#it might be grammatically incorrect at some point

[ratsandclocks]

Sharing (part 1)

(Male Reader/Rodolfo Parra/Valeria Garza/Alejandro Vargas/Phillip Graves)

📝3,508 words(oops) | 18+ | Smut

Alejandro and Graves cannot seem to get along when it comes to having you. Valeria and Rudy hate seeing you upset. They stir up a plan where everyone is happy at the end of the night.

Tags: polyamorous, F/M/M/M/M, Sub/Dom dynamics, pillow prince reader, punishment, restraints, forced proximity, voyeurism, oral(m & f receiving), anal fingering, self imposed edging, overstimulation, subspace(?), no use of y/n, use of petnames; Babe, Baby, Babyboy, Cielito, Cariño, Corazoncito

Dom Valeria, Dom Rudy, Switch Alejandro, Switch Graves, Sub Male Reader.

Note: This took a bit longer to write since you can see, the fic itself got longer than I first anticipated. I tried my best to give everyone some attention but its hard when there's five fucking people. Might finish tomorrow or the day after depending how busy I get but I'll try to update as soon as I can. Anyways this has gotten out of hand... and into the other cuz im jerking off—

Disclaimer: Author does not speak Spanish(fluently) and only used Google for minimum research. If any of the Spanish words used seem off, grammatically incorrect, and/or inappropriate, please inform me and I'll try to fix them.

A petty argument. One that's been going on for about a week between Alejandro and Graves. That's what got you all in this position.

You don't even remember what it was they were fighting about—could be that food you left on the fridge for them that they decidedly did not want to share with each other, could be Philip's now-empty bottle of aftershave that you like the smell of so much, could be that time you wore his shirt to sleep instead of Alejandro's—who cares what the fight was, all you know is that there's heat between them when it comes to you and you did not like that…

Now Rudy didn't like seeing you in distress, neither did Valeria. So naturally, they'd do something about that. And sure enough, they did.

"You're fucking with me." Graves says, as a matter of factly as he watched Rudy handcuff his right hand with Alejandro's left to his pure dismay. Their other hands weren't free either, as they were as tightly tied to their respective sides of the sofa, leaving them immobilized and stuck close to each other. Looking at them together feels like watching two dogs wary of each other, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation—you were simply glad that they cannot do anything about it, but you do pity their place. Their seat was facing the bed, right where you sat with Valeria comfortably kneeling beside you, the two of you not wearing more than your shirt and underwear.

"I'm not." Rudy responded firmly, arms crossed as he glared at the two. "You don't get to touch mi Cielito or yourselves. Not until you start getting along."

"Rudy…" you plead in their defense, but the man only looked at you softly, denied you with a shake of his head, then walked closer towards the bed.

"Don't feel too bad about them now, Cariño." Valeria cooed to you, absently stroking your hair. Her eyes were on the two tied up men while she spoke, directing her words to them just as much. "They weren't being nice, were they?"

"I'm not being nice?" Alejandro finally spoke, pointing his left hand to himself accusingly, only for Graves to pull away the same handcuffed arm. "Look at him!" Alejandro defended himself.

"You've upset our boy, Gilipollas." Rudy lectured, eyes still on yours. You would've said something—another plea or something along the lines of 'you don't have to do this' or 'it's not a big deal'—but Rudy was sitting with you now, hands on your chin to face him and stare at his longing eyes, and that look effectively shut you up. "He deserves way better from you both."

You gasped in surprise when Valeria gripped your hair to pull your head back, her lips suddenly latched onto your neck, already finding the sensitive spot just under your ear. "That he does."

Hands were all over you in a matter of seconds. Valeria's were groping and undressing you, not rushing but surely more forceful than Rudy's. He was way gentler compared to her, softly caressing every inch of your skin she exposes as he kissed your mouth, slowly but just as passionately as Valeria's. All of it familiar, all of it just right.

Heat rushes up your skin. It was already making you lightheaded, their contrast nearly giving you whiplash, but you love seeing their differences, making up for what each other lacked. How they mix so well just to please you, all of them and more just for you—something you wish Alejandro and Phillip could do together.

"You were the one who stole my shit." You heard Graves grumbling. When you looked at him, your eyes met and caught him in a scowl, but his frustrations were clearly directed towards the man beside him.

"It's a shared bathroom, Pendejo." Alejandro quipped, to which he earned a tug on the cuffs from the other man. He tugged back and now they look like little brats fighting over a piece of candy. You couldn't help but frown at the sight, which Rudy quite immediately notices.

"Ey!" He yelled at them and the two men froze in an instant. "You keep fighting like that and you won't get to touch him at all."

"It's not fair, Rudy." Alejandro whined, easily switching from hostility to something more submissive, something he does that usually riles up Rudy. Not tonight though.

"And you're not being fair to him either. Just look—" at that, Alejandro finally looked at you. Your brows furrowed and eyes slightly teary, and clearly not for the reason of being in the debauched position Valeria's hands put you in. Oh how that just breaks his heart, seeing his poor corazoncito longing for him, so close yet so far. How hurt you must be from all his stubbornness.

"You think he wants you two away? That he doesn't want you here with him right now? Think he doesn't want to feel you inside him? You two are the ones depriving our lover of yourselves. Think about that."

"Do you want them, Cariño?" Valeria lewdly whispered to your ears, but loud enough that the other men could hear it. You only nodded, unable to form words while she trails her hands into your boxers, rubbing and stroking you under the garment. "Want their cocks inside of you? Touch every inch of your skin? Fuck you 'til you can't walk like you deserve it?"

"Mhm…" you moaned when her hand gripped your cock, your hips involuntary fucking into her hand.

"Then they gotta be good, right? Else they don't deserve you. Bad boys don't get to touch my sweet sweet boy."

She's pulled you out now and your cock was on full display for them all, hard and dripping as she stroked it. Rudy took off your boxers, throwing it haphazardly somewhere in the room to be picked up later in the next morning. When Valeria let go of you, Rudy took over quickly, teasing his thumb on your slit and you arched your back, promptly falling onto the bed with a whine. You were panting when he let the teasing off, but he didn't stop stroking you in slow firm tugs. Valeria chuckled fondly at the sight as she's taking off her panties, giving you and the rest of the men a show.

"Look at him, Rudy," she says, seductively crawling back towards you, "so sweet and sensitive. Such a shame they won't get a taste."

"Val…" you whined, reaching for her. She's cradling your face now, making you look straight into her eyes.

"You need something, Cariño?" It was almost condescending how she said it, but god if it weren't making you desperately buck into Rudy's hand you would've complained.

"Need you… up here—" she kissed you then—mouth on yours, full of hunger, moans and grunts, teeth and tongue, completely overpowering you—before pulling away and crawling farther. She moved to hover just above your head, legs on either side as she reposition herself with her cunt just above your face. Another whine escaped you when her hands went back to your hair, pressing you into the bed.

"Show me then," she ordered, "show me how much you need me. Show them what they're missing out on."

Your hands wrapped around her thighs, pulling her down and ravaging her like she's the last meal of your life. You lap your tongue at her, burying your face deeper and pushing in your tongue farther. Nose nuzzling to her clit so perfectly that she twitches above you. She was clearly amused, letting out an exaggerated moan to egg on the tied up men.

"So good for me, Cariño. There, there, just like that—dios mio, that tongue! So good. Keep going, baby. They don't deserve you like this."

"Fuck's sake." Graves grunted. Valeria knows just how much he loves your mouth, because you know how to use it. He loves it when you kiss him and try to win him over, giving a good fight only to let him take charge in the end. He loves when you nip and bite on his skin, not too hard to hurt but just soft enough to make him feel like heaven. He loves when you suck on his cock desperately like it's your life on the line, loves how you use that tongue oh so sweetly around him. He loves everything about that mouth of yours, and now Valeria's using it against him.

You thrust your hips when you felt Rudy's tongue circling on your tip. He lifted one of your legs up with his free hand, squeezing lube on your balls to drip onto your ass, and proceeding to tease a finger into your hole. It wasn't much trouble prepping you—with how much you get fucked all the time, surely it won't be—but he still takes his time with it, pushing in slowly, always in search of something, making sure you feel good all throughout. He fucked you earnestly with those fingers, twitching when he found that spot that melts your bones and he instantly stopped with his movements, only to start profusely rubbing that spot and make you whine shamelessly.

And you heard Alejandro let out a strangled groan, now fully aware of Rudy's intentions to tease him.

"So cruel, mi rey." He groaned at the sight, he can see so clearly when Rudy's putting you on display like that. He always loved your ass—loved the involuntary movements you make and sounds you let out when it was him playing with you, making you feel good, when you squeeze around his cock plunged deep into you. God, does he wish it was him in Rudy's place, and Rudy knows that really well, so he's making it a show. Rudy pulled his mouth away.

"Keep watching." Rudy spoke before shoving your cock straight down his throat without a warning.

You moaned into Valeria's cunt, sending shivers down her spine and she chuckled. Now fully sat on your face, she grinds her hips on you, vigorously chasing her high until she stiffens above you, letting out a long moan and sigh in relief as she came on your face. She gave a few more thrusts into your tongue before getting off to the side, lifting you to lay your body between her thighs.

"Would you look at that, Babe." She addressed Graves who is now looking at you with a certain thirst in his gaze. Your face glistening in Val's wetness, eyes closed and brows furrowed in pleasure as Rudy kept bobbing his head, working you up. Valeria's hands traveled to your chest, pinching your nipples and making your back arch. "You wanna come, cariño?" She asked and Rudy sucked on the tip of your cock his fingers fucking into you faster to get you off quicker. But you mewled in response, head shaking as you held tightly on her arms and he immediately slowed his movements down.

"No?" Rudy asks, a heated look on his face. "What do you want then? Wanna get fucked in the ass, mi Cielito? Need a cock to come on to?"

You didn't need to say anything more, you nodded and Rudy carefully let you go. Your chest was heaving and you felt weak, too deep into the headspace Valeria had put you in and the pleasure you were just swimming in. You couldn't move on your own and so the two of them worked together to reposition you.

Now you're facing the men on their seats, your chest pressing on the bed with your ass up in the air. The men in front of you were looking at you with a certain darkness in their eyes, they seem painfully hard under their tight pants, their chests rising visibly with their heavy breathing. Graves couldn't stay still in his seat, constantly moving as if it'll do anything to ease the tightness in his pants—it doesn't.

"Phillip…" you whined, eyes staring at him with haze, god you were so pretty. The man could only groan in response.

"You alright, Baby?" Graves asked, because as much as he wants to take care of you, it's all he could do.

Rudy's hand was on you again, splayed out on the bottom of your spine while the other held his cock, teasing your hole just before slowly prodding in. He was big, you knew that—you're used to it, in fact—but it never fails to make you keen, feeling the stretch no matter how much grueling prep he gives you. You bit your lip as you tried to relax, sighing when you finally felt him bottom out.

