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my family is the center of my universe

Johan Seong X F!Reader (foreign)

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long, I was admittedly having a lot of trouble with this one. Also, I got a new job so I’ve been busy and tired lately lol. Thank you again to the 2 anons who sent me messages encouraging me to continue! It’s always nice to hear when people enjoy my writing.

This one I think takes place before this part in the series timeline, although I’m not sure around what chapter it would be in Lookism. This is just after a fight that Johan has, not sure which one but the point is that Johan has some injuries from getting into a fight.

Also, the reader has half-Korean siblings in this story due to her mother being foreign and her step-father being Korean. That being said, I decided to go with English names for the younger siblings because the Webtoon translation uses English names for most of the characters despite them having Korean names in other translations. I read this on Webtoon so the English names are the ones that I’m used to.

Please let me know if there are any problems that need to be fixed, thank you and I hope you enjoy!

masterlist

Warnings: cursing? Slight mention of injuries, but nothing gory. Other than those, not anything else I think lol.

Summary: You see Johan injured after a fight and decide to let him rest at your home. He sees how differently you act around your family compared to outside.

You can hear the doors to the restaurant rattle from where you’re cleaning in the back. When you look up, you catch Mr. Terrence’s gaze and you both look confusedly at each other for a moment - at this point in the night, both of your brains are practically running on fumes.

“The fuck is that?” Your boss asks you, as if the eyes you apparently have on the back of your head can also see through walls.

“How should I know?” You scoff.

“Go check it out and you will know.”

“You’re sending the teenager to go investigate a mysterious noise at night alone?”

“Yeah.”

You roll your eyes, not even having enough energy to be annoyed at this point, “asshole.”

Mr. Terrence throws the sponge in his hand at the back of your head as you walk out of the door toward the front room. You think about retaliating before your attention is stolen by the cause of the noise in the first place. The brown-haired boy is slumped against the ground, back leaning against the locked doors, and curled in on himself.

This mess of a boy, you think to yourself exasperatedly - however, you still immediately make your way to him despite the attitude you pretend to have. Truthfully, it’s been a little while since you’ve seen Johan and you were relieved to have confirmation that he’s not dead. When you unlock and open the door, however, he finally looks up and you see that he looks half there already.

“Johan? What happened?” You crouch down to get a better look at the blood and quickly-forming bruises across his face.

Instinctually, you reach for him, same as you would with one of your younger siblings, but he flinches away with a disgruntled expression. You pull back immediately, meeting the boy’s stare for a moment, both of you silent. So he’s just not going to answer then? Why am I not surprised?

“What are you doing here?” You try again, and the brunette looks back out toward the street so as to not keep your concerned gaze.

Again, he doesn’t really answer, only offering a slight shrug after a few moments. You almost sigh aloud, but instead only roll your eyes silently. You already knew that kids like Johan don’t open up easily, you used to be like that when you were younger, too. Distantly, you wondered if you were just as annoying. Probably.

You try again, “Eden and Miro aren’t here, then?”

“No.” Finally, you hear his voice.

“Somewhere safe?”

He rolls his eyes, “of course.”

You refrain from smacking him for the attitude - you really are too tired to be dealing with this right now. At the same time, however, as you watch the way he remains curled in on himself, hugging his backpack like a lifeline, you find yourself feeling heavy-hearted. He probably doesn’t have anyone else to go to. And you did say that he was your friend, didn’t you? A friend would help another friend in trouble.

You stand, “alright, gimme a minute.”

Johan glances at you with confusion, but you ignore him to walk back into the restaurant. When you enter, you see that Mr. Terrence has been watching from the counter in the front room. He raises his eyebrows slightly, gaze filled with the knowledge of something that you’re not privy to.

“I gotta go,” you offer lamely, suddenly feeling caught and embarrassed, though you don’t know why.

“Yeah,” he laughs slightly, “I figured.”

You decide not to continue the conversation, having a distinct feeling that it’ll only serve to further whatever strange discomfort you’re already struggling with. Instead, you rush to pack your bag and slip back past your boss and out the door again. Johan looks up at you again when you return, but you only offer him a glance as you pass by and down the short stairs to the sidewalk.

You turn, “well? Let’s go.” And continue walking without looking back.

You can hear his quiet footsteps following you, as expected, but he stays a bit behind you for the entire walk back to your home. As you approach your neighborhood, you finally feel Johan’s hesitation. When you turn to look back at him, he’s stopped walking, glancing around at the other shabby houses unsurely. You walk toward him, grabbing his jacket sleeve and softly tugging him to follow behind you - surprisingly, he doesn’t yank his arm away like you expected.

When you enter your home, you make sure to remain quiet as you slip off your shoes, aware that most of your younger siblings are probably asleep already. You check the time quickly, and figure that your step-father hasn’t gotten off of work yet, so you don’t have to worry about bringing a boy home at night yet. Johan also slips his shoes off, standing awkwardly by the entrance. You laugh at him softly, again tugging him to follow you toward the couch and gently push him to sit down.

“What are you doing?” Johan keeps his voice low as you search through your kitchen cupboards.

As you pull out the first aid kit kept in there, you raise it for him to see. “What do you think?”

“I didn’t ask for help.”

“Oh, shut up,” you sit on the table in front of the couch to face him. Johan scoots back a little, surprised at your proximity. You reach out to grab the shoulder of his jacket, pulling him toward you. “I can’t reach you if you lean back.”

You turn on the lamp that sits on the end table next to the couch, allowing you to see his injuries more clearly. There’s more blood than you had been able to see in the dark, but the bruises don’t look so bad like this anymore. As you set about cleaning his face, Johan remains silent and seems determined not to meet your eyes, keeping his gaze low and off to the side somewhere. He could almost come across as shy if you didn’t know better, and you breathe a laugh at the thought. The brunette glances at you, brows furrowed, before quickly looking away again when your gazes meet.

“What’s wrong with you? Weirdo.” He huffs.

“Me weird? I’m not the one showing up outside of people’s work at night and aggressively pouting to get what I want.” You laugh.

“I don’t pout.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“You’re a child.”

“You’re a bi-”

“Dad’s gonna be mad you brought your boyfriend over at night.”

You look up at the new voice that cut off Johan, met with the sight of your youngest brother in the doorway. Johan jumps, looking over his shoulder at the young boy in shock. You laugh softly, dropping the bloody tissues in the trash now that the brunette’s face was clean.

