#zen elevated

[harmonyhealinghub]

Hallow App: Elevate Your Meditation Practice to New Heights

Shaina Tranquilino

January 7, 2024

In today's fast-paced and digitally-driven world, finding moments of peace and tranquility can be challenging. However, thanks to technological advancements, we now have access to countless apps designed to help us improve our overall well-being. Among these remarkable offerings is the Hallow app – a powerful tool that aims to transform your meditation practice into a deeply enriching and transformative experience.

What is Hallow?

Hallow is an innovative meditation app specifically tailored for Christians, Catholics, or really anyone, seeking to deepen their spirituality through prayer and contemplation. This unique platform combines ancient Christian and Catholic traditions with modern technology to provide users with a comprehensive range of guided meditations, prayers, reflections, sleep stories, and more.

For some reason, I feel called to return to my roots and practice more "traditional" spirituality. At the beginning of this new year in 2024, I felt compelled to read the Bible, making it my New Year's resolution. Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic elementary and high school, I have previously read the Bible. However, at that time, I found it somewhat boring as it was not taught in an engaging manner suitable for children. Nevertheless, with the Hallow App, I find that they present passages from the Bible in a more comprehensible manner. Not only do they offer easy-to-understand explanations, but they also provide options like listening to the Bible or their teachings presented poetically or through meditation styles. This app is ideal for individuals who prefer a less traditional approach to learning about God, connecting with God, and reading the Bible as it offers a simpler and more accessible way.

Features and Benefits:

1. Guided Catholic Meditations: Hallow offers a vast library of guided meditations led by experienced Catholic priests, theologians, and spiritual directors. These meditations cover various themes such as gratitude, forgiveness, healing, discernment, anxiety relief, and many more. Each session incorporates scripture readings, personal reflections, and soothing music to guide users towards a deeper connection with God.

2. Daily Prayer Plans: To foster consistency and growth in one's spiritual journey, Hallow provides personalized daily prayer plans that cater to different needs and goals. Whether you're looking for assistance in developing a habit of prayer or seeking specific intentions like inner peace or strength during difficult times – Hallow has you covered.

3. Sleep Stories & Music: Recognizing the importance of quality sleep for overall well-being, Hallow includes calming sleep stories inspired by Christian spirituality that gently lull users into deep relaxation before bed. Additionally, the app offers peaceful instrumental music tracks ideal for meditation sessions or simply creating a serene ambiance throughout the day.

4. Community Support: One of the standout features of Hallow is its supportive community aspect. Users can connect with fellow Christians around the world, share their experiences, and offer encouragement. This sense of community fosters a supportive environment that helps users stay motivated and committed to their spiritual practice.

In a world filled with distractions and stress, finding moments of peace and connecting with our spirituality is essential for our overall well-being. The Hallow app provides an invaluable resource for Christians, Catholics, or really anyone, seeking to deepen their relationship with God through meditation, prayer, and reflection. With its extensive library of guided meditations, personalized prayer plans, sleep stories, and vibrant community support – Hallow empowers individuals to embark on a transformative journey towards spiritual growth and inner peace.

So why not take the first step toward enhancing your meditation practice today? Download the Hallow app and experience the profound benefits it has to offer – allowing yourself to be guided towards a more centred and fulfilling life rooted in Christian spirituality. https://hallow.com/

#hallow app #hallow #hallow app journey #meditation elevation #mindfulness mastery #zen elevated #spiritual ascent #higher state of mind #elevate your soul #meditation heights #read the bible #bible #read the bible in a year #read the bible in 365 days #inner peace soars #transcend with hallow

[scolek]

i already went insane about perfectly imperfect and artistic partisan like. last year or the year before. inevitably i will even have something to say about crossing heart, which i have listened to in full. once?

#lemon squash cheers is perfect on a very zen level. where i wont ever have a complete breakdown over it #its evident perfection simply elevates one to a level of enlightenment where there is nothing but plain acceptance of each and every little #detail. the lemon squash is my blood now. #no need to have big emotion. you become one with the immaculate vibe #dream on stupids

[useful-boy]

Was thinking about this yesterday when I went to do the laundry, but right now the door to it is broken in the sense that the lock on it would unlock before, but the door would only open if you fucking body slammed it. Me and enough other people did this often enough that the glass frame in the middle of the door was so caved in that they just removed it, and the door handle/lock, so now to get inside you just step through the big opening in the door.

And at some point I was thinking "a disabled person would not be able to do that. No getting a wheelchair through there." And then I looked around at the nearby sidewalk and realized it was all a step up from the curb with no ramp of any kind and thought "They wouldn't even be able to make it to the door. These sidewalks are unfriendly as hell."

And now I'm thinking about how there is One disabled parking spot (that I've seen at least, not sure about the other half of the complex), on the side of the building instead of directly in front of it, and how there's still no actual ramp for a wheelchair user to get into the building with, so one of our neighbors with a disabled family member has to carry their wheelchair down the stairs separately into their vehicle, then come back upstairs for his family member and carry them down, and man. This place fucking sucks if you can't use your legs.

#i feel it goes without saying but there is of course no elevator either #the infrastructure around here is shitty enough for us walking folk #its fucking unlivable for wheelchair users if they dont have an able bodied family member with them to carry them around #accessibility #zen texts

[juminhandfs]

I hope you decide to play Ssum! I'm hoping we get a bunch more Jumin references in it since there's already been confirmed two and we've only just started day 2!

I'm trying but it's killing my phone 😱 (both the battery and the storage OTL )

I don't know how many days I have left of playing, but yeah I'm more interested in the background story than in the ssumsomething, I'm a little

suspicious about the so called Dr C 👀

#Teo is so boring he reminds me of Zen OTL #everytime he starts talking I can hear elevator music playing #Piu Piu is so cute tho #the ssum #mystic messenger #jumin han #Dr C take me with my husband!!

[mariasont]

can you do aaron x wife reader who also works in the bau with him & on a case a police officer openly flirts with aaron in front of the team and reader so she stakes her claim on her husband && the team ( mostly derek & pen ) are teasing the two of them for it ??

