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#so I've had little to no strength or inspiration to draw))
mintpurrfect · 3 months
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Hi, I really like your work, If possible could you please write a one shot with Taehoon from biral hit and his s/o where his father caught them kissing and what his reaction would be, how he will behave, if not then everything is fine
⩇:⩇⩇ — kiss it better
⤿synopsys﹕ seong taehoon is the type of person who most people classify as "cool". so it was rather unexpected yet somewhat hilarious to find out from his father that he used to be such a clumsy and dumb kid. which he still is.
⤿character﹕ seong taehoon x gn!reader
⤿genre﹕ fluff
⤿warnings﹕ it's mostly just cursing and probably my bad grammar and spellings, but other than that, there's none. not proofread.
⤿note﹕ it's been awhile! I recently just saw this (cuz tumblr didn't give me a notification once again) so I rushed through this since I've got a small burst of inspiration lmao. There's also another anon who asked for a Taehoon fic so, here you go! I hope you guys enjoy this<3
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Taehoon was an asshole.
That is what you're currently thinking as you sit down crossed-legged on the floor of the dojang as you stare up at Taehoon who was standing before you.
“You're such an ass!” you exclaimed loudly, glaring at him as you gently rub your forehead.
He grabbed a water bottle and took a sip, completely ignoring your whole existence. This, of course, made you even more annoyed.
How dare he flick you on the forehead really hard and act as if nothing happened? He's absolutely heartless!
“That hurt, you jerk!” once again, you expressed how you were currently feeling, grumbling under your breath about how much of an annoying and mean bastard he was.
As you continued to sulk while still sitting on the floor with a frown on your face, Taehoon's gaze wandered over you, lingering for a few seconds before a soft sigh left his lips.
“Damn it... Let me see.” he mumbled before crouching in front of you, reaching forward and carefully lifting your chin up.
He checked your forehead and saw that it was slightly red, making him realise that he might have used too much strength than intended.
You watch him while remaining silent, noticing how his lips were formed into a thin line and how his eyes narrowed as he observed the red mark on your forehead.
He honestly looks like he's ready to murder someone with how scary and tense his face was. You wonder what other people would think if they saw the two of you in this position. Maybe they would assume that he was threatening you to give him your money or something similar.
As your mind wanders away in your own little world, you failed to register that Taehoon had inched closer, his face nearing yours before his lips made contact with your skin.
It took you a moment to process what was happening, still trying to make sense that Taehoon's lips are on your forehead, softly kissing it.
You blinked a few times in utter confusion and surprise when he pulled away and made eye contact with you. He brought his hand up from your chin towards the side of your face, cupping your cheek as he stared into your eyes.
“There, do you feel better now?” He asks in a casual tone, his face stoic yet the tinge of pink on his cheeks and ears didn't go unnoticed by you, but you decided not to comment on it.
You smiled teasingly, shaking your head, “Nope, it still hurts. Maybe you should kiss me here instead.” you said, pointing towards your lips and puckering it up for extra effect.
Taehoon grumbled, rolling his eyes and averting his gaze for a moment before letting out a deep breath and looking at you with an annoyed expression.
“You little sh... Ugh, fine, but you better stop whining after this and get back to practise, okay?”
“Alright!”
And with that, he closed the gap between the two of you, his lips meeting yours in a soft, tender kiss.
You smiled and closed your eyes before kissing him back, enjoying the sweet kiss the two of you shared. His lips were soft against yours and the way he was caressing your skin, drawing small circles on your cheek with his thumb while he kisses you in the most gentle way made your heart flutter.
Lost in the moment, the both of you failed to notice someone opening the door, “Taehoon, could you help me with moving these boxes inside–”
A thud can be heard along with a rather loud gasp, making the two of you pull away from each other and turn towards the source of the noise.
There stood, a wide-eyed Seong Hanseo, who was dramatically covering his mouth with a hand and the box he had was dropped by his feet.
There was an awkward silence that enveloped the dojang for what felt like an eternity, when suddenly, the middle-aged man's face became serious.
You and Taehoon tensed up, preparing yourselves for a scolding to come from the old man. Although, a few moments ticked by and it didn't come. Instead, what greeted the two of you was a father who looked like he was about to cry.
“Ah... You're really grown now... I can still remember the days when I was still changing your diapers like it was yesterday.” Hanseo said, looking towards the large glass window with a reminiscent expression on his face.
“I remember when you were very little, you cried when you accidentally stepped on a dog's poo–”
“Dad, shut up!” Taehoon shouted standing up from his crouched position, glaring daggers at his old man with his face completely red as a riped strawberry.
“Oh, and there was also this time when you fell and slipped down face first when you tried running down the playground slide–”
The day ended with you learning about a bunch of blackmail materials childhood stories of Taehoon. He, unfortunately for him, also had to sit and listen as his father embarrassed him in front of you.
He just knows that you will tease him endlessly about all the things his father was telling you about.
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choochooboss · 3 months
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Introducing your station master & Magma event host!
Since there's already a lot of passengers visiting this station and I haven't spared much time to get to know my fellow submas fans over Tumbrl yet, an introduction would be in place!
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I'm Jun, nice to meet you! *offers a hand for for a shake* I am a devoted submas artist & a monthly Magma event host! I go by ChooChooBoss everywhere (Twitter/Bsky/Twitch/Ko-Fi)!
This will be a long post! I will write a short intro as well which you can just skim through but here is a more in depth view how I got into submas, my other interests and life in general, in case you'd wish to know more about your conductor on this silly train!
How did I get into submas in the first place?
PLA. I met this certain mysterious & cool fellow time traveler and got curious! After the cave scene I went to read his Wiki, found out about Emmet, and... yeah. The emotional impact blasted me right out of a miserable cycle I was going through back then and set my soul on fire!! A month later I set up my first art account on Twitter, and the rest is history. They've become my greatest source of strength and inspiration and I enjoy drawing them every single day!
I love both twins very much! I tend to vibe with Ingo a little more than Emmet, but I draw Emmet more. People say I remind of butler Ingo the most, hehe. I certainly don't mind because I'm a big fan of butlermas!! In fact I got into submas & started playing Pokémon Masters EX in April 2022, a week before butler Ingo banner rolled in, so they truly got a special place in my heart ahah! (pssst draw more butlermas for me pls pls pls-)
However I don't draw warden Ingo as much as I would like to. I still get pretty emotional over his fate ahah, I can't draw him without a single tear! This sweet & kind man leading a good life and being an inspiration to others has been torn from literally everything he had for seemingly no reason apart from his name, clothes and the muscle memory and even those are barely intact. It seems like a miracle he's still standing and breathing after put through everything judging by the wear and tear on his uniform and body. Despite all that he carries a positive attitude, assists everyone in need, and does his best to help people and pokémon understand each other, unconditionally... Oh, my face is wet again...
My other interests besides submas?
Monster Hunter! Zelda! Genshin Impact! Super Mario! Trine! Crash Team Racing! And many many more! My favourite genres are platformers, kart racers, and action games, with a side of rhythm games. I'm a big fan of co-op games! I also watch my sis play JRPGs!
Monster Hunter is the dearest to me out of all. I've been hunting for well over a decade starting from MHFU. The games have charmed me with their incredibly satisfying combat system, world building, creature design, great attention to detail, character customisation and the games being nearly fully co-op!!
Other things I do:
Pokémon is practically the only turn-based game I enjoy, mainly because of the characters and collection aspect. However!! I adore Pokémon Colosseum (the first pkmn game I ever played!) and it's double battle focus, so The Indigo Disc has been a delight after the long starvation for double battles, coming up with different combinations makes the battles much more fun to me!!... I sound like Emmet here do I ahahah! We also share the fact we are both left-handed!
Shuffle dancing, daily pull-ups, and expanding my ever growing VGM collection! I also enjoy traveling and taking photos to keep as a diary! I've played piano in a music school for 9 years, and I can also play kalimba. I've done casual boxing, gymnastics, horse riding and medieval swordfighting. I used to read comics/manga and watch movies and anime but nowadays I barely do that, I just rather use that time for drawing instead of just sitting and watching, unless I have company!
I share the apartment with my anxious brother and our two sweet female cats, Laku (11, stubborn and cuddly) and Kalevi (21, demanding and full of love) in a city center. My parents are both entrepreneurs and run a farm in the countryside & I have 4 siblings with me as the middle kid!
Where can you meet me?
I am a game artist by profession, with 4 yrs of studies and roughly 7 years of EXP in the field doing game art, UI design, character/prop design, in mobile games as well as PC titles, 2D and 3D. At the moment I am looking for work; I keep up the motivation and learn new skills by running my art accounts while looking for new opportunities.
I hail from the land of darkness, snow, salmiakki, metalheads and renownly reserved people, Finland! (UTC+2)
Despite having my roots here I am pretty much the opposite of a typical Finn in almost every sense ahah! I'm a small guy who's not afraid talking to strangers and laughs a lot. And I dislike coffee for the contrary, it's very popular amongst finns.
With the inspiration from submas I've finally stepped into the world of cosplay so you can usually meet this small and excitable Ingo in the biggest local conventions, Desucon and Tracon! Come say hi!
About my social battery:
I'm both social and socially anxious ahah! I love making new friends and talking to all sorts of people and writing comments, and gathering together with my mutuals to do cool stuff together! However my social battery is very small... I often struggle with my AD(H)D and anxiety issues, so my replies can be extremely slow. I'm easily overwhelmed when life gets busy and I deal with it by withdrawing to minimise the the stimuli and then sorting my stuff out one by one. This is a frustrating shortcoming, but I'm working hard to find a balance I can maintain without getting exhausted. Please be patient with me! If you don't hear from me in a while, please don't take it personally! In fact, it makes me really happy if you contact me, for any purpose!
Which pronouns do I go with?
I go by they/them! I am also aroace, so if I appear to show any sort of romantic interest, it's definitely not that. I love meeting new people and am quite interested in people in general so I'm excited to get to know you better, but the thing is... I have been confusing people on several occassions for saying things that could be taken as flirting. I am terribly sorry for that, that's just the way I show how I care!
I don't really identify myself by any specific gender either, but rather by my roles or interests (Magma host, submas fan, game artist etc.). Submas encouraged me to enjoy dressing formally even if I'm just sitting at home, because I love formal clothing in general and wearing them makes me feel confident and stand taller! I usually wear collar shirts and black or white slacks.
More about my AD(H)D:
I don't have an official diagnosis but deal with the same problems as AD(H)D people do; poor work memory, dissociation, hyperfocus (drawing and people), sleep deprivation, impulsiveness (juggling too many things and going with the wind), getting sensory/information overloads, and feeling like I don't fit in. I figured it out after I finished school & lost my job for that I am unable to handle big tasks without anyone giving me directions. It has taken a while but I've figured out things that help me manage my daily life as well as have a medication that mainly boosts my capability to get things started which is another great struggle ahah.
How do I manage to keep myself on track?
I use a Pomodoro timer to keep up a good flow and remember to take breaks! This is what I use the most:
I should set it up on my tablet as well. I think it's really cool to see how many hours I have actually put into drawing! Last year I clocked in well over 3k hours, ahaha!
How to catch me?
Right now I have great difficulty managing replies, but usually you can reach me by DMs! I check Discord and Twitter the most often! However I must ask you to respect my current DNI status. It means I am really overwhelmed so I wish nobody comes asking for my attention until it has been lifted, unless it's really necessary. I really love talking to you all but I also have to accept and deal with my own limits strictly like this or it won't work out.
What am I working on at the moment?
Besides the holiday set I have several short comics under works as well as one big comic (100+ pages!). That one is my personal greatest goal! I started working on it in June 2022 and I have currently 40+ pages sketched and 60+ thumbnailed.
I was afraid of starting any comic projects before submas, but the sheer excitement over them carried me over that personal wall ahah!
The story's beginning and end are looking good and somewhat functional but there's still a lot to work to do and holes to fill in the middle before I dare to start fleshing out the pages. I have little experience in writing or comic making so I hope you forgive if some things don't make sense or the dialogue is a little on the nose so to say ahah!
