#Like. The love poured into an art piece feels just as important as the detail and effort and skill

[rxmxa]

The Leo-Aquarius Axis Redefined pt. 2 ⚡ 🧪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Part One on the Leo-Aquarius Axis (Good to Read for Reference)

I was watching some intense video footage with my friend after something really brutal and chaotic happened in my neighborhood. Watching it alone was overwhelming because there was so much violence and chaos happening back to back. But then I re-watched it with my Aquarius stellium friend. And when I say stellium, I mean stellium. This girl is an Aquarius Sun, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Rising, with a Capricorn Moon and Uranus in the 10th house. She is genuinely the smartest person I know.

What I didn’t fully realize until that moment was just how good Aquarius energy is at processing information. Aquarius is an air sign, which means it thrives on mental challenges and intellectual stimulation. But it’s also fixed, which gives it a steady and sustained focus that doesn’t waver. Symbolically, Aquarius is the Water Bearer. It pours out knowledge, deep and distilled, offering it to the world. In moments of chaos, it feels like Aquarius processes everything at light speed, distills the important parts, and hands you the answers in such a breezy and nonchalant manner all like, “Oh, you didn’t notice that incredibly specific detail?”

While we were watching the footage, she kept pausing to point things out. She would say, “Look here, see his hand? Notice how he flinched.” Then she would rewind and say, “Listen again, did you hear what he said? He said ‘xyz.’” By the end of the night, mostly thanks to her, we had pieced together the timeline of what happened.

It was a heavy experience, but it also got me thinking about something I had written before about the Leo-Aquarius axis.

In that post, I said:

“If you are struggling to shine and develop your self-expression (Leo), look at the opposite of that (Aquarius), where you might need to release and let go of pressure. Especially internal pressure, since air sign energy is so connected to our thoughts and intellect. This sets the stage for success that feels aligned with your most genuine self.”

At the time, I was so focused on this idea of detachment leading to success that I wrote:

“The 11th house (Aquarius) rules your profits from your career, while the 5th house (Leo) rules your creativity and hobbies. Think about how many people have created art (5th house) without worrying about success or money, only to find widespread acclaim and rewards (11th house). In interviews, they always say, ‘I never imagined this would happen. I never imagined I would reach so many people.’ Why? Because they had detached. And that mindset can take you far.”

While that’s absolutely true, I realized I hadn’t fully considered the depth of this axis.

Aquarius isn’t just about letting go and hoping for the best. You don’t magically detach and suddenly see success show up in your Leo house.

Yes, you need to release expectations in your Aquarius house. But Aquarius isn’t about not caring. It’s about caring deeply for the process itself. It’s about learning for the sake of learning. Aquarius is the mad scientist energy, the inventor, the one who experiments and explores because it’s fascinating and because it feeds them.

Wherever Aquarius is in your chart, that’s where you need to step into that energy. It’s where you become the mad scientist, endlessly curious and driven to learn and discover. You absorb information, try new things, and gather knowledge for the sake of it. That process becomes the fuel that allows your Leo house to shine.

Aquarius prepares and strategizes, and Leo performs and shines. Success aligns when both energies are flowing together.

Aquarius builds the blueprint. It is the blueprint. Then Leo distributes it to the world. That’s where success or even monetization comes in. But it’s always at your pace, and always through doing what you love.

How I Applied This in My Own Life

This realization hit me on such a personal level because I have struggled with 6th house themes my entire life. My weight, my routines, building habits, staying consistent. etc. No matter how hard I tried to force structure into my day-to-day life, it just never clicked. I would start strong, burn out, and then spiral into frustration.

But when I stopped trying to force myself into systems that didn’t fit me and leaned into my Aquarius 12th house energy, everything shifted. I stopped seeing my habits as rigid checklists and started treating them like little experiments. I became curious, open to trial and error, and focused on the process instead of the outcome.

Suddenly, my 6th house started to thrive. My health (gut health, mental health, lost 15 pounds) improved, my daily routines felt sustainable (set boundaries at work), and consistency became something I didn’t have to force anymore. It became second nature to be this new version of me.

The Leo-Aquarius Axis Guide

If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting to shine like Leo and strategize like Aquarius, my guide will show you how to:

Identify your Aquarius Lab and your Leo Stage in your chart

Create a sustainable cycle of preparation (aqua) and performance (leo)

Use both energies to create confidence, clarity, and success

get the guide here: ✨ [Mastering the Leo-Aquarius Axis] ⚡ 🧪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Con mucho amor, Ramona 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

[sunshine-in-a-bottle]

Suds!! You are yet again like 90% of my art reblogs. 😭😭😭

Thanku for remembering my arts. 💙

HOW COULD I FORGET WHEN YOURE LITERALLY ONE OF THE BEST OUT THERE???? I'M ALWAYS EATING GOOD WHEN ITS YOU

Actually everyone who sees this post I provide you with a list of good tired art to reblog:

->Pretty boy skateboarder Punz

->Sparkly lovely XD??? Oh my god??

->Drunz is doing a little dance<3

->Being emotional about cFundy, as a treat

->Schlatt being a poor little baa-baa<3333

->Listen Punz deserves to give Dream flowers. shut up I'm normal

->Foosh. The Most Foosh. Look At Him. Give Him Hugs.

->yes I'm grabbing every drunz art. its not my fault its so well done. I have demons okay. theyre hugging.

->Dream getting cuddles from Steve The Polar Bear

->Philza and George bow designs !!!! Jesus christ these are so cool. how do I learn to make weapon designs.

->A Ranboo design that absolutely delights me. Different ties depending on if its Ran or Ender, aaaaaa

->hey guys did you know Punz is one of my favorite characters<-frothing at the mouth

->honestly weapon and armor designs are my weakness

->DRUNZ DRUNZ DRUNZ DRUNZ DRUNZ AAAAAAAAAAAAA

->Dream getting the comfort he deserves

->Punz covered in blood

->Catboy!Punz (no the dopamine hits I get every time I reblog Punz art are normal doctor)

->I am NORMAL about PUNZ shut UP (Valo design)

->Post-Prison Dream trying to cut his hair, HNRRRR-

->FUCK (more Catboy Punz)

->hnnnnnn Mob boss Dream with loyal right hand Punz???? augh

->FEM DREAM EVERYONE ITS A CODE GREEN, STAY CALM WAIT FUCK SHE'S FULLY COLORED IN THIS ONE. STAY FUCKING CALM-

->Drunz chained together. Very normal. I am normal.

->hnnnn why is Dream so pretty in this. I need Punz to kiss him.

->no you dont understand I'm studying how you drew Grians wings to see if I can learn how to draw them that good. christ I want to learn your power.

-> Technoblade comic featuring other people missing him. My heart hurts a lot looking at this.

->Valo Punz (instant dopamine hit)

->Tireds DTIYS Dream that I don't feel I could ever feasibly attempt just because its so fucking godly. But I Will Try Someday Soon. fucking hell.

->WAIT MUMBO WITH LONG HAIR???

->Lynx Punz (instant dopamine hit)

->Holy shit. Grian as a marble statue with wings spread. The level of ability on display here is spectacular????

->drunz are hugging (I am once again frothing at the mouth)

->Hnnnnnn tarot card Dream looking so pretty

->god, this fucks me up so hard. Punz is taking a picture of Dream, in absolute awe, but Punz's comic panel is the one thats shaped like a photo. As if they can capture their reaction but theyll never be able to capture Dream's joy, his beauty and light. (AND THEN YOU COLORED IT)

->Witches Dreamnap. Its so funny to me that Sapnap seems fully into it while Dream is right behind him looking Ready For Mischief

->hnnnnn baby Punzzzzz, BABY PUNZZZZZZZZZ AAAAAAAA (instant dopamine hit)

->literally all of your expression memes??? Dream covered in blood while Purpled is chill about it. Wet Cat Mumbo. The Foosh with hearts in his eyes. Shy pretty boy Dream with braided hair. TANGO. The fuckinnnn Foosh/XD kiss. SNF (my favorite underrated ship) and Grumbo. DREAMNAP YES. Drunz getting to be happy!!!

->Obligatory Etho Chilling In A Tree<33

->A Canary Loves His Coal Mine. FUCK (comic)

->Dreamnap kissing and more FooshXD. <-bites down on my phone, instantly destroying it

->Enderman Dream for cHybrid day<333

->pissboy Purpled<3 (says this with love and giggles)

->smalletho comic. Why does this feel so comfortable and nostalgic.

->the flowers trailing down.... who is this...

->bdubs and Dream, and interaction I've never thought of before but now want to see happen

->Drunz, hgnhhhhh

->Jimmy Solidarity worshipping Scar at the altar.

->I tried really, really hard to scroll past Sam, thinking I could be strong. I have my own demons to face.

->I really love when people do like, Different Eyes For Different Characters Posts. Its delightful

->god fucking damn. stop converting me to Ethoisms

->DREAMNOTNAP THIS IS NOT A DRILL

->Drunz with more Lynx Punz (instant dopamine hit)

->MORE DRUNZ WITH LYNX PUNZ (a second dopamine hit)

->SNAKE DREAM WITH LYNX PUNZ (stop stop I'm already dead)

->fuck. goddamit. Dream is leaning in to bite Punz's wrist. I need to throw myself directly into the lake.

->noooooo Snake Dream wrapping around Punz for warmth. My 37th weakness.

->Punz. (dopamine hit.)

->Drunznap. Objectively beautiful<333

->Valo Dream to go with the Valo Punz, HNNNNN THEY MUST ALWAYS BE TOGETHER

->hey you ever cry while gently caressing a cracking marble statue of your lover? Just normal Dream about Punz things :))))

->Hnnnn Punz expressions. Theyre so fucking !!!!! barkbarkbark

->Drunz DBH au. hahaha I can be normal (you witness me shatter a plate in my hands)

->punz in a dresss hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

->IM FEASTING, DRUNZ KISSING. BRAIN IS LIGHTING UP.

->s2 Dream design !!! He has a cane!!!!! As he should :oDDDD (WAIT THERES A SECOND VERSION)

->inhales. You Can Always Rely On Your Knight, Dream. He loves you so much.

->Punzzz (instant dopamine hit.)

->Dream in Punz's clothes!!!! (smashes my head against a concrete brick)

->Drunz DRUNZ Drunz Drunzzz dRuNz DRUNZZZZ (them<3)

->The Grian/Dream apocalypse, the ship we needed and so desperately deserved. I have been converted.

okay I have to stop. This list is getting too long. I have to be normal. (Foolish Valo Design)

Yes I went through Tired's art tag to grab these. Honestly I went through about 20 pages before I lost steam. And There's Still More. I'd go check out his art for the full list, I barely covered half of it- especially if youre into the Hermitcraft/Life series. Here's the tag, have fun scrolling <3

[divine-crows]

Anecdotes on How to Incorporate Art and Magic Without Failing

I love creating things, and I equally love being in tune with my spiritual side. I find that when I try to mesh the two I quickly feel burnt out both from the mental planning it takes for projects, and partly from having to pour in so much energy into every ounce of what I create. I dabble in traditional drawn art, crochet, knitting, and embroidery. As a result, my tips will be more focused on those areas, but I hope to provide some help to those interested in art magic regardless of their chosen art format.