You stand, mumbling to Johan, “put some of that ointment on your bruises,” as you walk around the couch toward your little brother. “And what are you doing up, Tommy? You should’ve been asleep a while ago now.”

He looks away guiltily, “I wanted to see you come home.”

You wonder if it’s possible for your heart to break from fondness, a smile spreading across your face subconsciously. You crouch down quickly to pick Tommy up, standing fully and resting him against your hip.

“Yeah? You miss me?”

“Yeah,” Tommy mumbles, subconsciously reaching up to put a few of his fingers in his mouth.

You gently grab his hand before he can, holding it away from him. “What’d I tell you about this, huh? Gotta stop doing that, before I eat them myself.”

You pretend to pull his hand toward your mouth, mock-biting his fingers as he squeals with laughter, trying to wiggle out of your arms. You lean down, pretending like you’re going to drop him before bringing him back up and doing the same again a few times. After a few moments, you return to resting him on your hip as he starts to quiet down.

“Alright, little man,” you say to Tommy, making your way back toward the room he shares with you and your other siblings, futons spread out across the floor, “time to go back to bed.”

You step around your other siblings already asleep on their own futons, until you lay Tommy down on his own, tucking him in. You kiss his forehead, placing his favorite stuffed dog against his cheek and making a kiss noise for him as well.

“Can we go to the park again soon?” Tommy pleads quietly, hugging his dog in his arms.

“Yeah, we’ll go this weekend.” You whisper back.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, little man. Goodnight.”

When you rise and turn toward the door again, you catch Johan standing in front of it, watching you interact with your little brother. There’s a weight in his eyes that you’re unsure of the meaning of, but you think he looks sad. You’d never seen him sad before, and you wonder for a moment what his family is like. If he has one at all. What happened to them, if anything. Johan notices your stare and quickly makes his way back to the main room of the house. You follow, and see him gathering his backpack again - he seems in a hurry to leave now.

“You gonna be alright out there?” You ask, and Johan pauses to look at you like you’re an idiot. “Hey, I’m not the one who apparently just got my ass beat today.” You shrug.

“I didn’t-” the brunette sighs, seemingly decided against the argument - or, rather, teasing on your side. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

As he puts his shoes back on, you follow him to the door to see him off into the night. When he’s out on the street again, you call after him “you’re welcome!”

Johan turns to glare at you from over his shoulder. You laugh.

[cosmitton]

GIRL I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS YOUR JOHAN STORY AND IT'S SO GOOD?? you're so talented !!

Wow thank you! I appreciate that a lot c: I’m never sure if what I’ve written is an actual cohesive story or just a confusing stream of consciousness lol

I’ve been trying to write the next part but have been having a bit of a difficult time with it. Hopefully it will be out soon though, sorry for the wait!

Thanks again for taking the time to send me a message, I hope you have a great day!

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heyy!! i LOVED your johan x reader series sm, it was so well written! i was wondering if you were going to write another one? only if you want to ofc, no pressure <3 have a lovely day :D

Hi, thank you so much for saying that! I didn’t get a lot of comments on them so I wasn’t sure how people felt about them lol.

Yeah, I am intending to write more for the series but my ADHD always kills me when it comes to writing lol, I keep getting sidetracked with other ideas (and life stuff ofc). I’m sorry that it’s taken so long, it’s kind of embarrassing that it’s been such a long time honestly.

I’m not sure when exactly the next one will be posted, but I started writing it before getting sidetracked so hopefully soon.

I appreciate you messaging me though, it’s really nice to hear that someone’s interested in something I wrote - I hope you have a good day!

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Pirate x noble?

Amazing combination. I just finished The Mermaid The Witch and The Sea so I’m in the perfect mood for this. Let me know if you want more! A is the pirate, B is the noble.

Pirate x Noble Prompts

Prompts

A gets on the wrong side of a dangerous group of pirates and takes refuge in what they think is an abandoned house. It turns out to be B’s holiday home and they just arrived for the summer.

B is running away from home and buys passage on A’s ship. Everything seems to be going well until the ship crashes, leaving A and B together on an island where they have to work together to survive.

A sails to various ports to infiltrate noble parties and rob everyone there. They get caught escaping only to be saved by B who pretends to know A.

Oneliners

“M’lady? M’lord? Your oh so royal highness?” “For the love of God, just call me A”

“I was once a noble too”

“On land I’m a criminal, an urchin, a scoundrel. On the sea, I can be anything I want”

“You’re more beautiful than any jewel or any treasure”

“I’d give all of this up for you”

Also see:

Person x Person masterlist

Prompts masterlist

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Hello, would you be able to post tips on how to start a pirate au? This is my first time making one.

【 Hi! My tip for any au (or any story, really) is simply research. It’s important to understand the dynamics and realism. So I put together some pirate knowledge for you! I’ll probably make more posts on this soon. I’m thinking pirate terms, ship terms, common weapons, things like that. If you’d be interested, let me know. Hope this helps, and good luck on your story (: 】

The Pirate Life

warnings: violence

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↳ Drinks

⇝ portable drinking water was hard to come by so many ships carried an abundance of wine, beer, and rum

⇝ a famous mariner drink is grog (sugar-water, lime juice, and rum) which was known to prevent scurvy

⇝ another is bombo/bumboo (sugar-water, nutmeg, and rum) or rumfustian (water, raw eggs, sherry, gin, beer)

↳ Eye Patches

⇝ not only worn because someone lost an eye

⇝ worn to keep one eye adjusted to darkness

⇝ when fighting/raiding below deck they could switch the eye patch instead of waiting for vision to adjust

↳ Flags

⇝ not all pirate flags were black with a skull and crossbones

⇝ most pirate flags were plainly black or red (completely red flags were known as the most aggressive)

⇝ if there were designs, many adorned hourglasses to represent the inevitability of death

↳ Freetime

⇝ when not working, pirates often played cards or dice (although, gambling was against the rules on some ships), sang, danced, partied, etc.

⇝ stopping at ports was a fairly regular occurrence so they could take a break from the harsh sea to sell goods, repair the ship, and of course find women

↳ Life of Crime

⇝ sure, some people became pirates for the life of crime, but the overwhelming majority were simply sailors who abandoned their jobs due to horrendous working conditions

⇝ pirates were treated far better by their captains than navy men

⇝ there were even periods of time where pirating wasn’t illegal — governments would enlist pirates during wartime to plunder enemy ships. these pirates were labeled ‘privateers’ and legally allowed to operate under ‘letters of marque’ which basically made them military contractors

↳ Longevity

⇝ pirate careers were a few years long tops (even the famous blackbeard only lasted two years)

⇝ many were killed or injured especially because medical facilities were practically nonexistent

↳ Positions

⇝ well-run ships had a clear division of labor

⇝ positions included captain, quartermaster, boatswain, carpenter, cooper, gunner, navigator, etc.

