#drafted december 21 2023

[mcondance]

say yes (please?) > peter quill

fem reader, pathetic peter, reader has his shirt on

peter’s like a big dog.

you know, the ones who don’t really know just how big they are?

he’s also a little pathetic— lovingly, i promise, especially when it comes to you getting his dick wet.

which culminates into this; his forehead resting on your shoulder with you pressed against a wall in the ship, tucked off in a hall no one really passes.

“please? lemme— fuck,” he groans when his dick, hard and trapped in those fucking pants, catches against your thigh. the pressure has his head spinning and he’s seeing stars much like the ones he passes through all the time.

his hands encase your waist, he makes light work of shrouding your body with his. and his lips are trailing up your neck, slow and sweet as molasses and as entrapping as it too.

you’re weak, always are when it comes to him, and he didn’t even have to beg before you were ready to let him in. he’s hiking your leg up with one hand and pressing it around him and before you know it he’s got your panties and shorts pulled to the side and he’s breaching your cunt, stretching you on his cock.

your mouth slack, your hands threaded in his curls, you watch with barely opened eyes the way your cunt envelops him, swallowing his thick cock. he’s all whiny, soft breathy moans tumbling from his lips as he feels your warmth overtake him, your wet, soft walls kissing his length. the stretch burns but its a heat you’ve grown to love, a marker of the absolute weapon he’s got between his thick thighs.

“you take it so—, fuckin’ stargirl,” he breathes in awe, chest heaving as he inches inside you, taking it slow so he can drink in the celestial sight. the last push is one of his favorite things, the little breath you give him when he’s flush against you finally, the way it feels to be completely fucking intertwined. its what made him herd you into this corner and grovel like a sinner before his star.

well, partly at least. he pulls out and sinks right back in, stirring up your stomach. your eyes roll back at the feel of the pretty veins on his cock rubbing against you, and they squeeze shut when he hits that deep spot inside you. he’s all rambly, like he always is when he gets like this, spilling out, “so good, so fucking good, baby.”

feeling your body move with his, hearing your back slide against the wall through his shirt, hearing himself fuck the breath out of your lungs is something else he’ll grovel for. you leak and gush around his cock, around his big cock, and you make him fit, and you just barely muster his name before you suck in air and a whine, and it has his head swimming, full of light and flames.

the hand wrapped around your thigh squeezes tight. his fingers dig into your hot skin. “don’t know how i go so long without it,” he confesses, “should give rocket what he wants and let him steer this thing the whole time so we can fuck back here till we can’t anymore. can we, honey, please?”

you reduce him to this, this whiny mess. strong only in his hands holding you up and his thrusts pinning you to the wall and his overwhelming urge to get laid. he’s pathetic, but he’s a world-shaking fuck, and that’s why he always gets what he wants. rocket steers the ship for the rest of the trip. peter makes sure to fuck somewhere you can see the stars pass by.

[lonestarbattleship]

December 27, 2023 Update from the Battleship Texas Foundation

"Hope everyone is having a happy holidays!

The hull has been painted Navy Blue and the boot stripe is on! The hull numbers and draft marks should get painted out this week.

Yes, the paint color is called Navy Blue even though it’s not navy blue. We are painting the ship in the camouflage scheme she wore from January 1945 to March 1948 -Measure 21. Measure 21 is Navy Blue over all with the horizontal surfaces painted Deck Blue.

No we are not painting the ship Haze Grey, because that is not in keeping with how we are presenting the ship. We are presenting the ship as she was in 1945. Navy ships weren’t always painted Haze Gray and this is a reflection of that."

Posted on the Battleship Texas Foundation Group Facebook page: link

[seonghwanotes]

new years eve | jeong yunho

pairing: yunho x reader

genre: fluff

word count: 953

a/n: this was originally a collab but i completed the ending bc the writer i collabed with had closed her acc so yeah, this had me thinking for a lil bit. ALSO THE GIF 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 im getting bias wrecked big time, i cannot imagine being yunhonotes 😭 (21 Aug 2021)

a/n: as i write this, it is 28th sept 2023 😭 had this in my drafts for a while, did not proofread at all so will just post this up for now x

It was finally the most awaited week of the whole year, Christmas week. It was a family tradition for everyone to start preparing for Christmas when December came by but this year round, you were away from your family and you were spending it with Yunho and his friends. Considering that everyone was busy with their own schedules and you finally got a break till New Years, you began your preparation a little later than usual.

But as usual, Christmas went by in a blink of an eye. Right after you had taken down the Christmas tree all by yourself, you let out a loud sigh, feeling a little sad. It certainly felt a little different since it was something you’d do together with your family members but it didn’t feel as lonely since you were with your loving boyfriend.

You grabbed your phone off the couch and took a picture of the now dismantled tree, sending it to Yunho who was at practice with the boys. Not even a second passed, he had seen your message and immediately called you.

“Oh, hello?”

“Y/N, how can you take down the tree without me helping you out? It must have been hard, especially with the upper part of the tree.” He scolded you, making you chuckle.

