#thank you beloved pistachio

[villanesus]

@give-that-wolf-a-pistachio Another of your questions from the vanished asks!

What is a pet peeve that is hard to endure when you're around people?

I had to think about this for a bit. On a day where I’m not especially sensitive to sensory stuff, my biggest pet peeve is probably littering? Annoys me to no end when people just toss stuff on the ground. I will carry an empty bottle or a wrapper around with for an entire day before I’ll chuck in on the ground.

I won’t start a confrontation over it, but if I see someone toss something aside, I’ll wait for them to walk off and I’ll pick it up myself. Or if I’m out with a friend or acquaintance and they try to litter, I’ll just grab the thing out of their hand. The split second scene where Villanelle tosses the rest of her ice cream cone on the ground in season 2 to take something from Konstantin? Villanelle lost 5 Mason points that day. smh.

If I’m having a high sensory sensitivity kind of day, almost anything anyone does bothers me. 😅 Inconsistent environmental sounds like dripping or rattling noises, throat clearing, chair squeaking, etc. It destroys my concentration, and even though I know nobody is making noise with the intent to bother me (I probably make just as much if not more incidental noise myself), I get wound up about it.

[gamma-rae-bursts]

Whispers of Spring

You take Melissa on a date to one of her favourite childhood spots.

Pairing: Melissa Schemmenti x Fem!Reader

CW: kissing and a single swear word, that's it I guess

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 1400+

A/N: Covers the "Flowers" square of @storiesofsvu birthday bingo! Written as a little gift for @maybe-a-humanbean <3

also tumblr being the hellsite it is keeps hiding a part of this fic and it looks like i just dropped it mid sentence, i promise it’s there it’s just the hellsite hellsiting 😭

“I told you it’s a surprise! You’re not getting any clues until we get there.” you laughed as Melissa rolled her eyes, though you could see the smile she tried to suppress making its way onto her face. 

“Oh, come on, not even a single one? Dress code maybe?” she said trying to push you to give her any sort of idea where you were planning on taking her tonight.

“Something nice and comfy” you giggled “But don’t worry I’m not dragging you out for a hike.”

“Thank fuck, I think I’d have to break up with you if you did” the redhead laughed.

“Okay that’s a bit dramatic Schemmenti, don’t you think so?” you didn’t even try stopping your laughter as the older woman rolled her eyes, now standing up from her chair and placing a soft kiss to your cheek.

You have been dating Melissa for close to a year now. Never in a thousand years would you have thought that this is what would happen when you first started working at Abbott. As it turns out the unapproachable woman was not that unapproachable after all, she just needed some time get used to the new teachers coming to the school, always wary of the young ones. You were more than happy to give her that space, trying to stay out of her way as much as you could so you wouldn’t make your way onto her red list. Janine told you there was no coming back from there and you weren’t about to take any chances.

And your tactic worked, it only took her a few weeks to warm up to you and realise you weren’t that bad after all. From there she would invite you to sit with her and Barb during lunch, which quickly progressed to her inviting you over for a dinner at her house.

After a few more weeks she gathered the courage to ask you out on a proper date, to which you happily agreed.

And here you are now, basically living in her house (which she didn’t complain about, she loved having you around, always bringing some life to her otherwise empty and quiet household), madly in love with the redhead, who was equally in love with you. 

The two of you often opted for staying in for your date nights, preferring the comfort and peace of Melissa’s house (or less frequently your apartment) rather than surround yourself with strangers. This week though, you decided to plan something a little different. A little picnic date in a park that Melissa has previously mentioned to you, the same one she used to frequent as a child. Coming from a big family she would always be surrounded with her cousins, spending most of their summers together. One of her favourite memories from her childhood was going to Penn Treaty Park for a family picnic, spending the day basking in the summer sun and running around with the other kids. She’d treasure those memories, knowing they were far in the past and her family relationships became much more complicated as the time passed. 

It would be a huge waste to not take the advantage of the sunny and warm spring evenings of Philadelphia, you were planning to make the most of it.

You spent the previous day preparing everything you needed at your apartment. You made sure to pack the picnic basket with everything that was necessary, only waiting to add the food the next day. You opted for a simple charcuterie board, choosing a selection Malissa’s favourite cheeses and meats accompanied by fresh grapes and figs. For dessert you made sure to get a little assortment of Italian treats, the very ones the redhead never stops talking about: a tiramisu, fresh pistachio cannoli and her beloved, Torta della Nonna. It wouldn’t be like you to not include some wine, carefully chosen by the store assistant as your wine knowledge was still lacking. 

After school has ended the two of you parted your ways, heading to your respective residences to get ready for the evening. Your outfit of choice consisted of a simple floral dress, one that Melissa adored seeing you wear.

After placing everything in the boot of your car, making sure you didn’t forget anything you drove to your girlfriend’s house, pleasantly surprised to find the chronically late woman ready and waiting for you. The drive to the park was short, only taking about 30 minutes, and you were thankful for that as the redhead did not stop bashing you with questions where you were going. You looked at Melissa as you pulled into the parking lot, a wide smile spread across her face.

“Come on, we’re having a picnic in your favourite park” you said as you unbuckled your seatbelt and got out of the car, heading to the boot to take everything out. Your fingers interlocked with the older woman’s as you headed towards the entrance. 

You walked through the park for a while, trying to find the most perfect spot to settle, the smile never leaving Melissa’s face. You finally settled under an old willow, across from a field filled with wildflowers, with a full view of Ben Franklin’s Bridge. You unfolded the blanket, laying it on the soft grass and proceeded to take out the food you brought one by one, while Melissa took her spot on the comfortable material. 

You opened the wine, reassuring her that you were not the one to choose it, and poured each of you a glass before settling right next to your girlfriend. You chatted for what simultaneously felt like minutes and hours, taking bites of the delicacies you brought and sipping on the wine. 

“Those flowers are beautiful, aren’t they” the redhead spoke, looking at the wildflower field spread ahead of your eyes. 

“They really are” you smiled as you held her hand. In this exact moment an idea popped into your mind, one that you wouldn’t miss out on and your girlfriend definitely saw the moment of epiphany in your eyes, which caused her to raise her brow in question. You let go of the other woman’s hand and quickly stood up, practically running to the field.

“What are you doing?” Melissa chuckled as she watched you get further away from her.

“You’ll see in a second!” you shouted back, starting to pick some of the daisies growing from the ground. It only took a few minutes before you came back with a messily assembled bouquet that you gently laid on the blanket. Melissa raised her brow at you again, but you didn’t bother with a reply, instead you separated the long-stemmed flowers one by one, carefully platting them together until they formed a long chain. 

“Hon, care to explain why you carry a sewing kit around?” the redhead questioned as you pulled out a not so small bag full of threads, needles and a questionably shaped pair of scissors.

