#hey chat any idea how to get better quality

[smokin9-box]

WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL PODCAST!!!

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Ace Trappola - Room Relaxation Vignette

"Happy Birthday"

[Exterior Hallway]

Ace: Well, it's gettin' about time. Guess I'll head to basketball practice… Hm? Who's that over there…?

Ace: Yo, Kalim-senpai! How's it going? Hey, hey, do you know what tomorrow is?

Kalim: Tomorrow? Hm, what's going on tomorrow…? Is there a dance competition? Oh, or is there some sort of feast planned?

Ace: Ooh, you're getting' close! The correct answer is… My birthday～!

Kalim: Woah! Tomorrow's your birthday!? That's awesome!!

Ace: Yeah, it's totally awesome! There's gonna be a party back at my dorm, and everyone'll get me a gift. It'll be a blast!

Ace: But, y'know, the crazier the party, the more lonely it feels the day after my birthday…

Ace: I always feel like it'd be great if these sorts of days come around two or three times more a year.

Ace: …Don'tcha think, Kalim-senpai?

Kalim: Oh, yeah, I feel you! It just doesn't feel enough to only have one birthday a year.

Kalim: Hey, I just had a great idea! I'll throw you another party the day after your birthday.

Kalim: That way you won't feel as lonely, right? It sounds super fun, so let me do this for you!

Ace: Ehhhh, you sure!? I'm tickled pink! Kalim-senpai, thanks so much!

Kalim: Yeah! I'll make it the best, most outrageous party you've ever seen, so I hope you look forward to it!

[Kalim leaves]

Ace: Nice, I got Kalim-senpai to celebrate my birthday! And he's making it an outrageously awesome party…

Ace: That might get a veto from Jamil-senpai, though…

Ace: But regardless, I at least secured a promise from Kalim-senpai for a celebration. I can't way for the day after tomorrow～!

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Ace's Room]

Ace: Huuurgh, today's basketball practice was insanely hard… Floyd-senpai just wouldn't quit guarding me!

Ace: Usually he just gets bored and disappears off to who knows where… Ugh, I'm so tired～ I just wanna pass out…

Ace: My roommates sure got it easy. Doesn't sound like they got any upperclassmen that cause problems or nag all the time…

Ace: …Augh, I'm definitely gonna fall asleep if I just keep zoning out. I'm gonna go jump in the shower.

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Ace's Room]

[roommates chatting]

[Roommate A greets Ace]

Ace: I'm baaack. Why did I take so long…? Y'see, Trey-senpai cornered me while I was brushing my teeth in the washroom.

Ace: He made me re-brush my teeth, and then handed me some floss and mouthwash. Then…

「Survey on Quality of Life Improvements for the Student Body」

Ace: Right, so he handed me this survey to fill out too. Ugh, it's short answers! Better if it was multiple choice or something.

Ace: Hey, can't any of you guys fill this out for me? I'm real tired from practice today, 'cause it was reeeal hard.

[Deuce refuses]

Ace: …Do it myself without tryin' to slack off? Fine, fine, guess that's what I shoulda expected from you honor student types. You're takin' it waaay too seriously!

Ace: Maybe I'll just jot down that it sucks to be stuck in a room with guys I don't vibe with, or something.

[Deuce argues]

Ace: …Oh, shut up, I was just kidding. Whatever, I guess I'll just start filling in the form.

Ace: First off… The dorm rooms are way too small! That's the worst thing, so I definitely can't leave that out.

Ace: Sure, we can ask each other to swap dorm duties, or help each other when we can't remember a specific Queen of Hearts' rule…

Ace: So I guess it's not the end of the world that there's four of us in here. But it'd be better if the room was just a bit bigger.

Ace: It's practically impossible to study in here. Sometimes someone else's stuff'll end up in my personal space, too.

[Roommate B speaks up]

Ace: …Huh? Pot, meet kettle? No way, I'm always tiding up after myself…

[Roommate B interjects]

Ace: Eh, you found my pen mixed in with your stuff the other day? Uhhhh…. Oh, dang, look at that, it's lights out time!

Ace: I gotta hit the hay! Mmkay, night!

Ace: Aaand, that's the way to shut them out! This is why I love canopy beds.

Ace: As soon as I draw the curtains closed, I can have secure myself a small, little private space…

Ace: The thicker curtains help to keep light and sound down, so even if I'm playing with my phone all night long, it's not bothering anyone else.

Ace: When I think of it that way, I think the only thing I really have to complain about my room is just that it's small.

Ace: …But once I step outside my room, I gotta deal with strange rules, scary upperclassmen, and insanely hard homework.

Ace: Oh, right, I have homework… I need to do that… But first, I think I'll take a bit of a breather and play on my phone for a bit!

Ace: Ooh, my middle school friends uploaded something onto Magicam. They look like they're havin' fun back in the Queendom.

Ace: I feel crazy jelly seeing that, especially since I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere on Sage's Island… Hm?

Ace: Wait, what's this video at the bottom…? Oh! It's an ad for the magic shop I was looking into the other day!

Ace: Woah, how'd they manage that trick? Yooo, I bet I'd look real cool if I could master that!

Ace: I really want that magic trick. Maybe I should ask for it for my birthday.

Ace: Oh, hey, that next manga chapter is out. I gotta check that out.

Ace: Oh, and there's an event going on in that one mobile game. Guess I can log in for that. Oh, and…

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Ace's Room]

Ace: Urrrgh… Mm… It's too bright… Is it morning already? I guess I fell asleep playing the game.

Ace: What time is it…? Huh!? It's already this late!? Hey, why didn't anyone wake me up!?

Ace: Didn't my alarm wake me? You opened my curtain for me? …If you're gonna do that much, you coulda woken me up!

Ace: At least I don't have morning practice today… But I gotta get ready on the double!

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Washroom]

Ace: My face is washed and my skin-care routine is done.

Ace: Ack, my hair's all over the place! Ughh, c'mon, I hate how my hair is…!

Ace: Maybe I can just fix it with some wax… Oh, but I want to make sure I have time to fix my makeup…

Ace: I got no choice, I should just use magic to set it! I screwed it up last time, but… I can totally do it today! Definitely! Hyah!

[poof!]

Ace: AAAAAAAAHH!? IT GOT EVEN WORSE, THIS SUCKS!!

Ace: What can I even do about this now!? Okay, first, let me try this spray to fix the bedhead!!

[spritz, spritz, spritz]

Ace: Ack, did I spray too much? Okay, I should just be able to rub it in here with my fingers… Guess I'll just have to see how it looks later.

Ace: I gotta set my makeup while I wait for my hair to loosen up. First, I gotta slap on some sunscreen…

Ace: Now, my eyebrows are the priority. I can kinda let everything else be half-done, but this's gotta be on point.

Ace: Back in middle school, I remember we were all laughing our heads off at this one person who did a terrible job drawing in his eyebrows, tryin' to look all fashion-y.

Ace: …I mean, not like I'd ever or will ever make that kind of screw up, though.

Ace: I saw a video yesterday that says that thicker eyebrows are in right now, so I'll just try to follow that tutorial and draw in where it's lacking…

Ace: Okay, nice. Not bad! I think I did pretty good for just trying to copy what I saw.

Ace: Now all I got left is my eye makeup… What should I do for the suit? I'd like to use something with a bit of lamé in it, but…

Ace: I bet the Housewarden'll get all huffy if it's too fancy. Guess I should just do what I normally do.

Ace: How's my hair looking…? Nice, it's tamer now! Probably was a good thing to spray too much on it.

Ace: Just gotta put some hair wax in to set it… Done. Whew, I feel a bit more presentable now.

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Ace's Room]

[roommates chattering]

Ace: I gotta get my stuff together ASAP… Wait, huh? If the rest of you are all here, does that mean we still have a bunch of time?

Ace: Maan, then I coulda worked on my hair a bit more. I think I'll dip into the washroom again… Huh? My enigmatics homework?

Ace: …AAAAAAAAAH!! I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT IT!!

Ace: Oh man, I'm so screwed, Crewel's gonna tan my hide if I don't do anything… What should I do!?

Ace: …Hold the phone. I have enigmatics in the afternoon. That essentially means I'll have my lunch break before I have to turn it in.

Ace: I think the other classes might be ahead of us, so maybe they've already finished the homework already?

Ace: Even if the questions are slightly different, as long as I can figure out how they solved it, I should be able to bang it out… Oh yeah, it's all coming together.

[Roommate A speaks up]

Ace: Wheeew, I got all worked up over nothing～ Mmkay, then I'm heading out… Huh, what is it? You want me to help with your homework?

Ace: Hahahah, no waaaay! Here, I'll open the curtains up for you, so why don't you figure out the rest～?

[Main Street]

Kalim: Oh, there he is. Ace! Good morning!

Ace: Ah, Kalim-senpai! Good morning…? What's up? Isn't the party tomorrow?

Kalim: Yeah! But your birthday's today, right? That's why I thought I'd come wish you a happy birthday in person.

Kalim: So, yeah… Happy Birthday, Ace!

Ace: Haha, you really are the type of guy to show up the day of just to wish someone a happy birthday, huh.

Ace: Thanks a bunch! I can't wait for the epic party tomorrow!

Requested by @thelonepearl.

[spoonfulofmilo]

Could you do fic for James Vowles with wife author!reader? ( He's at Williams ) He always goes to her events even though he's busy but he still makes time just to support her. And vice versa. Just something fluff and cute. Thanks!! :))

this is definitely not amazing, but im secretly quite happy with it

(also updates are gonna slow the fuck down because i have assessments and exams this term yay /s)

my masterlist can be accessed here

Please keep requesting - y'all have awesome ideas we agree on a lot of stuff :) - my guidelines are here, and if you want some prompts, they are here.

also feel free to come in and start chatting to me in my asks, would love to get to know y'all better

and if you want to be added to my taglist lmk :)

james vowles x wife!author!reader

---

book talk:

Y/N watched as a teenage girl walked up to the microphone. She clearly looked nervous, as had many other people coming up, but Y/N tried to make her feel as at ease as possible.

“Um…hey Y/N, my name is Elodie, and I just wanted to say how much I love your writing…” - Elodie

James quietly shut the door, once Logan and Alex were through, and didn’t try and push through the crowded room, they instead settled for a spot near the back where they could still see Y/N. They were sure that if people recognised them, they would be shunted towards the front or ushered backstage. They didn’t want that, they just wanted to stay inconspicuous at the back.

“Aww thank you Elodie, what was your question?” Y/N smiled reassuringly

“Um…well, for your book, ‘a sweet sting of salt’, I was just wondering if you had any inspiration for the character Tobias. While he isn’t the best character in the story, you said he was one of your favourite characters to write, and I was just wondering why?” Eloise asked

“Oh, that is a good question, thank you Elodie. Um… while the actions are obviously not based on him, a lot of Tobias’ so-called ‘good’ elements are actually based on my husband. So…okay I’m gonna hope that everyone has read the book, so I don’t spoil it,” she smiled “Um, so for those of you who are unaware, my husband is James Vowles, and he is the Team Principal of Williams, which is a motorsport for those who are very out of the loop. So I guess the main words I would use to describe both Tobias and James, other than loving because Tobias is definitely not, are logical, quiet, grounded, organised and productive.”

James smiles, watching his wife talk about something she was so passionate about.

“So for example, for logical qualities for Tobias and James in chapter 10, Tobias uses deductive reasoning, which I would like to say is James’ strong suit, however he sometimes misuses it, like deducing who ate the chocolate, the wife or the dog. Tobias uses it for more evil, using it for working out how to do the things he does. Maybe they are more evil and similar and similar.” Y/N pondered, garnering a small laugh from the audience

James stopped smiling, as he listened to his wife compare him to a literal murderer in her book. Logan and Alex were standing next to him, trying to avoid their laughs.

“Then for quiet, in chapter 16, James likes sneaking around and scaring the shit out of me when he gets back from the factory and from races to scare the shit out of me, and Tobias uses it for murder. Huh, maybe these 2 characters are closer together than I thought.” Y/N pondered, laughing as she saw her husband’s face

“Darling, I’m not a thief and a murderer. I honestly don’t know why you based Tobias off of me.” James tried to mediate.