"You were asked a question, Cielito." Rudy reminded you, hand reaching to stroke your hair as if to help you ground yourself. You leaned into the touch as you moaned, letting out an affirmative 'Mhm' to answer.

"I'm good…" you sighed, plopping yourself back into the bed, your hands reached to clench the sheets and prepare yourself. You grind your ass to feel Rudy's cock and it's all he needed before he started fucking you.

It was slow and sensual, dragging his thick cock to the tip before slowly pushing in again. You could almost feel every vein on him, every time his head almost caught on that sweet spot inside you but just barely missed—you knew he's doing it on purpose.

"So pretty, isn't he?" You heard Valeria. You don't remember when but she's now behind Alejandro and Graves, caressing Phillip's face with one hand while exploring Alejandro's body with the other. Graves had his head leaning against her while the other man was tense in his seat, trying—failing—to feign control of his desires.

"See what you're fighting for? Getting fucked raw without you?" Valeria said to Phillip, lightly biting his ear to tease before turning to Alejandro neck. "All because you don't know how to share."

You screamed when Rudy suddenly slammed into you, slowly pulling out before slamming back in. Then he took pace, quickening without losing the strength in his thrusts. You were a moaning mess, broken noises leaving your mouth as air gets punched out of your lungs.

"Does it feel good?" Valeria asked and you barely registered that it was directed at you, all you could manage was a pathetic whimper as Rudy mercilessly pounded into you, "Words, Cariño."

"S'good… s-so—" you let out a yelp when Rudy finally hits that spot, deciding to keep abusing it and leaving you a thoughtless, sobbing, mewling mess under him—Under Valeria, and under all of their gazes. You were boneless on the bed, head in the clouds, you felt like you'd float through the ceiling any second, and you were thankful for the moment Rudy put his weight on your back, engulfing you with warmth as perched his hands on the side of your head.

Your gaze wandered through the room, processing anything was a struggle with your mind being full of haze, but you could see Graves struggling through his breathing and the bulge in his uncomfortably tight jeans. He bit his lips as your eyes met and you could only imagine the torture he was in right now. You were like a caged man observing a hungry shark in the ocean—you can see the urge it had to pounce, to destroy the barrier between you, and devour you til you're nothing but bones. But he can't have his way, can't even touch himself, can't give himself any relief. All he could do was simply watch you in your position, so enticing, so good for them all.

It was when he broke the connection between you that you noticed Alejandro had his hand on Graves' thighs, slowly rubbing up on him with a proud smirk on his face.

"The hell are you doing?" He asked Alejandro, a little wary, but just as much curious of the man's intentions.

"Can't touch ourselves, but they didn't say anything about touching each other. Might as well give the boy a little show." Alejandro said, his hand traveling farther into Graves' inner thigh. His breath hitched, swallowing a lump in his throat at the teasing touch. "Unless you'd rather you sit your ass there wishing you could get off by just watching."

"No." Graves said firmly without missing a beat—much to your surprise. He closed his eyes, rested his head back and let out a sigh, "Keep… keep going…"

That proud smirk on Alejandro's face got impossibly more smug and he did not hesitate to move his hand straight to Graves' bulge, pressing and rubbing on it with enough pressure to make the man keen and relax on his seat. Alejandro was quick to decide to unbutton Phillip's jeans, shoving his hand in and pulling his cock out. It was painfully red, dripping and desperate, and by God did you want it in your mouth right now.

You would've begged Rudy to let you suck off the man, but Alejandro is quicker than you could think. He was already leaning down—as uncomfortable the restraints make it—and licking the precum before it could drip down his shaft, then bobbing his head while his hand pumped the man's shaft. Phillip let out a sigh, finally opening his eyes to find Valeria beside him, looking down at him with amusement.

"What?" Graves panted, eyes heavy as he tried to read Valeria's look.

"Nothing," she feigned, leaning down closer to the man, then pulling his head back til his neck was exposed enough to the woman's desire, watching the man's throat bob as he swallowed, "you just look so cute getting along."

She kissed him with vigor, the other hand cradling his neck and their mouth fought for dominance with Valeria at an advantage. Her hand traveled to his chest, squeezing it once before traveling farther down his stomach, tracing every muscle until she reached Alejandro's head. She pulled him off and you can see his stubble glistening from his own spit, she quickly moved into kissing him now, freeing her other hand to reach for Graves' cock, covering Alejandro's bigger hand and pumping it together.

As much as you wanted to keep watching, you couldn't look anymore with how much Rudy was trying to keep your attention on his cock, it was a task to even keep your eyes open. Desperately needing to ground yourself, you reach for Rudy's hand, which he decided to interlock with yours. You gripped it like a lifeline, feeling that heat in your stomach starting to overfill and you were tightening around Rudy.

"Oh? You close, Cielito?" Rudy panted next to your ear, "Are you gonna come? Go ahead, you can do it. Come on my cock."

You didn't need to be told twice. Your cock twitched and soon enough, you came hard, face buried into the mattress muffling your otherwise loud moan, shuddering from the pleasure that shot through your spine.

Rudy fucked you through your orgasm, riding it out with you until the sensation starts edging into overwhelming pleasure. He was still pounding into you, quicker and harder, chasing his own end.

"So close, mi Cielito. Just a little more, I know you can take more. Take it."

Your legs are near to giving up, thighs shook from the exertion, but you stayed still, stayed good for him and let him use you all he wants. You were rewarded with a tight embrace, and the warm feeling of his cum painting your walls. He finally slowed down, hips stuttering as he slowly pulled out. Your legs finally gave out and you went limp on the soft mattress, Rudy followed with you to keep embracing you from behind, giving your back little pecks of kisses and nuzzling on your shoulder.

"Muy bien, mi Cielito. You did so good for me." You felt his warm breath on your neck as he kissed you just under your ear, caressing your hips and just showering you with all the love he could give. You'd love to stay like that for eternity, engulfed in his affection, you could never get used to it. Unfortunately, it had to end sooner than you wished. He pulled away, leaving your behind exposed to the cold air, but not for long as you felt strong arms flip you to lay on your back.

You find all of them above you, even Alejandro and Graves now free from their restraints on the seat.

"Still with us, Cariño?" Asked Valeria and you smiled, letting out a sigh that's more of a stuttered laugh. You couldn't help the heat crawling back up your skin seeing them all looking down at you, you swallowed a lump in your throat before answering.

"Never left." You spoke, part smugness, part teasing. They all smiled, fully understanding what you meant by those words alone—more.

"Good." Alejandro growls, and your stomach drops at the feral look he gives you, his smile widening, tongue going over his teeth like watching food served to him on a silver platter.

"Because two of us just learned how to share."

(To be continued…)

[princessjadyn15]

ok I didn’t really want to make another post about Dark Beginnings since I’ve already made/rebloged a lot of posts related to it but I now feel like doing it since I recently saw someone make a dumb comment about it (they were probably saying it to get attention and rage bait or something but whatever I feel like this is an interesting analysis to do)

“its been 50 years, she's gone, get over it”

There’s just a lot wrong with this take

For 50 of those years he was in a stasis sleep. So to him Maria’s death and the trauma he went through when it happened was pretty recent, I don’t really know how much time has past between sonic adventure 2 and sonic x shadow generations but I’m gonna assume it’s been a couple years (one thing I do want to mention that I feel is a important point is that professor Gerald altered Shadow’s memories after Maria’s death, so that itself is already pretty traumatic considering Shadow probably trusted him during his time living on the ark)

he is going to the ark AKA the place where he experienced his trauma. Now this is kinda based on something someone else said but supposedly the last time he went to the Ark was in the Shadow the Hedgehog game, and he still kinda lost some of his memories. Now he is going back to ark Ark after pretty much recovering all his memories, even his painful ones

he is going up against Black Doom. The main reason he is going back to the ark is because he suspects that the black arms and Black Doom have returned, now I haven’t played the Shadow the Hedgehog game but from what I heard Black Doom was a very evil character, he took advantage of Shadow since he lost his memories and used him to get the chaos emeralds. Not only that but technically Black Doom is Shadow’s biological father since he was created using his DNA (Shadow has never actually called Black Doom father, at least as far as I know). And finally

PEOPLE 👏 EXPERIENCE 👏 TRAUMA 👏 DIFFERENTLY 👏 Now I’m going get slightly personal but as someone who has experienced something traumatic before (not as bad as Shadow’s and it’s different from what happened to him) just because you have moved on doesn’t mean the trauma is just gone, honestly as I was reading some analysis on the episode I for a moment actually thought about what I’ve been through and realized I kinda related to shadow in that moment (which is probably one of the reasons I cried), while I have moved on from what happened the trauma is still there and I may have moments where I remember it and feel sad about it, that’s kinda what was happening with Shadow, he was being reminded of the trauma on a big scale. The first episode was him have a “nightmare” of his trauma and now he has to go back to the ark and face Black Doom, and those visions of him thinking about the life he and Maria could of have, of course he is gonna have a small panic attack, I’ve even seen some people connect the scene with PTSD.

a bit of a bonus but I wanted to link this tweet that kinda inspired me to make this analysis in the first place. Some of the comments under the post are quite interesting and make a few good points

now I do want to point out that I’m still new to the Sonic fandom so it’s possible that some of things I’ve mentioned might of been incorrect or that I might of missed a few important parts, if that is the case I do apologize (I also apologize if there are any grammatical errors as well, I literally made this whole thing at like 9:30pm so I should be in bed lol)

[rodolfoparras]

Captain’s boy

Price doesn’t play favorites at least that’s what he says. However there’s no denying he’s got a soft spot for you and everyone knows it.

You are after all Captain’s boy.

18+ | MINORS DNI

Pairing: John Price x Trans Male Reader

Stand alone/ part of a series

Cw; oral sex, clothed oral sex, reference to afab anatomy (clit is referred to as clit and not dick/cock), words cock and dick are used for reader’s genitalia though ( instead of words like cunt etc) alluded exhibitionism, possessiveness, Dom!Price, Sub!Reader, power dynamics, (light) verbal degradation, praise, no after care, plot what plot/ porn with plot

The usual disclaimer: English isn’t my first language so excuse any grammatically incorrect sentences, spelling mistakes, ooc, plot holes… heads up for long sentences as well, who needs proper structure anyway.

A/n: I’m forcing myself to post my drafts since ideas keep piling up. Also pls read the tags bc reading it without doing so might be confusing . This could be better but hey at least it’s something. I hope you enjoy!

Being captain of a squad entails a whole lot of things; one of the most important being that one couldn’t afford to play favorites. It’s bound to end badly. Matter of fact it might very well result in death. That’s why when Price became captain of the 141 he vowed to himself he wouldn’t play favorites.