Without further ado- here are some tips on how to increase your success in art magic based on my personal experience.

1. Do not get caught up in weaving in every little feeling and detail.

When I first started my art magic journey, I would get caught up in making sure I completely focused on my intent while I was creating my works. Since most spells emphasize how important it is to maintain focus on intent, I was under the impression that my journey into art magic would apply the same principle. However, I found that this was hard to maintain and would lead to me getting frustrated with my wandering mind.

Instead, I would advise as approaching it as being in a meditative state. You let your mind ebb and flow-- you acknowledge the thoughts and you let them go, occasionally thinking of the intent of course.

2. Utilize symbolism (numbers and colors aplenty)

This is my solution to my issue with focused intent. Whenever I include colors, animals, or numbering I use it as a tool to focus my intent. For me, it enables my mind to wander freely, while still having piece of mind towards the intent. I mainly use animal and plant symbolism along with color symbolism, but there are plenty of other things you can incorporate.

3. Working in Spell Elements Beforehand and Afterhand

Sometimes I like to start a project by reciting a chant before I begin a project. Typically it'll be a sort of enchantment I'll plance on the tool used to create the project, and following up with a sort of spell to incorporate that enchantment to the art I made. You can also ground yourself before you make art, or you can craft a spell to seal the intent into the artwork.

4. Listening to Music that Matches your Intent.

If you're like me, you probably enjoy having something else to focus on while you work. Putting together a playlist with songs that capture the emotions you want to pour into your spell can be perfect for that reason.

5. Take Breaks from Art Magic to do Things Just for the Sake of Doing It

It's easy to stress over making everything perfect and doing everything in some contrived "proper" way, but I find that when I worry too much that's when I lose sight on what makes my art feel magical. Sometimes that means setting down a piece to do something else, sometimes that means making silly fanart, and sometimes that means I don't touch anything art related for a week so I can find purpose again.

Your art is a reflection of your soul, or it can be a reflection of the world and people around you. It's messy, it's ugly, it's beautiful, it's perfect. All at the same time. Give yourself room to just enjoy yourself every once in a while.

6. Let Yourself be Spontaneous

I'm the type of person where I always have an idea of how things should be in my head-- which also means I can't stand it when things don't quite work out in my favor. In cases of doing art magic, I've found that the best thing I can do is listen to my gut instinct even if it means doing something way different than I would normally want to create. Try out abstract art, incorproate junk into your paintings, try a new medium!

[timemajesty]

So, today on November 5th, 10 years ago I made an OC for the game called Super Mario RPG. Ever since then, I've worked on him and poured so much love, sweat, tears, money and even blood into making this OC into what he is today. Not my typical type of post on here, but it's important for me to share just how much Erbin has grown as a character.

Erbin was originally created for the purposes of coping with a lot of awful things that happen in my childhood, but I never had resources or anything to draw him or get art of him, so until around 7 years ago he didn't even have any artwork to his name. I just always had so much written up pieces about him, all this information, all these little stories, and especially a lot of ship fanfics. I made him to ship with Geno, which I know is very basic nowadays, basically everyone ships an OC with Geno, but I don't care for being basic.

His first design, is awful I won't lie, I didn't know what I was doing as a character designer back then. Most of his much older art is so old, I cannot find any traces of the artists who drew a lot of them for me, so I apologize in advance for that.

Art was originally made by someone known as SweetRaccon on Amino.

Gawd, his old design. Back when he had pink hair, a much larger crown, no nose and no ears. He was also really slim back then, and also his story was a lot more different, and not good. I'll be honest and say, I kinda originally wrote him to be a projection of what my abusive ex was, a horrible person who didn't care about others if it meant getting what he wanted and I admit that I don't think that was healthy for me to do, and I've grown and I know now that projecting is okay but if you want an OC to be very much your own thing you probably shouldn't project too much onto them.

This was also the era of which I started becoming more serious with his character, adding more details into his story and giving him actual information, such as an age, a family, stuff like that.

Original art by my boyfriend.

Ah, his second design. It's still not the best but it was better. Back then I had figured out his height, some characteristics to his design and overall fixed some stuff; such as I gave him a nose and ears, and his hair wasn't completely pink, this was also around the same time that FNF was getting popular and everyone and their mothers kept comparing him to the mom from that game, to this day I will never understand that because I just don't see the similarities at all, other than the skin color.

This was probably the time in my life where I started to develop a lot of my bad writing habits, especially my habit of giving up when I feel like something I write isn't perfect; it's kinda an issue and still is to this day, and you can probably understand why I don't post him often because of that. What I will say though is that back then I had fleshed out his story to be less of just "haha he's my ex but as an OC" to "Oh, he's a very troubled and fascinating character who I changed up to not be an abuser." I'll be honest, I regret ever making him anything like my abuser.

Original art by Facade on Discord ( @toastee-roastee )

The current design, the current era.

This is when I started to develop more of his relationship with Geno, instead of Erbin being nothing but a flirty bastard with Geno; he's now someone who had to earn Geno's trust back after Geno had learned about Erbin's affiliation with the Smithy Gang. Which, let's talk about that, I don't talk about his lore enough. So here it is, the definitive and complete story of Erbin's backstory.

Once upon a time, there was a God and a Shadow Siren. They didn't love one another, the God knew he loved someone else but fate kept them apart and forced him to be with this Shadow Siren. When they decided to have a kid to keep the Gods' legacy in tact, they realized they didn't have the time or resources to care for a child. So this God, Culex, decided to give the child to a tyrant, none other than Smithy; who begrudgingly accepted Culex's request and took in baby Erbin, raising him as if he was one of the Smithy Gang members.

It didn't take long for Erbin to start being an annoyance around the Factory, he had known from a young age about how his father abandoned him which made him grow up as a troublemaker. After 30 years of suffering from abuse, burns and scars from machines, and constantly being yelled at...Erbin had enough, that's when Mario and his group of heroes destroyed Smithy, and that's when Erbin took that opportunity to steal Smithy's crown and escape the Weapons World, claiming an abandoned castle deep into the Forest Maze as his home.

It wasn't long before he met one of those heroes, Geno, who had been ordered to take care of any remaining Smithy Gang soldiers that lurked Mario's World, the rest is history.

More art from my boyfriend.

When I tell you this OC means everything to me, I mean it. He's been with me through it all, ever since the start of an abusive relationship with my ex all the way to today, where my life is a lot better and I have an amazing partner and an awesome friend group. To everyone who's been in this journey of helping me make Erbin the character he is today, thank you. You mean just as much as Erbin means to me, which is a lot. I wouldn't be here without this OC and I definitely wouldn't be who I am today without him, he brought me so many memories and I can't wait to make more with him. I may post more for him today, today is his special day.

Oh and it's election day so like, vote for Erbin lmao.

[clothyume]

Astraea's Atelier: Ally of Justice Part Eight

Ally of Justice: Part Eight 

Summer 

Leo: The benefactor in question seems to be doing art themself, and one day showcased his work at the exhibition. 

Chiaki: Ahh, I feel like I’m somehow getting the punchline. 

Leo: Yup. And even though they were Shu’s benefactor, he didn’t take any precautions and criticised the work in a brutal manner, following the style of the exhibition. 

Chiaki: Wah. 

Leo: Don’t think Shu is ungrateful, okay? Giving favours doesn’t matter in the world of art. 

No matter how much you like someone, if the work is bad, you should say so! 

On the other hand, no matter how good the other person’s work is, if you think it's good you should say you like it! 

In reality things don’t go as ideally as that, it’s just a matter of convenience— 

At least, that’s Shu’s idea on the aesthetics of an artist. So he thoroughly criticised the work of his benefactor as he felt. 

That’s fine, but if it was Shu he would've said “what the hell?” And he’d be inspired to make a better piece. 

So, he definitely will have looked back on the people that he criticised at some point. 

I understand because I’m that type of person too, but I usually get really depressed when a piece of work that I’ve poured my heart and soul into is rejected. 

In some cases, I’ll break. 

Chiaki: …

Leo: In fact, it looks like the benefactor in question hasn’t been seen at an exhibition since that day. 

Chiaki: They were probably heartbroken because their favourite artist, Itsuki, rejected them. 

I kinda understand that feeling… 

If Sagami-sensei from Ryusei Rainbow, that I’ve always admired, told me “You’re unfit to be a hero!” I’d probably die. 

Leo: Wahaha, I’d also get depressed if Sena told me “I don’t need you”! 

Woah, no way, I’m shaking just imagining it! So cold…! 

Chiaki: Wanna turn on the heating? 

Leo: It’s okay! When I talk, my body temperature rises! Anyway, the day that Shu’s benefactor disappeared is the day that strange things started turning up in Shu’s atelier! 

Chiaki: Yup. Judging from the situation, I think the benefactor might be the culprit behind this case. 

Leo: I think so too! His work, which was only exhibited once, and the styles of the pieces appearing in this atelier are the same! 

Leo: Shu probably noticed that too. That’s why he’s upset and in a slump… That’s my theory. 

Chiaki: Yup. I think that makes sense. You’re surprisingly smart, Tsukinaga. 

Leo: Oh~? You thought I was stupid? Even though I am stupid! 

Chiaki: I’m not trying to make fun of you. At least, without your information, we wouldn’t have figured out the culprit. 

Leo: That’s obvious! You were on the other side of the ocean! 

Chiaki: Yup… I feel a little bit relieved now the identity of the culprit has been revealed. The culprit isn’t someone dangerous like the mafia, but an artist like Itsuki— Is the highest likelihood. 

The motive is still unclear. I wonder if it is harassment by planting things Itsuki isn’t good with, in order to get revenge for being rejected. 

Leo: Wahaha, if that is the case the effects were immediate! As expected Shu is disturbed and falls into a slump! 

Chiaki: No… I get the sense that it's not that. Kiryu and Itsuki said it during the day, but it's too elaborate to be harassment. 

The culprit’s motive, isn’t it something else? 

Leo: What else could it be? 

I got it! They plan to keep showing Shu pervy things so that it makes him so horny he can’t hold back anymore and pushes them down! 

In other words, the culprit is in love with Shu…! 

Chiaki: That’s one way to say it, but I’m surprised you would come up with such an idea, Tsukinaga. 

Leo: Wahaha! My Naru and I talk about this all the time! We get a lot of requests for love songs! What’s important is the dopamine rush! 

Chiaki: Dopamine.. I don’t know the details, but when it's secreted, you get a feeling of euphoria, right? 

In other words, hmm… Could it be just that? 

Shu: —There’s a theory that excessive secretion of dopamine causes hallucinations and delusions. 

Chiaki: Wagyaaa!? 

Shu: Don’t let out such an annoying scream. Are you trying to tell me that there was no supernatural phenomenon and it was all my imagination? 

Chiaki: I-It’s not that! If it’s a delusion then wouldn’t the rest of us be imagining pervy things… No, it’s strange that we’re seeing them too! 

Shu: True. So what is it, then? You trampled on my kindness, sneaked out of my sleeping quarters, then trespassed in my atelier—

If you tell me there’s no resolution, even a mild-mannered person like me is going to get angry. 

Chiaki: Y-Yup! Well, Itsuki, we just had a thought— 

Shu: …? 

