#poly misconceptions

[polyamorousmood]

"polyamory is just avoiding commitment"

Mad I'm committed to three people and thereby 3x better at commitment than you are, huh?

[bittersweetburnedcaramel]

Hello friends! :D

Have any of you heard of what I call the "Childhood Roly-Poly" effect?

It's a common thing I hear people say a lot where I live but I don't know if it is a thing outside of here

It states that only pure hearted people, mostly children, can find roly-polies

Kinda like they are some kind of spirit of the forest or fairy, which will only be visible to you in your childhood :P

And that after someone grows up or becomes a bitter person they never find them anymore.

The actual explanation for that is very simple: children play outside and find and notice bugs much more than adults, and roly polies specifically are bugs most kids find cute and interesting.

[witchthewriter]

𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐨̈𝐧𝐢𝐠

⤷ gender neutral, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!  

a/n: not a poly relationship - I just decided to have them both in one post. Let me know if you want more xx Also I went through the tags for these guys and there is nothing but SMUT. So I wanted some sweet sfw headcanons for the boys

Warnings: swearing, nsfw included (no one under 18 please).

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ | ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ ᴵᴵ

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿

INTJ

Ravenclaw

Neutral Good

Scorpio Sun, Capricorn Moon, Virgo Rising

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲/𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭

・This man is fucking dangerous behind the wheel. And although he is a hot-head occasionally, it isn't when he's driving.

・Simon knows he's shit, so when people honk at him, give him the finger - he just stone-faces it. Let's them berate him because really, he doesn't fucking care.

・However he has lost his licence a few times ... and so you told him he could be your &lt;3 passenger princess <3

・Simon wasn't amused ...

・Very much the protective type, verging on possessive. Not in an abusive way, but he wants everyone to know that you're his. So when anyone flirts with you - or even when they're a little too nice, his jealousy consumes him.

・Scary dog privledges, with and without the mask. This man is intimidating as fuck.

・6'4, wide shoulders and big hands, so it doesn't matter how you look, how tall you are etc - Simon is bigger, taller and stronger.

・Yes he can be a hardass, but when he loves someone, that roughness is somewhat smoothened out. He'd hate to hurt your feelings.

・He only wears his mask to hide his identity; he takes it off when missions are done.

・And when he's home, he rarely wears it.

・Absolutely HATES being jump-scared. And his reflexes take over (you've learnt from the first and last time)

・This goes with random kisses as well, sometimes you just have to make yourself known before touching Simon

・He isn't huge into PDA, but when outside he will gladly hold your hand, bump his shoulder into yours when you make a crappy dad joke.

・The biggest misconception is that he's cold. Well, at work - obviously he is. But at home, with you, he has so much warmth. A lot of life.

・He has great banter. Absolutely has both of you laughing your asses off.

・Calls you "love," "sweetheart," (all in his gruff, chiselled brit accent). And when you're alone, he calls you names like "my love," "hun," "sweet cheeks."

・You're slowly learning about Simon's past, which he shares little by little.

・Too much information and he's scared you might feel overwhelmed and leave him

・There's some deep trauma there, but the army has therapists and everyone gets checked out before they're deemed mentally healthy enough.

・He does want kids, but only after he's done with the military. He would hate to be an absent father in any way. And he wouldn't want you to have that full responsibility.

・A lot of people characterise him as this traumatised man who can barely look after himself. But that is far, faaaaar from the truth. He's very competent. And he eats a LOT. But he also works out (to keep in shape, he actually hates the gym) (also he doesn't expect you to do anything of that stuff. He loves you for you.)

・I also have this headcanon that Ghost/Riley would love Metallica, Slipknot, Black Sabbath etc. It's one of the things that calm him down. However, if he's had an overwhelming day, he needs no noise whatsoever.

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐��𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Teases Them (You) x About To End Them (Ghost)

The Moon and His Star

𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Opposites Attract

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Say Yes To Heaven by Lana Del Rey

Arsonist's Lullabye by Hozier

Enter Sandman by Metallica

𝑁𝑆𝐹𝑊 🔞 No one under the age of 18 past this point, I bloody mean it. 

・There's almost like two sides of your s/o. The Ghost side, where the mask stays on, and he's rough, possessive, dominant. And then the Simon side, where he likes soft touches and when you gently stroke his face

・You've both discovered that Simon likes it when you wear his mask, gloves - nothing else - and touch yourself.

・Even with your cum juices on the mask, and gloves, he'll still wear them to work.

・It's the only kinky thing he brings with him while on deployment. You did want to take a naked polaroid for him but he didn't trust the other guys not to somehow see it.

・He likes keeping you as separate from army life as much as possible. Because you feel like home, and it gives him hope.

・Ghost loves taming your bratty side. He's short, demanding and can shut you up with one look.

"Keep on actin' like that, and see what happens."

・Of course you keep acting up, and when you get home, you pay for it tenfold.

・Ghost's hands are as big as a paddle, and when he has you over his knee, ass up in the air. He doesn't hesitate in leaving red marks (all consensual. He wouldn't do anything without having a conversation before hand).

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿

ISTP

Hufflepuff

Chaotic Good

Aries Sun, Aquarius Moon, Leo Rising

𝐊𝐨̈𝐧𝐢𝐠

・A 6'10 king, who suffers from social anxiety but has this soft, silly side that he loves showing you and only you (I will take no criticisms on his height. It is LAW. My law.)

・Because of his anxiety, social aspects of life are much harder than work. He's highly skilled in combat, and has a lot of confidence in his abilities to accomplish missions.

・However, when you tried to speak to him, all he could do was stutter.

・You allowed him to get the words out, but he was an absolute mess afterwards and went to go train.

・But this didn't deter you in the slightest. Hell, you had been trying to muster the courage to speak to him for weeks...

