to communicate and giving each other shitty gifts. Except you guys are dating now so you shouldn’t be this bad at it,” Michael says, staring at the rose quartz in this hand, turning it over and over. Luke stares at the side of Michael’s head blinking. No that’s not...that can’t be…it can’t be happening again. Right? 

Luke looks down at the crop top in his hands with the seashells on it, the thing that reminds Luke of Ariel. 

“Michael, this is like...a joke gift though. This is the kind of thing you would buy me.” 

“I think Ashton was trying to be funny? And before you, the only mermaid he’s probably seen is Ariel. Plus, we already know you two suck at giving proper gifts. It has to be,” Michael says, glancing at Luke over the rim of his glasses. 

Luke huffs, thumbing his forehead down on the countertop, groaning. 

“Oh god Michael. We are. I bought a werewolf a beanie. He bought me a seashell bra top. We are destined to be a mess, aren’t we?” Luke moans. 

“We saved this last time. Maybe we just need to do some more research. Find what we can give a werewolf. I have faith in us,” Michael says. 

“What do I even get him? This is so stupid,” Luke mumbles against the counter. Michael hums.

“Well, last time he got you the pearl. Maybe we can find something in one of the books for species rituals. Seriously, we didn’t exhaust all our courting options with the potion.”

“The pearl was practically a proposal.”

“So, we find something that’s a proposal for werewolves. There has to be something out here. Chin up, Ariel. We’ll figure something out for your Beast,” Michael says, grinning.

“You’re mixing Disney movies, Tinker Bell.”

“Fuck you, I’m a Merryweather,” Michael says, mock offended, wide grin on his face. Luke rolls his eyes. He regrets making friends with Michael.

“Fine Merryweather. Show me in the direction of the books. Let's get started,” Luke says. He’s going to regret this, he knows.

***

Luke’s sure he has the perfect gift now. He and Michael looped through all the possibilities for days before landing on it. Luke still has the knife he tried to give Ashton months ago. He knows that Ashton won’t use it to hunt, but Luke still wants to extend the sentimentality and meaning of it to Ashton. Ashton gave him the pearl, practically proposed marriage and Luke wants to extend the same thing to Ashton. Show Ashton that he’s serious. It’s taken a little bit of time and effort, but with Michael and Calum’s help, Luke’s crafted a shadowbox for the knife. He polished the wood and put the box together, carving a little moon with Ashton’s initials in it and a little starfish with his in it. It wants it to be pretty, something that will remind Ashton of them, a display of their love (and, Luke selfishly thinks, something they can display in their future home).

He and Ashton are having their weekly date night at Ashton’s apartment. Luke prefers Ashton’s apartment. It doesn’t have Michael for one thing, but it feels more lived in. Luke’s place is messy, practically an extension of their store, filled with books and potions and anything else they can find. It never used to bother Luke, but now, after seeing Ashton’s apartment, filled with family photos, bits and pieces of his life, blankets, plants, and candles, Luke realizes that this is a home. That he never wants to leave Ashton’s apartment, wants to weave himself into Ashton’s life, add his seashells and seaglass to the collection of things Ashton has, wants to be a permanent part of Ashton’s life.

Luke’s clutching onto his gift in its little gift bag, approaching the door to Ashton’s apartment. Luke has only just raised his hand to knock on the door, when Ashton pulls it open, grinning. His curls are messy, falling into his eyes and he’s wearing an apron. It’s endearingly cute and Luke has no choice but to lean over, brushing the hair out of Ashton’s eyes and pressing a kiss to his nose. 

“Moonshine,” He says, giggling when Ashton pulls him close, burying his nose into Luke’s neck.

“Starfish.”

“How did you even know I was here?”

“Smelled the ocean wave down the hall. Only one person smells like that.”

“Sap,” Luke mumbles, tugging Ashton back and kissing him on the mouth. Ashton grins into the kiss, nipping at Luke’s bottom lip before pulling back. He grabs hold of Luke’s hand and tugs him inside and over to the dining table. Luke knows that Ashton never used to eat fish before Luke, just like Luke never used to eat meat, but they’ve been slowly adapting their tastes to fit each other. It looks like Ashton made some kind of stew tonight, smelling of potatoes and vegetables and fish. It warms Luke, knowing that Ashton made something he would like.

