#all i did was open a new canvas in the right size for instagram

[thatdistantconstellation]

i want to make a comic so bad. oh my god pls i wish i had the motivation to do comics aghgghhh

[danpuff-ao3]

Fanbinding Process 1: Typesetting

Someone asked me to chronicle a fanbinding project a while back and now that I'm in the starting stages I figured "oh yeah I should do that!"

Disclaimer: still new at this. Please don't judge me. And also this is just what I do and really when it comes to some of the smaller details, that's personal choice and stuff you'll decide once you get going and know what you wanna do with it!

Anyway current project: A Choriambic Progression (one of my faves!) (I'm also doing In Between Days at the same time but I'm further along in that one so it's not a good one to really show.)

Step 1: Gotta save the fic! I'll say ahead of time how I do this with AO3 fic, even though A Choriambic Progression isn't on AO3. With that, I go to Download > HTML. I've found that way will copy over all the formatting whereas the other ones didn't for me. Then I open the HTML file and copy paste into Google Docs.

Instead with A Choriambic Progression I just went to the Wayback Machine link and copy/pasted all of that.

Step 2: I do my page setup before fixing the body of the work, so I inserted a few pages above the work. I consulted a few books on hand to decide the layout. Page 1 is a simple title page:

I know when I print, odd numbered pages will show up on the right and even numbers will be on the left. So when I first open the book, the simple title page will be face up.

Step 3.) Which means for Page 2 I do the copyright page:

I temporarily removed my actual location for this, but: I made a name for my bindery. Most I've seen have the location of the publishing company, so I have my location in that section. Most copyright pages vary in the setup and even some information, so I borrowed what I liked! A lot have like "First Printing: Date, Second Printing: Date" so I list where all I've found the work, plus when I'm binding it. Even though it's July right now, I figure most of my work on this will be in August so I put August 2023 for that.

For ISBN I usually will put AO3 ID: and the work ID #. Since this was originally posted to Ink Stained Fingers I used Ink ID instead and it's ID # (which is 21???? Very cool.) Also since this fic is old and not really anywhere else, I had to do my best guessing on the date, which as best as I can figure was sometime 2004? And the print line for funsies! Though I don't think I'll do more than this one printing of it, but who knows!

Step 4.) Images in Canva. Which is just....me creating whatever icons and images I want to use in Canva, which is at least a title image. In Canva I opened an Instagram Post sized template. I threw in the title + artist. I had no idea what sort of art I wanted, so I just typed in "magic" and found this crystal & plant art I liked. I fixed up the font how I liked and then went to Share > Download > check Transparent Background > Select Pages: 19 (to just save page 19) > Download.

I also went into another Canva project for smaller images that i call "icons" to make my bindery icon and also a simple image I want to have at the top of the first page and downloaded both of those.

Step 5.) Back in Google Docs aaaand....I knew I'd need some pages before my title image so on Page 3 I added the "archive information" (which is where I'll normally pull the info from AO3, but I did the same basic idea here.)

Then Step 6.) I inserted another blank page (CTRL + Enter) and on Page 6 I went to Insert > Image > Upload from Computer and added my title image. Below it I added my bindery icon and spent over fiddling with it to get it properly centered. (It never wants to center correctly.) Iirc I went into Format > Align & Indent and played with "center" and "increase/decrease indent" until it behaved itself.

Step 7.) CTRL + Enter for another blank page. Then I make sure the start of the fic is on an odd page (though I can always fix this later in Acrobat.) I inserted my cute lil story icon above the start of the story:

Step 8.) I realized I had a problem in that I did all this setup BEFORE setting my font. So I had to CTRL + A to select it all and set it to Times New Roman 16, which I know will print in a way I like.

Next I'll say, I like to keep the space between paragraphs in an ode to fanfic-y ways. But I also like indented paragraphs. So this is a personal choice, but with everything still selected I went to:

Format > Align & Indent > Indention Options > set Left & Right to 0. Then select Special Indent > First Line > set to .5.

THEN I had to go back and fix my title, copyright, and archive pages, but it's less annoying to do that than it would be to try to highlight over 300 pages to do this for JUST the fic. I later added some extras (such as the poem at the end, the author's note, and some review/recommendations for the fic that I wanted to format differently.)

....Basically just figure out how you want to format it.

Step 9.) CTRL + F. This fic was a NIGHTMARE to fix up, ngl. I did all of this last night but basically...I had to find all the scene breaks by going CTRL + F and searching "***" so I could replace those with a horizontal line (Insert > Horizontal Line.) But a few places had tildes instead so I had to do an extra CTRL + F: "~~~~" That wasn't so bad.

The bad part was realizing how much had to be italicized. Regular italic words had a "*" on either side, while correspondence began and ended with an underscore. So I had to CTRL + F: "_" and then highlight and italicize all the letters. Then CTRL + F: "*" to find all the italicized words of which there were like 200. Very tedious.

Step 10.) File > Download > PDF Document

Step 11.) I opened the PDF in Adobe Acrobat for my final stages. Mostly here I make sure all of the pages are in an order I like and make sure all of my pages that need to end up on the right are odd numbers. And if not, I can go to the sidebar on the right and go to "Organize Pages"...there I can reorganize or add blank pages where needed.

Step 12.) Page Numbers & Headers! Again this is personal preference but I can show you how I did it and you can make your own decisions about how you want to do it.

Close out of Organize Pages. Then from the sidebar I chose "Edit PDF." Then at the top toolbar I click on "Headers & Footers" and select "Add."

For me, I wanted the title as a header, and I wanted to insert page numbers. So in "Header Center" I wrote the title and in "Footer Center" I clicked on "Insert Page Numbers."

Then because I want my page numbering to start on Page 3 (I like to start numbering at the Archive Information page) I click on "Page Range Options" and in "Pages From:" I changed "1" to "3."

Note, if you fiddle with the pages later on and reorganize or add new blank pages, Adobe won't adjust the page numbers for you, which is why I make sure my pages are all in order first.

Step 13.) My least favorite part is REMOVING headers & footers from pages I don't want them on. So on all blank pages I took off the title & page number. I took the title off of the Archive information and the Title Image page. I took the title off of the "Recommendations" pages later on, too. It's not only tedious but Acrobat likes to be difficult about letting me select the page numbers so it takes a few tries of me getting the page just so before I can select and delete the page number.

Anyway at that point it's ready to go so I make sure to save it to my Fanbinding folder and next up I can print! So...we can do printing & page folding and maybe page cutting in Part 2.

You know...if I remember. 😬

[itsforexposure]

“It’s for church! Next!”

Transcript of two very long Facebook messenger posts follows:

Client: Hi. I saw that u posted on marketplace

Client: I thought y not get a cute portrait

Artist: Oh yes! I’m open for commissions!

Artist: What do you have in mind?

Client: I would like a traditional painting. A big one. Something like 48x60 inches?

Artist: Wow that’s big

Artist: I’m not sure if I even have canvas that big. It would also take me a long time to do. Maybe 3 weeks?

Artist: A portrait of what though? Of yourself?

Client: No. I would like one of my dog in a mariachi outfit.

Artist: Ok. For that size I can do it for $300. I would need to go buy a canvas that size and I’m giving you a discount for my time. 

Client. Doesn’t seem like much of a discount to me. 

Client. You are not a professional, u don’t need to charge hourly...

Artist: Well I’m trying to make a career out of this and I need to charge based on my experience, cost of supplies, and my time. I’m honestly charging you less than minimum wage based on what material costs. 

[Screenshot showing that a canvas of the appropriate size costs $109.99 at Michael’s]

Artist: This is the price of a canvas that size and that doesn’t include the price of the paint. 

Client: Not to be mean but ur wasting your time by wanting to be an artist. No wonder u were sleeping in ur car. That’s what u get for choosing a worthless career.

Client: If you joined our church we would pray for you. We would illuminate ur future w our prayers.

Client: Tell you what

Client: Do a painting for our church, and we will pray for you.

Client: I know u did a painting about a year ago for our sister [redacted]. Why can’t you do one for us and get saved while u can

Artist: Are you asking me to do a painting for free?

Client: Not free

Client: u know each member pays 20% of their paycheck to church each month. This will be kind of your initiation to our great community

Client: I think u really need it

Client: u are being punished because u keep rejecting Jesus into your life

Client: u need salvation and a new meaning to your life.

Client: u are and will always be a starving artist. Look at u now. Do you want this forever?

Artist: If art wasn’t valuable as you say. How come you sold [redacted]’s painting that you only paid like $30 for like $12000? You bullied her into painting it for church. If art was that worthless why did you pocket that much money?

Artist: I’m not joining your cult

Client: I don’t need to give explanations to a no church member. You have no idea what u are talking about

Artist: Right. You have never had to work in your life. You inherited multiple millions of dollars from your husband, and you are trying to get free artwork from someone who actually wants to work hard for a better future? $300 wouldn’t make a dent in your bank acc. Please stop wasting my time. I’m not joining your cult.

Client: I was blessed to have found a rich husband and blessed to have lived the life I have. You are being punished and will be punished for the rest of your life for rejecting Jesus. I think people like you are better off just disappearing off earth. Such a waste of space. You would have better luck becoming a prostitute instead of selling your shitty art work. I will be praying for you to fail. I have powerful connections, I will send this conversation to all of them. I can’t wait to see you coming back for my help.

Artist: So very Christian of you.

Client: Get out of my messages satan. I can feel your dark energy. ur paintings are also diabolic.

[second screenshot]

Client: I asked [redacted] to ask u for a refund. She told me you told her no? I think you need to come up with the money somehow. Everybody that I’ve shown the screenshots and your art agrees that it’s not worth that much. u have this very dark aura around you and you refuse to get helped. Give up on art. You will never be successful.

Client: I can still help you if you make the portrait

Client: Why don’t you do one of my cat too and I’ll talk to some of my friends and maybe you’ll get any commissions from them too

Client: But you can’t charge that much. What are you even going to do with $300? Make it donation based or a flat fee of $100 for the size I asked.

Client: Being greedy is not going to take you anywhere

Client: You already know what u have to do

Artist: You are nuts. I’m posting this on reddit.

Client: What’s reddit?

Client: You don’t have my consent to do share this conversation. U HEAR ME??

Client: Oh I ready looked that site up. u belong there. Full of sinful and weird people like you. I feel sorry... What are they going to do for u? Look at ur posts on instagram you barely even have likes. I still don’t want you posting this conversation. It will do more damage to ur already failed art business 

[three missed video calls in a row, presumably after the artist posted this to r/choosingbeggars]

Client: Answer my calls I know ur online

[shhhhyoursister]

you ever think about,,, david drawing on matteos back (i think matteo would either fidget the whole way through or fall asleep idk)

okay yeah.....yeah i do think about this (also forgive me i know nothing about art)

***

It was hot in the room when David finally got into bed, not yet ready to go to sleep, but wanting to at least be close to Matteo, who was lying on his stomach, his arm out in front of him as he scrolled on his phone. He wasn’t wearing a shirt because of the heat, and David couldn't say he minded. 

He had brought one of his sketchbooks, and a new set of pens he had gotten that day. He uncapped one, and tested it out in the corner of a fresh page. He smiled at the smooth black line, the ink dark and heavy against the white of the paper. Matteo sighed and shifted, distracting him, and he quickly looked to his side where Matteo was laying.

He had just changed positions, but the way he moved had given David a better view of his bare back. Long, pale white, smooth skin. David smiled when the thought he’s almost the same color as the paper ran through his head, but that was followed by and idea that had him putting down his book.

“Hey,” he said, smiling when Matteo looked up at him, and he reached out and poked him with the pen and said, “you should let me draw on you.”

Matteo looked down at the black dot that was left on his arm, and then looked back up at David and sighed, “But I’m tired.”

“You won’t have to do anything, wait,” David said, getting out from under the covers and moving until he was able to place a hand on Matteo’s back to hold him down so he could carefully straddle Matteo’s upper thighs.

“This is a new position,” Matteo said, and David rolled his eyes.

“Hey, none of that, this is for art purposes, not sex.” David said, pinching his side. 

“So I’m not allowed to find this hot?” Matteo asked, tilting his head back so he could smirk, arching his back a bit under David’s hand. David shoved Matteo’s face away as he giggled at his own teasing.

“The first thing I’m going to do is write ‘annoying brat’ right here,” David said, moving the pen to Matteo’s shoulder blade and quickly wrote the words, grinning at Matteo’s protests. 

Matteo started pushing himself up and David sat back on his heels, still grinning, and Matteo turned around to glare and said, “If we’re doing this cheesy shit you at least need to make it nice.”

“Fine,” David said, and shoved Matteo back down and quickly drew a messy heart around the words, “is that better?”

Matteo sighed, but got himself comfortable with his head resting in his arms, and muttered, “If I feel you drawing a dick I’m throwing you off.”

“Don’t worry baby, it’ll be a masterpiece, just like you.” He said, half kidding and half sincere, and he smiled at Matteo’s sarcastic laugh as he tried to pick where to start, and what to draw. 

His options were somewhat limited considering he only had a black pen but he got an idea after glancing around the room and seeing an older sketch of his that Matteo had taken and hung up on his wall. He smiled, and started drawing on Matteo’s shoulder blade, opposite the one he had written on. At the first touch of the pen Matteo shivered, and David bit his lip as he tried to concentrate.

His idea started with a sunflower that had petals extending up and over Matteo’s shoulder, the center dark, and Matteo shivered again as he drew the first long line of the stem all the way down his back. He completed it, adding a couple of leaves here and there, and then started drawing another, smaller flower next to it.

It was quiet in the room as David ran the pen over Matteo’s skin, drawing different flowers of different shapes and sizes, the only sounds being that of their breathing. David got a little lost in it, the way the pen glided over his skin, making sure every stroke and mark was right. He had been mostly joking earlier, but he didn’t want to mess up when he was being offered such an opportunity.

He finished by turning the mean words he had written into a kind of abstract sun, and it didn’t fit completely with everything else but it was better for the picture he was going to ask to take.

“Okay, I think I’m done,” he said, sitting up and stretching his slightly sore back, “is it okay if I take a picture? I’ll show it to you so you can see,” he continued, and when Matteo didn’t respond, he put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Matteo?”

Matteo didn’t respond, and David leaned down so he could see his face. His eyes were shit, hair flopped over his forehead, his lips parted as he breathed in and out much slower than any conscious person would. 

David grinned, and squeezed his hand, and shook a bit until Matteo’s face scrunched up. He brought a hand up to rub at his eyes, and then he blinked them open, and asked, “Oh shit, did I fall asleep? Are you done?”

“Yes and yes,” David said, bending down so he could kiss Matteo’s cheek, “do you want to see?”

Matteo nodded, and David grabbed his phone. He favorited the picture once he checked it, knowing ti was one he’d want to go back and look at. Maybe even post it on Instagram if Matteo was okay with it. He admired it for a second before handing his phone to Matteo,

Matteo looked at the picture, his cheeks getting pinker as his eyes darted around David’s screen, and David smiled when he saw him bite his lip. He handed the phone back, and somehow managed to flip over onto his back.

“You’re so fucking talented,” he said, and David felt himself blush as he dropped his gaze, focusing on his hands that he had placed on Matteo’s stomach.

“Well,” he said, looking up and matching the small smile on Matteo’s face with one of his own, “it helps to have such a beautiful canvas.”

[ma-sulevin]

hey!! is it okay to ask you how you do your gifs for your ocs? like you did for the ones from wayhaven chronicles?

Yeah! It’s been a bit of a process to figure out how to make gifs that I like that will also work on tumblr, but I have a little routine down.

I don’t know if you were looking for a tutorial. But I wrote one, kinda. Also, enjoy an additional gif of Benji that I made during this process:

So, to start off, I use Photoshop to make my gifs. I lick Adobe’s boots once a month and pay for the subscription, but it’s way easier for me than struggling to figure out how to do this in programs I’ve never used before. 

I usually get footage for my gifs from TV shows or movies, and I just do a quick screen recording with OBS of whatever scene I need. This works especially well for gifs of Harper, because Big Sky is on Hulu, and OBS works with Hulu. I also get clips from YouTube sometimes, or Instagram sometimes, or just wherever I happen to find a good clip.

After that, in Photoshop, you have to go to File > Import > Video Frames to Layers. I try to trim the clip with the selectors down as much as I can, and then hit okay.

