#spring spectacular

[buckleberry4ever]

Huckleberry: We got more Huckleberry Pie x Blueberry Muffin moments in “Strawberry Shortcake: Spring Spectacular!🤩🩵💙

Blueberry: We got a great sense of smell!🤩

[crisp-sweet-pink-lady]

General Thoughts on Strawberry Shortcake's Spring Spectacular

Out of the three specials, I'd rank this one above The Beast of Berry Bog, but below Perfect Holiday.

Pumpkin Spice is a delight, so this special featuring her so heavily automatically gives it some points, and while I'm kind of getting tired of the influencer villain, she wouldn't be nearly as much fun if she wasn't laser-focused on her brand. Adding the Purple Pieman to the mix wasn't as inspired as it could have been, but he did have some good lines, especially when criticizing Pumpkin Spice's scheme for not being malicious enough. And he joins his fellow Piemen in bringing back his catchphrase:

Like the 2003 version, it's not the classic inflection, but I wouldn't want it to be.

I've mentioned before that I like how the specials give us different character combinations, and that holds true here, though the only really new combo we got was Huck/Lemon/Plum. Seeing Lemon trying to be the emotional core of that group was amusing, especially her physically wincing as she tried to comfort Huck. Also, Plum is really cute in CG, but his teeth took some getting used to.

The series is weakest when it focuses on Lime and Blueberry's dichotomy, and that also holds true here. Of the different groups, their scenes were the most annoying, and even the addition of Sour Grapes couldn't help that.

I am always so glad that Raspberry joined the friend group without losing her tartness, since that makes her the ideal candidate for slapping some sense into Strawberry. I was not really here for Strawberry's special-induced obsession with fame, but at least Raspberry was here to call her out on it.

Honestly, I don't think that Pumpkin Spice's comeuppance was as comeuppy as the special wanted us to think it was. There was still a lot of he said/she said (stepping in something is not enough evidence!), so I think that plenty of Pumpkin Spice's followers will believe her version of the events. She's not getting cancelled over this is all I'm saying.

[momo-t-daye]

Welp, I am off to go brave the pre-eclipse traffic (and later, the post-eclips-tic traffic) and park myself in the campground a few days before the event!

There should be some nice birding nearby too...

[world-of-fire-and-flight]

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Hosted by Hayley A. (Insta), the Indie Spring Spectacular has over 200+ authors spanning multiple genres. To celebrate the Indie Spring Spectacular, authors will be dropping their prices to either free or 0.99 between April 12th - 15th!

Thank you to authorjordyn over on Insta for creating these FANTASTIC graphics!

Just a small selection of the fantasy books partaking in the Indie Spring Spectacular! Head over to IndieVisibleEvents.com to check out 100s of indie books and discover your next read!

[meekosthemeparkphotos]

Rockette Toy Solider Costume

[bughead-in-the-comics]

From Life's No Picnic!, Betty and Veronica Spectacular #24 (1997).

[pentanguine]

I spent seven hours straight in the woods and I’m SO HAPPY

Wandered aimlessly and got so lost so many times despite having a trail map

Read under a pine tree on a little cushion of pine needles

Brushed my hands over lots of new baby pine trees growing right along the path

Saw lots of cool fungus, including a kind that looked like dead leaves and/or burned potato chips

Saw an intricate and beautiful (but alarmingly low-hanging) wasp’s nest

Got to scramble up so many rocky slopes and clamber over huge boulders (one of my favorite past-times)

Lay in the sun on one of those hilltop boulders like a lizard and felt utterly content

Saw so many gorgeous views, both of the forest/towns around and also the setting sun on the tops of the trees

Walked along this path with a big grassy strip down the middle, and huge ferns clustered on either side, and felt like I was Adventuring down a once-grand-but-now-eerily-enchanted road in a fantasy kingdom.

Noticed so many little holes and hollows in trees where fairy houses could go

Discovered so many pockets of forest where I felt utterly alone—everything was quiet, except for the chirp of insects and the rustle of squirrels. It was like I existed in a private world with only the trees. It was beautiful.

In summary I walked 11.5 miles today and I never want to use my feet again

[free-range-tiddies]

"In the tags tell me what season you hate the most" Wrong, to me there's something beautiful about each season in its own way.

[evilcatrat]

watching liverleaf and like. that is NOT how bodies and injuries work but YEAH!!! KILL GIRL! KILL! love a movie that decides to put blood everywhere. especially on snow. knocked it out of the park fr

[petaltexturedskies]

Find meaning. Distinguish melancholy from sadness. Go out for a walk. It doesn't have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world. It doesn't have to be a walk during which you'll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter. Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don't find meaning but "steal" some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn't make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.