“Yunho, it’s fine. I was gonna do it by today anyway and I was free after you left so I just got it done. You would be home later anyway. I used a chair in case you were wondering.” You replied back, earning a sigh from him. You didn’t need to be next to him to see his pout and know that he was upset for not helping you out.

You waited for a bit as you sat down, grabbing your gifts you got for Yunho along with the gift wrapper. You set your call on speaker mode and put your phone down. You could only hear some of the boys whispering to each other but it wasn’t too audible since the background music was blocking their voices out.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I didn’t wait till you came home but tomorrow’s New Years eve! You know I don’t like keeping the tree up for longer than 3 days. Anyway, I’m going to the supermarket soon to get some stuff for our dinner tomorrow.” You told him, still not getting a response back. “Should I get champagne too?”

You and Yunho spent a homely Christmas together as everyone was with their family except for the two of you. It was not much but work has definitely made your lives much more busier, causing you two to not get presents for each other in time that you were doing it pretty late. Not that it mattered to you at this age but you felt bad for not carrying out a simple task.

You started wrapping your presents, occasionally glancing at your phone to see if he was about to end the call since he wasn’t answering you back. There was some light bickering among the boys but you couldn’t hear what they were talking about. “Jeong Yunho, If you wanted to help me out so badly, do me a favour and ask the boys what they would want for gifts or I’m wrapping vegetables for all 8 of you.”

Your threat seemed to slightly work as you heard Mingi chime at the other side of the call, “Ya, I don’t want vegetables this year. You better ask her for her size or I’m asking her myself!”

Size? Your size for what? You were about to voice out but Yunho cut you to it. “Well, that sounds fine. Go ahead, baby.”

“So you want me to get vegetables for them?” You questioned, earning a yell from Jongho.

“Y/N! Don’t listen to hyung! Get us what you feel like getting us except vegetables… what? Oh, no mint chocolate for Hongjoong hyung and Seonghwa hyung. We love you!” He yelled, making you laugh. These boys were enough to make you feel like you were at home.

“Not sure why I’m on speaker mode but okay.” You answered back, hearing someone getting a hard smack. You were about to end the call but stopped when Yunho called out. “Baby, wait! One more thing.”

“Yeah?”

“Your hand is almost the same as San’s right?” The question almost came out as a whisper, Yunho knowing you would get agitated at that question since your hands were the size of a child compared to his delicate giant ones.

“You know the answer already. Why are you even asking this? Are you getting me a bracelet from Pandora or what?” You asked him, sealing the gift wrapper with a ribbon on top for Yunho’s gift, which was a Rolex watch and matching rings that you’ve been eyeing for a while now.

A silence was heard initially, then a voice followed along. “Yeah, would rose gold do?”

Your cheeks flushed, “Ah, um, yeah. See you later then. Tell the boys to be early tomorrow. Oh, I’ll get 3 bottles of champagne then, okay?”

“Okay, sure thing. Yes, 3 is fine. I love you.” Yunho replied, sending a kiss through the call.

“Love you too.” You responded and ended the call.

One gift wrapped and there was more to go. You sighed, pushing them away for awhile and opened your laptop to surf the internet, making a list on what to buy for the boys, wanting it to be meaningful as well. Even if Christmas wasn’t as joyful as you wanted it to be, New Years was going to be the most memorable holiday you had in a while and you couldn’t wait for it to arrive.

[secretsleuthexchange]

Hello friends and fellow sleuths!

Secret Sleuth Gift Exchange 2023 is HERE!

what does this mean? this Gift Exchange will be an exchange of fanworks between fandom friends. this is an open exchange, which means it is not ship or character specific, and gifts can be made to cater what interests our participants.

by signing up, you will be committing yourself to creating something fun for your assigned Secret Sleuth based on the form filled out below. but shh… remember it’s a secret! any contact you have with your SS after you receive your assignments should be anonymous or through the exchange admins, to help keep the integrity of the exchange.

what can i make? we have outlined what gifts will be acceptable for our exchange here:

fanfiction (1500 words minimum)

graphics/gifsets (2 image minimum)

icons/header sets (4 item minimum)

fanart

playlists (15 song minimum, appropriate cover art, and linked)

fanvid (2 minutes total minimum)

moodboard (8 panel minimum)

if you have other ideas, check with us to see if they are appropriate! we’re always open to new things!

detailed submissions guide here.

how do i sign up? using this form – please provide as much detail as possible, so we can match you with the best possible Secret Sleuth and to help them create a gift perfect for you!

what’s the timeline?