“And I made those ginger cookies for us later. The ones you liked last week,” Ashton says. Luke grins, settling in at the dinner table. Ashton goes around to the other chair, settling in. They swap stories back and forth, Ashton talking about how his day on site as a carpenter was, the table he’s building for a client, Luke talking about having to deal with the various witches who come into the store, thinking they know more than Luke and Michael.

Eventually, they finish their meal, clearing the table, Ashton washing the dishes, Luke drying them. Ashton makes tea when they’re done, carrying the two mugs and the plate of cookies over to the table.

“So, I have a gift for you,” Ashton says, clearing his throat. Luke glances up at Ashton, notices the blush on his cheeks.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I realized the last gift wasn’t the best and I talked with Michael, who had a really great idea.”

“What a coincidence. Michael also helped me plan my gift to you.”

“Michael’s a menace it would seem,” Ashton mumbles.

“Guess that depends on what the gift is,” Luke says. Ashton blushes even harder, turning around to picking the gift up off the counter behind them. It’s small, neatly wrapped in the same paper as before. Luke snorts, getting up to grab his gift off the table by the door and bringing it over. He places it in front of Ashton and sits back down, peeling the paper back on his.

Luke sucks in a breath when he realizes that it’s a rabbit’s foot. He picks it up gingerly, turning it over in his hands. He looks up at Ashton, ready to ask him about it and feels his breath catch in his throat when he realizes Ashton’s holding the shadowbox with the knife in it.

“Luke. You gave me the knife?” He whispers, looking up at Luke, meeting his eyes. Ashton’s look a little wet, like he’s close to crying, voice full of emotion.

“I know you don’t need it to hunt like I do, but it’s still an important part of my culture. It’s a courting gift and it’s important because it’s crafted to fit the person we want to be with. I designed it specifically for you back when I first gave it to you. Usually, you would use it to hunt, but since you don’t need to, I thought you could display it. See, I even carved our names into the outside. You practically proposed to me with the pearl and I wanted to do the same for you. I love you, in the forever kind of way. I want to be with you and I want you to have this knife,” Luke rushes out. He blushes when Ashton looks up at him again, glancing between the box and Luke’s face.

“Luke,” Ashton says again.

“Is that good or bad?”

“Good. So, so good. The rabbit’s foot is from that rabbit I gave you months ago. Michael apparently saved the foot and gave it to me cause he read about how important the rabbit is for us. He said I should give it to you as a gift and that it would make sense later. Now I get it,” Ashton says. 

Luke’s a little puzzled at that, looking between the rabbit’s foot and the knife before it clicks, “Oh, we can display the foot. We can display our love for everyone. Oh, Ashton.”

Luke leans across the table, pulling Ashton in for a kiss, soft and full of love. Ashton huffs against his lips, pulling back.

“Wait, did Michael just give you this idea?”

“Yeah, must have been a couple days again. I guess after you made the box.”

“So, did you literally come up with a gift idea that quickly?”

“Well, I had another idea before this.”

“What was it?”

“Check the wrapping,” Ashton says. Curious, Luke leans back, moving the paper. A key falls out, bright blue and covered in little waves.

“Is this...for here?”

“It’s a key to the apartment, yeah. I...I want you to move in. I mean, we’re engaged almost and it would be nice to come home to you. To know that you’ll always be here, that you’re not leaving. I want this to be your home, our home. I want to build a life with you and I want it to start here.”

Luke rushes around the table, pulling Ashton into a tight hug, pressing kisses to his face. Ashton laughs, returning the kisses happily.

“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes I’ll move in. I want never want to leave, I want to call this home, to put our shadowbox up on the wall for everyone to see, I want to argue with you over closet space and I want this to be home,” Luke says, pressing the words to Ashton’s skin in a quick succession of kisses.

