#this process was so intimidating but was really fun and rewarding!

[esmem-55]

cmyk prints of 我和我爸和姥爷

[greenerteacups]

You're great at plotting your story. Whenever I try to outline my story goes towards a storyline that is too overboard, or very far away from my initial idea. So I tend to just sit and write and let it get me wherever it's taking me.

How do you outline ? Do you have any tips ?

Tumblr has made the executive decision to banish the post where I gave my full outlining process to the fucking Shadow Realm, so I'm afraid I can't find it right now, but I have two thoughts here. The first is that, though flattered by your compliment, I am in fact terrible at plot — my interest in a book flows from (1) character work (2) atmosphere & setting (3) Actual Plot That Tells A Gotdamn Story, in that order. This means plot is the thing my brain does least naturally, and so the part where I put the most Effort Points while I'm in fic pre-production. So. This may be the blind leading the blind here.

But: George R. R. Martin said there are two kinds of writers, planners and gardeners. Planners... plan; gardeners plant a bunch of seeds, prune some weeds, and just kind of wait to see what turns up. Like most dichotomies, this is an arbitrary bisection of something that's really more of a wishy-washy sliding scale. For every writer, there is some level of detail-in-outline that they need to understand what the book *is* and what they should be trying to accomplish. Under that line, your book feels vague and boring because you don't know what's going to happen, so you don't know what you need to do to get there. So the engine stalls. Which is a sucky feeling. Over that line, your book feels boring because you don't have anything left to discover about the piece, and discovery is an essential part of the joy of creation. At its best, writing should feel like reading on steroids: the world disappears, your body disappears, even you disappear, and you get to live and be wholly in what you're creating. You have a baby universe in your pocket, and you get to show people around it.

None of that is remotely helpful to your problem. Okay. I guess my question for you would be what you mean by "overboard," and if there's a more specific problem that your over-outlining creates. First, if your outline starts feeling too intense to start writing, like you're intimidated by the number of things you need to do to tell the story, you may either (1) lean more toward the gardener side of the scale or (2) writing in the wrong form. Long-form stories are scary as shit to plan and scarier than shit to write, because there can be a million things in the air at once, and even if the through-line's simple, your execution has a lot of different places it can go wrong. They are immensely rewarding projects and a fuck of a lot of fun to write, but there's nothing wrong with trying shorter ones that are easier to outline and — more importantly — finish, which is the no. 1 thing you want to be doing if you're working out your process. You don't know what your process is until you actually execute it from start to end. You don't know what helps you finish a story until you've (drumroll) finished a story, and then finished another one for comparison, to see which went better. So short projects, which require less endurance in general, may be the stopgap remedy, at least in the short term.

[slasherscream]

Hi, may I ask a question regarding rebloging. I really don't like posting content of any kind on any of my social medias as I hate attracting to myself(I'm still anxious about the few times I've left comments or requests). But after learning how important rebloging is on tumblr, I've been feeling guilty, I do follow and ❤ as I assume those keep me anonymouse, but not reblog. I don't want content creators to feel unappreciated, but I'm nervouse about having a viewable blog. I'd love your opinion.

hello! i completely understand social anxiety. i have really bad anxiety myself. even with other writers! i get writer to writer intimidation. i think some blogs are way too cool to interact with me and i have to hype myself up before i so much as like their post.

you know what i do?? what you're doing right now. if you read something you enjoy on someone's blog, just leave them an anonymous message saying you enjoyed it.

they get to know someone read what they wrote! you don't have to have any direct attention on you. the writer, knowing people are actually reading what they post, writes more!

writers want engagement.

when we do it for free, like in fandom, that's the only type of reward we experience.

if you enjoy high quality fic/imagines/drabbles/headcanons it really is a case of finding a comfortable way to engage with the people to make fandom fun, or watch fandom die out.

especially as capitalism pushes more and more of us to monetize our hobbies. here's the thought process that will eventually happen for a lot of writers: why bother writing on tumblr? no one even reads what i make. i never get any sort of engagement besides likes. i might as well go try and get paid for it, at least.

and that's how you lose the more experienced writers. and, in one tragic swoop, discourage new ones from taking their place. if that amazing writer didn't get any engagement i really won't because i'm just starting out!! the cycle is vicious.

fandom is dying out because we don't interact with one another the way we used to. anon asks used to be way more prevalent. you don't have to bring attention to yourself or make yourself uncomfortable to make a writer's day. even a couple of heart emojis and a "love how you write" might stop someone from quitting.

[elialys]

For the fanfic writer ask: 💖🤗🎉

💖 What made you start writing?

The first story I wrote from start to finish I was 10 years old! I just picked up a pen and some sheets of paper and wrote it all down over a couple of days?? No idea why, I just felt that writing itch and I scratched it 😅 I also have this vivid memory of being around 8 years old, typing up the start of one of my favorite books on my dad's 1995 MAC computer, just because I wanted to write?

I started REALLY writing when I was 15 and I discovered fanfictions. I started one day because I had those vivid scenes in my head, and then I discovered feedback dopamine and I never stopped 😂

🤗 What advice would you give to new fanfic writers that are just getting started?

Start small, with oneshots! Multichapter fics are a whole different beast, and they can be quite intimidating/discouraging. Writing oneshots is a good way to get used to putting scenes down without having to figure out things like plot 🤣

Also, don't get discouraged if you don't get a lot of interactions from readers at first (may it be kudos or comments). Only about 5% of readers (if that) actually interact with the stories they read. Comments are the most wondrous things, and the high is real, but it's important to find joy in the process of writing itself, too, or it can get really rough/disheartening.

HAVE FUN with what you're writing, and tryyy not to compare your work to others (it's hard!!) Writing is a skill, and like any skill, the more you do it, the more you learn/progress.

🎉 What leads you to consider a fic a success?

I'm the first to obsess over numbers at times (hits/kudos/comments), hence my previous advice about trying not to focus on them too much hahaaaa! 🫠 That being said, I'm a strong believer that huge stats on a story aren't necessarily a sign of success (even if it's a rewarding feeling for sure). I have written for many different fandoms over the years, some tiiiiiny, some quite big, and numbers change. I've had fics that didn't get much of a reaction when I posted it that slowly gained traction over the years.

A fic is a success to me when I get some feedback on it that makes it clear my story has made my readers feel feels. That's honestly what matters most to me. I want people to feel feels, so if you tell me it has had any kind of impact on you, I am the happiest. TEARS are my favorite, obviously, they feed the (evil) muse so well. But I am also extremely tickled by people who find my attempts at humor funny 😂 (also, people saying my smut is hot?? As an asexual smut writer, that's always a lovely/baffling compliment 😅🥰)

[scottxlogan]

Writer’s wrap, 6, 13, 16, 20 pls!

Thanks so much for the ask! This has been really fun and such an interesting series of questions to answer, so thanks for that!

6. What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

Okay, so for me this is a toss up because there are a few that really stand out (I know I’m supposed to pick one, but I just can’t so I’ll pick 3 lol)

Damaged: Not going to lie this story was my saving grace at the beginning of the pandemic because it was my way of coping with being in lockdown for a very long time. This story also is a spin on most of my other post-DOFP Scott/Logan stories where Scott is essentially so damaged in ways by life/his sense of duty/his pain/losses/life experiences/etc. that I don’t often explore most of my in fics. He’s at a dark place and Logan just is this beacon bringing him back and opening him up to finding something that in this world he never had before not even with the Logan that was a part of it before this Logan arrived (yes it sounds complicated, but if you read the fic you’ll get it I promise and it won’t disappoint). It follows the theme of second chances and finding your soulmate against impossible odds. I know it’s another long story, but it’s one that a lot of people have enjoyed and told me how it’s touched them along the way, which means a lot because it’s special to me. 

Home Again: This story is so special to me because it’s about healing and forgiveness and love and basically me trying to fix some missteps in the MCU. I’ve had a lot of fun with this one writing ghost!Tony with Bucky that I’m probably (absolutely) stalling on the ending and I do apologize for that, but this one has been so special because I took a supernatural spin and knew from the very first word just how it would end and it has been such a fun journey for me. As for the future with it, I can promise it fits into my popular ‘additional tag’ on AO3 lol.

End of the Line: (Read the answer to the next question to find out why lol, but it was a triumph of writing for me at a time when I wasn’t sure where my writing future was at lol)

13. What’s your longest work of the year?

My longest work is End of the Line (766,117 words) This one is my longest work EVER and it started a little bit at the end of last year, but I imagine it will be the lonest fanfic I ever write and I did it for a reverse bang, which in retrospect was kind of crazy lol. The cool part about writing it is that it was the first time I wrote WinterIron and I was so inspired by the art/conversations that I had with @massivespacewren during the creative process that I wound up writing this epic story (at least in terms of length) where I posted a chapter every day for 68 days. It was a labor of love and a challenge unlike any other I’d taken on. I know the length sounds intimidating, but man was it fun to go all out and try something new. This AU story finds Tony rock bottom after he walks away from the team when an accidental misstep on a mission drives him away from being a hero. He’s caught up in his guilt/pain/grief that he leaves everything about his old life and finds himself in isolation where a chance meeting with a mysterious, handsome stranger turns his world around and brings him back to finding himself again. Along the way he seeks out redemption, love and a means of forgiving himself for the sins of the past. There’s so much I could say about that story and some behind the scenes secrets as well, but yeah that is probably my longest work in terms of fanfic of all time I think. Nothing will probably ever top that one lol. 

