#IT WAS SO COLORFUL AND BOLD AND DIFFERENT AND SO VISUALLY BEAUTIFUL

[shippy-from-apocalypse]

WHY DID NOT A SINGLE ONE OF MY FRIENDS TELL ME TO WATCH RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES???

YOU ALL KNEW I WAS OBSESSED WITH TMNT. YOU ALL KNOW THAT IM A HUGE ANIMATION SUCK UP AND THAT I LOVE EARNEST THINGS AND CHARACTER DYNAMICS AND OVER THE TOP STUFF AND CAMP AND

YOU ALL KNEW MY FAVORITE CHARACTER WAS DONNIE AND NOBODY THINKS TO TELL ME ABOUT THE SHOW WHERE HE IS HIS BEST VERSION??

IT'S SO GOOD SERIOUSLY

I am apalled and truly heartbroken. Friends are evil? Friends are cruel and unjust and i am going to Scream.

[feyreswaterybowels]

⭒The Silent One⭒

#2 Azriel x Fem!OC

⭒Part 1⭒Part 2⭒Part 3⭒Part 4⭒

Word Count: 3.8k

Summary: Cassandra decides to join the IC for dinner. Things feel weird and wrong but also…safe and comfortable. She opens up to them about her past traumas and gets to know more about them.

Warnings/Tags: mentions physical and visual sexual abuse in the recent past. describes physical violence. trauma. mute character. slow burn. protective!azriel. protective!IC.

Authors Note: All reblogs, likes and comments are welcome, appreciated and encouraged! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list for the next part! Regular italics are inter thoughts while bold italics are her communicating with other people mentally.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

“Relax,” Nuala cooed as she helped Cassandra ease into the large bath, warm and floral scented.

Cassandra had never been in a bath like this. Only one suited for regular fae without wings. They had been cramped and uncomfortable and nearly impossible to bathe everywhere without hurting a wing. But this bath? It was huge and could easily fit multiple people with and without wings. It stretched all the way to one of those glassless windows where the water spilled over in a soothing stream.

She leaned back when Nuala prompted, letting her wings float in the water. It was so nice the way they felt so weightless. Nuala tilted her head back and their eyes met as she cupped her hands with water and poured it over Cassandra’s white hair. She lathered it with a nice smelling soap, massaging at her scalp.

It was difficult to lay there and relax while someone else washed her hair. It reminded her of the mistress, how when she bathed her and washed her hair it was rushed and rough and…and when she washed her hair like this she would sometimes push her head under the water and hold her there—

Cassandra bolted up with a gasp, hands coming up to wipe away the water that fell down from her hair and over her face, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She whirled around, wide eyes catching Nuala’s, trying to desperately apologize for what she had done. The female just shook her head gently.

“It’s okay,” She said, “would you like to be left alone for a moment?”

Cassandra considered this, she both wanted to be alone and have someone else around. But she nods her head. Cerridwen walked in then, a stack of something in her hand.

“Clothes for you,” she said, sitting the stack on a shelf across the room. “We will be back but if you finish with your bath and wish to dress before we return the clothes will be here.”

Cassandra nods. She doesn’t know what else to do, but the females seem to understand, offering her small nods in return before leaving the room—the heavy door closing as they leave the bedroom the bedroom.

She sinks down in the water once she’s sure she’s alone. So much has changed in such a short time and she’s still not sure if this is all real. These people…they could change any moment. Drag her from this huge room and throw her into a prison cell and use her for whatever they pleased.

Turning in the water she pushed herself towards the other end of the tub, the one that waterfalls over the edge. What she sees there takes her breath away, an audible gasp leaving her lips.

The first thing she notices is all the lights, it looked exactly like the painting she saw with Morrigan. There was so much to look at. But what she really wanted to see was the beautiful sight above that. The night sky. The thousands of stars twinkling above, surrounding a bright moon.

She could have cried looking at the sight. But not because she felt sad, she felt safe. Comfortable. Content. Like this was where she was meant to be.

Eventually she did get out of the bath, drying herself off with the fluffy white towel that was unnaturally warm. She stopped in front of the mirror, surprised at her own reflection. She looked so different from the last time she actually saw herself. Her skin that was once a golden caramel color was lighter and ashen, dark circles under her green eyes. Her white hair slicked back with water was thinner than when it used to fall in thick ringlets as a girl. Her rib cage and hip bones protruding in a way they always had but wished they hadn’t. She had wanted a thicker, fuller body like the girls she saw at the pleasure houses. A strong body like her mothers used to be. A body that could hold up her wings and maybe one day…fly.

She had gotten dressed before Nuala and Cerridwen returned. The clothes weren’t like anything she’d ever worn before. Cream colored pants that were lined with a fuzzy material that was softer than anything she’d ever worn before. The top was a matching cream, flowy top with sleeves that stopped at her elbows and buttoned up the back to accommodate her wings. The shoes were white, flat and slipped on her feet easily.

She chose not to attend dinner that night. She wasn’t sure she could stomach any food. The twins looked disappointed. Her decision had been made to gauge how she would be treated if she didn’t have dinner with this high lord male.

She didn’t leave her room the following day either.

Or the day after that.

No one bothered her. No one came to drag her from the room kicking and screaming. No one beat on the door or called her horrible names. No one held her down or forced the food into her mouth. In fact no one except Nuala and Cerridwen came to her room at all.

And when they came they would bring a small tray of food, she only ever drank the tea and ate the biscuit and left everything else. She didn’t want to take too much before knowing if she was expected to do something in return.

When she finally felt safe enough she agreed to dinner on her fourth night. Nuala bathed her again. She couldn’t help the panic that overcame her once again as the female washed her hair but she cooed at her, soothingly before getting up and leaving her to finish alone as she had the first night.

Cerridwen took on fixing her hair, drying and styling it into waves that fell over her shoulders. Once she was done and dressed Nuala put a cream on her face and spritzed her with something that smelled sweet.

When they were done she felt like a different person. She felt clean. Comfortable. Alive.

There wasn’t much time to dwell on her feelings of finally leaving the room before Nuala and Cerridwen pulled her up and escorted her down the maze of hallways.

“Just two doors down, you’ll find the dining room,” Cerridwen pointed down the hall with a small smile. Cassandra wanted to ask why they weren’t also joining but when she turned to face them they were just gone as if they disappeared into thin air.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

Walking into the dining room was a weird feeling. Cassandra didn’t feel like she belonged there. In the fancy room, with a huge table filled with foods…foods she had never seen before. The four people she had met three days ago—and another she hadn’t met, all sat around the table talking in hushed whispers.

Azriel was the first to look over. His eyes met hers and offered her a small smile. “Cassandra,” his deep voice greeted.

“I’m glad you decided to join us this evening, please come sit,” Rhysand said, standing and motioning to the empty seat next to him, where Azriel would be on her other side—Morrigan in front of her and Cassian next to her. The other female at the opposite end of the table from Rhysand.

Cassandra hesitated for only a moment before walking over and realizing that the chair was designed to accommodate wings. She wouldn’t have to sit at some weird angle to be comfortable. Her eyes meet Azriel’s, the gentle look on his face a comfort she needed. He stood from his spot, sliding the chair out and gesturing for her to sit.

She felt eyes on her as she scanned all of the food in front of her. She had never seen so much food.

“I trust everything went okay the last few days?” Rhysand asked as he took his own seat once again.

“I freaked out a little when Nuala was washing my hair…” Cassandra admitted, shoulders hunching in embarrassment.

“That’s okay, no need to be upset. You’ve been through a lot, it’s expected. Nuala and Cerridwen are understanding and won’t hold it against you. You have my word on that.”

She wanted to say thank you again but didn’t feel it was appropriate. She didn’t know what else to say so she nodded her head and looked towards that other female, freezing as she looked into glowing silver eyes. She had never seen anything so…beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

A snort to her side caught her attention and she looked at Rhysand.

“Sorry, I just heard that,” Rhysand said, Cassandra’s eyebrows pulled together before realization dawned on her. The comment about the other female… “Amren.” Rhys supply’s the name.

She looks back to the female, to those eyes that make her not want to look away.

“Hello, girl,” She greets, and it’s not a terrifying rumble, but a genuine greeting.

Cassandra offers a small smile, feeling a draw to the small female. No one else spoke so she reached for a plate but before her fingers could even graze it, it filled with food before her eyes. She blinked at it in shock, looking to Rhysand to see if he had done it.

There was a small smile on his lips as he shook his head.

“The house is enchanted, it does what it pleases. You wanted food so it filled your plate for you,” Azriel spoke, she looked over at him then back at the plate.

Oh, wow. She thought…the food had even been diced into smaller pieces as she had told Rhysand. Her eyes fell on the wine glass in front of her—she wouldn’t drink it, couldn’t, so she looked at Azriel again then around the room. Water. And just like that, a glass of water appeared in front of her.