“It’s my emergency sewing kit Mel, you never know when you need one!” you replied as you untangled the threads allowing you to cut a piece. “Like right now!” you added with a smile spread across your face.

“Emergency sewing kit?” the older woman chuckled as she watched you tie together the two ends of the flower string with a piece of thread “You really are an old lady at heart, aren’t you?”

You giggled in response, leaving a soft kiss on her lips as you finished securing the pieces together. You gently placed the daisy crown on top of her head, adjusting her softly curled hair as you did so.  

“There we go” a blush creeped onto her face as you took in the beautiful sight in front of you, the flowers perfectly complimenting Melissa’s features. She cupped your cheek with her hand, slowly leaning in until your lips connected in a passionate kiss that continued until the need for air became too much causing you to separate. You rested your forehead against Melissa’s as both of you caught your breath.

“Thank you for this y/n” she whispered “I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect evening”

“You’re getting soft Schemmenti” you teased and kissed her again before she had a chance to fire any snarky remarks back at you, both of you smiling into the kiss. 

You spent the rest of the evening snacking on the food as you were watching the sun receding in the horizon, filling the sky with a rainbow of colours. You stayed there until the sun completely set, the darkness starting to dominate the sky. 

“Come on, it’s getting cold, let’s get out of here” you said in a hushed voice as your head rested on Melissa’s shoulder “I have more surprises waiting for you at home”.

Taglist: @nightmarish-fae @storiesofsvu @maybe-a-humanbean

Join my taglist here!

[bigalockwood]

Hi Lia! How about 28, 40, 55, 56, 63 and 76 for the ask game?

Wish you a wonderful weekend!

Hej W 💜💜💜 Thanks for sending as many 💜💜 (including nr. 8 from your other ask here)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend too 💜💜💜

8) Top five animals:

Okay, this was very, very, very difficult and these are in no particular order: dogs, horses, corvus corax, donkeys, wolves

28)Favorite ice cream:

I don't have much of a sweet-tooth, but if there's vegan hazelnut or pistachio ice cream, that's what I'd go for.

40) Ever been in a fist fight?

Nope! But I used to kick and bite the boys in my older sister's class lmao

55) Ever laid on your back and watched clouds go by?

So, so, so many times. I feel like I've spent my entire youth outside and pointing out which cloud-creatures were up in the sky was a beloved pastime for me and my friends. (And I still love watching the clouds).

56) Ever made a snow angel?

Again: so, so, so many times. Still do, actually. You're never too old for those things.

63) Ever touched a snake?

I have!!! Such beautiful animals.

76) Ever done something you told yourself you wouldn't?

Too many times to count. For example: I told myself I wouldn't post another multi chap for a month or two after finishing Royally Whipped. But then I started posting glowing review the week after and once that was done I went straight to writing and posting ssn. So, yeah. Happens all. the. time.

[the-travelling-witch]

⇢ ˗ˏˋ Happy New Year ﾟ☾. ࿐

Another colourful year is coming to an end and what an interesting one it’s been. Of course, it hasn’t been without struggles and hardships but no year is; on the flip-side some pretty awesome things happened like me finally going on vacation in South Korea after two years of pandemic throwing a wrench in my plan. But, personally, the most impactful thing happened at the start of the year on a whim: the creation of this blog!

As a mixture of New Year’s resolution and spontaneity, sharing my work actually gave me something to look forward to and was a great creative outlet to get away from life for a few hours. Not to mention, all the lovely people I had the honour of meeting solely because of being here; it’s not an understatement to say my year would’ve been a lot more lonely and definitely less fun without some of you; my 2022 wouldn’t have been the same without you

𝐕𝐈𝐏 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

˗ˏˋ– maple red x @dustofthedailylife

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨- 𝐛𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭 !

Dust… I don’t even know where to begin, to me it does feel like we went on this tumblr journey together; I still remember how nervous I was reaching out to you but let me tell you, I’m so glad I did. You were one of my first moots, my first genshin moot actually, and really did make the beginning of this blog feel more like home. You’ve helped me a lot with a variety of things and I’m very grateful for that; I really do consider you a friend and I hope we can keep this up for 2023 ♡

˗ˏˋ– ruby red x @chuuyas-beloved

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟏𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬- 𝐝𝐚ð𝐢 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐫 !

Trin, wow wow wow, big changes happened this year, right? Congrats again, I’m so happy for you!! You’re always putting others before yourself without hesitation but please take care of yourself too ♡

˗ˏˋ– pumpkin orange x @virtue-and-beneviolence

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐞𝐚- 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲 !

Vi, my favourite menace to society, I said I love your chaotic energy and I stand by that. We really are strangers to online acquaintances to talking regularly outside of tumblr, love that for us. I really really hope we can continue talking lots in 2023 so I can keep pestering you, you really got my hopes up in saying we might actually meet ♡

˗ˏˋ– marigold yellow x @kreideprinzessin

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐢 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞- 𝐤𝐚𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐝 !

Fern, thank you so for introducing me to so many cool people, you included; you did an incredible job creating a comfortable and peaceful place for us to interact and I’m so grateful for it ♡

˗ˏˋ– golden amber x @zhongrin

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: …雙魚玉佩 -𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 ! / 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬- 𝐝𝐚𝐧 +𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐲 !

Mei, I genuinely love seeing you on my dash and get super excited seeing you in my notifs, whether you’re chomping down on Zhongli or sitting down to watch your favourite drama show, aka Childe and my daily life. You’ve been so supportive throughout all of this, my heart is fluttering just thinking about it ♡

˗ˏˋ– sunshine yellow x @mari-on-dragonspine

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝- 𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 !

Mari, our local husband catcher, you are such a bright person and I love you for it. You’re joyful, warm and always have my back, which is a really reassuring thing to know ♡

˗ˏˋ– pistachio green x @teyvattales

𝐜𝐮𝐫����𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭-𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭- 𝐣𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 !

Rebby, you’re genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I love how excitable and high-spirited you are, whether it’s about a fandom or a personal matter; having someone so cheerful around really does make you see the bright side of things ♡

˗ˏˋ– jade green x @silentmoths

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮- 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 !

Moth, my cute nocturnal butterfly, did I already say you’re adorable? Because you are; seeing a little moth flutter across my dash does always bring a smile to my face; I’m making a roast beef sandwich right now to bribe you into coming over more often heh ♡

˗ˏˋ– periwinkle blue x @kazooms

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧- 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰 !

Chi, our love language really is sending each other funny videos, isn’t it? Our fyp is linked up already anyway, across more than one social media platform apparently; but even if we’re talking outside of that, whether it’s all fun or serious, I think we understand each other pretty well and I’d say that’s pretty neat ♡

˗ˏˋ– starry night blue x @scaranya

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠- 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 !

