#weighted stuffed animal Tawny

[dcmainlybillythoughts]

Finally remembered to post this sketch from the wip "Billy adopts Kon and it goes surprisingly well" by @suzukiblu

Billy and Cap are just here to fill space, Kon is the star of the show now.

[thatgirlsnotrightinthebrain]

What were some things you did or observed about yourself as a kid that should have been a hint that you had a feeding/ fat/tranformation fetish?

I’ll go first:

- My favorite book was a Golden book titled The Tawny, Scrawny Lion about a Lion who is very thin and a Rabbit who is nominated by the other animals in the community to invite the lion to dinner with his family to avoid being eaten. The Lion enjoys himself so much he gets fat, befriends the Rabbit, and stops hunting the other animals in the story.

- I liked stuffing pillows up my shirt too much.

- My favorite arcade game was that Big Bertha game where you would throw balls into Bertha’s mouth and she would inflate bigger before your eyes.

- Something about certain (not yet understood) feelings while watching certain episodes of certain cartoons (you know the feelings, the episodes, and the cartoons)

- I would wrap ribbons around my Barbie dolls’ waists until they were more a spherical shape than hourglass, have storylines about them eating themselves to that point, their clothes not fitting, Ken being enabling, supportive, pushy, embarrassed, degrading, but at the end of the day still absolutely loving Barbie and making it known… (She might lose the “weight”, but when she did, it would feel wrong and she would eventually “gain it back” [and then-some].)

(I genuinely feel like the last one was at least partially my overweight, fat kid brain trying to feel like she could be loved, since I was called fat since kindergarten, my overweight parents were always talking about their weights and eventually arguing over mine and what I ate, and literally none of my crushes liked me back until like 8 years ago. Someone needed to tell me I was worthy of love, so I guess that was my way of doing it for myself.)

What were some of the things about yourself as a kid that should have been a hint you were into this?

[thosewickedlovelies]

Into the Woods: The Dog (backstory)

Rating: General Audiences (anyone!)

Summary: How Frankie’s dog got his name

Tags: obscene amounts of fluff, Santiago has a baby daughter

Word count: 1,124

Note: Hello!! This is a little backstory to a new Frankie x Reader fic I’m working on (aka outdoors insta frankie), in which Frankie's sole purpose is to hike in the woods and post his adventures on Instagram. Reader is not actually in this chapter, although he will tell you this story eventually <3

Credit for this whole concept goes to this post by the amazing @yoditorian! 💗💗💗💗

---

“Sorry, girl. It’s only for a little while, okay? Then you’ll have a new friend to meet!” The dog gives him doleful eyes as Frankies shuts her into the guest room. He shakes his head at how fully his as-yet unnamed companion has already got him wrapped around her paw. Then the doorbell rings, distracting him.

“Coming,” Frankie hollers.

He breaks into a broad grin at the sight of the pair on his doorstep. Santiago, beaming right back at him, and his daughter Gloriana, perched on his hip. “Hey, man.” They embrace tightly.

When they pull back, Frankie gives Gloriana’s arm a little squeeze of affection as well. “Hey, Glori. Cómo estás, huh?” How’s it going?

The toddler hides her face in her father’s neck, peeking out with a shy smile. She clutches a stuffed teddy bear to her chest. “She’s feeling shy today,” Santiago explains, adoringly brushing his daughter’s curls out of her face.

Her turns her away slightly as he peers around Frankie’s hip. “So, where’s the dog?”

“I shut her in the guest room for now,” Frankie answers, stepping back and opening the door wider for them. “Thought a more controlled meeting after a bit would be better.” Santi flashes him a look of relieved appreciation.

After a while spent catching up over strong coffee and playing with Gloriana, Santi brings it up again. “Hey, you wanna bring your dog out? If you say she can be gentle with Glori, I trust you.”

Nodding, Frankie slips away. Holding her firmly by the collar, he walks the hip-height canine to the living room. She sniffs the air interestedly, eyes trained on Santiago, who she’s met before, and the girl in his arms, who she hasn’t.

Santi watches his daughter’s face. Her eyes are huge as they take in the daunting mass of Frankie’s pet, her fists holding tightly to the comforting presence of her teddy bear. “You okay, Glori? This is Frankie’s friend. She doesn’t have a name yet, but if you want, she can be your friend too.”

Gloriana half turns her head toward her father’s voice. “You wanna meet her? Go say hi?” Santi asks. She looks at him fully and nods.

“Yeah? All right. Don’t worry, Daddy’s gotcha.” He kneels on the floor a healthy distance from Frankie and the dog and sets Glori down, hands hovering around her in case she changes her mind.

She takes a wavering step toward them. The animal sniffs again, head dipping forward to get a better whiff of this small human, curious but patient. Santiago shifts around Gloriana, letting the dog lick his hand before petting her, speaking soothingly and showing the girl what to do.

“See, Glori? Gentle, just like this.” He offers her his hand, guiding her to touch the creature’s fur.

She does so, eyes growing round and delighted at its softness. The dog turns her head to Gloriana, nudging her other hand with its wet nose, and the girl squeals when she licks her. The dog seems pleased by this, nosing more confidently at Glori and the stuffed animal still in her other hand.

