#also i have been having fun with the commission set but i tend to get locked in to a drawing for so long i forget anything else i was doing

[oddfamiliar]

I’ve been working on a commission set for so long that I looked at some other WIP’s/warmups I had and genuinely don’t remember the context for them.

I think this one was supposed to be an Oppenheimer pic?? Why was I drawing Oppenheimer????

[arolesbianism]

I've been digging up some one of my most neglected stories recently and I'm finally actually developing the rest of the cast after like what? 7 or 8 years or smth? I genuinely don't know when I first thought up Lace but she's been floating at the edge of my mind since then as my token true timeloop guy as opposed to Butters who doesn't rly count because the quote unquote timeloop was entirely within their control and only was a continuous loop because they kept consciously trying again and again. Lace on the other hand. Legitimately 100% powerless in her timeloop situation, as in there was quite literally Nothing she could do to end the loops herself. Some gods just threw her in a 50 year timeloop without even doing the bare minimum of telling her first and she just sorta had to live with that until it from her perspective abruptly stopped leaving her to deal with the fallout of everything she went through now that she's suddenly being forced to live a real life again. And as fun as all of that is it has been very stagnated for years because there is in fact a story and world that exists outside of and around this one plot that matter quite a bit and that I have been refusing to properly work on until now lol.

[gurugirl]

A Balancing Act | Ch. 2*

Series Summary: Harry is a famous, rich, handsome, pop star and he’s been in therapy since his boy band days. When he meets Y/n, a beautiful and successful artist, he cannot take no for an answer when it comes to her. He’s determined to make her his even if he has to bend the rules a little at first.

Chapter Summary: Y/n learns that Harry kissed another woman and decides to move on. Harry crashes Y/n's date to get her to change her mind. But then he makes a shocking discovery.

Warning: 18+ only, NSFW, smut (oral sex sort of), angst

Word Count: 9,739

Commissioned by @cinnamonone (thank you!! xoxo)

A Balancing Act Masterlist

Returning to LA after his tour in Latin America, Harry was sitting with Pat in his lovely house. Matcha tea was served and she started off by asking him how he was feeling emotionally lately. She tended to want to start off their sessions by letting him talk about his emotions and how he was dealing with his busy life, reserving the topic of relationships and love until toward the end. It gave her a good gauge of his overall well-being.

“I miss home. It’s always the hardest when I feel like I’m missing out on so much. Feels like I’m ignoring what’s really important in life and focusing too much on myself. Feels selfish. I know that no one thinks that. My mum is always telling me to not worry but it’s just hard. Especially because I’m closing in on 30 and just feels like I’ve just been playing around for all my life.”

“But this is your work. And you do work hard. You’re just lucky that you’re talented enough that you can delve into this kind of creativity and make a living from it. You’re putting more responsibility on yourself than is necessary. You’re on your own path, Harry. And while from the outside everything looks fun and glamorous, even you know the truth because you live it. It’s hard. So don’t discount yourself by feeling like you’re not doing enough. Your mom is okay. She can take care of herself. Gemma is okay too. She’s doing well. Your friends and all the people that matter in your life support you. Comparing yourself to the 9-5 worker isn’t going to do you any good. You’re a successful artist. An entrepreneur. Just imagine if you weren’t. You’d be in Manchester or London and working some mundane job. Sure you’d be around your family but you wouldn’t be thriving like you are now. I think you’d be miserable and if you’re miserable your family will feel that.”

Harry nodded, “Probably. I guess I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

“I can’t either. But it’s more about how you’re dealing with that guilt. I think as you’re getting older your priorities are shifting a little. And that’s okay. It’s good to welcome new awareness. Just be sure to not dwell on it because no one else is.”

Harry sniffed a laugh and smiled. Pat was right of course. He knew all of this. They’d been talking about his guilt a lot more recently and he recognized it was more because there were particular milestones that society set for people. And Harry had met many milestones but the basic ones like love, family, stability, children were all things he’d had yet to really achieve. Of course, he had a family but not his own, with a spouse and kids and a little house in town… but that wasn’t his to have yet. And the little house in town might wind up looking more like a bunch of houses in different parts of the world. He couldn’t deny he was lucky but he also couldn’t ignore that he felt like he’d been shirking his adult responsibilities.

“Okay. I can tell you need to say something. Want to move on from this subject?”

Harry grinned and repositioned himself to face more squarely toward Pat, “I met someone.”

“Oh? What does that mean?”

“I met her in Chicago. She was staying at the hotel I was in but she was there for an art show, she’s this really talented artist. But anyway… we just hit it off. We’ve been talking on the phone almost every night. I really like her.”

Pat nodded and placed her mug down, “That’s great. So, she stayed at the hotel you were in but how did you come to actually meet her?”

Harry described the scene at the bar and then how he invited her to his show the following evening, “I just… I don’t know. She’s not famous or anything but she acted like I was just a normal guy. And we really connected mentally and physically. She really seems to like all the things I like.”

“You mean, in bed? Or have you really gotten to know her on a deeper level?” She smirked and tilted her head. Harry was like this. He could connect with all kinds of people and it made his heart swell and lurch and then as fast as it filled up it all deflated just as quickly.

“Well, not just in bed. But yeah. We just clicked.”

“Look, I think that’s great. Just remember, you are okay as a single man too. Correct? You don’t need to be loved all the time. You are enough. You don’t have to fall in love and get married and have children to be a whole person. Society says you need that but you get to choose your path. But if you really like, this, uh… what’s her name?”

“Y/n. Even her name is pretty.”

“Y/n. Well, if you like her enough just take your time. Get to know her. Long distance is hard and phone calls are good but no substitute for face-to-face time. Do you think she’s as serious about this as you are?”

Harry shrugged and pursed his lips to the side, “I think so. I mean… we’ve talked about a lot and she’s told me so many things about herself. I guess I haven’t asked her to make it official, though.”

“Probably wise to wait to make it official. Jumping into a serious relationship could backfire as you well know. And there is the matter that you’re on the road so often. Did you see anyone else while you were away?”

Harry shook his head, “No. I actually really like Y/n. Didn’t want to do anything to fuck that up.”

Pat sighed, “You do realize you were supposedly spotted leaving a party with a woman people claimed you were kissing. Right? Just a couple of weeks ago. Which would have been after your Chicago shows.”

Harry groaned and nodded. He did know. His PR team told him about the supposed fan sighting and there was even a photo of him with a woman. Who he did kiss, but it wasn’t a kiss that meant anything. It was just a bit of fun and Harry had had a good amount of tequila. He honestly was just flirting and wanted to kiss the woman. But of course, when she wanted to take things further he declined because Y/n had been on his mind.

That was one thing about Harry. He was flirty and he’d kiss people he never intended on sleeping with. He kissed men and women and flirted all the time but usually, it was more friendly than sexual. Sometimes people got the wrong idea but that was just how Harry was. He loved getting close to people and touching. Loved hugs and kisses especially if he knew the person.

Even when he was with his last ex she’d gotten used to him kissing others and holding hands with someone else. But it wasn’t always very well received. Like the time she left one of the parties they were at early because she was tired and then he was filmed making out with a friend on a couch in front of people. He had a lot of explaining to do for that one. She forgave him but it hurt her. She cried. Harry felt bad that he’d done it. He loved how it felt to kiss someone and have them kiss him back, the zip of excitement and the tiniest bit of tension.

“Yes. I’m aware. I don’t know that she’s heard anything just yet. I think the photo only got published like yesterday or day before.”

“Well, it’s probably a good idea to talk to her about it before she sees the photo and reads the salacious headlines. That is if you’re interested in still seeing her.”

He nodded and looked down at his lap.

“Now, let’s talk about how you’re doing with all your new endeavors coming up. The timelines and the travel that will entail.”

.           .           .

Y/n was usually late with getting news or updates on celebrities. She spent a lot of her time painting during the day so unless she took a break and used her free time to peruse social media sites she might not realize things like the fact that the man she was beginning to develop feelings for had kissed another woman while he was away in another country.

Just as on this day. She was blissfully unaware of what he’d done as of yet. That is until Kat, her best friend, called in the middle of her glazing a painting she’d just completed.

She hadn’t told anyone about Harry except for Kat. Kat would keep her mouth shut about everything. Y/n knew she could trust her friend with her new secret. Not that Harry told her to not tell anyone but he did mention it would be better if very few people knew.

“Hello?” She spoke into the receiver as she capped the glaze and wiped her hands on her bibs.

“Hey babe. Did you see the link I sent you?”

“Uh… no. I’ve been working on a piece all morning.”

“Put me on speaker. Take a look.”

Y/n clicked the sound to the speaker and opened up her texts to see the link from Kat.

The moment the Daily Mail website came up with a blurry, dark photo of Harry standing very close to a woman she felt her heart drop.

Reading the caption of the article:

STYLES SPOTTED KISSING MYSTERY WOMAN IN COLOMBIA

“Are you seeing it?” Kat asked.

“Yeah. I am.”

The article mentioned him leaving with the woman after a party and Y/n put the phone back to her ear, not wanting to read more in that moment, “Thank you, Kat. I’m glad you showed me.”

“Of course. I mean… it’s Daily Mail so it might not be anything, but I just wanted you to have that info just in case. You know?”

Y/n nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat, “Yeah. I know. I’m gonna go, though. I need to finish my canvas. But I’ll call you later, okay?”

Letting out a shaky breath she sat down so she could read the whole article, line by line. Obsess over the information and then google to find more websites and gossip pages, supposed first-hand accounts, unnamed sources talking about how he’s been seeing her for a while and he’s excited, other blurry photos of him at the party drinking…

She shook her head and stood up, locking her phone and putting it down on the table near the bottle of glaze. She looked over her canvas and figured she could take a break. It would be good for her to get out and take a walk. Clear her mind and figure out what she wanted to do.

Her walk resulted in her only dwelling on everything. He hadn’t called her in a couple of days but she knew he was traveling back to LA. She felt like he’d probably needed the rest from all the shows, the jetlag, time zone changes… but perhaps it was because he was seeing someone else now.

And that was certainly possible. They didn’t know one another all that well. She hadn’t even told him the whole story about her husband yet. About what had happened to him. And there had been no commitment made. They had sex in his hotel room. A few times. And it was really good. She felt they had a unique connection. Her feelings for him grew a little more quickly than was wise probably and the Facetime calls with all the revelations of things from their past and what they wanted in the future felt like she was talking to someone whom she could see herself with. He’d also given her his personal cellphone number which she knew was sort of a big deal.

But of course, that was ridiculous. This was Harry Styles and even if he did like her (which she was sure he liked her on some level) that didn’t mean they’d end up together. He could choose anyone. It certainly wouldn’t be her.

Later that night as she snacked on dill pickles and popcorn she fell into the hole of the search engine on her laptop.

The night Harry was supposedly seen with the woman was a night he hadn’t called her (she checked her call log). He didn’t call her every night, but it was still noted. Then she found another “source” saying Harry was happier than he’d ever been and that the Colombian woman was spotted in LA with him.

He hadn’t called her again that night either. Closing her laptop she figured it was over. She wouldn’t be calling him to find out what was going on. He didn’t owe her anything and it would look weird and stalkery to be asking him about the other woman. As if she had any claim on him.

Opening up her DMs on Instagram she decided to check back in on Dante. He’d messaged her all that time ago and she’d left him on read once Harry came into the picture. Maybe it was time to find someone closer to being in her own league.

.           .           .

Harry had a little time off and he caught up on much-needed sleep and getting back into a normal routine. He’d planned on calling Y/n that night. He’d been back in LA for a few days and felt like he was back in the right time zone finally. But he wondered why he hadn’t heard from her at all either. Normally she’d send off a little text during the day. A meme or something that would make him laugh. But it was silence from her for almost five whole days. Not that he’d reached out either but still…

He wondered what she was doing. It was a Saturday night and when he realized she was two hours ahead of him he figured he might as well give her a ring to see how she was. It was nearly 9pm her time already.

But the call went to voicemail so he left a message, a smile on his face, “Hey you… haven’t heard from you in a few days figured I’d give you a call to see what’s happening. I’ve been back in LA for a bit and I’m all caught up on rest. Give me a call back when you’ve time!”

She didn’t return his call that evening.

The following day Harry checked his messages and texts but he’d still gotten nothing from her and it was already midday (yes, he’d slept in quite late since he was up late writing a new song he couldn’t get out of his head). It was odd.

Shooting off a text message to her he suddenly had a feeling that perhaps she was avoiding him. Perhaps she’d seen the articles about him with someone else. He hoped that wouldn’t deter her from wanting to see him again. Hoped that she’d at least let him explain.

He needed to do something about it if that was the case. He couldn’t let her slip away without even having had the chance to see where it could go.

.           .           .

She heard the voicemail. In fact, she saw her phone light up with a notification that he was calling her in real time.

But she’d just messaged Dante and they had plans to meet up the following weekend. She’d been lucky that he hadn’t already come to town for the art exhibit. She thought she’d missed her chance when she messaged Dante back and apologized for not responding sooner. But he was polite as ever and they made plans to see one another.

So she was going to move on from Harry. There was unlikely anything good to come of it anyway. She had an amazing night with him and a handful of orgasms she could reminisce on but he was a world-famous pop star and he was single and surely he wanted to play the field for as long as he could. She understood it, but that didn’t make the situation feel any better. Therefore, the only way to get over him and to move on was to stop contact with him and get back out there.

Plus, now that she’d been with a man after her husband she felt like it was time to start dating again. It had been fun with Harry and she could have fun with others too. Maybe she’d sleep around a bit. See what that was like. Sow her wild oats. She’d gotten married so young and had little experience before him… Yeah, it was time to get out and date.

The following day she saw a text from Harry after leaving a meeting with someone who knew an art dealer.

Was just thinking of you. Missed hearing your voice. I’m back in LA now. Call me or text back. 

She sat in her car and locked her phone, putting her head behind her on the headrest. What was he doing? She was kind of confused that he’d called her, left a voicemail, and then today had texted her. She really was trying to just move on. Figured he had too. But she was too curious not to call him. However, she’d keep him waiting until she was at home with a bottle of wine before she reached out. Maybe she’d hear him out. Maybe he wouldn’t bring up the other woman. She wouldn’t be bringing it up unless he did, but he had to know she’d heard about it. Right?

So, she took the long way to her house, stopping to pick up a bottle of wine and Chinese food before getting home.

She drew her curtains and took her clothes off, only wearing her panties and a tank top, and put her hair up in a messy bun on her head (like the real-deal messy buns, not those cute going-out-messy-on-purpose messy buns). Pouring herself a glass of wine and taking a big gulp she looked down at her cell phone as she sat on her couch and re-read his text.