“Well then, welcome home Luke. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Ashton,” Luke says, burying himself in close to Ashton, pressing his face into Ashton’s neck. He has a home, a place to call his, a life to build with Ashton, the love of his life. It’s the best gift he could have asked for.

[fanfictrashdump]

Cookies

“I know it was you.” 

The deep purr caused a terrible shiver to run down her back. 

In the low lights of the southern corridor Becca wished she had taken Tony up on his offer of dinner and a movie with the rest of the crew. She was exhausted, just having landed from a work trip to Morocco. Her jet lag was appalling and she doubted she would be any good as company, if she even survived the evening without passing out. No, she had thought that a quick workout and a bite to eat before she died in bed was a better option. She didn’t know that Loki had opted to stay back, as well. Nor did she have any idea of what she possibly could have done to incur one of his moods.

OK. That was a lie. 

Becca one hundred percent knew, but she didn’t think it was that ser–

“Rebecca,” he warned, and the sound of his voice closed in just the slightest bit. The grip on the towel over her shoulders increased as she debated tossing it at his face and making a run for it. “What do you have to say for yourself, pet?”

Her fist twisted into the fabric of the towel in a nearly imperceptible motion. Pulling in a quick breath, she turned on a dime and walloped him in the side with an audible crack like a whip. Loki yelped, jumping backwards, giving her the barest second she needed to break into a run. 

Loki knew she was quick. Possibly just as quick as he or Rogers, but what was speed, grace, and agility to a feat of magic? Especially when his skill yielded that doe-eyed expression of a beast caught in the headlights of a moving vehicle. Becca skid to a halt at Loki’s imposing form in the middle of the hallway she had just turned down. A glance backwards revealed that what had been giving chase was nothing more than an illusion and she had very willingly taken herself to danger. 

“Loki,” she started, raising her hands in surrender as she spoke in low, soothing tones. 

“The time for explanations has passed, dove.” He stepped forward, forcing her a step back.

“No, just give me a second to tell you what happened!”

He was predatory in his movement now, green eyes darkened to pitch black. “Do you have any idea how I had coveted that one precious–”

“I swear! I didn’t know–”

“Lies!” He roared, caging her against the wall. He raised his hand to her face, a single digit trailing the corner of her mouth before placing it in his own. “You still wear the deception.”

“It was just a cookie! I didn’t think you’d mind so much!” She pleaded, shrinking back with a half-whimper. 

“Just a cookie? Just a cookie? That was a dark chocolate chunk, peanut butter cookie that I walked ten blocks to acquire! And you call it just a cookie!” His voice had dipped so low that Becca had to strain to hear him. She wasn’t sure if she preferred this quiet seething to the screaming he was doing earlier. 

“I didn’t think you liked cookies–even fancy cookies– that much. I’ll get you another one tomorrow, I swear,” she placated softly. 

“I don’t,” he replied, but it lacked the bite his voice just had. “I got it for you and you didn’t even have the decency to let me give it to you.”

“Oh.” The sweet–and frankly, astonished–smile she offered him was enough to have him step back and duck his head to hide the red flush on his face. 

“It was stupid.”

“No! No, that was sweet.” He didn’t offer a reply. “Hey, if this is about me bailing you out when you got heat stroke–”

“It’s not. I just knew you liked them and that you were coming back...” They stood in awkward silence before Loki had enough of her inquisitive stare. “I’ll be off.”

“Do you want to go out for coffee tomorrow? We can hit the bakery after and just have a walk. Anywhere you want.”

“Even the play in the park?” His eyes had perked back up to a seaglass green at the prospect.

“Oh, jeez.” She sighed. “Yes, even Shakespeare in the Park. OK?” 

Loki nodded his agreement before offering a half smile and departing. His grin grew just as he found himself alone in the corridor, once more. Maybe he should leave food-shaped bait around the kitchen more often.

[ventghost]

Rung will just leave this small plate of cookies completely unattended right beneath the vent in the ceiling. With a napkin tucked under it. Totally not on purpose.

