10 Ways to Show Grief Without Making Your Character Cry
Grief doesn't always look like crying. Here are some ideas for how to realistically portray it outside of the ‘screaming, crying, throwing up’ phase.
1. Burying Themselves in Work or School: Suddenly the most productive they've ever been, taking on extra shifts, extra assignments, anything that keeps their hands and mind too busy to land on the actual loss.
2. Avoiding Anywhere That Reminds Them of the Person: A restaurant, a route they used to walk together, an entire side of town. They'll go out of their way and never explain why, and probably won't even clock it as avoidance themselves.
3. Refusing to Change Anything of Theirs: The room stays exactly as it was. The voicemail doesn't get deleted. Moving even one object can feel like erasing them, so nothing moves at all.
4. Overcompensating With Normalcy: Laughing a little too readily, insisting they're fine a little too often. This one's great for a character who thinks showing grief means burdening the people around them.
5. Picking Fights With People Trying to Help: Grief makes people prickly in strange directions. Someone offering comfort can genuinely feel unbearable, and lashing out is sometimes easier than admitting they need it.
6. Taking Care of Everyone Else's Grief Instead of Their Own: Comforting siblings, managing funeral logistics, checking in on everyone but themselves. Tip: this one's especially good for an oldest-sibling or caretaker-type character, since it lets them delay their own grief almost indefinitely.
7. Sudden Reckless Behavior: Driving too fast, drinking too much, taking risks they never would have before. It's less about wanting to get hurt and more about needing to feel something other than the numbness.
8. An Obsessive Need for Control: Rigid routines, excessive cleaning, rearranging things that don't need rearranging. When one massive thing feels completely out of their control, controlling everything else becomes the coping mechanism.
9. Talking About Them in Present Tense: "She loves this song," not "loved." A small grammatical slip that says more about where their head still is than an entire monologue would.
10. Taking Up Something the Person Loved: Picking up their guitar, rewatching their favorite show, cooking their recipes. It's a way of keeping them present without having to say out loud that they're gone.
Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?
Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!
HOTD: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen x dragonseed!reader
Rating: Mature (MDNI)
WC 5.0k
HOTD Masterlist
Tags/Warnings: a smidge of Targcest (Rhaenyra and reader are cousins), more plot than porn, reader claims Silverwing, WLW, mentions of sex work, body worship, nipple play, biting, fingering, oral, dragon bond, no use of y/n, Ulf is not a complete dolt in this, implied that reader has Valyrian features, but they aren't described in detail, no beta we die like Luke :(
A/n: Just in time for Season 3, WE FIGHT FOR OUR DRAGON QUEEN! I love Rhaenyra. Comments, reblogs, and likes are always appreciated. Let me know if you'd like to be tagged for future works
Summary: Mysaria beckons you to Dragonstone to answer Queen Rhaenyra's call for dragonseeds.
Madam Sylvi discreetly pressed the letter into your hand before moving about her business. You had heard the stirrings, the whispers in the streets of the Black Queen calling those to aid her with the promise of claiming a dragon. Bastards of dragon blood. Dragonseeds. The ones who filled the streets of Flea Bottom, filled the pleasure houses in the Streek of Silk, or who simply blended in with the commonborn despite their silvery hair. Cursed by being born out of wedlock, yet now they were worthy of a bigger cause. One that not many would ever dream of.
The letter had come from Mysaria, a woman who had cared for you for most of your life. You knew who your father was, and his coin allowed Mysaria to keep you in comfort, or at the very least clothed and fed. You remember receiving a few fond pats on the head from time to time, and a few gifts here and there, but you knew you would never be his. He had left for Pentos shortly after taking Lady Laena Velaryon to wife, fathering two legitimate daughters. Something you would never be.
Coin arrived in a timely manner to help Mysaria clothe and feed you. She was generous when she did not need to be; she could have turned you out onto the street and kept his money. But she, too, knew what it was like to be burned by Daemon Targaryen and to be abandoned by a father. You lived with her in the brothels, and she kept her promise to protect you from that world for as long as she could, training you in the ways of dancing and letting you assist in weaving her web of spies. When she was ready to flee King's Landing, she left the brothel to you and Sylvi, trusting the two of you to look after things and each other, but you knew the day would soon come when you could no longer put off the inevitable. You would soon have to learn the art of spreading your legs to survive.
Mysaria, still wishing to spare you such a life, urged you to journey to Dragonstone and make the attempt.
The daughter of Daemon Targaryen deserves a dragon. Come and claim your inheritance. Serve the rightful heir.
You read her words thrice before tossing the parchments into the fire. Perhaps you would never fully win your father's love, attention, and respect, but perhaps you could find such in your queen and cousin. So the next day, you went to the shores of Blackwater Bay to board the small fishing boats taking people to Dragonstone. Your dark gray cloak billowed in the breeze as you stepped onto the rocking boat. Smoke clung around the isle, an almost foreboding feeling in the air. This was a place of magic; you could smell it. Ash, fire, and blood. All of you were given entrance into the castle, provided with food and drink before being escorted to the gantry, which led to the dragonmont.
Queen Rhaenyra descended the stairs, giving a rousing speech as she passed her gaze over those who had gathered. A sea of silver hair. Her gaze locked on you, head cocking curiously as she studied you. Did she see Daemon in your face? Would she recognize her own blood before her? She made her way through the bodies, silently gauging the bastards, and once again her gaze lingered on you. Her fingers twitched, something about you calling to her and she resisted the urge to touch you. She could not play favorites, for many would not survive this attempt.
"Naejot māzīs, Vermitos." You had heard your father speak this tongue before, charming the whores and his lickspittles.
You watched as the enormous bronze beast emerged from the purple smoky shadows. It was hard not to feel in awe as the ancient beast once ridden by King Jaehaerys stood there, plain as day. The beast snorted, gray wisps curling from his massive nostrils.
"Lykirī, Lykirī," Rhaenyra cooed, reaching to rest her hand on the dragon's giant muzzle. He calmed from her touch. "Dohaeras."
"Who among you will be first? I have nothing more to tell you; it must be the dragon who speaks."
As a young man stepped forward in an attempt, you heard a phantom song filling your head. Beckoning you, guiding you. You had never stepped foot here before, yet you seemed to know where to place them, following the path downward and further into the mont. Rhaenyra's ever observant amethyst eyes never left you, and she followed behind like a silent silver shadow. You didn't even notice as you made your way deeper into the volcano. The song grew louder the closer you came.