In Photoshop, you’ll end up with a bunch of layers and a bunch of frames at the bottom of the screen in the Timeline (if you can’t see the Timeline for some reason, go to Window > Timeline). You have to trim the frames at the bottom to get the right footage in your gif. I usually end up deleting frames at the beginning and the end, and then sometimes I have to trim them down again to get the file size right.

From here, you can crop and resize to your heart’s content. The best size for tumblr is 540 pixels wide, so that’s what I usually go for. Sometimes I make gifs smaller if I know they’re going into a set where I’m fitting two or three across a tumblr post.

Once you have your gif trimmed, cropped, and color corrected (if you need to, I usually just mess with the lighting/contrast if I think it needs more punch), it’s time to export. You have to go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy). 

To work on Tumblr, you need the size to be under 5MB (it’s in the bottom left corner). I usually end up getting as close to 5 as I can because I like keeping details, but you can mess with the size/colors/etc on the right side to see what you need to do.

When I’m using a template like this one, I fill in all of the information and export as a PNG. I open the PNG as a new document and use Magic Eraser to get rid of wherever I want the gif to peek out of (the pink circle here). Once it’s ready, I go back to the document with my gif in it, change the canvas size to the template’s, and then duplicate the template PNG with the cut out into the gif file.

When I’m doing it this way, I put the gif layers into a group just so it’s a tidy workspace to look at. You can tell I added a curves layer here over the gif to make it a little lighter. You will have to drag your gif layers to the right spot -- make sure to highlight all of the frames at the bottom of the screen so the gif will move in all of them. It’s a pain otherwise.

Is this the most efficient way to do it? I don’t know. It’s just how I’ve figured it out from frantic late-night googling.

[animeniacss]

A Palette of Emotions - Artist!Taehyung x Teacher!Reader - Chapter 4 - The Interview

Synopsis: Taehyung dreams of being a professional and famous artist one day, but finds that the sea of creativity can be lurking with blood hungry sharks, as well as bland, motionless starfish. Swimming through the sea of opportunities somehow washed him up onto the shore of Bright Star Preschool, as an art teacher. This wasn’t where he expected to be 4 years into his career, but anything to get his big break though, right?

Feat. BTS, TXT, ITZY, Jisoo (BlackPink), Taeyong (NCT)

Genre: Romance, Slow Burn, Love Triangle, Drama, School Setting, Working!AU

Length: approx. 5.1k words

Chapter 4 - The Interview 

“Mr. Kim.” You began, leaning forward with your elbows on the table. Your boss only hummed as he dabbed his lips with a napkin. “In regards to this new art teacher-.” Just as soon as those words left your mouth, Seokjin looked up at you, cradling his half-filled wine glass just as he finished taking a sip. “What kind of person are you looking for?”

         “Why?” he asked, setting his glass down. “Do you have any suggestions?” You watched Seokjin lift his utensils, cutting into the expensive steaks that he had ordered for the both of you. Finally, Seokjin had gotten you out to that dinner that he so annoyingly pestered you into. Seokjin was sure to take you to the fanciest restaurant in the area, the ambiance of the building holding a regal and important aura around those who sat idly chatting in beautifully upholstered booths. It was much more expensive than what your preschool teacher salary got you for dinner on a regular day.

         “Well, I just want someone who flows well with what I already have established.” You said simply. “What if you hire someone that undoes everything I’ve instilled in the kids?” A small smile formed on Seokjin’s face as he set his utensils back down on their napkin.

         “What, pray tell, have you instilled in them?” You frowned, leaning back in your seat.

         “The kids are calm and relaxed, they know the rules, they know what I expect of them and how to behave. If you hire someone with different ideas of how the kids should behave, won’t they get confused?”

         “Not if you taught them well,” Seokjin said simply. “You act like I’m going to hire some psychopath with no morals.”

         “You would if you thought that he was cute.” You teased, and Seokjin laughed. “My idea is that if I have to have another coworker, I want them to flow well in school.”

         “That’s why I’m including you in the interviews.” He said simply. “Because I know how seriously you take your job.” Seokjin saw you look down at your food, and he pointed to it. “I paid a lot for that, so you better eat and enjoy before it gets cold.” Glancing up at your boss, you smiled a bit, lifting your utensils as you finally cut into your steak and took a bite. Seokjin watched your eyes lit up as the tenderized meat entered your mouth. “See, told you.” He said happily. As you both continued to eat, Seokjin continued trying to ease your nerves over wine. You had to admit, it was kind of working. “I have a few people already lined up for interviews next week, scheduled once the school day comes to a close.”

         “Alright.” You said. As both of you finished up your meals, Seokjin lifted his wine glass.

         “You still don’t look too convinced about it all.” He teased, grinning playfully. You smiled, lifting your wine glass as well.

         “Maybe some dessert will help change my mind.” You teased. Seokjin’s grin widened, emanating into a fit of little giggles.

         “Wow, you’re a monster.” He said, and a grin formed on your face. You both clinked your glasses as Seokjin leaned back in his seat just slightly, turning his head to wave over the waiter and ask for some dessert menus. As the waiter left the table, Seokjin turned back to you, watching as you set your wine glass back onto the table, offering Seokjin one more smile. Despite still being hesitant about this whole event, you knew you had to at least be professional.

         Hopefully, the new art teacher would share that view.

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

         Taehyung had sent over all of the information to Seokjin after his phone call, and before he knew it, the interview was scheduled for that upcoming Tuesday, when the school day was over. The weekend went by pretty smoothly, spending lots of time sketching out ideas, even getting some well-needed break time by taking a night trip to Itaewon with Jimin and some of their old high school friends for some drinks. Monday was pretty calm as well, Taehyung spending most of it unconscious on his couch because he was up until 4 a. m. trying to transfer a new sketch onto a canvas. It was a pretty solid weekend.

         Then Tuesday hit, and nerves washed over Taehyung like a tsunami wave, swallowing him up under its merciless grasp. Taehyung knew how to handle his nerves, having to sell his art to whoever would even glance in his direction as he stood in the heat of small art convention, or graced the marble halls of a beautiful art exhibit. Those were some high-stakes moments that rattled his body was nervous balls of anxious paranoia, and that was being generous. However, for some reason, the idea that he was getting ready for an interview about an art teaching position where half of the kids barely know how to write their names, was even more terrifying.

         “Is it normal that I’m more nervous about this?” Taehyung called to Jimin through the other side of the bathroom door. He had just gotten out of the shower, and Jimin was helping him prepare before he had to hop in his car and head to work.

         “I think all interviews are nerve-wracking, Taehyung,” Jimin assured. “But you’ll be fine, just show them your art and be honest about yourself. That’s all you can do.” He could hear Taehyung snort.

         “Yeah sure. What am I supposed to say when they ask why I want the job? ‘I need money to fuel my hamburger and boxed noodle addiction?’”

         “…Yes, exactly.” Jimin teased, and Taehyung rolled his eyes. “Hurry up and come out here, I want to see what you’re wearing.”

         “What are you, my girlfriend?” Taehyung scoffed. “I picked the outfit out last night.”

         “Then put it on and come out here,” Jimin said, resting his back against the wall beside the bathroom door. He heard a deep groan of annoyance come from the bathroom. Only moments later, did he see Taehyung step out in what he picked last night. Not only was Taehyung’s hair still wet and messy from the shower, but he was wearing a pair of dirty, old jeans and a tee-shirt that had a myriad of colored paint on it, faded from the endless attempts to wash it out. Jimin blinked, staring at him in awe. “…Tae.”

         “What?” He asked.

         “You’re not going to wear that, right?”

         “What’s wrong with it?”

         “For starter, I think you have more paint on that shirt than you do in your paint drawer.”

         “It won’t wash out all the way,” Taehyung said.

         “I know you have nicer clothes than this. Don’t you want to make a good first impression?” Jimin crossed his arms.

         “I thought it made me look casual and relatively artsy.” Jimin pinched the bridge of his nose, the sigh of disappointment that he exhaled out of his mouth setting on Taehyung’s already heavy shoulder, adding even more weight and nerve onto it. “Jimin, I’m nervous, okay? This is my first real interview in forever. I picked this outfit out when I was half asleep at 4 a.m. last night, what do you want from me?”

         “Come with me.” Jimin took Taehyung by the hand and led him into his room. Taehyung put his hands in his pockets, watching Jimin fling open the closet and scan the row of clothing. Shifting some of the outfits around, he examined the selection with a critical eye. “I love you to death, Taehyung, but sometimes, you worry me.”

         “Thanks,” Taehyung grumbled. He watched as Jimin finally pulled out an outfit. A forest green button-up shirt, with some beige pants. Jimin carefully laid the clothes across Taehyung’s arms, which he quickly outstretched to accept the selection.

“Here. This is casual, yet still screams artsy. Wear that matching coat I got you for Christmas, maybe one of the millions of berets you have, and you’ll be just fine. And please, for God’s sake, throw out of the messy paint shirt.”

“Thanks…” Taehyung said, a bit more sincerity in his voice. Jimin smiled, patting his friend on the shoulder.

“Call me when it’s over, okay? I’m going to be late if I don’t go now.” Taehyung nodded, watching as Jimin exited the room at a quick pace. “Bye! You’ll do great. Fighting!” Jimin’s tiny little thumbs poked up from his fists, and he grinned a grin that made Taehyung chuckled a bit, before hurrying out of the apartment. Once Taehyung was alone, he glanced down at the clothes that were sitting in his hands. After a moment of just staring at them, as if somehow, they would magically jump onto him, he set them on his bedside and tugged his shirt off to change.

Taehyung had time before the school day came to a close. He lived only a short bus ride and few blocks walk away, so he was in no rush to get there. After changing into Jimin’s preferred outfit, Taehyung took the time to stare at himself in the full-sized mirror hanging next to his bed. The green top was a nice pop of color to the otherwise simple beige pants and coat. He took Jimin’s advice and used a beret because he loved them so much. He also found a pair of glasses on his nightstand, a round black pair that he slipped on. He turned his body side to side, hands stuffed in his pockets. Each swivel of his body allowed the coat to float up just a bit, and he got a good look at himself from more than one angle. This would do, much better than jeans and a messy tee-shirt. God, Jimin was just so good at this stuff, it was no wonder he got a degree in marketing. Quickly, Taehyung grabbed his phone and snapped a picture of him in his artistic outside, a selfie angled so that his face was exposed sure, but it was the outfit that he wanted to show off more. When he was satisfied with a picture, it was uploaded onto his Instagram with the caption: Got a lot of things going on today. Wish me luck. ^.^

Taehyung’s eyes wandered to his digital clock that sat on his bed. It was still very early, and Taehyung had time to kill before he had to go. Sighing, he slid off his coat and set it aside, plopping himself down on the bed and hoping to get a few more minutes of shut-eye.

Maybe it was because he was so tired, but the next thing Taehyung knew, his alarm that he had purposely set an hour before he had to leave starting blaring in his room, startling the poor boy upright in his bed. His heart was pounding from the sudden noise and he looked around, his eyes finally resting on the cell phone that was screaming for him to wake up at his side. Taehyung let out a deep sigh, slowing his heartbeat down as he picked up the phone. As he checked the time, his eyes widened. It was 2:30.

“I slept for another 8 hours, huh? Fuck, I must have been so out of it.” Finally stopping his alarm, a deep yawn took his place among the room before Taehyung slid out of bed. Walking over to his mirror, he grabbed his coat and slid it back on. He had to fix his glasses and grab the beret that had fallen off his head as he slept like a rock on his bed. He had to look at himself once more in the mirror, and let out another breath of nerves. Pulling out his phone, he headed towards the door. He had to collect his keys and wallet and slipped on his shoes. He was ready to go, exiting his apartment and closing the door behind him. Taehyung fixed his glasses and headed towards the elevator that led him out of his apartment. At the bus stop, Taehyung took a seat and rested his head against the glass, pulling out his phone and taking a few moments to scroll through social media. The first thing he noticed was a blow-up of notifications he had gotten, most likely for his most recent picture. However, he simply opened his notifications so the big red number would go away. A quick skim of what was written was enough for him.

Oppa you’re so handsome yet again! Be a model, be a model!

Taehyungie-Oppa, you look so chic! <3

Good luck today, Oppa! Your looks are sure to bring you luck!

The last one made him chuckle, but that was all that he needed to see, instead of resorting to his main timeline, where a sea of pictures flooded his phone before his eyes. His friends were still posting pictures they had found after their drunken stupor over the weekend. One of them showed Jimin, Taehyung, and two of their high school friends, Lee Taeyong, and Kim Jisoo. As Taehyung scanned the pictures of the four friends holding up beers, laughing, and exchanging their plates of food for the others to try, he thought back to the night.

“You’re going to try for a job as a preschool teacher?” Jisoo asked curiously, resting her elbows on the table as she looked across the booth at her friend. Taehyung set down his empty drink and shrugged.

“Is it so weird?”

“No, not at all. I think it’s really sweet.” She grinned, tucking her long, black hair behind her ear as she sat back once again. “You just don’t strike me as a preschool teacher type, that’s all.”

“That’s what I said. But Jimin said it was a good idea to try.”

“And he’s right.” Taeyong nodded, wagging his finger. He was already slightly tipsy, and the wagging of the finger proved that. A sly grin formed on his face and he pointed to the soju in the middle of the table. Jimin reached for it and offered to pour his friend yet another glass. “Worst case is you mess up the interview and come out still unemployed.”

“Way to bring up his confidence.” Jisoo glanced at her friend, shaking her head as he offered a dopey and slightly drunk grin. “What’s your experience with kids?”

“Not much,” Taehyung said, finishing off his drink. “But whatever, I guess a change of scenery can help inspire some new art pieces.”

“That’s the spirit.” Jimin and Taeyong said in unison, and Taehyung rolled his eyes, taking hold of the soju and pouring himself yet another cup.

“Well good luck. You’ll need it if you’re working with twenty kids. But I’m sure you’ll go great!” Jisoo said. Taehyung nodded, the duo clinking their glances in solidarity before throwing their drinks back.

Taehyung was quick to like all of the memories they shared days ago, then decided to pull up his profile. He had uploaded a single picture from that night, to which he received tons of comments about not only his appearance but the appearances of his friends. Just as he was about to put his phone away, the bus pulled up and Taehyung got out of his seat, strolling onto the bus and plopping down in the seat closest to the front as he could, resting his head against the window. As the bus began to pull away from the stop, Taehyung thought back to the good luck that Jisoo had given him in their drunken adventures, as well as the good luck comments that poked their way through in his social media.

Hopefully, my good looks will help me be lucky today. Taehyung thought to himself, an amused smile gracing his face as he waved the notion away.

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

The kids were getting all packed up for the day, hastily packing their belongings in the hope that if they did it quick enough, they would have more time to play on the playground before their parents came to pick them up. Hoseok was helping the kids prepare, and you were too, but your mind was on something else entirely. Yesterday was the first round of interviews, and after school, three lovely young women came in looking for the job. They chatted with you and Seokjin, show off their work, and one of them even had prior experience teaching children art. It was…less painful than you thought, but Seokjin had at least three more people expected to come by today, and you were just hoping that lack of pain would flow through the rest of the week. Just as you were trying to distance yourself from yet another headache, you saw Yeonjun, who was hastily stuffing his freshly dried artwork into his backpack. Walking over, you knelt and took hold of it.

         “Be careful, we don’t want to crumple it up now do we?” You asked. Yeonjun shrugged.

         “I don’t want it anyways. I’m just showing my mom.” You blinked, looking down at the cute little rainbow with cotton ball raindrops that you had the kids create yesterday. This was a project that you had thought the kids would like, since it wasn’t just construction paper and glue, deciding that the addition of cotton balls for clouds and rain would be an extra touch the kids might like. Based on Yeonjun’s treatment of the craft is similar to all the others recently, it didn’t seem to be the case.

         “I’m sure your mom doesn’t want to see it crumpled though, okay?” Yeonjun nodded, watching as you gently put it in his bag and zipped it up. “Now sit tight before we go outside.” The little boy nodded, slipping on his blue bag and plopping himself down in his seat, kicking his legs in eager anticipation. You got up, stretching your arms as you headed towards the front of the class again. You saw the students sit around their tables as they talked to their friends, excited to finish their school day. “Alright class, let’s head outside and wait for our parents, okay?” A collective cheer from the children roared throughout the room as the kids hopped up, hurrying towards Hoseok, who was standing by the door and gathering them into a single-file line. You began collecting your belongings at your desk, looking up at Hoseok as a grin on his face.