Sure he might’ve taken Gaz under his wing but if the man were to mess up on a mission he’d be sent out on practice drills in the pouring rain if the Captain deamed it to be fit. And sure he might’ve known Ghost the longest out of all the guys in 141 but that didn’t mean he was any more lenient on him because of that. And despite Soap’s talent to worm his way into the toughest of hearts, Price ensured he’d never reach his soft spot.

But somehow you seem to be the exception. And everyone knows it. Their suspicions were first confirmed when you’d messed up during a mission. Everyone especially Gaz had expected you to be assigned to run laps for days on end but was surprised to see the captain putting a comforting hand on your shoulder with a gentle smile on his face.

That’s also the very first time you’d earn your title as Captain’s boy.

The second person to notice the captain’s lenience towards a certain soldier was Ghost.

You all had just come back from a successful mission and despite the promise of celebration, there was still the ever daunting task of writing a report for it but no one seemed willing to do it.

Everyone had been tasked with writing it, except for the captain of course. Ghost had tried to talk his way out of it but had quickly been shut down by the older man. What he didn’t know was that you had been exempt from writing it. Even with the mask on his face, there was no hiding the sheer amazement he felt as he watched you stroll out the room with the captain himself.

“Captain’s boy huh?” He whispered under his breath as he clicked his pen.

Soap had been the last man to find out about it.

He had heard whispers about it from the previous men but had only chosen to believe it once he had seen it for himself.

You all had been tasked with training new recruits. Everyone had gotten their own little station and Soap had been assigned to the shooting rage. It was fun at first: watching the new guys trying not to shoot their heads off but at some point he got bored of watching over them. So naturally he had wandered over to your station. It didn’t take long before he heard the captain’s voice sounding over your hushed conversation.

“I’m not interrupting anything am I?”Price asked with his arms folded across his chest.

“Not at all” Soap said and flashed him a big grin as he turned on his heel only to be met with a glare from the older man. “Back to your post then Mactavish”

Soap had expected you to face the same treatment.

But as he scurried away and threw a second glance over his shoulder, he came to see the sternness on his captain’s face replaced with something much softer.

He had the mind to applaud you right there and then but had settled for chuckling in disbelief as the words “captain’s boy” left his lips.

Price and you chose to ignore the rumors since at the end of the day rumors were just rumors and no one seemed to mind that the captain seemed to favor a certain soldier.

However they’ll never know just how right they are about the captain and his boy.

You’re laying with your chest flush against the floor, ass up in the air and with a soldier’s body pressed against your own.

It would be rather inappropriate to be in such an intimate position with a soldier but this wasn’t just any other soldier. This was your captain and on many occasions have you found yourself in similar positions.

Your captain who you were supposed to be sparring with had quickly gotten bored and his hands had started to wander on their own.

You didn’t mind the change of plans, however you did mind the fact that his hands seemed to aimlessly wander your body, leaving you worked up and without nothing.

Just as you’re about to complain, finally fed up with the teasing he’d put you through, he roughly pulls down the fabric of your pants, exposing your underwear.

The cool air raises goose bumps all across your skin. But the sensation is quickly replaced with the heat from his palms as they find their way to your naked thighs, trialing up to the sides to finally end their journey at your hips.

You're waiting expectantly for Price to pull down your underwear, bucking your hips up to him every time he slips a finger under the waistband. But every time you think he’s about to pull them down, he allows the boxers to snap back in place and returns to his original spot on your hips, thumb mindlessly tracing circles on the skin.

“Ple-please” you pant, once again bucking your hips at him. However, Price chooses to ignore your plea. Instead he leans down, bodies now pressed flush against each other as he whispers into your ear “What? You want me to take these off for you?” faux sympathy dripping from every word he speaks as his fingers once again pull at the waistband of your underwear only to let it snap back in place again.

“Yes- yes, sir, please”

“Oh no my boy, we have to have some decency ” Price says, tone now akin to the one he uses for recruits when reprideming them but with something darker wrapped around the vowels.

You huff at his words, and feel his hot breath wash over your skin as he chuckles at your whining.

“What? Don’t tell me you want everyone to see you with your cock out. Is that what you want?” You squeeze your thighs, whimpers slipping past your lips as you think of what it would be like for someone to see you like this.

You feel his hands leave the waistband of your underwear to instead run down the side of your thighs.

“Want them to see how you get when you’re with me? “

It doesn’t take long for you to feel his body sliding further down your back, nose nuzzling along the length of your spine and words disappearing into the fabric of your shirts as he says his next words “Want them to see how hard you get for me?”

Price’s journey ends at your lower back where he presses a kiss on it as his hands go to cup your ass cheeks. From where he rests his head, you feel his hot breath hitting your skin and the wisps of beard hair prickling against your ass cheek and a whimper escapes your lips as you buck your hips up to him “Please, please, sir”

Price ignores your pleas as he continues to tease

“Want them to see just how wet you can get for me hm? “ he says as he harshly kneads the flesh in his hands “Answer me”

“Yes- yes sir. I want it please!” You cry out, hips subconsciously grinding in the air; desperate to be given some sort of relief.

“Oh, what am I going to do with you my boy?” he says with a dark chuckle “I know it’s a shame to keep you all to myself but what can I do? I’m not one to share”

It’s simple words meant to be said in the heat of the moment, words that really meant nothing, words meant to be forgotten once the act was over. But by this point you’re far too gone to think about your own words, head feeling too light and airy to really think about the implications of them

“You- you don’t have to share, sir” for some strange reason you felt the need to reassure him; reassure him that you were only his to have if that’s what he wanted , reassure him that he didn’t need to share if he didn’t want to.

Once the words leave your mouth you feel his touch leave you completely, cold air caressing the spot where his hands once had been.

Your words hang in the air for a moment, nothing but your own heavy breaths echoing throughout the otherwise silent room. For some reason you can’t help but feel like you said something you shouldn’t and it leaves you feeling rather embarrassed, eyes squeezing shut and hands clenching into fists. It really isn’t a confession by any means but it is something and that something had been enough to render him speechless.

His voice is low and breathy when he finally, finally speaks “What’s that boy?” You can’t see his face but you can hear his voice and by his tone it sounds like he purrs.

Goosebump raises across your skin, surprise and delight coursing through your body, the light and airy feeling you were earlier feeling, once again returns to your body.

You swallow hard before you respond “I said you don’t have to share sir”

You hear the sound of a sharp inhale before you feel his hand grab your face, roughly turning your head to face him.“Oh” his pupils are blown wide, desire swirling in his iris and he goes to lick his lips before he speaks “you're captain's boy now huh?” His voice is low and hoarse and when he says those words it sounds more like a statement rather than a question.

You whimper at his possessive tone, thighs once again pressing together at his words.

“Say it” he says, hand roughly jerking your chin “Say you’re captain’s boy”

“I’m captain's boy!” you cry out and as you say the words he groans and presses his cock up against your ass.

“Please sir I can’t take it anymore” you cry out, on the verge of sobbing out your words as you push yourself back on his cock.

He hushes you as whimpers escape your lips, hand releasing the grip on your chin to run down the length of your back in soothing motions.

“Let me take care of you, yeah? Let captain care for his boy”

You nod, mumbling something incomprehensible.

“Lay your head down” You do as he says, feeling his hand on your upper back, gently guiding you into the right position.

“Spread your legs” You do as he says and he hums in approval as he helps you adjust your hips.”Just like that. Doing so good for me, yeah?” You nod in response, feeling yourself preen at his approval.

“Now look at yourself boy,”

You turn your head to the big mirror hanging to the side of the training room. From this angle you can perfectly see both him and you.

The reflection shows you sitting on your knees, chest flush against the floor, arms planted into the ground for support with your legs spread wide apart like he’d told you to do before. Price’s also sitting on his knees, broad frame hovering over yours and hands on your hips to keep you close.

Both of you look disheveled, covered in sweat and with similar expressions on your faces that told anyone who’d walked through the doors that the two of you weren’t sparring in this room, at least not anymore.

“Pretty sight isn’t it?” He says with pride in his voice as his gaze locks with yours through the mirror.

You go to respond but before you can do so you feel a sudden pressure on your cock. “O-oh” you groan out as you look down in the mirror only to see Price’s leg lodged in between your own and feel the top of his knee perfectly grounding itself against your dick.

The steady pressure sets your nerves on fire

and a moan escapes your lips as you grind against up him, trying to get more of the feeling.

“I asked you a question,” he hisses. However he must’ve noticed your gaze locked on his leg because he says “eyes up here boy”

You do as he says, once again seeing your wrecked reflection in the mirror. “Pretty sight yeah?” You whimper and nod in response as he increases his pressure on your cock.“That’s Captain’s boy” he says as his gaze burns into your own, threatening to scorch you whole “Now keep looking at yourself, yeah?”

Just as you wonder what he’s about to do, you feel a sudden wet sensation between your legs. You look at him through the mirror, wide eyed and surprised only to see him grinning deviously with spit dribbling down his lips.

“Did you just-“

But before you can say anything else, you feel eager fingers spreading your folds and his mouth on your cock, his tongue laying flat on your dick, slowly dragging it from the top all the way to the bottom of it. As if hit with electricity, your body jolts and you drop your head to the floor as your hips bucks to meet his tongue. “Oh-oh fuck,”

His free hand squeezes the globe of your ass in warning and you’re quickly reminded of what you were supposed to be doing. “Sorry, sorry, sorry” you blabber out in response before you force yourself to once again look at yourself in the mirror.

You look like an absolute mess, pupils blown wide, hair in disarray and chest rapidly rising and falling.

Your face quickly morphs into one of surprise, breath feeling like it’s been punched out of your lungs when Price licks at your cock with renewed vigor, tongue pressing deeper between folds like there’s no underwear separating his lips from your cock.

The pressure of his tongue forces the fabric

of your underwear to directly press against your sensitive clit. And every time he swipes his tongue across your dick, it sends sparks of pleasure coursing through your body.

You spread your legs wider, muscles slightly aching from the awkward angle as you grind up against his mouth. “Please, please, please”

His mouth soon makes its way to your clit,

wet lips lightly nibbling on it before his tongue flickers experimental at it. “Oh-oh” once again your gaze drops from the mirror, eyes squeezing shut as you lose yourself to the pleasure. Luckily Price seems too busy with other things to notice anything.

One lick two licks and he’s full on latching onto your clit, lips eagerly suckling at the engorged numb through the soiled fabric. He alternates between suckling and swirling his tongue around your clit before going back to pay attention to your dick.

The squelching sound that echoes throughout the room sounds straight up obscene and every time you hear it you feel your body burning as you relentlessly buck up into him.

“I’m sorry- I’m sorry sir” you cry out, feeling rather embarrassed at your eagerness.