Māzīs ynot, Māzīs ynot (come to me, come to me)
Jumban syt aō (I am waiting for you)
Unsure of what awaited you. You found yourself in a cave, a thin stream of sun shining through, and it took a moment before you saw her. She blended in almost seamlessly with the rocks surrounding you. She was smaller and more slender compared to her counterpart looming overhead.
The breath the silver beast exhaled shook your body, and heat coated you. She lowered her elegant silver head, and tentatively, you reached out to press your hand to the dragon's muzzle, emulating Rhaenyra's movements just moments earlier.
"Hello," you smiled.
"You have found Silverwing." Rhaenyra's voice trailed behind you.
You whipped around to face her, giving a bow. "Your Grace. I…heard her singing to me."
"It seems she has chosen you; she has not been ridden since my great-grandmother," Rhaenyra said kindly as she stepped closer. Screams echoed through the caves. The smell of burnt flesh. "See if she will let you mount her."
Silverwing stepped closer, her claws dragging through the muck as she lowered her head once again to sniff you before letting out a soft bray. "Lykirī," you whispered, stroking her before she was in a position where you could attempt to get in her saddle. It took effort and strength, but soon you were situated in the saddle, hand gripping the pommel.
"If you wish to fly, Sōvēs is the command," Rhaenyra instructed.
"Sōvēs, Silverwing," you called out, voice wavering slightly.
You gasped, holding on tightly as she walked through the cave and slithered out the opening before taking to the skies. Even though your stomach lurched, you opened your eyes and let the wind whip through your hair. It was a powerful feeling, as if you could fly higher than the clouds and touch the Gods themselves. Silverwing was experienced, swift, and elegant as her wings sliced through the misty clouds. She did two laps around Dragonstone before swooping back toward the mont. The bronze beast had emerged with a male rider on its back. She landed next to him, tucking her head beneath Vermithor's jaw and nuzzling him.
"They are mates, I think," you called out to the man.
"So the stories go. I'm Hugh," he introduced, and you told him your name.
Suddenly, a pale mist of the dragon emerged from an opening, its rider letting out a loud whoop and hanging on for dear life.
"Did many die in there?" you asked Hugh, remembering the screams from earlier.
"It was quite vicious," Hugh admitted. "Many were lost, but we were warned."
As the excitement settled down, the dragonkeepers came to help guide the dragons back into the caves, and you and the others were shown to separate quarters in the castle. Fresh, clean black-and-red clothing was laid out for you, and a celebratory feast awaited. As you gathered around the table, your gaze fell on Lady Baela, your half sister. She was a true beauty with an air of confidence about her. Prince Jacaerys looked rather sour, and you learned of the other riders. Your fellow dragonseeds. Hugh the Hammer, you had met earlier, and there was Addam of Hull and Ulf the White. Queen Rhaenyra raised her cup in a toast to honor the four of you.
Ulf was delighted by the food, tearing into the quails and devouring them like the man had never eaten a meal before. You took your time savoring every bite, especially the fresh oysters, and each sip of rich red wine. You learned that Seasmoke had chased Addam down in Spicetown, Hugh's bravery as he stood eye to eye with The Bronze Fury, and the shy, allusive dragon who crawled out from deep within the mountain to bond with his boisterous rider. As the evening wound down, people excused themselves for bed.
"It is good to have another woman riding for our cause," Baela smiled at you, gently touching your shoulder before departing.
"Might I have a private word?" Rhaenyra requested softly.
"Yes, Your Grace."
You followed her through flame lit halls, the flickering orange glow bathing the stones and you noticed the glyphs embedded in them. The guards followed behind, armor clanking until you reached what you assumed were her chambers. They took position outside her door.
"You look just like him," she mused, a smile tugging at her lips as she poured two glasses of wine.
"So I've been told, Your Grace," you replied. There was no use dancing around the truth.
She placed a cup in your hands. "It is almost eerie in a way. I wonder…if my daughter had lived, would she have looked like you, perhaps?" Her palm curved gently over your cheek.
"Prettier, I would think, Your Grace."
"Do not disparage your beauty. You caught my eye immediately."
"You flatter me, Your Grace," you said, taking a sip of the sweet red wine, reminding you of plums, which were your favorite.
"Merely speak the truth. I am glad you answered. Mysaria assured me that you would."
"She knows me better than anyone else. Still seeks to protect me."
"She is a clever woman, or so I am learning."
"She will serve you well, Your Grace, as will I," you assured her.
"Come, let me fix your hair. You will find it best to have it braided while flying." She motioned to the chair, and you sat.
"Surely, you have better things to do than tend to my hair, You Grace," you jested softly.
"At this moment, I do not," she chuckled before gently dragging the brush through your mussed curls.
It was comforting, a warm, fuzzy feeling that crept over you and slithered down your shoulders. She took her time braiding your hair.
"I hope I am not overstepping, but I would like you to train alongside Lady Baela. She is a skilled dragonrider with a crossbow. I wish for all my riders to have some combat training. You will be fitted for armor as well."
"I can work alongside Lady Baela with no issue, Your Grace, thank you."
"Sleep well, you will have long days ahead of you."
But you were ready to prove your worth.
The days were indeed long and filled with dragon riding, Valyrian lessons, and combat skills training. Mostly, you practiced alongside Baela, repeatedly hitting targets with crossbows. Addam, Hugh, and Ulf worked with the Master of Arms, learning the sword and mace.
"Seems unfair,' you mumbled.
"I agree," Baela grinned before taking aim and releasing the arrow. "Why can't we learn the sword as well?" You enjoyed being in her company, often growing exhausted by Ulf's constant oafishness. Hugh was kind enough, yet guarded. You found an ally in Addam, at least, as he too wished to prove himself and was eager to serve Rhaenyra. The two of you took the skies together on your respective mounts.
You gave her a soft smile. "I mean no offense, my lady."
"You find none with me," she assured you. "Fire and blood are in our veins. Did not Queen Visenya wield Dark Sister? The very sword my father now possesses."
Our father.
You supped alone in your chambers, muscles aching and in no mood for conversation. The doors parted, and Ser Lorant stepped in.
"Queen Rhaenyra," he announced, and you quickly stood to your feet.
She stepped inside, golden crown perched on her head, with her silver hair in three intricate braids all woven together. There was a brief glimpse of nervousness as she twisted the rings around her finger.
