#also trying to lean into my usual style a bit more but the vibes of drawing on a tablet is still off

[midnightmoodlet-art]

Okay I lied with stopping drawing him

[the-canine-king]

Hi! Joining on the previous Anon to say that the reverse Werewolf/Vampire au is REALLY clicking with me.

Vi is already a character living unambiguously as herself, so being a vampire actively living life, fighting for food where she can get it, and Caitlyn, a character who grew up in a restricting environment as someone with so much life in her that she can't let out without being seen as a beast, finally finding the ability to be open and "free" with someone as unambiguously free as Vi, and giving her what she's been fighting for her whole life, while getting from Vi what she needs, aka a person who Gets It and doesn't judge Caitlyn for showing that side of herself), is mwah, perfect and I love how it delves into characterisation of them that you don't see in the "traditional" Caitvi werewolf/vampire au.

There they more so play into the character's vibes, but this au I feel like actually delves moreso into the characterisation.

Also consuming stuff from this au is like self indulgent stuff for me. It's my bed time story and whenever I see new stuff from it I kick my feet and giggle. And I just generally love your art style! Might try to change my own (been considering it for a while) and lean into your general direction, it's really inspiring and fun to look at. You get Vi and Cait so right in my opinion, it's ridiculous

AUGH YOU GET IT!!!! it's difficult for me to explain my thoughts on how this au would work compared to the "regular" version but i'm glad you got those thoughts exactly :'D

honestly, this au's intention was to just see how it'd work if the usual roles they were given was flipped and not much else thought LOL. so my doodles are mostly just "arcane but these two are a vampire/ werewolf and not the way everyone else sees them as" instead of something w/ a completely different universe/ story (w/ a few personal HCs but still… maybe i'll make something w/ more substance someday?). i just kinda hope thoughts like these would one day have others consider using this au as a set up for their own ideas (please show me if you do…)! and don't get me me wrong, i still love the regular vampire/ werewolf aus that people make and i also think it works in its own way, but i'm glad that me and others like the reversed au to muse over how the characterization would work alongside it and also to just to be self indulgent :')

and thank you so much for the kind words about my art too omg!? ;v;)/ i keep struggling on making them look good in my art style (esp since it's super simple anime styled lol) and i'm STILL testing out how i should draw them (like still having their individualistic traits but also adding a bit of my own flare on them…). but this is such a huge compliment idk how to thank you enough!? seriously, good luck on your own art journey, i'm super happy to hear i inspired something for you!!

(sorry it took me a while to respond to this, i feel like this got to the point where any messages sent to me about the au i have to draw something about it for you and i'm almost done the next doodle page lol)

[tangledinink]

I love your style and how you utilize halftones and textures and colours. It’s just so tasty! I’m curious if you’d be willing to show a bit of your process on how a comic page comes together?

Ah, thank you! ; w ; And sure, I can try, at least! Usually I start with some kind of a script. Sometimes it's a bit more detailed, like this:

... And other times they look more like this.

It just depends on my mood! But either way, I typically have a pretty good idea in my mind's eye of what the comic is generally going to look like. Once I know what I'm making, I do all the rough sketch pages.

... And then I line it!. For Gemini, I go for a dark blue rather than black 'cause I like the way it feels, and it lends to the overall 'papery' vibe. I usually lay down a grid pattern at this stage, which helps a lot with keeping panels and dialogue straight, and with perspective. I always do the gutters and the words first, then the figures and backgrounds. I been leaning a lot into really heavy shadows recently-- one of my professors in college told me once that a black-and-white comic page should be about 50% black and 50% white, and I've been trying to bring that to the table, lol.

I can ditch the grid at this point, and I put down a really light, pale-gray 'wash' on all the panels. It's a pretty subtle effect, but helps separate the panels from the 'background' of the gutters/negative space, and also just adds texture.

I lay down all the color next. Flat colors first, then a second pass over some parts to add depth/shadow, and then all the spot-colors like Leo's red stripes, light gray eyes, etc.

I use a pretty fine-grain half-tone brush for the background, and then a slightly more defined one (layer set to overlay) on the characters.

Once that's done I go back in and add highlights and such (white shine to eyes, hair, etc.) and go and add light outlines to any areas that need a little help being defined-- like Big Mama's arms and hands, for example.

And then the absolute last step is adding paper grain textures and gradient overlay over the top of everything!

(A lot of the brushes I'm using for this comic I got from True Grit Texture Supply, just by the by for anyone who's curious.)

... With Swanatello I kinda tend to just. Go for it. I (sometimes) start with a vague script and then I just draw it. 🤷🏻‍♂️ No thumbnails, no sketches, no heroes, no gods--

Just Swanatello.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Creepypastas comforting the reader

except some of them arent particularly good at it + as per usual jeff ben and toby are written as platonic everyone else can be seen as either or writing a silly little thing before i tackle in on requests, falling into the same vibe as the "hugging/kissing creepypasta characters" post from last week since i do enjoy rating these lads on thing ehehehe obligatory "these style of posts go over my personal character limit but since this is writing for the admin he bends the rules a bit" anyways uhuh totally dont give me ideas for these eheheh winks

SLENDERMAN:

not much of a talker in general, and i think that remains true in scenario where you're upset/crying. but he does make it clear that hes here for you... just... in a general sense. you know? refuses to leave you alone unless you directly ask him that you need space; more so watches out of concern rather than his usual curiosity. i think he would make you a warm drink and let you vent to him. more of a logical approach than an emotional one; better at giving solutions rather than giving comfort.. though i like to think that his tentacles will pull you close if you want to lean into him, will let you cry into his shoulder with no judgement. 6/10 low score simply because sometimes one needs comfort in the moment instead of solutions, you know?

SPLENDORMAN:

i think hes the opposite of slenderman. hes all emotions first, logic later. if he already knows you comfortable with it, i think he would come in and scoop you up in a hug.. hell he might even cry with you, or do the equivalent of it (admin is still on the fence of whether or not he has eyes or not! torn between them being actual eyes or markings) will make you your favorite snacks and drinks, all the while letting you cry and vent to him. gets mad on your behalf if someone had done you wrong, does not make your feelings feel small or invalidated. if he could he would confront the person who treated you unfairly.... and in fact he might, who would ever believe the person that they came face to face with a ten foot tall monster? though... this can lead to him being a little quick to make choices that might have big impacts... 7/10 love this man need to write more for him and develop my hcs

EYELESS JACK:

you know now that i think about it, given how much i write for EJ, i swear ive done a similar prompt at some point. regardless of it i did and if my hcs are the same, im going to go ahead and drop my hcs. i think hes very similar to slenderman in terms that hes more of a solutions > emotion person.. though i do think hes more likely to join you in any shit talking if someone did you dirty... do i think he would target that person next when hes going to go 'hunting'? no... unless the person did something truly awful and unforgivable, then he would definitely consider it.. probably wont go through with a harvest, though.. but thats it whole other thing. more of a talker than slenderman, so at least he has that going for him. lets you sleep in his bed if youre venting to him in his cabin 7/10 one point higher than slenderman simply because he talks more n stuff

LAUGHING JACK:

im gonna be so real i think he can go either way if hes going to be good at comforting you. on one hand hes too silly and might not take it too seriously; or he might try to make you laugh.. which COULD work but other times makes it look like he doesnt care about your feelings. on the other hand i think he can give some solid adivce, but thats only based on the fact that i love it when unhinged hyper characters suddenly drop the most valuable info. shrugs. i mean if you need a distraction, i think lj is your man to go to ! he was literally made to entertain so i dont think its going to be too hard for him to take your mind elsewhere. i think he would offer to cook you something but i also think hed probably be banned from the kitchen because he cant cook for shit. has probably set water on fire somehow level shit. so instead you guys just sit together talking... mostly its him leading the conversation, though. doesnt leave you be until you at least give him a smile... 6.5/10 only because i dont know how to rate him here