Ada, you’re such a pure, pure soul and you deserve the best, even if you might not see it yourself. I hope 2023 is kind to you but please also remember to be kind to yourself as well ♡

˗ˏˋ– amethyst purple x @haithamuse

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐠𝐮𝐲.𝐞𝐱𝐞- 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 !

Esther, we’ve not been talking for that long honestly, but I feel like I’ve known you for a while now. No matter if we’re simping, discussing writing prompts, distracting each other from studying or you’re listening to me overthinking my clothing size, I’m always having a good time. Also, I heard there was a certain collab in the making… ♡

˗ˏˋ– lavender purple x @bunny-rambles

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐢’𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬- 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐳 !

Bun, my honeybun, the person who gave me one of the cutest nicknames to ever exist, you are an absolute sweetheart and I love exchanging ideas with you; in 2023, let’s talk more again!! ♡

˗ˏˋ– cherry blossom pink x @yaesnovels

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭- 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 !

Alyssa, my fellow childe simp I love simping for our man having intellectual conversations about important topics with you haha… No but fr, I really like swinging from memes and shit talk to actually serious topics with you ♡

˗ˏˋ– rose quartz pink x @feitania

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬- 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲 !

Eris, the person who’ll send me the most cursed German memes at times and my gosh I love you for it. Another one who fits the category of tumblr acquaintances to talking outside of tumblr; my New Year’s resolution is to further pull you down the Genshin rabbit hole with me ♡

˗ˏˋ– coral pink x @kazuily

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡- 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 !

Ayame, my sweet, you are one of the loveliest people I had the pleasure of meeting. You’re so understanding and welcoming, I feel like I can talk to you honestly and without hiding a part of myself ♡

I know I have many more lovely moots, especially since the last couple of weeks (looking respectfully at the blue lock crowd), and I really hope we can talk and get to know each other more next year; I certainly look forward to it!!

𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

some of my favourite blogs to revisit over and over again this year! (there’s certainly more but i did want to finish this before 2024)

˗ˏˋ– butterscotch orange x @garoujo

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 & 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞- 𝐩𝐥𝐯𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐦, 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨 !

Emmie, the person I’ve dubbed my big sis hehe; I think you have such good vibes, very girl boss and empowering (does that sound weird?). I hope you’re not tired off me yet, I have every intention to keep pestering you in the coming year too ♡

˗ˏˋ– sage green x @witch-hazels-musings

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐮- 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 !

Hazel, I loved talking to you both on tumblr and discord; you are so very welcoming and kind, always so ready to help and answer questions too, it’s easy to find comfort in your blog (you’re also very talented but we already knew that) ♡

˗ˏˋ– ocean teal x @writingseaslugs

𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧- 𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐳 !

Salt, I’ve said it before I believe, but I get way too excited seeing you on my dash; I read every character you write for, even the ones I’d normally skip, your ideas are simply too creative ♡

Again, to everyone who interacted with me in any way, shape or form this year, thank you for making my 2022 memorable, I want to give all of you a big smooch; hope to see you all safe and sound in the next year!!

[traipseartist]

July 4th - 7th - Yokum's Right of Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

I claim to be a Rock Climber™ but the majority of my experience is actually clinging to plastic rocks inside of blissfully air-conditioned warehouses in the part of town that's definitely getting gentrified.

I discovered I liked to climb at a time in my life when I was desperate to find something athletic that didn't make me want to walk into the sea. My body image after high school was in shambles and I developed a certain hatred for treadmills and ellipticals--symbols of punishment for over-indulgence or a demand I adhere to some kind of standard that I never really could buy all the way into. Needless to say, exercise was always a means to an end. If I could have put my brain in a jar and made my legs run the necessary number of miles to make me a size 0, I would have. Gleefully. Surely athleticism was mastering the ability to fully disconnect your body from your brain? Who wanted to be present for the heaving and the sweating and the oh-god-oh-god-this-is-how-I-die feeling that hangs in the balance?

Then I had a long-distance boyfriend who fell headlong into the sport and in my soft loneliness, I connected to him via chalk-coated climbing facilities. We would chatter on the phone about climbing problems, the world of outdoor climbing, competitions, characters at our respective gyms. When his life drifted away from mine, I stayed close to the wall. I felt not just the urge to be stronger and solve more difficult problems, but the desire to start speaking my body's language instead of pulling out the duct tape every time I needed to push through something that felt physically hard.

-------------------------------

So, yes yes, a beautiful back story. An illustrative origin that does nothing to explain why I'm clenching a stubborn half-sapling between my thighs and trying to keep all of my pistachio shells in my hat as I dangle my ankles thousands of feet above the valley floor in Seneca Rocks, West Virginia.

My partner Vincent and I are out with the Explorer's Club of Pittsburgh (some 20+ riotous humans with a distaste for a particular kind of self-preservation) on this fine holiday weekend when we agree to do something relatively stupid and exactly what we came for. We want to stand on the top of the biggest piece of exposed Tuscarora Quartz in the north east and shake in our boots while doing it even though we're mostly little indoor-monkey gym-rats.

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia is not like other climbing destinations. Some crags, especially those on the west coast that attract climbers from around the world, have their own sprawling ecosystems born of their touristic revenue. Joshua Tree has the strangest assortment of desert-proof fast-food establishments. Yosemite and the Sonora Pass have many of the trappings of a mountain get away: Adorable high streets in small boom towns scattered throughout the region, themed restaurants, condos and vacation homes stacked high and wide for visitors and returning locals alike. Something (wineries and theme parks and tucked away spas) for the person who has no desire to really disconnect from society, thank you very much.

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia has:

Yokum's Vacationland - a truly grandiose title for a double-wide cabin that feels like a themed gas station with a root-beer stand tacked on the back and some motel rooms up top. All the same, totally beloved.

Harper's Old Country Store - honestly, much cuter than Yokum's but probably less trafficked unless Yokum's runs out of ice or chocolate milk

Princess Snowbird's Indian Village & Campgrounds - not touching this one. It's been here for a second. It has RV hook-ups and could not be more American in nature.

The Gendarme - your local spot for outdoor guides, good advice, and the climbing gear you forgot.

There are campgrounds (Seneca Shadows) up the hill from Yokum's, and a little science center filled with dusty art-deco furniture across the way. All of this within the cast shade of the mountain you came for, and that is that.

The end.

Yet, despite the almost video game-esque limited nature of this local map, Seneca Rocks is obviously its own ticking entity. There are people who live here. The pepperoni rolls for sale in color coded zip-block bags (RED - Pepperoni and Mozzarella, BLUE - Mozzarella only, GREEN - EXTRA Pepperoni and Mozzarella) deposited in big wicker baskets by the cash register at Yokum's are made by a woman named Betsy. The local guides that cart litters of injured recreationalists down from the mountain are no NPCs.

