#hopefully i can start the writing process by summer

[wastedonthesebutterflies]

i adore world building because now my adorable little novel with the most fun mecore plot has practically the perfect, most rational society and i want to live inside it.

[deadpool1763492]

A Very Late Road Trip AU Update

Art by @toonzxy

Hello everyone! Yes, it's been quite a while since @toonzxy, @joyfuladorable, and I have posted anything about this AU, but I promise the story is still in the works! To keep you all in the loop, we decided to make a sort of update post for the progress of the story.

Read to the end for a little teaser!

Okay, so, Book 1 is currently at 51k words. I promise I am writing it as quickly as I possibly can, but I had a pretty busy summer and am currently in my senior year of university, so it's safe to say that I don't have too much free time on my hands at the moment. I know we said we'd try to start posting it by July/August, but as of now, I don't think this book will be finished before the end of the year. Once we finish writing it, we still have to go through the entire process of editing the thing, which is a pretty daunting task. At the rate the story is going, Book 1 will probably end up being at least 100k words long.

In other news, toonzy and joyfuladorable are currently in the works of a comic! You all clearly enjoyed the comics released earlier this year, so they've decided to create a comic that will run alongside the fic but will have its own minor changes to the story. It won't be too different, but it'll be just different enough for it to stay entertaining if you want to read them both.

Most of our time has been dedicated to world building, which, admittedly, is taking a lot more time than we thought it would. It's also been a lot of rewriting previous plot points so that the continuity makes sense overall. All three of us REALLY hate plot holes, so there's been quite a bit of compromising on all fronts. All in all, it's been a lot of work for three people who not only have normal adult lives, but also have other projects on our hands that keep grabbing our attention. This has been our top priority though, I promise.

Okay, that's enough of that. You guys wanted some teasers? Here you go:

via @toonzxy

There you go. Two comic panels, the titles for the first four chapters (mostly) and a very random very mature name of a place in Idaho that one of us stumbled upon. Do with that what you will.

Alright, that's all from me! Hopefully, the next update won't be as long of a wait as this one, but I won't make any promises.

Hasta luego true believers

-DP

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

Prynhawn da Elanor,

I'm a student in the US currently applying to universities for next year, and I have a couple of questions about Welsh universities if you have the time. I'm looking at both schools in the US and one in Wales (I managed to visit over the summer and it seemed great, loved the town and the university, and the degree that I'm interested in is very solid there), and the teaching style/expectations of students are an unknown factor. I've been taking college classes while still in highschool so I'm familiar with college-level instruction in the states, and it's not ideal for what I'm interested in studying. For example, at one of the schools I visited that is supposed to be a decent research university, the faculty were surprised that I had questions about research as an undergrad, and according to current students, the hardest part of their studies were quizzes on botanical taxonomy. So, I'm curious, what are the general academic expectations for students (especially in ecology or wildlife biology-related courses)? It seems like assessments are more practical or long-form and less quiz/multiple choice.

This got long-winded, so my apologies, and thank you for your time!

Shwmae! Happy to answer.

SO, I shall caveat this with saying that I don't really understand how higher education works in the US; it's a very different system to the UK in many ways. I'm therefore not entirely sure how to explain the exact differences. So, I'll just tell you about how it works over here rather than trying to do a comparison, if that makes sense? It means some of this will definitely feel like Water Is Wet stuff, but hopefully there'll be an exact answer in there that you can extract. Also, if you're comfortable doing so (and want to), I'm happy to talk over DM if you want slightly more specific advice involving you revealing details that otherwise might doxx you.

(Also second point, because I have danced this dance before and I know what Some Of You Lot are like when my posts start gaining traction beyond my circle of followers: in places where I do explain something that's different between the two systems, I am not saying one is better or worse than the other. Don't be a cunt about this. Work on your defensiveness and ego in your own time. I'm too busy and important for your feelings.)

Third point: I'm snipping this for length. On with the answer!

So, degrees over here are fairly fixed in terms of content and duration. Some offer a specific, set array of modules that make up the degree; others have essential core modules, and then you can choose from a small number of options until you get the required credits. But part of choosing the course for you over here is looking at the modules that make up the degree to make sure you're getting the exact focus you want; the one I teach on, for example, has a focus on practically applying environmental science, with the result that it has a very high post-graduation employment rate across a variety of environmental disciplines. Others might focus more on human geography, or environmental engineering, or climate science, or whatever else.

The reason for this is the quality assurance system in the UK. Courses have to be validated as being the right quality in terms of content, level of study, assessment practices, etc. Let's say you get a BSc from UWTSD in Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change; that comes with a quality assurance for a future employer that you have learned a specific set of skills, a specific knowledge bank, and are capable of using both in a specific way. There shouldn't be a risk, for example, that they hired someone from the same course the year before who had the same qualification as you, but turned out to not understand the dynamic processes behind sand dunes and couldn't write an official report to save their life, meaning you get passed over for the job the following year because they can't trust that your education actually means anything; if both of you have the same qualification, then the course should be meeting sufficient quality standards to ensure that you both therefore have the same knowledge and skillset.

So that's point one!

Where this works in your favour is point two: assessment. Assessment is also rigidly quality-checked, but it means you can ask a course director and immediately get an outline of what the assessment procedures are (not the precise assessment tasks, obviously; but, report vs exam vs lab practical etc will be known).

But also, yes, assessment in the UK is extremely rarely what I understand to be 'quizzes' in the US, and extremely rarely multiple choice. Rightly or wrongly, there is a definite perception in academic circles over here - even at high school level, much less university - that a multiple choice quiz is too easy to pass by guessing, and they're very looked down on as a method to assess learning.

What you'll have instead varies between modules and courses, but I can give you an idea with a couple of mine:

Level 4: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

No exams: two reports based on practical field/lab work, both worth 50% of the final mark

First: dissect owl pellets in the lab from two sites. Evaluate what the findings mean for the biodiversity on each site, and suggest some future site management prescriptions. 2000 words.

Second: fieldtrip to nearby woods to take allometric tree measurements and calculate carbon sequestration. Evaluate the ecosystem service provided by the woodland, and comment on site management and conservation. 2000 words.

Level 5: Coastal, Marine and Wildlife Conservation

One assignment, one exam, each worth 50% of the final mark

Assignment: Ramsey Island has far less biodiversity than neighbours like Skomer, Grassholm, etc. Research why, what was done to fix it, how well it's recovered, and suggest what should be done in the future to aid further recovery. 2500 words.

Exam: First half is a selection of short form questions to test baseline knowledge. Second half is a 50 mark essay question; choice of two topics to answer.

Level 6: Habitat Management and Building Resilience

No exams: two assignments, one before Christmas worth 30% of the mark, one in May worth 70%

First: choose a species reintroduction project of your choice, and find the habitat feasibility study carried out for it. Critique that habitat feasibility study. Put your findings into an academic poster and present it. 15 mins.

Second: using teachings from across the year, produce a habitat management plan for a site of your choosing. You need to actually visit and assess your site. 3500 words.

(L4, 5 and 6: first, second and final year of undergrad)

The idea in each case is not just to test knowledge; it's to test applied knowledge, and to teach real-world skills needed in the industry after you graduate. If you go into land management, for example, the ability to guess the right answers based on the multiple choice pattern is useless; the ability to assess a site and write up a management plan for it, on the other hand, is literally the job you're hired to do.

So, as far as research is concerned... if you mean carrying out your own research on a topic of your own choosing, the main place that happens is your dissertation in third year. But, you can start that earlier if you want. In our department, we also encourage and support any independent research a student may choose to do, even if they don't end up using it for their degree directly.