The story will be packed with action with the overall tone being on the darker side, but it sure won't be lacking in humor! The project's main goal is to make it a celebration of all things submas & to prove to myself I can handle a big scale project despite my shortcomings!
This train has reached the terminal!
Thank you for riding my silly submas train!! I adore reading all your tags and comments! They brighten up my day & fuel my passion even more!! I hope to bring many more fun things for you to look forward to!! See you again soon!
ALL ABOARD!!
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AHHHHH you're playing kingdom hearts? Please report back with your thoughts when you feel up to it it's my special interest 👀
Okay here are some thoughts I've spammed to my friends in the last few days! (BTW I read the manga already for the first game so I basically spoiled it but I was still equally as shocked when these things happened in the game lol)
By the way, spoilers below for anyone who hasn't played!
General thoughts:
SORA IS SOOOOOOOOOO CUTE 🥺 The voice actor voiced him PERFECTLY, he's exactly the perfect combination of hopeful, friendship, little kid, strong heart, over confident at times, stubborn, sweet. 😭💖
Told a friend I love Sora in a different way than I love Gohan, here were my thoughts: Gohan is more quiet, sweet, gentle, burdened with a lot of power that he seems hesitant to use and slowly builds his confidence throughout the show, I relate to Gohan a lot, sweet cinnamon roll that must be protecc, but forced to protecc others, etc etc Sora is sweet and gentle but loud, has a HUGE heart and he uses it to protect his friends with 100% confidence (he's more like Goku in that way), his heart is just unwavering and he doesn't seem to doubt himself often (at least in KH1), funny and goofy and his stubbornness can get him into trouble sometimes but his bonds with his friends give him strength, I don't relate to him but I would love to draw inspiration from him
"Shonen protagonist done by Disney" vibes (as put aptly by @genisflyingkites)
Riku is so insanely jealous of Sora it's hilarious, he's overall kind of a jerk and even Kairi said she wanted to leave the island without him, but also Riku is 15 and hormonal and Maleficent got to him so I don't really blame him for it
Donald and Goofy are way less annoying than I assumed they would be, I like that they seem refreshingly mature?? Donald is stubborn and beefs with Sora a lot and Goofy seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and is a deep thinker
Also I keep seeing memes of Donald constantly getting knocked out in game and being useless but for me Donald ALWAYS comes in clutch with the elixirs and ethers
That scene where Maleficent tells Riku that Sora replaced him and Kairi with Donald and Goofy was sad in both the manga and the game but what REALLY made my jaw drop was that SORA LOWKEY FELT THE SAME:
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(Yes he was fighting with Donald at the time too but LOOK AT HIS FACE!!! 😭🙏)
If Riku talked to Sora for more than 10 seconds at a time literally all of this would be resolved XD LIKE!! Sora is literally trying to find them! Riku please!
This scene had my sister and I's JAWS ON THE FLOOR:
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It was low blow after low blow! I read this in the manga too but somehow it hit harder in the game!
Hollow Bastion is a great OST and I've been listening to it on repeat. The map is also pretty nice but I wish I could explore more without heartless appearing every 5 seconds
Actually I also liked the OST "A Day in Agrabah"
I beat Riku's ass in 10 seconds and it was glorious (Ansem is a whole other story...still working on it)
DID I MENTION SORA HAS SUCH A KIND AND SWEET AND STRONG HEART!?
Every single cutscene had the words "light" "darkness" "friendship" "heart" "memories" repeated over and over again to form a cutscene (I saw this in a Youtube video and thought it was incredibly accurate XD)
My sister and I were CRACKING UP during this cutscene because it made NO SENSE
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It just kept getting more and more non-sensical XD
I think Aladdin was my favourite world so far but tbh they were all pretty cool (Sora's Halloween Town fit was so cute! Also I loved flying around by Big Ben, and then getting the glide feature)
The Maleficent Dragon boss was really hard, cool, and fun; Tinker Bell really came in clutch
Also I gotta say this game is really hard to play because the control are so annoying, the jump function is annoying (I keep falling off and misjudging his jump), it keep glitching cause it's connected to the cloud or something, the directions are too vague so I have to follow a walkthrough while playing, and I have to keep stopping between plays because I get motion sickness from the wildly spinning camera really easily -- despite all that I am indeed having a blast
I think that's all my thoughts for now :3
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kathaynesart · 11 months
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What advice would you give to someone who really wants to get into writing/drawing comics, but doesn't know how or where to start? What would you recommend? Even if/ especially if they already have a decent history in writing and drawing
SHORT ANSWER: Don’t do what I’m doing with Replica haha! I’m breaking all my own rules with this comic but maybe we can use it as a good example of what not to do in my rant below…
LONG ANSWER: (below the cut)
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Hoo boy… there are so many avenues this question could take. I assume you don’t necessarily mean entering the comic industry as a professional (there are far more experienced people you can ask about that). But simply drawing your own comics? I'll try my best to break down some of the basics I've picked up over the years. Note these are just my opinion and there is always room for other methods...
1. ASK YOURSELF WHAT KIND OF COMIC AM I DOING?
The first thing to consider is what is your intention with this comic? Do you want to tell a story centered around a preexisting fandom or tell a completely new story you came up with? What genre do you want to focus on? I'd recommend finding something that really sparks your interest, because you're going to be working on it for far longer than a regular art piece. Plus if you like it, someone else is bound to like it as well!
2. ASK YOURSELF DOES IT NEED TO BE A COMIC?
This may sound silly... but often times I find people fail to take into consideration whether or not the story they are telling works best with the medium they are considering. Had I done Replica as a fan fiction, I would be much farther along with it... but with comics there comes a wide range of subtle visual cues, parallels, and symbolism I can use that I wouldn't be able to show through writing. The written word also has many strengths that comics lack... it just comes down to what you want to be able to show in your story.
3. KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE
If this is your first time doing a comic, I recommend not overextending yourself with some grand epic that is going to take you forever (like Replica haha.)
Example: Years ago a close friend and I did a webcomic called Perpetual Flux that we were unable to finish. It went for about 2-3 years, was over 110 pages long, and yet we had only managed to get about 3 chapters into what would have probably been a +30 chapter story. We came up with this huge epic we wanted to tell and while it was a story we still wanted to finish, it just became impossible to continue as our lives and availability changed.
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So start small! And take that experience you gain into bigger, future projects. Obviously I have not learned my lesson with Replica, but at least with this project it's something I can do on my own time and is supported by a wonderful community who keep me inspired. Speaking of which...
4. FINDING AN AUDIENCE
If it’s a story based off something with an existing fandom then half the work is already done! You just need to start interacting more with people in that fandom, and I mean really interacting. Talk to other artists, join Zines, leave comments, and share other people’s work. It can foster a community and help you be a part of the fandom so that people will be interested in what you have to share.
If it’s a new story you’re going to have to create your own community. Nowadays it’s easier than ever to get your work out there, but the competition for eyes is much steeper. What I find that works is rather than starting the comic cold turkey, draw out some highlights from your future story. Moments that have yet to unfold that might wet a random viewer's appetite for more. Kind of like… a trailer for what’s to come. Keep dropping those little crumbs of interest as you prep your comic to garner some interest and that way when you do start you may already have some followers who might share your work around!
5. CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Get into the habit of drawing and writing regularly. I know it can be a hassle and the last thing you want to do is make it a chore, but like exercising I find that the more I do it, the easier it is and the better I feel about it. Nowadays I feel weird if I'm not at least writing some script or drawing a few sketches towards my comic/projects every day.
Also, if you can make sure to update fairly regularly (something I also fail at with Replica haha, but at least I try to post little things here and there when time allows). It's important to let your followers know that you are still there and you care! It also helps keep you at the front of their minds. My fellow Apocalypse AU creators Cass and Tapakah0 are GREAT at this as they post a ton! It helps garner a strong community and a lot of continuous excitement! I wish I had that same energy and time but you'll have to make do with my old-lady pace of things, bless you all haha.
6. GRAPHIC DESIGN
Obviously as a writer and artist you're used to doing both... but with comics there's another aspect that can come into play. Graphic design! Whether it's your title, your font choices, the word bubbles, or the way you break down the panels, these area all things you should take into consideration. For example, every webcomic has panels, but they can vary tremendously in style. Because of Tumblr and the nature of the scroll method I chose to forgo the typical "comic book style" for more of a... loose storyboard feel where I care more about the angle of the shot within each panel rather than how these separated images link up to one another. Where as with Perpetual Flux, it was laid out on actual comic pages so we had to take serious consideration into how they fit together within each page. IngunnSara is also a great example of this more traditional method of paneling and it's gorgeous and difficult and they have my utmost respect for pulling it off with Hamato Wanderers! So I recommend looking to some of your own favorite comics and see what jives with you.
7. FIND A STYLE THAT WORKS FOR YOU
Also failed this with Replica haha, but to be fair I went right into it with the intent on learning the style as I went. But I recommend having some grasp on the style you want to use and whether or not it's a viable to be drawing over and over again for your comic (for example, if you make it too detailed it will take you far longer to draw!)
8. FORGET ABOUT PERFECTION
Perfection is a lie. There is no place for it in art, especially if you're just doing this for your own pleasure. Don't strive for it. Don't worry about it. Don't compare yourself. Just keep doing what you're doing and keep learning from it. You'll get much farther!
Ok... hopefully that helps a bit. I'm sure there's plenty more to talk about but I feel like I've talked enough for now. Thanks for listening to my TED Talk and lemmed know if you manage to get your comic off the ground :)
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kitchenwitchtingss · 9 months
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Hi! I'm in love with your recipes and spells, and I was wondering if you had anything for success, specifically when it comes to jobs and job hunting? I've been doing small spells, but they've mostly been luck spells, just using moon salt to season my dishes and a couple other spices and herbs. My supplies and wallet are running low, and I've got what's potentially the most important interview in my career coming up.
The weather did not feel like being favorable when I asked for fair weather so there's that unfortunate already rip the universe decided to punish me for all my storm spells earlier in the month
Hi! Thank you so much! I wish you the best luck for your job interview ^_^
And I totally understand the weather thing, I live in a place that's always raining and storming haha.
The great thing about luck spells is they are very versatile, and heavily intention based. So whether you use a bunch of herbs and crystals or only a little. It usually has similar effects.
Here's a recipe!
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LUCKY LENTIL SOUP
This recipe helps in a change of luck, or gives you that boost you need! Whether it be a job interview, a new work environment, an exam, or if you feel like you've been having terrible luck recently. Give this a try!
Ingredients
Olive Oil
1 yellow onion
1 cup chopped carrots
4 cloves garlic ~ Remove Negative Energy
1 lemon
Salt and pepper
Fresh chopped Dill ~ luck, abundance, success
1 potato, cubed
1 1/2 cup lentils, soaked
2 boxes of chicken stock/vegetable stock
Shredded Kale
Grated Ginger ~ luck, healing, protection, prosperity
Basil flakes or fresh basil ~ prosperity, money, protection, success
1 red bell pepper
One bay leaf ~ luck, protection, wisdom, strength
1 tsp turmeric ~ vitality
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander ~ longevity, prosperity
1 tsp cumin ~ protection
Directions:
On medium heat, cook onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and carrots until fragrant and soft. Add broth, juice of half a lemon, potato, grated ginger (as much as you'd like), basil flakes, bay leaf, turmeric, coriander, salt, pepper, and cumin, along with your lentils. Let it come up to a slow boil, and then simmer for a little over half an hour on a lower heat with a lid on, or until lentils are cooked tender. You can add lemon slices to the top if desired.
Add in shredded kale, and cook until soft. About 3-5 minutes. Add more seasoning and lemon juice if desired.
Top with fresh dill. Enjoy!
Here are a bunch of little tips + a recipe that are pretty cheap to do:
Drinking Chai tea.
Draw some sigils of luck and success onto the fruit or food you are about to eat.
you can sew little sigils on the inside lining of your clothes (that way they stay hidden)
If you drink coffee, you could add a little cinnamon for good luck!
You can make makeshift spell jars with old empty jars, spice bottles, pencil lead containers, or empty mint boxes with anything that is green, a little bit of cinnamon, bay leaf, intention written down on paper, and your favorite crystal. Keep it in a pocket.
