#Two-fer-Tuesday

[pinetree-poet]

2024 NOVEMBER POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 19 ~ I SHOULD'VE SEEN IT COMING

I SHOULD’VE SEEN IT COMING © 2024 G. Smith (BMI) =================== I grew up in Scouting, Never, ever doubting, Doing one good deed most every day. Tying knots and building fires, Off the map and climbing higher, And I would be an Eagle, come what may.

Always helpful, always ready, Always strong and always steady, Always courteous, kind, and cheerful through and through. Few things took me by surprise, Except those smiling jade green eyes, I saw the moment when I first met you.

And I should’ve seen it coming, The signs were always there; Hints and whispered warnings – Clues were everywhere. Life as I had known it, Would never be the same, It all changed the moment, That I heard your name.

After all these years I’m loyal, as you know, Trustworthy and friendly, going with the flow. And I can handle anything the fates may throw our way. It’s not hard to be on guard, Looking out for you, sweetheart, And this is where you know I’m gonna stay, gonna stay; This is where you know I’m gonna stay.

I grew up in Scouting, Never, ever doubting, Doing one good deed most every day.

[pinetree-poet]

2024 NOVEMBER POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 5

On Robert Lee Brewer's blog, Poetic Asides, today is the first Two-for-Tuesday prompt of November, and he's kicking it off with his favorite recurring prompt:

Write a love poem, and/or...

Write an anti-love poem.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Rains Dixon prompts us with: The worst thing that could happen.

As is always the case:

These prompts are springboards to creativity. 

Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.

𝖌

[doggers05]

Two for Tuesday

[pinetree-poet]

2024 NOVEMBER POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 26

From Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic asides come the final two-fer-Tuesday prompt of the month (and probably the year):

Write a fire poem, and/or...

Write an ice poem.

And from Charlotte Rains Dixon comes her daily prompt:

Cake or pie?

𝖌

[librawritesstuff]

Two-Fer Tux Tuesday

Let’s make it a three-peat coz I know you wanna see it in motion too

[secretdiaryofdonbryan]

Two-Fer Tuesday!

[most-datable-undatable]

Your Match-Ups!

Because I am a complete mess of a person, I forgot to put a few on my original list, so good news for the person who suggested Wizard from Stardew Valley a bit late: Because of my stupidity, he is now on the bracket!

We have a total of 104 contestants! This will be a standard single-elimination tournament. Match-ups were completely randomized, although for the first round I did not allow match-ups between two characters from the same franchise.

Voting will begin tomorrow morning at 9am PST. I will post one poll every ten or so minutes. I will do 26 tomorrow and 26 on Tuesday. Be sure to follow so you don't miss out on a vote for your favorite!

Without further ado: Your Most Datable Undatable Character Round 1 Match-Ups!

Day One

Kai (Harvest Moon: Back to Nature)/Hytham (AC: Valhalla)

Aphrodite (Stray Gods)/Robin (Stardew Valley)

Cole (Dragon Age: Inquisition)/Dame Aylin (Baldur’s Gate 3)

Sten (Dragon Age: Origins)/Helena Blake (Mass Effect)

Kent Connolly (Fallout 4)/Asterius (Hades)

Serana (Skyrim)/Bo Calloway (Scarlet Hollow)

Perry (Harvest Moon: Animal Parade)/Cliff Holden (Our Life: Beginning & Always)

EDI (Mass Effect 2 and 3)/Soma Jarlskona (Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla)

Kasumi Goto (Mass Effect 2)/Shandra Jerro (Neverwinter Nights 2)

Mel (Fallout 4)/Neeshka (Neverwinter Nights 2)

Vivienne de Fer (Dragon Age: Inquisition)/Pasqal Haneumann (Rogue Trader)

Carlos (Rune Factory 4)/Hypnos (Hades)

Scout Lace Harding (Dragon Age: Inquisition)/Bishop (Neverwinter Nights 2)

Deacon (Fallout 4)/Theseus (Hades)

Virgil (Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura)/Avitus Rix (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Nathaniel Howe (Dragon Age: Awakening/Dragon Age 2)/Wynert (Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate)

Quinn (Dream Daddy)/Karliah (Skyrim)

Nick Valentine (Fallout 4)/Nakmor Drack (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Dagna (Dragon Age: Inquisition)/Terry (Rune Factory 5)

Rolan (Baldur’s Gate 3)/Talos Drellik (Star Wars: The Old Republic)

Shiala (Mass Effect)/Jodi (Stardew Valley)

Tiran Kandros (Mass Effect: Andromeda)/Trickster (Hooked on You)

