#i did stop reading after like page 230

[inkskinned]

hey it's nanowrimo. i have tips bc i've done it about 34 times.

Don't edit. Ever. Stop it. If you just decide to start a new project half thru this one with all new characters, no problem. pick up and keep writing as if you'd already written the first half of that.

"but i spelled it wrong" whatever. "but the grammar" whatever. make it exist first. no time for sense. think like you're working on a typewriter. no backspace. only forward go.

Don't re-read further than a paragraph or two backwards. "did i mention the gun before?" listen - it doesn't matter. if you need there to be a gun there, the gun is there. put it back in once you finish the book.

"i forgot the specifics of X thing i already wrote" whatever. change it, make a note/comment to figure it out later, and just write what makes sense for the moment. "no raquel it's legit the characters name and origin" idc that character is now reborn as Claudius from Elsewhere. it's fine.

only you see your mistakes. nobody else knows. one of the ways writing and dance overlap - only you know the choreography. nobody else will know if you miss a step, so just keep dancing and pretend you meant to do it like that.

it's an illusion that you need to write linearly - from point A to point B to point C. Nah; that's just timeline propaganda. I've written a LOT of books out of order and just reordered them once i've finished. if you have a scene you'd LOVE to write but can't get there yet because of plot, just fuckin write the scene. I've always found its easier to establish "point F" "point J" and "Point A" and then wiggle my way between those scenes.

write what you WANT to write. 230 pages of smut? of well-researched discussion on bread? whatever. the point is to strengthen muscles however you can.

if you miss a day, a week, whatever. not the end of the world. we all have dry days. also time is a myth so u can do this challenge whenever u want.

as soon as you try to write for a specific audience, you kill your voice. you are writing for yourself. stop thinking about how people will take ur book. it don't matter. what matter is u, enjoying writing. i luv u.

play to your strengths. i have characters talk so much because i don't know how to write a plot if it kills me but i'm really good at dialogue so.

i love a flight of fancy. write a poem in there. shift tactics and write in code. keep it fun for yourself.

see what happens if you shift something major about ur main characters - gender, wealth, superpowers. or if you change point-of-view. or if you kill everyone in a big explosion. do NOT edit anything before this or after it. often these little weird one-off exercises teach me what interests me about what i'm working on. it is never what i thought. plus it is a fun way to add like 1k words.

stretch.

it's for fun and for practice. stop doing that project if it's giving you anxiety. once my nano was literally 50k words of half-started stories. just things i tried and tried and tried and wasn't able to flesh out. oops. but i am now 50k words of a better writer.

add dragons?

read books/listen to books on tape/etc. people often make the mistake of "buckling down" to just write. you need inspiration. you need to like. fill up on words. you need to remember how it feels to lose yourself in a story.

i don't have the time or space to really talk about this in this post but a lot of creative people turn to drugs/alcohol because it can help you be more creative. this is harmful, and walking a blade that only cuts deep. if you notice you and your loved ones are turning more to substances, please know i love you and i hope you are able to get help soon. i feel like this almost never gets mentioned because it's kind of a hazy underbelly to art. you are always more important than the work.

on that note. drink your fukin. water.

don't talk about a story until you've finished it. once you tell the story, it exists already, and isn't about discovery. i usually have a very canned "haha we'll see" response.

grapes :) tasty snack.

i love you be free.

#edit: the command not to talk about it is from personal experience! #i have heard Otherwise in the tags so i will edit to say: #if you've noticed that you tend to like Talk A Lot about ur piece but never WRITE it - #consider voice-to-text #also #u might be like me and ... need to figure it out on the PAGE and not OUT LOUD #i am often an auditory processor so i wont tell people specifics but i'll be like #huh. so i have a character who is in love .... and they don't know it #and my friend will be like ''oh they should kiss' and meanwhile #somehow #saying it out loud im like #yeah thank u ur right the dress SHOULD be purple that's what the problem has been <3 #idk!!! it's up to you!!! my suggestion is to say LESS until you know for a FACT that saying MORE works better for you #-- always better to slowly unspool in ur exploration of that #than to accidentally talk too much and get Bored Of Project #idk idk idk #i have adhd so every book surprises me bc im like #wait where did any of this even COME FROM #and whatever little gremlin in my brain that writes is like :) #''heyyy girlie.......'' #WHICH IS A LONG WAY TO SAY: #i didn't know about Not Talking About It as an option until i'd ruined a few projects!! #but there are people who need to do the other thing!!! and i love us both!!!! #wow brains are so funny!!!!

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 243. brb x oc

a/n: listen......i don't even know if this is common or legal,I just want drama and im so t i r e d so b ear with me pls(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/210/211/212/213/214/215/216/217/218/219/220/221/222/223/224

/225/226/227/228/229/230/231/232/233/234/235/236/237/238

/239/240/241/242

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

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-

It wasn’t news that he was good at his job, he was good, he was good enough to be promoted to Lieutenant-Commander. As he walks past a few other officers towards Cyclone’s office, he wondered what exactly they could talk about that was so…hurried.

He saw the email on Sunday afternoon, minutes before the girls left with Leonardo and he and Beatrice went to Marcus for that…photoshoot…thing. It was weird, but also really fun? It took him some time to get used to the idea, but he’s glad that he did.

He knocks on the vice-admiral’s door, he hears the quiet ‘Come in’ and then finally enters. He stops by the door when he sees a brand new picture on Cyclone’s desk, his grandson, in all his red peach faced glory, squinting at the camera and giving the onlookers a confused frown.

Well, that’s interesting.

Rooster blinked in surprise, hardly believing his eyes as he took in the unexpected sight of his uncle, Maverick, sitting in Vice-Admiral Cyclone's office. He couldn't help but grin at the sight of his younger, albeit scruffy and casually dressed, family member.

"Mav?" Rooster, his voice filled with disbelief and genuine happiness. "What are you doing here?"

Maverick leaned back in the chair, offering Rooster a cocky smile. "Can you believe I was invited?” he smirks, “By Beau nonetheless.” Cyclone just sighed heavily from his chair, flipping some pages in a folder, “I felt honored,honestly.”

"Invited?" he repeated, his mind trying to make sense of the situation. He knew that Maverick and Vice-Admiral Cyclone had a history, but he hadn't expected his uncle to be invited to a meeting like this.

Especially by Cyclone who did not look that excited.

Maverick chuckled, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the formal setting of Cyclone's office. "Yeah, Beau called me up and said he needed my input on something," he explained, his voice laced with amusement. "Said it was a 'family matter.'"

Cyclone finally set the folder aside and leaned forward, his expression serious. "Gentlemen, I appreciate you both coming," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority and completely ignoring how casual the conversation was. "Yes, even you Maverick.” 

“It must be something insane for you to allow me in here.” Maverick smiles, “I think being a grandpa is doing good for you. I mean,it did for me. Rooster’s kids are great.”

Cyclone purposefully ignored that information, “Bradley your promotion ceremony is coming,” he says, pulling his glasses off his face, “A few weeks, if I’m not wrong.”

Rooster nodded, acknowledging the upcoming event. "Yes, sir," he replied, hands behind his back, “Just…a few days after my birthday,actually.” and he let out an awkward laugh…one that his uncle did reciprocate, but his superior…well…

If he squinted he could see his lips twitching.

Cyclone continued, his gaze shifting between Rooster and Maverick. "As you both know, promotions in the Navy are based on merit, performance, and potential," he said, his tone serious. "And while Rooster's record is exceptional and he's more than deserving of his promotion, there's another factor at play here."

Rooster exchanged a puzzled glance with Maverick. "What do you mean, sir?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Cyclone leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him. "I've received some...interesting information from the higher-ups," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It seems they aren’t that fond that you two-” he points at them, “Are together in the same base.”

Rooster's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Cyclone's revelation. He hadn't expected the conversation to take such a turn. He exchanged a quick, worried glance with Maverick before turning his attention back to the vice-admiral.

"Sir, with all due respect, our relationship hasn't affected our performance or professionalism in any way," Rooster stated firmly, his voice steady.

Maverick nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "We've always maintained the highest standards, both as Navy officers and as individuals," he added.

Cyclone sighed, his gaze fixed on Rooster. "I don't doubt your professionalism, Bradley," he said, his tone sympathetic. "But you know how the higher-ups can be. They have concerns about the appearance of impropriety, especially with both of you being…family."

Rooster couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration at the situation. He had worked hard to achieve his current rank, and the idea that his relationship with Maverick could jeopardize his career was disheartening. "Sir, I understand their concerns, but we've kept our personal and professional lives separate," he argued. "I don't see how our relationship should be an issue."

“Listen,Beau,”Maverick stands up, “He’s my nephew. But there’s no nepotism in place here,I don’t have any saying on what happens to him.”

Cyclone nodded in acknowledgment of Maverick's statement. "You're right, Maverick," he said, his expression thoughtful. "But I wanted both of you to be aware of the situation and the potential challenges it might present. The higher-ups are watching closely."

Seldom were the times when he saw Maverick angry, actually angry. But when his eyes narrowed and he leaned down to Cyclone’s level, he could see how he was seething, “Watching me closely,huh?”

“Maverick-”

“They are threatening my nephew because of me?” he asks quietly, “Is that the truth,Beau?”

Cyclone sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he met Maverick's intense gaze. "Maverick, it's not a direct threat," he explained, choosing his words carefully. "But it's a concern they've raised, and it could potentially impact Bradley's career."

“It feels like one.” and the two men stared at each other for a few seconds, before Cyclone broke the silence.

And while his words were heavy, they had truth in them, “...Maverick, you knew Admiral Kazansky’s protection would only last so long.” he says quietly, “You knew they’d still be on your ass even after he passed.”

Rooster watched the exchange between Maverick and Cyclone, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He felt like..he didn’t know what to feel. He was so conflicted. "Mav, it's okay," Rooster interjected, stepping closer to both of them. "We'll figure this out. Okay?” he saw how his uncle’s knuckles were white when he pressed them on the desk’s surface, keeping him upright.

“I will not allow them to do it.” he whispers, “They will not hurt him because of me,Beau.”

Cyclone’s jaw moved before he spoke again. "Maverick, I appreciate your concern for Rooster," he said, "But we need to tread carefully. We don't want to give them any more reason to scrutinize Bradley's career."

“There shouldn’t be any!” Maverick almost shouts, making both his nephew and the vice-admiral stare at him wide eyed, “What is this? Punishment? For some fucking reason? Why? No,” he points at Cyclone, “No, they won’t do this, not to him, not anymore.”

Cyclone sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm going to have a meeting with the higher-ups," he said, his tone resigned. "I'll try to convince them that Bradley's promotion should proceed as planned. But we'll need to be prepared for any outcome."

“There will be only one outcome.”

“We don’t know that.”

“...no, we do.” Maverick muttered, stepping back to look at Rooster. And Rooster felt his heart hurting because that was the same look he gave back when they started talking again. After Phoenix and Bob got hurt, after he questioned him about his papers.

Why did you stand in my way?!

“Is it over?” Maverick asked, “Can we get out of here? We are both busy.” the atmosphere was so tense and thick it was almost suffocating. Rooster could only stare at his uncle in silence, hands behind his back as he waited.

Cyclone nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, you're both dismissed for now," he replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the situation. "I'll keep you updated on any developments, Rooster."

Rooster gave a brisk salute, his thoughts racing as he followed Maverick out of the vice-admiral's office. The tension in the room seemed to linger even after they had left, leaving Rooster feeling a sense of unease, it clung to his uniform like oil.

As they walked down the corridor, Maverick's earlier anger had transformed into a steely resolve. He glanced at Rooster and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Mav?" he calls softly, “Mav, you okay?”

“Me?” his uncle scoffs, “I should be the one asking you that? Are you okay?”

Why did you stand in my way?

Both men stood in front of each other, the taller pilot opening his mouth, then closing. Then opening and repeating the whole ordeal again…he felt…guilty, but he shouldn’t. Right? He shouldn’t feel guilty but he also felt angry and disappointed and just…he couldn’t pinpoint one single emotion.

He sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I...I don't know, Mav," he admitted, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "I'm…really surprised of how things…turned out." and he laughs quietly, more out of discomfort than humor, “...but,I mean it, are you okay?”

Maverick's gaze softened as he looked at his nephew, his concern evident in his eyes. "I'm more worried about you right now," he replied honestly. "You've worked so hard for your promotion, and I don't want to see your career suffer because of me."

Again.

Rooster gave a weary smile, his brain rattling with past conversations he wished wouldn’t come back now, “I know.” he whispers, “I know,Mav…we-we will figure it out, somewhat.” he could feel the claw going up his spine, the anxiety of somehow his promotion being revoked was…scary.

He worked so hard for this, so hard.

And he couldn’t blame Mav, as much as somehow past Rooster wanted to, he couldn’t. This wasn’t him playing with his papers, the fact they were family - not exactly by blood - shouldn’t be such an issue, “...they really get on your ass,huh,Mav?”

Maverick chuckled dryly, crossing his arms over his chest, “Always did.” he frowns, “Always,did,Brad.”

–

“I’m home.”

“Kitchen!”

His smile was immediate, no matter how shitty his day could be, no matter if he was in the worst situation…that voice made his entire body relax, “Kitchen? What are you makin’?” he calls, leaning down to pet each of the dogs as they rush over to greet him, “Is Nikki with you?”

“Dada!”

“You bet she is.”

Rooster chuckled, running his hand through his hair as he walks to the kitchen, inhaling quietly, trying to ease his mind because he knew Beatrice was going to ask about this meeting. He knew it’d happen and he had to prepare his answers.

Rooster stepped into the kitchen, his fatigued shoulders gradually relaxing as he inhaled the savory aroma wafting through the air. Beatrice stood by the stove, a welcoming smile illuminating her face as she looked down at Nicole who was happily seated on her high chair at a safe distance from her mother.

"Look who's here, Nikki," Beatrice announced, playfully gasping, “Is it dada?”.

Nikki eagerly reached out for her father, her tiny arms stretching towards him. Rooster happily swept her up into his embrace, showering her chubby cheeks with affectionate kisses that elicited even more laughter from the little one.

"Hey there, my little birdie," Rooster whispered, his nose nuzzling Nikki's soft cheek. “Oh,” he swipes her face, “You got some sauce on your cheek, were you helping mama with dinner? Yeah?”

Beatrice leaned in once she lowered the temperature, her lips meeting Rooster's in a tender kiss. "Welcome home, babe," she greeted him warmly.

Rooster returned the kiss, smiling against her mouth, “Thanks babe, missed you.”

Beatrice gently caressed his cheek, her eyes filled with adoration. "We missed you too, Roos," she replied softly, looking back at the stove. "Dinner is almost ready. I made your favorite."

Rooster's eyes lit up with anticipation. "Oh boy, the options are endless. I wouldn’t know what it’d be…what is it?" he asked,craning his neck to check the boiling pot with his brows arched, “Tomato sauce…hmmm…could be anything. Gimme a hint.”

“It’s pasta,Roos.” she giggles, “More precisely spaghetti all'amatriciana.” she smiles more, “I thought about it, it’s been so long since we had it and I know how much you loved it back then.”

“Still do.” he says, sitting on the kitchen chair and placing Nicole on his lap, kissing her forehead, “Thanks babe, that sounds great.”

“Don’t mention it! How was work?”

Rooster settled into the chair, balancing Nicole on his lap as he recounted the events of his day. "It was a long day," he admitted, his voice tinged with exhaustion,holding his head with his free hand, “Long day.”

Beatrice looked at him from the stove and frowned at how his expression shifted to a somber, almost upset look, “...you wanna talk about it?” she asks softly, giving him a small smile when he met her eyes, “If you feel comfortable enough to?”

Rooster met Beatrice's concerned gaze, and for a moment, he hesitated. His day had indeed been challenging, and he had a lot on his mind. He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he considered her offer. "...maybe after dinner?”

Her gaze softened, “Okay.” she says, “No worries.”

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader #tgm oc #tgm fic #tgm fanfiction

[imamotherfuckingstar-lord]

while we eat

steve harrington x reader

summary: steve is reading, you scare him - that's it.

a/n: insert from the shinning included, fluff. short but sweet.

“His breath stopped in a gasp. An almost drowsy terror stole through his veins. Yes. Yes. There was something in here with him, some awful thing the Overlook had saved for just such a chance as this. Maybe a huge spider that had burrowed down under the dead leaves, or a rat... or maybe the corpse of some little kid that had died here on the playground. Had that ever happened? At the far end of the concrete ring, Danny heard the stealthy crackle of dead leaves, as something came for him on its hands and knees.”

Steve paused his reading for a moment to push up the brim of his glasses; his body snuggled deep against the living room couch, feet resting on the opposite end on the couch’s arm rest. His toes were warm under perfectly white socks, it was a lazy day for him, so he lounged in gray sweats and an old physical education tee shirt. His head was rested under one arm, while he held the book with his other hand: his eyes scanning the words – back and forth, over to the next page. He removed his hand from under his head to turn the page, he couldn’t even breath without knowing what was going to happen to little Danny Torrance.

“…Jesus,” he muttered, finally breathing as he dived into the next page; he could feel his heart pounding with anticipation and as he began to unfold what was happening to the five-year-old, a hand touched his shoulder, and the book went flying across the room as he jumped up from the couch. He fumbled over the coffee table, dodging the corner by an inch and landing on the adjacent love seat. “What the actual fuck.”

Steve took off his glasses and looked up to where you stood; a bag of take out in hand. You were laughing and he caught his breath, placing his glasses back on. He sat up straight and ran a hand through his hair, declaring that you had ‘scared the shit outta’ him. Still laughing, you apologized and walked around the couch to pick up the book. “Oh, this is a good one. Have you seen the movie?”

“With Jack Nicholson, right?” Steve hauled himself off the love seat and walked over to you, plucking the book out of your hand. “I haven’t yet – Robin insisted I read the book first, wouldn’t stop bugging me about it.”

“We should all watch it together once you’re done,” you suggested, leaning in to kiss him. He captured your face with his hand and kissed you back. When you pulled away, you apologized again for scaring him. “It’s kind of cute seeing you squirm like that.”

Steve rolled his eyes and took the takeout bag from you. “Nearly gave me a heart attack but glad I could entertain you.”

Ignoring his fake pouting, you followed him into the kitchen and watched as he placed the book down on the counter. You moved to sit up on the counter, gingerly picking up the paperback and asking what page he was on. He took out plates from the cabinet and a set of utensils from the drawer nearest to the oven.

“I think it was 230,” he clicked his tongue against his cheek and turned to you with a smile when he realized what you were doing. “Oh good, it’s less scary when someone else reads it.”

Grinning, you found the page and turned the book to him for confirmation, he nodded and went back to plating the Italian take out you had picked up after work. “Shall I do voices?”

“God, no,” he begged, reminding you of the last time you did voices. “The Handmaid’s Tale was terrifying enough – didn’t need to hear your weird British accent. Which, by the way, made no sense…”

“I know,” you giggled. “That was the point – needed to make the book less depressing…”

Steve whistled and picked up the plates. “Come on, you can read while we eat.”

Jumping off the counter, you grabbed the forks and two cans of coke from the fridge; the two of you settled at the small kitchen table and started to eat dinner. The apartment you shared quiet except for the sound of your voice, low and steady, continuing little Danny’s chilling situation. Ever so often, Steve’s commentary could be heard and even more often than that, his begging for you to stop the British accent.

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington #strangers things 4

[erwinsvow]

Omg you’re the absolute sweetest and made me blush!! I’m super into Ancient Greek plays particularly Sophocles 

I absolutely LOVE this time concept thing you have going?? It’s so creative!! Did you come up with it? The 2:31am one was so sweet I’m a whore for mean rafe who cares🙁 I’m just projecting personal preferences but I vote reader calls rafe dad more

The rafe thinking you spoil him because you love him and your attentive drabble?? My heart hurts he just needs love :( Ward Cameron when I get my hands on you…

Also this is the first time I checked out your page from my laptop and I accidentally clicked a few things caused I’m so unfamiliar Tumblr on a browser and I have to say WOW?!?! Your layout is SO amazing and cool and gorgeous and different and camp and kooky and I love it 

I’m sorry I can’t shut up but I’d like to believe you like reviews and I’m a fan so I’m here to provide bae <3 I’m just proactive like that! 

I absolutely adore the way you write rafe as slightly manipulative but so in love with reader I can so easily overlook it!! And the fact that we got an entire drabble from the movie screening scene?? I jumped from joy it’s my favourite everrr 

Btw I saw you reblogged a cam girl one shot and I’m reading this little series it’s cam girl x rafe (I love it and it’s updated every two days or so) lmk if you’re interested  

Thanks for reading my novel long asks lmk if they’re too much though and it’ll be sure to adjust accordingly!! Hope you had a great day! Love youuu <33

-💓

Ps are requests open for the time concept? I have an idea!

omg hi bae!! full stop because i love sophocles!!! antigone is my shittttt i wrote a whole term paper on her once!!! why are we so linked... what plays are your favorites? huge fan of medea too

also thank you so much babe! omg i have seen the concept in writing before but i just started thinking of placing a timestamp on moments almost like bottling it up... i would love to expand it into a series if people love it enough! youre soooooo sweet i could sob. the 230 one was so cute i really love the idea of after hours with rafe he gets soft the later it gets.. esp my rafe who just loves his girlfriend and no one else haha

STOPPPP CALLING RAFE DAD GIRLIES UNITEEEE. i know i got it from princessbrunette but seriously its such a god tier idea. shes so big brained

also stop?! why are you so sweet. i need to update it to match my video game theme on mobile (the desktop version is still in tune with my old scream 1996 theme!!) but ur such an angel.

your reviews and kind words mean soooo much to me. everyone is so nice but i know everyone just kind of likes the posts and keeps their thoughts to themselves but hearing this stuff makes me so beyond ecstatic. <333 ur the best. so proactive jus like dad <3

yesss hes so manipulative. i try to write him mean(er) sometimes but i physically cannnot because i know he is the whipped in love type. literally just looking for someone to pour his love on. <3

omg yes do send! love reading rafe series <3 and stopppppp i love your long asks i love talking to u sm!!!! i had an okay day but now im in bed about to work on your req so !!! <3 all better. love u bae hope you like it!

#💓 anon #📮 asks

[redd956]

Writing Journals: Why do them?

I keep an annual writing journal. After every New Year’s I start a new one from scratch. Sometimes I bring some of my other works or unfinished pieces to the next one because I want to continue to add onto it. But why do it?

Improve Faster

After starting my first writing journal I found myself practicing with it and writing more frequently. My writing skills improved tremendously fast. I did when I was bored, between classes, and if I ever felt an itchy palm for writing. Each installment greatly shows your current skills, how your writing has changed over each year, and what you can still work on.

You can also easier look back on older works and writing styles and look back on how much you’ve improved. I love doing this because sometimes I am baffled by my own writing and love salvage, rewrite, and continue older pieces. Reading through earlier snippets even in the same journal often gets my hopes up as a writer, and I become exciting for my own works.

Free Reign

Your journals are for no one else but yourself. Write whatever you want in them. You aren’t obligated to finish anything, elaborate on anything, or meet a deadline at all. You could write a few paragraphs of something, leave it there, and instead write pages of something deviously suspicious. No one is going to stop you, and you don’t have to show it to anyone if you don’t like to.

Often times I jump between pieces I really like. Write small snippets of stuff I choose to never continue. I do prompts, writing exercises, whump stuff, little romantic snippets of my OCs, fanfics, different writing styles, whatever I want. I just never delete. Even if something super sucks I don’t delete it. I just keep going and move on.

