#*with the resources / sources at her disposal

[thegreatwicked]

This obviously needed its own post and here it is, a collection of blog posts and resources I have found and used for my own writing, I hope they help you too! Go forth and write that spice!

The Smut Writers Dictionary By @maybeeatspaghetti Seriously, how many different way are there to write cock? Does anyone else wonder if they've used the word 'lips' too many times? Well, this is a good place to start!

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Smut This is the first one I found and I go back to it frequently! There's also some great information about specific areas of sex that may not be common knowledge for first time writers!

How to Write Smut By @urfriendlywriter Another great source of information from different verbiage to use and a few tips to hel you along (giggity)

Smut Thesaurus By @prurientpuddlejumper just what it sounds like and you can never have too many words at your disposal.

6 Steps to Writing Better Sex By @chaoschaoswriting If you're at a loss or just want some more help this is antoher fantastic blog!

Writing Prompts NSFW By @seidenbros Need some dialogue? Or a story idea? Have a look!

#100 NSFW/Smut Dialogue Prompts By @a-cure-for-writers-block More? More. This is also a fantastic writing blog with lots to offer!

Intimate + Sexual Headcannon Questions By @petalsprompts Good questions to ask your characters to get to know them better and make more well rounded characters!

Smut & Mature (18+) Master List By @pendarling A great list dialogue prompts, scenarios, and helpful bits!

Poly NSFW Alphabet By @smaoineamhsalach Another great way to get to know your characters and maybe a handful of ideas for story ideas.

Kink Prompts Another from the previous blogger above and I didn't know what half of these are! I'll work on a kink dictionary next!

Writing Smut 101: Overcoming Smut Shame @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 There's a lot to be said for this particular subject! It's hard to write stuff like this, so how do you get over it? Start here!

How to Write a Kiss Scene By @youneedsomeprompts Yes!!! I still struggle with this one! There's a thousand ways to kiss, find your favorite!

Smut Oneliners By @deity-prompts you can never have enough one-liners!!

How to Write a (Great) Sex Scene Another great article for new smut writers

9 Tips for Writing Steamy Scenes More tips to help you wirte good steamy stuff!

How to Write Erotica and a Damn Fine Sex Scene A WEALTH if information on writing, structuring, and helpful tips!

@saradikahas a fantatic blog with graphics for you to use to add some fun to your posts. Things like MDNI Banners, 18+ Content Warnings, Support Your Favorite Writers and Reblog banners! They are free to use but she does ask that you reblog her stuff if you do! She's also a very talented writer and she writes some AMAZING Din Djarin stories!

Gay Sex Positions Guide This is a WONDERFUL adition and thank you so much @b7bubby for bringing this to my attention, I didn't have any resources for writing M/M fairings but this is a much needed addition to the spicy community! i've never written an M/M pairing and I feel like such an idiot for overlooking the need for a resource like this!

Writing the Perfect Kiss Scene provided by @writers-potiona fantastic little guide to writing better kisses!

If you find any other great smut writing resources feel free to tag me so I can add them to this list! Good luck with your writing! Now go write that story and LET THE SPICE FLOW!!!!

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - June 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $Kaybarr1735! And if you tip me and give me a way to contact you, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week!

1. Rare foal born on estate for first time in 100 years

“The Food Museum at Abbot's Hall in Stowmarket, Suffolk, is home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses - a breed considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A female foal was born on Saturday and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924. [...] Juno is just one of 12 fillies born so far this year in the country and she could potentially help produce more of the breed in the future.”

2. The cement that could turn your house into a giant battery

“[Scientists] at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a way of creating an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor from three basic, cheap materials – water, cement and a soot-like substance called carbon black. [... Supercapacitators] can charge much more quickly than a lithium ion battery and don't suffer from the same levels of degradation in performance. [... Future applications of this concrete might include] roads that store solar energy and then release it to recharge electric cars wirelessly as they drive along a road [... and] energy-storing foundations of houses.”

3. New road lights, fewer dead insects—insect-friendly lighting successfully tested

“Tailored and shielded road lights make the light source almost invisible outside the illuminated area and significantly reduces the lethal attraction for flying insects in different environments. [...] The new LED luminaires deliver more focused light, reduce spill light, and are shielded above and to the side to minimize light pollution. [... In contrast,] dimming the conventional lights by a factor of 5 had no significant effect on insect attraction.”

4. When LGBTQ health is at stake, patient navigators are ready to help

“[S]ome health care systems have begun to offer guides, or navigators, to get people the help they need. [... W]hether they're just looking for a new doctor or taking the first step toward getting gender-affirming care, "a lot of our patients really benefit from having someone like me who is there to make sure that they are getting connected with a person who is immediately going to provide a safe environment for them." [... A navigator] also connects people with LGBTQ community organizations, social groups and peer support groups.”

5. Tech company to help tackle invasive plant species

“Himalayan balsam has very sugary nectar which tempts bees and other pollinators away from native plants, thereby preventing them from producing seed. It outcompetes native plant species for resources such as sunlight, space and nutrients. [...] The volunteer scheme is open to all GWT WilderGlos users who have a smartphone and can download the Crowdorsa app, where they can then earn up to 25p per square meter of Balsam removed.”

6. [Fish & Wildlife] Service Provides Over $14 Million to Benefit Local Communities, Clean Waterways and Recreational Boaters

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing more than $14 million in Clean Vessel Act grants to improve water quality and increase opportunities for fishing, shellfish harvests and safe swimming in the nation’s waterways. By helping recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage, this year’s grants will improve conditions for local communities, wildlife and recreational boaters in 18 states and Guam.”

7. Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever

“Camera traps in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo have captured a Bornean clouded leopard mother and her two cubs wandering through a forest. It's the first time a family of these endangered leopards has been caught on camera in the wild, according [to] staff from the Orangutan Foundation who placed camera traps throughout the forest to learn more about the elusive species.”

8. Toy library helps parents save money 'and the planet'

“Started in 2015 by Annie Berry, South Bristol's toy library aims to reduce waste and allow more children access to more - and sometimes expensive - toys. [...] Ms Berry partnered with the St Philips recycling centre on a pilot project to rescue items back from landfill, bringing more toys into the library. [...] [P]eople use it to support the environment, take out toys that they might not have the space for at home or be able to afford, and allow children to pick non-gender specific toys.”

9. Chicago Receives $3M Grant to Inventory Its Trees and Create Plan to Manage City’s Urban Forest

“The Chicago Park District received a $1.48 million grant [“made available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act”] to complete a 100% inventory of its estimated 250,000 trees, develop an urban forestry management plan and plant 200 trees in disadvantaged areas with the highest need. As with the city, development of the management plan is expected to involve significant community input.”

10. Strong Public Support for Indigenous Co-Stewardship Plan for Bears Ears National Monument

“[The NFW has a] plan to collaboratively steward Bears Ears National Monument to safeguard wildlife, protect cultural resources, and better manage outdoor recreation. The plan was the result of a two-year collaboration among the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and upholds Tribal sovereignty, incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and responsibly manages the monument for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation while ensuring the continued health of the ecosystem.”

June 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[cinnabunwanda]

We shouldn't be doing this ･ ｡ﾟNatasha Ramnoff

content warning — Smut, Shower Sex, Degration Kink, Mommy Kink, Angst

pairing — Fem Reader X Natasha Romanoff

summary — Steve, an avenger, faces tension with his girlfriend Natasha at a shindig. Wanda suggests they make a great couple, but the protagonist refuses. Natasha admires their friendship, asks to fuck him, and makes him feel vulnerable.

word count — 6.0k

Life as an avenger was a constant rollercoaster of danger and responsibility. One day, we could be on the hunt for an Alien threatening to destroy the world, and the next we could be in a high-level meeting discussing how to utilize our powers and resources for the good of humanity.

But even superheroes needed a break, and when we did get some time off, the team liked to spend it together. Tonight was one of those rare occasions.

"What's on the agenda tonight?" I asked Tony, always the mastermind behind our group outings.

"Well, my dear comrades, I have decided to throw a little shindig for us. Drinks, dancing, games...the whole nine yards," he grinned mischievously at all of us.

"The crew? Are you twelve years old?" Bucky teased him.

"Hey now, don't be boosting his ego too much. He's ancient," Sam chimed in with a sly smile.

"Says the man born in the 20s," Tony retorted playfully.

"Well, if Nat's going then count me in," I declared, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Actually, Nat won't be joining us tonight. We have a date," Steve announced proudly, looking at his girlfriend with adoration in his eyes.

Natasha looked back at him with confusion written all over her face. Clearly, she had no idea about this so-called date Steve had planned.

Tony shot me a look that said "uh-oh, trouble." I couldn't help but stifle a laugh at his expression, but when everyone turned to look at me, I quickly diverted my attention to my water bottle.

"Nat is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions," I spoke up honestly after disposing of my empty bottle.

I was sick and tired of Steve treating Natasha like he owned her. She was my best friend and under no one's spell. I couldn't understand what she saw in him, especially since they were always bickering, but I admired her for standing up to him. His mind was still stuck in the 20s.

"Stay out of my relationship," Steve snapped at me, his tone harsh and accusatory.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Natasha slammed her hands on the table, her voice filled with frustration.

"What did you just say?" Steve's anger was evident in his eyes.

"You heard me. Don't. Talk. To. Her. Like. That," Natasha spat back at him.

And so it began, another argument between the two of them. Tony, Bucky, and Sam quickly made their escape, and I attempted to do the same, but Natasha called out my name, causing me to pause and turn back towards them.

"Why do you always drag her into our problems? Leave her out of this," Steve shouted at Natasha.

"I'll involve whoever I want to. You don't own me, Steve. I'm sick of this bullshit," Natasha shot back fiercely.

I wanted nothing more than to leave and take a nice hot shower to escape the tension in the room. I speed-walked down the hallway but bumped into Wanda along the way. She smiled sympathetically at me before glancing down the hallway where we could still hear Nat and Steve going at it.

"They're fighting again? What happened now?" Wanda asked in disbelief.

"I know, can you believe it's already the fourth time today? Tony was planning a team get-together and Nat said she would go, but then Steve said she couldn't, and well...you can hear how that turned out," I explained, nodding my head towards the source of the commotion down the hall.

Wanda sighed and shook her head in exasperation before turning back to face me.

"You and Nat would make a great couple, you know," she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Excuse me? Me and Nat? No way. She's Nat, and besides, she's my best friend," I laughed off the suggestion.

"Y/n, your thoughts are too loud to hide from me. Just something to think about," Wanda said with a knowing smile before walking away.

As I continued on my way to the shower, I couldn't help but wonder if Wanda was right. Maybe there was more to my feelings for Natasha than just friendship. But for now, all I wanted was a peaceful evening without any drama or arguments.

As I walked away from her, a thin smile graced my lips in response to her comment about my secrets. With each step, the sound of my feet hitting the ground echoed through the hallway. Suddenly, I heard her voice ring out behind me.

"I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYONE, DON'T WORRY!" she shouted after me.

Ignoring her, I sent her a defiant middle finger and continued on my way to my room. Once inside, I quickly gathered all of my shower essentials and headed into the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes and tossing them carelessly into a corner, I was interrupted by the sudden intrusion of someone barging into my room.

"Ugh, this better be important. I'm about to take a shower," I called out irritably.

To my surprise, it was Natasha standing in front of me with a weight seemingly lifted off her shoulders. Concerned, I wrapped a towel around my body and stepped out into my room to face her.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked gently.

Without hesitation, she scanned me up and down with clear admiration in her eyes. Our friendship had always been like this - playful flirtation and pretending to be each other's girlfriends to ward off unwanted advances from guys.

"Eyes up here, Romanoff," I warned as her gaze lingered on my chest.

"Kiss me," she stated bluntly.

I hesitated for a moment, knowing that she had a boyfriend and not wanting to complicate things between us.

"Nat...as much as I would love for you to...you know...fuck me...you have a boyfriend and I don't want to-"

"Y/n, listen. Steve and I aren't together anymore. So please just let me fuck you until you can't walk," she said earnestly, looking directly into my eyes.

I couldn't help but feel conflicted as she leaned in and pressed her lips against mine. They were just as soft and inviting as I remembered, and I couldn't resist kissing her back. Lost in the moment, we stumbled towards the bathroom, our hands desperately tugging at each other's clothes.

