#closed starter — ⁞ ❝ aren’t relationships great? ❞ | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jupitersdescendant · 23 days

Text

hey everybody and welcome back! todays reading is a bit shorter than usual but i hope no less satisfying and helpful.

today’s topic: what are your dreams trying to tell you?

here’s how it works: close your eyes and meditate on the question for a little. if you feel ready, open your eyes and choose the pile you feel the most drawn to. it’s possible, that you’ll be attracted to more than one pile. please remember that this is a general reading so only take what resonates. this is for entertainment purposes only. lastly, tarot is only a guide, nothing is set in stone and at the end of the day you have the power over your own life.

side note: can’t believe i forgot to write down the cards but i did.. please forgive me lol

Pile 1

hi pile 1!

i’m seeing fire as a reoccurring theme in your dreams as well as the colours red and orange. fire is a powerful element and an especially destructive one at that. in your dreams you are most of the time afraid of it. though the fire in your dreams isn’t there to scare you away but to beckon. to show you how to embrace that side of yourself since i’m pretty sure that you carry a fiery energy in yourself and often feel things very deeply, maybe even overwhelmingly so but aren’t really comfortable with that energy. your dreams encourage you to accept this side of you and to go out there and be fearless. be generous, helfpul and supportive to those you care about and to yourself of course. don’t forget to be mindful of who you give your energy to. it looks like you carry some type of burden around and throw yourself into work to take your mind off of things but also to make yourself feel better and somehow more worthy at the same time.. though fear of failure could plague you as well, don’t we all love that. please don’t overwork yourself and try to be more proud of how far you’ve already come. work isn’t everything and it’s definitely not the self care you should be practicing instead. you’re doubting yourself a lot as it seems and often feel unworthy or not good enough but you’re totally missing all the great parts that you also carry within you. i’m seeing that you’re very passionate and strong and that you care a lot about the things you love. try to surround yourself with people that make you feel free and that encourage you to just be your own beautiful and proud self.

let me know if it resonates! have a great day/night 🖤

Pile 2

welcome pile 2!

for starters, your dreams often make you feel uncomfortable and restless. you may have a lot of bad dreams or even reoccurring nightmares. with the lovers being the first card that dropped out and upright at that, it set the whole vibe of the reading. it does seem like there’s some kind of love interest in your life that you often see in your dreams as well. you experience a lot of self doubt in this situation and feel powerless. you want this relationship to move forward but you hesitate. it looks like you are very very scared of what might go wrong when you move forward with this person. i can basically see all the worst case scenarios in your head over piling in your head and this also shows very clearly in your dreams, hence the nightmares. dear, standing still is never the option and definitely not the solution. i think you want to enter a committed relationship with this person. you need to act. i think the seeds for what you desire are already planted and growing but they need your care if you really want them to flourish and grow into something beautiful. the only thing holding you back is you. i think this delay takes real damage to your energy, especially your feminine one and this makes you even more insecure. self-doubt really has you in a tight grip. i understand that you’re scared (been there done that) but when you want what or better who you want you can’t just ignore that, with time you’ll only get more and more sad and frustrated with yourself. you gotta make a move towards your person of interest, even if you have do it blindly and scared. the only way is through. and sure, maybe you’ll find out that they don’t feel the same way and it won’t be easy to accept that but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t great and loveable. it means that they aren’t right for you and why would you want what isn’t meant for you anyway? but maybe, if you put yourself out there, you’ll be blessed with something really beautiful that will probably make you way happier than the way things are right now. either way, you can do this and don’t forget that you’re loved and never alone. <3

let me know if it resonates! have a great day/night 🖤

Pile 3

hi there pile 3!

so you’re dreams are basically trying to tell you to make a decision. it seems like you can choose between multiple things that will all have different outcomes of course. this scares you. the context of the decision will differ for everyone but you’ll know what i’m talking about. its time for you to pack your thing (literally for some of you) and go on a new journey but you’re blocking yourself with indecision. you focus too much on the negative and everything that could possibly go wrong with your choice. because of that you fail to see all the things that could go right and with that the abundance that’s waiting on the other side. don’t forget that you’re ready to start something new or else you wouldn’t have the opportunity. animals way be really present in your dreams and maybe also in your waking life, specifically birds, reptiles and insects. your intuition may be blocked because of self doubt but try to go within and listen to what your heart tells you. it’s funny because you’re dreams are literally telling you to wake up and to charge into the unknown. i have to think about a book i recently read about self confidence and it’s importance when it comes to decision making: a part of that confidence really depends on you trusting the world to meet you where you want to go, even if that means stepping into unknown territory. i know making decisions can be very scary especially when it might change your whole life but you have to believe in all that you can gain. you’ll feel so much more freedom when you’re finally moving forward with purpose and will. trust that success, independence and security are all waiting on the other side of fear. you can do this.

let me know if it resonates! have a great day/night! 🖤

Pile 4

hello pile 4!

it looks like you aren’t that secure in yourself, your energy and your skills and abilities, at least at the moment. you feel out of touch with yourself. you’ve bern feeling this way for quite some time. you could currently be easily triggered and irritated by the smallest things and may not be really sure why. maybe you’re not even that aware of whats going on on the inside and that’s why it all comes out in your dreams. actually, it seems like a lot of you are in a relationship or at least some type of situationship and i think your frustration and disconnect stands in direct relation to this. i think the biggest problem here is that you probably aren’t honest with yourself and also not to your partner/person which leads to both of you feeling discontent as well as stagnant. it looks like you care for each other deeply but things may be really rocky at the moment. because of this there’s this theme of being scared of change, maybe resisting it and behaving in negative patterns. you’re scared to loose this person. some of you may be physically separated from them at the moment. your dreams are urging you to open yourself up and to communicate clearly. i can’t really tell where this situation is headed since it will differ for everyone but if you’re truly honest with yourself you know whats wrong and where you want this situation to go. it takes courage to communicate things that are difficult to say though it’s only fair to you and the other person. let your feelings out, only this way will you gain clarity and justice. i’m actually seeing a really positive outcome for you filled with new beginnings and opportunities and good news.

let me know if it resonates! have a great day/night! 🖤

🔮thanks a lot for reading! 🔮

#divination #pac reading #pick a card #pick a card reading #pick a pile #pick a pile reading #tarot reading #spirituality #pac tarot #witchcraft #tarotblr #free tarot readings #dreams #pick a picture #tarot community

108 notes · View notes

immasock · 4 months

Note

Hi, its me again

I was wondering if you could do a platonic relationship with Luke and what the other characters react to that because they are like not very similar ig (also im sorry if this is too much)

It’s been god knows how long and I don’t really play either game anymore but I’m back and I’m doing all of the requests in my drafts

Also I wasn’t sure if you meant Child!MC or Adult!MC so I went with Child!MC. If you want me to do Adult!MC I will gladly do that tho. This one was fun

Platonic!Luke + Child!MC who aren’t very similar

Pronouns: They/Them

MC and Luke. The best of buddies. How? No one knows. Opposites attract, I guess

Luke has always been very energetic, loud, opinionated, and cheerful. Overall a joy to be around

MC on the other hand. Very much keeps to themselves. Doesn’t really speak up, is kind of a chronic people pleaser, and it’s rare you ever see them smile. Not that they’re upset, they just don’t smile often

Luke and MC are pure opposites, but somehow their friendship works

Lucifer:

Well for starters

He already likes them more

They’re quiet, they don’t cause much trouble, they do as he asks

They’re easy to manage

Plus them not being an angel doesn’t hurt

He was a little surprised that MC and Luke seemed to get along so well, but kids will be kids and honestly, as long as it doesn’t mean more paperwork for him, he doesn’t care