Inspiration

When you aren’t tailored to other people’s receptions, deadlines, or moral law your writing goes wild. You never know when inspiration or masterpieces are going to strike. Often times I find something small I was intending to write becomes a much larger project that I am very proud of. A little alternate universe for my OCs became 230 pages of detailed worldbuilding, stories, and fun character interaction. So much so that it needs it’s own document now.

When down on motivation or needing a last minute writing assignment to come out of thin air the writing journals help as well. I always turn to them for motivation and inspiration. Often times reading my own stuff I realize how good I’m still doing, or how much progress I’ve made, and I feel like a renewed artist. Sometimes there’s gold mines of inspiration hidden in older art journals, and all it takes is me opening them up to be blasted in the face by it.

Organization

Even though the journals themselves aren’t organized. Your writing for the year is all in one area. It can really help if you need to put together a massive portfolio last minute. :)

Sometimes even if I do a piece on a separate document or piece of paper I transfer or copy also into my writing journal. In the end I know I have my stuff. 

[Make back ups]

For Fun

They’re fun. Very fun.

#writing journals #writing journal #writing stuff #writing community #writing improvement

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni

Tracy Crosswhite #10

Okay…being honest…on the fence on this one. I still like Tracy, loved seeing a negative colleague emerge less of a douche, and am still curious about what will happen next. I just checked and missed out on many of the books in the series…seven of them…and wonder how that would impact my take on this book. That said…easily a read-a-lone book and no previous books needed.

So…this book…after of a day of gluttonous pre-thanksgiving potluck  feasting in Lebanon, I came home to finish this book. Yes, I am behind in my reading commitments BUT I take those commitments seriously. And…the story flows easily and well till one point about page 230 on my copy that had one of the main characters willingly handing off information to a colleague rather than processing it themselves. Not easy to give credence to but, I did move on.

I came away wondering what would warp a character enough in a book like this to have the decisions made…made. Would it be the childhood lived, seeing a parent disparaged and left behind, and knowing wanting vengeance is a real thing but…not sure the vehicle of vengeance in this story was…looking for a term…commensurate with the actions that occurred and needed to be addressed.

That said, Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4- 5 Stars

BLURB

Detective Tracy Crosswhite draws a long-dormant serial killer out of hiding in a nerve-shattering novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Tracy Crosswhite is reopening the investigation into Seattle’s Route 99 serial killer. After thirteen victims, he stopped hunting and the trail went cold, stirring public outrage. Now, nearly three decades after his first kill, Tracy is expected to finally bring closure to the victims’ families and redeem the Seattle PD’s reputation. Even if it means working with her nemesis, Captain Johnny Nolasco. Lead detective of the original task force, Nolasco dares Tracy to do what he failed to: close the case. Forming an uneasy alliance, Tracy and Nolasco revisit old leads and pursue new evidence only to unearth high-level corruption and cover-ups as dangerous as the elusive killer himself. At the risk of being exposed, such deadly and powerful forces will go to extremes to stay in the shadows. That’s just where Tracy and Nolasco are headed—to find the twisted truth behind a killer’s motives, his disappearance, and his chilling comeback.

#Robert Dugoni #Tracy Crosswhite 10 #police proceduralt #police procedural #murder #mystery

[paradoxi-callum]

Criti-Cal book reviews: David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens.

I bought a used copy of David Copperfield for £3.10 (with free postage), and what I got was a book that was surprisingly big… or at least, surprisingly big to me. The only reason I bought David Copperfield is that Charles Dickens was lauded on Reddit, and I remember that Armando “Absolute Genius” Iannucci had adapted it for the silver screen… and that’s it, that was the sum of all my knowledge on Dickens. Imagine my surprise when nearly 900 pages were squeezed through my letterbox, hitting the ground with the sort of thud that suggests a bridge collapsing, then imagine the frustration I felt when I wasn’t flying through the book as quickly as I thought I should (50 pages per hour is my goal, I think I managed 20-30 with Dickens’s info-dense prose). It got so bad I had to message my good friend, and the closest I can get to a real Victorian era gentleman, Ronan to complain about how hard I found it.

Ronan, being the gentleman-out-of-time he is, told me there was no shame in giving up (and called me a simpleton) which obviously meant I had to stick with it and 12 days later I found myself glad I did, but also slightly annoyed that I didn’t do 5 minutes of research to learn that David Copperfield isn’t a novel in the strictest sense. 

In Victorian times printing presses existed, but novels were still mostly the reserve of the upper classes due to their cost, so with more working class people being literate than ever thanks to more accessible education a sort of sub-genre boomed in popularity; the serialized novel. This format allowed people to spread the cost of a novel over a year, and meant authors had to engage their audience month after month which goes a long way to explain why Dickens threaded so many different stories throughout the one novel… er, serialized novel… errr, serial. 

My frustration would probably be solved if I treat it like a serial, reading a few chapters at a time instead of rushing through it like I do a modern novel. But, alas, I’ve already rushed through the story and I can say that David Copperfield’s story is incredible, heart-shattering, spirit-raising etc. in spite of my previously mentioned struggle. 

I learned a new word when researching for this review, and that’s bildungsroman. What does it mean? Well it means a story that follows a character through their formative years, and where better to start than birth? The previously mentioned Armando “Absolute Genius” Iannucci made me realize that the opening chapter, where newborn Copperfield is forced to make sense of senses not used in the womb, is a subtle flash of genius. He made the comparison to James Joyce, but I am not an “Absolute Genius” so I haven’t read any Joyce (although an excerpt of Finnegan’s Wake was read at the end of Hot Chip’s fantastic Late Night Tales mix, and that was quite good). 

The genius doesn’t stop at the first chapter, and it is mostly just as low-key for Dickens has written what might be the greatest satire of all time (even including Armando “Absolute Genius” Iannucci’s The Thick of It), one particular thread that I loved was that scoundrel Heep, a man who described himself and his Mam as “Humble” but, forgive the spoilers (actually, no, the book is 230 years old, deal with it), turns out to be a scheming asshole who is hellbent on making everyone around him miserable in order to rise through the social ranks. But he’s oh so ‘umble! The heartless pursuit of higher class ultimately ends with Heep in prison, not for how he treats Copperfield and the lovable band of characters surrounding him, but for trying to commit bank fraud. Heep’s story is a warning to not sacrifice others in the name of class mobility. Dickens goes on to show how Peggotty has a heart of gold yet is still mistreated by those who see her as subhuman because she lives modestly, so maybe this whole “upper class” business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be… 

Other elements of Victorian society are examined too, love seems to be a constant in Copperfield’s life (he’d fall in love with anyone, no standards at all) but one object of his desire is set to be married to a good man who just happens to be her cousin Ham (different times, I guess?) but runs away, feeling the guilt of not loving Ham in the same way he loves her. She runs off with Steerforth, a middle class man who grows tired of the relationship and tries to marry her off to his servant. The whole situation is a mess, if she married Ham none of it would have happened, but maybe she didn’t understand that relationships take a lot of work on both sides (something Copperfield learns with his first wife Dora) or maybe she simply felt obliged to marry him because her Dad suggested it; I’ll be honest, I can’t remember the details of their marriage so well…

Another aspect of life that was observed is greed, but not in the malicious sense that Heep wielded it. Mr Micawber is a tragic character based on Dickens’s own father, in that they both lived above their means and were forced to face the consequences. In Micawber’s case, he was in and out of prison due to his debts, and would take money from close friends, such as Copperfield, to be free but fall right back into trouble. Maybe greed is the wrong word, maybe it’s refusal to acknowledge the means that you are meant to live. Spending more money to get a bigger house and a flashier car are the financial traps that we fall into today, simply because if we don't have the newest and the best we are seen as lower status. The more things change, and all that… 

To look at this story as purely satire is, obviously, reductive. The story of David Copperfield is, as previously mentioned, a bildungsroman; and the book closes with Copperfield working as an author, having faced dark times, from his abusive childhood to the death of his first wife, but came out the other side a more complete man. The twists and turns of his life make his book so brilliantly engaging that it becomes difficult to treat it like a serial. I ended up blasting through 350 pages in a day (a lot higher than my average with this book) because I just had to know how it ended. The ending was filled with happiness for the good and punishment for the bad, mostly… Ham drowned trying to save the man who stole his bride, but aside from that everyone is happy!

At 1135 words, I’ll end the review and simply say Copperfield is worth the patience you might need to get through the first half and I’ll ask my esteemed friend Ronan if he thinks I’m such a simpleton now, bitch!

I rated David Copperfield 4/5 on Goodreads.

#booklr #book review #dickensian #david copperfield #not the magician #obvs

[acotar-shit-thoughts]

its just sad that after 4 books and then ACOSF comes along, the same dynamic ends up happening. nesta and feyre still aren't close and friendly. its nesta being angry and guilt ridden but she doesn't do anything but self sabotage. its just never confronting her faults. its just sitting there being mad. its feyre acting like her life is so perfect and she has to give nesta and elain protection and care. its not being angry with her sisters for making her feel so abandoned. its not letting her sisters have agency to protect feyre instead (dont talk to me about the pregnancy cuz fuck that story line). its making feyre trick nesta and lock her up to make her "see reason". its never having a real conversation where THEY STAND THERE AND CONFRONT THEIR HURT. its also fucked up how nesta was mad that elain wanted to go on a mission and for her to offer up feyre to go in her place. its just that this dynamic for the sister NEVER changes. something as impactful as turning fae should have united them. or the part when they had to fight a war together. or the part when they had to care for each other during the war. the fact that at no point in ACOWAR did they repair any of their relationship. even midway through ACOTAR, nesta and feyre seems to have an understanding; feyre and elain were comfortable and pleasant. nesta told feyre to save tamlin. SHE LISTENED TO HER THE ENTIRE TIME. yet toss it away??? for?? the drama??? i guess??? so that nesta and cassian has to be in close quarters to fuck??? its so elain and az can have some sort of weird relationship??? its so elain can continue being a dry sheltered character??? why???? its just sad that ACOSF didn't want to explore a new way for the sister's dynamic is change. it can still be a nesta healing arc but it could have been better to have these sisters ACTUALLY interact. i get that this is smutty romance so nessian is the star but the toss the sibling relationship as painpoints even after ALL this time????? its sad that SJM ruined all these great characters that had so much potential. im still mad that ACOSF happened the way it happened.

#anti sjm #anti acotar #pro nesta #pro archeron sisters #the archeron sisters deserved better #rather than this bitter relationship?? #for some reason?? #i did stop reading after like page 230 #i just can't #im so upset #feyre #elain #nesta

[warmau]

☆ lovestruck!au x librarian!au taeyong other lovestruck!aus: jeno | chenle | haechan | jisung

a tower of books is blocking taeyong's vision, just a voice comes echoing out from behind them

"do you have a classics section?"

"of course! which author?"

there's a pause and taeyong starts to get up so he can at least see who he is talking to

"who would you recommend?"

taeyong is already running through his alphabetized list that he's spent hours on making in his head

when you love books as much as he does, a question like that makes everything around him spark

but then he sees you

you seem to be frowning, looking down at the screen of your phone as the familiar notification sound of the college email comes vibrating through the room

a couple of people studying nearby turn to glare and you whisper a small apology as you put your phone on silent and meet taeyong's gaze

taeyong almost wishes you hadn't

the urge to bring up the long sleeves of his oversized cardigan to hide his face starts to take over his brain instead

they're so cute - i can't look at them!

you blink when taeyong doesn't say anything - he looks as if he has suddenly been struck by lightning

"sorry - is everything ok?"

your concern seems to do the trick, taeyong mentally mocks himself for being so awkward, and he says the one name that comes to mind easier than all the rest

"have you read, um, twain? m-mark twain?"

the look that you give him tells taeyong he's picked an author that could put you to sleep - not that he really would argue, it's just that suddenly all his knowledge has seeped away into the darkest corner of his brain

"no..i mean i have tried to, but he's kind of - boring?"

"jane austen?"

"aren't most of her books a thousand pages long?"

