marsaili-an-dealbhadair

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

The prince who became the bear, during his teenage years and just before his transformation (and after his resurrection in the second chance AU by Riadasti).

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

‪‪❤︎‬ ˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 & 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 !    (  a  collection  of  75+ kisses.   feel free to specify the initiating muse.   potentially mature content within.  UPDATED 02/25 !  )

finally kissing the person you’ve been pining for.

pulling them in for a kiss while showering together.

a kiss shared during a game  ( truth or dare,  spin the bottle,  etc ).

kissing your lover to show you forgive them.

a coy, chaste kiss meant to say thank you.

an intimate kiss full of relief the second you're finally alone.

wiping away your lover’s tears as you kiss them.

a kiss muffled by laughter in a library, hidden away among the shelves.

lazy kisses on the sofa while the television runs.

kisses while wrapping your legs around your lover.

a quick peck on the cheek as one party rushes off.

a kiss to prove you don’t have feelings for them.

a kiss to convince them not to leave bed in the morning.

a kiss to distract them from stitching a wound.

a parting kiss before one party goes away for a long time.

biting their lip amidst a kiss, drawing blood.

heated kisses while tugging on their hair.

abruptly kissing a stranger to scare off the people following you.

an emotional kiss bringing one party to tears.

a bruising kiss full of desperation and urgency.

distracting your lover from a task by kissing their neck.

standing on your tiptoes to kiss their forehead.

kissing down the column of your lover's neck, leaving marks.

a kiss while being reunited after a long time.

kissing your lover in a moment of sheer joy.

a dutiful kiss with no true feeling behind it.

kissing your lover to take away their pain.

colliding with a wall, then each other's lips.

a kiss placed over their freshly bandaged wound.

a kiss while slow dancing close and intimately.

sharing a spontaneous kiss with a stranger.

an abrupt ,  heated kiss during the middle of a fight.

a kiss motivated by a dare from a third party.

an adrenaline-fueled kiss while standing on the ledge of a rooftop.

kissing them to shut them up.

urgent, messy kisses as both parties scramble to undress.

a kiss to wake your lover up in the morning.

sharing a kiss in a heavy downpour of rain.

kissing your lover just above their waistband.

kissing your partner to seal a marriage.

pushing your love down onto the bed to worship their body with kisses.

a possessive kiss to stake a claim.

a kiss to resolve suppressed ( romantic / sexual ) tension.

a kiss attempting to convince the other party to stay.

kissing the top of their head as you hold them.

a risky kiss between forbidden lovers.

a kiss while hiding away from flashing cameras.

a kiss that means absolutely nothing.

kissing the swell of your lover's breast.

a kiss that leaves lipstick stains.

a kiss shared on a rooftop while the sun ( sets / rises ).

a flirtatious kiss on the back of the hand.

sensual kisses down the length of their back.

kissing them to confess your true feelings.

sneaking off to a public bathroom to make out.

a kiss to forgive one another after a fight.

a kiss on the forehead as the other sleeps.

an  ( accidental / mutually )  drunken kiss.

an unexpected kiss during a fake dating scheme.

kissing your partner after they've given you head.

caging your lover against a wall with your arms to kiss them.

a kiss after receiving good news.

an emotional kiss, relieved to find your lover alive.

crowded, heated kisses in the backseat of a car.

a tentative ,  exploratory kiss between friends.

a kiss shared between enemies during combat.

a kiss that smears blood everywhere.

kissing them even though you know you shouldn't.

kissing your lover after believing you’d lost them.

a kiss after a devastating event ,  meant to comfort.

a possessive kiss in front of a jealous third party.

kisses while pulling them into your lap.

a heated kiss while holding them by the throat.

kissing your lover under the night sky while stargazing.

a kiss to seal a promise that you just made.

kissing your lover lazily first thing in the morning.

holding your lover by the jaw to kiss them.

holding their face, kissing the tears from their cheeks.

a kiss to your lover’s stomach as you travel down their body.

an abrupt kiss that you melt into after a moment of hesitation.

sleepy ,  domestic morning kisses in the kitchen while making breakfast.

a rushed kiss before one party leaves for work.

a final kiss shared while holding your dying lover.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

A Risky Leap

Robin Hood (1973), G, 780 words

What if Maid Marian were present during the attempted castle arson and had managed to be rescued in time before witnessing her lover taking a risky leap to escape the Prince’s wrath?

Full fic under the cut, or you can read it on AO3!

Maid Marian awoke to the smell of something burning. She rose up to investigate it further, and to her horror, she opened the door to find that her castle home was consuming in flames, thanks to the Sheriff of Nottingham’s attempt to end Robin Hood’s life once and for all, unintentionally committing arson.

“Help! Help! The castle is on fire!” 

She helplessly fought her way to escape through the flames, coughing furiously along the way. 

Just as she was about to pass out from the dark fumes, a pair of swift fox paws snatched her up. However, she had no time to react, for she found herself being swept away through the flames in a blur.