“Nothing to apologize for, told you I was going to take care of you, let me do so” You could’ve cummed right then and there, all traces of embarrassment gone as you allowed yourself to fully lose yourself to the pleasure.

It all quickly becomes too much for you. If his tongue isn’t on your clit then it’s running along the length of your dick. For each and every stroke he goes in deeper with his tongue. And your engorged numb is becoming more and more sensitive to his touch.

At some point you try to get away from him, desperately clawing at the floor and hips bucking away from him but he doesn’t allow you to leave, firmly planting his free hand on your ass cheek to keep you close to him.

“Please- please I can’t “ you sputter out, shaking your head as you try to get away from him.

“This is what you wanted, right? why are you trying to leave now?” He taunts, ceasing all movements as he pulls his mouth away from your dick.

“No!” You cry out, mourning the loss of his touch as you turn to look at him, teary eyed and with pleas threatening to fall from your lips. He’s sitting back on his knees, hair tousled, cheeks flushed, and sporting the biggest grin. But your eyes quickly zoom in on the shine that seems to coat his lips. Not only is it on his lips but it's also on his chin and beard. Your eyes widen as you realize it’s a mix of his spit and your arousal and his grin widens, seemingly knowing what you were thinking.

“What did you say before? No?”

He takes one hand and swipes his thumb over his bottom lip, wetting the pad with remainments of your arousal before swiping it over your clit, rubbing agonizingly slowly whilst putting steady pressure on it as he speaks “This is too much for your little cock to handle huh?” He says, faux sympathy dripping from his lips as he reaches over to pet your hair mockingly.

You shake your head, attempting to respond to him but you’re rendered speechless, only able to mewl in response as he continually circles your sensitive numb. “I thought you were captain’s boy. If my boy can’t handle a simple blowie, how is he supposed to handle my dick?” He says as he grabs ahold of your hair, roughly tugging at it.

“I can- I can handle it sir I can candle it

!” you cry out, feeling his fingers lightly pinch your clit.

“That’s what I thought, lay back down for me again yeah?”

You nod, blabbering something incoherent as you resume your original position, allowing him to once again spread your folds and put his mouth on your cock.

Despite your previous words, you find yourself unable to sit still as you feel yourself tethering closer to the edge of your release. Your toes are curling, fingers digging into the mat below, and hips relentlessly bucking up against his tongue. You feel your cock growing more sensitive for every lick, your hole fluttering around nothing and the knot in your stomach tightening.

“Close- so close, just please, please”

All of a sudden his teeth scrape against your sensitive clit, once again putting just enough pressure to be properly felt through the fabric. And that’s all it takes for the knot in your stomach to unfold: eyes rolling into the back of your head, mouth agape as you furiously grind your hips on his tongue before you finally slump onto the floor, legs and arms giving out from supporting your weight for so long.

You feel Price run his hand soothingly down the length of your back and hear him say the words “There we go. That’s it, that's captain's boy.”

[oneshotdepresso]

aaaaree youuu still doing the "give me a made up fic title" ask?

heres something to wiggle the braincells—

the term "double copula" has made my brainworms writhe ever since i found out what it is. i'd like to see how would a theoretical bojere fic with that title will go.

arrrrre youUUUU?

yes im still doing those!

just looked it up and oh, i didnt know there was a term for that phenomenon omg,,,, the more you know 🌠

while double copula seems to refer only to the double "is", ive noticed that english has a lot more examples of these awkwardly repetitive, but somehow grammatically correct or acceptable phrasings

is is, has had, that that.

i can see a fic titled "double copula" to be a lil introspective character study oneshot. probably bojan-centric bc he's the one who's more fluent in english and would more likely notice the phenomenon. but i could also see a jere-centric version— he's trying to improve his english skills and finds himself reading or hearing a double copula, and his curiosity spurs him to learn more abt it.

but let's go with bojan bc he's the overthinker here LMFAOOOO

anyways, the fic could start off with bojan reading a book during his rare free time. his eyes pass over a sentence with double-is. he looks it up, discovers the term "double copula", and his mind starts to wonder. he and jere are two peas in the same pod. "we have the same dreams, the same goals... we love together."

they're very similar to each other despite their surface appearances. contrary to the belief that opposites attract, bojan and jere gravitate to each other like magnets. that's when bojan starts to compare them to double-is

is is.

bojan and jere.

the thing is, a double copula is generally considered to be grammatically incorrect. or at least, an editor might advice u that there's a better way to word things. this is the point where bojan begins to spiral. at the same time, he and jere exchange messages, feelings obviously brewing between them. he notes how much they match, how perfectly they'd twine with each other. but the double copula continues to haunt him: the long distance, their clashing schedules.

fast forward to bojan visiting jere in finland. tension rising between them. neither can help it, they keep coming back to each other, attaching themselves to each other's hip. it culminates into a confession and some sloppy making out.

jere blabbers on in his crappy english and bojan comes to the conclusion that grammar is fucking stupid.

who gives a shit abt whether something is "wrong" or if their love seems like an impossible task?

that shouldn't stop them from trying.

back home, he scrolls through his phone while lying in bed. he suddenly realizes two things:

the usage of "is is" can be valid in a pseudo-cleft sentence, and;

what true love is, is whatever the two of them have.

[lieutenantselnia]

One of my favourite 2D Doof scenes just because I like listening to him (or actually both Doofs) rambling over stuff, here in the German version! <3

A few words on this; when I imagine scenarios with him in my head I'm actually never quite sure if I imagine him talking in German or English, in my mind it just kind of all blurs together since I'm so used to using both languages in my everyday life at this point. However, I think for the most part I imagine him with the sound of his German voice and his pronunciation, probably also because I'm more used to it (for PnF I always kinda preferred the German dub, I don't know why exactly, it really can't be nostalgia since I didn't watch it as a kid, but maybe just for the childhood show vibes). I like the original as well though (and sometimes kind of mix them up in my mind), I feel like Dan voiced the two Doofs with a bit more nuance, making 2D Doof speak a bit slower and maybe a tiny little bit deeper, to give him a bit more of an intimidating aura.

Another detail about his accent that might be interesting especially for non German speakers: In the original, Heinz' home country Drusselstein is a parody mostly on Germany/German-speaking countries, and on a few occasions, characters are heard speaking some German words. Doofenshmirtz himself is supposed to have a sort-of German accent as well. In the German dub, this was mostly replaced with Russian, for example that once scene where little Heinz is dressed as a lawn gnome and his father yells at him "Bewegen Sie nicht!", which is a grammatically incorrect way of saying "Don't move!" (correct ways would for example be "Beweg dich nicht!" or "Nicht bewegen!"), while in the German dub he yells in Russian "Не шевелиться!" - in latin letters something like "Nje shevelitsja!" - (which I believe is also grammatically incorrect lol).

Doof's accent seems also inspired by what the (stereo-)typical Russian (or generally Slavic) accent sounds to German people. However it doesn't lean very strongly into it, the most notable thing is that he rolls his Rs quite a bit stronger than it's common for German speakers, otherwise he speaks pretty much standard German. For example his pronunciation of the "ch" sound isn't really emphasised at all, which often tends to be associated with a Russian accent.

Also another small note about accents in general, I don't know how common it still is nowadays for people to think that German speakers all speak with a strongly rolled R, but we actually don't. Of course it may depend on the region or specific dialects, some people also just happen to naturally speak with a more rolled R due to their individual mouth/throat anatomy, but in the standard way of speaking in both Germany and Austria at least, it's not really a thing. We roll our R differently than English speakers, but it's also not that very "full" rolled R that you may hear in languages like Spanish. I myself, despite being Austrian and growing up speaking the Austrian variant of German, am physically struggling to roll my Rs because my tongue frenulum is literally too short to do it properly. The R pronunciation was always my biggest challenge in my Spanish and Russian classes (luckily my teachers weren't strict with it as long as you tried). But yeah, I just wanted to clarify that Doofenshmirtz' way of speaking isn't what the average German speaker would sound like, also I just find languages a fascinating topic to ramble about :D

[lonesome-greenery]

You know what. I want to take a look at my writing growth that's happened over the course of three years because I feel like doing a bit of analysis. I'm going to throw a paragraph from an old project out here, run through what's good, what's not and then show you the rewritten one that I did a couple of months ago and point out the growth.

So, let's do this thing.

November 2021

The warehouse district was the last place that anyone would expect a well-dressed woman who reeked of money to be. It was the last place anyone would want to be at this hour, but she was there nonetheless. She wore a black leather jacket that hugged her form, the thick fabric laying heavy on her shoulders. Her face was shaded by a broad brimmed hat and only her cherry red lips, which were pinched in a sour grimace, showed.

Analysis

Alright, so first thing we're going to start off with here, I was sixteen when I wrote this, and it's not a bad piece of writing, just dry and not very atmospheric, but that wasn't what I was focused on at the time. I just wanted to get across a clear image of what was happening in a few sentences because I'd wanted to write like Hemingway at the time. And it does exactly what I'd set out to do. My taste and style as a writer has changed since then.

First sentence: The warehouse district was the last place that anyone would expect a well-dressed woman who reeked of money to be.

This isn't necessarily grammatically incorrect, but it's definitely clunky and also non specific.

What it does do is imply danger as well as some class tension going on right from the beginning of the story, but the information given about this nameless woman is redundant as I could have just said that she was well-dressed and left it at that and achieved my end goal with fewer words.

There seems to be a lot implied about the warehouse district with this sentence but it doesn't have as much weight to it because it uses non specific language and focuses more on the woman who's involved. This isn't a bad thing as it can convey a lot about the point of view character, but as this paragraph goes on, that falls apart.

Second Sentence: It was the last place anyone would want to be at this hour, but she was there nonetheless.

Tells us that the warehouse district is dangerous again, but there's not much to tell us why, and it doesn't do it in a way that raises questions about what that danger might be because it is so nonspecific

Implies that she's not happy about being there, but has oddly formal tone.

Gives us the impression that it's late at night, pretty decently done there and a useful piece of information to have

Third Sentence: She wore a black leather jacket that hugged her form, the thick fabric laying heavy on her shoulders.

Alright so the sentence structure here is something I've been working on training myself out of because I've had it pointed out to me that this is not grammatically incorrect, but grammatically weak, especially if not used well. That last phrase could have been a sentence all on its own and gotten rid of the -ing at the end. It gives the sentence a lot less punch to it and also feels more train of thought than polished.

Black leather jacket - not a bad thing, I had a particular image in mind and I wanted to work with it. I just find it to be a bit weak and cliché down the line, but I refer to the leather as fabric not even a few words later and so continuity was not present in that sentence at all

Also that line just bugs me in general because yeah, a black leather jacket can be fashionable and styled well, but you don't wear that and then get called well-dressed and reeking of money for it! (No shade to my sixteen year old self, I'm just tearing apart some of my old writing to understand my growth)

Fourth sentence: Her face was shaded by a broad brimmed hat and only her cherry red lips, which were pinched in a sour grimace, showed.