         “Alllllright!” Hoseok cheered. “Ready everyone?!” The kids cheered. “Alright little soldiers, let’s march!” The kids began to giggle as they followed behind their teacher, his exaggerated marching movements being mimicked as best as they could by the little ones. You watched him lead them out, little feet stomping and shuffling out of the room in glee. A chuckle escaped your lips. Just as Hoseok finished leading the kids away, Seokjin came in with a stack of papers in his hand, waving them to get your attention.

         “Ready?” he asked. “The first interviewee will be here soon, so get that smile on!”

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

         The sound of children screaming in the distance was heard. Taehyung looked up at the one-story building, the South Korean flag flying proudly on the top of the building. He could see a playground in front of the building, where children were running around in absolute glee. Some were jumping on the monkey bars, while others sat in the sandbox and played, and a group of small boys chased each other around, arms outstretched in the hopes of catching the other. Taehyung walked along the fence, fixing his glasses. As he got closer to the entrance, he saw a man most likely around his age, standing beside the monkey bars. He was watching the kids who were climbing onto it, holding his hands out to provide the kids with a safety net in case they were curious but scared. As his eyes continued to scan, Taehyung saw two other individuals standing at the door of the building. He saw them shifting through papers for a moment, the female looking up and looking around at the kids in her care. He noticed her eyes lay on him, and he shifted nervously as he stood by the front fence of the building.

         “Mr. Kim, he’s here.” You said, nudging Seokjin. He glanced up from the papers in his hands and saw Taehyung waiting patiently with his hands in his pockets.

         “Ah, earlier than I thought. I like that.” Seokjin glanced at you, smiling before making his way down the dirt path and to the fence. He saw Taehyung looking at his surrounding kids on the playground. Kids who were hurrying past him stopped in their tracks, curious as to the man. Was he a parent? A baby sitter? They weren’t sure, but he looked kind of cool. “Kim Taehyung?”

         “Ah uh, yes…” He said, his eyes focused almost immediately back on the man before him. “Hello.” Seokjin stuck his hand out to Taehyung quickly.

         “Nice to meet you. I’m the principal here, Kim Seokjin.” He saw Taehyung’s eyes looking around curiously, and he smiled. “I didn’t think you would be so early, the kids normally start leaving within a few minutes, so we tried to schedule a time that wouldn’t overlap with the kids leaving.”

         “Oh, do you want me to come back?” Taehyung asked. “I didn’t realize how close of a walk it was from the bus stop.” Seokjin smiled.

         “No problem. Let’s get this done. Follow me.” He led Seokjin towards the building, where he saw you kneeling beside a little girl with her hair tugged into a set of tight braids. Seokjin called your name, and you looked up, gently sending the girl off before smoothing out your skirt. “This is Kim Taehyung. This is our head teacher-.” Kim Taehyung offered a polite nod as Seokjin said your name. As he got a good look at you, his mind immediately flashed back to Instagram only a few days prior. A bright smile stretched between paint splatters; hair unapologetically messy, kids with emoji covered faces surrounding her, and a picture that held simple yet powerful memories of the previous school year. Now, you stood with your hair slicked back into a tight ponytail, a smooth skirt, and he could tell just by looking at you that you hadn’t had paint on your cheeks in forever.

She worked here?!

Seokjin must have noticed Kim Taehyung went tense for a moment, and patted his shoulder, making the boy look over. “Shall we?” He glanced Hoseok, who waved a hand, signaling that he had the kids. The sound of him calling the kids together to the middle of the playground was heard as Seokjin led both of you inside the building and into his office. He had set a chair beside his own for you to sit on, and another across the desk for the interviewee. Kim Taehyung looked around as he watched you and Seokjin sit down, Seokjin pulling out the paperwork Taehyung had sent over the email. “Hm, alright.” Kim Taehyung shifted nervously in his seat. “You know Park Jimin and Kim Namjoon, right?”

         “Oh uh, well not Kim Namjoon, but Park Jimin is a friend from school.” Seokjin nodded. Despite how nervous he was, Seokjin’s cool demeanor helped keep him calm.

         “He did a great job on our posters.” Seokjin pointed out, and Taehyung nodded in agreement. “So, tell me, what made you want this job anyway?” Right off the bat, the question he joked about but feared answering.

         “Well…” he sighed. “At first, I just wanted it because I don’t have a job right now other than a few social media sponsorships and occasionally selling some of my art.” Seokjin chuckled a bit, but you silently leaned back in your chair. “When I walked to the front and saw all of the kids playing around and having a good time, I thought it would be a nice change of scenery. Besides, I’ll show art to anyone willing to look.” He chuckled. “Even if it’s a few four-year-old.”

         “I see.” Seokjin sighed. “Have you had any experience with kids?”

“Other than my cousins, not really,” Taehyung admitted. “And a few kids that I see during small, local art shows, but those interactions are pretty brief.” Seokjin nodded, scribbling something down on Taehyung’s paperwork. They barely started and he was already writing stuff down?! Oh jeez, this was not going to go well.

“So, what kind of stuff do you want to do with the kids? Our teacher right now likes construction paper projects.” You glared at Seokjin for a moment, only seeing his gentle grin remain on his face.

         “Hmmm, well that sounds nice. I always think art can be done with more than just cutting and gluing. Paintings, sculptures, things that they can get a bit messy with. That usually makes the best art, in my opinion. Plus, I’m sure they would love it.”

         “How will you keep it from getting out of hand?” You asked quickly, and Taehyung blinked. “With the paint and the sculptures. This is almost 20 four-year-old’s we’re talking about. What do you have planned to keep them focused and not make to much of a mess?” Taehyung was silent for a moment, causing you to lean forward, folding your arms.

         “Well, isn’t that what you’ve been doing all school year?” he asked. You blinked, and Seokjin had to muster all his strength to keep his jaw from collapsing off his face. “If you did your job and taught them basic respect towards adults, then I’ll be sure to work hard and keep them on that track.” He nodded, offering a kind smile despite the shade he just smacked you in the face with. You felt your blood boiling, and you let out a slow exhale, nodding. You saw a boxy smile on Taehyung’s face as if he had just complimented you and was proud of it. Without another word, you leaned back in your seat. It only took a few moments for Taehyung to see the anger behind your eyes, and slowly, his boxy smile faded away, and he rubbed his legs a bit. Immediately, his eyes went back to Seokjin, who was struggling to keep a straight face.

         “Okay…” Seokjin choked out, grinning. “Uhm, you said you’re an artist, right?”

         “Y-yes.” He said.

         “Can I see some of your work?” Taehyung nodded, pulling out his phone.

         “I didn’t bring anything physical, but I post everything on social media, from sketches to the final product.” He pulled up his account and handed his phone to Seokjin. He watched you lean towards your boss, the both of you skimming through his profile. Immediately, your eyes shot up to Taehyung, and he jumped a bit at the sudden movement.

         “I knew you looked familiar.” You mumbled.

         “You know him too?” Seokjin asked curiously. “Why am I the only one who had to wait until now to meet him, he’s so handsome.” Taehyung offered a shy chuckle, his cheeks tinting a bit pink.

         “I’ve never met him before, Mr. Kim. I followed him on Instagram like a year ago. I saw his face on my timeline all the time but I never looked long enough to look at the handle if it was his face. Just his art…” Taehyung blinked, watching as you took the phone from Seokjin and continued to skim. “His work is pretty good but too abstract for preschoolers.”

         “I don’t intend to teach abstract painting to kids,” Taehyung said in an almost deadpan method. You didn’t respond, simply passing him back his phone. When he took it, he slid it into his pocket.

         “You’re talented, it’s amazing you said you’re struggling,” Seokjin said. “Don’t you agree?” He looked directly at you, and you glanced back at him. You sighed softly, nodding.

         “He’s very talented, but that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about the kids and what they’ll be getting.”

         “I already told you. I have cousins that are all under 13, and I’m always doing fun finger painting and sculpting, but mostly painting on canvases and they like it.” Seokjin smiled, leaning back.

         “Taehyung, are you willing to cooperate with this little angel beside me so that we have an easy rest of the school year? In reality, we want the same thing, and that’s for the kids to have a good time.” Taehyung nodded.

         “Yessir.” He said. “I want the kids to have a good time.” Seokjin nodded. Suddenly, Seokjin clapped his hands together loudly, making the both of you jump.

         “Excellent!” He said. “Well, Kim Taehyung, I have heard everything I need to hear from you.” He stood up, quickly extending a hand. Kim Taehyung followed suit, stretching his hand out and shaking it, as well as nodding his head politely.

         “U-uh, thank you.” He said. It was that short? He thought to himself.

         “You’ll be hearing from me soon, okay?” Seokjin assured.

         “Right.” He turned to you as you stood up, sighing softly. You fixed your hair, extending a gentle hand in his direction. “Thank you.” He said.

         “Thank you too.” You said gently, nodding your head. Kim Taehyung fixed his coat and sighed, nodding his head one last time before finally excusing himself and exiting the office. Once he was gone, you sank back down in your seat. “Thank God that was so short.”

         “You didn’t like him?” Seokjin asked, writing some more things onto Kim Taehyung’s paper. You glared at him in annoyance.

“Did you hear what he said to me?! He had such a bad attitude!”

         “Oh, he did not,” Seokjin said. “I liked his sass; it was kind of funny.”

         “You’re kidding right?” you asked. “I liked that girl Yenwoo from yesterday. She was a bit sassy, but she was extremely polite, at least more so than he was.”

         “Yeah, but Taehyung was pretty attractive,” Seokjin said. “I don’t know, there was something I just really liked about him.”

         “He’s an Instagram model, he’s probably superficial.”

         “I didn’t get that vibe.” You rolled your eyes. As Seokjin finished scribbling something down, he got up from his seat. “Let’s go check on Hoseok before the next person gets here, hm?”

         “Fine.” You groaned, getting up from your seat. You lifted your bag from the floor and watched as Seokjin headed out the door. Turning your head, you glanced at Taehyung’s paperwork that sat on his desk among all of the other files. You were curious about what Seokjin had been writing down.

         Very handsome.

         Hands-on methods.

         In the running for hire. Very interesting.

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[etherealwaifgoddess]

Maybe I Am? - Chpt.3

Characters: Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes

Summary: The guys meet up for a casual Sunday farmers market trip but when they get back to Bucky’s apartment things heat up fast. Master list HERE.

Content Warning: basic second base smuttiness; swapping hand jobs and some frottage.

Word Count: 5k

Author’s Note: Hello lovelies! I told ya'll there was gonna a lot of smut in this one and I'm starting to deliver as of this chapter :) So please, enjoy some lovely smuttiness on this fine Wednesday evening lol. XOXO - Ash

Chapter Three

“I told you so.” Natasha cheered over their plate of danishes the next morning. 

Bucky’s smile was sphinx-like as he nibbled on his pastry, “You did. I’m still not 100% sure he’s not going to just bolt at some point but I think that’s a risk I’m going to have to take.” 

“It sounds like a risk worth taking if one kiss has you smiling like that twelve hours later.”

“Ugh, Nat! And for the record, it was more than just one.” Bucky chuckled as Natasha shoved at him playfully.

Across town Steve was helping Sam tidy up in between classes and trying to avoid the grilling he knew Sam wanted to give. They had recapped the last class and personal training sessions and planned out the room for the next group coming in. They went over all the adjustments needed to the next week’s schedule since they were still covering for Thor who was out on paternity leave for the next four weeks now that his wife Jane had the baby. By the time they were setting the last of the kettle bells on the rack they had run out of gym related topics. Sam gave him another side eyed glance and Steve sighed, knowing what was coming.

“So are you still talking to Bucky?” Sam finally asked.

Steve had been reluctant to tell Sam about anything other than their first meeting. He hadn’t even told Sam why he’d bought the new outfit for earlier that week. It was still so new and he was unsure himself of where things were going, or where he even wanted them to go. He figured if in the end he realized he was bi or gay or whatever, then he could tell his friends. But until he was sure there was no point in announcing anything. “I am.” Steve admitted reluctantly.

“And how’s that going?” Sam seemed genuinely interested but Steve still clammed up.

“Good, he’s a good friend. We’ve been swapping memes all week.” 

“Nice. See, it all worked out and now you have someone else to send those stupid GIFs from The Office to.” 

“Hey, don’t knock one of the best TV shows of all time.” Steve glared pointedly.

“Whatever floats your boat, man.” Sam moved on, heading over to the desk to check the roster one last time before he started pulling out mats for their next class. A small twinge of guilt bit in Steve’s stomach, knowing he had let Sam make a wrong conclusion and hadn’t corrected him. But really, what was the point if he still wasn’t sure of everything himself? 

xxXxx

Bucky woke early on the Sunday after their date, restless in a way he hadn’t been in a while. He wanted to see Steve again but it had only been a day. Bucky busied himself with too much coffee and a book while he did laundry in his building's basement, trying to distract himself for a while. By 10am all of his standard keep busy chores were done and he was staring at his phone, trying to make Steve text him by sheer force of will. Giving up he started swiping through Instagram, catching up on his friend’s weekend adventures. Pepper had posted a cute picture of a bouquet she bought at the local farmers market and Bucky realized he had found the perfect reason to text Steve. It was innocent enough and casual so if Steve was busy or declined it wasn’t earth shattering. Plan in place, Bucky fired off a quick text.

Bucky Barnes [10:17:44AM]: hey u. im heading 2 the farmers market in sunset park. gonna stop 4 more of that wine. wanna come?

Steeeeve [10:19:23AM]: Hey! That sounds fun. What time?

Bucky Barnes [10:19:52AM]: headed over now if ur free

Steeeeve [10:20:08AM]: Okay. I just need to throw on some shoes and I’ll head out. I can be there in like 15min. 

Bucky Barnes [10:20:33AM]: k see u then

Bucky scrambled to fix his hair and pick a shirt from the pile he’d just brought up. He hadn’t expected Steve to be willing to meet up so quickly and he was still wearing his laundry day sweatpants. He was closer to the market than Steve but he also needed more time to get ready so he ended up getting a “I’m here” text from Steve on his way. 

Steve was waiting by a jewelry stand when Bucky caught up with him. He had been wandering around for a few minutes and the display of beaded bracelets caught his eye. They reminded him of the ones Bucky had worn when they first met and he wondered which ones Bucky would like. 

“Hey!” Bucky greeted him with a small wave as he approached.

“Hey.” Steve echoed happily. He almost reached out for a hug but something held him back and after a second ticked by he realized he should have just done it but the moment had passed. 

“What are you looking at?” Bucky asked, a little disappointed he hadn’t gotten their standard greeting hug and wanting to move on. 

“Oh, these things caught my eye while I was browsing.” 

“They’re nice. I love the way the translucent ones almost glow.” Bucky picked up one of the vivid pink ones, letting the sunlight hit it from different angles. 

“Let me buy it for you.” Steve offered before his brain caught up with his mouth. 

Bucky looked skeptically at him, “You don’t have to do that.” 

“I want to, please?” 

“Thanks, Stevie.” Bucky said softly, handing the bracelet over. 

Steve blushed at the nickname, ducking his head and walking over to pay the sales girl for the bracelet. Once purchased, he returned it to Bucky who slid it on his wrist next to the two others he was currently wearing.

“Perfect.” Steve praised. 

Bucky was looking appreciatively at his newest addition while Steve was looking appreciatively at Bucky. God, he was gorgeous. Bucky was dressed casually in light washed jeans and a dark grey shirt with no one should live in a closet written in fancy script with a wand below it, all in rainbow colors. Leave it to Bucky. “I like your shirt. Harry Potter reference, right?” Steve guessed.

“Yep. I found it at Pride last year and I’m completely in love with it.” 

“It’s very you.” 

“I’m taking that as a compliment.” Bucky preened for a moment. 

Steve chuckled, “Come on, let’s go get some coffee. Altitude Coffee has a little pop up shop back that way.” 

Steve and Bucky trailed their way through the bustling farmers market, picking up things here and there. Some they actually needed for groceries, but others were just fun impulse buys. They each had overly full canvas totes by the time they were done, and hauled their finds along with them to the wine shop. They each bought a full box from the shop, having stocked up on a half case of their favorites, which only further slowed Bucky down. While Steve had the muscles and endurance to haul a giant tote and six bottles of wine around the city, Bucky did not. 

“Uh, Steve.” Bucky panted out, finally giving up. 

Steve looked over and realized Bucky had fallen a few steps behind while he was talking about a winery he had visited while in Canada a few years ago. 