21 October: sign-ups open for 2 weeks

4 November: sign-ups close

11 November: all gift assignments will be delivered by this date

2 December: check-in #1: we’ll check in to see how you are doing with starting your gift

16 December: check-in #2, we’ll check in a week before the deadline to check final progress, assign posting date and confirm your plan for posting

23 December: all gifts must be completed & drafted, ready for posting

24 December: gifts will be posted starting on this date and continue through the 4 January, amount of slots per day will be determined after sign-ups close

this is an Exchange, so in the spirit of the event, remember that everyone who signs up is going to be hard at work creating the best gifts possible and if you don't think you can commit to that, we ask that you not sign up! everyone will still get to enjoy the fruits at the end of the event!

follow us here -> @secretsleuthexchange -> on Twitter @ssgiftexchange & track our tag #secretsleuthgiftexchange

please reblog and spread the word!

xoxo Secret Sleuth Gift Exchange team

[toasttt11]

future generation

name: Charlotte EJ Lucia Jacklyn Hughes

parents: Quinn Hughes and Frances Gomez

birthday: April 3, 2020

First overall pick of the 2038 NHL draft to the Vancouver Canucks, plays as forward with the number 86.

name: Callum Mason Zegras

parents: Trevor Zegras and Chloe Rue

birthday: May 11, 2021

Second pick of the first round of the 2039 NHL draft to Seattle Krakens, plays as a defenseman and is number 11.

name: Clara Jamie Zegras

parents: Trevor Zegras and Chloe Rue

birthday: May 11, 2021

Youngest announcer for the NHL, joined the Vancouver Canucks as their announcer in 2039.

name: Easton Matt Tkachuck

parents: Brady and Emma

birthday: June 9, 2022

Professional Soccer player for the United States men National team.

name: Elizabeth Tate Tkachuck

parents: Brady and Emma Tkachuk

birthday: December 7, 2023

Fashion designer and went to school for it in New York, started her own high end fashion line.

name: Bennett Boeser

parents: Brock and Bella Boeser

birthday: October 27, 2022

Third pick in the first round of the 2039 NHL draft, to the Vancouver Canucks, plays as a defenseman and is number 21.

name: Dawson Demko

parents: Thatcher and Lexi Demko

born: August 5, 2023

Sixth pick of the first round in the 2042 NHL draft, plays as goalie and he is number 23.

name: Kaspian Quinn Petterson

parents: Elias Petterson and Daniella Lorenzo

birthday: August 26, 2020

Seventh pick in the first round of the 2038 NHL draft to the Vancouver Canucks, plays as right wing and is number 4.

name: Ezra Alex Caufield

parents: Cole and Abigail Caufield

birthday: February 22, 2023

Formula one driver for Red bull racing, number 22.

[mjjune]

2023 Writer's Wrapped

I've been quite busy this year!! See below <3

Reading:

Total: 21

Genres: comics, sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary, urban, kidlit, romance, novellas and short stories

Favorite: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Beta read @wexi09, @isabellebissonrouthier, and @jamieanovels stories!!!

Writing & Editing:

Novels Written: 1

Novels Edited: 2

Year Word Count: 142k

Lifetime Word Count: 1.15m

Participated in Camp Nano, edited during November

DS Draft 0 and Draft 1 with alpha in-progress

AVOF2 Draft 1 with alpha complete; currently editing

Querying:

TWTR: 1 full (still out); 2 maybe piles; 10 out; 13 rejections

AVOF: 2 indie pubs, both rejected

Writeblr Stats:

Hit a new follower milestone!

Most popular post: Compilation of Beta Reading Resources

Biggest fans (December only): @rainbowcoloreddays @illyriashade56 @lightgriffinsect @hesperos-xi 

My Life:

A new job with a 10k+ pay increase!!

Living on my own without a roommate for the first time

Lots of grief with a cousin and my childhood cat passing away

Met two online friends in person for the first time

Beach trips and NYC trip <3

Art Commissions:

Helio by @/openheartart_ on Instagram

AVOF Characters by @vacantgodling

Danny & Helio by @neapaulatan

TWTR by @neapaulatan

Woodsman and Red by @littlestpersimmon and @akiwitch

Woodsman by @ichimakesart

The Ax by @vacantgodling

[quadrupedalpotato]

Odds (all of them) for the fic writing meme

XD I had to remember how to log into tumblr on desktop to do this.

1.          the last sentence you wrote

(Already did it and I don’t have another sentence yet to contribute.)

3.          how you feel about your current WIP

Completely in a pre-draft (if that’s a thing?) phase, but if it gets written up and published, it’s going to be so good.

5.          first sentence of the fifth paragraph of an unpublished WIP

“But here she was, still alive, playing more of a role in everything than she’d ever been prepared to.” and, as a bonus from a different WIP

"The ad he’d found had advertised almost everything but sex."

7.          your preferred writing fonts

I don’t care a lot. I do really like Courier, though, so if pressed to pick, probably that.

(On that note, I just got used to Calibri, which is no longer the default for Microsoft Word and it’s driving me up the wall.)

9.          start to finish, how long did it take you to write the last fic you posted?

I was writing it for a themed week, and I wrote it kind of last minute, so…five days, maybe?

11.        a WIP you’d like to finish someday

I got maybe around ¾ of the way through a really long chaptered post-canon Death Note fic and then didn’t finish it. I know about how it’s supposed to end, so I could theoretically get back to it. I’d just need to reread everything to get back up to speed.