It is a little nice to see MC enjoying themselves tho

Mammon:

I think that Mammon would still attach himself to this MC pretty quickly

They’re a people pleaser and so it’s likely that they would go along with his schemes pretty easily

Plus they’re a great listener and we all know Mams needs someone to listen to him without being an asshole

New friend

Yay

Mammon already acts like an older brother to Luke so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind doing that for MC too

He’s overall just happy that the two of them are getting along and that they have someone to hang out with when he’s off doing something else

Leviathan:

I can’t see him caring all that much to be honest

I think he’d prefer MC over Luke at the beginning, mostly just because they’re not likely to cause a mess in his room

But he ends up adoring both of them of course

In his own way

I can see him being a little jealous at how quickly the two of them clicked

Not because he wants to be besties with Luke or MC

But because it was so fast and came so naturally

He wants a friendship like that

So I think he’d be kinda salty for a while

But eventually he’d get over it once he starts getting closer to the two of them himself

Satan:

This man does not give two shits imma be honest

Don’t get me wrong

He likes MC and all

They’re a great reading buddy

But, the way he sees it, why would he care about two kids being friends?

I mean, it’s interesting to observe

They’re so different, they don’t have anything in common

And yet they’re still close friends

But other than some slight intrigue over the dynamic regardless of the differences between the two, he doesn’t pay much mind to it

Asmodeus:

He’s obsessed

He already thinks MC is the cutest little thing and so when he sees them with Luke, he thinks it’s too cute

They’re just adorable together, yknow?

How could he not

MC is basically the brothers younger sibling

And Asmo knows that MC is very reserved and quiet

So seeing them come out of their shell a little and have fun with Luke?

Melts his heart

I feel like he’d take a bunch of videos to show his brothers cause look how cute this kid is

Beelzebub:

I feel like Beel would be another that was just happy that MC has a friend

He’s really that supportive older brother type that’s just happy you’re happy

Plus MC can help Luke make him treats

He’s not complaining

Beel would be happy that MC has a friend they’re so close to, but otherwise he’s got other things to be doing

It’s not that he doesn’t care, he does

He’s just got practice to go to and food to eat

He’s a busy boy

Belphegore:

Once again

Just like Satan

This man does not give two shits

He likes MCs personality a bit better at the beginning tho

Cause like

He’s already pissed that he’s gotta spend time with a human

So he doesn’t need one that’s always super extroverted and loud and cheerful

He appreciates that if he’s gotta deal with a human, at least this one can chill the fuck out

They would honestly make a decent nap buddy once MC and Belphie start getting closer

Diavolo:

He’s another puppy dog type

He’s really just excited that they’re here and that they’ve made a friend so quickly

After all, he doesn’t want them to feel alone down in the devildom

I feel like he would try to make the two of them have little tea parties with him

Luke and MC look like they’re having fun and he wants to be included too

Barbatos:

Really, he’s got much more important things to be doing

He’s got a castle to run and a prince to watch over

I feel like he would happily schedule the tea parties that Diavolo wants to have with the two of them tho

Him and Simeon give off dads scheduling playdates for their kids vibes

He would absolutely be sure to make you both little treats tho

Simeon:

When I tell you that this man is so hyped

His son has a friend

He could not be happier

He is more than happy to let you both spend all the time you want together

He’s a little confused since you both are drastically different

But who is he to complain?

Luke has a friend

Really just a supportive dad

Solomon:

Look

I love Solomon

He’s my wife

But I feel like he would be the type to view the two of them as some sort of lab rats

Or at least

He would try

Simeon, Lucifer and Barbatos would put a stop to that before it could start

No way in hell are they letting Solomon fuck with these kids

He’s a little shit and I love him dearly

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me mc #obey me child mc #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me solomon

61 notes · View notes

callsign-dexter · 5 months

Text

Never Again

Request: hey love I just saw your angst starter sentences list and I don’t know if you are still doing it so if you aren’t just ignore me lol I have a few so you can pick and choose(or if you don’t like any of them you don’t have to do them no pressure)

maybe with Maverick and daughter you could use this one

-i’m never going to let [her/him/them] hurt you again.

Starter- I'm never going to let [her/him/them] hurt you again.

Pairings: Maverick x Daughter!Reader, OC!Nichole Bradshaw x Daughter!Reader, Maverick x OC!Wife!Nichole Bradshaw

Warnings: angst, bullying

Masterlist

miscellaneous angst starters

A/N: Thank you to the person who sent this in! The same request from the same requester that had three different starters. The other two fics can be found here: Jake Seresin x Daughter!Reader and Tim Bradford x Daughter!Reader.

A/N 2: Goose is alive in this one.

Your father Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell was married to Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw’s sister, your mother Nichole Bradshaw, they got together shortly after Goose introduced them to each other when he and Carole Bradshaw had dinner and invited both of them over. After 6 months of dating, they got married and then Carole and your mother got pregnant at the same time, Bradley was born a day before you. When you and Bradley were introduced to each other the two of you became friends fast and could go to one another when you needed someone and your parents weren’t available. You both became a brother and sister to each other, despite being cousins. You both were always with each other after school.

You and your mom have a great relationship. She was so fun and happy to do things with you even if they were ridiculous. She was basically the female version of Goose but then again, they were twins so it made sense. You and your father also have a great relationship. He matched your wild side and the two of you got into a lot of trouble with each other but you both would smile and take the punishment. Both of them were smart and that smartness carried on to you basically you were a perfect mixture of Mitchell and Bradshaw.

School and you never mixed well, always the new kid and never staying in one place to actually make friends, you had Bradley and that was the only true friend you had. You also didn’t like school because of all the jocks they had and they weren’t nice to anyone and if they were then there was something up and you had to watch your back. You were really smart which drew a lot of attention to you especially from the jocks, they had pressured you into doing their homework just so they could get good grades and so they didn’t get kicked off whatever team they were on. Bradley saw this happening and tried to help but you just pushed him away and he never once walked away from you. The jocks never became violent and you were thankful for that. You had promised Bradley to keep a secret and as much as he didn’t want to he agreed but he alway voiced his dislike for it.

You and Bradley were 16 years old now and just started Junior year. Your fathers had gotten a permanent position at Top Gun and were loving it. This had been the longest you both had been in a school. You both had made some friends but none of them were as close as you and Bradley. The pressure of doing the jocks homework had gotten worse and it was the senior jocks who were the ones doing it. Again they hadn’t gotten violent but you had turned a couple of them down especially when they wanted you to do an essay for them is when they started to become more forceful and you were getting scared and there was only so much that Bradley could do to protect you. When they got forceful you got scared and said you would do it.

It was a Thursday morning and you were dreading getting up and going to school but knew you had to and plus Bradley was going to be there so that made it all better. Your alarm had gone off and you just laid there thinking of all the possible things that could go wrong. You must’ve laid there for a while because your mother was coming into your room with a frown that said she was concerned. “Are you ok, honey?” She asked stepping you into the room and going to sit on your bed.

“Yea. Just don’t want to get up.” You told her looking at her with your blue eyes. She smiled and chuckled.

“We all have those days. Your dad made some breakfast and he set some to the side for you.” She said running a hand through your brunette hair, hair that was identical to your dad’s.

“I’ll be up in a minute.” You told her and she smiled and kissed your head and then got up and headed out of your room as you started your routine of getting ready for the day. You sighed knowing what the day was going to be like and you were not looking forward to it. It didn’t take you long to get ready and then you were heading downstairs into the kitchen where your dad was. He looked up and smiled.

