#writing unit

[asgardian--angels]

Planet's Fucked: What Can You Do To Help? (Long Post)

Since nobody is talking about the existential threat to the climate and the environment a second Trump term/Republican government control will cause, which to me supersedes literally every other issue, I wanted to just say my two cents, and some things you can do to help. I am a conservation biologist, whose field was hit substantially by the first Trump presidency. I study wild bees, birds, and plants.

In case anyone forgot what he did last time, he gagged scientists' ability to talk about climate change, he tried zeroing budgets for agencies like the NOAA, he attempted to gut protections in the Endangered Species Act (mainly by redefining 'take' in a way that would allow corporations to destroy habitat of imperiled species with no ramifications), he tried to do the same for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (the law that offers official protection for native non-game birds), he sought to expand oil and coal extraction from federal protected lands, he shrunk the size of multiple national preserves, HE PULLED US OUT OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT, and more.

We are at a crucial tipping point in being able to slow the pace of climate change, where we decide what emissions scenario we will operate at, with existential consequences for both the environment and people. We are also in the middle of the Sixth Mass Extinction, with the rate of species extinctions far surpassing background rates due completely to human actions. What we do now will determine the fate of the environment for hundreds or thousands of years - from our ability to grow key food crops (goodbye corn belt! I hated you anyway but), to the pressure on coastal communities that will face the brunt of sea level rise and intensifying extreme weather events, to desertification, ocean acidification, wildfires, melting permafrost (yay, outbreaks of deadly frozen viruses!), and a breaking down of ecosystems and ecosystem services due to continued habitat loss and species declines, especially insect declines. The fact that the environment is clearly a low priority issue despite the very real existential threat to so many people, is beyond my ability to understand. I do partly blame the public education system for offering no mandatory environmental science curriculum or any at all in most places. What it means is that it will take the support of everyone who does care to make any amount of difference in this steeply uphill battle.

There are not enough environmental scientists to solve these issues, not if public support is not on our side and the majority of the general public is either uninformed or actively hostile towards climate science (or any conservation science).

So what can you, my fellow Americans, do to help mitigate and minimize the inevitable damage that lay ahead?

I'm not going to tell you to recycle more or take shorter showers. I'll be honest, that stuff is a drop in the bucket. What does matter on the individual level is restoring and protecting habitat, reducing threats to at-risk species, reducing pesticide use, improving agricultural practices, and pushing for policy changes. Restoring CONNECTIVITY to our landscape - corridors of contiguous habitat - will make all the difference for wildlife to be able to survive a changing climate and continued human population expansion.

**Caveat that I work in the northeast with pollinators and birds so I cannot provide specific organizations for some topics, including climate change focused NGOs. Scientists on tumblr who specialize in other fields, please add your own recommended resources. **

We need two things: FUNDING and MANPOWER.

You may surprised to find that an insane amount of conservation work is carried out by volunteers. We don't ever have the funds to pay most of the people who want to help. If you really really care, consider going into a conservation-related field as a career. It's rewarding, passionate work.

At the national level, please support:

The Nature Conservancy

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Cornell Lab of Ornithology (including eBird)

National Audubon Society

Federal Duck Stamps (you don't need to be a hunter to buy one!)

These first four work to acquire and restore critical habitat, change environmental policy, and educate the public. There is almost certainly a Nature Conservancy-owned property within driving distance of you. Xerces plays a very large role in pollinator conservation, including sustainable agriculture, native bee monitoring programs, and the Bee City/Bee Campus USA programs. The Lab of O is one of the world's leaders in bird research and conservation. Audubon focuses on bird conservation. You can get annual memberships to these organizations and receive cool swag and/or a subscription to their publications which are well worth it. You can also volunteer your time; we need thousands of volunteers to do everything from conducting wildlife surveys, invasive species removal, providing outreach programming, managing habitat/clearing trails, planting trees, you name it. Federal Duck Stamps are the major revenue for wetland conservation; hunters need to buy them to hunt waterfowl but anyone can get them to collect!

THERE ARE DEFINITELY MORE, but these are a start.

Additionally, any federal or local organizations that seek to provide support and relief to those affected by hurricanes, sea level rise, any form of coastal climate change...

At the regional level:

These are a list of topics that affect major regions of the United States. Since I do not work in most of these areas I don't feel confident recommending specific organizations, but please seek resources relating to these as they are likely major conservation issues near you.