Arthur Maxson (Fallout 4)/Brassidas (Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey)

Brynjolf (Skyrim)/Briala (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

Mary Christiansen (Dream Daddy)/Chaos (Hades)

Olgierd von Everestu (The Witcher 3)/Wizard (Stardew Valley)

Day Two

Frea (Skyrim)/Rose of Sharon Cassidy (Fallout: New Vegas)

Legion (Mass Effect 2 and 3)/Yuthura Ban (Knights of the Old Republic)

Qyzen Fess (Knights of the Old Republic)/Dammon (Baldur’s Gate 3)

Isobel Thorm (Baldur’s Gate 3)/Athena (Stray Gods)

Sandy (Stardew Valley)/Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy VII)

Kaelyn the Dove (Neverwinter Nights 2)/Medusa (Stray Gods)

Bao Dur (Knights of the Old Republic)/Evfra (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Arcade Gannon (Fallout: New Vegas)/Jeremus (Mount and Blade: Warband)

Nyreen Kandros (Mass Effect)/Shale (Dragon Age: Origins)

Urdnot Wrex (Mass Effect Series)/Marnie (Stardew Valley)

Talvas Fathryon (Skyrim)/Nihlus Kryik (Mass Effect)

Cremisius “Krem” Aclassi (Dragon Age: Inquisition)/Gatekeeper (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Keldorn (Baldur’s Gate 2)/Lin Fa (Rune Factory 4)

Johnny Silverhand (Cyberpunk 2077)/Veronica Santangelo (Fallout: New Vegas)

Tarquin Victus (Mass Effect 3)/Aveline (Dragon Age 2)

Judith (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)/Varric Tethras (Dragon Age 2/Dragon Age: Inquisition)

Evelyn (Rune Factory 3)/Sagacious Zu (Jade Empire)

Jarun Tann (Mass Effect: Andromeda)/J’Zargo (Skyrim)

Joker (Mass Effect Series)/Vault Tec Rep (Fallout 4)

Eder (Pillars of Eternity 2)/Iorveth (The Witcher 2)

Atris (Knights of the Old Republic 2)/Vernon Roche (The Witcher 2)

Kharjo (Skyrim)/Lambert (The Witcher 3)

Mordin Solus (Mass Effect 2 and 3)/Eskiel (The Witcher 3)

Raphael (Baldur’s Gate 3)/Takemura (Cyberpunk 2077)

Craig Boone (Fallout: New Vegas)/Canderous Ordo (Knights of the Old Republic)

Mira (Knights of the Old Republic 2)/Wistful Deviless (Sunless Sea)

[thelastspeecher]

Here's a little bit more in my Horse Boy Stan AU. Just after Stan turns into a horse, and how he winds up with the McGuckets.

;)

——————————————————————————————

                 Stan stomped his hooves anxiously as he waited his turn.  Jimmy Snakes had left town as soon as he found an upcoming auction to sell him at, frustrated that Stan refused to be broken.  The money would be wired to him after the sale.

                 Stan felt a shiver run down his spine.  He was going to be sold.

                 At least last week could’ve been worse.  Jimmy could have dropped me off at a place that treated me like shit.  But the stables holding the auction boarded and fed Stan, and were kind in all their interactions with him.  Except for the upsettingly thorough examinations to determine the minimum price he would be worth.  Stan lowered his head.  I just want this whole nightmare to be over.

                 The people at stable hadn’t been able to break Stan, but he was still defeated.  There wasn’t even a glimmer of hope that he could escape.

                 “Lot 17, a buckskin Irish Draught stallion,” the auctioneer announced.  The boy holding Stan’s lead brought him out of the wings and onto the stage.  There was some murmuring from the gathered crowd.  Stan felt a strange twinge of pride that made him stand at attention.  He knew from the people at the stable that he was considered a high-quality horse, despite lacking a formal pedigree.  “Wild or feral caught, no paperwork, unknown age though he is fully grown, and unbroken.”  The murmuring grew louder, then died down.  The auctioneer seemed to notice the apparent loss of interest.  “He would serve as a good workhorse.  Or, as he is intact, stud fer workhorses.  We’ll start the biddin’ at four thousand.”

                 “Four thousand!” a voice shouted.  Stan looked at the crowd, quickly zeroing in on the sole person interested in buying him.  It was a young man about his age, with dark hair and a large nose that took up most of his face.  A young man next to him, with blond hair, elbowed him and whispered something.  Stan’s potential buyer shrugged off whatever the other man said.

                 “Any other takers?” the auctioneer asked.  He sounded disappointed, though Stan wasn’t sure why.