13.        a fandom you’re thinking about writing for

I don’t think I have anything I’m actively planning to write for right now. Banana Fish has been on my list for a while and I don’t think I’ve ever actually published anything for it, so maybe that?

15.        favorite weather for writing

Raaaaaaaain

17.        talk about your writing and editing process

I either edit meticulously as I go, or I word dump basically the whole thing before going back through and editing. There is no in between.

I think I tend to do better if I can avoid editing until after the fact. In that case, I usually get the whole thing out, then give it a day or two before going back in and rereading it over. First pass is usually to fix little things (word choice, spelling errors, etc), second pass is actual content.

19.        the most interesting topic you’ve researched for a fic

That is a great question, and I’m going to cheat. Not for a fic, but for a heavy, long-form, basically chaptered RP thread that should be turned into a fic someday, I did a super intensive deep dive into Manhattan’s Chinatown (plus several others in the US), which included ordering a copy of this guy’s dissertation-later-published from the 1980s on juvenile delinquency and identity in Chinatown.

21.        when did you publish your most recent fic?

December 10, 2023, the last of three fics that week for a themed week.

23.        pick three keywords that describe your writing

(Done earlier.)

25.        besides writing, what are your other hobbies?

Knitting and, more recently, crocheting. Guitar. Video games.

27.        your favorite part of the writing process

Those moments when stuff starts to flow and it’s super easy to write a bunch of good stuff to come back and edit later. Like a runner’s high, but writing.

29.        how easy is it for you to come up with titles?

Ehhhhh…depends? I think I usually end up just poking through the finished fic to pick something that looks vaguely title-ish, and that usually works.

[olyollyoxenfree]

I'd appreciate some help running a purely digital zine

In short, a 20th anniversary Precure zine I applied to contribute to has gone up in smoke.

The server has been up for two months, but the moderators have been silent for the majority of the time since its start. The last time anyone heard from either mod was one month ago regarding a timeline, which they still hadn't posted.

It made me really sad to watch as several of the artists left the passion project due to poor communication.

Two nights ago, I drafted a slapdash timeline for a similar digital zine for the 20th Anniversary of Precure, then revised that the next morning. I'm in the process of drafting a third timeline proposal, but currently, I have two timelines I wish to propose:

Timeline 1: Interest Check Start: First week of July 2023; Release Date: Mid to late December 2023

Timeline 2: Interest Check Start: First week of August 2023; Release Date: Mid to late January 2024 (ideally before the next season airs)

I have more details than what's listed above, I assure you; this is just to give a general idea.

While refining my proposals, I did some research, created a server, and came up with a checklist filled with as many details as I could think of; the contact information of people who'd previously expressed interest in the zine, positions that need filling, and a to-do list I created after referencing zines I'd previously purchased myself.

Point is, I've done as much as I can on my own, and I'm going to keep researching, but I'd greatly appreciate some assistance.

I'd like to enlist the help of at least one (1) experienced moderator. Given the time constraints and my own lack of zine experience, however, I think a team of 2 or 3 would be ideal for this project.

I'll be continuing my independent research for the next few weeks, but if you know of someone who might be interested in co-moderatoring this digital zine, or are interested in the position yourself, please reach out to me by Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Thank you for reading.

[3416]

Capitals’ Rasmus Sandin reflects on shock of Maple Leafs trade, finding role with new team

By: Joshua Kloke | Mar 21, 2023 | The Athletic

At first, Rasmus Sandin didn’t want to listen to what he was being told.

On the rink at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle on Feb. 28, Sandin was moments away from his rep in a practice drill when he got a tap on the shoulder from Leafs assistant coach Dean Chynoweth. Sandin was wanted by a Leafs media relations member.

Sandin gave Chynoweth a quizzical look and told him he’d get to the request later.

“You’ve got to go now,” Chynoweth told him.

Beside the rink, Sandin was informed he had to see Leafs GM Kyle Dubas immediately.

“That walk felt very long,” Sandin told The Athletic.

Sandin stood stunned as Dubas delivered the news that the first draft pick he had ever made as Maple Leafs GM, and a player once thought of as a centrepiece to the Leafs’ future on defence, was being traded to the Washington Capitals.

“(Dubas) told me it wasn’t really something he wanted to do. But he felt like this was best for the team and also a good situation for me to go to Washington,” Sandin said.

With that, Sandin’s practice, and time as a Maple Leaf, was over. A whirlwind three weeks has followed for Sandin. He has spent the majority of his time as a Capital on the road, and he has logged over 20 minutes per game on the ice, something he last did in December for the Leafs. With that ice time, Sandin has posted an impressive 11 points in eight games with his new team.

The trade and increased playing time has given the 23-year-old a new lease on life, and an opportunity, in his words, “to show Toronto that they did something wrong with trading me.”

Over the course of a wide-ranging 20-minute phone interview, Sandin looked back on his time in Toronto, the trade that surprised him, and his future in Washington.

