#I was thinking you can fill the form and if you don't say your username I wont even know your identity so its ok 😬✌🏻✨

[natolesims]

I made a sim for your challenge, but now I am too shy to post it, so I need to find someone to root for

Ñooo, I'd love to see your sim! 🥹 If you still want to submit them, I can keep it anon as well! If not, it's completely ok and I hope you choose your favourite wisely 👀

[horrorisunknowntoyou]

Watching From The Sidelines P.4

[SAGAU X SHAPESHIFTER READER]

Synopsis: The game continues, but feelings of pain start arising. You are vulnerable. But this might be a wake up call for you.

A/n: Thank you so much for the support! Y'all filling my notifications with tag list request lmao. I can't write all of you, I have 4 index cards full of usernames. But I'll try my best!

TW// vomiting blood, being very sick.

Also heavy leaning to Zhongli x Reader

Song recommendations:

Gold - Imagine Dragons

Golden hour - JVKE

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

It's been a few months since the game has started.

Life was going on as normally, well as normal as a business man working with literally gods chasing you.

Of course even with unlimited stamina, and unmatched skill, it's starting to take a toll on your body. You couldn't explain it, but something was hurting deep inside you.

Maybe it was the fact you haven't been 'you'.

You been stuck as m/n for months! And your kinda starting to forget who you are. Sure it's been a lot of fun to play pretend. Being smug and rich and whatever...but you kinda miss old you.

The person who played genshin for fun! Sure, your no longer financially struggling or suffering but at this point, looking in the mirror is starting to be painful.

You don't know how long you can play this game anymore.

Of course you knew the acolytes and followers are more then devoted to you, willing to do whatever to do whatever you want. To prove themselves to you and win your favor, and this point they added so much people it's starting to get annoying.

Yeah, it's fun but you don't know how much your heart can take it.

Currently your hiding inside a shed, listening carefully to your surroundings outside.

You felt this unbearable sinking feeling in your chest. At this point your tempted to call the game quits because something is very wrong.

You really don't want to though.

Hours passed, sinking in and out of consciousness, you see a person shouting at you trying to warn you something before gasping awake.

You unintentionally fell asleep in the shed, bewildered and stressed out you decided leaving the shed for air was your best bet.

As you clutched onto you stomach you felt very uncomfortable.

You took a deep breathe of air, trying to stable yourself but you can't. You don't know why? Was it you doubting yourself? Who's the person you dreamed of?

Imagines of someone speaking to you popped into your head again, disorienting you.

"Zhongli!" You yelled out, leaning on a wall coughing into your hand, noticing it shine in reflection of the sun.

It was blood.

Your blood.

He immediately appeared, startling you, he looked at you concerned.

You immediately shaped shifted to your original form.

" I-i hate to end the game, but I...I don't feel well I don't think I can continue on." You mumbles to him.

His eyes widen at this, as other acolytes appeared behind him. You started coughing again, and next thing you knew. You vomit out blood, and collapsed on the ground.

You heard screaming, crying, and feeling of hands holding you gently in their grasp.

You also saw that person again briefly, they were stroking your hair mumbling sweet nothings to you.

It felt warm.

Then everything went to black.

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

You felt comfortable.

Very comfortable.

You blinked slowly, waking up realizing youwere practically drowning in pillows and blankets. Staring at the ceiling above you, before eventually sitting up. You were on this huge bed, gently patting your chest. Noticing the change of clothes.

It was a simple white nightgown, most likely due to your other clothes covered in your blood.

Before you can even think, the door swung open, The archons looking at you.

"YOUR GRACE YOU'RE AWAKE!" Venti yellowed out, practically tears brimming his eyes. " I was so worried! "

"Your highness please, never scare us like that again." Zhongli says, closing the door behind him so others don't barge in.

Ei stood their silently, looking at you with sadden look.

You sigh," Zhongli... explained what happened after I blacked out?"

He nods, " Of course your grace, after...after you passed out, we thought we lost you after so long. We had to shield you and bring you back to the temple quick as possible. We got the best doctors to check up on you. "

You looked at your hands, clenching them into fists before letting go.

"My body was probably stressing out after using so much of my shapeshifting ability. And it magnifying with my identity crisis. It made me too vulnerable.

But who is that person I keep seeing? I didn't even dream of them..."

You sigh, " I apologize for worrying you all, it appears I must pause the game in the meantime. As I need to rest and heal. I had no idea this would have happened. I'll take note of it in the future. "

You tried to get up, but all three Archons immediately set you back down.

" I apologize your highness but we can not let you leave this room. " Zhongli says firmly, tucking you back in. "If you want anything, we will get it for you."

After everything, you just agree with it. "Ei take care of my business, Venti alert the others I'm awake. Zhongli you stay with me. " You quietly ordered them.

They all nod.

You were exhausted even if you just awoke. Som much things already on your mind.

"Zhongli can I ask you an odd request." You mumbles.

"Nothing is odd if it's coming from you your highness. What is your request?" He asked, sitting on a chair besides the bed to keep watch.

You gently lend a hand out, " can I hold your hand?"

He perked up at the request, " H-hold your hand? It would be an honor. " He gently grabs your hand. It felt reassuring to have, as you slowly blink. Falling asleep with your hand interlock with Zhongli's.

You didn't dream of that person again.

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

You been recovering well, however you practically can not do anything. Like at all.

Also no info could be found of the person you are looking for. Which is huge bummer but you'll look more into it yourself once at full health.

Besides that, due to the accident the Archons are scared you're going to vomit out blood again. They are hovering over you 24/7, like you can't be alone at all. Someone has to be with you at all times.

You couldn't even feed yourself, someone has to feed you by hand while you sat in bed.

It was humiliating.

But you couldn't do much until your strength was fully back.

But there was something you didn't expect....

That was meeting the harbingers.

You were literally in a nightgown, in bed, resting and Dottore was doing a check up on you....

HOW WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO ACT????

You knew of pantalone due to business connects and such as m/n. But the others? How the hell were you supposed to deal with them???

You just sat there, unsure as they asked how your doing and such. It was obvious they wanted to be in your favor.

All you can do is let them, as time passed and you watch the harbingers speak to each other. You paid them no attention as you slowly drifted to sleep engulfed in a warm embrace of it.

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

At this point, you were so sick of resting.

Besides Ei bringing you papers to read or give your signature to for your business. You practically had nothing to do!

Your been nagged to death by so many people, The Archons, Harbingers, followers etc. The list goes on and your going insane. The amount of times late at night your suffocating yourself with a pillow or punching it before being sedated by Zhongli.

You wanted to rip your hair out!

However the more you slept, the more you talked to 'that' person.

You still don't know who it is, but it's clear they were warning you of your illness.

Which confused you still, but that's a plus up. However that still doesn't change your issues.

1. Who is dream person?

2.Health is not fully healed.

3.Stuck in the temple much to your displeasure.

4. Having to pause the game.

Things are not going as you planned....

You are pacing in your room, Zhongli watching you in concerned.

"Is something wrong your highness? You seem troubled. " He asked but all you can do is pace back in forth thinking.

You looked at him.

"Zhongli, what your opinion in continuing the game? We never finished it." You faced him. He thinks about it, " I-im unsure your highness, believe me, as we want to prove our loyalty to you. You must understand we don't know how much you recovered. We fear of loosing you. "

" so if I were to wish to continue, it's assume the others would decline? "

" Most likely yes your highness. "

You sigh, running your hand through your hair, " call a meeting with everyone involved in the game. " You command yanking the doors open and swiftly walking down the hallway.

Zhongli immediately chases after you, " your highness! I understand you're displeased but your in a nightgown! Barefooted on tile! " He tries to usher you , but you only ignored him.

Others soon noticed you, common folk immediately bowed before you and stepped away. Others started to follow behind you trying to put you back to bed.

You headed to the throne room, and sat at your throne. Not caring if your dressed improperly, you wanted things done.

Aether and Paimon was visiting a noticed you walking in and the archons following behind you as well body guards. He was confused what was going on as more appeared. Soon him and Paimon was ushered in.

You held a meeting.

"As many of you know, I gotten I'll however. I feel I rested enough. I wish to continue the game. " You command, resting your head on your hand watching the others.

Chatter erupted the room.

Some disagreed to this, prioritizing your health above anything else. Other's were arguing for it, as you created the game and wished for this.

It was hotly debated between the folk.

You sat above and watched down at them, listening to their opinions. You honestly wanted to know what to do. Crossing you legs and pondered.

Zhongli was absolutely against this and he took off his coat and place it on your lap. Keeping you covered.

"Ah, thank you." You quietly say. Unknowingly as others noticed this. Them turing to face you.

"Its my pleasure your highness." Zhongli says with a smile, placing a kiss on your hand.

What was meant to be a serious debated turned into an argument over you. And now others were suggesting to give you a piece of their clothing to you.

You couldn't help but laugh nervously and blush at this stupid situation. How the hell are you supposed to manage this stupid mess? This is nothing like running a business.

God help me.

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

Tag list:

@borbsbirbs @emuxmu @cryastre @lizzhearthz @aphxdea @leafanonsforest @mynameis-star @lunarapple @red1sg0n3 @0hsilver @travelergarnett @valeriele3 @imlost-sendhelp @local-mr-frog @cumbermovels @bidisasterforevermore @sora-but-sadder @moraxsimp69 @iruiji @ll-nty77 @yuyuzi-ling @yunareinhart @enld @code-roevember @no-name-omo @meena-in-a-nutshell @randomnatics @the-2nd-random-kid @smokey-cat @moosieman12345 @nexylaza @stellakito @byakuren100 @jcrml @guess-i-die @creation-magician @longppanoodle @angelkazusstuff @apple-ai @yandere-city

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[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

🎄🌟 Secret Pup 2024 🐾🎁

HO HO HO PUPS AND PEOPLE

Christmas is now around the corner (says the artist who didn't finish the Halloween requests yet lol), so why not celebrate between the Paw Patrol fandom too? And while at it, make sure to join the Paw Patrol Community here on Tumblr, if you haven't yet!!

For this Christmas project, I ran some ideas with @cottoncandyswirl828 and now we bring to you the Secret Pup 2024, our own version for an online Secret Santa!

Read more for the details and links to join the Secret Pup 2024 and the Paw Patrol Community!!

How does it work?

First, no physical gifts are needed. We won't be sending physical goodies to each others - internet safety and all, don't go around sharing addresses or whatever!

Only "Digital" gifts allowed. There are many ways we can do that, the most common are fanarts, but it doesn't need to be necessarily that! You can work some short story, or a poem, some screenshot edits, a fancam (is that how those short videos are called?) or maybe even gift a Paw Patrol game on Steam for your Secret Pup 😂 (in the case someone wants to give a Steam gift, I'll go collecting the Steam usernames from everyone participating so no one will know who got who anyway). There are several possibilities!! Just try to give your best on what you do and it'll be alright!!!