So when you're teetering on routes with names like "Muscle Beach" and "Ecstasy Jr." that drape the mountain high above our tiny valley below, it's hard to feel that same uncaring maw of the great wilderness that I've felt so many times before when I've been playing with my own safety for fun and un-profit far from the sympathy of other humans.

Still, when a rope strains on a carefully placed nut in the crevices of Whorl's Thicket or you see some cotton slings tangled in the branches of a marooned tree under Traffic Jam, you are reminded that your survival--that any human's survival on this little quartz dinosaur spike--is purely by permission and tolerance only. There is no conquering here; there is only playing on the shoulders of a giant. It's reckless, even though it is surely allowed and time-tested.

I learned very quickly that the people I was climbing amongst, however, did not always have a passion for the reckless nature that is the hobby. Some of them had the exact opposite problem with their bodies and their minds that I found I had. They did not wish to separate their mind from their body so that they could push through the soul-crushing boredom of exerting physical labor without feeling much reward or time passing. Instead, they wished to sever the connection so that they could overcome the crippling fear of hanging on the edge, of being too frightened to progress--something I enjoy playing with, fiercely.

-----------------------------

At the summit of Seneca, there is a small metal lockbox the size you'd see keep cash in a concession stand on the perimeter of a high school Softball field. This box is full of notes, little plastic figurines, found treasure, a cow bell, a whistle. Well wishes, banal little messages for those behind or in front that may find themselves up here soon and again.

At base camp, there is a loose huddle of chairs around a dimming campfire and the air of survival from something we chose. Another day on the rock, another meal to remember the day we didn't fall off of it. Someone mentions a plaque affixed to a large boulder along the path up to the crag, seen just before the turn off to a torturous route upward to some other famous trad classics named "Stairmaster." It's a commemoration to a woman who was part of the Explorer's Club of Pittsburgh. She stepped backwards off of a steep step-around route on the mountain and fell to her death a week before her wedding in the early 2000s.

Someone says they wish they hadn't named her specifically on the plaque--it made the club look careless. Untrained.

There is a long pause before someone else says that her fiance wanted to bury her in her wedding dress. I put my mind back into my body, and my body back into my tent, and I am thankful to sleep on a solid, flat surface yet again.

[howlinchickhowl]

It is your birthday!!!!

🎂👑🎁🎉🎈❤️

Happy birthday beloved, I hope you're having an amazing day with lots of cake!😘🥳

It is! Thank you, worst of all sobotkas, I appreciate you deeply. I am about to have a pistachio pastry bun for breakfast so it's definitely gonna be a day of sweet treats 🥰

[sammystuffies]

Positive honeycraft rant

If y’all haven’t heard of honeycraft, it’s a vanilla SMP I am in with 11 others, most are here on tumblr! And earlier this month we celebrated one YEAR of our little corner of the Minecraft community, and as a holiday gift to them I wanted to share my thanks to them!

Honorable mention:

@12u3ie who isn’t a part of the server but our honorary member! We love ya 12 /p

Members:

@stormjay0 is currently on hiatus but will not be spared by my appreciation. Her content is so enjoyable and very underrated, the two of us are the chaotic braincells of the server. In the best way of course!

@exnoh is pm the only boy on the server and we love ya for it buddy xD seriously though he does his best to make it to meetings like everyone else but it’s hilarious because he’s muted the entire time and doing his own thing. Also his sona is so fun to draw sometimes.

@mixinu and @mgeekingout are the equivalent of cookies and milk, in the chaotic good way. I honestly can’t tell you how much these two are made for each other it’s adorable, they are both extremely talented artists and it drives me insane /pos

@sweetest-honeybee our beloved admin! Despite having almost no prior experience in being the admin back in s1 you couldn’t tell! She’s honestly the best base buddy I’ve had so far and the story we are making together with our terrible skits is cringey yet kinda engaging lol! Also we enjoy just talking about mcyt in general 😌

@fluffy-papaya is our current admin for this season and they are doing a great job! If you love lore PLEASE go and look for their videos because they are so good. Me and fluffy are the two biggest pranksters on this server, and we tend to prank each other sometimes lol

@redwinterroses isn’t on often but she is NUTS! 2 Smps AND still going to school, working, AND writing?? She’s crazy XD in all seriousness though I can never get enough of hanging out with Red.

SCPOwo and Faren, owo doesn’t have a tumblr and idk about faren so woops, but anyways owo is our pun loving friend (me too) as well as our local eldritch horror, no lore or videos, Just here for fun like me! Faren is the chill person on the server and honestly I want to hang with them more often, we get along really well!

@lelilawesell is one of our two new members who joined in the beginning of s2 and in skizzlemans words “friendship Jedi master” immediately when I met them I knew she would be a great fit for this fun server and I wasn’t more right. Also has one of the best laughs imho.

And last but definitely not least we have pistachio/Tashi! Our other new member is writing some amazing lore as well and is a great builder! After bee introduced her to our little server it would only make sense to have her join as well, also we both are good at improv lore. :D

That’s about it! Of course there’s so much more I want to say about them because being on a server with these amazing people is a dream, and even if some of them aren’t on often it makes those small moments even better. I still can’t believe it’s already been a year on honeycraft and I’m excited to see what the future will bring 💙

Happy holidays everyone, hope things are going well :)

[smalleevee]

wowowow reject modernity return to god honoring tumblr tradition

thank you @gnarlystarships for tagging me in a lovely opportunity to yap a bit and get to know some people better <3

three ships: is this a safe space? bc...doctor/rose (dr who), steve/eddie (boycott ST), and jeanmarco (AOT) are all i can even think of rn

first ship: jeanmarco baby the aot brainrot was so real and i still re-read some of those fics to this day just to feel something

last song: V.A.N / Bad Omens feat. Poppy (i don't particularly listen to either artist but i was curious bc i saw the metalcore girlies talking about it and ngl it kinda fucks just not super my thing but i am going to recommend it to a friend i know will love it)

last film: Saltburn which spoiler i didn't love - the actors? hot. talented. the set? the cinematography? sexy. well done. the plot? had me hooked in the first half! but the entire last third of the movie was just...not for me sorry </3

currently reading: Ether Day by Julie M. Fenster (non-fiction about the first surgery performed using general anesthetic) AND finally 3 years after the party ended - Gideon the Ninth

currently craving: pistachio latte my beloved....

favorite color: jewel tones!! but especially deep reds!!!

relationship status: single, avoidant, and yearning <3

last thing i googled: when do library cards expire followed by renew library card [redacted-city where i live]

current obsessions: doctor who / the hunk of free gouda i got from work yesterday / this playlist / the concept of aesthetic vs. substance / just ripping into a ripe orange / danandphilgames

i don't interact with anyone so uhh...i tag nine beloved friends and strangers to pass this along if they'd like <3

@seilon @applemyjack @mouse-monster @strggler @miaobviously @crassjellyfish @flynnmoore

[villanesus]

Mason!