[twenty minutes later, having burnt through the energy rush, he’s flopped in one of the cooling vents, panting and a little shaky]

[should not eat things from the Stingy-Optics Place. not even things masquerading as Real Food. never again, ever]

[he’s just thinking he needs to haul himself up and find more substantial fuel when]

[...sniff]

[it’s a blessedly short trip to the Shiney One’s hab. this place has Real Food; mostly candy and medgrade, but this time it smells like candy]

[sneaky, sneaky. gotta make sure no-one’s watching as he steals one cookie, two... soon there’s only crumbs left. the napkin is not agreeable; it is discarded, damp and obviously chewed on]

[on the plate he leaves a seaglass-green orbeez. it’s a bit dried out, but it will rally. at least he made an effort]

[witchfall]

thread

summary: They say she invented the harpsichord. The melody of birds.

(He won't remember this when he is born again.)

(And he is born again.)

---

Also on AO3

SPOILERS FOR SHADOWBRINGERS WITHIN.

{inspired by Tales from the Shadows, the new Keane album, and my general instinct to go absolutely ape shit over past lives/memories. beyond that i have no fuckin idea where this came from lmao. except some wild conjecture @vaniccio and I have about What It Could All Mean re: the future of the FFXIV MSQ.

WoL x Exarch and the strange friendship of Emet-Selch and an unnamed member of the Convocation...}

---

You are eight years old when you first realize the world is not the way it is supposed to be.

You don't understand the shattering incongruence of your thoughts as you watch the water run down the shower wall, but you suddenly know the world is different now. You see its crushing dullness. What is the point? Why do the people in this world even try to live? It is beautiful, but it is wrong. Like when a baby chocobo spooks and your friend falls and skids their elbows horribly bloody. You can't stop looking.

You stumble out of the shower and grab your towel, for you are big enough to do this on your own, and you run to the living room. Your wet feet slap the metal floors of the airship; in the distance you can hear Ma singing. Your hands feel hot. You squeeze them in and out of fists. Maybe this is what Ma means, when she sings about heartbreak. You feel shattered.

Ma is speaking animatedly about something. "But don't you think the chord progression is off?" she says. Da, sitting in a nearby chair with a tome in his lap, lifts his hands in assent, or perhaps the act of giving in.

"I've only ever been a scholar to your ear, my darling," he says, in the tone you know means he loves her even when she can be frustrating. You know that because he's used that tone on you many times.

"Oh, you're no -- " Ma starts, but then she sees you. She stops talking at once. She is by your side in three steps and tightens your towel cape at your collarbone. She kneels by you. She smells like Gramma's cookie spices. "You forgot your clothes, silly boy," she says softly, smiling warmly upon you, and it makes your eyes well up.

When you tell Ma about the thoughts and the weirdness -- Does it all matter? Is the world actually bad? -- she pulls you into her arms. She is warm and her skin squishes under your fingers and you sink your tears into her shoulder.

"Some things feel very big in our hearts," Ma says. Her voice reminds you of birds, sometimes, which makes you laugh and want to cry more. You don't know why. "Some things are hard for our souls to let go."

"My soul," you say, working through the bigness of that.

She smiles. She pushes your hair from your eyes and teases you about a haircut and tickles your ears and smothers your face in embarrassing kisses until you laugh and the thing around your heart relaxes just enough.

Ma rises to her feet. "I’m gonna go get your clothes, okay?" You nod.

Da has been standing there the whole time, watching. But then Da levels with you. Da's eyes are red like the pretty earrings Ma wears sometimes. Very red. Like you could fall into them forever.

"Souls are very strange," he says. He lays his hands on your shoulders. "I believe some of them even have memories."

You find this interesting. Your ears flick. "Was I thinking about a soul memory?"

Da makes the face you and Ma call the Old Man Sad Face. His eyes go out of focus and his mouth tilts into a smile with no mirth. He leans in, whispering a secret: "Maybe. What do you think?"

You aren't sure what Da wants you to say. You just shrug.

