#the future is uncertain and scary

[astriiformes]

It's hard to put into words just how difficult and winding my undergraduate experience has been, but I'm going to try anyways. I never would have expected it would take 10 years at 3 schools, but I'm unbelievably grateful to everyone that helped me along the way. And proud! I actually did it!

When I graduated high school, everyone told me I was going to thrive in college. I'd been a high-achieving honor student and their expectations made sense.

But I was also a neurotic, closeted trans guy with undiagnosed ADHD, autism, cPTSD, OCD, & a host of other things that made college challenging. It didn't help that I started school in the honors college at a prestigious university that threw me to the wolves as soon as my mental health floundered. My second university tried harder to help me, but it still wasn't enough--though I'm still very grateful to everyone who gave it a go.

Some of you know just how rough those challenges were. I ended up in the hospital at one point, and remained in some really dark places afterwards, unsure if I had a future at all. It was awful, and scary. I felt like I'd failed everyone who told me I was bright and had good things ahead of me, but most of all, I felt like I'd failed myself.

In the end what I needed was time. I needed time to come out and live as myself, to move to another state where I had friends and more of a social support system, to figure out what I was actually interested in. Time to grow & thrive.

I'm not bitter towards the people who told me college would be a breeze for me, but I wish our school system was better at noticing when even high-achieving students are on the path towards burnout. For those of us who are "twice-exceptional," that can be literally life-saving.

In any case. Thank you to my social support system, and to every disability resources coordinator, mental health professional, academic advisor, and understanding professor who helped me get here. I am deeply grateful that even when I was struggling, they saw potential in me. And as someone who wants to pursue a career in academia, difficult as that is right now, I hope I can ultimately be as helpful and encouraging to others as so many people have been to me. I couldn't have gotten here alone, and I'm glad I didn't have to.

[dailyhogz]

322. congratulations on making it through the year! <3

[nnicknnelsonn]

kit on his and joe’s careers

once again YouTuber @devyn bringing all the good things (X)

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

they call me the griever because halfway through a thing I enjoy I’m already sad that it’s closer to being over

[l-cereta]

It’s crazy how life like. Gets better

[mossangelll]

So hear me out….pregnant reader with Sevika’s kid. Sevika doting on reader. Bring home a weird craving reader has been having and talking to the baby telling them how excited she is to finally meet them.

I need fluff, I need pregnancy, I need it to be hers naturally.

Thank yooooooooou!

this is so cute i loved writing it! i just know sevika would be a great parent ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

sevika x pregnant reader headcanons

cw: pregnancy, slight innuendos, mentions of violence, veryyyy slight angst at the start

sevika never saw herself being a parent; not because she doesn’t like kids, it’s the complete opposite - she adores them

she felt it was selfish to want to bring a child into a fucked up world like zaun, full of hardship and uncertain futures

but then one night you tearfully turn to sevika in bed and her mind immediately goes into overdrive, are you hurt? is someone threatening you?

“sevika…i’m pregnant.”

you’re both sent into a still silence, unable to see each other but somehow feeling each other’s shock that much more

you’re worried that she’s upset or even mad at you, you know how she feels about having kids, until she’s gripping onto you with all her might, body shuddering from the force of her tears

sevika spoons you to sleep but she can’t fall asleep since her mind is racing about what this means for the future

she is overjoyed to say the least, albeit worried

from that moment on she dotes on you even more than she ever did, saying she needs to “look after my two favourite people.”

she rarely enjoyed pda but now you’re pregnant with her child, she can’t keep her hands off you - she needs to let everyone know that she’s completely smitten with you and the baby

sevika is constantly rubbing her hands on your baby bump wherever you go - just the sight of you and the baby calms her down

however she’ll only talk to the baby when you’re at home all safe and sound because this is when she admits her innermost fears

you stroke her soft hair as she whispers to the bump about how she’s scared she won’t be able to protect you both; after all, sevika works for the biggest crime lord in zaun and a child only provides more ammunition for enemies to utilise

sevika is also concerned about not being a good enough parent to the child but when you look at her building a crib from scratch, concentration furrowing her dark brows, with buckets of paint surrounding her from all the swatches you requested, you know that her worries couldn’t be further from the truth

every morning and every night, without fail, she kisses your forehead and baby bump as she rambles to you both about how excited she is for the completion of your little family

she dotes on you so much!

if you have a weird craving like pickle juice with sparkling water she’s forcing chuck to drop all his orders and make yours stat

if you’re craving some obscure dish that really shouldn’t exist sevika isn’t even going to question it

she’s in the kitchen whipping it up for you as you’re sat on the counter, humming as she prepares your meal

she does that thing where she puts the plate just in your reach but yanks it back again, laughing at how petulant you get

“what, you’re not gonna kiss the chef first?”

she gives it to you eventually, she could never make you wait for too long, and watches on with a goofy little smile and your lipstick marks all over her face as you contentedly eat the downright atrocious meal she made with love

sevika is always with you; call her overprotective or clingy she doesn’t care, she just doesn’t want to risk anybody hurting you or the baby

you basically get scary dog privileges everywhere you go

if your pregnancy hormones say the annoying store clerk that spoke to you in a condescending tone needs to die then sevika is on it right away

ok not really, she talks you down from your moments of bloodlust but she will deal with anyone that is rude to you

“you think i’m gonna let you get away with being an asshole to my dove, huh?”

lowkey shocked (and equal parts turned on) at how cranky your raging hormones make you 😭

sevika is incredibly attracted to you and your changing body even though you get insecure that she won’t like you anymore because of it

she takes her precious time every day just kissing the new stretch marks that appear and massaging your swollen ankles

you spend your date nights talking about baby names and you two even draw what you think the baby will look like

her drawing mainly consists of your features

your drawing mainly consists of her features

you two are so down bad for each other it’s sickening

silco has to force sevika to take more time off; she’s loyal and deserves to have more downtime with you as you prepare for your baby

he understands what it’s like to have a kid, how stressful it can be so he wants his dearest friend to enjoy the moment as much as possible

speaking of silco, he helps sevika host a surprise baby shower at the last drop and an insane amount of people turn up

you cry when you realise how loved and respected you are in the community

everyone is having the time of their lives playing games like blind diaper changing, who knows mum/dad the best, guess the baby, etc.

