#What happens to the starter if I don't feed it for two weeks

[thornhands]

Stop telling me all self made bread should be Sourdough Challenge 2k23

[wildfire317s-oc-box]

Demon slayer R.P Starter: Yukio

*Somewhere in the darkest parts of the forest, at some point about an hour or two after sundown Yukio was hidden, crouched like a tiger amongst the thick wild grasses and a few bushes, laying in wait for his latest hunt to fall asleep and for the one human who was sitting with his back to him to be the one left on guard for his moment to strike. Yukio had been tracking this group of escaped rapists and other perverts for a week now but every time he caught up to them after sleeping until sundown something would always go wrong and they would leave their camp before he get there which usually left him with less than an hour before sunrise for him to find or make somewhere to hide. But due to being able to stay right on their heels thanks to the trees and some damn near surgically precise timing on his part he managed to injure one of them in the leg just enough to heavily impede their traveling earlier that morning, though the scent of freshly spilled blood sent him into a feeding frenzy and nearly drove him to jumping into sunlight for just a taste. There were nine of them excluding a hostage they had taken at some-point when he had passed out for a bit (whom he was planning on letting go), just barely enough to make this hunt worth it and he knew for a fact that all but the one he was waiting on taking guard; snored once they were soundly asleep and what order they went in. He wouldn't have to wait to very long now especially since they had been drinking quite a bit... His tail quietly swished back and forth, As he waited to pounce he could feel himself starting to uncontrollably drool with hunger and could feel himself getting desperate and growing more impatient by the second..."maaan im starving... i wanna eat already...mmm they smell delicious and look so easy to scare heheh im gonna enjoy devouring them" he thought to himself with a hungry grin. He gnawed on one of his hands to prevent his hyena-like giggles from sneaking past his lips, but couldn't do much to stop his stomach from growling loudly or prevent his secondary mouth from gnashing its shark-like teeth with vicious hunger. He would make short work of them, with how hungry he was he knew there would be nothing more than their torn, slobber drenched clothing left once he was through with them and he would certainly have to go track down more prey to feel full, maybe even go on another raid.*

This is where you find him:

Humans (and others that don't eat humans): *as you are walking along a path, you happen to notice a group of rather drunk looking men camping around a small fire in a small clearing deeper into the trees and behind one of the sleeping men you think that for a moment you see what look like the large, light refracting eyes of some kind of predator looking at them. It could be a demon, it could be an animal but either way whatever it is looks hungry and you may want to warn them before it decides to make them it's next meal*

Humans (and others that dont eat human's) 2: *you had been taken hostage while the demon hiding behind one of your captors was napping earlier that day. You noticed him following the group not long after you had gotten taken, but had yet to say anything about him. You wondered if he knew you were a hostage or if he even cared. They were planning to do bad things to you before they left to keep moving and left you for dead in the middle of the woods for scavengers and it wasn't like you could escape since they hog-tied you. You were surprised the one on guard didn't hear him with how loud his growling stomach and gnashing fangs were, but they were all pretty drunk...and they were probably louder to you as you seemed to be the only one aware of them.*

Demons (and others that do eat humans): *as you are going about your nightly business you happen to find a group of human men camping around a fire in the forest. They were drunk enough that you could faintly smell the alcohol coming off of them. And from the looks of it you aren't the only one who may be eyeing these humans for a decently sized next meal. You get the sense that whoever that demon in the bushes is they are strong enough to rival most of the kizuki. They seemed to be waiting for something before attacking...maybe they spotted you and are waiting for you to make your move so they can see what you will do.*

[dmc-oc-week-specialedition]

Round 3… START!

You guys know what time it is. Its time for round 3 of DMC OC Week :D

We were a little late this year, sorry bout that but shit happens yah know? But we're here now and have a new set of date for you all based on community feed back :D

Tumblr really was like what if we did both lol So we had to chose a happy medium between the two.

Now that you all have those let's get into what everyone will be needing :3

What do you need to know?

The event for this year will be taking place from November 13th - November 19th Both on Twitter and here on Tumblr

Feel free to post wherever you like, even on both platforms if you prefer. However if your worried about time, please don't :3 At least not too much :p It's ok if you can't get everything done in time. Just share what you can, when you can during this time period and we'll make sure to get it out there for people to see.

We'll most likely still be sharing stuff a little while after the event is done so don't feel pressured to churn stuff out :)

What you'll need?

For starters you'll need the event prompts :> Event Prompts Link

We spruced them up a bit but its still all the same stuff. The free space is always available if you wish to add anything new :D

If your the type who needs a little bit of a guide, worry not we've got some very useful templates to help you out. [Template Twitter thread link] [Template Google drive link] (Both of these links contain the same content, use whichever is easiest)

You can write in these, insert art, or even a little bit of both. It's totally up to you so just go where your imagination takes you.

These templates are NOT mandatory, they're just here to help if you need.

If your gonna be sharing content to Tumblr please make sure you tag everything with our designated tag for the event

#dmcocweek (For Tumblr) # DMCOCWeek (For Twitter)

Only if you want us to be able to see it and reblog it ofc <3

Last but most certainly not least we have a discord 🎉

You don't have to join to participate in the event but if you want to interact with some more of the fandom a bit easier then it's here for you.

[Discord link]

Well I think that's it folks If you have any questions just chuck it in the inbox and we'll get to it as quick as we can

See y'all when the event starts👋🏽

[wyattjohnston]

key take aways from the feedback i was given about the exchanges. i've responded to a few of the responses that were left :)

you can still leave feedback (even if you didn't participate, i'd be interested in why!)

i got a lot of love, too, which is nice. i don't do this to be praised or anything else but i also do love to know when people are having fun with it

What changes (if any) would you like to see?

Maybe like one or two people who are not writing in the fic exchange could act as "beta" and be there to bounce off ideas, help find gifs, give feed back on things that people are writing. Someone that we can talk to without fear of them telling the person we are writing for what the idea is/ worrying they are the person writing for "me". If that makes sense.

this is an excellent idea--i just don't know if it's feasible because most of the people who would act as a beta reader are usually signed up for the exchange

so! i absolutely cannot enforce a blanket ban on asking for help from another writer in the exchange and i wouldn't want to. the only thing you're 'ruining' at that point, is that you aren't writing for the person you've asked to beta. we had 43 people sign up this time around, that doesn't narrow it down too much.

if you do have a beta who is writing in the exchange, just be courteous and don't ask them anything about their fic, and do not put them in the awkward position of having to decline if you offer to beta theirs. also maybe don't put the name of the person you're writing for in the doc/doc title so you're not totally spoiling who the fic is for :)

i'm also around if you need help! it obviously would be impossible for me to help 40 people with brainstorming and editing, but i try to do what i can!

i could maybe add a new question like “would you be down to help someone else with fic ideas/being a beta?” and then if someone told me they needed some help, i could put some feelers out as to who would be best suited. i just don’t know if it would be a question a lot/enough people would agree to just because like i said up top, the people who would beta are usually already knee deep in their own fic

(not verbatim) a couple of suggestions to add a question about what the Main Character’s gender identity should be

will absolutely do this. i usually see people ask the question as an anon for reader insert preference so had taken for granted that that was happening <3

Maybe include a time zone in the deadline

i dont put a time zone with the deadline mostly because it makes it more confusing. if i were to do that i would make it Australian Eastern Time, like the sign ups, and i guarantee that fics will roll in towards midnight of the writers timezones anyway. all in all, the final date is purposely left without a time specific deadline because it gives people an extra day almost. i'll make it clearer that it's literally just midnight of whatever time zone the writer exists in

tbh even the sign up time isn't super hard and fast, as long as i haven't started matching yet then i'm not opposed to opening the form for a last minute entry

Do you have any other feedback?

If anything, maybe a mock-up of "starter questions" to send your match in case people are new and/or don't know quite what to say. That might be helpful.

i'll come up with some questions before the next one and put it in the matches have gone out post. if you've got suggestions, let me know. there’s no fool proof system to it. some people ask lots of questions, some ask very few. some people give super in depth answers and others prefer to let their writer run free

I like having the two-ish months to be able to write instead of a very fast and stressful turn around time

good news! two months is here to stay. giving the halfway and then 1 week follow ups seems to be the key to making sure people don't forget that they've signed up

What were the factors in you not signing up?

timing, re holidays & commitments

absolutely understand, it's not a great time of year with holidays and exams for a lot of people

nervous to sign up

please don't be! i know it's not as easy as that, but if it's something anyone wants to talk about (ever! now, in march, when sign ups open for the summer one), i want to talk to you!

if i see a new person has signed up and i haven't read their fics before, i don't go scrutinising their masterlist and i am never ever going to tell anyone that they're not good enough, or haven't written enough fics, or whatever, to sign up.

i want people to have fun with these and try something new (whether that's signing up in the first place or being adventurous with what they write)

I wasn't sure if I could commit to getting the story completed.

