#I've liked exactly 1 drawing of him I've ever done i think i need to do a completely different design over just the little tweaks here idk

[enhanced-operatives-division]

i would love to hear about the ollie and handler crack ship here’s a silly doodle as well

LOVE THE DOODLE YOU SEE THE VISION!!!

Also this got my ass to design Ollie so:

(Love him - Also redesigned Reggie for this too so thanks!!)

And idk if it's moreso a crackship or a rarepair that only works in an AU (HACKS up Starstruck), but Reggie's line of "...and I hope Ollie made it out too. I hope a lot of things." It's totally me reading into it but like,,,,I want them to talk because Ollie is not dead to me in my heart of hearts.

Maybe the only change is like Reggie taps into the communication on the radio in Hot Water instead of using the earpiece, so Ollie ends up hearing him also? And they end up getting along really well (with Reggie having to jump through a couple hoops to be like "haha what agency..."). There's an Agency base in the South-East coast of Australia and maybe the Agency ends up adopting him after he washes up on the shore with the escape pod (after HEAVY questioning).

Alas take a doodle of my own:

Transcript (it's just canon lines):

Ollie: "She's being controlled, it's not her fault."

Reggie: "Agent, I have 0 experience dealing with giant security squids."

[somewhat-insane]

Okay, so, I know a lot of people were discouraged after the LMK S5 trailer. The art is different, yes, but remember there are still people working behind the screen; passionate about this story they're trying to tell. To rebuild faith and re-spark hope, I'm going through the trailer frame by frame and sharing anything cool I find. (There is some (what I hope is) constructive criticism in here, but I would like to reiterate something other fans have said. DO. NOT. HARRASS. ANYONE. WORKING. ON. THE. SHOW. They're doing their best with what they have available to them. We're lucky Wildbrain decided to pick the show back up because if they hadn't, we may not have gotten the rest of the story.)

They've been brought in front of the council to discuss their car's extended warranty. ALSO WHERE IS MK'S JACKET AND BANDANA? THEY WHOLE ASS PROBABLY SNATCHED THIS POOR BOY OUT OF HIS BED WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING

Don't worry, babygirl, I still think you're pretty ^3^

Okay, they gave him his clothes back, phew.

Hehe, tiny monkies.

At least our child is still adorable.

Synchronized heart attack.

He is so traumatized, lol. Someone brought up how this design for the circlet wasn't the previously established design in the show, but it COULD be based on the design used on the cover of the Journey to the West novel (as seen below)

It's not exactly the same but the shape is similar.

Anyway.

WUKONG ANGST WUKONG ANGST WUKONG ANGST

I'm realizing while doing this that Wildbrain doesn't use as many smear frames as Flying Bark did. As funny as it is to pause and see something like this in season 1-4:

It makes the animation look a LOT smoother and more energetic. Flying Bark also seems to use more frame-by-frame while Wildbrain probably uses more tweening. I suppose it makes sense though because Wildbrain is more used to 3D animation and the 2D animation they have done in the past is more paper-doll-like and doesn't need as much bounce and action.

Back to the trailer, no need to dwell.........

MO. HANG IN THERE.

MONKEY ANGST MONKEY ANGST MONKEY ANGST aposhdgpafoshdfosfapsdofpa

Oooh, wait, this frame actually kinda goes hard. I'm kinda hyped... I should draw this.

NO BRO DON'T MAKE ME CRY JUST BECAUSE OF A TRAILER

You know what this makes me think of...? Did any of you guys ever play that game called "Journey"?

It's a beautiful game with beautiful music. Y'all should play it if you haven't. Oh, and sometimes if you're playing at the same time as someone else in the world, your games will merge and you get a little play buddy :3

Genuinely love how distressed he is here.

SHADOWPEACH ANGST SHADOWPEACH ANGST

Looks like we're still gonna get cool backgrounds and background character designs!!!!

This looks like it may be some kind of storybook or memory sequence like when Chang'e was talking about how she found the ring in S3 or when LBD was talking about Macaque's death... what memory do you think we're going to be exploring this time?

This goes pretty hard. I would paint this on a wall or something.

Mk is flabbergasted.

Yay!! Mk has the support he needs. ALSO MORE SANDY

They're mortified. Probably because they just watched a giant dragon and white tiger fucking evaporate.

Hehe bord

I can't wait to see fanart of him. I'm so excited!

SHADOWPEACH SHADOWPEACH SHADOWPEACH

He's thinking about kissing him, honest.

I think he's purty

MORE PIGSY-

I've run out of room for pictures, but I hope this helped get y'all all hyped again for the new season! Have hope, stay strong!

[galvanizedfriend]

do you recommend watching The Originals?

Nonnie, you're out with the tough questions 😂

I've been here thinking about this for a few minutes. The answer is... depends? lol I know some people who really like The Originals, so it's hard to say that you should or shouldn't watch it. It really depends on what kind of thing you're looking for and where do you draw a line.

Personally, I have a lot of issues with TO lol And back when it was still airing and I was watching it as the episodes came out, I abandoned it halfway through S3 because I got to a point where the very far and few good parts were no longer making it worth my while. A lot of people think S3 is the best season, I think it's by far the worst one lol So you see how it really depends.

But I do like it that I watched it in end, even though it took me a few years. It gives me authority that I know exactly what I'm talking about when I shit talk it lol also whenever people who can't stand the show have a canon-related question, they come to me because I watched it some 200 times so other people don't have to suffer through it, and I think that's beautiful 😂😂

Here's a simple pros vs cons list *in my opinion*: Pros: it's more Mikaelson screen time, so there's that. That are some plot lines that had potential, although almost none of them are well executed. Seasons 1 and 2 are actually kind of ok. S3 and 4 Klaus hair is 🤌🤌🤌 The WILD CURLS ERA! I'm a simple girl, you give me Klaus in tight Henley shirts with curly curls, I'm in. There are some great family moments scattered throughout the seasons, some really cool scenes that make you think 'wow, this could've been a great show' (right before you get pissed off that it wasn't). Daniel Sharman's Kol is, IMHO, the superior Kol (I don't like Nate Buzz's acting). Jomo really delivers as Klaus regardless the whole bullshittery around him and gets some great chances to just be a little shit, which I love. There are some great Klaroline moments (and not just in S5). And in spite of my overall feelings for TO, one of my favorite all-time TVDverse characters is from there: Vincent Griffith. I love him to bits. I also really like Marcel, even though he becomes a glorified extra after S1, and Jackson. Also, if you're really into werewolves, this is really the show where they get any screen time. I'm not saying it's good, but at least it's there (and no, Klaus never turns into a wolf, it makes no sense).

Cons: Really bad, inconsistent writing. Some seasons have storylines that just die out of nowhere for no reason (*cough*season 3*cough*). The whole premise of the show is insane (there was absolutely no need for Hope when Marcel is right there). The crossovers with TVD are very poorly done and very glaring opportunities go unexplored (like at the end of S1). Rebekah drops out pretty soon into the show. Elijah changes personality at least once every season to the point where, by the end of the show, they just retcon him completely. The finale is RIDICULOUS. Season 4 was written by someone on a wild acid trip, season 5 is really not worth your time AT ALL (except for the Klaroline moments). Female characters are very badly treated (pretty standard in the TVDverse, but anyway). Klamille is a thing, although, as with everything else, it's so badly done it's only marginally there. There are a lot of retcons and rewritings of the show's own mythology, which is annoying. And it's just... Bad. I don't know what to say, it just never lived up to the hype of what a show about the Original family could've been or what TVD had been at its peak. It's never, ever even remotely as good as TVD was around S2-3, not even at its best moments.

Those are my personal opinions, anyway. I'm sure others might feel different, but each to their own. It's really about you considering whether or not that's something you might enjoy or if it will at least be worth your time. Maybe start it and see how you feel? Worst case scenario, at least you get to see more of Klaus prancing around New Orleans.

Also, the first episode of TO is different from the backdoor pilot in TVD. That's more of a Klaus POV one, while the one in TO is more an Elijah POV.

hope my TED Talk helps you! 😂

[weird-dere-writes]

has ichigo ever used your body for stress relief? have you ever used his? how does it usually go? 👁️

Yes and yes, dearest Mimi 🙂‍↕️

Prepare for some SERIOUS yappin' hejdhekdudodyd like masters in yapology level yapping omg why did dumping my thoughts end up this long HHHHHHHHHGGGG. Imma be so real, writing for Ichigo was the easy part. What took so long was writing about myself osenuikjfrdiknbtikfj. I am psychoanalyzing him and exposing myself here frfr skjrbfiyerbdikeidj. But I hope you enjoy :3.

If y'all don't wanna read about me n Ichigo fuckin' skip this one lmao <3

With Ichigo, there are 3 perceivable levels of stress. I've come to learn this the longer we've been together.

