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#very basic essay writing tips
pa-pa-plasma · 10 months
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has anyone else noticed that people who aren't writers & know nothing about writing are acting like an authority on storytelling or is it just me
#like i keep seeing people being like ''this is bad dont do it ever'' & it's a vital part of certain genres or tropes#& also ''do this all the time or else'' & it's something that is actually a bad writing tip with basically no exceptions#& when i'm like ''actually no'' i get dogpiled by people going ''uhh uhh i've written 1000 books i know what im talking about''#& then i look at their profile & they're 20. & complaining about their 25yo boyfriend publicly#& their work is. not good. to say the least#or maybe these people are just the loudest & people who arent shitheads are just minding their own business#i guess what im saying is if you dont understand why something is the way it is just fucking ask someone who knows#instead of putting your misunderstanding of it out there like you're an authority figure on something you either#arent involved in the creation of or just arent very good at#& that isnt an insult. youre allowed to admit you arent good at stuff#i'm not good at stuff & because of that i wouldnt act like an authority figure on like. idfk. painting#i CAN paint. am i good at it? no (this isn't counting spray paint but i still wouldnt act like an authority on that either)#the reason i act like an authority on writing is because i study writing & writing styles#i write! i practice different types of writing all the time! i read a lot of different books! writing is a HYPERFIXATION of mine literally!#i can literally predict entire movies & books & shows because i can SEE the thought process behind it#so like. dont come @ me being like ''you dont understand'' because i DO understand. which is WHY it annoys me so much#anyway i blame all of this on people acting like art is supposed to be consumed#this obviously isnt a thought out essay just a rant so like. assume i know whatever youre going to ''um actually'' me about
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mindfulstudyquest · 1 month
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❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮'𝘀
having good grades doesn't necessarily mean you're smart, a test or exam can't always determine someone's intelligence, but it's academic validation we crave, right? so here are some tips thanks to which you will get straight a's.
𝟭. understand what the professor wants ( 🪼 )
learning the entire book by heart is tiring and basically useless. we take our education seriously, but it's impossible to know everything about everything, so inevitably there will be topics we can gloss over. check old tests, listen to the teacher during the lecture, talk to students who have already attended the course and passed the exam. understand which aspects your professor particularly cares about and concentrate on those, your exam will certainly go well.
𝟮. strengthen your memorization ( 🦋 )
very often the amount of things to study is just too much and, even though you spend all day in the library rereading the topics again and again, you feel that it is not enough. you get confused, you forget steps, you get lost in the labyrinth of the subject. investing in understanding your form of memorization will benefit you in the long run. identify your type of memory (spatial, photographic, echoic, etc.) and focus on how to improve it. having a good memory will make your studying for the exam much faster and easier.
𝟯. pay attention in class ( 🫧 )
attend all lectures and take notes. much of your studying comes from your professor's lecture. underline the important things in your textbook, carefully follow their speech and - if there are any - their powerpoint slides, writing only the things that the teacher adds and which are not written either in the book or in the extra material, if necessary, record the lesson so you can listen to it again at a later time.
𝟰. organize your notes the same day ( 🧃 )
when i take notes in class i write badly and quickly to keep up with the teacher, shortening words or omitting passages.  by reorganizing your notes that same evening (at most the next day, if you really don't have time) you can revise your work when the lesson is still fresh in your mind; if you wait too long, you will forget most of the things and you will find yourself staring blankly at pages of notes which, at that point, will seem more like hieroglyphics to you than anything else.
𝟱. use ai responsibly ( 🪴 )
artificial intelligence is everywhere nowadays and why not use it to our advantage? of course i'm not suggesting that you let an ai take care of all your tests and essays, it wouldn't make sense, however very often it helped me make a list of key points to develop in a research paper, or gave me excellent ideas and insights for projects. they can also be used to create flashcards, summarize and simplify articles, or create practice tests based on the material you will have to study.
𝟲. delve deeper into your “whys” ( 🌾 )
sometimes when i study i stare into space and wonder why i am studying something that seems completely irrelevant to my path. i'm sure it happens to you too, don't ignore this feeling. don't be afraid to explore themes and topics that aren't clear to you, if two statements seem contradictory ask yourself why, if you don't understand some passages, don't be afraid to ask a question. we study for ourselves, before studying to graduate, to work. there is no shame in not understanding, your intelligence lies in striving to clarify what seems obscure.
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nana-41175 · 7 days
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Gonna be putting these screenshots here as a basic lesson on how NOT to be an ASSHOLE READER/COMMENTER
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Tip #1: This author ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT engage with anyone who goes around giving "DON'T READ THIS FIC" recommendations to others. That kind of asshole behavior is VILE and CRUEL and this author does not take kindly to assholes
Tip #2: That Hit-to-Kudos ratio is a HIDEOUS example of a BADLY DESIGNED AND UNRELIABLE measuring tool to gauge the "success" or "popularity" of a fic and anyone fool enough to use it as the standard to read/recommend/evaluate fics is seriously missing out on a lot of good stuff out there
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Tip #3: If you gonna be thinking this author thinks "everything I do in a good story is awesome and even the tiny stuff that means nothing to the story... and turns people off accidentally must be kept!" simply means you DO NOT HAVE A CLUE as to why the author chose to use that crucial scenario as a catalyst to finally bring the two lead characters together. You failed to get the point when everyone else did? That's on you. If you don't get it, you don't get it, but don't foist your idiocy on to the writer
Tip #4: Thank you, but no. All those backhanded compliments are NOT compliments at all
Tip #5: As a commenter, you are judged by a set of standards as you would a writer, beginning with whether you have a valid point, which you clearly do not have. The second thing we look out for is, is the commenter an IDIOT? Yes, in this case.
Furthermore, there is an unspoken rule of etiquette observed by conscientious readers at AO3 that-- ignoramus that you are-- you've trampled all over: if you don't know the author, your best bet is you DO NOT leave unsolicited criticism that exposes you as the over-privileged, entitled idiot that you are. That obvious need for attention and validation behind the putdowns, the FIC GRADING (seriously??) just to make oneself look bigger and somehow relevant? Not a good look
Tip #6: Spare us the ESSAYS. They're just gonna be DELETED faster than you can write them and you will be BLOCKED
Tip #7: Oh, so you're a writer as well, with just one WIP to your name? It's omegaverse, too, with a very limited view of a/b/o dynamics yet you somehow think you're some sort of expert? Tsk tsk. Starting to get the full picture now. Remember, what goes around comes around.
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talaok · 1 year
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Hello,
I was wondering if it were possible to write a Tyler galpin x reader smut where he is like basically feral and running on pure instinct? I'm a big fan of your writing and it would much appreciated 👍
Thank you~~~~
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pairing: Dom!Tyler Galpin x Sub!Fem!reader summary:Tyler teaches you a lesson after you messed up Warnings: not exactly con, face fucking, shit ton of degrading, MeanasfuckDom!Tyler, unprotected penetrative sex, choking and slapping a/n: This is a lot, I'm serious, so please don't read it if you are impressionable or in any way triggered by any of the warnings. That said, I wrote this while writing an essay about a saint, so yeah, that was an experience.
You’ve gotta learn
"I'm sorry" you said, for the thousand time since you had entered the room. His room, his blue-walled room, filled with posters and CDs. A normal teenager's room, where one should do their homework and dream of the future. But that was before, before Marilyn Thornhill, before the hyde, before he had killed and killed countless innocent souls. Now it was a facade, a distant reminder of what it could have been, of what he could have been. “I’m really sorry Tyler” your eyes were starting to wet, pathetic useless tears were threatening to spill out of them “ I fucked up”  “Fuck if you did” he said harshly “you had one job and you still managed to fuck it up” he yelled “I swear to god if I get caught because of you “ his index finger pointed threateningly at you “I don’t even fucking know “ he exhaled, dropping his hands by his side. “I’m sorry” you mumbled as a tear streamed down your face. “Are you serious?” He stepped towards you “Are you fucking crying?” You gulped. He was scary when he was mad. You had seen it before, since you began helping him you had uncovered shades of him that you had never met. Things he hid from the word, moments of rage, of anger so powerful you had found yourself fearing for your life. Wondering if you were gonna get out alive, or if his feral eyes were gonna be the last thing you ever saw. And now there it was again, the Tyler nobody knew, the real one, towering over you. “I’m so-“ a sob interrupted your words. “Oh stop” he said annoyed, “ you think your apologies will change something?” he hissed and you looked at your shoes, not able to bear his gaze anymore “huh?” He tilted his head to meet your eyes “answer me” “N-no. You’re right” you sobbed now, not in control of your emotions. "Stop " he gritted "Or I'll give you something to fucking cry about" he gripped your face  "and I won't stop even when you beg" he inhaled your scent "not until you'll have no more tears left "  You looked at him apologetically “I-I” “Choose your words wisely y/n” his low voice seemed calmer now, but you knew he wasn’t. That was the tone he used when he knew what he wanted, and was determined to get it. And you knew what he wanted. “I’m sorry” another tear wet your face. He smirked, because he knew, because you had done just what he wanted you to. “Get on your knees” You looked at him, fear very clear in your irides. The last time this happened you ended up having to hide bruises all over your body. “Tyler-“ “Get on your knees y/n, and open your mouth” You did. “Maybe this way you’ll learn to shut up” He unzipped his pants and they pooled at his feet with his boxers. His cock sprained right in front of you. Staring at you threateningly. “Stick your tongue out” he ordered, as he gathered your hair in his fist. You obeyed again, and he pulled your head back, forcing you to look up at him, before he slowly pushed his dick into your mouth. You gagged once his tip hit the back of your throat, and he groaned, not stopping but pushing himself even deeper. More tears pooled in your eyes. “What, you don’t have anything to say anymore?” He retracted his hips and thrust hard back into your mouth “No more pathetic apologies?” He did it again, his grip on your hair getting stronger. He chuckled “ it’s hard to do that with my dick in your mouth”  Your bare knees were hurting, bent against the cold tiles.  He pushed himself into you again “isn’t it?” He humiliated you, as he started going faster, strings of saliva falling and sticking all over your chin. "Isn't it?" he asked again, yanking your head back. He wanted you to answer. As if the mascara down your face and your knees on the floor weren't enough. You nodded, humming in agreement around his cock. He chuckled "such a fucking slut" before resuming his rhythm. "you just have to be told everything" he kept going " so fucking pathetic" "i have to do this you see?" he growled "or else you're never gonna fucking learn"  "you understand?" he asked, choking you on his dick, like you could have answered.  you stared at him, your eyes red from the tears and your face wet from both them and your own spit. you had never felt so impotent in your life, completely at the mercy of someone else, not strong enough to fight back, but most importantly, most scarily, too in love to even try. Because that was the truth. You loved him, you loved him more than you loved yourself, more than your own life. He was a monster, a killer, a criminal, and yet he protected you, he held you and he was there, he was always there for you. So even at times like this, even when you knew something wrong was happening you couldn't help but think it was for him. You were helping him, just like he had helped you times and times before. And yes, of course, the modality was really diffrent, but the outcome was the same. What were a couple bruises compared to his face afterward? Compared to all he had done for you? And so you nodded, granting him what he wanted, what he needed. "tell me what you understood" he ordered, removing his cock from your mouth. You coughed softly "Y-you are doing it for m-me" you answered stuttering "Why?" he pushed himself into your mouth again, taking you by surprise. More tears traveled to your chin before he took it out. "T-to make me l-learn" "That's right" he said, bending down to you "don't you think you should thank me?"  You swallowed nervously "t-thank you" you bit your lip "thank you Tyler" you whispered almost inaudibly. "What's this?" he asked angrily, grabbing your face "I want you to properly thank me" Your eyes widened, part of you thought he was gonna be more clement this time, but turns out you were wrong. "Quickly before I make you" he said, calmly threatening you. "O-ok"  Your trembling hands went to unbutton your shirt and as you started his cold voice interrupted you "faster" he ordered impatiently, and so you did, unbuttoning everything before you took the garment off. His eyes fell to your breasts, covered only by a black lacey bra. "take it off" he growled You did, freezing a moment to let him take in all of you. Then you got up, stumbling a bit, but succeeding nonetheless, and you looked at him in the eyes, like you knew he wanted, and also to spot any signs of a mistake, as you unzipped your skirt, and pulled it down, stepping out of it. once his expression didn't change, anger mixed with hunger always predominant in his eyes, you kept going, pulling your panties down too. you stopped now. "what are you waiting for?"  you looked behind you at the bed and then back at him. There was no getting out of it. you were gonna do it for him your heart started racing as you sat down on the bed, glancing at him one last time before laying down. You slowly bent your knees and then spread your legs. He appeared next to you and you watched as he got on the bed, slowly getting on top of you. He gripped your face, your cheeks squeezed between his hand as he scrutinized you, every single inch of your face "You're gonna be good?" he said "Mh?"  "Y-yes"  "good" he let you go, his hand going to his cock to position it at your entrance, while his other one slid up your chest all the way to your neck. He gripped it, and you whimpered. Turtleneck it was. "shh" he shushed you, as he entered you slowly, a pace you knew was gonna be forgotten in about a second. "Shut up" his grip got tighter "You've gotta learn" He looked at you, a faint smirk ghosting over his face. "don't you?" He didn't give you time to agree with him as he thrust out and in you again strongly, your whole body bouncing back against the headboard. Fuck that hurt. You gasped and he didn't even acknowledge you as he did it again, and then again, and again. "so fucking stupid" his dick was pounding into you relentlessly, not an ounce of mercy in his thrusts "need to be told everything" his grip was getting tighter again "need to be taught everything" it was getting hard to breathe "need to have my dick in your mouth" he bent down closer to you, his words firing at your face "in your pussy" you were trying to gasp for air as your vision went blurry "to learn when to shut up" "T-Tyl-" you tried speaking "You said you'd be good y/n"  "I can't- I can't breath-" "I know" he said coldly, and your heart dropped. maybe this was really gonna be it. "pl-please" you begged, a tear streaming down your face. "fuck you're pathetic" he kept his hand where it was, his thrusts getting harder "such a cry baby" he kept going, your head hitting the wooden headboard again " I liked you better when you couldn't talk"  Black dots soiled your sight. "Tyle-" you tried again, but one of his hands came down your cheek, slapping you, your head swang to the side. Your mouth widened, but no sounds came out. "shut the fuck up" he grunted "I'm almost done" There was blood on your lips. He was still going, his grip on your neck always the same, just like his pace, and you were bleeding, trying to get some air in your lungs. This was Tyler, And this was you. "fuck you feel good" he groaned, his grip unintentionally loosening as his thrust got sloppier "Such a slut" His cock twitched inside you "such a fucking slut" he came, groaning loudly. You looked at him, your eyes empty, tired, looking for something, even an ounce of emotion, any at all to go on off, and he looked away, pulling out of you.
