#how to create a website from scratch

[n4b3]

Okay so my curious ass decided to go through work search in the usa (im not from the usa) but i literally dreamed my conclusion that graphic design needs varies a lot depending on the culture/society which is cool

[msupporter]

E-commerce website: How to create an e-commerce website

How to create an E-commerce website If you are thinking about creating your ecommerce website then this information will be very beneficial for you. It is very easy to setup an e-commerce business, you just have to follow some information, after this you can create an e-commerce business and sell your goods. We will tell you step by step simple methods here. 1, first of all you must have thought…

[katebeckets]

because tumblr is the gif website, I feel like everyone here should understand the work that goes into creating a gifset. because I think not everyone does, and it’s a huge part of why people don’t respect gif makers the way that they should.

the simplest gifs you will ever see me post still take the better part of an hour to create. because in order to make a gif, you need the material—for me, that means taking screen captures of videos or finding a download for them, both of which take time. then you have to open photoshop and create your gif, which can take a really long time depending on how quick photoshop is, how long the gif you’re making is, the size, any number of variables. and then I always color my gifs from scratch. if there’s dialogue, I listen over and over to try to make sure it’s correct, sometimes I look up transcripts, and sometimes it takes time to decide how to break up the dialogue. so even if it’s a simple two-gif set of a short scene, it will take the better part of an hour at least. and again, this is for the simplest gifsets I create.

so when I gif a scene, I am spending at least an hour with that tiny little snippet of material. which means that whatever it is that is featured in the gifset, it’s something that I like or tolerate enough to spend at minimum an hour with it. and this is why it DOES NOT MATTER if you are not critiquing the gif itself, gif makers do not want to hear every negative thought you have ever had about an actor, character, scene, or anything else they may have made a gifset for. if you want to complain about something, make your own post.

do not take someone else’s creation as a chance to complain or make nasty comments about anything featured in it. if I am willing to gif something, it means that I am willing to spend my own free time looking at it and working with it and creating something with it. so even if it isn’t my favorite scene or character or actor or whatever, I like it enough to watch the same three second clip over and over again for the better part of an hour. and yes, you’re just one person, but imagine a gifset with 100 notes. say 50 of those are reblogs, and 20 have some sort of complaint in the tags. you only see the tags of people who reblog from you, but OP will see all the tags. which means it’s not just your complaint, it’s all 20 different complaints about the thing they liked enough to make a gifset for.

and look—I understand it’s your blog and you can say whatever you want. I understand that I am creating something to be seen by other people and I don’t get to control what people say or do in the tags. if you read this and think fuck that, I can do what I want, you’re right. the purpose of this post is to remind you that you can do whatever you want, but the consequence may be that the people who are creating content for your fandoms stop posting altogether because they get sick of reading everyone’s negative opinions.

all that said, for the love of god: if you like something, reblog it. send asks and tell people you like their creations. say it in the tags. send things to friends. DO NOT REPOST THINGS. if you want to reap the benefits of other people creating things, make them feel like their work is appreciated.

[oc-ology]

How to OC post without being an artist (or spending money)!

As much as I yelled about OC-posting, some people said that they struggled to know what exactly they should be posting. Obviously the answer is whatever you feel like but if you’re already aimless, that answer isn’t very helpful. Additionally, not everyone knows how to draw (which I think is an obvious method of OC-posting) so I wanted to give some ideas for what people could post for their OC! This will be split up into different sections.

Creating visual representations of your OC

Disclaimer: I will not suggest nor support the usage of generative AI. OCs are about creating something yourself, not allowing a computer to do it for you.

Outside of commissioning someone else for art, it can be disappointing and frustrating to not have any visual representation for your character. An easy way to get a representation of your character is to use Picrew, Meiker and other similar sites. There’s a large number of art styles, types of fashion, species, that can all be used to make your OC and that amount only grows by the day. Many of these websites can be accessed on PC and mobile and take very little processing power.

However, this can be limiting at times since you might not find exactly what you’re looking for, especially if your OC has a unique combination of features. For something with more customisation, you can use video games with character creation to make a version of your character. I personally would recommend games like The Sims or Skyrim as both have very active modding communities. This way, if a certain type of clothing or facial feature isn’t present in the base game then you can often find someone who has created a mod that adds it in instead. This does require you to have access to a computer that can run not only the game but the mods as well.

Another option would be using a program like Vroid Studio to make your character from a base model. This has both a mobile and PC version, although I will primarily be speaking from a PC perspective. The mobile app, while able to create a character from scratch, is a lot more limited than the PC version. The great thing about Vroid is that there’s a lot of user-made content that you can often get for free through websites like Booth, as well as many tutorials for beginners to follow along with. Again, this requires a computer that is able to run it. I would recommend against using Vroid on a laptop as it will likely be too intensive for it.

My final suggestion for character visuals is to take a character from anime or cartoons and simply edit them. This was actually how I first got into making original characters! You can recolour their hair or outfits with an editing program (with some free examples being FireAlpaca, Krita or GIMP) and even edit different images together to create something more unique. Please only do this with characters from existing media and avoid using fanart for this.

Other OC visuals

Other than just what your OC looks like, there are other ways to visually put together your OC. Moodboards are the most obvious example of this, but you can also edit other things such as putting together outfits for them or finding pictures of items they would keep in their bag.

If you have multiple OCs, you can create fake text conversations between them using a number of websites. These can be as silly or as serious as you like!

Finally, you can always build them a pinterest board. I am a massive pinterest enjoyer and not only can you use pins that others have posted to pinterest, you can add your own from off the site. 

Writing

Beyond writing out your characters’ story, there are numerous other things you can write. Keeping in line with what you’ve already written, you can re-write scenes from alternative perspectives. These can add context to what is seen in the main story, as well as flesh out background or side characters and their relationship to your other OCs.

Another fun thing to write is non-canon scenes. Write a beach episode! Write about a character getting sick and someone else having to take care of them! There are countless ways to draw your OCs interacting with their world or other characters that wouldn’t necessarily ever fit into the “main” story.

Next is genre changes. If you had to categorise the genre of your OCs’ current story, what would it be? Now image what if the genre was something completely different? Romance to mystery… Slice of life to horror… Part of the challenge is figuring out what story beats remain the same and what gets changed, including character dynamics! And of course… Alternate Universes. There are too many types of AUs to list but some of my favourites are superpowers, mafia, zombies, time loops and time-travel-fix-its. These are similar to genre-changes but often include a number of AU specific tropes. If you’re struggling to figure out the staples of a certain AU or what kind of AUs exist, there’s a really good page about alternate universes on Fanlore.org!

Other ideas

These are ideas that didn’t quite fit into the other categories.

First is music playlists! There are two types of these. The first is a playlist of songs that describe a character and their story while the second is a playlist of songs that the character would listen to. Some people like to combine the two as well! There are no rules to this, simply have fun listening to music and picking out songs that remind you of your OCs.

Second is incorrect quotes. I remember these used to be beloved by fandom and now they can be beloved by you and your OCs! The concept of incorrect quotes is that well-known and funny quotes from pop culture (such as memes or movies) get written out and your characters are assigned a line of dialogue. While there’s a website that’ll generate these incorrect quotes for you, I personally find more fun in coming across quotes organically while scrolling social media and realising that they fit my OCs almost perfectly.

Finally, ask games. These typically take the form of lists of questions or prompts with emojis or numbers next to them. People can send in the relevant emoji or number and you then answer the corresponding prompt. There used to be a kind of “ask game etiquette” where if you reblogged an ask game from someone, you sent an ask from the list to them as well. This way, it allows the game to continue circulating and you can spread the joy of OC-posting with others! It can also lead you to making friends within the community.

And that’s it for my post! If you have other suggestions for kinds of OC-posting then I would love to see them!

[gh0stsp1d3r]

ski trip

full req here | requested by anon

warnings: awkward reader, ntm tbh!

MASTERLIST

A three day skiing trip, where students from all ages and grades would be. 200 people. It sounded chaotic to you, but, your friend had been pushing for you to go, practically begging. It took her a while, but eventually, you crumbled.

Before leaving, you searched the resort up, sighing softly as you clicked and read through the website. You noticed that it said there was a hot tub, your eyebrows raising.

That’s what led you to pack your bathing suit, as well as the warmest clothes you owned. You grabbed your backpack, as well as a cup of coffee, before leaving and meeting up with your friend.

“We are gonna have so much fun.” She told you with a squeal, you nodding at her with a small smile on your face.

At the resort, you were paired up into groups of 8. With 2 people in each room, you and your friend decided to sleep in the same room, obviously. The first night was for unpacking, the second night, skiing.

As soon as you stepped outside, the frigid air enveloped you like a blanket would. There was the trees standing tall, their branches laden with glistening white snow. You wrapped your arms around yourself, a rather futile effort to stave off the shivers that threatened to creep in, despite being bundled up in thick layers of your clothing.

Your breath created soft clouds in the air as you chatted with your friend. With every step toward the rental shop and the slopes ahead, a surge of excitement bubbled within you, making your heart race in anticipation.

After renting the skis and walking to a slope, you and your friend both put the goggles on your heads before rushing down the slope, laughing together.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon and the light disappeared, the of the skiers slowly faded as they began to gather their gear, ski poles clinking and boots crunching on the icy ground.

One by one, people made their way inside, seeking the warm refuge of the lodges.

You and your friend took off your boots, sighing and flopping onto the couch with the rest of the group, everyone chatting about their experiences.

You had another idea in your head now that your limbs were sore and you were spent. You glanced outside, and at the hot tub outside.

You threw off all the layers you had on, and put on your bathing suit instead. You grabbed a towel, wrapping it over your body and quietly sneaking out of the lodge, pulling the sliding glass door behind you closed.

You took a sigh of relief as you stepped into the hot tub, your towel hanging on the edge of a rocking chair nearby. You had your knees pulled up to your chest, closing your eyes, you felt at peace.

Your peace and silence was interrupted by the noise of the boys sliding glass door opening, making you shoot your head up to look up.

You were met with the sight of Zach Maclaren, famous soccer superstar at the school. You swallowed, and your first instinct was to get up and run before he could see your face, but, before you could do that, he had turned around with a shocked look on his face when he saw you.

“Sorry. I didn’t know anyone was out here.” He spoke with a raspy laugh, your cheeks already burning up. You just gave him a small smile and nod.

“Is it uh… cool if I get in with you? It’s cool if not, but-“ he scratched the nape of his neck, a friendly smile remaining on his face as he spoke.

“No, no, you’re fine. I don’t… like own the hot tub.” You said with a small awkward laugh, him laughing along with you while he took off the towel that hung around his hips.

You stared at him, your mouth going slightly agape as you realized just how buff he was. His abs, and the way his biceps flexed with every small movement he made.

Zach Maclaren was hot.

He looked back up at you, now in only his swim trunks. He got into the hot tub, sitting on the other side of you.

"I'm Zach." He spoke, you staring back at him.

"Y/N." You replied.

He cast occasional glances in your direction every once in a while. As he sank deeper into the cool depths of the water, you felt an instinctive urge to look away, to avoid the weight of his gaze.

He cleared his throat, “So, uh, what brings you here, at this hour?” He asked you, you finally looking at him. He looked into your irises, a small smile making its way into his face when you began to speak.

“Oh, I just- you know, wanted to get away…” you stammered out, him nodding. “What… what about you?” You asked, unconsciously sinking into yourself even more, your arms and your legs hiding your stomach.

“Me too.” He nodded, his arms folding over his chest. “It’s nice out.” He murmured, finally tearing away from your eyes and looking at the stars behind you, you glancing behind you.

“It is.” You spoke quietly, feeling his eyes back on you when you were looking back. Your heart was in your stomach, your mind racing. You just cast your gaze downwards, turning your body to face forward again. You stared at the ripples in the water as if they were the most interesting thing ever, staring down at your legs and the way you hugged yourself.

"I've never... seen you around." He told you, you looking up at him, wondering what he was getting at. "What's uh... your major?"

"It's... embarrassing." you started.

"It can't be that bad."

"It's creative writing." You said with a small shrug, him smiling at your answer and the way you were slowly warming up to him.

"That's not embarrassing at all." He assured, a toothy grin making its way onto his face. "I think that's actually cool."

"Thanks." You felt warm at his compliment, you genuinely smiling back at him. You both stared at each other for a moment with smiles on your faces before you shook yourself out of it. "What... What about you?"

"It's not nearly as cool as creative writing... but, business. I'm only in it because I needed to major in something to play a sport."

"What do you mean?" You asked with a laugh, him quirking his eyebrows. "Business is cool. There's nothing wrong with that."

He didnt expect that reply, his lips forming a slight pout as he thought, he looked down now. You felt regret when you saw him look down, wondering if what you said had made him feel awkward.

"Yeah, it can be cool." He mumbled.

"Yeah." You nodded.

"So, uhm," He started, looking back up at you now. "What made you choose writing?"

You and him both talked for what felt like hours, conversation flowing naturally as if you'd been friends for years. It was refreshing for him, to have a real, meaningful conversation with someone despite just meeting them not too long ago.

"I gotta say," you spoke while you both laughed together, "you are not how I expected you to be. Like at all."

"Really?" He hummed. "How did you expect me to be?"

"Honestly? Kind of douchey. Sorry."

He laughed, smiling. "Yeah, I get it. Popular, hot, soccer superstar? Totally douchey sounding." He replied in a joking tone.

You had to laugh at that. He watched as the corners of your mouth lifted up and he swore he could go insane at just the sound of your voice.

He never thought he would have this reaction to a girl he just met, he never thought he would feel connected to someone so quick, but something about you was having him replay the sound of your laughter and the soothing song of your voice while he laid in bed later that night.

Zach Maclaren knew he had to have you that night, he knew he had to hear that sound again.

[flowerandblood]

The Taste of Desire (AU)

[ dom!modern • Aemond x friend sister • female ]

[ warnings: sex with soft domination, fingering, smut, angst, sexual tension, remorse, doubts related to sex work ]

[ description: Aemond works as a professional dom, fulfilling the various fantasies of his female clients − however, he guards his privacy and does not enter into any relationships with them, recognizing that he does not want or need it. One of his clients surprises him with her behaviour, making him experience something he has never felt before, with his own actions and emotions slipping out of his control. Sexual tension, doubts related to sex work. ]

This oneshot is an alternative universe for my series The Taste of Shame in which Aemond meets the main character as his client. It shows how their lives would have turned out and what their first time would have been like if Aemond had done it for money. Created to celebrate my anniversary on 22 March.

Series & Characters Moodboard Aemond NSFW Alphabet

* English is not my first language. Please, do not repost. Enjoy! *

My other series: Masterlist

_____

He was never picky when it came to his female clients. They had to meet basic standards like hygiene, no venereal diseases and they couldn't go beyond a certain time, but once they signed a confidentiality clause, what he was going to do with them was no longer important to him.

He kept repeating to himself that he was there for them, not them for him, so he focused on giving them what they wanted in a way that didn't disturb his comfort zone.

He did not allow them to kiss or touch him with their hands − in fact, he preferred that any involvement they had in what was happening was minimal. What he found most pleasing in the whole act was his violence towards them, and the more they consented to, the more he was satisfied.

