#you'll be amazed by the genuine history you find

[daydreamerwonderkid]

Can't believe I have to say this, but here we fucking are.

New Rule: If you spam me with conspiracy bullshit, I'm blocking you.

Edit: This is not about the movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire. This is about the actual conspiracy theory and the people who genuinely believe in it.

[watermelonlovershigh]

"You've been a real, bad, boy." {part. 12} (housemate!harry series) (SMUT)

Drunk Fighting and Forgiveness {part. 11} (housemate!harry series)

AN: we're getting into more of the smuttier chapters, yay. hope you enjoy this part. reblog and let me know what you think!!!

This story contains: more apologizing, sub/dom play, female receiving oral, handjob, blowjob, mentions of anal play, mentions of sex toys

{ housemate!harry - boyfriendrry - soft!harry - subrry - dom!reader }

word count- 2,140

Harry's been a bad boy and Y/n wants to punish him, but for now, they take it easy with some oral sex in the shower.

The morning after your drunken argument, you have returned to being the affectionate couple that you are. Harry is the first to wake up and decides to go in the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you, aware that you'll need something to ease your hangover. After finishing, he quietly returns to the bedroom and gently wakes you up.

You wake up reluctantly, and Harry promptly hands you a pain reliever for your headache. He has already taken something for his headache, being no stranger to hangovers, and knowing how to prevent them from escalating. After taking the medicine and visiting the bathroom, you enter the kitchen to find two plated dishes on the small dining room table.

In complete awe, you say, "Harry, you didn't have to cook all of this. I told you I forgave you last night."

Tiredly giggling, Harry replies, "I know, wasn't meant to be part of my apology. Just wanted us to have a good breakfast to help with our hangovers."

You both sit down and begin eating the pancakes and turkey bacon that Harry has prepared, along with a glass of orange juice. About halfway through your meal, the thoughts that were on your mind as you fell asleep last night come back to you, causing you to speak, "You know Harry, you've been a real, bad, boy."

Without perceiving anything unusual in your words, he begins, "Baby, I know. I am genuinely sorry for my behavior last night. I shouldn't have brought you to that bar with my history there. Please forgive me, again."

As you look across the table, you see Harry getting distressed again, thinking that you're upset with him once more. It's almost funny to witness, though a small part of you feels bad for getting him so worked up. "Harry, I've forgiven you. But you're not off the hook so easily."

Swallowing a piece of turkey bacon, he looks over at you with confusion written on his face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

You burst into laughter, immediately regretting it as it causes your headache to return. "Like I just mentioned, you've been a naughty boy, my love. This means I have to punish you. Bad boys get punished."

Ohhh, now Harry's catching your drift. He's not use to your kinky side but he's loving it. "Yeah, and how 'r you gonna punish me, Y/n?"

In a seductive voice, you answer, "First, I'll need to spank your lovely round bottom, leaving it all red and tender. Next, I'll use a strap-on to fuck that pretty mouth of yours, causing you to choke on my cock. If you've behaved well up until that point, I'll then position you on your hands and knees and fuck you from behind, making your ass feel so amazing and full. Does that sound good, baby?"

"Uh-hu," is his only response as he sits there with his mouth hung open, nearly drooling on the table. Although he typically prefers to be dominant, he's a switch and is willing to be submissive for you any day of the week. Your dominant side really turns him on.

"Great, how about we go take a shower and then sit on the couch to do some online shopping for some special toys?" Harry clears his throat and agrees, shifting uncomfortably in his seat because your dirty words have made his cock hard in his pants.

After finishing your meal, you clear the table and head to the bathroom. Inside, you both undress, and it's then that you notice Harry's hard dick. "Babyyy, did my dirty words make you hard at the table?"

He gives a shy nod while you chuckle. The two of you enter the shower, but before you can start washing off, Harry pleads, "Please baby, touch me, it hurts." This is where you find it difficult to maintain dominance. Despite enjoying control every once in a while, you quickly give in when your partner whines, cries, or begs. However, it's important to stick to your role and not give away your power.

"Dunno if you deserve it..."

"Please, please. I'll do anythin'." Harry down right begs. "I'll eat you out first or finger you. Whatever you want. Just touch me, please."

Liking his way of thinking, you compromise, "Okay, get on your knees and eat my pussy. Then I'll touch your cock, baby boy"

Without hesitation, Harry gets on his knees in the shower and pulls you closer to his mouth with his hands on the back of your thighs. He's never ate you out in the shower before so this is new, and you're loving it so far. His lips wrap around your clit and his tongue flicks you up and down, back and forth.

Gasping, you grab his damp locks and push his face closer to you for added pleasure. His hands leave imprints on your ass as he grips it firmly to maintain your position. Harry alternates between flicking his tongue against your small clit and sucking on it intensely, bringing you to the brink of orgasm quickly.

"Oh my God, I'm gonna come, I'm gonna fucking come." you moan aloud, it echoing in the confinements of the shower. Harry doesn't dare lift you off of him, only eating your pussy with more determination. What pushes you overboard is when he sucks just a little bit harder, but also allows one of his hands to wander between your cheeks and his thumb grazes your tight hole. He never enters, just caresses it, and it feels surprisingly amazing.

You fall apart in the steamy shower, your body twitching and convulsing on top of your boyfriend. He strains to hold you up, afraid you might collapse. After a few final licks, Harry begins to pull away slowly, looking up at you with glossy eyes that nearly make you feel guilty for keeping him hard for so long.

Harry rose to his feet, paying no mind to the puddle of precome he had left on the shower floor. He was about to plead for your touch once more when you suddenly grabbed his cock. His back collided with the tile wall, and his abdominal muscles tensed as your delicate hand skillfully stroked him.

"Fuck." Harry whispers a curse as he feels the touch of your hand. You stroke his cock a few more times before kneeling down and taking him into your mouth. You push forward until the trimmed hair around his base touches your lips, maintaining that position until you have to pull away due to a harsh gag. Despite being in a state of pleasure, Harry looks down and asks, "You alright, m'love?", wanting to make sure you're alright and didn't push yourself too hard for the sake of pleasuring him.

You glance up at Harry with teary eyes and willingly take him back into your mouth, this time being more gentle with yourself. You suck and stroke with determination until Harry senses his climax nearing, which happens rather quickly thanks to you teasing and basically edging him for most of the morning.

Harry grips your hair in his hands, not forcing you down on him but more so for stability. When he feels seconds away from exploding, he warns, "M' gonna come, m'love. Feels so fuckin' good!"

Instead of pulling away, you keep Harry's cock in your mouth until you feel his shaft throb and hot spurts of his warm, milky cum fill your mouth. When your mouth is full to the brim, that's when you detach yourself from him. You swallow what you can, but some of his cum trickles down your chin and hits the shower floor, getting washed down the drain.

Glancing upwards, you see Harry leaning against the wall, gasping for air. His eyes are closed, and his hands hang loosely by his sides. Rising up on your tiptoes, you lean in for a kiss. Harry eagerly returns the kiss, despite the taste of his own cum on your lips. Eventually, you both break away to catch your breath.

"Okay, now for that online shopping we need to do."

--------------------------------

After your shower, you both take a seat on the sofa and start browsing the internet for some special toys. You have your laptop on your lap, and Harry's cat Pixie on his. With his head resting on your shoulder, you ask, "So, what should we search for first?"

"Um, I guess a strap-on for you to fuck me with."

You clap in agreement. "Great, but I could use some help deciding on the size and shape I should go for. I don't know much about strap-ons and your personal preferences." You search for strap-ons on Amazon and scroll until one catches your eye. "Hold on, what about this one? Do you think it'll work? I know it doesn't technically have a strap but I think this part is meant to be inserted inside me and as long as I grip it securely, it should function like one, right?"

Harry examines the screen closely and confirms, "I believe this'll work. It'll also bring you pleasure, which is an added bonus." He recalls the last time someone used a strap-on with him and how they complained the whole time about the strap part that went around their waist was super uncomfortable. So this should be a better option.