Cassandra felt the corners of her mouth twitch up, eyes meeting Azriel’s again then Rhysands before she grabbed the glass of water.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

“It’s pretty awesome, right?” Cassian spoke, his long hair that had been pulled back earlier now fell to his shoulders.

Cassandra nodded in answer, sitting her glass back on the table. Rhys took his seat, grabbing his wine glass, silently observing the female as she reached for her fork.

“I’ve never had this much food before…”

Rhys isn’t surprised but he’s not expecting the words and they make his heart hurt.

“Eat as much as you’d like,” Rhys says warmly, watching as she scoops up some warm potatoes and brings them to her lips.

“Mm” she hums, eyes closing. “That’s so good!” Rhys doesn’t answer, he can tell she’s not speaking to him consciously, she’s just thinking, not a single mental shield to protect her fragile mind.

It’s the next bite that wipes the small mine from all the faces. No longer an exploratory bite but a ravenous one. One after another, eating quickly and without restraint. Eating in a way that meant she had been starving, had never had an adequate food supply, had never been allowed to eat more than what was given.

She didn’t speak and neither did they. None of them would tell her to stop or slow down, all having been there at some point in their lives. They had all known that hunger at one point or another. So they let her eat. And drink. And eat some more.

Potatoes. Greens. Fruit. Meat. Bread. A plate appeared next to her holding a slice of cake and she ate that too—she had never had cake before but no one else at the table knew that.

It’s only when her plate is empty that anyone speaks up. It’s Cassian that asks, “How do you feel you’re settling in?” It’s an attempt to bring about a conversation without making her uncomfortable.

Cassandra takes a slow sip of water, breathing deeply as she does before looking at Rhysand who nods in confirmation that he’ll give her answer.

“Honestly…I feel more comfortable here than I have ever felt anywhere else.”

“That’s wonderful! We want you to be as comfortable as possible,” Morrigan chimes in, excited as if she’d been waiting to talk to Cassandra for the past three days. “When we didn’t see you for three days we were worried—well I was. The boys wanted to give you some space.”

“I didn’t know what was expected of me,” she says, Rhysand repeats her and she’s met with confused frowns. “That’s why I stayed away, didn’t eat much. I didn’t know if anything would be…expected of me in return if I did.”

“You have no debt to us, Cassandra. Nothing is expected of you,” Rhysand speaks, his voice firm but gentle. “If you wish to come to dinner you eat your fill until you’re satisfied. If you need clothes you wear what you like and it’s yours to keep. Nothing will ever be taken or held against you as punishment of any kind.”

Cassandra blinks at him, feels the wetness in her eyes as she nods. There’s just one nagging question in her mind, one she needs an answer to before she gets too comfortable.

“Why am I here then?” She asks, setting her fork down on a freshly filled plate, half as full as before.

Rhysand lets out a sigh before telling the others what she’d asked.

“You are here because I received word from one of Azriel’s spies—I’ll give you a more in depth explanation on what that means at another time—that pleasure houses in my court were buying and selling females against their will,” Rhysand begins to explain. “See we have many pleasure houses in Velaris but it has always been law that consent is the main requirement for anyone involved. Those who work or visit have to be there because they want to be there.”

“So, when we got word this law had been broken, Rhys sent us out to patrol the pleasure houses,” Azriel said, drawing her attention to him, “he needed solid proof of the law being broken before he could step in. Cassian and I, we saw you there. Scared. Frightened. Clearly not there of your own free will and didn’t feel it was safe for you to stay there.”

Cassandra looked at him, taking in the shadows swirling around him. His kind hazel eyes, the blue siphons glowing on his scarred hands. Remembered how when her eyes first landed on him on the other side of those bars she had been absolutely terrified of him.

“What about the…Mistress?” She asked turning away from Azriel to look at Rhysand.

“You no longer have to call her mistress, her name is Kamari. She is still here in our cells, she’s not been harmed. We are working to gather some intel from her. Who her bosses are, where they are buying the females and any other information we can get from her. She’s been cooperative in giving us the information we need to stop this from happening to any other females,” Rhysand said, eying the female in front of him before looking to his second in command.

“Do you have any information that may help us, girl? Anything we could use against that female to get more information?” Amren asks, fixing her smoky eyes on the female.

Cassandra was quiet for a moment, thinking. Trying to piece together everything she could remember. She looks up and nods her head. Everyone seemed to sit a little straighter, their full attention on her alone.

“My father is the one who sold me to a male named Vale. Blue skin, a long deep scar across his face, black eyes…mean and very strong—”

Rhysand hold his hand up, relaying the information to Azriel and you watch curiously as one of his shadows darts away and out of a window.

“Cassandra, do you mind if I open up a channel for everyone to hear what you say to me? It will help us find these people,” Rhysand asks, she doesn’t need to think before she nodded. She wanted to help in any way she could. Help any girls going through what she did and stopping more from going through it.

“Please, continue,” Rhysand encouraged.

“The male, Vale, had bought other females. He kept me me in a dark room under his home with three other females. He—he raped one of the girls many time but not me or the other two girls. He said he would get more money for us if we stayed…untouched.” Cassandra’s stomach rolled at the memories. Nauseated, remembering the cries of that poor girl every time that man came down stairs and hurt her. She could see the anger in the eyes that surrounded her, could practically feel it radiating from them. Their fists and jaws clenched tightly, wings rigid and shoulders taunt. But she continued.

“I stayed there for a few months before he took me to that…pleasure house? I’m not sure what happened to the other girls. I think he may have kept the one he raped.”

“Do you know their names?” Cassian asks and she’s nods. How could she ever forget them?

“Seera, Juno and Neema. I believe Seera and Juno were sister but I’m not completely sure. We tried not to talk too much because it made the male very angry,” She took a deep breath, trying not to remember the time he had nearly crushed her throat for merely asking to use the bathroom.

Unbeknownst to her she had sent that mental image to them who were seething with anger at what this poor girl had gone through.

“Once I was at that place I was introduced to Miss—I was introduced to Kamari,” She continued, needing to get away from the memories of that male. “She was in charge of my training. She stripped me naked, told me I would never own a pair of clothes again. That I was to be naked and ready for any male to take me whenever they pleased. I was to learn things that would…please these males. Anytime I refused I was beaten. So, for months I watched other females pleasure males in many ways. But only watched. They said—she said I would be sold for a lot of money for being untouched. That whoever paid the most could do whatever they wanted to me. When I saw the two of you I thought—” She swallowed thickly eyes shooting between Azriel and Cassian. “I though you were going to—”

Her voice cracks and she looks away. Morrigan pushes out of her chair, walking around the table. “Can I hug you?” She asks.

All Cassandra can do is nod letting Morrigan wrap strong arms around her. Hugging her tightly. Holding her in a way that reminded her of her mother before she died. After a moment Morrigan pulls away offering a napkin to wipe her eyes.

“Cassandra, dear, we can be done for today if it’s too much to continue,” Rhysand offers gently.

She nods gently, feeling as if maybe she wasn’t much help at all. The rest of dinner is spent in silence, Cassandra hunched into herself while the other four fae think about killing everyone who hurt this innocent girl and many more.

⋆ ݁⟡ ݁☾ ݁⟡ ݁⋆

It’s later that evening when Cassandra slips from her room. The stone floor is cold under her feet and the satin nightgown doesn’t do much to keep the cold from her skin so she tucks her wings around her body.

She makes her way to the roof of the house, a training area the twins had told her was up here—they had also told her it was the best place to view the stars.

It’s a breathtaking sight. The wind whips her hair around as she walks to the edge. The lively city sparkling below while the endless sky shines above. Beautiful. She sighs gazing at the sight of the silver moon and tapestry of stars.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be up here at this time,” Cassandra spins around, sighing in relief when she spotted Azriel, she hadn’t heard him come out at all.

“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep. I always loved looking at the stars,” She said, grateful Rhys had made it to where she could communicate—at least with the few people here.

Azriel gives her a lopsided smile that makes her heart stutter. “No need to apologize, that's why I’m out here too. The night sky has always been…soothing.”

She turns back to the ledge as he walks closer.

“You know, my father he was ashamed to have children with wings,” Cassandra said, as Azriel watched her from the side, her white hair shining in the moonlight—those green eyes glowing again. “He kept us locked away, and didn't want anyone to see us. My mother had her wings taken when she was a teenager. She said normally they just clipped them but her father was especially cruel and completely took hers away. Well, when my father was drunk enough or didn’t come home some evening my mother would bring us out and let us look at the stars, she taught us the constellations. And I got to see Starfall with her only one time before she died. It was…the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. After she died I never saw the stars again—not until the night you and Cassian took me away from that horrible place.”

Azriel did his best to simmer his anger, to clutch his shadows tightly that so badly wanted to reach out and comfort the female—to wipe away the glistening tears on her cheeks. She looks over at him then and he looks up at the sky so as not to reach out for her.

“Your mother seems like a lovely woman,” He says, hoping the opportunity to talk about her mother may make her feel better.