“Good morning, Sunshine.” He said with a radiant smile that never failed to make you smile.

“Morning, Daddy.” You replied back to him and walked over to him and he kissed the side of your head and then he handed you your plate.

“Hurry up and eat. Your Aunt Carole will be here soon to take you and Bradley to school.” He said and you nodded as you sat down and began eating. You took your time eating and this made your parents worry, you weren’t their peppy little girl. They gave each other a look and had a silent conversation to talk to you later after school. There was a knock on the door and your mom went and opened it to reveal Carole, Bradley and Goose. They greeted each other and then they were walking into the kitchen as you were putting your plate away. You greeted them and when they noticed you weren’t the peppy little girl that they knew they frowned and grew concerned. Bradley gave you a look and you looked back at him and you both had a silent conversation.

“Alright guys! It’s time to go!” Carole said in her usual happy voice and you grabbed your backpack and kept your eyes down as you headed to the car with Bradley following when you both got outside leaving the adults inside, he stopped you and turned you around to face him.

“Are you ok?” He asked

“I have a feeling something bad is going to happen.” You said

“Maybe you need to stay home. Say you’re sick.” He said and you shook your head.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Everything is going to be fine.” You said and he gave you a look that said that he didn’t believe you but didn’t get to say anything else because the adults walked out of the house. Goose and Maverick didn’t have to go in today due to the jets being grounded for routine maintenance. Carole, Bradley, your mom, and you got into Carole’s car and then the three of you were heading to school. When you arrived you, all bid your goodbyes and I love yous and then Bradley and yourself were heading into the school.

You expected to be hit with the football team but for some reason they weren’t around and you sighed in relief. Bradley and you had the same class schedule so it worked out that he was like a bodyguard to you and you both were ok with that and you both had the same friend group.

It was nearing lunch when you saw the team and you tensed up and Bradley saw this “Hey, Mitchell!” They yelled out and you hesitantly turned around to them.

“Brody.” You said with caution. He was the captain of the football team and had money so he thought nothing applied to him.

“I need you to write a paper for me for history.” He said and you looked at Bradley and he gave you a look that said ‘don’t let him do this to you’ and for once you listened.

“No.” You said and that surprised Brody but he quickly replaced it with anger.

“What do you mean no?” He asked stepping up to you but you held your ground.

“I mean no. I’m done doing your homework and essays for you. You can do them yourself.” You said no sure where this confidence came from but liking and Bradley was smiling.

“You don’t tell me no. You’re doing my essay.” He said pushing you into Bradley. He helped you steady yourself.

“She said no, Brody. She’s done being your puppet.” Bradley said, standing up for you.

“That’s not a decision for you to make. You need to tell your boyfriend to stay out of this.” Brody said, turning his attention to Bradley.

“He’s right. I’m done. Also, he is my cousin.” You told him and that made him turn to you quickly and you thought he was going to break his neck with how fast he turned. He grabbed you by the shoulders and pushed you into the lockers making you hit your head and see stars. Bradley was quick to rush to your aid.

“Like I said you don’t get to tell me no. I told you that there would be consequences if you told me or anyone else on the team no.” He said, you somehow found our voice.

“You’ve been bullying me into doing yours and the football team’s homework and I’m done.” You said and a flash of anger flashed across his face and he went to punch you but Bradley punched first and then it turned into a fist fight. It didn’t last long until a teacher came out and Brody came out with more injury than Bradley.

“What is going on?” Mr. Anders asked as he walked up to the action with Mrs. Slick.

“Nothing. He started it.” Brody said and Mr. Anders looked over at Bradley and raised an eyebrow.

“Is this true?” He asked and Bradley shook his head.

“No, Brody started it. He pushed Y/N into me first and then into the lockers and made her hit her head.” Bradley said and they looked over at you and you had visibly paled.

“Brody, principal's office.” Mr. Anders said.

“What?! Mr-” He started

“Now.” Mr. Anders said and he huffed and sulked off and then Bradley and Mr. Anders turned to you.

“Are you ok?” He asked but you didn’t say anything. Your ears were ringing and there was wetness on the back of your head. Your eyes rolled in the back of your head and you began to collapse as Bradley caught you and brought you down. “Woah.” Mr. Anders said and followed you down. A crowd was forming “Everyone get back to class now.” He said and everyone scurried away while another teacher Mrs. Slick came out on the phone with 911. The ambulance came and loaded you up and headed off to the hospital. They weren’t going to let Bradley ride with you but he was your cousin after all.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Maverick and Goose were sitting in the Mitchell household working on some projects that your mom wanted done when Maverick’s phone began to ring. He pulled it out and saw that it was your school calling and he frowned which caught Goose’s attention “Everything ok?” He asked and Maverick shrugged.

“The kid’s school is calling.” He said as he answered it.

“Hello?” He asked

“Admiral Mitchell, this is Miramar High School. I’m calling in regards to your daughter Y/N Mitchell.” Mrs. Fender said

“Is everything ok?” He asked

“I wish I was calling under better circumstances. Your daughter has hit her head on the lockers from being pushed. When asked if she was ok, she collapsed into Mr. Bradshaw’s arms. She is on her way to the hospital now.” She said and Maverick paled and thought he was going to collapse and Goose grew concerned.

“Thank you for calling. I’ll let her mother know and we’ll head there now.” He said

“Very well. Mr. Anders will be with her and Bradley.” She said “Goodbye.” She said.

“Goodbye.” Maverick said and they hung up.

“Everything ok, Mav?” Goose asked

“No, Y/N got hurt and is at the hospital with Bradley.” He said

“Is she ok?” Goose asked concerned for his niece.

“I don’t know but we gotta go. I’ll call Nichole on the way there.” Maverick said as they headed to the door and Goose grabbed the keys to The Bronco. Carole and Nichole were out having a girl’s day since they’re work had to be closed for a gas leak. They got into The Bronco and Maverick called his wife.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

You had woken up confused and to the smell of medical cleaning supplies. At first you just looked around and then you saw your mom and dad there. “Mom? Dad?” You asked and they smiled sadly at you and got up from their chairs. They looked like they had been crying.

“Oh, Honey.” Your mom said and put a hand on your cheek and you leaned into the comforting touch.

“Bradley?” You asked and they smiled.

“Want them in here?” They asked and you slightly nodded but winced in pain.

“It’s ok baby.” Maverick said taking over when your mom left the room. A few minutes passed and The Bradshaw family was coming into your room. They carefully hugged you and you looked at Bradley who had his head down and you knew what he had done but you were ok with it you wanted them to know. “What happened?” Your dad asked and you sighed knowing they wanted to hear it from you.

“Brody, the captain of the football team, was bullying me into doing his homework and essays and I had enough and told him no and he got violent.” You said looking at them.

“How long has this been going on?” Carole asked

“Since we started high school.” You said “Bradley told me to stop but I didn’t listen.” You added tears escaping your eyes. Nobody said anything, they were mad but not at you.

“What grade is he in?” Goose asked and before you could answer Bradley did.

“He’s a senior and 18.” Bradley said and the look on your parent’s faces morphed into anger.

“He’s 18, practically an adult and he physically hurt a 16-year-old, a minor, might I add. He can get in trouble for this.” Your mom said.

“We’re pressing charges.” You dad added and you nodded in agreement “I’m never going to let him hurt you again.”

“I want him to get in trouble and charges pressed. I don’t want anyone else to end up like me.” You said and they nodded.

