All this Valentine's Day talk is making me think I should give some love to these two hmmmnnn

Aed Amell, Grey Warden for my bestie @emedeme (amazing professional artist if you don't her already). We'll never forget our DAO babies, will we?

If you like it, please check out my commission prices, there's lots of art in my gallery as well. Cheers!

Monthly Roundup May 2023

We Breathe Together: Adhel Arop Tells of the Child Soldiers of South Sudan

"Adhel Arop explores her mother’s experiences as a child soldier in South Sudan and their lived experiences afterwards, including the intergenerational effects of trauma, in a new documentary series funded by an Explore and Create grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. Her series, Katiba Banat: Sisters in Arms, will also feature the stories of other former soldiers with whom her mother, Amel Madut, has maintained contact."

“I come from trauma. I understand that from my experience. I’m an artist, so I can express things that others might find hard to do. And I’m grateful that I can.”

“Creativity is all I am. Communicating, art, storytelling—it’s what I feel I can offer the world. It’s a vehicle for healing. Sometimes just speaking, feeling, acknowledging, giving time and attention—it really can change people.”

June is Ride for Heart

For the 3rd year my brother and I will be raising money in support of Heart & Stroke in memory of our Dad. Our goal is to complete 100 kilometers and raise $1000 by the end of June. You may sponsor us HERE

All donations made between now and June 30th will be matched 3x by a generous anonymous donor - tripling your impact! Thank you for your support ❤️/

June 1-7 each year is National CPR and AED Awareness Week, spotlighting how lives can be saved if more people know CPR and how to use an AED.

Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at any age, without warning. 35,000 cardiac arrests happen each year in Canada. Learn CPR and how to use an AED: https://bit.ly/45DT5Cy

All Canadian kids should know how to save a life!

"Training school children with CPR and AED use will create a generation of lifesavers in the community, who will grow into adults that are more likely to provide help in an emergency situation."

"By signing th[e] petition you are helping organizations like CARE (Cardiac Arrest Response and Education) and concerned citizens to convince provincial governments to mandate this lifesaving training in all schools across Canada."

Sign the petition HERE

For our kids Sentence & Dialogue Drabble Prompts: Dialogue 8. “Come here.”“Why?”“Just come here.”“No. You’re gonna hit me.” Have fun. :3

Decided to use the modern AU for this one and it sorta turned into our kids +Aed. Whoops. But it was exceedingly fun. :3

Usually her aim was better. She was actually a pretty good shot most of the time. However, laughing so hard she almost fell off the couch meant the throw pillow Trinne lobbed at Aed hit Harvey instead. It was a nice hit, the kind she would’ve been extremely proud of, if it had hit the intended target. As it was, Aed did fall off the couch laughing as Harvey yelped in surprise, his drink sloshing before he had a chance to set it down.

“OhmygodI’msorry!” It came out in a muffled rush, filtering through her fingers. She moved her hand to rake through her hair as she pointed at her cousin with the other. “I was tryin’ to hit him, I swear!”

“Likely story,” Aed cackled, still rolling on the floor laughing, despite the fact his tumble from the couch had barely missed the coffee table.

“Not helping, you jerk.” Trinne kicked at one of his feet, barely making contact.  “Seriously, Harv, I’m so sorry.”

“Trinne, it’s just water, it’s fine,” he said reassuringly, setting down the glass so he could shake off his arm.

“Still, I’ll go get a towel,” she said, boosting herself over the back of the couch and heading for the kitchen.

“Trinne, it’s fine,” Harvey repeated, smiling slightly. “Come here.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She didn’t trust that smile. “Why?”

He chuckled. “Just come here.”

Trinne’s gaze darted from his entirely innocent expression to the throw pillow laying way too close to him. “No. You’re gonna hit me.”

“And what, in all the time you’ve known me, makes you think I’d do something like that?” Harvey saw where her gaze had gone and kicked the pillow out of reach.

“Nothing about you,” Trinne conceded, moving in his direction. “Everything about growing up with three siblings, two of ‘em with a fondness for pranks and mischief that rivaled my own.”

“I find that hard to believe. You love mischief an awful lot,” Harvey said, perching on the arm of the chair.

“S’true, I do,” Trinne laughed, which quickly turned into a yelp as he pushed himself to his feet and pulled her into a hug in one fluid motion–a hug tight enough she could feel the water soaking his shirt also soak hers. “No, Harvey-!” she protested, trying to squirm free. But he had a better grip than she expected and was stronger than he looked(how did she keep forgetting that?), and she didn’t make any progress until he let go. “You… rat!”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Harvey said, kissing the top of her head.

“Oh, right, I forgot who I was talking to,” Trinne deadpanned, tugging grumpily at her wet t-shirt. “You do realize this means I’m gonna borrow one of yours, right?” She was halfway to Harvey’s bedroom even as she asked.

“Not like you’ve never done that before,” Aed chipped in from his spot on the floor, grinning innocently when she glared daggers at him.

Trinne didn’t give him the reward of an actual reply, just a dirty look as she vanished into Harvey’s room. She reappeared a minute later wearing a t-shirt with a faded blue and green high school logo across the chest.

“How’d I know you were going to pick that one?” Harvey said with a grin.

“Maybe ‘cause I never shut up about how comfortable it is?” Trinne snarked, holding up a dark green shirt. “Here, I grabbed you one, too, while I was in there.”