Again, I had a very particular image in mind at the time but that image years down the line, in my personal opinion, is not the image I should have gone with.

Like this outfit just doesn't work together at all, and I'm not a fan.

'which were pinched in a sour grimace' actually fits with the cherry red lips and I like that interposing going on there, but it's two different senses being evoked at the same time and that interjectory phrase makes the sentence pretty clunky. So I had the spirit, but not the right skills at the time.

I'm also not too sure how that shadow and brim is working right now, but I know what image I wanted to evoke at the time.

Overall, not a bad paragraph. I'm not a fan now, but it was good for the time that I had worked on it.

October 2024

The warehouse district was hungry. Its streets teemed with the teeth of one too many lost souls who’d been planted in the mouths of the Reapers or Phantoms. It gobbled up the light of the street lamps, and it spat out the corpses of its experiments. It was the last place anyone wanted to be, much less Jeannette Cline. She was a severe looking young woman who reeked of money and seemed terribly out of place. She might have hidden her new money fashion with a ratty old jacket– responsibly thrifted, she reminded herself – and a mauveish hat that either had been made that way or something had mucked it up enough to get it that awful color, but nothing could hide her uptown accent. Maybe she could have gotten away with it if she’d left off the cherry red lipstick, but she’d come to the intersection between Iris and Shamuel right after work, and you could only fit so much in one purse. The choice had been either wearing her good shoes or bringing along some of those wipes that took up much more space than they were good for. 

Analysis

So, that paragraph is no longer just one paragraph, it's been expanded upon what's there and amplified what the original intention was. I've found that as I've grown in my writing, things have started to get longer because I have so much I want to say and I've become more comfortable with my writing taking up space.

Alright let's take a look at this sentence by sentence. Sentence One: The warehouse district was hungry.

I'm a big fan of the personification here. Absolutely chilling opener and gives a lot of atmosphere here.

Now could I have done this without using 'was', yeah, probably, but that's not something I'm too worried about at the moment.

Really sets the tone and grit of what I wanted the story to be at the time as well as a bit of foreshadowing on the predatory nature of a couple of antagonists involved so just good stuff.

It's short succinct and gets the point across right away without feeling clunky. I'm just very happy with the way that changed the whole set up.

Sentence two: Its streets teemed with the teeth of one too many lost souls who’d been planted in the mouths of the Reapers or Phantoms.

Liking the extended metaphor going on here. We're getting more specific, but it does still bear a bit of that clunkiness from before. Not every sentence can be perfect though, and I'm quite happy with this so far.

Establishes that we've got a couple of parties invested in this and hints at something a little supernatural going on.

The district is just given character and feels much more alive than what was initially given.

Sentence three: It gobbled up the light of the street lamps, and it spat out the corpses of its experiments.

I'm not as happy with this one, but I'm a fan of the extended metaphor and personification going on as well as establishing more of what's going on within the district and the danger there that I had attempted to allude at in a previous draft. Not a bad sentence.

Sentence four: It was the last place anyone wanted to be, much less Jeannette Cline.

And enter the point of view character! She has a name this time!

Shorter sentence and it punctuates everything that's been built up to and gives us the exact mindset that Jeannette is in.

I love a solid sentence that's all I can say. I'm just really happy with the execution of this line.

Sentence five: She was a severe looking young woman who reeked of money and seemed terribly out of place.

Okay, we're back on the reeked of money phrase. I liked it at the time and I'm still a fan of the metaphor, but I really don't think that this fits. This is entirely my opinion and I have seen this passage one too many times to be unbiased so I could be wrong.

I don't really have much else to say about this.

Sentence six: She might have hidden her new money fashion with a ratty old jacket– responsibly thrifted, she reminded herself – and a mauveish hat that either had been made that way or something had mucked it up enough to get it that awful color, but nothing could hide her uptown accent.

Okay, I actually love this description because it's rich with character voice and tells you so much about her. It's a long one, but I actually love it so much.

Like this is what I should have led with instead of the previous sentence because it conveys everything I wanted to get across in the previous one.

Sentence seven: Maybe she could have gotten away with it if she’d left off the cherry red lipstick, but she’d come to the intersection between Iris and Shamuel right after work, and you could only fit so much in one purse.

I'm genuinely proud of the characterization going on here and I like the way I was able to workin an old detail and give more of a picture of what's going on in the pov character's life and what kind of job she might work.

No complaints about this one really.

Sentence eight: The choice had been either wearing her good shoes or bringing along some of those wipes that took up much more space than they were good for. 

Continues on with the characterization I've been working on. Also continues on with informing us that she's been very methodical about the way she's going into the warehouse district.

Not much to say since I don't really feel one way or the other about this sentence, but it works well with everything else that happens in this snippet.

[hexentanzenigma]

Astarion's Name - Meaning - LOTR Elven languages (Quenya/Sindarin)

WILD ASTARION SPOILERS AHEAD ~Sometimes I use Google Translate~ Sorry for the horrible formatting, I'm still figuring out things!

About 20 years ago, instead of taking the train and going to my university and attending my classes, I hid in the local library in my small town to study Sindarin. It was the time of LOTR movie trilogy. Obviously.

It's a shame that Sindarin is much less complete than Quenya, which at the time had some full books (in Italian) dedicated to the grammar. Sindarin had nothing more than this single text file I was able to find (and even in English there wasn't much more), but the challenge was more compelling because it was wonderful to have to rack my brain to create words that Tolkien had never bothered or had reason/time to invent.

Quenya and Sindarin are and sound completely different.

The nice thing was to discuss whether you offered a good translation or whether there was some other better combination.

Quenya therefore remains Tolkien's most used and abused elven language which, I believe, gave the basis to many other elven languages in other settings such as D&D.

Having made this small and useless premise to say that I know how to navigate Tolkien's elven languages, I get to the point:

assuming and probably not granting that whoever came up with this name in Larian did so by studying Quenya or looking for precise grammatical rules rather than simply coming up with it because the sound was beautiful or deriving it from another name...

let's see the meaning a little, without being too technical.

ASTAR-ION

ASTAR

There are a few things called "astar" in Quenya.

1) the plural of "asta", that is a part of something else, almost always referred to a part of the year, a month. This wouldn't make any sense.

2) faith, loyalty (not belief) In Sindarin it's "astor", with the same meaning, pretty similar.

So "Faith"/"Loyalty" might be the right one.

-ION

About "ion" we must delve a little deeper and see both Quenya and Sindarin.

In Quenya "ion" means "from whom" or "of whom". It's a plural pronoun in genitive of "ye" - "who". We have also yondo, meaning "son" (the origin of this word is far more complex than this, so I'll keep it simple) but in some of Tolkien writings it means also "boy". Later in time, yondo as "son" would be replaced by anon.

This gives to -ion a patronymic use to say "son or descendant of". Like Russian ones (example: Boris Ivanovich, Boris son of Ivan) or Icelandic ones (Hallur Einarsson - Hallur son of Einar).

In Tolkien's works, for example, we have Isildurioni - "son/descendant of Isildur".

In Sindarin instead, "ion(n)" means "son" or "boy" as in Quenya, if used on its own.

But -ion as a suffix of a name, is THE Sindarin patronymic. No other use. The MASCULINE patronymic meaning "son (male child) of".

Gil-Galad is also called Ereinion (Scion of Kings) Inglorion (Son of Inglor)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So we could translate Astarion as the most simple meaning of the name, “Astarion - Son of the Faith”.

It would already be very appropriate.

Astarion, paradoxically, had a lot of faith in his heart. Faith also understood as hope.

The hope of one day freeing himself from Cazador's slavery and regaining his free will.

Faith in himself, not in Gods and heroes, that he prayed so much without anyone answering his prayers or coming to help him.

But what if, considering the two assumptions that now I write below, the meaning was more literal?

Assumption 1 - Astarion's tombstone says he lived only 39 years. Very few for an Elf. I still don't know if the dates are officially correct or something on Larian's part is incorrect, but let's leave it as it is.

Assumption 2 - In D&D 5e, elves appear to age like humans until they reach an "adult" appearance/maturity. Once physically adults, their life expectancy extends enormously and can reach 700-750 years. It's logical in fact that they do not remain vulnerable children for around 200 years, but spend most of their lives as adults.

Their concept of maturity, however, is completely on a voluntary basis: around 100/110 years of age, when an Elf feels ready, they declare that they're mature and take on an adult name, replacing the "child" one.

Between the reach of physical maturity and the social declaration of maturity, elves are considered whimsical, chaotic, prone to indulge in vices and desires, too emotional. They need to study, travel, explore, and accumulate wisdom and nurtore their personal knowledge and culture because this will "calm down" their mind. This is because of their Fey ancestry, their connection to the Feywild.

MY SMALL (CRACK) THEORY

What if “Astarion” was not “son of faith” but “son of Astar”, having not yet declared his independence as an adult Elf and "Astarion" represents his "child name"?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PERSONAL NOTES

Keep in mind that I share this more for fun than because I actually believe it. It's nice material for a few headcanons.

Honestly I don't think Larian put together Astarion's name from Quenya or Sindarin rather than the Elvish language from D&D, since there is one.

Personally I hope that in the future Larian will explain more about Astarion's age, because personally I don't really like the idea of him being under the Elven age of maturity. I would have preferred him at least about 150 years old, excluding the 200 spent as a slave.

It's true that Elves mature like humans, so 40 years are 40 years for everyone, so he IS physically 40 years old, he IS adult, he HAD his own important career. He just wasn't "socially adult" for the Elven culture.

But, speaking about age, would you like to know my take about the dates on Astarion's headstone?

[spanishskulduggery]

Hey! I came across this sentence: "Me encantan este tipo de videos de personas que caminan por las calles de corea." Why is plural "encantan" used? Would it not agree with "este tipo" (singular)?

It should, yes, technically

It should either be me encanta este tipo... or me encantan estos tipos...