The smile that came over her face wasn’t what he was expecting. The way it lit up her face had his shadows singing in his ear. Beautiful. She’s beautiful.

She wiped her cheeks with one hand and nodded.

“She was amazing. She tried to protect us from him but she was just as afraid of him as we were. She didn’t know how to get out. But she took care of us. She was still young when she died—he says she died from taking some kind of herbs, that she took her own life. But I—I always believed he did it.” Azriel took in a shuttery breath.

“I’m sorry,” He said, struggling to find the words to comfort her.

“Me, too. I wish I could have protected her the way she protected me. But now she’s up there with the stars looking over us. Watching me, I think she would be happy I got out. I just hope I can help protect someone else the way I should have protected her.” She folded her arms across her chest and turned away from the ledge. “I think I’ll try to get some sleep. Goodnight, Azriel.”

Azriel watched her walk away. Night gown blowing in the wind, the beautiful broken girl disappearing into the shadows.

tag list: @aelinwya @starlightandsouls @fullmoon-94 @aetherl0l @caticorn61 @lilah-asteria @blackgirlmagicforever @div94

[writing-with-sophia]

How to make a villain's appearance memorable

Making a villain's appearance unique and memorable is important for creating a character that stands out in the audience's mind. Here are some ways to achieve this:

Clothing and accessories: The villain's clothing and accessories can be used to create a unique and memorable appearance. Consider using unusual fabrics, patterns, or shapes to create a distinctive look for the character. Pay attention to fashion style. What do they usually wear? Is their fashion sense good or bad? Casual or unique? They show it through the way they dress every time they appear. Accessories such as jewelry, hats, or gloves can also be used to add visual interest to the character.

Physical features: Physical features such as freckles, moles, scars, tattoos, or piercings are good ingredients for creating a unique look. Unusual facial features, such as a prominent nose or distinctive eye shape, can also be used to create memorable looks.

Makeup and hair: Like clothing, makeup and hair are often used to accentuate the villain. Hair textures, color, size, style, and shape serve as definitive social markers, determining, among other things, one's race or ethnicity, charm, beauty, religion, age, and so on. Meanwhile, makeup can show how much a character cares about his or her appearance. Bold or unusual makeup styles, such as dark or colorful eyeshadows, or distinctive hairstyles like mohawks or shaved heads are also distinctive and interesting highlights.

Symbolism: The villain's appearance can also be used to create symbolism that reflects their personality or motivations. Consider using symbols or motifs that are meaningful to the character, such as an animal or a particular design element.

Body language: Body language and gestures are symbols that tell the character's background and even the relationship between characters. A female villain will have different gestures than a male villain, and an assassin will definitely have fewer redundant movements than a doctor. You can use special gestures or movements that reflect your character's personality or motives.

Through the above characteristics, you can reflect the character's personality as well as some interests without saying it directly. Not only that, a memorable appearance also helps create strong impressions and makes it easy for the reader to create a visual image in their mind.

If you want to read more posts about writing, please click here and give me a follow!

[k-hippie]

HOGWARTS ARTWORKS BOLD UPDATE + NEW ARTS ...

Well, well, well ...I know ... I was not supposed to make some artworks but as I build and manage terrains for 2 months now, I think I needed to make something else, for changing, as a break ;)

So here comes our Artworks update, since some of those artworks are 8 years long ! And this post is going to be long too :D

Let's face it : our Sims, the ones who are ex-students of Hogwarts and other schools of witchcraft and wizardry such as Beauxbatons or Durmstrang, are a bit lost when arriving into a new Sims World and some of them are eager to bring in their new home as many wizard stuff and things as possible ... These Artworks are some of these things and stuff ;)

But let's begin with something new ... Some of the Arts included into the game HOGWARTS LEGACY and let's rock in Hogwarts ;)

HOGWARTS LEGACY ART – 11 ARTWORKS x2 – SETS 1 & 2

Modern technology bringing back to life the history of Hogwarts ?! Well, if we can’t read History of Hogwarts, we’ll take whatever Hogwarts Legacy can give us … 

Those 22 Artworks all somehow related to Hogwarts history. Some are explicit, where you can see the castle or its grounds, some are completely up to your imagination with skulls or fruits. Some are pieces of lost tapestries, part of a larger story ( and fully based on Gryffindor dormitory in Harry Potter movies which are themselves based on vintage French Tapestry Hanging Needlepoint of the Lady and the Unicorn ). They are all beautiful and will enhance any room.

This object is a new mesh, it doesn’t override anything, and works fine in-game :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOGWARTS PAINTING – 11 PAINTINGS – SERIE 1

UPDATE ! PLEASE GRAB YOUR UPDATE BEFORE JOINING YOUR DORMITORY !

We added 4 more paintings, we slightly modified the colorimetry and we refined the textures :)

Yes, we agree : enchanted paintings are superb and you don’t need to be an artist or art-lover to appreciate any of the paintings from the Hogwarts Staircases. In fact, the paintings don’t ask to be seen or admired. Wouldn’t be awkward for anybody to stand before a moving painting all day long ? :D

But art is art and the Artist behind the impressive gallery of headmasters deserves attention. Thus, we made a series of headmasters portraits. They have been painted by Rembrandt, Vemeer and Van Eyck ... They don’t move but they are just as beautiful. Incidentally a good topic of discussion at evening with friends :)

“ Is that brooding man your ancestor?

– Headmaster Snape?! By Merlin’s beard I hope not! ”

Attention please : we do not guarantee that you won’t feel judged by any of these portraits. Hang at your own risks ...

This object is a new mesh, it doesn’t override anything, and works fine in-game :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOGWARTS VERTICAL ARTWORKS – 21 ARTWORKS – SET 1

UPDATE ! UPDATE ! GET YOUR UPDATE !

The Hogwarts Vertical Artworks have been updated with more artworks and diverse visuals. Wand permit from MacUSA or extract from a famous Howler, an artistic rendition of Dolores Umbridge torture ( can't believe that happened ), special editions of the Daily Prophet, Ministry of Magic recommandations and book covers and details. Now you have up to 21 artworks to choose from. Colorful ( or not ) and unique.

Many of those Artworks are based on the fantastic work of minalima ... the ones we admired in every Harry Potter movie ;)

Many Hogwarts students, after their studies, moved out to many different places, including some Sims Worlds ( yes, it’s true ! )

So, you can imagine how good it is to remember Hogwarts and its famous houses wherever you can live, as Wizard/Witch, and as Sim. And all the memories related to Platform 9 3/4, the Hogwarts Express, etc ... By the way, in which House the Sorting had sent you when you were 11 ? :D

This object is a new mesh, it doesn’t override anything, and works fine in-game :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOGWARTS MORE ARTWORKS – 33 ARTWORKS – SETS 1-2-3

UPDATE ! UPDATE ! UPDATE !

The Hogwarts More Artworks series have been updated and augmented with new stuff and 10 more artworks. Yup, you read that right. More Daily Prophet front pages, education decree, book covers and various artworks ... International Quidditch World Cup poster or exemple of famous Howler. There's something for all taste in these complete sets. Wondering what the small characters are ? Zoom in ! Mesmerized by the details of the famous Marauder's map ? Have a look in big ! Studies in propaganda ? Oh boy are you in for a treat …

Framed posters are a good alternative if you are a wizard ( or witch ) living incognito in the muggle world. Who would suspect the Daily Prophet to be a "special" newspaper with its weird headline of a defeated dark lord named You-Know-Who ? Muggles might even think The Quibbler cover to be a nice modern art. And they haven't seen the sad Ministry of Magic propaganda when Lord Voldemort ( he's dead, we can say his name now ) took over the government.

As you can see, we added really a lot of Artworks ;)

This object is a new mesh, it doesn’t override anything, and works fine in-game :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Download Hogwarts Legacy Artworks here

Download Hogwarts Paintings here

Download Hogwarts Vertical Artworks here

Download Hogwarts More Artworks here

Have fun playing witch and wizard :D

Show your support ( we accept sickles and galleons ) : ko-fi // paypal

Made with Sims4Studio Dates of Release: August 28th 2015 Date of Update: February 5th 2024 Expansions: Base Game Category : Buy > Decorations > Paintings

[espionn]

RainWing tribe sheet!

honestly i'm not 100% sure i like this sheet visually. its ok but not my best. i do like my more in-depth headcanon stuff for rainwings, though, so i hope people like it anyway!

fyi the next few tribes are giving me a bit of trouble so i might post these a little slower, but i still plan to get out all 10 tribes!! they just might be more than a few days apart.

Physical Appearance + Traits:

-RainWings live in the dense and tropical rainforest. Similarly to chameleons, they have prehensile tails and claws well-adapted to cling to branches; and, most strikingly, their coloration can be changed at will, to any color under the sun. This can be used for perfect and uncanny camouflage, for intimidation, for beauty and expression, and to communicate emotions. (Below is a chart of emotions corresponding with their colors; note, though, that they can be combined with each other, and patterned, to mean slightly different and more complex things.)

