#Just select the last option and tag who I didn't include

[katsurinssims]

Katsu's alternative Afterglow Palette

as I mentioned in my last post, I made a lil alternative hair colour palette. Before I got into Afterglow, I really wanted to try out @0201-sims VK actions, as I love the idea of a visual kei inspired hair colour pallete. But I got into afterglow, so forgot about it for a while! Then when I was ill and making a bunch of sims and downloading a bunch of CC recently, I thought that I wished I had a secondary family of naturals to chose from, as when I was using Pooklet's colours I used 2, one being what my DRs were in, and the other being just another option. So I tried out the VK actions, but wasn't 100% happy with how some of them looked on Afterglow textures. Afterglow has a subtle, silky shine (which is what converted me, aha) that can easily become flat looking with certain colour actions applied- so I trialed some other colours I like and this is what I came up with!

The colours and why I chose them:

It's a mix of Cassis' VK actions and @digisims2 Ephemera Inspired Color actions. Cassis' Aliene is a much cooler (as in cooler tone) and slightly more unnatural, alternative looking black than Poppet's, which fits well with the Vkei theme. I knew I wanted cooler, but the green undertones are really striking! Basier is used as the red rather than the brown, its the main one I wanted as it reminded me of when I was a teenager and took a picture of Hizaki to the hairdresser as a reference photo. I suppose you could call it a strawberry-esque colour, its very fun. For blond and brown I picked out a couple of Digi's Ephemera colours that were dissimilar from the colours already included in afterglow naturals, and Digi's always been an inspiration for me in my CC making journey, as well as Ephemera, so it seemed only fitting. The main idea I wanted to get accross with the main 4 colours is hair that has clearly been dyed, but in natural types of colours, maybe for alternative types of sims, aha. For the grey I knew I wanted something richer and warmer, so went with @blackswan-sims Pipe Bomb x Finade mix, which I have had saved by for a while because it intrigued me so much! Finally I'm adding just one unnatural because I missed having a bright pink option, and this was the hardest to pick out. I went through a lot of options before landing on ol' reliable @pooklet, in Pentolite. It's warm but not too red, and doesn't blast out all the subtle detail. So yea, the main purpose of this alternative selection is to suit my game with a lot of late 90s FRUiTS and other Japanese street style inspired fashion ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

That may be too much information/explaination on my choices there, I'm mainly just excited to show you all these colours!

As much as I just picked these out because I liked and wanted to use them, anyone else is welcome to try this alt palette; but I don't expect others to like or use them, or for them to be a norm amongst afterglow creators. Besides these being maybe a bit of an odd choice- having one family of naturals makes CC creation easier, cuts down on the size of your downloads folder, and keeps your bodyshop neat! Nothing wrong with that, I'm just someone who's a lil over the top with these types of things I suppose, aha.

If you do want to use them, I'm uploading them as a set of actions for PS:

Download my Afterglow Alternative Palette actions

I didn't alter the original creators actions at all, just bundled them together- which means they may not work on all versions of Photoshop. I've included individual swatches in the file with the creators names so they can be found easily!

Intended to be run over Afterglow but would work on any volatile base. Check @the-afterglow-archive for more Afterglow ₊˚⊹♡

I'll be posting anything I make with these colours to this tag!

[justabigoldnerd]

Find The Word Game

Haha thank you so much for the tag again, @the-golden-comet !!

Rules: Share snippets of your work containing each of the words the previous poster selected for you (optional addition: if you can't find the word in your WIPs, or you simply don't have any WIPs, you can just write a sentence around the word)

My Words: hope, realize, tandem, fall

Your Words: chain, country, neutral, instinct

Hope: (From an unnamed MCD ficlet I may or may not have the balls to finish lol)

What if Gaby was right? It wouldn't be unlike their American partner to fake his death. But he would've told them somehow, wouldn't he? Gotten word to them so they didn't think he was actually dead. The CIA, then? Severing the last of his connections to people he cared for, who cared for him? Surely, when Illya opened the left eye, he would see that the man on the table wasn't his Cowboy. Taking a deep breath, Illya pushed upwards, revealing a thin, dull ring of blue in the center of a blood-filled eye, almost swallowed by the blown pupil. A knot formed in Illya's throat. A knot of hope.

Realize: (From "Never Fall In Love With A Stranger", a Library AU)

Illya loves this library. He's been going to it since his mother moved them from Moscow when he was twelve years old. The staff were always kind when the kids at school weren't, so he'd end up there most days. Then when he got older and began getting into fights, Ms. Kathy from the Children's Center always had an ice pack, butterfly stitches, and a snack ready for him. They never asked why or how he ended up with split lips and bloody noses, they just cared for him when he felt that no one else in the world did. He knew every inch of the building, from the aforementioned Children's Center, to the Reference Desk and non-fiction section, even the older ladies in the Heritage Center that he only visited to chat with. So when the first new face in almost twenty years shows up behind the Reference Desk, Illya notices immediately. And he feels….angry, for some reason. Betrayed. He isn't sure why, but the change makes his heartbeat thunder in his ears. There is a stranger in his library. A toddler shoots past him from the Children's Center, and only then does Illya realize he's been rooted to the spot. His face heats and he shakes himself out of his frozen state, pushing forward and resolving to spend the day with Mrs. Denise and Mrs. Patricia.

Tandem: (From "I Am Your Lover (I Am Your Jailor)" . I actually had to write a new sentence to include this word lol I've never written it!)

The sunlight was warm and soft, reflecting off of the last of the dew dampening the forest and making it glitter like emeralds. Solo's jaw was set in a purposefully neutral expression, but his knuckles were white on the reins. Parsdorf shook his coat to shake off some of the tension he was feeling, and Artem, riding tandem to him, sighed heavily.

Fall: (From "The X-Men From U.N.C.L.E.")

Gaby kept a two-way radio hidden on her at all times. She could tap into the frequency of it somehow and hear through it. That was how she was able to hide her deafness for so long. She was in high-school when a pack of boys a grade above her cornered her and took her radio, plunging her back unto silence while they laughed and jeered and threw it between them. The leader of them crouched in front of a trembling Gaby and spat something at her that she couldn't hear, waggling the radio in the air. When she didn't respond, he stood up and let it fall from his hand. Gaby flinched and tears stung at her eyes, but she kept her glare level, even as he stomped it to pieces.

No pressure to make a new one or use these new words for anyone who has already done/is planning on doing on of these!!! Gonna no-pressure-tag my usuals anyway 💕💕💕

@pippinoftheshire @yallwildinrn @huggiebird @too-young-to-fall-in-love @times-up-alone-tonight

@cha-melodius @heytheredeann @thattripleabattery and anyone else who wants to join!!

[umbracirrus]

WIP Wednesday 💛

So, in spite of the absolute disaster that has been my life over the past few days, I've finally today been able to keep myself together enough to get words written down for the start of Chapter 16 of The Perfect Storm.

I've been tagged by @oblivions-dawn and @thequeenofthewinter, but I'm not going to tag anyone back at this point though do feel free to tag me in any WIPs... I love to read them! 💛

The pursuit of relaxation was becoming harder and harder for Elyse – no matter where she went and what she did, something would always need to be done or crop up at the most inconvenient of times, just like the recent events at the Honningbrew Meadery.