If you mean general research skills, though, those are vital to every assignment. If you only repeat back whatever papers or knowledge the lecturers have given you, and don't research independently, you will barely scrape a pass. We actively push you to learn those skills.

And then lastly, expectations for students! In higer ed, you are now an adult, and you are choosing to be here: this means that the expectation is that you're meeting the lecturers halfway, as it were. It's a mistake a lot of new students make, if they've come straight from high school - uni is just The Next Thing to do, but to them it's basically like school, so the teachers have to keep trying to teach them even if the student barely shows up or makes any effort.

But that is not so! They are no longer pupils, and I am not a teacher.

If I say to a class "Look up these papers and be familiar with the arguments before next session because we're going to have a seminar", and then someone doesn't bother because "Whoops I went out drinking and forgot to do my homework teehee", then they can get out. They are adults paying for a particular service. I have offered that service. If they think of it as homework and choose not to do it because they wanted to go out clubbing instead, then... okay. That's the choice they can make. But the consequence is, I'm not chasing after them, because I'm not a teacher, and that's not my job. Now they aren't having that session. This will have a knock-on effect for their understanding of the topic; but that's the choice they made.

(Again, before the Pissing On The Poor crowd arises: I am, very obviously, not talking about students who have other struggles that impact their academic performance. I am, very literally and clearly, talking about the 18-year-old school leavers who are still in the school mindset, and think of missing lectures as 'skiving', and on a lizard brain level think there won't be consequences to that because so far in their life, education systems have not been allowed to fail them for that behaviour.)

So, basically... you're expected to want to learn and improve, and to put the work in to do that. Not to just be there to get the degree, but to be there to learn. Adult education is collaborative between lecturer and student. We guide you, but it's your journey to take.

Anyway! I hope that is at all useful. Let me know if you want clarification on anything, or have any other questions!

[lees-chaotic-brain]

Okay, ocean-loving Inumaki, you know? those who love jellyfish and have shark pajamas. Taking him on a date to the aquarium, I feel like he would be very happy and look so tiny 🤏🏻 Whatever. I love how you writing you're great!

You take Inumaki on an aquarium date

WC: 1.4k

CW: mentions of octopi having sex ig, fluff, NOT beta-read, read at your own risk

Note: @kainlvstoge omg i'm sorry this took so long, but thank you so much for your kind words!! i had never thought about my boy inumaki as an ocean lover, but i can see it now that you said it. anyways, i hope you enjoy it!!! also: i had to do a little research for this fic, so take any facts with a grain of salt

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Every single date your boyfriend had taken you on was perfect; like something out of a dream. Picnics in a field of wildflowers on a sunny spring day, stargazing at night from a blanket nest in the back of a pickup truck he borrowed from one of Nobara’s relatives, watching fireworks on a balmy, clear summer night. Every romantic fantasy you ever had, he fulfilled, just by listening to you ramble about yourself.

Which is why you wanted so desperately to return the favor, and take him on his dream date. But there was one little problem. Actually, one looming, mortifying, mountain sized problem: you had no idea what his dream date would even look like. For weeks you pondered, agonizing over  whether or not to straight up ask him, ruining the surprise and admitting you’re a terrible significant other in the process. No. You couldn’t ask him. So you did the next best thing, which is why you were currently treating his best friend to coffee.

“So uh, not that I don’t appreciate it  or anything, but may I ask why you suddenly insisted on buying me coffee?”

Too nervous to meet Yuuta’s piercing blue-gray eyes, you stared daggers into your innocent chai latte.

“This is actually super embarrassing, but would you mind if I asked you for some advice?”

“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but go ahead.”

Starting off, you told him about what a thoughtful and sweet boyfriend Toge is, before moving on to explain your dilemma, asking him for his help.

“And it’s not like I haven’t had a ton of ideas! It’s more like, none of them feel right, and I want this to be perfect.” You finish your explanation, looking at Yuuta hopefully. “So, I was hoping that as his best friend, you might have some suggestions?”

“Actually, I do.” He leans forward a bit, in a conspiratory manner. “Not a lot of people know this about him, so I’m not surprised you don’t, but you can’t tell him I told you, deal?”

You nod, willing to agree to pretty much anything at this point.

“He’s like, obsessed with anything ocean related. I mean, he’s a total geek about it. He’s got tons of facts about sea creatures memorized, and even has this pair of pajama pants with little jellyfish on them. So I’d take him to the aquarium if I were you. Before the two of you started dating, he used to drag me there every other weekend.”

You sat back in your seat, stunned. How did you not know this about him? In a week or so the two of you will have been dating for a year! Smiling, at Yuuta, you return to the campus and thank him profusely for his insight before returning to your room and pulling up the local aquarium’s website. You had a date to plan.

A little over a week later, your one year anniversary had arrived and you were ready. You had told your boyfriend to keep his schedule open because you had a surprise planned for him, so when you were ready with the tickets tucked securely in your bag, you told your boyfriend to meet you at the school gates.

When you arrived, he was already there, and you took a moment to appreciate how attractive he was in his casual clothes. He was wearing a black long sleeved shirt with a baggy white t-shirt over it, his black cargo pants mostly covering his battered converse. Looking up from his phone he waved at you grinning. Running up to him, you flung your arms around his neck, feeling his chest rumble with laughter as he caught you. 

“Konbu!” He greeted you, before pulling out his phone and typing something.

You look really nice today :)

“Thanks Toge!! I like your outfit too! It looks very comfortable.” You rub your hands up and down his sleeves for emphasis. “Now let's go!”

You grab his hand, and drag him off to the bus stop, ignoring his protests and questions regarding your date, simply telling him it’s a surprise for a reason.

After a short bus ride filled with mock bickering and laughter, you pull him off at your stop and wait for him to realize where you are.

The aquarium?? He waves his phone in your face, looking at you questioningly. How did you know?

You wink at him. “I have my ways. Now, do you want to go in, or not?”

His eyes widen, and he nods in excitement as he grabs your hand and tugs you along. After giving the lady at the booth your tickets, you let him take charge, as he clearly  was well acquainted with the place. Pulling you along, he chattered away excitedly via his phone, spewing random facts left and right.

For example at the shark exhibit:

Did you know that sharks are covered with little teeth called dermal denticles?? That’s why their skin feels like sandpaper!

He pressed his hand to the glass separating him from the shark with excitement in his eyes, as if he were imagining what it would feel like to pet one. You watched him, fascinated with this new side of him you were discovering.

At the octopus tank:

Did you know that having sex gives male octopi dementia? Imagine if humans were like that, it’d be hysterical

You shake your head as he giggles to himself, and let him guide you to the next exhibit.

Finally, the two of you take a break, buying lunch and sitting on a bench to eat. You observe the happiness on his face as he uses his fries to draw in his ketchup, positive the aquarium was the right choice. Sending Yuuta a silent thank you, you begin eating your own lunch.

The two of you sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, leaning against each other as you eat before you speak.

“It’s really cool that you know so much about the ocean and sea creatures, and it’s adorable how excited you get when you see them, but…I don’t exactly know how to say this, but why sea creatures? What got you so into them?”

Thoughtfully, Inumaki takes another bite of his sandwich before setting it down and grabbing his phone after wiping his hands. He types for a few minutes, pausing occasionally to delete a sentence and rewrite it. After what feels like forever, he scrolls back to the top, reads what he wrote, and hands you the phone.

I guess it’s probably because of my cursed technique. There’s not really much sound underwater, you know, but all of these creatures can still communicate. Like, did you know that lobsters pee out of their eyes, and that they pee on each other to communicate? Sure, it’s gross, and I can’t just go around peeing on people if I want to tell them something, but somehow it made me feel less alone. So every time I was frustrated or annoyed, because I couldn't speak, I went and learned something about sea creatures instead of feeling sorry for myself.

