#this is Good (getting space for my idea and feedback and a chance to try out the Colloquium ExperienceTM) but also Bad (Anxiety)

[skibasyndrome]

so.... for the research colloquium of my BA supervisor I was only supposed to have 45 minutes available during which I should briefly present (and discuss) my research question, text sources, progress etc., but as it turns out the other student dropped out, and now I have a whole entire scary 90 minutes lecture to fill.... all by myself and with my flimsy idea of a BA thesis

#this is Good (getting space for my idea and feedback and a chance to try out the Colloquium ExperienceTM) but also Bad (Anxiety) #help #🥲 #nowhere near ready to discuss my ideas for THAT LONG with all those cool and smart people rip that I admire but am also a little scared of #simon.out. #I don't know if this textpost makes any sense I'm surprisingly lost when it comes to translating my uni experience into english #also yeah... I'm a bit old for my BA in case you're wondering but alas “life got in the way” as my friend likes to say

[gomzwrites]

Task force 141 found out about your soft spots

Summary: You’re one of the members in the taskforce, and you’re one of the more quiet, self-reserved and stoic soldiers among them. They didn’t mind since they respected your personal space, but at some point, they saw just a glimpse of your rather different, softer side. a/n: I’ve had this idea in mind for a long time and just wanted to get this out there, English is not my main language so I apologize for any mistakes along the way! This is also my first fic so feedbacks are appreciated :] Tags: incorrect military terms/training, fluff, can be read as platonic or romantic, x gn!reader, reader's text is in purple Part 2 is out! PLEASE DO NOT RESHARE MY WORK ON OTHER PLATFORMS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION 

Captain John Price

You were on a mission with Price in another city, stalking and trailing the target, when suddenly the target decided to take a turn and entered a cafe. With the captain’s signal, both of you followed and took a spot in one of the corners in the warm, bustling cafe. It was a perfect atmosphere; the cafe was not necessarily noisy, but the number of people and music were busy enough for you and your captain to stay hidden and blend in well. You kept a keen eye on the target, noticing that he was in the queue and, so far, not presenting any signs of danger or threats. The captain gave your foot a nudge as he diverted your attention to the young waitress beside the table that you didn’t notice. "Hi! What would you like to order?" The waitress spoke in the local language that you didn't understand, but you knew she was most likely trying to take an order with the way she held a small notepad and a pen. You gave a small nod as you glanced at Captain for a moment, who was also reading the menu. You do the same, only frowning slightly as you couldn't read anything as well, and because you wanted to get this over with, you randomly pointed at one item to the waitress as she smiled and jotted down your order.

When the waitress walked away, you followed the captain’s gaze on the target; it seemed that he was still in line. You're slightly confused but relieved that the target remains in sight. Not long after, the drinks ordered previously arrived, but your eyes remained fixated on the sketchy figure. It wasn't until the Captain cleared his throat that you broke your gaze and stared down at the table. You froze slightly at the sight before you.

You watched a little wiggle action of the foam on top of what you assume is coffee before you. Except it's not the normal flat latte art kind of foam, but a huge bear foam with a cute face drawn with chocolate. You blink once, then twice before releasing a breath you didn't know you were holding.

This is so cute!! 

You thought to yourself internally as you felt yourself smiling, before realising the situation at hand as you snapped your head towards the captain, hoping he didn't see you, and to your relief, his eyes were still glued to the target. You take this opportunity to slowly take out your phone and take a quick picture of the drink before doing the same and observing the target again. As soon as you do, the target made its move and headed to the exit, which made the both of you follow promptly, seemed like he had a bag as well which was definitely not good news. You were a bit disappointed that you were not given the chance to try the cute drink, but you know you have a job to do, so you just hope that perhaps you can take a closer look again at the coffee later on your phone.

What you didn’t know was how the Captain noticed the change in your demeanour when you spotted the drink; he honestly wasn't expecting much from you, thinking you might just ignore it. But he saw from the corner of his eyes just how your eyes widen slightly, how they are shining when you realize what you ordered, and the way your cheeks had a shade of pink on it as you smile. He rarely gets to see you smile, and he found it endearing to think a cold soldier like you has a liking for cute things. He smiled internally as he noticed how you took the photo sneakily when you thought he wasn’t looking.

He made a mental note to bring you to a cafe he knows that have those famous latte art drinks after the mission, just to see you smile like that again.

John Soap MacTavish

The military base has decided to bring in military working dogs to aid in the next mission, which involves scouting and detection for drug detection at the port, where secret drug trafficking from a certain group of terrorists has been reported.  

"Soap, you’re assigned to Max and Judy; you’ll have to talk to Sergeant Sam about the training," the Captain says as he walks through the compound. You noticed how Soap seemed to tense slightly as he clenched his jaw; you also noticed how his breath hitched as he stared at the two German shepherds standing on the sides of the dog handler; you knew he had a bad history with canines in general when you stumbled upon his journal once; and seeing how uncomfortable he was, you decided to step up for the job.

"Captain, can I do it instead?" The captain glanced back, his beard shifting as he thinks for a moment before nodding and giving you permission. Soap stared at you upon hearing your voice and gave you an apologetic yet grateful look as he breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Aye thanks… Let me know if yae ever need something from meh in the future."

He watched as you gave him a gentle pat on his shoulder as you nodded. Unbeknownst to him, you actually own a German Shepherd yourself, and you’re very much a dog person, and you’re excited to start the training with the military dogs. He stood on the side as you approached the two dogs, nodding along to the instructions given by Sam. As you bent down and extended your hand out, the two dogs gave a few sniffs before finally warming up to you, with their tails wagging as they circle your body. He’s impressed with how friendly you seem with animals, and you were natural with the dogs.

After the training, he went around looking for you as he held a bottle of ice-cold mineral water, hoping that he could give it to you since you were training heavily under the hot, blazing sun. As he turned a corner, right behind the shed, he heard a few barks. He softened his steps as he leant in and took a peek behind the wall, and he was glad he did.

Who’s a good boy? Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Come here! Oooh, such a big boy are you? You did such a great job with me just now~ oh! No wait wait- aH-!

He watched with a grin as he took in the image before him. You, giggling and rolling on the floor as the dogs lick and nuzzle your face and neck, having fun and relaxing with the dogs. He would almost forget that they were military dogs, and yet, with you? They looked domestic. On top of that, he has never heard you laugh or speak like this before; sure, you were using a baby voice and all as you cooed the dog, but he didn’t care because you have the softest yet brightest giggle, a stark contrast to your usual stoic self. He left after watching you for a while, smiling as he walked away to let you have your moments with the doggies. Next time, he’ll definitely want to join you in the training if it means getting to see this side of you more often. 

Kyle Gaz Garrick 

You groan as you sit on the passenger side as Gaz drives the Jeep. It was almost 9.30 pm as you were both ordered to buy a few furniture pieces, tables, and chairs specifically as an emergency thanks to Soap breaking them when he was messing around earlier.

"Why can’t we buy it tomorrow?"

Gaz asks as he, too, frowns and crosses his arms as a yawn escapes his mouth.

"We have a meeting with the other members from London tomorrow, and we can’t make them sit on the floor now, can we?"

Captain replied with a sigh as he frowned; he too was tired and annoyed with the situation, but he has a point. Gaz has asked you for help since the furniture needs to be carried, and you followed along (not without silently complaining).

The day has been terrible for you, it seems like bad luck was looming around your shoulders in every moment. Just this morning, you stubbed your toe and you couldn’t find your left sock, then sprained your shoulder slightly during the sparring session with Ghost. Not only that, the sandwiches that you always order for dinner were out of stock, so overall, you’re not having the best day. But who can you blame? You just decided to suck it up as you nod and follow Gaz. 

After parking a spot in IKEA, both of you decided to split up to find the respective wood and parts of the tables and chairs that, thankfully, the details of them have been sent to you by the Captain, so that the process can be faster before the store closes for the night. You sigh as you place the last part of the table in the trolley, crossing off the last serial number and name. You walk towards the place that Gaz told you to meet up with before stopping when you walk past the kid's section.

There it is, in all its glory: Djungelskog and the other notable plushies in the corner. Truth be told, you actually own two Blåhaj (they're in your house) and a baby Blåhaj in the quarters. You’re a big fan of plushies, especially the ones from IKEA and Miniso. You just haven't saved up enough cash to bring the big brown bear home. You take a step, then another, inching closer to the tray, until you’re right in front of the bear. You glanced around to make sure no one is around before you gently pick up the bear, thankful that there weren't many people in the first place due to the late hour. Without a second thought, you gave in and squish your face into its tummy as you give a big sigh and hug it tightly, smiling to yourself as you feel the stress dissolving away. Something about burying yourself in the soft cushion of cotton is healing for you; it gives you a safe, warming feeling, and it reminds you of the comfort that you never got much of as a kid.

You gave it a few more squeezes before finally parting ways with the bear, softly nudging its nose a few times as you whispered softly:

I swear I’ll come and bring you home next time I come.

You smile and place the bear back in its original position, glancing at it one last time as you spot Gaz in the distance, then swiftly push the trolley towards him. Gaz pays for the parts, and both of you head to the car. You get ready in your seat and fasten the seatbelt before Gaz speaks up.

"Oh, I forgot something. Give me a sec"

You haven’t even had the chance to ask back as he bolted back into IKEA. What did he forget? All the parts have been bought, and the store is nearing its closing time as well, but whatever it is, you waited patiently.

Maybe it's because of the long day, but as you rested your head on the window, you dozed off while you were waiting and didn’t wake up until you heard the driver's side car door open.

"Sorry it took awhile, we’ll go back now"

You nod sleepily as you murmur. "What did you forget?"

"Oh, don't worry about it", Gaz replies as he presses the gas pedal and promptly drives back to the base. You didn’t question further; you figured he probably needed something himself.

You went straight to bed after dropping off the equipment for Soap and Ghost to handle, immediately passing out as you landed on the soft bed.

The next morning, you were getting ready for the day as you stretched, satisfied that at least the sleep last night was good enough. As you open the door, a soft material lands in your room with a soft “umph” sound, you immediately look down cautiously, and that's when you see it.

Djungelskog, with its head tilted to your side as its fluffy hand remains on its tummy, on your floor. You were confused, and frankly, you were not awake enough to fully comprehend what just happened. But once you connected the dots, you smiled to yourself as you lifted the bear up and hugged it.

You make sure to buy Gaz something next time as a thank you.

Simon Ghost Riley

The day was mundane; after a few gruelling missions, the task force had many reports to do. You’ve opted to do them in one of the empty meeting rooms; you liked doing work in these rooms more than facing the concrete wall of your own quarters. At least here, the table was wide and it was fairly quiet; sometimes Ghost will join you as he feels the same. You enjoy his presence because, unlike the rest of the group, he is one of the few people you like spending time with in silence. Today was no different.

The hours go by quickly with the room filled with nothing but paper shuffling and turning pages. You sigh as you place down your pen and give a big stretch, deciding to take a break as you stand and move towards the door. The big man himself also follows along; you don’t question it; you figured he might need a break too.

As you walked away from the room, you decided to go to the bathroom. You passed by the training hall as you overheard the Captain and Laswell talking over some topics for the upcoming mission, but something caught your attention.

"....My wife brought cheesecake; it's in the fridge…."

Your ears perked up to the sound of cake; you haven’t had any dessert recently, and you do like cheesecake. You make a mental note to take a trip to the mess hall after using the bathroom, hoping to have a slice yourself.

As you make your way to the fridge silently, you approach the kitchen and let out a soft sigh of relief when the place is empty. You slowly open the door of the fridge as you poke your head in and search for any sign of cake. You were about to give up when you couldn’t see any, but you jolted slightly when you felt a pat on your shoulder. You quickly turn around, only to be met by Ghost again, with a plate in his hand. As you look at the plate, which has a slice of cheesecake, your eyes blink with hope as you slowly glance back at him. He gives you a nod as he hands you the plate, and you nod back as well with a smile, happy and grateful that he saved you a slice. You take a seat at one of the stools and grab a fork as you eat the cheesecake happily. Ghost leaned against the counter opposite you as he makes himself a cup of coffee. He watched silently as your mood seems to improve. Earlier, he saw how you stopped in your tracks when you overheard the conversation, how your eyelashes fluttered, and how your steps grew lighter. He immediately went to the kitchen when you head to the bathroom and managed to pry one last slice of Soap before he finished them, hoping to save you a piece when you come by later. As you take the first few bites with your eyes closed, you give a hum of approval as your shoulders drop. It’s not like the cheesecake was extremely good, but you can tell from the texture that it was homemade. You miss baking yourself; the last time you did it was with a roommate before you joined the military. You missed those silly moments as you clumsily mixed the ingredients and argued with your friend to stop adding too much sugar into the batter, or the time your friend made fun of you for baking the hardest brownies that can break cement if thrown at them. You also tend to have favouritism towards home-cooked stuff, no matter who made it; you always liked how the food tends to taste just slightly better. Is it because of comfort? Or the memories that flood your mind when you take in the smell? You honestly don't know; maybe it's both. Or maybe you like the thoughts and love people put into the meals when they cook. You were so lost in thought that you didn't realise you were swinging your feet idly on the stool. The stool was slightly taller than the regular one, and your legs barely touched the floor.