She was contemplating seeing whether she could just lock herself away in Breezehome for a while just for some peace, but a weird feeling of melancholy settled in when she thought of her home – she had only been in Dragonsreach for a few weeks, a few months at best, but it almost didn't feel like hers any longer. Almost none of her belongings were there from when she helped Lydia tidy after the roof repairs, and it felt more like her housecarl's home than her own afterwards. But Dragonsreach was not her home either. Her existence there was temporary, even if for the long-term, and that thought lingered persistently at the back of her mind. And that wasn't even getting started on the mess which was Lakeview.

Instead of choosing to venture out to wind down though, she instead decided to stay within her temporary home of Dragonsreach to see what more there was to do there. Before long, she found herself sat in the main hall in a table tucked away in a corner, with a few select books she had picked up from the nearby shelves.

She did had to admit though... watching things unfold as Balgruuf handled his daily audiences had their moments on the occasions where they managed to catch her attention.

Some were enough to tug at the corners of her lips because they were quite silly and handled incredibly well by him – including a hunter who had dragged in her 'proof of killing sabre cats which were plaguing the hold', saying that he had put a bounty out for it… just for him to ask Proventus when the last time he had put out a bounty with regard to the creatures, and it turning out to be five years prior and long-since completed. She had overheard the woman grumbling about having to get a refund as she was escorted out by guards.

Other times though… she would wince, because they were just painful to listen to. There were a few occasions where somebody would come in and yell at Balgruuf for not picking a side in the war, where she could see him trying to keep a straight face and a sympathetic ear depending on the circumstances of their need to shout at him, but ultimately having to dismiss each of them because he had no intentions of dragging Whiterun into war until the time came that there would be no other option.

It was during one of the latter scenarios, when she was silently listening as somebody tried to persuade the Jarl of the importance of siding with the Empire, that she ended up with company. She didn't actually notice until a quiet voice piped up from beside her.

"He likes to brag about that sometimes. It's probably because he feels pathetic in comparison."

Body tensing up, Elyse quickly turned her head to the side before letting out a small sigh. Nelkir was glowering at the book in her hands, huffing quietly as she tried to process what he had just said. "I- I'm sorry, what…?" She closed the book, and glanced at the cover for a moment. Olaf and the Dragon. "Who likes to brag about what, exactly? Owning a history book?"

The boy already seemed exasperated at her response. "My father, obviously. He likes to brag that we are descendants of Olaf, and that Dragonsreach is all important… But he's just a foolish old man who can't make decisions except stupid ones, and uses the past to feel all high and mighty."

[california-112]

Find The Word

Many thanks to @hogans-heroes for the tag!

Rules: Share snippets of your work containing each of the words the previous poster selected for you (optional addition: if you can't find the words in your WIPs, or you simply don't have any WIPs, you can just write a sentence around the word).

The words I'm working with are jump, rain, scratch, and cost.

The words I'm passing on are button, real, likely, and watch!

Jump

From Red's Peace: Further Adventures, (O) Test-Pilot Work (Part 1). The first of Red's new squadron-mates has arrived.

Red had found himself a sunny window ledge in the crew room to perch on, and was tacking up the hems of his newest battledress trousers with broad, even stitches of black embroidery thread. He was sitting on a bent-up left leg, whilst his right hung stiffly, and his back was bent over his work. His cane was propped nearby, half out of sight. He was so engrossed that he didn't even notice the newcomer enter, and they got almost to his elbow before he acknowledged them with a jump.

"Christ, where did you appear from?" he asked, burying the needle in the material, "Who are you, anyway?"

Rain

From one of my MOTA WIPs, currently called 'Raincoat evening'. I don't have anything particularly soild plot-wise, just some Buck and Bucky friendship and banter on base.

"Bucky, get a raincoat."

"I don't need a raincoat." Bucky replied, continuing when Buck merely raised his eyebrows. "Hey, I took one and didn't need it earlier. It's not gonna rain, Buck, leave it and lets go."

"At least get an umbrella."

"I don’t need an umbrella, let's go-"

"Could you please get an umbrella?"

Bucky made a face, which Buck returned with his usual judging look. Finally, Bucky sighed.

"Do you have an umbrella?"

Buck frowned. "Well yeah, but-"

"Then I've got an umbrella, now can we please get going."

Scratch

From Red's War, (O) Harvesdon. Red is being borrowed by a mysterious officer for an unknown job.

"Alright sir," Red agreed, "I've just got to sign out. Where are we going?"

The officer proffered a pen. "Sign first."

"I've already signed the Official Secrets Act." Red pointed out.

"Not to my knowledge, sign it again. Pilot Officer…?"

"Cosgrove." Red muttered, leaning on the hut wall to scratch a signature. "Now, sir, what should I put on the location board?"

"I'm Conifer," the Flying Officer introduced himself, "and you can put Tangmere."

"Is that where we're really going, sir?" Red asked, an eyebrow raised knowingly.

"You asked for something to put on the board, Cosgrove," Conifer returned cryptically, allowing the corner of his mouth to turn upwards for the first time, "and you've got it."

Cost

From Red's Peace: Further Adventures, (O) Test-Pilot Work (Part 3). After a serious aircraft accident, Red waits in the infirmary for his colleague to recover consciousness, accompanied by his colleague's wife.

He turned away to press a hand to his eyes, trying to stop the tears from escaping; he didn't deserve her sympathy. But a gentle hand turned his face back, prying his hand away and pulling him into a hug. The two stayed that way for some minutes, taking solace in each other's presence, Red watching Kershaw over Verity's shoulder. He couldn't believe that Verity really felt the way she said she did, that somebody could be that forgiving of such an error. He could have cost a man his life, a wife her husband- a child his father! The last thought sent a chill through him, and he closed his eyes. It was something that he didn't like to dwell on, but so many of them in the squadron had families, children- himself included. In their line of work, deliberately pushing experimental machines to the bounds of safety, it was irresponsible to have such dependents…

Thank you for the tag, it was a lot of fun to look through my writing for these words, and I discovered some bits I didn't even remember writing :'D If there are any questions or you want to hear more, please do ask! I love to talk about this!

I'm going to no-pressure tag @lidensword, @enekorre, @black-bentley, and anyone else who fancies a go :) Have fun!

[titconao3]

New tag game! Name nine fictional crushes (option to include photos) 

Summarize it and/or let your followers drag you for your type :) 

Thank you @acydpop for the tag! IDK that i have crushes of the twu wuv kind, but! i've definitely imprinted on some fictional characters harder than others. Here's a selection! Also, i cheat ;-) If you, yes YOU, would like to be tagged, then yes! You're tagged, come and play along !

1/ SPOCK!1!1!1!!! (Star Trek: TOS and the subsequent films only; the constant retconning of the new versions is... not for me, but kink tomato and everything). First saw the original show dubbed on TV as a pre-teen; Spock was me, Spock was aspirational, Spock was who my best self could be. Small me trained in front of a mirror to be able to raise one, and only one, eyebrow. It worked (but i only trained one eyebrow). This was before i knew of fandom and of course slash, and the internet was barely starting; i wouldn't even have heard about it. It may very well still have been the Cold War, or at least the death throes of the USSR. (Kirk/Spock forever!)