The two men release deep breaths of relief at the sight of their family members getting along. “I knew she could handle it,” Santi says proudly.

Gloriana startles but giggles again when the dog sneezes, huffing and shaking its head. “Oso,” the little girl pipes. Bear.

Three pairs of eyes turn to her. “Qué? Que hay de tu oso, bebita?” Santi questions. What about your bear, baby?

“Oso,” Gloriana insists. Her tiny hand pats the dog’s shoulder in explanation. She looks at the two men expectantly.

A bubble of laughter rises in Frankie’s chest at her impatient expression as she holds up her teddy bear.

“Ohhh.” Comprehension dawns on Santiago. He rests a hand on the dog again. “Esto es un oso? Is that what you’re saying?” This is a bear?

“Sí.” Gloriana appears satisfied that she’s finally been understood. “Buen oso,” she coos, turning back to the dog and stroking her fur with the deliberate gentleness her father demonstrated. She holds up the stuffed animal to the canine’s face. “Eres tú!” She proclaims in her high child’s voice. Nice/good bear. It's you!

The men clutch their hearts in quiet laughter. After a final few minutes of watchfulness, Frankie releases the dog’s collar.

“Well man, I think we found your dog a name,” Santiago says, scratching her spine affectionately.

“Oso? Heh. She is big enough for it,” Frankie admits. “What do you think, girl? Is that your name? Oso?” The dog twists around to look at him, ears perking up. “Oso?” Frankie repeats, widening his eyes as if prompting a response.

She gives him one, letting out a agreeable yip before turning back to Gloriana. The newly-named dog lowers herself to the floor, tail thumping on the tile, and watches with an intelligent satisfaction as the toddler grabs for it.

--

Another Time -

“Damn, what is she?” Santiago shakes his head, impressed.

“I dunno, man, the shelter didn’t know. Some kind of working breed mix,” Frankie answers.

They watch Oso trot around the room with Gloriana on her back, utterly unbothered by the weight or the girl’s grip on her tawny fur.

“She looks kinda shepherd-y,” Santi says finally. “That’s a dog breed, right?”

Frankie chuckles, scratching at the patchy hair on his jaw. “I think so,” he replies. “I’ve tested her a bit, and she’s strong as hell. Good endurance. Whatever she is, it’s sturdy stuff.”

“The perfect partner for you then,” Santiago concludes. “I’m happy for you, ‘Fish.”

Frankie scoffs. “She’s not my girlfriend, dork.” He whacks Santi lightly on the shoulder.

The other man snickers, looking apologetic as he reviews his own words. “All right, I hear how that sounded. Now that we’re talking about it though, have you had any luck in that department lately?”

Frankie goes quiet, watching Oso sit and Glori slide off her back, tumbling to the floor with a shriek of joy. “Nah, man. It’s hard, living all the way out here. I travel, go into town sometimes, but...” Frankie trails off with a shrug.

Santiago observes his friend’s face, the way he cups the mug in his hands. “You should come to me and Rosa’s parties more often. You need someone to keep you company, Frank.”

Frankie pulls a face, less at the invitation than his aborted name. Santi laughs, and Frankie smiles too, letting his mood be lightened.

“We’ll see, Pope. You never know, maybe I’ll run into some mysterious perfect person in the woods and we’ll live happily ever after.”

Santiago follows his gaze to where Gloriana is chattering to a plush princess doll. He smiles wryly. “What a story that would make.”

--

Post A/N: Obviously Santiago and Rosa (his wife) are going to raise their child bilingual, don’t even @ me.

Taglist: @thirstworldproblemss, @leonieb

[cela-astral-projection]

Aric/Aedan Vernersson Character Survey

Basic Character Questions

First name? Aric. Psuedoname is Aedan 

Surname? Vernersson 

Middle names? Axel 

Nicknames? Brother 

Date of birth? September 23rd 

Age? Early to mid-twenties (died around his 25th birthday), but he's quite responsible for a young man. 

 Physical / Appearance

Height? 6'3

Weight? 240

Build? Buff but still soft. 

Hair color? Pale yellow/white. 

Hairstyle? Long, thick and wavy hair that is usually pulled back 

Eye color? Silver 

Glasses or contact lenses?: He wears glasses when he has to do a lot of writing or reading for eyestrain, but other than that, he has excellent vision. 

Distinguishing facial features? He's not big on shaving, so he generally has some form of facial hair. 

Which facial feature is most prominent? His jawline. 

Which bodily feature is most prominent? His arms or his monster hands. 

Other distinguishing features? Bright silver eyes. 

Skin? Tawny brown, like his mother's. 

Hands? Ginormous meat hooks. 

Makeup? Not his thing. Lucio made him put on his eyeliner once. It melted in the sun, and he swore it off because it burned his eyes. 

Scars? His hands are a little rough, and he's got a few cuts up his arms, but nothing too pronounced. 

Birthmarks? Some darker brown pigmentation on the back of his arms. Pretty faint. 

Tattoos? He has some sun paintings (one on each pec) reminiscent of the rock art from his village on his chest in a dark sienna color.

Physical handicaps? Bone spurs on his heels, but that's just an annoyance. 