100% understand, writing to a deadline isn't for everyone! if you want to. if it's something you want to have a chat about, hit me up :)

What do you like most about the exchange?

i loved hearing that people enjoyed stepping out of their comfort zones and trying something new! and i also love hearing that people found new writers, my goal is to help make the community a little more *together*

[zenith-writer]

DELICIOUS DOG FOOD RECIPES: SWEET POTATO-PEA-QUINOA-BANANA

Last week, while looking for dog food recipes, I got an idea for a meal that I prepared for Cora - my little pet friend.

One thing I can tell you for sure from the experience is that she ABSOLUTELY enjoyed this fresh home made food prepped with love and care. I mean she couldn't help but wag her furry tail all through the meal. She even licked her plate clean, which is something she'd never done before when i used to give her kibble.

So I decided to share my discovery with the world to put a smile on other dog mums and dads by getting more of those tail wags during meal times.

How to make one of the BEST dog food recipes?

The recipe below makes 2 servings of a mouth-watering and delicious dog delicacy that is entirely made up of all-natural and fresh vegetables. One serving contains about 422 calories, which is within the recommended daily consumption limit.

Ingredients:

1 big sweet potato

1 cup frozen peas, cooked like the package says

2/3 cup uncooked quinoa + 1 1/3 cups water (makes 2 cups cooked)

1 banana, sliced

Method:

Preheat your oven to 400F (hot!) and line a baking sheet with tin foil.

Poke holes all over the sweet potato with a fork.

Put the sweet potato on the baking sheet and bake for one hour, or until it's soft.

While the sweet potato bakes, cook the quinoa: Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a big pot. Then, turn down the heat and let it simmer, covered, for around 15 minutes.

Once the sweet potato is cool, chop it into small pieces.

In a bowl, mix together the cooked quinoa, chopped sweet potato, cooked peas, and sliced banana.

Split everything into two equal servings.

Serve the yummy and healthy meal to your pup and watch them chow down!

How long can it stay fresh?

If you are a stay-at-home dog mum or dad, you could prepare two servings of this recipe to last a day. But, if you happen to be busy or have one of those lazy days, and you need dog food recipes that can stay fresh for longer periods then I have the PERFECT SOLUTION for you.

First, increase the quantity specifications for each ingredient five times and divide the dog meal into 5 equal parts after you've finished prepping it. Afterwards, you'll feed your pet friend one part in two servings for the first day before putting the other four parts into different freezer ziplock bags. This dog meal stash will be able to run you for four days straight!

Now you no longer have to avoid homemade doggy meals because you don't have the time to cook or the food spoils fast leading to wastage.

What are the health benefits?

You should DEFINITELY add this meal to your list of dog food recipes because your pet will benefit massively from a healthcare perspective.

For starters, the dog meal includes quinoa that has remarkably high proteins in addition to vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and E. The banana, on the other hand, adds potassium, manganese, and vitamins B6 and C while sweet potatoes incorporate zinc and iron into the diet.

Are you wondering what this means for your pet friend? Well, basically, you'll be able to build its bones and teeth, increase its energy levels through muscle development, heighten its immunity, and improve its eyesight all at once!

Guess what? That's not all! This recipe also contains amazingly high fiber content that's gonna help your doggy with digestion problems and easen the process of going number two.

[convexicalcrow]

Can I ask then what is Scar’s Elven Magic like?

Okay, this has taken a while to get my head around, bc I've spent less time thinking about it. But when I've written Scar's elven magic in the past, it's always a magic that manifests in natural phenomenon. Wind and sun and rain and storms and trees and plants and flowers. Not animals necessarily, but plants and weather and trees for the most part.

Scar describing his hair as smelling like pine has stayed with me for so long. For me, it encapsulates the whole vibe. He's ornate, beautiful, glowing - but glowing in a different way and for different reasons as the Pharaoh.

The Pharaoh would radiate the scent of frankincense and myrrh, the precious incenses that indicated the precence of the gods. I, myself, have experienced this as well. Incense that floats past your perception in the air but no incense is burning, and you don't have that scent anyway. Those two resins? That's the gods. That's Cub's power and presence. Pharaoh Cub glows because he's radiating the firey power of Ra, the sun god.

But for Elf Scar, it's pine and fresh dewey grass, petrochore before the rain, warm cookies and pies, gentle breezes and the bright blue sky on a summer day.

They are both eternal - in their own way. But the Pharaoh exudes the essence of divinity that has existed since the dawn of time. It's old, very old. Dark and bright and powerful, something way beyond comprehension for a human mind.

For Elf Scar, his eternity is in the present. The eternal trees that continue to grow as if by magic, thousands of years old, but still living, still being alive today! You can touch the trunk of his elven tree and it sings its stories to you of all the things it's seen over the years, but it also tells you about something that happened last week. Tells you how it felt to watch the steamboat being built on the river, or listen to it tell you how the river and its banks have changed over the season.

Scar's magic is love. But it's not the divine love of the gods to mortal beings, a love between two different kinds of beings, with distance and difference at their core. Scar's magic is all pervasive. It sees no boundaries or hierarchies or differences. Doesn't matter who you are or what you are, Scar will bake you cookies and make you a hot chocolate and sit you down and ask you about your day.

If I was comparing this to Elf Gem's magic, hers is similar, but as a High Elf, her magic has less of an emphasis on the natural world, and is more concerned with natural beings and spirits, as well as the natural world. She operates on a higher plane than Scar does.

Just look at their elven bases. Scar build a giant tree (AS A STARTER HOUSE. A STARTER HOUSE. WTAF SCAR), while Gem has built an ornate and beautiful palace. Yes, there is a magical tree, but she is more concerned with other aspects of the world. Impulse's dwarven base has more nature incorporated into it than Gem's does, and I am only counting internal stuff here, not landscaping. They have different focuses.

Different building materials too. Scar's tree is all wood and leaves and moss and plant-based materials. Gem has built out of stone and prismarine and quartz and gold and all kinds of other blocks. Her magic is different. She's a shapeshifter to me, she can just blend into whatever she needs to be. Scar isn't really about that.

And of course, we have to go back to wizard Scar from s7 as well, as much of his power there feeds into elf Scar's magic as well. The magical forest was overgrown with giant insects and plants, it was lush and magical and a mess, but it was deeply in touch with the earth and the place that he lived. It wasn't a wizard tower on top of a mountain, detatched from everything and everyone. It was a village in the middle of a dense jungle. It's his pathway to finding that tree elf magic.

(There's a whole separate conversation to be had about his magic crystals tho. I feel they're a mix of his wizard powers and Vex magic, which is why Cub's so affected by them. If we take as canon that Vex magic hits other Vexes harder (I'm not letting Cub take that back lol), well. It's not going to be as powerful for non-Vexes, but for Cub, he tripped so hard he fell back to s4. And that's before we get to the Last Life crystals.)

[karlajoyner]

Stressed Out (Sunset Curve x Reader)

A/n: So starting off I've made a master list that I'm posting real soon for you all to access my stories without the scrolling. In order to post it I have to update my post about my requests/taglist and soon because I do get a lot on that comments that ask for more Charlie or more Owen and I wanna give you guys that but I also wanna make sure that I get through the requests that you guys send me with plots and storylines. It just makes it like a thousand times easier to have something to work off of. Opposed to me coming up with my own storylines that I have to do a lot of reading on my own to get my gears working! But again thank you guys for the comments! And finally I wanna say thank you for sending in your requests and your feed back. It is much appreciated!

Disclaimer: Alex is bi in this one not taking away from the fact that he's gay in the show it just runs best for this storyline! There is no Bobby btw! Haven’t written a foursome with 3 guys before so it might suck ass. And it’s not much but it’s something so enjoy my fellow fantoms!

Warnings: Smut (18+)

————

I internally groaned walking into school. I wasn't the worst student. But by far I certainly was not the best. Which is why I had a reputation since I first arrived to high school.

That and I was in a band with 3 of my best friends. Who all happened to be guys. Hot guys at that.

Which automatically made me the schools slut. It was fine with me but the boys didn't like the label.

No matter how true it was.

"Hey y/n heard you gave Mike Dawson a blowjob this weekend. Just when I thought you couldn't be anymore of a slut"

"Mind your fucking business Hayley" I heard a familiar voice speak up for me. A smirk spreading on my face as I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder.

"Did she come to you right after Patterson? What's it like to be her sloppy seconds?" Hayley Becker spoke with a wicked evil smirk plastered on her face.

"Fucking amazing actually. God the long nights we have. It's so great" I heard another familiar voice from my left. A large hand intertwining my fingers with theirs. She rolled her eyes clearly not expecting my boys to speak up for me. But then again neither was I.

"Slut"

"Skank"

"Whore"

"Bitch" I spoke as the bell rang.