Thinking for a moment, you hesitantly question, "So like, what size do you want? And should I find it in a blue or black? You know, more manly colors."

Harry can't help but giggle when he hears the nervousness in your voice. He finds it amusing that you are contemplating such matters. "I think five to six inches would be just right for me. And baby, when you're fuckin' me in the ass, I won't be too concerned about how manly the dildo looks. Pink will do just fine."

"Understood," you say with a hint of awkwardness. After specifying the desired length and ensuring the original pink color is selected, you proceed to finalize the purchase. As your card details are already saved on Amazon, the transaction is swiftly processed, and you receive confirmation that the item is expected to arrive in three to five business days. "What else should we buy?"

Harry is aware of something else he desires but feels a bit hesitant to share. It's puzzling, considering you literally just purchased a dildo to fuck his ass with. What that desire is, is some butt plugs. His last set of butt plugs was stolen by a short fling he had a few months ago and he's eager to replace them. He began using butt plugs a few years ago and found them quite enjoyable, mainly for the pleasure they provided rather than for stretching purposes.

Inhaling a deep breath, Harry shyly asks you, "Can I get a butt plug?"

You turn your head, causing his head to lift off your shoulder, and smile at him warmly. Noticing Harry's shyness, you want to reassure him that there's no need for it. No judgement at all. "Of course, baby. No need to get shy on me now. Go ahead and find the ones you like." You hand him your laptop, knowing absolutely nothing about butt plugs. He takes it and starts searching for the perfect one for himself.

Harry selects two plugs; one that's a silver metal plug ,and the other crafted from black silicone with a diamond heart at the end. He explains that the heart is there to provide a pleasant visual for you, making you laugh. The reason for having two different textures is for varying purposes. The metal plug is reserved for when he is feeling particularly aroused and seeks intense pleasure. On the other hand, the silicone plug is more flexible and suitable for wearing outside or even while sleeping, offering a softer option to maintain a feeling of fullness without discomfort.

After Harry purchases the butt plugs of his choice, you take your laptop back and pick out two vibrators for yourself. You already have a couple in your nightstand drawer, but want to get a few new additions and upgrades. You chose the rose vibrator everyone has been raving about and the vibrator that's wearable in your panties. There's a part that inserts inside of you for g-spot stimulation and an outer part that stimulates your clit. And, to give Harry some control, it can be operated by an app on a phone. Meaning, if he wanted to, he could control when it turned on and off, teasing you and making you edge for hours.

You finish buying the last of your sex toys and shut your laptop, snuggling with each other on the couch. Now you're counting down the days until they all arrive and you can try them out on one another.

(PLEASE REBLOG BECAUSE WRITING IS NOT EASY AND IT'S FREE SO JUST DO IT)

(no more tags are allowed because i've hit my number limit. sorry : ( )

tag list: @one-sweet-gubler // @harryscherrysugar // @hsfanficsrecss // @lollypopsx // @harrycanyonmoonn // @allthelovehes // @damnasstyles // @mrsstylesharry // @softmullet // @meetmyblondemuffins // @thegirlnextdoorssister // @stanleystyles // @haarrrys // @michellekstyles // @skyangel57 // @the-gardener-31 // @lhharrylilpumpkin // @yousunshine-youtemptress // @clairestylessss // @kissmyaxe140 // @goldenmelonsugar-hi // @kaitieskidmore97 // @florencepughily // @alienorknight // @dancearoundthelivingroom // @swiftmendeshoran

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______________

My Masterlist Masterpost

Not So Patient After All {part. 13}

[jesterofcringe]

Rock on! [General Headcanons] Venture x Reader

ok so i dont know jack about overwatch lore but i was playing the game today and tried venture out and ended up falling in love with them so,,, here we are ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

★They are sooooo strong from lugging around that heavy ass drill all day- like you'll seriously be minding your own business playing video games or making dinner and they just pick you up from behind like you weigh nothing.

★[could you imagine the bear hugs?? the strong arm cuddles?? omg-]

★You deadass start using rock puns because of them

"Movie night tonight?"

"Sure, let's rewatch Indiana Jones!"

"I could dig that-"

"..."

"..."

":D did you just-"

"LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MY VOCABULARY-"

★They also have a ton of little injuries they somehow don't notice, so they'll yap to you about missions while you patch up their cuts.

[they insist that they're fine and don't need you to bandage them up but they do find it kinda nice when you kiss their bruises]

★You're also not the only person they yap to- they're a major yapper and general and sometimes will babble to their teammates about you.

"-They're so cool! I met them at the library because we were both looking in the history section and I saw they had a book about this artifact I've been seriously interested in so I said-"

"Hey Venture?"

"Yeah? :D"

"This is a stealth mission."

"Oh yeah-"

★There are rocks EVERYWHERE in your house, like literally on every surface you can name. You tried to get rid of some of them but Venture gave you a genuine reason for why they need every single one.

★*gets a triple kill* "HELL YEAH THAT ONE WAS FOR MY SPOUSE"

"You're married?"

"...Well not yet, I have to dig up the diamond first!"

★You also pack them lunch before they leave for work. It could be a straight up lunchable with a caprisun and they'd STILL be super excited.

[They also have an amazing immune system because they're the type to eat with their hands covered in dirt and soot lmao]

★They used to cut their hair themselves, but very quickly and very sloppily because they were always in a rush for whatever reason. You offered to help out once, and you've been doing it since. You're not a professional by any means, but it looks a little cleaner then when they would toss it into a pony tail, chop it off, and go about their day.

★They also ask you to watch over their pet rock while they go out sometimes, and you'll just send pictures of you out and about doing things with the rock.

★You guys play minecraft together too- obviously they're the miner and you do the building but they always dig straight down and it drives you crazy.

[There was fully a time they dug straight down and died in lava with a couple of diamonds in their inventory]

★They also do not keep up with update logs so they had no idea what the warden was and tried to fight it with nothing but a stone axe and an iron chestplate... they also kept going back and trying it again even though they clearly had no shot.

★I feel like they also have a really hard time settling down- like they're a massive caffeine addict and barely get any sleep from staying up all night on expeditions or doing research on new artifacts, but you figured out you could get them to sleep by asking them to lay with you for a little bit and just. Falling asleep on them. They're too polite to move you and actually find it really cute so they end up sitting there until they fall asleep themselves.

[biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer]

Can you please write some (optional relationship, if not, romanse) headcannons for Geo and/or Hyugo with a weeb MC? They don't have to be strictly into anime, but just really loving Japanese and Japanese culture (bonus if they don't know Japanese).

Chronic Love (Geo + Hyugo x Weeb! MC/Reader)

Enjoy my amazing little weeb, have an awesome day! Solemnly thanks for entrusting me with writing this for you.

Also, uh, a minor sidenote, I am not an anime enjoyer or even remotely close to a weeb; so if I get something wrong/too exaggerated etc. feel free to publicly execute me in the town square. <333

You can read this from any perspective, as in, both in an established relationship setting and a solely platonic one. :]

A/N: From now on, Geo and Hyugo will be referred to as Geode and Hyugeode, if anyone in the Geo religion utters 'Geo', they shall atone. 😊😊😊/hj

- Signed by biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer

Chronic(ally): to a very great extent; extremely.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyugo is honestly surprised when he finds out of your...intense love for Japan and its culture.

He won't be opposed to it, he'd find it a smidge endearing, considering he's Japanese; and you seem to be willing to learn anything about it. He's more than happy to tell you what you wanna know.

Do you take advantage of this? Yes.

Would probably eventually, to your joy, start telling you cultural appropriations and norms, along with a couple generic Japanese words/phrases (you say them whenever possible, feeling the language fall from your lips and off your tongue feels so right, you can't get enough!).

You ask him to tutor you Japanese at some point, to which he politely declines (he's got enough on his plate okay?!), but is willing to converse with you if you ask.

Just don't nag him, he fucking hates being nagged.

You'd probably mispronounce certain words, to which he'd correct you, until you get the hang of it.

Might take you to a Japanese candy store to tell you his personal recommendations (they're great btw).