Ring magic is pretty nifty if it's subtle for a job interview. Simple things like wearing a ring on your middle(association with intelligence, rationality, and quick thinking), or thumb(Creativity, and inspiration). Bonus points if you give it an intention!
You could burn a green candle while thinking of your intentions.
Saturdays are the best day to cast luck spells
The afternoon is also a really good time for luck and career spells
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gingerlurk · 8 months
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Lovers' Crest | Chapter 1: The Heiress
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Din Djarin x f!Reader
Summary: The Mandalorian is off-kilter. This was an unusual job from the off, but it kept getting stranger.
He thought he would be picking up a spoiled little heiress. How she had ended up in the middle of an unsanctioned and bloody conflict, been taken prisoner, and held at an old empire sprawl, didn’t interest him enough to look into, frankly. But he was at least expecting a supplicant and willing thing that would fall to her knees and be grateful to be getting taken home.
Instead, it’s you.
Word count: 3k
Warnings: 18+ MDNI, slow burn, non-canon (the Razor Crest never gets destroyed, it also gets upgraded with a cabin), canon-typical violence, eventual smut/filth, post season 3, Reader is a rich runaway, also a badass, canon-typical violence, brief mentions of creeps with ill intentions, uhhhh please advise if there's more to add here thank you
A/N: Hi! I am completely new here. This is something I've been writing for myself to get out of a dire writing slump. But here, please enjoy. I thought it was going to end up being 12-15 chapters long, but nope (shocker). Completed on A03, I just got encouraged to share here. Also please note - to keep it low pressure for myself - I have taken almost no effort to research or fact check Star Wars canon, technical terms for ship mechanics, or space flight. But I think it still hangs together like the fun story it is meant to be (much like its inspiring text). Also I'm Australian, so the spelling is what it is. Thank you for reading!
--
Everything is blinding whiteness. White walls, white floors. Harsh white lighting strips disappear down endless corridors.
You wonder to yourself what it is about totalitarian thought that demands such sterility. It is colourless and uniform, you suppose. Even for a decommissioned military base, repurposed as a prisoner of war camp, the cold lonely veneer of the empire shines on.
The heavy restraints chafe at your wrists as you raise your arms, trying to shield against the glare. A rough hand tugs them back down.
‘Hey, hands in front, princess.’ The spittle-licked voice grates on you. Fine. You just want to get to a cell where you can think. Have a minute to figure some next steps. It can’t be much further.
But the hair has started to rise on the back of your neck. For some time now, your little party made up of you and your four-guard escort hasn’t passed an occupied cell. It’s like you’re in an entirely unused part of the facility. A tense inevitability settles in your gut.
One more turn and the spit-lick calls halt.
‘This place is as good as any, lads.’ He swipes his wrist against a random cell and you expect to be shoved in. But the four of them move with you.
‘What the fu—,’ you say as a hand cracks over your face.
‘It’s a lucky thing,’ the voice grunts over the sting ringing in your ears. ‘No timestamp was logged to the manifest for your release from processing, so you won’t be missed for a spell. This is a nice quiet spot so we can get to know you a little, princess.’
A white-hot rage simmers in your spine and you let it filter up into your brain to focus your senses. Hatred coils in your chest. You channel that to your limbs, breathing into the spaces where you’ll need strength and speed. Feeling prepared, you let the four of them crack gags and wait for a good moment.
A loud thump, five heads whip around, a laser blast turns the white shining walls red for just a moment, and chaos erupts.
‘Wh--!’ One of your scrubs drops to the floor, dead. The self-appointed leader stays in front of you, yelling at the other two to do something. They draw blasters and point as a dark and imposing figure swings around the doorway and, without pause, starts to take them apart. Fists and headbutts and a knee kicked in sends one sprawling. The other manages to get a shot off but it just plints off this… this knight’s armour? You’re not sure what you’re seeing.
The ‘leader’ has his blaster drawn, watching the fight, but is holding a rough hand to your shoulder, as if to keep himself between you and this attacker. Taking the opportunity, you swing the brace on your wrists around and clock him right under the jaw. As he reels, in one unified movement, you sweep a foot to help his descent to the ground and make to jam three rigid fingers into each of his kidneys, hoping to incapacitate. 
But you’ve been thrown off by this turn of events as well and just miss the second sweet spot. He manages to lunge to his feet again and grabs you by the throat to hurl you to the floor. You scramble to your knees and look up at the asshole staggering about in front of you. He squares up. Fear snakes through you as you sit back onto your heels. He rubs at his jaw while swinging the blaster around to point at you, face thunderous.
‘Waste of a fuckin—’ But he’s cut off by the large hole that appears in his chest. He makes a ‘wuh?’ at it before toppling sideways, revealing behind him the strange figure, who has a gauntleted hand pointed at the space where your would-be killer’s chest used to be.
On your knees, you gaze up at your apparent saviour.
He’s dazzling. He seems to be built entirely out of armour, weapons and munitions. A large, angular helmet completes the look; its dark T visor regards you while fingers absently punch at the other wrist’s bracer.
‘Are you hurt?’ A deep, modulated voice questions you.
You reach up to poke at your tender cheek.
‘Nothin’ serious,’ you confirm, moving to your feet. When he steps forward, you work to not shy back, letting him lift your restrained wrists and scrutinise them.
‘I will be able to remove these on my ship. Come with me.’ Your knight turns away, beckoning you to follow.
‘Ah, afraid not,’ you say. You rock on your toes, waiting for him to turn back.
‘What?’ A voice like flint.
‘That’s not happening.’ You sniff.
He doesn’t turn but he doesn’t keep walking.
‘Do you want out of here or not, girl?’ A snag of anger but largely calm, like he kind of doesn’t care about your answer one way or the other but it has been quite an inconvenience getting here. 
‘Of course I do.’
‘Then come with me.’
‘Can’t.’
Now he whirls and, hell, why is that so satisfying? He stalks toward you.
‘I am being paid well to bring you in alive and unharmed, but also by any means necessary. So, I am not above a use of force.’ That voice is doing specific things to your chest, and belly, and the apex of your thighs. ‘Come. With. Me.’
You push the dry mouth and racing heart to the side and lift your arms up, awkwardly showing him the underside of your restraints.
‘Afraid not,’ you repeat.
To his credit, he shuts up and looks, broad shoulders dropping some as he registers the issue.
‘Proximity lock,’ he mutters.
‘Proximity lock,’ you confirm. ‘Alive and unharmed, you said? Don’t reckon getting my hands blown off would count to that. Only getting these bad kids off via a control room or processing cell.’
‘These are outlawed.’ You stare at him.
‘This is an illegal pri—’
‘Yes, fine.’ He engages a holo map of the floor plan on the chunky piece of kit on his arm. Scanning.
‘This way,’ he brushes past you and strides on. 
You take a moment to stare at the bodies littered on the floor of the cell, then lean over one of them. It takes some doing but you get what you were after and stand to turn down the corridor. You give a small yelp of surprise before almost bumping straight into the stranger’s chest. Hells how did he sneak up like that?
‘What are you doing?’ he says, teeth obviously gritted tight under that shiny helm.
You hold up your prize.
‘These bracers should open most of the general control rooms, if we get lucky enough.’
You want to believe his mouth has fallen open in surprise, eyes widened, impressed with you. But you can’t see a thing, not even your own smirking reflection.
You make a ‘let’s go’ gesture and the two of you move on.
You stroll along beside the hulking figure, glancing sideways every minute or so. 
So, he’s being paid well to retrieve you, is he? That’s interesting.
Your earlier observation of the rows of vacant cells seems to extend to a lot of the base. How much of this place is actually in use? It increases your chances of finding an unattended control room, which is a bonus. You can’t wait to get these horrendous restraints off. Not designed for human wrists, the edges cut into your skin and inner divots scrape your bones. After using them just to take a swing at that leech, you’re pretty sure there’s bleeding. 
You push the discomfort away and decide to say something.
‘Empty, isn’t it?’ That’s the best you got, is it? Hells.
‘It is at a little under a fifth capacity,’ he responds quickly.
‘Right.’ You fall quiet again. You’re almost grateful when the two of you round yet another turn and six guard helmets swivel toward you. Less awkward.
‘Hey! Stop!’ one yells. They each push off the wall they’d been lounging against and reach for sidearms.
Your companion gives you a hard shove back around the corner.
You stumble against the wall but right yourself. At first, you think it best to stay put. But the sounds of grunts and blows raining down draws you to the edge of the wall. Leaning around the corner to look, your mouth falls open in awe. 
The man is a cyclone.  
One goon has barely started reeling from a punishing blow when the next is being pulled into a deathly throw. Limbs are jerked and snapped back and forth and any blow one of them happens to land is shrugged off with so much ease.
It’s incredible to witness.
Fortunately you’re not so distracted that you don’t spot one of them, conveniently close to where you’re crouched, hurriedly trying to get a shock prod started. The poor sap is panicking as his brethren get decimated.
This is foolish, but you’re doing it anyway. You check that your ally is not looking – he isn’t, focused on driving a vibroblade somewhere soft and fatal – and sneak up to the guy’s back. You raise your arms and whip them down across his shoulders, wincing at the impact; it’s mostly ineffectual and you slink back.
He starts, turns, sees you trying to duck out of sight, and makes his advance.
‘Come ‘ere, little one,’ he spits as he rounds the corner, leering at you with some relish. You take timid little steps back until he’s fully in the hallway, and then you give him a devilish grin.
You wait for his lunge to grab at you and slide to your knees, ducking his pawing hands and spinning to make a 180 to finish behind him. As you pass his centre of gravity you shove your shoulder hard into his hips and he slams into the wall. Hopping to your feet in one fluid motion, you have your foot high and burying itself in his chin before he rights himself. In a stroke of luck, you manage to kick his helmet clean off in the same move.
His neck whips back and he gives a cry of pain, slumping on the wall. Just as he surges back to his feet, you’ve spun another pirouette and have the heel of your other foot ready to meet the bridge of his nose. It connects with a satisfying crunch matched a second later by the back of his skull smacking the wall again.
He wilts to the floor, moaning. You drop a knee onto his exposed neck, pull his sidearm from the holster and release one quick blast. He jolts and falls still. 
You drop the pistol and listen. Grunting and crunching metal still echoes around the bend.
Now think, idiot. Get rid of the body.
These old places have those floor level garbage units, right? For the old, tiny droids that would roll around, hoovering up whatever. You edge along the wall, toeing at gaps and latch-looking things. Ah ha. Damn, what luck. The door pops open in one smooth motion. You drop to your knees and shove the dead weight with all your strength. He slides along the floor and flops into the space in the wall. You kick the blaster, broken helmet and abandoned shock prod in after him and nudge the door closed.
The sounds of fighting have stopped. You flop back against the wall and try to look meek and afraid. Either he rounds the corner and you’re safe, or one of the guards does and you’d like to try the same trick again.
It’s him to walk into view, taking in your stature. You put on an air of relief and peer back around the corner.
You whistle low.
‘Five against one, huh? You said you were being paid well and I sure hope that’s true.’ You dash off, eager to get out from under his watchful visage.
After a moment, he follows.
--
The Mandalorian feels off-kilter. This was an unusual job from the off, but it kept getting stranger. 
An obscenely wealthy broker had approached looking to hire him to rescue a niece. Din Djarin did not do rescues. And he had said as much. But the price was something else, and the Razor Crest wasn’t getting new tilt suspension on his present takings.
He thought he would be picking up a spoiled little heiress. How she had ended up in the middle of an unsanctioned and bloody conflict, been taken prisoner, and held at an old empire sprawl, didn’t interest him enough to look into, frankly. But he was at least expecting a supplicant and willing thing that would fall to her knees and be grateful to be getting taken home. 
Instead, it’s you. 
He thinks back.
She was on her knees when the little skirmish ended. He hadn’t noticed the girl shift from the wall he’d first clocked her pushed back against, but when he dropped the third guard and spun to the head honcho, finishing him without grace, there she was. The bootlick he’d run through had tipped sideways to reveal his quarry seated against the gleaming white floor, looking up at him with a fading fear and emerging astonishment. 
It was a sight.