However it was enough for Alex and Logan to burst out laughing, joining in with the rest of the crowd, who had discovered that James was there and found it very funny.

“I’m just saying you share similar qualities, more than I initially insisted. Are you sure you didn’t secretly murder someone?” Y/N tilted her head, as if genuinely thinking about the question

“Darling…” James tried to plead again

“ANYWAY - Then for grounded, in chapter 18…” - Y/N, moved on, continuing with her ideas.

---

garage:

“And during this safety car period, Alex, our camera man has gone for a wander and he has gone down to the Williams garage, and while we’re normally looking at the team principal or other important people, we have instead zoomed in on Y/N Vowles. Now for those who don’t know, she is a writer, and she seems pretty hard at work at this book on her laptop. Now that will be good news for anyone who reads her books, including me, she writes very good books, available at all the awesome book stores, and no she hasn’t paid us for that, we just think her books are amazing. Oh and she waved at us. Hi Y/N!” - Jolyon said from the commentary box

James smiled at the sight of Y/N on his screen. While this weekend had been very stressful, it was very nice having his wife be there for him in the garage and then back at the hotel rooms, even after all the late meetings. He watched as she smiled and waved at the screen, and he was unable to resist the temptation as he smiled at the picture and waved back, earning another laugh from the commentators.

---

book talk part 2:

“Sorry Y/N, my name is Leo, this is a bit of a personal question…” a teenage boy asked

“...as long as it’s not when I’m having a baby, or where I live, it should be okay, hit me!”  Y/N tried to put him at ease.

“Your schedule for this book tour is a little all over the place, if you don’t mind me saying, it was basically like the first 2 months of the year, and now there’s just kinda weeks off or even months off, and I was just wondering if there was any sense to the schedule.” Leo shuffled awkwardly, unsure of how she would react to the question.

“Ah, well there actually is. First off, I cannot tour every week of the year, because I think I would just simply die. But the reason I picked those weeks off is because if my husband again. Are you guys sensing a pattern here? I love James, and I really want to support him at all the f1 races. So those are the weeks I took off, basically. And second, Baby Vowles is due in 6 months, thanks guys!” Y/N laughed as she put down the microphone and walked off stage, laughing as the cheers from the crowd grew louder.

---

taglist: @leosxrealm, @tallrock35, @wolf-knights, @janeholt3, @pear-1206

[misspelledwordswizard]

Chapter 9 - Sometimes you don't understand what happiness is until you break into someone's house and break their ceramic pots.

Previous chapter / Next chapter

I reluctantly got up from the bed, walking towards the door, I turned the handle, opening it to reveal Hyrule, who was waiting for na answer and seemed surprised to see me. He smiled shyly, but I could feel his discomfort, there was something on his mind bothering him, and maybe it had something to do with me.

— Hey, sorry, did I wake you up? – He asked softly, I just shook my head and waited for him to speak. – Hm, I spoke to Cotera earlier and she mentioned that you and Four had visited her before, and... – He seemed afraid to say the next part, as if he had doubts about whether he should bring up the subject at all.

— Is everything okay, Link? – Since there were only the two of us there, and now I officially knew his real names, I preferred to call him that, but apparently it surprised him a little.

— Oh, yeah, I was just wondering if... if you had ever met a great fairy before, you seemed pretty calm there. – That wasn’t what he was going to ask, it was obvious that I hadn’t, if I was a terrible liar, then Hyrule was terrible at making excuses. And that only makes me more curious to know what he was really going to ask.

— No, that was the first time I saw a great fairy. – I thought it would be better not to pressure him, maybe he just didn’t trust me, but I could change that over time.

— Oh, right... Hm, sorry to bother you, have a good rest! – He said quickly and left, he seemed nervous. What could have made him like this?

I sighed, closing the door and going back to bed. Relief ran through my body as I lay down, right, now I’m going to sleep. But I can’t stop imagining what it could have been, is it related to Cotera? Did she say something about me? But what could it be that would cause such a reaction in him? My mind wandered through the various possibilities, especially considering that it had been almost a whole day since he visited her, so had he been keeping this all this time? Will I ever know what he wanted to ask?

Great, now I really won’t be able to sleep.

◇

I hummed some random pop song from Earth as I checked all the belongings I had acquired since I lost all the others. Everything seemed fine for what was to come, but I would have loved to have some toiletries, who knows how long I would be camping in the middle of the woods. I could use the money I had left over yesterday, which I forgot to return to Time. Technically, the money belonged to the group, since they kept everything together to make things easier, so I can consider it part of the payment of the debt they owe me!

With that idea in mind, I carefully packed everything away again, leaving the first clothes I had bought to change into, I couldn’t leave the inn wearing these old rags. I just got dressed quickly, without worrying about equipping belts or grabbing my sword, and left the room. I walked down the stairs without rushing, it was night now and things were calm, I was well rested, but it would be better not to stay up too late this time, since we would be leaving early tomorrow. I saw some of the boys chatting around, it seemed that Wild was trying to use the inn’s kitchen to prepare a meal, I just greeted them quickly as I walked out the door. The night breeze seemed to wake me up even more, it was a little cold, but it was good. I walked around the village watching the villagers interact, maybe I would miss all this peace, but I can’t deny that I also feel excited to get involved in na adventure.

I went into the general store looking for any useful things that I had forgotten before, I managed to find some body soap of acceptable quality and a towel, that should do the trick, but I wouldn’t complain if there were hair products here. I looked around for anything else, then came across a section of knick-knacks. Oh, I love buying useless things that just accumulate at home!

I walked over looking for something that caught my eye. There was everything there, from cheap jewelry to useful tools. My eyes were caught by a silver bracelet, it was a bit flashy with several different pendants, probably of dubious quality. But I don’t think it would hurt to buy a little something for myself, right? Okay, I’m just buying things for myself, but the others don’t count because they’re necessities! This one would be a treat for me, I’m going through a lot, I deserve it!

After paying for everything I decided it would be a good idea to have a bathing suit too, if I had to bathe in a river or lake, I would want to be protected from possibly being seen. For the third time, I went back to the clothing store, the attendant seemed very happy to see me, she must know I came to buy, and she was ready to extort the poor tourist that I am.

Luckily for me, there were basic bathing suits, I chose the cheapest one, paid and left as quickly as possible, so as not to regret my decisions. Now I didn’t even have money to give back to Time. I returned to the inn with some bags in my hands, since I hadn’t brought my magic bag to put everything in.

The boys saw me and called me, it seems that the Cook was making our dinner, everyone was gathered now. From what I understood, they convinced the owner of the inn to let Wild cook there as long as he made food for them too.

— Hey, what’s up? Were you spending money again? – Warriors commented as he looked at the bags and the bracelet I had already put on my wrist.

— Oh, don’t worry, it was a gift! – I said with conviction.

— Gift, from whom? – The captain seemed in disbelief.

— Yours, I bought it with your rupees.

He opened his mouth to complain but soon closed it in pure indignation while I held back my laughter, so he just walked away sulking, refusing to talk to me. I laughed softly as I went to the other side, near Wind.

He waved happily at me as he turned his attention back to what he was talking about with Four. Even though I was now on their side, I couldn’t pay attention to what they were saying, because I started to observe each Link individually. Sky was playing his lyre, in a soft and comforting melody, creating a soundtrack for the environment.

Wild was cooking, I couldn’t see it from where I was, but the smell of the food was divine. Twilight and Time were talking about something while Wars listened. When he noticed me looking at him, he turned away, sulking, but I could see a suppressed smile on the corner of his lips and almost laughed along with me. Hyrule was, from what I understood, trying to help with the cooking, but the Champion kept kicking him out of the kitchen. Then there was Legend. He was isolated in na armchair, sulking, with a frown on his face – and a horrible posture, almost lying down – while he looked at everyone in a bad mood. Whatever happened, no one seemed willing to try to understand, which must mean he’s not letting anyone get close.

I guess this is my time to shine then, or to be completely humiliated and offended, it’s worth a try. I got up from my seat next to Wind and walked towards the veteran, who turned his face away when he noticed me, but unlike Wars, he didn’t do it as a joke. I sighed, this is going to be difficult, so I sat on the arm of the armchair, not putting all my weight on it, after all it wasn’t na ideal place to sit.

— So... – I started, not knowing exactly what to say, but I was interrupted.

— Leave me alone.

He spoke rudely, without even looking at me. Maybe I have to change my emotional strategy. I started staring at him with a face as ugly and sullen as his — which was hard since I really wanted to laugh – until he noticed and looked back at me, confused. I held back the laugh that wanted to escape my lips even more.

— You’re not the only one who knows how to make a face!

— What? I’m not... Can you stop looking at me like that? what an ugly face!

I laughed, I couldn’t hold it in. This only pushed him further. He must think I’m laughing at him, oops. I took a deep breath to calm myself down and stop laughing, then I turned my attention back to him, who stopped looking at me and went back to staring into space with pure hatred. Okay, I get it. He doesn’t want to talk about feelings or anything that’s bothering him, but maybe I can make him laugh. I know how it feels, at first we get even angrier when someone tries to help us release our anger, but if you keep insisting, it might work. Or maybe I can help you release all that anger in a more functional way.

— Come with me! – I said, not giving him a chance to complain, getting up and pulling him by the arm out of the inn.

Of course he complained the whole way, he kept talking and asking where I was taking him, but at the same time he didn’t stop walking, he just followed me, maybe out of curiosity. I continued guiding him through the city until the path that led to the great fairy’s fountain, but that wasn’t our final goal yet. The moon shone in the sky, illuminating our path through the trees as we crossed the bridge. I took him to the same place they made my sword, it would be a good place for a mess.

— Okay, I need you to stay here and wait for me. Promise you’ll wait for me! – I ordered, letting go of his arm and standing face to face.

— What? Why the fuck would I-

— Promise! – I interrupted him, raising my little finger at him. He just looked at me confused as if I was crazy. I sighed and rolled my eyes, he didn’t know what that was.

I grabbed his hand, leaving his pinky finger raised and forced him to intertwine it with mine, he tried to pull it away embarrassed but I kept it in place, giving it a light shake to seal the “deal”.

— This is a pinky promise, you can’t break it, understand? If you break it, you’ll have to swallow a thousand needles! – I said seriously, he just snorted and agreed, letting go of my hand. – Great, now wait for me here, this might take a while.

I left him behind without giving any explanations, going back the way we had just gone. It turns out that I hadn’t planned this very well, which only made my job harder, but it’s okay, I’m sure this will help him, there’s nothing a Link likes more than that. Maybe sleeping.

When I got out of his field of vision I started running back to the inn, I would need my magic bag that fits everything if I wanted to do this. I quickly reached the door, opened it and ran upstairs, Four called me asking something but I couldn’t hear, I’m too busy. I got to my room almost knocking the door down, I grabbed my belt with my bag and everything I had inside and went back out. On the stairs I ended up tripping and falling because I ran too much, but before anyone saw, or I felt any pain, I got up and started running again.

I wanted to be as fast as possible, I know he won’t wait for me for long. Time to act like a Link, breaking into houses and stores. Maybe this is a bad way to look at it, but that’s basically what I did. I went into the shops and started picking up all the ceramics I could find. I don’t know if that would get me in trouble, but I hope not. After picking up the pots from all the shops, I started looking for more in empty houses. If they call me a crazy terrorist later, I’ll blame all the Links for being bad influences.

Finally, after looting all the ceramic pots in the village, I ran back down the path to where I left Legend. I stopped running when I started to get close, tidying up my appearance and regulating my breathing so as not to look like a crazy person. He was waiting, sitting under a tree, thoughtful. As soon as he saw me, he got up and started walking towards me, still in a bad mood.

— Why did it take so long?

— I went as fast as I could! But look, it was worth it. – I said as I took a jar out of my bag and handed it to him. He stared at me blankly, looking even angrier.

— I waited all this time for you to give me a jar?– Legend complained and I just rolled my eyes.

— It’s for you to break it. Take out your anger in a more fun way, throw it with all your strength, watch it shatter. It usually helps.