Their pleas and cries of pain combined with some subconscious pleasure that such sadomasochism gave them made him struggle to hold back the mocking smile that pressed against his lips.

They wanted to be treated like worthless objects, and that's what he was giving them, because that's exactly how he thought of them.

He didn't try to delve into considering what he thought of himself, because he decided that would end up with a visit to a psychiatrist. He was studying quantum physics, lived far away from his family and needed a steady, high source of income − since silly girls could make money from sex cams, he could make money that way, at least until he had no other prospects.

The only way to contact him was through an online form on his website, where they would write why they wanted to meet, indicate what suited them or not, and if he felt he could meet their whims, he would arrange to meet them to discuss the details and sign the documents.

Scrolling through dozens of similar messages about tying, gagging, beating and humiliation he stopped on one where only a few things were marked. He thought surprised that he wouldn't even link them to aggressive domination per se, and certainly not the kind he usually used.

Good morning. I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'd like to try, but I'm also a bit embarrassed about it. I don't know if this can be subsumed under your interests − I'm completely inexperienced, so maybe that's why I'm looking for a professional who knows what he's doing and would be able to show me what I actually need and want. I apologise for the rather chaotic explanation and send my regards. Selected practices: spanking, verbal domination, fingering

He blinked and scratched his chin, both intrigued and uncertain at the same time − he glanced quickly at her age and saw that she was younger than him. He bit his lower lip feeling that something in the idea that she was still inexperienced and only willing to explore her needs attracted him, the thought that this would be some sort of challenge for him.

He decided that why not.

She was an adult.

He looked forward to meeting her with the utmost curiosity. Her requirements were basic enough that he didn't need to prepare any extra kinks, and since she didn't want sex with penetration, it also gave him a greater sense of confidence and peace of mind − he knew he wouldn't have to chase his orgasm, imagining some woman from porn, and would be able to concentrate only on what he was doing to her.

When he heard a quiet knock on the door of the flat he rented only to meet his female clients, he got up immediately from behind his desk and opened it for her, swallowing hard as his gaze involuntarily swept over her figure and stopped on her face.

God.

This was not what he had expected.

She looked even younger than she had written; her eyes were big and bright, looking at him with fear and dread, though usually the women who came to him, learned by experience, kept their gaze meekly on the floor, waiting for him to command them to look at himself.

She was dressed in a plain white Tshirt and high-waisted jeans, a fabric coloured backpack on her back, her hair loose, shiny, dark, slightly wavy − he could smell the fruity scent of her perfume or shower gel.

He grunted quietly, trying to keep a stony face, feeling that involuntarily his gaze expressed shock. He took a few steps back and invited her in − she stepped inside uncertainly, turning away quickly as he closed the door behind her.

"Come in. Do not be afraid." He said lowly, pointing to his desk which stood in the deeper part of the flat − she walked in that direction, looking in horror at the bed standing on the other side of the room.

He heard her swallow hard, tense and red, pulling her backpack off her back − she placed it in her lap immediately after she sat down in the chair opposite him, as if trying to ward off and protect herself from him in this way.

He took his seat on the other side and tapped his index finger on the top of his wooden oak desk, thinking that he had never had a client like her before.

She was completely distracted, her gaze sweeping across the room as if she were a curious child, her fingers tightening on the material of her rucksack.

"As I mentioned, first the contract and confidentiality clause." He said calmly, handing her copies of the contract and clause he had sent her earlier.

She took them from him and looked into his eyes again, making him swallow hard; it wasn't a defiant look and it wasn't meant to seduce him. It seemed to him just the opposite − she wanted to show him that some part of her was genuinely afraid of him.

She nodded, her hands trembling all over as she took the sheets of paper in her hands − she looked around quickly and clumsily grabbed a pen.

He wondered, seeing what was happening to her, if what she wanted was really good for her and although he never meddled in his clients' decisions, he decided to intervene, for her sake and his own.

"You can still resign. I won't burden you with the cost." He said lowly, watching her closely, and saw that she flinched all over. She lifted the gaze of her bright eyes to him, her eyebrows arched in indecision, her mouth opened and closed as if she was trying to get something out of herself.

"I…I think I want to try. This one time. Do you think it's a bad idea, sir?" She asked him in a trembling, soft, girlish voice. The note of innocence that lurked in this after all defiant question made him twist in his seat, feeling surprised that his manhood swelled a little − he felt like he was literally burning her with his gaze.

He thought it was because she was so vulnerable − it turned him on that he was more experienced than her and had real control over what could happen next if she wanted it.

He chuckled involuntarily at her words, shaking his head, sighing quietly, looking at her indulgently.

"What I think about it doesn't matter." He murmured lowly, leaning comfortably against the back of his chair with a loud creak of wood.

He felt heat in his lower abdomen at the thought of her not dropping her gaze, boldly staring him in the face as if they had known each other for a long time, despite the fact that most women knew their buttocks would be red and swollen like tomatoes for such insolence.

"I would, however, like to hear your views on the matter, sir." She replied quickly, as if she recognised him as some sort of authority on the matter, a sexologist or anyone else who could give her a diagnosis.

"I am not a doctor. However, I don't think there is anything wrong with trying under controlled conditions. You also have a safe word that you can use at any time to stop whatever I'm doing. You have to decide." He said finally, and saw her nod her head, drawing in air loudly as if gathering her courage, and leaned over, signing the documents in the spaces indicated.

For some reason he involuntarily licked his lips, dried from some kind of excitement, his cock twitching hard in his trousers at the thought that she was really going to do this.

When she finished he took the papers from her, signed them and gave her one copy, reminding her of all the rules they had agreed and what she could not do.

"You can't touch me or kiss me. When we start, you are to call me sir and follow all my instructions. You are to answer all my questions by shaking or nodding your head unless I order you otherwise. I will not stop even if you beg me or cry until I hear your safe word which, please remind us, sounds how?" He asked softly, stapling the papers she had signed with a stapler, tucking them into his drawer, watching her out of the corner of his eye, feeling the heat in his lower abdomen at the very thought of what he was going to do to her.

Why was he so aroused when he hadn't even touched her yet?

"Peach." She muttered embarrassedly, looking down at her hands.

For a moment he wondered if he should add the rule he usually made where a woman couldn't look him in the eye, but something in her eyes captured him − her gaze wasn't seductive or filled with feelings he didn't want to see. He also guessed that forbidding it might overwhelm her even more, and he didn't want that.

He nodded at her words, rising, and she rose with him, holding her backpack in front of her, her shoulders raised slightly in a defensive gesture, as if she was afraid of him and the fact that she had somehow given him control over her.

He approached her slowly, looking at her vigilantly − her eyes fixed on his face as his hand took the rucksack from her arms in a gentle motion, dropping it next to her on the floor. His fingers rose to her cheeks, trailing over them, her jaw and her chin − he felt her tremble all over, surprised, her swollen, plump lips red with emotion.

Although he had never done this, he wanted to get a good look at her first − he knew that going straight to putting his hand in her panties would only frighten her and in this situation his tactics had to be a tad different.

First and foremost, he wanted to reassure her.

He saw that she had closed her eyes, trying to breathe slowly through her mouth as his hands slid down to her neck and her soft hair. He thought, smelling her fruity scent, that he would have given anything to have her kneel before him and take his achingly hard manhood into her mouth.

He decided that perhaps he would use his thoughts to embolden her a little more and let him do what he wanted.

"Such a sweet girl. You have no idea what I'd like to do with those lips." He hummed, feeling a shiver pass through her as one of his hands rose higher again, to her face, parting her lips with his thumb. "How hard I am now."

He saw the shock in her gaze, which quickly escaped down to the bulge in his trousers, her cheeks flushed as she looked up into his face again, her breathing quickened and ragged.

He sighed involuntarily at the sight.

"You can say a lot of things about me, but not that I'm a liar. Open." He commanded in a slightly cooler, stricter tone, her lips immediately parted slightly, allowing his thumb to slide deep between her fleshy, wet lips.

"Suck." He instructed, a quiet moan caught in her throat, her body suddenly quivering as the fingers of his free hand slid lower to her breast, teasing her nipple in calm, circular motions, her lips tightening around his thumb, obeying his command.

"Do you always walk around without a bra? Hm? Do you like it when men look at them?" He muttered warningly, pulling lightly on her nipple, looking at her curiously − she squirmed helplessly, closing her eyes, not knowing what to do with her hands. He could see how, in some subconscious reflex, she wanted to lift them up and embrace him, but reminded herself that she couldn't do that and lowered them again, moving him in some way and arousing him at the same time.

He couldn't remember if his client had ever made him completely hard by her behaviour itself.

"Quiet. We haven't even started properly yet, and already you want me to slap your arse?" He growled mockingly, and she shook her head quickly, drawing in air loudly, looking at him with a pleading look of her big, bright eyes, which he felt between his thighs as his cock swelled unbearably, demanding attention.

"This is my last warning. Lie on your stomach." He said coldly, although inside he felt like his body was on fire.

She obediently pulled off her shoes and lay down on the bed, watching, embarrassed, as he slipped his thumb, moist with her saliva, between his lips and licked it. He quickly pulled off his sweatshirt and shoes, leaving in his black short-sleeved T-shirt and trousers, fixing his hair with a careless flick of his hand.

"Leave only your panties on." He added, hearing her quiet squeal as his large hand gave her one, light, sharp smack on her buttock, just as an encouragement to keep her going.

"Just like that. So pretty." He hummed, watching her undress, climbing onto the bed behind her. He involuntarily licked his lips and grinned in amusement when he saw that underneath her trousers she was wearing pretty lace panties in powder pink.

He thought she was like a lollipop or candy, a sweet little gift bought just for pure pleasure.

As she pulled off her t-shirt she clung with her breasts to the bedclothes, looking somewhere sideways towards the window as if she was afraid of how exposed she was, that she was lying half-naked in front of a strange man who, on top of that, she was going to have to pay for it.

Although he cursed himself for it in the back of his head, the sincerity and naturalness of her behaviour endeared her to him − he thought in disbelief that he wasn't sure that even if she had asked him to punish her more harshly or to cause her intense pain he would have been able to do it.

Would it give him pleasure.

He took her hair aside, exposing her long neck and back, felt her shudder all over as his fingers ran along her spine.

"Are you going to be good, or should I tie you up?" He murmured and she nodded quickly − he hummed under his breath, stroking her bare skin. "Use your words."

"I'll be good. Sir." She added quickly, hearing him shift suddenly in irritation. He let out a loud breath through his nose, leaning down, grasping her wrists in his hands, placing them on either side of her head, showing her the position he expected her to hold them in.

"Your hands are supposed to be here at all times. On the pillow. If I see you take them away from here, I'll tie you up and on top of that, I'll give you ten slaps on the bottom to make sure you remember this lesson well. Do you understand? Use your words." He hissed, driving his fingers into the skin of her wrists, heard her swallow hard and nod her head quickly.

"− y-yes, sir −"

He gasped softly, pleased with her answer and the way it was going − he saw her hands tighten on the material of the pillow as he settled his knees on either side of her buttocks, lowering himself onto them so that she could feel his cock throbbing all under the material of his trousers. She stifled the cry that wanted to escape her lips by pressing her face against his bedding.

"− do you fucking feel it? − do you feel what you're doing to me? −" He muttered, trying to calm his breathing, not knowing why instead of pulling himself together and concentrating on his task he was teasing her, making his manhood painfully hard − he clamped his eyelids shut when he felt her hips begin to buck uncertainly to the rhythm of his movements.

He decided that fuck it, he would do it the way he felt like it, breaking his own rules, knowing that unlike the other women, she really needed this.

His closeness.

She sighed loudly and her whole body trembled as he pressed his face against her soft, fragrant hair, crushing her with his own weight, his hands roamed over the skin of her bare shoulders and the sides of her waist as his nose slowly slid lower, down to her neck, his fingers slipped underneath her and tightened on her soft, plump breasts as his lips pressed against her bare skin.

He heard her start to pant loudly through her mouth, surprised as he was, surely imagining it differently, writhing beneath him, his fingers digging warningly into the soft skin of her breasts, his hot breath enveloping her ear.

"− lie still or we'll do it rough − spread your thighs −" He growled, his thumbs pressing and playing with her nipples. He spread her legs with his knees, making her breath catch in her throat − he could feel her heart pounding fast under his hands, his tongue ran over the bare skin of her neck, smelling the salty taste of her sweat and the sweet taste of her perfume.

"− you're already wet, hm? − shall we check? −" He sneered, sliding the palms of his one hand down her belly − he saw out of the corner of his eye that her fingers clenched tightly on the fabric of the pillow, her whole body stiffened, her head tilted slightly as his fingertips pushed the soft, soaked material of her underwear aside, sinking into her leaking, fleshy womanhood.

"− good God − look at you − all sticky and warm −" He gasped as his fingers began to tease and squeeze her clit lightly, giving her a few encouraging strokes from which helpless, muffled sounds tried to escape her throat − his hand let go of her breasts for a moment and slapped her buttock with all his might, reminding her that she was supposed to be quiet.

He didn't even notice when he started rubbing against her faster from the top, chasing his own fulfilment, completely aroused by what was happening to her, how she was responding to him.

He felt like his cock was about to explode.

"− moan for me − let me hear these sweet sounds −" He whispered in her ear, driving his fingers harder into the soft, leaking structure of her folds.

Moan for me?

What the fuck was that supposed to be?

He sighed when she cried out loudly, clenching her eyes, writhing all under him, again and again rubbing his sore cock with her buttocks. He felt ashamed that even though he was the master of the situation, it seemed to him that somehow it was she who was dictating how it looked, or rather his inability to treat her as he did his other clients.

There was something innocent about her, that her goal was not for him to humiliate her, beat her or hurt her, but for him to guide her, to show her what she really desired and what he could do with her body.

He thought, running his fingertips over her moist, hot slit, that perhaps this was what he had been craving deep inside himself all this time.

"− ah − please, sir −" She mewled helplessly, and he felt her words between his thighs. He licked his lips, trailing his fingers over her throbbing, weeping cunt, teasing her hard nipple with his other hand, each of his movements accompanied by the loud click of her moisture.

"− what are you asking me to do? − use your words −" He exhaled, feeling that he was embarrassingly close to climax himself, and wondered if he was going to cum in his own trousers for the first time in his life.

"− please − please, put it inside me −" She mumbled out and he swallowed hard feeling her buttocks rubbing against his cock.

He froze for a moment, running his fingers over her hot, leaking folds, fighting with himself, on the one hand wanting only this, on the other the contract was different and he never broke the terms he himself had agreed to and signed.

What if, afterwards, she found that she didn't want it and decided that he had raped her, go to the police with it?

This thought sobered his mind a little, though his whole body shuddered with disappointment, his two fingers suddenly forced their way inside her with her moan of pleasure.

"− I can't − you know I can't, don't you? −" He breathed out, pressing the tips of his fingertips into the fleshy structure of her muscles, searching for the spot hidden between them.

She shuddered all over when he felt it a moment later, his thumb trailing over her clit as his two fingers dug in between her slick folds with a loud click of her wetness − he felt her whole body tense in anticipation, again and again his fingers squeezed her the way she needed it.

