#I don't think any of the rest will be in color

[rotagnus]

love/self-growth in march !! 🫐

my usual pick a pile is here, darlings. pick just as usual--if it doesn't speak to you, don't force yourself to choose. there are messages for you that lie elsewhere.

this reading deals with both platonic, familial, and romantic love. don't expect to get a certain aspect of love or the result you want.

-1. ooouu you're a bright person. probably very creative with a tendency to get stuck within your own head. as for love in march, i think that this month will focus on a connection that already exists. maybe you've been working on self-love, and that's what's growing. for some of you, you've adopted a pet recently and that connection is going to grow stronger. if you're crushing on someone right now, there probably won't be any change except for your feelings growing stronger. my advice to you is to decenter this because if you focus completely on that, it'll be really terrible. you are so full of beauty and flame and wonder, and you should harness this energy and create beauty, not look for it elsewhere. time will bring you everything. you deserve a love which knows no bounds, and whether this person is it or not, you must first find that love within. i know a lot of you don't want to hear this, but it's the truth. i would highly suggest trying to talk to this person, though--to find out what they really are. ask deep questions if you're already on a talking basis with them, if not--try to make a friend.

-2. now baby tell me why you've given up on love. it seems to be a sour topic for you that you shy away from. you've done a lot of self-growth in the past ~6 months, and you're farther along on your self-discovery journey than either of these two piles are. for you, you try not to love. a lot of the times, you feel like you are still unseen. this month will bring change to that. i'm not sure what kind of change, i can't exactly tell, but you'll feel a bit more seen than you did before. this may be to personal circumstances, or maybe another person does something--even a simple action--and you realize that, damn, maybe i really am seen. this month will deal with opening up a little bit more to let the love flow in. lol, for pile 1, it's not really time for love, but for you it is; but you've closed all doors to any possible encounters with love. 🤣 listen, i highly suggest doing some exercises for your vulnerability. it's a great step forward, and i think that it could benefit you. if a person comes into your life, let them. but don't be scared to set boundaries and not settle for less.

-3. you have rose-colored glasses, darling. now, don't take this the wrong way. it can be a very great thing, being idealistic--you at your heart are a ruthless optimist and honestly, a little bit naive. you've been dealing with both ups and downs, this past couple of months. there's been some trouble in your family, and in your love life. you're always the one making ends meet in order to benefit mass sums of people. you're awfully responsible and confident, but you're still...you. you still need rest. i feel like most of you are women--babies, you do NOT need to be the men in the relationship, if you're a masculine woman, disregard this. but for a lot of you, you're stuck in this disbalanced masculine energy. i don't really like talking about the divine feminine and divine masculine and whatnot, but for you i feel like it's important. girl, put yourself FIRST. i promise you there's a man/woman/person out there who's gonna bring you flowers every damn day of the week, you just gotta put yourself first. start to say NO. you might meet someone new in march. someone unexpected. i know you've been taught that change is bad, but in this case, just wait a little bit. baby steps, darling. baby steps.

[landoposition]

tysm for the tag @parrishagnostictendencies !! this was vv fun!

favorite color: pink & blue

currently reading: getting started on shadow and bone to later read six of crows and finally complete the holy trinity of raven/crow books !!

last song: prey - the neighbourhood

last movie: ainda estou aqui (or: i'm still here) by walter salles w fernanda torres & selton mello. beautiful and heartbreaking everyone needs to watch this even if you're not brazilian.

last series: it's been a hot minute since i've watched any series 😭 but my boyfriend has been watching naruto whenever we're together so i get snippets from it? but in full episodes i think it was the senna series

sweet, savory or spicy: can i go all three into one thing? 😭😭 if i have to pick it's sweet!! im ADDICTED to sugar omfg

craving: a trip!! i need some rest. also new books even tho i just got a bunch of them for my birthday

tea/coffee: i don't like either of them ngl 😭 but i do drink stuff that has coffee so i guess id go coffee??

currently working: about ten different wips 😭 main one is a underground fighting/spy/street racing au and a 5+1 about cooking for a challenge! also surviving in general 😭

no pressure tags!:

@sainzvteen @ssainzlvr @cyandied-dreams @beabnormal24 @kolbalissh !!

rules: tag nine people you want to get to know better

Tagged by @indrid-hot - thanks a bunch!

Favorite Color: A nice, warm, sunny orange - but also honestly most other colors of the rainbow and then some.

Currently Reading: The Tevinter Nights Dragon Age short story collection.

Last Song: L'appuntamento - Ornella Vanoni

Last Movie: Ah, gosh. HM. I haven't watched anything that's not a TV show in a while. I semi-voluntarily caught the last fifteen minutes of Scrooged over the winter holidays I guess?

Last Series: Last series I watched any part of is, as always, "Emergency!" because I will never not be stuck in 70's paramedic hell. If we're talking new-to-me shows, a friend's making me watch Grey's Anatomy (early seasons) once a week, probably because observing my growing despair about the characters' poor life choices is fun. I don't even normally watch medical shows, and yet here we are lol

Sweet, Savoury, Spicy: Savory if I had to pick

Craving: Some good spaghetti with olive oil and obscene amounts of lightly toasted garlic.

Tea/Coffee: Yes please, lol

Currently working on: OH BOY WHAT A QUESTION.

Spinning: Gotland on my spindles (4-ply, one single per spindle, for funsies - except I accidentally mixed up which bits of fiber go with which single on which spindle, so that'll be fun to sort out...), 7oz/200g of red Merino on the wheel (for a crochet hat, followed by 9.5 oz of red and black Merino for a woven scarf). But also 24.5oz/700g of grey Merino. And cotton on the supported spindle. And I've got some laceweight viscose on the mini turkish spindle that I should really work on...

Crocheting: Half a dozen things, including a lacy collar that needs buttons and blocking, a gigantic star-shaped wrap-around shawl, an incredibly boring granny square top for my little sister, and too many others to count.

Art: The Emergency! tarot as the eternal never-ending WIP; I also have some Dragon Age Veilguard related plans revolving around the Grand Necropolis and irl Catacomb Saints and I'd love to get some DA-style tarot cards done for all my player characters.

Writing: I still have a couple unfinished fanfics that need another chapter, as well as two deeply self-indulgent OC/Emergency! crossovers that friends are making me write, and I also have some Dragon Age stuff in the works - though if anyone will ever see that is another question entirely.

Music: Practicing various stuff for LARP; also slowly chipping away at Hozier's Work Song because my partner asked nicely.

With no pressure, I will tag: @geminyde, @caseyscraftycorner, @swords-n-spindles, @alpacazappa, @rosesonneptune, @rose-of-pollux, @zooarchaeologyatdinner, @kalikatze aaaaand I can't decide on a 9th person to tag so whoever wants to do this: You're It!

[causenessus]

foggy days . . . | chuuya + dazai

chuuya x gn!reader + dazai x gn!reader (seperate scenarios!)

"...god loves you, but not enough to save you. so good luck taking care of yourself." (sun bleached flies / ethel cain)

↑ you don’t have to take care of yourself alone. people come into your life and you enter those of others' so that everyone helps take care of each other. to be human is to love more than god can. more than god ever intended. - ness <3

3.2k words

notes: my og title was super long for this work so i’ve split it up into three parts each with their own song lyrics bc i’m in my yearning era. hopefully everything makes sense :> there is no longer any continuity between the formats of any of my posts and idrc. a little suggestive in chuuya's, a little bit of tongue action, once again i'm a whore for manga-chuuya so don't be offput by his eyes being described as brown LMAO. lots and lots of comfort, basically scenarios of chuuya/dazai + you on a foggy day,,, enjoy <3

thank you to @osamucide for helping me w/ dazai's choice of song <3 this ones for u <3 smooching u <3 ily <3 my life is dedicated to u <3 what a coincidence the lyrics you associated him linked directly back to the ending line i wrote for his scenario before i had even asked you for suggestions <3 we're just soulmates like that <3 mwah <3

. . . kisses on the tip of your nose (chuuya)