"Just watch your back y/l/n" She said before turning around and walking away.

"She will!" Reggie shouted after the dark haired girl. The three of us expectantly looking at our bandmate.

"What? I didn't even get to tell her we would too" I sighed shaking my head at the boy.

"Thanks for sticking up for me guys but I can do that myself"

"We know. But your our girl. And apart of this band so we're kinda obligated" Alex spoke as the four of us walked to first period.

"Your really not"

"Come on y/n you know we're still gonna do it"

"I know and I only let you today cause I can't deal with that bitch at this time of day. I mean seriously it's 8:00 o'clock in the morning. Does she not have anything better to do than spread rumors about me?"

"Apparently not. So you and Jake Mills behind the church?" Reggie asked.

"Didn't happen considering I was with you idiots all weekend. You know your the only guys I touch" I bit my lip hearing the three of them chuckle.

"Yeah well it better stay that way. I don't wanna hear Trevor O'Connor bragging about banging you in the boys locker room again"

"Schools golden boy?" I questioned.

"He tried starting the rumor yesterday during p.e but we quickly shut it down" Reggie explained as I stopped a few feet away from the science room to continue talking.

"So Hayleys boyfriend wants to bang me? Wow"

"Yeah but don't even fucking thing about" Luke said pushing me up against the lockers beside us.

"I wasn't. Unless you guys piss me off" I grinned pushing him off of me. Opening the door a few feet away and walking in.

"Gentlemen. And Ms. y/l/n. Your late"

"Sorry Mrs. Daniels we had to deal with something"

"And did this something give you tardy passes"

"It did not"

"Detention. All of you"

"That's nothing new to them Mrs. Daniels"

"Shut the fuck up Hayley" I scoffed taking my seat beside Alex.

"Ladies stop it before I send you to the principal"

"Yes Mrs. Daniels" Hayley and I spoke in sync.

"I can't believe Luke dated her" I whispered towards Alex glaring at the blonde bimbo.

"Jealous?"

"Why would I be? I already have him. And I could have her boyfriend too if I wanted him" I said taking down the notes on the board.

"Mrs. Daniels I can't focus on the lesson because they're distracting me with their talking" Hayley spoke pointing an accusing finger at us.

"We are not!" I shouted sitting up.

"Yes you are probably talking about who your gonna whore around with next"

"Yeah it's your boyfriend if you don't check yourself Hayley"

"Trevor would never do that!"

"I'm pretty sure he would"

"Ladies principal office right now" I scoffed standing up.

"Wait!" Luke shouted standing up. Everyone's heads whipping toward him. He made his way over to me groping my left boob.

I scowled at how hard he squeezed glaring at him.

"Dickhead" I muttered.

"Mr. Patterson! You too principals office" We looked at the other two boys expectantly. Alex immediately rolling his eyes before standing up.

"We could do this the easy way or the hard way Mrs. Daniels"

"If she goes we go"

"I cannot send you two away for absolutely no reason Reginald" Mrs. Daniels spoke challenging the boys.

I close my eyes preparing myself for what came next. Alex was quick to slap my ass while Reggie pulled me in for a sweet kiss. Immediately earning gasps from my classmates.

"Now I can do it. Office all of you! And detention today after school!"

I groaned walking out of the principals office with my bandmates.

"Detention for 3 weeks. Seriously?"

"To make it worse we have to spend 2 of those with Hayley" I spoke seeing the blonde talking with Trevor just a few feet away. Being sure to send them a harsh glare, I finally turned back to the boys.

"Hey you'll be with us everything's gonna be fine" Reggie said throwing an arm around my shoulder leading me away to our next period. That we conveniently had together.

"No it won't. I also have to chaperone the stupid homecoming with Hayley" I cried wanting nothing more than for the day to be done for.

That afternoon we spent in detention not leaving until late afternoon. Due to the fact that my detention went on longer than the boys.

I walked into the studio behind Luke not really in the mood to practice.

"What's wrong y/n/n? You seem down" Reggie asked as I plopped back onto the couch.

"I'm just tired is all. And a little stressed out"

"But we've gotta practice baby, for our next gig. Sunset Curves so gonna rock that book club" Luke said picking up his six string. I watched as Alex and Reggie sent him a glare, the boy immediately putting it back down.

"Or we could take a day off" He spoke coming to sit to my left while Reggie was on my right.

"That sounds amazing" I mumbled feeling Alex begin to massage my shoulders from behind. I craned my neck allowing him more access. Now feeling a little more relaxed than before.

"So tell us y/n/n why are you stressed out?" Luke asked as I shut my eyes.

"Well for starters I'm so gonna get my ass beat when I get home" I sighed feeling Reggie begin to rub my arm to comfort me. Something he did often with how anxious I got.

"And there's just nothing I want to do more than run your ex girlfriend over with a bulldozer" I mumbled hearing a chuckle escape their lips.

"Sounds like a plan" Alex said as Luke intertwined our fingers.

"We'll make a day out of it. Just us four and a bulldozer" He joked making me giggle. The laugh got caught in my throat as I felt a soft kiss on the side of my neck.

"Seriously guys? Not today. No way" I spoke opening my eyes.

"We just wanna help you relax"

"That's what you said last time. I couldn't walk right for 2 days" I mumbled the last part.

"We'll be gentle" Reggie spoke.

"I know you will Reg. It's them I'm worried about" I spoke earning a pointed look from Alex.

"Okay Luke"

"Am I that rough?" He asked a frown forming on his face.

"Sometimes" I admitted feeling a little bad.

"Gee I'm sorry baby" Luke spoke kissing the back of my hand.

"It's okay. I like it when I'm in the mood" I said watching as Alex walked around the couch.

"Well then boys why don't we help our girl relax for today" Alex said bending down in front of me. I bit my lip as he spread my legs open feeling a slight breeze hit my covered core.

"Well there's no need for your skirt or these" Alex spoke toying with the waistbands of both my skirt and panties.

I shimmied out of them with ease leaving me exposed to my best friends like I'd been many times before.

"She just gets prettier every time"

"And wetter"

"Mind if I taste baby?" Luke asked. I nodded my head, watching as he dipped his long fingers in between my folds. Moaning as he pulled them back up to see them glistening with my cum.

"So good" He whispered putting them in his mouth.

"Okay I want a taste now" Alex said opening my legs a little wider.

"Guys. A little help" I huffed as Luke and Reggie hooked themselves on each of my thighs to keep me still.

"Please" I begged getting more turned on by the second. The blonde didn't hesitate to latch onto my core. A loud moan escaping my lips.

"Oh fuck" I struggled to keep still as he moved his tongue skillfully through my folds. Lapping it inside and out as moans fell from my lips.

I whimpered as Reggie slowly began to rub my clit making the pleasure intensify.

"Use y-you're f-fingers" I mustered out Alex obeying my request sticking two fingers in my wet pussy. Picking up the pace. My eyes screwed shut as a familiar feeling of bliss coursed through me.

"Look at me baby" Luke muttered turning my head to look at him with his free hand. I opened my eyes looking into his blue ones covered with complete lust.

He was quick to smash his lips onto mine as the other two worked on building up my orgasm. Which wasn't far at the pace Alex was working on me.

"Holy shit!" I panted pulling away and throwing my head back at the amazing sensation of my orgasm hitting.

"You squirted princess" Alex grinned wiping away the liquids dribbling down his chin. I giggled at his swollen pink lips placing a quick peck to them.

"What now baby?" Luke asked rubbing his hand on my thigh.

I looked at the three boys before discarding any remaining clothes I had left. Watching as their eyes raked me up and down like many times before.

"Reg can you just fuck me today. I really need gentle" I begged as his cheeks turned bright red whenever I asked him to do something. Whether it was sexual or not.

"Sure beautiful" He smiled lopsidedly pushing his lips onto mine.

I sighed in content as he pushed me down on the couch. My head landing on Luke's lap giving me a little leverage.

"She's something else" Alex spoke to no one in particular.

"Your telling me" Reggie panted pulling away to undo his belt and jeans. I bit my lip looking up at the boy with the blue eyes. Who no surprise had a smirk plastered on his face.

"Condom" I heard Alex say presumably to Reggie. But I was too entrance in Luke's gaze wanting to include him. Upon hearing a ripping of a package I glance back at the boy who was hovering above me.

"I can do something for you after if you want" I bit my lip speaking towards Luke.

"It's okay baby. It's about you today" He said moving his hand down from my collarbone to my boob.

Reggie and I moaned simultaneously as he slowly entered me. Immediately stretching me out.

"So tight" He muttered beginning to move at a steady pace.

A squeal escaping my lips as Luke pinched my nipples paying close attention to each of them. He'd always been a boob guy.

I pulled Reggie down towards me our lips meeting in the middle as his speed began to increase.

Then there they were again. Fingers were now rubbing circles on my clit presumably Alex's sending my body into pure ecstasy.