⇝ the captain had absolute command during battle and chose where/when to go somewhere

⇝ the quartermaster oversaw ship operations and divided the loot

⇝ pirates were not as chaotic as media portrays — they were actually quite democratic

⇝ but the illusion of being brutal would be beneficial for plundering as the possibility of surrender was increased

⇝ most pirates were illiterate, but there were quite a few who actually came from higher social classes

↳ Raids

⇝ looting gold/silver was much less common than looting supplies (food, drink, candles, navigational tools, repairing equipment, medicine, etc.)

⇝ most pirates didn’t want to kill people — they would steal the goods and leave the crew (or let the crew join them) especially because the bounties weren’t usually worth it

↳ Rules

⇝ most pirate ships took their rules very seriously, with punishments being severe

⇝ common rules were against lying, stealing amongst themselves, fighting on board, gambling, etc.

⇝ walking the plank was not a common punishment (it actually rarely ever happened) — punishments were usually flogging, dunking, tying to the mast, hanging, marooning, or keelhauling

✶

Famous Pirates to Check Out for Motivation: Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonny, Francis Drake, Calico Jack, William Kidd, Henry Morgan, Mary Read, Bartholomew Roberts, Edward Teach (Blackbeard)

[cosmitton]

hey!!! could you do some prompts on a pirate x royal au? thanks :)

Fuck yeah you can! A pirate and a royal falling in love? That is my shit, dude!

1) "Return me to my castle at once!" "We're pirates, sweetheart. We have a reputation for not following the rules." 2) "I was attacked!" "By?" "A beast, you must slay it! It's over there!" "It's a spider." "I know what it is, slay it!" "Of course, Your Highness." 3) "Why did you save me? I'm just a royal pain in your ass, remember? Why go through the trouble of stealing me back?" "A good pirate never lets someone get away with their treasure." 4) "I'll never bow to someone beneath me." "Then I guess you'll just have to stay in those clothes. It's a shame too, I even got you a bath ready. But if you don't want it I wouldn't mind a bath." "Wait! Fine, you win. I'll bow." 5) "I told you from the start my family would never pay to get me back. This trip was a waste of your time." "I'll never consider getting to know you a waste of my time." 6) "Ugh! My outfit is all dirty. You must find me something suitable to wear and get a bath ready for me." "No chance in Hell that's happening. I'm a captain, not your servant." "If you refuse then I'll scream." "Go ahead, we're in the middle of the ocean. No one will hear but the crew and, if I'm honest sweetheart, they'll just think I'm showing you a good time if you do it loud enough." 7) "You're impossible to deal with." "Yeah, well, once I bring you back to your castle you'll never have to see me again." 8) "I'm useless to you, they'll never buy me back, they got rid of me in the first place! They kicked me out." "Then why don't you stay with us? We'll help you get back at them for kicking you out." "How?" "You know how to get into the safe with all the jewels, don't you?" 9) "I'd do anything to not go back to my kingdom." "Anything?" "Anything." "Would you become a pirate for me?" "Yes." 10) "How did you know I'm royalty?" "You think other pirates have pretty hair like yours?" "You think my hair's pretty?" 11) "So your the little royal who set out to be a pirate. That's cute. Where'd you get the boat?" "I...I stole it." "How very pirate-like, Your Highness. Where do you plan on going?" "Wherever the wind takes me." 12) "Go away, I don't associate with miscreants." "I don't associate with people who use words I can't spell. But I've been hired by the ruler of your kingdom to bring back their heir so we can do this the easy way or the hard way." 13) "Your boat looks like it's going to fall apart, Your Highness. Why don't you join me and my crew instead?" "And let you take me and sell me back to my kingdom? I'd rather die at sea." 14) "How did you see through me? How did you know I was royalty?" "Your fighting pattern. It's similar to a lot of the royals I've fucked." "That's disgusting!" "You asked." 15) "Your boat is going to crash, okay? Please join me and my crew." "Is the most infamous pirate in the world begging?" "I'm on my knees, Your Highness. Please join me?" "Fine, but only because I don't want to die." 16) "You could always stay with me and my crew." "How long would you allow me to stay? "Forever. If you want." 17) "Put me down! I will not be carried like a child!" "Then stop acting like one and get on my ship and let me take you back to your kingdom." 18) "Ow, you bit me!" "You touched my butt!" "It was an accident, don't flatter yourself, Your Highness. You're not my type. God I hope this doesn't get infected. If I lose my arm because of you I'm gonna be so pissed off." 19) "I like you, join my crew, Your Highness." "I don't like you, leave me alone, Pirate." "God you're pretty when you're mean to me."   20) "Here." "A book?" "Read it to me." "No, read it yourself." "I never learned how to read." “Fine. But I’ll only read you one story!”