"I have a mission that I would like to send you on," she stated.
"What would the mission be, Your Grace?"
"I wish for you to fly over King's Landing in an attempt to lure the Prince Regent to Dragonstone so he may see the force we now hold," she explained. "Silverwing is swift, and you are skilled with her. I would send Addam to be close behind should danger unfold."
You nodded. "Yes, Your Grace." You were eager to fulfill this duty, even if the thought of Aemond chasing you on Vhagar nearly made you shit your breeches.
The time arrived, and you were dressed in your riding leathers, hair braided, and mounted on Silverwing. A kiss from your queen lingered on your cheek. Addam was on Seasmoke, and you both awaited Rhaenyra's command. Once it was given, you took off on Silverwing with Addam following five clicks behind. Having grown up in the Street of Silk, you knew the layout of the city well. You had even been brought in to dance for Prince Aegon once before. Silverwing glided with such ease, and you kept her low, away from the Scorpions. You maneuvered her by the window where Rhaenyra said the small council sat. The plan had worked, and Prince Aemond's attention was gained.
You lingered away from the Red Keep, needing him on your tail. Vhagar's roars shook through the city and you urged Silverwing forward. Vhagar was large, but not as fast. Addam flew just ahead on Seasmoke as the two of you made way to Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra waited with Syrax, Vermithor, and Grey-Ghost. A hot blast of dragonfire filled the air, and you dipped Silverwing toward Blackwater Bay, her wings skimming the water. Blood rushed to your head, whooshing in your ears and making you taste your pulse on your tongue. You hadn't realized that you'd been holding your breath until Silverwing landed next to Syrax, when you finally released it and gasped. Aemond did not venture closer, turning Vhagar around and heading back for King's Landing. Rhaenyra held a proud smirk on her face and reached up to stroke Syrax's muzzle.
"Well done," she told you and Addam. It was becoming clear she had a soft spot for the two of you.
The weeks passed, and Rhaenyra continued to draw you under her wing. The dragon queen, they began to call her. Thought you came to think of her as the mother of dragons. The tides began to turn further in her favor as the tensions of the starving smallfolk grew in King's Landing. You weren't completely naive; you understood that Rhaenyra played her own games to garner support. Highborn games, Mysaria had told you. She had given you some distance upon your arrival, allowing you the time to cultivate your talents and carve out a space, but you could feel her lingering in the shadows with her dark eyes always upon you.
"You have done very well, but I never doubted," she hummed one evening when you found her stowed away in your rooms. You were relieved to see a hot bath waiting for you. The heat had been almost agonizing today as the smog had lifted, allowing the bright, hot sun to permeate through. Rhaenyra had given you and Baela her support in expanding your combat skills, and since you were the only two females, you sparred with each other. Both of you were drenched in sweat by day's end.
"Thank you for writing to me," you said, peeling out of your sparring padding and the rest of your damp clothing.
"The queen needs to be surrounded by those who truly believe in her," Mysaria reasoned, extending a hand to help you into the bath. "I can see the adoration in your eyes."
"She is easy to love, easier than Aegon the Pretender, and certainly more so than Aemond. The smallfolk hate the Prince Regent," you sighed, sinking further into the steaming water. "King Viserys, for all his faults, never starved them and never dragged them into needless wars." The commonborn cared not who sat on the throne; it mattered not whether it was Aegon or Rhaenyra; they would live through many kings and queens, but they preferred those who did not bring further hardship upon them. Even better if they were allowed to thrive.
"You are learning well," Mysaria smiled, sitting and helping to wash your back and hair.
"I see you have earned a spot beside her," you commented, sliding a wooden pick under your nails to clean them. Dirt never matted much to you before, but now that you served under the Dragon Queen, you wished to be more presentable.
"So long as we continue to prove our worth, we both will be." A lesson you remembered well. So long as you were valuable, your life remained safe.
You wrapped up in a red robe and sat to comb out your hair when a Queensguard entered.
"Queen Rhaenyra has requested your presence for dinner. I am to escort you once you're ready," he said.
"Best not keep her waiting," Mysaria said and helped you to dress. It was a simple black frock, and she twisted your wet hair into an updo, securing it with pearl pins.
You followed the guard to Rhaenyra's chambers, and he announced your presence before you entered.
"Your Grace," you smiled, lowering into a small curtsey. You felt rather plain in her presence as she was swathed in crimson silk, golden rings, and rubies glittering on her ears, complete with the golden crown. Though she wore her hair loose, cascading in soft waves down her shoulders. She was utterly breathtaking, and you yearned to drink her silvery beauty until you were sick.
"I thought you might be hungry after your training session today. I must admit how impressed I am by you and Baela," Rhaenyra smiled, motioning for you to sit.
"You should join us, Your Grace. I'm certain you could wield a sword expertly."
"You flatter me," Rhaenyra chuckled as a servant poured wine while another served the overflowing dishes of food.
"I only speak the truth. You should not hold yourself back."
"I will consider your words."
You tried not to rip through the duck like a famished beast, instead forcing yourself to take small bites and savor it. The food was delicious, filling your belly pleasantly, and the wine was equally divine. That amethyst gaze was upon you once again.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but you stare at me quite a bit."
A flush colored her cheeks. "I do," she admitted.
"May I ask why? Is it because I look so much like him?"
"Mayhaps, or mayhaps there is a simple allure about you which captivates me."
"An allure? From me?" You couldn't help but laugh, shaking your head.
"Is that so unbelievable?"
"Considering I'm but a mere dragonseed, yes. I find it a bit hard to believe."
"Dragonseeds still have Targaryen blood," she pointed out.
"Yes, if only we were born from a true union and not left sullied as bastards," you scoffed, and she fixed you with a stern look. "Apologies, Your Grace, I overstepped.
"Tis alright. It has become clear that a dragon cares not for the nobility of birth, and I am grateful to the dragonseeds who answered my call."
"I'm very happy to be here and to serve you. There is a matter I wish to discuss with you."
"Go on, but carefully."
"You sent the ships with food to the smallfolk in King's Landing, yet Prince Aemond has stopped that. You might garner more favor by letting a ship through the blockade, but make it known it was your doing. A bit of mercy goes a long way, and I know we are but common born, but peace with the smallfolk should be a goal in mind."
Rhaenyra sat back in her chair, taking a deep drink of her wine. "I will discuss the matter with my small council. I do not wish my subjects to starve. They never did when my father was king."
