TheMadBerries

Welcome to TheMadBerries! We're a game-playing, art-making, fun-creating fiery duo who have dedicated this blog to our LDR, hoping with each day, through striving and surviving, that we'll get closer to our goal of meeting at long last. In the meantime, enjoy the content we post here!

[themadberries]

- Lauren

[themadberries]

SO WE’RE NOT DEAD-

So yeah uh... apologies for bein’ dead. Thomas and I actually both have jobs now and we’ve been busy as fuck.

We’re steadily on our way to savin’ enough money to visit one another, but to be honest it’ll be awhile. I’d like to welcome all the new followers to our blog, though!

Until we get things straightened out, we’re gonna try and finish that severely overdue 90 day challenge and possibly start posting stuff with our artwork. :)

There is a certain challenge coming up that we’re participating in...

Would anyone be interested in seeing some INKTOBER on this blog?

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge- Days 85 & 86

Thomas: Mainly done last minute so my answers to these will be a bit brief x_x )) 

Day 85: If you had to describe to someone what being in this type of relationship is like, what would you tell them?

Lauren-- It all depends on who it is you’re trying the relationship with. When I first went through with a LDR, it was difficult because I wanted so much to be with that person. Though, nowadays, I’ve come to realize that it’s difficult. Sure, the distance prevents you both from seeing one another, but it’s a learning experience.

Being in a LDR is basically a challenge. If you like challenges, then hey, go for it. But there’s a lot of dedication when you’re truly in love with the other person.

It is definitely a worthwhile relationship, to be honest. There’s nothing else I’d rather have in one than the dedication and love from the other party. It’s like opening a present on Christmas morning. You’ve been waiting all year to see what you wished for, and if it is, then you’re going to be one happy individual.

It’s pretty awesome.

Thomas-- I’d tell them that this relationship is something special. It’s definitely with someone special, and although I get my point on frequent basis to tell Lauren that she is special, I can’t ever say it enough. It literally feels like I have a best friend this time around because of everything we can say to each other and reveal to each other, but it’s also more than that. Every day is like a miniature adventure just waiting to unfold. It’s like no other relationship I’ve ever been in. Sure, it may be a long distance relationship, but even then, the love felt closes those distances enough to be tangible and closer than one would think or see by sight alone. It’s just...pretty damn amazing. <3

Day 86: What do you hope the future holds for the both of you?

Lauren-- I believe it’ll be the best thing that’s ever happened. I have very high hopes for the future now that I have Thomas by my side. Before, I had no hopes for it. It was strange for me because I like looking to the future sometimes for ideas of what I want to do with my life.

A year has already gone by, and it’s definitely something to look forward to in the coming years. With all that we have planned, or sorta-planned, I’m sure we can pull it all together in one fell swoop to make sure the next ten years are the best we’ve ever had.

Thomas-- I have high hopes for the future ahead, as do I have high expectation that it will be great. Me and her don’t have expectations towards one another, because we like our freedom in that, and that in its own right is an expectation, perhaps the highest of any that would dare pin one of us to the ground in our points of spreading our wings and soaring, and already soon to be a year strong, our wings are still spreading, and waiting to feel that fresh breeze that will whirl us towards each other. I think if we keep doing what we do, and follow our dreams of artistry and graphic knowledge, then that will also be a hope for the future, and for a career that will be on a higher level than where we are now. I know we can make that happen. And I know deep down that it will happen. :) 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge- Days 83 & 84

Day 83: What do you enjoy about being in a long distance relationship?

Lauren-- The biggest fact I enjoy is how much suspense it builds in gettin’ through each day with him. The reason I say that is because no one else has given me the reason to even continue with the work I intend to get done. No one else has given me the motivation.

Gettin’ a hold of that motivation really sets up the anticipation to meet him in person. It’s one of those feelings you get when yer waitin’ for yer food at a restaurant. You heard about this place so much and know their food is amazing, and once you get it, a sense of relief and joy overwhelms you.

That’s what it’ll feel like when I get to see him face to face. The anticipation really grows the more you work and the more you put yer mind to it.

Thomas-- Let’s see. There are perks to a long distance relationship, believe it or not. For one, I mentioned this before, there’s this strange excitement about being in a distance, like the planning, the preparation, and the moment where things click together just seem to add into that excitement. A long distance relationship takes a lot, and after that lot has been certified, withstood and taken into stride, you see the efforts of all your labor, your love, your admiration, all begin to come into focus like an old photograph that was taken, and you had to wait for the picture to come into focus from the negative it derived from.  I don’t know if I’m making any sense here, but that’s the way I can view it.It’s even much more rewarding when yer partner knows you and vice versa, and is aiming for the same ideals and supports you just like how you would support them likewise. That rush, that feeling of wanting to meet, amplifies because of these things.  As much as I praise an LDR for this, I also would praise it when all of that is finally behind us, and we finally do come to meet face to face. That rush won’t stop, because that feeling would be a foundation, and a basis of how our love started, to what it is now, and to what it would be in the future. Being in an LDR girds you with that, and prepares you for something much greater with a person who is the greatest in your life. 