“hey, do you wanna see the west with me? ‘cause love’s out there and i can’t let it be." "...love’s never meant that much to me, but i’ll come with you if you’re sure it’s what you need.” (thoroughfare  / ethel cain)

on foggy days, chuuya finds you on a bench underneath the warm flood of light from a lamp post above. air is transparent; it has no color, the phenomenon behind fog is simply that the air has become denser, increasing its visibility while lowering the sight lines of others. yet the humid air eagerly reflects and intensifies any color that shines through it, which allows for the sight in front of him now: like a flickering candle in the middle of a dark room, the throw of the single beacon of light on what must be yokohama’s foggiest day frames and spills atop the crown of your head, making you look more angelic than you already always do. if he had a camera on him, maybe he’d try to take a picture, assuming that the fog wouldn't harbor the clarity of the lens.

you think he looks cute, standing there lost in his own thoughts for a moment, hands stuffed into the pockets of a coat lined with that prickly, stiff, woolen fabric no one like but, regardless, cannot complain about because it keeps them warm. he’s finally abandoned his normal attire for something that's still classy, of course, but more appropriate for the weather.

a scarf is tied around his neck, the way you taught him to so that he wouldn't complain about how itchy or tight it felt, and he’s buried the lower half of his face deep inside the warm fabric, trying to keep his nose from freezing off.

you want to hold his face between your hands, nuzzle the tip of your nose against him, kiss the tip of his nose, then maybe the bridge of it, then the space between his brows, then over each of his eyes, then his cheeks, and then finally, his warm, warm lips.

but you'll do that after he stops scowling at you, shoulders hunched up to try and shield his ears from the nipping cold as best as he can.

he's also, of course, wearing that hat of his. you almost tell him to go back inside in case the moisture of the humid air affects the worn leather it's made of.

but he's braved the cold and stepped out of the house to find you, and you know it's useless to try to suggest the idea to him unless you're following him back in.

"what're ya doing out here in this weather?" he's not scolding you or upset with you, just utterly confused. he steps closer, removing his gloved hands from his pockets to pick up your bare hands that you had resting in your lap, holding them between his warm ones. "shit, i can feel how cold you are through my gloves, doll. you okay?" even if he happened to be irked by something you did, he could never stay mad at you for very long before he was overwhelmed with how much he loved you. now his eyes are warm and soft, focused on your own, brows laced with concern and the scowl gone from his face.

this is where you kiss him all over his face.

and that's exactly what you do, humming a small "yes" to his question before escaping the grip of his hands, locking your arms around his neck and using all the strength you have to pull him on top of the bench you're on.

it's harder than you expect, although maybe that's on you for thinking it'd be easy. he's an executive of the port mafia and most certainly their strongest; no matter how much he typically lets his guard down around you, it's only natural that he tenses up at your sudden attack.

but it's an attack of kisses, to his surprise, and he exclaims as he comes toppling onto you, your back hitting the spindly worn wood of the bench below you. his legs are tangled with your own, and he's placed his arms on either side of you on the bench to support himself, but you don't let him move another inch away from you, running your hands (warming by the second thanks to all the heat your stealing from him) up his neck to caress the side of his cheeks, pulling him close.

whatever he's been chiding you about now dies in his throat when you pull him close. when only your noses touch, and you look into his pretty brown eyes with those flecks of amber and blue, the prettiest eyes you've ever seen, his breath is warm against your lips, his own curling into smile as he huffs. "don't tease me now, sweetheart," whatever consequence he was going to threaten you with falls silent again when you ignore the jeer, shifting his face down slightly so that the tip of his nose meets your lips, and then you're kissing him all over, small murmurs of "i love you"s whispered between every other kiss. his eyes are squeezed shut, cheeks warming by the second despite your freezing hands, unable to keep himself from getting flushed from your overwhelming amount of love he swears he’ll never get used to.

he’ll always get worked up just from the sight of you, overcome with his uncontrollable amount of desire to kiss you and hold you in his arms, and he’ll never be able to stop his eyes from always tearing up the slightest bit along with the stir of his heart in his chest every time you tell him you love him. he'll never get used to your love, he swears, but he doesn't want to.

when you finally place your lips to his, he hums in pleasant surprise, pressing against your lips with just as much fevor, shifting one of his arms to rest himself on his forearm so that he can run his fingers through your hair.

the fog and cold weather pricking your skin through your layers of clothes fade away when you feel his tongue swipe against your lips, asking to be let in. and when you part your lips and his warmth pulls you inexplicably closer, you don't think even the coldest of temperatures could freeze you to death.

not when you're with him, virtually and inexplicably the sun of your life. melting away any ice in your heart and mind with the warmth that comes from the brightest star that's always giving to others; all in the form of the single man who's in your arms right now.

the slight push of his knee against your legs, nudging them farther apart as he finally parts from you, leaving your mouth empty once again, your chest heaving while he takes to trailing burning kisses down your neck, acting completely unaffected, has you running your hands through his strawberry blonde hair, tugging him ever so gently up so that your faces are mere inches apart again.

"chuuya, we're in public," you rasp, and it seems it's your turn to scold him.

"are we now?" he's only grinning at you, fingers grazing the side of your cheek as he brushes a strand of your hair away from your face. "should've thought about that before ya kissed me like that, then. since we’re 'in public.'" he mocks your words and you can't exactly argue back. you’re racking your head for a comeback but he doesn't give you the time to reply before going on, "there's not even anyone around. that's why you came out here anyway, is it not?"

he knows you too well, and all you can do is give a small smile back, bringing a hand up to caress the side of his face. he leans into your touch letting your warming hands mold to the shape of his heated cheek. 

"it is," you murmur, feeling the need to explain yourself as if he doesn't already know you. but you keep talking anyway, and he doesn't stop you. he likes hearing you talk. "i just recently started to like this weather, around the same time i met you. i like how this weather makes everyone disappear. i like how I can't even see two feet in front of me, i think it's beautiful in its own way— like i’m stepping into the unknown, but i'm not scared. and maybe that’s because i know you’ll find me in it no matter what. you’ll be with me, and i’ll be with you. i like being with you. the only reason i left this morning was just to enjoy the silence... but i'm ready to go back in."

his face is nestled back into the crook of your neck, placing light butterfly kisses over your pulsating temple ever so often as he listens to you speak, feels the rumble of your voice through your throat with how closely he's pressed to your skin.

"we can stay out here, i don't mind. i like that it makes everyone go away, too. everyone but you. i like coming out here to find only you; the only one i want to see, anyway," he whispers back, letting his lips place a longer, more firm kiss than before on your neck, sending shivers down your skin. "wherever you want to go, baby. like you said, i'll always be right behind you. no matter how heavy the fog, i swear i’ll find you." 

. 

. 

. 

♡

. . . and muddied knees. (dazai)

“...don’t wait too long. i don’t want you to get tired of me. am i just that damn hard to love?” (golden age / ethel cain)

sleeping with dazai is always an experience.

every night, you both cuddle under the same futon and yet his hands and feet are ungodly freezing. he whines and blames it on poor blood circulation (but not because of his bandages! they aren't that tight, he made sure to add the first night you shared a blanket and fell asleep in each other's arms) leaving the responsibility to fall into your hands–or, more realistically—you’re the lucky one whose been chosen to be his personal heater, cold hands sneaking up your shirt to rest on your navel, his long legs coming to tangle with yours.

usually, he warms up after getting to hold you so closely, and that's why waking up to a cold spot beside you is all the more shocking.

a little bit of light is spilling in from the nearby curtain of his dorm and you're willing yourself to slip out from underneath the warmth of the futon, in search of something–someone more important than the heat. you shiver as you look outside, trying to assess what time it is.

the sky is a light hazy gray, there's no sun in sight, and the trees and ground are darker than usual, soaking wet with the drizzle of rain that had pattered down on the roof above the two of you last night as you fell asleep.

there had been two beating hearts underneath that futon when you closed your eyes.

but when you opened them, you could only hear the pulse of your own life in your ears. and after a little bit of tip-toeing around his small dorm, you were fairly sure it seemed that he wasn't hiding anywhere in the dorm, either.

slipping on the nearest pair of shoes you can find, wrapping one of dazai's heavier jackets tightly around you, you brace the nipping cold as you open the door of his dorm, peeking your head out.