16. What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag?

Angst with a happy ending (would be my guess) lol I am a sucker for stories where the reader knows at the end no matter how bad the obstacles might be that they will be rewarded for their time invested in the story. Some have said it takes away from the suspense element in putting that out there, but for me I like to let people know that yes there’s going to be a big payoff at the end and it’ll be well worth the wait :)

20. Which work of yours have you reread the most? Um, probably not one I’ve posted on AO3 as I was writing an original novel that I was kind of deeply invested in for a while. If I had to pick something I’ve posted on AO3, which is what this is about I suppose lol I would say probably Under Your Spell as it was a challenge someone gave me that I had fun with. I haven’t read it in a while, but there’s something about Logan drinking a ‘love potion’ and finding himself head over heels for Scott that was really fun to write. Another one I’ve enjoyed rereading every now and then is Date Night (which is the 2nd one shot in my Better Together series as it opened the door to Scott/Tony bonding with Bruce Banner and deepening their friendship in it. It kind of set the tone in a lot of ways for the multi-chapter fic (Better Together) that followed and honestly if people look deeper into the Better Together story you’ll probably not think of Waffle House the same again lol. Hands down that scene I’ve probably read a few times since it was super romantic and fun. And now I’m going to stop rambling now, but these were a lot of fun! Thank you so much for asking!

[theatozclasses]

How hard are online math classes compared to regular classes?

As someone who runs an online math platform for students from grades 1 to 12, I often hear concerns about whether online math classes are harder than traditional ones. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no—it really depends on the student and how the classes are designed. But let me share from my experience why online math classes can actually be a wonderful option for many students.

1. A Personalized Learning Journey: One of the biggest advantages of online math classes is that they can be tailored to fit each student's unique needs. In a regular classroom, teachers have to move at a pace that works for the majority, but not necessarily for every individual. In our online classes, I make it a point to understand each student's strengths and areas where they need more support. Whether a child needs to slow down and really grasp a foundational concept or wants to be challenged with more advanced problems, we adjust our approach accordingly. I’ve seen so many students thrive when they get to learn at their own pace without feeling rushed or bored.

2. Building Confidence in a Safe Space: Many students feel intimidated or shy in a big classroom setting, especially when it comes to a subject like math that can sometimes feel overwhelming. With online learning, students are in a comfortable and familiar environment—their own home. This can help them feel more relaxed and open to asking questions or expressing when they don’t understand something. I’ve had students who were very quiet in traditional settings come out of their shells and become enthusiastic participants online. It’s amazing to see how a supportive, judgment-free space can boost a child’s confidence.

3. Making Math Fun and Interactive: I know that keeping kids engaged is key to effective learning, especially with a subject like math. That’s why our online classes are designed to be interactive and fun. We use digital tools, games, and activities that turn learning into an exciting adventure. I remember one of my students telling me, “I never thought math could be this fun!” That’s exactly what we aim for. When students enjoy the process, they learn better, and math becomes less of a daunting task and more of a discovery journey.

4. Convenience and Comfort Lead to Better Focus: Let’s be honest—being able to learn from home can be a huge advantage. Without the distractions of a traditional classroom, many students find it easier to concentrate. Plus, parents appreciate the convenience of not having to commute to a tutoring center. With everything accessible online, we focus more on actual learning and less on logistics. I’ve had parents tell me how much they appreciate this setup because it gives their kids a consistent routine that fits into their busy lives.

5. Encouragement and Accountability: Of course, online learning does require some self-discipline. That’s where my team and I come in. We provide plenty of encouragement and regular feedback to keep students on track. We celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and help them navigate through challenges. I’m always here to support them, whether it’s through a tough algebra problem or a moment of frustration. Watching students grow, not just in their math skills but in their confidence and self-belief, is the most rewarding part of what I do.

So, are online math classes harder? It depends on the student and the support they receive. But from what I’ve seen, with the right guidance and a personalized approach, online math classes can be incredibly effective and even easier for many kids. At The atoz classes, we’re committed to making math a positive experience and helping every student succeed, no matter where they are on their learning journey. If you’re considering online math classes, I’d be more than happy to share more about how we can support your child in building both skills and confidence in math.The atoz classes Live online math program now provide a holistic curriculum to it's student for more info visit our website https://www.theatozclasses.com/

[crystalelemental]

Pokemon Violet playthrough continues.

My teams are complete, and we’re about...30% through the game?  I’m running three teams, for each of the paths.  They are as follows:

Gym Challenge: Quaquaval, Garganacl, Rabsca, Brambleghast, Mabostiff, Dudunsparce

Team Star: Skeledirge, Dolliv, Cetitan, Clodsire, Farigiraf, Bellibolt

Titans: Meowscarada, Ceruledge, Pawmot, Espathra, Tinkaton, Glimmora

It works...better than expected.  Exploration is so severe that actually, all the teams keep up reasonably with levels, with a bit of give.  I keep the Team Star team on level, because the Starmobiles are fucking stupid and I hate them, while the gym team is kept around 3 levels lower.  Titans...I don’t know their levels, so what happens happens.  Most of the team isn’t evolved yet.

The gym team has cleared through Kofu.  Katy wound up being mildly threatening, because Fury Cutter kept not missing and we were in big danger.  Brassius is actually mildly terrifying.  Sudowoodo is pretty high statistically for that point in the game, and Trailblaze makes it super fast.  If Dunsparce didn’t immediately smack it with speed drops into Maschiff’s Intimidate, we’d be in trouble.  Iono, of course, is terrifying, because of Levitate Mismagius with Charge Beam.  I legitimately tried, but she wound up boosting so severely that we had to rely on a miss, or Dunsparce’s Flail wouldn’t have put it in range for Water Tera Aqua Jet Quaxwell.  So that’s fun.  Kofu is a wussbag.  No deaths, went completely as planned, get bodied.  Larry, I’m coming for your ass next.

Team Star has been mildly annoying, but nothing atrocious.  I’m more afraid of Eri than anything.  That one’s stupid.  I’m sorry, but infinite PP 100BP move with beneficial effects on a thing with like, what, 5x possible max HP?  It’s annoying.  I hate it.  I hate it so much.  I do not know why I didn’t set Meowscarada team there.  Espathra has Speed Boost.  I could kill with that.

The titans are pretty easy so long as you’re reasonably within their level.  The only one I’m super scared of is Iron Treads.  That one can really get out of hand.  So we’ll...we’ll see how it goes.

I actually did these first because of Glimmet.  It’s basically impossible to find, and I wanted to run it, so I resolved to just start the egg-making process.  And guys.  Guys, you’ll never guess what I found in like the first cave past Levincia.  You’ll never guess what was just right there.  I’m annoyed.

I am also attempting to complete the dex.  Thanks to the one free box from Home, I can transfer over some of the trade evolutions from Legends, and the version exclusives from Scarlet.  So we’re less than 100 away from complete.  The only two I am worried about are Slowking and Palafin.  I believe both can be found in raids, so if I can find them, we win.  Otherwise, this is going to be...really frustrating.  We’ll see how it goes.  I will say, I’m pissed about the rewards for dex completion.  Where the hell is Ice Stone?  I need one for Cetitan, and it’s so horrifically delayed.

Anyway, so far so good!  We’ll see if the dex thing works out.  Stay tuned.

[thedisneychef]