MASKY/TIM:

oh not at all emotional. well no thats a lie but hes not very emotive. thats the more correct word. look if we're talking about masky, hes probably going to be really bad at comforting you unless your means to be comforted involves being watched... though i do think he would fall into the act of service hole.. does all the chores and such for you so you dont have to worry yourself about cleaning a pan thats been in the sink for two days now. tries his hand at cooking, but i dont think masky is the best cook.. TIM on the other hand.. but we'll get into that in a minute. probably ends in you guys ordering something but hey its the thought that counts. if someone made you upset you notice over the course of the next few weeks that person starts outright avoiding you and overall seems anxious. weird. probably unrelated! 7/10 only because im badly overworked irl and the idea of someone taking charge sounds like a dream

tim i think would be similar, but hes more expressive for you... will cook for you but if your favorite food happens to be really specific or something else, hes probably going to run out and get it. torn on whether or not he would tell you before he goes, or if he sticks to keeping it a surprise.. i think he would tell you just so it doesnt feel like hes abandoning you when youre down..! not much to be said here other than him being supportive 8/10 i would KILL for some white cheddar popcorn rn

HOODIE/BRIAN:

i think he would put you to bed. actually i think both of them would but to keep things clear im still going to divide this like masky/tims. i think hoodie is going to keep you in bed, even if youre not particularly tired. dont bother trying to fight him on it, hes only allowing you to get up for the bathroom. let him take care of things! very similar to masky, picks up on a lot of the chores. i think he can cook, though, definitely better than masky but i dont think hes like. top tier. likes making you little snacks, or food thats generally deemed as comforting (mac and cheese, cornbread, ect). doesnt talk (sign) much but will occasionally sign to you asking how you're feeling 7.5/10 love this man, so mad kid me used to sleep on hoodie

very similar, but an even better cook than hoodie so be prepared to eat good. communicates with you more than hoodie and makes small talk while cooking. i think he would keep the chat lighthearted and on a different topic rather than tackling your feelings, unless you express that you want to vent then hes all ears! not because he doesnt care more so because he doesnt want to seem prying or nosey and wants to give you the choice yourself. sometimes makes jokes about stuff in order to try to get you to smile. feels victorious when he succeeds 8/10 mad i slept on him too

TICCI TOBY:

i think he might actually be TOO strong and in your face when asking you what happened. only one who outwardly offers to krill someone if someone were to make you upset. but thats just because i think toby can occasionally get protective of you. i mean youre one of his best friends (only friends) and here you are upset! if you dont want him to do anything hes going to try to contain himself. he strikes me at the type to retreat to the roof and look up at the stars... i think he would offer to do that with you; but if youre too scared to climb then he can lay out a blanket for you so you guys can go sit on the grass! surprisingly a very good listener, though very emotionally driven and reacts a lot when you tell him the details of your day.. but its nice, i think, reassures you that hes is in fact listening.. 7/10 gives off brother vibes

JEFF THE KILLER:

ohhoho so this is an interesting one, because i like the idea of jeff still acting like an older brother every now and then even after everything. but he also has that attitude of "i dont care about anyone around me and im better than everyone".. more of an actions than words guy. he wont really say it.. you know? one of those "if he actually didnt care then he would bother giving you the time of day, much less break into your house at night with his arms full of your favorite snacks and drinks". good luck trying to vent to him though, i think its rare that he lets anyone vent to him since he also holds the "ew yucky feelings" thing ben has.. though once in a blue moon i think he would let you and give some decent advice... though every now and then that advice involves punching someone 6/10 is fair i think...

BEN DROWNED:

kind of reminds me of how younger siblings will give their older siblings know they like. kind of like the "my brother saw me crying and asked me what my favorite color is... he gave me things in that color" post/image going around that i cannot for the life of me find but i know it exists because it made me cry. i think its like that. except since hes in your phone he already knows what your interests are.. probably pulls up what your comforts and likes are in an attempt to cheer you up. i dont think he would bluntly speak with you about your feelings, but thats just because he thinks heart to hearts are yucky and cringe/lh. uses videos, art, stuff like that. ehehe silly phone ghost 7/10 because as simple as it is, if someone tossed my cc at me i would feel at least a little better for a moment and its the action itself you know?

PUPPETEER:

i thin hes similar to jeff in regard that he tries to play things off but deep down he does care, and that tends to show more through his actions... though i personally think if you were to actually cry then he might lose it a bit, because who DARE? i gotta admit, im still trying to figure out how i want to write pup and what hcs to give him, but i think.. this is an okay take.. might 'confront' anyone who made you upset, with or without your approval which might make some issues between the two of you.. more ready to let you vent to him though, might slip out some mean insults and words about whatever's got you upset regardless of its a person, chance, or object 7/10

[chickieedee]

Jeff The Killer a.k.a Jeffery Woods

(Scent Headcanon)

•Jeff is similar in scent to Liu, taking a slightly more spicy wooded approach to his scent. Bolder than Liu’s smell but almost always following similar scent families but is always pushing towards stronger more intense smells.

•He leans more towards somewhat muskier and amber like smells as well. His scent is unique and somewhat on the stronger side (i feel it has on occasion gotten him nearly caught)

(DISCLAIMER PLEASE DO NOT MIX THE COLOGNES I HAVE PICKED I AM A LOVER OF PERFUMES NOT A PROFESSIONAL)

With the basics of his scent down, I feel Jeff always picks either a more generic cologne that has a bit of a spin to it (like special editions under the same name or stronger ones). Typically following ones Liu has used or liked while also finding ones he enjoys more within the same line up. For this i’ve gone for about 3 that give off his vibe, Spicy, somewhat wooded/citrusy, with a very confident smell to them.

Those are…..

-Versace Eros Flame (Cool Spice with Italian Lemon, Pepperwood and Vetiver)

-Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir (Earthy/Herbal with Sage, Black Truffle and Resinous Wood)

-Dolce & Gabbana K (Citrus/Woods with Patchouli, Cedarwood, Pimento, Sicillian Lemon and Blood Orange)

Out of all of these my top pick would likely be Versace Eros Flame or D&G K, though i do think he would have each of these within his collection to swap around depending on his mood. As you can see Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir is the sligjtly stronger edition of Liu’s Bad Boy Cobalt. As well as Flame being another version of the OG Versace Eros, much like how Liu had the Versace Eros Energy in his line up.

I’m so sorry for late/inconsistant posts, i keep trying to post these and they just never seem to do it at the times i want. If anyone has any tips as to wwy some days the post button will let me write up a post and some days it wont PLEASE TELL ME IM LOSING IT!!!!!! Anyways here is the drawing i made as usual of Jeff, its been years since i drew him and i’m testing out somewhat newer styles with it so i hope you enjoy! Next up i’m considering doing Jane then moving on to the rest of our favorite guys 💕 Thanks ya’ll

[deconstructthesoup]

Just for fun, I'm gonna show off my human designs for the Vessels and break them down... but I can't draw for shit, so, like the Slay the Professor Voices, this is gonna be in Picrew format.

Enjoy!

So, I've said this before, but when I make Beast a human, I always feel like the only way I can still capture her vibes is to make her a kid, or at least a preteen---a younger sister or a daughter of one of the other Vessels, usually Witch. She reads to me as that feral, weird little girl who digs holes with her fingernails on the playground, bites other kids, and almost always has a scraped knee or tiny cut on her face from horsing around that needs a fun Band-Aid to cover it, and her design's meant to reflect that. Beast strikes me as the kind of girl who'd just wear the same neutral colors with some green every day, and the kitty-ear hat is her most prized possession. This is the kind of kid who'd get labeled a "problem child" until she finally gets tested for ADHD.

Witch gives off grungy alternative vibes to me, and everything she does with her appearance is very deliberate---she doesn't have a skincare routine, but she always takes care of her piercings; she dyes her hair red herself and in the bathroom sink, but she always gets a good-quality and cruelty-free dye; she dresses almost exclusively in ripped jeans, flannels/overshirts, and T-shirts/tank-tops, but they're always somehow matching perfectly and look like actual outfits rather than just... well, what she threw on. To me, Witch is the person who gives off as much "I don't care" vibes as possible, while caring immensely in her own weird way.

Weirdly enough, Prisoner's human design was actually difficult, and that might have something to do with the fact that... well, she is the most human out of all of the Vessels, decapitation nonwithstanding. To that end, I wound up giving her a very academic-leaning style, which I think fits with her cynicism and default to the logical approach. She gets glasses, she gets a sweater vest, she gets Mary Janes... Prisoner's always trying to look presentable.

