#and when we tell teachers hey that's a bit much stuff to learn they say i used to put much more in it be fucking grateful

[cosmiclove-heavenstruck]

honestly fuck teachers who don't give clear instructions on what gets asked in a test and don't tell you they'll write a test until less than a week before and especially fuck teachers who despite us writing three big tests in a week still give us assignments that will be graded

[never2tired4u]

Hey!! I hope you're doing well! I just read your post about the dateables reacting to MC back in human form, and I really loved it! Your writing was great and I loved how their personalities were on point!! I saw your asks were open and wanted to ask if you'd like to write a bit of a domestic fluff with the dateables reacting to MC cooking/teaching them how to cook human food! (especially Solomon bc he's the worst at it lol) Thank you and please write more in the future, you're amazing 💗

— 🦇

Note: Thank you so much 🦇 anon! Also I love this idea, unfortunately i actually didn't know what to do with it :( but tried my best and sorry for not replying soon. Been busy with life in general… Came back to NB yesterday only to get a message from Luke saying he was being chased by Devildom tomatoes lol

You are amazing too and I will try to write more in the future <3

OBEY ME! Dateables x Reader

Characters: 《°•[ Solomon , Simeon , Diavolo , Barbatos...]•°》

Summary: 《°•[ Cooking with them!]•°》

Warnings: 《°•[ Fluff, Solomon wanting to cook.]•°》

With Solomon, cooking isn’t easy. He is a free spirit, curious, and itching to try different combinations with a smile on his face, be it potions or spells, or cooking. Thankfully, he is powerful enough to fix those failed experiments and let it be a learning experience for him, except when he is tasked (himself) to cook. He tries, fails, and just accepts it as perfection, never learning his lesson, never improving. You don’t have the heart to tell him to not join you in the kitchen since he seems to genuinely love cooking for people, however, sometimes he really tests your patience.

Like right now, as he tries, once again, to add some sort of weird ingredient to the pot. Something that DEFINITELY doesn't belong in a human dish…Or any realm's dish for that matter.

“Oh, you caught me.”

“Put that down.” you warned him with a stern voice, Solomon just smiled while slowly lowering the thing, “Not in the pot!” you yelled, barely managing to stop him before he added his ‘touch’ to the meal, “Solomon, what did we talk about?”

Solomon frowned, “I know, it just…” sighing as he glanced at the book, reading the instructions again, “The recipe seems so boring.”

“It’s a soup recipe.”

He dramatically sighed again and stepped back, putting the “ingredient” he was going to add back into his pocket, making you wonder what it even was. Your thoughts were quickly interrupted by him wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and resting his cheek on your shoulder, “Sorry, I promise I won't try to add any DemonFlower Eyeball into it.”

“Just don't add anything!”

“Okay okay,” he laughs, “Only human stuff, got it.”

A smile formed on your lips after hearing his voice next to your ear, a gentle and calm tone. Ready to do anything you requested from him. For now.

After all, even though Solomon is a free spirit, his love for you makes him come back down to earth. If it is you who tells him to follow the recipe, then he will. And surprisingly enough, he isn’t a bad cook once he stops his ways of…adding things.

He fetches you some ingredients then stands next to you, waiting for your instructions (since you sadly don't trust him much to do anything on his own). You finished rather quickly and ready the bowls. Both of you sit on the table and Solomon takes his first sip, “And here I thought I was the teacher in our relationship. It seems I have a lot to learn from you too.” he says as a genuine smile graces his lips.

“Hm? Why do you say that?”

“This tastes delicious.”

“It's a simple dish.” you say, a little confused by his low tone, and the far away look in his eyes.

“It's been forever since I've eaten any human world food,” his smile never leaves his face, “It may be a simple dish but that is what makes it so special. Thank you for the food.”

Simeon is someone who enjoys cooking, not as much as Luke perhaps, but he is still okay at it. For him, trying new recipes every now and then, helping Luke around is something of a routine at this point. Cooking in general has always been a job he needed to do, until his view changed quickly when you decided to enter the kitchen with him. The angel then quickly realized that cooking can also be fun and engaging too.

If you are around that is.

Tonight, you had a craving for some human world food. Luke asked to try some too so you decided to get to work and Simeon offered to help.

“So, where do we start?-” he is suddenly stopped by your arms wrapping around him and completely stops moving for a moment, however he gently hugs you back.

“Simeon?” you ask in confusion, “What are you doing?”

Simeon slightly pulls back, only to realize you were just tying the apron around him, “Oh.” he smiles gently, while mentally hitting himself on the head and pulls back, “I thought you wanted a hug.”

“Maybe later, now let's get to work!”

Simeon is out of his usual attire and wearing something more comfortable instead, with an apron tied to his waist thanks to you.

He listens to what you want to make and what he can do. (Un)fortunately he usually finishes his work pretty fast and then tries to take over yours to help which you refuse. Giving him another, much more simple task and while he does that Simeon often starts to ramble.

“...Would it be rude of me to say that I like how human ingredients are so normal?”

“Compared to what?”

“Anything from Devildom really...” Simeon can't help but look guilty, it feels like he is insulting the whole Devildom himself, a place most of his friends consider a home, but he can't help it, “At least these don't try to attack us.”

“Oh, that's true,” you almost let out a chuckle at how nervous Simeon seems as he chops tomatoes, probably imagining them starting a fight, “What about Celestia?”

“Celestia? Well, hm…” his hands pause for a moment as he gets lost in thought, “They are…Okay? Though, some of them are…Too much.”

You aren't really sure what Simeon means by ‘Too much.’ but decide not to ask about it as he seems annoyed. A memory of an energetic cucumber crossed his mind, perhaps?

“I'm glad you like our normal and boring tomatoes then.”

Simeon laughs nervously, “Yeah, I like it, especially since they don't grow legs and run around.” he turns to you with a smile, “So, we can just focus on making the food and enjoy talking like this.”

Even after the food was finished and the three of you sat down to enjoy the food Simeon can't help but ask you to teach him more human world recipes, “Luke enjoyed it.” he says. Hoping you don't notice how he just wants to spend time with you.

“You want me to make a human world dish?”

“No.” you shake your head, “We are going to make it together, Barbatos.”

Barbatos smiles, when people come to him they always have requests. For example, Beelzebub. The young devil always says he wants to eat his cooking, or use the big kitchen at the palace for a new dish. No one ever came to him and asked to cook together since it was usually his job alone to do, he is a butler after all.

“Alright. However, I don't know the dish you want to make, so…” he can't help but chuckle a little as he bows his head, “Please treat me kindly.”

His words are a complete lie though, Barbatos may not know how the recipe goes but he can tell what needs to be added. He is a great cook, and so graceful while he does the work. He is pretty quick too so the food is almost done already.

“Hmm…” after taking a small sip from the pot you can't help but think that something is missing, it tastes good but it could be better you think, so you turn to your helper, as he likes to call himself, “Barbatos, what do you think of this?”

He casually takes the spoon you hold for him and hums, “It's great, but how about adding some bay leaf?”

“...Bay leaf? We have that?”

“I do, I sometimes use it.” he walks up to a random cabinet and pulls out a jar, “It goes well in foods that need to be cooked for a long period of time. You just need to take it out after it's done.”

“Huh. So, you use human world ingredients in your cooking?”

“Only when you are around,” you watch as Barbatos adds two leaves into the pot, “It's amusing to see your reaction when you eat what I cook for you.”

“That's why they taste so familiar!?”

Barbatos innocently smiles at you, “Don't forget to stir, dear. Or would you like me to take over?”

“Barbatos, don't tell me you actually have been making me human food that looks like Devildom food.”

“I thought the familiar taste would make you happy.”

“...That's kind. Thank you.” you smile, but then squint your eyes at him, “You sure there's nothing else…?”

Barbatos doesn't say anything as he starts cleaning around the kitchen, picking up the things you've used and no longer need.

Of course there's another reason why he secretly cooks human dishes for you. It's so you can visit him, compliment him and ask for him. It's a selfish reason. However, for someone like him it's not surprising. He is a demon, and when it comes to your time and attention, he selfishly wants it all.

You are asking the prince, the future ruler of Devildom to cook with you, a human dish? And he agrees with a laugh? If anyone heard this, they would be thinking the Devildom is coming to an end. His butler however, can't help but think Diavolo agreed without hesitation only because it's you and only because it's a way to escape from his duties. Considering the prince has never touched an utensil in his life, it is weird to see that he seems so confident.

His confidence, however, quickly shaders as he accidentally pushes on the tomato too much while trying to chop it and makes a mess. Covering your aprons and walls with tomato seeds and juices.

He turns to you and smiles, “Have I ever told you that you look good in red?”

You scoff but can't help as a smile grows on your face, “Yes, usually when I'm in a red outfit, not when in a red mess.”

“Small details.” he laughs, but a sigh leaves him as he looks down at the chopping board, “I didn't think they would be so soft and delicate.”

“Don't blame the tomatoes.” when he turns his sad eyes towards you, you wave your hands around quickly, a feeling of guilt settling in, “Don't blame yourself either, accidents happen in kitchens! We can still use it.”

“That's great! Then I'll continue with the cutting,” he says, smiling again, “I'll be more careful from now onl.”

Diavolo may not have a lot of experience in the kitchen, no matter which realm the food is from, but he still finds his own failures fun. Laughing when he accidentally drops the salt shaker in the pan or when he almost burns himself. As a prince he never had mishaps in the kitchen before.

It's new, it's entertaining.

“Thank you for helping me.” you can't help but look at the bandages around his fingers, “Even though it was kind of a disaster.”

Diavolo laughs as he searches for the plates,”No no, thank you! This was a lot of fun. And we get to taste the fruit of our labor too!” he finally finds the right cabinet, “And I'm always happy to learn about the things you enjoy, like this dish.”

He might still have a lot of papers to read and sign but every once in a while he goes into the kitchen to cook the recipe he learned from you. He is extra careful while making it if he is making it for you but is more care free if it's only for himself. He also eats it when he misses you when you are unable to visit him, the same human world dish brings comfort to him as he imagines it bringing comfort to you.

Ⓒ2024

[anundyingfidelity]

WHAT IF...? — Soldier Boy/Ben (2)

Summary: Ben, now as your husband, gives up Vought for good and retires along with you far away from the spotlight and the big cities once you're pregnant with your first child. He knows better than to make the same mistakes his father did.

Pairing: Soldier Boy/Ben x female reader

Word count: 900ish.

Warnings: none, soft Ben, OOC!Ben? idk, this is sweet.

GEN MASTERLIST! — DRABBLES MASTERLIST!

taglist is here!

PART 2

1990

The way back home was tiring to say the least. You and Ben had a weekend shopping schedule. It wasn’t the best idea John had for a funny Saturday, but you could tell he enjoyed being at the mall. He was six already, full of energy, joy, and eager to discover the wonders of the world.

From the passenger seat you moved slightly just to check on your son. He was already snoring in the back seat, drooling and sleeping peacefully as if it was his own bed. The sight of him just made you smile.

“He had a great time, huh?” Ben asked, giving you a side glance. He got better at driving after you gave birth, which you were so thankful for.

“Yeah, I mean, he’d definitely pick a baseball game instead but this is good for him,” you said back. “He’s been at home too much, don’t you think?”

“Hey, it's school break! Do you really love your kid?” Ben teased with a playful smile, you rolled your eyes.

“Shut up. All I mean is that I’d just like him to have friends and talk to other kids, do the normal kindergarten stuff… That’s all.”

Ben nodded more for himself. There have been a couple of weeks already, and he was more than happy to spend time with the little brat, but he got your point. You didn’t want him to be alone and the teacher at kindergarten had told both of you John was having some trouble with making friends and socializing in general. He was shy, but smart and creative, but even the teacher had some issues when talking to him at first. John wasn’t like that at home and it hurted you just a bit.