PRAIRIE CONSERVATION & PRAIRIE POTHOLE WETLANDS

DRYING OF THE COLORADO RIVER (good overview video linked)

PROTECTION OF ESTUARIES AND SALTMARSH, ESPECIALLY IN THE DELAWARE BAY AND LONG ISLAND (and mangroves further south, everglades etc; this includes restoring LIVING SHORELINES instead of concrete storm walls; also check out the likely-soon extinction of saltmarsh sparrows)

UNDAMMING MAJOR RIVERS (not just the Colorado; restoring salmon runs, restoring historic floodplains)

NATIVE POLLINATOR DECLINES (NOT honeybees. for fuck's sake. honeybees are non-native domesticated animals. don't you DARE get honeybee hives to 'save the bees')

WILDLIFE ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER (support the Mission Butterfly Center!)

INVASIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES (this is everywhere but the specifics will differ regionally, dear lord please help Hawaii)

LOSS OF WETLANDS NATIONWIDE (some states have lost over 90% of their wetlands, I'm looking at you California, Ohio, Illinois)

INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE, esp in the CORN BELT and CALIFORNIA - this is an issue much bigger than each of us, but we can work incrementally to promote sustainable practices and create habitat in farmland-dominated areas. Support small, local farms, especially those that use soil regenerative practices, no-till agriculture, no pesticides/Integrated Pest Management/no neonicotinoids/at least non-persistent pesticides. We need more farmers enrolling in NRCS programs to put farmland in temporary or permanent wetland easements, or to rent the land for a 30-year solar farm cycle. We've lost over 99% of our prairies to corn and soybeans. Let's not make it 100%.

INDIGENOUS LAND-BACK EFFORTS/INDIGENOUS LAND MANAGEMENT/TEK (adding this because there have been increasing efforts not just for reparations but to also allow indigenous communities to steward and manage lands either fully independently or alongside western science, and it would have great benefits for both people and the land; I know others on here could speak much more on this. Please platform indigenous voices)

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (get your neighbors to stop dumping fertilizers on their lawn next to lakes, reduce agricultural runoff)

OCEAN PLASTIC (it's not straws, it's mostly commercial fishing line/trawling equipment and microplastics)

A lot of these are interconnected. And of course not a complete list.

At the state and local level:

You probably have the most power to make change at the local level!

Support or volunteer at your local nature centers, local/state land conservancy non-profits (find out who owns&manages the preserves you like to hike at!), state fish & game dept/non-game program, local Audubon chapters (they do a LOT). Participate in a Christmas Bird Count!

Join local garden clubs, which install and maintain town plantings - encourage them to use NATIVE plants. Join a community garden!

Get your college campus or city/town certified in the Bee Campus USA/Bee City USA programs from the Xerces Society

Check out your state's official plant nursery, forest society, natural heritage program, anything that you could become a member of, get plants from, or volunteer at.

Volunteer to be part of your town's conservation commission, which makes decisions about land management and funding

Attend classes or volunteer with your land grant university's cooperative extension (including master gardener programs)

Literally any volunteer effort aimed at improving the local environment, whether that's picking up litter, pulling invasive plants, installing a local garden, planting trees in a city park, ANYTHING. make a positive change in your own sphere. learn the local issues affecting your nearby ecosystems. I guarantee some lake or river nearby is polluted

MAKE HABITAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Biggest thing you can do. Use plants native to your area in your yard or garden. Ditch your lawn. Don't use pesticides (including mosquito spraying, tick spraying, Roundup, etc). Don't use fertilizers that will run off into drinking water. Leave the leaves in your yard. Get your school/college to plant native gardens. Plant native trees (most trees planted in yards are not native). Remove invasive plants in your yard.

On this last point, HERE ARE EASY ONLINE RESOURCES TO FIND NATIVE PLANTS and LEARN ABOUT NATIVE GARDENING:

Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Resource Center

Pollinator Pathway

Audubon Native Plant Finder

Homegrown National Park (and Doug Tallamy's other books)

National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder (clunky but somewhat helpful)

Heather Holm (for prairie/midwest/northeast)

MonarchGard w/ Benjamin Vogt (for prairie/midwest)

Native Plant Trust (northeast & mid-atlantic)

Grow Native Massachusetts (northeast)

Habitat Gardening in Central New York (northeast)

There are many more - I'm not familiar with resources for western states. Print books are your biggest friend. Happy to provide a list of those.

Lastly, you can help scientists monitor species using citizen science. Contribute to iNaturalist, eBird, Bumblebee Watch, or any number of more geographically or taxonomically targeted programs (for instance, our state has a butterfly census carried out by citizen volunteers).