His lips parted in surprise as he understood my idea, he then looked back at the clay jar, for a second I thought I saw a smile on his lips, until he turned abruptly and threw the jar hard against a tree, making it shatter on the ground. I flinched a little in surprise, but soon recovered and laughed, while taking all the jars I had with me and leaving them on the ground.

He picked up another one, throwing it even harder at the tree. I decided to join in, that sounded like fun, I grabbed a smaller one and slammed it down with all my strength. It shattered with a muffled noise on the grass, but still satisfying. In a few seconds, the two of us started creating pure chaos, spreading broken pottery all over the place while the air was filled with a hellish symphony of loud sounds of things breaking.

Even I managed to relieve the stress I didn’t know I was holding, I could see the drastic change in the veteran’s mood, who in a short time changed from na irritated expression to laughter – somewhat evil – of joy as he created chaos by breaking things. I had managed to get a good amount of pottery, but the fun didn’t last more than a few minutes as they broke one after the other. Of course, I left most of it for him, it was good to see him so carefree. When I was thrown the last pottery pot, I ended up slipping on the grass and falling on my back, making the pottery just roll away without breaking. Legend burst into hysterical laughter when he saw me fall, and after getting over the surprise of the fall, I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. He grabbed the pot I tried to throw and broke it with a strong kick. Kicking the shards away to clear the path, he threw himself down, lying on the grass next to me, still laughing while relaxed. After we calmed down and stopped laughing, he turned his head to look at me, only to see me already looking at him.

I blushed, it was a little embarrassing, even though I was just assuring him that my mission had been a success. Then, when I thought he was going to say something sarcastic or make fun of me for falling, he did something that surprised me even more. He smiled. He smiled at me, the sweetest and most honest smile I had ever seen in my life. It was beautiful, he looked beautiful like that, I wish I could have that vision every day.

— Thank you. – His voice was soft, it didn’t even sound like him, but it was comforting. – It seems that you are good at dealing with this kind of thing after all.

— I had to be good at something, right? – He laughed at my words, shaking his head gently.

For a moment, we were silent, I turned my gaze to the starry sky above us, it was beautiful, I had never seen anything like it in my last life, so it always impressed me no matter how many times I saw it. I sighed tiredly, it had been a long day, but this felt right, it was rewarding, and I certainly wasn’t going to clean all of this up.

— The moon is beautiful today, isn’t it? – I started to ramble.

— Yes, it is beautiful. – The veteran replied, not really seeming to be paying attention. That made me turn my gaze to him, only to find that he had never stopped looking at me.

I think he was so tired that he couldn’t think straight, but it was nice to still see that smile on his lips. I was about to comment on how he looked as exhausted as I did when he started talking.

— I didn’t want you here. I didn’t want you in this group. You’re a stranger to me. – That hurt, I thought we were getting along well, but I preferred to keep quiet. – But man, I’m glad this didn’t depend on me. – Now I looked at him confused. – It’s still hard for me, having someone with us who shouldn’t be part of all this, but I think someone from the outside can be good. We may be different, but we’re still very similar, having someone who is completely outside can be the balance we needed.

I couldn’t answer him, it seemed like that was his way of saying “welcome to the group” and maybe he even liked my presence a little, but only a little. I could only smile like na idiot.

— Whatever you’re thinking, you better get it out of your head. – I came back to reality with that and noticed that his sullen face returned, but it was gentle, it was just a joke. – And don’t think about doing this to anyone else, okay? That was nice, don’t give it away by showing it to others.

Okay, now that was weird. He had a slight blush as he said that, and that’s when I understood. He’s jealous and possessive of his things, and now breaking ceramic pots to relieve his anger was a thing of his. He was saying “This is something I do now, and no one else can do it”. How rude Legend, you have to learn to share. I couldn’t help but laugh a little but ended up getting a light bag on the arm in disapproval.

— Okay, I’ll keep this a secret. Don’t worry, when I need to help another Link relieve his anger, I’ll think of something more original. – He seemed to want to protest my answer, but he just frowned and turned his head to the side, avoiding my gaze. – Now, after all this chaos, I think it’s time to eat. – I concluded as I stood up, followed by the man.

The two of us returned to the inn together, leaving the mess behind. Upon entering, we were greeted by the wonderful smell of food, everyone was gathered in a room with a long table. We joined them, receiving curious looks, but everyone just ignored it while they ate and talked. It reminds me of the times when my whole family would gather at grandma’s house for a big lunch, I miss my grandma so much. In that life, it was just me and my parents, I never met my grandparents, I don’t have any uncles or cousins. Wild served the food to everyone, and it was delicious. He had more time and ingredients to prepare it, so he ended up making more complex things and several options. I tried a little bit of everything and it was great. After everyone ate and talked for a while longer, we went up to our respective rooms. Warriors and Twilight were in charge of the dishes. I offered to help, but they refused and pushed me out of the kitchen. I lay down on my soft bed. It would be the last time I would sleep in a bed for a while.

I was exhausted, but I managed to stay awake for a while longer to finish the book I had borrowed. If I didn’t finish it now, I might never know the ending. It took me almost two hours, but I finally finished it. I put it aside while I snuggled under the covers. In a few seconds, I was completely asleep.

[crazy-ache]

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Thank you @littedidyouknow for tagging me! Answer and then tag three or more creators to keep the game going!

(If you're in my answers consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play!!)

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024? 311,253

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

15 completed!

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

I have 3 in progress/ongoing fics from this year! I started Divine Punishments (lol oops), have my ongoing drabble fic Choke on Desire, and am currently working on Treacherous Waters.

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote?

This is such a hard question to answer. But while it was a long time ago now, I am going to go with Separate My Body From My Soul. This was the first piece where I really felt like I found my stamina and voice as a fic writer. It feels very quintessential crazy-ache writing.

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

The most experimental was writing Dear Lucien, Dear Elain with @zenkindoflove. Epistolary writing isn't all that common in fanfiction, and then to write each one as a series of letters with another author (our own chapters serving as true, authentic reactions to what we read) made the writing experience feel so alive and rich. It was incredibly fun and creatively fulfilling. I cherish those memories so much!

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

I did not expect Animal Instincts to cause a little riot. I made new friends, got the funniest anons, and had people really invested with each update. The chapters flew out of me because they were a blast. Both the writing process and the reception shocked me.

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

I personally loved my oneshot for Lucien Week this year, The Fox Hunt. I was quite proud of the quality of my writing and take on a small historical AU. It had rakish, Fae Lucien and scandalized human Elain which is one of my favorite combos.

8. Who is an artist that inspired you?

@jadedbug @works-of-heart @bonecarversbestie @fierling @olenvasynyt Are all artists that greatly inspire me - from their kindness, to their talent, to the way they feed fandom with their amazing content!

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

@zenkindoflove inspires me daily! I couldn't have done all that I did this year without her encouragement, her accountability, her brain to pick...she's been my writing rock since we started chatting at the beginning of this year.

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

@sapphiresandgold @jsmelodies @clarafae @fortheloveofbanksy @the-darkestminds @starsreminisce @olenvasynyt You are all so talented and I've loved reading your works!

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

@zenkindoflove It all started because we talk too much and share a brain. Just as simple as a..."hey what if we...." And then we just jumped into a Google Doc. We hope to do another collab next year!

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

Finishing ACOWAR (Elucien's Version). It's my longest fic and first completed long fic. I basically rewrote the entire ACOWAR fic which was no easy task, but one I enjoyed immensely.

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

The more you write the better you get. It seems intuitive enough, but when I first started writing fanfic again more consistently, I was frustrated how slow I felt. But the more I wrote, the faster I got. You start to get your groove and know your skills. Now cranking out 10k isn't so much an insurmountable task to do in a week. Ideas, plots, characters, world building...all of that got easier too. Practice really does make you better. So don't get frustrated if you're starting out and not seeing or feeling like you're at your best.

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers?

This is a community. Fanfiction got a lot more fun to write the more friends I had to share it with - comment, share, kudo, reach out to people via DMs...it really is worth the experience.

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

I'm going to finish up Treacherous Waters and then shift my focus to my Body Swap AU. I also want to explore some original writing in my free time.

Tagging (no pressure): @zenkindoflove @clarafae @sapphiresandgold @jsmelodies @shadowqueenjude @starsreminisce @bonecarversbestie @the-darkestminds @olenvasynyt

[multiplicity-positivity]

ok so we're the sys from this ( https://www.tumblr.com/multiplicity-positivity/750380505657147392/h3y-so-l1k3-do-you-guys-t4k3-up-r3qu3sts-for?source=share )

do you think we could get some advice on how to boost connection to the headspace and/or communication? we're a proxy sys but we're very like. strung-out, i guess. no worries if not, of course

Hey, so we’ll do our best to answer both of these questions and talk about boosting connection to your system’s headspace, and boosting communication between system members.

When it comes to connecting with your headspace, we’d like to share a couple links that might help -

Our general post on headspaces, what they are, and how to build/maintain one (with some links to further reading):

And this post by @/humanheartharmonia with some advice from their own experience regarding headspaces:

We think this post ^ has some really handy and useful tips to help headmates connect with their headspace and visualize themselves within their headspace a bit better.

And as for boosting communication between system members… our best advice boils down to time, patience, practice, and self care.

Time: Most systems aren’t going to have amazing communication after just a few weeks of getting to know each other. We believe that for almost any system communication can improve, but it’s going to take time to get there. It could take anywhere from a few months to a few decades to get to a point where you can communicate with your headmates in the ways that you want to. So patience is key here.

Patience: Know that you might not be able to communicate perfectly with your headmates at first, and that’s okay. Don’t punish yourself or your system or talk down on anyone if y’all are getting frustrated, if it’s been a while since you’ve heard from each other, or if you’re feeling exhausted from spending too much time focusing on communication. Take breaks. Take deep breaths. Take things one day at a time. You’ll get there one day - don’t give up!

Practice: Try talking and listening to your headmates whenever you have the energy and cognitive bandwidth for it. Think about them, ask them how they’re doing, and just try to chat with them whenever you can. If things are hazy, foggy, or unclear, that’s okay. If you’re able to, we encourage you to just keep trying even when it’s difficult. Not every interaction between headmates will be distinct and crystal clear. Sometimes things get muddled or different headmates seem distant, and that’s okay. But the more your practice today, the easier it will be tomorrow. Practicing communication every day can help y’all build a solid foundation so that, say, one or two years from now, y’all may find that you’re in a much better place and communication comes much more naturally.

Self care: In our own system, communication becomes much more difficult when we are struggling to meet our own physical, mental, and emotional needs. So doing our best to look after our mind and body can really make a huge difference in the quality of our communication. We’ll go ahead and link our self care post here, in case y’all may find yourselves in a similar situation.

This is probably as much as I’m going to be able to say here for now. We could go on and on about internal communication, how to build on it, potential speed bumps or risks, and how it may look differently for different systems. Please don’t be too discouraged if y’all are still struggling with communication after a few weeks of daily practice - remember that communication is a skill just like any other, and it will take time to master.

So sorry if this response is rambly or muddled - we’re not feeling well today. But I do hope this helps you. Good luck with building communication and gaining a better understanding of your headspace in the future.

[mx-piggy]

I've decided that I'm going to be reviewing every episode from the new season of Futurama. No one asked, but, hey, it's my blog and I like to think people may have mild interest in my opinion. So, here are my thoughts on 'Children of a Lesser Bog'.

Once again, if you wanna chat about the episode in the notes (comments, rbs) or via DMs, feel free!

I really enjoyed this episode, I think more than I enjoyed the Impossible Stream. With the Impossible Stream, you had the novelty of 'hey, new Futurama!', with an okay story and some good jokes. But, I feel like this episode worked better for me because I adore when Futurama allows itself to examine its characters in stories that have a genuine sense of emotion. Plus, I'm biased because I love Amy and it was really great to see a rare moment of her explored in so much depth. I feel like there are only a handful of episodes that focus on Amy, and even fewer that are so genuinely touching.