Albert Camus, from Notebooks 1951-1959

[vincentblackbearmediallc]

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably started your Spring Break and even summer vacation planning to ensure availability for the desired away dates. It’s certainly never too soon to get yourself booked somewhere spectacular, which also feeds the excitement and anticipation of the excursion to come. No matter the occasion, reason or season, you’d do well to head over to San Diego as there are lots of things to do in San Diego —a region known for some of the most revered vacation options in the United States. It didn’t earn the moniker “America’s Finest City” for nothing!

[buckleberry4ever]

Huckleberry: I think me and Blueberry Muffin’s colors are on the ”Spring Spectacular“ logo!😱🤩🩵💙 Turquoise and Blue!😃 Is Buckleberry going to have a very big role in this special?!🤩 We must watch the special to find out! The special is coming to Netflix this spring!🌹

Blueberry: I’m so excited!🤩 Buckleberry Forever!🩵💙

[13rurururi]

NSFW/Smut Alphabet with Haganezuka Hotaru

Pairing: Haganezuka Hotaru x Female!Reader

Content Warnings: cunnilingus, vaginal sex, oral sex, sex toys, impact play, size kink, public sex, bondage, edging, etc.

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Haganezuka initially didn't understand the significance of aftercare, opting to hastily return to his workshop after a sensual session with you; however, once he gradually became attached to you — your smell, your taste, your skin, your sweet pussy — he began dedicating time to cleaning you up or offering to carry you to the village's hot springs to alleviate the soreness of your muscles.

Soon, aftercare became a must in your sexual endeavors. He lets you lay on his futon (like the sweet princess you are) as he prepares damp towels and warm tea. He regards you with the same sort of attention he showcases his swords: unwavering, focused, and attentive.

"My pretty baby can't walk? Let me give you a massage then."

Most definitely, his initially wholesome massages end up being another round of sex.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Have you seen this man? He has rippling muscles all over his body. His shoulders are toned; his pectorals have veins protruding shamelessly; and his thighs are so firm, you cum when riding them.

However, Hotaru unconsciously favors his arms and hands the most. He's a swordsmith, after all, and his arms are a tool for crafting the most spectacular weaponry, flexing with each stroke of his hammer against heated metal. With that being said, he enjoys seeing your blissed-out face create the most lewd expressions as he pumps his fingers into you in strong, consistent motions. He also loses sense when you instinctively grasp onto his arms as he pounds into you — missionary style — leaving red marks that attest to how amazingly he pleased you.

On the other hand, he could cum just by looking at your thighs and ass jiggle and shake due to the simplest of motions. It doesn't matter the size of your bottoms, you better prepare yourself for his calloused hand either softly caressing your ass (he does it in public, too) or suddenly smacking you in the most random times. It feels so intimate for him, and it ignites a carnal desire of ownership that gets his dick hard. In other words — sit on his face, and you'd both be sent to heaven in pure bliss.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum basically)

He'd want to cum all over you — on your stomach, your breasts, your face. To put it simply, he regards the sheen of his sticky load on your skin as a signature finale to your intimate night together. He subconsciously does things systematically, so rubbing his cum all over your pussy lips, thighs, and the entire expanse of your soft skin is akin to him polishing a katana. Your whimpering moans are left unheard as Hotaru places his utmost focus on making sure you're coated in nothing but his cum.

(Yes, he cums a lot. You could last plenty of rounds, and he'd still have spurts of his white load dripping from his swollen, red tip — plenty enough to coat you all over.)

D = Dirty Secret (pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Haganezuka, this man, "borrows" your cum-stained undergarments and stashes at least one in his workshop. When you're engulfed in deep, exhausted sleep in the morning after sex, he pockets your underwear discretely, heading off to the forge. "It's for the sake of stress relief," he'd convince himself.

When he is met with unpleasant news of his clients (Tanjiro) breaking his swords — and he doesn't have enough time to threaten them with his deadly knives — he opts to alleviate his anger by fisting, pumping, and stroking his cock wrapped in your damp panties. It's not as warm or soft as your cunt, but he needs some sort of outlet to release some steam while he's in his workspace.

He'd return your undergarments by the end of the day, and you remain oblivious, once more cumming on another pair that he'd definitely bring with him to work the next morning.