Once inside, Natasha pulled away from me with a mischievous smirk on her face.

"Let's get rid of these," she said playfully, gesturing to my towel.

"I like them where they are," I teased back, unable to take my eyes off of her.

"Baby, I thought you wanted me to fuck you," she pouted, running her fingers along my jawline.

"I do," I whined, feeling more turned on by the second.

"Well then, let's remove this obstacle," she whispered seductively before nibbling on my ear as she tugged on my towel.

"Mmmh, I think you're right, Natty," I replied breathlessly.

In one swift motion, she pulled down my towel so that I was standing fully naked in front of her. Her eyes roamed over my body with hunger and desire, making me feel small and vulnerable under her intense gaze.

"You are going to be so much fun," she murmured, tracing her finger lightly over my chest before pushing me into the shower.

As the warm water cascaded over my body, I couldn't help but let out a slight moan. Natasha stepped in behind me and pressed her body against mine, her lips crashing onto mine once again. As our tongues tangled and hands roamed freely over each other's bodies, I couldn't believe what was happening. And as she pinned me against the wall of the shower and continued to ravish me with kisses and touches, I knew that this would be a night to remember.

The hot steamy shower added so much passion into our little hookup. It made everything way more hotter than normal. The way Natasha's red hair looked as the water trickled down her body was a sight I will never forget.

She placed her hands on my thighs and tapped on them. She picked me up and I wrapped myself around her waist. I began to try and grind myself to try get some sort of friction which worked for a minute as I grinded myself on her abs but when she realised what I was doing she stopped me

"Such a desperate little whore aren't you? Look at you so pathetic trying to get yourself off by using my abs" she degraded me

I could feel myself get wet at her choice of words. I was dumbfounded and my moth couldn't even form words.

"You like that? You like it when I call you a whore baby?" She smiled evilly at me

There definitely was a pool between my legs at this point. She kept staring into my eyes when she spoke to me which made it harder to keep eye contact when she was saying these hypnotising things

"Answer me slut" she snarled

"Ye-yes mommy I do" I replied with a smirk once I pulled myself together

She wore her famous smirk on her face as she stared into my eyes. "Mommy? God I love that" she smirked

She began to attack my body with kisses. Sucking,biting and leaving marks all along my neck,chest shoulders you name it she marked it. She slammed us against the wall and I slowly got off her waist moaning quietly at her marking my body

She placed her knee between my thighs so my pussy was resting on her knee. She pushed it up hard causing me to moan loudly and my moan echoed around the room I quickly covered my mouth but Nat grabbed my wrist and removed my hand from my mouth

"I want to hear those pretty moans, go on scream shout let everyone know that Starks golden child is being fucked by the black widow" she said with lust in her eyes and voice

She gripped both of her hands on my waist and began to harshly push my hips into her knee. The pleasure shot through my body sending shivers down my spine.

"GOD NAT" I moaned loudly

She smirked wildly at me and began to slow down. Which was horrible I needed a release the knot that once was in my stomach had disappeared. My head was resting on Natasha's shoulder.

"Ple-please Nat I NEED you" i panted

"What, you have me what more could you want" she slowed down even more

"Mommy please your killing me" I breathed out

"Such a little slut aren't we? Be a good girl and beg for it" she instructed me

"Please please mommy let me finish all over your knee, I will be a good girl-please mommy" I begged

"Go on get yourself off I want to watch you" she smirked at me

She let go of my hips and I began to grind myself down onto her knee. It felt so good, moans began to fall out of my mouth. I picked up the paste and I could feel my tits bouncing as I moved up and down on her. I had my eyes shut and I threw my head back in pleasure when she flexed her leg.

I opened my eyes and seen Natasha was fingering herself. God it was hot. I shoved 3 of my fingers in her and she moaned

"YES Y/N RIGHT THERE" I picked up the pace

I could feel the knot in my stomach again. I was so close. I could tell Natasha was too by the way she was pulsing on my fingers.

"I'm so close mommy" I moaned

Natasha's moans echoed through the bathroom as I thrust a fourth finger inside of her without warning. Her legs flexed and she threw her head back, lost in pleasure. I quickened my pace, my body on the verge of climaxing.

"PLEASE NAT, I CAN'T HOLD IT!" I cried out, overcome with desire. "Cum on me," she moaned in response.

The sound of our passionate encounter filled the small bathroom, but in that moment, we didn't care who could hear us. My fingers continued to move inside of Natasha as she reached her peak, her release coating my hand.

We collapsed against each other, panting and exhausted. I rested my head against her neck and she nestled hers into mine, peppering light kisses along my skin.

"Holy- fuck," she panted between breaths. "That was...the best shower of my life."

I breathed out a laugh and nodded in agreement. But just as we were starting to relax and catch our breath, Natasha reminded me that we had plans for the evening.

"We should get ready for tonight. That is, if you're still going..." I told her hesitantly.

"Y/n, if you're going, I am going," she said with a smile.

I bit my lip nervously and flashed a shy smile in return. We exited the shower and wrapped towels around our bodies before parting ways to get dressed. As I put on my favorite red dress, revealing just enough cleavage to make it daring yet elegant, Wanda burst into my room with excitement.

"Oh my God!" she squealed. "Natasha and Steve broke up!"

My acting skills came into play as I pretended to be shocked and happy by this news. Wanda bought it completely.

"No way! Really? You're not joking with me?" I exclaimed.

"I wouldn't do that to you!" She laughed. "How did you find out?"

"I overheard Steve telling Bucky," she informed me.

"I thought Natasha and I were the spies here, not you witchy," I teased her.

"That's not the only thing you and Natasha are," she smirked.

"What are we, Wanda?" I turned to face her.

"Each other's future wives," she smirked again.

I rolled my eyes playfully while trying to hide my blush. But Wanda was right, there was definitely something special between Natasha and me.

"You look beautiful, by the way. Is that for Vision?" I joked with a wink.

"Shut up, I can dress up for myself, you know!" Wanda shook her head in mock annoyance.

"Mmhm, yeah, but that dress is new and I know you wouldn't wear it unless you were planning to impress him," I teased as we linked arms and made our way down the hallway.

"Well, I could say the same. We both know a certain spy's favorite color is red," Wanda joked back as we walked.

"But how do you know I'm not trying to impress you? Your favorite color is red too," I responded with a sly smile.

"Well, if that's the case..." she smiled mischievously and we both burst out laughing.

As we entered the main room, still giggling about our love lives, we noticed that it was practically empty except for Tony, Maria, Steve, Vision, and Natasha.

"Well, isn't this quite the party," Wanda quipped at Tony as we approached the small group.

My laughter echoed through the spacious room as I stood with Wanda, trying to decide who to talk to first. There were so many people to choose from in this tower, and we were all gathered here for some unknown reason. "You two give it up," Tony commented, rolling his eyes. "People are coming, unlike you two. Some of us have lives outside of this tower." Maria smirked at me, her gaze lingering on my face. "Well, Y/n certainly does," she said suggestively. "What are you on about, Ms. Hill?" Vision asked curiously. "From the looks of it, Y/n has had some fun recently," Maria grinned, gesturing towards my neck.

Suddenly, everyone's attention turned to me. What was Maria talking about? Wanda slapped my arm playfully. "Miss Y/L/N! What is that on your neck?" she gasped. "It appears to be a hickey, I believe," Vision stated loudly. "WHO HAS A HICKEY?!" Sam's voice boomed as he and the rest of the group descended down the stairs. "Y/N!" Maria exclaimed, causing everyone to focus their attention on me.

I blushed furiously as they began to bombard me with questions. "When did this happen?" Bucky smirked mischievously. "Doesn't matter, it's none of anyone's business," I replied coolly as I sat down on the couch and grabbed a beer from the cooler.

"Okay, so it had to be recently, like in the last 2-3 days," Carol calculated, her eyes scanning my appearance. Tony looked disgusted while Bruce seemed uncomfortable and kept shifting in his seat.

"But Y/n doesn't leave the compound," Wanda announced defensively. "I do too!" I defended myself, feeling slightly hurt by their disbelief.

"I mean, she clearly does," Rhodes pointed at my neck accusingly. "Can we stop talking about this?" I asked, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"Yeah, please, can we?" Tony pleaded, looking like he was about to have a heart attack. "But-" Vision started to say.

"Yes, Vis?" Wanda interrupted him. "If Y/n went out and had intercourse with another person...well, that's impossible," Vision stated matter-of-factly.

"How is it impossible?" I asked, confused by his statement. "You haven't left the compound in 4 days apart from that mission, and unless you slept with someone from Hydra 4 days ago, plus the fact that those hickeys look somewhat fresh...it's impossible that you had intercourse elsewhere...plus-" Vision was suddenly cut off by a loud outburst from Tony.

"STOP! STOP! THAT'S ENOUGH!" Tony yelled, causing everyone to turn their attention towards him. I could see the shock on Rhodey's face as he exclaimed, "Stark, seriously?! She's half your age!"

My eyes went wide as I realized what they were all hinting at. "Ewww, no! No, we didn't," Tony defended himself quickly.

"Stop it now, please," I begged as I placed my hands over my face in embarrassment.

Tony stood up abruptly and walked over to the bar, while Natasha sat smirking and sipping her beer. Bruce also seemed preoccupied with Nat, which wasn't unusual since they were close friends. "Wait, so Y/n brought someone to her room and slept with them?" Carol looked around at the group.

"It isn't anyone here," I said quickly, trying to deflect the attention away from myself.

"I'm going to join Tony at the bar," Bruce announced suddenly, trying to make a quick escape. But Carol and Maria stopped him. "You know something, Brucey. What is it?" Maria interrogated him.

"Leave the poor guy alone," Nat defended him, giving Bruce a reassuring glance.

"Come on, aren't you dying to find out who she slept with?" Carol asked Nat eagerly.

"Of course I am, but we all know Mr. Anger over here gets uncomfortable easily," Nat teased back, causing Maria and Wanda to laugh.

"Oh, Witchy Witchy," Maria smirked at Wanda, who responded with an equally mischievous grin as she slowly walked over to Bruce.

I could see the worry in Bruce's eyes as he sent a quick glance my way. Fuck, he must have overheard something. I gave him a questioning look, hoping he knew something that could explain this situation. He looked away, his expression filled with concern. Damn, he definitely heard something.

With a sudden burst of energy, Sam practically leapt 6 feet in the air, exclaiming, "HE KNOWS WHO IT IS!"

"NO- GUYS I DONT," he quickly defended himself as everyone turned to look at him.

"DO IT NOW WANDA," Bucky smirked at her, urging her to reveal the identity.

I glanced at Nat and Bucky, who were sitting closely beside each other. Dread filled me as I realized that soon everyone would know.

"Guys, who actually cares who she slept with?" Steve groaned, clearly annoyed by the situation.

"Everyone apparently," Nat shot back, glaring at him. "Well Tony doesn't, nor do I," he began to walk away.

"Well you would care," Bruce murmured quietly under his breath.

"What was that Brucey?" Wanda smirked playfully. "Hmmmmm?" He acted dumb, but we all knew what he had said.

"Let him go guys please, this is embarrassing for me. It's my life, not yours," I pleaded with them, trying to diffuse the tension.

But my efforts were in vain as Wanda's smirk grew wider and red wisps of energy emanated from her hands. She was reading Bruce's mind. Suddenly, she gasped and Bruce quickly ran to Tony, apologizing frantically.

"I'M SO SORRY Y/N!" he shouted over his shoulder as he rushed away.

"OH MY GOD," Wanda smirked at me, her eyes glinting mischievously. "WHO IS IT?"

"WITCHY TELL US!" Maria exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

Wanda paused for a moment before announcing with a sly smile, "It's someone in this room."

The group erupted into a frenzy of questions, desperate to uncover the truth. Maria gasped in shock while Carol couldn't hide her curiosity.

"Okay, who was getting it on with Y/n?" Sam's wide smirk displayed his eagerness to know.

"It could be a girl," Natasha pretended it wasn't her and shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's funny," Steve commented, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

"So what if it is a girl, Steve? It's my body, not yours," I deflected his judgmental comment.