Type of clothes?: It depends on what he's doing. In the palace, he wears grey and charcoal with red and gold accents. When he's just going about his day, he wears lightweight linens in a rainbow of colors. 

What are their feet like? (type of shoes, state of shoes, socks, feet, pristine, dirty, worn, etc.) Like I said, the boy has bone spurs on his heels, so they were already giant monster feet, but that just adds to their length. He takes good care of his feet. He likes high-quality boots and shoes. (Unlike his sister who would go barefoot everywhere.)

Race / Ethnicity?: His father is from Lucio and Morga's tribe, and his mother is one of the southern tribes on the frozen sea. (A/N: for all intents and purposes, I write them as Swedes/Post-Spanish Mission  Chumash Indians because...that's what Kristen (Celeste) and Erik (Aric) are.) 

Are they in good health? Aric was always in generally good health. Until he wasn't... 

Do they have any disabilities? None to speak of. 

(image of Chumash Rock art for tattoo reference) 

Personality

What words or phrases do they overuse? "Yeah, Bud!" 

Are they more optimistic or pessimistic? Optimistic 

Are they introverted or extroverted? Extroverted

Do they ever put on airs? Nope. You won't find a more chill, friendly guy. 

What bad habits do they have? Nail-biting and hair pulling (trichotillomania, but he has to be very, very anxious) 

What makes them laugh out loud?: So many things. And at inappropriate times. 

How do they display affection? Gifts, acts of service. 

How do they want to be seen by others? Reliable, approachable, trustworthy.

Strongest character trait? Seeing the best in others. 

Weakest character trait? Blind loyalty. 

How competitive are they? Very. 

How do they react to praise? He loves hearing praise and being told he's doing a good job. It gives him warm fuzzies. 

How do they react to criticism? He is very open to criticism as long as it's constructive. 

What is their greatest fear? Not being able to save his loved ones. 

What are their biggest secrets? He's an open book. Except for that whole...fake name-Lucio is my cousin thing. (Which he is not terribly good at hiding) 

What is their philosophy of life? How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

What haunts them? His mother's face when he left home. 

What will they stand up for? Anyone, anytime. 

Are they indoorsy or outdoorsy? Outdoorsy. 

What is their sinful little habit? He wouldn't consider it immoral, but he does indulge in some of the magician's...herbal remedies. 

What sense do they most rely on? Sight. 

How do they treat people better than them? As equals

How do they treat people worse than them? As equals

What do they consider an overrated virtue? Temperance.

If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?   Probably would do better to realize that some people just can't be reached, but damned if he doesn't try. 

What is their obsession? Fishing and his dog. 

What are their pet peeves? People that touch his food without permission. Aedan doesn't share food! He will buy your food! NO TOUCH. (Though Celeste will note that he has no compunction about stealing her food.) 

Friends and Family

Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of?: Small. Mama, Papa, Sister, and Him. There is, of course, the extended family and his tribe, but the core group was relatively small. 

What is their perception of a family? Family is the most important thing. 

Do they have siblings? Older or younger?: One sister. Same age. 

Describe their best friend. Bit of a ditz. Funny (though it's unclear if he means to be). Dog lover. Drinking buddy. 

Ideal best friend? Someone not afraid to throw their stuff in a satchel and get lost for a day. Bonfire under the stars. Loves dogs. Not scared of touching fish. 

Do they have any pets? Ebba! Borzoi like M & M but with big brown patches and knows how to mind. 

 Past and Future

What was your character like as a baby? As a child?: He was a happy, inquisitive baby. He was rough and tumble, always on the go. Occasionally he’d scare himself (falling) but he only needed to be told that he was okay and he’d keep on going. 

Did they grow up rich or poor? They had no real need for money unless they were traveling, and then they mostly traded for what they needed.

Did they grow up nurtured or neglected? Nurtured. 

What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved? Left them. Wasn't his idea, though. Still feels terrible.

What are their ambitions? Getting to be free and live his own life. 

What smells remind them of their childhood? Woodfire. Briny seawater. Spice. 

What was their childhood ambition? Be the head of the rowers that went out to the islands. 

What is their best childhood memory? Traveling with dad to the surrounding tribes and making friends with other kids. 

Did they have an imaginary childhood friend? No. He had so many friends he didn't have time for imaginary ones. 

 Love

Do they believe in love at first sight? Maybe? His parents had an arranged marriage, and he thinks that's pretty fine.  He likes getting to know people to make sure that what he's feeling is real. 

How do they behave in a relationship? He's all about making his partner feel cherished and comfortable. He likes to move slow...ish. 

What sort of sex do they have? He's not exactly wild. But, he's open-minded. 

Has your character ever been in love? Sure. 

Have they ever had their heart broken? Nah. If he parts with people, it's amicable. 

 Conflict

How do they respond to a threat? Try to reason. If not, try to subdue with as little injury as possible. 

Are they most likely to fight with their fists or their tongue? Fists, honestly. If it comes to that. Even then, he'd probably just try to wrestle and pin them. 

What is your character's kryptonite? The concept of someone he cares about being hurt. 

If your character could only save one thing from their burning house, what would it be? His dog. Not an object, but things aren't that important. 

How do they perceive strangers? Never met one. 