In short? Get curious, get educated, get involved. Notice your local nature, find out how it's threatened, and find out who's working to protect it that you can help with. The health of the planet, including our resilience to climate change, is determined by small local efforts to maintain and restore habitat. That is how we survive this. When government funding won't come, when we're beat back at every turn trying to get policy changed, it comes down to each individual person creating a safe refuge for nature.

Thanks for reading this far. Please feel free to add your own credible resources and organizations.

[labelleizzy]

[deception-united]

Writing Tips Master Post

Edit: Some posts may be deleted

Character writing/development:

Character Arcs

Making Character Profiles

Character Development

Comic Relief Arc

Internal Conflict

Character Voices

Creating Distinct Characters

Creating Likeable Characters

Writing Strong Female Characters

Writing POC Characters

Building Tension

Writing Grumpy x Sunshine Tropes

Writing Sexuality & Gender

Writing Manipulative Characters

Writing Mature Young Characters

Plot devices/development:

Intrigue in Storytelling

Enemies to Lovers

Alternatives to Killing Characters

Worldbuilding

Misdirection

Things to Consider Before Killing Characters

Foreshadowing

Narrative (+ how to write):

Emphasising the Stakes

Avoid Info-Dumping

Writing Without Dialogue

1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Perspective

Fight Scenes (+ More)

Transitions

Pacing

Writing Prologues

Dialogue Tips

Writing War

Writing Cheating

Writing Miscommunication

Writing Unrequited Love

Writing a Slow Burn Btwn Introverts

Writing Smut

Writing Admiration Without Attraction

Writing Dual POVs

Writing Unreliable Narrators

Worldbuilding:

Worldbuilding: Questions to Consider

Creating Laws/Rules in Fantasy Worlds

Book writing:

Connected vs. Stand-Alone Series

A & B Stories

Writer resources:

Writing YouTube Channels, Podcasts, & Blogs

Online Writing Resources

Outlining/Writing/Editing Software

Translation Software for Writing

Writer help:

Losing Passion/Burnout

Overcoming Writer's Block

Fantasy terms:

How To Name Fantasy Races (Step-by-Step)

Naming Elemental Races

Naming Fire-Related Races

How To Name Fantasy Places

Ask games:

Character Ask Game #1

Character Ask Game #2

Character Ask Game #3

Miscellaneous:

Writing Tips

Writing Fantasy

Miscommunication Prompts

Variety in Sentence Structure (avoiding repetition)

[sentate]

SENTATE - The Sunset Collection

Blending beach days with date nights; The Sunset Collection is fresh set of romantic dresses that can be kept casual for the day or glammed up for the evening. Whether its a cheeky sheer mini dress or a showstopping silk gown, your sims are guaranteed to be sizzling by sunset!

This 8 item set comes in my 30 swatch colour palette plus 15 new print swatches.

8 Items Total / 30 Plain Swatches (+15 prints)

DOWNLOAD - Free on Patreon

MORE DOWNLOADS  |  TERMS OF USE  |  LINK TREE

[ear-motif]

fanfic is so good bc the premise of some genres of fic are just inherently funny. I want these two grizzled crime drama protagonists to have some fucking fun for once, so they go to a water park. I dont care how i have to logic my way into them going there i dont care who has to drag them Theyre Going

[navybrat817]

More Than Worthy

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky wants to make you his wife.

Word Count: Over 1k

Warnings: Implied smut, fluff, happy tears, established relationship, feels, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?)

A/N: Inspired by this ask here, more of our beautiful Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Divider by the talented @saradika-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

It was an ordinary day when Bucky decided to propose to you.

He returned from a mission the day before and you welcomed him home with a smile on your face and open arms. It felt like he had been away for ages when in reality it was only a few days. It didn’t take long for him to drag you to bed so he could properly celebrate making it home to you, a mixture of pent-up energy and the need to feel you around him. Your moans of pleasure were a sound he missed while he was away, and you cried out his name so beautifully when you came. It didn’t take him long to fall over the edge with you, forever going wherever you were.

Bucky paid no attention to the time when he woke up, the sun shining through the curtains and casting a beautiful glow over your sleeping form. He took a moment to study you, the curves of your body as you faced him, the way your mouth parted slightly as you breathed. Brushing a finger along your cheek, he smiled when you scooted closer to him. He also felt a sense of pride from wearing you out the night before.

And outside forces be damned, nothing was getting him out of bed today.

