#and did all my colors and shading on there

[door-insurance]

Ahm, hello Life is Strange fandom- I got an announcement

I have been working on my own LiS fan visual novel

This is VortexVN,

You play as Victoria waking up from a hangover with no memory of the week prior, you are tasked with piecing together what happened between her and one of the 4 love interests.

And of course the love interests are:

-Chloe (Chaseprice)

-Max (Chasefield)

-Kate (Chasemarsh)

-Rachel (Amberchase)

The game starts with a quiz; you unlock a route by picking answers related to the character you wanna romance (they are very obvious)

It takes place in an AU where the events of LiS1 and BtS didn't really happen and there are no special powers, Victoria's still a bi tch- I guess that's her special powers.

Think of this game as a spiritual successor to Love is Strange by Team Rumblebee rather than Life is Strange 1

Gameplay so far is your typical point and click visual novel affair, you will be given options to explore rooms, examine objects and talk to other characters- the interactions will play a crucial part in how the game ends,

You can win the girl or get rejected or worse... It will depend on how Victoria carried herself throughout the game,

Mistreating certain characters may prove to be a dealbreaker for the love interest,

Each girl has two close friends in the dorm that you should not upset (I'll reveal who in the guide pdf)

This game is also perfect for Victoria haters as you can ruin her life

The game has its own journal system that will be different depending on who you're romancing, it also comes with a read button (I blurred most of the text so you can get curious and play the game)

Read button will display the journal content in Open Dyslexic font

In the demo you'll only get to explore Victoria's room and the dorm hallways and you'll get two encounters from Juliet (Showers) and Alyssa (Hallway)

VortexVN is still in development, I have finished part.1 of the project and will start polishing it soon- the initial build of part.1 will be available to play as a demo!

The cutscenes lack color and proper shading at the moment and you will find placeholders as well, the art style is all over the place- this will change after the polishing phase

Download links:

Mac and Windows

Web browser ver (I don't recommend that you play it on mobile, also the web version lacks animation and takes forever to load graphics)

programs used:

-Renpy (visual novel engine)

-Photoshop CS5 (Drawing/rendering/animating/designing)

-Clips studio (Texturing)

-tablet: XP-Pen Artist 13

Note: I'm not monetizing this project nor do I claim ownership of the Life is Strange ip, all materials and assets presented in this visual novel were either created by me or are royalty free- I did not lift anything from the games via data mining or by leaks

This game is not a response to or a gotcha at Life is Strange Double Exposure or Deck Nine, I didn't really dislike the game

Besides, I've had the idea of a Victoria centric fan game since the first LiS back in 2015

I'm open for feedbacks! You can DM me or reblog this with a review or something- maybe write a comment.

[lucygraysboy]

billy has to refrain from laughing or even grinning as he watches lucy gray’s award-worthy performance, trying to stay in character and loving every second of their shenanigans. she’s just so fun to be around. “i had no idea mermaids existed,” he gasps, feigning surprise as pale blue eyes take in her tail. he only lowers his voice when her small hand finds his mouth, hiding his smile. “is it real?” making sure not to touch her tail again, hearing he might get ill if he does so, billy restores to using his chin to point to things. “it’s so beautiful. i’ve never seen anything quite like it.” he doesn’t really know what color her scales should be, but for some reason he imagines them as a rainbow — each one painted a different shade, thousands of colors shimmering in the sun. she did tell him that she didn’t have just one favorite color, after all. it makes sense in his head. “you don’t have to be scared of me, little mermaid. i don’t hurt the innocent,” he proudly brags, puffing out his chest. he carries her to the shore, where the water’s barely reaching his knees and lowers her onto the soft sand below so that the lower half of her body’s still submerged. just in case there’s a rule that says mermaids can’t survive on land or stay out of water for too long. he kneels beside her, fingers tenderly stroking her hair. he doesn’t have to feign infatuation, his gaze gentle and loving. “how can i help you without touchin’ your tail? what about the fin? is it torn or broken? i’m so very sorry that you’ve only met unkind humans before, but your secret’s safe with me. i won’t ever tell anyone about what i’ve seen, and my crew over there, will never cause you or your friends any trouble.” he plays along, enjoying the combination of warm breeze and cool water, and the way she’s looking at him… his heart forgetting how to beat.

“my tail fin! my fin!” splashing feet pressed together up and down, “and a human?” pretending to just notice him then a gasp. “oh no, a human can’t see me!” shaking her head, pretending to writhe in attempt to get away before the human can get to her. “i’m scared of humans.” pretending to say to herself before a gasp escapes at suddenly being picked up and whisked away from the awful rock pinning her tail between it and the ‘ship’. “i’m…i’m…” feigning shock on her face even if she’s trying not to laugh because he’s ADORABLE, and it’s killin’ her. “don’t do that,” hand grabs his running up her tail, “you, a human, might get ill if you touch this… you weren’t supposed to see me. don’t tell anyone. if they know i’m a mermaid, they’ll try to catch me.” gently covering his mouth with her hand. “my tail does feel some pain… but you saved me.” playful surprise wells back in her eyes, “a human? who… saved me? i can’t believe it! i’ve always known unkind humans…” voice going softer but still skeptical. imagining she’s a mermaid so she should definitely be in awe of him. well, it’s not hard to express something that she’s been enchanted. a boy who really did save her in this lake, who plays with her like they’re children, a gentleman who helps her with things like breakfast and cleaning up… there certainly is something to in awe of. she’s glad she can blame it on her mermaid fascinated by a human role, as she gets lost in staring at him.