Can You Double a Jam Recipe? Tips for Adjusting Batch Size

Hi, I'm a home cook who loves to experiment with recipes. Recently, I've been wondering if it's possible to double a jam recipe without affecting the flavor or texture of the final product. Could you take your favorite basic jam and make twice as much? Well, today we're going to find out! In this article, I'll discuss whether doubling a jam recipe is doable and what changes may need to be made in order for it to turn out just right. So let's dive into our exploration of canning jams! Understanding The Basics Of Jam Making Making jam is a fun and rewarding experience, with delicious results. However, it's important to understand the basics before you get started so that your finished product comes out perfect every time! To make sure everything goes smoothly, here are some key tips for success when doubling a jam recipe. First off, pay attention to cooking times. When you double a recipe, you will need to cook the jam longer in order to reach the correct consistency. The pH levels of the ingredients can also affect how quickly they cook down into jam - if there is too much acidity present then it can take more time than usual to thicken up correctly. Finally, be patient while making your doubled batch of jam! It may take a bit longer but trust me - it'll be worth it in the end when you bite into homemade goodness that tastes better than anything bought from store shelves. Is Doubling A Jam Recipe Possible? I have often wondered if it is possible to double a jam recipe. After all, the process of making jam involves combining fruit with sugar in order to preserve it for later use. Could you simply double the amount of ingredients and expect good results? To answer this question, I decided to look into what would happen when doubling a typical jam recipe's amounts of fruit and sugar. It turns out that doubling both fruit selection and sugar quantity can be done without compromising flavor or texture quality. However, there are other factors to consider depending on your desired outcome. For example, using more than 2 cups of sugar could result in an overly sweet product that may not gel properly due to too much added sweetness. Additionally, selecting too many varieties of fruits could lead to an inconsistent flavor profile across different batches of the same type of jam. Therefore, while increasing ingredient amounts as part of doubling a jam recipe may seem like an easy way forward, careful consideration must still be given regarding how each ingredient affects the end result. Ultimately, tweaking small details here and there will give you better control over the taste and consistency of your final product. Adjusting The Ingredients When Doubling I'm sure you've already heard of this old saying, "if a little bit is good, more must be better". This certainly applies to jam recipes - if the recipe makes one jar of delicious jam, then why not make two? Doubling a jam recipe can seem intimidating at first but with just a few adjustments and some careful attention it's really quite simple. To double a jam recipe successfully, you will need to pay special attention to your fruit selection and sugar ratio. You want to use fresh or frozen fruit that is high in natural pectin for optimal gelling (which also helps reduce or eliminate any additional pectin needed). A higher sugar content will also help ensure proper gelling so adjust according to your desired sweetness level. Of course, taste-testing throughout the process is key! It may take a couple attempts before you get the hang of doubling recipes but soon enough you'll have mastered creating twice as much deliciousness in half the time! Ensuring A Safe And Flavorful Product I'm really excited to discuss the importance of sanitation practices, temperature control, and ingredient selection when it comes to creating a safe and flavorful product. Proper sanitation practices are essential in the kitchen to ensure that food is safe to eat and free from harmful bacteria. Temperature control is also important in order to prevent spoilage and foodborne illnesses. Lastly, carefully selecting the right ingredients is key to creating a delicious product. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these topics and how they relate to doubling a jam recipe. Sanitation Practices As a jam maker, sanitation practices are essential to ensuring my product is safe and flavorful. I always make sure that all of my equipment has been sterilized before use with hot water or an appropriate cleaning solution. This includes pots, stirring utensils, jars, lids and any other tools used during the cooking process. I also take care when scaling recipes up or down in order to ensure there is enough room for expansion while boiling and that I am using the right amount of ingredients required for a safe recipe. By following these simple steps, I can be confident that my jams will turn out great every time! Temperature Control Temperature control is an important part of making sure my jams are safe and flavorful. I always make sure to follow the recipe exactly, paying close attention to cooking times as over-cooking jam can cause it to lose flavor or become too thick. Additionally, depending on the type of fruit being used in the recipe, different variations may require varying cooking times. For example, apples tend to take longer than berries due to their higher pectin content. By keeping a watchful eye on temperature while stirring regularly throughout the process, I am able to create a delicious and consistent end product every time! Ingredient Selection When selecting ingredients for my jams, I always pay close attention to the ratios of fruit and sugar. Too much sugar can cause a jam to become too thick or overly sweet, while not enough will make it runny and unpalatable. It's important to find the right balance between sweetness and tartness when crafting a delicious jam! Additionally, different fruits require different levels of sugar in order to reach that ideal flavor combination. Berries tend to need more sugar than apples as they are naturally sweeter, so this is something I also keep in mind when creating recipes. All these factors come together to create the perfect mixture for a safe and flavorful product. With careful ingredient selection and temperature control during cooking, I'm able to make sure every batch of jam turns out just right! Tips For Successful Jam Making Now that you know the basics of ensuring a safe and flavorful product, it's time to get into some tips for successful jam making. Preserving techniques are key when it comes to jam; if done properly, your results will be sweet success. One important tip is not to skimp on sugar content or cooking time as this can affect the end result in terms of taste and texture. It’s also essential to use sterilized jars with airtight lids to store all jams - no matter how much you have made from doubling the recipe! Using fresh produce is another great way to ensure an excellent finished product. If possible, try buying produce from local farmers markets – these often offer high-quality ingredients with unique flavor profiles that add something special to your jams. Fresh fruits and vegetables can make a big difference in the outcome as they tend to contain more natural sugars than canned varieties. Additionally, adding spices such as cinnamon or cardamom could give your jams even more depth of flavor. The last step is testing out different recipes until you find one that works best for you. Experimenting with flavors can help create something truly unique and delicious; don't be afraid to double up on recipes or tweak them accordingto what you think tastes best! With trial and error, you'll eventually come across a combination that will become your go-to jam recipe. So there you have it: follow these simple steps and soon enough, you'll be enjoying homemade jams like never before! Frequently Asked Questions What Type Of Sugar Should I Use For Jam Making? When it comes to making jam, the type of sugar you choose is an important decision. Depending on your preferences and what kind of fruit you're using, there are a few different types of sugars that can be used. If you prefer something lighter or with fewer calories, then opting for one of the many sugar substitutes out there may be a good choice. Otherwise, if you’re looking for traditional sweetness in your jam recipe, then going with white granulated sugar is probably the best bet. That being said, depending on the variety of fruit (for example: strawberries vs raspberries) you use in your jam recipe, some sugar varieties will work better than others. It all depends on how much flavor you want to bring out from each individual piece of fruit! How Long Can I Store Jam After It Has Been Made? If you're wondering how long you can store your jam after making it, the answer is that it depends on a few different factors. It's important to understand the canning process and sterilizing jars to ensure maximum shelf life for your jam. Generally speaking, most jams will last about 6-12 months if kept in an airtight container and stored properly. However, this timeline may vary depending on the type of sugar used and other ingredients added during the jam-making process. What Is The Best Way To Measure Out The Ingredients? Figuring out the exact measurements for a jam recipe can be tricky, especially when you're doubling it! To get your ingredients just right, make sure you precisely measure all of the liquids. For example, if your recipe calls for one cup of sugar, double that and add two cups instead. The same goes for any other liquid ratios in the recipe. With a bit of precision and accuracy, you should have no problem nailing the perfect jam recipe! Is There A Difference Between Making Jam With Fresh Or Frozen Fruit? When it comes to making jam, there is a difference between using fresh or frozen fruit. Canning techniques and the type of fruit you choose can have an effect on the outcome of your recipe. Using fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries or raspberries will give your jam a more vibrant color and flavor whereas frozen fruits may make your jam less flavorful but still just as tasty. It's important that you take into account what type of fruit varieties you want for your jam before deciding which one to use! How Much Jam Can I Expect To Make When I Double The Recipe? Doubling a jam recipe can be a great way to make sure you have enough for storing tips or fruit selection. Depending on the type of fruit and other ingredients, you could expect to get about twice as much jam when doubling a recipe. When making larger batches it is important to adjust your cooking time accordingly, so that all ingredients are cooked properly and evenly. Conclusion Making jam is a fun and delicious way to enjoy fresh fruit. Doubling the recipe can give you more of your favorite flavor, but it's important to understand how much sugar and other ingredients are needed for each batch. Knowing the best type of sugar, the amount that should be used, and if there is a difference between using fresh or frozen fruit will help make sure your doubled jam turns out just as good as single batches. With some practice and experimentation, you'll soon become an expert in making all sorts of jams! Read the full article

[tommybaholland]

when their s/o takes care of them after a fight

featuring: mikey, draken, mitsuya, baji and hanma

pretty basic idea but i wanted to start simple for the first post. these were the top 5 most popular characters in the poll from last month, so we're starting off strong! hope you enjoy :)

mikey doesn’t mind one bit if you want to help clean the blood off of his face, if there is any. he’s used to being cared for whether by his brother, draken, or his subordinates so he willingly accepts your gracious hand. usually you don’t have to worry too much about him getting seriously hurt but the other guy might not be so lucky. however, he can’t always avoid every punch that’s thrown. what does worry you is the fact that a lot of people want to get rid of him so the amount of battles he endures seems never ending. you try not to think about the future too much and enjoy what time you have with him now even if it means being ready with a first aid kit after every fight. if anything, you are his solace and seeing your beautiful face makes him forget who or what he was fighting. 

draken isn’t one who loves to be doted on a lot but he’ll let you help a little if it makes you happy. correction: he’ll let you help if you can stand him telling you what to do throughout the entire process. he’ll make sure you’ve washed your hands, properly cleaning the wound, not being too rough and not wasting a ton of the bandages. it’s not that he thinks you aren’t competent enough to do it, he just likes it done a certain way. even if he thinks you didn’t do it right, he probably wouldn’t get on you too much about it as you have a mouth of your own to push back on him. it’s fun to push your buttons and tease you but he’s aware of your effort and care for him, being sure to give you your commemorative head pats after you’ve finished taking care of him. 

mitsuya takes pretty good care of himself already and it’s more likely that he’s taking care of you when you’re hurt or sick. he knows you just want to help him so he’ll let you act as his ‘supervising nurse’ in which you hand him the cleaning solution or the bandages. he really just likes to have you there for comfort because he loves having you around and the fact that you want to be around whilst he’s hurting, it warms his heart. the only time he really needs you is when he’s had to go to the hospital, which has happened a few times now and never fails to scare the living daylights out of you. he’s apologetic as he doesn’t like to drag you in this deep but as long as he’s alive and well, you’re not too mad about it. 

baji doesn’t want you anywhere near him after a fight due to his residual anger. he’s definitely the type to brush off his injuries and say they’re “just a scratch” and so that’s where you enter the picture. once you finally get him to sit still, he’ll sulk and pout and scowl over whatever squabble he was just part of. it’s a little amusing to you how upset he is even after the fact and you like to tease him by calling him ‘tough guy.’ it annoys him even more but then he lets the moment sink in and realizes how gentle and caring you are to him. then he just sits silently and watches you longingly as you continue patching him up. when you’re all finished his mood has completely flipped as he turns into the sweet and loving baji, rewarding you with a kiss. 

hanma will milk every second he has of you taking care of him, even if all he needs are a few bandaids. he practically sprints to you whenever he needs something or needs help doing something. he may look like a very intimidating tall and lanky man but on the inside, he’s like a little boy. he’ll sit down for you to help him but he gets distracted easily and tries to mess with you while you’re trying to clean him up. he likes to boop your nose or poke your cheek or in your sides, trying to get you to laugh. you’re pretty much used to it by now as this is just normal behavior for him. then he just likes to get overly flirty with you as if you’re not already dating, his favorite line being, “did i ever tell you how pretty you are?” you always roll your eyes when he says it but the warmth on your cheeks doesn’t cease.

the tokyorev boys have landed... welcome them with a request!

happy hump day to the patrons for supporting this blog:

Syd || ruboo || Jenée Raiford || helena

for exclusive nsfw writing and extras, join us on Patreon!

buy the blog a coffee for a special shoutout!

