#That sprite is from 4 years ago

[crayoncat-works]

Eiris is getting a glow-up

[crebbyhermit]

[loz-furbies]

Zelda ages based on when their games came out. Welcome to the team EoW Zelda!

Characters and design thoughts under cut:

For starters, I did a similar Zelda piece a few years ago and ran into the problem that I can't really draw anything else than anime teen girls, which is kind of a problem in a drawing where half the characters are above 20 and their age differences are the whole point. And in addition almost everyone is supposed to be royalty with very similar clothes too. But in my defense, in general it can be pretty hard to tell the ages of 25 to 40 year old anime women anyway.

I needed a reference for the body proportions in order to even get started, so I quickly thought "who is an anime woman who doesn't look like a teenager", and used Yor's character sheet for assistance. The younger characters' proportions are a little inconsistent, since I couldn't choose if I would look at realistic growth chart or go with the anime look (where teens and children are often shorter than they would be in real life) so the result is this weird hybrid.

Four Swords (December 2, 2022) & Four Swords Adventures (March 18, 2004) - Chronologically they are different Zeldas even though they use the same promo art/character design, so I used the promo art design for the original FS Zelda and drew the FSA Zelda based on her sprite. There's not much to these designs, they have very little going on in terms of story or personality to use as inspiration and their character design doesn't offer much anything original when compared to the other more well known Zeldas either. Their only distinct element is the big red hair bow, but I thought it would look too childish when they're supposed to be in their twenties here.

Minish Cap (November 4, 2004) - There's not a lot MC Zelda that I could use for inspiration. But then I remembered that a while ago I wrote about how the pointy hat Queen Ambi wears should be used more often, so I thought I should put my money where my mouth is and draw it here, since Zelda does wear a red cap for a couple seconds in MC. In general the MC Zelda and both FS Zeldas are at a little awkward age for this picture, since they're too old for youthful child designs but not really old enough for more mature queenly designs either.

Skyward Sword (November 18, 2011) - Her design is based on her concept design, which I assume is meant to be her casual look and not the ceremonial costume she wears in the game.

Ocarina of Time (November 21, 1998) - I decided that age-wise she makes the cut of when I start using updos. Why do the Zeldas have such similar canon hairstyles anyway, it was surprisingly boring to work with them. Still not sure about the curls though, my fancy dress design artbook that I used for inspiration had so many cute curly hairstyles but I couldn't really use any here because I worried the characters would become unrecognisable. But since OoT Zelda had some curls in her "sideburns" she fell victim here.

Hyrule Warriors (August 14, 2014) - HW Zelda has a distinct enough design from the other Zeldas that it gives a lot of elements to work with, though her age here limits it a little since she's too young for bikini armour. Also because HW is a spin off, I also considered including the Cadence of Hyrule Zelda, but that led to the realisation that it would have opened the doors to CDI Zelda as well. Which I guess would have been fine, but this is already a pretty wide drawing full of adults, so while a Cadence of Hyrule Zelda would have been easy to fit on the front row, I couldn't justify adding even more adults just for the CDI games. So only HW is included because I've played it and actually like it.

Zelda 1 (February 21, 1986) - The original Zelda is at an age where it's a little awkward how there's little difference between her (38 years old) and OoT Zelda (25). But I couldn't think of any anime that would help me as reference here, and I don't think she's old enough to have that "this character is getting old" wrinkle under her eye (you know the one).

Echoes of Wisdom (September 26, 2024) - I think she looks a bit too old here to be a zero-days-old newborn but work with me here.

Breath of the Wild (March 3, 2017) - She's actually at the age where her mum died, poor girl. She's very refreshing to work with since her look is so different from the other Zeldas.

A Link to the Past (November 21, 1991) & A Link between Worlds (November 22, 2013) - Originally I also had the Oracles Zelda in this since she does have a unique design, but then again I consider the Oracles Link to be the same as in aLttP which ought to apply to Zelda as well, plus the design isn't unique in any interesting way and is just a combination of the OoT & aLttP designs, so in the end I just gave the Oracles Zelda sprite's hair buns to aLbW Zelda. Overall having to use the essentially same design for both aLttP and aLbW Zelda wasn't much fun, especially when neither really offers anything notable in terms of story or personality, but at least they're pretty far apart when it comes to age.

Twilight Princess (November 19, 2006) - I haven't played her game so I don't know a lot about her (other than reading the manga which didn't give me anything to work with either) and she's also close to her canon age (?) here so she ended up looking pretty similar to her canon design.

Spirit Tracks (December 7, 2009) - This was a tough one because technically ST Zelda does have a lot of elements to her story and character that could work for a redesign, but not really for the purposes of this picture. Anything train related is more of Link's thing, and anything ghost related doesn't really fit either since she's not supposed to be a ghost at this age. And as for the Phantom, I got the impression that while she learned to appreciate it, she didn't exactly like using it, and that personality-wise she would prefer not to go on another similar adventure. So In the end I just replaced the regular armour parts many Zeldas have in their designs with the Phantom armour and used the ghost palette for the rest of her look, and I kind of like the result. Her personality looks a little out of character though but I couldn't resist the opportunity to draw this with Grandma Tetra.

Wind Waker (December 13, 2002) - I haven't played WW so I'm not sure how accurate this is, but drawing her with the pirate design definitely added some much needed variety to this picture. I really like her twirly hairstyle in canon, but I also really wanted to draw her with short hair, so it had to go. Maybe ST Zelda can style her hair in a twirl when she gets older to compensate?

The Adventure of Link (January 14, 1987) - Really don't know what happened here, not particularly happy with the end result. I prefer to draw the Zelda 2 Zelda with her sprite design because just reusing the OG Zelda design is boring, but I really should have kept it closer to that since now she's practically unrecognisable.

[nboa13466]

I think people never say it out loud when ch 7 out but i will say it now

If you're a Lilia or Malleus fans i wouldn't suggest reading this because this rant is full on snide on both Lilia and Mal.

Lilia, this is the 2ND time you made overblot happen and this one is on purpose. If i were you i wouldn't to be so smug about it, you will jinx something and you did.

"B-but, Leona almost tried to hurt Malleus, Silver and Sebek-"

Okay i get it, you mad, but with Leona being show being a mess even before this i wouldn't be so upfront about it. Especially when i heard someone Overblot not to long ago too.

And look what happen when leona actually overblot.

Mf didn't look like he regret or atleast concerned, his face show the "see? I told you so" kind of face. Atleast the in game sprite make you look worried or concerned but this actually kinda like he is showing he is right and then ch 7 happen.

I know malleus fans will go after me but i will say it even if i have to shout it

You can't tell me Malleus deed isn't like him throwing tantrum cause he doesn't want lilia to leave.

Okay i get it he feel lonely, he doesn't want the person who keep him company all this years doesn't leave, but that's where the problem is.

Malleus never taught of what to do when someone dear to him or someone he know left.

That sh- supposed to be something that being taught especially since he is supposed to be the KING and and if we follow how old fashioned his kingdom and senate is, he will not allowed to show weakness like tears, sadness, etc. This ofc include loneliness, and since we know the draconia effect the weather from their emotions alone, wouldn't this actually something THEY need to learn and practice? Malleanor is one thing because we know she can't be held down, but Malleus, if you look at it, can be taught because we know that Lilia isn't with him all the time and the senate has power to make him lied to mal.

Also he forget there's literal silver over there who is Lilia's son and also the one cry in silent so lilia wouldn't see him sad when he is leaving and want to repay everything.

Even worse, what Malleus did literally can engulfed the entire world if left alone and because he can keep taking magic from nature, his overblot may stay for years, even worse than Leona.

He is lucky that only briar and S.T.Y.X know about what happen, if not this may instigated another fae vs human war again but this time more like Fae vs all other races, with how this can actually effect the entire world. Also Mal can't be forced to forget his throne cause he is the sole heir to the throne.

Is he still a king? Yes.

But is he a true king? I don't think so.

So him saying that Malleus is a true king kinda like jinxed that his would also done it.