Quarry is not exactly the right word, he reflects. Just another thing pushing him out of alignment. What does he call her? How does he think about her?
She’d understood the nature of those cuffs of hers, where had she picked that up? And she didn’t seem to shrink at all from his taciturn demeanour.
Then that second fight with that sorry lot. He would have sworn on the sacred forge itself there had been six of them. But when the fifth body dropped and he’d reared back to take the last to a blunt-force grave, the hall was still. He found the girl tucked around the corner where he’d shoved her, curled into the wall, hands awkwardly shielding her face. He was good at reading people and the act she was putting on dropped the moment she looked at his handiwork. Then it was nothing but amusement in those eyes.
She’d scrambled to her feet and hopped over the bodies, carrying on. Din had stared hard down the hall she’d apparently cowered in, nothing but blank walls and empty air.
--
Finally, finally, your wrists are released with a soft hiss. You look in dismay at the lacerations and bruises littering your skin and pull the jumpsuit sleeves over them quickly. 
Your present company makes no indication he’s noticed, focused on the holo hovering over his arm. 
‘There is an entrance to disused tunnels in the next section over. From there, it is not far to my ship,’ he says. ‘This way.’
This time, you follow without hesitating, eager to get away from this abysmal place. 
Despite saying it wasn’t far, it is a silent, awkward walk out of there. You attempt a few turns at conversation, but each time he gives you a concise unpunctuated sentence that concludes questioning. 
You’re mulling over the long, boring journey back to your home system – the ramifications of which you staunchly push to back of mind – when your terse rescuer’s ship comes into view.
You halt in your tracks, gazing up at the lovely, old gunship. Battered, bruised and brimming with elegant age. ‘Wow…’ you say softly.
He’s taken a few steps beyond you before registering your pause and turning back. You sense puzzlement and a strangely earnest pride radiating from the armoured visage. ‘Never seen one of these before?’ he asks.
You speak before you can stop yourself, ‘Oh I have,’ you breathe, and he startles a little. ‘Just not, not out in the world like this.’ Ah, shut up now. You look over at him and can sense the feeling of being deeply scrutinised. You shake off your reverie. ‘Well, shall we?’ You march with a light step past him as best you can. 
You sense him following and, after a moment, hear light module beeping behind you as the Razor Crest opens itself for you. You temper giddiness and slow down so he can overtake to move into the hold first. You follow, looking around curiously, but keep it level before matching his path into the cockpit. 
As you enter, he reaches up into a storage bin and pulls something down before turning to you.
He hands you a small med kit.
‘For your arms,’ he says simply. Ah, so he did see. Sees everything apparently. He says no more and moves to take the pilot seat, jabbing at controls.
You think nothing for it and drop down into a rear chair, using the console beside you to start laying out the contents of the kit, eyes lighting on the salve. You snatch it up and squirt a portion to lather over your cuts and grazes. You let a long sigh escape your lips as the miracle cream does its work.
It feels incredible. You even moan a little at the sensation.
Mind clearing, able to think a bit. You continue to clean and dress your hurts, deciding to just out with it.
‘Can I ask,’ you say with as much casual air as you’re able. ‘Just who did pay you to find me?’
Your escort doesn’t turn but lifts his helmet some. ‘I believe the job is from your uncle,’ he says.
Your mouth falls open before you can stop it. He’s actually done it, you think in wonder. But why now? 
Thoughts tumble upon themselves in your head. You register that your companion hasn’t made any move to say more. 
‘So who are you?’ you ask. The broad silhouette stops his work for a moment. He seems to be considering.
‘I’m just a bounty hunter,’ he murmurs. ‘You can call me Mando.’
--
MNext
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sullimichi · 3 months
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And here's Welsh~!
Welsh is an oc from my Hxh story who is also in the Kimera Ant arc. She masters nen, she is of materialization. She often cries uncontrollably, her faculty activates when she cries, "little fairies" she can materialize little fairies that can heal, injure or track (with very precise conditions). She has turned her biggest "weakness" into her strength.
She was part of the Hunter group accompanying Kite.
She'd known him for some time, and when she learned what had happened to him, she wanted to come with Gon and Killua. She had a higher level than the other hunters in the group, so that wasn't a problem. She would face Kino in the battle to decide which group should go to NGL. As Kino had no student (like Morel or Knov), he found her talented and decided to make her his student at the end of the mission.
Her look is inspired by the Gyaru style, I've been thinking about her design since last summer, it was a real challenge, inspiration was hard to come by, I also wanted something simple to draw :,D
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joyfullyacat · 1 year
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The Beginning to the End (of you)
haha wow i've now written my first all hurt no comfort!!! and BOY ITS THE MOST I'VE EVER WRITTEN FOR ONE THING.
Inspired by this au drawing here from @just-a-drawing-bean
CW: death, violence, suicidal ideation and vaguely committing, bloodshed, it's not a good time for anyone! Word Count: 5.5k -
Never did you think you’d end up here. 
The screaming crowds you were once a part of in much better times, witnessing blood baths and massacres for sport. They now roared at you, crying for your spill into the sands. For your last echoes to be drowned out by their frenzy.
You used to be a warrior for this kingdom, a soldier - proud and decorated. Sent into battle after battle, hardly given rest, oh how you missed a soft bed.
How’d you get here?
Not many humans could keep up with the automatons that became part of societies - some were more mindless, faceless recruits with a directive and nothing more than indiscriminate slaughterers. Those in your region held personality, a mind you’d even dare to admit. 
Some had even made it to protect the royal family, eternally loyal followers with strength that would be written about for ages beyond.
But if there was a way to get money solidly - quickly, it was through fighting. Humans or otherwise. As a Human, fighting the seemingly hulking beings of metal was a good way to get a grand status.
You were once an individual who had to get money quickly. Now hopefully, that coin would go far with your family. If they weren’t shamed for your audacity at least.
Your penchant for mercy.
The gate that keeps you caged groans with its weight as chains rattle in your ears and ensnare your feet to where you stand currently. Trepidation makes you swallow thickly despite the dryness in your throat and mouth that protest.
Those above were at least kind enough to allow you the weaponry bestowed upon you from your beloved brothers in arms, your trademark tool of the trade. Authorities still had some respect for you it seemed. If a bit mockingly.
A greatsword, a hefty demanding two-hander. Forged by a legendary blacksmith - a friend… Perhaps once friend if you were to be pessimistic. The black leather wrappings creak as your knuckles tighten about the handle.
You wonder again how it was you got here as the announcer practically rips their vocal chords apart in announcing the upcoming battles.
First it was your youngest sibling, so new to this world and still holding bright eyes for what it held for them. It started with shivers - a fever… Then it was shallow breaths and rattling coughs.
Money was scrounged up by the slivers hidden beneath furniture from previous fumbles but they were saved, treated. Didn’t really have scraps after that moment.
Then your parents were the next sign. Your father getting accosted one day in the market and losing his head over it… Literally. 
As the then eldest and most abled in the household while your mother clutched at straws for a sign above in her spiralling despair, you had to do what you could for the family.
You taught your sibling everything you could that they’d be able to do so they could take care of mom.
Then you left, never looking back. You’d either make it or die trying.
In a handful of day-to-night then back again cycles, you made it from the outskirts town of everyone knowing everyone to the far more bustling city of high stone walls and an ambience that reached far beyond its border. You snuck in with nothing but the shirt on your back, dirtied slacks and worn out boots to your name with the passing crowd of traders.
You knew of automatons, sometimes they’d be in your little village for trade or a quick rest. Fleeting but memorable, there was a travelling duo that you gave directions to once. Personifications of the celestial bodies themselves it seemed - Sun and Moon respectively. 
You told them how to get to this city.
…You didn’t think you’d ever meet them again.
Rather, you didn’t think you’d run into them as you did in a hurry to get away from some suspicious characters. Ramming your face straight into a metal plate with a resounding bong of hitting against metal.
You’re holding your face in your hands with haphazard apologies as a stranger's hand graces your shoulder.
“Why - it’s you again! Our little helper. Moon, you remember them don’t you?”
The familiar voice brings you from your stunned stupor, trying to fight the ache and desire to sneeze with an ugly scrunch of your nose that brings a snicker out of the silent counterpart of the duo, Moon.
“Yeah, I remember them,” He quips quietly, moving just past you to stand behind instead, “What’re you doing out here all alone? In such a hurry…” 
You realize after gaining your bearings what he was doing. An attempt to shield you from view, make it look like you were already occupied while they played catch-up.
“Sun, Moon - good seeing you… I - stars… You didn’t have that before, did you?” The breastplate shines even in the shadowy alley between buildings, the daylight unable to pierce the tall buildings and their overhangs.
There’s a smudge where your dirtiness bonked into it.
“Oh this? Nope! Moony made it - he’s been making armor for the soldiers recently.” Sun offers transparently, not missing a beat and garnering your attention to inspect him further.
On a once-over, you see the rest of his armor - his weapons. A shield on his back, a simple scutum on his hip, the sword in a gorgeous engraved leather holder. A dagger was hidden away just beneath the belt of leather straps that fell along his legs to his knees almost.
With a single nod of approval, you look between him and Moon to see what he beared “...You look like soldiers.” 
“Because we are. I just happen to also be able to make things.” The lunar half of the duo quips dryly, “Will you answer my question now?”
“Right yeah. I was being chased - something about me being in the wrong part of the city or something?”
The two share a look over your head before looking back down to you.
“...Friend, what are you here for exactly?”
“Money and a chance to help my family.” You state curtly, looking up at Sun who looked to you with upturned brows of worry.
“All alone?”
“Just me.”
A few moments of silence pass before you’re abruptly scooped up and tossed over Moon’s shoulder.“He-Hey- now! What’s the big idea?!” You writhe, kicking your feet some like a petulant tantrum throwing toddler as your face warms up, now distinctly not because of the time of day or season.
“We’ll teach you how to fight.” Is all you’re told.
Sun trails after you and Moon with an apologetic smile.
That was the start of it all. They had been so kind to you, a stranger who offered them the most simplest of help when they needed it way back when. The brothers even offered some of their money at the time to send back to your family at first.
The beginning months were rough on your mind, even with the support of the automaton duo. They crafted you into a fine weapon of their own design it felt like now. With all the lessons instilled into you about clean deaths and graceful passings.
They taught you everything you knew. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
They were the reason you became a soldier. To serve with them. To fight for them. To ensure they would see another sunrise and set - a sentiment they shared with you. 
Sun took you in his arms, Moon took you under his metaphorical wing. They plucked you from your world and integrated you into theirs. 
The three of you were terrors on the field.
Gossips labelled you all as harbingers of the end. The murder of crows. Some used the term vultures.
Creatures that cleared the remains, picking them clean.
You only gave the proper burials that your enemies deserved - that’s if the bodies weren’t collected by their home compatriots. 
“...Moon.” You ask one night, your arms are aching from the battles today. There’s pain all throughout, you’d be bruised for the weeks following. You’re bandaged up and should be taking the chance for a much needed rest…
Yet, you’re driving a shovel into the dirt again…
Smoke is hanging heavy in the air, there’s smoldering remains of artillery from both sides. The smell the winds carry with them is acrid. 
Again…
Many faces are indistinguishable in the smears of dirt, blood, and cruel fire that doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe from the source of its creator. 
And again.
He looks over to you briefly before continuing with digging with you. “What is it, my soft soldier?”
“Why do we do this?”
“...Because no other will. They had their own lives and they gave it up for the chance of a new home. It only makes sense they should feed the grounds and trees that’ll one day tower over us. To be part of creating a new home beyond you and me.”
“I see…”
Sun heaves the fallen into the pits you dig. The thump of hitting the dirt gets replaced soon by clangs of metal on metal on metal. It echoes in your ears long after you leave.
The lifestyle had been… Grating. It tumbled you around like a stone in the ocean. One day you’ll be spat out, smoothed by the tumultuous currents that never allowed rest - or you’ll be broken upon impact when your time comes to leave the waters as you were discreetly made fragile from the cycle.
It felt like ghostly claws grasped at your ankles as you walked each day now, mementos from your battles, they’d find purchase in your scars and tear them new each night in your dreams.
The greatsword crafted just for you was enough of a symbol that people ran from it. Even though Sun loved it - he designed the weapon after all.