If you like anime he'll be chill with it, just don't act like the stereotypical weeb and he's fine.

Learning words is one thing, overdramatizing, glorifying and exaggerating Japanese things annoys him.

Fortunately, you're reasonably calm with your devotion for it, and he doesn't mind.

Would get a bit nervous if you decide to actively pursue Japanese, after all, what if you overhear him talking to one of his shadier acquaintances and pick out the context?

Would overtime subtly monitor you, gauge how much you know and how quickly you're progressing.

Overall supportive though, enjoys the fact you like Japan. :]

Literally doesn't care. At all.

You like Japan? Cool. Good for you.

Much prefers for you to not harass him about Japanese words and phrases, unless he tolerates likes you enough, to which he'll blurt out something along the lines of: "Go fuck yourself".

Will probably teach you insults (he says it's to insult you, but we all know the real reason teehee)

If you're hanging out somewhere and Geo spies Japanese text, he might point it out to see if you know it, to which you'll be racking your brain until he relents and tell you.

Eventually will start briefly telling you things about Japans' history and art. Especially bonsais, he loves those. He'll never tell you though.

Will probably take you to a Japanese market/restaraunt eventually, if he feels you've gotten good enough.

If you order fluently enough he'll be genuinely pleased (won't show it though).

If not, he'll do it for you (internally cringes at the sheer thought aaaaaa).

However, in the rare event that Hyugo calls him "Subaru" and you hear? And understand?

That won't be good.

He'll tell you to drop it instantly.

And he will give you the most murderous glare if you ever ask him why he goes by Geo.

If he feels you've forgotten about that incident you haven't, he'll be more relaxed again, but will maintain a veil of caution now.

After all, you can understand what he says in private now.

That's not a good thing.

If you like anime he's chill with it, just don't be over-the-top obsessive towards it and he's cool.

Is satisfied you want to learn Japanese though. Likes you a lot smidge more for it too.

[maaikeatthefullmoon]

This week I have mostly been reading...

May 13-19th, 2024

New idea I've had, and hopefully something I'll have time to do once a week on a Sunday. Over the past seven days, I have devoured the following Good Omens fanfics, and I recommend these most heartily to you:

Completed works I've read this week:

Boyfriend Debut by snae_b Rated E - A & C are both porn actors. It sounds seedy. It's not. Holy Hell, it's not. It's one of the hottest things I've ever read, but also so, so sweet and delightful.

They Drink Tea At The End by @knifeforkspooncup Rated T - After a year spent in Heaven, A returns to C in the bookshop completely and utterly overstimulated in every sensory capacity. A wonderful, sweet story of them truly knowing each other and an excellent example of how the fandom relates to GO in so many beautiful ways.

Pay Per View by IneffableToreshi Rated E - A lovely story set in Canada, full of our so frequently seen miscommunication between A & C. And, as the author says: "Also, why the fuck is Aziraphale watching porn in their hotel room?! And taking notes?!"

Cranking Up The Heat by @vavoom-sorted-art Rated E - Well, the title says it all, really. And the fic's description: "The equivalent of that hot wings challenge, but with porn." Don't really want to say much more, as you've gotta see it to enjoy it.

On The Same Page by Chekhov Rated E - A fake marriage fic with Only One Bed. A & C are both authors, but two very different ones. Excellently written with very vividly described mental struggles with internal homophobia & self loathing.

A Model Guardian by Fuuma_san Rated E - As a former model, I found this fic really interesting. I'd genuinely love to know what the author's tie/experience in the industry is. C is a model, A is their bodyguard. An interesting tale which involves some great discussion on gender.

In The Room Where You Sleep by @mrghostrat Rated E - Another banger by ghostrat, posted in its entirety this week. In a reversal to many other fics I've seen, A is a vampire and C is a vampire hunter. *Homer Simpson voice* With sexy results. ;)

WIPs which have updated this week (which I devour as soon as I get the update!)

There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out by @phoen1xr0se Rated M - A is a researcher (puffins!), C is a lighthouse keeper on the island where A has run away to to escape his problems and do his research. The author has recently spent a week studying puffins - which is the ultimate dedication, if you ask me. Ch 9/26 posted this week

Find The Light by @klikandtuna Rated E - Headmaster A and Rockstar C. The story teases out a fraught history between them whilst keeping a tension between them in the modern day. Ch 4/? posted this week.

Terminus by @emotional-support-demon-crowley Rated T - Astronaut A is guided back to Earth by controller C after 92 years in space. There are many difficulties both of them have to face and they develop an amazing rapport. Ch 15/17 posted this week.

Oddity by @tsyvia48 Rated E - Actor C is contracted by (useless) Gabriel to guest curate an exhibition at the museum where A works. After getting off on the wrong foot, can they work together to pull off this show? Ch 22/24 posted this week.

Under The Summer Stars by @pannotbread Rated E - This wonderful fic has taught me more about physics than school ever did (mostly because I never did any physics, but...well). A & C have to share their time at an observatory because there is Only One Telescope. Not only will you learn about astrophysics, astrobiology, and astroecology, you'll also read some of the most poetically, beautifully written masturbation scenes I've ever seen. *ahem* Ch 6/13 posted this week.

Free by well, me: imposterssyndrome Rated E - A & C meet (again?) in an acute mental health ward after both having had mental health crises. A runs a bookshop but is very much under his parents' control. C has been homeless since childhood and has struggled his entire life. They do not trust each other when they first meet, but feel strangely drawn to one another all the same. Where will this lead them? This is a passion piece for me. There is a lot of lived experience in it, and extensive research from both professionals and peers. It has been a real journey for me to write it, and as I'm coming closer to the end it's becoming very emotional for me. Ch 43/? posted this week

[whipped-for-kpop-fics]

Seventeen with an s/o that writes/produces songs? The s/o could be like a very famous one! for example: when fans see their name is in the credits of a song (kpop or even western music, cus why not be a global phenomenon 🤷🏽‍♀️) they already know it’s gonna be so good since they have a history of making amazing music, iykiwm?

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Also I love your work, you’re so talented and you always put stuff out so quickly but to the highest quality it’s quite mind blowing. ilysm!! 💗

🎶Who; Seventeen (individually) x reader, with a focus on Jihoon at the end 🎶What; headcanon, idol/producer au 🎶Wordcount; 570-ish 🎶Warnings; none, I don't think

-2024 Masterlist-

A/N - I'm not sure how to do individual reactions for this because I'm pretty sure they'd all be pretty similar so I don't want to be repetitive, so I'll write a general thought and any extra bits for those who may have an individual line of thought. Sorry it's taken a little while to write too, I really couldn't figure out how to write this so I hope this is okay. Thank you for the suggestion and I hope you like it

Also omg you're so sweet omg, that's genuinely one of the nicest comments I've ever had about my writing! Being told my writing is high quality feels insane in the best of ways! Thank you for saying that! I really appreciate it 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

He will love it if you're in the same industry as him, especially if you're well known because you'll know exactly what it's like to be him; the busy schedules and little privacy with people always trying to have a view into your personal lives. So you'll be able to bond over that from day one.

The biggest hype man for his partner; they won't all cheer the loudest at award shows because obviously, some of them are much too introverted for that but they will all shower you with praise for every award you win. But even if he doesn't cheer the loudest, he will all do his utmost to share every single new release you've worked on, sometimes his social media accounts will seem more like a fan accounts for you but it's very sweet and cute so the fans don't really mind.

Of course, it's not all fun times. What with how busy you both are, it's genuinely really hard to find time to be together so unless you move in together, you probably might not even see each other on a weekly basis. Though even if you live together, your conflicting schedules will probably make it hard to be awake at the same time so most of your quality time together is spent asleep.

So long as you both try to make space for each other in your hectic schedules and try and have a phone/video call every single day and send update/random messages to one another throughout the day when possible, you'll be fine.

Now, of course, I have to do a special shout-out to Jihoon, producer-songwriter extraordinaire. If anyone will understand how much he works, it's you. But the funniest thing is, he's actually the one I think will be able to handle all this the easiest.