[lucienarcheron]

Spirit Meets the Bones XXXIV

Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse. Author’s Note:  Thank you for reading <3 I hope you enjoy this next chapter and where the story is going :)

thank you @riorsonxaden for always being my beta <3

tagging: @climb-the-mountian / @vanserrass / @positivewitch / @animezinglife / @zenkindoflove / @rosewood-cafe / @clockwork-ashes / @carnythian / @secret-third-thing / @runningwiththeoceans / @that-golden-lyre / @thedarkinmansfield / @readychilledwine / @goldenmagnolias / @mali22 / @readthelastpaage / @maidr-00 / @electromagnetic-waves / @eastofatlanta / @moobell55 / @bibliophiliaxvignette / @devilsfoodcake22 / @weesablackbeak / @ladywhilemia / @alohaangels / @feysandfeels / @corcracrow / @dawneternal / @gracie-rosee / @mage-neve / @illyrianvalkyrie / @saint-stella / @carolynmezzosoprano / @rainbowsnowflake / @queenoftheworld1998 / @wolvesnravens / @lalaluch /

Find it all here.

The morning had arrived in a blink and proceeded to be a whirlwind. 

The Forest House was fueled in chaos as final preparations for the Autumnal Equinox ball took place, and the house staff and sentries were coming and going to make everything perfect. 

Eris had never been this on edge in his whole life, and he had survived Under the Mountain. A mix of dread and restrained panic pumped through his veins, but the leash he had on himself was held tight. He and his brothers had one moment this morning—they shared one glance across the room to ensure everything was going accordingly, that Mikel's signal ensured Theo, Cosette, and Helene were fine, and then dispersed to go about getting ready. 

Now, Eris stood in his bedroom, fixing his cufflinks as he glanced at himself in the mirror then smoothed his hair on the side and adjusted his crown. He looked every bit of the favored Prince of the Autumn Court in a fitted dark maroon suit, golden embroidery decorating the sides of his coat. A suit he wore like armor, that told the people of his court that he may follow his father’s every word but he was power. His suit, the crown, and the devilish smile he wore like a mask – one he wore so well to hide the true purpose of this night. A purpose he’d prepared for in three different ways: a bandolier under his jacket, the Made dagger given to him long ago by the Night Court sheathed at his side, and his magic. Did he truly believe he needed weapons when his magic thrummed so violently beneath his skin, itching to be released? No. But when it came to taking down Beron Vanserra every moment, every measure counted.

He made himself take a deep breath. He would dress to impress, regardless of how many people he’d run his blade into tonight. 

“Help me with my dress?”

Eris turned and at the sight of his wife, his head emptied. 

His beautiful, beautiful wife. 

She knocked the wind out of him on any given day but gods fucken damn it, did she look magnificent dressed up. 

Iris stood before him in a beautiful maroon A-line dress. It was lace covered in a mix of sequins and beading with full sheer sleeves and if the cinched waist didn’t do him in, the modest sweetheart neckline giving him a teasing glance at her cleavage certainly would. She smiled at his reaction and Eris took another moment to admire the light makeup dusting her face and the styling of her hair. Her eyes were lined with light kohl, her blush giving her a lovely glow, and the terracotta shade coloring her lips made him want to desperately ruin it. His eyes zeroed in on the delicate necklace of olive branches he had left as a suggestion with her dress and his wretched heart swelled that she had actually worn it. 

Eris was certainly particular about his appearance and his wife matched his vision exactly. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you with your hair up,” he commented quietly. 

“Do you like it?” she asked shyly and Eris’s smile was soft in a way it only was with her, especially when his eyes locked on the tiara he had chosen specifically for her to wear. 

“Oh, I love it,” he replied, his soft smile blooming into his signature smirk. “Dare I say, you look absolutely delicious.”

Iris flushed prettily, lifting her nose in the air. “Only delicious?”

Eris chuckled, a hand reaching out to gently touch a curl framing her face. “You look like a goddess of autumn,” he murmured, his smirk softening again. “And I am but your humble devotee.”  

Iris couldn’t help the rapid beating of her heart at his compliment, her flush deepening. “If you keep being nice to me, I’ll be forced to be polite to you.”

“Heaven forbid you be polite to your mate. How dare I,” he said with a snort and Iris flipped him off, earning her a chuckle. He gestured for her to turn, regretting it almost immediately at the scooped neckline of the back as well, more of her skin on display. Before he could stop himself, Eris traced a hand down the bareness of her back and Iris shuddered beneath his touch, glancing at him over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“Don’t you start touching. We won’t be able to stop,” she warned and Eris’s grin was full of male smugness.

They had spent last night all over each other and this morning, Eris had awoken to Iris’s hand sliding down his body and they lost another hour exploring each other. 

It had been very hard for them to stop.