                 I’ve never been worth four thousand bucks in my life!  No one else spoke up.

                 “Going, going, gone,” the auctioneer said.  He slammed the gavel.  “The buckskin goes to Lute McGucket.”  He raised an eyebrow.  “I assume yer father will come by with the money fer him?”

                 “Sure thing, Mr. Smith!” the man, Lute, called.  Chuckles sounded from the crowd as Stan was led backstage and into a stall to wait.

                 Thankfully, Stan didn’t have to wait long.  Within about fifteen minutes, two voices sounded, getting louder as they approached Stan’s stall.

                 “He ain’t broken, Lute.”

                 “My fam’ly’s got a way with horses, you know that.”

                 “And what’ll ya do if ya can’t break him?  Rent him out fer stud?  Without papers, no one would pay a cent!”

                 “Look, we’ll figure it out.”  The two people from before came to a stop in front of Stan.  “I can tell there’s somethin’ special ‘bout this feller,” Lute said.  His friend crossed his arms.

                 “I don’t know if yer right.”  He sighed.  “But it ain’t my business, so I’ll drop it.”  Lute’s friend began to walk away.  “I’ll see ya and this new stallion tomorrow.”

                 “Sounds good!” Lute called.  He turned to Stan.  “All right, feller, let’s get ya out of here.”  He pulled a lead out of his pocket and attached it to Stan’s halter.

                 Okay, first impression, he’s not the worst.  I guess.  Lute opened the door to Stan’s stall and led him out of the stable.  A different stallion was patiently waiting, tied to a post.  Lute smiled at Stan.

                 “This here is my usual steed, Tuesday.  He’s a gelding, but don’t worry, we won’t geld ya.”  Lute winked.

                 Uh.  I don’t think I want to know what he’s talking about.

                 “I can tell yer not the kind of stallion we would geld,” Lute continued.  “But not so’s we could stud ya.  No, it’s ‘cause yer special.”  He cocked his head.  “What’s yer name?”

                 “Stan,” Stan whinnied instinctively.  He winced.

                 Dammit, think!  Why bother telling him, he won’t understand!

                 “Stan,” Lute repeated.  Stan’s jaw dropped.  Lute grinned.  “Just like yer special, I am, too.”  He mounted his horse and tied the lead to his saddle.  “Let’s get ya home and sorted out, okay?”

                 How the hell did he know what I said?  Lute winked again.  Eh, fuck it, I don’t care.  He understood me, and that’s all that matters.  Stan eagerly followed Lute and Tuesday, for the first time since this whole mess started, feeling optimistic.

[pinetree-poet]

2024 NOVEMBER POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 19

It being another Tuesday, Robert Lee Brewer has posted his recurring 2-fer-Tuesday prompt:

Prepared... and/or...

Unprepared...

And Charlotte Rains Dixon's prompt for 11/19 is:

 Off the map.

[doggers05]

TWO for Tuesday!

[fandomwritingbit]

i love your william fics so much omggg can i ask a f!reader who is babysitting elizabeth and evan, she can't help but be attracted to william so he decides to make the first move 👀 sorry if my english is baddd-

Hi, thank you so much. I am a sucker for babysitter shit so here you are!

No smut but uh mature themes ig. This might be a future two-fer.

william afton x (fem)babysitter reader

You'd been babysitting for William Afton for a while now. Longer than you'd have thought, but the man likes you and you're good at your job, so whenever he has to pull a late shift, you were round to make dinner for his kids and put them to bed.

They handled well enough for you now, learning that unlike other sitters they'd had before, you wouldn't be manipulated into late nights just by fluttering eyelashes. That's part of the reason William liked you so much, you weren't afraid to send them to bed early for being little shits, or make them clean up after they mess, they made and so he never had to come home to any trouble or bickering.

You'd been so long under his employ that he had a lot of trust in you and so he was happy to treat you once in a while - at least that's the reason he'd tell you. Often, you'd arrive at the Afton house after getting Evan and Elizabeth from school, to find a bottle of wine and a note telling you to get a movie or something after the kids had gone to bed. You'd spend the night often too, his eldest, Michael, had left home so there was a spare room with a king-sized and tv, ideal for you. And so as far as you were concerned, the job was absolutely class.

There was another reason you like babysitting for him though. And it was a little less comfortable to say out loud: you like Mr Afton. Well, that's putting it lightly. He's proper handsome, in a scruffy careless kind of way. He could clean up well, but you liked him best unshaven and a little tired, which is how you find him 90% of the time.