Damsel, meanwhile, was almost too easy---maximum pink, maximum ruffles, maximum princess vibes. There's no choice for Damsel other than being as adorable and as high-femme as possible, and... well, I'm pretty damn sure that comes across. It also helps her contrast well with Prisoner, since they're almost always twin sisters in my AUs.

I had two rules for Adversary: make her hella sporty, and make her hella butch. This is a girl who actually uses her gym membership, and she is almost always in workout gear of some kind. She's gotta be tough, she's gotta be badass, and she's gotta be hot. (I love butch Adversary so much, you don't understand)

Tower... well, she was pretty simple. Power suit, perfect jewelry and heels, pantyhose, professionally-styled hair, definitely enjoys wine. I struggle to write her because on one hand, I don't want to make her an egotistical monster, but on the other hand... well, it's difficult to make her human and likeable without going too out of character. At best, she's more akin to a mean girl than anything else, and at worst, she's Karen-level. (Sorry, gorgeous.)

For Nightmare, I had two words: "cute" and "goth." Nightmare is totally the kind of girl who would dress up like a spooky doll for funzies, so she's got frills like Damsel, but a bit more understated---and, also, leaning way more heavily into black-and-grey than any other color. And yes, she has tattoos and vitiligo, because it just... works for her. She still absolutely slathers intentionally exaggerated makeup on her face, though.

For Spectre, I also wanted to go in a goth-adjacent direction, but I wanted her to be way more witchy and whimsical, creating a pastel-whimsigoth vibe that I think really suits her. While skull makeup was an option for this Picrew, I was already way too attached to the idea of giving Spectre round glasses in place of her... well, sunken eyes, and it turned out pretty nice. Also, if you're wondering about all the purple---don't ask me why I associate that color with her. It just fits.

Razor is always gonna be a punk-slash-metalhead to me, because that means I get the excuse to give her plenty of piercings, plenty of studded bracelets, and---not pictured in this Picrew---a gazillion chain wallets (the eagle-eyed among you will even notice that she's got metal in her hair, which was very much intentional). And as it's the most obvious with Razor, this might also be a good time to mention that, yes, I didn't want to make all of the Vessels white, because a) that's boring, and b) if Shifty's meant to represent the entirety of change and transformation among humanity, it stands to reason that if her Vessels became human, they wouldn't all be skinny blonde girls. I'm gonna get off my soapbox now.

And lastly, Stranger was... well, both hard, and surprisingly easy. I knew I wanted to make them plus-sized, I knew I wanted to give them vitiligo, and I knew that I wanted their "base" outfit to be as pattern-clashing, color-clashing, hurt-your-eyes busy as possible. However, that did mean that I ran out of colors to include preeeeetty quickly, which is actually something that can happen when you're trying to squeeze in every color at once. Still, though, the end result was quite cute, and I think it definitely captures their vibe. (Not pictured: their masc outfit with suspenders and a tie, their alt outfit with a black cowboy hat and old-fashioned jester makeup, their femme outfit with a big ol' hoop skirt and matching parasol, and their "no-effort" outfit with a slouchy sweatshirt and matching pants.)

[iridessence]

How are you so confident? Your pics give the the "I'M FABULOUS AND I KNOW IT" vibe without being fake... you know... a lot of times in pics you can see who is fake confident even of they try to fake it well.

You're GLOWING and you give this great positive vibe.

How did you achieve this? I'm asking this because I'm not confident at all. At home when I'm alone I can be confident but as soon as I go out I stop being confident. At home in my mirror I look ok, average but ok. When I see my reflection outside I'm horrified by my looks and I look like the ugliest person on the planet.

When I talk people usually don't understand me well due being so stressed sometimes I talk too fast or too quiet and they're like "what???"

I think talking too fast comes because people usually interrupt me. I'm introvert and people have always talked over me since I was a kid. So I feel like I need to get it all out before I get interrupted

Other times I don't speak too fast or too quiet but words just can't come out and I struggle to even form a sentence. For 5, 10, 15 seconds I would struggle to find the right words. And when you talk to a boss or a co-worker those 5, 10, 15 seconds last sooooo long that it seems to me like I have been quiet for 10 minutes.

I also cry quickly and I struggle with this. I can't top myself and it's very unprofessional to cry in front of my boss or co-workers that later on make fun of me even more.

Can I become more confident myself?

Or do I need a shrink for my problems (or psychiatrist english is not my first language so idk which word to use)

When I see confident women like you I'm like I CAN DO IT... but this "I can do it" just lasts till I don't step out of my apartment.

Hi, thank you for reaching out. Identifying your issue and seeking help is a very important step, so you’re already on the path! Some of what you asked is addressed in my pinned post, but I have some other thoughts.

These are tough things to deal with and work on – there are so many factors that contribute to struggling and it sounds like you deal with anxiety. It might not be to the same extent, but I struggle with that as well. Something that helped me was reframing confidence and related issues under its umbrella: it’s a muscle, which means it will take time to build but it can be built. And some people have muscles that are naturally suited towards certain things while others might have to work really hard at it; you may be in the latter category but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible!

Therapy certainly helps, but one of the other big things is trying to find community and surround yourself with people who support your personal goals and for whom you can do the same. People that say “hell yeah, wear/do/say the thing!” This may seem hard and counterintuitive to achieve for a person with anxiety, but even online community can be a huge help. Finding those people who have similar interests who are kind and supportive can help you to build confidence before branching out to locals as well. Soon you’ll find your people 

Location makes a huge difference too. I definitely dressed up quite a bit in Chicago where I’m from but I felt sometimes like an alien on the street with how some people received me. Moving to New Orleans, when I’m dressed up it’s just Wednesday. Sure, I turn heads and people take pictures and often people inquire about or comment on my style, but still there’s a sense of creativity and letting your freak flag fly in this city that really feels liberating. But sadly relocating is a huge to-do.

Leaning into what you love is super important— making sure that what you do/say/wear is ultimately for YOUR enjoyment is a key foundation to build on.

One of the great things you’re doing great already is looking at yourself in the mirror. You’ve gotta do it every day. Try talking to yourself in the mirror too, practicing ways you might introduce yourself, etc. These are all different ways you can exercise that muscle so that it doesn’t feel so strange when you’re out in social interactions.

The biggest thing with all of these is just time and taking steps to care for your mental health and growth. It’s hard but it’s worth it, and I wish you the best of luck! 

[einsatzzz]

For the artist ask game:

4. Fav character/subject that's a bitch to draw

6. Anything that might inspire you subconsciously (i.e. this horse wasn't supposed to look like the Last Unicorn but I see it)

21. Art styles nothing like your own but you like anyways

27. Do you warm up before getting to the good stuff? If so, what is it you draw to warm up with

There are so many good questions 😭😭😭 I hope it's okay that i just spamed a bit 👉👈🥺

It's ok bro !!! Ask as much as you want !!! So that l can keep yapping about art as much as I want too lmaooo Thank you for sending this over hehehe 🫡✨💜

Weirdly Specific Artist Ask Game

4. Fav character/subject that's a bitch to draw

Since it's you sending this ask, the fave I got to answer this with has to be the one and only, Hib/ari Ky/oya 🤣🤣🤣 The first look at his design, it looks so simple. Nothing really too complicated with his hairstyle. He would fit into that one meme where this user is trying to compile "basic black hair guy" from various media (basic black hair guy??? but he's so ikemen and popular??? that's how you know he has 10000 aura & charisma *biased*). But then when you actually try to draw him, there's just something about him that I find hard to capture. Or maybe it's because he's my fave, that my brain just hyperfocuses on the tiny details that makes him *HIM* that sets him apart from other characters with similar designs. Then, I just end up overthinking how I draw him. And that makes him such a bitch to draw.

6. Anything that might inspire you subconsciously (i.e. this horse wasn't supposed to look like the Last Unicorn but I see it)

Game OSTs and maps/areas! I listened to the whole playlist of Enka//nomiya (from Gen/shin) so much, it lowkey ended up as an inspiration for Kana's character and general vibes, especially for a certain part of her lore. I originally listened to it for just studying because it helps me focus, then somehow the whole playlist AND the map/area itself is Kana-core now.