Ghost finds the view a bit charming—to see you relax and content over a slice of cake. It's not that he is complaining; he just never really saw you this comfortable before. He observes you silently and takes note of how you like to munch on your right cheek more than the left, making it puffy. He chuckles to himself when you start swinging your legs too. He's glad that he managed to snatch the last piece of cake, and perhaps in the near future, he’ll bring you some cake to share with you.

•·················•·················•·················•·················•·················•·················• a/n: that's all! Let me know what you think!! like a part two or something, have a nice day/night! :>

#cod #cod x reader #cod imagines #cod mwii #cod mw2 #mw2 imagine #mw2 x reader #mw2 fanfic #cod fanfic #call of duty x reader #john price x reader #captain price x reader #captain john price x reader #ghost x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #soap mactavish x reader #john mactavish x reader #kyle gaz garrick x reader #gaz x reader #gomzwrites

[qvrcll]

nsfw, fem reader + borderline phone sex

teasing coriolanus snow through a line whilst he’s out parading himself as a peacekeeper with new responsibilities and goals? absolutely.

the ordeal is messy at first. you’re not sure if this is a good idea in the first place (considering the whole good man act he’s piecing together to get back to the capitol, so fragile already) but what is there to lose? you miss him terribly and on the off-chance, you get to catch him off guard, much to his dismay.

so, it starts.

“snow, there’s a caller out for you,” a stone faced peacekeeper yells, voice like gravel. really, not a mouth for conversation, so snow goes as much as to nod before reaching the relevant station. his hands are clammy, oddly, and he wishes the call were from back home. tigris, grand’maam… you.

you, who has kept his faith in this place with just images in his mind. memories.

but to hope is to lose and to lose is beneath him - so, snow keeps his wits about him. he finds a seat and sticks to it like glue, spreading his back and finding space for his feet as the machine ahead whirrs gently. there’s no one here at this point of time - calls are short and rare, which reminds him to not bide his time too much, to not panic and, admittedly, he’s never felt his heart in his throat until now.

“hello?” his voice is crisp, weak in its echo.

there’s cracking on the other end, before a face blends within the static, a smile already tinged in the viewer’s feedback. teeth he recognises by sight alone, smile he recognises by warmth alone.

it’s you.

“coryo? god, is this thing working?” you gasp, and he would laugh if the urge to have you wasn’t overwhelming his senses. his nose was already twitching, reddening with an onslaught of emotions as he could hear your words transmitting clearly over the machine’s whirr, “oh my god! coryo!”

the two of you break into smiles and he can sense you on the cusp of tears - not that strange, knowing he’s been away from you for far longer than he ever has. the remedy is always sweet: he coos at you, reassures you.

“have you been crying? what, you missed me?” he asks, clutching the receiver tighter and then loosening his grip a little. there’s a smile in his voice, but you can already see it.

you shift, curling the telephone cord around your finger and nodding, “of course i’ve missed you, coryo. have been missing you so much,” your voice is dripping with the spell of his absence, to which snow sadly smiles at. of course you’d been missing him.

but then, something slips up. time, his breath or the strap of the slip you’re wearing - pretty pink, a rememberable flush of salmon that hugs your body firmly, from what he can see. he almost misses it, almost chooses to focus on the wall nearby instead, out of courtesy. because it was surely a mistake, a little slip up (ironically). but when you fail to pull it up, instead staring at him like he was the loon here, he clears his throat.

“w… well, how have you been?”

“good.” (did you just scoot closer or did he imagine that?)

“how’d tigris… (cough) been?”

“she’s great.” (okay, your thigh definitely hitched up on purpose.)

two questions and he’s already losing his mind. he knows there are no others in the room, but he feels wholly lost, a string of yarn being pushed against nimble fingers - and when he finally looks at you, a warning painted in those azure eyes, he can finally see what you’re getting at. your face is prettily composed, like he remembers, but there’s heat in your shoulders. an ache that he wants to get beneath, curl against his fingers.

he steels himself, gripping the receiver harder and feeling his jaw tighten under the effort of staying calm, “what are you doing?”

you act dumb, of course. there’s that smile - same as before. sickly sweet and barely squashed off of your face as you stare at him, “doing what, coryo?”

“you don’t think i’m dumb, do you? i can see what you’re trying and it’s-“ he casts a wary look behind his shoulder, and spots no one, not a soul, “it’s unfair.”

“unfair?”

“precisely.”

“is this unfair too?”

before he can even squint at that, ask you what exactly you mean, you do your worst: drop the slip and reveal what’s beneath. the skin of your chest is as he remembers, your fingers skirting against your nipples. it all makes his leg jump, his heart clinch uncomfortably under all those bones and all that blood. he’s already hissing, moving closer.

“what the hell are you doing?” he asks, though there’s no malice in his voice. no reprimand. just a small fear and a large amount of desire that spills into a small whimper when you lean back and have the decency to lower your fingers past your belly and beneath.

“i missed you coryo,” you practically eat the words, moaning softly into the receiver as you work yourself open until it’s quite enough. but it never is - you know this and so does snow. one of his many faults, his dexterity that is - pretty, nimble fingers that reach parts of you that need teasing, pushing. fingers that go farther and don’t come back until you’ve had your fill. but you’re making do with what you have and that’s partly why he grits his teeth.

he knows he can do it better.

“talk to me,” he licks a stripe against his lips, eyes zoning in on you. he can’t see below for certain, but with the soft sounds that leave you, he’s plenty satisfied. besides, the thought of those stone faced peace-keepers stepping in and taking an eyeful of you gets him angrier than he would like to be, “how does it feel? good? better than mine?”

“no, no, never-“ you gasp, craning your head backwards and angling your body so you’re resting your weight on your free elbow, “never, coryo - ah - you’re better. need your fingers.”

he feels a strain in his pants. a pain is forming in his dick and the blood is rushing soon down, and he knows this is unruly. unadjustable. he could lose his position. but maybe that’s the thrill in it, isn’t it? closing an eye to his duties is rather easy, and as he palms his dick through the svelte material, the groan that leaves him is inarticulate and roughly pushed out of his throat.

“poor thing needs me all the time, don’t you?” he gasps, palm catching on that sensitive area down below, “have you been doing this - fuck - since i’ve been away?”

he spreads his legs, palming harder and somehow, messier. though the static betrays him, the feedback in the device in front of him does him wonders: your face, contorted just the way he loves it, your fingers inventing some thick, loud sound the more you work your way into your cunt, the weight of your release hung above the two of you like a threat.

“just my fingers - ah - been using ‘em” you cry out, voice high suddenly, “miss you so much. i can’t do this. i need you here - ngh - coryo!”

the noise that leaves you is heavy and it hits him so hard his dick throbs in his pants, so he presses harder onto the muscle and moans painfully slow.

“shit - miss you so much, sweetheart,” he picks up his ordinary pace, “when i’m back home, i’ll give it to you good.”

“promise?”

“fuck - i promise.”

the seconds of orgasm are embarrassing. he clutches the screen and stares open-mouthed at you. wishes he could kiss every bend and curve, every dot and line, but as soon as he feels himself about to spill into his pants, the line cuts. there’s a darkness washing over the screen and he can no longer hear your voice through the wasted receiver.

it clicks - those stupid call times. he’d probably used all his minutes.

he clenches his fist and loosens it up, tossing the receiver back into its apt position. and as much as he is exasperated as he is disconcerted, he composes himself.

several minutes later, a peace-keeper enters. stone faced and dull, just as he remembers them.

“time’s up, snow. get back to your room.”

snow nods, pinching one look at the dark screen of the feed before walking out. as he steers clear of the room, a thought occurs: he better get back home quick so he can fill you up the way you both like best.

(requests for snow / tbosas are open!)

© 2023 qvrcll. do not repost any of my works on any platform.

#coriolanus snow x you #coriolanus x y/n #coriolanus x you #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus snow x reader #tbosas x reader

[ronsenthal]

Ron Speirs x Female!Reader

Summary: After you helped Dick Winters and Lewis Nixon the word spread and soon enough this captain would come to your office too. 

A/N: First of all, I would like to apologize, this is my first time writing something, I’m pretty nervous and english is not my first language, I’ll just try my best. I had this idea after listening to Blank Space (Taylor’s version) on repeat and also looking for some Speirs info and found out his ridiculously pretty handwriting???? and then I realized that he is so Taylor coded and this came to my mind.

so this one goes out to my fellow BoB lovers who are also Swifties!! Hope y’all enjoy it and if you could leave some feedback I would very much appreciate it.

If only you knew that taking typing classes would lead you to live this life from city to city, seeing horrors, tragedy and pain, feeling cold, hopeless and tired beyond anything you could imagine or explain you would have had second thoughts. But then again, every smile from your friends, every stupid joke they would tell just to lighten the mood, every cup of “coffee” you would share would make it more bearable. “Yes, it was worth it” you told yourself countless nights before falling asleep and dreaming of hope it would all end, if not soon, at some point. 

“Yes, it was worth it” you told yourself after one night that you had too many drinks with Nix, you wish you could tell the same about Dick, but he would never allow himself to do so, but he also enjoyed the night out with his friends. It was only natural that you would end up following those two, after all, with some luck you ended up being assigned to help out Dick with the mess he was making at his office duties. After some time and after figuring out how to understand the man it became really enjoyable. 

Those nights that they would tell their stories for you to organize it down in a report for your superiors were as fun as they could be, given the circumstances.

Nix wouldn’t even bother to try to write his reports once he discovered how fast you could type and how concise you would turn Dick’s endless essays into comprehensive, yet detailed reports, soon enough you were helping both of your COs, your friends.

“(Y/N) I believe you have this weird super power, are you sure you are human?” Nix said after half a bottle of Vat-69, raising his eyebrows as if he was looking at you with this invisible magnifying glass. 

Dick only shook his head in disbelief. Sometimes you thought that they looked like one of those old married couples, knowing each other's quirks and peeves and yet somehow, finding it all amusing. You wondered if you could find someone like this in this God forsaken world you were living. 

One day you found it, but thinking back it wasn't easy at first and as it took some time to even lower your guard on your own brain, and allow yourself to think about it, about HIM. 

Ronald Speirs had quite a reputation, everybody knew the rumors, every man saw the things he so recklessly did on the field. His men were as afraid as the enemy, so it took you by surprise when after Foy he also started to hang out with you, Dick and Nix. The first time there was silence on the table after he arrived, you didn’t even had the chance to introduce yourself politely as Dick started out his endless questions about how the Easy men were doing, and then Nix introduced some drinks, yet you two never exchanged one word to each other before that day.

After a while his presence started to make you feel a little bit comfortable, especially after Dick assured you that he was a good man, a good leader and being a big brother figure, he wouldn’t let Speirs offer you a cigarette. Since then you could catch a glimpse at how his eyes shone even in the dark, how he looked tired after an operation. He wasn’t scary anymore, he was just another officer that from time to time would hang out with your friends.

After some time you started to get used to his presence around chasing Dick and Nix up and down, something you did yourself as they were like big brothers to you, protecting, giving their piece of advice and taking care of you. Soon enough you started to feel more comfortable around Speirs too, once you even called him Ronald after a couple of drinks.

Then one afternoon it took you by surprise when he knocked at your office, looking tired as hell with a pile of files on one hand, a pair of boots in the other one and a half burnt cigarette hanging on his lips.

“Sorry to disturb you (Y/L/N), but Nixon said you could help me out with this paperwork? I’ll be in real trouble if I don’t turn them in this evening. Also, he said you could use this one” Speirs told you while putting a tiny pair of combat boots on your desk and taking of his cap, not even giving you time to reply, not even looking at you.

“What in the name of god are you thinking? What the hell is Lewis thinking? You guys think I don’t have anything better to do, I have enough work to do, just look at this endless pile of work, so no, thank you, good luck” you said throwing your arms in exasperation, complaining and pointing out the huge paper files on your desk.

He stared at you in horror as if you were one of those german panzers, he opened and closed his mouth, trying to find the words but he couldn’t. You felt a twist in your stomach, looking at him you could see he was embarrassed, you never saw him so vulnerable and tired, this man could use some proper sleep. As he was turning on his heels to leave while muttering sorry a thousand times, guilt took the best of you.

“Wait” you said, closing your eyes knowing right after the word left your mouth how stupid it would be, after all you could use some sleep too, you deserved it. He slowly turned to face you.

“I’ll do it, but you better help me out and you are not allowed to smoke while we do that, I hate the smell”

You could swear you saw an amused smile on his face when he threw his last pack of Luckys on your desk. Soon enough you prepared your typewriter checking if you had enough ribbon and paper for your work, finally you sat down and stared at the man in front of you, it took him a few seconds to realize you were ready to start. 