The plot was actually really good, in my opinion. I assumed the writers were just going to do something a little sitcom-y with Kif and Amy becoming parents and struggling to balance everything, so I liked the way the story went with Kif being away from his family and trying his best to get home to them, and Amy struggling to cope with motherhood as well as experiencing insecurity. I like how the plot was resolved in a genuinely heart-warming way, with the conclusion of Amy's love for her kids being more important than any biological link to them she lacks. Also, I'm interested to see how they handle this idea of Kif and Amy being parents going forward. In the Comedy Central years, they preferred to maintain the status quo of the show (hence Fry and Leela's muddled relationship), so I'm wondering if being on Hulu will mean that the show will be less afraid of shifting the status quo.

So, I want to get my more negative thoughts out the way before moving onto things that I liked/loved, since I'd rather emphasise the positives of the episodes considering I had a very positive opinion of the episode overall.

I only really noticed it in this episode, but a lot of my issues with the animation/writing from the Comedy Central era of the show, and probably before then, too, is how the show has a tendency to have very limited animation when a group of characters are gathered together but only a few of them are actually talking. It always feels clumsy and odd because there'll be so many characters just standing there, not reacting to what's going on, which is out of character for most of them. I understand that it's not really the fault of the animators and that it's a tough industry. It only really registered in this episode because of how it was strange to see Zapp just standing there in the background expressionlessly, without having said anything in the episode (or even this season, to my recollection) prior. Also, it was odd to see the Planet Express crew just watching on with unchanging expressions and without saying anything as the Grand Midwife threatened to take Amy's kids away in a genuinely heart-wrenching scene. I just wish there was more reactivity to the characters in the background, to make the characters feel more fully realised and as though they have meaningful relationships to one another. Otherwise, it has the same lifeless quality to most of Family Guy and its various knockoffs.

A problem I had with this episode specifically is that I found it a little contrived that Leela would forget that she knocked up Kif because the writers needed an excuse to exposition dump information that a lot of the audience would remember. It felt very out of character for her. In general, not a lot of this ‘reminder’ dialogue felt natural. I'm worried that this will happen in the show going forward when it continues plotlines from previous episodes (e.g. Parasites Regained). I feel like it's kind of a time-waster to have them spend almost five minutes of a 24-minute-long episode reminding the audience of information they could easily access from rewatching Kif Gets Knocked Up A Notch if they don't remember it. I feel like they would have cut this part of the episode out if it was airing on TV rather than on a streaming service, because of the differences in time-strictness.

That said, Sex Across the Universe and drunk Leela were pretty funny to me, so I guess I can somewhat get over this issue.

This is a very personal issue for me, and it's that I feel like Zapp didn't have as much of a presence in this episode compared to previously in the show. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fine for there to be an episode that has Kif and Zapp in it but has Kif be the focus rather than Zapp. What I mean is that Zapp is this larger-than-life character who has some of the funniest lines in the show even when he's a minor character in an episode, and I just didn't get that from him in this episode.

The show feels very different just vibe-wise compared to the original run and the Comedy Central run, but I feel like, at times, the CC run could also feel a little lifeless, if that makes sense. I don't know how to describe it, really. With the original run, there was always a sense of life to it, without any moment feeling like 'dead air'; maybe it was because of the animation had more of a human touch- or feels that way, anyway- than the more recent instalments of the show. But, the style and delivery of jokes at times have felt increasingly slow and empty to the point of feeling clumsy. It's something I've always felt about Futurama as well as the Simpsons, but I have no idea if I've effectively articulated it.

Now, onto the more positive things!

I'm so happy that they've finally figured out how to handle Amy and Leela in a way that doesn't feel irritating and at least mildly sexist. In the past, I've really hated how they've had the two main female characters of the show be so unpleasant to each other, whilst the male characters can get along just fine and have close, meaningful bonds. Like, it just felt like a bunch of male writers saying 'we think women are two-faced and catty so Leela and Amy will just be like that'. I'm in the process of writing a fic that explores Amy's harsh treatment of Leela as a result of the envy Leela causes her, because I'm so unhappy with their canon relationship and I wanted to see them to have a kind of meaningful relationship. Actually, I found it interesting that the conflict between Leela and Amy in the episode is sparked by Amy's jealousy.

After this episode where they have some of the most pleasant interactions between them out of the whole show, I'm actually optimistic that the show will make Amy and Leela have a pleasant relationship after this episode, though I can only hope they can have a somewhat meaningful relationship going forward, in the same way Fry and Bender have one.

I actually think the conflict between Leela and Amy in the episode is perfectly understandable and logical, more so than the random catty comments Amy would make at Leela's expense in the prior seasons. This time, Amy's actually really hurt and insecure about her kids favouring Leela over her. I feel like it was a good, compelling storyline, not only looking at Leela and Amy's relationship to one another but also examining the broader theme of motherhood or parenthood as a whole, and how Amy may not be the kids' biological mother, but she is their mom and she loves them. And, I really like how they didn't go down the route of Leela trying to take the kids away from Amy. I feel like it's a plot line you could kind of justify because of Leela's own issues with being an orphan and whatnot, but it wouldn't have been in character for her, at least in my opinion. I really liked how they positioned Leela as the kids' aunt, rather than her being jealous of Amy for having kids.

There were a lot of funny jokes in the episode, and I've compiled them into a bullet point list:

Bender coming third in Masterchef Junior.

The noise the Professor makes when his mouth is stuck together by the honey.

‘Buy A Church’ and ‘reassure Kif’ on Amy's schedule

Axl (the biggest of the three kids) in the stroller was a funny visual gag.

Kif being one of those wine moms with his mineral water.

Zapp's pleading cries as he is dragged into cave- it reminded me of Love's Labours Lost in Space, with Billy West's hilarious delivery of 'oh, God, no!'

“AND STAY AWAY FROM MY SCROTUMS!!”

"Daddy’s coming to tuck you in. To your graves.”

“Scruffy’s stuff gets around.”

Visual gag of Kif ripping off his shirt and proceeding to fold up his skirt.

“I did what a daddy had to do.”

Other little things I liked, compiled into a bullet point list:

I'm happy that they replaced Billy West as Mr. Wong’s voice actor. Sort of unrelated, I'm hoping that the King of the Hill revival does the same for Kahn.

I really liked how the kids kept going over to Leela. The first time especially, it was really funny.

Also, the kids were really cute! I like how they were different ages (physically/developmentally, anyway), because I feel like it'd feel too cliché if they were all babies. I don't know why; I think it'd just make it feel too sitcom-y having Amy and Kif take care of babies.

I loved Aunt Leela; it was nice seeing her interact with them.

I really liked seeing Zapp and Kif in action together. I feel like it's something surprisingly rare on the show to have Zapp and Kif doing something that doesn't directly involve the Planet Express crew, so it was interesting to see them together on a DOOP mission.

[sizzleissues]

How'd you like the movie?

Hey anon!

In short: AHAHAHARRRAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHHAHA LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

Slightly more coherent

Animation: Amazing spectacular- can’t wait to see it in theatres.

Music: I love the songs so much it will be interesting to hear them in english. The visuals paired with it are also just beautiful. I’m a fan of musicals normally and the movie does have the sort of cheesy vibe that comes with musicals that i just love but isn’t for everyone.

Story: Can’t say much on this as I don’t speak French and the subbed version I watched was not perfect. Generally it kept me engaged (which is a credit to it) and I’m sure when the english dub comes out it will clear up some confusion for me.

Okay spoilers stuff under cut

So again, the subbing being wonky makes things a little harder to understand. It feels like I’m missing something, like a ten minute chunk was cut from the film. It’s fine for miraculous fans- we know the context- but for newcomers something is missing. Maybe it’s just lost because I don’t understand and the quality of the audio but I hope the dub has explain the basics dialogue bit.

Miraculous:

I love how the miraculous were depicted in the film while a little confusing at times. The signal thing when out of costume is a cool idea (though I hope it’s a thing only they can see >-<). I also really like the focus on their powers working better when working together. When they go solo things go array.

It seems the lucky charm is gone and instead Marinette simply is always devising a plan with all of her surroundings. We don’t get to see her problem solve in the movie, most of the combat is purely physical which I think is a miss. Maybe in future movies she’ll discover the power and we’ll get to see her use her brain.

Same goes for the cataclysm though it appears at the end. Again I can’t be sure until I watch the dub since I might be missing things. It backs up the theory it’s something they have to discover. Chat Noir using it at the end is fine for regulars but newcomers might be confused. LB also learns to use the cure at the end so I think things just work differently in this canon and I’m excited to see how it’ll play out.

I think some of the issues with the miraculous will be resolved with the dub- definitely missed something. But I think we need to remind ourselves it’s a different canon with different rules. Just because they’re different doesn’t mean they’re bad.

Love the costumes anyways and the speckling on Chat’s suit is so cool. The power seems to be more within the holder. Also the miraculous choosing the holders- and the chaos of that scene- was amazing. I like that the miraculous are magnetised to them and it takes a whole lot of power to tear them away.

Also Hawkmoth taking advantage of the fact he can do multiple akuma’s as an adult really makes him a threat. He’s a lot smarter in this version.

Characters & Relantionships:

Every character is a bit different but I still love them all a whole lot. I love that Adrien’s a bit more of a loner but it’s Ladybug that opens him back up to people again. I don’t have any complaints just positivity to how the movie interprets the characters. This will probably grow once I understand everything.

The only character I’d say is better, not just different is old man Gabe.

Gabriel is more focused in the movie- more clearly being won over by the power. Losing himself to it. It’s destroying him but he’s addicted to the possibility of having Emile back. He thinks that’s what will mend his and Adrien’s relationship when all he really has to do is be there. It’s better than the show as in the show he’s pursing Emilie despite Adrien- actively shoving him to the side with malice. In the movie he’s doing it because he believes having Emilie back will restore light back into Adrien’s life that he doesn’t think he’s capable of showing towards Adrien on his own. He’s scared if he’s close to Adrien he’ll see his sadness and thinks it’s because he’s lost his mother- not because he’s losing his father too. Seeing the pursuit has actually hurt his son snaps him out of it. He finally meets his eyes and sees not sadness for Emilie but sadness for losing him. AH! Its too much I’m melting

Going over the zag offices right now to punch whoever decided to cut at the kiss. I NEED MORE. The love square delivered so well that I’m so sad there isn’t more!

Lol that’s my thoughts so far. Bit more than you probably expected but needed to get it out before I fall asleep

[something-pithy]

Notes and an Update: Astarion, Tav, and Trauma in Stories

Pictured above: actual footage of trauma response from Astarion (j/k! kinda!) to catch your eye :D

Hey glittercats and cosmic kittens!

So I've definitely been neglecting the updates here, which I'm going to try to do better with.

We're up to Chapter 11 on this bad boy, and I've adjusted the anticipated chapter count to 30 (but honestly it's probably still all lies because I have absolutely no sense of how much writing each point on my outline ends up being loool).

I have a DOPE beta who's fucking amazing both in terms of conventions and idea partnership and I'm telling you right now, this story is so much better for having their hands and eyes on it.

SOME CONTENT WARNING STUFF RE: THIS CHAPTER:

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

.

.

.

MORE DETAILS ON THIS -- SPOILERS AHEAD, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

So hopefully that's enough room for people who don't want to be spoiled to escape!

So I'm going to copy/paste the end note on the story, and expand on it a little bit.

So, although Tav is a "good drunk," as Frank Gallagher might put it, she is 1000% engaging in pretty serious substance abuse, or to be more specific in this chapter, alcohol use disorder. I'm not going to go into the way this story is going to approach mental and behavioral health disorders and trauma; hopefully it will speak for itself. Suffice it to say substance abuse and trauma are not the central subject of this story, but also, Astarion and Tav as they exist in this little pocket dimension of the BG3 universe have been impacted by the trauma they've each experienced both together and as individuals. In general, the impact of trauma can look and feel a lot of ways. Sometimes it's horrifying, sometimes it's heartbreaking, sometimes it's rage-inducing - but let's be honest, sometimes that shit is funny, too, because humor is such an incredible survival tactic / coping mechanism. Even if sometimes we're laughing at shit that shouldn't be funny. (Maybe especially then.) This story isn't going to be an after-school special or a PSA. It's a story about people, and sometimes people are fucked up (literally and figuratively). Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now. If this has activated you, or you have earnest questions or concerns about what's going on in this story / with these characters, or you just want to shoot the shit, hit me up on my tumblr. There might be more notes there on this eventually, but for now, this chapter actually took a lot out of me and I'm still out here with these perpetual COVID symptoms, so... lol NOT TONIGHT. As always, thank y'all for reading, kudosing, and commenting.