2/ Saint Seiya!! Not Seiya himself (lol nope), but otherwise... Max Whump (Hyoga and Scorpio? i MEAN! A quick look-see on Youtube showed me only dubbed versions, too-short versions, or WHAT THE FUCK is this video-game reboot or something??? ANYWAY) Central! Our Heroes keep being Mega-Whumped, but the Power Of Friendship etc etc. And when i say mega-whumped... From Shiryu who keeps blinding himself, to Shun and his many, many issues with self-worth, to that fight i mentioned with Hyoga still crawling forward even as Milo (Scorpio) keeps wounding him... And Ikki and his Tragic Backstory TM and sacrifice for his baby brother. DON'T start me on the gold saints and the ladies, k? (Yeah, i know, misogyny etc)

3/ Methos from Highlander Ooooh boy. He's sarcastic, self-serving, detached - or is he? Is he? (Yes, Methos/Duncan forever. What can i say? i'm basic) First fave in the morally grey area for this list... but not the last ;-)

4/ Daredevil/Matt Murdock *points at all the fic on my AO3* Yeah, so. Yeah. Nuff said. Picking this gif because crucifix + blood. Taking off a bloody shirt, the crisp white kind he'd wear in a court room as a lawyer, in a church: quintessential Matt Murdock. i just *clenches fist* Have Feelings

5/ Root (and the whole Person of Interest team) She's unhinged <3 Picking her because out of the whole team she's probably the one with the most compelling arc, IMO.

6/ Rodney McKay and John Sheppard and Ronon Dex (SGA) Über-nerd McKay was my first fave (yes, he's a jerk. Your point?), but also-über-nerd Colonel Sheppard and dead-pan Ronon Dex were faves as well <3 (AND RADEK!!!!) (Yes, Ronon Dex is Baby Jason Momoa before he grew huge muscles, and he is quite charming!)

7/ Sherlock Holmes (ACD or Granada versions mostly) He, too, in unhinged :D i probably don't need to introduce him, right? In the larger fandom, i also have a soft spot for JOAN Watson, in Elementary.

8/ Loki (and Cap and Iron Man, yes it's cheating) (so you're getting a two-fer in the gif) We shan't mention the various character assassinations that occurred in the MCU, k? There's an arc that shows change and growth, and then there's inexplicably ignoring huge bits of previous motivations, backstory, or characterization. But i digress

9/ Severus Snape So it's a bit hard here, because Rickman!Snape has never been my Snape, and i've only watched... idk, maybe the first... three? films? So i can't really provide a pic that fits. Anyway, loved the character from the start (he's funny, what can i say?), and when his childhood was revealed i was extra-sold. The social commentary behind his very poor origins, how he didn't fit and was bullied and grew bitter, and everything else... i discovered fandom at the time i started reading the books, around the time Goblet of Fire was published, so i first gravitated towards two fandoms: Star Trek and Harry Potter. Hence those two characters bookending this post ;-)

[cinnamonest]

Zhongli (Genshin Impact) - Yandere Profile

This man's voice has a POWER over me I SWEAR

tws: yandere, mentions of n/sfw

tws (under the cut): very ddlg-esque vibes, sorta? infantilization, noncon

I'm sorry I get such strong daddy vibes it unintentionally went in this direction, hope that isn't too bad lmao

I’m working on all the prompts I’ve gotten in! I’ve gotten a few so I’ll be working on those.

----------

What are they generally like? Lucid, aware? Obsessive? How do they behave?

He's one that might be likely to misunderstand his feelings at first, think that he sees himself as a mentor or maybe even an authority figure, someone to guide you and teach you and serve as a dependable partner to your travels. As time goes on, and he begins to recognize how utterly flustered he gets around you, he's forced to acknowledge the actual feelings he has.

While some yanderes with a slight aloofness or pride to them get worse when in love, such as Childe or Kaeya, his drops completely. You bring out a softer side of him, really, one that's protective and tender and loving, so very loving, wanting to be around you, with you. He's certainly an obsessive, protective type, ultimately allowing his protective nature to get the better of him as he demands to know everything you've done, account for your location at every moment, constantly keep track of your habits, inquire about very personal details of your life. If he realizes you're bothered by it, he might draw back a bit, but he's convinced that that's just your perception, that it's necessary, truly, and not at all unusual.

Pet names. Particularly fond of love, darling, and angel. Sweet things that represent what you mean to him -- something precious, something to represent his adoration and idolization.

The primary form of delusion comes from a perception of you. He's obsessive, and idolizes you to an extent. He perceives you as pure, innocent, angelic. The thing is, this applies regardless of whether or not you actually are. If you are, it will solidify the idea, but even if you're not, he will find a way to see you so, anyway. No matter how wise you are, no, you're naive. No matter how capable you are, no, you're weak and fragile. No matter how experienced you may be, no, you're pure. He can always keep this delusion running by bringing into account age and comparison - you'll never be as strong as him, so you might as well be frail and weak. You'll never have lived as long as him, so really, do you think there's that much difference between you and a child, when compared to someone like himself?

How likely are they to kidnap their darling? How quickly will they do so?

Actually highly likely, and pretty quickly. As he observes you, it becomes very clear to him how very fragile you are, how naive you are, you are quite literally too pure, too angelic, to be living in this world with such beings as humans. Fragile, beautiful little things have a place where they belong - protected. Where do we put fragile, beautiful things? We put them behind glass, behind ropes, in pretty cages, in secluded rooms. It's only natural that you, too, need a similar environment.

He's one of the ones that will... Elegantly kidnap you, as odd as it sounds. He's not a brute that would do something horrendous like knocking you out or drugging you, no, he'll find an excuse for you to come to his abode, invite you in, and you'll walk in none the wiser. Only after your in, and the doors close, does he guide you to your new room, calmly explaining that he's come to the realization that you're too fragile to continue your journey, and ought to simply give up on your travels. He knows you'll be upset at first. Like a child being denied, you'll get pouty, moody, you might cry, you might lash out at him. It's predictable. He'll dry your eyes and calm you down, brushing off any harsh words you may have, holding your wrists in his hands when you try to push him away, softly reassuring you that it will all be alright, that you're safe now, and you'll learn to accept this with time.

How difficult is it to escape from them? How do they keep you restrained? How do they deal with attempted escape? 

He would want something... elaborate. He's a man with taste for the most beautiful of things, including yourself, and he won't settle for something as simple as a chain or ropes. No, that would be too simple and brutish, and you, one of the finest things in his life, deserve something equally beautiful and delicate.

He's one of the ones that would go to a great deal of preparation for your arrival. He'd have a room prepared just for you, very ornate, beautifully tailored to you -- the walls your favorite color, the bed made of the same material as your old one, and the whole room completely filled with things you're certain you never even told him you liked. Clothes that fit perfectly to your body. It's frightening how perfect it is, because you know he had to go out of his way to acquire the information to achieve such perfection, but you have no idea how.