"B-but Leona doing something bad and he mean it, while Malleus did it but he mean good"

Whether he mean good or not is it even matter? If anything Malleus is acting selfishly here and didn't even ask other opinion regarding of what he tried to do, much like when he teleport the dorm leaders in his dorm card Vignettes. If he only include the diasom 4 inside, he still safe, But he include everyone in sage's island to this and even may purposely expanding to the entire world. Which isn't what a "true" king do. A true king wouldn't involve their subject to something bad intentionally, only bad and greedy one do, so i wouldn't say he is a "true" king like Lilia describe him.

That's all from me, have a nice day.

[discotenny]

WAIT! You can't love me! - Day 1 Demo

I've spoken about it long ago in my tags- but here it finally is! For Otome Jam 2024- I bring you WAIT! You can't love me!

⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩ Synopsis⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩

For all of your academic career, you were always second best to Satoshi Fujihara. And while you seemed to care too much about it, he never seemed to care at all. In your final semester of community college together- he suddenly says he's going to confess to you in four days!

Do you choose to accept his feelings, or is this going to be the one time you can get the upper hand on him? 

⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩Demo Features⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩

A completed Day 1 of 7 days of events

13k+ words of playable script - roughly an hour to experience everything

A nameable MC with the ability to pick from she/he/they pronouns

1 cute romanceable sleepyhead 

A variable cast of eccentric side characters

4 "routes" for the Day 1 date

⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩Characters⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩

Obnoxiously smart, aloof, hopelessly in love, hella sleepy

Ever since high school he’s had a crush on you, but didn't want to deal with any awkwardness. With the horizon of your transfer looming, Satoshi decides to go out of his way for once and ask you out. Not wanting you to be nervous, he lets you know beforehand that he will be confessing.  

Unfortunately that’s not really how it should go but he doesn’t know that.

Incredibly stubborn, incredibly dense

Throughout high school, you were always labeled as “second best” compared to Satoshi. You have a lot of pent up resentment towards him because he never seemed to care about his successes despite you wanting him to so badly. 

You think his carefree attitude towards his studies is some level of spite towards you. 

Elias Bolkiah - 5'8" - Same age as MC - June 7th - 491/524

Your childhood best friend with an unreasonable amount of hatred towards Satoshi.

Lilit Alighieri - 5'10" - One year older than MC - November 27th - 10/210

Considers themselves in a best friend trio with you and Elias. Questionable whether you feel the same.

Paden Canmore - 5'5" - One year younger than MC - June 1st - 45/120

Couldn’t care less about your love life but feels dragged into it because he likes that Lilit includes him in their gossip.

Yamato Suzuki - 5'9" - 49 - January 17th

Your statistics professor and advisor for the art club. Cares for his students like they're his own children.

⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩Credits⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩

Iotenny - Director, programmer, lead writer

kezukaity - Sprite artist

Autumn - CG artist, co-writer

mellonaes - CG artist

itspsyklone - Main theme composer

⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩Final⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩

Thanks for reading, and thank you so much more if you choose to play :3 ! I'll be posting some writings revolving around the characters to celebrate the release, thanks once again <3 !

[wayfayrr]

Hello! If I may, I’d like to make a request.

When I was little (between 4 and 8), my brother and I played Ocarina of Time constantly. It was our go-to game when hanging out. We replayed it and found all secrets and stuff. I was wondering if you could do a platonic self aware OOT!Link one shot? One where Link considers the player to be like a sibling to him since they grew up together in a way?

Thank you so much! I really enjoy your work ❤️

you're very welcome anon! this was such a sweet request to write!! I went with the post timeskip link for this seeing as I've already written one for Majora's mask link and I thought it would be more interesting to have that difference between the two pieces <3 I hope you'll enjoy this

[masterlist]

“Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask for a while… do you still have that old copy of Ocarina of time we used to play together? I’ve been kinda wanting to replay it. It’s a bit of a pain to get a new one or an emulator though so…”

“Uh? I think so, I can check in my attic later and drop it around your place tomorrow if I can?”

“That sounds perfect, thanks for the favour man.”

That was a fairly productive phone call, now I hopefully won’t have to mess about with an emulator or shell out for the subscription to play it again. Seeing as Nintendo doesn’t want to make their old catalogue accessible. All I need to do on my end is to wait and possibly google how to set up an N64 in the meantime.

Turns out that we did still have the old thing, and that it isn’t all that hard to set up either so it’s not like it takes too long for me to hear the calmingly melancholic tones of the game’s opening theme. Our old save file is still there too, although some of the stats on the file seem to have gotten a little bit corrupted because I’m convinced we completed it fully. Although it’s been what like 10 years or more since I would’ve last played, it makes sense that I might just be misremembering things. No harm in seeing where we left off though is there?

Well even though the file says otherwise, looking through Link’s inventory really wants to disprove that - there’s something with the same sprite as Zelda’s letter where it should just be an empty slot. It’s not got a name, if I hover over it it simply brings up a missing value error and the button prompt me to read it. It’s not like there’s any issue if I did open it, it’s an old save file so even if it does corrupt I won’t lose anything. 

Nothing happened, just a fade to blank before it glitched out and the inventory screen popped back up so that I could close it and have a look around…

How did Link turn around as I was paused in the inventory and how did his face get so close to the screen?

“[Name]? I knew you’d be back at some point! I knew you wouldn’t just leave your older brother for good… you wouldn’t would you?”

“...How do you know my name..?”

I know that Ai has gotten incredibly good recently but this is an N64, an unmodded one at that, so whatever the hell is happening right now can’t be due to that. This feels like it could be the start to a creepypasta though with everything going on right now - is this like a real life ben drowned - no it can’t be, he’d be crying blood if it were the case and he wouldn’t be as friendly either. 

“Because you told me it all those years ago when you first played through the game? You always spoke to me like I was a real person, like you saw me as your older brother, so it’s only natural that I started to see you like a little sibling right? Then when you disappeared I got so worried, It’s been so long but you’ve gotten so much older! Did you pull the mastersword yourself, because this much time can’t have really passed can it?... Can it?”

He looks almost like he’s about to cry, I should be caref- why am I so worried about hurting the feelings of a fictional character? Is it cause he sees me like a sibling, a younger one; because he knows me from when I was younger; or because he seems so attached to me already? Maybe I should just… turn it off so I don’t have to deal with it.

“I don’t remember how long it’s been, a good few years at least, Since I’ve played it. I wasn’t exactly planning to-”

“Is that what you used to control me!? I’ve never been able to get a good look at it before. Would you mind bringing it closer?”

“...Yeah I can bring it closer.”

The way he interrupted me was so so sad, he’s forcing himself to be cheery when he looks like he’s about to break down, like how an older brother would act. He really sees himself as my older brother doesn’t he? I have to admit that the way he’s leaning against the screen like an excited kid is also pretty cute I won’t lie to myself, if it weren’t for how insane the situation is I don’t think I’d mind him being my younger brother. He’s younger than me now anyway so that makes far more sense. 

Is the screen cracking beneath him? 

It’s definitely cracking under his weight, there are seconds left before it shatters.

“It’s so simple and yet it was the reason that you were able to-”

Glass can only last so long. And now he’s out, lying on my floor in a shocked heap with glass shards surrounding and covering him. After a couple of seconds of neither of us knowing what to do, we both snap into action at the same time, while I try to help him up and check for any serious wounds… he’s just laughing with the widest goofiest smile on his face, grabbing at my arms like I’m nothing but a wisp of a dream. 

“I - wow I - I could never have imagined that I could - that this - that this was even an option for me…”

“But I can be your brother in person now can’t I?”

[symphonybracket]

Mahler 7

song of the night 💫🫶 i can’t even express how much i love this one… seriously cannot recommend that people listen to it enough. the end is so happy, the opening so iconic. as a kid literally one of my fav cds was the ashkenazy sso one. praying someone who’s more eloquent can write something to do this one justice. who doesn’t love a symphony with cowbells anyways 💝

Here's what Mahler 7 is all about. It's like if a symphony was a bug. It's the first piece that comes to mind when I think of the phrase "creepy crawly." But it's also like if an ice cream sundae was a symphony. It combines the whipped-smooth textures of cello and horn (and wagner tuba!) with sprinkles of mandolin and cowbell that you can crunch between your teeth. It's like sleep paralysis demon music if your sleep paralysis demon was also in love with you. It's the soundtrack of you getting pulled down to hell by little tiny sprites that are also laughing the whole time. It feels like a puzzle or a trick, something you have to work at with your tongue for a bit before it will crack open. And then bite you. I think that RECORDING MATTERS more than any other symphony! The texture of the percussion in particular is very fickle! My favorite is the one linked in the Spotify playlist (Haitink Bavarian Radio Symphony), but I put a YouTube recording I like below. If you only have time to listen to one movement, listen to 3 (the scherzo). It's the most quintessentially 7. It will make you feel like the below image (from the symphony's wiki page). However, my favorite part of the symphony is in the first movement (I made a little post about it here) and my personal favorite movement is the finale. :) CRUNCHY!