"− I'll be good, sir − please − please − please − I'll be good −" She cried out, her sticky walls began to clench around his fingers, sucking them inside and he closed his eyes, imagining he felt it on his hard, aching cock.

How tight she was.

He'd never done this before and he knew he shouldn't, but for some reason he was desperate, his mind clouded by what he'd seen and what he needed.

He watched her face in disbelief, her eyes closed, her cheeks flushed with exertion, her lips parted sweetly in a loud, accelerated breath.

"We can do this, but on my terms. I'll just fuck you, nothing more. No money. Do you understand?" He asked her in a trembling voice, as if he wanted to make sure she understood, that it meant nothing to him, that she just turned him on too much and he wanted to take it out on her.

He saw her eyes open suddenly, fear and relief filling her gaze as she whispered just a few words without looking at him.

"Let me look at your face, sir."

He himself didn't know when he suddenly flipped her onto her back as his lips clung with a loud purr to her hard, swollen nipple, sucking and licking it − he heard her moan loudly, startled, making him lose his temper. His hands in a helpless reflex slid down to the button of his trousers and his zipper, releasing his erection quickly, he wasn't sure he had ever been so terrified and aroused at the same time.

He knew things had gotten out of hand and that he would regret it, but he couldn't deny himself, knowing that he would probably never see her again.

"Don't touch me. Do you understand? If you touch me, I'll stop and I'll slap your arse so hard you won't be able to sit for the next few weeks." He hissed, looking her straight in the face, reaching his hand into his pocket to pull out the condom −she merely nodded, her hands clenched on either side of her face, her swollen lips parted in a quick, uneven breath.

He looked at her pretty figure, her sweet, plump breasts, her flushed face, her hair in disarray, and thought helplessly that she was beautiful and that he would go mad if he didn't do this to her.

Never before had he put a condom over his length as quickly as he did then − with a quick, sure, impatient movement he slid her panties off her, already all wet with her moisture, grabbed her by her hips and pushed her closer, momentarily forcing her tight, leaking folds to let him inside her.

He didn't speak, because he didn't know what he was supposed to say either, ashamed of his own desperation as he pushed deeper into her with a sure, sharp thrust.

He began to pound into her as if he had completely lost his mind, fast and out of control − she threw her head to the side, writhing beneath him, moaning loudly, her walls wonderfully moist and hot, clenching on him so tightly that he struggled to restrain himself from cumming just yet, not wanting to humiliate himself.

"− oh God −" He muttered, looking at her as if through a fog, leaning over her, his hands found hers, her fingers clenched on them, seeking proximity − she looked up at him pleadingly, panting and quivering.

He suspected that never before had anyone fucked her at such a brutal, fast pace from which she couldn't catch her breath, her thighs spread wide before him in a gesture of trust, their bodies slapping against each other with the loud clicks of her wetness.

"− these idiots couldn't even fuck you properly, hm? −" He panted low and she only nodded, his fingers intertwining with hers in some subconscious reflex, as if he wanted to show her that he understood her, that she had a right to be disappointed, that he had no idea how any man could fail to give her what she needed.

"− my poor little baby − am I right? −" He breathed out and she cried loudly and nodded her head, something in her gaze, in her eyes flooded with tears, filled with despair, tenderness and relief made him lean lower and cling to her lips.

She moaned loudly into his throat and he felt her walls squeeze him tightly with a sudden, intense orgasm, sucking him inside as his tongue invaded between her lips. She reciprocated his kiss with such devotion that a few of his helpless, sloppy thrusts were enough to make him cum into the condon.

"− fuck − fuck, baby −" He breathed out into her mouth as if she was his, as if they were in his bed in his flat, as if he loved her and was about to have dinner with her or go to sleep lying next to her, as if she wasn't a stranger to him, her sweet scent, her innocent sounds and the taste of her mouth were all that filled his mind as he continued to rock his hips deep inside her.

Even though they had both came, they didn't stop kissing, their lips joining and pulling away from each other lazily with a loud click of their saliva, his hands roaming up and down her fingers, alternately stroking them and entwining them with his own again.

Something about what was happening between them, about this sudden, unexpected closeness calmed him and made him completely drift off.

He knew that she had wanted to touch and kiss him from the very beginning, but she still respected his decision and his rules.

And he, for some reason incomprehensible to himself, broke them for her.

He pressed his face to her cheek, panting along with her, unsure of what he should do now, distracted and ashamed that he couldn't help himself, that for the first time in his life he had overstepped the time and competence he should have given her.

And that wasn't good.

What if she thinks now that they are in love with each other, that maybe one day they will be together? If she starts writing to him and stalking him like so many women before her?

"I'm sorry." He heard her whisper and shuddered, snapped out of his reverie.

He opened his eyes and met her gaze, her hands still on either side of her head. He grunted quietly, horrified at how close she was, that he could smell her pleasant scent so intensely, her breath, the warmth of her body.

"I'm the one who should apologise. I behaved unprofessionally. I won't take money from you." He replied after a moment, and she shook her head, shocked.

"− n-no, why − I mean − after all, you did what we agreed to do − you gave me your time, I −"

"− you're not the kind of person who would enjoy a strong dominant-submissive interaction − you'd be terrified − you're worrying too much − probably those guys before me didn't ask you what you needed, hm? − that's what I thought − there's nothing wrong with you − that's my diagnosis −" He hummed, sighing heavily, lifting himself up on his elbows, placing a lingering, tender kiss on her forehead.

He slipped out of her gently with her quiet hiss of discomfort − he saw her press her lips together when he slided the shed condom off his manhood and tie it off, tossing it into the small bin standing next to his bed, zipping his trousers back up. He saw her reach with a trembling hand for her underwear and sighed under his breath, shaking his head.

"Wipe yourself well first, the tissues are lying on the table next to you. Don't you have underwear to change into?" He asked uncertainly, realising that this was usually obvious to the women who visited him, as it was to him, so he didn't warn her, thinking she would figure it out for herself.

She shook her head quickly and he sighed heavily, taking a bottle of water standing on the table, unscrewing it and handing it to her, seeing that she completely didn't know what she should do with herself now.

"− drink − you'd better just wipe yourself off and put your trousers on −" He replied and she nodded, red with embarrassment, taking a few deep sips of water without looking at him.

He turned away as she started to get dressed, running his hand over his face, recognising that he was an idiot and had completely lost his fucking mind, unable to forgive himself for fucking her even though their terms were different.

He shuddered as she approached him quietly − he thought terrified that she was going to try to touch him, maybe even thinking they were going to become lovers now, but she just held a bundle of banknotes in front of him, looking at him pleadingly.

"− I already told you I won't take it − keep it −"

"− I can't, after all −"

"− don't piss me off −" He growled, and she pressed her lips together, lowering her hand, swallowing loudly.

They stared at each other for a long moment in awkward silence to say the least − he grunted, combing his fingers through his hair, feeling that for some reason his heart was pounding like crazy.

What was happening to him?

"− consider it a gift − we both made each other feel good − right? −" He asked, as if he wanted to make sure he hadn't hurt her. She nodded and smiled softly, shyly, for some reason making him feel a squeeze in his throat.

He regretted that she had ever written to him.

He regretted that he had said yes.

He regretted that it had been so pleasant.

"− thank you − and I apologise again − I won't take up your time anymore − I wish you all the best − please take care of yourself and be happy −" She said finally, and he flinched, looking at her in disbelief − he felt that his lips were parted in shock as he looked at her dully.

He didn't know what to answer.

Only after a while did he get anything out of himself, feeling that she was due at least some perfunctory response.

"− it's me who's sorry − I also wish you all the best −"

She nodded and smiled warmly at him, before her trembling hand reached for her backpack and headed towards the door, opening it and disappearing behind it a moment later.

He looked at the bed, at the sheets where the mark of her body was clearly visible, the fact that she had just been lying there, that he had been deep inside her and had fucked her like he had never put his cock inside any woman before.

He went over there and just lay on his stomach, sinking his face into the pillow that was drenched in her scent.

For the next few days, his head was in a state of chaos − one part of him was afraid that she would reach out to him, that she would seek contact or a relationship with him, like so many women before her wanting to be special to him, to be the only one.

The other part of him was even begging for her to do it, for him to be able to free himself at last from the memories of what he had done to her, that she had broken something in him, that he couldn't look at the women who came after her.

He couldn't focus, he felt remorse, he couldn't even get aroused and he was so frustrated that, to the despair of his regular clients, he decided to take a break for a few weeks to cool down.

His friend from university, Robert, had already invited him to his birthday party a month earlier and although he didn't have the energy to go anywhere, he knew that afterwards he would be listening to him and Criston moan in class about how completely unsocial he was.

He figured that since it was only going to be a private party at his house, he might as well go there at least for a while so no one would accuse him of lack of effort.

When he stopped outside his house he got out of the car and decided to have a quick cigarette, tired and discouraged, knowing that sooner or later his savings would run out and he would have to go back to it, whether he wanted to or not.

Or find another, lower-paid job.

He sighed heavily, clamping his fingers over the base of his nose, closing his eyes, trying to calm himself. He heard movement beside him and the screech of brakes, lifted his gaze and froze when it became apparent that she had just sat down beside him from her bike, a wide smile on her lips as if she thought he was a stranger, only recognising him after a moment, her lips parted then in horror, panic in her gaze.

He stared at her, feeling his body freeze.

Fuck.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

"Oh God. Do you know Robert?" She muttered, and he swallowed hard, feeling a tightening in his throat at the thought that she could have been his friend's girlfriend.

"Yes. Fuck. And you?" He asked her quickly with some sort of accusation, from which she swallowed hard.

"I-I, I'm his younger sister. I went to get some candles, I didn't know…"

"It's okay. I'll just go home." He replied, taking a few quick puffs of his cigarette, crushing it with his foot, turning back towards his car.

"N-no, please. Are you Aemond? Did I guess right? Robert was telling me about you. How he's glad you're coming. That you rarely talk or go out somewhere as a threesome with Criston. It's good that we met here, we'll avoid an awkward greeting. Please, don't be embarrassed." She muttered, and he sighed heavily, running his hand over his face, heartbroken. They both shuddered when they heard a knock on the glass, Robert looked at them through the window and started waving at them, gleeful.

Jesus Christ.

They both headed towards her house, knowing that since he'd seen him, he couldn't run away anymore anyway. He was terrified that since she was Robert's sister, she was someone familiar, not a stranger, that this changed everything and nothing, his heart pounding like mad.

"Do you have a lighter?" She asked as they stopped in front of the front door and he shook his head, snapped out of his reverie, frowning his brow.

"What?"

"Do you have a lighter? Can you help me? I need to light the candles on his birthday cake." She muttered in a whisper as if someone might overhear them, and she was telling him an important secret. He sighed heavily and nodded, recognising that he must have been dreaming all this.

Robert greeted him with joy, all around them Criston, their family and a few of his high school friends, a whole group of people he didn't know and with whom he knew he wouldn't find common ground, and among them her.

He wished him well and gave him his present, but he was unable to focus − he met her terrified gaze, she was pointing her finger at him that she needed his help in the kitchen.

He followed her as if into the lion's mouth, watching from the side as she opened the fridge in the darkness, taking out a blueberry meringue. She sighed heavily, placing it on the table in front of him, only the lights of the street lamps around them.

"It looked better in the picture on the internet, but I did my best." She mumbled, as if she wanted to say anything that would lighten the atmosphere between them.

He felt like an idiot when their trembling hands touched as he handed her the lighter and swallowed loudly, watching as one by one the candles began to glow with the warm, bright light of the flame.

He wanted to ask her if something in her life had changed, if she now knew what she wanted and needed, if she thought about what had happened.

Was she thinking about him.

She picked up the cake when it was all ready and let the air out loud through her mouth, looking him straight in the eye.

"Let's go."

After singing a short 'Happy Birthday', Robert blew out all the candles, happy to announce that his little sister had remembered what cake he loved best, assuring everyone that it was certainly delicious.

They spent the whole party throwing surreptitious, embarrassed glances at each other − he had to empty a few glasses of strong Whisky to calm himself down, the alcohol relaxing him a little, though only seemingly, suppressing his fear, but making him start thinking about something else again.

He looked at her figure dressed in a modest mid-thigh summer dress, her hair, her face − saw the way she laughed, the way she talked to others and felt a squeeze in his throat at the thought that then, being with him, she wasn't pretending.

She really was like that.

Affectionate, open, sweet, kind.

Everything he wasn't.

He swallowed heavily at the thought, sad and embittered, taking another deep sip from his glass.

"How are you going to get home? Criston is staying the night at our house, why don't you stay too? It's late." Said Robert sitting down next to him on the couch, patting him on the back in a friendly manner, already himself relaxed by the considerable amount of alcohol his body had assimilated.

He swallowed hard, looking at his sister from afar, feeling that this was a very bad idea.

"Why not." He muttered, thinking that he was a moron for looking for trouble himself, and that if Robert found out what he'd done to his sister, he'd kill him with his own hands.

Criston and a few others occupied the upstairs rooms, and he suggested he could sleep in the living room on the couch, to which Robert agreed.

He hoped this would embolden her to come to him, as he himself would never have dared to knock on her door despite how desperate he was.

At the thought that he might feel her again, his manhood reacted with an enthusiastic, intense pulsing in his trousers.

He felt that he was drunk as he began to pull off his black tight turtleneck, managing it with difficulty, pulling off his shoes, laying down dressed only in Tshirt and trousers with a quiet sigh and covered himself carelessly with the blanket, listening.

Is she going to do it or not?

And even if she comes to him, should he agree?

He felt disappointment when an hour passed and nothing happened, silence all around him and the loud snoring of someone coming from the upstairs rooms, perhaps her and Robert's father. He sighed heavily, recognising that he had made it all up, that she was surely now ashamed of him and what she had done, trying to forget it.

He swallowed hard at the thought, feeling discomfort in his stomach, and closed his eyes, figuring he would try to get at least a few hours of sleep.

He shuddered and opened them again when he heard a quiet creak, as if someone was walking down the corridor above him, but he wasn't sure himself if it wasn't just his imagination. A shiver ran down his spine and his manhood swelled all over when he heard someone quietly walk down the steps.

Whoever this person was, however, she didn't approach him but walked through the living room to the kitchen.

He felt his heart start pounding like crazy when he caught sight of her silhouette in the darkness, dressed only in an oversized white Tshirt and light shorts − she walked over to the tap, took a glass from the drawer and poured herself some water.

Should he approach her or not?

What if she gets scared?

Fuck.

He didn't even know when he just picked himself up on the couch, for some reason doing it very slowly so that his movements couldn't be heard − he felt like a predator who wanted to get closer to his prey even though he didn't really intend to harm her.

As soon as he stood up he immediately felt the room around him spin, the pleasant, intoxicating warmth of the alcohol melting through his lower abdomen making him seem less terrified of what he wanted to do than if he had been completely sober.

When she caught sight of his silhouette out of the corner of her eye she almost choked on the water − she spat some of it into the sink coughing loudly, making him freeze motionless, afraid to approach her. She quickly wiped her mouth with her hand, looking at him with big eyes.