-Like birds of paradise, they are fond of bright and bold colors, but when they want they can also make themselves virtually undetectable. What exactly this skill is used for depends on the period of history; showing off, playing hide-and-seek, hunting, silent warfare.

-RainWings also have fangs that can be used to expel “venom” - called such for lack of a better word. It does not need to be injected to be deadly, unlike most venom, and rather seems to have a burning, warping and generally destructive effect on cells upon contact. Whether it is deadly depends on the level and location of exposure.

-Neck, chest and sometimes tail frills are used for expression and dance; the floatiness of these frills, and their color-changing abilities, make them hypnotizing. Neck ruffs in particular are commonly used for communication: perked up to show curiosity, drooping to show discomfort or sadness, and flared to show anger and to intimidate. 

-Their fifth claw - the dew claw - is larger and more opposable than those of other tribes, more like a human thumb. This, and their extra (and also more dextrous) wing claw, lets them climb and cling to trees with swiftness and ease. It also makes it easier to use tools, and crack open fruits and nuts, while keeping themselves steady and balanced. 

Life Cycle:

-RainWings are typically laid in clutches of 4-9 eggs. They take the longest of any tribe to develop within the egg; they incubate for nearly half a year, and still are hatched with pale and dull colors. As they grow, though, they get better control over their color-changing abilities through play under the watch of the rest of the tribe.

-RainWings do not form partnerships at all, and rarely mate with the same dragon twice. They also do not raise dragonets on their own; all dragonets are raised communally by the wider tribe. RainWings make friends and have positive relationships, but the idea of parental or romantic relationships are odd to the vast majority of them. Romantic partnerships are not completely unheard of, but they’re seen as unusual.

-Dragonets are naturally playful and learn to harness their abilities through games and competitions. This, though other tribes scoff at it, is quite effective, and other than a lack of structure and discipline in certain eras depending on the queen, RainWings are not less powerful than any other tribes, through nature or nurture. 

-The oldest they usually live is to 90 -100. It's uncommon to go much longer than that, which makes RainWings one of the shorter-lived tribes. Old RainWings tend to live together in their own communities within the tribe, and likewise, younger RainWings prefer each other's company. These boundaries aren't strict, but social norms expect dragons to generally stick to their age groups.

Society and Culture:

-RainWings’ societal structure has varied through time. Their ranged venom and near-invisibility makes them excellent assassins and spies, and several times in history they have been organized or hired in this way. Their nature, though, tends to be easygoing and nonviolent on the whole, and their culture tends to drift in that direction in the absence of external pressure. 

-RainWings are social dragons, and while they do not have a particularly ranked and organized society structure, like SeaWings, their social and personal dynamics are complex and important. Popular and well-liked RainWings are more successful in their tribe than those who are disliked and outcast. Their emotions are very openly communicated, and the idea of hiding thoughts and feelings is strange to them. That isn’t to say they lack subtlety and tact, but they rarely try to suppress their natural scale fluctuations. 

-A lot of RainWing culture rests on colors. They use colors to communicate and associate objects with different emotions based on their color. They sometimes set distinct color palettes in order to appear a certain way in front of others, but some level of fluctuation is impossible to avoid.

-RainWings are the only tribe that has no written language. They are completely illiterate not out of laziness or inability, but because historically they have never had need for communication that isn’t direct and in the present. Their visual signals are so complex that they might be called a crude type of sign language, less refined than Aquatic but not entirely dissimilar, but the only RainWings taught to read and write are those involved in diplomacy or other inter-tribe interactions where it may be necessary. For their own tribe affairs, verbal communication is all they need.

-One of the ultimate staples of RainWing culture is performance - theater and dance. Their dances, often synchronized, with their agile bodies, floating frills and shifting colors, are famously breathtaking and mesmerizing. There was a time when RainWing dancers would travel and perform for different tribes, and dragons scrambled to watch them. For RainWings themselves, though, the performances take on their own meanings, as emotional expression comes through in the colors and some dances tell elaborate stories through these visual cues. Silent theater, similarly, relies on color to tell stories, and these shows aren’t as popular among other tribes simply because other dragons can’t fully comprehend the meanings of different scenes.

-RainWings don’t use facial expressions much, because their scales are so adept at showing emotion, and sometimes that causes communication issues with dragons from other tribes. Similarly, they struggle to separate different tribes from their color associations; for example, it’s hard to get over the subconscious assumptions that all SkyWings are angry, all IceWings are in pain/distress, and all NightWings are constantly overflowing with rage and hatred. (@puzzled-pegasus inspired this one - hope you don’t mind me adopting it!)

-Sleep schedules are loose to non-existent, best compared to that of cats; RainWings generally sleep at midnight and midday, and are awake at dawn and dusk, but short naps throughout the day are considered normal and acceptable.

-Because of the diversity of plant life in the rainforest, RainWings have a more in-depth knowledge of toxins and medicines than any other tribe, and their medics can cure a vast number of ailments. They also have access to - and use - a great variety of stimulants and hallucinogens, usually in a festive or celebratory context.

Diet: Selectively herbivorous. RainWings can eat meat, and sometimes do, but generally they prefer to put time and energy toward gathering rather than hunting. They eat just about every type of fruit under the sun, having adapted to a high-glucose and low-protein diet, and their dishes are elaborate and flavorful with spices and sweeteners; just about every other tribe that eats plants is happy to invite RainWing fruit merchants into their towns. RainWings were also the first Pyrrhian tribe to produce chocolate.

[witchofthesouls]

Oh~ I just saw your latest post about cybertronians and human dances and I love it!

As a former ballerina, I loved the admiration from the audience but over time grew to hate the process of ballet dancing. Between the cut-throat competition, the EDs, the amount of toenails that have fallen off and lost, and the fact that I don’t really have much feeling left in my feet due to the 15 years worth of ballet that damaged them.

I still love dancing, I just don’t put it above my peace and health anymore, so I can look back at my ballet career and all the stuff that happened and laugh. Trust me, my story isn’t unique among the thousands of ballet performers out there.

I think that cybertronian would be kind of horrified about the ‘smile behind the pain’ and ‘there is beauty in pain’ aspect of ballet, especially the medics and especially about the falling off toenails 😂

Ohhh, thank you for sharing! I actually had some thoughts about this since my mom is a nurse with patients who were professional dancers and holy hell, the kind of injuries that could happen! Ballet feet, indeed.

First Aid would be absolutely horrified and feeling guilty that he enjoyed the performances when it brings on that much damage. He didn't think such beautiful, effortless movements could do long-term damage. The poor thing will start digging into things to learn about the human body and how to mitigate injuries and fall into a weird spiral of "what?! No... What?!"

(It's Skyfire that needs to drag him out that funk since xenobiology on Cybertron was a massive field with so many specialties without going into different species.)

Ratchet, on the other hand, isn't surprised. He's ancient compared to a lot of the crew. He definitely remembers when professional dancers on Cybertron had to have their latches sanded or permanently removed, so it wouldn't catch the costumes or hurt their partners when their bare frames glided together. Luckily, the tech improved, but there are still common injuries like pulls and stains and breaks, especially without proper warm ups or among those without the trained flexibility on an intense choreography or heavy costumes. They still have long term-health impacts as well.

Professional dancers from Cybertron have issues with hyperflexiblity since armature has a key role in protecting joints and ligaments and cables from overusing and overextending. Very set or old professionals have a knack in popping back their parts without a grimace. A must know trick, especially during a performance. The younger ones have masks during the shows until they can master that necessity because crowds don't want to see dancers in pain. Unless it's part of the script. It can get to the point where it severely impacts their own lines (fuel, coolant, lubricant) and need either invasive corrective surgery or retirement.

They also have issues with their sensory perception. Quite a few feel too contained or claustrophobic with proper plating to the point that they're basically in root-mode all the time, so many high-end tailors leverage that. Or use really specialized plating that tricks the outside eye that it's thick when it really isn't.

Another common injury is protoform burn, especially among the dancers that do aerial performances with rigs since the straps are set deep into their base, and they're in direct line of fire of special effects. This can lead to deformations and scarring, which messes with their sensation. Many dancers see this as a matter of pride in their craft and take to highlighting their scars as a calling card or a showing at performances.

Similar to the gladiators' war paints, dancers would utilize specialized paints upon themselves to create a variety of effects: trailing mirages, bold streaks, color shifts, gradients, fog trails, and so on. Some power couples and cohorts among them coordinate their own scarring and preferred effects to create memorizing and stunning visual masterpieces.

Those of the Artisanal Caste were/are very intimate between the fine line of passion and pain.

[pascals-doll]

GATÚBELA— moodboard

✐; reader moodboard analysis

⊹ * ˚ you knew exactly what you like and how you like it. this is exactly why you found yourself drawn to bold clothing; never a simple moment in the outfits you choose, wearing your personality on your sleeves as your own personal killer accessory nobody could copy. you were catwoman-like.

