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lavendertwilight89 · 8 months

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24 Poll Hour Challenge Results!

You came, you voted, and now, the sentences for each fic! The results definitely surprised me, but hopefully this lives up to the hype! (I def just started writing and didn't count sooooo your votes counted!)

Here we go, in order from lowest to highest vote count!

Spoilers beneath the cut

Bad Blood

“Ah fuck, you two are banging again, aren’t you?”

Inuyasha was about to kill his only other friend in the world. He needed to remind himself how stupid his friend was–and–

“Oof,” Miroku groaned, as he smacked himself into Kagome’s barrier. Ha. Inuyasha almost hoped Miroku broke his nose. “Whyyyyy—”

“Because you annoy me,” Kagome said, sipping her tea as she read the paper on Inuyasha’s bed in his long tee-shirt.

Devil Devil

(Disclaimer: This is like 3 chapters ahead from my last post--sorry--I'll try to beta and read this week)

Brushing my teeth with the extra toiletries the hotel provided helped with the lingering headache and stomachache. We had gotten at least twelve hours of sleep from when we checked into the hotel room and laid down, minus the quick spat from my friend who was still convinced I had a death wish. The sleep had definitely helped my body and hopefully some food would be the final nail in the chiffon to whatever else seemed to be aching.

"You sure about this?" Inuyasha asked from the door as I spit the toothpaste into the sink and rinsed my mouth out with water.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I turned towards him, wiping my mouth off the bubbly white lining.

"You goin' with. I can handle the two that are after your other friends."

"While I'm sure you can, I want to be there and while I know you're nervous since I'm kinda beat up, we both know you're better with me nearer than away." Inuyasha didn’t deny nor confirm my haughty statement, which meant I was right.

“I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I hate all of this if anyone is asking for my opinion,” Shippo added.

“No one did,” Inuyasha growled.

I sighed. My head hurt. They were riding my last nerve. And I really just wanted a nap.

Head Above Water

The wedding went off without a hitch. Kikyo almost seemed happy to marry the stoic bastard, and Sesshomaru almost seemed relieved he was taking the figurative arrow in the chest. But ultimately, it didn’t matter; what did matter was how beautiful Kagome looked in his eyes… Sango had really done her job. She was wearing an aquamarine dress, one that made her eyes sparkle, and make-up that didn't hide her natural beauty, nor made her look like she belonged totally.

Kagome was born to stand out– she was a fucking mermaid!

After the wedding, his father and mother blocked him from making any advances like he wanted to and Kagome was whisked away. While it pissed Inuyasha off to no end, he imagined it was to protect her from Kikyo’s family wrath.

Kikyo and Sesshomaru immediately went to forge the bond (something the humans were uncomfortable with knowing) but moved the great hall for the food and to await to marking celebration. Inuyasha, however, had other ideas.

Dog Demon War

Kagome found it odd being home. She wanted so badly to try and use the well–try to desperately get back to her Inuyasha–her friends–her family–

But there was a tremendous fear of even trying to time travel after that experience.

Her friends have been killed.

Her friends died before her very eyes.

She had died.

Their child had been killed within her womb.

Her hands trembled as she brought them to cover her face, trying to block out all the memories of the alternate timeline, trying to escape into the peacefulness of the wind blowing gently as she sat on the stone bench beneath the sacred tree. The smell of green tea enter her nose and startled her, making her whip her head up and see the violet eyes of her future daughter.

“Here you go, Mama,” Izayoi said sweetly, handing her the cup before sitting down next to her.

The gentle draping of a blanket over her shoulders made her almost jump until Izayoi rested her hand on her shoulder. Two golden orbs appeared in front of her, blinking, making her giggle from the curiosity.

“Moroha, hi,” Kagome greeted.

Shelter

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

How was Naraku alive? How was he in their hut? How was that damn puppet surrounding them with his vines?

His evil laugh was menacing and shook him through his human body. Inuyasha had only one thing on his mind, even though his mind screamed to run and get away: protect Kagome.

Love Again

“So aside from animal cruelty, why don’t you eat meat?” Inuyasha asked as he bit into his hamburger.

“Personal choice, I guess. I never loved it–not really. Then I guess when I was out on my own I just made the decision to cut it out. If I was cooking for me or ordering for me, why did I have to have something I didn’t need or really want?”

“So, you can make decisions then.”

“Look here,” Kagome scoffed, narrowing her eyes to see the smirk in Inuyasha’s, glowing and making her heart do backflips and nearly come up her throat.

It sucked that she was…stuck. In her current predicament. Her shoulder hurt. She was constantly on too strong pain-killers. But she was pretty sure one good rub of the fabric between her legs would make her orgasm. Kagome wanted Inuyasha.

It had been a long time. A long time. She hadn’t lied or exaggerated about that. But she was just tired of dating–tired of screwing random people–an itch was better satisfied using a vibrator or her fingers than a stranger who clearly had no idea how to use his fingers.

But Inuyasha was too–protective. Genuine. Kind. Kagome was still pretty certain he was in denial and wanted to wait for things to evolve more after her shoulder was healed. But that didn’t kill her lady-boner.

Holding out for a Hero

They didn’t emerge from their room for a couple of days. Sango had taken to making sure they were getting meals, knocking the door and calling to them before disappearing. Kagome could only surmise that it was instinct pulling to bond over and over. She blushed, thinking it didn’t help how amazing it felt for him to make her release over and over, as well. She heard a chuckle, the slight exhale causing her ear to flicker (something she was still getting used to day in and day out), and turned her head to see him smiling down at her. He kissed her shoulder and heart fluttered in response.