It's a little difficult to explain but it's incorrect grammar that is sometimes casually accepted in colloquial settings where the speaker really means their encantan to adhere to videos but that isn't the way they're using the grammar

Again, for your purposes it should be me encanta este tipo; when I did a search specifically the correct grammar has about 95k results, while the incorrect me encantan este tipo de videos came up with about 25k results

I'll add a bit more below but it's more of the linguistics side of things, just know that you are right that is not proper Spanish and in an academic setting would be marked wrong, but this does describe a kind of Spanish that happens

-

Technically and from the "prescriptivist" point of view it should be encanta here. As far as how language works as a whole and from a "descriptivist" I know that there are some groups of people who would make this mistake and while it's not accepted standard Spanish, it does sometimes happen

I'm possibly reading too much into this but there are some instances where incorrect grammar like this can indicate either a region or it might have some social implications. I'm going to try to phrase this in a way that doesn't sound snobbish, because I don't mean it in any kind of mean way, but there in linguistics there are cases where certain words, phrases, or grammatical trends in many languages that have been associated with certain regions, certain ethnic groups sometimes, sometimes it can be professions, or sometimes implied levels of education - the idea here being that because language is influenced by the people who use it, the language becomes a reflection of people... so if you have something that standard/academic Spanish wouldn't use, then it can show that someone using it is from a specific place, or they're in a setting where the formal accepted grammar marks you as someone who's well-educated and possibly wealthy as opposed to the language or accents of the working class

Many languages have this sort of thing where the language can be a kind of social indications; the most common example in English is something like "ain't" but there are many examples and some are really specific like country accents, the terminology used with cowboys having been very specific to a certain line of work, or the cockney accent

[ameera-ameera]

Beware of Faulty Language Sources

While creating my latest Turkish worksheet, I came across a website called talkpal.ai. In addition to promoting its AI app that claims to help you "learn a language 5x faster," the site featured several blog posts. However, I quickly noticed significant issues with the content.

These weren’t minor mistakes like a typo or a misplaced accent, which anyone can make. I've made typos before, it's human. However, these mistakes didn't seem human. Instead, they were fundamental errors – telltale signs of an AI struggling with Turkish vowel harmony and even inventing completely nonexistent suffixes.

Turkish is a highly logical and structured language, so it’s strange that LLMs often struggle with it. A human can learn Vowel harmony, for example, in a day with some repetition and practice. The basics are not overly complex, yet AIs consistently struggles to follow these simple rules.

The problem likely stems from the way LLMs were trained on Turkish. They may be trained on a large(r) amount(s) of Turkish language input, but lack access sources and text books which explain the grammar. This disconnect likely explains why AIs can produce somewhat coherent Turkish but fail when asked to explain grammatical rules.

As a result, LLMs often "hallucinate" when generating Turkish, particularly when it comes to vowel and consonant harmony. It’s something to watch out for whenever you use AI-generated content in language learning.

Normally, I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that a random blog post was written by AI. It’s entirely possible that a non-native speaker or a freelancer unfamiliar with Turkish wrote the post after a cursory Google search. However, given that this website is actively selling an AI product, it's safe to assume the blog content is AI-generated – and that’s a problem. The poor quality of the post undermines the very tool they’re trying to sell.

It’s the worst kind of advertisement because it highlights the AI’s lack of understanding of Turkish 😭.

I’m not suggesting that AI and machine learning tools have no place in language learning. Far from it – Google Translate and Deepl are two widely used machine learning tools that are rather uncontroversial resources for learners. However, it’s important to approach AI cautiously.

AI tools can be helpful once you’ve developed enough understanding of grammar and sentence structure to evaluate their outputs critically. But before that point, relying on AI can be risky. Anything and everything it says could be wrong. Without the knowledge to identify errors, you could be reinforcing incorrect information without even realizing it.

In short, AI-generated content should always be reviewed by a human. If you’re not yet capable of doing this yourself and don’t have anyone to help, it might be wise to hold off on using AI for language learning.

[valeriefauxnom]

(you don't have to reply to this)

hi! not to be rude, but i think you've been formatting your dialogue incorrectly (from a grammatical standpoint). not sure if you're aware of it

idk how to explain it succintly but it should be like

"Dialogue," he said/shouted/yelled/explained.

"Dialogue." He smiled/shrugged/grimaced.

note the comma + uncapitalized 'he' for speaking verbs, and the period + capitalized 'he' for actions that complement speaking but aren't a Talking Verb (?? i hope that makes sense)

i can't directly link sites on anon but https://btleditorial.com/2018/07/16/punctuate-dialogue-in-fiction/ explains it well

mistakes from your recent chapter:

“I say, Midgardsormr, if you’re that upset being around these humans, why not just leave? You’ve already been sticking here in Sol Alberia for, what, weeks now?” She called out...

“Chthonius,” They greeted...

"she" and "they" shouldn't be capitalized

"...I also raise barriers between these sections, the outside, and my den, so that they do not bug me or escape.” He’d explained..."

similarly, "he'd" shouldn't be capitalized. and there should be a comma rather than a period after "escape" ("...so that they do not bug me or escape," he'd explained..."). the same way the example earlier with cthonius uses a comma

“...I can barely spread my wings here.” Jupiter critiqued...

“That is all the intruder had to say, Your Highness. Pardon for the interruption. I shall leave you to your work.” Leif said...

“...I might be able to find a more expeditious path to your destination.” Leif offered not three minutes after they exited the castle,

should be a comma, not a period, after "here," work," and "destination"

'offered' isn't always a verb that implies speaking, but in this case it does (since his offer is in his speech)

“I could ask the same of you, Netherwyrm, seeing as how you appeared quite resolute to not leave Clave Loy’elune,” Mercury smiled...

because smiling is an action that goes alongside the speaking, and isn't the speaking itself, it should be a new sentence ("...you appeared quite resolute to not leave Clave Loy'elune." Mercury smiled...")

“As a matter of fact…Yes,” Zodiark paused...

while the pause is relevant to him speaking, it's not the Speaking Action itself, so "Yes" should be followed by a period

just thought i'd point these out because this mistake is kinda prevalent in your fic and i'm not sure if it's intentional? have a great day!

Funnily enough, I'd actually looked up dialogue rules for some other things, since my default reflex is to capitalize after any dialogue, and had changed several things to lowercase.

And thank you for being polite, but in turn, not to sound flippant, but I have to say at this point I... just am not going to be screening for this in the past or future. If you can spot that many things in one chapter, you better believe the entire fic is going to be like that and probably worse, as you note it to be 'kinda prevalent', and, 220k words in (plus all my other works almost assuredly featuring this making it over 380k), the benefit to effort ratio to fix that one would be disproportionate for more nitty-gritty rules that I had to comb through many sites to find a single source aside your own that claimed several of the corrections to be made here.

So, in the end, I'm sorry to say that yes, your feedback is heard and appreciated, but no, I'm probably not going to fix most all examples nor particularly try to follow these rules as I write more chapters. My ultimate concerns when writing are that it is understandable, not flagrantly incorrect (for instance, distinguishing between 'two-too-to' and all that), working with previous and the proceeding dialogue, and in-character. Some of these are innocent mistakes, as I might have initially intended more dialogue to come after an action and put a comma where a period should have been, others are just borne of me never encountering this kind of direction in all my years of schooling despite having a degree.

That being said, thank you for reading, and I hope that it doesn't grind your gears so much as to stop! Even if it does, thank you for being polite about it all and I hope my response is understandable in turn. Have a nice day, too!

[hellogirlslikegirlslikeboysdo]

And the lights are not fluorescent, and there are no words on the page. - Form Essay

Author's Preface and Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

Description: My final portfolio for one of the creative writing courses I took based around exploring the creative nonfiction essay in its many literary forms, with any and all identifying names or signifiers censored out.

To do list!!! Ignore how silly, irresponsible even, you feel about including this part. Adding “To do list”, complete with a grammatically incorrect number of exclamation points with little hearts in place of the dots. Reserving its top billing, the extra big lined space at the top of a little baby sticky note where it’s just gonna take up pretty pink space, space you could be saving for one of the myriad of things you need to get accomplished tonight. Like the douchey lead actor taking their sweet time down the red carpet, the entirety of the camera crew already getting rushed into their seats offscreen.

Suppose, if you can, that it's “whatever”. Rationalize that it probably gives the note a sense of urgency or something (you need that, god, you need that tonight) and that it's already too late to start worrying about losing yourself in all this attention to detail, about what fulfilled word count or pieces of unfolded laundry you’re already sacrificing with this adamant sticking to form.

This is a to-do list, after all. Who even needs these, really?

(Dear lord, this is a very elaborate burst of anger for the first line of a makeshift to-do list. Are you sure you even have the strength to do this? don’t answer that, do NOT answer that, if you try to answer that, it’ll automatically become a “no” by default, do NOT answer that

[✓] Take your meds. Do not convince yourself that you will not need them. You will.

[✓] Regret writing this list in pen.

[  ] Finish reflection. Put this at the top of the list because it's the one you expect to complete first. Not because you have confidence in your ability to do so, but because it’s due tonight and you’ll need to peer pressure yourself enough that the shame and academic anxiety override your executive dysfunction.

[✓] Do creative writing assignment. Make this second on the list because you actually do think you can finish this one on time (you probably can’t) and that it’ll be the easiest to breeze through (it absolutely will not), letting you ride off the high of a job well done and attack the rest of this list feeling like your workload is significantly lower than before. Conveniently forget that late-stage ADHD comes with time blindness and a dopamine deficiency that makes you literally incapable of feeling any sense of accomplishment after finishing a task (Acknowledge that it also comes with a side of autism, on the house. ONLY acknowledge it, though. Do not delve into why you are frantically scratching out this list at 5:00 in the afternoon, all because you’re convinced that establishing some sort of routine is more important than actually tackling what feels like near-death deadlines. Do not start pacing around your room while unconsciously gesturing along with the extensive imaginary conversation between you and your roommate that starts with you making a comment and his response that essentially boils to “Think that might just be the ‘tism, bud :P ”, ending in an elaborate discussion of your symptoms and concerns, as if Luc didn’t almost laugh when you suggested he consider majoring in psychology.

Do not open this goddamn can of worms, because you WILL spill it like a can of beans, and everything will get everywhere, and you already have to clean all the gunk off the floor, and you don’t even know how the heck you’re gonna manage that, and this whole debacle can wait until the morning, really, it can-

[  ] Open it anyway, because you are a coward, and natural selection will gather you first.

[✓] Submit everything at 11:59 and give yourself whiplash getting out of bed, dizzy from the nightmarish chemical cocktail that is Adderall and not enough water. Be dramatic about stumbling to your feet and leaning against the bedpost, because self-pity is an evolutionary survival tactic to comfort ourselves once our parents stop doing it for us. Pace around the room once the hot flash fades.

[  ] Clean dorm.

[✓] Elaborate on the last checkbox because something ungodly thing possessed you to think that “Clean house” was specific enough for your brain to understand on five hours of sleep and prescription speed.

[✓] Do laundry. Tell yourself you will do it as soon as possible, to leave yourself as much time as possible to make all the different trips to the laundry room. Leave it until it's dark out, the image of you getting jumped and stabbed to death poking at your brain like a wet toothpick you keep absentmindedly fiddling with.

The fear will make you walk faster.

[✓] Take out the trash. Leave this for nightfall, because your father’s monthly warnings and the lyrics of the song you performed for your ISP, of femicide and government priorities and how no one goes looking for little brown girls who go missing in the dead of night, and, heck, even the memory of being trapped outside your dorm with the raccoons somehow can’t override the anxiety.