“I think I need to tap out.” Bucky admitted while shifting his bag as much as he could to get comfortable. 

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” Steve shifted his tote higher on his shoulder, wondering if he could sling Bucky’s on next to his. “Here, let me take your bag.” he extended a hand towards Bucky’s bag.

Bucky was conflicted, he wanted to try and at least get his stuff home but Steve probably could carry both without breaking a sweat. Damned muscled god of a man. “How about this? Since I’m the one wimping out, let me call us an Uber. I can probably get us one less than five minutes.” 

Steve frowned at the idea of an expensive ride all the back to Park Slope. “You don’t have to do that. I can carry our stuff.” 

“If I call us an Uber we could go back to my place and try that baguette and jam I bought.”

“Ooh, that’s a good bribe. I have that cheese I got too.” Steve looked at Bucky for a long moment. An afternoon of good food and even better company was too tempting to pass up. “You sure you don’t mind me coming over?” 

“Not at all. It’s a tiny little crap shack of a place, but it’s my tiny little crap shack.” 

Bucky was already pulling up the app and ordering them a car when Steve finally said, “Okay, let’s go.” 

The Uber ride back to Bucky’s place was barely more than ten minutes and they sat cramped in the back of a Prius with their wine boxes in the trunk and their totes in their laps. Bucky was trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness and shot Steve amused glances every so often, making the blonde have to tamp down his own laughter. By the time they got to Bucky’s apartment Steve practically leapt out of the tiny blue car, grateful to stretch back to his full height again. He insisted on carrying both of their totes and his box of wine bottles up to Bucky’s apartment, leaving Bucky his own wine to carry. Thankfully the building had an elevator and Steve seemed barely phased under the weight of all their stuff. Bucky tried to ignore the filthy thoughts racing through his head of what else Steve was strong enough to do. Like pick him up and fuck him against a wall. Or something. God, Bucky hoped Steve figured things out soon because he was barely through their second date and wanted to climb the man like a tree. 

“Home sweet home.” Bucky announced as he swung the door open to his apartment. He flicked on the recessed lighting in the living room and showed Steve to the kitchen where he could put their bags down. It was a cute little one bedroom apartment with a decent sized living room and dine-in kitchen. 

“It’s nice.” Steve said looking around as he placed their bags on the faux granite countertop. 

“It’s tiny but it works.” Bucky shrugged. 

Steve noticed the would be dining room area of the kitchen was set up with a desk and three wide computer monitors instead of a table. “That’s quite a set up over there.” 

“Oh, yeah.” Bucky looked embarrassed for a moment, “It’s a little ridiculous, but when you work from home it’s kinda nice to have a sweet setup. When I signed on to work for Stark Securities they gave me a signing bonus so I splurged and bought better equipment and that fancy office chair. It was completely worth it too.” 

“Good for you, you deserve it.” 

Bucky blushed lightly at the sincerity of Steve’s tone. He nervously spun the bracelet Steve had bought him around his wrist a few times, hoping he wasn’t setting himself for heartache. “So, lunch?” Bucky offered, the momentary tension dissipating. 

“Absolutely. Let’s break out that bread you got.” Steve started rifling through his bag for the soft cheese and candied pecans he’d bought while Bucky pulled out the heavy loaf of artisan bread, the little pot of homemade plum jam, and a bottle of Chloe Prosecco he’d bought at the wine shop. The bottle had been adorable with its fancy little bow and the sales girl had said it was a popular choice.

They laid out their feast on a large cutting board, teasing each other about how posh the whole thing was. It was a simple but seemingly elegant lunch spread and Bucky liked that their official second date had a bit of a classy feel to it. 

“I’m sorry I don’t have a table or anything for us to eat at.” Bucky waved his hand at his little office space. “I normally just eat on the sofa like a heathen.” 

“Honestly so do I.” Steve admitted with a chuckle.

“We can be heathens together then.” Bucky picked up their wine glasses while Steve carried the large tray out to the coffee table where they set up their feast. Flicking through his streaming channels he settled on Disney, knowing everyone loved those movies. “Have you seen the new Beauty and the Beast?”

Steve shook his head, “No, I heard it was good though.” 

“Good?” Bucky feigned offense, “Stephen Gilligan Rogers.” 

“Not my middle name.” Steve chuckled but Bucky was undeterred.

“BATB is not good. It is iconic. The elaborate costumes, the backdrops, the music, oh my god Steve, the music. We’re watching it. End of subject.” Bucky started up the movie, not even slightly apologetic for his dramatics. One had not lived until they saw Emma Watson as Belle. 

Two hours later Bucky was curled up against Steve, watching with misty eyes as the palace furniture turned back into real people as the curse lifted. Steve was completely engrossed in the movie, barely registering that he had been stroking Bucky’s hair for the better part of an hour. 

“Now do you see?” Bucky demanded as the credits rolled a few minutes later. 

“You were right. That was amazing.” Steve conceded. 

“It was always my favorite Disney movie as a kid but seeing it redone in such a perfect way really gets to me. I’ve threatened to dress up as Belle for the past three Halloweens now.” 

Steve grinned at the idea, “I think you’d make a beautiful Belle.” 

And just like that the air shifted. Bucky was suddenly very aware of how close they were curled up together and the way Steve was looking at him like he’d hung the moon. He didn’t want to rush Steve, he was willing to wait as Steve figured himself out, but if he kept looking at Bucky like that, his timeline needed to hurry up. “You’d make a very handsome beast.” he finally said, going for levity but falling short. 

Steve blushed so prettily, his eyes locked on Bucky’s lips, the bottom of which he was chewing on again. Steve knew now it was a nervous tell and it gave him a little thrill knowing he wasn’t the only nervous one. “I think I’d like to kiss you again.” he admitted quietly. 

“You don’t have to ask, honey.” Bucky purred, leaning in to press a tender kiss against Steve’s lips.

Steve’s body was shaking with nervous energy as Bucky shifted up onto his knees so he could kiss Steve easier. Bucky tasted like wine and plums and something very uniquely him. It made Steve’s head spin as he chased Bucky’s tongue with his own. The fears and worries over what he was doing died away in that moment, his whole being consumed by his desire for the sweet man who was practically in his lap. Steve still wasn’t sure what it all meant, but he knew he wanted more. 

Bucky was so thankful for a repeat of the night on Steve’s couch. Kissing Steve was electric and Bucky couldn’t get enough. The hard planes of his body pressed firmly up against the softer ones of Bucky’s, which only made Bucky more desperate for the close contact. Despite having a thicker build, Bucky felt small next to Steve and he loved it. Feeling brave, and praying desperately that Steve wouldn’t bolt, he swung a leg over Steve’s lap and sat himself atop Steve’s thighs. “Is this okay?” he asked once he was settled. 

“Yeah.” Steve shuddered, “Yeah, it’s fine.” Steve let his hands come to rest on Bucky’s thick thighs on either side of his smaller ones. While Steve’s thighs were hard with well earned muscle, Bucky’s had natural musculature and a softness to them that had Steve wanting to sink his fingers into their plush expanse. Bucky had gone back to kissing him while his mind wandered and Steve decided to give Bucky’s thighs an exploratory squeeze. For science really, just to see if he would feel anything. The kissing so far had been fantastic but Steve worried they’d eventually hit a point where everything went to hell and he realized he was most definitely straight. And then he’d lose Bucky forever. 

Bucky made a light huffing sound when Steve sunk his fingers into the soft meat of his thighs. He was thankful Steve was getting a little braver and decided to run his hands up and down the length of Steve’s ridiculously muscled chest and stomach in a tentative exploration of his own. 

A choked noise made its way out of Steve’s throat as Bucky touched him with feather light hands. He wanted to rip his shirt off and give him all the access he wanted. But he was taking things slow, Steve reminded himself. Unfortunately, not all parts of Steve got that memo. 

Bucky had shifted a bit trying to sprinkle kisses along the sharp edge of Steve’s jaw when he accidentally brushed against an unexpected guest. “Oh, shit, sorry.” he blurted out, moving back an inch so he wasn’t pressed against the, frankly enormous, erection in Steve’s pants. 

Steve blushed from the tips of his ears all the way down his throat. “No, I’m sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.” 

Bucky glanced down at the tenting of Steve’s pants. Damn, he wanted to get his hands on Steve like yesterday. “I could, uh,” he cleared his throat roughly, “help you. With that.” Steve looked at him with wide bright blue eyes, so open and unsure, that Bucky started backpedaling all in a rush, “Or not, we can stop. We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.” 

Steve just grinned and leaned in to kiss Bucky again, his motions almost questioning. “I think I’d be okay going a little further this time.” he said quietly against Bucky’s mouth. 

Bucky squeaked involuntarily at Steve’s words. He was now dealing with his own growing problem at the idea of getting to fool around a little with Steve. “If you’re sure. We can stop at any time.” he promised. It would probably kill him, but if Steve said stop at any point he would be off him in a second. 

“I trust you, Buck.” Steve told him, brushing a strand of hair back behind Bucky’s ear. 

Bucky wanted to melt at the trust Steve had in him. He was too good to be true and Bucky just had to hope it would all work out. Gay or straight or somewhere in between, Steve Rogers was an absolute dream partner. Bucky shifted himself forward a little so the hard length in his pants could rub against the one in Steve’s while they kissed a little more. Bucky let his hips rock a little as they moved, giving them both a little bit of tortuous friction. 

Steve was panting like he’d run a marathon, and he knew this from personal experience when he and Sam had run the New York City Marathon a few years back as publicity for their gym. He’d never thought making out on a sofa would have quite the same effect but life had been full of surprises for him lately. The friction against his dick felt amazing and there was a naughty little zing of arousal knowing it was from Bucky’s erection rubbing against his. He would never have expected to enjoy that so much but there he was, fighting for self control like a horny teenager. He wanted to get Bucky off too and not just selfishly sit back and let Bucky take care of him. Steve was well acquainted with getting himself off and really how different could it be doing it to someone else? He was feeling bold and brash, knowing a hand was just a hand and really he had to start somewhere. “I think I’m ready for more.” he spoke up in between heated kisses. 

Bucky paused, jaw hanging open in shock. “Like, more more?” 

Steve nodded rapidly. “Like second base more?” He held his breath, waiting for Bucky to process what he’d just asked for. 

“God,” Bucky heaved out a breath, “You’re gonna be the death of me. Yes, second base, yes. Get those pants off, Rogers.” He stripped his own shirt off eagerly while Steve just sat there, amused.

“I kinda have this gorgeous guy on my lap at the moment.” he teased.

“Sorry!” Bucky yelped, hopping up so Steve could pull his pants down and off, quickly followed by his tee shirt. He sat in just his boxer briefs on Bucky’s sofa, looking like every Calvin Klien ad fantasy Bucky’d ever had come to life. “Jesus.” he whispered harshly. Bucky couldn’t get his own pants off fast enough, leaving him in his own silky boxers to resume his perch on Steve’s lap. 

Unconfined by pants Bucky got a better feel of Steve’s cock and he was thanking every saint he could think of for what was about to happen. He shifted himself closer to Steve, his thighs spreading wider, and he reached down to give Steve’s cock a tentative squeeze over top the soft cotton of his underwear. 

“Ohh.” Steve gasped out, his body trembling once again. His eyes were glued on Bucky, not wanting to miss a moment. He was so handsome sitting on Steve’s lap. His long hair shining in the afternoon sun that flooded in the glass balcony doors, his lightly tanned skin decorated with a series of finely detailed tattoos. While his muscles weren’t hard and cut like Steve’s, Steve loved the slight softness of the other man’s body, giving him something to sink his fingers into along his sides. It felt nice, and right, and Steve realized in that moment he was more invested in what was about to happen than he had been for most the sexual encounters he’d had with Peggy. It was startling but Steve pushed it down to deal with another day. In the moment, all that mattered was Bucky. 

“Can I?” Bucky asked, trailing his fingers along the waistband of Steve’s boxer briefs. 

“Yeah. Can I?” Steve echoed, tugging at the silky material at Bucky’s hip. 

“If you’re sure.” Bucky prayed silently that having an actual cock in his hand wouldn’t send Steve running for the hills. 

But it didn’t. Steve pulled his underwear off when Bucky hopped up to do the same and he was all nervous excitement when Bucky resumed his perch. He hadn’t thought of what to expect but Steve was blatantly staring at the thick length of Bucky’s dick. It was shorter than his own, but Steve had already known he was considered a bit above average, and it was girthy in a way that made Steve wonder if he topped or bottomed. Because, Steve thought with amusement, these were things he had to consider now. But not right away. They would take things slow and he would see if this was even something he wanted to try. Steve reached out a hand to test the weight of Bucky’s dick in his palm. He slid his hand up and down for two quick strokes, testing how doing that made him feel and was pleasantly surprised that it was a pretty familiar act. The way Bucky hissed out a sharp breath and craned his neck back, eyes shut tight, made Steve’s own dick jump for attention. Oh, this was kind of fun. Steve moved his hand for another few stokes, enjoying the way Bucky’s body reacted so blatantly to the pleasure. It was easy to get him worked up like that and Steve was genuinely enjoying himself watching Bucky become a desperate, needy thing in his lap, thrusting a little into Steve’s fist. 

“God. Fuck. Stevie, slow down.” Bucky pleaded. “I wanna take care of you too, honey. Can I? Please?” 

“Okay.” Steve acquiesced, bracing himself for the pressure of Bucky’s hand around his dick. 

Bucky eagerly wrapped his fist around the hard length of Steve’s cock, sliding it up and down the impressive length until Steve gasped. He leaned forward to kiss Steve from his jaw down his neck to his collarbones while he groped him fervently between their two overheated bodies. For as simple as it was, it was absolutely exquisite. “How you doing, Stevie?” Bucky prompted, wanting to check in to ensure Steve was still on board. He rested his forehead on Steve’s shoulder, waiting patiently for him to respond.

“So good.” Steve managed to moan out. “This is amazing.” 

“Wanna try something even more amazing?” Bucky grinned devilishly. “Just hand stuff, promise.” he added for reassurance.

“What can be better than this?” Steve questioned but motioned for Bucky to go ahead with whatever he had in mind.  

Carefully, Bucky shifted forward one last time, pressing as close to Steve as humanly possible making his over stretched thighs burn in the process. He slipped his hand from Steve’s cock and lined it up with his own, wrapping his fist around them both the best he could. He gave them a quick stroke, reveling in the sensation and waiting to see if Steve would enjoy it too. 

Steve’s whimper was a good sign. “Please.” he begged, “Please, please do that.” 

Bucky picked up the motion again, rhythmically pumping them in his fist. Steve was making little broken ahh sounds, unable to keep up with the pleasure thrumming through his body, and it spurred Bucky on to bring them both racing towards their release. 

Steve could feel the pressure building, his body was on fire and he could barely bite out a warning to Bucky as he felt his orgasm ripping through him. A half formed “I’m g-” was all the warning Bucky got before Steve was spilling all over his hand and cock. Watching Steve come undone, the pure bliss on his face, had Bucky following him over the edge of his own climax seconds later. His body shook hard as he spilled over his hand and across the rippled muscles of Steve’s abs. 

Steve’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes shining, and Bucky mused he probably looked about the same. Steve was so stunning sitting there with a wide, lazy blissed out smile on his face. Bucky giggled a little realizing how incredibly lucky he was. Steve really was just perfection. 

“What?” Steve asked, joining in Bucky’s infectious laughter. 

“You’re perfect.” Bucky admitted, speaking what was on his mind. 

“And you’re beautiful.” Steve leaned up to push Bucky’s hair back where it had fallen forward in his face. He pressed two chaste kisses against his lips before pulling back, feeling a little extra affectionate in his post-orgasmic haze. 

Bucky made a muffled mmph sound, leaning into Steve, just wanting to be close for a moment. “We made quite a mess.” he said finally, the squidgy feeling of their come between their stomachs not exactly a pleasant one. 

“We should clean up.” Steve agreed. 

“Come on, I have some wet wipes in my room.” Bucky lifted himself up off of Steve’s lap, suddenly cold without their skin to skin contact.

Steve noticed his shiver and as soon as he was standing, he pulled Bucky close against him in a warm embrace. 

Bucky basked in the warmth, his brain effectively turning to mush again at how sweet Steve was. “You spoil me.” he whispered against Steve’s firm pecs.

Steve dropped a kiss on top of Bucky’s head, “You deserve to be spoiled.” 