A two-parter for you, too:

Aside from playing Villanelle, what other part did you enjoy Jodie most in? What did you like about that character/her performance as that character?

Imagine Jodie is cast in a movie or show where is she is again, part of a lesbian couple. Who would you cast opposite her if you could choose anyone?

Hey, Pistachio!

I know Jodie has done some amazing acting in dramas, but I actually really loved her as Millie Rusk in Free Guy? She delivers some of the best lines in the movie. I like it when she gets to do comedy. 🙃

Gosh, it is genuinely difficult to picture her with anyone other than Sandra Oh. 😅 But I think I’d like to see her be the bouncy puppy energy to someone’s angsty deadpan. And two of the best examples of that kind of character I can think of are Sarah Shahi as Sameen Shaw in POI or Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa Diaz in B99. (They’re both in their 40s, gotta keep that little age gap alive. 😂)

[allaboardthevespa]

Unconditionally

I got bored, and I suddenly felt the urge to write some really sappy (with some angst) Milo Murphy’s Law fluff. I know who Melissa should end up with is a matter of debate, but I’m a proud Team Zalissa member so this fanfic will be about that. Milossa or Bradlissa fans, sorry, but hope you can enjoy this nonetheless. I wasn’t sure what to call this at first, but I listened to the Katy Perry song “Unconditionally” and my brain was like YES so here.

I’m not proud of how this ends, but eh, my brain sucks at ending things. Just hope y’all enjoy this bit of adorable sickfic fluff ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

WARNING: contains relatively graphic scenes of vomit…and becomes extremely tooth-rotting fluff

-- 

It was an ordinary day in Danville – or as ordinary as it could be with the Murphy family’s usual chaos. Milo and Zack’s walk to school had been a heck of a ride, as usual. Runaway concrete pipes, surfing on busted plumbing, falling off cliffs, the whole nine yards. But, as is the norm for Milo Murphy and his friends, everything worked out and they got to school in the nick of time.

 But of course, it didn’t take long for them to realize someone was missing.

 As the students sat in class waiting for Ms. Murawski, Milo looked between him and Zack and noticed a conspicuously empty seat. “Hey, wait a minute,” asked the jinx, “Where’s Melissa?” “I have no idea,” replied Zack, scratching the back of his head in confusion. The other students surrounding them began chattering among themselves, wondering what could’ve happened to the rough-and-tumble redhead. “Maybe she blocked one of her chakras?” Mort suggested with a shrug. Bradley facepalmed, “Mort, she’s not a hippie like you are. She doesn’t do chakras.” “MAYBE DRAKO GOT HER!” panicked Chad, shivering like a leaf and covering his head with his hands. “Don’t panic, everyone,” Amanda cut in, “Knowing what happens in this town, she’s probably caught up in time-travel shenanigans to save a cart of pistachios or something.”

 “Pipe down, class!” came an adult voice. The kids turned to see Ms. Murawski entering the room, just hanging up a phone. “I know you’ve all noticed that Melissa Chase is missing today. Well, it’s simple. She’s just come down with a stomach ache and can’t come in today. No matter, she’ll be able to catch up some other day.” She took out a pencil, “Now, turn your textbooks to page 421.”

 As the other students got to reading, Milo turned to look at Melissa’s empty chair. “That’s too bad,” he sighed, “I don’t even remember the last time she got sick.” He turned to look out the window. “Poor Melissa. She must be feeling pretty down right now.” “Yeah…” Zack agreed, looking crestfallen. “I wish I could help out.” “Well, if you want to, you could,” Amanda suddenly spoke up, “It’s just a little science work, you don’t need to worry about missing it. I think Melissa would be happy to have a little company today.” “Yeah,” Milo agreed with Amanda, “Besides…I’m sure you would love to have a little…” He cleared his throat sarcastically, before giving a smug grin, “Quality time with her.” “Oh, of course,” laughed Amanda, as snickers and ‘oooooh’s went up around the rest of the classroom. Zack flushed a beet-red, flustered by Milo’s joke. “Yes, yes, I’m aware of the, ahem, ‘chemistry’,” he chuckled bashfully, “Alrighty. If you think I should go hang out with her, I’ll go. She could use the company.” “You go, Zack!” cheered Milo, as Zack went to Murawski’s beloved front desk.

 “Excuse me, Ms…may I be excused? I need to use the restroom,” Zack innocently asked, hiding his lie expertly well. “Fine, very well,” Murawski huffed, “Just don’t get lost.” “Thanks, Ms,” he chirped, waving goodbye to the students as he left the room. The moment he slipped out, he scanned the halls for the arrow sign that was labeled “Way Out”, and the minute he saw it, he scampered in that direction. He heard hall monitors yelling at him to not run in the halls, but he couldn’t give less of a damn. Detention could wait. He had a friend to help.

 --

 After a lot of running and following directions on his phone, Zack had arrived in the street where Melissa and her single father lived. Seeing Mr. Chase standing outside his house watering a bush, Zack got on his way to talk to him when he suddenly noticed a butterfly flitting in front of him. Zack watched it fly upwards and noticed it settle on a tree branch covered in wisteria flowers – and an idea registered in Zack’s mind. He reached up and grabbed a small branch covered in a healthy amount of the flowers, wrapped the wood in some tissue paper he brought with him, and wrapped a bow around the flowers to keep them straight. Holding tightly onto the bouquet, he soon made it to the house he was looking for.

 As Mr. Chase was minding his own business, watering that bush, he heard a familiar voice. “Hey, Mr. Chase!” He turned off the hose and whipped around to see Zack, politely standing at his gate with a bouquet of wisteria flowers in hand. “Oh, hello, Zack,” greeted the firefighter, “I imagine you heard about my daughter?” “Yeah, tough break,” Zack replied in a sympathetic tone. “When I heard, I thought I could come down and cheer her up.” “Oh, how nice,” Mr. Chase smiled, “Melissa doesn’t get sick often, but she’s always miserable when she does. I think she’ll be happy to have a friend with her.” “I thought so too,” Zack nodded, following his crush’s father to the door. “Thanks for letting me come around,” he thanked with a grateful wave. “No problem,” the older man replied, “Any friend of my daughter’s is a friend of mine. Hope you two have fun.” “Bye, Mr. Chase,” Zack waved at him as he walked up the stairs to his friend’s room.