As you read, your heart hurt for him, but at the same time you were glad that he had found an outlet for his negative feelings. Handing him the phone back, you pulled him into a hug.

“I think it’s great that you found such a positive way of coping when you felt insecure, but I’m sorry you ever felt that way. I wish you had told me about it sooner, and I wish I had taken you to the aquarium before this.”

He pulled away, and you didn’t need anything typed out to read the vulnerability in his eyes.  “I don’t think you’re weird for loving sea creatures at all, and I don’t care that you can’t talk. I understand what matters, so you don’t need to use your words. And, if you’re okay with it, I would love to keep coming back here so you can teach me more about sea creatures. I want to know all sides of you, Toge. There’s not a single part of you I don’t love. So, let’s come back next weekend, what do you say?”

He nodded, and pulled you back into a hug. Nestling into his arms, you soaked up his warmth, feeling his love in his embrace. Because that was enough for the two of you to communicate.

All you needed was each other.

[commodorez]

What is the appeal of vintage computers to you? Is it the vintage video games or is it the programs? If so, what kind of programs do you like to run on them?

Fair warning, we're talking about a subject I've been passionate about for most of my life, so this will take a minute. The answer ties into how I discovered the hobby, so we'll start with a few highlights:

I played old video games starting when I was 9 or 10.

I became fascinated with older icons buried within Windows.

Tried to play my first video game (War Eagles) again at age 11, learned about the hardware and software requirements being way different than anything I had available (a Pentium III-era Celeron running Windows ME)

I was given a Commodore 1541 by a family friend at age ~12.

Watched a documentary about the history of computers that filled in the gaps between vague mentions of ENIAC and punch cards, and DOS/Windows machines (age 13).

Read through OLD-COMPUTERS.COM for the entire summer immediately after that.

Got my first Commodore 64 at age 14.

I mostly fell into the hobby because I wanted to play old video games, but ended up not finding a ton of stuff that I really wanted to play. Instead, the process of using the machines, trying the operating system, appreciating the aesthetic, the functional design choices of the user experience became the greater experience. Oh, and fixing them.

Then I started installing operating systems on some DOS machines, or playing with odd peripherals, and customizing hardware to my needs. Oh, and programming! Mostly in BASIC on 8-bit hardware, but tinkering with what each computer could do is just so fascinating to me. I'm in control, and there isn't much of anything between what I write and the hardware carrying it out (especially on pre-Windows machines)! No obfuscation layers, run-times, .dlls, etc. Regardless of the system, BASIC is always a first choice for me. Nova, Ohio Scientific, Commodore, etc. I usually try to see what I can do with the available BASIC dialect and hardware. I also tend to find a game or two to try, especially modern homebrew Commodore games because that community is always creating something new. PC stuff I focus more on pre-made software of the era.

Just to name a few examples from a variety of systems: Tetris, terminal emulators, Command & Conquer titles, screen savers, War Eagles, Continuum, video capture software, Atomic Bomberman, demos, LEGO Island, Bejeweled clones, Commander Keen 1-3, lunar lander, Galaxian, sinewave displays, 2048, Pacman, mandelbrot sets, war dialers, paint -- I could keep going.

Changing gears, I find it funny how often elders outside of the vintage computing community would talk about the era I'm interested in (60s-early 90s). [spoken with Mr. Regular's old man voice]: "Well, computers used to be big as a room! And we used punch cards, and COBOL!" I didn't know what any of that meant, and when pressed for technical detail they couldn't tell you anything substantial. Nobody conveyed any specifics beyond "that's what we used!"

I noticed that gaps remained in how that history was presented to me, even when university-level computer science and history professors were engaged on the subject. I had to go find it on my own. History is written by the victors, yeah? When was the last time a mainstream documentary or period piece focused on someone other than an Apple or Microsoft employee? Well, in this case, you can sidestep all that and see it for yourself if you know where to look.

Experiencing the history first hand to really convey how computers got from point A to B all the way down to Z is enlightening. What's cool is that unlike so many other fields of history, it's near enough in time that we can engage with people who were there, or better yet, made it happen! Why do you think I like going to vintage computer festivals?

We can see the missteps, the dead-ends, the clunkiness, the forgotten gems and lost paradigms, hopefully with context of why it happened. For the things we can't find more information on, when or documentation and perspectives are limited, sometimes we have to resort to digital archeology, and reverse engineering practices to save data, fix machines, and learn how they work. The greater arc of computer history fascinates me, and I intend to learn about it by fixing and using the computers that exemplify it best, and sharing that passion with others who might enjoy it.

[mygreatadventurehasbegun]

Something I’ve been thinking about lot lately are movies that I would introduce to people who haven’t seen many (or any) movies from Classic Hollywood.  If a friend came to me and asked me to recommend old movies, what would I choose?

What do I consider Old Hollywood “gateway movies”?

*Originally was going to stick to movies made before 1960, but one 60′s movie could not be ignored.*

Roman Holiday

I’ve heard this referred to as a “reverse Cinderella story” and I think that’s a great description.  It’s about a woman who just wants to get away from her stressful life and have fun...even if for only one day.  It really has it all...it’s lighthearted, funny, romantic and bittersweet.  And while these are in no particular order, this would probably be the first movie I’d suggest to someone.

On The Waterfront

To me, this works as a great introduction because it actually is a bit of a transition movie for Hollywood...and by that I’m referring to the acting style.  Nearly every actor in this movie came from The Actor’s Studio, bringing the more grounded, realistic approach to acting that modern audiences are used to (compared to the more presentational style of the 30′s and 40′s).  So, this movie is a great way to ease them into Old Hollywood.  And the story still feels relevant today...trying to find the courage to stand up to the big guy who has his foot on the back of everyone’s neck...and risk alienating your friends in the process.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Of course, I was going to recommend this one!  This movie is just...so much fun...even if a person is new to Classic Hollywood, they are guaranteed to find something they like about this one.  Even if it’s just the swordfights or the score...but honestly, everyone I’ve shown this to has really enjoyed it (even people who don’t like adventure movies).

Casablanca

Yes, this seems like an obvious choice, since it’s one of the greatest movies ever made.  But there’s a reason for that.  The acting, directing and writing are iconic and you really can’t ask for more.  Plus, one of the main points of the story is about sticking it to the Nazi’s.  I think we can all (hopefully) agree that that’s a point in this movie’s favor.

12 Angry Men

Another movie that still feels timeless and relevant even after all these years.  It discusses themes of class, parent/child relationships, justice, ignorance and so much more, you’d believe it was written today.  And the performances from every single actor in that room is outstanding...there are some scenes that are so electric as you feel the tension rising.

How to Steal a Million

Another Audrey movie!  This is a perfect option is someone wants to watch a fun, fluffy comedy.  It’s light and relatively low-stakes...it almost feels like a send-up of heist movies, except they don’t wink at the camera.  It’s just that instead of stealing something because the fate of the nation depends on it, or to stick it to the man...Nicole just wants to steal back something she already owns.  And the way they go about it is absurdly hilarious.  The chemistry between our two leads helps a lot, as they are so much fun to watch.

Summer Stock

If I was only going to recommend one musical from back then, I’d have to recommend Summer Stock!  Not just because it’s one of my favorites, but because I do think it’s a fairly good choice to ease someone into older musicals.  It’s not super elaborate and grand...no Busby Berkely musical numbers or elaborate sequences...just a bunch of people trying to put on a show.  And the love story between Joe and Jane feels so real and grounded...no love at first sight, no enemies to lovers...just two people who happen to be perfect for each other, and were lucky enough to meet.  This is Gene Kelly and Judy Garland at their best and I want other people to see it.