[animehouse-moe]

Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective Episode 3: The Case of the Benizome Hot Spring Murder (Part 1)

This show is really proving that it was made for me, and it sort of blows my mind that I wasn't really all over it before it aired. Regardless, I'm all over this episode and what Diomeda brings with it, so there's a mountain of stuff I want to talk about!

First of all, Ibata's storyboarding is even better than his work on the first episode for the series. Their focus on objects and using sharp perspective and depth of field to highlight them is sublime for series like this. It just draws you into the scenes so much as you pour over the details in the various scenes.

Also this piece. I love this part, and you can see it in the first episode as well where Ibata shows a few cuts from the leg down. What I love about it here though is that it's used to signal the entrance of Spitz into the scene, which is a lot of fun.

Anyways, I think the point of Ibata being a good storyboarder and being incredibly well suited to Ron is apparent, let's talk story. We get more info on Ron this episode as they show us that it's not a tattoo on his neck, but rather a scar leftover from his BLUE days. Despite that though, Ron claims that the scar has special meaning due to the sixes that appear in it.

This all thanks to a precursor cold open with BLUE, where we get a very tense exchange. Here, we find out that Spitz (the character I mentioned earlier) is tasked with finding out if Ron is doing any detective work. The principal of BLUE gives Spitz some very specific rules, which he delightfully ignores as he effectively sets up the mystery for Toto and Ron in this episode.

I just think it's great fun. We have a formula that's appeared to us. Someone dies, Ron gets involved and the mystery gets solved.

However, in three episodes we've seen consistent changes to these rules.

The second episode saw Ron pass the sleuthing off to Toto so that he could solve the mystery.

And this episode has placed a culprit in front of the people involved right away. Even further, the mystery isn't solved within the span of a single episode.

It's so so great how they're able to change the shape of this series without altering its form. It keeps things so incredibly fresh and creative while providing a theme and feel to follow loosely.

And it's able to integrate the comedy with that so effortlessly. In the second episode, Ron donned a humorous disguise and played into it to provide both humor and hints for viewers.

In this episode we shift the focus of the humor to Spitz, where his intense desire to challenge Ron provides a bit of comedy, as well as potential tips for the viewers. I mean, just imagine that Spitz orchestrated this whole thing just to try and expose Ron. The potential for humor alongside the mystery is truly impressive, I can't begin to wonder how the author's able to come up with ideas like these that marry both sides of the show so well.

Anyways, back into the episode. There's some surprisingly well done cuts! A lot are just super detailed still drawings, but I still think they look very very good.

Also, the environment art for this episode? Super pretty. I love the look of it so much, and it matching with the weather outside is great.

And then there's the visual storytelling. Man oh man I loved this reveal, and for two reasons.

First of all, only Amamiya and Ron dare wade into the water where the dead body floats. This part's just a fun little detail that shows that this pair are involved and interested in the murder, while Toto is more external/distant to it. Also, faceless characters are very apparent in this episode, nd I'm really a sucker for this style of direction. When done with intent it can be a really fun piece.

Anyways, this second layout is far more important. Before a claim can even be made about who killed the woman, the scene betrays the answer. Spitz intended to single out Amamiya, and the layout conveys that by how it separates here, keeping her in the water next to the body while everyone else remains outside. It's almost as if they're framing it like they caught Amamiya in the act.

And I love that they show it from both sides, where it's the group looking out at Amamiya as the suspect, and Amamiya trying to justify herself against the group of people that looms over her.

The whole episode is just as detailed as this. There's all sorts of little bits and pieces, odds and ends and fun little references that do things like make the viewer believe that Spitz is orchestrating the mystery and hand-feeding it to Ron so that he can't resist. There's solid, and even once or twice, great animation in the episode and comedy that reverses roles (Amamiya accidentally wanders into the Men's bath while drunk). It's just a world of content that screams fun and engaging. The dynamics are energetic and well defined, the mysteries are well thought out and provide a great deal of hints and context, and the overall style and execution is really good. I don't know if I could ask for more from Diomeda, truthfully. Well, maybe I'd ask for the episodes to come out quicker so I could get my fix for this series.

[ronaldanthony4]

Creating art has always been a refuge for me—a place where I can pour my energy and imagination into something that feels alive. My latest digital artwork is no exception. This time, I ventured into the vibrant world of fan art, capturing one of my favourite characters from the cartoon "The Loud House:" the delightful and dazzling Lola Loud. This piece wasn’t just another project but an opportunity to celebrate her charm, complexity, and undeniable flair for the dramatic.

When I first sketched the outline of Lola, I couldn’t help but smile. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascaded gracefully down her back, with that iconic cowlick pointing to the left—a whimsical detail that made her instantly recognisable. Her bright, sky-blue eyes sparkled with confidence as if she were ready to step onto a pageant stage at any moment. And, of course, I had to capture her missing two front teeth, a detail that added an endearing touch to her otherwise glamorous persona.

In the artwork, Lola wears a tiara—a delicate, looping piece of metal that perfectly complements her regal personality. Her white pearl earrings and matching necklace add a touch of elegance, while her pink gloves, gown, and sash radiate the unmistakable aura of a beauty queen. The sparkles in her dress and gloves were a creative addition to mine, inspired by her love for all things shiny and fabulous. As I worked on the details, from the intricate folds of her dress to the gleam of her high heels, I felt like I was bringing her world to life.

Lola Loud is more than just a character; she’s a seven-year-old force of nature. As one of the main characters of The Loud House, she holds her own among her ten siblings. At just seven, she’s the third youngest, sharing her grade at Royal Woods Elementary School with her twin sister, Lana. Though they’re twins, Lola and Lana couldn’t be more different—Lana is a rough-and-tumble tomboy, while Lola is all about glitz and glamour. Despite their differences, the bond they share is undeniable.

As I worked on Lola’s portrait, I found myself reflecting on her backstory. Even as a toddler, she was a natural-born artist—or perhaps more of a mischief-maker. At just one-year-old, she developed a habit of painting the house, much to her family’s dismay. But this early penchant for creativity hinted at the colourful personality she would grow into. I imagined little Lola, paintbrush in hand, creating her version of beauty wherever she went.

Lola’s journey into the world of pageants began when she was barely two years old. From the moment she stepped onto her first stage, it was clear she was destined for greatness. Her sharp tongue and strong sense of self-importance made her a formidable competitor, even at such a young age. And while some might see her as overly materialistic, I couldn’t help but admire her drive and determination. Lola knows what she wants, and she’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.

Of course, being a beauty queen isn’t just about looking the part—it’s also about having the skills to back it up. Lola is incredibly resourceful, especially when it comes to making money. Whether through clever schemes or sheer determination, she always finds a way to fund her pageant dreams. And while some of her methods might be a bit questionable, they’re a testament to her resourcefulness and ingenuity. Her ambition and tenacity make her a force to be reckoned with in the pageant world.

One of the things I love most about Lola is her ability to balance her pageant life with her schoolwork. Despite her busy schedule, she takes her education seriously, knowing that good grades are the key to keeping her pageant career on track. Her dedication is inspiring, proving that even a beauty queen can prioritise learning. Lola's determination to succeed in both academics and pageantry sets her apart from her peers, showcasing her unwavering commitment to achieving her goals.

As I continued working on the artwork, I wanted to capture Lola’s passion for all things girly. Her interests range from fashion shows and makeup to posing for photo shoots—activities that reflect her vibrant personality. I imagined her twirling in front of a mirror, unable to look away from her reflection. Her confidence is contagious, even if it occasionally gets on her siblings’ nerves. Her vibrant personality shines through in every aspect of her life, inspiring those around her to pursue their passions with confidence and enthusiasm.

She has the tensest temper of all the Loud siblings, and her sharp tongue can leave even the bravest of them speechless. But beneath her fierce exterior lies a deep sense of loyalty and love for her family. Despite her self-centred tendencies, she’s always there for her siblings when it matters most. One of my favourite things about Lola is her ability to show remorse when she’s in the wrong. While she’s not afraid to go after what she wants, she’s also capable of recognising when her actions hurt others. This vulnerability adds depth to her character, making her more than just a spoiled beauty queen.

As I worked on the final touches of the artwork, I thought about the moments in the show where Lola’s compassion shines through. Whether it’s comforting a sibling in distress or joining forces with her family to overcome a challenge, she proves time and again that she has a big heart. These moments of humility and selflessness are what make her such a beloved character. The vibrant colours and sparkling atmosphere created the perfect stage for Lola to shine. It was as if she were standing in the spotlight, ready to accept yet another crown.

As I stepped back to admire the finished piece, I felt a surge of pride. Lola Loud had come to life in a way that felt true to her character. Her confidence, charm, and complexity were all there, captured in every detail of the artwork. It was more than just a portrait; it was a celebration of everything that makes her special. Reflecting on the process, I realised how much I had learned from creating this piece. Lola’s story is a reminder that we all have layer and that even the most confident among us have moments of vulnerability.

In the end, this artwork wasn’t just about showcasing Lola’s beauty—it was about capturing her essence. From her sparkling gown to her mischievous smile, every detail was a tribute to the character who has brought so much joy to fans of "The Loud House." As I shared the final piece with my audience, I hoped they would see not just the glamour, but also the heart and soul of Lola Loud. Creating this portrait was a labour of love, and it reminded me why I fell in love with art in the first place.

[kaleidoscope1967eyes]

to expand on the artistic tendencies you detailed a while back: something in which Reader discovers Luke's sketchbook tucked in amongst his gear or something and he feels some way about it. ♥️

You and Luke have a lot of trust in your relationship. However, he's still inclined to keep some things to himself, and you respect his privacy.

But you never expected him to be an artist.

For context, you didn't go snooping in his stuff--going through someone's sketchbook without their permission is a serious crime--you found his sketchbook purely by accident. Luke had left the mess hall in a hurry to make it to a rebel briefing, leaving a small, jerba leather-bound book on the bench next to you. Assuming it was some kind of journal where he kept tabs on important information regarding all things jedi, you slipped it in among your gear for safekeeping until his meeting wrapped up.

The sea of orange flightsuit-clad pilots signaled to you the meeting ended, so you rushed into the crowd to find Luke. It didn't take you long to spot the golden blonde hair of your lover as he made his way toward you.

"I'm glad I caught you, Y/N!" Luke cheered, drawing you in for one of his signature bear hugs.

"I'm glad, too! I have something for you." You reached into your jacket and a look of relief crossed his face as you pulled out the little book. The leather binding the book was worn and slightly faded and some of the pages had prominent wrinkles, but you could tell he treated it with great care.

"My sketchbook! I can't believe I left that behind, thank you for finding it!"

"Sketchbook?"

"Aunt Beru got it for me after Uncle Owen scolded me for doodling on the dining room table. It's one of the few things I've kept from Tatooine since I left." He laughed softly, looking at the sketchbook with fondness that made your heart ache.

"I didn't realize you were an artist... I don't mean that as an insult! I just didn't look inside."

"Would you like to?" You nodded, and he flipped open the sketchbook.