⊹ * ˚ you were driven, independent, and always hard-working. you held yourself to high standards as you pushed yourself to achieve everything you have wanted. especially for others, one thing about about being raised by latino parents was sacrifice. it was a natural instinct engraved in you. everything you did was for you, your family, your culturá.

⊹ * ˚ constantly wearing what could people claimed as “too extra clothing” but everyday, there wasn’t a moment were you were considered “a statement�� with your clothing, turning heads, and drawing attention with your cutthroat outfits from all genders. shit even dogs. your closet was filled with outfits for decades. it was scattered with only bold colors, being a complete deep dive everytime you get dressed.

⊹ * ˚ only gold jewelry was worn in this house, to perfectly compliment your bronzed dulce skin. you admired your infnite array of different hoops, hoops with designs, and necklaced-medallions for each and every piece in your closet. your makeup being bold, only cat-eye. you always payed close attention to the way you pampered yourself, always channeling a barbie energy as you felt your most divine when getting ready.

⊹ * ˚ your eyes being complimented by a dark wing and wispy lashes. the honey tone of your skin illuminating more with your golden highlighter. whether your hair was wavy, curly, or straight. you always had your baby hairs edged-up, doing cute designs whenever you wanted.

GATÚBELA VIBES ̗̀➛ imagine the models in these pictures as you! you are the beautiful reader. these pictures just serve you a visual rundown of the reader’s aesthetic. make it you! the way your beautiful body is shaped, your hair, your features, skin, height, size etc. you are all gorgeous! take all these pictures and reshape them into you. it is your beauty that ellie yearns in, the way you look.

౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. 🐈‍⬛⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆.

౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆.

౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆.

*.ੈ𑁍༘⋆ dear reader, *ੈ𑁍༘⋆

your tigeress aura meant there was never a dull moment with you. you were the golden sun the golden sun to ellie as she just made you shine brighter. ellie always made sure you knew exactly how strong and beautiful you were inside and out, she would always go on about how much she loved your bronze skin in black so none of your natural glow would wash out. ellie just swooned with appreciation for your culture and strong personality. she knew that you perfectly knew how to handle yourself on your own, having a beautiful empowering lead on your life and it made her wanna be right there with you.

🐈‍⬛. 🐈‍⬛.

౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆. ౨ৎ⋆ ˚｡⋆.

ᝰ.ᐟ to all my latinex baddies! this one is for you! esto es para ti 🩷 if you are not latinex! thats okay this story is still for you! thank you for reading and appreciating the implemented representation in this fic!

[thesims4blogger]

EA has announced two new Sims 4 Content Updates for April and July!

The first Sims 4 Roadmap is slowly coming to an end, and EA is letting you know about their last bit coming in April!

The new Sims 4 Content Updates, scheduled first for April and then July 2024, are all about adding better representation of Black hairstyles and visual features. In a yet to be released blog from thesims.com, we’ve discovered that there��s going to be two drops:

24 new color combinations for two existing Hairstyles (April 2024)

New locs Hairstyle (July 2024 Content drop)

How The Sims and its partners are expanding diversity and representation in gaming

Maxis teams up with Dark & Lovely and Danielle “Ebonix” Udogaranya to help more players see themselves in games

Here at Maxis, inclusivity is one of our key values. We know that inclusion matters, and we aim to ensure that everyone feels represented—not just in our games but also in how we work; it’s ingrained in the very culture of our studio.

So when we got the opportunity to work with both legendary beauty brand Dark & Lovely and multi-award-winning gaming content creator and DE&I advocate Danielle “Ebonix” Udogaranya, we leaped at the chance. The result is “Play in Color,” a campaign and documentary that shines a spotlight on the importance of authentic representation in gaming.

For much of the history of the video game industry, authentic representation and features of people of color and other marginalized communities have been significantly underrepresented. These groups have made up a substantial segment of the gaming community from the very beginning, but games have often dramatically underrepresented Black hairstyles in particular.

At Maxis, we’ve been grateful for the chance to help make progress toward better representation through in-game releases. This includes Vitiligo skin features; updates to Townies, in-game characters, incorporating different backgrounds, regional features, and skin tones to match their story; and collaborations with our extensive community of talented creators. Our updates give players of The Sims the resources to create characters that look like them and tell stories that reflect their lived experiences - but there is so much more room to grow.

This is why we’re so pleased to be collaborating with Dark & Lovely and Ebonix to help draw attention to both the progress being made and the need for continued improvement. To start, we’re supporting our partners with the launch of this campaign that includes a documentary video showcasing the voices of Ebonix, The Sims 4 teammates Senior Creative Director Anna Huerta and Assistant Producer Kaelah Smallwood, and Taireek Simms from the Dark & Lovely team who are helping to drive this progress. Take a look:

Next, building on previous collaborations with Ebonix on in-game features like skin tones and nail options, we’re working with the hair professionals at Dark & Lovely to introduce 24 color combinations across two existing hairstyles in April 2024, inspired by the company’s newest color Immersive Bolds collection.

Then, in a free content drop, we'll introduce a new locs hairstyle that’s also developed in collaboration with Dark & Lovely and available to players in July 2024.

“Ebonix has paved an instrumental path towards greater representation in The Sims through her many years of dedication and work, from her first piece of custom content being a dashiki, to her many diverse and detailed hairstyles offered to the community,” shares Anna Huerta, Senior Creator Director, The Sims 4. “We’re thrilled to be teaming up again to have her as a key part of this campaign as we showcase and advocate for the importance of Black hairstyles in our virtual worlds as much as our real one.”

We’re also extremely excited about the inclusion of one of our own The Sims 4 developers in the campaign. Kaelah first got her start in the video game industry by creating mods for The Sims as a player. “Being very involved in the Sims community,” she says, “I started to notice that there were things fans were asking for that would really make whole groups of people feel better represented—so I decided to figure out how to do it!”

That wasn’t a simple process, of course. Not only did Kaelah have to teach herself how to create mods, but she also had to overcome the practical effects of the aforementioned lack of representation in the industry. “Growing up I always thought that working on video games would be amazing,” she says, “but I never really thought it was possible for me, since I didn’t see many people who looked like me making them. Seeing the diverse group of mod creators for The Sims made it all finally seem possible.”

One notable member of that group, in fact, was Ebonix herself. “Dani’s mods were some of the first ones I downloaded!” Kaelah says. “At the time there weren't many hairstyles in the game that really connected with me, but her mods let young Sims have the same little twists and braids that I had growing up—which is such a huge deal for representation.”

Now she’s able to continue the work of representation within the Sims team itself. “I started making mods,” she says, “all because I wanted to add more diversity and inclusion to the game. So helping make sure that The Sims is actively working to bring diversity and inclusivity to all players is a really big deal to me.”

Of course, this work is ongoing. There will never be a point where we’ll say, “Diversity accomplished!” We will continue to improve however we can. “At every step of the process, we’re thinking about ways to make the game more inclusive and diverse,” Kaelah says. “Because everyone should be able to see themselves in their Sims.”

[elaineas-elysian]

╰►┆|| 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑻𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆 ||

🤎 //Admin’s Note: These Headcanons are what I genuinely visualize the style preferences the Sakamaki Brothers have when it comes towards their Future Partner. If their partner perhaps has a different style then that doesn't change the way they perceive them as a person nor does that change their feelings, this is just their personal preferences and what they are attracted too! 🤎

⪼ «﹤┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈﹥» ⪻

Shu loves when a Female has a soft look/Appearance. He enjoy’s very soft and pure colors because he think’s it really brings out the feminism of a woman. Believe it or not, he's actually super into Coquette Clothing for a woman, and if his partner matches this Aesthetic, it will definitely be a pleasant surprise for him. There's a huge guarantee that when he’s not being bold, he will most definitely shower his S/O with compliments secretly especially if they think that they are pretty wearing Coquette Clothing Aesthetic themselves.

Reiji absolutely loves a woman with Elegance and Class, so if you are wearing an outfit similar to the Classy and Elegant style, it's already a thing to die for about you. A bonus for him as well is if you’re wearing strappy heels and red lipstick. That outfit combination alone to him is a to die for, and if you’re his Partner with the same Style, surely this will be something that will forevermore be presentable in his perspective.

Ayato is genuinely interested in the Tomboyish/Indie kind of clothing style for a Female. He genuinely enjoy’s how cute a girl can look when she wears Baggy Jeans and Oversized T-Shirts, especially if the girl’s hair is wrapped in a Ponytail. Ayato tends to like simple styles, nothing too extravagant for his partner, he just enjoy’s how badass the Tomboy Clothing Aesthetic is on a girl. Overall, he’s pretty much simplistic with style.

Kanato adores the Lolita style on a female whether it's Goth Lolita Fashion, or Regular Lolita Fashion. He admires the beautiful Frills and Lace, as well as the different patterns and details a Lolita dress has to offer. When Kanato is bored, he will dress up his S/O with fashionable Lolita Styled Clothing, sitting down and having tea parties with his significant other. The specified reason onto why Kanato likes Lolita Fashion, is because it reminds him of a Doll like appearance, and that alone he absolutely loves on a girl.