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Hii can I request a Draco x female reader in where Draco is crushing on reader but reader is oblivious and dense?<33
Thank you for your request! I´m finally back from my vacation (it hasn´t been long enough by any means) and need to get back into writing again now, so I really hope this turned out alright. But basically, these are about 7k words of Draco simping for the reader (maybe a bit too much to actually be in his character). However it was really fun to write, so I hope you´ll enjoy reading.
Clueless
Draco´s head snapped around when he heard a familiar giggle only a few meters away from him. The Professor standing in front of the class long forgotten, he watched with widened eyes, how you nudged Pansy playfully, before the Slytherin girl whispered something into your ear, making you burst into laughter once more. Quickly, you brought a hand to your mouth, trying to stifle the sounds threatening to escape it. Once you had somewhat managed to calm down again, you straightened your back and took a deep breath, before you leant over to Pansy, apparently wanting to answer whatever she had just told you, but when your gaze caught something in front of you, you seemed to change your mind, because instead, you grabbed the quill that until now had been lying on your table uselessly and scribbled something on a piece of parchment, before you lowered your head, looking into the book in front of you. Draco watched in awe how you brought the tip of your quill to your lips as you got lost in the text you were reading. Even though he couldn’t be sure over the distance between the two of you, Draco strongly suspected, that by now there would be a faint stain of ink smudged over your lips. You narrowed your eyes, bringing your head even closer to the book, seemingly coming to a part of the text that was harder to understand than the one before. Or maybe just harder to decipher. The ink in the old books you were working with was from time to time almost fainted, and the curved font itself was already hard enough to read. But regardless of what had caused the shift in your posture, it made some strands of hair fall into your face. But while Draco couldn’t help but admire how perfectly they framed the shape of your face, only stressing your most beautiful – so pretty much every single one of your – features, you didn’t even seem to notice, too lost in the world of the book you were currently working with. Just like Draco got lost in you. Oh, how much he wanted to brush that hair out of your face, taking in every single detail of it, while he would twirl those strands of hair around his fingers. And he could brush away the ink that would stain your pretty lips with his thump tenderly or he could just press his lips on yours so it would faint just as well and then he would…
“Very well, Mr. Malfoy, since apparently you have already finished your task, would you mind sharing your results with the rest of the class?”
Draco snapped out of his trance and blinked up in irritation. Professor McGonagall was standing in front of him, looking at him with narrowed eyes, her lips pursed. Slowly, the Slytherin began to fade back into the world surrounding him. Because unlike it had felt for him only seconds ago, it wasn’t just you and him in this room, but instead, the entire transfiguration class, including the Professor. And every single one of those people was now looking at him. Draco felt their eyes lingering on him and cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid to let himself get distracted that easily simply by how absolutely effortlessly beautiful you looked? But now he would have to face the consequences. He glared up at the Professor, trying to give his face a humble look.
“Excuse me, Professor, but I´m not finished yet.”
“It looks more like you haven’t even started.”, Professor McGonagall returned with a disapproving look at his empty parchment.
“I was still reading. I´ll start the essay soon.”, Draco promised, trying to prevent his face from heating up.
“Well, I suggest next time you will open the book to do so.”
He heard his classmates snickering in the background. Draco clenched his jaw and had to try his hardest to not take an issue with Professor McGonagall. He knew this would only make things worse. If that was even possible right now. Because after all, he was not only being humiliated in front of the entire class but also you. And that was something Draco didn’t even dare to think about.
“At the end of the lesson I expect an entire role of parchment on my desk from you, Mr. Malfoy.”, the Professor spoke up again. “And if you won´t be able to finish it today, you will hand it in tomorrow. Is that clear?”
Draco nodded slowly, teeth gritted. Professor McGonagall knew very well that it was sheer impossible to finish the essay in this lesson and that this afternoon, Draco would have to be at the pitch for some Quidditch practice. He was certain that if he would have been one of the Professor´s precious Gryffindors, especially one of those of the Quidditch team, she wouldn’t have been that hard on him. He was sure of that. Still, he knew he wouldn’t win this argument, so he kept his mouth shut.
Professor McGonagall nodded.
“Very well then.”, she said, before turning around, shifting her focus to his classmates again.
Draco let out a small sigh, before letting his gaze wander around the classroom. He could see some of the Gryffindors shooting him some gleeful glances, but Draco just ignored them. It wasn’t until his gaze settled on you, that his haughty façade started to crumble. Because the moment his gaze settled on you, you looked up from your book as well, your gaze meeting his. Draco´s heart got stuck in his throat as you threw the boy a small compassionate smile, before breaking the eye contact and focusing on the book in front of you again.
Draco´s heart was pumping so loud in his ears that he feared you might hear it on the other side of the classroom, but you didn’t look up again. Still, just those few seconds Draco had been in your orbit, made the boy forget why he had been so upset only minutes ago. The Slytherin couldn’t help the small smile that made it to his face. Maybe all the trouble in this lesson had been worth it after all.
And when Draco heard Blaise´s amused voice mutter beside him: “You´ve got it bad, man.”, he couldn’t even argue with it.
Later that day you were sitting in the common room with Pansy, chatting about all the world and his wife. At some point, Draco´s strange behaviour earlier that day came up as well. But while Pansy was snickering over how absolutely dumbfounded Draco had looked when Professor McGonagall had pointed out that the boy hadn’t even opened the book he had claimed to read, you rather felt sorry for the fellow Slytherin.
“Don’t be so hard on him, Pansy, I´m sure there was a reason that he was so distracted in that lesson.”
“So? If we all wouldn’t have to work just because we have a reason not to do so, I wouldn´t be present in half of the classes.”
“Oh please, what good reason would you have to miss our lessons?”
“They bore me.”, Pansy sighed out dramatically. “And the people annoy me.”
“Even though I totally understand, I´m rather sure that this is not a valid reason.”, you giggled.
“And what do you think Draco´s oh-so-mysterious, understandable and totally important excuse was?”
You shrugged your shoulders. Because even though Draco and you already knew each other for several years and you were rather close – at least by Draco´s standards – and you were quite curious about what had been on the boy´s mind earlier, you had absolutely no idea what could have distracted him that much that he would forget absolutely everything around him.
“You really have no idea?”, Pansy asked, as she glanced at you, looking almost irritated. “Absolutely none?”
“Do you?”, you responded.
Now it was on Pansy to shrug her shoulders, while her gaze dropped down to her lap, and she started fiddling with her hands.
“But regardless of that,”, you continued, not even noticing how Pansy relaxed next to you when you dropped the topic, “I think McGonagall was too hard on him. I mean, we all zone out from time to time, don´t we? And she really didn’t need to give him that much of extra work. That´s just unfair. Especially because she knows for sure that Draco has training today. If she already wants to give him some extra work, she could at least have given him some more time, don’t you think?”
But before Pansy could open her mouth to agree with you, the door opened, and a rather annoyed-looking Draco entered the common room. The frown he held on his face, however, softened immediately, the second he spotted Pansy and you sitting on one of the couches. Quickly, he made his way over to you - not without barking at some first years, standing in his way – and let himself fall on the couch as well, directly next to you.
“For real? In your jersey?”, you frowned. Not that you actually had something against the blond boy wearing his Quidditch uniform, that looked unfairly good on him, actually it was quite the opposite, but the last thing you needed today was some mud smudged over the couches and – due to the fact Draco had by now wrapped an arm around your shoulder – also all over your clothes.
But Draco only gave you a smug grin.
“Relax, love. I already showered and put on a new one. Only for you obviously. I know how much you like to see me in it.”, he winked.
You cursed the moment you had admitted to the blond boy in a moment of weakness that you actually thought that he looked rather good in his jersey. This, however, had been in your second year at Hogwarts, when Draco had joined the team and had been really nervous about his first actual game. And even though you had only said it back then to calm him down – and because it was the truth after all – until this very day, several years later, Draco still loved to remind you of the fact that you had called him handsome back then at every chance.
“If you say so.”, you grumbled.
Still, you finally relaxed into his arms and shuffled a bit closer. You had to actively keep yourself from inhaling his scent deeply. You simply adored it. For you, it felt like home. Simple as that.
“I guess that´s my call.”, Pansy grinned, as she got on her feet. “Enjoy your time, you two.”
You looked at your friend with narrowed eyes.
“Why you wanna leave? We still got some time before dinner.”
“Yeah, but I really don’t want to disturb the two of you.”, she winked.
“You know you could never disturb us, Pansy.”, you laughed, while Draco muttered something incomprehensible under his breath.
“Also, I am very sure that Blaise needs my help with… something. See you around.”
And with that, Pansy disappeared quickly, leaving Draco and you behind.
“That was strange, wasn’t it?”, you asked the boy next to you, who just shrugged his shoulders in response.
“It´s Pansy. What did you expect?”
You nudged him.