Everything about it elegant and detailed, right down to the series of ornate locks on the door. They're some of the sturdiest available, made with essentially unbreakable metal alloys and the most intricate lock systems to date. The windows don't open, and he'd certainly find some way to ensure escape through them isn't an option -- perhaps metal bars, perhaps an unbreakable glass substitute, perhaps merely locating your new home right on the edge of one of Liyue's most beautiful mountains, so that if you were to go out the window you'd plummet to the earth below. He's a bit delusional, but he's not stupid, and he will think through every possibility. Every little detail he needs to keep you safe and confined.

He's certain that, perfect as it is, this room is all you will ever need to be happy. Should you desire anything else, he can bring it to you. You'll never have to leave.

So it goes without saying that it would be exceptionally difficult to escape him. You'd have to find a way through the locks, for which your best bet would be to get some hair pins or tiny writing utensils. Even if you managed it, though, which would frankly be a very difficult feat, you'll have to deal with staying free. Zhongli has ties to the people of Liyue as a whole, and needless to say, he has eyes everywhere. You can't risk appearing in the harbor area, there will be far too many people who would immediately report you, and you'd just be walking right to him anyhow. The surrounding areas also have ties to him, so you'd want to try and reach Mondstadt, as far as it is, which is a difficult travel by foot all alone. You won't get far. He's faster, he's wiser, and he will find you long before you could ever hope to make it there.

However, he's not quite as angry as some yanderes would be about it. He doesn't take your escape personally, no, he blames himself, only calculating his own mistakes as to how it happened. He sees you as something like... a little runaway pet, so naive and dull that you don't know any better than to go wandering off. Or perhaps like a child, just sheepishly curious and wanting to explore, not knowing the dangers of the world. Or, perhaps...

"I haven't been giving you enough attention, have I? That's why you pulled this little act of rebellion... you're hurt by my negligence and wanted to be reassured of my care for you. I'm so sorry... I understand now, love. This was my fault. I've been so caught up with work... I'll delegate some tasks to my workers, and I'll be able to spend more time with you from now on, alright? Don't worry, I'm not angry, I'll take full responsibility. I'll be sure to make it up to you... now, let's go home."

How easy are they to trick, deceive, or manipulate?

Much like Childe or Venti or anyone who has been around as long as he has, you really don't stand a chance. He's an incredibly perceptive man. There's not much to say on the matter, as any attempts will be quickly shut down.

He'd find it amusing, really. Like a child trying to lie, but the evidence is all over their face and hands - it's that obvious to him. It's cute enough that he almost hates having to discipline you for it, but, you have to learn.

How lenient are they? What privileges can you have, and what will you be denied?

He wants his little angel to be safe - and unfortunately, you, being so naive and empty headed, don't always know what's best for you. He knows rules can be hard to follow perfectly, but they're there to keep you safe.

Extremely strict, will want to monitor every moment of your life, every little movement you take, and will insist on watching over you in every task. He'll pick out everything you wear, everything you eat.

Occasionally, if you ask very sweetly, he may take you out for walks in Liyue. Honestly, he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy taking you to what he knows are the finest locations, shops with the highest level of craftsmanship, restaurants with a high price tag and reputable food. He enjoys showing off his refined tastes and discerning selective abilities. And honestly? There's a certain... Powerful feeling to knowing you're made aware of the costs when he makes high purchases in front of you... even if you don't realize he's not always actually the one paying for it, or that he forgot mora again but promises the owner to pay later - but he'll make sure you don't know that. You hear the numbers, and your eyebrows raise, your eyes widen. You'd nearly faint if that total was on your responsibility, and he knows that. Which is why he'll simply smile at you, and tell you you're worth every last Mora. He'll buy you nearly anything you may desire. It seems like leniency, but in reality, it's his subtle way of locking control and dependency over you, making you respect him, making you love him.

"Don't worry, love. It's not a lot... Not to me, at least. Even if it were, my angel only deserves the best, no?"

What kind of rules do they have? What kind of punishment would they use?

Oh dear. Again, he's very strict, and wants to monitor everything you do, every little aspect of your life. He decides what you eat, portioning your meals to make sure you're eating enough, he worries about you going hungry during your travels, but luckily you'll never have to worry about that again. If you have a sweet tooth, he'll sigh and worry about your teeth and health, but he'll make sure to account for a little bit of sugar in your day, and will even pick up little treats from some of the most reputable places in Liyue.

He picks out clothes for you with each day. They're not... Normal clothes, per se. Certainly not what you'd normally wear on your travels. And it's not like anyone will see you except him - which is exactly why you'll have clothes he would never want anyone else to see you in. Frilly, lacey things, somehow both highly sexualized but also incredibly infantile, soft pinks, baby blues, gentle off-whites. They accentuate the curves of your body so perfectly, while just barely letting him see the parts of you normally kept hidden.

You'll have a schedule - a bath time, a bedtime, a wake-up time. He's weak to your requests, though, and may let you stay up a little late every now and then, or sleep in just a bit, if you make that soft pouting face and beg. He'll insist on bathing you, dressing you, so that you don't have to - and can't even if you wanted to - lift a finger even to wash yourself or put your clothes on.

He has a set of rules for you, very simple ones he hopes you can easily follow. No trying to leave. No doing anything dangerous. No talking to strangers when you go out. You must hold his hand whenever you're walking together, don't go wandering off.

He'll feel ashamed of the thought for a while, but eventually he'll cave and give into the desire, no, the security precaution, of a nice little collar for you. It's not too embarrassing, no, he went out of his way to find one that was delicate, almost like a necklace, made with fine materials, the engraving only visible up close. If you look closely, though, it clearly bears his name.

Breaking the rules is expected, he anticipates it. You're not the brightest, he might even view it as a mistake. A benefit is that you can easily pass it off as simply forgotten, or an accident. Hence, he's not too harsh - normally. He'll sigh, forgive you, and pat your head, contemplating how to prevent your access in the future.

Perhaps you wriggled out of his hand and ran off while walking? You were just excited, distracted, like a child. He might be able to procure a small leash, one that wouldn't be immediately obvious or embarrassing, to attach to your collar. Perhaps some cuff-like links to latch your arm to his.

You forgot the rule about not handling the kitchen knives and cut yourself? He'll have to get some kind of lock and simply keep them safely away from you. No big deal. Any measures are worth your safety.

If you push the limits, or have a defiant attitude, he might reach the point of punishment. As for not-unwholesome things, this would usually include taking away privileges, such as walks or sweets, but overall, punishment will mostly come in more impure forms.

How do they deal with rivals, or perceived rivals? Will they get rid of them? Will they kill them themselves, or find another way?

Not too much to say here - he has connections. He doesn't need to dirty his own hands. For all his supposed humility, if he truly dislikes someone, they're no more significant than an insect to him. He has no reservations about ridding the world of people who, in his mind, are obviously trying to deceive you, abuse you, corrupt you.

Thankfully, he is very capable of keeping a neutral face, even when he feels laughter building up. It would probably look strange if he were smiling over the newest body to come into his parlor.

How easy is it to make them mad? What does their anger look like?