Rear Window

And if they wanted to see a Hitchcock movie, but maybe aren’t super into horror...I think I’d start them off with Rear Window.  This isn’t a traditional scary movie...as with most Hitchcock movies, it’s all about the tension.  But it isn’t released with jump scare and music stingers.  And around the tension, you have this romantic drama between James Stewart and Grace Kelly, which is so fun to watch (and we can’t forget Thelma Ritter and her one-liners!)

And once they become hooked, the next round of films I’d suggest would be: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Maltese Falcon, Psycho, The Philadelphia Story, The Heiress, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Meet Me in St. Louis.

Any that you would add?

[mikedfaist]

I’ve had this idea for a minute and I love your writing style so hopefully you can do it! Mike x reader and reader has a daughter from a previous relationship and Mike is looking for a respectful way of talking about her! I was picturing it in the another man magazine article he did but whatever you think is best!

Anon, darling, you came to the right person for this because I already had an idea brewing. For the Mike x famous reader universe, I have multiple scenarios for when they meet, but the one where she has a daughter with someone else is actually a new idea I’ve been dabbling with for nearly a week.

The father isn’t in her life, our reader is just being a single mother, so when the two of them do start dating, Mike is very much treading on his responsibilities, because he doesn’t want to overstep, but he also wants to help when he can. I think it also takes her a little bit to warm up to Mike, just because she’s a shy girl, and she’s around 3-years-old when they meet. But once he asks to see her Barbie’s, oh man, it’s game over. They become best friends. She’s always asking for “Bike” to come over.

(It’s hard because she primarily lives in New York, and of course he’s in Ohio, so she doesn’t understand why Bike can’t just come over right now).

He even has a room made up for her at his house. He painted the whole thing, got her a bed set up, even bought her some of her favorite toys for her to just keep there for when she visits.

When they do the interview, I can see Mike carefully bringing her up over lunch. Maybe the background of his phone is a photo he took of her sitting on a giant pumpkin from when the three of them went to the pumpkin patch the previous fall.

When I bring up the photo, he pauses to look down at his phone with uncertainty, but it vanishes quickly before you had a moment to process his emotions.

“That’s my girlfriend’s daughter… We went to the pumpkin patch last year and she wanted to bring home the biggest one she could find but… She bit off more than she could chew.” He laughs, unlocking his phone and begins to scroll through is camera roll, pointing to photos he’s taken of her over recent months.

“This one,” he says, turning his phone around to show me a selfie he had taken himself. “She wanted to play ‘Beautiful’ as she calls it… She does my makeup and hair to make me look beautiful.” The photo shows Mike with bright blue eyeshadow, glitter covering his cheeks, bright pink lipstick adorning his lips, and ribbon tied precariously in his hair. “It did make me feel pretty beautiful.”

Lastly, he shows me a photograph he keeps folded neatly in his wallet; it’s of the two of them in his dressing room from when he was on the West End last summer. She wears his cowboy hat and boots, much too big for her, while he is bent down to kiss her cheek.

She’s mentioned later in the article when Mike talks about how his refrigerator is covered in drawings she’s made for him, and his favorite, when asked, is the one of three stick figures, and one stick dog, standing in front of a house – presumably his – with the words ‘I love my family’ written atop. He then says he’s working on getting it laminated and framed.

[campbyler]

my friend and i are going to write a long fanfic together, neither of us really have any experience with anything more then a one shot, any advice?

hellooooo that’s so exciting we are wishing you and your friend the best of luck!! i would sayyyyy the number one thing that helped us streamline the process of writing a long fic together was probably outlining like fiends!! it’s not the first time we have mentioned this, but we have always had a very thorough outline even though we had to make multiple versions of it over time to make it easier to read and use once it started getting cluttered and busy. i’d recommend breaking down each of your chapters into the main goals you’d like to accomplish in each one — for example, for ch04 it was the tension of isolation culminating in a kiss and for ch05 it was them navigating and full sending their casual thing for the summer and ch06 was the entirety of camp games and ch07 was wilderness week (will’s worst enemy) and will learning to enjoy it with mike there and so on and so forth. definitely recommend breaking each chapter down further into scenes for each one and what you’d like to happen in each scene. for acswy, we also like to balance some more fun and low-stakes filler scenes (think scenes with a lot of the party present or a shamelessly fun kiss scene or interactions with co-counselors/campers/etc) vs ones where it is very clearly about mike and will having a moment and moving their relationship and story forward. so having an outline that both of us can access and update in real time has definitely been super helpful for organizing not only writing, but the overarching story of the acswy universe as a whole :-)

i think my other biggest piece of advice (coming from someone who also mostly writes oneshots. granted very long oneshots at times but still oneshots) is to be mindful of pacing! i don’t write a lot of chaptered stories, so when i do, i find myself really impatient at times to get to the juicy parts of the story or wanting to skip ahead. i think for a longer fic especially, a solid exposition and thorough foundation for your universe is super important for worldbuilding and making things stay clear and well-defined down the line, so i’d say definitely spend the time and energy to flesh that out for sure!

hope this helped! i know both pieces of advice were kind of vague but they are probably the biggest things we have kept in mind while writing, so hopefully you and your friend get some use out of them. we are also happy to help if you guys need advice on more specific parts of writing or planning once you get there! i will say it also helps to be insane about the universe you created and to be thinking about it all the time and therefore be worldbuilding and adding lore off screen constantly. good luck!! 🫡

[roomwithanopenfire]

Six Sentence Sunday

Happy Sunday!! Thanks for the tags @blackberrysummerblog @facewithoutheart @shrekgogurt @rimeswithpurple @thewholelemon unsexy line break to ward against the tag curse @monbons and @cutestkilla!! I love seeing what everyone's working on <3

Summer is underway for me! I've started working evenings and weekends at my local library again and I missed this job. Today I had to hunt down twelve books that had the wrong shelf location, very exciting stuff. And I've finally finished organizing all the children's book bins, which had been in disarray ever since I left for the school year.

Been writing and editing this week!! Here's a snippet from my COBB fic. (Context? What's that?)

“What the—?” she slides her laptop away and leans closer to me, beckoning me with a finger. “Where’d you get that? What the fuck happened?” I don’t move any closer. “What do you think? Figure it out yourself.” “Figure it out yourthelf,” Fiona mocks—the asshole and she darts out to grab my arm, pulling me in closer. “Let me look at it.” I shake her hand off of me—still too on edge for that. And I keep my mouth resolutely shut. “Say ‘Ahhh’” she says, tapping my jaw. “Fuck off.”

more under the cut because i have yet to learn brevity

And I've been steadily working on editing more and more chapters of Proof of Life! I actually love editing, is that normal? How do you all feel about editing? There's no full snippet I can give without ruining the Impact this chapter will hopefully have, but here's four lines of dialogue said to Baz:

“No food, no water, nothing but blood, huh?”

“No, I don’t regret it. I would make that choice again and again.”

“No offence, Basil, that is the most stupid thing I’ve heard.”

“That’s not because you’re a vampire, that’s because you were freaking out."

And two lines of dialogue said to Simon:

“You’re not allowed to be right, it makes you insufferable.”

“Why would you want a vampire to come back?”

Feel free to guess who's talking (there's no repeats) but when I say these are the only lines I could share, I mean it, anything else would have been way too much. Next time I'll have to switch it up and do a process post or something (even though I'm pretty sure my editing process is boring).