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Haganezuka had always been a difficult man. He's aggressive and asocial, exuding a terrifying aura that discourages any individual interested in having him ravish them.

You were his first actual romantic and sexual partner, and your first night together in bed was full of shy whispers and exciting, experimental touches. Worry not, for Haganezuka Hotaru places his entire heart and soul in whatever he enjoys; may it be swordsmithing or fucking you dumb, he'd ensure that he hones his skills to perfection.

F = Favorite Position 

He's quite open to any sort of position; in the end, he can adapt and stuff your cunt full, so he doesn't mind as much. However, his cock painfully aches even more when you're under him in a missionary position. It gets him even harder when he bends you in half into a mating press, exposing the entirety of you to him and giving him greater access to your most sensitive spots. He adores seeing your face contort into the most obscene expressions, after all.

Another position he finds himself enjoying is having your back slammed against the wall as he supports your entire weight with his strong arm, pounding into your pussy without any semblance of rationality.

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous?)

His brows are consistently furrowed due to his angry and serious nature, so he carries his usual demeanor into bed, often looking at you with utmost loyalty and dedication as he feels your juices coat his veiny cock.

He treats each session with you as if it were a blessed ritual that warrants full attention and care — he is a man of undeniable focus, after all, and he wants you to feel not only the best orgasms of your life but his genuine appreciation and earnestness for you, as well.

H = Hair (how well groomed they are, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

Oh, Hotaru has the thickest, darkest locks that frame his face and upper body; undoubtedly, you'd find this trend consistent in his nether regions. He doesn't have high regard for his physical appearance, so the hairs around his cock can be quite unruly. However, they're not unpleasant. They actually provide an interesting texture that rubs at your clit just right with each strong stroke of his length into your crying cunt.

I = Intimacy (how they are during the moment in a romantic aspect)

He initially struggled with expressing his softer, romantic side to you. In time, when he undeniably fell in love with you, he began demonstrating the sweetest actions that leave you simultaneously swooning and twitching in love and pleasure.

When he goes down on you, he gathers his thick strands of hair into a ponytail, in order to ensure absolute focus when he buries his tongue into your slick folds. When you find yourself between his legs — his length prodding at the back of your throat — he tucks your hair behind your ears in the gentlest motion that sends tingles throughout your body.

At either of your climaxes, he'd make unwavering, passionate eye contact with you, often caressing your cheek as you moan in pure pleasure. He always kisses you languidly by the end of your intimate night, lips firmly pressed onto yours, sending a message of love and unspoken promises.

J = Jack Off (masturbation headcanon)

As mentioned, he is quite unashamed in pleasing himself when you're not around. When he gets too frustrated and erratic, he hides himself away deep in the woods or in the hidden crevices of his workshop and fists his cock with your pretty mouth in mind. You know how he disappears after his outbursts? Well, now you know what your beloved lover does to mitigate his rage: cumming on his palms and grunting your name in a chant.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

(1) Bondage: he's into tying you up until you fall limp.

You're arms are definitely getting bound to a post as he slams his hips into yours. He gets too flustered when your hands travel across his firm chest to his ticklish sides, and you won't stop teasing, so he ends up grabbing the discarded cloth of his headscarf and nearly-painfully binding your hands together.

"You're my fuckdoll tonight until you get that attitude sorted out. Stay fucking still."

(2) Impact Play: you end up splayed over his lap as he spanks your ass, thighs, and sobbing pussy.

He adores the jiggle of your taut skin with each slam of his wide palms across your flesh. You get even more red and wet with each slap, and he gets off your pitched whines and yelps. Don't worry, he'll kiss you better later.

(3) Public Sex: you have quite risky sex in the village's local hot springs.

You palm your hand into your mouth, hoping that no one would hear your pathetic whimpers escape. It was a good thing that no one else was bathing in the public hot springs at the moment, or they'd become voyeurs to the sinful display of Hotaru bouncing you up and down on his erect cock, making the waters harshly splash around your sweating bodies.

L = Location (favorite places to do the deed)

Coming home to you in your private abode encases Hotaru in a sort of comfort that allows him to not hold himself back when fucking you. Each room in your household has already witnessed your erotic display and heard your lust-filled sounds. Haganezuka can take you anywhere and anytime.

You're cooking him dinner? You're now sprawled across the polished tabletops, pussy being explored by his insatiable tongue. Perhaps, you're doing the laundry? Well, it's best to rewash the sheets haphazardly thrown on the floor, since they once again became soiled by your shared fluids.

