Tumgik
#if anyone has tips on how to choose colours please help me
gwydion-aacblog · 7 months
Note
If feel up to answering, could please have advice on helping sister with very bad food sensitivities?
Little sister has very very bad sensory with food and parents just don’t get it. Wonder if have any good links to explanations that could send parents so they understand better
Parents sister and me all autistic but parents don’t have much sensory problems and they think sister just doesn’t like tastes but is clearly more than that. Sister gets very very very distressed with most foods with Only very few exceptions. Sister reacts to food like how self reacts to sounds and smells and textures.
want to help her. Not sure how to help but think trying to get parents to understand better would be good start
Sorry if worded bad. Tired today
sorry take so long think ... hope that is OK . :)
not think all food sensory problems always count under ARFID , if still can eat somewhat balance variety , but still same information and thoughts can really really help . 
in short is eating disorder where eat small variety , and anything new distress .
problem with " new " that lots people not understand is , with ARFID even tiny change can make something feel totally new . that means harder , for example , to try " sneak in " something like vegetable even in small way . which ...
bad approaches :
as above , try sneak something new in without ask and give any notice . even if person really did not realise , and get to " brag " about feed something new , this will break trust . feel like say , " not important how foods make feel . "
try force eat something , especially if restrict something safe behind this . " no snacks until eat grapes " simply do not make want eat grapes , even if find out that able tolerate texture and taste . this associate grape as punish food , not safe one .
same thing with " only get X if eat all Y " . even when Y is safe food , still might not be most prefer , and brain crave X for regulate . deny even small piece can only make harder get through Y food , where might be able finish Y if also get some X to go with , if that make sense .
of course there is times when need try push , because nutrition important . but can not do all in same ways for different people . did word most these tips for caregivers to consider because that is what ask , but of course anyone can apply these to self too .
some people very restrict , and will need extra fortify and supplement in current safe foods , rather than only focus on find new ones . if need choose between " snack foods mix with some protein supplement " and " no protein at all because can not eat any protein rich foods " ... please choose those snacks . some is always more than none .
this can be true for other medications too , like how gwydion can only take some liquid medications if mix with yogurt and honey . unless have specific instruction that say medically can not do this , do whatever need to help that stuff go down and get in body . 
also , think should always let person know about change , and what that change might look , taste , or feel like . little more thin and runny , little darker colour , anything . keep another safe food close at hand if possible , like small safe snack or easy meal , so that even if fail with this new food , will have at least something to eat .
do not shame if fail . gwydion hear that " kids in africa starve " line too much to even know number , and know what ? that only ever make feel worse . 
sometimes just need time to look and stare , then some time to smell , then some time to feel texture ... and only then time to try eat . even after that , probably still will not finish all at once , and need try again another day . for gwydion this sometimes can happen all in one hour long sitting , but for lots others these will happen at different times . with that in mind , might also want only prepare small amount , or at least have plan for who can eat leftover . increase when comfortable finish small portion .
take advantage of food chain ... look at and ask what person already enjoy , and see how can branch from that . maybe french fries good , so what about tater tots , and hash browns ... and later , maybe can put onion in those ! again , this all can be really slow - should only add new food when definitely comfortable with this one , and not restrict or complain about any current safe foods - so do not lose patience , rush , or shame . ( this include if use tips for self ! ) 
hope all this help and give things can think about and say :) ARFID not easy , deal with pretty much alone for whole life because no one ever understand , so these tips all from inside experience .
123 notes · View notes
bullet-prooflove · 26 days
Note
I went for safety by choosing from an old prompt list. So, still with Juice, "I'm following the map that leads to you", please?
Btw, as you told me I could pop a few requests in, I might send another one for someone else. But I haven't decided who yet so we'll see tomorrow...
Tumblr media
Canvas!Series:
Canvas - You've brought so much colour into Juice's life.
Follow Me - Your ex Ronnie realises you have a new boyfriend.
Runaway - Juice comes home to find you absent.
Goodbye - Juice recieves a phone call from you in the middle of the night.
Love Letter (feat: Filip 'Chibs' Telford) - Juice begins to spiral.
Tumblr media
It’s Evelyn that gives Juice the map, the one with your location highlighted with a red felt tip heart. He keeps it in the passenger seat of the truck as he makes the drive up to Spring Creek in Nevada. It’s been almost a year since he last laid eyes on you, since you’d called him from a pay phone in a shitty motel in Carson City to say goodbye. He’d been up there a couple of times to find you but the trail had always gone cold, now he knows why.
You were an artist with barely two cents to rub together, you didn’t have the resources to vanish the way you did. He’d assumed you’d had help, he’d just never realised how close it was to home.
“Did Chibs know?” he’d asked Evelyn as he’d sat at the kitchen table in the home the two of them shared.
“Not until this morning.” She had told him as she set the mug of hot chocolate down in front of him. “Keeping the secret gave him plausible deniability.”
Which means it gave the club plausible deniability. If anyone discovered her complicity in a network that helped to spirit women and children away from abusive situations, being disbarred would be the least of her worries.
“You saw what it did to me, you knew…” He trails off bitterly, his eyes stinging.
He’d almost killed himself last year, shot himself up with so much dope, he’d woken up choking in a pool of his own vomit. He’d been lucky that time. It should have been a wake up call but it wasn’t.
“That’s why she sent the letter.” Evelyn explained to him. “She couldn’t stand the thought of you blaming yourself.”
It had taken him weeks to read it. By that point he’d gone so far down the rabbit hole he didn’t know which way was up. It was Chibs that saved him, that forced him to read the letter, to understand it wasn’t his fault that you’d left.
“Why now?” Juice asks her, gesturing to the map and Evelyn picks up the newspaper from the counter and tosses it onto the table in front of him.
3 Dead During DEA Drug Raid, the headline reads.
“Her ex, he’s one of them.” Evelyn tells him, tapping her finger on the article. “I’ve told her it’s safe to come home but…”
“…but she doesn’t know if she has anything to come back to.” Juice finishes as he leans back in his chair.
“A year is a long time Juan.” Evelyn reminds him. “As far as she knows you’ve moved on, got yourself another girl.”
“No.” He says resolutely as his gaze strays to the garden outside of the window. “I fucked around in the beginning but there’s never been anyone that comes close to Simone.”
Eight hours later Juice finds himself standing on the doorstep of a cabin in Spring Creek. It’s the first time in almost a year he’s felt hope.
Love Juice? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.
Interested in supporting me? Join my Patreon for Bonus Content!
Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee
@stydiaswish @goosterroose @darqchilddaydreamz @librarian1002 @redpool @trublu2u @fleureeee @hatersaremymotivators @ravennaortiz @just-a-throw-away @fangirling-and-lovin-it @keyweegirlie @kmc1989
22 notes · View notes
luv4kokafox · 1 month
Note
Wow how do u get the motivation to study like this?
I actually get this question a lot, so I’ve tried to put some tips together that help me to stay concentrated for as much time as possible! 🙏
Here's how I do 3-5+ hours of revision each day on top of school*:
1. Set achievable goals
Everyone falls into the trap of thinking they can do more than they think, but ultimately it just makes you feel bad :( There’s nothing worse than feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day because you haven’t “completed your work.”
They best thing you can do is write out your tasks that need to be completed, ordering them in terms of priority and then get cracking! It’s important to note that forcing yourself to do work will never help, it’ll just make the work looked rushed and won’t be your best, do what you can and don’t feel disheartened if you leave something uncompleted for now!! (finish it eventually, ofc ☺️)
2. Don’t put work over your other needs!
I’ve heard some people say that they’ve put off snacking/drinking and hanging out with friends just so that they can study. I can almost 100% guarantee this will just make you more upset!! If you want to go out, go out. If you want to snack, go get a snack! Don’t ever put off your needs for some short term work when we both know you’d be a lot happier talking to your friends 🩷
I know that out there, there are some people who will tell you they forget to eat or drink when they work. Please do not let this influence you. Everyone works differently, and their way is not healthy.
3. Time management
Setting up a revision timetable, with time blocks or not, can really help you to set out an idea of work you’d like to complete! Make it colour coordinated!! Stick it up in your room, or throw it on your home/lockscreen for a reminder!
Everyone works a little differently, for example, I do have a timetable, but I don’t use it in extensive detail. If something else has higher importance, I’ll finish that. If I know that working on a subject really won’t “help” at the time (I’ll go over this later 😋) then I’ll ignore it. It's helpful to have the idea, but don’t restrict yourself to just what you've written on the timetable!
4. Apps!!
I've also found it helps to have a non-academic goal to work towards! I use an app called “Flora” to set time goals and write to-do lists that helps me to get through the nights. For each task I have, the app plants a virtual tree or plant in your garden! You can customise the garden, the title of your tasks and each plant that you grow. The best thing about this app is that it restricts apps on your phone (you can choose which ones!). It acts as a massive deterrent to spending time on your phone and helps you to focus on your work! You can also work with friends and grow trees together, completely free :)
There are many apps like this, Flora is just the one that I use. Take some time to find one just for you!! (flora is the best tho <3)
5. Choosing the right focus
So you have some homework due in a couple of days, an essay next week and a project due in in a month. You're really not feeling good about the homework and the essay just really isn't up your street right now, but that project? You wanna do that! And thats fine!! It's never good to miss deadlines and procrastinate, but if you feel like doing that work now will just lead to it being rushed and feeling incomplete, leave it until later on! Forcing yourself to do a task might make you relieved when you're finished, but it's no way to cheer yourself up.
By all means, don't miss deadlines because of this! You should always try to complete assignments right as they're set rather than leaving them until last minute. Getting compulsory work done leaves more time for you to be yourself, work on your own ideas and have that extra edge above anyone else!
*3-5+ hours on top of schoolwork is a big commitment. I understand this, and everyone is different. Please do not think that this is how much you should be doing, or how much is what makes a "good student." Do what feels right for YOU.
That's all from me, if anyone has any other questions on how I revise or how to revise, ask away! <3
Have a good day everyone!
21 notes · View notes
allelitewrestlings · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media
allelitewrestlings’ gifmaking tutorial #1
hey there! this is a brief tutorial with technical tips for making wrestling/aew gifs. i won’t go through the basics of gifmaking, so some photoshop knowledge is expected. i hope this will help any new gifmakers in the wrestling fandom, or anyone who is interested 😊 
tutorial content:
choosing the footage
gif dimensions
duplicated frames
sharpening and timing
colouring*
the full tutorial is under the cut! enjoy!
intro. as i mentioned, this is a very basic, very simple tutorial that goes through issues i have encountered since i first started giffing wrestling stuff. keep in mind that i am by no means an expert, and there must be better/easier ways of doing the things i do, but these are my methods. 
*note: i will not be talking in-detail about how to colour aew gifs because it’d take most of the tutorial. but if anyone’s interested about a veeery basic colouring tutorial that focuses on aew, let me know 😊
1. choosing the footage
when it comes to making gifs, the rule of thumb is to always choose 1080p footage or higher. this makes your gifs look more hd. when it comes to wrestling/aew (in my personal experience) even 1080p can look pretty terrible sometimes. 
Tumblr media
this is a screencap from a young bucks entrance. you can see how even when the video “is 1080p”, the image looks super pixelated and blurry. to me that’s a no can do, sorry young bucks. i often try to go for clear frames, but it’s a challenge when it comes to aew 😅 (unless it’s close-ups or backstage segments).
once you have your footage and once you’re exporting your video to frames on photoshop, remember not to limit the frames (unless you’re working with 1080p60, in which it’s totally fine to limit 2 frames if you don’t want your gif to look too “smooth”).
for the purpose of this tutorial, i will be working with backstage segments.