“Careful, that´s my friend you´re talking about. And yours too, by the way.”
“And that´s exactly why I´m allowed to say this. But even when it comes to my so-called friends, I´m thankful for every second that I´m able to steal you from them and have you all for myself.”
You felt the familiar blush creeping onto your cheeks that always appeared whenever Draco made some snarky remarks that could make you suspect that after all, you were something special to him. Just like he was to you. And that bastard was fully aware of the effect he had on you and used it to tease you endlessly about it. Just like he did now. And the only way you knew to answer this was with a just as big smirk as he always held on his face when he told you those things.
“Of course you do. Everyone does. I´m just adorable.”, you said, puffing your chest as much as it was possible now that you were trapped in Draco´s arms.
Said boy just sighed and placed a small kiss on the crown of your head, making you shiver.
“Oh, you have no idea, love.”
But just as you wanted to melt into Draco´s embrace, you felt him tense next to you and curse under his breath.
You sat up again slightly and turned your head to look at him.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”, Draco sighed, but the lines of worries showed you differently. “Just that stupid homework from McGonagall. I still have to write almost half a role.” He let out another sigh before he pulled you close again. “But that can wait. Right now, I´m exactly where I want to be.”
Even though his words flattered you, you wiggled out of his arms and sat up straight.
“You might be where you want to be but not where you are supposed to. That woman will let you serve detention until the end of the year if you don´t hand in that essay until tomorrow. And I certainly won´t let you pull an all-nighter.”
“This is going to be an all-nighter anyway, love.”, Draco contradicted, but you shook your head in response.
“Not if I´ll help you.”
“(Y/n), no. You don’t have to.”
“But I want to.”, you pouted.
Draco let out a small laugh.
“Oh please! Nobody wants to work on Transfiguration voluntarily.”
“See what I´m willing to do just to spend some more time with you?”, you winked. “Now, c´mon. If we go to the library now we´ll still be able to work for an hour until dinner.”
And if you wouldn’t have been so determined to help Draco out and wouldn’t have strode away with long steps without even waiting for a response, you would have seen how Draco blushed vigorously at your words, justifying that he let you help him not with the fact that he was desperate to spend some more time with you, but reasoning that somehow this extra homework was your fault after all.
You had been wrong. Until it was time for dinner, several centimetres of the parchment were still empty, the blank space promising an all-nighter after all. Even though you might had even been able to finish the task completely, if it wouldn’t have been for Draco getting distracted by the very same thing that had gotten him into sitting here in the first place. Because just as it had been back in class, also here, in the dim light of the candles flickering on the walls, the Slytherin couldn’t help but notice how absolutely perfect you were. And because of that, the quill in Draco´s hand was hovering uselessly over the parchment most of the time, while its owner was busy staring at you, while you flicked through the pages of some books, providing Draco with some information you considered as potentially useful. Unfortunately, most of the words you were saying weren’t even processed by Draco´s mind. No, he was too busy staring at the movement of your lips when you spoke, the way your eyes mirrored the glimmering of the candlelight around you, the slight frown you held on your face when you tried to filter the most important information from the books in front of you, the way your fingers caressed the pages of the old books tenderly and how you…
“Draco? Draco are you even listening?”
The boy let out a quiet groan. Apparently, everything that could go wrong today would also proceed to do so. Because how should he explain to you that while you did your best to help him and sacrifice your free time to do so, he acted ungrateful and didn’t even listen to you without giving away the reason he simply couldn’t concentrate on anything at all as long as you were in the same room as him?
Draco ran a hand over his face before he nodded.
“Of course I am. Go ahead.”
But instead of doing so, you leaned back in your chair and eyed your friend closely.
“It was a tough day for you, wasn’t it?”, you asked, your voice sounding so much more compassionate than Draco thought he deserved.
And while with everyone else, Draco would have firmly denied that he had bad days at all, or would have blamed everyone else but him for everything that had gone wrong today, when it came to you, he simply couldn’t bring himself to argue. So instead, he just shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
But before you could answer, a boy walked up to your table, letting himself fall onto the chair next to you.
“Here you are.”, the Slytherin said, eyes fixed on Draco before he turned around to you. “Fancy to see you too, (Y/n).”
You smiled at him.
“Likewise, Adrian.”
Adrian Pucey mirrored your smile before his attention shifted to Draco again.
“Flint asked me to look for you. After the training today was… expendable, he wants us to meet up after dinner once more to talk about our tactic. At the pitch at nine.”
You saw the indecisiveness in Draco´s eyes as they flickered in between the parchment in front of him, still waiting to get filled by the words he so desperately needed to put down, and the older Slytherin. You knew Draco well enough to know that the boy was fully aware of where he had to set his priorities today, yet you also knew that he most likely wouldn’t dare to contradict Adrian and therefore Marcus Flint, who happened to be the Quidditch captain, himself.
So before Draco could even open his mouth, you quickly stepped in.
“Draco can´t join you tonight.”
The two boys looked at you with irritation, even though you liked to think that Draco looked also thankful at your words.
Adrian raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“So the two of you finally managed to get your act together and go on a date?”, he asked with a cheeky grin. “I´m sorry, (Y/n), but I´m afraid Marcus won´t let this slide as an excuse. Even if it´s a pretty girl like you.”
You let out a small laugh.
“Charming, Adrian, but Draco and I actually have a date tonight.” If you would have paid more attention to Draco than his teammate at that moment, you would have seen how the boy tensed in his chair, trying to hide all the emotion in his eyes at the mere thought of the two of you finally being together in a way, he had always wanted you to be. However, your gaze was fixed on Adrian, as you added: “Just the two of us and a dozen Transfiguration books. I guess you heard what Professor McGonagall did today?”
Adrian nodded, looking at Draco compassionately.
“And there´s no way you can delay the deadline?”
“Not if we want to make sure that dragon won´t let me serve detention during our next game against Gryffindor.”, Draco spit out through gritted teeth. “I bet she´s only been waiting for a chance like this.”
Adrian sighed in defeat.
“Screw it, we can´t risk that. And Flint´s gonna think the same. I´ll talk to him. Maybe you can meet up tomorrow before the next training to give you a summary. But for now, I´ll leave you alone so you can continue this.” He gestured at the books splattered on the table in front of you before he stood up. “Good luck with this. And (Y/n),” He turned around to you, a playful smirk playing around his lips. “Since what Draco and you are doing here is for strictly academic reasons, does that mean I still stand a chance?”
You couldn’t help the blush that crept on your cheeks at his words. It wasn’t like you were actually interested in the older boy, not at all, and you highly doubted that Adrian´s words were anything but a tease, still, his words flattered you.
“Keep on dreaming, Pucey.”, you giggled, not quite able to look him into the eyes, as you were still focused on trying to hide your blush.
“Maybe I will.”, he winked.
But before he could add something, Draco interrupted him.
“Now get lost, Pucey! We still got work to do.”, he barked, his eyes shimmering coldly as he stared at your housemate.
Adrian raised his hands in defence.
“Don´t worry. I´m already gone. She´s all yours.”, he said, before he actually turned around and walked away, leaving Draco and you finally alone again.
When the boy was gone, you slammed the book in front of you shut with a heavy sigh.
“I think we should leave it for now as well. We can continue after dinner in the common room. But now I need something to eat. And I think you do too.”
You looked at the Slytherin sitting on the other side of the table in expectation of a response, but it seemed like Draco hadn’t even heard what you had been saying. Blankly, he stared at the spot Adrien had stood only moments ago, with an intelligible expression on his face.
“Draco? Draco, did you hear me?”, you asked, your eyes flickering between the Slytherin and the blank spot next to you.
“Why did he say this?”, Draco suddenly asked, not even answering your question.
You narrowed your eyes in confusion.
“Who said what?”
“Pucey. This thing about standing a chance with you. Why did he say that?”
You let out an uncertain laugh, not sure why Draco was bringing this up now.
“I don´t know. He was just joking I guess.”, you shrugged.
Draco nodded, still not looking at you.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?”
The laugh that escaped you now, was genuine.
“Adrian and me? Salazar no! Why would you think that?”
“But you get along great, don´t you?”, Draco pressed.
“Yeah. Yeah, I suppose so. I wouldn’t say we are close or anything, but he´s nice. I like him.”
Finally, Draco tore his gaze apart from the blank spot and instead looked at you. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat as his grey eyes raked yours, nothing in his face giving away what he was thinking.
“You like him?”, he spat, stressing the second word as if it was something nasty lying on his tongue.
“Why are you so surprised about it? I mean, he´s everything a Slytherin is supposed to be. Smart and cunning. Plus, he´s a great Quidditch player and he´s actually quite nice, isn’t he?”
“So? Aren´t I all of those things too?”
There it was. After all, his strange behaviour could be once more explained by his pride. Obviously, Draco was all these things as well. Hell, he was so much more than this. And you loved every single part of him. However, his behaviour was from time to time rather… challenging. But you didn’t mind the slightest. Because, unlike many other people, you knew how to deal with it.
You smiled at the boy calmingly.
“Obviously you are. And that is why I like you as well. Well, at least to name a few things.”
Something in Draco´s eyes changed, his anger seemed to subside and made place for something else. Yet, once again, you weren’t quite sure how to read it. Because while Draco seemed to be soothed by your words, there was also a sadness lingering behind the small smile he threw you.
“So, that´s all there is?”, he asked.
You nodded.
“That´s all there is. No earth-shattering friendship. And “, you added after a moment of hesitation, “Also nothing else. No romantic interest or whatever you have been trying to imply.”
“I didn’t imply anything. That´s what you were construing, love.”, Draco answered, with a sly grin on his face, but you noticed how he visibly relaxed into his chair again. A reaction, that made your heart flutter in your chest, just as the stupid nickname he called you from time to time.
But before you could think about any potential deeper meaning behind his words, Draco stood up from his chair and stretched his stiff limbs, a view that made a small sigh leave your lips involuntarily.
“We should really leave for dinner now, don’t you think? I´m already starving.”
“Sure. Great idea, Draco. Why didn’t I think of that?”, you smiled, trying to fight the ironic undertone in your voice. You didn’t quite manage to, but Draco didn’t seem to notice, with his wand he already conducting all the books to their firm places.
“That´s what I´m here for. Always happy to help you, love.”
“What would I only do without you?”, you sighed dramatically.
“Your life would definitely be so much more miserable.”
“Well, I´m afraid I can never allow you to walk out of my life then.”, you smiled at him.
“As if I ever wanted you to.”, Draco muttered under his breath. Only a faint sound in your ears, like the whispering of the wind, and you weren’t quite sure if you had just imagined it. You just really hoped you didn’t.
After dinner, Draco and you were finally able to work on his essay effectively. This was mainly due to the fact that Draco strictly forbade himself to even look at you once until he would have finished the last stroke of his quill.
It was almost midnight when Draco finally set the last dot, ending exactly at the end of the final line. He dropped the quill next to the parchment and leant back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
“And McGonagall really thought this would be a challenge for me. I bet that crazy cat lady was only hoping I would fail so she could get me to serve detention for the rest of the year. But I´m a Malfoy after all. It takes more than a stupid essay to get me down. Don´t you think so too, (Y/n)?”
When you didn’t answer, Draco glanced to the side, where you were sitting. Even when Draco was done with the research you had helped him out with and only had to write the conclusion and had offered you that you could already go to bed, you had refused to do so, suggesting you could proofread the essay after he was done. And even though Draco had assured you that you didn’t have to and if you really wanted to, you could also do so the next morning, you had told him with a shrug of your shoulders that you would wait for him anyway. You were rather sure that you couldn’t fall asleep knowing that while you were lying in your cosy bed, Draco was still up and working on his homework. And that´s what you had told him too, even though you had had to suppress a yawn when you did so.