I moaned loudly into Reggies mouth as I felt myself my inner walls clench around him. Earning a groan from the bassist. His thrust becoming more sloppy.

"Shit. Shit. Oh fuck" He cursed as his orgasm hit. Mine coming seconds after.

"Holy fuck Reg" I panted coming down from my high.

"That was pretty fucking hot princess" Alex spoke as Reggie got off of me to go throw away the condom.

"I try" I joked sitting up. Luke immediately removing his muscle tee and handing it to me.

"You do know this isn't gonna cover much up right?" I questioned him putting it on anyway.

"Who said we wanted you to cover up baby" He said pulling me under his arm. I sighed contently placing my hands on his bare torso.

"Anyways Reg why don't you go run her a bath inside the house" Alex suggested throwing me my panties that had been thrown onto the lazy boy.

"Got it!" Reggie said coming over and placing a chaste kiss to my lips before running out of the garage.

"I get to clean her up in the shower. Called it" Luke said as Alex wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Just as long as I get to put her to bed"

"Guys I've orgasmed twice today give me a break"

"Are you feeling more relaxed princess?"

Alex asked grinning at me.

"Much. Now if we could do that consistently for the next 2 weeks then I might be able to get through detention with Hayley without ripping her head off" I spoke earning a laugh from the two boys. Both of them knowing well that I wasn't joking.

————

Up Next: Carrie Wilson x Reader

Owen Patrick Joyner x Reader

Charlie Gillespie x Reader

Alex x Male Reader

Luke Patterson x Reader

Charlie Gillespie x Reader

————

@lolychu @headheartbellarke @bookish0918 @kcd15 @ifilwtmfc @moviesbooksandfandoms @lovesanimals @lavender-writer @kaitieskidmore1 @morganayennefertyrell @iloveteenwolf @ghostofmgg

[dono-harm-totonystark]

Genuinely not trying to come off confrontational at all but I’m also autistic so forgive me if my tone is wrong lol but. I saw your reblog about cat care/behavior and was genuinely confused by the “unless your cat is a glutton who’s dealt with food scarcity you can free feed and they’ll regulate themselves thing” could you elaborate on that? My oldest cat I got from a shelter at about 3 months old and I free fed her kibble for years and she just. Binge ate until she was 2+ pounds overweight. From what I understand this is a bigger risk when feeding kibble vs canned food to cats with the bigger issue being free feeding because sometimes an animal will just gorge themselves when possible. I used to be a certified vet tech but am happy to hear more about cat eating habits/nutrition from a vets standpoint whenever possible, I just always saw free feeding as generally a bad thing unless you know for sure your cat won’t over eat or if they’re already struggling to keep on weight

Don't worry, you don't come off confrontational at all!

So basically as I said their natural setting is to eat little and often, however:

if the cat used to be feral and by itself and was at one point in its life going hungry, it may be eating anything in its sight because it knows food scarcity

if the cat used to live as part of a feral colony which was struggling with resources, it'll have learnt that food is scarce and therefore you should eat however much you can whenever you can

if the cat was part of an 'owned' colony - such as in a kennel - where it or other cats in its vicinity was fed on a certain schedule it will have learnt that food happens twice daily, you have to eat it then 'cause it won't happen again so it'll eat all of it

and sometimes even if the MUM was fed twice daily, and the kitten stayed with her long enough (usually about 2-4 months is when they learnt the most from their environment), it may have learnt the schedule is such and that's it

some cats are just food-oriented gluttons naturally and you can't stop them!

So in your cat's case, I imagine she spent a week or two in the kennels during her most formative age (or it was a handrear which is also part of it), and she had a schedule in there (as kennels do), so she never learnt that food is just... there. all the time. you don't have to gorge it, it'll still be there in an hour.

Kittens from a breeder are different because if the breeder is feeding appropriate complete 'starter' diet to the kittens and the mum then the dosing chart does say to feed ad lib during the lactation - those kittens will see their mum having food available to her ALL the time and they will therefore also have it available when they're ready to have it, so as long as the breeder doesn't put them on a schedule later on -- which they shouldn't as most of them get rehomed just as they come off the Starter diet -- they can develop the natural behaviours. But again, if the mum or the kittens are on a diet or if the breeder is unable to provide food being there all the time they may feel the 'scarcity of resources' and that's when the 'abnormal' behaviour of food-orientation & gluttony starts forming.

Now, it doesn't cause them any metabolic or clinical issues if they're fed on a schedule as long as they don't go above their daily allowance. And for most people who work & otherwise aren't able to control what their cats are doing with their food, it's the only way it works out. Also, if you have more than one cat, you won't be able to make sure they're all eating their appropriate amounts and nobody's stealing anybody else's food, and of course they're more likely to feel the scarcity of food if there are more of them 'competing' for it.

In comparison, my oldest, Loki (mentioned in the original post as well) used to be a grazer, I'd put down half her kibble in the morning and then another half in the afternoon and the bowl was almost never empty. And all was well and good until my roommate got a cat of her own who used to be a half-feral stray and she was very gluttonous and we had to shift them both onto twice daily feedings as otherwise neither of them would get their appropriate amount of food.

Basically, the grazing idea is that you still give them their 'appropriate' dosage of food per day (as specified by the producer), but you put it down once or twice and instead of eating the whole thing in one go, they spread it over their whole day just like they would if they were feral and hunting (as most small predators do, actually).

That being said, it is possible to retrain a cat back into the grazing behaviour, it just takes a lot of effort and attention. You basically put down tiny amounts of food more often, so you go from twice daily to 3x daily, then 5x daily, then 7x daily, and when you get to about 10-12x daily you slowly try to make sure there's always some food in the bowl until the cat is leaving it behind after it's eaten. But again: lots of time & effort and usually doesn't work for more than 1 cat.

As for the risk it's less about the cat (kibble puffs up in the stomach so ends up being the same amount as wet food) and more about the owners who are far more likely to leave more kibble than approved because it 'looks like it's just so little', to quote my mother......

So you are absolutely right in that it does depend on the cat a lot and some do already come to you already gluttony and you're very unlikely to keep them from doing that! Ultimately you can't control what your cat does to herself unless you're watching her literally 24/7 which is obviously next to impossible.

Hope this clarifies things a bit!

[luffysmeat]

I'm sorry for the long wait, love! I hope you enjoy this! I hope these are not too ooc? And I think I also change the main prompt a little bit... Hehe I'm sorry

Ace

"What's the matter?"

You've know Marco for years now to know when he's hiding something for you. He clears his throat and avoids looking at you and Ace as he scribbles down in one of his notebooks.

"Sometimes," he starts, his hands moving a bit as he tries to explain the situation. "Especially when it's the first pregnancy... There are risks of, uh, losing the baby." He stops talking to let you both understand what he's saying.

You really want to not understand.

"You are healthy, the baby is healthy, too, but," he gulps. "Things just can suddenly change."

"Then what should we do?" Ace steals the words out of your mouth and Marco flinches when you look at him with expectant eyes.

"Well, we should just continue. [Name] should take her medication and come over to get her check ups." He looks at you with a gentle smile, reaching out to grab your hand. "Let's just hope for the best."

You nod, squeezing his hand softly.

"Oi, don't touch her hand." Ace slaps Marco's hand away and that makes you laugh a little.

However, even after you retreat with Ace back to your room at night and you both are laying in bed, ready to fall asleep, your mind is full of thoughts.

What if we lose this baby?

"Then we'll cry for them and we'll love them until then of the times."

Would that mean I am not a good mother?

"If you were a bad mother, you wouldn't be so worried about our baby."

This is your offspring!

"And I would like to have many more with you."

Will you hate me if we lose them?

"Never, I would never hate you."

Two months later, the emptiness in your womb almost drives you crazy. At sixteen weeks, your belly had barely grown and you weren't able to feel the baby kick or move around yet, however, laying in bed with your hand placed on your empty stomach, you notice the warmth that once gathered in your insides, was long gone.

You think this is a bit crazy: You couldn't possibly miss someone that you've never met, but now that it was gone, you feel your heart shattering into pieces.

"I am sorry."

"This is not your fault," he reassures with a gentle smile on his face and his warm hands holding yours. "We did our best. I'm sure our baby is happy about it."

You nod, a soft smile on your face. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kisses your forehead. "We still have lots of time to try again."

And time does what time does best: it passes and passes, not waiting for anyone nor anything, and, as time follows its endless course, you start to wonder if you really will be able to procreate a child with Ace. Marco did mention that it was going to be a bit difficult to get pregnant again, but you never thought it would take even years now.

You also never thought that it would come a time where you would be living a live without Ace. He was there one moment: free and with the biggest smile on his face for seeing his little brother, but, in a blink of an eye, he wasn't there anymore, and that pleased smile on his face only caused more pain for you.