[  ] Wash the dishes. Leave this for last, despite the smell hitting you as hard as the common area hits you each time you turn your key and yank.

[✓] Decline your roommate’s offer to hang out tonight, despite all the time you’ve been wasting and will continue to waste for the rest of the night. Claim you’re too tired in the morning.

[✓] Wipe down all the counters. Waste time every five, ten minutes. Sit with the tension between how mortifying it would be for one of your roommates to walk in on you wasting all this time vs. your insistence that keeping up with mindless chores is SO much easier, really, it's just the schoolwork that takes you forever.

Cut through said tension with a switchblade, if you have to.

[✓] Spend ten minutes trying to figure out how to attack the floor situation.

[   ] Attack the floor situation. Drive yourself crazy with the shoe scuffs you waited too long to deal with.

[✓] Pick up any extra trash. Muse about the time your mother and grandmother caught you in between a month-long academic and the mourning of your childhood dependence, and proceeded to scold you for the rest of the night. Muse about hiding the absence of bra straps and fighting for the hair stylist’s attention and “I don’t want you to get mad when I say this, but sometimes, there are things that we don’t like, but we have to to do them anyway, so…[insert the most horrific, victim blaming, powerless thinking you’ve ever heard in your life]”. Muse about the meaning of the word “presentable”, the antonym of skin and sentence structure and wandering, glassy eyes that give you away every time.

[✓] Play the sound of mother’s fretting over the state of your roommate's bed sheets over the sound of your explaining, of what depression does to the art of your cleaning skills, somewhere in your head, old syllabus crinkling between your fingernails. Wonder if his tarot prediction of a depressive state will come true, if your mother will complain about your room then. If it’s different when it’s you.

[  ] Finish resenting her by the time she arrives to come get you in the morning.

[  ] Pack your stuff for tomorrow. Forget one thing you actually need and one thing you don’t, but your mom wants you to bring anyway.

[  ] Do the billions of things you’re supposed to do sometime during the semester (preferably a month ago), but will probably end up stuck with during finals week.

[✓] Set an alarm. Wake up before it goes off.

[kaidatheghostdragon]

My impression of the fandom is that somewhere between a third and half of its members speak/write english as a second language. But maybe i have confirmation bias and it's not that high. Also, some members of the fandom can potentially be pretty young, like middle-school aged. (Please dont state your real age, especially if you are under eighteen!)

In both of those cases, common spelling and grammer mistakes can be a case of incorrect inferred assumptions that simply haven't been corrected yet. Also, dont forget that fandoms are a place to practice writing, and not everybody has a proof-reader. This is not a professional writing space, so genuine typos (in which the person would recognize the mistake but just didnt catch it) will abound, on top of the poor grammer and spelling.

There are also a number of reasons mistakes can be made, even for someone with perfect grammer and spelling:

Switched letters, like rogue and rouge, may be occurring because of muscle memory. "ou" is a more common letter combo in english than "og" or "gu." This particular case might slip through often because both are proper words and grammatically interchangable.

Skipped or repeated words/letters may be the person's brain working slower than they type, or self correcting in the middle of the mistake. For example, in the previous point, i caught a mistake where i wrote "maybe be" instead of "may be." Another example, i had to correct "were" to "where," skipping the letter h, which happened to create a real word, and caught because it was underlined as incorrect grammar.

Double letter mistakes, like "of" and "off" can be an input mistake where the keyboard or screen doesnt register the correct number of presses/taps (usually missing a second tap instead of doubling a single, in my experience).

Substituting a similar sounding word or homonym can be a symptom of writing phonetically and/or relying on autocorrect to guess the right word. (Autocorrect is usually good with homonyms, but ive noticed when im typing fast, i almost always type "youre" despite knowing the difference between "your," "you're" and "yore," and "theyre" instead of "there" and "their," and only catching it when autocorrect underlines it. I have to rely on autocorrect to figure out which "its/it's" to use because i can never remember.)

Syntax mistakes - you may have noticed that ive skipped a lot of apostrophes and capitalizations. Both are more tedious on a texting app than they are on a keyboard, and generally, their absence doesnt make the writing unintelligable, so skipping them is a common shortcut.

Neighboring letters on the keyboard, especially when texting, can create typos. Im constantly correcting "if" and "of" because i and o neighbor each other on the qwerty keyboard and my fat finger is always hitting the i instead of the o. (I am curious if that mistake is more common for left-handers, as i and o are on the right side, requiring a farther travel distance -and thus less precision - for the left index typer to travel)

Mispelled names can be the texting autocorrect hyper-correcting (not everything is typed on a physical keyboard) replacing an unrecognized word with one the writer uses more often. Also, if something is mispelled the first time it's used, texting autocorrect will perpetuate the mistake. (I see Vald instead of Vlad and Sam Mason instead of Sam Manson a lot. Btw, you can delete learned words by tap-and-hold, or turn off autocorrect completely if it's driving you crazy like it does for me.)

Dropping or adding suffixes, like -ed or -er, especially if the word ends in e like "write" or "create," can be a mix of muscle memory and the brain having to parse complicated tense structures.

Misspelling where the vowel changes (like creator) can be a mistake of the brain parsing the base word plus suffix, without recalling that the final word has a spelling change.

Hypercorrect tense ("writed" instead of "written," "hurted" instead of "hurt," etc) is usually indicative of lack of experience (youth, uneducated, or secondary language)

There are probably dozens of other sources of mistakes, but ill stop here. Remember that all of these sources of mistakes will be compounded for people that: type extremely fast (inconsistant typos, autocorrect mistakes, homonyms), are younger and/or less educated (phonetic/poor spelling, homonyms, poor grammar, excessive slang or accent in misspellings and word use), speak/write english as a secondary language (awkard sentence structure, wrong-but-similar words, incorrect tense or gendering), or are using a less familiar form to write (example: i text posts on my phone, but type stories on my computer with a keyboard, and i have a bluetooth keyboard to connect to my phone if i want to work on a story when my phone is the only thing available, which is more compact and feels a bit awkward).

And even though i tend to proof-read my own posts two or three times before posting, i almost always have one or two mistakes i notice literally right after posting.

Lastly, patience is key. This is a safe space where we want everyone to write as much as possible to feed our hyperfocus addiction, so unless someone blatantly asks for constructive criticism, dont be listing their mistakes on everything they post. Even then, be polite, informative, and concise, and end with a compliment of something you think they did correctly that you enjoyed. Also, keep it private, in a pm or ask, so you aren't broadcasting their mistakes and embarrassing them.

I am begging the Warrior Cats, DC comics, and Danny Phantom fandoms to learn the difference between "rogue" and "rouge."

Normally I don't really care too much about misspellings on the internet. Language is fluid and use changes conventions, bla bla bla. This is a pet peeve I'm apparently never gonna get over, though.

The letter combo "ge" often makes a soft "j" or "zh" sound. Like in beige, garage, general, gouge, etc. But because English has borrowed things from many languages, this rule isn't consistent.

The letter combo "gu" results in a hard "g" consonant. As in guerilla, Prague, dialogue, penguin, guess, etc.

As an aside, this is how you know how to pronounce the two different Gs in "language" because they follow this rule exactly.

Therefore, "rouge" is pronounced "rüzh" and refers to a red color, typically a cosmetic for one's cheeks (aka blush). Also the name of the DC villain Madame Rouge.

Conversely, "rogue" is pronounced "rōg" with a hard G and refers to an independent, uncontrollable, aberrant individual who acts outside the strictures of society, often in an unlawful manner. This is the word I most often see misspelled.

So please remember, if the G is in front of a U you don't need to *guess* how it's pronounced, but if you get mixed up you might end up blushing!

[penandpaper25]

Why is it important that a tutor/teacher edits your practice IELTS essays?

When sitting for your IELTS exam, it is important to prepare for it by following an IELTS classes in Sri Lanka. Whether you choose an in-classroom or IELTS online course, these classes provide you with experienced tutors to guide you, mock tests, as well as feedback and mentoring, which will help immensely with the exam. While the IELTS Sri Lanka course fees vary depending on institute or tutor, they are generally very cost-effective and affordable.

One of the tasks that a tutor would do is edit your practice essays. Editing practice IELTS essays is crucial because:

Identifying Mistakes: A tutor or teacher can spot grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or incorrect usage that you might miss. This helps improve your overall writing accuracy.

Understanding Structure: They can provide feedback on essay structure, including how to organise ideas coherently and logically, which is essential for the IELTS Writing Task 2.

Enhancing Vocabulary: Tutors can suggest better word choices and expressions, helping you to use a wider range of vocabulary effectively.

Improving Argumentation: They can help you strengthen your arguments, making sure that your points are clear and well-supported.

Meeting Criteria: IELTS essays are scored based on specific criteria (task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy). A tutor can guide you on how to meet these criteria more effectively.

Building Confidence: Constructive feedback can help you understand your strengths and areas for improvement, boosting your confidence and guiding your study focus.

Editing is a key part of the learning process, helping you refine your skills and perform better on the actual test.

How can I choose a good IELTS class?

Choosing a good IELTS Sri Lanka course involves several factors to consider:

Qualified Instructors: Look for teachers with experience in preparing students for the IELTS exam and relevant qualifications. They should be familiar with the test format and scoring criteria.

Course Content: Ensure the course covers all parts of the IELTS test (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) and includes practice tests, strategies, and feedback.

Class Size: Smaller class sizes often allow for more personalised attention and better interaction with the instructor.

Teaching Methods: Consider if the teaching style matches your learning preferences. Some classes are more focused on test strategies, while others might emphasise general language improvement.

Reviews and Recommendations: Check reviews from former students or seek recommendations from friends or colleagues who have taken IELTS classes.

Location and Schedule: Choose a class that fits your schedule and is convenient to attend, whether it is online or in-person.

Trial Classes: Some institutions offer trial classes. Taking one can help you assess the teaching quality and see if the class meets your needs.

Cost: Compare the cost with what’s offered. Sometimes, higher fees do not always mean better quality, so consider value for money.

Support and Resources: Ensure the class provides access to study materials, practice tests, and additional support outside of class hours if needed.

Progress Tracking: A good class should offer ways to track your progress and provide regular feedback to help you improve.

By considering these factors, you can find a class that will best support your IELTS preparation.

[australianwriter]

The Importance of Proofreading Your Assignments

Proofreading is an essential step in the writing process that involves reviewing a written document to correct any errors before it is finalized. It's often the last line of defense against mistakes that can undermine the quality and credibility of your work. Whether you're a student striving for academic excellence or a professional aiming to produce high-quality documents, proofreading can significantly impact your success.

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the process of carefully examining a text to find and correct typographical errors and mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling. Unlike editing, which may involve substantial changes to the content and structure, proofreading focuses on surface errors and minor corrections. It's about polishing the final draft to ensure it reads smoothly and clearly.