"My God, you scared me." She muttered pale, her pretty, smooth face illuminated by the warm light of the street lamps standing in front of her house.

He stared at her for a moment, thinking that perhaps it must all have been a dream after all, that the fact that she was standing in front of him was unreal, invented by his distraught, drunken mind.

"I'm sorry." He stammered, swallowing hard, standing a good distance away from her, fighting with himself not to look shamelessly at her bare legs and her nipples peeking through from under her T-shirt.

Again.

They stood for a moment in uncomfortable silence, both of them breathing embarrassingly loudly, as if each of them was reliving deep inside themselves the fact that they were seeing each other again.

And on top of that, in her brother's house.

"I didn't know you were his sister. I swear. I would never do that to you." He finally started to speak, to explain, although he didn't know why − he had the feeling that he was trying to get anything out of himself so she didn't go back upstairs to her room.

He heard her sigh quietly, stroking her bare shoulder with her trembling hand. She shifted from foot to foot in a nervous gesture, looking somewhere to the side, her lips parted slightly in an accelerated breath.

"I know." She whispered, and he felt a heat in his lower abdomen and a pleasant shudder at the thought that perhaps she wasn't misjudging him, that perhaps she wasn't disgusted by him at all.

"How do you feel? I mean − are you okay?" She asked in a trembling voice, as if she wasn't sure if she should be asking this kind of question. She glanced at him uncertainly, clearly wanting to check his reaction, he stared at her stunned, completely surprised by her question.

"− I… yeah, I guess − I mean, I'm on a break from − you know − from this − right now −" He muttered, tucking his hands into the pockets of his black trousers, looking at the floor, feeling ashamed and embarrassed for some reason.

It's because of you, he wanted to say.

I did it for you.

"Something happened?" She asked after a moment, playing with the fingers of her hands in a nervous reflex, as if she was afraid of what she would hear.

"− yes − I mean − I have doubts − I always had, but now… they've intensified − you know −" He muttered, shrugging his shoulders, feeling the tightness in his throat and stomach growing stronger, his heart pounding like mad, cold sweat running down his back.

I'm just a whore, he thought.

I sell myself for money.

She nodded her head quickly so he knew she understood.

"− I'm sorry −" She said quietly, and he looked at her dully, not knowing why for some reason his lower lip trembled, why he felt a burning sensation under his eyelids.

He was ashamed that he desired her so much, that he wanted her words but also her body, wanted to fuck her first and then embrace her and fall asleep.

Was he treating her objectively? Was he only able to think about one thing?

Sex, sex, sex, sex.

He couldn't get anything out of himself.

He shuddered, drawing in air loudly as she came closer to him, in her gaze genuine fear and worry at his condition, questioning whether she could do anything for him, help him in any way.

He knew she longed to touch him − he saw out of the corner of his eye her hand rising to touch his shoulder but falling back after a moment, reminding himself that he never allowed anyone to invade his space.

He felt like screaming.

"− do you want to talk about it? −"

He wasn't sure he wanted to talk to anyone about it, but after a while he was sitting next to her on the terrace anyway, covered in a thick, soft blanket, sitting next to her on a rather uncomfortable wooden bench hanging by chains, which he rocked back and forth with involuntary movements of his knees, lighting a cigarette from his lighter with a quiet hiss of fire.

He took a drag and let the smoke out loudly through his nose, sighing quietly, just thinking about the fact that their hips and shoulders were touching.

"What did you think of me? After all this." He asked suddenly, swallowing loudly as he heard her twist in her place, throwing him a surprised, even horrified look. She sighed quietly, covering herself more tightly with the fluffy material.

"That you are a good man."

He felt his hand with the cigarette freeze in mid-motion as he was about to take another drag and for some reason he laughed in disbelief at her words, feeling a piercing pain in his chest, his eyebrows arching in amusement.

"That I'm a good man. Good God." He hummed, taking another drag − he could see she was looking down at her fingers, ashamed of her words and his cruel reaction. He licked his lower lip with his tongue and closed his eyes, feeling that he was completely hard.

He could smell her, she was still using that fruity, pleasant, fresh perfume.

"You're a romantic, innocent soul, aren't you?" He sneered, letting the smoke out again through his nose with a loud sigh − he heard her cough quietly as the smell of tobacco rose into her lungs. She grunted quietly, her lips tightened in displeasure.

"Innocent souls come to a strange man to spank them for money?"

"You didn't want me to spank you. You haven't experienced even a hint of real, hard domination, sweet girl." He snarled, spreading himself out comfortably on the back of the bench with a loud creak of wood, the metal chains squeaking quietly each time he made another movement with his foot, putting the structure in motion.

"So why did you agree to this?" She asked finally, and he fell silent, staring blankly ahead, taking one last drag on what was left of his cigarette.

"Good question."

They both fell silent again, feeling that their conversation was starting to get out of hand, and after all, someone could have woken up, opened the window, overheard their words.

"Did you tell Robert?" He asked suddenly, and she shook her head, horrified.

"N-no, of course not. And I won't. This is between you two. He respects you very much." She muttered, lowering her gaze to her bent knees, which she held under her chin. He hummed at her statement, accepting her words with some sort of relief.

"Did that help you? Now you know what you need?" He asked impassively, letting the smoke out loudly through his mouth, dropping the remnants of his cigarette into the glass with the unfinished drink, feeling her gaze on him, her body tense, he knew she had hesitated.

"In a way." She replied, and he dared to look her straight in the eye.

She didn't lower her gaze even though he knew some part of her wanted to do so, her lips parted slightly when she noticed his hands had slipped under the blanket, into his trousers. She swallowed loudly when she heard the sound of his zipper being undone and the fabric being unfastened.

"Come here. Sit on my lap." He ordered softly, and she did so without hesitation, as if she had only been waiting for those words, something in her confidence, in her assurance, in her desire, in her hot gaze made his breath stand in his throat.

They said nothing as he slipped her shorts off her, as he lowered his trousers, finally releasing his aching, swollen erection, already leaking from his precum. He didn't protest when her hands tentatively embraced his neck, barely touching him, merely catching her balance, his free hand covering their hips with a blanket.

"I'm clean. I had myself tested a few weeks ago, after I'd already taken a break." He whispered, feeling his cock throb aggressively in his hand at the thought that he could come deep inside her if she would just let him. She nodded her head in understanding, one movement of his hand between her thighs reassuring him that no further treatment would be necessary.

"Have you been this wet all evening? Hm? Have you suffered as much as I have?" He gasped, directing the pink, fat head of his manhood at her swollen slit. She nodded again, her lips parted in disbelief and delight, her eyes closed as she felt him begin to push inside her,his thumbs spreading her folds to the sides, watching with a rapidly beating heart as he slowly opened her wide on his cock.

"− fuck − fuck, tell me you're taking your pills −" He breathed out, tilting his head back, with one sure thrust of his hips filling her tight, leaking cunt to the brim. She squirmed quietly as he began to move inside her immediately, pounding into her with deep, sure stabs, rubbing each time the spot inside her from where she could see stars.

"− y-yes −" She mumbled out, rising and falling on his thick, aching manhood, giving him a wonderful squeeze each time, from which he sank his fingers deeper into her soft buttocks, forcing her into a fast, sharp rhythm in which he hardly slid out of her, panting and grunting louder than usual, thinking only of how wonderfully warm she was, that he could feel her moist, fleshy walls with his whole being with each sure thrust.

"− kiss me −" He exhaled and groaned loudly into her mouth as her lips instantly clung to his in a sloppy, sticky dance, his tongue invading deep into her throat, a shudder went through him as one of her hands combed through his hair.

"− m sorry −" She mumbled, immediately lowering her hand, but he put his one arm around her waist and pressed her closer to him, deepening the kiss with a loud purr of satisfaction, feeling wonderful, the alcohol had given him courage, and her touch was sweet and tender, not making him feel cornered.

"− it's okay − touch my face −" He sighed out between loud, wet licks of their swollen lips, quickening his pace as her hands gripped his cheeks, as her forehead pressed against his. Her walls began to clench on him with increasing intensity, making him lose his temper, not letting her escape the brutal thrusts of his hips.

"− oh, God − fuck, where −" He only mumbled, feeling that it was about to be too late.

"− please, inside me − ah −" She mewled so sweetly that he sighed loudly, surprised to feel his muscles relax, his semen spilling deep inside her without his willpower as her walls began to suck him and squeeze him in orgasm.

They both panted loudly, rocking their hips for a while longer, pulsing and shuddering, stroking each other's faces, looking at each other with their lips slightly parted, breathing heavily.

"− shall we go out somewhere tomorrow? − you know − to the pub or something? −" He muttered embarrassed that he had wanted something more, that he broke his own rule.

He was relieved when she giggled and smiled, nodding, only to lean in a moment later and kiss him in a drawn-out manner with her soft, puffy lips. He murmured contentedly, stroking her warm, bare buttocks with lazy movements, reciprocating her caress with a loud click of their saliva.

She pulled away from him at last, her hand combing slowly through his short hair making a pleasant shiver run along his spine.

"− why not −"

[hauntedsweetsystem]

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚ Things to do with your f/o! (no drawing!) pt.2

♡Create a Pinterest board!

Create a mood board for your f/o! You can include aesthetic images, quotes, and even actual photos you enjoy of your f/o. There’s really no right or wrong way to do this!

♡Make a shrine page!

You can make a shrine section on your website/carrd/strawpage/ect dedicated to your f/o. Maybe you could tell the story on how you guys met, artwork, and headcanons! You could even make your f/o’s aesthetic the page’s theme!

♡Create blinkies!

You can create a blinkie for your f/o and include it on your posts. You can either make it yourself from scratch or use this website that has a lot of bases to use.

♡Make a fake Spotify wrap!

I’ve seen people do this for OCs, but you can totally do this with your f/os! Think about which music they like and then edit spotify wrap images according to that.

♡Create a fake dating profile for them!

This is my favorite thing to do! You can use tinder profiles as a base and pretty much just fill in the information how your f/o would fill it out. Bonus points if you make yourself (or s/i) one!

♡Customize a figure of your f/o!

If you have an old figurine that you no longer like, you can customize it to be your f/o. You can use paint, clay, and other materials to do this. There are also tutorials for custom figurines online you can use as a reference.

(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ

Pt. 3?

[genericpuff]

✨ UPDATED FAQ ✨

Making a new and improved FAQ as it seems the desktop version doesn't work consistently. I get a lot of repeat asks about similar topics in my inbox so please feel free to check this post for any current or future common questions in case you're wondering if a question's been asked before :> (otherwise, ask away!)

QUICK BIO

Eyo, I'm GenericPuff! I'm a Saulteaux-Mi'kmaq Two-Spirit dweeb from Atlantic Canada. My pronouns are she/he/they. I'm a tattoo artist by trade but I also occupy my time with freelancing and comics. I got a 100% perfect score on my combined ADHD test, the only test I've ever aced ;0

LINK MAP

Instagram | NamiComiTwitch | Youtube | Patreon | Ko-Fi | VGen

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LORE | REKINDLED

CURRENT UPDATING STATUS: HIATUS (we're hoping to return in the fall!)

Q: When does Lore Rekindled update? 

When it's actively ongoing, typically I try to update it every 2 weeks, every other Saturday, around 8:45 PM EST. That said, if episodes are delayed or don't release when expected, I'll make sure to notify you all! In the meantime, all I ask for is your patience <3

Q: Where can I read?

Right here on my Tumblr! We now also mirror on NamiComi if you want an alternative platform to read it on that offers better reading options and much less image compression!

While we used to mirror on Dillyhub, we've since discontinued uploads there as the site became too unstable to use.

Q: Help, Lore Rekindled shows up blurry for me!

Unfortunately this is a limitation on Tumblr’s end. I combat it as best I can by cropping panels individually for uploading, but some panels are just too long to segment into parts or some episodes have too many panels which exceed Tumblr’s image limit which forces me to group some together. Reading on our mirror sites is the best alternative whenever we can't get the images to upload crystal-clear !

Q: Why are the episode numbers further behind on the mirror websites?

A: Back when Rekindled first started, the episodes were scripted out long but released in short segments until I got enough of a pace going that I could release longer episodes. Or sometimes I'd have an episode turn out longer than anticipated and I'd have to cut them up to ensure I could post them on time. When I updated them to our first mirror site (Dillyhub), I compiled them together again into full episodes the way they were originally intended to be read, and its these compiled episodes that I've continued to use for other mirror sites going forward. This makes it seem like the Dillyhub/NamiComi/etc. versions are "behind", but rest assured, it's perfectly up to date with the Tumblr version! (and are, in practice, the 'true' episode numbers!)

Q: Why create a ‘fix-it fic’ of Lore Olympus instead of creating your own original story? Isn’t that kinda weird / stupid / petty / [insert derogatory assumption here] ?

Short answer - for the same reason that people write fanfiction instead of writing original manuscripts.

Long answer - We write what we’re compelled to write, and for me, I wasn’t compelled to make a completely original Greek myth comic (though I did explore that option.) I wanted to create something with Lore Olympus in mind as I used to be a huge fan of the series and, like many others who used to be diehard fans of the series, was extremely disappointed and frustrated with how it turned out.

I’m often told in my criticisms “if you’re so smart, do it yourself!”... so I did! Sure, I could have done my own completely original take of the myths, but it just didn’t scratch the itch like doing it through the lens of LO did.

Obviously it’s not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea and people will make their own judgments of my reasoning behind making it, which is natural and fine :) I just wanna make fanfic for a comic that I used to love and have strong feelings about that I’m compelled to express through transformative fiction, it’s not much more complicated than that!

Though I will say, in spite of everything I have to throw at LO, I do owe it a lot, as in my attempts to recreate it, it's broken me out of my comfort zones and helped me advance my art further than I was previously ever capable of taking it. I could never hate LO at it's core, even if I hate what it eventually became and what it turned out to always be once the rose-colored glasses fell off. I can't hate the community it created in spite of itself, the community that welcomed me with open arms and has since uplifted me to the heights I'm at today. I can't hate how LO used to make me feel and how it inspired me even after those feelings started to wane.

And for that, I am forever grateful.

Q: Do you accept fanart / fanfic for LR?

Absolutely!! I adore every piece of LR-inspired art and prose that people send me or tag me in, it really does brighten my day. Skill level doesn't matter to me, if you wanna share it, I wanna see it! <3 (and if you don't want to share it with me directly, feel free to use the #lorerekindled tags ! )

Q: Will you write about [insert myth here]? / Please include [insert favorite god/myth here]!!!

I get these kinds of questions and requests a looot and unfortunately there's just no way to entertain all of them because to do so would be to write whole other expansive arcs (especially when it comes to myths like the Trojan War) which takes time and resources that I simply don't have.

For the most part, LR is aiming to do what LO failed at, and one of those failures was stuffing too many pointless side characters and story arcs into its plot for the sake of paying lip service to the myths and the fandom. LR is instead aiming to hone in on the myth of Persephone, Hades, and Demeter, so a lot had to be cut to allow that story to flourish without being weighed down.