"Well, it's wrong," he argued back, causing me to roll my eyes in frustration.

"Wanda..." Maria turned to her, hoping she would reveal more information.

I gave Wanda a pleading look, but she shook her head at me. Little witch.

"I'll give you all a hint: their favorite color is red," Wanda began, enjoying the power she held over everyone's thoughts.

"Okay, so that rules out Sam and Nat. Plus, we already established that it isn't Tony or Natasha," Maria listed off potential suspects in the room.

Vision looked relieved at being cleared as a suspect, and I couldn't help but find it cute in that moment. But then reality hit once again.

"Okay, to cut ties. Sam had no clue, so that's him out," Clint suggested logically. "And let's be real, we all know he wouldn't be able to pull Y/n anyway."

Sam was highly offended by this insinuation and tried to argue his case, but I quickly shut him down. Natasha smirked at me for turning him down while the rest of the group joined in on teasing him.

"Well then that leaves two possibilities: Bucky's exes Nat and Steve," Bucky stated matter-of-factly. My heart sank at the thought of either of them being involved.

Steve was busy chatting with Tony and Bruce at the bar, completely unaware of the conversation happening right next to them.

"Well, it has to be one of them. Maybe they used Y/n as a rebound since they just broke up," Carol suggested, causing me to feel even more upset.

"I'm not some lousy one night stand," I interjected, feeling hurt by the words being thrown around.

"Are we correct that it is one of them, Wanda?" Vision asked politely, trying to move the conversation along.

"Yes, you are," she confirmed with a mischievous smirk.

"Well, I could be right then," Carol shrugged her shoulders confidently.

"You really think that?" I asked sadly.

"Well, I mean, it is strange that they broke up and whoever it is ran to you. Maybe they did it as a way to get back at Steve for something," Carol said without thinking.

I sat there in shock as Maria slapped her on the arm for her insensitivity.

"My money is on Steve. He's always had a thing against Y/n and it would make sense if it was an enemies-to-lovers situation," Sam boomed confidently.

"Nah, I think it has to be Nat. If we're going off of what Carol said, she would want to get under Steve's skin by sleeping with his best friend who he dislikes," Thor chimed in with his own theory.

Everyone began agreeing with Thor and even I couldn't help but consider their theories. After all, Nat and Steve were always on-again-off-again. But the thought of either one of them using me as a pawn in their love triangle made my stomach churn.

As I looked at her, my heart ached and tears began to fill my eyes. She was about to say something before she was stopped by Tony's outburst.

"STOP IT! Can't you all see what this is doing to her? Look at her, she is on the verge of tears. You are all making her feel like a piece of shit, like some cheap hooker," Tony defended me passionately.

I looked up and saw Bruce standing next to him, offering his support. Tony protectively placed his hands on my shoulders while Bruce sat beside me, gently placing his hand on my knee in an attempt to comfort me.

"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. We have all gone to Y/n with our secrets at one point or another, and she has never said a word. Is this how you want to repay her? By speaking about her personal life with such lack of empathy?" Bruce's tone was harsh as he scolded the group.

A tear streamed down my face, which I quickly wiped away as everyone's eyes turned to me. I could feel their gaze, but some were shamefully looking at the ground. Without warning, I felt someone wrap their arms around me from behind - it was Natasha.

"Well, I'm telling you now it wasn't me," Wanda spoke up with a smile.

I wrapped my arms around her, taking in her comforting scent. She truly gave the best hugs. As I cried softly into her shoulder, all the hurtful thoughts and accusations that had been swirling in my mind disappeared.

"It's okay, you're okay," she whispered softly to me.

But suddenly, everything came flooding back as I remembered what they had done. "No, please get off of me," I pushed Wanda away and stood up.

Feeling disgusted and betrayed, I walked away from the group. Carol was right; Natasha had used me to get under Steve's skin, and he watched me leave with a smug grin on his face - I could see it from a mile away.

From Natasha's point of view, Y/n had just stormed out of the main hall. As she looked at the rest of the group, they all wore expressions of guilt. Anger rose up in Natasha like never before.

"Baby, did you do this to make me jealous?" Steve approached her.

"Don't fucking call me that," Natasha snapped at him.

"In fact, I don't want any of you to even call me your friend anymore. None of you are my friends after what you did tonight. The only people who I consider friends are Tony and Bruce. The rest of you are just horrible colleagues that I have to put up with," she yelled at them.

"Nat, we're sorry. We didn't think she would..." Wanda started to apologize, but Natasha cut her off.

"Out of all the people, you were the last person I expected to do this to her - to us," Natasha said, disappointment evident in her voice.

"Actually, no, scratch that. I didn't think any of you would be so cruel. But here we are. So since you all are dying to know - YES, I slept with Y/n. And NO, Carol, it wasn't to get back at Steve. It was because I genuinely love her with every piece of my body, and I would die for her. It was the best experience I've ever had because I was with someone who truly cares not only for me but for everyone around her. Y/n would go to hell and back for any one of you. So fuck you all," Natasha stormed out.

She went to her room and slammed the door shut behind her. Frantically changing into her comfortable pajamas, she grabbed Y/n's favorite hoodie which always goes missing when she's away on missions. Determined to fight for her and prove her love, Natasha left her room and went down to find Y/n's room. She had to show her girl that she was willing to go to great lengths for their love.

Your POV

The weight of disappointment and hurt settled heavily on my chest. With a heavy heart, I trudged to my room, eager to shed the facade of happiness that I had worn all day. Taking comfort in soft, loose clothes, I wiped away the thick layer of makeup and let myself succumb to tears.

As I lay in bed, memories of Natasha and the events of the day flooded my mind. How could I have been so naive? Of course she slept with me as a way to get back at Steve. The realization stung like a fresh wound.

But amidst the pain and betrayal, one moment stood out - our encounter in the shower. For a brief moment, she had smiled at me with genuine affection before kissing me again. Was it all just a ploy to manipulate me?

My thoughts spiraled into self-doubt and anger towards my friends, especially Wanda for exposing my vulnerability and feelings for Natasha.

"Why did I trust her?" I cried to myself.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts, but I ignored it. Using my powers to lock the door, I refused to let anyone in unless it was Bruce or Tony. But they persisted and eventually picked the lock.

Ready to defend myself with my magic, I sat up on the bed as they entered. To my surprise, it was Natasha who walked in with a gentle expression on her face.

"Did you not hear me? Last time I checked, you're not Tony or Bruce," I sniffled, trying to regain composure.

"I may not have a clean record like them, but I promise you, I'm not here to hurt you," she spoke softly as she approached me.

"Nat, please just go away," I pleaded.

"You'll have to make me if you want that to happen," she challenged with determination in her eyes.

I braced myself, ready to use my powers against her despite my reluctance to do so. But her words and gaze softened me, and I slowly dissipated the energy ball in my hands.

"That's it, Natasha. It's just me," she whispered, sitting at the end of my bed with a familiar hoodie in her hand - my favorite one.

But even the comfort of my cherished item couldn't ease the disgust I felt towards myself. "Giving me this hoodie won't change how I feel about what happened," I told her bitterly.

Her face fell at my harsh words, and for a moment, I regretted lashing out. But I pushed away any guilt and continued, "Why wouldn't I be disgusted? You slept with me to spite Steve, and now everyone sees me as a cheap whore you use when you need a boost."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she asked softly, "Is that how little you think of me?"

I paused, realizing I had let my hurt and anger cloud my judgment. "You're not denying it, so yes, I did think that lowly of you – no, wait, that's not true." My voice cracked with emotion. "I don't want to believe that about you."

"Y/n, listen to me. I didn't sleep with you to get back at Steve. I don't care about his opinion. But I care about yours," she pleaded with sincerity etched on her features.

She gazed into my eyes, her expression filled with sincerity and love. "You're not some cheap hooker or a whore, Y/n. I slept with you because I have real feelings for you. I couldn't resist acting on them the first chance I got," she confessed to me.

I felt a lump form in my throat as her words touched my heart. I was about to respond when she silenced me with a gentle kiss. My body responded instantly, melting into her touch. She pulled away after a few seconds, leaving tears in my eyes.

"Why the tears?" she asked, cupping my face in her hands.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, Nat. It wasn't fair of me to judge you like that," I apologized, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Don't worry about that. I'm okay. Let's talk about it and I'll help you through it, if you want me to," she reassured me, rubbing my cheek tenderly.

I couldn't shake off the looks of judgement from everyone at the party. They made me feel dirty and ashamed. I know some of it may have been in my head, but Carol's words really got to me and made sense. I had been suppressing my feelings for Nat for so long, thinking they were wrong and that no one would accept us. But then we shared that moment in the shower and it felt right, until Carol's words brought all my doubts rushing back.

"Fuck it. I'm so in love with you," I blurted out, tears streaming down my face now.

Nat looked at me with so much love in her eyes that it made my heart swell with emotion. I wrapped my arms around her tightly and buried my head in her shoulder while she drew soothing patterns on my back.

"Thank you for listening to me," I mumbled against her.

"Hey, it's what I'm here for," she replied sweetly.

We pulled away and I took the jumper from her lap and put it on. She chuckled at me and I pulled her into my bed, pulling the covers over us. We both decided to keep our relationship private, but not a secret.

"You looked breathtaking tonight," Nat complimented me, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Thank you. The dress was for you," I blushed, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

"But I have to say, you are effortlessly gorgeous," she said with a smile.

"That's not true," I shook my head.

"Yes, it is. Even right now, lying here next to me. You are perfect in every way," I whispered softly.

"I'm not perfect, Y/n. Trust me," she said honestly.

"ты всегда будешь идеальной в моих глазах Наталья Романова," I whispered against her lips, reminding her of how perfect she will always be in my eyes.

She smiled into the kiss and lightly held onto my waist as I gently ran my fingers through her red hair.

"Не важно что," I mumbled against her lips, reaffirming that nothing else mattered to me.

"When did you learn Russian?" she asked with a curious smile.

"I learned it for you a while ago. I'm now fluent," I bragged a little, feeling proud of myself.

"How come you never spoke it before?" she questioned playfully.

"I was learning it to ask you out, but then you started dating Steve and all I knew how to say at the time was 'Natasha Romanoff, will you go out with me?' and 'I love you'," I laughed a little at the memory.

"Stop, please tell me you're lying," she groaned, burying her head into my chest in embarrassment.

"Unfortunately, no. But I continued to learn it so I could say things to you without the team knowing," I smiled softly at her.

Nat's eyes sparkled with love and adoration as she leaned in for another kiss, grateful for our secret language that only we shared.

My heart skipped a beat as her beautiful smile lit up her face. "Wait, you learned how to say 'I love you'?" she asked, looking up at me with shining eyes. "Yeah, it was one of the first things my teacher taught me," I replied, a fond smile tugging at my lips.

"Say it in Russian for me," she requested, her smile growing wider.

"But you already know how to say it in Russian," I said, confused by her request.

"Amuse me," she replied with a playful glint in her eyes.

My heart swelled with adoration as I spoke the words in Russian: "Я люблю вас."

Her smile softened and she echoed the words back to me: "я тоже тебя люблю, Y/N." It felt like an exchange of promises, a declaration of our feelings for each other.

She leaned in and kissed me, and I eagerly returned the gesture. In that moment, as we stood there with our arms wrapped around each other, I knew that I never wanted to be anywhere without her. She had tricked me into saying those three little words, but they were more than just words. They were a reflection of what we both felt deep in our hearts - love.

©Elena do not copy, edit, or translate my works.

[r0si-e]

Sky city and its people are a perfect example of how a lack of curiosity results in a lack of understanding. And sometimes a lack of understanding breeds fear is some and leaves dictatorship a very plausible possibility.

Personally, I believe that Isa never truly meant to be a dictator and that her primary reason for imposing the rigid rules that she did was to ensure the stability of the city and the safety of its people. However there is no denying that she benefited from her people's lack.

She owns the Eversource. The one her people don't have, she does and that is an abundance of natural resources. It's all at her disposal so this automatically places her at the top. What maintains her position at the top is the fact that the majority of Sky City people have to rely on her to provide them with the means to build. They simply cannot just go off and build as they please and flourish within their own little communities.

So now not only does Isa have an abundance of resources but the Sky CIty people have to rely on her for these resources.