---

You love nothing in the world more than listening to Ma sing. You like it best when you are playing in the airship’s many halls and you hear it echoing from a lower floor, bubbling through the metal like steam. When no one is around to look, you’ll lay your head against the floor and feel transported very far away. You imagine the strangest things: lights that climb the sky. Buildings that shadow everything. A million, thousand stars. People cheering in auditoriums you have never seen...

“When did you first know you’d get married?” you like to ask Da. This time you ask while looking out over Aunt Lyna’s garden. The wind tosses your hair about and the air smells of roses.

“The first time she sang,” Da says.

Ma laughs every time at this. I was just 19. We were children. But Da always smiles. It’s alright. It’s always taken you a little bit to catch up to me. And then she whacks him with a spoon or something.

But you like to ask because it feels right, when he says that. Ma always tells the story of how Da reached through time and space to save her, and it is the best story of all time because it not only has travel through time and space but also Ma being awesome and killing monsters and bringing the night sky back. Then, then! She somehow reaches back through time and space to free Da from a tower, like a prince in a story. And then they get married and you’re born. It’s amazing.

“Your Da saved me so many times,” she says, when she tells you this story. You are sitting together, watching Da tell a frustrated Aunt Lyna how to plant a cabbage. “He’ll never admit it. But I think he is the more interesting character in that story.”

She says that, of course, and you nod. But you can’t help but think: If Ma’d been silent -- if Ma had never sang to Da, just the once -- there would be no world. You never would have been born.

---

You don't know much, but you know that Ma and Da are complicated.

One time when you were supposed to be sleeping you heard Ma talking about Da like he was once made of crystal. Sometimes I wonder if I'll wake and I'll still lose you to it, she said. Like it knows somehow that its supposed to take you back. The tower. I'll wake up and you'll be all crystalline and silent.

Oh no, Da said. We’re over. I left it at the first chance to find you again, love. I don't think it wants me like that anymore.

...you make it sound jealous.

Maybe it is.

They muttered together quietly until they started kissing, you're pretty sure, so you ran away immediately.

But this was very strange. Da is squishy and warm and has two blood red eyes and a tattoo on his arm and his neck and is not at all a man of crystal. You ask about this tattoo. He says it was from his time at school. You squint at this. You hope school does not make you get a tattoo, too. Everyone says you look like Da, except Da, who says you look like Ma, but they both have reddish hair and pale skin so it doesn't make a lot of difference to you. You even have one each of their eyes: one red and one seaglass green.

Ma has more wrinkles around her eyes and deep scratches on her face. She has a ragged, old gash on her shoulder. A few old burn marks here and there. Strange gold lines on her wrists where her veins should be. It makes you feel weird. Whenever you see them, you feel outside your own body with fascination and fury at whoever did this to Ma.

Not long after you overhear that, you get a terrible scratch by meddling with something in the engine room. So you decide to ask after her scars. Usually, she just laughs and tells you a big story about fighting a monster.

This time, Ma frowns. She touches your cheek and meets your gaze. Maybe it’s because she was talking about Da being a crystal man. Maybe she is just feeling sad. You don’t know.

"I fought in a lot of wars," she says. "I had to protect a lot of people. Because I was strong. And that's what strong people do."

You nod seriously. That's right. That's what all the heroes in all the tales do.

"I had to kill many people, too," she says.

You frown. "They were bad, though." Who would fight Ma, except people who were bad? Anyone that tried to hurt Ma deserved to die. You feel only a little guilt, thinking that.

Ma places her hand between your ears. Her eyes are dark and serious. "Not all of them, baby. Most of them were just...on the wrong side. Most of them thought that they were good."

Your heart speeds up. Your throat feels dry. "But they had to be bad," you say. "You're not bad, Ma."

She smiles down at you, but there's something broken about it. She rubs your ear. She says nothing for a long time, and guilt weighs on you in a thousand ways you do not understand. You think to run or squeeze her in a hug until she can't breathe but you are pinned by her gaze and so you do nothing. She says: "All we can do is try, my sweet pie."

And then she leans in very close, smiling as if she hadn't said anything at all. "Want to find the cookies I think your Da is hiding from us?"

