#there's only 5 of them!!! and 3 of then are earl!!!!!

[defira85]

I know I've complained about insanely lazy world building in FR so many times before but it really is something that in naming multiple critically important NPCs in Baldur's Gate who were all in similar positions of government and were all active during the early to mid 1480s (around Murder in Baldur's Gate time) we've got:

Five deputies who all report directly to the Council of Four. Of these five deputies, we have the following gentlemen

Harbormaster Erl

Master of Walls Osmurl, and

Master of Cobbles Esgurl

Don't slur or mumble when you're calling for an assistant in parliament because it'll take you a half dozen attempts to get the right Master Earl sent to your office apparently

[glowettee]

🕶 she ghosted the groupchat & built an empire

hey lovelies!! ✨

so i've been thinking about this a lot lately... like how we're all constantly connected but somehow feeling more drained than ever?? and it hit me that sometimes the most revolutionary thing you can do is just... disappear for a bit??

i literally had to turn my phone off for three days last month because my creative energy was being sucked dry by all these group chats that were going nowhere. like, bestie, why am i reading 87 messages about someone's ex's cousin's new haircut when i could be building my dream life instead??

so here's my unfiltered thoughts on strategic isolation + how it literally changed everything for me...

✧ protecting your energy isn't selfish, it's essential ✧

let's be honest - we're all just walking energy fields. and every notification, every "hey girl, you free?" text, every random zoom call is either feeding your field or draining it. i started tracking my energy levels in this little pink journal (yes, elle woods style but make it productive) and noticed that certain people and activities were literally vampire-draining me.

some hard truths about protecting your time:

• not everyone deserves access to you

• "sorry, i can't" is a complete sentence

• your dreams require your full attention

• boundaries aren't mean, they're necessary

• your future self will thank you for saying no today

i started implementing what i call "ghost protocols" where i literally just... stop responding for periods of time. not forever! just long enough to recalibrate. it feels uncomfortable at first (i literally had anxiety sweats) but then something magical happens - you remember who you are without all the noise.

✧ digital detox rituals that actually work ✧

okay so everyone talks about digital detoxes but they make it sound so basic like "just turn off your phone lol" which... no. here's what actually works:

1. schedule your disappearance (sounds dramatic but it's just good planning) - i block off "ghost time" in my calendar just like i would a meeting

2. create a hyperfocus sanctuary - mine is this corner of my room with no wifi, just candles, my journal, and a vintage alarm clock. no devices allowed within 10 feet.

3. implement the 5/1/3 rule - for every 5 hours of deep work, allow 1 hour of connection, followed by 3 hours of integration time where you process what you've created

4. batch your responses - i only check messages twice daily now (12pm and 6pm) and i use templates for most replies which sounds cold but actually gives me more energy for meaningful conversations later

5. practice saying "that doesn't work for me" without explaining yourself - hardest thing i've ever done but most rewarding

✧ hyperfocus rituals that built my empire ✧

the truth that nobody tells you is that success isn't grinding 24/7... it's protecting your focus like it's the most precious resource on earth (because it literally is).

my non-negotiable focus rituals:

• morning pages but make them strategic - i write 3 pages about my vision every morning before touching my phone

• the 90/30 method - work in complete silence for 90 minutes, then take a luxurious 30 minute break (no exceptions)

• environment switching - i have different spaces for different types of work (creative work happens by the window, admin work at my desk, planning happens on the floor with a giant paper)

• sensory anchors - learned this from a few psychology articles online, stayed w/ it foreverrr -> specific scents, sounds, and tastes that tell my brain "it's empire building time" (for me it's this fancy bergamot candle + instrumental lo-fi + earl grey tea)

i know this all sounds intense but listen... while everyone was busy commenting on instagram posts and overthinking text messages, i built something real. something that matters. something that's mine.

sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is disconnect in order to connect more deeply with your purpose. and yes, people might get annoyed when you don't respond right away. they might even talk about you in those same group chats you left. but honestly? that's just background noise when you're focused on building something meaningful.

your time is literally the only non-renewable resource you have. protect it fiercely.

xoxo, mindy 🤍

p.s. what's one conversation or obligation you could ghost this week to get closer to your dreams? i promise the world won't end... but your empire might just begin.

⋆ psst. i made a free workbook just for you. it’s soft, dark-academia, and full of real advice. get it here: deprogramming your trauma-coded ambition

[kedreeva]

Are Bug's babies actually Bug's babies, or are they swapped eggs from one of your other peahens?

they're from earl x Wendy/Heather. The only other bird who got to have babies this year was Opal, whose eggs actually went to Eris because i needed to time nest hatchings differently than the order the hens sat.

Before anyone needs to ask: Spacing the hatches correctly means each mom gets a week or so to bond with their babies before having to rejoin a larger group. Without time to bond, they stress about other birds being too close while their babies don't understand "mom" quite yet. Contrary to popular belief, imprinting is not instant! It is NOT the "first thing they see." Instead, it is a process that takes several days- for peafowl, generally between 3 and 5 days for the chicks to understand which hen to follow and reliably do so.

However, the "imprinting" window actually lasts closer to a couple of weeks. That is to say, if you hatch an incubator chick, there is a week or two window of time where they CAN still imprint on whatever mother figure is around the most during that time. For peafowl this means having to do your best to AVOID that with brooder chick, by interacting only lightly for the first 2 weeks and then spending more time with them after that. imprinting male peafowl can lead to massive behavioral problems later.

Bug is an imprinted hen; they have their own challenges compared to males.

[redtsundere-writes]

Date 3. Drinking Tea

Simon "Ghost" Riley x Soldier!Reader

Beginning. 🡨 Previous | Next 🡪

Summary: You just want to help Ghost to stop harming himself… These aren't dates, okay?

TW: MNDI. Self-harm. Grief.

Warnings & Tags

The same old nightmare. Incoherent music, cigarette stench, foam escaping from her red lips, a single breast spilled out of her dress. Going back there meant being a vulnerable 12-year-old boy again. His knees trembled, his eyes filled with tears, and he could barely breathe while his father laughed out loud. He wanted to erase it from his mind, he wanted to escape into the rain that hid his torture. 

Ghost suddenly opened his eyes and sat up on the bed to breathe again, reaching the surface before drowning. He looked around. He was at the base. Soap was snoring with one arm hanging out the bunk, Gaz was hugging his pillow and Price was grunting incoherently at the Makarov of his nightmares. He was safe. The remains of that nightmare appeared with each confused blink. He needed to get them out, and he knew a good way to do it.

Ghost shook the bunk bed again as he got up. He looked at your bed apologetically, but realized you weren't there. His mind thought the worst, and he ran out of the room to look for you in the minibar, but you weren't there. He went down to the kitchen and a small light was on. He went into it to stop you, but you were just kneeling in front of the shelf where the tea was kept.

“Good night, LT,” you greeted him in a whisper. Ghost sighed in relief. “Earl Grey or Yorkshire?” 

“Earl Grey.”

“I'll make you a cup.” You shook the two tea bags with some excitement.

“You didn't even ask me if I wanted one,” Ghost said.

“You're Brit, of course you want one,” you joked with a smile, to which he rolled his eyes.

“Couldn't sleep?” He inquired. 

“No. I guess you couldn't either.” Ghost shook his head. “Good thing you’re here and not at the gym.”

After spending so much time with Price in his office filled with reports, you had already learned how he liked his tea. You filled the kettle with water to put it on the stove. You shook the tea bag to avoid breaking the string of the bag when opening it. You poured the water and let the tea steep to finally add a splash of milk. All that was left was to add a couple of teaspoons of sugar just the way Price likes it.

“Sugar?” You asked.

“And ruin a good cup of tea? No, thanks,” Ghost replied. You couldn’t help but giggle.

“I haven’t heard that in a long time.” Ghost frowned under his balaclava. “My father used to say that every time” you commented, placing both cups on the table. 

“Used to?” Ghost inquired.

“He passed away a couple of years ago.”

You stared at the reflection in your cup. After 5 children and an unplanned pregnancy, your mother died after your birth. Even though he wasn’t the father of the year, he always tried to give his best even though he didn’t have the emotional tools to do so, since he was used to only dealing with men. He didn’t know how to do pigtails, play tea party, or what to do in shark weeks. There were few things you had in common with the rest of your family, but instead of being an intruder, you were always the princess of the house.

You smiled as you watched Ghost pull his mask up over his mouth to drink his tea, stopping under his nose. His short beard stuck out a bit, not having shaved in weeks.

“You remind me a bit of him, you know?” You commented before taking a sip of the tea. “He was kind of grumpy and strict, a tough guy.” You sighed.

“You miss him?” Ghost didn’t realize what he had asked until the words escaped his lips.

“A lot. All my brothers and I loved him very much,” you replied with a small, nostalgic smile. “We tried everything to convince him to get his lung cancer treated. It was stage 4, but there was a chance it could be cured. Do you know what he told us? ‘Leave me alone. You’re too old to cry for daddy.’”