And now, like any respectable husband, he couldn’t help but leave a featherlike kiss on her exposed skin before calmly zipping up her dress. 

When she turned back to him, the two stood face to face, taking each other in quietly, and the longer he looked at her, the harder he had to fight the anxious dread wrapping around his chest like barbed wire. Gods, he had so much to lose. 

This day may have been a long time coming for Eris but he had never thought he’d have someone by his side through it all. Someone who was all his. His Iris, who watched him with that knowing look, read into his emotions better than anyone else. 

He never thought he’d be understood. And yet, as Iris stood before him, despite all that would happen today, the tentative smile she gave him soothed his jagged soul. He felt a fluttering of peace in his chest. He felt her. 

This was the closest to heaven Eris knew he’d ever be. 

“You really do look beautiful,” he said softly and the smile bloomed further on her face. “A crown suits you.”

“Thank you. My husband has a good eye,” she said, taking in his suit and how it lined his body so well. She couldn’t help but reach a hand and run it down his arm and somehow, Eris felt his body relax. “You look…”

“Handsome? Dashing?”

Iris rolled her eyes. “If you’d give me a second to compliment you, you’d know,” she said and swatted his chest gently. His answering grin was so boyish, she wanted to kiss him senseless. “But you do look very handsome.”

“And dashing?”

“Very dashing,” she confirmed and let her gaze slide over his body again. “You look so very royal.” 

“I am a Prince, you know,” he said and Iris snorted.

“A prince of being a pain in the ass.” she muttered and his answering smirk made her blood heat.

“Well, we haven’t really had a chance to explore –”

“Do not finish that sentence.” 

Eris couldn’t help his wicked chuckle and Iris shook her head, fighting back a smile. 

The words that had sat on the tip of her tongue for weeks now threatened to burst out of her but Iris held, even as her cheeks flushed lightly. She wasn’t foolish. She’d read stories upon stories of what love felt like. She’d yearned for years. Never truly believing love would find her or something she would experience. 

Yet, Iris knew exactly where her heart stood and despite how their story may have begun, she knew there was no doubt in her mind of what she felt for her husband. Her husband who would be walking into a battlefield at this ball, who could use a moment of peace – a little distraction. 

Eris’s brows furrowed as he looked at her but Iris only leaned up to give him a chaste kiss before pulling away. She couldn’t stop herself from running a hand down his suit again before clearing her throat and giving him a small, shy smile. “I have a gift for you.” 

He blinked in surprise. “A gift?”

“Yes,” she said with a chuckle and turned to walk over to their vanity, pulling out a small box from the top drawer. “It is the Autumn Equinox and regardless of what is happening today, it is a day to celebrate so I wanted you to have a little something.” 

She turned to find his expression carefully blank as color spread across his face and Eris cleared his throat before quietly saying, “You didn’t have to do that.” 

“I know.” she replied then licked her lips before continuing, “But you…you give me so much. I wanted to give you something from me.”

Eris felt his heart nearly crumble. He didn’t know what to do with himself. What to do with his hands. In the middle of all this chaos…she had thought of getting him a gift. Eris had certainly gotten her a gift but hadn’t expected anything from her in return. His windpipes threatened to crash on him.

He glanced at the rectangular box and said so quietly, “I can’t remember the last time I received a gift.”

Her expression softened. “Well, I hope you’ll like this one then,” she said and Eris slowly took the box from her, his eyes never leaving the gift. “I had it custom-made from your mother’s favorite jeweler.” She waved her hand excitedly. “Open it!”

At her tone, he finally looked up from the box she’d given him to catch her wide smile and Eris felt his heart spasm at how beautiful she truly was. Gods…he had to be so pathetically obsessed to feel a little breathless at how her face seemed to brighten when she looked at him. How she kept smiling at him. At him, of all people.

He couldn’t stop his mouth from curling upward as she watched him and Eris took a breath as he slowly, almost reverently, opened his gift and then blinked rapidly before glancing up at his wife.

Iris’s smile turned sheepish. “I know you usually wear your insignia on your armor but I wanted to give you something a little more…subtle to wear for nights like these,” Iris explained, blushing slightly. “A way to keep the pups with you.”

Eris felt the tips of his ears heat as he glanced down at the gold chain lapel brooch. The two pins were adorned with leaves, one engraved with his initials and the other had his insignia of two baying hounds. “Iris…”

She shrugged, her blush deepening. “It’s not easy to get a gift for someone who pretty much has everything but I hope you find it worthy of your fashion sense,” she said and let out a little chuckle but Eris had to swallow hard, emotions bubbling in his chest. 

He was going to vomit.

“Thank you,” he whispered and Iris felt her chest ache.

“You're welcome,” she said with a smile. “Consider it a good luck charm.”

Her tone was as quiet as his own and Eris felt himself drowning. He had woken up overwhelmed – his head had barely been above the water for weeks. The night had barely begun and this unexpected gesture was the one threatening to send him over the edge. 

“I think…” he began then paused. Eris felt his face heating and he had to clear his throat as the words he never thought he’d live long enough to confess to anyone slowly formed in his mouth, “Marrying you seems to be all the good luck I need.” 