Day 84: If suddenly, you could be with your partner for the next three hours, what would you do together?

Lauren-- I would definitely love this, but it wouldn’t be enough to enjoy everythin’ about him. Sure, three hours would give us time to cuddle, watch a movie or two, and draw, but... to be honest, I want way more than just that.

So much kissing is to be had with that. From sayin’ that, I think my biggest want for that would be movies and a hella lot of cuddling. Hell, we could ignore the movie and just make-out for all I care. As long as I’m spending that time with him, I wouldn’t mind the time given.

Though, a lot of me says that goin’ out to ear or watchin’ a drive in movie would be really nice too. Maybe rent a truck to set up a blanket, some pillows and a few drinks, aaaaaa I sound so country sappy right now. I don’t care, ugh, as long as I’m next to him, I don’t caaaare. <3

Thomas-- Unfortunately, I won’t be writing as much as I would want to for this one, but I will do my best with this question. First off, I will be blunt and say the next three hours is NOT A LOT. I mean, if suddenly the next three hours me and Lauren were with each other, that’d be awesome, but it feels like it’d be over all too fast. I’d want a lot more time than just three hours, and I’m sure other LDR couples would agree, but I digress. When it comes down to it, in those three hours, a range of things would happen. Some drawing, and some old fashioned GameCube games for one would be nice. Another possibility could be whisking each other away to see a movie or grab a milkshake at the nearest joint and just enjoy looking at the night sky. But I think the more likely possibility would be just a nice holding and cuddling session underneath the lights that would adorn my partner’s room and just bask in the feeling of having one another in tender embrace with a kiss or two, maybe three or four, or five. Six? Whatever the case, whatever the amount of kisses, the three hours spent would be well spent on her. <3

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 82

Day 82: Do you know any stories from his/her childhood? Share one?

Lauren-- We’re gonna do this a bit different. Since we haven’t done a lot of talkin’ about our childhoods (cuz we sometimes choose not to look back on it), we’re gonna share a story, but from our POV. So here’s mine:

I had to have been around six or seven years old, around the time when my cousin, Megan, and I were really close friends. We were almost inseparable. One weekend I spent my time at her house because my parents were goin’ out of town. We had so much fun, and the best part was this--

So Megan had this toy karaoke machine in her room where I was stayin’, and this particular one had like.. I think around five or six songs on it. The microphone to this toy has a voice changer. It could either change from really low to chipmunk high. It was amusing to us because it sounded so silly that we decided to sing every song with the chipmunk voice.

One of the songs in particular we spammed for an hour. If you all remember this song, you’ll know why it was so funny to us. Obviously, since it was a song from The Beatles, they just made a cover to the song to make it sound karaoke. It was very funny. I’m pretty sure we laughed about halfway through the song due to the chipmunk voice.

Any other song we’d mix it up, going from high to low and just having the best time. So yeah, karaoke is fun when you have more people to share it with.

Thomas-- Okay, I was a bit young with this childhood story. I DON’T think i’ve told Lauren this one. It has to do with a fourth of July once with some of my cousins, and it took place in a park at night.  They lived near this park, and it just so happened that we were going to a fireworks stand to get some stuff bought for us to celebrate, because honestly, I think back then it seemed MUCH easier to celebrate these damn holidays xP I digress. Stuff from here on out gets a little crazy.  So we were just playing around with sparklers and even some snakes, but then one of them started running up to me pretending they were on fire and I was going along with it. Before I knew it, without turning forward and without being smart enough, I ended up running into a tree face first, and fell over waving my sparkler around and tried getting up.  I was helped up, and I was wondering where my sparkler was, and I was kind of still trying to make out my surroundings (past the tears of course because being as young as I was, when you get hurt, tears are most likely to ensue :’D )) and when I was able to make out my surroundings, it turns out my sparkler had fallen near the now unoccupied fireworks stand, and me and my cousins literally booked it. I don’t know if that stand survived the sparkler, or caused a chain reaction and exploded... But, i’d like to think it exploded. 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 81

Day 81: What was the most emotional moment for the two of you?

Lauren-- I don’t normally like to relive these kind of moments, but there was a night when I had broken down so badly that he was the only one there to help.

I actually don’t want to go into detail to what happened, but I can say that we were both pretty damn out of it that night. Both of us were pretty emotional over the fact that... well, we had never felt this happy in years.

We both realized that we met for a reason, and even if that reason can be unexplainable, it’s still there to be told if we’re asked “How did you two meet?”

Obviously, we met in a chat room on DeviantART, but that’s not the point.

Just knowing that you have yer partner in yer life, and they would do anythin’ for you, is just one of those greatest moments of yer life because you know they won’t do you wrong.

We’ve proven to each other that night that it’s not always fun to watch the other suffer because life decides to shit on ‘em. We’re there to support each other, and I’m actually glad we had that chat because it made our way of thinking a hundred times more clear.

