#I’m enjoying the texture of this handmade paper

[olivexing]

Benjamina and Noor 🤖

An excerpt from a my graphic novel style sketchbook; her friend becomes a giant robot!

#gt #size difference??????? #size difference #giant tiny #I may have filled an entire sketchbook sequentially. I’m 60% through coloring it. #I’m enjoying the texture of this handmade paper #I know I haven’t posted much in years. accept this offering and know that I am in fact alive and kickin #giant #robot #android #gynoid #giant robot #sci-fi #science fiction #graphic novel

[bokksu-vs-sakuraco]

Bokksu Box #1 Review

Theme: Seasons of Japan (the standard first box provided in your Bokksu subscription)

Arrived: August 17

# of Unique Snacks: 16

The Shipping: Subscription confirmed: August 4 → Shipping label created: August 8 → Delivered to my mailbox!: August 17

As you can see, this is the basic Bokksu orange box design. Good quality box though, and unlike June's Sakuraco box, it came in a plastic bag which preserved how nice it looks.

The Contents: This first box included 15 snacks and one tea pairing, as well as a thank you postcard from the founder and Bokksu Culture Guide (scanned and provided below). I had this snack box with a local friend (not June) in a slightly ill-planned picnic a day after the box arrived.

Snack Review

The sixth thing to know about Bokksu is that “There is no right way or order to eat your Bokksu box!” (Top nine things to know when starting your Bokksu journey). Thus, my friend and I chose the order of the snacks, in turn, by simply selecting the one we wanted to try next. In hindsight, I see now that this seasons of Japan theme meant that the snacks were divided by season… which makes sense. But honestly, I’m glad we did not do it in that order or even that grouping for reasons I’ll get into below. I have divided the review by guide order and denoted the actual order we ate them in. 

(Most of the snack pictures I took were... not good, but the pictures of the food in the guide were actually very accurate to the actual food so please reference that for this time.)

Alright, now for the real meat of the review!

SPRING

#8. White Strawberry: WOW! I am glad we did not start with this one first because it would not have been topped! White chocolate infused freeze-dried strawberries: Great flavors and excellent texture! This was my only 10/10, and honestly I’d get some from the Boutique, they were so unique and delicious. The flavor really was a nice balance between white chocolate and strawberry and perfectly blended too. 

Organic Genmaicha Tea: We didn't have the tea with the food this time. We didn't actually think ahead to bring any liquids at all, actually. It impacted the experience a little but not at the fault of Bokksu... We will rectify that next time 

#5. Vegetable Arare: Tomato: Flavor like dusty tomato soup. Lowest snack of the night for my friend; she would not have it again. I think I’ve had some Asian snacks with this tomato powder flavoring before so I was somewhat acquainted to that canned tomato soup taste HOWEVER it just didn’t work on the arare shape. “Arare is a type of bite-sized Japanese cracker made from glutinous rice,” according to Wikipedia, and it did not deliver the tomato powder well. It was like a weird, larger than expected, stiffly poofy cracker with no flavor on the inside, and by the time my tongue acknowledged the tomato flavor of the outside, the cracker was already eaten and swallowed, so the tomato was basically an aftertaste. 

#10. 20th Century Pear Biscuit: Fragrant with a fun touch of the cheese filling. It reminded me of the milk cheese crackers we had at the airport, except with a lighter cookie and much stronger scented cream, like you could smell it when you opened this. The pear scent was strong and you could taste it with the cheese, which I truly enjoyed. Absolutely would get this again. 

SUMMER

#15. Handmade Yuzu Sake Candy: My friend didn’t like the sweetness and was disappointed it was only 0.1% alcohol content thus not enough to get her drunk (joking). I liked it for a hard candy. It was the last thing we had and it served as a nice palette cleanser imo. The yuzu flavor actually came through while the sake did not so, win-win for me. My main complaint it that the dehydrator packet that came in the candy bag did not do its job and the candies melted together and to the packet, meaning the remaining candies I eat will have paper stuck to them.

Irony.

#7. Dondon Yaki: Tonkatsu sauce is great on fried meat but I’m not sure about on chips. It’s a little much for the tongue to absorb. It was definitely the cutest snack name though!

#12. Seaweed Tempura: Sudachi Citrus: The sudachi citrus flavoring is a shock to the tastebuds. At first, it’s absurdly salty (all the savory snacks were a little oversalted tbh). Then the tang kicks in and it tastes totally different by the time you’ve finished chewing. It’s definitely an experience but not our favorite one. Making a chip out of seaweed and tempura is unique, I will give them that. The flavor is definitely too strong to have too many of but once you get used to it, it’s pretty fun to eat.

#9. Zawawa Sable: We got so hyped for this one it's basic taste was a greater disappointment than it should have been. The appearance was great, the rich sugar scent was enticing, and the description was fascinating. But dang. The actual taste was nothing special and kind of dry. For a cookie of this thickness, I wanted more buttery crumble from the texture but instead it was like an undercooked biscotti. 

It looks so good but tastes so mid 😔

AUTUMN

#11. One-Bite Sesame Mochi: A quality mochi! My friend thought it was too much sesame for one bite (it was completely rolled around like a fried sesame ball) but otherwise enjoyed the texture. I didn’t mind the sesame but it was bit too much bean paste for one bite. I really enjoyed the overall flavors though.

#14. Matcha Stick Cake: Chocolate: Another disappointment. My friend is a big matcha enthusiast so she was hyped for this one but it was instantly not good. The cake crumbled in a super weird way in your mouth that made it feel dusty but if dust was huge. The matcha flavor wasn’t particularly fragrant and you couldn’t taste the chocolate almost at all. And this was our last big snack so… bummer. (I’m thinking Bokksu’s hit rate with cakes is just not gonna be that great, partly because it’s hard to have good single packaged cakes to begin with, but admittedly all of these would have been improved with a tea paring.)

#3. Kinako Azuki Crunch: Like a rice krispie but better (richer flavors and not as marshmallow sweet). The flavor, texture, everything about the actual snack was on point, but omg, it was tiny.

I feel like with a light snack like that, you need more substance to fill out the experience. It was so small, we only got one azuki bean per piece, which also detracts from the main selling point. I’m hoping this single-bite-sized packaging was only for Bokksu and their official product is more substantial because I would totally get a rice krispie sized version of this. 

#4. Soka Senbei: Ume Zarame: The tartness really hits ya. Honestly, it could have been more subtle (and I’m not just saying that as a person who’s not a big fan of tart). You couldn’t really taste the zarame sugar at all, and the tartness lacked any fruit/plum flavor. The rice cracker itself was surprisingly tough; I had to smack that thing in half. With a better flavor, it would have been a nice thing to crunch on, similar to biscotti. 

—

WINTER

#2. Yokohama Butter Sandwich Cookie: The promise of little pictures on the cookie made this one the one I was most looking forward to, and it did not disappoint! First of all, the printed pictures were well-done, cute, double-sided, and between two cookies, it was all different images.

Second of all, it was delicious. The buttercream filling had a delicious milk flavor that smoothed out the saltiness of the cookies. My friend was a big fan of the salt.

#6. Iburigakko Smokey Chips: Slightly sour BBQ flavored chips. Not a shocker given the smokey description and the pickeledness. I do enjoy poofed chips but this one wasn’t quite light enough so it was almost a cross between a cracker and a potato chip. My friend was unimpressed with the more dagashi type snacks.

#13. Kanalce: Kanazawa Earl Grey Cake: after being let down by the chocolate cake and the French sable, we weren’t super looking forward to the remaining cakes, but this actually surpassed all expectations! It looks super simple, but it has a delicious fragrant and a unique flavor to match. My friend, the tea enthusiast, said “it tastes like you’re eating earl gray!” Plus, it was wonderfully moist. Talk about a lasting impression. 

#1. Tsukisamu Anpan Chocolate: As the first thing we ate, I think this was the universe immediately clocking us up the head for forgetting to bring a liquid to the picnic. The cakes in general were hit or miss with the moisture, but this one was very dry in the chocolate brownie part. We definitely were wanting water/tea after the first bite (and to be fair to the guide, that is what is recommended…) Flavorwise, the bean paste in the center overwhelmed any chocolate flavor there may have been, and it was just a standard red bean paste flavor, a negative for us who were looking forward to that “brownie” taste in the description. Even as a red bean paste enthusiast, all I could think about was how this would have been better as a Chinese mooncake.

—

Final Notes

My friend and I both had a lot of fun experiencing this first snack box together. Overall, I’m personally highly satisfied with this first box and the Bokksu experience. The snacks look as promised, the flavors in the guide are accurately described (for the most part), there's a good variety of different tastes, the guide itself is well-designed, and everything came well-packaged and delivered. 

However, Bokksu's first box, whenever you start your subscription, is this Seasons of Japan box, so while I am glad to see that they delivered on a good diverse snacking experience, I am looking forward to seeing if they can keep up the variety and quality levels over the next several months.

Until next time,

—Glissando

#box review #bokksu #japanese snacks #japanese food #subscription box

[cahillcahill48]

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[soliavenne]

How do you think Gaara would celebrate his SO's (or Shinki's) birthday? I feel like he might not be able to take a day off but he would try to come home early. Maybe his SO cooks something nice or they go out with Kankuro (and Baki?) to eat barbecue (since they all like that) or something else if the birthday child has a different food in mind. Later they go home and just have a nice evening as a family: maybe they watch a movie or play games? Maybe they bought or made a (not so sweet) cake? ◇

How would Gaara celebrate his S/O's birthday?

-Genre: Fluff

-Word count:

-Format: Bulleted headcanons

---

Truth be told he's not that well-versed with birthday celebrations.

The thought of it is rather passively processed in his mind as he himself didn't experience much joy out of his own special day. It's not something he looks forward for himself at first, but as time passed by and he saw how much happiness it could bring not only to the celebrant themselves but to the other people who are celebrating it with them, he did begin to genuinely appreciate it.

It wasn't long until the mini calendar in Gaara's journal had scribbles of whose birthday is when, when to buy the gift, or what type of gift he has in mind.

He's still not that motivated to pursue his own celebration on his birthday though, but there's an obvious excitement (rather mellowed down to others, but it's the very best you could get when it comes to Gaara) when it's about your birthday, or Shinki's birthday.

The moment your birthday month settles in, he's already thinking about your special day. Cut to three to two weeks before it... Gaara would already ask you the same question he usually pops as you two are cuddling on the bed at midnight.

"My love, how would you like to celebrate your upcoming birthday?"

Gaara is not much of an event planner, so coming up with a surprise itinerary is something he would hope he could do... but just couldn't. He would prefer to celebrate your special day how you want it, not how he thinks you want it.

Most of your birthday parties would involve eating out with Kankuro and Baki on their treat. A private eat-all-you-can trip to the usual barbeque house had always been your birthday gift from your brother-in-law. The endless supply of booze is on Baki on the other hand. Shinki, Yodo and Araya volunteers to do the cooking.

Gaara will be the one who picks you up from home as he leaves from work. There's probably a quick, giggly shower together for the two of you, and a chased, playful steamy makeout session prior to drying off.

He's always in awe whenever you do a little sway as you show him your chosen outfit. Doesn't matter what type of clothing you have put on, it's always the giggly smile that you do that he finds himself starstruck upon.

If there are times where the family is just in the mood for some warm, homecooked meals, Kankuro is usually the one who arrives the earliest to help you out. He'd take home some pre-marinaded meat and grill it himself. Araya, Yodo and Shinki will follow with the birthday cakes.

Shinki will be helping out his uncle and with Araya and Yodo assisting you on the other side. After the tables have been set, Gaara arrives alongside Baki, who arrives as well with the drinks, as usual.

There would be at least two birthday cakes, one being your favorite, and the other one for the father-and-son who's not that keen on confectioneries.

If Gaara's schedule is in favor of him, he would propose it himself that the two of you bake your birthday cake together. He says it's another present, but he's gotta admit that it feels like a present for himself too with how much he enjoys it. By the time Shinki arrives home and sees the two of you in the kitchen in match-colored aprons, he'd awkwardly tiptoe towards his room to give the two of you some privacy. His attempt would disintegrate once Gaara calls him and shows him that he bought an apron for him too.

In terms of gifts, he would try to observe if there's anything you have been invested in lately, whether a new hobby, a new series or book, a new favorite food, or any of the like. He might not be confident to pull out an entire birthday surprise celebration for you, but you'd know by how he chooses his gifts that he's trying his best to at least have his little shot at surprising you.

Gaara's choices in birthday gifts are always in a set. There would always be a handwritten letter, a flower, a handmade craft if the weeks had been kinder to his schedule, and the gift that he knew you would really like based on his observation. His choices in giftwrapping are always in gorgeous yet minimalistic elegant, boxes. The appeal of these gifts in terms of cheesy romantic notes are not that prevalent; no unnecessary hearts, no flashy colors. It would have more of an earthy, homey, comfortable kind of romance upon it. Neutral, textured papers with a pressed flower on top and a twine string that ties the embellisments together in a much more cohesive look.

He's not much for expensive gifts if he's the one on the receiving end of the line as he prefers to be low maintence, but when it comes to you, he always finds himself wanting to spoil you. He tries his best not to go over the top because he doesn't want to overwhelm you, so his choices of gifts are always rather practical or something you would need or enjoy... but there would be times where he might not be able to help himself. One of those rare, expensive gifts is when he gave you a limited edition jewelry set of Kirigakure's rarest of pearls that he bought during a diplomatic trip to the Land of Water.

To be honest, he was very nervous in terms of how he would give it to you. He usually gives his present during dinner, alongside the entire family in giving you their birthday presents as well. But this one gift had him tapping his thumbs against his lap as he tried to debate when was the right to give it.

"I should just give it to Y/N privately in our bedroom."

There was a lot of pauses as he tried to tell you that he didn't forget to buy you a gift, and by now you have caught up to the fact that there was something out of the usual. When he finally sits on the bed in front of you and places a velvet-wrapped box on top of the mattress, ushering it closer towards you with a tender smile on his face, you'd realize by then that this was a different kind of gift.