At some point he took his jacket off and slowly put it on the chair he was sitting on, took of his tie and rolled up his sleeves, you tried not to stare at the man in front of you. If he caught you looking up and down he never said a word. It was not the first time you stared at this much feared man, truth be told you caught yourself staring at him more than once. Nix being the observant little bitch he was had this creepy little smile when he caught you one night looking at the Easy captain. You muttered something like “I’m gonna kill you” and prayed to god that he could send the biggest crate of whisky he could find so Lewis would get so drunk he would forget it.

You cleaned your throat, took a deep breath and asked for a small pause to take a glass of water. The man nodded and took a few steps to the little window and watched the landscape outside until you said you were finally ready again. “Back to work” you said to yourself.

….. 

When you two finished the sun was no longer up, just in time for him to turn on the report. While working on he would tap his fingers on your desk and look nervously at the watch on his wrist, but he never complained or tried to hurry you up. He quickly looked at the papers you cautiously handed him and shook his head, approving the final result.

“So that’s it?” he asked you, his voice soft and quiet.

“Yes that’s it, just write your name over here and we’re done” you said pointing at the blank space you left over his name at the end of the paper. 

He asked if you could borrow a pen for him to use and said a few “thanks” while signing the paper before leaving your office and storming out in the direction of the HQ, he never returned your pen but you didn’t even mind.

Then after composing yourself by stretching your back and taking a sip of your already cold coffee you decided to head down to the closest pub you could find, but firstly you changed your boots. Nix was right as you could use some new ones, but since you were so small compared to the rest of the guys it was nearly impossible to find some fitting boots, yet Speirs somehow got his hand in a pair just of the right size.

When you finally arrived at the bar your eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the lighting of the room, you then scanned the tables looking for Nix and Dick. When you recognized the friendly faces you started to move towards them, but then you felt a tap on your shoulders and turned to see who it was. 

“Hey excuse me Y/L/N, Captain Speirs asked me to hand you this” It was Lieutenant Lipton holding an envelope in his hand, like it was a classified piece of information that could change the war. This man took his duties very seriously, you thought to yourself as you took the envelope and put it in your pocket.

“Thank you Lieutenant” you said smiling at the officer in front of you, who smiled back and took his leave joining his men at the other table. 

You then walked to the barman and asked for a beer, when you were reaching into your pocket to find some money to pay the man he shook his head and his hands as if trying to say no, he paused a few seconds trying to remember the words in your language and explained the best way he could that someone had taken care of it, offered you some food, the most glorious, golden fried potatoes you’ve ever saw in your life.

As you walked down to the table holding your plate the Easy men stared at you as if you were a goddess walking on water or something, then started to shout at the barman asking for the same food. Dick and Nix exchanged a funny look between each other and Nix tried to take some of your fries before you slapped his hand. 

When you tried the first one you closed your eyes, it hit you like a full speed train crashing into a wall, so many emotions one after another, after months of terrible stinky food there was this little piece of heaven. You took a big gulp of the beer in front of you, and then someone put another pint in front of you, and then another one, and another one. You could swear it was the best feeling in quite some time, the men shouting and laughing all around you telling tales and jokes about Toccoa Camp, Sobel or Dike or some officer they hated, Nixon pestering Dick about something, all the stuff, all at once you almost forgot the place you were, what you were fighting for. 

Forgot….. 

Then you remembered the note that Speirs left you and you suddenly felt a rush that almost made you fall off your chair. You don’t know if it was the fourth (or fifth?) beer you had but you felt your hands trembling as you opened the envelope. Inside there was this carefully folded paper, you stared at it for some time before gathering the courage to open it, just to find this beautiful handwriting, you didn’t expect to come from the toughest son of a bitch in the entire army. 

“Dearest (Y/N),

Thank you so much for your help today. I will never forget it and I will find a way to repay you somehow. One night you said that as a kid you used to eat french fries when you were feeling down, so I took the liberty to ask Matthijs the barman to do something special for you. 

I hope it brings you a piece of home! Enjoy whatever you want, he is going to put on my account and don’t even try to argue with him or me about it”

Sincerely yours.

Capt. Ronald Speirs.

“P.S: I have some more paperwork due to the next week, I hope you don’t mind”

You smiled to yourself as you read it again and again, every time your heart would jump when you stopped at the YOU, your name written, your brain froze right there as if it could take a picture just by staring. You didn’t mind that he would eventually bring more work, because somehow he managed to do so, he brought you home. 

You were tired, drunk and your head was spinning a little but if someone ever asked you then yes: it was worth it.

#band of brothers fanfic #ronald speirs #ron speirs #ronald speirs x reader #ronald speirs fanfic #band of brothers #band of brothers x reader #hbo war #hbo war fanfic #mw* #mf*

[joels-darlin]

I Need You

Pairings: Pedro Pascal x f!reader

Warnings: mention of mental health/anxiety and panic attacks, some fluff (pls let me know if I missed any I'm new at this)

Summary: You turn to Pedro in a time of need.

Word count: 522 (ish)

Author Note: Just a small Pedro drabble that came to mind. Apologies if my Spanish translations are terrible, I will try to get better. Also, this is the very first fic I have ever posted on the world wide web (always written stuff but it's never seen the light of day) Pls be nice and any feedback is really appreciated, hope you all enjoy <3

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It was early hours of the morning when you paced the living room floor of your flat - a panic attack imminent. Tears streaming down your face, the stress of everything finally getting to you. Picking up the phone you knew who you needed and without even thinking dialled the number. “Hey…” he breathed “...everything okay querida?”. You swallowed harshly “P…I’m sorry….could you come over...I need you” choking between tears. On my way was all you heard before the click of the call ending. 

It wasn’t long before he let himself in the front door, not even giving you a chance to sit down. Taking in your broken form he raced to where you stood to which you leaped into his arms. “It’s okay I got you cariño, breathe” he soothed pulling you towards the couch collapsing in a heap. You lay with him, sobs echoing off the walls. Doing what he could to comfort you - holding you tight, stroking your hair. His heart breaking as every sob raked through your frame. 

It took a couple of hours before you finally calmed down, eyes red raw and tears drying up. “Baby girl, you with me” he said softly stroking your cheek tilting your head to look at him. “I think someone needs a cup of tea” he said, flashing you the softest smile to which you nodded in response. He was only gone for a couple of minutes but you felt lonely without the comfort and warmth. 

“I hate seeing you like this...” he placed the cup on the table and took a seat on the couch “...come live with me I can keep an eye on you, friends are supposed to look out for each other right” you paused for a second to think. Would that be a bad option? Well maybe for the fact that you were head over heels in love with your best friend and that he had literally no idea. “I...I...can’t” you stuttered. “Why not?” He pressed. You sighed, mind wandering elsewhere. “I know by the way...I heard what you said to Oscar” he spoke after a few moments of silence. Feeling your muscles tense up you turned to face him but you were unable to form any words, processing that he knew your deepest darkest secret. “Sweetheart it’s okay I feel the same way, but I think you need to focus on yourself first” he said softly, reaching out to lace your fingers together. “Okay” you croaked. 

Everything fell into place after that. Giving up the lease for your flat and moving into Pedro's spare bedroom. You got your mental health into a good space with thanks to him, helping you when he could in between jobs. It was that one night over dinner at home where you shared your first kiss, the feelings you both had for each other never lost and only growing stronger months down the line. One date after another led to sharing his bed the spare room that was once home forgotten, now that you were finally in his arms. He was always there when you needed him.

#pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal fic #pedro pascal fanfic

[rowrowknowa]

guidelines

---General Rules

✮ this blog contains some NSFW content; i'll always try my best to tag all warnings appropriately

✮ MDNI, non-negotiable. i won't interact with ageless or take requests from ageless blogs. don't follow me, don't send asks, stay outta grown folks business!! ✮ i don't take requests for minors (obviously), even SFW asks if they're romantic in nature

✮ black bi, i dont tolerate any type of racism, colorism, ableism, fatphobia, zionism, homo/queer/transphobia -- i want a space of inclusiveness and i will check you

✮ i currently am taking requests! but to keep it real theres no guarantees so dont be offended if i dont do yours

✮ i take spoilers VERY seriously and VERY personally for myself and others im so serious so please pay attention to where i am in a given work (anime only) and try not to give anything away pls (if ur not sure ask)

---General Writing

✮ what i write for at any given moment will depend on what my current fixation is

✮ ill always write for one piece (anime and live action). currently taking requests for FE3H and JJK as well - if you have a request for me to write for something outside of these feel free to suggest

✮ im a reader insert lover im so sorry so majority of my works will be in the second person. only rarely will i have an OC and thats likely for longer works

✮ all works will likely default to member x cis f!reader because thats the POV im most familiar with (i.e. i tend to write myself as a placeholder), but don't take that to mean i won't write any other reader inserts. i'm open to writing with a reader insert of any gender / any genitalia so please request it! and leave feedback and critique so i can improve on writing in those POV

---NSFW writing

✮ i dont do scat, (watersports is a maybe...if you're convincing enough), dont do abo, dont do raceplay, dont do ageplay, no extremely dark content/kinks/themes, dont do gore, not a fan of "daddy"

✮ a separate bullet because this one is important bc its popular: i won't do size kinks that center/elevate petite/skinny frames. ive seen so many works that write them in a way thats bigger/taller/larger body exclusive and bordering fatphobic/heightist.. i dont want people who are already marginalized to feel even further marginalized. if you wanna read that go find another work.

✮ i do write for a variety of kinks. the inclusion/exclusion criteria here isnt exhaustive if you're not sure, ask.

✮ i don't write characterxcharacter usually but im a slut for a good threesome with it peppered in. i won't write a poly relationship mostly because i know my strengths and weaknesses and i promise you wont want to read my attempt at that

---Requests!

✮ requests are welcome!

✮ headcanons, A-Z, MTLs, reactions, and scenarios are more likely to be fulfilled because they're less intensive to me, fun and quick!

✮ when sending an ask, please be specific! give mama (me) something to work with. feel free to try and make it interesting, give me ideas to bounce off of, send your thoughts/fantasies/etc

✮ i will take one shot requests but the longer, more complex it is the longer it'll take/lower chance it is i'll do it if it's not speaking to me

✮ i'm my own biggest critic so if i feel like i don't like what i write i won't post it

✮ i do work a full time big girl job so be patient and don't be offended if i don't get to your ask

#one piece #one piece smut #jjk smut #jjk #jjk imagines #one piece fluff #one piece reader insert #one piece reactions #guidelines #blog rules #navigation #luffy smut #zoro fluff #nami smut #nico robin smut #trafalgar law smut #sabo fluff #zoro smut #sabo smut #opla smut

[acescavern]

Set Me Free - Teaser

navi - m.list

Intern!Mark Lee x Female Mermaid!Reader

wc: not yet recorded

note: Hello, my lovelies! so here is the teaser for the Mark fic i am writing. it's severely unfinished and im still rusty and crusty with my writing lol. It's based on this fic idea i had. i don't have a current date for when it'll be finished but hopefully in the coming days.

ALSO, honestly feel free to send in asks about scenarios and my fic characters. for instance 'Can you imagine Quiet!Jeno chasing after Chenle for his comment?' And for some of them i may even write a lil drabble and others i'll probably just gush about it with u.

Reblogs are appreciated, and So is feedback whether it be bad or good.

Enjoy the teaser!

Mark hated his new summer job. 

The employees in the offices around him sure knew how to push his buttons. Sending Mark on a coffee run for them to then decide they miscounted. Making him fetch their lunch to then change their mind once he had already gotten to the deli. Mark had lost count of how much ‘overtime’ he had already done in just a week. He hadn’t had a single lunch break yet, opting to work through in any hope that he could leave early. Poor chance that was. SMLabatories were truly using Mark to their advantage. 

Today though, Mark had barely seen a soul. It was as if his floor was a ghost town. He hadn’t had any paperwork dropped on his desks, no task list in his email either. It was only when he caught sight of Wonshik leaving his office with a styrofoam box labeled ‘HAZARD’, did Mark finally learn the reason why. Wonshik looked surprised to spot Mark at the small desk in the corridor, realization dawning on his face soon after. 

“Ah, Mr.Lee. It’s a pretty big day for us, work wise, today. Our focus will be on the new subje- research project for the rest of the week - If you’ve not received a task list or anything to do, feel free to brush up on your studies.” And with that, he was gone quite quickly leaving Mark standing there with furrowed brows of confusion. 

That was the nicest he had been spoken to so far... Mark had also noted that Wonshik looked nervous, jittery, and stressed. Mark just brushed it off, leaning back in his office chair to squeeze his fingers into his pocket in search of his phone.  Teeth gnawed onto his bottom lip as he glanced at the time ‘12:34’. Lunchtime. Mark perked up, with no work... He could have lunch today. 