"I'll stick to you from now own," you say to Marco once everything was over and your eyes couldn't cry more tears anymore, your throat raw.

"Then you'll be this doctor's helper," he answers and you both leave.

And time passes by again, one, two, three weeks and not only sadness swirls inside your chest, leaving you breathless at night, but also guiltiness. Did Ace... Really die just like that? Did he just leave without giving something to this world? Did he-

"What did you say?"

He can't also believe his own words. "You are pregnant."

"... F-for how long?"

"Eight weeks," he says looking at you with wide eyes. "That means... You were pregnant before..."

You wrap your arms around your belly. It's barely there, but the so known warmth starts to spread inside your womb.

Ace, we did it. We actually did it! We're gonna have a baby.

"I will take care of it with my live."

Your father was the best.

Shanks

"Are you insane?! Why did you do this?!"

His words surprise you to the core. "What?" You spat out. "This is not my fault. Do you know how these things happen? There's pregnancy if there's sex and I'm sure I'm not the only one in bed when that happens!"

The mere word, pregnancy, makes him cringe out of his skin. He looks at you with wide and desperate eyes, his hands moving around as he speaks. "I- I know but... I'm not ready!"

"Do you think I am?!" You try to soften your voice, this is what you wanted to avoid: having a fight with him. "I'm scared, Shanks! What will happen with this baby?"

"... Ger rid of it," he firmly says and it pains your heart to hear the tone of his voice. It is an order.

However, you wrap an arm around your belly, surprising him. "This is your child, I will not get rid of it."

"What do you mean with that?! Do you think we're ready to have children?!"

"We are not! I know we are not, but I will not give this child's life away." Tears threaten to fall down your eyes, but you hold them back. "It's yours, Shanks! Even if we didn't want it... It is the result of the love we give to each other! This is the result of the love I give to you, so even if I'm not ready, I will not give its life away."

"Are you listening to yourself right now, [Name]? You are saying nonsense! Do you think the sea is a good place to raise a child? Can't you see there's danger even when we're not in land?"

"Then I'll leave."

"What?"

"I'll leave in the next island and I will take care of this child there."

He laughs humorlessly. "So you are saying you can take of a child in your own?"

"I am sure I can, if you don't feel like taking care of it, then I'll do it."

"Fine! If you want to keep it, keep it! But I don't want you crying because it died-

He stops right away and your tears finally spill out of your eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, [Name]-chan. I didn't mean to-

"Yes you did," you say, cleaning up the tears with your arm. "I'm sorry this baby is such a burden for you, Shanks. I'll not bother you with it anymore."

"No, please, [Name], this is not-

He shuts his mouth, seeing you walking away from him. He lets out a long sigh. Shanks can't just believe how everything got out of control. From the moment you told him you are pregnant, words that he didn't mean to say slipped out of his mouth.

For starters, he is happy. Are you really carrying his offspring? He knows you'll be the most amazing mom out there. He is happy, but he's also scared. His a pirate, for god's sake! There are quiet the amount of people after his head that will not hesitate on taking whatever is dear to him, but damn, you are the stubborn one, and he knows that better than anyone.

Once something is on your head, you will not let go of it until you have done your job, so he tries. He tries to accept the child you carry in your womb and he convinces you that he will do his best, even if he doesn't feel ready at all. You both will do your best.

"Risky?"

"Yes," you mumble, rubbing your belly lovingly. "Because this is my first pregnancy, there are risks of me losing the baby."

"What do we... Have to do then?"

"See what happens..." You say, looking at him and Shanks feels his insides melting. You are so beautiful. "I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"If I lose this baby, I will feel devastated. You probably wouldn't want to touch me again to avoid me to get pregnant aga-

His arms are suddenly around you, holding you tightly against his chest. "Don't say that. Please, don't say that. I am sorry for what I said before. I love you, I love you with my life and I'm sure I'll love this child of ours until the end of my days." His words calm you down, make you feel safe and warm and love... But they are not enough to stop destiny.

You lose your child a couple of weeks later, and as you said, you are devastated. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

"This is not your fault. This is not your fault, [Name]," he assures you, holding you close to him. "You took care of yourself and the baby as best as you could."

"It wasn't enough."

"It was more than enough. This kind of things happen and we can't do anything to stop them."

His words do help you get better about the accident, but more worries overwhelm you now that the baby is gone. Will Shanks... Be okay with being with you again?

"Did you love it?" You ask at night, as he kisses your neck hungrily, but shyly and nearly scared. "The baby."

He brushes your ear with his lips. "I didn't love it... But I really wanted to hold it and love it as much as you did." He cleans the tears falling wetting your cheeks. "I'm still... Scared of having a baby, I will not lie, but, let's try this out, [Name]. We'll see what happens when the time comes."

You both try and try and try and after a couple of years you just didn't worry about it. Didn't even mention anything to Shanks again, scared that he might be dissapointed of you. You just gave up the idea completely and continued living your life like always.

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes, I just feel a bit nauseo- ugh!"

Shanks grabs your hair and rubs your back soothingly. "Take it easy, love. Don't hold back."

He's worried. Recently you've been vomiting in the morning, refusing to eat anything at all, but then wanting to eat the whole ship during the day. Really, he always catches you eating! How many people are you feeding the-

"[Name]... Are you pregnant?"

You lift your head immediately to look at him with wide eyes. Tears fall from your eyes as a big smile pulls at the corners of your mouth, Shanks pressing a loving kiss on your forehead.

Pregnant!

[punkscowardschampions]