Your jaw dropped--he was incredible! Even at a young age, he demonstrated great talent by capturing the minute details of his T-16 starfighter. Portraits of who you assumed to be his family and friends from Tatooine filled the early pages of the sketchbook, as well as rough sketches of the planet's barren landscape. The further you got in the sketchbook, the more drawings you saw of familiar faces like Leia, Han, Chewie, and the droids. It was fascinating watching his art style morph over time as his skills increased, but what remained constant throughout was the love he poured into everything. Soon enough, you reached a part of the book where your likeness adorned almost all the pages. Phrases like "my love" and "the light of my galaxy" accompanied the sketches of your face.

You looked towards Luke, who scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Luke... this is amazing! You're really talented!"

"You really think so?"

Right as you were about to reply, you were cut off by Wedge Antilles informing Luke that Rogue Squadron was about to take off.

"I guess it's time for me to go, Y/N," he said, placing the sketchbook back into your hands. "Can you hold on to this for me?"

You nodded and kissed him one last time before he made his way toward his x-wing. Even after watching him fly away to fight in some valiant battle in the far reaches of space, you still couldn't fathom what you did to deserve Luke Skywalker trusting you with such an intimate piece of him. You held the sketchbook to your chest and smiled, knowing that you were connected to him even if you were galaxies apart.

Tagging:

@stonegoldsxcrxt

@laserbrains

@fandom-gal44

@hansonveggieclub

@myevilmouse

[pingutats]

For the “ways to say i love you” prompts, 43 please!

thank you for the request! from this list, prompt 43: "I picked these for you."

warnings: none! this is just fluff!

word count: 1.8k

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

This is definitely Harry’s domain.

Y/N hugs her shoulders as she stands in her bedroom-turned-dressing-room, staring at the rack of expensive clothes that have been left for her. Through the door, she can hear the noise of the crew bustling around her living room. This house has, of course, been the site of many Harry-hosted parties that had packed in a lot more people than there are present here today — despite that, this smaller group is threatening to become overwhelming for her.

She’s doing this for Harry. A couple of months ago, he was approached by AnOther Magazine to do a big feature with them — a kind of sequel to the one that he did when they were still called Another Man — and he’s been pouring his heart and soul into it since then. It feels like every single day, he’s been off chatting with a writer or meeting with the creative director. He dragged boxes out of storage to rifle through for mementos of his life as a solo artist last week. Y/N knows that some of their friends have been interviewed to talk about Harry. She’s pretty sure Stevie Nicks is one of them.

The centrepiece, though, is a photoshoot more intimate than he’s ever shared before. In the same way that the shoot set in his hometown years ago illustrated where he came from before he rocketed to stardom, this one will reveal who he is underneath all the make-up and glamour of fame.

Harry as he exists in private: in his home, with his girl, sharing this image of himself for the very first time.

Y/N was apprehensive at first — hell, Harry was too — but they’ve discussed it at length. He’s always been a private man, but his ethos is that honesty is integral to his art. He sings in detail about her in his music and puts that into the world with minimal censoring. This magazine feature, at its core, is just another artistic venture. He doesn’t want to hold back. When she understood it like that, it was easy for her to agree.

Her conviction that this is an important thing to do for Harry doesn’t stop the nerves, though. She’s never been a model, or even remotely a figure of interest beyond her connection to Harry. It’s his limelight that she’s stepping into. She can’t help but feel nervous about it.

The first outfit she’s wearing is a boldly patterned dress, custom-made by Gucci at Harry’s request. This isn’t the first time she’s wearing something this expensive (there are no compromises on fashion when you’re with Harry) but it still makes her feel like a fish out of water. She holds the hanger at arms-length for a moment, vaguely anxious that she might have put on weight since the fitting and it won’t fit her anymore, then carefully slips it off. She steps into it gingerly and shrugs it over her shoulders, then reaches behind her to pull the zip up as far as she can reach. She stands in front of the mirror and looks at her reflection, frowning.

Her make-up, which was done earlier, is colourful and dramatic. The point of this home shoot is to show the dichotomy between Harry’s celebrity persona and his private life, illustrated through the elaborate costuming inside their relatively normal home. She doesn’t recognise herself in it.

There’s a knock at the door, startling her out of her thoughts. She whips around, back straightening. “What is it?”

“Can I come in?” It’s Harry’s voice, and just those four short words in his gentle tone are enough to dissolve some of her anxiety.

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself into a calmer headspace. “Yeah,” she answers.

He opens the door discreetly and slips inside, careful not to reveal her to the people in the living room while she’s not properly dressed. She appreciates his caution. Although he’s apparently comfortable enough to walk around near-strangers half-naked—he’s only wearing his boxers right now—she definitely isn’t.

“Everything alright, darling?” he asks. Every step that brings him closer puts her more at ease. She’s always been an anxious person, but he’s like a drug to her. From the very first time they met, he’s been the person she feels most natural with. They just work. Things feel right with him.

She smiles at him. It’s a weak stretch of her lips, but a smile nonetheless. “Yeah. Can you zip me up, please?”

“Of course.”

She turns back around to face the mirror and reaches behind her head to pull her hair out of his way. His fingers are warm against bare skin of her back, finding the zipper and dragging it up, his knuckles brushing against her skin more than is probably necessary. He fixes the way the straps sit over her shoulders with the same attention to detail that she’s seen his stylists give for him a hundred times before. His lip is tucked between his teeth as he does so, glancing from the mirror back to her, his face the image of concentration.

Finally satisfied, he takes a step back and rakes his gaze up and down her figure. “Y’look gorgeous.”

She shrugs, staring at herself. “Thanks, H.”

“I mean it.” He plants a kiss on her cheek, holding her by the waist as they look at each other through their reflections. “Pretty dress for a pretty girl.”

Heat rises in her face and she drops her gaze to the floor. “Now you’re doing too much.”

He shakes his head. “‘M not. Promise I’m not.”

She hums, appraising their reflection with a frown. Even in his underwear, Harry is Harry, and she… She feels like she’s playing dress up in someone else’s wardrobe, dipping her toes into someone else’s life. Harry is at ease in a place like this but she certainly isn’t.

Harry seems to sense this. “Something the matter?” he asks her gently.

“No, just —“ she wrings her hands in front of her, searching for the words. “I don’t feel like me.”

He furrows his brow. “I know what you mean. ’S weird when you do all this—” he flutters his hand around the room, at the rack of clothes and towards the door where they can hear someone giving directions to shift the couch slightly to the left “—just to get a photo done. And I know you’re not used to it.” He squeezes her waist gently. “But you look beautiful. Just like you always do.”

She can’t suppress a small smile at that, bumping her head against Harry’s shoulder with a quietly mouthed, “Thank you.”

He turns his head to kiss her hair, then releases his grip on her waist and moves over to the rack of clothes. “But did y’see…” He bends down to pick up a plastic container marked Look 1 from the shelf at the bottom. He opens it up to reveal various pieces of jewellery inside, and delicately picks out a couple pieces with nimble fingers. “I picked these for you.”

They’re her earrings. More specifically, they’re the earrings that he gave her for their first anniversary. A couple of dangling pearls—he’d bought them during his obsession with the gems. They’re a sweet memento of that time of their lives, of the honeymoon phase that felt like it lasted forever, that never really fizzled out even to this day. They’re her favourites.

She realises her mouth has dropped open. “When did you sneak those in?” she asks.

He shrugs, smirking. “I have my ways. I’m sneaky.” He returns to his previous position standing behind her, nudging her hair behind her ear with his knuckles. “May I?”

She nods, trying not to shiver as his fingers brush against her ears.

“There we go,” he says, stepping back. “Is that a bit better?”

The girl in the mirror looks familiar now. Despite the make-up and the dress, she can see herself. The same face, framed by the same earrings, that has accompanied Harry through all sorts of days and nights. Today is just another one of those things. Something they’re doing, together, and isn’t that all she wants, for them to do everything together?

Being with Harry is a dream she never wants to wake up from. They’ve built a paradise together and now they get to share a tiny part of it with the world—not for the world to share in it, but to see just how beautiful it is.

There’s a little part of Y/N that hopes it makes the rest of the world jealous. They should be, she thinks.

“It’s perfect, H,” she tells him, glancing over her shoulder so she looks at his real face, not just his reflection. “Honestly. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.” He looks proud of himself—his eyes are shining and his dimples are on display as he looks her up and down once more. “It’s all you.”

Y/N mirrors him, her gaze travelling down his body. She bites her lip.

Harry seems to remember suddenly that he’s only in his underwear—his hands fly to cover his thinly-clothed privates and he looks at her, his mouth open in a sly grin. “This is not the time,” he scolds, his shoulders shaking as he suppresses laughter.

Y/N rolls her eyes, grabbing him by the shoulder and pushing him to turn around. “Go get dressed, you dork.”

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

The suit that Harry wears is made out of the same material as Y/N’s dress, bright and bold colours. The photographer is accomodating of her nerves as he has them sit on the couch. The window is wide open to allow the natural light to illuminate their faces, and the Y/N can feel the warmth of the sun on her face. The sky is a brilliant blue. It’s a perfect day.

“Okay, look this way,” the photographer tells her, drawing her attention from the window to the camera. “A little closer, Harry.”

Harry shifts over, his thigh pressing against hers. His hand comes to rest on her knee, then lifts suddenly as if he’s remembered something. “Hang on a minute,” he says to the photographer, holding up a finger.

He twists around to face Y/N and carefully sweeps her hair back over her shoulder, tucking it behind her ear to ensure the pearl earring is on clear display. She smiles at him, which he returns in a quick unspoken exchange of gratitude and care.

“Alright,” Harry says, settling back to face the photographer. His hand finds Y/N’s and he squeezes it. “We’re good.”

The camera clicks and the flash goes off. Their hands remain joined on Harry’s lap.

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

hope you enjoyed this!! if you did, a reblog & any kind of message would be really appreciated. i'm open to any requests, from the prompt list linked above or from your own imagination, which you can send here. all my other writing is linked on my masterlist. have a lovely day!

[raineydaywrites]

The moment Lucretia sent her painting into the mountain, she felt an absurdly strong sense of loss.

It felt almost silly- grieving so much for something she couldn’t even remember, but she knew that she had poured her heart into that painting.

And now, she couldn’t even recall the barest impression of its lines or colors.

If the mountain didn’t accept her work then she would never remember it. She’d thought about that so much over the past year, wondering what it would feel like.

She remembered that she’d feared not getting accepted- feared the lost memory of something she’d worked so hard on. She had feared the loss would be agonizing. A hole in her memory where she knew something belonged that she could no longer understand.

And yet. She felt nothing more than a vague wistfulness. Bittersweet instead of solely bitter. She knew that there was something she ought to miss, but without any memories of it, the sting was lessened. It had just been one painting. Precious, yes, but not essential. She could always make another.

Hell, she could make another painting of the exact same subject. That- place? It had been a place hadn’t it?

Her mind buzzed like pins and needles warning her away from delving deeper into memory, but she couldn’t stay away.

She tried to remember what she had painted, some place she must have loved dearly. And her mind slammed into a wall of static.

What was going on? She couldn’t remember- why couldn’t she remember?

The- the mountain. When she submitted her painting to the mountain, it had made her forget. But why had she forgotten the place?

The natives hadn’t warned her about this- her teacher, the officials, other artists- no one had said she could forget so much-

No one had warned her that submitting art of a real thing to the mountain would erase her memory of the real thing too!