But now that Draco looked at you, he realized that for once in your life, you had actually been wrong. You could easily fall asleep while he was still working. Because here you were, proofing yourself wrong. A small smile crept on Draco´s lips as he watched you, your head bedded on your arms that you had crossed over the last book you had been reading. You faced Draco, but your eyes were closed, your lips slightly parted, as you breathed steadily. The boy felt a wave of affection washing over him, as he saw you sound asleep like this. Because even though you hadn’t stayed awake like you had promised, you had stayed with him. You had rather fought the sleep by his side until you had eventually lost the battle, than returning to your dorm, leaving him alone. And after all; how could he feel anything else but adoration when you were looking so perfect, even in your sleep. So beautiful and carefree, making Draco believe that even with all the bad things happening in this world, everything would turn out just fine, as long as you would just exist?
He could have sat there all night, watching you sleep, but eventually, the thought settled in, that if you would stay like this for hours, in a probably rather uncomfortable position, your shoulders crouched and your neck twisted, you would wake up in the morning with stiff limbs and probably in pain. And that was something he couldn’t bear to see. Not after everything that you had done for him today. Quickly, Draco considered his possibilities. He couldn’t leave you like this, especially not all by yourself, but he also couldn’t get you to your dorm, since if he would try carrying you up the stairs, he would probably fall and break both of your necks. The Slytherin´s gaze wandered through the by now completely abandoned common room, until it settled on one of the couches. It surely wasn’t perfect, not good enough for you, but it would do for a night.
Draco made his way through the room to the couch, fluffing up the pillows and got the cosiest blanket ready, before he walked back to you. Careful and anxious to wake you up, Draco picked you up, freezing when you slightly shifted in his arms, but you only let out a small sigh, before you melted into his touch, not opening your eyes once.
Finally, Draco reached the couch, laying you down, loosening the tie that you were still wearing around your neck in accordance with the dress code and tucking you in. When he had made sure that you were as comfortable as possible, Draco stopped in his tracks for a second to take in the sight of you. Carefully, he brushed some strands of your hair out of your face, having to resist the urge to press a kiss on your temple.
“Sweet dreams, love.”, he mumbled, before he went to one of the armchairs nearby, and sat down as well. He wouldn’t leave you alone tonight, not only because he just couldn’t bring himself to leave you yet, wanting to be in your presence for as long as possible, but also because he couldn’t bear the thought that you wake up, alone and irritated, confused on how you had gotten there, being all by yourself. No, Draco would be there when you would wake up. He would always be there for you, no matter what. That was the last thought on Draco´s mind before he slowly drifted off into sleep as well, the image of you sleeping angelically on the couch still in sight, even when his eyes were already closed.
When you woke up, you needed a moment to orientate yourself. Only when your eyes got used to the dim light surrounding you, you realised that you were not in your bed, but in the common room. Slowly, the memories of the last evening started to set in. But some parts were missing. You still remembered how you had been sitting at one of the desks with Draco and waiting for him to finish his essay. At some point, your eyes had gotten more and more heavy, but you had refused to close them. You were rather sure that at some point you had failed and fallen asleep.
This however didn’t explain why right now, you were lying on one of the couches, covered with a blanket, while the fire in the fireplace had almost burned down, the only source of light being the embers, still gleaming inside. You sat up and rubbed your eyes, before letting your gaze wander around the room. That´s when it settled on a figure sunken down in one of the armchairs not far away from you, their blond hair reflecting the shimmer of the ember.
You felt the warmth flushing through your body as you watched Draco sitting there, his head resting in one of his hands, a small frown on his face, even though he was sleeping. By now you could somewhat imagine what had happened after you had fallen asleep and the mere thought of Draco taking care of you, making sure you were comfortable, before he passed out in the chair himself, exhausted from the hard and long day, made your heart beating faster in a way only Draco could do. If that boy only knew what his random acts of kindness did to you.
But as you were watching him, mesmerized by the view and lost in your thoughts, arguing with yourself whether you should wake him up so Draco could actually get to bed or just let him sleep where he was right now, the boy stirred in his sleep, before slowly opening his eyes, and straightening up in his chair with a yawn.
“Morning, sleepyhead.”, you smiled, and Draco´s head spun around, the confused look on his face giving place to a grin.
“Says you, love. An entire herd of trolls could have clumped through the room and you would have still slept like a baby.”
“Can you blame me?”, you yawned.
Draco shook his head, still smiling.
“Not at all. But that´s why you should really go to bed now. We need to get at least some hours of sleep.”
With a heavy sigh, you let yourself fall back onto the couch and looked at Draco with puppy eyes.
“But I´m so comfy right now.”
The Slytherin arched an eyebrow.
“More comfortable than your bed?”
“Warmer. And also,”, you cuddled yourself deeper into the blanket, “You are here.”
Oh, if you only knew what your words did to the poor boy´s heart. But instead of telling you, Draco only grinned cockily at you.
“But maybe I want to go to bed.”
“Or you could just join me here.”, you teased him even though you made your voice sound as innocent as possible before you added in a more serious voice: “Unless you actually want to leave. I get it. It was a long day and if you want to go to bed…”
But you hadn’t even finished the sentence before Draco stood up and walked up to you with long strides. Lucky for him, you didn’t even notice how wobbly his legs felt when he walked up to you, praying he wouldn’t stumble over his own feed, and how relieved he was when he finally sat down next to you. You huddled closer to Draco, who wrapped an arm around you and sighed.
“You know I just can´t turn you down, no matter what you ask from me, don´t you?”
You felt your cheeks heating.
“You´re just too good for me, Draco.”, you smiled.
And you meant it. You knew over all Draco surely wasn’t what people would describe as the good guy, but to you, he was just perfect. And the way he treated you was so much more than you could ever ask for. If you only knew what you did to deserve it.
“There´s nothing as too good when it comes to you, love.”, the Slytherin smiled, before placing a small kiss on the crown of your head, making chills run down your spine.
“No, I mean it. You are. You are perfect in every way. And I have absolutely no idea why you are doing all of this for me.”
A low chuckle rumbled in Draco´s chest.
“You really are that clueless, aren’t you?”
You sat up a bit straighter to look at Draco properly. There was amusement shimmering in his eyes, that were otherwise filled with so much adoration that it made you forget everything else around you. You narrowed your eyes, as you scanned his delicate features.
“Care to enlighten me then?”
If it wasn’t for your own blood swooshing in your ears, you would have probably heard Draco´s heart beating so strong he was afraid it might just jump out of his chest any second.
“Think about it, love.” He stressed the nickname in a way he had never done before. It had always rolled from his tongue so easily, but this time its weight was lying heavily on you. “For what reason do you think I am doing all of this?” Your breath got stuck in your throat as Draco raised his hand, his thumb brushing over your cheek, before he tucked some strands of hair behind your ear, his hand coming to a halt there, fingers tangled in your hair. “For what reason do you think I always want to be near you?” His gaze flickered over your face, scanning all your different features closely, as if he wanted to memorize them forever. “For what reason do you think I get so distracted in a goddamn class by how absolutely beautiful you are that I´m not even able to do my work and even when I have to face the consequences I still rather spend my time looking at you and listening to your voice than dealing with it, even if this will only get me into more trouble?” Was that what had happened? Had Draco actually been so distracted by your sheer existence that he just couldn’t bring himself to care about the class anymore? “And why do you think I got so upset when fucking Pucey had nothing better to do than flirt with you when all I wanted was to spend some time with you?” Draco let out a shaky laugh. “Do you have any idea how hard it was not to hex him then and there? Because trust me, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Maybe the only thing harder than this…” His eyes finally came to a halt, meeting yours, so you could see all the raw emotions lying within them before his gaze dropped to your lips, where it stilled. “The only thing harder than this is to be around you every day, acting as if we are nothing but friends when all I want to do is to hold you and kiss you and to tell you how much I love you and continue to do so for the rest of my life.” Draco let out a breath he hadn’t even been aware he was holding, resting his forehead against yours. “Because it´s the hardest thing in the world, loving someone so much, who is just so oblivious to absolutely everything you say or do.”
Until that very day, you had no idea that a heart could stop beating and hammering in your chest so fast at the same time, but this was exactly what was happening to you right now. All the emotions flushing through you were way too much but at the same time you knew it would never be enough. Not when it came to Draco. Your voice was only a whisper, but you were just relieved that you still had one at all, when you whispered: “Maybe you should just stop pretending then. Because maybe this is all that she is hoping for.”
Draco hummed in response.
“But maybe this is just so much more than I could ever hope for. So much more than I deserve.”
“You deserve to be happy, Draco. And when it comes to me – I´m willing to do whatever I need to just so you can be.”
“Stay with me, then.”, he whispered against your lips, his voice sounding husky. “That´s all I need.”
You nodded.
“I will.”
And when your lips finally met Draco´s all the doubts either of you had ever had just vanished into the air. Because you both were certain that this was right where you belonged. Nothing that felt as good as this kiss could ever be anything but just how things were supposed to be. Within seconds, the world fell into place for you, Draco asked himself how he could have ever doubted that you didn’t love him the same way he had loved you ever since he could remember and you wondered about how you could have ever mistaken Draco´s behaviour for anything but what it actually was. Love. A love that had built up over all those years the two of you had been friends, something you had always known had been there but had never acted on, something that had grown just so much stronger with every single thing the two of you had been through and a love that would continue to grow with everything that you would witness together from this very second on.
When finally, Draco pulled away from you and looked into your starstruck eyes, he couldn’t help the sly grin that made it to his face.
“And you really had no idea?”
You shook your head, the blush on your cheeks only deepened.
“Merlin, (Y/n), how oblivious can one be?”
“Maybe you should just stop beating around the bush from time to time and just tell me what´s going on, Malfoy.”, you returned.
Draco chuckled and placed a small kiss on your temple.
“Fair enough.”, he agreed.
You raised an eyebrow in response.
“Really? That´s it? No arguing? No distraction? No teasing? Merlin Draco, do I need to be worried?”
“Don’t get fooled by it. This is only for tonight. I have a lifetime to do all of those things now. Because I can promise you that now I have witnessed this once, I will never let you go again.”
You rolled your eyes and let out a dramatic sigh.
“What have I only gotten myself into?”, you groaned, but at the same time, you got more comfortable in Draco´s arms again, feeling the tiredness slowly sneaking back into your body that had been forgotten over everything that Draco had told you before.
“Don´t tell me you would want it any other way.”, Draco grinned, as he pulled you even closer.
And oh, he was so right with that.
“Don´t you dare, Blaise!”
“What? You want them to be late for class?”
“Just give them five more minutes.”
“What difference does that make?”
“It gives me time to fetch (Y/n)´s silly muggle camera and capture this moment for eternity. “
“You wouldn’t let them forget anyway.”
“Obviously I wouldn´t. I have to tease them about this for the rest of their lives.”
“Admit it, Pansy, you only want to do so because they look just adorable.”
“Well, maybe. A little bit. But that doesn’t mean I can´t use it against them.”
And Pansy and Blaise were right. Draco and you, cuddled up under a blanket on one of the couches in the common room, Draco´s arms wrapped around you, and your head resting on his chest, the morning sun shining through the window was a lovely sight indeed. And even though Draco would claim to hate his friends for showing around the pictures later everywhere, telling everyone an absolutely heartwarming and totally made-up story about how the two of you had ended up there, secretly he was thankful that they did. Because like that they showed everyone that you were finally his, just like he had always been yours. And maybe – just maybe – he would keep a copy of the picture in his nightstand and in the nights he didn’t sneak down to the common room to cuddle with you until the sun would rise again, he would pull it out, staring at the picture of you in his arms, both of you with a faint smile on your lips, until he would fall asleep. But honestly, he couldn’t wait for a time when he wouldn’t need a photo anymore to look at you, because you would fall asleep next to him every single night and he could just look at you instead. Because who needed a picture when the reality was just so much better than all the dreams he used to have about it, back when he hadn’t even had the faintest idea that not even the best ones would come close to the feeling of actually having you in his arms?