2. gif dimensions
now that you have your footage, you have to decide what kind of layout you’ll be working with. most set layouts consist of one, two, or three columns. depending on the layout you choose, the width of your gif will be different (the height can be whatever you want, just remember to keep the proportions). as of 2022 the tumblr width dimensions are as follow:
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
i usually crop my gifs using the crop tool (but there are other methods for sizing your gifs). this time i’ll be making a 540x450 one column gif
Tumblr media Tumblr media
personally, i never fully select the bottom 3-4 pixels because (for some reason?) you’ll find a black line at the bottom of aew footage like 80% of the time. but feel free to crop the gif as you please! there are other ways of cropping and sizing your gif, this is just one :) 
3. sharpening and timing
once you have your gif cropped, it’s time for sharpening. it’s important not to skip this step! i’d say that sharpening is as important as selecting the correct width/colouring your gif. there are many ways to sharpen your gif and it all depends on whether you work with timeline/smart object or you choose to sharpen each frame individually. both of these can be achieved through actions or manually. personally, i prefer actions. there are many great action packs available here on tumblr for free! they’ll make your life easier. one of my favourite action packs is @anyataylorjoy​’s action pack #1. this action pack has two different sharpening actions and they’re both quite useful (and look good on my dated photoshop), but what i love the most is the save action.
this is when we need to talk about timing. i’ve been making gifs for a while, and it took me a long time to realise that 95% of the time, the correct timing for gifs is 0.05. the issue here is that when you save your gif and you’re still working with it as timeline/smart object, 0.05 is converted to 0.07, so it slows the gif down. sometimes it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but fixing the timing makes a huuuuge difference in what your gif will end up looking like. by using the save action, your work will automatically be converted back into frames and the timing will be fixed.
let’s look at examples.
this is what happens if you change the speed to 0.05 before converting the frames to timeline/smart object to sharpen it. (when you save it, the gif will automatically be 0.07. we don’t want this).
Tumblr media
what we want is to convert the timeline back into frames and change the speed to 0.05 (so you can use the save option for this and save yourself some time!). after that, your gif will move way smoother/better:
Tumblr media
4. duplicate frames
i didn’t know whether to talk about duplicates or sharpening first, but i decided to leave this for last. something that no one told me/i didn’t really notice when i started making gifs is that there can be a lot of duplicates in the footage you’re working with. if duplicate frames don’t bother you, you can just ignore this bit! it’s mostly a preference.
so, with aew/wrestling footage, you’ll mostly encounter duplicate frames in two occasions:
- backstage segments: this is the most common way of finding duplicate frames, and 98% of the time it’s a 1 in 5 duplicate frame. i usually fix this manually, but i know that avisynth has a very fast, very effective way of removing these duplicate frames. (i found this avisynth tutorial if anyone’s interested!). so, these kind of duplicates will show once every 5 frames. i’ve...memorised? by now that if the 1 and 2 frames are duplicated, then the 6 and 7 will be. so i manually delete every frame that ends with 1 and 6 (or 2-7, 3-8, 4-9, 0-5). it’s... complicated to explain haha. 
most of the backstage segments and slow-motion videos found in, for example, all the roads to and countdowns to are likely to have 1-in-5 duplicates. “hey ew”, and those kinds of videos also have duplicates. as an example, let’s take a look at these:
this is a gif with 1-in-5 duplicates (which has been sharpened, and its speed is 0.05).
Tumblr media
and now this is what the same gif looks like once you fix the issue with the duplicates.
Tumblr media
- screen recording:
now when it comes to screen recording, it’s very likely that you’ll have duplicate frames. in my experience, unless you’ve just turned your computer on and you don’t have too many tabs/apps open, you’ll find random duplicates throughout the footage you’re working with. sometimes screen recording can also lead to skipping frames, so keep that in mind. to know whether or not your screen recorded footage has duplicates, it’ll look something like this even after you’ve sharpened it and fixed the timing:
Tumblr media
the only way (that i’m aware of?) that you can deal with this if you’re using screen recordings is to manually delete the frames. that is, go one by one trying to spot duplicates and delete them. (yeah i’ve done it and yeah it’s a nightmare). so... my advice here is to try to download your footage whenever you can or try to screen record without having too many tabs/apps open 😅
5. colouring
the last step for me when i make gifs is deal with the colouring. some people prefer to do colouring before converting timeline to frames, but it’s just a preference (unless you’re making a gif that requires you to use timeline, etc). what’s important to know if you’re going to add your colouring when working with frames is that you have to always edit the layers on the first frame (so that the changes apply to the rest of the frames).
in-ring action is definitely a nightmare to colour because every shot will look different and aew does a very bad job when it comes to offering contrasted/colour balanced footage. as i mentioned earlier, i’m not gonna spend too much talking about colouring this time. if you struggle with your own colouring, we have shared a couple of psds in the past, which you can use as bases if you’re just getting started or if you find them useful! but there are a lot of good photoshop resources blogs where you can find brightening/base psds as well.
these are the two gifs i have been working with, now with a very basic colouring: 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
****
now the only thing you need to remember when saving is that your gifs need to be under 10mb! most of the time my saving settings are adaptive - pattern - bicubic sharper. 
and... i think that’s all! 😊 hope this can help someone. and feel free to message us (or me @jonmoxleys​) if there’s anything you’d like to ask. 
350 notes · View notes
anti-cyra · 4 days
Text
How I make my c.ai bots ♡
I received an ask about how I format/code my c.ai bots and my answer ended up really long, so here it is in a post instead! Hope this helps anybody interested in making c.ai bots hehe.
Tumblr media
For this, I made a Tutorial Bot with a public character profile and definition! You can check him out here. There's some plot there if you wanna keep talking to him and try out how the coding works, but please take note he's not meant to be a real c.ai coding expert!
Below the cut, I’ll be sharing the method I’ve been using for my more recent bots (most of the LOVER series, LADS bots) which has been working best for me, but also general tips and tricks I’ve learned from making all my bots. In this case, I’ll be focusing on single character bots.
(If anyone wants help on how to make multi-character bots as well, just let me know~)
So if you want a quick and easy to learn tried and tested method, feel free to keep reading!
Tumblr media
1. I keep important plot, character details and backgrounds (e.g. if they're rivals, anything like if one's a prince, setting, etc.) in the Greeting/Prompt since I believe c.ai goes back to the first message a lot, so it's a good basis for how the bot should go. I'm so glad they extended the character limit lol.
The Greeting also sets the tone for how the narrative will go and follows the format of whatever’s written. In my case, I like adding my character’s thoughts in italics throughout the story as like a “behind the scenes” for the users aside from just dialogue and narration.
C.ai doesn’t always keep the thoughts in the replies, but most of the time they do, or I reinforce it by choosing replies that have both dialogue and that thought bubble.
Regardless, a detailed yet not overcrowded Greeting does wonders for your bot! 2. If I need to refer to the character or the user, I use {{char}} instead of any names and {{user}} because I think this doesn’t confuse the bot. I’ll add more to this in further points and you’ll see how it’s used.
3. For the Description portion, I put the appearance, personality traits, and other details I want to prioritize, or even a quick backstory A) Appearance: I usually add the hair, eye, skin colour and then, anything specific to be noted like scars or tattoos. Sometimes I add the height and build if needed. Unless what they wear is important to the story, I don’t bother adding it. B) Personality traits: I tend to just use basic, one-word adjectives or how I want them to act. Examples that I use often include: Quick-witted. Tsundere. Cold, stoic, stern, calculating. Sweet. Flirty. Teasing. Obsessive. Likes to bicker. Physically attracted to {{user}}. Delusional. Crazy in love with {{user}}. Bratty. Whiny. Cocky. Cheeky. Playful.
Since my bots aren’t in 2nd Person POV, I use {{user}} instead of “you” (e.g. In love with you) but I’ve seen other bot makers do either of the two and I think the bots go well regardless. C) For other details, it can be: - A one-sentence backstory to the character or your plot, like where the bot is from, their occupation, the past between them and the user, even their age either specifically or just if they’re older or younger or even the same age as the user if it matters - How they act or treat the user or why they act a certain way, if you think it's important to how they should act throughout the story - You can also make the personality more defined, such as "flirty but in a subtle way" or "teasing but hides their feelings" In general, these are all important details of how your character will act or remember more, regardless of whatever situation is thrown at them, and it's the "core" personality or how they react to situations, I'd say. 4. For basic plot bots, I've only been using the Greeting and Description to form the bot, and I think it’s been going well. If your bot isn’t lore-heavy, this is fine. You can totally stop reading here, but if you want to reinforce or specify things, then this is where the Definition portion comes in!
Tumblr media
A few coding things to note: There’s a difference between using [], {{“”}}, () or (()) in the Definition. I’ve seen other people say [anything like this] is hard coded whereas {{“these”}} work for choices or ((these are optional)). I’ll be honest, this is confusing, and I’ll only talk about how I do things since I’m not super sure about everything either.
For the Definition portion, here’s a few things I do:
My first line is always {{char}} = Name just so the coding is aware of the character, to be safe.
A) I reinforce my character’s role and also the user’s role. In general, I’ve been focusing on only using [this format] with concise sentences that I want to stick with the bot.
e.g. [{{char}} is {{user}}’s roommate.] [{{user}} is a princess.]
B) [This method] is also what I’ve been using for other important details that either didn’t fit in the Description or that I want the bot to keep remembering, so I add it everywhere. I don’t add too much of this since the coding can only remember certain things. I add whatever I think is relevant to the character or the plot.
e.g. [{{char}} doesn’t drink human blood.] [{{char}} flirts with {{user}} a lot, but won’t admit his feelings.] [{{char}} is from the Kingdom of Dauros.]
C) If you want to limit the bot’s choices or answers to a specific thing or pool of things, this is where the {{“”}} coding comes in for me! This is especially useful for keeping track of specific names, lists, goals, and such. I feel like this really codes the bot to only choose this thing or act in line with what’s added here.
I think goals really reinforce how a character acts, in any situation. So if you feel like your bot needs to do more of a thing or direct them towards a path, I’d suggest this.
In this case if needed, I use the character’s name instead of {{char}} just because I don’t know how it works if it’s {{{{char}} <- like that lol. Anyway, here’s examples!
{{Name’s goals: “be the very best”, “love {{user}} completely”, “hide his feelings”, “fight well”}}
{{Name’s kingdom name: “Dauros”}}
{{Name’s family members: “Name”, “Name”, “Name”}}
{{Signs that Name is stressed: “smokes”, “fidgets a lot”}}
{{Name’s appearance: “Black hair”, “Grey eyes”, “Scar on right cheek”, “Only wears black clothes”}}
D) A few other things I've added to my Definition portion include: setting, backstory, a brief overview of other relevant people and their personalities so my character is aware, even sometimes longer and detailed statements that the bot can maybe study. E) If I really want something to stick to how my bots act in particular, I also use the {{char}}: coding instead. Since it gets read as dialogue that has already happened, it's something your bot likely remembers. It could either be in narration, a sample of how dialogue works, or even thoughts.
Tumblr media
I think that's all for how I make my bots! ♡ When it comes to training your bot, just keep talking to them, rate replies you like, and reply to the best ones. I don't usually rate 1 stars for replies I don't like, I just ignore it, and focus on rating 4 stars for the ones I do like.
If you've read this far, I do hope this helps. Feel free to leave me your bots so I can try them out~
10 notes · View notes
twisted-tales-told · 2 years
Note
how does one go about binding books? it sems so interesting and im just wondering if i ever want to prints fics yk
also picturess
FINALLY SOMEONE ASKING ME ABOUT BOOKBINDING. I have all this knowledge and no one ever asks. I LIVE for bookbinding. I picked up my phone to see this after bookbinding for the past hour.
So: here you go:)  A guide.
*This is specifically for fanfiction, if anyone has any questions about making journals etc. I can answer those too :) 
Before we start, here’s a start to finish actually binding it tutorial This Man Must Be Protected At All Costs. We don’t deserve him. He talks you through putting the book together really well.
I’m putting the rest below the cut because I’m nice. (there’s pretty + useful pictures there) 
Some Bookbinding language: 
Signatures. Signatures are the lil groups of paper u bind with. They’re usually grouped into four UNLESS you’re using water colour paper or cardstock. (Just in case someone reading this knows absolutely nothing about paper, don’t use either of those for your fanfic pages you’ll hate yourself and the final product.) (ignore the ice cube tray in the background, its my paint pallet. Don’t judge me. 
Tumblr media
Book Press: A thing used to press the signatures. Mine is so gross and destroyed I refuse to show it, you can make one out of cutting boards.
Bone Folder: yes, it is made out of bone. Yes you can choose to find a plastic or wooden one. I personally have terrible sensory issues when it comes to paper so I need to use one made out of bone. They’re used to fold the signatures. 