If she had known about this- maybe she would have chosen a different subject. She would have chosen something that didn’t mean- had that place meant something special to her? It must have right? If she’d decided to paint it for this?

Had it meant something to her crewmates? Had she taken their memories without even intending it?

Why had no one warned her about this? She had thought- she had assumed that the art piece would be erased only- a loss, certainly, but not as big of one as forgetting the entire place in reality.

And if the mountain didn’t accept her work- she would never remember. And she could no longer even say what the quality of the work was. Surely she hadn’t half-assed something so important; surely she did her best. But she could not reassure herself with the details of the piece- or even describe the strengths of it in the broadest details!

She’d already lost so much of her home. Had she just doomed herself to losing another with her own ignorance? They had brought so little evidence of their world with them, never expecting to lose it; and she, unknowingly, had just made part of it actually unknowable.

The grief hit her like a punch to the chest, and then the relief was whiplash leaving her in a huff of air as the mountain projected her painting back into the world.

And she could remember. The square. She would people watch there, practicing both her observation and her artistry. Describing the action and movement around her as practice for her writing, clumsily sketching moving figures to challenge her speed and ability. There was a little shop that sold sweet things- chocolates and ice cream, and one of her favorite book stores. Sometimes, she’d bring her little brothers with her, and they would get treats and play in the little park while she worked.

Oh gods. She’d nearly lost that.

Her friends were beside her now, excitement and pride writ large on their faces for her, and she smiled weakly back at them. They must not have had the same realization she did when the mountain erased their memories- or maybe the square had meant nothing to them, so it hadn’t bothered them- you couldn’t forget something you never knew in the first place.

Well. There was no need to ruin a happy moment by revealing that ugliness right now. She could always tell them about the true extent of the mountain’s memory erasing abilities later. It wasn’t important really, after all. Once they’d left this world, they would never be affected by it again.

[gilbirda]

The man with a thousand faces

He was the man with a thousand faces, but in the end, he didn't like any of those.

Prompt: What's Amorpho's story? He has a preoccupation with his actions being noticed but staying out of sight, and I just think he needs more attention. How'd he come to be? (PR102) by @ghostlyhabato

For the @phicphight

My AO3 series

[Read on AO3] [Read on FF.net]

There was once a man. They called him the man with a thousand faces.

This man was an expert in his field, you see. This man was known by all, and yet unknown, because this man wasn’t famous because of his looks or his money or his name. And he loved it like that.

Because this man was known for his work. The best in the field, they said. He came out of nowhere and stood on top of his peers, everyone wanted a piece of him, everyone wanted to be his friend. Soon, he became the most popular man alive.

The man was a god of special effects. 

It was the era of monster movies; of mummies and Frankenstein's monsters, of vampires, of swamp creatures. It was the time where the most prized crew member was someone with good hands and creative talent.

Ohhh, this man didn’t just make creatures come to live - he also could transform your features into someone else’s! He could do actual magic with silicone and paint. He could  morph people into practically anyone else.

He wasn’t vain, but he knew he was the best and he liked to be noticed. His work was a form of art and he liked to be named next to the actors, because good acting was just as important as costume design and characterization. 

This was until the accident.

It had been just a normal Saturday night and he wanted to go home, change, and go to the party with the designated arm candy he would ditch halfway through the night. Dating wasn’t his thing but that didn’t mean that keeping appearances wasn’t as important as his talents.

He was distracted. He didn’t see where he put his hand. He didn’t see where the very volatile and inflammable paints poured close to the lamp he needed to see the details better.

When he woke up in the hospital everything hurt. Smiling for the cameras hurt.

It hurt more when he saw what he looked like. 

He wasn’t vain, but he knew what Hollywood did to people that looked like he did. It didn’t matter the talents, it didn’t matter that his hand was still steady, it didn’t matter how good he could transform anyone else’s looks.

Nobody wanted to be touched by the amorphous freak.

Nobody wanted anything to do with him. Nobody thought he was a genius anymore, even if his mind was intact after the accident. He didn’t care about the money, even if it was worrying how he was tapping more and more into his savings for the treatments of his burns.

He would show them what he could still do, he promised himself.

So he became someone else. He used masks. He used silicone prosthesis on his face. He used practiced accents and voices he did on the mirror.

When he was ready, he came back to show his talents. It was going to be great - charm everyone into his ability to transform people not only into monsters, but also into other people. He didn’t want to be forgotten. He didn’t want to be the star that burned into oblivion, quite literally.

He wanted to show them, but everyone knew what he looked like under the mask. Everyone looked at the border of his eyes where the burned skin was faintly visible under the silicone - he put on sunglasses to hide it. Everyone looked at the hairline of his wig or how fake they looked - he wore a hat. He hated feeling sweaty but wore a four piece suit with a cravat to hide the burns of his neck and chest.

He tried to explain that his hands were fine, that his nerves were barely damaged in the fire. He tried to explain that he didn’t want to stop working as a special effects artist. But nobody listened. Everything the people wanted to know, wanted to see, was the man under the disguise and how horribly he was disfigured, as if he were some kind of circus freak.

They didn’t let him show them what he could still do. But the man devised a plan, a last stand, a desperate move that could prove he was still in the game.

He suited up, despite his aversion to sweat, on a rather warm April day. A heatwave, they said, so the man wasn’t looking forward to taking off the suit and the prosthetics he wore - but it was a needed evil. He needed a big hit, he needed to get back to his life, he needed to be the recognized genius he once was.

His knees wobbled a few times as he walked up the Studio’s main office. His friend would be there. He was very influential, and he was sure that if he knocked his door his friend would help him, give him the chance that nobody else wanted to give him.

The sun hit him harder the closer he got to the building. He ignored the looks, of course. He was dressed as a gentleman, he wore the face of a gentleman, he had to behave like one and keep his head high.

His wide black hat did nothing to shield him from the heat, but he was close enough to the shade of the entrance of the building to not cave in and remove it to fan himself a little bit. Because then people could see how his wig was hastily glued to his forehead.

He took another step, and the world was tilted.

He tried to take another, but the ground was closer than he expected.

The man found himself on the floor, and found that he couldn’t breathe. His mouth was dry and his head hurt. When was the last time he ate? His mother always told him to drink water and eat or else his migraines would get worse.

He was too hot, he wanted to take off everything. He was so close to the door of his opportunity. He was so close to getting everything back…

His lungs refused to function. 

He was so hot. He hated sweating.

He hated wearing his own work.

He hated that everyone on the street was crowding him, talking to him. He couldn’t hear the words, but there was so much noise.

He hated that he knew he was dying. Not taking care of his own body had finally taken its toll.

And worst of all, he hated dying with another man’s face.

He may have been the man with a thousand faces, but he didn’t like any of those. He liked his own, but he had been robbed of that. 

He tried to take another breath, finding out that it was futile. Ambulance sirens roared in the distance, but he knew this was it for him.

He closed his eyes, feeling the silicone peeling around the edges.

He thought, This is pathetic for a last performance. Another take, please.

And then, everything became black.

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[salmonid-ink]

Let’s talk about Salmonid intelligence!

There seems to be a wide misconception that Salmonids aren’t intelligent, or at the very least, aren’t as smart as Octolings or Inklings. This idea couldn’t be farther from the truth! And because I’m the Resident Salmonid Fanatic™ it’s my job to talk about this. 

In hopes to make people consider and think of Salmonids in a better light, and NOT as pets, I’m going to do my best to pull evidence from in-game, as well as interviews, that imply or outright confirm that Salmonids are sapient, much like our beloved Octolings and Inklings. 

To start, I’d like to touch on their interactions with other creatures, namely their trade deal with the Octarians. It’s hard to argue for Salmonids not being intelligent when you consider the confirmed fact that they actively trade with other creatures to benefit the both of them.

They exchange their useful Power Eggs (and perhaps vegetables and fruits) to the Octarians for mechanical blueprints, weapons, and machine parts (and potentially tentacle cuts for food). We can wager this trade deal has been going on for a long time, as the Salmonids are fitted to the gills with machinery, and you can make the argument that the Octomaw was inspired by Maws!

While the Salmonids could easily take these blueprints and make the machines exactly as the Octarians planned them, these fish take it one step beyond and put their own twist on things! With their intellect, they’ve customized traditional weapons to suit them better, and the examples can be seen in just about every boss you encounter. 

Ink Storm + Brella -> Drizzler

Sting Ray -> Stinger

Ink Jet + Tenta Missiles -> Flyfish

Splash Wall -> Steel Eel

Baller/Splashdown   -> Steelhead

Shielded Octotrooper + Roller  -> Scrapper

Octocopter -> Chinook

Flooder -> Griller

Octo Seeker -> Mothership

Additionally, they are INSANELY resourceful, able to use any scrap of metal or machinery to make their contraptions, and make them decently reliable. Not to mention the fact that Scrappers are able to repair their cars! On the fly! All while under fire! That takes dedication AND smarts!!

Not to mention the fact that Smallfry, who could very well be babies (and I will argue that they are, as there is no benefit to stunting the growth of ANY creature), are able to pilot Flyfish. They were raised just right in the best environment, and now they’re super smart!

Also, Salmonids are crazy creative, with how they’ve incorporated their cookware into their weaponry. They take their aesthetic to the next level, man.

Next, lest talk about their homes!

It’s vastly clear that they have their own society. At the very least, we can take a glimpse of it with their houses. The Lost Outpost (known as the Colony at Sea in Japan) is a great example of this!

While these houses look like they were cobbled together with recycled parts, which falls in line with Salmonid resourcefulness, they are clearly stable living spaces that were built by he Salmonids themselves with ocean living and fishing in mind. 

Additionally, towards the back of the stage, we can see another house with a city on the horizon. While this is purely speculation, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to believe that this city is Salmonid-owned. The areas you go to are claimed to be restricted ocean zones, and given that you’re so far out that you need a house-sized radio dish just to communicate, it’s hard to believe that the city would be owned by anyone else. 

I think these city-based homes would be owned by Salmonids that work with machinery, such as repairmen and mechanics. This could also include artisans! Farmers would obviously live in more rural areas, where they can plant and grow their crops. 

We can also glean a similar idea from the Spawning Grounds (called the Salmonid Dam in many other languages): 

I will argue until the day I die that the dam found in the Spawning Grounds, as well as the adjacent city, belongs to the Salmonids, as evidence by its proximity to the stage, the green water pouring from the dam, and the very clear Salmonid mark on it.

Whether this city was built by them, or it’s one they took ahold of and built upon during one of their past migrations is yet to be determined, seeing my speculations are even true. Either way, it’s clear that the Salmonids are capable of building structures and homes with ease!

If we talk about their homes, even if this is much more on the speculative end, we’ve also GOT to talk about the factory we can see at Marooner’s Bay:

Again, given the proximity to Salmonid territory, as well as the various Salmonid-themed items around the stage, we can speculate that these factories are Salmonid owned, and perhaps where they work on many of their machines and devices.

Things such as Scrapper Cars, Steel Eels, Flyfish jets, Grillers, and Motherships could be constructed here, or this place could be used for processing water or chemicals! It’s a rather vague factory, so again, this is all theoretical. I haven’t a clue what they do here. 

