#I'm proud of my MC achievements

[lilybug-02]

Innocent Me: Wow I never thought I would be so excited to play Minecraft again!

20 Hours later...

Umm I may have done some slight modifications... like building an entire farm, making 2 Fish ponds, going to the Nether, going to the Aether, and bringing back a flying cow. 🐄

Also yes this is what i've been doing instead of drawing. This is a much needed break.

[sultanaswardrobe]

Safiye Sultan’s outfits in Magnificent Century: Kösem -requested by anon

[rinriya]

MC Esbern | Booze and stories | Good path, good MC

[footballfanficwriter]

Prise giving ceremony

Summary:Jude and the reader are invited for their children's prize giving Ceremony

"Jude c'mon we're gonna be late" I say

"Yeah, I'm coming" he says, he takes my hand and we make it out the front door

"I've already spoken to mum she says they'll meet us there, cause they need to get a few things before the Ceremony starts" He says

"Are your parents going to be there?"

"I don't know honestly, but it would be really Nice if they showed up, it would mean so much to the kids if they did"

"Hey don't worry, even if they don't show up, I'm sure it will still be fun"

"Yeah"

" how many awards do you think the kids will get?"

"I don't know, besides, I don't care I'll be proud of them either way"

"Yeah, me too, But you know how they are, they always want to be top achievers in everything they do"

"I think they get that from the both of us to be honest"

"I don't always strive to be a top achiever"

"Yes you do Jude"

"How?"

"What about that time after one of your matches and you didn't play the way you wanted to, were you not having a fit?"

"I did not"

"Babe you did"

"Well you're also like that"

"Oh I already know I strive to be a top achiever, I'm not going to deny who i am"

"Whatever" he says rolling his eyes

"But I'm sure the genes didn't spread to our kids, right?"

"Yeah, no that is a lie, our children are so competitive it worries me sometimes"

"You're overreacting"

"Oh, am I?"

"Yeah you are"

"Remember that time when Julian, lost his football game and he got so upset he wouldn't even eat his dinner?, or what about the time Julia didn't get first prize for her 1200m run, and she nearly fought the girl who did, need I go on?"

"Alright you've made your point"

"Thank you"

We arrive at the school and Jude parks the car, he walks out of the car and comes around my side to open my door

"Thank you"

"It's a pleasure babe"

"You actually look beautiful in that outfit you know"

"Really, you like it?"

"I love it"

Jude has a black turtleneck on, with a suit Jacket, black slacks and dress shoes and a silver Rolex watch, while I have on a black dress that reaches just past my knees, with a criss cross back and a slight low V cut in the front, matched with a pair of black heels a gold necklace, gold earrings and my wedding ring

As we enter the venue we see people taking pictures, no dought that these pictures will be on the internet by the time the ceremony is over

When we enter the venue we find Denise,Mark and Jobe sat in the second row behind all the teachers and principals, we make our way to where they are sitting and greet them

"Mom we're here" Jude says

They turn their heads towards us and stand up

"Hi Darling, you alright" Denise says greeting me and coming in for a hug

"Yeah mom, I'm alright"

"Aren't you proud"

"Very proud"

Mark taps my shoulder getting my attention

"Hey" he says coming in for a hug

"Hi dad, how've you been?"

"I'm alright"

I greet Jobe and give him a brotherly hug while he daps Jude up

We all take our seats with me sandwiched in between Jude and Denise and Mark sitting next to Denise and Jobe

The MC starts the program and the school choir sings the school song, after that the MC starts her opening speech

"Good evening everyone, we're so grateful for your presence here tonight, thank you for coming to celebrate the children who have undoubtably worked hard to achieve these achievements, without further ado let's get started, I would like to call on Mrs. Clinton to come and present the awards"

Mrs. Clinton walks onto the stage and greets everyone

"Good evening everyone, I am here in front of you all to present the special awards to the children, the first award is awarded to the most creative student, Jessica James"

Everyone claps for Jessica as she walks onto the stage to get her award

"Why does she walk like that" Jude asks

"Don't Judge other people's kids Jude"

"Next, this award is for the most kindest and caring student who always puts other's needs before their own, this award is awarded to Ronald Johnson"

People clap for Ronald and  he collects his award

"Those are some big glasses he's got on" he says as he fists his hands making a hole in between each hand and putting each fisted hand on each eye

"Jude, stop" I say tying to hold my laugh in

"Next this award is for the most improved student, who has improved either academically or Socially, having had a hard start when they first arrived in the school and to adapting the school's culture, this award is given to Melissa Hall"

Melissa collects her award and we all clap for her

"Now lastly this award is a prestigious one and is a shared by two students, this award is for the most ambitious and Hardworking students, Julia and Julian Bellingham"

Both Julia and Julian walk onto stage to get their shared award, I turn to my right to see Mark filming Every moment

Jude and I stand up so both of them can see us, they see us and wave and we return the gesture by smiling and waving

Next they announce that they'll be announcing the prizes for the year 1s ( first graders)

Which is Julian and Julia's year (grade)

"We will first start with the year 1s and their achievements" the MC Says

"I would like to call Mrs. Madden to the stage to present the Awards"

Mrs. Madden walks onto the stage, greets the audience, and continues Jude gives me a side eye as if to say "look at her outfit" Mrs. Madden has on an old looking cardigan and a pair of baggy trousers, bright red glasses and Pebbles/stones for Jewelry "Good evening, everyone. It's my pleasure to present the awards for the Year 1 students. These young minds have shown remarkable dedication and enthusiasm throughout the year. First, we'll start with the award for Excellence in Mathematics, which goes to... Julian Bellingham!"

The audience erupts in applause as Julian confidently strides to the stage to accept his award. His smile is radiant, and his eyes gleam with pride.

"That's my boy," Jude whispers to me, his face beaming with pride. I squeeze his hand, sharing in the moment of joy.

Julian accepts his award, posing for a quick photo before returning to his seat.

"Next, the award for Outstanding Performance in English goes to... Julia Bellingham!"

Julia, not to be outdone by her brother, walks gracefully to the stage, her expression one of quiet confidence. The applause is even louder this time, with our family cheering her on.

"I'm so proud of them," I say to Jude, my eyes welling up with tears of happiness.

"I know, me too," Jude replies, his voice full of emotion.

Julia accepts her award and waves at us again before taking her seat beside Julian.

Mrs. Madden continues, "The next award is for Excellence in Sports. This student has shown exceptional talent and dedication in various sports activities. The award goes to... Julian Bellingham!"

Julian gets up again, looking slightly embarrassed but very pleased as he accepts his second award. The applause is thunderous.