OK, so I may have lied about the no notes part... but honestly, in re-reading that note, I think it kind of gets to the point.

But ALSO...

I've been a geek on the internet for a long, long time. I've engaged with different fan-based writing and roleplaying communities (tabletop, chat-based, forum-based, butt-based -- EVERYTHING) for pretty much the entire time.

"The Tragic Backstory" seems like it's been A Whole Thing since people started creating characters whether for roleplay or stories.

I think times have changed somewhat, but back in the day I ran in circles where a lot of thoughts about writing, creating characters, roleplay, etc. coexisted somewhat peacefully, but an old chestnut that consistently (maybe without fail) turned up in any conversation that involved Writers of Quality was a contingent of folks who had deep disdain for The Tragic Backstory.

I'm talkin' some deep, scathing, elitist shit, my beautiful people.

And I'm not gonna lie to you! This is approximately ten thousand years ago (no but seriously, decades), and honestly, I was up in those conversations, too, throwing around my disdain, assured by my fellow elitists that even though I frequently employed some form of Tragic Backstory, it was OK when I did it because it was good.

I mean in retrospect, it's kinda bullshit. There's always gonna somebody who's gonna think your shit's good, and there's also always gonna be somebody who thinks they're a Better Writer Than You who's gonna think your shit is... well, shit.

Not gonna lie, I still have very strong and particular preferences when it comes to the fic I read in general, and that includes backstory.

But over time, I got progressively less insecure (not just about my writing, but in general) and consequently less concerned with judging writing that's not my flavor as "bad" or "shitty" or "juvenile" (looool seriously, I was a dick) and more concerned with finding and creating writing that is my flavor.

However, and I don't think I'm going to apologize for it, some dickish tendencies linger in my soul. I'm going to try and frame these thoughts in terms of what compels me in a story I'm reading and what I do (or try to do) in my own writing.

This is a very long way of saying if something I say (or have already said) makes you feel like I'm coming for your neck, please know that I'm not.

My thoughts and/or opinions may cause you or someone you love to feel Some Type of Way. That is not my intention. I have no desire to:

Yuck anyone's yum

Contribute to or activate the crippling self-doubt that plagues almost every creative I've ever met

Be a dick.

Having said all that, I do have Thoughts on This Matter.

People write for a lot of reasons, but I'm fairly convinced that nobody's doing it with any level of purity. There are tons of incredible, beautiful, moving stories that feature a whole-ass Self-Insert, maybe even the dreaded Mary Sue.

(lol lookin' at you Dante's Inferno, Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire, and countless others lol)

People write to explore topics and themes that interest them, that compel them, that they see recurring in the world around them and/or their own lives.

One of those things is trauma.

In my writing, I approach trauma, disordered behaviors, dysfunction, dysregulated emotions, etc. (topics both of great interest to me and, not coincidentally, ones with which I have a great deal of personal experience) from a place of wanting fervently to tell the truth.

And I'm pretty good writing some things that feel true.

But I know that in some ways, I've shied away from harder truths; from using my writing and the characters I create not only as reflections of what I see in the world, but as accurate (rather than idealized) reflections of myself.

Because of this, while I've explored redemption arcs in roleplaying games (where being cheesy or facile or juvenile or fulfilling personal fantasies felt much safer than on a page), I've skirted neatly around it, I think, in my writing (for the most part). Because I absolutely was the girl who wanted to "save" or "fix" the wounded (and emotionally unavailable, and/or abusive, and/or toxic) lover. I wanted stories about it. I wanted to roll around in that narrative, bathe in it, eat it up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

All while occupying the role/perspective of The Good One / The Good Girl whether in a game or in a story I was consuming.

But it's not the truth. Not the whole truth, at least. Not for me, anyway.

My admiration, respect, regard, and all the other good words for the writing and acting in Baldur's Gate 3 cannot be overstated. Each of the "origin" characters (and honestly, any character "Tav" has the opportunity to even have a conversation with, much less spend a significant amount of time with) is thoughtfully and truthfully written. I see this more in some than others, but that depth and breadth of understanding about human beings -- sorry, sentient beings -- shows up all over the place and honestly I almost can't stand how much I love it.

I'm not going to say that there's no character I feel this as deeply with as Astarion, but... idk, sometimes.

But there's no need to quantify this. Astarion is one of a number of characters from the game that I'm low-key obsessed with.

As such, when I decided to take on the story outcome in which, in my opinion, he throws all the growth, all the processing, all the truth and reconciliation I saw him moving toward in the game into a fucking woodchipper, I did not want it to be easy.

I get wanting it to be easy, and there are delicious, delicious fics out there that go this route. I think anybody who writes Ascendant Astarion at least flirts with it.

And it's not a binary; it's not either, "OMG this is completely uncomplicated, I love you I'm your spawn and it's just like if you hadn't ascended except your SUPER EXTRA POWERFUL AND SEXY AND HOT AND WHOOPS THERE GO MY PANTIES" (which, tbh... lool I'm not mad at) or "ASTARION IS IRREDEEMABLE LET ME WRITE OF HIS TRAGIC DEMISE AND TAV'S TRAGIC WITNESS TO IT / ENGINEERING OF IT." Which I'm ALSO not mad at, because THOSE THINGS CAN BE TRUE.

But while I'm subscribed to some stories that follow those paths or ones like them, and when I get that notification it's time to STOP THE PRESSES bc mama needs to READ, for me the challenge of this is if I'm going to continue Astarion and Tav's love story (or rekindle it lol), I want to honor the four years of intense character work Neil Newbon and Stephen Rooney and honestly the whole goddamn BG3 team from soup to nuts have done by considering "What would really happen here" as brutally as possible.

Komo, my incredible thought partner-cum-beta, can tell you about the pages of back and forth between us about "fml, how can we make this story work and maintain fidelity to the integrity* of these characters???? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY"

*not personal integrity -- meta shit. The integrity of their arcs, development, personalities, histories, traumas, etc.

SO. Back to trauma.

I said in my end note for chapter 11 that this story is not an after-school special (which looool probably at least some of you are like wtf are you talking about my dude and I'm like looooool omg life before kids were a whole target demographic unto themselves - kind of lol) or a PSA.

Which alludes to the fact that YES, I want to tell the truth about the ugliness of this relationship and the individuals in it with nuance and empathy and sensitivity; that I want to write about the pain and harm and longing and ache and all of it in ways that are neither hyperbolic nor diminishing.

But also, look, my darling motherfuckers, my comrades in fuckery, whoever's made it this far into this rambling monster of a -- whatever the fuck this is lool -- PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAUMA ALSO HAVE FUN.

SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGING IN BEHAVIORS THAT ARE DESTRUCTIVE TO THEMSELVES AND/OR OTHERS.

I don't think I've sufficiently unpacked this part to dig down much deeper into it, but what I will say is that this is not going to be a passion play about Poor Tav or Drugs Are Bad, Mmkay? or anything else.

What this is going to be (or at least, what I passionately want it to be) is -- framed with a delicious little fake-dating muffin of an emotional MacGuffin -- a portrait of some people in all (or lordt jebus please let me achieve at least MOST) of their complexity.

ALL OF IT.

Lordt Baby Jebus, Allah, Milal, Great Spaghetti Monster, ANYBODY

(not Lolth lol)

hear my prayer!

Aight, that's all I've got for today. <3

If you made it this far, PM me and tell me something you want to see in the story! I'll make you a treat.

And if it don't fit in the story, I might be able to make a li'l drabble happen.

COMING SOON to Writing Notes Storytime:

Identity in this story and in stories in general

The Good, the Bad, and the Neutral: Alignment and Astarion (and some other ppl, too!) in BG3, DnD, and This Story lol

Stuff I'm forgetting bc I'm STILL not over this never-ending COVID fuckery

[thatdesklamp]

Hey gang. I accidentally deleted a lovely, lovely ask from @lemonsbesour when I was in the middle of writing a response to it. I have no idea what I did. I feel old, ffs. But I will post my response to it, with [brief interjections] from me now to explain it all, hopefully:

Hello! Hi—yes, I so rarely use tumblr but figured that I should have one, just for the shits and gigs most of all, lmao. I feel like a grandma: I don’t know how to use it at all. But it’s fun! It’s kind of like chatting to ppl in the comments section, but in a less formal (???) situation.

Firstly, thank you so much for such a lovely message. You are so kind, omg. It’s difficult, sometimes, to actually take in praise about your own work—I look up to other authors so so much, and feel like a fangirl so much, that it’s so foreign for me to accept that kind of admiration from someone else. It’s especially cool of you to mention the feeling-feelings thing, though, [I was told I was good at writing feelings; my writing was emotive] since that’s something I properly feel I’m not great at sometimes!! The amount of times I have to remind myself to ‘show not tell’, or feel like I’m doing too much ‘telling’… genuinely, when I edit my chapters, half of it is just reworking or straight deleting paragraphs and paragraphs of Hebi-being-emo-soliloquies. If you think there are a lot of them now, in the stuff I’ve actually posted, just trust me: you should see my first drafts.

I am fist-pumping reading that I got you to finish ‘One Day’ [self-explanatory]. Writing intrinsic warmth has just been one long con, just to convince people to read more David Nicholls. When I finally finish IW (gah!!!), I plan on leaving a list of book recommendations, those I’ve read that give me the same emotions that ‘One Day’ did; the emotions I’ve tried to capture in IW. It’s my favourite niche genre of fiction, lmao: Books About Intimate Love (Usually Between Just Two People) That Feel Bittersweet And Also Happen To Be About Time And So Also Feel Nostalgic.

I’ve been thinking about your advice question for a while now. [Asked for writing advice; how to write emotively/depict emotions accurately] Truthfully, I have no bloody clue—in my head, I’m just like, eh, that kinda feels good. What suits the vibe? That suits the vibe. No, no, that *doesn’t* suit the vibe. And etcetera.

There’s a few bog-standard, general tips that I always subscribe to, that I’ve picked up along my way and would be happy to explain in greater detail if that’s wanted; always use ‘says/said’ unless you really have to use something else; never use adjectives instead of someone’s name (e.g. “the brunette looked away” vs. “Susan looked away”); avoid clichés like the plague (explained well in the YouTube video, ‘How to Bore Your Audience’ by The Closer Look); use the Emotion Thesaurus for everything. All the time. It is the writer’s Bible.

Honestly, other than those tips (which are more pragmatic than anything), the only thing I can say is to *practise*. Yes, yes, it’s the wankiest thing in the world to say, and yes, it’s been said twenty million times before, but there’s a reason for that! Just write. And then write some more. Which is why yes, you have to start writing!! [was told @/lemonsbesour was thinking of writing because of IW] Please do. Oh my goodness. I didn’t write for years and years and years until Covid time, really, when (no lie) I watched atla for the first time and subsequently wrote about 40k words of a Zuko x reader. Yes, I look back and wince at its quality, but that’s the point!! Writing is the same as any skill, and you only get better at it when you do it again and again and again. But please write. That would be so cool.

Thank you again for such a lovely message. I was truly giggling and kicking my feet and shit, lmao. Huzzah!! <3

[strwbivy]

ASKING HAIKYU MEN TO BUY YOU.. PADS Ⅱ .ᐟ.ᐣ

synopsis. i think the title pretty much sums it up, just short scenarios when you ask them to buy pads :)

wc. 1.3k words | genre. fluffy, w/ sight crack | cw. f!reader (obv), bad cramps, romantic relationship (～￣▽￣)～ featuring. ❛ DAICHI, SUGA, TANAKA, NOYA, USHIJIMA❜ parts. Ⅰ. Ⅱ.

m.list // hq. masterlist

you've got mail ✉ ! ong daichi and asahi looks so goofy in the header and why is does everything seems to have bad quality 😭😭 anyways, READ WELL READER !