Marked Territory - A.H

A/N: AHHHHH thinking ab claiming aaron hotchner as ur man has me giggling & kicking me feet

THANK you sooooo much for requesting angel <3 hope you like it!

‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧

wk: 1.2k

pairings: aaron hotchner x wife!bau!fem!reader

warnings: heavy makeout, jealously

You stood a few feet away with a watchful gaze, arms locked across your chest. The consultant was laying it on thick, her eyelashes sweeping up and down in a practiced rhythm aimed at Aaron. It made you want to throw up. You couldn't help but let out a soft, almost inaudible scoff. The consultant's laughter pierced the quiet, an exaggerated display that felt out of place. Her hand rested on Aaron's arm a moment too long. Your glare could have set the room on fire, you were sure of it, and it only seemed to intensify when Aaron offered a polite, yet distant smile in return.

"Careful there, sugar," Derek joked, sliding into place beside you as he nudged your side. "You're about two seconds from turning this into a crime scene."

You offered a half-glance towards him, "I suppose I can't fault her taste," you said with a forced lightness, even as a twinge of jealously coiled tightly within you, your attention fixed on the hand that dared to claim familiarity with Aaron. "But good taste doesn't come with good sense, apparently."

Penelope swept in with a gasp that could rival a Greek chorus, her eyes wide with a feigned shock. "Wow, I could practically taste your fury from down the hall! Mrs. Hotchner, are we in strategy mode, or should I grab some popcorn?"

You rolled your eyes with a dismissive wave. "You two are ridiculous. What do you expect me to do? Drag her by her hair? Please, I trust Aaron," you stated firmly, because, well, you did. This, however, didn't stop the tiny spark of irritation that flickered within, unbidden and unwelcome, but you squashed it with a laugh. "Besides, if I started a catfight every time someone flirted with him, I'd need my own filing cabinet for all the assault charges."

A glance was all it took for Garcia and Morgan to share their amusement. "Sure, sure," Garcia drawled, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

Morgan's eyebrow arched in silent agreement as he smiled knowingly. "Of course, you're calm. But we both know if that bubble of anger pops, it's going to be one hell of a show."

You tried to ignore it; you really did. You buried your nose in your work, determined to keep your mind off that infuriating woman. You shuffled papers, dove into your case files, and tapped away at your computer with a vigor that doesn't go unnoticed by the team. Every time you caught a glimpse of Aaron, there she was--the consultant--hovering like a shadow. It's almost comical how she mirrored his every move, but you were not laughing.

You found reasons to be anywhere but where Aaron was, taking your coffee break when he's in the break room, opting for the stairs when he took the elevator. It's a dance of avoidance that has you mentally exhausted, but you're trying to channel your inner zen, and being around that woman is doing you no favors.

The office air is thick with tension, a tangible presence that envelops your desk, your focus splintering with every laugh and hushed conversation that drifts over from Aaron's direction. You're the very image of concentration until you see it--the consultant, her proximity invasive, her hand lingering on his shoulder with a familiarity that sears through your veneer of calm. It's the tripping point, the moment your restraint fractures.

You stand, a fluid motion that betrays her anger that charged the room with an energy that has the whole team's attention snapping to you. They recognize the signs--the firm line of your jaw, the fire in your eyes--a rare display that signals an unstoppable force is about to be set in motion.

"Hotch," the name is a clear, firm declaration across the room, a tone you usually reserved for the field. "Can I speak to you for a second?"

The room falls still, a collective breath held by the team as Aaron excuses himself and follows you into his office. The door closes behind them with a soft click, leaving just the two of you. His gaze meets yours, a furrow of worry creasing his brow as he takes in the tempest swirling in your stance.

"Honey, are you alright?" he asks, the professional facade giving way to a soft undertone of worry, as he takes a deliberate step towards you, his eyes searching yours for signs of distress.

With a swift assurance of privacy, your eyes lock on the drawn blinds, and you waste no time diminishing the space between you, hands clasping up to his neck with an urgency that pulls him down to you. Your lips found his in a fervent collision, coaxing a surprised murmur from him. He softly pulled back, his chuckle deep and knowing, as his hands encircled your waist. 

"Honey--I, we're in the office."

His words may have carried a hint of reprimand, but the gentle exploration of his hands across your back drawing you nearer seemed to contradict him. An innocent smile graced your lips as your fingers wove through his hair, eliciting his head tilting back in contentment. "Just missed you is all."

An eyebrow lifted in amused acknowledgement. "Mm, is that so?"

Gently tugging his head closer, your lips crashed against his with a desperate intensity, your hands gripping him as if he were a lifeline.

With deliberate strokes, you raked your fingers through his hair, creating artful disarray. Your hands glided to his tie, tugging it just enough to break the perfect line, then across his jacket, crumpling the fabric with feigned carelessness. Each touch a strategic step in enhancing his unkempt image.

A gentle exhale escaped you as he pressed you back against the desk's edge, his hands forming a cage around you, both protective and possessive.  Your lips curved into a smirk, your teeth capturing his bottom lip and tugging with a teasing pressure, probably a little harder than you should have, causing him to pull back. "Christ, sweetheart."

Instinctively, your hand rose to trace his bottom lip, smoothing over the swollenness your teeth had caused. A soft smile graced your features as you took in the delightful disarray of his appearance. With a satisfied nod, you left a featherlight kiss on his cheek and glided towards the door. "I love you, Mr. Hotchner."

His eyebrows knit together in loving exasperation as he observed your retreat, his hand absentmindedly caressing his lip. God, you kept life interesting. "I love you more, Mrs. Hotchner."

Emerging from Hotch's office, your hair perfectly disordered, a small smirk etched on your lips. You watch as the consultant's eyes stretch wide, a flush of embarrassment covering her cheeks. With a sly wink tossed her way, you glide towards Penelope and Morgan.

"Well, well, well," Morgan drawled, a sly grin spreading across his face as he watched the scene unfold, arms folded confidently over his chest. "I had a feeling those claws were just waiting for the right moment to strike."

"That's our girl! Showing the world whose boss without breaking a sweat." Penelope chirped. "Well, I mean, maybe a little sweat. I'm seriously striving not to speculate about what you two were doing in there."

