#Nix has a project tag

[nix-does-stuff]

Hey spg fans,

I have a question.

So if i maybe had a spg-themed text-based fangame that im working on. Would you want to know about it.

[azsazz]

Off Grid

Azriel x Reader [Formula One AU]

Summary: Ferrari has signed on rookie driver Dorian Havilliard. Azriel must learn to navigate the 2024 season with a new teammate and his secret relationship, with you, who just so happens to be the team’s media trainer.

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 2,109

Notes: This one goes out to @moosemahboi for the ask this morning 😏 enjoy 😉 (idk why I can’t tag u but hopefully you see this)

Also, sorry if the formatting looks like shit I’m posting this from my phone. I busted this out so fast tho whoops

_________________________________________

“Azriel, how are you feeling knowing that Ferrari has signed young Dorian Havilliard for the 2024 season?” The reporter asks, sitting eagerly on the edge of his seat. He has his phone out, recording Azriel’s responses. The man has been hanging onto every word Azriel has said; him and the other thirty journalists eager to pester him, all cramped within the small room.

Beside him, Cassian snickers under his breath, all too obviously happy that he’s not the one who must suffer this torturous questioning. Azriel refrains from rolling his eyes at the absurdity of it all. Well, it’s not absurd but it feels like it because it’s been the only question anyone seems to care about right now, they no longer care to ask how the new chassis feels, what his thoughts are about the new Las Vegas race added to the schedule, how he’s projected to be one of the top drivers this season. Was supposed to be one of the top performing drivers of the season. Ever since Ferrari leaked that Dorian Havilliard is making his debut with the team for the first race, it’s been a feeding frenzy for the media, trying to be the first to glean insider information about the fresh meat.

“I think he’ll make a great addition to the team,” is all Azriel offers in response.

He’s hot and sweaty from practice and being blinded by flashes of cameras that don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon isn’t helping his mood in the slightest. It’s the part of his job that he despises the most. All Azriel wants to do is drive, because nothing feels as good as the adrenaline when he’s behind the wheel, but right now all he wants is to go home, not respond to million questions he’s already answered too many times before. And to be honest, he’s kind of pissed about Ferrari signing Dorian Havilliard and nixing Rowan Whitethorn, who has signed on to be McLaren’s first seat after Aedion Ashryver’s accident at the final race of the 2023 season that sent him into early retirement.

There’s a beat of silence, and when it’s clear he has nothing else to say about the matter, someone else pops up from their seat and another question is hurled his way. “And what about your former teammate, Rowan Whitethorn? How is he taking the news of losing his seat to Havilliard?”

The urge to roll his eyes into his fucking skull is so great he almost doesn’t stop it, but the last thing he needs is the team’s media trainer on his case about the appropriate ways to conduct himself during media panels, no matter how pretty she is.

They should be asking this question to Rowan or even Dorian, whenever he begins press for the upcoming season.

“Rowan understands,” he tries to hide the sour tone in his voice. Azriel and Rowan have been driving together for the past three seasons and it’s been one of the best experiences he’s had with a teammate in Formula 1. He knows the constructors are too worried about placing him on the same team as Rhysand or Cassian, who he grew up with at karting school. They’re like brothers and they act like it too, but if they were on the same team the rivalries would feel even more drastic than they already are. “He’s a good driver and talent like his isn’t going away anytime soon.”

Rowan’s new teammate, Hunt Athalar, nods from Azriel’s other side. He and Cassian seem to be enjoying not being pestered with surface-level questions, and Azriel wishes that he was feeling the same.

With a few more unnecessary queries about Dorian, press finally ends. He, Hunt, and Cassian are escorted from the room, the trail of flashes and conversation starting up clinging to his back as he walks.

“Fucking hell,” Azriel mutters to Cassian, who jabs him in the side with a snigger once they’re cleared the room, the door shutting with a loud click behind them. “I hate these interviews.”

“Don’t need to tell me that, mate,” he laughs wholeheartedly, and Azriel glares. “I’m pretty sure everyone can tell. Might want to learn to act like you like it, though. Ferrari won’t keep you if your attitude sucks. But I’m sure that media trainer of yours is about to hunt you down and tell you the same thing.”

Azriel frowns. He thought he’d done a pretty good job at deflecting the questions about his new teammate.

“People like me for me,” Azriel shrugs, defending himself. He’s never been a bullshitter, no matter how badly his team has wanted him to be. This is what the people get, 100% Azriel, take it or leave it. And Ferrari has decided to take it, for the last three seasons. The second half of his sentence is drowned out as Cassian’s snickering becomes full-bodied laughter. “And my trophies speak for themselves.” He doesn’t mean to come off as cocky, but he’d rather be authentically himself than a puppet to the media.