What are their phobias? Ophidiophobia, so it's probably good that he never really got to know Asra because Faust would have scared him to death. 

What is their choice of weapon? If he had to really fight, he'd use a one-handed battle-ax. 

What living person do they most despise? Valdemar, but living and person are both kinda uncertain terms. 

Have they ever been bullied or teased? No. Even if he was, it wouldn't bother him. 

Where do they go when they're angry? For a walk. 

 Work, Education, and Hobbies

What is their current job? Head guard of the palace. 

What do they think about their current job? Get to hang out with his bud most of the time, so that's pretty neat. Could do with less having to enforce his stupid decrees (which he finds ways around if he can.) 

What are some of their past jobs? Fisherman and hunter. 

What are their hobbies? Fishing, hunting, falconry, reading. 

Educational background? No formal education. Dad taught him how to read and write, but he didn't have much use for either of those skills until he came to Vesuvia. 

Intelligence level? Himbo-lite. 

Do they have any specialist training? Jack of all trades, master of none. 

Do they play a sport? Are they any good? Rowing and wrestling. 

What is their socioeconomic status? Upper class? Lucio pays well. 

 Favorites

What is their favorite animal? Ebba. 

Which animal to they dislike the most? Snakes. 

What place would they most like to visit? He'd like to travel like his dad did before his parents got married, but he's not picky. 

What is the most beautiful thing they've ever seen? Poppy fields! 

What is their favorite song? No Hurry - Zac Brown Band

Music, art, reading preferred? Reading but music is a close second. 

What is their favorite color? Green or blue. 

Favorite food: Grilled stuffed portobello mushrooms with bleu cheese. 

 Possessions

What is in their fridge: Beer, red wine (that hefty stuff that leaves long tendrils when you swirl it. he likes to chew his wine). Meat, cheese, mushrooms, bread, a lot of veggies. 

What is on their bedside table? Reading glasses and a book. 

What is in their pockets? Money. 

What is their most treasured possession? His dog. But calling her a possession feels terrible. 

 Spirituality

Do they believe in the afterlife? Sure. 

What are their religious views? He believes in spiritual guides, and he believes in magic. Though he is sadly more like his father than his mother in that he really can't cast.

Are they superstitious? He's a little 'stitious. 

What would they like to be reincarnated as? A peregrine falcon. 

How would they like to die? Not the way he did, that's for sure. That sucked. 

What is your character's spirit guide? Duckhawk! 

What is their zodiac sign? Libra. 

 Daily life

What are their eating habits? An army marches on their stomach. He always makes sure to have a decent breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Do they have any allergies? Just pollen. 

Describe their home. The palace. His room is pretty spartan. Bed, dresser, desk, couple side tables, mirror. 

Are they minimalist or a clutter hoarder? Minimalist. 

What do they do first thing on a weekday morning? Try to get to the bath before everyone else does. 

What do they do on a Sunday afternoon? Nap or go for a hike out in the woods. 

What do they do on a Friday night? Drink with Lou. 

What is the soft drink of choice? If such a thing existed, it would be original Coke. 

What is their alcoholic drink of choice? He's an appreciator of fine whiskey and wine. But, he won't turn his nose up at a good ale or cider. 

 Miscellaneous

What is their character archetype? The hunter. 

Who is their hero? His dad. 

What or who would your character dress up as for Halloween? Thor. 

Are they comfortable with technology? Ehhhh. Not really. He can use it but would rather not. 

If they could save one person, who would it be? He couldn't pick. 

If they could call one person for help, who would it be? Linnea. 

What is their favorite proverb? Friendship is love with understanding. 

What is their greatest extravagance? Gifts. He buys gifts like the world will end tomorrow. 

Do they believe in happy endings? Sure. 

What would they ask a fortune-teller? Am I doing the right thing?

@vesuviasfastestcourier​ Will this help until I can write more Aedan fic? :)

[nalgenewhore]

flower power - Elorcan

hiii guys sooo i wrote more angst oopsie thank you @kandasboi for the idea it’s so good !! k bros ready for some soul crushing angst?? me neither 😭 (this is set before Anielle but after Eos)

The journey to find their queen wasn’t an easy one, physically or emotionally. Rowan initially refused to rest until his mate was found and only relented once he and Lorcan had a friendly little chat about a certain mortal lady of Perranth. She still was barely acknowledging his existence and dismissed him at every chance she got. He knew that she still loved him but that she despised herself for it. Day after day, he kept mask on, sullen and silent like before he met Elide. He offered to do recon missions at any chance if only to get away so his mask could crack and then the tears came, ripping through him. Whitethorn was too far gone, buried in the grief of a male searching for his mate but Gavriel saw. His tawny eyes noticed the tear tracks that sliced through the grime on Lorcan’s cheek. He noticed when Lorcan dropped off his ripped shirts, nodding his thanks every time and every time Lorcan dismissed it with a harsh edge that lined his pitch eyes.

Each night they set up camp, Lorcan would set his tent apart from the group, citing that it was a security measure. But it was because he couldn’t stand to see and hear Elide be so carefree. Her eyes lit up and she was able to coax a small smile out of Rowan almost every night; she and Gavriel had animated discussions about his son’s childhood. The flame in her eyes that seemed to illuminate her face from her eyes extinguished when she beheld Lorcan so after the first night, he spent as little time as possible around them and disappeared into his tent where he stayed till before sunup. Gavriel was certain he could hear choking sounds from Salvaterre’s tent but decided it would be best not to bother and that he would rather be left alone. If only he had known what would happen next.