Next let’s talk about their art. The existence of art alone should be enough of an indicator that they have minds to think and feel with! Especially when their designs are as intricate as these:

The most of these can be seen around the Lost Outpost and Spawning Grounds, but every single stage has a few of these markings floating around. I don’t currently have many in-stage caps on hand, but if you take the time to look around, you’ll find a few on the ground and walls!

While a lot of these are very clearly graffiti markings, the intricate designs may have some meaning. While we haven’t a clue what exactly they mean, or what they represent, I think they’re extremely fascinating, and give us a peek into what culture Salmonids have. 

They’re likely made with stencils, but all the same, they were designed carefully, and must hold SOME significance.

I have a theory that these designs are primarily to mark specific territories. Perhaps certain marks mean different schools and families! Or some of them could be warnings, such as to indicate Grizz activity (such as with the bear icon, which appears in a few stages). 

I believe in part, these are a form of expression, ESPECIALLY if they indicate schools. There are so many unique fish-shaped designs, it’d be cool to see how these correlate to individual groups!

They could also be a visual indicator for Inklings and Cephalopods that, yes, this is Salmonid territory, so you’d best stay away! Because while it’d be easy for a Salmonid to tell what area belongs to who by smell alone, Inklings certainly don’t have that luxury!

At any rate, I’d love to see what personal art looks like for Salmonids. What kind of crafts do they make? What sort of things do they love to paint? We don’t really know, and we can only speculate...

One thing we know for certain is that Salmonids appreciate music. It even seems as though they’re inspired by it, given the descriptions that the Salmon Run songs have.

I feel like this is worth stating, even if their existence is fairly common knowledge: ω-3. A band. That plays complex instruments. And does all their own mixing. 

Pretty freakin’ smart, I must say!

Additionally, each of the members have VASTLY different styles. The Cellist is stern and stubborn, and won’t accept anything but the best, be it in passion or in radical works. The timpanist is soulful, passionate, and is straight to the point. The DJ is reckless and disrespectful, yet puts forth his best effort.

All three of them are so unalike to one another in style and personality. They may not even get along that well, but at the end of the day, they value working together SO MUCH that they make amazing, unique, and great-sounding songs that stir and inspire their people. 

It’d be amazing to see what other types of music that Salmonids like, because this can’t be the only kind. However the style of  ω-3 certainly goes hand-in-hand with the chaotic, resourceful, and determined nature of the Salmonids. 

We should also touch up on the fact that Salmonids are stated to have tradition. Aside from their 70-year migration, they’re also stated to pass cookware from generation to generation in Sunken Scroll #19.

"Salmonids are known to keep their weapons in tip-top shape. The frying pans they wield have often been passed down from generation to generation. You can see the unwavering pride of these fierce warriors in their (somewhat crazed) eyes."

I like to think that they also pass things like recipes and other tools down to their offspring and kin. Family and schools on the whole appear to be very important to them, which ties directly into their drive to work together as a unit, rather than separately as a makeshift team.

For some conventional evidence, look at this one bit from the Merry Fishmas piece, posted by official Splatoon sources: 

I LOVE this image, and there are so many tiny details that you can make out in this. Such as these two:

THEY ARE PLAYING CARDS, and this ain’t no dogs playing poker bit, either! It looks like the other one is losing really bad... Or going into a food coma. One way or another, the other Salmonid is trying to check up on them, haha. Or maybe they’re trying to sneak a peek at the other’s cards? Who knows! That sly grin tells a story.

Also, there’s this Goldie, who is fishing:

These are all pretty human-like characteristics, which makes me think, all the more, that they’re on par with Inklings intelligence wise. I REALLY want to see more interactions like this someday, it fills my heart with delight and joy.

Phew.. Well, thank you so much for sticking with me through this whole thing. I hope this helps people get more perspective on Salmonids, and what little we know about their community and culture. 

[lunawritingspaceoxoxxx]

Unresponsive II

Three months

Three

Three months

Y/N thrived in the art world, their first displayed piece expressed the raw feeling of losing a love that was so exciting and heart racing and trying to manage in this bland, cold world. They glanced out towards the concrete jungle, watching people hustle and bustle around; single mothers, business men, ladies of the night, etc. They sighed, walking towards the canvas, rubbing their face as they tried to create anything from this creative funk. They knew this was coming from the trip to the falling out with Jennie, suppressing it until they couldn’t anymore, breaking down from just feeling absolute shit from just everything, they cried for their lost friendship, for Damiano, for everything that they sacrificed to get her. When they first started dating Damiano, they were in college for communications and journalism and for the most part, they enjoyed it for the most part and they thought it was going to stick for the most part and then they met Damiano. He came through like a hurricane, tearing through their world and showing them more than just their little small town as he sent pictures of places that he toured at, sending love letters and expensive jewelry.And they cherished every single one, keeping them in a small box underneath their bed, unable to stand even looking at them. Y/N rolled their neck as they pulled off their shirt, tossing it to the side as they grabbed a paint can as they stared at the blank canvas in determination.

TWO WEEKS LATER

“‘Up and coming painter,Y/N L/N, has been hospitalized at New York’s mental hospital. They’ve been experiencing vivid hallucinations and long periods of mania, breaking the glass of their high rise apartment. One theory is giving a little bit of insight to why they’re acting like this, some say she hasn’t been sleeping well or sleeping at all. They recently did a painting stream and you won’t believe this, for almost 30 hours. Some say that they didn’t move either, to eat or relieve themselves, so they potentially have an eating disorder as well.’'

Ethan scoffed as he changed the channel, tossing the remote to the side. “Lo sa ancora (Does he know yet)?” Ethan questioned as he opened a bottle of liquor, pouring himself a glass along with Thomas and Vic. “No, but he’ll probably know soon, you know he kept tabs on them. I don’t know why though, I’m pretty sure that they’re over with.” Damiano stepped through the door, looking worse for wear as he stomped through the room, taking the swing of the bottle. “Damiano….” “Just don’t. I don’t want to hear it, I know they’re in the hospital and-” “Dude, we’re just wondering if you’re okay, we don’t care about them-” Damiano stopped as he glared at Thomas, bending down in front of him. “I don’t give a shit how I feel, but you’re not going to disrespect Y/N in front of me. You can do it anywhere else, but around me.” Ethan quietly watched him as he slammed the door shut. “Maybe he’s onto something, he knows them better than us, maybe they’re nice.” Vic spoke up after a while, rubbing her neck as she felt an insane amount of guilt. She knew that Y/N knew that, and the rest of the band didn’t like them. They were so different from Damiano’s partners, none of his partners were foriegn, Y/N was an American and they did things differently than they do. “Are you okay, Vic, you look like you have an idea that none of us are going to like.” Vic was going to make this right and help these two useless lovebirds. “Pack all of your shit, we’re going to America.”

“What do you mean they’re not here? Where could they go?” The receptionist stared blankly at three before grabbing the phone. “If I knew that, I still couldn’t tell you because of HIPAA, if you don’t leave, I will call security.” They quickly stepped out of the building, disappointed as they looked at themselves. “Okay, so we’re going back home right?” Ethan looked done with everything, glaring at the paparazzi that made their way down the street. “We’re going to look for them, I’m not giving up, Damiano is close to shutting down completely and leaving the band. We owe it to him to at least help him either get back together or help him move on.” Vic realized during the ten-hour flight how well Damiano was doing much better with them in his life, they actively made sure that he was eating and remembering important small details. They were a match made in heaven and according to Vic, everyone needed someone to manage in the cruel world. “I know that they have a friend named Jennie, we just have to find where she’s at.”

“The world hasn’t been too kind to you, hasn’t it?” An older man glanced towards the backseat, frowning as he occasionally watched his child sleep. They looked exhausted and ready to throw in the towel from this brutal boxing match. He remembered them, crying into the phone, on the verge of a panic attack as they tried to form a coherent sentence and the next thing he knew, he was on a flight headed to New York. He knew that after the death of their mother, his wife, that they weren’t okay, but it was their senior year of high school and they got into a very prestigious school. They just kept going and going, no time to grieve and he was surprised that it took them so long to do so. As a father, he wanted to protect them from the outside world and yet, he couldn’t be there for them and it frustrated him so much. He pulled into a dirt road, sighing as they made their way down that familiar path. “I just want you to be happy again, just have this snarkier, larger than life attitude, and enjoy yourself. If you didn’t know, I’m proud of you and I’ll make sure that you know that for the rest of your life.”

“So you’re that Måneskin? Not going to lie, I thought Y/N was lying about him, you know? They seem a little...off the rails.” Ethan furrowed his eyebrows at Jennie as she basically walked around naked. “Is there another Måneskin band that we don’t know about? I’m getting sidetracked, where is Y/N? I know they had a breakdown and I thought in America you had to stay there for three days so?” Jennie just looked at the other woman, shrugging her shoulders as she walked into her kitchen, dancing to trashy pop music. “I really don’t know and I really don’t care, I didn’t consider Y/N as my friend. When they came to New York, I just took advantage of that, they were from the South. They came here and wanted to make all of the friends, wanting to get close with everybody and you know what? I could see them, slowly crack and not be their cheerful self and -” “God, no wonder they acted like that, they have you in their right ear, being a negative bitch and making themselves feel like shit.” Thomas spoke up as she pouted, making Ethan and Vic wear a puzzled look on their faces. “How are you making this about yourself? They’re obviously not in a good mental state, don’t make this about you.” Ethan shuffled uncomfortably in his seat as he looked around, coughing awkwardly. Jennie raised her eyebrows at them before she opened the door, pointing out. “Get the fuck out of my apartment and never come back. You’re lucky that I became friends with that hillbilly freak, no one else would ever deal with them.” Once again, they were stumped, they had no leads and they were pretty much ready to give up and call it a day. “...Vic, why are you doing this? Be honest with us, why do you feel this urge to help them? What have they done for you to help them?” “Because Damiano..has become a better person because of them, he’s been worse than this before. He would sleep around, not caring about who he hurt in the process and he was just sinking further and further. Then Y/N came along, they became friends and it took months of Damiano being called out for him to change and during that time frame, he fell in love with Y/N. ...I was jealous, he was more open with them than me. I’ve known him longer than anyone else and it was painful for me to hear him express his dreams and feelings to someone else. I wanted him to express himself with me instead of trying to act like he’s okay with whatever he was dealing with. That’s why I despised them, my jealousy got the best of me and it clouded my judgement.”