It took every bit of willpower in Bucky to pull back and lead Steve down the hall to clean up. He could have stayed wrapped in Steve’s arms forever, sticky cooling mess on his stomach be damned. They exchanged quick, adorably awkward glances at each other as they cleaned up. Both wanting to get a more detailed look now the heat of the moment had passed. Steve tossed his wipes in the wastebasket by Bucky’s dresser and then pulled Bucky close by his hips, “You really are so beautiful, Buck.” he told him softly.

Bucky had been careful to wall up his heart when he decided to give Steve a chance. He didn’t want to risk another heartbreak less than a year after what he’d been through with Brock. But Steve’s sweet words and affectionate touches had the walls crumbling a little despite Bucky’s best defenses. “Careful.” he teased with a pang of truth to his words, “You’re gonna ruin me for all other men, you keep this up.” 

Steve chuckled and kissed the top of Bucky’s head yet again. There were so many things he wanted to say in that moment. Raw, honest things that ached in his chest. But Steve kept them inside, not willing to let down his guard so completely just yet. He still didn’t really know what he was doing but damned if he wasn’t loving every second of it so far. 

“Come on you, let’s get dressed.” Bucky said finally, tugging Steve’s hand into his and leading him back down the hall.

Steve left shortly after they’d redressed and cleaned up the mess from their lunch. It was a long, drawn out goodbye in the doorway, neither one of them really wanting to part despite knowing they both had to get on with their usual Sunday routines. Steve promised to text Bucky once he’d made it home, insisting he would have no trouble carrying his tote and box on the subway. And then he was off down the hall, looking back just once before he got on the elevator and wishing he could have stayed. Bucky walked over to his glass balcony door, watching the street below as Steve crossed it heading toward the nearest subway station. He was trying not to get too attached but after the day they’d spent together, Bucky knew it was a losing battle.

[dippedanddripped]

Eric Emanuel lives and works in New York’s Garment District, not too far from the factory where he makes his eponymous label.

“I set my whole life up here,” he says. “I live here, my office is here, the factories are here, and I get to see the madness all day.”

The madness occurs every Friday, where Emanuel releases a small drop of products on his website, where they usually last about a few seconds before selling out, much to the chagrin of his hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers. His line consists of many sportswear staples that characterize other independent streetwear labels: hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants, and even some thermals in the cooler months. But the one thing he’s absolutely nailed? It’s gotta be the shorts.

Indeed, whether it’s solid colors or out-there prints that range from florals, paisleys, or an insane print of the New York City skyline, Emanuel has become synonymous with some of the best above-the-knee knickers on the market. And unlike the other New York Knickerbockers, Emanuel’s shorts have been big winners for his brand. In the past couple of years, he’s gone from hometown hero to global collab king, working with beverage companies like Mountain Dew, sneaker companies like adidas and Reebok,  and now the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team on an array of covetable gear.

Emanuel’s personal uniform usually consists of a pair of his popular mesh shorts, a vintage tee, and a Yankees fitted. As a flex he’ll finish off the fit with a pair of his collaborative Reebok Club C sneakers, one of many models he’s done with the Boston-based sportswear label. But he’s also open to stepping up his game by switching it up with a pair of Gucci loafers, a clear co-sign of a trend that’s been spotted on Instagram. Then again, as Emanuel points out, part of the fun about his flagship product is it really isn’t that serious.

“I think that’s why the shorts have been such a success, because it’s not binary in the sense that you have to wear them in a certain way,” he says. “Wear it however you want, it’s a pair of mesh shorts.”

The king of shorts took a break from running his kingdom to talk about his rise to success, how he found his lane, and other project he has in the works. Ironically, it’s kind of a long story.

Where are you from Eric?

I’m from Syracuse originally, and then I moved here eight or nine years ago to go to FIT for marketing. Towards the end of my senior year I started making jerseys, and ended up running with that.

When did you start your label?

When I was getting out of school I didn’t want to go work somewhere, so I sort of just maneuvered — I was paying to make product off my credit card, I’d then move that balance to another card just waiting for that moment when a product would sell and I could pay the bill. Betting on myself, knowing some day it would work.

When does your shorts story begin?

The shorts would have been three years ago I think. I started with a heavier short — like a very traditional basketball short from Mitchell & Ness. But theirs wasn’t really what I wanted to wear. I didn’t like the big waistband; I didn’t like the weight. So I switched to something that’s practically my lacrosse short from high school — a very basic single layer short. That’s where I found success, but even so I would say it took until the end of last summer for it to really catch fire.

It seems when you do a drop every Friday it sells out instantly. Is that exhilarating or frustrating?

It’s frustrating. You would think that you’d be so excited to sell your product out in a day, that it should be this harmonious moment. Unfortunately, you have to deal with everyone who’s upset they didn’t get it. So I’m trying to find a balance of fulfilling the demand and going a little beyond it.

I had no idea this sort of “cozy revolution” would’ve taken over. Everything I’ve released over the past two months was made in the winter. The quantities were super low and it sold out way too fast. Then we had to stop making shorts for about two months and wait for New York to become a bit safer. It’s been a whirlwind.

How else has Covid-19 affected your business?

I pulled everything forward because I didn’t know where the economy was going. I didn’t know what was going to happen. And it sort of backfired in the sense that I ran out of product, and it wasn’t safe to continue making more until a month ago. That’s when we really hit the ground running. Everyone’s hungry to work, but it was very difficult to figure out how to do it in a safe manner. Now, whatever is made this week is being sold next week. And I’m very lucky that since I make the product in New York so I can sort of schedule it that way. In an ideal world, we would be six weeks ahead.

It’s pretty ballsy to call your product “The Best Shorts in the World,” but there it is printed on the packaging. What separates your shorts from others on the market?

I focused on a product that not necessarily everyone cared about. People would run shorts here and there, but it was never their core item. Instead of starting with a T-Shirt, I went into a market where there was less competition figured out how to own that. Why is it the best short? I think it’s because it’s essentially your favorite short, but a bit elevated. It falls little bit above the knee, you can size up if you want it to be baggier, and it just wears well.

There’s something for everyone. I personally like solid colors, but a lot of people love the patterns. The patterns tend to be motifs that I relate to at the time — sort of where my head’s at. I have an infatuation with rugs, so we ran with it. Luckily others seem to love rugs as well, because they’re probably the top pattern this season.

Speaking of balls, is there a recommended shorts-and-undies combo for maximum breathability?

Uniqlo Airism boxer briefs! I have such an appreciation Uniqlo basics. I’m there like once or twice a week.

At $98 a pop, that’s a good chunk of change, but it’s also not egregious. How do you justify that price?

I think $98 is a price most people are comfortable with given that they’re made in New York. If I had to wholesale these shorts, the retail should be at least $150 or $160. The fact that I do direct-to-consumer allows me to keep it at $98. At the end of the day, it’s not necessarily a “luxury product,” it’s a made-in-the-USA basketball short. It’s important to note that it’s made in New York and all the components are sourced from the United States. I get comments all the time of people saying: “Oh, he’s selling a pair of $10 shorts with a logo on it.” That’s not even close.

It’s expensive to make things here, but the craftsmanship speaks for itself. To speak on the process a bit: The mesh arrives; it’s sent to a cutting room; after that they’re sent to be sewn; a truck grabs them and takes them to be screen printed; another truck grabs them to where they’re steamed/pressed and packaged; and finally they’re shipped.

How does it feel to see people reselling your shorts?

I don’t think there’s a right answer for that. It’s a good feeling to know that your product’s in demand, but I’m also like: “Gee, I wish it went to the people that actually want it.” It’s frustrating when I see it on Grailed or eBay. People have commented that they wish I would do a pre-order so I can meet the demand, but I’m an instant gratification shopper — I want what I bought ASAP!

Beyond shorts, you’ve also done collaborations with New Era on caps, and kicks with both adidas and Reebok, how would you describe the EE signature touch to these products?

The partners I work with are all brands I grew up with. For the most part, I want all of the product I touch to remain as classic as it should. I may throw in my favorite “EE Pink” — PANTONE213C – the color blocking of the original product remains intact.

You’ve also got this 76ers collab coming up, right after another iteration of Iverson’s sneakers. Is it weird to be making basketball shorts when there hasn’t been a season until recently?

I always go back to one thing: Allen Iverson was always number one on my mood board. The recent collaborations are truly a dream come true. The lack of games hasn’t affected my desire for shorts — I love shorts with or without basketball, and whether it’s summer or winter. It’s exciting to see things kicking off this weekend though!

What other collaborations are you cooking up?

The Reebok Club C-EE is up next! My favorite shoe to date: an easy, everyday wear. It’s the first shoe I’ve done that my Mom and Dad can wear often, [laughs] that makes me so happy.

In the past you’ve experimented with fabrics like mohair, leather, and bouclé, both on shorts and sweatpants, is there a dream material you haven’t worked with yet?

I really love cashmere. Cashmere shorts would be amazing, but that seems like a pretty standard answer — so maybe GORE-TEX? That, and and more waxed canvas.

[joeydaccord]

hi! how did you make you banner i love it!! :)

thank you! i’ll give a detailed rundown under the cut! i was actually in the middle of making a new header when you sent this, so good timing!

a quick explanation is that i cut out an image, paste it onto a fresh canvas, edit to my desire, and then use a gif overlay on top to give that snow effect!

so i’m going to explain this in as much detail as possible to try and make it as clear as possible, so hopefully this will be useful no matter how much PS experience one has! i used photoshop cc 2017 to make this! i’ve learned ps pretty much through just trial and error so if i do things weird, im sorry sdklfjdslk

start:

the first thing i do is open a blank document in PS sized to the tumblr header size which is 640x360 on mobile, you can size up if you want, but just keep the ratio the same!

player image:

so first i grabbed a picture, and for this i prefer pictures where the player(s) is(/are) isolated, and it’s even better when there’s not much going on behind them because it makes it much easier to cut out the part you want!

the picture i used for this is from this post on the yotes instagram!

next, i open this up into PS, so i have both the photo and the blank canvas (red arrow) open. the blue arrow points to where you can change workspace presets to allow different tools onto your workspace. i’m currently using the photography preset, but will eventually switch to motion later on.

now i begin cutting out my player. there’s multiple methods to do this and each once has it’s pros and cons. the quickest way for me is not necessarily the best way, but it does what i need it to do, especially when the item to be cut out is isolated in front of a quiet background. i use the quick selection tool to quickly select the area i want with a larger brush, and then i go in with a smaller brush size to clean up the edges and details.

when the option with the plus is selected you are grabbing more area, and when the option with the minus is selected you are are deselecting area. the 22 highlighted above references the brush size, the appropriate brush size, or what is “big” or “small” will depend on the size of picture you’re working on so just play around with what you’re comfortable with!

nick is selected, as you can see below, with the line around his body. this is not quite as careful as i would be if i was actually making this for someone to use, but for demonstration purposes it works. you can zoom in further and use the smallest brush size possible and really be careful cutting things out. you can zoom in but uping the number at the bottom left handside of the screen!

once you have everything selected, right click and choose layer from copy which will create a new layer with just the area you have selected.

now i turn off the layer with the full picture, leaving only the layer i just created. to do this, click the little eye next to the bottom layer on the right hand of the screen, as seen below.

now you’re left with a transparent player to work with! this is where i do any coloring i want to do as well, so i will quickly do that. i am not great at this part so i will just recommend looking up coloring tutorials if you want more specific help here, or just mess around with different adjustment layers which is what i do lol. once it’s colored to my liking, i merge the layers together, making them into one layer, which means the coloring won’t impact any layers below it once i move it to the canvas where we’re actually going to create the header. you do this by selecting all the layers (ctrl + click all the layers or shift + click the top and bottom layers to select them all), and then right clicking and selecting merge layers from the options.

assembling the image:

now im going to work on the base of the header, or basically the rest of it except for the moving bits! what i want to do here is move the player image over the header canvas, resize the image, decide on the color of the background, whether i’ll use any other images or textures, etc.

first i’ll think about my background color of choice. a lot of people use the color that they use for their mobile blog on here, or something complimentary or matching their accent color, etc. i really like a simple clean look so i used a white background for this header because i think it makes the image itself pop and allows the accent colors on my blog to also pop because i use white as my main color on my blog.

if i wanted to use another color, i normally pull from some part of the image i’ll be bringing over. for this i’d use the color dropper tool (see below), clicking on color on my image i want to use.

then i’ll pull up the color boxes in order to create a custom color from that color (click define custom colors), and then you can mess around with by clicking different boxes on the color scale along the right side of the panel below, or if you want an unrelated color, click on parts of the entire rainbow scale thing. once you have a color you like, selected add to custom colors and you can work with it. i create a new blank layer and then use the paint bucket tool to color it in. this is where you could also use gradients to jazz up the background a little too.

now i’ll drag my player over into the header canvas. i do this by click + dragging the layer from the right side over to the tab of the header canvas until the screen changes over to that workspace and then i drop the layer onto the canvas.

and

now nick is over on the blank canvas but as you can see, he needs to be resized. so i ctrl + t, which allows me to transform his layer (make sure you only have the layer w the image selected on the right hand side layers panel). i hold down the shift key (this keeps the ratio true) and begin to make him small by dragging the arrows. make sure you do not let go of the shift key too early or it will fuck up the image and make him too long or too wide, etc. then i hit enter, and it completes the transformation. i then drag him to wherever i want him.

now that he’s resized and where i want him, i mess with the blending options to blend him into the background more pleasingly. now this really isn’t gonna look good since i was so sloppy cutting him out earlier, but just mess around with it until you get something you like. you do this by right clicking on the layer you want to blend and then selecting blending options. i normally do a drop shadow and maybe some other stuff, but i find this changes depending on the image, background, colors, etc.

there’s a lot of stuff you can do here, with the different options and the different settings for each one!

gif overlays:

now it’s time to add a gif overlay which i how get the snow falling effect. there’s multiple posts with these kinds of gifs out there, i’ll be using one from this post (method one) and one from this post (method two). neither are the one i used when i first made this header but i cannot find the one i used then; the principles still apply. now is the time to either add the timeline to your workspace, or change it to the motion preset.

on the timeline section at the bottom of the page, there should be a create timeline animation button, click that.

as with gifs from videos, there’s multiple ways of making these gifs. i’ll run through two here.

method 1: this is the method i used when i first made this header!

if you use a gif overlay, and it comes with frames, create as many frames as that gif comes with to then copy those frames onto. open your gif and see how many frames/layers. this one has 29 as you can see below. 

now click the little button with lines at the top right corner of the timeline. it looks like this.

next click select all frames from the menu that pops up, and then select that menu again and click copy frames. now go back to your header and create the frames i talked about earlier, you need 29 (or whatever it may be for your gif). do this by selecting the button below, located along the bottom of the timeline. do this as many times as needed until you have enough frames.

now select all the header frames once again and go back to the menu where you copied the frames and select paste frames this time. a menu will pop up, and choose paste over selection. this will match up the frames/layers so frame one of your header will match with frame one of the gif. adjust the gif size if you need to, once again using ctrl + t, and make sure you still have all the layers selected and that you are still on frame 1. also make sure you move these layers under nick in the layer order.

now adjust the frame rate. this will depend on your tastes entirely so test it out. my go to frame rate is 0.05 for everything i do pretty much, as a baseline, and then i adjust from there. to do this, once again select all your frames. next, click on one of these little carots, select other, and input your frame rate in the box that pops up.

method two:

this method is when your overlay comes in timeline form (idr what it’s called) instead of frames, looking like this.

drag the layer from the layer panel onto the header canvas, just like we did with nick earlier. make sure it goes under nick in the layer order. adjust the size if necessary, still using ctrl + f to keep the shape. make sure to click this button at the bottom left corner of the timeline to convert the frame into a timeline.

now, make sure to drag each layer to the same length, aka whatever length the gif layer is. make them match!

changing the color of the overlay:

this works with either method above! create a new layer and fill it with the color you want the snow to be. place it below everything except the background layer. add a gradient layer on top of the gif layer. right click on this layer and click create clipping mask. this is what my layers look like, i don’t normally label them but hopefully this is clear.

open the properties panel for the gradient map and make sure this gradient is selected and is black and white.

finally, change the blending to lighten on the gif layer! this should do the trick!

final touches:

i like to kind of have my header melt into my blog color, so i like to kind of transition the bottom of my header into whatever color my blog is. to do this, i use a multitude of methods. for this header in particular i used the eraser tool + a textured kind of fan brush to swipe back and forth creating the half erased look at the bottom. the setting seen below are probably similar to what i did when i originally did this header!

again, this is something that you can play with a lot yourself, especially by downloading brush packs and seeing what cool textures you can create.

saving:

to save, file > export > save for web

make sure you select “forever” and not “once” so that the gif loops!

original:

gif method 1:

gif method 2:

(ignore how this is also different i had to remake it once again bc i didn’t save it lmaoooooo)

[annepanman]

gif tutorial for anon!

hi everyone! an anon asked me about how i sharpen my gifs and i got a bit carried away in my answer so i decided to just turn it into a tutorial oop. 

disclaimer: i’m still a beginner, so some of the stuff i do might be a bit weird! also, two of the “tricks” i use i did not come up with/figure out on my own, i linked to the posts of the original creator’s in the step. 

so my settings do vary for each gif, but in this tutorial i just go through all the general steps i use for each gif i make, so hopefully it’s at least a bit helpful to someone!!! there’s a lot of images bc i’m a visual leaner so sorry if you’re not!!!🥺

for this tutorial you will need: 

- photoshop + basic photoshop understanding. - a way to download videos.  - patience with my ramblings. - i think that’s it?

ok here we go!!! so.

step one: the first thing you do is find the video you want to gif. i’m gonna do this one:

i use clipgrab to download videos of the youtube, which i downloaded for free from right here.  i haven’t gotten a virus yet, so it seems safe. it works for youtube videos and instagram videos, but not twitter videos or vlives. 

there’s also Y2Mate which is online and does the same thing, but i think for only youtube videos - i also can’t completely vouch for it because i’ve never used it, but i think it should work just fine! you can find it right here.