You loved his art. You didn’t realize what the sketch he presented you with was a blueprint - you thought he was just showing you his work like you made him promise to do.
It was when he painted for the first time, a simple messy thing with what he could afford to do in a little amount of time, you were enamoured. A splattering of colors on a fairly large shell, a flower painted within.
“My strong sword lily.” Sun called you then when you managed to get it on a leather cord and wear it around your neck. His pinky linked with yours shortly after.
“Seal it with a kiss?” You had asked jokingly, only to be made flabbergasted when he kissed the back of his hand and ushered you to do the same with his free one that wasn’t linked with yours.
The smile he wore was so bright that day, bright as his namesake and twice as warm.
The two-hander was a work of art in theory. A list of materials was scribbled in the corner - it’d shine so beautifully in the light, engravings would let it tarnish down the line to be proudly displayed on a wall. 
He wanted to call it “The Sunderer.” Pun included.
Moon got to it not even a week later and added his own touches. The pommel holding the symbol of a sun embraced by a crescent moon, things like that.
Your strength with your new blade then made it into the ballads and poems of bards. People ran from you or fawned over you in the streets. Those who contested you were out until the next morning.
Never did you strike to kill unless it was on the battlefield.
You watch as another duo enters the ring. It’s not much longer now - it shouldn’t be at least. They wouldn’t plan actual fights before your turn. Not when it was known you’d go for hours on end.
It’s a scrawny young man - practically a boy. He’s up against one of the older champions of the pit, Monty you think his name was? A hulking gladiator with claws and knuckles of sharpened spikes with a large, sweeping tail that knocked many into walls with sickening cracks. A lizard-sort of mechanical work with sharp teeth.
The boy was running him in circles.
The sun-warmed sand is scalding to your toes now.
A part of you wants to run in as the gate is open and impale yourself on your own blade. How much would that shake your once brothers and sisters in arms? The ones watching with bated breaths for your appearance. Those who looked up to you as a guardian. 
The stalwart protector you once were. 
Reduced to becoming a reddened water fountain.
It’s tempting. It shouldn’t be.
You look at your wrists and focus on the raw lines where the cuffs dug into your skin. Those would be weak spots, they’d probably start bleeding as soon as you started swinging and that was alright.
It was better than being chained to the wall like a rabid beast…
“Release me - I’ll take you on! I’ll make you a wet smear upon these stones!” Your cries and threats fall onto deaf ears as you’re taken away by guards. What have you done against your home? What did you do?
Sun and Moon look at you, shocked and frightened.
You left some of the strongest people you had ever met in your life, scared. It silences you almost immediately, reduced to no more than pitiful whines and struggles as you wished to go back in time. To get back to them.
The look of seeming disappointment on Moon’s face would forever be ingrained in the back of your mind.
You could only desperately pray to whatever gods that would be foolish enough to listen to you - that your family would still be cared for in your absence.
Insubordination - that was your crime. Apparently. It was reported you had been smuggling escapees from neighboring taken-over territories through borders instead of offing the forest of family trees. Letting the bloodlines flow freely along your blade and feeding the earth below.
Was it not enough to torch their memories? Their homes? To defile the grounds of their dead?
How were you supposed to thin the numbers when they can’t even fight back to begin with. How were you supposed to protect your kingdom from the orphaned and sick?
The needy needed someone to help them…
Even if that person was part of the cause of all their misfortune to begin with.
You were not instilled with the laws of mercilessness and cruelty.
You were given kindness, taught that very kindness and basic respect, you returned it tenfold…
And this was what you were repaid with.
Trying to fight your way to freedom - cheap, free entertainment. There’s a part that’s ready to be out there again with your weapon in hand, longing for the hum of battle in your blood. The rest of you is disgusted you ever supported this sport to begin with.
The reptilian automaton was knocked to the ground with an agonized cry but distinctly he wasn’t dead. You could see his tail twitch in various places with a jerkiness that made it seem like he was trying to regain his sense of self.
The man-boy, Gregory, you vaguely heard in the cheering, stood a foot on the chest of the champion, hands on his hips. Evidently proud of his work. It seemed he didn’t learn a very valuable lesson in the field.
Always make sure they’ve stopped moving - or breathing if they’re human.
The gladiatorial monster suddenly grabbed the new fighter by the ankle on his chest and wretched it away.
You didn’t have to look anymore.
The fervor of the crowd was enough, practically deafening in the echoey walls of the arena. They got the blood they were after - that the new blood was denying them.
Soon, you could just make out a title being announced as the victor growls out his  cheer, a foul guttery noise before dragging himself and his conquered foe out of the ring.
It feels hollow being called the Vulture of the Wastes.
Not when you knew the truth of it. Of all of it. How the people who recognized you for you saw you as an anything but an omen of disaster. Your correction stewed in your mind. 
It’d probably be your last thought. That you’d be dying fruitlessly. For futile beliefs.
Though, distractingly, you didn’t know who the Blade of Brilliance could be. The title called after your own.
It’s been some time since you were in battle and similarly just as long since you were last outside without restraint. You were only able to retain your strengths by pulling at your chains. Utilizing the bars above when they’d briefly leave you without your restraints.
It wasn’t ideal but it had to do.
You drag your sword behind you, letting it screech across the stone to announce your approach.
The people somehow seem so much louder outside of your little crevice. Maybe it’s the daylight that blinds you. Maybe they just got more excited seeing the familiar gleam of your blade.
You stand in the middle of the playing field, staring beyond to the opposing alcove.
Never did you think on such a blistering summer’s day, you’d feel so cold as a familiar silhouette breaks from the shadows. One you hadn’t seen in…
How many times did you see frost make way for flowers? For verdant greens to turn to yellows and reds?
It didn’t matter now.
None of it mattered now.
The royalty above sat in their viewing box in pillowy comfort, idly being fanned and no doubt snickering to themselves in selfish gratification for the pain they’ve inflicted this day. Onto their most loyal soldiers with differing values. 
Pitting once comrades in arms against one another.
Pitting you against a lost love.
Sun looks at you with a broken smile, the sharp stare he greeted you with, meant to intimidate became much more rounded - softening at his recognition of you. The loneliness that falls from him in waves creeps up with every step he steals towards you, the distance steadily closing.
“Oh what have they done to you…” He speaks openly once he’s just a few feet away, brandishing his sword and shield, the very same you first met him wielding.
So he was the Blade of Brilliance. 
You want to smile for him, you want to crack a joke and get him giggling in that intoxicating way that baits you into laughing along with him… But you can’t. This isn’t a matter where you’re companions on the road or wary souls seeking comfort in the night.
You are enemies fighting for freedom as a show for others.
“I’m sorry I’ve wilted over the years - what did they do to get you here?” You ask, raising your sword up in a readying stance as a wave of antsy jeers crowd around you and your opponent.
They want you to start fighting soon.
The announcer hasn’t said anything yet.
“...Moony and I put ourselves here. Hoping to be met with you one day.” He admits with a half-hearted laugh that sounds empty, “I had so many words prepared for you, genuinely I did-” “FIGHT ALREADY!” The announcer screams with finality, you both jolt from your moment with one another.
Right.
“...Like training?” You ask cheekily, the barest of smiles pulling at your lips when he seems to perk up at the suggestion.
“Like training.” He echoes and you charge at him with a swing from your side, heaving the greatsword into his shield with an audible clang of metal against metal and an ear piercing shriek as sparks go flying from the collision.
“I’m sorry I left you and Moon - is he here?” 
Another strike, you brandish your sword like a shield to block his overhead swing. 
“He is, he’s watching now no doubt. You’ll be fighting him next.”
The statement said with such totality makes your brain short circuit, taking a bash from his shield and being sent backwards with a breathless wheeze. Something definitely cracked. Sun walks over easily and if you didn’t know any better, you’d be terrified of the confidence he strides with. “Oh I should have warmed you up for that better,” He speaks casually even though he’s standing over you, sword positioned to sink into your flesh. But he’s being theatrical for the people around.
You’re both putting on a show.
So you brace for the pain, taking the sword at your chest and closing your hand around it. Thankful for the cloth wrappings they spared you with as you push at it and into him, “What do you mean I’ll be fighting Moon after this?” The cheap material absorbs the blood of the cut along your palm easily but your fingers would prove to be an annoyance.
The automaton plays the stumble well, acting surprised at your retaliation as you’re quick to re-arm yourself with a wild cleave.
Your blade slices clean through his metal side - a hit he could have avoided but he doesn’t flinch or falter, he looks at you proudly.
“I don’t plan on winning this fight, my warrior.” He explains simply, you’re able to see a twitch in the hand that’s occupied by his shield. He wants to reach out and touch you - you long to hold him the same. “Neither does he.”
“They won’t accept a forfeit.”
“The royal family will accept our deaths.”
Tears spring to your eyes, blurring your vision and falling rapidly at his content admission. He’s so calm about all of this. Sun has been placid from the start… It makes you wonder how long he’s been stewing over this with Moon. Where this was their mutual final answer to everything that had occurred.
“Your tears are appreciated - but they are wasted, you know this, don’t you?” Sun quips in an effort to get you to smile - or maybe hit him. You choose the latter as your weapon goes swinging, your heart clenches painfully in your chest. “There has to be another way - why isn’t there another way, Sun?” You utter brokenly, looking between your locked blades and him.
“Even if they accepted the forfeit. You, me, and Moon would all still be trapped.” He swings his arm so his sword is free from the lock. More shrieking metal, more sparks sent flying.
“Him and I have won many battles. They promised us freedom, we’ve long since rejected it. I don’t think they’d let us go now, not when we bring them so much… Everything, really.” Sun elaborates further, dropping his sword before reaching out and grappling you.
For a moment, you’re scared at the hand that holds your neck as you’re forced to the ground and made to unhand your only means of defense, his mechanical strength easily outdoing your current abilities but then you realize where he’s dropped his sword.
He’s giving the two of you time to speak and seeing himself up for his end.
They always were so good at thinking ahead.
Sun lovingly strokes along your jawline with his thumb despite the hold on your neck. “You made us realize that without you - life is… Tragically dull. Lifeless really. You brought so much color to our mundane existence, a meaning to the fight. Do you know fighting without purpose is practically torture? Nothing to return to - no one to keep safe…”
You kick your legs against his chest in a show of struggle but you’re still a blubbering, sobbing mess. “You - you have each other!” Your wailing is pathetic and he looks at you in sorrow.
“But we would much rather have you with us, sweet one. Even if we got out of here together - there would still come a time where you would pass and we would have to march on eternally… Do you think you could stomach that sort of existence?”
Your flailing hand that seems desperate to find something to use against your opponent finally lands on the sword.
“We have accepted our end at your hand. There would be no greater honor and besides… Maybe in the next life - you can have that garden you wanted… I can be the painter I longed to be…”
“And Moon?” “Moon would get the family he wants, little ones in tow - how we’d get them…” He looks to the side then shrugs, the smile he flashes you is so heartwarming, sickeningly sweet and unbelievably him as you knew from back then that your sobs subside to a hiccup.
You go limp in your seemingly fruitless struggles against him. “...You’re sure about this? All of it?” You don’t want to go into the philosophy of machines not having souls. They came out of nowhere, they were created somehow, surely there’d be a second chance for them… For you too.
“We’ve planned to the last detail.” He confirms, pulling away and “accidentally” kicking your fallen greatsword closer to you. “Give them what they - and we… Want.” Sun gives you a wink of all things before standing up, hands in the air and prematurely celebrating his victory.
Steadily, you reach for your greatsword, you’d leave Sun’s weapon here for the moment.
They’d probably appreciate the theatric brutality of killing a brother with his sibling’s sword.
The thought makes you ill.
You act like you’re dazed from just being strangled, briefly clutching at your throat in a hunch before you get both hands on your sword, holding it out in front of you…
And charge.
The ear splitting screech of metal grinding against metal fills the arena and it actually manages to silence the crowd as you impale the perceived victor from behind…
And twist. You respectfully lower Sun’s now lifeless body to its knees, letting him slide off your sword with an irate grinding cry at the friction before he falls to the sand in a heap, face down.
