#sorry I'm feeling normal about my choice of major clearly

[iamthemaestro]

I need to stop romanticizing careers I am not mentally stable enough to maintain

[malwaredykes]

ive said it before i think but the fo4 prologue being what it is and what it says about your player character i find honestly kind of repulsive... it's not that i couldn't technically make it work for me in SOME way, i mean i would be inclined to make it a "woman with a really really shady past pulls a breaking bad vacuum store new identity thing and spends years living with a Normal Husband in a Normal Home secretly yearning for something to happen so she can break free of this bleak existence without the feds finding her. hang on whats that bright flash on the horizon" type thing. i do find that compelling i could make it work for me. it's just that there's only this one route i could possibly take that would work for me. very little wiggle room in terms of morals and personality.

because, like, there are just some choices and implications here there is no way for you to avoid that inevitably say so much about your character. and i'm actually mainly talking about codsworth, i feel like many overlook this but its the part that rly makes the whole thing Be What It Is to me--and hes a major enough character that if i ignore it and ignore his existence then i might as well just ignore the whole backstory and the main quest and a lot of dialogue later on, which like, Yes, i could do that, but that just kind of highlights the problem doesnt it. i have to Think The Whole Thing Away to engage with the game on remotely satisfying terms unless i accept what im given here.

because with codsworth being there, no matter what kind of person my player character may be internally, they had a house servant. a slave, i'm sorry to say. in fo4 mr handies are not just alexas with arms, they aren't task-specialized chat-gpt inside a chassis, they are people, clearly self-aware and sapient, with a free will and feelings and opinions about things, reacting emotionally to the events around them, and in fact codsworth is the first most stark example of it when you meet him again after escaping the vault.

so, like. my character owned this person. had to be okay with the idea of owning this person. and you can say what you want about the notion being culturally normalized, but there are limits to that, and it feels strange to even have to say this but no amount of social conventions are going to make Owning A Person As Property acceptable to a compassionate, reasonable person. soon-to-be sole survivor and their spouse had to go out of their way to purchase a mr handy, nobody forced them to. there's being part of a class whose existence relies on the exploitation of others to live in comfort and luxury, there's being the sort of person who gets to have a spot in an exclusive vault, but then there's going out of your way to buy a sentient being to be your servant.

like, damn man. and i'm not saying the default state of the main character should be Goody Two Shoes, not at all, not my point. i'm saying that this is, like, a significant thing that SAYS something about the sole survivor, and you have to reckon with it if you accept the terms the game gives you. and it just severely limits what kind of character you want to play as. oh you're super not okay with the subjugation of synths? that's great, but you had a house servant though. and so on and so forth

[paintingformike]

I got really curious after one of your latest posts about your thoughts on bi mike vs gay mike. what's your main evidence for bi mike?

personally, I was a bi mike truther until I started my latest st rewatch a week ago. I always thought that mike had a genuine crush on el in season 1 but this time I noticed that mike didn't really show any romantic interest in her until lucas pointed out that mike likes el. before that, it was just mike being his friendly and caring self. and idk, every romantic moment between them seemed so forced to me, like mike was just doing what he thought he was supposed to be doing. and yeah, that whole dialogue before their first kiss was also weird. I haven't started season 3 yet, so maybe there will be some moments that'll show that mike is bi but for now, my only evidence of him being bi is byler/rockie parallels because vickie is clearly meant to be bi. I'm just so confused now, honestly, because I was so sure that mike is bi before this rewatch lol

sorry if some of these sentences don't make sense, my English is really bad...

nooo anon dont worry about your english, you’re perfectly understandable! to me personally i do see them portraying mike having genuine (but shallow) feelings for el via the inherently romantic tropes applied to them in s1-s2 (getting interrupted, the tiny bit of tension between them and all that), but that’s it, and the way i interpreted the painting plotline also makes me believe he had a shallow infatuation for el, but i’ve read a lot of gay mike analyses that have made me reconsider my stances on his sexuality and the byler storyline.

the byler/rockie parallels are also strong evidence of bi mike (and byler getting together in general) but it’s not really enough for me to discount the possibility of gay mike in the show considering a lot of points that make me believe they might go that route are narrative choices for his character. one example being the way he only showed interest in el after it was pointed out to him by other people, like you said, the stark contrast in how they make lucas and dustin show interest in multiple women but little to nothing from mike in comparison, they’ve also made him mirror will in this aspect (the way they both react to max in s2 compared to lucas and dustin).

season 3 was the most “i’m just doing what i think i’m supposed to do in typical het romantic relationships” season for mike because...he really was just being coached around by lucas constantly, looking totally clueless without him and most of his actions just him trying to adhere to societal expectations like getting his girlfriend a gift (?) and just. not initiating anything himself out of genuine love for el, he really needed a third party to hold his hand through navigating his relationship 😭 also the byler fight in s4 and how he said “thats because shes my girlfriend will” emphasizing the status of their relationship instead of saying something more genuine like el being important to him so obviously he’d write her letters...the majority of it was just him putting up a performance.

tbh he can still be bi and conforming to whats considered “normal” and thats what i was always firm in, but it can also be that they’re trying to portray how he really has no clue how to act when it comes to girls because he just feels no attraction to them. like the reason he needs his hand held through his relationship with a girl is because as a gay man it was never meant for him from the start, and the reason he can’t tell her he loves her is because...it was always impossible for him to feel anything towards her. he didn’t realize it at first (he wasn’t even sure of the difference between platonic and romantic before they kissed) but by s4 he was fully aware he only felt platonic care for el and was scared of losing her if he was honest about his true feelings (which explains the desert heart to heart he had with will.)

the duffers (or any other person from the writer’s room) have watched shows that portrayed internalized homophobia and characters that dated women while being cloested gay men, such as dawson’s creek and eyewitness, so that’s another factor that makes me think they could be writing mike to be gay because they’ve already gotten ideas of what it’s like, they’re not completely clueless. anyway this got too long (sorry anon i got carried away asjdksj) but the bottomline is i think both bi and gay mike have equal chances of being canon and are strong contenders in their own right, and while i used to think they wouldn’t explicitly confirm his sexuality, i realized they basically have to because they also need to clarify in the plot the true nature of mike’s feelings for el throughout their relationship and if he ever really loved her or felt attracted to her, it goes hand in hand with his sexuality arc and they can’t really just brush this over without leaving some kind of gaping hole in the storyline. mike’s gonna have to express how he really felt about el throughout their relationship so yeah...those are my two cents 👍

[liskantope]

I always find your thoughts on dating apps to be super interesting, and I'm sorry to hear about the demoralizing nature of it (which has been precisely my experience, too, for the past couple of years).

It got me randomly thinking, do you feel that one reason the dating sites don't generally work is because, counterintuitively, there's too much to choose from? In other words, the very fact that we know there are so many profiles makes us more likely to pass on people who we might have been willing to give a chance in real life.

I'll admit outright that I'm guilty of that, and it might not be the case with most other people, but I do wonder if the overabundance of profiles on the dating apps has some unhelpful effect.

I hope you have better luck real soon, by the way!

Thanks for the kindness and commiseration! In fact, just in the last couple of years, everyone I hear discussing modern online dating seems to express a disgust with it and seems to feel some degree/variety of hopelessness around it. I was at a meetup event organized by a woman for single men some months ago, the purpose being to discuss what the dating world looks like from men's point of view, and the one thing that we seemed to unanimously agree on was "Online dating sucks!" Part of it clearly has to do with dating apps just visibly getting worse. Just twice in the past couple of weeks there have been snarky offhand mentions (one of them on ACX) of "OKCupid, back when it was still good". And I have the same feeling: it's hard for me to put a finger on precisely which changes in the interface of the dating apps I've been on have made the overall experience much worse than it was even a few years ago*, but it's there.

Anyway, to more closely address your question, I've heard the "paralysis and decreased happiness from having more choices" hypothesis from time to time in conversations (mostly from podcasts) about the modern world of dating. It's a much more generally-applied hypothesis as to why there seems to be more unhappiness (among certain populations) in modern times than half a century ago; I even recall there being a famous TED talk on it. I think this phenomenon must have an effect for some people in some areas of the online dating realm, but my suspicion is that this is mostly a factor for women seeking men through online dating. My impression of most women on dating apps who are reasonably attractive and have some ability to post decent photos is that they have a plethora of men to choose from, a very large percentage of whom will right-swipe them back, so they might as well aim for the top. But then, the men they perceive via very limited digital profiles to be the cream of the crop often turn out to be disappointing in person.

This could be an issue for some non-women not seeking men online as well, I suppose (although from what I hear, my experience of putting tons of energy in desperate hopes of getting a single match every now and then is pretty normal for men seeking women, even men I would consider more attractive than me, and plenty of men who are not me follow the strategy of just right-swiping everyone so your suggestion certainly doesn't seem to apply to them). But I don't really think it's an issue for me: as I said in my last post, the vast majority of dating profiles I see show women don't enthuse me on one or more fairly basic parameters (this is particularly the case on OKCupid, where a lot more information tends to be exposed). This sounds like I'm being very demanding -- and whether I am is a question I ask myself all the time -- but these criteria just don't seem like they should be too much to ask for, although I'm beginning to see why as our history progresses and as I get older it was bound to get harder and harder to find them.

These basic parameters aren't as visible with someone you've just met in real life, and maybe if I met some of them in real life I'd find them more dateable than they appear in a profile, and maybe chemistry would take over powerfully enough for me to be more flexible on certain things than I currently think myself capable of. But admitting this possibility is subtly but significantly different from saying that the multitude of choices presented to me on dating sites raises my standards: I just don't think it has, or that for me the larger number of choices has anything to do with it.

Anyway, I wish you better luck too!

*The closest I can come to explaining coherently is that they are more visibly trying to find ways to get my money. Which I find not only annoying but somehow infantalizing in a way I can't quite explain, even to myself. My attitude doesn't seem entirely defensible when I zoom out and consider that there's no reason dating sites should have to be free: they are businesses that have to stay in business and have every right to try to get me to pay money. There's just some holdout within the last bit of my internalized stigma around using dating sites that makes me strangely proud of how I've never spent a single penny on dating sites in 11-12 years of on-and-off using them. (At the single men's event I mentioned above, one bit of advice some other guys gave to me is "if you're a guy, you have to spend money on dating apps, otherwise they're not going to be effective.")

[queennicoleinboots]

Peter's Novel Drives Him Crazy, part 8

The resulting novel started with the following:

Chapter 1: Princess Eileen

I was walking up the ivory-carpeted stairs to greet Eileen Watterson, my new master, masteress, or dare I say mistress, with a cup of coffee that was the color of clay. She was now 18 years old, the legal age of an adult, so her drink of choice was coffee. I wanted to surprise her on this sun-struck morning. Today was the sixth anniversary of the day I became reacquainted with her sitting in the back of her parents' Rolls Royce.

I opened her bedroom door and saw a woman with disheveled, wavy auburn hair who was still in her queen-sized bed with royal purple sheets and a maroon comforter. She growled at me as the door was making a high-pitched creaking sound.

I was taken aback, surprised at her foul mood. "Good morning, Eileen," I said in a smooth, Southern sing-songy voice. "I brought you some coffee!"

"Artie, you jerk. Why did you wake me up?" she said, staring at me with glaring gray eyes. "You know I'm not a morning person like you are."

"I know, but I wanted to bring you some coffee so that you could enjoy this pleasant morning with me. Can't you smell the maple trees outside?" I said with an awkward smile on my face. "It's the sixth anniversary of the day we reunited."

"Yes, and I was just as bitchy then as I am now. I was just as cramped, just as bloated, and not to mention INFURIATED as I am now! Artie, you're lucky you're a male toy and not a human female. Being a female is a curse. I wish I could have a sex change. Also, I'd like to rip a <expletive deletive> tree from under the ground and hit you with it," she said as she rolled over on her right side and groaned.

"I had no idea. I'm sorry. Please don't kill me," I said as I touched her hair softly with my wooden fingers.

"Normally, I'd love for you to show me any kind of friendly affection, but today, I just want to sleep and dream of murdering you and every other male on this planet," she said as she closed her gray eyes.

"Oh. Well, erm.... Sorry," I said as I looked away awkwardly. "I uhhh... just wanted to give you coffee and live pleasantly."

"Why do you have to be so perfect, Artie?" she asked as she rolled over and grabbed me by my waist.

'Perfect? Me? What was she talking about?' I thought.

"I mean, you're the sweetest guy like ever. You brought me a cup of coffee. And you're all apologetic even when logically, you did nothing wrong," she said, her gray eyes glistening in the light her window let in.

"Erm... Well, you know, I'm a nice guy," I said with my trademark awkward smile.

"Too nice. Your perfection makes me suspicious of your motives," she said, giving me a cold stare.

I grinned before I asked her, "What? My motive just to be with my mistress and enjoy this beautiful day with her?"

She growled and sat up before pinning me to the wooden headboard with her arms. She straddled me in her silky, baby pink nightgown that revealed how round she was in places. "I'll give you mistress, Artie!" she said loudly before she reached for her cup of coffee and drank from it.

"Here? Now?" I asked, taken aback by Eileen's sudden amorous behavior. She had a major crush on me, apparently.

She growled at me while staring me in the face. "No. Not quite yet. You need to add coffee grinds to this... dirt water with fake milk product," she said as she drank more of her coffee.

"Well, I tried using a percolator, so it's hard to gauge how much coffee grinds to use," I said sheepishly.

"Ummm... How about actual coffee?" she said as she drank another sip before kissing my forehead. She moved her body closer to mine.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable. She was clearly infuriated, and yet she was acting very physical with me just then. I didn't know what to do. "Well, I guess I can use maximum amount of coffee grinds allowed and then brew it," I said.

"Duh. You know I like my coffee strong," she said. "I'm getting hot. Must be a side effect of my raging hormones." She finished her cup of coffee before putting her cup back on the nightstand and taking her gown off and revealing her lacy black underwear. She was really showing me how round she was in places.

'Hormones? What are those? I'm just a child's toy? How would I know these things?' I thought to myself.

"Artie..." she said, pressing her round breasts against me before kissing my lips.

"Eileen? What are you doing?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Something I want to do to you every day, all day," she said as she started to make out with me.

I was kissing her back. My right hand went a little lower and grabbed her other round place. My left hand remained at her waist.

She moaned before unbuttoning my trousers and revealing my very hard toy. She moved the underside of her underwear to the side and positioned herself over my toy and started rocking up and down.

My left hand grabbed her bottom, and I guided her body up and down my toy. She was moaning and breathing heavily.

I was breathing hard as she was gliding up and down my toy. I looked up at her gray eyes staring back into my green ones. I pressed my face against hers and started to kiss her softly at first. She was returning the kisses and saying "Artie" between them.

I never imagined that we would be doing it when we met. When she was a small child, we would play and go on adventures in old museums, libraries, or I daresay institutions. When she was 12 years old, we saved her little adopted brother, Alejandro, from Nurse Cribs and the National Institution of Wayward Children. When she was 15, she and I traveled the yellow brick road together in Olly's World with our mutual friends Holly the marionette and Theodore the Teddy Bear. When she was 16, she and I were on a team to fight for our lives to retrieve the Blue Ball of power; it was then when our friendship moved to the next level. That was the first time we did... it.

I started thrusting hard into Eileen. She bounced wildly up and down my toy. We were both making so much noise that we lost ourselves in the moment.