IMPORTANT - make sure that your video is as high quality as possible. you can either change that on youtube by clicking on the gear in the play bar (right next to cc box). usually videos are automatically set to 720p, which is pretty good, but i like to bump it up to 1080p when there’s the option to! note: clipgrab usually does this automatically for you, i’m not positive about Y2Mate and other online converters. 

step two: copy the link into your converter. make sure that the quality is where you want it, then hit “grab this clip” or “convert” or whatever the prompt is and it will download onto your computer. save it wherever you want to that you’ll find it, i usually just save it to my desktop so that it’s right there for me. 

step three (optional): i like to crop the video down and do a primary editing on imovie just so it’s easier to manage when making the gifs. this step isn’t necessary, but if you have imovie or another video editing app, i would suggest it!! (you can also slow down the video here if it’s too fast to make a good gif!)

here’s a before and after shot!

for me, i literally just click the “magic wand” or “auto-adjust” tool. but you can already see it makes a big difference! 

so now i also use iMovie to crop down to the gifs i think i want to use. it makes things easier to be precise when using photoshop. 

step three and a half: export your new mph. once again, make sure the quality and resolution is bumped up to your liking!

step four: so now it is time to use photoshop! open up a new document. you can set it to whatever dimensions you like, i typically prefer 500x281, but it doesn’t actually matter because it will automatically resize to the size of your video lol. anyways, once you have your canvas open, go to file -> import -> video frames to layers. 

depending on if you have more than one gif in the movie file, you can either crop it down or just import the whole thing. since i have to gifs in this file, i’m going to crop it. 

step five: okay, full credit to this life saving post for the next step!!!! i was stumped on how to edit all layers of a gif at once for quite a bit of time, which is why some of my earlier gifs are a much crustier looking. anyways, op explains it much better than i ever could, so i would suggest just reading their tutorial for this step!!!

step six: so now that you’ve combined all your gif layers into a smart object, it’s time to edit them!! the adjustments i typically mess around with are image -> adjustments. i almost always adjust the brightness/contrast, vibrance, hue/saturation, and selective color. i don’t have specific settings for these (sorry if that’s not helpful!) because it really does depend on each individual gif! sometimes my adjustments are drastically different for gifs from the same video!! i’m perfectly happy to help troubleshoot for specific issues if you need help, but it’s hard for me to give a blanket tutorial for this part :)

also remember to not whitewash poc when adjusting the settings. please don’t do this!!!! it’s also possible to correct whitewash w/photoshop, so just fool around on the settings until the subject’s skin tone is what it should be. 

step seven: after adjusting your gif to your liking, now it’s time to actually sharpen. for steps 7 through 10, i use a trick from this amazing post to sharpen! so now that you’ve adjusted all your layers, do control/command click on the layer and choose duplicate layer. this will make a copy of the edited gif. 

step eight: on the original layer, go to filter -> sharpen -> smart sharpen. once again, every gif is different so depending on the size and quality of your gif, the sharpen settings will be different. the larger the gif is, the more you can sharpen it, which is why i like to wait until the end to resize it!

step nine: on the copied layer go to filter -> blur -> gaussian blur. again, the amount of blur will depend on your gif. this step just smooths it out. don’t worry if it looks blurry, because it’s supposed to! after this, still on the copied layer, go to filter -> sharpers -> smart sharpen once more. 

step ten: cool! now you’re going to lower the opacity of the copied layer! i usually put it at about 30 percent!

step eleven: go to file -> export -> safe for web (legacy). this is were the resizing goes! so for this particular gif, i didn’t have to crop it or anything. so the only think i do to resize it is make it 500x281. this size usually ensures it will be small enough to upload to tumblr, and it is a ratio of most standard sized videos so it works perfectly!! 

and voila! 

i’m so sorry if that was very long and/or hard to understand!!! please feel free to ask any clarifying questions!!

[houseofvans]

SKETCHY BEHAVIORS | INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIE SHINN

With the sharp-edged graphic feel, high contrast color palette, and a modern twist on traditional Hawaiiana, artist Christie Shinn’s paintings offer a fresh interpretation to life in Hawaii. Her beautiful works have not only appeared as a Vans shoe design, but also as the artwork for the Vans 2013 Triple Crown of Surfing event. Not only one thing, Christie is also the art director and collaborating artist at Surfer Towel, where her two towel designs will be released this summer.  Find out more about Christie’s artwork, inspiration, and favorite collaboration by taking the leap below! 

Photographs courtesy of the artist. | Portraits by Joel Terron Photography

Introduce yourself?   My name is Christie Shinn. I’m a resident of the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  I’m Canadian but I’ve called Hawaii home for over a decade. 

What kind of work do you create? What medium and what would you say it is about?  I work in acrylic paint on canvas, wood, leather.. really, anything the paint will stick to.  

I’d say the style of work is a modern version of traditional Hawaiiana (Hawaii-inspired art/craft).  

I taught myself to paint, and my favorite art at the time was early skate graphics and silkscreened concert posters so I think there is a sharp-edged graphic feel to my work because of that.  I like to go high contrast with color and pick subjects that are a little off-typical.  I live in a place that is so familiar to people all over the world, even if they’ve never been here.  I feel like it’s my job to find a fresh interpretation of life in Hawaii. 

How did you start from doodling and drawing to what you do now? Where did your love of drawing and creating stem from?  My grandma taught me how to paint when I was a kid.  I remember being fascinated with making marks on a canvas. It starts off blank, then it’s something and each choice is totally up to you.  Some are good choices, some aren’t, but they’re all yours.  I still love that about making art.  I get to sit at my easel and create a thing that did’t exist before I thought of it.  So cool.  

Who and what were some of your early artistic influences?  My favourite artist as a kid was Henri Rousseau who created massive tropical themed paintings, even though he’d never been outside of France. He created an entire lifetime of artwork exploring his tropical fantasy world.  His work is so weird and wonderful.  

When I started getting serious about art, my absolute favourite artist was (and still is) Andrew Pommier.  I love his characters, I love his style.  I feel like I can look into the eyes of one of his characters and see an entire backstory.  One of his pieces is on my studio wall for both inspiration and as a barometer for my own work. Even though we have different styles, I try to make sure each new piece that leaves the studio is worthy to be hung next to the Pommier. 

What are some things that inspire the drawings you make now? What are some of your favorite things to draw? What about them makes them something you just find yourself re-creating or re-capturing over and over again?  I’ve spent a lot of years living on the North Shore of Oahu and about 4 years ago I met my boyfriend who lives on the South Shore. His place is an hour drive , and it’s like a whole new island visually.  The colors are different, the ocean is different, the sunsets…everything is new and fresh.  I think a lot of my work over the past 4 years has been inspired by the contrast between the two shores.  

Take us through your artistic process? What’s a typical day in the studio like? I wake up at 7:30am, get some cuddle time with the cat, make coffee and wait for my assistant to come over.  He packs orders while I paint. Usually a friend drops by at some point because I live on a property with several houses and my neighbours are all friends.  If it’s a surf day, we break for a surf.  The afternoon is a mix of planning out new pieces, answering emails, prepping orders and generally taking care of the business side of art.  I’ll do an evening beach run if I’m feeling energetic.  Watch the sunset.  Usually with a beer.  After dinner, I’m back at the easel until about midnight.  Nighttime is my favourite time to paint because there are no distractions. 

I always take weekends off to maintain the work/life balance.  It can get obsessive, especially when I’m struggling with a piece.  Mandatory time off helps me reset.  

What art tools will we always find in your creative space? Is there a medium you want to try that you have yet to get your hands on?  I keep it pretty minimal when it comes to materials.  I have one large brush for lay in, 3  flats and 2 liner brushes.  I always have several blank canvases hanging at all times.  Since inspiration is hard to control, I think the key is to be ready for when it strikes.  

I’ve always been fascinated with screen printing.  I’d love to dabble in that one day.

What’s been one of your more rewarding collaborations or projects? What about it was so rewarding? What would your dream collaboration be?  I first worked with Vans in 2013 as the poster artist for their Triple Crown of Surfing event here on the North Shore.  I did a bonus design that they turned into a limited edition capsule collection. It was on button up shirts, bags, hats, towels.. I didn’t know any of this until I opened up the box of samples. It was so unexpected, I actually teared up a little. What a crazy feeling to see your art on a Vans product.  That moment really made a lasting impact.  After that, I started to really believe it was possible to have a career doing something I was good at and that I loved.  I owe a huge debt to the Vans design team of ’13.

A few years later I got to collaborate with Vans again on a shoe design for the Japan market.  It was my favourite collaboration to date because they let me customize everything: the shoe, the insole, the box and even the tissue paper!  

A few months later I’m in Tokyo doing a signing event next to a wall of my shoes.  It was surreal.

I think my dream collaboration would be collaboration shoe for Vans USA. I love to hand-paint Vans and I have a couple favourites from the hand painted series I’d love to see as a production shoe.  Also, the Japan sizes were so small I never got a pair I could actually wear myself! 

What do you do when you’re not drawing or working on projects?  When I have a lot of down time, I love to travel. Japan is my favourite destination right now.  When I have a little space in the day, I’ll log some hammock time, go for a surf, run, take photos…not in that order. 

What’s the art community like where you are? What kind of avenues are there for artists in your area or is it more of a DIY type of thing?  Hawaii is a great place for artists.  We have a lot of galleries, local shops and businesses that feature the work of local artists.  There are so many interesting opportunities outside the gallery scene too. For example, some big hotels in Honolulu have been doing rebrands over the last few years and nearly every one has hired a local artist to help refresh their look.  There is also a lot of love for Hawaii in Japan which has lead to some really cool collaborations between local artists and Japanese companies.  It’s a really great place to be an artist because there is no one measure of success. There are so many ways to have an art career here. 

What’s your art tip that you want to share with folks?  I try to keep the usual stuff in mind as I work: contrast, energy, balance.  If there is a lot of warmth, add a splash of cool. If you go high-detail, balance it with some negative space. Dark/light etc… 

My favourite pieces are the ones that still have the energy of the first strokes when they’re finished.  Overworking is so easy to do.  I try to take breaks and walk away or put it away for a while. I usually have several pieces going at the same time for this reason.

What are your favorite style of VANS? My favourite Vans are Slip-Ons.  It’s customary to take your shoes off outside of homes and some offices in Hawaii. I take my shoes on and off a lot in a day so the slip-ons are the way to go.  Also, they have more surface area to paint on, so they get an extra point for that as well. 

What do you have coming up that you can share or are super stoked about?  My newest collaboration is with Japanese airline ANA and LeSportsac.  I created a series of bag designs for LeSportasac that will be available exclusively on ANA flights.  I’m on my way to Japan in May for an art festival so I’ll actually get to see the bags on the flight.  

I’m also pretty stoked on 2 new towel designs I have coming out this summer for Surfer Towel.

FOLLOW CHRISTIE | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM 

[flashhwing]

daylights and midnights and cups of coffee

pairing: DonnaKory summary: Donna, a down-on-her-luck photographer, is looking for a new roommate; Kory, a popular model, is looking for a place to live.  It's a match made in heaven, right? please check the notes for ao3 link

Donna was going to need a new roommate.  Which was a shame, really.  She was starting to truly enjoy her newfound freedom after finally kicking Kyle out of the apartment (a whole month after they broke up, too; it was about time), but.  Well.  Two bedroom, two storey walk-ups in lower Manhattan didn’t exactly come on a bartender’s paycheck.

Stupid artist Kyle and his need for a whole-ass bedroom for “studio space.”  He could’ve just set up his easel in the living room.  They could’ve saved so much on rent.  But no, he just had to insist.  And now he’s fucked off and saddled Donna with this extra room.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of an extra room must be in want of a roommate.

(Okay, maybe she could get a new apartment, but she quite liked this one.  It had granite countertops, and good water pressure, and four cabinets in the kitchen.  That was three cabinets more than her friend Roy had in his East Village studio.)

“Roy only has one cabinet?”

“That’s beside the point!  I need a roommate, and I really don’t wanna look on Craigslist.”

“Hmm.”  Dick sat on the customer side of the bar, wearing a thoughtful expression and brandishing an almost-full pint of Sam Adams in one hand.  Donna didn’t like where that was going.  Dick’s ‘thoughtful looks’ usually ended in spectacularly bad plans and possible bodily harm, and if he spilled that beer it’d be hers to clean up.  Unfair.  The bar wasn’t even open yet.

“Don’t give me that ‘hmm.’  What are you thinking?”  Please don’t let her regret asking.

“Well.  You’re in want of a roommate, right?” Dick raised one eyebrow.  “I happen to know a fantastic lady in want of a room.”

How weirdly and coincidentally helpful of him.

“Sounds perfect,” said Donna.  “What’s wrong with her?”

“What’s … wrong with her?”

“Yeah.”  Donna shrugged.  “What’s wrong with her?  Why doesn’t she have a place to live?”

“Uhh, nothing?  She’s new in town, just moved from LA.”

“Ohhh, so she’s one of your celebrity friends?”  Dick had a habit of befriending celebrity-adjacent people.  He was Rich (with a capital R), and hung out with models and musicians and people who worked on movies.  People on magazine covers.  He had VIP passes to most of the clubs in Midtown because he knew the owners of most of the clubs in Midtown.  

Really, some of Dick’s acquaintances weren’t the sort of people who’d give a down-on-her-luck bartender the time of day.

Dick rolled his eyes.  “I guess you could say that.  She’s great though: she’s fun, she’s down to Earth, she’s stylish – just your type!”

“My type?”

“Of friend!  She’s your type of friend.”

Donna didn’t sigh, but it was a close call.  “That’s great, but it doesn’t tell me anything.  Is she clean?  Is she loud?  Sounds like money’s not an issue, but is she responsible?”

“Yes to all of that.”

“Loud isn’t a good thing, Dick.”

“Okay fine.”  Dick shrugged and leaned back.  “If you can’t accept that one flaw, I guess you’ll have to just find some schmuck off Craigslist.”

“No, it’s.”  Donna groaned.  “It’s fine. What’s her name?”

“Kory.”

She’d heard that name.

“Kory.  You don’t mean your ex, Kory?”

“Is that a problem?”

Donna pinched the bridge of her nose.  “Why are you trying to set me up with your ex?”

“Hey, not all exes are created equal!” Dick said, maybe a little too quickly.  “I know you’re still reeling from Kyle, but Kory’s not some slack-off jerk-face like him.  Promise.”

“Well, if you promise.”

Dick tilted his head pointedly.  “Oh, come on.  We broke up like two years ago and I’m still friends with her.  That should be recommendation enough.”

“That doesn’t mean much.  You’re friends with all your exes.  Roy … Babs …”

“Yeah, coz I don’t date assholes.”

Donna narrowed her eyes.  What happened that patented Dick Grayson charm?  Or was that reserved for strangers and reporters, old friends be damned?