M = Motivation (what turns them on or gets them going)

Your mere existence is enough to send blood rushing down his cock, resulting in an uncomfortable tent that only you could relieve. However, he becomes truly weak when you wear his haori (or any of his clothing). His clothes accommodate his bulky, firm muscles, and seeing the same boring clothes draped on your smaller figure makes the head of his dick throb and leak with beads of precum. He figures he has a size kink.

N = NO (something they wouldn’t do)

He dislikes it when you tickle him too much; after all, he'd end up bursting into hiccups of laughter, inevitably falling limp onto you during sex. He wants to be absolutely present during your deed, so you can't use his sensitive sides against him too much.

Apart from that, he would never, ever agree to a threesome — he is, beyond any doubt, a possessive lover. He's not suffocating or anything, but the sensual moments you experience together are too special to him; the idea of sharing you with another sickens him, and the bubbling anger might result in a person being chased with razor-sharp knives.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Hotaru would never fail to offer going down on you; after all, you're his beloved lover, and he yearns to return a semblance of what you make him feel. He does this efficiently by parting your legs wide apart, resulting in a wonderfully painful stretch, as he teasingly — precisely —drags his tongue across your folds up to your pulsating clit. He can have his face buried in your cunt for hours.

On the other hand, he enjoys it thoroughly when you also get on your knees and swallow his cock with your struggling, salivating mouth. You usually end up getting mouth-fucked, however.

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough or slow and sensual?)

Haganezuka is a man who can perform both extremes in a skillful, precise manner. He can last hours kissing every crevice of your body, dragging his rough palms across your bare form tenderly. His adoration for you is immeasurable, so he opts to showcase it by treating you as if you were the rarest gem in the whole land. Your body tingles with a subtle, pleasurable static by the time he empties his heavy, hot load inside and all over you.

For the most part, however, he has you bent in half as he adapts a swift pace that has you screaming in immense bliss. The sinful beat of skin-on-skin is erratic and quick in its tempo, and these unbearably rough sessions leave you fucked stupid. Haganezuka smirks at your half-lidded gaze and drooling mouth (he takes pride in how his strength can render you limp and euphoric), and he always makes sure to reward you with the softest kiss.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex)

He dislikes the prospect of rushing your sexual endeavors. He is a man of consistent, immovable focus; of course, he cannot be satisfied by the mere taste of you. He wants to take his time in ravishing you and making you feel absolutely adored with his full, unwavering attention. His lover deserves nothing less, after all.

R = Risk (Are they willing to experiment and take risks?)

As long as it makes you and him feel good, he's willing to try. He's surprisingly open-minded with a lot of uncommon kinks; even if he does throw you a skeptical gaze at first, he doesn't let his hesitance deter him from possibly finding your next favorite position or foreplay.

In the end, he adores making love with you because it is a display of your affection towards one another; so if being experimental and a little more risque strengthens your bond — he'll do it in a heartbeat.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for, how long they last)

Haganezuka is a man with impressive stamina, even at the age of 37. He could relentlessly chase Tanjiro from sunset until the break of dawn — that may be enough to paint a picture of how persistent he is throughout the evening.

He fucks you until daylight with sparse breaks between rounds. He can make you undergo at least 5 powerful orgasms in one night, since he likes taking his time in foreplay and whatnot. However, on nights he deems you deserve more punishment (through a long-drawn-out teasing session), he can edge you for nearly an hour until he lets you cum, ignoring your pleas and teary whimpers.

Your energy may be nearly depleted, but he still has plenty of things he wants to do to you.

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? Do they use it on a partner or themselves?)

It's interesting to note that sex toys had already existed in Ancient Japan, way back in the Edo Period; with that being said, Hotaru likes to make his own — a metal dildo that prods through your hole right into your cervix. Seeing you withering on the mattress as he angles his sinful creation in precise strokes can make him release his own load. With one hand on the erotic toy, he has more freedom to play with with your puffy, pulsating clit. Nothing makes this craftsman more satisfied than seeing his beloved lover fully appreciate the utility of his creation.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He teases you unintentionally, becoming too engrossed in your sweet pussy and wanting to watch your wetness gradually increase with each lick, nip, and pinch. When he becomes too unaware of everything else but your cunt, you try to prompt him to stop, whining and moaning in disarray as he spares you nothing but a quizzical glance. He's not done yet.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make)

He usually grunts and groans in a low pitch that reverberates throughout your body. He's not loud, per se, but he definitely ensures that you hear how good you make him feel, so he angles his deep rumbling moans right into your ear, "You feel good, my love. You were fucking made for me."