 --

 It had not been a fun morning for Melissa. When she awoke, the stomach pain had hit her in full force, and it didn’t take long for her father to realize how out of sorts she was. Neither of them liked when she got sick, but Melissa had a special hatred for the concept of illness. She was a real go-getter, and the thought of having to stay in bed for hours on end and not enjoy her usual hobbies made her feel even sicker than she was already.

 But the worst part of being sick in bed is that, without her mind being preoccupied by daily events caused by school and Murphy’s Law, it tended to wander to some uncomfortable places…and asked some tough questions she didn’t know if she had the answers to.

 Was Milo always gonna be able to keep himself prepared for every situation? 

Will his bad luck come to bite him in a way he can’t protect himself from?

Should she even be asking these questions?

Would Milo WANT her asking these questions?

 The internal crisis she was having made the stress she had grow all the more, and her stomach’s pain intensified with it.

 Melissa was holding her head in distress and shutting her eyes tightly, in a vain attempt to block out those awful questions, when she heard her door creak open. Reluctantly, she slowly opened one of her eyes…and suddenly her heart skipped a beat at who she saw waiting for her in the doorway. She gently pulled herself up from her hunched state as her eyes met his, and gently mumbled “Z-Zack? Is that…really you?” Zack let out a quiet laugh, “Of course it’s me, buddy. I heard you were sick, and I knew I had to be there for you. You are my best friend, after all.” Melissa didn’t notice it, but her cheeks were heating up with a bright red blush as the compliment warmed her heart and soul. “You…really mean that?” she asked, giving a genuine smile. Zack couldn’t help blushing himself at the sight of Melissa giving him a sweet, happy smile with her cheeks tinged red. It was completely adorable.

 To respond to her question, Zack revealed the bouquet of wisteria flowers he’d picked on his way. “If I didn’t mean it, would I get you these?” He approached her in her bed and gently knelt down to her level, “Milo’s told me you love flowers, so when I saw these in your neighborhood, I figured I’d get you a little something.” Melissa gave an adorably surprised gasp, then, as quickly as she could, reached over to grab the bouquet with a cute little giggle. “Wow, I…” she stammered, caressing some of the petals, “That’s really sweet of you.” “It’s the least I could do for you being such a great friend,” Zack responded, watching happily as his best friend held the wisteria bouquet to her chest and face and inhaled deeply. “I’m glad you like them.” “Thanks, Zack,” Melissa gave him the cutest smile ever, “I’m glad you’re here for me.” “Well,” responded the former boyband member, “What are best friends for?”

 --

 From then on, in the following hours, the two best friends made the most of their time together. The two played all sorts of games, shared all sorts of stories, and just being two kids happy in one another’s company. Zack enjoyed every moment, yet throughout it all he couldn’t stop himself taking his eyes off his best friend. Her smile warmed his heart, her giggles were absolutely adorable, and every so often she’d briefly stop what she was doing, turn around and smell the flowers he’d brought her, now sat comfortably in a vase on her bedside table. That was another thing he found to be adorable. It wasn’t often that he saw the redhead able to just loosen up and be a goofball when they weren’t busy trying to stop Murphy’s Law from causing mayhem, but when they got the chance to just be kids, it was something both of them made the most of.

 It was during a quiet break from their fun that things began to take an unexpected turn.

 Zack was watching his best friend cuddled up in her bed, stroking her hair gently, when an uncomfortable-sounding groan emitted from her stomach, and she abruptly shot up and looked at him with a deer-in-the-headlights look. “What’s the matter?” asked Zack, gently grasping her hands. “I…I dunno,” Melissa panted, before she clutched her stomach out of instinct. “I…I’ve never felt l-like this…” She took a shaky breath, “But I feel like I…ugh!” She cringed, and without thinking raised a hand to her mouth. Zack connected the dots right away. He didn’t think they’d be able to make it to the bathroom fast enough at this point. Luckily, his eyes floated to a spare empty flower vase not yet filled with wysterias or whatever other flowers she liked. It wasn’t perfect, but it’d do. He scrambled over and grabbed it, before giving it to Melissa, and sat next to her once more.

 Melissa opened her mouth to say something, but abruptly, she hunched herself over and heaved unpleasantly. Zack couldn’t help cringing, but he knew he had to provide some semblance of comfort. It looked like this was a new experience for her. He gently rubbed her back as each painful retch came, making sure she knew he was there for her even in a time like this. Melissa’s mind didn’t register much else in that moment other than the horrible feeling of her throat and stomach expunging the nasty liquid from her body, and, in sharp contrast, the warm, soft, gentle touch of her best friend.

 In reality, it only took 30 seconds for the retching to stop. To Melissa, it felt like an eternity. Nonetheless, when she was sure she was done, she pulled her head back from the vase and wiped her brow as she set the now puke-filled vase aside. She breathed heavily in an attempt to clear her mind, as what just happened played itself over and over again in her head. She’d never experienced something like that before, and she never wanted to again. Luckily, though, she had her best friend right nearby. Getting a little closer to the sickly go-getter, Zack gently asked her “How do you feel?” Coughing a little, Melissa turned to Zack with a look of pure pain in her eyes. “I…I…” she wiped her brow again, “What…was that? T-that was horrible…” “Relax, Melissa,” Zack did his best to comfort her, “You just vomited. No big deal, it happens to you sometimes if you’re stomach-sick.” “B-But I…” the redhead whimpered, “Th-that hasn’t happened to me before…My dad told me about it when I was super young, and cuz I don’t get sick that often…I never THOUGHT it would happen…” She sighed, “Man, I feel like a dummy now.” Feeling his heart hurt for Melissa’s sorry state, Zack pulled her into a hug, “Hey…you’re no dummy. If this is your first time ever vomiting, no wonder your mind’s in a daze like this. You’ll be alright. You’re always alright, aren’t you?” He put a hand on one of her shoulders and comfortingly looked into her beautiful blue eyes.

 Until she said two words that threw him for a loop…

 “Not really.”

 Zack’s mind took a moment to register what Melissa had just said. Those two, little, mumbled words. “Not really.” What was she implying? Was it what Zack was thinking? No, there’s no way, Melissa was the toughest girl he’d ever known. But, why else would she say that? Gently, he got closer to her, and gently gazed into her eyes, ignoring the blush on his face, and asked “What do you mean by…’not really’?” Melissa flinched a little, not knowing where to begin. The questions in her mind were roaring to get out, and she had to let someone know. She was tired of suffering in silence.

 At that moment, Melissa gently grabbed Zack’s shoulders and began to speak, knowing he’d be there to listen.

 And all the words came flying out.