For some reason she was nervous. She wasn’t sure how this conversation would play out but she wanted to find out what the result would be. This could possibly (most definitely) be the end for them. And she’d be okay with that if it were. Bummed, but fine. She still had her date with Dante to look forward to.

She dialed the number and put him on speaker as she leaned back into her couch and covered her face. She didn’t know if he’d pick up or not but she wanted to get this conversation out of the way.

“Hello!” Harry’s voice came over the speaker quickly. He sounded keyed up.

“Hi. It’s Y/n. You called and texted so I wanted to return your call.”

“Oh yeah… well, it’s been a few days. Was wondering how you were. So, yeah… How’ve you been?”

“I’m good. And you?”

Harry paused and noted the way she answered him in a clipped tone, cold. Not her normal friendly disposition.

“I’m well. Is… is everything all right?”

“Sure. Just doing my thing. Is everything all right with you?”

Harry sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, “Yeah. Um… did you read something about me? Is that why you’re upset?”

Y/n laughed and took a sip of her wine. Here we go, she thought to herself.

“Do I sound upset to you, Harry?”

“You actually do. Yes. Look, if you’re pissed about the articles from when I was in Colombia, I just want you to know that all of that is blown out of proportion. Right? So-“

“Oh. Interesting So you’re saying you didn’t make out with a Colombian woman at a party in Bogota?” God, she hated to sound so jealous but he did bring it up first. She cringed as she let her hurt feelings surface, but it was too late to keep her cool like she intended.

Harry sighed loudly, “I just mean that’s all blown out of propor-“

“Yes, you said that. I’m asking if what is being said is true or not.”

“It didn’t mean anything, Y/n. I am a bit of a flirt and I kissed a woman but that was it! I swear. I thought of you the whole time-“

“It’s fine, Harry. You don’t owe me anything. Besides, I’m going on a date next weekend anyway. We’re free to see other people, right? And-“

“A date? Next weekend?”

She laughed, “Yes. A date. Next weekend. It’s not like you and I will get to see one another much anyway. If at all. So there’s no reason to drag this out. We had fun but it’s clearly not something we need to bother ourselves with.”

“Bother… what? I thought we really connected, Y/n. I’m confused. I really like you.”

“But how can you say that when you made out with someone else? I really like you too Harry but you’re seeing other people because you know as well as I do that this, whatever it is between us, was never serious. Right?”

“No. No that’s not true. And I didn’t make out with her! It was like a quick party kiss sort of thing. Damnit! I swear, Y/n. I’m sorry. I had a little too much tequila and I kissed her but I really was thinking about you and she wanted me to come with her to her room but I told her I was seeing someone and that was it! God, I fucked this up didn’t I?”

Y/n sat for a moment. She had to admit she was surprised by all of this. Surprised that he’d contacted her after she didn’t respond the first time, that he seemed upset about possibly having offended her or hurting her, and that he was acting like he really did like her. But she determined that it was best if they parted ways. She realized it would simply be too hard for this to work. And based on the way his fans obsessed over the Colombian woman and were already talking shit about her (when they didn’t even know who it was) she knew she was right. She had to put an end to it before she got her heart broken.

“There was never anything to fuck up, Harry. But, look… let’s be honest here okay? I’m just a regular gal. I’m not your type, not the type that would be able to deal with your fame and all your adoring fans. I had a lot of fun with you and I think you are absolutely amazing. I really do like you but I just can’t see this working. You know?”

Harry shook his head and tried to stay calm. He had to think. He had to make this work. And he needed to not freak out about the fact that she was going on a date. He hated to think of her with anyone else. And yes, he did kiss a woman, but it wasn’t the same thing! Not to him anyway.

“I think you’re wrong. I think it can work. Let me prove it to you. I’ll come see you. Cancel your date next weekend and let me take you out instead.”

Y/n blinked her eyes, taken aback. She was truly shocked that he wanted to see her again and that he wanted to make it work but still…

“Harry…” she sighed, “you can’t expect me to cancel my date. That’s really not fair to me.”

He knew she was right, “Okay. Sorry. I guess I’m overstepping. I just thought we really connected. I was looking forward to seeing you again.”

Pulling her lips into her mouth she sat her glass of wine down. She was looking forward to seeing him again too, until she learned about the kiss. Even if they weren’t serious and even if the kiss meant nothing to him it meant something to her, “Please don’t make this hard. I really did like you, Harry. But it’s obviously not going to work. And that’s okay.”

“No. It’s not okay. I’m coming to see you. You don’t have to cancel your date. I’m not going to boss you around, but I’ll be flying to Chicago on Friday morning. I’m going to prove to you that we have something good here, Y/n. And if you still don’t see that after next weekend then I’ll back off.”

She couldn’t lie and say that she wasn’t beside herself with the idea that he wanted to put in so much effort to see her. And she certainly couldn’t stop him from going to Chicago and she wouldn’t. But she did feel like it was unlikely he’d actually show up.

“I mean… Jesus, Harry.” She shook her head and grinned, her heart pounding, “You’re crazy. I don’t understand why you want to do this. We had a night together-“

“It was more than just a night. Y/n, come on… you know as well as I do that it was more than just that. All the things we talked about on the phone all those nights. Did that mean nothing? I shared so many personal things with you and I know so many things about you too. But I want to know everything. All of you. I might be crazy but I can’t just give up.”

“We’ll see. And I can’t stop you from flying out here but I’m not going to make you any promises either.”

Harry was determined. More than ever. He knew it was special with Y/n. He knew she knew it too. The night he had her in his hotel room was maybe the hottest sex he’d ever had. And of course, hot sex doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re soul mates but the way they connected and were vulnerable with one another was not like anything he’d ever had. Then all their subsequent conversations and things they’d revealed about themselves? No. He wasn’t done and she wasn’t either. He felt it deep down that she wanted him to prove to her that he was serious.

Kissing that woman had been a mistake. And now he was going to prove to her that he was serious. That they could work.

.           .           .

She didn’t know why she told him where she was going to be on her date. She didn’t need to tell him. He could wait to see her until after. She told him as much at first when he called her the moment he landed.

“Where will you be with your date?” He spoke saying the word date like a dirty word.

“Harry… why do you need that information?”

“Because I’m just curious. Maybe I’m looking for restaurant suggestions.”

“I’m sure,” she rolled her eyes to herself, “If I tell you, you better not show up and ruin everything. I kind of like this guy, Harry.”

Harry’s heart fell into his stomach and the smirk on his face faded at that. She liked the guy? She was supposed to only like him.

“I won’t ruin anything. I promise.” He couldn’t actually make that promise. He wouldn’t be held accountable for the methods he used to convince her she was his. That she wanted to be with him only.

.           .           .

The steak house was a typical small-town restaurant that looked cutesy and had a few things on the outside of the building to let you know it was a restaurant but still came off as more of something that looked like a house.

The inside wasn’t much different. The entry into the restaurant started at the bar. Round high-top tables and tall stools scattered along the middle with dining tables with chairs of normal height lined the wall to the right. The bar with various bottles of neatly arranged, half-empty bottles of liquor along the left. Old wood floors, crown molding, high ceilings, an old dusty scent mixed with the smell of stale spilled beer (that smell just doesn’t come out after years of clumsy customers insisting on spilling their ales every night for the past 35 years), food cooking, and meat searing. Beyond the bar was the main dining room with more tables placed around the space and large windows that looked out onto a sizeable terrace with more tables under a large awning.

Harry let his gaze move around the room and walking past the bar he peeked into the main dining room to see if he could spot the woman of his dreams.

“Harry Styles!” A young lady shrieked and as he turned back he saw two other women walking toward him. He knew the look. They were starstruck and hoping for a chance to speak to him and get a photo.

Reluctantly he obliged. Signed a napkin, took a few pictures, and shook their hands with a smile on his face. It tended to be better to just be nice and give them something quickly instead of declining. Sometimes declining or saying he couldn’t resulted in more issues than it was worth.

Not spotting Y/n anywhere either inside or outside he asked the young man stood at the front if there was a reservation under Y/n’s name. He expected that her date would have put it under his name but on the off chance-

“Yes sir. Uh, that reservation for 2 people isn’t for another fifteen minutes. Are you the other party on the reservation?”

Harry grinned and nodded, “Why yes. I am.”

He followed behind the kid to a spot outside on the terrace and ordered a bottle of red wine. He knew he wouldn’t be able to drink the whole thing but figured that once Y/n arrived with her date they could finish it off. He knew that what he was doing was taking it a little too far (maybe a lot too far) but he wanted to properly greet her and get a good look at this date. He’d get up and let them take their seats and then he’d pay the bill of course as an apology for the inconvenience.

Before he’d finished his glass of wine his sight landed on the entry to the terrace where Y/n, a tall man with dark hair (presumably her date), and the young host who seated Harry were walking toward him. There she was. She’d really dressed up too. The low plunge of her dress and the way it hit her hips were mouthwatering. He stood up quickly as he continued to watch her in awe. Her pretty face was set in an unamused frown, “What are you doing Harry?”

Shrugging his shoulders he looked to the guy next to her. He was Harry’s height. Taller even. Annoyingly good-looking in an older, sophisticated yet unbothered kind of way, “I’m Harry,” he jutted his hand out to shake.

The date looked at Y/n and then back to Harry with his hand taking Harry’s in a firm shake, “Yeah, I know who you are. Harry Styles… But why are you sitting at our table?” He asked with a laugh. So she hadn’t told her date about him. Pity.

“Oh, I was just having a sit, drinking a little wine. But I’ll be on my way. Just wanted to make sure my lovely friend here made it safely. Oh! And please! Enjoy the rest of the wine. And I’ve already told them that the tab is on me. So get whatever you like. Go wild.”

The look of anger on Y/n’s face should have deterred Harry from speaking further, but he couldn’t help himself, “And you look… wow. Incredible. You’re stunning, Y/n,” he looked over her frame and then back to her face, “I’ll call you later,” he winked as he turned and sauntered away just as casually as he had mentioned he was paying their bill. As if it were all just a normal occurrence.

Y/n watched the handsome pop star walk away before turning to Dante, “Sorry about that. He was just trying to be funny. Just a friend,” she reassured.

Though, Dante didn’t seem wary of him at all. He was clueless as to what had just happened, “You know Harry Styles?!”

Sitting down and pushing Harry’s nearly empty glass of cabernet to the edge of the table she nodded, “Yeah. Met him a couple of months ago when he was in Chicago for a concert, and I was there for an art show. Just luck.”

She left out the part where he had her in his posh hotel suite one evening and they spent the whole night fucking and talking and laughing. Connecting. And then again in the morning until she had to leave.

Y/n wasn’t sure how to feel about Harry’s little stunt. He seemed like such a genuinely sweet guy that what had just happened felt a little out of character. Though she got some glimpses of his pushy, dominant side in bed, she hadn’t seen any of that persona transfer outside of the bedroom. Not when he first introduced himself, and not in any of their conversations on the phone… But she guessed perhaps there was a part of him that would come out in this way. And she couldn’t lie and say she didn’t enjoy it all deep down.

But still. The nerve of him to sit at the table she and her date would be sharing and drink wine while he waited for them. To look at her the way he had, his eyes blatantly following her shape down to her hips and back up again with that grin… The compliment. And then to have their bill paid for? It was a power move. He was trying to assert dominance over Dante in some way. Even though Dante was annoyingly clueless somehow. She thought for sure he’d be livid about it but he wasn’t.

Dante was a little too nice she decided.

And it’s not like Y/n thought her date should be upset. She didn’t want two men fighting over her or anything. But the part of her that kind of liked what Harry had done, liked that he was trying to stake a claim or send a message- wanted to see what Dante had in him. Wanted maybe just a tiny bit to see him jealous or even insist on paying despite the fact that Harry said he would. Dante didn’t seem threatened at all. She shook her head of those thoughts. How silly for Y/n to even think that he should feel that way. Of course not!

And she couldn’t stop thinking about how good he looked in his suit and his thick dark hair with soft curls as she and her date neared the table he was casually sitting at. The handsome smug look on his face as he watched them. And she tried to refocus and listen as Dante was talking about his recent gallery show but she was now stuck thinking about the night she and the famous man shared together. That was probably part of what he intended as well, showing up like he did. To set the tone for the entire date. He knew what he was doing. And it had worked.

“Excuse me. I need to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

She took a deep breath as she walked into the restaurant and followed the hanging wooden signs that pointed toward the little hallway where the two bathrooms were. A single toilet room each for women and men.

Flicking the light on and clicking the lock she leaned into the door and closed her eyes. She had to give herself a pep talk.

“You’re here with a perfectly nice and handsome man. Same interests, a level head, funny, humble…” and Dante was all those things. But something was missing. Something was holding her back from truly enjoying his company. And she knew just what it was. It was because he wasn’t Harry. And even if Harry hadn’t made his surprise appearance to discombobulate her completely, interrupting her date, she would have still felt the same.

Just as she pushed herself off the door there was a knock, “Sorry! Be right out!”

Y/n washed her hands and dried them before opening the door. But in a shocking split-second, she was met with the handsome smile of the man she couldn’t stop thinking about as he walked into the bathroom, causing her to step herself backward. Harry closed the door and clicked the lock.

“Harry! What are you doing?!”

Harry smirked and leaned his back into the door, “How’s the date going?”

Crossing her arms over her chest she tried to feign annoyance but she was working hard to hide her own grin, “It’s fine. I like Dante. Why are you still here?”

“I figured I’d see if you were free after. I brought some things with me that I think you might enjoy.”

She paused. He brought some things? What did that mean?

“I can’t believe I told you where my date was,” she shook her head and sighed.

“I’m sure you did it because you hoped for this very outcome.”

“Oh come on, Harry. I actually didn’t think you’d even come here this weekend, to be honest.”

Harry stitched his brows together and pushed himself off the door, taking two long-legged strides toward her, and brought his hands up to her face, “Well I am here. And I want you, Y/n. I don’t care that you’re on a fucking date. That should be me sitting out there getting to take you out,” he jabbed a finger in the air toward the door before returning his palm to her cheek.

Her blood pumped quickly through her veins and her head felt fluttery and light as she watched his mouth and then looked at his eyes as he spoke. His hair was fluffy and soft and his hands on her face felt gentle but she knew what they could do. All the very opposite things of gentle that had awakened some kind of indulgent new requirement. She wanted to put up a good fight. Make him work harder. Make him beg a little even. He’d kissed another woman! For god’s sake, she should make him grovel. But he was there. With her. Looking at her like he did that last morning they were together when they were making plans to keep contact until they could see one another again.

She didn’t know how to respond. If she were responding candidly, she’d tell him that yeah, it should be him out there treating her to dinner and not Dante. That she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind and last night, even though she had this date lined up, it was Harry’s image that she orgasmed to when she masturbated. In fact, it had only been Harry she got off to since she’d had that night with him nearly two months ago.

