[looking at people younger than me] you have your whole life ahead of you [looking at people older than me] you have your whole life ahead of you [looking at myself] its over
Fantastic advice!! And something I’ve realized I’ve been doing for myself these last 6-7 years, even though I never had a name for it.
Seriously, this is such a great way to go about organizing your home.
I really can’t express how much easier your life can be when you accept that there’s no objectively right way to do this kind of stuff, especially when you let go of the idea that it’s a moral failure when you can’t do something the “correct way” nor is it evidence of you being lazy.
Working with (leaning into) your natural limits and instincts can do wonders for you in your day-to-day life.
There's double bowls for pistachios and other nuts that leave shells. Useful for that. But also, if you regularly use eyedrops or some other small thing that generates trash... Easy place to put the wrappers/spent containers so you don't have to trek to the trash can every time. $10.
forever grateful i was simply too lazy to let the makeup industrial complex get its hooks in me. I was just like im not doing all of that. in fact. im doing none of that
yeah I have political reasons for it now but my original and still most powerful reason is "I am not getting out of this bed one single second before I have to"
Summary: when you bring him home to meet your family, Loki realizes what he's missed.
Warnings: slight angst, mentions of poor family relationships
Loki's fists balled themselves deep into the pockets of his slacks as he followed you up your parents' driveway.
Despite your repeated reassurances that the evening would go smoothly, he couldn't help his nerves. He was well aware that his own family dynamic was... less than desirable. He also knew that being in a relationship with a Midgardian came with certain cultural differences.
But he needed--wanted--to at least try. For you.
So when your parents invited the pair of you over for family dinner, he quickly agreed in spite of his irrational fear that they wouldn't like him.
He trailed after you as you made your way to the front door, homemade dessert in hand. He raised a fist to knock and was interrupted by you simply opening the door and entering unannounced.
His brows pulled together in slight confusion.
He had never been permitted to enter his parents' chambers without first announcing himself and being granted permission.
Now is not the time to ruminate, he thought to himself, shaking his head slightly as he followed you into the house and toward the kitchen.
"Hey, mom," came your pleasant greeting as you set the dessert on the counter. Your mother turned from her work on the stove, her face immediately splitting into a wide grin at the sight of you.
"I didn't even hear you guys come in!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around you and giving you a tight squeeze. Loki felt his chest constrict at the sight of the maternal gesture, a deep ache taking root.
"And you must be this Loki we've heard so much about,'" you mother greeted him, opening her arms wide to embrace him. He quickly slapped a smile on his face, hoping that it was convincing enough.
"That would be me," was his smooth reply as she released him.
"Dinner will be ready in a few, we're just waiting on the main course," your mother stated, turning her attention back to the pot on the stove.
"Where is everyone else?" you asked, looking around the empty kitchen and living room for your absent siblings.
"Your brothers are downstairs playing some game and I think your sister is in her room."
"That sounds about right," you mumbled lightheartedly, rolling your eyes.
Just then, your father appeared in the doorway with a pair of grilling tongs in hand, the aroma of seared meat following him.
"The steaks need a few more minutes, I think I gave one of them a bit too much time on the-- oh! Is this Loki?" he cut himself off at the sight of your lover. He set the tongs on the counter, offering Loki a handshake and pulling him in to a brief embrace.
"It is," you replied, a soft smile on your lips at the sight.
"Well, I need to get back to the grill before I burn dinner. I wasn't sure what you guys eat in Asgard but I figured meat was a safe bet," your father stated. He grabbed his tongs off the counter and disappeared back onto the deck.
"Let's go find my siblings," you said softly, taking Loki's hand in yours and leading him out of the kitchen.
He followed somberly, the ache in his chest only growing at the sight of all the photos on the walls, the shoes scattered across the entryway, the books stacked on furniture.
The place felt so lived in, so at odds with his own experiences.
Making your way down the stairs, you called out your siblings' names and flipped the lights on to illuminate the dark basement. You heard your brothers groan at the sudden brightness, their shared protests making you laugh.
"Staring at a TV in the dark is bad your eyes, you know," you scolded as you approached the couch they had taken up residence on.