You smile back, heart flying, and then she squeezes you in a hug instead. You feel forgiven and forgiveness in turn. Maybe you'll never know why.

---

They say she invented the harpsichord.

(He won't remember this when he is born again.)

The melody of birds.

(Maybe he doesn't deserve to be born again. Maybe that is his punishment.)

He still listens for it.

(But perhaps the weight of freedom would be most damning. The proof he had been wrong all along.)

---

You wake up and run to Da. As usual, he is already awake as if waiting for you to come to him, sitting on the observation deck of the airship and staring at the stars through great, rounded glass. The ship does not fly at night.

He turns toward the sound of your footsteps and beckons you to join him. You scramble onto his lap, suddenly feeling too cold to sit by him with dignity.

Da reminds you of the tales about mages in ancient cities that were swallowed up by water. Mages that knew everything there was to know. The gods smote them for knowing too many things. You hope very much that they do not turn their eyes upon Da.

"Trouble sleeping, my dear one?"

You nod into his chest. He wraps his warm arms around you and hums softly for a few moments, stroking your hair.

"Da," you say. "Where do people go when they die?"

Da takes a big breath and you move as his chest rises. His humming stops but he continues to stroke your hair. "Thinking deep thoughts tonight?" he asks, voice warm.

You 'hmph' against his chest.

"They go to the Lifestream. Though there is still much we do not know and may never know..."

"Do people know each other there?"

Da's hand falls still on your back. If this were Ma, she would begin asking why you want to know this so bad, but Da never does that. He answers your questions plainly. "We don't know. You live in a...much changed world, from when I was small."

You are unsure what to make of that.

"But that means there’s so many more worlds for you to know,” he says. “For you to explore. You know how we sometimes have to be very careful and sit still in our chairs? How the world around our airship goes Purple Wavy?"

You nod. "When we go between the worlds."

"Yes. We couldn't always do that, you know. Before you were born...it was all very complicated but the worlds were all closed. Now we can do Purple Wavy and get there. And maybe one day that will include the Lifestream."

"And then I will find you and Ma and Gramma and then it'll be fine," you say, explaining this anxiety before you can even name it.

Da holds you tightly to him. "I have no doubts," he says, deep and warm. You don't look to see, but Da is looking up at the ceiling, trying not to cry. You are feeling sleepy again so you don't notice.

"When are we getting to Uncle Alphinaud? And Alisaie?" you ask.

"After you sleep tonight, love. One more sleep left."

"One more sleep until more books," you say, and that's all you remember before you drift off. When you wake up, you're tucked back in your bed. You think of the birds singing just outside your little window.

---

They say she invented the heart of music.

She wrote the tragedy about painters and light; it ends with a father giving in to the river of time. She wrote the comedy where three people marry in an explosion of color so beautiful that people in the audience sobbed. ("It is still, technically, a comedy," she would say when pressed.) She wrote music like velvet against the skin, heavy and sumptuous. She would pick your gaze apart in silence, distill you into notes that sung so high you'd see violet. The Convocation respected beauty, once -- respected creation that reached inside you and tore your heart from your ribs so you could examine it better.

This girl is not her.

This girl sings dirges and arias and poorly-paced limericks, yes, but her soul doesn't pull apart with each new composition. The world shifts around her, certainly, but the air no longer shimmers when she works. This girl doesn't sob over coffee because a boor called her latest draft "uninspired." This girl isn't her.

(Perhaps that is one subtle gift of the sundering. The world ends each day in little ways but they still believe in the promise of tomorrow.)

"Fond of her, are you?"

The Exarch had deigned him with silence, then, but Hades knows the truth. Even in this life, the souls around her are pulled toward her suffering brightness. In these last moments of his life, aether seeping from the gash in his body, he realizes they would have perished before her original glory.

He wishes for that. To be scalded, even a little bit, by her grace.

He fades into the light, and can only hope.

---

Your world is many places crossing the great sky. Your world is here in the airship with Ma and Da and maybe a sister soon, or so Ma keeps saying. You press your hands against the glass and hope you'll remember this always -- the way the world looks, perfect and green, as you fly over it like birds.