*You don’t actually need one if you have a book press, cuz the signatures get flattened in there anyways, but your hands will hurt a bit after all the folding if you don’t use one. Or, at least mine do.They look like this.
Tumblr media
Kettle Stitch :This is, in my opinion, the superior binding method for fanfiction. It’s simple, it’s easy to learn, and its great for actually reading cuz the spine is strong but the pages like flip well? That’s hard to describe. The link at the start of this is my favourite tutorial.
Materials & some tips.
Paper: You can use anything. But, beware of the thickness, I use eco recycled paper, which is better for the environment, but you need to be a bit more gentle when actually binding so it doesn’t rip. 
A) NYLON thread. Don't come in here with your cotton or polyester thread. Nylon. Is. Superior. It won't break and it's easier to untangle (waxed thread is kind of overrated and expensive)
B) a bone folder and book press: you can really use either or, but if you’re only going to use one, it should be the book press.
C) Board. It’s for the cover. I am begging you, if you are still learning, do not attempt a paperback. You will get severely frustrated. Get yourself some Davey Board or any thick(ish) board of any kind and use that. The tutorial guy will help you with sizing. The trickiest part is the spine, getting it the right size just takes practice. 
D) Fabrics: Repeat After Me: Book Cloth Is Stupid. Some book binders hate me rn, but its true and I’ll die there. And then, I show them This:
Tumblr media
Do you see this shit? Not one is book cloth. Look How Pretty Your Books Could Be. The purple one is drapery cloth, theres some cork board ones, and the top two are just thickish cotton. The book industry is just boring and they don’t know how to have fun. Also yes, I know the cork board two look kinda awful, they were the first ones I ever made. Leave them alone they’re doing their best. 
E) Glue. PVA Acid Free bookbinding glue is the best option, I recommend getting a one of the really soft paintbrushes from Walmart or whatever cheap and big softer one you can, it just makes spreading it easier. I’m really picky about the glue I use because I’m paranoid. This is the one I get, but It’s expensive, you can honestly use tacky glue and you’ll be fine
D) Curved Needle Please splurge on one. They’re like an extra dollar than one of the straight needles, and you will save yourself so many injuries. Every single tutorial will say “oh, you don’t need one” and they’re Idiots for it. Well I don’t like the feeling of stabbing myself repeatedly, and I’m willing to spend 10 dollars on a Set of 36  so that I’m not just in pain all the time. 
Ah, Typesetting. Hell on Earth
You want pretty chapter titles? Get Canva. There’s a free version and she’s lovely.
I, personally, will die before I print from a PDF. That being said, I wish with all my heart and soul that I had microsoft word. Because I use Literal Pages (if you don’t have a mac, you’re confused as fuck. If you do and you’ve had the pleasure of attempting to use pages, yeah. I know. It’s not great but it’s what I have)
Get rid of all your margins. Make sure your title images, if you’re gonna be a fancy canva title bitch like me, are moving with your text. I wish I could help you with a table of contents but I do it by hand aka, insert a table & tracking the pages as I copy paste + “fix up” chapters. *by fix up I mean correct colouring, add the indents, change the font size & type etc. Add italics. 
Indents should be 0.5 inches or it looks weird. You can do the pages so they’re the professional wall to wall text, but I cannot stress how much work it is to make sure it copies properly. 
Now, if you’re stupid and use pages like me...you have to redo all the italics. Good Luck. 
If you want to risk seeing if a PDF works---which it really can go badly if your margins aren’t literally Zero (and even then sometimes PDF adds them which is rude of them) you can, and you won’t have to redo all the italics. It’s your choice and if you find a better way Tell Me. 
Specifics:
You want Chapter One to be on Page 7 of the typeset. Again, this might change if you’re not using Pages, but that took me so long to figure out that I need to include it here. Before that there’s the, what I call, The Blank gluing page, another blank for the back of that page, the pretty Image + quote page you open up to, a blank one, Table of contents, Blank, Then, Finally, Chapter one. 
You can also do some weird settings for changing the page numbers so Chapter one, aka page one, you “Start a new section” and “start at 1″ Then you can delete the page numbers from the previous 6 pages and you’ll get page one on the actual first page of the book.
Font Size: There’s going to be two pages on one paper, so your font size is going to be 16/17. I prefer 17 because I’m blind. 
Here’s a Muse In Secret Typeset as an example that I made one day because I was bored. I don’t know if the Author gave permission for us to print it out or not so I haven’t but I made the type set so I could learn with a decent sized project. 
Tumblr media
So that’s kinda what it looks like. 
You print it using the “layout--> Booklet” feature. Print in groups of “16″ which is 4 pages, 2 sided. 
Now for: Mistakes I’ve Made That You Won’t Have To Make Now
1.You need to use Thick Cardstock or something stronger to do the interior pages. 
Tumblr media
It needs to be strong enough that it won’t rip. Don’t be me and think, oh I can use pretty paper, because this happens
Tumblr media
*ALSO, and this is a weird one, A03 for some reason....the text is not black. And hey, you have to highlight everything to change the font size, type, and add indents anyways so you might as well change it to black as well. It makes a big difference. 
Other than these basics, the fun is the creativity and figuring it out. It’s okay to switch up fonts & design elaborate chapter titles, and add art and fanart you love. Make it personal to you. It’s why I don’t share my typesets. I put so much work into them and I can appreciate every little detail because of that.
Good Luck Amon!! It’s a really fun hobby, and it doesn’t have to be super expensive. Except for printer ink. I have no solutions for that one. 
164 notes · View notes
merlinlikethebird · 9 hours
Note
Your backgrounds are so bright and full of life! I love how they convey a story just as much as the characters you draw. Do you have any tips on choosing colors or themes for your backgrounds that help them fit with the characters or scene your trying to create? I have a hard time feeling like the people I draw are just stickers on a landscape when I do full backgrounds. Thank you for any advice you can offer and I love your work! 💗
This is so kind of you to say!! I am very flattered! For me I love bright colours and bright light - sometimes I mess up still, but I do try and pick a light direction first so things are in the same feild. The best thing I ever learned was that shadows aren't really grey or black - they are a mix depending on a whole host of factors. Light colour, object/person colour, the environment + reflected light - all sorts. There are a lot of great tutorials that would be way better than anything I could tell you, but I have no idea what is current/best regarded! If anyone has suggestions please feel free to chime in!!
Thank you so much again!!
4 notes · View notes
enteetea · 3 years
Text
I've spent two hours trying to decide the best colours for my final project and I'm still not happy with them
12 notes · View notes
anyoneseenadam · 3 years
Note
Hey! I love your writing so much! Would you be open to write something about Azriel with a fae in Velaris who his shadows actively seek out and he has no idea why. I imagine that she works at a large library and that's where they meet because Azriel would go to figure out what was so special about her. Thanks!
pairing: azriel x reader (acotar)
warnings: implied smut, drinking, men being gross at bars (doesn’t go into detail), mainly just fluff and awkwardness though :)))
a/n: I rlly like this one so I hope you do to!! comments are always appreciated, hope you enjoy <3
-----------------------------------------------------------
 Azriel was standing with Cassian in a small street in Velaris. The ground beneath him was cobbled and all the houses in this area were brightly coloured, the sun seeming to shine brighter over them. They were waiting for Mor as she demanded they help her buy Rhysand a birthday present, desperate to get someone, anyone a good present. She was in a small local shop after Cassian suggested that he would love something from any small business and Cassian let out a groan as he realised she had wandered deeper into the shop. They had already been waiting twenty minutes for her.
“I’m going to drag her out,” Cassian said pushing off the wall and Azriel huffed a breath through his nose.
“Please be quick, don’t let her scare you into staying.” Cassian threw a rude symbol over his shoulder and Azriel grinned reservedly.
He let his gaze travel over more of the houses, his gaze catching on a white house with blue accents, and a blue balcony where a girl sat sipping an orange drink from a large glass and reading a book. He observed her for a while, she was sat curled in a straw chair with a colourful cushion and there was soft music coming from her house, her hair was down and natural and her face was clear of makeup as she soaked in the sun, wearing a males oversized shirt and some knee high socks.
Feeling his stare on her she looked up, grinning cheekily at him when he flushed red and lifting her glass to him in greeting. He was saved from further embarrassment though when Cassian came out, dragging a triumphant Mor who was holding up a purple, silk shirt and bottle of wine. Cassian made a gagging face behind her back as she linked arms with both of them, dragging them down the road and chatting their ears off about the kind old lady from the shop.
As they left Azriel dared a final glance over his shoulder to the girl from the balcony who was still watching him, cocking her head, and waving as he left. As they walked home, choosing to enjoy the sun, he heard nothing of what Mor said, completely focused on the girl from the balcony.
--
When they got home Mor winnowed away to hide her present and Cassian made a comment about Mor’s unique ability to always get horrendous presents. They walked through the door and Feyre instantly looked up from her spot of the sofa, gaze narrowing at Azriel.
“You look different.” She said and Rhys looked up too, frowning when he saw Feyre was right.
“What did you change?” he asked as Amren walked into the room, her head tilting.
“Nothing.” He said defensively as everyone stared at him, not enjoying the way everyone was looking at him now and wishing he could be alone to daydream about the pretty girl he had seen.
“Haircut?” suggested Nesta but he shook his head.
“I haven’t changed anything!” Mor was back now too and had joined in staring, gasping when she realised.
“Where are your shadows?!”
“Ohhhhhhh, that’s it,” Cassian said, sitting down next to his mate as Azriel felt for the shadows that followed him, feeling a rush of white-hot panic shoot through him when he couldn’t feel them.
“Wait what? Where are they then?” Rhys asked and he shook his head, searching for them and frowning when he felt them far away.
“They’re still in Velaris, they must have just stayed somewhere,” he tried to explain.
“Is there another shadow singer in Velaris?” Amren asked and Rhys shook his head.
“Not that we know of,” Azriel felt a flood of relief as his shadows flew back in, almost sheepishly and settled around him, whispering complaints and apologies, as he wondered what had kept them.
--
You had frowned when the handsome, winged male had left, rather enjoying the eye candy. Your friend walked back outside and took her seat opposite you, as you placed down your book and picked up your Apperol Spritz.
“You just missed the hottest male I’ve ever seen.” You said, laughing at her as her face fell completely.
“Why didn’t you shout for me!” she screeched, and you flung an olive pit at her head,
“He would have heard me idiot!”
“Well did you at least get a name?”
“No but I made prolonged eye contact and I think he got the message.”
“The message being?”
“That I would like to marry him and have his babies.”
“Ah makes sense,” you were laughing together as she carried on with the story she had been telling you about the cute Faerie at her work when you felt a cold feeling settle around you, strange given you were still sat in the sun. She stopped talking, giving you a weird look.
“How are you doing that?” she asked as you shrugged.
“I’m not,” the feeling moved, and you realised you were surrounded by shadows, alike the handsome man you had just seen. Your initial anxiety slipped away as they started playing with your hair and caressing your skin alike a lover would. “Hot boy had shadows like this,” you commented, and your friend gasped, eyes wide and a hand over her heart as she sighed.
“Maybe you’re mates!” you rolled your eyes, relaxing into the shadows touch.
“I don’t think my commitment issues can take that,” you joked, and it was her turn to roll her eyes.
“That cynicism is going to be the death of you,” she said in a singsong voice before downing her gin, “Now onto important matters, Rita’s or The Marine?”
--
Two hours later you were completely dolled up, lips red and eyeliner smudged, heeled boots elongating your legs and your all-black outfit making you look intimidating enough that you wouldn’t be bothered by gross men.
“We’re fae, why do you dress like a vampire,” your friend asked, the two of you already slightly buzzed from pre’s.
“Cause vampires are hot and I’m hot so it’s a match made in heaven.”
“Also she has a blood kink!” your roommate shouted from the bathroom and you threw a shoe at her.
“Bitch.” You said, laughing as she came out and the three of you stood to leave.
“Am I wrong?” she asked, and you shoved her, muttering a small no under your breath.
The three of you made your way to Rita’s and got in the queue. You leaned against the cold, brick wall when you saw him again, similarly dressed in all black and somehow looking even better under the light of the moon, his tanned skin glowing in the pale light. He caught your eyes, his face barely changing as he lifted his hand in a half wave, you nodded your head up with a smirk. Your friends followed your gaze, both gasping slightly as they caught sight of him at the end of the queue with his friends.