He must’ve seen the look on her face, because he quickly tacked on, “Too soon?”

All he got in response was a small hmph.

“Sorry.  But seriously, why are you being so resistant?”

Why was she being resistant?  This was good, technically.  She’d spent the last two weeks asking around for friends of friends of friends who were possibly looking for a place to live, with no luck.  And here Dick was, suggesting someone who definitely (probably?  How much did models make?) had enough money that rent wouldn’t be a problem.  Someone he knew and held in high regard – and as much as Donna liked to tease him, Dick was a good judge of character.  Kory should be, more or less, a perfect roommate.  So, what was Donna’s problem?

Maybe it was that she’d met Kory once and could say, without exaggeration, that she was the most intimidatingly beautiful woman Donna had ever seen.

Not that she could say that to Dick.

“I’m not … I’m not being resistant,” Donna said.  “Go ahead and give her my number.  Have her call me if she’s interested.  And either drink that beer or get out, we’re opening.”

Dick slid his glass across the bar and hopped off his stool with a mock salute.  “Knew you’d give in.  See ya tomorrow, Troy?”

“Later, Dick.”

Kory moved in two days later, on a Friday.

It wasn’t like Donna hadn’t met Kory before.  She had, once, during her senior year of college.  It was at some Wayne Enterprises banquet she had to attend for her scholarship.  Dick had introduced them, and Kory had told some story about her sister and an angry pelican, and Donna had walked away from the encounter with a general feeling of holy shit.

But that was two years ago, and even the memory of holy shit wasn’t enough to prepare Donna for the sight of Kory Anders, popular instagram model, standing in her living room with two suitcases and a hairless cat.

She just seemed so … out of place.  Donna’s apartment wasn’t bare by any means; there was a couch, a tv, curtains on the windows, and even some of Donna’s prints framed on the wall.  She had a rug on the floor and a blanket thrown over the couch.  It was all very tasteful – and of course it was, having housed pair of artists for nearly two years.

The apartment could be a Renaissance painting, all soft light and muted colors.  And there Kory stood, with her dyed pink hair and flagrantly purple, sleeveless blouse.  Like one bold, bright stroke of paint right down the center of the canvas.

And wow, Donna really needed to get Kyle out of her head.  She was a photographer, not a painter, dammit!

“Your home is lovely,” Kory said with a small smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes.

“Thank you,” Donna replied.  “Here, let me grab one of your bags.”  They were both lime green, but otherwise mismatched.  One was a large, hard-shelled roller, the other a half-sized canvas duffel bag.

Most of Donna’s accessories were black (or at least very dark jewel-tones).  Black was practical.  It went with everything, didn’t stand out, never looked dirty … an all-around useful color, really.  

But all of thirty seconds in Kory’s presence, and Donna thought she could stand for more greens or purples or pinks in her life.

Best not read too much into that...

She led Kory to the spare room and gestured around.  “So this’ll be your room.”

Kory looked around, humming appraisingly.  She let the cat jump out of her arms, and Donna gave it a wary eye.  The apartment was pet-friendly, and Kory had assured her that Silkie (seriously, the cat’s name was Silkie) was house-trained, but Donna had never lived with a cat before.  She was more of a dog person, herself.

Plus his wrinkly, pink skin was a little off-putting.  Still, she supposed he was cute in his own sort of disgusting way.

“What are those?”  Kory gestured with her chin towards the ceiling.

Donna looked up and grimaced.  “Yeah, those.  This was Kyle’s studio and he wanted, uh, glowy stars?  For some reason?  I haven’t been able to get them down, sorry.”

“That’s fine.”  Kory said airily.  “It adds a bit of whimsy.”

Donna thought Kory probably knew a lot about whimsy.  Amazingly, the thought wasn’t in her judgemental voice.

“I don’t have a bed or any furniture for you,” Donna said, eyeing the two (only two?) bags Kory had packed.  “Do you …?”

“I’ll have to purchase them,” Kory said.  “I left everything in LA and only brought what I need.”

“Sounds expensive.”

“You can always find cheap furniture,” Kory said as if it was the simplest fact of life.  “I find it easier to replace things than to try and carry them everywhere.”

“Not me, sister,” Donna said, leading Kory back out to the living area.  “That couch is staying with me ‘till the day I die.”

Kory looked at the couch with an inquisitive eye as Donna ducked under the counter separating the living room from the kitchen.  The couch wasn’t anything special, Donna knew – not even a full set.  Just a loveseat and an armchair, both a deep red color.  They weren’t overstuffed, but they weren’t threadbare either.  Overall, it was an exceedingly average couch.

“Does it have some sentimental value?”

“Nope.”  Donna emerged with a three-quarters full bottle of Chianti.  She popped the cork and poured two generous glasses.  “I just like the color red.”

Kory smiled.  It pulled one corner of her mouth higher than the other and made her eyes soft.  Donna smiled in kind and handed her a glass.

“To new roomies,” Donna said, raising her glass.

“To new roomies,” Kory repeated, clinking her glass against Donna’s.  As she took a sip, Donna couldn’t help but notice the wine matched Kory’s lipstick.

A thought occurred to her.

“Hold up.”  Kory stopped, glass still held to her lips.  Donna put up her thumb and forefinger, framing Kory’s face between them  “Stay right there,” she added with a grin.

Kory seemed to catch on as Donna ran to her room for her camera.  Dick must’ve told her Donna was a photographer.  

It wasn’t like she was a professional or anything.  Well, technically she was, had a degree and a practice and all, but mostly she did shoots for senior photos or family portraits or whatever.  She’d tried to do freelance for some magazines, but apparently nobody was interested in pictures from some no-name bartender in New York.  Something about them being a dime-a-dozen.  Even attaching her name to Dick’s (he offered) hadn’t done the trick.

Not that she was giving up.  She still sent out her portfolio and did interviews every chance she got.  She had an instagram with a decent following.  It just … wasn’t enough to live on.

Hence the bartending.

“So where do you want me?”  Kory was perched on one of the kitchen stools when Donna came back out.  Her legs were crossed and she held her wine glass delicately in the air, elbow resting on the counter.

“Right there, actually.”  Donna grinned.  She hadn’t worked with a subject who actually knew what they were doing since college.  This was going to be fun.  “You don’t mind, do you?” she added as she flitted around the room, adjusting the lights to be soft and flattering.

“Oh, not at all,” Kory replied.  “I was actually going to ask how much you charge.”

“How much –”  Donna stopped in her tracks.  A popular model wanted to pay her for her services?  Usually she had random strangers trying to get her to work for free.  “Well, I was gonna give you the friends and family discount.”

“And how much is that?”

“Free.”

Kory’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.  “Free?  Donna, do not undersell yourself.  Everyone else will.”

Donna snorted.  “Ain’t that the truth.  But no, this is just for fun.  Call it a bonding exercise or something.  Besides, I’m not gonna charge you when you haven’t hired me.  You don’t even know how good I am.”

“Dick showed me your instagram.  I may be just a model, but I know good art when I see it,” Kory said with a wink.

“Oh, Miss Anders.”  Don’t blush, don’t fucking blush.  “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“Will it now?”

“You know it.”  It wasn’t what Donna wanted to say, but she didn’t want to scare Kory off ten minutes after meeting her.  “Alright so … look at the door.”

“What’s my mood?”

Donna considered for a moment.  “You’re on a blind date set up by your best friend, and it’s going great.”

Kory’s demeanor barely changed.  Her posture straightened, her fingers curled a little looser around her glass, and her eyes seemed almost imperceptibly brighter.

“Are they funny?” she asked.

“Mm … they’re witty.”  Donna snapped three shots in quick succession.  “You’re vibing pretty hard.”

“Are they pretty?”

“Just your type.”

Two more shots.  Kory sucked in her lips in what might’ve been the most adorable expression Donna’d ever seen a person bear.  She took three more shots.

“Are we coming back to my place after?”

“Uh … you might wanna buy a bed first.”

Kory threw back her head and laughed.  There.  That was the energy Donna wanted.  She took five shots before Kory turned to look at the camera.

“I think we’re gonna get along splendidly, Miss Troy.”

Donna didn’t bother holding back the grin spreading across her face.

“I think you’re right, Miss Anders.”

[istheresomebodywhocanimagine]

Hi!! I saw you were still doing ships and was curious who you'd see me with out of Queen and the Bo Rhap cast. I'm a Korean girl with straight, dark brown shoulder length hair with bangs and blackish, dark brown eyes. I'm pretty short at 5'3 and I love music (mainly classic rock) and art. I play violin, piano, and dabble in guitar, and I love drawing and photography. Btw, I absolutely adore your blog and writing! Looking forward to your new posts! Much love xx

hiiiii THANK U FOR THE LOVE ahhhh!!!

i had some trouble deciding between two of them for the queen ship but i think i’m just going to choose one and go w it 

ships r below the cut :))

For BoRhap, I ship you with Gwilym Lee!

Yes, yes, the height difference, I know! 

But I think that Gwilym would absolutely adore the height difference just as much as he would adore everything else about you.

Gwilym is 100% the type of boyfriend that is posting videos of you noodling on the guitar, or just idly playing tunes on the piano. But the reason you two had met was because of your photography.

He was looking for some new pieces to put up in his home, and had heard there was going to be a sort of freelance art market happening downtown, and your photography/artwork had caught his eye first. But when he looked up to see who was behind the stall’s table, he suddenly turned into a blundering schoolboy with a hopeless crush again.

“Beautiful work,” he’d commented, making you smile as you came around the table to see which piece he was looking at. He easily towered when you got next to his side, but it didn’t seem to bother either of you as you smiled up at him, receiving a charming smile in return.

"Thank you! Which one is your favorite?”

“I think I favor this one the most.” He pointed to a beautiful landscape photograph you’d blown up onto a bigger canvas, watching as you scanned it for a moment, familiarity running through your eyes. “The color is phenomenal.”

“That’s one of my favorites too. I have it hanging in my apartment,” you’d replied, looking up at him again and admiring the way he was so responsive to all of your words, right from the jump. It showed you he was listening, and it was rare to find a man at these markets that absolutely respected your craftsmanship and didn’t try to mansplain your own work to you.

“Oh really? Where at?” Gwilym asked, intrigued that you both found a favorite in the same piece. His eyes twinkled with curiousity, and you found that your heart was racing as you raised an eyebrow at him teasingly.

“That’s quite a personal question to be asking before you even get my number first.”

He began to apologize profusely, his cheeks turning pink as he smiled sheepishly. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy! I was just looking for some work for my house and-” 

“I’m just joking, no worries,” you giggled, giving him a gentle nudge. “I know these things can get a bit stuffy and seem too serious, so why don’t I do this?” You walked back around the table, pulling out one of your cards before uncapping a pen and and writing a note on the back, then handing it to him. “If you’d like to buy the print, here’s my card so we can talk more about sizes and pricing.”

Gwilym smiled as he took the card, putting it in the breast pocket of his button up as he chewed on his lip, trying to single out whether you were flirting or not. “For business discussions, right?” he asked, although the way he smiled said otherwise.

“Oh, absolutely,” you agreed with the same smile, and then you were off to talk to a new possible customer as Gwilym walked away, reading the note you’d left on the back of your card along with your cell.

It’s above my piano, if you’d really care to know. :) xxx-xxx-xxxx

Once you two had finally started dating a few months later, Gwilym found any excuse to make you play the piano. Sometimes, he actually even pretended he wanted you to give him lessons, which consisted more of you playing and Gwilym watching you with complete ardor in his eyes.

“Wait, I missed that last part - play it again,” he’d insisted one time, smiling sheepishly as you rolled your eyes playfully at the obvious attempt to get you to play again so he could record it.

“If you miss it one more time, you’re in trouble, mister.” With that, you restarted the brief piece you’d just played, Gwilym sneakily holding his phone up to record you from over your opposite shoulder while your fingers moved expertly over the keys, not missing a single note. 

When you finally stopped and realized it wasn’t just his hand on your other shoulder, you laughed and grabbed at his phone, which he retracted quickly and shoved into his pocket as you wrapped your arms around his neck, trying to stop him from running off. But he easily just pulled you up off the bench with him, and you had to ride all the way over to the couch dangling off of him and laughing.

Finally falling back on the couch, he landed with a small ‘oof’ as you fell on top of him, giggling. “I ought to get you for that one, Gwil.”

“You’re too cute to be threatening,” he murmured, giving you a wide grin before quickly kissing your nose. Your hair fell down over his face just slightly, so he tucked it back behind your ear as you tried to look grumpy with him, failing miserably.

“You’re too cute to be mad at, that’s so annoying,” you sighed dramatically, moving down a bit to rest your head on his chest as you pouted. But Gwilym’s hand running back through your hair soon made you forget why were were upset with him, and you were about to ask him if he really wanted to learn piano when an Instagram notification popped up on your phone, making it buzz in your pocket.

Pulling it out of your pocket, you saw Gwilym had tagged you in something, and you opened it to see the video of you playing, the ending showing you laughing and grabbing for the camera before it went dark.

“You turd!” you gasped melodramatically, pretending to pin him down as you attempted to look as mean as you could. “I’m going to get you for that one for real this time!”

But Gwilym’s hands quickly subdued you when they went to your sides and started to tickle relentlessly, his lips matching the frantic pace of his fingers as he peppered kisses all over your face, making you squeal and giggle in pure delight. 

For Queen, I struggled between Roger and Brian, but I officially picked Roger Taylor! 

Although I think you would fit just as well with Brian, I wanted to pick Roger for the reason that I think you have some similarities, but you possess differences that would make a perfect pair that learns from each other!

Seeing your similarities with Brian, I actually think that you would originally meet Roger through Brian. We’ll say that you helped Brian on his solo project, and when Roger needed some help on his concerning some keyboard parts, you were the first person Brian recommended.

What Brian didn’t count on was Roger pretty much stealing you from him - as soon as you two met, you hit it off, and you spent more and more time around Roger, which took away from the time Brian usually had to shoot the shit with you and smooth things over after studio hours. 

But when he saw the way you were around each other, Brian seemed not to mind as much anymore.

“Oh, that was beautiful! Play that again, and put a little-” Roger made a gesture mimicking a slam of a single chord, “at the end, to round it off.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Piano Expert,” you teased, and Roger laughed as he waved off your playfully patronizing of him. Brian was watching from one of the chairs in the booth, where he was fiddling with a guitar that Roger needed him to play a few riffs on for one of his songs.

Brian couldn’t help but notice the way Roger watched your face instead of your hands when you played. Sure, he glanced at your hands every once in a while, but he was increasingly focused on your impressions as you played, and when he realized that Brian had noticed, he sent him a quick middle finger behind your back while you began to finish up. 

When you played the single slam chord to end it, Roger cheered, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek before starting to babble on about how he couldn’t wait to hear your parts on the songs after final production.

When final production had actually taken place and they had their end product, Roger invited you over to his place to take a listen. 

So you curled up on the couch together, listening to his album with a bottle of wine and a Polaroid camera, which you kept taking pictures of Roger with. Although he was no stranger to the lens, he kept insisting that you should be the one in front of the camera, not him. To keep him from stealing the camera from you, you’d sat at the other end of the couch.

“Oh, you’re full of it,” you laughed, raising the camera to your eye before taking another pic and pulling it out once it had dispensed fully. Climbing to your feet, you sat the camera down carefully before you tiptoed over to the drawers on one of his cabinets, setting the photo in it and closing it so it could develop properly. 

Before you turned, you could hear the familiar click of the shutter and the grin on Roger’s face when you turned said it all as he sat the camera back down, then stretched out on the couch with the developing photo. “I bet you look so cute in it.”

“I bet it’s blurry,” you teased, coming back over and crawling back onto the couch with him, letting him curl up around you and grabbing your glass of wine again as he did so. “Could be a bum shot.”

“Oh, it was definitely a bum shot.” You groaned as you realized the double meaning too late, and you reached back to give him a very gentle smack on the shoulder as he cracked up at himself, making you roll your eyes playfully. 

He got comfortable as he wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you close while occasional chuckles still shook his body. “You are something else, Roger.”

“It was funny, admit it,” he giggled gleefully, pressing kisses to your shoulder as he went back to listening to his album, rubbing circles on your tummy with his thumb. “You love me.”

“If you say so.”

“Hey!”