Cassian shakes his head, wiping the nonexistent tears from the corners of his eyes. “No, people like me for me,” he winks at Azriel’s glare. “They like you because you’re a decent driver.”

Azriel’s nose crinkles. “Decent? My car is projected to perform even better than Rhys’ this year!”

They three drivers turn down a hall, nodding to the two Haas drivers they pass: Bron and Hart.

“We’ll see, won’t we, Athalar?” Cassian cranes his neck around Azriel, directing the question to the silent driver on his other side. Hunt and Azriel have never been close, but the angel of McLaren offers a genuine smile in response.

“Should be a good season, boys.” Azriel and Cassian share a look. A perfect media-trained answer, Hunt gave. The other driver turns off down another hall, “See you later.”

“What a weirdo,” Cassian mutters once Hunt has disappeared from sight. “Good luck to Ro, having to deal with that.”

Azriel finally rolls his eyes like he’s been wanting to do since he left the press room. “Yeah, and I’m the asshole.”

Cassian huffs and the pair of drivers stop at the end of the hall where it splits to go to their respective driver rooms.

“I’ll see you later, man.”

“Hopefully in a better mood, Azzy,” Cassian chuckles and dips down the hall before Azriel can toss another glare or remark at him.

Shaking his head, Azriel returns to his driver room. He’s going to grab his things and get the fuck out of here, because relaxing at his hotel sounds much better than waiting around here any longer.

A knock on the door interrupts his actions, and Azriel wonders why the Mother fails to grace him with one sliver of luck today.

“Come in,” he grunts, snagging his water from where he left it on top of the desk.

You enter the room with your phone and clipboard in your hands. You’re typing on your phone, fingers flying across the screen as you reply to another email. The water does nothing to quench Azriel’s suddenly dry throat.

He can’t help the way his eyes drag down your body with your attention on your phone, drinking in the sight of you in your pressed pants and professional button up shirt. There’s a lanyard around your neck with your Ferrari employee access printed on it and he wants to wrap his fist around the strap and—

Wherever his mind was drifting off to is completely shattered by your piercing eyes. He hasn’t had enough time to prepare for your apparent annoyance at his attitude during the press conference. You don’t look happy, and neither is his name as it rolls from your lips in a disappointed manner. “Azriel.” You step further into the room. “What the hell was that out there? You know you can’t—”

Your rant is cut off as Azriel consumes the space between you in two long strides, leaning in to slant his lips over yours, eating up your words. You can’t help but to melt into it a little, a lot when his tongue traces the seam of your lips and you part for him, brushing up against your tongue in a sensual move.

When he straightens, you’re panting and a bit flushed. Arousal burns through your body like petrol on the track, but you steel yourself against that fire in his eyes, all ready to light you up.

“Not even going to say hello before you start in on me?” Azriel asks, licking his lips. Your eyes follow the motion, and he smirks. The way his body is pressed up against yours and the firm grip of his hands on your hips threatens to distract you further, especially when his red racing suit is slung around his waist, leaving him in that tight, black long sleeve that contours around his lithe body perfectly.

“No,” you agree, and he frowns. “I’m upset with you.”

“Was it something I said?” He cringes at his own lame attempt at a joke, ducking from your serious gaze. “‘M sorry, I’m just sick of all the Dorian questions. They’re not asking anything about the season or the car, only how I feel about a rookie taking Rowan’s seat.”

You ache for him, you really do, but things like this happen in the sport and he’s been in it long enough now that Azriel should know better than to act like this. You can admit, Rowan had been an asset to Ferrari and to Azriel, wriggling his way under the stoic driver’s skin like a worm, burrowing deep into his heart.

“Az, you need to stop playing it like Dorian took his seat on purpose,” you console gently, “We both know that it was Rowan’s time, and he couldn’t resist what McLaren might’ve proposed.”

“I know, I know,” Azriel replies unhappily, retreating to perch on the arm of the small couch. He can accept it, but he doesn’t like it, preferring to blame the new driver instead. “I don’t want to deal with that little punk,” he groans, because the thought of putting up with a cocksure rookie tires him. “Coming in here thinking he owns the damn place.”

“Azriel,” you tut, rolling your eyes. You put a hand on your hip. “That was literally you four years ago.”

“It’s different,” he mutters, but you both know that it’s not.

You abandon your phone and clipboard on the desk in the room before standing between his parted thighs and wrapping your arms around his neck. His damp hair is slicked back but a strand falls across his forehead and he looks really good like this, head tilted upwards, gold eyes painted with false innocence.

“Why don’t you, instead of being Dorian’s enemy, you become his ally?” You ask softly, fingering the hairs at the nape of his neck.