He caught it when she tossed it in his direction. “Thanks.”

“Oh, sure, now your aim’s good,” Aed teased, still sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch.

Trinne shot him a dirty look, marched over and scooped up the throw pillow that started this mess, and winged it at him again. This time she beaned him right in the face. “Yeah, I’d say it is.”

“Nice shot,” Harvey laughed, pulling on the dry shirt.

“Thanks, hon,” Trinne said brightly, kissing him on the cheek.

“I hate you both,” Aed muttered, but he was smiling as he hugged the pillow to his chest. “And now I keep this so you can’t get yourself in more trouble, Trinne Amell.”

“I am awfully fond of trouble,” Trinne acknowledged cheerfully, looping an arm around Harvey’s waist. “But right now I’m more in the mood for dinner, so I think you’re safe.”

ada aing! hehe.

selama ini selalu saat liburan, jd ndaperna bisa foto full team bagus kek gini.

kaget asli, waktu pilih mau beliin apa buat shafa aku yg rekomenin rasanya. etautau tetiba disuruh tiup lilin juga😅😅😅

makasi gengs,

minus Amel.

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

Continuing our insight into the cultural impact of yachting in the UAE, we're taking a look at the rise of the Dubai International Boat Show; setting its increasing popularity against a backdrop of the upcoming superyacht destination of Dubai.

The Boat Show For 25 years, the Dubai International Boat Show has acted as the primary platform for yachting and maritime luxury brands in the United Arab Emirates.

The show itself has outgrown locations and has expanded with the rising demand in the area, notable through other developments such as Dubai Harbour which will bring an extra 1400 berths to the UAE for superyacht owners to use.

Set to feature 450 boats (worth an estimated AED 1.5 billion) from February 28 to March 4, the Dubai International Boat Show at the Dubai International Marine Club - Mina Seyahi is in its 25th year and is set to welcome 87 new companies and brands to the docks.

The 19 superyachts out of the 450 boats on display include the 77-metre Silverfast, the 70-metre Joy and the 47-metre Majesty 155 with exhibitors such as Amels, Baglietto, Benetti, CRN, Feadship, Fincantieri, Heesen, Lürssen, Mondomarine and Oceanco returning in full force.

The Show is also set to highlight the changing marine industry landscape once again this year, with a world of superyachts, expanded beach entertainment area, robotic submersibles designed to explore underwater, sea-faring drones, supercars, luxury art and more.

“Dubai International Boat Show in its 25 years has grown in tandem with the Dubai leisure marine industry. With its coastline developments, warm weather and stunning environment, Dubai has become a world capital for the marine industry. Dubai International Boat show is and has always been an outstanding opportunity to highlight our achievements to the world,” said H.E. Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, and Senior Advisor to the Dubai International Boat Show.

“The government is investing heavily in expanding the Dubai waterfront, providing every opportunity for us to introduce many more residents and visitors to water sports and boating with facilities that highlight Dubai as a world leader in the maritime industry.”

A Region Dedicated to Development Featuring a 1,400 berth marina, the largest in the Middle East, the new Dubai Harbour project will integrate the current Dubai International Marine Club, Skydive Dubai and Logo Island sites into a single community.

“Dubai is firmly established as the focal point of the leisure marine industry in a region which has obvious attractions for boat manufacturers and the full range of marine and water sports products and services. The Dubai International Boat Show has, year on year, driven sales in the region and thus pushed marine developments in Dubai,” said Mohammed Hareb, CEO of Dubai International Marine Club and Member of the Board.

Dubai itself has been booming in terms of contribution to the maritime sector, which grew at an unprecedented rate of 25% between 2011 and 2015. Latest industry figures predict that Dubai will outperform London, New York, Tokyo, Copenhagen and Rio de Janeiro as one of the world’s leading maritime capitals by 2020.

“With recent infrastructure developments, Dubai is taking another momentous step toward further enhancing its status as one of the most innovative marine hubs in the world,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions and Events Management, DWTC.

“The Dubai International Boat Show serves as not only a key international platform for showcasing our latest creations, but also as an opportunity to represent the UAE as a global player in the leisure marine industry,” said Erwin Bamps, CEO of Gulf Craft. “The event has grown significantly in size and scale, reaching both a regional and an international audience.

“Dubai is also well positioned in terms of both geography and time -- a global business hub that is also home to a rich sea-faring heritage, and as the wider region witnesses rapid waterfront transformation, there will undoubtedly be a growing interest in the yachting and boating lifestyle.”

The Dubai Boat Show runs from February 28th - March 3rd.