Tags and Hellos!

@run-for-chamo-miles @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @raenestee @artsyunderstudy @onepintobean

@prettygoododds @noblecorgi @hushed-chorus @angelsfalling16 @brendughh

@hertragedyconnoisseur @drowninginships @supercutedinosaurs @fiend-for-culture @beastmonstertitan

@valeffelees @ileadacharmedlife @arthurkko @rbkzz @skeedelvee

@bookish-bogwitch @alexalexinii @brilla-brilla-estrellita

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

WIP Weekend

Weekly WIP update:

Chapter 4 of Updraft is finished and edited, and chapter 5 is already started. Planning on having that one done by the end of July.

Chapter 4 of The King's Gift is done and needs some edits, which I'll hopefully manage to cram in before my vacation next week.

24 out of 29 ficlet requests are filled, and 25 is just in the process of being wrapped up.

Send me an emoji, and I'll write and share three sentences from that fic.

🏰The King's Gift

⚙️Updraft

🥳 1k follower ficlets

Snippet from 🥳

Eddie finds out by accident. It's one of the last days of summer, and the air has a syrupy, sticky heaviness to it that threatens thunderstorms. He just wants to pick up some stuff he forgot after last night's campaign. Steve isn’t home, he knows for a fact. So what if he has memorized his shift plan? It's perfectly normal, most definitely not a sign of obsession or toxic codependency. 

Anyway, the point is, Steve isn't home, so Eddie doesn't ring, just lets himself in and marches right on into the living room. And that's where his plans for the afternoon violently derail. 

Steve is on the sofa in front of the television set. Eddie's giddy swoop of surprise is short-lived, however, because he isn't enjoying a movie or sports game. 

The tv isn't on at all. The entire house - always alive with noise or music or chatter - is deadly quiet. The blinds on the windows have been drawn and the air conditioning is on, leaving the room dark and cold.

Steve is buried in the pillows, wrapped in a blanket. Underneath it, his shoulders are shaking. 

“Stevie?” Eddie blurts, nickname slipping out before he can think better of it. “What happened?” 

“Eddie?” Steve croaks. One eye pokes out from between the pillows, bleary and horrified. “I- … H-how long have you been standing there?”

[fizzydrink698]

hey, fi, how’s your uni life going? did subject get any easier? deeply missing you chatting with us :( but i hope that you are feeling better, sending all the love!

hi anon! 🥰

uni life is going OK, things have really ramped up in this second half of the school year, but my last exam is at the end of the month so hopefully after that i can breathe a little easier and finally get to my inbox! i reread my asks all the time, it warms my heart every time bc people are just so nice 😭

i had my own little ccc/modern-consort!reader moment recently, which was very exciting. i got invited to attend a political conference in brussels on the future of europe-asian relations, very exciting. ya girl might even get to co-write and publish an academic piece after it 👀

this is also actually a really fun time to tell you guys that i'll be studying at a university in tokyo for a year starting this september! (hopefully, my application's being reviewed, visa process just starting, please keep fingers and toes crossed for me 😭)

so yes, lots of stuff happening right now with fi! excited for summer, and excited to claw back some free time to get back to writing and interacting with all you guys ❤️

[writingquestionsanswered]

are the "script(profession)" blogs still a thing? i kind of want to start one as a flight instructor, to tackle all the misconceptions about aviation/air travel in fiction, but i do know that they're somewhat exclusive and have an application process before they're cool with you using the name.

unfortunately, it seems like a lot of them have gone dormant/archived.

ScriptX Blogs

It's really difficult to say whether or not ScriptX is still a thing. The original ScriptX blog was @scriptmedic, aka Aunt Scripty, but there have only been a few posts since last summer. There is a post about how to start a ScriptX blog (you can read that post here: https://scriptmedic.tumblr.com/soyouwanna ) and if you don't have any luck contacting Aunt Scripty there, to ask permission to use the ScriptX name, you might try their personal blog which is linked on their main page.

If you decide not to go the ScriptX route but still want to start the blog, let me know when it's up and running and I'll promote it, and hopefully others will also. I think that would be an amazing and helpful resources!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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

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[angelmush]

hi molly, you inspire me so much, thank you for being you. im about to move to a new city by myself for the first time and im scared. how did you build your life into one you loved? how do i meet people? i want so many things but sometimes they seem so far out of reach!! anyway, wishing you well and it always makes me happy to come visit your page and see you living life so fully :)

hello sweet anon!! sorry i am just getting to this, i was out of town for a few days and have been pretty offline in general lately. to be honest, i feel really really really underqualified to answer any questions about meeting people and making friends, as it is something that has never come easily to me, but i will do my best because i am SO excited for you!! moving somewhere new can be really healing!! i also want to gently remind you that social media-- even tumbr --is a highlight reel.

building my life into one i loved.

i think it's a few things.

it's a skill to find excitement about small things. delicious meals, nice weather, cute animals. being intentional about noticing and allowing yourself to feel excited about the little stuff does some kind of magic in your brain, and in appreciating your life in general. i am not naturally gifted at this whatsoever, but it's a muscle that takes practice to build, like anything.

i also dedicate a LOT of my free time to hobbies. right now it's mostly knitting, but often it's cooking and training my dog as well. watching movies and talking about them with people. spending time decorating the house. i'm very very very much a homebody, often to my detriment. it is monumentally difficult for me to take the first steps to leave the house to do things, even fun things, but once i do i am almost always better for it.

one sort of silly way i have helped to mitigate this, is that my girlfriend and i have started making seasonal bucket lists and magnetizing them onto our fridge. it turns it into sort of a game i guess, and it makes me feel accomplished to cross things off. we did really really well with ours this summer! we have three sections, small things (make smoothies, try a new dinner recipe, make a playlist), medium things (take the dog to the lake, see a movie in the theater, have drinks on a patio), and large things (go camping, go to pride, celebrate my birthday), etc. we just made our fall/winter one and i'm already sooooo excited for it!! it helped me to have a reason to leave the house while we were still getting our bearings in this new city.

i also have limited my social media time more recently on all apps except tumblr and pinterest to 15 minutes per day total. this helps me feel so much less frantic and it's easier for me to stay present than it used to be.

i also started taking medication! it's been a really big piece of the puzzle for me, personally. it helps my baseline be significantly more resilient and regulated and stable. it isn't a singular fix, but it opens up more space for that joy.

as far as meeting people goes, i will let you know when i figure it out LOL. im someone that needs a lot of quiet alone time to function and so i spend a lot of time with myself. i am still learning how to make the bridge from casual friends to a deeper and more meaningful friendship with the people ive met since moving here last august, and it's been a very clumsy imperfect process.

i'm sure this probably wasn't all that helpful haha it felt disjointed to write, and like i said, i am severely underqualified to give advice on this topic. but these are a handful of things i think have helped me in the last year, so hopefully there's something you can take from it!! wishing you all the luck and joy and wonder on your endeavors!! you can send me an ask anytime!! <33

[wheretheharekissesthefox]

The sight of spring

Karlach and Wyll announce their wedding and pregnancy. The rest of their merry little bunch starts wondering about marrying. Conversations (and sex) occur.

(Trigger warning (18+): graphic description of sex, smut, body worship, consensual blood drinking, fellatio, frottage, foreplay (lots of it), gentle sex, ear kink (kinda), fluff, the feels, character study)

Notes:

To avoid confusion: In one of my other fanfics Halsin and Tav had named the owlbear cup Naïlo, which means 'night breeze' in the Elven language.

I used official D&D/Forgotten Realms maps to pinpoint the locations of Gale's tower house. The maps can be found here, here, and here.