Why Proofreading is Essential

Proofreading is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures clarity and coherence in your writing. Errors can distract readers and obscure your message, making it difficult for them to understand your points. Secondly, proofreading eliminates grammatical and spelling mistakes, which can detract from your credibility as a writer. Finally, a well-proofread assignment reflects a high level of care and attention to detail, enhancing the overall quality of your work.

Common Errors Found During Proofreading

During proofreading, you might encounter various types of errors:

Spelling mistakes: Even with spellcheck tools, typos and misspellings can slip through.

Grammar issues: These include incorrect verb tenses, subject-verb agreement problems, and awkward sentence structures.

Punctuation errors: Misplaced commas, incorrect use of apostrophes, and other punctuation mistakes can alter the meaning of sentences.

Formatting inconsistencies: This includes inconsistent font sizes, margins, and spacing, which can make your document look unprofessional.

Impact of Errors on Academic Performance

Errors in your assignments can have significant consequences on your academic performance. They can lead to lower grades as they suggest a lack of effort and attention. Mistakes can also cause miscommunication of ideas, making it difficult for instructors to understand your arguments. Furthermore, consistent errors can create a negative impression, impacting your credibility and reputation as a student.

Steps to Effective Proofreading

To proofread effectively, follow these steps:

Take a break before proofreading: Give yourself some time away from the document to see it with fresh eyes.

Read the assignment aloud: This helps catch errors that you might overlook when reading silently.

Use digital tools and resources: Tools like Grammarly can help identify mistakes you might miss.

Print out the document for review: Sometimes, reading a physical copy can help you spot errors more easily.

Check for one type of error at a time: Focus on spelling, then grammar, then punctuation, to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Digital Tools for Proofreading

Several digital tools can aid in the proofreading process:

Grammarly: This popular tool checks for grammar, spelling, and style issues.

Hemingway Editor: Helps simplify your writing by identifying complex sentences and passive voice.

ProWritingAid: Offers detailed reports on various aspects of your writing.

Microsoft Word's built-in tools: Useful for basic spelling and grammar checks.

The Role of Peer Review in Proofreading

Peer review can be invaluable in proofreading. Having someone else read your work can provide new insights and catch errors you might have missed. To make the most of peer feedback, ask for specific input on areas where you have concerns and be open to constructive criticism.

Proofreading Strategies for Non-Native English Speakers

Non-native English speakers might face additional challenges when proofreading. Here are some strategies to help:

Focus on common language-specific errors: Be aware of mistakes typical to your native language.

Utilize language learning resources: Tools like Duolingo and language-specific grammar guides can be helpful.

Seek help from native speakers: They can provide insights into more nuanced aspects of the language.

Proofreading vs. Editing: Understanding the Difference

It's important to distinguish between proofreading and editing. Editing involves more significant changes to content, structure, and style, while proofreading focuses on correcting minor errors. Knowing when to proofread and when to edit can streamline your writing process and improve the quality of your work.

The Time Factor: Allocating Time for Proofreading

Effective proofreading requires adequate time. Planning ahead and dedicating specific time slots for proofreading can ensure you don't rush the process. Aim to spend at least 20% of your total assignment time on proofreading to catch and correct errors thoroughly.

Proofreading in Professional Contexts

Proofreading is not just for academic assignments; it's equally important in professional contexts. Professional documents, such as reports, emails, and proposals, must be error-free to maintain credibility and professionalism. Common practices include using professional proofreading services and internal review processes.

Proofreading Academic Papers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here's a detailed guide to proofreading an academic paper:

Review the assignment guidelines: Ensure you've met all requirements.

Check the structure and organization: Make sure your paper flows logically.

Focus on clarity and conciseness: Remove any unnecessary words or phrases.

Correct grammatical and spelling errors: Use digital tools to assist.

Review citations and references: Ensure they are correctly formatted.

Improving Your Proofreading Skills

Improving your proofreading skills takes practice and continuous learning. Consider attending workshops, taking courses, and regularly practicing with different types of documents. Over time, you'll become more adept at spotting and correcting errors.

Conclusion

Proofreading is a vital step in the writing process that can significantly impact the quality and effectiveness of your work. By taking the time to proofread your assignments, you can ensure they are clear, error-free, and professionally presented. Make proofreading a habit, and you'll see improvements in your academic and professional writing.

For top-notch assistance with your academic assignments, look no further than Australia Assignment Help. We offer expert help with essays, dissertations, and other assignments, ensuring high-quality support from native Australian writers. With a track record of delivering nearly 600,000 orders and a team of over 500 professionals, our services are highly trusted by more than 15,000 students across Australia. We pride ourselves on delivering 98% of assignments before the deadline, making us your go-to source for reliable assignment help in Australia. Whether you need help with assignments, assignment proofreading services, or any other academic support, Australia Assignment Help is here to ensure your success. Visit us at australiaassignmenthelp.online for all your assignment needs.

FAQs

Q. How can I improve my proofreading skills quickly? A. Start by reading your work aloud and using digital tools like Grammarly. Practice regularly and consider seeking feedback from peers.

Q. Are there any free tools for proofreading? A. Yes, tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, and Microsoft Word's built-in features offer free versions with basic proofreading capabilities.

Q. Can proofreading really make a difference in my grades? A. Absolutely. Proofreading can help eliminate errors, clarify your arguments, and present your work in a more polished manner, all of which can contribute to higher grades.

Q. What should I do if I’m short on time for proofreading? A. Focus on high-priority areas like grammar and spelling. Use digital tools for a quick review and read your work aloud for clarity.

Q. Is it better to proofread on a computer or on paper? A. Both methods have their benefits. Proofreading on paper can help you spot errors you might miss on a screen, while digital tools can assist in catching grammatical and spelling mistakes.

[dianight]

While the spanish language lacks widely used neutral pronouns the way english does (they) there's a new level of fuckery if you want to avoid misgendering people (or yourself) that english does not have.

I've gotten extremely creative over the years in order to avoid any gendered adjectives but it's affected how I speak, aka sometimes I say weird shit. Anything I say has a certain air of vagueness because I could use a single word or I could just add fluff to avoid it (ocupada -> haciendo cosas p.ej.).

Some people I know are using ella/elle but it's always seemed a bit... useless(?) since no one (not even themselves) use elle with any consistency. I do like neutral "e" forms, such as todes instead of todos/todas since it does flow really well even if it's not used a lot. Personally I use colega a lot as a gender neutral addresing-some-rando term or equipo/clase for groups depending on circumstances.

One ocurrence I've observed over the years is people who don't speak english as their first language listing their pronouns in their first language and then getting shat on for it. There's a very anglocentric talk (I do not like using the word discourse) about pronouns, extremely centered on he/she/they and sometimes it or neopronouns. I've never heard out loud and don't know how one pronounces ze, xer, xir and such. This might be a bit rude but I also do not see the what the point of them is; this comes from a "english does not have gendered adjectives" starting point and I'm trying to draw a comparison to spanish here.

Let's say a person who uses he/she, as an example. If that person were speaking spanish I'd assume he'd go by él/ella. But. What about every single adjective that he uses for herself? Ella es muy apuesto? Él es muy guapa? (Let's imagine a good looking person) These are grammatically incorrect even if the meaning is pretty clear. What about when some friends ask her if he wants to go to a party? La invitamos pero está ocupado? Lo invitamos pero está ocupada?

I could go on with examples like that. The point here is that spanish is a more gendered language and things get a bit confusing if we were applying english rules. Now this might(!) be a me thing, perhaps if more people spoke like that and more people had different sets of pronouns it wouldn't "sound" weird/incorrect.

There's also the whole issue with non binary people. Which. I mean. You can say persona no binaria and be done with it. But I've seen the no binario/no binaria distiction and it's like. What's the point then.

Anyway when talking about myself I use una persona, una mujer, o una charlina (for friends) even which is a very old joke that no longer makes any sense whatsoever. In english one might use she or if you are feeling particularly shy they. I don't like being it'd since I'm not a creature, object and/or maid (although I could play the part). Even though I'm also a goddess there is no need to be overly polite, I still have a human body.

I don't know where I was going with this but it started because I got fed up with seeing anglocentric pronoun shit and some user getting hatemail for their nonenglish pronouns.

I can elaborate (never debate) if some of this (or all of it) doesn't make sense.

[valeriefauxnom]

Hello! This is the anon who'd sent you a post about how you formatted your dialogue incorrectly. Only saw your reply now.

Sorry if I came off as overbearing or fussy. I'd read some of your author's notes about pointing out typos/grammatical errors, and thought mistakes with dialogue punctuation fell under that category. I do think dialogue punctuation is important and not just some niche rule, though, but maybe that's just me.

My bad! You clearly know what you're doing, I shouldn't have assumed things. Good luck with the rest of the fic!

(You don't have to reply to this ask)

Hey, it's no problem, and I don't mind at all! In turn, I hope I wasn't sounding petulant or the like. That one was just unfortunately a case of what I felt was disproportionate effort for the benefit though! I do continually edit little bits here and there, like just yesterday I fixed a random incomplete sentence that I dunno if it didn't copy+paste over right or what. But my more involved editing is more content-based, like how I went back to some of the earlier chapters and added/subtracted/changed a few things here and there in an attempt to make the story overall work better, since Scaling truly is just a wild ride of a passion project spiraled far beyond what I'd anticipated. Having to closely scan that many words to just change a uppercase to lowercase or vice-versa occasionally was just too daunting a task.

I'm a bit of a weird case in that I am indeed fussy and picky about the basics in writing, like knowing your 'its vs it's' and all that, as well as the general rules for writing things, but when it comes to more nitty-gritty stuff, I'm not as invested in looking for them or correcting, since I do rarely find value in breaking other rules + am probably breaking umpteen kajillion advanced grammar rules unknowingly to begin with.

While I don't think formatting dialogue as a general category is niche, the specifics of whether or not to capitalize, etc, after, as you described seemed to be, solely based on the rarity of which any of that was mentioned in my own frantic searching to see if my whole education was a lie. Granted, it might be a case of people who need to look up basic writing concepts needing the absolute basics taught to them, like 'wow! punctuation goes on the inside of the quotation marks!' or 'wow! each speaker needs their new paragraph!', but in a way that just reinforces the idea that the rules of split dialogue are more niche within the broad category.

Again, not trying to say what you're saying was incorrect, but just that that particular advice might be a bit more niche than you'd assumed! If I'd had that pointed out earlier, there would have been a good chance that I might have actually corrected that one, but it again really was just a case of '200k words later' compared to the point where I'd fix that.

That being said, thank you again for the advice and for reading Scaling! (Hopefully you don't dislike me replying, as I take the ' don't have to reply' as a reassurance, not a request!)