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stuckinapril · 6 months
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Hi Cianna, just wanted to say I really admire your study ethic and general vibe on this blog (you inspire me to do better!)
Do you have any advice/tips for good study habits and staying focused? I find that I get some work done, but after a break I can't get back on track
Sorry for the long ask/ studyblr type of question;; what is your favourite hairstyle that you do with your hair! (I also have curly brown hair :)
Have a lovely day also <3
🌻🌻
hi! i touch on a lot of points in this other ask, but a few specific learning techniques i abide by are:
parkinson's law. parkinson's law states that work expands to fill the time. basically if you have an essay that's due in a week, it will magically take you one week to get it done, even if the task itself could've been done in one day. to counter this i just set artifical deadlines for myself--even if an essay is due in a week, my personal deadline has it due in two days.
prime your brain prior to learning. if you need to study a biology chapter, pre-skim it the night before. this is not the time to go into detail--it's the time to familiarize yourself with the overview of the topic, so you should only be making a quick scan of the chapter. another priming method is to make a concept map of topics before diving into a chapter. as you skim write down key terms haphazardly, google those you don't recognize, and draw a concept map linking them together. this is effective bc it requires you to actually put effort into connecting the topics, takes no longer than 15 minutes, and speeds up the learning process that follows. it doesn't matter if you find out you're wrong once you dive in; what's important is you're actively thinking of how these topics coexist, as opposed to mindlessly taking notes or highlighting only to forget what you learned a couple hours later. i'm also a fan of concept maps bc i get to go back and highlight stuff i'm weak in, which is always a plus.
if you like to take notes, use it as another means of active recall. don't just passively take notes as you go along. what i like to do is i read a paragraph, close the book, then try to take down notes based off memory alone. this helps me both phrase the topic in my own words and realize what my learning gaps are, rather than just passively summarize without putting effort into truly understanding/memorizing something. anything i get wrong i hammer into my brain until i can't get it wrong anymore.
take notes effectively. our brain does not learn in sentences and paragraphs. it learns in bullet points, diagrams, and figures--and that's how i like to frame my notes. first i ask myself if i actually need to take notes to begin with, or if there are online notes out there i can use to save time (which, as a stem student, there typically are). if i do decide to take notes, i never mindlessly summarize. i always condense the material into bullet points, diagrams, concept maps, or visual representations. i also like to phrase my notes as questions rather than just passive summaries, so that when i review them i'm already testing myself in a way. most people would not understand my notes bc they're either very low-yield stuff, stuff i'm weak in, or bare-bones fragments of information.
always prioritize weaknesses. if you're weaker at chapter 18 of your textbook vs chapter 1, maybe start with chapter 18. don't spend 6 hours taking notes on chapter 1 if you're already strong in chapter 1. always attack your weaknesses first.
practice practice practice!! so so important. i owe all my As to mock exams, quizzes i make myself, end-of-chapter questions etc etc. imo practice matters a lot more than passive content review.
interleaving concepts helps with retention. an example of this is i like to do biology and chemistry one day, biochemistry and organic chemistry the next day, physics and psychology the day after... i'm not just doing biology all day, every day. another thing i like to do if i'm in a massive rut is i hop between tons of different subjects on the same day, which keeps me from getting bored/helps me understand the subjects better through distinguishing their differences.
retrospective timetable. an example of this is if i find i'm pretty weak in a particular physics topic, the next few days will disproportionately focus on physics over other subjects. inversely, if i just breezed through a biology chapter, the next few days will have less biology than initially planned. i'm constantly going back and revising my study timetable based on my performance of the day, rather than relying on a rigid prospective timetable that doesn't take into account my progress.
less passive learning, more active. spaced repetition is a big one. i love anki for this bc there's an algorithm that dictates how often topics come up again based on how well you answer them. other methods include active recall, having friends quiz you, and trying to teach the topic to others (or the plushie in your bedroom haha). if you find you're struggling to simplify topics and explain them, that's a sign you don't understand them very well yourself.
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ic-3-e · 29 days
Text
Re-educate yourself on shifting!!
let's get rid of the 2020 misinfo that might be stuck in your head!!
(I've posted a part 2!)
what is shifting? what can you do with it? (clearing out misinfo)
shifting is becoming AWARE OF ANOTHER REALITY! (not your consciousness, your consciousness is infinite and moving it means you will go unconscious in this reality)
everything is possible with shifting. there are 0 limits to it.
you are constantly shifting every single time you change your intentions on something. not exactly every second but you do it so frequently you don't even notice!
every single person can shift. stop limiting yourself and your beliefs.
manifestation and shifting are very similar! they are basically the same concept.
what are some potential blockages?
not taking breaks!!! - you must take a break for yourself, it can be as long as you want just make sure to take breaks from shifting!
giving up. - NEVER EVER GIVE UP. you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
copying off others. (for a very long period of time) - I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow other's tips but you have to remember that everyone's shifting journey is different and that you might not shift by copying off someone who has! find something that suits you the best, experiment with everything you can!
treating it like a chore - you must make shifting exciting and not feel like a chore. as i said realier, take breaks that helps a lot!!
not actually trying/giving effort. - even though some people have shifted by just saying one affirm, that's very rare. shifting is a skill and you must put your effort to learn it!
what is scripting?
scripting is writing down and describing the reality you want to shift in. SCRIPTS AREN'T NECESARRY TO SHIFT but they can really help you with motivation.
you dont need a 50 page essay as a script 😭 - shifting is all about intention, you don't really need to script every single detail possible. just trust your subconscious, you will get what you want no matter if you write it down or not!
how do i shift?
you can use a method, meditation or just your own intention! all of these things lead to one - your intention. you can shift only by intending you want to, but it's not as simple as just saying it in your head. as I said earlier, you must put effort in it.
i suggest you do your own research and experimenting on that and find what suits you the best!
some problems shifters might run into!
"my DR is really loud/has a distracting noise." - script that the background noise is in your DR.
"i can't visualize" - you don't need to visualize to shift. you can find some methods/meditations that don't require visualization. (or just shift by setting an intention)
"i'm doubting shifting/i don't believe hard enough in it" - that's totally okay! i know it all sounds kinda crazy and nobody has truly believed in it until they have actually shifted. countless of people have shifted with doubts and you can as well. i recommend you reprogram your mind using subliminals/reya's method or anything else really.
That's it! Hopefully you learnt something new and this post helped you. I'll probably make more shifting posts in the future.
If you have any questions DM me (honestly i have 0 idea if you can do that in tumblr bc i'm new to the app 😭)
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northern-passage · 11 months
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hey whats up!! i'm someone who is writing my own if, and i'm doing bad over here 😰😰😰 i really need help developing my world, and the northern passage is so so super cool, i've never seen anything like it and i love tnp soooo much. do you mind sharing how you did your worldbuilding, or any tips you have (for the worldbuilding or just in general i have no idea what i'm doing any of the time) or anything you think might be helpful at all in any way please i'm doing bad i'm doing so bad
oh this is funny anon i was just ranting about worldbuilding to some of my friends the other day lmfao
firstable i will send you over to brandon sanderson's lectures on worldbuilding (two parts, lectures 5&6, it's a little over 2 hours)
i assume you're writing a fantasy but i know worldbuilding is also pretty significant for scifi and post apoc settings as well, and kind of an integral part across all 3 genres. so i won't get too specific since idk much about your story but i'll tell you what i did for tnp
so tnp's setting is one that i've kinda been kicking around since like.. high school... but it's changed a lot since then, as your writing from high school always should. but the most basic thing i started with was the environment. i knew i wanted it to be cold and i wanted the ocean to play a significant part in the story, which led me to making it a significant part of the culture, both in the religion as well as the economy.
if it's cold and mountainous then what exactly would sustain the people there and how would their economy function? i already wanted the ocean to be a part of the story, so why not make a port city an important location? the north would focus on trading, fishing and whaling and animal husbandry while the warmer southern areas were perfect for farming. the backbone of Adrania is their port cities and trading across the country between the north and the south.
i'm not really one to get super into this kind of worldbuilding, especially since my story is not focused on this aspect of the world, however it's still important to feel out the basics, imo. you want to have a general idea of what day to day life looks like and how it is this country/kingdom/colony/etc functions. and in a broader sense it's a way for me to find roles for my characters to fill, like as an example: Merry works in tnp because maritime trade is very significant to the two countries present, so of course there would be pirates.
from there, my focus shifted to the story itself: the hunters. when i look back, i didn't really ask myself these questions word for word at the time, but i think this is a good general idea of how i started feeling things out:
1. what are hunters?
2. what is their role in the story and in the wider world?
3. how exactly do they fit in? what effect does their existence have?
4. why are they needed?
5. how do other people feel about them?
you can substitute whatever you need in that first question in place of hunters and apply this to just about anything. those 5 questions will get you pretty far, and will lead you to more questions, too. if hunters exist to stop monsters, then where do the monsters come from? they come from the vel. what's the vel? it was put in place by the gods to confine humanity to one plane of existence. well, who are the gods? and how do the monsters still get through? the gods are xyz and they did a bad job so the vel can be weakened. how can the vel be weakened? because it's blood magic. what's blood magic? are there other kinds of magic, too? on and on and on and on....
if you have a magic system, i once again point you to brando sando. if you don't want to watch the full lectures, you can still check out his 3 laws of magic essays on his website. tnp's magic system is something i'm still kind of figuring out (this is a first draft, after all) but i knew i wanted it to be elemental based +blood magic and i knew i wanted it to work alongside alchemy. i've made changes since then to allow for enchantments and other cool stuff i have planned later down the line, and i know it's something that i'll need to refine in the first 2 chapters at some point. so i honestly don't have too much advice on that one... so go read the essays ☝️ i also feel that these 3 laws can also be applied more broadly to like, how the technology works in your scifi/cyberpunk story as well so i still recommend reading them even if you're not using magic.
when it comes to worldbuilding, the biggest thing you want to do is look at your story and ask yourself... "does this make sense?" which sounds very silly but let me use an example (and also continue the rant i was on about the other day lol)
i was watching a review for fourth wing and i'm sorry to anyone that likes this book but it's a good example of very bad worldbuilding. the rundown is that this is supposed to be a very militaristic society, they force people into military training academies for the sole purpose of funneling them straight into The Military. however. for some reason... they just Kill anyone who doesn't "pass" the super elite training courses....? this doesn't make sense. why would they not just delegate them to another role within the military? why not just use them as cannon fodder? what about the logistics-- who is cooking meals for this military, is there a functioning quartermaster, what about people that just take care of the dragons (they have dragons in this book. we could say horses, too, or any other animal, really)? a military consists of more than just Super Special Elite Soldiers.
you want your choices and story to make sense within the society you've created, whatever that society may be. fourth wing gets compared to the hunger games, but it's not the hunger games. the hunger games had in-world reasoning for the kids to die during the games. there was a society that was built around the games and it functioned in a way that made sense. there is no reason for the kids to die in fourth wing except for the author to make an artificial conflict for the mc that doesn't make sense.
so if you already have your story, and you know what you want to do with it, you need to build a society that compliments your story and that actually allows it to happen. they have to hold hands and get along.
anyways that's a lot of rambling... i hope this helps, at least a little bit! worldbuilding can feel very daunting, but honestly i encourage you to start small like i did - something as simple as the weather and the terrain, and that will lead you on to more and more and more.