You stirred once he kissed your forehead and wrapped his arm tighter around you. It took a moment for your eyes to focus before you whispered, “Morning.”

He exhaled, his heart beating faster when you smiled a sleepy tender smile. It amazed him how he fell more in love with you every day, but you made it so easy. The love you had was raw, pure, and real, a deep and lasting connection built from trust and respect, understanding and compassion. It endured and grew, going beyond the physical attraction he’d always have for you. You saw each other for who you were and valued each other fully. No matter the trials and tribulations you’d face, you’d do it together while your love endured and grew.

It was your love he thought of when he took your hand in his and gently whispered back, “Marry me.”

He heard your heart accelerate when you lifted your head. “What?” you asked, your voice still laced with sleep. Your eyes were wide open though and you wanted to be sure you heard him correctly.

He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Not releasing your hand, he leaned over to open the nightstand drawer and took out a box. “You told me to ask you when you weren’t expecting it and when the time was right,” he explained, facing you again. “It’s time.”

Because he didn’t want to go another day without you being his wife.

You gasped and covered your mouth when he opened the box, tears springing to your eyes that sparkled almost as bright as the diamond in the ring. “Oh, my god…”

He helped you sit up, both of you on your knees on the bed. For a split second he thought his eyes would mist over, but he kept it together. “After everything I went through, I wasn't sure if I was capable of allowing myself to be loved. I just… Part of me felt so broken and unworthy.” He took a breath, not wanting to fuck this up. It already wasn’t perfect since there weren’t flowers or a romantic dinner, but this came straight from his heart and that was enough. “But then you came along and changed my life.”

You let out a happy laugh as a tear fell, which he quickly wiped away. “I did?”

“You did, and you know it,” he smiled back. Meeting you gave him a second chance and you changed everything for the better. “You showed me that not only was I not broken but I was more than worthy of being loved.”

“You are worthy of so much love, Bucky Barnes,” you smiled.

“So are you, baby. I love you so much, and I’m a better man because of you,” he swore, taking the ring out of the box as his heart continued to pound. Simple, beautiful, eternal. “So, will you marry me? Be my wife and my partner and continue to fight by my side in life and love?”

Bucky held his breath as he waited for your answer. He wanted to give you the kind of life and love you were worthy of. He wanted to protect and stand by you, and he didn’t want to imagine life without you.

Pressing your forehead to his, you breathed the simple most beautiful word against his lips. “Yes.”

“Yes?” he asked, his next breath shaky. Was the universe messing with him again? Was something going to drag him back to hell when he had heaven right in front of him?

“Yes!” you smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He pulled back to look at you closely, seeing nothing but love in your pretty eyes. “Are you sure? Because-”

“Mr. Barnes, put that ring on my finger so I can really call myself the future Mrs. Barnes,” you demanded, putting your hand in his face. “Please,” you added hastily.

His nose scrunched as his laughter filled the room. “Yes, future Mrs. Barnes,” he repeated. Slipping the ring on your finger, he placed a tender kiss over it. The perfect fit. “Thank you, baby,” he exhaled.

It was the only warning you got before he put you on your back and covered his lips with yours. He wanted to shout to everyone that you were going to be his wife, but he happily settled for saying “I love you” into your mouth. You breathed the words right back to him. And since he hadn’t planned to leave the bed anyway, he made love to you, your fingers laced together, the engagement ring pressing into his skin and reminding him that he wasn’t alone. That he had a future to look forward to.

He was home, holding you close, deep inside you, right where he belonged.

And he was more than worthy of love.

I love them, what can I say? ❤️ Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[existennialmemes]

Apocalypse movie where the World Ending Event is just the working class rising up together. And the movie is from the perspective of a rag tag group of NY billionaires trying to get to the coast so they can escape on their yachts.

And it's a classic horror/thriller in that most of them do not make it, but at the end one or two actually get to the coast. And they set sail on their mega yacht. Making plans to just live at sea for a while until they look different enough that they can sneak back into society undetected.

And then you just hear this loud THUD and the whole boat shakes and the camera pans over to reveal like a 100 orcas lining up to ram it.

The boat cracks in half and you hear their screams get swallowed up by the waters and then it just cuts to the end credits.

Thinking about this for absolutely no reason.