The first stage is him being quieter than usual. Like it isn't unlike him to be quiet and doing his own thing; to have content silence. But there's a slight tension in the silence that I can feel when he's bothered. Typically, whenever I ask him at this stage if everything is okay, he will tell me what's going on. Normally, it isn't anything too big or serious, but he'll get my thoughts on things concerning whatever the situation or feeling is.

The second stage is when the silence is more loud. He's more distant and often needs some space to himself to introspect (what he would call it) or brood (what I would call it). His natural scowl will seem to get a bit deeper at these times. Sometimes, I'll brush my thumb between his brows to smooth the wrinkles and advise him to breathe. Even to breathe with me in a short exercise sometimes. Just as a reminder that I don't know what's going on, but I'm here for him when I think I see him getting a little too deep. Because at this second stage, I'm not getting anything out of him until he's ready to tell me or our friends that know exactly what's going on force it out of him in a way I can't.

The third stage of stress is when I believe him to be at his peak. He's physically restless and fidgety, which is really unlike him. I KNOW something is heavy on his mind that he either feels powerless or doesn't know what to do about. But he doesn't want to bring me into anything or worry me, so he remains tight-lipped. He wants to figure things out on his own. Obviously, I hate to see him this way, so my move is to comfort him how I can, given the circumstances.

I will come to him, place my hands on both his cheeks and look into his eyes. I see storms raging in them as he looks back at me. We take a moment and freeze. Just to focus on one another for a bit. Then I will gently tilt his head down and kiss his forehead, before bringing him into my arms. I'll hold him and speak softly. Tell him that I know something is bothering him, but i won't ask him to tell me anything. Tell him that we need to find a more productive way to release this energy in his body, and ask him how he wants to proceed. Sometimes we'll go out on a walk. Sometimes we'll lift weights. Sometimes we'll play a video game. Sometimes we'll draw. Sometimes we'll cook. Just something to get his body moving and his mind on something else for a while.

At times, he won't know how he wants to proceed. He can't think of anything he'd want to do. That is when I offer up myself. If he wants, he can have me. 9 times out of 10 in that situation he will say yes. (The other 1 of 10 times we will just end up cuddling for a while.)

It is at this point that once we are in the bedroom (our stress relief sex is always in the bedroom where we are safest and coziest <3) that I gently usher him through everything. I'm readying our bed while I have him go splash his face in the bathroom. When the bed is done and he comes out, I am undressing him; removing all but his shirt (more on that soon). I will dress down to either just my bra or full nudity depending on the vibe. I'm getting him on the bed, kissing his body, hitting all his sensitive spots, caressing his hips, whispering sweet nothings to him. Doing basically everything but touching him in that spot bc he's more slow to warm up in these times. I just focus on loving on him gently. I don't start touching him there until he either moves my hand to it, or asks me to. Usually by then it is a solid pole and it's hot 🌡. I'll stroke him for a little bit and we'll kiss until he's ready to flip us over.

Missionary is his chosen position just about every time he's using my body for stress relief. He wants to see me. He wants to see into me. He wants me to see him. He wants me to see something in him. To show me something he cant find the strength to say in words.

At any other time in missionary we are very close quarters. Most of our bodies are touching. It is very intimate.

Not to say this is not intimate, but there is a marked level of tension in the air that is not sexual. Like, his state of mind manifests itself physically in that missionary at these times is at arms length as he is above me.

He'll start with a slow grind as he feels things out; his brows furrowing upwards as he tries to focus on the good sensations, grunting here and there. When he starts feeling it is when he'll take the hem of his shirt and put it in his mouth. He needs to bite on something. The grinding becomes more of a deep ramming, and he goes from grunting here and there to a bit more whiny/whimpery.

And its like AUGH. Cus the visual AND him whimpering is so HOT but I hate it has to come from circumstances that bother him. Bc I can still see it in his eyes.

Between my own mewls here and there i am murmuring to him, affirming him, complimenting him, reassuring him, just being present with him.

When he's getting close, his eyes will flutter closed. And I want nothing more than to pull him close. But I leave him where he desires to be until his eyes clench and he spills inside me.

I don't always get to finish with these sessions, but that's okay. He'll apologize for it in those instances, but I shush him. I just wanna support him fr. I'm happy to hold him again at the end of it all.

I love him sm he is my baby he is my everythiiiinnnggggg 🥹🧡.

With me, it’s not so much progressive stages of stress, but more so 3 differing kinds. Different ways I instinctively deal with a given situation.

Type 1: Head full

I can’t stop thinking about whatever is bothering me. I'm getting in my head; overthinking about the occurrence that disturbs me, replaying it over and over, pondering how it could have gone differently, having realizations after the fact, wishing i would have said something different to better get my point across, drowning in the crippling ordeal of being perceived the wrong way, knowing I should not be this affected and yet continuing to feel. My face feels like stone and my head begins to hurt. I am increasingly aware of the tension in my brows, trying to make sure I don't look mad or something. I feel warmer the longer I think. Especially in the face. I feel my pulse more.

Similarly to Ichigo in his first stage, if he asks me about whatever bothers me, I am more likely to tell him about it in this type of stress response. We can talk it out. Maybe there will be some reassurance, some criticism, some advice, etc. He is there to make me feel heard so I can get the racing thoughts out of my head. So I can move on with my daily life frfr and not be trapped in this simmering emotion.

Type 2: Head empty

Stress is weighing on me. I am frustrated, but whatever situation I was put in is something I am still actively navigating; perhaps by obligation. I have no choice but to continue to try to push through it. But because I don't have the space to overthink, I instead shut down and just go through motions trying to get through to the other side. Until I can breathe again. And by that time I am just tired. Too tired to begin to overthink even then. A little relieved things are over but still can't quite believe I was put under that much stress. Especially so if it wasn't because of my doing.

When in this type of stress response, like his second stage, if possible, I tend to be more to myself. I feel like if I try to explain things to someone that they just won't understand my thoughts and be somewhat careless and uncaring with their response. The weight of that possibility is too much for me. The amount of emotional effort it takes to express myself when I'm that bothered is not worth risking. Even just practicing in my head or out loud alone if I feel somewhat resolved to do so will have me shedding tears.

Sometimes when I get like this, I assure Ichigo that I trust him. I see that my being this way is bothering him. I feel that I need to let him know that i'm aware he would never try to hurt me. I just... can't bring myself to talk about whatever is going on. Other times he already knows and is ready to just do what he can to support me.

It can be a long song and dance that pushes me to tears, but he's resolute. If it gets to that point, he will hold my hand to comfort me, but nothing else changes. I will be crying when I cum as I drown in the depths of his pools of brown. Once the waves of orgasm finish washing over me is when he allows me to look away. When I start to squirm a bit and sob shakily; fisting at my eyes.

This is where sometimes he will offer himself up sexually for stress relief. When I am in this type of stress, his typical move is to eat me out. As long as we have been together, I am still shy about this man giving me head. I will be a blushing mess and can barely look at him. Also I feel his view looking up at me is probably so unappealing??? This is all strategic on his part, though.

Since I can't tell him of my stress, this is his way of having me be vulnerable to him in another fashion. He will hold me firmly by the legs or hips to keep me from squirming, to keep me from humping his face too much, to allow him control of the situation and hindering me from hiding or running away. When he's doing this, he is making sure my eyes stay on him too and it burns me from the inside out. And he knows it, staring back at me with his tongue between my legs. If I break our shared gaze he will either tell me to look at him or stop his ministrations until I look back at him.

He'll give me a minute to process the physical and emotional release before he's caressing me, and moving in to hold me. Telling me how proud he is and that no matter how much i looked away or how stubborn I was that I did good. Reassuring me that he's here and everything is gonna be okay <3.

Type 3: Avoidance

A certain something I do not want to face looms on the horizon, bringing up an anxiety in me that I cannot always place. I keep telling myself I have more time, that I will get to it, and do other things instead that I enjoy, or simply get rest, as a chronic procrastinator does. I've gotten quite a bit better about it over the years I think, but sometimes I do have that nagging itch, to turn my gaze the other way and keep the stress at bay. Slowly letting it creep closer and closer until it is upon me, and more stress inducing than it ever had to be.

The sex that happens for relief in this instance of stress response is usually a while after the fact of the stressing event. My own choice to ignore whatever I didn't want to face leading to a compounding of high stress and being forced into action is not a good time for it lmao.

Ichigo did warn me multiple times about this upcoming stressor, but uh... 🧍🏾‍♀️. My brain said no sibnfkernbikdfd.

It will be a 50/50 on if he decides to help me in the moment or leave me to deal with it myself. Extremely valid of him ngl. A girl needs to learn sometimes ✊🏾😔.