 “…Zack, I’m scared. I’ve always BEEN scared. Ever since I became Milo’s best friend, I’ve always been worrying myself like crazy about him, worrying that someday he’s gonna get caught in some insane Murphy’s Law accident that he’s not ready for and he’ll get hurt…or worse. And I know it’s really fucking stupid cause it’s goddamn Milo and he’s ALWAYS prepared, but I can’t help myself. And I just feel like a big jerk because Milo wouldn’t WANT me to be worried about him all the time. He’s…fine with the way things are and doesn’t want them to change…but…” She took a shaky breath, and sighed lowly, “I do.” Zack now reached up and rubbed her shoulders as she continued talking, “I don’t want Milo to be stuck with Murphy’s Law. I want him to live and be happy, without always having to look over his shoulder in case of stampeding bison or angry crossing guards or other shit like that. But Milo…he just doesn’t want that…and I feel like a selfish idiot who tries to act like she knows what’s best for everyone…but…” She glanced up, and Zack’s heart leapt at what he saw…

 The toughest, smartest kid he’d known in his life…strong, brave, a born leader with a near-permanent smile…

 She was crying.

 “I just…” she whimpered, not even bothering to wipe away the hot tears streaking down her face, “I feel like such a selfish jackass who doesn’t know what Milo or even you want in your lives…I just don’t want to lose him, or you, or anyone…” She shut her eyes tightly and let a fresh wave of tears out, “And I’ve been lying to you about how I’ve been feeling this whole time…because I just don’t want you guys to see what a fucking mess I really am!” “You’re not a mess-” Zack tried to interrupt, only for Melissa to cut him off. “No, don’t…don’t keep the lie going any longer than it has to…” she sobbed, “I act like I’m tough, but…I’m just a terrified wreck of a person who can’t stand the thought of losing the people she cares about…that’s me. That’s selfish, paranoid, obnoxious Melissa Lily Chase…”

 With that, the broken redhead turned away and started sobbing all-out into her hands, her limbs shaking with every loud sob echoing from her body. She could feel the burn of hot tears rushing down her face, dripping from the tip of her nose onto her bed. Between every choked sob, she tried to take some breaths as if to calm herself, but all attempts failed as the tears kept on coming.

 With every sob Melissa let out, Zack could feel his heart sink a little more. There was a part of him who still couldn’t believe this. How long had Melissa been keeping these feelings at bay? Did she really think that badly of herself just for being worried about Milo? His mind raced with questions, but he honestly couldn’t give less of a damn about getting the answers. All that mattered to him was giving support to someone who very badly needed it.

 Without hesitation, Zack gently put his arms around Melissa’s back, gently rubbing her side with one hand and stroking her hair with the other. It took a moment for Melissa to register what Zack was doing, but the moment she did, she felt her muscles gently ease up at the feeling of his warm embrace. She could still feel her cheeks and nose wet from all the crying she’d been doing, and flushed a little in embarrassment. “I, uh…” she tried to break the silence, “I’m sorry you had to see me like this.” “You don’t need to apologize,” Zack told her gently, “I just wonder why you hadn’t spoken up about your feelings before. Milo’s an understanding guy, he’d be happy to listen to your worries.” “I just…” she sniffled, “I just don’t want Milo to start worrying about what goes on in my head all the time…and I don’t wanna seem like a controlling bitch.” Without warning, Zack put a hand over her mouth the moment she said the word “bitch”. He turned Melissa around to look at him and looked intently into her eyes, and spoke his mind.

 “Listen to me, Melissa. You are not a ‘bitch’. You have never been a bitch. You’re worrying yourself that you’re a terrible person because you actually want what’s best for Milo! There’s nothing wrong with that. I know Milo is fine with the way things are but if you’re not, that’s completely okay. We may not be able to change Murphy’s Law, but we’ll always be able to help Milo throughout everything, and I know that cuz you’ve been doing that for seven years now, and I know you can keep doing that.” He gave her the warmest smile he could manage, despite the fact he now had tears of his own welling up in his eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with being scared, Melissa – as long as you don’t let it change who you are.”

 In that moment, both 13-year-olds found themselves gazing into one another’s tearful eyes. Then, without another word, Melissa got closer to Zack and collapsed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his back. It didn’t take long for Zack to return the embrace, rubbing her back gently to soothe her emotions. They stayed there, in silence, for what felt like hours. Neither of them said a word. They didn’t have to, not right now at least. All they needed right now was right in front of them.

 After so long of being locked in that embrace, Melissa pulled back a little, wiping one more tear from her face, before gently cupping her hands around Zack’s own face and tilted his head up so their eyes could lock once more. Both of them smiled tenderly as the tension that was in their minds evaporated.

Of course, there was just one more thing Melissa felt the need to say…

 “Hey,” she whispered, getting Zack’s full attention. She now moved her hands down to gently clasp his own, and gave him a soft smile, grateful for all of what he’d done for her, not just today but in all the time they’d spent together in the past. She took one more deep breath as if to mentally prepare herself, and spoke the three magic words.

 “I love you.”

 There was a brief moment where Zack felt surprised, but that quickly gave way to an indescribable feeling of happiness, and it didn’t take long for him to respond.

 “I love you too.”

 Without hesitating for a moment, the tomboyish nerd and the dorky jock soon embraced one another in a long, soft kiss, tears of joy now streaming down their faces. Zack brought a hand up to gently caress Melissa’s cheek while Melissa put her arms around his back, deepening the kiss further.

 Once they needed to break for oxygen, the two gently separated their lips, still having their noses touching. Suddenly a knock sounded at the door, and both of them flushed a bit before scrambling off each other – but they were still smiling widely after their passionate love display. The door opened and revealed Mr. Chase with a large cup of tea in hand. “Here you go, sweetie,” he spoke, bringing it over to his daughter, “I made you some tea. See if it helps your stomach.” “Thanks, Dad,” Melissa giggled a little in response. Zack couldn’t help blushing a little at how adorable he found that little laugh of hers. Mr. Chase now thought back to earlier and cringed a little, “I heard what sounded like vomiting earlier. Isn’t that your first time? I hope everything’s okay.” Melissa gave an awkward shrug, “It was scary at first, but…it wasn’t so bad. Especially since Zack was with me.” A sincere smile crossed her face, as she looked over at her best friend-turned-boyfriend, then at her loving father. “I know it sounds weird, but…this has been one of the happiest days I’ve had in a long time. Thank you both, so much. I’m so glad I have you both and Milo and everyone else in my life.” Zack and Mr. Chase now both brought Melissa into a group hug, and the former Lumberzack gently thanked her himself, “And thank you for being in ours.”