[political-us]

[chiricat]

wonderful synergy 👑⚡️

[yellow-kudzu]

This guy fucks hard I know it

[girllblogging777]

LET IT HAPPEN 𝜗𝜚

spencer reid x bau!worker reader (angst, comfort)

↳ 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 : 2.3k

𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 : spencer was always in control, until you. but when you walk away, he realises it might be too late to learn how to love you right.

spencer reid has a history of being in control.

of himself. of his emotions. of the way he exists in the world : quiet, precise, never asking for too much.

love, real love, has always been a theory to him. a concept. a case study. something he observes in others, like an astronomer watching stars he’d never reach.

and then there was you.

he didn’t know when it started. maybe the first time you called him spence like it was second nature, or when you leaned into his shoulder on the plane, barely awake. maybe when you took a bullet for a civilian without flinching, or when you cried in the elevator after losing a victim, and reached for his hand without thinking to find comfort.

all he knew was that one day, you’d become part of his routine and turned it all upside down. his rhythm. his sense of self.

and that scared the hell out of him.

so, he did what he always did. he kept it safe. kept you close, but not close enough. he memorized everything about you from a distance : favorite books, late-night snack choices, the exact cadence of your laugh, while never saying a word about the way his chest ached when you touched his arm.

until you walked away.

and now you weren’t beside him. and it was too quiet.

spencer sat alone in the BAU bullpen at 11:47 p.m., his tie loose around his neck and hair messy from running his hands through it too many times today. he felt numb, staring at the text you’d sent him four hours ago.

“i can’t do this anymore. not like this.”

“if you ever decide to let me in—“

“you know where to find me.”

he’d read it twenty two times, precisely. he couldn’t delete it. he couldn’t answer it either.

because the truth was that you were right. you’d waited long enough, more than anyone ever had for him.

spencer had spent so long pretending he didn’t feel what he felt. trying to fit your friendship into neat, manageable boxes. something he could file away like a solved case.

but love doesn’t work like that. you’d told him that once.

and now you were gone.

the elevator dinged behind him. he didn’t turn around. he didn’t have to.

because he knew it was you.

he knew it the way he knew the laws of physics. undeniable. inarguable. your presence had always rearranged the air around you.

“you didn’t answer,” you said quietly, observing him like you’d done too many times before.

your voice cracked something open in him. his hands clenched around his coffee cup. it had gone cold hours ago.

“I didn’t know what to say.”

you gave a small, sad laugh. “that’s the thing, spence. you know everything, but that you never do.”

he finally looked up at you.

you looked tired. beautiful. guarded.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I know,” she said. “but you did.”

he nodded once. swallowed hard. “I’m not good at this.”

spencer stood slowly, like his body was remembering how to do it. his chair scraped back.

and then, finally “you know what hurts the most?”

he shook his head.

“that I’m not asking you to be perfect. I never want you to be anything other than exactly who you are. but you won’t even let me see you.”

he flinched.

“you let me get so close,” you said, softer now, like it hurt you to say it. “close enough to feel everything… and then you shut the door. like I’m something dangerous.”

“you’re not dangerous,” he whispered.

“then what am I?” your mouth was set, but your eyes… your eyes looked so goddamn sad. your arms folded across her chest. a defense mechanism. not angry. just tired. like you were bracing for more disappointment.

“real.”

you froze, spencer stepped around the desk slowly, like if he moved too fast, you’d vanish.

“you’re real,” he repeated carefully. “and that terrifies me.”

he didn’t even know how to stand. his arms hung awkwardly by his sides, fingers twitching like they wanted to reach for you and couldn’t figure out how.

“all my life, I’ve been able to explain things,” he says. “I can tell you the chemical composition of love. I can list every poem ever written about heartbreak. I can quote studies on attachment and trauma and how people leave.”

there’s a beat, before he continues “I thought if I understood it, I wouldn’t feel it.”

you couldn’t do anything but blink, eyes stinging.

“but then I met you,” he said. “and you’re soft, and stubborn, and brilliant, and so alive. you walked right past every defense I had like they weren’t even there.”

his voice cracks then. he presses a fist to his mouth, trying to ground himself. you just watch him, still frozen. breathing shallow.

“I thought I could keep it under control,” he admits, each word making him feel more stupid. “this… whatever this is. I thought if I could just… hold it in, keep it neat, I wouldn’t lose you. but all I did was push you away.”

silence. he forces himself to meet your eyes, something that usually pains him to do.

“I miss you. all the time. even when you’re right in front of me.”

and you don’t know what to say. so he keeps going like he always does, because if he stops now, he’d never say any of it again.

“I couldn’t tell you how I felt because I didn’t know what it was, it didn’t feel safe. and if it wasn’t safe, it wasn’t real. that’s what I told myself. that’s what I had to believe. because… everyone I’ve ever loved has either died or left me.”

your mouth opened, but he held up a hand, begging. please let me finish.