“We’ll do so when you get out of here.” Goose said and you shook your head.

“I want it done now.” You said looking at your mom and dad with your dad’s color eyes.

“Ok, baby. We’ll get an officer in here now.” Maverick said that is exactly what they did.

A few minutes later a doctor and a police officer came in and everything was taken down and recorded and then they were leaving saying that everything looked good and promising. They wanted to keep you overnight to make sure nothing was damaged. Bradley, Goose, and Carole left saying that they would be back after work and school the next day.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

True to their word they were at the hospital the next day after work and school. Bradley was smiling and you raised an eyebrow. Brody wasn’t there today and then your phone began to get notifications and you looked at it and smiled and your parents raised an eyebrow and you turned the phone to them as the first line of an article showed “Brody Links 18, son of wealthy multi business owner Marcus Links, arrested for harming and putting a minor 16 in the hospital.” and they smiled and Maverick walked over to you and hugged you.

“See, I said I'm never going to let him hurt you again.” You dad said and you smiled as tears of relief fell.

“Thank you, dad. I love you.” You said and hugged him back.

“I love you too.” He said kissing the top of your head as you buried your face into his chest. Everything was going to be ok now.

Tag list:

@kmc1989

@els-marvelvsp

@atarmychick007

@nyx2021

@grandstrangerphantom

@angenu01-blog

@talesofreading

@callsign-revenge

#maverick x daughter!reader imagines #maverick x daughter!reader fandom #maverick x daughter!reader fanfic #maverick x daughter!reader fics #maverick x daughter!reader #daughter!reader top gun #daughter reader top gun #top gun x daughter!reader #top gun x daughter!reader fanfiction #top gun fanfiction #top gun imagine #top gun x reader #top gun fan fiction #top gun fanfic

77 notes · View notes

itsroxie · 2 years

Text

Book recommendations for Black Women

If you’re a black woman I highly recommend reading these books. All of the books listed can change your mindset/life drastically if you apply their advice to your day-to-day life 🤍

(most of the books listed were written by a BW so if you could buy them that would be great but for those who are on a budget you might be able to find some of the books listed here: Link )

Top Starter Books

“Black woman you’re f*cked” by A. Maddie Dee (Amazon)

- This book may be triggering for some. Especially for those who have trouble with accountability when it comes to the black community, but it can be an eye-opener if you push through it. The author takes her time breaking EVERYTHING down and promotes self-perseveration. Honestly summarizing this book won’t do it any justice, just know it's a MUST-READ.

“The black girls guide to Financial freedom” by Paris Woods (Amazon)

- I love this book and I am not exaggerating when I say this guide gives you a step by step instructions on how to achieve financial freedom. You’ll learn how to avoid debt, build your wealth, invest, etc. The book is easy to understand it serves its purpose.

“The self care prescription” by Robyn L. Gobin (Amazon)

- Our mental health is really important. If you aren’t ready for therapy yet, don’t know how to start prioritizing your mental health, or just need some tips this book can be a great resource. Written by a black woman: Robyn L. Gobin, Ph.D. a licensed psychologist.

“F*ck that cape” by Jennifer Arnise (Amazon)

- If you have trouble putting yourself first and need help working on your self-esteem this book will assist you with all of those issues, and hopefully, help you realize you don’t have to play captain save a hoe with everyone in your life.

“The sojourner’s passport” by Khadija Nassif (Amazon)

- Do you want to see a change in your life? Do you need dating advice? Like actual dating advice that takes into account the current state of the black community. Well, look no further, this book will address every concern you can have and ways you can get your dream life. (Heads up this book is catered to / for DARKSKIN BW)

“The smart girl’s guide to getting what you want” by Mary Hartley (Amazon)

- Do I really need to explain? It’s pretty self explanatory right?

“Stop wearing the pants” by Chloe (Amazon)

- For those who want a life of leisure, and are interested in hypergamy and femininity this book will answer all of your questions regarding the lifestyle. It’ll help clear up any confusion you may have about the topic and the purpose of hypergamy.

“How to ask a man for money” by Ava Venus (Amazon)

- Men are gonna be a part of your life (even if you aren’t attracted to them), so it’s best that you learn right now 👀 closed mouths don’t get fed 🤐

Bonus Books

“Difficult Mothers Adult Daughters” by Karen C. L. Anderson (Amazon)

- If you didn’t have the best relationship with your mother growing up this book is a godsend. It’ll help you navigate your relationship with your mom and show you ways to heal from your past. (there is also a journal you can use with this book. link)

“No Thanks” by Keturah Kendrick (Amazon)

- If you wanna hear more about ditching the cape but from another author No Thanks gives you that perspective.

“The Black girl’s guide to being blissfully feminine” by Candice Adewole (Amazon)

- Please don’t be turned away by the title. It’s none of that YouTube femininity coach bullsh!t. The black girl's guide contains regular advice on how to take care of yourself mentally and physically. While getting in touch with yourself whether it's through traveling, developing your skills, learning about your culture, etc. Highly recommend it if you want a bit of guidance. It also has a little bit of financial advice.

I hope these books help y’all through this journey called life 🤍

xoxo mrs.degree ❣️

p.s click on amazon for the links

#feminine black women #black women in luxury #hypergamy #high maintenance #mrs.degree resources #spoiled girlfriend #educated black women #adulthood

180 notes · View notes

ryker-writes · 9 months

Note

Congrats!! I couldn’t send this from my secondary, oh well, but I’d still like to take part in the matchup event!

Overall personality:

Really depends on who you ask. People upon meeting me for the first time tend to say I give off a serious, mature, and responsible vibe whereas those who have known me longer say that I am quirky, passionate, but assertive. I have multiple faces that I put on: one for work/professional settings, one around family, one for friends (and even so that can be split into multiple categories depending on how close I am with you). So multi-faceted is a good term to describe me, as I ‘m always adapting and changing to meet my surroundings. That also means not alot of people tend to know me, but I’m ok with that as I like distance and privacy in my personal life.

Hobbies:

Video games—otomes, gacha games, visual novels, JRPGS, and life simulators like Animal Crossing are my jam, tabletop games, musical theater, cosplay, ice skating, horseback riding, reading (historical fiction, fantasy, or gothic horror especially), listening to J-rock or alternative music.

Likes:

Spending money on gacha games, Italian food, traveling, ancient mythology and medieval history, horses, scrolling social media

Dislikes:

A lot of food as I’m a picky eater—in particular, mushrooms, bananas, seafood, and olives are big on my no list.

Cold or rainy weather. I have low cold tolerance.

***I’m also absolutely touch repulsed, so I’d like someone who isn’t too handsy or openly affectionate.

Preferences:

Someone introverted works best with me, although extroverts (to a degree) are ok too—what’s important is that they respect my need for personal space and alone time.

I don’t care about height too much.

Ideally, they can share some of my hobbies or are open to learning. They can’t be too pushy or demanding, as I tend to do things at my own pace. They may have to take the reins and be the more ‘mature’ one in the relationship at times or be able to scold or guide me in the right direction if needed.

ALSO they absolutely will have to deal with me:

Being a childish picky eater, my frequent forgetfulness and messiness, me holding grudges for the most petty of things.

Love language:

Receiving/giving gifts

I can hoard almost anything that my s/o gives me, ranging from notes to presents and basically any object given to me with good intention. It’s nice to be reminded of someone this way when they aren’t around, so I guess I’m kind of sentimental.

Thanks for doing this!

Thank you dear anon!