"is - are you looking for a book for a project?"

you poke your tongue into your cheek, the little action makes taeyong suddenly feel like jello

"kind of - one of my classes wants us to find a classic author that speaks to us personally. the only issue is none of them speak to me - most of them are dead anyway right?"

taeyong stares at you and then gives a little nervous chuckle

you stare back and sigh in defeat

"i know i must be annoying you right now."

"no- no! no, i just......i -"

i just can't stop looking at you and it's kind of insane

taeyong pushes the thought back and levels himself and his emotions

"i think you might want to find someone that isn't exactly a 'classic' author?"

this intrigues you, your shoulders perk and you lean over the librarians counter

the sudden action nearly topples the neat bunch of books that had originally blocked taeyong from seeing you and he circles his arms around it protectively as he tries not to fall into the stars that are looping through your gaze

"what do you mean?"

"w-well the assignment is a classic author who speaks to you right? there are lots of authors from that same time who aren't labeled classics but they - they might fit that category to you."

he is still holding his fingers on the spines of some of the books as you think about the sentiment

"like who?"

taeyong, looks at the pile in front of him, mostly to avoid direct eye contact with you, but then he notices something in the mix

through the mess of titles and textbooks and more he sees one of the colleges oldest and most checked out books

the great gatsby

briefly, he thinks about the way in which gatsby speaks about daisy

a flickering thought of the almost desperate love someone could feel for another

you tap your fingers and the little memory lights something else in taeyong's mind and he asks you in a small voice,

"have you ever read zelda fitzgerald's work?"

you haven't - actually you were unaware she was ever a writer - and when you ask taeyong if her work is available in the library he shakes his head

"she wrote a novel, save me the waltz, really not popular enough to ever become a classic but if you read it and like it i think -"

"well how can i read it if the college doesn't have a copy?"

taeyong thinks he feels the temperature of his skin rise a little because

"i-i own a copy."

this time you do knock over the tower of books, simply because you jut your upper half over the counter to ask him if he'd ever consider lending it to you and your elbow catches right on one of the books

they topple over and the loud crash echoes a wave of irritations throughout the library again as you scramble behind the desk to help taeyong get them back in order

behind the desk like this - you ask him in a whisper

"i know im a stranger, but you can trust me with the book - i promise!"

taeyong wants to say of course, but all he manages is a shy hiccup when your hands brush over the same cover

"here -" you stack the rest of the books up and then push your phone into this palm "give me your number and we can meet up"

the rest of it all happens in a blur

taeyong gives you his number - you delete the contact name and write yong with a little book emoji instead

you text him and insist he put your name down with your favorite little pink flower

after his shift, he heads to his dorm and finds the book - smiling to himself silently as his dormmate doyoung stares with a look of curiosity from behind his pre-law homework

and then - it hits ten p.m. - and the all-night cafe on campus is packed and warm and taeyong is standing in front of it with a small scarf around his neck and the book placed carefully in a manilla envelope

you come bounding down the street, ten minutes late, and skid to a stop in front of taeyong

you call him mr. librarian and taeyong doesn't know if the feeling in his stomach is love or his lunch

"thank you thank you thank you - ill be sure to let you know if i use it for my project!"

he assumes you just mean one text after you're done reading it - a yes this is perfect or a i think i need to find something else!

what taeyong does not expect is that the two weeks you work on your project, you text him daily

the book is only a mere 230 pages - but you keep telling him about passages and the old articles you're finding on zelda

somehow you took one little book and pulled so much from it

taeyong thinks its been a long time since he's seen someone fall so much in love with a writer that he misses the feeling he used to get too

one evening he gets your text just as he's finishing up shelving at the library, he stops to lean against the cart and read it

submitted my project, i have to see you and give you back the book!

he thinks for a second, chewing on his lower lip

you can keep it, you've come to love it.

the bubbles pop up fast and taeyong nearly loses the grip on his phone when you reply

that's so sweet, but i actually just really want to see you too.

and so you pop by the library when it's only him left, he's closing it with the key the school trusts on him with (and the janitor)

and he almost jumps out of his skin when he turns and you're there - beaming a huge smile at him

you're holding the book and he says, "no really you can keep it-"

"do you want to go to dinner with me?"

taeyong doesn't know if you've been privy to his feelings all along

did you, standing there behind that tower of books, already know he was going to start thinking about you every day after he saw you

did you already know he'd feel like a helpless schoolboy with a crush on the sun?

either way you don't admit it - you just keep that huge smile across the table with pieces of cake between you two and steaming cups of tea

you babble about your project, about how you had to defend not picking someone more obviously 'classical'

and taeyong does the one thing he learnt from romantic movies and novels, that when you shiver in the cold air of the cafe, he shrugs off that huge cardigan he's always wearing and offers it to you without much of a word

you pull your hands through it and go

"it feels like a hug!"

when you're both done with your food, you ask taeyong if he's going to walk back to the dorm - you have to take the shuttle across campus

"thank you for treating me, you didn't have to all over a book."

he shyly scratches the back of his neck and he still doesn't ask for you to give him his cardigan back

you look much cuter wearing it anyway, in his opinion

in the breeze of the night, you step closer to him and taeyong swallows because you're looking straight at his lips

"it wasn't just for the book. are you book lovers so dense?"

"hu-"

he starts as you lean in to kiss him, gently and sweetly, the lingering taste of cake and tea on your lips

taeyong almost falls over - his saving grace is your hand wrapping around his wrist

"ive seen you in the library before.....so when i got this project i thought it would be the perfect time to talk to you and ive always liked you, so i cant believe how nice you were to me-"

you start, confessing an onslaught of feelings taeyong was oblivious to

"-and if you don't feel the same i understand."

taeyong has never been straightforward in his life, but he answers your concern with another quick, soft kiss to your lips

he doesn't say everything he wants to either when he pulls back and you're giving him a slight look of shock

i like you too, ive liked you ever since i saw you - ever since you toppled that tower of books back on me - ever since you helped me put it back together behind the librarians' desk

he can't force the words out instead he goes,

"please keep the book.....and my cardigan is yours too."

#lovestruck!au #nct scenarios #nct au #taeyong scenarios #taeyong au #nct imagines #taeyong imagines #nct 127 #nct #taeyong #taeyong x reader #sfw

[digipaw2-0]

The newest event in Obey Me is horribly unfair to F2P players

Hello, I absolutely love this game and want it to grow and last a long time, I’ve been playing since day 1 and love it to bits. But, in the most recent events I’ve noticed a terrible trend, the events are slowly getting increasingly impossible for F2P players. 

Back in the earlier events a player only needed about 60,000 points to get past pg.1, but in the most recent event you need 95,000 to get past page 1.

This is not good and, as a game designer,  I feel I should express my concern and explain why I feel this. Under the cut you will see my reasoning and thought process. 

The event that is currently happening as I make this is the Paws and Claws event 

The cheat cards for this event are:

I’ll break down the total bonus point amounts for each card

SR Lucifer: +6 for first copy +1 every skill LV

SR Beel:  +6 for first copy +1 every skill LV

SSR Mammon: +18 for first copy +4 every skill LV

UR Satan: +36 for first copy +6 every skill LV

UR Asmo: +36 for first copy +6 every skill LV

I will also like to establish how many stages there are for each page of the event, this event has 2 pages of levels with a grand total of 26 stages

Each stage lets you play 3 times for free each day, costing 8AP each 

the player also gets 5 extra plays from watching ads, so if we take 26 x 3 + 5 = 83 plays per day, 

Then we take 83s x 8e = 664  energy needed per day to get each free play per day. 

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

Now for the next section lets assume that the player did not get any of the cheat cards and only has the default 120 points per play. 

83s x 120p = 9,960 points per day

9960p x 11d = 109,560 total points during the event

109,560 is just over the final amount for the first page, getting them the SR demon card for the event. But this is assuming the player is able to do the Max amount of free plays each day which is easier said then done.

lets start by seeing how much energy the player gets during the typical day just via time.

The player gets 1 energy every 5 minutes with a cap of 100 (120 if VIP) that means that if we 24 x 60= 1440 then 1440 / 5 = 288 per day 

that still leaves us 376 energy short of the needed 664 energy.  so now lets add in the other free energy in a day

+60 from the daily 2 Beel missions

+30 from Ads

+20 from daily missions

+20 from interacting with demons after stages

potentially +50 from friends

= 180 energy from secondary sources

this gives us a total of 468 still 196 energy from the needed 664. And lets keep in mind that getting the 468 implys that the player is playing PERFECTLY doing everything every day. there are a few other ways of getting energy, such as the 30-50 energy we occasionally get in the gift box once a day, but that is not consistent, same with the energy gained from login bonuses. 

There is also the energy from the event its self which has 230 energy available on the 1st page, but it should be viewed as a last resort boost when you need it so I recommend saving them for the half part of the event. 

the way the player would be able to get the last remaining energy is from the daily flash sale where the player can get 200 energy for 10dp, but this will need the player to pay 100dp during the entire event, half of the daily intake of DP from daily missions. 

But lets assume the player does not want to spend the 10dp, or does not see the flash sale since sometimes they take forever to show up. what is the total points they can get with the free energy they are given each day? 

468 / 8 = 58.8, but we cant do .8 of a stage so 58.

58s x 120e = 6960 points

6960p x 11d = 76,560 points during the event

this will get you just above 2/3 of the way though the 1st pg, THE FIRST PAGE, so unless the player is willing to spend DP on refilling energy they are stuck without even getting the SR Demon card for this event.  --------------------------------------------------

Now lets assume the F2P player is willing to go all out with the DP they do have for this event, how far can they get while still having 0 cheat cards?

The player gets 18DP everyday for doing daily missions, and roughly 50DP from the event. 

this means they will get about 248DP during the event not counting any extras from other missions, devil tree, or potential compensation gifts.  if you deduct the 100DP from the daily flash energy flash sale that leaves 148DP for other purposes, such as stage and normal energy refills. 

it cost 5DP to refill 3 plays of a stage, so they can refill stages about 29 times, meaning roughly 87 more plays which will still only give them 10,440 more points getting them a grand total of exactly 120,000 points in this event not even the half way mark of the second page. At that point I personally don’t think it would be worth using the 148DP to get to that point, id suggest saving them or using them for the LV up flash sale since at least then you get 5 vouchers.

so to be clear, a F2P player with 0 cheat cards can only get around 120,000 points without spending money.

but this means they will be using all their DP on energy and stage refills, when I imagine most F2P would rather save for the level up flash sale for the 5 Demon Vouchers. 

This also assumes the player is playing absolutely perfectly, without missing any Energy drops, which can be very hard for people to maintain while also sleeping, for 11 days in a row as from personal experience it gets harder to maintain as time goes on. 

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

What does this mean? 

I believe this is unfair for F2P players, especially when you look at past events when it  would only take about 60,000 points for the first page, each event for the past few have raised the amount by about 10,000 - 20,000 thousand points which if they keep this up it will be almost impossible for F2P players to keep up. I understand that this is a company that needs money to run and continue creating this game we all love, but making it so the game is only viable for whales is not the way to go. 

when it comes to mobile games there are roughly 3 categories of players

whales - big spenders

dolphins - people who spend some but not a large amount

Free 2 Play - do not spend

as a whole Whales tend to only make up a small portion of the player base, just look at the people in the top 10 of the current event. 

See how quickly the numbers drop from absolute lunacy to more reasonable amounts (still a lot) meaning thousands of dollars difference between the people who payed enough money to reach that point. So by appealing to only those people they are alienating 90% of the player base, which is a very bad idea. 

By alienating the majority of players they risk loosing the currently very active fan base around the game, as people get more and more frustrated and eventually give it up out of frustration. Obey me has been very lucky to attract such a large fanbase so quickly, its only about 6 months old at the time that i’m writing this and its already has a massive and active fanbase creating tons of fanwork and engaging with each other. But if people start to feel like the game doesn't care about them and only caters to Whales they will stop playing and the community will slowly start to wither.