He doesn't take joy in me being stressed though, of course. Once what I needed to get done is all said and done, he will move in to help me decompress. Not always in a sexual way, but when it is, he goes all in. Wants to get me to a point where I'm so blissful I can't even think, stress be condemned to hell.

Ichigo will set up our room. With candles (on candle warmers cus he's safe like that uwu), rose petals, music and all. Will have me undress and lay on the bed on my stomach. Get me nice and oiled up as rubs me down with a full body massage, gently working the tension out of my muscles. Once he's done I'm nearly falling asleep, but he'll have me position myself so there is a pillow under my hips and I am hugging another pillow.

From there, my man will commence hitting it from the back. Again, he isn't really holding me down, but holding me firmly (not that I planned to move much anyway lol).

Also note that when he is doing this he is again at arms length above me; considering that I may still need that space as he does when I let him use my body for stress relief. (what a thoughtful sweetie 🥺)

He will make me cum no less than three times. He will hold me firmly as mentioned before until I cum the first time. Leading up to the second time, his touch is more light; more comforting. His hands, big and warm, are rubbing circles into my skin, stroking down my back, etc. Leading up to the third time, his thrusts are a lot slower, but deeper. He stops sometimes to kiss down my back before continuing his movements. He's calling me his pretty girl and telling me how much I deserve this; how much he loves me.

Rounds past that point could be anything fr. But know that by the end of it all, my heart is full, my puthy is full, my mind is full but only of him, and I am crying bc I am in utter euphoria 🕊️.

thank u for putting your eye bawls to my yap session 😌💞.

WHEW ‼️

[wonderful-magician]

OK do you ship dinahboose and if you do I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS. ( I saw you where analyzing ceeb’s characterization sooo) if not just use this as a free space to ramble about something else idk 💀

it is 1:am but I am so desperate to ramble and I also will take any excuse to draw any ship I like ever which is almost too many so excuse me if I sound nonsensical

^^!!

OKAY I LOVE DINAHBOOSE obv I've been into this musical for a total of 2 weeks or so- so I'm still scrounging every bit of Information on these guys that I can. And I've done wayyy more research on CB than I have Dinah ( he has a lot more to look at though ) but these two just make sense to me. They just make sense. Opposites but not opposites. They are confusing and they are both confused. But at least they can hold hands while confused.

Personally I struggle to ever hate or dislike ships unless there's like a blindingly obvious reason to dislike a ship. But dinahboose is probably my second favorite ship so far for StEx ( Electraboose has 1st place and Krupp/purse has 3rd )

Totally not gonna use this to talk about my personal rewrite of StEx.. specifically C.B. because I don't want to make a post just for it LMAO.

So yeah I've been basically studying C.B. ( or, I guess caboose because he hasn't been called C.B in a long time... but C.B has more personality.. ) and my version of C.B. is probably a horrible amalgamation of OLC and 2015 Bochum. Because I love radio aesthetics and the Dinah friendship but I also love the toy soldier aesthetic and absolutely batshit laugh ( I also love it when C.B. is played by somebody too flexible for their own good ) hes just a glorified circus clown on wheels with a radio set strapped to his head.

And I wish I could pretend that I understand cutting him but I do and I don't and I do. Because I honestly feel like C.B in the original does more than Electra lmao. But I don't think cutting people is the solution most the time tbh.

Okay onto more half asleep rambling that is likely to change because I'm still in the early stages of this rewrite. But. I recognize that C.B. has some issues. The one most of my friends point out is that he seemingly has no motive. He just... Is silly I guess. And I think this is a bit funny because I do like an antagonist with the motive of " it would be funny " , but at the same time. Kind of hard to make that character very ...er... Well I'll just say it does get a bit boring.

Something I also heard was that in the reasons C.B. has been cut was because caboose's aren't exactly used anymore, which is totally fair!

But could also totally be a motivation! Think about it, why is C.B still working? Still working with the freight despite essentially being useless? Because greaseball wants to keep him around to use him for cheating. Easy! Obviously none of this could easily be translated to the show. But for some comics/writings? Yes. Yes.

Think about it. Rusty is struggling, he feels a bit useless because steam is falling behind! So he tries to win and prove himself. But who else feels useless because of their job being replaced? C.B. but unlike rusty, C.B takes the other path, instead of trying to be a role model and win or prove himself. He just goes down the path of crime. And hey, he's probably a crazy adrenaline junky too so he's still doing it for the fun!

And why does he betray greaseball? Plenty of reasons. C.B might dislike greaseball because of poor treatment, he might dislikes greaseball for his treatment of Dinah, he probably just wants to get the adrenaline high of betraying him in the first place. Maybe to prove that he's important and needed because if he doesn't help, greaseball will lose. And he wants to hold it over him for his own personal desire of self importance. Who knows. He's a complicated little clown he is.

Ok anyway yeah I'm like the #3 Dinahboose supporter I will draw them more hehbehehehee

[tgmsunmontue]

What to write weekend...?

Friday afternoon again, start of my weekend (although, I schedule this post, so I am usually still working when this appears). I've got my usual adulthood stuff happening over on main. It's nowhere near as interesting or fun as deciding what fics people would like me to dedicate some words towards them this weekend.

I do have to work this Saturday, also my kids are leaving for 8 days away to stay with family, so my Saturday is pretty much a write-off, but I need to have something to aim for.

NUMBERS:

Online and Anonymous - 13/16 Hangster who are anonymous Grindr buddies for YEARS. (Tumblr post)

Sagas of Solitude 5/? - IceMav with side Hangster AU - angsty Nepo!Baby

CURRENT LETTERS:

A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, J, K, L, M (descriptions under the Read More)

If your curious about wordcounts etc. I have a spreadsheet here.

As it's been nearly a month since I've done this, here's an explanation of how it works:

You pick 1-3 of the above and either:

reply

Message

Send an ask (Anon is on)

with the letters/Numbers of the fic/s you wish would hurry up and get finished/posted already. (Yes, you can pick the same one three times - some of these fics are that close to getting parts/chapters finished that would be enough to tip them over, you also don't have to pick more than one).

Numbers indicate fics I am consciously working on updating/completing, and likely have a completion date in mind.

Letters are fics that are often getting completed because people ask for me to work on them through things like this. (I usually do this every weekend).

Doing this keeps me on task and makes me accountable. It stops me from procrastinating and I really appreciate people providing their numbers.

THANK YOU!

A) Upon which our souls touch - 2/? - Hangster TGM AU involving dragon riders and shape shifters and fantasy...

B) Bradshaw Twins - Hangster (Tumblr post)

C) To wake, perchance to dream - 2/? - Hangster Jake wakes up in the future, gets a glimpse of what their life could be and then wakes up back right before being called back to Top Gun for the special detachment (e.g. TGM). (Tumblr post and the beginning of the fic)

D) Together or not at all... (SEQUEL) - Hangster - years after Javy/Nat get together they think their best friends (Hangman and Rooster) could maybe try dating each other. It'll either end in disaster or not.

E) Cyclone/Maverick - Cyclone is struggling to deal with being attracted to the most annoying person he's ever met. Why does he like him so much?

G) Celebrity Chef Bradley

H) From the top - 1/? - an Ice/Mav epistolary fic where Jake and Bradley matchmake them, not realising exactly who it is they've matched together.

I) Life is too short to waste time matching socks... 3/? The peach and eggplant socks as an anonymous gift as an incredibly unsubtle hint that someone would like to fuck them. (tumblr idea unspooling here...)

J) Barista Jake who cannot spell Bradley's name. (HERE)

K) Caring, Keeping and Collecting Transformers - A Guide - 4/?Transformers cross-over.

L) Hangster Soulmates, Bodyguard (leftover from the Bingo...)

M) IceMav Florist/Undercover Agent AU (also leftover from Bingo)

Those of you that know I put stuff down here, or follow me on my main, know that I've been in a weird place mentally the last couple of weeks, seem to be coming out of it. Getting things done at work and around the house are helping.

Personal writing goals for the weekend:

Finish my Secret Santa piece (which I really don't like, my first and last fest piece, I swear - it's like drawing blood from a stone and one definitey one of the reasons why I've been in a funk writing wise).

Online and Anonymous Chapter posted!

250 words on each of my Glee WIPs, poor neglected things that they are.

[gumnut-logic]

Along the Way (Part 4)

Sweetapple | Dear Mr Tracy | Along the way - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

I've been re-reading Alexander Sweetapple while feeling crappy over the last few days and am ever so grateful for all the support this series has received from everyone. Apologies for all the delays on this fic. And extra special thanks to both @womble1 and @idontknowreallywhy for adding their glorious talents to this universe as well.

I managed to dig up the next part and write a chunk of it tonight, so here we have more of this fic. It's getting there, I promise.

Many thanks to the wonderful @onereyofstarlight for feilding my call for a read through yet again. You are wonderful, m'dear.