・It took a while for Konig to open up about his past, especially his adolescence.

・He's told you the jist of it, but there's details that you don't push him on.

・One of your favourite pastimes together is going to bakeries and eating the most delicious pastries.

・When you're feeling down, or there's something to celebrate, there's no cake but pastries instead

・Doesn't mind animals, but understands that when he's away you will get a bit lonely. So you surprised him by getting a pair of kittens!

・You showed him over video chat, one white kitten and one black.

"I haven't chosen names for them yet, but I thought maybe you could have some input?"

"Schatz! The kittens are cute but you have scratch marks all over your arms!"

"They're very playful!" And then you leant closer to the camera and whispered, "I leave scratches on your back ..." And with an innocent look on your face, you watched as Konig shivered.

・Likes to put you on his lap when he's cleaning weapons, or getting the marks out of his mask or shoes. Okay honestly, he just wants you on his lap all the time. Whatever excuse he can come up with - he'll goddamn use it

・Absolutely loves Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks. He thinks they have such a beautiful sound that you can find him with headphones on, swaying in the bedroom, silently in his feels

・All your pet names are in Austrian/German:

"Schatz", meaning 'treasure'.

"Maus," meaning 'mouse.'

"Liebling" meaning 'darling.'

"Hase" meaning 'bunny'.

"Liebe" meaning 'love.'

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Always Bringing Them Rocks They Think They Would Like (You) x Keeps The Rocks (Konig)

The Gomez & Morticia Adams

I Don’t Know What I’m Doing But At Least I’m Alive, Right? (You) x You’re Doing Great, Sweetie (Konig)

𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Hidden Identity & Forced Proximity

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

The Chain by Stevie Nicks

Dance of the Druids by Bear McCreary (he loves movie scores as well. It's one of his fascinations).

𝑁𝑆𝐹𝑊 🔞 No one under the age of 18 past this point, makes me feel weird if you read it.

・Konig is a bit awkward at first with the sexual interactions you guys have. He does have anxiety, but also, the build up of sexual tension had been going on for months.

・All he had during that time was his hands and the memories of how you looked, the way your eyes met his then flicked downward - almost like you had x-ray vision.

・There was no denying the heat.

・So when you first hooked up it was a fumbling mess of grunting, clothes ripping and fast hands trying to touch and grab at any bare piece of flesh.

・You did have a shocking revelation that first time however. Because this man's cock is not only thick, veiny but nearly 9 inches when he's hard.

・That first time wasn't a true first time as the look on your face told Konig everything - you weren't ready for that part of him ... just yet.

・Loves when you ride his thigh; they're absolutely huge. Just muscled and bulky and the first time you saw them (without the uniform) you audibly gasped.

・His body is absolutely divine

・Like it had been sculpted by the gods. Large biceps, long legs, small waist, large shoulders. His hands wrap your neck perfectly.

・You feel so safe with him.

・And you have to remind him that, because sometimes he worries he could hurt you without meaning to.

"I'm a grown up, Konig. I can handle myself."

"So when are you going to let me fuck you?"

"mmm... I think I still have to get used to that. Maybe we can do fingers first..." (his fingers are ... fucking huge).

[indigo-vale]

I'm sick of the awful reputation poly people/relationships get.

You may ask 'but Indi! why do you care so much?"

Because I deeply love my girlfriends, and to not respect the poly community is to not respect us. My partners deserve the same respect any other relationships get. Because, we are the same as any other relationship, except its love shared between 3 instead of 2. I find it hard to understand why people, especially people who are in the lgbt+/queer community themselves, hate on polyamory.

To hate is not an opinion, its discrimination and disrespect. You cannot preach that "love is love" and then turn around and say that its wrong to love more than one person.

Lets clear up some misconceptions while we're at it:

Polyamory is not about sex. - Just like any other good relationship, love is what matters most. Just like anyone else, we share company, space, food, and games

Polyamory has nothing to do with politics or religion - My relationship should not fuel a political or religious debate. Just like a lesbian relationship shouldn't. People simply exist. Identity, religious beliefs, and political beliefs are 3 separate things

A polyam relationship does NOT have to include men - And it also doesnt need to include women. Poly is not about a man having multiple wives/girlfriends, its about love and care between multiple people.

Being poly is NOT cheating - Consent, discussion, and trust should be the pillars of all relationships. Polyamory is mutual love.

Pride is about celebrating not fitting into societal norms, loving each other, supporting each other, and remembering those who fought for lgbt+ rights and community spaces, and continue to.

Love is Love, Happy Pride Month

[jointherebellion215]

Okay, this may be a hot take, but I'm so sick of the "Art immediately forgives Tashi and Patrick for cheating and they all live happily ever after with no issues" trope that's become common in Challengers fanfics.

I know that people are so in love with the polyamorous-coded nature of Tashi, Art, and Patrick's relationship, that they completely forget what's a reality in the story. It also spreads misconceptions about polyamory, because while poly relationships are ethical, cheating is inherently unethical. Cheating and polyamory are not synonymous.

Poly relationships can work because there's constant communication and, most importantly, there's consent with all parties involved. There should be, like in every relationship, a level of trust between everyone.

Now, Art and Tashi are assumedly not poly. They are in a monogamous marriage, which dictates romantic involvement of two people and two people only. Regardless of any feelings that may occur with a third or fourth person, they are in a one-on-one relationship.

Tashi and Patrick deciding to get together multiple times without Art's knowledge or consent breaks that fundamental level of trust Art and Tashi had. It's a betrayal. Art should be allowed to be pissed off. Livid, even. I know that Art is seen as a very passive, submissive character compared to how assertive Patrick and Tashi are, but he shouldn't be a complete doormat. Everyone deals with hurt and pain differently, but there's been a general consensus among the fics I've read that were like "Yeah, that happened, but nobody talked about it or fought and everything was fine!" which is so ??????