he’s not out taking in the view of the ground below him, leaning dangerously far over that old, worn, metal railing of the dorm’s building as you sometimes find him doing, so you start your usual trail of places you're bound to find him. it's not surprising that he's wandered off alone, lost in his thoughts. in fact, it's at least a weekly occurrence and by this point maybe anyone else would have gotten used to his sudden disappearances, knowing he was bound to show up back on the doorstep at some point, but you cann't help chasing out after him. you don’t want him to be alone, you don’t want there to be a time that comes where he never returns, and maybe it’s all because you weren’t there with him when he needed you.

you’re his partner; the one he wraps his arms around when he finally, after an entire day being the strong one, relaxes and just becomes osamu again. your osamu. you're the one osamu lets undress him sometimes, let's kiss over his skin, and help him wrap his bandages if he needs. if they exist, you're fairly certain osamu's your soulmate. and if they don't exist, he's surely the closest he can be to one. and maybe he doesn’t see you the same way back, but how could you not go out looking for your soulmate, the one you love, every time he wanders off alone? is always being by your boyfriend's side not what it means to love him? how could your heart not be eating away at you, knowing how far apart your other half, crying out to you to find him?

there’s no need to justify why you’re wandering through the humid mist of the early morning. if dazai asked why you always came after him, you’re not sure you could say all of that to his face. all you could probably say is, “because i love you.” and that’s what it all really boils down to in the end, isn't it? doesn't everything you do for him stem from a place of insatiable love? one that you’re not sure he’s always ready to accept, but one you are always willing to give him more of whenever his mind allows himself to let you love him as you want to. fully.

he's not near the bridge he's often teetering off the edge of and sometimes falling into. he's not found on the boardwalks of yokohama either. the shore is especially ghostly today, absent of any people, and the heavy fog that lays over the rippling blue water doesn't help with the eerie atmosphere.

but you find him at the third spot, which on a day like this, you felt was where you would find him from the start, anyway. 

you climb up the concrete steps quietly, seeing that familiar head of tousled brown hair leaning against a headstone. the engraving of a name that's been etched into it, the grooves aged and soiled with time, faces towards you.

you bow, placing your hands together and paying your respects as always to osamu's friend. the one you’ve never met, but by this point perhaps know just as well as osamu with all the stories he's fondly spoken of, lulling you to sleep on countless nights. after a moment of silence, you pass by the gravestone to join osamu on the dewy grass.

"[y/n]," he says your name, lolling his head against the curve of the top of the gravestone to look towards you.

his eyes are bright and wide, and you almost go as far to say he seems especially energetic today, but you know that no amount of light in his eyes can promise that he's doing well.

your eyes flick down to his hands, bandages just barely peeking out of the beige coat he's wearing, and you kneel next to him, not minding the way the soil sinks against your knees when you do, slightly leaning over him as you take his hands into your own.

"are you not cold? it's freezing out here and you're not even wearing an extra jacket. i should have brought a scarf or something—" you're half speaking to yourself, half speaking to him, and he only continues to watch you as if in admiration of something, which you come to understand with his next words.

"don't you ever get tired of warming me up? do you get tired of having to come find me? are you tried of getting your hands dirty because of me?" his words are gentle, still spoken lightly as if he’s simply telling you about the exciting day he’s had, not asking you questions that have you pausing for a second. in this moment, his tone only speaks volumes to you about how much of his true feelings he's hiding, but none of that works on you anymore.

"no, osamu," you look up at him from where you've been focused on his hands, clamped between your own as you try your best to give him everything you have, willing the warmth of your hands to transfer to him. it's not exactly how science works, but you'd bare the cold for him, freeze your very hands off and give him all of your warmth down to your beating heart if it meant he was warm and well taken care of.

"i'm never tired of you, or anything you do. i'll never get tired of you. i'm happy i get to warm up your hands every night. i'm happy i'm the one that gets to do that and wander around looking for you. you make me so happy, osamu, i don't care about these clothes, or how dirty i get, as long as i get to be by your side. as long as i get to be the one to hold your hands tonight." the curved smile he greeted you with is slowly dropping by the second, but that doesn't mean your words are upsetting him. it's the opposite; his facade is slowly peeling away. "do you see, osamu? you make me so happy. i'll dress warmly and take care of myself just to make sure that i'm always able to warm your hands because i love you. all i hope is that i can make you happy, too."

one of his hands, now slightly warmer, reaches up to slide against the side of your face, brushing the upper ridges of your cheekbone with a thumb. "you do make me happy, angel. sometimes i just have to get out, like my love for you is too much. i don't deserve so much happiness, so i have to return to places that once depressed me in order to force everything to settle down. i don't want to overwhelm you with how i feel, whether that be an emotion good or bad."

"don't hold yourself back or water yourself down for me, osamu. i want to love you through the good and the bad. i want to be there for all of it. i want to warm you up every night, not just on the ones where you feel deserving of it. you're always deserving of love, in my eyes. i don't want just the good parts of you, i want all of you. and if you still have to wander out and return to old places, then i'll come along with you, if you'll let me. i'll keep you warm wherever you go. i love you."

he lets out a breath that sounds like he's been holding it in for hours before he's smiling softly. it's genuine this time when his lips turn upward while he's pulling you onto his lap, your muddied knees straddling his own. "i love you, pretty. i'll do my best to keep you warm, too. with happiness, love, and whatever else you need. i hope you never get tired of me. because i will surely never tire of you." 

.

.

. 

♡

[t1ts-4-donaldson]

can we please get valentines day thoughts for alien art??? and pirate art, if possible?

Valentines day with Alien Art and Pirate Art:

this was so rushed I was trying to get it out on time :(

cutie was introduced to it at the end of January when all the decorations and chocolates began to be stocked up on shelves in stores.

"what's that mean?" He asks tugging on your shirt sleeve "Valentine's Day"

Art’s beyond puzzled, what's with the hearts? The teddy bears? His confused expression was adorable.

"You celebrate it with people you love, it's popular between couples but friends and family get involved too" you explain, picking up a bag of candy hearts 'I love you's and kiss me’ printed on the tiny colorful sweets. The more you both strolled down the aisles the more Art notices the longing in your eyes. Watching boyfriends pick out flowers, girlfriends rummaging through cards and chocolates.

"Can I please have the sugar cookies?" Of course you'd give in, pecking a kiss on his cheek before snagging a few of his favorite flavors. Art takes that time to veil his actions emitting invisible waves and stuffing items in his pockets, anything he deems perfect for you. Hershey kisses, a stuffed bunny, roses almost filling his tote bag to the brim.

That night he placed everything he bought on the dining room table attempting to create the perfect layout. Stacking up snacks with stuffed toys and topping it all off with a sloppily homemade card.

That morning he woke up to gasp, sprinting out of his room and meeting you eyes full of unshed tears as you read his card, barely legible words jumbled messily across the paper, the entire thing covered in lipstick marks Art's obvious doing and a little drawing of the both of you kissing each other on the back.

"Art-" you'd choke out, “sorry!” concern lacing his features sprinting towards your shaking frame not meaning to upset you. 

"No these are good tears" you reassure him, holding both his hands

 "No one's ever done this for me.. thank you" you murmur softly.

"no big deal" he shrugs a prink blush on his cheeks, you stare down at his lips glancing back up at his eyes and press a gentle kiss on his mouth fleeting but full of love.

"second kiss" Art whispered completely enamored, his fingers lifting up caressing his mouth. He leans mouth awkwardly slotting against yours his eyes shut tight cupping your cheeks

“calm down baby" you giggle.

Valentines day with Pirate Art:

Art had been a nervous wreck thinking about Valentine's day, he was a romantic at heart, having had a few flings in the past with women and men that won his heart briefly but nothing compared to his feelings towards you. The longing had gotten worse; he'd begun neglecting his duties, rightfully pissing off the rest of his crew. Patrick tried to reign him in when rumors of mutiny began floating across the ship and small village.

"snap out of it" Patrick urged "or at least fake paying attention while you work" but Art barely paid any mind to his pleas

 Patrick’s frustrations built up day by day the more aloof Art became. “Listen man, the rest of the crew want you gone. You need to stop with the fantasies, it’s not healthy.” Patrick shook Art’s shoulders trying to get his point across.