1) Person A is a royal who disguises their self as a pirate. While they're successfully able to fool everyone on the ship and get invited to join. The captain, Person B, makes them do the worst jobs available. A thinks maybe they've done something wrong and try to bond by sword fighting with them for practice. The captain accepts and the two duel alone. B easily wins each time and A can't figure out why. B knocks them on their ass and points their sword at their throat,  A then demands to know how Person B saw through them. B admits they're fighting pattern is similar to a lot of royals they've fought. A lies, saying royals taught them but B tells them they knew what they were the moment they saw them. Asking why B let them on their ship if they knew the whole time, Person B tells them they found A amusing and making them do the worst jobs funny. A ends up knocking B on their ass and B happily accepts defeat offering to train them for real. The two of them fall for one another and end up sailing the world together. 2) Person A is a royal who escapes their arranged marriage. Person B is the world's most notorious pirate who's being paid to deliver A back to their family. A makes B's job harder by being as insufferable as they can, even telling B to throw them overboard. B finds A funny and is the only one who doesn't find A annoying or insufferable. B spends more time with them and A finally admits why they ran. They ask B politely to not bring them back. That they'll do anything to never go back. B asks if A means it when they say anything and A admits they'll do anything. Person B then asks if they'd become a pirate in their crew in front of the others. The crew is opposed, begging the captain not to accept A. B uses their position to silence them and tell them they weren't asking the crew, they were asking A. A accepts the offer, pledging their life and loyalty. B tells them their first mission is to go to A's kingdom saying they'll give A back while the crew sneaks in and robs them blind. And for the first time on the ship A laughs and tells them they've never liked a plan more. 3) Person A is a snobby heir to a throne. Person B, a infamous pirate captain, has kidnapped them in order to get their family to pay for them back. A spends the entire story telling B that their family wont pay a dime for them but B insists that family will always protect family. When they arrive in the kingdom after spending the trip half bonding with A, B is debating whether they want to sell A or not. The ruler of the kingdom, Person C, meets them at the docks before they can land and tells them that they'd never pay for someone they got rid of in the first place. C begins to tell them A's a useless heir that means nothing to them and that they might as well throw them overboard as it would save them the embarrassment of people finding out their child was kidnapped. A tells B they told them so while trying to hold back tears. As they leave, A expects to die but B asks where A wants to be dropped off. When A replies they don't know B suggests they could join them, that if they don't have family anymore B could be their family if they wanted to be. (This doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship, this can just be a friendship/found family situation.) 4) Person A is the heir to the throne. Person B is the pirate who saves their life when Person C, the next in line to the throne after A, tries to kill them by having pirates attack them so they can push A overboard. Thinking A is dead, C returns to the kingdom to take the throne and hold a funeral for A. B is ready to go with A to the kingdom for revenge but A informs them they knew the plan all along and wanted to leave the kingdom anyway. A asks if they can join their crew for a while. B agrees and notices that their ship feels more like a home with A around. A reads to the younger crew members and listens to their stories. When the two are alone B asks if A can teach them how to read and write. A agrees, spending more time with them. B falls for A and when the two are out shopping for more food B asks if A would join their crew permanently. A asks what they'd be to B, to which B gets flustered and replies their first mate. A happily agrees and the two sail off together. 5) Person A, a royal, finds Person B washed up on shore. B has no recollection of who they are but they're dressed like a pirate when A finds them. A takes them to a cottage they have in the woods away from their castle and tends to Person B's wounds. B changes into the clothes A brought them and A begins trying to jog their memory. Unable to remember a thing A decides to read to them stories of pirates. The two grow closer and share a kiss. After a certain story before bed, a particular part of it unlocks B's memories. They then remember that they planned to jump ship and lure A to their ship to hold them for ransom with their crew. They go to the docks, meeting with their crew and telling them the plan is off. A follows them and asks if they're leaving. B explains everything to A, waiting for A to tell them they never want to see them again. Instead A tells them they don't want them to go. B decides to stay a while and introduce their crew to A. The crew quickly takes a liking to A and grow fond of them. A year later A leaves with B to travel to the places in the stories A read to them. 6) Person A is the heir to the royal throne who's being forced to marry Person B, someone they don't love. Person C is a pirate captain who came to crash the wedding, steal jewels and gifts and eat the food. When C leans in to steal something off A's neck, A quietly begs for C to steal them away from the wedding. C scoops them up, telling everyone that A belongs to them now and that they'll be taking them along with whatever else they want. B tries to stop them but C beats them in a duel and claims A as their prize. When they get back to the ship C asks why A asked them to steal them away. They explain their situation and admit that they never wanted to be the next ruler. They wanted to be free of rule and live an exciting life beyond castle walls. While A tries to figure out where they want to go, A and C bond and A gets along with the crew mates. Unable to let A go, C tells A they're technically C's treasure and can't leave. They demand A be a part of the crew and never speak of going away again. Person A laughs, embarrassing C before agreeing to become their crew mate. But things get complicated when Person B decides they wont let A be taken away that easily. 7) Person A, the heir to the throne posing as a pirate, tries to rob Person B. B allow A to steal their money without a fight. A, thinking they've won leaves to buy themselves a ship. Before they can they're kidnapped by the most infamous pirate crew in the world. Person B introduces themselves properly to A as the captain. A, embarrassed, apologizes over and over to B, begging B not to kill them. When left alone together B tells A it's fine and decides they'll make A their personal servant. They make A cook, clean and do all the jobs they don't want to do. A informs B they're royalty and that B could get their parents to parents to buy them back. B insists they knew who A was when they met them. Despite the gross jobs A finds themselves enjoying being out at sea. After robbing a rich kingdom they all decide to celebrate. B doesn't let A leave their sight. After a long talk the two share a night together. B admits they knew A was royalty the minute they saw how beautiful they were. Flustered A admits they don't hate being B's. B asks if A would still be on the ship if they didn't have to be. A admits they wouldn't want to be anywhere else. 8) Person A is a pirate who tries to blend in with royal society in an unfamiliar kingdom. While they're not exactly royal material they are charismatic and charming. A happily charms those around them, stealing jewelry and other expensive items right under the noses of the royals they speak to. Person B is a royal who lives an unexciting life in a castle. B catches A stealing and asks A to show them how they did it without the people noticing. A shows them, not knowing who Person B is. Thinking they're just some noble two have a flirty conversation but A ultimately leaves early so they're not caught stealing. When B returns to their kingdom they're thrown a ball to find a potential candidate for marriage. A shows up, stealing B's attention from another royal, dancing with them. B asks if they can help be A's distraction. A agrees and the two work as a team helping A take treasures off of everyone around them. When A finds out who B is and figures out B knew what A was from the beginning they and ask why B would choose to be around someone like them. B admits they can't remember a time where they've had that much fun. A asks if they'd like to run away with them, have more fun before they have to come back and settle down, living a boring life in a castle. B agrees but things get complicated when B's kingdom is searching for them and B realizes they love A and don't want to go back. 9) Person A is a royal who's kidnapped by bandits and told they'll be sold to the highest bidder. Person B is a pirate captain who robs the bandits and happens to find A. B frees them and gives them enough gold to get home. But when other sailors find out A's an important royal A doesn't trust anyone but B. They insist B take them home to their kingdom. B refuses, insisting they're not a shipping company and that they're a pirate who a lot of people want dead. A insists they don't feel safe with anyone else. B reluctantly agrees when A mentions they'll pay them for their services. The crew takes an instant interest in A, finding them kind and nice to be around. A begins acting as a parent would to the younger members, cooking for them and making more clothes for them. B tells them that they shouldn't speak with them anymore and A asks if they've done something wrong. B insists they don't want them getting attached to A and that they're orphans B took in, that it would be cruel to be so nice to them only to disappear on them. A agrees but as the two spend more time together and their journey comes to an end A isn't sure if they want to return. The crew spend the night begging A to stay but B silences them and tells them they'll drop A off the next day. When the next day arrives and they're all teary eyed as A says their goodbyes, Person B is the one to grab A’s hand and ask them to stay forever. (Bonus if the crew teases B about it once A agrees.) 10) Person A, a royal stumbles onto a pirate ship while it’s docked. Person B, the pirate captain is on the ship while they’re crew is robbing a nearby village. They recognize A's clothes as something a person who's prim and proper would wear. A apologizes for just coming aboard but says they've never been on a real pirate ship before and they wanted to see if it felt like it did in the stories they've read. B shamelessly flirts with them, asking if they'd like to visit the sea with them. A, thinking they'd like to get whatever lust they feel for B out of their system agree. When the crew arrives A stays with B in their quarters. The two spend the trip to the next kingdom attached at the lips. Planning on just dropping A off and robbing another village they arrive at the next kingdom, only to find that A's instantly recognized as the heir of the throne. The crew takes what they can as they're chased out of the village and B grabs A, getting them back on the ship. B asks why A didn't say who they were but A insists B never asked. B tells them they're taking A back home before they cause more trouble for them. But when A bats their eyes and says please, B goes weak and instead finds a disguise for A. (Bonus if the crew's always mentioning to A that B is never this nice to anyone and tells A that Person B must consider them really special to them.)