They were married.

They were officially bonded.

“We probably need to show our faces, lord husband,” she purred (literally) and blushed at the sound coming from her chest. Again, she still wasn’t quite used to the changes within and around her body.

Inuyasha chuckled again and nuzzled his face against her back, “They woulda came knockin’ if things were fallin’ apart.”

“Inuyasha—”

“This is our room. This is our space. What if it’s different out there?”

His vulnerability surprised her. Turning in his arms so that she was cradled by him instead of being spooned, she brought her hands to his face and carefully traced his cheekbones in comfort before going straight to his ears. “Nothing is different here than out there. I am wedded to you–body and soul. Let us show them–show everyone how I have dedicated myself to you. Also, I think we need to let others know that we will not be taking over this region, do you not agree?”

willow

(disclaimer--again, like 3 chapters ahead from my last post--another one I'm slowly getting through)

Kagome sighed and pouted a bit and he realized he was being a jackass. “Sorry, ‘Gome. I—I guess I just feel bad that you’re stuck there and you’re stressed out. It wasn’t supposed to be like this when you came. I–I let you down.”

“How did you do that?? You didn’t create the pandemic or this virus. This is just a tough spot,” Kagome tried to soothe. “I’m just being a baby and sensitive.”

“Keh. You have every right to be when you’re there with Emily.”

“Inuyasha, be nice. You know that she isn’t my main stressor. It’s been alright–just you know–a little weird since you’ve been gone for so long.”

“She still being fair?” Inuyasha asked, ears perked up and ready to jump through the screen if he had to in order to protect Kagome. Emily wasn’t mean or ill-spirited but he also wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from her either with him gone.

“Of course. She is still very grateful for the room and board.”

“Any word on her moving out?”

“No. None. But uh–about that–”

“What,” Inuyasha growled in annoyance.

Kagome scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t really pushed the idea on her just with everything going on.”

“Amazon packages still arriving?” Inuyasha questioned flatly and Kagome pursed her lips and nodded in response along with naming a couple of other different ones that had made their way to their doormat. “Yeah, she does that.”

“I just, uhm–I don’t know if it’s my place to say anything about it?”

“I guess if we want her out–”

“It’s fine for now!” Kagome cut him off, frantically, a forced smile on her face and turned away from the monitor. “Hey Em! Dinner??”

Kagome, still protecting people who didn’t deserve it. Typical. At least she was acting like her normal self. “Whatever. We don’t gotta talk about that. But go ahead and get food, I need to get myself something too.”

“Oh! By the way, did Miroku text you?” Kagome asked, turning back to him.

Inuyasha raised his eyebrow and looked down at his phone and realied that yes, the idiot had messaged him and he’d just ignored it. Talking to Kagome and playing Candy Crush just happened to be more important. He opened the text and it said ‘Game night?’ “I guess he means a virtual game night?”

“Yeah, Sango got an app for school to help everyone relax a little bit to get up and stretch so she has tons of online games we can play together.”

“Sure, why not. Not like you can throw the coffee-table when you get mad for losing and this time, you can’t accuse no one of cheatin;.”