[carnal-lnstinct]

If you’re still taking requests for the SCOURGE OF THE STARS may I please request a dub con , breeding kink and blood kink with the ox prince of fire mountain or corrupted beast gohan? Something dangerous but you don’t realize it with his “polite” facade until you’re in the bed?

Ox Prince Gohan x Reader〖 requested by anonymous 〗 ✦✦Content: M / 18+. MINORS DNI. dating. manipulation. breeding kink. ✦✦Warning: explicit language, blood / blood kink. biting ✦✦A/N: I'm having too much fun with this version of Gohan ♥

He takes more after his father than he'd like to admit. When he's not actively looking for trouble, there was something in his eyes and manners that conveyed a trusting and gentle soul. It never failed to give people the impression he is weak, he is spineless, or he is malleable. Allowing them to think he couldn't harm a fly just made it fun to show otherwise. He couldn't wait to show you the real him. 

You met Gohan for the first time while he was out with his grandfather and younger brother, and in that short interaction, you became one of many who made that poor assumption that you accidentally bumped into three of the nicest gentlemen you've ever met. Gohan himself is not above making assumptions from first impressions as well, and he immediately pegged you by your awkward and mild mannerisms that you must be into that type of person. Someone who didn’t intimidate you. Your demeanor made him want to prove himself right.

That, and the fact you held some attractive qualities to his straying eyes he wanted to become familiar with. Your name is barely part of his vocabulary and already he can't help but imagine the sound of your whimpers and what your skin must look like beneath the layer of clothing flattering your curves. He wasted no time baiting you in for a date to "make up for running into you". His little game quickly began.

One date to gain your affection with his respectful charm. Another to gain your trust, complemented by touching sincerity. A third date to gain your intimacy and sow little hints of longing. And one more to reward his cunning, a kiss that was stronger than last time. One with a bold assertion of held back desire practically begging for the next step in this dating phase. You ate it all up, none the wiser to his omittance of character as anyone would be when treated so fondly by someone who looked upon you the way Gohan did. You were very much willing to be led to any edge by him, trusting that he would not let you fall over. He had been so patient with you up until this date, you wanted to give him more of you. If only you knew what that truly entailed for you.

You didn’t think much of it initially after he brought you to his home. Gohan wasted no time pressing your buttons and committing to memory those small things that made your legs buckle and thighs squeeze under the pleasure. You couldn’t think of anything beyond where it was leading. You moved more bold in return, removing his glasses in the process and admiring his natural beauty. You could make out more of the structure of his face and really take in his dark stare, witnessing in an instant how his lust clouded the light in his eyes and his smile become crooked.

The kiss he planted on your lips was more controlling than driven to please but it still felt too good to be anything but a liberating act of passion from one to another. His warm tongue poured past your lips and boldly drew yours out to play while he forced the remaining clothes from your body. Gohan takes your hand and guides it back to his own body, fitting your smaller palm against his bulge. Holding it there even your touch flinched realizing what you felt. He gives a cunning chuckle, cupping your chin with his other hand and licking along your bottom lip before withdrawing from the kiss.

“I’ve been saving it for you.” He confessed with a lowered tone, sensual honey in your ears. “Be nice to me, alright?” A thoughtless nod is all you can answer with, unwilling to see how he had not promised the same. That’s when he knew he had you exactly where he wanted you.

He opened his pants to you, and instinctually you reached for his cock, once again squeezing your excited thighs together at the bare touch of it. Gohan returns the gesture, first grabbing your ass with a worshipping wiggle of its weight in his grasp before following the natural split to your eager hole. He raises one of your legs to his hips and slightly dips you to wet his fingers with your leaking juices on the other hand, then squeezes a finger inside you.

Your wet insides came to life at the touch, the first little sound to leave your lips made his length twitch in your hand. He used one finger just long enough to push a second and the emphatic moan that left you urged his twisted pleasure to take what he worked so hard for. What his fingers couldn’t complete in making you cum under his touch, he was sure to make up for with his cock, swiftly lifting you off your feet and pulling your spread hips into him where he can drag you down onto his length. The sudden spasm nursing for relief around him just made him smirk harder knowing you came just from him penetrating you, but he didn’t let up a second to let your fully stimulated nerves recover. He made you straddle his forearms while holding your ass and bounced you off his thrusts as you cried out in your pleasure. 

You threw your arms around his shoulders and muffled yourself on his lips, his tongue demanding yours once again. Gohan then draws your hips to his without mercy, sure to feel his full size stroked and selfishly tending to meet his own orgasm. He was enamored with nothing more than the thought of filling your stretched hole with his cum as the cherry on top of getting to have his way with you: another silly human who underestimates what he is capable of. All because he flashed you with his father’s inherited smile and convinced you with his wiles that he can’t help but be so lucky to have run into you. He could do anything he wanted with you now, flaw this heated flesh and tailor your holes to only him as marks of his conquest. Make it so only he can be your entire world for as long as he needed you.

That was when you hissed between your moans, feeling your lip pinched under a sharp bite but it was dulled as you edged closer to cumming again. You felt it once more and tried to pull away to soothe your bottom lip. Gohan then pushed you up against a wall and pinned your head back with a rougher kiss. A small bead of blood rose up on your lip and the tang hit his tongue, making him shudder with delight at the taste, his thrusts growing harder. His grip became a discomfort feeling his blunt nails dig into your plush ass sure to leave indentations along with the eager canines trying to bite your lip a third time. It was enough to pull you out of his spell for the moment, speaking up his name with concern at his sudden roughness only to be ignored. Gohan released a deep, impatient groan and without warning buried his face into your neck and shoulder pressing his sharp teeth into your flesh. The surprised and pained shrill that left you was drowned out in his ears by the warm blood spilled to his tongue whilst his cock spilled inside you.

[housewarningparty]

Do you have any advice for fanfic writers just starting out? I’d love to post something someday, I only started writing fanfic a couple months ago, and keep it all to myself. Some of y’all out there (read: you) are so good at this it’s terrifyingly intimidating. I’m not sure I’ll ever be that good and I’m not sure how to improve, nor how to know when something is worth posting at all. Somedays I wanna be a writer and share so bad, but other days I think “what’s the point?” if I’ll never be that good. It’s tempting just to throw everything I have in the garbage. Also, writing fanfic is a new concept to me and I also really struggle with telling whether what I’ve created is in character. Basically…I love your writing, and, help??

first off, thank you so much for the kind compliments! it's flattering that you like my work so much and that you came to me for advice on this. it's important to keep in mind that everyone's journey into writing is different, but since i've been in fandom over half my life now, i can offer you a little bit of what i've learned has worked for me over the years

i know it's tough not to do, but you should try not comparing your work (especially when you're just starting out!) to others. i know that's not easy - i still have a hard time with this sometimes! but it's rarely helpful. it's good (and even motivating!) to find aspirational work in your fandom of choice, but once you start using that work to undermine your own confidence instead of inspiring yourself, it stops being helpful. i don't want my work to make you feel like it's not worth trying! i want you to create and enjoy the process!

i answered an ask similar to this some time ago. linking it here for a more detailed answer but the bullet points:

read fic! read books! read articles! read!

REVIEW - specifically, leave the kinds of reviews you would like to get on your own work. be specific and detailed. this is nice for the writer, it's good for you because it helps you learn to identify what you like in stories, which means you'll have a better understanding of how to apply those concepts to your own work, and it makes you more active in the fandom! (also, pro tip: if you review frequently and well, those writers will be more likely to check your stuff out and offer feedback too)

piggybacking off that - engage with people's posts! make rec lists. make meta/HC posts. leave replies. send asks. put yourself out there. meeting people in the fandom and engaging in fandom activities will make you more motivated. reach out to the writers you like, leave those good reviews we were talking about (they'll remember you), and if you're feeling spicy offer to beta. i credit beta-ing for friends and people i admired for helping me develop a lot of skill and confidence. it's a great way to learn from other people

re: keeping things in character - this can be really intimidating! if you know people who are familiar with the source material, see if any of them would be down for reading and offering you feedback! if that's too scary or not an option, well - take some notes! what character traits do you want to keep in mind? quirks of speech? what type of physicality do the characters have? what motivates them and how transparent are they prepared to be about it? ask yourself stuff like this, the things you like in other work or find important to your story, and write it down! make your own reference list, until you feel confident enough. sometimes it's nice to have something concrete to refer to, when you're editing or stuck in a scene

don't give up!!!! if i had given up when i was feeling unskilled, inexperienced, and unconfident i would never have gotten to where i am now. keep in mind the work you're reading and enjoying from me is the product of like 16 years of doing the damn thing!