Rasmus Sandin wants to set the record straight.

“I did not request a trade out of Toronto,” he said. “I had literally no idea I was getting traded.”

Despite rumours to the contrary, likely a by-product of an emerging talent who didn’t get the kind of playing time that talent might dictate in Toronto, Sandin insists he never once thought about requesting a trade either. After he was drafted in the first round in 2018, Sandin moved from the Soo Greyhounds to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He had the on-ice smarts, the vision and the puck-moving skills that made him look like a decent grab at No. 29.

And maybe, if his skating and understanding of how to pick his spots defensively came around, he could become a top-four, power-play quarterback down the road too.

There were no serious questions about his development through his first season in the AHL and his second pro season, in which he split time between the Marlies and the Leafs. A foot injury hampered his playing time in 2020-21, though he was part of the Leafs’ playoff lineup for five games against the Montreal Canadiens in 2021. Perhaps the first genuinely concerning questions about whether Sandin could be depended on in important moments were raised during Game 5 of that first-round series, when two of his turnovers led to Canadiens goals in a loss.

In 2021-22, the final of his entry-level deal, Sandin was beset by injuries. He looked like a capable bottom-pairing defenceman, sure, but regular top-four minutes didn’t come.

“In my mind, it was always about battling for a spot,” Sandin said. “They had such a deep defence core, which is a good thing because everyone is battling every single day for a spot in the lineup.”

So coming into this season, it was fair to wonder where Sandin fit with the Leafs long term. He looked on the verge of breaking out, but Dubas had assembled a team capable of competing now. Among Leafs defencemen who were on the team before the trade deadline, Sandin again sat sixth in average time on ice. And though he’d received some more power-play responsibilities, he’d been lapped by his friend and fellow young blueliner Timothy Liljegren in ice time.

Sandin will always be linked to Liljegren in Toronto, fairly or not. Both are Swedish defencemen, first-round picks who rely on their hockey IQ — and were chosen in back-to-back years.

And Dubas was looking for both to sign similar bridge deals this past offseason. Liljegren bit on a two-year, $2.8-million deal in June 2022 as Sandin remained unsigned. Questions about his future in Toronto were amplified.

“What people don’t know is that my mom got sick in the beginning of 2022. She got cancer. She had some serious surgeries. We had a really tough time as a family that summer. That’s a big part of why I stayed at home, so I could spend time with her. People don’t know about that. That’s fine with me because I knew it, and Toronto knew it and they were fine with it,” Sandin said.

So while those questions remained at the start of training camp, Sandin stayed at his home in Sweden, unsigned.

“To be honest, my head wasn’t (in Toronto). For me, family comes first. My head wasn’t in hockey to go back to Toronto to sign a contract (in June),” Sandin said. “It was important to have my mom’s back.”

Sandin’s brother Linus returned to Sweden to play in the SHL after two professional seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, which included his NHL debut in 2021-22.

“Being in Toronto with the market it is, no matter what, everything is going to be a big deal. That was something I wanted to keep to myself and not distract other guys,” Sandin said.

He still isn’t sure how many other teammates knew about his mother’s diagnosis.

As the leaves began to fall on the trees and Sandin said his mother’s health began to improve, she told him it was time to return to Toronto. He signed a deal with the same term and cap hit as Liljegren’s during training camp.

He finished his Toronto career with 48 points in 140 games, averaging 16:40 per game and has few regrets outside of more team postseason success.

“I wish we could’ve gone further in some of the playoffs,” Sandin said. “Otherwise, I don’t think I would have done things much differently.”

And that attitude is part of why Sandin was so taken aback by the trade out of Toronto. He says he believed in his future with the team.

Sandin was surrounded by friends in Toronto, too. Towards the beginning of this season, there were seven Swedes on the Leafs’ roster, the most of any NHL team.

Yet within a matter of minutes, those friendships were put to the test as Sandin was dealt to the Capitals and forward Pierre Engvall was shipped to the New York Islanders. After that Leafs practice in Seattle concluded, Sandin, Engvall, William Nylander and Timothy Liljegren gathered beside the rink for one last chat.

“It was tough holding back tears,” Sandin said. “It’s more than just hockey.”

“It was a nice moment, to have the chance to say goodbye,” Sandin added. “I’m going to have (them) as best friends for the rest of my life.”

Sandin left the rink, and the Leafs organization, walking arm-in-arm with Nylander.

“It’s tough even talking about it. (Nylander) was telling me how much he was going to miss me. We’ve been so close since even before my time in Toronto. He’s one of my best friends, if not my best friend. He wished me the best of luck, and said, ‘Don’t you dare not talk to me after you leave us,’” Sandin said.

It’s a side of the uber-cool and laid-back Nylander the public isn’t often privy to.

“He is the way a lot of people see him with the confidence and all that. But he’s one of the best human beings I’ve ever met. He has a lot of different sides. Sometimes the rest of the guys who don’t know him don’t get to see this side very often. For me, being close to him, I think I’ve seen every single side of him. I wasn’t too surprised about it, but I was obviously very happy that he showed that side as well,” Sandin said.