"Ah, the first anon matchup! I had a pretty good idea of a few people I wanted to give you, but as I kept reading, I feel I was able to narrow it down pretty well until I had two candidates to choose from. But in the end, I feel I made the right choice for you.

I'm putting you with my dear friend Ruggie!"

I was torn between Trey and Ruggie for you, but in the end I settled on Ruggie because I liked the relationship dynamics a lot more than Trey's

Ruggie loves you sooo much

for starters, he may not have very much money, but he loves to spoil you with gifts!

he sometimes works extra hard and takes an extra job or two just to get you something special

and he absolutely adores and treasures anything you get him!

Ruggie is a very respectful boi too and would absolutely only give affection that you've stated that you're comfortable with

he would never want to do something to make you uncomfortable or that you didn't like

he also has a great memory (and is kinda petty himself) so he'll totally help you remember things when you need

he loves to spend time with you while you're playing games too and he likes to listen to what you tell him about history or your games

there are times when the both of you get to act childish together, but if need be, Ruggie can be the mature one

just don't expect it to be all the time and he won't expect the same from you

generally with Ruggie, he has your back with however you're feeling that day and adjusts accordingly

pls do give him any food you don't like tho he will eat it in a heartbeat

#ryker the matchmaker #twisted wonderland matchups

5 notes · View notes

levelzeo · 11 months

Text

Level Zeo's Brilliant Diamond Nuzlocke - Part 5

Hello there my friends. Glad you could join me again for my Nuzlocke updates, where I talk about both the details of my Nuzlocke and the personalities and relationships I come up with for my Pokemon. If for some reason this is the first one of these you're seeing, or maybe you missed a part, you can check out parts 1, 2, 3, or 4, and then come back here. Go on. I'll wait. Just for you. Once you're ready, let's get into things!

Current Team

Simmer the Monferno

Boof the Bibarel

Doc the Golbat

Petard the Geodude

Orion the Luxio

Puddle the Psyduck

Boxed Pokemon: 6

Deaths: 1

Badges: 2

With our second badge obtained, I am able to cut my way through the trees blocking the Galactic Building. My team would definitely all be in agreement that the stolen Pokémon must be returned to their friends and families. With resolve in their hearts, we enter this den of evil.

For a den of evil, they kind of just let us walk in. Sure there are Grunts who attack us, but they aren’t really a threat, and at least half of the Grunts just stand there and talk to us. Between this and the Grunts in the Windworks not knowing what the plan is, Galactic seems like a poorly run organization.

While we fight our way through the building, Boof has apparently developed enough Friendship that messages begin appearing during combat. I find it telling that the first one is “Boof seems worried about battling well”. Boof has been an invaluable member of the team thus far, but she knows that Bibarel have never been known for being the strongest Pokemon out there. The time may soon come where she needs to be replaced. Whether that means just going to the box, or something else…

I’m more pleasant news, Doc has also grown in friendship! While he is still not fond of Simmer, he has taken great joy in traveling and fighting with the team, and taking out the incompetent Galactic Grunts makes him happy enough to evolve into a Crobat!

With the newly evolved Doc, we make it to the top of the Galactic building where we find the city’s bike salesman failing to confront another Galactic Commander. We have no choice but to take them on ourselves!

Against Commander Jupiter, the first enemy is a Zubat. Boof is easily able to take this one. A first Rollout brings Zubat into the yellow, and a Poison Fang barely does anything in return. The second Rollout is more than enough to win.

Second up is Skuntank, and Simmer steps up to the plate for this one. He begins with his usual move, a Power Up Punch. It does less than anticipated, and Skuntank is able to land a Poison Gas. Summer feels his nerves creeping up on him. This won’t be as easy as his last few fights. A second punch does more thanks to the attack boost, but a held berry means that Skuntank still won’t fall to the next attack. Snarl from the skunk does a small amount. The next turn features a third punch and a Flamethrower from the Skuntank. No single attack has dealt much to Simmer, but alongside the poison damage, the Monferno is beginning to sweat nervously. One final punch takes out the opponent. And then Aftermath kicks in.

It’s a close call. If Simmer had been a level lower, or a single one of the Skuntank’s attacks had dealt a little bit more, my starter would have been done for. We got lucky this time. Simmer is able to survive the Aftermath damage, and the battle against Commander Jupiter is won. The Monferno is definitely deeply shaken by the experience. Petard tries to calm him with some light jokes, but I think Puddle’s more meditative approach works better. Even so, it is not an experience he will be able to get over easily.

With Jupiter defeated, the Galactic building is completely evacuated, and the bike salesman is saved! We leave the abandoned facility and get ourselves a bike, as well as an Exploration Kit, giving us access to the Grand Underground! I would do more with it, but upon entering my first cave, I run into a Bidoof that's a few levels higher than my team, so I decide it would be safer to leave and level up more before finding a my unique encounter.

With a bike in our pocket, we travel south down the cycling road, fighting off the cyclists who try to get in our way. Before moving on, I make a quick stop on Route 206 to find an encounter. I end up with Sundancer the Ponyta. She has a Sassy nature and Likes to Thrash About. She’s a wild child, enjoying nothing more than showing off her speed and power. She’s also one of the few fire types I can get in this game if I understand correctly. I put her in the box, hoping I will not need to make use of a replacement fire type…

Continuing the journey, we enter Mount Coronet. Shortly after making my way into the mountain, I run into a strange man named Cyrus, who I’m sure is not important at all and will never come up again. He muses about the creation of the world and the concept of strife for a bit before moving on. I don’t know what he is on about, but he’s certainly right about this being a special place. Being in these tunnels, within such an ancient mountain, it awakens something within my earthen party member. Petard evolves into a Graveler!

Also, while we walk through Mount Coronet, I get another new encounter. Ziz the Meditite has a Careful nature and is Somewhat Vain. Similar to Puddle, she has been spending her time meditating to hone her abilities. But they are not the same. Ziz believes her physical and psychic abilities are meant to exceed those of all others, that she is a chosen one. I imagine that she acts very calm about being put into the box, but inside she is filled with outrage over this injustice.

Exiting Mount Coronet onto Route 208, I discover that I have already caught all of the evolutionary lines that can be caught in the grass here, so I look up where I can get a Good Rod to fish instead. It looks like I’m lucky, because there should be a fisherman right after the next city, Hearthome, who will be giving out fishing poles.

I enter Hearthome city, a place I will probably want to explore more later, but for now I just make a quick visit to the contest hall so that the path to Route 209 will open up. However, on my way to the Route, I am ambushed by Melvin, my rival. I completely forgot to heal after arriving here in Hearthome, so I am terrified.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about. My rival is a chump. Puddle beats Starly with one Water Pulse. Simmer beats Roselia with one Flame Wheel. Orion beats Prinplup with one Spark. And Petard beats Ponyta with one Bulldoze.

With Melvin put squarely back into his place, I am able to go to Route 209. There, I pick up my Good Rod, and I decide to get an encounter in the grass before going back to 208. I end up finding Soleil the Mime Jr. She has a Sassy nature and is Strongly Defiant. She is a performer, a purveyor of entertainment, and one who demands to be the center of attention. If I made her a member of the team, I believe she would demand to be the primary fighter in every fight, type advantage or not. Into the box she goes.

Over on Route 208, I go fishing and end up with a Barboach. Her name is Wiggle, and she has a Relaxed nature and a Sturdy Body. I picture her as the silent type, conveying her thoughts solely through facial expression and the way she wriggles about. There is a mad scramble to get her in the ball as she brushes off blows from the team, but once she is caught she goes to the box without any objection.