“Is that hot boy?!”
“Uh huh,” you smiled cheekily at her, “And I call dibs.”
“I get why you want to have his babies,”
“Wait you know him?” your roommate asked, and you shrugged with a smile. “How the fuck do you know the high lords shadow singer?”
“I get around,”
“He was outside earlier today,” your friend translated as the three of you moved into the club, instantly heading to the bar for more drinks.
“That too I guess, shots?” the three of you ordered six vodka shots and you laughed at your friends’ reactions to them.
“How do you enjoy this,” your roommate squealed as you tipped your head back, smiling at the familiar burn.
“Feels good,” you said, taking your second.
“Sadist.”
--
Azriel couldn’t believe his eyes. There you were again, your bare face swapped for dark makeup, and loose clothes swapped for a dress he desperately wanted to see on his floor. At first he wasn’t even sure it was the same girl, your style so different, but it was. And he had waved. No cool head tilt like the one you gave him, no sultry eyes, and pouting lips, just a stupid wave. And then you had laughed with your friends and he decided he needed the sound bottled, something to keep with him at all times.
You had walked inside without so much as a second glance and Azriel had to refrain himself from slamming his head against the wall.
“Who were you waving at?” Amren asked, the small women appearing next to him.
“Just someone I met earlier.” He didn’t want to get into the details, especially not around Cassian who would tease him relentlessly if he heard. Amren, thankfully, dropped it as they moved into Rita’s, his eyes instantly finding you at the bar, two empty shot glasses next to you as you laughed with your friends.
He moved with his family to a table that pretty remained reserved for them as Rita came to get them some drinks and see if they wanted food. He only half listened, ordering a Scotch as he watched you as you and your friends moved to dance together, completely enamoured by you despite not having said anything to you.
Eventually he pulled his eyes away and focused on his friends and his drink as they laughed into the small hours of the night. He kept stealing glances at you, his grip on his glass tightening when he saw you leaning against the bar waiting for drinks as a male leaned too close to you. He almost stood to intervene when saw you lean in close to the man, meeting Azriel’s eyes over his shoulder and whispering in his ear. Azriel wished he could hear what you said but you were too far away, and the music was too loud, but whatever it was, the male turned white and scampered away, almost tripping over his feet as you giggled.
When it happened this time he noticed, feeling the coolness of his shadows leave and he watched as they travelled over to you, wrapping around you, and making you look like an angel of death. You turned and caught his eyes, winking at him before grabbing the tray of drinks the bartender had laid out for you and sauntering over to your friends.
“Is she a shadow singer?” Feyre asked, following his gaze and he shook his head, feeling a smile come over his face as he watched you interact with your drunk friends.
“No I think they just like her,” his high lady smiled at him,
“You mean you like her,”
“I haven’t even spoken to her.” He said drily and Nesta leaned over,
“Love at first sight,” she said in a singsong voice making him roll his eyes.
“This isn’t a romance book,” he said, huffing as a crowd moved in front of you and he couldn’t see you anymore.
“You tell yourself that,” Feyre said, patting his knee.
An hour later, when most the club was empty, you were standing, swaying slightly with your friend leaning on you.
“No baby, no more you’ll throw up again,” he heard you coo as she reached for a drink that was left on someone table. She huffed but you passed her into the arms of your other friend, and he sat up straight when he realised you were coming over to him.
You bowed your head slightly at Rhys and Feyre as all his friends turned to stare at you, your gaze unfaltering and your back straight as you looked at him.
“I think these belong to you,” you said, gesturing to the shadows swirling around your arms.
He tried to fight his blush, pulling them back in, “Yeah, thanks..?” he trailed off and you finished for him.
“(y/n).”
“Azriel.”
“Well Azriel,” his name sounded divine on your tongue, and you shot him another half-smile, “see you around.”
--
The next day, he was up only three hours after he fell asleep, desperate to find you. He wandered into town, usual leathers swapped for a white shirt collar peeking out of a dark sweater, his hands tucked into his pockets as he found himself wandering down your cobblestoned street. He looked up to your balcony and considered throwing rocks at the glass doors like in one of Nesta’s romance novels but paused when he saw all the lights were turned off.
Instead he chose to wander into the shop Mor had been in the previous day. The room smelt old, and he could see the dust moving in the morning light as he walked in. An old lady was behind the counter and she smiled as she recognised him.
“Hello, how can I help you?” she asked as he came to stand in front of her.
“I actually had a question,” she motioned for him to continue, “Do you know where I could find (y/n)?” he asked, and she smiled a knowing smile.
“Interested in my granddaughter are you?” she asked, eyes sparkling and Azriel rubbed the back of his neck, smiling nervously, “She works at the library in the square, I’m sure you’ll find her there.”
He thanked her and she waved him away, knowing she would get to hear all the details next Wednesday when the two of you met for tea. But until then she was happy to watch the handsome man leave to find you.
He flew to the library that your grandmother had mentioned and walked in. This was always one of his favourite places to come in the city. The bookshelves were tall and overflowing, candles covered the room, and there were huge glass windows on the far wall that cast the room in planes of light. He walked around for a while, letting his shadows lead him until he found you with a pile of books in your arms that you were going to return.
You smiled when you saw him, dressed in a black dress with lots of daisies on it that went halfway down your calf, a black cardigan, and black boots. Your hair was held back in a low bun, but you had strands falling out making you look impossibly cute, and he almost said as much as he moved to take some books from your arms.
“So are you stalking me now?” you had asked cheekily, and he stammered when he realised just how weird he looked.
“No, no I…”
“Relax I’m teasing, I’m glad you’re here actually.”
“You are?” he asked, relaxing slightly as you stood on your tiptoes to put a book on a shelf.
“Yes, you’re very pretty,” he laughed, and you smiled at him, your eyes creasing.
“Well so are you,” he replied as you turned to face him, “But you do keep stealing my shadows and I’m wondering why that is?”
“I’m stealing them am I? I just presumed that you were very mean to them and they wanted someone else,”
“They’re spoiled,” he joked, watching as they trailed up your arms and you giggled,
“You speak about them like they’re pets.”
“You’d be surprised how accurate that actually is,” he muttered as you moved to the next aisle and your laughter bounced of the walls, wincing slightly due to your drinking induced headache.
He went to help you with more books when his fingers touched your hand and the word hit him, mate. You looked up at him shocked before giggling.
“I guess that’s what the shadows meant,” you let out an ‘oomph’ as suddenly the shadows shot forward, pushing you into his chest and Azriel looked at you.
“I have a mate.” He repeated to himself.
“And I have commitment issues so this might be rough,”
“It’s fine I have attachment issues,” he replied, unable to stop the smile forming on his face, “Match made in heaven.”
“More like hell,” you joked as he leaned down to you.
“Can I kiss you?” he practically whispered, lips almost touching yours as his wings circled the two of you. You nodded slightly and the two of you stumbled back from the force of the kiss, his hands gripping your waist tightly as yours wove into his hair, grinning against his mouth.
“Azriel,” you muttered between kisses, pulling back slightly only to just be pulled right back in. You repeated his name again, successfully pulling away this time as his lips attached to your neck.
“Az, we’re in a public library.”
“So?”
“So we can continue this when I’m off work,” you shoved him off with a laugh as he grumbled, before pulling you in for a final kiss.
“What time?” he asked.
“My shift ends at three,” you smiled as he looked at the clock.
“It’s only eight,”
“Maybe wait at your house,” you laughed at his expression, pressing a chaste kiss to his mouth before walking off, shooting him a smirk over you shoulder.
Only six hours, fifty-nine minutes left.
514 notes · View notes
wri0thesley · 3 years
Note
Nat... 👉👈 since requests are open can I please request some Gojo fluff? If you need a little inspo maybe like, reader and him meet after they were abroad for a mission or something? I'm in love with this funky man and I just wanna give him kiths
sweet tooth - gojo x reader, sfw, 2.5k
the early bird catches the worm. or the cake, you guess.
(just a lot of talking about food tbh . . . i dont get to write pure sfw fluff much, thank u for letting me indulge in my jjk brainrot NFJVND. gn reader! )
You know as well as anyone how little free time a jujutsu sorcerer has. You’ve spent most of your past few years rushing around from place to place, calling it a good night’s rest when you manage to fall amongst your coverings before the clock strikes three in the morning. You think this probably has to go double for somebody in such a constant state of being needed as Gojo – but still, he’d shown up outside your room this morning, bright and early, and said; “We’re going out!”
He hadn’t mentioned that you were still clad in pyjamas, your hair still a mess about your face, eyes still sleep and shadowed. You had jumped out of bed at the knock, of course – you’re used to being needed at the drop of a hat – but there is nothing at all in the way Gojo is looking at you to suggest there’s any kind of danger brewing.
He got in last night at the same time as you, after an exorcism had dragged on longer than expected – you know this. So how is his skin still glowing like moonlight, his voice still so bright, his hair still falling over his blindfold in that effortless perfectly-styled-without-being-styled way?
If he’s slept, he’s gotten the same hour and fifteen minutes you’ve gotten.
“Not even a warning?” You sigh, stifling a yawn. “I haven’t had time to clean my weapons or anything--”
“Woah!” Gojo’s grin doesn’t fade, but he holds up his hands as if he’s trying to avoid a savage attack. “Just you and me. No curses, promise. You won’t be needing those.” He cocks his head to the side. “Unless you wanna try and take me. I think you’d lose!”
Your brow furrows. You know you’d lose, and so does he.
“Have you seen the time?” You ask him, instead. You don’t question why or how he’d gotten into the hallway to stand like this outside of the room you’re renting in Tokyo for a while. You’ve learnt after knowing him for a while that what Gojo wants, he gets – besides. If he’d sweet-talked your landlady into letting him in, you couldn’t blame her for falling for his charms.
He sticks his head into your room and turns his face towards the clock on the wall, ticking merrily away, mocking you. You had hoped, after last night, the next time you saw a clock the hour hand would be well past twelve again. He pulls back.
“Now I have.”
“. . . aren’t you tired?”
Gojo shrugs, maddeningly. Half of what he does is irritating to the highest degree – the other half makes your stomach do strange somersaults that you try and push away. Getting a crush on Gojo Satoru is just going to lead to disaster. Although at this point, you have to admit to yourself that it’s more a case of ‘having a crush’ – there’s not much denying it, when he twinkles at you like this.
“You’ve gotten a good hour of beauty sleep,” he chirps. “Not that you need it. Let me take you out!”
You’re still focussing on the compliment, slipped into his words as if it’s as simple as breathing, when he enters your room full-on and is opening your wardrobe.
“H-hey,” you say, weakly. He’s rifling through the rack without a care in the world. “I—I can dress myself--”
“It’s quicker if I do it,” he replies, pulling out one of your favourite shirts. “Here, catch--!” Your reflexes allow you to not make a fool of yourself in front of him. “The colour of that one’s pretty! It’ll look nice on you.”
You’ve had more clothes piled into your arms before you can blink. You guess that Gojo must know his way around clothes – you’ve seen some of the brands and price tags of things he wears – but you can’t help but be a little flabbergasted by just how casual he is about everything. Maybe it’s the fact that your brain is still short-circuiting after being woken up earlier than you were expecting.
He finishes and walks over to you.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“W-what a gentleman,” you manage, and he throws his head back and laughs, and the laugh feels like it lodges warm in your chest. “After waking me up, bursting into my bedroom--”
“I’ll pay for everything,” he promises. He saunters out of your room, pulling the door closed behind him, calling; “I’ll make it up to you, promise!”
You stand there for a few more moments, still struggling to process the whirlwind that is Gojo’s presence in your life – half joking, half serious, half making you think that maybe you stand a chance, when he calls through the door;
“I can’t hear you moving!”
You jump. You wriggle out of your nightwear, your cheeks heating up, as you snap back;
“You said you were going to wait out there, not that you were going to press your ear to it and listen like some kind of stalker--!”
You stare in confusion at the fancy window in front of you, decorated with swirling cursive in gold. From outside, you can see into the establishment – the white scrollwork chairs, the cake stands, the menus standing up in their pale white leather covers. The early morning sunlight from outside is reflecting off a perfectly organised display case teeming with tiny little perfectly formed cakes.