You clenched the handle of your mug at the bittersweet memory. It was funny in retrospect, but it wasn’t at the time. It was one of the few times all the brothers got together in the house where they grew up. They all had careers, lives made, so it was rare that they could meet in life outside of Christmas or a birthday. You stayed behind while your brothers yelled at him that he was a fucking coward for not even trying to treat his cancer.

“Who do you call a fucking coward, ungrateful brats?!” Your father exploded. He tried to get up from his recliner, but his old knees wouldn't let him. “It's manly to know when to give up! My time has come, and I'm not going to die in a cold hospital when I can die right here!”

Your brothers kept shouting like only men know how to fix their problems, while you just listened with your arms crossed and your back against the wall. You knew your old man very well. He wasn't going to change his mind, he preferred to die before betraying his pride. It was a lose-lose situation. You waited for your brothers to calm down so you could order takeout. After the meal and the defeat, one by one they left to return home to their wives and children, leaving your father and you alone.

You sat on the couch next to his recliner and took his hand, bony from old age and calloused from years of hard work, to support a large family by himself. You wanted to cry knowing that you would lose the only father you had ever had, but the recent grief had left you without strength, without the energy to even shed a single tear. You stayed silent for a while while he watched the television, wondering through your thoughts and sorting out your fears.

“Everything okay at work, kid?” He asked you without taking his eyes off the evening news program.

“My entire squad died on our last mission. It seems that I will be sent to another base soon.” Your voice almost broke when you gave him the bad news.

“Weaklings.” Your father snapped angrily.

“We were intercepted, I survived by pure luck,” you denied his comment.

“No. You survived because you are my daughter and I didn’t raise any weaklings.” A small smile escaped your lips at that. “I already wrote my will. You are going to keep the house.” That you did not expect.

“I can’t accept it, Dad. This house is huge. One of my brothers and their families would do better use of it,” you explained.

“Don’t start with your bullshit! You are the princess of this house and always will be, so say, ‘thank you, Dad,’ and shut up!” He yelled.

“Thank you, Dad,” you replied obediently.

“Now, make me a nice cup of tea. It tastes better when you make them,” he scolded you.

You drank your tea, afraid of burning your tongue, but it was already at the perfect temperature. That was the last time you saw your father before you found him dead the next time you visited. Being so used to death, you weren’t scared. You called an ambulance as if it was a formal call with your former captain. While your brothers cried at the funeral, you just watched as the man who raised you, fed you, educated you, being buried with your cheeks completely dry. “You’re too old to cry for daddy now,” you thought as you watched your older brothers covering daddy with soil. 

A tear fell into the tea, a pinch of salt in the sweetness. Before you knew it, one after another, they wet your cheeks. You tried to wipe the tears as quickly as possible with the back of your hand. How embarrassing to cry in front of your lieutenant, but they kept escaping out of control. 

“Sorry, I'm trying to hold back, but I can't,” you sobbed.

“Go ahead. Don't stop. I won't tell anyone,” he promised you in a murmur.

Unintentionally, Ghost opened the faucet of the tub even more, which was overflowing with feelings that you had kept deep inside you. You hid your face in your hands to cry for your father as you should have done years ago, but you hadn't allowed yourself to. A wave of memories took you by surprise. The time he taught you how to ride your pink bike that he gifted you for your birthday. That time he forced you to join your school's baseball team because all your brothers had done it, you ended up liking it. That time your father scolded you for failing half of your classes and threatened to send you to the army if you didn't get better grades. You didn't. 

Ghost didn’t know what to do. Seeing you cry broke his heart into a thousand pieces, but he was afraid to do anything that would make you feel worse. He didn’t have to deal with what you were going through. When his father passed away for the same reason, he and his younger brother laughed out loud as soon as they heard the news. Ghost didn’t miss his father, he would never remember him in a good light. He wasn’t like you, maybe that was what he liked about you. You had so many things in common, but you would never be like him, and he hoped it would stay that way. All he could do as you drowned in your own tears was drink from his cup of tea. It was delicious enough to waste it on a ghost.

Masterlist.

Next 🡪

Thanks for reading! <3

[defjux]

Here are 120 of my favorite hip hop albums, with only the first two rows being in order. This was tough for me, I tried to be as fair as possible and include the albums I grew up listening to that impacted me the most while also including the more recent albums that I listen to all the time. I’ll post the list below, and a version of the charts with the titles included. Let me know what you think, are any of your favorites here? If you've got a list of your own favorites, i'd love to see it. Peace. Chart with album titles included 1. De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate 2. Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein 3. Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid 4. Billy Woods & Blockhead - Dour Candy 5. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus 6. Madvillain - Madvillainy 7. OutKast - ATLiens 8. Mos Def - Black On Both Sides 9. El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead 10. Edan - Beauty & The Beat 11. Armand Hammer - Paraffin 12. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Main Ingredient 13. GZA - Liquid Swords 14. The Roots - Illadelph Halflife 15. Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele 16. Hermit and the Recluse - Orpheus vs. the Sirens 17. Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda 18. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders 19. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang ( 36 Chambers) 20. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night 21. Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside 22. The Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia 23. Aceyalone - A Book of Human Language 24. Black Moon - Enta Da Stage

25. zeroh - awfulalterations 26. Dark Time Sunshine - ANX 27. Jam Baxter - …So We Ate Them Whole 28. Freestyle Fellowship - Innercity Griots 29. Siah & Yeshua dapoED - The Visualz Anthology 30. Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star 31. MF DOOM - Operation: Doomsday 32. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show 33. Digable Planets - Blowout Comb 34. De La Soul - Stakes Is High 35. Juggaknots - Re:Release 36. Cavalier - Private Stock 37. Dr. Yen Lo - Days With Dr. Yen Lo 38. Mach-Hommy - DUMPMEISTER 39. Cult Favorite - FOR MADMEN ONLY 40. Aesop Rock - Skelethon 41. Earl Sweatshirt - some rap songs 42. Boldy James & Sterling Toles - Manger on McNichols 43. Open Mike Eagle & Paul White - Hella Personal Film Festival 44. Common Sense - Resurrection 45. Avantdale Bowling Club - Avantdale Bowling Club 46. CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange 47. Armand Hammer - Shrines 48. The Roots - Things Fall Apart 49. Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 50. The Doppelgangaz - Lone Sharks 51. Gang Starr - Moment Of Truth 52. Serengeti & Kenny Segal - Ajai 53. Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal 54. E L U C I D - REVELATOR 55. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… 56. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - Hiding Places 57. Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East 58. Smif-n-Wessun - Dah Shinin 59. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time 60. O.C. - Word…Life 61 .Mach-Hommy - The G.A.T. (The Gospel According To…) 62. EPMD - Strictly Business 63. Ultramagnetic MC's - Critical Beatdown 64. Mobb Deep - The Infamous 65. Cities Aviv - MAN PLAYS THE HORN 66. Navy Blue - Gift of Gabriel: Rain’s Reign! 67. Milo - who told you to think??!!?!?!?! 68. Oddisee - The Good Fight 69. Eric B. & Rakim - Follow the Leader 70. Mr Key & Greenwood Sharps - Yesterday's Futures 71. Blackalicious - Nia 72. Quasimoto - The Further Adventures of Lord Quas 73. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up 74. Lord Finesse - The Awakening 75. Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves 76. Roc Marciano - Reloaded 77. Masta Ace - A Long Hot Summer 78. Sonic Sum - The Sanity Annex 79. Quelle Chris - Guns 80. Nas - Illmatic 81. Binary Star - Masters of the Universe 82. Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity 83. Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol. 2 84. Mavi - let the sun talk 85. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 86. Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep 87. Illogic - Celestial Clockwork 88. Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens 89. Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst 90. Mike - Disco! 91. Nickelus F & Ohbliv - Yellow Gold 3 92. lojii - due rent 93. The Koreatown Oddity - Little Dominiques Nosebleed 94. Dälek - From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots 95. Mos Def - The Ecstatic 96. Lords of the Underground - Here Come the Lords 97. Cities Aviv - Working Title For The Album Secret Waters 98 .Onry Ozzborn - c v p ii d 99. Fly Anakin & Big Kahuna OG - Holly Water 100. Black Milk - No Poison No Paradise 101. Busdriver - Thumbs 102. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly 103. Artifacts - Between a Rock and a Hard Place 104. Mike Ladd - Welcome to the Afterfuture 105. Defcee & knowsthetime - Lacuna 106. R.A.P. Ferreira - purple moonlight pages 107. Scarface - The Diary 108. Mad Moon - MAD SPACE 109. Skipp Coon - Miles Garvey 110. Mattic & Madwreck - Ill Scholars 111. Mood - Doom 112. NoName - Room 25 113. Deca - The Ocean 114. Darc Mind - Symptomatic of a Greater Ill 115. Pete Rock & Ini - Center of Attention 116. Count Bass D - Dwight Spitz 117. Showbiz & A.G. - Goodfellas 118. Y Society - Travel At Your Own Pace 119. Theravada - Xenophon 120. Versis - Illcandescent

[freya-fallen]

Head Underwater 5 & 6

You had your phone out during class. Ooops. It's not like you were asking for someone to discover your dark fantasies about being kidnapped and abused (except, weren't you kinda?)