Color stained her cheeks as Iris’s heart beat to an erratic rhythm that seemed to match his own. She had been nothing important to anyone. She had lived her whole life as a ghost, alone. 

And now she was supposedly a prince’s good luck. She was the wife and mate of a future High Lord. Iris couldn’t put into words just how much this meant. How it made her swell with pride to be held in such high regard to him. So she gave him a half smile and said, “Even with the constant stabbing threats?” 

His chuckle was breathless, his throat tight. “I think you’ll find I don’t mind a little knife play.” 

“Kinky.” she whispered and the corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile.

He held up his box. “Will you do me the honor of putting it on for me?”  

Iris grinned, taking the box from his hand, and gently started pinning it in place. Eris stood still beneath her touch and tried not to be too obvious as he breathed in her scent. Tried to keep his stupid hands from shaking as she focused on pinning the brooch into his lapel. 

It didn’t help that he scented himself all over her. To know how their scents mingled in the one place he didn’t have to glamour them.

He had to breathe deeply to calm his raging heart, to resist the urge to wrap himself around her and not let go. All that was to come…there were so many things that could go wrong. So many ways she could get hurt –

“There. All set.” Iris ran a hand over his jacket and stepped back with a knowing smile.

Eris watched her for a moment and he couldn’t help the heat rising through him, his blood set aflame at her smile. At her thoughtfulness, knowing today would be hard enough as it is. And though she was barely a step away from him, he gestured with a finger for her to come closer, “Come here.” he murmured and the blush in her cheeks deepened as instead, she took a step back.

“I don’t trust that tone.” she said, her eyes narrowed in suspicion and he huffed out a dark chuckle, his gaze turning molten. 

“You don’t trust your husband?” he teased in a low tone that made her pulse race.

“Not when he’s talking to me in a tone that suggests whatever he’s going to do will ruin my hair or makeup.”  

At that, Eris couldn’t help his quiet laugh, making Iris’s lips twitch and it never ceased to amaze him how she could ease him in moments like this; the way she always knew what he needed to calm his raging head and heart. “What if I promise not to ruin either of them?” he asked, his small smirk sending a thrill down her spine.

“You are saying words but the tone of that promise suggests the opposite,” she said and narrowed her eyes again, pointing at him. “You have your lying face on.”

He snorted in disbelief. “My lying face?”

“Yes. It’s when you smirk and look like a posh princess. You’re lying.” she said matter-of-factly. “You will ruin my hair and makeup and I will not stand for it.”

His smirk widened and Iris’s toes curled at the sheer arrogance in his gaze. “Fine,” he said and Eris took that little step closer to her until they shared a breath and Iris had to tilt her head to meet his eyes, her lips twitching. “I will keep my hands and mouth to myself and you can kiss me.”

“Oh? Is that all you were going to do?” she asked a tad breathlessly and the slight roguish smile was like a branding on her skin. Gods, she wanted to tackle him. 

“Of course,” he said and his tone was so sincere, Iris’s lips twitched again. “I only want a kiss for good luck.” 

Iris pursed her lips, trying not to laugh at the devilish look on his face, heat pooling low in her stomach. “Well, how am I supposed to deny you that?”

“The idea here is that you won’t.” 

“Ah, but what if I did – to make you pant a little?” she teased and he made a displeased noise.

“But what if you don’t, and in return I give you the gift I have for you?”

Iris blinked then flushed happily. “You have a gift for me?” she asked in a hushed tone and her fingers went to the necklace at her throat. “I thought the necklace was a gift!”

He shrugged as nonchalantly as possible and without his eyes leaving hers, slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a square velvet box. “Our first Autumn Equinox together and you think I didn’t prepare a gift for you?” he said with a chuckle. “I’m not one to spit on traditions. You just stole my thunder, little gazelle.”

Iris sucked in a breath, her eyes widening, glancing at the box and then back at him. Another beat of silence passed before she whispered, “And what might that be?”

Eris felt the tip of his ears heat again as he swallowed. “You made a comment a few weeks ago about how I never proposed to you,” he said and the corner of his mouth curled up as color stained her cheeks. “Many things about how this marriage began were stolen from us but…I don’t want this to be one of them.” 

And Iris felt herself softening all over again. “Eris…”

He shrugged one shoulder. “You and I have the basic traditional bands but I wanted you to have a ring worthy of your healer hands,” he said and Eris had to work his throat before continuing, “I daresay I think it’ll sparkle nicely as you play the piano too.”

A choked laugh slipped from her lips and she shook her head in disbelief. He hadn’t even opened the box and Iris already knew she’d love whatever kind of ring was in there. 

“We could’ve waited on that,” she said but Eris only hummed. 

He didn’t want to ruin the moment by explaining that he had also wanted to wait on it. His original plan was to propose to her after he became High Lord, starting that new chapter of his life with her the right way. In a way she deserved.

But nothing was guaranteed. And Eris didn’t want to have any regrets when it came to her. 

“Why wait when we already know your answer?” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as Iris huffed out a laugh.

“That is not a proposal.”

He lifted a brow. “And how is this not up to your standard?”

“You holding out the box and telling me you already know the answer is not a proposal, Eris.” she said with a choked laugh. 

“Are you really going to say no?”

“Well, I might now.”