At that thought, he grabbed his satchel bag and slung it over his shoulder, locking the desktop and strolling down the hallway with a newfound happiness at the thought of food. Remembering where the canteen was was a feat of its own though. He was sure there was one on this floor, He just couldn't remember where. Even if he just found a secluded space to eat his sandwich and read his Deadpool comic, Mark would count that as a win. The visitor pass around his neck swung as he walked, trying different doors with no joy. Until he stumbled across a barely lit hallway. 

Mark had seen enough zombie movies to know that any corridor of a science facility that looks like this should be off limits. Still, he glanced over his shoulder for any one who may get him in trouble before turning the corner. He walked slow, footsteps a dull thud as he attempted to be as light on his feet as possible. All the doors so far were locked but Mark’s keen eye was drawn to the glowing hue emitting from a door at the end. It’s almost as if someone hadn’t fully closed the door behind them. 

He crept toward it, his index and middle finger gently pushing the door the rest of the way open. He didnt spot it at first, focused on closing the door behind him without any creaks, then being distracted by the different diagrams and formulas written on a whiteboard next to the door. 

Mark’s hearing heightened at the sudden sound of sloshing water. It was a gentle sound but it was enough for Mark to finally register that he wasnt alone.. That he felt like he was being studied. 

“You’re new.” A quiet, melodic voice called out into the silence. 

Mark was drawn to the sound, slowly turning around as if captivated. Though the colour drained from his face as he finally caught sight of the center piece of the room. 

“W-What the fuck?...” He choked, feet nearly stumbling over one another to press his back against the door. 

In the very center of the room sat a large rectangle tank filled with blue murky water, spilling over the edges as the occupant of the tank moved within it. Mark’s eyes were glued to the fiery orange fins and scales, as beautiful as they were, he had never seen such a thing. In place of legs, there was a thick tail with fins at the very end. The tones of orange and red complimented the person’s skin tone beautifully, shimmering in the water. Mark’s frightened, but curious, gaze drifted higher. Noting that the tail blended into a regular human torso, flawless, naked navel and he couldn’t fight the blush on his face at the white bikini top that covered you. It took him a while to register what he thought he was seeing… A..mermaid?

#Mark Lee #Nct mark #nct127 #nctdream #nct dream x reader #Mark NCT dream #Mark NCT127 #Mark Lee au #Intern mark #Mark #Mark college au #mermaid!reader #Mark x Mermaid!reader #Mark Lee Angst #Mark fluff #Mark fic #Mark fantasy fic #Mark drabble #Mark teaser #Mark scenario #mark lee x reader #nct #nctzen #nct dream #nct drabbles #acescavern

[sunnyrealist]

🌶️ Chapter 38: Fierce Love 🌶️

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Chapter Background and Summary: Sebastian and Kate are on an adventurous camping trip in the Scottish Highlands. The third day is quite eventful. They explore a cave infested with Dementors, who show them illusions - ones depicting their dreams and their fears before attacking (Kate actually has to save Sebastian this time!). We learn more about Sebastian's time in Azkaban. There is intense lovemaking, followed by a rejected proposal (not rejected forever, but Kate isn't impressed to say the least). To top it all off, the couple has their first real fight. Kate decides to reveal to Seb that her family has incredibly high standards and likely will not approve of their relationship because of Sebastian's past. Unsurprisingly, he gets emotional, and both of them are very upset. Kate decides that they need some space, so she heads into her extendable bag to cry while Sebastian goes outside to get some air and clear his head.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x Kate Mayflower (my OC)

Content warnings: In general, this story is rated 18+, so MNDI. This chapter features a conclusion to the couple's first argument, the hypothetical idea of parental disapproval, lots of talk about deep and true love, a discussion about future children, and intoxication. This is also a spicy chapter that features domination and submission, punishment (spanking), loss of control, and doggy-style sex against a table.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! ���

Chapter 38: Fierce Love

As Kate places the last dish on the table, Sebastian slinks inside the tent. She inhales and exhales, trying to find some inner peace.

Luckily, his expression looks much calmer. He quickly notices the dinner set on the table and a sigh leaves him. His face is still grim. Sebastian takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, trying to focus, as he holds on to the back of a chair at the table.

"Sorry," he says in a low, raspy voice that betrays the emotions just unleashed while he was alone. "I should not have reacted that way. That was out of line." He pauses for a second and then finally adds, "Are you… alright?"

Kate sighs. "Yes, I'm fine." She wipes a final tear from her face. "And you know what, I'm sorry, too. Maybe this was not the right time to bring this up." She gestures for him to take a seat at the table. "Perhaps I should have waited until we got home."

"Yeah… that might have been better," he mumbles, sitting down. "Still… It’s out now, and I do want to talk about it. I think it's necessary." A pause. "Kate, look..." He meets her eyes. "I know this is going to be a... difficult thing. With your parents, and how they will see me and... everything." Another pause. "I just... I don't want to mess this up with your family. I don't want to be rejected by them. I don't know what I'll do if they hate me." He sighs. "I want to win them over. I want them to give me a chance, even though I'm probably a hell of a lot different than whatever it is they expect. And that’s putting it lightly."

“It’s going to take time,” she finally murmurs after a moment. “Ugh… I already know how it’s going to go.” She shakes her head dejectedly. “But… Seb… they are good people - my parents. They just want what is best for me, but… this-” she gestures between them, “-is not for them to decide. It’s my life. I get to choose who to love.” She exhales and waits a moment before speaking again. “I do believe they will eventually come around. And if they don’t, they will be the ones missing out on an incredible son-in-law.” She gives him a small smile.

His expression softens. "Yes, it may take time..." he muses. "And it likely will not be easy. But if they are good people, like you said, they will come to realize that my past doesn't define me. My past doesn't define my ability to be a good partner for you and a good father to their- their grandchildren..." Sebastian meets her eyes. "I truly am sorry for how I spoke to you, Kate. I don’t know how you have such… infinite patience.” He sighs. “And thank you for being honest, even when I don’t want to hear the truth."

She reaches for his hand and squeezes it. “Of course.” She plates sauteed salmon, lemon parmesan rice, and roasted green beans for both of them. “Bash, they are sensible people. It will be difficult at first because my mum is emotional and concerned with reputation.” She pauses. “I want to lead this with honesty. I will tell them that I am not leaving you, that I will not change my mind. And it will be up to them to decide whether or not and how to integrate their future son-in-law.”

"Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea..." he replies, and his grip on her hand tightens as he finally gives her a small smile. "Honesty is critical. We can't build a foundation based on lies. Not with this. That way, whatever the outcome, at least we can say that we handled this with maturity." He sips his white wine. "Your parents have every right to be concerned for you. But I'm not the same person who made those terrible mistakes when I was sixteen. I have learned and grown up. I’m ready to start my life anew. I'm ready to build a life with you.”

“I know all of that, I do. It’s just going to be tough to tell them the news. I think… I think I should speak to them alone first. It might go over better if you aren’t there.”

His face falls as he processes this, having expected that they would stand and face it all together. But, after some thought, he nods finally and says, "You're right... And you know your parents best.” He pauses after a moment and then asks worriedly, "They won't be terribly mean, will they? Or rude?"

“They won’t be openly rude or mean when you meet them, Sebastian,” Kate replies, looking bothered. “Don’t worry about that. They would never. They’re good-mannered people.” She takes a bite of salmon. “It’s more what they might say or think when you are not around. They’ll feel more comfortable to ask me difficult questions and get their feelings out. They will almost undoubtedly attempt to make me rethink us. It won’t work, though.”

He is quiet as he takes a few bites of his dinner, attempting to mask his anxiety of the ordeal ahead. "So, they will be asking you questions like, 'Why can't you see that he's a dark wizard and bad for you? Why are your feelings more important than our family’s reputation? Are you sure you want to marry a man like him?'"

Kate cringes. “I mean - I hope not… but my mum can come off very strong. Irene and my papa will likely come to terms with us as a couple sooner than she will.” She sighs. “Damn it all. You probably think so badly of my family now. I promise you that this is not who they are at their core. They’re loving and kind and generous and…” She trails off, trying to assess his feelings. “Merlin, I want to add you to the family so badly. I think it would do you so much good to have people in your life that maybe… Maybe someday you’ll consider them parental figures. I just know that you’ll fit in perfectly, personality-wise, with all of us. It’s just… going to require patience.”

"I don't think badly of them," Sebastian replies. "They want to protect you. It's going to be hard for them to understand why you want to be with me, and I suppose I do not blame them for that." 

He savors the last bite of his salmon, and the anxiety inside him begins to soften. Kate is willing to risk her family's approval in order to be with him. It demonstrates just how deeply she cherishes him. 

"You're right," he says. "Patience and understanding will be crucial."

Kate is relieved to hear him say he doesn’t see her family as evil, but she kind of doubts that is the truth right now, especially after Sebastian’s tirade earlier. “I- I don’t think there is much else to discuss on the subject. We’ll face whatever comes together. And we will do it with love and maturity.”

"Yes, and with honesty," he adds. "We'll just have to accept that they may not approve of the idea of me at first. I don't think there's much else we can do besides letting time do its work, and I will be patient as necessary. With that said..." He smiles slightly. "I truly do hope they are not as harsh as you think they will be. And I hope you will stand up for me, if necessary, to tell them that I am not this bad person that they might think I am."

“You don’t need to worry about that at all, my love,” she replies. “I would do anything for you. Even… fight off a dozen Dementors.” Her smile is cheeky. “You’ll never have to wonder if I would protect you in a life or death situation.” 

As crickets chirp and the wind blows outside, the two enjoy some more bites of their food in comfortable silence. Kate’s eyes make their way to Sebastian, looking over his features. His face, lit by flickering candlelight, is swimming in freckles. Unbeknownst to him, his chestnut hair is a mess, probably from being outside in the cold wind. A broad chest with muscular arms, sculpted from fight after fight in prison, then from training with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He’s a masterpiece, Kate thinks to herself.

“I never thought you’d be able to battle so fiercely,” Sebastian remarks. “No offense. You’re just… full of surprises. You keep me on my toes all the time, Kate.” He stares as she smiles and drinks her wine. Then, he smirks. “Are you sure you aren’t a warrior at heart?”

Kate almost spits out her wine, then laughs heartily. “Godric’s heart, no!” She shakes her head dramatically, still chortling. A playful look comes over her face. “Little librarian me? Not in a million years. However… if I have to defend someone I love, watch out.” She raises her hands to make them look like claws. “A true Hufflepuff - gentle and patient and kind, yet fierce when provoked.”

Sebastian chuckles at her charade. Her silly side is adorable. “So… just a meek, petite, polite librarian… until there is a need to protect her love. Then, she turns into a dangerous wild beast.”

“Roooooooaaaaarrrr!” Kate growls and lunges at Sebastian, immediately erupting into giggles.

After settling down and enjoying quite a bit more wine, she turns more serious. “I suppose we are one for one now. I saved your life today, and you saved me from that monster, Clyde Parkinson. I guess we’re both rather protective. Is that also a Slytherin trait?”

Sebastian tilts his head as she asks about Slytherin. “Of course. It’s a big part of the Slytherin mentality. We look out for our own; we don’t hesitate to defend the ones close to us, but for us, it doesn’t matter what methods are required.” An image of Clyde Parkinson, his face filled with blood as Sebastian landed blow after blow, comes to mind. Upon reflection, Sebastian wonders if he went too far. But when he remembers Kate screaming, half-dressed, and the position in which Parkinson had forced her against the wall, ready to prey upon her honor, he doesn’t feel sorry. Not one bit. “It’s one of our best qualities. Being protective is how we survive and achieve our best.”

“So, I suppose I fall into that category, then? Someone close to you?” Kate bats her eyelashes in a silly manner.

“Well, of course. Someone very close to me. The closest anyone has been to me in a decade.” He gives her a small, teasing grin after sipping more wine. “I suppose, in that sense, you have become part of the Slytherin family.”

Kate laughs heartily. “Slytherin family, huh?” She eats a little more rice, then pushes her plate away, finished. A mischievous look takes over her face. “Will we be a Slytherin family?”

“Erm, yes. Yes!” His grin grows bigger as he realizes what she means. He meets her eyes. “Yes, I absolutely hope we will be a Slytherin family.”

Kate is poised and more than ready to tease him. “Or… we could be a Hufflepuff family…”

Sebastian bursts into laughter. “Oh, no, you don’t!” He playfully reaches out to grab her hands and clings onto them tightly, shaking them. 

“Oh, yes, I do!” Kate shrieks.

“You’re not turning me into a Hufflepuff!”

 “Just imagine it: Every time a new little Sallow comes to the front of the Great Hall, the Sorting Hat immediately declares, ‘Hufflepuff!’” She cackles. “Wouldn’t that be delightful?!”

He groans at her comment and then chuckles, despite his protests, still shaking her hands. “Oh, no. Please, no. I simply could not have my family line be cursed in that way - by having the Sorting Hat declare them all Hufflepuffs year after year!” His smile is huge. “It just wouldn’t be right!” 

They can hear the sound of crickets outside as the sun begins to set whenever the chuckles momentarily subside.