Laito is more into females with the Preppy Style clothing Aesthetic. He loves when a girl wears Tube Tops, Cardigans, Mini Skirts, or Flared Jeans. If his significant other is wearing a crop top with straps that fall off their shoulders and a mini skirt, it's a major lucky sight for him, a truly gifted sight. He loves when his Lover’s hair is in a Bun or a Half Up & Half Down hairstyle.

Subaru is into a Grunge/Y2K type of clothing style, something that is similar to his choice in style that can also match up with his own personal clothing style preference’s as well. He just thinks that this specific style looks amazing on a girl, and if their clothes are fitting and essentiates their figure, he is definitely most likely interested in that preferred clothing style reference. He is also interested in the Soft Styled Aesthetic as well, but the Grunge/Y2K Clothing Type most definitely matches him quite well. Ethier or, he will still be a fuming blushing mess.

[youremyheaven]

you def should make more kibbe content in the future! literally never would’ve seen her as TR but i can see it now with your argument. now ik why i always preferred her earlier sexy/elegant style …..

and i find that often those of us who are TR are somewhat baby faced like what you observed with jennie

what do you rec/advise babyfaced TR girls do to honour both the sexiness of their kibbe body type and the cuteness of their face? whenever i lean in to either too much i feel that there’s smth visually jarring ab it 😭

hehe thank you 🥺and I will!!

okay the thing about Jennie and other TRs is that they're not merely babyfaced. Their faces have a very youthful ingenue quality but it's still sexy, especially their eyes. Having bedroom eyes is a very important significator of being a TR. Nobody would look at them and think they're just cute, they have undeniable sex appeal.

If you feel like your face is too cute, you're perhaps another type and not TR

However, Kibbe's image identity is all about striking the balance between your ID's lines and your ID's essence

compare these two outfits with each other. She's wearing a crop top with a skirt in both, yet she looks very striking in the black & white outfit and very??? in the other one. if you were to talk about her wearing her "lines". She's not wearing her lines in either of these 🤡 since TRs are advised to not break the flow of their line and wear single piece outfits.

nonetheless she significantly looks better on the left vs the right.

WHY? because the b&w outfit complements her Romantic/Dramatic/Ingenue essence. The colors are bold (Dramatic), it's very cutesy with that ribbon detail (Ingenue) but it's tailored in such a way that it's very feminine and sexy (Romantic).

Meanwhile the outfit on the right does not bring out anything in her 😔

Jennie used to get a lot of flak for "looking mean" and "bitchy". This is largely due to her Dramatic essence. Her Dramatic essence is very overpowering as it is on any individuals who also has Ingenue essence. It's very visually jarring for others to look at someone who's simultaneously cute but also fierce seeming. It's often misinterpreted as them being rude or not nice 😔

Jennie started wearing ugly clothes and no makeup mostly because when she wore things that truly honored her, people were pissed off.

Look at her in these two outfits. They look horrendous on her and do absolutely nothing for her. But over here she also does not look as intimidating, cold or aloof. She looks more plain and washed out 😔which is what they've been trying to do with her style for the last 2yrs; try and make her as meek and plain as possible.

White absolutely does not suit her on its own due to her high contrast coloring (this is also another TR quality) but these fits drag her down even more.

Due to the inherent glamorous nature of TRs & SDs, they look the most plain in casual outfits and such is the case with Jennie

Compare these two outfits

Why does she look better on the left? It's because this outfit honors her Dramatic essence whereas the outfit on the right does not honor anything in her.

With regard to the baby face thing, I want you to consider a few things;

Both Miranda Kerr & Mila Kunis have a baby face

HOWEVER, Miranda has a very cute, pure, innocent almost angelic beauty whereas there's something super striking but intimidating about Mila. She naturally looks seductive and sharp.

The difference here is that Mila has Dramatic essence but Miranda does not.

If Miranda were to dress like Mila, it would be super jarring. If Mila dressed like Miranda, she'd be super washed out

Miranda looks super cute in this skater dress but Mila looks like she's missing something

So, it's important to understand that being baby faced can contribute to different essences and vibes. If you look too sexy or out of place in TR clothes, then you're not a TR, which is okay!! Idk you but I'd consider pure R.

[stillness138]

visual/art things in the Hades 2 technical test i don't like

it was said and is being said already that most of the character sprites have less dynamic poses, or that Aphrodite's face looks, for the lack of a better term, yassified,... it's actually quite a frequent topic in the tag. and i think looking closely despite the excitement is a good excercise! so let's.

i've seen a sentiment that everyone has been made (more, in some cases) conventionally attractive, and i disagree with that a little bit. depends on your definition of convention, but while it's a look popular with many, i wouldn't say Hecate's abs for example are necessarily mainstream. another point i've seen was that Demeter looks younger. i kinda agree, but i don't think it's intentional, because it's quite subtle. she's mostly just missing the defined cheekbones.

the thing about this game's art seems to be that it's a little less sharp, the lines are thinner, shadows are smoother. i think it's an attempt to look more detailed and realistic compared to the first game. i'm not sure how i feel about it. i understand the want to improve or change up, but at the same time the lack of hard shadows and highlights, while it might come across as more realistic, also leaves the sprites a little bland. and i was going to bring up Poseidon as an example where the newer style fits in with visibly older sprites, but he still feels noticeably different in how he's shaded compared to say Moros.

i also agree that the poses are simpler and in most cases less dynamic; Mel is fine and the fact she can change during dialogue adds to it, Hecate looks good too. Nemesis is justifiable since she seems to be standing guard. i think they're simpler maybe because now everyone has a detailed environment backdrop as well, it's especially bold in the olympians' case, but i do hope characters revealed in the future have more dramatic or interesting poses. Selene gives me some hope.

Artemis is definitely unfinished. her sprite lacks any bolder linework or shadows, the coloring is very dull. it really sticks out like a sore thumb as of now. but her boon icons having those letters, likely placeholders too, make it more apparent that she's not finalized yet.

now, this might be controversial, but...i don't like Apollo's design that much. in his case, i definitely wish he had a cooler pose, for his bow/lyre to be a lot more prominent. the outfit is fine, i'm kinda on the edge about it. on one hand, all the colors and shapes work, on the other, maybe not together? but what makes it all bad for me is his actual appearance. i wish his hair was wilder, actually committed to it, and brighter. i wish he wore either more elaborate jewelry or more of detailed armor pieces. i wish he had heavy freckles, vitiligo or some other skin condition to reference the surface of the sun. i think in part this is definitely a case of being spoiled by fanart, but yeah. i'm not vibing with him as much as i hoped i would. i like this design because while the outfit isn't detailed, the freckles and pose make up for it. the hair, choppy like irregular sunrays, is cool too. this one i like too, it's less crazy but still has its own flair, distinct from the rest of the first game, and the lyre/bow design is beautiful. this one is a bit out there but it's pretty cool as well imo, with apparent callbacks to Artemis in hair texture, birthmarks/crests, and the shoulder pelt.

lastly though, Aphrodite. the good! referencing Ares's warpaint is sweet. i like the armor pieces. in general the pose is tasteful, and the long ass banners coming from her spear kinda add some needed drama to it. the spear and shield themselves have nice designs in line with Aphro's overall aesthetic. but the bad... i don't like her face all that much either when compared to her sprite from the first game. there, i liked that her lips aren't exaggerated in any way. compare that to Athena (her shade of lipstick is absolutely amazing tho). but it felt more, i dunno, like trying to convey some natural beauty? in 2, she got that barbie doll treatment. reminds me of witcher 3 female npcs' faces and that is not a good thing. people have said that she looks thinner - her arms definitely do. and maybe because of that they also seem a bit too long to me. she suffers from the lack of hard shadows and highlights a lot, putting both her sprites next to each other really shows the difference in approach. like, overall it's a pretty and perfectly fine sprite, but...there is a but. a part of that but is definitely our expectations and uncertainty about the new direction the sprite art seems to be going in. to give nuance to the other side, we're also still in a pre-early access stage. on the other hand, the other olympians we've seen don't look unfinished the way Artemis does and it's quite likely these sprites is what we'll go into full release with. there was no reason to change Aphrodite's face, and we're allowed to not like it. leaving well-meaning feedback can be effective! and i would encourage it. with emphasis on well-meaning.

i also think the icon for gold in Hades 2 should be just a single coin, because a little hoard of them looks too much like the moly flower icon from a distance.