I heard a high-pitch creaking sound similar to the one I made when I opened the door this morning...

Oh no.

Chapter 2: The Interruption

The door opened behind Eileen. I peeked over her left shoulder while she turned her head to the left. Her demeanor turned dark immediately.

"A le jandro! What <expletive deletive> are you doing in my room?!" Eileen shouted before throwing her coffee cup at his head.

Alejandro was wearing the same elf cap he wore six years ago before he got lost in the National Institute of Wayward Children. "Whoa, Sis! I was just seeing what the noise was. My Goodness! I was doing the same thing downstairs watching a movie," he said in his Mexican accent as he dodged the coffee cup and let it smash against the large door into a million pieces.

"Then why didn't you finish?!" Eileen said through gritted teeth.

"Because, senorita, you and Artie were making so much noise that I'd rather watch you," Alejandro said.

Eileen immediately chucked a large book that was on the nightstand at Alejandro's head before cussing at him. "Maybe you can watch if you don't interrupt us from finishing," she said as she was glaring daggers at her younger brother.

He dodged that book as though he were playing dodgeball. "Ay, Jesus Cristo, Eileen! Calm down, senorita. Your door is so <expletive deletive> loud," he said loudly.

"Ugh! I know. That door is so irritating. I'll just prop it open and be done with it," she said.

"Hell yeah! That's a great idea," Alejandro said with a laugh. "That way, I can see my hot sister naked sometimes!"

Alejandro and Eileen weren't biological siblings, so 13-year-old Alejandro was legally allowed to be attracted to 18-year-old Eileen. Also, Alejandro was adopted, and his legal guardians were Eileen's biological parents. I assumed it was legal for them to do it. I doubt anyone was going to prosecute Eileen for doing it with her little minor brother in this case, especially if he was extremely willing. Heck, he and I would have long conversations about Eileen and how beautiful she was. Alejandro had been fantasizing about her since he was 10 years old.

Come to think of it, Eileen should have lost her virginity to him instead of me. Oops. I guess I got a little selfish and snatched her little snatch myself. Sometimes, a male toy can't help himself when a young, beautiful woman is around.

Because they were adopted siblings, they were not incestuous. I suppose most children that were raised together would not be attracted to each other, but because there was a five-year age difference, Alejandro was attracted to Eileen.

Oh brother! Don't you have plenty of women to look at in your library?" Eileen said as she rolled her eyes.

Alejandro walked up to the bed and sat close behind Eileen. "Yeah, but none of them are as beautiful as you are," he answered as he rubbed her back.

"You haven't looked through your entire collection," Eileen said dismissively.

"I don't need to. I already know you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And the passionate rage I bring out of you just makes you more sexy," Alejandro said as he planted a few kisses down her spine.

Eileen moaned loudly and went up and down my toy once. "Holy <expletive deletive>, Alejandro. How did you know I liked that?" she asked.

It was my turn to talk. "Because I told him. I told him all your likes and dislikes. I told him the best ways to make you respond."

"Artie! Why would you do that?!" she asked as she pinned me by my wrists against the headboard.

"Because he was curious on how to make you scream with pleasure. And trust me, Eileen, nothing would make me happier than for you to scream in pleasure," I said.

"Alejandro, are you just curious about how it feels to be with a woman?" she asked.

"I'm curious what it is like to be with you," Alejandro said. "I know you're with my bro, Artie, and you two have been doing it for two years now, but dang you are one senorita muy guapa." (Muy guapa is "very good-looking" in Spanish.)

"It is okay with me if you two want to get it on," I said with my wrists still pinned to the headboard.

Eileen looked back at Alejandro and before she knew it, he was passionately kissing her. She was kissing back. I could feel how much she was liking his smooth, sensual Spanish kisses on her smooth, pink lips. Then, he removed the comforter from her legs and exposed her body completely.

"Let's take her panties off, Artie," Alejandro said.

"What a novel idea," I said as I pushed Eileen on her back. I smoothed my hands over her shoulders before moving them over her mountainous chest. Once my hands enjoyed their hike over her mountains, they slinked down her tummy until the found the waistband of her panties. I gently grabbed the waistband and pulled them slowly down her voluptuous hips. As I was exposing her lady parts, I could smell her arousal. The smell was more apparent when Alejandro grabbed her knees and bent them back toward her chest, exposing part of her rear end to me. I could really see her pink flowery sex after I pulled her panties completely off of her legs.

My toy was pushing hard against my pants and begging for me to undo my trousers to let it out. Her smell was really getting to me. I used my right hand to unbutton my trousers and pull my toy out. There, I rubbed its tip while looking at naked Eileen.

"Will someone please <expletive deletive> me?" Eileen said as she spread her legs even wider, releasing her scent to us males.

"Yeah, okay!" Alejandro said as he removed his jeans and boxers and got on top of her. From there, he fumbled to put his toy in Eileen's sex.

Eileen moaned and squirmed around, also trying to get Alejandro's toy in her.

"Sorry, Sis. You're really wet. I'm slipping all over the place," Alejandro said before he slipped deep inside of her. "Whoa! I'm in now! Whoa! It feels a lot better than what it looks like on TV."

Eileen and I cracked up.

"What's so funny?" Alejandro said as he was pushing back and forth in Eileen.

"The way you said it feels better than how it looks on TV," Eileen replied as she wrapped her legs around her brother, giving him more access to her tunnel.

"Well, yeah, your cooch feels really good," he said as he leaned up to take his red and green hoodie off. "I'm going to have to take my hoodie off. You're making me sweat."

Eileen whined and pulled him down to her after he took his hoodie off.

"I slipped out. I'm sorry," he said as he guided his toy back in Eileen. Once he made an "ooh" sound, he was back in her. "There. That better?"

"Mhm," Eileen whined as he wrapped her arms and legs around him.

She was moaning with every thrust he was giving her. Alejandro placed his small hands on each side of Eileen's head as he was going in and out of her. Eileen was kissing his neck and putting her hands underneath his white T-shirt, sliding the shirt up his back. I helped her take his shirt off for the sake of making him comfortable.

I know from experience that being mostly or entirely naked around a completely nude Eileen is a pleasurable experience. I was glad to help Alejandro experience his beautiful, naked adopted sister. Like he said, he and I were bros. Heck, if we were allowed, I'd take one hole, and he would take the other. Maybe I better ask her.

"So, Eileen, have you ever had anal before?" I asked her while Alejandro was bouncing her around.

"No... I have only done it with you and Alejandro," she said while she was breathing heavily.

"Do you want to try it?" I asked as I was still softly toying with my toy.

"Sure!" she exclaimed.

"Oooh. My big sis is freaky today," Alejandro said as he kissed her before he stopped thrusting in and out of her. "Which one of us do you want back there?"

"Whoever has the smaller toy?" she said.

That was my cue to take my trousers and undergarments off. I was a toy from the 1800s, so my outfit was a bit different than theirs were. I was showing them how big my toy really was.

Alejandro got in front of me before putting his toy side by side with mine. "Oh wow. We're about the same size," he said as he rubbed the tip of his toy against mine. "Oh wow. I wouldn't mind having THAT in me!"

"You're bisexual, Alejandro?" I asked him.

Yeah, ese. At least I think so, homie. I agree with Eileen. You're pretty <expletive deletive> cute," Alejandro said.

"Hehe. Thanks," I said with a blush.

"You're welcome. Let's take some of these clothes off, huh?" he said as he started unbuttoning my cardigan. Eileen jumped in and helped pull it off my shoulders.

"My Goodness this shirt was too many <expletive deletive> buttons!" Alejandro said as he was unbuttoning my shirt. Eileen was pulling my shirt off of me to reveal my bare chest.

"Oh wow. Thank Goodness that's over!" Alejandro said as he was rubbing my chest. "Wow, ese, if I am half as hot as you are when I grow up, I'm going to be one happy <expletive deletive>!"

"You think I'm hot?" I asked with my eyebrow raised.

"Ummm. Yeah. Like everyone does, Artie!" Alejandro said.

"It's true," Eileen said as she put her rear end in my face like she does very often.

"I see," I said as I mounted Eileen and stuck my toy in her rear end. She immediately moaned very loudly.

"Okay, make room for me," Alejandro said as he went underneath Eileen and stuck his toy in her other hole.

Eileen immediately moaned and enjoyed being sandwiched between us. I was slowly inching my toy in her rear end while Alejandro was slowly bucking his hips up and down in her front hole. I wrapped my left arm around her waist to stabilize myself against her. I tousled her hair over her right shoulder before kissing the left side of her neck.

Alejandro also was kissing her left shoulder, and when he saw that I was kissing the same shoulder, his lips immediately moved to mine. I pulled back and pushed in Eileen even more slowly.

"Oh Gosh. Sorry, ese. I just got carried away," Alejandro said as he returned his attention to Eileen.

"Oh. It's... okay. I was just wasn't expecting it," I said with a blush.

"Oh? I wasn't either. I just got caught in the moment," he said, also blushing.

We went back to pleasuring the ever-moaning Eileen. She kept saying things like, "Oh yeah! Oh my Gosh! Oh Fudge! You guys feel amazing!!!! Wowee! This is the best thing ever!!!!" Her tight rear end felt so ecstatic that I almost released myself in her. In fact, I would have if what happened next hadn't occurred.

Chapter 3: Another Interruption

Eileen's door creaked open again with that horrible high-pitched squeal. None other than Meredith, the housekeeper (and also my ex-masteress, master, and mistress), was the lady who opened the door. When she saw what was happening, she gasped and put her right hand to her mouth.

Eileen growled and rolled over, knocking me off of her. "Hasn't anyone heard of knocking!!!!!?" she shouted at Meredith.

Meredith just looked at her with wide eyes before answering, "I'm really sorry. I just heard a lot of noise and wanted to take a look. I have been meaning to fix that door!"

Ugh! You're the third person to walk in on me today! Look, my hormones are completely raging. If I don't get off soon, I'm really going to go insane!" she said.

"Can I watch?" she asked.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to move because I wasn't supposed to reveal myself to a much older Meredith.

The only reasons I could reveal myself to Eileen and Alejandro were because I was dating Eileen, and Alejandro still played with me like he has been since he was seven years old (although lately, our playing has been a bit more intimate in nature). So there I was, mostly naked and playing dead while I was in bed with the two of them.

"If you want," Eileen said before she straddled Alejandro and hopped up and down on him.

Alejandro moaned. "I don't care who's watching. I love the way she feels on me," he said.

Meredith lifted up her skirt before fishing her right hand into her knickers. She was staring at their intimacy with soft brown eyes. I couldn't tell which one she liked more. She let out soft breaths while she was pleasuring herself.

Eileen was going up and down on Alejandro really quickly. Alejandro was smiling and giggling as he was holding Eileen's hips. Eileen was grunting. I could tell she was getting close to climaxing.

"I'm gonna cum! I'm gonna cum, Alejandro. Oh yeah! Oh yeah!" she said as she was flying up and down his toy. "I'm so close! I'm so close! Oh my Gosh!" She screamed in pleasure.

Out of nowhere, the worst thing that could have possibly happened just did.

Hello, children! We're home!" Eileen's jet-setting mother sang up the stairs.

"Oh <expletive deletive>!" Alejandro said as he rolled over and immediately began dressing himself.

Eileen sighed loudly, cursed under her breath, and slammed her fist on the bed. "I was so close!!!!" she said as she got out of bed and began to get dressed for the day. She used the restroom before she even started complaining about what to wear.

"Woooooow! I'm going to look like <expletive deletive> no matter what I wear!" Eileen said with disgust. "Aaaannnnd now I need to put on a pad."

"Nah. I think you'd look hot in a nun's outfit, even if you are on your period." Alejandro said with a grin as he put his hoodie.

I agreed with Alejandro. She'd look better in my outfit than I do.

Meredith grinned and said, "Eileen, you're beautiful no matter what you wear." She was picking up the big pieces of the coffee cup where she was. "I'm sorry you're on your period. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Thank you, Meredith and Alejandro, but that is not true. And yes, please, Meredith. I need some tea. I. Feel. Awful.," Eileen said as she finally got dressed in a blue T-shirt, black hoodie, and black sweat pants. Eileen was cursing as she went back into her room. "I guess I don't get to cum today! As if this could get any worse! Ahhhh!!!!" She kicked the side of her bed before sitting on it and folding her arms over her chest. "It doesn't help that I started bleeding from the crotch. I don't even UNDERSTAND why I go through this dumb process every month."

Alejandro ran out of the room and was nowhere in sight after Eileen began ranting. He was probably afraid that Eileen was going to breathe fire if anyone so much as looked at her. Heck, I know I was. I was afraid of becoming an unidentified flying object. I've had it happen. It happens every time Eileen gets on her period. I wished Alejandro would get me the heck out of here. He was the only person who could save me from fire-breathing Eileen. Holy Smokes!

Meredith was putting the pieces in her apron and trying to ignore Eileen's anger. When the kids' mother was coming up the stairs. Meredith went to get Eileen some tea before she would fetch the vacuum cleaner.

"I brought you a present, Eileen," her mother sung up the stairs. "I have one for you, too, Alejandro!"

"Ohhhh! A present?" Alejandro yelled through the hall as he met his mother.

"Yes, dear. Here you go!" she said as she smiled and handed him a bag from Pac-Sun.

"Oh my Gosh, Mummy! Thank you." he said as he took the bag and hugged her.

She returned the hug and petted his elf cap. "You're welcome. I wanted to give you something that would accent your adorable elf cap," she said as her smile grew wider.

"Thanks, Mum," he said as he smiled at her cutely. "I should try it on." He took the bag to his room.

Eileen's mom knocked on her door.

"FINALLY! Someone who knows how to knock!" Eileen said as she stared at the door.

"May I come in?" her mother asked.

"You may," Eileen said as she went to the door to let her mother in.

Her mother opened the door. "Oh this awful sound! Meredith should really get to this!" she said as she crossed to Eileen. "For you."

"Tell me about it. That creaking noise is the bane of my existence right now," Eileen said as she opened the bag. "Oh wow... thank you, Mom... What was this?" she asked as she pulled out pink lingerie.

"Well, you are a maturing young woman. You might need some undergarments to make you feel more... womanly. They will certainly accentuate your beautiful curves," she said as she traced Eileen's curves. "Go try them on."

Eileen blushed and turned away.

"Oh, Eileen, my sweet girl. Don't be embarrassed. You will look lovely. There is nothing wrong with wearing your skimpies," she said with a smile before she softly added. "You should try them on."

"Mom, I can't," she said bashfully, sitting on her bed.

"Oh why not? We're both girls," she said as she came over to run her delicate fingers through Eileen's thick auburn hair.

"Yeah. I'm a girl... Going through girl things... Down there," she said as she leaned bashfully away from her mother.

"Oh! That would explain it," her mother said. "But there is another present in the bag..."

Eileen looked in the bag and saw a short pink silk robe in there. "Oh wow! That looks comfortable!"

"You can try that on, right?" her mother said with a grin.

"I guess," Eileen said shyly as she took the robe to the bathroom.

While Eileen was in the bathroom, her mother noticed me in my mostly-naked form. I was just in my undergarments. I would have dressed more, but there were adults running about, so I couldn't have gotten away with being animate for long.

"Oh wow. I see what Eileen's been up to today," she said as she stared at me with her emerald eyes. "What a lucky girl. What I wouldn't give to be with you again..." She leaned down to kiss me.

