#like you know when you look up your own post on your own blog and it doesnt show up???? bugs me sm

[bringbackmaes14]

I don't think it's ever reasonable to stop interacting with minors. Sociologically, it's really important for people in different age groups (or generations) to interact with each other. That means people who are 17 and 36 or 45 and 84 or 3 and 52, whatever the age difference. It helps us build language and uphold a sense of community, and it's also important to interact with people of all ages to learn new and different things about the world. A Baby Boomer might be able to tell a Gen Z person about things they remember from the Civil Rights Movement in the United States that aren't commonly taught in the school system, and vice versa, maybe the Gen Z person learned something about the Civil Rights Movement in their high school history class from a document that was found discovered in the 80s that the Baby Boomer had never heard of. And you can learn all kinds of things at any age from any person! For instance, statistically, how many adults do you think are learn facts about dinosaurs or bugs from people their own age? Probably most of the dinosaur or bug facts that they hear/learn are from children who in turn learned it from adults on TV or online. It's all a cycle of learning!!!

That's not to say that kids/minors and adults don't need their own separate spaces to exist with their peers, but I think if you turn 18 and you say "okay I'm never going to willingly interact with minors again unless I become a parent or choose a job that requires me to interact with them" then you're losing out on a lot of learning and a lot of community. And you don't even have to like kids/teens! I personally don't particularly like children, but I don't necessarily go out of my way to avoid interacting with them if the opportunity arises either (there are a lot of little kids in my neighborhood who like to ring my doorbell and ask if they can pet my cats and sometimes I have to tell them I'm busy but there have been occasions where I'll let one or two hang out for a minute to pet the cats with their parents' permission, and while hanging out I've found that each of the kids is very endearing in their own way)!

As far as online spaces go, I think the "minors dni" label is silly. For the above stated reasons but also because it doesn't truly work. I believe that (if we're just talking about Tumblr) blogs that are going to post a lot of NSFW things should advertise their blog as such, but it should be kind of the same as the warning on AO3, y'know the one that's like "hey you've clicked on a work that includes mature topics and we just wanna make sure you know that before you proceed, just go ahead and hit yes or no". I'm not saying we should just give minors free access to all things NSFW but like, what teen in the age of computers didn't look up videos or pictures that they weren't supposed to? We've all heard the "yes of course I'm over 18 years of age but just to be safe I'm going to set my birth year as 1934" bullshit. I definitely did stuff like that as a kid when I wanted to access an age restricted website.

Overall, it's probably not gonna stop minors if you have a "minor dni" tag on your blog. And it's up to us non-minor folks to teach those minors Internet safety and decorum. Teach them to check their sources. Teach them how to keep their information private. Teach them reading comprehension. Teach them to look out for warning signs like "NSFW" or "18+" and how to filter tags or posts that might trigger them. Teach them that if a post is properly tagged with all the appropriate trigger warnings and they looked at it and it triggered them, that's not the creator's fault; it is everyone's own job to curate their social media experience and social media works the same way as fanfiction: if you don't like it you don't have to interact with it. It's literally as simple as backing out of the page. Most of all, teach them that they do not have to be afraid of adults or minors on the Internet. Yes, of course there are always going to be scary people on the Internet and a lot of them are adults, but what I mean by the previous statement, especially in a fandom heavy space like Tumblr, is interact with people outside your age range! Get different perspectives on your blorbos! Learn that the Internet, fandom, and the world, are not just for young people, because no matter what age we are, we're all people. Senior citizens are people. Preteens are people. Newborns are people. And ultimately, I highly doubt you will ever run into a single person, online or face to face, that you will learn nothing from. You could learn something from them as huge as astrophysics. You could learn something as small (but just as important) as the name someone chose for their pet fish and what it means to them.

Always keep learning, as long as you are able.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[kckt88]

Scorched Hearts XIII

Summary:

'We loved with a love that was more than love - Edgar Allen Poe'

Despite the inital embarrasment of their reunion, Valaena seeks out her brothers and when time comes for Valaena to give birth Aemond is dealt a devestating blow.

Warning(s): Angst, Drama, Language, Uncle/Niece Incest, Kissing, Smut, P in V, Semi Public, Reuniting, Mention of Suicide, Time Skip, Pain, Blood, Child Birth, Complications.

AEMOND x O.C Niece

Word Count: 5186

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated, do not copy/post to other sights without my permission.

Tag List - @jasminecosmic99 @kaelatargaryen @yesterdayfeelings-blog @immyowndefender @0eessirk8 @darylandbethfanforever9 @killua2dot0 @msassenach @xcharlottemikaelsonx @moonnicole

Valaena scrambled to gather the sheets around herself, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Didn’t anyone teach you to knock?” she sputtered; her voice thick with embarrassment.

Aemond howver lay there comfortably, a sly smirk pulling at his lips as he took in Jace and Luke’s mortified expressions.

Both young men quickly raised their hands to shield their faces, horror and embarrassment plain in their eyes.

Jace stammered, “We’re sorry, we didn’t expect—”

Aemond scoffed, his smirk growing wider. “Well, we do share chambers, nephew. What else would you expect us to be doing?” He raised an eyebrow, amusement in his voice. “Surely you have your own wife, so you know what goes on-or at least, I hope you do.”

Jace’s cheeks flushed even redder as he stuttered, “Th-that’s none of your business!”

Valaena lifted a hand, cutting through the rising tension. “Can we have this conversation at a more appropriate time, please? Preferably not while I’m naked and still seated upon my husbands-”

“-What?” asked Aemond feigning innocence.

“Are you seriously getting hard again?” whispered Valaena as she felt Aemond’s cock twitching and throbbing inside of her.

“I-I can’t help it” replied Aemond as he shifted slightly.

Valaena bit her lip to stifle the moan that threatened to spill forth as she felt Aemonds cock brushing against that sensitive spot inside her.

“My love. What’s wrong?” said Aemond smirking.

 Valaena shot him a look, still holding the sheets tightly to her chest. “Please, can you two just- leave,” she managed to say, barely keeping her voice steady.

Jace and Luke backed out of the room in a flurry of mumbled apologies, their faces beet red as they hurried to close the door behind them.

As the door clicked shut, Aemond wasted no time. He sat up swiftly, his hands finding their way to Valaena’s back, pulling her close as he captured her lips in a fierce, unrestrained kiss.

Valaena resisted for a moment but then melted against him, her hands tangling in his silver hair as she kissed him back with equal fervour, all traces of embarrassment and distraction fading away.

Aemond’s gaze darkened with intent as he murmured, “Mine,” his voice low and reverberating, almost like a vow.

Gently but decisively, he manoeuvred Valaena onto her back, until she was lying beneath him.

He moved with practiced ease, resting his weight on one arm so he could look down at her, his silver hair falling like a curtain around his face, framing the intensity in his eye.

Valaena gave him a teasing smile, her hand sliding up his arm as she whispered, “Again?” Her words were playful, yet the glimmer in her eyes mirrored his desire.

“Need to fuck you like this-” mumbled Aemond as he curled his fingers round her thigh and moved her leg around his waist.

Then he bit her over her pulse point. Hard. She cried out and Aemond rumbled in approval at how loud she screamed for him.

“Such a good fucking girl.” His tongue licked where he had just bitten down. “You always make the sweetest sounds for me-”

Aemond loved biting her, he always had.

“Oooohh Aemond” whined Valaena.

“That’s my girl-” as he rocked his own hips into her, making them both hiss. “So, fucking good-all mine”

“I need more” whimpered Valaena.

As his pace picked up, she gripped his shoulders for dear life and moved with him, never taking her eyes from his singular gaze.

“Keep going,” She panted against him. “Just like that-just like that”

“You like that?”

“Yes-yes Aemond” replied Valaena.

“I fucking love you-” moaned Aemond, every thrust of his hips was forcing her further towards the headboard.

“Aemond-Oh, Gods!”

“Gonna spill my seed!-“ He rotated his hips as he spoke, his sweaty forehead against hers.

Valaena scrawled her nails down Aemond’s back hard enough to leave marks making him growl in approval and fuck her harder into the mattress, the headboard banging loudly against the wall.

“Mark me fucking harder” ordered Aemond as Valaena scored her nails down his back again.

“A-Aemond”

“So, fucking good for me-Oh, shit-yes-” moaned Aemond, his hips crashing into hers, babbling to himself and hitting all the right spots for her.