So when you came back to his, with the kids whinnying behind you, expecting the usual Tuesday night set up of, tea, bed, say hey to Mr Afton, your bed. You were almost put out to see him greet you at the door. Especially looking as he did, in a suit and tie, aftershave and a comb ran through his hair.

"You look well, Mr Afton. Got a meeting with shareholders or something?" you said, trying to keep your eyes respectfully on his and not how nice the cut of those trousers was.

He laughed at you, "Shareholders? Someone should have told me about them sooner so I could've stopped fronting costs my-bloody-self." He smirked. He had a lovely diplomatic salesman's smile, but that cynical smirk, where you could catch

sight of silver teeth, was just something-fucking-else.

"A lawsuit then?"

"Not tonight," He sat down at his kitchen counter, watching you go and make yourself a cup of tea. Shaking his head when you shook a mug at him. "Would you believe it? I'm going out."

And of course you asked about his plans, trying not to show your thoughts when he said it was with a lady he'd met through a mate. It was stupid really, but all night you stewed on it. Eating with the kids, helping Evan with some maths homework you hadn't seen the likes of for years, sitting down to watch some tv in Mike's old room.

So fucking ridiculous you were actually off it on one that this middle-aged bloke was on a date.

God, you'd laugh if someone told you this, but no, here you were practically clock-watching wondering if he'd go back to hers or not, and if you should hang around in the morning and see the kids okay. He hadn't said anything, but would he have? Surely. Then it occurred to you that you might hear his key in the door, followed by two voices.

You must have fallen asleep at some point, semi-getting over it and realising your silliness. But you awoke at around midnight, desperate for a piss and a drink, so much so that you couldn't decide which you needed more.

Deciding on the logical option, you eventually make your way down the stairs and into the kitchen, being extra quiet to avoid disturbing the kids. Leaning over the sink you set about filling a glass with water, the sound of the tap blocking the footsteps from behind you.

He said nothing, waiting for you to turn around and not minding the view whilst he did so. Knowing he was probably about to make you jump, he struggled not to laugh in his drunken state. Man, did he liked you and your cheekiness; you'd well and truly come out of your shell during the time you'd worked for him and it was nice to see. You could make him laugh with some sarky comment but that didn't take away his trust in you.

Honestly, he kind of thought of you as family, Hell, more so than his eldest son. But right now, with your back turned to him and those leggings on, it was easy to forget his fondness.

Once you'd finished, you turn and the sight of the man of the house, just stood there, sent your back thumping against the sink as you jumped.

"Jesu- Mr Afton... I didn't hear you get back."

"That's the idea," You could tell from how he spoke and how he took a seat at the counter, that he'd had a few to drink. He wasn't mortal or anything close, just relaxed. "trying not to wake the kids up. Or you, for that matter."

"Well, you'd make a bloody good burglar." Watching how your comment made him smirk, knotted your stomach, good God he had lovely smile. You move to the other side of the counter, leaning to rest your elbows against it. "You had a good night?" you ask, not really wanting to hear about his date, but curiosity itched.

He looked towards you and struggled with the internal effort of looking at your face and not how your tank top had lifted slightly.

"Were alright. Not particularly good company."

"Sorry to hear it."

"So am I." He gave in to the urge to look down your top and didn't even bother to obscure it. True he been disappointed to realise that the woman he'd gone out with was dull as paint chips, but maybe it was for the best. Such a nice view in his own house, right under his nose.

You caught his gaze and instantly stood, feeling heat rise to your cheeks. He was looking at you. Like looking-looking. Like he fancied you. Shit. The thought made you want to both put a jacket on and lean further forward.

"So... I'm gonna leave you to whatever... you're uh doing." He chuckles, seeing you take two steps towards the door. You can still feel yourself flustered under his scrutiny and not wanting to embarrass yourself, you just want to go back upstairs to re-live this over and over.

"You could do." He shrugged, still smirking away. "Or you could take a seat?" As he finished, he pushed the stool next to him out with his foot.

You stand there, well startled. Before you can manage to speak, trying to check if he meant what you were understanding.

"Is that a good idea?"

The man's head tilts back as he laughs. "No. No, it would be very irresponsible of you."

And yeah. Yeah, he was right about that.

[bi-girl-on-the-western-front2]

Two-fer Tuesday to celebrate 2k 🥳🥳🥳

Pictures made by @bodilyphoto (link below), Oct. 2016

https://twitter.com/bodilyphoto?s=21&t=xSMbBgnqIJatS1rOSTknKQ

[ms-m-astrologer]

Transiting Venus enters Libra

Wednesday, November 8 - Monday, December 4

The good news is, Venus rules Libra, and she’s very happy to be home for a while. The bad news is, she’ll have a lot of challenges. Style over substance, “going along to get along” and refusing to take a stand when it’s necessary, being manipulative - things like that. And the hopeful news is that, if we can remember and adhere to Libra’s higher ground, we can spend this time making real progress.