Sorry these took forever, I hope you enjoy them though!

[cosmitton]

Pirate prompts?? Please i can barely find any but i need so muchhh

Pirate Writing Prompts

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

The captain’s hand instinctively covered their forearm, hiding the tattoo inked when they’d sworn a foolish oath years ago. They pulled down their sleeve, but it was too late—the young deckhand’s sharp eyes had caught the telltale lines of a treasure map scrawled in dark ink. "You saw nothing," the captain muttered.

Stranded on a stretch of empty beach, the two pirate captains—once bitter enemies—could barely look each other in the eye. "I’m not sharing my firewood with you," she snapped, hoarding the meager pile of driftwood they’d collected for warmth. Her rival just sneered, pulling his coat tighter around him against the sharp ocean wind. "Fine," he retorted with a smirk. "Let’s see who freezes first. Might just solve the whole problem."

The stowaway, caught by the crew in the dark belly of the ship, glared defiantly at the captain, despite the empty cutlass against their neck. "You’ve got fire in you; I’ll give you that much," the captain said, their eyes gleaming with a curiosity that no one expected. "Maybe it’s just the kind we need to outrun that navy fleet on our tail." The stowaway blinked, hope flickering across their face as the cutlass lowered just enough for them to breathe.

They called it The Silent Marauder, the ghost ship that drifted out of the mist on blood-red nights, promising riches for those who dared board. "One must stay," the captain read aloud from the ancient log book, unease prickling the crew’s skin as they glanced at each other in horror. A shiver crept down their spines as they realized the truth: the captain would have to decide which of them would stay behind as payment for their prize.

The captain smirked, shackled to the wooden post in the navy brig, as the young officer watched them through the bars. "So," the captain drawled, "will you throw the book at me, or are you the type to bend a rule or two for an honest pirate?" The officer’s expression wavered, his fingers hovering over his keys, and for a split second, the line between duty and temptation flickered dangerously in his eyes.

The silver-haired mermaid lay limp on the ship’s deck, her scales shimmering under the moonlight as she met the captain’s gaze with an unearthly intensity. "If you release me, I’ll lead you to treasure beyond imagining," she whispered, her voice lilting like the waves.

The grizzled sailor reached out to the young captain with trembling hands, a half-smile on his weathered face. "So you’re really my daughter, then," he murmured, his voice rough and thick with years lost. She clenched her jaw, her hands balled into fists as she fought against the waves of emotion rising inside her; after years of fighting her way to captaincy, she never thought she’d face her father.

[cosmitton]

Writing Help

General Tips

The purpose of writing

Important: only you can tell your stories

Every fanfiction genre has value

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED!

Maintaining Motivation

Reasons to Keep Writing

Stretch your hands and fingers

Analyze the stories that you like

Title creation

How to comment on your favorite fics

Moodboard sources

PIRATED FAN FICS!!!

Fanfiction is legitimate (featuring Neil Gaiman)

Angst and Horror: if you can't handle it

Publishing

Writing Smut: overcoming shame

Don't toss your work

Dialogue / Writing rules

Prologue

Paragraph breaks

Sentence length matters!

Dialogue punctuation

Scene Checklist

Body Language

Descriptions between dialogue

3 dots in a sentence (Ellipsis)

Using adverbs

Using adjectives

Coming Outs

Commonly misused words & phrases

Words to Avoid

Flirting!

World Building

World building through plot holes

Using context clues

Creating land

Government

Matriarchal society

Dystopia

Descriptions

Resources for Describing Physical things

Alcoholic drinks & cocktails

KISS SCENES

Clothing references

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Hair texture

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Sword / Martial arts inspo

Character Development

Character sheet

Character sheets

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Esk*mo is a slur

Naming characters

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Making threats and the third option

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Kids

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Redemption arc trope

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Prompt masterlist

Another prompt masterlist

A third prompt masterlist

Best friends to lovers

Mob Boss

Prophecy of lost child

Super power of truth

Enemies to lovers

Enemies to lovers: Reasons to hate

Enemies to lovers: Getting together

Enemies to lovers Prompts!

Enemies to lovers: Fake dating

Past-life Enemies to lovers

Late-night wandering

Compliments

Touch-starved

Romance/physical intimacy prompts

Romance: little acts of love

Smut

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More sources

Masterlist: body language, words, translator

Masterlist: prompts, LGBTQ+, NSFW Advice

Meme: fanfiction problems

Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)

Bechdel Test

Part 2 ->

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Cannons and cutlasses in : History Salvaged from the Sea" by Richard Schlecht (born 1936), December 1977 edition of National Geographic (volume 152 n° 6)

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OKAY I DID IT, I FIGURED OUT THE LAYOUT

Disclaimer: it seems like the size of the ship changes every time we see it, but the newest eps vs wano seem pretty consistent so I went with that and used Wire's height for scale

Floor layouts under the cut ✂️

Layout based on the 31 member crew that Oda confirmed. I also took in to account that a significant portion of the members are fucking massive, so everything is bigger which matches the scale it's drawn in. Floors are approx 5m high with 2m wide doors in most places, which makes sense when a good portion of the crew are 3m tall.