At last she found herself staring at the bird’s-eye view above the castle at night. She finally turned around to glance at the face of none other than the love of her life. “Robin, thank God you rescued me!” she cried as she pecked him on the cheek.

Robin Hood was about to reply when he found out that the flames quickly found their way to the roof of the tower he was standing on, with Marian on his one arm. “Marian, you must jump!”

“I can’t, Robin!” she cried. “What if I land on solid ground and die?”

“There’s a moat down there. Trust me!” he reassured her, planting a gentle kiss on her furry forehead before hoisting her to the roof to face the moat. With a cry, she lept several metres down, down, down, until she landed on the watery moat with a splash.

Fortunately, the side of the moat was manageable enough for her to swim and wade out of the water safely. Once Marian was out, she was helped out by Little John and Skippy, who were glad that their friend was alive and well.

The vixen lady’s eyes glanced upon her Robin, who was still stuck on the top of the tower, whose life was literally hanging on a thin line. The flames were coming closer on one side, threatening to engulf him up, while on the other side, Prince John and the Sheriff were threatening to either capture or execute him.

“Robin!”

Prompted by a cry from his beloved’s lips, Robin took a quick leap, diving down, down, down, until his form landed on a deeper side of the moat. 

Little John, Skippy, and Marian watched helplessly as a few bubbles formed on the surface of the moat. Once there were no more bubbles forming and Robin’s pierced trifold hat floated to the surface, Marian concluded that her beloved had drowned.

“I think he’s never going to make it,” Skippy said with tears coursing through his eyes. The rabbit kit clung to Marian despite leaning on her still-wet nightgown.

“So do I, Skippy,” Marian replied, tears threatening to spill through her brown eyes as she bent down to hug him. “He was the bravest soul I’ve ever met, and I’ll always remember him.” 

“Look, Marian, look!” 

The moment of grief was overtaken by a sudden discovery. A thin trail streaked through the water, snaking away through the reeds until it came towards the bank where the three friends stood. A thin piece of a hollow stick emerged from the surface, followed by the head of a male fox.

“Robin! Thank God you’re alive!” Marian hurriedly rushed to his side, pressing her lips into his. He responded to the kiss by pulling her against him, deepening the kiss as Skippy and Little John looked on, obviously in awe. Eventually, the two foxes pulled away, simply overjoyed that they were reunited at last.

“Marian! I thought you can’t swim!” he chuckled as he regarded her with awe.

“You taught me whilst in the forest partying with our friends. And I thought you were dead, just by your hat alone.”

“It’s just a trick to let Prince John know that I’m dead. And I’ve outwitted him.” He splashed back into the shallow water with Marian in his arms, eliciting bouts of laughter from both.

Before they knew it, Little John commanded them and Skippy to get away from the castle and join the rest of the escaping prisoners, who were the innocent inhabitants of Nottingham all along. The Sheriff’s tyranny had forced them to languish in prison for a time, and they had quickly escaped from his grip, thanks to the valiant efforts of Robin Hood and Little John.

Back in the burning castle, Prince John was chasing Sir Hiss around, accusing him of ruining his precious castle, with the grey wolf Sheriff in tow. They never seemed to mind the stinging flames and poisonous fumes threatening to engulf them.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Send me a Ship and a Number and I will Write a Kiss

…good morning.

…goodnight.

…goodbye.

…where it hurts.

…where it doesn’t hurt.

…on a falling tear.

…to shut them up.

…in secrecy.

…in public.

…desperately.

…in joy.

…in grief.

…discreetly.

…casually.

…passionately.

…lazily.

…to distract.

…as encouragement.

…for luck.

…on a scar.

…on a place of insecurity.

…in a rush of adrenaline.

…in relief.

…in danger.

…as a ‘yes’.

…as an apology.

…as a suggestion.

…as a lie.

…as a promise.

…as comfort.

…after a small rejection.

…to wake up.

…forcefully.

…to pretend.

…to gain something.

…to give up control.

…without a motive.

…because they’re running out of time.

…because time’s run out.

…because the world is ending.

…because the world is saved.

…out of pride.

…out of greed.

…out of lust.

…out of anger.

…out of envy or jealousy.

…out of spite.

…out of habit.

…out of necessity.