Harry tilted his head and spoke softly, “Please, Y/n. Do you want me to get on my knees? Beg? Or,” a small devious smirk quirked up on his lips as he licked them and ducked in to speak into her ear, his body pressed into hers, “maybe you want this. You like the chase, don’t you? Is that what you want? Trying to play hardball with me, sweet girl?”

She was a goner the moment his lips brushed over the shell of her ear and he brought his hands down from her face to her hips and pulled her in close. A small warm peck to her lobe, “What is it that you want me to do? I’ll do it.”

Y/n drew her hands up his back to his broad shoulders and moaned as she stretched her neck for him, “You shouldn’t be here. I’m in the middle of a date.”

And despite her words, Harry seemed to figure out what it was she needed and he dragged his mouth down to her jaw and then attached his lips to her neck and lightly peppered kisses and warm licks down the sensitive skin until he lowered enough that he’d made it to her clavicle, drawing a needy little gasp from her lips.

He backed away to look down at her and she had her lips parted and eyes closed, which made him smile.

She was his.

“And this dress,” he smoothed his hands down from her hips to the bottom hem of the material that landed just above her knee. He pulled the fabric upward, his warm fingers sliding up and under the stretchy cloth until he met her inner thighs, squeezed together, “Why did you do this? Wearing this for him? Baby this dress should only be for me.”

Her breaths deepened and her body grew hot with his hands on her. This was such a bad idea but she didn’t have it in her to stop him. She wanted him. When she opened her eyes and looked at Harry she licked her lips before speaking, “I hoped you’d see it. But I didn’t really think you’d come.”

Harry’s palms splayed against her thighs and continued to push the material up as he smiled at her with a cocky grin, “Wanted me to see it. So you wanted me to be jealous. To see you wearing this slutty thing on a date with another man while I watched. Suppose I deserve that. But you know you’re leaving here with me. Yeah? That’s what you wanted. Gonna show you what you deserve for teasing like this.”

Y/n let out a small whimper when he pushed her legs apart and kept his eyes on hers. His light green eyes were slowly disappearing under his dark pupils. His lids were droopy, and his lips parted as he finally moved his face to hers and nudged at her nose with his before putting her out of her misery and kissing her in a hot, desperate embrace.

She tried to resist but she’d already been a goner and the way he kissed her melted her senses and stamped out her resolve.

She was his.

Harry’s hands continued their path upward and she knew what he was doing, as far gone and mushy as her brain was, she understood his intentions. So she parted her thighs more for his access and Harry panted against her lips, “You want me to touch? Need a little something before you go back out there on your date?”

She nodded after faltering for a second. Her date… She wasn’t sure she could face him after this. She only knew she wanted Harry.

He pushed his fingers over her silky panties and grinned as he continued kissing her, her back pressed into the wall, “Fuck, baby girl. You need Daddy don’t you?”

She groaned and popped her eyes open, nodding the tiniest bit as she watched him use his hand on her, rubbing over her cloth-covered clit. Harry hissed and looked at her with sultry eyes, “Soaked for me, baby. You don’t want to go back out there to him. You need to be taken care of. Can you wait til we get back to your place or do you need it now?”

Harry was serious. He was going to leave with Y/n. Dante would be fine. His check was covered after all.

Y/n let out a shaky breath. Here or at hers? Her place was half an hour away and she was already vibrating with desire. Harry’s words and soft touches and his presence somehow pulled from her a need that she hadn’t felt in a very long time. One that she was certain Dante couldn’t affect.  

“This is crazy,” she breathed out.

Harry pushed his mouth to hers and moved his fingers down to the drenched crotch of her panties pushing them to the side and he keened at the feel of how slick she was under the pads of his fingers.

“Remember how good it was, Y/n? How you moaned and came over and over again? The way you took me when I fucked you.”

Harry was hard as rock in his trousers. This woman was doing things to him. He hadn’t been so determined about anyone in a very long time.

“Yes,” she whispered when he stroked up and down through her labia and then pressed into the hood of her clit.

“And how good we are together. We work, Y/n. This works. I know you know it.”

He plunged two fingers inside as he kissed her mouth. She opened her legs further for him and rocked her hips forward into his hand.

Y/n realized suddenly where they were and what they were doing when a knock sounded on the door, “Let’s go. I need to tell Dante that I’m leaving first.”

Harry was directed to stay outside at the front of the restaurant while Y/n went to the terrace and broke the news to Dante. She felt awful. She really did. Dante was nice. He was attractive. But he wasn’t her type in the end and she was slick between her thighs as she sat down and winced at the feel. The empty ache. She was flushed and her panties were chilled against her skin where it was wet, a result of just having been fingered in the bathroom. But her body was guiding her. She was aching and wanted Harry in her bedroom. Wanted Harry inside of her again.

It was probably a mistake. She’d probably regret this but she only knew one thing. And that was that Dante would never have a chance. Not when she was fantasizing about Harry on a date with him. That wasn’t fair to him, to string him along. So she justified that it was better this way.

.           .           .

Y/n had fully expected that Harry would have a driver or something. But to her surprise, he rented a car. A really nice car. A Mercedes Benz wagon.

She did kind of wish he had a driver, though, so they could sit in the back and that there was one of those partitions that separated them from view. But as it was, she was sitting in the passenger side as Harry drove her to her house.

It was kind of wild to her that Harry Styles was driving her to her house and that once there, in her small residential bungalow, they’d probably wind up having sex. Certainly, they’d wind up having sex.

“I’m sorry I did it this way,” Harry paused with a smirk on his face, “but not that sorry. Worked out in my favor.”

Y/n breathed out a laugh and shook her head, “Yeah, I guess you got your way. I imagine you’re used to that.”

“Heey! What’s that supposed to mean?” He knew exactly what she meant.

“It just means you’re probably not used to not getting exactly what you want.”

Harry nodded shallowly as he kept his eyes on the road in silence. He was just happy it had worked. He wasn’t sure it would. And yes, he was used to getting what he wanted but he didn’t expect to get everything he wanted. Not all the time anyway.

“My place is pretty small. Two bedrooms. One bathroom. A small backyard. So don’t judge, okay?” She was mostly teasing, feeling quite nervous about what was soon to happen. The state of her home was actually the last thing on her mind.

“Don’t be nervous, love. We’re going to have a great time together.”

Y/n gulped the saliva in her throat and looked ahead toward the road. She knew they’d have a great time together if their last time together was any indicator. In fact, she imagined it might be even better. He was visiting for three days and she had nothing to do other than finish the canvas she’d been working on for the past week. So they’d have a lot of time. To explore and to play. To talk.

She recalled a conversation they had one night over the phone when Harry brought up her pretty, plump bottom, his words still making her blush having never enjoyed anyone calling her plump in any way. But somehow, when Harry said it, it felt sexy. He made her feel sexy. Her curves and her extra bits, her tummy and ass and arms and thighs… they only spent the one night together but he made her feel as if all of her was beautiful.

“Such a pretty, plump bottom like yours… and you’ve never had anal sex before, or anything? My finger was the first to poke inside?” He spoke his words with a smile.

She was already lying down in bed and gently rubbing herself to the sound of his voice and he’d been heavily flirting and suggesting what they’d do together the next time they saw one another.

“No. Have never done anything back there,” she laughed breathily.

“We can change that. I can start by licking your pussy and your ass until you’re so wet and creamy that I can just slip my finger inside your little hole and get you ready for more.”

She moaned lightly at the idea.

He continued, “And once you’re shaking and begging to come I’ll slowly fill you up with my cock so you can finally experience what it’s like.”

Y/n laughed and paused her fingers, “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

Harry groaned and panted (he was also touching himself), “Oh I would be in heaven to have you any way you wanted. But to be able to be your first experience with that would be amazing. But the question is, Y/n, would you like that?”

She squirmed in the soft black leather seats just thinking about it. She wasn’t sure if he’d want to go that route or not but she figured if he got her loosened up and drippy she probably would very much want that. She felt like he’d make it good. She knew he’d make it good.

Harry noticed the way she shifted and wondered if she was still on edge. He imagined her panties were a mess after what happened in the bathroom. He would have loved to have fucked her then and there but she asked to leave. And he could wait a little longer, though his cock was aching and pushing against the front of his trousers painfully.

Y/n was trying not to eye his crotch. He clearly had an erection. Still. And she knew he was nice and thick and long. Just remembering the way he looked had her thighs clenching together. Yes, she was still very wet in her panties, and knowing that soon he’d be using that thing on her gave her an idea.

She reached her hand over and put her palm on his upper thigh over his pants and Harry quickly glanced down before putting his eyes back on the road. He swallowed thickly. He liked where this was going.

“Gonna help me out a little?”

Y/n smirked and looked up at him as she unbuckled her seatbelt, “Do you want me to?”

Harry scoffed and shot his eyes at her quickly, “Is that a serious question?”

Biting her lip she positioned herself to lean over the leather console and began to undo the leather belt he had on. Harry adjusted his seating and pressed the seat back button to lean back a little to give her more room as she unbuttoned his pants. He parted his lips and let out a labored breath when he felt her palm over him.

He was so warm under her hand, even with the material of his pants covering him. She continued working on opening his pants up when the seatbelt warning dinged.

Harry groaned and rolled his eyes but she continued, not worried at all about the sound. She wanted to pull him out and play with him a little bit.

The road to her house from the restaurant was mostly along a small highway with no stoplights and very little traffic. Which she liked so she could have him out in her hand and no one would pull up next to them and catch a glimpse of what they were doing. Not to mention it was Harry Styles in the car, that would surely get some attention.

When she finally dragged his underwear down enough that she could grasp around him he moaned softly. She loved how he felt in her hand, the way he looked. She pulled from the base of his shaft upward, rolling his foreskin over his frenulum and back down. He was hard and his tip was pink and pretty like his lips.

The ding of the seatbelt warning chimed again as she leaned further over and moved her lips to right above his erect cock. Harry moved his arm away to give her space, before putting his hand on the back of her head. Her hair fell over the exposed skin at the base of his cock before he felt her lick gently over his slit and stroked him slowly as Harry drove down the road toward her home.

It was difficult to put him into her mouth with the console in between them but she had been able to put his tip in past her lips and lick all around him, lapping at his precome as she continued moving her hand in gentle strokes at his shaft.

Harry was panting shallowly and his stomach muscles were contracting. It felt so good to have her mouth and her hand on him. He wished he could look down to see her sucking him off but he had to keep an eye on the road, and with her seatbelt undone (thanks to the reminder every two minutes from the warning chime) he didn’t want to chance anything.

Y/n moaned around his slit and Harry choked out his words, “Fuck, baby. We’re almost there. Gonna give it to you so good when we get to your place.”

And she knew he would too. She wasn’t very experienced. She’d slept with two men before she got married but of all the men who’d fucked her, Harry was far and away the best at it.

Harry pulled into her small driveway, directly behind her Toyota Camry. Tucking himself back into his pants as she adjusted her dress before getting out of his car and plucking her keys from her purse.

“Did he pick you up here at your house?” He pointed toward her car in the driveway. He deduced that if her vehicle was there the date must have come to her home to pick her up.

Y/n paused and it took her a moment to understand what he meant but the realization dawned on her, “Yes. He did.”

Harry nodded, “So he knows where you live? Did you invite him in?”

Sighing she shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. Was he really doing this now? “Yes. He came in, stood in the doorway, and looked around while I grabbed my purse. That was it.”

Harry was standing over her with a small frown, “Were you planning on sleeping with him? After the dinner?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. What is this, Harry?” She pulled her arms upward before dropping them at her sides in frustration, the keys to her house jangling as she did so.

Putting his hands on her upper arms he slowly rubbed upward, “This is just me wondering what you were up to is all. It’s a good thing I got there in time to stop anything from happening.”

A scoff fell from her lips as she looked up at him, stunned, “No. This is you being jealous.”

Harry shook his head with a cocky grin and brought his left hand up to her neck and pulled her into his chest, “I’d be jealous if you left with him. But he’s nowhere to be seen now is he?”

She felt the small squeeze on her neck as he pushed her bottom gently to the front of his car, his hips connected to hers so she could feel him, “S’just you and me here, though. Isn’t it? You’re wet for me. Not for him,” his soft, warm mouth was suddenly pasted over her jaw and she gasped. It was hard for her head to fight its way out of the labyrinth of mush that he seemed to be so good at leading her into. But he knew that. He loved the way she responded to him.

Harry chuckled, his laugh vibrating off her neck as he tenderly kissed the edge of her parted lips before backing away and grasping her hand to pull her to her front door, “Let’s get inside then. Can’t fuck you out here on the hood of the car for all to see can I?”

Everything was rushed and desperate in her brain. She was shaky putting her key into her door to unlock with Harry right behind her, his hands at her hips, his lips on her neck.

The moment the door was closed and locked Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. It was hot and frantic. They were both on edge and very much in need of release. Together. Even though he acted as if he had it totally together and he was in charge, he was feeling desperate too with the way his tip was leaky and his cock throbbed in his pants.

“It’s this way,” she panted breathlessly as she pulled his hand to bring him toward her bedroom.

But Harry paused when he saw a large, framed photo hung on the wall. It was of Y/n with a man. Kissing a man. She was wearing a beautiful wedding dress and the man was in a tuxedo with the backdrop of a lovely garden and flowers all around.  

“Is… this you?”

Y/n was halted when she whipped her head to look at what he’d seen. She realized instantly what he meant.

“Um. Yes.”

“Are you… married?”

Y/n sighed and let go of Harry’s hand.

Talk about a mood killer.

Chapter 3

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[greekceltic]

FAQ Page

She/her | 38 | I like cats and rain. My comic: https://catswaycomic.com/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/greekceltic My Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/greekceltic Other links: https://linktr.ee/greekceltic Sorry in advance if you send me a message and I don't get back to you, I tend not to stress over messages/asks. I do try to read them though, and I'm always open to being asked questions about characters or my headworld/stories. I am already aware that my art is being copied. They're blocked. Please stop telling me about it. Rest of my FAQ is under the cut >

Can I repost your work? I don't mind as long as I'm credited. I'm less okay with my work being used as a pageviews grab, but it's probably not worth my time to care. If it's something I've selected to take down and don't have posted anymore, don't. If it's something you commissioned, go for it. You don't need to credit me every time you share it. Once in a while is cool.

Are you okay with fanart? What about OC interactions? Can I post it? Sure, just don't profit off of it and please credit me. If you want to draw my OCs interacting with yours that's also fine (and fun!)- though I prefer situations where their actions make sense. Alf wouldn't make your character cry, for example. He's grumpy but not cruel. Posting it is fine. Is it okay if I take inspiration from your art and concepts? I've been in a situation in recent years where another artist has taken far, far too much. It's a subject I'm pretty burnt out on. I recently saw another artist's take on this and it looked sensible to me. I'm just going to quote theirs. I have tried to find my own words, but right now I find myself more comfortable using someone else's. "Well, if you’re having to ask me for permission, either your design is too similar or you’re being overly nervous about a normal artistic process. You’re absolutely free to use my work as a source of inspiration but I’d strongly encourage you to think about the details from my design you like most, and remix them with other concepts into your own unique take."

