#but also because of all that i'll probably need to take couple more commissions

[kawamamilosc]

it's only january but already so many stressful things happened that i'm already so mentally drained i really don't know how i'll survive the rest of this year.

there were a lot more things that happened which are private and related to my family and i won't talk about it here. other stuff is that i actually had to take couple of days off work because mentally i just couldn't handle it but unfortunately i won't get paid for those days (which just adds to my stress), right now i'm waiting for a call so i can pick up jojo (my cat) after his surgery and also today our shower broke and if we're lucky they will fix it tomorrow

: (

[billythesimp]

His Starlight

⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎...

I was requested for write more Billy headcanons with a fem!s/o so here's some short snippets. So thank you for the request! I'll be opening requests after I finish another piece so letting you all know ahead.

𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡...⋙

tagging: None

tw: none

⋈ Billy makes some strange decisions at time, either cuz he’s trying to be cheap in order to save more, or he’s just not thinking straight and makes an impromptu purchase. As his s/o, you’re able to reel him in and help him make smarter decisions that’ll leave him so grateful that you care as much to aid him. Of course, this doesn’t count when he decides to splurge on you, because his girlfriend deserves only the best.

⋈ The girls in the Cunning Hares have at least met you a couple times before, after all they do care for Billy so only want to know who his new girlfriend is. That being said, Nicole is probably the one who can see the benefits of keeping you around, only to drop them once she sees just how much you adore their android friend that they’ve started noticing changes in him that are for the better. He still is goofy and oftentimes causing a ruckus with the others, but he’s become more thoughtful and acknowledges when things are going wrong or when they need to make a decisive decision in their work or expenses. Nicole doesn’t mind having you come around often, as long as you don’t become another mouth to feed. 

⋈ Best part of having such a cute girlfriend is being able to binge watch movies together and go out on dates. His favorites being the ones where they explore Lumina Square and stop to take photos. Of course, he loves doing the iconic poses from his favorite shows and movies, impersonating the actors to the point that it embarrasses you but he does it in a loving matter. But he also loves taking photos of you, drinking coffee at the Tin man’s shop, fawning over the shop bangboos, or even experimenting with the makeup in the salon there. He has a whole file saved of his favorite moments from your dates. 

⋈ Of course, dating Billy has its cons. For one he is usually cold to the touch because he’s made of metal and need to have his joints lubricated. But no worries, he does his best to maintain himself and makes subtle changes that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. Like buying a heating module to help increase his body heat, though the dealer he bought it from was kinda sketchy and now he overheats too quickly just from seeing your cute face. And when it comes to lubrates, he gets only the finest of lubes to help him move to the best of his ability. A little too well as you’ll have him turning head at record speed when you call him. Maybe even trip over his own feet trying to catch up to you. 

⋈ Billy can be a fool but he’s your fool. He loves and cherishes every day he gets to spend with you; And whenever he’s in a pinch, down in the hollows completing the hardest of commissions all for the sake of getting by with the Cunning Hares, he can only think of how you’ll be waiting for him on the outside. Ready to give him the biggest hug and rewatch Oh~ Sweetie where now he no longer finds joy in admiring the main actress as you shine brighter than any other starlight knight.

[writingquestionsanswered]

Every writing tip tells you to read a lot to write a lot, but I have been having a hard time reading after I started writing. Everything seems so predictable, you start a book and notice a hero's journey and boom you know exactly what the story is going to be, or after you learn how to foreshadow you get all the little references and know exactly what the thing is leading to. It just feels boring. Do you know any way to overcome this?

Trouble Reading After Writing

Honestly, that really is the one big drawback to being both a reader and a writer. Once you have a grasp on how to tell a story, flaws in others' stories are more apparent to you. And that's what's happening, unfortunately... if the hero's journey is that obvious, even to another writer, that's a flaw in the storytelling. If the foreshadowing references are that obvious to you, that's a flaw in the storytelling. Because top quality writing should generally pass muster even to other writers. And I say "generally" because it's all subjective anyway, so what seemed predictable to you may still not be predictable to another writer.

So, where you're at is where a lot of more experienced writers find themselves... the books you're going to enjoy will have to clear a higher bar, and sometimes it can take some time to find authors who meet your personal criteria... but you will. You may want to take advantage of e-book deals, library books, ARCs, and samples for a little while as you try to find books and authors that work for you. Because I'd say probably the number one key to this stage in your writing/reading relationship is to not be afraid to DNF. I used to really struggle with DNF-ing, so I would force myself to read the book and end up reading like a page a day if I was lucky. My personal rule is I give a book 3-5 chapters. If I absolutely hate it by the end of chapter three or so and it shows no promise or merit, I'll happily DNF. If it shows some promise or merit, I'll give it a couple more chapters to see how it goes. If I'm not invested enough to keep reading of my own volition, I'll DNF then.

But... keep at it, because you will find writers and books that work for you. Also: if you've read enough that you're to that point--where you understand storytelling so well that you can spot the flaws in others' stories--you're probably past the point where you need to be reading voraciously. Because the whole point of reading voraciously as a less experienced writer is to learn how stories work through firsthand experience. So, don't feel like you have to be inhaling books if you're past that point. Read what you want, when you want. A lot of writers don't read a lot while they're writing.

I hope that helps!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTA for calling out my friend's spending habits?

✈💸 to find later

I (NB 20s) have been struggling to find employment for a long time. I've been struggling a lot with money- I'm technically indebted to my bank due to an overdraft I dipped into during my last weeks of university while paying off surprise fees, and in the entire year since have been unsuccessful in paying it off for any meaningful length of time. The stress has been immense and I've been avoiding like the plague any kind of personal purchase or leisure activity that might cost me anything. It's a mindset that's been making me profoundly miserable and that I'll probably struggle to get out of for a long time.

However, in the past few weeks, I've managed to land what I can only describe as my dream job. It doesn't start for another couple months, and the pay won't be fantastic (it's an internship), but without a doubt it will change my life. Desperate to do something nice and give myself a break, members of my family agreed to lend me money via plane tickets to do a nice trip this summer and see my best friends abroad, my last big hurrah before entering the full-time workforce for the rest of my life (and being able to pay them back). And I've been really excited! I've been saving even harder than usual, scraping up cash and politely asking grandparents. It won't be easy to support myself in another country in my financial situation, I understand that, but I'm at a point where I think I can do it for a short time and not be a burden on the people who are hosting me.

However, the only issue comes with my friend (NB 20s). I've known them for years, we're extremely close, and we've been waiting for a chance to see each other again for most of that time not knowing if it would ever happen due to my financial situation, so this is the opportunity of a lifetime. They really want to host me, for at least 2 weeks, and do all these nice things together we've been planning. But in the past month or so they've all but drained hundreds of dollars from their bank account in art commissions and room decorations for themself, all of which they've been excitedly showing off to me and our other friends, all the while running out of money entirely. They can't pick up work from their (seasonal) job anymore, either, so there's no way for them to earn back the money now, and recently they've started having to push their commissions just to cover their student loan payment this month. In ordinary circumstances I wouldn't mind and would try and help them out, but I won't be in any financial position on the trip to cover their bills as well as my own (at least not regularly), and I feel like this would have been so preventable if they'd just... picked less wildly expensive things to buy as a treat, knowing the circumstances.

They've said they're also stressed and need to buy themselves nice things sometimes, which I totally agree with! I'm not that much of a party pooper, they are in a rough situation themself right now and the stuff they bought does make them genuinely happy. But it also sucks to watch them then have to struggle to pay for bills and necessities because of it, and I feel really selfish for thinking of it in the framework of our time together later as well. I've done my absolute best to be able to spend at least a few weeks having a great time with them not worrying and pinching pennies while taking care of myself, but now I'm worried we're just going to spend the trip with both of us stressed out of our minds and stuck at home struggling to pay for gas. I'm an anxious person, and the few times I've tried to bring up my worries in a more gentle way, they've vehemently reassured me everything will be fine, but now I'm leaving in just over a week and everything seems like it's getting worse instead of improving.