[archangeldyke-all]

heyy angel!! I'm just came to ask u, how I can do a write outline? I love your work, u are amazing <33

great question! please note that everyone does this differently, but this is the basics of how i do mine!

the first step is very basic, just a basic list of scenes in the order i picture them happening in. as time goes on, i can add scenes and take them away the more i develop the story. i always write numerical lists, too, and usually each number correlates to a chapter.

i find it helpful to use different fonts for different types of scenes! so if the chapter is titled: 'big fight scene in the rain' i make it 'big fight scene in the rain' because angst is bold. i do smut in italics, humor in underlined-- it provides a good visual for you to see how balanced your story is becoming.

beneath the title of each scene/chapter, i make notes in bullet points. these notes can be simple like '-X doesn't like mangos' or 'it's night' or they can be more complex, like 'she doesn't say it, but she's thinking about X,' or 'try to capture X vibe'

something else i do that's helpful, is if i'm incorporating a sub-plot, i'll have it in a different color. so i can take notes for it in each chapter, but can tell the difference between the A plot and B plot.

let me show you a little example. let's say we're doing a basic, 6 chapter meet-cute story about reader and sevika, with a side plot of sevika adjusting to her new arm. my outline would look something like this:

1 . meet at the last drop

-jinx spills drink on reader

-sevika scolds jinx but gets distracted by your beauty

2. flirt over the weeks

-you come to the last drop every day

-sevika teaches you to play cards

-you see her stub for the first time

3. first kiss while drunk

-sevika's in pain from shoulder mech insertion

-drinking together to numb the pain

-kiss on a dare from jinx

-make out before reader runs away

4. big fight-- miscomunication

-sevika gets her new arm-- proud, lets anyone feel it

-reader comes to last drop to find sev and apologize for running away, finds a woman feeling up sevika's new arm instead.

-reader runs away, sevika chases her

-big fight in the rain

5. reunion

-jinx tricks reader and sevika into meeting

-"you're both even more grumpy than usual, it's annoying."

-jinx has to play moderator

6. smut

-bowchickawowow

-sevika shows you just how good her arm works ;)

[ask-barbatos]

A Guide to Camellia Sinensis

Dear students, allow me to share a small glimpse into the world of tea, a beverage that has brought comfort and joy to countless souls for millennia. The heart of true tea lies in the Camellia sinensis plant, a highly cultivated plant native to East Asia.

From the lush fields of China to the mist-kissed mountains of India, this plant has been cultivated with great care, its leaves steeped in hot water to create a beverage of unparalleled beauty and complexity.

The cut of the tea leaf plays a significant role in its flavor and character. Whole leaves, broken leaves, fannings, and dust each offer a unique experience, from the robust to the delicate.

Whole leaves, for instance, provide a full-bodied flavor and a long-lasting infusion, making them a popular choice for those seeking a traditional tea experience.

Broken leaves, on the other hand, offer a more intense flavor and a quicker steeping time, making them ideal for those who prefer a stronger brew.

Fannings and dust, the smallest particles of tea, offer a rapid infusion and a concentrated flavor, perfect for those who are short on time or simply desire a strong cup of tea.

Pictured above: Taylor's English Breakfast tea on the left and Taylor's Earl Grey on the right, to demonstrate the visual difference between whole and cut.

The preparation process, from the gentle steeping of Chinese gongfu cha to the robust brewing techniques of Western tea culture, can dramatically alter the taste and aroma of your tea.

Chinese gongfu cha, for example, involves using small, porcelain teapots and cups, and steeping the tea for very short periods of time. This method allows for a more delicate and nuanced flavor profile.

Western tea culture, on the other hand, often involves steeping tea in larger teapots for longer periods of time, resulting in a bolder and more robust flavor.

I invite you, students, to embark on a journey of tea discovery. Explore the vast world of Camellia sinensis, from the subtle nuances of white tea to the bold flavors of black tea. With each sip, you may find a new appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.

Now, let us delve deeper into the popular cuts of tea and their preferred preparation methods.

White Tea:

Cut: Often consists of young whole leaves or buds that have been minimally processed.

Preparation: Gentle steeping in cool water for a short period to preserve its delicate flavor and light color.

Flavor: Known for its subtle, floral, and slightly sweet taste.

Green Tea:

Cut: Typically consists of whole leaves or broken leaves that have been steamed or pan-fried to prevent oxidation.

Preparation: Steeping in hot water for a short period to retain its fresh, grassy flavor and vibrant green color.

Flavor: Varies widely depending on the specific type of green tea, but often characterized by a clean, grassy, or vegetal taste.

Oolong Tea:

Cut: Can vary from whole leaves to broken leaves, but is often partially oxidized, resulting in a unique flavor profile between green and black teas.

Preparation: Steeping in hot water for a longer period, allowing the leaves to fully bloom and release their complex flavors.

Flavor: Offers a wide range of flavors, from floral and fruity to nutty and earthy.

Black Tea:

Cut: Typically consists of broken leaves or fannings that have been fully oxidized.

Preparation: Steeping in boiling water for a longer period to extract its strong, bold flavors.

Flavor: Known for its rich, full-bodied taste, often with notes of chocolate, caramel, or spice.

Each type of tea offers a unique experience, and the best way to appreciate their individual qualities is to experiment with different preparation methods and steeping times. So, dear mortals, I encourage you to embark on a journey of tea discovery and savor the beauty of Camellia sinensis.

Various definitions:

First Flush: The first cuttings of the plant in early spring, often yielding a higher quality tea.

Silver Tips: A white tea made from the delicate buds of a tea plant.

Below is a table indicating steep times:

Notes:

This table provides a general guideline. Steeping time and temperature can vary depending on the specific tea and desired flavor strength.

Some teas, like white tea, benefit from multiple short infusions instead of a single long steep.

Experiment with different steeping times and temperatures to find your perfect cup.

Water temperature is crucial. Using water that is too hot can burn the tea leaves, resulting in a bitter taste.

The more water is heated, the more oxygen is released from the water. The oxygen is important to bring out the flavor of your tea, so please be vigilant as to not exceed your water temperature. A great tool for novices and experts alike would be a temperature controlled electric kettle.

In addition to the cut of the tea leaf and the preparation method, the quality of the water used can also significantly impact the taste of your tea. Soft, mineral-free water is generally preferred for tea brewing, as it allows the delicate flavors of the tea to shine through without being overwhelmed by strong mineral tastes.

A good starting point would be mountain spring water or filtered water, specifically with as neutral a pH as possible. Distilled water is not recommended, although neutral in pH, lacks the oxygen needed to bring out the sublime flavor in tea.

Hard water, on the other hand, contains high levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can react with the tannins in tea, creating a bitter or astringent taste. While some people may enjoy the added flavor complexity that hard water can impart, it is generally best to use soft water for optimal tea flavor.

If you live in an area with hard water, consider using a water filter or a mineral remover to soften the water before brewing your tea. This can make a noticeable difference in the taste and overall quality of your beverage.

Next subject will include flavor infused teas such as Jasmine, Earl Grey, and Fruit teas.

[wonder-teo]

Entry 3

Date: 4/26/2024 Approx. Time Frame: 10:56am-11:50am Days Since First Contact: 10 Locations Visited: 4 - Tsubu Woods - Secret Inlet - Amile Forest - Nest Creatures Sighted: - Finfin (With picture!) - Heartbird - V-Rex (Sound only) - Palm Tree Snake (With pictures!) - Unidentified dolphin-bird - Piki Seal (With pictures!) - Floating Flora (With pictures!) - Shulu Bird (With picture!) - Windy Bird (With pictures!) - Hawatchi-Bird (With picture!) - Finfin Jr. (With pictures!) - Blue Eye (With picture!) - Pokari (With pictures!) - Hoverfly (With pictures!) - Finnina (With pictures!)

Notes and sightings under cut. Notes I deemed important are in pink bold italics. As you can see, I took a lot of pictures today, so this entry may be longer than normal. I will make separate posts of the pictures for each creature later.

Tsubu Woods - Visited Finfin in Tsubu Woods - He was in the middle of flying around the right tree and singing - He flitted around for a bit before returning to the right tree and singing his song again - Finfin left, now there is only the sound of howling wind - Picture of the Tsubu Woods today (~11am)!

[Similar but notably different color from my picture in Entry 1] - The wind stopped. Now, only silence. Eerie...

Secret Inlet - Noting the Tsubu Wood's color reminded me to check the Perna Lotus Flowers, relating to an odd observation back in Entry 2 where they just disappeared out of nowhere - The lotuses are still absent. Maybe rollover to Late April really did occur at a bizarre time back then - Heartbird sighting - I heard V-Rex! No visuals to accompany it that I saw. I know in Rem River Bank, you can see V-Rex in the background sometimes, but I didn't spot anything in the background here - Palm Tree Snake! Took some pictures of her majesty

[Can you tell she's my favorite?] - Unidentified dolphin-bird stuck their head out of the water and sighed. Who are you??? I've heard speculation, but I need confirmation! Tell me your name! - Piki Seal! Grabbed a couple pics! Here's one of them

[How darling! I wonder if it's looking for Finfin]

Amile Forest - Caught up with Finfin in the Amile Forest - He was on the close branch when I arrived, but when I offered a yellow Lemo Fruit, he flew off to the far treetop - He soon flew to the left branch, and I took a pic (~11:20am)!