He'd mumble a soft apology and a nervous chuckle, but the tender grip of his hand upon yours tattletales that this was a gift he genuinely felt that you deserve, and he would not tire from telling you that again and again. The utmost, loving tenderness in his eyes as he pulls back from helping you put the jewelry on would simply just be out of this world.

"Happy birthday, my love..."

---

AAAAAA ◇ I hope you liked this!! I'm so sorry it's been so long. 🥺🥺🥺 You have mentioned before that your birthday is a few days before Gaara's, so I hope I hit the mark early than late!! Hopefully at the perfect day if I'm lucky haha. I really had fun writing this one for you, ◇! ☺☺❤ You can let me know privately when's your birthday so I could greet you properly! :) For the meantime...

Happy, happy birthday ◇!! 😄☺❤

Lots of love! Take care, always! 😊

#gaara of the sand #suna no gaara #gaara #sabaku no gaara #◇

[sandpumpkin]

Written for the wonderful @burnthoneymint​​  ‘Come and play’ birthday event!

My prompt was ‘Person B gives Person A a gift, which is handmade because Person B couldn’t find anything Person A might like’ 

I am an idiot because I was in festive mode. I wrote more a christmas style gift o(╥﹏╥)o I didn’t realise until I was almost done. And now I’m worried..because I chose Family times rather than reader insert...you know I should check up on rules more frequently when I’m doing stuff like this. 

BUT here we are! 

Family Festivities

Toto Land was forever a hive of activity, with the homies bringing life to all matters of mundane objects and the townsfolk being genuinely lively and jolly people and with the ever changing scenery. When seasons changed so did the local cuisine of the islands. Food changed to compliment the weather and so did the buildings. Gingerbread houses were re-decorated to fit the seasons and new chocolate statues erected to match. Autumn was the best season some would say, the rooftops were frosted with red, yellows and browns creating a myriad wave of sparkling ambers which represented the treetops. Smells of pumpkin pies, apple strudels, cinnamon buns and with the milder weather casserole and stews flowed through the air of the towns. 

During the seasonal changes, Katakuri made an extra round to ensure everything was following smoothly. 

The most chaotic time of year was the switch between Autumn and Winter. The end of year festivals were fast approaching and everything had to be bright, bold and spectral, if they wanted to win the best decorated island award. Katakuri towered over the townsfolk who all greeted him pleasantly as he walked by. The smell of freshly baked mince pies and fruit cake filled his nose. “Minister please, take this.”

“Sir and this.” 

He always ended up with so many new snacks and treats to try, he often sent guards back ladened with boxes of biscuits, pies and cakes. 

Katakuri had a terrible sweet tooth, as did most of his family. He appreciated the change in flavours, complimentary hot drinks that paired well with these desserts made him look forward to his  Meriendas even more but with the extra patrols and work, his meriendas were fewer and far between which did not do well for his mood. 

The only downside to this time of year were his siblings: notably the younger ones.

The gifts he receives from siblings which feel thoughtless, bought for the sake of vying for attention and favour from him. All the same gifts of food. Which usually he wouldn’t mind but the gifts were simply bragging rights for the siblings: who bought the biggest present, whose gift was grander, more delicious. Katakuri appreciated the gifts none-the-less not letting the sweets go to waste but some things he couldn’t enjoy their flavour or texture knowing how little thought had been put into purchasing them. 

Another long day was coming to an end, the sun had started to set behind the winter themed rooftops and candy snow began to fall. Katakuri was feeling the hungry pangs from missing not one but two snack times, but the problems just hadn’t persisted today. Sighing deeply, he crossed a bridge over a river of mint syrup.

“Brother! Brother Katakuri.” he was met at the other side by Brulee, it was rare to see her out of the forest she secluded herself in. 

“Brulee, is there a problem?” he questioned. She shook her head and smiled warmly at him. The scar across her face always stabbed him in the heart, a scar caused by him and yet she bore him no ill will. If there was anyone Katakuri trusted in Toto land, it would be Brulee. With siblings being at each other's throat for one thing and another, it was nice and relaxing to have someone that genuinely cared. She produced a large package from one of her mirrors. It was wrapped in bright pink wrapping, tied together with black ribbon and a delicate bow on the top. 

“Here.” she said, holding out the gift for him to take. 

Katakuri took the package with one hand, the wrapping crinkling loudly under his grip. He stared at the package vacantly for a moment before looking up at his eagerly awaited sister “May I open it?” he questioned, it wasn’t quite the day for opening presents yet. 

“Of course. I hope you like it.” she said, watching him excitedly. Katakuri tugged at the bow and teared open the wrapping paper. The feeling of shock ran through him, he pulled out a long hand knitted chunky scarf in black and pink to match his usual wear. 

“To keep you warm dear brother.” Katakuri held the scarf carefully in his hands feeling the soft wool it was made out of, smiling beneath his spiky scarf. He glanced up briefly from the scarf and noticed all the plasters around her fingers, she had sustained such injuries making him a gift and he hadn’t gotten her anything in return. 

I am truly no better than my brothers. 

 Sensing no one nearby, Katakuri removed his scarf quickly, handing it to Brulee as he promptly and carefully wrapped her scarf around his neck making sure it was secure around his face. His eyes widen in well hidden surprise. He instantly felt warmer from the evening chill, he had had his usually black and white scarf for quite some time and it was probably not as well insulating as it used to be.

“Do you like it?” she asked, nervously awaiting his verdict.

Katakuri nodded “It’s warm.” he replied simply, “I didn’t- I didn’t get-”

Brulee laughed “you needn’t get me anything in return dear brother, that's not why I made it.”

Katakuri felt a little ashamed, she had always been there supporting him even if it was his fault she was scared. What can I offer in return? What can match this kind of gift?

Taking a quiet deep breath, Katakuri scratched the back of his head “Will you join me for my Merienda?” he felt like it wasn’t nearly good enough to thank her for such a gift  “I have too many new treats to sample from the townsfolk.” he rambled. 

When was the last time I allowed someone to see me eat?

“I would love to dear brother.” Brulee smiled brightly “I have some delicious peppermint chocolates that Pudding made too.”

“Thank you.” he said, his hand reaching to linger on the soft scarf “I don’t deserve something this precious.”

“You do.” Brulee stated firmly, almost a scolding tone to her voice “You keep us so safe, you look out for all of us siblings. I just wish I could do more to help you.” Brulee smiled, “thank you, dear brother.”

Katakuri closed his eyes as he smiled under his scarf. He rested a hand on top of Brulee’s purple hair “you do more than enough already.” the siblings headed back through the town enjoying the sights and smells that often reminded them of simpler times when they could just be children and everything was a little more magical.

Maybe one day. One day all of us siblings can enjoy a moment like this. 

#pumpkin writes #one piece #katakuri #birthdaycheer #big bro Katakuri #charlotte siblings deserve better

[kerikaaria]

Borahae Slimes Haul #2 Review!

Dean ( @eternalseokjin​ ) restocked with some new slimes, so of course I had to snatch a few!

Full disclosure, Dean is my friend and knew my birthday recently passed so he gave me some extra goodies (a free full slime, extra candy, and I’m pretty sure the amount of photocards and stickers were extra too lol. Dude gave me 3 Yoongi photocards because he knows how soft I am for that man) with this because he’s just amazing and sweet like that ^-^ Thank you, Dean!

First, here’s the link to Dean’s Etsy store, so if you would like to purchase some BTS-themed slime, definitely give his shop a look! And check out the store’s tumblr @borahaeslimes​

I was lucky for the order to come really quickly, especially during this time of year. And once I started opening up the package, I got so excited! He didn’t tell me he had added Until Spring for free as a birthday gift, so it was such a pleasant surprise! (And a surprise blessing with the extra containers as well, for reasons I’ll explain later). Keep reading for a detailed review with pictures!

Also. my apologies for the pictures not being more condensed. Every time I attempted to adjust them on mobile, tumblr decided to give me an error so... ugh lol.

I’ll Show You

I’ll Show You is themed after the song ‘Magic Shop,’ and has such a lovely, relaxing scent. It comes with little iridescent flakies (if you’re a fan of Simply Nailogical like Dean and I, you’d probably call it Unicorn Skin) that are optional to put in, as well as a key charm. The flakies do somewhat poke your hand while you play with it, but it’s not hard at all so unless you have very sensitive hands I don’t see it being a problem.

The color is a gorgeous iridescent cream, and the flakies add another really nice layer to it as well. It’s a very beautiful slime, and I easily see myself taking it out when I’m having a rough day because of how lovely and calming the chamomile and lavender scents are.

Anpanman

The slime is themed after the song of the same name and comes with a  custom-made clay charm with a comic-style onomatopoeia (recommended to NOT store inside the slime). The version I bought is the Bingsu one, since I didn’t know if I’d enjoy larger blocks being in my slime.

There is an option to leave it unscented to keep the clear slime from getting cloudy/tinted by it, but I really LOVE the blue raspberry jolly rancher scent and am so glad I opted to keep it! I enjoy the soft crunchy texture to the Bingsu, and this slime is just jam packed with them so it’s super satisfying to play with!

Until Spring

This one is themed after ‘Spring Day,’ and comes with 4 individually packaged colors which you can mix as you please, and a snowflake charm. One is a thick white snow fizz, the pink a bingsu (not quite as packed as Anpanman), and the blue and purple are clear-based slimes. The metallic shimmer of the blue is GORGEOUS, and I almost feel guilty for blending it all into the overall mixture.

The end result is this beautiful pastel purple, with the sporadic snow fizz and pink bingsu adding a unique texture. The smell is also very soft and lovely.

Sweet Life

Sweet Life is themed after BTS’ recent single, ‘Dynamite!’ The clay donut and record charm (again, recommended to NOT store inside the slime) are both handmade by Dean, and it also comes with a small bag of fake sprinkles. The donut came wrapped in plastic wrap and inside a smaller plastic tub than the slimes. And the slime itself is a very sweet scent - a little too strong to me personally, but nothing I can’t handle.

Alright, now this is the only hiccup I had in the order, so I’ll explain what happened. 

While I did think something was a bit odd when I tore the donut in half, I didn’t pay enough attention before I started trying to mix it with the slime. It turns out, the container the donut was shipped in ended up getting cracked during shipment, and the clay had half dried by the time it got to me. So it was rather hard trying to mix that part into the slime. You might be able to tell in the second picture above, that there are chunks hardly mixed, if at all, into the slime.

Knowing that it was because the container ended up cracked doesn’t personally make me too concerned that others would have the problems I did. I spoke with Dean about it, and he helped me figure out what to do. The part I already started mixing with the slime started to absorb moisture from it and became softer and easier to work with as I let it just sit for a bit. The other half, I put into a (not cracked, airtight) container and poured just a bit of water on it. I let it sit while I was working with Until Spring, and periodically went back to it to mix up the slime or knead the water into the clay to help it along.

It didn’t take too long before it was able to all mix together and I ended with my final slime! I really love the texture. It’s really thick, almost like a putty and super satisfying! Also a side note, Dean said he isn’t quite sure how the slime he used for making his shop post ended up so brown, because his personal slime of this also ended up a similar shade of a blue-gray to mine. I do really like the color though, it’s a neat muted, almost teal color.

And this is where the extra containers due to the four individual slimes for Until Spring came in handy, since the tub containing the donut was cracked. I was able to use the little 2 oz containers for the rest of the slime that wouldn’t fit in the big container after mixing in the clay, so I didn’t need to go finding something else to put it in. What a happy little coincidence!

Extra Slime - Anpanman Block version

The extra slime I got this time was a sample of the block version of Anpanman, probably because Dean knows I’m new to exploring different types of slime and wanted to let me try it out. I can say that I’m glad I got the Bingsu one in my purchase, but I also don’t hate the chunky blocks as much as I thought I might. It’ll still be a very nice one to fiddle with here and there.

So overall, I’m incredibly happy yet again! I don’t blame Dean for the hiccup with the clay donut, since the tub getting cracked most likely happened in shipping - and everything was very well packaged, wrapped in bubble wrap and then tissue paper, and in a padded mailer so he did everything he could to try to keep it safe. And besides, although it was extra work, it still blended into the slime in the end so I’m happy :)

If you want to support small shops, Dean’s is a great one to go to! Unfortunately because of shipping prices being crazy, he can only sell in the US, but if you do live here and are interested, then definitely give his shop a browse! Here is the link one more time. --> Borahae Slimes on Etsy

#slime #borahae slimes #etsy #shop #etsy shop #small business #eternal seokjin #Dean baby 💜 #lovely mutuals 💜 #bts #bts crafts #bts slimes #spring day #dynamite #anpanman #magic shop

[itszephoria]

Saw this pop up and your followers ask you which ones they’re interested in. But people don’t really ask much when I post or they don’t ask the ones that might make you feel uncomfortable. And well, honestly I’m so bored that I’ve decided to break all the damn rules and just answer all the questions because I can. *shock horror*

So information dump on the ‘Be nosy’ that popped up in my feed today. If you’re interested.

Be nosy

1. What’s your sexual orientation? 

Straight. But maybe for the right woman I could sway but wouldn’t go so far as to call myself bi or bi-curious though.

2. What are you obsessed with right now? 

Obsessively obsessing about my health and how to get well and failing it all. Oh and anime movies on Netflix.

3. Ever done any drugs?

I do drugs everyday. But I assume this is referring to illegal. No and was strictly no up until recently. I now take marijuana oil on a regular basis for pain management. Also being stoned/high is not pleasant and I don’t understand why people would enjoy that as a leisurely pastime.

4. What piercings do you want?

I want to get my ears pierced again. Holes have closed up, but currently due to my health that’s not possible. I can’t even enjoy clipons :(

5. How many people have you kissed?

The massive number of 5.

6. Describe your dream home.

It’s tiny in the sense it has all the space I need. A cosy tiny-like home. But not one on wheels, fixed to the ground. And it would be made of all natural materials, stone and wood. It would be unique and resemble something out of a fairy tale. It would sit a beautiful clearing with only nature to view in the distance and all the animals and wildlife would stay well away because I’m pretty much terrified of all it, 

7. Who are you jealous of?

Healthy, painfree people. I am jealous of past me who didn’t realise how lucky she was and miss her.

