#picking it out and learning how to best make it for them

[bubblegumgothglados]

How to actually train a submissive, a how to guide

+Thoughts on the pervasive misinformation surrounding punishments and their usefulness.

Step 1. Make sure your submissive actually want to be trained. I'm into dom breaking, I'm into kidnapping, I'm into all types of situations where you forcibly change a person into the perfect submissive. But that's all fantasy, and they're fun fantasies to play out with willing participants. (Yeah i know this is pretty obvious stuff, everyone should know this already, but it is an important first step and it cant hurt to repeat)

Step 2. Pick a goal. The perfect example is getting them to take their pills at the same time each day. Its something they already want to do, its something that will benefit them greatly, its something that's very obviously pass/ fail, and its simple. Those are the criteria for a good behaviour to modify (with "want to do" flipped to "don't want to do" if its a behaviour you're trying to stop). The fewer of those things are true the more difficult its going to be to get the desired result, not impossible mind you but more difficult. As you and your submissive gain experience and become more comfortable with this process you can begin to modify more complex behaviours, but keep it simple to start.

Step 3. DO reward success, DO NOT punish failure. I'm gonna let myself rant about this at the end of this guide but for the moment just believe me when i say punishments are not a useful tool in training. So reward them every time the succeed. The best rewards are small things that stimulate the pleasure centre of their brain. Praise is a great place to start, stickers, snacks, tiny animal erasers, maybe shiny treasures if they have corvid like proclivities. Whatever it is make sure you give it to them personally, make sure you show you're genuinely happy with them, and make sure its something they cant get or aren't allowed to have otherwise. If the do fail (and they will sometimes) don't reward them, don't punish them, and don't let them punish themself. They want to be good for you, they will take failure hard. You need to make sure they know failure isn't a bad thing, everyone fails sometimes especially when starting to learn something. You need to reassure them that you're not angry or sad or upset and especially not disappointed.

Step 4. Be consistent. Reward them every time until they have a perfect record for a significant period of time. The specifics of this depend too much on the specifics of the behaviour and the reward so i wont try to give guidelines. Once they have that perfect track record start reducing the frequency of the rewards, stress to them that this isn't a punishment this is a really good thing. It means the training is working and they should be proud of themself and you are proud of them. Once you've weaned them off of the reward all together give them a big reward as a congratulations. And then sporadically reward them as a reminder that you're proud of them and to keep the habit strong. If the behaviour begins to drift you might need to go back and start rewarding them again, this shouldn't be seen as failure, its a normal part of training.

Step 5. Start again. Do they still want to be trained or are they happy with where they are? Is there another behaviour you want to modify? Is it time to try a more difficult modification? Do you need to switch up the reward to keep them motivated? Do you have the bandwidth to be consistent?

Finally here is the as promised rant about punishment.

A note on brats. Specifically type 3 brats as described in THIS post. None of my advice changes. They still want to be good for you they just also want to play a fun game with you. Enjoy the fun game and train them to improve their lives. Just, don't try to train them out of being a brat, they're enjoying their game don't take away something that they enjoy, if you don't want a brat don't get with a brat.

To the submissive reading this. You don't deserve to be punished, you never deserved to be punished. Even if you were a "problem" child you didn't deserve to be hurt for it. You still don't deserve to be hurt in ways you don't want to be. To the dominant reading this, yes you can rule through fear it is possible, but gods why?! If your ultimate goal isn't for your sub to be as happy and self fulfilled as possible, whatever that looks like for them, then what the fuck are you doing. And aside from that punishment isn't even an effective method of training. A dog kicked whenever it barks will learn to fear you and wont bark around you. A child spanked whenever you feel they've done something wrong will learn to resent you and will hide everything from you. An adult punished for stealing will learn to steal more effectively. Your submissive is no different from any of those examples. Kill the cop in your head, stop thinking of punishment as a legitimate means of control.

[hemlockfox]

Sorry I feel the need to respond to the idea that vase scene is good actually because everyone is flawed in it. I feel like there is something missing in this analysis, and it's that much of the problem with the scene lies less in the scene itself but more in how the scene and the characters' actions within it are followed up by the text.

How the scene plays out in the text is that Winter knocks over the vase while lashing his tail in anger when Moon says Darkstalker is his friend. Winter says that he's evil, Moon responds angrily herself that Winter said he would give Darkstalker a chance, at which point she realizes and Winter confirms that Darkstalker had brainwashed him. Qibli makes the "I'd brainwash you too" comment, says sorry immediately, and then when Winter "turned to Moon as if he was ready for her apology," she turns her back on him and begins picking up pieces of the vase. She, looking to Qibli and Kinkajou but not Winter, insists that Darkstalker only wants what's best for everyone. At which point Winter angrily reveals the Icewing plague. In surprise, she says "What", accidentally steps on a vase shard, and gets a small cut. Qibli rushes to her aid, remarks in the narration that if Winter loved her he shouldn't be yelling at her like this, and then confirms the plague. Anemone comes in with skyfire, winter makes a snide comment about Moon not knowing where she feels about Darkstalker, to which Moon respond sharply that she feels lied to, and then they split up. I'd like to note that when Moon decides to confront Darkstalker, what she initially says to Winter is "Please don't break anything else," before asking Qibli to come with her.

There are three things I'd like to draw attention to:

Moon's injury is small and it's not quite as simple as "Winter injures Moon". She has an accident which compounds on a thing Winter did seemingly on accident.

Moon is not being passively absorbing Winter shouting and making snide comments. She's responding in anger herself, pointedly ignoring him (and how he was personally violated by Darkstalker), and before she leaves to confront Darkstalker, she tells him not to break anything else like he's a petulant child who will wreck the room in anger as soon as he's unsupervised.

Qibli's internal monologue only notes Winter's treatment of Moon as bad

I'll come back to point one, but the other two are not bad, on paper they are good even within a reading of this scene where it is drawing out the flaws in each character present. If these flaws were to be followed up on and the group were to reconcile, and if Moon and Winter were to talk out why each of them were hurt by the argument it would be compelling. The reasons Moon was hurt are obvious, Winter shouts at her and refuses to consider her perspective, that she's been manipulated and didn't know any of this. Winter's aren't so obvious, but still present. Upon being told that Darkstalker had profoundly violated his autonomy, Moon doubles down on Darkstalker just wanting the best for everyone, tacitly implying what Qibli had just been wrong to say outright: that it was on some level justified to do that to Winter. When she learns of the failed genocide, she's expresses being upset about being lied to, but not any of the ways Winter was directly harmed.