Thomas-- I’d say the most emotional moments happened before we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Those moments had to be the most emotional due to what we had gone through back then, and how it left us feeling pretty drained, and left us with a slew of negative emotion and feelings, whether it was because of neglect or otherwise because the significant other at the time was too weak or couldn’t establish a proper bond when it was needed.  The moment I learned about Lauren’s troubles in a DeviantART chatroom, I basically wanted to just console the hell out of her, and be there for her, and the more I learned about her, the more I wanted to be there for her or at least be a beacon of light in a dark time. I was, and as such would reciprocate, she was mine.  Now, 12 months later, nearing our first anniversary, she is still my beacon of light, and I can proudly say I am hers. We’ve had a lot of moments that attuned to our innermost feelings and explored the depths of our minds and had deep turns along the way, and I hope we have more for the year to come.  As I mentioned before in the last challenge, she is my eternal flame and I am hers. We’ve made our situations more clear. We’ve shed light on each other more times than I can count, and I’m glad I haven’t been able to count, because moments, no matter how emotional or how fun they are, are meant to be countless, and with Lauren, they definitely are. <3

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Days 77-80

Day 77: How does he/she cheer you up when you’re sad?

SEE DAY 71 FOR THIS.

Day 78: List 6 things you absolutely adore about your partner?

Lauren-- I’m fairly sure we did this a couple of days back. BUT, I can do it again, but just the top six I suppose.

- His smile.

- His laugh.

- His intelligence.

- His sense of humor.

- His eyes.

- And his EVERYTHING. ;D

Thomas-- Totally did this for another day that actually happened not too long ago. I wonder if this challenge intends to repeat itself some more, but nah well, I’ll bite and list some things at the top of my head, WHICH ARE:  *Her smile *her personality *Her sense of humor *Her knowledge with graphic design *Her laugh *Aaaaaaand her BU-I MEAN EVERYTHING. ;3

Day 79: What are some things you see in your everyday life that reminds you of your partner?

Lauren-- Usually when I go out of the house, I always have my special puzzle piece necklace on, so that always reminds me of him when I’m not online. Otherwise, if I see anything dragon related, it will always remind me of him. I mean, there isn’t much to say here because I think about Thomas like all fuckin’ day, so there’s no legit answer other than him, hahah.

Thomas-- There’s actually a lot of things I see outside of the house that remind me of her. But for one, I’ll mention the things inside the house that remind me of her, which for example, is the Charizard beanie that she had sent me, along with the other puzzle piece necklace that serves as a pairing to hers. It lets me know that not only am I the piece of the puzzle that fills hers, but vice versa, and the four prongs of the puzzle are, as I put it once “representations of all four directions, showing I’ll be wherever she goes”  Outside of the house, when on the way to work, I will cross a street named Berry, and when I am at work, there will often be times where I come across a red and black plaid shirt, which is something I know she loves. :)  Of course, there’s also anything wolf-related that would remind me of her, along with some songs she listens to, or some we listen to together.  I think about Lauren all day though, so even when I’m not with her, I’m still thinking of her, and even when I’m with her, I’m STILL thinking of her, heheh. <3 

Day 80: What do you think is the most important quality to have in a long distance relationship?

SEE DAY 22 FOR THIS.

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 76

Day 76: Has being with your partner made you a better person?

Lauren-- For the past year of knowing him, it already gave me the courage to break out of my shell even further. Back when I believed I had already broken out, I just went with it, still believing that I was okay. Turns out I wasn’t. When I broke it off with my previous ex, I realized that I wasn’t the person I thought I was. Growing up sheltered showed me how much of a goddamn pussy I was.

I absolutely hated confrontation. I’m too stubborn for that, heh...

Once I got together with Thomas, I started to believe again. As stated in the previous day, I was at a disadvantage with the concept of love, and now that I figured out what it really meant, I’ve become better over the past eleven months.

Today, I feel like I’ve changed ten times better than I thought I did within the past two years. My stubborn tail may have believed otherwise at the time, but I’ve been shown the light, and I can trust in myself to press on with who I am. I’m more blunt, more compassionate, and more willing to give up my time to help another.

But I’m also more harsh. I confront people more often when the time needs it, and I’m for damn sure I’ve gotten smarter over time.

At this point, I think I’ve broken out of my shell... no, more like I shattered it to pieces like a baseball through a window.