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

The Dubai Boat Show: Growing Alongside the UAE

Alhamdulillah Terimakasih banyak Dokter Annisa Ullya Rasyida, M.Si. selaku dosen pembimbing yang sungguh sangat sabar menghadapi kami Dokter Wienta Diarsvitri, M.Sc., Ph.D., selaku ketua penguji dan selalu sabar ketika kami ganggu Dokter Sadya Wendra, , Sp.Kj., yang telah bersedia menjadi penguji dan membantu, memberi berbagai saran sampai saya menyelesaikan tulisan saya Terimakasih @ekasasmita638 , wkwkw, biarkan masa2 ini kita kenang bersama saja wkwkwk, mulai suka sampai duka, semoga sifat2 jelekku gak membuat kamu kapok jadi partner, sahabat, konco playon terbaik ku wkwkwk... Terimakasih juga pada teman teman 1. Tutor 3 semester 7 ini yang entah kenapa akhir2 ini mengisi hari hariku sampai skripsiku usai 2. PenguIn SKI FK UHT, yang entah kenapa kalian terlalu so sweet dan terlalu indah kalau cuma jadi kenangan belaka. Bapak kami @dennyarvi beserta abang @ibnurafsanjani , @shfmrsx_ @novanytiara @atinulkulsum @rizkawhy @mentariamendas @dianislamiatiutama @dhika.2496 @emhanip @nichassi_ @muntazawahida , dan pengurus ski lain @mtaufanwk16 @_dickyzulfa 3. Terimakasih juga temen temen A-TEAM AMSA yang sudah mendukung aing 😁 dibalik layar @avishazarine @ghaly_kh @ikhasavitri icha, leni, azola, cito, dani, eka, amel, dan lainnyya (ndak punya ignyaa maapin wkwk)

Untitled #780 by amelle featuring fake fur coats ❤ liked on Polyvore

M Co collared shirt, 58 AED / Fake fur coat / Mini skirt, 140 AED / HARRIET WILDE ivory wedding shoes / Dolce Gabbana leather purse, 6,740 AED / Guess jewelry, 92 AED