That said, even if I'm planning on including a specific myth or god... I'm not gonna tell you outright anyways. I don't wanna give away all the fun stuff I have planned! ;3 Rest assured, if there's a myth you REALLY want to see tackled within the world of LR, feel free to write / draw whatever you want! Just because I might not cover a particular myth doesn't mean you can't! :'3 <3 (though I get why people ask me specifically to write these stories but unfortunately I am just one person and it would be a Sisyphean task to try and retell every single one of them within and even outside the scope of LR).

Q: Will Lore Rekindled have the Apollo SA plot? 

No, I’m removing that plot arc entirely and re-focusing it back on what we've preserved of the Canvas version of LO, in which Apollo seemed to be more akin to a (not-so-great) suitor, not an outright assaulter.

Q: Is Persephone eternally 19 in Lore Rekindled?

She is not. All of the gods are relatively old, with many of them exceeding the human lifespan by a good few hundred years at minimum. Hades is very old, Persephone is very old, they’re aaalll very old compared to mortals due to being gods who are not tethered to the limitations of a human lifespan. That said, they all experience different milestones of life at different stages (as mortals do!) so Persephone is currently experiencing milestones that are often relegated to people in their early to mid 20’s (such as attending university) but much of her experiences as a fish out of water are simply due to being from the Mortal Realm, not a consequence of her being a barely-legal teenager.

Q: How are the gods related in LR? Did you keep or remove the incest?

The gods are 'related' in LR, but rather than through blood and DNA, they're instead created through the fusion of their respective elements. How the gods refer to one another is often a matter of language that isn't necessarily meant to be taken literally - while some deities who reside in / work in the Mortal Realm might be accustomed to terms like 'mother' and 'sister' (ex. Kore and Demeter), others simply refer to each other as 'creator' and 'creation'. If you want a detailed look at how that concept has been implemented into LR, check out the LR family tree!

Q: Are Hades and Persephone meant to be a romantic pairing like they were in LO?

The answer to that is kind of complicated and not one I can fully give without spoiling. Neither Hades or Persephone are perfect people, they both have a lot of baggage to unpack and much of it is going to be torn out and thrown about the room in the heat of conflict. All that's to say, it will certainly be a dramatic relationship, but that doesn't mean it won't be without its romance, and vice versa.

Ultimately though, my main goal is to retell The Hymn to Demeter more accurately than it was told in Lore Olympus. It obviously still takes a lot of creative liberties for the sake of retelling a centuries-old story (and has to balance those creative liberties with the liberties LO took in its art and story) but I hope that in the end, people will find closure in its attempts to express the original myth's messaging more so than they could find by the end of LO.

Q: How long is LORE | REKINDLED planned to be?

Right now it’s hard to say as plotting out a comic is a whole different thing from actually drawing it. Some episodes I write out and think it’ll only take me one episode to do but then it turns out to take 2-3 in comic form; some episodes flat out don't release on time if I'm dealing with IRL stuff. That said, right now I’m estimating the series will last around 150-200ish episodes, give or take. Could be less, could be more, I'm not great at guessing that sort of thing LOL

Q: How can I support LORE | REKINDLED? 

Considering Rekindled is an AU rewrite project of Lore Olympus, I can't profit directly off it in any way as I don't want to cross over into potentially harmful legal territory with Rachel Smythe and/or Webtoons. This means no locked episodes, no merchandise, etc. Rekindled is and always will be free to read.

That said, I do offer both a Patreon and Ko-Fi where you can tip me and get access to bonus drawings, time lapses, and other goodies, some of which are related to LORE | REKINDLED, others which are more for my original projects. All of the proceeds help support me in these dubious times so I can keep doing what I do and so I can cover my assistant costs.

I'm also now on VGen where you can commission me! I have this commission info setup on my Ko-Fi as well, but VGen is designed specifically for commissioning and comes with a lot of other cool features like character archiving and tagging, workflow tools, etc. so it's generally the better option ;3 (I just like offering more than one lmao)

Otherwise, the best way to support Rekindled is to just tune-in and read it, comment, reblog, etc.! (remember that Tumblr doesn't have an algorithm, so reblogs are the best way to get more eyes on it!)

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ART QUESTIONS

Q: What do you use to draw? 

I currently primarily use a Huion Inspiroy Giano with Clip Studio Paint EX. I also have a 4th Generation iPad Air but I mostly use that for conventions and on-the-go tattoo designing.

Q: What brushes do you use?

Thanks to help from the community (and some very mysterious anons), I’ve compiled a fully comprehensive brush pack consisting of brushes that have been researched, tested and confirmed to be brushes used in Lore Olympus as far back as the first season! Please use them to your liking for all your edits and redraws :)

Q: Do you have any resources or tips for creating comics?

Creating your own comic is a very fun, but very overwhelming learning process, with many things to cover that I can’t feasibly do in a single post. The best place to start is to just start! But if you’re struggling with knowing where to even begin or where to go from where you are, here are some helpful Youtube videos that I compiled into a playlist, covering stuff from Clip Studio basics to masking comic panels to storyboarding in animation. I’ll be adding new videos to this playlist as I find them!

I also regularly stream Rekindled progress on Twitch where you can watch me working on the comic live! I'm always happy to answer questions about the process during these streams, so don't be afraid to just hop in and ask!

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring tattoo artists?

I'm not gonna tell you whether or not you should, just that if you do decide to pursue it, remember that it's still a job in the arts - it takes a lot of work, patience, and trial and error, and even when the times are good, those good times aren't guaranteed nor infinite. Don't go into it thinking it's a "get-rich-quick" kind of job. Tattooing has basically become the OnlyFans of the arts, a lot of people jump into it thinking it's as easy as posting your feet pics online but those who have been doing it legitimately for years know how much work it takes to succeed, how mentally and physically taxing it really is, and all the risks involved, which a lot of people rushing into it don't really tend to think about.

As much as it's 'easier' than ever now to simply Google things and buy all the tools online, the easy path doesn't always make it the best one and it demeans the craft to assume that it's easy, period (the pros just make it LOOK easy). Apprenticeships are still the most legitimate way to pursue the craft, as it ensures you get proper hands-on education without all the misinformation and bad habits that can be found online.

It's a trade that demands patience and perseverance. Don't rush into the first apprenticeship you're offered. Don't settle for the easy way out of learning. Know your community, know your artists, and know what you're willing to sacrifice and put up with. Be willing to get tattooed, get to know the artists around you, even if they can't offer you an apprenticeship you can still learn a lot just by getting yourself involved with your local body mod scene.

This industry has only become harder to navigate in an age of normalized instant gratification and oversaturated shops, so if you really wanna do it and make it your living, be prepared for the work and discipline that's necessary to succeed. Put your ego aside and be willing to learn and to treat the craft - and the clients who trust the trained professionals with their skin and health - with respect.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Q: How did you come up with your username?

(no that's literally it fr LOL it's only cosmic luck that it wound up becoming so appropriate for what I do here LMAO)

Q: Can I read your other projects? 

A: You sure can, if you so dare! (and by that I mean they're incredibly outdated and probably not as fun to read or look at so tread with caution LOL) You can find my main hub with outgoing links here. I'm currently working on returning to my original projects and redrawing / rewriting a lot of stuff (fixing my OWN work instead of Rachel's!)

[tata-is-the-name]

Stinky B*tch (G.S Oneshot)

Characters: Gojo Satoru x Fem! reader

Summary: It was dinner time with your husband when your son has suddenly spouted such a derogatory word that has earned your disappointment for him. Hence, as Satoru had his man to man prattles with his child, turns out he was experiencing such upsetting situations no matter how you both try to let him live a normal youth unlike his father did.

Warnings: Fluff and giggles. Domesticated Gojo but still has the aspects of Jujutsu in it, your son has a potty mouth. Your son is spoiled because Gojo loves spoiling the heck out of his 'first' born, the son also has his abilities and skills, Gojo being a sucker for you and his son. He's also entirely whipped for you too.

A/N: This was a oneshot I have created 1-2 years ago. Enjoy this lovely, domesticated fluffy oneshot for Satoru Gojo. I'm missing him so bad, I think it's time I start writing again.

REBLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE SUPER-DUPER HIGHLY APPRECIATED! IT GIVES ME SUCH MOTIVATION! 

Words: 3.3k+

Disclaimer: Please do not repost any of my works on another website. (ALSO I AM CURRENTLY DRUNK SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT RECHECKING THE WHOLE THING HEHEHE)

"What was that?"

The strongest had felt his son take an obscure pebble that was trying to fuck up with his limitless and haphazardly threw it right at him, hitting him on the forehead without even his ability turned on. This disparaging activity being such a tactless occurrence he had experience in the first place.

"What did you just say to your mummy?"

There was nothing you could do but heave a heavy sigh, your temples beginning to ache from being confronted at such a rough time especially when you were handling two---no, scratch that---three children at once within your household.

One was an inevitable, intensive man-child, two was a budding reciprocation---the entirety or simply to say, a carbon-copy of Satoru Gojo in the flesh whilst the other...

...was an expected, budding princess ought to be born on earth on the succeeding month ahead.

Hence, which is why your son's fresh, thriving rebellious junctures weren't really helping a lot in your part when you were halfway through your pregnancy.

"Let me hear that again," Inchmeal, Satoru had announced like he was walking on a thread. His attempts to hoodwink on his son's caustic comment while the three of you were having supper. The disbelief heavy and lingering on his tongue, "...just one more time for daddy's in denial sake,"

With patent emphasis, Satoru had leaned back against his dining chair, crossed his taut arms and uncrossed his long legs, drooped before your son to raise the glass on preparing him for another reality check which has been happening back and forth. Gojo alsohad intentionally---well, dramatically dropped his metal chopsticks by hearing such malapert words coming out of his son's mouth during dinner. Hooked by the bolshie attitude that the child was giving towards you---the both of you---with him included since he felt like this also rebounded towards Satoru, also taking the verbose hits your son has declared.

"She's a she-devil." your son had repeated, paraphrasing his words because he had a gut feeling that it was a reckless mistake to have said it out loud. Though, your son still kept his tones utmost crude to the core and never backing down just like how Satoru would within the young, adolescence period and even during the present climate period when he was talking with the higher ups.

"No-no, not that. I think it started with a letter 'B'. Regardless, that's still a grotty thing to say to your momma'. But, thatwasn't what I really heard. That's not really it, I tell ya'." it felt like Satoru Gojo was confronting himself on this one. The churlish, audacious meeting him up through an imperishable wall made for him to break. "Don't go changing your words and put on your big boy pants right at this moment. If you're going to keep up with your presumptuous mouth with us---especially, with me around---at least, brag to me about it."

"---Momma's a bitchy stinker."your son stated point-blank, his bright, celestial blue eyes clashing with your husbands'. "...A bitchy...stinker." he repeated again, tone all flimsy now but persistent nevertheless.

You've weighed up the tremendous resemblance of your son and Satoru together and If he weren't yours---if you hadn't mothered this one; if you hadn't delivered this white haired boy with goodly, blest blue eyes, you would have been intimidated and felt otherworldly recognition by this child alone.

"Alright! Knew you were going to say it again and never surrender. That never runs in my blood. Our blood, lil 'bud. You're my son, a Gojo. What do I even expect?" Satoru pulled his wooden chair closer to the dining table, pulling between his manspreaded legs. The movement creating a loud squeak from how he heavily dragged it, making you and your son wince. His son's attitude towards you setting him off, "I really heard it loud and clear. First of all..." Your husband forewarn, taking quite a slow pace at it.

You've calmly laid your chopsticks down, sighing another. Your fisted knuckles supporting the weight of your face over the table as you silently watched the reprimanding scene unfold right before your very own eyes, pliable to witness your husband's admonishments for your son's disobedience which has been mushrooming in dreadful times and conditions.

"That was exceptionally rude of you." pause. "Very...very ill-bred, young man!"

"Like father, like son. I told you, Toru." you've droned, utmost feeling another nauseous headache coming in, "He's got all of your personality and behavior. Like when you were just a kid and even in this life time period. He's growing up in such an identical state and it's stressing me out. Were you really this toffee-nosed?"

Gojo seemed to be taken aback, his large palm dreading to be placed right above his chest as he dramatically reacted, "Toffee-nosed? How the hell would you know that, Sweets?! We haven't even met yet when I was a child!"

"Your face was really...kickable when you were around this age."

"Oi, oi, oi! I was extremely cute, adorable, handsome, cherubic and---!" he was immediately cut off from his own gasconading roisters before getting driven to distraction.

"You basically shown me your 'life stage' pictures. I've seen it and kept copies of it." you've languidly blinked back, turning your head away to take a glimpse upon your son again who was looking awfully familiar just like his father. Even with the way he was simply surveying both of your harmless banters, he was a hundred percent mirror image of Satoru.

He'd even had that off-putting, winsome grimace when your son was undeniably irked by what he witnesses around him.

No wonder your son's existence alone screams that he's Gojo Satoru's offspring.

"And?" your man-child husband quipped, nudging a lenient elbow alongside before leaning in, limbs embracing you with his warmth; his palm sailing across the peaked hill of your gravid tummy. Satoru had instigated a peck along your temple, sensing that you were coming close towards your grouchy, pregnancy state. "I was definitely cute, was I? you basically kept those birth pictures of mine! you just admitted it!"

"Pretty cute." you've wholeheartedly agreed, shrugging your shoulders and playing along. Sardonic verbal attacks bounded to be catapulted as you've taken your husband's chin, angling his mouth towards yours. All of a sudden, those hormones you're bearing through this pregnancy, desiring to receive kisses as you went on from giving him audible, sweet busses on his moisturized lips.

That he had gladly welcomed to take, expressing his ninny or simping zeals with audible giggles that buzzed when your lips collided for a short moment. Your husband's twitterpatted behavior terribly being seen as a cloying moment for your son to belch because he was in the midst of throwing a shit fit. If he was not caught in between his father's chiding situation, he would've reacted just like your husband would with things he did not like or agreed to.

Yet, given the circumstance, your son chose the latter because Satoru will---and most definitely would raise his feet upwards, head down over a skyscraping tower because Satoru eventually learned and vulnerably accepted not to be ashamed of experiencing this sort of emotions---true love that any other human deserved to have and he would not like his son to grow up being detached towards the idea of it all.

Hence, your husband was bound and devoted to show him that he was suitable to experience that too in the future.

You've stifled your grins, Satoru trying to with hold the mushy pecks through and through, yet you've halted him midway, making him press a bedewed kiss on your palm. Your mouth spitting sarcasm, "You were cute, but still, with a kickable, pretty, adorable rude face to begin with."

Satoru couldn't help but grouch at that.

His nose wincing. White brows furrowed together as his upper lip pursed to express his scowl, the appearance literally a dead ringer for what his son was appearing to be during present time.

You've shook your head at them, disdained by how the events switched by Satoru's tantivy, distracted opportunity. Your mere sweet kisses able to make him forget what he was ought to do in the first place, "Whatever, don't you BOTH go pouting at me tonight. I'm too stressed to handle this. Go deal with your son---,"

Gojo pursed his lip further, even competing with his son's brooding mood, "Ours. Our son. We made him both together." your husband sent an exaggerated huff, not even bothering to watch his mouth for the succeeding thought he wanted to make clear.