“they wouldn’t..” he shook his head confused, frankly hurt by the notion that his friends would betray him like that just because they don’t understand, but Art began to notice the sneers and jabs as time passed by, Patrick was right. 

"You'll be fine I don't want anything to happen to you is all" Patrick sighed consoling him. Of course he refused to listen.

the perfect idea popped up in his mind, a matching token like you'd given him a month back. He sold some of his belongings for an authentic finery, a necklace made for you. It might be selfish, his inflated ego getting the best of him but he adored the idea of you owning a piece of him something you could carry around proof that he was yours and you were his. 

He badgered Patrick for help weeks before the special day knowing the man had some experience in metal work. “Who's this for?” He asked carving the delicate ornament

"just a girl.." Art hummed attempting to sound nonchalant 

"Is it the mystery woman you've been hiding from me? a lover you secretly run to at odd hours of the day." Art blushes as he snickers refusing to answer for patrick’s chidings

“you’re making me a little jealous, Donaldson” he smirks, blowing off powdery residue “it’s done” wipes his hands on his pants handing over the jewelry. “Thank you” Art beams hugging Patrick tight.

Art added a few more items, roses of course with local coastal blooms bunches of sea holly and primrose, also managed to steal a book 'Romeo and Juliet' his hand flipped through the pages a sad smiled made its way across his face, a couple at odds with the circumstances they were forced to face sadly too familiar with the story himself.

All he hoped for was that these novelties were enough to make you happy.

—-

“Hello” you swim closer “I’ve missed you” you whisper clasping his hand bringing it up to your cheek craving his warmth for what felt like years  “oh baby” He grasps your palm bringing it up to his mouth kissing it gently trying to commit this moment to memory.

You perk up when something slides down beside him. “What is it?” You laugh wondering what he’s hiding behind his back as it falls into view. “It’s a gift, there is this celebration.. it’s for lovers” he grins gaze latched onto yours

Eyes widen “lovers?” You echo did he love you?

“Lovers as in anyone.. between family and friends as well” he stammers backpedaling not ready to admit his feelings.

“Oh..” you swim back dejectedly, it was a fruitless endeavor. Art doesn’t feel the same way. He lunges forward the moment he glimpses the distress in your eyes, “wait!” he lunges forward “the point is I care about you deeply.”

He can’t say it not now, the thought of confessing making him queasy. “Just here” He finally pulls the items from hiding. 

“it’s all beautiful” you awe taking the treasures from his grasp, smelling the flowers and holding the book in your hands ‘romeo and juli-’ you whisper attempting to pronounce the foreign words, “Juliet” he caresses your cheek “the both of us..” he smiles sadly.

 “One last thing” he hands the last offering nervously waiting for your reaction, “Art.. it’s perfect” you thread the necklace through your fingers “we match” he grins pinching your cheek.

You admire the gold chain with a medallion in the center both your initials ingrained in the center. “Thank you, my valentine.” you giggle pulling him into the frigid waters by his collar

 “fuck!” He yelps as he falls in, wrapping his arms around your waist sealing the rest of his curses with a kiss.

[sorryitsmyfirstdayonearth]

But at night I'd have these wonderful dreams (Dean x female reader)

Dean tells you about his retirement plan: "a beach somewhere, toes in the sand. Couple of little umbrella drinks, Hawaiian shirts, obviously."

Find it on AO3

Rated T. 948 words. Dean x female reader. Fluff. Dean being a dork. Retirement. Beach holidays. Bikinis. Cuddling. Flirting. Cheeseburgers (it'll make sense, promise).

Dean Winchester puts his arm around you as you’re lying in bed, and he tells you about his retirement plan.

“So we’re on the beach, right, and you’re wearing a bikini.”

So far, you like this plan.

“It’s a tiny bikini,” Dean clarifies, like you weren’t imagining that already.

“I mean I’m talking skimpy. Like there’s barely any fabric on that thing. Lots of strappy stuff but the fabric, I mean, you couldn’t dress a rat in the amount of fabric this thing has.”

“What a sexy image,” you chuckle.

Dean isn’t deterred.

“And it’s see-through, or lacy or whatever, so it’s really, like, even the fabric that is there isn’t doing much--“

You poke him in the ribs and he twitches.

“I think I got the idea,” you say. “Tell me about the drinks.”

“Oooh, the drinks,” he says and thinks for a second. “They come in those weird looking belly-glasses. No, no, they come in coconuts. Umbrellas, like I said, and a stripey straw.”

You make a face. “I don’t really like coconut.”

He turns his head, frowns. “You don’t?”

��No,” you say. “The taste is fine but something about the texture…”

He thinks again, summoning all of his exotic beach holiday knowledge. “Pineapple then?”

You pretend to think about it but the truth is you would drink ocean water for even five seconds of what Dean is describing.

“I guess pineapple’s fine. But, you know, about that bikini-“  

Dean grins, glad the conversation is going back in that direction.

“Skimpy,” he repeats.

“Yeah, yeah,” you say and roll your eyes. “You know I’m gonna have sand everywhere, right?”

“Oh yeah?” Dean says, and his tone sounds flirty. He nudges you with his nose.

“Not sexy, Dean,” you reply. “Have you ever worn a thong at the beach?”

He pulls you a little closer, does the nose thing again.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that,” he whispers, and it shouldn’t do the things it does to you.

You clear your throat, continuing your act that none of this is affecting you at all.

“And you, Sam and Cas are wearing Hawaiian shirts?” you clarify.

He goes mmh-hmm.

“Color-coded, of course,” you clarify further.

Dean pouts in thought, and it takes everything in you to not grab his face and turn it toward you, kiss him til you’re breathless.

“Sure, we can do color-coded,” he says finally.

“Cause I really like you in blue,” you tell him, your hand that is resting on his chest doing little circles. “You don’t wear it enough.”

“Thanks, babe,” he says.

You’re both quiet for a while. 

"Can't really see Cas wearing a Hawaiian shirt," you say, looking up at Dean.

He nods. "I was thinking the exact same thing just now."

"Maybe a Hawaiian trenchcoat? Is that a thing?" you suggest.

Dean makes a face.

"If it is, it shouldn't be."

You lay your head back on his chest.

"And would you take a machete with you and get us fruit that we eat off a big palm leaf?" you ask, hoping he'll tell you more.

"No machete," he says. "No weapons. It's a no-weapons-allowed-kinda-beach."

"Ah, one of those," you nod.

"Besides," he adds after a second, lifting his head a little to look at you. "You just said you don't like coconut."

"There's other fruit in the wild, Dean," you tell him, like duh.

"Nah," he says, drops his head again. "Sounds like too much work. We're here to relax, remember?"

"Ah," you say. "Of course. Silly me. But then what will we eat, Dean?"

He thinks for a while.

"Well, I couldn't just eat plants," he says. "That's a Sam thing. I need more sustenance."

He grins suddenly, then adds: "I've tried to amend by carnivorous habits."

You frown. "When?"  

He puts his hand over yours on his chest, does a little tapping thing with his fingers.

"But I needed some kind of sensuous treat," he says, not answering your question.

"Dean, are you losing your mind?" you ask. "Is this it?"

His arm that's around you goes down to your butt. 

"Like a big warm bun," he says.

You move up on your elbow and look at him, and he has the most shit-eating grin you have ever seen on him on his face, and that's saying something.

"Dean, are you quoting Jimmy Buffet!?"

And then he belts: "Cheeseburgers in paradise!"

"Oh my god," you drop your head back on his chest but you can't help but laugh.

He keeps singing, a little softer, a little off-key, and you are shocked at how well he knows the lyrics.

You join in on the second chorus but you don't know the lyrics as well so you're mostly mumbling, but it's enough to make Dean pull you closer.

"That's so stupid," you say when the song is done, but you're still grinning.

"You love it," he replies.

He's stroking your arm gently, lulling you in.

"And when the sun goes down," he says, softly, "we're lying in the sand just like this. It's still hot but there's a cool breeze, but don't worry, cause I'm gonna keep you warm. And we can hear the ocean and it's pretty goddamn magical."

How could you every worry about anything with him around?

"Only the ocean?" you ask. "No more Jimmy?"

His chest vibrates with his chuckle. "I got a rendition of Margaritaville that'll blow your mind."

