#MBD Styling

[lil-liaa]

𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓷 with 𝐋𝐢𝐚!! ♡

2,000 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 followers ♡⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

Hi!! It's Liaa and if you don't know me i'm a kpop mbd creator i'm not sooo old or recent, but I do have some notable tips that I can give you if you need a push to improve (or start creating) your moodboards based on my criteria and experience ♡ bonus at the end!

Before you r e a d this : This guide is not a rule! You don't have to apply all the tips, feel free to apply them depending on your own style and taste.

In choosing the image on which the mb is based I want to separate them into 3 levels

Easy: An image that has common and striking colors that you can find popular aesthetics - easy to combine, harmony in colors etc!

Not so difficult: an image that has one or more not so popular colors,a background or image a little more complete, with aesthetics not so seen or visual

Difficult: The image has a color filter (dying) It has extra decoration or accessories, it has a specific bright (or duller) color (it means in any case that any image to combine will have to be edited to get the exact color)

Not everything is as difficult as I describe it! Getting started tips to make it much easierrr

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟏 : ¿Where to find?

Ways to find the aesthetic you are looking for!

Searches on Pinterest

Color + color aesthetic

Color- X Soft X Bright X Palid X Dark

Object - Subject-Color-Animal-Place-Serie/movie-country- Aesthetic

𝓐𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓼 that you may be 𝐥👀𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 for

I recommend this website that, apart from showing you many aesthetics, tells you the story of how it came about and more info!

Click to "Find aesthetic"

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟐 : ¿How to decorate it?

1. Collages on PICSART cute and easy♡ Make sure that the images complement each other from one side to the other so that there is balance and very importantly give it a center image!

2. Dividers You can make them yourself (On PICSART again) or find them here on tumblr!

I also have my own dividers if you want to check them out ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

3. Gifs I always move the images a little to make it more striking! (you can do it in capcut and create the gif here on tumblr♡) another tutorial of example gif here

4. Texts! separate the angles you can always put a poem or some lyric music! (To add color to the text I have a tutorial here) You can always add "bios", symbols or kaoemojis since they are closely linked to the aesthetics in the texts

5.Pngs: It's very cutee and also gives an extra resource ((I don't use it as much as before but it can work well on quite a few mbds) I would recommend putting it in the middle

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟑 : ¿How to combine images? (My way to do it!)

Taking into account the general color palette, look at the image and check if the most prominent colors are warm or cold (including the background will be very useful) this way it will be easier for you to combine the tones without really having to find the exact color of the image! It will make it look much better.

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟒 : Center and sides

Keep in mind the center of your moodboard! As it is still a square (think like it's a painting) you can have more balance if you put certain colors or certain photos on one side or the other and put the main photo (or a collage) in the middle! So that it harmonizes and draws more attention.

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟓 : Tonal degrees

Always keep in mind what tonal degree the color of the photo has. Depending on that, you can look for images with the same tonality! As I already mentioned, if it is more opaque or stronger or brighter, it makes it much easier to identify a better combination.

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟔 : Combination

At first glance, you might be able to identify the most prominent colors in a photo, but taking into account color theory, the color of that photo only exists when it is contrasted by another, that is, based on the combination of colors with each other.

So when choosing photos to match, look for the two colors together in the photo to give a more similar impression even if the colors are not exact (In any case, you can also edit the color of images that have the same tone as your photo by changing the image and the difference would not be noticeable)

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟕 : More ways to apply aesthetics . . .

Related objects: depending on the image, there are also usually certain objects that can be related to the aesthetics of the photo. You can always add details with reference to the aesthetics that, without necessarily matching the photo, can look good.

Angles and sizes: Looking at the reference photo we can find photos that have the same dimensions as this one will make it look pretty good and make sense to put together

Requirements for adding a photo: to make it easier to combine you can write down things to keep in mind so that they combine, for example:

1.Color and Color palette

2.Size, shapes and angles

3.Common objects

4.Balancing abundance (for example if a photo has a lot of details, you have to find similar ones and at the same time find photos that have less details to give it a better impression.)

# 𝐓𝐈𝐏 𝟖 : Your own Style and have fun!

Don't rush into having your own style, eventually your mbds will be guided by your tastes and then you will have your own stamp unconsciously so don't rush!

Have fun and take your time making mbds, that's the secret formula to making a good moodboard♡

𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓾𝓼 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓾𝓼

Match Technique 💋🎀: My painful technique for making everything match so well comes from my perfectionism and I'll tell you what I do,sometimes the photos match each other perfectly (which is perfectly fine lol if you want you can leave it like that) but to make sure.. what I do is separate each of the images and compare them to each other to see the contrast and thus realize if they really match.

Searching: ¿How did we get to the final result? There will always be many times in sex where you simply won't like the result, I always recommend having at least two stages when looking for a good result.

This requires quite a bit of experimentation.