To join the fun-filled gift sharing party, you just need to answer and submit to the forms below and that's it. Leave your DMs open!!! I'll be drawing the usernames and DMing you on who's your Secret Pup on November 30th, so you'll have a little over one month to work on your idea for your Secret Pup.

DON'T PUBLISH YOUR GIFTS UNTIL THE DUE DATE!!! We'll publish everything on January 5th, after we're all done with being busy about Christmas and New Year celebrations XD That'll be a very nice way to start our new year, don't you think?

Hope you guys like this idea and will join us!!! See you there!!!

Google Forms to join the Secret Pup 2024:

[fiabex]

So what on EARTH are swaps anyways?

A couple times when discussing what makes FIAB unique we've mentioned the mysterious "swaps" as a feature. What are swaps? Well, I'm glad you asked!

Have you ever been cruising the requests for an exchange and thought "oh man, User A's worldbuilding prompts are amazing, I wish I could create for User A— but look, User B is prompting my OTP and my favourite tropes, I want to create for User B too— oh but User C has opted into an absolutely incredible medium I want to create for— I want to create for all three of them! Why can't I create for all three of them? This is so unfair."

Swaps lets you live in a world where you can do that.

As you know, FIAB gives you an assignment of 10k (or equivalent in your chosen medium). You can deliver that in the form of a single 10k (or equivalent) gift, or you can chop it up into several small pieces by 1k increments, and give them a 9k and a 1k. Or a 2k, a 5k, and a 3k. Or a 6k and four 1ks. Etc. Swaps lets you take this a step further and instead of turning in 10k for one person, you chop your assignment into smaller pieces, the mods swap things in a massive spreadsheet, and you get assigned 4k for one person, 3k for another person, and 3k for another person, which you then turn in. Still 10k total, but in smaller bites. This is a great way to make sure you get to create for multiple different fandoms that interest you, it can mean you get to try out different mediums that have caught your eye, and it can reduce a daunting assignment down to several manageable smaller ones.

Before I go any further now, I should say— are you hearing this discussion and thinking it sounds overly complicated and getting stressed out just trying to think of juggling multiple assignments? No worries. Swaps are totally optional. They're an extra bonus thing you can do to spice up your assignment, and completely opt in. If this sounds bad to you, entirely disregard the rest of this post.

If the idea of getting multiple assignments has you bending closer to your screen in interest, keep going.

How does this work?

The mods release a google form that you fill out, here linked with extensive FAQ on the dreamwidth blog (or you can email— instructions for how to do that are in the dreamwidth post). You sort through the signups on the Ao3 Automagic App, and you make a shortlist of ones that you like, or you adjust your Ao3 offers so that you're offering all the ships you'd really like to create for, and you fill out the form.

It asks you for:

Your Ao3 username and an email they can contact you with

The max word count you want to be assigned (you can go higher than 10k if you're really ambitious)

The minimum amount of your original assignment you want to keep (maybe you want to keep 4k— maybe you want to get rid of all of it!)

If you want to swap with anyone you're matchable to on Ao3, or if you have a short list of people you are open to being matched to

A minimum length for your assignments (maybe you know that you just automatically write in 2k lengths, so you want your assignments in 2ks)

The total maximum number of assignments you're willing to take, including your original assignment (maybe you know you don't want more than three recipients— maybe you go hit me, I want ten recipients).

And an optional question that asks you if you want to specify that you need a certain word count for a certain person— maybe you know you need at least 2k for recipient B cause you'll be making them a comic! Or maybe you want no more than 1k for recipient D! If you want to go super granular, this is where. Otherwise you can ignore this question.

And then the mods go to town.

Now, the mods don't guarantee that they can get you any specific assignment or any specific recipient. This only works because they're playing the world's most complicated game of tetris behind the scenes, and if someone's original assignment doesn't want to swap, or only wants to swap a specific amount, maybe they can't swap for you. But they do their best.

What does this look like in practice?

After sign ups end you might find that your initial assignment is for X. You know you could create a full 10k for X, but maybe they haven't opted into any extra mediums, and you wanted to do some art for FIAB.

Looking around the requests, you see that A, B and C are all requesting art mediums you can do for fandoms/relationships you're interested in.

You submit a swap request form telling the mods:

You'd like the following swaps: 1k for A, 3k for B, or 1k for C

You need at least 2k for B because you want to make them a comic at least that long.

You want to keep at least 7k of your initial assignment for X.

You don't want more than 3 recipients total.

The mods get a whole bunch of swap requests like the one above and then do a huge spreadsheet puzzle to figure out who can actually swap what.

In the end, you will either get an email letting you know we couldn't make any of your swaps happen…

…or you will get an email with telling you about your swapsignments, which might be any of the following:

You've kept 7k of X, and now have 1k of A & 2k of B

You've kept 7k of X, and now have 1k of C & 2k of B

You've kept 7k of X, and now have 3k of B

You've kept 8k of X, and now have 1k of A & 1k of C

You've kept 8k of X, and now have 2k of B

You've kept 9k of X, and now have 1k of A

You've kept 9k of X, and now have 1k of C

And then you start creating!

But how can I do swaps until I know what my assignment is? Not everyone is even signed up yet!

Very valid. The swaps form is open at least a day after assignments are out, so you have time to assess your assignment, take stock of the signups, and put in your requests. Many people wait until after assignments to swap.

However, some people have intermittent access to internet, or already know who they want to swap for regardless of who they get assigned, or are just saying "swap me to anyone I'm matchable to on Ao3", and don't have to wait until all signups are in to pick among them. The mods didn't want to have the form only open for a few days or one day (what if someone's travelling!) so they open it early.

Sometimes people fill out their swaps assignment as soon as they make a short list of people they want to swap for (which can happen quite early in signups), some people wait until signups are closed and they can sort through everyone and know for sure who requested in their fandoms or mediums, and some people wait until assignments are out. Each of those things work!

What if I file my swaps assignment early but I change my mind?

As long as the swaps form hasn't closed yet, you can re-fill it out, and mods will just throw out the earlier one. They'll always go with the latest swaps request.

Questions?

For more information about swaps, mediums, signing up, late tag nominations, or much more (questions about how pinch hits work? we have documentation about that), check out the dreamwidth blog!

If you have questions, feel free to ask them here, check the dreamwidth blog, email the mods, or join our discord server. The discord server has a lot of experienced participants happy to answer questions, and you are also welcome to join just to hang out!

Note: you must be 18 or older to join FIAB.

Links

Email: ficinaboxmod@gmail.com

Ao3 Collection (sign up here)

Tag Set (everything you can request or offer is here)

Ao3 Automagic App (you can see all current signups here)

Dreamwidth Blog

Discord (includes question channel)

[midnight--rainn]

over in no time.

pairing: elliot x sunshine

summary:

"I'm whispering your name like I'm taking a vow, I need you when my heart rate races and pounds. I wish that I was somewhere I was safe and sound."

or

after elliot finally gets to sunshine, they think they're out of the woods. until brachium appears, with a solemn look on his face.

the balance has not been restored.

an: im bored and wanted to start posting fics on here so here you go! you can also find it on a03 under the username @midnight_rainn

"El?" Sunshine calls weakly, still trapped in their own hell that took the form of a car. They were trapped- had been since Blake pulled them into this hellscape. Sunshine was losing hope- very quickly. That was, until, an unexpected guest arrived.

A person, someone Sunshine didn't recognize. When they called Blake's name, however, they realized who they were. The horrified look on his face and theirs said it all. Blake had let Sunshine have a moment of reprieve to speak to the person, his lover, but soon, it turned into a screaming match. The person had tried to help Sunshine, to convince Blake that his actions were wrong, and if he let them go they could just go home together.

But, Blake couldn't. Because he knew what was going to happen, and he needed it to stop. Sunshine wasn't quite sure what had happened- still trapped in the car. They heard the yelling, and the fighting, but then it all stopped. There was a shrill gasp, and then nothing. Then, they heard it. The sobs, ripping through Blake's throat. They didn't have to see them to know what had happened. He killed them, whether accident or not. It was always going to be him. He could never save them from himself.

He sat there and cried for what felt like hours. Until Sunshine heard a noise. It was faint, barely even there, but they knew who it was. El. Their El. He had finally come. He didn't forget them after all.

"El?" They call again, feeling lightheaded from lying practically upside down the entire time. They hear footsteps briskly walking- then running to their location. "Sunshi-" He pauses, looking at Sunshine's state. "Oh god, I'm so sorry." He says over and over while he works to get Sunshine out. If Blake knew of Elliot's appearance, he wasn't doing anything about it. He just sat, his dead lover in his arms, dead to the world. 

When Sunshine finally feels the seatbelt retract they fall into Elliot's arms, he cradles them, runs his fingers through their hair. "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. We- we tried to get the department to help but they didn't do anything. I had to-" 

"It's okay, El. You're here now. We're here. We're free." Sunshine looks up at his face with a smile. He gives them a quick kiss on the forehead as he stands, letting Sunshine lean into him for stability. "Okay, I'm gonna take us back into the real world, we should be in my brother's car, he got us out." Elliot tells them, preparing to take them back to their lives. But, as he does, the ground begins to shake violently. He instinctively pulls Sunshine closer, he wasn't going to lose them ever again.

The ground shakes again, a huge crack forming down the middle of the land, heading towards them. They jump back, watching the car Sunshine was trapped in fall into the dark abyss that's appeared in front of them. "Holy shit. What- what's going on?" Sunshine fearfully asks as the couple keeps backing away. Sunshine again looks over at Blake, oblivious to everything that was going on. He was right on the edge of the abyss, about to fall in.

Sunshine fought the urge to call out to him, to tell him to get to safety. But they don't. Earlier today, he would've gladly watched them fall, laughing the entire time. They weren't going to try and "save" him, he obviously didn't want it. 

Then, the abyss begins to fill. At first, they can't tell what- until the familiar feeling returns to them. The one that determined everything for them, their future. They watch as the familiar black liquid begins to rise into the abyss, coming closer and closer to them until it stops, brimming at the top. The water is beginning to seep into the dreamscape, pooling at Elliot's shoes.

"Hello, little one. Elliot." A voice says, and they both immediately know who it is. Sunshine relaxes, knowing that it's just their dear friend, but Elliot tenses next to them. Why was he here? They were free, it didn't make sense. "Brachium. What- what's going on?" Sunshine asks, taking a step closer to him. He stands on the other side of the abyss, a good ten feet away from them. Why was he so far away? 

Brachium had a somber look on his face, different from his usual cadence. He looked- upset. His eyes, though black, looked dull. "I'm sorry. The balance- it is not completed. It is calling, and it needs an answer." 