“Because that’s not how the team works, baby,” Azriel sighs, enjoying the way you’re scratching his skin. He wants to lean forward and rest his head in the crook of your neck, maybe take a cat nap or nip at the skin there. “We might drive for the same team, but I’m not looking to be the supporting driver.”

Fuck that. There’s no way he’s letting a rookie take his seat when he’s worked his ass off since he received it. He’s been driving for Ferrari since he first got an in the sport, four years ago. He fought tooth and nail to work up from second seat to first, and Azriel will be damned if Dorian rips it from under him in one season.

“Your jealousy is showing,” you tease your boyfriend a little, poking him on the nose. You know you shouldn’t be doing this, hanging all over each other when anyone could walk into the room, but you can’t resist your draw to Azriel. “It’s not as endearing as it is when you’re jealous that I’m talking to one of the engineers.”

“Don’t remind me,” Azriel grunts, eyes hardening a little. “You’re mine and I don’t like to share.”

You snort, “That much is clear, babe,” you step out of his arms and miss the heat of his body already. You collect your things from the desk and return to him for a quick kiss. You shoot him a final knowing look, dodging his attempts at capturing you against his chest again. “Work on it, Azriel. I mean it.”

He salutes you as you open the door to slip out. “Yes ma’am.”

It shuts quietly behind you and Azriel slumps back onto the couch, sighing.

It’s going to be a long season.

_________________________________________

@iambored24601 @secretlyhers @kylaisra @daily-dose-of-sass wasn’t sure but figured u might want to see this one 😅

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

14 and 15 for the oc pride ask game <3

Happy Pride!

Hello! Thanks for the ask! (From this pride themed ask game)

14. Do you have ocs on the aro or ace spectrum?

Do I???

Being on both I definitely accidentally did it a few times, but here we go!

In TSP, Lexi ended up finding herself to be acearo. Is this because she used to be my point of projection, and even when I changed her personality this part is a leftover? Well, yes.

Jedi and Wendy are also acearo.

Alex is asexual and I think biromantic. Parker is the opposite: aromantic but bisexual. I think Ewan is demisexual (but I'm unsure about romantic orientation).

In SOTL, I have many as well. Stevie and Billie are asexual though I'm unsure about romantic orientation for either. Eros is acearo. This is all so far since SOTL is early in development but I'm leaving it open to more.

15. Do any of your ocs use neopronouns? Which ones?

Yes, the aforementioned Eros is also agender and after a lot of debate uses ze/zir/zem pronouns. I considered xe/xem/xir and e/em/eir for a bit before settling.

SOTL has several genderqueer characters but so far Eros is the only one with neopronouns. At least that's the way it is for now. Will this change? Maybe. Again, SOTL is in the early stages of development.

Thanks again!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy @honeybewrites

SOTL tag list (ask to be +/-): @illarian-rambling

[themboty]

Productivity Boost

Rules: fill out the prompts!

thank you to @nebula--nix for tagging me! Sorry it took me so long to do it lol

Goals: Right now my main goal is to finish the first draft of HtD, I'm getting close, starting the third act today :)

Productivity tip: really bad idea to ask me this, I'm not a productive person most of the time. Really I just wait until the hyperfixation hits me and I write a chapter in an hour, but in vain of the game, fuck a word count or plans, just write shit. I love going to a coffee shop/library/ect. and just writing the worst of the worst shit. No proper grammar, constant changing of tense, just plain rambles sometimes, but you know what, that's okay because I'm doing a first draft and it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be written

Current project: The first draft of my first long-form story (I'm scared of the word novel): How To Drown. Cas Moore, a college drop-out is forced to face secrets he hid from himself when his Mom shows up back in his life. Please feel free to ask me more!

Exchange something: im gonna be honest i dont totally know what I'm supposed to give you but uhhh here's some really cute pictures of hedgehogs, feel free to send me cute pictures of animals you like in exchange :)

Quote: Here's the last quote i wrote down in my character notes board;

“Are you becoming what you've always hated?” ― Charles Bukowski

Tagging: @possiblylisle :)

[aquadestinyswriting]

Summer reading/writing/arting tag

I was tagged for this by the lovely @druidx

tagging: @asher-orion-writes, @warriorbookworm, @mariahwritesstuff, @ashirisu, @thesorcerersapprentice, @baelpenrose

1) Describe one creative WIP project you’re planning to work on over the summer

I'm planning on continuing to split up a lot of my original drafts of Fangthane's Folly, The Trouble with Meredith and The Wizard's Tale into multiple stories so they can be added to the relevant series. I also want to create a proper playlist for both Fangthane's Folly and The Trouble with Meredith at some point (The Wizard's Tale already has one, but more can and will be added to it).