Thomas-- Being with Lauren has definitely made me feel as though I’ve been taking more forward steps in my life, my career, and my hobby. With her backing me, and myself giving her the support she needs when no one else seems to have her, or our, back, We’ve both been helping each other take the steps we need to get more and more into that door.  Not only has she made me feel as though love was something to not give up on, or ever think of giving up on when things seem their dimmest, but she’s also inspired me to better myself at digital art, as well as be a better person in RL, someone who has the power to do what it takes, and show that things can be done, in hopes that my example can be followed as well, for the motivation I get from her.  Love was a misunderstanding all those other times. I was growing, sure, but I wasn’t GROWING. I wasn’t understanding what was around me, and what needed to be done. I just wanted to see those other exes, but then what? They never really had my back as much as Lauren does. Some even belittled me for liking certain things, or making me think what I liked, what I wanted, was something that was either a goal not meant due to their own issues or otherwise because it didn’t fit THEIR criteria.  Well, good, because I don’t want to fit their criteria, and although a total of a decade was spent going all the wrong places, I felt as though my mind was never giving me a chance to grow.  Lauren’s a lot different, and she actually allows me to grow, because honestly, I allow her and ESPECIALLY want to see her grow as a person, an artist, and as a girlfriend and mate. I’ve helped her come out of her shell, and she’s helped me overcome many demons I’ve had scurrying about within me.  I only wish to keep giving her that love and confidence needed to succeed, and needed to keep on being better than we are now, because I have a feeling by next year, we’ll look back at this and say “We’ll keep growing, and we’ll keep going” 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge- Day 75

Day 75: Do you believe in soul matws? Do you think your partner is/could be your soulmate?

Lauren-- For the longest time, I believed in the soul mate concept, but since I was so sheltered and cramped in my own shell, I didn’t understand the true meaning of it, or the concept of love.

For the first bit of my life, I believed that fictional characters were my only love because no one else actually liked me when I was growing up. My initial thought was that these fictional characters knew me for who I was and loved me for that. That is why I self-inserted myself into my own stories. To fill that void.

When it came to my first bf, he and I were okay. He knew that I didn’t quite understand, but a few days before our first prom, he broke it off and then asked some other girl out. My first initial thought was that he was cheating on me, and I didn’t understand any of it. So I was a sad sack for that prom night, despite this younger boy constantly hassling me for a dance.

My next bf lasted a total of three days. THREE DAYS, because he thought he couldn’t handle it. I started to lose my belief. Several years later, with my next bf, it became a fight. Every. Fucking. Day. Like every day it was somethin’ so stupid and ignorant. I believed even less.

Next one, do I dare explain this again? Manipulation just made me believe that there was no such thing as love. I tried again with the previous, same damn thing. Emotional blackmail was not very fun.

At that point I believed that my only love was for my talent and my family... more so my talent because my family didn’t give me the support I needed.

JUMPING AHEAD, I found Thomas. He’s the one person in this world that kept the fire in my belly a jump start. The kinda jump start that I truly needed to be happy. He’s become the yang to my yin. He got me to see the light of a soul mate... and boy, does he got soul. That light is the flame that keeps us in a tighter bond more than anything in this world.

So when I say that he woke me up to see the light... I really mean it.

Without him, I would have lost myself to the darkness by now. <3

Thomas-- No, I don’t believe in soul matws, because I don’t think there is or ever will be a MATW. That’s not even a word, challenge! Get yer shit together! Yer better than this! >8U  AHIOFSJOIFJSIOGSJSGOSKIWKOKEOTKETKEOWLLFSOKGOSKGSOGK Okay, now that THAT is done with, to be more serious, I’ve always been a romantic. From when I first learned the word and its meaning to when I first wanted to feel love, or rather, as I put it now, “love” because none of that felt real. It just felt like I was desperate to fill a hole, and the time in between, from my first girlfriend to my last ex, I felt as though I never let myself breathe. I knew the meaning of love with each failure that came, and knew more what I was looking for. All the time though, the words “soul mate” never crossed my mind. I wasn’t looking for, nor did I believe in, a soul mate back then. I guess it further proves my point that, looking back, it wasn’t real love.  Fast forward to now, and the concept of a soulmate, especially in Lauren’s case, seems more and more...exciting. With her, I honestly feel like my last ex, should literally be just that. My LAST ex. Me and Lauren have such a tight bond, and I know it’s only going to become more defined when real life comes into play. It’s like each day, in little ways or big, we hype each other up even more and more, and I can’t get enough! <3 To finally answer, I DO think that Lauren IS my soulmate. I’m not letting her go, and I’m not letting her forget how much she is loved and cared for. I love her to the ends of the earth. :) she is my eternal flame.

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Triple Threat - Days 72, 73, & 74

Day 72: What are some gifts you’ve given your partner, and what has he/she given you?

Lauren-- Thomas has pretty much stated everything that was sent, but I do have two more things I gotta send him. I haven’t had the money to DO so, but if I get this job I interviewed for, I should be able to send him those items very soon.

Other than that, I plan to send him a special thing for our one year anniversary, and he’ll only know when it gets to his door. No spoilers for this one. ;D

Thomas-- Other than drawing some pictures for her, and sending her some gifts via SL, tangible gifts I have given her would have to be a package that contained Nerds and a card, and before then, there was the Okamiden backpack I had found at Oni Con last year :)  Again, I do plan on sending something to her soon, now that I’m working again. I’ve been looking for one thing in particular in my store that I know she’d love, size and all, heh.  She, on the other hand, had sent me A LOT of gifts. :’D like really, spoiling me, and she aims to spoil me as much as I do her soon I’m sure xD she’s sent a beanie (CHARIZARD BEANIE), a Kirby shirt, along with an amiibo AND a frame dedicating our love (hanging nicely by my door to look at every chance I get :) )) and a card on valentine’s, along with Nerds as well! :D But yeah, the whole sending each other thing had its break, but it’ll be back in full speed soon enough <3

Day 73: What would be the breaking point that wold make you end your relationship?