The End

[tastypeachstudios]

Hey Peaches! Many of you have been asking for months and years about when we will be announcing new plush designs. You have been patient and understanding as we have joined forces with Aurora World (a huge accomplishment for any small brand) and seen our plush go from Artist Alleys at anime conventions to shops and other retail locations across the world. Growth and change like this comes with challenges, including a global pandemic impacting supply and manufacturing chains, and has kept us from being able to announce something very exciting, but we're finally able to scream it from the roof-tops:

NEW PLUSH HAVE DROPPED!!!

A whole new line-up of your most beloved characters in new color variants and designs are shipping in early 2023, and are available for pre-order NOW so you can take advantage of our Black Friday sale. So get ready... here's who's coming for you to snuggle:

NEW MEOWCHI:

Marble Soda, Ube Purple Yam, Pistachio, Earl Grey Tea, Guava, Kona Coffee, Thai Tea, and Coconut!

These new friends will be a part of our regular Meowchi line-up, but quantities in each round of creation are limited, so we encourage you to pre-order for any particular one you absolutely need to prevent disappointment. They are waiting to cuddle with you and listen to all your secrets!

SUSHI MEOWCHI KEYCHAINS:

Aurora World saw your passion and excitement for this product despite it not meeting the Kickstater stretch goal, and they have picked it up to be produced! For a limited time, they will be offered at a special discounted price for our fans as a thank-you for showing Aurora how much you wanted these to be made!!

NEW GIANT UNICORN MEOWCHI:

Your beloved Giant Unicorn Meowchi family is now being expanded! You voted for her as a fan favorite, and Ink Drop is now available for pre-order!

NEW NOMWHALS:

Please say hello and accept all the love from Sunny Day, Thunderstorm, Avocado, Peach, and Dragon Fruit!

We are so happy and excited to show you how the Tasty Peach family is growing. We realize this is quite the drop, and it is all thanks to you, our fans, for supporting us and pushing us to do bigger and better every year. We cannot thank each of you enough for the last decade plus of support, love and believing in us. Together we have shown the world what is possible, that a small artist with a big heart can connect with hundreds of thousands of wonderful plush collectors all over the planet. And thanks to you, there will be so many new designs and cute items to collect in the years to come. We hope you all are as excited as we are for the new lines!

Not in a place to pre-order right now? Our fans are our family, and without you, we wouldn't be here. What helps us grow and continue to bring you new and delightful designs to collect is if you ask your local favorite store to carry Tasty Peach brand by Aurora World. So next time you pop by a local shop, ask them!

Again thank you from the bottom of my heart <3

xoxo -Riss

[healthyartsforseniors]

Dairy Free Kheer by Sheniz

We are days away from the book launch of "Cooking Up Feminism" and right in the midst of welcoming Spring with Nowruz (Persian New Year) and Ramzan | Ramadan, 2023. Let's celebrate with a beautiful bowl of Kheer. I invited Nature Artist and Poet, Sheniz Janmohamed - who has guest-facilitated for "Cooking Up Feminism" - to submit her dairy-free recipe of this beloved sweet dish, enjoyed in a variety of unique ways in countries across South Asia.

When I was growing up, kheer (Indian rice pudding) was my favourite dessert. While it wasn’t a dessert we made at home, it was one I always ordered when we went out for special meals or occasions. There was something about the first spoonful of rich, creamy kheer that enlivened all my senses and awakened the nostalgia of my ancestral homeland— India. When I switched over to non-dairy alternatives, I missed the familiarity and decadence of kheer. It was during one of the silent retreats with my Teacher that I was introduced to a healthier, vegan version of rice pudding, singing with notes of cinnamon.

Dairy Free Kheer by Sheniz

During the pandemic, I’d make myself warm bowls of kheer, sit by the window and watch chickadees flit about the trees. It was a small comfort on long, dark days of uncertainty. It brought me back home, and hugged me in the reminder that even though I felt alone, I wasn’t. I had the recipes of my ancestors and teachers at my very fingertips. ~ Sheniz

Ingredients:

1 cup of basmati rice 1 cup of unsweetened oat milk 2-3 tbs of honey or agave syrup 1 tsp of vanilla extract 3-5 stems of saffron 1 tbs of cardamom powder 1 tbs of rosewater A sprinkle of cinnamon A sprinkle of nutmeg

Garnish:

2 tsps of slivered almonds or pistachios 1 tsp of edible rose petals

Steps:

Soak a cup of basmati rice for about 10 minutes. Rinse it of stones and husks.

Boil rice and strain, setting aside for later.

Heat a cup of oat milk in a pot on medium heat until it begins to simmer.

Swirl in 2 tablespoons of honey or agave syrup. Add according to your sweet tooth :)

Scatter in 3 - 5 stems of saffron and stir until the mixture turns a pale golden hue.

Add in 1 tablespoon of cardamom powder.

Sprinkle in cinnamon and nutmeg.

Swirl in a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Add rice and lower temperature to medium.

Stir gently until it achieves the consistency and taste you like— you can add in more milk or hot water if you want it runnier.

Gently stir in one tablespoon of rosewater before garnishing— rosewater tends to get lost in cooking, so it’s best to add at the last stage before serving.

Garnish with crushed edible rose petals and nuts, then serve.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful, sweet recipe with our community, Sheniz! Stay tuned as we launch "Cooking Up Feminism" in book form on March 25th, 2023.

[hylianengineer]

When you get this, please respond with five things that make you happy! Then it send to the last ten people in your notifications (anonymously). You never know who might benefit from spreading positivity. ♡

Um, let's see here.

1. Art projects! Crochet, embroidery, sewing, etc. I am very into fiber arts right now.

2. My beloved internet friends! That includes you anon, thanks for sending me this.

3. Good food. I went grocery shopping this morning and it is very nice to finish putting everything away and just look at the cabinets full of good snacks. I am currently eating pistachios. Pistachios are nice.

4. Soft fuzzy blankets

5. When someone calls you by the right name or pronouns. I pretend to be cis in my everyday life, but then I come on the internet and go by they/them and use my screenname which now feels more me than my real name. And everytime someone uses them I smile.

[ugh-yoongi]

Hiiiii my love: 12, 19, and 26 for the ask game?

hello my beloved <3 thank u!

12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours? i don't think i have? i was really close when we were in LA because i'm pretty sure i got a total of five hours of sleep that entire trip but i always conk out eventually

19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? i think the only thing i'd go back in time to do is NOT take out my student loans dlfgkdfg so yeah it might be worth it

26: What are you craving right now? PISTACHIO COLD FOAM COLD BREW and maybe a disgusting greasy breakfast sandwich

ask me horrible questions!

[raviposting]

Top 5 cakes

thank you for asking the real questions i fucking love cake

Tres leches my beloved <3

White chocolate raspberry cheesecake my beloved <3

Carrot cake

Raspberry chocolate mousse

Oooh. Probably a pistachio or coconut cake

Ask me my Top 5 anything!

[cakeplusg]

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