2) Recommend a book

I've started re-reading Sabriel by Garth Nix recently. Ok, so it's a ya novel, but it still hold a special place in my heart and I love the whole series. It's one I will continuously recommend to people because the worldbuilding and magic system in it is top notch.

3) Recommend a fic

From my own writing I'll be more than happy to recommend the 'The Trouble with Meredith' series. It's made up of short stories so it's the easiest one to get into.

For other's writing: I'll go ahead and recommend @druidx's Haven's Ember series because the character writing in it is absolutely wonderful. Really, you should just check out all her stuff, but I maaaay be slightly biased.

4) Recommend music!

I absolutely must recommend Find Me by the Aviators. It's my go to piece of music for when I need something low key inspirational to listen to while mulling over plot threads and playing solitaire.

5) Share one piece of advice!

Get ye outside and into nature at some point over the summer. The best time to go, in my opinion, is around dusk if possible because that's when any wildlife that's around tends to come out. Just seeing some trees and/or grass will help immensely, I promise.

[marveltrumpshate]

April 2023 MTH fills

Wow, can you believe it’s been half a year since the auction ended? We love all the works that have come in so far and are looking forward to more fills over the next six months.

The best way to see all the fills that have been shared with us is our monthly roundups tag or our #MTH-fills channel on our Discord, but you can also view them through the following methods:

Our Tumblr tags: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Our AO3 collections: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (only has works posted to AO3)

Completed works tag list

To find specific content, use our completed works tag lists above which includes instructions on how to search for a particular character, gen or romantic relationship, universe, and fanwork type. 

SOLO CHARACTERS

MARC SPECTOR

Kerr Avonsen/@kerravonsen - Moon Knight fingerless gloves for @yersifanel

GEN/PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS

KOBIK & STEVE ROGERS

Embroidery by Rebecca/@embroid-away - Needlepoint watercolor mixed media embroidery of 616 Kobik and Steve telling Bucky they’re going to him from Secret Empire #10 (2017) (MTH 2021)

MATT MURDOCK & PETER PARKER

@not-madder-red - “For the Interim” (MCU Matt & Peter meet-ugly fic) for @spagbol99

PETER PARKER & TONY STARK

geeky/@geeky-writes - “Project: Pathfinder” (MCU fic where Peter tries to fill Steve’s shoes as an unofficial Avenger when Steve goes missing and Steve tries to make his way home) for @spagbol99​

SHIPS

BUCKY BARNES/CLINT BARTON/NATASHA ROMANOV

Nix - Art of 1872 Clint sitting on a bed, being held and kissed by Bucky and Natasha for lou2 (also on AO3)

BUCKY BARNES/HELMUT ZEMO

finiorian - Art of Bucky and Zemo holding hands in front of a fire on a night with a full moon for @ruquas

BUCKY BARNES/NATASHA ROMANOV

Eustacia Vye/@eustaciavye28 - “Heart Full of Bullets” (MCU Bucky/Nat TVA fix-it fic featuring Kate and Yelena’s friendship) for @drivingyelenabelova

CLINT BARTON/PHIL COULSON

ArielT and NickiB - “Second Time Around” (Clint/Coulson post-breakup undercover mission fic) for @winter-angst

CLINT BARTON/PHIL COULSON/NATASHA ROMANOV

Ravin/@shadowravin - Podfic of “Food Is Love - Chapter 3: Natasha Makes Tacos for Dinner," a domestic post-TWS Clint/Coulson/Natasha fic where Natasha cooks dinner and Clint helps for E_Greer

LINCOLN CAMPBELL/DAISY JOHNSON

CorinaLannister - “practice does indeed not make perfect" (Lincoln/Daisy undercover mission at a BDSM club fic) for @cassandrasfisher (MTH 2020)

LOKI/THOR

black_feather_fiction/@black-feather-fiction - “Your eternal sunshine versus my spotless mind” (MCU Loki/Thor amnesia fic) for Mech

STEVE ROGERS/TONY STARK

@artgroves - Art of 616 Tony tying Steve's bowtie as they get ready for a formal event for @nostalgicatsea, @betheflame, @captainneverever, @hundredthousands-art, @ishipallthings, @jules-of-the-crown, @magicasen, @massivespacewren, @sabrecmc, @sineala, and @t0nystark1er

geeky/@geeky-writes - “Project: Pathfinder” (MCU Steve/Tony fic where Peter tries to fill Steve’s shoes as an unofficial Avenger when Steve goes missing and Steve tries to make his way home) for @spagbol99

@gyrhs - “Alpine Glow” (Noir Steve and Tony having an intimate moment camping in the Swiss Alps during WWII) for @magicasen and @nostalgicatsea (also on AO3)