…out of love.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

kiss roulette

inspired by the infamous "i want the k" meme by deactivated tumblr user tastcful. send 🎲 to generate a kiss! potential suggestive/nsf.w themes may appear

A kiss on the cheek

A kiss on the nose

A kiss on the forehead

A kiss to the top of the head

A firm kiss

A gentle peck

A romantic kiss

A platonic kiss

A kiss to the eyelid

A kiss along the jawline

A kiss to the neck

A kiss along the collar bone

A kiss on the chest

A kiss to the stomach

A kiss along the hips

A kiss in the rain

An upside-down "Spider-Man" kiss

A kiss while laughing

A kiss underwater

A rough kiss

WILDCARD! Dealer's choice :)

A french kiss/kiss with tongue

A kiss influenced by alcohol/other substances

A sleepy kiss

A kiss that's an accident

A kiss while one or both parties are crying

A kiss in greeting

A kiss in parting

A kiss to the back of the hand

A kiss to the palm of the hand

A kiss to the inner thigh

A kiss while someone watches

A kiss to a scar, birthmark, injury, or other marking

A kiss after a bite

A kiss against a wall

A kiss to the shoulder

A kiss to the back of the neck

A kiss while one party is carried

A tentative kiss

An impulsive kiss

A kiss out of spite

A clumsy kiss

A bloody kiss

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

🐝  *  ―  𝑫𝑰𝑭𝑭𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝒀𝑺 𝑻𝑶 𝑲𝑰𝑺𝑺 𝑺𝑶𝑴𝑬𝑶𝑵𝑬.

[ peck ] a quick, light kiss on the partner's lips or cheek [ french ] a deep, passionate kiss with the use of tongue [ forehead ] a gentle kiss on the partner's forehead, conveying care and affection [ spiderman ] an upside-down kiss, just like in the movie [ mistletoe ] a playful or romantic kiss under a mistletoe [ hand ] a chivalrous kiss on the back of the partner's hand [ lingering ] a long, slow kiss filled with emotion and desire [ neck ] a kiss or gentle sucking on the partner's neck [ nape ] a kiss placed at the nape of the partner's neck [ teasing ] a light brushing of lips against a partner's skin without fully kissing [ earlobe ] a light nibble on the partner's earlobe [ tango dip ] a kiss shared while one partner is dipped backward [ celebration ] a joyful and exuberant kiss to celebrate an achievement or milestone [ stolen ] a quick, stealthy, and impromptu kiss snatched in secret [ bite ] a playful kiss that involves some light biting [ goodbye ] a heartfelt kiss when parting, showing affection and fondness [ rain ] a romantic kiss in the rain [ scars ] a gentle kiss on the partner's scar(s) [ injury ] a careful kiss on a partner's wound to make it all better [ wedding ] a romantic kiss shared during a wedding ceremony [ comfort ] a tender kiss to provide comfort or reassurance [ sunset ] a kiss shared during sunset, often romantic and serene [ butterfly ] a light fluttering of eyelashes against the partner's skin [ seductive ] a deep, slow, and deliberately intense kiss filled with passion and desire [ shoulder ] a tender kiss on the partner's shoulder [ knuckles ] a kiss on each individual knuckle of the partner [ slow motion ] a kiss in slow motion, accentuating every moment and sensation [ reunion ] a longing kiss shared after being apart for a while [ passionate ] an intense and fiery kiss, expressing raw desire and strong emotion [ underwater ] a kiss shared while submerged in water [ wrist ] a tender kiss on the inside of the partner's wrist [ wake up ] a loving kiss to wake the partner up [ apology ] a kiss offered as a way to apologize or make amends [ hummingbird ] a series of light, rapid, and fluttery kisses on a small area [ trail ] a trail of kisses along the partner's jawline or collarbone [ blowing ] a kiss in the air and send of the gesture towards the partner [ surprise ] a sudden kiss to catch the partner off guard [ hickey ] a kiss that's supposed to leave a mark on the partner's skin [ single lip ] a sucking or nibbling of one of the partner's lips [ nose ] an affectionate gesture where partners rub their noses together

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

List of Types of Kisses

This list is divided by category, kiss type, emotion conveyed, and description. You can do whatever you want with this information.

More prompts!

Location

[BELLY KISS] Love, care: a gesture of affection and protection;

[CHEEK KISS] Respect, affection: gesture of greeting, friendship, or affection;

[CHIN KISS] Passion, desire: an intimate and sensual gesture.

[EAR KISS] Desire, intimacy: a sensual and provocative gesture;

[EYELID KISS] Love, affection: a delicate and romantic gesture;

[FOOT KISS] Adoration, devotion: a gesture of submission or adoration.

[FOREHEAD KISS] Love, care, comfort: a gesture of affection, protection, and tenderness;

[HAIR KISS] Affection, tenderness: a gesture of affection and care.

[HAND KISS] Admiration, reverence: a gesture of respect and admiration;

[KNEE KISS] Passion, desire: an intimate and sensual gesture;

[MOUTH KISS] Passion, love, desire: the most common, can vary in intensity and technique;

[NECK KISS] Desire, passion: a sensual and provocative gesture;

[NOSE KISS] Affection, complicity: a gesture of affection and intimacy;

[SHOULDER KISS] Passion, desire: an intimate and sensual gesture;

Intensity

[CHASTEN KISS] Friendship, affection: a light touch on the lips, expressing affection and friendship;

[OVERWHELMING KISS] Passion, desire: a strong and urgent kiss, expressing intense passion;

[PASSIONATE KISS] Passion, love: an intense and desire-filled kiss, with tongue and light bites;

[SHY KISS] Insecurity, desire: a hesitant and delicate kiss, expressing insecurity and desire.