"What the hell does that mean?" Elliot asks angrily, pulling Sunshine closer to his side. Whatever was happening was not good, for either of them. "When- when I saved you, little one, I disrupted the balance in our two worlds. It's calling. It's your time." Brachium tells them, holding out a hand sadly. No. Not after everything- I just got out. I can't die, not now. Sunshine thinks, tears brimming at their eyes. 

"No." Elliot shouts angrily. "No. They went through all of this bullshit, you're not taking them now." He's terrified, trying hard not to show it. He thought Brachium was their friend- he was supposed to help them, not kill them. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Any of it.

"It needs a life, Elliot. It will not rest until it has one. I- I cannot let you leave until the balance is fulfilled. I am sorry." Brachium looks sadly at the two of them, at how wrong everything has gone. It was all his fault, he was the one who had saved them all those years ago. Maybe if he hadn't- none of this would've happened. "So- I have to die?" Sunshine asks quietly, looking down at the ground.

Elliot shakes his head next to them, pulling them to arms length so he could look them in the eyes. "No. You are not dying. You're not. You can't." "I have to, El. There's no other way. He said we can't go- you can't go. It needs a life." Sunshine reasons, trying to pull away gently. They don't want to leave him- they never did. But if they had to, at least it would be to keep him safe. To keep him alive.

Again, Elliot shakes his head, this time in realization. "No. It needs a life. They didn't say which. Right?" Brachium nods. "So- so Blake. He can- he can jus-" Elliot points over at Blake, but to no avail. He's not there. Neither is his lover. "Where- where did he go?" Elliot asks, confused. 

"He is already with me. He made that choice the second he lost his loved one. But, you're right- it needs a life. Not a specific one. One from inside this scape." Brachium explains, looking over the edge, where Blake presumably fell. Maybe it's peaceful, on the other side. Maybe I'll like it there, Sunshine thinks to themself, stepping forward. "Okay." They say, preparing to step into the water.

Elliot grabs their arm, pulling them back. "No. No, I'm not gonna let you die today. It doesn't have to be you." Sunshine realizes what he means, shaking their head. "No- no. You are not going to die for me, El. I won't let you. I started this, I'm ending it." "No, he started it." Elliot accuses, venom in his voice. "You shouldn't have to suffer- to lose your life because of that." 

"You shouldn't have to either, El." Sunshine says quietly, as he pulls them into his chest, resting his head on top of theirs. "I know. But one of us has to. And it's not going to be you." Elliot cups their face in his hands, tracing their features, knowing he won't see them ever again. "Elliot- please." Their voice breaks, as he leans in for a kiss. Their last, no doubt. 

Sunshine savors it for as long as they can, memorizing every feeling, every little thing about him. They know what they have to do. They're not going to let him take the fall. They stood closer to the river, taking a step back, and then running to the edge, preparing to throw themselves off. Elliot quickly runs after them, shouting something as he grabs them and pulls them back. They fight each other, until Elliot hears a crack under his feet, breaking under the couple's weight. He slips, beginning to fall, but before he does, Sunshine grabs his hand, the only thing stopping him from the end.

"No. NO!" Sunshine yells, desperately trying to drag him back up to solid ground. Elliot already has tears brimming at his eyes, a somber smile on his face. "Please, El. I c- I can't do this alone. I need you. I love you." They tell him, both of their hands now clutching Elliot's. They know he's too heavy, that they won't be able to pull him over- but they try. "I know. And it's okay. I'll be okay, you'll be okay. I love you, my Sunshine." Sunshine shakes their head, their grip slipping on Elliot's hand. For a moment, they just look at him. Hanging over death itself, with seemingly no fear.

They realize then that it's because he's doing it for them. He would do anything for them. That was the best and worst thing they'd ever heard. "I love you." Elliot repeats, letting go of Sunshine's hands. He falls, landing in the river without a splash. They wait for him to come back up, but he doesn't. It's silent again. They couldn't scream, they couldn't jump in after him, they just watched. 

The river went on. Whether Elliot was alive or not.

[separatist-apologist]

Hi, just want to say how impressed I am with how you are handling this whole plagiarism thing. No one would blame you for putting this person on blast, but you’re still putting a lot of care into protecting others, even when it’s not deserved.

Please feel free to vent all you want, fill up my entire dash with venting if you want.

I’ll happily wait until the ao3 reporting option is back up, but if there’s anything we can do to support you in the meantime let us know ❤️

I appreciate you and your work so so so much, thank you for all the lovely, sexy, silly stories you give us for free!! Truly has improved my life greatly 💕

Last night I was pretty prepared to do it- I was very angry about it. But I think even if I asked people, "don't harass this person", the content of their blog is very pro-their-ship in a way that I think a good number of people wouldn't be able to resist and I don't want to help facilitate that. I have seen too many people in this fandom with accounts at least as big as mine (if not bigger) use it like a weapon and I've seen the way it hurts my friends when they're the subject of it.

I'm not gonna do that to someone. Ultimately, I don't think it would accomplish anything either. When AO3 opens its form back up, I will be asking people to make a report to have it removed, and then I'll be blocking them so there will, ideally, be no more instances of something like this happening.

I'm not trying to police how other people handle plagiarism, by the way. I think its perfectly valid to post usernames and try and get some accountability. For me, and JUST me (speaking ONLY for myself and no one else), I don't feel good about putting a much smaller account on blast when I have over 4k followers, many of whom are very loyal.

I don't think I'm going to get what I want (it taken down and an apology), and so it's like, then posting this is just be be mean and for revenge and when I really stop and check in with myself, I know ultimately that won't make me feel good. I also feel like I have a responsibility NOT to make things worse in this fandom and I could see that devolving into mess.

All that's to say is that if you left a review for this person to take it down, I genuinely appreciate that. And if you're willing to report it for plagiarism once we can, I would also appreciate that.

[beesflowers]

𝒪𝒞 𝒾𝓃𝒷𝑜𝓍

this is type of special request! All you have to do is fill the form, send it to me via inbox (request) and OC you choosed will answer!

Form! so I'll know you want OC to answer and not me

✉mail for ⁀➷ insert my OC name/username (whatever you prefer) here

↳ from ༉‧₊ additional! You can put in character from the universe OC is from! If you want to ask as yourself, you can skip it or put your name there!

here ask your question/say whatever you want to the OC!

Accounts (characters)

◦ PROJECT SEKAI

Shin Hinomori - @/shinyy

Eimi Ochida - @/eimi-ochida

Rika Kamishiro - @/✦‧₊˚Rika˚ˑ༄ؘ

Kako Boisclar - @/kako._.

◦ GENSHIN IMPACT

Brielle - @/brielle

Derreth - @/derreth❀

Elvira - @/elvira💗💌

Akeldama - @/akeldama.

◦ OBEY ME

Michiko - @/michi.ko

Amaris - @/a.m.a.r.i.s✨

Kory - @/★彡☆彡

◦ ANIME

Yuzuki Tou - @/yu.t.

Rules

◦ I won't be doing "answering to your OC"! Reason is simple... I don't know all OCs and it takes a lot of time to figure what my oc would think of yours! And even if I already do, I don't want to cherry pick and treat others unequally!

◦ only characters from the game and no NPCs! Sorry! (for OM! I exclude: Mephisto and Raphael, sorry!)

◦ no NSFW

◦ no romantic for: Amaris (she's a child)

◦ no au's, sorry 😔

◦ can ask as anon! whatever makes you comfortable, I appreciate it all <3

that's all! please have fun <3

[elshells]

Happy STS!

Today I’m asking for an anecdote related to your writing - sad, or silly, or sweet, whatever first comes to mind.👀

Happy STS! <3

An anecdote, you say? Well, the first one that came to mind is not super happy, but at least it has a good (or at least hopeful) ending! It actually has to do with how I ended up on Tumblr! It was kind of a butterfly effect.

This ended up being a bit longer than an 'anecdote,' because I can never be concise, so TLDR: After dealing with some shady shit on Wattpad, including but not limited to having my work plagiarized, I decided to branch out and meet more writers. My sister recommended I get a Tumblr, and about a year later, I finally got around to making an account, and now here I am!

Full story below the cut!

The first place I started sharing my writing was Wattpad, and for about five years that was the only site I used. I'd found a community I could be happy with, and even though a lot of us lost touch because of COVID, we would still read and comment on each others' works.

But then, I was smacked in the face with my worst nightmare—my writing was plagiarized.

I don't know if you're familiar with the site NovelHD (I think it's called NovelWW now? I haven't been able to find it tho). If not, it's a mirror site that has a similar layout to any other reader website, except pretty much all of their stories were stolen blatantly off from Wattpad authors. And I was one of the authors affected!

I found out after two of my friends on Wattpad made separate messages warning people about this website because both of their works had been stolen. So I went to take a look, and lo and behold, I discovered that they had copied both EMBR of the Earth and Agent Ace (Encore didn't exist yet). And y'all, they weren't subtle. They listed my Wattpad username as the author's name, used the same covers, and copied my blurbs and chapters word-for-word. They even included the disclaimer I added that basically said: "I only post on Wattpad. If you're reading this anywhere else, my work has been pirated." Even though I cried a lot when this happened, I actually started laughing when I read that. They were so fucking blatant and lazy with their plagiarism that it ended up being kinda funny.

I reached out to Wattpad and explained to them what had happened, and they responded basically saying that since the plagiarism hadn't occurred on their website, there wasn't anything they could do except encourage me to contact NovelHD directly.

Fine. It's frustrating to hear, but I get it. I filled out a DMCA form and emailed them, and then just... never heard back. Go figure. The people who cared about solving the issue couldn't do anything about it, and the people who could do something to solve it didn't care. And meanwhile, I was stuck in the middle of it all with a bunch of other unfortunate writers.

The extra little kicker came when one of the two friends I mentioned above messaged me and told me she managed to get through to NovelHD and get her stories removed from her site. The process had more complicated steps, but she told me that it had worked for her and a few of her other writer friends who were affected. So, I tried exactly what she told me to do (I don't remember all the details). Still, nothing.

It's then that I realized that my friend, and all of her other writer friends that got their works removed, were Wattpad Stars (which is basically the Wattpad equivalent of getting verified on Twitter). I was/am not a Wattpad Star.

So, the people who had a bigger influence on Wattpad were listened to, while those who didn't have a strong presence were ignored because we were less of a legal threat. I see how it is.