Because I have this very vivid of Jihoon in his studio working away with his headphones on and his phone propped up in the matching stands you have in your own studios, your face on his screen showing you doing the exact same thing in your own studio. You can't hear each other and honestly, the calls are muted at both ends so even if it wasn't for your headphones, you wouldn't be able to hear one another, but just being able to glance down and see the other diligently working on the next chart-topper gives you both the energy to keep going. Every now and then, one of you will remove your headphones so the other will notice the movement and look at the screen to copy & unmute the call to hear whatever the other has to say. It's often asking the other's opinion on the track being worked on. Or one of you saying you need to go so the call needs to end. Though sometimes, Jihoon will subtly free one of his ears from his noise-cancelling headphones and unmute the call just so he can hear the tapping of you working away mixed with the random pieces of speech when you mumble to yourself as you work. You may not be paying him any attention at this point and he times it purposely so you never know he does it, but it fills his chest with happy warmth, and then he'll remute the call, fix his headphones and get back to work with a content little smile on his face.

[eldstunga]

Hi! I really love your art! The lines are so bold but the colours so natural that it feels distinct but grounded?? I'm obsessed with the shapes in your work

I was wondering if you had any advice for drawing bodies? Whenever I try it either my proportions are off or an arm ends up looking like a calf or something.

First of all, thank you <3 That's so nice and I think "lines bold, colours natural" is some truly aspirational words to say about my art, I'll strive to be what you say I am <3 I do not, unfortunately, have any great tips on drawing bodies - it's a very wide topic and fundamentally just really bloody hard. I fail horribly 9 times out of 10. How to approach it I think varies a lot with like...HOW you are struggling, and who you are as a person. For proportions and anatomy there are definitely books to look at, and some rules of thumb that can help you - anything from "the shoulders are about 2.5-3 heads wide" through "feet are the same length as the forearm", "elbows are in line with the navel and the navel is two sternums down" etc etc. For me, realising just how big the ribcage actually is and learning how to use that as a unit of measure was a big event (the torso is about two ribcages long). Look at references, Draw over low opacity references and try to look for patterns that help YOU. Like... "Hm, do the shoulders line up with something useful?"

Having a good ref model to double check things helps too. The pen is pointing to about the bottom of the ribcage. But there's also stuff like maybe you're getting too hung up on construction and then it might help more to try to draw from references by ONLY blocking in a silhouette first. This helps me sometimes still:

Or you could be like me, struggle with all of the above and then some - like how to make poses look natural and/or dynamic? Weight distribution is a whole other topic.. gah, it never ends, but it's fun to learn.

Lastly, this took me way too long to realise and I think it should be said: Do not fret too much about STUDYING. The unfair thing is that the better you are at something, the better you will be at actually learning from doing studies and exercises or reading books. We accept this with many other disciplines and sports but rarely art. Mileage is king, and mileage is best gained from having fun and enjoying what you do. If you find studies suffering and frustrating you're probably better off just drawing what you enjoy and fuck it if it isn't "pushing your boundaries" or whatever. Eventually you'll get to the point where studies start to give more than they take, and then you're home free. I'm not gonna recommend a billion resources you likely won't enjoy but here are some things I genuinely found helpful lately: * a physical anatomy model, they're pricy and not necessary but being able to just look at it every now and then, turn it over etc helps. * The "Morpho" series of books, they do not teach anatomy, but they are very useful quick reference books and much more easily digested than most anatomy material. Just try to find a real anatomy book to read once your appetite is up as well.

The zig-zag/Lightning bolt method for arms and legs, fuckin' thing revolutionised how I sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCkmB030GpQ

Gottfried Bammes "The Complete guide to Anatomy for Artists and Illustrators" This thing is insane, it's from the 50's and like 600 pages long. You could absolutely kill someone with it, but a lot of the pages are more philosophical or art history you can skip and despite its age and fear factor this dude writes in a witty, clever and just wonderful way that I've seen nowhere else. Fantastic photos. By far, FAR the best anatomy book I've ever seen. It's not a book I'd recommend for someone starting out, I would not have been able to digest it like four years ago, but once you get to a certain point it's amazing.

That's a lot, uhhh, feel free to ask me for more specific tips this was a bit of a rant. Hope some of it was useful!

[brittscafe]

Can I request headcanons on how captains Kyouraku, Ukitake, and Byakuya would handle an arranged marriage? They’re all nobles, so that wouldn’t be an uncommon concept for them 🙂 would they court their future bride once they found out, or would they grow closer following the marriage?

ahhh yesss! Also huge thank you for over 400 followers!! <3 <3 Much love!!!!

Shunsui Kyoraku: He's got mixed feelings about the marriage. After all it wasn't in his plan to get married after being the head of the soul society. He's got responsibilities and a lot of trouble in his future, he wasn't thinking about a wife.

You know that about Shunsui though and explain to him that you won't get in the way. He laughs about that and you're not exactly sure why.

Being the captain of the soul society was exhausting and tiring, but most of all...it was lonely. It felt amazing for Shunsui to have someone to laugh with now.

The night of your marriage is lonely as Shunsui is pulled away by his work. Shunsui makes it up to you the next night and makes sure you'll remember it. He's a gentleman with you the entire time.

Your marriage is filled with lonely nights, but morning surprises as you wake up with Shunsui holding you. Being responsible for the entire soul society is stressful, so Shunsui makes sure to come home more often to see you.

You definitely get to know each other throughout the marriage and even during the invasion of Yhwach. Shunsui goes to extraordinary lengths to protect you from harm and has you by his side 24/7.

Jushiro Ukitake: He's so sweet and would definitely court you as soon as he finds out. Jushiro wants to get to know you and grow with you as a person.

Jushiro sets up meetings with you to discuss your future together and to get to know each other. Although, you're both unsure about the arranged marriage, you end up being a very good match.

The only thing that gets in the way of your new marriage is Jushiro's illness. He's insecure about it and doesn't want you to take care of him 24/7.

The first thing he told you was about his illness. It made your heart break, but Jushiro was very stern about it. As you wake up to him coughing loudly and groaning in agony, it brings tears to your eyes.

You comfort Jushiro and hold him in the long, painful nights. He's so thankful for you and expresses it with. his physical touch.

Your marriage is a happy one with you two exploring each other's history and personalities.

Byakuya Kuchiki: It's safe to say he isn't happy about the marriage. He doesn't bother to even speak to you when you have meetings. You two just sit in silence, drinking tea.

It's mostly you talking and Byakuya just listens. He finds you entrancing, but you can't seem to see that. You think that he finds you plain and boring.

I mean, how could you live up to the kind of life he leads? You find yourself not to be good enough for Byakuya even after you get married.

The ceremony was nice and short and once you got back to your new house, Byakuya becomes distant.

You spend most of your time taking care of the property and cooking meals. Although, Byakuya takes no interest in them or the effort you put into the mansion.

You thought your marriage was going to be okay, not miserable. You and Byakuya don't ever see each other, much less share a bed together.

No matter what you do, it's not enough for Byakuya. At least that's what you think.

Deep down, Byakuya finds the littlest things you do to be amazing and genuine. He's afraid to show his feelings for you and to get attached.

At night when you're fast asleep, Byakuya heats up your meals and eats them. They are the best thing he's ever ate and unfortunately you wonder in to get a glass of water.

You were shocked as you realize that Byakuya actually likes your meals. That night opens Byakuya's heart to you as you confront him about it.

Byakuya explains his feelings and his past. You understand that he's been hurt in the past and you reassure him that you're his wife and won't ever leave his side.

The night ends with comforting hugs and kisses and a much better marriage between the two of you.

[misshoneyimhome]

Never gonna give you up | Auston Matthews  

Tags: soft!auston; Austonxreader;

A/n: I couldn't sleep last night, and this is what happened 😉 hope you enjoy it

-

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you

"Never Gonna Give You Up" - Rick Astley

*

You had been dating Auston for most of the 2022-2023 hockey season.