Ketika Bayu Gundah

“Aku ke rumah kamu.” “Hah? Sekarang banget?” “Sepuluh menit lagi nyampe.” Lalu sambungan telepon terputus sebelum aku sempat membuka mulut. Terduduk aku tercenung di ujung kasur, memandangi layar ponsel yang baru saja aku turunkan dari telinga kanan seolah- olah dia bisa menjelaskan nada bicara Bayu yang entah kenapa begitu dingin dan gusar barusan. Otakku seketika diajak melanglang. Tidak sampai sepuluh jam yang lalu jelas- jelas Bayu masih membalas chat-ku dengan candaan menyenangkan, juga stiker- stiker lucu yang baru dibelinya semalam. Sampai akhirnya dia menghilang entah kemana. Tanpa kabar. Waduh, salah aku apa ya? Kedatangan Bayu (yang kebetulan sepuluh menit kemudian) tidak menjawab sedikitpun pertanyaan ku. Mukanya kusut terlipat- lipat, seperti sedang menyimpan banyak masalah, dan tanpa banyak basa- basi dia berkata padaku melalui jendela kiri mobilnya, “Naik Ca”. “Hah? Ini ada apa sih?” “Naik aja.” Dengan kegelisahan melambung tinggi, aku menuruti permintaannya untuk duduk di jok depan. Dari situ aku bisa melihat rahang Bayu yang kentara mengeras, juga titik tajam, matanya yang terarah lurus- lurus ke jalanan. Aku hampir bilang, Bayu seperti sedang kerasukan. “Kamu mau kemana?” Tanyanya. “Aku—Aku terserah kamu aja”. Rasa- rasanya jawabanku malah membuat Bayu diam bergeming. Tapi sungguhan, aku tidak tahu harus menjawab apa. Aku mau kemana? Lah dia yang mengajakku memasuki mobilnya dan dia bertanya aku mau kemana? “Aku nggak tau harus kemana. Tapi aku butuh kamu buat nemenin aku”. Mataku berkedip bingung, masih ragu untuk menatap dirinya sama seperti Bayu yang juga belum sama sekali menatapku. “kamu udah makan?” Dia menggeleng, “Ngga pengen makan”. “Terus?” “Kamu mau makan?” “Aku—“ “Yaudah, McD aja kalo gitu”. Demikian, mobil pun berbelok di persimpangan. . . “Di luar aja, Bay”. “Hm?” “Duduknya. Di smoking area aja, “ Aku mengambil satu slop rokok yang tergolek di depan indikator dasboard, kemudian aku masukkan ke saku kemeja biru dongkernya. "Hari ini di depan aku nggak apa- apa”. Aku tidak sempat melihat reaksi Bayu setelah itu karena aku buru- buru pergi meninggalkan mobil menuju counter pemesanan. Waktu aku kembali dengan baki berisi makanan, Bayu sudah duduk membelakangi jendela. Satu kaki bertumpu pada lutut kaki lainnya, satu tangan memainkan ponsel, sedangkan di tangan satu lagi terselip satu batang rokok beserta asap yang mengepul. Oh tentu aku menahan diri untuk tidak protes, atau minimal untuk tidak kecewa karena aku sempat berharap Bayu tidak benar- benar berpikir aku mengizinkan dia. Bahkan ketika merokok bukan sama sekali hal baru tentang dirinya, sisi perempuan-banyak-aturan-ku masih selalu peduli akan hal itu. “Kamu beneran nggak makan?” “Nggak”. Jawabnya tanpa beralih dari layar ponsel barang satu sentimeter. “Ini ada kentang, ambil aja kalo mau”. Kali ini dia tidak menjawab. Mungkin baru tiga gigitan burger dengan dia hanya berinteraksi dengan rokok dan ponselnya, sampai akhirnya aku memberanikan diri menginterupsi. “Bayu”. Dia menengok. Aku akui, Bayu ada disana, yang sedang duduk tepat dihadapanku sekarang adalah Bayu yang tidak betul- betul aku kenal. “Aku tau kamu lagi nggak mood buat ngomong, tapi” aku mengambil jeda untuk mengaduk bongkahan es didalam softdrink, “but im always here to listen, you know”. Sesaat dia hanya memandangiku dengan cara paling tidak terbaca, lalu tiba-tiba membentuk sebuah senyum tipis dengan salah satu ujung bibirnya sambil menunduk dan menggeleng pelan. ”Aku nggak mau brengsek di depan kamu, Ca”. “Mending kamu brengsek cuma di depan aku daripada di depan orang- orang kali Bay”. “Ya mending di depan orang- orang lah. Lagian sama aja bajingannya”. “Ini... tentang apa sih sebenernya?” Tanyaku dengan hati- hati. “Project The Wings?” Masih dengan wajah menyimpan geram itu, Bayu melengos sejauh- jauhnya. Samar- samar aku mendengar dia menggerutu, “Emang masih ada itu project?” “Ini kenapa sih? Ada masalah sama pameran desain kalian lagi?” “Nggak ada yang namanya desain kalian. Yang ada pameran desain aku, pameran desiain Tama, pameran desain Imam, sama Obet. Jalan sendiri aja udah semuanya”. “Bay...” “Maksud aing kalo nggak bisa ngearrange tuh seenggaknya diem gitu loh, ga usah bacot. Kenapa sih, masalah sepele doang anjir? Buat apa semuanya pada kuliah tiap hari kalo out-putnya jelek begini”. Entah karena Bayu menyadari ketakutanku or that he feels like he has exposed too much, yang jelas sehabis itu Bayu menghisap kembali rokoknya dalam-dalam, lantas mengembuskan asap sampai aku kesulitan melihat api yang menyala- nyala di dalam matanya. Bungkam. Tidak lagi bicara dan tidak berusaha mengingat bahwa aku masih disini menemani dia. Aku pun berhenti memakan burgerku, berhenti mengaduk es batu di dalam gelas soft drink, juga berhenti untuk ingin tahu lebih dalam. Benar memang kalau aku bisa sedikit menangkap inti permasalahannya, hanya saja aku tidak merasa berhak untuk menelanjangi lebih lanjut. “Maaf...” Ujarnya singkat setelah hening yang cukup panjang. “Gapapa, aku ngerti”. Dengan berat aku menghembuskan napas tertahan, “Aku ngerti kamu capek, kamu marah, dan kalian juga lagi dalam keadaan yang nggak bisa disentuh. Dan aku minta maaf soalnya aku nggak bisa bantu apa- apa, tapi percaya deh, Bay. It will get better really soon”. Bayu masih tetap menunduk sembari menghisap dan menghembuskan rokoknya, seakan- akan perkataanku barusan hanyalah sekumpulan asap yang berlalu melalui batang hidungnya. Dibuang dan diabaikan. “Nih, aaaaaaaa”, ujarku, menyodorkan sebatang kentang goreng sampai akhirnya dia sedikit menengadah. Disitu aku masih tetap berusaha tersenyum untuknya. “Aku nggak bisa bantu kamu, tapi makanan bisa. Hehe”. Pada akhirnya Bayu mematikan rokok yang tinggal setengah, membiarkannya tergeletak di atas asbak, kemudian menerima suapanku. Aku lantas tersenyum lebar- lebar. Memandanginya seperti seorang ibu yang bangga setengah mati terhadap pencapaian anaknya. “Bayu” “Hm?” “Nanti kita pulangnya agak telat dikit gapapa kok.” Kedua alis Bayu menjungkit, sementara