How this could manifest in Venus’ various areas:

Art - as any music lover will tell you, “popular” doesn’t necessarily equate to “good.” If it did? As an example, Bruce Springsteen has never had a #1 hit song in the US - granted, he was competing against Prince in 1984, but what about the rest of the years?

Beauty - I remember reading a review of “Prizzi’s Honor” which described it as a conflict between “pretty” (Kathleen Turner) and “beautiful” (Angelica Huston). If we tend toward pretty, we’re missing out on depth of character.

Love - seeking personal validation through having a particular spouse (like wanting to date the most popular kid in high school), rather than a true partner. And then doing whatever it takes to acquire that “validating” spouse.

Money - blowing it all on makeup and disposable fashion. Or, we buy something because it’s impressive and not because it has any particular meaning for us.

These are the non-lunar aspects Venus will make. Give them a day or so on either side.

Wednesday, November 8 - Venus/Libra inconjunct Saturn/Pisces, 0°31’. Right off the bat, we have a difficult adjustment to make. Remember that Saturn is exalted in Libra - we’re being asked about our standards of justice and fairness.

Monday, November 13 - Venus/Libra (6°03’) sesquiquad Uranus Rx/Taurus (21°03’). Frustrations; “all that glisters is not gold” springs to mind.

Tuesday, November 14 - Venus/Libra square Vesta Rx/Cancer, 7°00’. We may turn ourselves off, sexually, if we think it will get us something we want.

Wednesday, November 15 - Venus/Libra inconjunct Jupiter Rx/Taurus, 8°45’. More “all that glisters;” with perhaps a little of “your eyes were bigger than your stomach.” Taking on toi much, or realizing it’s a much bigger and more difficult task than we anticipated.

Friday, November 17 - Venus/Libra (10°06’) semi-square Mars/Scorpio (25°06’). People in sexual relationships may feel this especially acutely. One partner may (as with the Vesta square) “turn off” or, conversely, be more demanding.

A “two-fer” with minor aspects from Lady Asteroids, on Sunday, November 19:

Venus/Libra semi-sextile Juno/Virgo, 12°11’

Venus/Libra (12°40’) semi-square Ceres/Scorpio (27°40’)

We’re trying to coordinate between demands of our partners (Juno) and our families (Ceres).

Another two-fer on Wednesday, November 22:

Venus/Libra (15°48’) sesquiquad Saturn/Pisces (0°48’)

Venus/Libra oppose Chiron Rx/Aries, 15°58’

These are rather more serious than what we’ve experiences so far - as are the remaining aspects. Even if we’ve been as tactful and graceful as we can manage, it isn’t enough. It’s important to really listen to what other people have to say. They get to have free will, too.

Sunday, November 26 - Venus/Libra inconjunct Uranus Rx/Taurus, 20°32’. A difficult adjustment. If we overindulged, it’s coming back to bite us in the butt.

Tuesday, November 27 - Venus/Libra opposite North Node/Aries, conjunct South Node/Libra, 22°39’. An opportunity to examine (at least) those Libra ways we mess ourselves up.

Wednesday, November 28 - Venus/Libra opposite Eris Rx/Aries, 24°19’. What did I say? Other people get to have free will, too. And if the shoe is on the other foot, and we find we’ve been manipulated, this is the day we could fight back.

Thursday, November 29 - Venus/Libra inconjunct Neptune Rx/Pisces, 24°54’. Taking those rose-colored glasses off, or having them removed for us.

Sunday, December 3 - Venus/Libra square Pluto/Capricorn, 28°33’. We’re aware that we haven’t done Venus or Libra very well (not just this transit, but in our past). We’ve seen that our past machinations were unfair - that our cowardice and complacency haven’t served us well - so, either we resolve to fix it during Venus’ imminent trip through Scorpio; or in Steven Forrest’s words, “we fail to look at ourselves; we imagine the issue to have its sole origin in the other person’s intransigence.”

Painful, I know. The higher Libra traits include justice and fairness; valuing other people; tact and diplomacy. We just need to be more consistent about expressing them - and we need to use them to reach out for the higher Aries traits, as represented by the North Node.

[librawritesstuff]

Two-fer Tux Tuesday

a) Tie me up, tie me down

b) Props to the steadicam operator for this shot

[v-eight-lover]

Two fer Tuesday; a pair of Porsche's

[doggers05]

Two for Tuesday

remixed