“Probably we should call Janine and some of the parents that were there in the last parent conference, you still have their numbers. We can do something for our kids to meet outside school,” you suggested.

“I think those moms were hitting on me,” your husband said, taking a last turn on the highway before heading home. He chuckled as low as he could when you patted his arm. You got pretty jealous at the last meeting when those ladies approached him, almost swooning. Even John’s teacher looked like she’d faint anytime. “What? I’m Soldier Boy anyway.”

“You’re an idiot.”

He parked the car outside your house after an hour of driving. There were some cons of living in the outskirts of the city, but as long as his family got the calm and green life around, driving for so long was not a problem.

You took John between your arms, careful of not waking him up. He weighed more and more each year, reminding you he wasn’t a baby anymore. He was taller, a good talker at least with you and Ben, he liked seeing the squirrels in the trees that surrounded the house, and he was very, very smart.

It felt like a day ago you gave birth to him, that he started babbling nonsense, and mere seconds that he started walking little baby steps… Now, his eyes were bright blue, his hair long and blonde, his cheeks sprinkled with freckles just like his dad…

Most of his factions were just like Ben’s mother, and she was beautiful from the old pictures he’d show you before. You were happy John was like an exact copy of her, you knew how much Ben loved her and how much her death hurted for him. John was like a reincarnation of her spirit, now sleeping in your arms.

Ben started to take out the grocery bags and some other stuff you had gotten yourself from the city, most of them puzzles, board games, and teddies John picked back there. As much as you tried to get him to reason to not buy unnecessary things, he would just spoil John a lot. But you understood why he did it. He was nothing like his father, he had time to learn how to be a better man, how to manage his own feelings and slowly, teach John to be a good man, even at his young age. You felt so proud of him, watching him discharge the bags on the kitchen counter with John clinging to you, deep in slumber, his little arms now wrapped around your neck to not let go.

When finished, Ben looked at you with a soft look on his eyes. You, holding his son, was a picture he’d never grown tired of. He would hit himself to confirm it wasn’t just a beautiful dream; it was real. You and John were very real, and he was thankful for giving up the superhero shit already. This could never compare to anything Vought offered to him before; what he built in there with you was everything he ever needed.

“I’m gonna take him to his room,” you mumbled, but before you could walk up the stairs, Ben approached you.

“I’ll do,” he announced in an equally low voice.

“You sure? I don’t want him to wake up-”

“John sleeps like a trunk, trust me,” Ben said, taking the kid softly away from your arms. John immediately wrapped his arms around his dad’s neck, hiding his face on the crook of his neck. He was so exhausted after the trip.

“Right,” you nodded. “Thanks, I love you.”

Ben gave you a charming smile, one that you never could grow tired of. He leaned down to kiss your lips softly, his new and trimmed beard tickling your skin a little.

“I’ll be here in a couple of minutes to help you,” he said.

You watched him disappear on the stairs to the second floor, John deeply sleeping in his strong arms, hugging each other.

Weekend trips like this were monotonous sometimes, but it was okay because you always came back home with your boys after all.

Soldier Boy taglist:

@delaynew @k-slla @thesilmarillionblog @onlyangel-444 @mrsjenniferwinchester

@daisy-the-quake @jackles010378 @mostlymarvelgirl @deans-spinster-witch @drasticemotions

@stoneyggirl2 @sapnaploves

@believeinthefireflies95 @demodemo909

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Hard Learned Lesson

Hello everyone!

*cough* so... you all ready for some... angst? ;3

Timeline wise this is in the spring of the first year the guys got the farm! So their first spring in FarmTale <3

First Drabble (Thank @spotaus for the one who started this madness with the original prompt) Prev Drabble Next Drabble

No beta or edits :3 We just going. Again. Angst incoming!

*--------------------*

Nightmare huffs as he looks bored at his stupid math work. He doesn't get it! The teacher jsut... doesn't explain it like when Dusty does. Dust knows how to tell him things that make sense!

Nightmare doesn't like this school he has to be in.

He doesn't like being away from his dads- caretakers- his four. He prefers to be with them and have them decide when it is time to learn and how.

Nightmare knows he can trust them. they are safe.

At least he doesn't have to be here for long... Just a day each week. And just until they figure out his school level or something.

The teacher smiles at him and speaks softly "Hey there night night."

Nightmare glares wiht all his might at her "Nightmare." his name is nightmare! Only his dads- his four are allowed to call him night night or nighty or nightlight!! That is their right! Not hers!

The teacher giggles and smiles at him "I am sorry. Nightmare. How is your math going?"

Nightmare frowns as he looks at the numbers and the drawings of apples. something about adding stuff together and taking a few away or something. He knows he used to be able to do this but how he did it he can't quite remember or figure out.

Ngihtamre shrugs and plays a bit iwht his pencil.

The teacher nods as she crouches next to him "Still hard?"

Nightmare shrugs and mutters softly "Dusty could explain..."

He doesn't like most adults who are here. Most of them imply that his four did stuff wrong or are doing wrong. Nightmare doesn't agree. They did everything right! THey came back so they can't do wrong. This lady is nice. she makes sure her voice is quiet and lets him stay inside when the other louder kids go play outside. She doesn't mind him reading his book instead of drawing.

the nice teacher smiles and nods "I am sure your dad is a great teacher. He seemed like the smart type."

Nightmare nods before catching up with what she said and freezing. He keeps messing up in his head and calling them dads... would that be weird? He doesn't want to be weird.

she smiles and takes a seat next to him "How about we try to do the problems together? We can try to work through them then?"

Nightmare shrugs again. Not really caring that much. He just needs to wait a bit longer and one of them will pick him up and they will go home and snuggle. Killer found a new movie to watch. Probably more cowboys! Nightmare likes them okay but loves to just lay wiht Killer when watching as Killer loves those a lot.

his teacher smiles at him and takes out a pencil. "OKay. the first problem. it is a bit of complex adding with the higher numbers but it works the same as the smaller numbers and-"

a loud knock on the door.

The door opens and one of the older ladies walks in. Nightmare doesn't like her. she is strict and always looks at his dads disapproving. As if they did smething wrong. She is also the one who says it is just a matter of time before Nightmare will like being here. Nightmare knows better and makes sure to tell the interview guy each time he wants to have classes with dusty again.

his nice teacher frowns as she looks up "Is something wrong miss March?"

The older lady huffs but speaks up "Someone came to pick him up. somekind of emergency."

Nightmare frowns and glances over. it are two humans who both look rather official. He immediantly leans behind the nice teacher and mutters "Dusty said to never go with others." One of the rules. Never ever leave this building unless it was with any of them. One of them is usually the whole day in the building with him.

The nice teacher looks unsure "March. I know for a fact those man are not part of the group that was allowed to pick him up."

March waves at one of the man and he shows an official looking document with somekind of symbol on it. Nightmare doesn't like this and inches clsoer to his teacher.

SHe reaches for the paper but the man pulls it away and tugs it away "It is sensitive information. It is a matter of great importance that we leave right this minute."

Ngihtmare doesn't like this. this is bad. These man are lying. he just knows it. Nightmare knows liars and he doesn't like them and these two are lying!

Nightmare looks at the nice lady "I don't want to go. I wanne wait for dad." he is scared. please.

The nice teacher smiles at him before looking at the other three adults "I am sorry. but he doesn't feel comfortable. I am sure we can just wait here for one of his fathers to show up. I will stay late with him to wait." she offers immediantly and Nightmare feels a bit better.

March glares at her "April! Stop that. These man are very important. They say it is an family emergency."

April! That was her name! April looks unsure between them and then Nightmare "I still think..."

MArch sighs loudly "You are a kindergarden teacher. You don't think." she smiles at the two man "I am so sorry for her. I will make sure to give her a talking to. You two make sure the little man gets to where he needs to go!" she grabs Arpil's arm and pulls her along.

April protests loudly "Wait! Miss March! I really don't think this is a good idea!"

Ngihtmare plans to follow her but one of the man gets in the way. he smiles andit doesn't feel good. it feels dangerous. He knows those type of faces. He used to see them daily. Ngihtmare feels his fight or flight response start to appear as he glances around.

The man speaks ina soft and quiet voice "Hey there. I know this is very scary but we have somewhere very important to be okay? We need to be quick. come now."

Nightmare shakes his skull as he glances around. Panic in his soul and magic. Where is Dusty? Or Crossy? Kills? 'Ror? where are his four? One is always near?

Unless these man knew... unless there are more people and some of them are distracting them!

THe man grabs his arm and pulls him along. Nightmare is once again reminded that he is weak. Weak and powerless and useless as he can't even defend himself!

The leave the building and a van is parked nearby. More panic as he is pushed in and the door clsoes.

--

Cross feels numb as he watches Killer tear the two ladies a new one "What the fuck you mean you let strangers take him!?"

Miss March, the personal assistant of the owner of this whole fucking thing looks insulted "Well! I will have you know that I tried to stop it but that April, the naive idiot girl, decided to trust strangers!"

Said girl, woman honestly even if she is still young sits on a chair in tears. She had been the one to call them in a panic. April looks up wiht a glare and read eyes from crying "I told you not to trust them! I told you not to let them take him but you pulled me away and when i got back to where he was before he wasn't there and and and-" she sobs as she hugs herself, she stares at them begging "I am sorry. I swear i tried! I tried to stay wiht him but Miss march she-"

March hisses at her "shut up you stupid dimwit!"

Killer is seething as he glares at March "Where. is. our. child!?"

MArch stammers and tries to explain that some man came in about some emergency. Killer growls "so instead of verifying that they were speaking the truth you just trust the first person to walk in and way a piece of paper around?"

Cross stares at April. he still can't feel anything. just dread. He walks to her side and stares at her "What did they look like?"

April blinks as she looks at Cross with tears in her eyes. Cross just doesn't care. He needs to find him. Now. a glance shows that Horror and Dsut are talking with police man. Dust is beside himself and keeps trying to pull his hood further over his skull. clearly nearing an actual breakdown.

Cross can fix this. He just needs to get Nightmare back.

April sobs as she rubs her eyes. She thinks for a moment before giving an as detailed description as possible.

Arpil frowns as she pauses "there... there was this symbol on the paper. Wait. let me draw it." she opens her folder and grabs a bright blue glitter pen and starts drawing it. Cross knows a police officer joined him and is taking notes himself.

She shows the symbol "It looks likes this. Some werid snake around a sword. It looked a bit like the medical symbol and stuff but it doesn't quite like it." she frowns.

The police man frowns and starts to talk about this gang named the Viper and how they kidnap children. often political reasons.

Cross however already checked out as he starts thinking. the speed limit is about 30 kilometres an hour in these type of areas. This happened not longer than 20 minutes ago.

If they were pushing their luck and driving hard they couldn't have driven harder than 50 an hour. which means they are at this point about at maximum about 15 to 20 kilometres away.

If they are already known with the police? They won't risk being out long. They know when Cross and the others would be away because they were held up getting food and snacks. Meaning it was planned. Meaning they knew that they would immediantly get the news out.

Cross hums and glances towards the door. They are hiding somewhere nearby. They can't risk being in a car and being searched. This universe has cops that actually care and want to help people. If they are already on their shitlist?

a circle of 25 kilometres. That is what Cross thinks they should be within for now until they will feel brave to search for a spot to... to... do whatever they had planned for Nightmare.

Cross slowly backs away from the othrs. He mutters to Horror that he is going to catch some air. Horror shoots him a worried look but Dust is actively shaking and tears are leaving his sockets so Horror is quick to try and calm him.

Cross feels the air grow more and more static. he steps out of the building and glances up. Very dark clouds, black and purple and some flashes of lightning.

Cross looks around the area around the building. police cars are everywhere but none of them notice Cross. Cross looks at his own arm and can only see himself because he knows what to look for. a slight difference in depth compared to the area around him. His camouflage his active.

Good.

He will need that.

He glances around againa nd finds the cops looking at tire tracks. he gets near and studies them.