"You know what else is bad for my eyes? Your face," came the snarky reply as the older of the two dragged himself up from his supine position to tower over you. You gave his arm a quick slap in response.
"I didn't come all this way home just to be insulted."
"Well, how about coming home for this?" he asked before grabbing you by the shoulders and throwing you into a headlock.
Your hands flew up to his arm in a fruitless attempt to wrench yourself free but his grip was iron. Your youngest brother then took the opportunity to noogie the exposed top of your head, thoroughly ruining your neat hair.
Loki watched in amusement as you struggled against the two, stifling a laugh as you threw a kick at the younger one and missed entirely.
"We're way too old for this," you grumbled, your voice muffled by your brother's arm.
"I'm never too old to pay you back for that time you hit me with the TV remote- OW!" he jumped, immediately releasing you from his hold. "She fucking bit me!"
Your youngest brother laughed, prompting the older of the two to grant him a swift slap to thigh. The conflict was interrupted by the sound of your sister's bedroom door opening.
"Can you guys shut up? I'm trying to- hey!" Her face lit up mid sentence as she realized you were home, running across the living room to envelope you in a tight hug.
"Hey kid," you said, giving her a reciprocal squeeze.
"Who's the guy?" your youngest brother asked, flopping back onto the couch.
"The guy is my boyfriend, Loki," you replied, rolling your eyes.
"Are you holding him hostage?"
Loki couldn't help but laugh as you made a face at your brother. You were just about to start another physical altercation when your father's voice called from upstairs, yelling for everyone to come up for dinner.
He watched as your siblings thundered up the stairs, doing his best to keep the sadness from his expression. While he was enjoying getting to see you interact with your family, he couldn't help but feel out of place.
He loved his family deeply but all the love in the realms couldn't seem to mend his fractured relationships. Seeing how close you all were made it painfully obvious that there was something fundamental missing from his life, something that he couldn't fix with a silver tongue or cavalier attitude.
With both his parents gone and his brother off doing Norns-know-what, he wasn’t sure it could be fixed.
Despite his melancholy, dinner went off without a hitch. Your heart swelled with happiness as your family and your lover discussed various topics as mundane as Asgardian cuisine. You couldn’t help the smile on your lips as your brothers teased Loki for his accent and vernacular, grateful that they seemed to be getting on so well.
After dessert, your siblings dragged you into the spacious backyard to sit on the patio and play card games. Loki stayed behind to help your parents clean up the meal, keeping an affectionate eye on the four of you through the window.
Once the table was cleared, your father pulled up a chair and your sister dealt him into the game. Loki perched on a bar stool at the kitchen island, silently picking at the edges of the pie you had made. You mother took a seat quietly next to him and dished herself a portion.
“Are you alright, honey?” she asked gently, placing a napkin on her lap.
He stomach dropped slightly at the term of endearment.
“Oh yes, just a bit stuffed from dinner. You have a lovely home,” he replied, attempting to change the topic as quickly as possible.
She nodded silently and turned attention to her husband and children on the patio. Both of them huffed a laugh as your sister slapped a card down on the table and your brothers threw their handfuls of cards in frustration.
“Do you have any siblings?” your mother asked, taking a small bite of the dessert.
“I have an older brother.”
“Ah, a youngest child. That must have been fun for you.”
Another side smile on his lips.
“It was for a time… We don’t speak much these days.”
A beat of silence.
“I don’t talk to my siblings much either.”
He turned to face her, surprised by the small gesture of vulnerability. She placed a tender hand on his.
“You always have a place here, Loki.”
He couldn’t help the unshed tears that stung his eyes.
“Thank you.”
A few quiet minutes passed, interrupted only by shouts of triumph from the patio as you father appeared to win the game. Each of you gathered up your cards, placing them in their box as you filed back into the house.
Your cheeks flushed slightly as Loki took your hand in his and placed a soft kiss on the back of it.
“Ew,” one of your brothers muttered, your mother swatting him on the arm in response.
“Are you okay?” you asked, slightly concerned at his red rimmed eyes.
“I’m perfect,” he replied, squeezing your hand.
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