You don’t think you could stomach seeing the lights of his eyes as dark pools of nothingness.
There is a bloodcurdling thunderous cry of rage from the alcoves and you realize that Moon had just witnessed everything. 
You want to cry again. Even if it was planned - this was betrayal. It all felt like a betrayal to their trust. To everything they told you, taught you, and gave you. Now they entrusted you to throw it all away and give them their final wish.
You hold your sword over your head as if you didn’t just hear a lion be released from their cage and pretend you don’t see the glinting flashes of dual wielded blades or the blur of blue coming at you.
You get tackled to the ground with a very genuine shout of surprise however.
There’s a broken wheeze that leaves you before you can speak, your voice strained. “They really wanted to make this hard for me, huh?” You ask in a huff, finding some spirit to grin up at Moon who, in all of his animalistic snarling, looks at you with the kindest eyes you’ve seen on him yet.
“They were never one to play fair - you look terrible by the way.” He notes dryly before you’re sending him back with a smear of your blood across his face from your hand swiping wildly.
“Glad I could service you well one final time.” You utter morosely, eyeing the streaks of your fingers from one side of his face to the other. 
“So he’s told you?” 
“Every last detail. Including your wants for a family.”  
You’re beginning to feel numb - but the way he looks away, flustered, makes your heart flutter. 
“Not quite possible but… Maybe we’d get a dog or two. Something that’d fill in that gap.” He tosses the idea in his head, lowering himself to the ground and reversing the hold on his dagger while his sword faces you. 
“I thought you were a cat person?”
Moon doesn’t answer your question. “Are you ready for the flurry, brave soldier?”
You ready your greatsword, letting the shine of it reflect into the face of your opponent who squints at your nonsense. 
“Always.”
He’s swinging before you blink and you can only maneuver yourself and your weapon to fight off each blow that sends you back inch by inch, despite the way your feet are dug into the sand.
Moon does get you here and there, your blood is splattering the ground in little rose bud blooms that get lost in your movements, buried as soon as they land.
You drop your greatsword after long enough of the onslaught, trying to run away for your life - with little dignity in tact.
You’re running right to Sun’s blade that glints at you playfully in the dancing sunlight of a cloud overhead.
Moon’s chase has your adrenaline flying as whenever he’s close enough, there’s a new slice or nick somewhere in you. Your clothes are blood stained tatters at this point.
You reach down for the sword and send it soaring, unused to its lightweight compared to your usual heavier weaponry and it makes its mark… 
Right into Moon’s left eye.
The agonized bellow is very genuine but there is nothing you can do.
You inflicted this pain, agreed upon it may be but the logic did little to soothe your haywire emotions as a strangled gasp leaves you almost fumbling with the blade while you tear it out from his head.
“Please - I - Moon I’m-”
You’re interrupted when he waves a sword wielding hand in a seemingly blind swipe but it’s a signal of dismissal as he staggers back and loses that very sword in his agony. “You’re doing good…” Is all he can get out before it all continues once more.
Your swords clash against one another again, this time very much one-sided as your foe visibly struggles just keeping himself upright.
“We’ll feed these grounds in the wake of a new world, just like I told you.” He hisses out, if he could breathe, no doubt his breath would be heaving in his pain. The shake of his shoulders is indicator enough as one hand keeps the damage you did to his eye hidden from you.
Trying to comfort you, even in a time like this.
“Will we be reunited?” You ask, when you manage to accidentally knock his remaining blade free from his hand - his hand going with it.
“Time and time again, we will find each other. Just like the stars above.” 
The shorter blade you wield demands you get closer for the final blow and much like Sun, you strike it through his chest.
He falls forward prematurely though as you're driving the blade in and you can just barely feel the nuzzle of his teeth against the crown of your head. One final note of affection - public even, something he hated the most.
You finally let out the yowling pain of your heart that echoes across the arena and gets lost in the battle frenzied crowd.
“Our VICTOR!” The crier announces with hands raised to the skies above as he steps up onto the little stage that overhangs the arena. “The prisoner, the Vulture, will be let free for their abilities this day!” 
Never have words of empowerment proved to be so meaningless to you.
You don’t wait for the fanfare. You’re walking out towards the opening exit that guards await you with, taking the blades that belonged to you, Sun, and Moon all in tow.
You held onto the idea of once again seeing your companions in your time spent forcefully away from them.
You see now what they meant by a world without the dynamic duo.
Even though you’re actively bleeding and you’re pretty sure you're missing pieces of yourself like a bit of ear there or a wedge of flesh here. You deny seeing a healer.
You deny seeing the royal family.
You instead walk.
With one sword in a sheath you make from your wrappings, you hold your greatsword and Sun’s blade while clenching Moon’s dagger between your teeth. 
And you walk.
Even with the keen shriek of your greatsword on the ground that draws attention, not one person goes to you. They recognize you, they recognize your sword, they see your blood. They see the other tools you brandished unwillingly.
They know what you’ve done.
You know what you’ve done.
They never told you that you had to live a long life for them after this - just that you had to give them their final dues and earn your freedom.
There is no freedom without those two in your life, for that you can be certain.
If any were to follow your trail of blood and scratches in stones and along trees from the swords… They’d come across you.
Who put every blade into the ground, hilt up in the sky as final resting places, markers that not one soul would dare touch in fear of retaliation…
On the bank of a very… Very empty lake.
Not one bubble in sight.
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carlos-in-glasses · 9 months
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I've posted a fic on Ao3
@heartstringsduet and I decided a while ago to celebrate the hands of Tarlos in different ways - and this is the result! You can read Michelle's beautiful work here: Take My Hand, Take My Whole Life Too
🖤RELEASE THE HAND TO RELAX THE ANIMAL 🖤
(14.7k, E, complete fic uploaded)
Chapter 1: Grip
Chapter 2: Magic Touch
TK realizes exactly how sexy Carlos' hands are after he's injured at work and Carlos has to do everything for him. Inspired, Carlos conducts a little light research and decides to treat his man to a tantric massage, which causes them both to reflect on great sex they've had and how meaningful touch is to them. *** “Maybe I can give you a backrub later.” “I would like that,” TK says seriously, imagining the moment when Carlos’ backrubs escalate from medium-pressure to powerful. The way he’ll sit on TK’s ass and rock his hips as he pushes his thumbs into his scapula. The way TK will feel his own length draw back and forth against the sheets. A few nights back, it drove TK so wild that he flipped them as if he had super-strength from nowhere, and the relaxing, loving backrub became a wrestle. He ended up pinned to his front again with Carlos deep inside him, sucking an ink-black hickey into the side of his neck.
Read on Ao3
Thank you to beautiful @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut for the beta - I appreciate your time and care so much!
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last-chance-au · 5 months
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Entwined hands loomed over his stomach as he compressed a generous kiss along his bare back, eyes closed intimately.
“Good morning,” Matt purred. All strength hollowed. No life was indicated in his vocalness, albeit Tord gathered what little energy he had to traquilly lean into his lover’s touch. “Rough night?”
A nod sufficed.
...
I actually drew this more than a week ago. I was going to fix up the anatomy mistakes and then properly line it. But I think it's kinda nice as it is. :)
This was the drawing that inspired my new fanfiction, 'Cause It's A Bitter Sweet Symphony, That's Life (if the link doesn't work, you can find it underneath the username aidanix on Archive Of Our Own)! I haven't publicly posted a proper fanfiction in over a year. I've posted fanfictions for this AU in the past. They all had positive reactions. But because they were so outdated with clashing personalities and messy formatting, I made the decision to delete them all. I'm back with a fresh new coat though!
I'm bad with tagging fanfictions so don't exactly rely on that too much LOL. The summary and notes give a better understanding of what the story will be about. Just in case that isn't enough, the story focuses on Edd and Matt's awkward friendship and how they work through that friction. TordMatt is sprinkled in there too. But I wanted to take a different approach with writing. I want those to understand that this AU isn't entirely TordMatt centric. Matt does have relationships with his roommates, Edd being the most difficult to conversate with. There's deeper reasoning behind their antagonism. But I'll probably get into that another day.
TLDR: Confused on Matt's association with the gang? Read this fanfiction. No pressure though.
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frostbitebakery · 6 months
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Fic Writer 20 Questions
I got tagged by the lovely @thejediandthemandalorian thank you 💜💜💜
1.) How many works do you have on ao3
15
2.) What's your ao3 word count?
147,444 words
3.) What fandoms do you write for?
"Writing" is such a strong word. Codywan is the one that inspires me the most at the moment to the point I want to add little backstories.
4.) What are your top five fics by kudos?
I Got My Head Checked
Outtakes of IGMHC
Art for IGMHC
black
Codywan Art and Hubris
5.) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?
I try to!! When someone is kind enough to leave a reaction, I should thank them at the very least! Excuse Number 1: I get overwhelmed easily. Excuse Number 2: Especially with long or thoughtful comments, when I answer those I feel like that's the end of that interaction and I don't want that to end
6.) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
It's gotta be one of the Mood Color Panties that ended with an emotional cliffhanger...
7.) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
Uhhhhh in terms of happy ending to fic setting ratio? Probably the MCU/Snowpiercer crossover that ends somewhat like the movie wherein they discover that not everything on the outside world is dead and gone.
8.) Do you get hate on fics?
Not yet? *crosses fingers*
9.) Do you write smut? If so what kind?
I have written smut. With BDSM and lingerie. But I don't feel the smut groove anymore. Once in a while I do like to dabble in erotica when drawing though
10.) Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?
I've officially written one (1) crossover of MCU/Snowpiercer. Unofficially, I've chucked words at friends about The Covenant/Fantastic Four where Johnny Storm and Chase Collins are roommates for whatever reason and Chase is trying to close a portal to Hell and fighting off demons while Johnny is oblivious to it all until his Lucky Charms are gone.
11.) Have you ever had a fic stolen?
Not that I'm aware of. Plenty of art got stolen though.
12.) Have you ever had a fic translated?
Yus! A smutty stucky one-shot got translated into Russian
13.) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?
Does The Unlucky Ones count??? I just wanted spoopy Cody but I can't not do backstory for AUs, so my mind is churning out the lore. Then @adiduck was like, “hey, I have some ideas for TUO, how about--“ and then I buried her in the sandbox. The only bits I wrote (with Adi's blessing) are the snippets on the artworks. She is writing the fic while we both excitedly yell at each other.
14.) What's your all time favorite ship?
Just one???? All of them have a special place
15.) What's a WIP you'd like to finish, but doubt you ever will?
I don't have any fic WIPs atm
16.) What are your writing strengths?
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh quite a lot of people pointed out that my pacing is good, and some people like my humor! Thank you <3
17.) What are your writing weaknesses?
I'm too rushed. And like, a whole lot of technical stuff I don't know.
18.) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?
I like it. It can add a lot of things to the characters, plot, or setting. What I personally don't like if the words in another language are in italics.
19.) First fandom you wrote for?
Weiß Kreuz. It's in German and the forum it was posted on is long gone. There's an FMA fic on ff.net still. You won't find that one either.
20.) Favorite fic you've ever written?
I Got My Head Checked :D It started as a naive "lolol what would I want Sithywan to look like? just the once", grew to "But listen, Glimmer, it would be so funny if Sithywan is like "I need a week" as his estimation for how long he needs for Cody to spill every secret ever to him, and it ends with Sithywan just getting up in the cell like he's never been injured/tortured at all and going like "Thank you, that's all I need" like some method acting Black Widow type, but internally starting his journey of “omfg I want him carnally and emotionally””, and then it spiraled into 75k words with more catharsis for me as a person than should be possible. And a greenhouse. More IGMHC trivia!!
Oban Ouaine, Qui-Gon's Cody's Venator, is Gaelic for little green bay. I wanted a connection of Qui-Gon and his fandom plants. And I thought Oban Ouaine sounds a little bit like Obi-Wan
the original plan was that the whole Venator is like a jungle with plants everywhere. @elwenyere brought up "they have a greenhouse?" and I ran with that instead, not knowing it would turn into a central stage for hope and healing for the characters
TAG YOU'RE IT: @adiduck @elwenyere @ifonlyweknewwhatiwasdoing @meebles @merlyn-bane @wrennette @lttrsfrmlnrrgby and anyone who wants to bc this was fun!