Over the next couple days, Lorcan found it hard to swallow, like his throat was stuffed. Sharp pain accompanied the stuffed feeling, like the thorns of a rose were growing, coiling inside him, ready to cut without hesitation. He found it difficult to breathe, as well, like he was drowning. Eventually, the group had to stop. Lorcan had barely eaten or drank in the last three days and was minutes from collapsing. He had to be dragged by Rowan and Gavriel into the tent Elide had quickly and efficiently set up.

Gavriel popped his head in to check on Lorcan. As his eyes revealed what was happening before him, he cursed. Large, spiny lines were roving around, beneath the skin of his throat, moving and coiling. Lorcan was unconscious now, face contorted and breaths shallow. “Rowan!” Gavriel barked.

“What is it?” Rowan’s silver haired head lifted from where he staring. He became alert at Gavriel’s stricken eyes, surging from his spot beside Elide. Gavriel only whispered,

“Hanahaki.” The blood drained from Rowan’s face and he whipped around, staring at Elide who remained oblivious. He turned to Gavriel once more. “Fuck.” Gavriel took on a sarcastic look. “You think, Whitethorn?”

Hanahaki. The curse of unrequited love, one-sided emotions. Emrys seldom told stories about the curse, it was thought that mentioning it would cause a surge of the flower-borne disease, it was strictly taboo. Rowan pushed past Gavriel to see it for himself. “Fuck.” He said again. “Gav, shit. Shit. Fuckfuckfuck. What do we do? We can’t remove it. We’ll kill him.” Gavriel snarled, “He’ll die anyway.” Rowan was shaking his head.

“No. Lorcan wouldn’t want it. He wouldn’t want it to be removed.” Bewilderment settled on Gavriel’s face and he quirked a brow. Rowan lightly shook his head once more and gave a pointed look at the woman sitting at the fire. He then jerked his head to inside Lorcan’s tent. The moment they were both in there, the scent of blossoms was sickening, Lorcan really didn’t have much time now. “Gavriel,” Rowan seethed. “Lorcan is deeply, deeply in love with Elide. She loves him too but hates herself for it. He would never forgive us if we removed it. He would rather die than not be utterly in love with her.” Gavriel opened his mouth to reply when they heard Lorcan groan in pain. They pivoted to him and saw his eyes crack open. The act of opening his eyes seemed to bring him more pain. They could see petals that shed through his tear ducts, like he was crying flowers. He clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Don’t.” A shallow breath. “Don’t remove it. Just—” he coughed, more petals coming out of his mouth. “Just get her. I need her.” He opened his eyes again. If Rowan wasn’t already broken and tired, he could’ve sworn his heart would crack for his commander, the soldier dealt a cruel hand, dying from a merciless curse. “Please.” Gavriel was already exiting the tent, stopping low to avoid getting clipped. Rowan knelt by the figure who was wracked in guilt and soul rendering pain. He couldn’t do anything besides hold his hand until Elide got there. If she did come anyway. Luckily, Rowan didn’t have to contemplate long as Elide hurtled through the tent flap, chest heaving and eyes widening immediately at the scene before her. She fell to her knees and crawled to his side. Rowan dropped Lorcan’s hand and held Elide to his chest for one, two, three, four, five heartbeats as she sobbed once, twice, three times. He then gently turned her to Lorcan and placed Hellas’ blessed hand in Anneith’s guided one. He left the tent but not before taking one last look at the pair.

He couldn’t open his eyes anymore, the pain was unbearable. But he knew she was beside him, holding his hand and crying. Gavriel arrived in the tent and he heard Elide whip to him and asked the heartbreaking question, “Why?”

Gavriel took a deep breath. “It’s called the Hanahaki curse. It happens when someone loves another, deeply akin to true love but the other person does not feel the same way or does, but wishes it weren’t so.” Elide choked. “But I love him! Please, I love him.” She twisted to Lorcan again and took his face in her hands. “Lorcan Salvaterre, I love you. Do you hear me? I love you.” Lorcan smiled and struggled to open his eyes. Half lidded was the best he could do. “Elide Lochan,” Lorcan hacked up another batch of petals. The scent of blossoms stuffed her nose, shoving down her throat. “I thought you’d never say those words. I love you too.” He cupped her face and she leaned into his side, tilting her head to kiss his palm. Silent tears ran down her face and with the pad of his thumb, he brushed them away. “It’s too late, my love. Too late for us. I love you.” He closed his eyes and fell back against the bedroll. “Nonono. Lorcan, please, wake up, say you love me. Wake up!” Elide shuddered against his side, the air too heavy, it was smothering her. “Wake up, please! Lorcan. No. I’m not ready, I can’t do it without you, I need you. Wake up, please. I’ll do anything just wake up!” She was still begging as Gavriel carried her out, tears leaking out of his eyes too.