"He's going to need a bigger shelf for all these awards," Jude jokes, making me laugh.

"And finally," Mrs. Madden announces, "the award for Leadership and Teamwork goes to a student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and the ability to work well with others. This award goes to... Julia Bellingham!"

Julia stands up for the second time, her face glowing with pride. She walks to the stage, collects her award, and waves once more, her smile brighter than ever.

As the ceremony concludes, the children are invited to take pictures with their families. Jude and I rush to the front to congratulate our kids, enveloping them in big, proud hugs.

"You both did amazing!" I say, kissing each of their foreheads.

"We're so proud of you," Jude adds, ruffling Julian's hair and hugging Julia tightly.

"Thanks, Mom and Dad!" they both say, their faces glowing with happiness.

Denise, Mark, and Jobe join us, offering their congratulations. Denise takes out her phone and suggests, "Let's get a family picture to remember this moment."

We gather together, with Julian and Julia holding their awards proudly. As the camera clicks, I can't help but think about how lucky we are to have such amazing children and a loving, supportive family.

"Alright, let's go celebrate!" Jude announces, lifting Julian onto his shoulders. And me taking Julia into my arms, planting a kiss onto her cheek then her forehead

"Yeah, ice cream for everyone!, Say goodbye to your grandparents and Uncle Jobe" I add, placing Julia back down then holding her hand

"Bye nana" Julia Says as she hugs her grandmother

"Goodbye my Darling, I'm so proud of you, and you as well Julian" Denise says as she hugs the both of them

We continue saying our goodbyes and walk them to their car and we start making way to our car as well

as we make our way out of the venue, hearts full and spirits high.

The evening is a perfect blend of pride, love, and celebration, and as we head to our favorite ice cream parlor, I know that this is a day we will cherish forever.

As we walk to the car, Jude spots another kid and nudges me. "Look at that kid's bowtie. It's bigger than his head."

I laugh, nudging him back. "Jude, be nice!"

"And that one," he whispers, nodding towards a girl with a massive hair bow. "Is she trying to take flight with that thing?"

"Stop it!" I giggle, trying to hold back my laughter.

"Alright, alright," he says, chuckling. "But you have to admit, this is entertaining."

"You're terrible," I say, still laughing. "But I love you anyway."

"I love you too," he replies, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. "Now, let's go get some ice cream."

We pile into the car, the kids chattering excitedly about their awards in the backseat. Jude starts the engine and we head to our favorite ice cream parlor, the mood in the car light and joyful.

As we arrive and park, Jude turns to me with a playful smile. "You know, I was just thinking..."

"Uh-oh, should I be worried?" I tease, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," he laughs. "But seriously, what if Julian and Julia go into comedy? They seem to have a knack for entertaining, just like their old man."

"Oh, really? So now you're a comedian?" I say, laughing.

"Well, I did make you laugh, didn't I?" he retorts, winking.

We all get out of the car and head into the parlor, the kids rushing ahead to choose their favorite flavors. Jude and I follow more slowly, holding hands and enjoying the moment.

As we enter the ice cream parlor, the sweet aroma of freshly baked waffles and scoops of ice cream fills the air. Julian and Julia rush towards the display of flavors, their eyes wide with anticipation.

"Mom, Dad, look at all the choices!" Julia exclaims, pointing excitedly.

"Yeah, Dad, they even have that weird green one you like," Julian adds with a grin.

Jude chuckles. "Hey, mint chocolate chip is a classic! Don't knock it till you've tried it."

I roll my eyes playfully. "You and your adventurous taste buds."

"Just trying to keep things interesting," he replies with a wink.

We join the kids at the counter, scanning the menu for our own favorites. Julian opts for a towering sundae while Julia goes for a colorful cone with sprinkles.

"I think I'll go for something simple today," I say, eyeing a scoop of strawberry cheesecake.

Jude nudges me. "Oh, come on, live a little! How about a triple scoop with all the works?"

I laugh. "I'll leave that to you, Mr. Mint Chocolate Chip."

As we wait for our treats, Jude leans closer to me, his voice low. "Did you see that kid's hair over there? It looks like a bird's nest."

I stifle a laugh. "Jude! Be nice."

"I'm just observing," he insists, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You know I can't resist a good hairstyle critique."

"Well, keep your critiques to yourself," I tease, trying not to giggle too loudly.

Our ice cream arrives, and we settle into a cozy booth. Julian and Julia dive into their treats with gusto, their faces quickly turning into a sticky mess of smiles and satisfaction.

Jude leans back, savoring his mint chocolate chip. "You know, I have to hand it to them. These kids really know how to enjoy life's simple pleasures."

"Like ice cream," I add, licking a stray drip from my cone.

"Exactly," he says, nodding. "I mean, who needs fancy dinners when you've got a scoop of your favorite flavor?"

"Or a tower of sundaes," I reply, gesturing towards Julian's creation.

We watch our kids laugh and talk between messy bites, their joy infectious. It's moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with Jude—the way he finds humor in everyday moments and brings out the best in our family.

As we finish our ice cream, Jude leans over and whispers, "That kid over there looks like he's trying to break the world record for fastest ice cream eater." He says eyeing the poor child that just seems to be really enjoying his ice cream

I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself. "Jude, stop, what's wrong with you today and making fun of kids!" I manage to say between giggles.

He grins mischievously. "What? I'm just stating the obvious, and it's not like I'm saying it to their faces, how will they know I'm talking about them ?"

"You're terrible," I say, shaking my head, still laughing.

He chuckles softly. "But you love me anyway, right?"

"Of course," I reply, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "Even when you're making fun of kids' hairstyles."

He squeezes my hand back, his eyes warm with affection. "I love you too, always."

We sit together in comfortable silence, watching our children and soaking in the happiness of this simple, perfect moment. As we prepare to leave, Jude leans over once more.

"Ready to head home, or should we challenge the kids to a rematch in mini golf?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Let's save that for another day. Right now, I think we've had enough excitement for one evening."

"Fair enough," he says, rising from the booth. "But don't think I won't take you up on that challenge someday."

I smile, knowing that whatever adventures lie ahead, we'll face them together—as partners, parents, and best friends.

"I love that idea," I say, kissing him on the cheek. "It's perfect."

As we sit there, enjoying our ice cream and each other's company, I realize that moments like these are what life is all about—love, laughter, and the simple joy of being together.

Jude takes a spoon of his ice cream  and leans back, content. "This is the life," he says, smiling at me and the kids. "I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"Me neither," I reply, squeezing his hand. "Me neither."