Eris couldn’t help his eye roll despite the twitch of his lips. “Your resistance is pointless. We both know you can’t live without me.”

“Wow,” she said with a hum. “There you go projecting your delusions again.”

Eris was fighting back every instinct in him not to laugh as he cooled his expression, grateful — always grateful for these moments with her. Moments when he could laugh. “If that’s your answer, the ball will be filled with quite a few potential brides I could —”

Her hand flew out to yank him by his lapel and his answering smirk was filled with male satisfaction. “Don’t you dare finish that thought,” she warned. “Continue with your botched proposal before I pull out my knife and stick it somewhere you won’t like.” 

Eris’s eyes lit with delight. “I think I like this color on you, wife.”

Iris shook her head, the beat of her heart as wild as his own and as she shared a breath with her very annoying husband, it struck her that this was exactly the kind of proposal they would have. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be down on one knee?” she asked with a raised brow and Eris’s gaze turned molten.

“You’d like me on my knees, wouldn’t you?”

“Just as I think you like to be there.” 

Eris had to restrain himself from leaping at her for the way she knew exactly how to tease him, how to distract him. Gods, he really was in love with her. 

And so he did something he’d never really imagined himself doing at any point in his life.

Without breaking her gaze, Eris slowly slid to one knee and held up the box. His hand was somehow steady as he opened the lid and relished in Iris’s small gasp. 

“Oh. Oh, wow.” 

The ring was exactly what he had imagined for Iris. It had been custom-made and Eris had nearly sent the jeweler into cardiac arrest with how picky he had been. Given how his wife was staring at it in delight, he knew it had been worth it. 

He wouldn’t have settled for anything less. 

Iris couldn’t help but feel her emotions bubbling inside as she stared at the ring. All at once, she was equal parts thrilled and pained, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears threatening to escape. All because this male – this male who she was once so terrified of being in the same room as, had somehow by the fate of the cauldron, become much more. Had remembered a throwaway comment of hers and hadn't hesitated to make it a reality. 

For most of Iris's life, she had been neglected. Never taken seriously, never worth anyone's time, barely thought of. Until Eris. Until this time with him. 

She would never take a moment of this for granted. 

“Well?” he asked her and the look he gave her made Iris’s heart unfurl in a type of joy she had always yearned for. Today would be hard and what came after was unknown. But this, here with him? This would be the constant. Now and forever. 

“I thought you knew my answer.” she said with a small smile that he returned. 

“All that complaining and yet you still won’t actually say yes.” he teased quietly and Iris couldn’t help her soft laugh, brushing her thumb to his cheek. 

“How could I say anything but yes with such a handsome male on his knees for me?”

Eris’s gaze was smoldering as he stood and again, the heat pooling in Iris’s stomach tightened.  They watched each other quietly and despite the feverous energy between them, it always did soften in the silence. Eris could read all the emotions crossing her face and knew his wife’s internal struggle matched his own; it was all too much. There was too much at stake. Too much on the line but this ring…he wanted her to know just how much of a choice she was. And that bridge between them – it had held strong despite how long it had taken them both to find each other. 

It held as they chose each other over and over again. 

Iris held out her hand and slowly, Eris slid the lovely ring on her finger.

Their mating bond seemed to vibrate at their shared smile and Iris couldn’t stop herself from finally leaning in and kissing him quickly, a hand touching his face.

And as it fell silent between them again, her thumb continued caressing his cheek, the words – those feelings that had been haunting Eris for weeks, clogged his throat. He took in her beautiful face and as desperately as he wanted her to know, he wanted to savor it a little longer. For a moment better than this.

But he could hear it in the silence between them. He knew she could too.

Eris glanced down at his hand in hers, the ring gleaming, and the corner of his mouth lifted. “I told you it would suit you,” he said quietly then looked up. “Do you like it?”

“It’s stunning, Eris,” she replied and squeezed his hand. “In fact, it’s almost too nice for me.”

His brows flattened. “And why would you think that?”

“Daughter of a fiend, remember?” she said with a weak chuckle and Eris’s gaze narrowed. 

“You have nothing to do with that fucker anymore,” he said firmly. “You’re my wife. You are mine. And once a Vanserra, always a Vanserra.” 

Iris couldn’t take her eyes off him, his expression so serious and gods, her heart wanted to leap out of her chest at how he claimed her. Someone who cared for her this deeply was all she ever craved, all Iris had ever wanted. And he was standing right in front of her. 

She knew what this gesture meant to him – those words  — that no matter how this night ended, she was his and he would be hers. In actions, in words, and with a bond that wrapped around them as lovingly as the ring on her finger.

“Once a Vanserra, always a Vanserra,” she repeated softly then took a breath, straightening her shoulders. “And as a Vanserra, am I as demure as usual or do we get to be ourselves?”

Eris watched her carefully for a moment then squeezed her hand in his. “If by being yourself you mean tossing a chair at someone, I’d ask you to refrain from that,” he said and Iris swatted his chest gently. Despite the heaviness of what was to come slowly tightening his chest again, he focused on his mate. “But if you mean, we try to enjoy being dressed up and dancing as we execute a murder, then yes – let’s do that.”

Her lips twitched. “So no cowering wife today?”