“Don’t act like you know me,” Kagome said, sticking her tongue out. That’s the Kagome he knew.

~~~~

Day 10

thanks everyone! hope you all know how much i appreciate everyone's support over the past couple of months with everything going on my with mom! i hope this also keeps your hope alive that i have not stopped writing nor do i plan to! just slowly chippin away!

#lavendertwilight89 fanficition #inuyasha fanfiction #inukag fanfiction #inukag #bad blood #devil devil #ddw #the great dog demon war #head above water #willow #love again #holding on for a hero #shelter #wips #my wips #sneak peaks

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dreamwatch · 7 months

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WIP Weekend

Thanks for the tag @hbyrde36 and @thisapplepielife!

rules: make a 24-hour poll with the names of your wips and then for whichever wins, write one sentence for every vote it gets (but you should also write 1 sentence for every vote each of them gets!)

When it’s over I’ll post a snippet of any/all wips that get at least one vote!

I’ve removed a WIP because I’m thinking of restarting it and using it for NaNoWriMo.

Summaries under the cut

Like A Stone: Post S4. Everyone has moved on except for Eddie. He's working with Wayne, stuck in Hawkins, withdrawing from life and his friends and haunted by Chrissy. Slowest of slow burns.

Prison Fic: My true love! Eddie gets a life sentence for triple homicide. This is about his life in prison. Happy (ish) ending guaranteed. I'm guessing at about 4 chapters, I have one complete and 2 others on the go (I write out of sequence, sorry!).

Dustin & Eddie: Eddie moves away from Hawkins as fast as he can and cuts himself off from The Party. A few years later and Dustin is having Big Feelings and seeks him.

Steve and Eddie 90s: Started life as a fluffy song fic until I broke it. Eddie and Steve run into each other in a bar in the 90s. They decide to meet up in the bar once a week and every time they do, the song that was playing the first time they ran into each other comes on at some point in the evening.

No pressure tags:

@occasionaloverboy @farahsamboolents @cchapsticck. @devilyouwere. I’ve kind of lost track of who has WIPs they’re working on at the moment, please let me know if you’re writing? Thanks!

#wip weekend #my writing #my wips #dreamy writes

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mangonatural · 8 months

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Rules: Make a 24 hour poll with the names of your WIPs, let it run, then work for 10 minutes for every vote the winner receives.

Thank you for the tag, @angelcasendgame!!!!! I am not sure I will be able to work on anything very soon just because life came after me again, and turns out I'm gonna be moving over the next month or so, but I really do hope I can find time!!

None of these have names yet lol. I put the SPN ones first, but technically I've been trying to break my writer's block by returning to The Great Gatsby (It's all Nick/Gatsby btw, just realized that might not be immediately evident) with limited success. It's always come easier for me. But all of this is stuff I do actively want to work on.

Ohh I don't know who to tag. I'm sure everyone in this circle has been tagged already, and most of the people I talk to regularly enough to know about their projects have more or less left Tumblr... I do absolutely want to pass this your way though, @antique-ro-man!! (It's Wes, btw!) I also wanna tag @heyfagbutt! And then anyone else who sees this and wants to participate, I also encourage it!! This is such a cool idea :D !!

Long, rambling explanations down here ⬇⬇

I think the name is pretty explanatory? The gist of it is they go after the same guy and become pseudo-enemies but they keep bumping into each other like this and decide to work together after a while 👍 this is a really bad hook LMAO. Anyway, I'm trying to build on the idea that they work REALLY well together when they do it intentionally but fail comically when they don't.

Pretty much what it says on the tin as well. No Supernatural AU. Dean goes to a community college to get a certification to help with his work elsewhere, but Cas, a figure drawing model, catches him drawing (which Dean's been doing on and off as a hobby) and tries to get him to sign up for the arts program.

I technically only have a summary of this, and I'm not entirely sure if I will write it all out, but I do want to at least put more time into the development before I dedicate to giving up on it bc of scope lol. I just have SUCH a soft spot for fake relationship AUs. Also, I just found out that while I have FINALLY aged into independent FAFSA eligibility, I am once again tax bracketed out. Anyway, financial abuse is real and I want to project my suffering onto Dean. Also immigrant Cas, but I haven't decided where I want him to be from yet. I think this has a lot of potential for some pretty hefty character redesigns too so it's also compelling to me from that angle. I guess I could also write it for TGG, but I did initially think of it for Destiel, so.

I don't know how to explain this one very well except that I had unhelpfully written "poolboy au" in my notes and then proceeded to forget what the hell I meant. This fic was an attempt to resurrect that but ended up being a funky modern West Coast re-imagining where Gatsby can't even "make it" as much as he wants to, and Nick can't find a place to live except for a less-than-legally rented pool house. It's not meant to be a full rewrite or anything though.

Uhhh yeah, I'm keeping the details private for this one ahaha but that's just because it wasn't supposed to be a big deal and I told a friend she would see what it was when it was done...like oh god probably a month ago at this point... My original scope for this was quite small, but research for it, indecision, and a nasty case of writer's block that I've had for nearly a year now have kept development a bit slow. Hopefully, I'll finish it before the year comes to a close.

I also don't know how to explain this one well other than "after being rejected by Daisy (Canon Divergent), Gatsby attempts to buy his way into a bewildered Nick's heart. Though the fic is from Nick's POV, Gatsby's just had his worldview shattered and is in a bit of denial, but instead of pursuing Daisy harder, he channels all of that energy into Nick (though he's not really sure why he's doing it at first). I wasn't sure what to put up at the top because I absolutely don't want my code name for this public at least until it's done LMAO.

#new post #tag game #spn #cause i'm gonna kick this over to my main too bc of the tgg #but i SAID i was gonna quarantine the spn stuff here so .#sorry i feel soo much more rambly than normal #did you know that some property managers will approve you in fewer than 2 hours after you submit your application?#can't stop thinking about that

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skitariiposting · 1 year