matanya terarah ke arahku meski cuma sekilas. Aku tahu dia hendak mempertanyakan tawaranku tapi juga tidak ingin aku melihat sisa- sisa kemarahannya. ”Kamu lagi bete. Kasian ibu kamu sama Amel ntar di rumah kalo liat kamu pulang- pulang mukanya kusut kaya gitu." Seperti tindakannya yang selalu jadi favoritku, kini giliran tanganku yang bergerak mengacak rambutnya dengan susah payah. Keberanianku memang terlanjur ciut untuk membuat dia kembali baik- baik saja dengan cara lain. Lagipula, aku rasa Bayu suka. Perlahan- lahan aku mendapati ketenangan kembali menjalari air mukanya, ditandai dengan gerakan tangan kanannya untuk mengusap bekas acakan aku sambil dia mengangguk- angguk patuh selayaknya bocah yang baru saja dibelikan kinderjoy. Bedanya dia tidak berkata apa- apa. Cuma diam dan mengangguk. “Im glad you spilled it all out hehe”. Of all times, the worst possible thing to happen has to happen on exactly the same day. . . Aku baru saja keluar lewat pintu depan dengan sebuah eskrim dingin di tangan kananku ketika saya dibuat tak kalah membeku oleh kehadiran seseorang dari arah berlawanan. Tempat duduk Bayu memang hanya beberapa meter dari posisi aku berdiri, tapi sepertinya sudah terlambat bagiku untuk melarikan diri ke sana. Laki-laki itu terlanjur menangkap mataku. “Eh, Nis!” “Hai.. Aldi” Aldi tersenyum lebar, memperlihatkan gigi- gigi besarnya yang selalu jadi bahan bercandaan kami dahulu sewaktu sekolah dulu. “Apa kabar kamu, wah parah malah makin suka hedon ya sekarang." “Heh ngaca dulu kali, Di baru ngatain orang” Balasku, berusaha susah payah agar tidak terlihat kikuk. “Kamu gimana? Masih nangisin gitar kamu yang patah itu? Hahahaha” “Parahlah, aku udah moveon nih masih dibahas lagi aja.” Dia tertawa setelah itu. Tawanya bikin aku was-was takut Bayu mendengar—dan benar saja, waktu aku melirik sekilas melewati bahu laki- laki di depanku, mata Bayu sedang terarah ke arah kami. Suara Aldi kembali menarik perhatianku setelah itu. “Eh kamu ngeliat si Rangga gak di dalem?” “Oh, sama Rangga? Ngga sih, aku belum liat dia. Mau ngapain kalian?” “Mau nobar di rumahnya si Haris. Tapi makan dulu. Mau ikut?” “Ooh reunian anak Blok B nih ceritanya? Ngga ah Di, udah malem juga hehe” “Hahaha ngga reuni juga sih, Cuma kita- kita doang. Eh kamu sama siapa disini?” Aku berpikir sejenak. Aku juga tidak tahu kenapa aku berpikir. Mengapa tidak mau mengasosiasikan diriku dengan Bayu. Meski pada akhirnya akupun berterus terang, sambil daguku bergerak menunjuk ke belakangnya, “Sama Bayu, pacar aku hehe.” Hening sejenak. “Ooooooh...” Aku bisa merasakan keganjilan dalam nada bicara Aldi. Mungkin jika bercermin, aku juga bisa melihat bola mataku. Tapi kami tetap tersenyum- senyum saja, tetap menganggap semuanya hal biasa. “Ya udah aku masuk dulu ya, Nis” “Okaaaaaay, Di. Daaaah” Waktu aku berjalan kembali, cara pandang Bayu bagaikan sedang menginterogasi habis- habisan. Tidak tajam dan tidak mengandung amarah seperti beberapa jam yang lalu, tapi aku bersumpah, tajamnya membuatku ingin pergi meninggalkan dia detik itu juga. “Ih kenapa ngeliatin akunya gitu banget sih, Bay” Sudut bibirnya terangkat usil. “Ga mau ikutan? Reuni anak komplek?” “Apaan sih ngga lah” “Kemaren ada yang bilang lagi pengen ketemu temen kecil gitu deh.” “Ngga.” “Sana, ikut. Mumpung ada tuh temen- temennya.” “Bay, aku ga suka ya digituin.” “Dia udah move on tuh katanya.” “Ga mau ngecek move-onnya gagal apa ngga?” “Bayu ih nyebelin.” “Kali aja sekalian mau nanya kabar- kabar trus—“ “Aku pulang pake angkot aja.” Aku berdiri dengan kesal, meninggalkan eskrimku yang bahkan belum aku makan di aras meja untuk melangkah pergi. Beberapa saat kemudian, aku berhenti dan menengok ke belakang. Bayu masih enggan berkutik. Sekarang malah menopang dagunya sambil memperlihatkan senyum rese yang beneran bikin aku kesal. “Mau pulang ngga sih?” tanyaku ketus. “Mau.” Akhirnya dia berdiri. Tapi yang membuatku semakin jengkel, bukannya berjalan ke arahku, Bayu malah berbalik dan melangkah masuk ke dalam. Sengaja pergi menuju parkiran lewat pintu yang lainnya. “IHHHHHHHH” dengusku geram. Langkah- langkah geregetanku tetap membawaku ke mobil Bayu, dimana dia sudah menanti sambil bersandar di kap depan. Kejailannya masih tergantung segamblang- gamblangnya di wajah itu, membuatku berpikir, apa sih yang membuat dia senang sekali bikin aku kesal? “Kunci mobil di kamu?” “Hah ngga. Di saku celana ngga ada? Ketinggalan di dalem kali ya? Aku ambil du—“ ucapku panik. Dia lalu mencubit kecil pangkal hidungku, sambil wajhnya yang dikerutkan lucu bergerak mendekat sekilas—seolah- olah sedang berusaha mengambil hati seorang bayi kecil menggemaskan. (Brengseknya, dengan berkelakuan jauh lebih menggemaskan lagi). Seketika itulah aku nobatkan Bayu Aditya Mahardika sebagai sarjana sosiologi spesialis meluluhkan pertahananku menjadi puing- puing ringkih. Penyerahan gelar dilakukan dengan cara (1) menghapus garis- garis dongkol dari mukaku, (2) mulai tersenyum perlahan- lahan, dan (3) mencubit lengannya gemas sampai dia meringis minta ampun. Sebuah halaman parkir penuh genangan air hujan memang bukan tempat paling romantis sedunia, tapi Bayu selalu punya keahlian yang bisa membuatku fall in love dimana saja. Hehe. “Maaf ya, tadi bercanda doang kok.” Tangannya terulur mengelus pucuk kepalaku. “Betenya juga bercanda?” “Itu mah—“ “Marah- marahnya juga? Ngerokoknya juga? Ninggalin akunya juga?” Sebelum Bayu sempat menjawab (ralat, sebelum banyak orang yang lihat), cepat- cepat aku memutar badannya dan mendorong- dorong Bayu agar segera masuk ke jok kemudi, tidak memberi kesempatan dia untuk berkata apapun selain tertawa geli. Percakapan selanjutnya di dalam mobil, ketika kami berhadapan dengan kemacetan di malam Minggu juga ketika dua penyiar radio berbicara diantaranya, kira- kira begini. “Bete kamu bikin aku ga bisa kenyang makan burger tau ga hhhh.” “Iya maaf, maaf ya ca. Aku juga ga ada kenyang- kenyangnya makan asep”. “oke fix, ronde kedua." “Trisno?” “Berangkaaaaaaaaaaaaat.” “Eh btw, eskrim kamu tadi mana ya?” ***