Sorry about my handwritting lmao I'm so tired but I have serious brainworms and couldn't sleep

The specifics:

Kid's Floor

Of course he has his own floor

Quarters include his own private dining space which I imagine would also include a workdesk, bedroom with king sized bed and probably a couch, walk in closet, and bathroom definitely large enough for a massive tub

Workshop also has bathroom entrance for when he's feelin lazy

Ladder space in the middle goes straight through, this is so crew going to the castle deck don't access his floor

Commander's floor

Heat, Wire and Killer have their own rooms and a private lounge just for them and Kid

Heat and Wire share a large bathroom, definitely big enough for normal bath

Heat and Killer have king sized beds, Wire's bed is almost as wide as a king but mostly it's made especially long

Small decking that runs the whole way around, unspoken rule that crew aren't allowed there since windows peer into commander's rooms

Killer could probably fit a drumkit in his room 👀

Cannon Deck

We get peeks of this in the anime and in Oda's notes but they're fuzzy so I just did my best

Made a mistake tho, cannon platform should be whole way around back like a U shape to account for 3 cannons facing backwards, total 9 cannons

Theoretically this is where the helm should be so uh that's where I put it

Screenshots make it look like they also store a lot of other weapons here

Main deck

Forecastle includes navigation room with bookcases, central table, and desk for paperwork

Forecastle also has infirmary with two longer than normal beds to account for larger crewmates, and a desk for crew doctor to keep notes

Door between nav and infirmary cos Kid is lazy

Kitchen and pantry. Given the rooms are 5m from floor to ceiling I imagine that pantry would have a small mezzanine accessed by a ladder to take advantage of vertical space (and would be a sick place to nap)

Galley/dining hall contains 3 bench style tables, seating 10 large crewmates each, with one extra fancy chair at the end of one for Kid

Lower deck

Did my best to do some math to figure out how many larger than normal beds were required and decided on 6 bunks for 12 larger crewmates

Additional rooms for average sized crewmates include 4 rooms with 2 bunks each, and one room with 1 bunk, making for a total of 30 beds below deck. That means, counting the commanders for the 31, there are currently 3 empty beds, so a few rooms aren't complete full

Probably looks like fuck all space but its actually significant for a ship living quarters

According to google you only need 1 toilet per 10 people and 1 shower per 40 but that seems like BS. Bathroom has 4 large, accessible sized toilets, 4 showers, long benches down the center and a long counter with plenty of space and mirrors for makeup, given how many crewmates wear it

Also, storage room. Could be converted to extra room for another bunk

Hold

Access via ladder

4 cells. No toilets, you get a bucket ✌️ tbh might not even have beds but there's room for em anyway

Desk in case they need to keep an eye on prisoners

3 storage rooms, but i think one of these would actually be a torture room. Probably the one by the desk.

Mechanisms for power and water are probably in one of these rooms as well as a lot of materials for ship repairs

Also of note

Crows nest is definitely big enough for a bench, definitely big enough for... activities. Not as big as the Sunny's though I dont think a gym would fit, I think it'd be more likely that gym equipment is kept on the cannon deck

Please absolutely feel free to use this as a reference for fanfictions, but I'd appreciate a shout out if you do 💖

Idk if the mizzenmast is supposed to go all the way through but that physically can't happen with where the helm needs to be based on screenshots so ✌️

Crows nests are definitely access via climbing nets

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Pirate Terms and Phrases

-> Pirate Lingo

-> A Pirate's Glossary

Batten Down The Hatches - tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.

Brig - a prison on a ship.

Bring a Spring Upon 'er - turn the ship in a different direction

Broadside - the most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat.

Cutlass - a thick, heavy and rather short sword blade.

Dance with Jack Ketch - to hang; death at the hands of the law (Jack Ketch was a famed English executioner).

Davy Jones's Locker - a mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where drowned sailors are said to go.

Dead Men Tell No Tales - the reason given for leaving no survivors.

Flogging - severe beating of a person.

Gangplank - removable ramp between the pier and ship.

Give No Quarter - show no mercy.

Jack - flag flown at the front of the ship to show nationality.

Jolly Roger - black pirate flag with a white skull and crossbones.

Keelhaul - a punishment where someone is dragged under the ship. They are cut by the planks and barnacles on the bottom of the ship.

Landlubber - an inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn't have any sailing skills.

Letters of Marque - government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime.

Man-O-War - a pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle.

Maroon - to leave someone stranded on a. deserted island with no supplies, typically a punishment for any crew members who disrespected the captain.

Mutiny - a situation in which the crew chooses a new captain, sometimes by forcibly removing the old one.

No Prey, No Pay - a common pirate law that meant crew members were not paid, but rather received a share of whatever loot was taken.

Old Salt - experienced pirate or sailor.

Pillage - to steal/rob a place using violence.

Powder Monkeys - men that performed the most dangerous work on the ship. They were treated harshly, rarely paid, and were expendable.

Privateer - government-appointed pirates.

Run A Shot Across the Bow - fire a warning shot at another boat's Captain.

Scurvy - a disease caused by Vitamin C Deficiency.

Sea Legs - when a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a boat for a long time.

Strike Colors - lower a ship's flag to indicate surrender.

Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen - an order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get the ship sailing.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

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A Guide to Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing makes reading a more visual experience.

Utilize descriptive writing, to show not tell your story to readers.

However, it is important to note that if passages of descriptive writing are too long or too complex, they will slow your story down.

Alternatively, the story's development and readability fall flat if you do not use a variety of types of words.

Take time to choose your words carefully, expand your vocabulary, and practice descriptive writing.

Below are some tips that may improve your descriptive writing.

Try Using Metaphors

Metaphors compare one thing to another.

Utilizing this technique is not saying the objects you’re comparing are the same, but that your audience can note shared traits between the two.

Example: Jordan is a living map.

Explanation: Of course, Jordan is not literally a living map. What the map and Jordan have in common is geographical information and the ability to help others navigate locations without getting lost. What the writer has done here is demonstrate to readers that Jordan has an excellent sense of direction.

Play with Similes

Similes also compare one object to another but discuss one thing as being like another.

You will often find words such as “like,” “so,” “than,” or “as” used in similes.