Initially, you weren't entirely sure about getting involved with an NHL hockey player. But Auston was persistent. His charm had this peculiar effect on you, and eventually, you couldn't resist.

And you've never looked back since.

Despite Auston's hectic schedule, the ups and downs of his hockey games, the constant travel, and all the media attention, you loved being with him. He had this incredible personality that just clicked with you from day one.

And when the Leafs made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup, you were over the moon.

You were genuinely happy for Auston, and all you wanted was to see him happy. And hockey made him happy, so you were all in, no matter what. The good, the bad, and everything in between.

But then the Leafs lost. And the offseason officially started.

It had been an incredible summer with Auston. He took you to meet his family for a few weeks, you were his plus one at Mitch and Stephanie's wedding, you even joined him for some of his publicity stuff when you had the time.

Honestly, it was kind of fun being a part of his world.

Before you met Auston, you weren't really into hockey. Sure, you knew the sport existed, but you didn't really get it. That all changed when you ran into a frazzled Auston in the cereal aisle at the local supermarket. Cereal boxes went flying, and the rest, as they say, is history.

A few weeks later, you went on your first coffee date.

But it wasn't just the hockey games stressing Auston out. His contract was also on his mind. He had one more year left in Toronto before it expired, so he needed to re-sign or potentially join another team.

But he really wanted to stay in Toronto. It was his team, the one he'd been with since 2016. It was home.

And it was your home too.

Normally, Auston would mostly think about himself and his career. But ever since he met you, he couldn't help but wonder how you felt about it all. To be honest, maybe all his worry wasn't just about re-signing or his salary.

He was also worried about you and your relationship. You didn't grow up in the hockey world like many other girlfriends and wives. You weren't used to how the whole moving teams and cities thing worked.

And that had Auston beyond stressed out.

**

And it was this worry that led to a conversation one casual Tuesday evening. You were both sprawled out on his sofa, watching TV after a delicious dinner.

Auston was on his back, facing the TV, and you were on top of him, your head and hand on his chest.

His breathing was slow, but it wasn't steady. Auston had something on his mind.

Out of the blue, he broke the silence.

"(Your nickname)," he began, still staring at the TV.

"Yeah, baby?"

He turned his head to look at you.

"What if I don't re-sign?" his voice was low and shaky.

"What do you mean? You still have one more year," you matched his low tone and looked up at him, resting your head on your hands.

"Yeah, but what if I don't re-sign or get traded?" His eyes looked sad, and his expression screamed worry.

"Then I guess you'll find another team that'll be lucky to have you," you reassured him with a soft smile.

"Yeah, maybe... but," he bit his lip, struggling to get the words out.

"But what, baby?" you raised yourself up a bit, supporting your weight on your arms, and looked deeply into his eyes. "Auston, you're an amazing hockey player, and you played so fucking well this season. The team even came closer to winning the Stanley Cup, which, from what I understand, is pretty impressive, and you were a big part of that."

Auston nodded slightly, and a small smile crept back onto his lips. "I know... it's just... what about us?"

"What about us?" you asked gently.

"I mean, if I were to move... what about us?" His smile faded again as his eyes locked onto yours.

You let out a little sigh. You'd talked about this before, but it was different back then, when you were just getting serious. At that point, you both wanted to take things slow and not think too far ahead. You just wanted to enjoy the moment and see where it led.

But now, it was time to face it.

"Aus," you whispered gently, "Remember when we first started seeing each other? Your determination and how many times I said no," you said, your lips curving into a fond smile. "Even though deep down, I knew I wanted to be with you, because I had my doubts about dating a pro athlete,” You paused, collecting your thoughts. “But you, Auston, you changed everything. I couldn't resist you. I fell head over heels in love with you. And I'd be in love with you anywhere in the world. So, if it means embracing your hockey career, then that's what we'll do - together."

Auston looked at you, silent for a moment.

Your eyes locked as he absorbed your words.

"So... you'd be up for moving with me if that's what it takes?"

"If you want me to move with you, hell yes," you almost whispered, smiling as you saw the wheels turning in his head.

"I'm never gonna give you up, you know that, right?" he grinned.

"Oh, I'm counting on it," you giggled softly. "You won't get rid of me that easily."

[therealrichardpapen]

Can I have some classic lit recs…make me feel like Henry please <3

Oh, this would be my pleasure, my dear friend!

Caligula by Albert Camus (It's a play about Caligula)

Oresteia by Aeschylus

Cicero

Coriolanus and Titus Andronicus by Shakespeare. Coriolanus speaks about men's hubris and how pridefullness brings your downfall, while Titus Andronicus, well, I'll let you discover it by yourself:))

Marcus Aurelius, amazing works regarding stoicism

Seneca, letters to Lucilius, another great stoic

Petrarca's letters to classical authors

Ovid, the roman writer exiled by Augustus to the Black Sea, at Tomis, part of the Kingdom of Thrace (now Constanța, Romania), where he kept writing.

Bacchae by Euripides

Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (a nobel awarded historical fiction about the life in Nero's Rome, written by a Polish writer)

Sappho, but I suggest finding a good translation with footnotes as her works have been barely maintained, and some of her poems are literally one word long.

Beyond good and evil by Nietzsche

Crime and Punishment by Dostoievsky (I won't add more as I recently conducted a full ass campaign here on how and why this book is worth it)

E.M. Cioran, A short history of decay, The demiurge, The troubles with being born. He is a bit of a nihilist. Romanian philosopher that wrote mostly in French

Machiavelli, The prince. This should be a good introduction into Machiavellism

The sacred and profane by M. Eliade is also worth a try

I believe there's no point in mentioning the Iliad and the Odyssey since everybody knows them by now. Hope you'll have fun!

Updated ~ with memes

Upon finishing my first year of uni and starting the second, there are more titles that could be added to the list:

The symposium by Plato (the og talk about the Androgynous, love. Beloved Alcibiades)

The Frogs by Aristophanes (comedy mostly)

Daphnis and Chloe by Longus (amazing, full of symbols short novella on the bucolic world of ancient Greece)

Dante. If you genuinely want trauma and pain and to be lost in documents trying to understand Dante's times/politics of Florence, do try it. Its full of religious substrata due to the century Dante lived in. If you want a counter, ridiculing the medieval mindset of "god is everything", I recommend The Decameron since Boccaccio takes it all and creates funny, unhinged and decadent stories.

Voltaire's Candide or The Optimist is more of a philosophical work, Voltaire being clearly influenced by the illuminist current. (Not specifically something henry would read, but it would definitely make you feel closer to the TSH aesthetic)

Russian lit. Again, not Henry vibe exactly, but deep enough and very insane vibes. Crime and Punishment if you want yearning, self guilt and inner struggles.

Gogol's Overcoat and The Nose if you want some Russian surrealism.

[scarletttries]

Kendall Roy x Reader Engagement/Wedding Headcanons:

Pairing: Kendall Roy (Succession) x Gender-neutral!Reader

Rating: Fluff with one slightly NSFW thought at the end clearly labelled.

Author’s Note: After my own lovely bachelorette party last weekend I got a request for wedding/engagement headcanons for Kendall Roy and couldn't resist! Thank you to everyone who wished me a lovely weekend for my Hen Do and for sending in so many amazing succession requests!! 😊

- From the minute he knew you were the one for him, Kendall would be mentally planning your wedding. It wouldn't matter that it would take him another year to actually propose, he'll live for meticulously planning every detail to make it the most memorable proposal and wedding in history, constantly be thinking of things he wanted for the two of you, scribbling down ideas in his notes app that he can't wait to share with you one day.

- The proposal would be so incredibly Kendall: there would be fireworks, and a stage, and he'd have prepared a musical number, and everything for the whole week would have been set up to lead you unawares to the moment he finally gets down on one knee and asks you to marry him. To be the other half he's always been missing. The loving family he never thought he could deserve. And when you, thank god, say yes; a hundred doves fly out behind you as glitter rains dow,n and it truly feels like something out of a movie or a fairytale, the staged photos front page of every paper in town that night.