When Eileen's mother, Cecille, was a child, she played with me. As she became a teenager, we played even more. We were very intimate with each other until she went away to college.

It's sad when people grow up. Secretly, her father-in-law, Master Watterson never did. That's why I'm still in the family.

Eileen walked out in her robe and black sweat pants. "What do you think?" she said.

Cecille smiled and said, "Wow. That robe looks amazing on you."

Eileen looked down at her robe and grinned. "It is nice."

"Yes, and now you should rest. It is Saturday after all," Cecille said. "Have you eaten?"

"Not today, but I did have a cup of coffee," Eileen answered.

"I see what else you've been doing besides eating," Cecille said as she giggled stroked my body. "You know, Artie Wonderbloom used to be my toy."

"Yeah. Grandpa Watterson mentioned that he was your favorite," Eileen said as she came over to me and ran a finger down my body. Her mother also ran her finger down my body, and their fingers rubbed together right near my no-no part. "He's my favorite, too."

"Yeah, I used to imagine him coming to life and... well, making Hansels and Eileens," she said giggling.

I wanted to laugh because I was the real father of Eileen's older brother, Hansel. But because I was a toy, Eileen's real father claimed him seven years before.

"Yeah," Eileen said with a giggle. "I definitely imagine him being my boyfriend and us doing it."

"I totally don't blame you. He is such a turn-on," her mother said as she tickled Eileen.

Eileen squirmed and started laughing. "I know!"

Her mother continued to tickle her until they were both laying in bed together with me between them. They both kissed my cheeks and giggled.

"Eileen... this is going to sound crazy, but can we pretend we're in a threesome with Artie?" Cecille said as she smiled at her and brushed a lock of hair out of her own face.

"That would be <expletive deletive> awesome!" Eileen said as she brushed her nose against my cheek and pulled her pants off.

Cecille was smiling and holding me close before she took her green blouse off and revealed large breasts under a white lacy brassiere. "All right, Artie. We meet again." She kissed me square on the lips.

Eileen took one of my hands and rubbed it against her right breasts. "You're going to enjoy this, Artie!" she said as she used her other hand to prop my head up.

"It's a shame that you are on your period," Cecille said as she rubbed her hand down my chest.

Eileen was moaning and moving my hand across her breasts. She nuzzled my shoulder and laid her head there, burying her face. Her mother continued softly rubbing my chest with both hands before removing my undergarments and socks.

"Oh yeah. You starting to feel better?" her mother said softly in my ear.

At this point, I came to life and became 7'4." "Oh yeah, I am," I said as I smiled to Cecille. "We meet again."

"So, apparently, you were with my mother before me?" Eileen said as she remained still.

"I was," I said with an awkward smile.

"Why didn't you tell me before, you wooden asshole!" Eileen said as she propped my head behind a pillow before tickling me.

I was laughing and squirming. "I'm not allowed to reveal secrets like that!!!" I yelled as I was laughing.

"He's right. The toy world is strict like that," Cecille said as she grabbed my junk and started groping it.

"Oh <expletive deletive>! You make this <expletive deletive> up as you go!" Eileen said as she violently tugged at the curls on top of my head.

"I do not!" I said as I winced and tried to pull her hands out of my hair. "Easy on the curls."

"Easy on his hair, Eileen!" Cecille said as she turned me on my side to where my butt was facing Eileen. "Spank him instead. He's a bad toy."

"Gladly! I'm going to tear up this wooden boy's behind!" Eileen said as she smacked my butt pretty hard.

Meanwhile, Cecille was stroking my toy before she wrapped herself around me. She braced herself against me so I couldn't squirm out of Eileen spanking me.

"You should have told me, you little jerk!" Eileen said as she smacked me in the butt again.

"Sorry!" I yelled as I winced. "You didn't ask..."

"You got that right! Jerk! And how would I ask? I wouldn't think about asking such a question like that, you piece of FIREWOOD!!!!" Eileen said as she stopped spanking me, laid behind me, and also grabbed my toy rather roughly. "This is also mine now, mother."

"I know," she said as she looked me in the eyes before leaving a tender kiss on my mouth. "He's a cute piece of firewood." She rubbed my curls softly before kissing my mouth again and looking at me with love in her eyes.

"Oh no, mother," Eileen said as she rolled over both of us and landed behind her mother. "You are also in trouble. You, like most middle-aged adults, are a lying monster. You're gonna be punished." Eileen undid her mother's brassiere before rubbing her breasts roughly.

"Holy <expletive deletive>, Eileen!" Cecille moaned.

"Oh no. You're gonna get completely naked and punished," Eileen said as she violently pulled Cecille's pants and underwear off. Eileen literally tore her pants off. Then she hugged her mother before jamming her left hand between her legs. "Spread your legs. Your <expletive deletive> is gonna get pounded."

I smiled and liked where this was going, so I took off Cecille's socks and shoes. Eileen rolled Cecille on her back before pulling her legs apart to expose a gorgeous feminine flower. I rubbed her right leg and pulled it as far away from her center as I could. I even brushed my hand against her already juicy velvet dove.

"I didn't know you had this in you," Cecille said looking up at her daughter.

Yeah. When my slut mother was <expletive deletive> with my toyfriend in the past and doesn't tell me, I can do all kinds of things you wouldn't expect!" Eileen said before moving Cecille's left leg as far from her center before plopping down on her feminine flower and licking it violently.

Cecille gasped and put her hands on Eileen's shoulders. "Oh my Gosh, wow!" she screamed.

While Eileen kept violently lapping up Cecille's succulent juices, I moved my hands up the mother's round places before stopping at her breasts. I rubbed them vigorously and kissed her neck repeatedly.

Cecille hugged me closely before wrapping her legs around Eileen's neck. Our faces were touching before I made out with her passionately. My hands found their way to her vibrant red locks and squeezed them before I left soft kisses all over Cecille's face.

Before I knew it, I felt an intrusion in my rear end. I turned toward Eileen to see that she had a devilish grin on her face.

"Your punishment has just begun, Artie you wooden prick!" Eileen said as she dug her finger deeper in me. "You're going to PAY for not telling me about my mother!"

I winced, but to be honest, my toy was getting longer and harder from her digging into me. She added another finger before pushing me down on her mother.

"You little toy whore. I'm going to play with you like the little slut you are, Artie Wonderbloom," Eileen continued as she jammed her fingers in and out of me.

"Oh yeah," I breathed. It was hurting so good. I pushed back to Eileen's fingers. I felt like a horny, dirty slut, and I wanted more.

I heard Cecille moan loudly before breathing "Artie." She and I were kissing very loudly. It got to the point where she was trying to lick my ears.

I heard Cecille making a "Yip" sound before Eileen continued, "As for you, you busty, dirty slutty brood mare, I'm going to punish your cooch and butt so hard that you're going to feel it for weeks!"

Oh no! Eileen, have mercy," Cecille said as she breathing hard. "This is really unfair."

"Unfair!?" she asked as she slammed her fingers harder into us. "What's unfair is that you sluts had a relationship and didn't tell me! How could you?!"

"Ow!" I said. "It was in the past!"

Cecille slapped me hard. "Jerk! You totally moved on and didn't miss me AT ALL!" she yelled before she squeezed my cock hard.

"Cecille, I didn't mean it like that! You grew up and left me," I said as I softly held Cecille's wrist of the hand that had a death grip on my sensitive toy.

"You asshole! You're the one that didn't want me to take you with me," she said as she jacked me off.

I breathed softly. "Girls! Calm down. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"

"The hell you didn't!" Eileen said as she squeezed my balls tightly.

"Ow! Eileen! I really didn't. People grow and move on. I know it hurts, but it's a part of life," I said with a higher pitched voice than normal.

Cecille bit my neck and pulled me to her. "Eileen's right. You're a complete <expletive deletive> asshole! If you weren't so irresistibly hot, I'd burn you, just like Eileen would," she said with fiery Emerald eyes.

Eileen smacked my butt really hard. "Why don't I go ahead and start the fire?" she yelled before smoke started coming out of her nostrils.

Meredith walked in with the vacuum cleaner before seeing us have rough sex.

"What is going on here?" Meredith said as she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Asshole Artie didn't tell me he was in a relationship with my mother before I was born," Eileen said as she smacked me in the head again, but this time she managed to scratch me.

"He was?!" Meredith said as she put the vacuum cleaner down and stormed over. Her icy blue eyes started to show flames in them as she stared intently at me. If looks could kill, I would be dead.

"Yeah, but I regret it considering he doesn't feel anything about it," Cecille said as she forced my admittedly hard toy inside of her wet tunnel. Her breath was fire on my neck.

"I didn't say that, Cecille. You are still special," I said as my voice was shaky. "And so are you, Eileen. And you, too, Meredith, my dear."

"You and Meredith were together, too?!" Cecille and Eileen said with gritted teeth. Cecille humped me hard, which caused me to moan. Eileen was probably stuffing her whole fist in my butt at this point.

"Yeah. That was a few years before you turned five, Cecille," I said between breaths.

"Yeah, and apparently, you're the asshole who had no problem moving on, ARTIE!" Meredith said as she jumped on the bed and clawed into my back. "May I join you girls in hate-screwing Artie? He is such a hot asshole." I could have sworn Meredith learned how to breathe fire.

"Yeah, no problem. This slut needs it as much as he can get it," Eileen said as she pumped her fist in and out of me.

"I quite agree. No kisses, Artie, you dirty slut," Cecille said as she humped me vigorously. Her arms felt like dragon wings on me. "Your toy feels so good in me, even if I want to smack your glasses off your gorgeous face!"

I felt Meredith's hands rubbing my hips before she was scratching and kissing my back. Eileen also joined in kissing my back and neck while she was still fisting me.

"Girls... I'm about to cum," I said weakly.

Eileen pushed me off Cecille. "Oh no, Artie. You don't get off that easily!" she said. She then jumped on Cecille. "No more pleasure for your cooch, either, Mom." She then lifted Cecille's legs before jamming her fingers inside her butt.

Cecille whined. "I'm sorry, Eileen. I didn't know you'd want to know." She started hugging Eileen and giving her the "<expletive deletive> me" eyes.

"Yeah. Don't give your daughter your used sex toys," she said as she decided to stick a pinky in her mother's cooch.

"Well, he left ME, so I figured you'd be happy," Cecille said as she was leaning up to try to kiss Eileen.

"I was until I discovered you were a dirty slut. Now I'm going to treat you like one," Eileen said as she pushed Cecille down hard on the bed and started sucking on her breasts.

Cecille moaned. "Oh my! Right now, I don't mind being a dirty slut. Ugh. This feels so good," she said as she moaned and rubbed Eileen's butt.

As for you, Artie, I'm going to show you how much of a dirty slut you are!" Meredith said as she put me on my back and got on top of me. "You didn't miss me at all, you slutty, curly-haired, green-eyed, glasses-wearing jerk!"

"I did, too. You just outgrew me!" I said.

She took off her maid outfit and rubbed herself against my toy. "Outgrew you? You're over seven feet tall, you <expletive deletive> jerkwad!" Meredith said as she smacked me across the face.

I hugged her softly before looking at her sadly. "I didn't mean like that. You grew up and became a servant-maid. You barely played with me, so Watterson gave me to Cecille," I said as I rubbed her curvy round places.

"Just like men. So impatient and needy. You wouldn't understand how I feel. Yeah, women need to work to eat when their boyfriend is A TOY! You were such an ungrateful asshole!," Meredith said as tears formed in her eyes. "You <expletive deletive> asshat!" She leaned down on me before she cried violently in my shoulder.

I held her close and stroked her gray locks. "I'm sorry, Meredith. Growing up sucks for everyone. It broke my heart when you had to leave," I said.

She kissed me softly before stroking my curls. "It does. You have no idea how much I have missed you. When you became inanimate, I felt like I died. And my heart was BEYOND broken when you were given to CECILLE!"

"I felt the same way when I went away to college!" Cecille said with sadness as she was bent over on her knees while Eileen was fingering both holes from behind.

"Whoa! What is happening here?! asked an excited Alejandro who suddenly appeared..

Xara's POV:

"No! No! No! This isn't working! This isn't working!" Peter screamed as he was slamming his fists quickly in his thighs while grunting and gritting his teeth. "I have to start the whole fucking chapter over again, goddammit!!!"

"I had a case of that recently myself. I'm sorry, Peter," I said as I walked over to touch his shoulder.

Peter sighed his trademark sigh before putting his face in his hands. "Goddammit..." he said.

"Well, at least you're not writing a story about someone going insane with his novel," I said as I scratched his back and kissed his neck.

"True. I wouldn't write sadistic shit like that. No one deserves that. This novel is awful enough. I'm ready to change the title to Artie Wonderbloom and the Red Dragons. Plural. This shit is too much. I can't believe I have to rewrite the whole chapter. Ughhhg...." he said as he saved his progress, closed the word program, and turned off his computer. "I'll deal with that shit tomorrow."

The Next Day

Xara's POV:

Peter was once again fucking around with that novel and grunting. I was dust-mopping and giggling at him.

"So, how far are you in that novel?" I asked.

"Well, I managed to rewrite Chapter 3 almost entirely," Peter said triumphantly.

"I'm proud. Can I see?" I asked as I left him another kiss on his neck.

"Sure! And then I will send the first three chapters and A GODDAMN QUERY LETTER to that literary bitch, Kendra Cannabliss! She pissed me off, so I am going to waste her time," Peter said as he laughed maniacally. "I've only been working on this fucking chapter since 3 A.M!!!!!" He added before he laughed maniacally again.

I laughed. "Peter, you're fucked up," I said.

Artie Wonderbloom's POV:

Chapter 3: Another Interruption

Eileen's door creaked open again with that horrible high-pitched squeal. None other than Meredith, the housekeeper (and also my ex-masteress, master, and mistress), was the lady who opened the door. When she saw what was happening, she gasped and put her right hand to her mouth.

Eileen growled and rolled over, knocking me off of her. "Hasn't anyone heard of knocking!!!!!?" she shouted at Meredith.

Meredith just looked at her with wide eyes before answering, "I'm really sorry. I just heard a lot of noise and wanted to take a look. I have been meaning to fix that door!"

Ugh! You're the third person to walk in on me today! Look, my hormones are completely raging. If I don't get off soon, I'm really going to go insane!" she said.

"Can I watch?" she asked.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to move because I wasn't supposed to reveal myself to a much older Meredith.

The only reasons I could reveal myself to Eileen and Alejandro were because I was dating Eileen, and Alejandro still played with me like he has been since he was seven years old (although lately, our playing has been a bit more intimate in nature). So there I was, mostly naked and playing dead while I was in bed with the two of them.

"If you want," Eileen said before she straddled Alejandro and hopped up and down on him.

Alejandro moaned. "I don't care who's watching. I love the way she feels on me," he said.

Meredith lifted up her skirt before fishing her right hand into her knickers. She was staring at their intimacy with soft brown eyes. I couldn't tell which one she liked more. She let out soft breaths while she was pleasuring herself.

Eileen was going up and down on Alejandro really quickly. Alejandro was smiling and giggling as he was holding Eileen's hips. Eileen was grunting. I could tell she was getting close to climaxing.

"I'm gonna cum! I'm gonna cum, Alejandro. Oh yeah! Oh yeah!" she said as she was flying up and down his toy. "I'm so close! I'm so close! Oh my Gosh!" She screamed in pleasure.

Out of nowhere, the worst thing that could have possibly happened just did.