The evening winds down with more laughter, stories, and plans for the future. As we drive home, the kids eventually fall asleep in the backseat, clutching their awards.

Jude looks over at me and smiles. "We did good, didn't we?"

"We did great," I reply, feeling a warm glow of happiness. "Our little achievers."

We pull into the driveway, and Jude gently carries Julian inside while I take Julia. We tuck them into bed, kissing their foreheads and whispering words of love and pride.

Back in our bedroom, Jude wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. "Thank you for being my partner in this crazy, wonderful life," he says softly.

"Thank you for being mine," I reply, resting my head on his chest.

As we drift off to sleep, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for this beautiful family we've built together—a family filled with love, humor, and endless possibilities.

[an-indecisive-nerd]

Author Ask Tag

Thanks for the tag @inseasofgreen you can find her post here

What is the main lesson of your story?

This is actually something I hadn’t really thought about until writing this, but I think throughout all of my wips, the main lesson is that nothing is ever as it seems. There's always another perspective, nothing is black and white.

What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding?

I take inspiration from everywhere to be honest. I've gotten inspiration from everything from books to literal house plants (have you ever seen a peace lily?) Inspiration comes from everywhere and I don't think anyone should limit their sources.

What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness, or help the reader grow as a person?

At the end of the day, my mc just wants peace. Unfortunately her idea of peace includes things she's already lost, or things she can't have, so she spends a lot of time trying to find ways to break those limits.

What's Your Story is a purely self indulgent story. I have no goals of teaching anyone other than myself anything with Melantha. If someone learns something from her, I'm glad I could help, but that's not my focus. Mel serves as a reminder to me about what want will do to you, what power will do to you, what grief and pain and pushing everyone away will do to you. WYS as a whole serves as a reminder that life is a story you write with other people, other people with lives as intricate and complex as your own. It doesn't do good to forget that.

How many chapters is your story going to have?

Oh gosh I have no idea lol. The first act is thirteen chapters, but I doubt that's a very good indicator because I don't know when to shut up so the other acts will probably be longer.

Is it fanfiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it?

Everything I do is original content, I've never written fanfiction. Huge amount of respect for people who do, it's just not for me. I hope to self publish my work when I finally finish it.

When did you start writing?

I started when I was about seven.

Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow writers of writeblr? What other writers do you follow?

Just keep up the good work, everything you do is important and we're so proud of you.

As for writeblrs I follow:

@thelovelymachinery @thecomfywriter @wyked-ao3 @satohqbanana @mysticstarlightduck

@ominous-faechild @the-letterbox-archives @illarian-rambling @leahnardo-da-veggie @differentnighttale

@world-of-iridensia @paeliae-occasionally @inseasofgreen @storyteller-kara @sm-writes-chaos

@oliolioxenfreewrites @the-ellia-west @nondelphic @scare-crow01 @tildeathiwillwrite

@keeping-writing-frosty @seastarblue

[666writingcafe]

Level Three

Content Warning: male masturbation, voyeurism, dirty talk/teasing

The third stage is in your room. Look, but don't touch.

My initial reaction to the note was one of annoyance. Since when am I not allowed to touch anything in my bedroom? The idea's simply ridiculous.

But when I open my door, the actual meaning becomes rather obvious in a matter of seconds, and I have to stop myself from slamming the door shut and running away.

Diavolo is laying in my bed, completely naked with his hand wrapped around his dick. Our eyes meet, causing him to smirk as he begins stroking himself. His boldness renders me speechless. Even if I wanted to, I can't look away from him. The only thing I can do is gulp as he continues.

"What's wrong, MC? Have you never seen a man masturbate before?" I slowly shake my head, feeling my face heat up.

"You know, I used to think about all sorts of different people while doing this, but lately there's only been one."

"M-me?" Diavolo hums affirmatively.

"You looked so cute trying to fit my cock in your mouth last time. You were bound and determined to stick as much in as you possibly could, even if it meant gagging on it in the process." His hand moves slightly faster. "Such an over-achiever."

"I can't help it," I mumble, making him chuckle.

"I know you can't. I saw the look in your eyes. It was clear to me that it was the only thing running through that pretty little head of yours. It's nice that I'm capable of shutting your brain off, even if it's for a little while."

My hand grips a corner of my dresser as I try my best to keep my composure. Hopefully Asmo and Solomon don't consider this as me breaking the rules, because I need something to ground me.

To prevent me from pouncing on Diavolo.

"Aw, is my baby upset at me?"

"Quit teasing." My voice sounds strained.

"But I like seeing you like this. Your blushing makes you even more adorable." Damn, he's good. He is totally taking advantage of the fact that I can't touch him to tease me relentlessly.

And to be honest, it's turning me on.

Diavolo closes his eyes and lets his head fall back against the pillow as he quickens his pace, appearing to focus solely on his pleasure. His moans get louder as he begins thrusting into his hand, and I clench my free one into a fist. It'd probably be consider cheating if I started touching myself, and I really want to pass this stage of the test.

After what seems like an eternity, Diavolo cums in his hand. I bite my tongue to prevent myself from whining. Once he's calmed down from his high, he opens his eyes back up and looks at me.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"Barely," I whisper hoarsely. I glance down at the ring keeping track of my progress. A few moments later, a third tally shows up, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Oh good," Diavolo responds, smiling at me. "I'm so proud of you, MC." He reaches over to my bedside table and grabs a tissue. He then wipes the fluid off his hand and tosses it in the trashcan when he's finished. Finally, he lifts up one of the other pillows on the bed, revealing a piece of paper.

"Only when you're ready," he tells me as he gets up and grabs his clothes off my desk chair. "There's no rush. Let me know if I can do anything for you in the meantime."

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf

[ddwcaph-game]

New MC-centered Sidequests!

All the sidequests so far are about helping the other characters, but what about a sidequest tailored to your MC's goals, motivations, and character development?

Yup, I'll be adding new sidequests depending on your MC's birthday wish (enneagram type)! I always felt the Enneagram Traits weren't doing much, but I didn't wanna include Personality Bonuses since that might not necessarily fit your character.

Below are the quest objectives for each type, but keep in mind that the requirements might change if I think of something better, and the values will most likely be adjusted later:

Type 1 (Role Model: "I want to fight bad guys and make the world a better place!")

Finish Main Quest without spending more than 5,000 Narrativium Points

Defeat at least 3 enemy bosses

Acquire a combined 9,000 Discipline, Honest, and Altruist Personality Points

Acquire a combined 3,000 Warm and Silly Personality Points

Type 2 (Caregiver: "I want to help and support everyone I can!")