♡—SAWAMURA DAICHI

he knows the basic information about periods and pads. after the moment you had chatted with him he followed your request to buy a pad without any trouble. he walks to a nearby convenience store and grabs a pack of overnight pads. and as he was about to go the cashier, something had caught his eyes. the box of [flavor] tea, he eyed it and remembered that you had mentioned that you drink this kind of tea whenever you felt stressed or tired. he took the box and made his way to the cashier to pay, and he walked to your house. meanwhile, you were on your couch, sulking in pain caused by your period. you groaned as you squeezed your eyes and held your stomach just as another wave of painful cramp hit you. your ears caught the sound of knocking, you immediately recalled that you had told your boyfriend to buy you pads. you got up from the couch, having your back hunched over and your hand over your hurting stomach. the silver knob on the door opened, and daichi straightened his back and smiled, but that smile faltered a bit when he saw your pained expression. "darling?! are you okay?" he looked at you with concerned eyes as you let him in your house. "a-augh.. no.." you closed the door and immediately laid on the couch, sprawling your limbs all over the couch. he let out a half-suppressed laugh and sets down the plastic bag, and comes to you. "aww.. i'm sorry that you're feeling that way, i bought you the tea you like. do want me to brew you some?" he asked, smiling at you. "yes.. please." you grunted out. he then headed to your kitchen and brewed tea for you. after brewing the tea, he sat down beside you and handed out the tea. you thanked him and drank the [flavor] flavored tea, and the tea ended up making you feel better so you and daichi spent the rest of the day with each other <3

note : he's canonically an older brother and has younger sisters so he definitely has some experience! ( ty to that person who commented this on my old post )

♡—SUGAWARA KŌSHI

if you were to describe this man, i'd be 'green flag', well technically it's two words, but you get the idea. he knows that menstruations come up every month, so he's always there to help you, and he also knows the basic stuff too. he just straightforwardly buys you a pack of large pads, and some snacks went to your house. as he entered your house, he gave you a peck on the cheek— causing you to blush and give him a kiss back, too. "hey, what about we watch a movie?? i bought some snackss!" he said while handing out the bag. earlier, he bought a pack of microwaveable popcorn, so he microwaved it up. after he was done, he set up the snacks on the table in front of your tv, and both of you did movie marathon while cuddling sweetly ♡

♡—RYŪNOSUKE TANAKA

he's DEFINETLY has researched what menstruations are. he knows almost everything about it and maybe even more than you. he has studied it scientifically, learning how and why it happens, and he makes sure to absorb everything he reads when he studies about it. and because he's so well educated about periods, so ever since you both got together, he has downloaded a 'period tracker app'. so he knows when he can help you get through your period with ease well, the best he can at least. and also whenever he gets a notification from the app, he always takes the opportunity to come and help you. some time later, after you texted each other, he arrived at your front door. he was carrying a backpack that seemed to be full of stuff. you eyeing the black bag until he spoke. "babyyyy! are you okay? are you getting cramps? i have something that could help you if you are!" he quickly said as he inspected at every corner of your body. "ryuu, I'm okayy!" you giggled from the ticklish feeling of his hands when he 'investigated' you. "ahh.. good." he sighed from relief upon hearing your sweet giggle. both of you then entered home, and he put dropped his bag on a table. you were surprised by the loud sound when tanaka placed down his bag. "uhhh ryu? did you.. bring a lot of stuff.. like last time?" he looked at you with his eyebrows raised as he unzipped the bag. "nope! actually i..." the man paused his words as he completely finished unzipping the bag before dumping the contents of it, and it seemed to be.. multiple packs of pads?! a heating pad, and more other items that are related to menstruations. "brought more!" he said joyfully, having a smirk plastered on his face. "new record babyyy!" he wooed loudly as he let out a laugh while your jaw dropped and your wide eyes blinked at the amount of pads. it was quite strange.. he was quite literally celebrating that he got more the amount of pads than before, but you just let out a little sigh of pleasure as you watched him celebrate. you then came closer to him, and gave him a kiss unexpectedly— causing him slowly turn his head towards you, he shivered from the feeling of your warm lips on his cheeks while his arms were wrapping himself. he was also giggling uncontrollably, and his cheeks were tinted pink. oh, how you so much you just love your himbo-of-a-boyfriend so much ♡

♡—NISHINOYA YŪ

he's quite similar to tanaka in a way because he's trained by him! tanaka taught him the way he learned it, by googling and watching videos of course. (don't take that sentence wrong) nishinoya has gone through tanaka's training by texting him and pretending to be you. he honestly did well, but when it happens, it actually happens.. he's surprisingly nervous. but nonetheless, he still buys your needed item with a swirling uneasy feeling in his stomach. after buying the pad you were in need of, he skipped his way to your house. as he faced your front door, he let out a heavy breath before knocking on your door. you then heard the knock and swung the door open, just to see nishinoya handing out the plastic bag to you with his eyes closed. it's as if he was a young boy who just started courting you, having a bouquet in his hands standing in front of your parent's house. you giggled at the sight of your boyfriend as you planted a kiss on his forehead to show your thankfulness. he just smiled, and he returned your kiss.

♡—WAKATOSHI USHIJIMA

he's very straightforward with things, so when you chatted him he just simply followed your request and bought it with no trouble. he doesn't think that buying pads for someone is embarrassing. he thinks that pads are as normal buying anything else. after you texted him, he headed to a nearby store and bought a pack of pads. then he exited out of the door and made his way to your house. when he arrived at your house, he gave you the pads with a soft smile on his face. "thank youu ushijimaa!", he nodded at you. "do you need anything else? i can help you with anything." he said, smiling again, "hmm yea actually.. can you buy painkillers? these cramps are killing me! get it?" your awful pun made the man to chuckle. "mhmm, i knew it." you raised your brow at his statement while you watched him grab something out of his pocket hoodie. he then hands you out a bottle of painkillers. "babyyy?? omg thank you so much!" the man had a knowing smile on his lips, "seems like i guessed right." he emitted out a quiet laugh. and just as you were about to hug him, a pain of wave came up on your stomach, causing your arms to only hover around his body, and you groaned in pain. he sighed with a smile, and he did the hug for you, his large arms wrapped around your body. "c'mon now, let's head inside and make you drink up this pill." you nodded, and he placed his on your shoulder and guided you to your home. "we'll continue to hug once you feel better." he assured you, placing a soft kiss atop of your head.

copyright © strwbivy ↣ do not copy, translate or repost.

[1d1195]

I tend to keep a lot of my "vulnerable" feelings a bit bottled up lol BUT I am working on that lol I of course appreciate you sooo much! Even before I claimed the 💜emoji, I HEAVILY related to your MC's like there were so many similarities in their personality and struggles that for a second got a little TOO REAL lol And to know you put alot of yourself into your stories and characters it felt nice to know that I wasn't alone in feeling like that. Sometimes it feels like something is so wrong with me when it gets tough so knowing that my feelings aren't so strange made/makes me feel alright :) idk if any of that made sense lol

omg don't even get me started when parents trauma dump 😭 idk if i mentioned this before or not but Im first gen Mexican American so literally Mexican parents/elders will literally tell you the most TRAUMATZING stories/experiences then go to say shit like "it's okay, thank god we are better now😁" LIKE HELLO!? WE NEED TO UNPACK THAT?!

I often think if I would be "happier" if I had just chosen a semester school bc I despise this horrid system lol But youre so kind, you have no idea😭

OMG YOU THINK I HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE??? thats crazy bc I feel like mine isn't too crazy or fun lol I have a small core group of friends but the majority of them aren't in school and the friends I do have in college i feel like I rarely seem them due to all of us being so busy lol But ngl i do love going to the free events there like concerts and drag shows WHICH ARE MY FAVE!!! but even then hanging out can sometimes be a little draining for me but once again Im trying to work on that lol.

But bestie you graduated early?! That's really cool! And that is such a big accomplishment! And I can't blame you for wanting your Friends moment like who wouldn't want that?! I wanted a cute little college romance but instead Im over hear falling for my professor lol OH i forgot to mention I have a cute TA in one of my psyc classes so Im saying sorry in advance for how annoying I will be about him 😔

AH you know I love you Sam! You seriously are someone I look forward to chatting with!-💜

I totally get the bottling your feelings up. I think Tulips is most like that. She has some issues (she, being me). I'm glad feeling relatable was a comfort for you. I know it's a comfort for me and I think one of the NICEST things about writing on here is that there are actually many people share the same feelings as me (us). Way more than I thought. It's kind of isolating day-to-day so it's nice to know it doesn't have to be.

HEY RANDOM!!! do you know your Myer's Brigg Personality? I am a HUGE personality test taker. Those buzzfeed ones that were like "What toaster are you?" literally obsessed. or the soldier, poet, king test? Any of them! I love them. It might be a little confirmation bias-y in my own personality but I don't care; I love them. HAHAHAHHAHA I did one for a job years ago I would have to dig it out to remember what the actual test was but i think it was like your big 5 qualities in the work place. Anyway, it made me think of more ways we could be similar (I'm an INFJ - (T) but if I use my teacher persona I can be convinced to be an ENFJ --but I'm a major introvert at heart obvi)

My mom and I are very similar. My bf has some pretty convincing theories about how my mom used to be like my sister and then turned into me when she had kids because she had to be responsible. So her trauma dumping often includes a lot of regrets and worries. You've mentioned your Mexican-American heritage before and I've seen a lot in the media (I know it's not exactly the same and probs also childish of me to rely on Disney for media but Encanto and Coco I feel like were semi-good examples--please don't think the worst of me if you disagree) Encanto especially--Grandma has some things to talk through. That's a lot to unload on you (or anyone!). Again, nice to know it's relatable even if it's sad sometimes. At least I'm not alone! 💕

UGH I can't wait to write TA Harry 😍 You could NEVER be annoying. I want the play-by-play PLEASE it will be the best inspo and I need to live vicariously!!! I've never been to a drag show but definitely on the list of things I'd like to attend! I fall into the latter part of your sentence there. I refrain from doing a lot of things because I'm already so busy on a regular day I don't want to do anything that will require energy when I don't need to use it HAHAHAHA

You're so sweet, thank you. At the time graduating early felt like a really big deal. Now I feel like it doesn't mean much. I guess it saved me some money right? There isn't much I won't do for a coupon 😂

Love you! Hope your week is being good to you!

xoxo

[brain543]

Clothing Shopping for Women and Men

Benefits of Shopping for Clothes Online

Benefits of Shopping for Clothes Online: Let's face it, shopping for clothes can be a daunting task. And don't even get me started on the never-ending crowds and long lines at the mall. But fear not, my friends, because the internet has come to our rescue. With online shopping, you can enjoy a world of benefits that will make your life oh-so-much easier. Convenience is the name of the game here. No more driving around town in search of the perfect outfit. Simply grab your laptop (or phone if you're feeling extra lazy) and browse thousands of options from the comfort of your own home. And the best part? You can shop in your pajamas without judgment. Now let's talk about variety. Online stores offer a wide range of options that you won't find in your local mall. From trendy pieces to vintage gems, the internet has it all. Plus, you can easily compare prices across different websites, ensuring that you get the best deal possible. And let's not forget about the discounts. Online retailers are known for their amazing sales and promotions. You can save big bucks on your favorite brands without even breaking a sweat. No need to fight the crowds on Black Friday when you can shop the same deals from the comfort of your couch. Say goodbye to those chaotic fitting rooms and never-ending checkout lines. With online shopping, you can try on clothes in the privacy of your own home and return or exchange them hassle-free. It's like having your own personal stylist at your fingertips. So why wait? Grab your credit card and start browsing those online clothing stores. Your wardrobe will thank you. And who knows, you might just become the trendiest person in town without ever leaving your house.