The house number is based on the release date of Baldur's Gate 3 (3rd of August).

Karlach's & Wyll's faith is based on this fic.

Three other fics (Tav's gift, Tav's sex parade - Chapter 12: Mate me, mark me, make me yours, Magic Touch) are mentioned.

I have the 'elves have sensitive ears and it's a kinky thing' headcanon/brainrot since the game came out. Obviously, I had to do something about it :D

The Selûnite ritual's based on old Walpurgis Night/May Day (the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May) traditions.

It wasn't the eager knocking at the front door that woke her up but Scratch's barking, Naïlo's hooting, and Tara's persistent shouting.

"Miss Ta-hav! It's the mail boy!"

"I'm coming!" grumbled the bard and emerged from the bedroom, half-asleep and in her nightgown.

She'd returned in the early morning hours from her performance at a wedding, and had only slept for three hours so far.

Grumpily, she opened the door and was face to face with a too cheery mail boy in his teens.

"Good morning, saer!" he exclaimed loudly, smiling brightly. "I have a letter for Coin Alley 38, Mister Ancunin, Mister Dekarios, Miss Hallowleaf, and Miss Sionnach."

"That's us," grumbled the bard.

"Here. Have a lovely day, saer!" the boy shouted, handed her the letter, and ran off.

Tav closed the door and made her way to the kitchen, followed by the animals. Yawning, she started brewing some lavender tea and stole one of Gale's freshly-baked raisin milk bread rolls. He wouldn't notice, hopefully. The bard sat down, bread between her teeth, and opened the letter. Impatiently, Tara hopped up onto the chair next to Tav, trying to get a good look at the expensive paper.

"Who's it from?" she asked curiously.

"Karlach and Wyll," Tav answered surprised, then, she started to read out loud.

"Hey soldiers friends,

We have some exciting news to share. The renovations and expansion of our new home are finished and we've started decorating (Wyll wants it to be 'tasteful', whatever that means).

We'd be fucking happy incredibly excited (Wyll chose these words. Calling it 'more dignified') if you'd come over next Saturday at noon for lunch.

Wyll insists on not telling you the other news yet, but I'm way too happy to wait any longer: I'm pregnant! Soon, there will be a little Karlach or a little Wyll running 'round in the lodge mansion lodge (we must call it a 'mansion' now for some reason). All the fancy women warned me about the nausea and tiredness, but I'm fit as a fiddle! Maybe, that's a tiefling thing, I don't know.

Also: our wedding will be held during the summer solstice!

(I probably won't fit in the dress we already bought, but who cares.)

Anyway, we're looking forward to see you all next Saturday. Please bring Scratch, Naïlo, and Tara along, I miss them!

Soldier out Sincerely With all our love,

Karlach Cliffgate & Wyll Ravengard

(Sunshine insisted on putting the family names there as if you folks don't remember who we are. Silly.)"

Tav chuckled at the obvious banter the soon-to-be-wedded couple had during the writing process.

"How lovely to invite us all," Tara remarked, visibly pleased. "Miss Cliffgate’s rather smart."

"She is," snickered the bard and scratched the tressym's chin.

"They'll marry during the solstice? How lovely," Gale said, stirring the sauce pot.

"Well, darling, I'm already married," Astarion joked, wiggling his elegant fingers.

The Ring of the Sun-Walker, which granted him the ability to withstand the sunlight, glinted on his middle finger.

"Oh, my dearest husband," Tav giggled and kissed his knuckles.

Gale cleared his throat and stirred the pot more vigorously. The bard and the vampire spawn looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"My, my," the latter warbled, moved over, and wrapped an arm around Gale's waist. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say our wizard's jealous."

"I'm not," the addressed answered too quickly. "I'm perfectly happy with our arrangement. Don't project."

"I'd never, darling," Astarion purred and licked Gale's earlobe, playing with the jewellery dangling from it. The wizard shuddered and goosebumps spread over his arms.

"I just thought you might want to be married to Tav too. – And maybe even to me."

The wooden spoon slipped from Gale's hand and plopped into the basil sauce. His eyes were wide in shock when he looked at the vampire spawn, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Asta-"

The wizard was silenced with a kiss and his legs almost gave out when he felt Astarion's sharp fangs dragging over his lips.

"I mean it," the vampire spawn whispered. "One word, darling, and we'll marry you."

"Oh."

Gale was grateful for Astarion's and Tav's strength when his legs truly gave out. His two lovers held him up between them. The vampire spawn devoured the wizard's mouth while the bard kissed his neck. Even though distracted, Gale made a hand gesture to move the pots from the fire. It would have been a shame if their dinner would have burned.

"Oh, hello. What a lovely sight. What's the occasion?" Shadowheart asked amused as she waltzed into the kitchen.

"Karlach and Wyll will marry during the solstice and Gale's jealous because I'm already married to Tav." Astarion outstretched his hand as an explanation. "Thus, we offered to marry him too."

The cleric raised an eyebrow.

"We? In terms of 'the both of you'?"

"Exactly."

"Aww, how cute," Shadowheart giggled. Then, she sniffed. "Mmh, basil sauce. Good, I'm starving. Move, lovebirds."

She wiggled her way in next to Tav and slightly pushed her away to reach the stove. In a practiced movement, she sieved the noodles and plopped them into the sauce, stirring carefully to not create a mush. Completely unbothered by Astarion's, Gale's, and Tav's passionate make out session, the cleric tried the sauce, nodded, and added a bit more salt and pepper.

"Come on, dinner's ready. I'm starving."

The others finally moved apart and Shadowheart handed them their filled plates. They sat down at the table and ate while discussing the topic of their friends' wedding.

Shadowheart was enjoying her bubble bath when Tav entered the room.

"Can I talk to you, love?" the bard asked, looking troubled.

"Of course. What's on your mind?" the cleric replied curiously.

Her lover moved closer, rolled up her sleeves, and took the washcloth. Happily, Shadowheart turned around to let her wash her back. Tav was always so gentle and mindful. For a while, the bard stayed silent, then she said: "About the thing in the kitchen... You know I love you all equally, right?"

"Right," nodded Shadowheart, slightly confused about the direction of their conversation.

"I... hm... Astarion's just joking around. I'd never marry anyone without asking for your blessing first. You're as important to me as the guys, I hope you know that."

"Of course, I do!" Shadowheart turned around in the tub to look at Tav who seemed miserable.

"I don't want to prioritise anyone and I haven't been a very attentive partner to you the last couple of weeks. I'm sorry."

"Tav, lover mine." The cleric placed a hand on the bard's cheek. "Astarion wears your ring and you wear Halsin's bite mark. In a way, you're already married to them. If you go along and wed Gale in a more traditional way, that's fine with me. Personally, I don't need such a ceremony to see you as my spouse. – But... if you'd ask..." She bit her lip before continuing. "There's a Selûnite ritual, called 'The Intertwinement of Hearts' which's a celebration between lovers. It's... well, it's basically a wedding."

Tav smiled, stroking her knuckles.

"And you'd love to participate in said ritual? With me?"

Shadowheart nodded, blushing slightly.

"I'd love to do that with you, yes."

"Then, it's done," the bard told her. "I'll talk with the others and it'll be arranged. Yeah?"

"Yes."

Tav kissed her gently and they rested their foreheads together.

"Let's get married," Shadowheart said with a giggle, slightly teary-eyed.

"Mmh, let our hearts intertwine," the bard smiled.

"You're aware that 'The Intertwinement of Hearts' is a wedding ritual?" Gale asked her, looking incredulous.

Tav nodded.