A playful smirk dances on your lips as you peer over your shoulder at Hotch's door. "Just wait for it," you tease, fingers poised for the dramatic reveal as you count down. "3, 2, 1.."

Right on cue, Hotch steps out, looking every bit as ruffled as you'd intended. His tie hangs crooked, his suit crumpled, and you didn't miss the dark red tint around his bottom lip. The sound of Morgan and Penelope's laughter filled the air as you offered a nonchalant shrug. 

"It's all in the day's work, besties. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do."

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotch #hotchner #hotch #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner fluff #hotch x reader #hotch x you #aaron hotchner x your #criminal minds x you #criminal minds fic

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Thanks to Curieosly for finding this very Zen 1988 home in Mendota Heights, MN. 5bds, 4.5ba, $1.975M.

Interesting entrance with a little nook and a tile feature wall. I like the light wood beams.

Overhead features and walk-thru's are always a fun feature.

Love the round window and vaulted ceiling.

The recessed far wall has a sideboard running the whole length of it.

The floorplan is open and airy with superb architectural features.

Besides the living room, there's a smaller, less formal sitting room.

By the dining area there's an angled fireplace, which is different. It's made of attractive tiles, and I think that the back of it is the wall in the entrance hall.

The kitchen is lovely. The color is a very soft griege. From one angle it looks very light dove gray, yet from another angle and light, it looks more creamy.

In the corner of the dining area there are tall built-in cabinets and a desk.

The primary bedroom features floor-to-ceiling windows.

Large en-suite with a very Zen soaker tub.

Big family room by the stairs.

Very nice library. Lots of natural light.

The bath has lovely tile. Seems like the baths in this home are all large.

One of the secondary bedrooms. Quite roomy and the window seat must also have storage.

Bath #3 is a big shower room.

The deck is huge.

This is some nice desk. Look at the elevated screen house.

What a great place to sit comfortably away from bugs.

Beautiful pond.

As we've learned, it's much better to have plants rather than lawn.

The landscaper and owners really get it. They're helping the bees.

I like this look.

There's just a small patch of lawn surrounded by trees and bushes on 4.53 acre lot.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1698-Dodd-Rd_Mendota-Heights_MN_55118_M78899-30706

#zen homes #modern homes #houses #house tours #home tour #submissions

[hillbillyoracle]

What Made My Life Better in 2023

One of the things I'm thinking about a lot as I get ready for 2024 is what actually made an impact for me in the last year. It was interesting to think through because it was neither what I expected nor what I had always heard would help me. Instead it was often small changes that stacked into something much more helpful and interesting when put together.

I wanted to share them in case it's helpful for anyone else.

#1 - Adaptive Cleaning

While I still use elements of other cleaning systems, the base of what I do is firmly rooted in Sarah McGlory's Adaptive Cleaning ideas. I started implementing it about halfway through the year in earnest, though I stumbled upon it a year or two ago, and it's made a huge difference. This is the cleanest my space has ever been and the fewest flares I've ever had and I genuinely do credit her ideas for being a big reason for that.

#2 - My Care Kit

About halfway through the year I also threw together this care kit that I keep by my bed. It has everything I need to do my skincare, brush my teeth, and do my makeup - all without leaving my bed. While I've felt embarrassed at just how much it's done for me, I think it's a great example of "do what works." I just don't like get up once I've sat down for the evening. And it's easier to get up if I already have all that stuff done. Not only have I kept up with skincare and other habits probably the best out of any point in my life, but the mood and self esteem boost it gives me has allowed me to do more of what I want in other areas too.

#3 - 750 Words

I start using 750 Words on a whim. I had liked doing morning pages but could never really keep up with them, especially on days when I was really struggling with my hands. I wound up really taking to it and have only missed a few days since I started in November. I wound up paying for a year of it because I'm that certain of it's benefit. I've written way more for my zines, my mental health is a little better, and it serves as an anchor habit for several others. I love the simplicity of it. I can usually crank out my freewrite for the day in about 10 minutes - I like 10 minutes being my new minimum versus the zero it was.

#4 - Laundry Day

This might seem obvious or silly to you but as someone who has tried a lot of cleaning routines, I was so used to the a load a day rule that I never questioned it. That is until I read Dana K. White's book How To Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind. She talks about her laundry system and it just completely changed my perspective. Laundry day has given me so much of my time back and I more regularly do more of our laundry. I'm sure other people were aware this was an option but I guess I needed someone to tell me.

#5 - Connecting with a Sangha

I'd been putting off connecting with a Sangha for a while. I knew I wasn't going to be in a place to go in person (I'm about an hour and a half any moderate sized city) and only meeting online felt like a pale imitation. But I was wrong. I got connected with the Furnace Mountain Zen Center based here in Kentucky and started attending more of their weekday meditation sessions and at home day retreats as I was able. It really deepened my practice and has remained a touchstone to return back to when I got through times life pulls me away. I wish I would have done it sooner. If you're Buddhist leaning in any way, I really recommend finding a Sangha - even if it's online.

I hope this sparks some ideas for other people. None of the "productivity" stuff I tried this year "worked" in the sense of sticking or allowing me to do more. The closest was probably pomodoros on a visual timer, which are genuinely helpful. But mostly it was acts of nurturance, curiosity, and care that really elevated my life this year.

May 2024 be even better!

#2024 #new years #self improvement #self care

[laf-outloud]

towwn who’s your best-est buddy? 💗🐶🐐🐇🐮

a celebration of #earthmonth wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our planetary cohabitants. according to a recent survey by the american psychiatric association, 86% of pet owners believe their “fur babies” boost their mental health – and 90% consider their animal adoptees & friends as part of the family. more pet-related benefits:

▶️improved cardiovascular health

▶️elevated mood

▶️boost physical activity levels

▶️reduce anxiety

▶️help alleviate + combat symptoms of adhd, ptsd, loneliness & isolation

▶️comfort & companionship (think: the elderly & people with medical conditions)

▶️aid in children’s learning development

animals may also help kids and adults with socializing. 🐕‍🦺so, take a walk to the dog park, visit a farm or rescue sanctuary, build a bird feeder – engage with any animals that inspire you – and enjoy a moment of zen with another gentle & curious being.

tell us your best buddy’s breed or species + tag their profile (if they have one!) in the comments.