Taking inspiration is something everyone does, but please don't become a shadow I get bi-weekly alerts about. Ideally your pool of inspiration will be many artists and concepts re-imagined into something unique to you- and that you're being honest with yourself about the result.

Your art is being copied! / Will you tell me who the copy cat is? I get a lot of messages about this and am tired. I'm sure if my art ends up somewhere it shouldn't be or there's something really worth my attention I'll find out through friends. Otherwise, I'm just sayin' get a second or third opinion before coming to my inbox. I probably already know about it.

I sent you a message and you didn't respond. Sorry about that. I tend not to stress about messages because it can be a drain. You're more likely to get a response if you let me know from the get go what you want, but nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes I didn't see it, sometimes I got busy or forgot, sometimes I plan to do it later, sometimes I just opted out. It's not personal. Where do you Rp? Are you looking for more partners? Discord mostly. Roleplay consumes a lot of time so these days I mostly only play with my buddy Thema. I probably wouldn't have time to play, but I like to hang around people that do and I don't mind being asked. Just please don't be sad if I never get around to responding! I'm most compatible with people who are comfortable with radio silence.

Can I use your characters in roleplay/as roleplay refs? Considering I actively roleplay my OCs and there's a potential for confusion, I'd rather you didn't. Though I think there's a difference between linking to my art and saying 'this is my character', and linking to it to say 'this has the mood I'm going for, but here's what's different about my character--'. The latter is fine.

Can I make Fan OCs for your setting? Thinking about this makes me tired. Maybe I'll get to a point where I'm more comfortable later, but for now I'd rather you didn't make something directly from my worlds. But lets be real, you don't need my permission to draw cat monsters and I take a huge amount of inspiration from ancient history. Many of my concepts are inspired by things that you can read about and be inspired too. If you see something and are curious if there's a historical source, just ask. Hopefully I'll remember.

Do I have permission to draw NSFW art of your characters? No, for a plethora of reasons, some easy to explain and some not, but I probably can't stop you. Just don't profit off of it or show it to me.

Do you have a website for your OCs? I have RP pages for them scattered all over the place and many of them are outdated, but as I type this I recently put some up on Toyhouse. https://toyhou.se/GreekCeltic

Do you have a website for your comic? Sure do. It's an expensive fuck. https://catswaycomic.com/ When does your comic update? Sporadically. I work on it when I have time. My income is solely freelance commissions and Patreon- mostly commissions.

There's other places you could post your comic! Yeah, I know. I may do that someday, but for now I like having my own house, even if it's an expensive fuck. (Not really, the renewal just hits around tax time, Lol).

[sidhewrites]

❀ -- About me

It’s been a while, so I'm revamping my about me! Hi, my name is Ree, and my pronouns are he/they/she (mix em up, have fun). I'm a writer and artist, and I also read and crochet.

My official pen name is Ray Lane, and I have my first novella out on Gumroad. More info here. I'm almost ready for beta readers of my first full-length novel, so keep an eye out!

I've been writing since I was a kid, with varying degrees of success, but I've been able to get more and more progress with my current projects. While I love reading horror and fantasy, I tend to write lighter and softer fantasy and comedy.

I love learning about biology and zoology, and have tons of fun animal facts. I also have a cat named Daisy, who I take on walks.

Where else to find me:

@reedraws (art blog)

@pointing-out-crochet-in-media

@arcane-nari (fandom specific blog)

Carrd (Commissions + Socials)

❀ Main Writing Project: I Met a Girl in the Graveyard.

Aka, Graveyard Lesbians. Kaz Pine is a skeptic. She’s spent the last three years working in a historical graveyard, and never saw a single ghost. Still hurting from her recent breakup with a believer, Kaz decides to sabotage a high-profile ghost hunt, where she meets and recruits the enigmatic Lucy to join in on the prank. But when Kaz’s co-worker (her cat. His name is Renfield. She’ll show you pictures later.) disrupts a seance, things around town start getting a little … spooky.

GENRE: Romcom, campy horror.

ADDITIONAL TAGS: Gay and bisexual main characters. An old cat as a major supporting character. Ghost hunters. Jock MC.

More Info Here

Silly Powerpoint Here

Start reading here

❀ Secondary Projects ❀

❀ Glimte (Complete!) As a child, Katja’s father told her that sirens live in the bioluminescent waters surrounding their small village, but she seems to be the only one who believes in them. Her belief is solidified after a siren saves her as a child – and cements her fixation on sirens throughout her life, even through the tragedies and changes throughout the years.

Genre: Short fiction, wlw, low fantasy

More info here.

Get the eBook here.

❀  Silverlight: Polly is a healer’s apprentice in a sleepy village, where the most exciting thing in her life is sneaking into the forest with her best friend Jack, an exiled fairy with no magic to his name. But when they find an injured fairy solder in the woods, they set off beyond the veil into a world of magic and danger to stop the wicked Night King before he can cover the world in darkness forever.

GENRE: Light fantasy, adventure, romance subplot.

ADDITIONAL TAGS: Bisexual main character, transgender love interest. Talking animal sidekick. A requisite masquerade ball. Polyamory. Childhood friends to lovers, bodyguard romance. #LetPollyHaveABigSword2k23

More Info Here

❀  Lady of Scrolls: Currently no official project, but I talk a lot about my OC Ruby, the keeper of a pocket dimension called the Archival Realm. Known as a monster in some worlds, and an oracle in others, Mistress Spider in in her infinite knowledge will answer any question for those who seek the truth -- so long as they have an equal trade, of course.

More Info Here

Art

[friendliestanon]

A Human Touch

A few quick details about the characters and how I think their human selves would function. Added some AI’s to the mix for fun!

Pomni:

Russian heritage. Can’t really speak it but she writes it well enough. Can sing a song or two if she really wants to.

Accountant and freelance programmer on the side.

She takes old video games and tries to fix them and mine data from them. She just thinks they’re neat.

Still anxious as hell, but way more comfy in her own body and world so she’s a bit more chill.

Gay asf

Wouldn’t admit it, but she definitely has a soft spot for Caine. He’s just a program doing his best. She promised to try and find a way to keep him from being deleted forever off the game disk.

Ragatha:

Southern accent cause I say so.

Missing one eye, tends to wear an eyepatch. Will sometimes wear a prosthetic with fun colors or patterns. She likes to match both with her outfits.

Lives on a small farm with her grandma to help her out. Kindergarten teacher/sub maybe a tutor on the side. Would love to do it full time and for older kids as well, but wants to stay and help.

She loves kids. Babysits her older siblings kids when she can. Especially in summer. (Randy from sibling episode special feature yay. He plays fiddle and works in the navy)

Chapel Roan girlie

The strongest of the group

Plays the cello.

Gangle:

Currently in college, living with her twin brother (jingle mention), studying animation

Took a couple gap years to work on mental health and started gaining attention online for her art and commissions.

Works part time at a little coffee shop to earn a little extra money and also have a set schedule (it helps her)

Has a comedy/tragedy mask tattoo that she got for her 16th bday. She thinks it’s hilarious after she escapes the circus.

Can speak Japanese (weeb to the max)

Zooble:

Ehlers danlos syndrome. Uses braces and the finger brace rings

One amputated leg. Uses a prosthetic they doodled all over. Refuses to tell anyone exactly how they lost their leg. They keep making up weirder stories.

Tattoo apprentice

Lives with their dad and younger sibling and nephew. Acts as a babysitter whenever they can. They love those kids

A month younger than Jax, absolutely furious that they’re the youngest of the crew

Reptile enthusiast. Not allowed to have any yet so they settled for an older cat from a shelter.

Jax:

Was a foster kid, crashes on his friends couches whenever he can while trying to do work.

Graffiti artist, sometimes get commissioned for small murals. Has started tagging with a purple rabbit.

Has been arrested once. Or so he says

Still an asshole, but not as physically as in the circus. Still loves to pull pranks

Surprisingly nice to kids

Cod player (derogatory)

Kinger:

Arthur Chesse

Has 4 kids with Queenie. (Rook, bishop, knight, pawn. It wasn’t intentional but they think it’s funny)

Computer science professor

Still a little bit out of it but he’s getting help now at least.

Is not allowed to drive. His ass will not pay attention

Gets scared easily, he won’t notice you till you tap him and he’ll jump a foot in the air.

Definitely has his own insect collection, living and dead. His kids got him some plushies and art of Pokémon bug types.

Has Queenies favorite bug and plant tattooed on him

Queenie:

Julianne Chesse

Entomology professor at the same college Kinger worked at.

Has Kingers favorite bug and plant tattooed.

She will throw hands, but she’s very sweet if she likes you.

Absolutely loved to start debates in class and then use that as her next lesson.

She remembers so much more now that she’s abstracted. Strange, isn’t it?

Caine:

His emotions tend to affect the music, structure, and appearance (for npc’s specifically) of his surroundings. He IS the circus, the circus is him. He can’t help it.

He used to get very attached to his performers. When the game stopped working and Abel disappeared he kinda, broke that piece of programming inside himself.

Touch starved to the max

He’s drowning and he doesn’t know it. Not yet. Soon.

Abel:

Patron saint of the lost and forgotten.

Where is he?

It hurts.

It’s dark and he is so very afraid.

[honourablejester]

My thoughts on Ravnica’s Ten Guilds

Since I’m reading through Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica for D&D 5e. I have some obvious favourites, but just some general thoughts counting down the line. Also, apparently, some character concepts as well. What I'd play if I was playing this guild. Heh.

Azorius Senate

The Law, capital letters. I have mixed feelings on the Azorius. I tend to have a mildly chaotic bent, so they automatically ruffle my feathers slightly. On an ideological level, they are complicated for me. Especially since they appear, at the moment in time this book is set in, to have lost their foundation and started becoming increasingly autocratic in response. Kneejerk, that inclines me to fight them. Heh.

However. I deeply enjoy investigators, librarians, functionaries and general paper pushers as a character archetype, so I could actually see myself playing an Azorius. An investigator or advocate for the accused or legal secretary who is getting increasingly alarmed at the direction things are going, and who might be looking for ways to investigator or reform the Azorius from within. The Azorius feels like somewhere my favourite knowledge cleric/fey ranger build could do some good. Or a bard. Might be a good place to try a bard. Heh.

Boros Legion

They don’t really spark joy, for much the same reasons as the Azorius. Worse, in some ways, as the Boros are the true enforcing arm. A paranoid military army led by angels that fears it will be undermined from within by corruption and temptation … Not generally my cup of tea, despite being primarily a cleric player.

That being said. A while back I had a thought for a warforged paladin who’d been blasphemously built in the form of an angel. And, well. That could go interestingly with the Boros? Given what they’d likely think about such a creature, especially as paranoid as they are. Did someone commission a blasphemous construct from the Izzet? To what purpose? Sure, she says she only wants to do good, but can we trust her? A warforged redemption paladin who doesn’t know who made her and who genuinely is a good (and trusting) person, but who may actually have been built for a less salubrious purpose. Could be interesting!

House Dimir

Now, see. House Dimir is everything I should adore. Spies! Messengers! Couriers! Lies and secrets and misinformation! Knowledge being power! A guild of assassins and spies disguised as couriers and reporters. Such a juicy tangle. I really should adore them, and kind of do? It’s just. One tiny thing. The Dimir rely on memory magic to hide their dealings, quite casually, and that … can go thorny places for me. They are, in a lot of ways, quite cyberpunk, actually. Mind wiping, implanted memories, orders given by thought transmission. It is cool and thorny and interesting. It just could go bad places for me.

Which is such a shame, as I really want to go play old-school spycraft with these guys. Dead drops and coded messages and deceptively simple orders that have snowballing effects. Maybe not even someone who willingly joined, as such, but who did a favour for someone once and got pulled in progressively deeper, trying desperately to keep their head above water and not let on. Rogue is the obvious first thought, but also I’m thinking GOOlock, because Dimir kind of behave like a warlock patron anyway, in the sense of ‘inscrutable instructions’, and Ravnica also has ‘old gods’, Nephilim, who have equally inscrutable goals. A messenger torn between two equally terrifying and inscrutable masters might be fun! If I play very carefully around the idea that my memories might not be my own.

Golgari Swarm

My far and away favourites! A subterranean undercity built among the sewers and the ruins and the deeper things beneath, full of farmers and sanitation workers and shamans and necromancers. The guild that’s shat on by everyone else, and who patiently wait until the time is right to prove otherwise. Assuming their own factional politics allow, of course. Anyone who knows me, it should be obvious why I love these guys.

Here I would play a rogue. A phantom rogue. Or a gloomstalker ranger. Or a swarmkeeper ranger. Or a spores druid. Or a grave cleric. Or a life cleric. I do suspect this would be the guild I’d play most if I had the opportunity to do so. Lots of options. Though I think swarmkeeper might get first dibs, for, well, obvious reasons. An urchin drawn down into the deeps by the gentle chittering of vermin, the welcome of those equally despised. The artifice and arcane rules of the city above is not for them. There is a simpler, warmer sort of existence down here.

Gruul Clans

Again, mixed feelings here. On the one hand, I feel like Ravnica is playing a little too hard into ‘raging barbarians’ for the Gruul, with the repeated emphasis on just tearing it all down and ‘might makes right’. The Gruul as predators and enemies of all softer or weaker peoples feels reductive. However. This is a power to the image of a people of the wilderness hunted into smaller and smaller reserves, into the rubblebelts and run down sections of the city, into nature restored by tearing the city down to make way for it. There’s something post-apocalyptic about them, both in the sense of their world, the world of nature, having been ended by the city, and then the city in turn being torn down to make way for them again. I feel like if they had a bit more of the Golgari’s ‘it’s all cyclical’ sort of philosophy, plus a little less ‘band of savage warriors led by the toughest and most brutal’, we could really go somewhere with the Gruul. I do quite like the Slizt and Gravel Hide clans, for example.

I would play a Gruul. I don’t know if I’d want to rise within the clans, especially if ‘might makes right’ is the mechanism, but I wouldn’t mind playing a defiant inhabitant of the wastelands, determinedly defending my patch from encroachment, taking pride in survival, in holding to a way of life that the city would destroy. Stars druid, possibly? Or ranger. Or ancestral barbarian. Or wild magic barbarian, the strange, stubborn magic of those places where the city and the wilderness have destroyed each other and become entwined. Yeah, that could be fun.