"You're on, Winchester," you say, but your own voice sounds farther away and your eyes have closed.

Dean pats your hair, moves so he can plant a kiss on the top of your head.

"It'll be so good," he says and then you're asleep.

[flawseer]

Hey Flawseer, love your art. I wanted to ask if you have any headcanons for some of the supporting characters who aren't really tied to the school, like Chameleon, Icicle, Hailstorm, etc.

Headcanons for specifically those characters? Hm...

This isn't really a headcanon, more of a "this is implied but not outright stated" kind of thing, but Chameleon's childhood was the stuff of nightmares. He hatched with a physical deformity that prevented him from sleeping more than an hour at a time. Think about what that would be like, to never be able to rest, to be tired and exhausted every day.

Child Chameleon is also an interesting window into the darker aspects of Rainwing society. The books often portray their society as idyllic, something pure and optimistic, something to aspire to. But then they had this kid who was suffering in his body, who didn't develop the expected Rainwing traits properly, and they shunned him. Even sweet, lovable, couldn't-hurt-anyone Jambu calls him weird and off-putting for not being able to change colors. We don't know why Chameleon ended up exiled; maybe it was a malicious act or maybe Chameleon lashed out and had to be removed for being dangerous. But it definitely makes you wonder if there are any other skeletons in the Rainwings' closet.

None of this excuses any of the stunts he pulled later as an adult, especially not the emotional manipulation of his daughter. But thinking about his crappy childhood may help you understand how he ended up the way he did. I hope he can find some help.

Here's a picture of him I drew once. He probably has an official design by now, I don't know.

As for headcanons about Chameleon... I think he eats meat. His biology isn't really wired for it, so it tastes absolutely disgusting to him. But he does it anyway, because while he hates the taste of meat so much, he hates the idea of being a Rainwing several times more. So he puts up with it because he knows it is the least Rainwing-like thing you can do. In a strange way, it helps him cope.

For Icicle, I think it is interesting to note that we technically never see her under normal circumstances. She appears in Jade Mountain in book 6 and certainly leaves an impression, but it's easy to forget that everything she does, she does with the awareness that Scarlet currently has a proverbial knife to her brother's throat. Thus, we never get to see what present day Icicle is like when she is able to relax.

Headcanons... The books aren't clear on how or when Scarlet made first contact with her. It could have been in school, as Moonwatcher overhears. Personally, I think Scarlet actually contacted Icicle months prior to the school opening, and instructed Icicle to insert herself as a sleeper agent. I have trouble believing that immaculate Icicle would WANT to be cooped up underground in a dirty cave with a bunch of strangers several miles from home. I think Scarlet made her do it, and she then begged Queen Glacier to send her there, knowing full well she was gonna hate it. Winter then overheard her begging and begged to come along too.

This lends weight to the scene where Icicle finally breaks down in front of Winter. The part where she's her authentic self for the first time, crying and begging Winter not to let her fall asleep so the woman who has been tormenting her inside her own head for months can't tell her that she failed and that her brother is dead.

In the end, her brother is alive. But in trying to get him free, Icicle ruined her own life.

This one might be controversial, I don't know. While I do think Icicle served in the war, and she did definitely kill Mudwings while doing so, I don't think Icicle is the one who killed Crane. Sora insists it was her, but Umber and Marsh do not recognize her, and Mudwing siblings usually fight together, so they would have both been present during her death too.

I think the story becomes more meaningful if the trauma of war just ruined Sora to such an extent that she sees her sister's killer in every somewhat outspoken female Icewing. Then she ran into the library and confirmation-biased herself into believing her hunch by reading unverified essays on Icewing genetics. You know, the same library whose references on Mudwing physiology consist entirely of The Slug-like Qualities of the Mudwings. If Wisemind penned an examination of Icewing physiology too, one can probably imagine how reliable that one would be.

This kind of turns Sora and Icicle into tragic parallels. They are both children born into a war that took their innocence from them, and in the end it ruined them both.

For Hailstorm, I believe after the battle of Jade Mountain ended and Winter got banished, Hailstorm went back to the Ice Kingdom and lived with his mother Tundra for a while. Tundra took the death of her mate very badly and became embittered. She blamed everything bad that happened to their family on Winter, insisted that Winter caused the family to rot. Winter killed the Queen, Winter killed Narwhal, Winter, Winter, Winter, she should have smashed his egg when she had the chance. Hailstorm tried to get her out of the house, to stop talking and thinking about Winter, but nothing worked. She just had her mind set on hating this kid she'd been abusing since his hatching, insisting she gave him the world and he was ungrateful.

Eventually, Hailstorm just couldn't take this constant bleakness and hatred anymore. A few months ago Icewing tradition almost made him kill his little brother and he is just done with the Ice Kingdom. Completely disillusioned. Leave it all behind.

So he goes to Winter, and he starts to ask odd questions, like "If you had never found a way to turn me back from being Pyrite, would you still have loved me", and "If I was a Skywing, would you disown me?" Winter assures him that he will always love him, but starts to get worried about the questions.

Eventually, Hailstorm just flat-out states that he was actually kind of happy with himself as a female Skywing, not having to think about their messed up family and the stupid rankings all the time. He kept thinking about it through their mother's ramblings, how he felt in that body. He's figured out that he wants to go back to being Pyrite, just obviously without the brainwash-y parts. Winter doesn't entirely understand, but wants his brother/sister to be happy, and gives him/her his blessing.

And I guess there you have it. Some of my headcanons. Chameleon the meat eater, the absolute train-wreck that is Icicle's life with a side of Sora, and Hailstorm finds self-affirmation in exploring their gender identity after cutting their toxic mom out of their life.

[billysjoel]

if you ever have time/feel so inclined, i would love to see a tutorial or some tips from you about how to do color isolation sets!! they are absolutely incredible and I love them so much! <3

absolutely! thank you so much 💙

here are a few examples of my color isolation sets:

the substance (yellow) || beetlejuice (red) || us (red) || conclave (blue) || sleeping beauty (cyan/blue) || crimson peak (yellow) || smosh (purple) || conclave (red)

beneath the cut, i'll walk you through my coloring process!

notes: tutorial assumes basic gifmaking knowledge & i'm using adobe photoshop 2023 (though afaik, your version shouldn't matter much)

i don't color my gifs until they're sharpened and i'll give you a quick overview of my process: file -> import -> video frames to layers -> trim any extra frames -> crop to desired dimensions -> run sharpening action (i used this tutorial and just made it into an action) which also converts to timeline

once i'm in timeline, i go through my normal coloring process. unless i'm giffing similarly colored scenes that i've already colored and saved a psd for, i usually color from scratch every time. obviously, some adjustment layers vary depending on the source material, but these are almost always my main adjustments, just with differing values

a brightness/contrast layer set to screen - this is a gamechanger for especially dark scenes. note: i do not adjust the values, i leave them both at 0 and just change the blending mode

a curves layer utilizing the black & white eyedropper tools. first, i select the black eyedropper and then click on the blackest area of the gif. i do the same with the white one, using it to select the brightest/whitest spot. this can help a lot if you're dealing with heavily tinted scenes!

a selective color layer (set to absolute, not relative) where i adjust the blacks usually anywhere from 1-5 notches higher and the neutrals either up or down the same amount depending on the scene. be careful with the neutrals when giffing poc as lightening them can result in whitewashing. if need be, i will also adjust the whites, making them slightly whiter with the black slider. selective color is by far my fave adjustment layer and i use it in every single coloring.

after this, i sometimes add a black & white gradient map adjustment layer set to soft light. i'll play around with the opacity, leaving it anywhere between 5-100% depending on the scene. i think this adds depth to your colors and adds some contrast, but i don't use it in every psd.

occasionally, i'll mess around with vibrance/saturation, and that'll be my final layer, but oftentimes i won't actually add this layer until i've finished the rest of the coloring. this is just where the layer will go.

these are the main 5 layers i almost always start every single coloring with and they act mostly as a base and to color-correct any weirdly tinted or exceptionally dark scenes.

now, let's talk about scene selection. i try to set myself up for success by choosing scenes that either already have a very noticeable pop of color or have a color i know can easily be manipulated. you'll want to pick scenes that aren't drenched with the color you want to isolate though, or you won't have the contrast of the black & white.