Awe! I love learning more about the Padafarm and it's animals! And yes, it's true about animals helping with socialization. My puppy has more friends than I do, lol!

#gen padalecki #towwn #earth day #pet perks #padafarm

[charmac]

What will be the catalyst that sets Dennis off in mental health day,

1. Something small and insignificant, Dennis has just reached breaking point.

2. Mac related, maybe Mac is dating a guy for real this time and it’s not Dennis catfishing him this time and Dennis can’t deal with it.

Also Mac’s bedroom is used as a set this year. When and why is it used?

Maybe at the end of mental health… Dennis goes to Mac. A kiss? A confession? Sleeping together

In terms of a catalyst as to why he takes a mental health day, we know already, "After a physical reveals Dennis has elevated blood pressure he decides to take a day away from The Gang"

So my best guess is he's at a doctor's office or hospital for some reason, doctor tells him that he has high blood pressure and asks if he has any sources of stress in his life that could be the cause, camera zooms out to the Gang doing something obnoxious right there in the office, or cuts to them screaming/fighting each other in the waiting room, back to *Dennis bitch face* - cut to "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day" do do do do do do doooo.

Straight up, I do not think this episode will be Mac-related or Macdennis-y at all. This one is for Dennis. Of course Mac is a source of stress in Dennis' life, but I am pretty confident "The Gang" is all grouped here vs. Dennis vs. his mental health.

If you’ve been speculating here since filming I’ve been fully in the camp and am standing my ground on the car garage plot. The story Glenn told on Episode 53, Sweet Dee has a Heart Attack of the Always Sunny Podcast is absolutely playing out with Dennis. They filmed at a parking garage:

The episode summary states "a domino-chain of tech and customer service challenges", which, ala Glenn's story, is what happens to him. I recommend listening to the story in the episode, but I'll clip here where they literally straight up tell us that they're doing an episode on it:

(Obviously they chose to have Ross write this episode, not Charlie, which may speak volumes)

What's interesting is that in Glenn's story he ends up making friends with everyone he interacted with in the situation, he says he had a deep moment of zen going through this. Will that happen with Dennis? Will his interactions restoring his faith in humanity be with strangers? Or people currently in his life?

How will it end? We know he gets his moment at the beach, we know they had a filming crew set up on the water, so he's like, definitely probably getting in the water. Will this be in a fit of rage, smashing the waves like Poseidon? Or will he have his Kendall Roy moment, floating, weightless?

Again, I think this is an episode for Dennis, not for Macdennis. Dennis' mental health is the focus, we now know it's clear he's into men and he has a whole System for them, he's not that repressed, there's something else buried deep and hurt and clawing its way out of him, something that has to be addressed before he can let himself be with Mac (for real, LOL, we have to clarify that now, don't we?). I think if Dennis ends with the Gang, it should be a moment of comfort similar to Charlie's moment on the mountain... (and maybe Mac hands him a tissue)

Also, little bonus from our sibling site:

#iasip #dtamhd #speculation #tasp #ask #sorry i used your ask as a dtamhd spec dump #also mac’s bedroom idk i think it might be in booze when he and dennis get dressed..?

[ciaossu-imagines]

MYSTIC MESSENGER V WITH ARRANGED MARRIAGE AU PLEASE thank you I always enjoy reading your writings

Aww, you're so sweet, my dear! I'm really flattered to hear you enjoy reading my stuff and I hope you'll enjoy this as well. I had a lot of fun with this, honestly, so thank you so much for the request!

Okay, so I don't actually think it's too much of a stretch to imagine either V's father or Chairman Han, both being from very wealthy and affluential families, setting up arranged marriages for their children. So this 'AU' isn't really a huge shift in universe. I think the biggest change, going into this, is that V and Rika never met. I can see V still having met and helped Saeyoung and Zen, but the RFA was never founded and Rika is never a thing with V.

In fact, relationships were never really a thing with V. He's dated here or there but nothing serious. His life just is too full, too stressful, too busy for dating. V's relationship with his father is very contentious. V is still very much working as a photographer and his work is very well received and beautifully done. People pay top dollar for it but he never really achieves fame because he avoids the public eye and that is something that his father holds against him.

V's father wants his son to set aside his photography career, to take over the family business. To smarten up and behave as the son and heir to the family should, in other words. And V's father has tried numerous ways of forcing V into doing so.

And the newest of those ways? It's definitely the arranged marriage decided upon by V's father and your own parents, who do own a major corporation but are rather nouveau-riche. This really does set them aside as lesser than by a lot of people and they view this arranged marriage as a way to elevate your families status in the wealthy circles and V's father sees it as a way to force his son to settle down, start a family, and because he'll have a wife and hopefully children to take care of, it only makes sense that V would set aside his 'silly' artistic endeavors and take up his mantle in the business world with the family company.

It seems perfect, at least to the parents of both of you.

To both you and V though, the idea is a little less than ideal. You're prepared to hate V out of pure hatred for the idea. You aren't even sure about your stance on marriage. You may or may not want marriage to be a thing in your future, but the fact of the matter is that even if you do want to get married, you want to get married to someone you choose, someone you truly love. You don't want to be forced into anything and that force is what you hate the most.

V, meanwhile, is nothing but angry at this turn of events. But as I've mentioned, V doesn't deal well with anger. He doesn't know how to handle it at all, doesn't know how to deal with it, and feels disgusting for the huge surges of anger he is feeling. So instead he focuses that anger into other emotions. He's feeling super guilty and ashamed of his father's actions, of the pressure this puts on you when he walks into the restaurant where the two of you were to be introduced by your parents for the first time.

It surprises you that you find it really hard to hate V right away. It surprises you even more that you feel an automatic tingle of physical attraction to him and you wonder if that tingle was strong enough to really influence your thoughts. But you don't think that was it.

V apologizes, countless times, for the situation you find yourself in. He consistently blames himself for you being forced into this arranged marriage, takes all the blame for it and any anger or sadness you feel about it.