Example: Diego soars across the soccer field like a jet.

Explanation: Again, this is not a literal statement. The author shows us that Diego is a fast runner and creates a vivid image in the reader's mind that would not have been present if they had simply stated that Diego is fast.

Make a Statement with Hyperboles

Hyperboles are exaggerated statements.

They are used to make a point.

Example: Math class lasts a million hours.

Explanation: Your readers will know there is no way a class can realistically last a million hours, but they will understand the feeling of time dragging on when you’re doing something you do not enjoy.

Use Sensory Details

Adding sensory details is a great way to help your reader experience your story.

Depending on the character and story, sensory details may include sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

Be careful not to overload passages with sensory information.

Only use what is needed to communicate with the audience.

Example: Cold, wet glue dripped from the bottle onto her fingers; the tangy, chemical smell flooded her nose. She rubbed it between her thumb and long finger, relishing the transition from silky gliding fingers to tacky digits to peeling the cast of her fingerprint away from her skin with the satisfying crinkle of crisp paste.

Explanation: In this description of glue on skin, readers encounter details of touch and smell. Although this scene is not happening to readers at this moment, they can easily recall the smell of glue and the feeling of it between their fingers.

Choose Vivid Language

Choosing vivid language can form a clearer image in your reader’s mind.

For instance, you may select words that more accurately convey what you’re aiming to communicate, whether you are simply searching for a synonym to vary language or trying to locate a word with a more nuanced meaning.

Example: “The knight entered the kingdom on the back of a horse.” vs. “The knight stormed into the kingdom on the back of a mighty stallion.”

Explanation: Having a knight storm in on a stallion rather than enter on a horse is a much stronger, more heroic image. Additionally, stallion may be a better word choice than horse because it is specific. The word stallion tells the reader the horse is male and could be used for breeding, which, since this is a knight’s horse, could be relevant since it could be used to breed warhorses.

Incorporate Feelings

Crafting a visual experience for readers marks successful descriptive writing, but you also want your readers to experience your work emotionally.

For your story to reach its full potential, you need to incorporate feelings, whether those feelings are positive or negative.

Example: Desiree felt the weight of the empty space in bed pressing down and stealing her breath like a knee to the chest. She was cemented in place, limbs unfeeling, as she floated above the bed tethered to her body but no longer secure within.

Explanation: Here, the author shows the readers a woman dealing with the pain of grief and the hollowness that sometimes accompanies it. Most readers have experienced some level of loss in their lifetime and will understand and emotionally connect with Desiree.

Source ⚜ Descriptors ⚜ Common Metaphors ⚜ Mixed Metaphors Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ Imagery ⚜ Notes & References

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Writing Notes: Speech & Hearing

Milestones Related to Speech and Hearing

Birth to 3 months

Reacts to loud sounds with startle reflex

Is soothed and quieted by soft sounds

Turns head to you when you speak

Wakes up when there are loud voices and sounds

Smiles in response to certain voices when spoken to

Knows your voice and quiets down if crying

4 to 6 months

Looks or turns toward a new sound

Responds to "no" and changes in tone of voice

Imitates his or her own voice

Enjoys rattles and other toys that make sounds

Begins to repeat sounds (such as "ooh," "aah," and "ba-ba")

Gets scared by a loud voice or noise

7 to 12 months

Responds to his or her own name, phone ringing, or someone's voice, even when not loud

Knows words for common things (such as "cup" or "shoe") and sayings (such as, "bye-bye")

Makes babbling sounds, even when alone

Starts to respond to requests (such as "come here")

Looks at things or pictures when someone talks about them

Enjoys games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Imitates simple words and sounds; may use a few single words meaningfully

1 to 2 years

Follows 1-step commands when shown by a gesture

Uses words he or she has learned often

Uses 2-to-3-word sentences to talk about and ask for things

Says more words as each month passes

Points to some body parts when asked

Understands simple "yes-no" questions (such as "Are you hungry?")

Understands simple phrases (such as "in the cup" or "on the table")

Enjoys being read to

Understands "not now" and "no more"

Chooses things by size (such as big or little)

Follows 2-step commands (such as "Get your shoes and come here")

Understands many action words (such as run or jump)

NOTE

An unborn baby's hearing starts to develop early.

At birth, a baby's hearing is fully functioning.

Children do respond differently at different stages of growth and development. But hearing problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to sounds. Or in children who are not developing their language skills appropriately.

The above are some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if the child is having hearing problems.

It's important to remember that not every child is the same.

Children reach milestones at different ages.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ On Children

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Writing Notes: Medieval Beasts

for your next poem/story (pt. 2)

Lacta - a small animal that lives in the graves of the dead

Martineta - a bird that does not decay when dead

Nightingale - a bird that sings to relieve the tedium as it sits on its nest through the night. At dawn, it sings so enthusiastically that it almost dies. Sometimes nightingales compete with each other with their songs, and the one that loses the competition often dies.

Oriole - a bird that is gold all over, except for some blue on the wings; hangs its nest from the end of branches; from the ground, they appear to float in the air

Paradisi - called bird of paradise because of its celestial beauty; brown and small; the sweetness of its voice can arouse devotion and joy in people; if captured, it will not stop crying until it is freed; rarely found away from the region of the Nile River

Stymphalis - a man-eating bird with a beak of bronze, sharp metallic feathers it can launch at its victims, and poisonous dung; according to the Greek legend of the Labors of Hercules, he destroyed the birds with poisoned arrows

Thamur - a worm with blood that can be used to split the hardest stone, like marble; Solomon discovered this property when he needed to shape marble for an alter without using iron to cut it, which was against Jewish law

Uria - a worm found in pigs; blisters form where it bites because the bitten flesh burns

Yale - a beast with flexible horns that it can move at will; when it fights, it keeps one horn pointed backward, so that if the horn it is fighting with is damaged, it can bring the other to the front. It is the size of a horse, but has the tail of an elephant and the jaws of a boar, and is black. The basilisk is its enemy, and if it finds the yale asleep it stings it between the eyes, causing its eyes to swell until they burst.

Zerahav - a bird that lays its eggs at the bottom of the ocean; then floats on the surface above the eggs where she can watch them, and incubates them from there. When the eggs hatch, she dives to the bottom and brings her chicks to the shore, where she feeds them.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Part 1 ⚜ Medieval Period

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The Mini Guide to Crafting Compelling Royal Characters for Fiction Writers

Creating royal characters can be both exciting and challenging. These regal figures often play pivotal roles in stories, capturing readers' imaginations with their power, privilege, and the weight of responsibility they carry. Whether you're writing historical fiction, fantasy, or contemporary novels featuring monarchs, this comprehensive (mini) guide will help you develop authentic, multi-dimensional royal characters that will resonate with your readers.