He hates what his universe made him. He hates what XGaster has made him. BUt... Cross can admit... It has its benefits. He memorises the pattern of the track in the dirt and considers how deep the track is. Yeah. Somekind of van. A small one but heavy. So probably a two seater and the loading area in the back. Most likely no windows or Nightmare could have waved to get someones attention.

Cross has an area. And a general idea on what to look for.

Time. To. Hunt.

---

Something smashes into pieces and Nightmare shakes as he keeps hiding his skull wiht his arms. Not able to ban out the voices.

"What do you mean you don't know who to contact?!"

another shouting voice "It means I don't know! We have had no one react to our messages and codes about him! Our hackers didn't find anything on those four! No schooling. No past lives. No past adresses. Nothing!"

the first voice "Of course not! One of them was tugged away from eye sight to even get that child! Find out who he was with and we know who will pay raw gold to get that little freak back!"

Ngihtmare shivers at that word. He isn't a freak... he isn't... Crossy always says he is special and perfect. that means he isn't a freak.

another voice "What if this was all a waste?"

the first voice "Then we find some other weird fucker that wants a monster child. There is always some sick fuck that likes toys like that."

Ngihtamre is shaking. he wants his dads. He wants to cuddle with his dad and eat food with his dad and watch tv and...

He sobs.

A loud groan "And of course that stupid thing is a whining crybaby and it won't shut up!"

a new voice. much more worried "euh... guys? Remember those clouds i was talking about?"

more groans and the tired voice of before answers "Dude. not now. we are having a crisis here."

THe newest guy continues "No you don't get it... the clouds? Those are completely black... there is no sunlight coming through."

silence before rushing steps and more curses and awed noises.

a moment of silence for another person speaks up "The radios are out...so is the phone service and well... any service..."

A flash and immediatnly loud thunder. Nightmare isn't afraid however... as that was Dusty's storm. He can feel it. the familiar static and magic that circles and seems to hug him. If Dusty's storm has already found him... That must mean Dust is close right? Or that dust now knows his location right?

Nightmare isn't sure how they are getting more powers. but they are so cool...

more sounds of annoyance and grumbles as the humans all take seats. grumbles about how they can't keep looking for a buyer now and that they will be forced to wait or risk being seen.

Nightmare looks around his small cage. he is stuck in somekind of animal cage in a dark room without any window. but he still feels and hears the lightning and thunder. he knows the flashes happen as he feels his own magic notice them. the immediant thunder after it.

They are right in the middle with the lightning right above them.

another crack and flash and suddenly loud shouts as the light under the door turns off. Seems like everything is broken now.

Loud annoyances and grumbles as they wlak around. shouting at each other. Nightmare rolls back up and waits.

He just... he just has to have faith! They found him once... surely they can find him again right? Surely... they want him still right?

right?

---

Cross runs through the forest. letting the static in the air guide him as he follows the tracks. Cross isnt'sure if the storm is leading him or if he is leading the storm at this point.

It doesn't matter.

The effect is the same.

Dust's storm and him move togehter. the lightning and static move in unison with Cross as he rushes through the forest. Everything grows quiet and still around him as he moves. unseen and more one with the world around him than seperate at this point.

It doesn't matter.

Because he found it.

He spots the van first and sees the house it is parked by after. He watches for a moment and the bright purple magic flashes quickly and loudly. flash after flash after flash.

It should be bothersome to him.

It isn't.

Cross moves silently as he reaches the van first. he pulls the door open with one harsh tug and takes the actual backdoor with the tug. he drops it to the ground and looks into the van. Nobody but there are small marks of someone having clawed as the floor.

Cross moves silently and smoothly into the van and studies the marks. He knows those marks. Nightmare tends to try and push Killer away and if they don't help him clip his claws before they get too long Nightmare tends to accidentally scratch Killer.

The scratches are never deep and never take longer than a few minutes to heal. Nightmare still feels bad about it even if Killer doesnt even feel it.

Cross follows the marks with one of his own fingers. He was right.

Cross leaves the van just as quietly as he entered it and walks towards the door. Not marching. More like gliding. Silent. Smooth. Quickly.

He gets to the door and pusehs his knife in between the side and the door. One quick push and the lock breaks and the door swings open. THe hallway is dark.

He hears movement deeper in the building.

Cross moves silent as a shadow. leaving no trail or tracks in his wake.

he moves through the hall and leaves the door open. purple flashes behind him and Cross can't help but notice that his shadow looks weird. almost as if his shadow itself is melting into the other shadows and stuff... weird...

He follows the hall and gets to the living room. He just pushes the door open and sees about seven humans all looking around trying to locate stuff wiht flashlights. one of the flashlights shines over him and the human screams bloody murder. the others turn and scream and yell themselves. something about a demon.

Cross doesn't care. He is here for two reasons. one. get his baby back. two? Make sure these sorry excuses never get the chance to take their baby away ever again.

Cross stares before rushing one of the humans. he has them by the head and throws them into the wall. the wall cracks and the human drops motionless to the floor. Cross slowly turns to the others.

The raise their weapons but Cros has already jumped another. He pushes the human to the floor and grabs them by the head. he smashes the head against the floor once and hears the tiles break just as the skull caves in on itself and the human goes motionless instantly.

Cross rises back to his full length.

One of the humans shakes as they raise their weapon "fuck... fuck!" and starts firing.

Cross doens't know why he doesn't move. Maybe it is... because he kidna knew. the bullets seem to all, just move through him. as if he isn't all the way there yet is. untouchable until cross wants to touch something.

more panicked cursing as Cross holds out an arm. and his own weapon materialises. he goes for his one large sword and gets to work.

It isn't even a fight.

Cross would think calling this a fight would be an insult to actual fights he had.

play fights and spars with killer are more challenging.

Having a verbal debate with Killer is more challenging! and Killer hardly even gives arguments!

Cross dematerialises his sword and stalks around the house. He doens't hear anymore movement of people walking around.

a soft sob.

Cross is by the storage closet in seconds and pulls the door open.

Cross wants to thank his lucky stars he has night vision because he doesn't even need a flash of lightning to see their baby. Cross is on his knees by the cage in seconds as he pushes a hand through the bars and rubs the tiny cheeks to clean the tears. only for fresh tears to appear and Nightmare to grab his hands.

Nightmare sobs "dad... I was scared."

Cross mutters soft praises and reassurances all at once as he just sits by his baby "it is okay nighty. I am here. I am not going anywhere okay? We will just wait here. Your other dads are on their way okay? we will go home and lay in the nest and read stories. You have been so brave and I am so sorry you had to wait for so long." More tears keep appearing and Cross keeps rubbing them away gently.

Cross will stay right there for as long as they need.

flashing police lights and Cross feels himself growl when his phone buzzes. He opens the chat and sees a message from Killer.

'horror texted me to say he sees a broken open car and the police are nervous. Make sure the police can break nightmare out. Stay near but invisible. I know it sucks but please!!'

Cross doesn't like it but he can already feel himself start to disappear from view. He whispers to Nightmare "I am staying right here with you okay? Some people will walk in and they are police man. They will bring you to Dusty and Horror okay?"

Nightmare sniffs and sobs as he looks desperate at Cross. Seemingly not at all bothered by Cross using his weird invisibility. Nightmare keeps staring at him and sniffs "promise? You won't leave?"

Cross smiles and rubs the tiny cheek "I will stay right here with you. Forever." like fuck anyone is going to get any of them to leave their baby. He is theirs and no one elses. Everyone can gets lost and disappear for all Cross cares. He has what he needs with his new family.

Nightmare nods and sits their shaking. his tiny hands not letting go of Cross's hand and Cross keeps holding both tiny hands wiht one of his as he rubs the tiny cheek with his other. The discomfort of how he needs to wiggle his way through the bars not even fully registering as he waits.

Loud shouts of police and slow steps. dead silence as they find the slaughter that Cross left behind. more rushed steps and a panicked voice "Kid?! Kid please be okay! Yell out! We are here to help! please we are worried and your dads are worried too!"

Nightmare sobs and looks at the door. He can't seem to find words and just whines. The sound feels like a shot right through Cross's soul as he keeps holding the tiny hands.

Rushed steps and someone with lights and red and blue reflectives steps in. The officer sighs in relieve "oh thank the heavens you are okay." he takes a step closer but Nightmare obviously flinches and tugs himself in a corner. more sobs and shaking leaves him.

Nightmare mutters sound so loud in the silent room "want dad... dad... where is dad?" more sobbing and his breathing comes out in short pants. slight panic starts to appear on his face.

The officer takes out his walkie talkie "Get one of those skeletons in here..." a moment of silence "I don't care! Lead them in then to make sure they don't touch anything! This child just went through actual hell and deserves someone he can trust." after which he raises both hands. making it clear he isn't hiding anything.

It doesn't help as Ngihtmare keeps breathing quicker and more whines. Cross tries to reassure him but it only helps so much. Cross has no doubt the cage isn't helping either but that would mean that cross would have to open the cage and the other would see that and Cross doubts even Killer can lie their way out fo that one and-

Running steps and a moment later Dust pushes past the officer. He stands frozen before he throws himself at the cage and just rips it open. He has Ngihtmare in his arms wihtin seconds and just. stays rolled up on the floor. shaking.

Cross sees the Nightmare immediantly starts breathing easier as he pushes clsoe to dust. more sobs "dad... .dad... i was scared"

Dust mutters soft apologises and love messages to Nightmare. How he is sorry he wasn't there. and that he swears he will be better and that he and the others all love him so much and that they were terrified and that they won't let anyone hurt him and how much they love him.

Cross just hugs the two for a moment. using his invisibility to give them some comfort. Dust leans into the touch and mutters a thanks for saving him.

the police officer reassurace him it is just their job but Cross knows Dust had aimed it at him.

It makes him feel warm inside. knowing he did soemthing to save their baby. to protect his family. warm and loved.

Cross follows Dust and the police officer out as Dust staggers outside. Still hugging Nightmare close and clearly trying to hide him from the world.

Once outside Horror steps over and easily lifts Dust and Nightmare. Hiding both in his arms as he mutters his own apologises to Nightmare and how scared they had been.

Cross can't help but notice that the sky is no longer thundering and while still cloudy and dark all the lightning had disappeared.

Cross then feels his phone buzz again and he checks the message. it is killer. sending him a message that as soon as he can he needs to reunite with him in the police car he is riding with. Make sure to be sneaky.

Cross watches his two mates not mates mates friends fush over nightmare as the police people get to work.

Cross leaves the scene of the crime and follows the road to reunite wiht killer.

He sees a few other cop cars making their way over to the location and eaisly enough spots Killer in one. Killer stares outside and Cross manages to land silently on the car roof.

As Killer ordered Cross manages to wiggle his way into the moving cop car. Killer nudges him in the side and Cross feels his camouflage finally disappear, as it disappears he feels the exhaustian start to creep up.

Killer grins at the humans in front "Again thank you for giving us both a ride!"

The police man blinks confused but as he looks up he stares at both Cross and killer. Killer keeps smiling and the police man ends up nodding "Well... of course! Heavens knows that I would be beside myself if I lost my little girl. My daughter is my whole world and if anything happened to her..." he shakes his head "of course we would all try to reunite you four with your boy as soon as possible!"

Killer continues talking to the human. Cross zones out as he suddenly feels so very tired...

For now? None of it matters to Cross. Let Killer figure out how to manipulate and lie to the humans.

Cross feels tired and just wants to see their mate with thier child. Safely reunite with their other mate.

Nothing else matters right now.

Cross still remains vigilant. He can rest later... Once they are home again. Once they are all safe again.