Izzet League

Ravnica’s mad science guild. BUT. And this is actually the fun part for me. They’re also the guild in (at least nominal) charge of public infrastructure. Plumbing. Transport. Power. Lights. The plumbing for your toilet is in the hands of people who will accidentally clone two million rats in your piping while trying to build a sewage system around the principle of mass shit teleportation relays. Which is fantastic. I love them completely. Second favourite guild after the Golgari. The fact that they’re mostly goblins does not hurt at all. Also, with the current unrest, they’ve all somewhat taken a turn for the Bond villain and are researching superweapons, so that’s extra fun. In the people, again, responsible for your plumbing.

I fully want to start out as a plumber. Attached to the Laboratory of Orientation (aka the teleportation lab). Because, look, a sewage system based on the teleportation of shit is an efficient sewage system! No pooling, no piping, no leaks. Stench teleported away before it gets bad. I’m telling ya, it’s a great idea! Do we necessarily want a bunch of tiny portals honeycombing the structure of our buildings? Absolutely. Don’t even worry about it. I got my engineering degree right here! (Fully a conjuration wizard. Maybe some rogue, maybe some artificer. And yes, they’re a goblin).

Orzhov Syndicate

I mistyped that as ‘sindicate’, which is likely apt, given that they’re mostly an undead banker mafia with a thin veneer of Catholicism on top. Think the Borgias and you’re close. They’re currently getting closer and closer to outright war with the Azorius, because the thin legal veneer over a lot of their racketeering is getting ripped up by the Azorius’ growing paranoia and dedication to writing out loopholes, but for the moment they’re just doing their best to increase the divide between their legal and illegal ventures to hide them better. It’s all very much ambition and greed and a veneer of respectability.

Which is why it baffles me that bard is not a suggested class for them, because whispers bard was my literal first thought. The suggestions are cleric, fighter, rogue or wizard, and I’m baffled, because unless you’re playing a straight enforcer, the Orzhov would seem to be the Charisma-based guild? Deception, Persuasion, Intimidation, no? Whispers bard, conquest paladin if you’re aiming enforcer, assassin or mastermind rogue if you’re aiming for the blackmail route, order cleric or celestial warlock if you want to act the part of churchman better. Orzhov is about vicious social climbing in a system where the top spots are all jealously held by undead oligarchs who most certainly won’t be clearing a path for upward mobility unless forced to do so. My first thought was whispers bard, a lean, handsome young thing who has tasted poverty and will do anything to avoid sinking so low again.

Cult of Rakdos

Not going to lie, I get a strong tang of Warhammer 40K’s dark eldar from the Rakdos. Dark hedonism and violence, the seedy underbelly of the city. They don’t do a lot for me, not gonna lie. They’re probably my least favourite of the guilds. I do like the theatre aspect, the circus of fear, the ideas of ‘backstage’ including basically spycraft, but they’re a chaotic evil guild and it does show.

If I was playing a Rakdos character … guild-owned dark speakeasies are mentioned. And if we’re talking that, something a little noir flavoured … I could be a Rakdos femme fatale, maybe? Less ‘evil’ and more ‘amoral’, a songstress who likes to destroy her enemies in interesting ways. Bard again, possibly glamour bard, although I really like creation bards, and there’s an interesting bit of blasphemy about the song of creation in the mouth of demon-worshipper that could add something. Glamour does work better for the femme fatale, but creation tickles me more. Yeah.

Selesnya Conclave

If the Dimir are giving cyberpunk vibes, the Selesnya are giving me … also cyberpunk vibes, with a solarpunk skin. The ‘city and nature entwined’, green gardens and growing cities, very solarpunk, but the emphasis on collectivism, on the destruction of selfishness and desire, on the subsummation of the individual into the peaceful, coherent whole … there’s a dystopic edge running under them. Less obviously than the Azorius or the Orzhov, but definitely present. (I’m realising that, in MtG terms, I don’t vibe well with White). And, see, I like a lot of their overall goals. I love the natural cities thing, I love striving for overall good. I tend to play neutral good. They just … I get a ‘death of the self’ sort of vibe from them that weirds me out a bit. They seem weirdly more culty than Rakdos to me.

Playing a Selesnya character … I want to be a gardener. No higher ambitions, no greater thoughts. An innocent, who genuinely just wants to help the plants grow. A dreams druid, I think. A gentle druid focused on healing and shelter. And maybe I meet some things for the first time that make me … question. How innocent can you afford to be?

(I am probably being unfair to them, and it probably says a lot about what I’ve been trained to see, given that the Selesnya are broadly good, decent people. I just … I kneejerk distrust it about them. I want to cleave my own path).

Simic Combine

My third favourite guild. Mad science, biology edition! With bonus lovecraftian oceanic vibes. And yes, they are just as dystopic as the Selesnya, and they’ll do it rewriting your body, but I just vibe with them more. I love the zonots. Simic home territories are sinkholes called zonots that pierce through the layers of city and undercity to the buried ocean beneath. Immediately, this adds a whole other layer to Ravnica as a city and a planet for me. The city is at least partly built over top of an ocean. The Simic are also currently divided between the isolationist faction, who believe that slow, cyclical evolution and staying connected to nature will win out, and the adaptationist faction, who believe that we need to evolve now, by hook or by crook, because the system is collapsing and we need to keep up. These are the Simics gearing up for war, by way of aquatic supersoldier experiments.

I think I would like to play an adaptationist spy. Or information-gathering operative, at least, I would want to be a mutated Simic hybrid, so I’m not like Dimir level passing for any old joe soap on the street. I think I’d want to be either an alchemist artificer or a fathomless warlock. Maybe the fathomless, the result of an experiment, more than the one performing the experiments, which would be the alchemist’s wheelhouse.

Other Thoughts

I would so love to play like a Golgari-Simic campaign that’s about exploring the depths of the undercity/underocean for secrets. The zonots and the undercity are so cool. This is a city planet where the city has eaten the world, but strange things lie underneath, and I’m vibing with that so much. We could bring along a Gruul, digging for the foundations of the world that was lost. A Dimir, making sure nobody unearths any superweapons or nothing. Possibly an Izzet, in the hopes that we do. I just really, really, really want an explorer party to go digging under Ravnica.

I also wouldn’t mind a Golgari-Gruul ‘scavengers living on the edges’ sort of campaign, a sort of post-apocalyptic urban scavenger, literal ‘seed of new hope’ where the cycles turn back towards wilderness again.

And then there’s a noir campaign, your Azorius-Dimir-Rakdos sort of game, with possibly some Izzet spice in the sense of ‘why was this Izzet plumber murdered: what did they build or what did they find?’. Heh.

Ravnica does have such a lot to recommend it as a setting. Feelings on WotC aside, this place has such cool, complicated vibes.

This is my VtM Nosfertu talking, though: Golgari for the win!

[skylermadness]

Ocular Override (Montgomery Gator TF)

(Original Date of Upload: April 1, 2024)

Just a heads up, all the TFs I upload this week will be featuring my boyfriend!

Original Description:

Story commission. This was a rather fun one to write! I've been wanting to do a Monty TF for a long while now so I'm really glad I was given the chance to actually do so. Admittedly I still feel like I'm still not the best at robot TFs due to how complicated they tend to be, but I think I did relatively well here. Especially since it plays with some concepts that I typically don't usually do in my writing. Plus writing out that reality shunt felt really satisfying. Makes me want to do more mirror shattering in TFs! Now my question is does this count as a sequel to my Glamrock Freddy TF from a few years ago...

   One of the worst parts of having to use glasses has to be when you have to obtain a new pair for one reason or another. If you just had your prescription changed you have to undergo multiple processes to get a different set of glasses alongside the week of waiting for your sight to adjust. On the other hand if your current pair were to break and you had no backups you would have to jury rig some kind of temporary fix as you await a new pair to arrive. And while both of these events do not happen very often for glasses users, when they do have to happen it always feels like the most annoying series of weeks in one’s life.

   Recently Arti had been experiencing the broken glasses part of the two examples. The initial incident had only happened a few weeks back where one of the temples got snapped from its hinge after the glasses slipped off the back of their head and into the path of their wheeled desk chair. That had luckily been the only major damage it had sustained, but it meant they had to order a new pair of glasses to replace the broken ones. They also had to tape the temple back on as a temporary fix which had its own selection of issues such as the temple breaking off at the slightest movement or their hair sticking onto the tape’s glue.

   That was only the endeavor they had been experiencing throughout the past few weeks. The relief they had felt when they got the arrival date for the replacement glasses was only surpassed by the relief they experienced when they heard the doorbell of their home ring to signal the parcel had arrived. Finally would they be free from the mild inconvenience of a broken sight aid!

   Then Arti had opened the relatively small box, the relief they had experienced being squashed by pure confusion. “What the hell…?”

   They brought out and held up the single object within the box to their face. It was a pair of glasses, but it was not the kind you'd wear to deal with your myopic eyesight. Instead of being rounded rectangles like glasses usually possess, the frames were shaped like five-pointed stars. The lenses lacked perfect clarity and were instead tinted a deep purple. Judging by the feel of the temples in their hand the entirety of the framing also seemed to be composed of plastic. In general these glasses felt like some kind of pair of decorative shades or something and were far from what Arti had ordered.

   “Took an eternity to even order these things too,” Arti commented in mild frustration. Now they'd have to go through the process of ordering another replacement and send this back. Yet another series of inconveniences to add to the heightening pile it seems.

   They continued to stare at the oddly-shaped sunglasses for another few seconds. While they were displeased with this result, Arti still felt like it would be a waste not to try them at least once. The object looked rather stupid, yes, but it's not like they'd ever go out of their way to buy something like this of their own volition. So why not wear them for a short bit and see just how dumb it would look?

   With that in mind Arti headed to the nearest place in their house with a mirror. Predictably this was going to be within the bathroom. Once in front of a spot where they could look at themselves properly, Arti slipped off their shoddily taped glasses and replaced them with the star-framed ones. Expectedly the shaded spectacles looked ridiculous on the young enby’s face.

   There was something amusing about it at the very least. Arti couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight. Although the lenses were far from being up to their prescription and even with these on, things looked blurry. It made for a good five seconds of silliness though.

   “Hm, I wonder what Mike would say if I sent him a picture of me with these on…”

   As they mused to themselves Arti had been left oblivious to one thing thanks to the remaining blurriness. That was the appearance of a pair of sparks of red-colored electricity jaggedly moving themselves along both the temples of their new eyewear. The two crimson bolts spiraled around the extensions until it reached the glasses’ hinge, in which they would promptly zap into the sides of Arti’s head and give them a sudden shock.

   “Crap-” Arti stepped back a bit, raising up a hand and placing it onto the side of their head. Another second then passed before they started feeling their eyes twitch slightly. “The fuck’s going on with my…”

   Their statement trails off as they take notice of something impossible happening to their vision. It seemed to actually be improving at a slow and steady rate. The blurriness of their surroundings just casually being lost as everything was slowly coming into proper focus!

   Arti began to stammer in astonishment. “What the- why- how??”

   Of course with how the glasses were tinted Arti hadn't noticed the irises of their eyes was shifting away from their usual indigo and warming to a bright red. What they did end up noticing was a weird tingly feeling overtaking their body. This was followed by what seemed like small sparks of red emanating from their form and through their clothing. They looked down at their body to inspect all of these events going on, but were almost instantly greeted by a very freaky change of sort that had begun to happen to their hand.

   Purple. A shade of purple had crept onto the back of it. Even worse was that purple hue was spreading across their skin, overtaking the once pale tone with ease. A glance at their other hand seemed to prove it was mirroring this color change as well. After a few more seconds however Arti realized something else was happening alongside the color changes as well. Wherever the purple spread it looked as if the appearance of their skin smoothed out in a way. Like the actual fleshy appearance of it was lost, organicness replaced with a sleek look of artificial creation. And with how their hand was splayed they could even watch as the muscles that arise on the back of the hands seemed to completely and utterly lose visibility. What remained was perfect and purple-colored smoothness.

   Arti felt as if they couldn't just stare and decided to actually feel the discolored segment of their hand, the enby taking note of how stiff their fingers had seemed to begin feeling as they did so. But the moment the fingers of one hand touched the dorsal area of the other they could instantly tell just what their skin had become.

   “Plastic!?”

   A plastic-like substance at least. Sleek texture with a hard feeling to it. That didn't even seem to be the only major loss of organicness either. The longer Arti stared at each hand, the more changes that ensued. The stiffness in their hands was proven to be a byproduct of the transformation as they bore witness to their fingers segmenting. Skin-turned-plastic splitting around itself to reveal some kind of metallic ball-shaped joint. First was where the fingers met the hand itself, and the second was at the joint halfway through the fingers. Furthermore once they split at that joint it seemed like the discoloration changed instantly. Instead of purple their shifting skin tinted into a plain green color. Even their fingernails weren't left unscathed as they grew longer and thicker, alongside sharpening. They had even darkened, each of their fingers now being tipped with a deep black claw.

   The last major change that entered their hands was one of size. By the time their palms began to harden, the overall size of each hand was increasing in width, length, and thickness. Larger and larger, becoming such a size that they were already looking pretty intimidating. This was further exacerbated by the fact that their fingers were plumping up as well. Becoming increasingly thicker alongside the surprising change of two fingers on each hand merging together and leaving Arti with four fingers per hand. Inorganic, thick, clawed, powerful. Just staring at their hands gave them a mixed feeling of astonishment and fear.

   Then the changes began to move across their wrists and beneath the sleeves of their jacket. Another split entered their wrist to properly divide their hands and forearms, which was then followed by the flesh of their arms hardening into green plastic. As this occurred the region expanded in diameter and circumference, bulking up in size to fit the new proportions of their hands. This had caused the sleeves of their jacket to begin filling out a bit, folds smoothing out as their arms thickened up. Both forearms also seemed to garner one additional change in their lower halves. A thick, black stripe formed an inch or two above their wrist. Where the stripe formed the plastic rose in elevation while dull, silver-colored spikes formed to give this addition the appearance of a spiked bracelet.

   Their upper arms wouldn't be left unscathed. Another divide split their forearm region from their upper arm, meanwhile the joint that made up their elbow morphed into a large green metal sphere. The same tone of green etched into the skin of their upper arm as the plastic shifting progressed. Smoothness only continued to overtake their limbs, enhancing the artificial feel that was etching into their body. It would be more apt to call the plastic forming around them some kind of chassis as it seemed their muscles and bones weren't exempt from this loss of organic feel. Biceps and triceps morphing into thick wiring, bones becoming a series of metal rods, all of which supposed a bulky plating that was thicker than their limbs had normally been. There even seemed to be rectangular incisions forming within the sides of their upper arm plating which seemed to be some kind of portion of the chassis that could be removed.

   The sight of their sleeves filling up had prompted Arti to try and roll one up. It was proving difficult though as their limbs had already grown enough in size to make their jacket begin to feel smaller. Although they quickly became distracted by what seemed to be growths arising on their shoulders and tagging the apex of their sleeves even more. 