no gender reveal though she’s traditional in that regard and wants to wait until the baby’s born to find out

jinx is also very excited about the new arrival in the family

yes, she considers you and sevika to be part of her family and it’s very cute

she gets to be an auntie!

jinx spends all her free time making all sorts of toys out of softer materials because she’s considerate (also sevika warned her not to use scrap metal, or implement sharp edges, or even add teeny tiny smoke bombs - jinx scrapped all of her designs and had to start from scratch), for your baby with her signature graffiti of course

her and sevika probably work together to make some of the furniture for the baby’s room

sevika is very proud when people ask to feel bump

“yeah, this is our kid.” smug grin plastered onto her face and a strong arm wrapped around your midsection

you can’t help but roll your eyes when she does this because at this point who doesn’t know it’s your kid - she spends all day talking about it 😭

all in all sevika is honestly the best mother and wife you could ask for <3

masterlist

[bibyebae]

" Men in Gaza do cry.

When they lose their homes that they spend their

whole lives building, they cry

When they see their dreams and hopes getting destroyed, they cry.

When they realise how scary and uncertain their future is, they cry.

And because they are human beings, full of feelings and emotions, they cry."

This is an excerpt from a 35-year-old Palestinian's account of life in Gaza under siege.

Ziad has been writing for the Guardian about the realities of the Israeli bombardment, as he, his sister and their pets, flee their home in Gaza City in the hope of survival.

You can read his diary entries in full via the link:

[luvrrszn]

dog tags and love letters

SIMON "GHOST" RILEY x FEM!READER

summary how he meets the sweet girl he now calls home

warnings fluff heh...inaccuracies

a/n self-indulgent and probably inaccurate. i got a new laptop heh. it's sky blue. it's beautiful. heh.

masterlist

ghost is the kind of guy who doesn't dwell on the past or plan too far in the future. because both are uncertain, and both can be gone in an instant. he moves through life with a soldier's mindset—one step at a time, one day at a time, one mission at a time.

survival isn't about looking too far ahead, it's about making it through the next op, the next fight, the next breath.

he’s disciplined, calculated, but there’s an underlying detachment to it all. he knows better than to get too comfortable, to expect stability. attachments make things complicated. plans make things dangerous. so he takes things as they come, keeps moving forward, and doesn’t stop to think about what’s next until it’s right in front of him.

but everything as he knows it changes when he meets you.

—

you're like a breath of fresh air.

the first time ghost sees you is from across the bar at a pub. you're nursing a bottle of beer, deep in thought, and you don't even notice the giant staring at you through his skull balaclava.

johnny gets to you first, striking up a conversation with ease while ghost watches from afar. through his heavy scottish accent, he points out everyone in the bar. price, gaz, johnny, ghost?

johnny drags you over to ghost as you giggle, "what kind of name is that? ghost?"

the withering glare ghost sends in your direction is enough to send others skittering away. but you don't back down. you glare back at him, remarking to johnny, "careful, johnny. people are going to think your scary guard dog bites."

johnny barks out a laugh, clapping ghost on the shoulder like he’s just been let in on the best joke of the night. "oh, i like her."

ghost, on the other hand, does not react. he simply shifts his weight, regarding you with an unreadable expression. his eyes flicker over you—assessing, calculating, deciding if you're worth his time.

"depends," he finally rumbles, voice low and gravelly. "y'planning on sticking y'hand in my mouth?"

johnny wheezes, smacking the table, while you tilt your head, amused. "so you do bite?"

ghost doesn't answer, but something about the way his gaze lingers tells you he’s not used to people who don’t flinch away from him. who don’t try to appease him or impress him.

you take a sip of your beer, unfazed. "good to know."

johnny grins, watching the silent exchange like he's just won a bet. "bloody hell, i think you've just become his new favourite."

you roll your eyes. "i'm honoured."

ghost shakes his head slightly, but you don’t miss the way his shoulders loosen just a fraction. and when you get up to grab another beer, you swear you feel his eyes on you the entire way to the bar.

—

it happens slowly. subtly. almost without either of you realizing.

he starts asking you to call him simon instead. "t'you, 'm always simon, darling. never ghost."

at first, it's just coincidence. running into each other at the pub when 141 is back from a mission. simon doesn’t talk much, but he listens. he watches. you learn that under all that intimidation, there’s a man who notices the smallest details—how you like your drinks, when you get quiet because you're thinking too hard, the way your fingers drum against the bar when you're restless.

then, it’s convenience. he starts walking you home when the night runs late, always a few steps behind, silent but steady. one time, you try to wave him off, saying you're fine on your own. he just stares at you and says, "i know. humor me." you let him.

it turns into habit. him waiting for you after work. him pulling out a chair for you at the bar. him handing you his jacket when it's cold because, "you're shivering, stop bein' stubborn."

you complain, but you wear it anyway.

and then it’s something more.

you find yourself on edge every time he's away on a mission. you worry about him constantly. you check your phone every night, hoping that he's texted you that he's back.

—

one day, you're sitting on a bar stool at your kitchen island, back facing the main door. you're typing away on your computer, finishing up an email for work when you feel the air in the room shift.

like someone is there.

and you're terrified.

but when you turn around, that's when you see him.

the man who's basically a giant hunk of muscle.

simon.

he had let himself in using the spare key you'd given him ages ago. he didn't even bother going home first.

he came straight to you.

he drops his bag on the floor and doesn't even have time to shed his tactical gear before you're barreling into him at full speed. you leap into his arms, your legs wrapped around his body.

your arms are wrapped around his neck as you bury your face in his shoulder. he has one arm wrapped around your back and uses the other to pull off his balaclava.