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

My Suggestions 

Several months ago Solmare listened to the feedback from players about how unfair they thought the events were and listened, they doubled the event stages allowing people to get more points then they could before, making it so F2P players could get to the end of the 2nd page if they put in the work. But by raising the point totals needed to get though the pages they are making that change completely redundant. Leaving us with events that take twice the amount of work for the same rewards as before. I understand they are figuring this out as they go and adjusting events constantly trying to work out a balance, but what they currently have is not good for the games long term as it will alienate a large section of the fan base. 

I believe that that they should either lower the total points needed for each page or raise the default point total, to make it so a F2P player with 0 cheat cards can get to the end of the first page without spending any DP

if they put in the work. Then make it so people who have summoned some SRs and a SSR cheat card can get to the 2nd page reliably, then the 3rd page+ can be for people who are willing to spend money and or are just lucky enough in the gacha. this way there is still the incentive for people to pay money if they want to, but don’t feel like they are forced to. (Although I imagine people are already spending a lot in the gacha to get the cards they want anyway)  

F2P people will still not be able to always get to page 3+ but this will also help long term for if/when they decide to do event re-runs. Since it would give players who where around for the first time something to still work for since they will likely be able to get the shards needed the 2nd time though. 

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

What can you and I do?

It may not feel like we can do much about this, but Solmare has listened to the fans before. We also know that some of them do look at the content fans make and discuss.

SO talk about it, Tweet at them, share your displeasure, show your friends have them tweet it out, talk about it on the facebook page (be civil though), just kick up a fuss so they can see how much this is hurting the player base.  if you don’t know what to say to them, you can even tweet this at them, copy and past it, do what ever, just let them know how upset you are. 

Thank you for reading! and please, reblog this and spread it so others can see it. 

#obey me! #obey me shall we date #ntt solmare #obey me game #obey me guide #obey me event #obey me paws and claws #obey me satan #Obey me beelzebub #obey me lucifer #obey me asmodeus #obey me belphegor #obey me leviathan

[haltandcatchfiretothemax]

FEMSLASH FEBRUARY 2021 #5: In which Donna’s wish is Cameron’s command

[CN: food, eating mentions, and descriptions of food displays]

.

.

.

After Donna asked her if she might consider putting up Valentine’s Day decorations for February of 2021, Cameron went directly into research mode. She didn’t plan to admit it to Donna, but Cameron felt like a holiday decor project was exactly what she needed. From the comfort of the living room couch, Cameron began her hunt for useful information on her laptop.

She became frustrated much more quickly than she thought she would. Eyebrows scrunching behind the frames of her reading glasses, Cameron griped, “Okay so the first problem here, is that the origin of Valentine’s Day isn’t anywhere near as compelling as the origin of Halloween, or ghost stories. I mean, a Christian martyr? Really?” Wrinkling her nose skeptically, she scrolled further down the webpage she was on, and said, “Not only am I not moved by his story or his proselytizing, but none of this has anything to do with love or couples or even fertility or family!” Clicking back to the search engine page, she said, “The second problem is that doing research used to be satisfying, but now it sucks. And it’s all because of the internet. We ruined everything with the internet and search, Donna.”

Donna, sitting several feet away on their recliner, looked up from her crossword puzzle. “So, no decorations then?” 

Cameron sighed. “I didn’t say that. I just think that I’m gonna have to take a different approach. The literal origins of the holiday are not the angle for this particular project.” Quietly, she switched over to researching the origins of the commercial version of the holiday. “Maybe,” she said to herself, “a more aesthetic-based approach?” She looked up at Donna, and said, “Do you mind if I turn on the tv and stream something? I was thinking about putting on the more recent Picnic at Hanging Rock.”

“Oh, that’s perfect! That literally starts on Valentine’s Day!” Donna enthused. “We should sit down and rewatch it sometime in the next couple weeks!” Then, calming herself down, she added, “But sure, go ahead. Whatever your research requires,” Donna smiled at her. 

Cameron picked up the remote, turned on the television, searched for the show, found it, and started the first episode. She went back to looking at her computer, and searched for basic decor ideas. After a few minutes, she said, “The third problem is that traditional Valentine’s decorations are just, like, red. Like really, extremely red.”

“What’s wrong with red?” Donna pouted.

“Nothing, but I just don’t feel like it really goes with the whole ‘I throw stones and I live in glass houses because I’m a modern woman who has it all!’ thing you have going on in here?”

“Hey, it’s your house, too!” Donna chuckled. “You have a point, though.”

Defiantly, Cameron said, “That’s okay. I will figure something out. My wife asked me to decorate for Valentine’s Day, and I don’t plan to let her down.”

Cameron spent the next morning sorting through their collection of fall and winter holiday decorations, and pulled out items to be repurposed, and wound up looking through their other supplies for inspiration. In the afternoon, she was back on the computer, searching this time for items to buy. Sitting at the kitchen island, Cameron sighed heavily. “I wish…” she started. She sighed again, and said, “I really wish that we could just go to a craft store and wander through it for hours.”

Donna, who has sitting across from her, and scrolling through one of her social media feeds, looked up, and snorted, “What, so you could complain about how everything looks ugly and cheap under the fluorescent lights, only to then buy a ton of it, take it home, and then somehow make it look beautiful and amazing?”

“Yes,” Cameron replied. “Exactly.” It took over an hour, and much agonizing, but eventually, she made her selections, entered her billing information, and closed her browser. She managed to stay offline for the rest of the day.

Early the next morning, Cameron asked Donna, “A great big outdoor garden store, that should be like…relatively safe to go to, right? As long as we wear our masks and gloves? And we go early?” Donna didn’t have to be asked twice. They got dressed, and arrived at their favorite garden store a few minutes after it opened. Cameron hurriedly bought a large quantity of potted violets and a bunch of metal flower pots before hustling Donna back to the safety of their car. 

Over the next few days Cameron began to work on crafting, baking, and candymaking, as deliveries of her ordered craft supplies started to trickle in. (She compulsively wiped every new item down with disinfectant out of an abundance of anxiety and caution.) By the next weekend, she had everything she thought she needed. On the first Saturday of the month, a week before Valentine’s Day, she gathered everything that she’d amassed so far in the dining room. 

She set the last of several boxes down on the table, and Donna, who was drinking a second cup of coffee, looked up just in time to see Cameron tying her bandana around her head like a headband. The bandana, which had accompanied Cameron all the way from Tokyo, was white, and it had the red circle of the Japanese flag, or the Hinomaru, on it. On both sides of the red circle there was lettering, Japanese kanji. The first time Donna saw Cameron put the bandana on, just before they deep cleaned Donna’s house together for the first time, she had asked Cameron what the kanji said. Gravely, through gritted teeth, Cameron had replied, “Kamikaze.” Donna had laughed, and then realized that she was being serious. 

Putting down her mug, Donna exclaimed, “Daniel-san!” 

Cameron took a deep breath, and said, “I’m trying to center myself and focus, Donna. Please.”

“I’m flattered by all the work you’ve already put into honoring my request,” Donna said. “But I think I’m gonna go upstairs so you can decorate in peace. I’d like to be surprised when I see the final result!” She stood up, taking her mug and phone with her, and headed toward the den, stopping to kiss Cameron on the cheek on her way. 

When Donna returned to the kitchen several hours later to make lunch, the dining room table was covered in silk flowers, jars, doilies, and print outs and paper lace and all sorts of colorful paraphernalia. “How’s it going?” she called out.

“Slowly,” Cameron answered, “but it’s going. And it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to be, so!”

She took a quick break to eat a sandwich with Donna, and then went back to the dining room, and Donna went up to the bedroom, where she checked in with Joanie and Haley and their families, sent text messages to Tonya, Risa, and Katie Herman, and then started reading about current tech and social media platform news. She was clicking out of an article on Section 230 reform when Cameron knocked on the door frame. 

Looking up from their bed, Donna asked, “Is it done? Can I see?” She jumped up from the bed and ran toward the door.

“I need you to adjust your expectations,” Cameron said, walking her down their hallway. Cameron stopped by the door to the den and switched on the light. Donna peered in, not seeing any difference at first, and then she noticed the faux ivy that Cameron had carefully attached to their bookcases. She stepped into the room, and then noticed the doilies on every surface, and the mason jars of high-quality pink and white silk peonies, which were surrounded by cards from a Victorian-themed tarot deck, which Cameron had stuck down to the doilies under them, to make them look as if they’d casually been left on the table. There were two sets of gloves by one jar, an aged-looking leather diary by another one, and a small framed print of a hand-drawn portrait of two Gibson girls by another. 

“It’s subtle, or subtle-ish,” Donna smiled back at Cameron, “but it’s really nice. It’s very Picnic at Hanging Rock, but with maybe a better adjusted headmistress, right? I love it.” 

They went down the hall and down the four steps to the ‘first’ floor, and then into the kitchen, where Donna’s eye was drawn to the centerpiece Cameron had arranged on the island. She’d repotted the violets into three of the metal pots, and had made and cut out a silhouette of two young women in full-length Victorian dresses, hand in hand, attached them to skewers, and stuck them into the flower pots. It looked almost as if the girls were walking through a field of purple-blue flowers.

Donna went to smell the flowers, only to be distracted by the display on the dining room table. Eyes wide, she instead walked toward the table. She turned to look back at Cameron and said, “Did you make all of this?”

“No, some if it I definitely ordered off the internet,” Cameron admitted. She’d set up an elegant silver multi-tiered pastry stand and loaded it with paper cups full of homemade white and milk chocolate truffles and squares of peppermint bark that had red and pink swirled into them, squares of milk, dark, and peanut butter fudge, bite sized anatomical hearts molded from red-tinged milk chocolate, and red cinnamon candies, cherry sours, and raspberry flavored hard candies. Next to the pastry stand was Donna’s trusty cake server, which was piled with red velvet crinkle cookies. Both were set up on top of large doilies, underneath their accompanying glass covers, and both were surrounded with red silk flower petals and an eye-catching design of heart and diamond and playing cards, all of which Cameron had somehow sewn down so that it would lay flat, but somehow still look slightly rumpled. 

“Remember a few years ago when we did Penny Dreadful Halloween for the trick-or-treaters? During our Vanessa Ives phase? A lot of that stuff came in handy for this,” Cameron helpfully explained.

“Did I miss anything?” Donna looked around. She turned toward the living room, couch, and then noticed a large heart-shaped box placed in the center of the coffee table, with Donna’s pair of good candlesticks and brand new red candles set up on both sides of it, yet another doily underneath it all The box was anchored by a large, white, ceramic anatomical heart, and surrounded by shells, smaller porcelain rabbits and birds, and dried flower petals. 

“It’s not much, but, it was fun to try?” Cameron shrugged.

“Oh, shush!” Donna threw her arms around Cameron’s neck, kissed her, and said, “It’s beautiful, and I love it. Thank you for trying to make things feel festive even though almost everything in the world totally sucks.” She kissed her again, and said, “Wanna go celebrate by making out?”

“Yes,” Cameron said, “but, I haven’t eaten in hours, can we have dinner first?” 

“Yes, absolutely! Whatever my doting wife wants!” Donna agreed. 

#the headband bit is totally jacked from an ep of sailor moon in which makoto ties on a kamikaze headband before cleaning #and the heart-shaped box is inspired by THE original heart-shaped box because the dream of the 90s is ALIVE yalce! #happy february bbys! #femslash february #femslash february 2021 #fan fiction #cameron howe #donna clark #donna emerson

[reallyprofoundkryptonite]

Once in a Blue Moon

Words: 3,866

Summary: After Viggo finds a wanted poster for a reward for a man who is far more dangerous than the reward, Viggo is visited by the same man on his ship. Something is off with him, though.

The wanted poster that had been hung on the board in the small town sent tingles rushing down Viggo’s spine. The steely glare of the recognisable face drawn onto the page was chilling to the bone.