Kate takes a large sip of wine and then pours herself another very full glass, refilling Sebastian’s cup as well. It doesn’t escape his notice that her face is growing more rosy by the minute, her giggles getting louder and more high-pitched. “Cuuursed?! Cursed?! Do you really think it would be that awful to have little Sallows in Hufflepuff?! I would be soooo proud to see them…” she hiccups. “...in my h-house!” She lifts her arm, pumping dramatically, as if in victory. In doing so, wine splashes out of her cup and onto her dress.

Sebastian hasn’t smiled so hard in ages. He is now completely on board with this game they are playing. He’s sure to win if her red complexion indicates anything. “Yes - cursed! Being sorted into Hufflepuff is the worst curse I could possibly imagine! I cannot fathom having all of my descendants be doomed to wear that yellow, the color of sunflowers!” He continues in an even more dramatic manner. “And being proud of it?! Never! It would be a disgrace to the Sallow name!”

“Nnnnnnow you’ve done it!” Kate cries, banging her hands on the table and shooting up. She stomps over to him and violently shakes him by his shoulders. “You’ve i-insulted Hufflepuff aaaaand sunflowers! How dare you, Mr. Sallow!!!” She starts giggling again and doubles over. “I declareeee it now - our precious babies will be Hhhhhhufflepuffs!”

Sebastian can’t help but laugh at her antics, eager to goad her tipsy tomfoolery further.  “Never! Never in a million years! No matter how much wine you drink and how pissed you get, Kate Camellia Mayflower, you will not curse my children with that!” He observes her huffing and puffing. “I’ll never let them join that house! I’ll send them off to Hogwarts with green scarves instead. If anything, they’ll be Slytherin! I will not accept any… lesser option!”

Kate traipses back to her side of the table to retrieve her glass of wine, downing what is left. “Your children? Your children?! I think you are f-forgetting something, Sebastian Renatus Sallow - they’ll be ours!” She points at him dramatically. “And what are you gonna do? Bribe the S-Sorting Hat?!” She bursts out laughing.

Sebastian shakes his head as he watches her wine disappear. He can’t help but chuckle himself at her good cheer. She’s a hilarious drunk. “I suppose that’s true, but they will still be my children, and they’ll be just like their father - all Slytherin! And as for the Sorting Hat, do you think that I would not do anything and everything within my power to ensure that they are sorted into Slytherin? You know that’s Slytherin to the core!”

“You ffffffucking Slytherins! You play diiiiiiiirty!” she cries, throwing up her hands. She marches towards him again but trips over her own feet drunkenly, ending up sprawled across his lap. Then, as though it was his fault she fell, she yells, “Sebby! You naughty boy!”

The laugh that erupts from him when she trips and falls into his lap is one of pure amusement. Kate attempts to sit up in his lap, and he places his hands lightly on her waist in assistance. “Oh, really?” He chuckles, then leans towards her and whispers, “If I’m… a naughty boy, what are you going to do about it?” Kate giggles. “Your breath is tickling my ear, Sebby!” She squirms around, kicking her feet. “Naughty boys… need to be punisheddddd…” 

Sebastian can’t help but lean even closer, whispering directly in her ear. “Punished, huh? Is that so?” His eyes flicker down. The bodice of her dress is wet, drenched in wine, and a button has come loose, exposing some cleavage. He lets his eyes linger for a beat before slowly looking back up. “I could think of a few ways of punishing you,” he begins to tease, “but you might be too pissed to know what I’m talking about.”

Kate gasps. “Punish me?” She laughs. “Whatever for? I’m notttt pissed!” She notices his gaze has fallen upon the bodice of her simple pink frock, causing her to narrow her eyes.

“Oh, I know you’re drunk, my love,” he replies, then leans in again and flicks at the loose fabric. “You’re so drunk you don’t even recognize that that button has fallen loose.” He lets a beat pass before finally whispering, “But I know what to do about a dirty, naughty little Hufflepuff…”

“You’re the one sssssaying mean things abou- about Hufflepuff,” she whines, then hiccups. “I just know our babies will beeeeee…. In Hufflepuff, and you- you’ll be sorry, Sebby…” Her bottom wiggles over his groin as she squirms around, attempting to get away from the tight grip he has around her waist and torso. “Why? Why…. does a Slyyyyytherin get to punish a… Hufflepuff???”

“Because we’re better - we really are,” he answers in a mocking tone, his smile curling deviously. “And because Hufflepuffs like you need to know their place - that’s why! You belong to a Slytherin now, and your children will belong to Slytherin as well. It’s high time you realized that there is a hierarchy… and how that hierarchy really works.”

“Oh, p-piss off,” Kate spits. “There is no such… hi-hierarchy….” She grinds more on top of him, feeling him grow hard. “I-It’s all about… control for you lot. And Slytherins… they like to t-think they h-have control, but they d-don’t…” 

“Oh, yes there is - don’t be ridiculous! And control is what we have - it’s a simple fact.”

Kate suddenly unbuttons her bodice further, fanning herself. “Why is it so fucking warm in here?!”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “Warm? Maybe you should take off that pesky little dress.”

“Y-you’d like me to- to take my clothes off?” she asks innocently.

His eyes flicker towards her open bodice as he grins. “I would absolutely love it if you took this dress off, my love.”

“W-well…” Kate begins. “The t-thing about control… is that… I don’t have to do what you want… Y-you’re the one under my controlllll…. Just look at the state of you! I’m getting exactly w-what I wanted… You’re already hard because of meeeeee. I’m in control… Your control is just a… facade…”

Sebastian’s smile suddenly falters, but he decides to stand his ground. “Really? You think you’re in control? If so, maybe you should demonstrate… and do something about this… monster you’ve created.” He gives her a cheeky grin and bounces her on his leg.

“T-That’s right. We make Sssssslytherins think they have control because they like to think they have power. But it’s us - the Hufflepuffs - behind the curtain!” Kate smirks, her demeanor slightly changing. “You know… I don’t think I am going to do anything about this.” She gestures towards his lap, then giggles and moves to hop off of him.

His grin turns into a grimace; he grabs her wrists as she tries to leave. “Oh, no, no, no - not so fast…” He sounds playful at first, but after struggling to keep her on his lap, his tone becomes firm. “You are going to reap the consequences of your teasing, my love.”

Kate hiccups. “You’reeee the one getting punished!” She begins another attempt at escape, but his grip tightens around her waist, keeping her in place.

With a raised eyebrow, he asks, “Is that so? Well, if you think I’m being punished right now, let’s just see how you feel when I really punish you…”

Her smirk turns to confusion and then a slight bit of fear. “W-what?”

Sebastian leans in close, his voice lowering. “If you think that was a punishment, then just wait until you see what I have planned for you, my love. You will beg for me to stop, and I won’t...”

Kate’s mouth drops. She stops squirming, defeated, but also curious, exhilarated, and fearful all at once. 

He can’t help but smirk as he sees what kind of effect his words have on her. He leans back a bit, keeping one hand on her wrist and the other tight on her waist. “Let me tell you something,” he begins, his voice still low and with a somewhat threatening edge to it. “You have been a very naughty, very dirty girl tonight, and you need to be reprimanded.”

“Seb…” Kate’s tone is full of worry. “Please…”

His grip suddenly tightens. “Oh, a punishment has to happen, my dirty little Hufflepuff. There will be no more warnings. I’m going to teach you a lesson…”

“No,” she squeaks. “I… I don’t want that. Please…” 

“You should have thought of that earlier. You should have known what would happen.” The hand around her wrist tightens.

“Ouch!” Kate yelps. “Don’t hurt me!”

There is an audible scoff. “Oh, but why should I not? You teased me, and for that, you’re going to be punished. So, now, it’s just a matter of how I’m going to punish you.” He suddenly lets go of her wrist, sliding his hand up her thigh and onto her rear.

Her eyes go wide. She shrieks as he suddenly flips her over so that she is bent over his knee. He slides the hem of her dress up, exposing her bottom. That’s when Kate finally realizes what is about to happen. “Sebby… n-no! Pleeeeeease!” 

“Oh, but dear,” he murmurs, “I’m afraid that the time for pleading has passed.” He squeezes her arse and gives it a hard spank.

“OW!” she shrieks. She tries fruitlessly to get away from him. “Seb…”

Another hit. “Sorry, my love, but you need to be punished… I’m not going to listen to you anymore.” The moment he finishes speaking, he gives her another firm spank, the sound echoing off of the walls of their tent.

Her body jerks as he slaps her arse over and over again, handprints blooming red against her pale skin. 

“Stop! Stop!” Kate pleads. “Please, Seb!”

“Stop? I’m not done yet, my love.” He smirks and gives her a firm slap again, his palm lingering on her skin. “There’s still so much more that you need to learn about your place…”

Tears well in Kate’s eyes. “I didn’t do anything wrong!” she protests. “It hurts!”

“It’s meant to hurt!” His grip on her hip tightens. “Oh, you did plenty wrong, my love,” he murmurs. “You were teasing me, grinding up on me, all while knowing how badly you wanted to be punished. It was inevitable; that’s just how it works with a dirty little Hufflepuff like you.”

“But you w-were being so meannnn! Aren’t we even?!” she cries out, tearing up, as he resumes spanking her over and over.

“No, we are not even,” he hisses, watching her red arse jiggle slightly with each hit. “You know why we aren’t even? Because you drove me to it. You are the one in the wrong here - that’s why you’re being taught a lesson.”

“Stop! Stop! Please!” she wails as he lands blow after blow. “This is over some stupid argument about what house our children will be in! It’s not right!”

There’s a moment of reprieve as he mockingly responds. “Oh, is that what this is about? Just that silly banter?”

Kate breathes in and out slowly, trying to manage the pain. “I-It was… also about… control…” she answers quietly.

There’s a moment of silence.

“I see… And… you were the one wanting to be in control during that argument?” Sebastian asks calmly and seriously.

“I… yes…” she answers hesitantly, not wanting any further pain. “B-but not anymore, Seb. It’s you. Y-you’re in control.” She lowers her head.

“Is that so?” he questions. “Then would you say that I am still in control for whatever I do right now?”

“Yes,” she replies obediently, and in the next moment, she is thrown over the table, her arse in the air. “W-what?!” She hears Sebastian hastily unbuttoning his trousers.

As his trousers and shorts slide down his legs, he tells her with a slightly more playful edge, “I can do whatever I want to you right now, can’t I?”

She feels his groin press flush against her stinging bottom and whimpers. His manhood pokes against her center, and he starts chuckling darkly when he realizes how wet she is. “Guess you enjoyed that, didn’t you, my dirty little Hufflepuff? There was no need to protest so much. We’re about to have some more fun, alright? It’s gonna feel so good. You don’t have to hide how much you love this…”

Kate gasps as he pushes inside her heat. Without giving her any time to adjust, he starts moving, his pace quick. Every time his groin snaps against her rear, she yelps in both pain and pleasure. “Seb… Seb… Oh… Seb!” she shrieks.

“That’s it, my love,” he hisses as he speeds up. His moans intermingle with the slapping of skin and that of wet squelching. “Oh, gods… it’s good…” He closes his eyes in satisfaction. “Who’s in charge, my naughty girl?”

Kate can hardly breathe, her eyes shut tight. “You! You are!” she screams. “Sweet Merlin! Oh, gods!”

“Yes, that’s right… I am! So what does that make you, my love?”

Even thinking is difficult. Almost all she can register is the stinging every time he thrusts against her arse. Drool slips out of her mouth. “Yours. Yours to control! Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck, I’m close!”

The dishes on the table are rattling; a wine glass is close to the edge, but he pays it absolutely no mind and continues on.

“And what…. what do I own of yours?” Sebastian asks. When she doesn’t answer, only breathing heavily, he repeats the question. “What do I own of yours? Answer me!”

Kate lets out a long moan, then struggles to answer as he absolutely pounds into her. “My body. It’s… It’s yours! Aaaahhhh… Sebastian! You… You own me!” Her vision starts going white; she is falling over the edge.

Sebastian groans as her walls tighten around him. Thrusting hard into her a few more times, he feels himself giving into bliss as well. He pushes as deep as possible as he unleashes a huge load, his heart pounding in his ears as he utters unintelligible words of praise.

Coming down from her high, Kate whimpers. Sebastian collapses on top of her, reaching forward to grope her breast as he tries to return back to reality himself. 

“Oh my gods…” she murmurs breathlessly.

“Sweet Merlin…” he agrees breathlessly. “That was amazing.” He looks utterly winded, sweating and panting profusely, as he finally pulls out of her.

Kate slides from the table to the floor, absolutely boneless and shaking from the aftershocks of their shared pleasure. Her breathing is as heavy as his. “Sebastian…” she chokes out. “Seb…”

He follows her down on all fours, moving carefully next to her. After a moment, he presses a gentle kiss to her lips. “Kate…” he murmurs. “You were incredible. You know that, right?”