She has made herself the only source that these people have and they can't do anything about it because they don't have the means to. Isa can now make rules, give and take as she pleases all without having to explain herself to her people because they are afraid of her.

[crguang]

how would kafka deal with an s/o who's very easily scared? like if they see a spider, they are gonna scream bloody murder. i can only see kafka falling in love with people who are bold and confident so it'd be interesting to see her having an s/o that easilg feels fear when kafka herself can't.

this is such an interesting thought, i saw it this morning and have been thinking about it since. i also think boldness attracts kafka for sure and anyone that stands out in some way could definitely catch her eye. i’m not sure because in my opinion kafka understands fear on a cognitive level but she obviously can’t feel it, so she would be less empathetic in this context; if you’re about to cry cause you saw a spider, unless it’s a phobia she’d just be like “bruh” 😭 laughs at you probably. she does dispose of it and everything but trust she’ll make a joke first. this is something that pisses me off in others but she might have the habit to downplay your fear just because she thinks that it’s not that serious. if your life isn’t in danger and you’re screaming bloody murder cause a rat just ran past you (me i hate them i hate them) she’d tell you to relax and wouldn’t take you seriously. she might come off as condescending sometimes. on the other hand though, she’d enjoy being needed so if your reflex is to clutch her shirt or grab her hand tightly, that’s a win for her. what’s more interesting to me is the irony of her not being able to feel fear and being really good at instilling fear in others versus being someone’s first source of comfort, i think it would take her some time to get used to it. kafka’s strong, resourceful, confident and intelligent, and her lack of fear + nonchalance makes her very comforting in stressful situations. a bit of a knight in shining armor, she easily takes care of whatever scares you even if she doesn’t get it fully because she gets attention and kisses afterwards so. she’d feel bad if you do end up crying out of fear and her way to deal with that situation would be to remove your stressor and just be there i guess. she says something like “with me around? nothing to worry about.” and lets you cling to her all you like while she pats your head

[iced-coffee-jesus]

Fuck it, I added this to someone else's post but it deserves it's own.

I'm 30 minutes from Asheville, we didn't have power or water for over 11 days, we only just got it back tonight at 8:55 P.M; from the early morning of September 27th to the late evening of October 8th we were without electric, water, and means to use a bathroom.

All our freezer and refrigerated food is spoiled and stinking up the house while we try to find a way to dispose of it. Landfills are overrun and garbage trucks can't access a lot of area's. We won't be able to re-stock any amount of cold food for at least another week, and barely are able to get enough fresh food to eat day by day. Radio was the only way to hear any news and have hopes of hearing where to get supplies, because cell service was non-existent for 8 days straight.

Asheville's water system was destroyed. There is no access to water in the city, and may not be for months. 25 feet of ground was washed away, and the back-up system we put in about two years ago failed. 1,800 thousand miles of pipe needs to be re-layed. They're hopefully thinking early December, last I heard. This happened September 27th. Let that timeline sink in.

The death toll sits somewhere at 115 in Western North Carolina. They are no longer providing meaningful updates on the radio of the missing and dead, so most of us are unclear where we stand. Most widely talked about is a woman that I only know through other friends; she climbed the roof of her house with her seven year-old son and her elderly parents to escape the flood waters. The roof collapsed under them, trapping her and drowning her son and parents. After that horrifying tragedy, she waited another three hours trapped on the roof waiting to be rescued.

We're a mountain community. There was no real warning, and no one here knows how to properly prepare for a hurricane because we don't fucking get them here. My mom survived Hurricane Andrew, and as a Floridian is always 'over prepared'; if a neighbor didn't bring us water, we would have been screwed 7 days in. Even as generally prepared people, we didn't have enough resources.

We are doing our best. First responders, radio hosts, good Samaritans, Walmart employees, they are working around the clock and we know that. But the devastation is unfathomable and unprecedented. The flooding and landslides destroyed towns, homes, and lives. Some people have fled and will never return, the damage is too great.

In some area's, the electric companies are openly admitting they won't be putting up new poles because there are no homes left to give electricity to. It's simply gone.

Here's a really great local news source if you want to hear more. I'm begging everyone to be kind to everyone suffering such huge losses right now.

[queer-ragnelle]

So, regarding your novels, what made you write backwards? I'm so curious about it.

TL;DR I started writing in Mordred and Galahad perspective. I then became possessed by the "older" characters and went "back" in the timeline to write their origins (starting with parentified Agravaine). I did this several times until I ended up with Ragnelle/Gawain as book 1, "the beginning," of what turned into an Epic many books long.

Let me give you a timeline...

1900s: I am born and develop Arthurian brain worms.

21st century: The worms declare Ragnelle/Gawain are my favorites and I write their Wedding multiple times for fun based off what can be gleaned from Wikipedia and retellings as I have no medieval resources at my disposal.

February 2020: I think Mordred and Galahad would make neat narrative foils and write a short story about them playing chess.

March 2020: The plague. I'm furloughed from my job. Writing becomes my full-time focus. I write 60,000 words in Mordred and Galahad perspective, plotting their story to be a trilogy.

June 2020: I'm back to work but I'm still writing. With money and curiosity at my disposal, I begin hoarding Arthurian books. Local quirky secondhand bookstore owner had an Arthurian fixation in his youth—I clear his shelves. He asks if I'm a medievalist major and I have to break it to him I'm just a High School drop out at the mercy of the Tell-Tale knights chattering in my head. I learn more lore. I splurge to buy the Vulgate cycle. I'm forever changed.

Late 2020: Reading medlit and retellings and watching all the movies super charged the brain worms. The Vulgate especially. I develop an obsession with circumventing the Orkneys/Welshmen blood feud with the power of gay sex. (Joan Wolf did it first in her 1988 book The Road to Avalon with Agravaine/Lamorak.)

January 2021: Historical research shows that Islam didn't exist yet during the 5th/6th century I'd been writing in. I order Zoroastrianism by Mary Boyce to make sure I'm depicting Ragnelle and Gromer's religion properly. But it's nbd their page time is minimal as background characters right? ....right?

2021 continued: The Agravaine/Lamorak brain worms take on a life of their own as I'm hospitalized and bedridden. Chronic pain and isolation become my themes. I write endlessly on my phone from bed. 2/3 novels are completed and readable straight through with a third book in pieces. These are currently at a combined total of nearly 140,000 words. (Plus the notes file with scenes I haven't moved yet...whoa.)

Late 2021: I rediscover old Ragnelle/Gawain stuff and decide to write about their wedding. Again. But this time with legit sources. Except Ragnelle isn't some ambiguous character of color, she's now very specifically Persian [Iranian] Zoroastrian. So the whole thing takes place in Persia and research goes crazy. Someone gives me their college log in so I can download and hoard essays and textbook PDFs. I do beta-read trades with people in facebook groups (bad bad idea) and yet...

End of 2021: I get sample edits from various editors including one guy who insulted my "lack of education" and said emulating J. R. R. Tolkien's old style didn't work anymore and I should take inspiration from The Hunger Games....for my queer romance in Persia. Right. Anyway I pay the $100 for the pages edited so he'll go away and continue searching for my unicorn editor....

2022: Ultimately facebook group scouting finally yields results as I stumble upon a fellow Ragnelle/Gawain enthusiast who would become my editor!! Editor says I have to cut the giant book into thirds, so what is now book 1 ends up chopped.

2023: I'm still revising book 1, now titled The Moonlit Knight, with my editor. All the while I'm drafting book 2, sporadically cheating to write in other books including an Elaine and Perceval book that appeared out of no where, and scouting out beta readers. One beta reader came via a tumblr mutual who connected me through instagram. A second beta reader discovered in a discord server. Another beta reader from a different discord server. So on and so forth.

Early 2024: Beta reading continues, until I have readers for every angle I require; queer people of all flavors, Zoroastrians, Arthurian enthusiasts, Jewish readers, people with DID knowledge etc! Slowly but surely I work through revising the book with all these wonderful people to a final 95,000 words!

Mid 2024: But now...it needed a cover. I commission a tumblr mutual and work for weeks with them on that, still editing/revising and having betas read book 2, Sunshine's Lady, which is currently almost 132,000 words long and half edited/beta read.

September 2024: I still haven't published. lol. But the process takes a long time and has a lot of moving parts!

So why do I actually recommend this method? Well, this has been hugely helpful to write foreshadowing. Forgetting for a second the blueprint drawn from Arthurian Legend itself, I know how my story with my version of the characters is going to go, so I can set all of that up way in advance. It's all well and good to know (spoiler) Arthur dies at the end, but it's never been about the conclusion so much as the journey there and the unique perspective of whichever character the author has chosen to focus on. I mean, Godfrey Turton's The Emperor Arthur is Pelleas point of view. He's instrumental at the battle of Camlann. It's the same with Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles and our one-handed friend Derfel, the reasoning for which isn't revealed until book 3. The world is your oyster! Fixate on your special character and set that shit up and pay it off!!!

Knowing what you're writing toward is extremely helpful during the drafting process. Even if it's only vaguely shaped it'll develop detail as you revise. Other than Derfel's missing hand, the best example of this I can think of is in Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb. It has a huge fanbase on tumblr for a reason, it's just an insane amount of set up you're not even aware of until the impact slams into you many books later and you're left going, "Whoa.....it was there the whole time." Mind blowing. I want have half as much narrative resonance as that.

Another thing that came of this is, since I wrote Agravaine/Lamorak first, and I'm obscenely Ragnelle obsessed, she pops up in their pov as a hag, only for them to not realize she's one and the same as Gawain's bombshell wife they "meet" later. I wrote this as the lads first, but it's extra funny now that, actually, the reader will experience Ragnelle's perspective first. Hottie uncursed Ragnelle does know she met them before, but feigns otherwise. So it's very fun to see the same encounters happen a second time a few books later. Agravaine is like, "Okay granny whatever. Bye... :^/" and Lamorak is like, "That granny was weird but I like her! :^)" meanwhile the reader is like, "AHHHHH! I KNOW HER!!! YOU FOOLS DON'T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT SHE'LL BE AHHH!!!" At least, that has been the beta reader reaction, which is gratifying. Even better, the books can be read out of order, so actually if you read Agravaine/Lamorak before Ragnelle/Gawain, it works in reverse, too. So if the reader knows who Agravaine is from reading his perspective, when Ragnelle or Gawain runs into him, the reader will realize who he is before it clicks for the point of view character. I had a lot of fun developing all of this across the series for multiple characters, it certainly happens more than once.

Wow that was long but I hope it makes sense and gives you an idea how it all went down. Thanks for taking an interest and I hope you enjoy my books when they're out. Take care! :^)

[canary-prince]

When thinking about my Vision for a self indulgent Trans Masc Potential btvs au, I wish my description for Faith and Torryn's dynamic was more articulate than "give Faith a Dawn character" but tbh that's the gist.

Like the more I rewatch Faith's episodes and the more I genuinely appreciate her character and her dynamic with Buffy and the show at large, the more I understand how rich the soil is for Faith to have the opportunity to forgive past versions of herself by being confronted with a literal Reason to stay alive.

Like she's so self-destructive and self-hating and then we throw in Spunky and Disciplined and Fearless baby potential slayer (who in this AU would serve as yet another drain on the resource that is her own Watcher's attention). If I Die Then Torryn's The New Slayer, and that's a source of self-preservation (the kid isn't READY) and envy (they all wish I'd hurry up and die so Crown Princess Perfect Slayer can finally take over) and keeping Torryn at a distance ("stop following me around! Go the fuck home or I'll knock you out and dump you at the ER--Buffy. The brat has officially PULLED A KNIFE ON ME, can I please hit this child?!")

Like. Imagine a series of scenes where Buffy tells Faith about the Slayer test on their eighteenth birthday, and Faith loses her shit, and immediately tells Torryn, who is roughly 13/14 and, for the first time, genuinely questions the wisdom and authority of the Watchers. Like, this not only permanently damages Torryn's relationship to Wesley, but it adds a permanent stitch to Torryn and Faith's relationship.