8. What’s your favorite show to binge?

I don’t binge any show on repeat. I’d rather look for a new show to watch or enjoy, there are so many. The last shows I binged in two days was Queen’s Gambit and Emily in Paris.

9. Do you watch porn?

Yep. But struggle with it because it’s overdramatic, unrealistic and would kill or someone to make porn with a decent storyline with people that can act. 

I prefer to read it if I’m honest or maybe just write it for myself.

10. Do you have a secret sideblog?

Sort of? More like my other one I used I was known for all my slash writings in F1. But now I just hang out here.

11. If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

No where. The world is riddled with co-vid and well, I’m probably in one of the safest countries and I’m at risk of death should I catch it. So I’ll stay here in my safe bubble.

12. What’s one of your fantasies?

I wake up tomorrow and I’m not me. I wake up and I can take a deep breath without gasping for air, I wake up in no pain, I wake up and my body isn’t terribly scared, I wake up and can have a ‘normal’ life.

13. Do you have/would you get your nipples pierced?

Nope and no desire too. Won’t that just hurt?

14. How would you spend a million dollars?

I’d by that dream house I described, set everything up to be self sufficient. Pay and travel to try every cure available for my diseases. And then bank the rest and live off interest. Or maybe donate it. I don’t want money and I don’t really want a lot of things.

15. Are you in a relationship?

Yep and it’s a struggle and am constantly fighting to prove it’s worth continuing. Oh and that’s a relationship with myself.

16. Do you follow porn blogs?

No.

17. Are you angry with anyone right now?

No, I suppose it’s more disappointed and let down by people more than angry. I’m working everyday on letting it go but it’s not easy.

18. What tattoos do you want?

I have always wanted one, but have never found something that I really loved and haven’t been imaginative enough to create something unique. The older I get though, I’m not sure I want one. I did for the longest time though think about getting a Ferrari tattooed on my inner wrist, but pleased I never did that. I don’t love the sport or Ferrari enough anymore to want a permanent reminder of that.

19. If you could change your name, would you? What would you change it to?

I am changing name actually. Hoping to action that in the next two weeks. I would have done it earlier but they closed the borders. I have a dutch sir name that has two words. It confuses every one, systems don’t get it, it has caused issues with plane tickets. And well I’ve decided no more and am dumping a portion of it.

20. What is something you’re obsessed with?

This is a duplicate. Skipping.

21. Describe your best friend.

When you meet her for the first time she can be a little crazy and wild, and she kind of scared at me first because she’s so unlike me. But as you got to know her, the *real* her she doesn’t let people see, you realise how kind and soft she is, and she’s the most empathic person I have known. She gives so much of herself to everyone, thinks so little of herself and her needs because she’s one of the most selfless people I know. I love her more than most of my family and would do anything for her.

22. Tag someone you think is hot.

Is this followers? Uh most I don’t know what they look like? I assume they’re all hot!

23. Who are five of your favorite bands/musical artists?

Don’t have any really. My music is varied and is based on my mood and really changes around. And with most bands, I generally lean towards one or two songs. This is one of those questions I really struggle with whenever I see it. Will say however, have been enjoying The Beatles recently and a bit of old school stuff.

24. What are three places you want to travel?

Japan. Norway. Canada.

25. Describe your perfect Friday night.

Generally hanging out with people I like. Enjoying a good wine, some cheese, either playing some board game or dungeons and dragons, or watching a really good movie. Good company makes any night a good night.

26. What’s your favorite season?

Autumn. One because I think it’s neglected as a choice and every season should be loved, and two because I love the colours of autumn and the colours associated with autumn. 

27. What’s your pet peeve?

I’m sure I have a heap of them, but currently it’s people that have an issue with you and instead of being an adult and talking to you about them choose to silence and blank you. I’m so tired of it, I’ve quit being peacemaker in those situations, those people are no longer worthy in my book.

28. Who is the funniest person you know?

Uh... I don’t think anyone I know is super funny. Friends and family all have a good sense of humor. But out of my circle of life people I’m always told I’m the funny one, which I find the biggest joke ever. 

29. What’s the most overrated movie?

Can not think of anything off the top of my head. I will say if I think a movie is getting too much hype I refuse to watch it, whether all the reviews are raving or not. It’s why I didn’t watch Harry Potter for like ten years or any of the new Star Wars movies. I just refuse to be apart of all the hype and jump on bandwagons.

30. Tag someone you want to talk to but have been too shy to message.

I’d love to talk to everyone. I’m shy to start any conversations to be honest and I think all the people I talk to regularly were the first to message me, and I love them for it.

31. Do you like paper books or ebooks better?

100% love an old fashioned paper book. The texture of the paper. The smell of a book. That being said, I don’t think I’ve picked up a proper book to read in years. I live in fan fiction more than anything or am busy writing myself.

32. If you could live in a fictional world, what world would you pick?

Any of the disney worlds, anything from the past, or verging on fantasy like. I want a simpler time not full of technology which I grow to hate more each day. The older I get the more I’m pretty sure I’ve been born in the wrong decade.

33. If money was no object, what would your wardrobe be like?

I’d build the perfect wardrobe capsule. Everything would be of high quality, not necessarily brand name and all the clothes would be sourced from ethical businesses or be handmade.

I like classic pieces, love the fashion of the 50′s and 60s and while stylish it would be comfortable to wear and everything could be worn in public (sorry comfy tracky pants).

34. What’s your coffee order?

There ain’t no coffee order. I don’t drink it. Sorry @leoni-speedyf1 I know how addicted you are to it, happy to buy you anything you like though :P

35. Do you have a crush on anyone?

In real life? No one.

36. Do you still have feelings for any of your exes?

Not romantic. I have feelings in that I hope they’re doing well, achieving what they want and they’re all happy. I didn’t have any ‘bad’ breakups and all my relationships ended very amicably.

37. Have any tattoos?

No. See above for more on this.

38. Do you drink?

Rarely. Can’t with medication and condition. But on occasion I do enjoy a good glass of red. Pinot Noir is my preference. 

39. Are you a virgin?

Nope.

40. Do you have a crush on any of your mutuals?

Not in a romantic way? The ones I talk to regularly I love immensely though.

41. How many followers do you have?

99

42. Describe the hottest person you know.

Uh all the men I know I am not attracted to. Probably a good thing as they’re either family or partnered with a friend or family member.

43. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Can’t think of anything. I try not to feel guilt for anything I enjoy to be honest, whether it’s food or an activity. Life is too short for that.

44. Do you read erotica?

Yep. Even write it.

45. What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?

It was a few years back. I met this guy online and we went to the city and spent most of that time just strolling next to the river for our first meet up. Why was it the worst date ever? Well it wasn’t the location that’s for sure.

The guy had two kids, and I’m a firm believer all parents have favourites, though I have yet to meet a parent that will voice that aloud. This guy, had no qualms with telling me about this favourite kid, and that wouldn’t be a problem if didn’t spend just as much putting down his younger son. It kind of left me reeling and wondering how his son felt if his dad didn’t hide just how much he didn’t like him as a person. The kid was four and the reason his dad didn’t like him was because he didn’t like bikes.

And so the guy was a bmx rider so he spent the rest of the time on our walk just pointing out all the tricks he could do. He didn’t ask about me, only talked about himself. It was also lunch time and assumed we would get something to eat together, but nope, no food was offered. And when I suggested to get something to drink because it was so hot and we’d been out in the sun for like an hour, he just took me to a subway and told me to get a drink and waved me to the line. No offer to join me, no offer to pay (which doesn’t bother me btw, but this was capping off a terrible day), no offer to get food.

I was so happy to get out of there. Didn’t speak to him again once I had left.

46. How many people do you follow?

I currently follow 59 people. I don’t follow anyone that creates drama, and try and follow only people that post about F1 as that’s all I use tumblr for now.

47. If you could marry any celebrity, who would you pick?

Either Sebastian Vettel or Ryan Reynolds. Both are married though, so I don’t think that’s going to turn into a reality anytime soon.

48. Describe your ideal partner.

I want someone that shares the same core values as me. Doesn’t want kids, isn’t super religious (grew up in a cult like religion so I avoid it now), is on the minimalist side and isn’t someone that needs new things things all the time or is desperate to replace something the moment they deem it out of date. Someone that doesn’t live their life on social media. Someone that prefers simple things, someone who is kind and giving, and someone that truly loves me - and it’s the last part that I struggle with finding more than anything with all the guys I have dated. 

I am currently not looking for a partner, I am not in a place for a relationship and am fully focused on myself. And I am very content with that decision.

49. Who do you text the most?

Currently my bestie.

50. What’s your favorite kind of weather?

Clear blue skies and a warm day to enjoy the sun. But there are times when I simply love the rain, hearing it on the room, watching it fall endlessly and knowing that everything will be green from it.

#all about me #long read #tried to be open and honest

[naegiriweek]

Day One: Ill

A/N: Here's my first submission for Naegiri Week 2019.  This is set in the "Danganronpa Gaiden" Universe I have been writing on AO3; more specifically between the events of Trigger Happy Havoc and Ultra Despair Girls.  Anyone interested can find me under the username WiiFan2009.  I recommend starting with my novelization of Trigger Happy Havoc: "The Ultimate Detective and the Ultimate Hope: Surviving the First Killing Game."  Anyways, now that the Author's Note is out of the way, enjoy the fic below!

Naegiri Week 2019 Day One: Ill

The Ultimate Detective and the Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Kyoko’s Collapse!  Makoto Returns a Favor!

“Alright then.  Byakuya, give us the summary of your financial statement.”

Nodding to his boss, the former Ultimate Affluent Progeny distributed sheets of paper to the other members of the 14th Division, stating “Very well.  I’ll make sure to use small words, so even certain commoners can follow along.”

Makoto and Kyoko rolled their eyes, used to Byakuya’s jabs, while Hiro objected “Hey!” at the obvious knock on his intelligence.

As Byakuya droned on and on, Kyoko felt the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose, suddenly feeling a tightness in her nostrils.  This caused Makoto to look in her direction in concern.  He quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and passed it over to Kyoko, who discreetly read Makoto’s remarks.

Are you alright?

Smiling at Makoto’s concern, she wrote underneath it and passed the paper scrap back to him.

I’m fine.  It’s nothing that can’t wait until after our meeting ends.

Makoto frowned but nodded, and both parties returned their attention back to Byakuya’s report.  As Byakuya continued to explain the 14th Division’s expenditures and expected revenue, Kyoko felt her condition start to worsen; she started to feel clammy in her Future Foundation business suit.  She wiped her hand on her forehead and looked at her glove; it had become covered in droplets of sweat.  She discreetly wiped it on her calf, but not quick enough to skip Makoto’s line of sight.  His concern growing, Makoto scribbled some more on his sheet of paper, then passed it to Kyoko who read it.

Kirigiri-san, are you sure you’re alright?  You look like –

That was all she was able to read before the paper was snatched out of her line of vision; grasped in the hand of an irritated Byakuya.

“I wonder what’s so interesting that you two would rather pass notes back and forth like we’re still in middle school than listen to my report.  It disgusts me to say it, but even Hiro is being a better student than you.”

Makoto looked down sheepishly as Byakuya began to read the note exchange.  Scrutinizing Kyoko, he noticed the sweat on Kyoko’s brow and narrowed his eyes.

“I have better things to do than waste my breath on an oration to an audience who is clearly too ill to appreciate it.  Go to bed, Kirigiri, and maybe we can reschedule this meeting to a time when everyone can pay attention.”

Not offended by Byakuya’s backhanded way of expressing concern for her health, Kyoko shook her head and explained “As I was trying to tell Makoto, I’m fine.  I’m probably just a little tired from having to pull a few all-nighters getting crucial paperwork done.  I’ll take it easy after the meeting, I promise, but I assure you I have been following along with your report.  Now, shall we continue?”

Byakuya scrutinized her face, looking for any possible tells that indicated fibbing, while Makoto continued to look at Kyoko with concern.

She pulled…several all-nighters?

“Alright.  I’ll give you a quick quiz to see if you’ve been paying attention, and if you can answer correctly, I’ll overlook this and continue with my report.  Are we in agreement?”

Nodding her acceptance to Byakuya’s challenge, Kyoko tried to focus as he asked her about the total expenditures listed on his report.  But to Kyoko, he may as well have been speaking gibberish; his words blended until the young woman unable to differentiate them.  Soon her vision followed suit; colors mixed and swirled, and she was no longer able to make out individual people or objects.

“Kirigiri-san!  Are you alright?”

Unable to make out Makoto’s voice, Kyoko shakily stood up, her legs wobbling as she slammed her left hand on the table to steady herself while laying her right on her face, trying to relieve some of the tension she was feeling.

“Woozy…what’s…where…”

She then lost her last grip on her ability to stay conscious, eyes closing as the blend of colors was replaced by pure black.  Her hand slipping, she started to fall backwards.  Time seemed to slow down for everyone else as they saw just how ill their leader was.  Makoto’s face morphed into one of horror as he spontaneously rushed to catch her.  His arms wrapped protectively around her belly he fell with the momentum on his rear, Kyoko’s head resting on his lap.

“Kirigiri-san?  Kirigiri-san!”

As Makoto unwrapped one arm to move his hand to shake her shoulder, Byakuya took charge; he pointed at Hiro and ordered “Yasuhiro!  Inform Yukizome that Kirigiri has passed out and bring her here at once!”

Still in shock, Hiro only nodded before racing out the door to find Chisa.  Byakuya turned his attention back to Makoto who was till trying to shake Kyoko awake.

“Kiri?  Kiri?”

Before long, Hiro raced back in the door with Chisa in tow, only to be greeted by the sight of a tearful and crying Makoto, who had grabbed Kyoko’s other shoulder as well and was shaking her violently in a desperate attempt to wake her up.

“Kyoko!  Kyoko!!!”

XXX

Chisa had luckily been able to persuade Makoto to let her carry the unconscious Kyoko to her dorm where she would perform a brief checkup to ascertain the cause of Kyoko’s illness.  Word of Kyoko’s collapse had even managed to reach the 13th Division, and Hina immediately raced in after being given permission from her boss to go to Kyoko’s side.