Let him be angry. Let him be hurt. Let him hold a grudge for a little while. There can be tension and arguments and conflict before all is well.

There can be consequences.

[lovebites-if]

DEMO (tba) - FAQ - NAVIGATION

Tag(s): Slice of Life, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Romance, YA, LGBTQ+, Text-based, Lighthearted. Inspired by The Office and What We Do In The Shadows.

Congratulations, human!

You have been chosen to join the extraordinary Creature Mediation Center (CMC), a unique workplace where all kinds of different monsters creatures collaborate to bridge the specieist gap in our society. As the newest and only human of our team, you'll navigate a world of diverse creatures, handling counseling sessions, managing projects, and making critical decisions to foster harmony between two worlds.

Welcome to a realm where diplomacy is a blend of corporate intrigue and fantastical diversity!

Customize your human MC's physical appearance, personality, age (25-35) and many more features.

Build relationships with diverse colleagues, each with unique personalities, backgrounds, and challenges. Strengthen alliances or face consequences based on your interactions.

Encounter a plethora of fantastical creatures, each with its own cultural nuances, habits, and communication styles. Learn to navigate this rich tapestry of diversity.

Juggle various projects aimed at fostering understanding and cooperation between monsters and humans. Successes and failures affect the overall atmosphere in the office.

Engage in crucial decision-making that impacts office dynamics, relationships, and the overall course of monster and human relations. Your choices influence the harmony or discord between both species. Good luck, human!

RO Intros • Choosing a route

Among the various members of your team, we present you the Monsters Working With the Human Division (MWHD) provisional name.

Naira/Namid (she/her or he/him) • THE WEREWOLF • 32 years old

Animated, bubbly and incredibly friendly, our beloved N brings an energetic and passionate, and lively spirit to the office. As a Werewolf, their empathetic nature makes them adept at counseling. They joined the office seeking a bridge between the worlds, hoping to dispel misconceptions about werewolves and foster understanding.

Friends to lovers, idiots in love, (possible) friends with benefits. It's possible to enter a poly relationship with N and Val.

Val (she/her or he/him) • THE VAMPIRE • age undisclosed (200+)

Mysterious and meticulous, Val is the epitome of a centuries-old vampire. Their adherence to rules and structure contrasts with the unfortunate chaotic nature of the office. Val took on this role to observe and maintain order, ensuring the delicate balance between humans and monsters.

Slow-burn, (Val's) First love. It's possible to enter a poly relationship with N and Val.

Maureen/Marius (she/her or he/him) • THE GRIM REAPER • age undisclosed (300+)

Enigmatic yet compassionate, M retired from their reaping decades ago. They've been part of the office for a few years now, working almost exclusively with ghosts and their human relatives. M's unique perspective offers profound insights into life and afterlife.

Forbidden love, friends to lovers, mutual pining.

Devan (they/them) • THE ONI • 28 years old

Devan embodies the mischievous spirit of an Oni, their playful and curious personality makes them difficult to handle, yet very useful in dynamic environments. Their love for challenges drew them to the office, eager to tackle the complexities of monster and human relations.

Idiots in love, (possible) friends with benefits. Oblivious to love (Devan).

Lucian/Leah (he/him or she/her) • THE MERMAID • 25 years old

L's calm and observant personality brings a tranquil presence to the office. As a Mermaid, they contribute a unique perspective on the challenges of both land and sea. L joined to explore new horizons and bridge the gap between underwater and terrestrial life.

Rivals to lovers, (possible) rivals with benefits, pining (one-sided, mostly MC's).

Cyrus (he/him or she/her) • THE ZOMBIE • 30 years old

Cyrus defies zombie stereotypes. Their ability to empathize and understand others' emotions makes them an excellent counselor. Cyrus joined the office seeking redemption and a chance to demonstrate that even the undead can contribute positively to society.

Everyone can see it, Girl/Boy next door, Soft love.

??? (he/him or she/her) • ??? • ???

Are you sure about that?

Enemies to lovers. Red flag RO. “I can fix them.”

While we support, Human-Monster relationships, dating a coworker is prohibited. If you suspect anyone in your work environment of engaging in such behavior, contact your boss and supervisor Arion/Arianne (a proud gorgon).

We hope your time with us is fruitful, human.

[mrs-kodzuken]

K.K.T.K on my wrist ♡

Pairing: Kōtarō Bokuto x Keiji Akaashi x fem!reader x Tetsurō Kuroo x Kenma Kozume

WC: 1.9k

Genre: soulmate au, fluff, slice of life

CW: fem!reader, four soulmates, poly relationship, fluff, very soft and sweet

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

When I was a little girl, I thought about how a prince would show up outside my bedroom window. He'd take me away to his castle and marry me, treating me with kindness.

Then we'd live happily ever after, just like in the movies.

However, the hardships that came with being a princess made me think that I could handle them. As it turns out, that's not how life is at all.

Not at all.

Plenty of hardships are thrown at you left and right. and it's all about how well you deal with it.

As I got older, my fantasies became more realistic. I wanted to live a small, easy life with the person I so dearly loved.

A small child or kitten running around, giving us entertainment.

Living out our lives to the fullest and being content with simplicity. We didn't need anything more or anything less.

That's how I've always imagined it.

As it turns out, life does throw things at you, but this one was one of the best hardships I'll ever came to love.

And it all begins at the young age of sixteen. A fresh high school student, worried about what people thought about them.

Their hair, clothes, grades, and sometimes even a boyfriend or girlfriend.

However, most of those thoughts got quickly brushed away. On a person's sixteenth birthday, initials will appear on their dominant wrist.