Though it takes a few meetings, because your parents and his father are consistently with the two of you, when the two of you first get together alone, V makes it perfectly clear to you that if you want to get out of the arranged marriage, he will be perfectly okay with that and would not blame you. He even offers to find some way to make sure the arranged marriage ends without you being blamed in any way. He warns you that might take a little bit of time, but he'll figure a solution that will leave nobody with any doubt that the breaking down of the arranged marriage was entirely on him.

Like, the man is so very, very guilty over every and anything related to this and he is always apologizing to you.

Now, I can see the rest of this going in either one of two ways. The first way is that you take V up on that offer of figuring out a way to get out of the marriage. Whether or not you're willing to let him take all the blame is entirely up to you, but either way, he is right in that it will take a little bit of time. The two of you continue to play into your parents, seeing each other often, having 'date nights' used to plan and bounce ideas off each other for how to bring this all to a close. But somewhere along the way, you find your conversations with V actually becoming conversations. The two of you start to actually get to know each other and you start to fall for V a little. He's sweet and kind and creative and he can be funny in a dry, witty way. And he finds himself really falling for you too, but both of you are still convinced that the only thing the other wants is to get out of this arranged marriage.

And besides, V in particular doesn't want to enter a relationship with you on those terms. He doesn't want to be dating you only because the two of you were supposed to be getting married anyway. He spends a lot of time wishing that the two of you had met in any other way, under any other circumstances.

So, in this ending, I do see the marriage contract ending, just like the two of you had planned and it does break your heart and breaks V's heart. V withdraws, he needs to heal some of how much he hurts when things with you seem to be over for good, when he thinks he'll never really see you again. The two of you go months without seeing each other until you bump into each other again. It could be at a party, through mutual friends, or maybe you purposefully tracked down a show he was doing and showed up to the gallery to see him again. Either way, the two of you start talking again and I think this time, without the expectation of marriage there, with more free-will from the start, the attraction the two of you have towards each other has more room to grow and really bloom and the two of you end up dating.

The alternate way this could go? You refuse to break the arranged marriage. As much as you hate it, you're so loyal to your family and your parents and care about them too much. You know how much this means to them. So the marriage does go through and the story becomes V and you learning how to be a married couple together, how to get over the forced approach to the relationship with each other. It involves learning to be friends first, helping V heal the shame and guilt he's feeling, helping him really stand up to his father and prove that, even married, he does not and will not inherit the family company, that he is happy with his art. It involves a very, very slow burn love story, with lots of drama and conflicts, which can also be really fun.

#replies #mystic messenger #mysme #v mystic messenger #jihyun kim #au #arranged marriage au #headcanons

[shivunin]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @greypetrel @layalu @daggerbean and @zenstrike (Zen, I've decided I'm just going to post all fic things on this blog from now on, but I will post something that isn't Dragon Age c:)

Tagging @ndostairlyrium @heniareth @pinayelf @buchimgay @brother-genitivi @jtownnn @dreadfutures @inquisimer

I don't have a picture right now, but I've gotten the first two rows of purple onto the Leliana scarf and I'm really pleased with how the color looks so far! It's been really nice to do something with my hands in the evening, especially since I got hooked on a DND show I can watch at the same time.

Here are a snippet from some Mass Effect fic I'm still playing around with, then a bit from a BG piece I've been working on the last month or so.

From "Sure As Night," a ME WIP (535 Words):

The hum of the elevator to Shepard’s cabin had become familiar and comforting, in an odd way. 

The rest of the ship sounded just slightly off to Garrus. It’d taken plenty of hits after they’d gone through the relay, had almost certainly taken some damage from that final blast. The Normandy wasn’t actively falling apart or neither of them would be up here, but the sound of the engine was just one more thing that was…off. Or maybe Garrus was just hearing things. Wouldn’t be the first time in the past few months. 

But her elevator sounded exactly the same as always. It was…nice, for one thing to stay the same.

“Shepard?” he called. After a moment, the door unlocked and slid open. 

It was not immediately apparent where she was when he stepped inside. Garrus glanced at the trail of water on the floor and followed it to the couch in the next room (top notch detective skills there; wouldn’t his father be proud of him now?). He saw Shepard as soon as he walked down the stairs, sprawled over the couch with her feet braced on the bulkhead. Her hair was tousled and darker than usual, water droplets clung to her exposed shoulders, and the rest of her torso was wrapped in a towel. 

“Hey there,” she said, and Garrus blinked down at her. 

“And here I was coming in to give a formal report,” he said drily. She grimaced and pushed herself up, raking her hair away from her face. 

“Tell me that’s a joke,” she said. “Don’t think I can handle another emergency right now.”

She could, of course. They both knew that if there had been an emergency, she’d bolt out of here as quickly as she could and handle it. It’s who she was, after all. 

“You ask the engineers, it’s all an emergency,” he told her. “But I think they’ll hang on for a little longer or Ken would be talking less.”

Shepard snorted and shifted aside, glancing at the open space beside her. 

Well. He could take a hint. He just hoped she wasn’t about to tell him that last night had been a mistake. He’d been thinking about it plenty since then and he’d reached an entirely different conclusion. Racing through destruction with the expectation of certain death could do that to a person. 

Garrus passed the last step and settled beside her as best he could. He still wasn’t used to the human preoccupation with these squishy pieces of furniture. Didn’t they ever get stuck? He always felt like he’d sink all the way to the floor if he sat back too far. He considered telling her this to break the tension and discarded the idea immediately. He could definitely manage better than that.

“How’s the arm?” she asked him, nudging the arm in question. Garrus shrugged and rolled his shoulder experimentally. After taking a rocket to the face, he’d found that his scale for pain was kind of shot. He hadn’t even realized there was something wrong with it before Chakwas had insisted on scanning him. 

“I’ve had worse,” he told her, and she snorted. 

“Tough guy, huh?” she asked. 

“Something like that,” he paused. “And you? You took a few shots yourself.”

“I’ll survive,” Shepard said, looking at him sidelong, and smiled.

And (with a very different tone!) from a piece I am working on for Tav (234 Words):

Hope; a curious thing. She had been bereft of it for so long that its touch burned her then. 