"He was beloved by the smallfolk simply for letting them live in peace and with their bellies fed. He was also wise to make his council perform the dirty work. They never had much love for Otto Hightower."
Rhaenyra laughed. "You are truly Mysaria's protégé."
"She taught me well and looked out for me even if she did not have to. I'm very grateful to her."
"She is special, but I see something equally as special in you."
"I suppose that is the Targaryen blood," you said cheekily.
You spent most of the night talking with her and drinking wine. You loved how her mouth stretched when she laughed, and the little crinkles around her eyes. It was nice to see a more relaxed side of her. A glimpse of the girl they once called the Realm's Delight. She taught you a tile game and a few more words in High Valyrian.
"You are quite good at this," she said, sliding the tiles across the table.
"Learned to play in the brothels, I would hide pieces up my sleeve, Your Grace."
"Ah, devious."
"I preferred it to the fan dancing or the warming of laps."
"I cannot fault you for that night."
"I should leave, Your Grace, get some sleep," you murmured before draining the remnants of your wine.
"Of course, it was a long day for you. I thank you again for your service; you are proving quite invaluable to me."
"'Tis my pleasure, Your Grace." You stood, and she moved alongside you to the door.
Perhaps it was the wine, perhaps it was the way the silvery moonlight caressed the contours of her face, or perhaps it was the adrenaline still pulsing through your system from training. It mattered not. The only truth was that your lips pressed against hers, feeling their rose petal softness and craving more. Yearning to run your fingers through her silver hair, to draw a peaked nipple between your lips, and to discover what she tasted like. She did not pull away, but closer, sliding her arms around your waist. The kiss deepened, your tongue sliding into the warm cavern of her mouth and tangled with hers. You sensed her hesitation before her commanding nature took over. Pink bloomed over her cheeks, mouth swollen and rosy, and those amethyst eyes seemed to glow. Perhaps in that moment, she saw more of Daemon in you than you had wished. You wanted her to see you.
"Is that what you wish for?" she breathed, sliding her fingers down your neck while giving you ample opportunity to decide. To give the choice to leave. She had no desire to force you.
"Please, Your Grace."
"Rhaenyra. You may call me Rhaenyra in my chambers."
The two of you moved in a languid dance, shedding clothing along the way. Your toes slipped across the smooth stones as you circled around her before pressing your mouth to her shoulder, hands skimming her hips. She let forth a throaty moan as she pressed against your body. You wondered if it was Silverwing you felt in the moment as your teeth yearned to sink into her tender, milky flesh. The dragonkeepers told you the bond could be strong and overwhelming at times. Rhaenyra seemed to sense your desire.
"Go on," she purred, and your teeth sank into her flesh, tasting salt and sweetness while your hands cupped her full breasts. Heat boiled through you.
With her hands in yours, you drew her close to the bed, pulling her down with you in a mess of tangled limbs. She was soft, smooth, smelling of roses and smoke. Her skin like heated embers, drawing you in. Across her belly and hips were elongated pink and white marks, ones that all mothers bore. Her arms and thighs were strong, no doubt from all the dragon riding. Sparse silvery curls clung between her thighs, and your fingertips slid through the downy hair before running further down her cunt. While Mysaria had kept you from whoring, you were not inexperienced. The other women liked to practice on each other, and there were moments you volunteered, savoring their touch and the skill they possessed.
You continued to stroke her while suckling on her nipples, while her fingers had loosened your damp hair and were now tangled in it. One finger slipped inside her, feeling her muscles flutter around you. A second soon followed, and you set a steady pace with them. There was a powerful feeling in making the queen crumble beneath your ministrations. The way her face twisted with pleasure, the delicious O of her parted lips, and the rose petal stain on her high, carved cheekbones. Sweat glistened over her collarbone, a few droplets beading over her forehead, and a lone one rolling down the slope of that perfect aquiline nose. It pooled over her upper lip while your thumb grazed over her swollen pearl. She mewled with delight before soaking your fingers. You loomed over her, watching her completely fall apart with pleasure.
"I thought you were but a dancer," she panted, flushed chest heaving as the perspiration gave her body an ethereal shimmer.
"I indulged in pleasures, but not for pay," you whispered in her ear.
"Hmm," she hummed before pouncing and pinning you beneath you.
You grinned, letting her ravage your throat and the apex of your shoulder. Her thumb pressed against your chin, gazing down at you and closing her eyes briefly. That look on your face was far too familiar. Perhaps that was part of your allure. Dragon blood always managed to find each other. Some hidden attraction woven in the DNA. Her silken mouth moved over your breasts, down your stomach, before her head disappeared between your thighs. You spread your legs wider, getting a glimpse of her pink tongue burying in your cunt. Perspiration clung to your shoulders while your fingers moved through her moonlit hair. A queen worshipping between your thighs.
Her fingers soon filled you while her mouth wrapped around your swollen pearl. The neediest whimper escaped, and your stomach clenched. A precise curl, a gentle trace of her tongue, soon had you spilling into a sweet release. Tears dribbled down your cheeks, glistening like glass.
"I shall take these as a compliment," Rhaenyra grinned, your aftermath glistening on her mouth as she leaned down to kiss you. The taste of you dancing on your tongue. After the fervid kiss, she lapped each glassy tear away before pressing her forehead against yours. "My little dragonseed."
And you were hers from that very night forth. Tucked beneath her wing, nurtured and made to grow. Private Valyrian lessons and flights with her on Syrax and you on Silverwing. Burst of gold and silver against the misty, purple skies. Your flourished. Vines springing from the seed, wrapping tightly around you until you emerged with dragon scales of your own.
You rubbed off on her as well. With the support of her small council, Lord Corlys allowed two ships through the blockade and paid them to fly Rhaenya's banners. She did not hold the Iron Throne, yet she tended to the smallfolk. There were small riots, and the Greens were secluded in the Red Keep. You suspected Aemond wished to burn them all with Vhagar, but that would do no good and paint him a monster. One afternoon, she joined you and Baela in training, and she looked enigmatic with a sword in her hand.
Upon Daemon's return from Harrenhal, Rhaenyra had him knight her dragonseeds. His lilac eyes passed over you, ready to sheath his sword. You wondered if he recognized you.
"Her as well, Daemon," Rhaenyra instructed, and Addam gave you a small smile.