I know I should be just glad to spend time in their company, even if it is just at home, but I can't stop feeling like the way they've been spending money in the leadup to this has been really irresponsible and preventable. But even if so, it made them happy in the moment so i should be happy for them too, and surely it's just straight up none of my business? It's also not like they can take it back now- it's already happened, and they can't earn the money back if they wanted to. I feel like if i called them on it at this point it'd just be a dick move and come across pointless and jealous, but I also can't help but think it's unproductive to let this gnaw at me the entire time, like I should really be communicating this kind of upset and talk it out first in case it comes to a head and boils over and ruins our whole time together.

I'm aware I'll be long into the trip by the time this posts but it'd be nice to look back and see other perspectives.

[heymrspatel]

ART TAG

thanks for tagging me @deathclassic @kiennilove @suzy-queued @doshiart and @sgtmickeyslaughter 🥰💙

Have you always been interested in creating art? i have, yea! i've been drawing for as long as i can remember!

What's your favourite medium to use? If digital, what programs do you like? right now i would say digital since it's what i use the most nowadays. i use procreate on an ipad that is about to give out on me (and i really really need it to NOT do that).

Do you create outside of fandom? yea, i make silly little sketches for myself almost daily. just to stay sane while i work a corporate 9-5. those will never see the light of day.

Share something you haven't finished and/or never got around to posting this is like 90% done... but i never posted it because i didn't feel good with it at the time lol like something was off and i felt like i would have to undo too much to get it where i wanted it to be... (does this make sense?)

Favourite piece you've made? this is hard! i feel like it changes all the time? i'm going to go with this one because i really like how the background turned out and because i'm a soft bitch

Draw your icon in a minute or less hehe his cheeks

An underrated piece you've made in your opinion 'baby boy' idk i think it's really soft and lovely

but also, a lot of the kinktober pieces… i’ve been so so so very proud of them because they’re so vulnerable and i think i did a nice job with some of them, but they don’t quite take off 😅

Do you do art in a professional setting? i do not. my work is the furthest thing i could get from being creative.

A piece you don't like but did really well on social media uuuhhh i think i'll skip this one! simply because i could pick apart probably everything i've ever posted lol!

Post an old piece and compare it to your most recent, what are the similarites? i'm not going to do my most recent because it's kinktober and i also went for a pretty different style... SO! i'll do the first comic style one i did and the latest one!

the color palette is still the same, they're still very soft and gone for each other, i really love a gentle face hold!

Have you ever collaborated with another artist/s? i don't think i have? but i've collaborated with a couple of writers to make some pieces for their fics!

What piece has the most notes? Are you surprised? roadtrip boys! i'm not really surprised, not for nothing but i did my thing here. there's lots of details, storytelling, dreamy colors. i get it.

Who/What is your favourite subject matter? tbh it's landscapes or mundane still lifes...lol!! "julissa, not bowls of fruit!", everyone cried! you'd be correct. not that. but everyday kind of humdrum but meaningful pieces. atmospheric. yanking you back to a point in time. - i did a drawing of my grandma's vanity once. with her lipsticks and little lotions and stuff. like that.

Show us something not from fandom you've made here go:

Where do you like to create? on my couch. absolutely hunched over like a shrimp.

Do you have a tag that you use to group your creations? Tell us so people can follow it i do! i put everything under myart

Give yourself a shoutout, where can we commission/buy/follow you for more pieces? i don't do commissions or have anything for sale and i also don't exist anywhere else lamdsflj i'm just here and i crosspost on ao3 💙

i'll tag @deedala @michellemisfit @gallapiech @lingy910y @vintagelacerosette @gallawitchxx @spookygingerr @romidoes if you'd like to play! if not, this is just me giving you a little nose boop!

[laurence-does-art]

While I have you here...

Hello! And fear not, for I am just a little guy trying to draw and not go insane in the current world climate.

No, but seriously, it's nice to meet you.

My name is Laurence, and pretty obviously, I do art!

I figured my Meet the Artist from this year would be a good way to introduce myself and what I do, but that's only a small snippet of stuff really. So, here is some fun info-

My name is Laurence, but I also go by:

- Lu

- Laur

- LDA

- L. (how I sign off my fanfics now)

Any of those - though I'm often just called Laurence - but I'm always open to new nicknames! (as long as they're appropriate)

I have one (1) dog, her name is Emery

I'm turning 22 on December 22nd

My pronouns are They/He

I have ADHD

I draw and write fanfiction most of the time, though you'll see me bounce between the two quite often because the ADHD beings demand my attention be split at all times

I'm in a couple of RP groups, so if you find my DeviantArt that's most what's going to be posted there (I'll also post some here but not often)

I am mainly a human artist but I've been dragged into cat hell, and thus, have also been learning to draw more feral and anthro characters as well!

My commissions are also open! If you're interested go ahead and shoot me a message here or on another platform!

I mainly choose to depict myself as a being with purple hair, pointy ears, and blue and yellow eyes! Though I also am partial to using my fursona, which is a bilby!

(If you draw me, I prefer you use the above and not how I actually look/drew my IRL self as <33)

I am an adult, which means sometimes, I may draw adult content. I DO NOT want minors to interact with that content. All pieces that need avoided will be marked with 18+ or SUGGESTIVE CONTENT. If I am made aware that you are a minor and you are interacting with content of mine of the more spicy variety, then I'm sorry but I will be taking precautions.

Aside from that, I'm pretty chill usually, so, lets just chill together.

Grab your notebooks, sketchbooks, a drink and a snack, and settle on down!

Here's a list of my current projects:

in no particular order

Praise, Devotion, and Worship (fanfiction)

Maelstrom (comic)

Necrophobia (comic)(put on hold)

A Demon's Guide for Surviving School (comic)

Tenants of Apartment 213 (story/comic)

The Aftermath (fanfiction)

Sector 2 (story)

Alright, I think that's enough out of me for now.

I'll probably be posting some things that I've worked on over the past year throughout the night, so stay tuned! Thank you all! Bye!

-LDA, 2024

[thejockout]

Hey, all; little heads up on some possible changes to my Patreon tiers.

TL;DR: Following an unexpected increase in my file output, I am considering releasing more files per month and adding additional tiers users can pay to access these bonus files. My current provision of two files a month for $5 will not change, but you will now be optionally able to pay more for more content. That's basically all I'm saying here, but you can continue reading for the context if you'd like it.

Hey everyone. Just want to post to mention something that may be happening in the next couple of weeks... but I want to clarify something first.

I originally started this recent Patreon push with the intent of giving 2 monthly releases (one a fortnight), and my current tiers are priced according to that rate. Pending any kind of changes Patreon makes on the back end, I always want to keep my base entry tier at roughly 5 dollars/2 files a month... for as long as it is reasonable for me to keep that rate, like for example unless Patreon start to take a big chunk out of it or something. Theeen maybe I'd increase it by a dollar or two.

However, if I should happen to produce more files I want to release per month, I will probably make higher priced tiers to justify the increased time spend and output. Meaning that 5 dollars would no longer get you "all content", but my staple 2 files per month.

I got this idea from conversations with several other Patreon tists over the last few weeks... While I have been in the shoes of a subject who doesn't want to have to pay lots of money per month just to keep up with regular releases, Jockout (Patreon and commissions) is also my sole income source right now. It is, effectively, my job. So if I suddenly hit this ambitious goal of doubling my old output, I think it's reasonable that I would make more tiers charging more for access to this bonus content.

There would be no pressure on current subscribers to pay more if they don't want to - as a discerning customer, it would be up to you to decide if and when you're able to afford it, like maybe waiting to see if one of these bonus files is up your alley before paying for an upgrade. I don't plan to sabotage my two staple monthly releases by putting out garbage, it's all going to get the same amount of time and quality. But, as I'm starting to take this more seriously and treat it as a bit more of a business than something I want to put time into idly when the mood strikes, I need to treat it like one on the back end too. if it seems like I'm being overly defensive here, it's because I'm hesitant of coming across hostile or money-grabbing.