“Never again,” he promised solemnly. “Today…we ignite.” 

And as they watched each other once more, the silence between them slowly shifted, sobering, as the minutes ticked by. Iris’s expression dimmed and she forced herself to take a deep breath.

She squeezed his hand and Eris glanced down at the ring shining on her finger, working his jaw as he held her hand tightly. “Whatever happens tonight, we will be alright.”

Eris couldn’t help how his expression tightened and without words, Iris knew he was thinking of the exact opposite outcome; it was almost as if he couldn’t help but expect the absolute worst and Iris couldn’t exactly blame him with so much on the line.  

She opened her mouth to ease the tension, to bring back a little of that earlier distraction but Eris rolled his shoulders back, shifting gears.

“Your dagger is with you.”

“Yes.”

“Should anything happen, you use it. This night will be full of snakes. You will not be afraid and you will not hesitate,” he said, his expression darkening. “You will not worry about anybody else. Make anyone in your way bleed and run. I will find you.”

“But –”

“I will find you,” he repeated firmly, and then his tone softened. “I need you to take care of yourself.”

“I need you to take care of yourself too,” she whispered. “Promise me. Promise me you’ll do whatever you can to stay safe.” She gripped his arm, the sight of her pleading gaze a punch to his gut. “Please, Eris.”

His mouth went into a thin line before he sighed, knowing if she hadn’t been holding him, his hands would be trembling. “You know what we’re up against…but I will do my best,” he said quietly and though the answer made her chest feel tight, she nodded.

“That’s all I can ask.”

[waterlilyspad]

Breaking our Solitude (Chapter 2)

Summary: After a miracle Jayce returns to life in a dead world, it's now up to Viktor and Jayce to start over, hopefully for the better.

Going to errmm loose it your honor.

(Actually, sobbing and kicking the wall, more fluff, flashbacks, are they lovers? Worse. Post season 2, Alternate universe Jayvik)

Above Piltover, beyond rain and wind, and cityscapes of dread and horror sat a perfect patch of time and space. Quiet and chaos, dragon flies and insects flew fluttered along the patchy expanse of grass and life. Here is where Jayce kneeled, his hands now empty, two of his fingers missing entirely as they had been snapped off with the hammer from years of melding with the material. His mantel had now been passed to another and all that was left now was this. His perspective stuck staring out at the horizon now dimming into twilight. Unobscured by the staff of his hammer, he stared out in a quiet contemplation completely bathed in solitude. Existing like this didn’t feel like much, he remembered feeling something at the start of it all perhaps, dread or anger, maybe even despair but now all he felt was quiet and calm, emotions were all but a fever dream now.

After being turned into this, Viktor continued his conquest of Rune Terra bringing every life form to his perfect combine. Meanwhile Jayce spent his first hundred years adjusting to this. He was trapped in those moments before you wake up in morning. A mix of content before drifting off back into the void only to momentarily wake again, it wasn’t unpleasant, but it wasn’t anything either. However, when Viktor returned and became increasingly present in his life, he felt himself wake just a little more than he did otherwise. He liked hearing that voice, something about Viktor’s tone was always soothing. Whatever the hell just happened earlier that day it was all just noise and a hazy memory now. The advent of Jayce looking at himself should’ve been mind-bending and yet it wasn’t. The thing that was however was Viktor’s touch. For the first time in nearly centuries Viktor’s hand laid on his shoulder, so many feelings that had been long since forgotten came back like an eruption of color, for a second purpose was given then it wasn’t. Was this sadness? He felt that empty creep in again and succumbed to it like always. His mind faded back to a dark sleep like the sun creeping down further and further till the colors in the horizon turned to night. Jayce was just that a fading twilight, a shell.

“This should be a monumental moment, conquering the golden boy of Piltover, but it’s not, I am truly sorry it has come to this Jayce, but rest knowing this will be the only place I will not touch in my new world, Farewell.” That mechanical all-encompassing voice rang through Jayce’s ears. What should’ve been a dream was instead a dark void of voices and sounds of memories, not really the sights of them. He stirred awake like usual shortly after, this time noticing the sky was hazy with shades of purples and dark blues. The sun was about to rise, it’s too early to try and think, he should just go back to sleep. But as he peered out to an unobscured horizon, he suddenly noticed Viktor sat just barely out of the corner of his eye next to him, watching the sky beside him. “The sun is about to rise and when it does all of this will never be again.” Viktor said slowly, his words never really registered in Jayce’s mind, but just because they didn’t doesn’t mean he felt they were nothing. In truth he revelled in the sound of company. “I’m giving myself the permission of forgiveness, and hope that wherever you are that you can forgive me too.” Viktor spoke softly before standing and walking in front of Jayce before kneeling. “I’m sorry for robbing you and everyone of this planet a chance to live.” Viktor said his eyes filled with sorrow, “After the sun rises a black hole will appear, it will consume all of this before collapsing into itself.” He explained as his words went into one ear and out the other.