- For the entire time you're engaged it's like Kendall's already in the honeymoon phase, his obsession with you is completely renewed. He's so enamoured he finds himself calling you into his office just so he can close the blinds and wrap his arms tightly around you, barely able to contain his grin as he leans down to kiss 'his fiance', a phrase he cannot stop uttering. He'll introduce you to people you've already met a dozen times just so he can say 'my fiance' about you again and again, cheeks aching from the smile that hasn't left his cheeks since you said yes.

- Now that you're engaged he'll also get even more ridiculous with gift giving; when Kendall first starts dating anyone he can be a little insecure that they're just with him for the money, so he holds back on being too generous until he knows their true feelings. But now, expect a bouquet of your favourite flowers every hour, on the hour, each with funny little notes Kendall writes imagining what your life will look like together. Not to mention he insists you both go shopping as 'you both need an entirely new wardrobe now that you're engaged.'

- There won't have been a lot of times you've been able to meet Sophie and Iverson while dating Kendall, so he'll be nervous about re-introducing you to them now that it's as his fiance. But he doesn't need to worry, Sophie is so smart and friendly she'll immediately start running through wedding planning ideas and suggesting you pick them up from school once a week so you can get to know the two of them better - she's seen how much better her father is doing since he found you and genuinely wants to keep you around as much as possible. Naturally Iverson is a lot more reserved, but you'll give him the space he needs and keep the pressure off and over time he'll smile when you walk in a room and Ken will know you've been accepted as part of their dysfunctional family unit.

- The other Roys might not be as welcoming to you when the announcement comes out, assuming you're just some beautiful airhead, or worse, coming after the family's power and fortune, despite how happy Kendall seems to be around you. The exception to this is of course Connor, who will pull you aside after Logan spends dinner shouting about how important prenups are, and tell you he's so excited to have another sibling and he's so happy Ken found you. *For more Kendall prenup drama I have a whole smut fic on it here.*

- Kendall would be torn between wanting a long engagement, loving the affectionate excitement the two of you share every time he catches the glint of your ring out the corner of his eye, and being so excited to plan the wedding that he gets it all set up for just a few months later. No expense would be spared for your day, whether you want to have an island to yourself, an exquisite country house or just to hire out the gallery of your dreams. As long as you're okay with it being BIG, then Kendall will make any dream you have come true.

- Kendall's first wedding was a much more classy, muted affair where he felt like he had to stifle himself to fit the idea of what a wedding should look like. He's learnt a lot about himself since then, and you've always been there to encourage him to be honest with you and hold on tight to the parts of his life that bring him joy, so be prepared for the whole day to be elaborate and spectacular.

- That doesn't mean it's not also magical, and romantic, and intimate. You and Kendall find ways to make every second meaningful to the two of you, stealing away for moments at a time to just look into each other's eyes, overwhelmed with the joy that you are now joined forever, secure together for all the ups and downs your lives will bring (unaware that one of three photographers Kendall hired is taking candid shots that Kendall will have printed as six foot high portraits to hang on the walls of his penthouse, and another dozen images to line his work desk.)

- While you and Kendall aren't too worried about a lot of the classic wedding traditions, you will spend the night before the wedding apart, opting for a cosy night in a luxury hotel with your friends to get prepped. You'll have to have your friends taking shifts by the door at all times though, as Kendall sends an influx of deliveries to show he's thinking of you. And then at 2am he'll turn up at your hotel suite begging your friends to let him see you one more time, "for one last night of sin" and they'll have to remind him it's bad luck and force the door shut in his moping face.

- But it's completely worth it as he sees you for the first time on your wedding day, somehow more beautiful than he could have pictured, dressed to perfection, wearing the same smile as you walk towards him that you did that first day he kissed you and knew then and there that this day would be coming soon. He has to choke back tears as he stutters through his vows, overwhelmed by finally having a true family member in his corner who can love him and have his back through anything.

- Without getting too NSFW, we can all agree Kendall on his wedding night would come at you like a man starved. Greedy hands squeezing and clawing at your thighs hard enough to leave marks as his teeth clash against yours with the sheer fervour that he comes in to kiss you with. A strangled mix of growls and moans, broken up by ecstatic laughs fill the room as he embraces you for the first time as his spouse, exploring and tasting every inch of you like you are an entirely new world only he gets to claim. A world where now he feels safe and accepted and loved. A world he's never going to leave.

[bridgeportbritt]

Sequoia Nightclub | Sage, SimDonia | 4 Days Until the Wedding

Good Vibes

Hannah: This place is amazing. Nice find, Marissa.

May: Yes! Look at us in VIP on a short notice.

Marissa: It helps to be able to drop some names.

Rylee: We all look amazing, too!

Marissa: Speaking of amazing...

Marissa: I would like to raise a toast... to my best friend, Olivia!

Olivia: Aw... Oh, my Watcher, Marissa! You don't have to do that!

Marissa: You know I love embarrassing you a bit! Now, this girl here has been by my side through thick and thin! I love her because she's always been genuine. Her family history dates back to the beginning of SimDonia, but she is the most down to earth person you'll ever meet. She's the kind of sim who befriends you when you're being made fun of for being on an academic scholarship at SimDonia Prep vs being from a rich family, or who stays up all night cooking 2 weeks worth of meals for you and your family after your grandmother passes or who spends her weekend helping you practice for debate club because she knows how important it is for you to win! I could go on... but I think Liv has had enough, plus we've gotta hit the dance floor! I just want to say I'm so happy for you, Liv. And thank you for letting me be apart of your special day and the beautiful life you and Grayson will create! Cheers!

Everyone: Cheers!

Olivia tearful: Marissa, that so beautiful. Thank you!

Eva: That was, but no crying in the club! Time to take this party downstairs, ladies!

For Olivia's first nightclub experience, Marissa decided on somewhere that's more like a lounge with a DJ. The girls enjoyed some laughs, heartwarming toasts, and of course, free nectar in VIP. Then (after more free drinks), they hit the dance floor. Safe to say, Olivia had a good time.

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 29 - SOULMATES

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: SailorChibi

What I really love about SailorChibi's soulmate fics is that they always have really fun, fantastical world building. Whether it be shapeshifters, sentinels, soulmarks or soulmate-related services, there's always something special that hooks me in within the first couple of sentences. Plus, their writing style is amazing, so really, what's not to love?

Here's some of their work that I think you should check out:

Black Streak of Lightning

Pairing: Steve/Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 2,953 Tags: Sentinel/Guide, Shapeshifting, Pre-Slash

Summary: Tony didn't want to tell Bucky and Steve the truth, but shapeshifting in front of them made the truth pretty hard to miss.

Reasons why I love it: I really love the choices for their shifted forms – I don't know why I never imagined Steve as that specific animal, but it really works. And Tony is, of course, his usual competent self whether he's shifted or not. Definitely read this one, it's amazing!

there and back again (to find you)

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 3,280 Tags: Time Travel, A/B/O, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Hydra has a plan to go back in time and kill Steve before he becomes Captain America. Tony foils them, and in the process finds his soulmate.

Reasons why I love it: Protective Bucky, Tony and Steve, my loves! I really enjoyed that glimpse into the past, and how Tony finds out that Bucky really is his soulmate. Their confusion makes a lot of sense, what with their respective body modifications. It's fantastic, and you should definitely read it!

1-900-SOULMATE

Pairing: Steve/Tony, Bucky/Clint Rating: M Words: 5,280 Tags: Phone Sex Line, No Powers AU, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: Later, Tony would maintain that it wasn’t his fault. He was drunk and bored (lonely) and it just… happened. Pepper would look at him and, in the driest tone that Tony had ever heard, remark that he was the only person in the history of the world who would stumble across their soulmate while drunk dialing a phone sex line.

Reasons why I love it: The characterizations are perfect in this one. Tony being an insecure wreck, Steve standing up for himself, the team meddling until they finally figure their shit out – I love it all. Definitely check this one out, it's amazing!

Breaking Shields

Pairing: Steve/Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 4,835 Tags: Sentinel/Guide, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Spirit Animals

Summary: Tony is a guide doing his damndest to help out the two super soldier sentinels on the team. But it's not easy to give and give without getting anything in return.