But those two aren’t the only Pokemon I catch! I go back down into the Grand Underground now that I have a few more levels under my belt, and after wandering around for a while seeing Pokemon I’ve already caught, I encounter a cave of glittering gemstones, and drifting between them is a single Duskull. I catch him, and name him Vex. He has a Serious nature and is Capable of Taking Hits. An older gentleman, Vex treats the trainer-pokemon-team dynamic as one would treat getting hired at a new company. He’s all business about the whole operation, no time for games or relaxation. I send him to the box, but I feel I might need his typing on the team soon, despite his abrasive personality.

One last thing before I end this update. I pick up an egg being given for free in Hearthome. I don’t know what it contains, but I temporarily swap out Petard so I can carry it until it hatches. It sucks to put Petard in the box, but I don’t think he will be much help in the next two gyms anyway. Speaking of which, my hope is to make it to Veilstone and challenge the Gym in the next update, so look forward to it!

#level zeo nuzlocke #nuzlocke #pokemon nuzlocke #nuzlocke story #pokemon #pokemon bdsp #brilliant diamond #pokemon brilliant diamond #brilliant diamond nuzlocke #nuzlocke art #ponyta #meditite #mime jr #barboach #duskull #crobat #graveler

2 notes · View notes

kouxbe · 3 months

Text

ghost of you starter for @benayoung

despite his usual facial expression ( i.e. no facial expression, a deadpanned face that always seemed uninterested in everything around him ), kou is in fact, easily scared. not by life, or whatever it tends to throw at him – but by the literal opposite of that. by the undead. he’s of the firm belief that ghosts must exist, because where else would an unsettled spirit go? the movies he’d been forced to watch, courtesy of his mother’s love for horror, had also played a part in his relentless fear of the spiritual realm.

but kou is an adult now. a twenty one year old man. and despite usually not caring what others would think of him, the idea that a twenty one year old man would fear ghosts isn’t very … well it’s not very cool or adult-like. that is exactly what he tells himself as he makes his way to the practice room where he’d stupidly left his phone.

after deciding to stay a little longer to train, he’d somehow left his phone in the practice room, and had only realised when he was halfway through the building, ready to leave. the company is mostly empty though, trainees having already left at an actual decent timing, and kou well – kou had to ignore the hairs on the back of his neck standing.

the sr media building isn’t haunted, it can’t be haunted. but it feels haunted, especially like this, with the hallway eerily quiet and a lone man standing there, contemplating his life. maybe he’ll just forget about it. it’s fine. he’ll just head back and – it’s then when he hears footsteps and from the corner of his eye, spots a figure. a female figure. great, kou thinks, a banshee. guess i’ll just beg for forgiveness here, he takes in a deep breath and turns around, ready to shout, when he realises it isn’t a banshee. no. it’s just nayoung.

“ah,” he says aloud, thankful that she’s human. “you’re a human,” the words leave his lips before he can think. kou isn’t particularly close with nayoung, sure he’s seen around the building but they aren’t exactly what kou would call… friends. which is fine, really – kou had that relationship with most people. but at the realisation that he was no longer the only human being left in the building, his eyes dart up and he walks towards her. “could you help me out? i left my phone in the practice room nearby but…” i’m scared, he wants to say. of course, he doesn’t though. “i think it’s haunted and i can’t go there myself.” never mind, that might just be worse.

#benayoung #( .ghost )

1 note · View note

femdomliterature · 7 months

Text

FemLit 0156 - Will Having Your Wife Read A Cuckolding or Hotwifing Article Help Get Her Into Your Fantasy?

Simply put, there answer in most cases is a resounding NO. But why?

Well for starters, if your goal is to ignite some kind of a spark or desire inside your wife to try this lifestyle out, then relying on an article to ignite that spark or desire will fail because explanatory / informational / educational articles, for the most part, simply don’t move people emotionally. But why would they? Their purpose after all is to explain, inform, or educate.

Furthermore, the part of your brain that processes these kinds of articles is separate from the part of your brain which emotes / feels / desires. If you want to make someone feel something, especially a desire, than you need to reach the emotional part of their brain. Let me give you an example.

The below video is a short 30 second Lincoln Car commercial with Matthew McConaughhey. Watch it, with the sound on.

***www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DxUmoydHlUsg#embed-6550fed5f39f3434391134***

Now that you’ve watched it, you can see it doesn’t explain anything. It doesn’t give you any information about the car. It tells you nothing. But, do you know what it does do (to many, many men)? It makes you feel something.

After watching it, many men get this feeling inside them, this desire to feel what McConaughey feels. Classy, smooth, suave, content, etc. And of course, in order to feel what he feels, to experience what he experiences, or dare I say to be who he is, you have to own a Lincoln.

Now, do you know how many millions of dollars Lincoln spent to air this commercial (and others like it featuring McConaughey) during the 2017 year? An insane amount. But the better question is, do you know why?

Because it works when it comes to inciting/igniting some kind of desire inside the viewers to want to own a Lincoln. It’s designed in such a way to connect with the emotional part of your brain, not the “logical” part that processes information. And guess what part of the brain we make decisions with?

If you guessed the logical part, you’d be wrong. We make decisions with the emotional part of our brain. Famous Duke University Professor Dr. Dan Ariely talks about this in great detail in his book Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.

(Fun Fact: I actually interviewed him years ago; I talk about that more in this article: https://www.thecuckoldconsultant.com/articles/reality-shattering-insights-duke-university-professor/)

If your strategy is to show your wife an article which talks at the reader about the benefits of why so many people are all of a sudden getting into hotwifing, or how it can enrich your relationship, etc., then you need to re-think your strategy.

Am I saying you shouldn’t ever help educate your wife about the cuckolding or hotwifing lifestyle? Of course not.

What I’m saying is that doing so has it’s place, but only for women who have already expressed an interest in the lifestyle on some level, and who aren’t currently experiencing what I call the desensitization effect. (<–That will be the subject of another article.)

So, if your wife isn’t really into your fantasy, or if she’s fairly resistant to it, do yourself a favor and don’t make matters worse by shoving an article in her face, or surreptitiously emailing her one, or “forgetting” to close your browser so she comes across it on her own. Odds are, it won’t help your cause.

#female led relationship #femlit

0 notes

reconditarmonia · 8 months

Text

Dear Trick or Treat Creator 2023

Hi! Thank you for writing/drawing for me! I’m reconditarmonia here and on AO3. I have anon messaging off, but mods can contact me if you have any questions.

Dishonored | Motherland: Fort Salem | Sleep No More

General likes:

– Loyalty kink! Trust, affectionate or loving use of titles, gestures of loyalty, replacing one’s situational or ethical judgment with someone else’s, risking oneself (physically or otherwise) for someone else, not doing so on their orders. Can be commander-subordinate or comrades-in-arms.

– Heists, or other stories where there’s a lot of planning and then we see how the plan goes.

– Femslash, complicated or intense relationships between women, and female-centric gen. Women doing “male” stuff (possibly while crossdressing).

– Relationships that aren’t built on romance or attraction. They can be romantic or sexual as well, but my favorite ships are all ones where it would still be interesting or compelling if the romantic component never materialized. Stories whose emotional climax or resolution isn’t the sex scene, if there is one.

– Uniforms/costumes/clothing.

– Stories, history, and performance. What gets told and how, what doesn’t get told or written down, behavior in a society where everyone’s consuming media and aware of its tropes, how people create their personas and script their own lines.

– Minority/diaspora feelings and themes.