Lauren-- Nothing. MOVING ON.

Thomas-- Nothing would be the breaking point. NEXT!

Day 74: What do you like most about them?

Lauren-- OH BOY, let’s do this.

- His smile. [ of course ]

- His laugh.

- His hair. [ dat rockstar hair tho ]

- His creativity.

- His wit.

- His sense of humor.

- How blunt he is.

- That bod of his.~

- His artistic talent.

- How compassionate he is.

- How helpful he is.

- His style, whether clothing or art.

- How much he loves the cold.

- His playfulness.

- How mature he is. [ I’ve never seen so much amazing maturity in my past relationships, so he’s got that goin’ good ]

- His butt. >:C [ revenge ]

- How intelligent he is. <333 [ seriously I fuckin’ love how smart he is ]

- EVERYTHING ELSE. 8D

Thomas-- Time to rattle off a laundry list for this one. LET’S SEE. There’s: 

*Her smile

*Her laugh

*Her quirks (which I’m sure she knows about) 

*Her drawing skill

*Her sense of clothing choice

*her sense of humor

*Her open-minded attitude and opinions 

*Her personality

*Her figure

*her butt- *shot* 

*Her shyness ( at times )

*Her playfulness

*Her intelligence

*Her maturity 

*Her spontaneity 

*Her sense of wanting to travel 

*Her affinity for the cold 

*Her boldness

*Her sense of taste

*Her likeness for nostalgic things

*Her creativity 

*Her whole entire existence <3 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 70 & 71

Day 70: Do you have high expectations for your next or first visit with him/her?

Lauren -- Sometimes when you have high expectations, it’s like relying on the other to have something done for you. I honestly hate havin’ to rely on people to make sure a thing gets done or even if somethin’ isn’t its best. I’m just stubborn like that.

To be honest, my only expectation is just to see him smile. Granted, that sounds extremely cheesy, but it’s just what I’ve always loved seeing over video calls or simply hearing him chuckle over the phone.

If I were to have any other expectations, it’d be just to have fun, because I wouldn’t want to have anythin’ or anyone ruin the time we have together in person for the first time.

I’d just love to be there and have a great vacation. :) <3

Thomas -- I don’t have high expectations, because I don’t need any with her, nor do I need any when our first visit happens. It’s all about fun for the most part, and we both have that dynamic. I honestly don’t like having high expectations mainly because it’s just like relaying on the other to have something done for you.  My last exes had expectations for me, and in turn, I felt I was starting to have high expectations for other women I would know or get to know, but Lauren’s just so different, and has so much in common to me that I don’t give a flip about high expectations with her anymore because she IS the high expectation i’ve been wanting in a woman for so long.  She’s creative, she draws, she’s funny, witty, smart, sassy, loving, cute, goofy, everything I want in a woman! All I expect is to see her smile, and see her have fun, and make sure no one ruins our fun together.  Lastly, I expect her to have an unforgettable vacation, for being an unforgettable girl. :) <3

Day 71: How do you cheer him/her up when his/she is sad?

Lauren-- I march right up to him, lookit him straight in the eye, lay it on the line and I-- okay no more Spongebob reference.

In all seriousness, I would literally look him in the eyes and tell him straight up what matters. I do sugarcoat my speeches sometimes, but after so many years of nothin’ but arguments and horrible encouragements, I’ve come to realize that sometimes that doesn’t work.

I cheer him up by sayin’ what’s on my mind and how I view the situation. After that I tell him that everything’s fine, and that he needs to think about what was going on.. and not in the negative way.

But first, I’d hold him close to me. Nothin’ is better to help someone than a damn good hug. Even a back rub would suffice for me, so why not him?

How I’ve grown up learning that helpin’ people is my top priority, I’ve been told I should be a therapist, so giving him my two cents on whatever situation got him upset is what I aim for.

I may be firm with him, but I’m also compassionate with what I say. And I mean every goddamn word of what I tell him.

In an emotional sense... I’d definitely look him in the eyes and smile, tellin’ him that things will get better, even if he doesn’t believe it.

Thomas-- I normally cheer her up by telling her that “Everything’s gonna be alright.” It soothes her and it helps her after a hard day. I think what would also help is gently telling her other things that would help lift her spirits, and if that doesn’t work, a drawing usually makes things better. What I do want to do if she has a horrible day, is to sing to her, mainly because no one ever has.  I don’t know why, but I really do want to sing to her at some point in our life. Although for this it would probably be under better circumstances. There’s a lot of ways to cheer her up, but I know we both are able to make each other’s days better when one of us is down.<3

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 69 (Bowchickawowwow- *shot* ))

Day 69: What are you most excited to experience together?