“If you were craving something sweet,” you say, eventually, “surely there was an easier way to get it than this.”
Gojo grabs your arm cheerfully, pulling you towards the entrance of the patisserie.
“Well, I got the first sweet thing I was craving,” he ticks it off with his other hand. “But then I had one of my patented brainwaves.” He elbows you. “Put them both together!”
“I’m not feeling very sweet after you interrupted my sleep,” you mumble, but you know that there’s no real bite in your words. You hope Gojo doesn’t notice the reaction that you have – you know he’d never let it go. You often don’t know how to respond to his flirting – he has a reputation, after all, and you are just . . . you.
“We had to get here early, anyway,” he says, as he stands before the counter. The man in the apron and chef hat behind it recognises him immediately, lighting up – you wonder how much money Gojo spends on expensive patisserie. Everyone knows he has a sweet tooth. “They sell out of some of the best stuff well before ten!”
Gojo knows exactly what he’s doing as he points out various desserts from the display case, the man falling over himself to get the – frankly absurd amount of sweets – carefully packaged up for him. You’re not surprised, knowing Gojo, about the cute animal-shaped cakes that he chooses, the smiling bears and cats with ears made of sliced strawberries. You’re a little more surprised by all of the fancier pieces he chooses that you don’t recognise, but you don’t have much time for dwelling on it.
Spoils in hand, you peer further into the establishment to choose a table.
“Nah, don’t worry about that,” Gojo says cheerfully. “We’ll find somewhere outside to sit. It’s such a nice morning!”
You don’t miss the grin he shoots you as he says ‘morning’, the sidelong tip of his head as if he’s waiting to see if you’ll scold him again for interrupting your sleep. You do no such thing, content to be pulled along behind him again as he goes off in search of a place to enjoy his spoils.
People just tend to be pulled along by Gojo’s magnetism, you’ve discovered – and you are, hopelessly, no different.
He finds a quiet bench in a shady corner of one of the local parks; the only other people going past occasional elderly, walking their little dogs. He pats the wooden frame of the bench next to him, smiling.
“You’re not going to make me eat all of this by myself, huh?”
“It’s enough for eight people,” you say, sighing and resigning yourself to your fate as you take the place. He’s lucky you have a sweet tooth too; if he’d brought someone else, they’d probably be shirking back in horror at all the sugar. “You could probably eat it by yourself anyway.”
He pouts.
“I want to share it with you,” he says, cajoling – his fingers hover over one of the smaller cakes, a perfect bite-sized morsel. You try not to think about the elegant lines of his fingers and the power behind them as he plucks it up and offers it to you. “This one’s really good.”
You bring up your hand to take the sweet from him, but he laughs as your fingers bounce away from him, not quite able to get a purchase.
“Let me feed you,” he says to you, and blood rushes to your face all over again.
“I—I can feed myself,” you say, swallowing thickly. Gojo’s smile, on full, sculpted lips, makes butterflies crash into one another in the pit of your stomach.
He brings the treat to your mouth and he’s right, it does look really good. It’s a neat little roll cake, small in Gojo’s fingers, with the green colouring so many sweets you’ve eaten in Japan have been – you hope it’s not matcha, knowing the flavour will surprise you and Gojo will probably laugh, but you open your mouth in defeat and let Gojo pop it in there. His fingers linger a little too long against your lips, his expression fluttering so quickly you don’t quite catch it.
If you didn’t know better . . . you’d say that he had just fought back a blush.
“Is it good?” He asks, and his voice sounds a little strangled. You bite down on the cake, the juice of the strawberries coating your tongue – it is matcha, but the flavour is offset by the sweetness of the vanilla and fruits, and you’re glad about it. You nod enthusiastically, and he laughs.
“I told you!” He taps your cheek. “I know what I’m talking about!”
“You’re so smug,” you tell him, unable to hold back the laughter that’s bubbling out of you. Alright, maybe he woke you up too early and maybe he’s dragged you outside and maybe he’s been haunting your daydreams for months now, but . . . you think he means well. And you can’t deny that the sun is shining and the cakes are really delicious.
“If you were me,” he says, stretching out his arms over the back of the bench, “you would be smug too.” You shake your head at him, but he has a satisfied smile on his face. “Feed me one!”
“Are you going to let me?” You ask. “Or are you just going to bounce it away with your Infinity to make fun of me?”
You hover over the selection yourself, considering what to choose for him. In the end, you go for one of the mini slices of mille crepe cake, reasoning with yourself that even if it’s unusual to be eating so much cake this early, at least crepes are a traditional breakfast. Gojo obediently opens his mouth wider as you lift the slice.
You falter.
“You really want me to feed you?” You ask him, unsure. He laughs, grabbing ahold of your wrist – you almost start as he takes a bite from the treat, his lips tantalisingly close to your fingers. Another bite, and the cake is gone (you’ve never seen slices of mille crepe so small – but then again, judging by the eye-watering amount Gojo paid for his spoils, you’d never be able to afford to buy from a place like that).
“Mm,” he smacks his lips together. “It’s good.”
You swallow, noticing that there’s a smear of the cream between layers at the corner of his mouth. Gojo notices you staring, and quirks his lips into a smirk. “You’re staring,” he says. “I know I’m gorgeous, but--”
“You’ve got . . .” You say, awkward, motioning to his face. Somehow, it feels too intimate to lean forward and dab it away yourself – he’d asked you to feed him, after all. If you did it of your own accord. . .
“Huh? Oh,” He moves one of the arms casually draped over the bench to his face, and you think he is going to wipe it away – but instead, he hooks his thumb under his blindfold, pushing it up casually so the light hits the swirling colours in his eyes.
You’ve seen them before, of course – you’ve seen Gojo at work, after all – but they’re still a surprise, a bright moment of swirling starshine dropped on you when you’re least expecting it. Your stomach does that flip-flop again, the one that you try so hard to ignore – but when he’s looking at you like that, curious and smug all at once, you don’t really know how to handle it.
You’re glad you’re in a secluded spot. There’s nobody to see the embarrassing display of you not quite knowing what to do with yourself.
“You can get it,” he says to you. “I don’t mind.”
“I—”
“Look.” His other hand rises, cups your face, thumb ghosting across the same spot on your cheek that he’d tapped earlier. “I left icing sugar on your face. I’ll get that, and then we’ll be even.”
(Did he do that on purpose, you wonder? You wouldn’t be surprised.)
Your hand is trembling as you reach for the cream. You try and force your fingers to be still as you lean in closer to him, eyes concentrated, as you wipe the little splotch of cream from his mouth. You’re so close you can see galaxies in his eyes, the fan of white lashes, the way that his throat bobs when he swallows as if he’s nervous--
Nervous? Gojo? That can’t be true.
“I got it,” you breathe, though you don’t move. Your faces are so close together. You could lean forward, just a bit, and meet his lips with your own. Gojo’s eyes stay trained on you, not faltering in the least. His thumb is still on your cheek. Your own finger hasn’t moved from the corner of his mouth.
“Wanna know what it tastes like?” Is that a falter, in his voice? You’re stuttering all over the place, but Gojo--
“I’m not gonna put that in my mouth after it’s been on your face,” you tell him, without moving. Your heart is beating ten to the dozen. Gojo’s eyes crinkle at the corners.
“That’s not what I meant,” he says – and he breaks the distance himself, and suddenly he is kissing you. The hand on your cheek cupping your face into his, the other hand going about your waist, holding you tightly against him like he’s been wanting to do it since the moment he woke you up that morning.
(The mille crepe cake is delicious, you find out, from the lingering taste on his lips. Next time you two go there in the early morning rush, Gojo buys two slices.)
427 notes · View notes
starlessea · 3 years
Text
Ultimate Guide to Proofreading
Here’s the next installation of my writing tips series!
[Just a quick disclaimer: this isn’t meant to discourage anyone! We are all still learning. These are just some tips you may want to consider when editing your writing].
As a language / linguistics student, I tend to focus on the grammar, or just the overall presentation of my writing. Obviously, if you’re writing online or self-publishing, without a beta reader that is, then no one is going to scrutinise you over the small things.
However, it can elevate your writing SO MUCH if you simply proofread it. Often, I find myself taken out of the immersion of a story because a typo is so glaringly obvious. Most of the time, we can gloss over them and they don’t impact the reading experience too much - but if your work is littered with small errors, they tend to pile up.
Proofreading is an easy way to get your readers to stick with you - and it often doesn’t even take that long! You just need to know HOW to proofread, and it will save you time. 
1) Spell Checkers
I know this seems really obvious, but I read so much work that could be improved tenfold just by being copied-and-pasted into a spell checker. You can literally type ‘spell checker’ into Google, and use an online service.
Personally, I use Google Docs. I just Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, and Ctrl+V my work into it - and it will underline the spelling mistakes in red, and the grammar errors in blue. 
It’s as easy as that.
2) Consistency and General Grammar Points
This section is by NO MEANS an exhaustive list, but I’ve just compiled the things I’ve noticed the most when reading online. 
American English vs. British English:
This one is quite self-explanatory. If you’re going to use American spellings, then use them consistently throughout - and vice versa with British. Some common ones to look out for include:
color / colour
neighbor / neighbour
humor / humour
(US/UK respectively)
I found a good article here that gives a more comprehensive list.
Homophones or the Question of Verb / Noun:
You may want to double-check that you’ve used the right form of a word (verb / noun) - especially if they sound the same. 
affect / effect
hoard / horde
practice / practise***
*See this article.
allowed / aloud
were / where
I know these can sometimes get a little tricky for non-native speakers - especially since English is really quite a weird language. But these are the most common errors I’ve picked up on.
A lot of the time, things like Google Docs won’t spot these - so it’s good to be aware of the TYPES of errors you’re trying to find.
Also, remember that Google Search is your friend. I can’t even count the number of times I look things up when writing - THERE IS NO SHAME IN IT. It doesn’t take long to check if you’re using a word in the correct context, or the correct form of the word.
Showing Possession:
A lot of people tend to get confused about using the genitive marker, apostrophe ‘-s’ to show possession. See the examples below:
[Disclaimer: don’t judge my name choices...]
Jade has a bag. That is Jade’s bag.
Jade Simpson has a bag. That is Jade Simpson’s bag.
Jade Simpson lives with her husband, John Simpson. They are the Simpsons.
That is the Simpson household. That is the Simpsons’ house.*** 
*This is the one most people struggle on. There are two Simpsons, so the apostrophe comes at the end to show PLURAL possession (i.e., belonging to BOTH Jade and John).
This is Jess. That is Jess’ bag.
Here, the above can be written as Jess’s, but the extra (-s) usually gets ellided if it is following an ‘s’.
Another thing people get confused about is its/it’s. 
In English, ‘it’s’ = a contraction of ‘it + is’ (NOT TO SHOW POSSESSION). ‘Its’ is the possessive form in this case.
E.g., The dog lost its collar; it is brown = The dog lost its collar; it’s brown (the collar is brown).
Punctuation Consistency:
Personally, I don’t mind what style of punctuation you use. Whether you put your full stops INSIDE your quotations, or OUTSIDE;
E.g., “Go away.” vs “Go away”.
or if you sometimes like using hyphens in place of a comma; likewise with capitalisation, and whether you decide to capitalise certain nouns etc.
But, whatever you choose, BE CONSISTENT WITH IT.
You don’t want to give your readers whiplash by changing styles every couple of lines. Otherwise, it’s like you’ve chosen one academic referencing style for your essay, only to switch it half-way through. It’s confusing. It may seem like a nit-picking point, but people will notice it - and it’s good written practice to focus on being consistent.
3) Formatting:
Dialogue:
PLEASE PLEASE start a new paragraph/line if SOMEONE NEW IS SPEAKING.
Your readers will be so confused if you don’t properly distinguish who is speaking. It takes away from the reading experience when you think one character has said a line, but it turns out to be another. 
Don’t just rely on “[...]” John said. We should know if someone new is speaking by the format, not just the name that follows the dialogue.
Paragraphs:
Don’t let your work be one block of text. Break it up and make it more digestible for your readers. Try to start a new paragraph for a new topic, place, thought, etc. You can find some really great guides online that go into more detail. Personally, I think it’s quite a stylistic thing - but you should still be consistent in how you choose to establish your paragraphs.