*--------------------*

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

[taikk0]

PART 1 OF TAIKKO HATES HIS SENIOR ART COURSE AND WANTS TO RANT ABOUT IT ON TUMBLR <3

Hey guys, you may have noticed how art and animations have recently been slowing down. So I'm gonna vent out my frustrations for a lil bit to explain why because I need the world to know that there is hate in my heart :D

Outside of my HOUSE LEAKING causing major disruptions to my workflow both for personal and academic work,

Lately I've been going through insane crunch in order to meet my deadlines lately. This October has been very busy, I have the spreadsheet to prove it.

and I don't care if some terms on here reveals what school I go to, I think I deserve to make it fucking obvious with how poor this institution is. and personally, I don't think they're gonna file for defamation on some random 17 year old on Tumblr. If you know, you know.

See 👆 I got so busy I had to put cleaning my unkept room in the schedule because I was neglecting it so bad with how much work I had to do this month. 💀

My personal life away from academics is very busy, I'm often helping my family with our local business away from my computer. Which becomes a PROBLEM when time itself is a luxury I don't have very often. I don't always have the time to do my schoolwork when I come home, I don't always have the time to make art. So, in turn, I crunch at midnight. Adding commissions on top of that to help rack in extra money for personal expenses, to help support my family, and for any possible emergency expenses. It's a lot to handle.

This problem is then made even worse by how PERMANENTLY DAMAGING the pandemic was. I am a firm believer that if the pandemic never happened, schools wouldn't have switched to this shitty method of administering schoolwork. Not everyone comes home from school and immediately checks the schools shitty half assed broken website to do MORE schoolwork after they have already left school premises. I'm not the only person with this problem, TONS of other students have missed so many assigned tasks. So much so that the teacher announcing missing schoolwork to whichever student in front of the class and reminding everyone of their missing work is standard practice.

I don't want to come off as a petty student who wants all my work handed to me, but I really think that nowadays not many teachers put in the effort to make sure to announce projects for the class anymore.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT. our art teacher is such a bundle of joy (LYING) she is so professional (INCORRECT BUZZER) and establishes boundaries between her and her students (RED ALARM SOUND) and is such a talented and proficient artist that I'm glad she became our art teacher (FIRE AND SCREAMING SOUND EFFECTS) and she knows how to teach her students well (SKIN PEELING OFF AS WE SPEAK) and is very considerate of production pipelines (FULL AUTO RIFLE AND HELICOPTER WHIRRING)

I don't like her.

She has done. A lot of questionable stuff, y'now, just as a person, but right now I wanna talk about her as a teacher.

SHE IS NOT GOOD AT IT.

Now I don't mean she doesn't explain things well or her methods are convoluted, I mean SHE DOES NOT DO HER JOB AT ALL.

She quite literally almost every time; either meets us in the classroom and says she has a meeting to go to and leaves us with no assigned task, or, she actually does stay in the classroom,

but doesn't teach us at all.

Hell, she makes the STUDENTS teach, not even in a report kind of way she just tells that student to sit in front with her, she shows them the presentation she was supposed to discuss, and makes THE STUDENT DISCUSS THE LESSON TO THEIR PEERS INSTEAD.

And even then there is a secret third option. She stays, and assigns us work.

However.

The work is a practical application of a lesson she did not teach the class.

For example, "Your assignment for today is to animate a pendulum swinging left to right on this program!"

Two problems.

None of the students are knowledgeable in the program because she never even tried to learn it in order to teach us.

She never taught us the animation principles.

The pendulum assignment requires knowledge of ease-ins and ease-outs, as well as the use of arcs and possibly timing charts.

My peers knew none of that in order to perform the task effectively.

Our teacher response to that? is to be so unfairly critical. The only reason why her students are failing, is because of her. She fails students for not making an appealing animation BECAUSE she never taught them how to in the first place.

Her grading is very biased and rooted in personal preference rather than a solid understanding of the principles, not even adding notes on what to improve upon.

I GOT A 100% ON AN ANIMATION EXAM, WITH THE SHITTIEST OUTPUT EVER. Like, If i actually went to art school and passed that as our exam, I would get such a low score.

We were told to animate a 10 second clip, no other instructions. Here was my output

THIS DID NOT DESERVE A 100%. it was rushed and I cut a lot of corners in order for it to be done on time. Just the fact that she considered this to have no flaws or room for improvement is telling. I know I should be thankful for a perfect score, but essentially saying that THIS is good enough shows that she has no idea what she's doing and I'm afraid that most likely I am going to walk away from senior high with no new information and being bombarded with skills I didn't learn beforehand when I'm in college.

In an art school I know what I'm signing up for, I want that crunch and that pressure to improve to be WARRANTED. I don't feel that drive to make artwork and animations (for academics) that I am proud of and want to put effort into for a passing grade. Instead I am simply doing the bare minimum with very little time to do so, so I just end up making shitty work that is "good enough" because the environment is made so mediocre by our art teacher.

You know what's more?

SHE IS NOT AN ART MAJOR.

SHE MAJORED IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

That is my rant for now. I'm thinking of doing three more entries. talking about how shitty the school is in of itself with very poor management as a PRIVATE SCHOOL, our art teacher is a WHOLE can of worms, and our current thesis film.

Right now I just want to focus on finishing all my commissions and then I can focus solely on rough animation on my student film. 👍 I currently have like, four fully rendered pieces lololol

[itsbackwoodsbby]

please write more haechan smut 🙏

Response: did you really enjoy that haechan smut pookie? as i stated before, i am not a hyuck girl, so i hope that i am doing a good job in writing for him. anywho, i hope that you all enjoy this.

Private Lovers

Highschool Haechan! x Highschool Black Fem Reader!

(A/N: Can you believe we are actually using protection this time? I can’t either.)

Warning: Smut! Swearing! Arguing!

Summary: You and Hyuck have been together for a hot minute, like five months, but no one knows. It’s not because of school social groups or anything. You two hang with the same group of people. You two would just rather not have other people in your business. people can be rude and judgmental. But one day at school, this girl that you particularly disliked starts talking to Hyuck and you see how close they got. You didn't like it. Not one bit.

You slowly walked out of Chemistry and headed to your locker. You hate your next class. You sigh as you replace your Chemistry textbook with your Calculus textbook. Your best friend, Gia, comes up to you. 

“Hey Y/N. Are you ready to see your grade on the Calculus test?” She asks you. “No, Gi. I’m not.” You sigh and lean on your locker. 

Gia, opposite from you, loves Calculus. She offers that every time you slightly pass your test could she tutor you, but you politely decline. You’re still an A student, so you don’t care about the class too much. However, you think this test probably fucked that A you had up. It was super hard, but instead of studying and getting Gia to help you, you want to hang out with your boyfriend, Hyuck, and do … dirty things. 

So when you walked into Calculus and saw your paper flipped over, you already knew the deal. You face palmed grabbed the paper and flipped it over. You damn near faint when you see that 54 in a circle with red ink. Luckily, Gia is there to catch you if you were to fall, but when she saw your grade she almost fell out too. 

“It’s okay, Y/N. We got a few more tests before the final.” Gia says, trying to cheer you up, but the feeling you had wasn’t so great and it was hard to shake off. “Hey, I’ll even tutor if you’re okay with it.” She says making you smile. “Yeah. I’m definitely taking that tutor session.”

You two laugh and you learn some new things in Calculus. You make sure you have your notes in order, so you can try to teach yourself as well as learn from Gia. After all that, you were extremely tired. Your hand was cramping trying to write all the notes in and to make matters worse, your Calculus teacher gave you HOMEWORK. As soon as the bell rings, you’re the first thing out the door. You put your Calculus book into your bookbag and head back to your locker to get your History book.

“Aw, look at Hyuck with Jasmine.” Gia says, “As much as I hate the girl, Hyuck and her look so cute together.” She adds in.

You look at them together. Jasmine was playing in Hyuck’s hair and playing with his adorable moles. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t tell her to move. He just let her do it like you weren’t his girlfriend. 

“No, they wouldn’t.” Your voice cracked as soon as that new attitude came in. “He would look better with someone.” You roll your eyes at the statement. She just laughs, “It’s just because you don’t like her. I don’t blame you though. I don’t like the hoe either. But you can’t deny the truth.” She smiles at them. 

Jasmine starts giggling at something Hyuck says and she touches his nose. You slam your locker close and head to your History class without saying goodbye to Gia. History was your favorite subject, but between failing your test and your boyfriend being that close with that ska-girl Jasmine, you honestly just wanted to go home. So when there were five minutes left in class. You excuse yourself to the bathroom. The teacher just tells you to take your stuff with you. You just rush out the door, go to your car and drive home. You usually would meet up with Hyuck, but he pissed you off so bad, you didn’t even reply to his text messages. 

As soon as you arrive home, you go into your room and start your Calculus homework. You put on your hype playlist and blast it. You honestly didn’t care if it was too loud, you just wanted to block out the world as you did your work. Your homework was pretty easy to follow with the notes, so you finished pretty quickly and looked at your phone. You had messages from Gia and Hyuck.

You roll your eyes at Hyuck’s messages and reply back to Gia:

“hey, gia. i’m not upset at you for saying that. i’m so sorry i stormed off on you like that.”

You two text for a moment and then you tell her you’re about to shower and to give you a few minutes. You go shower, lotion up, and put on this. Your tummy growls and you start looking around for food in the fridge. There’s a fruit plate with a note from your mom.

“Hey Stinkabutt. I got your favorite fruits and there is some cheese if you want to feel like the boujee child of mine you are. I love you. I’ll be home in the morning. I have to work double. P.S. If you get hungry, just call me and I’ll bring you something to eat.” 

You smile. You don’t have to worry about your mom getting off tonight asking you about how your day was because you honestly don’t want to utter anything about today to anyone. Including your mom, who would completely flip out about the 54 on your test. So you decided to rest. You head to your room, eat your fruit plate, and drink some water.

Around four something, there’s a knock on the front door. You groan. “Who the fuck is the door?” You thought to yourself. Slowly trudging down the stairs, you eventually make it to the door. 

“Who is it?” You ask. “It’s me.” The voice says. You roll your eyes. The voice sounds too familiar for you not to know that it’s Hyuck on the other side of the door. “Why are you here?” You say coldly, as you open the door. “Because it’s four-thirty and my girlfriend still hasn’t talked to me. I texted you at two-fifty five.” You shrug, “And?” Hyuck is upset by your cold responses to him. “Y/N, can I at least come in?”

You look at him like he’s crazy. You didn’t want to talk to him let alone sit in the same room as him. You let him in anyway and the two of you sit on the couch. Just not talking. Or you just avoiding Hyuck’s question: “Are you mad at me?” The more he asked the question, the more your facial expressions were getting more intense.

Eventually, you just blow up, “Yes. Yes, Hyuck! I am mad at you. Because you want to be all up in other bitches faces and let them touch your face.” He looks at you confused, “Who was in my face today?” You look at him, “Jasmine.” Then he sits there and looks at you like you’re stupid. “You know I wouldn’t fuck with Jasmine. She likes everyone at the school.” He says. “I don’t know. You surely let the bitch touch your moles and touch your nose. She was ALL up on you and you didn’t move. You didn’t tell her to move. You didn’t say “Please do not touch your hair.” No, you just let the bitch do it.” He shakes his head, “You’re being childish.”

You look at Hyuck in disbelief. How are you being childish? This is seriously something to be mad about. Hyuck is too friendly and thinks every interaction with a girl is so innocent, so you just start being quiet to avoid getting mad at him even more. 

“Can you just please get out of my house?” You attempt to say in a calm voice. “I don’t even want to talk to you anymore.” You sigh and stand up to walk him out of your house. “No. We’re going to talk this shit out.” He looks at you and pulls you onto his lap and wraps his arms around your waist. He starts rocking you. It soothes you a bit.

“Now, Y/N tell me what’s wrong?” He asks you. “I told you, you were too close to Jasmine.” You close your eyes and sigh. “You didn’t even check on me after Calculus like you usually do. You were instantly in Jasmine's face as soon as it ended. And I failed my test. I made a 54. My grade dropped. Now, I have to really pay attention in that class.” Hyuck frowns, “Oh. I’m so sorry baby.” He says pecking your neck. “Then, Gia said that you and Jasmine would be a cute couple, but you’re already MY boyfriend.” You finally decompress into Hyuck’s body. “Today was just ass and tiring.”