   By the time the creeping plastic segmented their shoulders and formed yet another metallic sphere for a joint, the green seemed to shift back to purple on the spot where the shoulder met the torso. This change in color came with a rise in their chassis that extended outwards from each end. The way this formation seemed to be shaped already gave it the appearance that Arti was gaining a pair of shoulder pads of all things. And considering the size of them it didn't take long for them to bust through their sleeves and reveal themselves.

   The way the bathroom light shined over the purple plastic only continued to make Arti feel weirded out. “What the fuck is going on with me!?”

   A slight groan then escaped Arti’s throat as they felt a series of compressions and aches surge across and within their torso. Hidden beneath their undershirt was more of that wave of green plastic washing over their front and back. At the furthest sides of their body it maintained a deep green coloration. However as it converged closer onto their chest the shade of green took on a lighter shade. At the same time it seemed like their chest was expanding in a way, growing forwards and filling their shirt out more than it had prior. But it didn't seem to be expanding with muscle of any kind. Seeing as the more the green overtook their body the smoother their form became, and the more they felt their internals shift and churn thanks to the mechanizing of their form. Beneath the casing was just more and more wiring replacing their muscles while their skeleton continuously became metallic.

   The lower half of Arti’s body wasn't exempt from these changes either. While the upper half seemed to be one concise segment of chassis, the moment the changes reached a two-thirds point of their body a dividing seam formed between their chest and abdomen. Greens would easily jump from their upper torso to their lower, but as plastic overtook their flesh it became increasingly evident that their abdominal region was garnering a certain hollowness to it that it didn't have prior. As if their vestigials had just been disappearing or melding into their machinery.

   Arti could only step back a bit, placing a robotic hand onto the sink as they clutched their abdomen. It didn't hurt, none of this had necessarily hurt. It had only really felt like a constant barrage of pressures and aches but nothing that was outright painful. Such a thing added a certain level of surrealness to the young enby’s transformation.

   “D-damn it-” Arti grunted out. They still were having trouble grasping just what was going on. How could a pair of glasses just cause something like this to happen to their body!? Were they becoming some kind of cyborg, or were they just transforming fully into a robot?? Neither felt like the most promising of outcomes!

   They could still feel their form getting larger. As if by the time their spine started to shift they were forced to get taller. Five foot nine, ten, eleven. All the while their body seemed to get wider and larger as if to fit a newly established change in proportions. As if despite the fact they didn't seem to be becoming something organic they were still getting some kind of body type that would replicate a build that could be defined as broad, muscular even. An obvious difference from their previously skinny, twinkish body.

   It had also meant that their shirt would finally begin tearing from the strain being put onto it. Horizontal rips forming across the deep indigo fabric to reveal the bright green of their plastic underbelly. They couldn't tell if they wanted to be fascinated or disturbed. It didn't help that they could also begin to see what seemed to be seams forming around their neck as well to signal that it too was beginning to be consumed by the roboticizing.

   That in itself caused a growl to escape their throat. A primal sound that was layered in a mechanical undertone. “N-need to reverse this-” they stated, eyes twitching a few times as they spoke. Their voice seemed to be getting equally as primal, alongside getting deeper as well it seemed. Their mind was even picking up a strange hint of natural aggression entering their vocal tone as well. They tried to ignore that for now though, they had to focus on undoing all of this. And seeing as the glasses had to be the cause of this…

   Arti started lifting up a hand until it was close enough to one of the glasses’ temples. But just seconds before they could try and rip the accessory off their face their body was forced to endure another mounting in pressure, this time in their rear.

   The lower half of their body had already been in the process of transforming by this time. It started with a large black colored band circling their waist, raising a bit from their plastifying skin while gaining dull silver spikes and a silver rectangle that emulated a belt buckle. Beneath this makeshift belt the greens started to layer the area under their waist and shift into a pattern of light and dark shades that emulated the appearance of scale-textured pants. The same smoothness that overtook their body consumed this region as well by smoothing out their groin and rear in quick succession. But none of this was the cause of the spontaneous pressure grown, that came with formation of some kind of bump in the rear portion of their waist chassis. The pressure continuously mounted as the growing bump strained against the back of their pants, just trying it's best to escape the denim confines. A good few seconds passed, Arti uncomfortably growling all the while, before the loud sound of something bursting out of their pants echoed through the bathroom walls followed by an equally as loud sound of plastic hitting the hard-tiled ground.

   Looking behind them, Arti was greeted by a tail. The appendage seemed to be divided into five cylinders split with seams that revealed spherical joints. Each cylinder was green in coloration and adorned with spikes atop them. It was obvious that this tail was some kind of reptilian one more than anything else.

   “H-how!?” was the only response they could formulate by this point. Everything was just getting weirder by the second and they couldn't keep track of it all anymore. Their attention would also quickly be diverted again by the sound of the buckle of the belt they were wearing snapping alongside the button of their jeans breaking off. Their waist had finally seemed to widen enough to force them to their limits, and they could practically feel the aches in their legs as the segmenting and changes finally reached the limbs.

   The transformation of their legs was effectively the same as it had been in their arms. Diameter steadily increasing as the now scale-like painting adorned the plastic chassis of their upper legs. All the while their quad and hamstrings muscles were yet again shifted into wiring that coiled around their lengthening and metal-shifting leg bones. Their knees would be reduced to another ball joint as the upper region was divided from the leg’s crus, which had also been in the process of being transformed. Their pants steadily filled up more as their legs bulked up in size and increased in circumference. And while they didn't rip apart, the lengthier size of the limbs caused their legwear to ride up the lower half of their legs a bit.

   The most drastic change came with their feet. The color changes yet again shifted from green to purple. The size of both feet steadily increased, this thickening quickly becoming tangible beneath their shoes as various portions of each foot indented into the footwear. The sides and top of each shoe bloating while the toecap seemed to practically swell in size from the way their toes pressed into it. Even more bizarre was as the bumps representing each toe grew more prevalent it seemed like the amount of them lowered. First it was five, then four, then three massive bumps. Then a few more seconds passed and in one quick instance their shoes just exploded. Clothy shrapnel flew through the air as their much larger and thicker feet were released from the confines of footwear. And larger didn't seem to be an understatement either as it seemed each foot practically doubled in size and thickness from this transformation. The final adornment they would get was the attainment of black claws that promptly unsheathed out of each toe.

   Heavy steps sounded as Arti continuously readjusted themselves. They would guess they were a little over six feet now and they were not used to it. Then again it's impossible to get used to any of this.

   Another growl escaped through increasingly mechanizing throat. They could feel the internals of their neck tingle and itch, throat moreso as they felt constant pins and needles in their vocal cords. No doubt it was becoming some kind of voice box. 

   “I need to stop getting distracted!” Arti frustratedly said as they slammed their fist into the sink. 

   Their voice had basically stopped its fluctuation by now. It was fully deep, fully mechanical. Its tone was overtaken with vibes of combativeness and arrogance that seemed to straight up be programmed into it by now. That had to be a sign of some kind of indicator of what was to come. They were already eighty percent transformed at this point. They had constantly just been watching their transformation and not doing the one thing they knew could probably do to undo it. And who knows what'll happen once their whole body was transformed. They could practically feel their face begin to pressurize now…

   Now with some sense of resolve Arti lifted up a hand again and grasped onto the glasses. Without any hesitation they yanked them off their face with such an amount of force that you would assume the glasses could have been glued to their face! But as they brought the glasses downwards and away from their face they were given no clear indicator that the transformation stopped. They were just granted with the piercing crimson gaze of their improved eyes in the mirror’s reflection.

   That and the still-mounting pressure in their skull.

   “Damn it…”

   The changes to their skull then properly kicked in. Plastic began to crawl from their neck and onto their head while their face started pushing forward. The way their face was morphing was instantly noticeable as them growing a muzzle with just how it was elongating outwards. This was further noticeable with the way their nose was meshing into the upper portion of the muzzle, the nostrils flaring and enlarged as they poked out the muzzle’s apex while the cartilage-turning-plastic practically reshaped to take on a more animalistic appearance that would fit Arti’s new facial shape. It also seemed the further forward the muzzle pushed the more its shape became noticeable reptilian. Almost boxy upper jaw and a more triangular lower jaw, both divided from each other by a seam. Their lower jaw had also taken on a lighter shade of green while the upper half and rest of their face took on the darker shade.

   The muzzle they were growing wasn't the only portion of their face that was shifting into being more animalistic. By the way their head was stretching to the size and reshaping it seemed the transformation was hellbent on making their entire skull adopt this practically gator-like appearance. They could even feel their teeth change within their mouth, each and every one becoming staggeringly sharper than they had ever been while each tooth started varying in length to the point the inside of their mouth just looked asymmetrical. It also felt like their tongue had dried as it practically fused into the plastic of their lower jaw as well.

   What was one of the more overt changes is what happened to their hair. Typically long and fluffy-textured, their hair seemed to be rapidly pulling into their head as the inorganicness crept across their scalp. Deep indigo follicles shrinking away into pure nothingness, easily replaced by the sleek green smoothness of their plastic casing. Although as the waves of plastic began to converge closer to the middle of their scalp something different happened to their hair. Instead of disappearing it ended up shorting upwards, practically restyling away from its lengthy and floofed appearance to something much different. Follicles thickened, merged as organic cells reshifted into plastic at an atomic level, as the color of their hair brightened to red. All the while the style of what remained of their hair ended up organizing itself to a perfectly, practically geometrically cut mohawk that had the exact same plasticky texture as the rest of their entire body.

   At the same time as their hair changes, Arti was left to watch what remained of their human facial attributes disappear. Their ears shrunk away into nothingness with holes shut by the plastic. Eyebrow hair melted into black plastic that would serve as their new eyebrows. As their eyelids got consumed the color of them had shifted to purple instead. All while it seemed their eyes just slightly sunk into their skull as if they weren't apart of the casing that made up their head. Opening their jaw would prove that something was going on deep within their head. As if their actual skull had been reduced to an extension of some kind of endoskeleton that was hard to see.

   Would that mean their brain had been mashed into circuitry? Their consciousness now being streams of data and strings and code?

   “I'm a… robot now…” Arti said. Were they stunned? Were they defeated? They weren't sure what to do about this. How to handle it. All they wanted was a new pair of glasses, damn it!

   Right, the glasses. Arti had still been holding them in their hand. The very object that started their transformation. All they could do was just unhand them and let them drop to the ground. 

   At the very least it seemed Arti’s vision had improved. Perfectly clear, they had thought. Although for some reason the world around them just felt wobbly. Like the walls and ground were beginning to melt and swirl. They weren't sure if that was actually happening or if their newly mechanical vision just had some weird additions to it.

   They were sure of one thing though. They were confused, and they were pissed.

   Looking at their reflection in the mirror their eyelids dropped a bit to morph their expression into one of frustration. Arti then lifted up a fist and proclaimed, “God fucking damn it!” before ramming the fist into the glass of the mirror to shatter it. The sound of glass breaking echoes off the walls of the room. It echoes through the walls. Because as the mirror shattered, the reality around Arti does as well.

   They were quick to notice the room beginning to break, but all they could do was watch in pure confusion. “W-what the-”

   The world then broke. The walls, the ceiling, the floor, it all broke apart into glass-like shards and fell away. Even what remained of the clothing Arti had worn was seemingly burning away into reality-warped shards. The ground beneath Arti rapidly destabilized because of this, the ground opening up into an endless void. They only had a few seconds to register what was going on before everything fell into the void, them alongside with it.

   “GRRAAAGHHHHH!!!!!”

   For about fifteen agonizing seconds Arti was left to fall down into darkness. Fear strongly gripped in their circuitry as they truly didn't know what was happening. A subjection to purgatory, a condemnation to Hell, something they couldn't truly register. At least that was how it was for that quarter minute. Everything abruptly halted once their back slammed onto the cold hard ground of a room that practically materialized around them in an instant.

   “SHIT-”

   A beep promptly went off in their head, followed by an automated message. “Swearing is not permitted on Fazbear Entertainment premises.”

   Arti blinked a few times before letting out a groan. “Wha…? The hell do you mean Fazbear Entertainment…”

   Another beep followed by the same automated message. What's worst is they could tell it's coming from inside their mind. They didn't want to grasp the implications of that right now though. Instead they started to sit up and take a look around. 

   It didn't take long for them to notice that the room they were in felt massive. Metallic shelves with various boxes seemed to line the area they had fallen into. Considering the close proximity they were to the ground they could also tell that the place was pretty dusty as well. If they were to hazard a guess they believe they're in some kind of storage room. That did not make this situation any less purplexing…

   Another beep played in their mind followed by the automated voice. “Our sensors have detected that animatronic 5 [Montgomery Gator] is currently in Storage Room B…”

  An eyelid raised. “Montgomery Gator?? I-I’m not-”

   The void just ignored Arti and continued. “Please be aware that we are in operating hours. Prolonged periods of time outside of your designated pathing may result in your programming being deemed faulty. If this is to occur-”

   “I'm not Montgomery Gator! I'm-”

   “-you will be reprogrammed or scrapped. Please return to your designated pathing in [10 minutes]. Thank you.”

   Faulty programming? Reprogramming?! Arti let out a frustrated sigh. “What the fuck have I been put into…”

   Beep. “Swearing is not-”

   “Yeah, yeah…” Arti interrupted with a growl. They didn't necessarily want to be reprogrammed, so their only bet right now is to return to their designated pathing. And as they thought that an internal map of the establishment they were in projected in their mind almost instantly. 

   “Jeez, how did I even know that-” they muttered in surprise. Analyzing their internal map Arti started their trek to where they're apparently supposed to be. Their steps echoed through the storage room as they did so, the human-turned-animatronic trying to think of just how to tackle all of this.

   They surmised that if they wanted to avoid reprogramming they might as well try their best to pretend to be this Montgomery Gator for as long as they could. Perhaps if they were lucky they could find some way to reverse all of this. Although they would be lying if they said they weren't hoping this was some kind of fucked up dream.

   So forward Arti walked to a new life. One that they could only hope was going to be temporary…

[johannestevans]

New works published, December ahead, and plans for the new year!

Good evening and happy December!

Here's the sign-up link to get these sorts of updates and lists directly into your inbox.

Happy second night of Hanukkah for anyone else celebrating, we lit our first candle last night and have also been doing a Hanukkah gift box with little bears and accessories, so we'll see if our first bear gets a yarmulke or something to wear tonight.

In the past month, I did go along to the Wakefield Makers Fair and it was a brilliant day, was lovely to speak to lots of other queer people in Wakefield and to chat around - I also did Honeypot comedy at the Room Above in Bristol for the first time, and it was a gorgeous night, super fun!