Brahms 4

Honestly it’s criminal it wasn’t featured in the first bracket

You’ve probably gotten a lot of these already

I saw it in concert not too long ago and it was amazing!

The 4th movement was one of the last pieces I got to play with my youth orchestra before graduating out, and once in the throes of rehearsals on top of senior year exams, my brain was so fried I thought that quietly singing the brass choir section near the end in the middle of a conversation would somehow be a joke? My sister still hums it sometimes to tease me

[stellastra-scribbles]

Finally completed the outfit reference for Jayna Stiles, a half-elven NPC follower from Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

Outfit breakdown (or "outfit onions" as I like to call them lol~)

I really like Jayna Stiles and her backstory + goals of becoming a technological healer. I'm also a sucker for 19th-century fashion and I have an unhealthily large collection of reference books and a bunch of files saved from online museum collections (I've got about 22+ gigabytes of refs downloaded from the Library of Congress alone haha I need more hobbies).

More unrestrained detailed design ramblings below the cut~

Back on track, I really just wanted to design Jayna an outfit that suited her character more than her in-game sprites while also being practical for travel/adventuring.

Individual layers. I pulled most of her colors from her default outfit.

Since Arcanum's starting year is 1885, I usually picture the "modern" sense of fashion in big cities like Tarant and Caladon taking cues from real life 1885-1890s western fashions (to give myself some leeway with references). Smaller towns can be a bit more dated, but I try not to go back further than the 1870s in most cases.

However, for a character like Jayna, who hails from Dernholm, I gave her clothing from references dating back to the 1850-1860s. I did this because Jayna says in her recruitment dialogue that "[her] parents weren't wealthy people, and [she doesn't] make much money here in Dernholm," so I took this to mean that she likely wears clothing to last, wearing hand-me-downs, makes her own clothes, and mending it over the years rather than buying new clothes.

Given that Dernholm (+ the Kingdom of Cumbria in general) isn't in the best state when the game starts, they may be behind the times and the latest fashions take longer to reach Dernholm.

Gar: “Alas, poor Dernholm! Once home to the legendary Dragon Knights, it has fallen on hard times since Praetor became king some 60 odd years ago. He despises all technology, and I think he's recently become sour on magick as well.”

Herkemer Oggdoddler: “For two generations Cumbria languished as an economically abused and technologically impaired backwater in the shadow of Tarant. Its once fine capital, Dernholm, has become a ruin.”

Layer 1 - Chemise + Open Drawers. I deliberately drew the drawers as fairly loose so as to not expose her without having to redraw the pose or resort to "Barbie doll anatomy."

Various resources demonstrated the chemise being tucked into the drawers or worn fully untucked/loose, but I drew it as tucked-in for the sake of reference visibility, so perhaps either one works in practice.

Layer 2 - Corset + Socks/Stockings. I picked a more "contemporary" (1880s) design for the corset as I imagine it would be a more custom-fitted garment. Plus, anyone who has ever worn bras will attest that a bra that properly fits is comparable to a good pair of shoes: never cheap out on it because if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Perhaps that same logic can be applied to corsets in ye olden days and historically-inspired fantasy settings.

For Jayna, despite the simplistic design, it might be one of the few luxuries she can afford for herself given the necessity of the garment for bust support.

Layer 3 - Trousers + Shoes. I was inspired by vivandières and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, who typically wore trousers beneath their skirts. Dr. Walker was a "surgeon, women’s rights advocate, abolitionist, and spy, [and] the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War." Since Jayna is an aspiring technological healer, I feel like an allusion to Dr. Walker and her practicality was appropriate.

Layer 4 - Petticoat. It's just something to fill out the skirt volume a tad. I considered adding a corset cover in this layer but I did like having the upper outline of the corset somewhat visible in the shirtwaist layer to illustrate her living situation (aka she doesn't have one or just has a poor-quality one). As a modern-age woman, I think this this all already looks like a laundering nightmare to wash by hand.

Layer 5 - Shirtwaist + Outer Skirt. I really like the shape of the 1860s Garibaldi blouse's sleeves (I think these are bishop sleeves? correct me if I'm wrong...) and the stripes allude to some 19th century nurse uniforms. I initially went for a plaid pattern but that was a pain to draw and using a pre-existing plaid brush/pattern just didn't look as good as I wanted it to be.

Layer 6 - Sash + Pistol Holster + Bag. Given Jayna's goals of becoming a tech healer, I took design cues from vivandières, who were 19th-century women attached to military regiments, with a few known vivandières being nurses (like Anna Etheridge).

However, rather than lifting the vivandière look completely, I imagine Jayna would attempt to replicate the silhouette with her own clothes. The bag is a bit of an amalgamation of various 18th-19th century hunting/frontier bags, so I apologize that I don't have a direct reference image.

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

Of course, in the end, I did take some liberties with the outfit so it's not completely historically-accurate, but that's okay since Arcanum is a fictional universe.

I guess I should've prefaced that I'm no expert on historical fashion, just a casual enthusiast who thinks "ooh old dress is pretty!"

I just wanted to see how far I could go before I had to make some concessions, such as:

Jayna's hair is short and worn loose while irl Victorian women typically had long hair and wore them up (there were documented exceptions of course). Many portraits for both female player characters and female NPCs across all in-game races show short hair and loose long hair, so let's just assume that 19th-century Arcanum has more relaxed feminine hair standards compared to the real-life 19th century western world. Also, irl 19th-century rural women did sell their hair for money, so maybe there's something to apply to the world of Arcanum with that. Or maybe the short-hair craze just hit Arcanum a few decades early *shrug*.

I initially planned to give her gloves, but many resources show vivandières not really wearing them, preferring to go barehanded.

The clothing colors may be a bit too saturated for the era I took inspiration from, but I wanted to stay somewhat faithful to Jayna's original sprite colors.

I did simplify some garments down for the sake of me having to draw enough layers as it is lol. Sorry if the lace wasn't fancy enough or that she doesn't have headwear. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sometimes you just wanna finish a project and be done with it.

hoo boy, that was a lot

Thank You For Coming to My TED Talk :)

Now go play Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura~

[selfless-lovers]

This one is for my youngest, who has wanted a Zelda starring Zelda since age 4. Some amazing people made a mod of the original nintendo game that swapped the Link sprite with Zelda. They would sit in my lap while I played it. The fixation was so strong that they learned to read using my DS copy of Ocarina of Time.

Ten years ago, we decided to make our own. The Legend, starring Princess Endy (aka Little Zelda, aka Lil Z), can still be found on YouTube. And we've made a couple of books since then too.

The love for this series has never diminished. My youngest is a teenager now, and working on worldbuilding for their own Zelda comic/zine. If I'm very lucky, there will be more LoZ content coming from the Legend themself! (If they want to share, anyway. I'm got gonna push.)

Happy Zelda Day, everybody 💜

[nitlepus]

Pizzapants is relevant now, I must share this thought!!

4 hours ago, toby fox tweeted this!!

it drove me insane, however, it reminded me of a theory i had in mind for 2~3 years now, i dont remember if that theory is mine (probably not, i dont know how to think), and i just share them with oomf cuz i was....yk.....kind of delusional

HOWEVER

this single tweet made the theory stronger! I think it's pretty obvious now but at that time it was very very impossible to happen

1st point (very non-sense)

In chapter 1, Kris brought Susie to the dark world

In chapter 2, Kris "brought" Noelle and Berdly to the dark world

Now, in chapter 3, Kris might bring 3 characters in the dark world, and since deltarune is going to have 7 chapters, I believe that in some of that chapters pizzapants will appear! I hope!

2st point (theory is probably not mine, so it makes some sense)

This one don't need lots of logic, basically, if you notice, the only characters that have face sprites/talking sprites are lighters or darkners! Except for one character

That's right! You got it right! Pizzapants! SO the point here is, if he have a face sprite then he probably would join the party soon right?