"She may have the title, but she cannot take the oath. None would recognize her," he replied nonchalantly.
"I wish for her to have the title," Rhaenyra stated evenly.
"She has earned it, Your Grace," Hugh volunteered respectfully.
"Aye, she's full of fire this one. Brave too," Ulf piped up, giving you a wink.
"Your Grace," Daemon reminded him tersely.
"Your Grace," Ulf quipped, giving an almost comical bow.
"If he will not, Your Grace, I will do so. I believe that is a power bestowed on knights? Any knight can make a knight," Addam said, addressing Rhaenyra directly.
"Indeed, it is," Rhaenyra smiled.
Your cheeks flushed, feeling pride as your fellow dragonseeds defended you. Even Ulf had grown on you. There was an unbreakable bond between the four of you now.
An amused look crossed Daemon's face as he lifted Dark Sister into the air. "Kneel."
You knelt in your chainmail as the flat edge of the sword landed on your right shoulder and then your left.
"Arise." It was hard to ignore the disinterest in his voice, but it mattered not. You no longer yearned for the approval of a father who abandoned you to the Street of Silk for his paramour to raise. You had the approval of the queen and the friendship of your fellow dragonseeds. She promised all four of you legitimation once she held King's Landing. No longer a dragonseed, no longer a Waters; you would be a Targaryen. Victory tasted delicious in your mouth. How far you had climbed out of the Street of Silk. Clawed from the bottom of Rhaenys's Hill to become a dragon.
You stood, feeling giddy, and while it might be only in title, it was special to you. In two days' time, a siege would fall on King's Landing, and you would get the Dragon Queen her rightful throne.
So you can avoid them stealing things from you, the artist/writer, etc.
Pro GenAI websites/Programs:
Facebook
Instagram
X/Twitter (Remember, Grok gives people cancer)
Threads
Pro Writing Aid
Grammarly
Duolingo
Google Docs
Microsoft Word/all Microsoft products Takes from and will feed their machine.
Youtube (taking advantage of people who are hearing impaired. ==;;)
Adobe Products. All of them. If you HAVE to use them (Some businesses require it), save offline because there is a film of at least some privacy protections there, so if you have to sue, you can say it violates US privacy law. Remember, contracts do not circumvent US law.
Corel won't feed the machines, but still uses AI stolen from other artists. Which sucks since Corel Draw is the second best overall for vector programs. (Plus I love Painter, but I bought the offline version to avoid AI). (Canadian company)
Canva Takes and feeds their machine.
Deviant Art Not only supports AI, but put a tool in and said they are going to steal your work if you like it or not for their machine.
Sketchup went Pro-GenAI. The thing is that you can do the same thing in Blender these days with precise measurements.
Autodesk has stated they are Pro-Gen AI here. It is not clear if they will use your models to feed their machine. But be on guard. They make Maya and 3Dmax. You can replace it with Blender.
Neutral ground:
Tumblr (there is a way to opt out [Link] and they don't have an active AI machine.) https://www.tumblr.com/dookins/743519550598987776/heres-how-to-disable-third-parties-like-ai
Etsy allows GenAI, but still has some (minor) restrictions. I'd still be cautious. (Also be cautious of drop shippers). Complaints about too much AI and AI images+patterns made by Ai still exist on the website. They lean slightly more pro-AI, but still won't let it run completely amok, say like Facebook. They won't feed your work into a machine, but also don't ban it through robots.txt.
Bluesky They don't use an AI algorithm except for in the "Discover" section of their website, but while they are anti-GenAI strongly, they don't seem to block the Gen AI bots from entry, so you'd still have to use Nightshade or Glaze (links below). There is no opt-out because they don't need an opt out. (Leaning towards strong position on AI, but I wish they would block GenAI bots).
Searxng- If you super want to screw over Google, in general, and have some tech savvy, you can set up your own search engine through searxng. It's easier on Windows and Linux than it is on a Mac. (Mac you need Docker), but if you're determined on privacy, Searxng adds a layer of privacy. Some of it sometimes uses bits of AI, but most of it doesn't and you can fuss with the settings so it doesn't spit out AI results. At sheer minimum Google will stop spitting out weird videos on Youtube at you because in your private browsing, you searched for the origin of ball bearings while not logged in for a book and Google likes to break privacy laws.
Strong positions against AI:
Scrivener (Creator vowed against AI) Writing program. There is an active forum, and versions for Mac, Linux and PC. It is paid, but at ~60 USD, it's cheaper than most programs. There is usually a holiday sale around Christmas. It has a learning curve, but with an active forum with the programmer of it there to ask obscure questions it's not a dead zone. They often take suggestions and implement them over time. (Especially if you rank the importance, applications, etc) US company.
LibreOffice Open source and free Spreadsheet and Word processor program that can replace Microsoft Word. Some people might have seen older versions where it was called Neo Office (now extinct) and Open Office. LibreOffice is still populated, plus the forums are super helpful if you get stuck. The UX is pretty intuitive if you've used Microsoft Word. Scrivener, BTW, supports exporting to odt (the native file) as well as .doc, and this can open both. The slight thing is that sometimes it doesn't export to .doc smoothly. And I DO wish more magazines, and agent (big clue here) supported .odt files since it is free. Part of the reason .odt isn't as supported is because Microsoft and Adobe have a deal with the devil with each other, so Adobe's Book formatting program InDesign doesn't support ODT. (BTW, if you have a good open source replacement for InDesign that supports ODT, let me know.)
Dabble (as suggested by SF stories, see reblog) is a writing program. Similar to Scrivener. Has vowed against AI and to resist it. 108 dollars a year for Basic. It is almost twice the price of Scrivener who lets you update for fairly cheap. 29 dollars a month, v. 59 dollars for the whole program (Scrivener) for the same features of Premium. You choose.
yWriter is a free Writing program and like Scrivener, and has vowed against AI Last I looked it had some UX issues, but some people swear by it. The learning curve is higher than Scrivener which is saying something.
Ellipsus is an online writing program and vowed against AI. The main feature I like (which Scrivener doesn't have) is the ability to change spellcheck based on region/language. It is a requested feature of Scrivener, but lower priority. So if you have a Brit, you can get the spelling for the character. They are a British-based company.
Cara.app (The creator of the website sued GenAI there is no chance they'll convert) is an artist website. Cara is trying to institute an auto Glaze/Nightshade into the website if given enough funds. People see it as a soft replacement for deviant art. (which went fully AI) If you believe in human art, please donate if you can. Zhang Jingna, the Creator,is Chinese-Singporean. She lives in Singapore.