Factors to Consider When Shopping Online

Factors to Consider When Shopping Online: When it comes to shopping for clothes online, there are a few factors you should definitely keep in mind. Let's dive into some key points: Sizing and Fit: We all know that sizes can vary from brand to brand, and sometimes even within the same brand. So, it's important to check the size chart and read customer reviews to get a better idea of how an item fits. And hey, if in doubt, order two sizes and return the one that doesn't work (thank goodness for easy return policies!). Shipping and Delivery Options: Look for online stores that offer fast and reliable shipping options. It's also a good idea to check if they provide tracking information, so you can stalk your package like a pro. And of course, keep an eye out for any additional shipping fees that might sneak up on you. Reviews and Ratings: Don't just rely on the product description and those perfect model shots. Take a scroll through customer reviews and ratings to get a sense of the quality, fit, and overall satisfaction of previous buyers. It's like having a virtual shopping buddy giving you the inside scoop! Return and Exchange Policies: Life happens, and sometimes we buy things that don't work out. So, make sure you understand the store's return and exchange policies. Look for hassle-free options, like pre-paid return labels and extended return windows. Because ain't nobody got time for complicated return processes. Secure Payment Options: When it comes to online shopping, safety is key. Look for online stores that offer secure payment options, like encrypted payment gateways or the ability to use trusted payment platforms like PayPal. Protect those hard-earned dollars, my friend! Customer Support: Sometimes we have questions or need assistance. So, opt for online stores that have responsive customer support. Whether it's through live chat, email, or even carrier pigeon (okay, maybe not), make sure you have someone to turn to when you need help. So, keep these factors in mind when venturing into the world of online clothing shopping. It'll save you from any potential sizing mishaps, shipping nightmares, or customer support nightmares. Happy virtual shopping!

Best Online Clothing Stores for Women

When it comes to online shopping for women, there are some amazing options out there that are perfect for finding trendy, stylish, and affordable clothing. Let's take a look at some of the best online clothing stores for women: 1. Aritzia: Aritzia offers everyday luxury pieces with a focus on using quality materials. Their Super Puff jackets will keep you warm even in negative 22 degrees, and their TNA collection has comfy and cool styles. Plus, their Babaton collection offers tailored designs for a night out. 2. Everlane: Everlane is a brand loved by celebrities for their high-quality pieces that look way more expensive than they actually are. They source the finest materials and have a wide range of clothing options. 3. H&M: H&M is known for their budget-friendly closet staples and statement pieces. They have a conscious choice line that incorporates sustainable materials, giving you the option to shop more sustainably. 4. ASOS: ASOS is a go-to for fashion-forward and budget-friendly clothing. They have a wide variety of styles and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect outfit. 5. Revolve: Revolve is a great option for those looking for designer pieces. They offer two to four-day shipping and free returns, making it convenient to shop for that special occasion or one-of-a-kind piece. So, whether you're looking for everyday luxury, affordable basics, sustainable fashion, or designer pieces, these online clothing stores have got you covered. Happy shopping!

Best Online Clothing Stores for Men

Let's explore the best online clothing stores for men, because let's face it, men need stylish threads too! And no, I'm not talking about those outdated dad jeans and worn-out t-shirts you've had since college. We're talking about fashion-forward pieces that will make you feel like a million bucks, without actually breaking the bank. First up on our list is Nordstrom. They've got it all, from trendy streetwear to classic tailored suits. And with their impeccable customer service and fast shipping, you'll feel like a VIP from the moment you place your order. Next, we have Mr Porter. If you want to take your style game to the next level, this is the place to shop. With a curated selection of high-end designer pieces, you'll be the envy of all your friends. Just be prepared to splurge a little, because quality comes at a price. For the guys who prioritize both style and comfort, Bonobos is the go-to brand. They specialize in well-fitting clothing that will make you look put-together, even on your laziest days. Plus, they offer free shipping and returns, so there's no risk in giving them a try. If you're on a budget but still want to stay on-trend, Zara is the answer. With their affordable prices and trendy pieces, you can update your wardrobe without breaking the bank. Just be prepared to fight off other fashion-savvy men for the last pair of those must-have sneakers. Last but not least, we have Topman. This UK-based brand is known for its stylish

[goldenempyrean]

Professor Romanoff (Pt1)

Hey! This is just a little idea that @lyak12 helped me with. This will have more then one part so I’ll add them when theyre written. Im gonna get some requests done next, I just wanted to get this out!

Pt1 <

Pt2

Summary: Natasha Romanoff is your teacher. You’ve always had a small crush on her. But when shes sick, her guard is let down. Now what?...

Wordcount:1,308

Any spelling/grammars are mine, sorry :)

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Tiny bit of backstory: R is attending one of the leading universities. Most people who attend end up graduating and becoming Agents for Fury/SHIELD. Nat teaches two classes and R is in both of them. So, the both of them have a good friendly relationship and are quite comfortable with each other.

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You happily hummed to yourself as you walked the short journey to your next class. You put a little dance into your step as one of your favourite songs began to play in your headphones. You quicken your pace slightly as you glanced down at your watch, you were hoping to arrive slightly early to have a quick chat with your teacher, Miss Romanoff, or Natasha as she preferred you to address her as.  

The university you attended was well-known for producing high-quality agents for SHIELD and as a result many of the Avengers ran side-classes for a select body of students. Luckily for you, you had been selected to participate in two of those special classes. Both being taught by Natasha.  

Your song finished on cue as you pushed open the door to the main building, after 3 years of studying on campus you confidently knew your way around the building and you found yourself outside the door to your lecture hall within a few minutes.  

The door swung open as you walked into the room, stopping abruptly when you noticed your missing teacher. Where was Natasha? She was always at least 10 minutes early to every lesson without fail, there hadn't been a time in your whole time of attending the university where Natasha hadn't been early.

How strange. You had really been hoping for some advice on your upcoming final exam. Well, you could always see her after class. The rest of your class gradually arrived as the minutes ticked by, with still no sign of Natasha showing up. There was an uneasy grumble of small convosations, everybody wondering the same thing. After another long 10 minutes people were beginning to repack their bags and collect their things.

At that moment, the door swung open and Natasha came rushing into the hall. “Sorry guys!” She apologised as she got herself ready. You couldn’t help but notice the twinge in her voice, it sounded slightly off, a lot raspier than usual. If you didn’t know her better you would've thought that she sounded tired.

“Okay guys, can we get out our notes from last lesson please.” She asked, shooting you a brief smile as you made eye contact with her. You couldn’t help but watch in awe as Natasha took control and began her lesson.

Thankfully it seemed like you had an easy lesson for today. It was mainly focussed on revising combat strategies and methods of stealth. Stalking of stealth, you couldn’t help but notice that Natasha was routinely rubbing her throat and muffling small coughs into her arm, if you weren't watching her so closely you would have missed the small actions altogether.

Scribbling down another set of notes you were surprised to hear Natasha’s voice announce, “Well guys. We can call it a day here, make sure to revise!” Her voice broke off and you looked up to see her stifling a sneeze into her elbow, not so much as a sound to give her away.

The room was filled with a satisfied hum of noise as she made her accountment. Everybody was surprised, Natasha’s lessons never finished early, never mind by a whole 20 minutes. People were quick to leave, fearing she would change her mind. It didn’t take long for the room to empty leaving just you by yourself.

You grabbed your bag and slowly walked over to the big desk at the front of the hall, which Natasha was currenting sitting at, her head in her hands while she rubbed at her temple. She hadn't even noticed you approach the desk until you spoke, “Hey.”

“Oh hello.” She answered with a tired smile as she glanced up at you before signalling you to take a seat.

You sat down at the opposite side of the desk before giving into your concern and asking, “Are you okay? You seemed tired during the lecture.”

“Oh.” Natasha really wasn’t expecting anyone to pick up on her current situation, she was almost embarrassed that it was so noticeable, “Its fine, I'm just a lit- Hh.. S'cuse me.. Hht’shoo!” Nat's nose interrupted her sentence as she sneezed against her wrist and sniffled slightly afterwards.

“Bless you.” You hummed lightly, fidgeting with your fingers slightly as you considered what to say next, before you had your chance to say anything though you were interrupted by the small hitching of the tired professor's voice. Somehow it seemed that Natasha had managed to stave off the ongoing tickle in her nose as she lightly pressed a finger to her nose, sniffling to herself lightly.

“You alright?” You asked wishing there was something else you could do for her. You longed to wrap her up warm and lay by her side, attending to her every need. You had never seen Natasha show even the slightest sign of sickness ever. You dreamed of her laying beside you in bed, huddled under a shared blanket. No! She was your teacher, your role-model. There was no way anything could ever happen between you, even with the small age-gap... Still, you couldn’t help but let your mind endlessly daydream at the thought of being with her.

Nat quietly grabbed a tissue and blew her nose before speaking back up, “I'm fine Y/N. Don’t worry about me dear. Are you ready for your finals?” She asked as you felt a small blush seep into your cheeks as a result of her pet-name for you.

“I think so. I just need to remember to keep calm in the exam. I have a habit of getting really nervous beforehand”  

 “You’ll do great. You’re smart, remember that.” She broke off to muffle a deep rattling cough into her elbow. She sounded terrible. “Excuse me,” She sighed, grabbing another tissue, “I think I'm starting to catch a little bit of a cold.” Her voice trailed off as she quietly admitted that last part.

“I think so too,” You agreed, clicking your pen to stop yourself from fidgeting, you weren't sure whether to finish there but despite your better judgement you decided to add, “Hey... Listen it must be more than a little cold if it's making you feel sick. Maybe you should just go easy for a few days.” You must’ve been out of you mind as you reached over, gently cupping Natasha’s hands in your own.

You could’ve sworn that her face turned a deeper shade of red as she held your eye contact for a moment for quickly snapping her face towards her shoulder.

“Hhshtooo! Sorr-”

“Bless you.” You cut Natasha off before she was able to complete her apology, “You definitely don’t sound well though.” You added sympathetically.

“I’ll be fine Y/N. Don’t worry about me, just focus on revising.” She looked down to glance at the time on her phone, “E-Excuse me dear.”  Natasha retracted her hands which were still cupped beneath your own, she slowly began to pack her equipment, avoiding eye contact as you abruptly stood up.

“I should get going. I need to study.” You quickly chucked your backpack over your shoulder, slowly walking towards the door, heat beginning to rush to your face as your mind raced. Had you overstepped a limit?

“Oh.” Was that disappointment in her tone? No. It couldn’t have been.

“I hope you feel better.” You added before turning to leave the hall... Had you just messed everything up?

“Thank you.” Natasha’s voice trailed off as she watched you quickly walk towards the door. God I’m such an idiot. She thought to herself as you left, a piece of her heart leaving with you. Truthfully all she wanted was to be beside you, cuddling against your warm body as you played with her hair. Stop it, Natasha argued with herself. She was your professor; she was meant to be a role-model. This could never happen, right?  

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[erodasfishtacos]

It’s Just Me (mini blurb)

if you enjoyed this fic - PLEASE reblog, rec, like, and come chat with me about the fic!

if you like my work and can donate as i do this for free - please consider donating to my ko-fi.

———————

It was a terrible twos kind of day. The kind of day when YN can’t tote Ivy along to a charity organization brunch because she would meltdown.

Harry had her in his office with him, she was sitting on a blanket Harry had laid out, and was quietly playing with her stuffed animals (mostly seals.)

Occasionally, she would babble to herself and get pissed of at her inatimate playmates, ending in her tossing it to the side.

He caught himself just staring at her, smiling as he watches the little human he and his soulmate created right in front of him.

When his phone rings, he automatically picks it up, professionally stating, “Styles.”

“Hi, this is Dan from Payroll,” The guys voice was already shaking and Harry knew he was about to get really pissed off.

“How can I help you?” He asks in a tone that’s was definitely did not sound like he wanted to provide any assistance.

There is a pregnant pause before Dan nearly stutters, “Er, I accidentally missed reviewing the marketing departments hours and they did not receive their last paycheck.”

Harry takes a very deep breathe because he wants to do what he normally would - scream through the phone at this idiot.

However, he can’t because his curly haired little baby is playing with her toys in the middle of the office with a smile.

“Please come up to my office,” Harry replies curtly before hanging up.

He gets up, goes over to his daughter, and squats in front of her, “Ivy, baby.”

She looks up at him with a toothy grin before reaching over to hand him a stuffed seal, “Play, daddy.”

Harry thumbs over a stray curl on her forehead, “Daddy can’t, my love. I need y’to go with Granny Dor for a little.”

Ivy had been very clinging to both YN and Harry recently. She had a fit when YN dropped her off, despite how happy she was to see her dad.

Her brows furrow, lips purse, and Harry has to laugh because she looks like a carbon copy of him with the sour face.

“Oh, no mean looks t’daddy,” He hums with his own frown, “S’just for a moment, m’dove.”