[Something to note is that the clouds in the background are in these sort of cirrus shapes] - We had a nice moment as I dictated out loud while writing my notes and Finfin listened - Finfin flew away. See you later! - A lovely little plant driften across my screen! Got a bunch of pictures! Here are a couple of them

[Seems to be a Floating Flora. It seems to be orange instead of the light pink seen in the Encyclopedia. Maybe color is random or seasonal?] - Shulu Bird! It's far in the distance, but I grabbed a picture anyway

[I probably won't make this one into its own post, given the quality] - Windy Bird! Took some pictures, here are a couple

[It appears to be green instead of the blue coloration in the Encyclopedia. I guess it's a similar situation to the Floating Flora] - Hawatchi-Bird! Got a picture

[Lots of birds today!]

Nest - Finfin Jr. was already outside of the den when I arrived!

[Just chilling!] - He soon kinda danced in place while singing softly

[Getting lost in his own music] - After a bit, he turned around and walked towards the water, showing off his cute back stripes!

[Bright green and beautiful!] - Blue Eye sighting with a picture!

[Seems like it's enjoying the partly cloudy weather on Teo right now!] - Pokari sighting! Got a bunch of pictures, here's my favorite!

[Even Finfin Jr. looked on at it!] - I am so scared for Finfin Jr.... He got so close to the lemodoki on the right multiple times. I kept thinking he was going to try to eat it - Hoverfly! Got a couple of pictures of it and Finfin Jr.!

[I think it's stated in the Encyclopedia that Hoverfly and Finfin are friends. I wonder if they will be, too] - Seems like Finfin Jr. is trying to get the hang of flying!

[He got a little bit off the ground for a while, just gotta work on that endurance!] - Finfin Jr. kicked a rocked up in the air, and it landed on his head. The poor thing began crying. Pictures if you're a miserly old coot who loves to see children in distress

[Would it be a bad look to post these pictures separately? Eh, I'll decide later] - Finfin Jr. went back to the den and is calling out. Finfin come pick up your son from soccer practice - Finnina's here!

[Momma's here to save the day!]

[Nevermind...?]

[Oh, she's just getting fish for Finfin Jr.!] - Finnina fed Finfin Jr.! Cute - I think Finnina has it from here. I'll leave them be

[444lpblue]

Heavenly Delusion #1 - Heaven and Hell

Heavenly Delusion #01 Screenplay: Makoto Fukami Storyboard: Hirotaka Mori Batte Scene Storyboard: Tetsuya Takeuchi- Episode Director: Hirotaka Mori Animation Director: Yuuko Yoshida, Ryouta Furukawa, Ai Watanabe Assistant Animation Director: Mayu Gushiken

I… I mean, what can I say? Welcome to Heavenly Delusion, folks. If you haven't watched the episode, go do it right now! What are you doing here? And if you have, let's talk about it.

Heavenly Delusion has been one of my most anticipated anime of the entirety of 2023. The manga is gripping, thrilling, and fun in its characters, making it one of my favorite manga of all time (definitely in my top 5). And how was the anime? I don't want to sound like a fanboy gushing over everything, as that would be biased and totally not good for someone who tries to write about anime objectively. But, I really don't have much else to say except gush over it. My review will not contain any spoilers from the manga, nor will I try to sneak in bits and ruin the experience for you, so anyone can feel free to read this.

You start off the episode by being greeted with luscious green and bright red tomatoes and are introduced to this beautiful facility with seemingly children to teenage students running around looking happy. But in every shot, there's a constant sign of this almost chilling vibe to the whole place. The music, unlike the bright atmosphere the initial moments try to portray, is soft and almost solemn in its delivery.

Eventually, the camera pans to Mimihime (in a fantastic shot), who's overlooking the other kids as her friend, Tokio comes to talk to her. There's still nothing wrong with this whole situation but the use of voyeuristic style shots by Director Mori Hirotaka creates an unnerving feeling as if someone were secretly recording them. It's disconcerting, and the shots felt as if they could have been done in real life. This sense of creepiness makes the situation feel odd, despite no clear indication of anything wrong happening. Then we're introduced to another set of characters, Maru and Kiruko

While the placement of the shots is similar and just as great, the environment is largely different. You get a huge feeling of "density" as soon as they switch to these two. The bright greens and heavenly location are now gone, replaced with abandoned buildings and overgrown grass. I can't find another word to describe its visuals except "dense". It's all so dense. The beautiful background work by Kaneko Yuuji is so detailed in its presentation that it's almost hard for my eyes to perceive all the details at a first glance. The colors of a dead, desolated city would likely be drawn as dull and lifeless by many other people, but the use of bold colors and heavy shading creates a beautiful presentation that complements the character design greatly and serves as a great contrast to the environment of the facility. I can go on and on about the specifics of the scenes as there is an endless list of shots I've loved from this episode, but I can't make this just a summary of the episode word by word.

For all you animation fans out there, the action scenes in the episode were delivered with much more flair than I even expected. The dynamic camera work during all of it (hell, the whole episode, not just the action) was simply incredible.

My thoughts on the episode are already too long so I need to start wrapping it up. The backgrounds continue to be a highlight throughout the episode.

I'd also like to point out how the direction manages to enhance the tension and creepiness of the scene beyond what was depicted in the manga. It's almost like the scene is right in your face, yet the portrayal is still indirect and subtle. We barely got to see the hotel lady's face as she's reacting to Kiruko and Maru's words, but the small actions and smartly placed shots are what make all the difference in changing the mood of the scene. You don't see it directly, but boy, does it raise chills.

There was also a change to the order of some things, which I thought gave the anime a much stronger point to end on. It ends with the old lady from the facility confirming to Tokio, who became curious about the outside world from Mimihime, that there is an outside world, but that "it is a filthy world, a hell where abhorrent monsters lurk." I think this sends the message of the show clearly and augments the effect of the title Heavenly Delusion. Is the outside truly hell? Is heaven just a delusion?

[themadknightuniverse]

10 films i love

tagged by @michaelmandog 💖 thank you!!

No particular order

Mad Max Fury Road — It's a movie often mistaken for having a story that can be written on a post-it, meanwhile it's actually speaking about a LOTS of different things and there is a lot to say. An absolute favorite, I never get tired to see it over and over again, it still keeps its power. It drains your energy, it's aggressive, frantic. The most striking images made with a complex storyboard so all the action is legible and understandable. Every images tell something, some are literal illustrations (and there are plenty of them). The COLORS work. The designs (I still see details I haven't seen before). The music. The absolute pleasure they took in some scenes just for the fun/dabass look of it all. And the vast list of subjects the movie speaks about (Patriarchy, women status, cults, human status, society organization/functionality, inequalities, climate change, PTSD, the will to take control over your life back, the economy system in a destroyed world, ...) and even if it's addressed with a few words or images, it's there, it's impactful. One of the rare sequel that does it better than the first movies. I could speak about it for hours.

Interstellar — Space, sciences, love. A story that speaks about its characters through a space journey. The emotional scenes always get me. The images and music are haunting me.

You were never really here — A movie that tells the story of a hero failing. I rarely see this in movies and this one does it and does it with a special care for the general ambiance. Very contemplative, it tells everything through the visuals. It has one of the most beautiful scene I ever seen in a movie. The camera work is also very interesting. Also expect some very difficult subjects.

The Green Knight — Dark fantasy, poesy, heavy symbolism (like, it's basically only that from first frame to the last) and philosophical journey, real bold choices, striking imagery, brilliant soundtrack, something I was waiting to see since forever in the dark fantasy world.

The Sisters Brothers — A western. Contemplative but not devoid of action scenes nor dialogs. Imagery carefully done, one of my favorite nightmare scene in a movie too, even if it's short.

Prisoners — I love Denis Villeneuve's work and I had to pick only one so I went for the first movie from him I've seen. That movie is an absolute big slap in the face. Amazing character writing. The soundtrack is from Jóhann Jóhannsson and everything he did speaks to my soul.

The Dark Knight — Heath Ledger's performance. That's it.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier — I had to name one Marvel movie, I just love that license. And this one is the best and most interesting to me. Steve and Bucky are in love and they can't avoid fighting each other. Actions scenes quite ruined by the amount of damn shaky cam but still, knife fights. And Bucky is hot as hell. I don't need more arguments.

Moulin Rouge! — I really don't like musicals. Yet here it is, in my top fav movies. It's super pretty and original in the imagery. The songs choices are just that good. And the story is more than heartbreaking.

Come True — Horror movie. My absolute favorite dreams/nightmares scenes ever, it's aesthetically pleasing especially if you like the work of very dark smoky tones, heavy symbolism, haunting and efficient. I recommend to go in blindly for the best effect. The ending can be deceptive but still the journey is really worth it. Be careful if you're experimenting sleep paralysis tho, that's a huge subject and visual content of the movie.

tagging : not comfortable with tagging people, do it if you feel like it! 💞