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fruit-sauce · 10 months
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im so happy other people have the headcanon of “qsmp eggs look like their parents + start looking like the people they hang most around” because i’ve had that idea since like. day one of the eggs lmao
i’ve only drawn dapper, but! i have many design ideas that i wanna write out (bc i might forget them lol), if you have any questions, feel free to ask them, I love talking about my designs, they are weird and silly and i love them all, i promise i will not be upset if you ask something i will instead by very happy
first, each egg started off basically as a blank slate (this is all with human designs in mind), just whatever is their defining detail but also pure white clothes, white hair, etc. but the more they hang around their parent(s), they go through a transformation and then look like their parent(s), typically after an emotional/impactful moment, like how pokemon evolve in the anime
second, to be more specific, every egg has different “Styles” that match each of their parents, as well as a few having mixes of parents (the beginning 8 [except Tilin and Dapper] and Richas w/ TazerCraft) called Duo Styles. All these Styles represent and resemble their parents in some way. 
Still, these Styles can change over time, fading when a parent is absent, or warping to fit the people (not their parents) that are around them the most. This came from the idea that BBH takes care of a lot of the eggs very often, even being referred to as another parent. but what if he hangs around them so much they start to look like him,,, as an example, now that Tallulah sees Phil as her father figure and wants him to refer to her as his daughter, she technically has two Styles, Wilbur and Phil, but since Bad takes care of her so often, tiny details start to change. most obvious, her eyes are becoming lighter, like Bad’s pure white eyes, as well as the tips of her fingers and fingernails creepily starting to turn into the charcoal black that Bad’s skin is. 
Warping to Styles can be stopped if the egg accepts the person as their parent, in that case, a new Style would be made, and the previous Styles revert to being not affected. 
Negative relationships with eggs or even between egg partners will reflect in the egg’s Style, for example, Mariana and Slime’s... thing they had going on? It showed in JuanaFlippas Duo Style
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this is gonna be an entire essay, i’m sorry, but now its full on ramble time of each egg, some things will be vague, i’m just too lazy to try and describe it fully, while others i have more specific ideas that i wanna talk about ok lets get on with this mess:
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Bobby - Since he had such a close, positive relationship with both parents, Bobby has fully defined Styles of Jaiden and Roier, both having full patterns and even a bit of color in his hair. He also has a Duo Style, again, very developed, comfy, and stylish. As for any particular warping, he wore fingerless gloves (Cellbit), had yellow and green accents in his clothing (Mariana and Slime), and had slightly light eyes but nearly had his hands fully black (BBH)
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Chayanne - Fully defined Style of Philza, even to the point of having small crown shaped arm bands from his stories of Techno. As for Missa, his Style is less defined from not being around very often, but still very Missa, lots of bones and purples/blues. His Duo Style is more leaning towards Phil, but noticeably different from Phil’s Style. His clothing has soft yellow accents (Wilbur), a leather holster for his sword and one shoulder pad (Fit), and lately, his eyes are pure white (Missa Style already had pretty light colored eyes, but they’re now pure white from Bad)
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Dapper - He’s basically Bad’s mini self, I’ve already made a design for him a while back, but it needs to be updated. After Baghera, he now has a second style! Lots of soft, fluffy colors and textures. Owns a pair of sunglasses that he wears every now and then (Max), has some brown accents in his clothing and a dark grey glove on his left hand (Fit), horns have bright yellow tips, his shoes have purple accents, and his hair is braided back in Baghera’s Style (Forever), and his clothes have gold and diamond details (Foolish and Skeppy respectively)
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JuanaFlippa - With Slime’s Style, the ends of her limbs and hair were slime-like and green, and even had one of the slime creatures (?) that Slime has on his head and shoulder. Mariana’s Style wasn’t as defined, but still had the same colors and generally shapes. Her Duo Style was messy and vague, kinda like if you took the two main Styles and mushed them together, instead of being a third new one.
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Leo - Very defined Styles of Foolish, Vegetta, and Duo. Foolish’s Style has many gold and emerald details, and is comfortable to even swim in (because shark). Vegetta’s Style resembles Trunks/Bulla from Dragon Ball because haha funny. While not being a parental figure, Leo does have a Roier Style, with heavy details of Cellbit. They have semi-red horns (Bad), black accents in their clothes (Bad and Max), and fingerless gloves (Cellbit)
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Ramon - Duo and Spreen Style has nearly fully faded, but Fit’s Style, similar to Bad and Dapper, is very much like Fit himself. Lot’s of warping from Bad, charcoal skin goes up past his knees and elbows, horns are almost fully red, and eyes are also nearly fully white. He wears fingerless gloves and has a white streak in his hair (White streak earlier resembled Spreen, but is now closer to Cellbit’s hair)
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Tilin - Never formed a Luzu or Duo Style, and his Quackity style barely resembled Quackity. Bright purple eyes and accents in clothing (Jaiden), bright red accents and spider web details (Roier), red/white shoes and green under shirt (Slimcicle)
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Trumpet - Dan and Duo Styles vaguely resemble Dan at all, but it was still noticeable. On the other hand, Maximus’ Style was very defined. Had pure white eyes and red horns (Bad)
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Tallulah - Again, Wilbur’s Style resembles Wilbur exactly, even after all this time. She doesn’t use his Style since he left, but it’s still exactly how it was since then (aside from warping). She had HEAVY warping from Phil, but since asking him to refer to her as his daughter, she now has a Philza Style. She has a lot of colors in her clothing, im gonna have fun designing her (i say, through gritted teeth) Her hair is now a lighter brown, nearly a dirty blond, and is braided back (Forever), eyes are fully white, hands are becoming that pure black, and she has many black accents in her clothing (Bad), a white streak in her hair and some dark brown accents in clothing (Cellbit), previously had dark brown eyes, still has light brown/blue accents (Fit), previously had dark blue accents(Quackity, not anymore tho), and her horns are purple (Jaiden). I’m gonna regret doing this once I get to drawing her design but its ok i’ll survive. maybe.
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Richarlyson - Style for all five parents, Felps is the least defined but still there, and TazerCraft does have a Duo Style. He also has a Quackity Style, but that has been slowly fading since the arrival of El Quackity. Red horns and black accents (Bad), yellow accents (Baghera), and a few emerald details (Foolish)
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Pomme - Has five Styles, but Kameto’s is basically just a dark blue dress since he was barely there, all others are very defined. Consistently has bright blond hair in all Styles (Forever), red accents in clothing (Forever and Bad), and has some black accents (Bad)
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This is gonna be the death of me but I just needed to get these ideas and designs out of my head, I draw so slowly and I didn’t wanna forget anything so spitting them out in text form was my best bet, once i finish this kirakira precure drawings, i’ll start drawing these out, some of the wording might be confusing, i apologize, but it’ll all make sense once i draw them out
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alexanderlightweight · 10 months
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Hello! For Writing Wednesday could we please have some more Spoils of War or Created for Death? I’m obsessed with both of these to an insane degree:
What I love about SoW: tentative!Alec whom Magnus has to work at gaining trust from? I love it. There’s a line in one part about Magnus having to fix how the Clave broke Alec before Magnus can gentle him and I just—gorgeous, perfect, headcannon accepted. Veiled consorts? Hooooooly that’s so cool omg I swear I heard a symphony in my head when I realized where you were going. The mask? Alec’s hesitance and obedience, thinking everything is out to hurt him but doing it anyway because what choice does he have, is so beautiful, and Magnus mourning a little that he didn’t have more time to make the experience better for Alec but not willing to risk the delay and risk Alec growing even more distant is just 😍—lmao I could write an essay about how much I love this universe.
CoD: I fucking love eldritch angel nephilim and this is giving EVERYTHING. Nephilim who are cobbled together projects of the angels, their biology so skewed by angelic power that even the nephilim don’t know what their children will look like/heal like/die like. Mostly the difference being subtle, but sometimes Not. Raised to hate and fear their full potential, anything that is Too Angelic, and Alec a living hearsay/blasphemy even when his blood was only 30/70 because if it. AND THEN. It’s not losing Jace that tips Alec over, it’s Magnus dying—demon-born prince/king of edom enemy of the Clave. So gorgeous, holllyyyy. I can’t even think too much about Magnus collaring 6-winged Alec, about Alec kneeling for him, about the terrible kindness and protection in Izzy disowning her brother, about the gentleness of Magnus hiding Alec away and covering his eyes and hushing him because even the ANGELS wouldn’t know what to do in this situation, with this new body, and then Team Immortal coming in and IMMORTALITY and wow
Anyway yeah sorry for spitting up my lovestruck brain in your asks but I had to make sure that you knew you’ve struck me deeply with your writing and that’s why I’m begging on your doorsteps for literally any content in either one of these verses 💜
i'm very glad both stories are being enjoyed so much and please don't apologize i love stuff like this! it's a huge compliment but also it's just really nice to see that other people are as into and obsessed with my verses as i am. because sometimes i wait for my sleep meds to kick in and i just plot where i'm going and end up passing out in the middle of a mental scene being written lol
so i wrote a thing for spoils of war and thank you! i'm glad it was enjoyed because i have this big headcanon about how consorts are really magically important to warlocks and magical kings if dominion magic is in the fic and a big thing about that is protecting the consorts identity. via masks but also cloaking the consort in so much magic that you can't even tell anything abut them besides what the warlock allows you to know. and there is a lot of history thats hinted at
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for created for death
izzy was fucked up about that, okay. but she had to relinquish alec as a brother because otherwise the clave still had ties to him. since they don't need them anymore, the clave sort of doesn't let true nephilim have any rights. so alec had to be disowned as a nephilim and then magnus was basically like 'okay but my magic is on him so hes mine since i calmed him down' and izzy was like 'he totally counts as a weapon. yours now. because thats the safest thing for alec atm
so alec is actually 70/30 and most nephilm are 30/70 in a angelic/mundane equation. which is why he was being kept watch over by the clave but uh, the fear of magnus dying kinda made him lose it
i hope you enjoy this!
<3 lumine
spoils of war
Alec doesn’t know what’s going on.
Magnus didn’t bother explaining what the ritual was or what it did beyond that it was yet another bonding ceremony. But even their political wedding that signified the end of a war didn’t feel this elaborate.
Alec knows it doesn’t really matter, that he’ll be taking part in the ritual whether he knows what it does or not. In fact, it's almost better not to know than to know what he might need to do.
Alec can’t say no to whatever is going to happen and he knows that, so he takes comfort in the fact that he can still see. The mask has magic in and through it and Alec tries not to consider where it’s from and why he can feel nephil magic still fading from it.
Instead, he concentrates on Magnus and his magic and puts out the thoughts and details of his surroundings, like being watched by over a thousand warlocks and their companions, all hidden with their faces hidden behind a variety of masks.
It’s daunting to be here, to be taking part in something that feels so old and sacred when Alec was supposed to be no more than chattel. Fodder for a war built on the blood of innocents that Alec’s own people started.  It feels wrong to be here so defenseless and yet know that Magnus’ magic will protect him better than any weapon.
Carefully, Magnus uses magic to take off Alexander’s ceremonial collar and he instead replaces it with a loop of pure magic that will slowly take on more and more power until the image of it will always become whatever Magnus wishes it to be.
For now, however, it is a tight loop of deep purple magic that pulses with Magnus’ magic and power in time to Alexander's every breath.
It’s a show of power to summon a single adamas arrow — one that Alexander gave to Magnus by his own hand — and hold it without harm. Alexander sucks in a startled breath — perhaps at the sight of one of his own arrows or that Magnus can hold it with ease — and Magnus can feel him quiver under Magnus’ palm.
“My protection is absolute. When you bleed it will be because I wish it, for no other is allowed to spill your blood.” Magnus uses the arrowhead to nick Alexander’s upper lip — just as he cut the lower with the stele — and then he leans forward to lick it off and suckle the cut until he earns a whine of pain.
“The flames of Edom will devour all before allowing anyone to touch you without my permission.” Magnus promises and his fingers dance with flames that brush harmlessly over Alexander’s neck — the shard of Magnus’ soul claiming Alexander in an undeniable way that will protect him from harm in Edom.
Alexander seems torn between leaning forward and stepping away and Magnus knows his boy better now than he did when they were wed. Alexander needs no leash as Magnus first thought, just a steady hand and Magnus’ voice.