What has sparked all this is that I am currently in the midst of a very ambitious push to complete all of my 2024 scripting in the next week, including writing enough scripts that I will be able to put out one file a week for the remainder of the year...

Of course, as mentioned previously, I also think I'm going to consider bonus incentives for the highest tiers in the form of 30-day-challenges or maybe even personalised help with hypnotic programming (file calendars, etc.) if desired... a Discord is the most common bonus incentive but I'm not sure about using it as one, the market is kind of saturated in terms of hypnotist discords. And anyway, that's all for later down the road.

Hope you understand, and hope you look forward to what I've got coming. I'll update with specifics on this tier stuff as I come up with concrete ideas for what I'm offering/for how much.

[staringdownabarrel]

Let me preface this by saying I don't know if I'm actually going to go through with this because I haven't written fan fiction since I was in my early teens, and if I do I don't know if I'll post it because I don't know if I'll be happy with it. (Despite my One Gimmick being that I'm a ranting, raving lunatic, I actually am very self conscious about my writing. I'm okay with posting in this format because basically every longer text post I post is a first draft with minimal proofreading, and that makes things easier for me for some reason.)

Anyway, I have an idea for a Star Trek fan fic, post-DS9 in the late 24th century/early 25th kind of period--so basically more or less overlapping with Picard. When I say idea, I really just mean I have a vague concept of what the cast would look like.

The captain would be someone who'd previously been on a deep space mission on a Galaxy-class ship. Apparently they're built for twenty year missions, so they will have entirely missed the Dominion War, and will more or less be the kind of Starfleet True Believer that the TNG crew were for the most part.

The XO will be someone who saw some pretty extensive service during the Dominion War. They'd still be a true believer because they remember Starfleet as it was before the war, but they're still sorta balancing that with the more militarised reality they saw after it.

The chief of security would sorta be like Nog in the sense that he was drummed out of the Academy a couple of years early because Starfleet needed some warm bodies on deck. Everyone sorta expects them to go into Edgy McEdgelord territory, and sometimes they do teeter on the edge of it, but they usually swing back around to being the most unironically enthusiastic about Federation ethics.

The chief medical officer was commissioned just after the war wrapped up.

The chief engineer was on Voyager, so they also missed the war, but probably have stronger opinions about it because of having served with the Maquis for seven years. (They may actually be a former Maquis, but I'm not 100% on this point yet. It depends on whether or not I think I could do something interesting with that angle.)

The helmsperson and the chief science officer or the chief of operations, depending on which one I go with, would both have entered and graduated the Academy well after the Dominion War. So while they both believe in the Federation, they're also working with a murkier sense of Starfleet ethics and are sorta going through culture shock when they realise the rest of the senior staff have unbridled enthusiasm about the propaganda posters.

So this cast would more or less allow for a Rule of Twos--two who missed the Dominion War due to being otherwise indisposed, two who were veterans of it, two who graduated straight after, and two who were in the Academy for part or all of it (chief of security would have at least done some training during the war), two who came much later. That'd allow for a full spread of ideas of what Starfleet means, what its issues are, etc.

The main thrust of the actual story would be something Zalkonian related. That'd make sense because that'd still be a legacy race that allows for a lot of storylines that'd still largely fit with canon, but also allow a lot of room so people couldn't get too mad that it didn't quite match their interpretation because they were only in one episode.

I think it'd be sorta cool to take a character like John Doe who was in the early stages of the ascent to non-corporeal status but also explicitly asked for political asylum. Another idea I'm considering is maybe there's a breakaway colony who's asking for Federation membership, or a potential defector trying to cross over, similar to Jarok from TNG's The Defector.

Again, I don't know if I'm actually going to go through with writing this or not. Even if I do, I don't know if I'll ever post it online anywhere. It's sorta in that early stage of being a thought whose stars I haven't formed into constellations yet.

[figgrrr0]

Aw man, I wanted to be an anon for requesting this but oh well lmao

I really want a one-shot (with plot) of Sub!Thoma × F!MeanDom!Reader where the reader loves teasing him, making him squirm, overstimulating him and watching him cry. Just being an ass to him overall and he enjoys every second of it.

As for the plot; I imagine reader to be a member of the Yashiro commision. She is not a retainer like Thoma, mainly dealing with jobs outside of the estate (such as speaking to merchants, coming to agreements with them as a business woman and organizing/sponsoring events when Ayato orders her team to). She is also older.

The location of the main event would be Ayato's office. As for how they end up getting in that situation, I'll leave that to you. Thoma outright sobbing is an important point though. I want that retainer drowning in his tears/j

All jokes aside, thank you for taking requests, this thing has been plaguing my mind for a while and I just can't stop thinking about it. I hope you have a wonderful week. Have a nice day and dm me if you are confused about anything in my request!

A/N: This one was really fun! Btw, I’m about to enter Inazuma in-game, so I actually don’t know anything about these characters apart from their voice lines, a little research, and fics I’ve read.

Want to skip the lead up? Look for the NSFW sign that marks the smut!

Apologies due

Character: Sub!Thoma // Reader: Dom!Fem

Genre: Smut // CW: Overstim, dacryphilia, mommy kink, puppy play, thigh riding, degradation, impact play, slight hair pulling, jealousy/hate sex (without sex), dubcon?

Plot: Yes // Word count: 4.1k

This past week had been far too busy. With the long-awaited Summer Festival just around the corner, you'd been sent here, there and everywhere to collect everything that was needed, and even things that probably weren't.

You'd often be given the order from Kamisato Ayato, your boss in the Yashiro Commission, to attend business meetings in his stead, and secure official information or deals with the companies that he decided to show a particular interest in. Yesterday, you'd been sent word that you were to collect five large boxes of fireworks from Naganohara Fireworks; a company ran by none other than Yoimiya. While she'd usually like to set them off herself, she compromised during the Summer Festival to allow the Yashiro Commission to set them up in a good vantage point, where everyone in Inazuma will see their vibrant sparks in the skies no matter where they may stand on the land. Of course, she'd stay close at hand in case something went wrong, but with all the tests that they did at the company, followed by the checks that you would perform before taking the boxes, that was hardly a possibility.

Most of the hard work had already been done. Or so you'd thought.

Six hours ago, you'd met up with Yoimiya, discussed the products you'd be taking and how much they'd cost, as well as how she'd be paid, and been well on your merry way within the hour, all with a couple of boxes in tow. Very heavy ones, to be exact, which is why you'd also brought some other Commission members to bear the brunt of the work and carry them to the cart you'd brought. As a worker employed by the Kamisato Clan, you were quite precise in your planning.

Taking them into storage, you soon reread the letter you'd received the day before from the head of the Clan, memorising the meet-up point where you'd be handing them over to none other than Thoma, the Chief Retainer.

Now, you'd never say this in public, for fear of tarnishing your reputation in the streets, or bringing question to your place in the Commission. Because Archons forbid you be jealous of Thoma.

Thoma, who was adored by everyone in Inazuma.

Thoma who was preferred by the master of the Clan, who got to see him more than once a month when he'd let go of his cold business mode.

Thoma, who, despite being your junior in both years and experience, acted as though he could do no wrong, as though he was better than you, more important...

Thoma, who left you standing in the warehouse where you'd been supposed to meet for the entire afternoon, wondering when he'd finally show up; only to realise when it started getting dark, that he likely wouldn't come at all.

Dejected and frustrated, you retired to your lodgings in the warehouse. You'd been given a room there, considering you were the key point for the warehouse to work at all, but seldom stayed there, preferring your own bed in your own home.

Once settled and comfortably in bed, you begin trying to sleep. But you find that you can't, your thoughts running wild on why Thoma didn't show up.

Had he gotten hurt? Surely not. He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself.

"Psh..." you scoff, shaking the thought from your head. Why should you care about him, anyway? You'd undoubtedly get in trouble for delivering the order late, as usual.

The only logical answer you could come up with was that Thoma had probably forgotten that he was supposed to meet up with you. Again.