Faith sends mixed signals even in platonic relationships. She never wants Torryn tagging along on actual slaying, but encourages Buffy to include him in on training. She encourages the increasingly "boyish" fashion choices but also cracks jokes about it when Torryn's annoying her. She lashes out, often at random, panicking over what Torryn's abrupt announcement by the fates as the Next Slayer means for her. My god, how DISPOSABLE would his presence make her feel? Especially in my current version where its Wesley himself who brought him to Sunnydale?

But just like Faith reached out to Buffy for connection at first, just like Faith genuinely TRIED to forge a bond of trust and teamwork, I think Faith would, at first, find it easy to blame the council, not Torryn. Torryn, at that point, would be THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. And yes, Torryn is, in my most self-indulgent vision, born a known Potential, and was only recently announced as the guaranteed next one, so, much like Kendra, he was raised from birth to do this and is just VERY talented at it and is VERY well liked by the council, which bothers both her and Buffy. And yeah, it burns. It hurts, and rightly so, but I think Faith and Buffy would both react to Torryn's life with horror and grief and anger. Until the tipping point in her arc, when she's retreating into self-destruction and violence because she can't cope anymore, Faith aims her feelings of jealousy and fears about lacking significance in other people's lives at Wesley and Giles and even the other Scoobies before she aims at Torryn.

Maybe she doesn't like the idea of grown men finding an excuse to beat the snot out of a little girl every day of her life. And that disposability is ultimately something they have in common. Faith is likely the first person to ever tell Torryn, in a way that actually Sunk In, that he was worth something besides his hypothetical, future ability to kill monsters, "which you will not be able to do if you take your dirt nap early, so, when me or B tells you to stay away from something, stay away from it, kay? For me?"

Faith is absolutely the first person to clock that Torryn is either not-straight or not a girl. Torryn resents Buffy for putting Faith in a coma AND resents Faith for not dying: its the worst scenario to him. Faith is effectively gone, out of reach, but he's still human, and still convinced that being A Slayer would have filled that gaping void of wrongness and yearning that haunts his every waking moment. The only reason Torryn didn't know that was Faith in Buffy's body was because he was over in LA still figuring out he wasn't a girl. Torryn probably ripped up Faith's letters from prison and probably never visited her and then when he saw Buffy sacrifice herself and realized he'd been Called despite Faith still being alive he probably broke her out of prison.

He absolutely broke her out of prison and insisted it meant nothing.

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 89

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

Katara ends up hating the 'Water Tribe' dinner that Kuei's people make. It was all seafood, mostly fish that Katara had never even seen in the South or North poles. The seaweed snacks were alright. While Sokka was grumbling under his breath in annoyance, their parents carefully didn't say anything, trying not to offend.

Kuei tried. That's all they could really ask of him.

When dinner was over, Katara spent most of the evening writing down her ideas for the hospital. She would need a reliable water source, which he knew wouldn't be too difficult to manage in the Fire Nation. They had found ways to make water travel far distances. But she would also need a disposal spot. Which also wouldn't be too difficult.

In fact, all of the things she would need were things likely to already be put in the clinic. So she started thinking of other things she wanted to do. Other projects she could run.

Schools could be useful. The last building they were working on before leaving for the Peace Summit had been a school house, since there was likely a baby boom coming. One of the Fire Nation immigrants had been a school teacher in one of the outer islands, and was going to be working with one of the tribeswomen to teach. Maybe they could do a student cultural exchange, where she takes Fire Nation kids on trips to the Southern Water Tribe. She could even talk with the Earth Kingdom ambassador and Aang, making it an 'around the world' sort of thing.

There were also environmental concerns. The black snow wasn't good for the South Pole, and if they could find other ways to power ships, it could help any long term effects like they saw in Jang Hui. They could get Sokka and the Mechanist involved, to come up with something other than coal to power things. Not only that, but they could also work on cleaning up contaminated areas, like Jang Hui.

Before she knew it, it was morning, her head bobbing as she ate her Earth Kingdom style breakfast. She could barely pay attention as she sat next to her mother during the talks. They were discussing some kind of... trade thing? Something about setting prices of imports from other nations. It was she didn't need to worry about.

"Sweetie," her mother whispered, when they broke for lunch. "Are you sure you want to be here? You should rest. You've been working so hard."

"I'm fine," she yawned. "I'll get some sleep tonight."

Though she wasn't paying much attention, Katara could tell that the discussions were winding down. They had worked efficiently all that morning, and they had run out of pressing matters to discuss. They were discussing renaming the summit before dinner, changing it from the 'Four Nations' Summit to the 'United Nations' Peace Summit. They even had an official document drafted, that would signify a true alliance, and give each other special privileges when dealing with one another. More trade tax conversations.

For a moment, Katara felt bad that the Northern Water Tribe wouldn't be involved. With so many benders, especially women, leaving the North in secret, they soon would find difficulty maintaining their population and resources without outside help. By the time they actually started trading with other kingdoms, none of their tradesmen would be able to benefit from the new standardized pricing. Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation merchants would likely buy the Northern Water Tribe goods for less than half of what they were worth.

After everyone had signed the new alliance document, and copies were given to each head of state, Zuko announced that he and his group would be leaving immediately, as he would need time to implement all of the changes that had been discussed.

"I'm going with you," Katara yawned, as she stood from the table.

Zuko's brow furrowed. "Are... Are you sure? We're leaving immediately, and you likely won't have time to see your family for a while."

"It's fine," Katara said. She glanced at her parents and brother. While Sokka was making a disgusted face, her parents were nodding their approval. "Besides, I think I've had enough of Sokka for a while."

"Hey!" her brother called.

With a slight smile, Katara went to get her things ready to leave. There wasn't much, as they had traveled light, but in the few days they had been in Ba Sing Se, her things had ended up scattered around the room. Rinzo and Taka were waiting for her, the latter taking her bag and carrying it for her.

When they got to the trolley platform that would take them to Zuko's airship, her family was waiting. Rinzo and Taka gave her father a salute, while Katara hugged her mother.

"We'll miss you," her mother said, holding tight for a moment, before pulling back to smooth out Katara's hair. "I know you'll do amazing things. Just make sure to send word when you decide that you're done being ambassador, alright?"

"Mom," Katara sighed, as Sokka made a gagging face. She pulled a bit of water from the cool evening air, and threw it at her brother's face. "Why don't you go say goodbye to Suki?"

Sokka huffed, shuffling his feet for a moment, before giving her arm a light tap with his fist. "See you around, little sis." And with that, he was jogging off to where Suki and the other Kyoshi Warrior guards had been briefing Rinzo and Taka.

She felt a hand on her shoulder then, and glanced up to look at her father. He grinned at her.

"You're going to do great," he said, gently squeezing. "We're already so proud."

Closing her eyes for a moment, she smiled. She had been a little worried that her family would be disappointed in her choice to return to the Fire Nation. That her mother would protest, or her father would try to order her to stay. But now, as she gave her parents one last hug, she remembered just how her mother had helped her mend the red coat all those years ago. How her father had followed her onto what he saw as an enemy ship, and trusted them as allies simply because Katara said that they were.

She stepped back, and joined Zuko on the trolley, Suki and the rest of the guard close behind. As the earthbenders pushed off, Katara waved goodbye to her family. She'd be seeing them again in a month or two. Everything would be fine.

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

[fictionadventurer]

Would you be able to tell me more about how pro-life positions are beneficial to women?

I have been becoming more pro-life over the past year because I see edges of this argument online, but I don't know enough to try to clearly explain it to myself, much less to other people. One point someone brought up that helped me see this differently was that abortions are a band-aid solution to sexual abuse and help make it easier to hide sexual violence. And I have also seen the point people make that companies would rather provide abortion care than maternity leave because it keeps people working.

I'm curious if you have other thoughts that can help me affirm this point both to myself and to others? I think there's a lot of vitriol around how people speak about women in abortion discussions, and it can make it hard for people who are on the fence to engage. And having more examples of how pro-life advocates care for women would make it easier to enter into the conversation, especially with people who take a feminist approach to the topic.

(I also want to affirm that I'm asking this in good faith, as someone who wants to learn sincerely, and I hope you might respond sincerely too. I'm taking it for granted that a fetus is also a human, so I'm more interested in how to bring up this other part of the discussion with people. If this is a topic you know less about, that's all right too.)

I tend to approach abortion debates by keeping a laser-focus on the fact that the fetus is a human and a person, because we need to remind people that no problem that the mother faces justifies killing an innocent human being. That said, the pro-life position is infinitely better for women in a bunch of different ways. I'm not going to provide sources, because there are lots of better blogs devoted to that kind of thing (@prolifeproliberty is one that's coming to mind), but I can provide a few talking points.

The biggest benefit a pro-life position provides to a woman is that she doesn't have to live with the fact that she killed her own child. People understand on an instinctive level that a woman is pregnant with a baby; they can try to gloss over it with rhetoric, but the truth remains that the woman pregnant with a human being with its own separate life to live, and abortion violently ends that life. Abortion regret is a very real thing; there's a vast increase in depression and suicide in post-abortive women, and these women often can't get help for such regret, because people deny that it exists, or because "it was her choice".

A pro-life position is also infinitely more empowering to women. Abortion supporters look at a pregnant woman and tell her, "You can't do this. You can't raise a child. You can't have a career. You can't get out of poverty. This will destroy your life." The pro-life position tells a woman that she can do this. She's strong enough. She's smart enough. Both she and her child can have fulfilling lives, because we can help her. The pro-life community provides tons of resources to help women get the supplies and medical care and support that they need to either raise the child or to find adoptive parents to help raise it. Abortion only gets rid of the child--it doesn't solve any of the other problems that made it so difficult for the woman to have a child.

Abortion is also the single greatest tool to allow men to sexually abuse women. The pro-abortion idea that men are against abortion because they want to oppress women is laughable. Men get no benefit from a pro-life position. Abortion allows men to sleep around as much as they like, and if they get a woman pregnant, they don't have to pay child support--they just pay for her abortion and go on their merry way. No concern for her mental or physical or emotional health--just convenience for him. Abortion turns both woman and child into objects for a man's pleasure, to be disposed of when they're not fun anymore.

I could go on for ages, but to keep this simple, I'll just list a few other points:

Abortion greatly increases a woman's risk of breast cancer, and can cause fertility problems later in life.

The abortion pill is extremely dangerous, especially used unsupervised, because it can cause extreme bleeding and other complications.

Abortion allows sexual abusers to hide the evidence of their sexual abuse and keep women trapped longer. This includes human-trafficking and prostitution situations.

Women are often pressured into abortion because of lack of support from their family or community. People might be willing to help her pay for the abortion, but if the woman chooses to have the child, people are unwilling to provide long-term support--it was "her choice", so she has to bear all the responsibility. A decision for abortion made under that kind of pressure isn't really concerned about "a woman's choice."

As you said, employers are far more willing to pay for abortion than they are to provide much more expensive maternity leave, health insurance, etc. It can serve as another tool for employers to oppress workers.

Abortion supporters are often so focused on increasing access to abortion that they put women at risk. They have shot down and repealed bills that require abortion clinics to be licensed and inspected and to meet certain minimum medical standards. They've allowed teenagers to get abortions without parental notification, even though they're legally not competent to make other medical decisions, and the abortion procedure could put the teen's health at risk (plus this can cause teens to be trapped even longer in trafficking situations). They shoot down measures that would require women to be given more information about the abortion procedure and other options--even though informed consent is a cornerstone of medical ethics. If abortion supporters were truly concerned about women, they would be willing to put some of these common-sense protective measures in place.