Type

[CINEMATIC KISS] Romance, idealization: a long and passionate kiss, idealized in movies;

[BUTTERFLY KISS] Romanticism, delicacy: kissing with eyelashes, expressing delicacy;

[ESKIMO KISS] Affection, friendship: rubbing noses, a gesture of affection in cold cultures;

[FISH KISS] Sensuality: kissing with lips slightly open;

[FRENCH KISS] Passion, desire: exchange of saliva and tongue movements;

[INVERTED KISS] Passion, adventure: kissing with bodies inverted, like in Spider-Man;

[LIZARD KISS] Sensuality, playfulness: licking the other person's lips;

[PECK] Friendship, affection: a quick and light touch of the lips;

[VAMPIRE KISS] Sensuality, mystery: kissing the neck with a slight suck.

Context

[APOLOGY KISS] Regret, forgiveness: expressing regret and seeking reconciliation;

[COMFORT KISS] Compassion, comfort: expressing compassion and comfort;

[FAREWELL KISS] Longing, hope: expressing longing and hope for reunion;

[THANK-YOU KISS] Gratitude, recognition: expressing gratitude;

[WELCOME KISS] Joy, happiness: expressing happiness at seeing someone.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Advice for writing relationships

Ship Dynamics

How to create quick chemistry

How to write a polyamorous relationship

How to write a wedding

How to write found family

How to write forbidden love

Introducing partner(s) to family

Honeymoon

Date gone wrong

Fluffy Kiss Scene

Love Language - Showing, not telling

Love Language - Showing you care

Affections without touching

Giving the reader butterflies with your characters

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

Reasons for breaking up while still loving each other

Relationship Problems

Relationship Changes

Milestones in a relationship

Platonic activities for friends

Settings for conversations

How to write a love-hate relationship

How to write enemies to lovers

How to write lovers to enemies to lovers

How to write academic rivals to lovers

How to write age difference

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

Reasons for having a crush on someone

Ways to sabotage someone else's relationship

Ways a wedding could go wrong

Arranged matrimony for royalty

Signs of a Toxic Relationship

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Really harrowing age gap back then, as it still is in some cultures today (i.e. majority of Muslim marriages in third world countries)

The Unequal Marriage

1862

Vasily Pukirev

Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Dualan ùra (New curls)

Brave 2012, G, 1,817 words

In which Merida’s curls get stuck in the twigs of a tree, so her husband steps in for a rescue.

Full fic under the cut, or you can read it on AO3!

The sound of rapid hoofbeats disturbed the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the forest. A young woman on horseback was shooting arrows in random places, sending the woodland creatures into hiding for their lives. Her flaming red curls danced and flew freely in the air as she rode on her trusty black horse Angus. 

Merida was having the time of her life doing things a normal princess would not do – she, together with her husband, had traded their royal titles (along with responsibilities that came with them) for a simpler life as freemen in their humble home a half mile away from DunBroch castle, while maintaining familial relations with their royal family, especially King Fergus and Queen Elinor.

Suddenly, a hard pull on the head detached her off Angus, putting a grinding halt on what was supposed to be a fun archery practice. Before she knew it, Merida had been suspended on an oak tree–but with her red curls stuck on small twigs, fortunately enough. She had only managed to grip on a sturdy branch above her just before she could fall off the tree completely. 

“Help! Help! Somebody!” Her shrill voice echoed loud enough for the whole forest to hear, sending the woodland creatures scampering for their lives.

How long could she hold on to the branch without falling? It was indeed a pain for Merida—her hands and arms strained and bucked in pain the longer she tightened her grip. Her arms felt like they were going to let go of the branch any moment now, but she continued to hold fast to it.

If only Mor’du was here!

Just as Merida was about to let go of the branch, she heard crunchy footsteps—coupled with slow hoofbeats— advancing to her direction. And before she knew it, it was her burly husband walking towards her, holding Angus by the reins.

“What’s the matter, m’eudail ?” Mor’du inquired, his tone and expression laced with concern and worry at seeing his wife being hung helplessly on the tree like this.

“Could ye help me? My hair’s stuck to the tree!” Merida pleaded.

“Let go of the branch and hold on to me, mas e do thoil e .”

She did so, her arms being sore already from the strain of holding on to the branch for too long. But instead of falling to some unknown depth below, she found herself being cradled in her husband’s muscular arms, which sent her heaving a sigh of relief. Her thin numb arms automatically clung to his broad shoulders as a way to recover.

Suddenly, she was again pulled back by the hair. “My hair!” she pleaded again desperately.

“Let me take a look a bit.” His long fingers reached to the twigs where his wife’s curls had tangled themselves to. They were indeed an awful tangled mess to behold. She watched as his fingers tried to untangle her curls to the branches, but with little success.