Complete 15 Sidequests from other people

Acquire a total of at least 200 Relationship Hearts from everyone

Acquire a combined 3,000 Independent and Headstrong Personality Points

Type 3 (Achiever: "I want to be rich, famous, successful, and to make my mother proud!")

Reach Level 13 before my 13th birthday

Complete 30 Quests and Achievements

Acquire 1,500 Altruist Personality Points

Type 4 (Individualist: "I want to be the chosen one—and make my own special, unique mark on the world!")

Finish Main Quest and spend at least 10,000 Narrativium Points

Reach 10 Relationship Hearts with a Bestfriend OR Reach 500% Chemistry with a Mutual Crush

Acquire a combined 3,000 Warm and Sensible Personality Points

Type 5 (Investigator: "I want to discover, learn, and understand everything in the world!")

Succeed in 100 Stat Checks

Acquire 100 Knowledge Codex Entries OR Reach 100 Base Knowledge Stat

Acquire a combined 3,000 Outgoing and Reliant Personality Points

Type 6 (Guardian: "I want to feel safe and secure with my loyal friends and supportive family!")

Finish Main Quest without triggering my Plot Armor

Reach at least 8 Relationship Hearts with everyone in F6E (including Brandon/Beatrice)

Acquire at least 50,000 EXP from Overcoming Phobias OR Fully Discover 50 Secrets

Acquire 1,500 Warm Personality Points

Type 7 (Adventurer: "I want to have fun and go on adventures around the world!")

Collect 50 Trinkets & Collectibles

Acquire at least 150,000 EXP from Food & Exploration OR Spend 7,500 Narrativium Points

Acquire a combined 3,000 Sensible and Disciplined Personality Points

Type 8 (Champion: "I want to prove I'm the strongest and be the ruler of my own kingdom!")

Finish Main Quest, and defeat at least 100 enemies OR succeed in 20 Intimidation Checks

Become the leader of F6E

Spend 5,000 Narrativium Points OR Acquire 3,000 Headstrong Personality Points

Reach 1,500 Disciplined Personality Points

Type 9 (Mediator: "I want to have a quiet and peaceful happily ever after!")

Finish Main Quest with at least 9 Relationship Hearts with Twin

Resolve all family conflicts within F6E

Reach Close Friends OR Mutual Crush Status with Brandon/Beatrice

Acquire 1,500 Headstrong Personality Points

***

I want most of them to be achievable without going out of your way too much, but they're designed to not be completed until Volume 6. I also specifically made the last requirement sort of opposite of what you might expect to signify some sort of "character development".

For example, a Type 2 MC always wants to help people, so they might need to take more time for themself, hence the Independent/Headstrong Personality requirement.

Let me know what you think! 😊

[oshawottmain]

Now that My Hero Academia is coming to an end, I realize I've never made any fanart for the series, so I desided to make a quick little sketch of my favorite MC in recent history.

Honestly I cannot put into words how much this show has impacted my life. Seeing the characters overcome countless trials to achieve their dreams made me want to become a better version of myself, someone I could look up to and be proud of.

I'm really gonna miss this.

But regardless, though it may be gone, I'm gonna continue to Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!

DO NOT REPOST OR STEAL! THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING!

[little-emerald-snake]

Kinktober Day 21

Aphrodisiac - Garreth Weasley X F!MC

🔥NSFW 🔞 MDNI

1.3k words

Garreth sat behind the desk of his potion shop writing up labels for his next batch of brews that he’d need to restock when a woman came stumbling into the shop, leaning on the desk in an attempt to hold her weight.

He could tell something was wrong and jumped up to help the woman, coming around the desk and holding her by her arms. “What’s wrong ma’am? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, a noticeable shiver passed through her body as she looked up and met his eyes. “I-it’s rather embarrassing…um…I’ve been given an aphrodisiac potion and I…well I can’t seem to make it stop now…I’m at my wits end. I'm so sensitive and…well I’m sure you know what else. Do you have anything to counteract it? Please tell me you do…”

His eyes widened in surprise as he led her around the desk into the chair that he was previously sitting in. “Oh my, didn’t you read the label? You have to achieve an orgasm in order to make the potions effects go away.”

She shivered, blushing deeply and turning her head to avoid his soft green orbs. His warm eyes and soft lips were calling to her. “I-I…oh my. I assume my date was trying to get me to sleep with him then. That’s…just great. I’m so far from home now I’m not sure I’ll make it…”

Garreth’s eyes widened at that. She had to really be feeling the side effects by now and he could only imagine the hormones raging through her body. “Well, if you need. I’d be glad to offer you my office and any help that I can so you don’t have to worry about trying to make it home. I can’t turn away a lady in need.”

Her eyes narrowed on him and deep down she knew he was just trying to be friendly and helpful but part of her wondered just how far he’d go to help her oversensitive body. “H-how much help w-would you be willing to offer?”

The question was soft but the lust behind her words was unmistakable. “Oh my. I provide the best care I can when a beautiful woman such as yourself is in need of something. But I don’t want the potion to cloud your judgment on this. So you have to think about this for real and give me genuine consent before I’ll help you in that kind of way.”

She swallowed hard, eyeing him from head to toe. She was single and he was definitely good looking. She couldn’t see any reason not to let him help her with her little problem, especially since it would feel incredible under the effects of the potion. “I…really see no issue with us hooking up. As long as you’re okay with it and don’t have a girlfriend or anything. I mean, I’m single and you’re attractive…why not?”

He smirked, offering her a hand which she gladly took. He led her from the chair to his back office area and from there up the stairs to his cozy apartment. Once seeing her down on the couch he quickly brought her a glass of cool water and excused himself downstairs to lock the shop and put a sign in the window.

Once back upstairs he’d found her finishing the water, sans a few bits of clothing. She’d kicked off her boots as well as the cloak she’d worn over her clothes as well as her gloves.

He took in her state, he could tell she was growing desperate, the effects probably driving her wild by now. He made his way over to the couch, sitting beside her, motioning for her to come sit in his lap. She slid into his lap, straddling his hips which made him groan in anticipation.

Her skin was hot to the touch and he could feel her eagerness as she ground her hips against his. She moaned when the next time she ground down she could feel his proud erection growing within his trousers, he groaned in response.

His hands wrapped around either thigh, encouraging her to grind against him, letting out a string of curses when she adjusted her hips and skirt so the only barrier between his cock and her center was his trousers and their underwear.

She was frantically moving her hips against him, pleasure climbing higher and higher. Before she totally lost herself he nudged her back a bit to grind on his knee while his deft fingers worked to undo his pants.