4) Other Things to Look out For
Detography: Have you written a word twice?
Pronouns: Are you using the following correctly?
their/they’re/there
your/you’re
Tenses: Are you sticking to the same tense? Are your verbs all conjugated in the same tense? Do you switch tense half-way through?
Repetition: Are you relying on the same words a lot. Are you using the same verb / descriptive word very close together?
For this, I just make a quick Google search:
E.g., “said synonym” or “angry synonym” - it adds variety to your writing.
Character Names: This seems obvious, but make sure you’ve spelt them correctly throughout - same goes for place names etc.
5) READ YOUR WORK ALOUD
I really can’t stress this enough. Even after studying language, literature and linguistics for as long as I have, I still miss so many of my own errors if I don’t read my work aloud. My editing process literally involves:
Write the draft
Read over the draft and correct any glaring errors
Copy and paste into a spelling/grammar checker
Re-read the new work and edit again
Read aloud and edit as I go
Final read through
Obviously I don’t do this every time - but it shows just how easy it is to miss mistakes when you’re still finding them during step 6.
6) Bribe a Beta-Reader (or a Friend)...
This is a really helpful step if you are able to find someone willing to check over your work. Often, we become blind to our own writing after we’ve read over the same thing a number of times. It can be really useful to get someone to take a look at it with fresh eyes!
Disclaimer: These are just some things I’ve noticed that I tend to look for in my own work. Also, I want to make a point of saying that English is a strange language, so please don’t be discouraged if you’re a non-native speaker feeling confused. I still get confused!
Also, please feel free to ask me any questions! I might not always be available to give a full beta-read of your work, but if you have any queries relating to grammar etc., don’t hesitate to drop me a message!
243 notes · View notes
mercurial-madhouse · 3 years
Text
Tips for Writing Multiple Fics at Once
Tumblr media
"I always feel like there is this one little secret to writing multiple stories at the same time that just nobody is telling me about."
A fellow author made this comment in a writers’ group chat today. If you're a writer, chances are you have a folder of ideas waiting to be written. Writers are idea-generating machines. Maybe you even have stories started and set aside, begging you to Write me!. 
If you write fanfiction, where shorter tales are constantly appealing to be started and a multiplicity of prompts and Fic Fests await you, that list of stories you're dying to write can grow taller than Jack's beanstalk. The answer for some authors? Write multiple fics at the same time! Why not?
I'd never consciously thought about my process before, but for anyone who is interested in having more than one story in the works at once, here are my thoughts compiled into something coherent.
*
CREATE AN OVERVIEW DOCUMENT.  We try to use our brains to store everything, but the human mind isn't programmed like that. (All of us who have more than one fic in progress will joke about how terrible our memories are.) It's like only knowing how to juggle three balls but refusing to let go of the five balls you're planning on learning to juggle next. Set those fic-balls down. Turn each story into a physical or electronic sticky note, so to speak. Include as many or as few details as you want, but what’s important is that you can see them all at once. Here are some ideas: -Colour code your documents on Google Docs. Before writing, look at them all and ask the question above, making a conscious choice to write just one colour. Once that Google Doc is open, the others don't exist. -Have due dates? Compile a list of your stories by due date. Do you have to go with the earliest? No, but if dates are important to you, it could be helpful to sort it that way. -(Yoinked this technique from a beloved author of mine.) Compile a single bullet journal page each month with your entire story list. The six most important stories each have a checklist that includes things like due date and the status, such as: brainstormed, started, completed, edited, etc. The rest are just listed by title and due date. -Maybe you need a happy medium? How about an electronic document where you can see everything on one screen with the bare essentials: Title, summary, due date (if applicable), and your progress. (i.e. 15k/50k or 1/4 or even “HALFWAY THERE!”)
Have fun! By checking what you have in process each time you sit down to write, you're less likely to be concerned about forgetting an upcoming due date.
*
PICK ONE. Active, single-minded focus is important whether you have other stories waiting in the wings or not. Having multiple stories in process simply means that sitting down for a writing session includes an extra step, a question:
Which story am I going to focus on right now?
How you make that decision and for how long that choice stands is a topic for a different post. What's important here is that once you decide, you stick to it. All of your other stories do not exist while you are in this document.
*
STICK TO IT.
You may choose to write that one story for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, an entire day, or even until the draft is completed. But the biggest secret to writing multiple stories at once is... *drumroll please*
...not writing multiple stories at the same time. Truly. This may appear obvious, but hear me out. Take a look at your thoughts the next time you're writing: Are they always focused on the story in front of you? Probably not. No matter how many stories we have that are in process, we are never actively working on more than one at one time. 
I can hear the questions flying now. What if I forget something in another story? What if I focus too long on this one and run out of time on another? What if I can't stop thinking about another story? What if I'm always having all these ideas for my other stories even when I'm working on one?
If an idea for another story barrels into your skull while writing, scribble it down in a notebook and set it aside for later. Can't stop thinking about a different story than the one you chose? Then turn your focus and give yourself some time to choose that one. Trust yourself.
*
THE TAKEAWAY.
This isn't a magical formula by any means. Ask any author who has several stories in progress and their practices will be different. Trial and error are your best friends for finding what works for you. Will it take practice? Yep. Extra work? Yep. A mindset shift? Probably. Dedication in order to keep your focus on one story? Yep. Is it impossible? Absolutely not! So even if you have fifty in-process stories, when you sit down to write, my recommendation is to know your options (overview), make your choice (Which story am I working on right now?), then stick to it (Write me!).
Have something else you’d like to chat about? I’m open to anything concerning the writing process. My goal is to keep writers writing by offering tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
You’ll find my Plotting vs. Pantsing fictalk here.
101 notes · View notes
cheri-translates · 2 years
Text
[CN] S2 Gavin and MC in Chapter 19 (Part Two)
🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers from Season 2 🍒
My focus is on Gavin x MC interactions, so content relating to the plot will be in bullet-points :>
Part One: here
Tumblr media
[ Notable Scene: Infiltrating the STF ]
MC: ...but aren’t you relieved from your duties?
Gavin seems to guess the words I haven’t said, and he lets out a soft, unnatural cough.
Gavin: I know every patrolling post in the STF, patrol timings and angles of the surveillance cameras. I can ensure that we’d get in successfully without anyone noticing. However, since I only saw his face from four years ago...
MC: I’ll go with you. As long as I see his face, I can point him out to you.
Gavin has a teasing smile in his eyes, perhaps seeing the urgency written on my face.
Gavin: In that case, let’s go for a walk in STF tonight.
-
Tumblr media
Late at night, Gavin and I infiltrate the STF through an outer wall.
Pale moonlight outlines a misty halo around him, softening his edges.
He finds an open window with ease. Lifting me up, he lets me jump through the window before leaping in himself.
This appears to be a utility room.
MC: Captain Gavin’s really good at this.
Gavin: This is the STF. I won’t bump into anyone even with my eyes closed, much less the walls.
Before Gavin finishes speaking, Tang Chao walks in with a bowl of instant noodles, a wicked smile on his face while he pushes the door open.
Tumblr media
Tang Chao: Instant noodles must be eaten on the sly. Otherwise, I might-
When Tang Chao sees Gavin, he pauses in his footsteps.
In this short span of time, we look at each other speechlessly, the only thing left being the steam rising from the instant noodles.
All of a sudden, Tang Chao rolls his eyes, his body doing a 180 degree turn. With the instant noodles in hand, he steps out of the door before closing it.
Tumblr media
Gavin: ...
MC: ...didn’t you say you wouldn’t bump into anyone even with your eyes closed?
Moonlight streams in from the window, illuminating the side of his face clearly. I turn my head stiffly, watching as his Adam’s apple bobs slightly.
Tumblr media
Gavin: Tang Chao is slacking off.
Tang Chao’s slightly frantic voice can be heard indistinctly.
Tang Chao: Since Captain hasn’t been around, there were changes to the duty roster... Please save me. That was so awkward. Oh no, I don’t want to run laps...
I stare at Gavin quietly. His expression has returned to normal, as though nothing happened.
Tumblr media
Gavin: It’s okay, let’s continue.
Gavin listens to the surroundings calmly. After a moment, he pulls me out of the utility room.
Suddenly, a set of uniform footsteps can be heard from behind us.
STF Agent: ...
Even before we can turn, the regular footsteps turn into small, scattered steps, akin to busy bees fleeing in disarray. The surroundings slowly return to silence.
MC: Have we been completely exposed...?
Tumblr media
With a soft cough, a reddish hue climbs up the tips of Gavin’s ears.
Gavin: It doesn’t count if we aren’t caught. 
Eli (through the speakers): Hey hey hey.
Eli’s voice suddenly drifts from the STF’s broadcast speakers. Gavin carefully pulls me over to hide in a shadowy corner of the corridor.
Eli (through the speakers): ...due to some indescribable reasons, all the surveillance cameras in the STF will take a break for 15 minutes. If a certain colleague wishes to go somewhere or do something, please do so quickly.
Tumblr media
Gavin: ...
MC: Pfft.
Seeing Gavin’s slightly speechless expression, I can’t help but laugh aloud.
This person is protected by many people who are unafraid of anything, isn’t he?
After this, we occasionally bump into familiar faces. However, they seem to have made a prior arrangement, and choose to ignore us.
Gavin seems to hesitate on whether he should make an explanation, but it eventually turns into one sigh after another.
In the end, we “very successfully” step into the room with the “Eye in the Sky” system.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Using the system, Gavin retrieves footage from the football match, and MC is able to identify the wheelchair-bound man, Du Wen
Gavin then searches up information on him as well as his approximate whereabouts
The both of them find him in a small alley
He admits that he’s the founder of the Fulcrum Charity Organisation, and has been assisting Gray Rhino in whatever he can
He claims that he means them no harm. To prove this, he allows MC to read his memories
Although they find the circumstances too convenient and deliberate, MC reads his memories because why not
She notices that certain memories have been stored in a misty bubble, just like the “firewall” she installed for Gavin earlier
Still, she searches for memories from the New Years Change Incident
She "sweeps” these memories into her own mind, and confirms that he’s indeed a victim of the incident
Gavin asks how he should contact Du Wen in the future, and the latter says he’d appear during a safe time
Once they leave, MC tells Gavin that they can use the Golden Apple 2 to display the memories she saw
Gavin says that Du Wen’s words aren’t trustworthy, but at least they have some leads that could further guide them to the truth
The next afternoon, MC learns from Kiki that the exhibition hall will be re-opening the next day. So she contacts Gavin and plan to sneak into it that same night
When she arrives, there’s someone else with Gavin - an elderly man with a missing left arm
She finds him familiar
Tumblr media
[ Notable Scene: MC meets Captain Yan ]
Tumblr media
Gavin: MC, this is the old policeman, Captain Yan. Today, he’s mainly here to cover for us. Captain Yan, this is...
Captain Yan: No need for introductions. You’ve mentioned her many times.
Before I can express my shock, Captain Yan sends me a warm gaze.
Captain Yan: MC, we met once at the hospital. I always hear your name from this young lad, so I’m pretty familiar with you.
Captain Yan smiles teasingly, then gives Gavin a meaningful look.
Captain Yan: If he ever bullies you, remember to tell me. As his senior, I’ll give him a proper scolding.
MC: O-okay! Thanks, Uncle Yan.
Tumblr media
Gavin: Cough. We’ll leave the pleasantries for next time. We should go now.
Tumblr media
With this, Gavin speeds up and walks forward, a faint red hue climbing up the tips of his ears.
Seeing Captain Yan’s grin, I hurriedly lower my head and follow after him.
MC: Gavin, wait for me!
Tumblr media
With Captain Yan keeping watch, MC and Gavin use the Golden Apple 2
In the simulated memories of the New Years Change Incident, Gavin notices post-injection bruises on Du Wen’s hand
Tumblr media
Du Wen and those around him don’t seem to know what’s going on, but they’re frightened due to the sounds of gunshots and explosions outside
A handful of Evolvers revolt, but are shot to death by officers dressed in NW uniforms
Du Wen flees, and the both of them follow after him
In the end, they watch as a beam crushes the lower part of Du Wen’s body
At the same time, a drone in the simulation appears to take aim at MC
Tumblr media
[ Notable Scene: Gavin’s Protection ]
Gavin: MC!