Dharmawanita

Hai genks. Hari ini jatah kalian. Kalau tahun lalu aing nyuratin satu-satu orang, sekarang digabung yes. Soalnya cuma 7 hari nih program. Rausah protes, kalian kan tau cinta aing banyak. Buahahaha. *digampar*

Genk kita udah berapa tahun yah berdirinya? Sebagai founder yang ngaku-ngaku, aing tetap ngerasa, ini genk pertemanan yang paling awet. Kita ndak tau apa syarat dan ketentuan menjadi anggota genk, yang penting kita saling peduli satu sama lain. Ndak peduli WAC kita kadang sepi kadang rame, ndak peduli group chat kita udah ganti 3 aplikasi (Line -> Telegram -> Wassap), ndak peduli arisan kita cuma 1x putaran, ndak peduli kalau ketemu itu ndak pernah lengkap bahkan bisa ndak ketemu berbulan-bulan. Tapi yah, walau kita berjauh-jauhan, tetap saja ada moment dimana kita saling membutuhkan dan kemudian terciptalah “meet up dadakan”. Bisa di mall, kosan salah satu member, di kondangan atau acara lain.

Genks, kalian ngasih pelajaran, ndak harus bikin seragam untuk dibilang kompak, ndak harus kumpul lengkap untuk dibilang masih mau gabung, ndak harus. Bertahun kita temenan, ndak ada tuntutan seperti itu, yang ada saling memaklumi, saling sayang dan saling paham.

Hitungan tahun aing mengenal kalian, sosok-sosok tulus, saat yang lain butuh sandaran, semua siap memberikan peran. Nasehat, kedatangan, telinga yang siap mendengar tak lupa komentar yang membahagiakan. Seketika agak ringan beban hidup.

Mell, Dydyl, Mba Ti, Unyil, Neng Farah. Terima kasih sudah datang kehidup aing. Pengen nangis tapi sebagai founder aing kudu kuat nahan air mata. *sebab lagi pake maskara yang ndak waterproof*

Mell : Eceuuu, semoga bahagia dengan pilihan masa depan lu, keputusan memilih laki-laki yang akan jadi imam dan keputusan untuk menambahkan atribut kesantunan dalam segi berpakaian. Aing dukung selama menurut lu itu hal yang baik. Jangan takut untuk berubah. Lumayan lah, siapa tau nanti aing kecipratan hidayah. Oh iya, aing sekarang udah makin setia lho jadi orang. Sumpah ceu. Percaya deh.

Dydyl : pertama, aing mau copasin pesan aing ke Amel. Kedua, lu jauh lebih kuat dari apa yang lu pikirin. Ndak perlu aing sebutin satu-satukan? Lu makin kuat saat hidup menempa lu lebih keras, aing saja mungkin tak mampu ngejalaninnya. Terima kasih juga telah memberikan nasehat kepada aing tentang “membahagiakan orang terdekat kadang harus menurunkan ego akan hasrat ingin menang sendiri”. Pengen peluk tapi kumaha atuh, kita ndak muhrim.

Mba Ti : seperti biasa, aing salut sama kerja kerasmu menjadi ibu yang baik buat dek Hiro, melepaskan karir dan memilih fokus di rumah tapi ndak sekedar ngarepin duitnya suami tok. Sukses terus bisnisnya. Again, Hiro ndak salah milih terlahir dari rahimmu. Trus gini ya mba, aing kan kemarin itu datengnya kan sama si itu ke acara nakanak BTS, dia laporan, dia cuma kasih senyum saat situ nanya “kenal Arul dari mana?” 😡 Dasar bukibuk, ditinggal sebentar udah main interograsi ajah. Mbok ya diceritain baik-baiknya Arul dulu tho mba. Kasih kesan kalau adekmu ini adek yang sayang kalau disia-siain karena yang sayang sama dia udah ngantri dan hampir habis kuota.

Unyil : gimana rasanya jadi ibu? Kabar-kabarnya baby Alle udah bisa “fake cry” yah? Pas digendong anteng, pas ditaroh nangis. Fix ntar si Alle jago ini mah jadi tukang seppik. Ha, ha, haaaaa. Dapet keahlian siapa dia itu? Aing mungkin orang paling seneng kalau elu menderita. Jahat yes, tapi gini, I love you in the hard way. Paham kan? Kan situ Gemini, Gemini katanya butuh tantangan dalam dicintai. Yaudah aing sanggupi. Btw udah difolbek junjungan belom? Aing sih udah *kibas poni*.

Neng Farah : aiiiiih, si eneng yang lagi hamil anak pertama. Aing bentar lagi punya cucu. Teganya elu neng bikin aing makin tua. Tapi ndak ada yang lebih tega sih waktu elu ngadain nikahan di daerah Turunan Bitung yang kesananya aing berasa naik mesin waktu. Jauuuuuh banget. Tolong ya neng, cukup sekali aja nikahnya. Ndak usah ada pernikahan kedua atau ketiga atau keempat atau amit-amit sampai kelima. Udah cocoklah sama pak qmunk, laki mana yang bisa diajakin smack down, laki mana yang bisa diajakin maen pe es seharian, laki mana yang posisi tidurnya yang elu sendiri kaget itu posisi namanya apa. Mungkin pak qmunk itu titisan IP Man.