However, when you occasionally brush your fingertips across his sides (his sensitive, sensitive sides) during sex, you could illicit a full, higher-pitched whimper out of his mouth. He gets flustered whenever you do it, and if you do it repeatedly, he'd get so infuriated that he'd end up punishing you roughly for the rest of the evening. Perhaps, that's exactly what you wanted.

W = Wild Card (get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

Haganezuka loves to pamper you. He appears like a gruff man with unstoppable rage, but he turns into the softest, gentlest lover when it comes to you. After strenuous sex, he'd lay you down and brush damp strands off your forehead, kissing you tenderly. He prepares a warm cloth that he wipes all over you, ensuring that you feel comfortable and clean.

The next day, he would opt to be a little late in starting his responsibilities in the forge, brushing your hair and bathing with you under a soothing stream of water. He dresses you up with the same attention he shows when stripping you bare.

You better not tell anyone, but Hotaru is secretly a gentle giant — just for you.

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

His body is a force to be reckoned with — brawny muscles (embellished by protruding veins that attest to his physical prowess) are consistent throughout his large frame. You best believe such a trend is applicable to his cock: thick, long, and veiny.

When flaccid, his cock can be measured to about 6.5 inches; when fully erect, his dick grows up to an impressive 8.5 inches, curving ever-so-slightly to the side. His cock head is colored by a muted red that deepens in hue the closer he is to his release.

In short, his cock ensures that your pussy is painfully, deliciously stretched, and the two prominent veins running along his length rubs your warm walls perfectly.

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

He has a healthy, manageable sex drive. You usually make love every other day, but if he comes home exhausted from forging the most brilliant katanas, he falls asleep the moment his head of ruffled hair hits the bed — snoring lowly and deeply.

Sometimes, he gets too occupied with making swords (we've all seen how stubborn this man can be), resulting in undetected, pent-up sexual frustration. By the time he rejoices with a newly polished katana, he is also washed with the urge to bury his hardened, throbbing cock into your warmth.

He'd rush home, ignore your scolding tone, and carry you to bed for a rough fucking. This man is so complicated yet so endearing, you simply relent.

Z = ZZZ (how quickly they fall asleep afterward)

He won't be sleeping until he ensures your comfort. He regards aftercare as a necessary facet of your intimacy, after all. Haganezuka never misses a single step when it comes to the things and people he loves. By the time you're snuggled up in a warm bundle, he'll join you, nuzzling his face on the crown of your head.

He deeply sighs in honest contentment and whispers, "I love you," right before his heavy lids fully close. He always has sweet dreams as long as he's with you.

A/N: I really ended it with fluff, whew. This took a longer time than expected, but I hope you enjoy my take on Haganezuka's NSFW Alphabet. This was very fun to do, regardless.

If you enjoyed this, feel free to send me requests of what you'd like me to do next! I'll try my best in tackling my inbox.

Edit: I changed the picture for the sake of aesthetic. We gotta love his arms.

[world-of-fire-and-flight]

Today is the LAST day of the Indie Author Spring Spectacular! Head over to IndieVisibleEvents.com or my stories to check out 100s of indie books and discover your next read! All three HEIRS OF TENEBRIS books on sale for 99 cents each to celebrate Indie April, but so are hundreds of books across all genres thanks to the Indie Author Spring Spectacular!

Hosted by hayley_a_writes (Insta), the Indie Author Spring Spectacular has over 200+ authors spanning multiple genres. To celebrate the Indie Spring Spectacular, authors will be dropping their prices to either free or 0.99 between April 12th - 15th!

About the HEIRS OF TENEBRIS trilogy: Available in all formats anywhere books are sold (universal link)! Dive into the world of Tenebris as main characters Nyla, Xander, and Shamira unravel the country’s rich and mysterious history. 📚Trilogy features:📚⠀

Magic⠀

Adventure⠀

Heart⠀

Original myths & legends⠀

An evil sorceress⠀

A battle for the future⠀

High-stakes danger⠀

Reluctant heroes⠀

Magical animals⠀

Original mythos⠀

Positive female friendships⠀

Strangers to friends to very slow-burn romance

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Holidays Shana!! I really love your prompts about Greek mythology. Could you write a continuation of Hades or God's and Monsters?

a continuation of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Zagreus is mid word when he stills, eyes going distant. "Huh. I'll be right back."