Jac & Amelia

Jac: So, you got your room 🙌 What other wins did freshers bring you? 😄 Amelia: Yeah, thank god Amelia: it's been full on enough without adding travel sickness Jac: Never going to fly when class starts either Jac: it's just slightly more inventive than coming down with the 'flu' every Monday morning, but not enough Amelia: bit intense to start crashing on my new friends floors too, I don't want to be THAT gay Jac: 😂 Jac: I doubt they'd mind Jac: but having a base that isn't totally covered in crochet decor is a plus Amelia: now that freshers is over and they're going to 🤞 they never see those hook ups again maybe Amelia: still, not the first impression I'm trying to make Jac: Oh God, tell me about it Jac: I am not trying to have people I've got to avoid for the next 7 odd years Jac: not trying to make it like home like that Amelia: very relatable Amelia: even though I have no need to count that high Jac: Is your course 3? or 4? Amelia: depends if I want to go to Canada, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA or the UK for a year Jac: Oh wow Jac: 🦪 Amelia: that emoji is the gayest Amelia: so yeah probably Jac: Very O'Keefe of you Jac: can't give up the 🎨 quite yet? Amelia: 😂 Jac: I've met THE perfect girl for you, oh my GOD Amelia: because I'm going to travel to Edinburgh for 🦪 after dodging a 3 hour commute Jac: She's American, you could convince her Cork has a lot to offer beside 🦪 Jac: but actually, she is UNBEARABLE, and I'm trying very hard to be nice and give everyone a chance rn Jac: she does Art History, despite the fact she seems to know less about art than I do Jac: doesn't stop her 🔊 Amelia: 💔 you put your mean girl years behind you too soon, I'm SO proud though Amelia: and I'm sure Savannah appreciates it just as much Jac: 😏 I can feel the sincerity Jac: I know though, talk about completely crazy Amelia: if you want sincerity I can totally believe she'd follow you there as if nothing happened Amelia: are you okay? Jac: I think the prestige probably beat the off-chance I'd also be there but I appreciate the belief Jac: Yeah, actually, I am Jac: it went well, better than I could've or would've imagined before Amelia: alright, that's a relief Amelia: not that it's been playing on my mind or anything since the ✨ livened up my feed Jac: I would've got in touch sooner Jac: It did cross my mind, that you'd see Jac: I also didn't wanna encroach on your freshers' experience at all, that idea won out Jac: It must've been a shock for you and all Amelia: I get it, because likewise obviously Amelia: plus you seemed like you were coping, and it's not the same as before, you have people to go to now if you aren't so Amelia: I don't know, it seemed too dramatic to come at you all !!!!!! Amelia: which is why I didn't Jac: I wouldn't have bitten your head off Jac: but I see and appreciate that logic Jac: not to mention previous experience would say I actually would so Jac: She's changed a lot too, in those 2 years Amelia: good Jac: Yeah, turns out she had a pretty rough time of it too Jac: which, obviously, but I wasn't really in a space to think too much about that back then Amelia: was likely to be more 🥀 than 🌹 living with her dad, and everything that happened with her mum Amelia: I'm not surprised even if I couldn't be very sympathetic then Jac: I can't believe I was zoned out Jac: I didn't even know about her mum Amelia: you had loads of your own shit going on, it'd be more unbelievable if you were tuned into hers Amelia: I didn't know how bad it was, or didn't want to hear it, whichever Jac: Jess made it sound like the world and his wife knew Jac: I feel awful Jac: but her mum is doing better now, and they're trying to mend their relationship, so, that's positive Amelia: it always feels like that in my 🏠 but I would've told you if I'd realised Jac: It isn't your fault remotely Jac: like you said, sympathy about it wasn't at the forefront of your mind Jac: and you can't be blamed there Amelia: I'm genuinely glad things are getting better, the last thing she needs is to feel like shit for leaving her mum again if they aren't Jac: I know you are, you aren't a monster Jac: even if you and Savannah had your differences, and the obvious situation from there 'til now Amelia: that's enough sincerity though, the last thing I need is Savannah Moore trying to be my friend again Amelia: you can keep her Jac: 😂 Alright Jac: about that though Jac: things have changed, between us too Amelia: okay Amelia: what does that mean? Jac: Well, I told her, this time Jac: that I'm not straight Jac: and neither is she Amelia: she really has fucking changed Jac: She hasn't also come out, there's no label on it or anything Jac: but she likes me back Jac: you deserve to know, and would, regardless of where we were in our relationship Jac: I'm sorry if it's not what you want to hear though Amelia: thanks, I guess Amelia: for not waiting for the 💍 announcement Jac: Things haven't moved quite that fast Jac: although, yeah Jac: I know Amelia: It's still Savannah, I doubt she's had a TOTAL personality transplant Amelia: you probably wouldn't like her if she had Amelia: so I'll keep an eye out for that post and put my congrats on it Jac: No, she's still her Jac: and I doubt her plans include a 💍 that could be bought on a student budget Amelia: true Amelia: I'll send some 💐 she'd NEVER put in the 🗑 Amelia: just the 💌 I'll actually bother to write, you know, like a normal person Jac: There goes the mystery Amelia: because of course you wouldn't recognise my handwriting Jac: I've checked your homework over enough times Jac: I doubt anyone else is rushing to send us a bouquet so Jac: process of elimination Amelia: there you go then Jac: but I have told my brother and that Jac: on the off-chance you catch him and he's dying not to bring it up Amelia: bit rude of him not to try and gently break the news Jac: Assumedly either thinking I've imagined the whole thing all over, or it'll all fizzle out before there's any need to go there Amelia: or I'm thriving so hard there's no need to bring me down 1 week in Jac: Obviously that too Jac: but you know that wasn't my intention, yeah Amelia: it's obvious you're not thinking about me, don't worry Jac: Okay Jac: do you want me to leave you now? Amelia: Why would I want that? Jac: Plenty of valid reasons Jac: to process, to not, you just don't feel like talking to me at this precise moment Amelia: what's to process? the bit about her not queerbaiting you the entire time is new, the rest isn't Jac: That's not nothing Jac: it changes the whole thing Amelia: not for me Jac: Alright then Amelia: you were hung up on her every second, what's changed for you is that was a least a bit mutual Amelia: I don't need to process any of that, it doesn't involve me Jac: It's still new information, that's all Amelia: not really Amelia: I probably should have guessed anyway Jac: If I didn't, I don't see how you could've Jac: she didn't even then so Amelia: too late to become a 🔮💎💫 gay, I hear you Jac: 🕵 is definitely a better idea Amelia: maybe I'd just really love to be able to say 'it's just a phase, mum' about something Jac: You've had plenty Amelia: name one Jac: [that boy band I said they liked lol] Jac: for starters Amelia: that wasn't a phase that was me lying that I cared Jac: yeah, okay Jac: you knew all the lyrics 'cos you cover was so deep Jac: no need to lie, they had some tunes Amelia: I knew all the lyrics because there was about 5 lines repeated over and over Jac: uh-huh Jac: you had badges all over your school bag Amelia: because you've never fully committed to a lie, oh wait Jac: There's no need to be a bitch Amelia: 😂 Jac: No, I'm not super ready to laugh about that time in my life, as it goes Amelia: okay Jac: I'm going to leave you to it now Jac: Good luck with your first proper day, hope it all goes well Amelia: actually wait though Amelia: I didn't mean that Amelia: I'm sorry Jac: Alright Jac: I know you're upset, or pissed off Jac: but being a better person doesn't extend to being a punching bag for you to get that out Jac: you can feel it, obviously, but that's just unproductive for you, and not gonna happen from my end Amelia: I know Jac: and I know that's what I did to you Jac: so it probably seems fair, or justified at least, that you get to now Jac: but it wasn't right, and an eye for an eye, you know Amelia: no, it's not fair, I wasn't being, that's why I'm sorry Jac: You don't need to stoop to my lowest Amelia: I'm trying, okay Jac: Yeah Jac: and I accept your apology Amelia: thanks Jac: should I not have told you? Amelia: I think that'd be worse Jac: I thought the same Jac: unless you were going to block me on the sly, then you would have seen Amelia: maybe I should now, I don't know Jac: If you want to Jac: to take some time Jac: or more permanently Jac: it's up to you Jac: obviously my offer of being friends still stands but I understand Jac: as I said, this changes things Amelia: yeah, if we let it Jac: You can't help how this makes you feel Amelia: but why should I let her take everything again? Jac: Savannah isn't actively doing that Jac: but if you want to keep trying, so do I Amelia: we worked hard at getting here, me and you, that's not about her Jac: True Jac: You don't have to be friends with her now, that's not it Jac: just accept that she's my girlfriend, and a big part of my life Amelia: does she know? Jac: About what happened between us? Jac: No Jac: she doesn't know a huge amount about those two years, for me Jac: I plan to tell her everything Jac: but it's a lot to throw at her in a sitting, especially unasked, you know Amelia: it'd really fuck with her freshers, for sure Jac: Right Jac: all for having the hard but necessary conversations Jac: but there's a time and a place Jac: I don't want her to feel like I'm trying to make her feel bad for me, either Jac: like 'look what YOU did' because nah Amelia: too 🥀🥀🥀 Amelia: it can wait, neither of you are going anywhere Jac: That's my logic Amelia: she'll get why you waited Jac: I hope so Amelia: come on, it'll be harder for you to say than it'll be for her to hear, she's a LOT of things, but she won't want you to go through that before you're ready to Jac: You're right Jac: it just feels like secrets, and that feels like 10 steps back Jac: but it isn't that Amelia: I'm sure even she hasn't had time to tell you everything, she'd need to be chatting non stop Jac: True Jac: if you're ever done talking about yourself and your life, that's gotta be a sign you need to get out more, right Jac: there's always more to say Amelia: right Amelia: stop being so virgo-ish about it and give yourself a break Jac: 😂 okay Jac: I just need lectures to actually start Jac: so I can freak out on that instead Amelia: same Jac: are you more 😁 or 😱 Amelia: 😕 Amelia: over 😣 Jac: You'll be fine Jac: let me know how it goes though Jac: I'm interested Amelia: okay 🤓 Jac: Well there's a lot of overlap Jac: obviously, you can usually do them as a double discipline but I wanted to go pure Psych Jac: doesn't mean I'm not 🤔 Amelia: yeah Jac: 🤏🤓 fine Amelia: we're not strangers Jac: I remember Jac: so, what are your new mates like then? Amelia: great, obviously Jac: It's a good thing you aren't taking English Jac: that description leaves a lot to be desired Amelia: what do you want me to say? Jac: Isn't there anyone in particular? Amelia: there's a whole course full of people Jac: Yeah, I like one of my profs, he's really cool Jac: but I don't know anyone on my course that well yet either, they all seem nice enough though Amelia: of course you do Jac: it's so refreshing in comparison to the teachers at our school Jac: even if he acted like a base level human, it'd be a step up Jac: but he knows his stuff, and he's down to help me get ahead, what more could I want Amelia: literally nothing Jac: But I'm still not into dudes so I won't commit that cliche, don't worry Amelia: a real weight off my mind Jac: sure Amelia: 😏 Jac: I've already done loads of prep Jac: can basically chill in his class this whole term Amelia: you can but you won't Amelia: 🤓🏆⭐ Jac: we're not strangers Amelia: maybe we are 🤏 because reading's the only prep we were given but I've already done it Jac: Not really Jac: you just pretended you weren't 🤓 Amelia: no, I just actually wasn't 🤓 about school Jac: plenty of other things Jac: you can't hide the 🤓 Amelia: it's not 😳 I literally can Jac: not from me Amelia: that'd be 10 steps back Jac: try 10000 Amelia: no thank you, that sounds exhausting Jac: you've got a 🛏 Amelia: yeah, I don't know who's more thrilled, me or my dad Amelia: getting to pretend he's allergic to pets for another year at least Jac: result Jac: won't have to fake seduce him on your behalf either Jac: I'm most thrilled Amelia: Savannah is Amelia: undoubtedly Jac: Yeah, that ain't something I ever want to explain 😂 Amelia: she'd be less understanding about it Jac: None of us are understanding that Jac: sorry to your father Amelia: 😂 Jac: I think your mum would snap Jac: go full psycho Amelia: probably Amelia: they're very 😍🥰😘 right now Jac: that's nice Jac: bit gross but good Jac: she won't call you every 10 minutes Amelia: she can try but I won't answer Amelia: the friend I like best will be here soon Jac: Sounds promising Jac: I'll leave you to it for now, for real Jac: you better get ready Amelia: you're so Amelia: you Jac: what does that mean? Amelia: I don't need 👗👠💄 Jac: what's that, a humblebrag? Amelia: hardly Amelia: it's a compliment for you, you're cute for caring Jac: It's not cute, I just like to look nice Amelia: oh so you don't think I look nice? Amelia: rude Jac: everyone looks better for effort Jac: that's simple facts Amelia: anyway, I meant it's cute you care about my social life this much Jac: because I really need you being a loner to worry about Jac: no tah Jac: obviously I'm happy for you Amelia: you don't need to worry about me whatever happens Jac: It's not optional Amelia: okay Jac: I never stopped Amelia: you can stop now Jac: That's just what being friends is Amelia: I'm no expert Amelia: have to take your word for it, if anything Jac: I know you care about me too Amelia: but you're thriving so I don't have to worry Jac: I guess Jac: it's not just for the bad times though, is it Amelia: I hope not Jac: it's not Jac: come on Jac: pull yourself together and at least do 1 out of 3 👗👠💄 Amelia: fine, I'll put shoes on Jac: that's what I like to hear Amelia: 🙄 just because I'm ignoring my mum there's no need for you to take over from her Jac: I still can't do any handicrafts so unlikely Amelia: Savannah is unlikely to wear a homemade 🧣 so I think you're fine Jac: she loves anything thoughtful but I ain't gonna start there still Amelia: 💐 Jac: Naturally Jac: both our rooms look like a florist already Jac: makes up for the shabby walls and carpet you can't do much about Amelia: any time you'd like to fully lean into the 👵 I'll do you an embroidery hoop or something Amelia: very chic Jac: they do sell a lot of that sort of thing in the charity shops Jac: I'm sure your 🎨 will be better than whatever the actual 👵 decided to do 🖼 Amelia: SUCH a compliment, I have no idea how I'm not 😳 Jac: Charity shops are in Jac: I'm not going to call it thrifting, I'm not even half-American, wouldn't be able to take myself seriously Amelia: good, please don't Jac: vintage, upcycling, all acceptable Amelia: for my mother Amelia: I'll take how 'modern' my room here is Jac: I suppose that does make a change Jac: I love the buildings though, the architecture Amelia: 🎨 Amelia: yeah, would be inspiring if I had any time Jac: Is Cork by the coast? Jac: I know nothing about that area Jac: I'm like NEXT to the beach, it's incredible Amelia: it's one of the largest natural harbours in the world, if that doesn't make you want to come and visit me, well ?? Amelia: it has it's own lovely architecture Jac: You should work for the tourism board, honestly Jac: good speech, that Amelia: 🤷🏻 Amelia: I'm here for the 🤓 and you're already interested in that Jac: I'd go to Italy, if I were you Jac: but then, Denmark might have the most interesting criminal practices and laws, so that's a good choice too Amelia: you'll visit me there then, yeah? Jac: I forgot about Sweden, but those three are the real ones to consider Jac: and we can sort visiting when we're even a bit settled Amelia: okay Jac: we've only just left Amelia: thanks for that obvious reminder Jac: 😏 Jac: you know what I mean Jac: give me a chance to get my diary in order before you're saying I'm avoiding you or whatever Amelia: give you a chance to miss me, you mean Amelia: you've got one right now, because I have to go get ready Jac: Oh, if we had to wait for that, you'd never see me again 😉 Jac: have fun 👠👠 Amelia: 💔 Amelia: bye