The absolute heart racing feeling full of wonder of who your special significance other could be.

Maybe it was someone who lives halfway across the world. Maybe someone who goes to the same school as you. Maybe someone you grew up with.

Or maybe someone you just happen to know from the internet.

Whatever it may be, they will be bound to meet. Some people say it's fate. Some say even destiny.

However, I just thought it was a clear misconception for me.

I had my dreams significantly crushed by four initials on my wrist. Oh, how I used to despise them—the hate that fueled through me when I looked at my wrist.

Looking back, it was harsh and childish. Life is unexpected; things happen. However, this one was one that's stuck in my favorites, even if it was the opposite of everything I always wanted.

I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The bedroom window was open a bit as the rain fell from the sky. Small devices lit up here and there around the room.

It was an easy night for all of us. Even Kōtarō was quiet, which sparked an interest in me. I was keeping myself busy by reading a book I had been wanting to catch up on.

While also laying on Keiji, who had been next to me reading some other kind of book.

Our beloved Kenma was in the next room over, streaming. The door was slightly ajar, leaving space for the blue rays of light to show on the wall.

I could hear small splashes of water coming from the bathroom. A small, unnoticeable smile gracing my strawberry-colored lips.

No matter how many times I knew water calmed that beautiful boy down, I couldn't get over it.

I had run the bath myself, even adding a few bathroom toys and bubbles, despite it being the late hours of the night. And despite that he was a grown man, we don't in this house.

If I had listened hard enough, I could hear Tetsu downstairs. The soft noise of most likely midnight snacks being made.

It seemed as if we were all content in the house we called home. A shiver ran down my back as I felt the soft breeze come from the window.

The skies were pitch black; if it were a normal night, I'd be on the roof with Tetsu and Keiji. We'd point out the constellations and watch the stars.

It was one of my favorite things to do with them.

If it were later in the afternoon and the sun was slightly straying from the clouds and the rain was soft, Kōtarō would be dancing in the rain with me.

We'd sing our hearts out, then get scolded by our lovely boyfriend, Keiji, who quite possibly seemed like the only sane one in the house.

Besides Kenma half of the time.

The days that it was sunny, and I wished silently that it would rain. Kenma would softly take my hand and lead me to the kitchen.

Even though we both shared the hatred of sunny days, we'd bake something.

Whether it be healthy or not, burnt or just right, muffins or cupcakes. So, our house constantly smells like a bakery. When we wouldn't feel up to baking, a movie was our next best thing.

On hard days when I felt like I really needed something to just get my mind off for a little while, Kuroo was my go-to person.

We'd run to the park and back, putting the stress into exercising. Sometimes, just sitting down with him on a park bench and watching everyone pass by was enough.

However, Keiji was by far the one who comforted me in a strange but loving way. He's the only one I'd talk to. I'd spill all my thoughts to, read a book with, cry to, and observe with.

Being very compatible with each and every one of them made life exciting and, oddly, calming.

"Are you cold? We can shut the window if you'd like." Keiji turned his head toward me, pausing his reading.

"I'll put on a hoodie," I said, shaking my head and loving the smell of rain. However, he knew that that would be my answer.

I'd always wrap up in multiple clothing layers instead of shutting the window.

It was a habit.

I crawled away from him as I watched Keiji place my bookmark in the place I was reading.

Slipping on my pink slippers, I walked out of the room, heading towards the clothing room.

Who knew that living with four other people would bless you with an enormously large house? However, the income we all made could quite possibly also be a reason.

As I walked past Kenma's gaming room, I peered in. My eyes were watching him a bit, I could tell even from when he was turned around that his eyes were glued to the screen.

Knowing Kenma, I knew he wasn't wearing his glasses that protected his eyes. He needed them now more than ever, since it's the late hours of the night.

Backing out, I quickly but quietly moved downstairs. His glasses were on the living room coffee table, if I remembered correctly.

When I was on the first floor, I moved to the living room, where his glasses were. Picking them up, I felt the coldness from how long they've been left alone.

The kitchen light on, curiosity peering through me. I peeked in at the sight of Tetsu sitting on the counter, scrolling on his phone.

He was most likely trying to figure out what we'd be feeling up for to eat after rummaging through our cabinets. God, he could be doing nothing and still look so handsome.

I smiled a little and headed back upstairs. Opening Kenma's door more, I could hear soft grunting from him.

Probably because of a level he was having trouble with.

Setting the glasses close to his keyboard, I leaned down and gave him a soft kiss on the temple. He nodded, his cheekbones glowing with a rouge pink shade.

That small peck meant, 'Please don't forget to wear them.' I could always express myself with small things without actually saying them to Kenma and Keiji.

Usually, I'd have to express my thoughts in a verbal way when it came down to Kō and Tetsu. However, I knew not everyone would be an introvert or just a mind reader.

When I left the room, leaving it cracked like before, I saw his game pause and him slip on the clear glasses.

I made my way back to the room, forgetting about the hoodie I needed to get. When I entered, I saw Kōtarō curled up against Keiji.

His hair was slightly dripping wet, making me cringe a bit.

I spotted his towel, which he had brought back with him instead of hanging up in the bathroom. I softly grabbed it and made my way to him.

He perked up; his yellow eyes seemed to shine a bit brighter in the dark.

"The water will make the bed wet, hon" I softly said, lightly ruffling his hair with the towel.

His arms wrapped around my waist as I continued to get the water out. Wetness and comfortable covers do not mix in my book or even on my book.

I could hear him sigh happily as I played with his hair, trying to get out all the water.

Glancing over to Keiji, his glasses were off, and our books had been set elsewhere. It's movie time.

Kenma would come from his gaming in around fifteen to twenty minutes from now. We'd all cuddle on the bed and watch a cartoon movie.