EraserMix x Former Student Reader

Part 1 & 2 Part 3 & 4

It had started raining by the time you arrived at the small house on the outskirts of the city. It was a far walk, much farther than your apartment, but you weren’t going to correct a hero who had so kindly saved you, so you trudged through the rain in your sodden, burnt clothing until you reached the cure little suburban house with its tall gate.

He led you through and into the house, which was locked with both a thumbprint and a passcode. Far more secure than your paltry keycard.

“SHOUTS! YOU’RE HOME EARL— hello.” Present Mic had come around the corner from their kitchen and into the entryway only to immediately halt when he took in your drenched form. 

He looked quite a bit different from the teacher you knew; instead of his hero uniform, he wore acid-washed jeans and a pale green buttondown over a grey undershirt. His glasses weren’t tinted, so his chartreuse eyes were clear to you. And his hair, usually gelled up in a fantastically strange do reminiscent of a cockatiel, was down around his shoulders. Something about it was familiar, but you couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

His cheeks were stained pink as he stared at you, his former student, then launched into action. “Oh, you poor thing. Look at you. You must be freezing.” He pulled you deeper into their domicile, past pictures of them at various points of their lives and various people, both celebrities and not, throwing a soft blanket around your shoulders as he shoved you toward their plush white couch. “What happened?” He took your hand in his, eyeing the burn that encircled your wrist. “You got caught by villains, didn’t you? I keep tellin’ ya, it’s not safe out there…”

The man took off, still prattling as he went down the hall. You felt dizzy as Mr. Aizawa came back into view, a towel around his shoulders and bemused expression across his face. “Hizashi is a worrier,” he explained.

“We will get that bandaged up for you, poor thing. I have some burn cream here. Do you have any other injuries?” Hizashi Yamada returned with a first aid kit in hand, eyeing you with his brows pinched. 

“I-I don’t think so,” you said, shrinking a little under his scrutiny.

The blond tutted. “Well, let’s take a look, then. The adrenaline of an attack coulda disguised the pain of another injury. Up,” he insisted, tugging the protection of the blanket away and leaving you there in your cold, wet clothes. 

“I, I really don’t—”

He was on you then, pushing your hair out of the way to inspect your neck, grabbing an arm to turn it in his grip (which caused you to wince and your own handhold on your clothes to waver), then he was inspecting your torso. “Looks like you got some nasty burns here. Take off your shirt.”

“Mister Yamada, I don’t think—”

“You certainly don’t, kitten,” came Aizawa’s sardonic voice from the chair where he sat watching the pair of you.

“I mean, the burns aren’t serious.” You purposely did not llook behind you at the man, your cheeks burning hotly with the accusation. 

“They could get infected,” replied your former teacher. “I’m not gonna let that happen, ya dig? Not when I can prevent it. Besides, this pretty skin of yours might scar, and that would be no good. You don’t want dirt like that leaving marks on you, do ya?”

The whole conversation was giving you a distinctly bad feeling, almost as bad as being cornered by the trio had. You put on a brave face. “I don’t mind a few scars,” you said.

“Well, I do,” Yamada responded. “‘Specially when I didn’t put them there. So you’re gonna be a good girl and let me take care of these burns, okay?”

You felt like a child as you gazed up into his toothy smile, letting him seat you once more on the sofa and guide your arms to your side so he could see the line of red down your stomach and chest. “There we go. Look at that blister. Ooof. Damn fire quirks, always such a pain in the ass to deal with.”

You jerked away when he slid the material over a nipple, instantly covering yourself with a hand. 

Yamada swatted your hand but you glared at him in response.

“Don’t be difficult, kitten. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before,” Aizawa piped up.

“Excuse me if I don’t want my former teachers seeing me naked,” you snarked at him.

His mouth formed a straight line and he stood, slowly striding to loom over you. “Didn’t seem to bother you before.”

“Of course, it bothers me,” you replied, flabbergasted by this treatment. Aizawa’s capture cloth darted out and entangled your wrist, pulling it away from your chest. 

“You always seem to like showin’ off when I ask,” your former teacher said teasingly.

You shook your head. You felt like they were being purposely obtuse. “I never—”

“Geez, I didn’t think you were this dense,” said the other man. “Here you are, alone with us in our home, your phone not going off constantly for once. One of us has dark hair, the other’s a blond. We’re married. We’re the right age. Starting to catch on yet, sweetheart?”

You stared at the bitter-voiced man, your brows furrowed and your mouth agape as you listened to him lay out all these pieces. Realizing that you must look somewhat like a fish, your jaw clicked shut. You bit your bottom lip and thought.

Surely, he wasn’t implying what you thought he was implying. No, because that would have been absurd. 

“You’re teachers,” you said as though that fact alone could counter everything he was saying. 

Aizawa nodded as his husband spread a salve over another blister. You hissed, having forgotten about the reason you were topless to begin with. “How do you think I found you? Coincidence?”

You shook your head in denial.

“You were on your phone during class and I got curious when I saw how many notifications you missed. Now, I thought, what was so important that a supposedly intelligent teenage girl wouldn’t look away from her phone for an hour?”

You kept shaking your head. 

Hizashi stopped what he was doing to watch your face, how the blood had drained to leave your cheeks ashen, the way your eyes had widened impossibly around your irises. 

“It started right after Shou took over third period for the day, remember?”

“No,” you said a little too quickly. “No, I don’t remember.”

“You should,” said the dark man. “We both remember far too well. It was way too easy to guess your passcode, ya know. Your birthday?”

“Tsk. I thought you were smarter than that.”

You hung your head in shame and embarrassment and confusion. It still didn’t seem quite real for you, that these two were the ones you were talking to this last year. 

“We’re gonna have to punish you for that,” said Mr. Aizawa. “Gonna have to punish you for quite a bit, actually, including going out today when you should have just checked your schedule online. Shouldn’t you?”

You glanced between the two men. At your silence, Mr. Yamada grabbed your chin. “Shouta asked you a question, sweet pea.”

They were messing with you. Clearly, they were messing with you. “You wouldn’t— not with a student,” you implored.

The grip on your chin tightened. “You think so?” His eyes were cold, distant, not the eyes of the teacher you had known and liked, the one who had written a referral letter for your college admittance.

“Sweetheart, we most certainly would. We will.”

“You’re messing with me. To teach me a lesson about talking to strangers on the internet,” you said in warbling, shaking voice. You gave a half laugh. “Okay, I get it.”

Your eyes filled with tears as Aizawa shook his head, one of his rough, warm hands rising to your shoulder. He brushed the damp cloth from your shoulder and you tightened your arms around yourself. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes, hm?”

“I-I’m fine,” you insisted, leaning away from him, but he gripped your shoulder.

“Nonsense, cutie, we don’t want ya to catch a cold.” Mr. Yamada ripped the remainder of your shirt from your torso and you squeaked, thrashing in an effort to move away. “There, now the rest, unless you want us to do it for you?”

You stared at them with wide eyes. “You want me to—

Aizawa stood up beside his husband, arms crossed. “Strip.”

“This is taking it too far,” you replied.

Their expressions hardened. They exchanged a glance and darted for you, each grabbing a leg as they worked your jeans down your body. You seethed and shook and reached down to claw at Aizawa’s face, but he caught you just in time.

His free hand flew at your cheek and your head bounced against the soft cushion. “You will not use your venom on us, do you understand?” When you didn’t respond, his fingers tangled in your hair and he barked, “Do you understand?” his nose almost touching yours.

You swallowed through the terror in your throat as you finally let yourself realize they were not playing a game. “I understand, sir.”

6

The room was six feet wide by six feet long. You sat on a mattress that took up the majority of the room, naked except for the blanket you’d graciously been allowed to take down with you. It kept you warm in the plain concrete room in the basement. If only the room was also attached to the bathroom.

You’d been allowed to go right before being locked away; the bathroom was across from the shoebox room, toilet, sink, shower barely large enough to fit a person. Then you’d been shoved away in the dingy room with its singular lightbulb, and that was it.

The two men had put you away shortly after you told Mr. Aizawa you understood, his hand on your nape guiding you to the room, and then you’d been left alone.

You hadn’t seen the pair of them grab hands once you were out of sight, joyfully exchanging smiles.

“She’s here, she’s actually here,” Hizashi had said, while Shouta had laughed and shaken his head in disbelief.

“Not so loud. We don’t want her to know how excited we are.” 