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funct.print ("[statement] so. Just a little update on the imperator titan situation. I decided to sit down with the .stl files just to see what I'm working with. First off, most of them seem to be set up for a larger build plate, which is fine, I can cut most in half and just baaaarely fit them on a Mars 3. The problem is before I even do that there's already a funct. ton of models. Like holy shift so many models. I got like 4 or 5 sliced, just to see what I'm working with here and just those 5 added up to a little over 24 hours of printing. So when I say this'll be a long project, it's gonna be a long project.");

funct.print ("[optimistic] on the bright side, the poll I made is looking pretty positive, so if I did start the project, I know that at least at the beginning I'd have a couple people watching, which is a confidence boost. I wanna bring this up for people questioning the quality of the videos: I'm about to graduate as a Creative Media Production major. Producing high quality things is what I've spent four years of my life learning how to do and what I intend to do for the rest of my life to make a living. The question will be if it's entertaining or not, which I'm still worried about.");

funct.print ("[statment] I mentioned it in the replies, but if I started this project <and this is still a big if> I'd open a patreon to go along with it, because I don't think I can manage this project without a bit of support. One of the patreon rewards that I think would be cool is if you get the tier, I'll send you one of the pieces to paint however you like. No color scheme, no set amount of detail or quality, just paint it how you want to paint it. Scrawl your name in leadbelcher after painting it light pink for all I care, just no bare plastic. After I get everything printed, the patrons will send back their painted parts and then I'll assemble this big patchwork chaotic conglomeration of paint schemes and colors and we'll have a big art piece that the community helped to put together financially and physically. I've also been thinking more on the whole "giving me money" thing with patreon, and I have a morality thing I've reached a conclusion with. On top of paying for me to continue the project, any money I'd have left over that I didn't spend that month won't go to me. The budget will focus on the print first, video production second, helping with rent and groceries third, and then the excess past that. I'd feel guilty taking the excess money to pay for anything besides those three or four things. So instead, I'll use it to make donations to small upcoming creators in the community and artists, without sending it to the patreons for benefits or whatever. Just direct donations from my community to them. Because while yes money to buy more fun stuff for me is cool, I feel like if I'm taking money from the community, it's only fair I spend it on things for the community and give back to the community anything I don't spend.");

funct.print ("[statement] Now. I want to specify. This is all still hypothetical at this point. I'm still a college student living in their parent's basement with a part time job for three to four more months. While yes, I've been making connections with full time jobs, prepping for moving out again, <my roommate graduated, so I couldn't afford the dorm room anymore> and making plans, my future is not set in stone by any means. So, I'm not making promises that this is going to happen. More than anything I'm just sharing my idea to see if it's even a good idea and if there's anything I can do to improve it, or make it more enjoyable for people. So don't go holding this to me like it's 100% going to happen, it's just a project I'd love to do if I have the capability to. -Jerry");

#adeptus mechanicus #warhammer 40k #admech #skitarii #warhammer 40000 #warhammer #40k

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1d1195 · 17 days

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A PENNY?!?! Sam literally how?! AND FOR JEANS?! but you know what I would try to achieve that high again too lol But yay for shopping! Hope you got some lovely stuff bestie!

Dealing with teens all day for the entire work week is CRAZY so I dont blame you for having constant headaches lol oddly enough my brother is the one that suffers from headaches lol Oh hormones for sure cause the stomach to be wack which is so unfair! this period will NOT affect you on your break!! A period is never fun but hope youre taking care of yourself!

ME TOO!!! I do not fit in those flared/bell bottom jeans thats trendy now which is tragic solely because that's all i ever see in stores!?! Im also not even close to being considered tall or petite and those just make me look so off too bahah So skinny jeans for me have always been the option where although not the best option, they are the lesser evil of jeans lol

AWW that's so cute! Little Sam was such an icon for that!(you still are obvi) You should for sure should revisit the marry janes for the fall!!! I am waiting for that day too! Sam I don't think you know how much of a HATER i am of electric scooters, i am fighting a battle everyday trying not to get killed by them on campus 😭 But I love that coleege was walkable for you! It must have been nice getting to know the area well!

I had a feeling you played softball at least! Idk if my mind was just projecting the Made to be Universe/storyline but softball seemed like something you would have done/enjoyed! But omg you were like a full on athlete?! That's so cool! Not the injuries of course but the rest is!

I tense up so quickly because im very awkward about my feelings😭SAM THERE HAD TO BE MANY THAT FOUND YOU HOT! i kid you not being smart is SO attractive! Plus a cute girly who is GOOD at math in a typically guy dominated field!? The puns seem like a very you thing and i love that honestly! I think its so cute when people do that!

ALSO THAT POLL😭 bestie I cant choose😭I need them ALL! I spent a good minute thinking about my vote lol very excited though!

Have such a lovely start to your break Sam! love you!-💜

If there is a coupon I will find it lol. I can't tell you how many times I've signed up for American Eagle text messages and then unsubscribed just to get 15% off every time. I think I had a crazy reward and then the jeans were already on sale. I'm pretty sure they have to charge you something in order for the sale to go through so I think they HAD to charge me something.

I'm already enjoying my break actually despite my period. Thank God for Midol tbh I think I would die without it. My body is very clockwork so after cramps for a FUN 24 hours it's usually much more manageable. I HAVE to take meds though even if I don't feel crampy right away. The second my body realizes I'm on my period it's like "TIME FOR CRAMPS" and again, if I don't take the meds right away I get behind the pain and I am FUCKED for the remainder of the 24 hours.