Slowly, he reached out to grab at the page, eyes shimmering. The paper crinkled in his fingers when he grabbed it. Viggo frowned at the text scribbled onto the page in neat, bolded black brush pen ink.

Wanted: Drago’s Grim Reaper; Goes by Krogan. Maximum reward: 200 gold (dead) or 50 gold (alive).

Height is a few inches taller than six and a half feet tall, and looks like he weighs around 230-300 pounds. Muscular upper body. Black hair, brown eyes and olive skin. Has an old scar over his right eye.

Viggo scowled, his fingers tightening around the page.

‘Only 200 gold? Are you kidding me? For a man who can effortlessly crush a human skull in his bare hand like it's an egg?’ Viggo shook his head. No one who was right in the head would go after Krogan for only 200 gold.

Viggo snarled. He was tempted to tear the bounty page to shreds; it was what it deserved. Such a measly price for one man who was so, so deadly.

‘I totally would go after Krogan if it was more like twenty thousand, but for two hundred gold?! It just isn’t worth dying for.’ Viggo snarled to himself, looking around with a scowl.

‘Let alone the fact, you would need to surprise him if you wanted to kill him in the first place.’ Viggo scoffed, crumpling the paper into a ball. Maybe he could save Krogan the annoyance of having people bothering him if he just got rid of the paper.

‘Krogan does need to be punished for his crimes, but I would rather have that sick fuck rot in prison than get turned over to some hooligans for two hundred gold so they can kill him as soon as they can.’ Viggo was so wanting to crush the paper in his grasp, but he held off. If he did run into Krogan, maybe he could arrange a little deal with him.

Viggo shoved the paper into his satchel, and then turned so he could head towards the beach. He had moored in the docks here for the strict reason to resupply his ship, but he doubted people would be welcoming to him if they had the nerve to put a 200 gold bounty on the head of one of the most dangerous men in the archipelago.

He can always stop somewhere else.

‘Or better yet, hunt for food of my own.’ he mused. ‘Fresh venison sounds nice.’

Read more on ao3

#my writing #viggo/krogan #viggo grimborn #krogan #krogan rtte #krogan httyd #httyd #httyd rtte #httyd fandom #httyd au #mer!krogan #my aus #httyd mer au

[firefistlaw]

I wonder if you would write some fluff or scenario where Whitebeard has to take care of his sick daughter, who is in immense pain and the doctors can't do anything but giving her painkillers for a month. She'll be fine later, but how would he help her for that month in pain? Maybe also how Marco, Thatch, Izo and Ace will help their sister through this. requested by @my-muses-in-op

A/N: I tried my best for you and hope it is exactly what you wished for. I actually don’t know if you can twist your back, or anything in that matter, but for the sake of this, let’s just pretend you can and then you get hurt super badly... for a month. Anyways, I had a lot of fun writing it. 

Whitebeard and his crew take care of their sister who is hurt

If there had been one thing you disliked, it was being considered weak.

It doesn’t matter what it was about, you’d rather suffer through whatever was going on than have someone soften their voice at you, their touch turning into feathers, telling you that it was okay. You despised it. Whitebeard always said that stubborn head of yours will understand one day. What he exactly meant with understand was unknown to you, but you had no wish to explore his words further.

That was, until one morning, during a heavy storm where you had hurt yourself on accident.

One second you were holding one of the many sails on ship in your hands, quickly adapting to every word that was thrown at you by Marco from several meters away, as the Moby Dick was swaying harshly on the wide sea. Your hair was dripping at this point, clothes clinging to you uncomfortably as you gritted your teeth and curved your body against the wind- anything to get under control. The next second, however, a sharp pain was growing in your lower back, which was quickly turning into a serious matter as your face contoured into sheer discomfort.

“Did you hear me, Y/N? More to the left side, yoi!” The rain was hitting you hard, while the pain in your back made it unable to do anything but concentrate on the biting ache in your muscles. The sail in your hand soon swung free as the grip loosened. “Fuck, why did you let go? Someone get the rope from her!”

It took more than one pair of arms to get the rope back under control, loud voices hushing around you, telling you how you should have concentrated more, when, finally, two eyes noticed the actual problem; you having lost all of your colour as you fell to the floor, holding onto your back as if it was being ripped at the exact same second.

“Get Y/N inside!” Someone had called. “Quick!”

You’re not exactly sure how long it took to get you inside, but as soon as the mattress hit the aching spot, a groan left your mouth, your eyes squeezed shut.

“Y/N,” The door swiftly opened, almost crashing against the wall next to it as Whitebeard walked inside, several doctors surrounding him, a few telling him that he should walk slower, stay seated or just– let them handle you. But the Yonko had other plans. With one hand, he pushed everyone but the medical assistant next to you to the side. “Tell me my daughter, what happened?”

You gritted your teeth and braced yourself to answer, but as soon as you opened your mouth; the ache started to cut deeper, making you hiss and shake your head.

“We think something in her back twisted,” The woman next to you says, holding your arm to help you balance your figure on the bed. She gives her Captain a shy look. “I don’t think we can help her all that much, besides giving her pills to stop the pain.”

Whitebeard nods, his beard moving as the muscles in his jaw twitch. “As long as she feels better, do it.” The woman nods as well, calling out to the other people standing in the room while your Captain crouches down, his eyes meeting your pain filled ones.

“It will get better soon.” He said, voice strong and rumbling with concern for you. Even though you had problems with answering, you still nodded and even that took you too much power. You wanted this to be over– quickly. With big gulps you swallowed the pills and after some minutes, you fell into a dreamless slumber.

The next few weeks for you were hard.

It was everything you didn’t wanted. Once the words had spread that you were hurt and on top of that, in constant pain as well as unable to move, everyone acted like you were made out of glass. They would visit you and as much as you loved your family, appreciated them caring for you and genuinely worrying about your health: you noticed their pitiful gazes.  

Yes, you were tied to the bed, but that didn’t mean it would always be like that. You wished they wouldn’t act like you were some sort of hurt deer. Someone they had to be careful around, because in the end, you were still the same girl who would play around with them once you had some free time.

“No one thinks you’re weak.” Oyaji says, voice raspy. He was sitting in the corner of your cabin, obviously enjoying being alone with his daughter, whom he had worried for. You had just told him about your worries, your gaze hitting the ceiling throughout the story. “Did you take the painkillers today?”

You bit your lip, gaze staying put. “No.”

You expected him to scold you, to even walk out of the room to make you understand he wasn’t happy with the way you were acting, but instead, he laughed. His laugh was loud and rumbled through the whole room, surely into the hall as well.

“You little brat,” he then spoke. “You’re one of my children, you can’t be weak even if you wanted to be. Strength has nothing to do with how physically fit you are. It’s about what’s going on inside of your head.”

You nod, eyes still not meeting him. “Look at me, daughter.”

With a soft sigh, you turned your head and looked at the Yonko sitting in your room, his lips curled into a big smile. Instantly, your own lips curled into the same grin. “Take your medicine and stop disobeying your father, you brat.”

After that conversation, you didn’t mind all too much anymore. Oyaji was right, after all, you didn’t need to care about coming off as weak. Being hurt or asking for help had to do nothing with strength and you were glad you took that lesson, glad you finally understood.

“Room service!” You raised your arm from your eyes, laying on your back in your bed a few days after the conversation with Whitebeard. The door to your room was now opened and there stood no other than Thatch, holding a tray of something that smelled mouth watering. He was grinning, eyes glimmering with delight. “Is this room 230? Y/N Y/L/N?”

“Thatch, seriously, you need to stop doing that, it’s been over two weeks.” You only mumbled and huffed out a breath, small smile still prominent on your features.

“It’s still funny, though.” He merely says and brings you the food. “I put some extra vegetables in it, I know you don’t really like peas but I want you to get fit again, so I put a few more in it. You know, vitamins and stuff. I hope you don’t mind all too much.”

You take the food from him and sit up a bit. The cook grabs a soft pillow from the end of the bed and puts it behind you, a soft sigh leaving his lips when you groan quietly. “Still bad?”

The first bite of the food is just as good as you’re used to. “No,” you answer once you swallowed. “But it’s still there. After I eat I will take the painkillers, then it won’t hurt all too much anymore.”

He hums. “Can you get up, though?” He takes a seat on your bed, his chocolate brown hair shining healthy in the afternoon light. Curiosity is filled in his eyes.

You play with the small green content in your plate. “I mean,” you give him an amused look. “I can put my feet on the floor and stand for around three seconds without whining.”

Thatch snorts. “Wow,” he softly pushes your arm. “You’re annoying.”

This time, you giggle. “Thanks for the food by the way, it’s great as always.”

“I know.” Then he gets up. “Eat the peas, I will check later.”

On some days, it feels like the time is clicking backwards. Being glued to your bed is one thing, but having read most of your books, at least those close enough to reach, twice now, is a next level of bored. When you hear a light knock on the door a few minutes later, you almost shout come in with how eager you are to finally see another living person.

The person who then opens the door must have noticed, as a light chuckle escapes the first division commander. “Eager to see me, yoi?”

You muster Marco with bright eyes, noticing the two books in his hands in a second. “Don’t take it personal, but at this point I’m happy to see anyone, really. I wouldn’t even mind having Ace burn my room down if it means some entertainment.”

The blonde man shakes his head. “That actually means something.” He sits down at the end of your bed, leaning against the wall next to him. “If having Ace as your next best entertainment, you must be desperate, yoi.” Marco says, affection for your other crew mate hidden in the small breaks of his words.  

“I know, right?” You mumble. “I miss this airhead though, I bet he’s asleep somewhere and doesn’t even think about his poor Y/N anymore.”

The man shakes his head yet again. “We just came back from the island, by the way.”

You nod your head, trying your best to hide the disappointment of not being able to tag along. “How was it?”

“Okay.” Marco says. He hands you the two items in his hands. “There was a bookstore, though. An old one too. I thought bringing you something to kill your time with would be appreciated, since we can’t be with you all the time, yoi.”

You grab the books with a smile on your face, your cheeks warming in content. “That’s so nice of you. Thank you.” He merely nods and lays his head against his hand, while his lazy blue eyes study your reaction.

“Want to read it to me?” You then ask, eyes still on the pages in front of you.

He pulls his head a bit to the side. “Why?”

“I’m so bored to hear my own voice in my head or my own personas when I read it out loud. And since you got me these, it should be your privilege to read the first few pages.” Marco looks at you for a few seconds, then opens his hand.

“Sure, just lay back and listen well, yoi.”

What you hadn’t expected was the reaction once more days had passed and you were finally able to walk without whining or taking a big break. With one foot touching the deck of the Moby Dick and one whiff of the fresh sea breeze, you raised your arms in a giant stretch and almost lost your balance when loud cheers and calls erupted all over the place. All of your crew members who caught a glimpse of you were cheering loudly, smiling from ear to ear to finally see you back and better.

“There she is!” - “We missed you, Y/N!” - “Come on, do a little spin!”

Filled with absolute glee, you caught Oyajis gaze from across the deck. His eyes were filled with relief as he saw you walking towards your family, the worry finally falling off his shoulders. The laugh that rumbled through his chest was just the start of the celebration of you finally being back.

#whitebeard #marco the phoenix #one piece #one piece scenarios #one piece imagine #one piece writing #Thatch #edward newgate #one piece fanfic #my stuff #i hope you like it :(

[cinnamaldeide]

#Hannigraham Meet-Cute Challenge

There’s just barely enough air to breath lately, summer has finally hit us in full force and all that is left for us... is fun. Fun at the seaside, fun with our psycho friends, fun with our precious, scruffy partners, and @funwithtyler​ fun reading lovely stories. Some of us have to combat this torrid heat to approach one very hot computer to type their very beautiful fanfictions and creations, but luckily for us we get to reap the benefits!