After a few tries, Mor’du shook his head as he withdrew his meaty hand from the messy twigs. “Is there any way to be free from this mess?”

“The dagger!” Merida cried, her right arm trying to reach for her leg. She had kept a small dagger tucked on her right leg while venturing outdoors, and it would only be used in desperate situations.

“Ah, yes, sgian dubh .” 

He helped her reach her leg for the small dagger, which unintentionally caused him to widen his eyes at the sight of her exposed leg which contained the tucked dagger bound by the strings. She blushed at the realisation of her leg being briefly exposed to him at such an open place like the forest. This was a normal occurrence in their intimate settings at home–like preparation for lovemaking sessions, but she was not in the mood for this sudden intimacy at that moment, not even when he placed a kiss on the exposed skin near the sheath. 

She quickly covered her leg and went on to free her curls, cutting away the most difficult strands first. 

Snip! Snap!

With a few snips of her dagger, her red curls were free from the twiggy mess.

Having been freed from the tree at last, she found herself being carried by her husband and placed on his lap as he sat by the roots of the same tree. Angus stayed not far from them, munching on the fresh foliage. 

Without thinking, she reached her hand to touch his dark silken locks. It was of exquisite lustrous shine that glided on her fingertips. It smelled nothing, but with faint traces of his musky odour she was quite familiar with. She found out that she couldn’t get enough playing with the smooth strands of his hair.

“How do you manage to keep your hair smooth, while I’ve had trouble brushing my curls?” Merida asked. 

“I use a comb. Do you want to see mine?” Mor’du rummaged through his buckskin pouch and pulled up a small wooden comb for her to admire.

“It’s small, but useful enough,” she said, admiring the comb in his hands.

“Would you like me to comb your hair?”

“Aye, as you wish, mo chridhe .” She turned away from him, unfolding her mess of long fiery-red curls, which were now embedded with a few dried leaves.

He went on to run his comb through her curls, starting in slow strokes, then progressing a little as he untangled them and removed the dried leaves along the way. It was quite different from her mother’s painful pulling through her curls with her brush. His way of combing was quite gentle, almost therapeutic. Little by little, it soothed the pulling pains she had endured earlier.

As her husband continued to work his way through her curls, Merida started her idle chatter. “My mum used to brush my curls while I was living in the castle. She said that they’re a pain to work through.”

“I know, that was quite hard,” he said with a hint of pity in his deep voice. “That reminds me of my mum. She used to comb my hair when I was a wee bairn, but she did it quite gently. I just loathed it though, like she treated me as if I were a lass.”

“What? She treated you like that?” she exclaimed, being astonished by the remark. “You must be her favourite son, I think.”

“Aye, I was her favourite among us four brothers. I used to be close to her, even though she annoyed me at times, until she passed away giving birth to a sister that I never met. The last thing I saw of her was that she was buried in a boat along with my dead sister. My da said that she was a selkie, for he had kept her seal skin from her all along. How I wish I would find a way to return her seal skin before it was too late. Because if she were alive a bit longer, my fate would’ve been different.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, a feeling of pity gushing within her, though this was not the first time she had felt sympathy for the man who spent a long era of his life as a bear. “That means you wouldn’t become a stuff of legend like my mum used to tell me about your horrible past as a lesson.”

“Aye.” He fell silent for a moment as he finished fixing her curls back to their former lustre, then stopping by to lift a bunch to his nose and lips. He sighed as he wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her against him. “But thanks to the legend, I’m so glad I found ye, m’eudail .”

She giggled as she found herself settled against his chest. “Really? Must be fate leading us to each other, isn’t it?” She was replied by a low growl, which sent her into a bout of giggles.

A moment of silence settled on the couple as they idly relished on the sights and sounds of the forest whilst nesting in each other’s arms. With that perfectly settled, life was good.

Until they were interrupted by a tap on Merida’s shoulder.

“What do you think you’re up to?”

“Mum!” Merida gasped as she stood up from Mor’du’s lap. 

It took them a second to realise that they were staring at the regal but stern queen of DunBroch. They hurriedly got up on their feet, with the fiery-haired maiden’s head aligning to the larger man’s broad shoulders–a few inches apart from them.

Merida’s mind scrambled for a bit before forming a credible explanation to her mother. “We’re just enjoyin’ the view of the forest—nothing intimate between us.”

“I see.” Elinor smirked as she detected nothing of suspicion between her daughter and her son-in-law. Until she noticed her daughter’s curls appearing quite different from what she last saw her. “Just look at your hair, Merida!”

Merida went on to explain how her curls got stuck on a cluster of twigs and how she freed them using her dagger, and how her husband fixed her curls with his comb, resulting in a much cleaner appearance. She half-expected her mother to be disappointed with them and have them fixed with the hairbrush herself. Instead, Elinor just admired the former’s new look, which took her by surprise. “You look even more beautiful with these new curls, Merida.”