@onlymorelove - Podfic of “Breakwater," a post-TWS canon divergent Steve/Tony hurt/comfort fic where Steve drowns in the Potomac and comes back as a changed man for @becci-chan​

STEVEN GRANT/MARC SPECTOR

finiorian - Art of Steven solving a Rubik’s Cube while lying down on Marc’s lap for a1668320

[yallemagne]

For the ask game: "save a horse", "ohnho," "My Dear Jack," and "i."

the ask game

hooooo, save a horse. ride a cowboy. This is a Jonathan/Quincey, post-canon, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies fanfic that I have been sitting on for so damn long, and by gosh by golly I have rewritten that fucker like five times. It switches POVs in the middle.

relevant tags: internalized homophobia, smut, pwp, shameless romanticization of Southern US citizens

A giddy nervousness bubbles in my chest when I invite Mr. Morris in. Confessedly, I am relieved to have spoken with Mina prior, to have all my worries about this potential unfaithfulness be defused.  Nervousness still lingers in my mind, but I find it isn’t guilt. It is more the fear that I may do or say something with too much familiarity and come across as brash or presuming. Such worries are unfounded, but I can’t help myself. Even after a few years of knowing the man, I feel inclined to call him Mr. Morris or something similarly detached, only to be corrected. “Call me Quincey,” he insists. “Or Morris, at least. Mr. Morris is what stuffy oil barons like to call me.” That comment prompted me to ask him how often he spoke with oil barons. Of course, he has a story to tell.  When I fumble while pouring him a glass of wine, Morris chuckles, and it is such a pleasant noise. It would be reminiscent of less than pleasant memories had Morris been anyone other than his delightful self. His laugh is warm and rich, not sharp or mocking. Instead of dread or embarrassment flooding my head, my cheeks tint a dusty rose. 

--

ohnho is... very inspired by my own experience. It is post-canon, but this time, ugh, people have died. It was born from my headcanon that Jonathan's relationship with the surviving Suitors post-canon is complicated at best... I am willing to admit that a great part of the reason I don't see him bonding well with them is a projection of my own issues with socializing. Godalming invites Jonathan on one of the Classic Suitor Camping Trips (nix Quincey), and everything goes wrong.

relevant tags: boys night!!! camping with the boys!!! trauma, dubcon, survivor's guilt

Godalming had suggested it: a camping trip. Or perhaps it was less that he suggested it and more that he merely sent the invitation in the mail. In that invitation, he laid out all the details: location, duration, suggestions of what to pack… And he illustrated just how happy he was that I would be joining him and Seward.  Reading that, I couldn’t help but wonder when exactly I agreed to such a thing. But Mina was thrilled. One might have thought she was going on the trip with how excited she was while packing, but she wasn’t invited: just her husband was.  This was a man’s trip. 

--

My dear Jack,-- yeah how I named this was clicking on the title and letting it autofill in the first line. Remember An Odd Doctor? This is more of that AU. Though Mrs. Westenra has already hired someone to treat her daughter, Lucy's deteriorating health and grievances with the doctor cause Arthur to request that Jack check-in and possibly intervene.

relevant tags: fraud???, medical malpractice, threats of violence (this makes it sound like Arthur threatens Jack, I swear he doesn't)

My dear Jack,  I worry severely for Lucy’s sake. I know you are far from this issue, but I must humbly make a request: I need you to check on her.  A while back, she was sick, and I was going to call on you to examine her illness, but before I could, her mother seemed to become newly aware of the issue and hired a doctor herself. Since then, even when my father was better, I was not allowed to visit. But one day, while Mrs. Westenra was out, I came and Lucy looked worse than ever. Her tired agony seemed only a tiny bit lightened by my appearance. When I asked her what in the world was happening, she broke down into sobs. I fear her doctor is an awful tyrant to her. 

--

iojegrjpie I saw your reply on the post and I was like "oh yeah blue? my titles are inspired? what does "i" invoke???" and now I have to answer that question. Funny that it's "i" but it's not even in 1st person.

This takes place post-Orice and deals with Jonathan's continuing struggle with his sexual trauma. I don't know about it... it may be too self-flagellating in tone?

relevant tags: past rape/noncon, hurt/comfort, self-hatred

The words have been stuck in your throat since you first told her what happened. When you were away, too far away for her to save… You have struggled through every overdue confession, digging everything up and bringing it to the surface, dragging the dirt into your shared bed, and she held you all the while, never condemning you for not fighting back or for saying nothing when you were hurting— she always pauses before she can tell you that she wouldn’t know how to speak either. It’s because she knows how much the thought tortures you, and you can’t help but hate yourself whenever you see her bite her tongue. You’re being selfish, not letting her voice her empathy. 