Lauren-- [ I’m FAIRLY sure that Thomas did that title on purpose. >:U ]

Of course the biggest thing I wanna experience is just being there with him. I know it sounds cliche, but just the fact that I can hug and kiss him in person would be the best thing that’s ever happened to me... other than him actually coming into my life, but hey. Hehe. <3

But no, seriously, I’ve come a long way since my last two relationships were a bust because of me, and I’m not lettin’ him go. Figuratively and literally, haa.

Just the thought of holding him would allow me that sense of closure and security that I’ve always wanted. I was about to go off on a tangent about somethin’ else, but I’ll leave that out for now.

Hugs and kisses all around for him. <3

Thomas-- I’m very excited to experience LITERALLY holding her in my arms, and having her heart beat with mine. Just to hold her physical being so close in an embrace would be a heaven on earth for me. It’s been a pretty long time since I’ve actually held someone close to me in person (not counting when a family member needed consoling) and just to feel that warmth again would be a cause of excitement to me, and a cause of anticipation. I know I’m not much to hold, physical appearance wise,but I know she’d love to do the same. Not only would it be something to be exciting as an experience, but it also reaffirms that someone out there in this big world DOES in fact love you and wants to hold you and be there fore you. I want to hold her and show her I’m there for her, and feel her in my arms while I protect her, while the outside world fades away until it’s naught but just two entities in all of existence; me and her. <3 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge- Days 67 & 68

Day 67: Share a cute story!!

Lauren-- The day of his birthday. He had told me that the last few years haven’t been the best birthdays, and I wanted to change that. I think I’ve mentioned the story about his Second Life party, that way you get what I mean.

BUT, I’m talkin’ about when he received my gift to him in the mail. It arrived two days before his birthday and I told him to wait until then to open it.

I said I wanted to video chat with him as he opened it, so we did. When he opened up the box, the first thing he pulled out was a Kirby amiibo. He was super excited to get that because I had teased him about it for about a month beforehand, hahah.

Second thing he pulled out was a square shaped object with a Kirby t-shirt wrapped around it. I had said the object inside was for last. He loved the shirt, and seeing him smile about it was indeed very cute.

When he finally looked at the last object, a framed print of something I created in my Graphic Design class, if I could see his face, I’d be laughing, but I knew that behind that frame there was a big smile there.

His reaction was just what I was hoping for, and him continuing to tell me that I didn’t have to was just... hah, I can’t even explain how happy it made me.

It was just utterly cute how he reacted. <3

Thomas-- Well, I wasn’t sure what to put here as a cute story, but then after mentioning it to Lauren, it HAD to be the story chosen for my end. Although I’m not sure if Lauren will be telling this story as well, or have one as a surprise, but I am thinking she’s got a story in mind already, heh.  This was around December, or January, and the winter air we love so much was still in full bloom, if not beginning to increase since the last month of the year wasn’t as cold as once thought. Weather, yeesh.  Anyways, me and her were on Skype together and we were talking about a beanie she was sending me. I’m talking about the Charizard beanie (which again, she didn’t HAVE to but eeeeerrrrgh >w< ) and why it seemed that the day  it was supposed to show up it remained lost, but I started to get concerned. I looked around the house thinking maybe someone had gotten it and was holding it, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

At this point, she was also wondering what the hell was up, and was beginning to check out her post office but checked on Amazon first (because the post office at first, didn’t make sense. My idea. spur of the moment. oops x.x ) and she mentioned that it would be there on that exact day, and just a minute after she sent the message.  Surely enough, it was there at last, and I was able to show her and be giddy about it. Not to mention me and her already laughed about the whole thing. X3 

Day 68: What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever had together?

Lauren-- Like Thomas says, there really isn’t a story to tell. Either we don’t remember, or there just hasn’t been an embarrassing moment yet. If we think of it in a later post, we’ll add it in, but as of now, there aren’t any.

Sorry! :’D

Thomas-- Okay, this is just one of those questions where the answer is going to have to unfortunately remain open-ended.  The thing is, we don’t have an embarrassing moment together, although I’d have to add, not just yet. I’m sure that’ll happen in RL though, or somewhere along the line, since nothing can stay without embarrassment, even awesome relationships. xD  I guess for the most part this would be another IOU for until something actually happens that makes us both think it was completely embarrassing.  Should be interesting, I’m sure! Lol!

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 66

Day 66: Have either of you ever made dinner together (in person or over video chat)? What was it? If not, would you ever? What do you think you would cook?

Lauren -- Considering we can only do so much for the latter of this question (video chat), we haven’t really done so just yet. It would be a neat idea some day, because it’d be neat to watch him cook. <3

As for myself, I don’t really cook all that much, but if I wanted to I’d drag my computer to the kitchen while we were on a video chat just to make food for the hell of it.