"You're joking," Megaera says flatly. "You can't just drop this on me and-"

"Technically, Than did that." He would really prefer if Zagreus didn't pull him into this. "I'll be quick. She's calling me, it can't be anything good."

"Who's she?" Megaera demands but Zagreus is already gone. She scowls and turns to the others. "Who's she?"

"Eliana, maybe," Sisyphus offers, completely unruffled at Megaera's ire. "At least take a look out the balcony. This is the highest point in the court and the view is really spectacular."

It is. Thanatos hadn't known the underworld could be beautiful before he'd seen what Zagreus had built.

Her eyes narrow. "How long has this been going on?"

"Oh, I can't say for sure," Sisyphus shrugs, his lips almost curling into a smile. "I wasn't really there for the beginning."

"I was."

They both turn to Patroclus. Eurydice is the only one of them that's suitably wary of either him or Megaera.

"He grew poms in my clearing first," he continues. "It's where we grew things until it became too full and then he created this. Zagreus has woven protections around it, to keep others from stumbling upon it accidentally, but I'm sure you could find it if you looked."

Megaera crosses her arms. "I'm not leaving."

Patroclus shrugs. Eurydice looks longingly towards the door and Sisyphus seems to actually be enjoying himself.

Thanatos stiffens, pain with no physical cause blooming from his chest. "He's died."

"Really?" Eurydice asks, taking a step closer. "He doesn't really do that anymore."

"Except for show," Sisyphus adds, frowning. "But you're both here."

Before Thanatos can decide how he feels about that, Zagreus is slipping back through the mirror, flicking off blood from his arms. "Sorry about that, Artemis wanted a favor."

Thanatos cannot have heard what he thinks he did.

"Artemis?" Megaera repeats dangerously.

"Oh, she told Aphrodite by the way," he adds casually, then pauses. "Actually, she was pretty surprised to see me, so I guess Artemis just called me and let her figure it out herself. Cold."

"Well, this is all unraveling," Patroclus says, but he doesn't seem that worried about it. Not nearly worried about it as Thanatos thinks he should be.

Zagreus shrugs. "They can keep a secret. Also it's been almost fifty years already, this can't go on forever. I suppose I could just challenge Demeter outright?"

"Do not do that," Eurydice says.

Thanatos wants to sit down.

"Have you LOST YOUR MIND?" Megaera screeches, grabbing Zagreus's shoulders. Her nails dig into him, but he doesn't bleed. "You can't do this! You can't - have you - this is crazy!"

Zagreus shrugs, pressing her nails deeper into him. "What's she going to do? Kill me?"

"There will be war," Thanatos says quietly while Megaera seems lost for words.

"Long overdue, if you as me," he says casually. "She's killing a lot of people, Than. She's undermining the other gods and making things worse for everyone all because she lost her daughter. She's turning against her own domain because her grief is more important than her duty. I can't make my mother talk to Demeter. But I have the power to stop her, to put an end to this winter. So I have to stop her."

"This isn't your responsibility, Zag," Thanatos says quietly.

"No," he agrees, expression souring. "It's my mother's. But if the goddess of spring won't do her duty and put an end to winter, then I will."

"Why?" Megaera asks, something small and scared in her that Thanatos hasn't seen since the first time she heard of Zagreus attempting to escape. "Why does it have to be you?

"I am a son of life's beginning and of life's ending." Zagreus says gently. "I know there is balance. I exist because of that balance. When I was born, I had too much of my father, and Nyx filled me with my mother's blood, because I can only exist when there is both." Thanatos hadn't known that, hadn't known how exactly his mother managed to save a stillborn Zagreus. "Who else, Meg?"

She doesn't have an answer.

There isn't one.

[todayontumblr]

Wednesday March 22.

When the going gets tough, the tough get decorating.

There's no better time for it, after all, because spring has sprung. And it feels good, doesn't it? The temperature is mild, there is light in the mornings, the sun is getting brighter, and the days are getting longer, and longer, and cherry blossom is emerging here, there, and everywhere like a joyous pastel explosion. Can you believe it? The winter that would never end has, well, ended. One season follows another. Who would have thought? Not us, that's for sure. And this new season is all about renewal, as the long and dark and cold has been replaced by color and warmth and all other aggravatingly wholesome good things. So now is the time, it seems, for #decoration. 

And it seems you good folk are into it, too, because there's a whole host of stylish, warm, and inviting interiors decorating our dashboard today. Bookshelves, a kallax or two, circular dining tables, four-poster beds, mezzanines, spectacular ceilings, and delicate bedrooms facing gardens or facing the sea...