"---we made him both together when you were begging for me to breed you on December 17---my birthday---at exactly 12:24 AM when you roused me off our sleep cuddles with whiny shakes on my shoulders, planting needy kisses on my---!"

"Not---!" your husband's rebarbative rambles and PG 18+ recalls had you unprepared. You've given him the stink eye before continuing your train of thought, shushing him mid-sentence,"---until he learns to apologize for saying rude stuff right at my face while we're eating dinner." you've laid it down, settling it once and for all as you stood up with a hand over your round stomach, supporting the growing bun in the oven.

"Calling me a bitchy stinker for taking his toys and unlinking your bank account on Roblox."

"Roblox? Oh, that game. Was he just trying to buy something for himself? We're rich-y-rich. You could've let him have everything he wants, baby. It's fine."Satoru have droned, rodomontading the prosperous side he always had since birth.

You've stood your ground this time, the bad mood swings taken a thorough toll on you. Finally addressing the elephant in the room as to why your son began reacting that way when Satoru came home during dinner. As much as he could, Gojo was trying to at least cease the double duties because you were close to due date. But, also mainly keeping it not so surreptitious that he was being slothful at the same time.

"He was having multiple accounts, Toru. Cashing millions---come to think of it--- Millions of Robux that has been linked in your bank account just to make more accounts further. I asked him what he was going to do about it and he answered, 'nothing, Leave it be. Why are you even looking at my stuff anyway?' besides, what's he gonna do with millions of Robux? buy the game and be the developer instead?"

Your husband was quick to send his son a look, wiggling his frosty white brows like he had forgotten his entire reason upon why he began to admonish him from the very beginning, "What'cha say, bud? wanna be a stockholder of the game? or better yet..." Satoru playfully lingered his spiels, sounding like he was carrying on a top-secret information that only the both of them could hear.

"---wanna buy the Roblox Corporation for your well-being?"

Your son's eyes widened, all big and atrociously gleamering specks of blues with pinpricks of the firmament as well. Hedidn't even think twice upon nodding his head; his pouts quickly disappearing at that as he grinned just like his father was reciprocating him for.

"Can we poppa'?! Can we?!"

"Of course, we can. I can and I will. Always, for you. So, d'ya wanna?"

Knowing Satoru's spontaneity and adoration he has for his first born son---not even having the princess that was bound to be birthed out yet---your husband would do everything for the sake of his boy's delights and unnecessary requests.

"Don't go spoiling his crude mouth tonight, SA-TO-RU. I'm not in the mood." you've raised both of your hands, halfway as a gesture of surrender. Tone all done to avoid their immature behaviors. The emphasis on filling your husband's name per vowel was enough for Gojo to deeply assess that you were on the verge of having him sleep on the couch or beside his son's bed---probably being on the floors again.

Your husband had felt himself release a crooked grin that technically looked like you were bound to hit him with a pan tonight.

"On second thought!" Satoru had took one step on that reckless decision he had and after hearing your tones and recognizing that timbre and emphasis on the call of his birth name, the Gojo Satoru suddenly had his pace walking back two steps behind for that. The strongest sounding like he was being held back with a leash and tugging once or twice upon his own reigns, "...I'll decide on it until mummy' agrees to our secret business proposal, lil' bud. That's for sure! Heh. She comes down in favor for getting the verdict on this one."

"Spoil him when he has done good things. Bum, bad children don't deserve to get their toys back."

"That---that's not fair! I-I'm not a bum! DON'T CWALL ME A BUM. I'm not even a bad child, mummy!" your son have huffed out loud, words altering towards sounding gibberish like he was fighting off a quivering mouth, Though, there came along was a headstrong tantrum coming to pop out loud like fireworks in the sky that was ought to rebound along the four corners of the household as he kicked his foot together under the table, scraping them both in attempts to lever down his childish outbursts.

"Don't call me mummy, Goro. I'm a bitchy stinker, aren't I?"

Goro Gojo. That was what you and Satoru chose and agreed to name him when he was born to the world. The word Goro having to come from the word 'Enlightened son.'

"I'm also not your mummy for tonight. I don't recall having a mean, BAD son calling me a bitch anyway."

You've seen Goro's pouty lips entirely tremble at that, knowing he was bound to burst crying to his father soon. Perhaps, it was not all of Satoru's personality he had. The child partly also has yours with his heart being worn on his sleeves when stuff like this happens; whenever he creates his own mistakes.

Howbeit, you had to quickly turn around your heels and avoid the crestfallen image he was in, so you wouldn't be able to turn this chides into nonsense abiding that you've passed the responsibility onto your husband tonight.

Knowing damn well yourself, you would have grabbed and hugged him so tight just to stop him from wailing because of your serious, tongue-lashing. He was your son, after all. An absolute sweet one either if he was not caught up in his tantrums and for whatever reasons he had for all the purchases he did.

"Satoru," you've given your husband the side-eye, clearly getting the message with one pellucid call of his birth name, over and above that was the vague difference of your expressions and the way your body have started to strain in discomfited mannerisms that only Gojo could have the gumption for. "...I'll be in our room. I don't really feel good. You take charge for this matter. She's been kicking up a fuss inside me earlier this afternoon. You already know this, Pookie."

You were swift enough to leave the dining room. But, not before walking a few strides close to Satoru so you could lean down and give him a peck on the cheek. In which, he had grabbed onto your jaw, wanting more than just cheek kisses as his gaze settled for your lips with utmost deprivation for a succulent smooch, landing one as he audibly could.

"I get it. Go rest, Sweets. Leave him to me. It's nothing I couldn't handle anyway." he reached out for another, his hand rested alongside your jaw, firm but gentle. "...Mmh, love you,"

"I love you too, Toru. I trust you on this. Be serious about it, kay?" there was another pause that had Satoru spit out a flurry, breathy laugh, "...or you're getting your shut-eye in the brisk, solitary guest room tonight and not even beside your son anymore because he's going to be taking your spot on the mattress."

With that, you've left the dining room, leaving all the young, whippersnapper pitches to Satoru's part for tonight.

"Ah, see what you did," your husband started, the echoes of your pit-a-pats fading as you walked away. Your son manifesting a delinquent child before Satoru with his cheerless aura, "...and that was all because of your rude mouth. Now, you gotta' deal with the consequences when you choose to argue with mummy, lil' bud."

It was best to say that getting you riled up was not the best idea despite of Satoru being a teacher. To be honest, he was rather a lenient one in terms of a well-deserved rap on the knuckles towards his students and especially---most importantly, with his child.

Your husband intentionally had to sigh out loud for his uncivil demeanors, never even managing to finish half of his sentence when his own son had cut him off from the white lies he was delusional about, "...This is the time you should listen to me because I rarely gamble with mummy's fiery episodes---,"

"Didn't we slept together in the same room last night, poppa'?" Goro had pondered, blinking out his wide peepers back with a snotty sniff, trying to stifle upon crying out loud when it was finally the time for Satoru to handle his paroxysm of weepings, "I remember your cursed spirit cradle tales last night while you snuggled with me on the floors!"

"That's not the point of all this, it's not about me this time. Let's forget about that for a while. Forget about the darn cursed spirits just this once," your husband had cleared his throat, paving to massage the nape of his neck from being called out by his own son, "Listen to me, Goro---my precious, handsome lil' bud,"

"Isn't this partly also because of you? you've been saying you were cute and all when momma' have been telling that it were all lies..."

"Hey!" Gojo had straightened on his seat, the chair squeaking once again as he crossed his legs, a reprimanding forefinger pointed right back towards your son in attempts to give him an earful that he should've been grateful that he was his father, "You better thank me for your exceptional genes you got there!"

Howbeit, Satoru never expected his honesty---such uprightness for what he felt the past few weeks when he started going to a normal kinder garden school that the both of you decided that he should have during his budding age.

"I should've looked like mummy instead," your son woefully whispered, catching Satoru off-guard that he had to audibly state his confusion out loud with a 'huh?', his hands motioning over his ears as if it has been plugged, Goro's candor turning him impaired to his hearing. The integrity of your son seemed to inherit from your genetics, yet his sheer bluntness for all appeared to be taken from Satoru.

"All the kids have been avoiding me and calling me a pretentious, rich, weirdo for this freaky white hair and glowing eyes and that I excel a whole lot with everything even if I try not to." your son begun swinging his feet under the wooden table, his robicund cheeks aired to the fore as he continued to grump. His head bowed down, avoiding the pondering surveys his father was giving him, "---They don't even try to be friends with me anymore. I only have online friends in my Roblux account, I just wanted to send gifts to my online friends so they won't leave me be because I---I feel very lonely,"

Occurring for the first time, Satoru could not procure himself to utter out a word or two for hearing his own son's school of thought that calls attention to what he was currently experiencing during his second to third week education in a traditional, garden-variety nursery school.

To say that Satoru also had his winded, big, celestial peepers blinking back at his son like he had domain expansion-ed his father was enough to establish that Gojo have been lost in his thoughts, static with his movements and halted to breath as if all the air in his lungs were being taken away by how his precious lil' boy have been coming up against that damned pre-k school.

"I love you and mummy so much. I don't want to be a meanie, bwad, bum child." Goro had frowned, this time it deepened; this time, it was rebuilt to convey his slumped, deep-dejection for a childish belief that is downright, misleading and untrue. "Does this mean that mummy doesn't love me any more? does she hate me now?"

"I-I-I," he hiccupped, fat tears falling as his feet swung faster beneath the wooden chair. His son's cries turning into heart-aching snivels that Satoru could definitely not handle the sight because of how desolated he really is. Goro's precious, ardent weeping making his own father purse his lip, reciprocating a pained pout, "---l-love mummy and daddy', I love you both...I---I didn't even mwean what I said to mummy at all. I---I love mummy so much just like you do.I---I'M SWORRY. I'm never saying it agwain!"

Your son have rubbed all his snot and tears away with his clothed arm, garbed in his favorite jacket that he always loved to wear outside and even around the house. With things being what they are, it was now stained by his guilt and despair for rash, puerile mistakes that his parents are now admonishing him for.

Goro sniffed a lot louder, his upper lip damped with his runny nose that he had done to himself for turning on the waterworks tonight, his own emotional outbursts being on the line and hanging onto the child's heart strings, "That whole entire kindergarden school s-swucks. I-I dwon't wanna study there. Can't I study where uncle Megumi learns instead so we could play all day and I could play with his colorful shadow p-pets?"

I FEEL SO BAD RN. I FEEL LIKE I'M THE VILLAIN HERE---THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TURN THIS WAY---I'M SORRYYYYYYYY T_T I'M IN BETWEEN AWEING AND ALSO SQUINTING MY EYES BECAUSE OUR SON WITH SATORU CALLED US A STINKY BITCH---T_T  

Anyways...

If y'all want to chat with me over specific topics, DON'T BE SHY TO SEND AN ASK! I DON'T BITE! HEEHEE.

SEND AN ASK!

[nyancrimew]

Hi!!

I’ve been super inspired by your blog and want to try coding my own personal website from scratch, I’m just not sure where to go for hosting it! Is Wordpress a must even without using templates? Every resource on this turns out to be an ad for Squarespace. What worked for you/what would you recommend?

Thank you!

hi hi, i put the source code for my website up on github yesterday (link below), and as most personal blogs by like nerdy folks it doesn't use a CMS or anything but a static site generator (in my case eleventy) which allows you to write blog posts and stuff in templates with usually markdown and then compiles it all to static html files so your site requires barely any resources and doesn't really have ANY attack surface. feel free to look at how i did my site to get a bit of an idea of the possibilities!

[captdedeyes]

Friendly reminder that Wix.com is an Israeli-based company (& some website builders to look into instead)

I know the BDS movement is not targeting Wix.com specifically (see here for the companies they're currently boycotting) but since Wix originated in Israel as early as 2006, it would be best to drop them as soon as you can.

And while you're at it, you should leave DeviantArt too, since that company is owned by Wix. I deleted my DA account about a year ago not just because of their generative AI debacle but also because of their affiliation with their parent company. And just last month, DA has since shown their SUPPORT for Israel in the middle of Israel actively genociding the Palestinian people 😬

Anyway, I used to use Wix and I stopped using it around the same time that I left DA, but I never closed my Wix account until now. What WAS nice about Wix was how easy it was to build a site with nothing but a drag-and-drop system without any need to code.

So if you're using Wix for your portfolio, your school projects, or for anything else, then where can you go?

Here are some recommendations that you can look into for website builders that you can start for FREE and are NOT tied to a big, corporate entity (below the cut) 👇👇

Carrd.co

This is what I used to build my link hub and my portfolio, so I have the most experience with this platform.

It's highly customizable with a drag-and-drop arrangement system, but it's not as open-ended as Wix. Still though, it's easy to grasp & set up without requiring any coding knowledge. The most "coding" you may ever have to deal with is markdown formatting (carrd provides an on-screen cheatsheet whenever you're editing text!) and section breaks (which is used to define headers, footers, individual pages, sections of a page, etc.) which are EXTREMELY useful.

There's limits to using this site builder for free (max of 2 websites & a max of 100 elements per site), but even then you can get a lot of mileage out of carrd.

mmm.page

This is a VERY funny & charming website builder. The drag-and-drop system is just as open-ended as Wix, but it encourages you to get messy. Hell, you can make it just as messy as the early internet days, except the way you can arrange elements & images allows for more room for creativity.

Straw.page

This is an extremely simple website builder that you can start from scratch, except it's made to be accessible from your phone. As such, the controls are limited and intentionally simple, but I can see this being a decent website builder to start with if all you have is your phone. The other options above are also accessible from your phone, but this one is by far one of the the simplest website builders available.

Hotglue.me

This is also a very simple & rudimentary website builder that allows you to make a webpage from scratch, except it's not as easy to use on a mobile phone.

At a glance, its features are not as robust or easy to pick up like the previous options, but you can still create objects with a simple double click and drag them around, add text, and insert images or embeds.

Mind you, this launched in the 2010s and has likely stayed that way ever since, which means that it may not have support for mobile phone displays, so whether or not you wanna try your hand at building something on there is completely up to you!

Sadgrl's Layout Editor

sadgrl.online is where I gathered most of these no-code site builders! I highly recommend looking through the webmaster links for more website-building info.

This simple site builder is for use on Neocities, which is a website hosting service that you can start using for free. This is the closest thing to building a site that resembles the early internet days, but the sites you can make are also responsive to mobile devices! This can be a good place to start if this kind of thing is your jam and you have little to no coding experience.

Although I will say, even if it sounds daunting at first, learning how to code in HTML and CSS is one of the most liberating experiences that anyone can have, even if you don't come from a website scripting background. It's like cooking a meal for yourself. So if you want to take that route, then I encourage to you at least try it!

Most of these website builders I reviewed were largely done at a glance, so I'm certainly missing out on how deep they can go.

Oh, and of course as always, Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[velvetwyrme]

hi its bugwars i give my official endorsement for the rpf [robot person fanfiction] fic idea. if you write it i will work very hard pressing buttons and keys in order to send it to everybody. and ill hoot and holler and cheer also and clap but you cant hear that. and maybe steal like 10 bucks to throw at you.

this is not a bribe, legally, but also if you wish to discuss or talk about the concept any further that would be awesome because it sounds really cool.