Hello, children! We're home!" Eileen's jet-setting mother sang up the stairs.

"Oh <expletive deletive>!" Alejandro said as he rolled over and immediately began dressing himself.

Eileen cursed and began getting dressed for the day. "I guess I don't get to cum today! As if this could get any worse! Ahhhh!!!!" She ran off into the bathroom.

Alejandro ran out of the room and was nowhere in sight.

Meredith noticed the pieces of coffee cup all over the floor where she was, so she got on the ground and started picking them up. As she was putting the pieces in her apron, the kids' mother was coming up the stairs. Meredith went to get the vacuum cleaner.

"I brought you a present, Eileen," her mother sung up the stairs. "I have one for you, too, Alejandro!"

"Ohhhh! A present?" Alejandro yelled through the hall as he met his mother.

"Yes, dear. Here you go!" she said as she smiled and handed him a bag from Pac-Sun.

"Oh my Gosh, Mummy! Thank you." he said as he took the bag and hugged her.

She returned the hug and petted his elf cap. "You're welcome. I wanted to give you something that would accent your adorable elf cap," she said as her smile grew wider.

"Thanks, Mum," he said as he smiled at her cutely. "I should try it on." He took the bag to his room.

Eileen's mom knocked on her door.

"FINALLY! Someone who knows how to knock!" Eileen said as she stared at the door.

"May I come in?" her mother asked.

"You may," Eileen said as she went to the door to let her mother in.

Her mother opened the door. "Oh this awful sound! Meredith should really get to this!" she said as she crossed to Eileen. "For you."

"Oh thank you!" Eileen said as she opened the bag. "Oh wow... Mom... What was this?" she asked as she pulled out pink lingerie.

"Well, you are a maturing young woman. You might need some undergarments to make you feel more... womanly. They will certainly accentuate your beautiful curves," she said as she traced Eileen's curves. "Go try them on."

Eileen blushed and turned away.

Oh, Eileen, my sweet girl. Don't be embarrassed. You will look lovely. There is nothing wrong with wearing your skimpies," she said with a smile before she softly added. "You should try them on."

"Mom, I can't," she said bashfully, sitting on her bed.

"Oh why not? We're both girls," she said with a shrug.

"Yeah. I'm a girl... Going through girl things... Down there," she said as she leaned bashfully away from her mother.

"Oh! That would explain it," her mother said. "But there is another present in the bag..."

Eileen looked in the bag and saw a short pink silk robe in there. "Oh wow! That looks comfortable!"

"You can try that on, right?" her mother said with a grin.

"I guess," Eileen said shyly as she took the robe to the bathroom.

While Eileen was in the bathroom, her mother noticed me in my mostly-naked form. I was just in my undergarments. I would have dressed more, but there were adults running about, so I couldn't have gotten away with being animate for long.

"Oh wow. I see what Eileen's been up to today," she said as she stared at me with her emerald eyes. "What a lucky girl. What I wouldn't give to be with you again..." She leaned down to kiss me.

When Eileen's mother, Cecille, was a child, she played with me. As she became a teenager, we played even more. We were very intimate with each other until she went away to college.

It's sad when people grow up. Secretly, her father-in-law, Master Watterson never did. That's why I'm still in the family.

Eileen walked out in her robe and black sweat pants. "What do you think?" she said.

Cecille smiled and said, "Wow. That robe looks amazing on you."

Eileen looked down at her robe and grinned. "It is nice."

"Yes, and now you should rest. It is Saturday after all," Cecille said. "Have you eaten?"

"Not today, but I did have a cup of coffee," Eileen answered.

"I see what else you've been doing besides eating," Cecille said as she giggled stroked my body. "You know, Artie Wonderbloom used to be my toy."

"Yeah. Grandpa Watterson mentioned that he was your favorite," Eileen said as she came over to me and ran a finger down my body. Her mother also ran her finger down my body, and their fingers rubbed together right near my no-no part. "He's my favorite, too."

"Yeah, I used to imagine him coming to life and... well, making Hansels and Eileens," she said giggling.

I wanted to laugh because I was the real father of Eileen's older brother, Hansel. But because I was a toy, Eileen's real father claimed him seven years before.

"Yeah," Eileen said with a giggle. "I definitely imagine him being my boyfriend and us doing it."

"I totally don't blame you. He is such a turn-on," her mother said as she tickled Eileen.

Eileen squirmed and started laughing. "I know!"

Her mother continued to tickle her until they were both laying in bed together with me between them. They both kissed my cheeks and giggled.

"Eileen... this is going to sound crazy, but can we pretend we're in a threesome with Artie?" Cecille said as she smiled at her and brushed a lock of hair out of her own face.

"That would be <expletive deletive> awesome!" Eileen said as she brushed her nose against my cheek and pulled her pants off.

Cecille was smiling and holding me close before she took her green blouse off and revealed large breasts under a white lacy brassiere. "All right, Artie. We meet again." She kissed me square on the lips.

Eileen took one of my hands and rubbed it against her right breasts. "You're going to enjoy this, Artie!" she said as she used her other hand to prop my head up.

"It's a shame that you are on your period," Cecille said as she rubbed her hand down my chest.

Eileen was moaning and moving my hand across her breasts. She nuzzled my shoulder and laid her head there, burying her face. Her mother continued softly rubbing my chest with both hands before removing my undergarments and socks.

"Oh yeah. You starting to feel better?" her mother said softly in my ear.

At this point, I came to life and became 7'4." "Oh yeah, I am," I said as I smiled to Cecille. "We meet again."

"So, apparently, you were with my mother before me?" Eileen said as she remained still.

"I was," I said with an awkward smile.

"Why didn't you tell me before, you wooden asshole!" Eileen said as she propped my head behind a pillow before tickling me.

I was laughing and squirming. "I'm not allowed to reveal secrets like that!!!" I yelled as I was laughing.

"He's right. The toy world is strict like that," Cecille said as she grabbed my junk and started groping it.

"Oh <expletive deletive>! You make this <expletive deletive> up as you go!" Eileen said as she violently tugged at the curls on top of my head.

"I do not!" I said as I winced and tried to pull her hands out of my hair. "Easy on the curls."

"Easy on his hair, Eileen!" Cecille said as she turned me on my side to where my butt was facing Eileen. "Spank him instead. He's a bad toy."

"Gladly! I'm going to tear up this wooden boy's behind!" Eileen said as she smacked my butt pretty hard.

Meanwhile, Cecille was stroking my toy before she wrapped herself around me. She braced herself against me so I couldn't squirm out of Eileen spanking me.

"You should have told me, you little jerk!" Eileen said as she smacked me in the butt again.

"Sorry!" I yelled as I winced. "You didn't ask..."

"You got that right! Jerk! And how would I ask? I wouldn't think about asking such a question like that, you piece of FIREWOOD!!!!" Eileen said as she stopped spanking me, laid behind me, and also grabbed my toy rather roughly. "This is also mine now, mother."

"I know," she said as she looked me in the eyes before leaving a tender kiss on my mouth. "He's a cute piece of firewood." She rubbed my curls softly before kissing my mouth again and looking at me with love in her eyes.

"Oh no, mother," Eileen said as she rolled over both of us and landed behind her mother. "You are also in trouble. You, like most middle-aged adults, are a lying monster. You're gonna be punished." Eileen undid her mother's brassiere before rubbing her breasts roughly.

"Holy <expletive deletive>, Eileen!" Cecille moaned.

"Oh no. You're gonna get completely naked and punished," Eileen said as she violently pulled Cecille's pants and underwear off. Eileen literally tore her pants off. Then she hugged her mother before jamming her left hand between her legs. "Spread your legs. Your <expletive deletive> is gonna get pounded."

I smiled and liked where this was going, so I took off Cecille's socks and shoes. Eileen rolled Cecille on her back before pulling her legs apart to expose a gorgeous feminine flower. I rubbed her right leg and pulled it as far away from her center as I could. I even brushed my hand against her already juicy velvet dove.

"I didn't know you had this in you," Cecille said looking up at her daughter.

Yeah. When my slut mother was <expletive deletive> with my toyfriend in the past and doesn't tell me, I can do all kinds of things you wouldn't expect!" Eileen said before moving Cecille's left leg as far from her center before plopping down on her feminine flower and licking it violently.

Cecille gasped and put her hands on Eileen's shoulders. "Oh my Gosh, wow!" she screamed.

While Eileen kept violently lapping up Cecille's succulent juices, I moved my hands up the mother's round places before stopping at her breasts. I rubbed them vigorously and kissed her neck repeatedly.

Cecille hugged me closely before wrapping her legs around Eileen's neck. Our faces were touching before I made out with her passionately. My hands found their way to her vibrant red locks and squeezed them before I left soft kisses all over Cecille's face.

Before I knew it, I felt an intrusion in my rear end. I turned toward Eileen to see that she had a devilish grin on her face.

"Your punishment has just begun, Artie you wooden prick!" Eileen said as she dug her finger deeper in me. "You're going to PAY for not telling me about my mother!"

I winced, but to be honest, my toy was getting longer and harder from her digging into me. She added another finger before pushing me down on her mother.

"You little toy whore. I'm going to play with you like the little slut you are, Artie Wonderbloom," Eileen continued as she jammed her fingers in and out of me.

"Oh yeah," I breathed. It was hurting so good. I pushed back to Eileen's fingers. I felt like a horny, dirty slut, and I wanted more.

I heard Cecille moan loudly before breathing "Artie." She and I were kissing very loudly. It got to the point where she was trying to lick my ears.

I heard Cecille making a "Yip" sound before Eileen continued, "As for you, you busty, dirty slutty brood mare, I'm going to punish your cooch and butt so hard that you're going to feel it for weeks!"

Oh no! Eileen, have mercy," Cecille said as she breathing hard. "This is really unfair."

"Unfair!?" she asked as she slammed her fingers harder into us. "What's unfair is that you sluts had a relationship and didn't tell me! How could you?!"

"Ow!" I said. "It was in the past!"

Cecille slapped me hard. "Jerk! You totally moved on and didn't miss me AT ALL!" she yelled before she squeezed my cock hard.

"Cecille, I didn't mean it like that! You grew up and left me," I said as I softly held Cecille's wrist of the hand that had a death grip on my sensitive toy.

"You asshole! You're the one that didn't want me to take you with me," she said as she jacked me off.

I breathed softly. "Girls! Calm down. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"

"The hell you didn't!" Eileen said as she squeezed my balls tightly.

"Ow! Eileen! I really didn't. People grow and move on. I know it hurts, but it's a part of life," I said with a higher pitched voice than normal.

Cecille bit my neck and pulled me to her. "Eileen's right. You're a complete <expletive deletive> asshole! If you weren't so irresistibly hot, I'd burn you, just like Eileen would," she said with fiery Emerald eyes.

Eileen smacked my butt really hard. "Why don't I go ahead and start the fire?" she yelled before smoke started coming out of her nostrils.

Meredith walked in with the vacuum cleaner before seeing us have rough sex.

"What is going on here?" Meredith said as she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Asshole Artie didn't tell me he was in a relationship with my mother before I was born," Eileen said as she smacked me in the head again, but this time she managed to scratch me.

"He was?!" Meredith said as she put the vacuum cleaner down and stormed over. Her icy blue eyes started to show flames in them as she stared intently at me. If looks could kill, I would be dead.

"Yeah, but I regret it considering he doesn't feel anything about it," Cecille said as she forced my admittedly hard toy inside of her wet tunnel. Her breath was fire on my neck.

"I didn't say that, Cecille. You are still special," I said as my voice was shaky. "And so are you, Eileen. And you, too, Meredith, my dear."

"You and Meredith were together, too?!" Cecille and Eileen said with gritted teeth. Cecille humped me hard, which caused me to moan. Eileen was probably stuffing her whole fist in my butt at this point.

"Yeah. That was a few years before you turned five, Cecille," I said between breaths.

"Yeah, and apparently, you're the asshole who had no problem moving on, ARTIE!" Meredith said as she jumped on the bed and clawed into my back. "May I join you girls in hate-screwing Artie? He is such a hot asshole." I could have sworn Meredith learned how to breathe fire.

"Yeah, no problem. This slut needs it as much as he can get it," Eileen said as she pumped her fist in and out of me.

"I quite agree. No kisses, Artie, you dirty slut," Cecille said as she humped me vigorously. Her arms felt like dragon wings on me. "Your toy feels so good in me, even if I want to smack your glasses off your gorgeous face!"

I felt Meredith's hands rubbing my hips before she was scratching and kissing my back. Eileen also joined in kissing my back and neck while she was still fisting me.

"Girls... I'm about to cum," I said weakly.

Eileen pushed me off Cecille. "Oh no, Artie. You don't get off that easily!" she said. She then jumped on Cecille. "No more pleasure for your cooch, either, Mom." She then lifted Cecille's legs before jamming her fingers inside her butt.

Cecille whined. "I'm sorry, Eileen. I didn't know you'd want to know." She started hugging Eileen and giving her the "<expletive deletive> me" eyes.

"Yeah. Don't give your daughter your used sex toys," she said as she decided to stick a pinky in her mother's cooch.

"Well, he left ME, so I figured you'd be happy," Cecille said as she was leaning up to try to kiss Eileen.

"I was until I discovered you were a dirty slut. Now I'm going to treat you like one," Eileen said as she pushed Cecille down hard on the bed and started sucking on her breasts.

Cecille moaned. "Oh my! Right now, I don't mind being a dirty slut. Ugh. This feels so good," she said as she moaned and rubbed Eileen's butt.

As for you, Artie, I'm going to show you how much of a dirty slut you are!" Meredith said as she put me on my back and got on top of me. "You didn't miss me at all, you slutty, curly-haired, green-eyed, glasses-wearing jerk!"

"I did, too. You just outgrew me!" I said.

She took off her maid outfit and rubbed herself against my toy. "Outgrew you? You're over seven feet tall, you <expletive deletive> jerkwad!" Meredith said as she smacked me across the face.

I hugged her softly before looking at her sadly. "I didn't mean like that. You grew up and became a servant-maid. You barely played with me, so Watterson gave me to Cecille," I said as I rubbed her curvy round places.

"Just like men. So impatient and needy. You wouldn't understand how I feel. Yeah, women need to work to eat when their boyfriend is A TOY! You were such an ungrateful asshole!," Meredith said as tears formed in her eyes. "You <expletive deletive> asshat!" She leaned down on me before she cried violently in my shoulder.

I held her close and stroked her gray locks. "I'm sorry, Meredith. Growing up sucks for everyone. It broke my heart when you had to leave," I said.

She kissed me softly before stroking my curls. "It does. You have no idea how much I have missed you. When you became inanimate, I felt like I died. And my heart was BEYOND broken when you were given to CECILLE!"

"I felt the same way when I went away to college!" Cecille said with sadness as she was bent over on her knees while Eileen was fingering both holes from behind.

"Whoa! What is happening here?! asked an excited Alejandro who suddenly appeared.

[alicesadventuresinffxiv]

FFxivWrite2024 Thoughts at Halfway

It’s September 15th, and that seems as good a moment as any to stop and reflect! 

As someone doing this challenge for the first time, it's been an interesting mixed bag of an experience.

So far the biggest thing I’ve been enjoying is the prompts. The words by themselves have all been fun and inspiring. But it’s the surprise of not knowing what I’ll be writing each day that has really made me excited. And then getting the prompt and spending the next few hours debating how I want to tackle it (does it fit for a TCaFS scene? another AU? maybe a pairing or character I haven’t written before?) is exactly the kind of challenge that drives my creativity.