That was all about two years ago (circa 2020-2021). Wattpad has since made some questionable choices, which I could talk about more, but since this post is already way longer than it needs to be (oops, sorry), I'mma try and wrap up. I wanted to keep my relationships on Wattpad, but I also wanted to try and expand my writing to other platforms. My sister (who's also a writer) suggested I try Tumblr. I'd been enjoying screenshots of Tumblr posts vicariously off of Pinterest, so I knew it was my kind of place to be. After procrastinating on it for a year, I finally made an account earlier this year! And now I'm here, talking to y'all! Except it's getting late and I've got to get to bed sometime 😅 Regardless, thanks for being so accepting, and remember, if someone plagiarizes your stuff, don't let it get you down. They're the ones that fucked up, not you 💕

If you read the whole thing and made it this far, 1) sorry, 2) congratulations, and 3) thank you so much!!

[thegothicviking]

I want to clarify: Why am I called "thegothicviking" ?

Contrary to what some of my followers/mutuals may believe: it is NOT because I have a norse belief!! (What!?!? Yes I know)

In fact: I don't know if I believe in the norse Gods and their creation of the worlds and sagas from the viking age. But in my defence (before you shake your head and call me a "fraud") I actually don't know what I believe in, in general! Except ghosts/ a life after death. But if there is some allbeings/Gods who controls/keeps the universe turning/upright...that I don't know!). My choice of username/url name have the simplest of reasons:

I AM a "viking- something" as I have the word "Viking" in one of my surenames/family names ( @marimayscarlett is my witness to this as she has seen my Norwegian driving license while we needed our ID ready to get into the Rammstein concert 😆. She knows I'm not lying!)

And as all of my closests family come from Norway (except my great grandmother..she was scottish) the Vikings are (wether I liked it or not..) a part of my historical heritage!

And the "gothic" part? Well I have always liked gothic/macabre things in all of it's forms: art, movies, poetry, litterature, music, architecture, makeup and fashion. You name it! 🦇

And that is that! That is why I am "thegothicviking".

I am sorry if I have disappointed anyone who thought I had a strong norse/pagan belief. I don't. I like the viking clothes and to put my own spins on a somehow pagan/norse "battle/tribal makeup". But a true Pagan..am I not. However: the Runes have taken a strong hold of my heart! I DO believe in the power of the Runes as they have been written by my nordic ancestors some 1000 years ago. And for that I do believe these ancient written symbols holds a certain wisdom, horror, and comfort. I believe in the people who lived on this earth so many years ago and that their written must have been cherished and/or feared (depending on what the Runes would tell each individuals) for a reason. I feel this reason. Whenever I draw Runes..either for myself or for someone else..I don't think they are always at random. I do believe that what they tell holds a certain truth, or a certain damnation, or a certain joy and/or comfort!

My belief is and has always been the same: The thought of an afterlife. And I hope to have this afterlife myself. The thought of this life, being the only one I shall ever get ..makes me sad. I always say that: " if anyone manages to convince me (luckily nobody hasn't just yet!) That there is nothing else beyond this life..and that death will bring an empty void where we will forget everything and not feel anything at all..then I don't find it worth living anymore. That would have been my end." I know this is very ironic but to put it simpler: the thought of an afterlife is oddly enough what is keeping me alive (in this life)! 🌌 And as I nobody has managed to convince me otherwise.. I am still going to be here. And hope..and wait..and long for the day when I can sit back in the afterlife and look through the "photo album" that holds all the memories..good and sad..from my physical/earthly life. That is the "cosy image" that inspires me to keep going. I want to fill this "photo album" with as many lovely "images" (memories) as I can! ❤

There. I hope this cleared some things up. I am sorry if this disappointed any of you true pagans that are following me and you are free to unfollow/block me if this explaination makes me a"fake/fraud" in your eyes. I have however never denied the possibilty of any God/Gods by any religion. I simply do not know myself if this exist or not. The ancient Gods of Åsgård/Åsgard/Asgard may exist. Or they may not.

I simply do not know. But I am always open to whatever which one day may find the way to my heart! 🖤 (whatever God/Gods this may be).

[hoeforinarizaki]

A SONG FOR THEM.

Type: Headcannons + Scenario

Inarizaki x Fem!Singer!Reader (Whole Team)

Summary: You're a singer, and from a popular girl band. Sometimes, you just don't know how to express gratitude for your friends and so instead, write a song dedicated to them.

No Warnings! But Just Cursing From Me.

Inarizaki:

Feral bitches alert, get your tasers ready.

Jk– anyways, basically at first they didn't know you were a singer because you never really openly sang to anyone.

...Or did so in general because you want to surprise your team. You've had a pretty hard time expressing your own emotions through words, like some other people.

And boom! One day came the thought of like...

"Why don't i just write some lyrics and make a song dedicated to them?" No shit sherlock could've done that like two weeks ago smh– 😒

ANYWAYS...so it took lots of time but you managed to get help from your bandmates to finish doing the song.

Ugh they're such good friends mine could never

And by 'it took lots of time' i mean in a week. I'm an impatient hoe leave me be *sobs* 😭

First of all, before the day of the surprise performance you texted Kita the night before and told him and the team to get to the gym early because of an "announcement".

He was confused on why you didn't just tell the GC but we just want to see them honestly /j

The moment morning came, you and your material gworls bandmates set up your shit and all that before the boys had arrived first.

Congrats, you made it just in time before Kita came.

Manz is NEVER LATE. Periodt 👏

He was looking at the music equipment like "who tf is gon' use all of this during volleyball practice"–

Boi not everything in gym is centered about you and your musty crusty team 🤡 jk i love you guys most. If you don't believe me look at my username.

The moment the rest finally arrived, the cue had started. Definitely not Suna immediately taking his phone out–

Nah actually he gon' take a video. You better prepare.

So now let's talk about their reactions...Kita may actually be the most emotional one to me for some reason. People say he's not much of a person for expression but..

HE LOVES YOU SO IT'S OKAY BABES 😍 okay lol i'll stop so let me just say it. You know that scene in S4 where Kita cries after getting his team jersey? Yep.

He looked like that. His eyes were ready to make waterfalls. But how you ask?

Ah, here we go. Of course you make meaningful lyrics.

And Kita was very touched by them. And because of that, manz was the first to realize the song was for them.

He's like, "You made this for us...? Oh. I'd have never thought you think of us that way" while close to tears I'M SUCH A DAMN SIMP UGH 😫

Aran's totally just looking at the scene while "👁👄👁" is just written all over his face lmao like rlly? You??

He's just gonna be shocked when you hit the high notes.

You're perfection to me shawty, whoever says otherwise shall face the wrath of the daddy captains– and no fr stop saying you aren't you're more than enough <3

So back to the boys, Suna's definitely just recording. Yep, i really can't leave that out.

Though you can actually see a small smile forming from his mouth because damn you so pretty up there 💞

Onto Atsumu and Osamu...oh boy.

If you don't like being cat called or disturbed in the middle of performances, you're gonna hate them /j

"LOOKING HOT BBY!" "FUCK OFF TSUMU CAN'T YOU SEE YOU'RE RUINING THE MOOD–"

Ah yes, the daily life of the Miya Twins ft. (Y/N) 💀

Omimi and Akagi just looking there, awestruck and love filled in their eyes damn i love them shdisishsjksks

Anyways, so the moment you finally get off stage, you are gonna be swarmed with men. Congrats, they're already part of your harem but you made them simp even more ✨️

Compliments coming from the twins, Kita looking at you thinking of a hundred ways to ask you of marriage–

It's getting too obvious i like him isn't it...it's true tho, he prob would be thinking of that lol.

Anyways, i hope you enjoy your fox boy harem 🦊💘

BONUS: Because the were mesmerized as hell by your band's performance they're thinking of recruiting your bandmates for their team theme song during matches.

Haha yeah, good luck dealing with that, main vocalist.

Scenario Time!

(Please listen to the song if you want! And read the english lyrics after if you want to know how emotional it is *wink*)

"I LOVE YOU!"

"Tsumu, i swear if you don't shut the fuck up.."

The sounds of booming music was heard from the gym, the calming sound of the bass along with the melodious sound of the keyboard right in tow. You were right inside– singing and conveying your feelings to the audience you had gathered.

'Even if my heart froze over, you would always be there to embrace me and tell me, "it will be okay".'

From behind his phone's screen, Suna sticks his tongue out at the twins fighting. "Hear that? I always comfort (Y/N) when she's lonely more than you two." This ticks them off. Atsumu glares right at the pussy hair boy, seemingly jealous.

"Shush, Suna!"

This keeps going on and on until the moment Kita finally tells them to stop. He just wants to hear your beautiful voice and nobody else's. Just– let him have a moment.

'And believe the world will change, it's so filled with kindness. So much that tomorrow will be dazzling, too.'

Aran had nearly begun sobbing. "What a good hearted girl." He quietly praises while watching you stand right up in front of the stage, with the biggest smile on your face as you sang.

"Can she be mine?" Akagi deadpans, stars almost coming out of his eyes. I'm afraid to tell you that you gotta get in line, (Y/N)'s already got these other boys–

...

It was done, the sounds of the instruments began to fade and you look to your team, soft expression never fading once. It was that time on that they had known you would never leave them, because with those lyrics alone, you definitely chose to stay.

Clapping. You wanted to hear that most. Because you tried hard to confess– maybe a bit too hard just thinking about the song, but it was worthwhile to see some of the boys's rare smiles.

Ah yes...both sides agree it was a real blessing to have you on their team. No take backs.

The song may have been short, but the time you'll be spending together with them will live on forever. They don't need the memories, but sometimes, exceptions can also matter.

[cytry]

PSA Deviantart is Being a Dick: DreamUp

Deviantart is introducing a new tool that allows people to generate AI art. Here is a link to said post, if you'd like to see it for yourself: Twitter Post and Deviantart Post. DreamUp is an AI image generation tool, just like all the others out there. Feed it prompts, it goes through its database of stolen art, and shits out a piece of crap image. You, as a DA user, are automatically opted into allowing your work to be used in this database. If you currently have a DA or have had one at any point in your life, your already uploaded art is automatically opted into this. You will need to manually go and opt out of everything you've uploaded.

However, this only refers to disallowing 3rd party AI datasets from using your work (from my understanding, as well as the understanding of others), it does not refer to DA's own DreamUp. To tell DA you don't wish for your work to be used on DreamUp, you will have to request that they exclude your username by filling out this form: Google form. This takes about 10 days. I want to end this by saying two things: 1. Please speak up about this on DA. Make a huge stink. Use your voice. 2. If you plan on deleting your DA because of this, please delete all of your artwork first! You art does not get deleted when you delete your DA, unless you deleted it beforehand (to my knowledge). Anyways, spread the word. People need to know about this, and I don't think many former DA users are aware of this.

--

EDIT #1: Apparently they can reject the form. :')))) wow..

EDIT #2: They're adding the ability to opt out of multiple uploads at once: Twitter Post.

Edit #3: Apparently, you are now opted out by default.