“Right, right.” They’d gone up the stairs and into the main house to properly celebrate. 

Meanwhile, you eventually fell asleep. It was hard not to when all you were left with was your thoughts and the plain cement walls and ceiling and floor, the texture of the bare mattress, the plaid pattern of the blanket.

Your thoughts kept circling around to blame you, how this was your fault. They’d even agreed. Why had you been idiotic enough to put all that on Discord, where anyone could find you? Sure, you’d counted on the anonymity of the internet, but you’d made it easy enough for your own teachers to hunt you down.

You never knew who was a predator, hadn’t society made that clear by now? It was a big part of the #MeToo movement and the whole backlash of #NotAllMen. No, not all men, but how could anyone tell which ones? It could be your friend’s father, your cousin or an uncle, or your neighbor. It could be… a teacher. Your teacher. And you’d been careless enough to make yourself an easy victim.

You curled up, activating your camouflage so you blended into the blanket, and cried yourself to sleep.

Pain flared through your ribs, spiking again when you took a breath. Red rippled along your skin as you backed toward the wall, but a hand wrapped in your hair held you in place.

“Did I say you could go anywhere. And drop the camo. It doesn’t work in this small of a space, dumbass.”

The words burned at you, spurring tears from humiliation and pain. You didn’t bother explaining you’d activated to comfort yourself; there was no way that would appease the dark man no glowering over you, if he even believed you.

Briefly, you considered using your venom again. It would make him sluggish, perhaps giving you a chance to escape. However, the thought left as soon as it entered your mind. He’d slapped you when you tried before, and he was wearing his capture cloth. You doubted you could compete with a pro hero’s agility. Besides, you’d seen the system they had locking you down here. You couldn’t get out of the basement without one of them.

Your body returned to its normal hues and Aizawa hummed in seeming satisfaction.

“Better. Don’t pull that shit again. We prefer your normal appearance.” When you didn’t respond, he shook you.

“Yes, sir,” you said mechanically.

“Now, sweetheart, you know that’s not what I like to be called.” He knelt, manipulating your head so you couldn’t avoid his gaze, fist still in your hair. “Try again.”

You didn’t want to say it. Your tongue felt heavy and dumb. You couldn’t say it. Your cheeks were burning at even the thought.

He lifted a brow. “Are you gonna make me punish you already?”

“No! Please don’t,” you said, voice small.

“Then be a good girl. You know what I want you to call me, don’t you?” he replied, though it was less of a question and more of a statement of fact. You’d teased him with the title before, after all. It was just so much more embarrassing saying it out loud. 

“Y-yes, daddy.”

“There’s my good girl.” The fist in your hair softened to massage your scalp. “I knew you could do it, baby girl. You’re gonna keep being a good girl for me, right?”

You nodded solemnly, adding another plaintive, “Yes, daddy,” when you saw his tired eyes narrow. 

“That’s right, because this is exactly what you need, isn’t it? You’re right where you belong now.” He pulled you to his chest and you took in the scent of him, reminiscent of cedar and ocean and night all mixing together. He was warm and it was so tempting to fall into him and weep, but you refrained, trembling and afraid of what might happen if you gave in even the slightest sliver. “Hizashi and I are gonna take such good care of you, baby.” He inhaled against your throat and you felt the tickle of his scruff, the softness of his lips. “Keep being a good girl, and training will be over before you know it.”

“Tr-training?” Your voice was high, nervous with the word.

“Of course.” His hands slid down your sides. “You have to be trained. Any good sex slave needs to know what’s expected of her.”

It was like cold water had been thrown over you. He hadn’t said until now why’d he brought you home and shoved you in his basement. You could have imagined it was still to teach you a lesson, albeit in a somewhat convoluted way. It seemed he wasn’t going to let you have your delusions though. No, he was going to be forthright with everything.

Your face drained of blood and you felt lightheaded. Your heartrate picked up, your palms began to sweat. You were going to have a panic attack.

“I know what’s wrong. You’re upset because I took you away from the fun you were having with those boys.” Aizawa tutted. “Kitten, they were inexperienced little punks. They’d have harmed you more than needed for play. But don’t worry, daddy will give you what you crave.” With that, his hands disappeared from you and you heard the sounds of a belt unbuckling.

You scurried back on the mattress, until you pressed against the wall. 

“Kitten, don’t be difficult,” said the man, grabbing one ankle and dragging you back toward him. You flailed, pulling the blanket with you and wrapping it around yourself as though it could shield you. He tore it from your hands, his capture cloth wrapping around your wrists pulling them firmly in front of you. “Be a good girl and maybe I’ll give you a bubble bath after, won’t that be nice?” You dove forward as he tried placing you his lap— which you steadfastly refused to look at— be between your bound wrist and his stronger body, he easily maneuvered you in place, kicking your legs apart.

You felt him then, felt his erection against you as he nudged it against your entrance. 

“Aw, kitten, you’re wet. See? Daddy you knew you just needed some cock to help you feel better.”

You clawed at the air and kicked at the mattress. “Please— no— don’t!” And then he was pushing inside, his thick head splitting you open despite any wetness gathered. You could hear him groaning behind you, the shifts of his body as he worked to further breach your walls.

It hurt.

“Aww, kitten, don’t cry.” He kissed your cheek. “I’m so proud of you, saving yourself for us.” A rough thumb wiped away your tears while his other arm curled around your waist to lift you and slam you back down. 

You choked on the heaviness of your own tongue. It felt like he was splitting you in two.  And while you had little real experience with sex, you thought he had to be thicker than average. There was no way the dick sawing you open was normal.

One of his hands plucked at your nipples, pawed at your breasts, before settling around your throat. “You feel so good, kitten, so tight.” His voice was strained as he kept pounding up into you, bringing down your body with a grip so hard you were sure you’d have bruises along your hip bones tomorrow.

You sobbed, digging your nails into your palms as the pain coiled up inside you, making you tighten further around the man. You thought you were going to burn up from the sensations he was causing to course throughyour blood stream. It was horrible, especially when the hand around your throat gripped harder, cutting off the supply of blood to your brain.

Your vision dotted, sparked, and the pleasure fissured along your heavy limbs. You were going to pass out this way, you thought, your miund beginning to float as the edges of the world grew dim.

Then his grip became lax and you took a breath, and your world exploded.

“That’s it.” Aizawa was murmuring into your ear, his breath hot as your body went slack. “Milk me dry, such a good girl, let daddy breed this pretty pussy. Ah, fuck.”

You were all tingly and spasming with pleasure as finished inside you, then laid so he was spooning you on the mattress. You started to get cold, shivered, so he wrapped his limbs around you. He was warm.

He planted a kiss on your cheek. “See? It’s not so bad, is it?”

You stared at the blank cement wall, unsure of what to say.

Part 7 & 8

[whatdudtheysay]

Context - You're on a boring 'date' with the duke of the north. But a certain someone keeps catching your eye...

Tw - slight nsfw but nothing major.

Note - this series will have switching povs to show inner thoughts of both main leads <3 - might include other important characters.

Credit - @cafekitsune

You sighed softly as you woke up in your large bed, stretching with a light moan.

Another day of pretending to be poised and demure. You got out of bed and stretched once more before heading over to the long and big rope bell in your room.

You shook it tiredly and only 0.5 seconds passed before five different maids entered, two carrying hot buckets of water and three empty handed.

They all curtsied in sync, smiling at you warmly.

"good morning, your highness."

"good morning." You greeted back.

The two with the water moved into your ensuite to prepare your bath while the others went to your huge closet, holding out different dresses until you decided to choose a simple light blue dress. They nodded, offering comments like "excellent choice" and "you'll look amazing in this dress, your highness."

But you've heard it all before. You were then ushered into the bathroom for a bath, the maids helping you undress before helping you into the warm water, their hands helping wash your hair.

It was nice of them to do but you thought it would stop when you were 16. However, your mother insisted.

Luckily, time passed quickly and you were out of the bath. luckily, after you 'kindly' told them to excuse you to dress yourself, they did.

After they left, you laid back on your bed, your towel slightly slipping off. You were dreading today. A date with a duke? He's probably been divorced 4 times and has 7 children.

You were dreading it. But it wasn't like you had a choice. You sat up quickly and pulled on some underwear, your stockings, then your dress and then your jewellery.

After a long thirty minutes of doing your hair and drowning yourself in rose perfume, you finally got up and headed downstairs.

There, you entered the dining room and saw your father at the head of the table, smoking a fat cigar and reading the royale newspaper as usual, your mother beside him, drinking some tea.

"good morning." You greeted before taking a seat opposite your mother.

"Morning, sweetness. Are you prepared?" Your father asked.

"Prepared?" You feigned ignorance, staring at the window as the maids served you breakfast.

"do not play dumb, y/n. It isn't befitting-"

"-of a Princess. I know, mother." You cut her off gently. "But do I have to go on this outing? I know you all want what's best for me but a duke?"