“Be welcomed, faithful paladin,” Lathander had said. “Be free of the bonds that held you. ”

“My Lord, I will serve you for all my days,” she had told him, and only knew that she was weeping when the droplets struck the hands she’d clenched below.. 

She had never been touched like this. Nobody had ever been touched like this, she was certain of that. 

“You are mine now. The past is done,” he said. “Name yourself to me, Oathsworn.”

Octavia fell away, dead at last and free to rest. The woman she left behind took a deep breath. She had been a child once, and loved. Her family—her family had called her a silly nickname, coined by a brother with too few teeth to say her real one properly. She had left them behind too young, had left behind any hope of belonging somewhere at the same time. 

But—she belonged here now. She belonged to Lathander, as she had once belonged to her family. 

“Tavitha Hallowthorn,” she whispered. “I am Tavitha.” 

“Tavitha,” the god said, already dissipating into countless flecks of light, each of them composed of all the shades of every perfect sunrise. “Be welcome.”

Octavia was dead. Tavitha bowed her head before her god and knew herself for the first time in a very, very long time.

#wip wednesday #tav tag #jesse shepard #shivunin scrivening #work has been. kind of a nightmare for the last two weeks #so i've written very little #but the good news is i am not getting laid off #the bad news is i am so good at my job that they fired someone else and now i have to fix her shit before i can go back to normal #but. i am glad that i will not have to look for something else #i just miss having the energy to do stuff T.T #oh. but i am getting a tattoo on friday too!!! so that's happening!!! #and hopefully i will have the time/energy to write again soon #because i have lots of Thoughts

[orb-pond]

Zenyatta's s/o scenarios from yours truly :)

Walking through a busy city with Zen would end up with s/o holding on to the rope around his waist so they don't lose him. Zenyatta makes as much noise as a ghost when he's flying around, which means it's very easy for him to accidentally fly away from you! It looks pretty adorable if you'd watch from afar and it probably amuses Zen a lot once he notices but he won't comment on it until he just chooses to gently grab your hand.

Zenyatta would often stay at s/o's room to meditate when the others are too loud outside. He's very grateful for the bond they share to the point of being comfortable with powering down in s/o's presence. It might not seem like much but only a hand full of people have seen him in sleep mode before.

Relationships are pretty new to Zenyatta, especially since s/o is a human, which also means he doesn't really know how to kiss them. I love to think about s/o quickly giving his faceplate a smooch before continuing whatever they were doing, leaving Zen in silent shock for half a minute but Zenyatta being the first one to lean down and gently press his face on s/o's while they watch the sunset.. he holds them against his body, orange light glistening on both their faces. Zen would never be able to forget s/o's shining eyes as they stare up at him with a red face. It's probably a moment that ends up as a core memory for him.

Zen loves cuddling. You can't tell me he wouldn't love cuddles. It probably ends up as something he didn't know he needed in his life but here we are. He's been through a lot in the past and still has much facing him, so s/o quietly embracing him and gently patting his head as the two of them cuddle on s/o's bed..might make him a little emotional. Two souls, human and omnic, being at peace with each other the way they are. It makes him hopefully for the future.

Zenyatta isn't build as big as other omnics which he's very thankful for to some degree since he loves to wear some of s/o's clothes. Their very fluffy sheep wool house shoes? s/o definitely knows where they are if they can't find them at the place they last have left them at. The gray sweatpants? Gone as well.. Their white hoodie?! They can't get mad at Zenyatta though because he looks extremely adorable in the whole fit. Comfy rain days scream for comfy clothes so they end up joining him!

Zen making his way to the store to get s/o menstruation products if they need them would be a little funny. He'd stand in front of the wall filled with all those colorful products, your typical elevator music quietly playing in the store while the gears in Zenyatta's head are spinning.. someone please help him out.. he'd end up calling s/o but at least he tried!

Feel free to give me scenarios to ramble about in my asks! I'd love to make up more for Zen and Ram so don't be afraid!

#overwatch #overwatch 2 #overwatch zenyatta #Zenyatta #zenyatta x reader #Zenyatta headcanons #overwatch scenarios #zenyatta fluff #ignore typos

[positivexcellence]

towwn: who’s your best-est buddy? 💗🐶🐐🐇🐮

a celebration of #earthmonth wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our planetary cohabitants. according to a recent survey by the american psychiatric association, 86% of pet owners believe their “fur babies” boost their mental health – and 90% consider their animal adoptees & friends as part of the family. more pet-related benefits:

▶️improved cardiovascular health ▶️elevated mood ▶️boost physical activity levels ▶️reduce anxiety ▶️help alleviate + combat symptoms of adhd, ptsd, loneliness & isolation ▶️comfort & companionship (think: the elderly & people with medical conditions) ▶️aid in children’s learning development

animals may also help kids and adults with socializing. 🐕‍🦺so, take a walk to the dog park, visit a farm or rescue sanctuary, build a bird feeder – engage with any animals that inspire you – and enjoy a moment of zen with another gentle & curious being.

tell us your best buddy’s breed or species + tag their profile (if they have one!) in the comments.

#genevieve padalecki #padalecki farm #padalecki chickens #arlo #bridger #koda #padalecki bunnies #padalecki goats #towwn

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This home in Los Osos, California is a case of rich people not knowing what kind of decor they want. Zillow calls it a “Mediterranean Castle.” Whatever. It’s $2.9M and is a study in ostentation. You’ll love it.

Firstly, I wouldn’t want to climb all these steps to get into a house, no matter how they’re illuminated. 

This is outrageous. Who intentionally builds a house w/stairs like this? Where’s the mailbox?

Anyway, let’s imagine that we climbed up to the front door, I’m needing oxygen, and we’re hitting the intercom button on the right. (My house had that same intercom and it was so dated, people made fun of it.)

As soon as we enter the foyer, we can see how confused they are. There’s a big medieval soldier with a serene Zen motif, neither of which is Mediterranean. 

Notice the tile work, the columns (still no Mediterranean) and the bright red carpet.

I’m so confused. The fireplace has gryphons and I thought it was Egyptian, but it’s painted bright red. I give up w/this house, already.

Persian rug, Italian or French statue. 