Smut Likes: clothing, uniforms, sexual tension, breasts, manual sex, cunnilingus, grinding, informal d/s elements, intensity.

General DNW: rape/dubcon, torture, other creative gore; unrequested AUs, including “same setting, different rules” AUs such as soulmates/soulbonds; PWP; food sex; embarrassment; focus on pregnancy; Christmas/Christian themes; infidelity; unrequested polyamory; focus on unrequested canon or non-canon ships; unrequested trans versions of characters; breakups; jealousy; focus on grief; unequal levels of investment in a relationship (including concerns about same that turn out to be unwarranted), or the idea of a character accepting something they're unhappy with as the most they're going to get; characters who are written in a sexual context within the fic being ignorant about sex/anatomy (inexperienced is fine); the word "pussy"

---

Fandom: Dishonored (Trick/Treat - Fic)

Character(s): Delilah Copperspoon, Kirin Jindosh, Breanna Ashworth

I love these assholes! Whether together or separately, they're ambitious and awful and smart. A few starter thoughts:

Delilah's thoughts on her art, her art style and how she developed it! Talk nerdy to me. I love that about her, that her art is magic and evil but she's also a legit famous artist in-universe with a really distinct style.

I likewise love that Breanna also has a full-time job with a prominent social position and a heavy workload as the head curator of the Conservatory! What is her day-to-day life like? The notes we see from her about the magic she's working on are so analytical and scientific, too - I'd love to get into her head more.

Delilah/Breanna villain fluff

A World as it Should Be that's more like THIS, or at least more like in the closing narration where it talks about how all her subjects loved her and she had a bunch of adventures

Witch recruitment/assembling

I dearly wish the player could have recruited Jindosh, like we recruited Sokolov, who was equally horrible, in the first game. Jindosh's motivation is to prove that science is great, anyway; I bet he'd be persuadable. And then he could make machines for you!

literally just more Jindosh code comments, I love his code comments in the robots

Delilah and Billie during Billie's time in the gang, when she had Billie's submission and maybe even some level of trust - what do they see in each other?

Breanna and Billie! Gosh, I'd love something with them meeting (closer to the DH2 timeframe than the KoD/BW timeline, but accepting the retcon that Breanna had been there in BW)

Breanna and Jindosh's terrible friendship/working relationship. Is their distaste for everyone else enough to overcome their distaste for each other? Put them at a fancy party (Luca’s or otherwise) kvetching about other people. Get them drunk. Give them another project to collaborate on.

I've got more prompts from previous requests in my "dear author letters" tag.

Fandom-Specific DNW: any reference in any way whatsoever to Jindosh's nonlethal ending.

---

Fandom: Motherland: Fort Salem (Trick/Treat - Fic)

Character(s): Original Historical Witch(es)

The alternate history that the show has created is so interesting and I’m craving expansion of that through fic! Tell me about the Bellweather ancestor who was a slave and ended up powerful and influential enough to begin a dynasty, and how she met and was recruited by Alder. Or other enslaved witches, witches in the American Revolution or the Civil War, or the founding of Fort Salem and standardization of American military magic with its various influences. How were these women able to teach each other and to win not only freedom but power? Were they able to get other enslaved women free via their own position in the military? What even was the original original witch military like in the 1690s and shortly thereafter, the whole process of making this witchery into a military; who were the key people involved?

Or Chinese or Jewish or Mexican immigrant witches (that wasn’t an exhaustive list) who maybe came from different magic traditions and might have had to make the choice of whether or not to reveal that they had magic (if the system knows you because of your descent in the country?), serving their country but also binding their daughters and granddaughters forever. (I appreciate, for example, that there are a couple of Asian actresses in the cast and that some of them are even “High Atlantic” American royalty, but they all have English names - I want to know their families’ stories in the same way that we have an idea of how influential Black witches were to the witch military!) What did they bring to the American magic tradition and what did they have to lose or sand off?

Fandom-Specific DNW: I didn’t enjoy the overt eugenics plotline in season 2 and would prefer that nothing about breeding witches for stronger magic or particular traits (as opposed to any social reasons for arranged marriage and high society matching) be present in the fic.

---

Fandom: Sleep No More (Trick - Art, Fic)

Character(s): J. Fulton, Female Speakeasy Bartender, Speakeasy Bartender, Bald Witch, Porter

'Tis the season for spooky Sleep No More fic/art! I love fic and art that allows me to mentally revisit the atmosphere of the McKittrick. (I apologize that I'm not a frequent art requester nor do I have an especially visual mind, so I don't have great or many art prompts, but the main thing I want out of SNM art is The Vibe, tbh. Non-drawn art, like embroidery or something, would also be really cool if that happens to be your jam?) Caution: Spoilers for Porter's 1:1, if you care about that.

You can probably tell from my character picks that I'm the sort of guest who sees any part of the actual Macbeth plot happening and wanders away to look at something else. Proud 4th floor stan here - I love all the small magic and folk magic up there, the precise little rituals that reach out to or guard against the world of darkness and magic that is Outside their town but also underlying/intertwined with it - but I also hung out with the Porter a lot last time and I love him now. I'm really interested as well in how magic and outsider-ness and queerness all interact in the world of SNM - stuff like:

the occasional new cross-casting of Speakeasy Bartender! (side note: I'd read the character as a butch woman, learned afterwards that the performer is nb and uses she/they pronouns, but either way, it's interesting to me that this Speaks is a gender non-conforming character in a way the usual one is very much not. I'm also pretty psyched that some of the show ephemera now refers to the character in a gender-neutral way. Please take it as read in this letter that Female Speakeasy Bartender refers to the gender non-conforming version of this character.)

the way that the Fulton/male!Speakeasy duet where they search each other for witch marks starts off like they're trying to pick each other up

everything about the Porter, but especially his (her?) 1:1

I mean, the witches' everything

An assortment of prompts (but feel free to do anything else too!):

how does Bald Witch interact with the normal world (Paisley/the hotel/etc.) or deliberately carve out other spaces (like the apothecary shop)? I love the apothecary shop and Bald Witch’s scene in it. how much does she have a day-to-day life vs. witching all the time? what's her relationship with Sexy Witch?

the intense queerness of Fulton's trip to the speakeasy, whether that's about having an extremely homoerotic encounter with a male Bartender that he may or may not have partly sought out, or a confounding one where not only is he entering this underworld location to confront a creepy magic person, but there’s also the gender transgression aspect of f!Speaks (and on the other other hand, she’s not the way he might have envisioned a witch either!)

more of Fulton's little charms and rituals. more of Porter's little charms and rituals!

what actually is the difference between being a witch and being a human familiar? more about how Speaks and the witches interact?

...Fulton/Porter?! (in a story where Porter is a man rather than a closeted trans woman)

I love the d/s vibes of the Hecate/Speaks relationship, especially with f!Speaks as Hecate’s creature/enforcer/weapon. How/why did Hecate choose Speakeasy and what does she think of or do with their devotion and service? (THE VIAL OF TEARS SCENE asdsjhasjkhd, it killed me.)

I know I only picked "trick" but fic/art about Porter getting to eventually escape and also transition, if that's how you read that 1:1, would be sweet

sexy rituals, ritual sex, art of nude or partly nude people with sigils on them

what's f!Speaks's story? Were her GNC presentation or sexuality a factor in her getting involved in the underground booze business and/or Hecate’s service, and how do they affect her dealings with people now? Did she do small magic before becoming Hecate’s familiar, or did that come after/as a result of it?

by structural design, the canon can't really engage with race and racism, but I'd be fascinated by a story that got into a character being a racial/ethnic minority in Paisley/McK in a non-race-blind-casting way

I've tried not to make this section TOO long, especially since I've had previous exchange requests for just one or another of these characters, so you can look at my "dear author letters" tag for additional previous prompts and thoughts for f!Speaks and Bald Witch as well if you'd like!