[rontra]

I have a question about CTDE zatanna's backstory. How do you interpret the medulla jewel? I mean both the impact it has on her story and powers. Also does the hidden city play a big role or not really?

zatanna nation alive and well in my inbox today... welcome... and you're activating my CTDE Ramble Mode 😭 here we go again (puts in a readmore) but thank you for asking!

god the fucking medulla jewel. i mean the thing is.

i MEAN. the THING is.

even DC didn't really seem to know how to interpret that thing. it's shown up like twice or whatever Back In The Day and it was all quite vague and then they stopped talking about it forever. so it never really crossed my mind as something i should factor in to be honest 😭 but now that it's been brought up i'm considering if it might be useful in some way...

well, CTDE Zee's power level has always been primarily a result of her immense experience (never ask a magician her age), which is plenty sufficient for my general purposes. her long training, lived experience, and intricate know-how are the main vehicle, wrapped around an engine of her raw magical power. taking the medulla jewel as a type of magical power source (as presented), it might serve as a means to support the immense pool of resources at her disposal...

primarily i would hate for it to be the Sole Culprit behind her strength since there are Other Reasons she's like this (lol) but i think it could definitely be a Factor (and help explain the truly Zany stunts Arc 3 demands of her, which are so immense they almost kill her lmao)

...i suppose there's a few ways to conceptualize it for my purposes without sundering the 'verse like for example

the jewel is an "innate source of magic" that actively supplies her with a constant flow of power

the jewel is a "battery" that passively stores excess power to be used whenever needed

the jewel is a "philosopher's stone" that transmutes base magic into effective spells directly, circumventing traditional casting methods/costs (essentially, casting for free)

the jewel is a "lens" that focuses magic and gives spells a buff to concentrated power, like a magnifying glass under the sun

something else or a combination

for my purposes and the role she plays in the AU, a combination of #2 and #3 feels more compelling to me than something like #1. Since the CTDE is running "magic always has a cost" rules, a big thing about zee's bad vibe is her non-committal relationship with actually paying—if the medulla jewel provides an innate "bank" of some magical resource, which she can choose to "trade" with the universe in order to immediately cast For Free, that suits her type just fine. her coin on a string for the vending machine of magic, if you will

but it should have a theoretical limit, so making it a "battery pool" that runs low Eventually and needs to recharge (by skimming magic off the world around her) is OK. how to manage her bank of resources—whether to do regular safe invocation or cosmic trickery or just cast from her cheater freebie pool—should be (at least in theory) a choice she makes when bending the universe around her

(her level is so immense that in like 99% of cases she could just freecast without thinking about it) (but the 1% of spells that she needs to Actually Think About is what we're concerned with preserving, so that's still okay)

if she has that funny thing built-in, she probably spent a lot of her training time refining and practicing how to use it and how magic interacts with it. which means she would probably have to Know About All Of That beforehand. which brings us back to the Hidden City Sindella Lore huh.

well when it comes to her parents and stuff, CTDE Zee does play the same general tune--so it's possible some variation of Sindella's Fun Battery Pack plot did happen. this part of the CTDE backstory i havent really delved into bc it hasn't been relevant/important to the main plot of the AU but honestly.... maybe it would be fun to tinker with those components and assemble something

if a variant version of that did happen and sindella was being used to power the hidden city's hidden city-ing, zee would know enough to refine her own Working Relationship with the Magic Brainstone. but also i did Simply Assume and mark sindella as "dead" in my chart earlier, so it probably didn't end much better for herBHJDJMKS

ahhh... we hardly knew ye...

if a version of that stuff happened its probably backstory/not SUPER foreground to her present-time CTDE storyline . since she has some other major shit going on nowadays . but it mightve still been a pretty important part of the backstory...hmm....

it might even prove useful for me down the road, in plotting some of the foggy areas, maybe? i could probably use a hidden city or two, they're convenient to have aroundHDHJBFD

(imagining fondly) the peak Evil Motherhood Theme moment of the CTDE will be when zee takes everyone back to the hidden city and is like Yeah so they sucked my mom DRY here and NOT in a good way. she Died! & theyre all like "ohhh. this is why youre like this"

haha no idk..hm... it's compelling. i'll have to think of a way to use it. if nothing else youve given me something to think about.... in my zee cave...

[thevoicefromanotherworld]

PANEM ET CIRCENSES (XV)

The sun's rays woke Maximus that morning, bringing him out of his lethargy.

He stood up and walked to the dining room, where Diana was already up. She was wearing a simple white tunic and a headband of the same color to hold her hair. He inevitably smiled at that homely sight that reminded him of life with his wife and son in his now destroyed house.

Diana noticed his presence as soon as she entered, so she stopped what she was doing for a moment to offer him a kind smile.

"Good morning," she greeted, "sit down, I've prepared breakfast."

Maximus did as she asked and after sitting at the table, Diana placed a plate with bread and cheese in front of him.

All of this was accompanied by a generous glass of water. She served herself her food and sat down in front of him.

-You didn't have to do it - he said, taking a piece of bread to his mouth, the food that had saved his life so long ago-

-I know - she murmured, looking at him for a moment before focusing on her plate-

They ate in silence, and when they finished they heard a hubbub of voices coming from outside the house.

Diana's gaze quickly met Maximus's, and they both quickly got up to find out what the source of the scandal was.

When they went outside, they saw that people were running in terror in all directions, colliding with each other and causing panic among the rest. Diana observed the crowd carefully, before seeing a hand wave in her direction.

-It's Thracian - she pointed out, Maximus followed the direction of her gaze and they both rushed to help him.

After getting him out of the crowd of people, the general scrutinized her face for a moment before speaking.

-What's wrong, Thracian? -he asked, looking at the people for a moment. He didn't react, so Maximus shook him a little to wake him up. The man focused his gaze on him again. -Thracian- he repeated. -What's going on?

-The lookout saw several ships approaching the port two hours ago- he answered. He would have raised the alarm, but an enemy arrow went through his throat before he did. He looked at Maximus with wide eyes. -Are we going to die, general?

-No, Thracian, no one is going to die -he assured him- we will defend ourselves with all the resources at our disposal -he put his hand on his shoulder- tell the men to divide into groups of thirty -he ordered- some will be in charge of protecting the citizens, and the others will come with me to protect the city -he paused- go -he said- take my horse

-General… -the man began, but Maximus stopped him with a negative gesture of his head-

-Do it, Thracian. You know where to find him

They watched him walk away, pushing his way through the crowd, while they stood there motionless. Diana gave Maximus a sidelong glance, who returned it.

A simple glance was enough for both of them to know what they had to do. They entered the house again and when they came out again they did so with their battle armor on, and their weapons sheathed in their corresponding sheaths.

"We will defend this city," he said. "Rome will not fall while I live."

Diana nodded firmly, before following him through the people on the way to the port. When they arrived, thirty men of the Phoenix legion were waiting for the invaders to disembark.

Diana swallowed nervously and followed Maximus until she was on one of the flanks. The men glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, to which the general responded with a nod of his head.

"We will attack on my signal!" –he shouted for everyone to hear- Be alert!

The ships approached at high speed. Maximus glanced at Diana, who nodded her head letting him know that she was okay. Suddenly a sound like a rope breaking reached both of their ears.

-Shields! –he shouted, raising his own, as did she-

He felt the arrows stick into the surface, before lowering it again.

Then he saw them.

These men, clad in heavy and ornate armor that he had never seen before, disembarked at the port, and on horseback rode to where they were.

-Archers, charge! –Maximus indicated, the men placed their bows in position and waited for the signal from their general-

Just as the first enemy horseman stepped onto the causeway leading into the city, Maximus gestured downwards with his hand.

-Release! - he ordered, a blast more powerful than the one they had launched before fell on the invaders, leaving several dead or half-bled in the water.

Maximus unsheathed his sword, a gesture that all his men, including her, imitated.

Diana watched as the soldiers placed their shields in front of them to protect themselves from the imminent attack.

The invaders rushed at them with a brutality and anger that she had never seen. Maximus threw blows quickly: right, left, up, down, feint to the right, feint to the left. Every now and then she glanced at him to see if he needed her help.

When he saw him impale two of them by driving his sword all the way through their throats, he knew his help was not needed. They fought for what seemed like an eternity, until no more men emerged from the ships.

The remaining soldiers raised their swords and celebrated their victory with cheers and shouts. Maximus turned to Diana, whose face was stained with blood just like him. It didn't matter, because they were both alive.

The general ordered the archers to light the tips of their arrows and burn the ships, and that was exactly what they did.

When they were done and the ships were still burning in the flames, Maximus nodded for her to come closer. Diana watched him, trying to see from his face what was going on in his mind.

-We have to help Thracian - was all he said, and that was enough for the two of them to set off without a moment's hesitation-

At that moment a rearing horse made its way through the crowd.

Maximus recognized it instantly, it was his horse, the one he had left with…

Thracian

-By all the gods - Diana murmured, bringing her hands to her mouth to keep from screaming-

On the back of Maximus' beautiful white horse was Thracian, with an arrow stuck in his shoulder. The general stood in front of the animal and after calming it by stroking its mane, he focused on his friend, who was very pale.

Tremors shook his body, and Diana knew he was dying.

-General –he stammered as they both pulled him off the horse- I'm sorry, I did everything I could but they… -he coughed hard, blood pooling at the corners of his lips- I couldn't…

-Don't talk, friend –said Maximo lifting him in his arms- you'll be fine

Diana held the horse by the reins and followed Maximus. Already at home, Diana made space at the kitchen table so they could support the soldier. A moan of pain escaped her lips as she felt the arrow tearing through her muscle little by little.

-I need a couple of hot towels and a knife –said Diana, looking at Maximo-

He nodded before going for what she had asked for. She dipped the towel in a bucket of hot water and placed it on his forehead to act as an anesthetic. Then she focused on the wound on his shoulder.

If she didn't remove the arrow right then, the infection would spread and she would have to cut off his arm.

-Hold him - she asked him, the general placed his hands on his knees-

-Thracian - she called him, he looked at her with difficulty, it was becoming more difficult for him to keep his eyes open- I'm going to take out the arrow - she announced - I need you to be still, okay? - he nodded with difficulty, she put another towel in his mouth - bite this - she said, he obeyed - okay - he took a deep breath putting his fingers around the thin wood of the projectile - one, two…

When she got to three he pulled, which made the arrow come out of his shoulder. Diana quickly cleaned the wound with hot water, then made an improvised bandage with another towel and a piece of the fabric of the shirt she was wearing under her armor.

Thracian took a couple of deep breaths with difficulty. Despite what had just happened, he was still alive.

-How are you? –asked Maximus, looking at him with concern-

-As if I had been shot –he answered, sketching a tired smile- I will recover –he reassured him- I just have to sleep a little

-No way –Diana intervened- you have to stay awake –she went to the kitchen and gave him some of the bread and cheese that was left over from that morning's breakfast- eat, that way you will be entertained and not fall asleep

Thracian accepted the food and took a big bite of the cheese, while looking at him.

-You have saved my life –he whispered- thank you, Diana

-Yes –Maximus murmured, watching her carefully- it is her habit to do so

[thestudentfarmer]

Jan 9 2025

Little urban homesteading update with and about the chickens~

I started 6 chicken eggs in the incubator yesterday :)

In 21 days we hope to have our first chicken hatchput :D

I haven't done hatchs on my own. my sister was the one who played with the incubator last it was used, and she was just learning too, to hatch out For her ducks. so this is a full first-time go for me.

I'll be using a janoel12 incubator, and the eggs are coming from the flock we currently have. though if successful, I'll likely hatch out a few from other flock keepers who practice their chicken keeping in a similar mindset to ours.

Several people have asked (irl and online) if we are concerned about any certain virus going around. I would like to say, We are keeping an eye on it in our area and others. At this time, we are continuing with flock keeping as normal. Some things we have changed in keeping, some things we already practiced before.

1. We are now keeping our flock penned up so wild songbirds, pigeons, and other wild/feral birds and feral or "outdoor" cats can not get into their water or feed sources. Nor can they nest on, in or around their roost and run. unfortunately, the chickens do not get free yard run anymore. At least not for a while.

2. Regular cleaning and sanitizing of water containers and food troughs and weekly deep clean of roost/run. Full compost and/or disposal in green clean services available in the city/state we reside. We do use peices of copper tubing inside the waterers to assist in algae reduction and to help keep the water cleaner of bacterials. (Effective for some things)

2b) for us, we wear Long jeans, socks, boots. Long sleeves, gloves and face mask while handling dusty things and cleaning of run and coop. We do have valley fever risk from the soil, particulalry during dust storm season. so this wasn't really new safety measures for us and is kind of a regular precaution. we also change and shower down immediatly after a particulalry dirty job or flock handling.

2c) tools, keep tools cleaned between use and if multiusetools. Particulalry those between flock to otherwise. This can be as simple as spray down, sun dry (rakes, hand tools) to bleach sanitizer solution (scissors, gloves and small items).