"you rejected 30 princes, 5 imperial knights and an earl. This is for your own good since you love being stubborn." Your dad sighed, turning the page of his paper. "I'm guessing you got that from your mother."

Your mother gave your father a glare before she refocused on her breakfast.

You wanted to argue further but you knew that they'd make the situation worse for you. You hated how your parents acted when it came to your life...

It was your only chance at living and yet you weren't in control. You were just a doll to them... And then you'd be a doll to your future husband. The cycle wouldn't end.

"Very well, then. I shall prepare." You grit out before getting up and leaving your breakfast untouched.

You were walking. You didn't know where but you were angry and you just needed to walk it off before you got yourself in more trouble.

You continued to mumble to yourself, ignoring the different palace helps who stopped to greet you. After almost five minutes, you looked up and realised you were in a deeper end of the palace.

Unsure, you glanced around. Despite living here since you were born, you'd never explored this much. You weren't allowed to. Funny.

You continued going deeper. At least if you got lost it would give you an excuse to hold off on the date with the duke. Eventually, you found a room at the end of the hall and pushed it open, revealing a large hall.

"woah." You audibly mumbled. It was so big. A bit smaller than the main... You guessed it was a spare....

Hesitantly, you stepped inside and noticed a lot of portraits around. So this was where your childhood ones went. One of you as a baby, a child, then the most recent was from your 18th, just a few months ago.

You were about to let your hand gently brush against the golden frame when-

"A beautiful portrait."

You gasped and turned around to see.... Him...

Lieutenant Fushiguro.

"Lieutenant- what're you doing here?" You asked. Did he follow you? You hadn't noticed... Or heard him.

"forgive me for starting you." He bowed. "The king wants me to guard your date with the Duke...I tried to find you but the maids said you stormed off in this direction."

Oh.... That made sense....

You somewhat calmed down and nodded. "I see. Sorry...I didn't mean to waste time..."

It was a lie. You did.

But you couldn't deny, the view was... Delectable. The view of him in that tight dark blue and cream royal guard attire... The brooches on his blazer, his hair that was slicked back yet somewhat messy...

It was hard to ignore that delicious shiver that kept tingling down your spine.

"It isn't a problem...besides, I'm sure you are...dreading the meeting?" Toji supposed.

You sighed in relief. It felt like he was the only one who wasn't lobotomized around here.

"Finally! Someone who isn't brain-dead. Uh, no offense." You huffed.

He chuckled deeply in a way that made molten heat pool in your lower stomach.

"I'm not sure a woman such as yourself should settle for anyone you find below your standard." Toji shrugged simply, taking a few steps between you, eating up the distance.

You found yourself nodding to his words almost eagerly. How did a stranger manage to see it and say exactly what your heart wanted while your parents believed the complete opposite?

"I'm glad someone understands." You mumbled, glancing back at your portrait.

"Well sometimes you need a change of perspective." He spoke calmly, his voice a lot closer than before.

You glanced over your shoulder, swallowing thickly when you noticed he was merely a step away from you.

Before either of you could speak up, the doors suddenly opened and your father entered. You glanced at toji, then your father, noticing the stare off they were currently having.

"Y/n. Down to the main hall. The duke is waiting for you." Was all your father said.

But he said it in that voice. The voice he used when you were two ticks away from trouble. So, you moved around Toji awkwardly and quickly left the hall, your father closing the door behind you. Curiously, you pressed your ear against the door, overhearing some muffled words but nothing coherent.

"my lady."

You almost screamed at the sudden voice, whirling around to see your lady's maid and friend, Nobara.

"Gosh! Nobara, I told you not to sneak up on me anymore!" You lightly chastised, moving to interlink your arms, hoping your father hadn't realised you'd been eavesdropping.

She laughed softly. "Sorry. But I was told you'd be going out today?"

"yes... Just got a while. I hope." You sighed, remembering your 'date.'

"in that case, should I tell the emperor you'll see him next week?" She asked.

You raised a brow. Satoru wanted to see you? But why?

"I guess so. I'll probably be tired after the outing." You nodded. Now you wished you didn't have to go.

Satoru was your childhood friend before he inherited the Gojo empire. You barely ever saw him because it was situated in the far north and snow was fun until you got frostbite.

But you had to face reality... Before you got yourself into more trouble.

As you walked ahead, you took one last glance at the hall. The bigger part of you hoped you hadn't gotten Toji in any trouble...

ㅤㅤㅤ⊹────⊹ ꯭┄ׁ┄ ʚ͜♡͜ɞ ┄ׁ┄꯭ ⊹────⊹

(TOJI'S POV)

Fuck, it was hot. He was in the carriage with you, staring out of the windows, alert as usual.

But he was also discreetly staring at you. The heat was no match for a royal either. You were lightly fanning yourself, a bead of sweat moving down your collarbone, settling between the deep line of your cleavage.

Fuck. He had already ensured your father biting his head off about being near you earlier and now he was staring at those pretty tits eyes of yours. You kept glancing out of the window and then to your lap. Your fidgeting was making him nervous at this time.

"You alright, princess?" He asked, causing you to look up quickly.

You huffed, fanning yourself more. "Of course I am! I'm just... Thinking about my wonderful future wedding with the duke."

Toji chuckled, causing her to shyly avoid his gaze.

"I'm sure you'll receive many blessings of wealth and fertility." Toji hummed, making you gag.

"Ew, Ew, Ew! Don't!" You huffed, becoming more worried.

Toji sighed slightly. He could tell you didn't want to be bound to some random man and pop out more babies for him. Besides, who knew what the duke would make of the kingdom when your future husband took over.

Sadly, the ride slowed to a stop and toji helped you out of the carriage. He glanced around the large estate. It was....clean, kept...nice. befitting of a royal.

A woman came out, short and she had blonde hair.

"Good morning, I hope the the ride wasn't too eventful." She smiled, mostly at you than Toji.

"Oh, it was smooth, thank you." You replied with a smile as you had been accustomed to.

She led you up the path, Toji tailing behind, ensuring to keep an eye on the surroundings just in case...

They finally got into the estate, moving into the parlour which was thankfully, a lot cooler than the summer heat outside.

But then you suddenly stopped. Toji was a lot taller so he looked over your head and noticed a man sat, waiting...staring deeply into you.

Short silky blonde hair, regal robes and two different brightly coloured eyes. He had a wry smirk upon his lips and an odd look in his eyes as you stared at each other.

Naoya...the duke of the northern region.

Tags ღ - @blobkvna , @byerno6 , @iseeyouuu , @iloveaustinelvisandmannymore , @aloserprobably , @tojislittleprincesss , @meforpr3sident , @someonejasjsj

A/n - by changing povs I mean the story will focus more on one person than another just to lyk <3

Please don't steal or copy my work. None of the art in my works are mine 𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚

[pastaallen14]

Hi all!

I don’t post my own stuff but when I do I sound like a rambling madwomen!

I’ve done introductions before but for those that don’t know me… I’m Pasta! I’ve been a DGM fan for 21yrs so since it came out! I’m a huge fan of different types of media and literature. I love those things so much that my 3 college degrees are in Art, Film, Music and Literature.

Anyhow I figured it was time for me to post something. I would like to make one final disclosure. WHAT IM GOING TO POST IS SOLELY MY THOUGHTS AND THEORIES NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED EXCEPT for a few things which I will say has been confirmed. 

So I wanna talk about my favorite chronically depressed boy Mana! From what I gather he seems like such a sweet soul. And if my pattern recognition is correct from having ADHD I get the feeling that he is indeed a gentle and sweet soul. With the twin troupe (yes I know the boys aren’t technically twins) that Hoshino decided to explore comes the troupe of having one twin being sweet and rather gentle and quiet maybe even a little sad and then the other one who can be determined and sometimes the muscle for the both of them. It’s a dynamic I’ve seen in several other shows and novels. Mana struggled from an early age it seemed likely grappling with Adam/ The Earl’s memory like other Noah’s slowly grapple with their Noah Memories. We don’t really know how Nea was but my guess is since he wasn’t supposed to exist and isn’t perhaps bogged down didn’t struggle nearly as badly as Mana did. So between the two boys from the start Neah was the muscle and the strong determined one.

That being said I think that part of what happened 35 years ago with “Nea and Mana” on the run and all the events that led up to it was this. Mana was likely quietly plagued by his inner Noah. Perhaps it was just whispers in his ear at first and then perhaps it grew to the escalation of seeing the suit. Which has been semi confirmed as being a Gollum from an art exhibit in 2020.

The reason I feel like this may have been the case is because all the panels we see of Mana “killing/ absorbing Nea” he seems so confused and not fully lucid when it happens. My feeling is there were times where the memory would take over and he would act as Adam kind of like a Jekyll and Hyde situation. Even when Katerina was injured it was almost like he was not responsible that he wasn’t in drivers seat per se when it happened. It seems like he constantly fought off the influence of Adam for as long as he could. But didn’t have a lot of luck as we eventually learn.