I’d probly cook simple things like macaroni or grilled cheese. Like I said, I’m not big on cookin’, but it would be a neat way to bond a bit more. <3

Thomas -- Even though Lauren isn’t one to cook all that much, I know it’d be an awesome thing to see her cook and see what she makes. She’s mentioned so many other recipes and it’s definitely awesome to imagine her making one of those dishes she’s spoken of :)  I don’t really cook all that much either, since mainly I make breakfast food, which probably doesn’t count, but I do actually want to make more than just breakfast. I want to make more big meals, albeit simple as well, but yeah. It’d be nice to do that :)  So yeah, although we haven’t really seen each other make dinner via video chat, that will be something to be done one day. Hell, I’d drag my laptop over to the kitchen as well. Can’t yet but I will when I get a new battery for this thing.  It would definitely be a good way to bond, and we could give each other ideas as well for other food to make. <3 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge - Day 65

Day 65: What is something you two always say to each other?

Lauren -- There is literally no count to how much shit we say to one another. But if we’re talkin’ about common phrases, it’s mostly a mixture of “I love you”, “for the woo”, and “HNNNNNG.”

Bein’ real, I literally have no idea other than that, hah. We have so much to say to each other that we can’t keep tabs on what they are.

In all honesty, anything he says to me is worth remembering, and I know this from a recent experience that I won’t go into detail about just yet. Our vocabulary consists of a lot of curse words, perverted remarks, and obviously romantic/cutesy stuff, so don’t be surprised if we become the most sassy couple in the LDR world. 8P

Thomas -- Let’s see. There’s “For the woo” which became our own little thing, because “for the win” just wasn’t OUR win, heh. There’s also “I love you” or “I looooove yooooooouuuuuu” because we’re just totally silly with each other and I love that we can be.  We also say “Rawr” to each other a lot, which is also pretty fun. We also playfully call each other butts, because we just like poking fun at each other along with having fun with what we say to one another. :) 

We actually do say a lot to each other where it seems like we can’t keep tabs, but the memories are very much real with them. We do have a very colorful vocabulary, that’s for damn sure. Which is another thing I enjoy about what we say to each other!  Anything she says is actually very fun and very much similar to what I could say, which makes it easier to go along with her sayings and vice versa. From romantic to perverse to cursing to other variants, we’ve got the whole shebang.  It’s a raunchy sassy flare of a mix that I can never get enough of, just like someone’s favorite dip for chips, because that’s probably the best comparison I could make about our vernacular xD 

we are aries and sagittarius, a fiery duo that can’t be beat!! >8U

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge Three Pronged- Days 62, 63, & 64

Day 62: Does your partner still give you butterflies?

Lauren-- Oh. My. God.

I cannot think of a time when Thomas hasn’t given me butterflies. Every day he brings such a happy smile to my face that I can’t NOT feel those little bastards floating around in my stomach.

Whenever he calls me beautiful or cute, or even sexy (whether joke or not), it gets me so flustered that I turn about as red as my hair (which it’s not bright red anymore but STILL!)

There were not a lot of times when my exes made me feel this way, and that was due to their douchey personalities that prevented me from even feelin’ a goddamn thing after several months of dealin’ with their ignorance.

Thomas? He gives me that feelin’ every day. No matter what time of day it is, he always finds a way to make me smile and make me feel like I’ve got some kinda infestation hiding in my stomach. <3

Thomas-- To this day, yes, she still does give me butterflies. Even though I’d like to think of myself as someone who normally doesn’t get flustered easily, Lauren sure does a damn good job at giving me that butterfly feeling. Considering all the times she’s managed to disarm me to the point of actually blushing in RL, and calling me cute afterwards which DOES NOT HELP, it does give me that enjoyable feeling that she can actually make that happen, that she could literally paint my face in the hue of her favorite color, which was a feat, for lack of a better word, that my other exes could not actually do as I secretly wanted them to. At least, when they did, it was only after a few months, but me and Lauren are close to a year now, and fuck it if she hadn’t rattled me and gave me butterflies more than anyone else. It’s always a nice warmth afterwards that can’t be replaced, and neither can this amazing woman. :)

Day 63: Do you play any games together? If so, which ones? If not, why?

Lauren-- There aren’t a lot of games we play online, but the very few we do involve Minecraft, Portal 2, Castle Crashers, and a little bit of Battleblock Theater. I only suggested those since they were cheap and they’d be games he would enjoy.