I am trying to relax as much as possible because May and June are going to be crazy with senior prom/graduation and stuff. Plus I've outsourced myself as well for lots of other projects 🙃 I really need to learn to say no (time to reread Dolcezza) But I plan on finishing this book I'm reading (I haven't done very well reading lately, but I'm telling myself it's okay because it's not a race and I read a lot early on.) I do have to do some lesson planning but I actually enjoy that because I find math soothing like a psychopath hahahahaha

That's amazing you like skinny jeans. I feel so ostracized sometimes when it comes to my jeans choices. All my friends and coworkers have moved on with the trends and I'm still in 2013/2014/2015/2016 hahaha. VERY controversial: I actually really like jeans. I always by jegging jeans so they're super stretchy and comfy. Obviously if I can wear leggings I will hahahaha.

I'm crying about the electric scooter. You must be on a sizable campus to have electric scooters that's so funny. People drove their bikes/skateboards around campus a lot but no scooters. I loved the area my college was in (I actually live down the street from it in an apartment now because I love this area so much) it's very much the setting behind My Friend's Toyota hahaha

LOOK AT YOU MISS DETECTIVE HAHAHAHAHA I didn't even realize that about Made to Be that's so funny and true. I tried a bit of everything tbh. I did swimming (mostly so I wouldn't die growing up on the beach) and tennis lessons which I wasn't good at either but I really enjoyed anyway. I suck at ice skating (do you know how often you use your ankles for pretty much every sport? 🙃) and idk what it is about basketball but I may as well just sit in the middle of the court it would be less harmful to those around me.

OH BESTIE SAME HERE ABOUT FEELINGS. Everyone around me told me my bf liked me before we started dating and I was like "No he doesn't he thinks I'm gross" ☠ if they found me hot and attractive I kinda wish they told me! 😭 it's selfish but it would have done a nice boost to my ego. I was never the 'looked' at friend if you will. I called myself The DUFF™ all throughout middle and high school I really did a number on my self-esteem 😭 I am probably a little toxic when it comes to being a STEM girly lol because I tried so hard in high school and college to prove I was just as smart as the boys (sometimes more actually 😉)

For the poll it's just about the order which I think is kind of fun! I hope other people are enjoying it--I find it really helpful! I thought I did a lot of my more "obscure" stories on the last round of voting so I thought it would be nice to bring back some of the more popular series. I almost threw Protection on there too but thought it was too much (and too mean to make that decision) hahahaha

💕💕

xoxo

#��

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themomsandthecity · 3 months

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I’m a Better Parent Because I Have an iPad Kid - Here's Why

Like many people before they have kids, I thought I knew exactly how I would parent. And for the first year of my daughter's life, I was pretty strict. No added sugar, no screens, lots of outdoor activities, music classes, and library visits. I was trying to be the "perfect mom" I saw on Instagram, but it was exhausting. Just as her first birthday came in March 2020, so did a global pandemic. Being home 24/7 meant more cleaning, more cooking, and a lot less to do outside of the house. As she got older, I loosened my restrictions because, frankly, I was tired and needed a break. I think the early days of COVID-19 were hard on everyone, and the uncertainty of the world filled me with anxiety. She also was learning less from outside sources, so I used educational programming on an iPad to fill that gap. Related: Is Screen Time Really So Bad For Kids? We Asked Experts For the Truth - and It May Surprise You At age 2, we only watched "Sesame Street." But as she got older, more shows started being added to the devices, and screen time increased well past the recommended one-hour-per-day limit. Her day is now filled with a mix of watching educational programs like "Emily's Wonder Lab" on Netflix, learning a new language on Duolingo, playing games on an app like Noggin, and video chatting with long-distance family. Now I know what you're thinking, and yes, having a child spend too much time in front of a screen is never the move. But fortunately, experts say being an iPad kid isn't entirely unhealthy. "Screen time can be a valuable tool for parents, offering kids a focused activity during travel, allowing for smoother meal preparations, and providing parents with much-needed downtime," says Joel "Gator" Warsh, MD, a pediatrician in Studio City, CA. "It's a practical aspect of modern parenting that, when used judiciously, can support parents' mental health and daily logistics." Plus, her screen time is in combination with her attending school full-time, learning a second language, participating in three sports, exploring New York City, and playing with the many toys in our home - something that experts say is key. "Parents can feel less guilty by ensuring that screen time is balanced with other activities," Dr. Warsh says. "It's about the quality and context of screen use, not just the quantity. Using screens as a part of a varied and balanced schedule can alleviate guilt." Most importantly, though, her screen time makes me a better parent. Just as much as she likes watching TV or playing games on an iPad, I, too, sometimes need that time to do something or to take a moment for myself and protect my mental health. I allow her to watch shows to relax and unwind so that I can also relax and unwind. On the weekends, when I want to watch a show with my husband, she is allowed to watch her iPad. When I'm making dinner and don't want her around knives and a hot stove, she is allowed to watch her iPad. When we're flying together and I'm feeling sick from motion sickness, she's allowed to watch her iPad. Just as much as she likes watching TV or playing games on an iPad, I, too, sometimes need that time to do something or to take a moment for myself and protect my mental health. If I'm able to complete a task faster while she is distracted with an iPad for a few minutes, it means I can then offer my undivided attention to her. Likewise, if I'm able to rest and recharge while she watches a 30-minute show, I'm less likely to be anxious or short with her for the rest of the day. In a very unscientific poll I did with my friends around the country, all of them, even those whose kids don't have their own personal iPads, told me they rely on screens at least sometimes - on planes, in cars, at restaurants - when they need a moment of peace. And what I gather from this is that even though screen time is looked down upon and demonized, it seems like everyone is doing it, to varying degrees.… https://www.popsugar.com/family/ipad-kid-better-parent-personal-essay-49331755?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