(Mini-goal unlocked: given the variety I've already written, I'm thinking of trying to write every major F/F NPC pairing at least once during the challenge. :3)

I’ve also been surprised and happy with how much I’ve been able to write. Normally I’m a very slow and perfectionistic writer, so I expected that I’d manage 500 words a day at best. Instead my average is actually (calculates…) 1076 per fill. Wow!! 

That all being said, the main reason I wanted to participate wasn’t so much for myself, but to meet and get to know other writers in the FFXIV community.

And in that regard… I’ve really been struggling. If anything, participating has made me feel more isolated and lonely than before.

Granted, one reason for that is probably because this is an OC-centric challenge and I'm more interested in writing NPCs. And not even very popular NPCs at that. 

Also this is clearly the Dawntrail MSQ-themed challenge but I am a relatively new player so I’m still working through my ideas about Stormblood/Shadowbringers/Endwalker, haha. ^^;

But another major part of it is also that I just can’t figure out how to balance my own writing with paying attention to what everyone else is up to. When I only have a few hours of free time each night, it comes down to a choice: do I read and comment on other peoples' work, or do I keep up with the challenge?

At first I was commenting and reblogging, then I was saving links to go back and read later, and lately I haven’t been able to keep up with even that… oof.

Meanwhile, spending so much time writing for this community has meant I feel like I’m neglecting my FC and Discord friends and what they are up to. (I am so so sorry to everyone who has sent me DMs I just do not have the time or energy to respond to. ;-;) Not to mention everything else tumblr, like what my mutuals are reblogging or stuff like Comment Day that I’d also like to do…

So that’s where I’m at. I had an idea I was planning to write for the free prompt today, but instead I think I’ll try to catch up a little on… everything?

Or maybe just take a break from tumblr/writing in general. Turn my brain off and do a bunch of level grinding or something. I even miss roulettes. <flop>

[flamebringer0]

Hey! I don't know where I should be reporting this or if it's even something you can control, but I noticed something odd about this survey. After I submitted it I went through to look at my answers again, but Google started complaining that my answers to some of the free response sections were too long and not letting me continue without shortening them. This feels like a mistake since I was able to submit those answers the first time around. For the record, here's what it considers to be "too long" (from page 6):

in the previous sections i marked things "not a mario game" for being insufficiently tied to mario (in my judgement). here i actually marked several things "not a mario game" in spite of them being clearly mario, because i don't deem them to be games. of course, what qualifies as a game is even more debatable than what qualifies as mario, but anyway

i think i originally marked super mario no sweater: i am a teacher as a minor spinoff, but i'm going to go back and change it now because yeah i actually don't think that one is a game either

it feels very weird to mark "super mario kart" as a "minor spinoff". as far as i know, mario kart 8 is the best selling mario game and something like the fifth best selling game of all time, so i would struggle to call anything in that subseries "minor" in the way i would normally use that word. but in terms of the given definitions of "major spinoff" and "minor spinoff", it seems like the best choice

This isn't personally causing me any problems since I did already submit my full response, but I thought I should try to bring it to your attention just in case it's not what you want and is something that can be easily changed.

Sorry if anyone followed me hoping I would never go off topic with this blog, haha.

[a-master-procrastinator]

Long ass post about the Eternal family not being a copy-paste from ATLA (aka I like the memes but my god can you please stop)

Because some people truly think that Vaylin is off-brand Azula, Arcann is Zuko and so on.

It's. Called. A. Trope. (I mean how often do we come across abusive manipulative fathers in media? Mothers who couldn't much to change anything? Children, desperately looking for their parent's approval no matter what?)

Of course, you have to consider the fact that the writing of ATLA is simply better than of KotFE/ET, so this might have been one of the reasons why people say that.

Spoilers for Avatar: The Last Airbender, Knights of the Fallen Empire and Knights of the Eternal Throne expansions!

Okay, so here's my unprofessional, maybe biased, not super deep take.

(not going to mention that all of them are members of royal, ruling family, kinda obvious)

What roles do they play in their stories? Well, both Valkorion and Ozai are main antagonists, but their presence throughout the story is very different. Ozai is rarely shown in first two seasons, we don't even see his face until season 3. He doesn't have a direct connection to the protagonist, they only meet at the very end of the show, and Ozai's role is to pose a threat to the world, while Aang's is to save it. Valkorion, on the other hand, is constantly on the screen, interacting with the main character, challenging their viewpoint and influencing them directly. His end goal is similar to Ozai's (destroy everything and be the only ruler of the his nation), but with one major difference - he's trapped in Outlander's mind, so to achieve his goal Valkorion attempts to take control of the main character. Their interactions play important role in the story, and we spend a lot of time with Valkorion.

In addition to that, their relationship with children are also not exactly the same. It seems like Azula is Ozai's favorite and Zuko is a failure in his eyes until he meets his expectations, and the same goes with Vaylin, Arcann and Valkorion, right? Well, partially. Indeed, Valkorion and Ozai's treat their sons in similar ways (are disappointed in them until they meet their expectation by doing something that goes against their morals), but when it comes to Vaylin and Azula, it's not that easy. See, Valkorion claims that Vaylin was always his favorite creation (even though we know it's actually his empire), and he certainly seems to take pride in her potential in the Force. But her power is the very reason he's afraid of his own daughter, and in this fear Valkorion literally locks Vaylin away and allows to put her through physical and mental torture just to make sure she won't become a threat, won't overpower him. Maybe he thought of her better than of Arcann, but she wasn't his favored child for sure. I don't want to say that Azula hasn't experienced abuse from Ozai, but for the most part he clearly favored her over Zuko. He has never shown fear of Azula's power and abilities (or at least I haven't noticed), quite the opposite - allowed her to do a lot, as long as she brings results.

I could also mention their slightly different characterization (mostly that we get more characterization of Valkorion, get to learn his motivations, views, philosophy and all that, also he's portrayed as more nuanced, even if he not really is) and role in their respective governments (ozai is one of many Fire Lords and arguably not the greatest, while Valkorion is a god to citizens of Zakuul, their only Immortal Emperor), but those are details, and I think you get the point.

What's similar: role of the main antagonist, manipulative and abusive father, goal of destruction of everything that isn't their nation/empire, relationship with disgraced son.

What's different: presence in the overall narrative, relationship with the main character, relationship with daughter, role in their societies.

Senya and Ursa are even less similar. Yes, they both are mothers who love their children, but have to leave them, but these are probably the only things they have in common. Just as with Ozai and Valkorion's presence throughout the story, Ursa is only shown in flashbacks (for obvious reasons), and Senya is one of major characters in KotFE and (a bit less major) in KotET. Ursa leaves because she has to kill Azulon in order to save Zuko, and later isn't present in the story (I'm aware that her fate is told in comics, but we aren't talking about it). Senya leaves because when she tries to take children with her, they refuse, and she understands that she can't force them to, nor she can help them to break free from Valkorion's manipulations. For a long time she's absent from Arcann ad Vaylin's lives, but at the time of game events she attempts to save her children and stop the madness and destruction they've caused, and it isn't a small part of the story.

I also want to add that their relationship with Ozai and Valkorion are also different, but can't say much about Ursa. I heard that she didn't choose this marriage and suffered emotional (and maybe physical???) abuse from Ozai. I can say with confidence, though, that Senya genuinely loved Valkorion, and strangely enough, he seems to at very least respect her. But, of course, this wasn't the best marriage either.

Plus, we see more of Senya's relationship with Vaylin than Arcann or Thexan, but with Ursa we see her more with Zuko than Azula. Just a detail to remember.

(also Senya is simply a better character but that besides the point, moving on. in this house we stand Senya)

What's similar: role of loving and caring mother, abandoning their family at some point.

What's different: presence in the overall narrative, relationship with husband, characterization in general.

Boy, where do I even begin. Vaylin and Azula are similar in that they are both extremely powerful (one is firebending prodigy, the other is potentially stronger than Valkorion), both are cruel "craaaaazy" (i hate that cliché), both are younger sisters, have serious mother issues (seemingly more so than father issues), both go through betrayal of people they could always rely on, which eventually leads to their downfall. But when I took a look at their personal arcs, it became clear that they aren't the same (unfortunately, Vaylin's arc is very rushed and underdeveloped, but we'll have to go with what we have and my personal view, sorry).

There's a really good video about writing corruption and madness, and I'm going to base my thoughts on it. To summarise it: a good corruption arc should have 4 components:

- the character has a specific goal (or a goal and subgoals);

- in pursuit of said goal they become the cause of a significant event that brings serious consequences;

- as the result of these consequences, character abandons their morals, ideals or a code in pursuit of goal;

- character either will not achieve their goal or will succeed, but it won't be enough to satisfy them.

And then the author brings Azula's arc as one of the best examples of compelling story of corruption (so basically, she represents it perfectly). In short, Azula's main goals are perfection and control, and subgoals help achieve the main ones. In pursuit of these goals, Azula causes Mai and Ty Lee to betray her (by pushing them too far to do something they wouldn't do), which then causes her to become paranoid, which makes her to attempt controlling everything and everyone around her, *breathes* which makes her lose control over herself and ....

Now, I thought if Vaylin's arc could fit into a corruption one, and next part will be based a lot on my assumptions and personal view of her character (plus rushed writing doesn't help), but I think yes (or at least mostly). The difference is in goals, ideals and details.

While the story strongly makes us think that Vaylin's goal is freedom (or control over her life and everything around her) or power and destruction, I think it's actually self-determination (which was said by Tenebrae in 6.2) and feeling safe. Let me explain (and here I thought this would be a short comparison). Sure, when Valkorion caged Vaylin on Nathema, he took choices and control over her life from his daughter. But let's not forget whom Vaylin blames for this (even more than Valkorion): her own mother, and I think this details tell us that the most important thing that Vaylin lost on Nathema is feeling safe. Then, after Arcann brought her home, I assume Vaylin still didn't feel safe enough under Valkorion's rule, still too afraid that he'd simply send her back to that hellish place.

It's when Valkorion is struck down Vaylin finally has a feeling of personal safety, even if she isn't the one on the throne. Why? Because back on Nathema there were two people who haven't turned on her - Arcann and Thexan (yes, this is also a huge assumption, bc the game states that only Thexan visited her, but it doesn't make much sense).

I've always noticed (and I'm not alone in this) that her behavior in Fallen Empire is different from the way she acted in Eternal Throne. Most likely bc of rushed writing, but I see a character driven reason here. In first of these expansions, Vaylin is the second person in power on Zakuul, and with Arcann being in charge, person she can trust more than any other living being, she feels safe - she can test her power, and now Valkorion won't prevent it, she can do pretty much everything she wishes, and the most Arcann will do about this is mildly complain (without blaming her). Really would be nice if we got to see any normal hobbies of Vaylin (like wasn't there something about books or art?), but I digress. She might have some questions about Arcann's tactics, but they get along just fine. The important thing to note is Vaylin not seeking to hunt the Outlander personally, to rule or conquer the rest of the galaxy, or trying to achieve absolute freedom or power. She's kinda there.

This, however, changes when Arcann doesn't allow Vaylin to kill Senya. Their relationship was getting somewhat worse towards the end of KotFE, but this is a turning event Vaylin caused by attempting to strike her mother. By saving the person Vaylin blames for all the trauma from sending her to Nathema, Arcann threatened her feeling of safety. And now Vaylin starts to believing that to achieve safety she now needs to kill people who hurt her (that's why she's so determined to find Senya and Arcann), take the throne and hunt down Outlander (she was manipulated by SCORPIO to these subgoals).

(The following is the weakest, I'll admit, but I hope I can at least express what I see). So, in trying to achieve goals she didn't want before Vaylin loses in self-determination, being either driven by overwhelming anger or manipulated by others (SCORPIO or Commander on Odessen), desperately trying to accomplish anything, or even goes against her morals (like by erasing GEMINI's free will protocols, when earlier she agreed that freedom to choose is important; or breaking the deal on Odessen). All of these result in her downfall.

But even this isn't the end. The key difference between arcs of Azula Vaylin lies in it's resolution, or that Vaylin have a chance to overcome corruption in the main narrative (and Azula doesn't. again, not including comics here, sorry). After death, Vaylin is again controlled by Valkorion in Outlander's mind. First time physically (she can't resist it), second time mentally. This is where Vaylin has to choose - kill brother who betrayed her and Commander who killed her, or go against Valkorion, person responsible for almost all of her pain and trauma. She has t choose by herself, and I think it's a good start.

Now, before 6.2 we all thought Vaylin was dead for good, but that story update hinted at possibility of her coming back to life. What I like to think is that now that she dealt with people responsible for her trauma (helped defeat Valkorion and actually for once listened to Senya), Vaylin can now have a different life, finding herself with support of someone she doesn't hold a grudge against and who treats her well (Satele, I mean).

I'm so sorry for going into details, but I needed this long explanation to present the point (and I suck at explanations). As said before, this is my version of her arc, and most likely wrong interpretation, but even with personal freedom of choice, Vaylin character differs from Azula a lot.

Need I mention that Vaylin relationship with Arcann and Valkorion are drastically different from those between Azula, Zuko and Ozai?

(Also a little detail - with royal family of Fire Nation, Azula is the golden child, while with Tiralls it's actually Thexan, not Vaylin).

What's similar: role of extremely powerful, emotionally damaged daughter with little to no regard towards others, close people betraying them, resulting in their downfall.

What's different: characterization, role in the narrative, relationship with father and brother.

Arcann and Zuko is the most difficult part, but I still believe that calling Arcann just a cheap copy of Zuko is incorrect.

So, they fall into role of less successful son, always getting disapproval from father, being in shadow of more talented sibling, both obsessed with capturing the main character but ending up helping them end the war after going through a redemption arc with help of caring family member. Even both have scars on left side of face. Yeah, seems similar. I still think they are different characters.

Let's start with their relationships with family. In Valkorion section I said that his attitude towards Arcann is similar to that of Ozai towards Zuko, so not going to spend too much time here. However, there's slight difference - Zuko didn't kill his father even he had a perfect opportunity (bc it wasn't his goal), Arcann did (bc it was one of his goals), which says something about their characterizations.

Zuko and Ursa were shown to have a good mother-son relationship, and it played a role in Zuko's character. With Arcann and Senya, we don't really know (not much was shown in expansions). We know Arcann didn't hate his mother, but possibly didn't have warm memories of her either. The reason is most likely, like Senya said, her children wanted nothing to do with her (which is a bit untrue about Vaylin, but okay) and leaned more towards Valkorion. We need to remember that on Zakuul Valkorion isn't just one of many great leaders, he's the greatest, and seen as a god by most citizens, so safe to assume the same would apply to his children as well.

Zuko and Azula's siblingship (i'm out of words) is a bit similar to Arcann and Vaylin's in way of brother knowing that his sister isn't good, but still caring about them (even if not showing). At least it's what I saw. What's different is how Azula treats Zuko, compared to how Vaylin treats Arcann. I think Azula showed compassion or concern for Zuko maybe twice, but I'm not entirely convinced that it was 100% sincere. Vaylin, on the other hand, seems to trust and care about Arcann (with bits of sass and questioning his life choices), and switching to complete opposite after him saving Senya. Also, I don't she ever called Arcann a failure in their father's eyes.