If it involved console or handheld games, it would definitely be Super Smash Bros. We’ve played that quite a lot within the past year, and goddamn is it fun. We’re on pretty equal skill levels with that game, but hey, it’s still fun. Most of the time he won’t stop playin’ until he beats me in a match. ;)

I do hope that some day he gets a Nintendo Wii U, that way we can play more amazing games. <3

Thomas-- Whatever we do play, it’s mainly on Steam. I’d offer my Steam name more often if I A) played more and B) played games that I’m sure everyone else plays, which usually seem to teeter on the FPS genre now these days, which sort of causes me to linger on other genres no one else would probably look at in a double glance. There are some FPS’ I DO play, but even then, it just feels like I play on occasion, which is a habit I REALLY want to rattle myself out of. I used to play a lot more games, and even if they weren’t what people play today, they were games nonetheless, and that till makes me a gamer no matter how you see it.  I really do need to get back on that. For the most part, game wise, me and her do play some co-op games together that we’d both enjoy. Some examples would be Castle Crashers, Portal 2 ( which we still do need to get to), among some others that I hope we can find and have fun with soon. Evidently, I do have some attention towards Minecraft, and TF2, which I may pick up soon, along with another game from Adult Swim (two actually) that seem fun too :D 

Day 64: Do you think your partner has a good sense of style? Would you change anything about how he/she dresses?

Lauren-- He has a pretty damn decent style, and I don’t see a lot of great styles from the guys I’ve known over the past few years. His is casual, yet relaxed. It’s not crazy, which is fine, but it still represents who he is. He’s chill, yet somewhere in the back of his mind, I’m damn sure he wants to break out some more wild styles because of how outgoing he is.

I don’t have any preference for his wardrobe, and that is only because I don’t wanna change who he is. He’s perfect the way he is now, and if he chooses to bring more to the table regarding style, hey, I’d love it no matter what. <3

Thomas-- Without a doubt, I think she knows her style, and definitely knows style. I unfortunately don’t have much to say regarding this challenge, since I myself feel like I don’t have a decent sense of style, but I do feel like she definitely does. I wouldn’t change anything about how she dresses, since she knows what to wear and when. Her wardrobe seems consistent as it is convenient. 

Although, I would suggest something, but I won’t, on the grounds it’ll make her blush and flail at me, and most likely be followed with something along the lines of “SO MUCH NOPE”  But in all seriousness, she’s got a bitchin’ wardrobe, and one that actually motivates me to get a more mature attire whenever I get the chance, along with a style that complements hers pretty well. <3 

[themadberries]

90 Day LDR Challenge Triple Deal- Days 59, 60, & 61

Day 59: What do you think are the biggest obstacles in your relationship?

Lauren-- The only obstacle other than money is the distance. Much like Thomas says, there isn’t much else that qualifies as an obstacle. I’m pretty sure that’s a factor of any LDR, but some people have an easier chance because of their distances possibly being closer. But hey, that’s just something all of us LDR peepz have to deal with.

Thomas-- The biggest obstacles in our relationship would most likely be the distance and acquiring the funds to close said distance. I don’t know what else would be an obstacle, since Lauren never seems to bring anything else up, and neither do I, but knowing how honest we are to each other, if anything does come up, we let the other know and are honest with it. So, yeah, it seems like this factors are the only big issues in our relationship.

Day 60: Where do you see your relationship in 5 years?

Lauren-- Honestly, I don’t look forward or behind anymore. What I can say is that within the next five years, I can see how much stronger we’ve become as mates, if not more. I tried to look to the future with my exes, but they were just drowned within not even a year because of their immature and ignorant nature.

For Thomas? I can definitely see something wonderful happening to the both of us, whether it be more money or just simply more time to spend with one another. Especially if we get our own home. That is a big dream of mine, to get a nice house somewhere in the mountains or out in the country, and I’m sure Thomas would enjoy that considering we both love the cold, hah.

But really, there is a lot of work to do, and if it comes down to it, I’ll willingly give up whatever free time I would have for art and going out with friends in order to make him happy. Not like I already do, but eh, ya never know. <3

Thomas-- In 5 years....I actually do see us finding a way to live with each other at last. I see us also being in much better financial standing than how we are now. I do foresee that there would be plenty of issues arising as well, whether it’s from family, or other people, but we’re able to get through it. I even see a possible bigger step in our lives, and a life that just seems a hell of a lot better. Maybe it’s because we stuck to not only who we are as mates, but also to our own goals and our own wants and achievements. Maybe it’s just me, and not wanting to see the future up ahead, but I feel like I can see this happening.

I never usually do seem to look into the future some years ahead, or never wanted to use to, because of how often I had with my exes only to be proven wrong and basically just not care about the future, but, actually, with Lauren, I do see more of a future for us. There’s a lot we have to go through, but it all seems to lead towards the same person, the one who’s been with me now close to a year. Can’t wait until next month, where it’ll be our anniversary. <3

Day 61: Describe your dream date!

Lauren-- There is literally so many things I want to do with him, date wise, but just having a day cuddling and watching movies, going out to eat somewhere, or just creating art all day. I don’t have much to say either, but hey, we each have our own unique views on this kinda stuff.

Granted, we may seem pretty cliche about it, but I don’t care. Any date with this guy is worth it. <3

Thomas--  Any date with her would definitely be a dream date. >>  We could be sitting in the same room, just watching t.v. or our laptops or just drawing together and I’d consider that a date. Sorry I don’t have much to say, but she’s my dream, and again, any date with her would be a dream date.  And that dream will come true no matter what it takes. <3