“but you didn’t leave,” he said, “not until you absolutely had to. you gave me every chance. I wasted them. because I didn’t know how to be vulnerable and still survive.”

and the tears came before he could stop them. silent, stunned things sliding down his cheeks.

you stare at him like you don’t know whether to cry or reach for him or both. he looks so beautiful, so vulnerable.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t want to keep hurting you just because I never learned how to let myself be loved.”

that breaks something in you. you take a step forward. and another. he stands before you, arms loose at his sides, face wet, chest heaving… looking every bit the baby deer in headlights you always say he is.

“I’m not asking you not to be afraid, spence…” you finally admit. “I’m asking you to let me be scared with you. that’s all I ever wanted.”

his lips tremble. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“then let’s figure it out.”

you reach up slowly, wiping a stray tear gently with your thumb. he simply leans into your touch like it’s the first time anyone has ever touched him softly and meant it.

“don’t go,” he whispers.

“I’m not trying to leave,” you whisper back. “I’m asking if you’d fight for me.”

he closes his eyes. “I let it happen,” he said. “I let myself fall in love with you. and I’m not going to pretend anymore.”

you step into him fully then, arms sliding around his neck, and Spencer folds like paper, wrapping himself around you like he’d been holding his breath for a year and just now remembered how to exhale.

and in the quiet of that almost-empty room, with his forehead pressed to yours and your hands in his hair, Spencer Reid finally gives up control.

and lets it happen.

a/n : inspired by the gracie abrams song !!first time writing something about my baby, i kinda hate this but a girl has got to start somewhere. give me requests if you’d like, and reblogs/comments are always appreciated <3

@xbluereid @gf2bellamy @iamgonnagetyouback

[opens-up-4-nobody]

Something something Merlin is Arthur's bane.

[deception-united]

Miscommunication Prompts

A character avoids eye contact because they’re nervous, making the other believe they’re hiding something.

A character mistakes someone’s distraction for boredom, assuming they’re not interesting enough.

A character misinterprets kindness as pity, making them defensive.

A character uses a phrase that has multiple interpretations, and the listener takes it in the worst possible way. (“I took care of him.” “You WHAT?”)

A character pulls a harmless prank that spirals out of control until it’s too late to take it back.

The audience knows that two characters are talking about completely different things, but neither of them realises it (dramatic irony).

A character gives a vague or hesitant response out of nervousness, and the other person takes it as rejection.

A text or letter meant for one person gets sent to the absolute worst possible recipient.

A character asks another to do something simple, but their interpretation is wildly different.

Two characters remember an event completely differently, leading to an argument where both are convinced they’re right, but what actually happened is something neither of them recall correctly.

Someone shrinks away from a touch due to past trauma, but the other person assumes it means rejection.

Previous | Next

[pitchsidestories]

Scrapbook memories II Grace Clinton x Reader

romantic masterlist | platonic masterlist | word count: 1654

summary: Reader who plays for Lyon surprises her girlfriend Grace by appearing at a dinner with the fellow Lionesses in England. requested

author's note: Hi, we started writing this before Mary Earps international retirement and Millie Bright’s withdrawal from the Euros, which is why they still appear in the story. We hope you don’t mind and still like it regardless.<3

disclaimer: everything in this fanfiction is purely fictional and nothing corresponds to reality.

You were convinced that what made the English Women’s National Team so special was their team spirit. There was something magical about how every player genuinely cared for one another. You absolutely adored it.

To keep that connection strong, the team often organised casual team nights together. They were always full of laughter, good food, and even better conversations but since you had left the WSL to play for Lyon, you often missed out on most of those nights. But tonight, you decided that it was time to join.

This time, it all took place at Alex Greenwoods place. Just a relaxed dinner with all the Lionesses.

Alex was busy, stirring pots and seasoning dishes while Lauren and Jess chopped vegetables at the counter.

“Y/n is late, as usual.”, Alex said, pausing for a moment as she glanced over the crowd filling her flat.

“I was on time. At the wrong door but on time.”, Lauren chimed in, gesturing a little too wildly with her knife, causing Alex to suck in a breath and widen her eyes.

Jess laughed: “That’s so typical for you, Hempo. You always do that.”

The she turned sharply: “Millie, no! No snacking yet.”

She tried to bat away Millie Brights hand who had managed to successfully steal a piece of raw carrot from the chopping board.