Now I want to say that their roles in stories aren't the same either. Sure, both are introduced to us as antagonists, but in reality, Zuko was never a true antagonist (we get to learn this somewhere mid-season 1), when Arcann remains the main antagonist for whole of KotFE. Zuko didn't start a war and didn't participate in conquest of other nations too much, his main goal was to capture the Avatar so to restore his honor (and deserve his father's forgiveness). Honestly, I think it's safe to say the Zuko is one of two main protagonists of ATLA. Why does Arcann want to capture the Outlander? Solely because his father's spirit still lives inside this person's mind, and the best solution to keep Valkorion away from the galaxy is not letting the Outlander free (hence the carbonite freezing). And Arcann doesn't want or need Valkorion's forgiveness when he attempts to kill him (or kills him, depending on your choice. anyway, his action directly leads to Valkorion's "death"). And right after that he becomes a ruler of Zakuul and begins the conquest of Republic, Sith Empire and everything he can reach (the reasoning behind this is still unclear to me though; maybe because he was raised with ruling Zakuul in mind and he didn't anything else, idk). Point is, he's responsible for war and main's character imprisonment, which makes him the main antagonist of KotFE. They have it the opposite ways - Zuko starts as disgraced prince, supported by a little group of people, and in the end he's recognized and appreciated by his nation, and Arcann starts as respected by his empire, later becoming less and less loved, until some groups start rebelling his rule, and in the end he doesn't get to rule Zakuul again.

This leads me to their morals. See, Zuko didn't have the worst morals in Fire Nation, even more, he expressed care for loyals soldiers of his nation before getting punished by Ozai. During first season (and about a half of second one) his views on other nations are what he was taught before. However, these views are challenged by travelling in Earth Kingdom, witnessing people suffering from war Fire Nation started and hating its people (you already know all of this), and with this he comes through final stage of redemption when he's back home. Unfortunately, Arcann doesn't go through this, and he's shown to be more ruthless.

Alright, when it comes to their redemption arcs, well let's say they are different (both in quality and the way they go through it), I'm just a bit tired of long explanations at this point. Zuko's arc is one of the best ever put on television, and Arcann's... well, it definitely has potential, but is criminally underdeveloped (there are other people who will explain it better than I ever could).

What's similar: role of disgraced son, living in shadow of their sibling, serious injuries on the left side of face (though with different meanings), obsession with capturing the main character, having a redemption arc.

What's different: role in the narrative, role in their society, characterization, relationship with sister and mother, different end goals (before redemption), paths to redemption.

[itmighthavebeenintentional]

We've Got Tonight - Ch 7 (end)

Summary: “It’s not your job to do this, Andy. You make people happy. I was in the diner all of ten minutes, and you knew exactly how to get me to smile. You do normal, real things like garden and sing karaoke. Saving the world is my job, Sam’s job. Sometimes it’s even Cas’s job, but it’s not yours.”

Inspired by Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight”

Warnings: Major Character Death, More Major Character Deaths (sort of?), higher than show level violence, blood, light smutting, language, demons, apocalypse, inferred suicide, cult activity.

18+ ONLY, MINORS DO NOT PROCEED

Author’s Note: You stuck around this long. Thank you. I appreciate you. And I'm really, really sorry.

Image and major edits by the incomparable @there-must-be-a-lock . Heavy editing and cheering by @thoughtslikeaminefield . Thank you both so much.

In case you missed it: Chapter 6 ItMightHaveBeenIntentional’s Masterlist

...

We’ve Got Tonight

Chapter 7

“Andy, are you okay? We took care of that crackpot apocalypse cult, but Cas isn’t making any sense. Why is he telling me to check in with you? How did you know about all this?”

“You got all of them? None of them got away? Does Cas still have the second address, Dean?”

“What does...No, Cas, I don’t...Jesus, alright! Yes, Andy, Cas has the address. Why? What the hell is going on? Are you gonna give me some answers, or-”

“Just come to the address, Dean. I’ll be here.” ...

The embers of the fire smoke sullenly in the steady drizzle. The flames died down a while ago, leaving only chunks of wood and ash, but still Dean stands sentinel over the remnants of the pyre.

His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, his face a stoic mask. There are streaks of blood down the front of his shirt from the fight earlier in the night, smears of dirt and soot across his skin that are beginning to run down in rivulets of dirty rain water. His eyes are red and a little wetter than the weather warrants. His clothing is soaked and chilled, but he stopped feeling the temperature a while ago.

He hasn’t moved in hours.

“Cas, I know he had that one night with her, but, I mean...can you at least explain how she knew about that ritual? Why would she do this to herself? And why did she need a hunter’s funeral? Was she a hunter? I didn’t recognize her.”

Cas stares miserably out of the Impala’s windshield, watching his lost friend without a clue of how to comfort him. Sam sits in the backseat, bewildered and completely unaware of how close he came to losing everything. Cas finds himself irrationally annoyed with Sam’s ignorance, despite being one of the main sources.

“I can’t tell you, Sam. She didn’t want me to, and I agree with her. But you should be very grateful, all the same. She saved you and your brother. She saved all of us.”

“Cas, I don’t-”

“That’s right,” the angel agrees suddenly, his brusque tone shutting down Sam’s questions. “You don’t. I’m going to check on Dean.”

…

“I just want to register for the record that you are a damned coward. Don’t give me any of that benevolent wisdom bullshit. You are a sick, sadistic, neglectful bastard, and I’m finding it hard to think of a single good thing you’ve ever done.”

The irate woman glares down at Chuck in his worn vinyl booth until he begins to squirm under her gaze. His eyes flick away from hers, then back suddenly, as if he’s afraid to let her out of his sight for too long.

“You still got a little time with him. Better to have loved and lost than to-”

She leans down in front of him, resting her hands on the table and bending until her nose is inches from his. He can smell the lavender and clover that she told Dean about, can smell the blood and the scotch, but most of all he can smell the smoke.

She continues to stare him down silently, her wrath evident in every line and angle of her body. His irritation rises, and his lips thin with displeasure until they almost disappear into his beard. He clicks his tongue at her, cocking his head to the side.

“I could have just let things run the course that they naturally did the first time, including your ‘highly successful’ deal with Crowley. Aren’t you humans always moaning about getting second chances? I gave you the chance to fix everything that went wrong the first time!”

“Considering I had to die both times for the world and the Winchesters to still be safe, I’d say there were still some holes in the overall plot line.”

He glares at her, resentful and sullen, unwilling to budge. “You made your choices, both times around. Free will, and all that? I could have just let you all die, let you live with the consequences of your choices just like every other human in history. I didn’t have to give you that rewind, you know.”

“Then why did you?!?”

Her furious outburst echoes around the empty tavern. She takes a deep breath, forgetting for a moment that she no longer needs to breathe at all, but the action serves its purpose, and her anger is temporarily eased. He takes advantage of the quiet to push his point, trying one more time to get her to see his side.

“I wanted to give you, them, another chance. I couldn't see many ways out of this...tangle. So I put everything out there that I could think of to help you, and I hoped you’d make the right choice. And you...did?”

But this woman, this impossible, irritable, flawed human, is clearly unimpressed that this is the first time in existence that he’s bothered to explain his reasoning to anyone.

“For the record, regardless of where it sends me, you are a complete dick.”

He holds her gaze soberly, his expression going neutral with only a tinge of regret, before finally raising his hand in a sort of farewell gesture. Then she’s gone, and he is alone once more.

“For the record,” he mutters as he lowers his hands to the typewriter in front of him, “you’re not wrong.”

….

“We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger

I know it's late; I know you're weary. I know your plans don't include me. Still here we are: both of us lonely, Longing for shelter from all that we see.

Why should we worry? No one will care girl. Look at the stars, so far away.

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow? We've got tonight, babe, Why don't you stay?

Deep in my soul, I've been so lonely: All of my hopes, fading away. I've longed for love, like everyone else does. I know I'll keep searching, even after today.

So there it is girl; I've said it all now, And here we are babe. What do you say?

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow? We've got tonight, babe, Why don't you stay?

I know it's late; I know you're weary. I know your plans don't include me. Still here we are, both of us lonely. Both of us lonely.

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow? Let's make it last, let's find a way. Turn out the light, come take my hand now

We've got tonight, babe, Why don't you stay? Why don't you stay? .....

End

[altschmerzes]

hello! sorry if this question is too personal and you really dont have to answer if you dont want to but like. how did you know you were aro? its just something that ive been wondering about myself for a while.

i'm happy to answer! it's the sort of thing i don't at all mind talking about, i welcome questions and discussion about anything aro anyone would like to talk about as long as they arrive in good faith. it's an extremely major part of my identity, more than pretty much anything else lately.

so obviously this is different for everyone, but here's how it happened for me, in terms of figuring out i was aro. i'll put it under a cut for length (i'm so sorry, i ended up saying. so much. most of it is probably not even relevant to your question.) and also for some potentially upsetting content, re: internalized arophobia and having difficulty coping with one's identity.

so i didn't actually come across the term aromantic until i was maybe fifteen or so, after i'd already come to identify as asexual

(for a variety of reasons, i don't actually identify with "asexual" as a label anymore, as a brief digression. this is a recent choice for me re: what feels right for myself. i'm choosing not to identify a sexual orientation anymore at all, like - 'what are you?' aromantic. 'yeah but like are you asexual too or' Just Aro. i'm just gonna be identifying with the part that FOR ME is the important part, not the part people would like to shove on me and then make the only part they talk about. like, am i ace? idk, man, probably! to be honest though i don't really know! and like, what's more it doesn't really. impact my life at this point? i don't have strong or even moderate feelings about my sexual orientation. i don't blame anyone for that assumption, it's just that even when like... fictional characters are confirmed aroace (when that. happens. usually via word of godTM), people will OFTEN only engage with the ace part if they acknowledge that canon identity at all, and i'm tired of living the real-life equivalent when i don't even know if that's how i'd describe myself! at any rate. in terms of identity and words for identity lately, i'm aro and queer and that's the end of that.)

ANYWAYS. to return to the point. i encountered the word in passing on a website to do with asexuality and it started being something i thought about periodically in the back of my mind, which was actually a really upsetting experience at first. i had a pretty strong reaction to concluding i was asexual originally, it freaked me out even though it clearly fit me, and i could only really get myself to calm down about it when i reminded myself over and over that i was still 'normal' that i could 'still date and love and have relationships'. which is obviously an arophobic way to present asexuality, and was a huge warning sign of the massive internalized arophobia i was dealing with. it took me a WHILE to accept i even might be aromantic, never mind start identifying that way.

after i concluded that i was aro, it didn't really... get easier, not right away. not for a while, actually. when i first directly identified to myself that 'i am aromantic' i had an epic freak-out that outshone the way i freaked out at my (then) asexual identity by a hundred-fold. i'm talking i literally for over a week afterwards had regular, as in several times daily, panic attacks about it. given my family situation and the way society as a whole portrays and expects friendships to be temporary, situational things that fade as people 'grow up' and get 'real' relationships, i always saw romantic relationships as my only chance for actual love and the ability to build a safe and loving family. i was petrified of being alone and unloved, and that something was deeply wrong with me or missing from me for being unable to love the 'correct' way.

(obviously, this is bullshit. dominant western us american society and the narratives we're exposed to through it are... wrong. i am a person who feels a lot of love very deeply and profoundly, for the people in my life and the world at large, and i am in turn deeply and profoundly loved by the friends that have come to form my support system. i also really want to be in a queerplatonic relationship - i think i would be very happy in that kind of relationship, and i'm very interested in the idea of marrying someone i'm not romantically attached to. these were all things i didn't really... comprehend as options when i had that enormous, terrified reaction. (there is nothing wrong with aromantic people who don't feel love or connected to the concept of love at all, or who don't want any kind of partnered life or relationship, of course. that is just not my experience and it's not dismissive or erasing of those experiences to talk about mine.))

(i was also on tumblr and having this internal journey at pretty much the exact peak of 'ace discourse' and the rampant, unchecked, EXTREME ace- and arophobia on this website. it was absolutely everywhere, and it came from seemingly everyone. it wasn't just fine, it was cool. seemed like everyone thought it was funny and that ace and aro people were acceptable, even applaudable targets who needed to be put in their place. this doesn't happen so much anymore, but there are definitely still people out there who behave like this. that scared the shit out of me and actually re-closeted me for a while after i came out and experienced the force of it.)

as for HOW i concluded i was aro once i found out about it though, to back-track a little bit and hopefully address your actual question (i'm SO SORRY), it was actually laughably obvious in hindsight.

when i was young, i just. made up crushes. when my classmates and friends pestered each other and me about crushes, and saying 'no one' or not answering only made it into a much bigger deal, i looked around our class and picked the nicest or most tolerable boy i saw and was like okay, him. that's my crush. i was taken completely by surprise when friends started dating people or my classmates started dating each other. it often took me a while to catch on, and i was confused as hell every time. it actually annoyed me a lot, because everybody was suddenly caught up in all this bullshit i didn't understand or want anything to do with and the things that used to be interesting and fun were getting ignored and made weird by all the drama. people being upset about not dating and pining about people they wanted to date did not make sense to me at all - in my head, as a young elementary and middle schooler, i was like. "you could just go over and be friends with them, why are you making such a big deal about this."

then i hit high school, and the point at which it seemed... weird that i wasn't dating and wasn't dating and wasn't dating while it seemed like everyone else was and people were getting Weird about me not dating. and so i dated. or.......... tried to. two or three times, i tried to date, with people i thought were genuinely lovely and fun to be around who i wanted to know better and wanted to develop more emotional and physical intimacy with. (i'm a physically affectionate person, and this is important to me. this was another reason that i was upset about identifying as aro - it felt like things like frequent hugs aside from brief squeezes with friends leaving events or something, cuddling, etc, most if not all types of physical intimacy were just. lost to me. which is also not the case! it's all about the specific boundaries and comfort levels in individual relationships, not the nature of those relationships.)

these attempts did Not Work. as soon as it became about dating, about romance or attempting to enter a romantic relationship, my entire self revolted at the idea. i felt physically nauseated even just thinking about the person i was trying to date, and in one notable case with a very sweet boy in my high school freshman class when i was 14/15, we went on a few dates and do a dance together, and then the bad feelings and panic and revulsion built up in me until i sent him a frantic text essentially going I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE LEAVE ME ALONE and avoided him at school to such an extent that if i saw him in the hall i'd walk the other way. i did Not handle that well, as we can see. he was a good, lovely person, and he didn't deserve that. i actually looked him up on facebook a few years later and sent a message explaining and apologizing, and he was very sweet about it, no hard feelings, and we wished each other well.

the older i got the more annoyed and repulsed i felt by romance in fiction. fandom was a huge part of my life in my teens (and now!) and fiction narratives have always been monumentally important to me. they're how i've communicated my feelings and experiences, understood myself and others, and found meaning. fiction and fandom in particular also have increasingly drove me out of my fucking mind with the extreme, overwhelming emphasis on romance often to the exclusion and degradation of all else. it started out confusing and irritating me, and got to the point of being actively triggering for me. i joke sometimes that recently i've become more romance repulsed by the day, but it's true.

also - one of the bigger barriers to my choosing to identify as aromantic, outside of internalized arophobia and my fears associated with it, was the question of 'well, how do i know for sure.' it's hard to prove a negative, you know? what if i was wrong? what if i just hadn't met the right person yet? what if it changed? and it took me a while to reach this point but where i'm at now is like. well, maybe! so what if i am wrong? so what if i do meet someone later in life that i end up attracted to? that doesn't make anything about my current life wrong or untrue, and it's no guarantee. the identity label of aromantic has brought me more comfort and understanding and joy in who i am and where i fit in the world than i can express. so i'm going to identify this way, loudly and proudly, and if that changes later on, which it might but i frankly doubt it, i will never regret the time i've spent as aromantic and in the aromantic community.

so in conclusion: i'm so sorry this ended up being a meandering textbook around my whole. experience with coming to identify as aro, good bad and confusing, i hope there was something useful to you in there! as for figuring this out for yourself, i wish i could be more help! everyone is different and every aro's experience is different. i've found some useful tools, including a very cool list of 'you may be aromantic if...' statements that weren't comprehensive or universal obviously but was enlightening and helpful. if you want to chat further, please feel free to reach out any time, on or off anon. please know there is nothing i'm more thrilled to discuss than aromanticism in any context. it's very important to me, and i wish i got to talk about this sort of thing more.

mostly, i'd like to say this to you, and to anyone else debating whether or not to use the term or identify as aromantic:

you are welcome here. if the term brings you peace or understanding, you are welcome here. if you choose to identify this way for five days or five years or for the rest of your life, you are welcome here. if it turns out you're wrong, or if you change your mind, or whatever, you are welcome here. if you're questioning, you are welcome here. and i'll happily take up and throw down with anyone who tries to say otherwise.