"missed you, si," you mumble into his shoulder, "was so worried about you."

"nothin' to worry bout, sweet girl. am home now, aren't i?" he chuckles, warm breath blowing against your ear.

his usage of the word "home" doesn't go unnoticed by you.

that's when you realise—falling for him, it's a slow, quiet thing. but it's inevitable.

simon doesn't say much, but he never has to. the way he holds you—like he's afraid to let go—says enough. his fingers dig into your back, his breath is a little shaky when he exhales, and you know. you just know.

but neither of you say anything about it. not yet.

instead, he lets you fuss over him. you make him sit while you heat up leftovers, filling his plate like he hasn’t eaten in days. he doesn’t argue. just watches you with those sharp eyes, tracking every movement.

later, when you’re both on the couch—him in his usual spot, you curled up beside him, your head against his chest—you hear it.

his heartbeat. steady. grounding.

suddenly, he pauses the movie and lifts you onto his lap such that you're facing me.

"pet, i have somethin' to say. hear me out, okay?" he sounds unsure. and you're nervous. simon is never unsure.

"yeah, yeah. what's up si? you're kinda scaring me."

"no, love, it's nothing bad, i promise." he lets out a nervous chuckle and takes your small hand into those bear paws of his.

"somewhere along the way," he starts, voice hoarse, "i realised i stopped going through the motions of each mission. i stopped doing what i just had to do. i wasn't thinking about the missions anymore, not like i used to. i was just trying to finish as quickly as i could so i could get home to you."

your heart stutters in your chest, like you're unsure if you've heard him right. you let out a shaky breath, "si..."

and you see his face fall. no, no, no. he must've thought you were rejecting him. and after he'd been vulnerable with you, something he never was around anyone at all.

his expression hardens, as he begins, "forget it, it was stupid—"

you cut him off by pressing your lips onto his.

at first, the kiss is gentle. like simon is terrified you'll crumble if he even moves an inch. but then it grows hungry. you've both been waiting for this moment for so long.

it's hungry, messy, a mess of tongue and teeth.

when you finally break apart, panting, you both stay there for a moment, forehead to forehead, trying to catch your breath. the world feels like it’s stopped, and it’s just you two, finally in sync after everything that’s been unsaid. his hands are on your back, pulling you closer, like he’s afraid if he lets go, you’ll slip away.

you lean back just slightly to look at him, your eyes searching his, still trying to make sense of the overwhelming rush of emotions.

"you’re not stupid, si," you say softly, your voice shaky but firm. "i’ve been waiting for this too. for you. i just... didn’t know how to say it."

his thumb traces your cheek, wiping away the stray tear you hadn’t even noticed had fallen. "you’ve always had this way of... making me feel like maybe i could be more than jus' a soldier, y'know?"

you smile, a tear escaping despite yourself. "you already are, simon. to me, you’re everything."

he smiles back, but it’s different now. it’s not guarded or hardened. it’s raw, and real. and it’s all for you.

"guess ’m not going anywhere either," he murmurs, pulling you back into him, pressing his lips to your temple.

and this time, you know—without a doubt—that no matter the missions, no matter the distance, this is where you both belong.

[moldspace]

when i was brainstorming this fundraiser my absolute most optimistic, pie-in-the-sky dream was to break a thousand dollars raised. i thought probably i'd manage to raise five or six hundred bucks. but i just donated almost TWO THOUSAND dollars to trans continental pipeline!!! i honestly can't believe it! thank you ALL for the sticker purchases, likes, and reblogs - this is all YOU GUYS!!! i know the future is uncertain and scary, but hopefully we've just helped to make it a little less scary and a little less difficult for someone (or many someones) who need the help that TCP offers.

there's also still time to buy a sticker if you want to help break that $2k mark!! i'll still be donating all money made off the remaining sticker stock to TCP as they sell <3

[ghostlyferrettarot]

🎀Pick a Picture:✧˚.🎀༘⋆A glimpse into your near future✧˚.🎀༘⋆

•Pile 1 •Pile 2 •Pile 3

❗️This is a collective reading, take what resonates and leave the rest❗️

✨️Paid Services ✨️ (Natal charts and tarot readings) Open!

🫧Join my Patreon for exclusive content!🫧

🌸If you like my work you can support me through Ko-fi. Thank you!🌸

🎀Masterlist🎀

🍎 Pile 1: The Chariot, 6 of Wands and 8 of Wands.

Hi pile 1! The near future is full of movement, and once you take the reins of your destiny, there will be no turning back. I see your energy coming into contact with new ones, for some reason I feel that some of you will receive a promotion or a manifestation that you have long awaited will come true, but it is not just about waiting for things to happen; it is about making decisions with confidence, about putting your energy in motion towards a goal that has been waiting for you. You may be tempted to stay where you are, to wait for one more sign, but this is the push you needed, the time is now.

However, remember balance. Don't be carried away by impulsiveness; keep your emotions in check to not fall into the temptation of acting only on instinct. The success that awaits you will be achieved only if you have control over yourself and over the circumstances. You have the inner strength to move forward, you just need to trust in your ability to guide you. The energy is in your favor, but discipline is essential!

🍎 Advice: If you have been in doubt about a project or an important decision, this is the time to move forward with your ideas. You have the power to move forward, but make sure you are clear about your goal.

🍎Song:

🩷Pile 2: Death, 4 of Cups and 2 of Pentacles.

Hi pile 2! The near future brings a cycle of closure, of necessary closure that will make room for something much bigger. You are likely leaving behind a phase of your life that no longer serves you, whether in relationships, work, or limiting beliefs. This change may seem painful or scary at first, but it is a necessity for your evolution.