YOURS TRULY,

A MILLION BUG WARS EVERY DAY

HIII BUGWARS ANON!

i will absolutely take the chance to chatter abt this fic because it's PLAGUING me again. who knows if/when ill write it but i like thinking abt it and the potential dynamics of it.

thank u for ur interest and endorsement (and theoretical 10 stolen dollars HFJFHD) i got distracted reading >300k words of jazzwave fic in 2 days and also getting way too invested in this potential plot dont mind me.

anyway i didn't actually have any plans for this but then i started typing and then i KEPT having ideas so. im throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks

endgame jazzwave/reader because i like polys <3

the MC is a fanfiction writer who focuses on writing about the big robots that are not-so-secretly hanging about on Earth. originally i thought that the MC would write Jazzwave but... I think it's far far funnier if what they actually write is xReader fic. (Maybe also other ship stuff, but primarily reader inserts)

Jazz keeps tabs on human forums talking about Cybertronians, both for personal interest (culture is fascinating!!) but also to keep track of what public opinion is about both factions.

Eventually he stumbles across some people talking about another ✨Secret✨ forum/website... the discussion is quickly shut down (suspicious in itself!) but Jazz still figures it out and accesses it, only to realise...

It's fanfiction. It's a forum dedicated to RPF about Cybertronians. Strange, but not entirely unexpected. He's honestly surprised he HASN'T seen any up until now.

He begins reading (for cultural understanding, of course. He needs to know what humans think of them :])

... and eventually stumbles across a really really good fic, with just one caveat.

It's a Soundwave/Reader.

It's a little weird, reading a romantic fic about Soundwave in particular, especially one where the reader is supposed to imagine a romance with him... but it's relatively popular and well, he's curious.

(Jazz gets really invested.)

The fic details a softer side to Soundwave and the thing is... Jazz has seen that side of him. Soundwave cares deeply for his cassettes and he is fully aware just how far Soundwave will go to protect them and... this fic opens his mind up to the possibility of someone else also having that same protection and care shown towards them. and if that makes him feel some sorta way, nobody has to know

At some point while reading, Jazz realises that the descriptions of some of the Decepticon and Autobot plans/tactics are suspiciously accurate.

Like as in "these descriptions of battles and tactics are surprisingly detailed" almost to the point of "goddamn it War Thunder not again" type of accurate.

So he begins to wonder... who's the one writing this and why do they know so much? Are they a spy? Are they getting insider information? Is Soundwave behind this?

Elsewhere, Soundwave has also taken note of the fanfics cropping up. He's largely paid it no mind, what humans create is of no concern... until now.

He reads the fic, and is taken aback by how genuine and SOFT they portray him. It's... rather endearing really.

I also think it would be. really funny if Jazz is sent to question/interrogate you, and appears in his holoform, intending to keep it casual, but you recognize him immediately because. why wouldn't you.

(section from my scratch doc, lightly implied suggestive themes)

Things happen (presumably. Decepticons.) and the interrogation is interrupted and Jazz must flee w/ you :]

Soundwave watches from the sidelines, having found that the reader's writing resonated with him in an unexpected way, and he is intrigued at the way you seem to look at the world and view him in turn

things happen! you and Jazz get to know each other better, having taken you to a safe house since he can't just take you to the Autobot base

Cue conversations and bonding :D!!Eventually Jazz does come to the conclusion that you aren't involved with Soundwave, which is... of course when he decides to show up.

No idea how things would go down past this but im thinking of the Yearnign they all experience. Soundwave growing protective over the reader and quietly getting to know them as Jazz flirts more unabashedly with both of them as he slowly comes to realise oh no he actually does like both of them

i also think it'd be fun to have a subplot surrounding the reader's mysterious beta reader/friend who provides insights and suggestions for their fics, particularly to do with military strategy as well as acting as a sounding board for relationship dynamics. the reader has never met them and doesn't know anything more than a screen name. and the mystery deepens when jazz ot soundwave is unable to track down this elusive figure, who is a veritable ghost on the internet :]

other things that may or may not fit, but i think are funny to think about:

slowly figuring out/revealing which other autobots/decepticons frequent the fanfic forums (obvious ones being thundercracker and first aid, but there are so many other good options.)

megatron and optimus reading fics about each other and yearning in the background (inverse of what happens in a lot of MegOp fics where Jazzwave is happening in the bg)

jazz somehow ends up in a conversation with soundwave in which jazz asks if soundwave knows abt the reader's fanfic- isn't it detrimental to his cool and mysterious demeanor? and soundwave is just like "... why were you reading soundwave/reader fics?"

anyway im abt to pass out while typing this so im just posting this now, if theres more i forgot ill add it tmr morning or whenever

[the-witchy-housewife]

｡+*✧ The Basics of Spiritual Safety & Wellbeing✧*+｡

This is an article from my website, The Witchy Housewife. You can read it at the source here or look under the cut to read it here on Tumblr. If you enjoy my work, please consider subscribing (at the bottom of this page) to receive articles as they're posted via e-mail, exploring the shop, leaving a tip, or reblogging this post. I run this all myself, so all support is greatly appreciated. 💜🔮✨

When asked the most important place to begin as a newcomer to the craft, to energy work, or even to simply walking a more spiritual path, more experienced practitioners will often share the basics of their magickal tool cabinet, suggest a bouquet of book titles and YouTube channels, or state plainly that the only correct answer is to let your heart and soul guide you. Only occasionally do I see or hear these types of questions answered with the recommendation to familiarize oneself with spiritual safety and wellbeing prior to diving head-first. But matters of protection, I feel, are one of the most important things to study up on when starting out, and today, I’d like to share my own thoughts and advice on the topic.

Cleansing, Purification, & Banishing

As I define them in my practice: To cleanse is to rid a person, place, or thing of stagnant, unwanted, draining, counterproductive, or otherwise negative energies or entities (though positive energies will often accompany them), to purify is to return a person, place, or thing to its original energetic state, and to banish is to cleanse by authoritative expulsion or removal using an outward-pushing energy. You may find others who define these terms differently or use these words interchangeably, but this is how I have come to define them, each offering their own unique function in my workings. If you are looking at correspondences in my digital grimoire, these energetic properties can be found in items marked as cleansing, restoration, and banishment respectively.

A cleansing may be performed when you find that energies are stagnant, stuffy, or negative. Unpleasant energies like these can be responsible for inviting in equally unpleasant entities, hindering the results of energetic workings, creating a state of mental or emotional discomfort, brewing a heavy tension in the air, or even causing feelings of sickness in those who are particularly sensitive. As such, it is usually recommended that cleansings be performed on a regular basis – especially if you live in a space that is regularly exposed to more negative energies. Some common methods of cleansing utilize the smoke of cleansing herbs (alternatively, a spray), water infused with cleansing herbs, or simply a visualization of brilliant white light – and this is just barely scratching the surface. As with many rituals, there are hundreds of methods of cleansing out there for you to explore, and it is paramount to choose one – or even create one – that works for you. Let your intention – your goal – be your guiding force. As a general rule, if you are putting your intention into it and you are going about it in a way that feels intuitively compatible, you will more than likely see the results you are looking for.

Often, cleansing – similarly to banishing – will result in a feeling of emptiness. You are essentially scrubbing the present energies “clean”, including energies that may be more positive. On the other hand, you may wish to perform a purification, or restoration, of a person, place, or thing if the goal is to reverse any energetic damage that may have been done while still retaining those unique individual energies. For this, you would utilize restorative herbs instead of cleansing ones and focus your intention accordingly. It seems it is common for practitioners to opt for cleansing over purification – and even more common for the terms to be defined as one and the same – but I enjoy having this as a separate option when it is needed. In my practice, this process typically comes into play when I want to remove any absorbed energies from a crystal, charm, or tool but would like to preserve its core energies as much as possible.

Finally, banishment is used when you want to push an energy or entity out of a particular space, and in this case, the original energies seem to remain wholly unchanged. For this reason, some practitioners choose to also perform a cleansing beforehand. Like cleansing, there are many methods of banishment out there that you can give a try, though the most commonly passed-around is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (or LBRP) of ceremonial magick, sometimes given different flavors for different systems.

Enchanting & Blessing

The emptiness of a cleansing or banishing can feel pleasant enough, but I find that this sometimes allows unwanted energies to creep back in more easily. A blank slate becomes anyone’s game, so to speak. To mitigate this, you may choose to preemptively imbue the space with more intentionally – and typically positive – energies. For this, we use enchantment or blessings. To enchant is to fill a person, place, or thing with intentional (but not necessarily positive) energies, and to bless is to enchant with fresh, positive, and often divine energies.

Enchantment is one of those foundational things that is pretty crucial to get the hang of when first starting out in a magickal practice, and all it entails is focusing on an intention and willing the energy of that intention to fill the person, place, or thing being enchanted. To a beginner, this can be more difficult, which is why it is also important to learn what these subtle energies can feel like to you. Skipping this step can sometimes deter people away from magick altogether. Lady Gravedancer, one of my favorite witches on YouTube, has an excellent video on learning to work with and sense these subtle energies. If this is all new to you, I highly recommend it.

Typically, though, a blessing is more what we’re looking for post-cleansing – positive, even divine, energies that inspire a sense of wellbeing. If you work with deities, you may also like to ask them to bestow their own blessings in your stead or beside you. Otherwise, it’s just enchantment with a wholly positive intention, but if the idea of a blessing feels too religious for your comfort, stick with “enchantment” and don’t let semantics bog you down.

Warding, Shielding, & Cloaking

In all cases, I tend to feel that the energies we’re working through are not being totally destroyed, but are rather either transmuted, deterred, or even just fragmented. In my opinion, it is usually a good idea to follow up your cleansings or banishments with the re-energizing of your wards. To ward is to create an energetic protective barrier around a person, place, or thing as a semi-passive and long-term protective measure, to shield is to create a more short-term ward that surrounds a personal, place, or thing entirely and is envisioned as a bubble, and to cloak is to make a person, place, or thing energetically “invisible” or “irrelevant” to wandering energies or entities so that interests are directed elsewhere. You can find relevant correspondences in my digital grimoire marked as protection, security, and invisibility.

Warding can be thought of as the closing and locking of your spiritual entryway, though it is often done with the intention to protect from more than just matters of the spiritual. I’ve known people to create physical barriers around properties using salt and/or eggshells with protective herbs as a base and visualizing their wards rising from that barrier. You might also like to bury protective crystals at the four corners of the property for that additional kick. But once again, there are so many methods out there that it really comes down to personal preference.

I tend to think of shielding – or bubbling, as some call it – as a more short-term and active form of warding. Shielding is especially useful as an emergency layer of protection when out and about or as an additional layer over your personal wards in outings that you suspect will be energetically taxing. Where wards are thought of as great and powerful walls, shields are typically thought of as entire bubbles surrounding a person, place, or thing on all sides. If you’re an empath like me – which is a sometimes-misrepresented term I’ll get into in a future article – shielding is a good practice to have in your pocket for going out into crowded environments, whether that crowd is physical, as in a theme park, or spiritual, as in a hospital. Whatever visualization you choose to use for warding, your shielding process can tend to be similar, and much of it, again, comes down to the intention. It is often the case, though, that this process takes more energy to conduct, and thus, if you choose to keep up a more permanent shield, it may require more care and more frequent energetic charging than your wards do.

Cloaking is something I don’t see discussed very often, but it can be very useful to consider when you are trying to be energetically off the radar. And obviously, I am not suggesting you go about doing sneaky, unsavory things. Instead, cloaking may be more beneficial for avoiding unnecessary conflict with nosy neighbors, finding peace to work in a coffee shop, or subduing the attention that can come from large-scale energetic workings. And as always, you may choose to hand-pick some herbs, crystals, or other mystical tools for this purpose, but the recommended visualization varies a bit from that typical bright light you may be used to working with. In the case of invisibility, you may choose to envision the person, place, or thing fading out of view or to mentally play the situation at hand out exactly as you wish it to transpire.

Safety Tips for Spirit Work

Certainly, if you plan to do spirit work – a line of spiritual work in which will regularly involve energies and entities completely independent of you – these concepts may be more important to familiarize yourself with than with someone whose only spiritual endeavor is manifesting a little extra spending money every once in a while. Aspiring spirit worker, the following tips are for you:

• As per the point of this article, it’s a good idea to have your preferred protective methods at the ready prior to actively working with spirits. This, of course, does not mean that your methods cannot change over time – but when starting out, you should find a method that is compatible with you and gets you the results you need. Once chosen, try to become familiar enough with it that you can cast it off-book in the event of some sort of spiritual emergency.

• As a spirit worker, you’ll want to cleanse your tools, your space, and yourself very regularly. My preference in my practice is at least once a month and more frequently if I feel it is necessary. Even if you aren’t involved with spirit work, regular cleansings are a good habit to get into, but it is especially important for those inviting a large number of outside influences into their home.

• Get to know your spirit guide(s), and keep them close during any sort of spirit work. I’ve heard from many people who feel that the connection you have with your guide(s) has a sort of solidity to it that can override other communications the moment you ask for it, and I myself have not yet seen evidence to the contrary. If you ever feel uneasy about a communication and are in need of a second opinion on who or what you may be speaking to, ask your guide(s) to come through and communicate with you. Still, as we communicate between realms, discernment is a necessary skill to develop, and having protections in place is always a good idea, regardless of whether you choose to involve your guide(s) or work on your own. If you are completely new to the idea of spirit guides, I do plan to write an article on the topic in the future – but in the meantime, if you’re interested in meeting yours, Lady Gravedancer also has a wonderful video featuring a ritual for communicating with your guides for the first time.

• You may also want to look into the idea of casting a circle (another topic I’ll likely be discussing here in the future). While an entire ritual may not be in the cards for your practice, it may help you to develop some alternative ideas for shielding the space around you during active spirit work. In doing so, you maintain greater control over what is permitted to enter. Afterwards, be sure to say your goodbyes and to close up your circle and any portals you may have opened to avoid uninvited visitors outside of working hours. If you are someone who chooses to always leave your space open to visitation – and some people do – be aware that anything can enter and be prepared for the circumstances that could stem from this.

• If you are someone who allows certain spirits to reside in your home – what I refer to as my “spirit family” – I think it is a hospitable gesture to let those spirits know when you are going to be performing a cleansing or banishing. I can’t imagine that having your energy forcefully transmuted or shoved out the door would be a terribly comfortable thing to experience, so I think of it as a sort of courtesy that exhibits the respect I have for them. This will give them a chance to temporarily leave the space of their own volition while you go through your routine. Alternatively, if you have a special space set up for your spirit family like I do, you may choose to shield that space with the intention for their energies to remain unaffected by the cleansing. I’m not sure that it’s the most perfect method, but it’s one that I’ve found to work well for my spirit family thus far. In both cases, there are those who would argue that this gives unwanted entities a chance to temporarily leave or take shelter within the shield, as well, but I tend to feel that my spirit family would act accordingly to keep our home safe. It is their home, too, after all.