Stage 1 "Draft" : Where you look for the basis of what you want

Stage 2 "Improvements" : You look for the parts that don't fit and why.

Stage 3 "Details": The finishing touches!

𝐓𝐲𝐬𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠! These are my own techniques and I know that probably not everyone puts so much science into this but I hope I have helped you improve certain things 💕 xoxo

(English is not my first language, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me to correct any mistakes!)

[comment-bingo]

Murderbot Diaries Comment Bingo 🚀

About Page ☆ FAQ ☆ Announcements ☆ August 18 - September 18

Do you like reading fic or admiring fanart? Watched a fan video that shook you to your core? Perhaps you've been meaning to check some fanworks out but just haven't gotten around to it? MBD Comment Bingo 2024 might be RIGHT up your alley.

This is the "Murderbot Diaries 2.0" fan discord server's third annual Comment Bingo event. Everyone is welcome to participate! This event fosters community engagement and connection by sparking Murderbot fans to share their appreciation with our amazing creators!

Players grab a random bingo card which will prompt them to check out fanworks across a breadth of mediums, styles, and tropes, leaving behind comments as they go. From August 18th to September 18th, see how many of the squares you can fill out! Can you get bingo?

To find out how to play, click the read more!

How to Play

🎲 Selecting Your Bingo Sheet 🎲

There are 2 categories to pick from: General and Angst.

For general, use a random number generator to roll from 1-40

Go to the “General” bingo sheet folder, and select your sheet corresponding to the number you rolled.

If you want an angstier selection, roll numbers 1-14 and select from the “Angst” folder.

📝 Filling Out Your Bingo Sheet 📝

Each box on the bingo sheet is a prompt for either a type of work you should leave a comment on (i.e. "fic with <1000 words"), or a type of comment ("ask a question"). When you've completed the prompt, cross out the box.

One comment fulfills one box. So if you leave a comment asking a question on a “<1000 words” fic, this comment can count for either “ask a question” OR “<1000 words”, but not both.

A “comment” to fulfill a bingo box can be: A comment on AO3, a reblog or reply on tumblr, a comment on a YouTube video, etc.

🚂 Participating In The Hype Train 🚂

You are encouraged to make posts that share recs and fanworks as you work on your bingo sheet. If you get a “bingo” (5 boxes on the bingo sheet in a row) or “blackout” (all the boxes filled), you can make a post showing us! If you @ this blog on your post, we’ll reblog the evidence of your coolness. We’d also love to see the titles or links to the fics and fanworks you commented on!

Please feel free to comment on/share posts about this event, and help your friends hunt down or discover fanworks they might like. The event tag is #comment bingo, so go nuts!

🏆 Prizes 🏆

The real prize? THE HONOUR AND THE GLORY 💪

Nobody will be checking your comments for this game — you will self-report your win(s).

If you get a “bingo” (5 boxes on the bingo sheet in a row: either horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) before the end of the event on September 18th, you can claim a prize: send an ask to this blog announcing your bingo, or @ us on a tumblr post showing us your bingo sheet, and ask for the bingo prize. We will add your username to a “Hall of Fame” post at the end of this event, listed as a “bingo” winner.

If you get a blackout (all the boxes on the bingo sheet filled) before the end of the event on September 18th, send us an ask or @ us in a post asking for a blackout prize, and you will be listed as a “blackout” winner on the “Hall of Fame” post.

Go forth and bingo!

*If you're curious about the Murderbot Diaries 2.0 fan discord server check out our FAQ and scroll to the bottom to find info about the server and how to get an invite.

[miujo]

　　　　 ₊　˙　　⢷　　jicito rating　❀　part 1

I had an entire introduction and reasoning into this little game thing series ima start and then it all got deleted cause my tumblr decided to open up some random account and take me out of the draft and it all reset SO IM RATING 5 OF MY MOST LIKED AND 5 OF MY LEAST LIKED MBDS.

rei moodboard : 4/10 this was the first ever moodboard i made that ever actually hit 1k (now 2k) notes and i was actually dumbfounded cause back then i felt everything i was making was hideous (i wasnt wrong), this moodboard took me about a few hours to make and i still hated it but heh u guys liked it so thats all that matters :3

taehyung moodboard : 1/10 um. this mb recently hit 1k notes.. i wish it hadn't. i hate this mb. very ugly and not creative at all. i literally grabbed random images and put them together cause i gave up on the mb like 7 times. anywho

xinyu moodboard : 7/10 i actually like this moodboard, my friend posted the pic of her on their story and i told them id make a mb for them and thats how it came out HELP but i actually like it if i just pretend the last line doesnt exist :3

winter moodboard : 5/10 this was my first time making a moodboard in this style 😭😭 obviously its not the best but it was pretty good, compared to my other mbs in this style tho its complete ass

hyunjin moodboard : 6/10 the moodboard is cute but when making this i was struggling so hard because i was trying to make all the images match the image beside them HELP idk how to explain but yeah its alright i guess

nova moodboard : 0/10 i see why.