If I just have to rec a few from this playlist though, these are the ones: Soft Moans of the Remains, Sink Into Oblivion, Tearless Souls of Byakuya, Hope or Nostalgia, Vanished Beyond Recall, Combat Beneath the Waves (most of the titles ahahaha...🙃)

21. Art styles nothing like your own but you like anyways

The first one that came to mind for this is Hiro/hiko Ar/aki-sensei! He's the mangaka who made Jo/jo's Biz/arre Adv/enture. His style is so legendary and iconic, I'm very sure you've seen it at least once. It's so different from mine that leans more towards the conventional pretty anime character style, but I LOVE Ara/ki-sensei's art so much, especially the fashion, poses and his grasp with drawing the forms/shape of his characters with such a god-level of consistency.

I remember someone making a gif of his character in different panels, arranging them so that they're facing in different angles. The result is so smooth, it's like you're rotating a 3d model with how consistent he drew the face structure, even if each one is from a different manga panel! 🤯🤯🤯✨✨✨

27. Do you warm up before getting to the good stuff? If so, what is it you draw to warm up with

It's a 50-50! Sometimes I do when I remember, then sometimes I don't because I either forgot to or it's just that good of a day for me to draw. And when I do forget, I would only remember because it kind of feels off for no reason, especially when I'm just at the sketching stage. When I realize that, I would open another canvas asap and start drawing random stuff. If it's coloring then, I usually don't need to warm up.

For my warm up subjects, I usually go for Kana or Kurumi, depending on my mood. I drew them so much, so they're the easiest and quickest to draw for me, they're great for warm-up sketches for that very reason. They're also a test to see rq if a certain day is a good drawing day. Because if I can't even draw KanaRumi properly, then I know my brain is not in the right setting to draw at that particular time just yet. I can stop the clownery very early and just switch to doing something else.

[littleeyesofpallas]

So there is a certain character type that I cannot for the life of me pin down a word for... It's yakuza adjacent, but often not explicitly part of the actual gangs. a kind of shady businessman, but not the overly clean and corporate type. sort of a scammer or a conartist or grifter, but not as small time as that sort of makes it sound? I want to say it's a look associated with loan sharks, but I can't quite substantiate that.... I swear it's a thing you see in the context of Japanese crime fiction all the time, especially set in the 80s or 90s, yet I can't really point to any characters that really fit the bill off the top of my head, as they're almost always background characters. Somehow the only one I can think to pinpoint is that one random villain-of-the-week in Kill la Kill?

The persona itself actually has a shocking amount in common with, like, the classic American used car dealer, especially on the east coast either around the New York/New Jersey tristate or down in like Miami, usually with a hefty bit of Italian or Jewish racism mixed in... The style though, the gold chains, the tacky superficial try-hard glitz and the pushy rough around the edges attitude, very self-made and informally educated businessman, surprisingly successful but still not really a "big" success, and just like this Japanese counterpart I'm thinking of, almost always technically in business with local organized crime without ever being "part of the family."

Like it's such a cliche that it's literally cartoonish, and it's funny how almost perfectly beat for beat the US and Japanese counterparts mirror eachother, except that the Japanese character type, as far as I can recall, isn't associated with used car dealerships,

anyway point is... That's what Marechiyo and his dad are supposed to look like. That and a bit of yakuza/delinquent in the case of his dad when he was younger. Notably his dad straight up has a punch perm in the present day, which was The quintessential yakuza look in the 80s. And his younger version seems to also have a perm but also a regent style pompadour that's a little more youthful delinquent aligned than outright criminal, and again a look that has become so cliche as to become cartoonish to the point of being a costume you can buy in a store.

Although whatever the hell Marechiyo has going on in the new hell arc, i cannot identify.

But it's interesting that it's a different kind of yakuza look than what Iba has going on. His dark shades, the tight perm, the laborer's bellywarmer, his zanpakutou being a tanto sticking out of it, the overall posture with the one shoulder out of his kimono, even that his sword is alternatively either a Yakuza style tanto tucked into a chest wrap, or a seemingly normal katana but without a crossguard is to evoke the classic yakuza image of using a shirasaya --a plain white wood sheathe with matching handle and no crossguard or wrap-- rather than a more traditional katana. And of course his dog-like loyalty to Komamura are all iconic stoic Yakuza romanticism. The hardboiled, honor-bound, manly-man ideal of the folklore-like reputation of the yakuza. The thing you'd see in countless old movies or pulp thriller style seinen manga, sometimes even published by yakuza family magazines themselves.

His mother also plays into this, even in her barely existent appearance in the MASKED databook, as she's a pretty distinct play into a very particular matronly character type, generally typifying either a proprietress of a traditional inn, a powerful samurai family matron, or a yakuza boss's wife --all kind of loosely overlapping and all drawing from traditional roles of a head of manor or estate.

I dunno where i was going with any of this. But between these character types and Kensei's biker gang thing, I think it's funny how much of Soul Society's classically japanese vibe is just organized crime. Even the general population of unnamed background shinigami lean into a very modern thuggish aesthetic

Also i don't know what to make of the idea that the Shihouin have endorsed the Omaeda family like this over the years, especially when they're role among the royale houses seems to be to safeguard various treasures and relics. Between that and apparently being at least two generations of heads of a division of the secret police, it's hard to imagine the Omaeda were just independently wealthy unrelated to all that.

[crazy-ache]

Writing Fanfic Tag Game

Thanks for the tag @bonecarversbestie, this is so fun!

Describe your writing process from idea to posting/publishing

I usually think of an idea, brainstorm for a bit, plot out some thoughts, and then attempt writing. For the multichapter fics, I've learned my lesson and I try to outline chapters before committing to posting. But I usually write the chapter, edit, then post. For oneshots, I may be a bit more reckless and dive into writing before I finish outlining the idea.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A bit of both. My plotting is usually one very vague sentence and then I'll pants the rest.

What do you listen to when you are writing?

I cannot write without music. I need the song to match the vibes of my chapter. And then I'll usually listen to it on repeat - like it's my theme song. I occasionally will listen to an album as well to match my writing environment. Right now my current vibes are the album "The Dichotomy" by David Kushner.

What’s your drink of choice(while writing)?

Coffee, water, wine, Ollipops? Haha. Could be anything, depends on time of day.

Promote yourself! What’s your favorite thing you’ve written?

This is a hard one. I'm going to say the most fun I've had writing (where the chapters just FLEW by naturally on the keyboard) was Animal Instincts. Long live Cat!Elain lol.

Share a fic of yours that you think is underrated/deserves more love.

I have put so much effort and actual brain power into ACOWAR (Elucien's Version) that I'll gladly promote it again LOL.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

I would say 1) Remember writing fanfiction should be fun not like a chore. So just lean in, let go of the judge on your shoulder, and let the words flow. 2) Find someone to talk to your fics about! Being able to discuss my ideas, my roadblocks, and have someone fangirl/cheer me on (and vice versa) has been so valuable to my writing experience this year.

What is a writing style/technique that others do really well that you'd like to get better at?

I would like to get better at action scenes - I do feel not so great when I have to write those haha.

Is there a character you were surprised you enjoyed writing as much as you did?

Eris and Rhysand. Both have been a lot of fun to write for different reasons. I like leaning into Rhysand's intimidating power. I like leaning into Eris' mask of cruelty. I also have a plan to explore some Nesta/Cassian soon so I am very excited for that 👀

Tagging some of my wonderful writer friends (no pressure of course):

@sad-scarred-sassy, @starsreminisce, @clarafae, @fortheloveofbanksy, @clockwork-ashes

[goldennika]

hey! i saw that you were interested in fashion and styling and kibbe and i was wondering if you have thoughts on soobin and yeonjun switching outfits for the act sweet mirage finale soundcheck? i thought it was super interesting how the same outfits ended up having a completely different vibe when worn on different people! (this is all in good fun ofc, no shade to either member and they were such good sports for doing the switch)

Hi! omg thanks so much for this question!! I thought it was really cute and silly of them to switch entire outfits when they said they’d be styling each other for soundcheck. it’s so TXT 😂

As for the difference in vibes despite them wearing the exact same outfit, if we’re going by particular styling systems then Seasonal Color analysis and Kibbe typing come into play!

I just wanna preface this by saying that I while I do have an interest in Kibbe typing and styling as a whole but I’m not entirely sure what their Kibbe types are. I had some initial thoughts about sookai’s Kibbe types a few months back but haven’t really done a full-on analysis for any of them (though I’d really like to!! 🙈)

While I’m leaning towards Soft Dramatic (vertical + curve) for Soobin, I can’t pin down Yeonjun’s Kibbe type. But he might be a very slim Flamboyant Natural (vertical + width) in my eyes. Will try to expound on this a little bit later!