But theres a but!

We all know who Toby Fox is, from what we've seen, he simply loves to draw pizzapants/burgerpants (can't blame him, i also love to draw this fucking cat!)

But theres more!

We do know who Toby Fox is, so he may or may not add pizzapants on the party, maybe for lore purposes, maybe just he feels like it, who knows!

Well thats pretty much of it, I know it sounds silly but i really like pizzapants/burgerpants and see him getting the attention today made me really happy!

[littlejuicebox]

Midwinter Carol 3 / The Carriage

Pairing: Ascended Astarion x Female Elf Sorceress OC

Word Count: 2.9K

Story navigation: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Summary/Setting: Based on the prologue/premise from my OneShot "A Midwinter Carol."

Astarion and the OC broke up after his ascension. She left Baldur's Gate for fifteen years, only to return just recently. Following the events of "A Midwinter Carol," Ascended Astarion has been convinced to pursue a new beginning. Will he be able to change who he has become, with the help of his ex-lover? Or will he ultimately fall victim to his pride and desire for power?

Preview:

“Astarion… why did you reach out, after all this time?” She asks, dropping her gaze to her hands, which have been neatly folded in her lap. “What do you mean?” The Vampire Lord responds, feigning ignorance as he steals a moment to prepare himself for the conversation he knows they are about to have. He turns his head to stare out the window, hoping to give himself the illusion of further distance from Eirianwen. Her close proximity was unnerving.  “You know what I mean, Astarion. I tried to contact you via the sending stones. For years. You never responded.” Her tone is tight as she tries to contain the indignation and hurt. Fifteen years apart, and the fact that he hadn’t communicated with her once, despite her efforts, still stung. It had been a gaping wound in her heart that had never fully healed.  Eirianwen had asked to meet with the Ascendant at the Elfsong, a few weeks after their relationship ended. He had been under the impression it was to reconcile, and that she had changed her mind about his offer. Instead, she had given him the sending stone and expressed her desire to remain friends. The suggestion of being merely Eirianwen’s friend had nearly made Astarion retch on the spot. 

Warnings: This will be 18+ / in game spoilers / OOC Ascended Astarion because it follows my epilogue / Eventual Smut and maybe Gore / Angst, trauma, fluff

A/N: IDK guys I'm on a role with the fics this weekend and obsessed with this concept so... here's another one! If you want to be added to the taglist for this series, please leave a comment clearly stating that so I can keep track!

It had been a strange week. Returning to Baldur’s Gate proved more emotionally exhausting than Eirianwen had anticipated. 

Perhaps she should have said no to Astarion’s invitation; part of her worries accompanying him may be a mistake. She felt as if sprites were flying around in her stomach.

In retrospect, the sorceress should have been more hesitant and asked more questions, but his sudden, unexpected appearance had completely disarmed her. Did he consider this a date? Or was it simply an invitation between two old friends? She truly couldn’t be certain.

But, perhaps she was needlessly concerned, and everything would turn out fine. Anyway, the elven woman had to find a way to talk to Astarion about some delicate matters; it had been the main reason she’d returned to Baldur’s Gate after all this time. 

A single dance at the Midwinter Gala would not have been the appropriate setting for the conversation. At the time, Eirianwen feared Astarion would scorch everything and everyone around them in a rage if she’d done anything but allow him the dance. The barely concealed fury in his eyes as he cut in between her and Wyll on the ballroom floor had caused her stomach to churn with anxiety. 

Perhaps the sprites had made a home in her stomach after that interaction. The feeling returned every time she laid eyes on the Vampire Lord.

Since the gala, the sorceress had been fixated on speaking to Astarion again. She spent several hours a day desperately trying to form a plan; more than one letter had been drafted, ripped to shreds, and tossed. Eirianwen was embarrassed to admit that she, the elusive hero of Baldur’s Gate, had been too much of a coward to show up and face him at his own palace, where she had ended their relationship fifteen years ago.

But then the Vampire Lord did the hardest part and called upon her, to her astonishment.

Accepting the invitation seemed, at the very least, a good opportunity to extend an olive branch to the Ascendant. She hoped to mend their friendship before delivering any shocking news, mostly to avoid the worst of his rage. 

The way he spoke to her when they broke up still caused a pang in her heart. She shakes away the memory, instead choosing to reflect on the events of this week.

When Eirianwen met Wyll for lunch the same day as Astarion’s unplanned visit, she’d informed the Duke about the Vampire Ascendant’s invitation. The conversation had not gone well. Thinking about it now, as she waits beside the Duke for the Ascendant’s carriage to arrive, makes the woman’s palms sweat. There are those sprites again. 

“Wyll… why didn’t you tell me about the benefit auction this weekend?”

“I meant to bring it up at lunch today, Eirianwen. Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me?”

“Oh… I’m sorry, Wyll. Astarion came to call on me just earlier today and–” 

Wyll stiffened, and his face evolved from its typical relaxed, amiable manner into a hardened visage she hardly recognized. She had been quick to try and soothe the Duke, unwilling to cause a rift between them. He had been an exceedingly gracious host, and she was more thankful for his warm welcome than words could express.

“He didn’t access the grounds! Your guards are most excellent, they didn’t allow him entry!” She hastily explained, conveniently leaving out her attempts at convincing them otherwise, and Astarion’s attempt to sneak in through the rear of the property, “But I happened to be outside and, well, he invited me. And I’ve already said yes. It’s for a good cause, after all, and I didn’t know you were planning on attending since you hadn’t mentioned it.”

His face dropped into a look she did not quite understand. He sighed and shook his head before murmuring, “Are you sure that’s wise? Ani, I–”

She bristled at the nickname, which only one person had ever been allowed to call her. Her tone was clipped when she quickly interjected, “Please don’t call me that, Wyll.”

The Duke snapped his mouth shut and sighed again before returning his attention to his meal. His jaw stayed clenched between bites of food.

The rest of lunch passed in uncomfortable silence. 

Umber meows beside Eirianwen and she shoos away her thoughts, bending down to place a gentle pat on the cat’s head.

Wyll glances at his pocket watch and then turns to the elven woman, “Eirianwen, he’s late. Are you certain he’s coming? I would be more than happy to–”

Speak of the devil. The Duke and the sorceress simultaneously spot Astarion’s carriage coming around the corner. Wyll’s mouth seals into a thin line as the offer he was about to make dies upon his lips. 

Two obsidian draft horses come to a halt in front of Eirianwen; the footman quickly drops down and opens the chariot door. Astarion emerges from the confines of the vehicle with an arrogant eyebrow raised and a small, self-satisfied smirk on his lips. He’s wearing another one of his ostentatious, heavily embroidered jackets; this one is black velvet with golden dragons breathing fire along the lapel. 

He knows he looks good. 

As the Vampire Lord descends from the carriage, his eyes gloss over Wyll with apathy and then settle on Eirianwen. 

“You look wonderful, Ani.” Astarion murmurs as his scarlet eyes take in the deep navy blue of her trumpet-silhouette evening gown.

Wyll’s head snaps to the sorceress as he notices, with displeasure, that she does not admonish the Vampire Lord for calling her the very nickname he’d been forbidden to use. A muscle twitches in the Duke’s jaw as he observes this reunion.

“Good to see you again, Astarion.” Eirianwen greets with a nod as she brings an anxious hand up to play with her necklace. The tension between the two men was so overwhelmingly thick that it could have been cut with her old sussur dagger; her stomach is fluttering again.

The Vampire Lord is distracted by the action, and his eyes immediately flit to her neck, where he cannot help but to notice the small pin prick scars that remain from… before. He instinctively shifts his eyes away.

“That’s a beautiful necklace, it goes well with the dress.” The pale elf compliments mechanically, looking past the woman’s shoulder as he quickly tries to smooth over his brief moment of awkwardness. He’s certain both Eirianwen and Wyll noticed as he faltered, distracted by those little fang scars. Astarion is painfully aware that his carefully crafted, cool, and collected persona slips further and further from reach every time he interacts with the sorceress. 

It is at moments like this, when his mask fumbles and his charisma wanes, where he still feels like the tragic, weak spawn version of himself.