wonhee moodboard : 6/10 the middle line is interesting but i like it, the school aesthetic or whatever is cute 😓😓

yunjin moodboard : 5/10 this moodboard had potential, the colors are actually really cute until you get to the last like how abt yall just ignore that erm anywho next!!

doeun moodboard : 2/10 who the fuck let me post this doeun girl im sorry i did u so wrong please dont jump me at the concert 😓😓

jeff satur moodboard : 10/10 i love this moodboard so much, i know it didnt do well but holy macaroons i love it he looks so good in these pics 😓😓😭😭👅👅👅

so in conclusion while scrolling through my moodboards those shits sucked ass oh my god HELPP its okay though because i only started last year maybe almost 2 years ago and i'm still learning and growing 😓 thank u for listenkng to my ted talk maybe next time we can rate um idk lets react to gacha next time guys!!

[w-eons]

aa hi !! i srs lovelove your blog its srs so cute istg <33 i'd say im pretty new to tumblr,, & im trying to understand the algorithm ! do you have any tips of growth for my/any blog? ive seen people say to tag popular blogs,, but i gen feel like its kind of annoying to them so im not rlly sure if i should </33 tysm if you do respond you're vv talented !! <33

omg hi !! tysm for this sweet message as this means a lot to me <33

well i do have some tips:

1. always try to have a good schedule

what i mean is that try to post mbds every day or 2 days, just have a fixed schedule. also dont post any mbds in a single day.

2. tag popular blogs

so this one helps a lot and i recommend this! but remember to not tag popular blogs on each and every blog as its annoying. /nbr

3. have diff mbd styles

having only one style makes ur mbds boring so try to have diff mbd styles and aesthetics.

4. tag all the relevant topics

try to tag all the things that are related to the mbd. that helps people to find ur mbd easily.

5. dont take a lot of time to do reqs

try to do the reqs fastly and dont take time (altho i take time sometimes) unless there are many reqs in ur inbox

i think thats it! also PLEASE TELL ME WHO ARE YOU LIKE UR SO SWEET OMFG

(im bad at explaining so please ignore)

[monniebiloney]

Murderbot Gift Exchange: For Bless!

Murderbot Diaries: Exit Strategy Spoilers

This is an animation based on a scene in  Exit Strategy, book 4 in the Murderbot Diaries. It occurs near the end of the novel, right before the main climax, so contains MAJOR spoilers.

This animation contains audio from the offical audiobook, though I did skip about 2-3 ‘lines.’

This was made for  Bless -> @blessphemy as a part of the MBD Gift Exhange 2022. The prompt was Art Prompt A)  Murderbot's F*ing Pissed. You can see it pissed at 00:48 of the video

Art notes below

I did different sections with large gaps between them, so the art-style shifts a bit, and I was too lazy to go back and adjust the pervious scenes. I mean, I did a full min of animation, so I felt like that was good enough, lol Dr. Mensa’s design was based on Gil-estel

Secunit‘s  design based on Ucales (which is based on the japanese novels cover art) Please like the youtube video is you have time! https://youtu.be/P5r7FbTvxxk

[tenowls]

OK, I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but I can't say enough how much I love your Murderbot art and comics. Your style is very emotional, intense, and gritty, perfectly suited to the series and character (his complex personality and relationships with others)! And I have been thoroughly enjoying all your drawings of my favorite scenes!!

Are you a professional comic illustrator? No, fr. If not, you absolutely should be!! If they ever make a MB comic (and OMG they should), you need to be one of the artists! In fact, if they come out with one, you need to send in your artwork so they can see what you're capable of!

OHH thanks so much this is so sweet i’m !!!! (also i still always very much appreciate everyone’s lovely asks hehe ;w;) i wanted to try out this kind of style when i started drawing mbd fanart and i’m always happy to hear that it suits the vibe absksj :’))

i’m not a professional artist and just do fanart for fun ahah, i actually work in architecture :’)) but i appreciate the thought abskjsk n also think a graphic novel done by a comic artist could potentially be cool!!