With all that aside, let’s try to break down their looks below the cut! Be forewarned that it's going to be lengthy bc of all the photos and side discussions 😅

Top-bottom: Day 1 soundcheck (source) | Day 2 soundcheck (source)

I'm already seeing how differently the pieces fall on each of them. Yeonjun's original outfit appears to fall more smoothly on his body, whereas on Soobin, the fabric appears to bunch up and gather around his midsection more. This could potentially be due to Soobin being taller/having a longer torso so the blue-gray button down ends higher on his body than it does on Yeonjun.

While they both have slim waists, I think Yeonjun being short waisted/having longer legs and Soobin having a fuller 🍑, also contributes to how differently the fabric falls on them, despite both being tall and slim.

First pic (source) | Second pic (source)

With Soobin being the taller of the two, you would think that he could wear all the fabric with no problem, but seeing these photos side by side, he seems to be a little overwhelmed by Yeonjun's outfit.

This, I believe is where their Kibbe types come into play. As mentioned earlier, I suspect Yeonjun could be an FN, and Soobin is a potential SD.

Flamboyant Naturals or FNs are considered to be frame-dominant. This allows them to wear flowing, unstructured pieces without being swallowed by all the fabric, as their body structure is able to provide... well, the structure that would showcase the pieces clearly. This is partially why FN models ruled the catwalks during the 90s -- their body structure allowed for you to focus on the clothing, rather than the body, leading to the "human hanger" moniker that supermodels were given around that time.

Going back to Yeonjun, their recent content (particularly the abundance of sleeveless Yeonjun appearances we've had this year) made me realize just how broad he is, despite being so slim. Just look at how the fleece jacket fits on him (suspected Flamboyant Natural) versus Beomgyu (suspected Soft Classic)!

Or compare how Yeonjun's top falls on his body, particularly the shoulders, versus that of Soobin in a Tinnitus stage.

(Side note: the GBGB/Tinnitus/DBTW stage also really highlights their different frames, given the rather simple cuts and fabrics for their costumes. It's a helpful reference for kibbe typing imo, along with their encore outfits as they usually wear the same pieces)

First pic (source) | Second pic (source)

Going back to the outfit swap, I think the elements of Yeonjun's original outfit work well on him as he has the vertical and the width to pull off the long layers and the looser fitting fabrics. Denim is also a popular material for Naturals as it has some structure but is not overly stiff. The distressed details also add to that rawness that Naturals can pull off well.

That same outfit on Soobin, on the other hand, doesn't look quite as harmonious, as Soft Dramatics tend to shine more in pieces that accommodate their vertical and curve. The flannel shirt being under the long top just made him look wider on the bottom versus if it were acting like an external belt that could have defined his waist. Coupled with the baggy distressed jeans, it just made him look rather unbalanced and visually weighs him down.

Accessories also play a role in the different vibes we get from the outfit swap. Yeonjun's piercings help to tie in the grunge styling. If Soobin wore Yeonjun's outfit with a few more accessories (maybe adding pins to the beanie or some jewelry, idk), it could look more like a complete outfit for him bc from the waist up, he looks a little plain, IMO, and that does nothing for a Soft Dramatic like him!!

(source)

Soobin's original outfit suits him better as a Soft Dramatic as it honors his vertical (monochrome palette, long pieces) and curve (large collar and the leather coupled with a textured trim adds visual interest or "drama" that he can pull off).

231202 Soundcheck (source)

Consider how different Soobin and Taehyun's vibes are despite having similar outfits on. Soobin's jacket looks visually "fuller" (fabric has a heavier visual weight compared to Taehyun's) but it does not overwhelm him as he has the build for it. It also ends by his waist (compared to midhip for Taehyun) which helps to draw the eye in to his curves -- again honoring his Soft Dramatic lines.

Black is also well within Soobin's color palette as a Winter type so the look is very cohesive overall! (Lighter grays/blues, like Yeonjun's shirt, aren't as flattering on Soobin as these could make him appear a little washed out or dull)

Soobin's outfit on Yeonjun still works as he has the vertical and the frame to pull it off. IMO however, the jacket looks a tad oversized on Yeonjun which contributes to the more "relaxed" vibe on him versus on Soobin (where it is a closer fit to the body) and makes him look more.. dominating(?) in a sense.

(source)

When Yeonjun took off the jacket, people somehow went crazier 😂 And I get why! The shirt showcases his build, rather than being covered up by a visually bulky jacket.

By removing the jacket too, it allowed for more focus on his face. I think Yeonjun might be a Summer type so black would take away from his features. Lighter colors are more flattering for him (another factor in why his original outfit doesn't seem to be so overwhelming on him) but he and the rest of TXT are all ridiculously good looking, it's hard to make them look unattractive 😂 I'm still a bigger fan of their orig outfits though 🙈

TL;DR: Yeonbin's original soundcheck outfits honor their Kibbe types and personal colors more than when they switched but since they're both tall, broad (but in different ways!), and just stupidly handsome, the outfit switches still kinda work bc they have elements that work to their Kibbe types.

If you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading!! Let me know your thoughts on their outfits, if you'd want to see more pieces like this from me, or just anything you'd like to share about TXT fashion and/or styling! 🫶

[devondespresso]

Writers 20 questions tag game!!

tagged by the beloved @eriquin 💕💗💖 i haven't been able to participate in a lot of tag games lately (as evident by this being at least a week late ahnsgdsynkd)(edit: its been way more than a week) but i still really really appreciate the tags!!

divider by @/saradika-graphics

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

7 !! I think i still need to put one up there but i haven't yet cause i wanna edit the ending a tad

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

10,746

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Stranger Thingssssss, and i think its fair to say the Steve Harrington fandom specifically gdnzngxngxgn

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Sweet and Spicy (the one steddie drabble tdnydyndny), My Sunshine, I Can Only Hope Now, Never Again, and Mr. Crayola Henderson

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes absolutely!! its usually a lot of heart emojis and keyboard smashes mixed in with my actual response zgnzgbzgnzng

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

uhhh itd probably have to be Never Again still, i usually like to lean positive with my endings, that whole love-being-alive thing, so whenever i don't its usually because the focus is a different strong emotion that'd conflict with blatant positivity.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

oo okay also hard to decide for the same reason, I'd say the ending that feels happiest is probably from either I Can Only Hope Now (the Claudia prompt) or Now That We're Alive because both go from sad to happy and hopeful for the future. My Sunshine ends on a good note but its less "aw yippee!" and more "AAAAAAAAAAAA". I like my drabbles (under 400 words) to end pretty fluffy so far, and stuff like Mr. Crayola Henderson stays a pretty consistent light and fun so I don't think the happy end hits as hard.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

no, thank god, not yet anyway

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

nopeeee tho Never Again has an E and M version it's not exactly fun enough to be smut i don't think

10. Do you write crossovers?

also nope

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that im aware?? I'd be pretty pissed if it was but also like. is it doing well? is it popular? 👀

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

not that im aware but i give full permission if anyone wants to

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

nope, most ive done is bounce ideas or beta, but I'd be down to try it!