She tossed her head back, groaning as he slid his pants and underwear down just enough for his erection to spring free. He could feel the wetness of her soaking through his pant leg and groaned when he lifted her skirt to take her panties off.

He tried to urge her to climb off his legs to help her out of them but she refused and he opted to slide them to the side so he could ease himself inside of her. He guided her hips down, groaning at how easily he slid into her soaking wet center. “Fucking soaked. It’s so hot seeing how needy you are for me darling.”

She cried out as she settled on him, moving her hips and feeling the glorious slide of his cock inside of her. He reached up and undid her shirt, letting it hang open so her breasts were exposed to him. He guided her through the motions, her hips urging faster even as he tried to slow her down. He knew she was desperate but he wanted this to last as long as it could since she felt so good.

She was beautiful, rather sexy even and as much as he wanted to help he couldn’t deny the fact that he was attracted to her. “Gods darling, slow down a bit. Let me make you feel properly good. I want this to be worth it for you.”

She whimpered as she rode him, her hips seemingly moving of their own accord, her breasts bouncing in front of him. “I-I’m trying…s-so good. I can’t stop. Need to cum so bad!”

He grunted, leaving one hand on her hip while the other reached under her skirt to circle her clit with his thumb. “Fuck. Just promise me something first…promise you’ll let me take you on a-ah…a proper date after this. Anywhere you choose, I swear.”

She cried out as his thumb circled her clit. She rode him faster, whimpering, nodding her head as she leaned down to lick a thick stripe up his neck. “Y-yes! I’ll let you take me out…p-please make me cum! I need it, need you.”

He grunted, urging his hips up into her, directly nudging against her g spot. She cried out, tumbling over the edge, shaking in his arms as she experienced the most intense orgasm of her life. “Oh fuck! Yes!”

He fucked her through it, gritting his teeth as hers sunk into his neck and her core tightened like a vice around him. “Oh darling, you’re gonna make me cum too…”

She groaned as she released his neck and rode him still, her core still spasming wildly as she whimpered in his ear, nipping the lobe gently between her teeth.

It was enough to send him crashing over his own ledge. His cock spasmed inside of her as his release coated her insides. He groaned, pulling her close to him and nuzzling his face into her neck “That was incredible…are you feeling better?”

She sighed happily, relaxing against him and catching her breath. “Yes, so much better. I-I promise I’ve never done this with anyone before I’ve had a date with them. But I can’t say I regret it with you.”

He smiled at her giggles, his hands caressing her smooth skin as he helps her off and cleans her up, offering her a preventative potion for good measure. “Can’t say I have either, darling. But I surely don’t regret it. Now, about that date.”

Kinktober Prompt List

[animasola86]

💕 self-love time! talk about which ones of YOUR creations (edits, artworks, fanfics) you like the most then send to other creators to do the same 💕

Aww thank you so much for this ask @localravenclaw! What a cool (and daunting) thing to think about :D

This is really tough to answer, I've written so much and took so many screenshots, and they are all dear to my heart. But if I had to choose, I'll say: this screenshot (because I still have it as my phone's wallpaper)!

And as for my writing, hmm...

I don't know if it's my favorite, but it's certainly one I keep re-reading more often than others: Lessons in Love-Making (because the twist at the end worked out perfectly imo)

Another "one" that's very dear to my heart because it's been among the first smut stories I've written is: A Night in the Undercroft (AO3 link, here's the tumblr one.) It was also the first short story featuring my HL MC Nebbia DeLuca.

As for a non-smut one, I really enjoyed dipping my toes into the angst theme with News travels fast in Hogwarts (makes me appreciate Sebastian's darker characteristics more - and possessive/jealous/angsty Seb pinning mc to a wall will always be one of my favorite things to write!).

But I gotta say, making an account on tumblr and creating this very blog and filling it with stories and pictures has been an absolute adventure (not always a good one, but most of the time I am very happy I made the daunting step to share my works with the world!)!

Thank you again for making me think about what I have already achieved here! I wrote 38 smut oneshots (I just counted holy shit!), a handful of longer fics (even if those take me longer to continue), some sfw works, too, and a couple of headcanons, so, that is all crazy to think about... and it hasn't even been one year for me here (and I'm still creating more!).

So give me this one moment of self-love and let me admit: I am quite proud of all of this! I truly am! And I thank you and everyone reading or following or looking at my stuff for joining me on this wild ride! Without you all, I wouldn't have continued on this journey, I am sure.

❤️

[jerzwriter]

Thank you so much to @stars-are-within-me for sending this prompt from this list for Jessica and Casey. I'm sorry it took me a while, but it sounds like the timing may have been good for you. I hope you enjoy it. Sending big hugs. 🩷🩷🩷

Book: Open Heart (Pre-Series) Pairing: Casey MacTavish (F!MC) x Jessica Phillips (F!OC) Words: 934 Rating: Teen Summary: When the couple step out to celebrate Jessica's achievement, Casey gives her a gift that money could never buy. A/N: @choicesfebruary2024 Eros/Philia

My Masterlist | Casey & Jess Masterlist | Open Heart Masterlist

The second floor laboratory of the Johson Pavillion rarely saw this type of energy. Sure, med school students were enthusiastic, but their energy could never rival that of the second graders in Jessica’s after-school program. The enrichment program began three months before; she built it from the ground up despite the naysayers who swore she never make it work. Now, not only was it working, but Thursday had become her favorite day of the week; more importantly, it was her student’s favorite day, too.

The very students who were currently creating utter chaos as they wrapped up their projects and gathered their belongings for dismissal. But Jess had it under control, standing in the center of it all with a goofy grin she couldn’t hide if she tried. She wasn’t sure if the lingering scent of chemicals, the buzz of the fluorescent lighting, or the excited chatter providing this natural high, but it felt too good to question. Perhaps this is what fulfillment felt like.

Across the room, Casey beamed with pride as she put away the last microscope, offering a little wink when she caught her girlfriend’s eye. With the last of the students headed out the door, she thought they’d finally get a moment alone when a tsunami of curls bedazzled with colorful barrettes bounced past her, and two arms wrapped her arms around Jessica’s waist in a tight embrace.

“Goodbye, Ms. Phillips!” the young girl grinned as her mother shuffled back into the lab, quickly taking her daughter by the hand.

“Now, Cassandra! You already said goodbye to Ms. Phillips! Don’t you think she might want to go home now?”  

“It’s fine,” Jess grinned. “She did a great job today. I think you may have a future doctor here!”