It's a slow buildup. He views restraint as a virtue, and looks down upon those who lack control over their own tempers. He's a man who strives to meet his own standards of character, and that very much applies to self control and ability to maintain a controlled demeanor, even when he feels a bit of frustration due to you being intentionally and deliberately defiant.

It's his responsibility to be a good role model for you and make sure you understand how to behave. However, in the end, he's very keen on properness and rules. If you have a tendency towards brattiness and pushing your limits, you may drive him to a boiling point.

However, even when expressing his anger, he's remarkably controlled. It's very mature, really. Nonetheless, he will have you shivering and tearful with his voice alone, booming with that depth that reverberates off the walls, that vibrates against your very core. His true anger is one that can strike fear even in the most courageous individuals - he's terrifying when he wants to be, fierce and intimidating, a sort of power just eminates from him.

Nonetheless, it's quick, he calms down very quickly, wipes the tears from your eyes, and sighs.

"I do hate having to be firm with you... but I can't have you thinking you can just act however you want. You understand that, don't you?"

So they see you as above them, beneath them, or equal to them?

Both? It's difficult to describe. You're an angel to him. You're the finest work of art, the most intricate creation, the kind of person whose body and likeness deserves to be preserved in art and tradition, one of those women who should be renowned for beauty even centuries long after you're gone from the earth. It's almost goddess-like. At the same time, there's a beautiful, tragic duality to your essence, he thinks. A fragility and a dependency that leaves you in need, but an inherent status of perfection that makes you deserve the utmost perfect of care. You need to be coddled, cared for, protected, but you deserve it. Like a deity incarnated into a mere fragile human form, a queen that needs support to retain her grace.

Unlike some, he doesn't view his care and protection as some kind of favor that should be repaid with your gratitude, no, really, he is grateful that he is the one who is even deserving of being your caretaker, your provider, your lover.

Even if he is the one who determined that he deserves that role.

How determined are they for you to love them? How hard will they try to make it happen? Or are they content just having you?

He's convinced that he can show you that he is your protector, your lover, that it's fate itself that has locked you together, not just his own will.

And he is, above all else, patient. One of the most patient you could encounter. You think a year is a long time? It's nothing to him. A century for you? More than a lifetime. For him? Nothing. He can and will wait, as long as it takes, and he will never falter in his continual care. He'll remind you frequently, he'll shower you in affection, but if you don't return it? It's not that bad. He has all the time in the world to fix you.

Bonus: Is there anything that makes them unique, in comparison to other yanderes?

Moraless Sugar daddy

But in all seriousness, he is definitely of the gift-giving love language. He sees beautiful things, and beautiful things make him think of you! It's sweet, he thinks. So many little things he sees throughout his day make him think of you, and he has to have all of them, see your face when he gives them to you. He likes making you happy, for one, but he'd be lying if he said there wasn't a sort of satisfactory pride he gets from the power dynamic of it all. He wants to be the sole source of provision in your life, he wants your dependency.

If we're talking prior to the events of the game, it will be even more extreme. He treats it like it's truly nothing, throwing around massive purchases, seemingly as if he's not thinking about it at all. But he is - rest assured, he's taking it into consideration, at least, that is, how it will affect your attitude and perception of him.

General perverseness: how sexual of a person are they? What’s their drive like? How touchy do they get? Do they have any reservations about sexuality?

On the reserved side. He'd never conduct himself improperly in public, of course. It's out of the question. He cares about proper behavior and public image, and he'd never behave in a vulgar manner.

Even in private, he's certainly one of the ones that struggles with a certain guilt. To some degree, he would feel like you're so innocent and pure that he doesn't want to corrupt you. He goes through stages. First, he'll lie to himself, telling himself that the feelings he has for you are simply protective, platonic, a natural sense of responsibility for you. That becomes more and more difficult to convince himself of, the more excited he becomes around you, the more he finds his eyes drawn to whatever bits of skin are exposed on your body, finding himself drifting off to impure thoughts, trying to push them away. 

Second, once he's forced to acknowledge the true nature of these feelings, he'll simply practice restraint, something he's rather good at in this area. He tries, he really does. He tells himself he can't do something so impure, that it would violate you, that he should be ashamed of himself for it. It becomes more and more and more difficult to restrain himself with time, the feelings rising and the thoughts become more difficult to push away, eventually entertaining the fantasies in his head in an attempt to rid himself of the urge in real life. It doesn't work, no, it only makes the urges worse, and he can't be around you without his body nearly commanding him to do something. And finally, he'll take a different stance entirely, telling himself that, no, it's not going to corrupt you, rather, it's taking care of you. If he really wants to love you, really wants to care for all of your needs, then surely that would include your physical needs, and therefore, really, it would be wrong of him not to help you.

As that shift in viewpoints goes on, he'll become more and more bold, hands lingering just a little longer, face coming just a little closer. It's a slow build of tension, just waiting to boil over. 

How forceful are they? Do they care about your willingness?

He understands you're nervous. Again, no matter how experienced you are, somehow in his head he makes it out to be insignificant. Even if you've had other relationships, he convinces himself - and tries to convince you - that they were inadequate, they didn't care about you, not like he does. And he'll treat it as that -- any resistance you put up is nervousness, nothing more, nothing less. He'll reassure you a million times that you won't feel pain, that he'll be gentle, that you'll feel good, even if his size and strength frankly is rather intimidating regardless of experience. He'll keep cooing in your ear, softly whispering reassurance, softly running hands over your skin, holding you in place as the last inch stretches you apart. 

What sort of kinks or fetishes do they have, or would they fill?

Infantilization

Again, no matter how smart, experienced, and capable you may be, you're none of those things to him. You're a fragile, little thing. He has to take care of you at all times. It may not be evident at first, and he himself likely doesn't fully realize it, but there is something highly sexual to this for him. Caring for you puts him in a position of dominance, control. It gives him access to your privacy, dressing you up, fingers running over your skin, bathing you, watching your skin glisten. He'll talk to you in this way, too, often softly, remarking every little way in which you need him, and even condescendingly so. He wants you to be his, not only in a sense of love, but of possession.

Oral

Primarily giving. Even on its own, he loves the taste, but the effect it has on you makes it that much better. He loves anything that forces you to depend on him entirely for pleasure, that puts you at his mercy. And he'll be torturous about it too, restraining your arms and legs so you can't control anything, hold your hips down so you can't roll into him, so that only he can determine exactly how much pressure and speed you get. And he won't rush it, no, he'll go so slowly it's torturous, and telling you very simply that if you want any more, you'll have to beg.

Edging

For a variety of reasons. The power trip is as exhilarating as it is pleasurable, but he also loves watching your body writhe. Each little muscle that moves under the flesh when your arms strain against his hand holding your wrists together, the convulsing of your stomach muscles, the way your toes curl and legs spasm and the sweet little whimpers you make when he draws back just short of your high. He's mastered watching your reactions, knowing exactly when to stop, even if you try to mask it. He'll want you to tell him, though, nonetheless, tell him when you're close, if for nothing else but the sense of you obeying his commands.