“Thank you, Mum. At least you didn’t have to brush them hard like you used to, right?” She chuckled, which her mother soon echoed with bouts of laughter.

Elinor’s gaze shifted to her son-in-law, and she couldn’t help but increase her admiration for him. From the fateful time she first saw him as a dreadful bear, to the blue spirit form, and to his present resurrected human form, her relationship with him had gone from a rocky start to the point that she loved him as her own son. “ Tapadh leat … for caring for Merida,” she muttered before she pulled him for a quick hug, which he reciprocated with familial devotion. She managed to peck him on the cheek before pulling away, but just before noticing a faint rumbling sound emitting from his belly.

Elinor knew that rumbling from the belly signified hunger, and that she realised the time. She was growing stern again after all the love she expressed to her daughter and son-in-law. “It’s almost lunchtime, and you’re all coming to the castle with me!”

“But I’m not hungry, Mum!” Merida protested.

“Quit dallying and get on Angus! Same to you, Maol Dúin!”

Once they had finished putting their things in order, Mor’du mounted on Angus first before helping Merida mount on the saddle. Elinor grabbed on the black horse’s reins, guiding him with the married couple on horseback towards the DunBroch castle, where a sumptuous feast awaited them with the rest of their family.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

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[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Master Prompt List

Romantic Prompts

Romance Prompt Lists (Masterpost)

Bad romances/unrequited/break-up (Masterpost)

Flirting + Teasing Prompts (Masterpost)

Two smart and also stupid people in love

Romance Dialogue - Bubbly + Reserved

Push and pull romantic prompts

Jealousy Prompts

heartbreaking.

Things said during sex Prompts

Awkward Post-Sex Dialogue

Smut Prompts (Masterpost)

One-Liners Dialogue - Romantic, Smutty + Physical (Masterpost)

Love Language - Showing, not telling love

Love Language - Showing you care

Romance Dialogue Prompts – Uncomfortable with affection

Grumpy Affectionate Dialogue

Grumpy + Sunshine Dialogue

Inexperienced with romance Prompts

Love Confessions (Masterpost)

Lovers being caught Prompts

OTP Christmas Prompts

Meet Cutes/Meet Uglies

Relationship Milestones (Masterpost: moving in, getting married, honeymoon, having children)

Physical Reactions

Seeking out physical affection

Romantic, non-sexual intimacy prompts

Date Prompts (Masterpost)

One Night Stand Prompts

Forbidden Romance

Secret relationship dialogue

Love-hate relationship

Friends with benefits (Masterpost)

Enemies/Friends to Lovers & more (Masterpost)

Ex-Lovers Prompts (Masterpost)

Dating the bad boy/girl

True Idiots in Love

Matchmaking Prompts

Fake Dating Prompts (Masterpost)

OT3 Prompts (Masterpost)

Love Triangle Ideas

Second chance trope

OTP Prompt Challenge

Relationship Changes

Bed Sharing/Only One Bed (Masterpost)

Kisses Masterpost (Prompts, First Kiss, Accidental Kiss, …)

Ship Dynamics

WLW Plot Ideas

Queer Platonic Relationship Prompts

Fluffy Prompts

Fluffy Prompts (Masterpost)

Showing Comfort

Pregnancy Prompts

Hidden Pregnancy Dialogue

Sleepy Starters

Cute Interactions

Physical Contact Masterpost (Hand-holding, hugs, touches & co.)

Sharing Clothes

Things to do at a carnival

Cooking/Baking Dialogue Prompts

Quiet movie night Prompts

Having fun in the rain

Height Difference Prompts

Same Height Prompts

Caregiving Ideas

Doing nice things prompts

Love Languages (Masterpost) 

Subtle Acts of Love

Asking for permission

Late-Night Calls

Hurt/Comfort Prompts

Hurt/Comfort Prompts (Masterpost)

Injury Dialogue Prompts

Sickness Dialogue Prompts

Fighting & Making Up Prompts

Angsty/Angry Prompts

Angsty Dialogue (Masterpost)

The angstiest masterpost (over 40 prompt lists)

Angry Dialogue

Family Prompts

(Found) Family Prompts (Masterpost)

Friends/Fun Prompts

Friends Prompt Challenge

Platonic activities for friends

Online Friends Prompts

Group of Friends Prompts (x)

Opening Sentences (Friend group in NYC)

Road Trip Ideas

Party Games Prompts

Drunk Friendgroup

Silly Drunk Dialogue (x)

Amusement Park Activities

Surprise party gone wrong

Settings for conversations

Having fun in the rain

Bar Conversation Starters

Girls’ night out ideas

Outside of school activities

Walking to school prompts

Rekindling Friendship Dialogue

Not Wanting to Rekindle Friendship Dialogue

Reconnecting Friends Prompts

Slow dancing with a friend

AU Prompts

AU ideas

Royalty AU (Masterpost)