#29: Welcome to Widdershins Close by @zigzag-wanderer #110: Fancy meeting you by @mazephoenix #74: Going My Way by @fragile-teacup #55: A Face Like Yours by @hannibalsimago (now with fanart by @bayobayo) #13: Admirable Deceit by @cinnamaldeide​ #248: The night shift customer by @niceven-silace​ #3: You don’t see enough, you see too much by @fhimechan​ #1: Nigel’s Books by @murderfriesandgayguys {fanart} #186: Hello Gorgeous, Love Your Left Hook by @ishxallxgood #230: the aesthetics of pleasure by @exarite​ #116: Speed Dating by @ishxallxgood​ and @stratumgermanitivum #50: Evening Wedding by @emergencytrap {gifset}

You see our list of contributions is growing steadily and inexorably, but in this update I have the pleasure of including not only an incredible cooperation between our unstoppable @ishxallxgood and @stratumgermanitivum, but also an entirely new form of art, which is @emergencytrap’s nsfw gifset where the film Evening meets After the wedding.

As we had announced months ago, despite the name of our challenge, we’re allowing both Hannibal and HEU character, which means EveningWedding and Spacedogs, like in the case of our gifset and fanart, but also RoyalInstincts, DogsDogs, LucAdam, Kaisergram, whatever crosses your mind.

I’ll seize the opportunity and remind you of the #RareMeat fest, mostly on Twitter by now, which is exactly about these pairings. If you’re eager to write something involving Overgård and Galahad, for example, but you don’t know how or where they meet, only that a lot of snow is involved, consider selecting one of the prompts you see here (ง ื▿ ื)ว

#22: A is having a quiet night at home – that is, until A’s apartment neighbour begins blasting music. Frustration levels rising, A goes to knock on the neighbour’s door to ask them to keep it down… at the same time B, the resident on the other side, is about to. Need more detail? Click on the post.

#32: A checks into a cozy inn while on a cross-country road trip, beyond tired and ready to collapse. When A gets to the assigned room, he or she is in for a surprise! Someone else, B, is already in the room. Uh-oh.

#117: A is a professional assassin hired to take out a client’s cheating husband. But the client also spoke to B, a close friend, who has made it his/her’s own mission to also kill the husband. Unfortunately, both A and B have chosen the same night to do so, and it just so happens that B is a bit clumsy… and keeps getting in A’s way.

#143: A’s blind date just left, mumbling some sort of excuse about leaving the stove on. Confused and feeling rejected, A sits orders another beer at the bar, wondering where s/he went wrong. B, who had witnessed the situation, goes over and says sympathetically, “I think I know what went wrong… there’s something in your teeth.”

#162: A is interviewing potential roommates and is having very little luck. When it comes to B, A says, “I’m so sorry, I don’t think this is going to work. I can’t live with someone that I’d like to ask out.”

#166: A is at a coffee shop and sits down at a table, only to find a book on the chair. Intrigued, A starts flipping through it, and realizes it’s actually someone’s journal that had been left behind! And it’s fascinating. Unfortunately, B, the journal’s author, rushes back to retrieve it… and is horrified to see A reading it. But A, having gotten a feel for this person through his/her writing, asks if they want to go out sometime.

#176: A works at a pet store and is utterly surprised when B bursts through the door in a hurry and walks up to the cash without looking around. Out of breath, A says, “Please don’t ask why, but what do capybaras eat?”

#180: There has been a series of recent break-ins in A’s neighbourhood. B, a cop, knocks on A’s door to recommend safety measures and to ask if A has noticed anything peculiar — A hasn’t really seen anything, but invites the cop and his/her charming smile inside for coffee and a bit of false information so s/he might stay a while.

#207: A meets B and falls immediately for them, but B clearly doesn’t feel the same. After being rejected, A calls on Anteros, the avenger of unrequited love, to exact vengeance on B.

#210: A is a writer struggling to find inspiration for their next book. The publishers are breathing down their neck and the pressure is almost more than A can take. When A comes across an old Greek book in a thrift store, A brings it home and flips through the pages…. only to come across an old chant that was supposed to bring inspiration to those who read it out loud. A gives it a shot and… oh dear. Oh, oh dear. Somehow that summoned B, one of the Muses, to A’s living room.

#215: A is brought in to the police station for questioning about a crime they know nothing about and is put in an interrogation room… with B, who is another suspect in this particular case.

#231: A is hanging out with a friend but ends up stopping to look at some lingerie in a shop window. A is still chatting away, thinking that their friend has stopped with them also, and turns to where they assume their friend is to jokingly ask: “Wouldn’t I look sexy in that?” But it turns out that the friend had kept walking and it was B, a total stranger, who A had spoken to.

#232: A is in a public place and temporarily leaves their things where they are seated so that they can use the bathroom. When A returns, A notices B, the person sitting at the next table, putting A’s phone back on the table. A demands to know what they were doing with their phone, and B tells them that the phone was ringing non-stop and it was bothering everyone. Also… “Your friend is drunk and I think they want to sleep with you.”

#239: A is sitting in a cafe trying to casually read their book, but is distracted by B’s loud phone conversation at the table over. B tells a joke over the phone, which makes A crack up unexpectedly – B looks over at A, annoyed that they were eavesdropping, but also appreciative that at least someone liked their joke! B hangs up and offers to tell A another.

#240: A stops at the pub near their house to pick up some food on the way home (they make the best fries in the neighbourhood) when A receives a phone call – and some terrible news. A starts crying and B, the bartender, asks A what’s wrong. As A opens up to them, B gives A a drink on the house, and helps talk them through it.

#246: A was fatally wounded in an accident and suddenly finds themself looking down at their own lifeless body in confusion. B is a reaper and offers A guidance… but A doesn’t want to do the whole follow the light bullshit. A wants to flirt with the cute reaper.

#252: A is in the public library and notices a strange book that looks like it doesn’t belong in this section. A moves along to another genre, but it seems that this book is in every section… almost like it’s following A. How peculiar! When A finally picks it up to see what exactly it is, B appears out of thin air, and simply says, “I’ve been waiting fifty years for you.”

You may have noticed the lack of line breaks in this post. Well, it’s not the only thing I cannot do anymore on this platform, and it would be a big leap to say I’m more or less leaving Tumblr because I can’t do anymore what I previosly did, but that’s exactly what I’m doing. And I’m not alone, apparently.

This challenge, as well as the Accidental Sex initiative, could go on only thanks to those who so kindly kept the word spread for @fhimechan​ and myself. This time, I really thank @zigzag-wanderer​, @mistikfir​, @diemetzgermeisterin​, @cassraven​, @ishxallxgood​, @tiggymalvern​, @crisisoninfintefandoms​, @dyggyd​, @evakkorotta​, @thatthreetoedsloth​, @hannibalsimago​, @xchrysaliswhispersx, @bonesandscales​, @fragile-teacup​, @psychoheu​ and @cinelitchick​, you’ve all helped us keeping this well into Tumblrgeddon, but I’m sad to say this platform is not helping anymore. We’ll have to close this challenge before we had planned and hope the next one will be more fruitful.

In short, hereby starts your last month to choose one of those fantastic prompts and fill it, in whatever capacity you like: fanfiction, fanart, gifset, smoke signals, Hannigraham or RareMeat, whatever crosses your mind. We’re here to reap and to include in our collection, we appreciate your commitment and hope you won’t be mad at us for letting go of this challenge before due time.

#Hannibal (nbc) #HannigramMeetCute2019 #Hannigraham #RareMeat #EveningWedding #HEU #Meet-Cute #Different first meeting #Challenge #Monthly update #Feel free to join the table #Initiative by Cinnamaldeide #Original post #Sfw

[kpop-pick-me-up]

Jaemin with a stressed S/O

___________________

Hello! 💚 Can I request a Jaemin from nct dream scenario in which the reader is like super stressed because of finals to the point of crying and so Jaemin is like comforting the reader? Thank you so much Love you!!💖💖

Sorry this took so long :( I took a break for the holidays because they are always stressful for me to get my school work done while simultaneously cooking/baking for the whole family, and I took a small mental health break after all of that. But that’s not an excuse, so hopefully this year I’ll get better at making a schedule!

Thank you for requesting, and I love too bb ^ . ^. If you have finals, I’m cheering for you! And if you already took them I hope you did well! Take care of yourself, and don’t be too hard on yourself ^ 3 ^

Warnings:

Slight language if you look for it

A bit of angst? Finals stress is real y’all.

__________________________________________

A loud groan escaped your lips as you slammed your head against your science textbook. Your arms encircled your head and a deep sigh heaved from your lungs, feeling like the only thing you wanted to do was curl up under your blankets and call it quits. Your pillow was screaming your name and it was hard to ignore. But just as were were about to give in, Jaemin’s words of encouragement he gave you this morning as he dropped you off at your classes echoed through your mind

“Here we are.” Jaemin pulled up to the front doors of your school, glancing at the doors, and then you. “You ready?”

You smile at him and nod. You pick up your bag and grab the car door handle to open it, but a hand on your arm keeps you from continuing.

“Are you sure?” He asks his eyes scanning your face for any sign of stress “Because if you need a ‘sick day’ you could always come sit with me at the studio. I know it can be boring but if it’s what you need-“

“I’ll be fine Jaemin. I am fine.” You catch his wary gaze and add with a chuckle “Really, everything’s okay”

“If you say so.” He shrugs unlocking the car door. You open the door and step out onto the pavement, shutting the door behind you and walk to the doors of the school. You hear the car window roll down, and a loud “Hey!” Causes you to turn around.

“You got this today Y/N! I love youuuu“ he gave you finger hearts through the open window accompanied with cute sound effects. You turned with a laugh, sending some back “I love you too Jae.” before opening the schools doors and entering.

That happened over twelve hours ago, and you can still hear his aegyo. Thinking about the cute cringey affection causes warmth to spread through your chest. “I can do this.” You mutter to yourself.

Peeking up from above your crossed arms you began to try and continue reading, moving only to slide your arms down the page to uncover the words. You finished the page with a squeal of excitement as you finished the chapter. You were about to turn the page but you stopped yourself, closing the book and setting it to the side.

“Okay, let’s review what I read.” you giggled proud of yourself for making progress. Staring off out your window, you rack your brain for information from the text you’ve just read. “It was....I.....uh” you felt your excitement began to dwindle as no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t remember anything. Nothing. All that work and you couldn’t even remember a single word.

“You’ve got to be kidding me it’s already-“ you glance at your phone “9:30pm, I can’t do all.....there’s no time I have to study history and math as well. I can’t-“ the panic begins to set in as you throw your phone to the side and frantically open the book to flip to the pages you’d just read. “What page was it? 87?-no that’s not far enough...230?” The flipping gets faster, so fast your scared the pages would rip from the speed. “Why can’t I-why, why, why-WHY CAN’T I REMEMBER?!” You shove the book away and bury your head into your arms trying to control your breathing. The burning sensation begins in the back of your throat before you let out a sob, “God I’m pathetic” you choked out.

Before you can break down completely your phone lights up with Jaemin’s caller ID, Beautiful Time plays softly accompanied by the annoying buzz of the device. Taking a deep breath, wiping your eyes and clearing your throat you pick up the phone.

Putting the phone to your ear with a quiet “hey”, you get up and flop onto your bed.

“Hellooooo! How was school?” His excited voice rang out through your speakers.

“It was...it was school. Ya know.”

There was a pause before you heard him gasp lightly. “Are you crying?”

“What? No, I’m fine.”

“Lies. I can sense these things...now I was going to surprise you but your door is locked so that makes it kind of difficult. So if you could kindly unlock your door, and then pretend to act surprised?”

“You’re here? Why?!” You shot up quickly. Realizing that probably sounded suspicious you try to pass it off as concern, but you knew he’d know better. “Practice was till 9 today. Go home and eat, you’re probably starving.”

“Nope! I brought food here to enjoy together. And to be together you have to open the door and let me in. Now please open the door. Unless you have something to hide?”

You don’t bother responding and grab a pillow, cuddling it close. The pause lasted a few moments before it was broken by a very drawn out “helllllooooooo?”