I hope you enjoy it. I also hope to write some more asap.

-o-o-o-

He had managed to help the young woman get free of the pile of what felt like wood pinning her legs. They had little light, but with her permission, Alex investigated the source of the pain in…”I’m sorry, what is your name?”

Her voice was shaky. “Elizabeth.”

He sent her a smile but then realised she probably couldn’t see it. “Nice to meet you, Elizabeth.”

Her nervous laugh lightened the dark atmosphere just a little.

“I’m Alex.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper and then a whimper as his fingers found the injury to her leg.

Damp and sticky.

Damn.

It was impossible to tell exactly how much damage had been done, but as far as he could tell she had a gash in her leg.

She was crying again.

“It’s okay, we’ll get this bound up and then start looking for a way out of here.”

He wrenched at his shirt, attempting to get the fabric to tear. A brief curse at the simplicity of movie medical situations and what was actually possible; and a fingernail split enough threads to tear a hole. Another few yanks and he decimated whatever the hell he was wearing, but managed to get a strip of fabric long enough to bind Elizabeth’s leg. It didn’t seem to be bleeding too badly.

Next problem.

There were still other people nearby, he could hear various whimpers and a man yelled for help. What Alex needed to do was determine where the hell ‘here’ was and find an exit.

God, he wished Virgil was here.

A blink.

Alex swallowed. Okay, they really needed to get out of here.

But again, he was drawn back to the problem of exactly where ‘here’ was.

His head was pounding and working far slower than he was used to. It was frustrating.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?” The shape that was Elizabeth was turned towards him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Bit of a headache. Just thinking about how to get out of here.”

She drew in a shaky breath. “Yeah.”

He was in Gisborne.

The thought came to him suddenly and glaringly.

Gisborne. Why was he in Gisborne?

The throb in his head made thinking so hard. An image of Erica shooing him out of his lab.

He blinked dust out of his eyes. Erica was always shooing him out of his lab. She smotherhenned him within an inch of his life sometimes.

And he loved her for it.

His world was so different from what it had been before. He was so lucky. He was able to create what needed creating. He had the support of some of the most powerful people in the world.

Unassuming powerful people who offered him coffee and a smile.

So lucky.

“Alex? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Huh?”

The darkness had him wanting to close his eyes.

But he couldn’t.

Because it was a symptom of a head injury.

Holographic Scott Tracy said so.

“Yeah, I’m good.” A deep breath, laden with dust and moisture. Water was still dripping somewhere. “We’re in Gisborne.”

“Yes, we are. In the Tairiwhiti Museum.” Elizabeth’s voice was steadier. “In the cafe.”

In the cafe?

Mum.

“I was here with my mother!” He desperately tried to draw information from his foggy memory. “She…” Where was she? His heart hurt to think of her lying somewhere in this darkness. He raised his voice. “Doctor Sweetapple?!” A struggled breath. “Mum?!”

Several voices answered, crying out for help.

None were his mother.

He swallowed. Walk it through.

He needed to find his mum.

He needed to help these people.

And they needed to get out of here.

As if reading his intentions, the floor he and Elizabeth were sitting on groaned, and something in the distance snapped like a gunshot.

And the whole building moved.

Alex yelled as the floor tipped, sliding downhill with a screaming screech. He grabbed Elizabeth and the nearest fixture in the dark and clung to both in the roar of snapping crumbling wood and brick.

Until it all slammed to a stop, wood raining down on them both.

The silence that followed was marred by the sound of rushing water.

The building was now on an angle, dust falling past them.

Elizabeth was crying in his arms while he desperately attempted to catch his breath and calm his racing heart.

At least he now had a direction. Up was likely out.

And they needed to get out now.

-o-o-o-

“Alex is here…in Gisborne?” The words drifted from Virgil’s throat as he stared at small holographic Scott standing on his wrist.

“Yes, he went there for lunch with his mother.”

Virgil looked at the devastated landscape around him. Alex was somewhere in this?

He straightened his shoulders. “Do we have any idea of his location?”

John appeared beside Scott. “His credit card was last used at the Farmer’s Market. Street camera footage has him and his mother walking across the Peel Street bridge half an hour before the quake hit.”

The fact that neither of those systems were able to be accessed by ‘unauthorised’ personnel was completely ignored.

The fact the Peel Street bridge was now in the river it was supposed to span was far from encouraging either.

Virgil was currently standing on the remains of one of the taller buildings in the city, so he could see across the devastation towards the river and the remains of the markets where Alex might be.

He swallowed his instinctive reaction down, his need to be there immediately, the need to find his…friend.

He swallowed again, pushing his heart into his boots and straightened. His brother’s news had come just as they pulled the last out of the building beneath his feet. “Thunderbird Five, where are we needed next?”

His holographic brothers didn’t respond immediately, John’s hands darting across controls Virgil could not see. Scott’s expression was one Virgil did not want to parse.

Not now.

But John understood. “Local services are requesting liquefaction assistance along the Portside riverbank. Thunderbird Two is needed along with some rescuee extraction.”

“FAB.” Virgil turned, his exosuit wheezing with every movement.

“Thunderbird One will attend Gisborne shortly. I just need to finish up here. ETA fifteen minutes.” The Commander’s voice hid everything.

Virgil nodded, thankful for holographic technology, his throat suddenly tight.

“We will find him, Virgil.”

Another nod.

“FAB.”

-o-o-o-

Next

[juuuulez]

Okay but since that anon mentioned your Capulet series, I've re-read it and as I am also re-watching The Last Of Us, I can't help but Invision pre-apocalypse Negan and Reader as Joel and Sarah, esp when the outbreak happens at school, it gave me TLOU ep 1 vibes tbh! <333

ALSOOOO I can just SEE a younger reader pulling a "drugs. I sell hardcore drugs." at Negan if she ever gave him a gift for his birthday or something post-apocalypse!

UM UM UM WHY IS THIS IN MY DRAFTS!!!! WHY DIDNT I POST THIS!!!!!!!!!!! okay lock in for my walking dead infodump

oh wow this is so cute… my TLOU and walking dead obsession go hand in hand so knowing that it gave those vibes is the biggest compliment ever

but can i admit something naughty…….

there’s actually an alternate ending to capulet. like, a “canon” version that goes along with the rest of twd……and i never wrote it because, well, it’s a carl fic, and we’ve already mourned his death once.

i’ll put some stuff about it under the cut, because who knows, maybe one day i’ll write it:

basically, if carl had of died like canon, reader would’ve went a little bit crazy. not terribly so, just paranoid, and probably bitching out even more on the saviours.

when negan’s captured it’s like the nail in the coffin, and she’d basically beg anyone to stick around and help her break him out, but nobody wants anything to do with it: the sanctuary is completely abandoned. she spends days, maybe even weeks, incessantly plotting some stupid plan, but never gets around to committing because ultimately she knows it’s slim.

this is simultaneous to rick going a little off the rails, y’know, cus his son is dead. so, with rick paying less attention, and reader still a giant red question mark on the community? maggie takes things into her own hands.

because she’s not risking negan escaping. as far as she’s concerned, you’re a loose thread, someone who could fuck this whole thing up. but being pregnant she can’t exactly do much about it, so instead, she handballs the task to michonne.

the instructions are very clear: kill her. doesn’t matter how, or where, or with what, just make sure it happens.

michonne spends maybe a day hunting you down. the second you even spot her at the sanctuary, you run, letting her chase you anywhere you can get on two legs.

that doesn’t last forever, for michonne is smarter, and probably quicker. she corners you in this dusty area at the edge of town, finally getting you down to your knees. up until this point, you’ve been a rabid animal, fighting and yelling and spitting.

but she just needs you to listen to her.

because she’s not gonna kill you.

instead? you will go far, far away. anywhere but here. and if you ever showed your face again, if anyone even caught the tiniest whiff of you, you’d be killed on sight.

that’s not a bad deal, though. compared to execution, at least.

michonne takes your bat, deciding that would have to be ample proof that she got the job done. you also hand over that little notebook you always carry, the one with drawings of carl in it.

(years later judith would find this notebook and go down to interrogate negan: before eventually suggesting that he keeps it, for he has nothing that reminds him of you. he declines and says that you’d probably wanted judith to have it).

everyone in alexandria thinks you’re dead. michonne tells maggie, who subsequently spreads the news, taking some satisfaction in telling negan, who’s downright miserable.

because it’s depressing. you had been free, and now you were dead. it was almost animalistic, like you’d been put down, like your life wasn’t human enough.

it was unfair because his mistakes got him imprisoned, whilst yours got you killed. that’s fucked up. but, it’s meant to be fucked up, because it’s meant to be a lesson.

years pass like this.

it only serves as another point of tension between negan and maggie, but that isn’t uncommon at this point.

“you killed my husband.”