And there all the survivors of the 78th Class stood, huddled around Kyoko’s bed waiting for Chisa to finish her examination.  Makoto cried into Hina’s shirt, still overwhelmed with fear and anxiety at Kyoko’s condition, leaving the former Ultimate Swimming Pro to awkwardly embrace the young Ultimate Hope, trying to offer reassurances but feeling completely inadequate, relying solely on her memories of comforting her younger brother Yuta.  Toko and Hiro bore distressed expressions while Byakuya merely stared with a neutral, business-like expression.

“Okay!”

As Chisa clapped her hands, everyone else stood at attention, Makoto letting go of Hina before wiping his eyes on his wrist.

“The good news is that Kyoko doesn’t have anything remotely life-threatening, so all she needs is some time on bedrest and she’ll be as good as new.”

Byakuya retained his neutral expression while Toko settled into a matching neutral expression.  Hina, Hiro, and Makoto beamed wide smiles with relief, thrilled that their friend was going to make it just fine.

“That being said…” Chisa suddenly put her ands on her hips and glared at the Hope’s Peak survivors before lecturing “I took her temperature and it spiked at 102 degrees!  Her arms and legs were slightly swollen from overuse.  And her eyes were slightly bloodshot!  It’s obvious that the poor girl overworked herself to the bone, and it weakened her immune system until it reached the breaking point that you see before you.  You’re all a bunch of rotten oranges for letting her get this ill!”

Overworked?  Why…why didn’t I notice earlier?  It was then that Makoto finally chose to speak, revealing timidly “She said…just today…that she had been pulling some all-nighters to finish paperwork…when I had asked her if she was alright…”

As Makoto kicked himself for being obliviousness to Kyoko’s physical state, Chisa’s eyes softened before she sighed and acquiesced “…What’s done is done.  Not much we can do about it now. But one of you should stay by her bedside for the next day or so to tend to her and help her recover.  Any volunteers?”

Before anyone could voice why they could or couldn’t, Makoto piped up “I’ll do it!”  At Chisa’s surprised expression, Makoto explained “Like you said, Yukizome-san, it’s kind of my fault that this happened.  I wasn’t observant enough about her health until it was too late.  Plus…there was a time at Hope’s Peak when I was sick, and she tended to me until I got better.  So…” Makoto bowed and declared “I want to return the favor!  I want to help to take care of her now that she’s ill.  And I promise, I won’t abandon her.  So please…let me stay be her side!”

Nobody could have gone unmoved by Makoto’s speech; even Byakuya and Toko softly smiled at Makoto’s devotion, while Hina and Hiro gave tearful smiles at his display.

Chisa smiled and patted Makoto’s head before she squealed “There’s hope for you yet, my little rotten orange!”

Does she have to call us rotten oranges?

The survivors sweatdropped as she repeated her kind-of-insult for them.  She put her hand on Makoto’s shoulder and said “Alright, Makoto; we’ll leave Kyoko’s care in your capable hands!  Remember, you promised to never abandon her!”

Nodding violently, Makoto grabbed a chair as he dragged it to Kyoko’s bedside, plopping himself down  and focusing his eyes on his boss.

As he was leaving the room, Byakuya said “I’ll assume leadership as Acting Head until Kirigiri recovers.  Until then, our status meeting is hereby postponed pending her full recovery.”

As Hiro and Toko followed him out, Hina pumped her fists and enthusiastically encouraged “You can do it Makoto!  I’ll drop off some super special, handmade donuts to help her recover afterwards!”

…Wouldn’t soup be better for this kind of occasion?

Makoto shook his head in amusement at Hina’s well-intentioned enthusiasm before adopting a more serious expression and turning his gaze back to his patient.

XXX

Kyoko unconsciously sighed as Makoto placed a wet hand towel on her forehead, the cool, damp texture soothing her fever for the time being.  As Makoto later removed the towel and placed it next to the bucket of water on her dresser, his brow furrowed with worry and guilt.

“Why?  Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?  And why didn’t you tell me you had so much paperwork that you didn’t even sleep?  I would have helped you, Kyoko!”

Of course, Kyoko couldn’t hear him in her delirious state, and to Makoto it was just as well.  He sighed and sat back down, Hina’s box of “Get Well“ donuts sitting on Kyoko’s dresser.  Makoto reached from where he was sitting and wrapped his hand around her own, giving it a momentary squeeze.

“Please get better soon, Kyoko.  We need you!”  …I need you…

It was then that Kyoko groaned, alerting Makoto and making him drop her hand as he sprang up and leaned over the bed.

“Kyoko?”

Gingerly opening her eyes, the ill detective slowly raised her head off her pillow, her vision coming into focus.

“Ma…Mako…Makoto?”

“Shh!  Don’t talk, Kyoko!  You need to save your energy.”

Kyoko continued to groan as she started to sweat and utter “Hot…So hot…”

“You’re hot?  Don’t worry, Kyoko; I’ll get you a wet towel and you’ll be cooled off in no time!”

Before he could run off, Kyoko grabbed his wrist and shook her head, making Makoto confused.

“Gloves…off…take them off.”

Her gloves are making her hands feel hot?  Gulping, Makoto asked “Are you sure, Kyoko?”

Nodding as vigorously as she could, Kyoko gave her consent.  Makoto sighed and nervously got to work, removing her gloves off of her hands.  Although Kyoko had removed her gloves in front of him in the past, removing them himself while she was still sick made him worry about whether or not this counted as consent.  After her scarred hands were exposed, Makoto walked over to the dresser and placed her gloves on it, then soaked the hand towel he had used prior.  Before walking over to her, he briefly locked the door to her room so that nobody would accidentally see the well-guarded secret of her exposed hands.  Once he sat back down, Makoto gently washed her hands free of sweat with the towel, making Kyoko sigh in comfort.

It wasn’t long though until Kyoko started to squirm under the blankets again as she groaned “Hot…still hot…”

Makoto quickly placed the still-damp towel on her forehead to try and cool her down, but Kyoko shook her head and groaned “Shirt…Skirt…take them off!”

Makoto blushed deep red as he realized Yukizome-san must not have removed them when she examined Kyoko!

Extremely hesitant to be the one to undress her, Makoto’s resistance was broken with one final groan “Take them off…please…”

Sighing in surrender, Makoto slipped his hands under the blankets, trying to feel for the buttons on Kyoko’s shirt.

Do not peek.  DO NOT PEEK!

Makoto repeated his silent mantra as he got her shirt unfastened, sliding the fabric down her arms and throwing it next to him.  Still as red as a tomato, he slid his hands down her sides until he felt the fabric of her belt.  Quickly unlocking it, he quickly slid her lavender business skirt down her lags and quickly threw them in the same pile as the shirt.

Sighing with relief, Makoto looked back to Kyoko’s face, his blush starting to disappear now that she was starting to settle down.  However, the sense of calm was short-lived; Kyoko wrapped her hand around his own and started to yank him out of his chair.

“Whoa, Kyoko!”

Kyoko uncharacteristically giggled and slurred “Koto, come to bed, sweetie.  It’s all cold and lonely without you!”

Koto?  What’s with the nickname?  And what’s going on?

Kyoko gave an uncharacteristically loving smile that only creeped Makoto out as she rubbed her cheek on his palm.

“Come on, my darling.  Quit being shy and hop in already!”

Feeling her still-burning face, Makoto realized The fever must be making her delirious.  She won’t listen to reason, so I’m gonna need to play along with her delusion if I’m gonna get out of this!  His face still as red as a tomato, Makoto coughed and began awkwardly “Kyoko…honey…you’re still sick.  I need to stay awake so I can keep taking care of you…”  Not a total lie; hopefully it’ll be enough to dissuade her.

Kyoko pouted and whined “…It’s not fair!  You always work hard, and now you have to take care of my sniffles when you should be getting a good night’s sleep.”

Sighing in frustration, Makoto tried one more line to attempt to get her to stop her delirium-fueled romantic fantasy.

“Sweetie…please just go to sleep.  I promise, once you’re better, I’ll sleep by your side as long as you want…”  Which will probably be never once you’re back to your senses…

Yawning, Kyoko surrendered, murmuring “You’d better…” before closing her eyes and falling back into slumber.  Once he was sure that Kyoko was out like a light, Makoto ran in a panic into Kyoko’s bathroom, violently turning on the faucet and splashing his face with cold water, attempting to make his blushing crimson face go back to normal while trying to process his interaction with Kyoko.

“What…was…that???”

XXX

Kyoko groaned as she opened her eyes, holding her forehead in her palm as she started to sit up, clutching the blanket to her body.

“My…my room?  How…”

“Ah, Kyoko!”

Makoto rushed over and sat down in the chair he had been taking up, placing his hand on her cheek.  The former Detective blushed before removing her hand from her forehead to look at Makoto.  She frowned to see his eyes were bloodshot and he had bags under them.

Did he…pull an all-nighter?  But what…

“Well, you don’t feel hot.  Hopefully your fever broke while you were sleeping.”

Feeling especially confused, Kyoko asked “Makoto, what happened?  I remember sitting in our status meeting, but everything after that’s a blur.  So how did we end up in my room?”

Feeling his whirlwind of emotions from the other day rise back up, Makoto started to explain “You collapsed during our meeting.  I caught you and tried to shake you awake, bur…but you wouldn’t wake up.  We got Yukizome-san to help, and after examining you…told us that you had been working yourself to death, Kyoko.  You were pulling so many all-nighters; your muscles were sore and your eyes were bloodshot.  Not to mention your fever and congestion!  So then I…I volunteered to …to take care of you while you recovered.  I…”  Makoto started to cry as he continued “I was so scared, Kyoko!  I thought I wasn’t ever going to see you again!”  He then demanded “Why didn’t you tell me you had so much on your plate?  I would’ve…I would’ve helped you, Kyoko.  I would’ve taken on some of your paperwork or…or SOMETHING so that you could actually get a good night’s sleep!”

Kyoko looked up at Makoto’s tearful face, shellshocked at how much her overworking had terrified the boy.

Looking away from him, Kyoko murmured “Makoto…I…apologize for worrying you.  If it makes you feel better, I promise once I recover to teach you how to fill out some of the more monotonous paperwork.”

Beaming at Kyoko’s concession, Makoto wiped his eyes of tears.  Kyoko smiled, then let her gaze wander until she spotted her pile of clothes on the ground next to Makoto’s feet.

Wasn’t that the business suit I wore yesterday?  If that’s on the floor, then…

Kyoko discreetly palmed her body underneath the blankets to feel only the texture of her lacy black bra and panties against her smooth skin.

“…Makoto…why am I only wearing my underwear under these blankets?”

Makoto blushed before hanging his head and explaining frantically “You…when you first woke up last night, you kept complaining that it was too hot, and you…you asked me to…disrobe you…I think your fever might have made you delirious…I’m sorry…But I promise you, I never took a peek, and I never touched you anywhere inappropriate!”

As Kyoko saw the tears fall from Makoto’s hung head, she knew he was telling the truth.  The peeping incident at Hope’s Peak notwithstanding, she knew that Makoto wasn’t the type to violate the privacy of his friends.  Not to mention that she had heard the honest passion in his voice when he explained how ill she had become and the fact that he had tended to her every need.

Suddenly, all of the memories of her delirium came flooding back to her, making her blush at just how brazen and out-of-character she had acted.

“…I’m not mad at you, Makoto.”

Gasping, Makoto looked at her incredulously and confirmed “You’re not?  But I…”

Kyoko shook her head and continued “I clearly wasn’t myself, and technically I did ask you to do those things.  I can’t hold it against you for acting in your capacity as my caretaker.”

Beaming, Makoto wiped his eyes, before glancing over to the dresser and informed her “I put your gloves over on the dresser during your delirium.  Would you like me to get them for you?”

Rather than answer him with words, Kyoko decided to move her legs off the bed, getting up as she strolled over to her dresser and slipped on her gloves.  Makoto yelped and covered his eyes with his palms, his face blushing again.

Smirking teasingly, Kyoko asked “Makoto, you’ve seen me in nothing but a towel.  You’re really gonna blush over seeing me in my bra and panties?”

Gulping Makoto yelped “I wasn’t thinking straight back then.  Besides, I never said I didn’t blush when I saw you back then…”

Chuckling, Kyoko rolled her eyes and pulled out a nightgown, slipping it over her head before announcing “There, I’m decent.  Happy?”

Peeking from behind his hands, Makoto sighed in relief, lowering his hands from his face.  Both were content to smile at the other, enjoying the peace after the storm.  However, their moment was interrupted by the growl of Kyoko’s stomach.

She blushed in embarrassment before admitting “…I guess it’s been a while since I had something to eat…”

Smiling, Makoto started to walk behind her and gently nudge her in the direction of the bed.

“I’ll go make you some nice hot soup.  Just get back in bed and relax, alright?  I’ll be back in a jiff, promise!”

Shaking her head in amusement, Kyoko acquiesced “Alright, Makoto.  Since I’ve been ill for the past day, I’ll let you pamper me this once.”

“Awesome!  Be right back!”

As the door closed gently behind him, Kyoko laid back and nestled into her pillow, taking the opportunity to nap while reflecting on her recent coming on to Makoto, and the possible implications it had towards her own feelings for the boy.

“Do I…really …want Makoto…like that?”

XXX

“Kyoko!  Soup’s ready!”

Kyoko sat up, leaning against the wall that her bed was up against as she took in the sight that made her mouth twitch in an urge to giggle.  Makoto was precariously carrying a bowl of steaming hot soup, all the while garbed in a stereotypical chef’s hat and white apron.  As Makoto placed the bowl and spoon into her waiting hands, the aroma reached her nose, the sensational overload of the food causing her to involuntarily sigh in pleasure.

“Smells delicious!”