Victorian AU Prompts

Historic Prompts - 1800s Ball Prompts

Wild West Prompts

Parallel Universe Romance Prompts (x)

Roommates AU (Masterpost)

Sport Romance Prompts

College/School AU (Masterpost)

Hogwarts Prompts

Workplace AU (Masterpost)

Neighbors AU (Masterpost)

Musician/Actor/Celebrity AU (Masterpost)

Gossip Girl/Rich AUs

Coffee Shop AU (Masterpost)

Bookstore AUs

Flower Shop AUs

Bodyguard AUs

Bodyguard Dialogue Prompts

Patient and Doctor Prompts

Groundhog Day Prompts

Pirate Prompts

Soulmates AU (Masterpost)

Lifeguard AUs

Camping Prompts

Ice Skating Prompts

Supernatural/Mystery/Thriller/Crime Prompts

Ghost Prompts (Masterpost)

Mermaid Prompts

Angels & Demons Prompts (Masterpost)

Summoning a God Prompts

Life & Death Prompts + Dialogue

Showing aliens the human world

Murder Mystery/Thriller Prompts (Masterpost)

Survival Game Prompts

Partners in Crime – Meeting again

FBI mentor and mentee prompts

Assassins Banter Dialogue

Assassin x Target Prompts

Heist Prompts

Hero x Villain (Masterpost)

Causes for the apocalypse

Post-apocalyptic romance prompts

Fantasy/Sci-Fi Masterpost  (Werewolves, Vampires, Time Travel, etc.)

Holiday/Seasonal Prompts

Holiday/Seasonal/Monthly Prompts (Masterpost)

Birthday AUs

Birthday Prompts

Ranked Prompt Lists

Ranked Lists (Top 20 Lists, Best Prompts/Posts of the Year)

Various Prompt Lists

Random Prompt Lists (Drabbles, Dialogues, One Word Prompts,…)

Favourite Tropes

5 + 1 Fic Prompts

‘Write about’ Prompts

‘Imagine your OTP’ Prompts

All The Fic Titles

All The Prompts List

List of Names

Writing Games

Ask Games

Daily Writing Challenge

30 Days Writing Challenge

AU & Trope Combos

Dialogue Masterpost

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[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

NOTICE: As more and more fanfic writers are using generative AI for their works (you uncreative dweebs), I hereby swear on everything I hold dear that I have not and will NEVER use generative AI in ANY of my written work. Everything I post will be organically and creatively my own.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

"If you use em dash in your works, it makes them look AI generated. No real human uses em dash."

Imaging thinking actual human writers are Not Real because they use... professional writing in their works.

Imagine thinking millions of people who have been using em dash way before AI becomes a thing are all robots.

REBLOG IF YOU'RE A HUMAN AND YOU USE EM DASH

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Portrait of Love, inspired by a Pre-Raphaelite painting The Wedding of Saint George and the Princess Sabra by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Coloured markers on paper.

From my album of The Bear and the Maiden Fair series illustrations.

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Writing Grief Without Romanticizing It

Grief is raw, messy, and deeply personal. It doesn’t follow a neat arc or fit into tidy narrative beats. While stories often use grief as a dramatic device, romanticizing it can cheapen the emotional reality. Writing grief authentically means embracing its discomfort and unpredictability, not sanitizing or idealizing it. 

What Romanticizing Grief Looks Like

Characters who seem emotionally wrecked but always manage to look graceful in their suffering.

Overly articulate monologues that sound more like a eulogy than a real moment of loss.

Depictions of grief as a singular, cathartic event instead of a long, jagged process.

Romanticized Grief:

“Every day without you is like a piece of me fading away into a tragic, beautiful void. I’ll carry this pain forever, for it’s all I have left of you.”

This might be poetic, but it lacks the authenticity of how most people actually process grief.

Realistic Grief:

“I forgot your birthday. I didn’t mean to, but when I remembered, it was already too late. And then I hated myself because forgetting felt like erasing you.”

Writing Grief Authentically

1. Show the Physical Toll

Grief isn’t just emotional—it’s physical. Insomnia, headaches, exhaustion, or even the inability to move can be part of the experience.

“She woke up in the middle of the night again, choking on the air. Her chest felt like a cinderblock had been wedged inside, heavy and unmoving. It was three days since the funeral, and she still hadn’t slept longer than an hour.”

2. Let Grief Be Messy

Grief isn’t a perfectly linear journey. There’s no logical progression from denial to acceptance—there are setbacks, breakdowns, and even moments of denial long after healing has started.

“He yelled at his mother for throwing out the cereal box. ‘It was his favorite,’ he said. She didn’t remind him that it had been expired for months. She just handed him the trash bag and walked away.”

3. Avoid Glossy Sentimentality

Sometimes grief isn’t poetic; it’s ugly, blunt, and devoid of grandeur. Characters might lash out, shut down, or isolate themselves.