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

Hyuck decided to make your day better, divide your legs apart, and start eating you out. His face was completely covered in your juices. You arch your lower half up on his face. “Yes, yes. Hyuck!” You moan out. He looks up at you and slides a finger up and down your clit before he puts it inside you. You down at him as he begins pumping faster, “You like that, baby girl?” He asks you. “Oou, yes! Yess, Hyuck.” You moan out. He adds another and starts sucking on your clit. You gasp throw your head back and look at the ceiling. He pulls your lower half up closer to his face and starts gripping your thighs. “Fuck! Fuck! Baby, I’m going to cum.” 

Hyuck smiles as he continues his job. You cum in his mouth and slowly lower your body back on the bed. You close your eyes and try to regain normal thoughts in your head. As you are coming down from your climax, Hyuck has been putting on a condom, and the whole time you didn’t know. He rubs your clit with his thumb, getting you even wetter. You bite your lips and smile. “What are you doing, Hyuck?” You ask him with your eyes still closed. “Just relax baby.” He smiles and kisses you.

As he’s kissing you, he gently slides his dick into your pussy making you moan into the kiss. He didn’t put all of it in you. Instead, he was giving you slow strokes inch by inch. With every inch, he speeds it up. You wrap your arms around him and kiss him again to keep from moaning too much, but he shakes his head, “Baby, let me hear my pretty little slut.” He says as he goes deeper inside of you. “Ouu shit! Fuck, baby.”

By the time it was fully in, your legs were shaking and you were clawing his back up with your nails. Tears were streaming down your face and you couldn’t form a full sentence because you’d lost all sense. “Mm, is my little slut okay?” He asks you with a cheeky smirk on his face. You moan, “Yess! Yess!” You grip deeper in his back. Hyuck begins to rub on your clit. You start clenching around him. The closer you get to your climax, the more your walls tighten around him. “Baby, baby, I’m coming again. I’m coming again.” Hyuck smirks at you, “Nah, I need my pretty slut to cum when I cum.” 

You look up at him and you start whining and begging for him to let you cum. “Please, Hyuck. Let me cum now. Please please.” You see that he loves hearing you begging, but he doesn’t care. He wants you to hold it until he cum. “Oouuu, fuck fuck fuck!” You moan out and cover your face as you start shaking intensely trying to hold it. He smiles, “You’re such a good girl, mamas.” He uncovers your face, “Don’t hide that pretty little face from me. You are so sexy, folding for this dick.” 

Hyuck bends down and kisses your neck. You begin to have an intense tingling sensation as he hits your spot one good time. “Hyuck, shit. Right there. Right there.” He hits it again slowly yet so hard. “Right there, baby?” He teases you. “Yes! Yes baby, right there.” You damn near cry out. He starts abusing that spot. “Mm, shit. Baby, do you forgive me for my actions today?” Hyuck groans in your ear. You refuse to answer him, so he gives long slow strokes that have a whole lot of power behind them, “I said do you forgive me for my actions today.” He repeats and wraps his hand around your neck. “Yes, Hyuck. Yes. I forgive you.” You whine out, loving every moment of this. He resumes abusing your spot. 

As you were clenching around him, you felt his member throbbing. “Mm, Y/N. Cum with me.” He groans in your ear. “Cum on my dick, baby girl.” His words sent a shiver down your spine. You start shaking intensely and scream a bit as you let go of your cum and he cums as well. 

He lays on top of you for a moment with his dick still in you. His nut was just as intense as yours. A few moments later, he pulls out and lays beside you, and looks at you. You look back at him and smile. He smiles at you.

“I know sex isn’t really a way to make up things, but I just wanted you to relax and get things off your mind. But I promise you don’t have to worry about me and any other that is not Y/N Y/L/N. Cause I’m so in love with you. I don’t want anyone else. Just you.” You smile and kiss his cheek. “And with a pussy like that, you definitely ain’t gotta worry about me leaving you.” He jokingly says. You playfully hit his arm. “Hyuck!” He laughs, “I’m joking but I’m for real.” 

The two of you take a shower, get dressed, and watch movies together. You call your mom and you get her to order you guys a pizza. One side had pineapples on it for Hyuck and a regular pepperoni pizza for you on the other side.

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hey, cas!

I think I need some advice. Apologies in advance if this sounds too urgent or something. I know one of your boundaries is to not feel pressured to answer immediately and I don’t want you to feel like that’s what I’m doing.

So school started again about three weeks ago but I was sick the entirety of last week, so I’ve only actually been to school for two. Where I live the school system is a bit different from America, but you could say that this is my first year of high school, only that I didn’t have to change schools.

Even though it’s only been two weeks, I’m already immensely stressed out. Now that I’ve been sick for a week, I’m scared I missed too much stuff, especially because the level of things we need to do has doubled since last year. I’ve always been pretty lazy and never really studied for anything except sometimes math. I never needed to because I got Bs and often As anyway. Now however I’m completely overwhelmed.

Last night I panicked so much about having to go back to school today, that I almost threw up. When I realized, I found myself thinking about forcing myself to throw up to prove to my mother that I was still sick so I wouldn’t have to go to school.

When I realized that that was what was going on I had another breakdown and didn’t do anything. I felt almost disgusted at myself for even thinking about that.

This morning I wanted to fake a headache, but ended up not because my mother kept insisting I go to school.

When I was on my way to school, my bike had issues, so I asked my mom to come help me. I had a breakdown before she even arrived. When she did, she tried to help me and understand what was going on, but I couldn’t really speak or listen to anything she told me. I think I may have had a panic attack of some sort.

When I’d calmed down enough to explain what was going on, she tried to reassure me that everything would be alright and that my grades didn’t matter to her. I knew all of that already, but it did calm me down a bit.

After we agreed that I can stay home today as long as I promise to go tomorrow, no matter what, she suggested that I go to therapy, which I was planning on asking for anyway.

All in all it doesn’t sound as bad anymore now that I’ve typed it all out like this. The only issue is that in my country Therapy waiting lists take an average of 6 months. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait that long.

Do you have any advice on how to get my anxiety under control until then. Or how to feel less stressed about school in general. I can’t talk to my teacher because she’s very strict and her method of teaching people who don’t know stuff yet is to repeatedly call on them and throw them in ice water basically. I’m sure she means well, but it only increases my anxiety by a tenfold. What would you tell your students if they were having trouble with something?

I definitely struggled with this when I was younger, so I completely get it. I think one of the things about feeling overwhelmed like this is you feel like you have to get it all done in one day. So instead, could you maybe make a list of the things you need to get done, but then separate it into manageable chunks? Like Make up all your math work on Monday, science on Tuesday, etc? You could even show your teacher your plans to let her know you're working toward getting caught up.

Honestly, I would tell my student that you need to go easy on yourself. If you push yourself too much, you're going to end up learning less because you're too stressed! The people what expect you to be perfect aren't worth it. Take breaks, do a little at a time, and remind yourself that it's just as important to take care of yourself as it is to catch up <3

Sending love and naming you catch up anon!

[taiey]

tma fanon:

basira: hey jon can you do this thing for me that explicitly involves using your spooky eye powers and that will therefore drain you and make you hungry. no you can’t eat someone’s trauma afterward. what do you mean you don’t have the exact information i need yet?

tma canon: she does not know that, and when she does know she does not do that.

Could she know the price? We have no statements about other Eye avatars, unless you count Gerry, who seems to know that hospital keycode freely. Statements from other avatars don’t mention ‘paying’ for using their abilities because they’re, uh, not running low, generally speaking. Elias is exactly as helpful as ever.

And, of course, John is deliberately concealing the true cost of his powers all through the first half of season 4.

He’s sort of still concealing that, in 146? He says, you know, I got blown up and stabbed and buried alive so then went out and tortured someone. …which are all physical injuries. For Jess Tyrell, we can guess from the matching 'two weeks’ that the trigger was him trying to Know of Peter Lukas’s plans in 139, but all John says now is “I just tried to – I was weak. R-Ravenous”. (possibly because “I hurt myself trying to learn things, and therefore hurt someone else” is … a very Eye thing, and a noticeable escalation from “I got hurt trying to save the world from the Stranger/Melanie from the Slaughter/Daisy from the Buried”.)

So she lacks background information on the subject. She also has very poor intuition when it comes to the Fears; real logic is more natural to her than their dream logic. Sometimes this serves her very well, like the Unknowing! Other times… well, “So I’m guessing it represents academic isolation or something?” in 195 is a funny example of her difficulties. But it’s all ultimately of a piece with how she reacts to John’s Eye powers in season 4. There’s a sort of lurching - she’s kinda freaked by his Knowing things early in the season (and the Eye says “sweet! just what i was going for!”) but over-corrects to “By this point, I just assume the Eyeball tells you” by 140. She doesn’t instinctively get that it’s only going to volunteer stuff like “your year eight PE teacher died of pancreatic cancer”. (and the Eye says “aw, i was hoping for more than 'I… wasn’t wondering?’”)

What she does know… she probably has the tape from 107, where John was in America compelling people for information on Gertrude’s movements and growing gradually weaker until he read one paper statement and was fine. She knew she brought him after he woke up from his coma just in case and he read that asap and seemed recovered; she didn’t know, for months, that he wasn’t. She knows that he forced Breekon out of the Archives and extracted a statement from him and that seemed… strenuous? But that, if he was telling the truth, he didn’t go and hurt any random strangers to heal from it.

That seems the obvious comparison for 148, now that I think of it. (in the sense of 'obvious’ where i have never thought of that before writing this, lolp) He didn’t tell her that it was trying to Know Lukas’s plans that hurt him; he did imply that extracting Breekon’s didn’t (like that); when she says “Any luck finding her?”, well, what’s she got to compare it to? He did say in 140 that “I deliberately tried to… Know something, like I did in the coffin, but there was too much, and, uh ���[…] It just hurt” but that’s framing it as the size of the request, not opposition, that hurt. A location is just one piece of information; that’d be 'small’, right?

John doesn’t say anything like “I’m just seeing what you’re seeing. Still a bit weak from my trip up north, to be honest.” and then, more specifically, “Doing that sort of thing consciously… makes me hungry.” until… 147 and 148.

She doesn’t sound like she takes it very seriously ...but she drops the question immediately. In 155 she’s the one looking for Trevor/Julia/Annabelle, not John. In 158 she asks for his normal human thoughts on various things, analysis of the information they have and not spooky Insights. [and yes those are the only further episodes with john and basira talking in s4 lol :|]

That one question in 148 is the first time she learns the price and the last time she asks him to use his powers.

Until season 5, when the price is, very evidently, already paid.

[bittersweetstargazer]

and all the heights that I could reach

fandom: trials of apollo

characters: Apollo, Meg, Will, Nico, Kayla, Austin, mentioned Cabin 7 members in the background

words: 1.2k, unbetaed

Meg was staring at me. Normally, this would be off-putting, but considering who was performing said task, I didn't think it was of much concern. I was more interested in talking to Cabin 7, my precious children who I hadn't seen or talked to in months. And they were worried for my too, bless their hearts.

I couldn't ever fool myself into believing that Meg had even the slightest amount of intrigue when faced with Austin's music playing abilities or Kayla's improvement in archery, but maybe the wonders of being paired with a (former) god had caught up to her.

Or she was just being obnoxious.

I couldn't say that I knew Meg very well (we had, after all, only met when I was mugged by some annoying mortals) but from what I had seen so far, staring seemed exactly like something she would do.

After a few long minutes of this cruel and unusual behavior, I simply could not ignore it any longer. It was bothering me more than it should have. I was a (former) god, after all, why would I be worried about mortals staring at me? Wouldn't it be a sign of my apparent ugliness radiant glory? I didn't think I'd want to know what Meg was thinking in that moment.