[tacetnix]

[+] ARMORED CORE VI VERSE [+]::ESTABLISHING

Tag: A Link in the Human Chain | Armored Core VI

[Arquebus 4th Squad AC]::TACET NIX [Callsign]::V.IV Schendel

]====================[

---- Mary Stermann is a 4th-Gen Augmented Human who survived Augmentation Implantation at the cost of her vocal cords and a significant portion of her personal ambition. For the years following her contract's signing with the Arquebus Group, she has served as both a pilot and researcher affiliated with Schneider, an Arquebus Subsidiary, and is deployed under the command of V.IV Rusty, a pilot whose aptitude she silently takes after and admires. She attributes Rusty's STEEL HAZE to be the first AC that 'inspired her' to think outside of the Corporation's limitations, outfitting her own with a few choice additions -- a minor expression of individuality amidst corporate-mandated uniformity.

Other than a minor rebellious streak, Schendel's greatest betrayal to the company comes in an earnest willingness to work with ALLMIND, spying on both Schneider and Arquebus's greater acts and movements on Rubicon. As a mole, she feeds the AI information and strives for the completion of the Coral Release Project, hoping to one day counteract the affects of her older-generation augmentation. Until then, Schendel is a quiet and aloof pilot, biding her time and attempting her best to lay low -- both to avoid being assigned field work and to keep herself around the think tanks and research labs where she feels most at home.

[mixedmayhem]

New Coloring Book, Designs, & Free Digital Downloads for Valentine's Day

*** This post contains affiliate links. Full disclaimer here. **

Hello friends!

Guess what? I published another coloring book on Amazon! I know! Another one so soon? There's a method to my madness, though. I actually want to create a new book each month with a different theme. This month is hearts and lace for Valentine's Day! I love making these books, and while I know this is probably not sustainable long term, it's one of my goals for the year. I create these for the joy of it, and the fact that it is accessible to other people is a bonus. Speaking of accessibility, if you don't want to shop on Amazon or prefer a digital file, both of my books are now available as digital downloads on Etsy. I really want to foster a community around coloring, and in the spirit of that, I also have some awesome freebies to give away!

This link will take you to my Patreon, but this is a public post that is available for free. There are also some other freebies on the page if you scroll back a few posts! This post in particular is for a mini Valentine's coloring book and some adorable DIY/Color-Your-Own Valentine's Day Cards. I always loved giving and receiving those cutesy little cards for Valentine's Day. Sometimes I still buy them as an adult to use in crafts or to mail my friends cards for holidays. I hope you enjoy them, and if you color them, tag me on social media so I can see your creations! (@brkuhlman on Instagram, @artistbrkuhlman on FB, or @brkuhlman on TikTok)

In other news, I got really frustrated with trying to use Shopify to sell my art prints, so I nixed that and went a much simpler route using the payment processor I already use. It has an easier interface and looks infinitely more cohesive with my website which makes me happy. You can now find my prints and originals here.

If you're interested in my surface pattern designs on products, those have also been added to the header on my website for Redbubble and Society6. I am still on the fence about whether or not I want to keep Society6 since they don't pay out much and their options are kind of limited, but they have such interesting products! We'll see after I place an order for some of the things I am contemplating whether or not the quality makes it worth it. I use Printful for my fine art prints, and they also have options for interesting fashion that offer a very high level of customization, so that may be a thing that I tinker with in the future.

For now, my focus is mostly on surface pattern design, creating more cute printable projects, and making more digital paintings on my tablet. I have almost got it to where the art I make on my tablet looks very close to my traditional work which is the ultimate goal! What projects are you working on? Share links to the comments so I can see what you're creating!

Much love,

[tocitynews]

Republican Concept Of School Vouchers Were Supposed To Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew A Massive Hole In Arizona's Budget –New York City reporting

Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, has spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it’s now facing hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects

In 2022, Arizona pioneered the largest school voucher program in the history of education. Under a new law, any parent in the state, no matter how affluent, could get a taxpayer-funded voucher worth up to tens of thousands of dollars to spend on private school tuition, extracurricular programs or homeschooling supplies.

In just the past two years, nearly a dozen states have enacted sweeping voucher programs similar to Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account system, with many using it as a model.

Yet in a lesson for these other states, Arizona’s voucher experiment has since precipitated a budget meltdown. The state this year faced a $1.4 billion budget shortfall, much of which was a result of the new voucher spending, according to the Grand Canyon Institute, a local nonpartisan fiscal and economic policy think tank. Last fiscal year alone, the price tag of universal vouchers in Arizona skyrocketed from an original official estimate of just under $65 million to roughly $332 million, the Grand Canyon analysis found; another $429 million in costs is expected this year.