Astarion had immediately recognized Eirianwen’s necklace to be the work of her family, the Ar’Tel’Tavas jewelers based in Silverymoon. Over the years, the Ascendant commissioned more than one piece from the family, under a pseudonym. It had been the only piece of Ani with him all this time.

The Lord was quite aware the family’s funds supported their daughter on her little adventures. Eirianwen may not have been a noble, but she had been a child of privilege. She was allowed to do as she pleased and flit around all of Faerun because her parents ensured she would be provided for. He was not ignorant of that fact. 

Astarion had reasoned long ago that if he could not have her, then he would at least make sure she was provided for. His purchases ensured she had access to more than enough funds for her savior act. He’d owed her at least that… after everything.

The Vampire Lord, despite his pride, had always been aware it was Ani’s planning and command of their group that ultimately put him where he now was. In another lifetime, he would still be under Cazador or dead without her interference. He was loath to admit he certainly wouldn’t be the Ascendant without her help.

Some days he hated her for it; most days, he accepted the gift for the double-edged sword it was.

The Vampire Lord’s left hand fiddles restlessly with the gold ring on his right pinky; it was one of a few dozen commissions designed by Ani’s parents, and the only one he wore on a daily basis. The signet is a snowflake, backed by a cool blue enamel. 

The pad of Astarion’s index finger rubs against the lifted texture of the ring as he forces himself to acknowledge Wyll. The Ascendant nods tersely but does not perform the customary bow. He would never submit to Wyll, even as the best version of himself. 

The pale elf simply greets the human man with a cold, “Duke Ravengard.” 

Wyll nods back, but no other pleasantries are exchanged between the two men.

“We should head out; we are going to be late.” Wyll murmurs in general, though he has his eyes trained on the sorceress. 

Eirianwen glances at Wyll and nods before she makes her way toward Astarion’s carriage. Before the Vampire Lord can offer to help his ex-lover inside, Wyll extends his hand to Eirianwen and ushers her into the other man’s caravan. The pale elf bristles at the slight, fist clenching into a ball as he locks hardened eyes with the Duke. 

Umber hops in the carriage after the sorceress, and at first Astarion thinks to protest, but quickly censors himself, knowing better than to press Eirianwen about her pets. He briefly recalls she hadn’t allowed him to touch her for a week when he’d refused to let Scratch sleep in the bed with them. 

The familiar sprawls itself out on the seat opposite Eirianwen and then turns its head expectantly to Astarion, as if waiting for him to enter the carriage.

“We’ll see you there, Wyll.” The elf hisses cooly, his arrogant eyebrow raised in a silent challenge.

Wyll brushes past the Vampire Lord with no acknowledgement.

-----

Two ghosts sit side by side, both staring at the cat lounged on the other side of the vehicle. Several moments of silence pass. The ex-lovers shared a carriage for only one event prior to this, when they had attended Wyll’s coronation as a couple all those years ago. 

The sorceress had cast an arcane lock on the door to prevent the footman from opening it, and Astarion had barked an order at the driver to simply leave the carriage in the driveway. By the time the caravan had been parked in front of the palace, Eirianwen had already fallen apart twice under the Ascendant’s expert ministrations. 

It had been the first time he’d been able to be inside her without the usual feelings of disgust and the desire to pull back. They’d broken up not more than a few months after.

Once again, it is the elven woman that breaks the heavy silence.

“Astarion… why did you reach out, after all this time?” She asks, dropping her gaze to her hands, which have been neatly folded in her lap.

“What do you mean?” The Vampire Lord responds, feigning ignorance as he steals a moment to prepare himself for the conversation. He turns his head to stare out the window, hoping to give himself the illusion of further distance from Eirianwen. Her close proximity was unnerving. 

“You know what I mean, Astarion. I tried to contact you via the sending stones. For years. You never responded.” Her tone is tight as she tries to contain the indignation and hurt. Fifteen years apart, and the fact that he hadn’t communicated with her once, despite her efforts, still stung. It had been a gaping wound in her heart that had never fully healed. 

Eirianwen had asked to meet with the Ascendant at the Elfsong, a few weeks after their relationship ended. He had been under the impression it was to reconcile, and that she had changed her mind about his offer. Instead, she had given him the sending stone and expressed her desire to remain friends. The suggestion of being merely Eirianwen’s friend had nearly made Astarion retch on the spot. 

So it was true, the Vampire Lord never responded; in his pride and delusions of grandeur, he could never bring himself to reply to the woman that had abandoned him. She had broken his heart and destroyed his ego when she refused his offers and then ran from the city, far away from him. Could she really blame him? 

Every message reminded Astarion of the pain she’d inflicted on his heart, which he’d tried so desperately to forget. He’d refused to admit that a simple sorceress had caused the most powerful vampire in Faerun nearly two decades of hurt and anguish.

He never responded, but he had every message, and the sound of her voice, committed to memory. Astarion’s eyes glaze over as the recollections flood him.

The first message arrived a few weeks after she left the city.

“Hi Star. Made it to Halsin’s. The Shadowlands look different. It’s beautiful. Come see what we did, your imagination won’t do it justice.”

That had felt like a stake to the heart. At the time, he was certain Eirianwen had been intentionally trying to goad him, since the first person she ran to after their relationship ended had been her other lover. 

Then, three months later, another message.

“Hi Star. We are building a school for the kids. We could use your vampiric strength, if you’re willing to lend a hand.”

No. Absolutely not. He refused to show up and watch Halsin and Eirianwen as the picture of happiness and domesticity. If she wanted to move on, so be it; he did not have to witness it or pretend to be happy for her. 

Followed by another message, about six months later.

“Hi Star. Shadowheart and Lae’zel are getting married at the end of this month. They asked me to invite you.”

Again, absolutely not, he knew that Shadowheart was Eirianwen’s best friend, and suspected the cleric loathed him deeply. Better he spares them both from the charade.

Another message, approximately one year later.

“Hi Astarion. I’m off to explore the wilds again. Let me know if you’re interested in pursuing another adventure, for old times' sake.”

The offer had been tempting, but he’d been on the brink of gaining monopoly over the shipping industry. Stepping away would have been disastrous to all his efforts, and he had spent several years here building a life without her. The fact that she expected him to drop everything for her after all this time was ridiculous. 

Then, her final message, roughly one year after the last.

“Scratch died today. I know you loved him, even though you pretended you didn’t. This will be my last message, Astarion. Hope you’re well.”

Shortly after that, the magical glow from the sending stone disappeared. Ani had smashed her half of the set. That had been the only time the Vampire Ascendant had allowed himself to shed any tears over the broken bond between them. After that, his heart had callused over entirely, and he vowed to never let anyone else in again.

A rough bump in the road causes the wagon to jolt, knocking the sorceress into the Ascendant. Eirianwen instinctively grips onto his arm to steady herself, forcing Astarion from his daydream. He flinches in surprise at the sudden contact, and she whispers an apology before shifting away.

Umber is staring at Astarion. He’s convinced the cat is judging him.

“What do you want me to say?” The pale elf murmurs, his tone dejected. 

“The truth.” She responds quietly, reaching forward to pet Umber, in an effort to distract herself. The cat purrs in delight and closes its green eyes. 

“Ani, surely you must know that when you left…” The Vampire Lord starts, looking down at his hands where he’s fidgeting with the signet ring once more.

‘I was heartbroken.’

“It wasn’t easy for me.” He finishes, forcing the words out in another tight tone. The effort to spit out the truth hurt his jaw; that was the most vulnerability he could allow himself.

Eirianwen sighs. Umber’s purrs fill the silence, and both the elves sit in the fog of their thoughts and the uncomfortable air of unspoken conversations. The woman sits back up and turns to face the Vampire Lord, furrowing her brow slightly. 

Astarion forces himself to meet her eyes. He suddenly realizes how close the sorceress is in the confines of the carriage, and the proximity causes his heart to pound within his chest. He cannot bring himself to speak, so he simply focuses on her eyes. They are soft and round with something akin to concern, and the final flares of sunlight are captured in the iris. 

Her eyes look like home. 

The elves are staring at one another. The air inside the carriage has grown so thick with tension. Astarion can hardly bring himself to breathe, and Eirianwin feels the metaphorical sprites fluttering in her stomach. Neither of them realize the carriage has stopped.