“you killed my daughter.”

to which maggie would always say, “she’s not your daughter.”

not entirely untrue, but it still stung.

and now it’s 2028: the unlikely pair has ventured into new york in order to rescue hershel, and have been tipped that there’s somebody who knows the area like the back of their hand.

someone who works for the croat, but never speaks with him directly, and can therefore fly under his radar. a scavenger who travels across cities searching for any supplies that could be of use, all in exchange for safety and protection within the bounds of new york.

aaannnndddd i think you can figure out the rest

[shinydelirium]

hi, just wanna say that without the essays and analysis people as you have published here, I wouldn't love Kiro as much as I do nowadays, he's my precious sunshine. I don't really expect anything from Papergames as a company, so I'm keeping my little treasures regardless of what's gonna come out of it in the end. do you plan in the future to explain what you think ended up going downhill with the direction of the game you have briefly mentioned?

Hello @ladyjune26! Thanks for the ask and being so very patient with me on answering. Here are the major complaints/pet peeves I have with what Papergames has done and continues to do to lessen my love of the game and their treatment of Kiro as a main love interest: *WARNING* LOTS OF RANTING AHEAD

Kiro always being the "odd one out of the bunch" in regards to karmas: Honestly, why did Papergames think it was a good idea to do this? I can tell which love interest they favor most over Kiro just from looking at the karma illustrations during group events. It's almost like they use a different filter on them or use a different artist completely to draw his karmas cuz his stick out like a sore thumb. A perfect example would be from last year's Xmas/New Year's event (Modern Rhapsody) where all the guys get stylish hairstyles and Kiro gets the short end of the stick. They forgot he's a main love interest and now he's just an afterthought. Another example is the Valentine's event where all the guys get kiss karmas and say "I love you". All the guys have open-mouth kisses with their eyes open and once again they don't do that with Kiro. IS IT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT TO BE CONSISTENT!?!?! MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!! Plus, why can't they ever draw MC in gorgeous outfits or hot and intimate scenes with Kiro? She constantly looks plain and boring in many of them. Her relationship with Kiro is no longer friends anymore. THEY'RE LOVERS!!! Also, no creativity. There's a lot of karmas where they draw the same old stuff in them like a teddy bear, daisies, sunflowers....COME ON!!! THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS GOING FOR HIM!!! 'The Versatile King' my ass!!! Don't make statements like those if you can't even fulfill them. If they need ideas for karmas I have plenty...no wait, they already used them for the other love interests which leads to the next point.

Kiro has been reduced to a minor character/NPC role: In season 1 main story, Kiro had the least amount of screen time. I remember a Weibo post where a CN player calculated how much total screen time he had and it was 80 minutes! I haven't exactly tested if this was true but I've seen many CN fans mention this. Also, throughout season 1, his major plot points were all put into Rumors and Secrets and they're still doing it in season 2. And don't get me started on how much repetitiveness on certain aspects of his character...ISTG, I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY METAPHORS ABOUT A BEAR IN MY LIFE!!! Starting to see the pattern now?

Nothing gets changed when Kiro fans address issues: There was a time when during one of Gavin's bday karmas, his fans were hounding customer service to add the gingko bracelet to MC's wrist and within a very short period of time, it was done. However, whenever Kiro fans want something changed, nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, gets done. A while back, there was a magazine advertising the game and for some very strange reason, they typed Kiro's name wrong and his birthdate. The entire Weibo page was just post after post about it. There's no excuse for such a small mistake which could have easily been avoided.

His karmas are released last: Whether it's the Fragrant Sunshine ERs, solo Wish Tree events, or in general, Kiro tends to be the last one scheduled. So far, he has not had a single free SR/SSR karma this year and it's already July. When the first kiss karmas were released several years ago, Kiro was once again the last one released.

Storyline and character arc: Are they ever going to address how Kiro can change into his silver-haired Helios form? Why does he have those markings on his right arm and how can they appear and disappear whenever? Is he ever going to find his master KEY? Why does Kiro look so much like his master KEY who was the previous Helios? Does that mean KEY also had blue eyes? What is this mission they keep teasing about? HELL, HIS ORIGINS!?!? There's been no story development whatsoever and they keep reusing the same stuff in the chapters. What happened to all that awesome character development in the first half of season 2? Crumbs keep dropping but it leads to nowhere. Here's a hot take: Westmoon had a much better, cohesive story overall. I am forever sad that it's over. If it isn't already obvious, the writers are heavily milking the main story. As much as I don't like season 1, at least it was more entertaining and mysterious especially when MC "died" and ended up in Winter World where all the love interests didn't know her. They should have continued from there. It would have been interesting to see how the relationships developed and MC ended up staying despite everything. Did she have to go back to the "main world"? There's just too many questions or maybe I'm being too analytical.

Kiro is constantly paired with Victor or Gavin during top-up karmas: Mostly he's paired with Victor and outshines Kiro's karmas in art style even if Kiro's karma is a SSR one. What are you trying to say Papergames? Always catering to the love interests who are the most popular in the fandom and give you the most money. I never see Kiro paired with Lucien. The unfairness is through the roof when this happens.

Dates that coincide with Main Story: For real though. Whatever happened with that? I remember there were a handful of these dates that follow-up with events that occurred during the main storyline (i.e. Light Pursuit- God tier date👌and Clinic date). PG completely did away with them for some reason. It gave so much insight and fleshed out Kiro's character more. I have yet to see a SINGLE date in season 2 that does this.

That's pretty much all the major issues I've come across. There are others but I've done enough nit-picking. However, don't let my opinions sway your enjoyment of the game. If you still like it, then please by all means, continue to play. Hope you have a wonderful day and take care!

[skelinor]

It's me again, sorry if this is a dumb question but I believe you said that it's important to know how and what to practice in order to improve at drawing, correct?

If I wanted to be completely self-taught like you (no videos, books, classes, anything) how would I know whether I'm practicing correctly or not? Am I just supposed to know? Again, sorry if this is a stupid question

Hope you like reading >:)

I wouldn't say I'm completely self-taught. I've taken classes before, read books, watched videos, etc. I haven't done any actual professional training, though, if that's what you're asking.

It's a little nebulous, but- in my own amatuer opinion- you'll know if you're practicing correctly if your method makes sense to you, you feel like you're learning, and if you can see visible improvement after a lot of practice (you need to compare your new art to your old art in order to really see if you're improving. Just guessing won't give you a good understanding. It's incredibly easy to kick yourself for thinking you aren't improving when you're not actually looking at your older stuff and seeing how far you've come.)

Maybe this answer is frustrating, but there's really no right way to practice- this is the reason why it's so hard to find a definitive answer on this subject. The things I mentioned above are what work for me, but they might not work for you- your brain is, fortunately, wired completely different from mine. I feel like no one ever talks about this, but learning how to draw isn't just about understanding color, shapes, 3D space, etc etc etc. It's about understanding how you learn. In order to understand ANYTHING- whether it be art-related or not, you have to first recognize and understand what causes your brain to be the most receptive to learning and storing information. Do you feel random bursts of curiosity and creativity at 1 AM? Then capitalize on that and recognize that you feel most like learning when it's quiet, dark, and there are no expectations. Do you notice that you learn better from teachers who are passionate, bubbly, and excitable rather than serious, stoic, and businesslike, or vice versa? Then seek out the information you need from those kinds of sources and go into it with the same kind of mindset. You have to work with your brain, not force it. That being said, though, don't be afraid to experiment with things that you may not think will work for you. You may find that the most learning comes from unexpected sources or methods.

A huge, massive part of my method is just messing around. I never have a set idea in mind of exactly what I'm going to do before I do it- I just make what I want to make and follow any little ideas I have, even if they're stupid. I think this mindset may be helpful for you in creating your own personal method of practice. Don't take it too seriously just yet. Mess around, find what works for you, make some purposefully ugly art, have fun, whatever. Understand you're not going to find the right method right off the bat and you'll feel like you're getting nowhere- which is okay! Because now you know what doesn't work for you. Finding your method is going to take some time. And you might find something that works for a little while, but needs to either be adjusted or changed completely as you progress and understand yourself better.

As an example of what I do, if I have a random idea in mind of something I'd like to draw, I find it extremely helpful to do studies beforehand so I can gain more of an understanding of how the things I want to appear in the drawing work. So, if I wanted to draw a fish skateboarding, I'd take time to practice how to draw both a fish and a skateboard- using many different photo references or real life references if I had any. I'd also quickly read some wikipedia articles on how they both work, watch some videos, and come up with some questions- like would the fish's gills flare at the exhiliration of a jump? Are his fins whipping behind him to show how fast he's going? How would a fish even ride a skateboard? Stuff like that. Once I'm done, I would then compare my sketches from the beginning of the session to the ones at the end to see how I improved, what I can still do better, the concepts I like best, and anything that needs adjusting before I start on the actual drawing.