Embrace this process without fear, "only when something dies, can it be reborn" . The changes that are to come can transform your life in ways that you cannot imagine right now. Perhaps not everything will be easy, but what is to come will be much more aligned with what your soul needs. It will take you to the place you need to be and you will meet the right people for you <3

🩷 Advice: Don't hold on to what is happening. Although the closing of this cycle may feel uncertain, remember that the future has something much brighter for you. Open your mind and heart to the new.

🩷Song:

📘Pile 3: The Sun, 9 of Cups and 10 of Pentacles.

Hi pile 3! I see a future full of optimism, joy and clarity. If lately you have been feeling that things were not moving forward or that something was blocking you, the Sun is here to show that the shadows will not last forever. Something wonderful is about to arrive, and all you need to do is allow the light to enter your life. This is a time of rebirth, of starting over with a new perspective, allow yourself to welcome good changes and new starts!

To make this process faster there are past wounds, resentments or doubts that could be blocking this light from shining completely in your life. The future is waiting for you with open arms, but to welcome the new, you need to let go of the old. Only when you do, you will be able to welcome the clarity and happiness that is to come.

📘 Advice: Enjoy the small moments and stop being afraid of happiness. You are about to experience a rebirth. Believe in your power to create a new life. The light is coming.

📘Song:

✧˚.🎀༘⋆Thanks for reading and let me know if it resonated!✧˚.🎀༘⋆

[ellicler]

okay a list of things making me insane about vincent & thomas in no particular order:

vincent is an A grade bullshitter. 'my health is perfect thank you!' -> he realises it's only a matter of time that lawrence learns about him. ['you must tell me about this treatment'] 'must i, dean?' (with the full intention of telling him lol. can't stop himself from trolling a bit.)

'his holyness refuses to get dressed' 'i was waiting for you to come' bitch??? one of thee most insane changes from script to movie??

vincent knows he doesn't owe him an explanation. they both know there's nothing lawrence can do about any of it by this point. but vincent still wants to tell him!! he believes lawrence will judge him fairly!! he wants to help him understand!

he's still nervous though. and very good at hiding it. but the way he sits in the corner, hand in his lap, and looks up with that uncertain quick smile once lawrence towers over him...... ughhhhh.

ok. lawrence thinks he has failed. he hasn't uncovered the truth in time, the only purpose the late holy father put him in there. he's not only scared about the Repercussions but also bitterly reproaching himself.

he believes vincent. in his heart if not with his mind, not yet. he's trying to reconcile it intellectually. he sits outside in the hall and sees a turtle. he sits in his room as the shutters go up. he doesn't know if his failure is good or bad, a divine blessing or a sin. he's doubting. he finally finds a measure of peace in that uncertainty the way he wished in his sermon!!

obviously lawrence is falling ass over teakettle in love with him (and who wouldn't) but it's not... blind love, not just infatuation. it's... a desire to see what the future brings. a willingness to look, in spite of fear. la iglesia es lo que hagamos en adelante.

benitez's love is about care. seeing the best version of you and helping you become that. he challenges lawrence so openly and passionately (i love the dialogue about serving god vs serving the church in the book... benitez is like 'i'm at peace with god wanting us to have a schism') because he trusts lawrence can understand him.

it's about the miracle of changing your mind. because you understand something new the other person has revealed to you. it's hard and scary. it's grace.

[tarotwithavi]

A letter from your future self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

How to choose a pile?

Close your eyes and take a deep breath and ask the angels to show you the right pile for you and open your eyes. The first pile that catches your attention is the right pile for you.

This is a general reading so only take what resonates and leave the rest.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT 🫶🏻💞

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 1

Dear past me,

This is me sending you a big hug through this letter. It feels like you’re always pushing, always defending what you believe in. It’s been tough, I know. But I want you to remember something important: this struggle is shaping you into someone strong and unshakeable. Each time you stand your ground, you are becoming more of who you are meant to be.

There is a quiet power within you that often gets overlooked, even by you. It’s that deep, inner knowing ,your intuition that whispers truths only you can hear. Trust it. Trust yourself. You don’t always need to shout to be powerful; sometimes, the most potent strength comes from within, from a place of stillness and certainty. Let that inner voice guide you, even when things seem uncertain or confusing.

And speaking of confusion, I know there are moments when everything feels like a blur, like you’re lost in a fog and can’t see the path ahead. Those moments are scary, but they are also where your deepest wisdom lies. Don’t fear the unknown. Dive into it. Embrace it. This journey isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about discovering who you are when the light is dim, and the road is unclear.

I want you to know that your fire is what makes you unique. Your passion, your creativity, and your ability to lead with courage even when you’re scared, that's your gift to the world. You don’t need to hide your light or dim it for anyone. Keep that flame burning bright, because it will guide you through the darkest nights.

Remember, I’m already here, living the life you’re dreaming of. I’ve faced the fears, the battles, and the doubts, and I’ve come out the other side stronger and more certain of who I am. And you will, too. Trust in the journey, trust in yourself, and know that you are exactly where you need to be right now. Keep going. The future is waiting, and it’s more beautiful than you can imagine.

With love and faith,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 2

Dear troubled me,

I see you there, carrying so much on your shoulders, wondering if it's all going to be worth it. You've put in the work, tried so hard to make things right, and yet sometimes it feels like you're stuck in the same place, like nothing is changing. I know you're tired. I know you're feeling the weight of all the choices you've made and the dreams that haven’t turned out the way you’d hoped. But I promise you every step you’ve taken, every seed you’ve planted, is leading you somewhere important. Even when you can’t see it yet.

I know you’ve been overwhelmed. It feels like you’re doing everything alone, like no one really understands the pressure you're under. You’ve been carrying responsibilities that aren’t always yours to bear, trying to hold everything together, and sometimes, it just feels like too much. And it’s okay to admit that. It’s okay to feel like you need a break. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You’re allowed to put down what isn’t yours and take care of yourself first.