Still in shock, Sandin headed south to meet the Capitals in California. Having only packed for 10 days primarily through Western Canada in late winter, Sandin immediately found himself in need of a change of attire.

“I ran out of clothes pretty quick,” he said.

Life with the Leafs had been the only life Sandin had known. No more navy blue Adidas sweatsuits to wear to practices and morning skates. No more sneakers to go with suits for games, with ties optional. The Capitals operate a business-casual dress code, which meant one of the first stops Sandin made was to a local mall for dress shoes and a tie.

Once he was outfitted to the Capitals’ standards, he could focus on “showing what type of player I can be, and am.”

“You want to prove (the Capitals) right that they made a good choice in trading for you,” Sandin said. “And you want to prove your old team wrong.”

The Capitals have given him the runway to do just that. He’s averaged a whopping 24:56 time on ice per game, tops among all Capitals position players.

Now, how long Sandin’s production streak lasts remains to be seen. He’s minus-5 as a Capital and his five-on-five expected goals with the team sits at a paltry 41.42 percent. Six of his 11 points have come on the power play. Still, his increased workload is part of the reason Sandin believes he’s producing on the score sheet at an impressive rate. He feels part of the solution for a Capitals team on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

“It’s been a lot of fun just to know that your coaches believe in you, and your teammates believe in you,” Sandin said. “That’s a reason why they wanted to pick me up. They see me as a Washington Capital for a long time. That feels good.”

For the young defenceman, the ice time has helped him move on from the difficulty of leaving close friends. He can’t deny that it feels nice to be wanted and to see a way forward into a prominent role on the ice for years to come.

“I hope to stay here for a long time,” Sandin said.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Eindstrijd: not a translation error (how could it have been anyway?) by u/Mickleborough

Eindstrijd: not a translation error (how could it have been anyway?) The last I heard:Does La pom-pom girl en chef know how translation works?Dutch journalist and royal correspondent Rick Evers points to the Dutch version of Endgame which reveals the following:The last word of the above paragraph clearly states that the alleged person who made the alleged racist comment was the King.Below is the text about the Princess of Wales allegedly discussing skin tones with her father-in-law:First 5 lines.From this Evers infers - not unreasonably - that the translators Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukellar van Rijsbergen translated what was given to them. (This is what they’ve said as well.)How did this arise? Evers notes that the Dutch version has paragraphs which the English doesn’t have.A plausible explanation is: One would‘ve thought that final, signed-off proofs would’ve been issued to other publishing houses - they would’t have been sent more than 1 draft.But why would any version contain the names, as La pom-pom girl en chef had claimed that he was ’forbidden by law’ from identifying them?In addition, he states:Perhaps it was the little elves that came out at night and wrote his book for him,La pom-pom girl en chef has form in lying. Or did Meghan intercept the correct draft and substitute a more titillating version to make mischief?For background: the Independent archived / unarchivedRick Evers YouTube video (1:21 minutes) post link: https://ift.tt/CKPn95s author: Mickleborough submitted: December 03, 2023 at 12:09AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[firstprince-ao3feed]

Make-up Sex Anyone?

Make-up Sex, Anyone? https://ift.tt/auzlpMi by UR_LOVERGIRL Alex is cut off by Henry’s lips on his, his hands in Alex’s hair. Henry takes complete control of the kiss, grinding down into Alex’s lap, his cock already hard and straining to make contact with Alex’s, who’s hips cant up to meet Henry halfway. They get into a sort of rhythm, but soon Henry pulls away with a gasp, the two boys panting in unison. Alex, already missing the feeling of Henry’s lips on his, pushes off his elbows to get closer to Henry, only to be pressed back into the mattress by those strong arms he loves so much. “Not yet, Alex. Pants off first, come on.” ... Make-up sex, anyone? Seriously though, the brainrot is so bad that I wrote this in about 30 minutes and let it sit in my drafts for two months, but here you go. Enjoy! Words: 1934, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Red White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston, Red White & Royal Blue (2023) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Alex Claremont-Diaz, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Relationships: Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Additional Tags: Smut, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Smut, Anal Sex, Making Up, Light Angst via AO3 works tagged 'Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor' https://ift.tt/DnbMQN1 December 21, 2023 at 01:20PM

[lilliemeadowsxoxo]

Since so many if you SPAMMED my messages in like 30 minutes begging for early release, you can't have an early Christmas billy release.

But you CAN have a billy fic of your choice. Out of my drafts and published 1 a day till Christmas.