Reasons why I love it: Aw, I was so happy when Natasha finally knocked some sense into Tony and got him to fess up! I always love Sentinel/Guide AUs, and this one is no exception, it's so good. Definitely give this one a read, I bet you'll love it just as much as I do!

I didn't know that it was so cold

Pairing: Steve/Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 13,363 Tags: Baker Bucky, Fighting and Making Up, Depressed Steve

Summary: For their six month anniversary, Tony buys Bucky a bakery. He has no way of knowing what kind of upset a simple gift could cause; thanks to his admittedly over-inflated sense of generosity, he might have just broken up one of the best things that's ever happened to him.

Reasons why I love it: I really love the conflict in this, it feels very true to life. Steve's feelings are extremely relatable, and I'm glad that SailorChibi lets him have his moment of reflection and gives him the chance for a genuine apology to both his boyfriends. This fic is amazing, and if you haven't read it yet, you absolutely should!

[sushis-brainrot]

I know you are Danish, but as a Dane what do you think of Valhalla as a game? (I’ve always wondered what a local person would think of a representation of their country history). How does it feel seeing your history and potential ancestors on there?

Oh, I could write a novel on this. 😅

Even if Eivor hails from Norway, most Vikings who conquered, settled and raided in England - came from Denmark. A fact you'll oddly enough find most Danes proud of. Nonetheless, AC Valhalla has a super interesting take on it and still manages to apply real historical context - despite the game being fictional. With most Danes being able to track their ancestry back to Odin, and taking pride in their Viking heritage, AC Valhalla had a challenge ahead of them. But I genuinely feel like they've written us a beautiful love letter while staying true to the franchise.

Having grown up with Norse Mythology, though, and having had an insatiable interest in it since my first encounters with it as a child, that is what truly piques my interest. Norse Mythology is such an incredibly fun and human experience. A story and a world that translates well into a setting such as AC Valhalla. And not only because of the historical context.

The representation of mythological characters, the gods (æsir and vanir alike), the jötnar and dwarves are, in my opinion, fantastic.

Odin's arrogance, his hunger for power and knowledge, with just a touch of something playful.

Loki's mischievous nature, his cunning and intelligence - how he seems to believe the impossible to be improbable, and like a riddle to be solved.

Frigg's motherly determination.

Freyja's smarts and passion - how they remember that she's not only a goddess of love but also a goddess of war.

Each god has different qualities, weaknesses, and attributes. In Norse Mythology, an important characteristic is how the gods exhibit a plethora of human traits, behaving much like humans with emotions and interpersonal conflicts. The gods were meant to serve as role models, showing humans how to live and which rules to follow – and which ones could be broken. The existence of the gods was just as fraught with problems as that of humans, and their primary task was to ensure that chaos did not erupt. They're meant to be relatable - human - in their person and behaviour. And this is something I feel AC Valhalla shows and explores well.

The narrative of AC Valhalla doesn't shy away from presenting Odin's choices in a morally ambiguous light. The impact of Odin's decisions on the world around him, including the relationships with other Isu (Loki especially) and the well-being of Ásgarðr, serves as a reminder of the intricate web of cause and effect. While Odin's decisions, driven by a mix of self-preservation and concern for his people (or family), blur the lines between right and wrong. The game invites players to question the morality of Odin's choices, fostering a deeper engagement with and understanding of his character. Even as an Isu, a God, even as he believes himself infallible: Odin is human. He's flawed.

And it reflects in Eivor. She's confident in herself, and in her abilities, sometimes verging on arrogant. But through her discoveries and development throughout the game, she's humbled and realises what is truly important to her, which eventually leads to her rejection of Odin. Her whole experience and journey are so authentically human. Her emotions, her experiences, and her relationship with Odin. Finding herself, despite what whispers in her ear, and realising what holds her heart.

But this is something I feel the AC franchise does well: they tell stories that are unique to the human experience. Something that harmonizes well with the themes of Norse Mythology.

I feel they've done an amazing job with AC Valhalla. I genuinely love the game, I keep coming back to it; thinking about it. With AC Valhalla they've crafted a captivating and immersive experience that seamlessly blends the storytelling of Norse Mythology, Viking Culture, and the fictional aspects of Assassin's Creed, while beautifully conveying the complicated message of the human experience.

That's it.... I apologize for getting carried away 😅

What was the question again? 🤣

[owlf45]

Hi Owl, did owl, did you ever hate your own writing? Like thinking its so bad to the point that you want to delete it? Because i just upload my first ever fanfic and keep overthinking about the fic, its just everytime i read it its feels worst than before 😭. Did you have advice about how to deal with this feeling?

Absolutely I did! Almost every author's note in all of my old fics has a section with me expressing how much I hated my own writing.

The beginning stage of writing is hard. It's okay if what you wrote wasn't exactly what you had in your head, but if you're having fun with the process, the end product doesn't have to be perfect (it never is). It doesn't matter. You'll only get better at writing as you go.

Secondly, the more you read something repeatedly, the more you hate it. Forbid yourself from reading your fic for the next few months. Some of the writing I hated the most, I went back to read it years later and it was funny, charming, or downright amazing. If you read it too often, you become so entangled with it that you forget that a reader is absorbing everything you wrote for the first time— and they'll probably love it. Leave it alone until you can look at it with fresh eyes. Stop reading it! Don't obsess over it.

Also, it's straightforward as an author to point out what you think are 'flaws' in your work. But guess what? Readers... probably won't even notice. In fact, some of the things you think suck, your readers will find meaning in. When I was younger and a bit more nihilistic, I thought Imaginary was always too fluffy to be that rich in complexity compared to some of my darker works. However, readers pointed out how the fact that the characters choose kindness and silliness—repeatedly, despite their own history—is refreshing, optimistic, and genuinely joyful. Your readers can find so many valuables in your writing that you never even comprehended while writing it. So you can hate your work, but really, you only hate your perception of it.

(I can never give a concise response, so the rest is under the cut:)

I have deleted plenty of my old works because I hated them. There are about ten that will never see the light of day again. And while I don't regret taking them down, I GREATLY regret not saving backups. My recommendation: keep your fic up (for now) until you've written a couple more. You learn a shitton of writing skills within those first few fics, and if you keep backtracking rather than moving forward, you might feel stuck. Once you get more comfortable with the writing process and you have a bigger pool of writing to compare with, then start thinking about what you want public and what you don't. (And save everything as a backup). I caution you against obsessing over a perfect profile/discography, however, and deleting everything as soon as you don't like it anymore. It's very easy to compare your works and your stats with this invisible standard you've set for yourself, or with other creators. Don't.

My relationship with my writing improved the most when I started posting more, and when I kept the silly stuff on my profile. When I only had 3 works (and two were long-form WIPs), I felt super self-conscious about posting anything new. But then I did Fic Fight and posted like 12 works in a month, and most of them are not that significant. But they were fun to write. Suddenly I gained a much healthier respect for my writing. It doesn't have to be perfect, I just have to enjoy writing and sharing it with others. I think all writers who put a lot of stock into their writing have to internalize that at some point.

If you really enjoyed writing your first fic, and you really want to share it with others, then keep doing it. There may come a time down the line, maybe a few years later, when you can look back at this fic and recognize how you would write it differently. But that comes with time and experience. So keep writing for fun and for yourself! (And if you're stuck, stop re-reading your writing, and ask a friend to beta your work for you!)

Hell, I will give a perfect example right now. For all I appreciate my own writing, I still get a little weird about Imaginary. So I asked a few of my readers, whenever I'm done with the next chapter, to read it before I post it and vibe-check it. I've been doing this since chapter 3. I've been doing it for five years, basically. And literally every time I've gotten nothing but kindness, and I still, irrationally, freak out every time I have to update again. Does that stop me? No, though it does take me forever to update! So you should do the same! Keep going! Even if it takes you a while.

So yes. There's my forever-long lecture. I fail always to be concise. I hope this helps.