I walked to the bathroom, setting Kōtarō's towel on his hook. In a house of five people, organization was the best key.

After I cut the lights off, I walked back to see a movie picked up and Kuroo coming upstairs with our midnight snacks.

When I made sure everyone was comfortable in bed, I went to get Kenma. I could basically feel the exhaustion radiating off him. Knowing that he wouldn't get off the game unless someone actually got him.

As I got closer, I gently put my arms around his back. I did it every single time I wanted him to get off the game. I could tell he was fighting himself, wanting to go another round but agreeing.

Soon his system was off and his left hand locked in my right one, walking into our bedroom. We climbed into bed; the rotation was different this weekend.

Each day or week, we'd switch the rotation of who gets to spoon who. It wasn't my idea since I couldn't care less if I was spooning or getting spooned.

However, being the only girl it was kinda nice with everyone being bigger than me, it was kind of hot some nights too.

This time around, Tetsu was spooning me, and I happened to be spooning Kōtarō. After we finished the snacks, I couldn't resist the sleep, which called my name.

Since there were five of us, we couldn't possibly fit in a bed. So we decided to just get one of the biggest; even if we did spoon, I'm sure at least one of us would end up kicking another off the bed.

This has always been how our stay-up nights have been and I wouldn't change it for the world.

When I was a little girl, I thought about how a prince would show up outside my bedroom window. He'd take me away to his castle and marry me.

Well, now that I'm older, it's safe to say that I've got four princes who I was fated with. They agreed to live together with me, and the need to marry wasn't in our minds.

We all knew the reassurance of each other never leaving the other. But if one of us did happen to want to marry? I guess we could.

But this is the end of our weekend night and there was nothing out there that would make me give it up.

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

a/n: this is from my book “Haikyuu x Reader One Shots” on Wattpad. I hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have any requests!

the header is made by me, please like/reblog if used <3

[roofermadness]

this article (skip paywall link) is a fucking trip. i understand humans better and worse than before.

the thesis: some people not only don't care about politics; they don't care about facts. to a certain subset of people, "no thoughts; just vibes" is a way of life. take, for example, the opening anecdote about a woman in georgia who posted a basic fact check on a friend's facebook post that alleged that chili's and other restaurant chains are on their deathbeds. we've all seen some stupid misinformation, but what sent chills down my spine was a comment from the friend who posted the rumor (bolding mine):

“I love Monica,” he told me. “But I think Monica goes directly to sources of information.” This, he suggested, was not the right approach. “Use common sense,” he went on.

how on earth, i wondered, could this guy consider seeking out information a character flaw?!

then i saw this terrifying little nugget from a poli sci prof who studied low-info voters (defined by someone who couldn't answer two out of three very basic civics questions):

Low-information voters, he found, are more likely to embrace stereotypes of other groups, and less likely to fact-check claims made by politicians. [...] He came across a metric in psychology called the “need for cognition” scale. “A question that really caught my attention on the scale is an agree or disagree: ‘Thinking is not my idea of fun,’ ” Fording recalled. He and a colleague ran a study to see whether agreement with the statement correlated with support for Trump. It did.

(it's crucial to note, as fording does in the next paragraph, that this doesn't mean they're stupid, just that they don't get much pleasure out of learning new things. the article also cites examples of how this phenomenon can be subject-specific and position-agnostic. it also isn't limited to conservatives, as demonstrated frequently on this piss-on-the-poor website.)

but the article reminded me of the 2016 episode of this american life (the whole thing is worth a listen; it's a harbinger of what we are seeing play out eight years later) in which ira glass interviews his obama-hating uncle. ira debunks and fact-checks his uncle's stream of misinformation and plain lies, but provable facts prove uncompelling to him. this is the pithiest example:

Uncle Lenny: This guy-- he wants to have one country of North America, which is composed of Canada, the United States, and part of Mexico, if not all of Mexico. That's why the existing laws, which dictate that border trespassers shall be deported, he chooses to ignore. Ira Glass: Well, no, he actually deported 2.5 million people. More than any other president. Uncle Lenny: I don't believe that, Ira, for one minute. I don't believe that.

ira glass's conclusion, in his words: "facts do not have a fighting chance against this right-wing fable."

confirmation bias makes sense to me. not seeking out information from lack of interest makes sense to me. falling prey to misconceptions widely accepted in your community makes sense to me. what i find incomprehensible is sheer incuriosity. not only do some people lack critical thinking skills; they find thinking actively unpleasant.

so yeah. apparently some folks run on no thoughts, just vibes. not sure whether i feel more enlightened or depressed.

[polyacotarweek]

Introducing Poly+ ACOTAR Week!

Hello all and welcome to Poly+ ACOTAR week, an event to celebrate consensual non-monogamy within the fandom! 

So what is consensual non-monogamy, or CNM? CNM is an umbrella term for relationships in which all partners give explicit consent to engage in romantic, intimate, and/or sexual relationships with multiple people. CNM can take multiple forms, including polyamory, open relationships, and swinging relationships. Here at Poly+ week we encourage you to explore not just the sexual aspects of CNM, but the emotional as well. This event was designed to bring together writers from multiple ships and writing forms (X-reader, OC characters, and canon). 

As we work toward the event, we’d like to share more about the 5 common misconceptions of CNM. Keep your eyes peeled for that and so much more! We are so excited to engage with all of you and spread more love throughout the ACOTAR fandom.

[readychilledwine]

Only two days with smut for poly week?

So... one of the major misconceptions I have run into as someone in the poly community is that we just use it as an excuse to have sex with multiple people. I picked to only have two smut stories for that reason. Yes, sex is a factor, and open relationships are included in polyamorous lifestyles, but that's the commonly seen part of it. I wanted to focus on actual truly in love polyamorous groupings this week.