3. Keep an eye on beak/nose, eyes, combs/wattles, feet and energy levels of the flock. Quarantine and give medical aid where need and can. Cull if necessary and if suspect of avian virus's of concerns, notify county or state authorities for testing.

Keeping basic sanitary practices and vigilance on flock health is usually enough to keep most problems away for both people and the animals they care for and keep. Not all, but most.

A few years ago, mareks disease got a flock of a homesteader in a separate county (same online circles). Once confirmed and the flock culled, they were told they couldn't have any poultry for seven years. None. So we and other urban and suburban flock keeper sin our area tend to take flock health fairly seriously and keep a pretty good eye on them.

As an urban/suburban flock keeper its worth noting this again, as i always do when it come to asking about keeping flocks.

We became painfully aware that we do not have any avian vets who specialize in chickens after we needed one the first time. Their seen as an agricultural animal and those vets are currently very hard to find, or too expensive to get to visit (many only do house visits or it's a few hours to their office with no easy public transport) when living in an urban and suburban environment.

Thankfully, we've mostly had egg bound hens and bumblefoot as health problems aside from that first time. Both are able to be taken care of at home with minimal equipment and medicines. Youtube has been a great resource for learning how to take care of both and others (spur removal, wound care, different entertainment methods).

But do be aware if you want to keep a flock (chickens, quails, ducks, geese) in any situation you may need to (and should) learn some basic medical care on top of the rest.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by :)

🌱🐔🐓Happy Homesteading 🐓🐔🌱

[pinkberrypocky]

pmmm rewatch live notes: ep 9

wough. ep 9. wough. the design of sayaka's labyrinth. the way kyoko chooses to die with sayaka. screaming crying throwing up.

THE WAY SAYAKA’S LABYRINTH IS MUSICAL

Earlier when she was in despair but not a witch she was floating in symbolic waves of sadness that looked kinda like music waves

In sayaka’s labyrinth the sword as the conductor wand is SO CRAZY

Bc the conductor is the one who decides how everything goes and what the rules are and sayaka was determining the rules for the world as a warrior of justice but she was wrong

The bugs around the lamps when madoka is on the way to find sayaka !!!

madoka is walking on a railroad track when she comes across homura and kyoko carrying sayaka

There is a railroad motif in her labyrinth

The silence of the train and then the sudden sound of the train as madoka comes to the realization of what happened to sayaka

“From now on for every person she has saved she will curse another” really ties back into the idea that hope and despair cancel out to zero

Homura isn’t able to comfort madoka bc she has been through what madoka is going though countless times and knows crying is pointless

Homura saying that she doesn’t consider herself human and kyoko shouldn't either is so AAAA

Madoka small on her bed with her knees to her chest and kyubey’s giant shadow on the curtain as he looms over her

Why are there so many empty chairs in madoka’s room?

For the past versions of her?

For everyone she will save?

Madoka asks kyubey if the magical girls are just disposable energy sources

Which is exactly what it is

They are a natural resource for the incubators to manipulate, reshape, and commodify with no regard for their humanity

Kyubey moves to sit on a chair… What does this/the chairs represent?

I don’t think madoka truly saw kyubey as an enemy until this episode when he says he doesn’t understand why they are upset about a few people dying

Before that she tried so hard to understand him bc she wants to see the best in everyone and find a path forward together but this is a fundamental difference they can’t meet on

Kyoko is seen eating a shit ton of food right after the whole sayaka thing

Reminding herself that she’s not back in the situation she was with her dad

She’s not poor she is safe and can eat when she is hungry

False sense of security in food

The reason she is always snacking is bc it brings her comfort

Kyoko tells madoka that until they knows for sure that sayaka can’t be saved she wants to try

She isn’t trying to put up the facade that she doesn’t care about others anymore

She is doing something selfless blatantly and doesn’t seem upset about it either

Kyoko says that it was sayaka who reminded her why she became a magical girl in the first place (to save others)

So its so narratively tasty that she dies to “save” sayaka in the only remaining way she can

Kyoko tried to teach sayaka the truth about the horrors life but in turn she was reminded of the good parts by sayaka

In the building kyoko and madoka break into to get to sayaka’s labyrinth is lit in yellow

So interesting how mami dies first but her color shows up the most in setting/objects

Her influence living on and continuing to have an impact on the actions of all of them

Kyoko does what mami tried to do in terms of educating about the magical girl reality 

She tells madoka to wait to make a wish until she has no choice

She is always talking about how tough it is and doesn’t sugar coat anything 

She is seen as an opposite to mami but in reality they are so similar

They are also the only two who have experienced economic hardship

Sayaka’s witch form wears a suit of armor like a knight (like she wished to be)

All the people playing the violin in time perfectly no matter what is happening around them bc sayaka’s whole thing is making sure things play on (and literally that kyosuke can play violin)

The red and blue sayaka and kyoko in kyoko’s internal monologue of talking to/with sayaka is SO AAAAAAA

The only time in this fight that kyoko gets mad is when sayaka attacks madoka 

Bc that shows that sayaka is truly gone bc protecting (esp her loved ones) is everything to her

Kyoko tells homura to focus on the one thing that matters to her most to the end

Homura looks at her with madoka in her arms

Kyoko takes down her hair and kisses her soul gem before breaking it to die w sayaka

In context w the quote from above she is apologizing to herself, what mattered most to her, bc she has found something else that she isn’t willing to give up on, even if it means giving up on herself 

The first time we see homura’s nameplate for her house when she talks w kyoko its red bc they aren’t a team yet then the next time it's lit in yellow bc they are a team now but then when kyoko dies it is just gray

[contrasting-realities]

Lore for a Sims 4 Shadows House Game

I have a save file on the sims 4 where I recreated the shadows house. It is a challenge where the goal is to take over the entire map with the shadows house but that's not what I'm going to share today.

Nope. I wrote lore for this iteration of the shadows house and it is quite different from the source material.

To start off, this shadows house is an offshoot of the original, created by four shadows (and one living doll) who managed to escape. They are this house's "3rd floor".

Gabriel: A shadow with the same soot power as Great Grandfather, but who lacks a face. He was a big deal for the OG shadows house due to him being a second source of soot coffee but his doll died before his invitation from a deadly infection. This led the children's wing manager to lock him away in the punishment room to hide the incident, where he met the living doll of the group (who will be discussed later).

Monica & Margette: Two members of Gabriel's debut class, both were invited and passed unification. They wondered why Gabriel hadn't been invited with them considering that the Children's wing manager had such expectations for him. Monica is weird but mostly harmless and Margette is a blunt and impulsive woman who notably is uncomfortable around those younger than her. Monica's soot power is growth/aging acceleration or stalling while Margette can project events occurring in one location somewhere else

Pierre: A second floor shadow who felt like he wasn't being recognized by his superiors, so he hatched a plan to leave and use Gabriel to create a new shadows house. He is the mastermind behind this whole thing, a calm and collected sociopath. His soot power is the ability to control any corpse.

Rohan: The living doll I mentioned earlier. He was locked away in the punishment room because his shadow had died due to the CW Manager's incompetence. As a doll he was called "Roy" but his real name is Rohan, a long time ago he was a juvenile delinquent but the death of his shadow and the time he spent with the others after escaping gave him a paralyzing fear of death (since adult shadows don't age and Gabriel doesn't since his doll is dead). This caused him to allow Pierre to experiment on him, as Pierre is a mad scientist, for potential immortality, because he is immune to soot of certain textures (read: allergic) which Monica happens to fall under.

The new shadows house sits upon crappy land in the middle of a backwater area that has frequently been a battleground in several wars. The locals hated their previous lords and therefore the shadows took advantage of that to overthrow them and take over.

People also tend to go missing in this town, for reasons that aren't widely known but it seems to have stopped since the shadows family took over. The actual reason is that there is an eldritch horror asleep beneath the town who not only eats people from time to time but also makes the place a practical swamp infested with pests, the shadows house only stopped it since the creature assumes that disposed of pairs are sacrifices for it.

Now for the shadows house itself, it's functionally the same as the original with one major difference: no lying. they didn't have the resources to set up the same masquerade that the original had, so they instead offered the villagers the luxuries of soot coal and protection from the constant wars.

The children's wing was only created after a major war was declared by a different country, as this town is part of a region that is constantly changing hands violently, everyone reacted as you'd expect. Pierre took advantage of this to bolster the number of adult shadows to not only complete his final steps of his plan, but to defend themselves against any invaders who might come by (as adult shadows are superior to any humans).

The villagers know what the shadows family are, but worship them regardless because of what they've done to help. Living dolls are selected based on who's willing to sacrifice themselves, as unification is a well known fact in this place. It is considered a honorable thing to serve as a shadows face and even though there is memory alteration, it is mostly done to prevent outside families from trying to use their children to gain status/power (there was one incident of a child having a ribbon sewed into her face as a 'gift' for the noblemen, they banned any form of body modification soon after) and living dolls still know that they are humans, shadows also know about unification and that they are originally morphs.

Most living dolls are physically around 15 or 16 when they go to serve the shadows house and have a good idea of what they're getting into. I say physically because due to their small population, Monica uses her soot power to accelerate the growth of any children in the area by a long shot, the population is growing but fairly slowly.

Eventually, portals to different worlds were discovered. One leads to a 1950s type world while the other leads to a town infested with magic, both are alternate versions of this town and the new shadows house has branches in each, to help create more adults of course.

there are also 3 different timelines with different quirks depending on who became head of the first children's wing. Margette's is the standard timeline, Pierre's had him discover magic earlier due to one of the dolls being a bastard child between a human and a witch, and Monica's has her keeping 20 pairs at once out of fear that the recent war will be much deadlier than predicted.

(Also, this is all canon to one of my fanfics, but I'm not telling you guys which yet. You're welcome to guess though.)

[holly-fixation]

Since the Beginning: Part 2/2

Summary: What if Jenova immediately saw the potential in Sephiroth? What if she managed to communicate with him from the day he was born? What would she do? What would he become?

Inspired by This post by @altocat. 

…

The war with Wutai had already begun, Shinra displaying its strength in some far off land for the purpose of building yet another mako reactor. In days, their ultimate trump card would step foot on the foreign soil and decimate their enemies at their command. 

At least that’s what they believed. 

Sephiroth couldn't care less about their goals. He would rather burn them all to the ground for what they did to his mother. He felt how far she was. It took months after their first true introduction to understand that deeper connection, that single thread tugging him in the same direction no matter what. Tugging him towards her. 

The Cetra captured her. Humanity tortured her. Every one of them would die by his hands the moment he saved her. The only problem was they, to an extent, knew that too. 

When he was ten years old, while Hojo and most of the lab techs were distracted by the captured Cetra and half breed daughter, he tried to break free. He killed three guards, freed multiple monsters through the halls, and destroyed dozens of mako tanks, feeling Mother pride and swallowing the compliments to relish once successful. He crawled through vents and tried to avoid anyone he could. But somehow, no matter how far he ran or crawled, he never made it out. The vents circled back to the main examination room. The hallways wove like spiderwebs and always led him to the epicenter of the lab. 

Both he and Mother assumed some sort of lock down procedure blocked all true exits with walls that seemed real. He slashed against all the metal walls for any hint of direction, listening for the differences in the breaking material to find the true exit. But he never did. His sword broke in half and the remaining shard struggled to pierce the material at all. 

He gave his escape everything he had, but he was too young and too weak. They waited him out. The technicians and scientists simply found an internal room he wouldn't bother going into in the first place and watched until the very last drop of his energy fell. Even in the moment he collapsed, he knew he was stronger than this, but without the adrenaline of battle or his own life pushing beyond the breaking point, he couldn't tap into his potential. Not on command. Not yet. 

They punished him severely for his disobedience. He never had a day of rest again. He never had an hour of rest. Thirty minutes of rest. They trapped him in training rooms with every monster or machine they had at their disposal. When they ran low on resources, they locked him in simulations for what felt like days. They ripped every shred of power out of him. They pushed him even farther on days he spoke to Mother. 

He barely had energy to clean himself before passing out on the bed. They trapped him at extremes, throwing everything he had at his enemies to a nearly blank mind from exhaustion. 

This war was his chance to finally abandon Shinra, to ditch this army the moment his feet landed on the soil. Just a few more days. Just a few more days. 