Smiling, Makoto replied “Thanks; it’s a Naegi family recipe.”  Scratching his cheek, he explained “My mom made it for me and Komaru whenever we were sick, and when I was old enough to cook, she taught me how to make it for Komaru.  I just hope I cooked it as well as mom did…”

Given how just smelling it elicited a reaction from me, I’d say you succeeded…

Kyoko took a spoonful of the yellow broth and slid it into her mouth, letting it run over her tongue and down her throat.  Her eyes widened after sensing the taste, its flavor overcoming her as she started to shovel spoonfuls of broth, ramen noodles, chicken, and vegetables into her mouth in reckless abandon, unwilling to spend a single second without the taste of “Naegi Soup” covering her taste buds.

Makoto sweatdropped, chuckling as he remarked “…Yeah, that’s pretty much how Komaru and I were as kids whenever we got to taste mom’s soup.”

In no time at all, the bowl was completely empty, drained of all its contents by its recipient.  Passing the bowl back to Makoto, Kyoko sighed and patted her belly contentedly.

“That was the greatest meal I’ve ever tasted.  You’ve obviously inherited your mother’s talent for cooking.”

Blushing slightly at the praise, Makoto smiled back at her, happy that his attempt to recreate his mom’s signature recipe was so successful.  Kyoko smiled back at him but frowned noticing his bloodshot eyes.

“Makoto…why don’t you go get some rest in your own bed?  You’re obviously exhausted, and you took care of me so diligently all night.  Besides, I don’t think I’m sick anymore, so you don’t have to continue being sleep-deprived for my sake.”

Despite his fatigue, Makoto shook his head in denial of Kyoko’s request.

“Kyoko…you’re only just on the mend, and we don’t know if you might have a relapse.  Besides, I promised when I volunteered for this that I wouldn’t abandon you.  So please…let me stay and look after you…just for one more night so we can definitively say that you’re in the clear!”

Blushing, Kyoko flashed back to their time at Hope’s Peak between Mondo and Celeste’s executions, when Makoto stubbornly insisted on being her friend and letting him help her in her investigations. 

That stubborn determination broke down my walls, so there’s no way I can say no when he’s this focused…  Sighing in surrender, Kyoko ruefully smiled and acquiesced “Alright, you can stay for one more night.  But after I resume my duties in the 14th Division, I’m ordering you as my employee to take a 24-hour sabbatical, during which you will spend the entire day sleeping in your own bed.  After all, the last thing we need is for you to fall ill from fatigue and force me to return the favor.”

Makoto nodded in acceptance of Kyoko’s compromise, making Kyoko happy that he agreed to take it easy and recover from the burden of caring for her.  The two spent the rest of the day chatting, even deciding to share in Hina’s “Get Well” Donuts that she had dropped off the other day.

They’re good, but they don’t hold a candle to Naegi Soup…

Regardless, she made a mental note to thank Hina later for the treat once she had recovered.  As time flew by and it became time for bed, she found herself easily falling into slumber under Makoto’s watchful and protective gaze.  Makoto smiled, unable to resist thinking that she looked cute while sleeping.  It was then that he reached for her hand that was hanging off of the side of the bed, threading his fingers with her own and squeezing her hand.  He felt a reflexive squeeze in return and smiled after seeing Kyoko’s lips unconsciously twitch upwards in a peaceful smile.  Her falling ill terrified him to be sure, but he was grateful that it ended up strengthening the bond between them.

…I really am lucky, aren’t I?

#Fanfic #submission #naegiri2019 #day 1

[shogetsus]

Stripes of Auburn, Eye of Sapphire

22. Mai

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Summary: “I wasn’t the only isolated case of smallpox, back in the day. But I’ve been lucky to only lose an eye from it, that’s for sure…”

The harsh truth from the reality they live in weighs heavily on her. Masamune speaks as if somewhat detached from the horrible fact he lost his bride, of all people. However, to some extent she comes to understand a commander and head of a clan like him must have spent his entire life getting acquainted with death. May it be due to war, a disease, or just birth, the prospect of losing a loved one must be just that inevitable for people in that era.

Perhaps that’s why he goes by living life to the fullest, not missing a single moment.

Spoilers: Masamune’s route Warning for slight sexual themes.

Mai

“I came for a tryst.”

What? Did she hear him right? It wouldn’t be surprising otherwise, considering the very loud way her heartbeat begins to throb in her ears.

When at first Masamune had partially trapped her against the wall of her room, then he makes sure to let her know the new attempt isn’t going to end up as the former. Leaning an elbow beside her head, he cradles her cheek with his other hand, drawing Mai’s face up to meet his.

She’d previously thought she’d heard a purr, and turns out, it’d come from her all along. “Taking things a little faster, now?”

“What can I say, I do like turning up the speed on things,” His smirk widens, turning wicked and impossibly more alluring, “And you don’t seem to have any troubles catching up with me so far…”

Ever so temptingly and locking her in place with his gaze only, he slowly pulls the tie on her hair loose, her long copper locks falling over her shoulders like droplets. Somehow he manages to make such a simple gesture so erotic her breath catches, muscles going taut with anticipation.

“I left Kojuro in charge of Shogetsu for tonight. I thought you’d appreciate that,”

“I’m pretty sure I still see a large, imprudent kit in front of me,” Mai can’t help the small banter, visibly shivering at the feeling of his index finger sliding down the column of her throat.

Is she truly ready for a ‘tryst’ with ancient Japan’s most casual kisser, though?

Nah, he’s not really serious though.

With that in mind, her former hesitation takes a turn into a more playful mood, feeling up for indulging him in a little teasing game. And so, tiptoeing just slightly and holding onto his shoulders, she drops an open-mouthed kiss on Masamune’s cheekbone, right below his eyepatch. That side of his face feels a tad bit rougher to the touch, but it doesn’t make him any less attractive; in fact, rather the opposite.

“Tempting, but I think I’ll pass…” She breathes close to his ear, feeling more than glimpsing the way he worries his lower lip and sighs, low and deep.

“You keep saying that, kitten. It breaks my heart,” Leaning back, he fakes a pout while casually tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “I was kidding, though. Actually, I have a request for you,” Without further ado, Masamune properly enters her room, unfurling a large piece of blank paper on her desk—precisely in the same place when a certain letter was, mere moments ago.

The sight brings her back to the former source of her concerns, scratching the back of her head in an uneasy manner. Should she bring the Shingen Takeda subject up with Masamune? Truth be told, he doesn’t truly seem like the appropriate guy to confide such delicate topic on, all the more considering Shingen is technically his enemy by proxy, given Masamune’s alliance with Nobunaga.

It’s probably better if I meet with this envoy first, and then decide on what to do from then on, though. Besides, tonight doesn’t look like a good night to bring up something like that.

“Is something the matter?”

“Oh, no. It’s just… what gorgeous handmade paper!” Mai quickly brings up an excuse, “I guess since we are in the 16th century I can’t say its antique, but still!”

He quirks a brow, snorting, “Somehow that makes me feel old…”

“Haha, don’t be silly. But what’s it for?”

“I’d like you to draw me a picture,” Masamune says simply, “Something like what I saw in your sketchbook. I want to use it as a hanging scroll.”

A little confused, she tilts her head. What? He’s not meaning one of my clothing designs? That’s not really art, though. And come to think of it, he hasn’t yet returned the dress design he’d snatched from her sketchbook. “Why would you want that from me? I can’t really do calligraphy or landscapes…”

“Because I like your art. I can see the effort in it.” He replies in such a straightforward, matter-of-factly way it kind of stuns her for a moment. “It’s flawed in a rough, energetic way that makes it beautiful.”

Is he talking about her designs or himself just then? “Um, Masamune, they’re rough because they’re rough sketches…”

He shrugs, “I still think they’re impressive, and clearly something I haven’t seen before in my life,” His face softens, dropping a hand on her shoulder, “I really do appreciate the way you draw, Mai.”

The genuine, easygoing smile narrowing his face touches her heart, but most of it, his complete sincerity. It’s not just a vague praise, Masamune truly does mean every word he says.

“Thank you for that…” She can’t help beaming at him, a nice and warm feeling settling in, “Is that all you needed from me, though?”

“Yeah. And don’t worry if you mess up. I can always bring more paper,”

Plopping down on the floor beside her, Masamune’s eye is bright and vivid, and her cheeks start to hurt with how hard she smiles back at him. In reality, he’s the first person who’d thought of her drawings as actual art, and that mention alone makes her all the more joyful inside.

After looking down at the piece of blank paper before her, Mai summons the resolve to start. This will be my first time drawing a hanging scroll. I thought the pressure would block me, but I’m actually inspired!

Taking the closest brush and preparing some ink, first she settles for starting with a female figure, opting to figuring the rest out as she goes. It’s been some time ever since she doodled anything—a little more than a month, in fact—but doing something as menial as sitting down and draw something puts her more at ease than most things in the world.

Glancing fleetingly at him from time to time, Masamune remains quiet, resting a hand behind him and slipping into a relaxed position as he watches her draw. The metallic, golden crescent moon hanging on his belt and the curved patterns of his kimono catch her eye, bringing some inspiration from his ever so present moon theme.

It gets to be so easy for her mind to prone on thoughts of him lately, but she can’t truly help it. What are his favorite colors? Which patterns would suit him best? The first thing that comes to mind is that Masamune Date reminds her of a spring season—fresh, vivid, pleasantly warm and lively. The most colorful time of the year and, to some extent, the most positive in her opinion.

Struck with a nice idea, Mai continues her design in peaceful, companionable silence. “Hey, you. Still awake?” She says softly after a while.

“Mm-hm…” It’s a pretty relaxed response coming from a wordy guy like him.  

Lifting her brush, she gives him a good once over look, but he doesn’t look sleepy at all. However, he seems to be not quite here or there, watching her undisturbed yet most likely with his mind elsewhere.

It makes her smile regardless, content to have that comfortable moment between them. “Just so you know, I’m really happy you chose me for this. It means a lot you coming to me with this request.”

“Really, now?” A sort of realization dawns on his face just then, his eye widening, “Well, I’m glad.” Hesitantly, Masamune gives her the sweetest smile she’s so far seen in him, looking very much like a picture himself.

Man, if only I could frame that look on his face, so I could watch it every morning…

A soft, longing sigh appears to escape him, crawling closer. “I really do love seeing you smile, kitten…” Quite smoothly, he slips his arm around her, and her world suddenly shifts.

Huh? They’d moved so gently it takes her a moment to register she’s on the floor and Masamune’s over her. Out of the corner of her eye, Mai can see the brush rolling across the floor, ink trailing over the mat.

“Mai…” His fingers turn her face back up to his all too easily, warm breath fanning her lips. There’s something so incredibly tender in the way he stares at her, as if admiring a work of art.

The sight becomes impossible to resist, tilting her head up and dusting his lips with a fleeting kiss, barely touching. His hand travels up to cradle the back of her head, holding her so carefully, so lovingly, her heart feels like about to burst.

His chestnut bangs fall loosely over his face, close enough they tickle her cheek. “Just look at me…”

I am looking at you. You’re gorgeous, as always, and—

That train of thought doesn’t go further than that as Masamune returns to brush his mouth against hers; softly, seeming to take his precious time into savoring the texture of her lips, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of her.

She can’t remember the last time she’d been kissed like that, if ever—the sort of kiss one could only see in the movies. That perfect and blissful kind, the one that comes former to a declaration of—

Tensing, only slowly she pries herself out of the moment. “I… think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Masamune’s eye flutters open, looking somewhat drowsy. “You think so? On whose part?”

“Perhaps on both,” Her voice comes off hoarse, and that makes him laugh, not minding as much and bringing his lips to her neck, breath hot in her ear.

When he nips at her earlobe, her treacherous body lets her know it doesn’t think there’s a misunderstanding at all, acting on its own accord and reflexively grinding against his thigh. His hair is incredibly soft as it brushes against the crook of her neck, prompting her to wind her hands through his locks.

Damn, damn! What are we doing?

Catching the collar of her juban in his teeth, Masamune pulls it down wolfishly, baring her skin down to her collarbone. A particular well placed nip sends her eyes rolling backwards, a groan escaping her.

You’re a flirt, and this isn’t going to mean anything, and we have to stop before it does. Because it’s going to get worse if we don’t…

“Masamune…” A hand sneaks its way up her thigh ever so teasingly. Come on, you’re not 15 anymore, keep it together! “P-please, let’s hold up.”

To her relief, he does so right away, “For what?”

Looking up at her, Mai has a moment to think straight. “I was still in the middle of drawing your picture for one. Now there’s ink all over the floor.”

“Well, that’s a problem.” Not making a big deal about it, Masamune moves away to lay beside the futon, watching her with clear amusement.

“I mean it, though,” Even when toying with a strand of her hair, instant regret courses though her, missing his passionate touch the very moment she’s reprieved of it. No. no, I need to focus. “Look, I think you’re mistaken about something, Masamune. You and I aren’t a couple, or an item, or a ‘thing’.”

Those alluring fingers of his stop midway. “I… don’t know what any of that means.” He deadpans.

She straightens up a little. “We’re not dating? We’re not lovers? I mean, as nice and fun this is, I’m not quite okay with sleeping with you on the spur of the moment.”

“… Who’s saying anything about sleep?” What? Oh no. Oh, no, no. Cultural AND language barrier alert!

“Okay, what I mean by that is, uh, bedding me. The sleeping part comes afterwards.” Mai struggles to make her point as best as she can, hoping it’s enough, “And those other things? That’s someone you might be ‘sleeping with’.”

Oddly so, Masamune keeps shooting her a confused look. “Why would you do that, though? I have my own futon if I want to rest…”

“What?” That takes her aback, not quite getting where he’s going. “You’re not trying to say you never—“

But just then, “… Hey, Mai, it’s the middle of the night. Keep it down.”

Her face goes white as a ghost. And things just got worse! It’s Hideyoshi! He wouldn’t barge in, would he? He’d better not!

Masamune appears very skeptical of that, however. “I think we should hide.”

“You too?” Apparently, Masamune’s first instinct is to grab the futon cover in a rush, bringing her with it. Clutching her close to his chest, he lies down and throws the cover over both of them.

There’s no way Hideyoshi’s going to fall for this!

Pressed tight against him, she can’t see anything but hears the door slide open. “Mai? Did you already fall asleep?”