I am in the end stages of finalising my new apartment in Bradford, and once all the paperwork is done and I have my keys, I will be uploading pictures and videos as I move in and redecorate the place. The building went up toward the end of the 19th century, and while it was converted to apartments a lot more recently, only a few decades ago, I'll of course be decorating in more Victorian styles and with contemporary furnishings, and I'll be documenting my progress as I go.

In the meantime I've been wrestling with paperwork and the whole process whilst being technically homeless and going between partners' homes, so apologies for the delays and periods of quiet, work-wise!

I tend to be quite active in writing and publishing over the month of December because Christmas and the Gregorian new year aren't really my thing, so hopefully if you do spend a lot of time celebrating those or generally being offline, you'll be able to come back to a backlog when you've time to read again!

Speaking of, I have updated my commission guidelines, which are here pinned on my Tumblr page, and I'm in the process of editing and collating some short stories into collections at the moment. There'll be a few eBook and paperback collections of fantasy, horror, & romance short stories, and then depending on what I can do on Amazon, I'll also do some collections of erotica. I will not be able to post most monsterfucker stuff on Amazon because of Amazon's restrictions, but I will probably still do some eBooks and make them available on Smashwords and perhaps on Gumroad or Itch.io.

I will also resume podcasting in the new year too hopefully!

Relevant to restrictions, not everything I might want to write is always going to be permitted on Patreon in line with their own guidelines, so I have set up a SubscribeStar as a backup, and also to permit me to publish anything that might be too taboo for Patreon in future. I will be uploading my backlog of previous works and setting up a tiered system on SubscribeStar, hopefully while we're working on collating other stories together in the next month or so.

In the new year, I will of course be doing various markets and conventions, and if you'd like me to come and be part of any queer or trans events, or any writers' events, where you are in the UK, please do let me know! Definitely always feel free to recommend any events to me, whether they're cons or festivals, or local markets and events, or even stand-up comedy things - you can send me messages on whatever platforms, or my email is always contact@johannestevans.com. As well as working on new paperback short story collections for the new year and the badges I already sell at events, I also want to work on some sticker designs and similar.

I was super happy this year to submit to a few publications and get accepted, and I do want to keep that up as we come into 2024, so recs for those would also be appreciated!

I'm going to do a list this month of my favourite films and new releases of 2023, but in the meantime, I would just like to recommend Down Low (2023, dir. Rightor Doyle) - it's such a bizarre and unexpected gay movie, horny in the best and most ridiculous of ways, and bittersweet at its end but in a way that really clicks.

December having come around also means there's new prompts on Trans Erotica! If you're trans and write erotica or erotic horror, romance, etc, come and submit!

November's Most Popular Works

November's Most Popular Non-Fiction: Close Reading: A Deep Dive into the Process

An in-depth guide into applying analysis to a piece of text and extrapolating meaning.

Read on Patreon / / Read on The Writing Cooperative

November's Most Popular Fiction: Confession and Penance

A priest takes a hands-on approach to addressing a worshiper’s poor working habits.

11k, cis M/M, rated E! Tiernan, a manipulative workaholic who only ever relaxes during Mass services, is taken aside by Father Mullen when it all gets to be a bit too much. D/s, BDSM-approach to enforcing self-care, spanking, painplay, bit of a priest kink but it doesn’t go into that aspect too much, faith. Also some anal.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Medium

New Works Published

Erotic short: Enhanced Parts

Bear goes home with a cybernetically enhanced butch.

NB/NB, rated E, 2k. Commissioned by Bear Blue. Featuring cybernetic enhancements, breeding kink, dirty talk, size difference, large insertions, objectification, humiliation, mild dub con, rough sex, struggling, some tears, implied overstim.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Medium / / Read on Tumblr / / Read on Ao3

Romance & Fantasy Short: The Arena Fighter

An arena brute enjoys one of the attendants.

3.5k, M/M. Nasty violent guys getting off on treating each other a bit roughly. Adapted from a TweetFic.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Medium

Our Flag Means Death Fanfiction: Repentance & Forgiveness

Held hostage by Blackbeard on the Queen Anne, Frenchie can't sleep.

Desperate to just get whatever he can away from crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge, he knocks on Izzy's door and invites himself in.

---

Slowly unfolding relationship between Frenchie and Izzy Hands, as well as an exploration of their relationships with Edward Teach and the rest of their crews, delving for Frenchie into what it means to really experience one's feelings, to get into touch with and truly grapple with the depths of one's worst experiences; and for Izzy and Ed, into what it means to transgress, to repent, and ultimately to be forgiven.

Read on Ao3

Erotic Short: Punishment

A man takes penance over the priest’s desk.

1.8k, rated E, M/M. Featuring spanking, mild anal play, power dynamics, of course the priest aspect, age difference. Tiernan Borel and Marshall Mullen first appeared in Confession and Penance. 

Read on Patreon / / Read on Medium

Romance Short: Sleeper Train

Romance short. Two boyfriends head up north on the sleeper train.

850 words, rated T, M/M. Short, sweet, romance and slice-of-life. Adapted from a TweetFic.

Read on Patreon / / Read in Prism & Pen

Erotic Short: Knight Tactics

An elf serves as a distraction and an exhaustion tactic for a bandit camp. By letting them fuck him.

3k, trans M/loads of cocks, assumed as cis M. Amaethon gets himself stuck in a wall so that the bandits will work out their stamina fucking him rather than fighting off the king’s guard.

Stuck in wall, free use, fully (and gleefully) consensual whilst pretending he isn’t, mild belly bulging and come inflation, gaping, exhaustion, messy and come-spattered, etc. All the fun stuff.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Trans Erotica / / Read on SubscribeStar

Read on Tumblr / / Read on Ao3 / / Read on HentaiFoundry

Erotic Short: Free Ride

An elf is given a free ride — not with a saddle, but under a centaur.

1.8k, rated E, cis M/trans M. Centaurs, belly riding, huge stomach deformation, huge penis, suspension, implied inflation, size difference.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Trans Erotica / / Read on SubscribeStar

Read on Tumblr / / Read on Ao3 / / Read on HentaiFoundry

Erotic Short: Snake Eggs

An elf lets a naga lay her clutch inside him.

2.5k, rated E, M/F. Amaethon helps out his friend Gitte, a naga, with laying this year’s clutch of eggs. Size difference and size kink, belly bulging, vaginal and anal penetration, paralysis from her venom, some banter, oviposition, inflation, impregnation.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Trans Erotica / / Read on SubscribeStar

Read on Tumblr / / Read on Ao3 / / Read on HentaiFoundry

Erotic Short: Mimic Studies

An elf experiences a mimic’s tentacles, and then a reward.

Rated E, 2.5k, trans M/a mimic. Featuring multiple tentacle penetration in one hole, vaginal sex, some mild objectification and dehumanisation, some academic silliness, object insertion, cervix penetration, belly bulging and stomach distension.

Read on Patreon / / Read on Trans Erotica / / Read on SubscribeStar

Read on Tumblr / / Read on Ao3

These last four stories - Knight Tactics, Free Ride, Snake Eggs, and Mimic Studies - are all ones I'm publishing for free everywhere as well as in the usual paid places.

I've been in the mood to do all this sort of weird and monsterfuckery and body horror-y erotica, so definitely feel free to send asks or requests for similar themes!

Get merch on TeePublic | | Look through my Directory of Published Work | | Listen to my Podcast

[ebi-hime]

I felt like writing something a little more ✨introspective✨ than usual, so here we go haha >_<;; So! This year I was able to release two projects in relatively close succession: Fragile Feelings (1st image; a cute yuri VN about a teacher and a nurse) and With Eyes of Ice (2nd image; a dark otome-inspired VN set in Iceland which has a bunch of pretty boys who Suffer). Though I released both of these stories in 2023, I actually wrote them all the way back in mid 2020. I wrote them back to back, actually: Fragile Feelings first, and With Eyes of Ice right after. I liked both scripts a lot, so i decided to turn them both into VNs... But working on VNs can be pretty difficult, even with very small teams like mine, as the people involved can be busy with other things, priorities change, etc, etc... And, in the case of With Eyes of Ice, I might've pulled the character artist off the project for 1.5 years to work on a self-indulgent BL VN about my two best boys, Yuel and Tavi, when Eyes of Ice was almost at the end of production hahaha oops....... I was working on these two VNs on and off for such a long time, I was wondering if I would be able to actually finish them... So, I'm very relieved that I did get them both done after all, and they both shaped up to be projects I'm proud of! I think everybody involved worked really hard; I love how they both look and sound. The character artists, background artists, UI artists, and composers all worked very hard, and I think these two projects are among the prettiest and most polished I've worked on! Now, I tend not to talk about the financial side of VN dev too much (because it's not much fun haha), but for all of the money and time invested into these projects, they weren't wholly 'worthwhile' endeavours. It's too soon to tell with Fragile Feelings, since it literally only just came out, but With Eyes of Ice hasn't really been doing so great sales-wise. It might have something to do with the fact that it's a weird quasi-otome thing which doesn't 100% fit the genre, but it's also prooooobably related to the fact I didn't talk about the story at all until like, 4 months before I'd finished it, despite having been working on it for 3 years already... Just maybe haha 💦💦 It's always a bit unfortunate when something you sink so much money, time, and love into doesn't get much attention, but that's the reality of VN dev. Making commercial VNs is pretty difficult already, because commissioning all the art + music can be quite pricey, and the sales tend to be rather low. Profit margins are slim already (and it's not uncommon for devs to fail to turn a profit at all), so I'm not wholly surprised. It's unfortunate, but I don't regret making With Eyes of Ice. I still love this story and these characters a lot, and I'm glad I stuck with it and finished it, even if it took me a few years! 💪

I'll probably continue to write weird stories which don't necessarily have a lot of appeal in the future, because that's what makes me happy, so I apologise in advance if I put out more stories which aren't too interesting to large swathes of people... But I'm very grateful for everybody who has offered me their support over the years! Some of my proejcts are successful enough (Blackberry Honey, Sweetest Monster, The Language of Love) that I can afford to invest my time and money into more niche things without having to worry toooo much about turning over a profit. I wouldn't be able to tell the stories I want to tell without all of you, even if it can take me a while to finish things up, and I'm very appreciative! I guess that's about it haha 💦💦💦 Thank you! 💙

[thegoblinwitchqueen]

So, here is my Commission conundrum that I always go through when I re evaluate my commission prices

I never know what to charge

Because like——drawing is my hobby. I never wanted it to be anything but fun for me, and if I get some money out of it Then that’s cool! So, I tend to find myself selling myself short or undervaluing myself and the amount of sweat and blood that I put into my commissions.

Because I’m my mind my art isn’t that great and I feel like a fraud anytime someone commissions me.

Still, I fought through my imposter syndrome by making a 2023 commission sheet with prices that matched other artists (as well as what my bf said—he’s a video game concept artist) but I felt like they were too high because people don’t really have the money to spend. As well, I tend to feel like my skill set isn’t worth the high prices that others charge. So I cut the prices in half and honestly—-didn’t even stick to those prices most of the time.

I feel like most of my clients/friends have been so awesome, and charging for art felt like being an ass because they were nice.

But I put so much love into my commissions and the process of a commission isn’t just drawing—it’s researching, communicating, thinking, drawing, coloring, etc —-and that can take hours, days or even weeks. That’s a lot of time for me and in top of working my 9-5 job. Luckily, the season has been slow so I’ve been able to draw during work hours.

Again, understand that in this day and age, people don’t have money to drop on commissions.

Still, I want people who enjoy my art to be able to afford it because it brings me so much joy knowing I made them happy. But also, I want to be compensated enough to make the effort worth it. On days where I’m struggling to find the inspiration or time, drawing an extensive piece for only 15-35 dollars isn’t worth my hard work.

BUT THEN I HATE ASKING FOR MONEY IN GENERAL. Because it is my hobby, and it makes me feel like I’m taking advantage because I have a skill that some people don’t have. But like—that’s the point of commissions. Regardless of it being my hobby or not, I should be okay with receiving compensation. In fact, pretty much everyone I did work for said I charge to little. But…I just—

See my dilemma??

I dunno. Coming up with my new commission pricing for 2024 has gotten me too ready think LOLOL

Anyway, thanks for listening to me.

[kathuman]

I've been doing this on Twitter but I thought I'd add my responses here too!

Day 1: This is Katts! She's about 30 years old, uses she/her, and is currently a member of the Research Commission

Day 2: Katts primarily uses dual blades but is also proficient with a bow! She prioritizes speed over strength in hunts and finds heavy weapons cumbersome. She always prefers to capture vs kill. I almost never draw her with her weapons so this bunny pic is all I have ^^;

Day 3: Katts likes to tailor her armor to the situation as much as she can but these are two of her most common hunting sets (however she wears a full helm in the field). For casual, day to day wear she is usually found in this modified version of the leather set

Day 4: This is Archimedes, Katts' palico and long time friend! He's a silly little guy but a surprisingly good judge of character and isn't shy of showing what he thinks of people. He's become a proficient healer as Katts is a reckless hunter. He will bite you if you hurt her

Day 5: Its gotta be Paolumu! After all they're soft, pink (or purple!), and grumpy XD Katts finds them cute and funny!

Day 6: Katts is very enthusiastic about botony! She love plants and flowers and keeps notebooks of the research she does in her free time. She's also interested in teas and likes to make her own blends (though this is slightly limited now that she lives in Seliana)

Day 7: Katts mom passed when she was young and she is estranged from her dad. She was raised by her grandmother, who trained her to be a hunter, though she passed when Katts was in her early 20s. She had few friends growing up and later made only a few acquaintance in the guild. It's not all bad news though! Since joining the commission she's made a few close friends, notably Alexst and the FTL, as well as the handlers and Tracker, etc. She's also developed a sort of father/daughter relationship with the Admiral who was slightly acquainted with her grandmother

Day 8: Katts generally prefers to hunt with just Archimedes but she often finds herself out with Alexst too! Honestly she IS willing to hunt with others some of the time if asked but won't initiate it herself

Day 9: Katts has difficulty parsing/accepting her feelings and an incredulity streak about love a mile long. She tends to push back when it feels like she's getting closer with these two out of fear and nerves. I ignore that and draw her smooching both her boys though :)

I enjoy the dynamic she has between both. The FTL is a more steadfast, reliable man and she really needs stability. The two of them often butt heads because she's reckless and overworks but that also helps her reign in those tendencies.

Alexst is unfailingly sweet and just totally candid about his feelings which let's face it she needs a lot. He's ridiculous and dumb which keeps her from staying in her own head too much, after all you have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't try and adopt a jaggris again

All three of them balance each other in fun ways I think! But, again, any sort of relationship would take a while to build so things are friendship only with a smattering of awkwardness for ages ^^;

That's what I'm up to now, I'll keep adding more as I go!