Unfortunately, or maybe it was fortunate, I was informed against my will.

(And didn't that remind me of my beautiful son, Will?)

"Hey, Lester." Meg said, although 'said' was simply a calmer version of 'butting in mid-conversation'.

"Yes, dear Meg?" I replied, not entirely upset or surprised to see a scowl form on her face.

"Don't call me that." She ordered. "Why'd you tell me that you trained Perry? Isn't-"

"Percy." I reminded her.

"Shut up." My mouth was (figuratively) glued shut. "Isn't this the place that teaches demigods to swing swords 'n stuff? Why is the other goddy guy here instead of you?"

I watched her expectantly, waiting for the moment she realized that I had to be quiet in response to her orders.

"Well?" She demanded.

"Er, Meg, he can't speak." Will spoke up, defending me against my captor (and isn't he such a sweetheart?).

"Shut up," She stuck her tongue out at Will, who huffed and continued eating his breakfast. Meg turned back to me.

"Talk." She ordered, and I had no choice but to speak. However, I would've spoken whether or not she had ordered me to be silent, so it was a win-win for me.

"Well, it was I who originally trained Chiron, a few thousand years back. I taught him-"

"Wait, wait, wait." Nico held his hand up. I raised an eyebrow as he continued speaking. "You taught Chiron? I figured he managed to learn all those skills himself or something."

"No, Nico di Angelo, I was Chiron's teacher. I taught him all the important skills a demigod should know. Archery, healing, and how to use swords and other blades that would come in handy in a fight. When I was certain he had learned all I could teach him, I led many mortal heroes to him so he could pass on the knowledge I lent him. Essentially, I started Camp Half-Blood." I told them.

My children + Nico and Meg looked stunned at this information.

"The more you know." Austin said, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Indeed, dear Austin! I was also first person to think of Satyrs finding Demigods. I knew that there'd be too many in the future and they'd find themselves in danger too often to be able to find their way to the Camp. So, I sent a group of satyrs and led them to Chiron. I was also the god who created the magical border that protects you mortals from the outside world." I informed them, seeing the beginning of smiles forming amongst my children, especially thr ones who were silently listening. Surprisingly, Will had a small frown on his face. It seemed almost impossible, as I was incredibly talented at telling stories! Maybe I should've put it in song? It would be a bit difficult as my godly abilities in song-writing have greatly decreased, but maybe-

"Well, shouldn't you be the patron God? Why does Zeus control Camp Half-Blood?" Will asked me. I raised my eyebrows, as I was not expecting this question. To this, I silently cursed Zeus for taking away my prophetic abilities.

"Well, dear Will, Dionysus' punishment certainly put a halt to things. I was already partially prevented from visiting Demigods due to Zeus' law-" I rolled my eyes at this. "- but Dionysus' presence at the camp meant I wasn't needed too often and couldn't spent as much time there as I used too. The final event was when Thalia sacrificed her life and was turned into a tree by Zeus. Since it was technically her, now, who protected the Camp, I had no more jurisdiction here anymore. Zeus was 100% in control." I finished.

The table was silent for a few seconds. I figured that they were holding back applause or sobs, but the apprehensive look on their faces baffled me. I mean, the story was perfectly clear, and Meg hadn't even interrupted me! Although, that might very been because she started gorging herself on food when I started talking. She stopped, however, and turned to me, food covering her mouth in a way that made me want to sanitize my face.

"Er, Meg, you have a little-" I gestured in the general direction of her face. "Yeah."

"I don't care." She declared. "Why did Zeus kick you out?" She squinted at him. "Maybe you deserved it."

"Names are very powerful, Meg. It would do you wise to remember that the next time you throw out a God's name casually." I warned her. "But, personally, I think it was his paranoia. I have very many domains, as you know, such as music, poetry, prophecy, the sun, youth, shepherds, cowards, healing, plagues, archery, and others. I was obviously a very powerful god, almost as powerful, if not more powerful, than Zeu- than my father." I took a sip of my drink. "After the time me and a few other gods attempted to overthrow him, he was extremely cautious of me. Unfortunately, these past few years I've lost a lot of power, and some of the gods have been weaker, as not many people worship us recently. It also kind of ties in to what happened with Gaea."

"Gaea?" Kayla asked, speaking up for the first time in a while. "How does this tie in with Gaea?"

"Octavian." I admitted, ashamed of what I had tried to do.

"That conniving son of a-"

"Language." I rebuked, looking at Will disapprovingly.

"What did you do with Octavian?"

"I figured if the Romans worshipped me more, I would gain more power. I've realized my mistake since then, but I do still think that turning me mortal was an unfair punishment, and that blaming me for Gaea rising was completely idiotic!"

Thunder rumbled in the background. I paled slightly, muttering an apology under my breath.

"I still try to help Demigods, but there's not much that I can do now." I shoveled food into my mouth, an excellent imitation of Meg, in order to avoid answering questions my children might ask of me.

Thankfully, they all exchanged glances and left me to my food, striking up a conversation within each other and avoiding the topic that clearly had many of them, if not all of them, riled up with righteous anger in my honor. I teared up slightly, the love for my children bubbling up my chest.

I wouldn't trade them for the world.

[sparkylilacs]

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Kid!

Chapter 3

The next morning I get ready for yet another new school. My record for shortest time spent at a new school was half a day. In the fifth grade I got a teacher to quit and was kicked out when I brought a spider's egg sack to class and it hatched all over his desk after he confiscated my pencil bag for coloring during lecture. Apparently he was a humongous arachnophobe. I didn't have any books for this school yet so I packed my backpack with only a notebook (for doodling), my personal project folder, and a sack lunch Paco handed out to all us kids as we left. The twins turned right at the corner and I followed Wanda and Hey to the left and presumably to the high school. Or not, sometimes other kids in group homes had led me off wrong roads then ditched me so I'd be late. Or just lost, with some of them it was hard to tell. I never actually got lost, though I was often late, I have an amazing sense of direction. In the hall kids were buzzing in every direction. 

My first room was English literature. I got there no problem since I'm used to commotion. The teacher started by saying the basic speech on how she hoped I would feel welcome and asked me what some of my hobbies were. "I like to free climb, and practice kickboxing," I say. Sure, I am interested in those things and could say what my real hobbies are, reading comics and researching random stuff on the internet, but I find introducing myself this way gives me more space. The teacher said my hobbies were interesting and asked me to sit down. When she told us to turn to page fifty in the textbook, I just sat there wondering how long it would take her to realize I hadn't been issued one yet. My record was three months.

It wasn't to be beat this time. The teacher remembered after a minute and brought one over to me. The rest of the morning classes went the same way, as expected. Lunch things seemed usual as well, but quickly went very wrong. When I entered the cafeteria people stared, I was used to this. But when a boy sauntered up to me and asked "Did they hit you with their canes?" I had no answer. My blank stare told him he needed to clarify and he said, "The old folks you knocked off with the roof tiles". Some kids near enough to hear gave him stop now gestures, but others were getting up. Closing in on me. My mind was spinning over what he meant. Somehow my injuring Mr. Tipton had been told and expanded in rumor fashion all over the school, but the only people who could have talked were the Garcia house kids. 

This was bad, one of the worst people to live with is a snooping gossip. I learned that fast at the group center when I first went into the system. What was worse was how close this boy was to me now. "Why else were you climbing on the roof, who do you think you are Spider-Man?". I gritted my teeth and tried to push past him, but he didn't budge and the others packed around tighter. So I used a classic swipe, not even really a kick. Just to unbalance him and hoping I'd topple the whole group like dominos. Unluckily for me he went forward instead of backward. Taking us both down instead. 

My head was still buzzing a bit from hitting the floor, but I still heard a kid say, "Look she does think she's Spider-Man!". Pushing the boy off me I saw I hadn't zipped my pack all the way and my personal project folder had spilled all over the cafeteria floor. Pictures from newspapers, articles, and maps dated by year of activity splayed out for all around to see. "Spider Girl is better," said another voice. Laughter echoed around me as I scooped up what I could and ran out of there. The buzzing in my head seemed to grow louder as I darted through the hall to the exit. Vaguely I heard Hey shout at me as I passed, but I paid no attention. In the school yard I climbed the fence swiftly, jumped down landing on my feet and immediately continued running. No real direction in mind, just trying to put as much distance between me and the school as possible. Before I had been teased, whispered about, and shoved around, but the Spider-Man file was my biggest secret. I hadn't even shown it to my brother. And now it was all over the new school. 

So I ran unconcerned about punishments for running out in the middle of a school day. I was crossing a street when the buzzing in my head stopped and I heard Hey behind me. But he wasn't as fast as I was. A truck was barreling towards him, without realizing I had changed direction I kicked off a passing car and grabbed Hey, using the momentum to pull him back to the sidewalk with me. He stared at me, eyes big still dazed with shock. "How'd you do that?" he asked. I shrugged, "I do parkour". Shaking his head he said, "Okay, but why did you leave school? Do you know how much trouble you'll be in? I overheard your caseworker talking about how close you are to juvie if you don't shape up,". All my nerves were still tingling but that sent my gut writhing. Ms. Wilt had warned me before for other infractions, yet nothing I had done really could send me to juvenile detention. Although if nobody else would take me in. If I was just too much trouble to be bothered with. It might be all that was left. Acting unconcerned I said, "If you didn't eavesdrop then I wouldn't have run,". Hey gave me a quizzical look then his eyes cleared. He said, "That's Wanda. A real gossip. I think it's how she survives from place to place. Only been here half a year and already she knows everything,". I grunted and started heading down the street. Still not sure I believed he was innocent. Denial was the second language of a confronted gossip.

"Where are you going now?" he asked.

 "Back," I reply.

"How do you know that's the right way? I am barely sure where we are now, and you were running faster,".

"I never get lost,", I shoot over my shoulder, not stopping for him to catch up.

[2sleepy4dis]

╰┈➤ ❝ Coffee Curious ❞

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° each era, each coffee... but warnings will only brings more curiosity to the heroes.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° The Chain & Modern!Link

┊ ➶ ｡˚ °Request: The scenario I had in mind was pretty much anything with a teenager Link from a modern era. Something like Modern calling his caffeinated drinks “energy potions” and not letting the others try it because he thinks it’ll kill them. (I’m mentioning this for fun, but I bet Modern Ganondorf would be really cool as a “giant teddy bear” type of guy and not understand why the other Links are refusing to be his friends)

»»-----------►

It all started when Wind asked if he can have a sip of caffeine at Modern who denied his request.

At first everyone thought it would make sense. Wind was still a child afterall and whatever Modern mix in it could do no good for him.

That's until the cook asked if he could learn the recipe of his fellow hero but he too was denied.

"It's harmful for you... Might kill you, even!" The teen warned which by time they all took for a joke until the he just looked at them deadpan.

And that's how most of their curiosity to the mysterious drink began.

One day, Modern forgot his thermos in the inn as he went to buy supply with Legend and Time. It was Warrior who saw it first while organizing their stuffs and brought attention to Sky and Twilight.

"So, who's gonna try it first?" asked the captain but Sky was quick to step back.

"Nope! Not without his permission!"

Twilight nodded and added "Not even a sip. He told us many times it's not good for us."

"Hey, the guys came back! It's time for—" Four, who went to notice them, halted in the hallway the moment his head turned at the trio who seemed to have been caught in the middle of the gossip but the moment he noticed the container on the desk he sighed. "You all should just totally drop it," he said.

"We didn't do anything," Warrior lifted his hands in sign of defense to which Four chuckled and shook his head.

Walking toward the table, he grabbed the thermos and walked out of the room. "C'mon, you three. It's time for dinner!"

Meanwhile, Modern was in panic not being able to find his thermos in the bag to the point he stuck his whole head into it.

"Think he can fit his whole body in it?" Hyrule whispered. The cook and the vet snickered at his words while it didn't went unheard from the teen.