“I’ve never seen her this excited about science,” the mom nodded. “Cassondra says the way you teach makes it fun.”

“It is,” Casey agreed. “I sure wish I had a teacher like Ms. Phillips when I was in school.”

“Well, your enthusiasm makes it easy.” After giving Cassandra a side hug and a high five, Jess returned to mindlessly wiping the tables, utterly oblivious to Casey’s adoring stare. Her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink when their eyes finally met.

“What are you smiling at,” Jess blushed.

“Oh, that’s easy...” Casey said, crossing the room. “I’m smiling at you. Because I’m so proud of you!”

“Oh, stop,” Jess dismissed, but Casey wasn’t having it.

“I most certainly will not! This whole program was your idea; I know how hard you fought to see it through. Now, look at those kids! They look forward to coming here to learn more after a full day in school. Look, I was a nerd, but I’m not sure I would have even signed on for that... but you have them loving it and running back in to hug you before they leave.” She brushed a loose tendril away from Jess’s face, her eyes filled with adoration. “You are perfect.”

If Jess’s cheeks had turned pink before, they were nothing short of crimson now.

“Stop it,” she sputtered. “It’s... it’s nothing.”

With a scolding expression, Casey pulled her close. “I most certainly will not stop! You deserve all the accolades for pulling this off. Seriously, Jess...you earned this! Just pretend you have a penis for a moment.”

“Wait...What?” Jess laughed.

“I mean it... can you just imagine if you were one of the guys. Imagine Manny or Josh, or... god forbid Dirk... if any of them were in your shoes, they’d be running to the Dean’s to tell them how magnificent they are... how lucky the program is to have them... you need to start doing that. You have every right to be proud of your achievements. Don’t ever diminish them.”

Jess looked down between them, slowly raising her eyes to Casey’s again. “I... I think you’re right.”

“I know I’m right. Now, let me treat you to dinner to celebrate.”  

“Casey... you don’t have to...”

“Uh-uh-uh.... PENIS! Pretend you have a penis!”

“All right,” Jess laughed heartily. “All right, you can take me out to celebrate, hon. What did you have in mind?”

“If we’re celebrating you, it’s your pick.”

“All right...sushi? I’ve been dying to go to Hayashi.”

“Sushi?” Casey teased. “I offer you a free meal of your choice... and you want raw fish and seaweed?”

“It’s delicious, you heathen!” Jess insisted. She playfully pushed Casey away to retrieve their coats from the closet. “I’ll get you to like it yet.”

“No, you won’t.”

Jess helped Casey into her coat, spinning her around to place a peck on her lips when she was done. “Oh, yes. I will!”

“Fine! Sushi it is.”

“Yey,” Jessica clapped. “And by the time we go home, you’ll like it, too!”  

“I probably will,” Casey surrendered. “How do you always manage to persuade me with your charms?”

“I can’t tell you that!” Jess winked. “A girl’s gotta have some secrets. Besides, if I told you my secret was the scent of the lemon cleaning fluid and the buzz of the fluorescent lights getting you under my control, it wouldn’t sound terribly romantic, would it?”

Casey rolled her eyes with a grin. “No. And it doesn’t sound like that would work, either.”

She extended her hand, and their finger intertwined. They were about to step outside when Jess came to stop.  

“Case... thank you... I.. I am proud of myself, and it means a lot to me that you’re proud of me, too.”

“Jess, I was proud of you before this... but now? I think you’re a rock star.”

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

[exculpateinteractivefiction]

"Greatest achievement: Befriending MC" STOP IM GONNA CRYBF-

I cannot WAIT for the angst train when you release the IF I'm already in love with Mav hfhdsuhfibfs

My question for the ROs (so long as it's not a spoiler): What do they want to hear, need to hear, and/or fear hearing from the MC?

-- Maverick lover anon (can I go by. Idk. Raven anon?)

Mav

Wants: “We never stopped being friends.”

Needs: “You could be the weakest person in existence and I’d still love you.”

Fears: “Why can’t you fix it/save them? Aren’t you supposed to be the strongest?”

Carmen

Wants: “I admire your dedication to the job.”

Needs: “You’re worth more than this.”

Fears: “You’re such a suck up. I don’t even know why I bothered…”

Juno

Wants: “I’m sorry I left. I know how hard all of this is on you.”

Needs: “You’re more than your ability.”

Fears: “You can’t save everyone - there’s no point in trying.”

Silas

Wants: “I love you.”

Needs: “You’re allowed to be upset. Who wouldn’t be?”

Fears: “What’s wrong with you?”

Payton

Wants: “I’m impressed at how much you’ve improved *insert time consuming skill*!”

Needs: “You’re parents would be proud of you.”

Fears: “You’re so selfish.”

Amari

Wants: “You’re a good person.”

Needs: “Of course I love you. Why wouldn’t I?”

Fears: “I don’t regret any of it.”

[theladyofshalott1989]

Sebastian Sallow Myers-Briggs Type // Like Moths to a Flame Series (Seb x Male MC)

Since my series is told from Sebastian's POV, I thought I would take the Myers-Briggs test from his perspective too. My vision of Sebastian is apparently an ENTJ. The write-up is so scary accurate that it's freaking me out. LMAO. @honeybadgerdontcare394 - Thanks for saying you were interested in reading this (and taking one for your vision of Sebastian too!). @scilla-aster (if you want to try this too!!) I am so curious to see what other writers' versions of Sebastian's personality are. When I read other Hogwarts: Legacy stories, I like to imagine hundreds of different alternative universes where our Bash/Seb/(*insert nickname of choice here*) ends up happy and fulfilled with all our various OCs. (I have a very hard time reading stories that don't end happily for Bash.)

Notes re: his romantic compatibility with Damien (an ENFP), since they are essentially half-opposites (wow!): ENTJs primarily look for intellectual stimulation. As one of the most cerebral personality types, they enjoy debates, and they look for partners who open their minds to new ideas. ENTJs have a treasure chest of knowledge that they love to share with the right person.

^ Sebastian lucked out that Damien is a Ravenclaw and has an extremely curious mind.

ENTJs appreciate partners who can help them get in touch with their feelings because this isn’t something that comes naturally to people of this personality type.

I love this ^ because in my series Sebastian really struggles to understand and express his feelings. Damien is very in tune with his emotions and is not afraid to act on them. ENFPs see ENTJs for who they really are. ENTJs aren’t typically seen as warm people, but they tend to be extremely helpful, generous, and supportive. As one of the personality types who are most interested in people, ENFPs look deeper and notice traits about ENTJs that other people don’t see.