Millie rolled her eyes, stealing a carrot anyway: “It takes forever for you girls to cook. The Arsenal girls are already bored.”

She pointed her thumb over her shoulder toward the living room where most of the other players were caught up in some small talk.

“Children, behave,” Alex warned playfully. “And no, Leah, we won’t have any ham sandwiches. They taste like nothing.”

“Excuse me?”, the team captain who had just walked in said, pretending to be offended.

From the living room, Beth called out: “But she won’t eat real adult food.”

“It’s adult f-…”, Leah started, then cut herself off and quickly looked around for help, “Grace, come here. Stop looking at the door. You agree with me, right?”

“What?”, Grace asked, torn from her own thoughts, only reluctantly turning to the blond defender.

“We need your opinion on ham sandwiches.”, Leah repeated impatiently.

“I have no opinion on them.”, Grace replied, smiling but clearly confused by the interaction.

Alex clapped her hands once with authority: “We’re done cooking. Everyone out of my kitchen.”

All the players were scrambling to their seats as Alex carried dishes to the table. Only Grace hung back, still preoccupied with her own thoughts.

You walked straight into the chaos that had erupted around the giant dinner table, and you immediately felt a warmth in your chest that reminded you of home.

“Hi. Sorry, I know I’m late again, but I brought those gorgeous flowers for the hostess.”, you said and greeted Alex with a hug and a quick kiss to her cheek.

The defender took a moment to admire the tasteful bouquet in her hands before turning her attention back to you. “Oh, you just know how to impress a girl.”

“You’re welcome. It’s great to have you back in the team, Al.”, you replied, gently squeezing her shoulder.

She chuckled warmly: “Glad to be back.”

“Now that we’re complete, we can finally start eating,” Alessia said.

You were genuinely grateful to be reunited with the familiar faces who, over time, had become like a second family. After everything you'd been through together, on and off the pitch, they were your people.

And yet, even in this comforting chaos, your eyes were searching for the woman you loved most.

You rarely kept secrets from your England teammates, but this one was different. Maybe it was finally time to share it. And there she was: Grace, leaning casually against the wall, that cocky smile of hers playing at the corners of her lips. It wasn’t just a grin; it was an invitation.

You and Grace had talked about telling them. The timing felt right. So, you walked towards her, ready to take her hand and speak the truth.

But Grace had something else in mind.

She believed in gestures, ones that didn’t need explanations. So, when you reached her, she pulled you in and kissed you, soft but sure, with all the quiet affection that words would never quite capture.

The room fell still.

Then gasping. Eyes widened.

It was Leah who found her voice first: “What is happening?!”

“Oh my god, you two are dating?!”, Lauren squealed.

“We... uhm. I wasn’t expecting her here.”, Grace admitted, still slightly breathless. That part was true, planned to surprise her with your visit here.

Teasingly, you asked: “Because the Lionesses party was in Manchester?”

“Yes! The London girls are here too, but Lyon is...”, Grace trailed off, flustered, an adorable blush creeping up her cheeks.

The distance between you had always been a challenge, something you discussed often. But if Keira and Laura could manage it and Lucy and Ona, too, then so could you. Your love was strong, and you were lucky enough to see each other at England camps and rare free days.

“I travelled with Lessi and Leah from London to Manchester, but one of them was too clumsy, which is why I had to get new flowers for Alex.”, you explained, smirking.

An innocent smile appeared on Alessia’s lips: “It wasn’t me.”

“That absolutely sounds like something you’d do.”, Ella remarked, eyeing her best friend with theatrical suspicion.

Sheepishly, the blonde replied: “Me? I was innocent!”

“Can we talk about the flowers later?”, Leah cut in impatiently. “How and when did the two of you even get together?”

Even though everyone had been starving just moments ago and the dinner was lovingly decorated with mouth-watering dishes none of them made a move. Right now, their hunger was for answers. Concerning your romance.

Grace ignored their questions, whether on purpose or not, she was still staring at you.

“I didn’t think you would even come…”, she said slowly, as if still trying to make sense of your presence.

You tilted your head with a shy smile and admitted: “Me neither. I thought you might be busy. It’s been a while since we last saw each other.”

“When you didn’t show up…”, Grace started but you never found out what she wanted to say. Leah cut her off.

“Hello? Lovebirds? We want some answers!”, she demanded, snapping the two of you out of the little bubble where only you and Grace seemed to exist.

“Oh.”, Grace said, blinking rapidly in surprise, like she’d only just noticed the rest of the room that there were other people in the room too.