I'm going to end this before I bore you to death. Hope this helped. Go make something cool.

[marypsue]

for the ask game: 10, 11

+ 76 with the hawkins indiana psychic baby boom series. i know it's not done yet, but anything that didn't make into the first two parts and won't fit into/make sense in the 3rd one either?

love the way you write xx

[from this meme]

I've done 10, but I'll gladly do the other two! (And thank you very much!)

11. Link your three favorite fics right now

Ooh, that's a hard one. Like I said, I have a list that I need to get caught up on. I'm liking the 'right now' on this very much, though. It's doing some heavy lifting.

I've already mentioned @maddie-grove's Tonight, Tonight, The Highway's Bright, so for three other ongoing fics, I'm going to plug Wavelength, by @bixxelated (Stranger Things season 1 AU where Mike also has psychic abilities) because it's so much fun, and there is a bigger mystery unfolding than I've been able to see the full shape of yet, i bet you think about me by @rocketnebulas (Stranger Things, Steve/Jonathan, they broke up but still share a Spotify account AU) because I just love the way this author writes romantic relationships, and A Stumble by @definitely-not-a-bug (Stranger Things, post-season 1 - season 2 AU where El got caught when she went back to Mike's house after the events of season 1, and it changes everything and nothing) because the character work in that one is just killing me and it's frankly criminal how little attention it's gotten.

76. Did you have any ideas that didn’t make the final cut of the Hawkins, Indiana psychic baby boom?

There's actually a scene I've been sitting on that I cut from part 2 because trying to make it fit was making the story drag! I was hoping to shoehorn it in somewhere in part 3, but the more I write, the less it seems to fit what's going on between the characters at this point in time, so it very well might just end up on the cutting room floor.

...

“So, tell me. When the Brain says ‘if you need anything at all’, does that include help digging up a pumpkin patch by hand?”

Joyce sighs, jabbing the point of her shovel into the dirt and leaning heavily against the handle. “Why do you have such a problem with him? And don’t try to tell me it’s just that he’s too good to be true, again.”

Whatever answer she’s hoping for – and even she’s not sure – she doesn’t get it. Hopper just goes back to throwing shovelsful of dirt out of the steadily-growing hole at their feet and doesn’t meet her eyes.

“I worry about you,” he says, finally, to the dirt.

“Worry about - ! Hop, he’s the biggest sweetheart I’ve ever met. Nothing at all like -” Joyce bites off her own sentence. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder what it would even take to make him get really angry.” Honestly, sometimes, some perverse part of her wants to push. Wants to be cruel enough to find out.

Even thinking it, trying to put it into words, just makes it sound crazy even to Joyce. God, what is wrong with her. Bob’s seemingly endless reserves of calm patience should be reassuring, not anxiety-inducing.

Joyce just – she doesn’t know where his limits are. Doesn’t know if maybe she’s already found them. She’s fallen for one lying, manipulative sonuvabitch already. The more helpful and understanding Bob tries to be with each new thing Joyce has to put him through, the worse the nagging worry gets. That maybe he’s putting on a friendly face to get something out of her. Or quietly stewing over the best way to hurt her back for something Joyce didn’t even realise she’d done. That maybe it’s all about to blow up in her face –

That sounds paranoid. It sounds paranoid, and Joyce knows that’s not what Bob’s like. She trusts him, he’s never given any sign that he’s anything other than exactly what he seems to be, anything other than genuinely kind. It’s just –

Sometimes, she just doesn’t know what he’s thinking.

If only he’d blow his top every once in a while, draw a hard line of how much more he’ll put up with, maybe then Joyce would be able to tell where she stands.

“That wasn’t what -” Hopper huffs out a sigh, resting a foot on the head of the shovel and leaning against the handle as he looks Joyce in the face. “You got him right in the middle of everything. Keeping him in the dark’s gotta be a full-time job. Especially right now.”

“That’s why I don’t want to, anymore,” Joyce says. That’s part of the truth, anyway. “He’s part of my life, now. I – I want him to be a part of my life.”

[gamebunny-advance]

Grab Bag Doodles

Nothing really feels "right" anymore. I dunno, I just feel creatively bankrupt as of late. But nonetheless, I still find some occasions to put the pen nib to the tablet.

Notes under the cut.

1-2) A few attempts at some different "mini Kun3h0s." I'd like her mini form to look fairly consistent across appearances, some I'm trying to work out a good simplified look for her.

3-5) Misc. Kun3h0 Sketches. Still getting a feel for drawing her more consistently. I keep drifting back towards her original proportions. Also the rare semi-x-ray view. I've done a lot more recently, but I just wanted to post a small sampling since they're all essentially the same.

6) Sweetie & Katrina doodle. Going through the old posts made me a little nostalgic, so I drew a couple of the girlies from TPS. No, the show really hasn't aged that well, but it's always gonna a special place in my heart.

7) Mini!Kul Fyra + Young Kliff. Silly doodle trying to solidify their young designs. You can still see the original sketch underneath the new one, so you can probably tell that originally Fyra was supposed to be picking up Kliff by his shirt collar. It's my headcanon that at some point she just started carrying him around like luggage because it was more convenient.

8) Puppet Party. A call back to this doodle from a while back. I originally joked that how sinister the image was depended on how you interpreted Kliff as a character, so here's that more sinister take on the idea. But I'm not that into it, so I doubt I'm gonna come back for it.

9-12) Animal Crossing Open Seas character sketches. Some terribly rough sketches of a few NPCs from Open Seas. I'm not happy with any of them yet, but I hope that I'll find the motivation to put more work into them.

First are "The Katz," the potential cover band that teaches you how to play different instruments in exchange for food. I don't have names for any of them yet and I'm not even sold on them being cats.

The Faraway Museum Curator. This sketch really isn't close to what I want for them. I'd like something more "wise" and imposing looking to contrast with the kind of bumbling Blathers. I'm thinking that they're a stoic looking character that nonetheless gets really giddy when you show a genuine interest in the museum. Kind of like a tsundere, but they're old.

Brewster's Apprentice. I think they're supposed to be a budgie, but I honestly can't remember XP. I haven't developed them at all~

Castaway Creature. Implied to be the mayor that got lost during "the incident". They got washed up on a small neighboring island and have been living there ever since. The idea was to completely obscure what kind of animal they originally were, so their fur has grown out and matted so much that most of their features have been obscured. I need to refine it, but I think they're really cute. I have a distinct mental image of them waddling around and wagging their tail when you give them something nice. I'll try to detail exactly what they do in the "Boats" post for Open Seas.

Snowman Seal Villager. An idea for a potential seal villager. I think the seal lends itself to a snowman-esque design, so I made one. The name isn't set in stone, but I've taken to calling them "Snowbert" for the time being. Alternative name suggestions are welcome~

I have a few more sketches of both seal and ferret designs, but this one is the most complete right now.

[justarandomlambblog]

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 [END]

The third cuff comes off with a moment remembered too late

Story/explanation below the cut (because I am 10000% aware this one needs explanation)

Years have passed and Narinder has settled into his life in this village as the Old Dog's son. However, one night as he wanders through the town, lit by lanterns, he hears coughing from one of the houses. When he looks, he realizes he can see tendrils of shadow with his third eye. He goes to investigate, only to discover the entire family has these tendrils surrounding them, but by far the worst is the couple's youngest child, who is clearly dying. Narinder realizes a plague has come to his new home, and there's nothing he can do to stop it.

He thinks of Kallamar, who sat by his own sickbed and nursed him back to health when he was just a kit.

More time passes and this plague spreads, and Narinder seems to be the only one not affected by it at all. Those who are the least affected continue to work, those who cannot work try to rest and recover. Narinder's adoptive father is among the latter, having been brought to a medical building so the medics can treat him with the others. Narinder stays by his side, ever the faithful son, and laments that he doesn't know how to reverse sickness.

He asks his father what happens to the godless after death, and his father takes his hand, pulling it away from the tendrils of sickness that he can't see. He tells Narinder how the godless lands are not faithless, and that there is still belief in life after death; the ties you make in life creates a web of connections with your soul, and through that web of connections a world is carved out for your soul with every person you have ever loved, and every person those people have loved, bridging generations together across unfathomable reaches of time. Death is merciful to the godless, and it is what each person makes it.

His father dies of the illness not long after, his health already frail due to his age, and Narinder mourns, alone. His only comfort is the belief he clings to that his father is reunited with his spouse and their children.

Narinder thinks of Kallamar and imagines him sitting there, and asks his imagined brother if there was anything he could have done. What would Kallamar have done?

Not-Kallamar tells him; "exactly what I've told you before." When Narinder actually looks at his imagined brother, he realizes imaginary-Kallamar holds two cups- an echo of a moment millennia past, when Narinder once asked Kallamar how he was able to cure sickness as well as cause it.