Defeated, he slumped on the table.

Wind tried to cheer him up, maybe they can buy another of that called thermos while Wild suggested to use a bottle as alternative in the meanwhile.

Legend of the other hand hissed and bit his lip at the possibility that it might have got stolen. To which he refrained to tell it to not cause commotion.

When Four and the others came, his cheery mood contrasted the tension, soon desolved when he shook the container that reached Modern's ears and shot up with glossy eyes. He chugged the content of the bottle until satisfied then thanked the smith.

"You're lucky I got it in time. Some curious would have gotten their hands on it," he stated making his way to take a seat.

Modern looked at the trio who stood still. Warrior was the first to defend that they didn't even touched it then joined the others on the table.

A moment later Time came in with a group busy to talk about caffeine. Asking Modern from time to time too and the variety of it in his world.

"I'm sure there's a caffeine similar in this era? A normal coffee could be bearable and a start without those ingredients you mix in it," Wild suggested earning a nod from others.

Modern, adamant, shook his head "Seriously, I don't think what I have here is bearable enough like the ones you have."

Time isn't really a fan of coffee but he knowing himself, this topic will last long like a snow near a fire if they get a taste of it.

Time put a hand on the teen's shoulder "There's a saying that for rock-headed, experience is the teacher," he said. "If our cook here can eat rocks, what is a roasted bean gonna do to him?"

It took a while until then teen yielded. He stood up and went to the innkeeper, they then disappeared inside the kitchen and after some time Modern came back with two trays with cups for everyone and a teapot emitting vapor.

Modern took the canister of coffee in his bag and in front of them prepared the blend. A two tea spoon, mixed it then served it in a cup enough for someone to enjoy the drink.

The black drink's aroma hit their nose without even bringing it near. Some inspected the drink while some added sugar. Meanwhile, Modern prepared a cup for himself.

"I warned you," was the last word from the teen while the chain proceeded to satiate their curiosity.

The moment the chain tasted it... well... it was a one colorful reactions.

Wind was quick. He drunk and spitted with spite the coffee back in the cup. Atleast he managed to not make a mess...

Twilight and Sky slightly jumped on his spot and put down the cup and Warrior even coughed.

Time didn't have much reaction but his face wrinkled that it looked like he aged twice than he have.

Legend and Four took a one big drink, regretting their action. While the former let out a long raspy revolting sound after gulping, Four was stuck between throwing up or gulping it but luckily, or unfortunately, had enough sheer will to bring it down.

"This is fucking beyond bitter!! What the fuck is this???" Legend yelled. Tried to. His voice was too raspy to be able to talk...

Meanwhile Hyrule seems to the least affected. He just looked at the drink weirded at its taste. He was so weirded that he tested it again.

Just as much, Wild's body trembled like struck by a lightning... He inspected the drink... then chugged the remaining brew and smacked his lips. "What the fuck??" Legend again at the sight.

"Hm, I think we could use during nightshift," the cook stated. "It can keep someone awake."

Legend let out another nauseated sound at the idea.

"Or splash it at a hoard of monsters! That would knock even lynel! Does your tastebud still exist, buddy??"

"Perfectly fine! Actually, I can't deny the fact that I'm able to taste different flavors in a food!" Modern shrugged carefree, sending Legend again to curse... this time in various language.

While the others tried to recover in way they can, Time silently contemplated and stared at the black liquid.

Perhaps... that Modern's Ganondorf wasn't so bad... for he was right indeed... His words ringed in his mind:

"Please, look out for him and try to..." the man briefly paused to show him the canister of coffee "...moderate his caffeine consumption."

In this is something they can agree on.

»»———-　　———-«

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° tags: @hugsandchaos

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° lil note: owaaa, i written and re-written it lol. it's my first time writing a scenario... the draft is actually more longer lmao. so thanks for the request!

[the---hermit]

i’d love to know more about how you learn languages!

Hello anon! This is a great question, things have changed a lot ever since I started learning languages, so get ready for me to tell you about my language learning jouney even though you didn't ask for it.

I started to actually caring about learning languages in middle school, when I don't really know how I self studied English. Of couse we had classes, but I would lie if I told you I learned how to speak English fully from them. They were of course very useful to get a constant practice and to learn grammar rules, but the actually speaking and all happened with me starting to force myself in consuming English content. I started with copying the English lyrics and Italian translations of my favourite album (I still have those somewhere I think), and then I slowly got to more music, to youtube, to fanfiction, and then tv series and basically I learned English in this very chaotic way, but hey it worked, and very well. Especially because English is the foreign language I am the most comfortable with to this day.

After middle school came the time for me to pick my high school, and since my last year and a half-ish of middle school had been so focused on self-studying English I picked languages, although my teachers told me not to. (My maths teacher really wanted me to go to a scientific high school, so one more focused on maths, and my English teacher told me that it would have been better to wait until uni to study languages because after five years of high school I would lose my interest. Spoiler: I did. My ubris failed me and my belif that my love for languages would last died quicker than expected). In my high school I studied English, French and German. I had already studied French in middle school and despised its grammar so it was a nightmare to continue until we stopped with the grammar lessons and started with litterature. I fell in love with French litterature, it was amazing, and my French got so much better thanks to it. With German things were very complicated because in five years I change three teachers and some of them were questionable. Again when we got to litterature it was a bit better for me, but not so much. So I can say I am one of those people who learns languages much better when I actually experiece them through reading and more practical things than through lessons and lessons of grammar to memorize, because guess what my memory sucks. As I said my love for languages decline during my high school years, because my path there was disastrous in all senses, so for a while after that learning languages to me was just a reminder of how awful some of my high school years were, and I only used English online and to consume content but nothing more.

And then fast forward to December 2021 when for some reason I downloaded Duolingo. My initial idea was to get back into French and German (which is still something I want to do, especially with French because I forgot almost everything about German). Then I had the genius idea to check the languages available and I saw Irish and something in me clicked. I got back the interest and enthusism of learning a language I knew nothing about and that I had zero connections with from a language point of view (like when I first started to learn English). It became a little challenge for me to keep my brain active and I never stopped. I actually recently got a proper grammar book for Irish so that I can learn it a bit more precisely, but duolingo is a great starting point because of the way it is stuctured (I did prefer it before the last update, but it still works, at least for the way my brain works). I do this in my free time, but I'd like to get a bit of Irish grammar learning in my weekly routine to be more consistent with it. I memorize things with writing so I have a notebook in which I write down the grammar rules and stuff. My goal is to get to a base point of knowledge in which I will be able to access things like children's books. I think it's a very simple but effective way of learning a language, to progress with the litterature written for kids, because at the end of the day both you and the kids are slowly learning how the language works. Then hopefully I'll be able to read on to more written things, as well as access spoken content to train my listening.

As I said I would like to make language learning a more consistent thing in my routine but I am not there yet. Anyway this is a small version of my language learning journey. I would recommend firstly figuring out what kind of learner you are, there's people with great memory that learn very well with a grammar book only, whereas I am more logical than memory based so I need actual application of the rules to learn. This is why duolingo works so well for me at the moment because I firstly learn a bit about how things work, then I study the grammar rule on my own, and then I get back and practice it. As mentioned my top ways of learning have been related to entertainment, so reading, listening to music, watching movies and videos, and writing. As long as you make it fun for yourself your motivation will stay high, and usually contexts of a tv show or other media help with learning. As I said to think of yourself as a kid learning their mother tongue is a great way to focus your attention to tools that you are actually able to understand and learn from, without losing hope because you expect yourself to understand what an adult speaker of your target language understands.

So here you go an unnecessarily long answer to a pretty simple question, I hope it was at learst interesting, or helpful in some ways.

[heresiae]

my dad would have be so pleased of me joining a medieval reenactment company, because the middle ages were his favorite period.

in fact, our last fight was about middle ages. I was 14 and in the second year of high school (Italy, we have 5yrs of elementary, 3yrs of middle school and then 5yrs of high school, but the HS have specific area of interests, they're not all the same).

so, it was that point of the school year were we were talking about the middle ages. my book was describing it, as usual, as a dark era. an unhappy and uncivilized age and me, being the teacher's pet my mom always wanted me to be, I learned it dutifully from the book and I was telling my dad about it.

unfortunately, my dad had not been in a good place for years and he had undiagnosed autism, like me. so, after the third time he told no, it is not true and me, in my own autism kept telling him, yes, it is, he called me a bitch and that was the last time we ever fight and discussed about anything non superficial.

now, I have always been like that. I was in first grade (elementary school) and my mom wanted to correct my homework, I refused, because she was not the teacher! what did she know about that stuff! and she let me take the hit. as you can see from this story, I didn't remember the lesson xD

but, also, dad never actually shared his interests with me. yes, he taught me DIY, using all sort of tools and we played with the little chemist playset, etc, but he never share his readings, talking about them, etc. and it's not like sister and I never shown interest for history: we were both huge Ancient Egypt fans, I loved dinosaurs too and I took interest in Greek mythology during middle school, so, it'sc he could pop up any time and say: hey, you know what other historical period was cool? and I would listen because he was my dad and I adored him. and then we put distance between us ant the rest is history.

he truly was a very huge middle age nerd. half of his library is about the middle ages, he knew everything. I could have double checked everything my mates say about the XIII century and I would have receive an entire lecture about it. and since I also have ADHD, it would have been amazing (although, my frequent memory losses would have probably make him think that I was a bit stupid).

but he decided to ignore his health so much he didn't even know his family doctor retired 3yrs before and he was registered under a female doctor.

so, yeah. go to your fucking doctor or when I die, I will return as a ghost and I will haunt the shit out of every parent that doesn't check their health after their fifties.

you're warned.

[thevictoriousone]

This teacher is great, and I fully agree with what she’s talking about.

The frustrating thing is, as she says, that we have lost any focus on the joy of reading and of trying to reach students where they’re at.

There is so much focus on reading “important” literature. And even if it’s important, even if you think the Canon is excellent and great and wonderful and everyone should learn it, there’s a foundation of loving reading and finding value in it that has to happen before anyone can get to that point.

And the way you get kids to read for pleasure is you actively teach them to find pleasure in reading. You work with them tirelessly to find stories they enjoy. You work with them to find various *ways* for them to enjoy those stories.

I have an 8 year old who has only just taken to reading in the last year and a half. She struggled with it for ages, and her dad and I could just tell it wasn’t a true struggle (not some kind of neurodivergence that might need extra help or structure), it was a struggle of interest and self-doubt. She wasn’t interested in reading, she didn’t see the value, and she also didn’t feel confident in herself when she tried and would self-sabotage a lot.

And so in addition to her dad and I working hard to find books - fiction and nonfiction - for her to engage with on a variety of levels and in a variety of situations (being read to, reading excerpts, learning about something she’s already interested in through reading, etc.), I also did a thing that I think made a bigger difference than I ever expected.

She has a iPad which she often uses to watch videos or chat with her cousins or whatever. At 8 PM, the tablet’s screen time locks her out of all her apps EXCEPT book-related apps. She has the Libby app and CloudLibrary, both connected to her library card. She can check out whatever and as many ebooks and audiobooks as she wants. I introduced her to a few by showing her the audiobooks of the Encyclopedia Brown books we were reading together each night. She checked those out and started listening to them each evening to go to bed and each morning before her screen time started up again.

Then she started searching through the app and finding more books. She loves Minecraft, and she found some Minecraft books she really enjoyed. She excitedly told me a few months ago about this new series she discovered called Junie B Jones, and she still absolutely loves listening to those books and tells me about them all the time.

And as a result of our efforts to reach her *in addition to* her discovering a love of stories, her reading skills have absolutely skyrocketed in the last year or so. And it’s 100% down to her suddenly developing an interest in reading and a love for it. It’s down to her finding the stories that matter to her and finding out that hey, maybe this can be fun, maybe this can be more than drudgery and frustration. Maybe I can do it. Maybe I *want* to do it.