(also btw - mb’s pronouns are it/its! :)))

[worldsentwined]

I posted 231 times in 2022

55 posts created (24%)

176 posts reblogged (76%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@grammarpedant

@blackrabbitrun

@minutia-r

@baladric

@notapaladin

I tagged 231 of my posts in 2022

#my art - 39 posts

#the queen's thief - 24 posts

#dnd - 23 posts

#the murderbot diaries - 21 posts

#dungeons and dragons - 20 posts

#queen's thief - 20 posts

#poetry - 19 posts

#silly things - 16 posts

#oh i love this - 15 posts

#murderbot - 12 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#because at this point i've sort of forgotten who's into what and also half of my brain is at all times consumed with my original characters

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Not quite midnight here, but since the AO3 collection is live, here is my gift for @vaysh11 in the @mbd-gift-exchange! True story, I haven’t actually watched the Mandalorian but the idea of Murderbot and the Mandalorian encountering each other in a bar in space was such a good mental image that I had to draw it. I hope you like it! You can also find it on AO3. (Bonus: a ficlet describing Murderbot’s reaction to this heavily armored stranger, as seen in a conversation with everyone’s favorite research vessel. Read it on AO3 or under the cut!)

<opening secure feed channel>

SecUnit? Is everything okay?

I'm not sure. Running a risk assessment now.

Do I need to deploy the-

For fuck's sake, ART, do NOT deploy the Pathfinders. This guy just has a lot of weapons, that's all

Just weapons?

And armor

What kind of armor?

<file sent: ArmorGuy.img>

Mandalorian

What?

That's a Mandalorian warrior. Culturally significant armor style, beskar steel. I can send you an info packet if you want

<file sent: Mandalore_culture.file>

<file sent: Mandalore_history.file>

<file sent: Mandalore_religion.file>

Sure, ART, go ahead and send it, not like I have anything better to do than read

You don't have to be sarcastic, I'm just trying to help

You can help by telling me if I need to worry about him going after my humans

Our crew, you mean?

...

...

Yes, our crew

Unlikely. Has he shown any interest in them?

No. I just...he has a LOT of weapons

And armor, don't forget the armor

Yes, thanks, I'm very aware of the armor

Do I detect a note of jealousy?

Fuck off, ART

<secure feed channel closed>

62 notes - Posted December 31, 2021

#4

Wanted a new phone wallpaper (that would fit my new, awkwardly large phone) so I played around and doodled on top of a pretty texture my friend @audreycritter made.

92 notes - Posted February 21, 2022

#3

New @mayakern skirt arrived today! I love how the pockets are green inside, it's such a fun detail. (Also, many many thanks to Devin for exchanging my order for the next size up after I bought a different skirt in the recent sale and realized I'd prefer a larger size, this one fits perfectly!)

124 notes - Posted June 2, 2022

#2

Immakuk and Ennikar they anointed each other with the oil of the gods made only for the gods

So a few weeks ago @shaelit asked if anyone had drawn that scene, and then the request got shared in the QT discord server and I was bullied into drawing it lovingly reminded that I have the ability to draw. Anyway, it was high time I did some art from these myths, the Immakuk and Ennikar stories are my favorite in the series and this one is a particular favorite.

124 notes - Posted November 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

This has probably been said before on the posts about leaving comments on fics you like (especially when you get the "already left kudos here" banner) but it just occurred to me that the easiest comment to leave when you have already left kudos is "I liked this fic so much I read it twice".

223 notes - Posted October 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[isobellabelladonna]

I wanted to clarify something with you that’s been on my mind for a very long time. I know you probably thought that when I said male voice in a female model that I was talking about Jowol but, I was actually talking about this person here. They are the second Vtuber I ever watched.

https://youtube.com/@mbd-mimika.morph-?si=6k6xNWorSRltzLwt

I think you’ll like their style even if they’re using Japanese.

[bh-writingdump]

"That’s… not good.”

You grumble, cradling your head as you stumble.

A swarm of blue rolls toward you. “I’m.. fine.” you drunkenly mumble.

The smell of citrus invades your nostrils. You’re yanked back and the world drops away into an endless black void.  

You gasp, unable to breath. You claw at your neck only to be thrown back into reality. At first, you panic that you’d somehow passed up and woken up back in the Half-Way motel bathroom. The 70s style bathroom style makes your skin want to crawl.

What happened?

You stare up at eir, sweat beading down eir forehead. Eir hand remains on your shirt collar like you’d dissolve into dust otherwise.

“Theta?” You try.

Ey lets go, stumbling out the bathroom before slamming the door behind em. “STAY. DOWN.”

Great.

Fucking great.

You prop your head against the cool tub. “Ow.” Sighing, you call. “Theta-buddy, you know I don’t mind crashing at your place but mind getting me some—”

The air in front of you crackles with yellow electricity before ey bursts through. Eir eye lights fully yellow now as ey kneels beside you, the cyan entirely absent. Ey cups your cheek, helping you take a very salty smelling beverage than you only too late realize is probably a healing medicine rather than a pain pill. You gag, almost spitting it up if not for em tilting your head back, forcing you to finish the drink. Immediately, ey covers your mouth. “SWALLOW.” Ey commands.

“Give me your phone.”

“Don’t have one.”

Ey nods to something in the distance.

You shudder as you do, the need to throw up almost impossible to ignore. Once you do, ey sprays a foam at the base of the door, then disappears in a burst of yellow electricity.