Older billy(like 26) x 18, yr old reader- done December 20

Billy x ridiculously smart reader done with an oc "Antalya Eloise" December 22 2023

Billy x shy reader

Billy x obsessed reader

Obsessed billy x purity reader (reader refuses to be dicked down)

Doe eyed reader x billy

Billy x Steve's gf reader (whom he steals) done December 21 2023

Billy x girly reader

Billy x secret lingerie model reader

@billys-pretty-babe @writingwhimsey @heartbreak-sandwich @rattkween86

[deancasroaringtwentiesbang]

DCRT 2023 - 2024 Schedule🥂

September 10, 2023 | Sign Ups Open - All Participants


Sign ups are open for all participants ages 18+. After reading the rules and familiarizing yourself with the schedule, you will be invited to join the Discord server via email.


December 1, 2023 | Sign Ups Close - Authors


There will be no exceptions or late entries after this date.


December 20, 2023 | First Check-In - Authors


Nothing is due at this point, but we want to make sure you are on track to finish the required amount by claims. The check in form will be emailed on December 15, 2023.


January 8, 2024 | 80% Drafts and Claims Info Due - Authors


Author drafts are due. More information in the Claims Info section found on Tumblr. The form will be open January 1, 2022.


January 8, 2024 | Sign Ups Close - Artists


There will be no exceptions or late entries after this date, though you may still participate in the second round of claims if applicable.


January 8, 2024 | Final Drop Out Day - Authors


This is the final day for authors to drop out without penalty. Please contact the mods via email if you would like to drop out. Dropping out after this date may disqualify you from future rounds.


January 17, 2024 | FIRST ROUND OF CLAIMS - Artists


Open to Registered users only and lasts 24 hours. Mods will be sending out emails to artists indicating which fic they have claimed with or without author contact info (depending on author preference.)


January 18, 2024 | SECOND ROUND OF CLAIMS - Artists


Open to the public and able to claim second fic until all fics are claimed. Mods will be sending out emails to artists indicating which pic they have claimed with or without author contact info (depending on author preference.)


January 19, 2024 | Introductory Emails - All Participants


Teams will receive emails with contact info. 


January 21, 2024 | Team Check-In - All Participants


Teams will be expected to contact each other and share current drafts within 48 hours of the end of claims. If your partner does not respond, contact a mod immediately.


January 21, 2024 | Posting Availability Due - All Teams


Availability forms will be sent out four days before they are due. Only one form per team needs to be sent in, so it is important to be in contact with your partner so that you are on the same page in terms of availability. Form opens January 19, 2024.


January 22, 2024 | Posting Schedule Released - All Participants


Posting schedule will be sent out to all participants. Contact the mods if there are any issues. Note that posting will only take place Monday-Friday.


February 19, 2024 | Check-In and Rough Drafts Due - Artists


This check in is to make sure our artists are on track to finish their art by posting. Line art, rough sketches, and first drafts will need to be submitted. The check in form will be available five days before the due date. Form open January 12, 2024.

February 19, 2024 | Pinch-Hit Emails


Mods will be sending out requests to pinch hit artists as required.


March 7, 2024 | Final Check-In - All Teams


Final polished art/fic drafts are due. This form will be open for five days before the deadline. Form open March 1, 2022.


March 11, 2024 | Posting Begins


The first teams will start posting, and mods will share posts on social media.


Sometime In March | Posting Ends and Masterpost Goes Live On Tumblr


Posting ends and all stories are compiled into a master post on Tumblr. The collection will be closed.


[secretsleuthexchange]

Timelines for 2023

Hello all! Please see below a quick reminder of the key dates for the 2023 Secret Sleuth holiday gift exchange:

21 October: sign-ups open

4 November: sign-ups close

11 November: you will receive your assignment by this date

23 December: all gifts must be completed & drafted

24 December: gifts will start posting

4 January: gifts will finish posting

If you have any questions, please get in touch!

[rose-bookblood]

Hi, folks! A “bit” late since I was in Barcelona for the first week of January, then got sick twice, but finally I'm here with the last quarterly writing update of 2022 (that will also sort of serve as a yearly update).

STATISTICS

Yearly total: 66.923

Total: 18.517

October: 3455

November: 8281

December: 6781

Projects: RWR, miscellaneous

COMMENTS

After the terrible heat of this summer, that lasted till half of October, I could finally get back to writing the way I wanted to! Having zero energy to write was horrible for me and that, coupled with a shitty home situation, killed my mood for months, so I can't explain how happy it made me that it was all over.

NaNoWriMo isn't my thing (I'm slow at literally anything, so you can imagine how fast drafting wouldn't be for me), but in November I still decided to challenge myself and raise my daily word count goal. I used to aim for 200, but upped my game to 300 and even consistently reached 400.

Last year I wrote 18 of 21 chapters of RWR (plus a good chunk of chapter 19), and I’m definitely satisfied with my progress. I’m now writing chapter 20 and so excited to finish this draft!

In December, I got the best news: an editor offered to work with me on BBtS! I had a call with her this month and it’s already been incredibly helpful. We’re basically starting from scratch and tweaking my original plan to fix any plot holes and narrative weaknesses, so at the end of this journey I’ll have a new, tighter outline and I’ll be able to write a second draft much more solid than the first.

That’s all! 2023 started weeks ago, but I still want to wish all of you a happy new year!