You smiled at her one more time before you tore away your gaze and turned to Leah: “What did you want to know again?”

“How you two met!”

“Obviously through a lionesses camp.”, Grace replied with a wry grin.

Lucy scrunched up her face and gave the two of you a disbelieving look: “Why didn’t we notice? You’re both not very good at keeping secrets.”

You shrugged innocently: “You girls were just really blind.”

“Yeah, you were.”, Grace agreed, chuckling.

Lucy didn’t look impressed. She shook her head: “No, I can see very well now. Even without my glasses.”

The joke was right on the tip of your tongue, ready to be delivery but Khiara beat you to it, a cheeky smirk on her lips: “Are you sure? You’re pretty old.”

Lucy shot the young goalkeeper a challenging look, daring her to say that again.

Alex cut in and pretended to sharply glance at Khiara: “Khi, respect your elders.”

Grace laughed quietly, turning back to you. Her eyes were soft and there was a warm fondness in her voice: “They are so chaotic again.” Then a bit quieter: “But I missed you.”

You beamed at her, pressing another quick kiss to her lips, unnoticed by the rest of the team: “I missed you too. And their chaos.”

“Same, it’s never boring with them.”, she said and took a step behind you, wrapping her arms around your waist. Resting her chin on your shoulder, she held you tightly as the team erupted into a debate about age and respect.

“Not even in four weeks of camp?”, you teased, grinning.

Grace took a moment before declaring: “It’ll be tough, but I’ll be with you. So, it’s going to be alright.”

You didn’t hear the gasps or the jokes still echoing from the table. All you saw was her and the quiet, certain smile that always brought you home.

Grace cleared her throat, a little flustered: “So, uhm... what exactly are we celebrating again?”

“It’s an End-of-Season, Everyone-Is-Healthy, and Euros-Camp-Is-Starting-Soon party!”, Ella chimed in, almost bouncing in her seat.

Grace managed to find a glass and lifted it, grinning: “Cheers to that!”

“I support that too.”, you whispered in her ear, your smile matching hers.

Millie clapped excitedly: “Let’s get this party started!”

“Finally! Mary let’s dance.”, Alessia grinned, dragging the keeper toward the living room, now a makeshift dance floor. Leah had already taken over the speaker, blasting one of her matchday playlists.

Mary shot Leah a look over her shoulder: “Louder!”

Grace leaned in close, her voice low and warm:  “So... dance floor or kitchen?”

You paused, pretending to weigh it up:  “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

“Yes! I’m starving for more kis—” She didn’t get to finish.

“Grace!” Alex cut in sharply, clicking her tongue. “There are children at this table.”

“Do you mean me? Rude.”, Khiara pouted.

Alex gestured broadly at the entire table: “I meant all the children here.”

“Why are you looking at me?!”, Lucy protested, laughing.

You glanced over your shoulder, smiling at the team in all their chaotic glory before slipping into the kitchen.

“Finally, some peace.”, you said.

“I could stay here all night.”, Grace hummed, then kissed you softly, a kiss that said more than words ever could.

[seraphinitegames]

The Wayhaven Chronicles—Update 09/May/2025

So, guess who put in another scene to the chapter that was supposed to be finished?

That’d be me…Probably not a shock to anyone at this point, hehe! ;D

But, in fairness, it really needed it! After going through the current chapter, I realised it didn’t feel balanced. There was this quite emotional moment with the love interest after another emotional scene had happened, and I realised there was nothing for Li-Sar.

And although Li-Sar’s major romance stuff only happens in Book Four, it still needs to feel weighty and as deep as the others—quicker in progress but still as deep.

So, I went in an added a big section where the MC ends going somewhere else and having that moment with Li-Sar if they want it, depending on how they feel about the romance.

And guys, I LOVE it! Things feel like they’re building more naturally with Li-Sar now. Like the two of them really just can’t help but be drawn to each other, as much the MC is trying not to be for very good and valid reasons, lol! :D

That took some time to figure out and add in the best place to feel natural, but after that I jumped back into the editing, which I’m still currently on but is going pretty smoothly.

And in good timing, the editor is starting to send her edits back for the previous-previous chapter, so I’m going to add them in too seeing as I’m in the editing zone!

So next week is more editing, social media days (because I totally forgot it was May already!), and then hopefully getting onto the next chapter! A busy one, but hopefully another week I can check off a lot of tasks!

Hope you all have the most amazing weekend! We’ll be off as usual, so I’ll update you all again next week <3