“Aemond I’m close-please-please” begged Valaena. She was so close, just a little more and she would be there.

“If you wasn’t with child already I’d put another babe on you” said Aemond against her lips as his thrusts started to become erratic.

“Aemond, yes-yes” screamed Valaena as her peak exploded.

“FUCK!” roared Aemond, the heat spreading across his abdomen as he exploded, spilling rope after rope of seed inside her.

“Oh shit – Aemond!” shouted Valaena as she clutched Aemond’s shoulders to ride the waves of pleasure that coursed through her body.

Aemond collapsed on top of her, and Valaena hugged his body tight.

“You are mine. Do you hear that?” whispered Aemond against her into her ear. “Everything about you.”

“Yours Aemond. Always yours”

Valaena found her brothers in the library, and they both immediately shot to their feet as she entered.

Luke’s face turned scarlet as he noticed the bite mark on her neck, and he quickly looked away.

“Did you really have to barge into my chambers like that?” Valaena asked.

Jace looked sheepish. “I’m sorry, but when mother sent a raven to Driftmark saying you were alive, we had to see it for ourselves. We couldn’t believe it.”

Valaena arched an eyebrow, a note of surprise in her voice. “Driftmark? What were you doing there?”

Jace looked away before responding. “I reside there now, as it’s heir. Luke didn’t want to stay in the Red Keep, so he’s there too, with Rhaena and their daughter-”

Valaena tilted her head, a new realization dawning on her. “Wait-you’re still the heir to Driftmark? I thought Mother would have named you heir to the Iron Throne”

Jace shook his head. “No. Even after even when we thought you were gone, Mother never named a new heir.”

Valaena’s eyes widened in shock. “Almost six years without officially naming a new heir?”

“Yes, the council kept pressuring her to name a new heir” Luke spoke up, glancing at his sister. “But she’s steadfastly refused.”

Valaena’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But Jace. You’re next in line. It should be you.”

Jace held up a hand. “I don’t want it. I’m content with my life on Driftmark with Baela and Laena”

Luke gave a small shrug. “Don’t look at me—I don’t want it either, you know what I’m like, if I board a ship I get green sick before I’ve even left the harbour”

Valaena looked between them, taken aback. “I honestly thought she would name someone else”

Jace’s expression softened as he looked at her. “She couldn’t bring herself to name a new heir because that would have meant that you were truly gone-even though we had a funeral for you, sometimes she liked to imagine that you were still out there somewhere”

Valaena stared at him, processing his words. “What?”

“She kept you alive in her heart,” Jace continued.

A deep pang of guilt mixed with a strange sense of wonder filled Valaena. “She refused to give up on me-”

Luke nodded, his voice barely a whisper. “Not for a single moment.”

“Most people thought she was crazy,” Jace admitted, his voice low. “The council, the lords of the realm, they all thought she had lost her mind, holding onto this belief that you were still out there somewhere. They called it denial, a womans weakness. They said she was clinging to a dream that would never come true.”

Luke shifted uncomfortably, his hands folding tightly in his lap. “They tried to pressure her into naming a new heir, telling her it was reckless to leave the realm without one. They said that the throne needed a clear successor”

Jace continued, his gaze firm. “But our mother? She refused to be swayed. She couldn’t bring herself to replace you. She couldn’t let go of the idea that one day, you’d return.”

“I bet you thought she’d lost it when you received the raven” said Valaena.

Luke nodded vigorously. “At first, we thought it couldn’t be true.”

“So, you come over here and barge into my chambers” muttered Valaena.

“We had to know if you really was alive” exclaimed Jace.

Valaena crossed her arms, a smirk on her lips. “Well, you certainly could’ve picked a better moment for a reunion.”

Jace laughed, breaking some of the tension. “I’ve really missed you, sister.”

Luke’s face softened, his voice dropping. “We thought we’d lost you forever.”

Valaena sighed, her expression warming as she opened her arms. “Come here-”

Both Jace and Luke moved toward her eagerly, enveloping her in a tight embrace. They stood there, tangled in one another’s arms, a bond reaffirmed.

Luke’s voice was a hushed whisper, filled with awe. “You’re here. You’re really here.”

Valaena smiled, squeezing them tightly. “Yes, I’m here.”

As they pulled back slightly, Jace’s eyes dropped to her stomach, widening as he noticed her rounded belly. “And you’re with child?”

Valaena smiled softly as she stepped back from them, resting a hand on her stomach. “My fourth.”

Luke gasped. “Your fourth?”

Jace grinned. “Gone nearly six years, and already four children? I suppose we know what you and our dear uncle were getting up to when everyone thought you were dead.”

Valaena scowled playfully. “Jacaerys!”

He held up his hands in surrender, laughing. “What?”

Luke, gentler, leaned in. “Tell us about your other children.”

Valaena’s expression softened as she began to describe them. “My oldest is my son, Rhaegar, then I have two daughters—Elaena and Daenys.”

Luke’s eyes lit up. “A nephew and two nieces?”

Valaena nodded with a smile. “Come with me,” she said, leading them out of the library and through the corridors toward Maegor’s Holdfast.

They stopped outside a door where Valaena pressed a finger to her lips, signalling them to be quiet.

Slowly, she opened it, revealing the soft moonlight casting a gentle glow over her sleeping son. “That’s Rhaegar,” she whispered.

Jace and Luke leaned in, their faces melting into smiles as they observed the small silver-haired boy.

Sapphyre, curled protectively beside him, briefly raised his head to curiously eye the newcomers, before he huffed and then settled back down.

“He has a dragon?” Jace whispered, impressed.

Valaena nodded. “He’s called Sapphyre.”

Luke noted, “He’s quite big for a hatchling.”

Valaena just smiled, then quietly closed the door and led them to the next room. Opening it with the same care, she gestured for them to look inside.

“This is Elaena,” she murmured, and then pointed to the cradle. “And here is Daenys.”

“Oh, gods she’s so beautiful” gasped Luke quietly as he gazed at Elaena who was fast asleep with her blankey  firmly in her grasp.

Jace’s gaze softened as he noticed the dark hair of Daenys. “She has your colouring.”

“One of them had to take after me,” Valaena chuckled softly.

“They’re both so wonderful, sister,” Luke said, sincerity evident in his eyes.

“Thank you,” Valaena replied with a warm smile.

Jace’s attention shifted to the small dragons resting near the children. “And they have dragons too?”

Valaena nodded proudly. “Hūra belongs to Elaena, and Valerion to Daenys.”

Luke murmured, “The blood of the dragon runs thick.”

“Indeed, it does,” Valaena agreed, gently ushering her brothers out and closing the door softly behind her.

Jace yawned, stretching. “It’s getting late. Perhaps we should retire for the night and catch up more in the morning.”

Valaena raised an eyebrow. “Good idea. Just remember to knock next time before barging into my chambers.”

Luke let out an embarrassed laugh. “Oh, believe me, I’ll be knocking.”

Aemond stood on the balcony, his gaze fixed on Valaena as she wandered through the gardens with her brothers, Jace and Luke, laughing and talking eagerly.

A flicker of something dark passed over his face as he watched them. Arro approached from behind and paused beside him, observing quietly before breaking the silence.

“Why don’t you join them, my prince?”

Aemond’s eyes remained on Valaena as he replied, his tone edged with disdain. “I have no desire to talk to either of her bastard brothers.”

Arro tilted his head. “You don’t get along with them?”

“No,” Aemond said shortly. “I never really have.”

“Why is that?” Arro asked, genuinely curious.

Aemond’s gaze grew colder. “They used to tease me as a child, constantly making jokes at my expense.” He nodded toward the smaller of the two, who was gesturing animatedly as he spoke to Valaena. “The one talking to her now—Lucerys. He’s the one who carved out my eye.”

Arro’s eyes narrowed. “And he still breathes?”

Aemond let out a humourless laugh. “Not only does he breathe, but he also walked away without punishment.”

Arro’s brow furrowed. “How did it happen?”

Aemond leaned against the railing, his gaze lost in the memory. “It was just after I claimed Vhagar. I felt untouchable, dragon less no longer, I’d managed to claim the largest dragon in the world. Then they set upon me”.

Arro’s eyes darkened as he listened. Aemond’s voice grew colder. “Jace brought the knife, but I managed to disarm him. Then Lucerys picked it up and took my eye.”

Arro looked shocked. “And yet he went unpunished?”