Writing fic can be a really fun and rewarding hobby. For me, it's also a great social activity, because I get to meet so many cool people (yes, this means you too!) through it. The worst thing you can do when you're starting out (or ever?) is need the work to be perfect. Remember - finished is better than perfect will ever be.

At the end of the day, everyone's here because we love the same stuff and we want to have fun. Fanwork is a thing we do FOR FREE for each other! It's a gift you're putting out there for everyone else like you. That's something worth at least trying out, right?

i promise all these anxieties you're having are extremely common (i share or have shared... basically all of them lmao) but it's not worth letting them hold you back from having a potentially really great experience with your fellow nerds. i believe in you! write that fic! post that fic! you can do it!

[honourablejester]

Things like this always make me think of the two artefact swords in the Shannara series and the story differences between them.

The Sword of Shannara is a mythic weapon that had an entire prequel book dedicated to its creation. It was specifically designed as a weapon against one particular foe, and First King of Shannara’s whole plot is the quest to successfully forge this weapon. Which, pretty cool, yes.

The Sword of Leah, on the other hand, was the purely mundane ancestral sword of the Leah family, the family of hotheaded roguish allies who spend most of the original trilogy following various Shannaras/Ohmsfords through adventures. It was made magical purely because Rone Leah, Wishsong of Shannara’s generation of the Leahs, chose to backtalk Allanon, the series main quest-giver and magical powerhouse, at exactly the wrong moment, and Allanon forged magic into the blade in a fit of pure pique, scaring about sixteen years off Rone’s lifespan in the process. (Alannon made him hold the blade in the lake of death and seared the death-water into the blade with his own fire magic, and a seven foot tall absolutely livid druid grabbing your weapon and shoving it into the death portal lake with you attached is an intimidating thing to happen to a dude). And because it was forged in a fit of pique, the sword has some side-effects later on. It eats magic, so it’s extremely useful when fighting magic enemies, but it’s also addictive and not entirely stable.

And I’m not sure how much of this is that Wishsong is my favourite book of the series, but I always thought the Sword of Leah’s origin was a lot more interesting and fun. Sometimes you get a magic weapon because you backtalk the right magic user at the extremely wrong moment.

It’s also fun because of the contrast between Bremen and Allanon, the two creators of the swords, and perhaps not-incidentally adoptive father and son. Bremen was a man of foresight and deliberation, and he took an entire quest to forge the weapon right, and his main struggle was finding the right wielder for it. Allanon, by contrast, was a much more active and reactive force in the world, much more willing to go out and directly clobber evil himself, but also perhaps a more involved and emotional person. So his sword was made completely on the fly, and it did work, but it also had consequences.

So. Depending on the NPCs in your campaign, and what sort of players you have, and whether they have objects from their backstory, or maybe mundane objects they get attached to from their adventures, and whether or not they’re the sort to piss off a broadly-helpful magical ally enough to get their family heirloom turned into a mildly cursed but exciting magic item …

There’s options, is what I’m saying here.

But yes, I agree, fully and absolutely make a story out of the item. And also …

Another reason I like the Sword of Leah over the Sword of Shannara is that, the Sword of Shannara was magical before the Ohmsfords inherited it, and it sort of became their family duty, while the Sword of Leah was the Leahs’ perfectly normal family sword that became magical as a result of their persistent willingness to get involved in world-ending shenanigans (and be snarky about it at incredibly fraught moments). I like the idea of, instead of replacing your backstory blade that has all your character building attached to it for a +1 sword because you need the mechanical benefit, why not have the quest turn your family blade magical. Reward the effort that went into the backstory. Let the magic item be a personal thing to you.

I mean, it’s a thing a DM would have to plan around, much more than just picking something up in a dungeon, but it also just feels really cool. An object you were part of making, that builds on the story you made for your character.

I don’t think magic items should be named after their function, but their story.

In Dungeon Crawl Classics, there’s a chapter on magic items that briefly mentions that magic items are rare and powerful to the point that any one magic item is probably quite famous. That fame usually comes with a name.

So a particular flame tongue sword might be called “Hellfire” or “The Sword of Durageddon’s Bane”. A particular bag of holding might be “Kingslocks” or “The Blinding of the Gorgon”. These items get their names from the adventures they were involved in, which to me is a lot more interesting than a name that is purely functional.

Those functional names make the items feel less magical and more mechanical to me. If a bag of holding is recognisable as such, it must be fairly unremarkable to just have a generic name - implying that a great many people own one. It’s like owning a Ferrari racecar (impressive, but you’re hardly the only one) versus owning “The Carriage of the Ninth Angel” that is famed for being blessed by three angels with three heads in preparation for its death race against Satan himself.

I bought a zine recently (Through Ultan’s Door: Downtime in Zyon) that has a simple system for making magic items:

Commission a master artisan to make you a masterwork (a sword, armour, or book)

Use that item in a quest in an interesting way (such as slaying a particularly powerful foe)

That item, by becoming part of a spectacular story, then takes on magical properties once given a suitable name

Lots of players find it boring to find a generic +1 sword or what have you in dungeons, so I think this is a good solution to make it more interesting. And suitably mythic!

[pixelated-pogues]

Party Girl (r.c.)

Prompt: 4) “i asked if you were having a party. i didn’t tell you to have a party.” & 7) “wait, no, don’t take kissing away from me.”

Pairing: Rafe x reader

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol

——————————

You take a swig of the mixed drink in your hand, laughing as your friend Morgan spins into you, clearly intoxicated and having a good time. Your eyes trail around your living room that has been transformed into a dance floor full of people from your school. You’re slightly unsure as to how you got here. You’ve never been one to willingly throw a party, but when Rafe asked if you wanted to have one when he found out that your parents are out of town, you immediately jumped on the idea which is rather out of character for you.

“I thought you said that Topper and Rafe were coming. Where are they? I’m trying to snag some time with Topper now that Sarah’s out of the picture,” Morgan tells you, her voice barely audible over the music.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything from Rafe since he said that they were going to the course. I’m sure they’ll be here soon th-,” your statement is cut off as Morgan shouts Topper’s name excitedly. You turn towards where her attention had shifted, unable to hold in the cringe that came from her obvious crush on the boy. Your secondhand embarrassment shifts into a smile when your boyfriend comes into view, a slight smile adorning his face as you move to break the space between the two of you.

“Hey baby,” he greets, his lips capturing your own as his arms pull you into a hug. When he pulls away, his arm stays loosely hung over your shoulder as he studies the house. “You’ve got quite the party going on here Y/n.” His expression shifts into an amused grin while yours narrow in confusion.

“Why are you so surprised? You told me to throw a party tonight,” you question, absentmindedly handing him the solo cup in your hand as you wave off Rachel as she attempts to drag you back to the makeshift dance floor.

“Baby, I asked if you were having a party. I didn’t tell you to have a party,” Rafe giggles in amusement, pushing your unruly hair away from your face endearingly. He can’t deny how cute you look when you’re drunk, your doe eyes blearily staring up at him, almost, innocently.

“What?” You pout, your proud demeanor shifting into clear disappointment. “You don’t like it? I thought that this was what you wanted.” Rafe’s heart nearly stops at the tears he swears are welling up in your eyes. He immediately regrets even saying anything, but he knows that you’re not huge on the party scene so he’s surprised that you’d actually gone through with his halfhearted idea at all.

“God babe, no. That’s not what I’m saying at all,” he rushes out, pulling you against his chest for a brief moment. He pulls away to make eye contact with you, his arms still resting around you loosely. “I was just joking when I asked if you were having a party. You know, with your parents being out of town and all. I didn’t mean to make you think that I expected you to throw one to make me happy. I figured that you’d prefer a quiet night here.”

“I mean, I would I just-,” you pause to assess the atmosphere around you before looking at him again. “I don’t know, I just feel like I’ve been boring you lately and I thought that this would show you that I can be fun.” Rafe’s smile immediately drops into a deep frown as soon as your words leave your mouth. He can’t help but shiver under the immense amount of guilt weighing on his chest due to the fact that you went through such intense measures to make sure he still sees you.

“Y/n,” he sighs, taking a second before gently cupping your face to assure that you’re looking at him. “You haven’t been boring me. I love who you are regardless of how little you like to party. I mean, one of us has to be levelheaded, right?” He chuckles at his own statement, some of his guilt diminishing at his you seem to relax at his words. “Contrary to popular belief, I enjoy my quiet moments with you and I’ll never get tired of having them. You force me to slow down and that’s all I could really ask for.”

“Jesus, why didn’t you say so earlier,” you huff, jokingly shoving your hands into his chest. “Rachel and Morgan have practically been shoving shots down my throat since I mentioned my parents being gone. Now I’m drunk, have a mess to clean, there are too many people in my house, and I blame you.” Rafe contains his laughter as you adorably count through the list of things on your hand, seemingly trying to keep track of all of the points you hope to get across, before realizing that you’d just pinned the blame on him.