Clip Studio Paint added AI, but saw the light and decided to protect artists instead because of protest and removed it. There are tutorials and a good forum if you get super stuck. Based in Japan, so the UI and UX is really clean.
Davinci Resolve Pro is a film editing software that's super good. There is a free version and a paid version. The forums are responsive. The programmers aren't always present. There is a healthy group of tutorials. US company. Clean UX. It does take a little bit of time to remember the shortcuts.
Tahoma2D is anti-AI and open source animation program. Takes a little getting used to, but is good for animations and doesn't crash as often as Animate. Programmers are in the forums and some bugs are fixed within hours. The forums are super responsive and helpful.
Krita open source and free, no AI. I'd rank it secondary to Clip Studio Paint (which is paid) I haven't tried the forums, but it's pretty intuitive and can stand for a lower level replacement for Painter, and do a lot of the basics of Photoshop. It's usually ranked higher than the equally open source Gimp.
Writer P AKA Writer+ (app for when you're on the go) is a simple word processor app for your phone that doesn't use AI. The original programmer stopped updating, so Writer+ person took over and isn't out to make a profit since it's free in the spirit of the original app. It has subfolders you can use. Since it was programmed before GenAI it doesn't have AI. Intuitive, easy to use. Fairly easy to upload the files through three dots->share. The files can save to your card or phone with some settings fussing. Simple word processor.
Inkscape is a free vector program and no AI. It is harder to use than illustrator and has less features. But if you're doing smaller vectors for one-offs with less complexity, it'll do you after some learning curve. Best of the lot. I hate Affinity Designer which is the same thing, only paid. (Neither Affinity program was worth the money paid)
Affinity (Designer, etc) swore to be AI-free and does Vector and Photos. The UX is messy, I dislike the program and regret paying for it. Inkscape and Krita are better UX and do the same thing. The forums aren't as friendly since there has been an onslaught of people seeing it's supposed to be a replacement for Photoshop and Illustrator, but the programmers aren't present. The people on the forums are often on edge about this assertion. And the capabilities of the program don't outshine basically Krita or Inkscape capabilities (both free). What is usually intuitive is not. UK company. If you're going to pay for a program, go for Clip Studio Paint which rivals Corel Painter.
Blender is a 3D art program and does not use GenAI. It can do 2D animation, but Tahoma is easier to use in this regard. It's open source and free. Plus there are plenty of tutorials. The forums can be touch and go sometimes, but there are plenty of sub Blender communities that might be responsive. It can also do animation.
Handmade vowed against AI and promised to never sell itself for stock prices to prevent AI (as a replacement for Etsy.)
Discover a world of creativity and craftsmanship through Handmade, an innovative platform connecting passionate artisans with discerning buy
Proton (to replace Google Suite) as suggested by SF Stories (see reblog) Vowed against AI. They are missing a spreadsheet, but have online and offline capabilities, plus a built-in VPN.
But you need a pro website...
Look up robots.txt and AI bots: https://www.cyberciti.biz/web-developer/block-openai-bard-bing-ai-crawler-bots-using-robots-txt-file/
Use cloudflare:
Use Nightshade:
https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html
which will poison the algorithm
Use Glaze:
Take Away:
The thing is you think you doing it alone will do nothing, but the more AI feeds on itself, AI images, the worse they become, and the less detailed so, denying it the images, adding poison or not being able to read the human text is eventually going to lead to an AI collapse.
Analysis shows that indiscriminately training generative artificial intelligence on real and generated content, usually done by scrapi
And why not help that along?
I don't want to give cancer to poor people [Link] or make the planet burn faster [Link]. So GenAI collapse is everything I dream of. GenAI apocalypse is not.
Whether your long-term relationship is in a rut, or you're looking for a way to connect with a new partner, sex games are a fun way to add some steamy novelty to your sex life.
Sex Games for Couples to Play
To get the most out of these sexy games, both of you should go in with a positive attitude and a willingness to try new sexual activities. Here are some sex games that may spice things up between you and your partner.
“Out of bed” sex checklist: For this game, commit to having sex in a different location either inside or outside your home for an entire month. The one rule is that the location can’t be your bed. Then every time you have sex, alternate who chooses the location. You may be surprised at how a change of scenery sparks your sexual creativity.
Sex dice: For this classic couple’s sex game, all you need is a pair of dice that will give you a sexy action (i.e. “lick,” “suck,” “nibble”) and a number of sexy body parts (i.e. “nipples,” “ear,” “neck”). Just purchase a pair of sex dice, role the dice, and do what they tell you to do.
Kinky truth or dare: For this kinky spin on the classic game Truth or Dare, all you have to do is make every truth and every dare sexual in nature. If selecting a dare for your partner, think of something that pushes them slightly out of their comfort zone like role play or a striptease performance. When asking for a truth, use it as an opportunity to learn about your partner's sexual fantasies. For example, you could ask "What untraditional sex position have you always wanted to try?" or "Tell me something that turns you on that I don't already know about."
Yes/No/Maybe: Making a “Yes/No/Maybe” list with your partner is exactly what it sounds like: a list of sexual activities that you can mark “Yes” (I definitely want to do this), “No” (I definitely do not want to do this), or “Maybe” (I’m not sure if I’d enjoy this, but I’m open to talking more about it and maybe trying it). You should each fill out a “Yes/No/Maybe” list separately and then compare to see where your sexual fantasies overlap. Here's a small sample of items to consider adding to your list: BDSM, mutual masturbation, nipple play, oral sex, anal sex, role-playing, dirty talk, dressing up, spanking, vibrator usage, dildo usage, and threesomes.
Honey hunt: This game is perfect for couples who have a sweet tooth and don't mind getting a little messy. To play, blindfold your partner and pour a small spot of honey anywhere on your body. It's your partner's job to find the honey, but they're only allowed to use their tongue. As they search for the honey, your partner may discover new erogenous zones on your body. This game can get sticky so when you're done playing, clean each other off with some shower sex.
Sex toy surprise: To play “sex toy surprise,” gather all your sex toys in a large bag, blindfold you or your partner, and pick one out of the bag to use during foreplay. Feel free to keep the blindfold on after you make your selection.