Aemond’s mouth twisted bitterly. “Their mother, Rhaenyra, was my father’s favourite child. He cared more about the insult his grandsons received than about his own son’s suffering. He demanded we apologize—and show good will to one another”

Arro scoffed. “A fool’s notion.”

Aemond let out a low chuckle, his grip tightening on the railing. “So many times, I’ve imagined what it would feel like to take my dagger and hold that little strong bastard down and take his eye as he did mine.”

Arro considered him, impressed. “How do you restrain yourself from doing it?”

Aemond’s expression softened slightly as he looked back at his wife. “Valaena. Only because of my love for her, does her brother still have both of his eyes.”

Arro shook his head, admiring. “You’re a better man than me, my prince. In your place, I’d have carved both his eyes out by now.”

Aemond huffed a laugh, his gaze still following Valaena. “Don’t tempt me.”

Arro studied him a moment, then asked thoughtfully, “And what does Princess Valaena think about it?”

“She hates what Lucerys did to me. But he’s still her brother,” Aemond replied, sighing.

Arro nodded. “She has a big heart, but sometimes family can be the ones who hurt us the most.”

Aemond glanced at him, noting the bitterness in Arro’s tone. “You speak as if you have experience in such matters.”

Arro’s jaw tightened as he nodded. “My father was a very cruel man. He’d often hurt my mother, sometimes to the point she couldn’t bear it anymore and eventually, she took her own life.”

Aemond placed a hand on Arro’s shoulder, a gesture of sympathy. “I’m sorry, Arro.”

Arro nodded, his expression softening as he looked down. “I may not have been able to protect her then, but when I became a man, I gave her vengeance.”

Aemond’s hand tightened on Arro’s shoulder, a hint of respect in his gaze. “What was her name?”

A faint smile touched Arro’s lips. “Sura.”

Aemond nodded solemnly. “A beautiful name.”

“Thank you, my prince” Arro replied, gratitude evident in his eyes.

They stood in silence, side by side, bound by unspoken understanding and the weight of scars—old and new.

Months after Valaena and Aemond had returned and begun reestablishing themselves within the family, Rhaenyra announced plans for a grand celebration to be held at the Red Keep.

Not only would it honour their return, but it would also publicly reaffirm Valaena as heir to the Iron Throne and name Rhaegar as her successor.

Preparations for the festivities brought excitement to many—and tension to others.

As the strain finally boiled over one afternoon when Luke proposed a potential betrothal between his eldest daughter, Rhaella, and Rhaegar. Aemond's response was immediate and absolute.

“No,” he said flatly, his tone icy.

Luke raised an eyebrow. “What reason could you have to refuse my daughter? She has Targaryen and Velaryon blood-”

Aemond crossed his arms, glaring. “Because I do not wish to have my son tied to anyone from your line.”

Luke's face flushed with anger. “You mean to say my blood isn’t worthy? How dare you insult my daughter—”

Aemond took a step forward, his eye flashing with contempt. “If you think I’ll allow my son to marry the daughter of the whelp who left me scarred, then you are delusional.”

Harsh words were exchanged as the resentment came rushing to the surface. Insults turned quickly to raised voices, and before anyone could intervene, Aemond and Luke were upon each other, fists flying.

Aemond’s strength and focus quickly overwhelmed Luke, and he delivered a hard blow to his nose, causing it to break with a sickening crunch.

Guards and family rushed in to separate the two, pulling Aemond back as Luke, blood streaming from his nose, shot him a furious look.

Rhaenyra, who had arrived on the scene, looked between them with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

Valaena stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. “Perhaps we should wait until Rhaegar is older before we start discussing any potential matches. There’s no need to rush, and he should have a say in his future.”

The Queen nodded, calming at her daughter’s suggestion. “Very well,” Rhaenyra said, a hint of firmness still in her voice. “The matter of Rhaegar’s future bride will be left to another time. But as for the two of you,” she added, looking sternly between Aemond and Luke, “you will keep your distance from each other.”

Though both men gave a begrudging nod, they exchanged one last heated glance.

The throne room was alive with a rare grandeur, bustling with lords and ladies from every corner of the Seven Kingdoms, all gathered in honour of Valaena’s return and to reaffirm her as Rhaenyra’s heir.

Valaena stood proudly beside her mother, her expression serene as she clutched Rhaegar’s small hand.

Her son’s eyes, bright and curious, wandered over the crowd, while Aemond’s cool gaze swept protectively over his family.

Rhaenyra raised her hands, and the throne room hushed as she began to speak, her voice resounding with both pride and authority.

“Today, we celebrate the return of my daughter, Princess Valaena, and her husband Prince Aemond to our House. Let it be known to all that Princess Valaena is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, and that her son, Prince Rhaegar, will one day wear the crown as King.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, banners lifted high as people bowed and bent their knees, showing loyalty to their Queen and her line.

Valaena glanced down at Rhaegar, who clutched her hand tighter, wide-eyed and thrilled by the sea of people honouring him.

But as the ceremony continued, Valaena felt a dull ache stirring low in her stomach, a sensation she’d initially dismissed as nerves.

Yet it grew with each passing moment, blossoming into something sharper and more insistent.

She winced, pressing a hand lightly against her belly, and Aemond’s gaze flicked toward her with concern, his sharp eye catching the hint of discomfort. He stepped closer, murmuring softly, “Are you well, Valaena?”

“Yes,” she said, though her voice was tight. “I’m fine.”

But as Rhaenyra continued, Valaena fought to keep her expression calm, her fingers clenching around Rhaegar’s hand as the ache became sharper, radiating from her lower back in waves.

Finally, Rhaenyra turned to her, her eyes bright with pride, beckoning her to step forward.

With a deep breath, Valaena nodded and released Rhaegar’s hand, stepping forward to accept her mother’s blessing as heir before all the realm.

She took one steadying breath, standing straight and proud, when suddenly the ache turned into a sharper, more insistent pain that left her breathless.

Helaena, who had been silent and watchful, stepped forward, her violet eyes going distant as she muttered, “White stained with crimson-”

Aemond, turned sharply to Helaena, confused. “What?” he asked, a trace of worry crossing his features.

Helaena took his hand, her expression sorrowful as she murmured, “I’m so sorry brother-”

At that moment, Valaena let out a pained whimper, as she clutched her stomach, gasping, “The babe-the babe is coming!”

Aemond’s face paled as he looked from Helaena to Valaena, whose breaths were now coming in shallow, laboured gasps.

Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her, steadying her as her knees began to tremble.

Rhaegar’s wide eyes darted between his mother and father, clearly unsettled by the sudden shift.

Rhaenyra quickly took control, motioning to the guards and advisors. “Clear the hall! Make way!” Her voice rang out, and the bustling lords and ladies quickly quieted, eyes widening as they watched the princess double over in pain.

Aemond swept Valaena up into his arms, the protective fury in his eye telling everyone to keep their distance as he carried her through the throne room.

Rhaenyra followed close behind, barking orders for grand Maester Gerardys and the midwives to be summoned at once.

As they moved briskly through the corridors, Valaena clung to Aemond, her breath ragged, trying to steady herself as the pain grew sharper.

Between contractions, she looked up at him, her face flushed with both agony and determination.

“Aemond it’s early-” she whispered, worry lacing her voice.

He brushed a strand of hair from her damp forehead, his voice soft but fiercely resolute. “I’m here, Valaena. I won’t leave your side. We’ll get through this, I swear it.”

When they reached her chambers, the midwives and Gerardys were already prepared, bustling around as they readied her bed.

Gently, Aemond placed her down, settling beside her and taking her hand as Rhaenyra took her other side.

As the pain intensified, Valaena’s grip on Aemond’s hand tightened, but his gaze never wavered.

He leaned close, murmuring words of encouragement, determined to be her anchor as the hours stretched on, and the labour intensified.

Valaena writhed, her body nearly giving in from exhaustion as labour dragged on with a relentless intensity.

Each wave of pain was stronger than the last, and her energy waned, but her determination refused to give out.

The pain was overwhelming, and when Gerardys announced that the babe was stuck, her heart sank.

"I will not have my daughter butchered," Rhaenyra’s voice cut through the room, fierce and unyielding.

Gerardys quickly shook his head. “I’m not suggesting such a thing, Your Grace. But perhaps if the princess could walk, it might encourage the babe to move,” he said gently.

Rhaenyra nodded and leaned close to Valaena, stroking her sweat-dampened hair. “Sweet girl, you need to try and walk.”