But Jayce was only focused on one thing, those eyes, those pretty golden eyes. He wondered what reaching out would be like, now without 2 fingers, would it even feel nice? What did feeling even feel like? He couldn’t recall.  “After it does, a new world will be made, and with it perhaps new life. I'm sorry I couldn’t fix any of this, I don’t think I could if I tried.” Viktor said as tears ran down his cheeks. “We have some time before the sun rises, perhaps it’s time I tell you something I should have said sooner.” He said his hand wiping his face as he moved in closer than he ever has before. “All of these years, and centuries of nothing I realized that I respected you so highly Jayce, you were everything I wasn’t, not that I didn’t find some kind of worth in myself but that, I wanted to be where you were.” He explained as Jayce silently sat. “If you're still in there, which I hope you aren’t, I haven’t even allowed myself to touch you, paying you company after all of this was all I’d allow myself and even then, it was inherently selfish.” Viktor said as the tears came to a halt, he felt his throat tighten as he continued to explain. “Because up here beyond everything and everyone, you and I were exactly where I wanted us to be.” He said softly as Jayce watched.

Something began to register in Jayce’s mind for once, Viktor’s words slowly began to make sense, it was almost unsettling. Was this feeling? He thought to himself as Viktor scooted closer, his hand resting on Jayce's large still clasped hands manipulating them slowly to move, Jayce felt fire dance between his fingers, if his eyes could light up, they would. He felt Viktor’s cold fingers interlace with whatever fingers he had left, his arms positioned back slightly as Viktor closed in. Sitting between Jayce's legs, their fingers interlinked as he slowly rested his forehead to Jayce, the act of which blew fireworks off in Jayce’s mind. So many sensations in the matter of seconds, touch this is what touch felt like. Viktor continued, “What I’m trying to say is Jayce Talis…” Viktor spoke, his voice softening to a whisper, he swallowed the lump in his throat hesitating to speak, “I…” He choked before wincing, his face relaxing as he sighed his eyes half lidded moved to meet Jayce’s still concentrated ones, “I…I’m so selfish.” He whispered before pressing his lips to Jayce's unmoving petrified ones.

[palesweetscherryblossom]

Preening

Warning: Mentions of abduction, forced marriage/affection, general angst and blackmail. Hawks is a sleazy birb. (S/c is skin color and f/s is favorite scent)

You’d grown sick of the red that blinded your every waking moment. You couldn’t decipher why at first. Most would find it silly that you had grown to loathe something so mundane like a color but you figured out why soon enough.

His wings, those freakishly beautiful wings. Hawks had proven himself an anomaly in the royal court and general society. Half man, half bird. Legends tended to cultivate from his magnificent gift.

From being cursed by his spiteful warlock of a father to being raised by birds and his wings just being a massive amount of feathers he glued to himself.

It didn’t matter, you hated them all the same. So invasive, so pushy. They were soft though, pretty too in the early hours of dawn.

“Canary~” You instantly perked up like a startled sheep at the sound of your Fiancé’s smooth, sing song voice. You weren’t even doing anything bad but you acted like you had your hand deep in the cookie jar.

Your jaw clenched, s/c fingers digging into the annoyingly soft comforters as you watched Keigo enter into your room like he was invited! Well, he kinda always had permission since it was his castle and you were his…

Your stomach churned, threatening to hack up the roasted chicken and mashed potatoes Keigo fed you. You weren’t his, you never were. It was a fleeting moment of comfort.

“Y-yes Sir Keigo?” You queried hesitantly, hating that you stammered ever so slightly. Might as well put a big old sign on your person that says ‘baby me!’

Keigo frowned, unappreciative of your formal response. No, you weren’t some member of the court or even a flunky. You were his mate, his spouse!

“Remember what we talked about, Dove?” The sickeningly sweet nickname rolled off his tongue in a way that made you wanna shove him in an oven.

“You don’t have to call me such formalities! You’re my fiancé after all.” He assured, bearing a smile but his eyes flashed with an eerie sort of primal challenge.

“What do you want?” You asked, sitting up in your bed that also became your prison. Keigo smiled happily, joining you on the bed.

Feathers fell briefly onto the fabric you rolled yourself into for any means of comfort. A gateway to dreams where you could temporarily forget your own existence were gilded cages and that stupid shade of red didn’t attempt to bother you!

You resisted the urge to swipe away the feathers.

“Did you know that birds preen each other in a means to show affection?” Keigo asked. You blinked almost dumbly.

You hadn’t read any books that detailed anything of the sort so this couldn’t be an attempt to invade your hobbies. “N-no I have not, Keigo.” You answered, Hawks smirked.

He stretched out his wings ever so slightly, rustling his soft feathers. “Since we’re to be married in a few days, I was thinking that you ought to preen my wings. They say that intimacy is one of the pillars of a relationship.”

You were almost shocked by his audacity. He wanted you to preen him after he had blackmailed your poor parents into letting him marry you?!

You wanted to shove him away, maybe bludgeon his stupid smug face in with a candlestick.

“Here, let me get us started.” Hawks summoned a few supplies for such a method. “I usually have my servants do this for me but I wanna feel you.” He admitted.

You stared down at the items then the horrifying amount of feathers. It’d take forever for him to leave! “Don’t be intimidated, canary. Do you need help?” Keigo queried, his voice soft and sweet like a serenade.