I personally see being polyamorous as a way to have an outlet for the amount of love I carry. I very easily form emotional connections to kind people, and sometimes those emotional connections become romantic, and I am lucky enough to have a primary partner who is the same way. There's a quote from Angela on Bones about how you don't fall in love once. You fall in love many, many times, with many people who fit your needs in that moment. Baby daddy and I both agree with that.

Anyways.. I think you should check out the common misconceptions that @polyacotarweek posted. I feel like more education on the poly lifestyle needs to be shared, and this whole week is a great start. 💕

Ps: you do not have to be polyamorous to have a threesome or be in an orgy. You can be sexually open (or sex positive) and do that.

[figs-and-cigs]

I’ve recently discovered that I am polyam, but have been in a committed relationship for about 3 years. We’ve joked about “adding a third” to our relationship, a mutual friend of ours. So that makes me think my partner is open to the idea.

How do I tell my partner I am poly, and how do I have that conversation? I have a list of things I want to bring up, just don’t know how or in what order to say them. And I also don’t want them thinking they aren’t enough for me. That I just want to experience love, relationship, and intimacy in other places too.

Hello! Thanks for reaching out. I wish I could tell you it's as simple as saying, "hey, I'm poly and want us to do this," but there's a lot to consider before starting this journey followed by a lot of work down the road.

For many couples this becomes a make or break situation. When proposing a big change in any relationship we have to be prepared for the possibility of it being a deal breaker. If they say this is not something they are comfortable with, they may decide even your desire to see other people is a deal breaker. Or you yourself may have to decide if you can continue the relationship without ever having the opportunity to practice poly. It's an unfortunate reality.

Of course there's always the possibility your partner will be open to the idea. It's important to know that once a relationship is opened it becomes nearly impossible to close again. Time and time again one partner agrees to try ENM and discovers it's not for them. Mono/Poly relationships can and do work but there is the possibility the monogamous partner will ask the poly partner to stop and return to a monogamous dynamic. Which ultimately means there could be decision later down the road of whether the relationship can continue or not - it could mean ending the relationship or ending multiple other relationships.

My first suggestion is always to look for local in person poly groups. Community is important, meeting other people who have gone down this road, see how their dynamics function (or don't function), make friends, ask questions, build support. This also gives a roadmap for where to start after having the conversation.

We have to go into these conversations without any expectations of how our loved ones will respond or how things will go. You tell your partner by telling them, there are no magic words.

"I'm Poly. This is something I want (or need) to explore. I'm happy in our relationship, this doesn't change my feelings for you, but it does mean a change in our relationship. What are your thoughts, feelings, concerns on the matter? Etc. Before opening the relationship or making a decision let's start by attending this meet up a few times."

There doesn't need to be any rush when emotions are on the line. Just because you've had the conversation and your both on the same page, does not mean you have to immediately start seeing other people. Take your time, meet people, do research together. There are books and workbooks out there for couples.

My partner has always known he was poly, I'm grateful he gave me the time to process and research before we opened up. I took about a year. I do wish we had found our community before that, meeting normal people who are actively poly gave me clarity about how things could work.

The next piece is to not go in with expectations of what this dynamic will look like. Even the most monogamous people joke about adding a third. It often sounds like a fun way to spice up the relationship.

The biggest misconception about poly is that it's all triads and couples date together. The reality is triads are basically poly on hard mode. Instead of juggling two relationships and all the emotions that comes with that - a triad is four relationships.

A (you) + B (your partner), A+B+C (the third), but also A+C, and B+C. The reality is it's very unlikely a third person will be interested in both of you, and that's assuming you and your partner are interested in the same person in the first place. C's relationship with B could progress faster than C's relationship with A - now A may have to manage expectations and jealousy of A+C's relationship. Perhaps C realize they don't connect with B at all - can B accept their partner will continue dating their EX? Then most commonly A+B have a long term relationship making it difficult for C to fit into an already established dynamic. This gives A and B an unfair power inbalance over decisions for the triad.

Unicorn Hunting - in which a couple seeks to add a third into their relationship almost always ends badly. The only triads I've seen work long term are ones that formed organically. A is dating C for a while. C shows interest in B. C and B start dating for a while. A+B+C naturally begin to spend time together.

In truth the Poly Community is very much against couples dating together, and for good reasons.

Instead the advice you will hopefully be given is to work on de-coupling before opening the relationship. De-coupling means working on breaking codependency you may have with each other and finding individual autonomy. Practice having separate interests and activities and spending time apart.

After all, if you've spent most of the last 3 years together, imagine the difficult feelings that arise when one of you goes out on a date and the other is left at home. Perhaps your partner begins to hit it off with multiple people, while you can't seem to connect with anyone. There needs to be some prep work for the emotions that can arise from that situation.

And emotions will rise. Jealousy, Envy, Fear are all normal responses even for the most experienced poly person. Which means taking time to discover ways to handle them. 90% of it is communication, communication, communication. Which is another reason to have community and a good support system.

In summary:

Have the conversation, but release expectations of how it can go, be open to possiblity of it going well or not at all how you hope. Find community and do research together. Date separately - triads tend to only work if they happen organically. Be open to allowing relationships and dynamics to form in a variety of ways, release expectations. Be prepared for uncomfortable emotions.

Some additional reading:

Wishing you all the best!