“Me,” he exclaims, feigning offense with his hand pressed against his chest. “How in the hell is this my fault?”

“You mentioned a party and I threw a party. Soooo that’s on you,” you explain, gently poking his nose. The atmosphere around you is long forgotten now that Rafe is standing in front of you. Even in your hazy state, you completely relaxed as soon as he came into view, all you want is to climb in bed and curl up with him.

“Okay fine, I’ll take partial credit on that one,” he caves, pulling you into his embrace again. “You know, we could still have a quiet night. Lock ourselves in your room and let this party die out on its own,” he murmurs in your ear, spinning you around so that your back is flush against his front, earning a carefree smile from you. Your smile widens as he begins peppering kisses down your neck.

“Oh yeah,” you breathe, unable to stop yourself from fully relaxing into him, nearly becoming mush as he continues his assault on your neck. “And let all of these people trash my house? That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“No babe, Topper and Morgan can stick around until they feel like calling it a night. They could keep watch of things for us. It’d be like we were here the whole time,” he explains.

“Hmmm,” you hum, tapping your chin as you think. “Fine, but you’re telling them. If you get even the most minuscule of an impression that they aren’t going to be willing to house sit while we sneak off, shut the whole thing down. I don’t want anyone here if there isn’t anyone to somewhat supervise what’s going on, got it?” Rafe can’t help the humored smile from forming on his face at your attempt to take control. The fact that he practically towers over you makes the “intimidating” expression on your face rather comical. He quickly coughs to rid himself of the smile before nodding with a serious look.

“Yes captain, I’ll do as I’ve been told,” he mocks you, saluting you in the process. “I’ll be in your room as soon as I can, okay?” He drops the act, his demeanor softening slightly as he moves to press a gentle kiss to your lips.

“Uh uh,” you stop him, your hands halting his advancements towards you. You lean a little closer to him, allowing your lips to graze his ear as you whisper, “No kisses until you’ve done as you’re told.”

“What? Wait, no, don’t take kissing away from me,” he pouts, shooting you a convincing pair of doe eyes with his bottom lip jutted out. “Babe.”

“Go,” you giggle, spinning towards your room. “You’ll be rewarded with as many kisses as you see fit as soon as my house is taken care of.” With that, you saunter off towards your room, shooting him a cheeky wink.

“God damn it,” Rafe huffs. He’s got half a mind to chase you to your room and show you who’s boss, but he simply rolls his shoulders back and turns back towards the living room to find your friends.

Your cuddled into your bed, fighting sleep by the time Rafe returns. He keeps his movements as quiet as possible as he sneaks closer to your bed, gauging whether you’re awake or not.

“All good,” you question, lazily turning towards his approaching figure. You’re barely able to make the boy out in the dark but you hear him carefully removing his clothes before climbing in bed with you.

“All good,” he breathes, gladly sinking into the covers that you lifted up for him. His arms quickly find your waist, dragging you into him as he gets situated. “They agreed to stay until it dwindles out. I offered the guest bedroom if they decide they want to stay.”

“Good,” you murmur, snuggling closer to him. The gentle shapes his fingers leave across your skin relax you further forcing your eyes to droop closed again.

“Feel better?” His free hand delicately pulls your disheveled hair away from your face while he looks up at the ceiling peacefully.

“Much better. Thank you for doing that,” you sigh, becoming conscious of his steady heartbeat dancing through your ear. You mindlessly tap his chest with it, smiling at the sound that’s become a safe haven for you.

“Anything for my girl,” he replies honestly. You lie in silence for a moment, simply soaking in each other’s company before he perks up, distracting you from the silence. “If I remember right, you owe me kisses for doing as I was told. Pay up captain.”

Your eyes inevitably roll at the nickname but you quickly oblige, moving to straddle his waist before your lips collide.

————————

A/n: This is a little late, and a LIL bit cheesy but I’m going to blame it on the chick flicks I’ve been watching recently.

I hope you enjoy!

Feel free to send requests in!

[saphirered]

Hi welcome back! Hope you’re doing well. Random question b4 my request, bc I want to give back as thanks for the great writing: are you a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate/cocoa drinker? I prefer hot chocolate and sweet tea.

How would the m9 respond to an SO/friend with a kid? Where the reader is a single parent with a child of at most 10 years old. Thanks :)

- 🐋

This took a while to write so sorry for that 😅. I'm so glad you like my writing! I love writing for you lot. I'm definitely a hot cocoa person. I hope this one turned out to your liking 😘.

----------

Caleb:

You never hid the fact you had a child from Caleb, if anything you’re proud of them. Though, you do know in certain company it’s better to keep that fact a secret for safety reasons. Caleb understands that fully he respects and admires you always put your child’s best interests first.

This is why when you began getting more involved with Caleb you kept your child out of it and took a good amount of time before introducing them to the wizard. You didn’t want to set expectations for both sides and wanted to protect and preserve them both should what you and Caleb had going not work out after all.

It’s no surprise Caleb is good with children. He takes a gentle approach when it comes to all things good in this world to the point of almost being afraid to ‘ruin it’. You assured him many times he was in the clear and how could his heart not warm at the curiosity and search for knowledge your child was already displaying.

With your permission Caleb began teaching your child some things here and there. The theoretics of magic and eventually simple spells. The smile it brought to their faces while they worked couldn’t make you happier. Caleb definitely earned your child’s approval to stick around.

Beau:

At first Beau is surprised. She knows children come from somewhere of course. She’s not stupid but actually tying a child to their parent let alone being very close to that parent is a whole new story. Especially learning you raised your child on your own and seeing you want to provide what’s best for them definitely earns you her respect, not having a parent with the same motivation herself and all.

The day of introductions came along and as expected Beau is the most awkward, trying not to be a terrible influence and be on her best behaviour, makes her very much on edge. An perceptive child picking up on this awkward behaviour calling her out leaving her cursing like a sailor, then apologising for said curses, even less of a surprise. You had to assure her many times it was fine.

Beau makes a promise that no matter what, she’ll make sure you’ll be returning to your child and make sure they get the love and support they deserve. Growing up without loving parents is one thing. Growing up an orphan another. She’d do everything in her power to keep you safe.

It may have began with joking comments such as ‘finish your homework’ to ‘do the dishes’ and ‘be nice to your parent while I’m gone’ but it didn’t take long before Beau was helping them with their homework or cleaning dishes after you cooked.

Absolutely treats your child as someone capable of making decisions of their own and speaking for themselves. No baby voices or cooing like too many adults tend to do even to a child regardless of their age. Your child has thoughts and opinions of their own and for the love of all that is sacred, can speak for themselves. You’re glad Beau treats them with a sense of maturity.

Fjord:

Fjord may have done what can only be referred to as a spit take the moment you said you had a child. Clearly didn’t expect it but giving him time to recover and process he’d ask all sorts of questions. What are they like? What do they like? And of course the dreaded question about your partner.

Supportive Fjord for the win. After finding out you’re on your own he’d always have your back, checking in with you and making sure you’re doing alright amidst the stress of the world and raising a child in the mix of it all. He’d open up to you about his past and being raised without any kind of proper parental figure. What he wouldn’t have done to have someone like you around when it counted for him.

Introducing them went rather smoothly. Fjord is surprisingly good with children. While some might find him intimidating, he nearly melted when your child embraced him as a thank you for looking out for you. Fjord was happy to answer any and all questions your child asked.

Whenever you’d be swept away for a while having to leave your child in the care of your trusted ones, Fjord would tell your child to ‘have the wheel, sailor’ which they would return with a salute before biding you both goodbye. Fjord slowly transcended into a bit of a father role and none of you minded in the least. You were happy.

Veth:

When she spoke of her boy she left behind you pitied her. A child shouldn’t be without their family. They deserved to be loved and sheltered from the darkness of the world until they are ready. When you told her you had one of your own Veth really felt safe to confide in you with her worries and troubles. You bonded over it really, drowning out all the sad stories and struggles with fond memories of both your families. Sadly for you, that would only extend to you and your child, the memories of their other parent perhaps somewhat painful to share.

You wondered what it would be like if your children ever got to meet in person. Then the day came. Nicodranas really had a way of bringing families together didn’t it? First time may have been a bit strange, your child being fully aware of Veth’s need for a disguise with her son, played their part well. Both you and Veth may have wiped away some tears when Luc claimed your child their big sibling from now on, and you his third parent.

Work and life are a difficult combination for Veth. She wants nothing more than to be with Yeza and take care of her boy but as long as the world’s in peril and her other family needs her just as much if not more, she’ll have to leave them behind. Knowing that you and your child are with her husband and son when she can’t be eases her mind a lot and she’s forever grateful.

It goes unsaid that Veth’s time away from children and in the presence of adults, specifically the Mighty Nein may have left her a bit out of the routines of raising a child as shown by giving Luc and your child fireworks, promising them to teach them how to shoot a crossbow and more. You did have to hold her back a little with the help of Yeza and keep things a bit more contained for their safety, but mostly yours.

Jester:

Of course upon learning you’re raising your child all by yourself Jester goes onto a rant about how her and her mom were always alone and how Marion used to read stories to her and do you read stories to your child and do you sing to them and draw with them and give them hugs and cuddles after nightmares and… You have no idea how that girl doesn’t run out of breath.