[yannasunflower]

dust to dust | chapter two

chapter one | chapter two

ao3

You don't know what makes you save Kuroo Tetsurou's life. All you know is there is no world to save anymore, but damn if you're just stupid enough to try.

Genre: hurt/comfort/romance/angst Rating: Mature, subject to change (gore, violence) Kuroo x fem!Reader Word count: 3.5k

hey everyone! here's chapter two, as promised. this fic is also cross-posted to AO3, where i'm under the same username. linked above as well! next chapter, action picks up, plot picks up, and we get more Kuroo, promise. enjoy, and as always, please reblog, like, and comment <3

Nobody ever told you how absolutely boring a zombie apocalypse could be.

Your ragtag group of survivors have scavenged what entertainment they can - books and gym equipment, even a few board games. People like Suga and Takeda keep busy with the children, teaching them to read and garden and how to survive if mommy and daddy never come back for them.

You open one lazy eye as a gaggle of them stumble after Suga, hanging on to his every word.

You’re not sure how the two men handle placing a long knife in a child’s chubby hand, fingers barely able to grip it,and showing them how to strike right at a nighstalker’s heart, fast and deep. Their giggles float through the air and the sound is almost dreamlike and if you keep your eyes closed, you can pretend this is a movie and when you open them, the credits will roll and you can go home.

Others tend to the elderly, of which there are only three in your group. You try to keep them comfortable and as far from danger as possible. But your body constantly prickles with the knowledge that they aren’t just vulnerable - they are a vulnerability. A hole in the brick wall you are attempting to build around this little community.

The healthy and fit young people patrol and take rotations on the watchtowers. Teenagers help with the lessons. Takeda had been firm about this. Once a kid turned seventeen, they were allowed to join the patrols, but until then, they stayed sequestered away.

It was almost comical, telling a tall, strong, angry Tobio that he had to mind the children. He towers over you, but he had bent to your will after a brief glaring contest. And then a week later, Shoyo had bounded into everyone’s hearts, including his, and the pair were inseparable.

Kiyoko, for her part, had taken one look at Yachi, shivering at Hinata’s side, and adopted her, sweeping her under a protective wing and keeping her there.

For people like you, who have no “bedside manner” as Kiyoko puts it, there are chores and day to day mini emergencies to keep you busy. Somehow, in the months since the world finally decided to fall apart, you have become mediator and negotiator. It’s an unlikely role; you can see your mother’s arched brow if she was still alive to see you now.

You barely have the patience for grocery shopping.

She would have laughed, elbowing your father, who would have made a valiant attempt at a straight face.

These are useless memories but you allow yourself to indulge for a moment. You have nothing better to do. Lunch is cooking, inventory has been completed, the guard rotation is set for the next two weeks. Ukai had waved you off this morning when you finally managed to corner him, complaining about your ceaseless energy and the “mad glint” in your eye. His words.

“That look means trouble for me,” he had growled, pointing an accusing finger at you. “Go to your cell and get some sleep for the love of anything you find holy.” Without another word, the man had leaned against a wall, put his feet up on his desk, and closed his eyes. A clear dismissal. You tried not to huff but you definitely stomped a little bit on the way out.

You don’t know how to tell him that staying in your cell, with your eyes closed, is inviting the living nightmares. You don’t know how to tell anyone, really, that you are just as haunted as this prison, as Daichi’s eyes.

That the only holy thing left in this world is fear and if you succumb to that, you’ll never move again.

You let a sigh tumble out of you. Forcibly, you shove your thoughts in another direction.

It had been a week since you brought home your latest stray. Kuroo had spent the first three days doing little else but sleep and eat. Daichi has taken to walking him around the Pit every day, explaining the way things work, and Suga showed him his pride and joy just yesterday. Kuroo had been suitably impressed by the garden, if the generous second and third helpings Suga thought he was sneaking to him at dinnertime were anything to go by.

The man has filled out nicely. He looks less skeleton, more human after sleep and hot food. You had peeked in on him in the grey of dawn that morning after Daichi not-so-subtly hinted that Kuroo had been asking about you.

He sleeps curled up on his side, hair falling against his cheek. In another world, you would have taken a picture.

Kiyoko tells you that the men like him, that Tanaka has stopped regarding him with all the wariness of a stray cat, and that she’s pretty sure Yachi has a crush on him.

You open your eyes into a blazing afternoon, unsurprised to see the subject of your thoughts stretching in the courtyard, the weak sunlight rippling over his bare arms. His black hair is messy as ever and you are struck all over again by how tall he is.

Tobio got a new babysitter, you think with no small amount of amusement. The gangly teenager needs someone to keep him in line and frankly, you don’t have the time and Hinata is just as likely to suggest some stupid shit for them to get into as he is.

You are still stretched out like a cat on a bench, letting the sun warm you, half-hoping it will lull you into a nap.

It’s boredom, more than anything, that makes you turn your head toward Kuroo.

“If you’d like to get some exercise, we have equipment. I’m sure Noya can show you,” you call.

Kuroo jumps and swivels to look at you, eyes wide and so, so dark. You look away. Something about him is like staring at the sun; too long, and your eyes burn.

“Didn’t see you there,” he admits easily, sauntering over to your bench. You eye his approach, noting that he really must be feeling a lot better. His movements are more fluid now, lean muscles becoming apparent on his shoulders.

Daichi has blessed every woman, and a few men, in the Pit by finding Kuroo a pair of grey joggers and a muscle tank top for everyday wear.

“I don’t do well with sitting still,” he says, leaning over you. His head casts you in shadow, blotting out the sun. “This is something I think you can understand.”

Up close, you can see that the shadows beneath his eyes are retreating gradually. His smile looks less like a grimace today.

You hum, swinging your legs over the bench and sitting up. Blood rushes from your head and you lean back against your palms. Kuroo lowers himself to sit next to you.

“Daichi forces me to limit my rotations on the guard towers and patrols,” you answer. “When we first found this place and cleaned it out, I was working overtime and made myself sick. Him and Kiyoko have been conspirators against me ever since.”

Your fingers thrum against your thigh as you say this. You feel more than see Kuroo’s eyes on them.

“They love you,” he points out, a little unnecessarily.

You snort.

“Love is expensive nowadays and everyone in the Pit is broke.”

“You love them back even more.”

You glare at him but he is just looking at you, tracing the planes of your face. A frown tugs at your lips.

“How are you feeling?”

Kuroo rolls his shoulders experimentally, stretching his arms above his head.

“Better,” he affirms. “More like myself.”

“A nosy busybody who talks like a grandpa?”

“Exactly.”

He is grinning now and you have to fight to keep yourself from returning the expression.

The bruises on his face are yellow now. You estimate it will only take a couple more weeks of regular meals for his face to fill out and his skin to look youthful again. You don’t bother asking him how long he had been alone, what happened to his family. None of that matters now. The apocalypse is a great equalizer.

“I talked to Takeda and Kiyoko this morning,” you begin, leaning your head back and closing your eyes against the sun. “They agreed to give you another week before putting you on guard rotation.”

“I would appreciate that. I want to earn my keep, however I can.”

A ghost of a smile dances across your lips.

“You’re just bored,” you tease. It’s been a long time since you felt sleepy and loose enough to tease anyone.

“You say that now, but newbies get the shittiest schedule possible,” you warn him, unsure why you’re telling him this. “Be prepared. Once you’re back to top form, we’ll discuss sending you on patrols for medicine and expanding that garden of Suga’s.”

There’s silence but it’s comfortable, easy. You let yourself enjoy it for just a few moments before standing, opening your eyes and offering Kuroo a full smile and your hand.

As he shakes it, looking only a little confused, you wonder how much longer he would have survived on his own in the city.