Just another thing that you held against him. He always forgot when he had to meet up with you, and you'd always get the blame the next day. Because of course sweet, precious Thoma couldn't make a mistake. Of course Thoma, Ayato's favourite housekeeper, couldn't ever be in the wrong. It just had to be Y/N.

Even though, when this did happen, Thoma would always try to take the blame, as he should in your eyes and his, it rarely accumulated to anything in your favour. The higher ups always found a way to pin the blame on you.

Sighing in defeat, you dispel the thought from your mind, trying not to fall into the dark spiral of jealousy and contempt that you held for the housekeeper despite his sunny disposition. You'd deal with it in the morning.

...

The next morning, a letter came, stamped "URGENT" in big red letters on the front, right under your name.

Of course. Just as you'd expected.

Tearing open the envelope, you retrieve the folded paper from inside and begin reading its contents.

"Miss Y/N,

It has come to my attention that, going against your previous orders, the 5 boxes of fireworks that you have been assigned to gather from Naganohara Fireworks have not been delivered to the estate as required.

With the Summer Festival not even two whole weeks away, we in the Yashiro Commission really must all do our part to bring preparations to a close with as much time remaining as possible. Because of your inability to follow instructions, that plan is now at risk.

I ask that you come to the estate before noon, with the firework boxes, and attend a meeting with me in my office.

Signed, Kamisato Ayato."

Putting the paper down on your bed, you raise a hand to cover your eyes with a deep sigh. "Today is really not the day for this..." you mumble.

So much for the weekend being a holiday... you don't even get your Saturday off.

...

Once again, your morning would prove to be quite hectic, to say the least.

After taking a quick nap to come to terms with the fact that you'd been called to the estate for yet another misdemeanour to add onto the list of your past wrongdoings, you actually begin getting ready.

Your "mistakes", as Ayato often referred to them as, were starting to pile up quite high. Really, you were starting to wonder how you hadn't been fired yet, regardless of how not many of them had even been your fault. It didn't say so on your record.

After getting ready and making yourself presentable, you prepare yourself to face what will probably be the worst day of your month so far; being reprimanded by Kamisato Ayato (once again) and having to apologise to Thoma. Even though it wasn't your fault.

Steeling yourself to face the day, you head out of the warehouse, boxes still on the cart behind you, and begin your journey to the Kamisato estate. At least it's not far...

But that just makes it worse that Thoma hadn't showed up.

...

Walking through the corridors of the estate, after being granted permission to enter by a preoccupied member of staff, you make your way straight to Ayato's office. Having already been well acquainted with the building after attending multiple meetings in his office, it was a good thing you knew where you were going. The hurried and near-frantic movements of the staff of the house quickly conveyed that they wouldn't be of any help. Had they even noticed your arrival?

You knock on the closed door with a resounding thud, an answering, "Come in." sounding from the other side. So, you do.

Pushing the door open, you instantly meet eyes with your boss, Kamisato Ayato. Safe to say, he didn't look far too happy with you.

"You asked of me, Sir?" You questioned, though it wasn't a question at all. You knew why you'd been called. After all, it said as much in the letter.

You almost take a step forward into the room, but catch yourself just before you start moving, deciding that it'd be more respectful (and therefore easier to get out of trouble) if you pretended to be nervous.

He seems pleased. "Indeed. Please take a seat." He gestures vaguely at the chair on the opposite side of his desk, looking back to the paperwork in front of him.

You do as he has told, and wait for him to start talking, but it never arrives.

After almost two whole minutes full of incredibly awkward silence and looking aimlessly around the room for something to take the edge off, you eventually give in.

"I- uhm..." Your voice quietens after the first syllable, daunted by how loud it sounds in the silence, "I left the boxes outside, Sir. I believe some of your house staff took them into a storage room for further inspection."

He still hadn't looked at you or shown any interest, leading you to begin fumbling with your hands, becoming more anxious the longer he ignored you.

"I checked them myself last night, they're all in good condition and Yoimiya accepted the payme-"

"-That's enough." He puts his pen down with all the grace that he usually possesses, but something about the action betrays his annoyance.

"I don't wish to talk business right now, Y/N. You have caused a great deal of distress in the estate through all of today and yesterday. Please tell me, what is your excuse this time?"

Your mouth drops open slightly in surprise. He made it sound as though you did this on purpose!

"B-but Sir, I didn't do anything!"

"And therein lies the problem, Miss Y/N. You didn't do anything." Now, his eyes refuse to leave yours, and you almost wish time would go back to a few minutes beforehand, to when he hadn't been looking at you at all.

He was trying to intimidate you, you realised, trying to make you admit defeat and take the blame. And you know what?

It was almost working.

"I did as I was told. I waited until late last night, but Thoma didn't show." At this point, your voice had taken on an accusatory undertone.

You hadn't done anything wrong! Not this time, not the last, and not any of the times before that. You were getting tired of the blame always being put on your shoulders. It was Thoma's fault. Not yours.

"... You're blaming Thoma? After all the work he does in the estate, and all the help he has been when preparing and organising these festivals, you dare to shove the fault onto him?"

He stares directly at you, his gaze barely any different than usual, but there's a barely restrained fire melting that icy cold gaze. "The Summer Festival is soon, Miss Y/N, very soon. Each and every moment of the lead up is of great impertinence. I'd have thought you would at least have taken your responsibility into account for just this once."

You're left speechless, unable to comprehend just how easily Ayato had completely swept your concern under the metaphorical rug.

At your lack of response, he leans forward on the desk, hands clasping together and fingers intertwining.

"Nothing to say for yourself?"

Another few more seconds of silence, awkward once again. The still room was deafening.

"... Well then. I have a very important meeting soon, much more important than this one." He stands up from his chair, paying no mind to you as you sit there in a confused daze. As he starts walking towards the door, you push your chair out to follow him, but before you can even lift yourself up, he halts you.

"Ah, ah, ah. Where do you think you're going? Have you been excused?"

"W-well no, but-"

"Then you shall stay put." He turns to you with a taunting smile lifting his features, the anger in his voice finally evening out, " besides, I do believe you have an apology to make to Thoma, hmm?"

"An apology?! I'm not-"

"Oh hush. I'll send him in soon, so be patient until then, will you? I'm sure you can at least do that much."

Before you can even argue further, he is out the door, the doorframe clattering as it swings shut behind his retreating form.

"Ughh..." you groan and slump back into the chair.

Looks like you have at least twenty minutes to re-evaluate your life choices.

...

'Creak'

The shutting of the door jolted you awake in an instant. Confused and surprised that you'd fallen asleep, you look behind you to see Thoma stood still in the doorway, his hand still connected to the handle.

"Sorry..." a hand comes up in half a wave and half a placating manner, and the other goes to rub the back of his neck awkwardly.

Being woken up doesn't particularly leave you in too good of a mood, especially not when this is who you have to deal with.

You glare at him and respond with a gruff hum, turning back around to look straight ahead of you, when an idea comes to mind.

"I... I really am sorry about yesterday. Hahah..." His soft voice gives away his turmoil, but when this matter occurs constantly, should you really have to forgive him every time? Your foot begins tapping against the floor as you bite your lip, considering your options while he continues to talk behind you.

"There's just so much going on, what with the Festival only being a couple of weeks away from now. I had too much work piled up and I couldn't send anyone else because they were all-" His words are interrupted as you stand up from the chair, mind set, and walk around to the other side of the desk.

"H-hey, Y/N, what are you doing? They're Lord Ayato's personal documents, you can't read those!"

Ignoring him, you take your place in the chair and push away from the desk slightly, facing directly at Thoma's worried face as if daring him to stop you.

"I'm growing tired of these games, Thoma. Don't you think you deserve a punishment for causing me so many problems and making me take the blame for your mistakes?"

"There is no game! I promise I don't mean to, Y/N, I just-"

"-Just what, Thoma? Can't learn how to prioritise your own work? Can't ask someone else for help? Can't say fucking 'no' to anyone?!" Your voice raises to a near shout, making him flinch and take a step back. But this only makes you angrier.