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olath124 · 1 month
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Wednesday WIP Whenever
@wanderingaldecaldo and @ouroboros-hideout tagged me in this!
Ok, what I'm doing...
Drawings
I'm a bit delusional, so I've thrown myself into this crazy project.
A series of drawings of Kvio (yeah, that's their name now) during the years. Because the difference in age is not upsetting at all. They are "quick" drawings without background I'll be posting in the future, but here's a preview:
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(little Vio is a cutiepie, isn't she?!?)
Writing
Still writing! I had some new ideas that have given a lot of fuel to the brainrot and if before I was a little in doubt of where to go now I have ideas for a lot of new chapters! Many thanks to the Baddieghest for that... Brainstorming ideas with them really helped!
Here's a little preview, even if it's way, way ahead!
“Ok. I've got enough of him.” She hears from behind as she sees her own hand jolting forward to grab Hansen's wrist, while a worried and surprised expression appears on his face. She can feel her other hand quickly reaching for his knife as her whole body throws itself onto him. She grabs his knife but tries to fight back with all her strength, managing to deviate it enough not to hit his shoulder, but the couch’s cushion. The last thing she can feel is her own voice, but lower and twisted with anger saying: “This is Johnny, motherfucker!”
Still in its more powerful, raw, and unedited form...
But well, still going on, and very very inspired! Never thought when I started that I'd be still writing!
And yes, the temptation to make Johnny say: "Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!" Was really strong...
@blackrevell @cybervesna @dustymagpie @cyberholic77 @theviridianbunny @aggravateddurian @wanderingaldecaldo @reilleclan-blog
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20 questions for writers
tagged by @pia-writes-things - thank you! :D
(under the cut to save your dash)
How many works do you have on AO3?
64 at the moment!
2. What's your total AO3 word count?
145,151 in eleven years... same as with drawing I don't post 90% of what I do lol whoops
3. What fandoms do you write for?
currently TES has been getting the gears going the most, but ER is my perennial love - and once in a blue moon I am compelled to do something TLU! SM is still very dear to my heart but I've been pretty dry on fic inspiration/drive for it for a while now :(
4. What are your top five fics by kudos?
these are ALL OLDER PIECES haha so don't look too closely: it still burns - fluffy OPM piece for Knight c: what else can I say! too cold for you here and now - fluffy little Makoami piece (are you sensing a pattern already...) featuring terrible puns, because I have always loved characters trying to make each other laugh you do it for her (that is to say you do it for him) - another one written for Knight; OPM/SM crossover. with TWO chapters! left, left, left right left - introspective Romano piece re: arm. I actually now disagree with some character choices I made in this one so seeing it still getting attention has me like no... this doesn't represent me... Across the Western Ocean I Must Wander - Makoami pirate AU. also not a oneshot! (shock!) I don't think it holds up as well as I'd like, but the premise still compels me and there's some cute moments :'D still VIVIDLY remember being up late on a class night listening to one song on repeat while working on The Kissing Scene™
5. Do you respond to comments?
almost always! it may take me a bit sometimes, but I do try to make sure I do
6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
frankly idek - being completely honest, "angst" just as a word at this point turns me off so immediately and so hard that I can't engage with the concept that way. I prefer endings with some hope, but I like some emotional complexity too! all my baggage about fandom and "angst" is for. ANOTHER TIME
7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
again I'm not totally sure how to answer this one! I guess Ocean? doesn't get much more stereotypically happily-ever-after than "and then they ran away together the end"
8. Do you get hate on fics?
no, thankfully! I've gotten the occasional comment here and there that make me go "??" but more just sort of confusing, not malicious as far as I can tell lol
9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?
sdlkghlsj sex-repulsed asexual here and not for the first time I say: I am reasonably confident nobody wants me doing that. it can happen but offscreen to spare me the inevitable mortification... fade-to-black is about as far as we go in the House Of Mouse sorry!!
10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?
I have before! it's not my preferred stomping grounds but I like a good one. I don't know about "craziest" but wouldn't do us any harm I think is probably the funniest of the handful I've shared (again: written primarily for Knight! warning that it is from 2016 LOL)
11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?
not to my knowledge!
12. Have you ever had a fic translated?
also not to my knowledge!
13. Have you ever co-written a fic?
yes! baby Mouse ran a fic awards "show" (in the written medium obviously) with a friend back in like 2010 or 2011 on FFN... it was loads of fun!
14. What's your all-time favorite ship?
just one?? if I have to choose then: Lizzie & the Bald Boys... my little driftwood raft that I've finally convinced a handful of other people aboard c':
15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?
Makoami Princess and the Goblin AU :( still means a lot to me but SM just hasn't been where I've been drawn to write for a while!
16. What are your writing strengths?
dialogue + characterization is most often what I get compliments on (<3) - I'd like to think I have a fairly decent hand for little meaningful details too, but I think these more often than not end up just being for my own benefit because I like my symbolism subtle aha
17. What are your writing weaknesses?
LONGFORM... plugging together things into ordered chapters and maintaining momentum over longer spaces is my greatest struggle. I've had to come to terms with the fact that I'm much more a sprinter than a marathon runner, and it's been very freeing letting myself step outside of needing all the surrounding context to just do things as I come to them and then getting to string it all into chronology via series ordering
18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?
done well I find it really impressive! it's very hard to do well though ahaha.
19. First fandom you wrote for?
without the context of "fandom", the first story I ever wrote was about the Boxcar Children hanging out with me at age 6 (the entirety of chapter three was all of us singing the alphabet together and it was narratively crucial that this happen. for some reason.). with the context of knowing about fandom though, Scooby Doo at 11-12!
20. Favorite fic you've written?
of what's posted: Ocean has a lot of personal meaning because it was the first multichapter piece I was able to finish in several years, but on a technical level I've been really proud of some of the more layered pieces I've been practicing in the last year or so: Thermal Equilibrium and skipping stones I think are good examples of that :')
tagging: @knightnightwrite (I AM GOING TO GET YOU TO DO ONE OF THESE SOMEDAY <3 <3 <3), @wispstalk, @ehlnofay, @wonderofasunrise, and anyone else who wants to do it!! as always no obligation if you've been tagged and don't want to! except for Knight. beloved I am knocking on your door come PLAY WITH ME
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blackthornv · 8 months
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TWP: my arthurian headcanon pt.1
Ah yes, another ramble of mine. What a treat!
I have this vague memory of cc saying something about the inspiration for TWP a long, long time ago (my memory is also not that great btw). I'm not sure if she'll actually do it anymore but i've been thinking about this since then. So. This is what i would love to see represented in the books with the little knowledge i have of the Matter of Britain.
Warning: i will over simplify the stories. deal with it.
Ash Morgenstern, the heir of the Seelie Court (arguably turned heir of both courts): i would love to see him as a mix of Gawain and Galahad - two knights connected to the Grail, which in this scenario would be the Black Book of the Dead. Galahad is the epitome of perfection - he is blessed with purity, luck and power form the Holy Grail. He defeats his enemies with little to no effort. The "purity" in Ash is (mostly) gone, i think we can all agree on that. He's survived the horrors of the Unseelie Court, of Thule and Sebastian, of Annabelle's instability, and that cost him. But he is the most powerful mortal character cassie has written so far. No. You can argue with the wall on this, the boy can command all living creatures, can inspire fealty with only a look, his strength is antinatural and he has wings. Not just any type of wings, literal fallen angel wings. He might be able to create runes, he has immeasurable power inherited from his mother, he is the strongest character in the shadowhunter universe right now. Period. Anyway, let's continue. Galahad's perfection and unmatched abilities won him a mystical-ethereal-kind-of-holy glow that few have and on that very exclusive list is my boy, Ash. (If you are, indeed, arguing with the wall you are in a worrying state of denial and i hope you get out of it before twp comes out, xo, with love, - v)
Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur (you can already tell who i'll attribute Arthur's story to in the end, right?) who, in his arrogance, stroke a fatal blow in the Grene Knight had a year to prepare himself to receive the same blow from the Grene Knight. Bla bla bla, he had his quest after the year was up, bla bla bla, adventures in the forest, but wait a minute! he hesitated to receive the blow - an action the Grene Knight chastised him for. He survives but comes back to Camelot wearing a green sash as a token of his failure/shame. Okay, so maybe Ash hasn't gone through an arc like Gawain's but come on. He's changed. He went through hell and back with Annabelle, Sebastian, Janus, the Queen, but first and foremost: Arawan (yes, you lovely genius, i'm implying he's the Grene Knight here). A much worse version of the Grene Knight, for sure, but it works in the sense that after suffering the trials (read: tortures) that Arawan inflicted upon him, he returned home (after a long time and more tortures) victorious but somehow defeated. He doesn't trust his mother anymore, feels as though he has lost parts of himself and senses a strain in his relation with Janus. He has been enlightened, knows more of the world and of people, he has gained much - and has lost even more. The innocence is long gone, he has made mistakes and doesn't know how to acknowledge them, how to fix them.
But there is one thing, one last shred of hope glistening in the distance - the girl in the drawing, Drusilla Blackthorn.
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raeuberprinzessin · 1 year
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As I promised a while ago:
Dragons platonic ABO AU
So, I've read some platonic Omegaverse stories and damn, that shit can be so fluffy and I'm always down for some fluff 🤩 
Characters being happy and cute and everyone joining the cuddling session and I just fell in love 😂
And I also read some Dragon!AUs and I thought, why not both? Both were a different fandom and yeah, I think Maribat needs an AU with dragons and platonic ABO dynamics.
There's a lot of worldbuilding, the story idea, if you want to skip there, starts after **********
So, the different dynamics have nothing to do with reproduction, they are more like a biological manifestation (hormones etc.) of the social role they lean towards. A group of dragons in which these dynamics come into play is called a Pride (yeah, I like "a Pride of dragons", I think it has a ring to it 😁). Humans don't have a dynamic, only dragons or part-dragons do. Part-dragons are called serpent (if the mother was a human and they were born in their human form) or drake (if the mother was a dragon and they hatched).
Alphas are competitive and often trying to show off. They thrive on conflict (doesn't have to be a serious one) and competition.
Betas draw their strengths from solitude and themselves. They avoid conflicts or act as mediators, partly because their chances are the worst if they actually get caught up in a conflict, but they are also the most peace-loving dragons.
Omegas thrive on having an active social circle, the bigger the better. They draw their strength from their love for others. Usually they are calm and don't get themselves involved in arguments, but if their Pride is endangered, they can be lethal. A pissed off omega is nothing anyone would ever want to face.
Dragons are usually born as an egg and hatch after a few months. Baby dragons are called hatchlings (even serpents who are born in their human form), in their early teens they present as their dynamic and are then called dragonlings. Since dragons live a lot longer than humans they are only considered adult dragons (by other dragons) in their mid-twenties to early-thirties. Trying to seriously court before then will not be received well by a dragonling's Pride. 
If two eggs are laid in a clutch, fraternal twins end up being omega and alpha, identical twins are usually both betas.
There are no "rules" for who is in charge of a Pride, but omegas often have an easier time, since their social skills are higher.
Every dynamic goes through a hormonal cycle every few months but how they experience it differs from person to person. Some want to cuddle, some need warmth, some only eat raw meat during their cycle. But the most comfortable way to spend the cycle is usually in one's own nest with a few Pride mates close by to offer cuddles, comfort, someone to talk to or to fetch something they need. 
The laws differ between countries, but since humans haven't had the wish to fight a dragon since the middle ages and especially the older, famous Prides did their best to present dragons as harmless if not provoked (and they also had the money and influence to steer public opinion in that direction), the laws aren't too restrictive in most places. In places like Gotham, which has a very long history influenced by dragons and was co-founded by dragons, hence all the gargoyles, they are actually pretty lax. And in France for example there are several dragon protection laws in place. 
So, I think this is enough about worldbuilding. Here comes the story idea (but if you feel inspired by the world building, go ahead, have fun and tag me, so I can have fun as well 😅):
**********
The Dupain-Chengs were a young couple of bakers who barely had anything to do with dragons until one day when they were just about to close their bakery there was a woman rushing in.