Dozens of unmentionable things to say cross her mind at that, putting an effort into biting the inside of her cheek to keep as quiet as possible. Masamune, I’m going to kill you AND Hideyoshi if he finds us!

An awfully tense moment goes by, and Mai looks up into his face, watching her partner in crime putting a finger against his lips—still amused to no end. Staring at him in awe, it’s hard to believe how her evening went from a lonely and almost depressing one, to so many gears up as that.

Every moment with him seems to feel like a whole new exciting experience to unfold. I feel like such a kid. Honestly, though, this is fun.

Pressing herself a little closer to Masamune, she can’t help giving him a conspiratorial smile. The only air around them is their breaths, making both their faces flushed. “He’ll never stop lecturing if he sees us…” He mouths.

“Shut it—!“ They whisper to each other, their quiet breathing heating the air even more, noses touching. And yet, every moment she spends staring into Masamune’s eye—the brightest light around—the more their bodies seem to mold around one another, something more than just mere heat growing below the covers of her futon.

Hideyoshi, hurry up and go already!

After a long, tense moment, Hideyoshi sighs. “I guess she was sleeping? She makes a lot of noise in her sleep. Her breathing sounds a little labored too. Maybe I’ll ask Ieyasu if there’s a sleep aid for her.”

Masamune purses his lips, starting to snicker. “Don’t you dare—“ She warns him with gritted teeth.

He shakes in her arms, trying his best to restrain himself. “I can’t help it…“

“Suck it up!” An eternity later, they finally hear the door shut close and the sound of footsteps retreating back down the hall. Mai is the first to take a peek from below the covers. “Is he gone?”

A quite disheveled chestnut head makes his appearance as well. “Looks like it.” As the two of them leave the futon, Masamune can’t seem to hold back his laughter any longer. “Hah—hahaha!”

“Don’t laugh, you’ll draw him back!”

It doesn’t seem easy at all for him to contain his fit now that it’s started, but at least he tries to muffle it by sticking his face into her pillow, dropping unceremoniously onto his back. “You can be expecting some medicine for your labored breathing soon.”

She snorts, “If it’s from Ieyasu it’ll probably taste really bitter!”

“Still, I’m impressed with Hideyoshi’s mind. ‘Mai, you’re talking too loud… in your sleep!’” A small snicker escapes her at his attempt imitating his voice, “I kind of feel for his wife, to be honest…”

Soon, Mai can’t hold her laughter in either, plopping down on the futon once again next to Masamune. “Wow! I can’t remember the last time I did anything like that, if ever. I’m exhausted.” Turning on their sides and facing each other, his gorgeous eye is full of mirth, and she’s certain she must be looking the very same as him.

“Me too. All that good energy spent on nothing.”

“If you hadn’t started this, we wouldn’t have had to hide. That’ll teach you to interrupt people when they’re drawing…”

He quirks a brow, “In my defense, you were smiling so cutely, I just couldn’t resist,” As if to make a point, he shoots her a toothy grin, not bothering to wait any longer and cradling her close once again.

To be completely honest, there’s something about their undeniable chemistry that makes it somewhat hard to understand. Mai hadn’t had that instant connection with anyone before, and regardless of how they’re both admittedly playing around and basking in the moment, she can’t deny that inescapable feeling of being drawn to Masamune.

It’s as if they’re bound by invisible strings. It would be silly to call it fate, yet it’s hard to describe it otherwise.

Climbing down from their mirth, Masamune idly traces soothing circles on her lower back, sharing a blissful moment of peace and quiet. She sighs contentedly at his ministrations, burying her face in the crook of his neck, breathing on his masculine scent.

An endearing chuckle escapes him. “You look tired, but not tired enough to poke your cheeks, kitten.”

“You endless tease…” She snaps her teeth in a mock show of threatening to bite his approaching finger, managing to crawl even further into his arms. “Want to stay the night?”

“… Is that the way in the future to propose ‘sleeping together’?”

At that, it takes her a moment to register what she just said, her growing slumbering mind seeming to have made the decisions for her. Turns out, though, it’s a near impossible effort to let him go back to his manor at that point, so she doesn’t regret her words quite as much.

“In fact, I meant actual sleeping,” That train of thought brings her back to a former comment, turning up to search into his gorgeous blue eye. “Riddle me curious, though, but why do I get the feeling you never, um, spent the night cuddling up with anyone before?”

Propping himself on his elbow, he snorts. “I think I know where you’re going with that, and no, I didn’t,” He says, “I don’t know your future time customs, but in here, only wives and concubines are there to warm up a man’s bed,”

“Oh, right. But now that you mention it, how are you still single?” She can’t help but wonder. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m just guessing a guy like you surely must have had a lot of prospects…”

“Hah, not really.” He shakes his head, “But I do appreciate the sentiment, kitten,” He adds up sultrily.

“Seriously?” Maybe she’s biased—Who am I kidding, I totally am—but she finds that hard to believe, “Huh, I just figured, as the head of a clan, taking a wife would be a sort of a priority to you,”

“Well, I do was set up to be wed once, with a pretty lady from a northern clan,” Masamune goes on, relaxing further into her futon, “My cousin Shigezane married her sister, though, so the clan got into my fief in the end,”

“And why didn’t you?” As far as she knew about, Masamune seems to be to some extent the highest figure in the northern provinces, “Wasn’t a good match or something like that?”

“Quite the opposite. My bride and I were childhood friends actually,” As lenient as he seems to be with talking about it, his smile doesn’t look truly sincere then.

“So? May I ask what happened?”

Something in the way his gaze wavers just slightly makes her suspect there’s more to it. Is it he doesn’t want to allow himself having a partner? Or is it just him not looking forward to leaving another widow to mourn in the world, considering his job?

“Well, Mego died.”

She breathes, eyes widening in shock. “What?” He lays that out so simply and in a straightforward manner, for a moment she can’t bring herself to believe him. But he has no reason to make up a lie, “I’m… I’m so sorry, Masamune.”

“What for? It’s not your fault,” He pats her hand in reassurance, looking painfully honest. “I wasn’t the only isolated case of smallpox, back in the day. But I’ve been lucky to only lose an eye from it, that’s for sure…”

The harsh truth from the reality they live in weighs heavily on her. Masamune speaks as if somewhat detached from the horrible fact he lost his bride, of all people. However, to some extent she comes to understand a commander and head of a clan like him must have spent his entire life getting acquainted with death. May it be due to war, a disease, or just birth, the prospect of losing a loved one must be just that inevitable for people in that era.

Perhaps that’s why he goes by living life to the fullest, not missing a single moment. Oh, Masamune. And here I thought my life sucked. My troubles seem so small and pointless in comparison to all he must have gone through.

Struck with a sudden urge to just touch him, Mai reaches out and takes his hand in hers, “I wouldn’t call it just luck, though. I think, above that, it was your strong will what got you through,” Now aware of his admitted weakness, she puts an effort into smiling her most genuine smile, “I really like that about you…”

His face softens, taking the effect she’d been looking forward to, “Aside from my good looks, right?”

“What do you think?” Shooting him a sultry look, she opts onto changing the mood, “But you know what? Considering you just admitted you never experienced the pleasure of cuddling up, allow me to show you what you’ve been missing,”

“You’ve got my attention, kitten…”

She’d be a fool to think she’s only leaning forward and kissing him for other reasons aside of an all-consuming need to do so. Truth is, she wants him as close as humanly possible, craving for the warmth of his lips like a thirsty man in the desert.

If Masamune believes it’s selfish of her, he doesn’t seem to mind at all, eagerly following and going down atop the futon together in a messy bundle of arms and legs. “Now, lay down, tiger,” She advises after they part for breath.

Straddling him, Mai then proceeds to slowly and gently disrobe him, all the time under the scrutiny of his very intense gaze. His black cape goes off first, then the white belt holding his hakama in place, and so until he’s just down to his under kimono, leaving both in a matching state of dressing.

A teasing hand snakes up her thigh, and as tempted as she is to turn things more spicy, miraculously she finds the strength to refrain herself just so, dropping at Masamune’s side on the pillow. “Hey, I said just sleeping, remember?”

“Alright, alright…” Faking a pout, he seems rather more curious to see where she’s getting at than anything else, his eye fluttering close as her hands thread into his locks.

Turning off the lantern, the moonlight coming from the slit of the doors to her veranda haloes Masamune’s figure in breathtaking silver hues; his eye, half-lidded, still staring at her, seeming to enjoy her ministrations on his hair. Her fingers find the tie of his eyepatch, and after waiting for his explicit approval, the cloth goes off as well, dropped next to his pair of katana and rest of his clothing at the side of the futon.

Still massaging his scalp in soothing strokes, he hums contentedly. “Mmh, this is nice,” He manages to use whatever strength is left in him to pull her flush against his torso, legs tangling together under the covers.

Soon, his hums turn into quiet breaths, finally falling into a slumber, leaving Mai to bask upon the adorable view. All her worries appear to not matter as much anymore then, preferring to watch over him, not minding for what may come tomorrow.

For now, the world resumes to just the two of them, cuddled in each other’s arms. And she can only hope for the night to never end.

#Cassie writes #Stripes fic #Ikesen #Ikemen Sengoku #Ikesen Masamune x MC #Ikesen Shingen x MC #Mai Mizusaki #Ikesen fanfiction #SPOILERS: Masamune's route

[mysunfreckle]

Okay but what about enjolras who used to draw but doesn’t tell anybody and is actually pretty good

Birds of a Feather

Feuilly& Enjolras (potential for more, that’s up to you), Modern AU, Fluff, 1k

[Writtenfor @enjolrasxfeuillyweek and hopefully to this sweet anon’s liking

Feuilly’sworkshop is a nice place to be. It feels like craft and creativity, like goodthings being made well. Enjolras likes the smell of wood and glue and paint. Hegenuinely enjoys being there and that’s a good thing, because visiting theworkshop is often the only way to actually spend time with Feuilly.

At first Enjolraswas afraid of disturbing him, but his friend had made it very clear that hereally liked the company. And Feuilly is more than capable of listening andtalking to Enjolras while he works. Even when the work does require too muchconcentration for conversation, Enjolras is very happy to just watch him work.Watching Feuilly work is a pleasure, it never fails to impress him.

TodayFeuilly doesn’t seem to have his usual enjoyment in his work, however. He goesback and forth between the large piece of paper bearing his design and the fanhe is working on. His pencil in hand and frowning deeper and deeper every time.

“Everythingalright?” Enjolras asks eventually.

Feuillyblows out a noisy, frustrated breath. “Birds.”

Enjolrasblinks. “I’m sorry?” he says uncertainly.

“Birds,”Feuilly grimaces. “I can’t do birds.” He smiles desperately at Enjolras andpushes the paper towards him. “They already looked like lopsided chickens hereand the sketch on the fan is turning out even worse.”

Enjolrasglances at the paper. “Are they partridges?” he asks, frowning slightly.

Feuillylets out a harassed laugh. “I was trying for doves.”

Enjolrasbites his lip.

“You’reallowed to laugh,” Feuilly says, groaning slightly. “I know they’re terrible.”

“I wasn’tgoing to laugh,” Enjolras protests. He’s not going to lie and say they’re goodeither though. “Why are they even here if you don’t like them?” he asks. It’s ashame, because the rest of the design is so pretty.

“The clientasked for birds to be included somehow,” Feuilly says. “I’ve already given themthe least prominent place I could think of.”

Enjolrasstudies the design of flowers, fruit and branches. “What would you have donealong the edge if there weren’t any birds necessary?” he asks.

“Clouds,”Feuilly says immediately. “With pink and nearly gold edges like the sun hasjust risen.”

Enjolrassmiles. “That sounds gorgeous.”

“Yeah,”Feuilly mutters unhappily. “What about the stupid birds though?”

“They couldbe in the tree in the middle,” Enjolras says. That’s where he would put them.Dotted around the branches, like a group of friends.

“I would definitely ruin my tree if I triedthat,” Feuilly frowns.

Enjolrashesitates, but Feuilly looks unhappy.He can’t have that. “I can try if you like?” he offers.

Feuillylooks up at him in astonishment and Enjolras feels a blush creeping up from hisneck. He fights it down. “I used to be pretty okay at birds.”

“You draw?”Feuilly asks and he sounds, well, verysurprised, but also kind of delighted.

“Used to,”Enjolras shrugs. “A little.”

Feuillygives him an odd, fascinated look and pushed the paper and pencil towards him.“Go ahead,” he says. “Please.”

Enjolrasducks his head down and takes up the pencil. He always tried to avoid peoplewatching him while he draws. It makes him nervous. But Feuilly only watches himfor a second, he turns his attention back to his fan almost immediately.Enjolras can tell that he’s not actually doinganything, but he appreciates the pretence of employment. He looks at Feuilly’sexpertly sketched tree and ponders.

Birds…

Enjolrasdoesn’t take the time to really draw anymore, but it’s not something he canactually stop doing. The margins of his case notes are still full of doodles.No one sees those, of course, and his typed up versions are flawless.

When hebegins sketching shapes, it’s mostly from muscle memory. He’s not imagining anyparticular bird, just…general birdness. And they look good. Happy to be holdingcourt in the branches Feuilly set down so prettily.

“Somethinglike this?” Enjolras says and he looks up to see Feuilly already looking athim. Or staring actually, with an incredulous smile on his face.

“You usedto draw, a little,” he repeats,pulling the paper towards him. “Enj, you’re really good.”

Enjolrasmakes a protesting sound. He knows he can draw. He also knows he’s not reallygood. He knows enough about drawing to be very certain of that. “Come on, Fee,”he says, huffing slightly. “I drew you a few birds.”

“Yes youdid,” Feuilly says, studying the design delightedly. He looks up. “Will youcopy it onto the fan for me?”

“What?” Enjolras splutters.

“If you dothe sketch I can paint it,” Feuilly says. “But I can’t replicate that.” He tapson the paper. “Not properly anyway.”

Enjolrasglances at the fan. Feuilly’s fans are works of art. Strong but so delicate. Henever touches an unfinished one even to look at it. Feuilly puts so much workinto them, Enjolras can’t deal with the thought of spoiling one of them.