Misek-misek euy pas baca ulang. Aing kok keren gini nulisnya. Eh eh eeeeh aing mau cerita sesuatu, lanjutnya di group aja kali yah … … …

Love dan ciyumin tu atuk.

let me tell you about the Warden

the Warden is an 🔥 ａｓｓｈｏｌｅ 🔥

Chapter 8 is up! It is also un-beta read, but at least the story is advancing, right? Enjoy :)

I imagine it usually starts as a two-people date, and then quickly evolves into this. They are one Queen away from ruining the couch.

Harv likes stupid slashers that turn your brain off. His turn to choose the movie I guess? 

Aed Amell belongs to inquisitortrevelyass 

Lyna Mahariel belongs to elved

Worth It

Merry Christmas, Alex! :D Partially inspired by this from Christmas a couple years ago, partially by the ugly-Christmas-sweaters-everywhere thing. They took forever to give me an ending, hence the silence about its existence. I wanted to be sure it wasn’t going to stay a WIP. xD

“C’mon, Harvey, we’re leavin’ in, like, ten minutes for my house; you need to get ready.” Trinne leaned over the back of the couch to kiss him on the cheek and playfully reach for his book.

Harvey absently leaned into the kiss but moved the book out of her reach. “I am ready.”

“Um, no, sweetheart.” She smiled almost apologetically as she dropped a pile of (mostly) green and brown wool next to him. “You hafta wear the sweater Mom sent you.”

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow(Trinne wasn’t sure if it was skepticism or reluctance. Maybe both. She couldn’t blame him). “Really? I have to?”

“Why the hell do you think I’m wearin’ mine?” Trinne retorted, tugging at the scratchy blue wool

Harvey shrugged and closed his book. “I figured you were being nice and trying not to hurt your mom’s feelings. You’re like that with your family.”

“Pfft, no,” Trinne snorted. “I’m not that nice, even with them. It’s Amell family tradition, trademarked when I was about.... five.”

“It’s not really cold enough for sweaters,” Harvey pointed out. “Everyone will melt.”

Trinne shook her head, grinning with extra (fake) sweetness. “Not if Dad turns down the heat. And you and I are serious enough, Mom considers you part of the family, so that argument’s no good either.”

“...Can we say Queen chewed on it?”

Another shake of her head. “You don’t wanna do that, trust me.” She climbed over the back of the couch to sit with him. “Two things will happen: she’ll bug Aed for a week minimum about has he taken his dog to the vet, is she okay, eating yarn is bad for dags, yada yada. And she’ll pull out the back-up sweaters for you to pick from.” Trinne made a face and raked her fingers through her hair. “This is a big deal for her and Dad.”

“Obviously, if there’s a box of back-up sweaters,” Harvey muttered, probably wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into dating her.

“I mean, these sweaters are, like, twenty or thirty years old,” she explained, raising her hands in a gesture halfway to a shrug. “From when Mom and Dad were our age, so they smell like mothballs and are legitimately ugly. They’re awful. So we wear the newer cheesy-bad ones Mom gives us cuz the alternative is scare-off-your-date levels of ugly.”

“Okay, there’s a story these. Just not sure it’s one I want to hear.” He eyed the green and brown sweater and set his book down on the coffee table.

Trinne laughed, moving the sweater to Harvey’s lap so she could scoot closer. “Long story short, when Jowan was... seventeen or eighteen--I forget which exactly, but not long after he officially became part of the family--he tried to convince Mom the washer or dryer had mangled his sweater cuz his new girlfriend was comin’ and he didn’t want to wear it in front her. And I’m talkin’ new girlfriend; they’d only been goin’ out a month, tops. Her family was really “proper” and kinda classy and upper-crust-ish an’ I’m still not sure how Jowan got her to go out with him-”

“Trinne, this isn’t short,” Harvey interrupted, half-smiling as he nudged her shoulder with his.

“Right, right, sorry. So he tries to get out of wearin’ it by saying it got ruined, Mom goes ‘It’s okay sweetie’ and gave him one of the backup sweaters to wear. Didn’t let him pick, mind you, just handed him this monstrosity that looked like a Christmas tree ate a reindeer and threw up all over the damn sweater-”

“Descriptive,” Harvey said dryly, running his thumb over one of the santa hats that decorated his sweater.

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure he had a few seconds where he almost wished we hadn’t adopted him. But only almost, b’cause, I mean, he got me for a sister, so that’s worth it, right?” Trinne joked. “Anyway, he and this girl were broken up before New Year’s. Not sayin’ it’s just because of the sweater, but I’m pretty sure that was a contributing factor. Course if she scared off that easily, she wouldn’t have fit in anyway...”

“Mm.” Harvey shot her a look. “Sounds like your parents use this to gauge the people you or your siblings date.”

“If it is, you’re afe,” she promised, poking his side teasingly. “Mom loves you. And, I mean, one good thing about this is she says it counts as her Christmas present, so we don’t mind doing this to make her happy. An’ that girlfriend is the only significant other who got scared off. We just don’t let Jowan live it down, ‘cause where’s the fun in that?”