“No.”

“Ivy, y’need to listen.”

And Harry knows it coming, she sucks in a huge breathe and then just lets out a scream in protest of him.

“Ivy Elizabeth Styles, y’do not scream. Y’know better. Are we going to have to take a timeout or are you going to go sit nice with Dor?” Harry’s voice is still softer than he’d use with any of him employees but extremely firm to her.

“No timeout, daddy,” She mumbles, her volume decreasing significantly as she lowers her gaze from her father’s.

“Alright, then c’mon. Thank you for listening,” Harry praises, gathering up her toys for her and leading her into his waiting room where Dorothy is typing away on her computer.

“Dor, Dan is coming up and I need to have a private meaning. Will y’watch her for a little?”

Ivy is already clambering up into her lap, into the warmth of her arms, and nuzzling in - because Granny Dor spoiled her silly.

Harry rolls his eyes, muttering, “And you and YN say I spoil her too much. Bloody ridiculous.”

Dorothy just shoos him away, readjusting Ivy’s bow, and combing through her hair softly to simmer her down a little.

Dan trails in solemnly soon after to face his inevitable doom.

He sees his boss’ daughter perched on the secretary’s lap and he wonders how such a sweet little thing could be created from the demon of a man.

As Harry and Dan meet, Ivy gets wriggly and squirms off of Dorothy’s lap.

“Stay close,” She murmurs to the toddler as she picks up her phone to answer a call for Harry.

Of course, Ivy doesn’t listen, and she noticed that the door to her father’s office is cracked open just the littlest bit.

It’s enough for her to slip through the space between the heavy doors and toddles on, she’s blocked by the leather couches so Harry can’t see her.

“I have givin’ you so many fuckin’ chances!” Harry seethes angrily at his employee. His tone was more like a growl than anything else.

Ivy pauses, eyes widening in fear as she hears her dad speak in a frightening manner she’s never heard before.

“I…There was a coding error that I had been distracted with, it won’t happen again,” Dan insists, knowing he had actually committed a fireable offense.

“You are absolutely correct because you’re fucking fired,” Harry replies, no wavering in his raspy register.

“That’s bullshit and you know it!” Dan explodes, “It’s unfucking fair treatment! It was one mistake, you fuckin’ asshole!”

There’s a moment of silence.

“I can fuckin’ show you unfair treatment. Get the fuck out of my office and learn how to do your goddamn job,” Harry retorts, his voice rising as well.

Ivy is stuck in her spot, frozen in surprise at hearing the arguing and how mad her father sounded, voice echoing through the room.

“You listen to me-“

“Get the fuck out of my office!” Harry booms furiously, this employee managing to get a rise out of him.

“I was ju-“

Both the men pause when they hear a wail from behind the sofa and the sound of Ivy plopping herself on the ground.

Harry instantly is out from behind his desk and going to round the sofa in a flash with a rose of panic in his chest.

His heart drops when he sees his baby looking up at him with fear in her watery eyes and she’s literally shaking.

“Oh, baby. Did y’hear daddy bein’ loud?” Harry murmurs in his sweetest, comforting voice - uncaring of his employee hearing him.

Harry expects her to nod sadly and ask for a cuddle but she instead wriggles backwards when he goes to reach for her - out of his reach.

“Ivy, little dove, s’just y’daddy,” He tries again, sitting down in front of her - doesn’t even look up as Dan leaves quietly.

She’s scared though and has had never felt worse in his life as his daughter backs away from him until she’s getting to her wobbly feet.

He tries again, reaching his arms out, “Ivy Elizabeth, s’just daddy. M’sorry I scared you, bub.”

Ivy doesn’t budge, crying loudly with her face pinched up as hot tears run down her soft chubby cheeks.

Dorothy appears with a worried look, “I apologize, I thought she was by the table.”

“S’not your fault I’m a shitty father,” Harry mutters, standing back up and roughly brushing off his trousers.

“Oh Harry, she’s just a little frightened,” Dorothy hums, picking the girl up when she toddles quickly over to her.

Her dad trails over, “Ivy, m’love. Can you look at daddy?”

She refuses, digging her face into the woman’s shoulder, curls bouncing fiercely as she clings onto her.

Harry loved to be feared. Not like this though. Not by the child he’d literally jump in front of a train for without a second thought.

He would rather have her screaming, pitching fits, throwing toys rather than this. She was so scared that she wouldn’t even look at him.

“Let me take her on a little stroll, okay? See if I can calm her down a bit.”

—

Harry waits patiently for Dorothy to arrive back but he automatically hears his daughter’s steady stream of sniffles and whimpers.

He goes out to the waiting room to see her reentering the room, she sighs, “I think it’s time to call mummy.”

Harry had no idea how he was going to explain this to his wife. He was I trouble and he knew he deserved it.

“Hey H, is the bab okay?” YN greets warmly, chattering in the background.

“Er, she’s okay, just upset. Ivy accidentally walked in on me flipping out and firing an employee. Now she’s scared. Dor tried to calm her down and she doesn’t want to be near me right now.”

YN’s next words were calm, Harry however did not miss the sharp edge when she replies, “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

Then she hangs up on him.

Which she really never does unless she is really really upset.

—

When YN arrives, Ivy is sat on Dorothy’s lap with puffy eyes and her thumb tucked between her full lips, popping it out when she sees her mother.

“Mumma!” Ivy shrieks, tears beginning streaming down her face as she impatiently waits for her to cross the room and gives her a soft kiss to the forehead.

“Hi baby, give mummy one minute and then we’ll leave okay?” YN murmurs soothingly, thumbing of some of the tears.

Ivy nods but is standing next the secretary’s desk, waiting patiently with her thumb going right back between her lips again.

Harry’s sitting at his large oak table, looking like a guilty puppy as his wife comes in with a disapproving look on her face.

“Baby, m’sorr-“

“What the fuck, Harry? Why is our daughter out there terrified right now?” YN demands, crossing her arms to prove her anger.

“Some fuckin’ idiot messed somethin’ up and Ivy walked in while I cursed him out and fired him. She was hiding behind the couch. It was an accident,” He defends, bristling a bit.

“Even if the door was shut, she would have still heard you. You knew better than to act like that around our daughter.”

“I had to fire him,” Harry makes the lame excuse because he knows he’s in the wrong and he’s not always great at admitting he is.

“You were supposed to have Ivy for two hours and this happens. I have her all day everyday and I’ve need had an issue with controlling myself in front of others!” YN yells (quietly) at him.

“What the fuck is tha’ supposed to mean? Y’calling me a bad father? Y’have her all day with her because I work so that you can stay at home with her.”

YN rolls her eyes, “Well thank god for that, she’d be cursing and screaming at people all day everyday if she was with you all the time.”

Harry is thoroughly pissed at his wife and she is equally just as furious with him - it doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s bad.

“Y’got some fuckin’ nerve. Our baby is polite, well-mannered because of me too! Not just you, fuckin’ claiming all her good qualities,” He replies with a snarl.

“Don’t talk to me that way,” YN bites back, “I’m not one of your employees. Neither is Ivy despite you talking like that in front of her.”

Now she was just trying to push his buttons and it was well onto it’s way of working.

“Y’bein’ fuckin’ ridiculous! It was a accident and you’re acting like I did it on purpose! Fuckin’ hell!” He raises his voice in frustration.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are raising your voice at me but I’m leaving,” YN tells him, giving him one final glare before storming out of the office.

“Fuck!” He grunts, smacking cup of pens from his desk before slamming his fist on the desk.

—

Ivy was waiting patiently, whimpering when she sees her mum, and gesturing to be picked up, “It’s past your nap time, Vee.”

“Nap,” She lisps sadly, instantly curling into then familiarness that is her mother. Eyes instantly fluttering shut.

“Thank you, Dor,” YN whispers, blowing her a kiss, before trekking out of the office with the exhausted little girl.

—

Harry can’t handle the rest of the day, wants to go home, and make amends with his wife which leads him to heading out only an hour after them.

He finds YN in the den with the baby monitor propped on the coffee table, she’s watching a horror movie with a smoothie in hand.

“Hi, m’heart,” Harry murmurs cautiously, loosening up his tie until it falls limp around his neck.

She glances over at him, sarcasm lacing her tone,“So you do know how to talk without yelling at me, hmm?”

His face falls, frowning, “Hey, lovie - don’t be like tha’. Y’gonna let me apologize?”

“Come scratch my back and I’ll hear you out,” She hums, keeping a serious face.

“Y’drive a hard bargain, m’heart. Show me y’tits,” Harry begins to smile, striding over and getting her no time before he’s pulling off her shirt and sports bra.

He sits down then gently lays her down on her tummy and she rests her head in his lap, cheek pressed against his thigh.

“I shouldn’t have done that, I wasn’t thinkin’. Now I’m worried she’s gonna hate me forever,” Harry mumbles, using his blunt nails to trace up and down her back.

“You’re her favorite person. She’ll always love you more than anything,” YN tells him seriously, arching when he scratches an extra itchy spot.

“I hope so. I love her more than anythin’. A little mixture of how much we love each other. How much we worked to get her,” He sighs softly.

—

YN dozed off and Harry tucks a blanket around her bare chest.

When the baby monitor alerts that Ivy had woke up after quite a long nap, he takes a deep breath before walking up the staircase to his fate.

He’s preparing himself for her to scream and cry when she sees her monster of a father because he’d scared her so horribly.

But his mini just widens her green eyes and he looks at his world with bated breath, waiting for the scream or tears.

Instead, she just dimples happily at her father, and squeals with excitement, “Daddy! Hi Daddy, miss you!”

And just like that….

They’re best friends again.

—-

Enjoy! Come talk to me!! 💕❣️💕❣️💕❣️

[corruptimles]

Question but do you have any streaming tips for beginners or know any good videos that'd help someone learn how to do so? I'm trying to audition for something and would like to know if you had any tips! Have a good day tho!!

I have some ideas, they’re mostly Twitch-based though so some might not apply for other sites. Unfortunately I mostly play by ear when it comes to streaming. I don’t know how to specifically help with whatever this audition is but hey

EDIT: added a read-more; I answered on mobile and didn’t notice how long the answer got

I’d say one of the best things to focus on is audio quality as that may make or break if someone wants to keep watching a stream imo (aside from just chat engagement or general interest)

You don’t need to get fancy expensive microphones, just a decent one. Balance volume, and filters like gain, noise suppression, and noise gate to limit background noise but be heard clearly.

Eventually I want to do this too but you can try making whatever room you’re in have better acoustics. You shouldn’t need expensive acoustic foam, there’s other DIY alternatives out there that I haven’t fully looked into yet.

Unless you want to go for the aesthetics and can afford it then I can’t really stop you.

(And maybe you actually have furniture in your room that breaks down sound better than my barren echoing living space)

Uhhh promos and all that. Tumblr has a function to play Twitch streams live if you put the link as a video post, which is one way to grab some viewers. Don’t feel too discouraged if the spike of viewers comes and goes. And don’t feel bad about self-promo because people wouldn’t know they can watch you if you never say anything about it

Having a friend around doesn’t hurt. Mine have helped with feedback on stream quality, and general levity

Don’t feel like you need to put on a boisterous entertainment persona as that might get draining; it may take a while to find a comfortable streaming mindset but you’ll get there

Be sure to check your moderation settings, especially auto-mod if you don’t have someone to moderate for you. Consider things like nightbot or streamlabs cloudbot for further moderation and custom commands. Take advantage of Twitch extensions; some give chat more to do and look at

If you want to be more personable to an audience, encourage conversation when you can. Like asking questions back and bringing up discussion topics. (be mindful of parasocial relationships though, both ways. how often chat talks doesn’t define your worth)

Something something, eye-catching overlays but not being too crowded to watch

I’m sure there’s other ways to improve quality like bitrate, fps, internet connection (ethernet is most recommend), but I can’t think of anything else specific at the moment, or it depends on your programs and specs.

It took me about a year before getting into a comfortable groove so pretty much don’t give up and try to have fun with it

If anyone else knows any good videos or other tips for this anon, leave a comment or something. I know I’m definitely forgetting a couple quick tips I would’ve answered a different time.