You crawl to toward the door but the head ache’s still there, making the room spin. You gag, moving back to the tub to brace yourself. No way you would be able to stand up enough to open the door.

Taking out your phone, you dial the only number you usually do in a time like this.

Unfortunately, Man Behind the Desk’s phone goes straight to voice mail. You try again with the library’s front desk.

“This is Oakland Library, how can I –”

“Moniker Squatch here, put Man behind the Desk on, yeah?”

“Squatch! You’re alive. Everyone’s saying you’re dead.”

“Not dead, just moved. You know ~magic~” You explain to the human while slumping further back into the tub. “Mind you know—”

“Everyone has been so worried! I smelled the magic in the air and you know how sensitive I am to magic. So… I thought, for sure, there’s no way you could’ve gotten out unscathed. I asked Roger and he agreed to. There’s even a doctor ready to check your wounds. Do you have many? Are you bleeding?”

“Maggie—”

“—And we’ve looked EVERYWHERE for you. Dedra even went into the basement. THE basement. You know how ne feels about it. you’ve seen. Remember, on Arbor day?”

God, why did you get the librarian who’s a nervous talker?”

“MAGGIE. I. NEED. MAN BEHIND DESK. NOW. Comprendo?”

“MBD? Why didn’t you just call him?”

“He. Isn’t. Picking. Up.”

“Ooooh, why didn’t you just say so?”

If you don’t explode today, you might just swallow a thousand needles.

On the other end, there’s a lot of shuffling, “but ze specifically asked for—”

“Margine…”

The librarian lets out a put-upon sigh. “Alright, alright… but keep zem on the line. I’ll go fetch MBD.” She sighs, “I’m putting Patridge on the line for a sec. She’ll help you—”

“Mags, please don’t.”

“It’ll only be a second! Don’t worry, she’s amazing at helping sort these things out. Did you know she has experience in field medicine?”

“Great. Thanks, Mags.” You hang up, sighing. Then you try the phone again.

This time you call the Polo number. “Hello, you’ve reached the Crisis Hotline. Please give your name and the problem.”

“Squatch. Bottle of scotch.”

“Sir…”

“Mix Squatch but you can call me late for dinner.”

“If this is a prank..”

“Nope! Heard about the situation down at the library.”

“This is an emergency number only.”

“I’m a friend of the Lost joy who lost eir cool. Moniker Tutor. Helping em calm down. Need some… advise.”

There’s a long pause. “What’s your location?”

“Honestly, can I just talk? kinda overwhelmed right now.”

Another long pause. “Is ey preventing you from speaking? Cough if yes.”

“Nobody’s… ugh, I don’t know where ey is but eir not here. I’m just tired. My head hurts, I want to help my friend but ey’s so scared ey battened down the hatches like we’re gonna be invaded. I want to help but my head hurts and it’s not like it’s even hurt anymore.”

Out of nowhere, ey appears, eye lights out. Ey hops int the tub, seemingly not caring about the phone call. Eir magic sparks along your arms, smarting. “Due! Watch the sparks.” Ey climbs behind you, holding onto you like a koala bear does a tree.

“Jerk.” You mumble, something wet soaks through the back of your shirt.

“What was that?”

“I found em.”

“… are you okay?”

“ey’re not. Fuck. I don’t know how to do this.” You feel like your soul’s being torn apart. You need to help, do something but all you can feel is the crushing pressure that whatever you do will land em in a worse spot. Fuck, you sure do know how to pick them, don’t you?

“Still there?”

“Yup.”

Good.. good.” The operator sighs. “Are either of you endanger of dusting?”

You sigh, “I don’t think so.”

Without thinking, you grab eir wrist, pressing your phallanges into the magic between eir joints. It sparks and crackles, biting at your fingers. “ey’s fine.”

“And you?”

“Pretty good.”                    

“Perform a diagnostic check.”

You can’t help but laugh. “It’s just a check. like.. have you ever checked a monster?”

There’s a shuffling on the other end of the line, more voices. “A negotiator and Patridge would like too.”

“You put Patridge on the line, I’ll break this phone.”

“I see…”

More muffled talking.

“Patridge has left the room.”

“Fan-fucking-tastiic. Could you listen in on us…. operator?”

“Emily.”

“Emily, think I’ll stay on the line if your level head is here.’

A short pause. “That can be arranged.”

More shuffling before Emily clears their voice. “Negotiator Wit and Crisis Captain Andy are here.”

“Hi. Sorry, I forgot t bring refreshments a little tied up at the moment.” N ne laughs. Damn, rough crowd. “What can I do you for?”

 Softer voiced monster you recognize as Euc the Sloth says, “Before we start, are you safe?”

“I’m fine.” You growl.