“It’seither that or lopsided chickens,” Feuilly says.

Enjolras grimaces.“No,” he says. “You have to do the clouds.”

“I will, ifyou do the birds,” Feuilly urges.

“Fine,” Enjolrasgroans. “Do you have some paper for me to practice on? I don’t want to mess itup.”

“Ofcourse,” Feuilly says and he fetches a leftover scrap of the handmade vat paperfrom the workbench behind him.

The feel ofthe textured paper is different, the pencil doesn’t quite move in the same way.But it’s not too different. And this is just a sketch, Enjolras remindshimself, Feuilly will be painting over it.

“You’reputting a lot of work into this,” Feuilly says smilingly when Enjolras finallyallow shim to place the fan in front of him. “What are your commission rates?”

“Ha ha,”Enjolras hums, carefully sketching the shape of the first bird and Feuillylaughs softly.

“Tell youwhat,” he says. “This is an expensive piece. When the client pays, I’ll takeyou out for dinner.”

Enjolrasdoesn’t dare lift up his eyes without lifting his pencil also. So he does both,meeting Feuilly’s eyes for just a moment.

“I mighthold you to that,” he warns, smiling involuntarily at the amusement inFeuilly’s eyes.

“Good,”Feuilly says fondly and Enjolras goes back to his sketch with the smile stillon his face.

The birdsturn out very happy.

#enjolras x feuilly week #enjolras & feuilly #feuilly #enjolras #modern au #gen #anon ask #be careful what you wish for #sunfreckle's stories #hope you like it anon! <3

[kanaepark]

Final artwork

I choose this one as a final artwork.

I tried quite a lots of different digital experiments, some of them worked fine but I always thought they are missing some warmth.

I like the handmade looking of this one and not perfect is so beautiful.

Also, I really enjoyed the workshops which I did on this class. I looked at all of them and pick up and tear the bits which I think really nice and beautiful. Especially, I’m really happy with the mono print clouds. It’s looks real looking!

I used brown wrapping paper for landscape. To make more texture, I crumped the paper.

If I could improve this one more, I would change the background color and try to erase white area. However, it might not work well. Also, use a sewing machine if I had more time.

Overall, I did enjoyed using some new techniques for this brief and this final piece is not my usual style so glad to see more potential in myself.

#ci_hndcpm1

[whatsanalec]

Fine art - Analyses of explored ideas

Pool of Twilight

This idea failed. My aim was to create something - installation, film or wall hung piece - that oozes tranquillity. The phrase “pool of twilight” is derived from how my mum described my room back home after we repainted it with an indigo colour. I hung a small disco ball in the window which sent light all around the room that looked like stars on the dark walls.

My idea was to project an image of a crescent moon shape onto an indigo-coloured sheet of handmade paper, with a translucent fabric in front of the paper, moving like curtains in a breeze. Being handmade, the paper had a unique texture with swirls and organic forms, which would make the image more visually interesting and intricate. I’d then have a light shining through some moving water to project the shadows of the water onto the paper. once I had all that, I’d film it face-on. Then, I would include audio of small waves lapping, or something similar.

Good concept, bad execution. I was having to manually manipulate the water and fabric simultaneously, which was a hassle but possible. The real problems came with the projection and camera combo. The camcorder I used had to be placed on top of the projector because if it were in front, it would block out the projection. But because it was so far away from the canvas, I had to zoom in a lot. Too much. The video lost so much quality and I wasn’t able to save it in Premiere. On top of that, there’s nowhere in Dundee I could get a recording of gentle water without getting background noise of traffic or wind.

I’m not done with this idea, I intend to explore it more. Follow this link for the video: https://youtu.be/c0u283uZYF0

Vacancy

With this piece I’m telling the story and putting you in the perspective of someone who has something missing in their life and soul. In the piece, there is literally something missing in the cutout. Behind it is an emptiness which can appear infinite if the work is suspended away from a wall.

There could also something missing in the application of paint - it’s not entirely opaque. The whites and greys add to that idea of emptiness and the state of being incomplete.

The shapes that are positioned on the top layer seem to resemble tears given the melancholic atmosphere and how they seem to flow downwards from the position of an eye. Although it’s somewhat up for interpretation.

The title of Vacancy serves as a double meaning: on one hand, it helps amplify the idea that something is missing given the word’s meaning. On the other, hotels and B&Bs use the word to signify that they have a spare room and are inviting people to fill that space. In this context, the character whose perspective you are witnessing is inviting someone to fill the space, hole, void that he possesses.

I think this turned out very successfully. I don’t think that’s me done with this idea because I’m not sure what else I could do but perhaps I could interpret it differently. Either way, I’m happy with it and I’m enjoying telling stories like this through art.

‘

This piece, initially inspired by the Imagine Dragons lyric, “I’m an apostrophe, I’m just a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see,” puts you in the perspective of a person who, despite having someone directly in front of and facing them, decides to look through them and onto who’s behind. That person, however, is visually content without knowing or acknowledging you. And yet, you keep looking.

The top layer being plain white serves the purpose of blending into a white wall and emphasising the idea that you are looking straight through someone who is obviously right in front of you. Behind that, the black layer is to create stark contrast and amplify the white’s cutout, but invite you further into the centre of the piece.

The much more intricate application of the crimson and scarlet colours beneath are to communicate the feeling of desire and interest that you feel towards the figure in the back, who is meticulously detailed in contrast to the silhouette in front. This is to convey the idea that you, who is looking through someone that you see no detain in, look past them and onto someone whose body intrigues you so much more. The piece is sized so that the silhouette is life sized in order to make the concept more real to the viewer.

Strangers

Strangers is an installation with the purpose of portraying my experience with social anxiety and difficulty communicating with people I don’t know well or aren’t comfortable around.

The projected video aims to induce the feelings of anxiety and panic, which are communicated through many aspects: i.e. the lack of vibrance, overlap of visuals and collection of audio. The use of colour gives anything but a feeling of happiness and makes the viewer feel on edge just by that alone. The overlap of video shows constant rapid movement, and along with the sound of panicked breathing, plus the sounds beneath that, the feeling of being overwhelmed is emphasised so much more.

The MDF pieces are suspended by transparent fishing wire to give the impression that they are floating. They are positioned in a way that appears random and they take up all three axes. These shapes represent uncertainty and/or people, and their positioning gives the idea that there is no escape from threes feelings of anxiety - you’re surrounded by them. They’re everywhere. These objects obstruct the projection and leave holes in it, furthering the relationship between the two elements of the installation and bringing the video forwards into the third dimension.

To see the video, click here: https://youtu.be/tAJWmACRYbY

#assessment

[mtairyartgarage-blog]

James Hay — jahphotos.org

Purple Bells, Pigment Inks on Archival Paper, $52

I enjoy photography because it forces a different way of looking at the world. Nature photography requires that I be more tuned-in to the moment…watchful for opportunities of subject, color, and light to reveal themselves. Then it becomes a matter of being patient enough, lucky enough, quick enough, and skilled enough in using the tools (camera, lens, computer, etc.) to try to capture and frame images in a way that conveys something of what I’ve seen…perhaps just a documenting of paths that crossed or perhaps distilling some small wonder or simple beauty of the natural world.

William Hanson, [email protected]

Garden 9, Pigment Ink Jet, $325

Bill Hanson is a sculptor, photographer and painter. He began his art education while in high school in Newburyport, Massachusetts with the painter and muralist Richard M. Gibney. He studied at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 1966 to 1970, where he majored in sculpture and earned a four year certificate. He currently lives in Philadelphia.

Garden 9 is part of an ongoing series of plant photography inspired by my love of the natural world. It recently showed in Artists in the Garden: PAFA at The Morris Arboretum, as well as the summer exhibition at MAAG. It began as a positive color digital photograph, then inverted to a negative in photoshop and further manipulated in color and tonality.

Jen Hemenway — [email protected]

Sun Smiles, mixed media, $60

Maisha Jackson — [email protected]

Two Handmade Fabric Bags, Bucket Bag $60, Shoulder Bag $50

Kwaku of Konadu, [email protected]

Wake Up, Ink Jet On Paper, $40

I am inspired by nature and feel at peace and one in woodsy places like our natural reserves in Valley Green. While on hiking trails, I take pictures to archive the beauty and intriguing life of Mother Nature. I like to look close at nature’s designs on the planet or outside the planet. 75% of my work is about the circle of life. I am exploring many territories and I never know what I might create. At 21 years I am still learning about my life and how we are all connected to nature. I am intrigued by flowers, rocks, trees, water, elements of life and the forces in nature.

Contemporary Flying Geese

Katherine Krauss — [email protected]

Contemporary Flying Geese, Quilt, $500

Donald Leong — [email protected]

Outer Banks Sunset, Watercolor, $75

Judith Levy — [email protected]

Misty Fjords, Alaska, ink jet print, $180

I have been a landscape photographer for 15 years. I have traveled widely in the United States and to other countries in search of the landscape. I particularly try to capture the details, the bits that are often overlooked.

Jay McClellan — www.jaymcclellan.com

White Dog, Ink on Paper, $150

In painting I examine the visual concept of “flat space” by moving objects back and forth on the canvas’s two-dimensional plane. Juxtaposing bold colors with graphic pattern and unique designs, my visual combinations excite my audience’s attention to the calm and earnest dogs that surround me in my everyday life. Indebted to modern and contemporary painters such as Alex Katz and Fairfield Porter, my large-scale paintings allow me to reveal the uniqueness of my family, which are primarily portraits of my dogs and my wife in our home. The calmness that it brings to me, and the happiness that they bring to me, I want to paint those ideas.

Phoebe Murer — [email protected]

Greenhouse, oil on canvas, $250      

As an artist, I show many sides, like Laura Palmer in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” If you’ve seen the show or movie, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

My oil paintings typically show the brighter side of me, so they are vibrant. Inspired by Salvadore Dali, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, they are reminiscent of pools and theme/water parks. I like pop art, such as video game characters and movie scene satires, like what one may see in Mad Magazine — a woodcut of Gremlins taunting E.T., for example. I do this to amuse myself and others.

For prints, sculptures and drawings, the topics are usually psychological and deal with my dark side. Like the art of Edvard Munch and Toulouse-Lautrec, which typically involve illness and death, mine reflects upon social problems, trauma, despair, conflict and afflictions with a twist of sarcastic and dark humor.  Currently, I am working on a hand drawn graphic novel, using Adobe Photoshop. It’s a dark story about a trip to Europe with conflicting morals and life styles.

Lee Muslin — www.LeeMuslin.com

Wherever you are is the entry point, mixed media collage, 24” x 18”, $195

Lee Muslin is an explorer constantly discovering new ways to create. She has an intuitive, organic approach to art making whether she is creating abstract paintings or mixed media collages. Transparency and layering plays a major role in all her artwork. Color, rhythm and texture are the supporting concepts. Lee’s collages usually start with a recycled photograph or photomontage as a base. Just a hint of the original may remain at the end of the process. A selection of found papers, fabric, fine art papers, tissue paper, transfers and acrylic paint are some of the ingredients that may be added bit by bit, like a puzzle, until the composition evolves. Creating something visually exciting from unrelated items, each with its own texture and dimensionality, is Lee’s challenge. Although the works are abstract, they may nevertheless imply the passage of time or suggest a landscape.

Arleen Olshan — [email protected]

Figure Study, Charcoal on Paper, $150

The Mt. Airy Art Garage was initially Arleen’s goal to have a studio with other artists, a gallery, classroom and performance space and room to collaborate with other artists. This dream from 2009, with the tremendous partnership of her wife Linda Slodki and the support of the Northwest Community, has come to fruition.

Arleen is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, with a BFA in Painting from the University of Arts (then the Philadelphia College of Art). She is also a master in handcrafted leather accessories, which she has worked in for over 50 years.

#2015

[cuckoomagazine]

Interview with the founder of Sana Naturals, Kasia O’Reilly.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Kasia, I’m Polish and a Cavan man stole my heart over 10 years ago. We live in the Cavan countryside, with our little boy, where we moved nearly 4 years ago to lead a greener life closer to Nature and my husband’s family. We have a beautiful Nadreegeel Lough at our doorstep and we feel very lucky to call this stunning lake land our home.  

How did you get started in skincare business?

My love for Nature has been passed down in my family for generations. Growing up I’d spend days in my granny's luscious garden picking wild plants and digging clay from the rich Polish soil. Since I was little I’ve been making herbal potions and forcing anyone I could to drink them. 

 I’ve done several courses in natural therapies and this passion has developed into making my own natural skincare products, especially important for me as I struggle with challenging skin. It's dry and oily in places, sensitive, easily irritated and prone to breakouts and broken capillaries. I’ve discovered throughout the years that when it comes to our skin, less is often more. 

I’m a big believer in simplicity and back to basics. I find the current skincare routines complicated, confusing and time consuming. Personally, I don’t see the need for, and don’t feel like applying, so many layers of products onto my skin twice daily. In my opinion all we need is only a few skincare essentials that are truly natural and effective, and my skin has never been happier for it.   

 Sana Naturals simple yet luxurious collection of skincare essentials is created with problematic skin in mind, offering superfood nutrition to skins of all types and ages.  

Do you work from home? Tell us about your working space, where do you create your products?

Yes, my studio is based at my home. For me, this beautiful part of the countryside is a perfect place to live and work. I spend a lot of time in my studio hand making the products and doing the office work. 

Every single jar and bottle of the skincare bliss is handmade and individually poured here. With some of the products, the production continues over a few days, after which the products reach maturity and are then hand labelled with attention to the smallest detail. 

Describe your brand in 3 words.

Natural, eco- friendly, pure.

What is success to you?

Getting positive feedback from customers who tell me that my products helped them feel good in their skin again makes me incredibly happy. It's the inspiration and the motivation for what I do.  I'd love to sell more products nationwide and start exporting abroad with the main goal to share the beautifying magic of plants and minerals to help heal and nurture the skin, bring joy and a peaceful mind and inspire to reconnect with the healing powers of Nature.

Working for yourself can be tricky in terms of planning your days / weeks. What helps to stay motivated and organised in order to achieve a productive work day?