Valaena whimpered, her voice strained. “I-I don’t think I can-”

Aemond slipped his arm around her, his voice firm yet full of care. “Come on, we’ll help you.” He lifted her gently, wrapping her against him as she clung to his arm, while Rhaenyra took her other side.

Step by painful step, Valaena leaned into them, every inch of movement an ordeal.

Each new contraction made her shudder, and suddenly, she doubled over, a scream tearing from her throat. “I can feel the babe-it’s coming!”

Gerardys, already alert, waved them back to the bed. “Quickly, lay her down!”

With great care, they helped Valaena back onto the bed as Gerardys moved to examine her. He looked up with a glimmer of relief.

“The babe has moved,” he announced. “I can see the head.”

Aemond moved closer as he took a quick look between her legs, his voice full of wonder. “The babe has silver hair.”

Valaena huffed weakly, managing a slight smile. “Not-another one-”

Aemond took her hand and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You’re doing wonderfully, love,” he murmured, his gaze steady and reassuring.

Rhaenyra held Valaena’s other hand tightly, her face a mixture of pride and concern. “Now, push, sweet girl.”

Taking a deep breath, Valaena bore down, her scream echoing around the room as the effort drained what little strength she had left.

Finally, she sagged back onto the bed, shaking her head. “I-I can’t do it anymore.”

Aemond exchanged a worried look with Rhaenyra, and he leaned closer to Valaena, brushing her damp hair from her face. His voice softened as he reminded her, “You are blood of the dragon. You can do this.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, “I can’t-”

Gazing into her eyes, Aemond took her hand firmly and spoke with quiet conviction, “Do you remember the vows we spoke in our place?”

She gasped, her breath catching as she whispered, “Y-Yes-I do-”

Aemond’s voice dropped to a gentle murmur as he began, “-Hen lanoti ānogar, Va sȳndroti vaedroma, Mēro perzot gīhoti, Elēdroma āirza sīr, Izulī amapā perzi.” (Blood of two, joined as one, Ghostly flame and song of shadows, Two hearts as embers).

With a shuddering breath, Valaena joined him, her voice strained but full of resolve. “P-Prumī l-lanti sēteksi, Hen jenȳ māzīlarion, Qēlossa ozundesi, Syndroro ono jēdo, Rȳ kīvia mazvestraksi.” (Forged in fourteen fires, A future promised in glass, The stars stand witness, The vow spoken through time, Of darkness and light).

Aemond smiled at her, a fierce pride shining in his eye. “Come on, love. Now push.”

Drawing strength from his words, Valaena gritted her teeth and pushed with every last reserve of her strength.

Her cries of pain filled the room, and then, at last, a wet squelch broke the silence, followed by the strong, loud cries of a newborn.

The maester’s voice rang out joyfully. “A boy.”

Valaena fell back, her body limp, but her face lit with a mixture of relief and joy as she looked at Aemond. His eye was alight with pride, and he leaned down, kissing her forehead once more.

“You did it,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he brushed the tears from her cheek.

The joy that had filled the room only moments ago shattered when Valaena’s body suddenly convulsed, blood flooding the sheets beneath her.

Aemond’s heart stilled, his voice tight with horror as he gasped, “W-What’s going on?”

Gerardys thrust the crying babe into the arms of a nearby midwife and desperately worked to stanch the bleeding.

But Valaena’s face grew pale, her grip on Rhaenyra’s hand slackened, her breaths shallowing as her eyes rolled back.

“No,” Aemond whispered, stepping closer, panic spilling into his words. “No, Valaena. Don’t close your eyes!”

But Valaena didn’t respond. Her body went limp, and she lay unresponsive as Gerardys called for the others to clear the room, ushering Aemond and Rhaenyra out as he battled to save her life.

Outside, the minutes crept by with agonizing slowness. Aemond clenched his fists, feeling helpless, his every nerve frayed.

Rhaenyra, paced the corridor, twisting her rings as if the motion could chase away the growing fear in her eyes.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Gerardys appeared, dishevelled and splattered with blood.

“My Prince,” he began, his voice weary.

“Is-Is Valaena all right?” Aemond demanded, fear clawing at him.

“She’s Alive. I managed to stop the bleeding—”

“But?” Aemond’s voice broke as his heartbeat thundered in his chest.

Gerardys’ face softened with sorrow. “The traumatic birth and heavy blood loss has caused Princess Valaena to slip into a coma.”

Rhaenyra let out a strangled sob, pressing a hand to her mouth.

Aemond’s mind reeled. “W-What-What does that mean?”

“Sometimes, when the body endures extreme trauma, it may enter a state of deep unconsciousness—called a coma.” Gerardys paused, hesitant. “How long it will last, I cannot say. It may be days, weeks, or perhaps even longer. It depends entirely on how her body can heal.”

“So-she’s asleep?”

“In a way, yes,” Gerardys replied gently, “but the longer she remains unresponsive, the less likely it is that she will ever wake.”

Aemond’s breath shuddered. “N-Never wake. She’s just given birth to our son; we have other children. How am I supposed to cope without her?” Tears streamed down his face as his voice broke.

“I’m truly sorry, my Prince,” Gerardys murmured.

Aemond swallowed, clinging to the faintest hope. “C-Can I see her?”

Gerardys nodded and moved aside to allow Aemond to enter their chambers.

Inside, fresh bedding had been laid, and Valaena was reclined in a clean shift, her dark hair brushed back.

Her face was peaceful, as if she were only sleeping, though her skin was a ghastly pale, and her breathing was shallow.

Aemond collapsed at her bedside, taking her hand in his own, pressing it to his forehead as he broke down.

“Please, Valaena,” he whispered through choked sobs. “Please, don’t leave me.”

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra had retreated to the hallway, her heart aching as she leaned against the wall, whispering to herself in despair.

“You gave her back to me, please, don’t take her away again. I can’t lose her again.” She held a hand to her chest as she felt her composure begin to crumble.

In the silence, she felt strong arms wrap around her. Daemon’s familiar warmth enveloped her as she looked up, her tears spilling over.

“Not again, Daemon,” she sobbed, pressing her face into his shoulder. “I can’t do this again.”

Daemon stroked her back, his voice calm and steady. “Shh. It’ll be all right”

Daemon opened the door, his heart heavy as he stepped into the dimly lit chamber. His gaze fell on Aemond, who knelt beside Valaena’s bedside, clutching her pale, motionless hand.

Aemond’s shoulders shook, his voice soft and pleading as he pressed his forehead to her hand.

“Please, baby,” he choked, his words broken. “Please, come back to me.  I-I can’t do this without you.” The tears streamed down his face. “We were supposed to die together, remember? Y-You promised me-that we would grow old and die at the exact same moment, holding hands-”

Daemon’s throat tightened, tears blurring his own vision as he took in Valaena’s still form. She looked so peaceful, as though she were merely asleep, but her face was pale, her body unmoving.

He hesitated, his heart aching as he reached out, his hand hovering above Aemond’s shoulder before finally resting there with a gentle squeeze.

Aemond looked up at him, his one eye red-rimmed and filled with despair.

He gazed at Daemon, and then, as though breaking, lurched forward, wrapping his arms around him as he sobbed, the grief pouring out in heaving, shuddering gasps.

Daemon, momentarily shocked, felt his own heart give way. He tightened his arms around Aemond, his hand resting on the back of Aemond’s head as he held him close.

Words escaped him; all he could do was let Aemond cry, his own tears slipping silently down his cheeks as he held the man who was, in that moment, no prince, nor rival, but simply a husband fearing the loss of his love.

Together, they knelt at Valaena’s side, united in the quiet grief and hope that she would come back to them.

TBC.

[scrapingby]

Something about Rhun makes people just want to tell them things and it absolutely started in their childhood. All of their brothers used to go to them, if they needed someone that would just listen. Most of the time it was just being able to say something out loud, to not be alone with their thoughts. And with the experiments and the general pains of growing up that would happen a lot.

And that would be fine. Rhun has always been responsible, always worried about the beings close to them. But it wasn't fine, because for all that Rhun listened to every single complaint of their brothers, their brothers didn't listen to them. Not when they tried to tell them about how their day had been going (because no one wants to listen about what chores the nuns had Rhun do). Not even when they requested advice, because Rhun would take too long to answer. And especially not when Rhun tried to talk about their own feelings, their own worries.

Because for Rhun talking was hard. It's hard to always follow two group discussions at once: the one in the real world and the one in your head. It's humiliating to give an answer to a question that wasn't spoken or add something when the conversation has already moved onto something else.

It's also hard to talk while being so deeply aware of every tooth in your mouth brushing against the flesh of your cheeks and your tongue when you form words. And it's deeply uncomfortable to be told by your brothery that the over exaggerated way you move your face while talking looks ugly.

Sometimes Rhun stayed silent for so long that they feared they would forget how to speak (and that with their voice removed, their brothers would soon move on from them) so they forced themselves to not think, just press some words out. That's how they started to be what could be considered "snarky". Trying to keep on top of the conversation by thinking fast.

With the nuns, talking wasn't an option at all. And from all of the siblings I believe Rhun was the one deemed the most "well-behaved" or "responsible" so if the nuns needed an extra set of hands for something delicate or just someone to help with anything at all, they would take Rhun (I also feel like Rhun is someone that needs to do something all the time, because the alternative is being alone with their thoughts. So they were always grateful to get chores and even offered to do them for the brothers). And inevitably they would either start talking at Rhun (bc they wouldn't want a real answer from them anyways) or among each other and Rhun would just have to be there and listen. Often times it would be about personal problems of the nuns but mostly it was about the brothers. About the experiments and how good or how bad they performed. What punishments should be used for whom (for that one, they always wanted Rhun to answer) and shouldn't Rhun be grateful that they were being allowed so much freedom with how freaky they were?

So no. Talking isn't Rhuns strong suit. And they don't like thinking about how it makes them feel that everyone feels comfortable to dump their trauma on them but that no one, not even their brothers, bother to listen to their thoughts. So they work. And they try not to feel too bitter about always being used but never wanted. So yeah. They get snarky when people just start talking to them. They know how it will go. But they always, always listen. Because they know how it feels when no one listens to you.

----

Seriously, Klaus went out of this way to try to smooth things over with both words and actions with Zeke (DVD) and Fips (carrots). But with Rhun? All he did was say that what Rhun had been saying since forever was right and that they should have listened. My heart is breaking all over again.

Thanks at @jobroedchen-blog for your addition to last post. That's what kickstarted this train of thought that I had been trying to ignore until now

[julymusings]

Ain't Nobody Like My Desi Girl!

or; Jason Todd celebrating Diwali with his Indian girlfriend 🎆☄️✨

jason todd x f!indian!reader, mildly suggestive at the end (it's literally microscopic)

I totally would’ve posted this last week when it was actually Diwali but I just made this blog yesterday #lolz that being said since I’m new here does anyone wanna be friends👉👈 Disclaimer: Diwali customs may vary depending on where you're from; I wrote this according to what I know so please feel free to add on💕

When you invite him to your family’s house for Diwali, Jason shows up early to help with setting up decorations and preparing food. He’s especially eager to help with the food so he can learn to make your favorite dishes. He brings flowers for your parents and calls them ‘aunty’ and ‘uncle.’ He even does charanashpara (touches their feet). You hadn’t even told him to do that, but he did his own research because he just wants to make a good impression.

You wanted to get him a black kurta (because obviously) but he asked for a red one because he wanted to match with you. It fits him soooo nicely. The way it stretches across his broad chest and strains against his biceps when he crosses his arms…lord have mercy. That and the thin chain that hangs around his neck…you want to eat him alive.

He’s totally starstruck when he sees you in your traditional wear; the sequined red sari that exposes your collarbones, hugs you in all the right places, the low, low back of its blouse, and the gold jewelry adorning you—he can’t take his eyes off you all night. He’s physically pained by how beautiful you look and the fact that he can’t have his hands all over you because your family is right there. But rest assured his hand is warm and unmoving against your back, thumb dragging back and forth over the exposed skin allll night (what can I say he’s just a physical touch kind of guy I don’t make the rules).

He’s trying so hard to keep up with the prayers but the words in the booklet are so tiny and hard to pronounce the poor guy is just mouthing gibberish😭 He's so relieved when it's over. You show him all the sweets, explaining what each one is called and what its ingredients are, etc. When you point out your favorites, he takes one, breaks it in half so he can try it, and feeds you the other half.

And if you’re wearing red red lipstick to match the outfit? Oh he’s going feral. Before the party is even over he’s taking your hand and pulling you up the stairs to your room and that lipstick is getting smudged all over both his and your face and neck and chest. His large fingers have trouble undoing the tiny delicate hooks that run down your back and he's getting so frustrated he just wants to rip the thing open

"Don't you DARE, Jay, I LOVE this dress.” “C'mon babe, more than me?🥺”

He wouldn't dream of upsetting you, though, so he's whining and grumbling his way down. But halfway through he gets the hang of it and speeds through the rest, lips following the path his hands pave down the line of your back.

He can’t wait for next year.

[u-reblogged-a-scam]

Do not donate your money to, or reblog any posts from, @/sublimedestinybird bc they are a scammer. Take down any of your reblogs if you haven’t already done so.

Ok so I'm usually certain of my claims when I accuse people of being scammers, but there are a few times I'm not 100% sure if I'm right

This is one of those times

So, like those other times I was unsure about an OP, I'll share what I found that caused me to doubt their validity, and I'll leave it to you to decide for yourself if you still feel confortable enough to support them. And if I’m wrong about this one, please let me know and I’ll take this down.

It started when I saw this in my inbox:

I received this ask today, which triggered my suspicions for reasons I’m not entirely sure how to pinpoint; after receiving dozens of daily messages from real Palestinians over the past week or so, this ask just didn’t feel… genuine? Ig? Idk how to explain it, but when you get messages from both real people and scammers alike, tend to notice when something isn’t right.

But like many people who tend to share scams without knowing they’re scams, I don’t like the idea of ignoring a cry for help in the event that it turns out to be real, so I did what I usually do when I’m unsure if an ask is real or not: I looked into the OP

In this case, I used reverse image search to see if OP’s pfp could be found anywhere, and lo and behold, the pfp led me to another tumblr post, where that person received an ask very similar to the one I got, from “pleasantcollectionlove”, and they couldn’t tell if they ask was a scam or not. In the notes of said post, someone else confirmed that the person who sent the ask was, indeed, a scammer, and they used the same pfp that OP is currently using

So, that would mean these two scammers are one and the same, right?

Well, normally it would (scammers tend to stick to one pfp; not always, but man, have I gotten familiar with certain selfies over the past few months), but I didn’t wanna rely on that alone, so I kept looking. While looking for exact matches for the pfp through RIS, I also found a Twitter account with the same pfp; this person is also asking for money, though the reasoning for the money is notably different that what OP provides in their own posts:

It should also be noted that the Twitter account has been around since last August, while OP has only been posting on this blog since September

Does this mean that OP stole the pfp from the Twitter account of someone who honestly needs help? Are OP and the Twitter user the same person? I honestly don’t know, which is why I said at the top of this post that I’m uncertain about this one

However, what I am certain about is a common red flag I recognized that hasn’t proved me wrong yet: the link in OP’s linktree (in their pinned post) leads to an empty PayPal account. If you’ve seen/been tagged in any of my previous call out posts, you know that empty PayPal accounts are ALWAYS included in online scams like this. In this case, the PayPal belongs to “Luciamkira”; this could be OP’s name (or at least the name they actually use for their personal PayPal), but then who’s “Aska”?

This might very well be a scam, which I believe is the case, but whether or not you decide to donate or share the post on the chance it might be real is up to you

If you’ve seen any of my previous posts, you know what I’m going to say next: Never trust a donation post linked to an empty PayPal account unless said link has been verified by a trusted source

Here’s an additional resource to help you spot the red flags of scams moving forward:

And here are some posts that go a little more in depth about the scammers that have been repeatedly spotted:

Tagging as many people in the notes of OP’s fundraiser post as I can; if anyone who sees this can reach out to those in the notes I didn’t tag and let them know this is a scam, that’d be really helpful not just for me, but for them as well

@ibontheweirdwitch @not-a-bot735 @sexywafflecuh @issues-oclock @velesej @alittleprincex @katie-wants-donut @alwaysmellowkryptonite @starsalot @shhoup @darklylovely @dontstoptalkingaboutpalestine @sunnysidefries @fangpunk @sunny-satellites @moonmothbroth

[toytulini]

saw fanart yesterday that i was ehh on

but it brought me to the conclusion that, if shrek was a lesbian, if shrek was a woman, i think she would be exactly the same as canon movie shrek, actually, and in fact. to the point, she would be so indistinguishable, that i can no longer be convinced that canon movie shrek isnt a he/him lesbian, and im excited to rewatch all the movies through the lens of percieving shrek this way. i think it will be based. excited.

[icelogged]

tagging hayden’s photos with ed tags is extremely irresponsible. stop it.

[delta-piscium]

Trying? Trying??? By learning. By succeeding!

(about this and my text under the cut)

this is very nice actually thank you so much <3 <3 and like, i probably do need to give myself more credit in general but also i am still very much learning and stumbling and figuring digital art out (and for the most part it is so fun)

I’m gonna ramble about this a bit so bear with me and also i apologize lol, but that art was done after a month of getting increasingly more frustrated with everything turning out so badly and eventually realizing that I was trying to 1. copy a certain look/style that i’ve internalized is what fanart and digital art should look like and is very far away from my style/comfort zone 2. i was trying to do everything digital allows without being comfortable with it or understanding it

so (and this took me a month to realize ? ??) i did what i already knew from doing acrylic and oil painting in the past and could somewhat easily transfer to digital without having to know more than the basics, like i didn’t use a lot of the things digital provides or allows for. i used layers for my own peace of mind but without actually needing them and did some color adjusting (honestly, the color adjusting digital lets you do is such a blessing to me) but the only fancy way i really utilized the medium was making it a gif (which is so fun and a lot easier than i would have thought, like honestly watch me make any future art into gifs too) but there are so many things you can do with the medium with settings/effects, different brushes, tools to use in the process etc that i just do not understand what they are or how to implement them so i am very slowly learning digital art as a whole new medium rather than just being able to use it to adapt what i already know

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

If Edelgard starts a war on cats it would be a CATastrophe. Bad pun aside, it really speaks volumes when people are so enamored and defensive about their fave that they're willing to say "racism, genocide and terrorism is good actually". Fiction may not affect reality most of the time, but it exposes views that some people share that makes you go "yikes.".

I can't believe I didn't even think of that when I wrote it LOL.

For people missing the context, this ask is in response to a reply I wrote on another post.

When it comes to media, it's one thing if there's nuance to the situation and it's not as direct (is she being brainwashed? Controlled? Forced? Somehow unaware? Shown to be conflicted about her actions/what she says? etc). In her case though that's not present and she means what she says. Even still, liking her as a character is fine.

It's different when people start using real life situations or making outright harmful rhetoric, which is something they do both to lift their favorite up and to vilify her enemies (which is why they have to reach so hard, and farther than their arms actually can reach to make up reasons to hate Dimitri. It's not him, it's the fact that they hate anyone who opposes Edelgard, and if Edegard wants them dead they also want them dead. Unfortunately that also turned into demonizing those with mental illness).

Fiction in and of itself doesn't affect reality or indicate what a person is like irl, but their behavior toward others is no longer fiction. Story wise you could argue it makes an interesting character to have these flaws and villainous traits, but it's another story entirely when people double down to insist their characters' actions are just and they go into detail to force it down people's throats - 99.99% of the time unprompted, when that character actively associates with people who have willingly and intentionally committed genocide and aims to do the same herself by finishing the job.

Which you'd think she wouldn't because... those same people wiped out all her siblings, but okay. Somehow the CoS is worse than them. I guess bc Agarthans are human at the end of the day, so no matter how inhumane and atrocious their actions are, they get a pass as long as there's a non-human in the vicinity. Racism typically goes hand in hand with genocide, so. Yeah.

It's not even just that though - it's how the arguments go that indicates if a person is just trying to defend their favorite. If they start brainlessly spewing harmful rhetoric at real people, and if what they say would actively defend real life issues, it's concerning. It's the manner in which they defend their favorite. If the way they argue is exactly how American-hard-rights defend themselves, it starts becoming uncomfortable for people and no longer applies to just fiction.

If what you argue sounds exactly what irl politics sounds like, that's a pretty powerful indicator of who you're dealing with. It doesn't matter if they are or claim to be American-left (specifying because Random said it's different in Europe!). If their arguing points shit on all the values American-lefts stand for, they are not, whether they like it or not, arguing for the left (which all stans claim to do, and then they start regurgitating American-right political stances, extremely often at the expense and discomfort of actual American-lefts. Might I remind you that one of them, a straight man, used abortion and gay marriage both being legally in jeoprady as a gotcha to argue for Edelgard).

It doesn't matter what you claim you're doing. If your arguments actually start reflecting things that can be real, you need to be careful about how you word it. Houses deals with a political atmosphere very heavily, which shouldn't have really been a problem... but it got too close to real life politics within the fandom and people's true colors started to show.

It should have been "I love Edelgard but damn some of what she does is fucked up" and not trying to vehemently defend every singular word she's ever said. As I've mentioned in my very lengthy "why the writing failed Edelgard", the writing is partly to blame for people being divided on her, but it's the fans' own faults if they can't draw a line between liking her character and supporting things in a way that makes it sound like you'd support them irl.

It's even worse that all that nonsense picked up really badly right around the time Ukraine got invaded and Putin was out there spewing nonsense. It became a sensitive issue to have people defending Edelgard invading other countries proudly with false claims/propaganda, because the arguments fell perfectly to a T in line with what Putin was doing.

Evidently that didn't matter to the people who never touch grass and waste their time and energy only thinking of defending Edelgard instead of just enjoying her character, but then, they don't really even enjoy her character; they just enjoy their made up version of her who fights for what they want her to fight for instead of realizing what she's actually doing. These people would be damn easy bait for irl politics and it shows. Dangerously.

So for anyone arguing about your fictional favorites, remember that context is important and how you treat the topic(s) at hand are just as important. I absolutely adore a villain just like Edelgard because of good writing, and there are points I can actually defend him (if you've been on this blog for more than like a week you prooOOOObably know who I'm referring to AT THIS POINT lmao). That doesn't mean I'm going to call invasion, racism, etc good and just for his better talking points to be achieved.

In my opinion Edelgard ended up poorly written because the writers wanted to be bias in the context of the story but couldn't properly justify the atrocities. I'll be honest, if this is how they handle (main) female villains, I'd rather just not have them. I'd rather go back to the days of Petrine and Hilda who were side villains and allowed to be as disgusting and horrendous as they wanted.

If writing a lead villain who is female won't work because they can't stop pushing their bias into the writing (don't even look at poor Petra, she got SKEWERED in CF and especially in SB) and it reflects poorly, I just don't want it. I know men at the writing table for some wild reason throughout the years have been unable to properly write females (which like, why. Just write human beings. But no, they seem to act like females are a different entity entirely), but if that's going to remain the case, I don't want them to write them in situations like these because they clearly can't handle it. They treat Edelgard as a trophy wife who has to be perfect for them and not as a complex, legitimate person.

Mind you, I also made a post before about how Edelgard is separated from other female villains by being drawn as "attractive". Ishtar gets treated much better than other female villains as well, with Heroes going as far as to outright shit on canon and give her an alt where she "joins the Liberation Army", which... the whole point of her character and her fighting in that war was that she was on the opposite side but wasn't a bad person. I could argue similar things for Burian, but that's more headcanon/literally based on just his death quote lmfao.

Point being, Ishtar is drawn to be attractive. Petrine and Hilda are not, and are outright villainous, terrible, not complex people at all (Hilda is a hypocrite, but she's not complex). Edelgard was drawn to be attractive, and was thus not treated like a villain proper. Unfortunately this got warped into the fandom we know now, but... like we both said, the way they argue for her is pretty telling and honestly pretty scary. Let's not forget that they've spewed death threats at people simply for not liking Edelgard.

No, that last sentence was not a joke nor an exaggeration. In a way it makes sense though, considering they defend genocide, racism, etc.

[skitskatdacat63]

Yayyyyyyyy finally working on my pinned post :D having fun :D

Its funny to me cause I'll do these super organizational things for fandom purposes and genuinely have fun with it, but then would rather die than be even remotely organizational for school

[sewerfight]

when I was around twelve I used to sit at the family computer and send hatemail to a white french dude named Jacques who was a self proclaimed communist on Tumblr. This was back in the day when you didn't need a blog to send anon hate. I had no real beef with him but I just didn't like his tone. used to send him "SHUT UP Jacques" periodically. and he'd answer every single one of my asks like "who is this?? show your face or I'll fucking kill you" and I'd be like "now now, that doesn't make sense, jacques" all haughty and he'd get so fucking mad at me. One time he posted a selfie and I sent him an ask claiming I was a psychologist and that his hair parting suggested that he wasn't a communist at all. and he took it deliriously serious and went off on a 2,000 word rant. I can remember going to stay at my grandparents over that weekend, so I didn't even respond to the rant until I came back. I could've chosen to end it there, but when I returned, I sent him another ask which was like "psychologist here again: if you were a communist your hair parting would be in the middle. evenly distributed. All behavioural signs point to someone who doesn't take their own values seriously." and he went ballistic. really swearing at me. all caps type beat. he never turned the asks off, btw. which always made me wonder if he didn't know how to, or if he didn't want to cause he was convinced he was fighting a war, and this action would ensure he lost it. anyway this went on for weeks until one day I completely forgot about him like he was some kind of childhood imaginary friend I'd conjured up in my loneliness. but yesterday I happened to recall the whole scenario, because my buddy was like "remember when you were twelve and I came over to your house, and you showed me on the computer how you'd been terrorizing this random French guy for days on end. And you were laughing like fucking crazy. and I said it wasn't funny because he probably had problems, and you were like 'oh.' and you looked a bit guilty for a second, but then you went and got a grapefruit from the kitchen and threw it out of the second story window at my kid brother, who was playing in the street, and then you started laughing again?" Well. when she put it like that, needless to say I felt bad. so Jacques if you're out there I'm sorry I was such a little shit. you had totally normal hair, and you only wanted people to share stuff. If it's any consolation I know every day of my life that I'm probably going to hell for the sick things I have done

[double--cross-d]

.

[jimingyue]

Cat Tumblr Dashboard Simulator

🖋️ meowful-musings Follow

🕊️ birdwatching Follow

what's wrong with dry food??? my humans feed me it all the time and i think it's fine

💀 elusivehider-deactivated948204

op wheres the natural feeding option

🌲 outdoorsy Follow

you guys are getting fed?

#im a barn cat so maybe im missing something here #meowtthew don't look

7,192 notes

☀️ pawsitive-affurmations Follow

ITS OKAY TO BE A MOGGIE

ITS OKAY TO BE A MOGGIE

YOU ARE NOT LESS VALID IF YOU ARE NOT A SPECIFIC PEDIGREE!!!!!

☀️ pawsitive-affurmations Follow

extra special shout out to cats who have "common" coat colors. grey tabbies and black cats i am rubbing against your head affectionately <3

🪤 m0usetrap01 Follow

as a grey tabby i really needed to hear this :"3

#i feel like i never see positivity posts for moggies even tho we're the most common type of cat....

154,688 notes

🎵 rage-against-the-meowchine Follow

i cant believe there are cats ACTUALLY advocating for kittens to be separated from their mothers before 12 weeks??? kittens still need to learn how to interact with other cats before being placed into their furever home omg you guys know you're advocating for undersocialized and aggressive cats right

❤️ loving-paws284 Follow

um op some of us??? matured early??????? i was separated from my mother at 7 weeks and i turned out fine... interesting how you assume that kittens being separated from their mothers at a younger age will lead to the degeneracy of the next generation...hmm i wonder where i've heard that before...

🐈 fluffy-the-cat Follow

OP got bit too hard during a play-fight as a kitten and it shows XD

🐟 tunafeesh Follow

also op have you ever considered that just because somecat is kind of scared and unable to deal with strange cats or humans, it doesn't mean they don't deserve to be adopted?? you sound like a vet psyop honestly

🎵 rage-against-the-meowchine Follow

oh meow god saying that kittens should be fully weaned before leaving their mother is NOT veterinarian rhetoric and i never said that they deserve to be euthanized!!! my mother literally died when i was 3 weeks old and it seriously messed up my development so stop putting words in my mouth, thanks

anyway friendly reminder that underweaned kittens are prone to illness and often struggle with basic cat behaviors like litterbox usage, and in some nyavinces it's even considered kitten abuse

#discourse #cant believe "kitten abuse is bad" is controversial now

32,456 notes

🍃 naturalliving Follow

BORN TO DIE

WORLD IS A FUCK

猫神 Kill Em All 1989

I am trash cat

410,757,864,530 DEAD BIRDS

#outdoorliving #outdoorcats please interact #outdoorcat friendly

48,971 notes

🎣 salmonpurina Follow

can't believe cats are uncritically reblogging that born to die world is a fuck post. i know it's funny but op is literally an outdoor cat truther

#like cmon now you just have to go to their blog #lulu speaks

34 notes

💀 tabbystripes-deactivated098712

gentle reminder that pushing cups off the table is not cute and can cause a lot of distress in your human!!!! gentle reminder that our teeth and claws can easily hurt them more than they can hurt us!!!!

🐰 evil-tabbystripes Follow

evil reminder that the cup should always be pushed off the table. evil reminder that you should always bite and claw at your human no matter what. you can do whatever you want forever

💀 tabbystripes-deactivated098712

make your own pawst

💀 laser-point-deactivated8574721

umm i know a tomcat who did that and his human ended up putting him down so...

👬🏻 nyasunaruenjoyer Follow

Nyaverage shelter cat behavior

#not nyaruto #re-nyab #pickles shut up

545,460 notes

🌈 nyaoi-warrior Follow

saw two male cats sleeping together on the porch today. homeow behavior imo

💡 discourse-meows Follow

hey um what the fuck??? it's really not okay of you to go assuming other cat's sexualities, especially cats you don't even know???? as a queer cat i'm VERYY uncomfortable. real-ass cats didn't consent to your nyaoi fetish, thanks

🌈 nyaoi-warrior Follow

1. i was making. a joak

2. i'm literally gay???

#literally what's your pawblem

7 notes

🎩 amazingcatshow12 Follow

reblog if you've ever caught the laser pointer

🎩 amazingcatshow12 Follow

i know you fuckers are lying

🍭 gaykittens Follow

this tom hasn't caught the laser pointer

🎩 amazingcatshow12 Follow

shut the heull up

988,653 notes

🐾 b-e-a-n-t-o-e-s Follow

grey toebeans >>>>>>>>> pink toebeans and don't let the haters make you believe otherwise

🐁 ladymouser Follow

op shut the fuck up ALL toebeans are beautiful!!! just bc you're miserable and insecure doesn't mean you can bring others down based on things they can't control

🐾 b-e-a-n-t-o-e-s Follow

oh so the cat-human separationist wants to preach to us

[goatsandgangsters]

how to find literally any post on a blog in seconds (on desktop)

there are so many posts about ~tumblr is so broken, you can’t find any post on your own blog, it’s impossible, bluhrblub~

I am here to tell you otherwise! it is in fact INCREDIBLY easy to find a post on a blog if you’re on desktop/browser and you know what you’re doing:

url.tumblr.com/tagged/croissant will bring up EVERY post on the blog tagged with the specific and exact phrase #croissant. every single post, every single time. in chronological order starting with the most recent post. note: it will not find #croissants or that time you made the typo #croidnssants. for a tag with multiple words, it’s just /tagged/my-croissant and it will show you everything with the exact phrase #my croissant

url.tumblr.com/tagged/croissant/chrono will bring up EVERY post on the blog tagged with the exact phrase #croissant, but it will show them in reverse order with the oldest first 

url.tumblr.com/search/croissant isn’t as perfect at finding everything, but it’s generally loads better than the search on mobile. it will find a good array of posts that have the word croissant in them somewhere. could be in the body of the post (op captioned it “look at my croissant”) or in the tags (#man I want a croissant). it won’t necessarily find EVERYTHING like /tagged/ does, but I find it’s still more reliable than search on mobile. you can sometimes even find posts by a specific user by searching their url. also, unlike whatever random assortment tumblr mobile pulls up, it will still show them in a more logically chronological order

url.tumblr.com/day/2020/11/05 will show you every post on the blog from november 5th, 2020, in case you’re taking a break from croissants to look for destiel election memes 

url.tumblr.com/archive/ is search paradise. easily go to a particular month and see all posts as thumbnails! search by post type! search by tags but as thumbnails now

url.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/audio will show you every audio post on your blog (you can also filter by other post types). sometimes a little imperfect if you’re looking for a video when the op embedded the video in a text post instead of posting as a video post, etc

url.tumblr.com/archive/tagged/croissant will show you EVERY post on the blog tagged with the specific and exact phrase #croissant, but it will show you them in the archive thumbnail view divided by months. very useful if you’re looking for a specific picture of a croissant that was reblogged 6 months ago and want to be able to scan for it quickly 

url.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/audio/tagged/croissant will show you every audio post tagged with the specific phrase #croissant (you can also filter by photo or text instead, because I don’t know why you have audio posts tagged croissant) 

the tag system on desktop tumblr is GENUINELY amazing for searching within a specific blog! 