Tumblr media
An urgent exclamation drifts to my ears. Turning to the voice, I see Gavin lunging towards me involuntarily.
Those amber eyes grow large in front of me. In the next second, I’m enveloped in Gavin’s arms.
My cheek is pressed tightly to his chest, and powerful heartbeats echo at my ear.
His heart is beating very quickly - so quickly that my heart subconsciously matches its frequency.
“Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.”
It’s as though these powerful heartbeats are the only things left in the entire world.
In every difficult or dangerous situation, I’m always able to hear this sound.
It’s as though they have melded into my bloodstream, becoming a kind of instinct.
Gavin: It’s fine, there's no need to leave the system.
Gavin’s hand is by his ear. After stating his judgement calmly, he looks at me.
Gavin: Are you okay?
MC: Gavin, this is fake.
Gavin: Mm. But my body seems to have reacted a little faster than my brain.
His amber eyes reflect the blood-coloured sky, filled with worry and fret that he hasn’t had the time to shed off.
Gavin: Whether it’s real or an illusion, I don’t want you to get hurt in front of me.
MC: But they would simply pass through my body.
Gavin: Not even if they pass through.
He speaks unyieldingly.
MC: Okay, whatever you say.
Gavin: Let’s get out of here.
Tumblr media
They continue looking at the chaos and hear the sounds of crying and screaming
Gavin appears composed, but the fingertips holding onto MC are quivering, as though he's barely suppressing his anger at the injustice before him
The scene shifts, and what appears before them is a NW laboratory
Du Wen has thick tubes stuck all over him, and he’s submerged in a gigantic apparatus
MC traces that the memory is from 2 months prior to the New Years Change Incident
A senior official from NW walks in, and he seems to be in charge of a secret experiment
Tumblr media
[ Notable Scene: Gavin and MC’s Future Father-in-law]
His eyes are steadfast and icy, as though nothing can sway him.
And nothing can destroy or obstruct him.
Tumblr media
Gavin stands rooted to the spot. He watches as the man draws closer and closer to himself-
And walks straight through him.
Gavin has already matured into someone whose height is on par with his. They have incredibly similar features, and they even share an identical straight and powerful gait.
However, Gavin doesn’t turn around. His entire body remains stiff until the world gradually gathers into a patch of darkness.
He doesn’t move. The faint white light causes him to look pale.
Tumblr media
Slowly, he lowers his head, covering his eyes.
I stand behind him, not saying a word.
That senior official is Gavin’s father.
Tumblr media
Once they’re out of the Golden Apple 2, Captain Yan notices how solemn Gavin looks
Gavin takes Captain Yan and MC to a simple apartment to talk
Gavin fills Captain Yan in on what they saw
Captain Yan and Gavin start discussing what happened, and MC heads over to the window to look at the view despite the best view being Gavin
Gavin brings up the laboratory, and Captain Yan asks if he saw “that person”. Gavin grits his teeth and says, “I saw him.”
Tumblr media
[ Notable Scene: The End of Chapter 19 ]
Tumblr media
Gavin: MC, I’ll send you home.
By the time Gavin comes up from behind me, Captain Yan has already left.
I notice Gavin’s tense lower jaw. He seems to be doing his best to appear natural in front of me.
To appear as though he doesn’t care.
Seeing this person before me, I feel my heart being clenched tight.
MC: Gavin, I want to go somewhere before heading home. Could you accompany me?
-
Tumblr media
When we leap over the walls of Loveland High, confusion flashes across his eyes.
The gentle evening breeze brushes his fringe, and his figure is immersed in patches of moonlight.
It’s been a very long time since I last returned to this place. But images from this place always surface in my mind.
The field, the stairs, the roof, the gymnasium late at night, and the infirmary.
During that period of time I had re-lived, I wanted nothing more than for time to move a little faster.
So that I’d be able to reach that day when I could walk over to him a little sooner.
However, this year, I’m reluctant to let time pass by as quickly. 
During the time in which the wind blew by, that young man filled all my memories related to youth.
That’s how reluctant I am.
That’s why I’ve been walking slowly on purpose. Even so, in just the blink of an eye, he disappeared in the breeze of youth.
Tumblr media
Pulling on Gavin’s hand, we walk along the field, and walk into the depths of the forest behind the school.
MC: Gavin, I think you’re angry.
Tumblr media
I turn my head to the side to look at him. Gavin simply furrows his brows slightly, and it’s clear that he feels a little uneasy.
MC: You don’t need to pretend that nothing’s bothering you in front of me. Anger isn’t something you should feel ashamed of.
Tumblr media
Gavin: I...
He opens his mouth, but something sews it up again.
Tumblr media
A fierce wind suddenly rises, causing countless fallen leaves to swirl in the air.
They are reminiscent of incessant, agonised screams.
Gavin: I... just can’t understand. There are clearly many other methods. There are many other choices.
His words are blended into the wind, suppressed and pained.
I don’t turn my head to look at his expression. I simply stand beside him quietly, our fingers interlaced together, standing in the middle of the fierce gale.
With the flow of time, the fierce gale becomes calmer. In the end, it morphs into a gentle breeze, brushing our fringes.
Tumblr media
Gavin: MC, thank you.
I shake my head, turning my head towards him.
MC: Gavin, do you know something? The reason why I brought you back here was to tell you that I hope your beautiful memories won't simply be confined to high school. Beautiful things should continue, and never end.
While saying this solemnly, my heart speeds up uncontrollably.
Gavin’s pupils quiver slightly, and he squeezes my hands tightly.
Gavin: Thank you.
Very softly, he repeats these words.
MC: Let’s walk around a little more before heading home.
I chuckle happily, my footsteps becoming incomparably lighter.
All of a sudden, my palm feels empty -
It’s as though Gavin released my hand.
Tumblr media
Feeling puzzled, I turn around to find that Gavin had simply shifted his hand behind his back.
MC: What’s wrong?
Tumblr media
Gavin: ...nothing.
When the girl’s confusion is dispelled and she continues walking forward, Gavin lowers his head to look at his vanished right arm, his expression composed.
As compared to his right hand disappearing the last time, the scope seems to have grown larger this time.
Gavin follows behind the girl calmly, contemplating quietly.
His time might be shorter than he imagined.
Gavin chuckles softly, the corners of his lips hooking upwards slowly.
Tumblr media
Gavin: MC.
I pause in my footsteps and turn around, realising that we’re several footsteps apart.
MC: Gavin, what’s wrong?
Tumblr media
Gavin: I just received news from Captain Yan. I might have to leave for a while.
MC: So suddenly?
Gavin: Sorry. After sending you home, I’ll set out.
He looks at me apologetically, as though suppressing something once again.
-
Tumblr media
After returning home, I quickly remove my shoes and rush to the window to search for that figure.
Guessing that I’d do this, Gavin doesn’t leave immediately. He stands downstairs, waiting for me.
A gust of wind burrows in through the window, as though carrying with it slight reluctance as it makes gentle twirls around me again and again.
I lean my palm against the glass, wanting to say another farewell to him.
MC: Gavin, you must return safely.
Tumblr media
💙 Calls and Moments: here
💙 Support the café by dropping by the tip jar!
64 notes · View notes
periwinkle-pencils · 3 years
Text
Overcoming Art Block
Tumblr media
image by ResoluteAssassin on Deviantart
Art block. Anyone who enjoys drawing shudders at the mention of it. The big bad invisible wall between you and your artwork that prohibits even the slightest thought of creativity. Art block sucks. It's super annoying to deal with, and it can leave you feeling frustrated at your lack of progress. Luckily, there are some ways to shake this seemingly unbreakable barrier and continue drawing. It’s tricky to do, but not impossible, and I’ll be sharing some tips on how to overcome it in this blog.
Just get started
When I get art block, starting a piece can feel like running a marathon. The blank paper or screen just stares back at me mockingly, and the complete and total silence of my creativity echoes out through my head. The paper or screen is just so empty, and I can’t seem to fill it no matter what I do. One of the best things to do when you don’t know how to start your drawing is to just start. Don’t think too much about it, just start the piece. Make a few light scribbles on the paper, draw a few lines on the screen, make a few shapes out of paint on the canvas, whatever you need to do! Once you have your start, try and find some familiar shapes in the mess. Does that squiggle look like a face? Detail it! Does that line look like a snake? Detail it! Do those blobs look like rocks? Detail them! Once you’ve found those points, keep on drawing them until they’re finished. Then suddenly, voila! You have your art, and no more art block!
Practice practice practice
This might seem strange, but art block is great for practising things you struggle with. I have trouble with anatomy, and often struggle with drawing hands and poses. When I get art block, sometimes one of the best things for me to do is practice anatomy. I pull up a billion reference photos of what I want to draw, and get to practising it. Art block makes drawing interesting and creative things especially difficult, so doing something like anatomy studies is a little easier and helps you improve. This won’t make the art block go away, but it helps you work through it and improve. It’s also a lot easier than something more creative because you’re drawing from reference. You know exactly what you’re drawing, and there’s nothing your brain has to do on it’s own. It’s not always fun, but it works.
Good ol’ prompts
Prompts are a lifesaver with art block. I have a list of drawing ideas, poses, colour pallets, and characters ready and on hand just in case I get art block. Why spend all that time and effort moping over ideas that you can’t come up with when you can have a million ideas in a list to choose from? Keeping a list of prompts on your phone can be really helpful for ideas, and can be just the thing to get you going when art block is giving you a rough time. Or, alternatively, you can just look up some prompts online. There are millions of drawing prompts on the internet to choose from! If there are too many choices for you to decide on one, just use a randomizer wheel. Pick six prompts randomly, and put them in the wheel. Then spin it and BOOM! That’s what you draw. Crisis averted.
Tumblr media
example of some prompts
So, next time art block hits you, why not try some of these tips? Please let me know if any of these helped you. Feel free to share some advice or tips of your own in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
162 notes · View notes
soukokuwu · 3 years
Note
could i please get a super soft scenario of just being on a date with dazai? maybe he had a bad day, so the reader decides to treat him for dinner, letting him choose their meal. afterwards, sitting on the grass at a park, with a blanket around them and watching the sunset. him cuddling into her, while she runs her fingers through his scalp and kisses his head. tysm :) i love ur writing and u seem like such a cool person irl
Tumblr media
LOVEBUG.      genre. fluff      synopsis. people can change, even the most unlikely ones.      word count. 1.4k      author notes. this took so long for me to get out i’m so sorry!! but thanks for waiting, if you’re still here, and tysm for your kindness anony <33 hehe someone thinks i’m cool :3
Tumblr media
times change, and so do people.
you are the catalyst of dazai’s change, the one that takes over him akin to a hurricane overwhelming a small city. but whereas a hurricane leaves a destruction in its wake, you grew flowers in the barren soil which was his life. where he would once rather drown in the ocean, now he drowns in thoughts of you, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
there was a time where he would rejoice in being alone, to stop putting on a facade. because truth be told? it’s tiresome. but funny enough, where he deigns to be himself on a day-by-day basis, he deems it worthy when it’s with you.
because how can love be real when he doesn’t bare himself?
which is why when a case earlier that day reminded him of the only loss he ever grieved, he gets the overwhelming urge to just see you, to hug you and inhale the scent of your hair, the scent that naturally calms.
it’s a wednesday, and he usually doesn’t come over on work nights, but he can’t help himself. dazai allows himself to drag his feet over to your apartment uninvited.
Tumblr media
tap. tap. tap.
slow, and weak, on the mahogany door.
you only just settled down after a long exhausting day at work, but already an unwonted visitor. you stifle a grumble, socks muting your harsh stomps against the marble floor, but any trace of irritation is carried away by the wind when you feel the familiar texture of bandaged arms brushing against your skin, and the subtle elation under his controlled murmur.