You’ve also faced those moments of disappointment the kind that stays with you, that makes you question your choices and what you’ve lost along the way. I know it’s hard to see past what didn’t work out, to not let it define you. But what I want you to remember is that these moments are not the end of your story. They are a part of your journey, a testament to your courage to keep moving, to keep feeling, to keep believing in something more.

There will be nights when you feel like you can’t escape your thoughts, when the fears and worries seem to have no end. You are stronger than those thoughts. You are more than your darkest moments. You have the ability to change your narrative, to find your way back to peace. I know it feels heavy right now, but you have it within you to rise above it.

There is a new path waiting for you. A chance to step into something different, something that lights you up in ways you never thought possible. A fresh start where you’re no longer bound by what’s held you back, where you trust yourself enough to take that leap into the unknown. Your spirit is ready for this, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. Trust in the adventure that’s unfolding for you. Believe in the magic of new beginnings, and know that the future you’ve been dreaming of is closer than you think.

With all the love and faith in your strength,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 3

Dear Me,

I am writing to you from a time when things are clearer and lighter. I know right now, life feels like a series of choices and uncertainties. You’re standing at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take. But I want to remind you of something very important: trust yourself. You have a pure heart and a courageous spirit, and that's all you need to move forward.

Life is bringing you a connection that is deep and meaningful. Embrace it fully, without fear. It might not look like what you expect or come at the most convenient time, but it will fill your heart in ways you can’t imagine. This is your time to take a leap, to jump into new experiences without overthinking, without doubting. This journey might feel risky, but it will lead you to places where your soul feels alive.

Along the way, you’ll meet someone or maybe a part of yourself who is passionate, romantic, and perhaps a bit of a dreamer. They (or you) will inspire you to see the beauty in the small things again. Follow these feelings; they are your compass. But remember, not everything will be perfect. There will be moments of conflict and struggle. Sometimes, it will feel like people are challenging you or taking advantage of you. There will be a sense of loss or tension, like you've been fighting battles that wear you down.

But through these struggles, you’ll discover something powerful within yourself. You’ll learn what is truly worth fighting for and what isn’t. You'll grow wiser, stronger, and more determined. You'll start to see yourself in a new light a light that burns bright with confidence, creativity, and fire. You’ll become the person who knows her worth and doesn’t settle for less.

In the end, you’ll find a place of peace and abundance. A place where you’re comfortable in your own skin, where you feel secure and proud of what you’ve built for yourself. You’ll be surrounded by the things you love and the people who cherish you. This is the life waiting for you , a life that feels rich not just in material things but in spirit and joy.

So, dear me, be brave. Be bold. Trust the path, even when it twists and turns. Know that everything is leading you to a future where you stand strong, radiant, and fulfilled.

With love,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

[mrpicasso-face]

The mountain

Has fallen silent

The rivers of fire

Have cooled,

Hardened,

Into lifeless,

Black stone.

A soft breeze

Rolls across the land

Kicking up clouds of ash

That swirl about like ghosts

The souls of those buried

By the mountain's wrath.

Amid the hissing of the clouds,

Something stirs.

Something

Long forgotten.

That which caused the mountain to stir

All those years ago.

Does it yet live?

If so,

What will it do

When it rises?

Will it destroy what's left of the world?

Or

Will it simply kill

Those of us

Who still live here?

[formylovetodaryldixon]

“What it means to me.” Daryl Dixon Imagine.

After Daryl separates from you, Sasha and Abraham, he tries to find his way back to the person he considers his home. And in the midst of his fight to survive, the ring he’s been hiding for a while is taken away, but that ring is more than just a ring: It's the only promise he can make to you, that he will love only you.

A/N: I love doing these cheesy imagines, thinking that Daryl is the person who would hold on to just one person for the rest of his life (To you, me, and the rest of this beautiful community hehe). I wrote this years ago when I had my old page, which I deleted, so sorry if this isn't exactly the same as the episode. Hope you like it! And THANK U SO MUCH FOR THE LOVE MY LAST IMAGINE RECEIVED, it's crazy to think people like what I write. (Sorry if there are mistakes, it's 4:30am so I'll correct them in the morning hehe)

Daryl keeps pushing his motorcycle through the burned forest where everything in sight is black, between the charred bodies of the walkers, with some of them still growling, a low sound the wind takes away. His leather jacket is torn and the blood from his wounds gushes through them, his body hurting and aching, his energy draining out as he breathes deeply through his mouth, but when he can no longer push, giving in to the pain in his cramped muscles, Daryl drops the motorcycle to a side.

Everything happened in a blink.

Minutes earlier Abraham drove the RV with you and Sasha as he made a joke about how amazing it was to see a parade of walkers behind you all. The path had nothing but trees on both sides and a big horde coming down the hill, following the roar of the engine. Still riding his motorcycle, Daryl had turned in the turnoff to his right toward a street of abandoned houses, but the silence broke when bullets whistled in the air: it was there that he separated from you and your friends.

“(Y/N)?” He says through the walkie–talkie. “Sasha? Abraham? Ya there?”

But only the static returns the greeting from the other side, so he turns it off. Daryl removes the leather glove from his bloody left hand, his leather jacket next to wipe his own wounds. But it’s you what fills his mind, his heart beating frantically with the thought of you been away from him, but Daryl knows he has to trust you are going to be fine on your own, you, who had always been so feisty. However, now, his only purpose in that unpredictable life is to find a way back to you.

Daryl Dixon never thought much about the future, always living one day at a time in that uncertain world, but the ring he's been hiding in his shirt pocket weighs now with the regret of living a life half–heartedly, always cautious, never brave when it comes to love. Because, yeah, Daryl had never been lucky when it came to love someone, always kept away from that suffocating feeling when it was never reciprocated by his parents. But with you it had been different, liberating, like a reminder that that feeling makes you feel lighter than a feather, and not as if you were weighing lead while drowning deep into the sea.