He set her down beside Rowan who was waiting with a blanket. Rowan smoothly wrapped the blanket around the shaking woman. He tucked her into his side and held her as she sobbed. “Rowan. Please, get him back. Please. Please.” Her voice cracked, the weight of her grief too heavy. “I’ll do anything, anything.” Rowan just quietly hummed to her, the Song of Terrasen. He continued to hum and hold her, pressed to his side as she fell into a deep slumber, her soul shattering grief exhausting her. As Rowan looked at her, he realized that she was another person shattered by flowers.

Oof that took a turn. Ummm this was a really fun AU to write (all cred for the idea goes to @kandasboi tank uuuu) and IM SORRY GUYS

@schmlip-scribble @running-with-thieves @myqueenjudeduarte @my-name-be-kai @westofmoon @empire-of-wildfire @lauraisfae @dayanna-hatter

[junker-town]

The women of SB Nation’s MLB team brands look back at the 2018 season

Meet the talented women who write for SB Nation’s Major League Baseball team sites.

Thirty-three of the contributors on SB Nation’s MLB team brands are women. Sports media remains a male-dominated field, and we asked some of these sportswriters to look back on the season and share their thoughts and experiences with us. You can find all their responses via the link below, along with some common themes.

Baseball often started in the family

Women who love sports often get asked why. “For me, there’s no ‘how did you get into baseball,’ because I don’t remember getting into it; it always just was,” said Kate Preusser from our Mariners site, Lookout Landing. “I used to sit in front of the TV and mimic what was happening in the game with my stuffed animals and a set of cardboard bases.”

Indeed, most of our writers learned to love baseball because it was a natural part of their family life. Sara Sanchez of Bleed Cubbie Blue remembers how “my brother and I played wiffle ball in the living room with our dad until my mom made us move the game outside.”

They’ve all had some really cool experiences

Some of our sportswriters cited covering games as credentialed reporters as a highlight. For others, it’s simply the relationships they’ve built with their team’s community, or watching young players on their teams develop. Carmen Kiew from McCovey Chronicles interviewed Dereck Rodriguez when he was still in the minors, and asked him what it would be like to be called up.

“He was called up the next day,” she remembers. “Getting to see him under the bright lights of the big leagues after hearing his story was really rewarding.”

Other just value getting to express themselves: Tawny Jarvi of our Twins brand, Twinkie Town, says it’s “still absolutely baffling to me that I’m allowed to do this. Somehow when I turn a baseball sim into a time travel murder plot, or turn a game recap into a high fantasy story, people are like ‘Sure!’ and they publish it. That’s insane! The Twinkie Town community is full of amazing people and I’m truly grateful for every moment they don’t collectively decide to round me up and try me for witchcraft.”

The challenges are still real

Many women pointed to unequal treatment. “The worst experience I’ve had is probably when I was turned away at a clubhouse, a place I’ve been dozens of times, when I was covering the Triple-A All-Star game … right after my male colleague was waved through,” said Kate Preusser from Lookout Landing, our Mariners brand.

“When I first started out I had some friends suggest I should use a fake (male) name to do my writing, but I rejected that idea outright,” said Ashley MacLennan, of Bleed Cubbie Blue. “I’ve gotten my fair share of really awful comments (mostly about my appearance and weight, naturally) and some were downright violent (thanks to a domestic violence article I wrote), but I think it’s important that young women who want to get into this as a career can see women out there doing it actively and not hiding behind a fake name.”

Juggling a gig — even one you’re passionate about — with the pressures of family and a career creates challenges. But it isn’t always easy, as Stacie Wheeler from our Dodgers site, True Blue LA, explained.

“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is dealing with anxiety,” Wheeler told SB Nation. “As a mother of two, I’ve found it difficult to juggle being a mom, writing, plus my day job. It can get overwhelming at times. Staying true to myself and my voice has helped me to overcome any negativity I’ve received and the self-doubt that every writer faces at some point. Finding a balance and inspiration is difficult at times. Baseball has always been an outlet for me, even when the Dodgers are losing, and it’s completely intertwined in who I am.”

They often started as team brand readers and evolved into contributors

Many of the women who write for our team sites began as members of their team’s community and the FanPosts section. That was the case for Heather Simon from Viva El Birdos, our Cardinals site.

“As a college student, I often watched baseball alone as I studied, so it was nice stumbling upon this whole new culture of baseball fans,” Simon said. “I was hooked instantly and would occasionally write game recaps in the FanPosts section. Nothing fancy, just a few key plays and jokes, but they were well-received. When VEB needed more writers I was asked if I would contribute an article a week and I agreed without hesitation. That was five years ago. Now I am an editor writing five posts a week and co-hosting the podcast. It has been a wonderful experience!”

When asked who inspires them, they often point to local reporters who are women

Again and again, our contributors pointed to other women who cover a team as inspirations. Elizabeth Strom from DRays Bay wanted to acknowledge one of the female pioneers in baseball media, Claire Smith, who covered the Yankees for the Hartford Courant in the 1980s and was a groundbreaker not just as a woman, but as a woman of color.

“I know there are many women doing outstanding work now, but as someone nearing 60, I would like to give a shout out to Claire Smith, one of the first women to cover baseball for a general interest newspaper,” Strom told SB Nation. “It can be hard for women today to appreciate just how many doors were closed to her — quite literally, as there were teams unwilling to let a woman into the clubhouse. That there were some women who persevered in the 1980s and 1990s gives way to the opportunities for women in the 2000s.”