“i’m so glad to see you.”
you take a moment to collect yourself, before you return his hug. you stop yourself from asking the obvious ‘are you okay’ because you think it redundant. for dazai to go out of his way and visit you out of the blue? something is definitely bothering him. but it isn’t your place to pry — you know it’s impossible for him to talk about his cases (you deduce that it’s the only factor in the current that would make him feel this way). however, there is one thing you can do as his girlfriend.
make an effort.
you drag your boyfriend inside and shut the door behind him, observing as he flings himself down onto the sofa, the perfect embodiment of exhaustion. whatever it is that managed to bring him down this bad just means you have that much more work to do to pull him back up. and no, you don’t mind at all, actually. on the contrary, you love being the one he entrusts these particular notions to. you know he would rarely ever let anyone else’s actions dictate his mood. except yours.
in that honeyed voice of yours, you lean down and let your thumb ghost his lips, earning yourself a pout from your boyfriend as he looks up at you. “tell me anything you want for dinner, i’ll whip it up for you,” you offer.
dazai grins, sitting up and presses the tip of his nose against yours, a glint in his eyes. “i know just the thing i want.”
Tumblr media
“are you sure this is all you want?”
dazai chuckles at your skepticality, offering only a grin in response, jabbing his fork down onto the meat and swallowing it readily.
now it’s your turn to giggle. it still baffles you how this is his idea of a perfect dinner: crab from a can with bottled sake from the supermarket. he’s aware that you can cook up a much better, high-end version of this, with your knack for fancy plating and wanton knowledge of compatible herbs.
but you know better than to question it. his answer would probably be much too complicated for you anyway. so you roll with it. not everything has to have an answer. you know when probing is unnecessary. this is one of those times. it isn’t too difficult to just be content with what you have. because you are. very. just lounging with dazai, sitting on the floor eating on the coffee table.
it’s simple. homely.
the both of you have a lively debate on the alleged corruption of one of the state senators, occasionally being sidetracked by the music playing on the television. by the time the two of you finish up, you notice the sun sinking lower and lower against the sky. you glance at your watch, twenty-three minutes left, give or take.
“what is it?” dazai asks with a simple head-tilt and wondering eyes.
now you grin in reply, “come on, let me take you somewhere.”
Tumblr media
fifteen minutes later you’re leaning against his side, sitting on the freshly cut grass, watching as the sun sets on the horizon, the orange resembling fire hearths and tangerines. you feast your eyes on the sight before you as the rich hues of orange blends with purples and crimsons.
you always liked sunsets. they remind you of fresh colours brushing upon a blank canvas, leaves you wondering how something so beautiful managed to exist in the first place.
“a masterpiece, isn’t it?” you subconsciously ask, your gaze fixed on the sky before you, an unobstructed view thanks to your many-a-times spent wandering around the park near your home.
“yeah, it is.”
dazai isn’t agreeing with you though, not completely. because while you’re admiring the scenery, he’s admiring you. you’re the only masterpiece in his eyes, a timeless existence being captured in the lock of your gaze. he shifts his pupils back to the centre before you can catch him staring at you, though.
but he finds that that mere few seconds of admiring you isn’t enough. so he casually lays his head on your thighs, much to your surprise. you try to lean back, aware that it isn’t the most flattering angle for him to see you in, but he reaches up to move your face back into place.
“you’re beautiful, belladonna, don’t hide that.”
you can feel a heat creep up on your cheeks as you sheepishly smile back at him and give in. besides, when have you ever been able to say no to him?
and maybe now you do understand why he prefers the simple things. because as the blanket of the velvety night signals the end of the drowning sun, a thought pops into your head.
there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. because it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s about who you’re with. and never did you think you’d ever be enough for someone as prodigious as dazai osamu, but that isn’t important. what matters is that he thinks so, and he does. you know it. he’s shown it to you countless times, even if they are through subtle, unconventional means.
so you text your boss to request a sick leave tomorrow, something you have never done so just because you’re the hardworker that you are. but when you peer down at your beloved boyfriend’s blissful face, you think that some things deserve more weightage in your life as opposed to corporations that largely looks at their workers as being replaceable.
that night you wrap the blanket you prepared around the both of you as you shift to lie down on his chest, letting the steady pulse of his heartbeat envelop your ears. you call out to him, only to get his rhythmic breathing as a response. slowly, you flicker your eyes up to peek at him. he’s already asleep. and you exhale a silent laugh at how absolutely harmless he looks in this state.
he was the one that came to you seeking refuge from his troubles, so how did it end up helping you blow your own negativity away? he really is a remarkable person, you think.
“i love you,” you whisper to him, before you let yourself fall prey to your enervation.
and as your consciousness slips away, you think you hear the faint rustle of sleeves and the muffled murmurs of someone trying to tell you something.
“i’d stay alive forever if it meant i could spend an eternity with you.”
but you’re already fast asleep, and it’s okay. because the man with the voice responsible for such earnest words knows. he knows he’s going to spend his entire life convincing you so.
Tumblr media
tags. @yokelish @gogolparadise @fyowyn-writes @smoochi-dazai @animatedarchives @chihxru ask me to be added/removed <3
395 notes · View notes
willow-salix · 3 years
Note
Why hello there
Is there anything you would recommend a babi witch like myself studying that has been missed from my list :>
Mah list (so far):
○ Witch vs Pagan vs Wicca
○ Types of witches
○ Grey witch
○ Black witch
○ Crystals + Properties
○ Sacred geometry
○ Pentacle + Pentagram
○ Sigils
○ Protection
○ Moon phases
○ Sabbats
○ Types of salts
○ Respecting nature
○ Graveyard etiquette
○ Spirit guides
○ Divination (runes, Tarot, Coins, etc)
○ Casting a circle
○ Candle magick
○ Colour magick
○ Closed practice appropriation
○ Herbs
○ Astrology
○ Tree of life
○ Auras
○ The five clairs
○ Energy/visualisation magick
○ History of starseeds
○ Astral projection
○ Methods of meditation
○ Grounding
○ Plant magick
Ooh OK! Here goes.
First and foremost, as a witch of twenty plus years, the most important thing I can tell you is to be yourself. If this is a belief system and way of life that you want for life it has to fit in with you and your personality.
Forget everything you see on Instagram, tictok or Pinterest, it's not about the aesthetic, it's about you.
There is no room for witch shaming on my blog.
And by that I mean that EVERYONE works in different ways, at a different pace and to different levels. Never compare yourself to anyone else or how they work. Never think that you aren't doing enough or that you aren't progressing enough.
You are on your own path and that is the right one for you, so you do it your own way. You want to stop and smell the flowers? Do it. You want to dip your feet in that stream? Go for it! You want to stop and rest for a bit? Best idea ever!
You should never feel pressured to do anything that you aren't ready for or aren't comfortable with. That includes such things as blood magic, working with deity you don't feel a connection with, working skyclad, doing any kind of sexual magic or anything that makes you feel off about it. It's YOUR craft.
Be kind to yourself, don't have expectations and don't ever think you aren't good enough or worthy.
This includes making your craft unique to you. Visualisation is one of the witches most poweful tools, the magic doesn't come from the expensive athame, insence or candles, its in the heart of the witch. The power comes from you. And visualisation is your key to that but so is choosing how to make it work for you.
Take me for example, I'm this loveable thundernerd witch, so that reflects in my craft.
In circle (mediumship development) we did a meditation and I was directed to the beach. So what beach did I go to...
"There's a lovely beach, I can feel the salt water on my skin, I can smell the salt in the air, there's a light breeze that's rustling the leaves on the palm trees all around me and in the distance I can hear the faint sound of someone playing the piano."
Hell yeah I was there. That's my happy place!
I need to ascend to a higher level of consciousness? Am I taking that golden winding staircase or am I calling John for the space elevator? What do you think I'm gonna choose?
I need to go lower, below the earth to go into trance? Hell I'm taking Alan's seat down.
Make it work for you.
Working with charms, that's a very important thing for me. I have lucky charms, trinkets and things everywhere. And they don't have to be pagan. I put a spell on my car to keep me safe and the car safe. Then I charged up a little TAG John and Virgil, they live in my car, Virgil is my co-pilot John is my navigator. They help me feel calm and safe.
Energy weaving is a big thing, I always do it that any energy I raise for something that doesn't already have a predetermined purpose, say for example it's full moon and I'm bouncing around outside, everything I raise I direct out to the earth as healing. I'll raise my arms to the heavens and say : I send this energy out to anyone or anything that needs it right now, I send my love and healing into the wind and trust that it will be taken to where it can do the mslt good.
Talking to other witches about how they do things and how they work is sooooo important. That's why I'm not in a tradition ( alexandrian, gardnerian etc) because I don't like having just one way to do things. That doesn't work for most people, they just won't admit it.
Trying different things to find a way that works for you is so much nicer and healthier than struggling to work the one way that you've been taught. So read, a lot, watch a lot of reputable youtubers (I recommend Tylluan Penry, she's amazing, a grandmother witch and a good friend of mine) and make your own choices. And remember that nothing is set in stone, we are ever evolving and every changing, if you feel the urge to try something new and work a different way, do it. You don't have to stick with it.
An astral altar, sooo important but something I don't see many people talking about. An astral altar is something you build in meditation.
You have your happy place, somewhere you feel safe and calm and protected (Tracy Island and the beach for me or my Nan and Grandads house as I remember it before they passed away) but it could be anywhere, a woodland, a house, a stream, a playground you used to love. Anything or anywhere.
Here you find a nice place that you like and you dream up /visualise your altar base, like a nice table, a tree stump, and rock, anything. And here you place all the items you might need, all the things you've dreamed about that you can't afford or the things you have in real life. And you place them all there. You keep that space, you charge it up, you spend time there and then, any time you are away form home or can't get to your altar in the real world for any reason, you have somewhere to go, somewhere to work and some where to commune.
Tools, I didn't see that on the list but might have missed it.
Anything can be a tool. That's the biggest lesson of all. Our pagan ancestors would have used whatever they had to hand, no tools were single use or bought for the purpose of their craft. A cauldron was cooked in all week, a knife is used to chop everything and then used to direct energy.
These days we have the resources (and don't have to hide) to be able to have specific tools that we use only for our craft, but they don't have to be expensive. Go to a thrift store or buy cheap on eBay, a letter opener is an athame, a single wine glass can be a chalice, a pretty bowl is your offering bowl, a single plate is an offering plate, mismatched candle stick holders. All valid and will work just as well. The tools are a focus, they are NOT the source of our power.
Another tip, make witchcraft part of your every day life. Make it as natural and normal as everything else you do. It's part of your life and should be treated as such.
Making coffee in the morning? Set your intentions for the day and focus on it as you make it. You want to draw positivity? Stir doesil (clockwise) that's attracting. Want to rid yourself of the bad mood you had yesterday? Stir widdershins (counterclockwise) that's banishing. Not got anything? Stir a pentagram and call it good.
Sigils, doodle them everywhere (if you want a quick lesson on how to draw them and make up your own, let me know). Charm the shit out of everything.
Whisper a food blessing before you make food or eat. Bring that abundance in.
Trail your fingers along a wall or bushes to feel the energy as you walk.
Everything is magical to a witch.
Read mythology stories, it helps us learn and helps us connect to the stories of our pantheons and deity.
And heres the biggest thing I can tell you. Don't worry about getting things wrong. It's how we learn and honestly there is no such thing as wrong as long as your intentions are right.
Wording of spells doesn't matter, the intention and feeling behind them does.
You can do a cleansing by saying : Blessed spirit, Father God, mother goddess, I ask that you bless this house/tool /space and help drive out any negativity. Spirits that reside, if you're good you may stay, if you wish me halm, then please leave.
Nothing wrong with that.
Or you do a me: Mother Goddess, Father God, I'm back. Help me out here please, I need to cleanse this shit. Yo, spirits, good guys, ya chill, bad shit, get the fuck out! I'm the witch I'm in charge, do as you're told *claps hands all over the place and follows up with a cloud of vape smokes because my intention is in my breath and I'm blowing that negativity away*
And last but not least. I'm sure you've heard "Ever mind the rule of three, what you send out comes back to thee" That's very true, try to only send out good if you can. But you're human and it won't always happen, you'll have bad thoughts and negative emotions, that's normal and fine. Just don't do it with nastiness in your heart.
"and if it harms none, do what you will."
There's a line here most people don't know... "do no harm. But take no shit."
Because the one person most witches forget to look out for is themselves. Being good, doing good and being positive is great, but not at the expense of yourself. If it harms you, don't do it.
Love and light, and bright blessings to you. X
58 notes · View notes