Fandom-Specific DNW Exception: if you write Hecate/f!Speakeasy, consider my DNW of unequal investment waived, as long as Speaks isn't under the impression that it is equal or upset by that. You don't need to act as though any of the unrequested f/m ships for the requested characters (eg. male Speaks/Sexy Witch, Fulton/Agnes) aren't canon, but I'd rather they not be focused on, please. I'm also not interested in the Porter/Boy Witch romance being the focus of a story (because I haven't spent much time with Boy - go into Porter's queerness as much as you like). If you have other questions about which ships can be present, please drop me a line.

---

Thank you!

#dear author letters

0 notes

thatmcgwords · 10 months

Text

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you, your partner, friend, or colleague had crashed against the wall of misunderstanding, it most likely resulted from the inability to connect or bid emotionally.

Bidding means seeking emotional closeness with another person. An eye contact, body language expression, or verbal message — bid can be anything. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

Instead, they react to emotional bidding in three possible ways: accepting, rejecting, or turning away from the bid. When we accept someone’s bid, we respond positively. For example, we gladly brew coffee for our loved ones when they tell us they’re a bit tired. By rejecting bids, we discourage others’ requests to connect. Finally, we can overlook bids — a silent response to a regular ‘how was your day’ question illustrates it perfectly.

Extremely high divorce rates are the by-products of people’s failure to connect and their ties decaying. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

Phase 1: Explore the way you connect with others and acknowledge the main bidding mistakes

Individuals who regularly react to each other’s bids positively create a deposit of emotional warmth, which they can use later during conflict management. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

Some signals we translate are vague and difficult to read. But do we deliberately confuse people we care about? Definitely not. We tiptoe with all this bidding stuff because a) we’re afraid somebody will hurt our feelings, b) we struggle to specify our genuine desires, and c) — we aren’t even aware of our need to connect. The good news is that no one is hopeless. We’ll have a pinch of understanding for starters and a glass of attention for an aperitif.

Phase 2: Examine your brain and its command systems

“Each person’s brain has seven command systems that navigate our physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions essential for survival. We can communicate and build connections with others more effectively if we know our stimulation parameters.”

Exploration of our emotional command system is a great way to understand our relationships with ourselves and learn our emotional commonalities and differences with others. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

“The Commander-in-Chief. We activate this system when we face challenges. Confidence indicates its optimal activation level, while fear, aggression, or distress signify something isn’t right.

• The Explorer. When we adequately activate this system, we feel excited about learning something new or moving towards goals accomplishment. We overperform our curiosity efforts and are bored learning when the Explorer works at a non-optimal level.

• The Sensualist. This system enables us to feel intimate stuff like mutual sexual desire or deep romantic feelings. It can cause intimate frustration and relationship problems when it is poorly activated. Alternatively, too intensive sexual behavior is a symptom of an overactivated Sensualist system.

• The Energy Czar system works for our physical wellbeing. It signals when we feel discomfort and functions to recover our organisms. Its insufficient activation can cause serious health issues.

• The Jester system reminds us to entertain and have sources of joy in life. Enervation and delight are the optimal outcomes, while the state of overexcitement or depression is a sign of inadequate activation.

• The Sentry system contributes to our alarming states like worrying or defensiveness. It helps the body to respond to threats relevantly.

• The Nest-Builder system sets up functions essential for bonding and attachment. The system’s optimal work allows us to feel appreciated and loved. Simultaneously, when we under- or overactivate the system’s functions, we risk engaging in codependent relationships or falling into the trap of chronic loneliness.”

“Phase 3: Take a journey throughout your emotional legacy”

Although emotional legacy origins in our past, it has a tremendous impact on our emotional connection in future life. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

“First, it includes emotional history — the combination of emotional experiences a person observed and was subjected to in the past.”

“Third, our emotional heritage includes stable weaknesses — a sort of negative experience which accompanies our lives and affects our interactions with people. Such vulnerabilities are diverse and can range from school bullying to surviving military conflict. Understanding and articulating such traumas is vital for building closeness with people we love and finding our place in the world.”

“Phase 4: Fine-tune your communication skillset”

“In a perfect world, people would read between the lines and understand each other at a glance. It means they wouldn’t feel difficulty expressing their feelings or understanding even unsaid bids.”

From first smile to first date, childhood is a tremendous training ground for learning to detect, convey, and respond to feelings. But that learning process doesn’t have to stop after we grow up. ~ John Gottman

“This bidding tool is impossible to underestimate: people convey sadness when bringing together the inner corners of their brows and lower lips outside corners. Alternatively, they purse their lips when they disprove something. ‘Reading’ faces is easier when we possess good intuition. However, such simple steps as learning a person's relaxed facial expressions, asking questions about one's feelings when it changes, and mastering observation skills are great for honing attentiveness and benefiting from it in bidding.”

“Have you ever noticed how your friend constantly touches one’s nose or mouth during the conversation? Most likely, one experienced tension and couldn’t even say it. And what about holding hands? This touch cue reveals people’s attachment to each other. See? No words are needed.

The truth is, even such insignificant physical movement broadcasts valuable emotional data. Become a curious and caring observer, and you’ll understand that another person is full of regrets or delight. An ability to ‘read’ others is vital for enhancing bidding for emotional linking.”

Understanding the mechanics of verbal and nonverbal communication is essential for denuding the feelings of our loved ones and building solid mental bridges between our hearts. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

“Phase 5: Learn to acquire emotional common ground with other people”

“This fifth step is vital for sustaining a stable emotional bond which is curative not only for our relations and friendships but also for effective conflict management with people we don’t know so well. So, what are the main elements of common ground we all strive for?”

Focus on a shared dream instead of conflict that temporarily interferes with it: traveling to a new country or buying a car are so much more important than debates about whether to go by plane or to choose a beige interior instead of black. ~ John M. Gottman, Joan DeClaire

“Shared rituals are another excellent strategy for acquiring shared meaning. Rituals relate to regular practice, which helps us connect emotionally”

“countryside. The main thing is that rituals are incredibly powerful for strengthening bonds because they mirror values we share and provide us with precious time for emotional connection.”

“Imagine moving to a new city and having a goodbye party with all your friends present — such significant support means that there are people who believe in you and your aspirations and are always there for you.”

“sharing our perception of meanings, and discussing conflicts and dreams that we pursue, support, and rituals help us find common ground even in bad emotional weather”

“communication. Most of our relationships fail because we underestimate the importance of talking with each other and exploring the uniqueness of emotional communication styles. Thus, whether you’re falling head over heels in love or have been happily married for twenty years, it’s an excellent time to learn or remind yourself of the essentials of emotional connection.”

“We cannot suddenly become masters of conversation and empathy — every bid is an opportunity to fine-tune our emotional connectedness to others. We must hone communication skills, constantly keeping in mind that all people are different in how they express their feelings. Luckily, the introduced practices are a great way to decipher the code of any sensitive treasure trove.”

“In the current rapid life tempo, rituals seem a good starting point for quality bonding. Making breakfast in bed, buying flowers or a new book for your partner on Fridays, or meeting one after work with a cup of hot chocolate are some ways to showcase the care and make a sensitive investment into developing your shared meanings system.”