“Astarion I–” The sorceress begins, but she startles and the words die on her lips as the door to the caravan rips open, revealing an irritated Wyll standing at the foot of the stairs with an exuberant Jaheira. 

The druid is beaming, muscular arms folded across her chest. Her eyebrow is raised in entertainment. When Jaheira speaks, her tone is warm and filled to the brim with delight, “I never thought I would live to see the day when you two chose to grace the Remembrance Society with your presence. Welcome, oh holy saviors of Baldur’s Gate!” 

Eirianwen practically flies out of the carriage, squealing ecstatically as she envelops the older woman in a crushing hug. Umber is quick to follow the sorceress. A flurried exchange of greetings ensues, and then the two women walk off without more than a glance back at the Duke and the Ascendant.

Jaheira guides the sorceress up the steps of the venue as they begin updating one another about their lives.

Wyll and Astarion are all but forgotten, left side by side. The two men barely glance at one another before following after the women without a word.

-----

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[mrs-barnes-rogers-writes]

The Fate Of A Fae - Part 4

Marvel AU

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader x Steve Rogers

Theme: Soulmates / Monster/Fantasy AU

You know on sight. Friends also know when they meet you if you're a match for one of their friends.

Summary: Natasha Romanoff is a meddling, pain in the ass Sprite, who you wrongly thought would leave you alone once you introduced her to your best friend, Darcy. News flash, she doesn’t and she won’t. Not when she thinks you’re a perfect match for two of her best friends. Could she be right? Maybe. Just don’t tell her that.

“Never tell Natasha Romanoff she was right” - Clint Barton

Chapter Summary: The reader has a surprise caller..................or two.

Chapter Warning: Mentions of past historic abuse.

There’s a distant voice in your head, stirring you from sleep. Somewhere between asleep and awake the voice seems to get louder and more panicked. It isn’t until you’re pulled against a warm chest and the whiff of expensive cologne spread up your nose that you fully wake up. You start to sob into the chest when you realise the voice is familiar.

Tony.

“Kid what happened?”

“I…..” and the crying continued.

“Shhhhhhhh it’s OK, we’ll figure it out, shhhhhhh.”

After ten minutes of Tony shushing and comforting you and crying all over him you’d started to calm down. A realisation washed over you as you realised Tony had got into your apartment.

“How’d you get in?”

“Sweetie, I made the security system remember?”

You pushed back off his chest and looked up at him.

“So you just let yourself in?”

“Oh hush” he replied pulling you back into his chest “I knew you were home and you weren’t answering and I could spell the blood.”

Tony wasn’t a dragon but his father was, meaning the acute sense of smell was passed on.

“Blood?”

“Your feet and legs sweetie.”

You looked down to see your legs and feet had a scattering of small cuts.

“For fuck sake.”

“You wanna tell me what happened?” asked Tony.

“Not really.”

“Can I say something?” you cocked an eyebrow at him, knowing he’d say it whether you agreed or not. “Would it be so bad if you at least spoke to them?”

“Yes, it would be.”

“I don’t know what happened to you kid but”

“Don’t, you won’t get it.”

“Probably not, but you’re not the only one with asshole parents. Sure they weren’t violent but my dad could be a really piece of work. When it became clear at eighteen I was definitely like Mom, and not him, he didn’t speak to me for a year, cut my allowance and nearly didn’t pay for college.”

“Tony, I had to steal food as a kid, this isn’t the same.”

“Hang on, I’m not done, listen to my un-relatable, yet relatable story.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Listen, when i say he didn’t talk to me I mean he didn’t even acknowledge my presence. That Christmas he crossed his name out on the gift tags and instead he passed me an envelope. A cheque for a million dollars and permission for early access to my trust fund. There was a leaflet with it about forced transfer.”

You felt sick. Forced transfer was painful, invasive and inhumane but had been common practice twenty years ago and back. Your parents would have put you in for it if they could have afforded it.

“What happened?”

“Well mom’s DNA turned out to be the strongest and his old age dragon wasn’t as strong as he thought. It wasn’t until I met Barnes that I actually realised how big dragons were, which I know sounds ridiculous. Dad had been select in his friends and made sure they were a mix of types, dragons included but always smaller than him.”

“I’m so sorry Tony.”

“Don’t be. The blood test and Mom threatening to divorce him put a stop to it. I may not know your full story kid but it doesn’t take  a genius to figure it out.”

“Figure what out?” you replied.

“That the asshole family had something to do with your lacking of wings and pointy ears.”

And with that the tears came again.

“They won’t want me Tony. They won’t want me when they know.”

“Doll?”

Fuck. Shit. Bucky was in your apartment.

[ajesterwrites]

4. date at the mystic grill

summary: you invite stefan to the mystic grill

pairings: stefan salvatore x fem!reader, jenna sommers x reader (aunt), bonnie bennett x reader (platonic), caroline forbes x reader (platonic), matt donovan x reader (platonic...mostly)

warnings: none <3

word count: 3.3k

YOU PACED around your room, irritation accompanying each step. In one hand, you held your phone to your ear. With the other, you pinched your forehead to relieve a growing headache.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" You hissed. "You gave Jeremy drugs? He's fourteen! You know he's in an extremely vulnerable place right now! God, how could you be so stupid?!"

"Hello to you too."

"Ryder!"

Ryder chuckled on the other end. You released your forehead and squeezed your fist. If only he was in the room with you. You'd stare into his pretty eyes and slap the smirk off his face. Maybe you'd mess up the dark, shiny curls on his head too.

"Chill out, okay? He asked for them. It's not like I walked up to him and said,'I know you're a freshman and all, but how would you like to get high?'"

"I know..." You sighed. Maybe you'd overreacted... kids did drugs all the time. Hell, you'd been mixing lethal combinations from the time you were fifteen until about three months ago.

And if he didn't get them from Ryder, he'd get them from someone else. At least Ryder knew him and would look out for him....sort of.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry." You could practically hear Ryder's smile on the other end. "I missed you, Y/N." You scoffed. "I mean it. We should hang out tonight."

You looked herself over in your vanity mirror. He would love your outfit: diamond earrings, a lacy black dress, and your trusty leather jacket. If only he wasn't such a douche.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm meeting Bonnie and Caroline at The Grill tonight."

"What?"

"You remember Bonnie and Caroline, right? I mean, you haven't met them but..." You turned in the mirror, inspecting your body. You looked good.

"Yeah, I remember..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just that you guys haven't spoken in months and..."

"And what?"

"I didn't know you three were stll friends," Ryder admitted.

You stopped turning. "Of course we are, silly. I've known them since forever."

"Y/N... you remember what Dr. Blake said, right? About–"

"I know," You snapped, no trace of the nonchalance you had before. "But he also said that I should try to get things back to normal so no one suspects anything. Bon and Care are my normal."

"I trust your judgment."

A faint voice crackled on his end. "Is that her?"

"Who's that?" You asked. You couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman...whoever it was, they didn't seem happy.

"... No one. I'll call you back, Y/N."

Click.

"Hello? Ryder?" You looked at your phone's home screen and scoffed in disbelief. This jerk just hung up on you! "Asshole."

A door slammed shut downstairs. Curious, you left your room to investigate, and found Jenna loudly rummaging through the cupboards.

"Jenna?"

Hands still searching, she glanced at you and smiled. She hadn't gotten used to having you around yet but was enjoying the company. "Hey, Y/N."

"What are you doing?"

Jenna brought her full attention to the cupboards. "Just... looking for something," She grunted, now on her tiptoes.

"How was your presentation?"

"Let's just say I wanted to down an entire bottle of vodka when it was over."

That explained her behavior. "That bad, huh?"

Jenna pulled out the largest cocktail glasses she could find and filled them with ice.  "How was school?"

"Oh, the usual," You shrugged, watching Jenna fill the glasses with Sprite... the closest she could get to vodka, apparently. "Although there is a new kid this year. His name is Stefan."

"Ooh," Jenna commented, wiggling her eyebrows as she placed a glass in front of you. "Is he cute?"

You blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Yeah."

Jenna smirked and sipped her drink smugly. They didn't have sit-downs often, but during her past visits, she'd always ask if you found a boyfriend or potential crush. And every time, you would practically bite her head off as you insisted that you didn't have time for boys and their foolishness.