"I am, yes. That's why I'm asking for your and Astarion's blessing."

"Well... you're already mine," said Astarion and winked at her.

"I, of course, won't hold you back, but you're aware that marriage comes with responsibilities, right?"

"Yes, and are you aware that neither Astarion nor I were joking when we told you we'd marry you?"

Gale almost choked on his tea.

"You... uhm... you would?"

"Yes," Astarion and Tav answered in unison, then grinned at each other.

The wizard turned crimson.

"It would be an honour. I mean it's not that we have to marry, no pressure, but uhm…"

"But you really want to marry us," Tav interrupted him.

Gale nodded hesitantly, still flushed.

"Oh, darling! You're such a romantic."

The vampire spawn wrapped his arms around the wizard and kissed him tenderly. Gale melted into his touch and traced Astarion's jawline before stroking his pointed ear. The elf moaned and shuddered at the intimate touch.

"Your ears are rather sensitive," Gale whispered. "I read up on Elven culture and history and found some interesting paragraphs about the different ways of showing affection and intimacy. And there was an especially... hmm... 'stimulating' chapter that piqued my interest. Some rather curious methods... and I'd like to try them."

"Yes," Astarion panted, licking deeper into his lover's mouth. Gods, he was as hard as an iron rod. Gale was able to bring out a specific part of Astarion's sexual arousal that not even Tav managed to reach.

"We leave you the bedroom and sleep in your study. Goodnight, loves," warbled Tav and vanished with a snickering Shadowheart in tow.

Gale wanted to protest, but Astarion's mouth was rather distracting.

"My room," the vampire spawn panted. "More privacy, more soundproof. Come on."

He grabbed onto Gale's robe and ushered him downstairs. After closing the door, he started to free the wizard from his clothes. Gale shivered and resisted the urge to cover himself up.

"Look at you, darling. So gorgeous," Astarion all but growled and dropped to his knees.

He mouthed and licked at Gale's erection before swallowing it down. The wizard gasped at the coolth of his lover's body and ran his hands through the silver-white curls.

"Actually, I wanted to try things out on you," he groaned. "You have to stop or I'll come."

"Then come," Astarion rasped and took him back into his mouth.

The wizard let out a high-pitched sound, threw his head back and climaxed, spilling down his lover's throat. The vampire spawn swallowed it all and moaned at the slightly sweet taste. Tentatively, he got up and asked: "What did you have in mind, darling?"

Gale looked at him, dazed and panting. His pulse roared and jumped under his skin. It made Astarion lick his lips hungrily. A rivulet of sweat ran down the wizard's neck and the vampire spawn leaned in to lick it off.

"What interesting things did you read in those books, Gale? Tell me."

"I - I prefer to show you," the addressed replied.

Still slightly drunk on his orgasm, the wizard led Astarion to the bed and the latter stripped and lay down gracefully. With one leg propped up, the vampire spawn ran a hand down the front of his entire body, smiling lasciviously.

"Right," Gale said, more to himself than anyone else. He kneeled onto the bed next to Astarion. "For the thing I'd like to try you can either keep lying down or sit in my lap. The choice is yours."

The addressed thought about it for a second.

"Your lap seems rather comfortable, darling."

Thus, Gale leaned against the headboard and Astarion straddled him, grinding down on him on purpose.

"Stop wiggling and we can begin," the wizard told him.

The vampire spawn stilled immediately. Whatever his lover had planned to give him, he wanted it. Badly. Carefully, Gale took Astarion's face between his hands, stroking his jawbone and neck.

"If the literature's correct, and I'm sure it is, elves know many ways to show love and affection to their lovers. One of them, involves your particularly sensitive ears." As a demonstration, Gale ran his middle finger up the shell of Astarion's ear and the latter shuddered, barely suppressing a moan. "Elf ears are much more delicate to the touch. An erogenous zone, they say. That's funny since some humans think the same way about their own ears, and thinking that elf ears are even more sensitive... I can only imagine how it must feel like for you to be touched there."

Gale took Astarion's ears between his fingers and gently rolled them between them. The vampire spawn mewled and closed his eyes, grinding his hips down.

"Look at you," the wizard muttered, mirroring Astarion's own words. He slid his nimble fingers up higher and slightly pinched the pointed ends. Astarion moaned, mouth falling open without his consent.

"Truly a peculiar evolution of your race. You asked about the especially saucy paragraphs... well... It says that elves can reach their high by merely having their ears touched. That's why, back in the ugly old days, humans punished elves by publicly getting them off via their ears and after reaching their peak, they cut the tips of the elves' ears off. A truly barbaric, gruesome act I might add."

"Get... to the point... Gale," Astarion panted.

"I want to test said theory, dear," the wizard replied and the vampire spawn's breath hitched. "Let's see, shall we?"

Gale continued to caress Astarion's ears with his fingers. Gently, almost a ghostly touch.

"I found instructions," the wizard revealed. "There are multiple ways to stimulate your ears: hands, mouth, tongue. Even feet and genitals. There was a story of an Elven prostitute, notoriously know for climaxing by simply having air blown onto his ears. - Can you do that too, Astarion? Are you able to come that way?"

"I... don't... know," the addressed moaned. "I never - ah! There was always - ngh - more involved than just - just my ears."

"I see. Would you like to try?"

"Yes! Gods, yes!"

The wizard hummed pleased. He caressed Astarion's ears one last time before pulling his hands away and his lover closer to him. Now, he leaned forward and licked the vampire spawn's earlobe. The latter groaned.

"It's the combination that excites you, isn't it?" whispered Gale. "The sensitivity combined with the heat of my body."

"Yes," Astarion moaned, tightening his grip in his lover's hair.

The wizard dragged his tongue upwards, along the shell, ending with a little flick at the top. Meanwhile, he continued to caress the other ear with his fingers. The vampire spawn trembled, panted, and moaned. It felt like torture. Bittersweet, addictive torture. Gale repeated the motion and then, he sucked the ear between his teeth, grazing it gently. Astarion whined, bucking his hips up. Gods, he was going to die. He sobbed.

"Gale... please..."

The addressed released his ear and the vampire spawn felt tears prick in his eyes. He sobbed again. And then, Gale stuck his hot, wet tongue into his ear canal. Astarion cried out and came so hard he blacked out for a second. When he regained consciousness, his lover still traced the inside of his auricle, dipping into the canal once in a while. Astarion moaned and finally swallowed again, realising he'd drooled all over himself and Gale.

"As expected, the literature's correct and precise," noted the latter. "Are you still with me, Astarion?"

"Yes," the addressed groaned.

"Can I try something else, or do you want to stop?"

"Go on. Please."

"It might be better if you'd lie down for this one. You seem rather wobbly."

"That's your doing, darling," Astarion told him.

Gale chuckled, helped his lover to get comfortable, and lay down next to him. He leaned over the vampire spawn, looking sincerely.

"I'll make it good for you," he promised.

"You already did," mumbled the addressed.

"That's a relief," the wizard told him and kissed his forehead. "I remember how much you enjoyed it when my breath ghosted over your ear while I touched you and the mage hand pleasured you. I want to do it again and see if it alone is enough to bestow you with a release."

Gale placed a hand on Astarion's chest as he scooted upwards to lick his ear again. The vampire spawn shivered and his spent member twitch in interest. Carefully, the wizard wetted the entire shell of the ear before gently blowing on it. The vampire spawn trembled and moaned. The feeling was almost too intense. Gale did it again, his other hand sliding upwards to touch his other ear. Astarion's eyes rolled back in his head when the wizard rubbed the tip of his left ear between his fingers and sucked the right one into his mouth. Gale's touch was so hot on Astarion's cold, undead skin, and the latter thought he'd explode. Moaning, he gripped the bedsheets to hold onto something at least.