And although it’s scary to lose you, terrifying, it’s worse for him not to live by your side, a full life this time, like never before. Daryl never thought about being someone’s something, but now, he just wants to be able to ask you if he can be your husband.

But when a branch breaks near him, bringing him back to the present, Daryl watches the place and its surroundings before hiding his motorcycle under some bushes; he then picks up his crossbow and walks toward that noise, with the light steps of a hunter. However, before being ambushed, Daryl circles a tree and points at two women who turn around, raising their hands in the air to show they are harmless.

“Hey. You found us. Okay?” The woman with the long hair says, moving slowly in front of the other, her body blocking any possible attack. “Here we are. We owned what we took.”

Almost imperceptibly, her gaze moves to a side, but when Daryl follows it, a man knocks him down.

It takes Daryl a few hours to emerge from that thick fog of confusion, a blurry vision from the pain that blends with the blackness all around. Now, Dwight, who points at Daryl from behind with his gun, pushes him out of the last bushes of the forest, but the sight in front of them is not what his captors are hoping to see, so they walk past him, looking in frustration towards the other side of the fence that holds up the walkers that haunts the place, with endless grunts, hands and mouths always open.

They talk about following the plan they already had, but in the middle of the exchange of ideas, Tina, the short–haired blonde girl faints over her sister, exhausted after a long walk. The sudden commotion appears as an opportunity in front of Daryl’s eyes, and he takes their duffel bag from the ground with his tied hands before running between the tall and black trees, successfully evading the man’s shots whistling in the air.

“We need that, please!”

Daryl hears the woman’s screams and the plea in her voice, but he keeps going until he is at an appropriate distance to stop. Breathing through parted lips, he jumps over a fallen log and hides behind it, biting the rope that holds his hands prisoners, while the air doesn’t seem to be enough at that moment.

Daryl gasps, exhausted, but he takes the walkie–talkie from the bag with his now free hands.

“(Y/N)? Hey… ya there, peach?”

Nothing welcomes him, not your voice, not even a sound. But then, a walker growls in Daryl’s direction, stumbling through the unstable path. It has no skin, pure bones with leaves and branches around its ribs like a cruel and sick joke. Daryl kneels in front of the duffel bag and tries to pull his crossbow out, but it doesn’t work on the first try. It is stuck between the straps, shortening Daryl’s breath as the walker keeps getting closer and closer until finally, Daryl pulls it out and falls on his back, but the arrow flies directly into the walker’s head, knocking it down forever this time.

Under the momentary relief, the air around him seems to be running low, and Daryl stands up, tired and irritated.

He thinks life doesn’t give him a fucking break, but when he looks down to the cooler inside the bag, Daryl can read the word insulin. He exhales, cursing under his breath while trying to silence his selfless mind that screams at him to go back, but the object those people lost pushes another thought to the front of his head, cold and distant as his hand feels the pocket of his shirt.

The ring is gone.

With you sitting in that uncomfortable chair behind the desk in that forgotten office, Sasha and you stay quiet and still for a moment, in silence and waiting for something: a divine intervention, a smoke signal, something to mitigate that cruel thought that Daryl is lost. After a while, Abraham walks down the hallway with his gaze lost too, until his large body shakes with surprise as the walker behind the glass, trapped in the conference room adjacent, slams itself against the crystal, grunting savagely.

“How is this gallant still standing?” He asks.

“He can’t get out.” Sasha answers with a tired voice, sitting in front of that crystal, watching how Abraham tries to open the door. “It’s locked. We’re fine. Stand watch or sleep? Your choice.”

Abraham looks at the walker, and then at Sasha.

“I take the former. Do a little shopping maybe?”

He moves close to the desk you are sitting, takes the paper bin and pulls out the black plastic bag before pacing around the place. Sasha watches you resting your elbows on the wood, rubbing your face to try to erase your worried expression.

“Daryl will be fine, (Y/N). We just have to wait, okay?” She smiles softly at you to give you confident, and you believe that because he is probably the strongest person in that world, but you can’t help but worry about him.

You nod, knowing that the fear of losing someone is part of the repercussions of daring to love.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Drop the gun.” Daryl aims at them with his crossbow, forcing the small group to stand up from that fallen log where they are sitting. “Drop it!” The man tries to raise his own gun, but the tension disappears when he finally lowers it. “Give it to me.” Daryl takes the gun to put it in his jeans’ pocket. “I want ma ring back. Now.”

Dwight reaches into his jean’s back pocket and hands it to him. This time, angry, Daryl snatches the ring from his hand.

“I should shoot ya for takin’ it.” Daryl holds his crossbow, meaning every word. “Came all this way. What ya got for the duffel? Ya put me through too much shit jus’ to give it back. What ya got besides that gun?”

“Nothing.” Sherry says, looking at him with a tired expression: not fear, just tiredness, as if she can sense that Daryl won't hurt them.

Daryl stares at Dwight, remembering part of their conversation through the blurred memories, after that blow and the pain that still throbs against his head.

“What’s that thing ya were carvin’?”

The man looks in his front pocket and pulls out a nice figure carved in wood.

“My grandfather taught me—”

“Don’ care.” Daryl cuts him off and takes the figure, dropping their bag to the ground close to them. “Take it. S’ all there. Good luck. Y'all gotta need it.”

But as he starts walking away, a noise not so far away makes Daryl hide behind a tree, counting the seconds until he watches the arrival of a truck that knocks down the branches in its path. Three men get out of the vehicle, talking to Dwight and his people that they should end it. Daryl listens carefully, realizing that his past captors don’t want to leave with that new group, and notice the distinctive sound of more cars approaching, more people coming. Those new men walk away for a moment, but Daryl sees that Dwight and the girls are about to leave in the wrong direction in their own attempt to escape.

“No. That way.” He says getting close again, pointing in a different one. “Go. Go.”