[coldtomyflash]

Weird question, and it's perfectly okay if "I don't know" is your answer: How did you manage to do grad school AND finish writing so many good fics? I'm writing the lit review for my dissertation right now, and I want to finish several WIPs I have (if nothing else, just to prove to myself that I can), but it just feels like I can barely do either, much less both. Any advice at all?

Ah, no worries! It’s not that odd a question. Actually, someone’s asked me before ^^;  My reply to them at the time was here. No need to read it, but it’s some context? 

My reply now that my head is in a healthier place is... long and winding and not actually full of that much advice but eh, I rambled as I do. If you just want the advice, scroll all the way down and it’s there. 

For starters, I’m not a normal comparison point. This isn’t to pat myself on the back, but for a variety of reasons, writing is something that comes really naturally to me. I’ll detail those reasons, but before I get into that, the point I’m illustrating here is that... sometimes I think people compare themselves to how much I wrote and what else I accomplished in that time and think “hey cool - that is a function human! Why can’t I do that?” And the answer is short answer is that my brain is programmed for pretty much one thing, and that thing is writing writing, and holy crap I was the opposite of a functional human when writing that much and that quickly.

The long answer is - 

I’ve been making up stories literally as long as I can remember. I spent my childhood consuming stories. I taught myself to read and was during school I was consistently reading about 8 grade levels above my reading level, and loved learning about narrative structure. I annoyed the shit out of my older brother by reading the same book series as he read, but guessing plot points that were going to happen either in that book or else 2-3 books out. he didn’t get how I would just know and I’d be like “it’s obvious - that’s where the story has to go!” Because I was imagining it in my head - what i would do with it, where it would go, where it had to go. Closing the page mid0chapter and imagining the next-scene, and then picking back up to see how right or wrong I was.

And I had a best friend for most of my childhood through to early adulthood with whom I made stories. Every weekend, creating narratives together, not writing them down but basically roleplaying them by talking them out (voices and all, it was a heck of a lot of fun, as much as it made me pretty much the nerdiest teen in existence). We tried to write a novel when we were 12, got about 7 chapters in. We had a lot of starts and stops on other stories too.

Which isn’t said to stroke my own ego, it’s said to highlight that I have a metric fuckton of explicit and implicit practice at storytelling. It was and sort of is my “whole life”. I also had teachers that helped me develop storytelling skills, and was really freaking lucky to go to a school with an AP program for English that seriously stretched my ability to write fast. We had to write an essay every single class, during class, and have it finished by the end of class (or in less time if we had lecture stuff to go over too) in my last year of high school. The essays could be creative response (i.e., short stories). I wrote a short story almost every week in the space of an hour when I was 17. By the time I got to the end of year final and actually got to use a computer and type that shit instead of hand-cramping halfway through, I somehow managed to write the two-essay final in the allotted 3 hours and, i shit you not, had a wordcount of 6000 words. 

That’s still my record. It was probably a dumpster fire but I got 100% probably for sheer volume.

Anyway that was over a decade ago, but the whole reason this life story is pertinent is because - 

I have practice. The only way to improve at anything, to get faster at it, for it to ease, is to practice. Practice at storytelling, practice at having to set a scene using just words sitting in my BFF’s room and trying to describe the image I had in my head for how I wanted her to see the scene as it was playing out. Practice at writing fast and getting feedback on how to write. Practice implicitly at trying to imagine what routes stories can take. Practice taking stories apart and piecing them back together, in my head, all the time.

So that’s part of it. 

The other part, and this is what I said in my previous post, was depression. I was seriously fucking burnt out and depressed when I started writing coldflash fic, and grad school took a huge toll on my mental health. It’s easier to write when you’re doing it to procrastinate working on your dissertation, and easier to keep writing when you get positive feedback and it feeds those lovely dopamine gremlins in your brain who aren’t getting any positive validation from grad school because holy damn that shit is hard.

I had no balance in my life for a long time. It wasn’t good. I went to counselling. I got more balance. Fic slowed down. Still finished, but not 120k words in 3 months (that was the pace when I started fic writing...jfc I don’t know how I managed.) Life got harder. Fic was now harder to write. I got more counselling. Fic was easier to write. I moved around the world. Fic got harder to write. I started anti-depressants. Narratives now seem to be flowing again. 

Regardless of the state of my mental health though, I’ve never written as much as quickly as I did during the middle of grad school. And I think that’s because I was very narratively pent up when I started writing fic. I had been so busy and pushing myself so damn hard in grad school that I didn’t make almost any time for stories, for fic, for imagining my own stories. I was suppressing that side of myself in the service of Focus. So when I burnt out, my narrative side rebounded and said “fuck that noise, I still exist, and we’re making space for me”. It took over. I came literally a hair’s breadth from quitting my PhD post candidacy. Idk what type of program you’re in, but business schools in North America? It’s a 5 year PhD typically, and I was at the end of year 3 and eyeing the door.

Anyway - I say all that because - 

I am not a good example and you should not do what I did. Finishing that many long WIPs that quickly wasn’t healthy, and was only possible because I didn’t do much else at the time, and had a lifetime of practice and a narrative rebound to make it even possible. 