2 MONTHS LATER

Y/N watched the fields of corn as they seemed to continue on, never ending as the days went on. They were mounted on their childhood horse, Luna, as they explored the unchanging surroundings around them. Everything was the same, albeit, it really wasn’t, people passed away and some left to bigger and better things and the town that they grew up with just faded away. It was a ghost town, hardly anything stayed in town, all of the mom and pop shops shut down as the older generation retired and their children didn’t want to run a store. Y/N was lucky to have such great parents and allowed them to explore and learn everything they wanted to know. They never held that against their parents, they knew that just being the weird kid would have been sheltered because they knew how society treated children who didn’t fit into the norm. ”Whatca thinkin about?” “Nothing really, just relaxing, thinking, I don’t know what else to do, I don’t want to go back to New York quite yet. I don’t want to paint..it just reminds me of him, and losing him was the second worst pain that I've dealt with. I remember when mom died and I just pushed myself through, buried myself in my college work and...Damiano helped me decompress, I lost my rock and I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t want to see me. His group just won Eurovision and they’re getting international attention…” Their father watched them carefully, walking next to them. “Let me ask you a question, why did you and Damiano fight? Let’s start from there.” Y/N stopped Luna as they spun around to face the older man. “We fought because I traveled all the way to Rome and got drunk for two weeks. I thought we were going to spend time together and he would take me to see his favorite places-” “Did you tell him that? Before you confronted him?” Their father gave him that same look that they loved to give. Y/N had this bad habit where they'd daydream about important conversations and not have those said conversations in real life, they looked away shamefully. “No...I didn’t” “You know men are dumb as rocks, you need to tell us everything or we won’t pick up on hints that you drop. When your mother was pregnant with you, she would constantly get mad when I didn’t do things which led her to getting a chalkboard to let me know what I needed to do. Good communication makes a relationship thrive and survive, you can’t be silent and expect him to come to you. Now, do you want with this information, there’s someone who would love to speak to you.” A car sped down the dirt path, unfamiliar with this terrain, stopping as they rushed out of the car. “How did he even..” They urged Luna to slowly make their way back inwards, nervously glancing back towards their father, he only nodded as he urged them to continue on.

“Excuse me? I’m looking for…” Damiano trailed off as he watched them slowly trotted over to him. “..How did you even find me?” “Honestly, I spent hours upon hours looking through our facetimes and I just wanted to see you...I have so much to say and I just….Ti amo e voglio essere con te(I love you and I want to be with you), I’m hurting when you are and I realized that I can’t imagine myself without you. You’ve been there when I was at my lowest and you know me so personally and I don’t want to lose you.” Damiano grasped their waist as he pulled them into his chest. “Damia-” “No, let me talk first, you were absolutely right, we should’ve talked about what we should’ve done when you visited. I was stupid to think-” Y/N covered his mouth, shaking their head, “No, I’m partially to blame as well, I didn’t communicate what I wanted and I ended up causing a scene and I embarrassed you in front of everyone and your bandmates probably hate me even more.” Damiano wasn’t even listening to what they were saying, unable to focus on anything else but them, he quickly took their face in his hands, eagerly kissing as he ran his hands along their body, gripping their hips. “You weren’t listening to a word I said, did you?” “Diavolo, no(Hell no), you’re too distracting for me to focus.” He chuckled, pulling them closer to him, smirking when they gasped. “Don’t give me that look, I’ve always wanted to sleep with my amore on their childhood bedroom, let’s make that into a reality, shall we?”

[the-sunlit-earth]

Your Morrowind graphics look sooo beautiful! Do you have a list of the mods you used? I'd really appreciate it if you could share it!

Sure! I'd be happy to share my setup =)

My modlist is cobbled together from various modding guides, suggestions by friends who've played Morrowind, and my own personal preferences as I've played and come across things I felt like changing (like the pond scum lol!).

I tried to leave out most mods that had zero to do with Graphics/changes you can see in the world, and I also tried to keep my descriptions short, though if you were only asking for a simple load order then I apologize, oops!

The Engine

MGE XE (this is absolutely vital for those distant views/awesome light and water shaders and other features!)

Morrowind Code Patch (needed for bump/reflection maps to look right!)

Meshes/Textures/Overhauls

Morrowind Optimization Patch (improves performance/fixes some mesh errors!)

Patch for Purists (squashes so many bugs while avoiding unnecessary changes!)

Intelligent Textures (full AI upscaled/hand-edited texture pack of the game, excellent as a base if you plan to add on more targeted replacers later!)

Enhanced Water Shader for MGE XE--OR--Krokantor's Enhanced Water Shader Updated: (depends on which version of MGE XE you're using; if 0.13.0 you'll want the Updated version, and if earlier you need the older one. 3 shades of water to choose from; improved caustics, foam, ripples, underwater effects; and no more weird immersion-breaking moment when you would previously tilt the camera just beneath the surface and it would suddenly be perfectly clear. Absolutely gorgeous water!)

Animation Compilation-Hand to Hand Improved Without Almalexia Spellcasting (idk if this counts, but it does fix the Visual of that weird vanilla running animation!)

Better Bodies and Westly's Pluginless Replacer (a friend told me to get Robert's bodies, but BB is also very good and seems to be the most widely used + many mods need it, like Julan!)

Pluginless Khajiit Head pack (prettier kitties!)

Improved Argonians (better looking lizard-friends!)

Children of Morrowind (adds realism by having kids running around your towns!)

Julan, Ashlander Companion [v3.0 at bottom of this page] (ok not a graphics mod, but will add much immersion to your game, so I will shill for him anyway!)

Vibrant Morrowind 3.0/4.0 (this one I actually don't have installed yet, but I love the way Vivec looks in the screenshots!)

abot Water Life (adds aquatic creatures/things like algae and coral to make Morrowind's waters more alive!)

Vurt's Corals (found on Vurt's Groundcover page; adds gorgeous corals and new water plants!)

Vurt's Ashlands Overhaul (can choose between gnarly trees or vanilla-style!)

Vurt's Groundcover (gorgeous animated grass and vegetation that differs for each region!)

Vurt's Solstheim Tree Replacer II (more realistic trees and snowy pines!)

Vurt's Bitter Coast Trees II (5 additional unique trees!)

Vurt's Bitter Coast Trees II Remastered (mesh fixes/optimizations for the trees!)

Vurt's Leafy West Gash II (more trees, and optional rope bridge texture!)

Vurt's Ascadian Isles Tree Replacer II (v10a recommended for better-sized trees without clipping issues; TREES!!)

Articus Bush Replacer for Vurt AI Trees II (new model for bush tree + bark retexture!)

Vurt's Grazeland Trees II (really cool palms and Baobab trees!)

Vurt's Mournhold Trees II (beautiful animated cherry blossom trees!)

I Lava Good Mesh Replacer (better lava mesh, has no flickering with effects like steam!)

Remiros' Minor Retextures - Mist (much nicer spooky mist in Ancestral Tombs!)

Unto Dust (adds atmospheric floating dust motes, kinda like in Skyrim barrows!)

Graphic Herbalism MWSE (improved meshes and Oblivion-style harvesting!)

Glow in the Dahrk (windows transition to glowing versions at night!)

Ashfall (super awesome and very configurable Camping/Survival/Cooking/Needs mod!)

Watch the Skies (dynamic weathers/weather changes inside/randomized clouds etc!)

Seasonal Weather of Vvardenfell (weather changes throughout the year!)

Taddeus' Foods of Tamriel (adds Ashfall compatible foods and ovens for baking!)

More Wells (add-on for Ashfall/more immersive since access to water is pretty important!)

Diverse Blood (because not everything should bleed Red when you poke it with a spear!)

Lived Towns - Seyda Neen (adds more containers/clutter to make it feel more lived-in!)

Better Waterfalls (adds splash effects/water spray, better running water texture!)

Waterfalls Tweaks (resized water splash to blend better!)

Dunmer Lanterns Replacer (smoother/more-detailed-yet-optimized lanterns + paper lanterns!)

Telvanni Lighthouse Tel Vos (fits in perfectly with Azura's Coast region!)

Telvanni Lighthouse Tel Branora (very atmospheric, works well with surroundings!)

Palace of Vehk (Vivec's Palace feels lived-in instead of sad and empty!)

Ships of the Imperial Navy (immersive addition to Imperial waterfront areas!)

Striderports (gives caravaners some shelter and comfort while standing there all day!)

Illuminated Palace of Vivec (decorates palace steps + shrines with devotion candles and flowers left by followers!)

Scum Retexture - Alternative 2 (better looking pond scum in Bitter Coast region!)

Full Dwemer Retexture (I went with Only Armor/Robots/Weapons; nice high quality retex!)

Blighted Animals Retextured (I chose Darknut's 1024; blighted animals have their own sickly textures now!

Vivec Expansion 3.1 Tweaked Reworked (adds a hostel/many wooden walkways to Vivec on the water!)

Atmospheric Plazas (Vivec's plazas now have weather/sunlight! Be sure to use MCP's Rain fix to keep it from pouring as if there's no roof!)

Gemini's Realistic Snowflakes (more organic texture with more depth!)

Severa Magia DB fix (makes hideout actually appropriate to Dark Brotherhood!)

Starfire's NPC Additions (more populated towns and settlements!)

Hold It (adds items for NPCs to hold and carry, based on their class; very immersive!)

Suran-The Pearl of the Ascadian Isles (I went with White Suran Complete package; stunning retexture that also adds docks/waterfront!)

Atmospheric Delights (a more fitting mood inside the House of Earthly Delights!)

Guars Replacer-Aendemika of Vvardenfell (pluginless makeover for our scaly friends!)

Silt Strider by Nwahs and Mushrooms Team (great new model+textures for these cool bug-buses!)

Skar Face (giant crab manor in Ald-ruhn gets claws and legs!)

Armor/Clothing

Redoran Founders Armor (Redoran councilors stand out in this cool set!)

Morag Tong Polished (bug fixes/Armor Replacer/restored cut content for the faction!)

Rubber's Weapons Pack (several unique weapons/shields get distinct models!)

Yet Another Guard Diversity (generic copypasta guards now have variation!)

Better Silver Armor (adds missing pieces of silver armor to make full set!)

Royal Guard Better Armor (pluginless armor replacer for the Royal Guards!)

RR Mod Series Better Silt Strider Armor (cooler bug men in your Ashlander camps!)

Armored Robes NPC Compilation (some Ordinators/Mabrigash/others will wear distinct robes of their station!)

Full Dragonscale Armor Set v1.3a (adds the missing pieces to make the set complete!)

Mage Robes (robes for every magic school, many MG members will wear their respective ones!)

Quorn Resource Integration (lore-friendly armor/creatures added to leveled lists to be encountered in game!)

Better Clothes (non-segmented clothing replacer to fit Better Bodies!)

More Better Clothes (additional shirts that were missed in the first one!)

Better Clothes Complete (fixes many problems and 1st person clipping issues for BC!)

Better Clothes Retextured (high-res retextures for nearly all base game clothes!)

Hirez Better Clothes (3 shirts retextured in high quality!)

Better Morrowind Armor (BB compatible armor replacer!)

Dark Brotherhood Armor Replacer (changes DB armor to look more like concept art!)

Bonemold Armor Replacer (much nicer-looking Bonemold armor!)

Westly's Fine Clothiers of Tamriel (very high quality clothes that you will see many NPCs wearing too!)

Orcish Retexture v1.2 (beautifully done armor retexture!)

Daedric Lord Armor (much improved Daedric set, very fierce!)

Ebony Mail Replacer (awesome new model+tex that changes it to actual chainmail!)

I use Wrye Mash to install my mods, though I think a lot of people use MO2. Haaa, now that I've made this list I have the strong urge to just run around Morrowind taking even more screenshots =)

[mearcatsreturns]

15 for Abby/Luka

For reasons ;)

Under a cut because it's long.