I wager that leading up to the final showdown with Nea Nea was likely running all over the place, looking for answers and solutions to end all of this. While also maintaining the disguise of potentially having beef with Mana while others were around. Putting on that villain act for the sake of protecting Mana (another common troupe a character that has been deemed as a villain only later to be revealed as a good guy so to speak.)

Even in the above panel my guess is that perhaps Mana accidentally lost control around Katerina and that’s what started this spiral even Nea says that “Mana brought on this Tragedy” perhaps hurting someone you love is the catalyst for allowing the Adam/ The Earl to take over.

Mana likely fought as hard as he could even in the panels we see with Nea dying he seems so confused and so lost as to what’s happened. Again definitely indicates that perhaps he lost control again and Adam/ The Earl took over.

Either way it seems like our sweet boy underwent trial and pain and suffering time and time again which eventually lead to his downfall. Anyways thanks for listening to my ramble feel free to add anything that you all think of.

[pinkkop]

This week's recap is brought to you by my attempts at making GIFs for Lost in the Woods. (and yes, every word in the title is a link to a different GIF set I made and there's at least 2 more that I haven't linked to.

QL Recap for Week 16

The 14th of April to the 20th of April

🇹🇭 Lost in the Woods

Episode 5 of 7 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Wednesday

You know it's a quality conversation when both sides proclaim that they'd pursue the other, if they themselves were a woman. Like … no homo! Absolutely amazing! No notes!! Pretty sure that mess of a situation in the past was equal effort between all three of them. They all fucked up equally!

🇹🇭 My Stubborn

Episode 1 of 10 || Watching on: iQiYi, Sunday

This looks messy as hell and I am here for it!! Sorn is so entirely in denial about his sexuality and Jun is so entirely in denial about how he feels about Sorn. Can't wait for them to hurt each other and everyone around them before they finally get their shit together.

🇹🇭 My Golden Blood

Episode 6 of 12 || Watching on: Youtube, Wednesday

This episode had a bunch of great scenes between Mark and Tong but there's barely any movement in the plot which is a little frustrating. Also, on a less serious note, I need GMMTV to get more comfortable with licking because obviously Nakan needed to lick the knife with Tong's blood on the blade and also Mark definitely needs to heal Tong via licking and not chaste kissing!

🇹🇭 Boys in Love

Episode 1 of 12 || Watching on: Youtube, Saturday

This was cute! This show is, however, going to have to work to stand out to me because GMMTV could so easily just phone this in. Hope it turns out to be more than just some cute decent actors and a bunch of BL tropes in a trench coat.

🇹🇭 Your Sky of Us

Episode 3 of 3 || Watching on: iQiYi, Saturday

No plot or consistency but it was super cute and for a special episode that works great. I'm, as always, in love with how Rak is given sexual agency and allowed to have desire which makes this pairing so good.

🇹🇭 I'm Your Moon

Episode 6 of 8 || Watching on: iQiYi, Sunday

Earl is starting to be so hot and cold that it's getting annoying. On a whole that's how I feel about this show: I enjoy the drama but there are too many things that happen and then 10 min later the show tells you the complete opposite. For the last couple of episodes I just hope they don't try to change the grandpa's character completely. So far he's been so jolly and it make's sense that he's protective of Prey but I find it a little odd that he's supposed to be so against Earl now, especially because it seems mostly based in the decades old family grudge.

🇹🇼 Fight for You

Episode 5 of 12 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Friday

I have no idea how they got to where they are with their relationship but the seduction practice was great. This show keeps being very mid to be honest.

That's it for this week!!

For links and airing schedule check out World of BL (Only for BLs)

[wessexroyalfamily]

End of Chapter One

I hope to have Chapter 2 up sometime by the beginning of April (hopefully 😅). Chapter 2 will kick off in the Spring, about three or four months after the events of Chapter 1.

Thanks for all that have read and been engage!

Individual Parts linking below the cut!

Part 1 : Reception at Warminster Military College to honor graduates

Part 2 : Prince Richard graduates from Warminster Military College

Part 3 : Reception at Warminster Military College hosted by the Queen

Part 4 : The family gathers for dinner at Fogmorre Castle, while Richard goes out to celebrate with his military buddies

Part 5 : Richard returns back to Hyde Park Lodge to an upset Winnie

Part 6 : The family gather for Prince Thomas' birthday at the Queen's home, Claremont House

Part 7 : The family talk to Richard about increasing his role within the family, despite his resistance to the idea

Part 8 : Queen Anne II and Prince Christian, The Earl of Gloucester end the night at Claremont House discussing the best way forward with Richard

Part 9 : Richard spends the day with Winnie at Hyde Park Lodge, and he learns some life changing news for himself and his family

Part 10 : A staff member interrupts Queen Anne II and Prince Christian, The Earl of Gloucester to give them some upsetting news

Part 11 : Government officials discuss their concerns with Edward St. Andrews, The Duke of Worcester and the current Chancellor of the Kingdom

Three Reflections of Death

Reflection One : Anne meets with the Chancellor to discuss plans for her trip to Chester and the state funeral of Ranulf III

Reflection Two : William and Elizabeth upset that they won't be attending the funeral in Chester and Elizabeth is more upset at who is replacing them

Reflection Three : Richard seems to be upset with more than just having to pack for a last minute trip?

Part 12 : William watches the news coverage of the royal family arriving in Chester

Part 13 : Richard's uncle, Prince George, tries to comfort his nephew while they watch Christian take his oath

Part 14 : Funeral procession of Ranulf III

Part 15 : Richard finally sees his mother, Princess Margaret, again, but their reunion doesn't go how Margaret plans

Part 16 : Richard finds comfort in an old friend ... first name Jack and last name Daniels. Sadly it ends up getting him into quite the mess

Part 17 : Government is worried, the Chancellor is FREAKING OUT and the Queen is still out of the country, can William handle it ALL?

Part 18 : Christian has conversation with Richard about his antics

Part 19 : Only Winnie can make Richard feel better, even when he doesn't deserve her support . .. uhh-ohh is that a camera I see?

Part 20 : Richard gets chewed out by his grandfather, Christian, and calls the boys in to help cheer him up

Part 21 : Elizabeth is over giving Richard chances, while William knows abandoning the heir to the throne won't make anything better

Part 22 : The royals host the last garden party of the summer while the Queen is still abroad in Chester

Part 23 : The Queen meets with the Chancellor to discuss fall engagements and the ever pressing Chester question

Part 24 : FALL IS HERE! And Winnie goes on a coffee date with one of her friends and of course they talk all about Richard

Part 25 : Queen Anne II meets with a few members of her Chancellery (Privy Council) to discuss how the monarchy should approach the Chester question

Part 26 : It's family day at Elton College, the preparatory boarding school attended by Prince Thomas

Part 27 : William's always been a sucker for his kids, and leaving for their last engagement in Wessex before he and Elizabeth head on their week long tour of the Duchy of Rutland makes it hard to say goodbye

Part 28 : William and Elizabeth meet with the Chancellor to discuss their upcoming tour, Elizabeth leaves the meeting less that impressed

Part 29 : William and Elizabeth arrive in Rutland for their Week Long Tour

Part 30 : Elizabeth meets with her sister Louisa, The Dowager Duchess of Rutland to kick off the tour

Part 31 : A reception held in honor of William and Elizabeth

Part 32 : Elizabeth meets privately with her sister Louisa

Part 33 : Elizabeth calls the Chancellor . . . but does William know?

Part 34 : The Duke of Rutland holds a formal banquet at the Ducal Palace, but all does not end well for William and Elizabeth

Part 35 : Winnie drops some big truth on Richard, while he still grapples with royal life

Part 36 : Elizabeth and William arrive at Woodstock Palace for investiture day

Part 37 : Investiture day goes off without a hitch, but now William and Elizabeth must face Queen Anne II and Prince Christian

Part 38 : Richard grapples with what Winnie's news means for him and his family

Part 39 : the Royals gather at the War Memorial for Remembrance Day

Part 40 : Richard tells his close friend Thomas von Greville the . . . good news?