And then the books only acknowledge how Moon was hurt by the argument. In the epilogue, it's made clear that Moon and Winter haven't seen each other in person in some time. Kinkajou tells Winter that he should come visit Moon and apologize to her for being mean, and he agrees and says that he knew after that scene that he had ruined any chance with her. At no point after the argument ends does anyone acknowledge that Winter had legitimate reasons to be upset, that Moon had acted passive-aggressively, that reconciliation would involve all of them acknowledging that they hadn't been at their best in that moment. Only that Winter had been mean, so he should say sorry. Every direct perspective on the argument paints Winter, and only Winter, as wrong in his argument with Moon.

And when you consider the vase with this knowledge, it's just silly. It feels like a thing that is there to make Winter seem meaner, Moon more victimized, and Qibli like a nice supportive guy who would be better for her.

The scene becomes ridiculous when put in the context of the rest of the book, because half of the interesting substance from the character's flaws ends up not mattering. Moon and Kinkajou never have their actions in this scene come up again. Qibli's flaws are instantly addressed so he can resolve them onscreen and complete his arc. Winter spends the rest of the book in the doghouse for it and his actions are used as justification for why he isn't right for Moon. In the context of the book, this scene exists to forward Qibli's arc and justify Moon choosing him, and it does both at Winter's expense. It doesn't matter if everyone's flaws are on display when the book is picking sides, and deciding who gets to gets to grow from this argument, who doesn't, and who doesn't need to.

People like to complain about the scene in the NightWing palace in Darkness of Dragons, but I think it's brilliant how the scene manages to bring out all four characters' (Moon, Winter, Qibli and Kinkajou) biggest flaws, and watch them play off one another.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Winter's biggest flaw is that he's hot-tempered--if you get him mad, he gets very confrontational, and that's what happens here. He gets very rightfully angry that Moon and the others are defending the dragon who took his autonomy and is trying to commit a genocide against his people, and he flies into a rage, eventually knocking over the vase and injuring Moon. I'm not tone-policing Winter here--he had every right to be furious, however in his anger, he hurt his friend. However, he's not the only person whose primary flaws are being brought to the surface here.

Since the very beginning, naivete has been among Moon's flaws, along with a desire to believe the best in people. This is compounded by her mind-reading abilities, as she has the expectation that she understands people. There's a telling moment in MR where Qibli asks her if she loses her faith in dragons since she can see their motivations and thoughts, and she tells him that she actually believes better of other dragons because she reads their thoughts. She's settled into a complacency in her belief that a) dragons are all good at heart and b) she's so used to seeing everything, that she doesn't really compute that people can be hiding things from her or that she doesn't have a full picture. You have to remember that as much as Winter was justified in his anger, Moon didn't know what was going on, because Darkstalker was deliberately hiding what he was doing from her so that she still believed in him. She's reeling from the knowledge that Darkstalker lied to her, broke promises and is trying to do horrible, horrible things, and to her credit, she comes around to understanding Darkstalker's villainy, she just manages to hit Winter's triggers as she does so.

And that brings us to Qibli and Kinkajou, who sided with Moon over Winter. Since the beginning, it's fair to say that Kinkajou has been established as very loyal and also not exactly known for her critical thinking skills, and back in MR, she tells Winter that although he's very handsome, if he hurts Moon, she'll take Moon's part. And Kinkajou does, because Moon's her friend and Winter's angry and she isn't thinking about what she's doing.

Now, it's no secret what Qibli's biggest character flaw--say it with me now--having to be the hero and be universally liked. Now by this point in DoD, Qibli is quite smitten with Moon (something he's competing with Winter over) and she's become the apex of his 'desire to be liked and perceived as A Hero'. So, it's his instinct that when Winter--Qibli's romantic rival--is getting angry and confrontational with Moon, is to side with her against Winter, so that he'll come off as the nice guy, and the hero (and this is coming from someone who is a Qibli fan who ships Moonbli, so I'm not trying to hate on your fave).

I think it's just really interesting to analyse how all of their individual character flaws came together and clashed, creating the conflict.

.

[planetpedri]

Gold star — Pedri González.

Pairing: Pedri González x Fem!Reader

Summary: While playing a fun game of football with Pedri’s friends, the man couldn’t help but be amazed by you.

Word count: 360+

Disclaimer/s: fluff !

A/N: had this idea from a certain clip in an edit my friend made so..

Watching you play football with Gavi and Fermín, Pedri leaned against the wooden fence next to Ansu. His expression was soft—adoring, even.

The way you handled the ball made him proud. You swiftly kicked it through Gavi’s legs, laughing as you dodged him to retrieve it again. Of course, the boy’s were going easy on you, knowing if they accidentally caused harm to you, Pedri would not take that lightly.

“Did you see that?” Pedri gawks, not taking his eyes off you as he spoke to Ansu, “I taught her that!”

Everything you’d learned either the ball, came straight from Pedri. He’d begged you to play with him many times, and you had always agreed without hesitation.

As Pedri watched, he’d droned out the conversation he had previously held with Ansu, to which he hadn’t complained about. All the boys on the team knew just how in love Pedri was with you. So when Pedri’s attention was on you, they knew there was no chance of getting it to turn away.

You easily kicked around Fermin and retrieved the ball again, doing your best to make a beeline to the net. With an excited squeal, you glanced back, seeing Gavi right on your heels. Your eyes widen and you pick of the pace, taking the shot.

Ansu’s hand clasped onto Pedri’s shoulders, shaking him as he said, “look at your girl go!”

Goal!

Turning around you jump and clap, running towards your boyfriend. Pedri’s smile reached his eyes, his arms opening to greet you in a tight hug.

“Good job.” Pedri chuckled into your ear. “You did great, cariño.”

You lean your head back, coming face to face with the man you loved. “Rate the skills.”

Pedri gives you an amused grin, giving your lips a quick kiss. “I’d give you a gold star.” He sets you back in the ground, “should we team up on them next?”