Jester couldn’t be anyone but herself when meeting your child asking about their interests, do they like to draw and sing and dance and… You ran out of breath just listening to her talk and your child replying in similar fashion. Everything went quite well and the two of them got along. Jester would be singing them songs and teaching them how to draw resulting in many dick drawings randomly appearing in your books, notes and other places, followed by mischievous giggles.

Having bought your child a lovely green cloak and letting them pretend they’re the Traveler here to spread mischief and fun and leave behind many phallic shaped objects drawn and carved wherever possible sent you all in laughing fits but you swore you heard a more masculine chuckle and saw a green cloak fade into the shadows. Odd.

What only can be summed up as the combination between big sibling, fun wine cupcake aunt and mom, remained a constant in your life and you couldn’t be more thankful to have that ray of sunshine be there for all of you.

Caduceus:

Caduceus is very calm and collected about learning you have a child. Less of a response than perhaps anyone else perviously unknowing. “That’s nice.” He’d nod. You’d almost start thinking he may have been able to read it off you for some reason. He confirmed he was, the tired eyes, and the recovery of exasperation at times but sense of accomplishment and reward was a look he had seen from his own mother many times.

“You’re weird.” A stare down ensued. “You’re weird too.” Eyes sharpened. “I like you.” The ice broke and smiles followed. For a moment you were afraid that maybe your child wouldn’t like the odd firbolg and thinking about how you would keep friends and family separate but a wave of relief went over you knowing that all was well between the two most valuable people in your life.

You’d be handed a fresh cup of tea by your child, a plate of snacks by Caduceus, all too innocent smiles on their faces but all it took was a raised eyebrow from you to have them come clean about the kitchen being covered in soil from the two of them potting new plants, turning your home and garden in what can only be described as a greenhouse and rather ask for forgiveness than permission. You weren’t mad of course, but did make them clean the mess they made.

You’re still unsure whether or not it was a good or bad idea introducing your child to the extended Clay family as you got some insight in the chaotic prank wars between the siblings and all together sibling rivalry among some of them. It’s all fun and games of course but some moments you were glad you weren’t the one pelted with mud pies by Calliope or pushed into the spring by Calliope herself. Instead you could just enjoy Clarabelle’s bug collection with your child while laughing at the other’s being covered in mud and soaked to the bone.

Yasha:

Poor Yasha doesn’t recall much of a family. In reality she never really felt like she had one until the circus, and after them the Nein. When she saw you and your child together, the unconditional love you had for each other, she felt like she finally realised what she had been missing, and something she perhaps would never have. She learned the value of such a relationship.

Yasha has no idea how to interact with children at any level and by default tends to treat them as either adults, or cute animals. No in between. It took her some time to get the hang of it but you couldn’t deny both you and your child rather enjoyed the unconventional relationship.

The wastes and hardships of Xhorhas may force a child to grow up quickly in the tribes but that doesn’t mean children outside of those regions have to learn how to wield a sword and what bugs you can and cannot eat or how to best skin an animal before eating it… It took some convincing why that was not a necessary skill to learn at the tender age of ten.

You compromised with Yasha on the fighting in the end, persuaded by the woman and your child to allow her to teach them some fighting basics because someone’ has to have your back when Yasha’s not there. You did manage to hold them off on purchasing a sword perhaps too large for your child despite the ‘they’ll grow into it’ reasoning and instead settled on training equipment instead.

Mollymauk:

Oh Mollymauk, nothing surprises this one. He felt rather sorry for you going through the struggles of raising a child alone. He may not remember his own family but he’s traveled far and wide enough to know the hardships. He knows poor Toya and he admires you for being able to do what so many can’t or won’t.

It goes unsaid that Molly is perhaps the worst of influences when it comes to people but you’ve seen him interact with Toya before and know well enough he’s a kind and caring soul who wants only the best for those who can’t just yet fend for themselves. It’s a good foundation that leads to a better person. He jokingly claims himself proof of that through the carnival and him ‘being an absolute asshole’.

Molly’s soft side really does come out whenever he’s around your child. He doesn’t deliberately censor himself but tries to contain certain words and avoid certain subjects that should never be discussed around your child knowing you’d appreciate it and if he does let something slip and your child ask questions he’d gently explain it as certain things should definitely not be described in gory detail to someone of their age.

This circus man is not afraid to put on a show in any circumstance and will happily do so to cheer you or your child up whenever you’re feeling a bit down or overworked. Whether he’s making a fool of himself, giving you bogus card readings, juggle his swords or tell the most ridiculous stories ever he’d do it without a second thought because it brings you and your child joy. You’re part of his family and he’d go to hell and back again for you.

[writer-ish]

in the lambent light

pairing: mason x detective (grace bennett) word count: 2.4K words | rating: T (language)

summary: On the rooftop of the Warehouse, Grace and Mason have an honest conversation about sexuality, small towns, and love (sort of), with the revelry and light of Unit Bravo’s first Wayhaven Pride in the background.

For Week 1, Day 1 of @wayhavensummer: First Pride + #wsfchallenge “belonging”.

*

She finds him on the roof of the warehouse, of course, kicking his feet idly as they dangle over the edge, a thin wisp of smoke coming up steadily from his cigarette.

When he sees her, he puts it out and links his fingers together, eyes following her as she comes to sit beside him.

They're high up – too high; if she looks down she feels a bit dizzy – and he grunts, his eyes narrowing as she dangles her legs, too. She looks at her colourful socks - one purple, one pink - as she tries not to think about how steep the drop would be if she lost her balance or even just shuffled forward a bit.

She wonders if maybe he'll put his hand out to hold her steady, or force her to sit back.

(He does neither.)

"You don't have to do that, you know." She gestures belatedly to the ash of his crumpled cigarette still smoking lightly on the concrete. "I know I gave you a hard time before, but really, I don't want you to stop on account of me."

He shrugs. "It's fine. I don't even know why I still do it when I don’t even really need it anymore. Habit, I guess."

She opens her mouth to insist, say how she doesn't want him, doesn't need him to change for her – but her mouth clicks shut instead. It's easier to let it slide. To not delve too deeply into why he doesn't need it anymore.

They sit in silence for a bit, the evening breeze settling on them.

The sounds of revelry in the town square continue. Grace can hear the celebrations, the music, can feel the general aura of happiness radiating from below.

When she’d left to seek out Mason, Tina had been painting a rainbow on Adam’s sharp cheekbone as he sat very still, giving the situation a gravitas that it perhaps didn’t deserve, but was still heartwarming to see nonetheless.

Eric and Verda had been watching indulgently as their girls got spoiled with treats provided by Nate, who had been doing his very best to succeed at the task of “enjoying his first Pride”.

(When he’d asked if he was “doing it right”, Grace couldn’t help but give him an impromptu hug.

“You’re doing perfectly,” she’d said warmly and he had smiled down at her, eyes sparkling.)

Felix, for his part, had been bouncing around, examining the stalls set up to highlight the queer-owned business in Wayhaven, coming back to hand Nate a new trinket or snack or pin he’d purchased, and then bounding off again, the excitement practically vibrating off of him.

She smiles wistfully at the memory of how the town embraced Unit Bravo as their own, as she regards it all from a distance now, a bloom of warmth in her chest – a collection of the happiness and pride that she feels towards her little town for coming together in this way year after year. To celebrate its people; the people who make Wayhaven what it is.

To celebrate love.

She turns to Mason, spontaneously dropping a hand to his knee. He looks down swiftly and then back up at her, silver-grey eyes meeting her own.

"Was it all too much for you?" She nods in the direction of light, laughter, colour, and music. "Down there?"

He shrugs. "I respect the idea behind the celebration and I'm glad the others are happy and having fun. But yeah. It's not really my thing."

She nods slowly, going quiet again. He idly begins to play with her fingers, splayed out on his thigh. Tracing them with his own, up and down.

"You know it's not—"

"You know that we—"

They both go to speak at the same time, their voices stuttering to a stop as they realize.

"You go," Mason says eventually, the side of his lips quirked up in a small smirk. "You do most of the talking for us anyway."

"Hey!" Grace squeaks out indignantly. "I do not. Most people say I don't talk enough."

Mason snorts. "People who don't know you, maybe."

Her cheeks grow warm with pleasure at the unspoken confirmation. It feels like what he really said was: "People who don't know you the way I do."

And he's right.

"I was just going to say, Wayhaven has been doing this for years now. Decades even. We used to come when I was a kid.” She laughs in reminiscence. “There’s this picture of me – maybe eighteen months old or something – on Rook’s shoulders, watching the parade as my mom smiles up at us both.”

She feels her own smile go soft, like the edges of that faded cherished photograph. She shakes her head to clear the cobwebs of nostalgia before turning to him again. He’s regarding her in a way that can only be construed as fondness and her heart twists, ever so slightly.

“I’m glad you guys got to be here for your first Pride,” she continues, steering the conversation back to the present. To safer territory. “You hear all these things about the intolerance of small towns, and lord knows it’s true in some cases, but I dunno." She shrugs, a small smile gracing her lips once more. "It feels nice to be part of one of the good ones."