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

i don't know if i have one?? just in general for stranger things i enjoy steve ships a lot. big fan of Vi and Caitlyn from Arcane but im not really in fandom for that show cause what would i change?? im very much a gen fic enjoyer and if i had to list all my fav platonic dynamics... we'd be here a while xgnzngzgn

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

oh irony my cruelest adversary. a few months ago i was happy and ignorant in my haven of only one active wip. Now there's a small handful, and unless i get possesed with the same emotions i was venting in it, i fear the short Robin-centric letter style thing won't be finished soon. its decent so far but there would be a good bit of editing trying to actually articulate the feeling in a realistic way plus fitting it to Robin's first-person writing style. I don't intend to drop it but lately it just calls to me the least, but that could change

16. What are your writing strengths?

i think its a strange mix of intuition and a technical understanding of writing that works really well for the way i think. Its very broad and basically has no rules, just a understanding of how my favorite stories work, how most writing rules are really trends that tend to work better and then you can dig deeper behind a lot of them to see the *why* behind it. that plus trusting the nagging feeling that something's off makes editing my most productive stage, i can vibe check the area and then start digging dgnxnhxngxng

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

god this changes every time i revisit this draft xumxhmxmxhm this time its probably character introspection. i love writing like a movie and having character action or dialogue or setting or symbols communicate things, but putting down what the characters thinking with similar tact is soooo harddddddd and especially in angst or emotion moments, i want my readers caught in the same thought process as the pov character, i want it to feel so real that even if they never experienced the situation the characters in and even if they know logically the characters wrong, they understand. and that unfortunately involves bypassing their stance as an outside perspective on the matter, which is uhhhhh very very hard xhmznhxhnxhm

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Depends on the intent, i think it works best when the author speaks the language themselves, and especially with stuff like asl it helps clarify the grammatic differences. I think if its a language the pov character isn't supposed to understand then "said something in x language" works better for universal immersion.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Stranger things babeyyyyyy, i actually started writing the Steve Henderson au first, tho the first drafts of chapters are very different from current ones

20. Favorite fic you've written?

MY SUNSHINE!!!!!!! i am so open about my favouritism with that one, its the most contemplative and atmospheric and emotional and its short enough that i was spending time on every word, every line to make sure it felt right and contributed to the picture i wanted. they say its more achievable (compared to long fiction) to make a perfect short story and that's what My Sunshine feels like to me, the perfect little taste of themes I'm enjoying most in writing rn, specifically with the Steve Henderson au (my second favourite fic xgnxngxgn)

i forget how many ppl im supposed to tag so im gonna do 20, no pressure ofc!! @marvel-ous-m @acasualcrossfade @pearynice @imfinereallyy @tinytalkingtina

@klausinamarink @puppy-steve @queenie-ofthe-void @eyesofshinigami @stellarspecter

@dreamwatch @lightoftheseraph @withacapitalp @findafight @hbyrde36

@vegasol @carolperkinsexgirlfriend @lingeringmirth @momotonescreaming @sourw0lfs

[bismuthburnsblue]

Help me design a dress!

this is our fabric! (left is the product image, right is my actual piece of fabric- ruler on the left is cm, on the right is inches, to give you an idea of print scale) its the black version of the break up robe print, in a lightweight & crisp cotton. i have 4.5m (5y) so it should be enough to make most designs, though some will require consideration in the cutting- we will get to that later though. (the fabric is also narrow, i think its only 110cm wide. (its still folded in the picture))

my goal here is to make a comfy wearable dress, something pretty casual & everyday in silhouette, but i would also like if it was possible to style up for a more formal look. most of my inspiration for this project has come from 1950s dresses, because thats a style i lean towards for myself, though im not aiming for anything "true vintage" or anything. im also fond of lolita dresses, so im more than down to draw inspiration from those also!

also, the print is pretty bold compared to my usual style, so ive considered doing some kind of translucent (chiffon, tulle, mesh) overlay to tone it down so its more wearable in my wardrobe. this will entirely depend on it working with out final design, and even then, ill offer you the decision at the end! ultimately, i still want to be able to appreciate the fabric. (for sewing people: id intend to do it as a flat lining, so it sits right up against the fabric underneath, not as a complete separate layer. i find this makes it block out the design slightly less) doing this could also help with adding structure to the dress, which i already think some designs might need, considering how thin the fabric is.

ok now the brief is out of the way, onto the first decision for the dress: the shape of the skirt. if you want to vote based entirely on vibes, feel free to click away, but i have included some more writing about each option & its ups and downs in this particular project under the cut (also pictures of each style if youre not so familar with what they are!)

& the propaganda for the options:

Circle skirt: you can never go wrong with a circle skirt- theyre probably my favourite to wear overall & i especially like the low bulk join to the waist as i sometimes find things with gathers dont sit as nicely on me. the way circle skirts are cut also gives them a movement that the other two methods simply cannot compete with in my eyes.

The main downside is working a circle skirt with this particular fabric. the fabric is not wide enough to cut the entire front as one, so i would either need a centre front seam or to make it a 3/4 circle skirt- something im 100% ok with, i honestly find at midi length a full circle to be too much sometimes. (there is technically the option to have full circle but rotate it so the seams are at side, but that might then mean i have to do some shenanigans with where the fastenings go). also, because the design is directional, each quarter will need to be cut so the seams end up on the bias, which makes for an Incredibly inefficient cutting layout. (again, if theres a CF seam, thatll be on the diagonal of the design, which really defeats the point of putting in the effort in the first place, to me.) i think i would be able to get all the panels i need out of the piece of fabric i have, but i think i would be a bit more limited with top options as i try to make sure to use as many of the small pieces left over as possible.

Gathered skirt: these are by far the easiest to do in terms of sewing. in my research into casual 50's dresses about 90% of all pictures i saw featured a dress with a gathered skirt (or actually, a lot seemed to have tiny pleats that give the effect of gathers, like the coral one. if we vote this way, i would be tempted to go try them as i think it might solve my bothers with gathered skirts in general)

i generally find gathered skirts less flattering on me- they add bulk at the waist and then hang straight down off the hips (when not puffed up with a petticoat) and thats generally not something i like on myself. i could improve that though by bringing more fabric in to increase the hem, and adding horsehair braid to the hem to help it swoop without additional support (again, my goal for this project is causal day dress)

this pattern uses the least fabric i think, depending on how much you put in the skirt- i think i should get a perfectly satisfactorily full skirt from this with less than 2m of fabric used. (honestly might end up too efficient- id like to use up all the fabric i have in this, and i really dont need that much for a bodice. i can see myself adding 4, even 5 widths into the skirt to use up yardage. i dont particularly see that as a problem though)

despite my reservations because of gathered skirts ive made before, for this project it does have one massive point in its favour: the fact that its still a full piece of fabric. all other styles here all cut quite significantly into the design to create their shape, while this be one panel of the fabric from edge to edge. preserving the design of this fabric is pretty high on my priority list, after all, i bought this fabric specifically because it was the OFMD break up robe print. i want whatever design i make to work with that.

Tiered skirt: for me, tiered skirts are the best of both worlds in terms of the effect they give. the fact each layer doubles means they keep some of the swish a circle skirt gives (and, i find, they tend to have more of the A-Line shape of a circle skirt too) while not being quite so consuming of fabric as you cut. i couldnt find many examples of 50's dresses with them (though i did find some) so i do feel like this style pulls more towards the style of lolita dresses & that might be reflected in the options i offer in subsequent rounds.

if you know anything about petticoats, then youll notice that this style of skirt is essentially the same construction as them (though petticoats often introduce extra layers and ruffles and.....) when ive made this style of skirt in the past i have found that it holds volume much like a petticoat does, without the need for an extra undergarment- something thats great for a casual dress!

I was thinking three tiers is the ideal number for this dress, though i could make it only two. i dont think i would make it more as, if i keep them even (which was my intention, though i am also fond of the styles that increase with each tier like my example images) then each tier will probably be 20cm wide, which is already looking like itll cut into the features of the design. i think that is the single biggest downside for this style- i wont reasonably be able to do much 'fussy cutting' either to work with the print, its simply not practical to do on this scale.

At a rough estimate, i think this is gonna use 3m of fabric in the skirt, which puts it slap bang in the middle in terms of fabric efficiency. i should have plenty enough to do it, maybe even to increase it if i want to, while still being pretty unlimited about what i do with the rest of the design.

one last thing- trim! one unique feature of this design is the opportunity to play with trim on the skirt itself. i do have some bodice ideas that play around with trim, and it would be really nice to introduce it into the skirt too, if we go that way. it could even be a fun nod to the piping on the original break up robe!!!!

Something else (comment): while doing my research i came across SO MANY design ideas that i could play around with. for this poll i picked the three i thought would probably work the best for this project, but i wanted an opportunity for you to yell at me if you want something different entirely. feel free to suggest anything you like, but ive included a couple images as examples of styles i saw a lot. i especially saw a lot like on the left, with gathering or ruffles off to the side, but the front panel being pretty flat. this might be real fun for some designs like shirtdresses, but im not super confident on how itd look on me. either way, feel free to form a coalition in the replies to tell me how i totally should have offered you this one particular option.