The Buddha and a Chinese dragon, plus a statue on a Greek column that bears a resemblance to Puss in Boots. Also, more stairs just to get up to the kitchen.

The backsplash isn’t Mediterranean, or is it? I’m so confused.

The dining room. This decor is a League of Nations style.

Now, they tell me there’s an elevator.

Going down more stairs, we pass by some kind of a balcony.

And, out to a very Zen meditation room. 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hot tub w/so many jets. I’m afraid of it.

Here’s a bathroom- is that a horse in a coral in the ceiling light? 

Look at the closet doors. Are those posters?

Family room, maybe?

This is the balcony we saw before. There’s a French tapestry.

So, this would be the main bd. 

And, the en suite.

Looks like a home office.

And, a shower.

Another office?  Look at this fireplace. I can’t even.

Well, right about now in the tour, I feel like I need a drink.

WTH is this? 

Wine room? With a stage?

Maybe a guest room.

A studio? 

I guess the rough terrain doesn’t allow for a yard, so there’s a deck. I hate this house.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2743-Rodman-Dr-Los-Osos-CA-93402/15447453_zpid/?

#mansion #tacky decor #ornate decor #WTF decor #rich people's taste #long post

[tennessoui]

For The propmts, "I can't trust you"

hi hello!!!

this is set in my "there was only one desk" au, where obi-wan and anakin, well. share a desk in the office and hate each other.

"""""hate each other"""""

(1.5k) (angst here and now but actually the stupidest thing ever)

The person sitting at Obi-Wan’s desk is not, in fact, Obi-Wan Kenobi. For one thing, it’s a woman with a severe red bobcut and better fashion sense than Kenobi’s ever had. For another thing, Anakin can’t actually remember a time when he’s made the trek up to the twelfth floor just to annoy Kenobi only for the man to not give him attention. So this woman, who doesn’t even raise her eyes to look at him when he’s standing next to her desk, can’t be Kenobi.

“Uh,” Anakin says. He’s holding a singular cupcake on a plate in both hands, red velvet because Obi-Wan hates red velvet and with a candle in the icing because Obi-Wan is extremely paranoid about the sensitivity of the sprinkler system. “Who are you?”

The woman’s fingers pause on the keyboard and she looks up at him sharply. With a raised eyebrow, she tilts her head to the nameplate on Obi-Wan’s desk.

Bo-Katan Kryze it reads.

Anakin blinks. “Do you—share this desk with Obi-Wan?”

“I don’t know who that is. I sit here every day,” Kryze says. “Is there something I can help you with?” She makes it clear that she believes there is absolutely nothing she wants to help him with.

“Um.” Anakin stares at her uninterested face, the nameplate, the desk itself.

He realizes rather suddenly that the plants are gone. All of Obi-Wan’s plants are gone, and in their places are picture frames filled with pictures of strangers, a standing calendar, and a souvenir mug.

“No,” he says slowly. “Sorry.”

“No worries,” the woman says, turning back to her computer. “Have a nice day.”

Anakin turns around and goes back to the elevators around the corner. He feels a bit stupid, holding a plate wth a cupcake on it, so he tosses it into a small trashcan next to a desk as he passes by, plate and all.

He still feels a bit stupid, and the feeling lingers all the way from the twelfth floor to the tenth, where his desk is. If Obi-Wan was playing a prank on him, he just fell for it like an idiot. 

But if he hadn’t—

“Obi-Wan wasn’t at his desk,” Anakin says to Vos as he sits down in front of his own computer. “There was this woman there instead, and she’d moved all of his stuff. Even the nametag.”

Vos doesn’t look up from his screen. He’s been sort of distant since Anakin came back, like he forgot how to talk or some shit during the month and a half he was away.

His silence would make sense if Obi-Wan asked him to help with the prank. And Vos probably would hop on the opportunity to fuck with Anakin. He tries to say he doesn’t play favorites of course, but he very clearly does. 

And his favorite very clearly is Kenobi, not Anakin. 

Anakin remembers the chair incident, after all.

So if Obi-Wan told him about trying to pull a fast one on Anakin his first day back at the office, hire a woman to sit at his desk and change all of its decorations just to confuse him, Vos would probably help out by pretending everything is normal.

Anakin narrows his eyes and looks at his desk. Nothing’s been moved or changed since he last saw it. No new cameras to video his reaction.

“Where’s Obi-Wan?” he asks, looking over at Vos. “I mean, it’s a lot of work, isn’t it? Points for creativity, I guess though.”

Vos’ fingers still on his keys and he finally looks up, going as far as to take his hands off the keyboard completely. “What?”

“Like where did he put his plants? And the zen garden with all the sand, you know? He moved that zen garden somewhere else just to fuck with me for a bit? And the name too, her name— Bo-Katan? Kryze? He could have tried a little harder to make up something believable.”

Vos looks at him, eyebrows furrowing. “Sorry,” he says slowly. “But–sorry, but what do you think is happening here, exactly?”

Anakin frowns. Usually Vos would be laughing by now. “Joke’s on him though, I brought him a cupcake to celebrate my first day back, and me and Bo-Katan split it instead. No cupcake for Obi-Wan. It’s what he deserves for such a lame prank.”

“Skywalker,” Vos’ voice sounds even slower. “Skywalker, there is no prank.”

There’s a very weird feeling in his gut. He forces a laugh. “Uh, right, of course not,” he says. “But seriously, where is Obi-Wan? I’ve been taking pictures I want to show him for months. He’s going to love them.”

He better love them, at least, if he knows what’s good for him. But Luke and Leia are adorable, especially now that they’ve stopped teething on everything in range. Even someone as heartless and deplorable as Kenobi will be swayed by their big eyes and general all-encompassing cuteness.

The look Vos gives him is uncharacteristically cold. “Two things, Skywalker. First, there’s no prank. Obi-Wan quit. Sounds like you brought cupcakes to his replacement, like some. One man office welcome brigade. Second, if you really think Obi-Wan Kenobi wants to see your fucking baby pictures, you’re more stupid than I thought.”

Anakin blinks and then stares as the feeling in his stomach spreads to his chest. “What? No. No way.” He blinks again, eyebrows furrowing. “Is this the prank?”