here are a few examples of good scenes:

the only red here is the covered bridge and it will be easy to adjust only that and not the blue, green, or yellow.

same as above, apart from ralph fiennes's face, which obviously contains red undertones. i'll go more in-depth on this in a bit, but because this scene doesn't have a lot of movement, this will be able to be fixed with layer masks.

again, here we have one bright occurrence of yellow surrounded by blue that we'll easily be able to neutralize.

and a few of bad/less than ideal scenes:

while this scene is an absolute dream for making super vibrant sets or color palettes, it's no good for color isolation. this yellow covers basically everything, leaving no other colors to cancel out.

while i definitely did try this one out, the scene is ultimately too dark and too cyan-tinted to properly isolate the red of the blood or the cyan in her eyes and on the walls.

just like the first one, this scene is fully just. color drenched. would make a great base for a vibrant or color palette set but not useful for color isolation.

bad and wrong!! coloring this movie, however beloved, was a test of my sanity. you have this yellow/green filter over everything and so much of it that isolating or changing one or the other is pretty much impossible.

with all that being said, play around! the best way to learn what does what is to try it out yourself. selective color, though there are other ways of getting the same or similar effects, will be your best friend. it's how i'm able to make sets like this & this!

let's look at this adjustment layer using a scene from conclave:

truthfully, you could either isolate the orange of the wall or the blue of her outfit. i'm going for the latter at the moment.

add a selective color layer by clicking this button:

i like to really emphasize the color i'm going to isolate, make sure it's as consistent with the other scenes i'm using and that it pops. from the dropdown in the layer properties, i select blue.

each color from the dropdown will look like this. you have adjustable sliders for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. the more to the right, the more you're emphasizing that color in any blues in your image. the further to the left, the more of that color's opposite you'll adjust. each opposite pairing is as follows:

cyan + red magenta + green yellow + blue black + white

if you're struggling with this (i did at first), visualize it. pull up one of those "bad" examples. say we take the yellow scene from the gorge. add a selective color layer to it and select yellow from the dropdown. play with the sliders to see how AND how much each adjustment changes the coloring. decreasing the yellow slider all the way to -100% is adding blue to anything ps identifies as yellow. because yellow and blue are opposites, it pretty much neutralizes the scene. instead, if you use the magenta slider and push it all the way to the left, you make any yellows become green. if you move the magenta slider all the way to the right, you'll add magenta to any yellows, making the scene orange. it's all about knowing the color wheel and experimenting!

back to the conclave gif! i want to bring out the blue as much as possible, under the blue dropdown, i crank the cyan slider all the way up and bring the yellow all the way down.

is it a massive difference? no, but you can definitely see the difference between the left (with the adjustment) and the right (without).

depending on the scene and color i'm working with, i'll play around with other layers from the dropdown. but i prefer to do each color in a different layer and i right-click on the box with the eye in the layers panel and change it to the applicable color. that way, it's easier to adjust something later on. you can also rename your layers, but this is quicker and easier imo.

with this particular scene, this is the only adjustment i want to make to the blue for the time being. now, it's all about getting rid of any other colors. to do this, add a hue/saturation layer and select every color, one at a time, EXCEPT the color(s) you're isolating and bring the saturation all the way down to -100. in this case, it's everything but the cyans & blues.

and this is what i'm left with:

from here, you can leave it, but a lot of the time, i'll add a vibrance layer or even another blue/cyan selective color layer and crank that shit up.

this is after adding a vibrance layer (increasing both vibrance & saturation to 100) AND a selective color layer (decreasing the yellows to -100 in the blues).

i would consider this finished, but this can also be super fun to mess around with, again, using selective color:

and if the way her hair changed colors is bugging you, toggle your layers on and off until you find which one(s) changed it and add a layer mask, coloring over her hair with a soft black brush:

once you're happy with everything, save your gif in your preferred way. these are my save settings just for shiggles:

et voilà!

overall, the best advice i can give is to try. experiment! if you're not sure a scene will work, give it a shot. even if it doesn't, you've still learned something. i know it can seem confusing at first, especially if you're not super familiar with these layers or the color wheel, but please feel free to ask any questions. also, let me know if anyone wants another tutorial(s) where i go more in-depth on other colors. i'm happy to do it!

[cellythefloshie]

;; Soak It In   by cellythefloshie

Summary: a shared bath with Matthew Knies. Kinks & TW: mostly fluff, implied smut. Word Count: 1k+

Clutching the front of your robe shut, you leaned over the side of the bathtub. You watched the waters swirl with the vibrant colors of the bath bomb that dissolved in the hot waters. It was so hot that steam curled up from it in lazy ribbons that left the mirror about the bathroom sink fogged and sweaty with condensation. Sighing deeply with anticipation you smiled, this was the relaxation you needed after a long week. 

When the water was filled up just right, you reached you with a palm that was already sweaty from the heat and shut the faucet. You had to be careful not to knock the lit candles that rest on the side of the tub, their glow the only light left as you turned off the bathroom light and stripped off your robe. Stepping into the bath, you held your breath. The water was so hot it was going to leave your skin red, you were sure of it. But it didn’t deter you; you needed this. 

Easing yourself into the tub, you let it consume you; sinking down until the water lapped at your shoulders. Your eyes shut slowly. The warmth of the water, the darkness, and your favorite scents looming in the air; it was almost perfect. But something was missing. You couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was– that was until it was knocking at the bathroom door.

“I thought you might want a glass of wine,” Matt said slowly as he popped his head in through the door he had opened just enough to fit through. 

“You thought right,” you smiled wide, your hand reaching out for the glass, “you busy?”

Matt entered the bathroom slowly, dropping to his knee beside the tub, and handed you the glass of wine. 

“No, not really. I'm just gaming with the boys,” he explained. 

“You maybe want to ditch the boys and get in?” You asked slowly–but before you could finish, Matt was already reaching back and peeling off his t-shirt. 

“Shouldn't you tell them you aren't coming back?” You said slowly as you ease yourself into a sitting position, your arms shielding your breasts from the prickle of the cold air. 

“They know you're over,” he smiled in a way that was almost devilish; “they can use their imaginations.”

“Matt ew,” you gaped, your arms dropping to splash water at him as he freed himself from his pants, “I don't need your teammates picturing us fucking.”

“Not picturing, just assuming that we were fucking,” he clarified as he eased himself into place behind you.

You leaned back into him slowly, your back supported by the strength of his chest as the hot bath waters lapped around you. You could feel the tension in his muscles as the shock of the heat hit him, but soon he eased into the comfort of what was now the perfect evening. 

You had no plans and no obligations–it was just the two of you in the hot bath surrounded by the comforts of his home. And you by the comforts of his body. 

He had found their way around your waist, lazily holding you to him. Your hips were embraced by his thighs, your foot gliding along the length of his leg slowly as you shifted slightly to sit comfortably against him. It rocked the surrounding water, sending it lapping against the sides and down the overflow drain. 

Hearing the low gargle of water sent a chuckle through Matt's chest. You could feel it against your back, and you could practically hear the smile on his face as he spoke. “I think you filled the tub too high, Babes.” 

“No shit, Sherlock,” you hummed before taking a long sip of your wine, “I hadn't considered that the giant hunky hockey player might want to join me–most men don't like bubble baths. Ice bath sure but–”

“Have I ever shied away from any opportunity of seeing you naked?” He challenged, and you turned in place just enough to take in his expression. His one brow was quirked up, and a soft smile was on his lips. 

You rolled your eyes playfully at him, your hand dipping into the water to flick water back against his chest. His large hand reached out, consuming your wrist with his gentle hold as he tutted at you. 

“Careful babes, don't start something you can't finish.” His tone was cautionary but playful as he let our hand go, letting it slip back down into the silky waters. 

“Don't threaten me with a good time, Matty,” you said as you settled back against his chest.

It felt nice to be held by him there, his arms around you and his heartbeat against your back–but you couldn't deny that he would feel even better nestled between your thighs. 