Her face is flushed as she gazes upon him. One of her breasts has completely fallen out of her bodice; she can’t be bothered to fix it. She just needs to revive herself first. Naturally, it doesn’t escape Sebastian’s notice. He reaches up to squeeze her breast gently. “I think your dress looks… better… like that…” 

Kate allows Sebastian to pull down her bodice enough to expose her other breast as well. He kneads her soft flesh, flicking her pebbled nipples as she whimpers.

“You - ahhh - you love them, don’t you?”

Sebastian lets out a low chuckle. “You know damn well I do.” He gives her breasts another squeeze. “I mean, look at them! How could I not?!”

She giggles and scrunches her nose. “Do you ever think they’re too big? I certainly do.”

“Too big?” he asks incredulously. “No. Trust me, your breasts are perfect.”

“They’ll be unbearable someday when you get me pregnant,” she muses nonchalantly, a far-off look on her face. “Absolutely unbearable.”

“Oh, trust me,” he responds, leaning in closer, cupping her tits. “I’ll be more than happy to bear them… in my hands, that is. All the time.”

Kate scoffs and playfully swats him. “Sebastian!”

He smiles even wider than before, an amused look forming on his face. “You say my name as if you expect me to behave. You know I can’t manage that.”

“Do you need to be punished now?” she asks, playfully rubbing her hands together as if she’s some evil mastermind. Propping herself up on one arm, her breasts swing as she moves - his eyes are trained on them. “I think you’re far more naughty than me.”

“Yeah?”

“I can see what you’re thinking about right now, Mr. Sallow. You’re absolutely insatiable. I swear, you’d go at it all night if I agreed.” She scoffs.

His eyes light up. “Do you agree?’

“Gods!” she laughs. “You’re like a rabbit. Sometimes it feels like you’re trying to breed me.”

Sebastian is caught off guard by her comment and lets out a soft snicker. “Yes, and…? Maybe you’d like that. Maybe you’re not entirely against it yourself.”

Kate’s face turns red quickly as she looks away and attempts to compose herself. “Seb… I…” she stammers.

“Mm, so I was right then, wasn’t I?” His tone has once again gotten flirty and teasing. “Are you embarrassed? Don’t be. Would you want… to be bred by me?”

She continues blushing silently but finally answers after a few moments. “Not now… not until after we’re married and ready for babies.” She’s quiet again, thinking about it. Then, she gives him a lopsided grin. “Anything before that is just… practice.”

“Is that so?” he chuckles. “So… what I take away from that is that you’re saying we have been doing lots of practicing, then…” Smiling, he leans down to give her another kiss, his lips lightly brushing over her cheek. “We should continue practicing…”

Kate breathes out shakily, his face so close to hers. One of his hands glides up her leg, caressing her thigh. “Oh, Seb…” she murmurs, filled with desire. “Take me to bed.”

Sebastian scoops her up, carrying her over to the bed as she giggles, still slightly buzzed. 

“How should we practice?” she asks innocently as he finally removes her dress and then his own tunic.

“Oh, you know the answer to that perfectly well,” he responds playfully, laying her down on the bed and clambering over her. His hands roam all over her body. “Practicing is not the same as the actual thing - you know, actually trying for children…” His tone is more sensual. “But we must practice, you see, so we can be ready after marriage…”

“Mmmm… I see.” She gives him a coy look. “So… how often must we practice, darling?”

“Oh, often,” he whispers, his lips now brushing against her neck. “Every single night until we’re married. At least once every night. And even after we’re married… we should continue practicing, maybe even more…” He squeezes her thigh. “Don’t believe for even a single second that I’ll ever get tired of it.”

“Oh, goodness!” Kate puts on an air of naivety. “But, darling, we cannot - not until marriage!” She puts the back of her hand to her forehead as though she might faint, then cracks up and continues her charade. “Perhaps we should get dressed. One of us ought to sleep on the floor. We wouldn’t want to cause a scandal by sharing a bed!”

Sebastian’s grin is crooked. He presses little kisses all along her collarbone. “Oh… I suppose you’re right. We wouldn’t want anyone to get any wrong ideas if they were to find us.” He lets out an amused chuckle. “Yes, we should sleep in different beds, just in case.”

Kate lifts her head to kiss his lips. “It would only be proper!” She wraps her legs around his waist, bringing their naked bodies even closer. “You wouldn’t want to take advantage of a sweet young lady like me…” She bats her eyelashes.

“I would never,” he responds in the same playful tone. “Who would have ever thought you’d find yourself in a situation of such… lewdness!”

Kate lays kisses all over Sebastian’s face as she hugs him, pressing his chest against her pillowy breasts. “We are in a proper courtship, Sebastian Sallow. We should never give in to our passions prior to marriage.” She runs her hands over his back. “And talking about making babies is not fit for polite society.”

“Oh, my apologies…” he responds as he runs his fingers over her arms in a featherlight touch. “I should never speak of such things, not with your sweet innocence. We must never speak of it again. Not until our wedding night.”

Kate looks at him with doe eyes, feigning confusion. “Our wedding night? What happens on one’s wedding night?” Her hands travel up his back and neck to settle on his cheeks, pulling his face to hers so she can kiss him deeply.

“Oh,” he says before giving into the kiss as his hands continue to explore her body. “Well… most people like to… practice even more of what we just did…”

“Most people… Hmmm…” she muses. “But what about you, Sebastian? What would you want to do on our wedding night?” She bites her lip.

He grins, breaking out of character momentarily. “I would want… to be inside of you…” His hands start to slide lower. His tone becomes more seductive. “To fill you with my seed.”

Kate giggles. “Only once that night, of course, right, Seb? And only when we’re ready for children. Never before.”

“Certainly, that’s what a proper couple might think…” His teeth nip at the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. His voice is husky. “But I want to do improper things to you all day, every day… And on our wedding night, I’ll never leave your body. We won’t sleep at all.”

Kate grinds against Sebastian, speaking in the tone of a well-mannered society girl. “Oh, but Seb… I must know how to please my husband on our wedding night. I wonder who could help me? I need a teacher desperately.”

“Oh, dear Kate,” he teases in a playful tone. “Whoever could that be?”

She gasps as he suddenly grabs her hands, pinning them high above her head. Her pert nipples graze his chest. “Oh, Sebastian. Please, please teach me…”

“Perhaps I might… teach you all the different ways you could make me… love you… crave you… make me want to worship you…”

Kate groans as he grinds against her. Her voice is desperate, needy. “Show me. Sebastian, teach me. Show me what to do, my love…”

Sebastian smiles as he whispers in a seductive voice. “And Kate… Just as you should learn how to please your future husband, he should… learn how to please you. So, tell me, my dear, what should your future husband know?”

Squirming underneath his powerful body, she manages to quietly respond, “Well… the first thing for my husband to know is… hmmm… I love romance and kisses…” She places her lips on his cheek. “Now, what should your wife know that you like?”

“Yes, me too. She should know… I like to feel wanted.” Sebastian leans in and captures her lips in his. 

Kate smiles adoringly. “ Seb, oh, gods, does she want you. She wants you like nothing else in this world. You’ll never have to question that - ever.” She kisses him again, slowly and tenderly. “I… I think my husband should know that I love when he touches me all over my body…” “Yes. Yes, she does like that,” he chuckles, running his free hand up and down her abdomen. “And I already know she loves having someone take charge… someone who can take control. She likes when her husband is a bit more… assertive.” His grip tightens around the wrists he has pinned over her head.

“True,” she murmurs, moaning as his other hand reaches her breast, settling and gently squeezing. “And… mmmmm… What else should your wife know about you, Bash?”

“She should know I am often curious and experimental. That I enjoy trying new things… and exploring,” he pauses to bite and suck a mark into her neck as she whimpers. “She should know that I am an incredibly patient man… who is able to last a very long time…”

“Adventurous,” she breathes out. “And absolutely insatiable…” She chuckles a little, dragging her fingertips down his back and settling them over his arse. “Your wife definitely knows how relentless you can be. She might not be quite as insatiable as you, but she loves how desired her husband can make her feel. It’s flattering.” She kisses his cheek.

Sebastian’s breath becomes more labored. “Yes… and my wife knows that I’m also possessive and protective. She knows she is mine. She knows that I am an incredibly jealous man.” He lets out a small laugh as he pulls her body closer, flush against his. “But somehow, she is capable of making all of my negative feelings just melt away.”

“Your wife belongs to you completely, darling,” she whispers in his ear. “There is no other man she would ever consider. And she knows full well what you might do if a stranger ever touches her… She feels so safe with you.”

They kiss for a few moments, slowly and languidly.

“My wife knows I would kill for her if I had to, but luckily… because she has me, I doubt anyone would dare get too close.” He continues nipping the skin of her neck over and over, then giving a soothing kiss to each new, blooming mark. The sound of her little whines makes him desire her even more.

“And my husband should know… that his wife would lay down her life for his if necessary,” she murmurs. “Really. She would.” Kate gives him a gentle smile as they make eye contact. “My husband deserves the entire world and more. I want to fulfill his every desire, to try just about anything he wants to try…”

Sebastian flashes a smile and blushes as she says this. His hand finally releases hers, but she doesn’t move them, leaving them laying high over her head. Sebastian caresses her cheeks, then pulls her in for another tender kiss. “I love you, Kate.”

“I love you, Sebastian,” she tells him. “Please don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t bear it.”

He squeezes her as he responds, “I will never leave you. Never… I could never.” He kisses her again. “Not now, not in a thousand years. I am yours, and you are mine. You are my everything, from this moment until the end of time.”

The only sound other than their lips smacking against each other is the chirping of crickets - a perfect soundtrack.

Kate takes his face in her hands. “We haven’t been together long, and yet, this feels so right, so perfect. Some people never find what we have, Seb… and I pity them. I do. I could never live without this love anymore.” She pauses, kissing his shoulder. “I don’t understand it - how it just seems like I’ve known you forever, loved you forever. The moment we spoke that night in Diagon Alley… the first time you held me when we apparated to Hogsmeade… It just felt so good to be with you.”

Her words fill Sebastian with butterflies. He can’t help but smile. “I know what you mean. It seems as though I’ve known you far longer than I have. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt something. Something powerful… something deep… something I just had to have and keep.”

Kate chuckles. “I remember it well - how it felt when you were staring at me that night.” She smiles fondly. “The moment I saw you, I just had to speak to you. I was so curious.” She caresses his cheek. “And ever since then, everything I feel… It’s just so intense, Seb. So intense.”

“I felt the same way. I saw you and couldn’t look away. There was so much desire to meet you… to know you… and maybe even to love you. And after that first night…” His words are filled with affection, a deep warmth, as he looks in her eyes. “Everything I’ve felt with you… it’s far more powerful than I’ve felt with anyone other than family.”

“That first morning, when I sent you away because you admitted to me about your past and dark magic… I don’t know if I had ever felt so depressed in my entire life,” she admits. “It felt like something was being ripped away from my soul - my very soul. I was miserable for weeks.”

“I thought I had lost you…” Sebastian’s eyes are far off, contemplating how melancholy he felt back then. “I thought that I had lost the love of my life forever.”

Kate presses her forehead to his. “Thank Merlin you wrote to me. Thank Merlin. Who knows where we would be otherwise…”

“Yes. I might never have seen you again…” A sigh escapes him as he imagines that outcome - not having her in his life. Pure loneliness. Wandering from place to place without purpose, drinking every night in an attempt to forget the past, debating if it’s worth being alive at all…

She kisses him tenderly, recognizing his expression and pulling him out of his thoughts. “I love you, my moon. My sweet moon.”

“And I love you, my sun… my beautiful sun…” A smile curls on his lips as he runs his fingers through her yellow hair. “Please… I want to make love to you again…”

Kate’s answer is a deep kiss. She allows herself to be ravished once more. 

#hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy sebastian #sebastian sallow x oc #post azkaban sebastian #hufflepuff x slytherin #aged up sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy oc #hl oc #hl sebastian #hogwarts legacy romance #sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy smut #Sebastian sallow smut #hl smut #hogwarts legacy original character

[apparentlynotreallyfinnish]

I found post which mentions, that, while english is your second language, you write insanely good fiction in it.

As a fellow non-native English speaker, and an aspiring writer, can I get some tips at how you started writing in English, and how you get to the point, where you are good at it?

Like, a process, please? Thank you very much, off to explore your blog now!

My friends are exaggerating a bit. I'm definitely not anywhere near insanely good. But I do think I've progressed a lot since I started writing in English in February 2019. (Before that I'd only written in my native language Finnish.) Here are my two cents anyway since you asked so nicely!

Read! Literally the most important thing you can do is read in English and not just read for pleasure (which is obviously very important and will help you learn, too) but read with the purpose of learning. Look at the way the authors use language: how they form a paragraph, how they vary sentence lengths, what kind of metaphors they use, where they put the commas and em dashes. Also, take note of any words you're not sure you understand completely and go look for the definitions. Investigative reading is the jam!