“I don’t want you to see me like this Jae.” You start with a shaky voice. “My face is all red and swollen, I’m wearing comfy clothes....and-and there’s books everywhere...oh god I haven’t brushed my hair since this morning-“

“And I don’t care about that. Would you care if I was like that?”

You sigh, hugging the pillow tighter. “No.”

“Then please let me in. It’s really cold out here, and I’m hungry.” He laughed lightly hanging up the phone before you could refuse.

You stumble to your front door, and swing it open to reveal a smiling Jaemin.

“Ta da! It’s Na Na!” He enters the house taking his shoes off, setting the food bag down and closing the door behind him. “My, don’t you look lovely this evening.” He eyes you up and down, from your leggings up to your old oversized sweatshirt.

“Oh shut up I warned you.”

He lets out a loud laugh before looking at your with adoration “I wasn’t playing around. You really do look lovely.”

You let out a bitter chuckle “yeah. Lovely. A lovely idiot is what I am.”

“Excuse me, how dare you say such things about yourself. Especially in my presence.” He grabs your hands and brings them to his lips his tone softening “Is this about your finals? I heard about them from Nctzens, they are all talking about finals and I assumed you had them as well.”

You try to say something in agreement, but at the mention of your damned finals you began to tear up again.

“H-Hey!” He pulls you close, cupping your face in his hands, “What’s wrong?”

You don’t respond. You bury your face into his hoodie, breathing him in while slowly wrapping your arms around him.

“Baby?” His hands stroke calming circles onto your back as it begins to shake from your quiet sobs.

“I can’t do it Jae. I-I’m too stupid.” You hiccuped. “I can’t remember anything, and-and I’m going to fail my finals. I still have math and history to study after this and it’s already getting late” You sniffle before continuing “and after we eat it will be even later. I’ll have no time, there is no time. Ughhh I can’t do this.”

He listened quietly till you finished, swaying you both back and forth gently. “Look at me Y/N.” You refuse and bury your face deeper into his hoodie and grip the fabric tightly in your hands. “Come on, look at me.” He pulls away far enough to just see your face. “ You are not stupid. You are not going to fail. Finals are hard yes, and they are important, but you do so well in your classes already I doubt you’ll fail. You’re just thinking too much about it, think of it as just a run of the mill weekly quiz. And if you don’t get a 100%? Who cares. As long as you pass that’s all that really matters, even if it is just barely passing. So breathe okay? Because you definitely aren’t going to pass if you aren’t taking care of yourself. So please, calm down and appreciate yourself. You’ve been working so hard lately, you deserve to relax.”

“I guess...” you squeak out, bring your hands up to wipe your cheeks.

“Good!” He smiles. “Now let’s go eat I’m starving.”

*****************************************

Bonus:

Jaemin nods his head along to some music while he waits in the parking lot for you to get out of your finals. He sees you running over and quickly turns down the music as you open the car door.

“Sooooo? How’d it go?”

“Well, it’s not exactly what I wanted...but I passed! I got an 81, so I’m trying to convince myself it’s okay.” You shrug buckling your seatbelt in.

“An 81? Babe, that’s great!”

“I mean yeah I guess.” You brush it off. “But guess what?” You lean closer to him, bouncing in excitement.

“What?” He leans in as well brushing your noses together causing you to giggle and his smile to grow.

“I got a 96 on my science final.” You squeal, pulling back to do a little happy dance.

“That’s my girl/boy.” He laughs before turning up the music and backing out of the parking spot.

#nct 2018 #nct request #nctzen #nct reactions #nct #nct 127 #nct u #nct dream #nct fluff #nct imagines #nct blurbs #nct scenarios #na jaemin #nct dream jaemin #nct jaemin #jaemin #kpop reactions #nct angst

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 4X06 - Family Business

After spending ten minutes trying to make a pun for this one, I don’t SNOW if I can do it!

...Well, there you go!

Review’s under the cut!

Main Takeaways

Past

I’m torn between disliking and liking the writing choice to have Anna doubt Ingrid so fiercely. On one level, I sort of get it. After being betrayed by Hans (And more recently, Rumple), Anna’s become a bit less trusting. That’s good character development. However, to have Anna be untrusting to this degree is just a little too far fetched for me. I think had Anna wanted to accept her and been more outright friendly, but was too curious to settle for Ingrid’s non answers, the story would’ve been a bit more palatable for me.

So, as far as Belle goes, I’m kind of inclined to treat this episode in a way as a precursor to Belle’s attitude later in life, kind of like“Best Laid Plans.” Just like how Snowing dedicated themselves to being the best people they could be after their horrible sin, Belle does the same thing through a combination of seeing Anna be taken and learning the truth behind her mother’s death. That also having been said, I feel like had they stated that the stone of memories was a one-off item, I wouldn’t be so frustrated with Belle because why not just get another stone after saving Anna?

That also having been said, I get that it didn’t matter. What mattered in this segment was that Belle’s selfishness fucked over someone and the point of this episode was to realize that and show that she’s grown from it. And that is the important part of the episode and it was delivered well. What I pointed out were smaller narrative crumbles that don’t amount to absolutely nothing, but are ultimately less important than the delivery of the theme.

Present

I can talk about a lot of aspects of this episode (And I will), but let’s be real here: The big part of this episode really comes down to a singular moment. While most of this episode is pretty clearly framed otherwise, so much so that I wonder just how much can write about, this moment’s where shit gets complicated and messy. That, of course, is Belle’s use of the “dagger” to make Rumple take her to the Snow Queen’s fortress.

Let’s break my thoughts on this down a bit.

It’s...a complicated situation. I’m sympathetic to Belle in the sense that she’s trying to stop The Snow Queen and making a hard choice like that is something she sees as just something that has to be done. Additionally, the mirror scene establishes that Belle might have doubts about the validity of the dagger, so there might have been a part of her doubting that it would work. I also get that this was Belle’s weakest moment and thus, it’s something she doesn’t want relayed.

That having been said, this episode frames Belle’s motivation as wanting to keep a secret. That’s the reason why she doesn’t relay her information to Emma and Elsa. And for a secret that is so relatively small in the grand scheme of not only the scope of the universe, but what villains have been forgiven for around in these parts, I find it rather weak and makes for a stark contrast to her attitude of just shutting up from the present scenes prior It’s brought on by a sad conversation with Elsa and Belle finds it more appropriate to use the dagger on her husband than just simply tell the truth, a moment that when finally comes to pass, isn’t given any gravitas, meaning that Belle keeping that secret wasn’t that big of a deal. It’d be one thing if Elsa was so mad that she froze Belle or shut her out or something like that, but she doesn’t, making the reason Belle wants to hold out telling the truth fall flat.

I also almost wish this moment had come earlier in the season, maybe before “The Apprentice” because that look of fear on Rumple’s face when he realized that his own wife is using the dagger to control him would’ve been a hella effective point in showing why Rumple feels like he needs to go to the extreme of putting people in a magic hat to ensure that he never has to be controlled again. That said, it does work here, albeit not as effectively.

I do think that the framing of this moment works. Ignoring the motivation behind it, Belle is shown as going too far by using the dagger, BUT the more complicated nature of the dagger being as real as a $3 bill isn’t ignored by the narrative either.

Okay, now that that’s done, let’s move on.

The mirror scene is a really chilling look into Belle’s psyche. Not only is there a great display of Belle’s insecurities on display in this scene, but it truly sets up the mirror as a genuine threat. Belle is one of the purest characters in the show, second to probably only Ariel at this point. And yet the mirror is able to pull at the weaknesses she doesn’t possess as easily as loose Jenga pieces. Within a minute, she feels helpless.

I also really like the way Rumple is presented here! He’s at once a villain and a victim in a way and the balancing of that was well done!

Stream of Consciousness

-I like the costume Belle has in the first bit of her flashback. It does a really good job of painting her youth and naivete.

-I love how literally every piece of Belle’s wardrobe and decorations in her room are Beauty and the Beast colors!!! Dude, if she wasn’t the actual Belle, I’d accuse her of being the biggest fangirl in the world! XD

-Really, Rumple? Belle doesn’t know about the hidden safe by this point?

-”Before we open.” So I guess that library scene really didn’t carry over in any capacity. That’s a shame.

-I absolutely LOVE the zoom out shot as everyone takes in the Snow Queen video tape! All eight of the mains are in the shot as well as Elsa! And everyone is so serious, even the woman in the blue sparkly dress! I know it’s been said 1,000 times, but it’s totally CSI Storybrooke up in this bitch! XD

-Belle, you are amazing at tracking! And you dig any chance to be a hero! Why the fuck are you willingly stepping down?! XD

-Why does everyone diss books?! And if you’re gonna diss the book, maybe take the book? Like, I don’t want Maurice to take the book, but if he’s gonna go to the trouble of being a douche nozzle, at least go all the way.

-I feel the need to ask if Ingrid has employees at “Any Given Sundae.” Does she just switch off between driving the truck and running the shop? Did she ever have an intern? XD

-”Was she afraid someone was gonna steal the rocky road?” You’re three episodes off, Emma.

-Ice powers are the world’s most dangerous mood rings! XD

-”Do you really think she would’ve discovered that if I didn’t want her to?” And what part did you have to play in Emma discovering that evidence? Like, every piece of evidence Emma has uncovered has been by total coincidence! The video, the truck? Both of those were spur of the moment decisions!

-I feel like mirror Belle is what would happen if Lacey had Belle’s memories.

-Ummm, if that was the real dagger, would that slash have killed Rumple or would it kind of be like what happened with Dark Hook where only the lethal cuts matter? But then again, that was close to the throat.

-Belle, where the hell did that gorgeous ass coat come from? Because holy hell, I LOVE it!

-Okay, am I the only one who feels like Maurice had some personal experience with Rumple prior to Belle’s summoning?

-”Spend a little more time in this town love, and you’ll realize that just about everyone’s related.” This is true and I LOVE it! XD

Favorite Dynamic

Regina and Robin. I really like Regina’s scene with Robin in the forest. Lana perfectly shows Regina’s frustration at having tried every possible approach to waking Marian and failing at it as well as this sense of resignation about what she has to tell him. It’s a fantastic moment in how it’s performed and written. Regina’s in her best form by being blunt, but not unsympathetic: If Robin wants to save Marian, he has to fall in love with her again, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. You can tell that this is the last thing she wants to say, but she knows it’s the truth. It’s a really good display of her growth as a character. Something very difficult for her to do and the truth isn’t pretty, but she’s delivering it anyway, even at her own expense. The added bits of snark additionally really help it too by giving the scene a bit of levity and gives the dialogue a bit of that Regina fierceness.

Writer

Kalinda Vazquez comes in for her second episode in a row, a first for a writer for this series outside of A&E! Alongside her is Andrew Chambliss. I gotta say, it’s nice not having a newbie this episode. While there are some character issues, I think the episode works more than it doesn’t due to the more complicated nature of the present segment’s story and the fact that the framing is spot on.

Rating

8/10. I think there are a fair amount of good elements to this episode. The delivery of the themes is solid and that is the ultimate make or break piece of an episode like this. Additionally, the framing of this story was hard, but successful.

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Hey! Sorry this wasn’t my best review. I don’t know what happened with this episode, but it just took me so long to figure out how I felt about it. I hope what I put out made sense.

Thank you for reading, if you did as well as to @watchingfairytales and @daensarah. Love you!!!!

Season 3 Total (42/230)

Writer Scores: Adam and Eddy: (9/60) Jane Espenson: (10/40) David Goodman and Jerome Schwartz: (10/50) Andrew Chambliss: (14/50) Dana Horgan: (6/30) Kalinda Vazquez: (14/40) Scott Nimerfro: (6/30)

*Links to the rest of my rewatch will no longer be provided. They take posts with links outside of searches and I spend way too much time on these reviews to not give them that kind of exposure. Sorry for the inconvenience, but they still can be found on my page under Operation Rewatch.

#ouat #once upon a time #watching fairytales #ouat 4x06 #ouat rewatch #jenna watches ouat