Matt craved his neck forward, pressing his lips to your shoulder in a gentle kiss before muttering against your flesh, “I can't fuck you with an audience-”

An audience? Your brows furrowed as you looked around the bathroom. The two of you were completely and utterly alone, but then you spotted them, the two bright yellow rubber ducks you had bought him for Valentine's day. They sat on the side of the bathtub together, looking right at you. 

Lifting up your foot,l you swiped at the ducks with your toes, knocking them down into the water. They bobbled over the small wake, bumping into each other before floating their separate ways. 

“Better?” You asked.

He hummed out in approval, kissing the top of your head as his arms tightened around you. For a moment, the two of you stayed like that, his nose buried in your hair and your arms resting over his as the warm water lapped around you. The soft glow of the candles dimmed, puddles of wax slowly drowning the lights. You sat in silence, completely content with just being together, but the ducks continued to float, bumping into your legs and his just to remind you that they were there. 

“I love you, you know,” Matt spoke, his hot words washing over you. 

You smiled softly, your eyes falling shut. You would never get tired of hearing him say that. 

“Yeah, I know,” you smiled softly, your eyes falling shut. You would never get tired of hearing him say that. 

The water sloshed as Matt raised his hand from the water, his gentle touch finding your chin. He pinched it between his thumb and forefinger and guided lips to his. He kissed you slowly, deeply, coaxing out your tongue and a moan as his hand fell from your face and found its place between your legs. 

Somewhere in the bathtub, the ducks bobbled along the turbulence Matt created in the water with every one of his movements. Undoubtedly watching the show, the two of you were putting on for them and judging you for the mess you were creating.

TAGLIST: @mp0625 , @starshine-hockey-girl , @wingedwheelprxncess , @kurlyteuvo , @couldawouldashoulda50 , @hagelpoint-3821

[sunlessea]

this one-sided rivalry has always been an embarrassment. he supposes silas hadn't been prepared to lose the illusion of it so suddenly, though. it had been clear since near the beginning that he'd never bought into their back - and - forth so passionately : rather has he always treated it as a brief amusement and nothing more, which he would forget the moment he stepped back onto the surface and shed the duties of london's prince for another few weeks. how dismal it must be, to realize one's imperfections against a man who is far above oneself, and yet wants for none of it. a kine who brims with passion and yet lacks it on a canvas, standing beneath a corpse who lacks heart, soul, but mourns so prettily 'pon his pages.

he doesn't answer his smarm, so much as he watches him with blatant distaste 'fore rolling his eyes. not that he can see him. in the end, it doesn't matter. he'll be glad when his candles were moved to storage, and his unwanted company would likely go back to keeping himself busy with his nose in a book. quietly.

"no. the only people who consider me a darling to this city are fools like you, who don't actually know anything about me. those who do aren't the ones who approach me. there's a reason the masters of the bazaar bow to my contracts and keep the peace with my surface. does mr veils strike you as the kind of person who favors darlings of the city?" his voice is cold as he speaks, lazily leaning 'gainst the door frame as he plays absently with a strand of his hair. "london and the bazaar fear me. you're just the only idiot among your kind stupid enough to spend his time obsessed with me." not that he expects him to understand, of course. to those uninitiated with the world of darkness, winter likely just seems like another master of the bazaar, to be honest. and he may as well be, though none among that circle would ever even begrudgingly admit it. the master of trades they'd call him, perhaps. but the camarilla is something larger than even the bazaar : such thin ice was peace kept on.

"growing up a peasant did very little for the you behind your mask, maybe you should think twice about whether you really want the answers to what lies behind mine. fall too deep and you'll drown." he turns his attention 'way from him now, and looks down to his nails. some of the black polish he'd had on the surface still clung to them, unusual for his pristine appearance. but he just picks at it, seemingly growing more uninterested in the conversation. he never was very good at conversing with humans. maybe he's forgotten what it's like, to be one. his passions long buried 'neath this earth would only offer him dead ends in his search. but he wouldn't deter him. in truth ... he just doesn't really care what he learns, so long as the masquerade remains unbroken.

by time silas finally wanders his way over to him, he's fallen completely silent, expression void of any real emotion. he doesn't even look up at him when he wraps 'round his arm, though he doesn't shake him off either. he lets him stand there for a moment 'fore he regains himself, too, and slowly releases a long sigh.

"yeah." melancholy, he practically jerks him forward as he starts to walk. and it's not too terribly far! it's only some ways down the hall, in fact, separate from the crew quarters. "sometimes the masters request i ferry them in place of mr zees, if we're working together. you'll be staying in their room." he'd say it's a guest room, but he never really had them, aside from the masters themselves. so he throws open the door and gestures, listlessly. it's relatively cleaned up, though some of the master's belongings still linger set aside into a far corner of the room - some of veils' discarded fabrics, books from hearts, even more candles from fires ... the rest of the room is pristine, however, filled to the brim with carefully shelved novels, journals, coloring books, art supplies, canvases, though notably no paint. in such a cramped and swaying space, he'd have to deal with more stable tools 'til they reached the castle.

lifeless, winter hums, "ta-da. mr plagues stocked this place. don't ask me what all they brought for you. i have no fucking idea."

his rustling, though mundane, does at least offer some small reprieve in way of restlessness and anxiety alike. it is the smallest fracture, to his senses; his comprehension of his reality, the world he witnessed and believed he understood. to know not only had his rival no passion at all and could still outdo him in nearly every way, from skill to social affairs, but that he could do so effortlessly sparks some ugly, nasty thing; makes his chest constrict, jaw ache, and leaves every inch his body rife with unwanted tension. he hates him, truly—! everything winter is, a perfect counter to all he was not, and could never be. he is a reflection of his flaws, yet equally as much a reflection of his aspirations, and how still his own were unfulfilled. yet he has no aspiration, no dream, no love—and he surpasses him always in grand stride.

" is that a compliment i hear? from you? " he may not raise his head, but he needn't for the smarm, or for him to know how brutally his expression twists as he rolls his eyes, tight smile falling quickly to scowl. how rich, that! the candles clatter as he thrusts his hands further into the box of them, shuffling 'round as if looking for any one thing in particular. but he isn't, really, he just needs to do something so he can keep his hands busy and temper at a more manageable simmer—though winter seems to know well precisely how to strike every last nerve.

" oh, forgive me for wanting to understand what will-be the center of my fixation to cope these coming months— " no matter how he tries to force himself back to normalcy, his own frustrations are well and blatantly apparent. a wrinkle stays in the space 'tween his brows, and even when he tries to play at a cuter, more charming, poutier look, he finds it difficult. puffing his cheeks in any playful display hardly lasts more than a moment—a blink-and-you'll-miss-it, and that frustrates him too. in the end, the only thing genuine is how heavily he sighs, " is my curiosity so inappropriate? "

when he quits trying to play pretend, the brilliance he all but tries to lean into flickers and wanes; his posture slouches, and with it, his expression falls to something a bit more somber, as he reaches out a hand to trace along each individual thing subject to display. shockingly well kept condition, the lot, for something he says he doesn't care for. " you're this city's darling. facade or not, your mask isn't what makes you special. we all wear one! unless you think i'm fond of remembering my life as a pauper some few steps away from the same sorry alleys the urchins keep? " his nose scrunches. " please. only for the sake of honesty, i want to know what's beneath it all. what everyone sees that i seem to miss. " it's not so extravagant a lie as the rest of him is, subject to chronic personal dissatisfaction as he was. his pride is only somewhat faithful, but hardly so permanent to not be easily bruised. he tugs the flesh of his cheek 'neath his teeth, chews in pensive thought as his hand lifts, and arms cross over his chest. " ...and your having more hobbies beyond being an ever-aggravating thorn in my side, past or present, is at least a start. "

this trip will be miserable. if he resigns himself to the thought now, accepts the small fracture in his psyche—he will mend. and eventually they will be back on the shores, and they can return to the comfort of only occasionally sharing each other's bed, and he can go back to pouring his aching heart into pages only he would ever see.

winter asked him for honesty. rather, demanded it for their shared safety—and though he may not understand or care for the gods that supposedly rule over the zee, there is nothing false in the exhaustion he wears, the weariness in his expression when he finally drags his gaze back up to look at him proper. " fine. " his steps feel heavy, leaden; though there's no change to his gait, he hesitates before he unravels himself to let his fingers curl around winter's arm again. how his chest aches does nothing but unnerve him, now ; equal parts dread as much as yearning. but there's nothing he can do save try to ignore it. and try he does, letting his head fall casually, in familiar fashion, against his arm too. " lead the way, then. "

[lyknest]

when i'm in a downbadism competition and my opponent is nong thame

ThamePo ✘ Kiss Goodnight [inspo. ★]

[front-facing-pokemon]

[kay9leo]

McStareface Part 3 - NO JEWELRY!