“Welcome to the Pit,” you say before turning on your heel and walking away.

~~~

Nightmares are as plentiful as soil on Suga’s fingers.

A sliver of moonlight is all that keeps you from sinking into the darkness, skin clammy, chest heaving. Your fingers twist into the sheets. A prayer is whispered that you didn’t scream this time. You can’t bear the thought of Kiyoko running again, feet bare, knife in hand and tears glistening on her cheeks. Her utter, pure relief haunted you for a month.

It would be so easy, you think, to never get up again.

Kiyoko would care for you. Daichi would stop by, every day, and update you. Ukai would read to you, probably, or nap in your cell, unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.

These are the thoughts that force you up, out, stumbling into your worn boots, shrugging a jacket on.

Takeda finds you in the office hours later, hunched over inventory reports in his neat handwriting, hair pulled back. He puts a pot of coffee on and hands you a steaming mug, holding a hand out for the report you’re struggling to understand.

“Winter is coming,” you sigh as you hand it over. He doesn’t ask about the shadows beneath your eyes, doesn’t comment on the fact that it’s barely six-thirty in the morning and you’ve clearly been awake for a number of hours.

A smile quirks at his lips.

“I didn’t know Tanaka managed to get the TV’s up and running,” he jokes. You wave your hand in a vague gesture, taking another sip of the liquid heaven in your hand.

“We need to get winter supplies,” you answer and that sobers him up. He nods, slowly, eyes roving the paper.

“Winter isn’t for over six months,” he reminds you. An eyebrow is raised. A teacher, waiting for an explanation. In moments like these, you see the high school teacher that you’d found barricaded in his office, babbling a stream of students’ names that Daichi had quietly whispered as your group cut them down, reading them off their uniforms.

On Takeda’s worst nights, as you guarded the door to his cell, you’d heard those same names, apologies and nonsensical gibberish streaming from his mouth as he grappled with his dreams and feverish tremors.

You stand, stretching, before stepping in front of a map of the city that Suga had snagged on one of his patrols. It’s huge, taking up an entire wall. Little markers litter the paper, different colors, and you run your finger over the pale blue ones in the northeast corner.

“There’s a limited supply of winter clothes in the city. I don’t want other groups getting to it first - we don’t need that bastard holding it over our heads when we have food and they don’t,” you remind him. Your arms cross behind your back automatically. “With the snows, we’ll need snow boots. The kids need jackets and thermals. We need to completely outfit the prison’s entire water supply system to last through snowstorms. We need hot water before then or half of us are going to be too sick, and the other half will be taking care of them. We need medicine, too.”

You tick off each item on your fingers, pausing to consider if you’ve missed something. You’re probably missing ten somethings and you struggle to see what they are. You need more coffee.

Takeda is twenty-nine, but when you turn to look at him finally, he seems sixty, glasses dangling from his fingers, nose bridge pinched between his knuckles.

He mutters something suspiciously close to a curse under his breath before opening his eyes.

“You’re right,” he admits. “We’re going to need at least seven months to prepare.”

The morning is a whirlwind. You send the youngest children, always the earliest risers, to fetch Daichi and Kiyoko, both much more bright-eyed than they have any right to be. Takeda drags a yawning Ukai into the office moments later and Tanaka slouches after them. Suga pokes his head in to give you a little wave and knowing smirk that everyone else finds nonthreatening before ushering the children to the cafeteria for their breakfast.

You’re positive you’re not imagining the pale pink coating Daichi’s cheeks.

After explaining the situation, everyone sucks in a collective breath.

Tanaka never sits and always faces a door. From his corner of the room, he glowers at the map.

“Well, fuck,” he neatly summarizes. You nod your appreciation for his conciseness.

“We need to get a hold of meat,” Ukai points out. A something you had missed.

You grab a marker and the portable whiteboard Takeda had grabbed a few weeks ago. In neat characters, you begin documenting everything thrown around the table.

“Raising livestock will be another way to keep the little ones busy.”

“We can’t ask people to shower in cold water during winter, that’s cruel.”

“Tanaka, is there any way to get the heating system up and running by then?”

“What about air conditioning? We have to get through the summer to get to winter, and heat is just as likely to kill us.”

“If other groups realize what we’re doing, we could be in trouble.”

A headache is brewing somewhere behind your temples and you bite back a groan. Kiyoko pushes a cool water bottle into your hand and you know she isn’t fooled for one second.

“I think we’re missing someone here,” Kiyoko points out mildly after what feels like an eternity of circular conversation. All eyes turn to her and she’s unruffled, fingers still wrapped around her mug.

“Kuroo could be a huge help to a lot of this,” she continues. “I’m sure he can help Tanaka and Noya with everything on their list, and we need more able-bodied men on the patrols anyway. He can help us with medicine, our food supply, all of it.”

A furtive glance in Tanaka’s direction is not encouraging. He’s glowering, eyes hooded.

“We barely know him,” Tanaka hisses. You have to privately agree.

“We barely know each other,” Ukai shoots back. “We’ve been here, what, three months?”

“He hasn’t even been on a patrol yet and you want him helping us make important decisions that affect everyone, including the kids?”

“That’s unfair, and you know it, Tanaka,” Takeda says patiently, but somehow reproachfully at the same time. “Kuroo has been in no condition to patrol. The man was emaciated.”

Takeda continues, levying everyone at the table with a stern face.

“We all trust each other now because we took the gamble and brought people in and allowed time to prove it. It was always a risk, and it will always be a risk, but we can’t let that stop us. What we’re doing here is more important than just working together to survive.”

It’s a flowery, nice sentiment, to be expected from a literature teacher, and you barely hold back a snort at Ukai’s warning look.

“None of this matters,” you cut in. “Takeda’s right. And so is Kiyoko. He could be a huge help to you specifically, Tanaka, and he’s getting better every day but we have to give him time before he’s physically ready. You saw him when we brought him in – he was skin and bones.”

Tanaka subsides into grumbling acceptance and you take it as a win.

Daichi returns with Kuroo in tow just minutes later, and if Kuroo is at all confused, he doesn’t show it. He folds himself into a chair, all long limbs and wide feet.

The problems are laid out on the table again. You watch as Kuroo absorbs it, eyes narrowed, flicking sometimes to the map on the wall.

“Frankly, I wish we were in an apartment building,” Tanaka reveals after an hour of debating the best way to acquire livestock.

You sigh, rubbing the heel of your hand into your eyes hard enough to see colors. You know it’s not Tanaka’s fault, that he’s saying out loud something you’d privately thought before. That the electrical systems in apartment buildings would be much easier for him to coax into submission.

But you’re tired. Kiyoko is rubbing the old wound on her shoulder again, Ukai’s fingers are tapping a loud rhythm on the table, and Daichi is watching you lose your mind with that same placid smile in place.

“I wish the apocalypse didn’t happen and we all didn’t have nightmares every damn night, but here we are,” you snap. “I wish we were all cozy in furnished apartments right now, too, and I wish we didn’t have to talk about these things.”

You wish the children didn’t have to hold knives, you wish Suga would stop forcing you to eat, you wish you could forget your mother’s laugh, you wish and wish and wish.

Tanaka’s mouth is open and Daichi is sighing, rubbing a hand over his face. Kuroo’s eyes are expressionless and he just looks like he’s waiting, though for what, you can’t even begin to guess.

You find that you don’t have the energy to regret the words, so you barrel on.

“The apartment buildings are stacked with nightstalkers. It would take weeks to clear even one out, and we would lose people. Guaranteed. We lost one person clearing this prison out and that —”

You’re cut off by a strange choking noise in your throat. The memory of Ennoshita is sweet, cloying, poisonous. Takeda looks pale and strained at the mention of it. His last student.

Your voice is pitched low when you manage to blink away traitorous tears. The sound of your chair scraping is loud and grating against your ears as you stand. They all watch you silently. Waiting.

“Ennoshita is buried here,” you say and the surprise on their faces is almost insulting. “So is Ayasaki’s little girl. We have a life here, one we built and fought for. The kids love it here, it’s as safe as it can get, and it’s isolated from the turf wars in the city. You know why we chose this place, you were part of the vote that decided it, Tanaka.”

Deep breath in. Out.

“I know I’m asking for a lot, but it’s necessary, and we’re all up to the task simply because we have to be.”

As far as motivational speeches go, you’re sure this is ranked pretty low. But Daichi straightens and Kuroo’s eyes are gleaming as he stares at you. Kiyoko is almost smiling and you take that into both of your hands and hold on for dear life.

“I have to protect them.”

Everyone in the room opens their mouth at pretty much the same time but Ukai beats them all to the punch with his lazy drawl.

“You’re a moron,” he sneers. “An absolute idiot if you think you’re doing any of this alone. Now run along and get some breakfast before Suga drags you there by your hair.”

~~~

It doesn’t surprise you when Kiyoko finds you later, on the roof, scribbling half-mad ideas into a plain notebook. She always knows where to find you.

“I think you should stay home tomorrow,” she says without preamble. The word home nearly sends you stumbling off the roof.

“Why? Am I dying and I don’t know it?” you ask dryly. The look she levels at you nearly makes your heart stop.

“We agreed to let Kuroo go tomorrow,” she explains, settling into the spot next to you, peering curiously at the notebook in your hand. “But you haven’t been sleeping and we can’t afford to lose you because you’re too tired to stand properly.”

You scowl. Damn the four eyes. Her and Takeda know too much for their own good.

“I’m fine,” you wave a hand dismissively. “I’ll get some rest tonight, promise.”

She let’s the matter go, which is a point for you, but you watch warily as she opens her mouth again.

“Tanaka is looking for you.”

A sigh.

“I should apologize.”

“That’s what he said.”

A laugh, short and barking, escapes you. Kiyoko smiles at the sound.

“We’re all such idiots.”

[doorbloggr]

Wednesday 28/4/21 - Usernames, Tags, and Personal Growth

So yeah its barely been an hour since my last post, but this particular topic is one I've wanted to blab about for a long time.

Online, and offline too in many cases, people will choose to represent themselves with a Username, a title to depict themselves as. This can be for many reasons, but the main ones I can think of are hiding your identity, and nicknames.

Now when I say nicknames, I don't mean by Mitch, instead of Mitchell, I mean like a pet name or title you use to identify a key part of your being that you want to be recognised by. But the interesting thing about choosing a nickname to represent YOU, is that you change.

My various personas over the internet

I wanna explore the idea of this change in persona by discussing how I've changed my own user/nickname over time. My journey of spreading around the internet was a gradual one, so rather than having the same user everywhere, I actually have a number of different usernames, depending on when I joined said site.

Pre Internet Username: Comixlad

In Highschool I filled 10s of exercise books with my own graphic novels, the longest running series was very creatively called "Awesome Comix" and detailed the adventures of me and my friends with super powers that allowed us to transform into new super forms and fight the evils of the world.

This led to my user comixlad, which I used everywhere from message boards to emails, and to this day I am still stuck as comixlad on certain sites.

Facebook/MySpace: Nothing really

For my first social media's, I really just used my full name Mitchell ****** (rather keep my personal life private). So yeah boring, and fairly formal.

Tumblr: supereffectivemoonblast

Tumblr was my first private affair where I went full on exploring myself without using my name. My personal tastes were very nerdy, so I thought I'd try to be unique and quirky by combining Zelda and Pokemon; originally my profile pic was of the Majoras Mask Moon, so the Moon Blast mentioned was in fact a Zelda reference too.

Given that I post a lot of my art to my main tumblr, in order to not get lost with the mem clutter, I made a side archive blog, named supereffectiveartblog to keep the theme going.

Instagram: mitch_zelda_sketches_selfies

When I started instagram I was feeling much more refined and artsy as a person. Whereas with Tumblr, I was more trying to be full on secret nerd, my instagram profile was a chance to show a more sensible side. So the user i chose was just an underscore list of what my profile would feature pictures of.

I later started a side account just to archive the realistic art I made of animals, since for a while, I made a lot of them.

Twitter/Reddit: Doorbashr

You'll notice I use that pfp a lot. I dont take a lot of selfies.

Anyway, I started my twitter in response to my involvement with the Super Smash Bros competitive community, where I could keep up to date with other players, and also (see: mainly), when I was mentioned in the results for competitions, I could be tagged personally.

The tag itself came from an incident where I tried to leave a friend's house during a house party, and in my tipsy state, didn't see their screen door and knocked it right off the rails onto the ground. Quite embarrassing, but Doorbashr is a memorable title that many in the local FGC recognise purely because of how funny it sounds.

Reddit I joined the most recently of social medias, if you can call Reddit such a thing. And since I already had an iconic username at that point, I just used Doorbashr again.

I do have one more username I have picked up more recently, but it's more on the private side for now and I won't divulge it unless you've read this far and wish to learn more by PM'ing me on here or any of my other socials mentioned here.

[writings-from-the-hart]

Writebr Intro

Writeblr Intro Time!

Hiya! This is so overdue and I apologize for that lol. I’ve been meaning to write this but school seems to always be getting in the way of just that. Writing. But here I am finally writing this! And yes my username is a pun of my own last name but I just couldn’t resist.

So basically, I really want to surround myself with other writers and have stumbled across tons of writeblr’s (I think that’s what they’re called lol). Instantly I was in love and wanted more of what the community had to offer. I’ve been a self-proclaimed “author” or writer since my early years of grade school. I was that child in the back of the class with ADHD that couldn’t sit still (the cliche bouncing leg and always chewed down nails) and had what my mother called an “overactive imagination”. My notebooks in high school were often filled with wild stories about “galaxies far far away” or dystopias with cruel governments ruled by dictators. Now I’m in my second year of college swamped with classes about the Psychology of criminals (or I like to call the science of murder), and trying to find time to write a novel. So the struggle is real my dudes.