Running your own business and a household means juggling millions of tasks at the same time. I work irregular hours and often work until late evenings when my boy is in bed and weekends. It isn’t easy to have a perfect work and personal life balance this way. Planning ahead and making lists is the key but I always have a feeling that the day is too short. 

I read an interesting article recently on how to get more productive. A very top tip I learnt is very simple - schedule regular breaks throughout your day. You are more productive when you are recharged.  

I knew that before but naively I thought that a 15 min tea break while scheduling social media posts counts as a break. But a real break should be just for YOU to help you replenish your energy in one of the three areas: physical, emotional, spiritual. So now during a work break, to replenish my physical energy I go for a walk in Nature or do a few minutes of yoga. For emotional energy I ring my friend for a chat or listen to my favourite song and really tune in. For spiritual energy I keep a gratitude journal. It has made an enormous difference to my work productivity and life in general.        

  What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

 I find great delight in working with the beautiful natural ingredients, such as nourishing oils, healing clays, smooth waxes etc. I love their vibrant colours, different textures and scents, mixing them up and playing until a formula resonates with me is so blissful. I also love engaging with customers, either directly at the events where I sell my products or via social media. I also enjoy packing orders for individual customers. If you have ever been at the receiving end of one of these packages you’d know how much love, care and attention goes to them.     

As cliché as it sounds, my work is my passion, except for doing the accounts. That to me feels like paying for all my sins!   

You have recently promoted your products on Ireland AM and you did a great job! How did you come across this opportunity and has it helped you in your business?

I contacted Virgin Media months ago about an opportunity to be featured on Boost My Business program. Luckily my brand fitted the sustainability topic that was scheduled to be featured at the time and I was invited to the studio. 

I was expecting just a couple of inquiries after the program but I was very surprised with a great viewers’ response. The volume of inquiries, possibilities of collaboration with different brands, new social media followers and the engagement was incredible. I’m very grateful for this opportunity as it helps small businesses like mine grow. 

What is your most popular product at the moment?

The most loved product by the customers at the moment is the Serum. This unique blend of botanical oils and a powerful antioxidant vitamin C serves as a moisturiser, serum and an under eye serum all in one. This multitasking superhero is especially designed to tackle multiple skin issues at once, depending where the skin resides each day, helping to restore its natural balance. It’s especially formulated with problematic skin in mind but it offers indulgence and soothing comfort to skins of all ages and types. I’m often told that it’s a skin saviour.      

Shop Here

Your dedication to sustainability is so refreshing! The eco-friendly recyclable packaging is what sets you apart from many skincare brands. Is it challenging to avoid plastic in terms of the cost?

Production of all skincare products to some extent impacts the environment, however all the choices and steps are taken with the wellness of our planet on top of my mind. And although not perfect, I’m constantly learning how to improve things and I’m thriving to lead this small business as sustainably as possible.  

Plastic packaging is certainly cheaper, lighter and safer to post and transport in terms of the risk of breakage but as sustainability is one of the brand’s core values, using glass containers is non-negotiable. 

I also opted for no outer cardboard box to reduce waste and instead, the products come with a reusable cotton eco pouch. I’m committed to using as little plastic as possible. Any inside filling in the postage boxes, e.g. paper insert, bubble wrap or the filling chips are reused from the ingredients and containers packaging. I’m delighted that many of my suppliers choose green alternatives too, such as compostable filling chips made of potato starch, even though these ‘greener’ options are more expensive. 

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting a beauty business?

To be honest I'm not yet an expert by any means as I'm still learning. But I would say start with your local enterprise office that usually offers a wide range of trainings and is very helpful to new start-ups, as well as existing businesses. Joining your local networking group may also be useful. I’m blessed with a continuous support from very talented women from my local Cavan Business Women Club.  

Follow your dream, move one step at the time while enjoying the journey and hope for the best.

 What are you working on at the moment?

I’m often asked by customers for a face toner and to fulfil the requests I’m currently working on a new toner formula. The oil Serum needs water or a water based product to penetrate the skin and seal in the moisture and I feel that a face toner would complement the existing collection very well. It will take much more time though to test and it will be sometime next year by the time it’s launched so stay tuned.    

https://www.sananaturals.ie/

____________________________________________

#interview #business #beauty #skincare #product #cuckoomagazine #ireland #online #blog #magazine

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: Kawaii Box March 19

Whenever I review a box and really like it, I always have high hopes for the next box. So now it’s time to find out if I liked it too :D

Word of the month: Sakura - Cherry Blossoms

Sakura Stickers

Our first item is this set of really cute puppy and sakura themed stickers by Mind Wave. Something I find interesting about this set is that all the stickers have a light texture through them, and against the plain backdrop, they have a slight raise giving them a very slight 3D effect. Many of the pieces also have a shiny gold accent, which I tried to catch in the picture.

If you like sakura/flowery/or just cutesy stickers, Blippo.com has tons of sheets. This specific sheet is $1.54.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

These stickers are very cute~ I love how colorful they are, and how there are petals to go with the flowers; although I wish they had made them as colorful to match. They definitely give me a spring vibe- I almost feel like I have to wait to use them now.

Sakura Neko Notebook

Our next item is this really pretty looking notebook, featuring a flowery kitty in soft pastels. This notebook is by Tree in Art Interiors and features a unique string binding.

There is a variety of styles this notebook comes in but as far as I know they all have blank pages. Each one is currently on sale for $4.83.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

As pretty as this is, I had a concern over how “tight“ the binding would be, by that I mean how stiff the notebook would be from it and if it would make the one side difficult to write on. It is a little bendy, but you shouldn’t try to test your luck by bending it to the point of ripping. You can shift the notebook a little, making it easier to write on the problematic side though.

By general preference, I try to avoid notebooks that have the glue binding because they are like this one. Not impossible, but they kind of get annoying to me. However, I don’t entirely hate this one, the paper is really smooth to write on. I do have some concerns the string binding could weaken over time or snag something though...

Neko Wooden Clips

For $2.73 on Blippo, we have this cute set of neko wooden clips. There is 10 in total with 5 designs. These are small clips purrfect for decorating a wall, or even if you just wanted to add a cutesy little touch to something else.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  

The quality appears... handmade? I want to say. Like, each design has small differences if you compare two of the same. Some of the clips want to shift when using them, one of them is a bit gnarled (the kitty with the red yarn), and I noticed a tiny amount of glue on the side of one. I’m not sure if these were handmade or if its a quality issue from the factory, but I kind of like that detail. They are sturdy, and the set even includes some woven string, which I thought was a nice touch.

When I was little I loved to paint the larger variant of these at my grandmas, because of her large clothes line outside she had a whole bucket of them!

Cute Animals Pill Box & Aiko Card Purse

Next up we have these two adorable, handy-dandy, practical pink items! First is a little pill box that features 3 sections for storage, two small and one big, and a silver ballpoint chain to hang it from various things. Besides medicine or vitamins, this could also be used for other small items, like jewelry, small erasers, change/money, etc.

They have a big colorful and various shaped collection of these on Blippo. This specific one is currently $2.24.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I use things like medication and vitamins, so this would come in handy for me if I didn’t want to bring the pill bottles or packaging wherever I went. I think it’s very adorable, and it seems pretty sturdy.

There is one very tiny issue bugging me though, you can’t see it in the picture, but I noticed the handle of the umbrella doesn’t connect to the umbrella... I’m thinking it’s a tiny oversight, but if tiny details like that bug you....

<3<

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We also have this exclusive Kawaii Box card purse featuring the brands mascot Aiko. It has a chain to connect it to things, but you could also put it in your pocket or just carry it. Besides having a zippered pocket it also has a slot for an ID card on the back. It’s $3.43 on Blippo right now.

Besides cards, I’m sure you could also use it for things like money

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

For being an exclusive item the quality is very good. I only found one tiny issue, this being the card slot being scratched up. I’m not sure how it happened because I kept it in the box this entire time- but it’s not a huge deal or anything, and it isn’t a hindrance.

Pastel Heart Pen & Lipstick Eraser

To go with our cute pastel notebook, we have some cute pastel stationery tools :3 First up is the Pastel Heart Pen, featuring a light pastel tube that has magic written on the side and a fancy metallic clip with a glittery winged heart on it. The cap can also be placed on the pen butt to keep it from vanishing.

There is 4 lovely pastel colors available, each is $2.03.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

It’s a typical fine-tipped pen essentially. It writes very well, it also looks cute and there is minimal smudging. I noticed that it didn’t seem to bother the notebook pages (except for a few tiny dots, residue maybe?) and I had to rub my finger over it to get anything.

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To go with the pen, we also get a really cute eraser shaped like a lipstick :D These must be kind of popular lately because I keep seeing them nowadays. On Blippo there is a few different sets, each with multiples to collect or choose from. This specific set is currently $2.03 on Blippo and includes 4 colors in 2 different themed designs. There is pink or peach ribbons, and blue or turquoise sail boats. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I think it’s very cute and fun to look at, but in saying this... I don’t think I’ll get very much use out of it. I know it’s a waste, but I loved collecting erasers when I was younger, and the ones I really liked I hated to “ruin“ by using them (the others I ruined, punctured, tore apart, chewed on, etc).

But to be fair I did try to use a very small section of it to see how it worked. It did pretty well, but the eraser is a little wobbly, so you kind of need to be gentle with it or else you might make a mess or tear something.

Neko Dango Sakura Plushie

Of course to go with Sakura season we need an equally adorable sakura plush! Whenever people go cherry blossom viewing, dango is a popular snack item to make or purchase and enjoy while out. So this kitty was made to represent the hanami dango, featuring 2 of its 3 colors (the 3rd is green if you were curious).

There is 4 kitties available, each with slight differences in coloring style and sakura flowers. They’re also made with plush and small beans. Each costs $3.43.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

This is a perfect little cuddly representation for the season, and they feel very soft~ The stitched detail is perfect, and it sits well because of the beans in the bottom. It’s also fun to squish and squeeze.

Puchitto Fruit Grape Candy

The Puchitto Candy series is fairly popular and a long-time running series by Kracie. They all feature a pull apart fluffy gummy-type texture and a variety of fruity flavors and fun shapes. Besides just fruits, they also have stars, peach aliens, etc.

For this entire pack its 93 calores, and on Blippo its available for $2.00. Blippo gets these in on occasion, but right now they only have the grape ones in. But these are one of those “common Japanese candies“ you can find on a lot of websites. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Besides being fun to play with, they have a lovely texture for anyone who doesn’t like harder, rubbery gummies. The flavor seems common grape gummy to me, but not grape medicine, and it’s not too harsh on the taste buds. But I’m not sure you would like these if you dislike grape flavors.

DIY Jewelry Magic Wand

The inner magical girl fangirl in me freaked out seeing this for the first time! Not only that but look at those gorgeous beads; they’re translucent, like gems! The piece also includes some translucent, wire-like string to use if you want.

There is 4 colored variants of this piece, but only the case and images on the packaging is different as far as I know. Each one costs $3.43 right now on Blippo.

This is only an example of what I’m making. Initially I had planned on a bracelet, but I thought it might be more fun to go for a whole necklace since I usually just make bracelets with these. Young or old, I like kits like this because they kind of force you to sit down and relax. You don’t have to think while you put them together, your brain just sort of goes on auto pilot.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Given how stressed out I’ve been this past week, this was a much needed break from all the drama surrounding us moving. I love the beads, and the clear string is nice- but that’s where I had a little concern. It’s pretty flimsy and bendy, unless you pull it tight, so I’m kind of concerned that once its tied it might end up looking cheap rather than cute. But I’m hoping that with more beads on it, the less messy it’ll look.

Also, just a side-note but I think the packaging is kind of click-baity. By that I mean it has images on it of beads not even in this set...

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - ♥ ♥ ♥ As usual, I had very tiny little detail complaints, but in general I did like the items. I loved a few of them, but I didn’t hate anything.

Price - ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Everything comes to $27.69, which is about a dollar more than last months box. But keep in mind a handful of items were on sale, so this probably would have been closer to 30-something originally.

Theme - ♥ ♥ Only 3 really items fit the cherry blossom theme, but there was a couple of items that could fit the pink theme color often associated with it (if you got the color that is). I think in comparison to the previous one, this one dropped the ball a bit...  

Total Rank: 6 out of 10 Cuties. Items and price wise the box did good, but I had higher expectations for the theme given how well they did last month and I feel like that played a part on why this one felt a bit lackluster to me. They could have done a lot more with the theme and I wish I did because this one pretty much felt like a normal box. In fact, I had a really hard time figuring out which items I liked more than the others because it felt so... the same to me. I wish they would start coming out with some more unique items, rather than the same old stickers, stationery (not that I don’t love the pens), notepads/notebooks....

♥ Cutie Scale ♥

1. Puchitto Grape Candy - As delicious as this was, I’m a little disappointed that this ended up being my favorite item. Food/snacks shouldn’t be when you get a box like this, but...

2. DIY Jewelry Magic Wand - It’s so cute and I love looking at the pretty gem-like beads~

3. Pastel Heart Pen - It’s fairly simple but sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just happy it can clip onto things, and the cap fits on the bottom.

4. Pill Box - It’s so cute, and pink! I definitely think I can use this, it’d definitely come in handy when we move and pack up everything.

5. Sakura Neko Notebook - While I am a little iffy about the style, I love how pretty the cover looks.

6. Neko Wooden Clips - I like their homemade quality and general cuteness. I’d really like to use these, but I don’t take very many pictures so I’ll have to think of something to do with them...

7. Sakura Stickers - Very cute and pretty. I love the gentle colors and slight 3D look. 

8. Neko Plushie - It’s small but it’s still huggable and cuddly~

9. Card Purse - Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s very cute. It has a summery feel to me so now would be a good time to use it, but I have so many of these (and so little change, and cards honestly) that getting out of the house to use it isn’t a priority right now. 

10. Lipstick Eraser - As much as I love how it looks, I put this here because I know I won’t use it. It’s to cute for me to want to use.

#cutie reviews #kawaiibox #sakura #cherry blossom #neko stationery