Part 41 : The Fall Day of Thanks celebrations being as members of the Royal Family prepare to leave Woodstock Palace for Winchester Cathedral. Part 41 is separated into two post (for second half click here)

Part 42 : The Crown Prince William meets with the Chancellor on his way into Winchester Cathedral

Part 43 : Royals gather back at Woodstock Palace for a banquet in honor of the Fall Day of Thanks

Part 44 : Winnie talks to her mom to get advice on what to say when she meets up with Richard tomorrow

Part 45 : Richard and Winnie meet at the Art Institute

Part 46 : A reception is held at Woodstock Palace, William and Elizabeth attend and William's brother notices the growing tension between the two

Part 47 : William pulls out the romance to mend his marriage

Part 48 : Queen Anne and Christian, The Earl of Gloucester arrive at Fogmorre Castle to celebrate the holiday season with family

Part 49 : Margaret arrives at Fogmorre Castle and of course Elizabeth is the first person she runs into

Part 50 : Richard's brother Prince Thomas, runs into him while Richard is taking some alone time in the family private drawing room

Part 51 Part A and Part B : The family and invited guests celebrate the holidays at a formal party hosted by the Queen at Fogmorre Castle, Richard drops from earth shattering news

Part 52 : The Queen's Holiday Broadcast announces big changes for the royal family

Part 53 : The royal family attend at holiday service at Carnarvon Chapel and great members of the public who have come to see the royals in person

Part 54 : The royals meet together to discuss hot to tackle their biggest problem yet

Part 55: Winnie learns of two options she has from Edward St. Andrew’s, neither of which she’s thrilled about

[duckprintspress]

Banned Books Week 2024

Banned Books Week starts today, September 22nd, and runs through September 28th. With the current political climate in the US and beyond, it's a sad truth that the books most often challenged and banned in the US are queer stories, and so we wanted to take this week to shout out these books. Seven of the ten have been challenged because of LGBTQIA+ content.

The ten most challenged books of 2023 are:

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Flamer by Mike Curato

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Let's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

Sold by Patricia McCormick

I've personally only read 2 - Gender Queer and Flamer - and both were excellent. I definitely need to get on reading more though.

[whencyclopedia]

Child Labour in the British Industrial Revolution

Children were widely used as labour in factories, mines, and agriculture during the British Industrial Revolution (1760-1840). Very often working the same 12-hour shifts that adults did, children as young as five years old were paid a pittance to climb under dangerous weaving machines, move coal through narrow mine shafts, and work in agricultural gangs.

It was very often the case that children's jobs were well-defined and specific to them, in other words, child labour was not merely an extra help for the adult workforce. The education of many children was replaced by a working day, a choice often made by parents to supplement a meagre family income. It was not until the 1820s that governments began to pass laws that restricted working hours and business owners were compelled to provide safer working conditions for everyone, men, women, and children. Even then a lack of inspectors meant many abuses still went on, a situation noted and publicised by charities, philanthropists, and authors with a social conscience like Charles Dickens (1812-1870).

A Lack of Education

As sending a child to school involved paying a fee – even the cheapest asked for a penny a day – most parents did not bother. Villages often had a small school, where each pupil's parents paid the teacher, but attendance was sometimes erratic and more often than not the education rudimentary in hopelessly overcrowded classes. There were some free schools run by charities, and churches often offered Sunday school. Not until 1844 were there more free schools available, such as the Ragged schools established by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885). These schools concentrated on the basics, what became known as the 3 Rs of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. Compulsory education for 5 to 12-year-olds, and the institutions necessary to provide it, would not come along until the 1870s. Consequently, "at least half of nominally school-age children worked full-time during the industrial revolution" (Horn, 57).

Some factory owners were more generous than others to the children in their employ. An example is the Quarry Bank Mill in Styal in the county of Cheshire. Here the owner provided schooling after the long working day was over for 100 of its child workers in a dedicated building, the Apprentice House.

An indicator of better education, despite all the difficulties, is literacy rates, rather imperfectly measured by historians by recording the ability of a person to sign one's name on official documents such as marriage certificates. There was a great improvement in literacy, but by 1800, still only half of the adult population could sign their name to such documents.

For those children who could find work in the Industrial Revolution, and there were employers queueing up to offer it, there were no trade unions to protect them. For the vast majority of children, working life started at an early age – on average at 8 years old – but as nobody really cared about age, this could vary wildly. Working involved at best tedium and at worst an endless round of threats, fines, corporal punishment, and instant dismissal at any protest to such treatment. In one survey taken in 1833, it was found that the tactics used with child labourers were 95% negative. Instant dismissal accounted for 58%. In only 4% of cases was a reward given for good work, and a mere 1% of the strategies used involved a promotion or pay rise.

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[obae-me]

ive been sick recently, here are some of the fever dreams and various other stupid thoughts ive had;

1. mammon and mc taking beel to the human realm to compete in eating challenges. he gets free food and they get to laugh at the horrified faces of the judges while he demolishes everything and asks for seconds

2. remember the golden age of a/b/o? demons have a higher sense of smell so when mc first arrived, there was a scent blocker in the summoning spell. This fails at some point and now mc has to hide out with solomon or else the brothers will follow them around like they’re the pied piper bc since when did mc smell so good?

3. mc convinving the brothers that humans molt by doing the pva glue thing. solomon is the only one who knows different and absolutely backs them up

4. freaking out the brothers by sleepwalking/talking. mc opening levi’s door in the middle of the night (he’s still awake, rui-chan just dropped a new episode he needs to analyse) and just dead staring at him for several seconds before barking and walking away. he avoids them for days after

5. going to the human realm and bring back a souvenir for diavolo every time. they’re usually the silly things you can buy when you visit tourist areas but they’re held in as high regard as the royal family heirlooms. a small snow globe with a sunglasses wearing gnome inside is displayed next to the royal jewels

6. sampling every different kind of tea with barbatos like a bucket list (chamomile? thumbs up! darjeeling? hates with a burning passion)

7. leaving offerings for the demons/angels out of habit whenever they do something nice. new beauty routine- asmo finds roses in his room. high grade on a paper- satan finds a small cat statuette on top of a pile of books. loaned a listening ear- simeon finds new pens in his writing desk

8. mc being affectionate without realising. humans can be big on physical contact so it’s can be common to kiss or hug regularly. demons are not like this and they short circuit everytime mc kisses their cheeks in thanks or hugs them in greeting

thank you for your time i’m going back to sleep

Oh no! I'm sorry you're sick! Drink tons of fluids and get so much rest!!

1. I bet you Mammon put some money down on him somehow and became absolutely giddy with how much Beel was winning. He would treat him to a buffet afterwards.

2. Ah yes, the wonderful and semi cursed days of a/b/o. I have no doubt that something about their human drives them all crazy.

3. I love love love the thought of MC and Solomon doing things that freak the demons and angels out a bit, mixing real things with fake facts and no one ever knowing what's true or not.

4. What if the brothers all assumed that only Belphie did stuff like that because of his Sin, and so when MC comes around and does similar things, it freaks them out a bit. Again, I love the idea of a human giving all the powerful demons a bit of the jeebies.

5. That is such a cute thing, oh my goodness. Diavolo being obsessed with cheap cliche tourist souvenirs. He's got mugs and shotglasses with different states and countries on them, the fridge in the kitchen has a bunch of magnets of various attractions. He's got several baseball caps he wears around the castle when people aren't around.

6. So sweet! I love the thought of Barbatos having a little notepad and writing notes on their reactions of different teas so he knows exactly what to serve them and when. (I love me a good earl grey myself).

7. As a person who loves giving gifts, this idea is so sweet. It's like a beautiful equivalent of getting a little gold star. They deserve good things, all of them.

8. I think I've done a headcanon of this particular thing (or maybe not, maybe it's just been on my mind before). But yes! Coming up and giving them a hug when they're sad, telling them they love them before hanging up the phone, all things that makes the demons melt instantly, and MC isn't even aware.

Thank you for sharing your dreams!! I love hearing about dreams! Rest up!!

[dianaelspeth-archive]

(imogen waterhouse, twenty-six, cis woman, she/her) you do not know me but rest assured i know you, MISS DIANA BLAIR. you are the COUSIN TO AND WARD OF THE RULING COUNTESS HERMANCE. you may be known for your REFINEMENT but it is only a mask for the true nature of your SELF-IMPORTANT ways. however, i am not here to spread slander on the queen’s jewels, though i suspect you are her ONYX. the ton says your name reminds them of THE PERFECT SMILE, THE PERFECT MANNERS, THE PERFECT ARMOR; WHITE LACE OVER WHITE KNUCKLES; A HAND OF CARDS HELD CLOSE TO THE CHEST. how scandalous! you have been warned, dear reader, that i will prove if this is true and share every last detail.

•• Connections •• Biography ••

Introduction

Name: Miss Blair; Diana Age: 26 Date of Birth: September 16, 1786 Gender: Female

Appearance

Height: 5'2" Build: Petite Hair Color: Honey Blonde Eye Color: Blue Green

Personality

Traits: refined, pragmatic, protective, driven, self-important, envious, reticent, bitter Likes: horses, the country, children Dislikes: people, sentiment, being judged Favorite Colors: cornflower blue, golden yellow, ivory

Accomplishments

Art 4/5 Music 5/5 Dancing 4/5 Languages 3/5

Quick Facts

Diana and her mother moved in with her uncle, the Earl of Hermance, after her father’s death in 1789. When her mother died 5 years later, Diana became her uncle’s ward. Although she was welcomed into the family home with open arms and treated like another daughter, Diana has always been aware of her situation.