(if you vote for this but dont comment, im discounting it from the overall stats as i have no idea what design you mean! your welcome to send it in on anon if that bothers you, but either way, ill need a description :P )

[nerogurl]

Hello! I have never done these match up requests but it seemed fun and your writing is really entertaining. Plus, I'm super curious about this type of fan fiction. It looks really fun! A big reason why I started Fear and Hunger is because someone online described it as being " the main character in the final act of a Lovecraft novel". I find eldritch horror so creative and intriguing to I dived on in.

APPEARANCE - I am 5'3, black/brown long wavyish hair, "top heavy", brown eyes, Mexican, kinda chubby.

Personality - I believe actions speak louder than words. Some people have described me as a social butterfly, but in reality I am hella antisocial and I just socialize so I can just get it over with and be in my own little corner. I really just enjoy being on my own since I don't have to worry about being a people pleaser or anything like that. I just feel more free on my own. That doesn't mean I hate being around people though. I love being around my family and friends. My social battery just runs very low and it takes a while to recharge. My friend had also once described me as having a forest gnome vibe. I do love being out in nature so it's pretty valid. I just feel very excited to be out in the mountains or forest. It makes me feel like an adventure is just around the corner. But I can also be pretty lazy. I love getting cozy and get into reading a book, play a video game, or watching a cartoon/movie. In the future I want to go into archaeology because I'm just fascinated by ancient civilizations and early humanity. I lean more towards absurdist philosophy with a bit of hedonism thrown in there. I just want someone to match my freak lol. No but seriously, I don't care about what other people do so long as no one gets hurt. I tend to like taking in little lost animals. like of course, wet cats. The cat distribution system loves me and I love it. In any kind of relationship I like to have a bit of teasing or light bullying. TO me it's a sign that we're comfortable enough with each other that neither of us will get hurt. And trust that neither of us will go too far. My love language is acts of service, words of affirmation and quality time.

LIKES - Campy/older horror movies. Especially if the effects are practical like in "The Fly", "The Thing", or "Pizza, Party, Panic". I appreciate the talent and creativity that goes into that specific type of gore or body horror. Even though it does make me queasy I just end up admiring the effects. I am big on cryptids and the occult, I just find all of that really cool. I love doing art in any and all forms. Especially trippy art! I usually use acrylics. I like really dumb silly stuff in general. That leads into not taking myself too seriously, I like to have fun! Y2k clothing styles are my jam, I always try to add at least a little something to my wardrobe

DISLIKES - People to are boring and aren't willing to have a little bit of fun. People questioning me and my business. I'm a pretty private person, so people prying make me suspicious. When horror movies use cheap scares, horror, or gore just to get a quick reaction. Traveling to places. I like being in places but not so much the journey. I'm more of a passenger princess anyway. Heights make me Shakey and light headed. Spiders.

(EDIT; thank you for clarifying anon! Here's the post.)

Aw, thank you Anon! I'm glad people enjoy my writing. It's nice to know I can make someones day. As for matches, I'm happy to inform you going over your description that I get the opportunity to match you with my favourite character, Nosramus!

Since Nosramus's gender is left intentionally innocuous, I will be using they/them pronouns.

A whimsical alchemist living in the cave system of the dungeons of Fear & Hunger, is a main character in Enki's S ending. They were originally part of the fellowship that would travel to Ma'habre to ascend to New Gods. Realising that ascension was a lie, keeping one's potential stagnant, they would refuse to join them and instead pursue true enlightenment through the constant pursuit of new knowledge. 

Having spent centuries isolated from society, they suffer from an acute loneliness. While they thrive to learn and adapt, as is their own discovered ultimate pursuit of enlightenment, there is a natural cultural disconnect with the passage of time; interacting with the world like a tourist. You might think that Nosramus has generous company drawn to them due to their ethereal appearance and otherworldly demeanour, but rather this actually makes them come across as intimidating. Sure, scholars or rabbit-masked lovers passing through, but interpersonal relationships? A light just too close to the sun or a stepping stone for other people's god-centred agendas, they would appreciate taking a turn of being the focus of fascination:

Trading their knowledge of ancient rites in exchange for learning more about modern society. Your art style and fashion sense are like candy for a alchemist with a glutton for knowledge. Studying the heartbeat of the earth, they love to observe nature in all its forms, they would like to observe you. What's the process behind your creations? The thought, behaviour, body language that goes into the choices involved with the unfamiliar art and fashion? As Nosramus's prior studies show that they had tried to recreate life, they love to watch the life you weave into your creations. 

Originally open to parenthood, I imagine them doting on their partner, similar to a caretaker. They can be seen silently observing your work fondly, taking note of any projects that have piqued their curiosity. They'd help by restocking your art supplies as a gift or offer to provide experiences that adventure into the surrealism that inspires psychedelic art, such as magic or the opium used to alleviate the loss of sanity. Intersecting with Nosramus's experiences, connecting their world to yours through a relatable medium, you could draw for them as a gift. Framing your art on the wall, like how a proud mother hangs their child's pieces on the refrigerator. You might find thrown out pieces sharing a spot among your gifts.

They are a bit of a cheeky flirt, all fun banter and playful, fully prepared that you're just passing through. They would suggest the idea of you staying in a teasing manner, of course if you don't mind bunking with an old windbag, 'hohohoho!'  Once you start to reciprocate, they'd slowly let you closer into their life enough that overtime you might be able to share it. 

Having lived in the Dungeons for most of their life, just like how the game recommends avoiding as many fights as possible, Nosramus relies on a similar strategy to social etiquette as you do, cautious and withdrawn but sociable. A slow-burn relationship, the quality time is what helps kinder the flames before taking things too seriously. A domestic lifestyle fit for an old married couple, sharing the same medial tasks to get through the day. 

Utilising an affinity with Vinushka the both of you share, allows long stretches of time to be spent reading in the sun by hidden grooves and forestry. Nosramus is not unfamiliar with days lazing about, some of which spent in the Sylvain meadows. Open minded to being freaky, they are versatile in all fields when it comes to learning new things.

Foraging in the caves for mushrooms, trading with the lizard-man civilisation for meat, scouring for whatever natural resources can be harvested for alchemy. Nosramus's sensibilities may have been warped having spent so long integrating with other species, their humour and understanding of social norms are probably a bit twisted, they would appreciate someone that wouldn't mind the peculiarity of their ideas.

The transition to a relationship is a delicate process of trust between two parties, but sharing the same approach and attitudes, it feels so seamless that looking back you can't pinpoint where it even began. 

Your next match is Samarie! Reading your mind she could find your headspace relatable. She can get extremely skittish when people get friendly, with her experience as a radiating soul drawing mostly negative attention. Struggling with socialising but wanting to be adored, contrasted with someone that struggles with too much attention being overwhelming: When reading your mind, she projects her insecurities as something you need protecting from. Trying her best to take some of the load off to help prevent you from getting overwhelmed by carrying conversation with the extra boost of confidence you give her. 

Samarie much the same admires Marina, who is so easily fits in the IN crowd. She wants to be someone you can look up to, she would be quite eager to teach you occult magic and offer whatever lore to add to your fascination of cryptids. With her life in the Vatican, she's had too much experience having grave importance staked on her life as a living sacrifice for the older gods. She'd prefer to live a carefree life of fun. Not thinking of the grand scheme of things and just trying to make as many happy moments as possible. Whether that's going out or staying in, positive affirmation from someone she cares about gives her more confidence to figure out what happiness is for her. 

Due to her upbringing, she would almost immediately be drawn to horror. A way to confront traumas in a safe controlled environment. The only apprehension she'd get is the same with you; cheap jump-scares are bad for her frail body. Introducing her to your favourites you could give her warnings by squeezing her hand. Although she can sense through your thoughts, going out of your way to let her know would be reassuring in that she can trust you. She'd be able to control her nerves enough to enjoy herself, albeit with a lot of coaxing.

The cat distribution system loves her too, she just doesn't know it yet. Being codependent on reading people's thoughts to navigate social interaction, I'm assuming that animals don't have the same crux as humans. Cats would be good for her mental health because it forces a situation where she has to take initiative outside of her unhealthy coping mechanisms. She would have a lot in common with cats, which parallels the parasocial relationship that she's able to establish with Marina from their common interests. However, the only acknowledgement she'll get from a cat is if she establishes an actual relationship first. 