A little about Me:

Hana

20

She/Her

Pisces

Asexual

Forensic Psychology Major and English with a concentration in Writing Minor

Book hoarder

Dog Mom

Vintage AF

Low Key Emo Punk because I’m no average white girl!

History nerd (Love learning about the old wars and cultures)

Movie nerd (There’s an endless stack of DVDs in my house)

Fandoms:

The Mandolorian (or the ManDADolorian)

Star Trek

Star Wars

Hannibal

X-Files

King Falls Am

Welcome to Nightvale

Transformers (Obviously not the bad movies lol. Bumblebee is baby and must be protected always.)

Good Omens

Sherlock

Lord of the Rings

Marvel (There are so many shows and movies in this category we would be here all day if I tried to list them.)

Timeless (Not sure if the fandom is still alive after what the writers did to one of our ships lol)

DC (I’m a huge Batman geek and adore Wonderwoman, but I take the good with the bad when it comes to this fandom. Especially movie-wise anymore.)

And there’s probably more but my memory isn’t working currently.

Goals?. . . maybe:

Get my novel finished (This has literally been on my To-Do List for who knows how long.)

Meet more writers/new writers.

Improve my poetry (I suck at poetry so I bad I never let it see the light of day, so I need to work on it.)

Start my bullet journal.

Wips:

Okay by now you all know I have at least 1 Wip because I mentioned getting a freaking novel done, but just as a precaution as to what I mean by Wip or Wips. I get distracted quite easily, for some odd reason my brain absolutely loves to jump from one idea to another for no absolute reason. Like WTF dude we already have an idea we’re working on why do you keep bringing all these new ones to me like stray dogs. And like any good dog Mom or distracted writer, I want to keep all the ideas/stray dogs. So, when I say Wip I mean “Look at this cool idea I came up with” and I’ll make sure to specify which one is hogging most of my time.

Renegade: Dystopian, Thriller, Post-Apocalypse, and Science Fiction.

This is my baby. Most of my free time is dedicated to adjusting plotlines, character arc’s, fixing freaking plot holes, and other important stuff other than just plain writing. I’m hoping to finish this also monster of a story by 2020 and get it published. So big stuff!  

“So tell me little wolf do you want to punish those who have wronged you?” An assassin known as the Crimson Ghost makes their way through the corrupt city-state of Ashton completing a job given to them by the Black Rose. What is a seemingly normal job though turns into something far more complicated when they stumble upon the fractions of an abandoned notebook from the past. A past the Republic is trying to desperately hide and bury no matter what. On the other side of the world in the Republic’s capital Eshar, plainly referred to as “The Prodigy” or “machine” by his superiors,  Eric Coalwood has built a life upon the ashes of his family, striving to meet the high expectations set before him by his mentor General Wolfheart. However, his life falls out of its normal day to day routine when the unexpected is asked of him. Command a task force made up of the Republic’s most wanted or his life is over. Eric doesn’t need reasons for why he must do what he has to, all he needs are orders and the Republic is more than happy to give them. Either way the clock is ticking for both the Crimson Ghost and the Republic’s prodigy and with time running out they both have two options. Either get over their different beliefs concerning the Republic or allow the world to once again succumb to war but this time nobody is going to survive it. “Legends are slippery things. For the glory that coats them hides the pain, suffering and death that created them.”

The Trouville Files: Dystopian, Thriller, Post-Apocalypse, and Science Fiction.

Not my biggest priority but definitely one of them considering the plot of this story. I mainly use this wip as a reference for Renegade because it’s actually the prequel to it. Also, it’s great to use as writing practice when I’m plagued with writer’s block for Renegade or frustrated with a plot hole. So this is my double-edged sword that does a lot of good.

“Death in these black days is neither kind nor quick.” The year is 2153, the world we know is nothing more than a wasteland strewn with the dead and a sky being choked by their ashes, not glorious and thriving but desolate and starving. The Red Death, a pandemic with a steady progression and a gruesome countdown to the demise of those infected. No one outruns it or survives it. “United we stand, divided we fall.” The Allied Nations, a totalitarian superpower, promised a united people but all they gave this world was more death and destruction. The Red Death isn’t the only thing slowly killing humanity anymore, we are in the form of the War of Broken Pacts. The spark of revolution is lit, but if it will remain so is a question asked by everyone. Does it stand a chance against the iron-fisted government holding the people in shackles? “Rebel with a cause.” Genius Medical Officer for The People’s Republic, Cyprus Ramiro works day and night in search of a cure for the Red Death exterminating hundreds, at least before this war kills him first. But he is also a man on the run and the rebellion can only shelter him for so long. “Duty over pain.” Cunning Spy and Soldier, Orion Ultor is ordered by the Allied Nations to infiltrate and gather information on the ever-growing People’s Republic. In bold letters is Search and Destroy; make a ruin of the rebellion and ensure the Allied Nations remains as it should -- unquestionably in power. No matter the cost unless he wants to suffer the consequences again. “If we fall we shall rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” They should have never met, battlefields don't make good friends. It wasn't fate, it wasn't destiny, only war throwing people together.  The Allied Nations is trying to stamp out something they fear, but can they before the Red Plague? Or will humanity find itself extinct.

Beyond his point is where I house my stray dogs/ideas

Hiraeth: Paranormal, Horror, Mystery, and Thriller.

Scooby-doo who?

Hiraeth means a homesickness for a home which you cannot return. That is how Arcane feels like she’ll never be home no matter how hard she tries to connect with her family. The closest she feels to being home is with her friends and in the worn leather seats of the van they all pitched in to buy. It all started out as a way to pass time and for all of them to escape their families because to be honest parents never understand, but it all turned sideways when a simple “ghost hunting trip” stirred something that was meant to remain buried. The truth never remains buried though, not really, somehow it will always creep back in ugly and twisted. Arcane has never felt “at home” but she’ll do whatever it takes to keep what she considers her family safe.

Sweet Dreams: Historical Fiction, Thriller, and Romance.

A literal dream turned into story plot and no I’m not kidding.

The Red String of Fate, The Lovers, and War. These are the three elements intertwined within the plot of Sweet Dreams but before anyone makes any assumptions this isn’t some chummy rom-com. There will be tears and heart strings may get yanked clean out because the angst is real. War and love never mix well, it leaves a sour taste in ones mouth and makes the mind question things it shouldn’t. Like is the woman in his dreams the same woman he sees in all his dreams? Constantly he somehow ends up spotting that same ruby red lipstick, honey golden eyes, and brunette hair laying in perfect curls. She’s everywhere except in his actual life. They say you and your soulmate share dreams, living proof of how intertwined souls are. She doesn’t believe in love or the idea of souls, not with the monsters roaming around the countryside and battlefield carrying assault rifles. Society tells her where her place is, but she disagrees and rather create her own destiny.

The Prophet: Paranormal, Thriller, Post-Apocalypse, and Science Fiction.  

A short story I can’t seem to let go or it doesn’t want to let me go, but either way, this story has the makings for something great. It also at times seems strikingly similar to Good Omens, so don’t be surprised.

There’s no anti-christ in this story, he already has a book about himself so let’s not make another one besides there are other stories that need to be told. Such as, have you ever heard of modern day prophets and I’m not talking about those people with cardboard signs saying “the end is near!” or giant churches with people preaching about the end times. No, I’m talking about a kid with messy hair and dark circles under their eyes because sleep is no longer a choice due to migraines that plague them every night. Migraines that bring weird cryptic messages that make one question their own sanity. And what happens when strange people start asking about said migraines and messages?

Virago: Fantasy, Thriller, Historical Fiction, and Romance.

I’m not a huge fantasy reader, for some reason I can’t stay invested in them, but here I am with a fantasy story in my wips. It has mages, knights, assasination plots, and one super badass general who takes zero shit from her king. That’s right women empowerment, my dudes! I don’t really have much of a synopsis inline or a plot because this is only of those wips I let rattle around in my brain from time to time. But I will say it does give me that LOTR vibe but also Game of Thrones.  

Don’t be surprised if you see my stray doggos from time to time because I will admit I love to play around with storyboards. Even if I don’t have a fully planned out plot put together for it.

And that concludes this what was supposed to be short Writeblr Intro. I hope I have peaked some of your guys’ interests because the community definitely got a hold of minee. Feel free to send me a message about anything I mentioned (even if it’s just fandom shit I don’t care) and don’t be shy. I’m a huge introvert but somehow love talking, so don’t worry it won’t be awkward and odds are I’m equally nervous about conversation lol. Also, feel free to add me to any taglist and reblog/like if you’re active and would like more Writeblr mutuals!

Happy Writing,

Writings-from-the-Hart

[mousedetective]

Hi! I have never request for a fic, I don't have imagination jajaja but I love so much yours parentlock in special; "Anything can happen", "Love is like", "A little Holmes" and I fall in love with "It Takes The Whole Of London". May be, it's possible you writte something for me. Thank you very much!

For some reason, I don’t have your AO3 username written down, but I saw this and decided to write one more Parentlolly fic just for you (well, and @strangelock221b since she wanted a Sherlolly fic). Hope you enjoy!

Nighttime Routines - Sherlock goes through various bits of his nighttime routine with Hamish, with the help of his wife.

ao3 | commissions | paypal | ko-fi

���All of us had an ample share of the treasure and used it wisely or foolishly, according to our natures. Captain Smollett is now retired from the sea. Gray not only saved his money, but being suddenly smit with the desire to rise, also studied his profession, and he is now mate and part owner of a fine full-rigged ship, married besides, and the father of a family.” Sherlock paused in his reading to look at his young son, who was nowhere close to sleep yet, instead hanging riveted on every word his father said. “Hamish, you really should be attempting to sleep.”

“But it’s almost done, Da!” he said, nearly bouncing in his bed. “And look. Mum brought Mary.”

Sherlock turned to look at the doorway and saw Molly standing there, holding their newborn baby. “Mary was a little fussy and we know how your voice soothes her,” she said. “I thought she’d like to get a taste of Treasure Island as well, even if you’ll have to start it all over again at some point.”

“But he’s almost done!” Hamish said with a pout.

“She means when Mary is older and can appreciate bedtime stories,” Sherlock said, giving his son a smile and reaching over to ruffle his curly brown hair. “I already read this book to Madeline when she was younger, before she got too old for bedtime stories.”

Hamish made a sound between a scoff and a snort. “No one is ever too old for bedtime stories.”

“There may be a day you don’t think that, dear,” Molly said, sitting at the foot of his bead and adjusting her hold on Mary. “Alright, Sherlock. Go ahead and finish and then you, young man, need to get some sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow. The first day of school and all.”

“Don’t wanna go to school.”

“If you go to school we’ll have a chemistry project when you come back,” Sherlock said.