Strip games: You can turn any card game or board game into a sex game if you just alter the rules so that the loser has to remove a piece of clothing. Strip poker is the most popular strip game and you only need a classic deck of playing cards to play.
Sex Toy - any object or device made to enhance sexual pleasure or facilitate an orgasm. When safely used, sex toys can bring an entirely new element to a sexual encounter. There are several different types of sex toys, and each is designed for a unique form of pleasure.
Types of Sex Toys
Sex toys come in many shapes and sizes, but they typically fall within 7 categories.
Vibrators: These sex toys use vibration patterns to stimulate different parts of your body. External vibrators include clitoral stimulators like bullet vibrators and wands, which enhance pleasure around the clitoris and labia. Internal vibrators are shaped for comfortable vaginal and anal penetration. They usually include several vibration modes, so you can find the right intensity for you. Combination vibrators like rabbit vibrators include both internal and external functions. Rabbits are hybrid sex toys that allow for penatration while simultaneously simulating your clit.
Anal toys: Some sex toys are specifically designed to stimlute the nerve endings in your anus. Examples of anal toys include butt plugs, prostate massagers, and anal beads. The important thing to look for when choosing an anal toy is a flared base. This wider base ensures that the toy doesn’t accidentally slip inside your anus. Since the anus doesn’t naturally lubricate itself, anal toys require a lot of lubrication. Don’t forget to clean your anal toy after each use, especially if you’re sharing the toy with a partner or plan to use it on another part of your body.
BDSM gear: BDSM toys can enhance sexual pleasure by allowing for dominant and submissive roleplaying. If you are new to bondage, consider buying a pair of handcuffs, a blindfold, or wrist and ankle restraints. These simple items can add an exciting element to your sexual encounters by forcing you to focus on every physical sensation. If you enjoy erotic spanking, consider using a paddles, whips, or ticklers. When using BDSM gear, always be sure to have an agreed-upon safe word that you can use if you are ever feeling uncomfortable. Trust and communication are key for good bondage play.
Dildos: One of the most popular types of sex toys, dildo are often phallic in shape. They are designed to comfortably penetrate a vagina, anus, or mouth. Dildos come in many shapes and sizes, but they are often textured with pleasurable ribs or bumps and made out of silicone, glass, and even steel. If you are having solo sex, consider buying a dildo with a suction cup base that you can attach to a wall for hand-free use.
Cock rings: These toys wrap around the base of your penis to stop blood flow back into the body, which can help maintain and enhance an erection. Some cock rings wrap around the scrotum to apply extra pressure. The safest cock rings are made from a soft material like silicone, but they also come in materials like titanium or stainless steel. Vibrating cock rings can enhance sexual pleasure for the wearer and provide clitoral stimulation for a partner. Only wear a cock ring for brief sessions, and take it off immediately if it causes you any pain.
Harnesses: Harnesses allow you to attach a dildo to your body for strap-on play. Use a strap-on for penetrative sex, either vaginal or anal. Harnesses are often fit like underwear, but some have straps that tie around your thighs. You may also wear a harness for bondage purposes. For optimal mobility during sex, be sure to keep your harness snug and your dildo tightly attached.
Sex furniture: Constructed for intimacy, sex furniture can help you position your body in a way that is otherwise difficult or uncomfortable. A wedge pillow is an easy way to lift your pelvis and hold a good position for penetration. Other examples of sex furniture include sex swings, lounge chairs, and shower grips. If you’ve been struggling with a particular sex position, consider getting a piece of sex furniture to support you.
BDSM - a blanket term for a wide variety of erotic practices and kinks built upon power dynamics between consenting sexual partners.
“BDSM” is a combination of acronyms that stands for three similar but distinct communities that use power imbalance for sexual pleasure:
Bondage and discipline (B/D), domination and submission (D/s), and sadism and masochism (S/M).
In general, BDSM involves one partner acting in the dominant role (or “dom”), while the other embodies the submissive role (or “sub”) as they both act out consensual fantasies.
Both partners receive sexual pleasure and satisfaction from performing their role (whether dominant or submissive) during the sexual encounter.
Other “kinky” communities based on nonconforming sexual interests or fetishism are often included within the BDSM community, including those with rubber or leather fetishes or people who enjoy animal roleplay, where one partner takes on the role of an animal or pet.
Types of BDSM
BDSM is an umbrella term for many sexual preferences within the erotic community, all of which interact and overlap in various ways. The most common subcultures include:
Bondage play: Bondage is a sexual practice in which tools are used to restrain one partner during a sexual encounter. The most common restraints include rope, leather straps, bondage tape, ties, handcuffs, spreader bars, ball gags, blindfolds, and chains. These restraints aim to restrict the subject’s senses or freedom of movement to place control in the other partner’s hands and heighten mutual sexual stimulation.
Discipline: In the discipline community, the dominant partner will set rules that the submissive partner obeys. These rules can be sexual in nature (like requiring oral sex at particular times) or indirectly erotic (like forbidding speaking out of turn). If the submissive partner breaks a rule, the dominant partner will assign punishment, including withholding pleasure, inflicting pain (from spanking to flogging), or assigning additional rules. Both partners experience sexual pleasure in discipline roleplay.
Dominance and submission: Dominance and submission focus on the flow of power and energy between partners. In general, one partner dominates the other physically, mentally, emotionally, or sexually during a particular encounter (often called a “scene” or “session”), exploring the submissive partner’s desires, thoughts, and feelings and guiding the couple toward mutual pleasure. BDSM practitioners who like to switch between dominant and submissive roles in a relationship or even undergo a power exchange during a single encounter are known as “switches.” D/s often incorporates specific outfits or attire to be used during a scene—for instance, leather outfits, maid costumes, collars, leashes, and riding crops.
Sadomasochism: Sadomasochism is a community in which individuals derive sexual pleasure and a rush of endorphins from inflicting or receiving pain (always consensually). Those who enjoy inflicting this pain are known as sadists, while those who enjoy feeling this pain are called masochists. The pain inflicted can be physical (with whips, clamps, paddles, or electric stimulation) or emotional (through humiliation or total submission).
Tips for Practicing BDSM Safely
If you want to experiment with BDSM for the first time but are unsure where to start, here are a few tips to make sure your experiences are safe, consensual, and fun:
Set ground rules with your partner. To engage in healthy BDSM play, you and your partner should both agree on what you’re comfortable with before you begin—nobody should feel pressured into a particular role or feel as if they don’t have a choice. Have an open and honest dialogue with your partner about the roles you’re each drawn toward so that you both feel comfortable and confident experimenting. If you’re too nervous about bringing it up directly and you’re curious about your partner’s interest levels, consider watching light BDSM erotica together to broach the subject.