“You rub the oil on the feathers then you brush them out.” He instructed, taking the vial of sweet smelling oil and dabbed some on your hands.

“It’s f/s! Your dad told me it was one of your favorites.” He chirped, proud of himself for being so considerate. You stared down at the oil, numbly even. Your favorite scent now made you incredibly nauseous.

You hated it. Unlike King Midas who turned everything into gold, Prince Keigo turned everything you loved into a place of hate.

He might as well be the Lord of Decay after all the disintegration of all your joy. You hesitantly pressed your hands to his wings, causing Hawks to sharply gasp and his wings to puff up.

“Oh, canary, your hands feel so soft.” He purred lowly, relaxing his wings. With each rub you gave, you couldn’t help but desire to take a fat helping of wings and tear them off. No different than plucking a chicken.

“I knew I made the right decision choosing you, Birdy.” Hawks mused, relaxing into your hands. “Say, do you think our little hatchlings would inherit this ability?”

Your tears meshed with the oil

@gh0stgirl333

[abbysimsfun]

Get to Know Me Better

Thank you so much for the tag @itmeansiris!

Last Song: "Do You Believe In Magic" by The Lovin Spoonful wakes me up most mornings and did today. It's just a bop that says 'Get up, smile or something, and dance a bit after coffee.'

Favorite Color: I don't have one! I have colours I don't like (that awful greenish-brown hair colour from Sims 3 for one and there doesn't need to be so many shades of black in my opinion), but the world is better in multicolour!

(Yes, I DO cry when I watch those 'got my dad glasses to see colour for the first time!' vids and these 60-year-old gruff men realize how beautiful colours truly are.)

Last Movie: We watched a bunch of movies over Christmas - Remember the Night, Edward Scissorhands, Wizard of Oz. Remember the Night was the only one I hadn't seen before but I love Jimmy Stewart and I'll watch him in anything - even Vertigo, despite the fact Kim Novak's acting gives me hives.

Last Book: simblr counts, so your story was the last! Yes, you reading this!) But last actual book I read was Spell Ya Later by Zoe Shae and the final draft of my own second novel (which I may never release, we shall see but releasing your own book ain't cheap) before I sent it to an editor!

Sweet, Spicy or Savory: mmmm... umami (so basically all!) but I have moods for sweet and savoury fairly often. Spicy I don't crave but I like it!

Last Thing I Googled: "Who owns Etsy?" (Black Rock and Vanguard wheee!)

Current Obsession: simblr and the story I'm playing and writing that's become very inspired by simblr!!

Looking Forward To: playing with ballerinas the next time I load up the game, hopefully!!

I tag: @hashimasims @changingplumbob @matchalovertrait @purplesimmer455 @oimygiblets @hellgirl-ix @strawberriesnpopmusic @simscici @dreamyyesenia @simmora and anyone else who wants to do this one! Ignore if you like, and if you're not tagged and want to, I'm tagging you anyway. I'm such an awkward bean about tags. 🤦

[saeiken]

🌟🌟🌟🌟

[cozylittleartblog]

Columbo and the Knight (1984)

put me in the universe where Columbo ran through the 1980s and had a crossover episode with Knight Rider. I think they deserved it, and I am not just saying that because they're my two favorite Old Shows. @telebeast wrote a little fanfic blurb about it and I HAD to visualize it into a comic (which is also the longest comic I have finished thus far at five pages...), so writing credit goes to them.

Autism W!

[umblrspectrum]

i hate perspective. happy new years also

[fiarfliart]

I just really liked this illustration by Akemi Hayashi from this post, so I made some edits!

My usual style of coloring is in the first one, I tried to emulate Revolutionary Girl Utena's style in the second, and the third/forth are just flat coloring/re coloring that helped me make the middle happen~

The rest are just other variants of the above:

[just-a-toast]

Sometimes you got to take matters into your own hands.

[sparrowmoss]

for an expression meme challenge thing sent from my friends

[ragingbullmode]

we slowly coming togetherrrrrrrr 😋 !!!

[assassyart]

Alien Queen Pinky!!

[luck-of-the-drawings]

so REVENGE, HUH? or justice, if that makes you feel better. it tastes the same when cooked just right. 'I REALLY WANTED A BROTHER.' such a shame to burn a bridge you so desperately wanted to keep, especially when it wasnt even you who started the fire. especially when you hope that not a single fragment of that bridge ever washes ashore.[MAY IT ROT FAR FROM MY SIGHTS] an unfortunate loss! atleast he has his friends.

[cj-the-random-artist]

It occurred to me recently that almost all of my older Life Series art (think 3rd Life / Last Life) was more fantasy-leaning so I decided, for science, to try that more fantasy-leaning vibe for a Secret Life doodle. I also brought back the painterly leaning style because evidently I really like that for my more illustration based stuff. Also I used a different lineart brush which is an absolute vibe. AND I attempted a more color-based-storytelling-something-or-other which I've seen very well done recently especially in animation which I absolutely love. Basically I tried things with this one lol

Anyways. Random, very much spoiler free Secret Life doodle (it's literally not plot relevant at all it's just for the vibes lmao) of Gem and the Scotts that's less band inspired and more fantasy inspired and I'm kinda vibing with it. Enjoy :D