I know this is super obvious, but just start writing in English and do your best. It can be daunting in the beginning and you'll probably make mistakes, but that's totally okay. Fic writing is an amazing space to learn writing, because the story is more important than the grammar and you'll get positive feedback even if the language is not 100% correct.

If you can, find a native speaker to beta read for you. If they are willing, ask for them to explain their corrections. That way you'll actually understand what was amiss and there's a better chance you'll remember next time.

If you can't find a native speaker there are some AI helpers you can try. I used Grammarly in the beginning. It's a good help but leans more into business-type language rather than creative writing, so I wouldn't take its corrections at face value. Another one I've heard people using and liking is ProWritingAid.

Read what you've written out loud to yourself. We tend to hear the mistakes better than see them. If you don't want to/can't read out loud due to sharing a space with someone, you can use AI again. I use NaturalReader.

Don't get too caught up in the small stuff. Even native English speakers make grammar mistakes and everyone makes typos.

Write as much as you can. Write in different styles. Write drabbles. Write long fic. It doesn't really matter just as long as you keep writing. The good and bad news is that the best way to learn is to put words on paper (or a screen). (My first year of writing in English, I wrote over 500k words of fic. I still have no idea how I managed that. Hyperfixation is a super power, I guess.)

After a little while, go back and read stuff you wrote before. I bet it won't take long for you to start noticing a difference in your abilities.

Have fun with it!

#sonyawix #writing #writing advice #writing in your second language #Appa's writing advice #feel free to reblog and add your advice!

[inavagrant-a]

you make this space feel welcoming & in a rpc so prone to cliques i do think that's something to let you know. you are very friendly, very easy to talk to, full of wonderful ideas, funny, & your portrayal of wanderer & style of rp is one i like out of all the ones i have caught glimpses of.

i will confess to you that scaramouche & wanderer as a character annoy me, he's just the type of character that seems uninteresting to me, i could never warm up to him. but talking to you about him & reading your thoughts on him i do catch myself just listening in intently, wanting to know more, wanting to pick at your brain more, because it feels like i'm learning a lot from him through you that the game failed to catch my attention with.

your portrayal of wanderer, tetsuya you call him, is phenomenal. you don't just give a glimpse of how his thought process works of his feelings of his conflicts, but in your own writing you also apply this sense of accountability on top of all of that & that is such an interesting manner in story telling that not many can accomplish because it's essentially the character & then there's pieces of the author subtly arguing with the character. you do it in such a way that it flows so neatly & both counterparts compliment the other. one of my favorite things about your writing is his inner monologue. aside from all of this you aren't scared to expand from the canon material, you aren't scared to show that tetsuya can grow, that he can change, & that begins in such a subtle way. it begins as a thought & then his actions & it is just good technique. it makes him that much more interesting, that much more alive.

yes i do see some personal hc's integrated here & there, yet you somehow manage to take the canon material & you break it into little pieces for me to where i do think it would be nice to put some investment into his character. you make him interesting to me with all of the life you give him through your rp style.

which, brings forth my next point, i have only wonderful things to say about the way you rp. not only do your replies flow & add the proper amount of attention to your character in the reply, but you also point out a lot about the other person's character you're interacting with to show how strong of an impact what the other character has done or said can have on tetsuya. you also make me feel like you're invested in what i reply with, because in your reply i can tell you're paying attention & already trying to understand the other person's character which makes me want to invest equally & as much in you.

apollo you are wonderful & i wish whole heartedly that you were more open to seeing that since you struggle with it so much. just like you believe kindness should be something that comes naturally, i believe that when there's something worth thanking, then you show your gratitude. so thank you, you're a great & talented guy apollo.

This legit got me teary eyed what the fuck Eddi e tHIS IS SO SWEET WHAT THE FUCK EDDIE???

I'm honestly at a loss, idk how to reply to this I'm like lowkey overwhelmed by all of this. You're so sweet and I appreciate your feedback on my roleplaying and thanks for being so nice and saying such sweet things about me? I'm glad that I'm able to make the space here welcoming to you as well. I'm just gonna be fuckin g thanking you here this is what's gonna happen awraxa.

Thank y ou for sparing me some of your time when you get a chance and for listening to my wild ideas and for giving my son a chance and just being such a chill person in general?? Like really I don't know what else to say to this but thank you? I'm sorry I sound like a broken record but like this is all just too much??? nOT LIKE IN A BAD WAY OR ANYTHING I JUST MEAN LIKE it's just so kind?? And I don't think I deserve such a thing but thank you Eddie, really thank you! You're really awesome too Eddie! I genuinely can't thank you enough I'm sorry for repeating myself so much but I'm like just awraxawraxa I am squis hy pleas e..... ..

#dochttore #inquiries. #out. #i'M GONNA ATTACK YOU #VIA A HUG #COMPLETELY OUT OF FUCKIN G NOWHERE DON'T TRY ME #I'M GOING TO CRY LEGI T AWRAXAWRAXA #wHY IS THIS SO FUCKING SWEET

[skadren]

I keep seeing a bunch of live and let go, boundaries are personal and not moral stances posts about writing and i largely agree ppl should be able to explore what they want in fic but also. Is there a way to balance or talk about "hi um white author so you kinda reinvented racism/blood eugenics and unilaterally present sex work as inherently degrading and etc etc etc for Shipping Angst Drama fodder, when the text is like. None of that" in fandom or even just in like. A server community. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive bc i feel constructed/projected misery is kind of tacky to begin with and i wouldn't do it with a complete stranger but idk my guy. I don't want to alienate myself but it's weird to go completely uncritical here

i think there are a couple items you need to check off the list before you can go "yes talking to internet stranger #37461239 about a highly sensitive topic is a good idea"

is it tagged appropriately? if it's tagged trust me the writer knows. they have probably gotten way more unsolicited feedback than they would really like

is the portrayal you're concerned about reinforcing an unhealthy or discriminatory predominant social narrative? if it is and you think the writer is genuinely unaware, then yeah, it might be worth bringing up. the emphasis here is on predominant please i am begging on my hands and knees

will this result in a productive conversation? if the intent behind this is to get people to reconsider, it isn't helping anyone if you know it will just lead to them doubling down and doing it even worse. at that point you're only making a performative statement to validate your own stance

if it really is bothering you that much, is there a compelling reason why you can't just block and move on? it isn't your responsibility nor is it feasible to fix how a fandom is doing things, especially if it's a group of people you don't really know. your own mental health always comes first, and a bit of salty venting in private with your friends never hurts anyone

if it IS a friend or acquaintance who is doing this and you think they would be open to discussing it with nuance, then you can probably bring it up. if that person has a basic level of consideration and respect for you it tends to go well, but i've also seen people double down because they already know there's something wrong with their attitudes but get mad at you for wanting them to change, and then it creates a whole ton of drama and people get hurt and it's not pretty. so. ymmv

ultimately, someone's views on racism or sex work or whatever is reflective of a broader social norm, and fandom is not the best space to try to fix that through confrontation-- it's usually someone's "safe space" where they want to retreat from the world, not come face-to-face with any sort of personal reckonings. do i think it's a mark of privilege that some people have the luxury of ignoring these issues when they "just want to have fun"? yes, but again, this is about being able to have productive discussion, not about what's "fair". unfortunately.

my two cents: if you're in a server community or some other space that makes you uncomfortable there's really nothing wrong with going "hey, we have fundamentally different standards when it comes to [x], and i don't think i want to be here" and moving on. the best way to challenge these things is quite literally to make your own food. there's a much better chance of the people you're worried about coming across it and realizing they like it than magically being able to argue them down with well-placed logic and reasonable points or whatever

EDIT: OH ALSO IM STUPID if you mean talking about it in general. not naming writer names but trends in the fandom. yes absolutely-- not in a public space like social media but definitely find a group of people who you trust who you can talk about these things with!! it is good and healthy. just make sure it isn't just a discord server open to the public or smth tho so you personally know and trust everyone who can see it (and you don't accidentally shit talk someone who is in that space lmao)

#skadren rambles #long post #tldr; fandom is allowed to be your safe space too and you dont need to cater to anyone. or fix them. or whatever #it's less that 'people writing these things is okay' and more #starting drama is never a good look and it shits on your mental health and the internet is not a good place for nuanced discussions anyways #if you're planning to take on a whole community you will NOT be able to win i promise

[lexis3npaii]

Books and Cherry Coke

hyunjinxfem!reader

1.2k words

NOT PROOFREAD (im lazy)

(just fluff)

omg this is my first post and ive never shared my writing like this before nor have i ever written fan fiction but i figured this would be a good way to practice my craft. if chloe zhao can do it! so can i! feedback is always appreciated!

Every day during lunch, she sits by the fountain and reads a book. She’s a fast reader because every 2 weeks or so, the book is different. Every day she’s all alone, sipping on her cherry Coke. Metal straw in the can to mess up her lip gloss. He almost doesn’t want to disturb her. She always looks so peaceful. So enthralled in the book she’s reading. 

But he can’t put it off for any longer. He can’t keep looking in the other direction when they lock eyes. Or turning down a different hallway when he sees her at her locker. He has to get over his fear of rejection and just “Shoot his shot” as his friend Jisung would say. And now is his chance. 

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Hyunjin begins to walk to where she’s seated. When he finally reaches her, he clears his throat in an attempt to capture her attention. Slightly startled, Y/N’s lifts her head and lowers her drink and book. A small smile captures her face when she notices who it is. 

“Oh hi Hyunjin. I didn’t see you there.” Y/N cheerily greets the boy, making his ears slightly turn red. 

“H-Hey Y/N!” he responds a little too loud, this time the blush rushing to his cheeks. But this makes Y/N giggle and it eases Hyunjin’s nerve just a little. “New book huh? ‘Big Little Lies’?” 

Y/N glances down at the book in her hands and chuckles to herself. “Oh yeah. My mom was really into the tv show, so I figured I’d read the book first before I check it out. Moms and murder. It’s actually pretty good.” She finishes and looks back up at Hyunjin who has been looking at her the whole time. “I’m sorry, you probably don’t even care.” Y/N says while placing her palm on her forehead. 

What she doesn’t know is that Hyunjin could listen to her talk about that book day, even if he had no idea what it was, him not being that interested in books or tv shows. What she didn’t know was that he secretly didn’t want her to stop talking, the nerves from before slowly finding their way back to him. He was scared again. And he was doubting himself again. 

“Hyunjin?” He comes back to reality when he hears her call his name. Hyunjin meets her eyes again. “Did you need something?” 

“No.”

“No?”

“I mean yes.”

“Yes?” she says with a smirk. 

“I meant no I don’t need anything but I do have something” gulp. “To tell you…”

This time Y/N places her bookmark, which is just an old receipt,  in between the pages and closes the book, setting it down next to her drink. She pats the space next to her, signalling Hyunjin to sit next to her. 

“What’s up?” 

Hyunjin fidgets next to her, trying to find the right words to say. He opens his mouth to speak but Y/N cuts him off. 

“Oh! I meant to tell you how good you were in that showcase on Saturday.” Y/N says. 

Hyunjin gives her a perplexed look. “You were there?” He asks.

“Yea. I promised Lix we’d get ice cream after and Min would’ve killed me if I missed another one. I had to request the day off at work.” 

“Yea Minho can get pretty scary. One time he stuffed toilet tissue in my mouth cause I kept getting the timing wrong during a routine.” Hyunjin recalls earning a chuckle from Y/N, which makes him smile. He has to do it today. He wants to hear that laugh every day and be the reason for it. He wants you to call him ‘Hyun’ or ‘Jin’ like you call Minho ‘Min’ and Felix ‘Lix’. He wants you to come to his showcases for him. And after the show, you run into his arms and he spins you around refusing to let you down because having you in his arms just feels so right. 

“Yup that sounds like Min.” she says pulling him out of his thoughts, still giggling about what 

Hyunjin said. “But I’m sorry. I interrupted you.” 

“No, no! I like hearing your laugh. It’s beautiful.” 

This time it’s Y/N’s turn to feel heat rush to her face. What Hyunjin doesn’t know is that the reason she’s rambling is because she’s also nervous. And everyday she secretly wishes Hyunjin would come to the fountain and talk to her. What he doesn’t know is that she's been asking Minho and Felix about him. More so annoying, as Minho would say. What he doesn’t know is that Felix has invited her to sit in on the team's rehearsals so many times, but each time she declines, nervous about seeing Hyunjin. 

“Oh um thank you…” Y/N says with a small smile on her face, avoiding eye contact with the boy in front of her. 

There’s a silence between the pair. Hyunjin clears his throat to break it. “So I um I was out with Jeongin the other day and um we saw this book cafe and um I was wondering if maybe you’d want to go?” At this Y/N looks up, wide eyed. 

“Would Jeongin… be there… too…?” She questions shyly. 

“No! Just you and me. Y/N. I really like you and-” His sentence is cut off when Y/N places a chaste kiss to his lips. Hyunjin is stunned, at a total loss for words. He opens and closes his mouth a few times.

“I really like you too, Hyunjin.” 