Trequel to McStareface Part 1

Sequel to McStareface Part 2 - Smack Talk

No Jewelry

Was the purpose of this entire mini comic series (Especially part 3) because of panel 9?

YES***

Like Eda Mode's "NO CAPES!", growing up when I used to play sports in school we were not allowed to wear jewelry while playing.

And in my mind, magical dueling is as much of a sport just like any other individual 1-v-1 muggle sport.

When I first saw that duel between MC and Sebastian in which Prof. Hecat pits the two students against each other, I couldn't help but think that if that was me, out of habit, I would jump off the piste (in fencing terms, that is the fencing strip play area you would duel on and I would like to imagine that's also the magical name of the dueling strip play area since to me dueling is just the magical version of fencing) and immediately take my jewelry off because I have no wishes to become the next horror story of how wearing jewelry during sports caused an injury.

And hence why part 1, 2 and 3 of McStareface was born - all because of panel 9.

That's it.

That's the whole reason.

***That and to give a reason for Iñaki to call Sebastian "Stare-y McStareface" since she doesn't know his name yet. She essentially gave him the Boaty McBoatface type of nickname as a stand in until she learned his real name 😂. I needed to make part one in order to get part 2 and 3 where I wanted to be and for that nickname she picked for him to make sense. 🤣 This was more than 3 months in the making 😂🤣😂

You won't be catching Iñaki getting a dumb injury because of her jewelry, but unfortunately (or fortunately I guess in this case -depending which scenario you're looking at due to my MC coming from NY) most people (muggleborns and half-bloods who know muggle culture and seen American media) will probably see her taking her earrings as a sign she's going to get in a serious fight and she's not someone to not play around with. Especially since she's Latina and when you tell people that you're from New York, everyone automatically think's you're from the city lol. Ahh, stereotypes. I didn't mean to accidentally stumble upon it with Iñaki 😅😂.

(I mean she used to be from NYC before she moved to the 'burbs and turned to a suburban kid, but that's not the point XD)

While Iñaki isn't someone to play around, (she has ancient magic - not that anybody knows about it) she REALLY just doesn't want to get injured wearing jewelry while playing magical sports. Heck getting your earrings caught in either clothing, your comb or hair is painful (speaking from experience), I REALLY don't want to imagine how painful it will be in a sports injury. 😬

So she gives it to Natty to hold since she finds her new friendly classmate trustworthy enough to hold it. And Natty is all too pleased to help her new friend.

After all, Natty wants for her new friend, Iñaki, to destroy sweep Sebastian off his feet seeing how Natty couldn't defeat her number one nemesis in Crossed Wands yet. 🤗

Just a girl who wants to support another girl to destroy her dueling rival -just girly things, you know? 🤗🤭😁

Not that Natty is the only one who wants to see the undefeatable Sebastian Sallow go down.

Even if Iñaki doesn't know anything about his dueling record -heck, she doesn't even know who McStareface is- one thing she does know is that she's SOOOOO looking forward to returning the favor of his smack talk in a duel 🤗😁🤗

After all, it's “Perro que ladra no muerde”/ (A dog that barks doesn't bite) talk to her right now. And after her rough entrance to Hogwarts, Iñaki knows how to bite between the dragon, knights and everything not nice she had to face so far up to this point.

So a duel with McStareface should be fun. 🤗

✨🌺💅🌺✨Just girly things, you know? ✨🌺💅🌺✨

Click Here For Iñaki "MC" Martinez Cariaga Masterlist

[firecoloredwater]

I think in this case, it has to actually be a question of "to what extent was gender play an inherent and necessary part of the bodice ripper in the late 1960s?"

Because like, the sexism is most extreme in Dragonflight, and it was very firmly established in "Weyr Search," which Wikipedia tells me was published in 1967.

That's where we get Fax's harem of abused wives, and... I don't think we ever get anything like that again, actually? Like I don't think Meron or Chalkin or any other evil antagonist character gets to collect women to abuse; generally they seem to either be paired with an evil girlfriend (Meron/Kylara, the Oldtime weyrleader couples) or no wife is mentioned at all. Definitely nothing dwells on it like "Weyr Search"/the beginning of Dragonflight does.

There's plenty of other sexism after that point, like... uh, everything. Basically everything. But "Lessa is kept isolated and not told how mating flights work in order to keep her helpless" and "the Harper Hall doesn't allow girls to be apprentices" feel like a different flavor to me? They're close equivalents to things that were happening in the US and in Britain in real life at the time.

I started quoting from Wikipedia's Timeline of Women's Legal Rights for examples but there's too many actually, so I'm just linking it.

Anyway, I would say that gender play is, if not strictly necessary, then at least strongly desired as a facet of bodice rippers, because have you seen the entire concept of omegaverse. When we weren't comfortable using real genders for this people just flat out invented fantasy genders to use for it instead. Sometimes sentinel/guide gets used the same way, as does psychic wolves and of course Pern dragon colors.

But I don't think bodice rippers are necessary to explain it.

Looking through that Wikipedia list, the late 60s and early 70s had a lot of countries and states changing their laws to allow abortion if it was to save the life of the mother, and a few mentions of birth control being made legal for married couples; it's specified at least once in Dragonflight that Fax deliberately keeps his wives pregnant in an attempt to kill them, and Lady Gemma does indeed die.

There are a lot of entries about women fighting for the right to careers (horse jockey, reporter, stewardess, bartender, lawyer) and equal pay, and in the late 70s we get Dragonsong and Dragonsinger.

I don't (in my quick peek during work) see any mentions of laws or court cases about directly equivalent situations to the whole "Lessa isolated in the Weyr, taught nothing useful and not allowed to speak to anyone that might be on her side" thing, but like... that's pretty hard to legislate. Given that abortion rights, the right for women to own their own property, and the right to have jobs and equal pay were all recurring themes, I think it's a safe bet that 'abusive husband/father/other male family isolates a woman and sabotages her education and friendships in order to control her' was probably something in the general feminist consciousness at the time.

So. basically. Anne McCaffrey was absolutely coming from a bodice ripper background, and that's why we have mating flights, but I think the rest of the sexism was mostly because all of it was happening in the world around her as she wrote, and so she wrote about it.

i still think that one of the worst things pernese history implies is that if you had a society where misogyny is supposed to be gone or at least greatly reduced and then took away their technology and put them in a hard situation they would re-evolve hardcore misogyny again, where women are clearly and obviously seen as lesser and can't have some jobs or be leaders. it's lazy, it implies that misogyny is because of something inherent about women, and it doesn't even make sense in the context in which it's presented.

"they felt the need to protect women because they can get pregnant and they were worried about population," cool, give them like, a sense of high value around the weight and importance of pregnancy then, or if you want it to be something negative that people who can become pregnant face, add in heavy expectations around getting pregnant/ taking care of yourself or being taken care of during pregnancy.

[moe-broey]

Fellas can you take this somewhere else. Maybe. Just not in the fucking halls. Thanks 🫡

I couldn't resist drawing out these tags I wrote on a dif post LMFAO

Moe just has...... SO many problems.......

Close-ups of my fave shots!

The elusive Líf...

[cloudedgalaxies]

IT IS CONFIRMED EVERYONE

TWISTED WONDERLAND ANIME COMING OCTOBER 2025!!! SEASONS 1-3 ARE CONFIRMED 😁 😁 😁 😁 

Super hyped to see what they do with Yuu for the anime! Curious if they're going to take the Yuu from the light novels, the Yuus from the manga, make a whole new Yuu or just have Yuu be a shrimp

[icewindandboringhorror]

examining a seemingly normal image only to slowly realize the clear signs of AI generated art.... i know what you are... you cannot hide your true nature from me... go back where you came from... out of my sight with haste, wretched and vile husk