"What are you thinkin’ about so hard, cutie?"

Ma tousles your hair. Your love for her feels like it will eat the whole world.

"Nothin," you say. You look up at her and grin. "Just stories."

[acuppellarp]

SECRET SANTA WEEK 1!

Thank you to everyone who signed up to participate! And remember if you missed signing up for this week, you have the option to join in for the remaining 3 weeks.

Each character participating in this week’s Secret Santa has (at random) been given a holiday-inspired alias. Below the cut is an alphabetized list of aliases and their respective questionnaire answers. 

In just a few moments you should receive via Tumblr IM and Discord a message letting you know which alias your character has been paired with to deliver a Secret Santa gift.

Remember that you have until 11:59PM EST on Friday to submit your gift to the Main or April for your assignee. 

On Saturday all gifts and Secret Santa pairs will be revealed via April’s blog.

If there’s any confusion or you have questions, please let us know! Happy gifting!

ANNA OF ARENDELLE

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Maroon, grey and green. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The High Line. What are three scents you enjoy? Peonies, lemon and peppermint. Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I love to cook; experimenting with new recipes is one of my favorite things to do.

THE BLEAKEN

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? White, pink, green. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The Flatiron building. What are three scents you enjoy? Lily of the valley, honeycomb, vanilla. Do you prefer showers or baths? Either, but with someone else. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Pizza.

COAL LUMP

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Black, grey, and white What’s your favorite NYC landmark? I like the flat iron building. It’s just classic New York. What are three scents you enjoy? Like candles or generally? Uh… pine, peaches, and orange blossoms Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers, of course. Who actually likes soaking in their own sweat? Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I prefer to cook when I have the time. It’s healthier that way.

CRACKERS

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? I guess black, blue and yellow, even though I look good in every color.  What’s your favorite NYC landmark? 5 Train.  What are three scents you enjoy? Ladies, Good Food, Lilac.  Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths. I get sore muscles and they help.  Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway. I prefer to eat whatever is closest but I mean I'm a fan of my own cooking

DANCING LADY

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Navy, yellow, maroon. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Lincoln Center What are three scents you enjoy? Fresh linen, plumeria, coffee. Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Take out.

ELF ON THE SHELF

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Blue, Red, Black What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Yankee’s stadium What are three scents you enjoy? vanilla, apple pie, mint Do you prefer showers or baths? showers Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? takeaway

FRENCH HEN

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Black, Red, Blue What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Central Park Zoo What are three scents you enjoy? Anything musky, patchouli, rose Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Takeaway

GARLAND

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Red, maroon, black. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Central Park. What are three scents you enjoy? Sandalwood, Amber, musk. Do you prefer showers or baths? Either, but with someone else. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Take out.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? The whole rainbow, but a lot of blue, pink, & red What’s your favorite NYC landmark? 30 Rock What are three scents you enjoy? Campfires, cedar, fresh cut grass Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I can cook about five things, but I make it work!

THE GRINCH

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Anything bold, I like color. Deep greens, bright yellows, and I look amazing in red. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The MoMA What are three scents you enjoy? Musk, bay leaves, and coffee. Do you prefer showers or baths? I don’t have a preference, it really depends on my mood. I’m more likely to take showers than baths, though. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I like both, but I’m not easy to please with takeaway so cooking is a safer bet.

JACK SKELLINGTON

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? I think I look best in reds, navys, and dark purples. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? It’s a tie between Times Square and the Rockefeller Center. What are three scents you enjoy? I like warmer scents – vanilla, honey, sandalwood. Do you prefer showers or baths? I love a bath for relaxing, but a long shower can do the trick – really depends on my mood and whether or not I’ve got company. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I prefer to have someone cook for me but I’ll do takeaway in a pinch.

LUCY VAN PELT

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? The rainbow. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Grand Central Station. What are three scents you enjoy? Brand New Canvases, Lemons, Fresh baked bagels. Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Not great with the cooking so definitely takeaway.