It seems to me that so many children don’t ever get that opportunity. My kiddo is homeschooled (we are just, like, able to do that and wanted to, it’s not for religious or “oh god the school system” reasons, fyi). My partner is her teacher, and I work largely from home, so we are both with her all the time and are fully responsible for her education. This means we have both the time and ability to really work with her personally on stuff like this.

We are also both readers ourselves - I have a BA in English lit, an MA in teaching, have worked for my local bookstore for years, and also work for a university press…books are my whole life and career, basically, and I love them with all my heart.

When my kiddo refused to show an interest in reading, I took up the mantle of reading to her every single night. We already had done a lot of reading together when she was small, but various life stresses meant I’d fallen off on that for a bit. So we restarted with renewed vigor, and as I moved her into chapter books and away from picture books, I picked the brains of my bookseller and teacher friends for the best books to try with her. I always gave her the option of vetoing a book after a few chapters. I fully believe in putting down a book if you’re not enjoying it (provided there’s no external reason you HAVE to read it), and the goal was to find something she liked. And eventually, we did. It wasn’t like flipping a switch, but gradually we stumbled upon a few books or series that she liked and was eager to continue reading. She started coming to me to ask if we’d be reading tonight. She started asking for just one more chapter. She started groaning when I’d close the book and say that was all for the night.

And now I have a reader. She still primarily engages with audiobooks on her own, but that’s fine by me. I’ve noticed recently that she’s started checking out the ebook too so she can read along with the audiobook.

It also matters here that I have ADHD, which was not diagnosed until I was 30. I fully suspect that my kiddo also has ADHD, so audiobooks are a brilliant way for her to engage with stories while still being able to move and play and fidget (all of which she does while I read to her as well). She does like to sit and engage with her school texts, and she LOVES learning in general, and I have full confidence that she’ll continue to grow in reading and literacy and become a strong reader, so long as we continue to actively foster that love of reading.

And like. This is a long and rambly post but all this is to say that the basis for strong readers who can read shit they find boring later in life is that they have to start with stuff they love. They have to find joy and value in stories or written information for themselves. It can’t be forced, it can’t be demanded. If they don’t find joy in reading, they will never find value in it either. And who would agree to force themselves through misery for no joy and no value?

One of my students when I taught high school English did not like to read. She said she just got so bored and couldn’t finish a book. I asked her what kind of shows or movies she enjoyed. She liked mysteries and drama. I handed her a YA James Patterson book I had in my classroom library and said. Try this one. To be clear, it was a book I’d read in my 20’s and hated. It’s not particularly well-written or anything, and it was not to my own taste at all. But I suspected that the book might appeal to her tastes, and I also knew that the easier reading level might make it easier for her to focus on the story rather than having to work for comprehension, which was the goal. I wanted her to enjoy the book enough to want to finish it.

And she came back a few weeks later to tell me that this was the first book she’d finished in years. She loved it. I was delighted to tell her the book was a series, and I encouraged her to ask our librarian about the rest of them. I left the school soon after that (teaching was not for me), but I hope with all my heart that I made a small difference for that girl and that she knows now that she can enjoy reading, that there are books out there for her.

Find the joy, y’all. Find the joy and the love and the entertainment in reading. Help the kids in your life find that joy too, because THAT is what makes readers. We can try Shakespeare later, but you MUST build that foundation of love and interest first or they’ll never see Shakespeare as more than a chore, another book to hate.

"it's concerning if university students are genuinely struggling to read full adult-level books for class" and "don't overstate the reporting of a single news article" and "if this shift is genuinely real, it's reflective of broad curriculum changes in lower education levels, probably at least in part due to remote schooling during COVID, and doesn't mean the new generation is being willfully Stupid and Vapid" and "when reading for personal pleasure people should read whatever they like without shame" and "reading from a broad variety of genres, styles, and authorial backgrounds will improve your understanding of both literature and the real world" and "actively mocking people for their tastes in books does not encourage them to become more adventurous you're just being mean" and also "but seriously adult books are not just boringly pretentious nothingburgers padded with pointless sex scenes, and claiming they are just shows how little you've read" all can and should co-exist.

[onmymasa22]

Important notice

I have officially converted.

I have been a member of the church of tasters choice for the past few years. And i have realized the error of my ways. And when Jacobs found me, I was confused and alone. I was told to just buy the green bottle and all my tasters choice past would be forgiven. I hope that you, too, know, if u are ever at your lowest, jacobs will save you, with a coffee that smells more like coffee.

Can we just take a second. Why is there not a stand up bit on donald trumps fifty names? Could his parents not decide?

So im a girl who would much rather be called funny than pretty. Funny takes work, funny risks things. I will make a total and utter fool of myself to get whoever to laugh. I will

Unless im with u, i dont need to be called pretty. Favorite compliments: i love and cant get enough of for a boost: wow, ur really funny. And "hey, i remember u, u were the nicest one there"

Unless im with u, there

U know what compliments girls cant get enough of?

Being acknowledged for how smart we are.

Yes, im a ditz sometimes, especially if theres something funny there, but someone acknowledging that im smart is a surefire way to become my favorite.

When people remember you for being nice. My grandmother told me since i was about 5, U r pretty. Its a fact. Ur never gonna have to worry about boys liking u. U just need to work on ur insided. Work on being nice. Its more important to be nice than right i was told. Make sure ur inside is a nice place to be. And i constantly work on being nice, being a good person, loving myself and spreading that to loving others. Its not easy when ur trying to find the balance between having debilitating social anxiety where talking outloud is not something easy, and having a

One time i was at a party and something funny happened spur of the moment, and i made

Oh how i love getting to be a fourth year art student who can say- this is my screw it era. Screw it, i want to make the art art that i want to make, screw it, screw u, screw it all. You get one shot at living the dream of going to art school. Plenty of ppl can think "what if i studied what i really wanted instead of whatever majes money" and u know what? The bachelors of fine arts i will have in july is really a culmination of taking 4 years to learn about myself. To stydy the way i think about things. To be better at comunicating my ideas proficiently and eloquently.

These 4 years, while also being hard, having days that i cried at the end or in the middle of it, days that i yelled, days that i wanted to slam all the doors that exist in the world. They were also days of dancing, days of long hugs, days of music playing while we sat in the sun drawing trees with charcoal. Days we joked, days we told stories. Days we had real honest to gd conversations, infront of everyone, or privately. Our class wasnt like any other class that shared the building with us. I can say that in college, i went to school with 15 of my best friends. We were all best friends. We all started the day giving hugs. We all ended the week on a tuesday of Wednesday saying good shabbos. We shared dinners and cake and breakfast. We helped eachother out, with thought processes, building stuff, or watching everyone's kids. We saw our friends have babies. We danced at weddings. We held eachother during breakdowns or panic attacks. From coffee dates, to pizza, ice cream, trips to the kotel, gan Sacher, museums, trains, buses, cars, galleries, homes, grocery stores, holidays. Taken test together. We have all given pieces of ourselves to eachother. What an honor. When they tell us that we had a good class, thats really what it is, we had a really good class.

U know what i love about going to a religious college? That when i whatsapp my favorite teacher that I'll be showing up 2 weeks late because of flight cancelations, the first thing she says is "r u by rabbeinu?"

U want for life to be dofferent and u hate ur life. But ur ok. U will do what u want to do. Go buy the chiffon u want. Make the shawl u want. Be the girl you want. Do what you want. Be as much you as u can. This was a bad trip. Ok. Some r good. Some r bad. It happens. Now in a week u get to get up. Amd just be u. Ull paint a scarf in greece on the beach. Before u know it, ull b having a blast in israel.

Whst do u do wjen u have been using the excuse of "sorry, im not in the country right now" to get out of seeing ppl u dint want to see, when u go back to real life? Can someone give a

New motto: I can't, I have plans tonight.

When ur writing a paper on jewish history and art and u have so many gaps is ur geography and history knowledge. Like all of navi has no sequence in my brain. All i know is that we were in the desert 40 years and a bunch of years later, we were in exile.

When you are trying to figure out jewish history cuz the last time they actually tried to teach u navi was fourth grade and u were probably doodling, so theres a huge gap, where ur like "why did we want a king" and "where did we all go" amd "why were we so divided"

After leaving egypt, we were in the desert for 40 years. Yehoshua led bnei yisrael to canaan, conquered and divided it. After yehoshua dies, we have judges as leaders because we were struggling after yehoshua died. We kept getting conquered by surrounding nations during these times. The judges included otniel- the king of kush messopotamia conquered us for 8 years. we defeated the 8 year oppression of kush, then we had 40 years of peace. Then ehud- we defeated moav oppression.

The jews were tired of the cycles of judges and wanted a king like the other nations

and kings. Shaul. Then dovid. Then shlomo, we got forst beis hamikdash.

I feel like anxiety is when ur taking too much control. Or the affects of anxiety. Ur taking more control.

Im sitting here crying because as a fourth year art student, my mom wants me to stamp with an onion. Im so hurt and frustrated. Im an artist. Im not going to stamp with an onion.

Im going to buy the silk. And ill paint it in greece because i want to. I like the texture of it. I see something in it that others might not see. And thats it.

U know what. Maybe its not what she wants. But this is what i want. We did that assignment already and i didnt like it the first time.

[gameofsevens]

hey cowboy! for the ask game, I have a lot: 13, 16, 24, 46, 57 and 74

Howdy!

13. what’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

I don't know if this is a tip I saw or a rule I came up with myself, but I try not to start a sentence with the same word twice in a row. That usually applies unless I'm making a stylistic choice to repeat. One that I do know is a tip I saw once was how to tell when to start a new paragraph. I do think I'm a little too excitable when it comes to starting a new paragraph, but I think reading on my phone makes paragraphs look longer than they actually are.

16. already answered

24. Worst writing advice anyone ever gave you?

I remember it clearly: sophomore year, accelerated English II. We were learning about passive and active sentences, and the teacher told us that in both creative and professional writing, you should aim to mostly use active sentences to keep your reader engaged. I then wrote a report that included a fair amount of passive sentences, and when he called me up to ask about it, he said he highlighted all the passive sentences--spoiler alert, he missed more than half of them because, like I'll say next, they didn't matter. He said I should've written those sentences he highlighted in active form, and I said "but I don't care about those sentences--they don't matter in keeping the reader engaged" because in my mind, they're transition sentences that are only there because of necessity. If you only have active sentences, it can become too much or bog down the entire piece of writing because nothing sticks out. If I want to build tension of scare the reader, I'll start by writing passively and build up to only active sentences, or if something's boring or depressing, I'll use passive sentences to portray something dull and monotonous. I still follow my own advice (and ignore his) to this day.

46. How would you describe your style?(Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

Hm, this is a hard one. I guess I would say my style aims for the reader to be able to visualize it exactly as I do in my head: I try to paint it as a picture or a movie, one that you can see every expression or twitch of the muscle, can feel the environment around you, or hear the swell or decrescendo of music as the scene moves on. So depending on what I'm writing, it changes between character, emotion, or action-driven.

57. Do you prefer editing as you write, or waiting until it’s finished? 

Usually, I wait until after I'm finished so I don't get distracted. However, with the recent big bang event, I was editing as I went, which cut it very close to posting time lol

74. You’ve posted a fic anonymously. How would someone be able to guess that you’d written it?

This is also a bit of a hard one, but I think there's two things. The first is "lore"—I tend to over-explain, if you couldn't tell by my lengthy answers, so I'll always stick in some explanation for characters' reasonings and actions. This is also because I don't like characters being two-dimensional, so I want to give a history for the 'why'. Another would be symbolism. I like to have a deeper meaning and purpose for objects, actions, or dialogue, and for my longer works (like Monster Party was going to build to), have stuff that will make things click in the reader's brain. I'm also a slut for Chekov's gun, so I like to sprinkle that in there when I can, but that's almost solely for longer works, like mp or some original works