"What interesting reactions," Gale murmured, deliberately breathing right against the vampire spawn's ear. "If I'd known earlier about this phenomenon, I'd have used it to show you affection without threatening you. It would have helped to make you more comfortable around us. Around me."

"I'm sorry," Astarion panted. "Under Cazador, my ears got neglected. People rarely touched them even when I seduced and bedded them. And touching them myself hasn't the same effect. It didn't even cross my mind to asked for it."

"I see... I'm sorry," Gale told him softly. "I'll touch them now as much as you want."

"Yes. Please!" the vampire spawn whine, desperate for it.

The wizard shushed him, caressing one ear and licking and blowing on the other. Astarion thought he was about to go mad and lose his mind. Gale stuck his tongue into his ear canal again before gently blowing on it. Astarion moaned, but it wasn't enough this time. The wizard, bless him, seemed to realised it too and kissed him while his fingers caressed, rubbed and slightly pinched his ears. Astarion's breath hitched, his ears rang, and he thrusted his hips upwards into the wizards thigh. He shook, exploded, his vision whitened, but he didn't ejaculate. The vampire spawn whimpered, utterly overstimulated and sensitive to any touch.

"How fascinating," Gale mumbled, tracing his lover's member. "It seems like you had a dry orgasm. It would be most interesting if we could –"

Astarion hissed and slapped the wizard's hand away.

"Don't touch me, I'm too sensitive. It - it hurts."

At that, Gale looked alarmed.

"It hurts? Where? Everywhere? Or only your –"

"Everywhere," the addressed groaned. "It feels like I'm on fire."

"Oh, that's not good. I haven't read enough about the effects of dry orgasms and overstimulation. Maybe I should ha-"

"Gale? Shut up, please," Astarion sighed and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

"Are you dizzy? Nauseous?"

"Gale..."

"Apologies, but I'm worried."

"I'm fine. Just give me a moment."

"As you wish."

Gale lay down next to his lover, cautious of not actually touching him. Astarion was grateful for it.

"I think I simply came so hard, my brain got fried," he muttered.

The wizard chuckled and carefully took his hand.

"Is that alright?"

The vampire spawn nodded and Gale just held his hand silently until his body functioned properly again. Then, Astarion pulled the wizard into a sloppy kiss.

"Thank you. It was amazing. I'm looking forward to the next time you find some interesting literature that needs testing to sate your curiosity."

"That's good to know because there's more," smiled Gale.

Astarion snickered and kissed him again.

"I can't wait for our wedding night and our honeymoon. You'll ruin me in so many delicious ways, I'm sure of it."

Gale blushed, flustered.

"Only if you're willing," he mumbled.

Astarion grinned widely, fangs glinting in the candlelight.

"Oh, darling, I'm very willing."

Astarion's presumptions turned out to be right. Gale made him come in some many ways and so many positions, he couldn't remember half of them. All the vampire spawn remembered was how Gale had payed extra attention to his ears, and how they'd made love, with their foreheads touching, their fingers interlaced, and the sinking sun as their witness.

[moonshine-nightlight]

2024 Writing - Plans

similar to last year, i wanted to post a little look forward at my plans for writing this year are. the necessary disclaimer: this is 100% high level, optimistic, ideal situation and subject to change but i still like thinking about it and posting for anyone who's interested. see this post for last years!

so, i like separating things out it mini goals/sections so see below:

Nothing's Wrong with Dale: with DSM self-published under my belt, I'd like to focus on the NWWD publishing journey next! The main obstacles/costs are time and money. Hiring an editor and a cover artist are the pricey-est part of the process but my own edit (first to convert everything from 2nd POV to 3rd POV and then another high-level edit/revise once i've got it in the right POV) will take the most time and needs to be done before i hand it over to an editor. Then after the editor takes their time (and NWWD is much longer than DSM), and finally i need to process all of their edits as well. And i need to do all of this while i do my day job lol.

i've already converted the first 11 chapters to 3rd POV (i hav some IRL friends/betas who only read that version, so if u feel like the tumblr version took a lot of time lol). the timing of being able to publish this year will all end up depending on how quickly i can do all that and kick off the part of the process that depends on outside parties. Even if i manage to self-publish in this year, i don't expect it to come out until lik December and even that's ideal, super best case scenario.

Long Stories: I want to outline both A Perfectly Ordinary Research Position and Shadow Diplomacy and then pick one to be the new long story on here. I do what i call a chapter outline and a scene outline, which is confusing to not!me because the scene = a chapter on here. i should probably rename that process lol. (NWWD was 11 'chapters' and 35 'scenes' for reference).

once i pick a project, i just hope to post as many chapters as i can. Since this will be new, long, and likely just building steam, i actually think it'll be my lower priority after the Short Stories and NWWD publishing, but we'll see. i'd like to start putting that up in June, according to my tentative 2024 schedule.

Short Stories: Since i didn't get as many of these done in 2023 and they've been haunting my brain longer, i want to for sure get some of these shorter stories done. learning from last years overestimation lol, i plan to post 3 short stories: Courtship Confusion, Feral, and finish Free Piano: Haunted, in that order. i'm excited about all these stories and will let me cover 3 different types of pairings (although technically all are Reader) which is fun. All have been outlined and have parts and pieces written. I wish Feral and FPH could both happen in the fall but the timing just doesnt work out so summers gonna b a little spooky lol.

The schedule i worked out makes it so all this will be possible, but also basically has no breaks in sunday postings after my haitus which is beyond optimistic but i lik to start overly confident lol

Hiatus: this is also your reminder that my work has a specific Busy Season which honestly started already (lucky me) and i will b beyond busy Jan-March at a minimum. i hav more projects than ever with my promotion, a lot to learn, and a lot to juggle so minimum 6 day work weeks will be the name of the game - but hopefully all goes well and i'll get a nice bonus i can feed directly to my editors lol

anyway, that's where i'm at right now and I'm looking forward to all the exciting writing and publishing to come in 2024!

Feel free to send in any asks about upcoming/current stories!

Thanks again for all your support in 2023 and Happy New Year!

[giamee]

ok so... remember how i said life was throwing rocks at me but i'm all good and i'm back now? ... lol 💀 there was in fact a round two

SO WITHOUT SOUNDING TOO VENTY ABT IT. my mental health has been in the gutter and there's been a lot of tension in my family. my cat got hit by a car and broke his hip. i'm no longer at uni and at home for the summer in close proximity to my parents. you get the picture.

and THEN on top of all that i've been doing a lot of thinking and believe me a LOT of internal debating but ultimately i've decided to stop writing for the all i think about now series. for hopefully a decent reason because when i started it i created it as a way to process and get over some shit that went down between me and my ex that was reflected directly in the series plot. like literally ctrl+c and ctrl+v. but it's been a year since then and writing about it all over again just feels wrong after all of the effort that went into getting over what had happened in the first place. so i think it's best for me to stop writing it instead of just brute forcing my way through the upcoming chapters.

i'm very sorry to everyone who was invested in the series. i do have a full outline for each unpublished chapter in one big google doc, and i plan to post it as a sort of... compensation? for not finishing the series. i'll polish it up a bit and everything, i just don't wish to invest so much time and effort into fully writing out chapters.

i hope that you guys can understand the decision and that you aren't too mad about it. thank you so much to everyone who stuck around and read what i had written so far 😭🩷 it means a lot

and with the emotional part of this mini psa over, i will say that i'm doing better now, and hopefully will have something published soon. hopefully.

-gia <3