The bonds between them are the only tether Magnus will ever need with Alexander.
“Sweetheart—” Magnus teases, his voice caressing Alexander with magic and he can see how his boy shudders at the sound and feel of it. He steps forward unconsciously, he's been instinctively drawn to Magnus from the very beginning and Magnus croons and reaches out. His palm blooms with hellfire before settling on Alexander’s hip and Magnus pulls him closer still.
“Should any look at you without being graced by my benevolence, their sight shall be consumed by my magic. A payment for stealing a glimpse of what is only mine to see.”
Magnus’ vows are instinctive and there is a primal surge of delight as he takes the ritual a step further, cursing any being who would dare look at Alexander’s uncovered face without his blessing.
It’s an old tradition.
Older still than the ritual Magnus is using and it’s something that has been out of style for over three centuries. Magnus still remembers the stories of how the legend of Medusa started. A warlock desperate to protect her gorgeous consort cursed her love with a vicious, loving protection.
Magnus knows now that Alexander expects to be a spectacle.
A disgraced nephilim in the eyes of his own people, traded away for a peace bought with his soul and virginity. Alexander expected to be paraded around as a mockery, a whipping boy for the clave to offer to the warlocks and it’s clear that’s what the clave told him he was.
But Alexander is not something to be gawked at.
He is not someone who Magnus will allow others to see, not to admire and certainly not to laugh over. Alexander is his consort and if that means that Magnus veils him in magic and curses all those who dare look upon him, then so be it.
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demonic-narwhale · 3 months
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Ok so like Die, he's a pretty morbid or views death in a very "it is, what it is" and maybe even comedically. But it's only towards the death/misfortunes of others, but with his owns it's like he doesn't really want to die but at the hands of another person being the reason. If he's gonna die, he wants it to be at the hands of himself. Like he's the type to talk all big about wanting to die (in certain circumstances) but when it's time to, he resists and like realizes he doesn't want to go just yet??
HK is just squeamish with the thought of being the one to kill and death. But, like when it comes to dealing with bodies of strangers, she's managed to adjust to dealing and disposing of them. Years of The Felt just does that to one I guess lol. So of course there's more weight when it comes to the death of someone she knows (even if The Felt members will just come back later). But when death hits her then it's like, she accepts (nah she gives up fighting) and rolls with it.
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OK OK OK SO THESE TWO OUAGhh a whole ass yapping session under the cut, and yes. If needed to. I will write a fucking essay on this.
Wow, Eel having a thing for opposites having/being able to learn from each other and building themselves up from that...aough
to start off, I like to view romance as a very "it depends on the people involved in it" sort. Like even troll romance not all quads are actual romantically based. SOooo maybe other relationships like moirails will have some romance while others won't. Why? Just so I can finagle different relationships teeheee.
Pots of Gold, basically, Business Partners. It can have some romance or platonic sprinkled in. Usually, it's for either everyone to get something out of it or can be one sided/only for one person's gain.
But between these two, just transactional like. As in, they both get something out of it through this "partnership". There's no sense of romance or even platonic feelings between them. Well, HK's like a hint of platonic as she tends to worry for the wellbeing of Die and genuinely can enjoy his presence for some reason.
Die, I like to think is fascinated with bodies and its inner workings. And carapacians, they're a whole new species for him! Like Snowman's there, but c'mon. It's Snowman. And I like to think that since HK's just there, then it's just so convenient for him! Like of course there's also other carapaces that The Felt come across that aren't The Midnight Crew and Die can get his grimy hands on some subjects. But again, for convenience's sake, and cuz members of The Felt can't really die-die (I headcanon Doc Scratch being able to reverse time enough to reset everyone, further explanation in a comic in the future) so Die has the ability to mess with her and can go "hey let's see if this sticks after you come back HK" sorta thing. That, and he knows HK craves being able to fulfil other's wants and needs to the best of her abilities, people pleaser ass.
HK wants to help be there for Die as she believes that as her being the house keeper for The Felt, not only is it that the manor needs to be kept in tip-top shape, but also the members. She doesn't have a desire to "fix" him, but instead to help set him on a path where he can fix himself on his own volition or something. Also, she just feels pretty bad for that fucking loser. She gets the gratification (and maybe even false pretense) that she's actually being helpful! Like, she genuinely doesn't want him to have to change everything about himself just for the sake of others (very funny coming from her) but she can't help but worry.
So in this case, you can say it's one sided as it's really HK the one showing some fondness towards Die, but Die doesn't really dabble in that sorta stuff. I like to think that he's just used to shutting people out/down as he's pretty much some sort of punching bag in The Felt. And it's not easy for him to open up and he simply just doesn't want to. I don't see Die as the type who'd actually want any semblance of a "relationship" with another, in either a romantic or platonic (? i can see with some specific members that he'd be comfortable with) sense, he's just there. So like, aromantic thing going on. But that doesn't mean he's strictly opposed to having some sort of friend/acquaintance??? It's hard to explain my thoughts on that guy. But he does manage to get along with some of the others. (I would explain but that's a whole 'nother thang) Also it could also just be him being paranoid that something will definitely go wrong??
So, with this Pots of Gold being strictly one-sided or "business partner" like where both Die and HK get (some sort) of thing out of this, it just kinda fits for them. That, and just the differences between these two make me giggle. Die being cynical and even enjoying dark humor and sometimes even jaded* while HK being a credulous or gullible, maybe even naive, because she's really fucking dumb guys come on. BUT BUT BUT switching that whole shit around??? like omg * note: Die isn't always jaded or unemotional. I like to think he can be just as petty, dramatic and animated when needed. Like overreacting and such. Hell, the guy can be quite expressive whether that be negative or on the rare occasion, positive.
HK slowly having to learn that things are different, she's no longer Historiographic Knitter or on Prospit, and having to deal with The Felt (and even Midnight Crew + others) kind of begins to open her eyes, aware of what's going on ya know? Like pretty much needing to grow a shell (hA) to deal with all this.
And with Die, oog being able to slowly be forced to adjust to someone who's got a different thing going on. AOugh how do I explain... he's slowly getting used to seeing someone who actually enjoys his presence. And like how he's not one to show some sort of "im getting fond of you" sort of reactions, he actually slowly does, in really small unnoticeable ways that probably is just like a "that's the bare minimum" sort but it's something!! Like giving HK a slight nod, like that! THAT oough. Oh HK would be entirely delighted!!! And them learning how to deal with others opposite of themselves, like HK needing to learn when she needs to stop and give others their space and not come off as overbearing when she means well. And Die to learn how to try to stop always assuming the worst will happen/out of others and their actions.
They're both in a sense stepping mats like they get walked all over and such in different ways. And are The Felt's clean up crew, Die gets to do with he wants with the bodies and HK will dispose of them (the garden/yard thing). Also, they get to rant and ramble to each other about anything really even if Die will end up telling HK to shut up, or will just shut himself up on his own and not speak to her for days hehe
Also also, oh goodness, Die being able to just be unapologetically (probably even brutally) honest with HK* when she's being stupid/too soft and her having to slowly learn or come to terms with reality through Die... and then, Die being able to be treated like another being on a daily enough basis and being listened to. Aughhh. Of course, some of the other members are concerned-ish for him, but his tendencies to disregard others make it hard for the other members of The Felt to befriend him, hell it annoys some of the others too. Being able to feel like he's just another guy, like everyone else, instead of this annoying freak. OAguh
*And to note: It's also the fact, that he knows that HK won't have to guts to tell him to shut up. But that she's going to actually listen. Whether she takes what he says to heart or not, it's him being able to just express his thoughts.
OH MY GOD AND NOT TO FORGET: Thanks to the (questionable) ways Die experiments or studies HK's innards and such, it also helps him further his fascination/satisfaction with being in control but also! it helps HK with not needing to be so squeamish and fearful of injuries and such. Like she's still gonna kick and sob but slowly, it'll be more of her dealing with it with eyes filled with tears and not trying to trash around!!! win moment
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Also, I shall name this uh thing "Patchwork" because I know people like Die, and I wanna make sure that like even if this is far from a relationship between them, if people don't wanna see this sorta stuff, they can block the tag
(also Patchwork is just funny to me. Cuz like HK with her whole "used to be Historical Knitter and then Die dabbling with pins and such. And like they both need some serious work but also also also slowly patching each other up in their own wacky ways)
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pluralprompts · 6 months
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do u have any tips in case a singlet wants to write a system
This went unanswered for a long time because We were going back and forth about answering this with an essay but honestly? The best tip I can give is to not overthink it.
Plenty of singlet (or possibly singlet) writers write plurality very well! I think it's a decently common joke for systems to point out how random characters are basically systems in all but name when that may not have been the author's intention. The thing about plurality in fiction is that it's a trope in the way gender fuckery can be a trope; people can write plurality without knowing about IRL plurality and people can write about gender fuckery without knowing about IRL gender fuckery. Plurality is such a natural concept (and extrapolation of wondering about the self/personhood/one's body/a number of things, really) that people can write it without being aware it's a reality for some folks. It's not that weird for an author to go "what if this person was actually many persons" (whether metaphorically or literally) and add that to their story. It's just a thing that happens.
So, I guess I'm saying that you don't need to put a lot of pressure on yourself on getting everything exact or realistic so much as just letting your story breathe with the plurality you add to it. Especially with how different systems can be; we're a really diverse bunch, so something that makes one system go "That's me!" will inevitably make another go "This isn't like me at all." Don't worry so much about being realistic or resonating with every system out there. And again, don't overthink it – the only thing I'd really recommend you ask around about is how plurality affects different areas of people's lives. You'll probably get a variety of answers, so choose what works best for your character, but the point is that being a system is something that affects a lot more of one's life than one might think (especially when it comes to making decisions; we've got to take each other into account for those), so including that makes your character really pop out to us plurals.
Because the thing is, although a lot of singlet writers are good at writing plurality, they're not always good at keeping it consistent. And by that I mean they seem to forget it exists whenever it's not immediately relevant to a scene, treating the system's plurality as only a plot device, rather than something that affects the character. Plurality can be a plot device, but if it's only ever treated as that and the author conveniently forgets the implications of it (like how it affects everyday life, or how the character might feel about their plurality, or how others might react to it), it becomes rather hollow. It's failed potential, in a sense. Like when a really cool detail of a character's past gets brought up for one paragraph and then never again, or a character detail is casually mentioned but the reader goes, "Wait, shouldn't this be a big deal?" You don't have to make your character's plurality an emotionally big deal, but it should still be an important aspect of their life, and that's the hole most of these authors fall into; they know plurality as a trope, and they know how they want to use that trope, but they limit themselves to how they want to use it, and don't see how they could be using it in other ways – how it might be more logical to use it, even.
It's a double-edged sword, this awareness of plurality only as a concept. Luckily for you, you have plenty of examples to turn to about the wacky, mundane, and upsetting stuff systems get up to in everyday life, and how our plurality affects us (and if you want to ask about specific scenarios, plenty of systems are fine with answering questions like that!). Include bits of that here and there, and you're good to go.
TLDR: if you're adding a system character to your roster, don't work yourself into a tizzy trying to get everything "right", but ask yourself every once in a while if/how their plurality would affect things. The only things we ask are to not rely on the evil alter trope and to not reduce plurality to an unimportant detail or something that doesn't really affect your character, since even if it's something casual to the character, it's still something that's constantly going to be a part of them.
(Oh, but as a final extra tip... since no one way of writing a system is going to resonate with all of us, go ahead and embrace that. Make your character's plurality specific to them, and ask lots of questions about what different aspects of system life are like to them. What's switching like for them? Do they have memory issues? Does their family know? Does anyone? What's their origin(s)? Do those origins still affect them today? Do they have an innerworld? Stuff like that! It's a whole new world of character customization, so go ham and bring your character's system to life.)