RWR taglist: (lmk to be added or removed) @tommie-hildebrandt @stormharbors @mel-writes-with-her-dragons

[ae-diaries]

2022 in REVIEW

Had this in my drafts for so long. I'm a list-type-of-girl so I listed what God has done in the past year. Para mayroon din naman akong good memories and lessons na babalikbalikan. Now, I finally have the time to post it.

My birth month is already over. It became my favorite tradition to write my year-end reflections but I didn't have time doing this last December to February because I put my focus and energy on my loved ones, constants, and work.

Looking back, 2022 was tough, but I was tougher. It wasn't easy. At least for me. Madami akong iniiyak sa year na ito: my family's health issues, quarter-life crisis, and silent battles. They were too much to handle. Yet in those unbearably hard times, I never give up and lose hope knowing that God was holding the other end of the rope. Indeed, it has always been His grace and the people He used that saved and buoyed me to the surface that I will always be immensely grateful for.

Despite the stormy sea, God has won more victories in my life through and through. Those tough times gave me the opportunity to exercise my tenacity and draw me closer to God.

I LEARNED na may baon pa pala akong lakas kahit feeling ko ubos na ubos na ako, may bigla na lang dumarating na tulong at malasakit kapag feeling mo walang wala ka na at may Diyos na yayakapin ka at hindi ka pababayaan kapag feeling mo hindi mo na kaya.

I REALIZED that uncertainties will come along the way, but one thing is certain - He is always faithful to his promises. And that's what I want to fix my eyes on this 2023: the lens of 3Gs (Gratitude and God's Grace).

Ended the year with inner peace and gratitude.

I could say lahat ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan ko at ng pamilya ko ay may magandang kapalit. Photos (with caption) below wrapped up the higlights of my 2022. #SKL 😜

1. TATAY'S HOSPITALIZATION

(Me in the photo..after humagulhol to surrender Tatay's condition to Jesus...and to his doctors.)

The first quarter was truuuuly a turbulent period for our family. I was drowning in fear because of so many terrifying episodes during my father's hospitalization. And the worst part of it is when the doctors offered immediate intubation for tatay on the night of Feb. 13 because of his decrease in sensorium. At this moment, I exploded in tears as I/we prayed and surrendered his condition to Jesus. But what happened next was a testament of God's miracle: Tatay slowly opened his eyes a few hours before his intubation! Truth be told, you will never know that God is all you need, when God is all you have. Sa panahong hopeless kana, dito mo malalamang may Diyos ka nga pala na kumikilos. You just have to place your full trust and faith in Him. He is way maker, promise keeper and miracle worker. I also met the best and the most compassionate doctors He used as instruments.

It's humbling to say that serving my father is what I considered my biggest achievement in 2022. Nothing else comes close.

It was also in this season that my elder sister and her fam abroad got Covid-19. But then again, they made it through by God's grace.

2. ELYU TRAVEL

In April, a week after my father was discharged, I went on an unexpected solo trip to SFLU out of necessity. I felt God also brought me here to breathe, clear my mind off things, calm my storms, and somehow, reward me for what I'd been through. Dasurv? 😂

3. BABY MEGAN WAS BORN

3. In July 21, my sister gave birth to Baby Megan, my third niece. She's a rainbow baby. A new bundle of joy to our ever growing family.

However, it was also the month where Tatay got Covid-19 and I fell ill, too. My anxiety was kicking in again, but later on I realized, "Kelan ba kami pinabayaan ng Dyos?" He has always been faithful to us. We wouldn't survive this without Him.

4. THE RETURN OF F2F CLASSES

And then come August, the return of F2F classes. I feel blessed to have met a new breed of awesome learners under my care. They have brought context to my world.

5. A MASTER'S DEGREE HOLDER

And I never thought that despite my busyness and clutter at work, I would be able to have my thesis completed and finally received my master's degree at the Philippine Christian University at the same time. One for the books!

6. ALYESSA'S MILESTONE

In the same month, Alyessa, my younger sister, finally started her career abroad. I couldn't be more proud of her milestone. Pautang naman sis. 😂

7. BABY GIA'S CHRISTENING & 1ST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

We also celebrated baby Gia's (my second adorable niece) first birthday and christening last September. It was way memorable! (without lockdown and less restrictions, too)

8. ONE OF MY BIGGEST DREAMS WAS GRANTED!

Last October 24, I received an email - this I considered an early xmas gift from God - an answered prayer that I'd been longing to hear! All of my efforts and hardwork were all worth it.

9. A WELL-SPENT FAMILY VACATION

And last December became one of the most memorable Year-End parties we had in our fam. Plus, my eldest sister and her fam had finally spent their Christmas vacation in PH after 13 years. Everything was surreal. ❤️ Grateful is an understatement.

An dami kong drama, nag-bday lang naman ako. 😅

My wish? I didn't have anything in particular because all of the things that I'm experiencing right now are my answered prayers in the past. I put 2023 in Your hands.

#HERYear #Januarygirl #post-bday