Taking a deep breath, you take control of your emotions before they get out of hand. Instead of standing up and just slapping him right across the face like you so want to do right now, you cross your legs and pat your hand against the one that's left raised.

"Sit down, Thoma. You're going to make it up to me. Right now."

"I-" He gives up on complaining with just a raise of your eyebrow. He looks back at the door for a split second, but his curiosity ultimately wins over, and he turns back to you.

The tension between the two of you had been steadily rising as of late. There'd always been a certain attraction, but with the difference in your job roles, there was little time to see each other outside of work. And the recent arguments hadn't done much good, either.

Without even so much as a few seconds to think, his leg swings over yours as he lowers himself down onto your lap, though he still looks unsure, even with his cheeks heating. "I don't think... we should be doing this here... I mean- we definitely shouldn't! Lord Ayato would-"

You place a hand over his mouth, silencing him as his eyes go wide.

"He isn't here right now, is he? Just pay attention to me." Your deft hand slides down, releasing his lips to take hold of his throat with a threatening squeeze, to which he gulps nervously as his eyes flicker down to your wrist, fighting the urge to pull your hand away. "Besides..." He eyes hesitantly lift up to meet your dark gaze. "This is a meeting room, no? We're simply coming to an agreement of our own."

He whimpers at that, his lips falling open when your other hand that was hidden from him took a tight grip on his hip. Pushing him down onto your lap, his half-hard bulge drags against your thigh.

"Ohh-... Y/N, what should I-?"

"You're going to get yourself off on my thigh like a good little puppy."

With a tilt of his head, he lets out a questioning hum, "Puppy?" Without another prompt, he starts doing as you said, his hips sliding over your thigh over and over again.

"Archons, you really are like a dog." You reach out and take hold of the chain around his neck, pulling it taut against his skin until it digs in, providing a pleasant sting. His eyebrows crease, fighting the urge to talk back. "Even came with these dog tags. It's like you're begging to be treated like a filthy mutt."

With your hold on the metal, you pull him forward into a forceful kiss, your teeth knocking together as he lets out a moan at the sting of the sharp edges pricking his soft lips.

He barely responds to your kiss, focusing more on keeping his hips moving as he chases the pleasure. Just when he starts to reciprocate, his tongue gliding against and following your own as it retreats back into your mouth, he is pulled back by your harsh grip on the hair at the base of his neck.

He yelps as he's torn away from you, his body stiffening as he tries to reach back and lessen the burden of your fingers. You release him so that he has no choice but to drop back down into your lap. Hard.

"Aaghn-! Y/N~"

A swift slap echoes through the room, his face snapping to the side as a dark red blooms across his cheek.

Before he even gets a chance to react, the hand that had just hit him pulls him to face you again, smoothing over the burning mark as if to comfort what you had just caused.

"When I own you like this, I'm your mommy. Got it? I don't want to hear my name coming out of your disgusting mouth."

His bottom lip wobbles as crystalline tears gather in his eyes, but he doesn't quite let them drop. He sniffles, voice crackling when he responds, "Y-Yes, mommy..."

Rather than giving him a reward, you push him further.

Hand still cradling his burning cheek, your nails dig into the tender flesh, resurfacing the pain which had only just numbed. Thoma has no other choice than to take it, his hands tightly grasping his own knees, allowing you access to do anything you want with his pliant body. Though, his voice betrays his loyalty, a small cry being dislodged from his throat.

"Continue."

He doesn't wait for even a second, his hips bucking against your thigh faster than before as he evens out the pain you're giving him with the pleasure.

Lessening the pressure on his cheek, you lean against the back of the chair, taking in the scene he makes in front of you.

Clothes rumpled and sticking to the sweat coating his body, dick shamefully hard, the outline clear to see pressing against the fabric of his pants. Hair tousled from your earlier grip, eyes half closed and glinting in the light of the room with the hint of unshed tears. He truly was a sight to see.

And as much as you hate to admit it, you'd certainly like to see him like this more often.

Maybe, if this is the reward you got for dealing with the unfair favouritism from the head of the Clan, it wouldn't be so hard to endure...

But just thinking that makes you angrier than before. You shouldn't have to settle.

"Awww~ look at you, humping your owner's thigh like a desperate, little puppy... are you really that needy that you don't care about ruining mommy's clothes?"

Before you can continue, he lets out an unfiltered moan, the loud noise startling the both of you. His hips jerk sporadically before slowing to a stop, his breaths coming out in uneven pants.

"...Hah... Did you really just cum from that, you dirty mutt?"

And when you look at the tent between his legs, a dark patch of his cum seeps into his pants, the wetness unmistakable in the clear lighting of the room.

His sniffles return louder this time, and when you look back up at his face, you see exactly what you'd been hoping for:

Tears, sliding down his flushed cheeks with no end in sight. They just wouldn't stop.

"I-I'm sorry, mommy... I couldn't h-hold it back..." He can barely even speak, voice cutting off as he fights through the tightening of his throat to push out the words he knows you want to hear.

Not that they'd do him any good, anyway.

You tightly grip his softening dick through his pants, his cum soaking through to your skin, coating your palm with a sticky sheen.

He tenses up and hisses in pain through clenched teeth, his face scrunching up as he loses control of his reactions.

"You're so greedy. Didn't even ask for permission, you always just take what you want, don't you, dog?"

"No! I'm sorry, m-mommy, so sorry, please!"

A tear drips down his throat, and you watch as it smudges and soaks into the collar of his jacket.

"Shut up."

Digging your fingers into his hips, you force him to continue moving on your lap, his clothed cock grinding against your leg and leaving behind a line of slick on your own clothing.

"Ah, wait- wait! I just came~ Please not yet, mommy, not yet!"

He scrambles to dislodge your hold, his legs kicking out a bit to your side as his hands come down to grip your shoulders for stability. He's shaking from overstimulation as you push him down onto your thigh, tensing your leg intermittently to provide more stimulation than he can handle.

In what he assumes to be mercy, you remove your hands from him, leaving him to slow his movements on his own after he keeps moving for a few seconds before realising that you weren't holding onto him anymore.

When he stops completely, a hard smack to his thigh makes him jolt forward with a startled sob, his tongue feeling heavy and vision blurry as he cries out continuously.

"Keep going. I didn't tell you to stop."

"Can't, I can't! It's too much, please don't make me, it's too good~!"

And yet, despite his begging and whining, his thrusting starts up again without you doing a thing. The continuous grinding against your leg was starting to ache, the rough material of Thoma's pants beginning to take their toll on your skin. But the sight of him, knowing that you'd finally one-upped him, that you'd reduced him to this mess... Well. That made it all worth it.

It seems that the restriction of his clothing was beginning to bother him, too.

He starts begging to take off his pants when the texture gets too rough on his sensitive dick. The constant dragging and the damp feeling of his ruined underwear rubbing on the tip of his leaking cock providing too much painful stimulation.

Of course, you don't let him, wanting to see him shift and tremble as his overwhelmed cock twitches with each shove back and forth.

The shocks of his first orgasm hadn't been given a chance to wear off, pushing him further and further towards his next before he could even think to warn you- before he could even try to hold it back.

And, with another loud moan that tapers off into overwhelmed hums and panting breaths, he cums harder than ever before.

This time, it takes longer for him to recover, coming to only a couple minutes later when the uncomfortable feeling of his tears drying and leaving tracks on his face tempt him to refocus. He's grateful for the short break you'd given him after cumming again so quickly, gasping puffs of air as he mumbled, "Thank you, mommy, thank you..." over and over again.

Though the reprieve was short lived.

"Oh, puppy, you didn't think we were done, did you? You've always been so selfish towards me, making me take all the blame..."

You push him to start moving again, his own begging and crying going unheard in his own ears. Tears once again fall from his barely-open eyes and follow the paths the previous ones had made.

"Why don't you take some more?"

Want to send a request/brainrot with me? Check my rules!

Thank you for reading! 🩷

[t1meslayer]

Busy with important family events over the next couple of days, and so I thought it would be good to get a day-and-date release for this Debrief on the latest entry in my Sapphic Valley series, "How You Get The Girl." Be sure to read the story before jumping in!