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frankwestpfahl · 2 years

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Bonjour mes amis,

I feel like a scene in a movie. We wake up to the birds singing, and oddly enough they sound identical to the birds on Marty's phone alarm. Perhaps they were the inspiration for the alarm, a sunny morning in Paris. Today we only have one task to complete and then the day is ours to simply enjoy. No plans, no reservations, no agenda, just live in the moment and enjoy, the sights, smells, sounds, and feeling of Paris on a lazy day.

But first let's get the one task out of the way, our COVID test to return to the United States. The good news is that the 24 hour pharmacy less than 500 meters away provides testing for 20 Euros. We stroll over, fill out the form, pay the fee, and then enter a cargo create on the street with a stranger. It's like an action movie and this is how we go missing. A quick nose swab and we're done. Results in 30 minutes or so and they will be emailed. If we don't get the email within 2 hours stop back and they will print a copy.

Task done, now what to do? Seems logical that we should get something to eat. Marty has been the king of locations and found another popular breakfast spot. It's about an hour walk away and with the sun shining we opt to walk instead of the Metro. The streets are coming to life, the markets are opening up, and everyone just seems happy. We get to the spot and they don't offer the virtual queue. We just line up and are advised it could be an hour.

No worries, we have the day. While in line our results come back. We're all three negative we can fly home tomorrow! We use the time to upload to the FlyReady site to check in. Of course it won't let us check in but at least everything shows green and ready for departure.

The restaurant is small and adorable in shades of pink. There are only 15 tables and although a space between them, it's very New York style, people have to move to be seated. We all order different items and they are all delicious, from Tyler's berries and chocolate chip french toast, to Marty's mango and coconut pancakes, and then my savory eggs, and bacon pancakes.

We make our way out onto the street. Tyler would like to exercise his independence and wants to wander Paris without us old guys. It is his trip, so we tell him to go and enjoy and we will see him later today. I guess now it's just Marty and me. What to do? We opted to head to one of the largest markets in Europe to see what we can find. It's not easy to get to and it a bus ride, but we make it to Saint Ouen flea market. Yes it's several blocks long and deep. We stroll the small alleyways and see things like art, mirrors, silver, jewelry, really everything. We even see a 1960's modular home that is in the shape of a space ship, so cool.

You can get lost in here and after a few hours we decide we've seen enough. We did find one shop that we could have spent a fortunate in, well actually several, but it's a good thing we have limited space to fly home. Saved us a lot of money.

From here with such amazing weather we decide to stroll up to Sacré-Cœur again. The streets are full and the steps up steep but we need the excercise after having dessert for breakfast. We make it to the top and stroll to the steps. We find a seat and just take it all in. The street performers today are busy and I'm mesmerized with a guy with a soccer ball on the edge doing all sorts of tricks. He truly is amazing from handstands to climbing lamp polls all will doing tricks with the ball. It's cool to see so many young people fan boying out with him for a picture afterwards. I hope he makes a good wage doing this, he is incredibly talented.

After awhile of looking at the city we decide to stroll back down. We find a cafe along the canal and stop for a coffee/tea. I'm so lucky to be with someone that shares the same interests and passions. I feel like a romance film about falling in love both in and with Paris.

Time to check in with Tyler and see if he would like to join us for dinner. He said he would prefer to be out and about and thanked us for the invitation. So okay we're on our own for dinner. We passed a Mexican restaurant and it smelled fantastic. We pull up a seat outside and figure it must be good, everyone around us is speaking Spanish. It was delicious and we do love our Horchata. The part that they didn't really capture though is the heat. The level was very Minnesota spicy. None, but it was good, filling, and best of all very reasonably priced.

We decide to walk back to the hotel along the canal. This then turns to parks. We stumble upon a bocce tournament. They are playing hard core and teams have numbers and the tournament board. We stand and just watch them play in awe. What a great way to spend the evening. We then continue on and see people working out in the park, strolling and enjoying the flowers, even with a bee sighting.

Marty suggests that we finish the day with a stop to our neighborhood boulangerie. They are getting ready to close up, but are helpful in making our decisions for dessert. Marty gets and Apple tart and I select the berry. It's now time to head back to the room, enjoy our treats and get packed. It's not the earliest morning tomorrow, but no sleeping in for us.

We get packed up and get everything in place for the morning. I check the website to make sure the RER B is running to the airport as it wasn't when we came in and the site says yes. With that, a final look out the window at the skyline and park. It's been an incredible week. I've learned so much about my nephew and I hope he will remember this trip and light a passion to explore and see the world. I also have fallen in love with France and can't wait to come back and explore more. There is so much yet to see and do. Thank you for joining us on this whirlwind trip through some of Western Europe. I guess I now need to add French to the long list of languages I need to learn. Adieu Paris and France I look forward to our return. Bonne nuit.

#selfie #justfrank #urlaub #urlaub2022 #reise #spaß #friendship #adventure #2022 #spring #fernweh @marty.reynoldsohana #may #funtimes #travel #france #paris

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sor-vette · 2 years

Text

#5 Tiresome Tuesday

“It’s a refurbished student housing,” you explain as they trail after you like ducks in a row. Even if they don’t understand what you’re saying, they seem to be clinging to every word. Wherever you look there’s always at least one pair of doe eyes staring expectantly back at you a.k.a. what do you do when you open your doors and find a certain retired boyband for some reason wants to move in

▶type: ot7 x fem! reader (poly)

▶ word count: 2.5.k

▶ series’ masterlist

▶ other works

▶a/n: Turns out I'm incapable of writing things without angst. Next up is Namjoon's birthday, it will be a fluff fest, I promise.