[sanctus-ingenium]

What is your process like when building a story, it's characters and world?

my two main methods - start with characters, or start with plot/setting

to start with characters - that's an easy enough one for me and my main go-to. I enjoy writing and drawing characters more than I do working on worldbuilding or setting stuff, and I think "wouldn't it be cool if I had a character who was x/did y/etc". my book Said The Black Horse is 100% character driven. the three main characters are built for each other, to fit together in the story. the world is built FOR the characters - it's not a worldbuilding Project that works outside the scope of the story. so for this story, the starting point was - "i want to write about a poly gay relationship between three fucking losers who constantly get in arguments with eachother". before the faery stuff, before anything else about the setting, that was the start of it. it's about a close friendship/romance. i start with the characters - not so much 'here's what they look like and their personality and backstory' but 'here's the functional purpose of that character, here's what they bring to the story'. and that doesn't mean that everything has to be critically important to the plot either

so now we have the purpose of that character - what character traits make it easier to achieve this purpose? what might be entertaining to read? the characters are built as a cast, to all fit together - not in the sense of "x character is the stubborn one so that means y character has to be opposite of that", but "x is the stubborn one, so what trait of y's can emphasise x's stubbornness" and vice versa. the characters are tools, not people, and it's fine to give one a trait just for the purpose of enhancing our understanding of another more important character. how do they bring out the best in one another? or (my favourite) how do they bring out the worst?

I find that the story comes very naturally just from building up the cast. what parts of the setting can be used to show off these characters? my book has an extended period when the characters are lost as children & on the run - well, why not put them in a giant magic forest known for eating people alive, just to raise the stakes and show more of the supernatural elements? okay, how does that forest change the setting? how does it impact the characters? what are their misconceptions about the forest? which misconceptions come from their culture? what does that say about their culture? and once you get this sort of cycle going, it's hard to stop. only drawback is that it might take multiple rough drafts of the same story until you iron out all the creases - i started writing the rough draft in 2019, it was about 110k words. the first true draft in 2020 was 215k words. the current draft is 225k words. that's a lot of writing lol and each new draft started with a new blank document.

to start with setting - this is tougher for me because i just love characters so much and tend to only really care about them. but sometimes you get an idea like "what if big mechanical beasts" while listening to a christian metal album and you gotta pursue it, even without the safe starting point of the characters. but in a way it's kind of the same - the setting HAS to serve the story first of all, otherwise it's just a worldbuilding project. which is fine, they just don't hold my attention all that much. so the concept - 'what if mechanical beasts' -> what are they used for? fighting dragons. why? for fuel, and righteous religious reasons. immediately there's a scarcity problem with the fuel, right, if it only comes from dragons. so how is this dealt with? it's very expensive. the church controls the supply to avoid having to compete with private entities or a non-theocratic government. how is this enforced? and so on and on and on. and then to put the characters in, it's me identifying which POV might be interesting to read about - a knight struggling to meet the church's expectations, an enginesmith with a guilty secret, and a banished ex-knight who desperately yearns for adulation again.

i find that the best way to refine the setting or characters is just to write in it. pick a random plot that COULD happen and write it out short story style. i will instantly run into issues that need to be solved, in order of importance. it doesn't matter if you have a whole kingdom designed down to the last vizier if you don't know what a character does in their day to day life when the main plot isn't happening

[hollowflight-propaganda]

What Wings of Fire Rarepair ships do you like and/or have?

>:)))

For starters, me and my mutual @themightymoose concocted Riptide x Clay a while ago for funsies, and I've recently brought the idea up again and I think there's potential there! They're both guys who had unfair misconceptions thrust upon them from adults at a young age, and are often overlooked in the fandom. So yeah! I think it's a cute idea :)

The next one might sound a bit weird, but please stick with me here. Dusky x Cliff, specifically the aged up versions of them that I have in my brain for a hypothetical arc 4. Timid traumatized guy who doesn't know how to interact with people his own age x excitable himbo bard who takes it upon himself to befriend the shy kid is essentially how I see them! I do agree that shipping the children characters together as actual young children is weird, but that's not what I'm doing here, and I don't wanna hear anybody twisting my words around pretty please 🥺

Next is poly jade winglet! (inspired by this post) Cause why limit yourself to a couple ships when you can have all of them at once. I just think it's kinda funny, and the idea of arc 2 ending with Moon x Qibli x Winter x Turtle x Kinkajou is awesome. Realistically, they all have tons of therapy to go through before this should happen, but once they're past that I think it could be sweet!

This one is purely crack about background nobodies, but Lionfish x Wharf! Which if you don't remember, they're Fathom's guards besides Indigo that come with him to the night kingdom. I'm pretty sure that after the whole... Arctic Thing, we never hear about them again, but I like the idea of them after that being like, "Wanna go into retirement early?" "Sure man." And then they just like, chill on a beach for the rest of their lives

And I'm pretty sure that's all I have that isn't already shipped by quite a few other people! If it's not, or if I come up with anymore, I might make a part 2. Thanks for asking!

[krizaland]

✍️📝💘💌🎞️?

✍️ : Overall, how does the fandom trait you? Are you a beloved character, or hated? Are you popular, or a minor side character? Anything in between?

Well my insert would probably have the fandom split. Half would love her and think she’s cute and lovable and the other half would fucking hate her and think she’s stupid and annoying lol

📝 : How would your story in canon go? How would you influence the events of the original story?

My insert is an Axolotl Selkie who uses a onesie to turn into her Axolotl form.

She was accidentally mistaken for a pet in axolotl form and was bought by MK.

He had quite the surprise to find a full size human in a onesie flopping about in front of the tank where his pet Axolotl should’ve been.

After clearing up the misunderstanding, MK takes her to see Wukong as Flower Fruit Mountain is the safest place he knows of.

There she meets Wukong and she abd he fall in love over the course of the series.

Macaque also falls in lover with her around season 2 and around the end of season 3 he ends up in a poly ship with my insert and Wukong.

My insert doesn’t really affect much in the story until near the end of season 5 when Xiangliu is introduced.

💘 : Why would people love your ship? Why would people dislike your ship? How might it start debates?