Romanticized: “I’ll cry every day, but I’ll keep going because you’d want me to.”

Realistic: “They said time would heal it. But it didn’t. Time just put more space between me and the life I knew before.”

4. Let Grief Manifest in Small, Unexpected Ways

Grief isn’t always about sobbing—it can show up in mundane moments: hesitating to delete a voicemail, holding onto an old sweater, or instinctively setting the table for someone who’s gone.

“She turned to tell him the joke, the one about the broken lamp, and stopped halfway through. The silence hit harder than the punchline ever would.”

5. Highlight the Absurdity of It

Grief can be absurd and disorienting. Characters might laugh inappropriately, obsess over trivial details, or feel disconnected from reality.

“At the funeral, all she could focus on was how crooked the flowers were arranged. She kept wanting to fix them. If she didn’t, she thought, none of this would feel real.”

6. Explore How Grief Changes Relationships

Grief doesn’t happen in isolation—it affects relationships, often in unexpected ways. Some people pull closer, others drift apart.

“Her friends stopped asking how she was doing after the first few weeks. She didn’t blame them; she didn’t have an answer. ‘Fine’ wasn’t a lie—it was just easier than saying, ‘I still can’t breathe when I see his empty chair.’”

7. Show the Longevity of Grief

Grief doesn’t end when the funeral does. Let it linger in your story, showing how it ebbs and flows over time.

“It had been five years, but she still called his number when something exciting happened. She didn’t know why. Maybe it was just habit. Or maybe it was hope.”

8. Allow for Moments of Respite

Grief isn’t constant agony. People still laugh, find joy, and go about their lives—sometimes feeling guilty for it.

“She smiled for the first time in weeks, and then immediately hated herself for it. It felt like betrayal, like forgetting.”

[marsaili-an-dealbhadair]

Avoiding the “Mary Sue” trap while creating characters.

A “Mary Sue” is that charact. Perfect; bends the story to their will, faces no meaningful struggles, and often feels too idealized to be relatable. The thing I like most is when an author makes a character, a situation, a scene, realistic. I like heavy realism in my books. I know we read to escape reality, but there's a way to do that.

1. Give Them Flaws Not the checklist kind. Not "clumsy" or "bad at math" unless that genuinely bleeds into who they are and how they move through the world. I mean the kind of flaws that crack open relationships. That drive certain choices. That make you want to shake them. Flaws should cost them something. Otherwise, they’re decoration.

2. Let Them Fail Failure is the most human thing. It brings shame, doubt, growth, all the stuff that makes a character feel alive. Let them try, and stumble. Let them mess up something important. Let them hurt people and not know how to fix it. Failure opens narrative doors that perfection just slams shut.

3. Don’t Make Everyone Love Them If every side character is just there to admire your MC, you’re not writing a story—you’re writing propaganda. Let people mistrust them. Let some hate them. Not everyone sees the same version of a person. Maybe someone sees behind their act, maybe someone’s immune to their charm. That gives perspective.

4. Make Their Skills Believable A skill with no backstory is just plot armor. If they're good at something, show why. Time. Training. Failure. Maybe they’re not even the best—just someone who works harder than they should have to. That’s infinitely more compelling than someone who just is talented for no reason.

5. Avoid Overloading Them With Traits They don’t need to be smart, funny, hot, tragic, a prodigy, a rebel, and an empath who bakes when sad. Choose what matters. Strip it down to the few traits that define them, the ones they carry into every scene. Complexity is about layers, not a pile of labels.

6. Give Them Internal Conflict We all contradict ourselves. That’s the beauty of it. Your character should wrestle with decisions. Regret them. Say one thing and feel another. Inner conflict is what separates a walking trope from a person we believe in.

7. Let the Plot Push Back The world shouldn’t bend for your character. The plot should push them, break them, make them bleed for the win. Their goals should cost something. The story isn’t just their playground—it’s the pressure cooker where they get tested. If they’re never cornered, what’s the point?

8. Ensure They Don’t Eclipse the Entire Cast Other characters are not props. Give them wants, voices, limits. They don’t exist to spotlight the protagonist—they exist to breathe life into the story. And your MC is more interesting when they’re surrounded by people who push them, contradict them, challenge them.

9. Avoid Unrealistic Morality Nobody’s always right. And honestly, it’s annoying when they are. Let them justify things that aren’t justifiable. Let them fail to see another perspective. Let them believe they’re in the right—until they’re not. Give them a compass that doesn’t always point true north.

10. Make Them Struggle to Earn Trust Trust is a slow build. People remember hurt. They hesitate. Let your MC do the work—prove themselves, fail, rebuild. Trust earned over time is more satisfying than instant loyalty that comes out of nowhere.

I hate perfect characters. Especially when it’s pretend perfection. Like what do you mean he has abs when he has no time to workout? Like what do you mean she is so put together all the time? In this economy?

let's write something raw, something realistic.