[icey--stars]

thank you so much for the tag @potatoplace !!! <3 I had a ton of fun answering these oml...

Describe your writing process from idea to posting/publishing:

Normally I get an idea while belting out lyrics to my next favorite song on repeat, while reading or writing, or sometimes while just blanked out during school. Then I'm stuck in a daydream trance for the next hour (then I panic write the bare bones of the idea before I forget) and it just nags me for weeks until I start writing it.

I end up writing a shit ton of it for the next few hours when that finally happens. Sometimes that writing spree doesn't happen if I know the story requires more worldbuilding/planning so instead it just bugs the ever-living hell out of me. From there, it is entirely up to the gods whether I continue/start writing it. (we don't talk about how many WIPs I have...)

Normally I go from a beginning setting (ex. forced proximity situation with azris) and have an end goal (ex. they fall in love). I live for the development of a story and its characters above all. It all depends on how much of a grip a story has on me whether I continue writing/planning it or not. Now editing... that is my least favorite part. So sometimes it happens, sometimes I just throw it out with the words "fuck it." (Clearly, it doesn't end up too badly lol)

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I can be either, but I find myself with much better stories if I just let my brain word vomit on the page. As I explained earlier, I have a setting and an end goal. Sometimes there's a few major points I want to get to in the middle that are written down (again, entirely up to the gods whether they actually happen). Sometimes (if the story is long enough) I have the bare bones of plot points written down that I plan on addressing. And they're normally plot points that can be achieved in many different ways, no matter how you got there.

I have planned entire stories before (ex. my on-hiatus long azris fic) but for some reason, they tend to get written slower because well... I already had the crazy idea processes happen where I decide what's going to happen in the story. Still works though 🤷

What do you listen to when you are writing?

Anything and everything. Is than an answer? Not rap, decidedly (but I don't really like that to begin with- only a few). Sometimes its epic strings instrumentals. Sometimes I'm singing my current obsession songs while I write (we don't question how it makes me focus better). Sometimes I play the most depressing music I can find. Sometimes I find random playlists online that just have the right vibe to them. It really just depends on what appears on my youtube page XDD.

What’s your drink of choice(while writing)?

I'm... very boring. I don't really drink anything other than water in my daily life (sometimes juice) so... water...? (It's because I hate carbonation)

Promote yourself! What’s your favorite thing you’ve written?

Honestly... it's gotta be my impromptu series, "i want to break these bones 'til they're better" because it just ended up so well written?? I have no idea why. My other two actually major series can perish. I want Azris. XDD

{ ao3 } "i want to break these bones 'till they're better" series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 - A short series where it starts out as the classic enemies to lovers one bed trope and morphs to killing Beron brutally... to smut and feelings.

Share a fic of yours that you think is underrated/deserves more love.

... there's two for likely completely different readers.

Born For Tragedy because hell yes, assassin OC. Also, so traumatized, my LORD??? what the hell was I doing XD

{ ao3 } And then... After Everything You're Still Mine and its Part 2... We'll Keep You Safe because I'm SORRY... but AZRIS and their BABIES??? *sobs* they're so cute and Azriel being protective of Evera in part two made me cry while writing. GO READ its fluffy and adorable and FUCK *sobbing continues*

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Two different sets of advice:

First, READ! No matter whether its fanfiction, a book, or some random ass thing off the internet. Just read. It's the stupidest advice that you've probably heard a hundred thousand times already... but just read. It helps. There's not some magic to it XD

Secondly... enjoy some crap writing. I personally have probably over 60+ SJM fics alone that are never going to be published. But that's because it was me crap writing what I really enjoyed. The ones I really liked, I come back to and rewrite in a whole new way because who said that the story can't go two directions?? Don't put ANY pressure on yourself to be writing for the audience. I don't think I've posted writing in 6+ months but honestly? It's kinda nice. Just enjoy. If there's something that you want feedback on but don't want to post, find a friend (or me) and share it. Or re-read, fix what you want as you go, and then post it. If there's mistakes, fuck them. Just enjoy writing, alright? Write for yourself. And don't feel pressured in any way.

What is a writing style/technique that others do really well that you'd like to get better at?

I cannot for the life of me write proper descriptions of anything without staring at an image and then still failing to describe it. So anybody want to slide me some of your description powers?? I'll give you dialogue powers in trade?? XD I have conversations all day with myself so I can write dialogue. But the minute someone asks me to describe what something looks like... yeah, good luck buddy.

Is there a character you were surprised you enjoyed writing as much as you did?

I will be completely honest... I hated Eris until I read that last part in Silver Flames. I just thought he was the worst. Then I read azris fics. Then I read these sad fics about Eris and fuck if that didn't absolutely scream angst at me... I didn't think I'd enjoy writing Eris as much as I did, but he's now one of my top two characters to write (guess who the other one is hehe). The azris ship took a hold of me and has yet to let me go because I am LIVING for this angst.

uhm... anyway that was a lot. I'm gonna tag... @chunkypossum, @futurehunt, and @ladylokilaufeyson5 (no pressure and my deepest apologies if you've already been tagged <3)

Writing tag game by @bonecarversbestie !!

I was tagged by @thelov3lybookworm 💖 thank youuuu

Describe your writing process from idea to posting/publishing

Normally an idea will pop into my head while I'm at work - my job is physical and can be pretty mindless, so it's perfect for coming up with entertaining stories! I normally end up running through the plot of what I want to happen a few times before I even get to writing, so I have a good mental outline of the story. When it comes to the actual writing part, I tend to go full speed ahead for hours. Also most of the time I'm smoking a lil bit, I find being just a lil stoned can help move the writing process along. I veeeery rarely edit my works except for mistakes I notice as I go. And once I'm done, I post right away, pasting it into the app and editing it to look how I want. I give myself as little time as possible to second guess my writing lol

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I'm normally a plotter, I like to know what I want to happen, but if fun ideas come to me in the moment then I go with them! Very rarely will I have an idea that I don't think about and plan for at least a few hours beforehand.

What do you listen to when you are writing?

So many things... Taylor Swift, Halsey, Chelsea Cutler, Blackpink, and more, but those are the main artists I listen to while writing. I also end up having stuff on in the background, lately it's been between Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls.

What’s your drink of choice(while writing)?

I love me a monster ultra, strawberry dreams has been my fave since it was put out! Coffee too, and water of course (I'm a big water hoe)

Promote yourself! What’s your favorite thing you’ve written?

Probably You Can Have It! It's such a fun, cozy world that Reader lives in, and I'm sooo excited for all the plans I have for her, Feyre, and Rhys!!!

Share a fic of yours that you think is underrated/deserves more love.

This was tough... You guys give all of my stories so much love, none of them ever really feel left out! The only one that I think deserves more love is probably Omega Needs, it's my first fic on here and I love how I've changed the dynamic between Feyre and Rhys, and all the shit going on in the Spring Court. I just love them 🥹

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Just! Keep! Writing!!! I have been a new writer at so many points in my life, and every time I've enjoyed myself, but this time feels different. I've pushed myself to keep writing and not reread my fics to death before posting, and that has helped immensely with how I've approached writing this time around. Also! Write what YOU want to read! I know that I don't feel motivated when I'm not very interested in the story, so make sure that you like what you're writing!

What is a writing style/technique that others do really well that you'd like to get better at?

Ooo definitely the style where the pacing matches so well with intense emotions, like the punctuation and everything changes to match it. And also poetry! I love the way people can capture a feeling so perfectly.

Is there a character you were surprised you enjoyed writing as much as you did?

Definitely Shitty Azriel from my tears ricochet. I'd thought I might have a problem making him hateable but still like... acting sweet to reader even with all the lies that she didn't know about. But I didn't, and the response was an overwhelming "fuck you Azriel" (which I delighted in, thank you guys 😂)

I'm tagging @mira-says and @icey--stars, don't feel pressured or anything tho!!

[littlegoldfinchh]

finch you'll get through this, I failed out of university in my second year bc of my mental health- you are making good choices rn, keep going it gets easier

Hey there

I'm sorry if my answer is going to sound a bit weird im not really here mentally rn

I haven't officially dropped out yet. There's this one exam i failed twice (and im not saying this to sound dramatic but both of those exams were pure psychological torture. i mean come on. i had to sit there with my eyes closed and my hands raised up to my head so "i wouldn't cheat" because apparently the first prof marked me as "problematic" since i had trouble with keeping eye contact with him?? i was just scared)

So yeah i completely froze during that exam because i had to keep my hands in this specific position so they would be "clearly visible" to "avoid cheating"

And i just got so nervous i forgot everything. I already have an anxiety disorder thingy and just sitting with my eyes closed with a door behind me and a person staring at me at the same time just fucking. Made my mind blank

So yeah the prof ended up telling me that im a failure and everyone knew so much except for me because i clearly wasn't studying (because i was so stressed i kept opening my eyes and everytime i got accused with cheating and yelled at so. Yeah)

And now everyone in my family (and my therapist) keeps calling me about my future and they're trying so hard to convince me to stay, because this is all normal? I've barely eaten anything all month, i lost the majority of my hair and i basically live on sedatives and sleeping pills

And my parents started fighting again (my mom won't stop yelling about how i will die starving and she's already planning the next stage of my life and my dad is angry because i dared to cry, and crying is just "self pity" which is disgusting so

I just feel very trapped and hopeless. I hope you're right and things will work out but tbh i don't really believe it since everyday is worse than the previous one

I just really wish people would stop calling and texting me about my future for a day you know? Im just so fucking tired

[nadohunter]

Alright, you want to go this ham on this insane kind of reaching? Alright, lets go, since anons love being this bold and thinking they're doing something.

I'm incredibly confused where this is coming from, you are doing some MAJOR jumping and putting words in my mouth.

In my most recent post which I'm assuming this is what its about, I'm wondering if your reading comprehension is literally in the toilet??? I only said shipping adults x minors is bad? Because I expressed that since I was LITERALLY 13 fucking years old in this goddamned fandom i've been harassed by people, often grown ass adults for DARING to say I didn't like it??? That to me it felt morally wrong? Because I voiced my reasoning for leaving kuroshitsuji as a fandom because its been damaging to my health so I'm making the PERSONAL CHOICE TO STEP AWAY FROM IT.

Also in all of my posts where I've ever talked about any of my opinions on this stuff I've always said weather you think someone is doing something bad or not explicitly to NOT bug them or send them messages? Especially not ones that threaten them because I LITERALLY SAID, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO KMS FROM THIS DAMN FANDOM BECAUSE I DARED SAY I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH SOMETHING? Because I know people who have been hurt by it??? And I've said many many many fucking times that if someone IS dangerous it is STILL in your best interests not to harass them because you do not want to put yourself in the path of someone dangerous?

And what the fuck is this line about me saying 'yaoi is fetishization' is terf rehtoric? I'm guessing your talking about a post where I gently disagreed with someone... not shipping a m|m ship "because they're both tops". What the fuck are you on? Me saying 'it seems degrading to boil down gay relationships to this' is me being a terf now?

This is so much reaching. Do I agree with everything anti-proships do? No, I feel like me defending sebawill because someone called it 'inherently abusive' should say that much. However seriously defending p*dophillia because you like getting your rocks off to that, to people who have been traumatized due to it using a dumbass anology that Hitler drank water??? No fucking shit we don't stop drinking water because water is a normal thing we drink to survive?? What do you fucking drink p*dophillia to survive??? If you think you need to consume p*dophillic content to survive I think that's a you problem. Believe it or not people are capable of complex thought? I can make the personal choice to block people who make certain types of content. I am well within my right to do so. I am allowed to say "I don't like this" and frankly the amount of people, CHILDREN that have been hurt by this bullshit, is too many.

Your immediate response to someone coming forward saying they've been groomed by this bullshit should be compassion, not LET PEOPLE SHIP WHAT THEY WANNNTTT. Your immediate reaction should always be fucking compassion. But its not, and then you wonder why people think this kind of B.S. is so morally reprehensible. Normalizing p*dophillia is bad. Telling children, they should be okay with it because its 'not real'. is bad. Fantasizing... about p*dophillia should be a sign that you need to go get help, because that is not healthy, even if you never act on it with a real person.

If you want to invoke... fucking Hitler I guess, no, you know what this is like? This is like telling a jewish person they should be okay with someone drawing fetish art of fucking n*zis. That they should be okay with writing a fic that downplays and romanticizes the h*locost.

Sorry I care more about real people than fucking fiction I guess?

If pr*shippers supposedly 'just want to be left alone' then fucking leave other people alone too? I'm literally changing my focus because this fandom and pr*shipper types have not: left me the fuck alone, despite ignoring them when they bombared me with messages calling me a bitch, calling my art ugly, threatening to 'expose' me for being a horrible person? But you have the gall to get up on your high horse and talk to me like that when clearly you haven't properly read a goddamned thing i've ever said and are just dead set on defending what again I can only assume to be p*dophillia because that's what I was saying in the context of being honest about the harassment I got from adults as a minor for just saying i was uncomfortable with it.

And honestly??? Thank you anon. You proved my fucking point. You just proved why I am so sick and done with this fandom and have made the personal choice to move on. I made a post explaining to a someone why I have made the personal choice to leave and no longer post anything outside of the comic for it. You know what I haven't done? What you just fucking did. If your so high and mighty, you know what you could have done "Ugh, I don't agree with her, I won't interact!" You know... unlike the giant hypocrite and whoever else has been leaving a ton of lovely messages for me over the past few months.

I have not left any nasty or even accusatory messages in anyone's inbox because unlike what you seem to want to accuse me of? I chose to say my piece and remove myself from the situation, because after two fucking months of this exact kind of bullshit that I chose to ignore rather than go send people shitty messages, I'm done. I'm moving on.

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP meme from Scream Queens Ep 11 "Black Friday"

"Be careful. I'd really like to kiss you again."

"I'm saving my energy for Black Friday doorbusters tomorrow morning."

"How about you do the honors?"