She asked them to take care of the egg she held in her arms, saying that she had to fear that the egg's grandfather would cast the egg out or mistreat the little hatchling.
Since the young couple were good people and wouldn't want a baby, dragon or human, to be treated badly, they agreed and the woman gave them a big shawl made of shedded dragon skin. The old skin of the egg's mother, the woman explained. They would need the shawl to prove they didn't steal the egg.
The next day they went to the authorities and explained what happened. Usually an abandoned egg would be given to another Pride who was willing to raise another hatchling, especially the older prides were always eager to add fresh blood. But since they had the shawl, they could prove that the egg's mother had chosen them and therefore they were allowed to keep the egg, if they would comply with the statutory requirements. These included classes about parenting a hatchling, social structures between dragons, dragon biology and more like this, as well as at least one adult dragon (or serpent/drake) who was willing to support them (that's how they met Nadja, a beta who felt a bit lonely, since her Pride wasn't from Paris, and was happy to help). The requirements also said that at least after her presentation she would have to be enrolled in a school with at least 30% dragonlings.
Since the Francois-Dupont schools were highly recommended integrated schools (schools with a special focus on dragonlings and human-dragon-relationships), they sent their hatchling, they called her Marinette, there.
Marinette presented as an omega during the summer break. Her parents tried hard and did a good job, but there were still some things they couldn't teach her, so she turned to Nadja and to doing her own research. She started to babysit Manon, because it gave her another dragon in her social circle and when she went through her cycle the first time, she realized there were things her parents just couldn't understand: As an omega her need for a big social circle wasn't satisfied with her parents allowing her to sleep in their bedroom during her cycle. And they wouldn't allow her friends Nino and Kim, two dragons from her class she befriended, to stay in her nest with her. As humans they only saw it as two teenage boys sleeping in the same bed as their teenage daughter.
That's why Marinette started to do her own research, so she could better understand her instincts. This was why her teacher, Madame Bustier, a human, didn't really recognize the formerly meek and quiet girl after the break. Marinette grew and didn't accept getting pushed around anymore. Not by her teacher, with whom she had a very serious talk outside, and not by Chloe, an alpha drake. 
Since Marinette feels more comfortable in her skin (or shall I say scales?), she gets more confident and her natural leader qualities easily put her in the spot of the Pride's Head or Prima of the school's Pride. For most students the Pride of Francois Dupont is not their primary Pride (that would be their family), but since the school is meant as an integrated school there are also many students like Marinette or Chloe, who don't have a suitable primary Pride available.
One of these students is Adrien, a beta drake, who has to attend the school now, since his mother disappeared.
Adrien at first only knows Chloe and she also scares everyone else away. Chloe is his friend, but he really would like to formally be accepted into the Pride, but that can't happen, if Chloe scares everyone away and he can't even talk to his classmates.
That's the way it goes for a week until the Prima, an omega dragon he feels pretty intimidated by, snaps and drags Chloe off to an unknown location. Another beta dragon introduces himself as Nino, assures him that he doesn't have to worry about Chloe, because Marinette, the Prima, would never harm any of them and invites him to hang out.
Adrien slowly befriends his classmates after that. Chloe gives him more space and seems to keep closer to Marinette. He still feels intimidated, until she gifts him a scarf for his birthday. That's the first time he sees her self-conscious as she explains that she sewed a few of her scales from one of her shedded skins on the edges, because she read that they are needed to create an official acceptance present for a new Pride member. It's actually a tradition old established Prides follow, but since Marinette found out about it in her research, she thinks it's normal and she likes the idea, that her Pride members have something that smells like her.
Since Adrien's mother was the only dragon he had in France and the rest of his Pride lives in the UK (Amelie, Felix, maternal grandparents, his uncle before he died), Marinette as his new Prima has some legal leverage over Gabriel, who as a human is considered a less important bond. Adrien still lives with Gabriel, since he assured Marinette that he doesn't want to leave his father all alone, but Marinette put her foot down about his schedule, so he has less modeling gigs and only the extra curriculars he likes, like fencing. Adrien is still a bit intimidated, but he also adores her, because not many people are willing to butt heads with his dad and come out on top.
They are still Ladybug and Chat Noir, by the way, but since they hide being dragons when they transform it only changes the dynamic a bit, so they feel a lot more like siblings and best friends with no romantic interest.
Marinette also still attracts the attention of Jagged Stone, who is an alpha dragon and excited to hear, that his kids Juleka (alpha serpent) and Luka (omega serpent) are already friends with his new favourite designer.
Kagami and her mother are both alphas and when Kagami joins the fencing team Adrien recognizes another lonely kid when he sees one, so he asks Marinette to watch the fencing class the next time and introduces Kagami to her.
Kagami has only her mother from her Pride in Paris and since they are both alphas, she enjoys spending time with Adrien and Marinette. They have a calming effect on her and she is happier. At first her mother tries to forbid Kagami from spending time with them, she only accepts them, when Adrien and Marinette convince her to send Kagami to their school (it may have also helped that Marinette "casually" mentioned how close she is with Nadja).
Amelie and Felix end up coming to Paris, because they want to take Adrien back to London, but there they meet Marinette and Amelie, a beta dragon, is so endeared by her, she decides to stay in Paris and send Felix to the same school to get to know Marinette. Felix can't understand what his aunt, a beta dragon, like his mother, from an old Pride, saw in his uncle, a human designer with dubious talents (as Felix says).
Felix is an alpha dragonling, so it's not a surprise that he likes to show off his skills as an actor and a magician. And how smart he is, obviously. When his cycle arrives after he joined the class he butts heads with the other alphas of the school's Pride, especially Chloe, Kim, Alix and Kagami, since he's around them more.
The last addition to the class is Lila, who spends her first day lying about being an omega. It turns out there were only 3 dragons at her last boarding school and die other two were beta twins several classes above her and her classmates seemed to like her more as an omega than an alpha. Her mother is human and her father a drake, which makes her a serpent and she still can't transform into her dragon form. That's why her dragon grandparents finally relented and allowed her mother to have her with her.
Since this version of Marinette is much mote confident she doesn't let this lying grow and points to the information about Lila on file and after getting to the root of the problem, they assure her that she is just as welcome as an alpha.
Just like Chloe, Lila turns out to be a bit clingy and asks Marinette to stay with her during her cycle.
The school actually has a so called nesting room where the dragon and part-dragon students can hang out and build their nests. Human students need to be invited, which doesn't happen often, because humans don't have the instincts to nest and for most of them it's boring or childish, since it's basically hanging out in a pillow fort, sleeping and cuddling for most of the time.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean Damian Wayne (alpha dragon) has found his place in his father's Pride. He learns from his father Bruce Wayne (omega dragon, Primus of the Wayne Pride) and his siblings Richard Grayson (alpha dragon), Cassandra Cain (beta dragon), Jason Todd (omega serpent), Timothy Drake (omega dragon, but with more beta mannerisms than other omegas, because his parents needed him to be a beta like they were) and Duke Thomas (human meta) and everyone else in his extended family.
During patrol one night his mother lures him away to ask him if he is happy. When he says yes, she tells him she will do something, so his grandfather will leave him alone for good, although she couldn't say that about Ra's obsession with Tim, since that obsession might become worse.
He reports the incident and they realize that there could be only one explanation: Damian has a twin sister and his mother is going to get her, to present her to his grandfather. Since Damian knows that his grandfather is displeased by his presenting as an alpha, since an omega would have better skills as the leader of the league, and that's one of the reasons Ra's preferred Tim, he knows that his grandfather had no idea about his granddaughter. Otherwise he would already train her. This also means his mother must have made sure, she was well hidden, she might not even know herself where she was.
Of course they will move heaven and earth to find their lost little sister and protect her from the league. They just wish that stupid magical terrorist in Paris could have waited until they found her and made sure she is safe.
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heymrspatel · 1 year
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✨ artist interview ✨
i was tagged by @you-are-so-much-better-than-that @mikhailoisbaby and @deathclassic to do this artist interview that chrissy whipped up off of the popular fic writer one! thanks for the tag even if i feel like a grand ol' imposter 😅
1. Do you post on Ao3? If so, how many works do you have on AO3? If not, where do you post? i do! i didn't before, but i was bullied by tumblr into doing so after they took down the art for "cinematic" lmao! then the pals encouraged me to upload the rest! i have 4 works: cinematic, kinktober, gallacrafts, and original art.
2. What is your total art count? 83! (including the zine stickers/tattoos)
3. What are your top 5 pieces by likes/kudos? i used the helpful stats website @suzy-queued suggested!
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4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? yes! i still think it's insane when people choose to leave nice comments, so i try my best to respond!
5. What is your current fandom, and what was the first fandom you drew for? shameless, hi. if we're talking about art that i've shared, then it's also shameless. but the first one just for fun was harry potter (yeaaa yeaaa 🙄)
6. Have you ever received hate on any art? yep lol
7. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t drawn for yet but want to? i guess the true answer is none. however, i get the urge to draw every time i watch something that i end up loving. recently i've wanted to draw for young royals and stranger things, but i never ended up doing anything. i would also be too shy to post 😅
8. What’s your all-time favorite ship? i've had many, but based on impact and inspiration i'd have to go with ian and mickey 💙
9. Do you draw outside of fandom? i do!! it's my favorite hobby! the only difference is that outside of this space i usually just sketch. so it's very different than what i share here.
10. What’s the an art piece you’ve drawn that came out completely differently than you expected? oh probably this one! it changed quite a bit and was originally drawn flipped around. i think it tells a different story depending on which way you look at it!
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11. Do you draw smut? yes! the teasing kind. the "what's that hand doing?!" kind lmao
12. Have you ever had any of your art stolen or copied? not that i know of!
13. Have you ever collaborated on a piece? yea! i've collabed on art for fics with @whatwouldmickeydo and @metalheadmickey and on the zine and timeline with @you-are-so-much-better-than-that 🥰
14. What’s an idea you have that you have yet to draw? omg i have an entire list of ideas that just exist and may never come to life lol! they range from extreme fluff to absolute filth... my notes app: -kiss on the cheek/scrunchy face -mickey's head hanging off bed/mouth open/ian's hand wrapped around the nape of his neck -holding hands at the alibi alsdkfjlk
15. What are your drawing strengths? i would say adding details and tying the story i'm trying to convey together. and i like to think that i'm ok at giving them that tender and in love feel no matter the situation.
16. What are your drawing weaknesses? all of it? haha proportions and certain angles are really hard for me. hands and noses yikes! i am also terrible at drawing from memory. i usually draw with about 20 references pulled up on my laptop. like, i am the bozo googling "table". 17. What’s your favorite art piece you’ve drawn? it's gotta be the roadtrip one! but i also really really love this one:
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18. What is one thing you’d like to tell people about your art that they might not know? i love adding/repeating little details that no one would really notice unless you're zooming all the way in or seeing a few pieces as a set. i built a color palette very early on that has stayed consistent throughout. i play a lot with blues and greens as a motif. and uh i'm still learning! everyday! with every single one!
19. What inspires or motivates you to create for fandom? i genuinely love doing it! i also love a prompt, that's why i started all of this with gallacrafts. and i just really love putting them in situations i want to see them in and drawing them stupidly in love!
but, i also hoard unhinged tags in my cheeks like a chipmunk lmao every series i've done was born from people screaming a version of "YOU'RE INSANE" at me 😂
20. And finally, can you describe your process a little? Do you have a favourite place to draw? Do you play something in the background? Do you do research or just go for it? Give us a little insight. i usually draw on the couch, hunched over like a shrimp. i’m normally up really late (i see 3am too often) and that’s when i get most of my work done. i typically watch something i've seen before so that i don't have to fully pay attention or i'll listen to music. i sketch a rough draft of what i want the final piece to end up looking like, then i do a shit ton of research and pull up a stupid amount of references. i have a really creepy pinterest board full of body parts lol! then i fight for my life and rage until the line work is fully done. after that, it’s smooth sailing with coloring and shading 😌
i'm feeling a little tag shy, but i'll tag @gallawitchxx @doodlevich @y0itsbri and @grumpymickmilk if you want to play! if not i'm just giving you some flowers 💐
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