Collaring

Similarly to infantilization, it gives him something of a sense of control, of possession. He loves seeing his name engraved on it, marking the whole of your being with his ownership. In his somewhat rare moments of roughness, he'll want to pull on it, use it to draw you towards him, in a moment of your defiance, in particular. If you're being mouthy, whiny, disobedient, and you finally make him snap, especially if you try to walk away from him, he'll yank you back with force, pulling you close to him, and when the force of it shuts you up, changes your demeanor, forces you to acknowledge your submission - the satisfaction he'll get from that is incomparable.

How do they feel about pregnancy or babies? Do they want them?

As much as he likes the idea, to him, you're already like a child, naive and fragile. Could your body even handle a pregnancy, a birth? He'd likely try to avoid it, but in the end, if it happened by accident anyway, rest assured you'd be getting the best care of any woman to ever be pregnant in Teyvat, and he'd do everything in his power to ensure you were always comfortable, taking his caretaking to another level, almost never even letting you get up, insisting you stay still and calm and needy.

What kind of (nsfw) punishments would they use?

He'd be one to pull the "it doesn't hurt you as much as it does me" line, but really, even if he refuses to admit it to his own self, having you bent over his lap is just as much for his own enjoyment as it is a disciplinary measure. It's more humiliating than it is painful -- he'd hold back, afraid of hurting you with his strength, but taking in every little flinch and whimper you make as he brings his hand down on your ass, keeping your head pressed down, kneading at the flesh. He'd insist it's the most effective punishment measure, but you can feel the hard-on digging into your stomach. The worse the behavior, the worse the beating, but every time, after it's over, he'll hold you upright, wiping the tears from your eyes and asking you if you learned you lesson, if you intend to do it again, and smiling when you insist you won't.

What body parts of their darling do they like the most?

Your skin. It's beautiful, and he loves the way that light from the moon and sun look on your naked form. He loves the way your skin feels, soft and delicate, smooth, so paper thin and fragile, and so, so deliciously prone to showing marks from the slightest of harm - a simple smack can make the plump flesh darkened and reddened, the lightest suckling will leave beautiful hickeys all down your neck and chest. There are so many ways to mark his property, to stake a visible claim all over you, it's irresistible.

He also will go out of his way, when picking out all the things he wants you to wear, to find colors that best go with your skin tone, in a contrasting sense - particularly lacey, sheer things that contrast very well, so he can see your soft flesh perfectly defined against the little lace patterns.

[its-afucking-mess]

A little guide on ao3 (by an ao3 user and writer)

Friendly reminder for mobile users! Ao3 is a website. It doesn't have (as far as im concerned) an official app for mobile, so better get comfy with using crome on your phone.

Some video links ill leave for people who prefer video and audio:

- navigating the fanfiction sites

- popular fandom terminology part 1 and part 2

- shipping etiquette

i really reccomend coley's videos if you want to get to know more fandoms, or get an inside look to how some stuff works. There also might be more vids about fandom's and fan works, so don't hesitate to look through some of her stuff!

the explaining under the 'read more' ao mutuals wont kill me :)

(also tagging @ethanesimp since they asked for this advice )

So, what is Ao3 really?

Ao3 is a website made by fans for fans. There are no ads, and all content is free on Ao3. Anyone can post (with some age restrictions) and they can post anything.

How can I browse Ao3?

Ao3 does not require an account to view stories. You can easily browse as an anonymous user. You just are not able to view certain works, as creators have the ability to show their works to registered users only. Some cases, commenting is possible while anonymous, but again, it's up to the creator of the work.

If you want to be a creator and share works, you need an account.

An account also gives you the ability to bookmark works, so you can re-visit them, mark works for later, keeps a history of the works you've visited and allows you to favourite tags.

How do I get an Ao3 account?

When you first open the site, it gives you the option to "Get Invited". An invitation will be sent to your email anywhere from 24hrs later to a week later, depending on the amount of people in the automated queue.

After the invitation, you are able to set up your account like any other social media account. Pick a username, pseuds (name), description and bio. You can have a profile picture as well.

How do I navigate the site?

There are few ways to do so efficiently, but there's countless of ways you can experiment with to find which is more comfortable.

1st option: As the website loads, you can go to the 'Fandoms' tag.

Then, after clicking on it, this column appears. Through there, you can pick which media your fandom is from and from there, browse the huge list of different fandoms until you spot your own.

The list is in alphabetical order, so if your fandom begins with an "C", it shouldn't be too far down.

2nd option: At the top right, under your profile, and the options 'Post' and 'Log Out' should be a white oval search bar.

(im using my own account for demonstration)

When searching, there are many ways to work around it.

Personally, I press search as it is. It will lead you to a page where all the fanworks of the site are listed. (i believe its easiest, but always feel free to experiment)

From there, you press the 'Edit Your Search' button, located near the top right.

It will then lead you to a page with multiple fields.

Don't panic when you see all the fields. Only half those are of interest when you want to browse works for a fandom.

The most important ones are those under the Field name 'Work Tags'

Whatever you select under this field will be included in the works the site presents you with.

What are the work tags? What do they do?

Lets go through the options.

Fandom(s): when typing on this option, multiple fandom names will autofill in a list under the white space. If your fandom shows up, you can just click on it.

example:

From there, you can select the fandom you want to see works from. If your fandom doesn't show up, it can mean one of two things:

-there are no works for it

-it isn't popular enough to be picked up by the algorithm

After selecting one fandom, you can select another fandom, or more, to see works that are crossovers over universes.

Ratings: Ratings are selected by author. It defines the level of maturity it has in the work

- General audiences is the tag you want to use when nothing bad happens in the work. No swearing, no sexual activities, no violence or gore. It wont contain scenes that minors are not allowed to see.

- Teen and up audiences is the tag used for most works on the site. It is what would be used when you have mentions of/vague sexual content or violence. Normally, the most extreme stuff on there is excessive swearing, heavy angst and hurt/comfort with no excessive details

- Mature is the tag that is for 18+. It is mostly filled with one of following : Violence, Sexual Content, Ab*se, R@pe, Death and SH.

Reader descretion is advised by looking at the additional tags the author has provided, especially for those with triggers.

- Explicit is like Mature, but contains more graphic content. Works rated explicit mostly fall under the 'Graphic depictions of sexual content', 'Graphic depictions of Violence and Gore' or 'Graphic depictions of Ab*se, R@pe, or Self H*rm

Reader descretion is advised, stronger than mature, since it can be much more triggering. The works are scarily detailed sometimes.

- Not rated: the author has not given this work a rating because none of the other ratings fit the work. Pay special attention to the tags.

Warnings: Also known as Archive warnings by older users. The trigger warnings of Ao3. There are 6 archive warnings:

-Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings: The author didn't use the warnings, either because none of them fit the work's theme and warnings, or to avoid spoiling the story. Pay attention to the tags for any warnings.

-Graphic Depictions Of Violence: It is pretty self explanatory. Can contain any sort of violence, from wars, to simple fights, to ab*se of any kind. Can and often contain death. The type of violence is in the tags.

-Major Character Death: A main character in the story will die in this work. Pay attention to the tags always. The name of the character will be mentioned, as well as the way they die.