"Oh, the holidays. That festive time of year where everyone's decked out in their Christmas finest."

"The season of joy and love and presents begins when the clock strikes midnight."

"I thought you got all your clothing hand-delivered by A-list designers."

"Black Friday is about buying deliberately cheap, totally forgettable Christmas gifts for friends. The obvious cheapness of the gift makes them question our friendship and makes them way easier to manipulate as they try desperately to get back on my good side."

"Is this black toilet paper?"

"Amazing. A pair of mink albino boy shorts."

"I bribe the dude who deals weed off the loading dock to let me in a half hour early."

"Torturing these soulless manatees of senseless consumerism brings me so much joy. And isn't joy what the holiday season's all about?"

'At first I was like, "What a weird turkey." And then it clicked. Like... "Damn, that's a head."

"When you agree with me, it makes me question whether I actually agree with me."

"I am gonna take this opportunity to be the strong parental influence you have never had."

"You are gonna march over to that sofa right now and you're gonna sit down because you are in a time out."

"I'm sorry. Did you just put me on a time out? You do realize I'm not seven, right?"

"Well, behold how badly you've failed."

"I think it's pretty safe to assume that your career is over."

"Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to the mall to exercise our patriotic right to join hundreds of thousands of our fellow out-of-breath Americans in sweatpants as they make frenzied, ill-thought-out purchases of cheap, crappy garbage they can't afford and don't need. To deny us of that right would be un-American."

"Let's go, sluts."

"I want to know what I'm being charged with."

"You drove your pickup truck through the front window of a Best Buy."

"You killed or maimed people. Let's go."

"Sounds awful, but I'd keep that to yourself."

"You're not really helping yourself."

"Most of the uniformed cops out there are working on a volunteer basis because they get backed up inside if they don't crack a few skulls every day."

"There's a killer on the loose and you're telling us this town has no police force?"

"I don't understand why you have to get us the crappiest gifts possible and then make sure we know about it beforehand just to ruin the surprise."

"I mean, that's like bringing pineapples to Hawaii."

"So would you feel the need to waste $13,000 buying me something I already have?"

"Maybe instead of using my disgusting wealth to buy my friends crap, I should use my disgusting wealth to buy my friends things they would actually enjoy."

"The mall is deserted."

"Oh, go on and shoot me, hag. It'll just make me young and skinny forever and you'll still be old. Come on, finish me off, you shriveled, old crone!"

"First day on the job and I caught a killer."

"Wait, you have a gun?"

"Damn! Why didn't I shoot him when I had the chance?"

"How's your crossbow wound?"

"The arrow missed all major arteries, and I'm currently rolling on some sweet painkillers."

"What exactly are you proposing?"

"I've always had this vision of a band of sisters who stand together like an impenetrable community of shields who kept everyone safe and secure."

"Sometimes, instead of shields, we need swords."

"No one is going to help us."

"No one is going to stop this until we are all dead."

"Well, I'm sorry, but she is a vindictive, amoral woman who no one is gonna miss."

"I say we poison her."

"Did you ever do it in my bed?"

"So you were gay lovers?"

"No, we were not gay lovers."

"I'm an investigative journalist."

"Well, you know, I really love the idea of a bunch of guys from different backgrounds getting together and forming a brotherhood for life."

"Have you ever been to a driving range?"

"What sort of ab regimen are you rocking, bro?"

"I guess the fact that you and I cannot stand one another is finally out in the open."

"Name your weapon."

"So pick your weapon. You can choose sabres, guns, baseball bats, small pebbles, spoons, doesn't matter to me. What does matter, is that we will fight, and we will fight to the death."

"Well, I am sorry that took so long, but, you know, a watched pot never boils."

"Being a millennial feminist means growing up listening to Taylor Swift say she doesn't like to think of the world as boys versus girls."

"That's not what feminism was about."

"How come all the pictures on the wall are selfies?"

"Oh, it smells amazing."

"Where did you get puffer fish venom?"

"I want to be there when she dies."

"That's bliss!"

"Is it nutmeg?"

"I am like a soldier at war. I am killing to stop more killing. It's totally justified."

"But what about moral law?"

"Oh, that would be hard for you?"

"I don't "rage" on Tuesday nights or have competitions about how many girls I can have sex with in one day."

"What I'm trying to say is guys join fraternities to get a sense of structure in their lives. Problem is the structure

they're buying into is antiquated. It's misogynistic and hierarchical and dangerous."

"It's misogynistic and hierarchical and dangerous."

"I don't think I'm in the right headspace right now."

"You're a rare breed, one of the true good guys."

"That's the weirdest explanation for anything I've ever heard."

"We need to think of new ways to kill her!"

"I'm really gonna cherish our time here together."

"Killing is wrong, but, under this circumstance, I don't know what other choice we have."

"Hold on, sluts."

"When I was your age, I was thoughtless about sex."

"If you don't think you're ready, you probably aren't. And if you aren't, well, then no good can come from doing it, anyway."

"The main thing is you have to be perfectly dry. The cryosauna is set to 200 degrees below zero, so any water on your skin freeze instantly."

"How come there hasn't been any screaming?"

"No, we need to get away while we still can."

"Hey, hey, it's enough. The point has been made."

"Why do you want to continue taking this any further?"

"Yes, I feel guilty!"

"Don't you ever call me again."

"I heard about these Buddhist Monks that found a way to meditate, so they can sit outside all night, way, way up in the Himalayas in weather that would kill a normal person, but their core temperature stays totally normal."

"You're thinking of the movie Teen Wolf, you brainless gash, which is not, in fact, a documentary!"

"Uh, Rasputin. He was a mystical Russian peasant who became a close advisor of Tsar Nicholas II because he could magically cure Prince Alexei of his hemophilia."

"Okay, this seems totally not germane to what we're talking about, so can we please just skip ahead?"

"Maybe she has some magical powers that make her unable to die, like some horror movie villain, like Michael Myers, or Jason, or Dr. Giggles."

"So, maybe try on a size zero."

"Okay, I'm not gonna try on the size zero because I won't fit into the size zero."

"This is discrimination!"

"Look at her. Give her something. Give her something to be happy!"

"Come on, what is wrong with these idiots?!"

"Why did you ask me to meet you here? And why are you carrying a bag clearly filled with chains?"

"I thought we could talk about bondage and go for a swim."

"You're all packed up. I thought you were staying until you cracked the case."

"I was just gonna go to the woods and write or something,

like Thoreau, but with WiFi."

"I mean, maybe I could come with you. Might be kind of romantic, you know?"

"I could bring a slow cooker, and we could talk about the case all night over short ribs?"

"Well, I do love short ribs."

"I'll always be able to say that my first was with a great, great, great guy."

"I am a sentient grown woman who has been through

hell the past few weeks, and I'm sitting next to you, now, with open eyes and an open heart, telling you that I want to give myself to you."

[thejustmaiden]

I am pro-Sessrin and appreciate your analyses because you have valid points and convey them in a respectful way. I'm sorry that some of my fellow pro's aren't able to reciprocate, it really just makes us ALL look bad. Unfortunately, a lot of people in the fandom aren't capable of maturity - part of why I feel the need to be on anon as I don't want to get flamed. Sessrin IS problematic and shouldn't be condoned IRL, but ship what makes you happy and don't be an ass to strangers online.

Hey there, nonnie! If you're the same person who sent me that DM, then yes, we actually have crossed paths on one (maybe two?) occasions. I'm not sure if we've spoken directly with each other before, per se, but I do remember you all the same. Btw, you aren't taking messages which is why I couldn't reply. If you're not the person in my DM then my mistake! haha Regardless of who you are, I want to thank you for reaching out to me. 😊

I really appreciated your kind words. It means a lot coming from a sessrin shipper. After all, the goal of my blogs isn't to create more division than already exists between us but rather the opposite. If they're only meant for other antis, then what would be the point?

Plus, why would I want anything I post to add fuel to the already blazing fire? I'd prefer not to see this fandom continue to go up in flames over this ship if I can help it. Anyway, it's always a relief to hear I'm not the only one who feels this way!

A lot of us on both sides are clearly very invested in this, but we need to remember that spewing hateful remarks gets us nowhere. By no means am I perfect, but this is why I work even harder to make sure my blogs are as informative and objective as possible while refraining from name-calling. Otherwise, fans are way less likely to take anything I write seriously, which means everything I hoped to achieve goes right out the window.

There's just not enough good and healthy discourse taking place. I've seen and been a part of some, but it's too few and far between. We ought to do better, and I have no doubt more of us are capable of it, too. 😌

I agree, we all should have a right to ship whatever makes us happy. I think Sessrin shippers believe antis don't want that for them but that's NOT TRUE. It may not seem like it at times but please believe me when I say this:

ANTIS ACTUALLY DO ACCEPT YOUR CHOICE TO SHIP SESSRIN

We may not like it, but who are we to say you can't? What we don't accept however is how those shippers try to pass it off as some sort of pure and healthy relationship. Portraying a pairing that has very harmful grooming implications in a positive light is a big no-no. That's what so many of us- and not just victims of child abuse or Westerners- have been trying to tell you all along.

It's just like you said, Sessrin IS problematic and wouldn't be condoned in real life. So it should be represented as such, because sending the message that romance is a completely normal progression from the adult-child bond they established is plain wrong.

We need to keep in mind that there are many young viewers watching this show. And by young, I mean under 18. Although a lot them of them aren't technically Rin's age but older, that does not take away from the fact that they still lack the ability to fully think critically for themselves as they're still learning how. This makes them much more susceptible to the influence of predatory behavior. So if ever in a similar situation in real life, why wouldn't they be okay with it? If mainstream media keeps showing them it can be an acceptable and beautiful thing, then why shouldn't they believe the same? We're the adults putting this content out there in the first place, and it's our example they follow.

I totally get why some of you don't want to think too deeply about any of this since it can really start messing with your head. These fictional worlds are supposed to be an escape from our real world problems, right? Well yes, but only to a certain extent. It is still of the utmost importance we closely consider and properly address the major effects and correlations of fiction and real life, as well as the profound impact they can have on each other. They're significantly more linked than many of us realize. What else could explain why Antis react the way they do? We take it personally, because simply put, it is personal.

I'm known to be quite the rambler lol, so I think it's best for all of us if I stop myself here. Thanks again for this ask and also the DM (unless that wasn't you). You're more than welcome to read my other blogs on this topic if you haven't already- and that goes for all of you reading this. I'm interested to know if you have anything more you'd like to contribute to the conversation. Feel free to get back to me in DM, nonnie, if that's more convenient for you. No pressure, this is of course only if you want and feel comfortable in doing so. Alright, bye for now. Hope this finds you well!! 🖖

[livebloggingmydescentintomadness]

Hey momdad. It's super lame, but I'm scared about upsetting my, well, mom and dad. I love research, and I have an unpaid opportunity I can make work, somewhere a bit dangerous, which they don't love but have gotten used to, but I've had such an insane year (covid, which also made my meds stop working) that they're extra worried about me jumping into things. So here I am, age 28, still scared of what my parents will think. Do you have any advice on how to deal with people whose (1/2)

whose opinions you really care about disagreeing with major life decisions? Especially if you're seriously anxious and have the kind of CPTSD that makes you desperate for approval? Thank you. Totally cool if you don't answer this, still, thank you for taking the time for all of us, and constantly giving good advice and understanding. (2/2)

hey there, darling. i’m sorry it took me a few days to answer this; i hope you still see it.

first of all, it’s not silly or stupid for you to be concerned about what your parents think of you. as long as you have a relationship with your parents, what they think about you matters, no matter what age either of you are. of course it’s important to live your own life and make your own choices even if it upsets them, but it’s perfectly normal to not when them to be upset with you and want them to be happy for you. being an adult doesn’t mean you don’t care what your parents think.

secondly, i think what you should do is heavily dependent on what sort of relationship you have with your parents. since you have cptsd, i’m concerned that your parents are the cause of that and they’re abusive in some way or another, or at least that they aren’t good at listening to you. there’s a big, big difference between dealing with a parent who will genuinely listen to you and one who refuses.

my mother and i are very close, and if i made a big decision that upset her, i know that we could have a long, serious conversation about my reasoning and motivation and even if she wasn’t happy about it, she would hear me out and really try to understand my feelings. i would be as honest with her as i could be, i would give deep and careful answers to her questions, and i would honor her worries even if i disagreed with them. we might argue, but eventually we would find a way to work through it and still have a good relationship on the other side.

however, if i had to do this with a parent who is manipulative and unkind, who doesn’t listen to me and doesn’t try to understand me, who is clearly prioritizing their feelings and their wishes for my life, i would not offer them any vulnerability at all. i would still try to be honest and polite, but in the most self-protective way possible. i would not expose my feelings or open up enough that they have room to manipulate me, and as much as i would hate it, i would not go in with any expectations for their approval or understanding.

it’s completely natural to crave your parents’ approval, but you have to keep in mind that craving is different from expecting or chasing. that kind of parent uses approval - and the withholding of it - like a weapon, and they WILL use your desperation to hurt and control you. you must take that power away from them by refusing to play the game, or else they will keep carrot-and-sticking you your whole life.

i know that’s incredibly hard, and you may not know how to do it. but making the choice to do it is the first, important step. even though you will struggle, choose not to chase the approval of people who use your needs against you. decide that you want to be set free from the game.

i’m truly sorry if this is the situation you find yourself in, but the cold truth is that you can never get what you want or need from this kind of parent, and you have to stop trying before you get hurt any worse. you have to change course and find the approval and fulfillment you crave from somewhere else, somewhere that doesn’t manipulate you or use you. 

i know that it’s much easier for me to just say all this than it is for you to do it, but you’re much more likely to get where you need to go if you have a map than if you’re just wandering around in the woods. if what i’ve described sounds anything like what you’re going through, you seriously need a therapist who can help guide you when you don’t know how to get there, or at least some books on the subject that give you much more in-depth advice than what i can offer.

and back to your question: if this is your situation, talk to them calmly but firmly. don’t get into long, emotional explanations, and also don’t yell or cry. tell them that you understand their concerns, tell them their opinion matters to you and you want them to be happy for you, but ultimately, you’re an adult and this is what you believe is the best choice for your life. 

don’t let them drag you off-subject, don’t engage if they become manipulative, if they start yelling or crying, or if they get passive aggressive. do. not. engage. hang up or leave, calmly but firmly. say “i’m sorry you feel that way” and end the conversation. 

it’s totally okay if you need to go cry afterwards, or even have a total breakdown. there’s nothing wrong with that. just don’t let them have that vulnerability so they can turn it against you.

and lastly, while you’re an adult and you get to make your own choices, i do think that maybe you should do a little bit more thinking about this before you go through with it. i don’t want to tell you what to do or make you doubt yourself, but i am a bit concerned that you’re not in quite stable enough condition for an endeavor that will be dangerous and maybe really rough for you. if you really believe that you can handle this, then okay, i believe you, but i do want you to really think about it, not for your parents’ worries but for your own welfare. it’s okay if the time isn’t right and you need to take care of yourself right now. i want you to be happy, but i also want you to be safe, so please be careful.

if you’re not sure if your parents are abusive or want to do some reading, please check out these tags: parenting abuse, emotional abuse, abuse tactics, and signs of abuse. these tags may also be useful: cptsd, trauma, therapy resources, going to therapy. 

i hope that helps a bit, but if i took the wrong tack and didn’t actually manage to answer your question properly, feel free to let me know. take care, dear.