Daryl holds the girl with short hair, helping her walk through the forest, with the constant sound of burning branches and leaves cracking under their boots, until they find a safe place to hide. They duck behind the bushes, but Daryl knows he can’t handle those people alone if they attacked, so he pulls the gun out of his pocket.

“Hey. Take it.” He says, and Dwight does it with a confused look.

A few steps away, there is a walker trapped against a rock and the tree, and Daryl shakes the bush that covers it to attract one of the men’s attention, who oblivious, walks towards it, dangerously close until the death reaches him, biting off his arm. He screams calling for help and another man approaches running, finding his friend on the ground, holding the empty space where part of his flesh used to be. The last man makes a tourniquet around the other one’s elbow, joking that he should cut off his friend’s arm with a machete before walking away.

“We thought you were with them.” Dwight says from the ground, looking at Daryl. “We knocked you over the head. We tied you up. We threatened to kill you. Why the hell did you come back?”

Daryl looks at them on the floor, vulnerable and weak, listening the women speak to each other, affectionately, saying everything is going to be okay.

“Maybe m’ stupid too.” Daryl says after a while, his voice low and hoarse, referring to what Dwight said earlier, about how stupid they were to trust a community, thinking that they fought together for the same cause: to survive.

Sasha continues to stare through the window, present but absent at the same time, with nothing but an empty street and a pair of walkers grunting in the air. On the other side of the place, your heart keeps beating fast, without giving you a break as the hours pass and pass. The tingle in your stomach is the worst companion in that long wait, and it feels like it’s playing with you, making you believe you are going to puke from the nerves.

Sasha watches you, noticing you are losing color.

“Are you okay, (Y/N)?”

You look back at her, your body falling on the back of the chair.

“Yes, thanks. It’s just that my stomach is tight from the nerves.”

She can see the worry in your face, which got deeper as the hours passed.

“Maybe you’re pregnant.”

You blink at her, almost innocently, until your hand flies into the air to ward off that thought.

“Of course not!” Your voice comes out sharply, making her chuckle.

“I’m just kidding with you.”

Your surprise disappears fast and it becomes a soft laugh, something thoughtful as you look at her.

“You really scared me.”

Sasha smiles, and she walks to the desk to sit on the chair on the other side.

"But let me ask you something: did the topic ever come up between you and Daryl… about having a kid?" She leans back, a little bit tired of that life. "I mean, I don't know if it would be selfish to bring a baby into this world, but at the same time, I want to believe that a new life would bring a little hope and color, too."

You weigh her words, analyzing your entire life in just a few seconds of silence.

“Well… I dated twice in the old world but believe me, that idea never came up with those people after I knew who they really were.”

Her eyebrows furrow in sadness, hating that you had to suffer like that.

“They were assholes, uh?”

"To say the least..." You chuckle, humorless. "Daryl and I… we never talked about it actually, and I know he’s completely different but, it scares me to death not being able to protect my kid if she or he ever happens, you know? Daryl is a protector, that’s in his nature, but sometimes things just... slip out of our hands."

Sasha nods.

“Maybe Daryl is waiting to marry you first.”

You chuckle, shyly.

“That idea never came up with those people either.”

“But if he proposed, would you say yes?" Your friend smiles softly, feeling tenderness for you at how alienated you are from something that everyone in the family is aware of, but she loves the sweet way you shyly nod. “Daryl is fine, (Y/N). I’m sure he is. That man is just so stubborn, and not even the whole world will stop him from coming back to you. Okay?”

Her kind words make you feel calm, and you nod again, trying to swallow the lump in your throat that prevents you from speaking at that moment. Trusting that he’s strong and stubborn is the only thing that makes that situation less worrying, just a little less.

Daryl and the group keep walking through the forest, talking about the safety that people are looking for desperately in that world, that they would give it all for believing they are safe, and Dwight keep saying that those people would give everything until they had nothing, until they would only exist.

“Nobody’s safe anymore.” Daryl shakes his head. “Can’t promise people that.”

“You can promise it to those people who want to hear it.” Dwight says back, confident in his own words.

They talk, debating about the remote possibility of finding balance in a quiet life, far from the danger of other humans when they are still the most harmful. A little bit behind them, Tina walks to a burnt and melted greenhouse close, in the middle of nowhere. She stops, recognizing the two dead people encased in melted glass inside. Dwight and Sherry blame themselves because they burned the entire forest without knowing that those girls were there, while, between nothing but rubble, Tina gets close again, kneeling to leave some flowers for them, lamenting the loss of two innocent lives.

But then, the corpses wake up to the sound of her crying and attack her, breaking through the glass. Their arms hold her and she falls between them, screaming in pain as they bite her soft skin. Daryl runs to her and kills the walkers, while Sherry pulls Tina towards her, crying.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” She says between tears, because she knows there is nothing else do now.

“Why did you come back for the ring?”

As the men keep digging a grave for Tina and the other bodies, Daryl stops to look at Sherry, who’s looking at an empty spot beyond all that pain. She doesn’t look back at him, just waiting for an answer.

"S’ jus’ a ring for ya but it means somethin’ important to me.”

A second later, Sherry finally looks at him.

“What is that?”

Daryl knows a promise can be broken, not by him, but by that dangerous world and how a life can end in a second, so the ring is, or will be a symbol of a truth, if he gets the opportunity to give it to you.

“It means I’ll love ma wife for the rest of ma life. S’ the only promise I can make to her.”

The feeling she sees in Daryl’s eyes is too deep, as transparent as crystal, a bond with you, just as important as the one she had with her sister.

"But you haven't proposed to her yet."

Daryl shakes his head.

"Not yet."

"And what are you waiting for?" She keeps asking, but the way Daryl looks at the ground for a second is her own answer. I'm waiting to stop being so scared, he thinks. “Why do you want to marry her?”

Sharing his deepest thoughts had always been a weak point for Daryl, but at this moment, he shrugs it off as he goes back to digging, the words passing through his lips, because talking about you was always something easy.