"I can pour the water from this cup into the other cup, and I can pour it back into the first cup. For me, sickness is just like the water. I can give it, and I can take it away. And once the cup is full..."

Narinder, realizing all at once he can see and touch the tendrils for a reason, gets an idea. He takes off, running to the village and through it. He has no time to waste; people are dying and dead, enough time having passed that many new graves have been filled, just like his father's. No time to stop and chat.

He bursts into the cow family's home, rushing into the youngest's room. The child is barely hanging by a thread now, their momma by their side and their mom getting water from the kitchen, and he drops down by their bed, ignoring the mothers' confused, startled questions.

He thinks of what Kallamar said and closes his mortal eyes to focus, and reaches deep inside himself for the magic he's only ever accidentally/passively used until now. He pulls on his magic and reaches for the tendrils, for the sickness, and draws on it.

Like water from a cup; "and once the cup is full... I can pour it out."

The child wakes up for the first time in days, and their mothers are overjoyed, embracing them. Narinder focuses on the drop of plague in his hands, something he has never seen before; he holds it between his hands like a prayer and draws on the plague itself, and though no one can see the tendrils pull away from them, they can feel the breath settle in their lungs, feel the steadying of their hearts as Narinder uses every bit of magic he can muster in this moment, pulling the death plague into his hands. Once it's nothing but energy and magic in his hands, he lifts it up and dispels it. As he does, the cuff on his wrist opens and falls into his other hand.

He watches blankly as it disappears, and thinks of Kallamar's pleas, begging him to not tear their family apart. Kallamar was always so afraid.

Narinder’s startled when the calf throws themself at him, embracing him, and Narinder can't help but start crying- for his father, but also for his family as a whole. The calf's mothers embrace him too, offering him comfort. He doesn't have to grieve alone.

Later, still wearing his mourning veil, Narinder bows for the very first time in his life, a show of respect to his late father. He then joins the others in the farm.

The land needs tilling and the village needs feeding, after all.

[dark-horse76]

The Enfield Gang Massacre (by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips) is officially over 😭😭😭

Whilst I'm still processing it all, this is what I have to say so far (I've stuck to the first issue and generalities so as to avoid spoilers):

The Enfield Gang Massacre is my favourite comic. When I first heard about it, I wasn't sure I'd like the story. Violent things are not usually my cup of tea, but I was going to get it anyway because I'd seen some of the art and it was absolutely gorgeous and I'd read one issue of That Texas Blood, which is the universe in which EGM is set (though in TTB's past), and absolutely loved it.

By page 4, I knew I was in trouble xd

And then this is the moment I fell irrevocably in love:

I love him <3 He's my kind of character.

EGM #1 also has some of my favourite artwork. Such as:

1) Enfield's stupid (affectionate <3) face (that I keep attempting to draw - one day it'll go well 😂).

I love his little face. It's my joint favourite image from EGM (tied with...)

This:

[I also keep attempting to draw this, and it keeps going somehow even worse than Enfield's face 😂 (But also I think I might've figured something out about it so I need to try it again soon. But I digress, as usual 😂)]

This is the first image I saw from EGM. I just love it so much. It makes my heart long for Texas. I wish I could hug it. Or step through into it and bask in the Texas sun and spend a night under the vast stars of the west Texas night sky.

That scene is the reason I need duplicate copies of most of the EGM issues - because I need to cut it (and my other favourite ones) out, frame them, and put them on my wall lol

3. This

And this

Just. Look at them. Why are they so pretty. Why are they so cool. Why are the colours so fantastic. I love them.

I really love the bottom one, just because it's so simple but so cool. The red background and red scar with the black does it for me lol (also it looks cool when I draw it in pencil xd).

And with regard to the series as a whole...

1) The NEWSPRINT PAPER. My God, the newsprint paper. Probably the other reason I need duplicate copies 😂 I keep wanting to touch it because I love the feel of it, but I don't want to damage it over time, so. It really adds something special to the book.

2) The "Texas Record" bits at the back. So good.

The whole comic is just. Perfection.

There's just so much to dig into with the story itself, and also what the story, the art, and everything else about it means to me personally.

I may have imprinted on this comic a little lol. That 1 TTB issue I read was in the first 10ish comics I ever read. I don't know exactly where EGM falls, but it likely isn't too far behind. I think it was still in the first 20.

This comic is definitely top of the list of things I aspire to emulate - the engaging and thoughtful writing and the incredible artwork and exquisite colouring that just so deftly tells the story and builds the world and its characters.

I keep trying to imagine this done with a different style of artwork, and I just can't see it. What's done in the book perfectly suits the story and the world.

I feel like I still have so much to say about Enfield - there's just so much - but it's still so messy in my head. I'm also still very new to comics and art and all of it, so I don't necessarily have the words to describe everything I feel. In the past, I've mostly just left it at that, messy in my head, but I'm now surrounded by such intelligent and articulate people who can analyse media and such so well that I feel I must at least try as I want to be more like them. (I also don't really like having it so messy in my head lol)

But, until then, my final thoughts are:

This comic is so good. It has so much going for it: Fantastic artwork (and the colours are just 😍); thought-provoking & interesting story/characters; the feel of the paper that adds to its atmosphere - and it's set in Texas. What more do you need??? 😂

Read the Enfield Gang Massacre, y'all.👍🏻

I think the single issues are more than worth it, but the trade is also on pre-order now. So you know what to do - find your local comic shop and order them all. Allllll the Enfield. :D

If you don't have a local comic shop, or would like one of the super cool signed bookplates, order it from The Best Comic Book Shop Around (@okcomics in Leeds) (they ship to anywhere/everywhere):

PS

The connecting covers are the coolest thing ever - yet another reason to get all the singles. :D

However, you may not be able to find the first issue with that cover, as it sold out. BUT, the second printing cover, done by Sean Phillips, is gorgeous.

And so is the variant cover they have for issue six - a drawing of the Lighthouse rock formation in Palo Duro Canyon* by Tradd Moore.

*if that isn't what this is of, I'll eat my hat xd

Get copies of those, too xd I think there may also be another variant cover of one of them - some kind of Walking Dead thing, which I personally didn't like, but, you might

[astromaki]

part 3 of second choice ; ceo!shoto todoroki x gn!reader (x ceo!katsuki bakugo) (1617 words)

part 1. part 2. (previous) part 4.

tw ; angst, arranged marriage, toxic relationship, degradation, divorce, mention of alcohol, bad language, slightly suggestive ?

EXTRA INFOS ;; all the characters are aged up obviously (they are 30 here), the point of view of this third part is from shoto todoroki !

confrontation. [7 : 16 pm]

a week has passed since he came home that night drunk. that he had begged momo to stay with him. that he had accidentally seen those divorce papers crumpled by your hands.

momo had seen them too that night, and yet she and shoto had not commented on them. good, he wasn't in the mood anyway.

it had become almost official, even the media had it on their front pages. "one of japan's richest couples on the verge of divorce?", "billionaire todoroki single again?" "y/n, will the heir.ess of their father's company return to being a lawyer?"

he would have liked to say that he cared what you thought about it. if you cried, screamed, were you hurt ? but that would be lying, you were the least of his worries.

and then, wasn't it what he wanted from the beginning ?

that you would end up hating him so much that you would leave him. that he could finally be free of the weight that you represented every day.

and yet his signature was still missing.

"you can't even love your partner properly, and now i hear through the media that a divorce is on the way ? you're pathetic son. i knew i should have married them to touya. " enji's heart-attack voice echoed terribly through the phone, which made shoto sigh. he was even pretty sure he could hear it from across town.

"calm down." shoto said in an annoyed tone. "your marriage isn't a success either, so keep your remarks to yourself. bye. "

"you idiot, don't you dare hanging up on me. i don't care if you can't satisfy your s/o, i don't care if they feel bad about this arranged marriage either. but y/n y/l/n comes from a very famous lawyer's family, so get a divorce and the amount of money you have to give will be huge. "

"i manage them, it will not be a problem. i have to go now. "

the young man finally returned to your room, looking exhausted, his tie loosened and ready to down a few glasses of whiskey.

however, he was surprised to see you. dressed in a beautiful versace dress/suit, you were glowing. well no, he meant that you looked... good.

though, it was the first time he took the time to look at you. to admire you.

the young man finally met your indifferent gaze through the mirror you were standing in front of. that gaze that was so joyful and sparkling at the beginning of your marriage, full of hope to transform this purely financial union into a love marriage.

but that look, devoid of emotion, almost made shoto, Japan's most ambitious ceo, doubt himself. almost.

"i'm surprised you're still using my card to splurge. how much is this one? $1000 ? $2000 ?"

he was tired, exhausted. nut the truth is he was in the mood to be a pain in the ass tonight.