The closest you ever came to committing to someone was in your relationship with Matt, but even Jenna could see you weren't fully content. So when you broke up, it wasn't much of a surprise. Everyone saw it coming. Everyone except Matt.

"You're dressed up," Jenna observed as she sized you up. It wasn't your best outfit, as it was relatively simple, but it did its job. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Should I be worried?"

"Not at all," You promised, chuckling. "I'm going to The Grill to hang with Bonnie and Caroline."

"Oh, okay, I got this!" Jenna said eagerly. This was the parental moment she'd been waiting for. "Wait for this... don't stay out too late. It's a school night."

"Beautiful," You said. Jenna grinned, celebrating the small accomplishment with a fist pump. You raised your glasses and clinked them together triumphantly. "You really have this whole parenting thing in the bag. You should have your own kid someday."

Jenna laughed. "Thanks, but I think two volatile teenagers are enough."

You put you empty glass on the counter and pushed yourself off the chair, ready to go. "Have fun!" Jenna called after you. Just as you started to reply, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" You announced, rushing to answer the unexpected visitor. When you opened the door, you were surprised to find none other than Stefan awkwardly standing on your porch steps, his hands tucked in his jacket pockets. "Hi."

"Hi."

You raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. He cleared his throat. "I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was...strange."

"Not as strange as Hitchcock come to life," You joked. He laughed. You smiled, finding herself slightly in love with the sound—it was music to your ears. "Don't worry about it. Hemophobia is no joke... Wait, are you hemophobic?"

"Uh... something like that," He answered vaguely. "Anyways, I thought you might want this back."

He pulled a familiar brown leather book from his pocket. You gasped. "My journal!" You exclaimed, taking it from his hands. "Thank you so much, I didn't even realize it was gone!"

He nodded. "Glad I could help."

"Not that I'm not grateful, but... you didn't read it, did you?"

"No."

You held back a relieved sigh. "Okay, good. Can I ask why? Not that I wanted you to—definitely not—but I'm pretty sure that anyone else in this town would have."

He frowned. "I wouldn't want anyone reading mine," He said as if that were as obvious as the sky's color.

You were taken back by his response. "You keep a journal?"

"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it," He explained. "Memories are too important."

You nodded. Most guys you met seemed to think that journals were a "girly" thing. It was refreshing to meet a boy who saw the value in recording thoughts and dreams...even if it was just a therapy assignment.

"Sorry, can you hold on one sec?" Stefan nodded cluelessly. You turned around and headed to the kitchen just as your aunt was leaving. "Jenna!"

Jenna stopped. "Hm?"

"Can you please put this in my room?" You asked, holding out your journal. Jenna's eyes darted to the book and she stopped her jaw from dropping open.

Truth be told, this was a big step for you. The only person you ever let touch it was Holly, and this didn't go unnoticed in Jenna's mind.

She bit back a smile, swallowing her excitement, and tried to keep a casual demeanor. "Sure."

As she reached for the diary, her eyes averted to the door, and she flashed an impressed look when she saw the stranger's face. "Who's that?"

You glanced at the door and smiled shyly. "Stefan," You responded in a low voice, not wanting your aunt to get any ideas or for the guest to hear you.

"The new kid you were telling me about?" Jenna mumbled. You nodded. "Wow, he is cute. Go get 'em, tiger."

"Jenna!" You whisper-yelled. Jenna laughed at the flustered look on you face before leaving to put away your diary.

You turned back around and walked over to Stefan, who tried his hardest to fight his creeping smile. You hoped he hadn't heard that embarrassing exchange. "Hey, so... I was on my way to meet a few friends at The Grill—it's kind of like a mix between a bar and cafe—and I thought maybe you'd like to join me. You know, as thanks for returning my journal."

"Sure."

"Really?" You asked, smiling at his nonchalance. "Great, let me just grab my coat. It's supposed to be like forty degrees out tonight."

You pulled your coat off the nearby rack and stepped outside, making sure to lock the door behind you.

As you and Stefan walked along the sidewalk on that chilly September night, the only sounds that cut the strained silence were the music blasting from passing cars and the gentle howl of the wind. The hairs stood on your arm—and it wasn't from the cold.

"So, how do you like it here in Mystic Falls so far?" You suddenly asked, trying to break the suffocating quiet. "Not too peppy, I hope."

Stefan chuckled softly, giving a light shake of his head. "No, it's not. I was actually born here, but I moved a long time ago when I was a kid."

"Oh. So what do you do in your free time when you're not meeting strange girls at cemeteries?"

"I like to read and write," He answered. You smiled. So did you. More recently, you'd picking up drawing. "Most of the time, I stay with my uncle."

"Uncle?" You repeated. "No parents?"

"No, they died."

You frowned. That must have been why he was at the cemetery. "I'm sorry for your loss," You said gently. You of all people knew what it was like, and although you weren't keen on sharing your experiences, you were tempted to so he wouldn't feel alone. But after months of pity and fruitless attempts to relate from your neighbors, you knew how ineffective that really was.

"It's fine," Stefan responded dismissively. Maybe his parents have something to do with the move. Or maybe he just wanted to save himself from the awkwardness of receiving condolences. "What about you?"

"Nothing to tell here. My parents are gone too, so it's just me, my aunt, and my brother," You explained. It wasn't exactly something you enjoyed talking about and yet somehow got mentioned in every conversation, so you were especially eager to change the subject. "What's your favorite color?"

"Blue."

You lifted a brow. "Sky blue or ocean blue?"

"Steel blue."

"That's a new one," You commented. "My favorite color is red—crimson, to be exact. Who's your favorite superhero?"

"I don't have one," He casually revealed, readying himself for your appalled reaction. He'd had this discussion countless times and had yet to meet a single person who wasn't shocked by the confession.

And it turned out he was right. The revelation made you gape at him. "You don't have a favorite superhero?" You asked rhetorically. You'd known something about him was different because he gave off this...vibe, but everyone you'd ever known at least had one favorite superhero at one point in time.

Stefan shrugged. "I don't know, I've just never been into that kind of thing."

"Alright," You said, nodding. "But you said you're into books, right?"

"Definitely," He enthusiastically confirmed. "My favorite would have to be The Great Gatsby, maybe The Odyssey, on a good day."

"You are the first person I've ever heard say that," You admitted with a laugh. He smiled. "What are you, like a child prodigy or something?"

"No, I've just always loved to read. I guess you could say I'm a little old-fashioned that way."

You nodded. "Okay, and what about your favorite band or singer?"

"Currently?" He asked. "Um, it's a tie...between Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline."

"Oh, so you like old music," You remarked, amazed by his outdated but golden taste. "In that case, what is your favorite movie or show from the 20th century?"

"Seinfeld and I Love Lucy."

"Hold up, what?" You asked, surprised with his immediate response. "Seinfeld I get but I Love Lucy? Have you forgotten about the hilarious 1950s masterpiece I like to call The Donna Reed Show?"

"You want to compare Donna Reed to Lucy Ricardo?"

"Donna Reed is an icon!"

"So is Lucy Ricardo!" Stefan argued. "Have you ever watched I Love Lucy?"

You began to say yes but quickly realized that wasn't true and closed your mouth. Stefan gave you a smug, playful grin before saying,"That's what I thought."

"Well, have you ever seen Donna's show?" You asked, not at all offended by his complacent tone. If anything, you thought it made him even more likable.

"When it came out," Stefan said without missing a beat and then broke into another grin.

She laughed. "Alright, Grandpa. How old are you anyway?"

"Seventeen. You?"

"Sixteen," You said. "But turning seventeen in June."

"Are you excited?"

"Not really," You admitted, tucking your hair behind your ear as you looked down. Normally, you wouldn't open up to a stranger, but the whole town knew of your troubles and he would learn eventually, assuming he hadn't already.

Besides, there was something about him. Maybe it was his old soul. But he seemed to brim with wisdom and understanding. There was something just so comforting about Stefan, like he was looking into your soul without a trace of judgment.

"It's gonna be my first birthday without my parents."

Anniversaries were some of the hardest days to get through. But you were determined to push through and make it the most epic birthday party ever. As proof that you really moved on. Denial at its best.

You looked up to discover that you were approaching the Mystic Grill. "Looks like we're here. You are going to love Bonnie and Caroline. They're awesome."