Meet each of the women who spoke to us for this series

Linda Surovich, Amazin’ Avenue

Jen Rainwater, Athletics Nation

Sara Sanchez, Bleed Cubbie Blue

Ashley MacLennan, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bless You Boys, and DRays Bay

Kate Stanwick, Bluebird Banter

Elizabeth Strom, DRays Bay

Jessica DeLine, Halos Heaven

Kate Preusser, Lookout Landing

Isabelle Minasian, Lookout Landing

Sami Higgins, McCovey Chronicles

Carmen Kiew, McCovey Chronicles

Cristiana Caruso, MLB Daily Dish

Michelle Berthiaume, Over the Monster

Caitlin Rogers, Pinstripe Alley

Hannah Auringer, Purple Row

Sam Bradfield, Purple Row

Renee Dechert, Purple Row

Stacy Marlow, Talking Chop

Stacie Wheeler, True Blue LA

Maija Varda, Twinkie Town

Tawny Jarvi, Twinkie Town

Josey Curtis, Viva El Birdos

Heather Simon, Viva El Birdos

Gail Luscombe, Viva El Birdos

[athena1138]

The OC question thing, all 50 answers bc I’m bored. 

Some OC questions

1. Your first OC ever? Vikara Amarina Nellenryll. I’ve had characters before, but she was the first one who really stuck, who got a background and everything. She was my go-to oc for everything.  2. Do you have a personal favourite among your OCs? Alena Fanelis-Lavellan (dragon age)  3. Have you ever adopted a character or gotten a character from someone else?Nah 4. A character you rarely talk about? Seirein Xavier (adopted by Charles,) my X-Men OC. Her power is that she can make anyone do anything with her voice, so she’s resolved to be mute. She and Logan end up together.  5. If you could make only one of your OCs popular/known, who would it be?  Alena. Or idk, Belladonna Hawke. There aren’t enough Varric x Hawkes out in the world. I love both those bitches. 

6. Two OCs of yours that look alike despite not being related? Most of my Hawkes look similar tbh. I try to make them different, but I’m a slut for a strong-nosed, big-lipped, tawny-skinned woman.  7. Are your OCs part of any story or stories? AHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Yes. Hands down. Most of my Dragon Age OCs are already in stories, or are at least mentioned because I have them set up in specific timelines. Alena is getting her own goddamn biography. Belladonna is 5 chapters into her own story. My FenHawke is 37 pages into her story. I’ve got a oneshot posted with my Hawkebela. (Da2 is my fav game tbh.) My non-DA OCs have a few stories, too. Seirein is one chapter down in hers, my Sole Survivor has more than a few oneshots down, etc.  8. Do you RP as any of your OCs? If you do, introduce one of your RP OCs here! No. I’m uncomfortable with RP since a friend destroyed it for me a long time ago. I used to be super big into it, but now it just makes me squeamish.  9. Would you ever be willing to give any of your OCs to someone else? Fight me. (Maybe Rastig. He’s a little shit.)  10. Introduce an OC with a complicated design? Idk what that means. A physical design? Most of them just get scars. I mean, Anna Hawke is deaf in one ear. Genevieve is blind. Idk. Most of them have fully fleshed out backstories so that’s about as complicated as they get.  11. Is there any OC of yours you could describe as a “sunshine”? Brilla Aeducan. Gemma Cadash. Missella Surana.  12. Name an OC that isn’t yours but who you like a lot On AO3, there’s a FenHawke series that I legit sat and read for 3 days straight. Literally didn’t even turn on my TV. (It’s here ) I really like this Hawke.  13. Do you have any troublemaker OCs?  Depends on how you define troublmaker. As in, a douche? Rastig. As in, mischievous? Kalam Adaar, Titania Shepard, Jack Ryder, Belladonna Hawke. 