Understanding the Basics of Royalty

Before diving into character creation, it's essential to have a solid grasp of what royalty entails. Royalty typically refers to members of a ruling family, including kings, queens, princes, princesses, and other nobles within a monarchical system. These individuals are often born into their roles, though some may ascend to power through marriage or other means.

Key aspects to consider:

Hierarchy and succession

Royal duties and responsibilities

Protocol and etiquette

The concept of divine right (in some cultures)

The relationship between royalty and their subjects

Remember, while these elements are common in many royal systems, you have the creative freedom to adapt or reimagine them for your fictional world.

Developing Your Royal Character's Background

Every character, royal or not, needs a rich backstory. For royal characters, this background is particularly crucial as it shapes their worldview, values, and decision-making processes.

Consider the following:

a) Lineage: What is your character's family history? Are they from a long-standing dynasty or a newly established royal house?

b) Upbringing: How were they raised? Were they groomed for leadership from birth, or did they have a more sheltered upbringing?

c) Education: What kind of education did they receive? Was it formal, focusing on statecraft and diplomacy, or more well-rounded?

d) Relationships: How do they relate to their family members, courtiers, and subjects?

e) Personal experiences: What significant events have shaped their character and outlook on life?

Crafting a Unique Personality

Avoid the trap of creating one-dimensional royal stereotypes. Your character should be as complex and nuanced as any other well-developed protagonist or antagonist.

Consider these aspects:

a) Strengths and weaknesses: What are your character's admirable qualities? What flaws do they struggle with?

b) Motivations: What drives them? Is it a sense of duty, personal ambition, or something else entirely?

c) Internal conflicts: What personal struggles do they face? How do these conflicts affect their rule and relationships?

d) Hobbies and interests: What passions do they pursue outside of their royal duties?

e) Sense of humor: How do they express humor, if at all? Is it dry wit, sarcasm, or something else?

Balancing Power and Vulnerability

One of the most intriguing aspects of royal characters is the juxtaposition between their immense power and their human vulnerabilities. This balance can create compelling internal and external conflicts for your character.

Consider:

The weight of responsibility and its impact on their personal life

The isolation that often comes with a royal position

The constant scrutiny they face from the public and court

The struggle between personal desires and duty to the crown

Creating a Believable Royal World

Your royal character doesn't exist in a vacuum (I hope not). They're part of a larger royal ecosystem that includes family members, advisors, courtiers, and subjects. Developing this world adds depth and authenticity to your story.

Key elements to consider:

Court dynamics and politics

Relationships with other noble houses or kingdoms

The role of advisors and how they influence decisions

Traditions and customs specific to your royal setting

The economic and social structure of the kingdom

Addressing the Challenges of Royal Life

Royal characters face unique challenges that can drive your plot and character development. Some common themes include:

a) Succession disputes b) Balancing personal happiness with duty c) Navigating political alliances and conflicts d) Managing public opinion and maintaining legitimacy e) Dealing with threats to their rule or life

Use these challenges to create tension and drive your story forward while revealing more about your character's personality and values.

The Impact of Historical Context

If you're writing historical fiction or a fantasy inspired by real-world monarchies, it's crucial to consider the historical context. Research the time period and culture you're drawing from to ensure authenticity in your character's behavior, beliefs, and challenges.

Key areas to research:

Social norms and expectations of the time

Political systems and power structures

Technology and its impact on governance

Religious beliefs and their influence on royalty

Gender roles and how they affect royal duties and succession

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

When creating royal characters, be mindful of these common mistakes:

a) Making them too perfect or too villainous b) Ignoring the realities of royal life (e.g., lack of privacy, constant duties) c) Overlooking the impact of their decisions on their subjects d) Failing to show growth or change over the course of the story e) Relying too heavily on stereotypes or clichés

Incorporating Royal Etiquette and Protocol

Royal characters often adhere to strict codes of conduct and protocol. While you don't need to become an expert in royal etiquette, incorporating some of these elements can add authenticity to your story:

Forms of address (Your Majesty, Your Highness, etc.)

Court ceremonies and rituals

Dress codes and regalia

Rules of precedence in social situations

Diplomatic protocols when interacting with other royals or dignitaries

Exploring Different Types of Royal Characters

Remember that not all royal characters need to be ruling monarchs. Consider exploring other royal roles, such as:

The rebel prince or princess who rejects their royal duties

The reluctant heir thrust into power unexpectedly

The exiled royal fighting to reclaim their throne

The royal spouse adapting to life in the palace

The illegitimate child discovering their royal heritage

Each of these archetypes offers unique storytelling opportunities and challenges for character development.

Balancing Historical Accuracy and Creative License

If you're writing historical fiction featuring real royalty, you'll need to strike a balance between historical accuracy and creative interpretation. While it's important to respect known facts and timelines, you also have the freedom to explore the inner lives and motivations of these historical figures.

Tips for balancing accuracy and creativity:

Thoroughly research the historical figure and their time period

Clearly differentiate between historical fact and fictional interpretation

Use author's notes to explain any significant departures from known history

Focus on filling in the gaps in the historical record rather than contradicting established facts

Developing Royal Character Arcs

Like any well-rounded character, your royal protagonist should undergo growth and change throughout your story. Consider how their experiences might challenge their beliefs, alter their perspective, or force them to confront their flaws.

Possible character arcs for royal characters:

From naive idealist to pragmatic ruler

From reluctant heir to confident leader

From isolated monarch to connected leader who understands their subjects

From power-hungry tyrant to benevolent ruler (or vice versa)

Remember, character growth doesn't always have to be positive. Sometimes, the most compelling stories involve characters who face moral decline or tragic falls from grace.

Remember, while the trappings of royalty may be grand, at their core, your royal characters are still human. They love, fear, hope, and struggle like anyone else. It's this humanity, set against the backdrop of power and responsibility, that makes royal characters so fascinating to read and write about.

Happy writing, - Rin T

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

[cosmitton]

It's possible that some of these aren't, like, the /best/ idea...

(Jokes aside, if you want a proper discussion of how to transport/carry bows, there's one up on my patreon now!)