Your eyes light up, “oh, absolutely.” Standing on your tip toes, you give him a soft kiss before turning on your heals to face the other duo. “Okay! New round!” You announce, wrapping your hand around Pedri’s to pull him along with you.

likes , comments , and reblog’s are all appreciated. lmk if you’d like to be tagged in future posts.

DTS , @halfwayhearted @sakashq @hrts4havertz @joaoflms @spidybaby @gadriezmannsgirl @unx100to !

[gremlinmodetweeker]

Mine friendo, one, I dunno why it reblogged three times and I do not take any of that back, and two, I need your take on a Nikto kitter cause I wanna, with permission, write a piece with your au 🙏 if it's okay

Okay so, I had to wait until I got home for this but PLEASE IT'S OKAY TO WRITE FOR THIS OH MY GOSH PLEASE DO. All I ask is a tag as credit please. I mean, it's not really my au, it's just appreciated. It's not necessary. What is necessary is tagging me so I can read it! I want to read this!!!

TW: mentions of torture, violence, recovering from grievous wounds

However, your other part of your ask might lead to a bit of a tragedy. See, when Kortac created their task force of cat hybrids, they were trying to use the parts of cats that make perfect hunters to make their soldiers. Silent, fast, agile, strong, excellent eyesight under low light conditions, enhanced smell and hearing, capable of mimicry, able to endure hot and cold environments. Above all, they were to be loyal. So, they used the domestic cat to keep their soldiers domesticated enough to keep them under their thumb.

Nikto was among the first used. He was the first successful prototype. He was perfect! He was loved for his skills as a soldier, and he was loved as being an affectionate domesticated cat. Nikto was adored.

Unfortunately, KorTac had funding cuts and all the perfect soldiers they made had two choices: be let free, or be euthanized. The head of the lab was a soft-hearted man, and he insisted that the cats were to be set free. When the order went through that the cats were to be euthanized regardless, he panicked and smuggled the cats out to a city where he let them free. He begged them to forgive him as he let them go.

The cats all gathered together to face the harshness of city life. Not all of them made it, but most managed. They were homeless cats, homeless humans. They were lost and scared, but they persevered.

Eventually, some of the cats started to get adopted. Nikto watched as his brothers and sisters in arms managed to find places to stay and hide in their cat forms. He saw how wonderfully things worked out for them. Surely, he could find a happy home too, right?

So Nikto let himself be adopted by someone. He was picked up by a teenager with his friend and brought back to a shed. There, Nikto was forced to endure the worst of human behaviour.

The teens learned of a way to make money online. A strange way, but an easy way. It made good money, so they heard. It was easy, as long as you could do it.

Nikto was tortured for hours and hours in that shed. Being a stray for so long, he was too hungry and weak to be able to shift and defend himself. Instead, he was forced to endure horrors I hate to repeat.

When the teens figured that Nikto was dead, they put him in a can and kicked it over into a puddle of some leftover household acid, remains of what they'd used on him previous. Too weak to move, Nikto accepted his fate and closed his eyes.

He was woken up later by an animal trying to nibble at him. Parts of his body fell off as he heaved himself out of the puddle. He felt himself shake, he thought this was the end. But, he needed to warn the others. He couldn't let them suffer a fate like this.

Nikto hauled himself through the streets. He pushed through back alleys to get back to the city, and back to where his squad mates lived. When he arrived back, they did their best to care for him, but they didn't think Nikto would make it through the night.

But he did.

Nikto lived the next day, and then the next day, then the next and then the next day. Every day he lived was a miracle. Hutch, Roze and Askel poured their heart and souls into Nikto, and too their amazement, Nikto began to recover.

His skin started to grow back, his eyes fluttered open. His breathign relaxed, he started to talk.

And talk he did! He told them all about the humans. He warned them all. He made them all swear to protect themselves, to never let themselves fall into the wrong hands again. He made them swear to be strong, to always be healthy enough to shift into human forms. They promised, and they followed his word.

To this day, Nikto feels his heart drop when he hears someone has been adopted. He's made an initiative where each time one of their kin are adopted, another will follow them home to ensure they go to a safe home. They always make sure.

Nikto is still afraid of humans. It doesn't help that nobody really wants to adopt a cat like him... He's covered in scars now, scars that transfer to his human form. Despite how horrible he looks in his cat form, he'll stay in that form to avoid showing his human face. He's never forgotten the fear he felt when he saw his own eye staring back at him from within a fleshy socket, surrounded by redness and folds of scar tissue. He won't ever let anyone see his human face again, he swears by this.

Sometimes, someone will be foolish enough to ask Nikto if he'd consider trying to get adopted again. Nikto never says anything. He never has to. The way the whole room goes silent speaks volumes.

When he leaves them to stew in their own pity and misery, he'll think about what they said. He'll consider their words. A part of him wants to be adopted. He wants a warm, happy home. One like back at KorTac. He's been told KorTac was horrible, but when he was in the cage he had a roof over his head and three meals a day. He didn't go hungry, he didn't shiver at night. He was always safe.

Nikto, despite it all, still wants a home. Is he ready yet to find a human to trust? He doesn't know. He doesn't think he'll ever be ready, but he reminds himself that nobody is ever ready for change. It just happens. One day, a human will find him and love him for who he is, he holds onto that hope dearly.

Here's a quick ref of Nikto for you guys at home. Sadly, he can't really wear a mask in cat form, but at least he has a mask in human form. Still, despite how rough he looks, he still prefers living as a scarred cat than having to face his human form in the mirror again.

Oh, and as for the video? The one those teens made to make hundreds of thousands of dollars? The one that would make them filthy rich?

It made $97 USD.

[intimidating-fettuccine]

Father figure slender to the reader???

Tyyyyy <3

I've written so many Dad Slender posts with the reader (I made a huge post of them at one point but I couldn't find it this morning >:( sorry for that) so this just random dad Slender HCs, and I hope you enjoy <3

Incredibly involved parent in your life. Slender has a shit relationship with his dad, so he wants to make sure he can be a good dad for you. He always asks about your interests and checks in on your schooling or work. I think I said in a different Dad Slender post that he likes to have a cup of tea/coffee/whatever you'd prefer with you every day so the two of you can just sit down and talk every day, about life, about stress, about anything going on that you'd like to. He can't remember the last time he had a decent conversation with his own father, so it brings him so much joy to be able to speak to you every day. He understands some days you might not be up to it, and that's okay. He just wants to be as close to you as he can as a parent to make sure you have a good relationship. Bonus days sometimes occur when his mom or one of his brothers will stop by and join in, and those are your favorite days because they always spill tea about Slender to you to try and embarrass him, and it always works. Those are always your favorite days, and much to his chagrin, Slender is very aware of that fact.

He's the type of dad to be nervous when you start dating. He's not gonna threaten your partner when you introduce them to him for the first time (everyone else in the mansion does a good enough job at that) but he does fret and worry over if they're a good person that will treat you right. He would probably have the "What are your intentions with my child" talk with them and try and feel out their personality from that, but ultimately he does trust you to make good decisions for yourself. If your partner ends up being a bad choice, he will step in if necessary and comfort and help you in any way that he can, with lots of hugs and desserts and comforting conversations. I feel like when you experience your first break up he curls up with you on the couch with big bowls of ice cream and your favorite movies just like you would with a best friend, with a box of tissues by his side and lots of love. He's really great at comforting you and helping you feel better. If you end up dating someone in the mansion, everyone else doubles up on the threats of said creep better treat you right, but Slender almost relaxes a bit more. He trusts them to know to treat you right (otherwise Slender might just have to teach them a very, very intensive lesson). He definitely has his top picks in the mansion and he'd be happy if you ended up dating them.

Loves cooking with you. He has a lot of family recipes, and it would bring him so much joy to be able to teach them to you. He's incredibly patient with you, and a wonderful teacher, so it's a very enjoyable experience for both of you. He also gets super excited if you want to try making something new and you ask him to help you with it. He'll accompany you to the store and help you pick out ingredients, teaching you the best brands for each thing, and how to pick out the best produce. This is corny, but he totally has matching aprons to wear with you whenever you're cooking anything, and if you need it he enjoys helping to tie it for you because you'll always be his little one no matter how old you get. He always offers advice for anything if you need it, and I think he likes doing things beside you so you can watch and learn at the same time. If you need a whole onion chopped, for instance, he places two cutting boards side by side and gives you half to chop while he takes the other so you can both work on it together and you can watch what he does. He's always impressed with everything you cook, and it would seriously be the most heartwarming thing in the world to see you take on his love for cooking.

[legomonkiefics]

Hello! I would love to request Macaque x cub reader where he raising them and the reader is a little jewelry and appearance obsessed sweetheart who also views Wukong as a uncle (after Wukong imprisonment they were caught and put in a sleep that stopped their aging and after the LBD Wukong found them and gave them back to Macaque! Platonic of course

💜🌙 To Raise a Cub — Macaque & Cub!Reader HCs 🌙💜

Genres: [platonic/familial] fluff || they/them pronouns for reader || No warnings needed

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆˚｡⋆୨🌙୧⋆˚｡⋆✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

- Macaque initially found your gravitation towards jewelry to be amusing. Seeing you coo and babble at shiny gems and ornaments made him smile to no end. He'd frequently snatch artifacts from Wukong's dojo whenever you two visited so you'd always have more to keep

- It only really became worrying when he started to be super conscious about how small most jewlery is, constantly making sure you're not trying to eat a ring or small chain. He eventually only started giving you super chunky jewelry that you couldn't possibly swallow instead, but he still watched you extremely close

- He liked to talk to you while you looked in a mirror so you could happily babble to yourself as he gently told you many soft compliments, about how you were the most perfect cub he could've ever had and how he was always so proud of you

- He was slightly less enthusiastic as he noticed how close you were to Wukong. He still allowed you to visit him, of course, but not without snarking at the king endlessly and being petty towards him

- Wukong loved introducing you to every single Flower Fruit Mountain monkey that would come up while you hang out, which is usually pretty easy since they tend to cling to Macaque whenever he's outside

- Macaque always lectures Wukong very thoroughly when it comes to taking care of you. Wukong can't help but mentally log how intensely protective Macaque is, but he can understand the angle. He was secretly proud his old brother managed to be responsible enough to take care of you so well

- Macaque knows that he likely feeds into how much you tend to be focused on appearance seeing as he's constantly calling you the best cub he's ever seen and letting you have all the (safe) jewelery you could ever want. But he doesn't plan to stop that anytime soon. Ever since Wukong gave you to him and he saw your fuzzy face and wide eyes, he knew immediately he'd never seen anything more adorable. His heart melted seeing you well and vibrant, and he felt his love grow back tenfold

- He'll always let you use some of his clothes to do little modeling shoots, especially his scarf that he's fond of swaddling you in. He even offered to make you mini leather armor to mimic his own so you could match

- He's mostly good at shadow puppets that he conjures with his powers, but eventually he did pick up a small habit of making felt toys for you to play with. He used the sewing skills he learned to make you all your own outfits, including letting you pick the colors and patterns

- Macaque is a kinda vain guy himself, so he's got absolutely no problem with showering you with as many gifts and trinkets that he can steal find for you. Anything for the kid that gave him a new life, to make sure you always feel safe and loved no matter what

[the-s1lly-corner]

A Rock (Hoodie x Reader) (Ending 6)

It took a few extra days but it's done! Sorry if this is a little off, Ive been in a bit of a funk lately and im only just getting back into writing fics so this may be iffy grrr as usual, there will be a poll at the bottom to determine the next ending hooray notes: reader is gn, nonverbal hoodie, he uses sign language, you are learning sign but arent very good yet, asl is used here cws: none word count: 2.1k

You reach your hand into the hat and pull out…

A rock. The kind you can find just anywhere, it was nothing special. If anything it was heavy in your hand as you curled your fingers around it and displayed it to everyone in the room. You glanced at Jeff for an answer, and even he seemed to be at a loss for who put it in. At least, that was until a tall figure stepped closer and stood over his shoulder.

Hoodie.

Jeff didn’t even notice him until the taller man pointed at you- or perhaps the rock- from over Jeff’s shoulder. “Christ-” Jeff barked as he spun around and glared up to the proxy. Hoodie gave no response, his gaze seemingly fixed right onto you. His mask made him impossible to read, but you couldn’t help but fight the need to squirm under his eyes. You slowly rise to your feet and circle around the couch. By the time you joined the pair Jeff had calmed himself enough to attempt to drag you down the hall to the closet you’d spend the next seven minutes in. 

“Seven minutes,” Jeff huffed, still clearly miffed from being startled. 

You give him one last glance as you back up into the closet, your back making contact with the wall of flesh behind you right as the door closes. You jolt, and spin around to face the proxy in front of you. He was so much taller than Masky or Toby, and he nearly took up all of the free space in the closet. You push yourself against the door and cane your neck awkwardly to him as he tried to hunch himself to fit under the shelf above his head… the sight slightly undoing some of the nerves eating away at you. 

“I guess the closet is too small, huh?” You ask in an attempt to break the silence. The words felt stupid as they left your mouth, but you couldn’t take them back now. Hoodie paused in his struggle, and stared at you. The red frowny face on his mask was nearly impossible to see in the dark… you weren’t sure if he looked more intimidating with or without it. 

He didn’t say anything, and for a moment you thought he hadn’t heard you- until he raised his hand and made a motion. Multiple motions with both hands, actually. 

He was signing. 

How could you forget? You’ve seen him signing to some of the others before. 

Yet that didn’t aid you in trying to decipher what he was saying, the limited studying of sign language only barely aiding you. 

“Wait-” Your eyes darted from his hands to his face. “I’m not… the best at sign,” 

Hoodie’s hands pause in mid air for a few seconds, before signing once more.

This batch of signs you could understand.

He was tall, and the closet was small. You being here did nothing to help- though with the way he conveyed his body language he didn’t sound accusatory. At least, you think so.

You clasp your hands together and look away once he finishes. You scrape your brain in order to find something to say, anything to start a conversation. You weren’t sure if you could handle seven minutes in absolutely silence- with nothing being said or signed.

“You know, maybe when we’re out of here you can give me some pointers on how I’m doing- I mean, with the signing. I’ve been trying to figure it out so you have someone else to talk to asides Masky, and uh… Toby… and I guess Slenderman…” You mutter, trailing off as Hoodie lightly waved his hand to get your attention.

“You were learning for me?” Was what you picked up, you hoped you were correct. 

You nod and swallow the uncomfortable lump in your throat. “Yeah, I mean… I’m not very good at it but I know how to finger spell and I know some of the bare basic signs, still trying to figure out full sentences and… stuff…” You offer a shrug. 

He grows still for a long moment. 

A very long moment. 

You drum your fingers along the back of the door. “Do… you want to switch spots? Being scrunched up like that can’t be comfortable,” 

That seems to bring him back, and he nods. He’s the first to start moving first, shuffling against the wall in order to not squish you while also not tripping on anything unseen on the floor. You’d think that they’d sweep through the closet before using it for a game played in the dark, however that… did not seem to be the case as Hoodie’s feet gets caught on something on the floor- a spare jacket or something of the like. The sudden shift sends him falling forward, and if he hadn’t slammed his hands on either side of you he would have crushed you against the door with his entire weight. His face came to a stop next to yours, you couldn’t feel his breath on you but you could most certainly hear it as he tried to regain him composure. This was quite possibly the most noise you’ve heard from him from the entire time you’ve known him. 

You hear footsteps outside before they pause. Then;

“You alright-t?” 

It was Toby. 

You try to steady your breath, which only proved to be near impossible as Hoodie kept you trapped between him and the door. “We’re..” You start, only now aware that the fall and scramble had slightly pushed Hoodie’s mask up to reveal his lower jaw.

You never took him for one to have some facial hair…

“We’re fine, Hoodie just slipped on something,” You finally draw out. You bring your hands to the man’s wrists and try to help him up. He continues to slip on whatever has been left on the floor. 

Toby only gives a soft okay, before walking away after a moment of lingering. 

He finally manages to get to his feet- not only that but he quickly switches positions in an instant before he has the chance to slip once more. It happens so fast that you hardly have time to register it before the force of movement has you tugged right against his chest. It’s a few seconds later that he releases your wrists. 

And of course, he slammed loud into the door for a second time… what were the others thinking was happening? You didn’t want to think about it. 

You could feel his heart beating in his chest as you shifted your face around to look up at him. Despite being released, you remained in the pose you landed in against him… you finally let your hands fall to a rest at your sides. 

With a mask covered face, it made it easy for you to stare at him for a little longer than you would like to admit. No visible eyes made you feel too comfortable remaining pressed deep against him. Though, he didn’t make any attempt to remove you from him. In fact, he remained entirely still under you. 

When he did budge, it was to raise his hands to the edges of his mask and pull it back down to cover the parts that were exposed to you. You… weren’t sure what came over you, but your hands found themselves back around his wrists- holding them in place as his fingers hooked on his mask.

“Wait…” You say, half muffled as you shift your mouth away from the fabric of his jacket. “Can…” 

His hands twitched in your grasp.

“Can I see?” You asked softly. 

Hoodie’s hands remained still as he turned your request over in his head. Enough of his face was visible that you could see dimples forming and unforming on his jaw as he seemingly worked unspoken words in his mouth. 

…then he slowly started to raise his hands, slowly revealing his face.

You… actually weren’t expecting him to be so quick to show you…

As it rised, you could see the facial hair lining his jaw clearly now, he seemed to be a few days past a shave- nothing too much, faint nonetheless. Your eyes raked across each feature as they revealed themselves- first his mouth, then his nose and cheeks, and finally his eyes. They were tired, but there was something intense in them that shot warmth through you. 

He let the mask rest scrunched up at his hairline, pushing back any hair he might have had- keeping it out of sight. He must have had short hair. 

Your eyes flick across each part of his face before settling somewhere away from the look his eyes were giving you. 

“You look…”

He tilts his head to the side.

“..Nice…” you manage to get out, and offer him a smile. He matches it. He lightly shakes his hands, reminding you that they were still held captive by yours- did you help him lift the mask, or was he simply letting you keep your hands there? 

Regardless you tug your hands away and place them somewhere on his upper arms. “You should take your mask off more often, at least around the mansion,” 

Hoodie shakes his face, but does not elaborate. You decide not to push him.

Besides, this was nice, wasn’t it? How many people could say that they’ve seen what he’s got hidden away? Not a lot, you were sure.

A secret shared between the two of you. 

You open your mouth only to screw it shut as someone knocked on the door. 

“One minute!” Jeff called out from the otherside. 

One minute? Already? 

Your eyes dart from Hoodie’s face to the door behind him, then back to his face. 

“Alright-” Jeff keeps knocking. “Alright! We heard!” 

Jeff gave one last knock before ceasing.

“You know…” You rest your head on Hoodie’s chest. “My doors always open if you want to come help me learn my signs, that offer is still open,” You smile. 

He… actually returns it.

His hands find themselves to your shoulders and gently push you off of him. His hands remain as he stares hard at you. 

“What? Do you need a payment for your time?” You tease. He shakes his head, but you find enough boldness inside you to tug him down to your height. “You know for a game about kissing and other things, we didn’t do anything,” 

You felt him warm under your touch as he picked up on what you were saying. 

A kiss for his time, if he wanted it. 

He seemed to weigh his options, fully aware that whatever happened next wouldn’t affect the offer to teach you later. 

He leaned in quick and pressed his lips against yours. It was hardly a peck, it was over as quick as it started. It took nothing for him to pull himself out of your grasp and rise to his full height. He tugged his mask down over his face just mere seconds before the door opened- but you caught the smirk tugging across his face before it was hidden away.

“You-” You hiss playfully, only to cut yourself off as the light blinded you. 

“Alright, both of you out!” Jeff stood to the side, tilting his head to the side to try to get a good look at the two of you. Asides from the stumbling, neither of you looked particularly roughed up. That… did not seem to stop the “knowing” look Jeff gave you as you shuffled out into the hallway, still reeling from the peck Hoodie had given you. “Man he really fucked you up didn’t he,” Jeff teased. You shoot him a glare that he only waves off, he tells you don’t need to play another round if you’re too spent.

You glare holes into the back of his head as he walked back to the living room where everyone else was… until Hoodie taps on your shoulder. You spin on your heel to face him, quickly softening your face. 

He points at you, and swirls his pointer fingers around in a loose circle. He then points his index finger to the ceiling…

No, he’s asking if you want to go upstairs and start your signing lessons.

You smile, and nod. “I didn’t think you’d want to start so soon,”

Not that you were complaining. 

“You’ll have to go easy on me, though, not at all a quick learner…” You mutter as you walked with him down the hall and towards the stairs. You ignore the looks some of the others gave the two of you as you both passed by.

[tides-that-bind-us]

What is the best way to become friends with your OCs

A question from one of the prompt lists I used gave me anxiety with how it's written and it makes me feel rude sending the same prompt to anyone. I get the sentiment, and it's a way to break the ice but it doesn't work for me, unfortunately! So as an alternative, I wanted to write up notes about my OCS about ways to earn their friendship. Plus, I get to talk about my blorbos and get some ideas out, win-win!

Cironus

He's friendly to everyone! He's not-in-your-face-friendly, but he'll happily listen if you have something to say, and ask questions if you have things to share. Main qualities that catch his attention are kindness, compassion and a good sense of humor. He doesn't mesh well with folks who use cruelty as a form of humor (insults as a term of endearment, making fun of his interests as examples), and he doesn't take to sarcasm very well. Too much of that and Cironus will distance himself from you.

Music means a lot to him since it's the one way he can truly express himself, so if someone sincerely compliments his work he'll be gushing for days. Another great way to bond is by playing music with him! It's a great opportunity to see how well he can work with other musicians and get a read on their personality.

Sardon

He's the type who doesn't make the first move when it comes to striking a conversation. Not because he's unfriendly, but because he knows it can be off putting to those smaller than he is. Sardon uses his siblings as a buffer; he'll hang around them while they do all the talking and it gives him the confidence to speak up once in a while. On his own he's very serious and tight lipped. He shows a softness only around his family and children.

Sparring can be another way to get him to open up since he's in his element when fighting, and it's another a good way to strike up banter. Like Cironus, he doesn't take kindly to those who are cruel, especially towards others. He can take a witty/snarky remark, and throw back his own in return, but unlike his brother, Sardon will be confrontational if a situation escalates.

Kaska

Surprisingly, she is the hardest to befriend of the siblings! She's very kind and friendly, and will engage in conversation, but it's her job as a diplomat to be...well, diplomatic! Kaska can't afford to be her genuine self when she's on the job, especially when her family depends on her to earn favor from other kingdoms and territories.

Outwardly, she comes off as the responsible one, especially when she's with her brothers. Kaska will never talk about herself unless its in regards to her duties, or she will put someone else on the spotlight and allow them to speak about their interests. She doesn't even realize she does this! Kaska is so used to putting her personal interests aside for the sake of others she's unaware of the mask she has on. Her brothers encourage her to relax, and though Kaska swears that she can, they can tell she's still holding back.

Kaso

Kaso is a bundle of endless energy tied to a string of never-ending questions. He's very bold and curious when it comes to approaching strangers, and can be very mischievous as well! Because he's so young and sheltered he doesn't consider particular boundaries with other people. Kaso isn't disrespectful but his lack of understanding can come across as insensitive. If shown patience and a little firmness, Kaso is willing to learn from his mistakes!

Any trouble he comes across is usually headed off by any of his siblings who are never far behind. If someone thinks they can pick on him they should be prepared to be confronted by two angry zorca men!

The Zorca

While each individual zorca is unique, the pod as a whole functions together as a unit. They travel as one, they hunt as a team, and make decisions together (for the most part). It's one collective personality, and for outsiders it can be a little overwhelming and frightening at times. The zorca have a matriarchal society, so its the women strangers will be speaking to the most. Exceptions like Cironus, Sardon and Kaso are only because they are away from the pod temporarily.

Befriending the pod as a whole is not as difficult as it might seem. The main issue is stereotypes surrounding the zorca. Some zora believe them to be bullies, who eat anything and anyone they set their eyes on. But if you can make nice with even one zorca, news about you will travel fast among the pod. The same goes for negative encounters too! At worst, they'll avoid any one looking for trouble. The zorca are not violent but don't push your luck.

Just be careful though. Some zorca women have a strong mothering instinct and tend to adopt those they dote on.

[meep-moops-stuff]

Safe and Sound - Sidney Crosby x Reader

(I had to write my feelings out through this so enjoy the hurt/comfort)

They had lost. Badly.

7-1 to be exact.

And the one time y/n goes to a game, that happens.

Y/n waited near the locker room, since Sidney had driven her.

Her mind right now?

Panic. Pure dread and panic.

She hated being around angry people, especially men.

She hadn’t known Sidney too long, but she knows he’s not the best with losing.

Y/n looked up from picking at her nails and When he finally appeared, Sidney was expressionless, his jaw set and his gaze fixed on some distant point, ignoring everyone around him. She stayed rooted to the spot, hugging her arms close to her body, not daring to call out to him.

When he caught sight of her, he gave her the slightest nod, the only acknowledgment that he’d noticed she was there.

They walked to his car in silence, a thick tension filling the air between them. Y/n

kept her gaze fixed on the sidewalk, her fingers restlessly drifting to her lips as she chewed her nails, then dropped to her knuckles, which she cracked nervously one by one. She was careful not to glance in Sidney’s direction, knowing all too well how volatile he could be after a night like this.

“Thanks for coming. I’m sorry it…I’m sorry” he mumbled out.

He opened her car door and shut it after she got in.

She folded herself into the corner, trying to stay small as possible.

Sidney gripped the steering wheel tightly as they pulled away, the streetlights casting shadows across his face, hardening his expression further. The entire drive to y/n’s apartment was suffocatingly silent.

Her heart was racing so fast, her palms sweaty.

Stay calm, he’s not like the others

Sidney pulled into her apartment’s parking lot, putting the car in park and turning off the engine.

He turned to look at y/n, but she was still facing the window.

“Y/n?”

She closed her eyes, getting ready for his reaction. The one she always knew from men like him.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” He asked softly, barely above a whisper.

That’s what broke y/n. The nickname, the softness in his voice, no trace of anger of frustration.

She turned her face away, trying to hide the sudden sting of tears that welled up in her eyes. But the tears slipped out anyway, and a quiet sob escaped her.

Y/n took a shaky breath, embarrassed but unable to hold it back any longer. “I didn’t want to make you even more upset,” she whispered, struggling to meet his gaze. “I just thought… if I stayed quiet, maybe you wouldn’t—maybe you wouldn’t take it out on me.” She hesitated, the words thick in her throat. “Like… like I grew up with”

Sidney’s brow creased, and he squeezed her hand a little tighter, his gaze never wavering.

“Sweetheart,”he said softly, shaking his head. “I’m so glad you told me this.” He looked at her, his eyes full of understanding and something else—something tender. “I would never, ever do that to you. That game… it’s just a silly game, and it means nothing next to you. You don’t ever have to be afraid of me.”

Y/n bit her lip, overwhelmed by the gentleness in his voice. The weight of her fear began to lift, replaced by a warmth she hadn’t expected. Sidney released her hand, but only to reach up and gently brush away the tears on her cheek.

“I don’t want you to ever feel like you aren’t safe around me. Not once, did I think about taking any anger or frustration out on you. You mean so much to me and I’d never, ever do that to you.” He said.

He kept his hand on her cheek, tracing small circles on her skin.

Y/n closed her eyes, tears falling down and onto his fingers.

Her heart softened as she looked at him, the remnants of her tears still fresh but her fear fading. Sidney stayed holding her face, waiting for her to catch her breath, his presence steady and reassuring.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I just… it’s hard sometimes, you know? I’m still learning how to… how to feel safe.”

Sidney nodded, still holding her gaze

“I know. And I’ll be here for you, as long as it takes. I want you to tell me when you feel this way, okay?”

Y/n nodded, reaching to unbuckle her seatbelt.

Sidney took his hand off her cheek and grabbed her hand, rubbing her knuckles with this thumb.

“I’ll let you get inside and get ready for bed. Text me before you fall asleep so I know you’re ok?”

Y/n nodded as she shut the passenger door and headed up her steps to her door.

She turned back around and Sidney was still there in his car, waiting until she safely got inside.

Y/n let herself in, shutting her door behind her and immediately locking it.

She placed her back against the door and slid down it, bringing her knees to her chest.

She started to cry again, but not from being scared or waiting for that moment of pure terror.

But from relief. And shock.

Sidney had an opportunity to let his anger out on her, take it all out like she was used to. And she really thought he would.

But Sidney would never.

Y/n closed her eyes as she kept replaying his gentle touching to her face, his thumb rubbing her cheek and being so gentle with her.

You’re ok. You’re safe. And he’s safe for you. Let him in, y/n.

[yellow-lemon-lime]

I'm an immigrant in Finland for almost 2 years (in January) and I have sort of the same experience, but also a bit different I guess(?)

This cut a bit long so apologies: (Can't figure out how to make a cut in a reblog lol) Finns are very reserved and will do their best to not bother other people unless they absolutely have to. And I love that. I love that I can go about my day, maybe do the once-in-a-while greeting, but without having to talk about the weather. I also think Finns' reserved nature ironically makes them more friendly, in that they won't put up a fake smile just to seem friendlier, they have an honest kind of friendliness. But despite living here for almost two years (and getting to the level of Finnish where I can sort of comfortably talk to medical professionels) I don't have any friends here, but I don't think the reason lies with the "cold" nature of Finns. I 100% think the problem is me. I am not a nasty or a pain to be around (people often tell me I'm so friendly and nice and what have you), but I apparently just have this "vibe" about me, that makes me not friend-material. But despite not having any friends here, I have not felt lonely when walking around in stores or being at other everyday places in Finland. Even when I didn't understand anything people said, I still knew they were not being unfriendly or rude. They were just respecting my solitude, as I was respecting theirs. I did start feeling loneliness, but not in Finland itself, but in my current workplace. That place has completely drained my mental health (not to the point of psychosis thankfully) but to the point that I'm on edge every second I'm there. It's at the point for me that when I'm not at work I will specifically avoid anything that reminds me of the workplace. (The one time I went to Gigantti alone, I had driven with my husband's bus, but on the way home I could take 3 other busses, including the one that takes me to my workplace, so I of course picked any bus, but that. And when my contract ends, I will be gone from that place, and people would have to pay me a large amount of money to even make me go to the neighborhood (but then again, my daily commute to work is about 4 hours, so not even a lot of money would make me go there willingly. The thing tho is that most of the people there are not even Finnish, and most often English is the language that will be talked, and I was told that it's a very nice place to be at and everyone is nice to talk to. I don't believe that you have to be bffs with your coworkers (if it happens, then it happens and that's nice) but I the moment I realized that the people there don't like me (they tolerate me and I will stand on this hill until I die) I started counting down till the moment I can leave the place. I do however absolutely like my Finnish class (even though most people there are also not Finnish, apart from the teachers obviously, and the kids) and I'm always having a blast when I'm there, because I'm actually learning something, and unlike my workplace (where every concern is because of work performance and not genuine concern) my Finnish class actually have the approach of being genuine while respectful. And Finland itself is just *chef's kiss* My mental health atm is at the point where I couldn't really give much fucks if I died (the few fucks are for my husband because he just is that wonderful) but my only criteria is, I want to end my days in Finland. My husband also doesn't have many friends here (if any according to him) His workplace did send this Sauna-going invitation out, and I said he should obviously go, but he would "rather stay home with me" which is sweet of him, but also I don't want to hinder him from making friends. Maybe I'll make friends, maybe not. It's not really my concern right now. My biggest goals are to leave my workplace (once the contract expires) Keep working on improving my fertility, join a more intensive Finnish course, take an education in Finnish and hopefully start a family and get Finnish citizenship. If I get friends along the way, that's wonderful, but for now I will gladly accept the reserved respect Finns have, because it is somehow so peaceful.