Shaking himself back to life, Hyunjin reaches into his bag. “Um I actually already went in and I um I got you this.” He pulls a fancy royal blue bookmark out of his bag, complete with a long tassel and her name down the center. “It was pretty and had your name on it. It’d be a crime if I didn’t buy it.”

Y/N carefully grabs the item at a loss for words herself. “Hyunjin, it’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll go out with me on Saturday.” 

Y/N sets her eyes onto the blonde boy next to her who is already gazing at her like she’s the only person in the world. 

“Yes. Of course I will.” 

“Oi! Y/N!” The pair turn their attention to Minho who sarcastically points at his watch, his way of telling Y/N to hurry up. 

“Alright Min! I’m coming!” Y/N turns back to Hyunjin and begins packing her stuff away. “Sorry Hyunjin, I gotta go but I’ll see you on Saturday.” She rushes towards where Minho is standing. 

“Can’t wait!” He calls after her, standing up quickly. 

Y/N finally makes it to her friend, doing nothing to conceal the smile on her face. Minho side eyes her, nudging the girl with his elbow. “I guess lover boy finally made his move? Bout time. I was sick of you two asking me about each other. I thought you guys would never-” He’s cut off when Y/N pushes the boy right back but with her whole arm, given their size difference. 

“Shut it.”

#hyunjin x reader #skz x reader #stray kids #stray kids x reader #hwang hyunjin #hyunjin x y/n

[inqorporeal]

A very common trend among people requesting commissions -- regardless of whether it’s writing or art -- is that they themselves are not writers or artists and thus have no idea exactly what they’re truly requesting. Most of them have no idea how much time is required to get something done; they think it’s just typing or lines on paper. You press the button labeled “Make the thing” and *poof* it’s done! So simple! Anyone could do it! Why are you charging so much?

I’ve had people offer me $10 per page of work like it’s a massive favour (a page is roughly 300-500 words, depending on your formatting) without acknowledging the amount of time spent planning, outlining, and researching beforehand. A page-worth of content is closer to $150 at my standard rates (that’s per-word, plus a commission fee). For more intensive projects, I charge by the hour at $15 per, because I will be doing nothing but that for 8 hours a day, including weekends, and if you think going by minimum wage is unreasonable, you need to get back in your time machine and return to the 20th century.

This time, I received a contact about doing an illustration to decorate a product package. It was clearly some sort of commemorative thing. They asked for a map, done in an illuminated style, within one month. Was I interested? Well, yes, maps are relatively simple, and I have a lot of experience working in illuminated manuscript style from back when I was doing reenactment and living history in college; I could do that in a couple weeks. I asked for more information, and that’s when the red flags started popping up.

The first one was that they took several days to get back to me, and with as short a time frame as one month, I figured they’d found someone else. When their reply did come in, it included thirty pages of concept design document, and let me tell you, the amount of detail they wanted on a map smaller than two pieces of standard printer paper, within the space of one month, was infeasible. I have a full time job starting this week. I would have literally done nothing but work, commission, and sleep for thirty days -- there wouldn’t even be time to cook dinner; heaven help me if the trains had an issue. So I let them know it, as politely as possible:

While I am interested in your project, the scope of it is concerning, and I'm afraid I will have to decline. You want a lot of very fine, clear detail, at a very small scale, in colour, within a very short time frame. The map on its own would be easily done within the allotted time, but with the proposed illustrations included, the time required and the cost are both exponentially higher. One month is not enough time for that much art -- particularly because I would need to be in constant communication with someone for feedback to ensure the result is what you're looking for -- and I'm not certain you would be able to afford my standard rate for a project of this scale.

I did not quote them the estimate, which had calculated in at nearly $3000 at my standard rates (holy shit). I really didn’t think they would be able to afford that, but neither was I willing to burn myself out on the off chance that they could.

It seems that either reading comprehension is not their forte or they decided to try negging, because the reply I just got back was:

Thanks for your time and for your comments.

It's the most common reply, as it's surprisingly hard to find someone willing to draw in [this particular] style.

With no further queries.

Oh honey, it’s not the style. I’ve done that style before, I know exactly what’s required, and that’s why I’m telling you that one month is not enough time for your project. You don’t seem to understand how much time went into the manuscript illuminations in your reference files; and I am not a monk chained to a desk 16 hours a day. If you had said two months, I might have accepted. Good luck finding any artist who’s willing to work themself half to death because y’all waited til the eleventh hour to get your art done.

Also: I charge up front for stuff like this, because I did get stiffed by a company once, and that will never happen again.

If your commissioner comes to you with a shorter time frame than you would normally require for their project, don’t fucking take it. Burnout sucks -- not being facetious here, I do mean that the risk of hitting the depression threshold and crashing after an extended period of having zero free time to decompress and do your own thing, is very fucking high -- and no project is worth it.

#life of inq #not naming and shaming it's more of a vent post #i'm really not exaggerating about the amount of work they were asking for

[silverskye13]

OMG there's no flipping WAY

I haven't been very involved in the community but I was a huge fan of your platonic Grillster fics (I still am, they are the BEST Grillster I have ever read, and I can't express how much I adore your Bodyguard AU-) Now I am back on Tumblr and I just found out you are????? into HermitCraft as well???? (is into the right word??)

I just want to say how much I adore your work and you are such an inspiration to me! Thank you thank you thank you

I think I should ask a question, so:

What's your inspiration when you are doing creative work? Or what do you hate the most when it comes to creating?

Well hey! Welcome back! And thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you've liked my Grillster fics :D Every one of them was a labor of love and care, and the Bodyguard AU especially was a fun community project. So many people got involved and it was amazing. It's kinda funny seeing the number of people who've found me via the convoluted Grillster-to-Hermitcraft pipeline (And also the number of people I've dragged kicking and screaming into Hermitcraft with me aslkfjsldfk).

Ahm, oh jeez, interesting questions. Hm. Hm.

Well for inspiration, for fics specifically, books are a big one? I used to read a lot, and still do when the mood strikes me, and I really enjoy breaking down what in media works and what doesn't, and why I think that is. A lot of times that process involves me taking what I like and trying it on for size, which then forces me to figure out a good story, and fandom is a really nice low-punishment space for that kind of thing. People will engage with what they like, and it's a decent way of getting feedback! That being said, consuming outside media in general is really inspiring. You are what you eat, and if you eat nothing you will eventually run out of ideas. I feel like that gets lost in a lot of the instant-gratification of internet content creation [fandom content wise or otherwise]. You get so stuck into a project you bury your head in it and forget to come out for air. Refreshing your headspace with the, frankly, amazing things other people are making is a good way to keep your own inspiration flowing.

What I hate the most would have to be time commitment. Aside from the fact that it already doesn't feel like I don't have enough hours in the day sometimes, there's this weird thing I go through as soon as a project hits the 5-9 hour mark in time cost, where I dig my heels in and want nothing to do with it. With fics this is a little easier to manage because generally speaking, you're working chapter-by-chapter, so my brain has a chance to reset and go "Chapter 2 is done, we can work on Chapter 3 and it's basically a new project." You don't get that so much with art. Even in comics, the page is finished when every panel stands on its own, and rendering those individual panels doesn't count in my head as "done", they count as "another 3 hours working on this same piece". Some really creative things have come about in the in between times, where I've dug in my heals and procrastinated one project by starting another, but generally speaking that period of time is just a miserable slog where the only way I can get past it is by ramming into it until enough progress gets made for me to feel like the time is worth it again.

#spazzcat barks #answering asks #watergwen #i'm currently on the brick wall phase of a large piece i'm working on and its #it sure is something #anyway thanks for the ask :D this was interesting to analyze for myself today

[ungaroyals]

Hi 💜 6, 7 & 8 for the ask thing ?

Hello friend!!

6. what’s the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Sometimes while I'm writing I get in a weird space where everything I write in the doc feels like absolute garbage. So sometimes it's hard to convince myself not to delete everything and start fresh. Because chances are I'll go through it the next day and find bits that I like.

7.  how does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

Receiving feedback is a blessing to me. I like to know what everyone thinks of my work, the good and the bad. I find that when I gain everyone else's interpretations or ideas it really helps me creatively. However, I do try to make sure I have the story completely plotted out before asking anyone, as to not skew my initial intentions with a story.

8. does anyone in your personal life know you write fic? if not, would you tell anyone?

The only person who knows is my fiancée and she's incredibly supportive about it. I find this whole concept so strange though, the fact that I've written so many things and no one in my real life has the slightest clue. Sometimes it makes me sad, but a lot of the time I'm thankful for it. It gives me the space to be creative without judgment from people who might not 'understand' or 'get it'.

#ask

[talenlee]

Create Tension when You Can

You don’t know how to write well.

That’s not true, probably, and I have no grounds from which to say it, but that approach, fundamentally, coupled with the ‘read more’ is an explicit attempt to induce you to look into what I’m doing and see what the hell I’m talking about. It’s clickbait in text form, and clickbait is a practice we’ve all become convinced is very bad. After all, we know it’s bad, it’s just trying to Farm Engagement and get you to pay attention to a thing, and that’s why actually, the best things, are the people who already have millions of subscribers, have obtuse thumbnails.

We have a framework of common discourse in which the idea of doing things to encourage people to engage with your work is a sin.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing to dislike ‘clickbait.’ If nothing else, clickbait is boring and makes a media landscape (your subscription page, the news front page, the newspapers at the news agency) extremely tedious and repetitive. Did you know there’s an entire genre of magazine for sale here, for sale with money, which is about the ongoing drama inside the Royal Family? Like, twelve people, and what they did for a week, all reported by people who definitely have no idea what the fuck is going on inside that family. That’s an entire business that relies on getting you to spend like twelve dollars on a printed paper magazine to cover literally nothing and the only way they do it is with SHOCKING HEADLINES and PICTURES OF SLIGHTLY DISTRESSED PEOPLE WHO LOOK MELTED.

Same thing, same practice.

Thing is it’s good practice? In terms of writing, something you always want to do is create tension for the reader and then give them an explanation for how you’re going to solve it. Not ‘hey, there’s a problem in Taiwan and here’s how I’ll solve it,’ but how do you get them from the point in the reading where you’ve pulled their attention and you’re going to resolve that attention somehow. It’s not true for all forms of writing! For example, much of my blog is literally a log, it’s a journal of experiences and thoughts and those don’t necessarily have a dramatic flourish, but when I start an article I know I’m doing it in a specific way in order to try and get you to pay attention to me.

It’s important because one of the ways to create tension in your writing is not to introduce something but to draw attention to an existing situation. Most people actually exist surrounded by tension – we all have obligations like bills and politics and brain worms and The Three Eyed Horse That Follows Us When We Sleep. You don’t need to open with an introduction, you can probably just open with a line of dialogue that reminds someone of one of these existing forms of tension.

You can also do this by being an absolute idiot, by the way. If you forward a position that confronts a reader with something that they know is false, the tension there is ‘okay, what does this stupid idiot have to say for themselves to justify that?’ or ‘why would they say something that’s wrong and silly?’

It’s a simple conceptual trick, but it’s a habit that encourages readers to keep listening. Like when I opened this post with You don’t know how to write well.

It’s probably true. It’s really good odds. There’s a nonzero chance you’re one of the people who follows me professionally from a particular discipline in which case, you’re probably absolutely right that you know how to write well. But even in that space, I know people whose day job is to write well who know they don’t write well who have to then edit and refine the process repeatedly with feedback on the way to get to writing well enough.

But there’s another category, of people who write well, but who don’t know how they do it. You might not even realise that you write well, you might not have heard someone tell you what they like about your writing and what meaningful truth or value you’re presenting to them. There’s a real problem there too because you might even look at your writing and think you haven’t actually done anything good because you’re seeing phrases that you know you borrowed, or ideas and structures you’re just copying from someone else, or that you’re just saying the same thing in three different ways that aren’t actually building new information into the sentence.

And you don’t know how to write well.

You don’t know how to tell someone else how to write well.

There are ways to learn. In the course of my PhD writing, one of the things I’ve learned is that I’m not good at writing well as much as I am good at conveying a speaking voice. My writing style is very much like a cleaner, double-checked version of my oratory style, and much of what you may think of as my good turns of phrase or clear explanations are ‘just’ the result of jokes that I commit to too hard then have to do research to back them up. Sometimes I’ll write a whole article to just dig a hole I then have to clamber out of.

think about how you write. Think about how I write, of course, that’s good, you should do that and also give me money on Patreon to keep writing it. But your own writing, yes, that, like, you may not have realised there are things you do in patterns. It can be hard to check. Read stuff you wrote a month ago and check if there’s something that stands out now you don’t just remember putting the words down. Ever noticed when you start sentences the same way repeatedly? Is that an error, does that make the reading boring, or is it a part of your meter, your style? Does your style work best when you read it aloud? Are you memey? What about the mistakes I’ve made in this article, have you got them on lock?

Are they mistakes?

Writing well is agonisingly hard.

But it starts with finding a way to create some tension, and then you need to dance on it.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Making