[hardcandycigarette]

Canyon Moon Road Part Two

Harry woke up to the soft rustling of leaves and the distant sound of a rooster crowing. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow around the quaint guest room. He felt surprisingly rested, the kind of rest that comes from being somewhere serene and undemanding. He quickly dressed and made his way to the kitchen, following the enticing smell of fresh coffee.

Y/N was already there, moving around the kitchen with a practiced ease. She turned as he entered, her face lighting up with a welcoming smile. "Good morning! I hope you slept well."

"Better than I have in a long time," Harry replied, taking a seat at the small wooden table. "Thanks again for taking me in."

"It's no problem at all," Y/N said, handing him a steaming mug of coffee. "Like I told you last night no one works on Sunday.” She chuckled. “Well that’s a lie. Theres a cute little Farmer’s Market, if you’re into that kinda thing, and a diner in town. Other than that it’s you and me and Max”

Just as Harry was about to ask who Max was he felt a nudge on his leg. He found the simling face, tail wagging Black Lab. “I assume this is Max.”

“It is. Come here boy.” She called to the calm, happy dog. She rubbed his head just as he sat at her feet. She pointed toward the coffee pot with a gesture of her head. “Sorry it’s not a fancy cappuccino.”

Harry smiled. “No problem at all.” He said as he grabbed a mug and poured the dark drink.

“So you'll have to stay another day. Hope that's alright."

Harry smiled. "More than alright. I could use a break from all the driving."

"There's a hotel about 45 minutes away I told you about if you'd prefer," Y/N offered, "but you're welcome to stay here with me."

Harry considered it for a moment, appreciating the offer. "I think I'd like to stay, if you don't mind. It's been really nice here."

Y/N nodded, pleased. "I'd love to have you stay. I’ll whip up something for breakfast, then I’ve got to get to work on this place.  You’re welcome to watch tv, rest, take care of business whatever you want or need to do. Max is good company and he can show you around.” She giggled to herself.

"Do you need any help?" Harry offered, genuinely interested in lending a hand. “With the house I mean. It’s the least I could do.”

"Actually, that would be great," Y/N said with a relieved smile. "There's so much to go through."

After breakfast they cleaned up, then Y/N offered Harry a brief tour of the home. It had an air of nostalgia about it, with its creaking floorboards and rooms filled with memories.

"This was my grandparents' room," she said, opening a door to a sunlit bedroom filled with vintage furniture. "I used to spend hours in here curled up on the bed listening to their stories."

Harry could see the fondness in her eyes and felt a pang of empathy. "It must be hard, going through all this."

"It is," Y/N admitted. "But it's also kind of therapeutic. I just... didn’t realize how much stuff there was. I mean they’ve been gone a long time, but coming in here actually going through their things, it’s different, you know? Like I’m actually admitting, realizing everyone’s gone. No one’s coming back. It’s just me."

Harry’s kind heart had him wanting to hug her, comfort her because that’s just his way, but he realized this woman didn’t know that about him and he needed to respect boundaries.

Y/N shrugged and said, "Well, let's get started with the attic, sorting through boxes of old photographs, letters, and various knick-knacks. Harry was amazed at the sheer volume of items, each telling a piece of Y/N’s family history. As they worked, they talked about their own families and childhood memories, finding common ground in their experiences.

"Look at this," Y/N said, pulling out an old photo album. "This was my mom when she was about my age."

Harry leaned in to look at the photos, feeling a strange sense of connection to the history in the house. "She looks a lot like you."

"Yeah, everyone says that," Y/N replied with a soft smile. "It's nice to be reminded of her."

As the day wore on, they took a break for lunch, sitting on the porch and enjoying the view of the sprawling countryside. The weather was perfect, with a gentle breeze and clear blue skies.

"You know," Harry said, taking a sip of his drink, "there's something really peaceful about this place. I can see why it means so much to you."

Y/N nodded. "It’s always been a sanctuary for me. Even with all the work to be done, it's comforting to be here, like a hug from my family."

After lunch, theyreturned to the attic where they found old tools, furniture, and even some vintage clothing. Harry couldn’t help but try on an old hat they found, making Y/N laugh.

"You look like you stepped out of a different era," she said, shaking her head.

"Maybe I did," Harry replied with a grin, tipping the hat playfully.

By the time they called it a day, they had made significant progress. They had set aside boxes of items to keep, donate, and throw away. Y/N looked genuinely relieved and grateful for the help. She had also noticed the flex of Harry's muscles has he lifted and moved boxes. She was beginning to see what women found so attractive about him.

"Thank you, Harry," she said as they stood on the porch, watching the sunset. "I don’t think I could have done this without you."

"It was my pleasure," Harry replied, feeling a warmth in his chest. "I'm glad I could help."

That evening, they cooked dinner together, their movements in the kitchen almost synchronized as they worked side by side. Harry found himself enjoying the simple companionship they shared.

After dinner, they sat on the porch, watching the stars come out. The pinks and yellows of sunset had changed to a deep blue. They talked about their plans for the next day. Y/N told Harry she hoped his car would be fixed because she was sure he wanted to get back on the road.

As they sat there, Harry found himself thinking about how comfortable he felt around Y/N. She had a way of making everything seem easy, natural. He realized he would be happy if he could stay but that wouldn’t make sense once the car was fixed. They winded down and excused themselves to their respective rooms for the night. Harry fell asleep content in a complete stranger’s home and he knew on paper it didn’t make any sense. He also knew Jeffrey and his security team would not be content if they found out this recent development, but he didn’t care.

The next morning, Harry woke up early, eager to see Y/N again. He made his way to the kitchen and found her already up, dressed in overalls and carrying a toolbox.

"Good morning, Harry," she said with a grin. "Ready to get your car fixed?"

Harry blinked in surprise. "Wait, you're the mechanic?"

Y/N laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Yes, I am. Thought I'd surprise you. I grew up working on cars with my dad, and I’ve been doing it ever since."

Harry shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. "You keep surprising me, Y/N. Let’s get to it."

They spent the morning working on Harry’s vintage car. Well, Y/N worked on the car, and Harry was the most adorable curious nuisance ever. While normally Y/N would normally find it annoying she found this dimpled man-child charming. Harry was impressed by Y/N’s skill and knowledge, and he found himself enjoying their time together even more.

By midday, Y/N  stepped inside to make a phone call. When she returned she broke the silence. "Harry, I have some bad news. Your car needs a specific part that I don’t have. I’ve called around, but it’ll take a few days to get it shipped here."

Harry frowned. "I see. There's no way to expedite it?"

Y/N shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. Even with overnight shipping, the part just isn’t readily available. It’s not about the money; it’s about finding the part itself."

Harry sighed but then looked at Y/N and smiled. "Well, I guess I'll be your guest a bit longer. If that's okay with you."

Y/N smiled back, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Of course, it’s okay. I’d be happy to have you stay."

The next day they went back to working on the family home, making steady progress. Harry learned more about Y/N’s family and the history of the house, feeling a deeper connection to the place.

As they ate lunch Y/N turned to Harry with a thoughtful expression. "Do you ever get tired of all the attention, Harry? Being recognized everywhere you go?"

Harry nodded. "Sometimes. It's nice to be appreciated, but it can be overwhelming. That's why this trip is so important to me. I needed to get away, to find some peace."

Y/N smiled, her eyes filled with understanding. "I’m glad you ended up here, then. It’s been nice having you around."

Harry felt his heart skip a beat. "It's been nice being here. You’ve made this place feel like home."

That evening, they sat on the porch, watching the sunset. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Harry found himself captivated by Y/N’s presence, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved, the sound of her laughter.

The next day they talked and their dreams and fears, their hopes and memories. Harry knew that meeting Y/N was more than just a chance encounter. He didn’t know what the meaning was but it something more than chance.

But for now, Harry relaxed into the present moment and the deepening friendship they were building. He wondered if he just might be developing a crush on her. Yet, he wasn’t ready to admit it, not even to himself. The future was uncertain, but Harry felt a sense of hope and excitement, something new.