[thedepthsremember]

Maxwell x MC (Riley)

Fill for a prompt from  @nazari-oh​! This was an idea I’d had vaguely floating around for a bit, so thanks for kicking me into actually writing it. [AO3]

--- 

Maxwell returns from Ramsford late in the afternoon. Normally Riley would have gone along, since neither were exactly happy about being apart for the longest amount of time (two whole days!) since, well, they’d met, but they had just gotten excited and bought a bunch of paint to redo a few rooms in themed colors, and when it came down to it, they decided at least one of them had to be there to personally execute their vision.

Anyway, he was back now, and was currently wandering the halls in a desperate search for his wife (his wife! Still a wild concept), who wasn’t in any of the places he’d expected her to be.

He was just about to give up on surprising her and pull out his phone to call her when he turned down a new corridor and found a door open to a room they didn’t normally use. When they’d returned after the wedding and run around deciding what rooms would be for guests or kittens or wall-to-wall pillows, Riley had fallen in love with this room on first sight, quietly requesting it remain unused for now. It was a medium-sized sitting room, its biggest feature the floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of light. He’d been crazy curious, but she’d promised to explain once she’d figured it out herself. 

He pokes his head in to find his wife seated in front of an easel. 

“Hey! There you are--”

There’s an unholy shriek and the next thing he knows, whatever she’d been holding is flying towards him with great speed. Fumbling, he eventually manages to catch it, but not without getting his hands and shirt splattered in… green paint. He’s holding a paintbrush.

He looks up at Riley, bewildered. She has her hands clasped to her mouth and is staring at him, eyes comically wide.

Luckily, Maxwell Beaumont has had much stranger things thrown his way with even less preamble. “So,” he begins, attempting to wipe the paint off. “Last you told me, you were repainting the ball pit room?” It’s just smearing all over his arms. He gives up. “Now I’m no artist, but I am at least 87% sure that means the paint belongs on the wall, not on me.”

She crosses the room to him, looking sheepish. “I am so sorry…”

“...Or on your face,” he laughs, using the back of his hand to scrub at the multicolored smears she’d left across her jaw.

She shakes her head, trying not to smile. “Aw, geez… Don’t bother. It’s oil paint, it’s not going anywhere.”

“Well--” he gestures to his splattered shirt “--at least I’m not alone.”

She eyes him up and down, then finally laughs, hands starting back towards her face before he catches them.

“Alright, what’s going on? You’re painting again?”

Hesitating, she throws a glance back towards the easel, biting her lip. “Yyyeah.”

“That’s great!” She smiles, ducking her head, and it finally registers that she’s being… shy. It’s adorable, but he can’t remember the last time he saw this mood. “We’ve been texting all day, I can’t believe you kept it a secret!”

She makes a move as if going back to her face again, but he’s still holding her hands, so she starts fiddling with his fingers instead. “I’ve been wanting to try again for a while, but I didn’t want to make a big thing about it, in case… it didn’t work.” She’s started blending colors from her hand to his in some very pretty combinations. Huh. Maybe that color would work in the kitten room…

Focus, Maxwell! “Hey, I’ve seen some of your old stuff, you were good! Why would you worry about that?”

“Ohhh no.” She glares at him. “You found my Instagram, didn’t you?”

He grins. “Yes, I did. You really like boats, huh?”

She rolls her eyes, but he can see a hint of a smile. “Ugh, stalker.”

He shrugs, unperturbed. “Hey, I wasn’t going to bring you here without doing some kind of googling! Patented Maxwell Beaumont background check: As much as people try to pretend, social media always shows your real self to those who know how to look.”

For some reason, she looks pleased. “So… let me get this straight, the night we met, you went home and spent the rest of the evening cyberstalking me?”

He opens and shuts his mouth several times. “Whoa, okay, I mean…”

Her grin spreads mischievously. “You liiiiked me.”

“You -- Wait. You’re trying to distract me!”

“What? No!” She gets on her tiptoes to lean in close, and if he wasn’t sure before, he is now. “Let’s just talk more about how pretty you thought I was.”

“Okay, that’s not fair, you know that’s like my third favorite thing to do.” He does plant a kiss on her lips before putting a finger over them, delicately pushing her face back. “Come on Riles, talk to me.”

Her shoulders slump. “Alright…” She walks over to pull something out of one of the bags sitting around the easel and returns waving a bar of soap. “It’s gritty! Works wonders.” She takes his hand, pulling him towards the door. “Let’s go get cleaned up, and we can talk.”

With one last glance towards the painting he still can’t quite see, he follows her out of the room.

----

A few minutes later, they’re in his favorite bathroom, their outer clothes given to the staff along with Riley’s best tips for how to get oil paint out of fabric.

Riley dips a finger in the green paint still smeared across his forearms and pokes a couple blobs onto the hippo’s head. “And now he’s Bob Ross!”

“Who knew he was hiding such talents this whole time?”

She smiles and begins unwrapping the soap bar. “Come here.”

She runs it under the sink and begins rubbing it along his arms. It’s scratchy. “This is going to be very exfoliating,” he comments.

Her mouth quirks up, but she otherwise stays focused on her task. “So I was down in the ball pit room, painting one of the walls, and I guess I just missed it, you know? I mean, painting a wall isn’t much like canvas, but it’s the first thing I’ve really done in years, and… Anyway, I finished up that one wall and ran out to the store. Spent way too much on all-new supplies.” She shudders a bit.

A thoughtful silence falls between them as she scrubs between his fingers. Then she smiles coyly up at him. “You know what the first thing I wanted to paint was?”

He grins, intrigued. “What?”

“You.”

He blinks. “Wha?”

“I am going to have to build up to that though.” She falls into a ramble as she overcompensates for the admission. “I know if first thing back, I try for my masterpiece, I’m gonna hate everything and stop. So I was actually painting the view from the windows. All those trees. The lake.”

He’s still staring at her. “You wanted to paint… me?”

“Yeah, for a long time now.” She takes a deep breath, and her words become more careful. “There was actually this day… It was during the engagement tour.” She looks away, falling back into the memory. “It was just any day, really. Somewhere between Italy and France. We were getting breakfast on the train with Drake and Hana, so I was sitting next to you, and I looked over at you…” her cheeks heat, but she presses on. “The light caught just right--”  shining through his eye, long lashes, profile lit up as his lips parted in a smile-- “and I just…” she presses a hand to her heart, which is reliving the longing it felt then. She breathes deep, and his familiar scent calms her down. “I wanted to paint again. And I hadn’t been able to in years, but I needed … I needed somebody else to see how beautiful you are to me.” She looks up at him, finally.

Her entire speech he’s been standing there, unmoving, and now that she looks up she can see that his eyes are shining.

Her instinctual reaction is panic. “Oh no, don’t cry, I’m sorry--”

He hugs her. Immediately her arms wrap around him in turn, and though she can feel her face smush into the paint she’d put onto the hippo, she just doesn’t care.

“Riley, you’re… amazing.” He whispers. “I can’t believe…”

“Hey.” She pulls him tightly to her. “You’re worth it. You’re always worth it.”

They stand there for a long minute, breathing together. She hears his heartbeat, steady and strong and fast.

“Maxwell,” she finally whispers.

“Riley.”

“We’re getting paint all over each other again.”

He laughs.

[crazymarvelsuperfamily]

Stark’s Birthday

so I wrote another Iron dad thing! As it is Tony’s birthday today, I have written a fluffly little thing about what Peter gets him. I have written another bit about the party, but I’m not as happy with that... maybe I’ll post it at some point... 

tell me what you think!

general audiences

Word count: 1136

Peter took one last look at the card before he licked the envelope to seal it. The card had all the avengers on it – as if one day in midst of a battle, spiderman had taken out his phone and the whole team gathered in for a selfie. Except, this wasn’t like one of the Avengers cards he saw in the store. It was a personalised card Peter ordered online, and it was in fact a picture that he had taken in the middle of the battle. He laughed to himself as he remembered that day, and how Tony had shouted at him for having the generation Z’s misplaced priorities, as he took the photo, ready to post on spiderman’s Instagram page.

He had thought long and hard about what to get his Dad for his birthday – the man had basically everything under the sun! He had asked FRIDAY what people normally get him, and found it was normally different types of coffee, scented candles, or expensive bath things. He was getting boring in his old age. He knew Tony appreciated these kind of things, but Peter really wanted to get Tony something personal, something he would love and remember. It had taken him a fair amount of thought and effort, but he knew it was worth it, as he picked up the meticulously wrapped box and carried it down to the common floor.

The lounge was practically the same as it was any other day, except it was actually tidy for once. Normally, there were mugs and glasses littered around the bar, discarded shoes by the elevator, and a half-finished puzzle out on the table in the corner – waiting to be finished by Bucky and Steve. Now, all of these were gone, the bar counter had been heavily stocked with lots with all imaginable alcohol, and the kitchen counters were beginning to be covered in canapes and miniature desserts. The floor had been deserted by all avengers, but the place was filled with the hustle of kitchen staff and men moving furniture to create more space. Standing in the middle, was Pepper, wearing a tight-fitting emerald green dress. Along with that, she wore a necklace and earrings that neatly corresponded with her engagement ring. She wasn’t wearing any shoes, but next to wear she stood were some silver heels, which Peter guessed she’s put on later. The second she caught sight of Peter, she rushed over to greet him with a kiss on the forehead.

“Hey Sweetheart, look at you! You’re an absolute picture! So cute, yet so handsome.” Peter was wearing the shirt and trousers Pepper had earlier selected for him. She was good at picking the right outfit for occasions and she seemed to have a superpower in knowing the exact size and style that would suit everyone best.

“Thanks Pep, have you seen Tony, I wanted to give him his present before all the guests arrived.”

“last I saw of him was half an hour ago – had to chase him out the lab again to get showered. Try our room honey.” Peter nodded again in thanks and took towards the stair case, heading back up to their floor.

  “Tony?”

“Yeah Underoos, in here. What can I do for ya?” Tony stepped out the bathroom, in a casual suit, but with a razor in hand and shaving foam around his jawline.

“Just came to saw happy birthday! And that you’re really old now you’re fifty. So, I have a few things for you.”

“aww! Thanks kid.” Tony stepped out the bathroom again, wiping his face with a towel. Peter smiled sweetly as he handed over a small letter to Tony.

“retirement homes, for OAPs age 50+? Little shit, just you wait till I get my hands on you…” Tony laughed, lunging forward to grab Peter and pull him into a bear hug. “It’s a good thing I love you”

“I got you something else too…” Peter pulled out of the hug, this time looking slightly sheepish. He handed Tony the card and box. Gently, the man tore open the card to see the picture, and inside, in Peter’s scrawny handwriting:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY! YOU’RE THE BEST DAD EVER! Love Peter xxx

Tony Beamed as he held the card up to Peter. “Thanks buddy, you’re the best son too!” He then looked at the box. “You know, you really didn’t need to get me any- “

“I did. And just open it!” Peter interrupted. Tony did as he was ordered and unwrapped the parcel. Inside was a large scrapbook, Peter had obviously spent hours putting it together. On the front were glued some Avengers Lego characters and carefully hand written in gold pen was “Together, we make a family”. The book was filled with photos of Tony, Peter and Pepper; or all the avengers training, or fighting ones printed off google; photos that Rhodey and Pepper probably took, of Peter and Tony working in the lab, or both asleep next to each other on the sofa. There were tickets from all of the days out Tony and Peter had been on. Disney VIP cards with an abundance of fast-passes, or ones from all the science museums they had visited. Even Peter’s backstage pass to the Expo, with a photo of him grinning next to Tony. Then there were loads of little things stuck in: Avengers stickers Peter had found and brought, articles from the news about them saving lives, photos from google, and quotes – the kind that Pepper had mounted about the place on canvas. On the last page, was a picture of ironman, one that Peter had drawn aged 8, way back before they had met or had powers, and a little letter had been written. “Dear Tony, when I was a little kid, you were my hero: watching you fly around saving people was incredible. Now, you are still my hero: but for the person you are underneath your suit – for the genius, loving father you are to me. I love you.” And right at the back, was a tablet screen Peter had made and attached to the book, with a slide show of loads of silly videos of the pair dancing.

Tony spent 15 minutes, flicking through all the pages. He was perched on the end of his bed, the book spread across his lap, with his arm around Peter’s shoulders. The boy leaned into him humming, and by the end of the scrapbook, Tony was moved to tears. He flipped the book shut, brushing a single tear from his cheek and pulled his boy into a soft, warm hug. Peter buried his head into the crook of the man’s neck, while Tony rested his head into the boy’s soft curls.

“I love you so much”

“I love you too dad”

[perplexingpegasusartshow-blog]

          I’m such a noob when it comes to oil paints I swear. If I were standing before anyone who’s had twice the years of experience, they would probably tell me I've got it all WRONG. LOL - But that’s alright with me, because everyone has their own path they take when it comes to painting, there are NO rules. (Or so I'd like to think) Remember that. It’s whatever floats your boat. And this just so happens to be what works for me. 

         I’ve been working on this painting of the rap artist J.Cole all morning. In all my years of dabbling in various genres of Art, this is my first Oil Painting I've ever done. I’m so use to working with Acrylics so it is quite the switch up for me. None the less, I am enjoying every second of this tedious work. I have never taken an class for oils before.In the process of learning as I go, I am going to share a few of my very own tips and tricks in my style of painting. If I ever inspire one of you mad artists out there who are always up for trying something new or if your a struggling artist, an artist whos still trying to find a style and feel of your own, please feel free to use me. If you ever have any questions, comments or concerns feel free to message me, I am always open for discussion.

HOW I STARTED: I literally sat in my room every night after work for a week and watched about a handful of videos on how to paint with oils, tips and tricks, some beginners “essentials”. That weekend I raced to a A.C. Moore about 15 minutes form my house and bought about 27-30 different colors of Winsor & Newton oil paints. Yes full sized. I bought a jar with coil in it to spot clean my brushes, sesame oil as a medium, paint thinner and brush cleaner. and a few knifes just in case I needed to start over.  

(I WILL BE POSTING A PHOTO OF ALL OF MY SUPPLIES SOON AS A VISUAL FOR THOSE INTERESTED)

IN NO SHAPE OR FORM DO I RECOMMENED ANYONE TO DO WHAT I DID. 

A. Shit is expensive af. budget yourself. I spent a little over $300 in that one day. (I do get discounts for being a loyalty member) B. Product knowledge is very important. Take your time and know what it is your getting into. There is a lot that goes into oil painting like making sure your in a really well ventilated area to paint so that those fumes aren’t “killing” you over time. if your painting in a box it can cause dizziness, nausea, trouble breathing and potentially pneumonia.   I just happen to have very low leveled patience when it comes to getting my ideas across canvas or paper I get really restless and anxious. When I try to wait these things out it gets bad for me. I get anxiety and suffer spurts of depression. My reasoning isn't very valid but that's just me. & Yes, I do paint in my room but I have 3 very big windows that I keep opened up for ventilation and my bedroom door stays open till a majority of the fumes air out.   

So let’s get down to a few questions that have been asked of me before I begin this journey with you all.

WHY OIL PAINTING? - I decided to pick up oil painting 1. Because I am always down to try something new, you really never know until you try it because it may be just right for you. 2. I literally fall in love every time I go to an art show, gallery, or I could simply be scrolling through my Instagram one day and I see all of this straight up beautiful detailed work with dope ass textures and vibrant pops of colors. And the paint looks so fluid on canvas no matter the style of the artist I just always found it breathtaking and unlike any other. I mean yes, you can achieve much with acrylic but if you have ever seen an oil painting you would know that... its just DIFFERENT. And typically with oil paint you can get far more detailed in realistic portraits, i feel. And so I said to myself “Hey, I want to do that” so I just went for it. But it wasn’t an easy “OK I am going to start today-” kind of thing. I, of course, doubted myself over a thousand times and put it off so much, it actually took me about 1 year to sike myself into ACTUALLY starting. 

ARE YOU GIVING UP ACRYLIC PAINTING? - No, never that. I am just broadening my horizons. I am pretty sure I'll be doing a lot of back and forth between the two but for right now till I get my mojo down packed, I will be putting a lot more of my focus into my Oil painting and studying proportions of the human anatomy and facial structures. (Something I've always struggled with) To this day, I am still searching for my style and flow. I am still searching for my signature, my individual mark as an artist. I believe that to be essential. Because its what sets you apart from everything and everyone else. People go to see peoples work because it is a reflection of them. Something only they can create you know? That’s just how I like to think of it. Fight me if you disagree. :P