“That’s… good to hear.” Euc hums. “Andy and I were concerned when we couldn’t locate you. We were… hoping you’d help us. Can you describe your surroundings?”

You sigh, pinching your nose. “Let’s cut to the chase, I’m tired. My greatest dream in life, at this gorgeous moment, is to sleep. Forever or until this headache goes away. Whichever comes first.”

“That must be very… upsetting.”

“Euc, lemme handle this.” A deeper fellow with a Southern accent interrupt. “With all due respect Squatch, he punched you. We gotta get you out of there pronto.”

“Wow, I’ve always wondered why monsters don’t call this number.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“It’s like you’ve been raised under a rock.” You hold the phone like you just picked up a turd. “Emily, are you still there?”

“… Yes, I am.”

“Mind slapping Andy for me. I think he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

In the background, you hear a clipped snort. “Andy isn’t on the call.”

“That wasn’t necessary, I liked Andy. Did you know that Andy hates the sound of farting noises?”

You pause, waiting for a reply, nobody does before ripping a big one.

There’s a distant. “YOU POND SCUMMING CRETIN!”

“Is he gone now?”

“To the next county, the operator adds.

The negotiator lets out a long sigh. “Andy… please don’t climb up there… never mind.”

“Tell Andy if he stays up there long enough, I can bring him an even better surprise.” You chuckle. “Bring the phone to him.”

Emily lets out a long insufferable sigh. “Mx Squatch.”

“Some call me that.”

“You called for assistance?”

“And you’ve assisted me wonderfully. I feel a whole lot better. Euc, you need to adopt your colleague’s go getter attitude.”

“Thanks.” Emily says in monotone.

You chuckle, “remind me I owe you a cake when this is all over.”

With your limited brain power left, you say, “here’s the deal, ey should be chill by morning. I need to know what happens then”

“Ey’ll be on house arrest.”

“How does ey get food?”

The tapper of keys echoes through the phone. “rations say that ey has plenty to last the two weeks. But if ey doesn’t, then a Crisis Counselor will deliver it to the door.”’

“You mean they’ll leave it at the door, right?”

Soft taking amongst them. Before Euc chimes in, “Due to how small.. your friends quarters are your friend will be confined. We can’t risk em leaving.”

“Great. I’ll stay.”

“That is highly inadvisable.” Euc remarks not a moment later.

“Cool, I don’t care. Is there a rule for counseling?”

“I understand you—”

A beeping sound then Emily’s voice comes on the line. “Are you okay?” Your voice cracks as you laugh. “I’m guessing that’s a no.”

“Dead straight..”

“Would you like me to call in the morning or…?”

“Morning. Unless you wanna hear me snore.”

“For legal reasons, I must say I don’t mind.”

“heh, sweet. Welp, how’s sunrise sound?”

By the time you hang up, you’re not sure if you’ll sleep. So much adrenaline and you’d been on the phone an hour. How’s that even possible?

You groan, sitting up. “Yo! Teach, time to wake up.” No answer.

“Teach…? Theta?”

As you sit up, you notice eir fingers loosened considerably. You turn, staring at the sleeping bone-body below you. Cheeks stained with dandelion yellow tears and a frown not even sleep can wipe away. You can’t help wiping some way, earning a grunt.

“Okay, bud, let’s get you to bed.” You scoop em up. You expect em to be heavier as dead weight, but eir surprisingly light. Setting em in bed, you turn on the TV, flipping idly through the channels.

.

.

.

[Oakland Ch2, pg4] cont -->

[metrobulotdodo]

Comme des Garcons AW 2009 “Wonderland” Layered Wool Blanket Jacket/Blazer, worn with skirted pants from the same collection.

-MBD

[shevinyl]

✧ she lives in daydreams with me ✧ (1/?)

[non-plutonian-druid]

the final one, which i might actually post first so that its not the first thing people see? I guess thats for you to know and for me to find out. Anyway, this is the last and fanciest piece i did for the treats for the MBD gift exchange! the prompt was human ART in a constellation-themed ball gown. I guess this is more space-themed than constellation-themed, but nevertheless I hope you all enjoy!

(PS: click on it; it looks better at a bigger size)

[ID: a loosely colored illustration of human ART in a dark blue ball gown. It has its hands on its hips and is grinning widely. Its dreads are pinned up and elaborately styled, and studded with silver jewelry. The gown has one shoulder and a long train, and tiny stars dot the skirt and the bust of the dress. It is also wearing sheer gloves speckled with more stars. When clicked on, or when viewed with a dark theme, stars sweeping the background are visible. End ID.]

[qwanderer]

Yay, I successfully rewrote the first page of my book! Working out more the logistics of the setting this morning really helped, and all the advice from my editor, and also having read The Murderbot Diaries recently and written a fic trying to replicate their style. The immediate and casual nature of the narration is a really good match for The Grafting Mark, even though MBD is in first person past and TGM is in third person present. It's about the attitude. Or something. Anyway! Really glad to have a second draft of the opening that I'm happy with now.