-No Archive Warnings Apply: None of the warnings apply. It is most times a perfectly safe work. Check the tags to make sure though!

-R@pe/Non-Con: The work contains non-consensual activities. Ranges from non-consensua sex to non-consensual use and ab*se of substances. Very close attention to the tags!

-Underage: The main character(s) in this work are underage/minors. This is normally tagged along sexual content so be aware and pay close attention to the tags!

Categories: This regards the relationships in the work:

- M/M, or better known as mlm or a relationship between two non-woment (men mostly, can include characters under the non-binary umbrella)

- M/F, a heterosexual relationship (is inclusive of trans characters too!)

- F/F, or wlw, or a relationship between two non-men (women mostly, can include characters under the non-binary umbrella)

- Gen, no sexual or romantic relationships are in this work, or if there are any, they arent of main focus.

- Multi: Polyamorous relationships, or multiple relationships are included in this work (this is also where threesomes+ are tagged in sometimes)

- Other relationships: One of the two people in the relationship is non-human (mostly), or the relationships are platonic/family.

Characters: The characters you want to be included in the story. This works just like the 'Fandom' filter, so the same things apply. You can tag as many characters as desirable.

Relationships: The relationships that you want present in the work. This includes both major and minor relationships. It can also include ended relationships (tagged Past x/y) and implied/referenced relationships. This works just like the Characters and Fandom filter.

Additional Tags: These are things the author has included to give potential readers an insight to the story. 'Angst', 'Fluff' and 'Smut' are additional tags. Works like the Relationships filter, so all same applies.

Is there anything I have to avoid/ I should avoid?

There is this very infamous tag, 'Dead Dove: Do not eat.' This tag is a warining to readers that the things in the work are really messed up, and can include anything illegal in it. PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE REST OF THE TAGS IF YOU STILL ARE INTERESTED.

How else can I filter works?

You can choose how they are:

sorted (Titles, Authors, Hits, Kudos, Comments, Bookmarks, and Best Match)

the word count (from 1 word to millions)

the language (most are on there)

the amount of chapters

if the work is complete of not

when it last updated/when was posted

and if there are crossovers.

These are all options that author has to include, and therefore you can sort freely. Most are bulletin options you can click on.

What if I want to find a specific work?

If you happen to know one of these: Author, Title, Fandom or Rating, you will find it. If you were reccomended one, it's better to ask for the author or the title, to make looking for it easier.

Can I find a specific author/ user?

People search is for finding users on the site

Bookmark search helps you look through other people's public bookmarks. Not really used.

Tag search finds works that include this specific tag you searched. Also not used a lot.

People can see my bookmarks?

When bookmarking a work, you are able to do a lot.

if you do not want your bookmarks to be visible to the public, make sure to check off the Private bookmark box at the bottom left.

Common terms thrown around by Ao3 users:

-tags: the additional tags of the work

-kudos: liking a story

-bookmarks: saving/saved stories. makes it easy to revist. you can see your bookmarks from your profile

-hits: the amount of people that have clicked on a story. Isn't necessary they liked it, but they did click on it.

And those are the basics! If you had to take one thing only, its ALWAYS READ TAGS

I hope this helped the clueless souls even a bit :)

Im open to reply to any other questions, and you can send me them in my asks, messages or comments of this post

[csykora]

heya ! first of all sorry for spamming your motifs like crazy but a. i find your posts incredibly fascinating and b. you love alexander semin even more than i do which i didn't think was possible. OKAY so actually i have a question about How To Find A PT--i'm a figure skater and i want my knees to Not Do Bad Things anymore and i'm wondering if you might know how to find a PT who could help me from the perspective of making me a stronger skater and not just like. able to walk normally

hello—

No need to apologize! All I ever ask is that people add really great and/or dirty tags to my posts for me to laugh at on long shifts, and your Kuzy tag game is fuckin outstanding

(This goes out to everybody—I want to write for fans in the back, so even if you’re not up for talking directly, go ahead and engage however much you like. Yeah, I do usually take a peek at your tags or your blog if I see you interacting with a post, because it’s fun to see what you all are into, and sometimes if it looks like you have questions about something I’ll pounce, because I want information to be available. Please don’t worry about me peeking though. And also know I really won’t notice if either of us do something Tumblr-rude.)

b. Thank you! I do love him a frankly baffling amount. Your love is also lovely and I love seeing all of it. I vote we be friends and the circle of Sasha-love will only grow

(Listen I’ve been on tumblr for 5 minutes and I tried to fight this being my Thing for 2 of them, but what the hell. I’ve got a batch of new followers after last night and this is as good a way as any to warn you all)

He’s a thoughtful and a kind and a happy human being 

or possibly a husky in a hockey sweater. We just don’t know. I love anyway.

How To Find a PT

Congratulations on moving forward on strengthening your skating; I think this’ll be a lot for fun for you. This was a pretty cool question, because I’m not as familiar with figure skating resources and I got to do some exploring. A lot depends on your needs and wherever you are, but I think you’re going find more options than you might expect.

First, I agree that looking for a PT with experience working with skaters is probably right for you. You have a clear goal for yourself, and like I’ve discussed before on this blog your baseline posture/mobility and the ideal posture/mobility for what you want to do are gonna be different from a non-skater’s.

A good PT will do their research and be able to help you even if they haven’t seen exactly your case before, so if it turns out there isn’t a skating specialist around that’ll work for you, you can certainly get some benefit from a general sports PT. But if you can, filtering for skating specialists will save you time and trouble.

Use your networks

Figure skating is figure skating. Somebody is gonna know somebody. 

Figure skating culture can also really convince you that you the skater are not supposed to ask for things, though, so it’s a good idea to sit down with a notepad for a minute and think about:

what have I tried and what’s worked for me? 

 Have you had injuries or conditions that required medical care? 

Were you given those little paper sheets with rehab exercises to do and did you try them? 

Have you noticed any patterns or tricks like, “hey, it really hurts when I do ___ but if I ice before I do it that helps.”

What are my goals?

Are you thinking in terms of rehabbing to get back to your earlier level, or preventing further injury, or both? 

What’s your time frame? How much time can you spend, and how much do you want to?

Do you want to be in-and-done to get an official opinion and then work by yourself, or do you want more hands-on guidance and a working relationship?

 What kind of person are you looking for—a strict coach’s attitude to drive you, or someone who’ll give more encouragement?  

Then you can tuck that away and start poking around. I recommend a 50/50 of googling and talking to people, but go with whichever you trust and are comfortable with.

If you go to a rink, you can ask basically anyone there for their ideas. (You don’t have to tell them anything personal, you can just say, “So, skating, huh. You know any folks that’d help a fellow skate better?”) Any figure skating coach should be cross-trained, and they should know their resources. Rink managers will also know the names of local providers and may have deals worked out. If it’s a university rink, there’ll be an in-house sports med department who’ll often offer some services even if you’re not a competitive athlete for the school and will know your options. The skate mothers will Know.

Ask providers you’ve worked with in the past. If you have a primary care doctor, let them know you’re interested in PT. If you’ve ever had surgery on your knees, check in with that provider and see if they have any names to refer you to.