“She always felt like home, like, if home is a person an' not a place, an' since I met her I realized I didn't wanna get away from that feeling. (Y/N) always speaks with a soft voice, but at the same time she can be firm with the things she believes in, she jus’… knows who she is an' what she wants, an' she showed me that this world ain’t a bad place to live in despite the pain.”

The moment he looks at her, she nods, smiling while looking away, ending that conversation.

“How many walkers have ya killed?” Daryl asks, turning his attention to Dwight.

“A lot. A couple of dozen at least.”

“How many people have ya killed?”

“None.” He says, still throwing the dirt from his shovel.

“Why?”

Dwight doesn’t stop digging.

“Why haven’t I killed anybody?” He doesn’t answer immediately, thinking about how his life was before all that. “Because if I did, there would be no going back, no going back to how things were.”

Daryl looks back at him, with a little of hope in his blue eyes.

“M’ from a place where people are still what they were.”

Dwight stops and breathes through his parted lips, tired, weak, and vulnerable, but for a second, life seems less dark.

As Daryl uncovers his motorcycle, he really thought he could take those two people back to Alexandria, for them to have a new opportunity, a new beginning. However, they, after sharing a look, decide in silence that they would find their own way, and behind him, Daryl hears Dwight clicking off the safety of the gun.

“Damn it.” He grunts and tries to take his crossbow out of his body, but as he turns around, Daryl knows it is too late.

“Give her the crossbow.” Dwight say, holding the gun.

“Yer gonna go back? Will ya be safe?”

“Shut up!” Dwight's hand shakes with the weight of the question if he is making a mistake, but Daryl doesn’t look away, still breathing heavily.

“It ain’t no safe place no more.”

“Give her the crossbow.”

“Ya’ll kneel?”

Dwight doesn’t lose his composure, but he shoots close to Daryl’s head just to prove he won’t hesitate to kill him, so Daryl takes the crossbow out of his body and gives it to Sherry. They get on the motorcycle, with her holding the gun now, while keeping an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry.” She says after throwing some medical packs on the ground.

“Yer gonna be.” Daryl answers back, holding a menacing look.

Sherry's gaze falters with the severity with which she is looked at, but her next words hold not a trace of fear.

“Give your lover the ring, make her your wife and live a full life. Don't waste another day.”

After that, they leave.

But as the sound of the engine is drowned out by the relentless wind, Daryl lets out a small laugh while he pulls out the ring, coming to a revelation. The idea that you can find someone better (even in that world) and start something with someone else is just devastating for him, a wrong but perennial thought in his mind, but now Daryl knows that he would do everything in his power to become that better someone (even when in your eyes, and in everyone else's, he is probably the best human being possible)

Maybe, just maybe, that time apart hadn't been that bad after all.

And after a long and almost endless trip, the sound of an engine attracts everyone’s attention, and Sasha, Abraham and you walk to the window to see the truck that stops in front of that building. The air returns to your body when you see Daryl getting off the vehicle, finding his last name written on the door of the place where you all hid. Sasha and Abraham smile among them, relieved as you walk out of there, your legs trembling slightly all the way down the stairs, but you make it.

The sunlight shine on your face as you push open the door, as a sign that the cycle always repeats itself, but breaking the night with a new bright day as patience is rewarded. You feel weak and strong at the same time, as if you can breathe again. Daryl walks over to you, meeting you halfway, and finally, in what seems like a life apart, he wraps his arms around your waist to pull you even closer, but that doesn’t seem to be close enough.

Your arms around his shoulders hold him against you, while he breathes deeply against your neck.

“I knew you’d come back.”

He exhales, at peace now that he had found his way back home.

“Nothin’ or no one could have stopped me from doin’ it, peach.” Daryl pulls away just to take your face in his hands, his fingers caressing your skin and part of your hair, his gaze softening with the view of you, because he now knows for sure and without fear that love doesn't bring you down, not when it feels so good to be by your side again. “But I missed ya so fuckin’ much, woman.”

And then, Daryl presses his lips against you, still holding your face, without caring for anything else in the world. At that moment, it is just you and him again, while, at the entrance of the building, Abraham chuckles next to Sasha.

“This is way better than a parade of walkers.”

@fluffy-dixon

[robinvomit]

[ a tiny phone blurb while i'm trying to quietly exist. ]

the rooftop is quiet outside of the distant hum of the city below and the occasional flutter of damian's cape in the breeze. above, the sky is endless, shades of deep, velvety blue speckled with stars, and for once, none of you are in a rush to leave.

jon lays on his back, arms folded behind his head, looking up like he could map out the entire universe if he tried hard enough. "do you guys think we'll still be doing this twenty years from now?" he asks, voice soft, like he's going over every possibility of the future in his thoughts. "like… still chasing bad guys? wearing capes, saving the world."

damian, ever the pragmatist, scoffs but doesn't immediately shoot the idea down, not like he normally would. "of course. what else would we be doing?"

you glance at him, catching the way his expression shifts; it's something quieter, almost uncertain. you debate asking about the hesitation but decide against it.

a thoughtful hum sounds from jon. " i dunno… maybe we'll get to stop. maybe we'll figure out how to actually stop all of this." he turns his head, grinning. "or maybe i could just start a farm in space."

damian rolls his eyes but there's the tiniest twitch of a smirk. "that is the stupidest idea i have ever heard." he doesn't say it like he hates the idea. he says it like he likes the idea of not being what he currently is.

the conversation drifts, flowing between dreams and possibilities. some are half-serious, some are full on jokes, but it goes on as the night stretches long and the city keeps breathing below.

maybe the future is uncertain. maybe it's terrifying.

but up here, under the stars, with the two people who understand the weight of it all the most, it doesn't feel so scary. doesn't feel so suffocating and nerve wrecking.

"i wonder if we'll still be friends.." you finally comment, glancing between them.