A cat is sitting on her lap and she cannot physically bring herself to move. You'll just walk in on her splayed in awkward positions, trying not to move as to rouse any from their resting place. Looking at you with a silent pleading expression to help free her from her indentured role as a human mattress.

Although, physically weak, she could appreciate the outdoors in an unconventional way. She can relate to the disposition of bugs. Like how Enki intuitively learns how to communicate with bugs when thrown inside the well, I imagine Samarie would adapt very much the same. Using her ability to talk to bugs as a safety mechanism much in the same way as her mind reading. Going out for nature hikes is out of the question due to the extraneous physical activity. However, I could see her enjoy urban exploring. The intel from insects enables her to navigate the mysterious labyrinths with ease. Much like how you meet Samarie in a alternate reality on Day 2, after stepping on the Rher's ritual circle; a world just for the two of you.

Tldr; Nosramus & Samarie, but overall Nosramus is your best match.

[asteria7fics]

I've got a few questions for ya! Where did you learn to write like you do? I read through your newest fic and I'm blown away from how could you write!

And the other question I have, do you ever get worried? I hurt my brain and went down the SP confession rabbit hole, and now I'm worried about my writing now. I'm afraid of falling into tropes and writing these characters to be one dimensioned. How do you get past that?

First of all, thank you!! I never really know how to react when people compliment my writing as a whole, because truthfully I’m still very insecure about the way I write! It really does help to hear that people enjoy my writing style! (,,> ᴗ <,,)

I have a couple of answers to your first question. Learning to write has been a weird process for me if I’m being honest. I’ve always been told that reading is the best way to learn, and while I think reading lots of different things is a huge factor in being able to write confidently, there’s really no substitute for actually doing the thing.

I’ve always loved storytelling, but only really began writing stories down in middle school. Then I started finding RP partners online, and spent several years writing all kinds of stories and absorbing tons of skills from those people.

I’ve also spent an embarrassing amount of time listening to people talk about writing. Story structure, character development, all that jazz. There are several really great YouTube channels that discuss different writing techniques that I’ve taken bits and pieces from throughout the years.

Writing style is a very personal thing though, and while I’ve learned a lot from the way other people write, I’ve also spent a lot of time experimenting with my own voice. I’ve drafted tons of unfinished projects just to see what perspectives I enjoy writing from the most, or what sort of narrative voice I prefer to have. As you may glean from both TSOB and EWILY, I tend to take on a sort of sarcastic tone as a narrator, and for the most part I do that because that’s just kind of how I talk! I’m a smart ass by nature I’m afraid, though I think it also works well in the context of the sillier stories I tend to tell with my SP inspired works.

To answer your second question, yes! I’m always worried that my interpretations of certain characters won’t be enjoyed by the greater fandom, especially as someone who tends to not really vibe with a lot of really popular head canons. My solution to that? I pretend not to care!

Seriously though, I have spent a truly, horribly embarrassing amount of time studying these characters. Between watching the show, playing the games, listening to the episode commentaries, watching character analysis videos on YouTube (I’m a Johnny2Cellos girly myself), and reading some really, really good fan fiction I have put in the time to feel at least a little bit confident in my characterization of the main four boys, and sometimes Butters.

The fun thing about SP is that even Those Bastards play pretty fast and loose with their characterization, though.

Characters like Cartman who tend to have very consistent traits are usually the easiest for me to write. When I ask myself the question “how would Cartman respond to this?” the answer is usually whatever the worst possible response I can think of would be. Then I dial it back a little bit because I’m not trying to get cancelled.

But characters like Stan or Kyle are a lot more fluid. Sometimes they care very deeply about things, sometimes they don’t give a single shit. Sometimes they support one another through everything, sometimes they’re very quick to part ways. Characters like this can be really challenging, especially when you have them alongside characters who are often so cartoonishly villainous like Cartman.

My best advice for writing any characters, but especially for these particular characters, is to lean into their positive traits and flaws equally.

Cartman is actually a great example of this. He’s bigoted, crass and quite frankly kind of terrifying if you think about the things he’s done for more than thirty seconds. But he’s also extremely creative, pretty smart when he wants to be and, in many instances, is shown to actually care about his friends. Balancing all of these traits can be challenging, but it can also result in a more fleshed out, well rounded character.

Another character I see a lot of discourse about is Butters. To avoid making him too ‘uwu sweet baby’, as I often see it said, I balance a few things with him. Yes, Butters is generally very kind and sensitive to others’ feelings, but he’s also extremely gullible and can be a real asshole when he’s around the wrong people for long enough.

Of course, you don’t need to take my advice as gospel. I’m someone who has tried to keep the characters pretty close to canon (less so in EWILY than I did in TSOB, truthfully), but I’ve seen many incredibly written, extremely interesting SP fics that throw much of canon in the trash. Do what feels right for you and helps you to express the kinds of stories you want to tell!

At the end of the day, if you write for you and you enjoy the content you’re creating, then it shouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks of the interpretations you make. I especially don’t take anything on confession blogs personally, because if one of my head canons really offends someone they can talk to me about it. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Thank you so much for this ask! I had a lot of fun thinking about my own journey with writing these fics, and I hope some of my advice will be helpful for you! Much love, anon! ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡

[ohwiseswami]

Let’s Talk Riize

TLDR at the bottom if you’re lazy.

So……..SM has something special there. After sitting down to seriously watch their performances and content, I think it is very clear that the members are trying to create as much of an artist-like atmosphere as they can without completely letting go of their idol identity. I don’t think I ever got this vibe from a kpop idol group so early on into their careers.

I want to caveat by saying that there’s nothing wrong with just being an idol group. I personally like some groups that have that vibe. But what makes Riize different in a sea of 4th/early 5th gen boy groups is that I’ve seen them refer to themselves as artists and discuss their passion for making art.

Between Youngwonhee (just learned this one!) all taking very seriously the songwriting, musicianship, and singing aspects of making art; and Shotaro being a trained dancer and enjoying that process; they round out Sungchan, Eunseok (and Seunghan’s) more classic idol-like nature to give this really interesting hybrid vibe.

And, again, I want to be clear to Briize that I know each Riize member has their own thing(s) that they’re great at. I’m just stating that the vibes are like 4/7 lean more into the artist vibe and 3/7 lean into the idol vibe (likely on purpose).

But do I have favorites? YES. Ripping the bandaid off now, as a singer and instrumentalist myself, I love those elements. And as someone with a very strong appreciation for people who can create something from nothing or create something from disparate parts, I love a good songwriter. Lastly, I love someone who is just passionate about what they do and who is grateful for every new experience (this one is not as straightforward—it’s Sungchan).

Beyond my personal affects though, I would love to see what Riize can do when SM is not steering everything. We already get shades of that in their content, but I want to see it more fully and infused with the music.

Now regarding their content, they’re not like balls to the wall ~chaotic like their neo predecessors or anything. And I’ve seen some sentiments that they give off an arrogant vibe. But even so, I feel like it’s only an issue when language barrier stuff happens (since it’s much harder to tell if they actually give offputting reactions or if they just can’t express themselves properly). Still, I don’t expect them to be gods of variety nor do I expect them to fake things just for show. But I at least would hope for a bare minimum of decorum (which they usually show!!).

On that same note, team chemistry is very important for artist groups to work. Idol groups are different because at that point your selling a fantasy anyway. But with artists, you’re really not fluffing anything up so you need to have a more genuine bond that shines through in your work. It’s waaaaaay too early on to tell with them where things lie and it probably won’t matter until the members start getting involved with songwriting, composing, and choreographing (if they ever do), but it’s something for Riize to focus on developing.

The last thing I want to say about Riize in this post is that Riize seem to both try and get away with things that other SM groups can’t/couldn’t at the same stage of their career. For example, at their recent fancon, I noticed Wonbin adding adlibs, Sohee breaking from the choreo, the members putting on a performance that (while clearly very practiced) also gave the performance a bit more personality beyond what we could see on Music Bank, etc. I don’t even think my top kpop group was doing that in Month 8. Hopefully they embrace this more free flowing style of performance going forward so we can see a little more of the members’ personal artistic expression beyond being the stereotypical perfect “idol singers”

TLDR: I was not a Riize believer until Impossible and after watching them perform in a more live setting than usual and seeing them behind the scenes, I GET it now