Did a lot of smaller edits this afternoon as well! I'm approaching the point where only the really difficult parts are still left to do.

Tomorrow is my last PTO day for the year, so I hope to wade into that morass and get a few things sorted out!

[tenowls]

Do you think you could draw the picture from Fugitive Telemetry where is Dr Mensah, Pin-Lee, Secunit, and Bharadwaj and they’d just been asked if GrayCris reps would be allowed on station (it’s page like 30 or something). I really love your style and ur mbd art (ha) always makes me happy

i have actually wanted to draw this for a while and this ask reminded me to do it.... here u go!!! 

Mensah was walking down the steps away from the council offices and I was standing behind her between Pin-Lee and Dr. Bharadwaj. We were all looking to the side, with various what-the-fuck expressions. (One of the journalists had just asked the council spokesperson if GrayCris reps would be allowed at the meeting.) (It had been such a stupid question, I had forgotten not to have an expression.)

[worldsentwined]

Not quite midnight here, but since the AO3 collection is live, here is my gift for @vaysh11 in the @mbd-gift-exchange! True story, I haven’t actually watched the Mandalorian but the idea of Murderbot and the Mandalorian encountering each other in a bar in space was such a good mental image that I had to draw it. I hope you like it! You can also find it on AO3. (Bonus: a ficlet describing Murderbot’s reaction to this heavily armored stranger, as seen in a conversation with everyone’s favorite research vessel. Read it on AO3 or under the cut!)

<opening secure feed channel>

SecUnit? Is everything okay?

I'm not sure. Running a risk assessment now.

Do I need to deploy the-

For fuck's sake, ART, do NOT deploy the Pathfinders. This guy just has a lot of weapons, that's all

Just weapons?

And armor

What kind of armor?

<file sent: ArmorGuy.img>

Mandalorian

What?

That's a Mandalorian warrior. Culturally significant armor style, beskar steel. I can send you an info packet if you want

<file sent: Mandalore_culture.file>

<file sent: Mandalore_history.file>

<file sent: Mandalore_religion.file>

Sure, ART, go ahead and send it, not like I have anything better to do than read

You don't have to be sarcastic, I'm just trying to help

You can help by telling me if I need to worry about him going after my humans

Our crew, you mean?

...

...

Yes, our crew

Unlikely. Has he shown any interest in them?

No. I just...he has a LOT of weapons

And armor, don't forget the armor

Yes, thanks, I'm very aware of the armor

Do I detect a note of jealousy?

Fuck off, ART

<secure feed channel closed>

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Shielded. Chapter Five: The Repair Shop.

Anonymous said to

imagineclaireandjamie: Ask and you shall receive.

--

After a break last week, we’re back with Sunday Shielded. I hope you enjoy <3 MBD.

--

On Saturday, much to her surprise, Jamie was down in the kitchen -his pyjamas still on- frying up some bacon. Having smelled the food, she had woken later than usual and quickly gotten herself dressed to come and investigate.

“Morning.” He said, cheerfully.

“No work today?” She asked inquisitively. It had been two weeks since her arrival and not once had he taken a day off to rest.

“I thought maybe we could spend the day together, if ye like?”

He hadn’t exactly planned on staying in, but having her open up to him made him feel as if she were now ready for company...and he found he was interested in getting to know her. His neighbours had often joked that he’d find himself missing human company at some point but it hadn’t been until he’d had Claire in his house that he finally realised that they were right.

“Oh, well,” she replied looking a little shocked. She’d paused for so long that it gave him time to think and regret his decision, maybe she still needed time by herself…

Replying, finally, she looked down at her blank phone, “I’ll have to check my busy schedule and see if I can fit you in - I’m in demand, you know?”

Chuckling under his breath he passed her a breakfast sandwich before turning back to take a bite of his own. “Feeling humorous today, are we?” He jested, immediately panicking that it might have been the wrong thing to say.

Smiling around her sandwich, she blinked slowly and made her longest assessment of Jamie since meeting him. He was much taller than she’d remembered. She could see that as he ducked through the doorway into the pantry to collect the tomato sauce. It felt as though the house hadn’t been built with such dimensions in mind.

Sensing her eyes on him, Jamie poked his head around the door in time to see her hair settle back against her shoulders. She’d been quick to avoid being caught, but not fast enough. Biting his lip to stop the laughter from bubbling up he watched her fingers rest gently against the skin of her neck. The first thing he’d noticed was her height, small shoulders and a long shapely neck. The curls of her hair had been pinned up, but this morning she’d left them bobbing just shy of her collarbone. Somehow it gave emphasis to the muscles that ran seamlessly from her arm and up to stop beneath her ears. Pretty, he thought, more striking when she turned and he caught the deep blue hue of her irises. They were almost golden at the edges, like the tip of a wedding ring as the sun catches the metal.