Despite popular Hollywood tropes, working with spirits doesn’t necessarily equate to “terrifying and dangerous” – but this does not mean it is without its risks. And just as you wouldn’t find your way into a dark alley in the middle of the night without some pepper spray, it’s likely not a good idea to invite spirits into your home without compatible defense measures in place.

Safety Tips for Energy Work

Energy work, in general, tends to have the odd side effect of making you a sort of beacon in the realm of the spiritual – and the more you do, the more your energy builds, the more your awareness expands, and the brighter your whole being shines. No matter the level you find yourself at spiritually, the following tips are for you (though feel absolutely free to read through the previous section, as well; the additional knowledge can only benefit you):

• Whether it be through tarot, runes, pendulums, spirit boards, prayer, or some other form of divination you find useful, it is wonderfully wise to seek guidance regarding any workings you do. This practice can help you to avoid unwanted outcomes, to avoid manifesting something you may not truly want, and to uncover exactly what it is you need to add or take away from your workings to bring you the results that you are looking for.

• Keep a journal of what works and what doesn’t in your practice and of any intuitive insights you receive that you feel may be important. Your spiritual path is a deeply personal one, and one person’s experience will likely never be perfectly identical to another’s. There is an abundance of wonderful advice out there. There are many methods out there that work very well for many as-is. But at the end of the day, you must discover what works best for you, even if that is different from the teachings of the majority. Be sure to keep track of it.

• Be mindful of loopholes, especially in manifestation workings. Being too specific can sometimes be ineffective, but not being specific enough has the potential to cause even bigger issues. Manifestation, I find, tends to take the path of least resistance, so when putting your energies out there, you want to be sure your intentions don’t put anyone in harm’s way. Again, divination can be a wonderful source of guidance prior to your workings.

• If you are going to be working with negative intentions of any kind – which is something I don’t advise for a number of reasons, and especially not for beginners – be sure to deep-cleanse yourself and the space the spell or ritual took place in. In addition, it’s generally a good idea to not keep any items used in the working on or near your property. Also know that there are other options, like justice workings, that can be done in place of this. Sometimes when we feel very upset or very angry, we speak or act irrationally and come to regret it later. This can also be true for spellwork, but the results can sometimes be a lot more devastating. Ultimately, I cannot stop you from doing what you feel you must, but at the very least, I hope you’ll think things through.

• Finally, this may seem like common-sense, but don’t let your spiritual practice throw off balance in your life. The realm of the physical has its own value and importance, and that certainly includes your health and wellbeing. If you find yourself neglecting your health, your hygiene, your friends and family, your responsibilities, or your other hobbies, it may be necessary to take a break or dial it back until you’re able to find a good balance.

A Regular Cleansing Practice

You may have already seen this in my article on making the home more magickal, but I thought it would be good to include, here as well. The following are my two most often-used cleansing rituals – one which I perform monthly, and the other as-needed:

My Monthly Cleansing Ritual: I perform this ritual on the first of each month. Any cleansing tools to be charged on the altar should be set at least a day before performing the cleansing. The morning of, weather permitting, open windows and play uplifting music or cleansing affirmations, frequencies, or subliminals of choice. Take a cleansing shower. Clean the home as you normally would. When physical cleaning is complete, use a smoke or spray cleansing blend of choice, walking with intention from room-to-room. Pay special mind to corners and doorways. I like to use sound cleansing – bells, drums, or even snapping your fingers will do – in these spaces to really ensure the breaking up of any “stuck” energies. If you are someone who performs banishing rituals, you may choose to do so now. At this point, I also take a moment to cleanse myself, particularly as an empath. I then tend to my wards by first taking a blessed salt blend around the perimeter of the property, followed by sitting at the center of the property and funneling my own energy into the ward. If you would prefer to instead bless first and ward after, feel free to do so. It is your ritual, after all. Regardless of which order you perform the ritual in, the blessing process may be a deeply personal one, so this is a step I suggest thinking on a bit rather than following to the letter. In my ritual, I use a spray with positive energy-promoting herbs (as well as herbs that may promote the intention I wish to set for the month) and follow up with prayer to my deities. If you’re interested in a more in-depth look at my Monthly Cleansing Ritual, I do have detailed instructions available on my Monthly Blessings Patreon.

My As-Needed Cleansing Ritual: This is essentially a truncated version of my monthly ritual. If the energies are something I’ve tracked in or absorbed too much of, I will take a cleansing shower first. Following this, perform your usual smoke or spray cleansing, focusing especially on any room(s) that may be the most abundant in the energy that brought about this need for an emergency cleanse. You may also like to perform a shorter version of your regular blessing ritual. Unless the situation is really dire, I will generally stick to my spray in this case.

Just to reiterate, all of the information, including these rituals, are from my own practice and my own experience. You must do what works for you if you want to get the absolute best results and the most fulfilling experience. Take what serves you, and leave the rest. Much love and many blessings to you on your journey. Take care of yourself.

[my-darling-boy]

Oh my, your ipad looks so beautiful!!! Does the clock move?? Do the pigeons have actual notifications?? If so: pls share your ressources!! (By that I mean how you did it, not the actual pngs although if you want…….. haha)

Ahh thanks! The clock does move. Unfortunately the apps won’t have the little red notifications because they’re either shortcuts or widgets. It’s way easier than I thought to configure, it’s just that designing pretty much everything from scratch like I did takes forever…

It’s mostly the “shortcuts” app that comes standard now with iOS. It allows you to create a shortcut to any downloaded app, a website, or device function/setting, and more (much like you’d do for your desktop icons). When adding the shortcut to your Home Screen, you can set a photo from your camera roll as the app icon. Once you have the nice custom app, you can get rid of the ugly one by editing your home screen and tapping “remove app from home screen” and it will put it in your App Library, you can put it back when you want. Do not tap the red delete, or it will actually delete the app.

The larger apps like the maps and mail pigeon are actually app launcher widgets from PhotoWidget (which is free) where you can also set a custom picture. I just wanted some apps to be larger else I would’ve just done them with the above method. The film reel dock is just a longer 4 app option of the same widget. The app you want to link has to be in the options they give you though so not everything is on there. The big photos can be still or can play a slideshow, and my clock and calendar are also from there, but they sadly don’t link to your device app versions of them. It does a lot more as well but you’d have to check it out, I think it’s surprisingly good for being free.

Color Widgets was the only other one I used which has a subscription sadly but seems to be the most widely used app for overhauling your theme and the only reason why I wanted it was because it allows you to use a big photo widget as a shortcut to an app (like the note paper to my notes and the telegraph key to my messages) but again the linked app also has to be on their supported list. It seems to be really buggy since the new iOS update at least for me so tbh unless you’re really wanting a big photo to shortcut to an app, I’d pass.

If you’re not extremely particular like I am and just want better app icons, a nice clock/calendar widget, some photo widgets, and nice wallpaper, I’d just use the shortcuts app and PhotoWidget, both are free. You can definitely pay to get theme packs online where people upload asset packs (app icons, wallpapers, pictures, etc) and it’s just a matter of you putting them where they need to go or you can draw your own. There are way better explanations online than I could give here, I’m sure someone’s got a different way of doing it, but that’s loosely what I did!

[ezrawip]

selfshippers!! <3 i found a website/app that might be of help to your daydreams and scenarios!

if you like listening to ambiences on youtube but you'd rather change a thing or two, or you cant find something extremely specific you'd like, i recommend ambient mixer !

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it has sounds for every fandom, and if you don't find what you're looking for, you can always build one yourself 🙂‍↕️

it uses a simple tagging system, and it's mostly sorted out by categories (it's easier to filter what you want, though you can't filter out stuff)

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let's use one of mine as example. (actually, i edited someone's elses ambience to fit better. you can do that too! i credited the person in the description, though)

as you can see, it's tagged under movies and series > superhero movies (it's based off the show titans). i also added tags related to it!

you can add a little description under, and some people (such as myself) like to make it into a little fanfic :3

when you click to listen, you also have the option to edit the original audios.

it looks complicated, but i promise it's more fun than anything else. i'll break it down briefly to help people understand :33

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here we have the audios and their names. if you want to change anything (or add one, in case you're making it from scratch), you'll tap here.

and then you have an infinity of sounds that you can use to create whatever you're imagining! :)

if you're using earphones, you can pick a side for the sound to come through. it adds to perspective and is nice for making specifics. also, you can regulate the volume in case you want something sounding more distant or close by.

if you want an audio to repeat smoothly, you can choose the crossfade option. this is mostly used for raining, wind, anything that doesn't necessarily stop in the scenario.

you can also pick when you want a sound to come through, or how many times in a set limit (like an ambulance in a city ambience).

once you create an account, everything you make will be on your dashboard. you can also save ambiences that you like by voting (the 'vote now' option right under the image).

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that was it !! :3 the app has less ads, but you have limited functions if compared to the browser version. you can also exit the navigator and still keep listening to whatever ambience you picked as well.

baii (⁠人–ᴗ–)

[runesinthenight]

Crystal Buying Rock Guide - Are you getting what you pay for?

I went to a rock shop at the mall recently so I thought I would make a guide for all the crystal healing girlies (gender neutral) so you guys know if what you're getting is what they say it is. Now, there's probably going to be some stuff I missed but this should cover some of the more common things, and some of the stuff that stuck out to me while I wandered the store. So here is some advice from a geologist on how to spot fake or misleading rocks when at the store.

Note: This does not extend to cut gemstones. Gemology is a whole separate field and while I know a lot about rocks and minerals, cut gems are a whole separate ballpark and you'll need a gemstone expert to tell you what to look out for. This is for hand specimens, primarily rough, tumbled, or polished.

Turquoise

Not everything that's labeled as turquoise is actually turquoise the mineral, some of it is just a rock that is turquoise the color. The most common example is going to be howlite, a naturally white rock which can easily be dyed. Here are some examples of dyed howlite.

Another mineral which could be dyed to look like turquoise is magnesite. That looks like this.

Now, both of these minerals can look similar to turquoise (and it can be hard to see the difference on images alone) but there are some ways you can tell if you're looking at real turquoise or not. One is to look at the matrix as it's not the same for all three minerals. Howlite is also slightly harder than turquoise (6.5 vs. turquoise's 5-6) while magnesite is much softer at 3.5-4.5, but most shops don't like you scratching their rocks. And if they're polished, the polish will mess up your scratch test. Turquoise can also be heavier than a comparable size of howlite while magnesite is heavier than both of them

Best indicator is price. Real turquoise is much more expensive, especially for good quality pieces. The large chunk of magnesite sold on an auction website for $41. Real turquoise that size could easily sell for around 10 times that price.

Here are some examples of what turquoise looks like so you can compare.

Blue Obsidian

Look, I'm going to be real with you, there's a very high chance this is just glass. While obsidian can be blueish, it is going to be translucent, not transparent. What that means is that some light will pass through but it won't be clear like glass. If you see a piece labeled blue obsidian and it looks like any of these below, that's glass (and yes, these images I'm pulling from google were all labeled as blue obsidian).

Goldstone and Blue Goldstone

I feel like more people know this but, in case people don't, these are glass. These do not exist in nature. They're pretty, I won't argue with that, but they are entirely man made. So nothing against them, buy them if you like how they look, but if you are looking for natural rocks, these aren't that.

Rainbow Rocks

If you see rocks that have a brilliant rainbow shine to them, they're probably been treated. So things like aura quartz are quartz points or clusters that have been coated with a metal and treated to create pretty colors. I've seen titanium mentioned as one of the primary metals used. Mineral is likely real but the color certainly is not.

Bornite (may also be called Peacock Ore)

Bornite is a very beautiful mineral which can be blue, purple, or a coppery red, with the blue and purple being caused by tarnishing of the surface. However, it oxidizes quickly, becoming black. So if you have a piece which is beautiful all over, no tarnishing or anything, that's acid-treated chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite tends to be a bronze color but also tarnishes to blue or purple naturally. These are not natural chalcopyrite.

This is san example of natural bornite. It's not nearly as vibrant.

Amber

Amber is often faked using copal (which is modern tree resin), plastic, or glass. Knowing where the amber is from is helpful as there are certain parts of the world which do export amber and those which export fake amber. Other than that, a couple of good tests are a static test and the hot needle test.

The static test is where you rub amber with a piece of work and see if it will statically interact with hair or not. Real amber will but fake amber does not. The hot needle is about what it sounds like. You heat a needle and press it to the amber. Real amber will smell resinous, plastic smells like burnt plastic. Real amber is also lighter than glass and soft enough to be scratched with a copper penny (pre 1982).

Fake amber with a bug in it will also look very beautiful and complete. Real amber will not as the bug was actively trying to not die in amber and struggled. I'll put a couple pictures up that might be fake amber but they can be very hard to tell from a picture alone. Other than the bug thing.

And an example of real amber. Had to include this one because it's absolutely fascinating to me.

Opal

Knowing where the opal is from is very important. Opals from different parts of the world will look different and there are certain areas of the world which are known opal producers. Australia is a world famous exporter of opal. Cooper Pedy is probably one of the most famous localities for Aussie opal, but Mintabie, Andamooka, Lightning Ranch, Jundah, and Quilpie are some other opal localities. Australian opal is also probably either white opal, black opal, or boulder opal. Mexico and Etheopia are where fire opals will be from. Other types of opals will be from certain locations in the world so knowing what type of opal you're looking at and where it's from is important. Any opal without a locality is probably fake, or at least highly sus.

There are also a few ways of looking at an opal to tell if it's real or fake. If there's a repeating pattern, that's probably fake. Columns in the opal are also a sign that it's artificial as real opals are consistent throughout. Also look at the opal from multiple angles, especially for jewelry. You may have a doublet or triplet, which is where a thin layer of real opal is placed on a backing and may have a clear topper (of resin, glass, quartz, or similar material) to make it appear clearer. This has real opal but is not solid opal. Some opal may also be treated to appear better than it is, so if there are dark "soot spots" within the opal then that is a sign it has been treated.

Price is also really useful. Opals are expensive, especially depending on type and locality. If it's cheep, it's probably fake.

Some examples of fake opals (with a couple pictures showing comparable differences).

Doublets

Triplet

Opalite

A nice segue from opal is opalite. It's another synthetic mineral. It's glass. It can be sold on it's own, but can also be played off as opal or moonstone. It does look different from opal and moonstone, but if you don't know to look for it you could be tricked.

Opalite looks glassier than either opal or moonstone. It's also more consistent in it's color throughout. Moonstone, because of it's structure as a feldspar, will have more of a color flash, something similar to labradorite (another feldspar). This is one where pictures are much better than words so let's just show those.

Opalite.

Moonstone.

Citrine

It's probably heat-treated. Natural citrine is very rare, but it can be artificially created by heat-treating amethyst. Just know it's probably heat treated, especially if the color is really nice.

Natural citrine for comparison

Bismuth

If it's rainbow and geometric, those really cool, beautiful pieces that look amazing, it's fake. That's bismuth that's been melted down and allowed to resolidify into those really cool shapes. This is lab grown bismuth.

This is what natural bismuth looks like.

I am out of images now. I know there are minerals I missed. And I didn't even touch rocks or fossils (and fossils are a whole other bag of worms. But hopefully, this guide helps you when you're looking at purchasing rocks so you know if you're getting what you pay for.