Among the funding slashed: $333 million for water infrastructure projects, in a state where water scarcity will shape the future, and tens of millions of dollars for highway expansions and repairs in congested areas of one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolises — Phoenix and its suburbs. Also nixed were improvements to the air conditioning in state prisons, where temperatures can soar above 100 degrees. Arizona’s community colleges, too, are seeing their budgets cut by $54 million.

Still, Arizona-style universal school voucher programs — available to all, including the wealthiest parents — continue to sweep the nation, from Florida to Utah.

In Florida, one lawmaker pointed out last year that Arizona’s program seemed to be having a negative budgetary impact. “This is what Arizona did not anticipate,” said Florida Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman, during a floor debate. “What is our backup plan to fill that budget hole?”

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Happy STS!

What is something that has drastically changed about one of your MCs?

Happy STS! I'm finally answering one of your asks on the correct day!

I'm going with Ash for this one.

In the original draft of TSP, her name was Aurora. That stayed for a while. When starting Draft Four, I had a character in another project (who doesn't exist anymore) named Aurora so I changed it to Ashley, feeling like an A name fit. However I found out quickly that Ash was a good nickname for her.

Design-wise, the only things she has in common with her original counterpart is fair skin (even then, not nearly as pale as she once was) and freckles. Originally, she had very long, dark brown hair with auburn tints. I cut her hair by Draft Two and just made it dark brown. At some point while working on Draft Four, I made her hair black and much shorter. I got rid of her glasses and made her eyes green (when they were at first blue-green).

Somehow, she's always had telepathy.

However, the most drastic change was her personality. "Aurora" was originally just an insert of a friend (poor, since she's very flat), but "Ash" I tried to make her own character. And her own character she became. Ash became a lot more reckless, more curious, less timid. More wanting to learn more about her powers. Driven to become better. I gave her a personality, essentially.

Her role in the story changed. She's now more than just Lexi's friend, and has an arc of her own. It's not a good one - which is another drastic change. Ash is in for a wild ride. I don't think Draft One Aurora would have come close to the telepathic probing devices because she'd faint before she got there.

Thanks for the ask!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites @nebula--nix

[atlasifyllm]

This or That: Writer Edition!!!

open tag from @kudzucataclysm ! open tag for yall too bc i just wanted to ramble with this akjbfgksd

historical or futuristic

I tend to focus either a changed version of our era or the future, ORR just completely rewrite history with batshit insane worldbuilding. As for SUL I really like the mix between futuristic and fantasy elements, like RWBY or Lego Monkie Kid; but I don't really tend to go past the 2000s millenia for my stories lmao

2. the opening chapter or closing chapter

Whenever I have a story I feel like I have a vague plot and only the Point B. Openings are SUPER hard because you have to make sure you hook the reader with the most basic, not-developed-yet versions of the characters. Even harder in trying to study pilot episodes as an animation major @_@.

Fun fact, SUL's ending scene has been the same since 2017!

3. light & fluffy or dark & gritty

I really like exploring darker topics; it'd be a real challenge for me to make something 90% wholesome. However I always want some form of happy ending despite all the darkness. Even looking at the Winter Boys, Cobalt gets his arm cut off, Ventus loses his girlfriend and gets used by his former gang members, and Nix... Nix goes through a lot akjbgsdkgsd, but all of them still find happiness in the end

4. animal companion or found family

Found family! The struggle with animal companions is simply just, not forgetting that they exist lmao. Especially as someone who tends to just do normal dog/cat animals, none of the animal companions are sentient enough to carry themselves. My main stories (SUL, ETSS, AuAg) all have elements of found family :] bc at least I can explore the emotional range of a human more than my dog lmao

5. horror or romance

im a huge wuss ngl KBSGJKSGS all of my pure horror concepts tend to get fueled into Last Light because of how much of a wuss i am JBSKGJS. Even though I chose romance I never tend to make it the MAIN focus of a story; CoRi in SUL you see the middle point, fallout, and (hopefully) getting back together, though the main point of SUL would be exploring the trust issues between ALL Paladins and not just the ones romantically involved. Venpris is technically a side piece in AuAg's general crime plot (as tender and intimate as they are), and ofc ETSS has space-apple wars to wage in between all the LuxNex fluff

6. hard or soft magic system

I need a hard system bc Im too stupid to make a soft one JKBFGSKJGD

I guess for SUL actual "magic" tends to be pretty soft since it's implied witchcraft is something gods have gifted to mortals BUT in all fairness I'm still plotting the witchcraft elements of SUL

For actual elemental powers I'm still constantly adding rules and this or that for SUL characters simply because it feels more organized and thus more organized for me to put into a plot lol