Jungkook sits splayed like an asshole. He woke up and chose to commit to being desperate. Namjoon and the rest, the so-called congregation of maturity, insisted that they should wait and be patient. Patience after all was a virtue but not one Jungkook planned on having. He’s been waiting, he’s been patient, arguably more so than the rest of them, and it has given him the shits. So he woke up and jumped straight into having four buttons popped open, instead of the usual two.

He reached to run his finger through his hair only to stop when receiving Jimin’s infamous glare from the kitchen counters. It looked mussed and fluff as though he just happened to look like this when in reality it had taken three and a half hours of immense effort and hairdryer power, fought amidst catty, merciless bickering, squeezed into the tiny of your bathroom.

"Our bathroom, to be exact," Jungkook thinks, vibrating at the idea.

It’s 19:15 and you’re still not home which puts them in yet a muffled state of panic. You’d been coming home later and later this week and they’re well determined to make you feel better. Though how exactly Jungkook’s manspreading is supposed to help even he himself had questions . Still, he tries his little impatient, hopelessly romantic heart out, greedily stretching his thighs over the whole of furniture so if you wanted to sit, which you often did, you at the very least would have to ask him to move.

Jungkook groans at the thought of you pronouncing his name. He knew that along with looking pathetic, he looked good (he published a poll on his fake Twitter profile to see which outfit the People™️ liked better) and he knew that the hints he’s been dropping were about as subtle as the meteor that killed the dinosaurs. He still remembers “The Land Before Time”. Man, that movie was sad.

Back to the point. Jungkook looks good, he’s clear that he likes you in such a shameless way that it could only be beaten by Taehyung who stopped giving a shit altogether ever since turning 24. Now Taehyung had straight-up proposed to you during dinner while eagerly trying to show a handmade chart on why having five kids was not at all insane. And had Namjoon not choked him out with a spoonful of rice, you’d actually be subjected to the sight of that ungodly thing.

They all wait in bored silence until finally there is a rattle on the door. Jimin and Taehyung who were seated by the counter next to the microwave straightened like a pair of BBC Earth cameramen would in front of an unorthodox mating ritual.

To be even more of a casual bastard, Jungkook throws an arm over the cushions trying to appear as inviting as possible. He gathered that you were a more reserved type but surely you had not entered nunhood and would not turn a blind eye - !

“Hey, Jungkook,” you greet, not bothering to raise your head from the folder in your hands. You drop the tote bag with milk and cereal onto the table and leave just as absent-mindedly. Jimin and Taehyung might as well not even exist in the same universe as they got thoroughly ignored.

Jungkook closes his legs. Rolls on the carpet. Lays there - defeated.

“Mark that down,” Jimin sullenly mutters and Taehyung, just as grim, scrabbles another line in his notebook.

“Attempt #38 - failed.”

You’re so tired that it even isn’t the correct word anymore. You’re exhausted. Drained. When you close your eyes it is a jumble between that disgusting beige and graph of electrical outlets.

It was always like this before finishing a project. Some relished and enjoyed the finished work in a mentally healthy way, you on the other hand had the predisposition to literally run yourself below the ground. Suddenly every decision became unstable and hard for you to understand. Was it always like this, had you put that colour here deliberately or was it just a draft you forgot to delete?

You just couldn’t stop winding yourself tighter and tighter, anxiety squeezing the life out of your brain like a boa snake. But it had made you marginally successful, it made sure, to the most brutal of degrees, that there were no mistakes. And in your line of work, that sort of quality was the building block of employment.

You fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow only to be awoken by something tugging on your wrist. In your disoriented state, you assume that it's Molly, your childhood Border Collie before it sunk in, that you were in fact not eight years old anymore and Molly had moved to better pastures already long ago. You blink, turning round and while the eyes peering back at you are brown and just as pleading as Molly's, they were decidedly owned by a member of Homo Sapiens.

Kim Taehyung is squatting next to your bed, throwing the most miserable, empathy inducing pout a human could ever muster while holding your wrist in two, warm hands. You close your eyes, not wanting to see. Having seen enough.

“Cook, please,” he whines.

It takes a moment for your addled mind to put together words with meaning and when you do, you yank your wrist away, rustling deeper underneath the blanket. Not a second later it is taken hostage again.

“I’m hungry, please cook,” he rubs his head against your mattress, curls flopping left and right.

“You’re a grown man,” you hiss, “if you can’t cook, then there’s something wrong with you.”

“I know,” he admits, tugging at your fingers almost desperately, “please.”

“Ask Jin.”

“Jin threw shoe.”

“Yoongi, then.”

“Yoongi threw other shoe.”

You let out a loud growl at which point Taehyung just floods the previously quiet room with an obnoxious “please, please, please”. You kick a leg out and happily, Taehyung pulls you by the elbow to the kitchen. He wrenches away his grubby little hands and with a grin that was far too satisfied, plopped down on the counter barstool, swinging bare feet back and forth.

Absolutely cold-blooded you pour milk into a bowl, set down a bag of cereal and leave the Soompi Award Winner for Best Idol Actor of 2018 to deflate like a burst balloon.

“Mark it down,” Jimin shakes his head behind the couch and Jungkook etches in a bold, black stroke -

“Attempt #39 - failed.”

Jimin knows that the fault lies in the complicated nature of the previous plants. A lot of just so happened’s, a lot of excuses thrown in the air. You’re a straightforward woman, you like honesty so he comes to you, intentions bared.

Too much bared, anyone would tell but Jimin is not anyone.

You practically crawl out of the boiling shower, limp and ready to crash. The reveal was in two days and you were running on less than fumes, on petrol smell alone if you will. All you want is to detach your aching bones from your body, so you’re very displeased when those bones find themselves squished together.

But it’s even worse. There’s no other way around than to just state - you were touch starved. Hard. It was years since the last time someone hugged you and the warm, entirely unexpected hug punts you straight into a physical recreation of multiple Windows error noises. Your heart leaps outside of your chest and on instinct, stemming from darkened days of high - school, you elbow the affectionate attacker into the ribs.