MISTLETOE

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Shades of grey, blue, and green. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Kazimiroff nature trail, in the Bronx. The whole Pelham Bay Park, really. What are three scents you enjoy? Sandalwood, freshly cut grass, and puppy breath. Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers, always. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I don’t love cooking, but I’m particular about ingredients so it’s just less of a headache to do it myself. I have a few tried and true takeaway places I love, though.

MYRRH

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Black, white, and grey. Sometimes I get a little crazy and throw in a splash of red or something. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The Statue of Liberty, totally lame but a classic, plus my inner feminist loves that Liberty is a woman. What are three scents you enjoy? Baking bread, fresh coffee, bacon. Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Takeaway, I don’t cook anything that takes more than 5 steps.

NAUGHTY LIST

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Pink, Red, Black.   What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Tiffany’s TBH What are three scents you enjoy? Vanilla, Cinnamon, lavender Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I cook for myself, but I’m also low key obsessed with postmates.  

NUTCRACKER

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Blue, Black and Green What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Theatre District. What are three scents you enjoy? cinnamon, coffee, caramel apple Do you prefer showers or baths? I’m a bath kind of girl. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I do enjoy cooking from time to time, but with how busy I am it’s easier for me to get a nice take out while watching a show or movie on Netflix to wind down.

PRANCER

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Pink, beige, purple. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The Metropolitan Museum of Art. What are three scents you enjoy? Florals, chai tea, freshly baked cookies. Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Cooking for myself.

SANTA BABY

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Black, white, gray. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The Statue of Liberty I guess? I’m not big on sightseeing. What are three scents you enjoy? Coffee, pizza, and the ocean. Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Takeaway, always.

SNOW MISER

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? blue, red, purple What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Times Square What are three scents you enjoy? lemongrass, sandalwood, cinnamon Do you prefer showers or baths? baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? takeaway!

SNOWFLAKE

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? black, white, more black What’s your favorite NYC landmark? high line What are three scents you enjoy? clean laundry (especially when I didn’t have to wash it myself), coffee (that I didn’t make), and cinnamon (because alliteration) Do you prefer showers or baths? I’d kill a man for my own bathtub Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I live on a strict diet of cereal and takeaway

ST. NICK

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Pale pink, light blue, and any (non-neon) green. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Central Park. What are three scents you enjoy? Rose, jasmine and white wood. Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths, but I’ll be the first to admit they’re a waste of time. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I like to cook for myself. I almost never order in.

STOCKING

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Lavender, blue, and yellow What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The SeaGlass Carousel at Battery Park!! What are three scents you enjoy? Café con leche, Ralph Lauren Romance perfume, and peanut butter cookies Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Takeaway

TINSEL

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Yellow, Purple, White What’s your favorite NYC landmark? Statue of Liberty What are three scents you enjoy? Apple Cinnamon, Lavender, Strawberry Do you prefer showers or baths? Bubble baths Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? Cook

TINY TIM

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? I love all colors, the brighter the better. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The MOMA. What are three scents you enjoy? Cinnamon, peppermint, earl grey. Do you prefer showers or baths? Showers. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? I love to cook and often spoil my roommates with sweets and large meals, particularly in times of stress.

WREATH

What are three of your favorite colors to wear? Black, black, red. What’s your favorite NYC landmark? The High Line. What are three scents you enjoy? Vanilla, lavender, rose. Do you prefer showers or baths? Baths. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or do takeaway? A bit of both.

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Completing the Collection

Collect: to gather an accumulation of (objects) especially as a hobby. Over the years I’ve collected many things from turtles to tea cups and seaglass and heart-shaped stones and tree cookies and dragonflies and books (oh my, yes have I ever collected books) and even . . . the crème de la crème: scat! But today’s collection is one that is fleeting as the days are getting cooler and shorter and…

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Here is my little plate I made just with come clay that I painted with shells and bits from my seaglass collection. It feels very organic, handmade, rough, and authentic - kind of how being in the kitchen can feel like sometimes. It has on it a quote from Sylvia Plath, “today, rainily, i baked some cookies.