7. standalone or series

Seriessss I grew up with MLP multiple seasons, Yugioh + Yugioh GX multiple seasons,,, heck also RWBY and Lego Monkie Kid multiple seasons. I dont tend to get SUPER attached to specific movies, especially standalones, so my brain just sorta automatically tries to write stuff as if they're multiple season projects. ETSS and SUL have the most obvious season-by-season plots, though AuAg so far I'm not super sure about BUT definitely feel like it'd span multiple episodes

8. one project at a time or always juggling two+

I always hyperfixate on one at a time JBSKDJSG in between bursts of SUL it's been ETSS, sprinkles of AuAg, then that brief period of JMON in Fall 2021.

9. one award winner or one best seller

I'm not really sure if I have a preference for either of these tbh LMAO I just wanna create and hope theyre successful enough to carry me throughout life

10. fantasy or sci-fi

Im too stupid for sci fi tbh JBSKJGS I always worry about getting this or that wrong so I tend to go pretty fantasy bc I have fun worldbuilding it knowing I can just do batshit whatever like the very first instances of SUL basically mixing YuGiOh and MLP logic akjbfskdg.

11. character or setting description

I may be an art major but I'm an art major who hasn't done proper backgrounds since high school JKBGKSJGS I think a lot of my descriptions are pretty clunky In General but characters are easier since I always have character designs first before environmental design

12. first or final draft

A lot of my work at the moment is based off of doing things quickly. The Atlasify comics, my own writing, heck my art too. I don't like spending too long on certain projects or such so technically all of my work is first drafts bc I wanna get stuff done first instead of never finishing one project

13. love triangle in everything or no romantic arcs

Technically both ETSS and SUL have somewhat love triangle moments but

a.) ETSS is more an exploration on identity than romance

b.) the SUL love triangle is literally between turqbalt's two identities and rina

BUT god I'd rather have no romantic arcs at all than actual love triangle moments. Do you know how many teleseryes have the cheesiest cliche love triangles? No thank u I wanna do all or nothing

14. constant sandstorm or rainstorm

i love the rain :] the air is fresh and the plants look greener. i dont think my asthma would love lots of sand tbh

[eleonorpiteira]

Rhea Nix, from Trevus, my personal project

This isn’t finished, and I won’t be finishing it either. That’s what I get for not planning an illustration as I should! It got away from me really quickly, so I decided to stop and I’ll be revamping it in the future ;)

[mariocki]

The Appointment (1982)

"When girls reach Joanne's age, they're growing up fast. They're full of petty likes and dislikes, jealousy... sexual uncertainty. Fiercely possessive. And suddenly, being a father is much more difficult."

[average-gay-walrus]

Haha problems :)

[bluehairperson]

I've read your tags about Nadia and I thought "welcome to the club!" (😆) I have very mixed feelings about her route too, for (almost) the same reasons! It's a shame, I wish I could appreciate more but it felt too much like the devs were alleviating the wrong of her actions and making her a perfect dom girlboss 😔

OH MY GOD, RIGHT??? THANK YOU, UGH 😭😭

I absolutely hate how she gets glorified by the narrative and some fans as this perfect goddes while she's just as childish, arrogant and entitled like Valerius and Lucio are. Really obnoxious that those two get rightfully villanized by the game but that with Nadia we're getting tied to a chair and spoon fed the narrative that she has never done anything wrong in her life.

The canon tells us over and over again that's she's a disgustingly rich monarch that married a tyrant on purpose just to try and steal his land as some kind of pet project to prove herself in front of her family and to enflate her own ego, but the moment Lucio didn't let her monopolize everything she started to close herself in her rooms to take naps just like a child throwing tantrums?

AND when she wakes up she keeps blaming her husband and the courtiers for Vesuvia's downfall as if she didn't have any sort of responsability towards the people of the city she decided to rule. Like... yikes. Am I supposed to think she's a good leader or even just a nice person?

Again: all of this is fine, great even. I love flawed characters and shitty people, Lucio and Valerius are my absolute favorites. But I find really pathetic these double standards in the narrative. I'll say it: it feels performative, fake and tokenizing. Not that I would expect any less by Nix Hydra. Allow Nadia to be a fully fledged person with flaws and faults of her own, cowards.

I legit thought that her route would have been about her acknowledging her entitlement and neglet towards the city but appartenly the biggest conflict between her and MC was about her *checks notes* ... paranoia. ... ok. Paranoia that she was right to have anyway because Valerius was literally just around the corner ready to stab her in the back, so?? What was the point.

Awfully written route. She would have worked great as the morally grey character/kinda shitty person she is, but I guess the devs were too busy to pat themselves on the back to do that.