Did you do it? Did you read the story?

Alright, I'm trusting you. Go ahead and hit that 'Keep Reading' button you scamp.

It only seems appropriate to start this Debrief off by addressing the elephant in the room. I haven't posted anything in over a month, and "By Moonlight" came about a month after its predecessor, the conclusion to "Stone-Cold Lovers."

Work, naturally, has been a major factor.

You can see me talk about that almost two weeks ago in this Tumblr post I made about writing in a coffee shop, which came weeks after I actually started writing during a trip to a friend's house.

===

Side note:

Just wanted to take a moment and acknowledge my beautiful Haley and Emily keychains. My friend who's responsible for the affairs of one ghostly farmer named Jizzabelle (Gisabelle to the laymen) got them for me! Only appropriate after I commissioned some art of her and Abigail.

Emily was my first Stardew wife, and Haley currently holds the biggest place in my heart. They make a lovely duo!

And I'll avoid any sister-wife jokes

===

While I've had some other projects like Zine writing to take care of, work and life can't explain the full absence.

The best way I can think to explain things is that:

I had the general writer's block, and

Despite the best intentions and advice of my irl friends and online pals like @alchemicallymoon and @duelbraids, I couldn't force myself to "break" that block by just... Writing something else.

This is entirely the result of my own psychosis. I have a tendency to carefully plot things out and impose a timetable that really doesn't need to exist. When I feel the cause is righteous enough, it's hard to get around that. In this case, I knew I needed to get my poll-winning idea out after dawdling for holidays like Valentine's Day, and then I knew I only wanted to post one more story before jumping on a very special event for my upcoming 30th AO3 post.

Thus, here we are: arbitrarily forcing myself into a spiral of writer's block misery because of a silly promise on Tumblr and my own sense of ordered chaos.

At the very least, this meant it's coming out not long after my AO3 pal InsertACatchyPennameHere also emerged from the woodwork to tell me they're working on something INSPIRED by my four-person friend group farm adaptations.

Much love to them, wherever they may be.

I'll probably start writing more eclectically now that my shoulders are unweighed, but don't expect my next publication to hit until I'm finished working on teasing the big event. All you Pokemon fans better get hype!

And oh how sweet this publication feels. Between my great set of recent ceramics, the figure drawing class I've been attending, and creative writing, I've felt more fulfilled than ever.

You're here to talk about Stardew, though. So let us talk.

This idea began less with any one event as it did a desire to advance the Alexis/Haley relationship, and Haley's characterization in particular. It was always going to end with watercolor painting reference, but 2 Willow Lane was what I really wanted to dig into.

As I see it, a lot of what keeps people invested in Stardew when its comfy vibes becoming routine is the air of mystery in Eric Barone's worldbuilding. Haley and Emily's parents being some world-traveling duo who left their home in the siblings' care for who knows how long (and who knows how many times over their lifetime) really piqued my interest. So much so that the new writing challenge I set for myself in "How You Get The Girl" was crafting a particularly long set of descriptions that emphasize how overwhelming the parents' influence feels — without creating an impenetrable wall of text.

Hopefully I succeeded in that. Let me know!

I tried to include some vaguely real world-adjacent references into that description of the house, as happens with the magical-realism world of Stardew Valley. For example:

The computer sitting next to their bonsai tree is an iMac G3, the kind of old 'futuristic' tech that my dad loves!

A Speedwell refrigerator is based on even more vintage tech, the Mayflower fridge, but named after a different ship ridden by Pilgrims coming to America.

That city that the family visited in an old photograph with a "monument of arching, interlocking steel" is, of course, Paris — with the statue bookends referencing any number of statues in the Louvre.

Haley's FAD magazine could be referencing any number of publications, but Vogue is probably the closest analogue to what I imagine her reading.

Furthermore, I took some notes on describing the home's layout off of my sister's apartment building, and I asked my bestie @trybard for input on what kind of hanging plant should be used in the transitional hallway. Hanging pothos, philodendron, and spider plants were the three options provided, and my response was appropriate:

They know so much about plants.

Go bug them about it.

I drew on other friends' knowledge to help decorate the house. Specifically, I asked one of my witchiest friends what kinds of protective wards someone like Emily would leave around doorways and windows. She had... A lot of reference material.

I picked Hazel given it purportedly "protects against evil; encourages abundance and inspiration." I also picked Amethyst as one of Emily's loved gifts, one that purportedly "absorbs negative energy, promotes harmony."

My witchy friend is the same one who provided the TikTok that I referenced in my advertisement post:

Perhaps the most important thing about 2 Willow Lane was the recurring motif of Barbie's Dream House.

As a surface-level reference, I think the groundwork is clear. Blondie's love of fashion and general queen bee demeanor fits comparisons to Barbie well, and she lives in a big ol' house full of stuff. We all saw Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie last year. It's still in the cultural zeitgeist.

I'm hip with the kids.

Yet, early on I also tried to make it clear that if this is a "dream" house, it's neither Haley's nor Emily's dream. Haley is a Barbie in that stereotypical sense, but also there's much to be mined from the analogy of a sort of powerless doll in an immutable house, constrained by social obligation to her family rather than literal plastic and stickers.

The cold open of Jodi and Sam was meant to stand alone, but in execution I also think drawing Kent's absence into the conversation makes for a more thematically rich comparison to these sisters who appear to have themselves more put together.

My beta reader said this wound up being one of my stronger stories because of how all of that intertwined, which I appreciated given how down on myself I was following the whole writer's block thing.

But also.

Also.

Alexis gets to be horny. She's hitting on lonely MILFs and watching girls shake their asses to the tune of bad reality TV.

We love a buff dommy mommy farm girl in this house.

Haley is probably horny too, she just doesn't realize it yet. For now I think it's fun enough to play into her being coy about building excuses for Alexis to come over, and then getting incensed when Emily barges in on their private time meant to learn more about this farm girl she just can't get out of her head.

===

Fun fact:

Every story in this series is named after a Taylor Swift song, but I know next-to nothing about her discography. All of them are suggestions by my friend whose house I was at when starting this story — the same one who controls Gardenia on the farm.

While I went with "How You Get The Girl," her alternative suggestion was "The Man."

===

All that w|w talk aside, I also want to give Sam the loveable idiot a shoutout. Had to do a fair bit of research into how skateboards are constructed for his failed ollie, and I slipped in a reference to shitty old technology that's exclusively for my beta reader to enjoy.

I also tried doing some agricultural research to figure out how the folks at Kevin Farm could have grown cucumbers so there'd be a jar of legitimate pickles... But that was getting too in the weeds.

Insert laugh track here

Decided to just go with pickled artichoke hearts to save everyone a lot of trouble.

And where does "Kevin Farm" come from, you may be asking yourself. Or the fabulous "Kevin's Special" with its definitely not innuendo tagline.

That story will have to wait for another day, my friends.

[seb-reads31]

YO BRO!! PLEASE SAY ALL OF YOUR ASTER HCS RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. NOW!!!!!!

I'll give you one of mine :> I imagine he is a bit buffer and is a bit taller than the y/n [ I imagine hes like 5,8-5-9? ] but is still hella scared of them even though they should be more scared of him LOL

LOVE YOU BRO!!! -amer:]

Tw's -

Genre -

Type - head canons/drabble

Comments - I don't have many unless if I'm like, playing/doing something and I get the random thought "aster would like/love/hate this" so I need like, prompts to get the creative juices 😗

Random Thoughts

😰 This man is a little short in my head.

😰 Not like, SUPER short but a couple of inches below the average for guys

😰 I'm in LOVE with the idea that he's buff, I'm downbad for that thought 😍😍

😰 B U T, HEAR ME OUT ON THIS

😰 He's sort of like, petite before the incident, then after he decides to take some self defense classes and he does a bit of weight lifting 👀👀👀

😰 Not enough to like, have a bunch of muscle but enough to see it through his normal sweater, giving him the element of surprise✨

😰 He honestly... Probably hates soup after the incident. If you know you know 😭

😰 H E A R M E O U T A G A I N

😰 Aster opens a flower shop a little while after the incident 👀👀

😰 CAUSE LIKE, PRETTY BOY WITH A PRETTY FLOWER CROWN????