July 2003

To: Luka Kovac <“croatdoctor65@aol.com”>

From: Abby Lockhart <“nursefirecracker@yahoo.com”>

Subject: I’m drowning and praying ghosts are real

Dear Luka,

Something about knowing that I’ll never talk to you again is just unbearable. I’ll never laugh at your malapropisms, look into your beautiful eyes, feel your strong hands holding mine, or make love to you again. There won’t be any more jokes about jam and cheese on toast, or you teasing me for my weak but constant supply of coffee. I’ll never hear your amazing, deranged laughter after you prank someone again. No more of your hugs—which are somehow the best hugs in the world. Because you’re gone.

It’s been three days since we got the call telling us you died thousands of miles from home, whether that’s here in Chicago or in Croatia. I didn’t know your dad’s name, Luka. We needed to call him, and I didn’t know. How did I not know? And now I can’t. I mean, L’Alliance told us his name, but the fact that I’ll never learn pieces of your history, of the wonderful man you are, FROM you...how am I supposed to go on and live my life?

For years, I’ve thought medicine was my great thwarted love. I’ve wanted to be a doctor for so long, and I thought I was bitter about having to let go of that dream. Now I wonder. I let obstacles get in the way of pursuing medicine, and it’s made me...well, it’s part of why I was so unhappy. But that makes me think about how I also let obstacles get in the way of us. I was happy with you, you know, until I let fear and my mother and Carter get in the way. God, I wish I could do that over again. We could have had everything, and if I hadn’t gotten in my own way, I’d be happy. I think maybe I could have made you happy, too.

It’s funny. I knew things with Carter weren’t working, and he implied you were part of it. I said it wasn’t, but then five minutes later, I found out you were—are—dead. And I realized you were the reason, or one of the big ones. As soon as Chuny told me, I knew I loved you and had loved you for years. Yeah. Great timing, isn’t it? I keep thinking that maybe I could have kept you from going if I had known or if I had told you. I didn’t want you to go when I thought you were my very attractive friend and ex that I still was fond of. Knowing that I love you—how do I move past that? Knowing that I lost you, first to my stupidity and then to death?

I just...I miss you, and I don’t when I’ll stop, or how to. Susan caught me crying on my last shift, and I didn’t even know what to say. I feel like I’ve been crying or standing still, brittle and stuck in time, since I heard the news. I can’t, Luka. I know I have to keep on moving, and I thought maybe writing you would help. I know you’ll never see this, never have a chance to respond. But the idea that some fragments of your soul linger and can maybe sense...I don’t know. That I’m writing? What I’m feeling? Jesus, this is crazy.

All my love,

Abby

Abby angrily swipes the tears from her eyes. God, what’s the point of writing this? He’ll never see hsi email or her again. Just...without Luka, how can the world be anything but grim and sad and pointless?

She laughs mirthlessly. Maybe it doesn’t matter. No, she knows it doesn’t. Because Abby knows the futility of it, aches with the meaninglessness, she presses send without another thought.

&&&

Three days after that, a miracle occurs. Luka, the Lazarus of this new millennium, comes back from the dead. He’s never been dead, and maybe, Abby thinks, there’s a God above after all. So many people wish for this exact boon, and she—they, the world—gets it. Some higher power believes this planet is a better place with Luka Kovac in it, and Abby is ecstatic.

Until she remembers the email and that they can’t be unsent.

It’s fine. She’ll be fine. Luka is coming back, apparently with a French nurse. Maybe he’ll just delete it without reading it. Maybe it didn’t go through—how does email work for the dead, and how quickly is all that processed?

Abby shakes her head. It doesn’t matter; Luka is alive and returning to them. She can handle a little awkwardness in the face of the sheer joy of knowing the world is a brighter, kinder place. He’s coming back, and that’s what’s important.

&&&

August 2003

It takes Luka almost a week after returning to Chicago to convince Kerry and the other staff to let him go back to his apartment. Even so, they only agree when Gillian assures them she’ll see to his every need.

Abby winces when she hears that, and it makes something flutter in Luka’s chest. Which probably isn’t good for his malaria, but the hope...that is.

It’s another two days of lying in bed before he has the energy to ask Gillian to bring him his laptop. At this point, it’s been months since he’s checked his email, and Luka grimaces at the undoubtedly horrible state of his inbox. He briefly considers never checking again and just getting a new one, but he knows his father struggled to add him to his contacts once already. To expect it of him again would be absurd.

With a sigh, Luka opens his email. It’s just as bad as he feared. He snorts at the myriad messages about Viagra, Nigerian princes, and Russian brides, deleting them without thought. He saves a couple from his dad. He slowly whittles down his inbox, but he freezes when he gets to one email in particular, sent about a month ago.

It’s from Abby, during the time everyone thought he was dead.

Luka considers calling and asking her if someone hacked her email or is sending spam from her account, but the subject line...it looks real. And Abby’s been odd around him lately, seeming both deliriously happy to see him and awkwardly nervous.

His heart pounds, and he clicks to open it. If this is a spammer, they’re probably about to get whatever they want.

&&&

Abby pours herself another coffee, internally swearing as she prepares for the last two hours of her shift. Deciding to go back to school is great; having to coordinate all the details is less thrilling and leaves her tired and cranky.

Frank ducks his head into the lounge, beady eyes narrowing on her. “Hey, Abby. The Croat is on the phone for you. Line 2. Try to get back out there as fast as you can, Weaver’s yelling at the med students about IVs.”

“Okay, Frank,” Abby says, though she flushes and her palms start to sweat. It’s fine. She can always hide the panic and butterflies in her stomach with sarcasm. It has yet to fail her.

Frank gives her one last suspicious look, then nods and heads back to Admit.

Abby takes a deep breath, then picks up the phone. “Hey, Luka?”

“It’s me. Glad I could reach you. How are you?” He sounds...ugh. So good. And eager and happy, and her heart could leap right out of her chest.

“Doing all right. I just have a couple hours left on this shift, and it hasn’t been too awful today. Only one MVA. How about you? You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Recovering. Listen, did you want to come over for dinner?”

“Please tell me you’re not trying to cook.”

“What? I’m a good cook, even if you don’t appreciate wonderful, traditional Croatian dishes,” he says with a chuckle.

“Luka, you just got out of the hospital five days ago. You still need to be resting.”

“Abby, don’t worry so much. I was just kidding. I have some sandwiches from Manny’s, and Anna sent me home with lots of matzo ball soup too.”

Abby bites her lip. Of course she wants to go. But the prospect of spending the evening with Gillian cooing over Luka, knowing that she shares a bed with him, is decidedly less appealing. And there’s the email she sent, which Luka hasn’t acknowledged. He might well have deleted it, or he’s giving her a gracious out.

Her conscience twinges as soon as she thinks about bailing, though. Didn’t she promise herself she wouldn’t take life for granted anymore? She’ll go back to med school, she’ll have dinner with Luka when he asks.

“Abby?”

She starts, realizing she needs to respond. “Yeah, sorry. Yeah, I can do that. I can be there an hour after my shift, if that’s okay.”

“Sounds great. Looking forward to seeing you.”

“Me too.” He has no idea how much, even if she wishes she knew for sure that he’d deleted the email.

&&&

Abby rings Luka’s doorbell three and a half hours later. She’d meant to come straight from work, but after a patient vomited on her, she decided to head home, shower, and splurge on a taxi to Luka’s. The poor man is recovering from being deathly ill and doesn’t need County’s fumes making things worse.

There’s the sound of the deadbolt sliding, and Luka answers the door, grinning happily at her. “Good, you made it! Come on in!”

“I did. Sorry it took me longer than expected.” Abby steps into his apartment, looking around. It’s been such a long time since she’s been here, and she notes the subtle changes in the art and decor.

“No worries. I know how it goes.” He places a hand at the small of her back, guiding her inside.

Abby stiffens for a second at how his touch burns even through the layers of her shirt and light jacket, but she relaxes, enjoying the feel while she waits for Gillian to appear and end the fleeting joy.

Luka is unfazed. “Now, of course we can just eat the sandwiches, but if you want to heat up the matzo ball soup, you can. Since you don’t want me standing,” he says with a wink.

Abby smiles back, shaking her head. “Oh, I see how it is. Make the woman who worked all day do more household work when she gets ho—wait, where’s Gillian? Isn’t she supposed to be taking care of you?”

“She’s not here,” he says simply.

Going to the fridge and taking out the containers of soup, Abby places them in the microwave. Is Gillian out for the evening, or is she gone gone? “Shouldn’t you be with her? Or her here with you, whatever.”

Luka is quiet for a long minute, and Abby wonders if he intends to answer. Finally, he breaks the silence. “I asked her to leave.”

Abby’s pulse speeds up. “What? Why?”

Luka takes a deep breath, clearly ready to respond, and—

The microwave dings, and they both jump. Exchanging a sheepish look, they laugh.

“Look, let’s get some food, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Abby dishes up their soup and sandwiches, preparing trays so they can sit on the couch. Luka turns on the television, and Abby’s heart rate comes back under control. They sit together in companionable silence while they eat and watch Thom and Jai and the rest of the Fab 5 whip some hapless lawyer’s life into order. When they finish their meal, Abby cleans up, taking the trays back to the kitchen.

She heads back to the couch at the opposite end from Luka, not daring to get closer when she really has no idea what’s going on.

Luka clears his throat and mutes the TV. “So, yeah. I asked Gillian to leave.”

“Oh. So, um, did you break up?”

“She was never my girlfriend, really. She has a boyfriend back in Montreal, they just…” Luka shrugs and runs a hand through his hair.

Abby is more lost than ever. “Ah.”

Taking a deep breath, Luka continues, finally looking over at her. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful she helped me get here and took care of me, but we were never serious.”

Something starts to tug at Abby’s heart, squeezing and twisting and kicking to get free. Is it...hope? “Well, I’m glad she got you here safe, but you should have someone staying with you while you recover, Luka. Malaria is dangerous.”

He gives her a look. “I know how dangerous malaria is. I’m getting better. And besides, it wouldn’t have been fair for me to ask her to stay when things are over because I’m in love with someone else.”

Her heart leaps into her throat. “Someone else?” she squeaks.

Luka nods, swallowing. “Yeah. And I have a reason to think she might be in love with me too.” He slides over to her side of the couch, reaching for her hand.

Abby meets his eyes—those beautiful green eyes that are the best color in the world—and squeezes his hand, incapable of words. Does he mean…?

With his other hand, Luka reaches up and cups her cheek, running his thumb along the subtle arch of her cheekbone. “Abby, if you’ve changed your mind since you sent that email, please tell me to shut up.”

That stupid, ridiculous email might be the best thing she’s ever done in her life. She leans into his hand, licking her lips as she shakes her head slightly. “I haven’t changed my mind. I didn’t mean for you to see it and hoped I could learn how to hack computers and delete it but—”

Luka cuts her off. “I would never forgive you if you managed to delete it. You wouldn’t believe how much faster I healed after that.”

Abby leans forward, sliding into Luka’s waiting arms. “Then maybe I’ll write you some more emails.”

“Emails aren’t what I want right now,” Luka says.

Funny, Abby doesn’t either. Then his lips brush hers, and all her worries and fears fade away. She knows she has to tell him about med school and he needs to finish recuperating, but when Luka deepens their kiss and pulls her closer, Abby ceases to think at all.

She has Luka back, and now they have each other again.