I think the biggest culture shock I experienced in Finland so far is around friendships, as well as the area where I learned a lot of valuable things about myself. I might not be entirely right about this as I've only been here for a short time, but those are my main take-aways:

(under the cut to not block ur tags w my english rambling)

Trying to build real friendships takes time, much longer than in my home country. It is relatively easy to get in contact with Germans in my experience, especially if you live in a bigger city and speak the language, ESPECIALLY if you are a student and just starting out in a new phase of your life. You will naturally hang out frequently if you match well and spend a lot of time together. It might take a few meetings before people will invite u to their home, but generally there's not much distance as soon as the ice is broken.

Here I feel like people are much slower and more reluctant to open up. But that doesn't equal rejection, it's simply a slower process and you will still be able to tell the difference between being rejected and being on the path of friendship. In Germany, it's usually a lot more fast paced and there is a small window you have to catch to get into tight friendgroups. If you miss it, no chance of ever going back, vibe gone chance gone. Also people who might have found you interesting could lose interest if you wait for too long (meaning usually a month or so) to get back to them.

I actually realized that this way of socializing stresses me tf out. I much prefer a more laid back approach where you can get to know each other without time limitations (of course prerequisite is that you have the time). It is a much more sustainable, thoughtful and respectful approach to someone elses time. You're not treated as disposable, but rather as a person someone actively chooses to get to know.

Likewise, if people feel like they either do not vibe with you or if they already have a very busy social life or life in general, they will let you know and don't pretend to have time or like you. This was quite a new thing to me and felt a bit cold, but I actually really appreciate it now, as it's saving you from stressful, draining interpersonal connections. It also made me respect some people immensely, because they know their own self worth and boundaries quite well.

It made me reflect upon my tendency to be a people pleaser, and the strong yearning I have to treat my own relationships the same way as I've experienced it here. I've grown so tired of superficial connections that are placeholders for true, fulfilling friendships. I used to think being lonely was the worst thing in the world. It kind of is still awful, but what's worse is being surrounded by a bunch of people you don't really click with or can rely on, which leaves you lonely as well. I do think letting go of this is something that will slowly seep over into my own life, as it is so freeing.

I also intend on staying, or rather coming back when I've finished up all my business back in Germany (I am not really rooted to the city I live in). People who I've told about this recent development were very worried if I would be able to be happy in a country that is (generally) much more reserved when it comes to social interaction, as I need social interaction regularly. I don't really think it's that big of an issue, as I think I can balance out people's passive approach with my more active one in the beginning. I have a high social battery, so I'm fine with interacting with a few more people, before people get truly comfortable to hang out on the regular. Yet I also prefer quality interactions over a bunch of small talk meetups I don't care about. I also still have my core friends who I talk to regularly on the phone, and this has been a tradition for years already before I came here.

What I am immensely struggling with right now is trying to make sense of all the connections I made in the past 10 years. This is the 6th city I lived in the last decade, and the 8th move. All my relationships feel so spread out and scattered. I am holding on to some solely because those people were there when I moved somewhere new and I didn't have anyone else. Like back in school, when I was friends with people because they were the only ones there. It's all a bit confusing and painful right now, as my values and perspectives are changing. I think there are a lot of people moving from the friends to acquaintance category right now. I'm completely redefining friendships for me at the moment.

[allthecastlesonclouds]

i'm back on my food as an act of love bullshit

[trashhole]

Who’s he winking at? 🤨

And some star & bee studies

[mwagneto]

any time i remember time lord victorious arc i start shaking like a sick fucking dog

[whoslaurapalmer]

i feel like bertrand is the kind of guy who would delightedly drive a station wagon, but beatrice refuses to let him. a station wagon is too basic. this is how bertrand winds up with a 1960 chevy nomad wagon, sky blue. meanwhile, beatrice drives a red 1960 ford starliner

additionally kit drives a black 1950 cadillac series 62 coupe deville

[monty-glasses-roxy]

For some reason, this round of meds (same dose and everything as last time) is making me have very violent Realisations and Remembering Things moments. And by that I mean the Thing I Forgot and/or the Realisations show up with a bat and see how hard they can make my brain hit the wall. So anyway.

YOU GUYS REMEMBER SPIKE THE WETFLOOR BOT??? YOU GUYS REMEMBER HER??? THE FIRST FAZBEAR ANIMATRONIC TO BE BORN FROM LOVE INSTEAD OF PAIN??? YOU REMEMBER HER???

CAUSE I JUST DID

[killjoy-prince]

Ray's After Ending is so funny because for a good chunk of it, most of the RFA members are knocked out by V's sleeping gas (Saeran is immune, Saeyoung isn't present bc he was kidnapped by his agency under his father's orders and MC wakes up in like an hour) but the game has a call feature where you can call the characters and it would be a waste if you couldn't use it bc the characters were unavailable so instead they have other people pick up the call (Jumin's driver picks up Jumin's phone, Jumin's father picks up Zen's phone, Yoosung's friends and mom pick up Yoosung's phone and Jaehee's coworkers pick up Jaehee's phone) and we do get to learn about the characters from outsider's point of view but it's so funny to me that these people are visiting their loved ones and suddenly the phone rings and they decide to just. answer it. and start talking to this stranger they've never met