People would love my ship because it’s a poly ship with a side of angry rivalry.

The would also love how cute and fluffy things can get too.

What they would hate about my ship is that it interferes with Shad.owp.each

(Note: I actually love sha.dow.peach and even ship it! I’m just censoring it so this post won’t pop up in the tags)

People would probably often separate the poly ship into my inset x Wukong or my insert x Macaque and usually fight over which is better.

💌 : How would your dynamic be portrayed? What might people focus on most? Any misconceptions?

The dynamic would probably usually portrayed as ball of sunshine in between smug jock and grumpy edgelord

People would mostly focus on trying to make Wukong and Macaque be together while my insert cheers from the sidelines. Though others would depict my oc as the peace keeper which is a much more accurate portrayal. There’d be a fuck ton of misconceptions.

Usually people depicting my insert as either a complete dumbass or a ‘smol baby uwu’ so more often than not it’s macaque babysitting my insert while Wukong does something chaotic. When in canon the actual dynamic is my insert is a sweetheart that keeps the peace between the two monkeys.

🎞️ : What ‘canon’ scenes would the fandom point to as evidence for the validity of your ship?

Well the scene where my insert and Wukong confess their love for each other and when Macaque joins in obviously.

Other evidence would be:

when Wukong and macaque first meet my insert.

Times where Wukong and my insert were just hanging out.

Times were Wukong saves my insert and vice versa

Times were macaque was pretty much flirting with my insert

The time where macaque protected my insert when Wukong got possessed

[triviareads]

ARC Review of Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

Rating: 4.5/5 Heat Level: 4/5 Publication Date: June 4th

Premise:

A queer, polyamorous romance; Mel is a bartender at one of New York's top cocktail bars. She has an instant connection with Bebe, one of her customers who is also married to Kade. She's surprised when Bebe asks her out on a date, but slowly falls for not only Bebe, but Kade.

My review:

This book was tender, sexy, and more than anything, it felt so real to me. All three main characters are Grown Adults in their thirties who have their respective pasts, failed relationships, and hang-ups— and reading them connect and fall in love was such a joy. I think with the rise of terms like "harem romance" or "reverse harems" (both of which I take issue with; "harem" has a specific cultural connotation that I feel the romance community has misappropriated) and "why choose" romances, some romance readers have somewhat misguided expectations for what *all* poly romances should be like (and some literally aren't calling it what it is, polyamorous) , and this book did a lovely job of portraying one polycule and all the dynamics within it.

Mel and Bebe have an instant connection from the moment they meet at Mel's bar. The attraction is SIZZLING and Bebe is so classy (!!) in the way she hits on Mel, I was like, genuinely shook. I'm glad Mel isn't automatically outraged that a married woman is flirting with her, and she doesn't jump to any conclusions (though she does hypothesize into the void with another queer friend in an open relationship). Ultimately, Bebe and Kade tell Mel pretty early on that they're poly, and that Bebe would like to see Mel.

Enter their relationship contract that outlines how Mel, Bebe, and Kade interact. I thought it was really cute the way the contract was formatted in the book, so every time the rules of their relationship change, the old parts are crossed out and the new parts are added in.

And the rules do change, to be clear. There are three parts in this book and each part focuses on a different facet of the relationship with them ultimately deciding they would all like to be together (as opposed to Bebe, and then both Kade and Bebe seeing Mel individually). Kade and Mel's relationship is initially tinged with a lot of foot-in-the-mouth moments. The good thing about the contract is, it provides boundaries but they're just super awkward with one another until they have the opportunity to bond without Bebe, and all bets are off. And honestly, Kade has my heart— they're deadpan and somewhat blunt but as you get to know them better along with Mel (this is a single-person POV book— do I think it would have benefitted from all 3 POVs? Maybe, but I don't feel like I missed any important context), you see they're an absolute sweetheart— an artist who feels deeply but keeps that side hidden. There are a couple instances where Kade is misgendered and we see the misconceptions people harbor about non-binary people, and I thought it was interesting to read not only how they, but also their love interest (Mel) deals with it.

I realize I haven't talked a lot about the actual plot— the cocktail making competition and Mel's job at the bar— but I thought both were written with so much love for the craft and respect for service workers.

The sex:

Super hot, super well-written. It's always fun to read the individual and group dynamics because they're so unique. Bebe is an out-and-proud pillow princess, and I kinda love that she was able to coax out a "mean", more selfish side of Mel, who is usually more of a giver in real life. Kade is a service top and this book answers the question what happened when a top and a service top get together— the answer does involve cum-eating. Also, the last sex scene in the book? Fabulous. Excellent. There are strap-ons. There's face-sitting. I have no notes.

Overall:

I really enjoyed this book! @tjalexandernyc wrote a banger, and the payoff of seeing three very different individuals connect, fall in love and make space for each other is absolutely worth it, and I'd recommend this to any romance reader.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[bonefall]

Hey, I just wanted to thank you for including polycules in your rewrite - as someone who is poly seeing all of the misconceptions and pure dislike of people like me is disheartening and it’s nice to see it included in a nice way :)

POLY RIGHTS

Thank you for saying so, I was worried I wasn't including enough of them tbh. They complicate logistics because of my family tree reworks-- ALL CATS are counted as a parent in the lineage tracking, and as you can see, even just working with one or two parents leads to tangles in small populations

But I love polycules and QPRs and other non-nuclear romantic units, they deserve respect, so I'm trying to make sure the few polycules I do have are for main characters with delicious, delicious screentime

There's three polycules so far (of three each)

Heathertail x Harestar x Breezepelt (newest but I have been flirting with it for a while)

Violetshine x Dragonfly x Tree

Poolcloud x Nettlespot x Toadskip