^ Don't mind me; just tearing up here. LMAO. I hope this came across in my series because it's one of the main reasons I wrote it. Sebastian needs someone to see him for who he truly is, and I'd like to think Damien does.

Their communication style chart (Seb - ENTJ, Damien - ENFP):

ENTJs are assertive, competitive, and like a good challenge. At their best, they are bold and confident leaders who are willing to take unpopular action. ENTJs may be overly proud, boisterous, and willing to manipulate others to achieve their goals. At their worst, they can be narcissistic, overly focused on their own needs, and lack empathy for others.

ENFPs often support, openly sympathize, and actively offer help to others At their best, they are gentle sympathizers, who are easily trusted and accepted. ENFPs may be overly revealing and have difficulty being alone. At their worst, they can require too much attention and admiration from others and be excessively involved in the affairs of others.

YUPPPPPPPPPPPPPP. Okay, I'm done now. Here's a silly pic of Sebastian for reading this far :)

[t-oppenheimer]

A Novel Approach to Defense and Sudden Death

One of the largest barriers to understanding the OBE if one were, say, used to and locked into a d20 system would be the way I chose to render the way defense is handled. It is also one of the tidbits I'm most proud of conceptually, even if it is undertested. How it works is that your defense (AC for Armor Counters and MC for Mental Counters) comes from pools which are generated from character creation. An especially hardy character might start with seven, and an especially flimsy character might only have one. When a character is threatened by anything, they offer a number of dice for ante then roll them. The result is determined by their highest roll:

1-3: The specialist loses 5 dice, or the rest of their dice if there are fewer. 4 or 5: The specialist loses no dice

6: The specialist loses 1 die

Now this does something very curious with the math! The player is in constant control as to what kind of risk they want to take with their defenses, from character creation yes, but also every time they are in danger. Say you have the hardier character. One might constantly ante four dice each time, where chances are 51% that you roll a 6 and lose only one dice, Half and half odds are pretty nice if your goal is to be able to take 7 attacks minimum. Now of course the less you ante the less likely it is that you'll achieve 6 as your highest die roll (reducing to 42% with three dice and 30% with two), so why ever put up less than your maximum? Well, firstly, there are diminishing returns. Five gives a 60% chace and six gives a 66% chance, down from the 14% increase from one to two dice. Every additional die also eats into the probability of that optimal result-- no loss for the player character.

This math demands an explanation of Binomial Distributions which I invite you to look into if you love statistics as a practice. We can intuit that rolling only one die would give you a 33% chance of rolling either a four or a five but not a six. The second dice will cause this chance to decline all the way to 11%, then the third 4%, and very quickly we will see the chances reduce to an infinitesimal. Therefore, it may benefit you to consider taking on the risk of the 1-3 roll to conserve resources.

Game design wise, this allows for hazard and threat design that can force you to ante a certain number or set a maximum can be anted, therefore texturing threats as demanding or underhanded, respectively. To speak of influences, my main two here would be Fruitbat Factory's 100% Orange Juice and Darkest Dungeon. The former for just making me start to think of these kinds of distributions as I was hopelessly strategizing in the hellgame, and the latter for presenting a provocative "death's door" mechanic which I hope can resemble play when a character has one die remaining.

[morelikeravenbore]

do you have any other mcs / ocs besides Aura?

HELLO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING ME ABOUT THE THING THAT MAKES MY BRAIN GO EHAUAHAGSAJAKAUAZG

I have a bunch of OC's in my original works, but in the HL fandom? Nope! Aura is my one and only loml most precious girl. Before I understood how mods worked, I did make a Slytherin girlie in game so I could flail over "CaN I HeLp YoU??" (hehehehehehe) but I just didn't vibe with her tbh and she was quietly deleted never to be seen again lol.

Honestly, Aurélie is sooo special to me and I'm really proud of the way she's developed as a character. She's the first oc I've ever had the courage to share with other people, but the way she's been received is one of the greatest achievements of my life. I dunno, that might sound dumb considering she's a just fanfic oc, but through her, I've made friends all over the world, reconnected with my passion for writing, and even deepened my understanding of myself.

Creating her is one of the best things I've ever done, and that's why I'm so excited about everyone else's MC's because I understand how special and important it is to bring life to something that was once just a li'l seed in your mind.

ANYWAY whoa this got way sappier than I intended, but thank you for the question and I hope you have an amazing day/night/life/everything ✨🦋

Obligatory piccies:

[enoughyi]

#10: A Hole In The Breeches

Ship: Imelda Reyes x f!MC (Julia Wright) x Poppy Sweeting

Summary: Helping Julia was Imelda's area of contemplation but as it always was a snake biting its own tail yet again, an inner doubt found its resolution. This time, however, it was more of a hitting revelation.

Prompt Number: 31. Kiss at dusk. [>>>link to the list]

Word count: 1555. Rating: T-M.

A/N: It's brainrot-powered. Characters are in their 20's.

I'm a tad busy, hence the absence, but I couldn't miss June 30th. But it also means I didn't really beta anything, so in advance; I'm sorry.

Rated M, partly; because Poppy. SLICE OF LIFE BTW.

Tags: @thriftstorebabayaga @espressoristretto-patronum @boxdstars @celestial--sapphic @caramel-hufflepuff @myokk @theladyofshalott1989

Sometimes Imelda felt a sting of unfairness, when looked at Julia.

This mad, unstoppable, relentless woman seemed never to know any rest from her endless journey along the flow of research; rarely had a complaint on spending days in the brewery -- she called her wee lab this -- if not counting an inceasing hissing when her back would tell, if not scream at her to get to at a more suitable accommodation; she would never let out a book, and what it would be only a whim of her would know; last and certainly not least, Julia was obsessively doing more than anyone Imelda knew ever would.

No witch or wizard of her or Poppy's knowing would attempt or try to renovate a house in the muggle way. Cook like muggles do, making a bother of knives and pots. Installed a stove, took so much pride in it, to everyone's surprise, only to down their brows when the first colds of the year came and wouldn't sip in, ever, as the heat would induce the feel of summer, pertained, enclosed and stuck within these walls.

Julia was doing so much and had little to nothing said about it, other than an occasional skepticism, in Imelda's mind. Her and Poppy's life achievements would instantly fade out beside Julia's. She deserved to be recognised, to be praised, but then Imelda would always recall Julia's reaction of a scowl.

She had done so much and was awkward at taking a compliment.

"You're proud of your flying, because it is a skill. You learnt and what you have was earned, and rightfully so it was. But I was born to this magic, and my sharp mind; it was inherited and is yet to surpass the achievements of my late mother. None of these things are of my own making, Melly, I have simply borrowed them," she'd say.