"$ 8,330. plus the $800 pair. " you replied coldly.

your answer was like a slap in the face to your husband. not because of the price, he didn't give a fuck about this.

but this tone right there. it wasn't like you. you were normally so gentle, patient even with the worst of the crap he put you through. that naive kindness that made him want to vomit was completely gone. he didn't expect such a turn of events.

"so you decide to divorce me, but first you want to empty my bank account? you're exactly as I imagined." his look that used to reflect nothing but fatigue was now full of contempt for you.

you finally faced him. shit, he couldn't help but find you beautiful.

"here todoroki, let's talk about the divorce. " you began, quietly walking over to the cabinet and pulling out a stack of documents. "i've signed it, sign it, and i'll take it to my lawyers first thing in the morning.

he snatched them out of your hand and threw them across the room. you didn't even flinch, you even held his gaze. poker face.

a loud silence fell between you. a long silence, uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time. heavy and light. sensible and meaningless.

"what's all this about ? who put you up to this ?"

a wry laugh escaped your lips. your new behavior puzzled shoto. he loved and hated what he had in front of him. a challenge.

"you think i need someone to make me realize that i deserve better than an asshole like you ? fuck, let me laugh. "

your hand went to retrieve a piece of paper from your purse. and it was slammed hard against his chest. bakugou’s business card.

he found your face inches from his, your warm breath gently caressing his cheeks. a scent of whiskey filled his nostrils. you were not sober.

"how many drinks are you on? " he asked quietly.

"so now do you care if i downed a whole bottle or not ? oh please shut up. because now that you mention it, your friend bakugou katsuki may have hired me. to be his company's business lawyer. isn't that funny? "

you turned your back on him, unaware of the state you'd put him in. but damn, it was like he'd just been slapped in the face. nausea took over his whole body, his legs became heavy and weak in few seconds only. and he knew damn well it wasn't fatigue.

so you were leaving him, but on top of that you were going to work for his number one competitor ?

he didn't know what hurt more, the knowledge that bakugo had won one of the most competent lawyers in the field or that you were leaving him for him ? was he jealous ? surely not, it was another feeling that repulsed him. he didn't even know.

"have you lost your tongue todoroki ?"

todoroki ? since when did you call him by his last name ? where are the darlings or my heart that used to annoy him so much ?

you finish getting ready, now wearing your long jacket. he had lost his tongue indeed, he didn't know what to say to you. what to do.

y/n y/l/n, you had succeeded in putting your husband to the wall.

but it was only for a moment. he quickly, too quickly, pulled himself together. his usual irritated expression returned.

"you don't see that he's using you to get ahead of me ? i thought you were smarter than that. "

he took a step forward, slowly but surely. like a predator approaching its prey.

"he doesn't care about you. just like no one has ever cared about you, not me, not him and not your bourgeois family. that's why they put you in a loveless marriage so easily. "

a mirthless laugh escaped from his lips.

"y/n, this bastard doesn't give a damn about you. "

you tried to move towards him, ready to slap him, but the alcohol made you capsize and stumble on your carpet. he arrived just in time to support you with his muscular arms. an annoyed sigh resounded in the large room when your sob reached his ears.

nevertheless, a petty smile stretched his lips. there you were again, the fragile and unassertive y/n finally in his arms.

that bakugo had managed to turn your brain inside out. yet shoto knew you better than anyone else. he knew you. better than you knew yourself. you were that puzzle he had managed to decipher long ago.

"that's not true. kacchan wouldn't do that...", you whisper.

"you know i'm right, sweetheart. you know i'm the only one who's honest with you. my love for you is all you need. "

his muscular hand gradually, peacefully, came to caress your back to take off the buttons of your dress. his lips came to meet yours, to draw you into a long, languid, unsentimental kiss. your lips asked for more, your whole soul asked for more of shoto. more of this man for whom your heart never stopped beating. even if his was vibrating for another woman.

you wanted to feel his lips making love to you sensually, sincerely.

you just wanted him to love you for one night. one fucking night.

shoto was ecstatic. he could already see himself opening a bottle of champagne with his father, to celebrate the divorce that would never happen. tonight, shoto had brought out his best acting skills. millions were at stake. he had brought out his best kiss. he had never touched you like that. so gently, so carefully.

he had never called you by any affectionate nickname.

he has done too much to keep you around.

and you were drunk, not stupid.

you finally stood up, moving away from him, reluctantly. nothing he said was true. from his love for you, to his accusations against katsuki.

awkwardly, you put your dress/suit back on properly.

"i have a meeting with my future employer mr. bakugou tonight. i'll be late. don't wait for me, i'll sleep at the hotel tonight, with your card. "

a red color came to his cheeks. anger ? sadness ? jealousy ?

he had never seen you so determined, so proud. and that attracted him. he was going to lose millions, no matter what. but it was you who was going to escape him. for that bastard bakugou katsuki.

the nice little y/n was no longer shoto todoroki's.

AHHH omg sorry sorry i told you i can't do a fluffy end!! >< (comments and reblogs are appreciated <3)

🔖 tag list ; @nveusii @angelofthorr @missmolliemoo @jazzylove @loki-an-idiot @deepestranchgoopdeputy @mhasimp666 @shotorozu @chscklvr @devilsbooksworld @marshmallow12345 (ones in bold cannot be tagged)

[twdmusicboxmystery]

(Part 1) Do you think Beth will be exactly like Dawn or Pamela, or even Alpha? She is so much associated with villains (not only, but still...), that I sometimes wonder that the "Bethyl romance" in 4x13 is all we ever get? It will be more about that Daryl will help Beth to overcome her demons... They show now Lydia being able to move on from Henry with Elijah, that I don't think a romantic relationship between Beth (or what she became) is what Daryl wants anymore. It will be more about healing

Well, I mostly disagree with your analysis here.

Don't get me wrong, I love that you're looking at dialogue and symbolism and trying to draw conclusions. And I think you're barking up the right tree. But I just interpret it differently.

Beth has definitely been associated with villains. I think that has everything to do with the CRM and that she'll be a part of that organization when she appears. Because they'll be seen by Daryl and TF as "evil," I think that will disturb those who knew Beth and they'll wonder if she's like Dawn. But that doesn't mean she actually is. Though it may appear so on the surface, I think she'll be something more like a double agent, pretending to be simpatico on the surface, but secretly working to undermine them.

Of course we can't know for certain. It's just a vibe I get from all the symbolism I've analyzed. I do think she'll be a leader of some kind, because of Gorman's line about there someday being another leader who isn't Dawn.

But no, overall I don't think she'll TRULY be like Dawn or Alpha.

I disagree that she would come to believe in and live Dawn's philosophy of things. Most of us have come to believe that her "I get it now" probably referred to her truly understanding the negative basis and results of Dawn's philosophy, which was why she stabbed Dawn: to try and put an end to it. She saw that, even though Dawn tried to convince Beth that she was a good person and doing the best she could by her people, when it came right down to it, she was still power hungry and manipulative, as evidenced by how she tried to force Noah to stay.

So, that specifically shows that she DOESN'T adhere to Dawn's philosophy.

Now, I do think the way she approached things in the hallway at Grady was flawed. She came directly at Dawn and embraced a violent act, and that got her shot. I think she'll learn from that. That she'll still fight injustice, but will do it in a different way. Perhaps under the radar and less direct (hence the secret agent persona).

As for Bethyl, I do think there might be some demons she needs to overcome--being left behind by her family, if nothing else--and that Daryl might help her with that, as she once helped him. I think that would bring the entire arc full circle in a really beautiful way.

But I also do 100% believe Bethyl will be a thing. Just the fact that they put Beth in the ep 18 montage the way they did is practically proof in my mind (even though it's really just strong evidence).

Even putting aside what Daryl wants, or what Beth wants, and anything else story-related, I can promise you the writers would not have done everything they've done, set up the arc and the romance in S4/S5, waited all this time, put tons of clues in, and then gone to the trouble to write Beth/Emily back into the story...only to NOT have Bethyl happen.

Neither Gimple nor Kang would ever do that.

Put simply, if she's coming back, Bethyl is happening. End of story. If she doesn't come back, then obviously not, and it's a moot point anyway. But I'm gonna point you to that ep 18 montage one more time. 😉

Sure, sometimes writers set up things they don't pay off, but guess what happens to them? They don't get to write anymore shows, and the audience hates them for it. Check out LOST, the end of Dawson's Creek, or reviews on the final Sookie Stackhouse book if you don't believe me.

But we have ample evidence that the writers have planned this since S4, if not earlier, and that they've kept Emily in reserve all these years so she could return to this role. In short, I'm not worried in the slightest. Bethyl is very close, now. I can't wait! Xoxo! 🍁💖