Harvey shook his head with a small laugh. “You’re terrible, you know that?”

“Yep. It’s part of my charm,” she grinning, extra cheesy on purpose. “And if you really don’t wanna wear your sweater, I can turn said charm on my parents, try an’ talk ‘em out of making you wear one. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable...” She rested one hand on his shoulder and absently ran her fingers through his hair. “Or we can not go and I’ll apologize later.”

“No, that’s okay,” he assured her. “If it’s important to you, I think I can manage to wear a somewhat ugly sweater for a few hours. Besides, what’re you going to tell them for why we can’t come? It’s not like I have family parties to worry about.”

She nodded concession of that point. “Are you sure? I really will try and talk my folks down if you want me to. It’s not that big a deal.”

“Yes, it is,” Harvey contradicted, smiling fondly as he pushed to his feet, taking the sweater with him. “You gesture a lot and get all... rabbit trail-y when you’re talking about something that’s important to you. You’ve done both over the course of this conversation, so I will wear the sweater. It’s okay.” He picked up the offending garment and headed for his room.

“You could just change out here, y’know,” Trinne called after him, grinning as she slouched down on the couch and put her feet on the coffee table. “Nothin’ I haven’t seen before.”

“Clothes stay in the bedroom,” he returned, voice briefly muffled as he pulled on the sweater. “Or Aed’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t sound like him...”

“Because I always give him grief about how often he leaves his clothes everywhere,” Harvey clarified as he emerged from his room, dark green button-down exchanged for the sweater.

“Ah. That makes a little more sense,” Trinne laughed.

“It doesn’t have to be spotless or anything,” he said, offering her his hand.  “Just... the couch is for people, and occasionally large slobbery dogs. Not dirty laundry.”

She giggled as she accepted the help up. “That’s fair. And that sweater doesn’t look that bad on you, by the way.”

Harvey wrinkled his nose. “You’re just saying that-”

“Because it’s true,” she cut him off. “And cuz I know you’re wearing it for me.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“We can count this as my Christmas present, too, if you want.”

“No, I already got you something. This is just one of those boyfriend things.”

“That you do with far less complaining than some, if any at all, because you’re a wonderful person,” Trinne finished for him, sliding her hand in his and trying very hard not to think about the last (only other) boyfriend she’d dated long enough to take to the family get-together. She mostly succeeded. “And I appreciate it so much, seriously. But we need to get going or we’re going to be late. Which is almost as bad as not wearing your sweater.”

“How many rules are there to this gathering, dare I ask?” Harvey said as he opened the door.

“Not so much rules as traditions,” she replied with an almost sheepish shrug.  “Like, there’s no real punishment beyond copious teasing. And those are the only two big ones, but Isla’s probably gonna throw mistletoe at me at some point--cuz that’s more fun than tricking us into standing under it--and various other things that... well, let’s just say if you wind up wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into with me, I won’t blame you.”

“Trinne, I’ve already done that at least once a month since we started dating,” he laughed on their way down the hall. “The answer’s pretty much always the same; nothing that isn’t worth it.”

Trinne felt her face heat. “Cousland, if you don’t stop being so damn sweet, we aren’t going to make it to my house. Even if it means I’m the one who gets razzed now instead of Jowan.” She grabbed the front of his sweater and tugged him down into a kiss. One that only ended because they sort of veered into a wall. “Oops..”

“Is this going to turn into one of our holiday traditions?” Harvey mumbled, only half joking, free hand still braced against the wall.

“What making out on the way to the car?” Trinne whispered, grinning mischievously as she released her grip on his sweater to rub the back of her head. “Shit, Harv, I’ll do that year round and you know it.”

“True,” he conceded with a small smile, pushing off the wall and tugging her with him. “I was thinking more along the line of us being late to this party because you can’t keep your hands to yourself,” he teased.

“Oh, that.” She paused to consider a moment. “Yeah, probably. ‘Specially if you’re this sweet about it every year.”

“Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, holding the door for her.

“So you can do it more or less?” Trinne needled with a laugh, unlocking’ the car.

Harvey smiled as they climbed in. “You’ll just have to wait until next year to find out, won’t you?”

“Jerk,” Trinne huffed and glared at him, but that just made him smile wider. “It’s a good thing you’re cute, you know that?”

He laughed. “That much of a handful, am I?”

“Don’t worry,” she smiled, leaning over to give him a peck on the cheek as she started the car. “You’re worth it.”

-----------------------------------------------------

Ugh, I’m so rusty on these two I’m a little irritated at myself. :P Hence the modern AU; they’re a little easier there than in canon. And oh the irony of Trinne implying Harv’s the handful in this relationship. You’re lucky he loves you, you dork.

(for newer followers, bc GOD it’s been that long since I wrote them, Trinne Amell is mine, Harvey Cousland belongs to @errantgoat)

Feline Fashion by amelle featuring a 14k ring ❤ liked on Polyvore

Shirt sweater, 54 AED / Cacharel beige coat, 1,800 AED / Levi's skinny jeans, 570 AED / Steampunk shoes, 365 AED / Karl Lagerfeld multi colored purse, 750 AED / Allurez 14k ring, 2,895 AED / Clear round glasses, 51 AED / Maybelline lipstick, 28 AED / Smudge proof eye liner / Lip treatment, 30 AED