He's quiet and she turns to look at him after a moment of prolonged silence. He's still staring at her, this time a more inscrutable expression on his face. She can't tell what's going through his mind, whether it's concern or agreement or even anger. His fingers have stilled overtop hers and his large palm rests on her hand, warm and steady.

It takes another beat before he clears his throat and breaks eye contact, moving his hand off of hers. The cool air rushes to the spot where his hand used to be and she finds herself missing its warmth and comfort.

"It's true," he says finally. "It is one of the good ones." He looks at her carefully. "And you’re right. They aren't all like that."

There’s a wealth of meaning in his simple statement and it’s her turn to stare at him now, processing his words and trying to formulate an appropriate response.

"Have you…" She hesitates, trying to parse her words carefully. "Have you experienced… bad ones?"

He lets out a sigh. The very human sound, probably borne from a habit he could never quite kick, sends a tender pang straight to her heart.

"Listen, sweetheart." He leans back and looks up at the quickly dimming sky, the summer heat dwindling to a more tolerable mildness, the breeze picking up slightly and bringing with it the sweet scent of the magnolias below them. "It's no secret that I am not what people would call…"

He smirks and shoots her a side-long glance, his mischievous look belied by the glint of a single fang. "Discerning."

She stays quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“I’ve never seen value in—” He pauses, appearing to search for the right word. “—In curbing my desires to fit into a certain mold. I like what I like, I like who I like, and no real external factors – like gender or appearance or the shape of your tits or your bits – have ever really come into play.” He shrugs and pulls a cigarette out of his shirt pocket, fiddling with it without lighting it. “Some people have a problem with that and some places like to make it known more than others.”

Something about his final sentence causes her pulse to quicken, her thoughts jangling in her head. She tries to gather them up before she speaks.

“Do you think…” She hesitates. “Do you somehow think that I… have a problem with that? That I don’t understand?”

“Do you understand?” He looks straight at her then, his eyes sharp and intense. Not intimidating or cruel, but as though he’s looking for something – perhaps the honest answer to a question he’s not sure he’s even asked properly.

“I mean—” She feels indignant slightly, even though she tries to tamp it down. “If you think I somehow have an opinion on who people love and the circumstances around that, then I feel like maybe you don’t know me that well.”

“Whoa, whoa.” He holds his hands up, unlit cigarette still between two fingers, lip curling slightly. “Who said anything about love? I’m talking about who I decide to fuck.”

That one stings. She purses her lips and looks away, trying not to let him see just how much, inhaling deeply as she tries to get her feelings under control.

“Yes, yes,” she says finally, looking away with a wave of her hand. “Fuck, love, whatever.” She turns to him again, eyes narrowed. “I might not understand in the way that you do, through lived experience, but I care enough to try. And I certainly don’t judge.”

“I never said you judged, Gracie.” His voice is soft and the way he says her nickname – so rare from his lips – makes her breath catch in her throat. He flicks the cigarette between his fingers now, back and forth. “I just want everything to be out there between you and me. So that there’s never any—” He hesitates. “—Surprises.”

“Oh, you mean like finding out you’re a centuries-old vampire?” she quips, raising an eyebrow at him, arms crossed.

He barks out a laugh. “Watch who you’re calling centuries old, sweetheart.”

She chuckles along with him, before getting serious once more.

“The least surprising thing about you, Mason, is the fact that you have no qualms about who you choose to be with. I’ve never met a more accepting and open person.” He looks like he’s about to argue with her, so she holds up a hand to stop him. “And just because we aren’t—exactly the same, in that regard—” She looks down, feeling her cheeks warm slightly. “—Doesn’t mean I don’t get it. Or respect it.” She shrugs, laughing self-deprecatingly. “I find it hard to believe you’re interested in my boring ass, to be honest.”

“Your ass is the least boring thing about you, Detective.” For that comment, he’s rewarded with a light whack on the leg. He laughs and wraps his arm around her. “C’mere.”

Putting the cigarette behind his ear, he tugs her closer. He holds her tightly against him, thighs touching and feet brushing against each other.

“I’m going to say something cheesy as fuck and you’re going to listen. And then you’re never going to repeat it again. Got it?”

She nods quickly, eyes widening in anticipation.

“I see people—not for what they look like or any of that shit, but for what’s in here.” He taps gently, right above her left breast. “Yeah, I don’t get mixed up in all that love stuff, and attraction does play a big role in who I seek out and why, but it’s not an attraction to physical things. I just get this—sense of who a person is, I guess. And if I like what I sense, I follow through. If I don’t, I move on.” He gives her a squeeze. “You understand?”

She bites her lip, breath growing shallow as the impact of his words infiltrates her blood stream and causes her heart to flutter painfully.

He smiles slowly, a cheshire grin, and she curses his ability to hear the increase in her pulse.

“And guess what, sweetheart?” His voice has dropped an octave now, mouth close to her ear.

“What?” It comes out as a hoarse whisper.

“I like what you’ve got in here.” Another tap, same spot. “And I’m not ready to move on.”

As far as grand romantic statements go, Grace knows this one won’t make anyone’s top ten list. But for Mason, it’s a lot. And for her, for right now—it’s everything.

She leans forward and kisses him softly, sweetly, on the lips. His hand comes up to cup her cheek, but neither makes a move to deepen the kiss in any way, keeping it gentle and close-mouthed; an affirmation rather than the initiation of anything more. Pulling away, she looks at him, feeling the softness she sees in his face reflected in her own.

Giving him one more brief kiss, she scooches back and stands up carefully, dusting off the bottom of her blue shorts.

She catches him watching the action intently and he catches her catching him. They share a smirk that turns into a laugh and it feels comfortable and fun. It feels like an inside joke.

Like belonging.

“Let’s go, hot shot.” She holds out her hand to him and he takes it, swinging his legs around and standing up, his full height enough that she needs to tilt her head to look up at him.

“Think you can manage to rejoin the party?” she asks, her hand still in his as she tugs him to the door that will lead them back through the warehouse. “We’ll stick to the quieter corners. I’ll hold your hand the whole time,” she adds, smiling up at him, her tone cajoling, teasing.

There’s something about summer in Wayhaven, something about Pride in Wayhaven – the air feels lighter, sweeter. Grace feels lighter. Bolstered by love and friendship, warmth and comfort. All the good things about her little town seem to be highlighted during this time.

All the good things about her little life, she thinks, glancing at their joined hands.

Mason snorts and looks down at her, amused, before giving her hand a squeeze.

She squeezes back, feeling happier than she can remember ever feeling before.

“I’ll even buy you a snow cone without the syrup,” she offers as they leave, bumping his shoulder with hers.

He grunts and then stops short. “Isn’t that just ice?”

She bites back a smile, feeling laughter in her throat, and nods.

There’s a pause. He blinks once. Twice. Then—he bursts into loud laughter. The sound is so free, so surprising yet pleasant, that she can’t help the grin that spreads across her face. And when he pulls her even closer and presses a kiss to the top of her head—well. She’s not sure that smile will ever go away now.

“Lead the way, sweetheart,” he murmurs, keeping her close to him.

And she does.

[farshores]

any recs for making modding easier on PC? i want to move from playing on Xbox to playing on PC more but i find downloading just way too intimidating because of all the steps and requirements :(

I hear ya, the switch can be a scary one!

I strongly recommend nabbing a mod organizer to help ease the process! I personally use Vortex, but there's also Nexus Mod Manager! From experience with both, I find Vortex to be more user-friendly - but it's really up to preference!

Gopher tends to have some really nice tutorials on modding! I'll link the two playlists for both NMM & Vortex below!

Gopher's Beginner Guide to NMM + Beginner's Guide to Modding (This refers to NMM/is kinda a sequel to the first link)

Gopher's Beginner Guide to Vortex

The download pages for both managers are here! NMM is at the bottom of the page

EDIT: I FORGOT ABOUT MO2, MO2 USERS IM SO SORRY FORGIVE ME

The download is available on Nexus! 

The web page for the organizer has 3 vids on it in regards to tutorials!!

Now I'm not sure if you're going with classic Skyrim (LE) or Special Edition (SSE) - so I can't really recommend any mods for you atm, but do know both mod managers support either version!

& it's important to know what you want out of your modding experience; if you aren't too focused on things such as lighting and animation changes, then don't fret over setting up things like Nemesis/FNIS or ENBs. If you're going for a more vanilla+ playstyle, you won't really have to worry all too much about mod requirements as most won't have em, that sort of thing. But having a script extender installed regardless wouldn't hurt - if you use Vortex, it will install it for you! But if you feel more comfortable doing it manually or use NMM which, if i recall correctly, doesn't have this feature, here's a good vid on manually installing the latest version of SKSE. It covers 64, the SSE version, but the process should be overall the same.

This all really just covers the starting point, it's a bit of an intimidating learning curve, but a very rewarding one at that! Best two tips I can give you are:

Be sure to read through the mod description entirely, as it will answer a lot of questions you might have! (Compatibility, how to set it up, how to properly/safely uninstall, etc.) & if it doesn't, don't be scared to drop a question in the posts page - someone might have the answer to your question!

Know your computer! If you realize mods with heavy graphics or lots of scripts tend to slow things down, swap things out for something more gentle on your system.

Have fun & good luck! If you have anymore questions, I'll try my best to answer em all!