Hope this helps!
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katkit-42 · 5 months
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I haven't finished hbomb's video yet, so I know he mentions this but IDK if he expands upon it more later BUT
In the illuminaughtii bit, he points out how YouTube video essays are a very collaborative art form. People ask for tips about editing, people talk to each other, people work together--hell, even individual channels often have teams working together.
And that's what makes me so sad about the Internet Historian and James Somerton's plagiarism. Like, I loved the "Man in a Cave" video. The script was top notch. I'm so mad that IH stole the entire script wholesale because if he had reached out and asked, I feel like it would have been really cool. If he had said "hey, Mental Floss/Lucas Reilly, I would love to use this article as a script", he still would have gotten the views (as he did provide the narration, the other voice actors, and the animation), but so would the other creator! Without Reilly's writing, the video would not be (and is not) as good. I don't know what career Reilly wants, but no matter what it was, having a video that went that viral would have given it a huge boost. It's not just that IH stole the revenue, IH stole future career prospects that Reilly deserved.
And then going onto James Somerton's videos. We all know that every video is basically a "collaboration against people's wills". If you truly thought all these people had great, worthwhile ideas, why didn't you truly collaborate with them? Why not truly work with the writers? And it's not impossible to do so. Somerton [allegedly] read Tinkerbells and Evil Queens. He [allegedly] watched The Celluloid Closet. It's not unheard of to take a bunch of articles about the same subject and synthesize them together into a cohesive narrative--he's READ THE BOOKS THAT DONE THAT [allegedly].
But I know why. It's because these guys (and Blair and Filip and people who do this) want to be the ubermensch. They can't help but want to be the one-man team. They want to say "I did this and no one else" and bask in how amazing it is for one person to put out such high quality work at such a high quantity. They can't stand to share the spotlight.
And they make more bank this way.
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pinkch3rie · 1 year
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~coquette self care tips~
🍒 have a skincare routine that suits u! 
there’s no need for a 10 step skincare routine, all you really need are makeup remover, cleaser, moisturizer, some special treatment serums if you really need it, and sunscreen. If you want to figure out if there is an area in need of improvement or how to treat a special concern, one thing I’ve found helpful is to go back to the basics and add products after having that routine for a while. 
🍒shower on a regular basis and take care of your teeth. 
this should go without saying but take care of other parts of your body too. your teeth are so important and brushing them regularly is the best way to protect them, especially if you’re like me and live for sweet treats. as for a shower routine, you only need a body wash/soap that you like the smell of, some type of exfoliant, and lotion. again, do not fall into consumerist traps that is not very lana del rey vinyl of you. 
🍒pretty ppl need pretty hair
wash and condition your hair based on your hair type! and by that I mean wash it as often or not often as you need to. In between washes, use a hair oil/serum to keep ur luscious locks healthy. same as skincare, start with a very basic routine and add onto it as you see fit. If you dye your hair, try to maintain your color so that it doesn’t become patchy. finally, don’t forget to style your hair everyday! they do not need to be intricate, but i find doing a cute hairstyle just makes me feel better, even if it is a very slight change. and sleep on a satin pillowcase.
🍒get ur beauty sleep
I love sleeping but I can’t always get my 8 hours, either due to school work or I just can’t fall asleep. to solve that, i started to use a shit ton of fairy lights and other ambient lights in my room, and turning them on after 10pm. I also suggest doing something fun but relaxing when you’re ready for bed, no matter how late it is. this helps ur brain destress and get better quality sleep. for me it is crocheting/reading/watching a youtube video. I also recently started wearing vintage slips and nightgowns instead of pajamas, which not only are cute but also very comfortable. oh and i think having sex before bed also helps me fall asleep but it’s completely circumstantial. 
🍒spice things up w/ accesories
having a signature scent is important, but I also love having a signature jewelry. instead of buying more lesser quality pieces, invest in 2 or 3 well made, gold or silver quality pieces that you’re going to wear everyday. some motifs i personally love are hearts, fruits, initials, and bows, but yours can(and should) look different. the great thing about these pieces is that you can just keep them on your body at all times, saving time and effort in the morning. 
🍒romanticize school/work/errands/whatever you need to do
oh you have to go to school? that is so cute it’s so americana unreleased lana del rey. but you have to work at a shitty minimum wage job? it’s ok so does *insert whatever character you want*. you have to go to a stupid 4 hour lab for your chem class that’s only worth 1 credit? it’s ok ur a woman in stem and isn’t a lab coat all the smart girls wear in sci fi movies? have an essay to write? you’re literally just like a journalist girl living in nyc working for an editorial. stay delusional but don’t let it go to your head
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searyyn · 6 months
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Any tips for new artists?
Honestly, I could write a long essay on tips for artists, got a whole lot collected over the years.
But I don't want to bore you, so I'll try to keep it short to essinsials.
To break the rules you need to learn the rules
No matter what style you want to go for, it's important to learn stuff like for example: anatomy, basic human proportions, length of limbs, look into how the muscles are placed, the distance between the facial features, and so on. Depending on your style or the characters you draw, you can twist the proportions accordingly, but it's very useful to know how they work by default.
"Practicing" is not everything, how you study is more important than how much you draw
This one is pretty simple, the better you structure your art studying and the more you focus on learning rather than just plainly drawing, the faster you will improve. But ofc only learning can be boring and make you feel burned out, so it's good to balance drawing for fun and adding some study to it too.
Draw the things you 'hate' drawing
For the new artists, it's usually hands, feet, armpits, different face angles, you get the idea. And I'm sure you are aware that beginner artists love to hide their character's hands ;3 If you don't like something on your picture - pull out some tutorials and references, learn, and draw until you like your result. Hands can be a nightmare, but it's so satisfying when you get them just right.
Use references, both irl and from other artists.
Basically, grow your mental library, look at photos of people, look at artists that you like, note what colours are being used, how they shade, what kind of lines they use, how they work with lights, and where they place highlights. You can try to copy things that you see, but it's important to understand what you are copying. Studying the works of others is an important step when you're learning. Studying from irl references helps you to avoid mistakes that some artists may make.
And finally (this text got a...bit bigger than I planned) I'll send you to the person whose videos helped me a whole lot to learn how many things work, anatomy mistakes, colouring, and just general mindset on how you should approach drawing Marc Brunet, check him out!
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gen-is-gone · 1 year
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having some Weird Thoughts currently about tumblr's place in the modern internet ecosystem, vis a vis twitter melting down, macebook/feta losing its shit, and a bunch of folks joining up here either for the first time in years or the first time at all.
namely, I really do believe that automattic/tumblr's current leadership is very very slowly and very very carefully implementing a bunch of changes in preparation to bring back adult content in its entirety, as part of a larger scheme to try to monetize without resorting to data scraping (which is basically impossible to do here the way it is on other sites anyway). it certainly seems like that's what they're doing, between post+, the tip jar, community labels, and the ability to make posts non-rebloggable. obviously these features have plenty of use outside of adult content (except maybe post+, which makes literally no sense outside of sex work), but what they seem to be doing is building up a logistical means by which to allow adult content, and allow it to be monetizable.
and like, no, I don't think tumblr the company is Our Best Friend; yes it is a company that needs to profit under capitalism to survive, but so is everything, and there is genuinely something funny and weird (in a very stupid, ironic way) about tumblr as a social media site operating in the 2020s. It just legitimately doesn't have the capacity to scrape data and sell targeted ads the way the giants of the modern internet do, both because it is a product of an earlier age when that wasn't yet a standard profit mechanism, and also just 'cause like. tumblr's fucking code is shit. I'm sure it's a lot better than it was circa 2012, but jokes about tumblr's legendary goof goof dildo spaghetti code used to be really common, and anyone who's been here longer than a couple months either remembers or at least has heard of just how weird and fucked up and bad the site's basic functionality used to be. Legitimately, the reason why tumblr feels so nice rn compared to the heyday is as much because it's just so genuinely more functional than it was ten years ago as it is because there's so comparatively few people.
but point being: if tumblr under yahoo had been handled with any semblance of basic competence, they might've seen which way the wind was blowing w/r/t targeted ads and data sales and we might have an entirely different, much worse hellsite than we actually have. or it probably would've died because yahoo would've actually fully ran it into the ground, more likely. but also it probably wouldn't have worked because the assumption of anonymity is so much more baked into the incredibly weird, broken, decade and half's worth of layered bullshit code that even if anyone previously could've realized that the smartest way to make money would be to scrape and sell data, they'd never have been able to implement it.
and so we have the tumblr of today: weird, unmarketable, ungovernable, proudly cringe, and deeply resistant to the mainstream. so not actually that much different to tumblr circa 2012, if a lot smaller and more battle-hardened.
but like. by the standards of what's available on the modern internet, tumblr is honestly one of the best, most versatile spaces still standing with any amount of a userbase? straight up, the dominance of twitter and instagram has made a lot of people really oddly perplexed by the concept of being able to write detailed essays in the body of a post, let alone the idea of dozens of images per post, or audio like, at all. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things about tumblr that I wish were different or better that just aren't compatible with how tumblr is set up at a base level as an LJ user every day I miss threaded comments and LJ-style cuts I LAMENT them I tell you, but of the options out there, tumblr is fucking wild in what it can offer. but I don't just mean for artists and fandom and weird little gremlins like those of us who've been here this whole time, I mean like. fuck. like.
watching the White House's twitter account try to lay out complex policy initiatives in 280-characters is fucking painful sometimes, and yet we've all gotten used to it in the past decade plus. leaving aside the fact that it's bonkers and deeply unsettling and generally bad that world leaders are beholden to usamerican for-profit corporations to communicate in general, of all of the socmed sites out there, it's kind of insane that twitter is the one that got big in the official political scene. (don't get me wrong: twitter is genuinely quite useful for disseminating quick bursts of information in crisis, and it's been fucking brilliant for coordinating in both natural disasters and evolving political/social disruption. but it's terrible at detailed, nuanced information sharing)
I don't know where I'm going with all of this necessarily, and I think twitter eating shit and going down in flames is pretty terrible for global democracy even as it is also on a surface level funny as shit. I don't want tumblr to replace twitter, or facebook, or insta, or tiktok, in being the place where everyone lives online. I want tumblr to stay as the little gremlin art ho fandom clown car, and lbr, it probably will. It'll probably never be what twitter is, for better or for worse. who knows if it'll ever be what it was in 2012 again. I like the ecosystem the way it is these days, with way fewer users, most of whom have been around the block more times than we can count, and are too jaded to start shit anymore. but tumblr needs money to survive, and as much as we're all enjoying posting cringe, tumblr's twitter is pulling off a masterwork balancing act luring twitter users over here, and it's working.
tumblr needs to do what it can to survive. we still don't know if all of this effort staff has been putting in these past ~10 months or so will be enough; the writing has been on the wall for years now that if tumblr doesn't find a way to financially justify itself, it won't survive another sale. automattic took a maybe unprecedented (and extremely positive, imo) risk this past year, and has been trusting current staff to listen to user input and implement positive changes, including finding ways to monetize without invading users' privacy, which who knows if the site even has the capability of doing anyway, even now. if we are all very lucky, and are willing to pitch in and treat this place like our community, we might even collectively succeed, and prove to the wider internet that it is possible to run a popular, high-traffic website without compromising user security. if tumblr is doing what I think they're doing, and very carefully building up a secure, socially, financially, and legally defensible way to support adult content on a site with american servers and a place on the app store in the 2020s, then we're off to the races and who knows where we'll go. if twitter does actually implode beyond salvaging, a huge chunk of the world will feel its loss, and many people, including all the normies and politicians and your mom, could very well cast their gaze to the website people wrote off as in its death throes four years ago. they probably won't, but as I was just vividly reminded earlier today, the White House did, in fact, have a tumblr once upon a time. who knows what the future holds.
but John Green deserves an apology, you weeaboo shits.
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