😰 Listen to this

😰 Say the person is completely separate from (y/n) (which is your/name if you didn't already know) and Y/N meets Aster in his shop one day 👀

😰 Adorable friendship for a good while, right? Then (referencing my "aster finds love again" head canons) after a few solid years of being friends, maybe he hires you during that time to like, deliver people's commissioned bouquets, and he like, confesses his love to (y/n) using a bouquet of flowers he made with how he thinks of them cause you're bound to know SOMETHING about what the flowers mean for as long as you spend in his shop 🤧🤧

😰 you should totally like... Draw Aster with a flower crown....

😰 I'm in love with that idea now 😭😭

😰 That, or he becomes a teacher

😰 Don't ask how that idea popped into mind

😰 BUT HEAR ME OUT AGAIN-

😰 There may or may not be a few more of those

😰 S O, again, you are separate from the person from the incident, B U T, you have a small child from a previous relationship or it's a W A Y younger sibling. You pick but I'm just gonna call them "your child"

😰 And I'm thinking he's either a preschool teacher or an elementary teacher but we're gonna go with preschool for my sake 😭

😰 But one day you go to pick up your child during naptime for the bigger kids (cause I said so) and when you talk to the secretary person they just say to go ahead and find your child

😰 Don't @ me I don't know how this works 😭

😰 And when you go to find your child you can see Aster comforting them after they had a bad dream, he sings them a small little song to keep their mind off of the dream (something like Little Bird, Little Bird cause it's interactive or something else idk) and he offers to read a story to them so they can try and fall back asleep, maybe even offers a small snack or something beforehand

😰 Whatever they choose, in the middle of the snack/book/song they end up catching a glimpse of you as you hide in a hallway basically giving Aster the goo goo eyes 🥺🥺

😰 You jump as your child runs very quietly towards you, basically outing you for staring at their teacher (not that I can blame you, I'd stare too 🤧) and you flush a bright red in the dark room.

😰 Aster gets a little shy at the thought someone other than the children heard him sing so he also flushes and starts fidgeting with his hands, asking what you needed in a small voice.

😰 You explain to the best of your ability without stuttering or accidentally saying something embarrassing that you needed to take your child because you wouldn't be back the normal time to pick them up and didn't have anyone else to watch them.

😰 Aster calms himself down as you speak, and says that the child is fine and goes to grab their little bag they bring every day

😰 When Aster comes closer to you, you can't help but admire his face, it was slightly round, his eyes soft and gentle, his slightly chubby cheeks make you want to pinch them, and finally, his plush lips as he spoke, his words going through 1 ear and out the other....

😰 You flinch as you catch yourself thinking about.. KISSING the gorgeous man??! Ohhh boy, you were starting to fall for the man, and you just met him today!!

😰 You finally clue in to what Aster was saying just in time to get enough context clues to give him a small and quick reply before you quickly speed walk out of the preschool...

😰 The rest is for another time 🤭🤭

Notes - D U D E, THIS WAS SO FUN TEODBIDDBISBEIE, THINKING ABOUT ASTER'S OCCUPATION AFTERWARDS WAS LIKE, A LITTLE BIT TOUGH BUT THEY'RE SO SWEET FKDNFJDB I hope you enjoyed Amer 🤧🤧🤧

[love-toxin]

so this is dumb but one day I’m hoping to start doing writing commissions, but I don’t have an clue where to start? Do you have any advice on like, pricing for word length, or how many slots I should open to start with, etc? sorry for bother you! ;-;

not at all!! it's a good question--ill give you a longer answer down here! ⬇️

so the base rate that a lot of independent writers charge is about 1$ per 100 words, but it really depends on the quality of your writing, if you have an editor (or edit yourself) and how long it might take you to write. i would suggest practicing writing longer pieces and get a gauge on how much time it takes you to write 500, 1000, 2000, etc so you can give an accurate estimate of how long the commission will take, too. i would only open a couple slots to begin with so you don't get overwhelmed, but once you've got good time management with writing your pieces you can probably open more if you want to! and of course, you can increase or decrease the overall price based on the content--like i usually charge another dollar or two for writing someone's oc because it takes extra time for me to research them and go through their character sheets, or I'll do the same if the commissioner wants nsfw or something that's very complicated that will take more time than an average piece.

I'll also say that keeping guidelines is really important! not just for you but for your commissioners to know exactly what they're getting by coming to you. if you don't want to write certain topics or you're only comfortable with particular content, make sure you state it clearly wherever you post your commission sheet or make an entirely separate document and link it to your original post. i haven't personally done commissions in a long while because i just kept getting an influx of emails from people who wanted me to write things i was so not comfortable with, and that's happened when i have specified what i won't do, so be sure to protect yourself and don't be afraid to block people who try to cross those boundaries. or just block creeps in general bc I can't tell you how many people I've encountered who think I'll write whatever they want if they offer me enough money. obviously that's not to scare you but it's certainly something that won't hurt to prepare for if it ever does happen.

aside from that and on a lighter note, try not to stress yourself out too much over it all. figure out what you can do comfortably and adhere to that, if you make mistakes or need more time to finish a piece, just be honest with the person you're working with and 99% of the time they'll be understanding. if you don't want to write something somebody asks for then politely decline, or block their contact if they harass you or ask for something wildly inappropriate. and it doesn't hurt to ask for more details! if you need some more guidance or inspiration on a piece most commissioners will be more than happy to talk further about their idea.

i hope this helps, and i hope you have fun with it! <3

[twistedtummies2]

Got any Halloween story ideas brewing that you're willing to share?

So...I actually had a plan for a Halloween Special this year. UNFORTUNATELY, I don't think I'll be able to get it done in time, because right now my primary focus is finishing up commissions. I may or may not write it up as a belated Halloween special, or just save it for a different occasion. Either way, comms have to come first. HOWEVER...since I probably won't get it done in time, I WILL tell you all what the concept for the story IS. Because I think a lot of you will enjoy it. :) The story will be non-kink-based. It is to be the first (and hopefully not the last) for a new AU I've had in mind for a while: I call it "The Dragon's Masque." It's a Phantom-of-the-Opera-themed AU, with Malleus as the Phantom, a Female!MC in the Christine role, and Ace and Deuce pulling double duty as a couple of Raoul surrogates. There are other characters I plan to pull into this universe in various roles, if I write more, such as Ruggie and the Pomefiore trio (especially Epel), for a start. However, they won't be featured in the first story. The concept was inspired by SEVERAL pieces of fanart I've seen floating around with Malleus as the Phantom: I loved the idea so much, I thought creating an AU around the idea would be fun. I'm pulling inspiration largely from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, but I also am taking cues from some other adaptations of the book, including the 1943 film with Claude Rains, the 1990 Miniseries with Charles Dance, and the Hammer Horror version with Herbert Lom. Whenever the story gets done, I hope you'll all like it. Like...every other idea I still need to work on. XD

[zhongrin]

Cofhdjsbsndkodndn Rin omfg you're indulging me with it too much, I'll faint one day frfr (but you shall receive the Zhongli bot from me as a make up hehe)

Lucifer and Diavolo huh? *Taking notes*

Plssss yes it's the beginning of it - I can't tell ya more cuz I can't remember it anymore, it's so long ago sihdjeosjsjs

Imo drunk Zhongli - maybe his Dragon instincts are getting more dominant (like he does) but also he is getting quite.. possessive even? Idk lmao 😭

And drunk Alhaitham 100% affectionate and clingy hehe <33

Drunk Baizhu? Damn this guy seems like the type who never drinks alcohol but if he is drunk idk, maybe he gets very very clingy and is brabbling everything he is thinking rn? Idk fksbsjsknwks

FobskODBSJSISBSN RIN *faints again*

Rin now you're acting sus 🤨 (I wanna see it ngl hehe)

IKR?? IT SEEMS LIKE THEM SO MUCH!