caveat: this assumes a person HAS a desktop theme (or “custom theme”) enabled. a “custom theme” is url.tumblr.com, as opposed to tumblr.com/url. I’ve heard you have to opt-into the former now, when it used to be the default, so not everyone HAS a custom theme where you can use all those neat url tricks. 

if the person doesn’t have a “custom theme” enabled, you’re beholden to the search bar. still, I’ve found the search bar on tumblr.com/url is WAY more reliable than search on mobile. for starters, it tends to bring posts up in a sensible order, instead of dredging up random posts from 2013 before anything else

if you’re on mobile, I’m sorry. godspeed and good luck finding anything. (my one tip is that if you’re able to click ON a tag rather than go through the search bar, you’ll have better luck. if your mutual has recently reblogged a post tagged #croissant, you can click #croissant and it’ll bring up everything tagged #croissant just like /tagged/croissant. but if there’s no readily available tag to click on, you have to rely on the mobile search bar and its weird bizarre whims) 

[say-duhnelle]

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Hello, Tumblr. 

If you joined us before November 2022 and predominantly post on web, you will be familiar with the two post editors—the legacy editor and the “new” web editor (formerly known as the “Beta editor”).

Beginning May 15, we’ll gradually be working to remove the legacy editor as an option for creating new posts. New posts created on web will be created in the new web editor. We hope to complete this change by July 15. 

This change only affects accounts created before November 2022. Newer accounts already default to the new web editor.

This will not affect posting on the apps because we switched to this new editor on the apps about four years ago. If you use the apps, you’ve been using the new editor all this time!

This will not affect what you can include in a post, only how you get there: You can still include all the different types of media in a post, only now, you’ll do that via the new web editor’s content blocks instead of selecting a post type from the post type bar at the top of your dash. So, if you’re halfway through a text post, and you decide that what this post really needs is your pet reptile, then click on the little red image icon in the post editor, select an image, and voilà. Lizard boy steals our hearts.

If you still prefer to post on web using the legacy editor, please keep reading because the rest of this post is for you.

How can you prepare for this change?

Once we have completed this update, you won’t be able to create posts using the legacy editor. You will be able to edit posts made using the legacy editor, at least for now. 

Start using the new web editor ahead of the switch. This will help you help us troubleshoot any issues you might encounter. It’ll also mean you’ll already know the ropes before the switch is final. 

Talk to us. Send us feedback. Especially if you’re switching from legacy to the new web editor. We want to hear about your experience: Are there any specific workflows or features in legacy that you want to see in the new editor?      

If you use a theme, make sure to check whether it supports posts made using the new web editor, and update it if that’s not the case. 

For those of you trimming reblogs: @rpschtuff has created an incredibly detailed master post that gets into the nitty gritty of that practice in the new web editor.

XKitters: XKit Rewritten was explicitly designed with the new web experience in mind. This means that you will need to use XKit Rewritten when creating posts in the new web editor.

That’s all for now. Remember, you can always get in touch with us. If it’s regarding the new web editor, then Support is the place for you. If it’s about something else, @wip is your guy.

[physalian]

How to Make Your Writing Less Stiff Part 3

Crazy how one impulsive post has quickly outshined every other post I have made on this blog. Anyway here’s more to consider. Once again, I am recirculating tried-and-true writing advice that shouldn’t have to compromise your author voice and isn’t always applicable when the narrative demands otherwise.

Part 1

Part 2

1. Eliminating to-be verbs (passive voice)

Am/is/are/was/were are another type of filler that doesn’t add anything to your sentences.

There were fireworks in the sky tonight. /// Fireworks glittered in the sky tonight.

My cat was chirping at the lights on the ceiling. /// My cat chirped at the lights on the ceiling.

She was standing /// She stood

He was running /// He ran

Also applicable in present tense, of which I’ve been stuck writing lately.

There are two fish-net goals on either end of the improvised field. /// Two fish-net goals mark either end of the improvised field.

For once, it’s a cloudless night. /// For once, the stars shine clear.

Sometimes the sentence needs a little finagling to remove the bad verb and sometimes you can let a couple remain if it sounds better with the cadence or syntax. Generally, they’re not necessary and you won’t realize how strange it looks until you go back and delete them (it also helps shave off your word count).

Sometimes the to-be verb is necessary. You're writing in past-tense and must convey that.

He was running out of time does not have the same meaning as He ran out of time, and are not interchangeable. You'd have to change the entire sentence to something probably a lot wordier to escape the 'was'. To-be verbs are not the end of the world.

2. Putting character descriptors in the wrong place

I made a post already about motivated exposition, specifically about character descriptions and the mirror trope, saying character details in the wrong place can look odd and screw with the flow of the paragraph, especially if you throw in too many.

She ties her long, curly, brown tresses up in a messy bun. /// She ties her curls up in a messy brown bun. (bonus alliteration too)

Generally, I see this most often with hair, a terrible rule of threes. Eyes less so, but eyes have their own issue. Eye color gets repeated at an exhausting frequency. Whatever you have in your manuscript, you could probably delete 30-40% of the reminders that the love interest has baby blues and readers would be happy, especially if you use the same metaphor over and over again, like gemstones.

He rolled his bright, emerald eyes. /// He rolled his eyes, a vibrant green in the lamplight.

To me, one reads like you want to get the character description out as fast as possible, so the hand of the author comes in to wave and stop the story to give you the details. Fixing it, my way or another way, stands out less as exposition, which is what character descriptions boil down to—something the audience needs to know to appreciate and/or understand the story.

3. Lacking flow between sentences

Much like sentences that are all about the same length with little variety in syntax, sentences that follow each other like a grocery list or instruction manual instead of a proper narrative are difficult to find gripping.

Jack gets out a stock pot from the cupboard. He fills it with the tap and sets it on the stove. Then, he grabs russet potatoes and butter from the fridge. He leaves the butter out to soften, and sets the pot to boil. He then adds salt to the water.

From the cupboard, Jack drags a hefty stockpot. He fills it with the tap, adds salt to taste, and sets it on the stove.

Russet potatoes or yukon gold? Jack drums his fingers on the fridge door in thought. Russet—that’s what the recipe calls for. He tosses the bag on the counter and the butter beside it to soften.

This is just one version of a possible edit to the first paragraph, not the end-all, be-all perfect reconstruction. It’s not just about having transitions, like ‘then’, it’s about how one sentence flows into the next, and you can accomplish better flow in many different ways.

4. Getting too specific with movement.

I don’t see this super often, but when it happens, it tends to be pretty bad. I think it happens because writers feel the need to overcompensate and over-clarify on what’s happening. Remember: The more specific you get, the more your readers are going to wonder what’s so important about these details. This is fiction, so every detail matters.

A ridiculous example:

Jack walks over to his closet. He kneels down at the shoe rack and tugs his running shoes free. He walks back to his desk chair, sits down, and ties the laces.

Unless tying his shoes is a monumental achievement for this character, all readers would need is:

Jack shoves on his running shoes.

*quick note: Do not add "down" after the following: Kneels, stoops, crouches, squats. The "down" is already implied in the verb.

This also happens with multiple movements in succession.

Beth enters the room and steps on her shoelace, nearly causing her to trip. She kneels and ties her shoes. She stands upright and keeps moving.

Or

Beth walks in and nearly trips over her shoelace. She sighs, reties it, and keeps moving.

Even then, unless Beth is a chronically clumsy character or this near-trip is a side effect of her being late or tired (i.e. meaningful), tripping over a shoelace is kind of boring if it does nothing for her character. Miles Morales’ untied shoelaces are thematically part of his story.

Sometimes, over-describing a character’s movement is meant to show how nervous they are—overthinking everything they’re doing, second-guessing themselves ad nauseam. Or they’re autistic coded and this is how this character normally thinks as deeply methodical. Or, you’re trying to emphasize some mundanity about their life and doing it on purpose.

If you’re not writing something where the extra details service the character or the story at large, consider trimming it.

—

These are *suggestions* and writing is highly subjective. Hope this helps!