He couldn’t stop the image of her in a long white dress springing to mind as he stumbled over a rogue stone on his way back to the sink and he had to shake his head to rid himself of the vision.

Silly, he thought as he sat in front of her.

Jenny, his sister, had been on the phone the night before talking about memories and he tried to play it off as if those conversations had merged though a strange spinning in the base of his stomach continued to bother him.

Seeing a strange confusion pass over his face, she coughed, wiping the crumbs from her mouth as she finished her breakfast. “What did you have in mind?”

The atmosphere that had subtly hung in the air vanished as fast as it had developed and, looking out of the window, she glanced at the clouds as they hovered overhead. It felt like rain, a day for being indoors no matter whether you were allowed out or not. Turning her attention back to Jamie, he tilted his head very slightly. She had no plans, obviously and had only thought as far as getting herself downstairs for a cup of tea.

“I could do wi’ some help, if ye dinna mind?”

“Of course!” The smile that spread across her face was honest, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of being some assistance. “I can’t promise that I’ll be great, it depends on what you need help with, but I’m all yours for the day.”

As it turned out, Jamie had a few pieces of furniture in the back of his bedroom that had various issues. One table with a missing leg, a chair with some damage to the woodwork along the back and some shelves in need of serious renovation.

“I saw yer books sitting in the suitcase you have, I thought maybe we could sand these down, gi’ them a new coat of varnish and put them on the walls in yer room. That way you can unpack, make the space your own?”

Holding the planks up, Jamie twisted the wood between his hands. There was a lull as he sized up what he’d got, making sure they were wide enough to hold a set of books. “Or we could paint them, if ye fancy some colour? I’m no’ totally averse to covering up the original oak but I ken enough about ‘Changing Rooms’ style that it can go horribly wrong. What do ye think?”

“I feel like a heathen for covering wood - varnish would be wonderful, though.”

“Do ye think designers are hidden behind the panels, just waiting for you to commit some crime against interior design?”

That thought remained with her through mid-morning and into the afternoon. When they finally stopped for lunch, the back utility room was covered in shavings, as were Jamie and Claire. Washing her hands, she tried to pick as many of the larger chunks of wood from her jumper and leggings. They’d managed to revitalise the former shelves and give them one coat of varnish. Now they were drying Jamie had suggested a cup of tea and something to eat before moving on to the other items.

“Have you ever thought of engraving?” Blowing across the warm liquid, she had in mind some of the more discrete carvings she’d seen on wooden furniture whilst frequenting antique shops in Oxford. “Not just initials - we could come up with a logo of sorts. Or a crest? Your family has one, doesn’t it?”

It had been one of those long nights a couple of days ago when she’d found his family crest. At first she had been amused, pulling the secret door open where it sat at the top of the stairs to find an array of hidden gems including a complete knight of the realm suit of armour. The crest had been embossed into the metal, its stylish swirls standing out clean and proud on the breastplate. She had been tempted to put it on for about a second, but had then relented, closed the door and moved on with her search.

It wasn’t until they were knee deep in their project that she’d had the idea.

“I suspect I’d need some practice if I were going to try and add that, there’s quite a bit of detail on it.” There was no surprise in his voice, but she did notice the subtle change in his face as he put his sandwich down for just a moment. His almost undetectable shock soon turned to amusement as he took a crisp from the bowl between them.

“Take a rubbing, that way you already have an almost identical copy of it.”

“Aye, good idea. What next to get it on the wood?”

“You use something sharp. I’d say a compass would probably work alright. Et voila,” with a flamboyant flick of her wrists, she pointed towards where the half broken items sat waiting their turn for sanding and fixing. “You have yourself the beginnings of your own engraving. A personalised signature on your recreations.” She looked excited at the prospect, which, in turn, made Jamie feel similarly joyful.

“My mam would have liked you.” He said without thinking. For a second he felt abashed at his words but when he saw that it hadn’t phased her, he took a deep breath and a gulp of his tea.

“She wouldn’t have been worried about you taking in waifs and strays, then?”

“Nah. She would have encouraged it. Especially since yer so handy wi’ hints on how to continue the Fraser legacy - it’s something she would have been keen on too.”

Sitting back in her chair she tried to picture what his mother might have been like.

“I’ll get out the albums later, if you like? Show you some pictures of her and da.” He said, answering her silent question.

“Sounds perfect. Now,” sitting up straighter, she put her hands flat against the table, “let’s get these chairs mended and back on form eh!”

“Couldn’t have put it better myself, Claire.”

With purpose, she nodded and stood, the name (though natural on his tongue) still feeling unnatural to her ears.

“You start the sanding, Jamie, and I’ll go and take the first rubbing of the crest.”