Diana has spent much of her life trying to earn her uncle’s, and now her cousin’s, generosity. She is set on being flawless, having the perfect manners and the perfect accomplishments; with neither a hair nor a thread out of place.

Diana thinks very highly of herself because she has worked hard to become exactly who she wants to be. She is proud of who she is because she has molded that woman herself.

Beneath the finely crafted facade, Diana is bitter about her lot in life and convinced that she deserves more. She sees the social season as her opportunity to advance her position, and she is determined to seize it. Diana knows exactly what she wants out of this season: a husband with a title, lands, and wealth for her future children to inherit.

Far from an open book, Diana keeps her true self under lock and key, showing only what people expect to see, and what she wants them to see. Few people know her and no one, not even her cousins, know her completely.

The late earl did not think it necessary for Diana to have a formal introduction to society. At eight and ten years, she began attending dinner parties at the Hermance house and occasionally promenading with her cousins, but she rarely attended larger society functions. The season of 1813 will be her official debut.

[rowandriftwood]

Rowan's 2024 Tea Wrapped ☕️🫖

Oh hey it's that time again! How much tea did I drink in 2024? I'm so glad you asked!

Overall, I drank 568 cups of 87 different varieties of tea last year, which is approximately 3.75 lbs of loose-leaf tea!

I drank 404 cups of black tea, 47 cups of green tea, 20 cups of white tea, and 97 cups of herbal tea.

My top 10 teas accounted for about 38% of my total tea consumption for the year.

Rowan's Top 10 Teas of 2024:

#1 - Spicy Seattle Chai from Market Spice (24 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black spiced tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 4-5 minutes, add honey and cream to taste. I don't brew this one in the traditional way, because I don't have the patience. This is one of my all-time favorite teas, and a staple of my Autumn/Winter collection. So good. 5/5

#2 - Vanilla with Lavender from Lovejoy's (23 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey to taste, good with or without cream. A delightful lightly-floral tea and staple of my year-round collection. 5/5

#2 - Connoisseur Blend from Market Spice (23 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, honey and cream optional. To be honest, the reason I drank so much of this one last year is because it was getting older and I wanted to use it up, but it is a good standard black tea that is also good iced in the summer, with or without additional flavors. I have since replaced it with Taylors of Harrogate's Afternoon Darjeeling. 4/5

#4 - Passionfruit from Market Spice (22 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey to taste. This was another one I was trying to use up this year because it was getting older. To be honest, it's just average, though it makes a decent iced tea in the summer. I have since replaced it with one from Adagio that has a better flavor. 3/5

#5 - Jasmine from Market Spice (21 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this green tea + 12 oz. 170ºF water, brewed for 2-3 minutes, add honey to taste. As with most of my floral teas, I used to only drink this one in the Spring and Summer, but it has become a staple of my year-round collection. I'm not usually a fan of green teas, but this one is excellent. It is light and pleasant when I don't want something as strong as a black tea. I experimented last summer with trying it iced, but it did not really work for me. 4/5

#6 - Apricot from Market Spice (20 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey to taste. This was another one I was trying to use up this year because it was getting older. Much like Market Spice's passionfruit, it's just average. I generally used it to make iced tea in the summer. I am still searching for a really good apricot tea. 3/5

#7 - Cherry Almond from Lovejoy's (18 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey and cream to taste. I spent a lot of time last year trying to use up teas and get them out of my collection, didn't I? This one wasn't old; I just wasn't happy with it, and it appears to have been discontinued. I have since replaced it with Adagio's cherry marzipan oolong, which is excellent. 3/5

#8 - Earl Grey Lavender from Adagio (17 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 2-3 minutes, add honey to taste, good with or without cream. I love an Earl Grey, and this one has been a staple of my year-round collection for quite some time. I've run out for now, and am experimenting with other Earl Grey blends, but I am sure I will buy more eventually. 4/5

#9 - Chocolate Raspberry Pu-ehr from the Lolo Sweets Barn (16 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey and cream to taste. This one has long been a household favorite and staple of my Autumn/Winter collection, but it has sadly been discontinued. Fortunately, I have managed to find a suitable replacement in Lovejoy's delightful chocolate raspberry tea. 4/5

#10 - Irish Whiskey Cream from Tea & Absinthe (15 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 3-4 minutes, add honey and cream to taste. This is a rising star of my Autumn/Winter collection, and a new household favorite. If you are a fan of Irish Cream liqueurs, you will love this tea. 5/5

#10 - Monk's Earl Grey from Ilomaa Forest Farm (15 cups) - 1 heaping teaspoon of this black tea + 12 oz. boiling water, brewed for 2-3 minutes, add honey to taste, good with or without cream. A twist on the traditional Earl Grey, with added floral and spice flavors. It looks like this one is only available in Canada, so we probably won't be getting more anytime soon, but it is very nice. 4/5

[lexa-ocean]

Thx so much for the Rolfe Headcanons! I love your lore!

I'm just wondering About Your Hc's for the Wolf Pack 5

Btw, I love your TransMasc Wolfman Hc. It's such a unique headcanon! I love seeing how differently everyone perceives Him! (I have two/three different versions of him that depend on the au) :3

Thanks!! I've had my transman Wolfman hc for a while, i'm really fond of it

Anyways, for some WP5 hcs!!

Wolfman

Obviously, you already know, a trans guy!! From the band, the only ones that know are Queenie, Fatz, and Dingo. Obvs Rolfe knows bc they're brothers (Rolfe's the first person he came out to, in fact), and Rolfe told Earl before they reencouentered, back when he thought he would never see his brother again. Dook also knows

(As a matter of fact-- In this fic of mine, i mention Dook knowing how to bind from another trans guy, well, that was Wolfman!!)

He was an opera singer before medically transitioning-- after T changed his voice, a lot of theaters stopped calling him for shows, so he got into other types of music to compensate

He absolutely adores Rolfe, tbh he did more to raise him than their parents ever did.

He's more into tea than coffee, and actually thinks coffee is gross-- he and Rolfe had many a heated discussion abt it

Queenie

She's dating Wolfman!! She met him during his opera era, as she was a cleaner in one of the theaters he used to play in. She eventually confessed to him she liked to sing, which led to them forming a duo (that eventually became a band).

She loves to read, and writes poetry on her spare time.

She's really passionate abt all types of theatre, especially music theatre.

She left the band as she got a job as a director in a local theatre, which was very demanding and didn't left her time to perform w them. She still attended every show she could

She and Rolfe don't really get along, they'll be civil for Wolfman's sake but Queenie thinks he's a spoiled brat :P

Beach Bear

He's a high school music teacher, and taught Rockafire!Beach

No, he and Rockafire!Beach aren't related, altho they both kinda wish they were

Aside from teaching music, he has a philosophy degree. He got a job as a philosophy teacher out-of-state after the WP5 broke up, but stayed long enough to find a replacement fir the Rockafire, which ofc we all know who he choose in the end

He also used to work as a lifeguard on the weekends. That's how he meet Fatz, who eventually introduced him to Wolfman when they decided to form a band

He genuinaly thinks Rockafire!Beach is a far better guitarist n singer than he is, and far from being jealous abt it, he's happy for the kid. He's sure he's going places

Dingo

Dook's older brother!! He's super overprotective of all his younger siblings, which are a few

He was the first to find out abt the fact that Wolfman had an estranged younger brother, after Wolfman got v drunk one night n got emotional seeing Dingo n Dook interact. That's the same night he found out Wolfman's trans, man kinda overshared

BIG fan of the Beatles, always dreamed of going to London

The british accent he uses on-stage is fake, he just does it cuz he thinks its cool. A lot more ppl think its cringe, but he don't listen to haters

He moved to the UK after the WP5 broke up, he works as a drummer-for-hire there, for anyone who might need one in short notice. He makes ok money from it

Mini

Mitzi's half sister on their father's side. Her mom has no custody of her however, so to Mitzi she was always just her sister

She's p apathetic to most things, except music

Learnt from Fatz the band was looking for a new singer after Queenie left, and jumped at the opportunity.

She actually came to really care for the rest of the band during her time w them, altho she doesn't really show it

Left for college, originally the plan was for Mitzi to replace her on the WP5, but well, the whole band parted ways, so Mitzi became a singer in the new band instead

Fats/Fatz

Yeah he's just the same guy in both bands. He changed the last letter on his name from 'S' to 'Z' at Rockafire!Beach's insistance that it looked cooler

Played occasionally on a restaurant he n his mom worked at, which is how Wolfman found him

He and Wolfman became best friends. Fatz greatly admires Wolfman, which made it kinda jarring to meet Rolfe n realize he's NOTHING like his brother

His first 'date' w Esmeralda was to take her to see him play w the WP5. The whole band never stopped teasing him abt it

Got a side job as a private music instructor for a while. He tutored Mitzi, which is how she meet both her n Mini

Thanks for the ask!! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝💖