#but also art should be fun and enjoyable and if you're just

[starscreamingg]

Whenever I talk about how ass Detroit become human is in retrospect I have to preface it with the facts that I love the game I've loved it since the first day it released and it's the reason I met the person I plan to marry. I have nuance

[baskeigh-ball]

I have so many random questions! Who's your favorite turtle or non-turtle character in Rottmnt? Any art/comic advice or tips? What are your future art/comic plans if that's okay to ask? Who's the hardest/easiest Rottmnt character to draw? Sorry Im just really excited! You're very talented and I love you're art/comics!

Hi hi! Sorry for leaving this ask in the void for so long but I shall answer >:)

Favorite turtle? I think this comes as no surprise:

Favorite NON-turtle? That’s a harder choice… Draxum and Splinter are great, and I think April and Cassandra are my top two, because I have a fun time writing both of them. BUT I think April wins out by a small margin!

My advice for art/comics can be summed up pretty easily: do not stress the details. For myself, I’ve found it really hard to stay consistent and work on any kind of art involving complex character designs, not to mention I get WAY too wrapped up in smaller details that nobody else is going to notice. This is mostly for artists like me who have a hard time with motivation: make the designs easy to replicate, and find a way to make the tedious parts fun! Line art is the thing I struggle with most, but by experimenting with styles and changing techniques, I’ve been able to make the tedious parts a little more enjoyable.

Future art/comics plans…. The biggest plan is to finish all of the random ideas I’ve posted, like the mind swap drabbles and baby Raph. Hopefully, I get to make more and stop disappearing for months on end? Since I’ve been forcing myself to worry less about quality and more about getting my ideas on paper, that should make it easier, but I don’t want to make any empty promises so. Take that with a grain of salt (._.’)

Hardest character to draw? Honestly it switches between these three.

Idk what it is about their head shapes, but man. Sometimes I just CANNOT get it right. This is also a symptom of me almost exclusively drawing Raph but that’s neither here nor there-

[bonefall]

Clan Culture Illustrations

So I've been mentioning this in passing, and I think now is a good time to start collecting info from people who are interested!

I'm seeking artists who want to draw stuff for my Clan Culture series.

I often write very large guides for things like tools, ecology, medicine and treatments, etc, which then get held up by the fact that they're big blocks of text without any fun pictures. I usually collaborate with friends and family, but I could put out more quicker if I had some artists on standby.

If you're an artist who would be interested in illustrating, here's the details;

Everything I make on this blog is tailored towards WC fans, but free for anyone to use and reference for their xenofiction worldbuilding projects. You do not have to be intimately familiar with the Warrior Cats books. This offer's open to anyone above 18.

Fans of Better Bones are preferred, because Clan Culture and BB often intersect. I might ask for help with some BB stuff at some point, too. (for example i have a guide on types of StarClan spirits that needs illustration)

To re-iterate, please only inquire if you're 18+

Price range is 20 - 50 USD and turnaround time can be up to 6 months if you just keep me updated. (I am sorry that I can't offer a higher price for these, but this is coming from my own pocket. In return, this is meant to be low pressure)

Half payment upfront, the rest after completion.

I will never "assign" you a surprise mystery topic (unless you ask for that I guess?), I'll either present you with a list of posts that need illustration (yes this means you get to read stuff early), OR float some ideas that play to your strengths and interests. (for example: if I'm approached by Spider-Enjoyer-9000 who's willing to draw a ridiculous number of spiders, I will draft, write, and research a Clanmew Expansion in the style of Deer and Co or Moths and Butterflies.)

Either way, there's usually a lot of creative freedom here unless I need a specific technical drawing, which I will discuss with you and provide references for. (As an example, if we were talking about a post on declawing, I might ask for you to illustrate the muscles within the paw.)

The nature of Clan Culture means you will probably be asked to draw plants, food, objects, and/or scenery

Still interested?

I'm hoping to make a personal "list" of people I can call on, so send me your commissions info or details in a DM, an ask, a reply to this post, or anything else you'd like. Tell me about stuff you like drawing, topics you're interested in, if you can draw backgrounds, etc

Also, please tell include in that message if you're comfortable with illustrating these particular sensitive topics. These are opt-in only;

Medical Gore (Woundcare, stitching, blood, vomit, urine, parasites and bug bites, etc.)

Reproductive Care (Abortion, birth, pyometria, inducing lactation, possible revamp of the HRT guide including simple surgeries, etc)

Hunting and Butchery (Humane killing of prey, skinning, disembowelment, cutting meat, making sausage and blood pudding, etc)

Funerals and Animal Death (Sad kitties, dead battle cats, scavengers and grave desecration, tombs and burial rituals, concealing decay, etc.)

The end art will always stay tasteful, but I might need to give you references in the form of real images or tutorials that might be upsetting if you're sensitive to these topics-- so it's important to me that I consider those four things "opt-in."

I have plenty of other posts that need illustration, it's just a huge plus if you're able to do these too.

(You should also mention any other specific triggers or phobias you have, so I don't unwittingly come at you with something else upsetting)

"I still have questions!"

Putting a big list of answers beneath the cut;

"Would everything have to be colored?"

Nope, as long as there's pictures to break up the text, you can do sketches, black and white, flat colors, only put color in the header, etc. We'll discuss expectations with the post in front of us, and then agree on price.

I have ONE requirement; it's gotta look good on Tumblr darkmode. Because I use Dark Reader.

"Do you have a Discord?"

I do, I just try to be exclusive with who I give it to! When we're discussing details, we'll probably move over there if you'd like. This is a reason why I only want to work with 18+ artists, I'm not always SFW on main.

"Can we do an entry together about (specific topic)?"

Probably yes, so feel free to ask! The worst that will happen is that I say no, or maybe later. For example, I've got a post on Sweetness Tolerance reserved for my partner (they like to draw sweets), so I would say no if you asked.

Just keep in mind that researching, outlining, and writing is unpaid labor I'm doing completely for free. I have posts mostly done that just need art, and topics I've done some research on. Please only ask for special collaborations from scratch if you're serious 🙏

"Does it have to be digital?"

You'd have to have a WILD idea for me to say yes to anything non-digital, but I am a queer of whimsy. If you can whimsify me with an idea, hell yeah.

"Will I be compensated if you need any changes?"

Yes. If I spring anything on you after the details we agree on, I will first ask you, then ask how much that change would cost, and then compensate you for it.

As fair warning though, I am trying to stay within a budget and writing the posts themselves is unpaid work I do (plus occasional helping hands during research stages, I consulted a friend who is an irl wetlands expert for ShadowClan's environment). I can't pay more than what we agree on.

"Can I link my info in the post?"

Yes. "Guest Artist" is going to be named in the opening paragraphs, along with any fundraiser, shop info, carrd, etc, you want there.

"Boosty?"

Yea I got Boosty. Paypal, too.

"I have some other question about pricing"

Feel free to ask, but my hard budget is 20$ - 50$ US. Please only inquire if you're willing to charge within that range.

"What if I'd do it free or I want to do this anonymously?"

I'll donate to a charity of your choice and link to it in the post. If you have no charity preference, I will link to RAINN, Anera, or The Trevor Project.

(Naturally this comes with an anti-ghoul caveat or two. If you try to get me to donate to something like Autism Speaks I will rotate every bone in your body by 45 degrees.)

"I like checklists, can you give me a checklist of info you want in a DM?"

Sure!

Your info; socials, carrd, shop, etc

General interests and strengths. Stuff you'd love to work on, or have insight to. If you like fishing or drawing bugs, I want to know that. If you particularly want to practice flowers, tell me. Be as detailed as you want so I can pair you with a relevant subject!

Your examples

General asking price (or charity)

Which, if any, of the four Opt-In Subjects you're opting in for.

Anything else I should know (triggers, phobias, things you dislike drawing, if schooling or disability means you need a particularly long turnaround time, etc)

[noodledrawsandstuff]

(Tag dump/long post warning) Appreciation Post !!! Big ups to my gang

Felt like being nice today >:) This year hasn't been all that good to me, but these wonderful people have been a great help! (Even if I don't talk to/interact much with some of them) They're all sweethearts and if you like me for whatever reason then you should follow them if you don't already! (Sorry if I get repetitive but hehe + sorry if I forget someone... there's a shit load to go through here, I might need two posts-)

Of course I have to start with my all my fellas: cotton_candylover (watch-through buddy!), @barakidpirates (helped make my strawpage!) and purple_rainfrog (my co-writer in the dark ages...), you lot are great and I love watching through anime and being little shithead weirdos with you :3 why don't you have tumblr 😠 I'm going to skin you

@drago-is-me You are my lil guy and I want to grab and throttle you, also I love your art I want to kiss you platonically and then fight you to the death

@fortheloveofkiller I love your art sm!!!! You are greatness, and I will always respect a fellow Killer lover

@wyvernslovecake Shriek is my daughter and I love her dearly, you're very silly and I love you for it, also your writing is 👌

@perhapsrampancy Lovely friend of the worm (FOTW!!!) I want to give you a nice hug and a head pat and a big platonic kiss :3

@lxshoxk Your op bulls are yummy yummy and you are magnificent, you deserve all the best things you could want (and you're a FOTW for bonus points)

@d-angel00 Good FOTW and a very talented artist!! I adore you sm I wanna give you the biggest hug I can muster

@schwazombie Another lovely FOTW I adore you ty for the beautiful Killer on my straw page I love him

@baby-xemnas Peak lawbepo/luzo/kidkiller, incredible artist I want to kiss your art mwah it gives me life

@mekachu04 Incredible amazing showstopping artist, and a FOTW!!!

@shipshinablog Your art is absolutely delicious, I adore how you draw Heat and Wire they are just so beautiful I want to kiss them

@thamaris Another incredible artist!!! I adore your art, especially your gorgeous Wire he is yum

@a-killer-obsession Another one!!!!!!! Your art is adorable and your fics are just ough 5-star meals + fellow Killer enjoyer >:)

@nethhiri I adore your art/fics too ough I wanna devour it!!! (I'm repeating myself a lot but trust me I mean it! You're wonderful and very talented!!!)

@don-mellow Hehehe your art is scrumptious I love your big juicy muscular big titty men especially your Wire he is so fine

@magnuspirate I absolutely adore your art, your Heat is magnificent ty for showing him the love he deserves, plus your designs for the crew are so peak ough *eats* (ty for grey haired Wire I want to kiss him he's so pretty)

@toonsparks Your art is so fun and cute and ough I love it sm I need it more than oxygen bc its just so mmm it makes me joyous

@gratefulcheeses Your art makes me so feral, the way you draw my favourite beautiful boys is so ough delicious I will devour it

@moedesparta Another incredible artist, your art is so scrumptious I want it injected into my veins

@lfypj Your art is so fucking good oml I am in love with how you draw Kid and Killer they look so damn fine

@swampstew-stories (I cant tag your main lol-) I am feral for your writing ough it is just immaculate (personal shoutout to the Kid OnlyFans AU and Killer Tiktok AU they both give me life in very different ways)

@misaneeragoni FOTW!!! Your art is wonderful it makes me all giddy, also you are wonderful too!

Alright I think that's it.... unless I make a part 2 then it isn't- Either way, ty for sticking around if you got this far! You're a real trooper (insert name here.) Go follow the people above they're all wonderful and they deserve the world! All their art and fics and beautifulness has helped me at a time where I felt like the water in the Thames, this post doesn't even begin to describe how much I appreciate them and love what they do but I hope its at least something!

[alexanderwales]

Turning Off Your Brain and the Critical Lens

Alright, let's start with this: there is a thing called a critical lens. It is a way of looking at a piece of art, examining what it's saying to us about itself or its subject or themes or whatever.

There are many critical lenses. Because this is something that's mostly only taught at the college level, most of them are (in my opinion) mired in academic language and not actually all that interesting in and of themselves: I think if you read a dozen stories through a feminist lens, you really start to think "okay, yeah, I get it". Different readings of different texts through different lenses can be great fun though, and it's one of my favorite parts of media criticism, and something that I wish people were more explicit about.

I'm going to talk about the Barbie movie, because it's easy. The feminist lens is obvious and in my opinion intended: it's the thing that the movie is most trying to be about, and as a consequence, it's something that probably has the most critical meat. But you can also read the movie through other lenses, and ask what it has to say about capitalism, about race, about neurodivergence and queer theory and game theory and a bunch of other things.

Some of these readings are Unintended. The author (in this case, hundreds of people working together on the film) did not intend for you to look at the movie to see what it's saying about, say, American Imperialism. Probably.

I personally enjoy unintended readings. I like teasing apart a book to see what it's saying about different things, and how it's saying it, and what the assumptions it's operating under, and whether this creates anything interesting when I bring a different set of assumptions. I think the writers and actors of Winter Soldier were not trying to say anything in particular about masculinity, but fuck it, let's watch the movie and think about it.

Sometimes people will watch something and recommend that you turn your brain off. Sometimes they'll say this to you just as you're about to start in on some critical analysis of something that definitely was not made with that critical analysis in mind.

Here's how I think of "turning off your brain": it's a critical lens. It's not a critical lens in the sense that academics might use it, but you're looking at this piece of media from a specific viewpoint, and that viewpoint is "omg they're in love" or "fuck yeah" or "no, don't go into the basement!". There are certain pop genres that greatly benefit from being viewed this way, at least in terms of pure enjoyment.

When I sit down to watch a romcom, I can do it with male/female social dynamics in mind, or I can do it with "aw, I hope these kids get together" in mind. One is the intended reading, and I don't think that it should get all that much privilege for it, but I do think generally it can result in better enjoyment. I love media criticism and consider it to be one of my main hobbies, but if you fall in love with one particular way of viewing media and only use that single one, you're going to have a bad time.

I write and generally enjoy rational fiction, which comes with its own lens, which I guess we can call the rational lens. If you sit and view a work through the rational lens, sometimes you can have fun with it: you try to work through the systems as presented and the actions of the characters and think about how you could make everything make sense. The way to do this that's not very fun is to look at a work through the rational lens and conclude that the author is dumb, the characters are dumb, and the worldbuilding is shit. I guess this can be fun if you have a sense of smug superiority, but I personally do not.

One of the things that I love about media criticism is that you can sometimes extract weird and new things out of a work. One of the things that I love about fanfic is that you can take a deliberately strange reading of a work and then write as though that reading was true. You can look at Batman and say "what does this say about income inequality" and then start writing and say "this is about income inequality now". You can look at Winter Solider and find a reading where Cap and Bucky are gay and then write it out.

Where I think people fail in a way that's personally annoying to me is that they take their preferred reading and then loudly claim ("ironically" or not) that this is the One True Reading against which no other readings can stand. Sometimes "that is not The Point of [thing]". I think you get that a lot from the "shut off your brain" crowd, but I've seen it from other places too, and I would attribute it to people talking past each other, sometimes not even realizing what critical lens they're using.

If you're talking to me, you can just say "non-preferred lens" and I'll understand, or maybe I'll say "wat" because I might forget this blog post moments after I write it.

[npookie0]

An Intoxicating Desire.

Vampire au kc X human reader, scenarios.  Tws: blood, human organs, possible spoilers for any routes.

This writing is a part of my collab with, the amazing, @4stor he's the one behind Angel's and V's parts (he opened requests for Angel x reader so if you want more Angel content you know where to go <3) The art at the end is also a part of out collab made by him <3

Go shower my husband with love, darling readers.

Ronin Beaufort - Your Fav Vamp, Darlin'.

To my dearest darlin’.

I hope this letter finds you well, for I, your fucking amazing boyfriend,

or ronin beaufort, however you may Call me, invite you for a lil game.

what’s the game? oh, Hoped i’d tell ya? sorry to disappoint you love, i

would never destroy a wonderful surprise, not even Over my dead body. 

Come On, baby, pay me a Lil visit And find out. maybe out game will 

inspire your new Tale? a lil human and their Eternally annoying 

vampire boyfriend having a lil game. heh don’tcha worry your Sweet 

little head over the game, you will find out soon. pay me a visit on the 

sappy-lovin’ day, why don’tcha, my human darlin’? 

                                                                                                         Your devil x

You stood in front of a palace door, it was black, tall, heavy and made out of painted wood. You never expected an… eccentric vampire like Ronin to live in a castle like that, but whenever you saw the interior it all came together. Ronin just leaned into the stereotypic vampires like Dracula and mixed it with Twilight “for the fun of it”. You never judged… okay you did. 

Now you were standing at the entrance of his home, the letter he sent you a week ago in your hand. You were curious to say the least, what new game did he plan? Usually it would be just the typical; truth or dare, people watching and making up stories about the people, nothing too crazy or unexpected. 

“I bet it’s the usual stuff.” You mumbled to yourself and pushed the door open, letting yourself in. Ronin never opened the door for you anyway in his belief the place is yours as much as it’s his and you didn’t argue. A huge castle you could call your own? That’s like a dream you weren’t willing to wake up from. 

Your eyes immediately moved over the hallway you knew so well, extravagant wallpaper and carpets, mixed with ancient furniture and the slight touch of three different pairs of combat shoes thrown on the elegant carpets. Truly Ronin style. 

Something was out of place though, there was a bowl of… chocolates on one of the fancy tables that were in the hallway solely for decorative purposes. 

Seriously, that man and his need to drive everyone around him crazy.  You looked at the chocolates, they seemed normal, and that should be the first red flag for your lil head, but you have a thing for ignoring red flags don’t you? 

You ate one of the chocolates, at first nothing seemed out of the ordinary, at least until you took a Bite and… oh god is that blood? The metallic taste on your tongue couldn’t come from anything else; you spat out the chocolate into your hand, you felt something twist in your stomach when you saw the red liquid on your palm. The world was spinning in front of your eyes. Yeah, you knew that Ronin is a vampire and that he finds great enjoyment in consuming blood, but to this extent? 

“You lost, darlin'.” A quiet whisper sounded in your Ears, a hand wrapped itself around your waist. You felt someone's torso pressing itself to your back and someone's hot breath tingling your neck. 

Ronin. 

“What do you mean I lost? We haven't started playing yet, Ronin” You calmed yourself to the best of your abilities, which was hard with your gut feeling telling you that you're in danger. 

Yeah, Ronin is your boyfriend, but he's still a deranged vampire who'll do anything to break the chains of boredom and indulge himself in his sick desires. 

“Awh, but we did. Darlin' this was our game.” Your eyes widened. What did he mean by that? Chocolates being a game? Maybe Ronin really lost it this time. 

“Why so shocked? Did’ja really think I would put a whole basket of chocolates at the entrance? Tsk, tsk, I thought you knew me better, love.” He tightened his hold around your waist. “As for my reward for winning-” Before he could finish the sentence you turned around and cupped his face with your hands. 

“Heyy why don’t you give me another chance? Don’t you think it’s too easy if you win without a little struggle Ro? Or are you just scared that I’d actually beat you?” Playing with his ego was a really convincing way to get Ronin to change his mind. After all he would have to prove you wrong now to keep his pride. 

“Heh, you’re so fuckin’ right sweetheart. Maybe you’re smarter than I expected.” He clicked his tongue and took a step back just to circle you. His eyes locked on you like a predator looking at his prey, well you weren’t far from the truth. He Is a predator, and you are his human lover, and sometimes a snack if he’s not in the mood to find a new person to change into a blood bag. 

“So, what are we playing now?” You asked, your gaze following his every mood. 

“What about a little hunt? Y’know, something thrilling.” He snickered. “Ya try to hide from me, if I find you, you lose.” There was that dangerous glint in his eye, the same look he would give you when he’s excited about something. 

“And how do I win?” You asked, crossing your arms over your chest. If there’s a reward maybe you’ll feel Nearly as eager to play as he is. 

“Good question my darling. How do you win…” He took a few steps towards you and you backed away with every new step he took, soon you felt the hard wall behind your back. 

He put his hand under your chin and looked into your eyes, you were hypnotised by the neverending void that kept many secrets within itself. Secrets you wanted to uncover one day. 

“If you manage to put this rose on me before I catch you, you win.” He placed a dried rose in your hand, it was black with all of its thorns still intact. The flower, even dead and dry for a while now, still didn’t lack beauty. Maybe it’s the deadliness that made it so charming? Maybe it was the same case for Ronin and the reason behind your lack of fear towards his vampirism. 

“Alright then, prepare to lose, Beaufort!” With a daring smile you ran through the hallway. 

You didn’t have a plan, heck you didn’t Even know if he was following after you. Damn Ronin and his damned ability to walk without making any sounds. You had one mission; getting that rose on Ronin at all cost. 

You ran through the hallways of Ronin’s castle, the dark corridors bathed in darkness and shadows, you could see the beautiful full moon through the big windows, usually covered by thick and long black curtains to prevent any sunlight from getting into the palace. You could hear your heartbeat, fastening with every second with every new turn you took or noise you heard. 

You weren’t stupid, you knew that Ronin would catch up to you at any given moment, even if he gave you time to run off, it would never be enough. He knows this castle better than you know the characters in your stories, and that meant that you’re in some serious trouble. 

It was worth the adrenaline though, being chased like this, as if your life was truly endangered, it made you feel alive. Like nothing could stop you from running. Your blood was hot, boiling even, your breath was fast, you were almost out of it. It all felt amazing, 

It didn’t take long until you heard loud and heavy footsteps somewhere behind you, panicking as you entered one of the many rooms in the castle’s left wing. You couldn’t see anything, it was far too dark for you pathetic human eyes, the only thing Visible for you was the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Your eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness and that's when you realised that you're even more fucked. It's the castle's throne room, you were there only once; when Ronin was giving you a tour around the castle. 

The room was beautiful, with two elegant thrones on a platform, overlooking the whole room, ready for the royal couple to greet their guests. Unfortunately, the thrones - even if extremely beautiful, made of the finest material, designed to be grand and eye-catching - were the only piece of furniture the room had to offer. 

You stood in front of two choices, hide behind the thrones or try to sneak out And Look for another room. The latter was less likely to happen, Ronin was too close, leaving now meant losing and you weren't willing to give up that easily. 

You moved as quietly as possible to the thrones at the End of the room and sat behind them. A hand to your mouth as you tried to calm your breathing and stay quiet. 

Thud. Thud. Thud. 

Ronin's footsteps were getting louder with every second, you heard the doors to the rooms next to yours open. It was horrifyingly exciting, knowing how close he is to finding you.

“Oh, writer darlin' where are you?” His voice came directly from behind the throne’s room doors. 

He was so close, too close. 

You had no means to escape, your hiding spot wasn’t helping either, you could only hope that he would walk past the throne room. If only hope and prayers really worked… 

You heard a creak when the door was pushed open, and steps echoed through the almost empty room, stopping in the middle of it. You held your breath, trying your best to make as little Noise as possible. Even your heart was too loud in that moment, each beat reaching your ears. You cursed yourself in your mind for choosing this room out of all the other available choices. 

You could hear Ronin getting closer to the thrones, but before he reached your hiding spot he stopped in his tracks and clicked his tongue. 

“Nah, They’re not here.” He said to himself, sounding disappointed. The sound of his steps getting further away from you was like a blessing you didn’t know you were awaiting. The door shut with a loud thud. You could finally breathe and decide on your next move, maybe even make a plan to actually win. 

You stood up from the floor, making your way towards the door with new found confidence, with Ronin making his way to the other rooms you should be able to chase him and put the flower on him. Before you could even walk away from the elegant seats, someone pushed you on one of the thrones and pinned you to it. 

“Awh darling, you lost, again.” Ronin’s face was Inches away from yours, you could see the shit-eating grin glued to his face. The disgustingly strong aura of confidence emanating from him. 

That bastard, of course it was a trap, you should’ve known it. Why would Ronin willingly skip over an obvious hiding spot and move on to another room? You’re such a fool, and it’s only because of some imaginary reward you would Never even get. Wow Y/N, you’re so smart. 

“So, what’s your reward?” You asked. You didn’t like the look he was giving you, it was too secretive. 

“Oh nothin’ much, watching you run around like an idiot was almost enough.” He titled your head back, tracing your neck with his thumb. “Almost. I’m starving, love.” He purred into your ear, his voice causing you to shiver. You swallowed, it was blood he was after. 

You looked into his eyes, he looked starved, just ready to bury his fangs in your neck. The thought alone, making your face flush. Your taste in men is really questionable… 

“Well, it’s your reward, take it.” He cackled at your reply, the sound sick, yet sweet to your Ears.

“With pleasure, my love.” He whispered into your ear, kissing the side of your head before his lips found their way to your neck. 

At first he was gentle, kissing your neck, but then he sank his teeth in it, the pain not unfamiliar, still unwelcome. You could feel his hold on your waist tighten, as he sucked on your blood, drinking it like he’s a starved animal getting food for the first time, like he’s an addict. After a while, the pleasure kicked in, the intimacy of it all fucking with your head. Ronin’s touch was tender, even if he was just taking some of your blood away from you. He still made sure that you weren’t about to pass out in front of him. 

When you started feeling lightheaded, Ronin recognised it, taking his teeth out of your neck, licking the small streak of blood that was running down your neck. 

“Happy valentines, baby.” He kissed your forehead. “Thank you for the sweet, sweet, meal.” 

Did you get the devil’s message, darlin’ reader?

Maria de la Rosa - Vampiric Perfect Angel.

For you, everything will be perfect, my sweetheart~

An elegant Angel was running around the kitchen, her perfect pink dress with decorative black roses spread on the floor making her look more majestic than usual. She was preparing for her very special day just for her lover, making sure that everything was perfect for her beloved’s visit. Every pastry and sweet was chosen with care, even the room was meticulously prepared for just the two of you. She wanted everything to be perfect. Ensuring that your Valentine’s date would be flawless and unforgettable.

She hummed to herself as she was taking the red velvet cake from the oven with protection gloves on. Servants and maids of De La Rosa’s castle were astonished to witness their young lady baking on her own—and doing it flawlessly—was a surprise. Maria’s excitement outweighed any concerns about the whispers and rumors amongst servants and maids. She could only care about her partner, her lover, the person she’ll be spending time with for the day till night.

My words will make your heart dance, my Angel.

Meanwhile, you were engrossed in writing a new novel—A vampire romance with a thrilling twist, something that Maria was especially eager to hear about. It was carefully crafted with intricate details in its scenes. You poured your heart and soul into words to create tension, passion, and the danger intertwined in its world. The story consumed your thoughts, Maria De La Rosa as your basis for your main character. After all, who else can depict the sweet lovable femme fatale other than your darling lover? You wanted a twist, the type of plot where it isn’t the usual Twilight and Dracula plot. You wanted the character to feel much more just like her, besides, it helps when you’re that hyperfixated over your love.

But with you, you know that she’s just Maria—even with her vampirism—she treats you better than all others.

And as for Maria? As usual, she is caught up in everything a born vampire princess could be busy with: grand balls, meetings with her new chamberlain (the one who manages the personal affairs of the princess) who was a much better improvement over Finian, and challenges with modeling as a vampire. Explaining to people that she only likes pictures done with one specific camera made her look like a picky spoiled rich girl, but what can she do? She can’t just tell everyone that it’s because regular cameras can’t capture her due to her vampirism.

Red velvet cake, one of our shared favorites

Maria finally cuts the cake, the servants take the trays of food and freshly brewed tea to the room Angel had prepared. The clock was ticking, it was almost time for your arrival, she was excited, all giddy and giggly. She made sure everything was in place, the vibe and the lights perfectly done for their little date. She checked her appearance: makeup, dress, anything that seemed out of place were retouched before she walked out down the corridors and by the main entrance.

The De La Rosa castle was adorned in a palette of white and rose gold, exuding elegance and perfection —an ideal reflection of a family renowned for producing one of the world's greatest models. She was, without a doubt, their most treasured jewel.

Finally, the door was open and there you stood, Y/N, with the matching color scheme outfit she sent to you. Magnificent clothing done with its finest for this very day, and in your hand was a gift. This was Maria de la Rosa’s partner, someone she cherished dearly and held close to her heart. You were always ready to listen to her, visit her whenever she asks you to, go out for little dates with her like the ones in the romantic movies she loved so much. You were a dream come true, the one who accepted her vampirism and let her be herself. It meant more to her than she could ever express, she was grateful.

She walks towards you with the knowing sweet smile, “My love! You’re here!” her eyes sparkled in delight at your presence.

Your hand reaches her cheek, a soft chaste kiss on her lips from your own. You missed her, you knew that and she did too, “I missed you, love” you whisper sweet nothings to her, a soft smile forms your lips.

Maria, flustered as ever, smiles with you. Her warmth radiating at the quiet moment, she leans her forehead against yours to feel your presence, a lingering moment for both of them as the world seems to fade away from them. Their heart beats in sync with their soft breaths mingling before their eyes flutter open and lock into one another with unspoken emotion.

She giggles, breaking the silence, “As much as I’d like to stay like this quietly with you… You’d miss out what I have planned if we stayed like this,”

“Yeah?” You say with your thumb caressing her cheek softly, “I didn’t know you had something prepared, I was just thinking about spending the day with you at the lounge.” you chuckle

“Well it’s Valentine’s day, silly! What more than to spend a special day with your lover?” she smiles charmingly

“Yeah… What more than to spend a day with my princess, my angel, my loving Maria,” You trail your hand down to hers, “Either way, I’m happy to see you. I can’t wait to tell you about the novel I have in progress.” Maria beams in happiness before entwining her fingers with yours.

“Then let’s go~”

Just us, no princess work, no modeling, no pretty diamonds.

It’s just you and me, baby. Person to person.

Your lips on mine as you held my hand. A caress on my cheek, and our hearts flourishing under the moonlight.

It was a night neither of you would forget—a perfect blend of indulgence and romance. The evening had unfolded like a well-orchestrated symphony, with each course arriving in harmonious succession. You had savored a delicate appetizer, followed by a carefully chosen side dish that complemented the rich flavors of the main course. Every bite was shared with quiet laughter, soft glances, and gentle touches. And just when the night couldn't seem any more perfect, dessert arrived—a sweet finale to an already unforgettable evening, lingering on your lips like the memory of a perfect kiss.

Sweet sweet red velvet cake~

Maria lifted a small bite to your lips, her eyes watching you with quiet anticipation as you took it in. The sweetness melted effortlessly on your tongue, rich and delicate, a perfect balance of flavor that made you sigh in delight. A soft chuckle escaped her as she caught the way your expression shifted-eyes fluttering shut for a moment, savoring the taste. She knew you loved it, and that knowledge alone filled her with warmth. "I knew you'd like it," she mused, her voice laced with satisfaction as she playfully tapped the spoon against your lips, silently offering another bite.

“Mm~ and speaking of sweets~” You hummed as you brought out your little gift to her. Delicious handmade chocolates, icing so striking one would never be able to stop craving.

Maria was astonished, gaze shifting from the chocolate to your eyes. “You’re not the only one who prepared a little something,” you mused as you brought a chocolate to her lips, “Go on, princess. Try it,” you coo with a smile.

Maria took a small bite of the chocolate, savoring its chewy sweetness as it melted on her tongue. But what caught her off guard was the lingering aftertaste—a distinct metallic tang that sent a shiver down her spine. She hadn't noticed at first, but now her eyes drifted to your fingertips, where droplets of blood trickled down, staining the remnants of the chocolate. Your smile gleamed in the dim light, unreadable, almost teasing. But Maria knew—without a doubt—what she had just tasted.

“Do you like it?” You ask with a teasing tone, Maria confirmed it—it was blood—she could taste the fear of its blood, her partner was certainly something. Something she never expected even.

“Who did you kill to make this?” She asked, taking another bite of the remaining chocolate, this time the metallic taste came with its sweetness rather than its after taste.

“It’s no one you should worry about,” You replied, retracting your hand away before she suddenly grabs it and licks the remaining blood off your finger tips.

“Wow, didn’t think princess Maria would be this messy with blood,” You smirk, catching sight of the blood on her lips and instinctively reaching out to wipe it away. As your fingers brush against her skin, you pull back—but Maria doesn't look away. Her gaze locks onto you, something shifting in her expression, something primal. Then, you realize why. A faint sting lingers on your fingertip, a small wound now seeping crimson. Her sharp tooth must have grazed you. Slowly, deliberately, she licks the blood from her teeth, her blue eyes darkening with an unspoken hunger as she stares into yours, filled with an undeniable need.

She stood up from her seat and circles around the table, locking eye contact with yours. She placed hand over your cheek before taking your thumb, “Poor you, you grazed through my teeth…” she coos softly before licking your thumb, then capturing a needy kiss from your lips which you returned. You can hear each other’s hearts beating in sync, the taste of your own blood that she loves better.

Slowly, Maria pulled away first, her eyes fluttering open to lock with yours, “I like your blood better…” she coos with soft heat rising up her cheeks. She was definitely flustered.

“Mm… I don’t mind if it’s you,” You held her hand softly, kissing her palm with tenderness.

She smiles softly, recapturing your lips into a passionate deepened kiss. You could feel her dominate you, for a princess full of sweet romance, she also liked these private sessions with you. She thinks you’re cute this way, that you’ve willingly submitted to her. Her special red rose and you liked that.

She pulls away, a breathy gasp escaping your lips as her softness traces from your jawline down to your neck. Each touch is slow, deliberately heated yet tender, carrying a passion that makes your pulse race. You shift slightly, granting her better access, and she wastes no time burying herself against you. Soft, lingering kisses pepper your skin, sending a shiver down your spine.

Your gaze flickers to the mirror, catching the sight of your lips-smeared with red, whether from her lipstick or the aftermath of your fevered embrace, you can't quite tell. Then, without warning, a gentle bite. Her grip around your waist is firm yet delicate as she drinks from you, and you close your eyes, exhaling a slow sigh. There's discomfort, but it's the kind that feels intoxicating, the kind that keeps you wanting more.

Maria knows how to control herself, how to take just enough without hurting you, but tonight-tonight is an exception. She drinks you in as if you're the richest, most forbidden wine, and it takes everything in her not to indulge too much. A hand moves behind her, pulling her closer as you press your lips to her bare shoulder, surrendering to the night.

God your blood is so intoxicating, I desire you right now, baby

She pulls away just in time, her blue eyes scanning your face with concern. A soft furrow forms between her brows, her lips slightly parted as if about to ask if you're alright. But before she can, you offer a small, reassuring smile, cupping her cheek gently. Without hesitation, you lean in, brushing your lips against hers—still smeared with crimson. The taste lingers, rich and intoxicating, a reminder of the moment you just shared.

Minutes pass, the air between you shifting from heated to something softer, something intimate in a quieter way. After freshening up, you both settle onto the plush couch, plates in hand, indulging in the sweet decadence of dessert. The velvety richness melts on your tongue, but it's Maria's presence that truly satisfies. She listens intently as you talk about your book, your voice always music to her ears.

“I wonder who that main character is based on~” Maria coos softly into your ears prompting a giggle from you

“Guess.” You replied with a tease in your tone

Maria giggled softly, God you love her laugh so much, “I’m so happy… Being with you makes me so happy…” she whispers.

Her fingers trace lazy patterns on your arm, her body curled close to yours as if drawn by an invisible force. The conversation flows effortlessly, punctuated by soft laughter and knowing glances.

“Y/n…”

“Yes, Maria?”

“Gosh… I love you so much… My sweet lover…” she says with a sigh before continuing, “Loving you will never be regrettable at all, you’ve shown me so much unconditional love and acceptance that it almost feels too much… And honestly? I thought romance died before you came to my life… I never knew that all I needed was someone like you, someone who understood me, someone who I can be vulnerable with and feel accepted. Someone who sees the real me, who doesn’t fear or flinch by my presence. I’m so happy that it’s you…” Her eyes looked glassy, but you knew that she was happy and content.

“Maria…”

“Y/n…”

“I love you, my Angel…”

“I love you too, Y/n…”

“My life changed when I met you… You were someone I was happy that I never ran away from. That I chose to love you. My heart… it’s beating so fast…” You say as she places her hand on your chest

“I know… Can you hear mine too?” She placed your hand on her chest. Both hearts beat in sync. Lost in the eyes full of love.

This time, you make your first move. You shift on your seat, now seemingly taller than her as you capture her lips into a soft tender kiss which she returned. You could hear it now, your hearts beating faster and louder. God her lips always felt so good, I love her so much

You pull away from her, caressing her cheek as she held your hips with heat rising on her cheeks, then finally…

“Happy Valentine’s day, Maria. I love you,”

“Happy Valentine’s day to you too, mi amor. I love you too,”

You both lean against each other’s foreheads under the quiet dim light enjoying the quiet romance and unspoken emotions as your eyes flutter closed.

The taste of your blood was like the sweetness of love I never would have expected. Like a rich forbidden wine, you were more than just treasure.

You are...an indulgence I can never resist, a temptation that lingers on my tongue and seeps into my very being. You are the craving I cannot tame, the desire that turns my restraint to ash. Every drop of you sings a melody of longing, and with each taste, I fall deeper-helplessly, willingly.

I love you, Reader. Happy Valentine’s to you, I hope I made you feel so loved

Valentin Viljoen - Eternal Follower of Justice.

In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came…

The voice which calls to me and speaks my name

You stand before your mirror, adjusting the delicate fabric of your attire for tonight's grand event. The anticipation hums beneath your skin, a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. A letter had arrived earlier this week, carried by his owl—an elegant, meticulously sealed forest green invitation to an evening at his castle. A grand ball, no less. He was never one for extravagant public affairs, always preferring the solitude of dimly lit corridors and whispered conversations. And yet, tonight, he had arranged something grand, something meant for the “two of you” that is yet to be discovered.

You step outside, the sound of wheels settling on cobblestone pulls your attention. The carriage awaits, an ornate masterpiece bathed in the golden glow of lanterns, it’s like Cinderella all over again, taking you to your loving prince. It stands there like an extension of him, silent yet commanding, as if his very voice calls you forward just like in your dreams, he always appears shrouded, veiled in mystery and shadow. And yet, you yearn to unmask what lies beneath—to see his loving eyes unobscured, to trace the contours of his face with your fingertips, to know him fully, beyond the secrecy he keeps.

And do I dream again?

For now I find

The phantom of the opera is there inside my mind…

You take a deep breath and step forward. The coachman, dressed in fine but muted attire, offers his gloved hand to assist you. With practiced ease, he helps you into the carriage, the plush forest green interior swallowing you in an embrace of luxury. The door shuts with a soft click, sealing you within this moment, this journey toward a night of unknown promises.

The carriage lurches forward, wheels rolling steadily against the path, carrying you toward the mystery that is him.

Let’s dance, my love.

You arrive by the main entrance of the castle as the wheels of the carriage rolled through the cobblestone till it fades away. And once again, you hear a voice call out to you.

“Come to me, my angel”

You take a step forward and push the giant gates which presents the beautiful dim corridors of a forest green interior with white accent. This was not your first visit, however you were still at awe with the luxury he lives in.

“Angel to my music…”

The faint strains of an orchestra reach your ears, the melody weaving through the walls like an enchantment meant only for you. Each note feels familiar, as if composed for this very moment-strings trembling with longing, piano keys whispering secrets only your heart can understand.

Then, amidst the harmony, you hear it. His voice. Soft, distant, yet unmistakable. It calls to you, threading through the music like an invisible hand guiding you forward. A hallucination, perhaps. Or maybe, just maybe, it is real.

Your pulse quickens as you step closer, the towering doors of the ballroom standing before you like a threshold between reality and something far more ethereal. The golden carvings on the frame glisten under the chandelier's glow, an unspoken invitation. All it takes is a single push.

With a deep breath, your fingers press against the cold surface of the door. It yields under your touch, gliding open effortlessly, and at that moment, the music swells welcoming, beckoning. A sea of what you thought would be an opulence and masked faces that should stretch before you was none other than an entire orchestra and a room of emptiness, the ballroom bathed in a golden radiance. And yet, amidst the grandeur, your gaze searches for only one.

The one who called you here.

“V…” You mutter under your breath

He smiles at your presence, arm outstretched beckoning you closer, “Sing once again with me… Our strange duet,” he steps forward, which draws you in like some hypnotic spell that lures you into his arms.

“My power over you… grows stronger yet” He held your hand, his voice deep and majestic like he could sing in an opera.

You try to draw near him, yearning for his mask, “And though you turn from me, to glance behind” he sang, filling your cheek as he restricts you from getting near his mask in a form of teasing.

The phantom of the opera is there…inside your mind.

“Eyes on me, my love” He whispers as he holds your waist firmly, eyes locked together as you make a quick turn. Steps in sync with his perfectly like he knew what he was doing, a man in control of you. His loving angel.

Those who have seen his face always draw back in fear. Whispers surround him like a ghostly shroud, murmured tales like stories of horrors and secrecy. Claiming curses of his features that his mask is not an accessory but a necessity, hiding something no mortal should ever lay their eyes upon. Others merely insist that he’s in vain, unwilling to let the world see the truth that lies beneath.

You’ve always been curious.

What do you hide underneath?

Unlike the others, you do not flinch in fear. No, never at the mystery that surrounds him. He chose you—his partner— for this very reason. Instead, it draws you in like the pull of the moon on the tide. He gives you a twirl before you step closer to him again, hand reaching the hem of his mask before he takes your hand gently with a glint of tease in his eyes.

He’s definitely playing with you. It was not his thing, but perhaps this was the “special gift” that he mentioned in his invitation.

The music swells, and you move in perfect harmony, a waltz woven from unspoken words and the steady rhythm of your hearts. His soft smile never wavers, a silent promise of devotion as he leads you effortlessly across the ballroom floor. Every step is deliberate, each turn filled with passion, as if the world around you has faded into nothingness. The grand chandeliers cast their golden glow upon you both, your eyes set only for each other.

(My) Your spirit and (My) your voice in one combined..

The phantom of the opera is there, inside (my) your mind.

His hands rest firmly on your waist, guiding you with unwavering confidence, ensuring that not even a moment of imbalance could break this sacred dance. The fabric of your attire flutters as he spins you, his grip unwavering, a silent vow that he will never let you fall.

He’s there the phantom of the opera

And then, as the orchestra reaches its crescendo, he lifts you effortlessly, elevating you above the floor, where you gleam beneath the enchanting light. 

To the gleaming lights of the grand chandeliers and orchestra, you are a vision of grace, two souls lost in a dance that speaks of longing and eternity. But to him, you are something more—his muse, his melody, the angel to his music beneath the moonlit sky.

You both part as you gracefully land, yet curiosity gnaws at you, urging you forward. The music swells, reaching its peak, mirroring the quickening rhythm of your heart. Beckons you a hand to his mask, a silent invitation, his gaze drawing you in-closer, ever closer.

It’s your chance.

“Come my angel.”

You take a cautious step forward, and he mirrors you by stepping back, an unspoken challenge lingering in the air. Soon, your movements fall into perfect harmony, a delicate yet intense game unfolding between you. Each step becomes a silent conversation, the space between you shrinking and expanding like the ebb and flow of a tide. The music swells, each note weaving an intricate tale, a dramatic crescendo of longing and mystery. It is as if the entire ballroom is holding its breath, captivated by this dance, by the tension, by the anticipation of what comes next.

You want to know what’s underneath, you’re craving to know. You want to reach your hands out and fill both his cheeks and kiss him. You want to be able to look into his eyes and cherish the mysterious beauty he hides no matter how scary he is. Before you know it, he stepped out of the ballroom leaving the door open like he knew you’d follow.

And you did.

You rush out of the ballroom, your heart pounding as you search for your lover. "V?" you call out, your voice echoing through the grand hall. Your eyes scan the dimly lit surroundings until you catch sight of him standing by the staircase, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Without a word, he turns and ascends the steps, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the second floor. Without hesitation, you follow, your footsteps quickening as he vanishes into the left wing of his castle, drawing you deeper into his world.

This is just the beginning of our dance, my angel

Through every dimly lit corridor, the moonlight spills in through arched windows, casting long, ghostly shadows along the stone walls. Your heart pounds against your chest as you push forward, chasing after the fleeting figure ahead. His presence is near—you can feel it in the faint whisper of footsteps, in the distant rustle of fabric brushing against the cold floor. Every turn leads you deeper into the castle, but the more you pursue him, the farther he seems to slip from your grasp.

It dawns on you—how little you truly know about him. His face, forever hidden behind his mask, remains a mystery. His voice, haunting yet gentle, has always kept you captivated, yet his true nature remains elusive. He is an enigma wrapped in darkness, and yet, in the depths of your heart, there is no doubt. You do not need to see his face to know the love he bears for you, unconditional and unwavering. It is something you cherish now more than ever, something you yearn to protect—to hold onto for eternity.

I’m right here, my love. Always here.

You come to an abrupt halt, your breath hitching as the atmosphere thickens around you. The room ahead glows with a faint, ethereal light, casting soft shadows that dance along the polished floors. Then, his voice—velvety, haunting, and intoxicating—calls out to you once more, drawing you in like a siren's song. His invitation is unspoken yet irresistible, and with a steadying breath, you push the door open, stepping into the unknown.

The sight before you is nothing short of breathtaking. A grand yet intimate room, adorned with dark wooden furniture that exudes timeless elegance, welcomes you. The air is rich with the scent of aged books and a hint of something sweet. At the center stands an exquisitely set table, bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. But what truly captures your attention is the confection laid atop it—a decadent cake, its intricate design shaped into a heart, a macabre yet oddly beautiful symbol of devotion. Surrounding it are delicate chocolates, each crafted with care, as if whispering sweet temptations.

And then, there he is—your lover, waiting, watching. His presence commands the room, his masked gaze never straying from you. His lips curl into the faintest smile, a silent promise of the night yet to unfold.

“V…”

“Y/n.”

He takes your hand and kisses the ridge of your hand before planting a soft kiss onto your lips that you so fell for. He fills your cheek, deepening your kiss passionately before pulling away.

“Did you enjoy our dance?” He asked softly to which you nod in confirmation

“I did, it was unexpected but… I did” He chuckles at your response before bringing you to the table where he sat you at the beautiful chair in front of the cake.

“A sweet delicacy, made for you.” He held a plate of slice ready for you

You giggle softly, “I want to ask a favor, just one.” your gaze locked into his

“Which is?”

“Your face”

“No”

You fill his cheeks with your delicate hands, “Pretty please?”

He sighs, “You’ll fear what’s underneath, my love”

“You’re talking to a human who fell for their vampire lover, how worse can it get?” Your words hint with teasing, “Besides, isn’t trust a foundation of the relationship?” You draw closer to him, your hand placed by the hem of his mask. He doesn’t stop you, not this time—instead, he locks within your gaze, curiosity piqued his interest at your reaction to what you could express.

At last, with determined hands, you lift his mask, unveiling the mystery that has long been hidden from you. Beneath the polished porcelain lies a face marked by a burn scar—an imprint of the past that others recoil from, a sight that has instilled fear in many. But not you. Never you.

Where the world sees tragedy, you see resilience. Where they see imperfection, you see beauty—a tale of survival written upon his skin. The mask slips from your grasp, falling to the floor with a hollow clatter, forgotten in the moment. Without hesitation, you cradle his face in your hands, tracing the lines of his features as if memorizing every inch.

His breath hitches, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but you silence his doubts with a fervent kiss. It is not pity, not mere acceptance, but devotion—a promise that you love him as he is, unmasked, raw, and real.

I am never afraid of you, sweetheart.

Both you and your lover spent in the quiet intimacy of the moment, the low hum of candlelight flickering against the dark wooden walls. A gentle conversation flows between you, soft and unhurried, as if time itself has slowed to savor this night.

He lifts a delicate bite of cake to your lips, his fingers steady, his amber eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "I promise, you'll love it," he murmurs with a knowing smile, his voice velvety smooth, coaxing.

The scent of rich chocolate and something subtly unfamiliar fills your senses as you part your lips, allowing him to feed you. The warmth of his fingertips lingers near your skin, an unspoken invitation to trust him. And as the flavors melt on your tongue-sweet, decadent, and strangely metallic—you find yourself lost in his gaze, wondering just what kind of promise he has truly made.

Your brows knit together in confusion as you let the strange taste settle, your mind struggling to place it. It's familiar, yet foreign, a contradiction that leaves you uneasy. Slowly, you lift your gaze to V, who sits across from you, his expression unreadable. He watches you intently, a soft, knowing smile playing on his lips, as if he is waiting for you to understand.

“Did you like the heart?”

You stared at him, your lips still tingling from the strange mix of flavors. It wasn't like him to do something so peculiar—to feed you an actual heart-shaped cake, so lifelike it almost felt like a taunt. The chewy texture, the metallic hint beneath the sweetness, it was... unnerving.

Your brows furrow as you meet his gaze. He's watching you closely, that ever-present, knowing smile playing at his lips. There's something in his eyes-amusement, curiosity, perhaps even anticipation. 

"What?" you finally ask, your voice quieter than intended.

His fingers trail along the edge of the plate before he leans in just slightly, his breath warm against your skin. "Did you like it?"

You swallow, trying to shake the unease creeping up your spine. It was just cake... wasn't it?

“Is that..?”

He tilted his head, his smile not wavering, “Is that what?”

“A heart?”

“Yes, a heart shape” he teases you lightly

You smack V’s arm, “You know what I mean!”

He chuckles, “Yes, an actual heart inside the cake, how did you like it?”

“I mean— I don’t mind it, but I never expected a live heart from you. Maybe from a certain someone, but never you. You’ve been awfully playful tonight” V responds with a laugh

“I guess I wanted to try a little something for tonight, just us.” He leans against your neck, planting a soft kiss before holding you closely

“Care to stay over?” He asks

“I thought you’d never ask.”

You kiss his burn scar softly, “Happy Valentine’s day, Valentin”

He smiles softly before pressing a chaste kiss on your lips, “Happy Valentine’s day to you too, Y/n dear”

The moonlight streamed through the grand windows, casting a soft glow across the room, illuminating the quiet moment shared between you. Shadows danced along the walls, but neither of you paid them any mind. Instead, your gazes remained locked, speaking in a silent language only the two of you could understand.

There was no need for words, no grand declarations—just the depth of his dark eyes meeting yours, a silent promise exchanged in the stillness. His fingers brushed against yours on the table, a fleeting touch, yet enough to send warmth through your skin.

All he needed was you. In this moment, in this quiet sanctuary of moonlit devotion, nothing else mattered.

I will sing and dance for your music, my phantom.

My prince under the moonlight and hidden in the shadows.

Valentin Viljoen, you’re the unseen hand that guides my every step.

A love both haunting and eternal, forever ours to keep.

Happy Valentine’s day, my loves.

Misaki Katsuo - Sweet Even as Undead.

You were sitting in your house, eyes locked on the computer screen in front of you. You were working on a news report, that’s how your nights looked for over a month now. Your work was consuming you, taking away your life, locking away anyone. 

Including your partner Misaki. You wanted to make time for them, you really did, you even planned a whole evening of attractions for valentine's day, but it all went to hell once your phone called. Your team needed a new report about a vampire victim, seriously Ronin could take a break for one night. 

You sighed as you looked at the time, the clock almost showed seven. “Great another day spent working.” You murmured to yourself while you outstretched your arms. You weren’t even halfway done with the report. It was too much for you, you just wanted to hop onto the Bloodthirsty Losers server and spam your partner with all the “I miss you” and “I love you” messages you owed them. 

“Fuck, I’m hungry.” You mumbled when your stomach felt way too empty and painful at the same time. You stood up, pushing your office chair back, almost causing it to fall. Not like you cared, you just wanted to eat, anything would work as your perfect meal at this point, okay maybe besides human meat - you’re not Angel after all. 

You made your way to the kitchen, frowning when the only thing you saw was the yellow white reflecting the empty, white shelves of your fridge. Of course you didn’t have food, you haven’t left your house for the past week. You groaned, not in the mood to go to the store to buy instant noodles and stuff yourself with them until you forget about hunger completely. What a nutritious meal Y/n really, you’re outdoing yourself. You were about to get out your phone and call for a food delivery. 

Expect the unexpected, silly. 

The sound of your doorbell ringing filled your house. Someone was really trying to get through to you, pressing against the switch without a single pause, creating a prolonged annoying noise. 

“I’m coming! Jesus Christ…” You grumbled and made your way to your door, expecting to see an annoying girl scout trying to sell some Valentine’s Special cookies in the shape of a heart, you were considering it being your luck if the scenario was true, but what or rather who you saw on the other side of the door was beyond your wildest expectations. 

Misaki stood on the other side of the door, wearing an outfit consisting of shorts and a very ruffly elegant shirt, both were white with a pink gradient. She looked very elegant and cute. You noticed a tote bag full of… something, hanging from her shoulder, it piqued your curiosity but before you could even ask anything…

“Oh gosh! Baby finally!” Misaki exclaimed excitedly, throwing their arms around you and squealing happily when they embraced you. 

You were caught off guard. This visit was definitely unexpected, but not unwelcome. You missed them, dearly, so having them here, in your arms, happily holding you tightly was truly wonderful. 

“Ah!” You yelped, surprise still present on your face. “Misaki, sweetheart, what are you doing here?” 

“Ah!” You yelped, surprise still present on your face. “Misaki, sweetheart, what are you doing here?” 

“I wanted to see you, duh! You weren’t online for a while and I, and everyone else, got worried you dummy.” She stepped back and locked the door that was wide open for the whole time. “I hope you’re hungry because we’re going to bake brownies!” They didn’t give you any time to answer, kicking their shoes off and going to your kitchen. 

You wanted to huff, or argue, but you could only giggle and follow them with a stupid smile on your face, warmth filling your heart and making this evening especially enjoyable. All giddy and excited entered the kitchen to see Misaki taking out the different ingredients needed for brownies with the addition of strawberries. 

“Strawberries? Really?” You asked when you stood next to them, leaning on the kitchen counter. 

“What did you think I’d want to use for the filling? Blood? Sorry babes I only drink blood when the crazy gal in me wakes up.” They joked and took one of the strawberries into their hand. Misaki closed the distance between you and held your chin with their free hand. “Say ah~” She held the strawberry right in front of your lips. You rolled your eyes playfully and open your mouth, accepting her offering happily, 

“Okay, let’s get to baking or we’ll eat all of the strawberries.” You put your hands on their shoulders and turned them around. “I’m starvinggg.” You whined and gently pushed them towards the counters. 

A little mess never hurt nobody. 

Baking with Misaki was an… experience for sure. Your whole kitchen looked like a storm just went through it, flour everywhere, some eggs on the floor and the countertop, cocoa powder all over Misaki’s white shirt. You were trying to mix the cake mix while Misaki was clinging to your side, her head resting on your shoulder. 

Unexpectedly they pushed you gently, your hand slipping, some of the mix getting onto your wrist and hand. You huffed in annoyance and looked at Misaki. 

“Misaki, please be mor- what are you…?” You were at a loss for words when Misaki grabbed your forearm and pulled your arm to her mouth and… started licking the substance off of your hand. “Misaki, baby, darling, I know that living in a trailer might’ve messed up with your pretty lil head, but I do have running water that I could clean my hand with.” You said with an amused tone, shaking your head in disbelief. 

They let go of your hand once they finished their “job” and looked at you with a proud mischievous smirk. “Yeah, but then the cake would go to waste, dummy!” She poked your nose with a sweet cackle. “Okay let’s finish this! And then, I’ve got a surprise!” 

“What kind of surprise?” You gave them a look, what new idea could that sweet idea of their makeup? 

“If I tell you it won’t be a surprise! Now chop chop! We don’t have all night to bake.” They stuck out their tongue at you. You just playfully pinched their cheek and started working on the brownies again.

The stars in the sky were made for us. 

Misaki was holding your hand as they were guiding you to the “surprise”. They decided to blindfold you, apparently seeing would destroy everything, you decided to not question their decision. Whatever made your wonderful partner happy you would agree to do. 

“Are we there?” You asked, shouting to them because of the wind blowing at your face. 

“A few more minutes!” They shouted back with an excited chuckle, you could feel yourself being pulled harder when Misaki started to run. You ran behind her, trying to not stumble against your own feet or the ground. The ground beneath your feet was uneven, hard, in some places you could feel yourself stopping over something very fragile and easy to bend,

Your surroundings were quiet, no cars, no people, just you, Misaki and a bird here and there. The wind wasn’t so strong anymore, it was a light breeze, you heard it swaying the trees, their leaves making a peaceful melody, a song for the two of us. 

“We’re here~!” 

You felt two cold hands gently lifting the scarf they used to blindfold you up. Your eyes needed a second to adjust to your new surroundings. Finally, once they adjusted, you could look around, the darkness of the night wasn’t that overwhelming, you could see perfectly well. 

You were in the middle of a meadow, the flowers were all wilted, some trees had some leaves on them, but most were naked, their leaves on the ground, dried and dead. A snowless winter wasn’t thought of as beautiful, yet to you, the sight was mesmerizing. Seeing the earth die, just for it to come back to life and be all colourful in two months? It reminded you of your relationship with Misaki. There will be moments when work may consume you, keep you in its unbreakable chains, but she will come in, barge into your life with that sweet mischief painted all over her face, ready to steal you away from work and cause chaos. 

Even Gods won’t be able to destroy this beautiful connection. 

“Do you like the spot I picked out?” They asked, squealing happily. If Misaki was a dog, her tail would be wiggling like crazy by now. 

“Mhm! It’s deadly beautiful.” You said and took a step towards them, whispering into their ear, “Just like you, my dear.” 

Misaki’s face flushed as they punched your shoulder gently. 

“Staphh! I’m the one who’s supposed to be dorky and made you all cute and blushy today.” They huffed, trying to suppress the beaming smile that was forming on their face. 

“You’re the dorkiest and cutest.” You chuckled, patting their head. Seriously, they’re so much like a cat sometimes. A cute little kitty… Yeah you can see the vision. 

“Are we planning to stand here for god knows how long?”  

“Pfft! Of course not you little idiot! What do you think I stole your blanket for?” They poked your forehead with their index finger. “Be a sweetie and hold this for me.” They gave you their bag and took out a blanket, it was something you owned for ages so you didn’t really care if it got dirty, or if they stole it from you, which realistically was bound to happen anyway. Somehow your wardrobe became emptier ever since Misaki started to visit you, sometimes you just leave a tshirt in the middle of a room and chuckle when you notice it being gone after Misaki leaves your house. 

They’re so adorable. 

You were laying down on the blanket, hand in hand with Misaki. Looking at the night’s sky, subtly glancing at Misaki from time to time. You couldn't help yourself, she just looked so beautiful in the moonlight, her eyes reflecting the stars when she spoke about them. 

Jesus, you missed this so much, missed spending time with them, listening to them talking about their interests, or struggles, or just talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Watching their eyes sparkle with excitement when they pointed at a constellation, giggling sweetly when you tried to guess its name and was wrong. 

“Nooo, I told you a million times that it’s not the little bear! Wow, you’re such a great listener.” 

You scoffed, finding their playful frustration with you just adorable. “Awh, I’m so sorry sweetie, I’m always so focused on looking at you it slips my mind to listen too.” You moved closer to them, wanting to kiss their cheek, but before you could do that they sat up and pointed at the sky. 

“Ohmygodohmygod! Look! It’s the meteor shower!” 

You looked up at the sky, the view just breathtaking. You could see the sky light up with new lights, passing through it quickly and making a memorable effect. You felt like you were watching a performance, beautiful, engraved in your mind permanently. 

“Don’t just look at it! Make a wish.” Misaki shook you, tearing you away from your thoughts. You looked at them, their smile was all you needed to know what wish you wanted to make. 

I wish for this moment to last forever. 

I love you so much Misaki, I wish for more time to spend it all with you. 

I wish to spend every valentine’s day with you. 

For eternity. 

“I love you sweetheart.” You whispered to them, the words only meant to be heard by them. 

“I love you too, Y/n.” They replied, kissing you before you could say anything more. 

Let’s be together forever. 

My sweetest Y/n. 

Happy Valentine's day my lovely readers <3

[knightedmares]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Alright! Messages time! You guys got this on Discord and I was planning on writing stuff too but I got sick and then there was a huge blackout BUT I'M DOING IT NOW! YAY! Also if my messages start slowing down and getting shorter it's because I'm still a bit sick and overestimated my abilities to write 16 separate paragraphs. My bad.

@neo91502 I always get excited seeing you join a vc, because I KNOW there's going to be some fun shenanigans about to happen. Ever since we first started talking about Epic the Musical, I've genuinely enjoyed talking to you. Hearing you yap about Epic, Pikmin and Pressure is always fun, and I've enjoyed watching Epic animatics and Pikmin icebergs with you. Also, listening to the Ithaca Arc with you and the others was so fun! I genuinely can't imagine a better way to finish off the Musical than by listening to it with you!

@hexsie Speaking of Epic the Musical, I'M GLAD YOU FINALLY LISTENED TO IT! DMing you while you were listening to the entire musical was SO silly and enjoyable, and I'm glad that I got to enjoy something I love with you! But, enough about Epic (until we get to TSB, anyway.) I do have a hard time communicating my interests properly, but your comforting presence makes it easy to talk to you. I always enjoy talking with you about Hexsy and her silly ships! Also Electric Dreams! Loved that movie! Never letting you pick a movie again. (I STILL HAVEN'T RECOVERED... EDGAR...)

@radiantrevolt You thought you were safe from this? Nope. You're already on the Christmas (New Years?) card. Learning that we shared similar interests (Animals and Pokemon) was a surprising thing to learn, but I've enjoyed our little discussion about Moths and Sea Slugs! And I hope you're enjoying that Pokemon Fusion generator. I'm still slightly jealous that you keep getting the cool fusions smh /silly.

@tiredsmashbros YOU! GRABBING YOU! Hanging out with you is often the highlight of my day! It's always fun talking with you about Captain Underpants and Spongebob and SMG4 and Musicals in general (like Epic, of course!) I usually get slightly overwhelmed in large vcs, but your presence always calms me down! I've also enjoyed watching videos with you on vc, like FNAF theories and that MLP Iceberg (I stayed up WAY longer than I should have for that one whoops.) You are just a genuinely cool person, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!

@bluesbox Blue! My movie watching buddy! I enjoyed staying up late watching movies with you and Nxva. It's genuinely one of the best memories I have of 2024, from getting jokingly kicked out by you three times during three separate movies, to hearing your 100% absolutely correct statements about The Great Mouse Detective, and, of course, watching Electric Dreams with you and Nxva (I'm still in tears.) We haven't been on vc as often, but when we are, it always ends with me smiling!

@strange0-0storm We haven't talked much, but whenever we have, its always been fun! Your oc and your artstyle are so cool, and has often been an inspiration for me to add more colors to my art and get a little silly with the designs!

@rmgkyle YOU ARE SO FUN TO HANG OUT WITH! You're always so goofy and funny! Every time I join a vc, you type in all caps "KNIGHTMARE!!!" and it makes me laugh! Its nice to know that you like hanging out with me, and your kind messages often cheer me up! I often get confused about why you all get so excited seeing me log on to vcs, but reading your messages saying I'm cool really helps me try and participate more! And your drawings of Trick are close to my heart. The way you draw them is so goofy and I love them.

@coralalala64 YOU AND YOUR GIFS I'M GOING INSANE! Every time I see you typing in chat, I KNOW I'm about to end the day laughing until my stomach hurts. You always know how to time a joke PERFECTLY, and I very much enjoy joking with you! ALSO THE WAY YOU DRAW SMG4 IS SO SILLY AND COOL I love your art so much!

@libbytwq MY TWIN! We have so many shared interests, and I enjoy talking with you about all of them! I enjoy being with you in vc and creating server-wide shenanigans with you! Like that Jorge Jetpack video... sigh. ALSO!! THE SILLY LITTLE MOVIE AUS WE ALL MADE DURING THE MOVIE STREAMING!! Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of my favorite movies, and the goofy little scenarios we all thought of was so fun!

@its-a-me-mango Thank you for making sure we all go to sleep at the correct time. I salute you for your efforts. ALSO YOU ARE SUCH A COOL PERSON TO BE AROUND! Your playlist is fun to listen to, your artstyle is super cool, and I like seeing you talk about SMG4 and Mr. Puzzles! Your ocs are cool too! Mango, Telly, Smug and Werewolf SMG4 are very close to my heart (I'm forcing you to remember Smug and Werewolf SMG4 🔫 /silly /nm)

@mikchi8 YOU ARE INSANE!! STOP FORCING ME INTO MARRIAGE!! I HAVE A WIFE!! /silly /nm. Mikchi, your sense of humor is very funny, and I love getting into joke arguments with you. I also love playing Roblox with you! Our little Flicker session was very fun! Also, now feels like a good time to tell you that I knew you were the murderer that one session because you had your stream running. Sorry. /silly

@v4p0v1s3r VAPO YOU ARE SILLY AND GOOFY AND IT IS VERY FUN HEARING YOU YAP! I usually can't turn my volume very high, but it's fun hearing you talk about your ocs! Also, your little plushies are so silly I'm grabbing them all. SMG-ST was so fun to draw, even though I had to figure out how to change their hair color halfway through (<- I'm exaggerating. All I needed was the fill tool /silly)

@doodledev1l DOODLE! CAR BATTERY! BEING WITH YOU IN VCS ARE SO FUN! It's always enjoyable conversing with you! We could talk about anything from movies to the weather and it would be a pleasant conversation! Also, I love watching your streams! You are very good at drawing. Explodes you with my mind 💥

@rr3d2y AKO! We also aren't on vc often, but whenever we are, it's always very silly! Ako is such a cool oc to draw, and your little Ako plush emoji is very goofy! Your animated videos are very fun to watch as well! Your marriage to Mikchi was less fun to watch but whatever I hope you two are happy together /silly /j /nm.

@averyterribleartist AVERY! THE VOICE OF REASON (<- being this in the TSB server is like being the tallest dwarf but we appreciate your efforts nonetheless /silly) Watching you get concerned about our sleeping habits is so funny. It's like watching a herding dog try to control a flock of sheep that are high. You're also very fun to be in a vc with!

@kittykibbl KITTY!! KITTY I LOVE YOUR ART AND YOUR WRITING YOU ARE SO TALENTED I'M GOING INSANE!! I love going on to Magma and drawing with you and the others! And I also love listening to you yap about stories! I swear it seems like you can come up with an amazingly crafted story on the spot. Your artstyle is very cool too! I love how you draw characters! It's a really cool mix between Sonic and Scott Pilgrim, in my opinion!

I'm not exactly sure how to end this, so I'll give the order in which I drew everyone from first to last.

Hexsy, Neo, Van, Avery, RMG, Coral, SMGC, SMG-ST, Doodle, Ako, N4, SMG8, SMGL:E, Mango, Constantine, TSB, and my silly oc Trick!

[bleaksqueak]

just wanted to say, as a fellow artist, THANK YOU for talking about shortcuts 🙏🙏 ive had baggage over not doing art """properly""" (re: the repetitive frustrating way just to prove i can), and im finally letting myself use tricks like warping and textured brushes and such, but i still feel weird sometimes. then i see a batshit amazing artist like you uses them, and i feel better. so thanks 😭 (and yes aye-eye is not included in this, mass theft isnt a shortcut)

The great thing about baggage is you can and absolutely should work up to just checking that crap in at the front desk and then conveniently forget to ever pick it back up~ Seriously though, it's no problem, and I'm glad to hear you're loosening up with it! If it helps, shortcuts are drilled into you if you work professionally in art. The only people who don't use shortcuts who work professionally are people who simply don't want to (be it stubbornly or out of enjoyment) and people who can afford to (names so big that deadlines will either be lenient or are dictated by the artist themself) The urgency to do everything the painstakingly hard way is, weirdly enough, a mindset most common in hobbyist spaces. People who want to do it that way (out of enjoyment, out of pride) are more than welcome to do it (as I'll sometimes just do slow crosshatching, no special brushes, because I find it relaxing)... but those who insist others do it or they aren't a real artist are often speaking from a position of bad faith, or are repeating what they had drilled into them by another hobbyist or their childhood/teen year art teachers, *or* are doing it to place themselves on a pedestal competitively. So, basically! Do things manually if you feel like it, but also know that there's hardly a "pro" out there that doesn't utilize a lot of fun little tricks and shortcuts. We still do it by our artistry, which is where the line is drawn with generated bullshit (also, you know, it's theft), but I guess a good way to look at it is like this: When you're drawing a piece of storytelling art or a comic page and the character has an elaborate costume with chains (my own character's lapel pins... we can look at Spawn, or a Nomura character and their department store of belts)...What's more important? The intricate detail of the chain, proving you can do it (again and again and again, since every angle would need to be drawn anew) Or the character acting, the composition, the atmosphere? It's the aspects that tell something about the character, the action, and the story that are always going to win out and matter, meaning that chain is just busy work-- a prime candidate for a quick swipe of a chain brush, or if you're me, this little friend:

So, yeah!! At the end of the day, the most important thing is to do what brings you joy or what meets your goal. I do love drawing clothes and I love details (love patterns and gold details especially)... but I also love finishing my work and shortcuts allow me to focus on the charcter acting and the atmosphere instead! Go forth and don't feel guilty. So long as you're not stealing from anyone and having fun, you're not doing anything wrong.

[egophiliac]

I was wanting to try doing an art piece in the style of the signature spell poster art pieces you create. But I’m not really the best at coming up with a composition for such a thing.

Do you have a process for how you come up with the compositions for them?

oh, awesome! it is an INCREDIBLY enjoyable style to work in; I hope you have fun with it! :D

I'm not great at putting my thought/art process into words, so my apologies if this doesn't make a lot of sense, but I'll try! my first step is always to do a LOT of thumbnails to figure out both the idea and how I want to show it; not trying to do a real sketch or anything, just little doodles to figure out what exactly I'm trying to portray. (I also call these "garbage passes" because they're not meant to be any good, they're just there to throw things out. aha. ha. ...anyway.) I think it's important during that first stage to really focus on the idea and the layout and not to get too bogged down in the actual drawing yet!

I tend to save my final thumbnails, so I'll use 'em as examples (I posted the ones up through episode 5 here if you're interested!) (and, uhhh, spoilers through episode 5 also in this post, hopefully that won't be an issue!)

the main thing I try to think about in composition is balance -- not necessarily in terms of symmetry, but in where each element is placed and how much space it's taking up. remember, empty space is still space! it's also really important to think about the parts that don't have anything in them, as much as the parts that do!

personally, I like to divide things up roughly by both halves and by thirds -- there's a lot more in-depth info out there on why the "rule of thirds" in particular works well visually, but in short, our brains tend to focus on things that are placed closer to imaginary division lines, instead of in the exact center of an image. so even when I'm doing something that is very centered and symmetrical, I try to keep that in mind and generally aim around those for landmarks like faces/eyes (or...where they would be, anyway) and other focal points.

it's not a formula of "the character's face should be in this division of this grid" or anything, more like "our minds like to focus on these areas, let's think about how to use that", if that makes sense! and of course rules are made to be broken, art is lawless anarchy, and so on. but it can be a good starting place for deciding where you want to put things!

(blue - thirds, red - half)

and against the finished versions, because they do usually end up changing a lot (including the empty space of the border):

(...these actually lined up a lot better than I thought they would. :') it makes me look like I do things way more intentionally than I do.)

other stuff I just try to keep in mind is that our eyes like following arcs and paths, which can be a good way to guide the eye:

and frame and control the focus:

honestly, composition is one of those things I feel like I struggle with a lot, so I'm not sure how much of this is helpful or actually makes sense outside of my head. but hopefully it helps a little! it's all just stuff to think about while drawing and not anything hard-and-fast, so don't, like, stress out about making sure things are lining up exactly on the thirds or anything. again, it's more "our brains think these are the dopest parts of the rectangle" than anything else! take advantage of the cool parts of the rectangle!

NOW GO HAVE FUN DRAWING seriously though, it is always super cool that other people like this idea and style enough to want to do it themselves and for other/their own characters! thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[serevarin]

Please don't put your mental health at risk over some post on here, your art is good and very sweet either way and there's no need for you to force yourself to play the game if it's gonna make you feel bad. Watching playthroughs is fine too, the content of their relationship isn't gonna change anyway. Plus writing fanfic and drawing fanart is a hobby, you should do it in a way that's fun and enjoyable for YOU, it doesn't matter what others think it's best

holy shit holy shit thank u thank u kind anon!! so i've been crying a lil bit (in a good and appreciating and thankful way) after reading previous comments and your words as well. even though i'm an artist, not a ficwriter, i still relate to the take "fanfiction is funfiction" in a way that an author's pleasure and fun and positive emotions should be a top priority, not the audience's (i hope u get me cause idk how to put it in english :"D).

because i've seen really deprecating posts and comments about some categories of ficwriters and even artists. i think it would be really kinder to the community and to our content creators to talk about improving one's fanfiction quality in a suggesting way, not.. not in a deprecating and obliging and consumer-ish way, if u know what i mean? because fanfiction isn't a commercial activity and not a job, in most cases. it's not like ficwriters are obliged to their audience, i believe. and it's not like authors have to avoid things that are not really touched upon in the source material, such as religious guilt and etc. i think it's just wonderful to write about something (even ooc, even headcanon-ish, even trope-ish) because it's beautiful or relatable or because it's causing some cool emotions inside you. and because you, as an author, have fun. and because you love what you're doing, no matter what others say.

if i were a ficwriter, i would probably absolutely love to write about religious guilt in hansry because it relates to me SO much especially in my country and makes me feel something. something beautiful and something close to my heart. it's not historically accurate, yeah, but i would love to share my point of view on hansry with the world. so can you.

*ofc, it would be cool if hansry readers could be more suggestive and less deprecating, whereas ficwriters could also be gentle and put tags accordingly (and warn about potential ooc and religious guilt or top/bottom dynamic and etc) - so that kindness would be a two-way street, so to say!

i just really want to defend those ficwriters (and even artists!!! my fellows my guys!!) that fell under this wave of hate. please be free and enjoy what you love.

[crueliste]

analysis of the rocket execs poses because i got manic and wrote it in the state of such

know that this is mostly based on my personal lore and my personal extreme autism about this content and only that. ✌️

ARCHER A perfect one really. This cannot be topped. Absolutely nothing I would change. Maybe I'm biased because he's my favorite, but from a first glance I can see what he's up to. Perfectly straight and almost frigid posture, the hand on his chin conveys both curiosity and confidence. It shows his analytical personality, like he's studying or inspecting you or scanning for weaknesses, should you be stupid enough to show any.

The hand behind his back is the same posture servants and butlers showcase. It shows subservience and discipline, as while he's the top executive of the four and currently in charge during their boss's absence, he is still inherently and fiercely loyal to Giovanni. Simultaneously, it's a sign of restraint and control. He isn't particularly interested in hurting you because he values his time and has way more important things to take care of, but wouldn't feel bad doing it if you get in his way.

ARIANA With her, I want to especially highlight the SPRITE art, because she's the only one where the sprite art is a lot different compared to the drawn art. The drawn one is good, I love the hand being held down in that position like she's telling a dog to heel. She has a ton of confidence, as shown by the hand on her hip and her head ever so slightly tilted. For me, it's less curiosity and more 'wow you really think you can get through here'. In both arts, her stance is also much more wide compared to Archer's. She is confident enough to take more risks than him, and is more commanding than inspecting, making them the perfect leading duo.

And in the sprite art specifically, she strikes a whole POSE. This woman doesn't see you as a threat, she thinks you're a pathetic bug and will find so much enjoyment in crushing you like one.

PETREL He's just a little chill guy! Would you ever feel threatened by a guy looking at you like this? There is absolutely nothing threatening in this pose, a big contrast to the previous one. Hands super loosely on his hips and his posture hunched over shows exactly what he means it to; this will lull them into a sense of false security. You could even let your guard down for a second. You can see the difference of looseness of the right hand on his hip compared to Ariana's. Would you guess this guy has 6 BOMBS in his team (his team of 6 koffings that I fully believe were meant to blow the radio tower up). Of course you wouldn't, this is just a guy!

PROTON Enter mega bastard. The WIDEST stance of them all. He thinks of you as such a small threat that he feels confident enough to turn his whole BACK on you, while still giving you the worst asshole smirk around. Super wide stance to just emphasize the confidence. He will bring you hell just for the sake of it, you absolutely don't have to give him a reason. More confidence derived from the blind adoration given by his underlings. 'Oh executive Proton, you are so cool!' Assuming the hidden hand is on his belt, he's ready to sicc his pokémon onto you, just look at him wrong once. It's like he wants you to do exactly that. And in contrast, the hand on the hat is a more playful gesture. He will attack you, and will have fun doing it.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

Hi there! As a new fic writer, I was wondering if you had any writing advice (in general), but especially for writing dead dove. Do you have any advice on how to make your writing impactful and more emotionally devastating (lol)?

I’ve always thought writing that hits a reader so hard that it effects them emotionally—as if they’re a part of the story themselves—are some of the best written (and my personal favorites to read).

Thanks so much!

the most important and effective advice in general that I can give anybody when it comes to writing, is that ‘practice makes perfect’.

however, it’s also important to note that I am by no means saying my writing is ‘perfect’ — because you (general you) stop learning and improving your skills the second you believe what you’re doing has already reached the point where it’s ‘perfect’, and that’s where it becomes a problem. there’s a difference between being proud of yourself and your work (which you should always be) and thinking that your work is already ‘perfect’. 

so what I’m saying is; as long as you’re willing to keep learning, you will only keep getting better. always practicing, always learning.

your first ever work may not be as satisfying as you want it to be, and that is okay. looking back, the first ever fic I wrote almost 8 years ago would not be satisfying if I wrote it recently — considering how my writing style has changed, as I’ve found (still am continuing to find) what represents myself best in my works, and how I’ve learned and improved my skills — but that fic was still my creation and I still am proud of myself and of the art I’ve created; the thing is that I’ve practiced and learned and I’ve come a long way, and that’s what really matters.

as for writing dead dove, my advice would be ‘don’t hold yourself back just because you think this is too violent or too disturbing’. as I’ve always said, there is no such thing as ‘too far’, ‘too graphic’ or ‘too triggering’ when it comes to any form of art. 

that being said, content warning is just as important. warn your potential readers beforehand about what they might be getting themselves into if they decided to give your writing a read. this doesn’t mean you have to ‘spoil’ your fic to them, just let your readers know what kind of content is in the work — for instance, child death, blood and gore, non-con, drug use, human trafficking, etc — so that your readers can decide for themselves if the work is too much for them.

but that does NOT mean you should stop writing about This Specific Topic You Love to Write About just because it’s too triggering for your readers. why? because, while your readers should always be appreciated, you don’t write for them. you write FOR YOURSELF.

write what you want to read.

write whatever you want.

you, the writer, are the priority of your work.

don’t write something you don’t want to write just because it’s what your readers want. 

don’t hold yourself back from writing what you want to write just because your readers don’t like it.

the most important factor about writing fanfics and/or original works is that writing should be something you enjoy. not a job (even if you write original work as a career), you should always have fun doing what you’re doing. that’s how you can do your best.

the trick to writing an impactful and emotionally devastating scene is if YOU are invested in what you’re writing enough that words come from within yourself. and you can only be invested in what you’re writing that much if you love and enjoy what you’re writing.

it’s more difficult to love and enjoy what you're doing, if you’re doing it to please other people.

you see where I’m getting at? it’s all about your love, enjoyment and passion as a writer. 

you don’t write for your readers. you write for yourself, and your work will attract to it the right readers who love the same thing you do. and that’s how you successfully write an impactful and emotionally devastating scene that can make your readers cry.

don’t think about whether or not your writing will have enough impact on your readers when you write, because thinking about that will only distract and prevent you from reaching your best potential. just be invested in your writing. 

don’t think about whether or not your readers will like this; because worrying about whether or not your readers will like it will also distract and prevent you from doing your best.

if you want your readers to feel as if they’re a part of the story themselves, you yourself have to be emotionally invested in it that you feel like you’re a part of the story yourself. and that can only happen if you’re doing it for you. not for your readers. not for anybody else. but for you.

repeat after me ‘I am the priority of my writing’. 

again, be invested in your writing. write whatever you want to write, no matter how disturbing or fucked up or violent your work gets, write whatever you want. just don’t forget to tag all the trigger warnings properly.

you don’t ‘try to attract people to read your work’. you get invested in your work, you write whatever you want, out of love and passion, and your work will attract the right readers to it.

I have no doubt you will become one of the best writers out there, anon. keep learning. keep writing. I’m rooting for you.

[thedivaking]

Yk I wanted to say this~ since I'm in the Hamilton Fandom. Just to spread awareness, of how a Fandom works.

I'm just a person with an acc. You don't need to read or believe if you want. I'm not ranting or anything 💗.

~~~

It's ok to call the actor by their character names within the Fandom. It's for fun, and they don't know we exist😮‍💨. It's the norm to do so. No, we're not chaining the actors to one role. We just know them for that particular role.

It's ok to have fun. Make shitposts, write and draw whatever the hell you want, make edits~ etc. Every Fandom runs on creativity. No need to be serious all the time. I know Hamilton has historical figures, but it's Hamilton. That's the thing. A Fandom is a community that's supposed to revolve around a type of media, book, movie, series, comic etc. But it's absolutely ok to make shitposts and fanart with them. These kinds of content helps a Fandom thrive. This is not a biography. It's a musical l.

No one should bully anyone for how they draw or write. That's their style, and it must be respected. Keep your criticism to yourself. These are living people behind thr profile. People who had an idea one day and decided to go about it. And we should support new artists 💗. We shouldn't discard artists or content creators either. They have put in a lot of time for our enjoyment.

Ships, crackships and HCs definitely ok! Personally I wish that there were more HCs. I don't know what's the problem. Headcanons help us relate to the character presented. That's is, once again, creativity. It's not illegal to sit and think, ah yes Hamilton would love Starbucks. What ever happened to Freedom of Speech, thought and expression?

It's ok to have ocs. Ocs aren't weird at all. It shows your potential to create a character.

It's ok to dislike a character or ship, or even obsess over one. That's Fandom culture. But like I said, we shouldn't target others for their choices.

We need more AUs! Like really creative aus. Idc, let Jefferson work at McDonalds or King George be a cyborg who wants to turn everyone into AI. Or Aaron Burr as a double agent in the 1880s. Go for it man.

"You're not supposed to do that because I don't do it" shouldn't be in the Fandom. Everything isn't about you.

Askblogs are OK, people. That's another fun thing in the Fandom. Also it won't be 100% accurate because it's the Fandom version of the character. So no, Ask Angelica isn't going to tell you about her entire family tree, and no, Ask George Washington isn't going to tell you the type of carpet he has at his house, and where he got it from. The mod would. But it will be made up (OBVIOUSLY). Want to know why? Creativity once more.

Mis-characterisation is actually ok in a Fandom space. Because it's all for silliness, and to make the character more relatable. Some people do have a confort character ot a character they love, and they see themselves in them. It's absolutely ok to give the character your traits. Do whatever makes you happy. I'm not saying compare. But for the sake of fun and comfort, you may twist the character however you like. It isn't a Biography or anything official. There's a thing called formal and informal. A Fandom is entirely informal. Mis characterizations is mostly used in stories and art, to make them more APPEALING~ and to fit in the content.

Now to sum things up, CREATIVITY should be embraced more. Creativity keeps us going

I think we have a serious problem with accepting creativity, and that's why the Fandom is dying.

This must be said.

~

[pixelxgore]

hers a billfold wip as a treat i changed his face bc i have free will

The art is to encourage you to read my silly little insanity (you should totally do it btw)

I'm dyslexic so sorry if anything is spelled grotesquely wrong lol autocorrect sometimes has no idea what i’m trying to spell

Starting with my head cannon because every thing will make more sense with it (or it wont that's entirely up to you) Imma try my best to make this enjoyable

So I head cannon both bill and ford as aspec this is important for the rest trust (I'm Aroace myself so some of my words are based of of experience ) being aroace doesn't mean you can't have a toxic one-sided relationship with a triangle

(most of this is pretty vanilla but I still wanna talk about it)

I believe it started of as a one-sided relationship on fords part (wow shocker) but it wasn't really love because he's ace it was more of infatuation (this stems from the fact he is a science boy and like ooo demon triangle thing) mistaken for love (I'm pretty sure this is common among aroace people or I just had an original experience) and maybe bill had just a little bit of the same feeling but instead of infatuation it was just pure obsession and when they had there little “tragic break up” and bill finally came to realize his obsession and it consumed him (idk i think that how abusive obsession is) and he realized he can’t live with out ford (i man he can but unhealthy obsession) and thus bills one sided relationship with ford where he just tries to get his puppet back but can’t figure out why he needs him so bad so he comes to the (subconscious) cuncultion there in love (because of course that’s the reasonable decision) and then you all know what comes after

I think bill has major will wood music vibes so I have nominated three songs of his for bill ford (cuz I'm genuinely going insane over them)

This is for fun and based off my head cannons

All of my discussions are made purely of the vibes the song gives me and how cool than animation in my head looks so take everything you know about these will wood songs and throw it out the window cuz none of that is relevant :3

i saw someone say “Will Wood songs can really be interpreted in different ways, and most of them seem like wisps of similar thought rather than a concrete narrative, so you're always a little bit right and wrong when you take a guess.” and i think you should keep that in mined

(I'm gonna embarrass myself so hard (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) )

I'm not gonna elaborate much but just trust me ok I put it kind of in chronological order

fords one sided relationship with bill: ...well, better than the alternative

Ok so this one is the least perfect out of all of them cuz it only half what I want (obviously this song is a stretch but hear me out) It's mostly for the like the last half of the song (remember what I said about throwing out the meaning for get that i lied) this song about the struggle ls of growing up and is a heartfelt plea to be understood and accepted for who we are (which obviously ford was a wired kid) and this kinda ties into the one-sided infatuation because it also is about the romanticism of nostalgic love, and the pressure of society telling you to find someone and "settle down" as we get older (witch yk aroace can’t really do that) so he’s grasping at the fact that he is enamored with this demon he just summoned (because science) so he can come up with this narrative in his head of how he is in love and can finally fit at least one of the societal boxes (idk it sounds like something to me probly ooc but I'm having fun)

bills one sided relationship with ford: ¡Aikido!

obsession with someone and how people often use coping mechanisms such as drugs to help with their feelings of uncertainty and helplessness. (yes this is copied not fully of a site this is tumblr not an english assignment) it also explores the idea that love and obsession can often manifest in neurotic and even pathological behavior.(oooo oooo look i’m so smart like staring the apocalyps) i’m not this cool this whole thing started with the first like whit h is “I apologize for playing with your eyes But I’m obsessed with you” witch reminded me of how bill used for as a puppet and then yk fords whole world came crashing down (this one explained its self more i have to do less mental gymnastics) and he’s like im sooo sorry i can’t live with out you

there whole relationship from the deal to the end of bill: Misanthrapologist ("In case I make it,"

Outtake)

ok this one is the one that mostly made of vibes because the song is about an unhappy codependent relationship through metaphors of christianity, nihilism, outer space, and mozart (witch only really encompasses a portion of the relationship) the song stars with “I wanna meet your make Shake him by his ensanguined damask lapel Holler "Look what you've done Gave this planet a sun And made a man to wonder if he's more than the sum of his cells"” which makes me personally think of obviously the deal fore made with bill and how bill stroked his ego all the way through there partnership um you can see where i goes from here just go listen to the song

ok this one’s off topic and only for my imaginary animation but the line “So how could I stand a chance, let alone dance With the way you sweep me off these two left feet?” just like imagine this with me it’s bill (human probably cuz i don’t work with the triangle) and young ford in the minedskape thing and its bill dipping ford and when it goes down it switches to bill and fort in bills pyramid thing with ford chained up do you see the vision ok I’m done now (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

[spocks-husband]

Just finished Deadly Duo: Batman and Joker today, and as usual I collected a bunch of panels where I thought Brucie looked hot-- mostly for my own purposes but also to share with you all. The story in this comic is pretty fun! If you're a BatJokes enjoyer you'll definitely like it.

Anyways, the art is gorgeous and my boyfriend is sooo so hot and you should look at him <<3

[egg-emperor]

More people need to be okay with characters being vile and fucked up without a semblance of good in them, that enjoy embracing their evil and never want to change. Accept that they exist and that's the point and not demand it to be changed so they're more palatable to you. As humans a lot of us try to look for goodness in everyone, have theories about whether people are born good or evil or neutral, etc. But regardless of your opinions on all that, this is fiction. Things can and should be different to reality and your personal beliefs at times, that's what makes it interesting

You can like and dislike what you want but I think it's good and healthy to explore, embrace, and become more accepting of characters you can't relate to and/or make you feel uncomfortable or even hate for it existing because that's reflective of the real world too. And it's important to learn that it's not a fault of the character if they do things you don't like in real life. They do not need to match your morals and values and preferences to be a good and likeable/an entertaining and compelling character and serve an important narrative purpose

They don't always need redemption if they're evil, don't need morally good qualities and traits or anything sympathetic to be fun and entertaining and enjoyable. You can find great art, enjoyment, beauty and meaning in the pure darkness and evil if you open your mind to it and understand how it's specifically crafted to entertain. It's okay to be entertained and intrigued by messed up characters and their actions and you don't have to react the same as you would towards real people. It's a world of fun so many don't tap into because it feels unfamiliar thus uncomfortable to them

But even if you still do feel too negatively for your liking and not see the enjoyment and entertainment in it, just try to understand that it's a power of the media, to make you feel so strongly, even if it's in "negative" emotional ways and discomfort. It can be as good for you as feel-good things. It's good to be open minded and explore beliefs and actions that aren't your own in fiction. It isn't going to change your heart and personal beliefs unless you let it. It's really important to fathom and embrace this for good media literacy. Personally I think it really helps you check your own beliefs and morals too, in the way of reaffirming your own when you're like "holy shit I'd never believe/say/do that myself" while simultaneously finding it super fucking funny and/or entertaining lol

And also don't y'all never find it fun to entirely put yourself in another character's shoes, enter their mind and world and experience a life that isn't yours? Do you really always have to see yourself and your own actions in every character to like or enjoy them at all? You don't see an intrigue in the unfamiliarity of your own life? That's one of the biggest beauties of fiction to me. That's what keeps me imagining and creating. It's really a whole world of fun, diversity, entertainment, and meaning waiting for you to explore. Try it!