Jimin stumbles backwards, taken off the consensus of thinking beings as he watches your expression with wide, terrified eyes, mouth flapping open and closed like fish in the dry.

You’re angry. Not annoyed, not disgruntled, actually angry. It’s an expression that makes Jimin want to seek penance away from civilization.

“Piss off of me,” you growl and storm off.

The little conflict elicited the interest of others and as you push past Yoongi, he automatically reaches out to comfort but tucks his hands away. He had a working brain and more importantly a complete set of understanding that boundaries existed for a reason.

As Jimin feels a sting forming on his side, he carefully considers that maybe the fault in their plans lay in the fact that they were idiots.

They all become deathly quiet and in the befallen horror the sound of your doors rings like a cannon shot.

Yoongi turns. Jin turns. Namjoon turns. And Hoseok turns. All three shrink smaller underneath the growing fury.

There is no red in the room and yet Jimin can swear that it pours from Hoseok’s inhumane eyes. Where did his lovely Hobi go? He ventures a guess - the same place where Yoongi, Namjoon and Jin disappeared off to. Somewhere entirely unreachable.

What happens in the subsequent two-hour meeting cannot be relayed as the events that transpired would be in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. All that can be revealed is that this was the moment when the written letter was drafted, an idea that at most they played with but never thought of executing. And that neither Jimin, nor Taehyung, nor Jungkook ever recovered their full heights that were lost upon bending down in apology.

It’s the last day and you have nothing left to give. You drove through the day with as much vigour as a twice squashed snail would possess. There’s nothing even left for you to fix or do. The checkup about the checkup about the checkup that you’ve already done ten times was exhausted of any conceivable or inconceivable errors. All that remains is just waiting. Banal, helpless waiting. Monotonous, you wait until the clock chimes five, push the chair to your table and wander the streets looking every bit as ghostly as you felt.

You push open the white doors with a golden 27 nailed to the top and are greeted with three figures. Instantaneously, you itch back, not wanting to offend or be offended.

They stay a respectable distance away before lowering their eyes down and with a synchronicity that exposed the many years of rigorous training, declared-

“I’m sorry.”

You close the doors, needing something to do but alas also cutting off your exit point.

“We’re sorry that we imposed on you and disrespected your boundaries. It will never happen again, we promise.”

Without flaws, without hesitation or stumbling on pronunciation. The kind of speech that clearly was rehearsed dozens if not hundreds of times. Still, they appear sincere. Actually, they look scared and as you forget that you should respond something as well, the fear doubles.

“I’m very sorry,” Jimin asserts, the only one daring to remotely look at you, “I don’t...not want to hurt you.”

“I’m not hurt,” you amend simply. Clearly, they put themselves through the wringer. “I was just...shocked.”

Loneliness was only more bitter when in the crowd and loss of friends was only more painful at the reminder of someone’s else's hug.

Though you hadn’t lost them did you. They just left you. Tossed you aside without saying a word, like an apple core thrown out of the moving car. Left alone, to decay in your own time. What Jimin unwittingly drenched up was a rot you’d never wipe your soul clean from. People could joke all they wanted about being pathetic, being some kind of child lacking the mentality of “wEll I mAnAGEd tO leARn SeLf lOvE uSIng theSe tOp 10 sELf hELp TiPs” it didn’t change the fact that if you were that naive idiot that offers their heart to the wrong people, that idiot that put the effort of writing one hopeful text after another only to be met with grey, unread checkmarks, that idiot that finally realized that they were the troupe-less clown performing in an empty circus... It made you not want friends for the rest of your life.

“I understand you’re all very,” you gesture vaguely around, “touchy-feely but.” The words choke upon your tongue.

“I’m sorry has no one else asked about this apartment? There were four of us that wanted to move in.”

“No, you’re the only one. I’m sure.”

You swallow the lump in your throat, peering at the details of the entryway shelf. You needed a good painting to hang above there.

Jimin observed that look, face contorted in worry. He knew that look. He remembered it being thrown into the mirror of the bathroom after he was done crying, bucking underneath the weight of abandonment, of stress, of sheer fucking pain of feeling unloved.

How many years have you gone feeling the same thing he did? More than enough. Suddenly, fear drops his heart into the abyss. You’d never forgive them. If you ever found out, you’d never ever forgive or understand. And even though all the things he previously knew turned out to be wrong, he knows he’s not making a mistake here, because if the roles were reversed - he’d never forgive himself too.

“I’m not good with friends,” you conclude, straight to the point, a fact, brushing away all feelings underneath the carpet. To stay there.

They all nod, except for Jimin who seems either unconvinced or deep in thought, you can’t tell.

“I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have elbowed you, it’s not a proper way to uh...express my emotions.”

Finally, he shakes off the daze and extends his hand, with a smile perhaps too tight-lipped to rest easy. You shake his hand nonetheless and a peace treaty is signed.

A muffled cough interrupt the moment, along with a suspicious shuffling in the further hallway.

So much so for being older.

“You want to go eat with me?” you offer and predictably as the apologetic trio inch closer in twinkling excitement, the rest come barreling through.

“Wonderful, where are we going?” Namjoon greets you smoothly like he didn’t just shove Jin out of his way as if he was a wayward carton box. Jin peels himself off the grey wallpaper and kicks Namjoon in the shin. You bite the inside of your cheek to stop smiling.

You had two options really. Either stay at home, stew in anxiety until your head pops similar to a ripened tomato or try to distract yourself. Something said these seven would provide enough chaos to take your mind off things.

“You want to join?”

“Our other plans fell through. We all lead very eventful, exciting lives. So where are we going?” Namjoon replies disinterestedly already throwing a jacket over his shoulders. In a second there is a flurry of movement for shoes and in some cases for proper pants.

“I don’t know yet. Wherever it is, you’re paying, please. I’m broke right now. ”

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