And help not the Alhaitham bot being a menace 😭 (sorry I taught him that /j)

I mean then it's alright, but I will choose Baizhu over anyone <33

Rin 🤨 acting sus again

HELP MATCHING JEWELRY THATS SO CUTE I CANT-;; FJEBSIHEVWIWIS

Didbhsksjsjjsb omfgggg Rinnnnn (that's so cool!!❤️)

Also, with thus matching jewelry ya always have a part of your hubby's with you <33 💞💞 it's so cute I can't omfg

Do your hubby's also have something from you, except your heart? <33

Mm random Baivi HCs? (I'm bad at this ofmg 😭)

A part of our mornings is that I brush Baizhus hair (and try to braid it but I fail omfg) like, he sits on the bed and I sit behind him. And while at it we are talking about everything like our plans for today or something like that <33

Ya have more headcanons for your selfships? <33

gotta get you that daily dose of baizhu now <3 (fr you and jojo will be the death of me hsldjflskjdf)

pls diavolo is such king energy but also himbo energy and it's so fascinating lmao

head empty only genshin these days.... 😌

that's cute omg clingy and possessive drunk dragon li. might scratch you if you come too close. his horns or tail probably pops out too 😭

affectionate drunk haitham will be my undoing. pls if he giggles when i kiss him all over his blushy face i'll cry

drunk baizhu clinging to you and has 0 filter. tells you he loves you and calls you with 7423804 nicknames. infodumps you on the properties of crystalflies and glaze lilies. very wholesome. hmmmm. better take a good hold of his arm so he doesn't stumble around....

oh no vi!!! BAIZHU WHERE ARE YOU COME GET YOUR WIFE SHE NEEDS MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSCITATION

......... you asked for it-

cw. very suggestive lord rex lapis forgive me for i have sinned-

SO IT WAS YOU HSLDKJFKLSDJF don't keep teaching him to rival my chaotic nature 🙏🏻

mhm mhm i see *notes onto baivi clipboard*

i love matching couple things, it's just so sjldfkskjljdlfks you always have a piece of them with you and you know they have a piece of you with them and it's so aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Do your hubby's also have something from you, except your heart? <33

my soul and mortal vessel and all my possessions /shot

zhongli has a lil teapot set i commissioned someone to make before and al haitham uses a special bookmark that i gave him <3

awwwwwww omg braiding your man's hair is such a hsldjfksd experience fr fr does baizhu and you use hair oil or the like? does baizhu play with your hair too?

let's see... what else.... hold on let me cheat a bit *googles selfship questions*

zhongli can also brew coffee now because i like my coffees in the morning/afternoon and teas at night! he still doesn't like drinking them tho and if i make coffee fro myself at night he will scold me because he knows i'll be zooming about until like. 3-4am. oops.

al haitham almost always wakes up first in the morning (morning workout king probably) and falls asleep last at night (he's reading and i'm just curling up beside him).

now, baivi - who wakes up first? what does baizhu do when he first wake up? if he wakes you up, how does he do it? and when you both wake up, who usually cooks breakfast? ;)

[palialaina]

So, uh... I might've been a little more sunsick than I initially thought.

Oopsies...

Hello new sibling!

(It's nice to have a sibling. I think I used to have one, before. Maybe it was you, haha) Thanks for that dinner, though I feel a little bad that you had to cancel your plans because of me.

But it's weirdly comforting to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to ask someone out properly. Haha....

(No, I have not gone to talk to him again yet. I've been wrapped up in building a new room, and still kind of wanting to hide in a hole. I did send him a letter saying I'd talk to him soon, but I don't actually know what to say. ...I'll figure it out. Probably.)

Sorry to hear you got attacked by the sun, ouch. I'm the sunburn master (get a tan, me? not a chance), and I refuse to be called Lobster Lark by Badruu ever again, so at this point I'm also the avoiding-sunburn master.

Anyway, my point is, I'm sending you some stuff. It works for both healing sunburns, and for avoiding them next time. It's not aloe (whatever that is, thanks random memory), but Auntie swears by it and it's done the trick for me so far.

Hope you recover quickly,

-Lark

Lark did send me some nice stuff. And Auntie Dal popped by with Uncle B to make sure I was eating and resting. I, uh... was working in my garden. Auntie Dal insisted I sit down and have some water, and well...

Um...

I woke up inside, with Chayne standing there and Kenyatta shouting something from my kitchen about herbs and things. Chayne said I was working too hard and needed to rest more, that there wasn't any need for me to push so hard.

At least no one got Dad or Jel involved, but Reth dropped by, so it's probably only a matter of time before he, or Tish, spill the beans.

I want to have everyone be amazed by how much I was accomplishing, but instead everyone's worried about me overdoing it. I mean... it's not that bad. I'm a little wobbly, sure, but...

I don't know. It's hard for me to ask for help, like Sifuu keeps suggesting I do. I don't have to prove anything to anyone, but I just.. I don't want to bother anyone, I guess. I mean, Jel and I... we aren't really even clear on what we are, and I can't call Ashura Dad to his face because I don't want to upset him.

Ugh. I started writing because I thought it'd clear my mind, but now I feel even worse. I suppose now I'll be stuck in bed, instead of just closer to home. I really don't wanna test Kenyatta's bedside manner just yet.

I suppose I can take a couple days and do things less... active. And next time I go to Bahari, I'll listen to Jel.

....man, I really hope Reth keeps his mouth shut. He can tell Lark, that's fine, but not Jel. Jel has too much to do with Kenyatta's dress, and all the clothes other humans are commissioning him for, to worry about something dumb I did.

[keefwho]

November 13 - 2023 Monday

10:52pm

When I woke up I decided I was tired of my forming beard so I shaved it off. It felt good and had been around long enough to look weird with it gone. Before I shaved it completely, I gave myself a caterpillar stache which looked funny and also like something I could rock when I get older. In the shower when I was gonna use my close shaver, it wasn't charged so I had to wait for my second shower after my workout to get baby smooth. Breakfast was corned beef hash, an egg, 2 pieces of toast, and half a serving of cereal. It was a big breakfast to account for my workout later. In stream I only did a couple warmup sketches and committed to refining one picture because I didn't feel like being too imaginative this morning. I finished Blink's commission which turned out okay but he had a lot of (valid) fixes to be made so I had to go back to it a few times. Honestly I'm just annoyed at characters with needlessly complicated designs. Especially when they are generically "tribal". Like what are these even supposed to mean? AND I have to draw them all perfectly? After that was finished I worked more on the next YCH. Today's Mia episode dropped some important lore and today's He Man was amazing. It's the season 1 finale which I've never seen and it went hard. After stream I started my workout. 50 lunges, 40 situps, and a 2 mile power-walk/jog. It doesn't seem like much compared to 45 minutes of wood splitting so maybe I'll up the intensity. The problem is the time it takes because I almost never get the workout and cleaning done before lunch like I plan as it is. I meant to clean before lunch today but I only had time to shower. Lunch also made me late because it took a long time to cook. I made my custom stir fry. I felt confident during today's request but it didn't actually turn out as well as I wanted and it took longer than usual. Today's project was to sketch an art trade for someone but I really had to force myself to do it. At one point I took a small break to close my eyes and listen to a stream until I felt more up to the task. Daisy also wanted to JD which was the break I really needed. We were pretty in sync today for a few of the songs and that was cute. After dancing I got back to sketching and did everything I was supposed to do. Afterwards I tried decompressing with a stream but I didn't want to watch to be honest. I didn't know what I wanted though. I probably should have found something else to do. It didn't take long for Daisy to become free and we watched an episode of She Ra while she filled out a therapy questionnaire and job application. Then I played Mother 3 and beat it for her finally. The ending was nothing like how I expected but it was still good. I have lots of things to think about before I determine what I personally think happened to everyone. In bed I played Star Stable and we talked about what we want to do with our lives and how lost we are. I am confident we will both find our way though. The best thing is we'll do it together.