"Any friend of yours must be," Stefan said, opening the door for you. You smiled and thanked him as you walked through. Smart, cute, good sense of humor, and a gentleman? Either he was a fallen angel or a spawn from Hell...someone like him seemed too good to be true.

Almost immediately after Stefan stepped inside, you were greeted by your ex, who you'd forgotten hung out here with his best friend, Tyler Lockwood, after school. Sure enough, Caroline and Tyler were standing by the pool time, watching you and your....friends...intently. 

Great, now Matt was going to think you were trying to rub this in his face—as if what you did before wasn't bad enough.

"Hey, I'm Matt," He addressed cooly, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Hi," Stefan greeted and gave Matt's hand a firm shake. "Stefan."

Matt's gaze averted to you, and you forced a smile, offering a small awkward wave. "Hey."

"Hey," He drawled. Your eyes danced around The Grill to find anything else to talk about, and you breathed a small sigh of relief when you noticed Bonnie waving at you. 

"Oh look, there's Bonnie!" You practically exclaimed.  "We should go."

You spared an uneasy look in Matt's direction and beelined for Bonnie's table. Stefan followed wordlessly. 

"Hey, guys!" You chirped. Caroline muttered a cheerful goodbye to Tyler, who narrowed his eyes at you, and your two besties jumped to embrace you. You didn't miss the way Caroline looked at Stefan, like he was a delicious platter of meat she wanted to take a bite of. It seemed that Stefan didn't miss it either. He quickly shunted his eyes to you. You smiled reassuringly. 

After a round of introductions, everyone got settled. Stefan slid beside you. Bonnie and Caroline sat on the other side—Caroline made sure she was eye-to-eye with Stefan.  Bonnie placed a cup in front of you, who looked at her questioningly.

"Large vanilla iced coffee, seven pumps of vanilla syrup, nine shots of sugar, heavy whipped cream, and extra caramel drizzle," Bonnie listed before stopping to take a breath. "Just the way you like it."

"You know me so well," You said, impressed. Three months away and Bonnie still remembered your order. If there was even a slim chance Bonnie wanted you to feel guilty, it was working. "Thanks, Bon."

You sipped your iced coffee, remembering how much you used to savor it before everything happened. The bitter taste of coffee mixed with delicious pumps of vanilla, caramel, and whipped cream...it was heaven in a plastic cup.

You expected to smile, but instead, you grimaced, adjusting to the explosion of sweetness. You managed to swallow your repulsion. The drink didn't taste terrible, but during your time in the center, you hadn't been allowed to consume sweets. Not unless you...

No.  You couldn't think about that right now, not when you were with your friends. You weren't in the center anymore. You were free. Free to eat and drink whatever you desired with clean hands.

Unaware of Bonnie's baffled stare, you continued to sip, this time enjoying it.

Caroline looked at Stefan, a lively smile brightening her features. "So Stefan..." Bonnie blinked out of her trance. "...you were born in Mystic Falls?"

"Mm-hmm. And moved when I was still young."

"Parents?" Bonnie asked.

He smiled awkwardly. "My parents passed away."

Bonnie glanced at you, then at Stefan, considering your very obvious similarity. "I'm sorry to hear that. Any siblings?"

"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle."

Bonnie and Caroline nodded, unsure of how to respond. Sometimes, it was hard to talk to people when you couldn't relate to them or their situations, and so far, they hadn't found any common ground. You leaned back and sipped your drink, racking your brain for something to say. Anything to say.

"So, Stefan," Caroline spoke up, beating you to it. "If you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow."

"It's a back-to-school thing at The Falls," Bonnie explained. Mystic Falls threw celebrations for practically any event, and you weren't surprised that Caroline was the first to mention it. After all, she was the queen of throwing parties, a title that no one else in the school's history had even come close to earning. But as much as Caroline loved hosting festivities, she almost enjoyed attending them even more.

"Are you going?" Stefan asked, turning to you. You hadn't been planning on it, but Bonnie was quick to intervene.

"Of course she is," She said, giving you a look. You laughed quietly and nodded.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," You added and looked at your friends, your eyes lighting up as you reminisced about the previous bonfire. "Remember last year?"

Caroline scoffed. "Everyone remembers last year."

"What happened last year?" Stefan asked.

The girls traded looks. You raised your eyebrows and stifled a laugh. "Let's just say the fire department got some free beer."

The group continued to chat for a bit with Bonnie making jokes left and right, and Caroline casually drilling Stefan for whatever bits of information she could get out of him. Though you suspected she'd already run at least three background checks on him.

Eventually, the stars emerged. When ten o'clock came around, Caroline and Bonnie had already left for home, but you and Stefan stayed back a bit and conversed about the most random topics, very interested in getting to know one another.

And for the first time in forever, you didn't feel like the broken girl who was holding onto too many secrets for your own good. You felt...normal.

It was a great feeling. But any feeling could only last for so long.

[darkened-sunlight]

Are you here to talk to me?

-

HII Welcome to the blog! This is Dawn, she was born for much the same reasons Hornet was, to stop the conflict between the pale king and the radiance, so both kingdoms are still alive today! Well. It's only 13 years later in bug terms, but that's something. Dawn here is a little curious thing, go ahead and send her an ask!

Meta-wise- Dawn is one of my older characters and I just. Really wanted to use her again ig! So she's back! I first made her back in 2020, which was 4 years ago!!! Damn!!!!!! If anyone from back then remembers her I'll give you a cookie. Sorry if she looks like anyones character who came along after I deleted her original blog I haven't been in the hk community since I was 14 . And I'm not changing her. Have some sprites I drew of her back then!

[stardecahedron]

* Bravery. Justice. Integrity. Kindness. Perseverance. Patience. Using these, you were able to win at "Ball Game."

So a few months ago I made these Undertale style sprites of my interpretations of the 6 humans from the game. I decided to put them up on Art Fight this year, which meant I had to make full refs and colour palettes for them!

I locked in on these for like 3-4 days and I'm so happy with how they turned out, these are my little guys!

If you're interested in drawing them for Art Fight 2024 please check out the characters section on my Art Fight page below!

kofi // instagram // artfight // bluesky

[your-local-autistic-bird]

My bird plush collection!! Pt 2

Part one can be found here :D any name suggestions for the nameless birds are appreciated 🦜💚 (if anyone wants any extra pictures of a specific bird plush(ies) feel free to ask!)

Left: Fia's brother. He used to have a name but I forgot. He's an old plush, not sure how old but probably close to 8 years. Lore wise he's sorta mean but in a joking way. He's the uncle that always has awesome stories to tell. He was often a babysitter for Putte & Fia's kids :)

Right: Putte's brother. Used to have a name as well. He's a bit newer, maybe 5 years old? Lore wise he's a dad, he has two kids (pictured below). He's a really sweet guy but has a hard time to getting along with Fia's brother.

These are Putte's brother's kids. The one on the left is kind of new, 3-4 years? And Sprite (the one on the right) is only 2(?) years old. Lore wise, the one on the left has severe social anxiety and doesn't talk that much. And Sprite is the older brother who is very talkative and outgoing.

Left: Bobbo. He's one of the OLDEST bird plushies I have. Can't remember where I got him from and I have not found what brand he is. He has a voice box but it broke over a decade ago. He was one of my comfort plushies I took with me to kindergarten. Lore wise he is mute and disabled, very kind, calm, and easily frightened. He gets along so well with kids and is a babysitter often :)) He is Fia's & Putte's friend.

Right: Swan (og name: Svanen). She's really old as well. She has a metal rod in her neck that makes it posable, sadly, my dad broke the neck on accident and now she has a chronic bent neck, unable to keep her head up :( Lore wise she's often a teacher or doctor, she loves kids and knows how to care for them. She's friends with Fia and the bird below (Patricia(?))

Left: unamed bird. She used to have a name but I forgot, I think it was Patricia maybe? She's really old and has a voice box that still works!! She's based on an Amazon parrot :) Lore wise she's usually a teacher or nurse. Takes care of kids and gets along with Swan a lot, they're besties basically. Very very kind bird :))

Right: Columbus. Old guy, hand puppet. Probably got him from thrift store? Lore wise he's the only bird that's an actual meanie in every single story. He's always doing something to disrupt stuff and harm people. He has a very traumatic past and is in denia about that. Maybe one day he'll have his redemption arc.