Hamish’s eyes got wide with glee. “And biscuits?”

“I’ll make biscuits, but only if you sleep,” Molly said.

“I like Da’s biscuits better,” he said.

Sherlock chuckled as Molly fake pouted. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll make the biscuits, but with your mum’s help. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine,” Hamish said with a definitive nod as Molly held back a chuckle.

Sherlock picked the book up again and then adjusted his spectacles. “As for Ben Gunn, he got a thousand pounds, which he spent or lost in three weeks, or to be more exact, in nineteen days, for he was back begging on the twentieth. Then he was given a lodge to keep, exactly as he had feared upon the island; and he still lives, a great favourite, though something of a butt, with the country boys, and a notable singer in church on Sundays and saints' days.”

“Why don’t we go to church?” Hamish asked.

“Because I’m not particularly religious, and your mum is, and we thought we’d wait until you were older before you made the decision yourself,” Sherlock said. “Madeline doesn’t go, but you could choose to go with your mum maybe even now. After all, you’re in school. You’re a growing boy who can make some of his own decisions.”

“Can I go to church with you this weekend, Mum?” Hamish asked, turning to his mother.

“Of course,” she said with a nod. “Your father’s almost done. Don’t we want to let him finish?” Hamish nodded and this time it was Sherlock who needed to hide his smile.

“Of Silver we have heard no more. That formidable seafaring man with one leg has at last gone clean out of my life; but I dare say he met his old...” Sherlock paused. “His old love, and perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain Flint. It is to be hoped so, I suppose, for his chances of comfort in another world are very small.”

“You were supposed to say another word,” Hamish said.

“I was, yes,” Sherlock replied. “But it’s not a good word to use and I chose to make a substitution. When you’re older you can read the book on your own and see all the words I substituted.”

“Maybe tomorrow?” Hamish asked.

“School first, chemistry experiment and biscuits next. Then we’ll see.” Sherlock turned the book to his son. “One last paragraph. Shall we go on?” Hamish nodded and then settled into the bed as Sherlock spoke again. “The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I know, where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall lie there for me. Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring me back again to that accursed island; and the worst dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf booming about its coasts or start upright in bed with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: ‘Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!’”

With that, Sherlock closed the book and placed it on the nightstand next to his son. “Now then. Kisses from Mummy and Dad, and then sleep, understand?”

“Alright,” Hamish said, a yawn escaping from him, followed by a frown. “I’m not tired.”

“Play pretend,” Molly said, getting up and kissing his forehead.

Sherlock nodded. “As your mum said, play pretend. We can do an autopsy in the morning if you play dead.”

“Really?” Hamish asked with a smile.

“Absolutely. I’ll fill out the real forms and everything,” Molly said. “We’ll do a tickletopsy.”

“I like tickletopsies,” Hamish said, his eyes fluttering closed as Sherlock leaned in and kissed his forehead before pulling the covers up higher. Try as he had to fight it, Hamish was out by the time his parents got Mary situated in Sherlock’s arms and the light off, leaving his pirate nightlight on.

“He fought hard,” Sherlock murmured as they headed towards their bedroom where Mary’s crib currently was.

“He did. He fought a brave fight, but sleep always wins.” Molly leaned over and kissed Sherlock’s cheek. “Matilda was hovering nearby for a bit. I don’t think she’s completely outgrown bedtime stories, but maybe we should invest in books on audio so she can choose her own stories.”

“That might be a good idea,” Sherlock said with a nod. Once they got into their room he tended to Mary while Molly got in bed again. After a few moments, Sherlock joined her and pulled her close, his lips near her ear. “And would you like a bedtime story too, dear wife?”

Molly laughed softly. “A bedtime kiss would suffice just fine, husband mine,” she said, turning to face him and kissing him softly. Sherlock never minded his family’s nighttime routines, never had, but his own personal one with his wife of getting a bedtime kiss was his personal favourite.

[fundmebro-blog]

How to Get Small Business Start-Up Loans Your Fast, Easy, Guide to Start-Up Funding A Quick Review of Your Best Options for Small Business Working Capital A huge challenge entrepreneurs face today is funding capital to start-up their business. Today's business has gone past the days when creativity and out-of-the-box thinking were major factors in determining the success of your start up. Over time, small businesses have been a key driving force for the economy. However, getting access to small business funding could be very hard and frustrating. A major cause for this is the problem of sourcing for funds from the wrong places. How do you source for funding your small business start-up? Unfortunately far too many start up entrepreneurs have to dig into their own pockets and family savings  to help jump start their new businesses. The passion and commitment for their new business venture quite often clouds their best judgement  when spending all of their life's savings on what may or may not be a viable idea. If you have ever watched the hit T.V show "Shark Tank" you will know what I am talking about. Unfortunately, many  of the shows would be entrepreneurs have gone on the show only to have "Mr Wonderful"  Kevin O'Leary have to explain to them the facts of life about the flaws in their strategy and / or the foolishness of their ways. Taking money from friends and family members has another drawback. If your business doesn't work out and you need to fold up shop, you still have to live with and face your family and friends for the rest of your life. Just imagine owing your mother-in-law for the rest of your life! Ouch!@%$^&*!   Just Kidding. Small Business Loans for Start-Up Capital The Small Business Administration (SBA)  is your best option when you do not have an ideal source of financing for your small business. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is an idea source of funding for small businesses as it has a special program which offers intending entrepreneurs micro loans up to $50,000. They are also great because they are usually associated with business training which will be especially helpful for you as a first time entrepreneur. There is a big misconception that SBA loan programs involve government grants, no-interest loans or free money. The fact is that SBA does not even make loans or lend funds directly to entrepreneurs. In order to get a SBA loan you will need to get a relationship with a loan officer at your local bank or credit union. Some loans are also provided through nonprofit financial intermediaries. Here are the SBA's three most popular loan programs: 7(a) Loan Program - As a small business owner (see SBA's definition of "small business" here), you can get up to $750,000 from your local lender, that is backed by a guarantee from the SBA. So the SBA does not actually lend out the money. They just make it less risky for a bank to lend you the money by assuming some of the risk. These loans are typically used for working capital, leasehold improvements, and asset purchases. All owners of a business with 20% or more of ownership are required to personally guarantee any loan they receive. There are several variations to the 7(a) program including a "Lowdoc" version. The "Lowdoc" loan application is just a one page form that the borrower fills out on one side and the lender's request to the SBA is on the other side. Typical response time from the SBA on a "Lowdoc" request can be as short as 36 hours. The eligibility for a SBA 7(a) program is the broadest of all of their programs but like anything with the government, it involves a lot of red tape and hoops to jump threw. If you would like to apply for a SBA loan or to just see if your business would be eligible click here. The 504 Loan Program is used for those small businesses intending to supply funds for asset purchases like equipment or land. Again you will need to go through your local bank to apply for the loan. When funded the SBA will guarantee up to 40% of the asset value with usually a max loan of one million. The borrower will still need to kick in 10% towards the equity. Eligibility for the 504 loan program like the 7(a) program is limited to small businesses with less than $7 million in assets and less than 2,.5 million in net income. The 504 loan program can be use in a number of ways including inventory, repaying debts, working capital or refinancing. Not to worry - the bank will still require your personal guarantee for the loan. SBA Microloans The third category of loan that the SBA offers is a "microloan". These are smaller loans going up to $50,000. personnal loan,small business loan, bank loanThese loans can be used for:    Needed working capital    fixtures or furniture    Equipment or new machinery    Supplies or inventory Unfortunately what you cannot do with a SBA microloan is to purchase real estate, or pay off any debts that you might have. Interest rates vary but maximum length of the term for the loan is six years. As with the other SBA loans, SBA does not issue the loans. You will need to go to your local bank for an application. Each lender has it's  own lending and credit requirements so shop around for the best options. For a list of intermediary microloan lenders click here. Don't Buy - Lease your Equipment Small businesses in some industries would need equipment to start-up their business. One great way to achieve this is by leasing equipment from a finance company. Equipment leases from finance companies are usually structured in such a way that the company buys equipment, and then rents it back to you for a monthly rental fee. When the lease term has ended, you would have an opportunity to buy the equipment from the finance company for a modest price Leasing equipment can have several advantages including:real estate funding, investor funding, real estate investor loans    lower monthly payments than with a loan    with leasing you get a fixed finance rate    there are tax advantages with leasing (consult your tax advisor)    lean start-ups can conserve capital vrs. a large down payment    you get instant access to the newest technology and business tools Leasing is not without its downsides however so weigh your pros and cons carefully. Read your lease agreement carefully. Understand your interest rate, terms of the lease etc. before signing. Here is the DEAL: Alternative Sources for Funding: If SBA funding doesn't work for you and your local traditional bank says no to your funding requests ( 50 - 70% of bank applicants get turned down)... ... then try the various companies that offer personal loans. A personal loan can help small businesses in a variety of ways including:    purchasing equipment    paying down credit card debt    cover unexpected expenses    easy and simple online application    Loans are unsecured and not tied to an asset    Fast funding - usually in 5 to 15 business days. Some of these companies include - Best if you have Little or No Credit History = Upstart Best Peer-to-Peer Lending = Lending Club Best for Low Fees = Sofi Best for start-up funding, lines of credit or Real Estate Investor Loans go to  Fund Me Bro Fund Me Bro provides loans for Real Estate, Transportation, Restaurants, Contractors and E Commerce. They offer business and personal  lines of credit from $50,000 to $200,000. This is Crazy:small business lines of credit, small business funding, sba funding, sba loans Fund Me Bro's lines of credit offer 0% interest for the first 6 - 24 months and then just 13.99% thereafter. Fund Me Bro's second type of loan is a Term, Bridge, or Equipment loan... ...with a 2 - 7 year term @ 6 - 24% fixed APR depending on your credit score and other factors. Fund me Bro's application process is just as easy, fast and simple. They only require that the borrower to have 680 credit score or better and no more than two lates over the past two years. If you have those two basic requirments you will probably qualify for a loan. After that it is just your contact info  (name, phone, e mail, last four digits of SS#, etc.) Fund Me Bro even has the borrower pull their own credit report. @ www.creditchecktotal.com so that it is a "soft" pull that doesn't register as an inquiry on their credit report . From there simply give Fund Me Bro your password and username to check you credit report... ... and if everything checks out you are good to get funded. They could not make it any easier! To contact Fund Me Bro for your funding CALL NOW @ 201-535-5584 If you need funding to get your start-up business up and running, or if you are a real estate investor looking for a line of credit to have ready for your next fix and flip project, business capital, sba loans,sba micro loan, small business fundingThen call Fund Me Bro TODAY @ 201-535-5584, to see how much funding  you  qualify for. There is no obligation so: Call NOW 201-535-5584 www.fundmebro.com