Select a safe word. Trust and mutual consent between one or more partners are the foundation of BDSM. However, it may be hard to distinguish between playful banter and an honest request to slow down or stop the experience in the middle of a session. Every BDSM practitioner should establish at least one safe word with their partner—something either person can say to signal that a boundary has been crossed and a break is necessary. Additionally, you and your partner can choose two different safe words—one that signals a stop in action and another that signals you’re coming close to a boundary and should ease off or move the session in a different direction.
Brainstorm roleplaying ideas. If you’re unsure how to begin a BDSM relationship with your partner or feeling self-conscious, consider some roleplay scenarios that can help jumpstart the action. Boss and employee, teacher and student, doctor and patient, or two strangers are all roles that you can take on to help distance yourself from the situation, which can be a great way to help you get over stage fright so that you can relax and enjoy yourself.
Start small. If you’re new to BDSM, avoid buying a complicated rope system or a fancy leather outfit. Instead, let yourself ease in to see if this form of sex play suits you and your partner. Try light BDSM activities for starters; many discipline or D/s sessions only require two willing participants and some imagination. If you want to buy equipment, a blindfold and some wrist restraints are useful, inexpensive items that you can continue to use if you determine that hardcore BDSM activities are not for you.
Understand risk. There are two main schools of thought regarding how to treat risk during sessions—the “safe, sane, and consensual” model (SSC) and the “risk-aware consensual kink” model (RACK). Those who follow the SSC model emphasize safety, sticking to activities that you and your partner have designated as “safe” beforehand. Those who follow the RACK model believe that the word “safe” is problematic because most BDSM activities are inherently risky and that emphasizing safety takes away participants’ freedom to evaluate risk on their own or engage in higher-risk BDSM play. For those who follow the RACK model, the responsibility to determine risk and comfort is with each individual—making explicit consent even more crucial.
Aftercare is key. Many sexual activities—and BDSM sessions in particular—can be physically or emotionally intense for both participants, so partners must engage in healthy aftercare following the sexual experience. Discussion, cuddling, and cleaning up together are great ways to help everyone wind down and process the session, fostering a sense of calm, physical wellness, and emotional well-being.
Erotic Spanking - a type of impact play in which a person uses their hands, whip, paddle, crop, or flagger to spank parts of their partner’s body for consensual and mutual sexual pleasure.
Spanking is a light BDSM activity often used as foreplay before sexual intercourse or a kinky warm up during domination play.
Receiving an erotic spanking can increase blood flow in the groin area and releases pleasurable chemicals in the brain, including endorphins and dopamine, to enhance sexual pleasure.
Types of Erotic Spanking
In spanking role-play, each partner performs the part of a character—the spanking recipient will typically take on a submissive role, while the other partner performs a dominant one.
Domestic discipline is a practice between two consenting partners where the dominant partner uses spanking or corporal punishment to call out their submissive partner’s unwanted behaviors (which may have been performed intentionally in order to get spanked).
Self-spanking is when a person spanks their own body for sexual pleasure.
Ways to Practice Erotic Spanking
There are several different ways that couples and individuals can use erotic spanking in their sexual play:
Clothed or unclothed: You can spank or receive a spanking fully clothed, completely naked, or in various states of undress. Some people own special spanking outfits like chaps or a spanking skirt, which have unique cutouts around the buttocks to allow for easier spanking.
Over the knee: The prototypical position for spanking is when the receiving partner lies across the lap or over the spanking partner’s knee, with their buttocks in the air. However, many other positions offer easy access to the buttocks. For example, the receiving partner can lie on their stomach on the bed, or both partners can stand upright. Some people may invest in a spanking bench or spanking horse, a four-legged piece of furniture that the receiving partner lies on during spanking.
With the hand: The hands are the most common spanking tool. Some practitioners prefer to spank using their bare hands because they can also feel the impact on their palms and fingers.
With a spanking tool: Spanking tools can provide more impact or cover a greater surface area. Paddles, whips, riding crops, floggers, hairbrushes, belts, and canes are popular implements to use for spanking.
With bondage: Spanking falls under the umbrella of BDSM, which also includes other activities like bondage and domination. Many people like to combine spanking with these activities to enhance sexual arousal—for instance, tying up the receiving partner for a submissive BDSM spanking experience.
With role-play: Some couples use spanking as a role-playing element, acting out situations where the spanker is the dominant partner and the spankee needs to be punished with a spanking session.
Erotic Spanking Tips
If you want to try an erotic spanking session in the bedroom, here are some useful tips for beginners:
Choose a safe word. Different people respond differently to spanking—while some may find it immensely pleasurable, others may dislike it entirely or enjoy it only briefly before they’re ready to move on. To ensure that you and your partner have an open line of sexual communication, choose a memorable, safe word before you start so that if one of you needs to stop, you can use the word to end the session and take a break.
Start gently. Everyone has different sensitivity levels, and it’s important to listen to your partner to see what feels best for them. When starting with erotic spanking, the spanker should begin with gentle spanks—then, if your partner asks for more or harder impact, you can gradually increase the intensity. Easing into the spanking can help both of you discover your preferences.
Experiment with sensations. If you’re spanking with your hand, you can try different angles and styles to see what feels best. For instance, the palm offers a deeper thud, while the fingers can create more of a stinging sensation. Other spanking tools can provide new sensations—a paddle can cover more surface area with each impact, while a riding crop concentrates on a particular spot. Aftercare is also important—rubbing the spankee’s buttocks after a few spanks can extend the duration of the sensations and further increase the pleasure.
Pay attention to all four zones. The buttocks have four different zones that respond differently to spanking: the tops by your lower back, the sides near your hips, the undersides, and the fleshy center dome. When spanking, give each zone some attention, which will also help provide other zones with relief. As you ramp up the sexual arousal, focus most of the spanking on the underside zone, which will send vibrations up to your partner’s genital area for the most pleasure.
Go solo. You don’t need a partner to enjoy spanking. Add in some erotic spanking during a masturbation session—being on all fours or even standing up are both good positions to give you easy access to your buttocks area. If you’re having a hard time reaching, consider using a paddle or other spanking tool.