Maddening woman, Julia was.

And Poppy? Credit where it's due, she knew Julia longer than she did; if that imbuing sense of achieving more for seemingly the sheer sake of it was Julia's goal, no wonder Pops called her Draught of Peace.

Hardly a thing could be a disturbance to this woman. Even pinching her from behind when she was busying with food, seemingly lost in thoughts and haphazardly scribbling something in a notebook with an enchanted pen, couldn't annoy her in a sense Imelda did secretly expect. Wouldn't she need a little help? Instead, her gesture has never crossed Julia's mind any other way than what was usually intended.

Then, Imelda would ask, to clarify it wasn't anything salacious this time around, if she needed anything. Julia would simply say, didn't she have resting days? "Yes but you could certainly have a helping hand?"

"No, and I meant, there is no need," she'd answer, a tired but satisfied smile stuck in her voice. A quick glance at the notebook would reveal symbols after symbols describing what Imelda could remember were alchemical processes -- or were they, potioneers, these timid people, always wrote in ciphers or, no, hieroglyphics, like mathematicians?

"Just when I thought you are still grieving over your Charms NEWT."

"I still am."

"But look at this, you've mastered them. Remember McDowell? The girl still burns everything she touches."

"She performed better than I did," and on that note of pure sulking, Imelda felt a light kiss would liven Julia. It certainly did, her cheeks flashed with delightful pink, but her eyes remained stuck at the stove before her, and no thought was behind that stare other than a some non-relevant exam to her career at the construction firm in London, her current job, to any of her numerous hobbies and interest, to any of her researches, thoughts, wits; Aesop Sharp, damn, was her best friend and taught her beyond Hogwarts' curriculum. And she dared to drown in sap of past, non-important mistakes that to Professor Ronen were simply this, too.

Julia needn't his subject per se, lest she wanted to become Theory for Magic professor to continue Fig's foolhardy attempts at… what was he researching again?

"More important is that you seem to have forgotten you need to rest, too," Imelda reminded.

"But I'm resting. Every time I think of something enjoyable, write it down and continue moving onwards with my research. Unless, you remember, my back."

"Want to sit by with me?" Imelda knew she didn't have to ask twice. Julia was quick to move from the stove to a cosy couch -- another of her kitchen prides -- and solaced by warmth, felled limp in Imelda's arms. Her pen still scribbled something, however, and so hastily it was tearing through the page. "Jools, your pen." It stopped. Then, as Julia's wand suddenly flickered in her hand, both notebook and pen gravitated towards the table and lain themselves at where no plate would stand in just few long tens of minutes before dinner.

Behind the windows, a smokefall.

And through this majestically glittering mist, along the trail of little fairies, the subtle silhouette of Poppy was moving closer to the door. Like Julia, she preferred to enter the house via the kitchen door. Why, as Imelda once asked unsolicited, turned into a grim story. Poachers.

Wicked people, they had eaten off their own children; remaining unseen and unheard, crawling for the food storage in the middle of nights to steal enough for lunch the next day…

Poppy spoke about it all so calmly, not a dirgeful tremble in her voice, but was it -- was it truly calm or held so because Poppy was telling above Julia's sleeping, deaf ear; yet her skin could catch the strange tremble of the air of her anxious whisper. Julia would've hated to see her upset; cursed all poachers heard a strain in her voice. Was it also the reason why Julia was relentless?

And wasn't Imelda trying to ruin what's been sewn long before she became another key stone of this whole relationship.

Tonto, tonto niña.

When Poppy entered, she immediately jumped at them to ask if Julia had yet again overworked herself. Julia replied, she didn't, it was just getting late, and she would come up with more excuses. Imelda cut her off, "Obviously she was, she rejected my help again."

"Don't do that again," Poppy meant it jokingly, but meant nonetheless and Julia couldn't escape her judgement, leaning tiredly on Imelda's shoulder. "I'll--"

"But you just came!" Julia sat up. "Take a seat, I'll--"

Imelda retorted, "Crumple on the floor? Forget it, be a good wee little princess and sit with Pops, I'll have use of myself for once."

Julia's pouting was met with Poppy's lecturing; Julia could stand her wishes empalingly sharp but not against Poppy. This woman would never tolerate any form of self-deprecation or self-neglect, she saw no romance in what felt an unwarranted sacrifice, a needless fatigue, that something pertaining to Julia's whole act of doing the home. It was her wish, Imelda knew. Poppy's wish was to do it, to, together.

Imelda listened to them for few moments, until the dinner was ready to be served. As she placed first plates, Julia was saying, "But I don't know, Poppy. I need all this for research, too."

"Research?" Imelda cut in. "Have I heard you right? You are thinking of research doing laundry? What exactly are you studying off my dirty breeches?"

"Your dirt-smeared, butt-worn, holed atrocity inspired a hypothesis the other day!"

"Melly," Poppy inclined, "don't, she is just like that."

"Like that! I like that, It's vital to my job! I can't solve another cryptic recipe if I'm not tending the garden, or strolling, or throwing gnomes, or cooking, or--"

"Are you telling me my favourite breaches have a hole on the arse now."

"That whole region has come off, sorry, I didn't know how to tell you."

Imelda put the kettle down with a muffled thud. "And you threw them away???"

"Not yet but I just might if you're so against me to do more work here, around our house, such as patching this thing."

"Why though?" Poppy asked, mouth half-full of baked potato. "Burn them?"

"They're my breeches!"

"But do not you understand patching them will fuel a theory?"

"Shut it!" Imelda demanded. "What kind of argument is that! Forget it! Are you still… doing this… after all those years, even when!.."

Julia pecked, "Always. Do not you, too, to name an example, do not you come up with strategies when, hm, doing me?"

"Fuck! Julia! No!"

"Tending the garden?"

"No."

"Or when strolling down to the Pitch on a sunny day?"

"Not really, every thing of what you've just mentioned is my relaxation and not a job. It stays where it belongs. At the club's dormitory. Just so you're aware. It has no place inside your--"

"Now you shut it," Poppy asked. "The only pussy here is our cat."

Sammy the Kneazle, a middle-aged kneazle of a gorgeous iridescent sable colour, was resting on top of a counter near his food stand.

He lifted his head at Poppy called him, while Julia was blinking at Imelda, in turn staring at her holding a nervous laughter.

Julia was a maddening woman. Stubborn. Deaf to the word of care and advice sometimes; something Aesop-damn-Sharp noticed, too.

But unlike Poppy, she couldn't render speechless with just a word.