Training today had finally ended and he grasped his few minutes to himself with both hands. Despite his determination, his body leaned against the wall as he panted. His eyes nearly fell closed on their own. His sword dangled by a single thread of his grip. Gods he was tired. If only he could pass out right here… If only he had the strength he needed to save her... Until he heard something. Movement along the walls, quick shuffling around corners and careful steps. 

Soon he saw the sources, the brown haired Cetra mother and daughter, flush against a wall as the mother looked ahead. He never saw them after his escape attempt. They weren't supposed to be here. 

Follow them. 

He and Mother had the same thought at the same time. His curiosity stirred just enough energy back to the surface to stealthily stay behind them and tail their movements. 

They found a door that absolutely did not exist when he tried to escape on his own. The techs really did initiate a lockdown he’d never seen before that day so many years ago. They slipped through it silently, the daughter never leaving the mother's side. 

Go. 

He followed quietly through the floor, careful not to make a sound. He may be a master of stealth by now, but his constant exhaustion made him sloppy, unreliable. The Cetra heard him before they even left the lab. 

But they were terrified, and the mother stood between the silver haired teen and her young daughter. 

“Are you trying to escape…?” He tried to question with power in his voice, but his ever present exhaustion claimed it. 

They nodded slowly, finding no need to lie with being caught in the act, yet the mother tightened her stance. 

He felt what he should say next, another gift given by his own mother. “Please… take me with you…”

That statement confused them both.

“I…” He panted, bleeding their sympathy to his advantage, knowing that despite their own knowledge they couldn't help but see him as a tortured child. “I can't do this anymore… I can get us out of here if I just get my stamina back…”

Ifalna looked him over for a second before questioning, “How do we know you won't attack us instead?”

You don't. 

“You have my word… You can take my sword if it helps… We go our separate ways the moment Shinra's off our tails…”

Aerith’s head tilted a bit but Ifalna understood completely. It was a risk, a large risk to give the calamity's son any strength. But if he just wanted to escape, then that's what they would do. “Then follow behind. But I'm not replenishing your energy.”

A small look of confusion appeared on his face before he swallowed it down harshly. “Very well…” A stealth mission behind two Cetra would take far more time than a simple massacre, but he had no other option. 

Their little group weaved down the corridors and levels until they finally booked it through the only exit of the lab. 

Sephiroth winced the moment they passed through the door. “They know we left… We need to get out now…”

“What? How-?”

“High frequency alarms coming from all of us…”

Ifalna's eyes widened. Tracking chips. She should've known through all the surgeries they survived one of them would be so they could never escape. 

“We have thirty seconds before this floor is swarmed…” He explained one of the lessons he learned through countless years of training. He tried to move ahead, simply putting one foot in front of the other a mindful and taxing task. He didn't know how much longer he could push through. “The elevators are probably shut down for 'maintenance' already... We need to take the stairs…”

Ifalna nodded and lifted her child into her arms. She then took the chance, restoring pieces of Sephiroth's energy with her magic. The rest of their escape was a blur of healing magic and never ending sprints. Even with their spells, Shinra drained Sephiroth's energy with wave after wave of security. Their first moment of reprieve was long after they snuck onto one of the trains to the underplates.

* * * 

Mother hated them. The moment the woman and girl entered the lab, she told him exactly what their kind did to her. That they trapped her. That they were the reason she couldn't be at his side.

“Be civil, boy. I don’t need any more of your attitude. That’s an order.” Hojo, still not knowing the full extent of the boy's communication, did not care about his opinion on the Cetra. The doctor absolutely knew nothing of every detail burning through his mind. 

“What can possibly be so good about them?” Sephiroth immediately snapped, ignoring the professor's demand. ��Name one thing and I'll stop.”

“Insolent boy-!”

Without them, you would not exist. We would not have this cherished connection. Take solace in that simple truth. 

The entirety of Hojo's rant drowned in the mighty sea of Mother's voice. 

Simple truth? At what cost?

Sephiroth exhaled, his eyes downward and his head slightly bowed. “I apologize. I'll keep it in mind.” Double answers. Double questions. A trick he learned to communicate with mother without notice.

“You better. Another tantrum and there will be hell to pay.”

He only ran to his cell and barricaded the door with his bed frame. And the second time he didn't even do anything, just glared at the little girl and cracked his neck. It wasn't too ridiculous, but he swallowed his instinctual retort. “Yes, sir.”

The scientist opened the door to the chamber, Sephiroth walking through with slightly less reluctance. 

At the opposite wall stood Aerith and Ifalna, the daughter and mother, the last of the bloodline that maliciously tortured and weakened Mother until mobility, magic, and speech were ripped from Her very being. 

And here he was expected to 'play nice' with them. 

He clenched his jaw before forcing himself to soften. “I apologize for scaring you.” He spoke specifically to the little girl, but the Cetra mother still glared at him. 

Aerith shook her head and tried to hide behind the woman's red dress. 

“It was… unfair of me to act so hostile when you have done nothing wrong.” Lies. All lies leaving his lips. But if this was to work, their 'companionship', then he needed to seem sympathetic. To seem like he learned his lesson. 

The mother kept the same planet green glare. 

He held a hand to his heart and watched her, trying to understand her intentions. “Will you forgive me?”

She knows.

How could the planet possibly know what was going through his head? Through Mother's? Who else could tell her?

Not all. She knows enough. Focus on the child to weaken her. They can be of use if they believe you are alone.

* * * 

Thus, they trusted him enough. Enough to escape the lab and Shinra's grasp. Enough to tear out and destroy their tracking chips without killing them. Enough to sit with them now in cloaks stolen from street vendors to conceal their way to Sector Five. 

The train rattled against the tracks as it traveled from the prison of the upper plates to the chance of making it out of Midgar alive below. 

Aerith sat nuzzled and hiding in her mother's lap, tugging down her yellow cloak as much as she could. Ifalna wrapped an arm around her protectively as she scanned the windows for potential troops. 

Sephiroth should have followed her example, but his eyes remained on them no matter what he did. Even his exhaustion paled in the face of this mother and daughter together, an ache in his heart forcing him to function. 

Soon. 

Very soon. 

He knew even thinking of a response was dangerous, so he pulled his gaze to the floor. 

“Sephiroth,” Ifalna whispered, her voice barely heard under the chatter of other passengers. “What's your plan? Do you have a place to go?”

His gaze hardened. “...You don't either.”

“We can find one together.” A suggestion. A request. Not a demand or an order. “We don't have to go our separate ways.”

Now he could not bear to look at her. “It's far more dangerous to stick together. And I'm recognizable. I'm a danger if I remain near you.”

“We're in danger with or without you,” She spoke softly, kindly, despite her constant watchful eyes. “An extra plate will be much easier to find than an extra home.”

“...I can't stay in Midgar, and you can't travel with Aerith. I have an idea of where I can go, but I'm still working on a plan.” He suddenly felt a hand on his arm. Pleading. Asking. 

Ifalna took a shaky breath, hesitation staining her words. “...It’s lying to you.”

Now his inhuman eyes met her planet green ones. 

“It's a good liar. It knows the promises it needs to make. Listen closely. Really listen, beyond the words themselves. The feeling behind them. The truth.”

But he knew the truth. He knew the feelings well. She guided him wholly. No lies. No farces. Only Her. There was no manipulating his way out of Ifalna's knowledge, so he spoke a half truth, "I will." I am. 

She caught it. He knew she did by the small cringe of her eye. But this mother did not call him out directly. “I don't know what It promised you… but is there anything I can do to replace it? To replicate it?”

A true mother's love is unconditional. 

“...No.”

She pet her daughter's head and went silent.

He could kill them. Right now. It would be so easy. So simple. Especially because they knew the truth. But bringing any more unwanted attention may very well land him back in the lab, perhaps never leaving again as punishment. 

All he needed to do was find mother. He knew Her direction. He knew she was far, but he would find his way no matter what. After parting from the filthy Cetras, he began his ultimate quest.

* * * 

Shinra truly hid Her as far as possible, didn’t they? It took him several days to realize she was not on the same continent as Midgar, that She was far west across the sea. He made whatever gil he could selling monster remains before finally having enough to pay off one of Shinra’s lowly cadets, earning himself a stow away seat on a large container ship. 

Trapped on the ocean for twenty four hours, he could only pray no one would recognize him from under his dark, hooded cloak. He kept his head down and never looked anyone in the eye. He debated cutting his hair before walking aboard but it was far too late now. 

You’re doing so well.

Her words of encouragement warmed his heart. He was so tired of this company. So tired of their annoyances and defenses. So tired of the constant threat of capture. He just wanted Her.

They will never contain us again.

He sighed softly, believing Her as he always had. She was always right. Always.

These people would soon suffer for the pain and despair they both endured for so long. 

Once at the shores of Costa del Sol, nothing stood in his way. After all the years of grueling training and isolation, lessened only by Mother’s heavenly presence in both his mind and his dreams, neither the coal filled mountains, the empty desert canyon, or the wide rushing river halted his advance.

He finally made it. After a full month on the run, he walked through the gates of Nibelheim. 

You’re so close. I can feel it. 

Sephiroth could too, the feeling in his chest not any stronger or weaker, only on the verge of satisfaction. Of revelation. 

Of reunion between Mother and Son that never existed in the same room for a moment of their lives. 

The sinister peaks of mount Nibel barely drew his attention. So much joy grew in his heart as he took steps closer and closer to Her. The comfort overwhelming, the need for more undying.

The simple townsfolk running the mako reactor never stood a chance against a blade like his. He was completely blinded by finally seeing her name that he never acknowledged the incubation pods around him. The only thing that mattered was the room marked with the name She gave him all those years ago. 

J-E-N-O-V-A

He heated his blade with fire magic until the metal glowed orange and jammed it through the door. Of course the weakened metal buckled against the fortified entrance, but it managed to make the crevasse he needed. 

He spent so long playing with fire, planning their revenge on this Planet and its people. 

His true fire spell fractured the door with a loud boom, the failed vault collapsing into three asymmetrical pieces in a cloud of smoke and dust. He walked through it, not bothering to wait for the sediment to settle. His inhuman eyes met a metal, almost female statue with wings of wires.

It wasn’t what he saw in his dreams.

Destroy it. 

Without thinking, he grabbed and attempted to lift the fake by its torso, but the wires and base prevented any progress. He attacked them first, kicking and clawing through live wires and its pristine exoskeleton until it finally detached and fell to the mako below. 

Finally the hazard lights activated and the entire room brightened until every little detail was visible. But his mako-blue eyes remained at the center. 

She looked exactly like She did in her projections of his dreams, yet at the same time she was so different from what he pictured. He approached the glass as he scanned every shred of her body. 

Finally. Finally.

She was beautiful to him. More beautiful than anything he had ever seen.

I am so proud, my son.

Her weakened state trapped her true voice in her useless body, but he was always grateful to hear her at all. His heart swelled with unending bliss. 

“What can I do?”

She was in so much pain for so long. And after all this time, he could finally help instead of sulking through the impression of her suffering. 

Free me.

He curled his gloved fists and shattered the container, slightly cyan liquid gushing as a waterfall to the abyss below. Shards pierced through the leather, drawing blood, but he did not flinch. He held Her body lovingly as he released Her from Her prison of so many years, holding his forehead to the cold plate above Hers.

“...I can’t heal you…” He choked. He believed almost every word She gave him, but he denied this fact with everything he had. “What can I do…?”

Join me.

He would follow her to another planet if that’s what it took. “Where?”

Below. Into the Lifestream. It is the only way to regain my strength and unlock your potential. 

Sephiroth closed his inhuman eyes in resolve.

You will become godlike. And I will remain at your side forever.

Forever. Forever to exist in her warm embrace. 

Why would he ever say no? 

.

.

.

.

Part 1 Transition (Part 1.5)

Author's note: I really struggled with this one. I liked the concept of Sephiroth seeing true motherhood through interactions of Aerith and Ifalna, but I didn't have a good way to justify why two Cetra would be willing to work with The Son of The Calamity from the Sky. That and writing from the villain's perspective is always difficult for me (well, without becoming a massive jerk in real life as a result). Though I usually pride myself on keeping “characters in character”, this was the best I could do. I apologize for the wait. Thank you for reading.