But - 

My actual advice?

1) Practice. Practice. Practice. 

Not all at once, but everything counts. Daydreaming counts. Watching shows and thinking of how they could be improved counts. Talking out story ideas with friends counts. Just make it fun. Practice is something we think of as arduous and annoying. Learning new words is practice. Meeting new people and considering their traits is practice. Everything can be practice for writing. All the research you do can be practice for writing. (Random note: a childhood coping mechanism for anxiety that I had was to narrate what I was doing to myself in my head in the 3rd person. Like telling a story of myself walking to gym class in my own head. That was also practice.)

2) Have fun with it! 

Don’t making writing an obligation. Then it’s another thing on the list of things you avoid. Finishing stories often feels like an obligation. I’m going through this right now with Needs Must. It can be hard to complete a WIP because you start to have internal anxieties about disappointing readers, not living up to expectations, exhaustion from that narrative, distraction / temporary loss of interest (which is normal! and not actually a bad thing!). All of that then makes you feel guilty, which makes it impossible to get into a creative space to write. You can’t work on the thing you’re avoiding.

3) It’s okay to give your WIPs breathing space. 

When you hit a wall, you may need to set it aside and read it again in a month with fresh eyes. You may need to treat your story like someone else’s story. That’s, again, literally where I’m at right now with Needs Must. I just reread a bunch of it and hadn’t really forgotten the details but once they’re on the page they’re out of my head, and so taking some time before going back to reread it made it easier for me to think of like I think of every other story: “what would I do next with this? Oh that’s a twist, that needs to come back later. There’s a theme here, we’ve seen that three times. What’s the best ending I, as a reader now, can imagine for this?”

If avoidance, guilt, and/or writer’s block aren’t your issue, and it’s literally just down to time management - 

4) Your graduate degree is more important than your WIPs. 

Your WIPs aren’t going anywhere, they don’t have a deadline, and your readers will wait for you, and new ones will find you. Time management is an essential, awful, part of being an academic. 

I get more done, both at work and creatively on fic, when I’m just a bit too busy, but that’s me. Figure out what is optimal for you, and do it. When do you get the most writing done? When you’re relieved? When you’re anxious? Late at night? First thing in the morning? When does it flow? When won’t it ruin your graduate career?

(Seriously I was writing fic at work last week and was kicking myself. I don’t have time for that shit! Set boundaries on your time!)

But full serious here, graduate school is exhausting, and almost inherently de-motivating, and even the best damn students eye the door a lot of the time, even if they do finish. It’s stressful and you feel constantly powerless. It’s a lot to need to cope with. I found writing to be a way to cope. That lit review you’re working on? Yeah, it’s zapping your time and energy. That’s normal (unfortunately). And it’s good to give yourself breaks from that to write. Don’t feel guilty for taking time here and there for yourself - to write, or to not write. To relax, unplug, unwind. To close your eyes and daydream (if you’re me) or have a bubble bath (if you’re my sister), or do whatever helps you honestly, genuinely destress. The best thing you can do for both writing and for graduate school is to take breaks and take time for yourself. There is actual science on the importance of breaks, and academics are fucking notorious for putting too much pressure on themselves to actually relax.

5) If you’re burnt out and/or depressed - seek help! 

Most universities have resources for mental health! Talk to a doctor! Don’t put too much stress and pressure on yourself! Almost half of grad students are mentally ill at some point!

6) Talk out your stories with friends! 

I know I already said this under “practice” but having a fandom friend to bounce ideas with and cheer you on is amazing and essentially. I was in constant contact with Bealeciphers when I started writing, and now I have a different friend who’s helped me the past couple years with writing and developing my stories. Mostly they cheer me on, and when I’m stuck, I tell them where the story is going and what I need help with. But honestly, writing doesn’t need to happen in a vacuum and doesn’t need to be you hunched over a laptop in the dark all alone and staring blankly at a screen (I’m definitely not projecting here, no siree). It’s amazing how motivating it is and how much it can help you stay on track to check in regularly with other writing friends!

7) Pick your battles.

You say you have a... couple(?) of WIPs? How many are you juggling? Is it too many? Do you need to set one (or two??) aside? When my steam was slowly and AATJS and Tumbling Together started to feel like a chore, I set TT aside and took a month break from AATJS then dived right back into AATJS (with the help of the friend mentioned above, cheering me on) because I knew it would be the harder one to finish, and the one that I feared I’d never finish if I put it aside too long. I tackled the biggest hurdle first. If that’s the type of thing for you, I recommend it. Pick the story that’s either the most or least likely to get finished, and focus your energy there.

Another battle-picking thing here? It’s okay to outsource. I’m terrible for not using a proofreader beta. It’s a weird control thing, despite the fact that I love people pointing out typos in my works so I can freaking fix them. The point here is: don’t be like me. If you suck at finding your own typos, use a beta or proofreader. My writer friend who helps me helps when I get stuck. I help them when they need feedback on specific scenes and tones, and I’ve recently discovered they hate editing (I love editing) so this entertains me to no end. Just - you don’t have to do it all yourself. If you feel like you do, see points 5 and 6 again.

Aaaannnddd that’s that. Whew. I just spent... wow, too long on this. I spent as much time on this as I did on my own grad student’s lit review I was providing feedback on today ^^; #whoops 

[halsteadsass]

TAR's been really good this season. A lot of the teams are really likeable, and even though they had the pandemic to deal with, they seemed to bounce back from it really well. You wouldn't really have any idea watching the episodes that they were post-shutdown, and a lot of the tasks they've had them doing have been really cool. Definitely recommend catching up on this season!

I held off on answering this one because I didn't really have any strong thoughts on anyone after the premiere, but I feel like I know a lot more now after the first eviction. There really isn't anyone I'm actively rooting against other than Todrick and Miesha.

I'm loving Lamar and Chris Kattan — I'm always so entertained by the celebrities that have no idea where they are or what they're doing as long as they give us something, and Chris's weird rivalry with Todd over the snoring kills me. I'm really glad Mirai and Carson managed to get off the block and I hope they both stick around for a while. I've also been liking Cynthia, NSYNC Chris and Shanna. I don't know how much you keep up with feeds happenings, but after the BB23 cast stayed at Todrick's house for a month after the game, I had a feeling that he was going to come in and overplay. I feel like he's going to be another Shannon Elizabeth. And the whole way Miesha went about making the alliance of "athletes", but included Todrick and Chris Kirkpatrick over a literal Olympian was just...??? Idk, I just don't get the best vibes from her.

I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this cast, but I feel like they're really over-delivering and I'm enjoying watching how messy they've been so far.

I'm definitely going to try and catch up on TAR. I'm glad to hear that they were still able to keep the spirit up of the show even though the pandemic is going on. It's that escape that we all need.

The complete rollercoaster this first week was. I can't even think of a first week that has been this messy in years. It's usually the second week where things get turned upside down in a blink of an eye.

Miesha and Todrick are definitely on my hit list lol.

It was very clear from the beginning that Miesha had no idea what she was doing. How can you be shocked that your nomination plans got blown up in your face when you told half the house? You actively try to bring in Mirai into your alliance only to turn around and tell her she's going to be a pawn. No brains, head empty. It's week one. There isn't a reason to play that hard. She should have focused on building foundations to relationships that are going to help her later down in the road. And Todrick? He's there just to be a shit starter. He had nothing to gain from telling Miesha about Mirai warning Teddi. Miesha already trusted him and suspected nothing. He did it just to be messy. An athletics alliance with barely no athletes is what truly gets me lmfao.

Mirai and Carson both being on the block together really stressed me out. I know I said Carson might turn out to be annoying, but he's actually grown on me in the two subsequent episodes. We need his personality and I hope he's smart enough to realize Todrick is the problem - not Mirai. Thank god he won the veto and thank god for that bag twist. Bless Chris Kattan for making Todd the last person and Todd being smart enough to take Mirai off the block. Chris Kattan and his talk with Mirai gave me a new appreciation for him. I think he'd be a good person to have in your corner. I was also dying when he said he wanted todd out because of his snoring. The impressions he gave were award winning lol. RIP Teddi but she would have been taken out early on either way. She'd always be a target.

NSYNC Chris has disappointed me in aligning with Meisha. I'm over the jokes about how physically tough she is so she they can't get on her bad side. Sir, she is not going to beat you up inside the big brother house. As for everyone else, I feel the same. They are pretty much just there, existing, and vibing. I am not watching live feeds because of school. I'm sorry I sound like a broken record on that front. They don't lie when they say you don't exist outside of nursing school. Watching tv is like a prize if I study long enough lmfao.

all in all, I'm hoping for a Mirai HOH tonight.

On another front, the little season premiere promo for Survivor is out. It's quite unhealthy how just the theme song can make me so happy. I can't wait. Also, are you going to be tuning into that other celebrity type survivor-esque show?