If you’d rather internet, you can search the American Physical Therapy Association database at MoveForwardPT by region. 

(I’m offering US resources based on your profile. If you or anyone else wants suggestions for other countries, let me know.)

 It’ll then offer you the option to filter by Practice Area—you’ll want to try Fitness and Wellness and Musculoskeletal. 

Each provider will then show up with their “practice focus” like this:

They write those themselves, so there isn’t really a standard meaning. ‘Sports Physical Therapy’ suggests that they do relatively acute, focused rehab. Seeing ‘Athletic Training’ and/or ’Sports Performance and Enhancement’ suggests that they work longer-term one-on-one as you train. (A lot people say both. Again, these just give you a sense of what they want you to know about them.)

If you then select a provider, you’ll see more on their professional experience, facility, and availability, with their contact information.

If you’re a member of US Figure Skating, you should be able to search for local providers and referrals from other skaters through the U.S. Figure Skating National Medical Network.

I personally wouldn’t trust USFS with a piece of string, and I don’t know how useful the database is outside of, like, the skating hub cities. But the PTs in the network are independent providers—they don’t all work for USFS, and most will work with any clients. You just need a membership ID to search the database, so if you aren’t a member you could find someone at your rink who is and ask them to help you search.

Once you’ve got a name:

Go ahead and contact them in whatever format you prefer. Their contact info is on their bios for a reason! You want to know if you’re a match before you start working together, and so do they. Just like a therapist or a surgeon or a tattoo artist, a good PT will want to tell you about their experience, the kinds of problems they see, and their particular style. They should be telling you about their privacy policy, and their non-discrimination policy, before you even ask.

When you meet:

Bring your notes

Go ahead and count the little things. We keep personal things in our offices on purpose to tell you about us. If you don’t like how much Chicago gear they have on the wall or how they talk to you or how they carry themselves around your personal space, count that. If you can chat comfortably with them, count that too; that’s worth a lot more than their degrees or how many other skaters they’ve seen.

Look for signs of respect. Look at where they sit: all healthcare providers are supposed to be trained not to get between you and the door, so if you see them deliberately moving, that’s a good sign. 

PT have to get their hands all up on patients, and the good ones are great about it: you should hear them say exactly what they’re going to do before they touch you,  explaining while they work, and see them deliberately warming their hands, only moving your clothes as much as they have to for each assessment, and covering you back up as soon as they’re done with something.

If it’s an office practice, talk to the nurse! They see all the patients that the PT sees, and their clinical judgement informs the whole practice. Ask them about the practice and tell them about your goals. The PT is a specialist, while the nurse is there to provide holistic care: they know a little about all the different resources that might be able to help you. And they also know or have worked with or know a nurse who’s worked with everybody in the area—they’ll be the one to say, “hey, water therapy really worked for our last client, maybe try that,” or “Dr. Bronner over on Spring Street does more work with clients like you, maybe give him a call.” They’ll also be able to help you with scheduling, which is a pretty big deal for long-term PT.

If one PT isn’t a match for you, it’s very appropriate to ask for them for recommendations!

Last:

Keep what you want in front of you, but be open to trying things you don’t expect. It’s very possible that a good PT will look at you and say, “I hear that your knees are bugging you, but that’s only happening because your hips are fucked up,” or “We’re going to start by relaxing your lower back and building strength in your core so you can use a posture that stresses your knees less.” Or you’ll go in wanting exercises to do on the ice but what ends up working for you is heat therapy or strength training. Try stuff, give it some time, and if that one thing isn’t the thing for you (including the first PT you work with), you can move on and something else will be. 

Good luck and you should let me know how it goes!

[justabigoldnerd]

Find The Word Tag Game

Oooo this is interesting!!! Thank you so much @the-golden-comet for the tag!!!

Rules: Share snippets of your work containing each of the words the previous poster selected for you (optional addition: if you can't find the word in your WIPs, or you simply don't have any WIPs, you can just write a sentence around the word)

My Words: car, bright, stand, live

Your Words: rock, deny, sweat, trail

Car: (From an untitled PWP ficlet)

The day was beautiful and serene– a rarity as precious as a gemstone. A rarity that deserved celebrating. So Solo brought out an expensive bottle of champagne, put it on ice to keep it cool, rolled up his sleeves, and tied his most sentimental apron around himself to get started on an elaborate meal. Gaby was on the other side of London working on her project car in a garage U.N.C.L.E. deemed safe, and wouldn't be home until just after dinner was complete. Illya had been gracious enough to run to the grocer down the street from their apartment for an ingredient they were missing, but he wouldn't be gone for longer than ten minutes.

Bright: (From "The X-Men From U.N.C.L.E.")

Solo set his jaw, but said nothing. The woman was seeping stress that was simultaneously metallic and electric, like licking a live wire. She didn't bother with greetings, she just threw out her arms and demanded, “Where’s Lehnsherr?!” “He'll be joining us shortly,” Charles closed his eyes and pressed two fingers to his temple, “In approximately thirty seconds, to be exact. He's been to pick up a last minute addition.” On cue, another car rumbled into view, rolling to a stop near them. The car had waves of coppery anger rolling off of it. Anger and grief and the barely-there, rotting taste of fear. Its source thundered out of the passenger seat with every predicted emotion etched onto his beautiful face. Charles rushed the absurdly tall man brightly, increasing the fear stench, if only briefly. “What a pleasure to have you change your mind, Illya,” he trilled, shaking the newcomer’s hand, “Truly a delight! Please, allow me to introduce Moira MacTaggert, Napoleon Solo, and Gabriella Teller.”

Stand: (From an untitled Library AU)

Illya looks up from the newspaper he's stamping and nods curtly. She calls out a whispered thank you and hurries towards the auditorium while he neatly stacks the papers and magazines into piles of “Checked In” and “Not Check In”. He stands from the rolling chair and reaches the wire rack where they keep the book lists in one step. A low whistle and a laugh from behind him makes him roll his eyes, fondness warming his chest all the same. “I'll never get used to that,” Cheri teases from her desk, leaning to the side to see around her monitor, “You sure you don't wanna coach my son?” “I did not run track, you know this,” Illya reminds her. “Whatever you say, Mr. Six-Foot-Five,” Cheri chuckles to herself, then disappears behind her computer screen again.

Live: (From "The Most Dangerous Game", a Whumptober response I am expanding on!)

"Gentlemen, I cannot begin to properly express my apologies for this mess I've made. My misguided intentions could have cost you your lives, and for that, I am deeply sorry," Waverly removed his glasses as he stood and cleaned them with the handkerchief in his breast pocket, "I'm afraid I've overstayed my welcome. You're free to discharge yourself whenever you're ready. Please take care of yourselves. I'll see you three in office in a few weeks. Or less, if you're up for it."

Soooo I may have cheated a little and included plurals/adverbs but I don't have many WIPS that actually have writing in them yet lmaooo

Anyway, no pressure tagging @pippinoftheshire @huggiebird @yallwildinrn @too-young-to-fall-in-love @times-up-alone-tonight

@nicijones @cha-melodius @heytheredeann @thattripleabattery and anyone else who wants to join!! 💕💕💕💕