Vos pushes his chair away from his keyboard, rolling it to the edge of his desk. “Skywalker. Anakin. There is no prank. I’m telling you the truth. Obi-Wan has separated from the company. He is not here today, and he won’t be here tomorrow. He left.”

“But—” Anakin’s mouth is open, but no words are coming out. “But. He didn’t tell me.” 

There’s a knot in his stomach, one that may be bigger than his stomach altogether. No, it has to be some sort of—of prank. Of practical joke at his expense. When Obi-Wan pops out in an hour or so, Anakin is going to hit him so hard in, like. The shoulder. For the crime of being really, really not funny.

“Why would he tell you, Skywalker?” Vos asks, carefully putting his hands on his knees as he looks at him with an unreadable expression on his face. “You don’t like each other.”

“I—I mean. We do!” Anakin splutters. “We spent quarantine together! And last summer when we did the office expedition and got lost, we camped together! For two whole days!”

“Those aren’t bonding activities,” Quinlan says. “You know that, right? No one else would consider those things as foundations for a friendship or even workplace relationship.”

Like he always seems to do when Kenobi and “workplace relatitonships” are brought up in the same sentence, Anakin flushes. He can feel the tips of his go red.

“Look, I get that you’re—friends or whatever,” he mutters, pitching his voice down low so that no one else can eavesdrop. Not that anyone else is really paying attention, but just in case. “But we’ve—you know, you saw us. During the. The quarantine. We. Spent the night together.”

“Yeah, you fucked,” Vos rolls his eyes. “You fucked.” “So if he were going to leave the company, he’d tell me, alright?” Anakin puts his hand down flat on the desk. “Yeah? He’d tell me.”

“Only if sleeping with you meant something to him,” Vos points out, pushing his chair back fully behind his desk. “So I guess it didn’t.”

The words—sting.

A lot.

The words fucking hurt like Vos has just thrown a fucking cactus into his dick. Because—alright, they’d never talked about it afterwards or anything, but—kissing Kenobi, his annoying and annoyingly attractive deskmate, sleeping with him, touching him and being touched in return…it’d changed things for Anakin. Things he didn’t want to name then, and things he definitely doesn’t want to name now, if—if Obi-Wan really…really just.

Left.

Anakin shakes his head, wordless. “It meant something,” he says, practicing the words, even if it’s only Vos around to hear him.

“Yeah?” and Vos’ voice is cold. “Then why’d you just take almost two months of paternity leave, huh? If sleeping with my friend meant something.”

Anakin shakes his head again, staring fixedly at his keyboard. “Did he really—Vos, you’re not lying, are you? Did he actually quit?”

Vos is silent for several long moments. “Yeah,” he says, sounding strange. “Yeah, he did. This is—you’re upset about this, aren’t you?”

It could still be a joke though, because sometimes Vos goes too far and sometimes he doesn’t know when to quit, even though Anakin thinks he’s pretty obviously begging him to stop right about now.

He stands. “I—I don’t believe you. I can’t— I can’t trust you.”

Vos watches him swing his jacket on with raised eyebrows. “I suppose you don’t need his address then,” he says, expression guarded. “If you’re going to fact-check this yourself.”

Of course Anakin is going to fact-check this for his fucking self.

And either way, Obi-Wan Kenobi is going to have a lot of explaining to do.

#asks #prompt fill #obikin #there was only one desk au #anyway so part two would be the confrontation #and obi-wan did quit and he didn't tell anakin #because he was all hurt that he emailed anakin one day and got an out of office automatic response #that was like 'on paternity leave be back in a couple of months' #and like hes so hurt because damn he a) thought he and anakin were getting really close to dating #but he's expecting kids? what is the sitch with the mom?? they must be together #and anyway b) they must not actually be friends if obi-wan is finding this out NOW #like THIS #and anyway the truth is anakin impulse adopted 2 stray puppies outside his apartment complex #took a wild amount of time off to get them used to his place and him as their dad #was rushing in his out of office email and went to make a pun (pet-ernity leave) but didnt notice the autocorrect #so all of the office and obi-wan thinks he has babies now #just want that one scene where anakin is like no!!! luke and leia are my dogs!!! i took peternity leave!! #and obi-wan pinches the bridge of his nose and deep breathes for ten seconds before going #what (another deep breath) #the FUCK is PET-ERNITY LEAVE #yeah ok kit understands thta this could hava been a text post

[misshoney200]

i was thinking about the npcs that enter the elevator and how their phones would look

oddly specific but bored at work creates interesting scenarios

bive: shitty flip phone with split's phone number on it (nothing else, shes too paranoid), she also has an antique radio for other stuff)

dr retro: a smartphone a couple generations behind, very sleek and simple, has a ton of medical related apps

fleshcousin: mimics whoevers, like it would normally do

gnarpy: actually yes a human phone, xe altered it to make it "more useful." ... the phone belonged to someone named frank, i wonder who that is ;)

infected/kasper: a blackberry phone that has that slidey keyboard, has a lot of stickers and keychains on the case

lampert: a hand-me-down from Wallter, it has a couple crappy mobile games and has wallter and mark's numbers as emergency contacts, its always clean and he always has a screen cleaning kit with him

mark: android phone with a super protective case on it, is still cracked asf tho (how does it still function??)

poob: average smartphone that is decorated with puffy stickers, charms, keychains, etc. the notification noises are party horns and the happy birthday song

pest: also average smartphone, couple cracks here and there on accident, he used the widgets to decorate their home screen with a bunch of lady gaga stuff. its all black apart from the rainbow sticker poob put on it, doordash always the most used app

pilby: pear phone from the icarly universe cuz why not, they have a lot of zen coloring apps on it

split: its a normal smartphone with a comically sized banana case, everything in it is related to bananas, her home screen is a picture of her and bive on a date

spud: he lost his phone when he was abducted by the gnarpians

wallter: apple phone (wow more stuff for them to argue about), very gray and bland just like he is, all the settings are still the default

#regretevator #roblox regretevator #roblox #im not tagging everyone #if yall have anymore ideas for someone particular lmk :D