14. Introduce an OC with a tragic backstory HAHAHAHAAHHAAH Who doesn’t have one? Alena is the most fleshed out. She was born in Redcliffe, taken to the Circle at age 6, broke out with Anders at age 16, got separated from Anders, went to Denerim, was taken in by Cyrion and his family, was caught up in the slave trade, was sent to an abusive master in Kirkwall, killed him to escape, was caught by Cullen and taken to the Gallows, broke out of the Gallows, found Anders again, Anders was crazy, got help from Hawke (Belladonna) to get to the Sundermount Dalish clan, was taken in by them, found them all killed in year 7, was taken to live with Clan Lavellan, hated it but didn’t want to be alone so she allowed them to give her vallaslin even though she didn’t want it, Conclave, Solasmance, Solas broke up with her, finally Cullenmance.  15. Do you like to talk about your OCs with other people? Idk. Kinda? Kinda not though. I get shy really easily. I like talking about them. But with other people? Idk.  16. Which one of your OCs would be the best at biology (school subject)? Marina Shepard 17. Any OC OTPs? Among just my OCs? No. I don’t ship my girls together. But each of them is specifically designed for a specific romance.  18. Any OC crackships? Nah 19. Introduce an OC that means a lot to you (and explain why) Vikara has been with me through a lot. I’ve had her for like... 7 years now? She made it through a bad breakup, high school graduation, and all of college.  20. Do any of your OCs sing? If they sing, care to share more details (headcanon voice, what kind of songs they like etc)? Genevieve Hawke sings frequently at the Hanged Man. She’s a Mezzosoprano if she really gets going and she tends to get throaty with it, kinda like Christina Aguilera or Gaga. Marina Shepard can sing but she’s a bit shy to do it. If her friends can boost her up enough, she will for them. She’s a tenor.  21. Your most artistic OC Vikara Lavellan writes poetry. Brilla Aeducan draws/paints (she painted Leliana fireside one night.)  22. Is there any OC of yours people tend to mischaracterize? If yes, how? People think Anna Hawke hates Sebastian, but that’s not true. She’s just threatened by him because she’s a mage, and he’s very vocal about turning in her mage friends. (She used to feel the same way about Fenris, but she fell in love too fast.)  23. Introduce OC that has changed from your first idea concerning what the character would be like? Most of them.  24. If you could meet one OC of yours, who would it be and why? Genevieve Hawke. She’s a very strong, proud woman.  25. The OC that resembles you the most (same hobby, height, shared like/dislike for something etc?) Tbh, most of my OCs are just re-coded versions of myself. Except Rastig. But I guess Anna Hawke. The story I mentioned with her is focused on her weight issues and how Fenris helps her learn to love herself (and vice versa.)  26. Have you ever had to change your OC’s design or something else about them against your will? I mean, I’ve had Vikara for 7 years. Not all game platforms allow for the same character customizations.  27. Any OCs that were inspired by a certain song? Nah 28. Your most dangerous OC? Rastig Brosca and Titania Shepard.  29. Which one of your OCs would go investigate an abandoned house at night without telling anyone they’re going? Alena is actually about to fall into a well and ponder her death because she didn’t tell anyone, so, her.  30. Which one of your OCs would most likely have a secret stuffed animal collection? Asena Adaar. Josephine thinks they’re darling, and they talk about their dolls together.  31. Pick one OC of yours and explain what their tumblr blog would be like (what they reblog, layout, anything really) Marina Shepard is all about the memes, man. She’s nothin’ but jokes, nonstop, though once in a blue moon, she might reblog a picture of a nice ass (tastefully, of course.)  32. Which one of your OCs would be the most suitable horror game protagonist and why? Kalam Adaar doesn’t get scared. She just cracks jokes until she feels better.  33. Your shyest OC? Anna Hawke. 34. Do you have any twin characters? Yes! Belladonna Hawke was a twin to Garrett Hawke (who is deceased.)  35. Any sibling characters? Beyond Belladonna, no. Though, Asena Adaar and Gemma Cadash are quite close. (Multi-inquisitor AU, but only Gemma has the mark. Asena is just part of the inner circle.)  36. Do you have OC pairs where the other part belongs to someone else (siblings, lovers, friends etc)? Nah. I’m a solo-OCer 37. Introduce an OC who is not quite human I mean. I only have any human DA characters because I didn’t get a choice with Hawke. Even my queen is, in my lore, an elf because I really don’t like humans. Every single OC would be non-human if I had the choice.  38. Which one of your OCs would be the best dancer? Jack Ryder.  39. Introduce any character you want I have a Labyrinth story I started.............a longass time ago. The main character is Jacqueline (the French, not the American,) and she’s the daughter of Sarah. She is mute for most of the story because she was driving in an accident that killed her father. Sarah contacts Jareth and asks him to help fix Jack, help her overcome her guilt and trauma, so he takes her to the Labyrinth.  40. Any fond memories linked to your characters? Feel free to share! Not really. I love them all, the wee babs.  41. Has anyone drawn fanart of your OCs? If yes, maybe show a picture or two here (remember sources & permissions!) Nope.  42. Which one of your OCs would be the most interested in Greek gods? Titania Shepard. It wasn’t a huge leap for her to go from Shakespeare (where she supposes her namesake comes from) to mythology.  43. Do you have any certain type when you create your OCs? Do you tend to favour some certain traits or looks? It’s time to confess I like big noses, strong cheekbones, brilliantly colored eyes, and scars. Lots and lots of scars.  44. Something you like about your OCs in general They’re like my friends.  45. A character you no longer use? Psh. I can’t even remember. If I don’t use them, they’re lost forever.  46. Has anyone ever told you that you treat your OCs badly? Not yet 47. Has anyone ever (friendly) claimed any of your OCs as their child? IRL, nah. In games, most of my Shepards are bonded strongly to their krogan teammates, and then there’s Seirein who’s literally adopted.  48. OC who is a perfect cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure Brilla Aeducan 49. Which one of your OCs would most likely enjoy memes Kalam Adaar and Titania Shepard 50. Give me the good ol’ OC talk here. Talk about anything you want If you want, you can tag your ask answers with #yetanotherOCmeme so I can check them out too `v´9 I just really fking love them all. The biggest struggle is that I have so many I’m so invested in but I obviously can’t do anything with them all in one go. I have to focus on one then another then back to the one and it gets so frustrating because I have so many ideas and stories to come up with but so little time.