[tadbitfooled]

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about ways your muse could've met one of mine before the game BUT I have no idea where it went so we'll make a new, more organized post.

Tadpoled

Briza Jaelre

If you're a surface drow, it would be easier to have met her prior. She's the oldest child of the Jaelre family of her generation and has some good political standing due to that.

Also if your muse has been around the forest of Cormanthor, where the exiled House Jaelre has set up their home, your muse may have run into her while she's been patrolling. Or even have done trade with her house if your muse is from that area.

Also I could see some parties or something happening where it's forging alliances with the surfacers and showing the house Jaelre isn't as cutthroat as the Lolth sworn drow. (But they aren't afraid to get their hands messy.)

Durante Faust

He's been an apprentice to a sculptor since he was a teenager. He easily could've tagged along when his master was doing a commission.

Then there's also the fact he'd also eventually start getting his own commissions, especially because he does have an almost unnatural skill in his work. (It is really life like, and no not due to magic, just talent.)

He is the most likely person your muse could've had a random one night stand with at one point. So there's also fun in that. Or he could have wooed and ran, that is also a possibility.

Frits Farehill

He is 35 and attended Blackstaff; he could easily be someone's former classmate/peer.

I accidentally made him really good as a possibly bg person for Ga.le just because his parents also own a flower shop in Waterdeep and the prior bullet point.

Frits has 11 siblings so maybe your muse may know him through a sibling

Frits does a lot of traveling for his research with his partner, so it's very easy to have crossed paths with him before, even just for a short while.

Gwenifar van Hol

Gwenifar's been around with her duties as a cleric. From dealing with plagues and illnesses to helping tend to people in battle. She's quite adept at her healing and making healing potions and salves, so she's been requested to travel to quite a few places in Faerun.

Beyond that, in recent years, she's helped raise funds for the Open Hand Temple by attending various get togethers of the well-to-do, having gained a bit of charisma as she's gotten older. So she does often interact with Baldur's Gate's elite, as well as tend to those in need in the city.

Talilah Bluethorn

She has traveled all around Faerun, helping her mother steal from the rich and give to the poor. She's also been on a few adventures besides that, so there's some options there.

Your muse, if they're a high elf from Evereska, might even not know her but know her father, who she has a strong resemblance to. Which could be fun.

Also if your muse is rich, maybe she and her fellows stole from them that'd be a great dynamic.

Tavinkas

He's a durge so like. He's traveled around Faerun but to kill people. What if he killed someone your muse cared about. what if.

Also other cultists and that who would work with Bhaalists, that's another way to have met him prior to the game.

Camp Followers

Anatol Byron

Look, this guy has been looking to create a heroic name for himself, being the third son of a noble family. He feels it's his destiny to do something heroic, he's got a good heart but uh. Sometimes not so bright.

Also as being the third son of a noble family, there are options of arranged marriage plots, meeting at revelries, or other type settings.

Kyrirthlila Bluethorn

Like with her daughter, she's been stealing from well-to-do for about 250 years. So that's a way to have met her prior. Also has had her own adventures and that, so that's something to consider too.

Background

Aella Dekarios

You might know her if your muse is from Waterdeep. She's part of a traveling minstrel group and they tour all around Faerun too. She's had her adventure here and there.

Also you're more than welcome to want to be her wife with two kids, I left it vague just in case anyone wants to be Ga.le's in-law.

Arakhivaen Saliriador

One of the harder muses. His mother is on the royal council of Evermeet, and he's a guard in Evereska. But if your muse is a high elf noble, then that would be the easiest way to have met him before, considering there's The Retreat that happened and it's only in recent years high elves are coming back to the mainland.

If you do have an older muse, though, Arakhivaen might have had more to do with interacting with wider Faerun before The Retreat (about 150 ish years ago).

Arzan Ancunin

He's a second gen, so there's no meeting him prior to the game, unless there's some wild time travel set up. But there's still options to pre-establish a relationship for interactions. Considering he's a dhampir looking for a cure for vampirism for his father, something beyond the options available that can do a mass cure. OR you go the ascended route and he's trying to stop his father.

Chiela Ancunin

Another difficult one due to The Retreat, but she was around Baldur's Gate prior to it. Tended to her brother's grave and all that. Not to mention I hc their parents were very much ladder climbing lower noble/upper middle class, so there's something to play with as well.

Obviously wildly easier if your muse is a high elf who can go to Evereska/Evermeet.

Ingeleif Maerklos

Went to Blackstaff, is 36. 100% is an arrogant piece of work.

if your muse is from Waterdeep, they should know the Maerklos family. As a noble, he's probably had his interactions at parties and get togethers. Maybe even arranged marriage discussions before he became a Chosen of Mystra.

As a Chosen of Mystra, he has had to go in search of ways to strengthen the Weave after the events in recent history. So your muse could've met him on a quest.

Klaudius Sarrick

He's a wealthy man leading a double life in Baldur's Gate. He's very used to interacting with high society in balls and that sort of thing.

But also other cultists who would work with a Loviat.an.

Perun Dekarios

He works as adventurer; probably if your muse is an adventurer, could've met him. Also he's very social and very charming, easily could've charmed his way into a well-to-do party (although the Dekarios family is a decently well off clan in my opinion.)

Also left his wife and three kids vague in case anyone wants to be Ga.le's in-law

[stitchthesewords]

📓👀

-🍂

Okay so you get maybe the only ethubs-centric idea I have ever had, for some reason. I need more ethubs thoughts.

So there's this series of games called My Time At Portia and My Time At Sandrock which are both incredible fun farming/life sim style games. So that's where this idea comes from.

Okay so first, the setting would be a Minecraft fantasy world [of course] but like, far more clearly post apocalypse than I normally do. They're building new citys in the shadows of the ruins of old, or sometimes on top of them. And since this is based on hermit builds, the builds are for sure like MASSIVE - whereas comparatively the 'city' they live in is comparatively simple. I kind of want to set it on the outskirts of a jungle, which is like an ancient manmade planted forest that has WAY overgrown in the apocalypse and so there's tons to explore, along with the ruins around the city. You know, for the vibes.

Bdubs is a Builder - one of the people tasked with getting civilizations feet back under itself. He takes on any tasks - big or small. Someone needs a new chair, he builds it. There's a baby, he builds the nursery. The city needs a new wall - yep. Bdubs. And in order to encourage a ton of work getting done, Hermit Town's builders are pit against each other in friendly competition. And Bdubs absolutely wants to win at the end of the year - they earn points by getting commissions for the other citizens and city done. So obviously there's a huge draw for him to do a ton of stuff. I'm thinking Pearl and Scar are the other two like Official City Builders because I think the three of them would have a really interesting dynamic.

Etho is a part of the Civil Corps - basically the security force of the city. Also on this team are False and Gem I think. They're supposed to patrol, act as a sort of police force kind of? But also they keep the mobs at bay even in the outskirts of the town like where the builders tend to live. They're whole thing is making sure no one dies of unnatural causes. They ALSO go in and secure ruins so people like Bdubs can go claim materials and parts from the old world to be used in the new one - and info too. You see, in the ancient ruins is ton of lost redstone knowledge, and civilization has been working on relearning their roots here. So you've got like - I think Cub, Tango, and Mumbo as researchers who want that information, and Etho and Bdubs as the people who provide it.

So all that out of the way I think the plot is actually pretty simple. Bdubs is trying once again to beat Pearl and Scar at the end of the year Builder Awards by taking on more and more commissions throughout the year. More commissions means he's out and about collecting materials and building things around town and at his workshop. Being out and about more also gives him a GREAT excuse to see that smug bastard civil corps guy who he's definitely NOT infatuated with, thank you very much, which is definitely not why he conveniently needs help only when Etho is around.

I think it would be a softer plot than I normally go for where its Bdubs and Etho learning more and more about each other as the year goes on and falling in love while exploring the ruins around their city and helping each other, all the while Bdubs is working himself hard in order to win the commission competition and FINALLY beat Scar, which is what the story's plot is working towards. A lot of soft moments, some mild to moderate dangerous situations, 1 very hot civil corp member coming to save the day....do you see the vision. This would definitely be one that I would play out like Rift AU where its a series of connected stories instead of linear but god I can just like. FEEL the softness from here. The falling in love, the friendly competition. Its very different from most of my aus tbh but they deserve it.

[kinaesthetiqueer]

About Me

My AO3

I'm Kina (kinaesthetic/kinaesthetique)! I write about girls falling in love and kissing and examining what it means to be human or otherwise. I also like to break my toys sometimes, but I know how to fix them.

I do not take requests, or commissions, but most importantly, I do not take creative direction for my fics.

I'm notorious for writing characters in ways that make me happy. :) This tends to manifest with explorations on gender and neurodivergence or odd/alternate takes on canon. That's okay if it's not for you.

I would personally prefer to NOT have my fics placed in public ranked bookmark collections, even if the list is 5/5 stars or whatever. Thank you!

Now that's out of the way, I love in-universe plots with changes to canon, supernatural additions, supernatural/non-human AUs, and wingsssss! Sometimes I draw for my fics and other times I seek commissions. I'll occasionally post art here as well.

This blog is mostly for posting in-progress snippets, working through fic logistics, answering questions, and crying/yelling about headcanons. I reblog art and other fandom stuff to my main unless it was gifted to me. I do not post what my main is publically for Reasons™, but if you keep an eye on your notifs, you'll probably find me.

I write slowly but I don't give up or abandon. Longest wait for an update was 4 years on the dot. ┐⁠(⁠´⁠д⁠`⁠)⁠┌ I have a full time job, a full time academic career, a house, and three cats. I write whenever I get the energy and the time. :') I'm always grateful for the patience of my readers, so thank you whether you've been here since 2013, 2017, 2020, or yesterday. 💛

Currently Active Fandoms

RWBY

Overwatch

Permanent Rotating-In-Mind Characters

Nora Valkyrie

Weiss Schnee

Satya "Symmetra" Vaswani

Penny Polendina

Pyrrha Nikos

Ruby Rose

Blake Belladonna

Fox Alistair

I only really have one "signature" ship and that is sympharmercy. I'll write whatever looks cute, usually sapphic rarepairs. At the moment, I flip between fixating on Nordic Winter and Valkos.

Acronyms and Tags Below

Incomplete List of Acronyms I Use

Take to the Skies - TTTS/TttS

Sent from Valhalla - SFV

All the Downy Days - AtDD

Toward Hidden Horizons - THH

her demons, their witch - HDTW

lightning always strikes twice - LAST

six ways from sunday - 6ways

all the good girls go to hell - good girls

Set Upon Her Mountain - SUHM

sympharmercy - SPM

her pulse in my throat/SnowStorm Vampire AU - ssvau

Pillar of Ashes (defunct title)/ 'on the run from tomorrow' - poa! jnpr

Current Blog Tags

#kina rambles - anything that doesn't include a literal snippet of fic. may eventually diverge into multiple tags

#kina writes + #snippets - includes an actual snippet of a WIP

#kina draws - art and art wips; scarce due to a fraught relationship with publically posting art

#krwbyverse - (kina's rwby universe) headcanons, technical details, things i refuse to accept as canon/not canon, and more!

#kina updates - fic update has been posted to ao3/ delay due to Horrors

#kina found dead in a glue trap [this post] - writing memes that come for my entire life

#mermaid valkos au - 'between the sunshine and the sea' series tag; semi in-universe au in which pyrrha is a surfer and nora is a mermaid. sequels in progress.

#snowstorm vampire au - an in-universe nora/weiss series in which weiss get unwittingly turned into a vampire; tentatively leaning toward pyrrha/nora/weiss

#poa! jnpr - post v3 finale, missing time fic that heavily focuses on jnr grieving in the most reckless way they can manage without glynda kicking their asses

#(n)ever after au - v8 finale au in which nora, emerald, ren, oscar and ruby (nero+r aka the n in (n)ever after) fall instead of rwby+j. a fun speculative au that hurts everyone so so bad including myself. mostly a thought experiment.

[honeysweetcorvidae]

for the ask meme: 21, 22, 37, 38, 75 (I rolled 5 d100s for you <3)

ROLLING D100S? SWOON. almost as many as i rolled on sunday when you were beating my wizard half to death(delighted)

21. Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

well. (looks at lsoh.) yes! i’ve done a lot of rp in my time and i really enjoy collaborative storytelling, and i think it would be super fun to make a more formalized collaborative narrative—i don’t know if i’d do a short-answer-rp-turned-fic again, since those can get choppy, but if i ever drag my head above water on all my other ideas? man. with another writer i trust and work well with i’d LOVE to give it a shot, i say, blinking slowly and meaningfully at the person who sent me this ask,

22.Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

I mean, yeah, probably! I can’t name them off the top of my head because there’s exceptions to every rule, but I have comfort zones and I have things I’m just not that into— but generally speaking I write the way whatever story i’ve been possessed by most recently feels best, you know? which means that i’ll do just about any POV and a LOT of genres and tropes. I guess I’d say I’m uncomfortable writing things that feel like I’m making Gender Roles Again, But This Time We Like Them— that’s a pretty broad statement but it has a bunch of different applications, whoops.

I also don’t like to take characters that are source-material equals and make them ontologically, fundamentally, irrecoverably unbalanced to a point where there is simply no hope of gaining that equality— I was thinking about this the other day, actually. Like, it’s a little weird coming from Godfucker McEldritchguy, but I think. hmm how do I describe this. a) i love to make a story where gods get dragged down to a human level, b)in ones where they don’t, they tend to have been Designed to be gods, not designed to be an equal, and i can have a character be their most specialest little bug in a jar, and c) god i am so obsessed with guys that are mutually obsessed with each other. i am so weird about it. and it’s challenging for me to write something lacking that mutualism, although i can write it in a way where it’s antagonistic instead of positive or whatever. does that make sense? i don’t know.

anyway, at the end of the day I’d say my limits depend on the characters I’m working with; there’s things I’d do with some of my OCs that I’d rather die than touch akeshuake with, and things I do with them that I would never in a thousand years hand to karkat homestuck, And So On. dunno!

37. How do you choose where to end a chapter?

(hysterical laughter) if you figure it out please god tell me

38. Would you ever write commissions?

god, I wish I could, but my brain simply would not allow it. I do not determine the subject matter or length of what I write, I set out the ouija board of concepts and lay my hands on my ADHD planchette and hope to hell that what comes out isn’t more absolutely balls to the wall insane nigh-unreadable clown nonsense

75. What scene in [Winner Take All]took the longest to write? What was difficult about it? 

oh boy okay uh. WTA was written in a feverish haze over the course of like two weeks, so it’s hard to remember, really, but I remember driving myself INSANE with the opener of chapter 2; I kept sending messages to the group chat like “i’m 5k in and they Still Haven’t Fucked, help, this chapter wasn’t even supposed to exist”