#can’t wait to draw on my new tablet

[somerandomdudelmao]

I’m going mad. I drew an update. I had it in my arms I looked at it and it was right here in my project file on my tablet and now it’s gone…

I saved it but my fucking tablet went “you know what, I forgor💀” I swear to god this is the last time I’m drawing anything on this glowing cutting board

[jumbledthemes]

You guys will all see my birthday cake I made too. I’m 25 now :)

[idontactuallyremember]

Thanos x fem!reader PART ONE

- You assume Thanos flirts with you in an attempt to get you to vote O next round. He comes to you late at night and offers you something. At first, you think it's only so he can manipulate you. However, he asks you something that changes your assumption of him and what he wants.

- TW! Y'all both popping pills!!!

- Sad boy/ sorta soft boy Thanos :( Fluff, essentially SFW (Next part might be spicy 🤪)

- He's kinda a jerk at first (it's a defense mechanism, he's hurting)

“Why not? You think you’re better than us?” Thanos says, a sarcastic smile sprouting on his lips, “You think you’re better than Thanos, girl?”

“I don’t need a team. I don’t need friends.” You say, simply, “I don’t need a group.”

This is not your first time explaining to Thanos you didn’t want to join his team. Each time he offered, he had a different, new and improved reason as to why you had to join them.

“Last game… I saw you struggling. The bitches you’re with now won’t help you if the next game is another team game. You’re lucky you survived the Pentathlon.” Thanos replies and Nam-Gyu, his pet, bobbles his head in agreeance.

“Remind me, why do you even care?” You smile.

“We want to protect you, baby. You think such nasty things of us… We also need an extra vote for the O team and if you join us, I know you’ll vote O next round.”

“I don’t need your protection. I think you need my help more than I need yours.” I give an exaggerated, sarcastic, sad glance to the voting results- a tie until we re-vote tomorrow, “Anyhow, even if I joined your team- I’m still voting X.”

“Well, if you joined my team and voted X that’d be like betrayal to me, girl. Why can’t we both benefit from this?”

“Right, how am I benefiting?"

“Well, we’d be protecting you like I said! If you don't join us someone else will and if you’d rather die with those bitches-”

“Stop calling them that!” You interrupt but he ignores you.

“-than go right ahead.”

There’s a moment of disapproving silence- you and Thanos simply stare at each other.

He glances you up and down and stalks closer to you, closing the space to mere inches- “I could protect you and I could also get my dick wet, yeah? Make you feel good?”

“Fuck you.” You say.

“She’s just playing hard to get.” He says to his group as you walk away.

Later that night, you lay in bed, unable to sleep. A bad feeling creeps up your chest- the feeling that you might die here.

You also think about what Thanos said. He's been flirting with every girl here but he won't leave you alone specifically. He’d fuck anything that walks, surely. It sort of made you mad- but deep down- part of you liked that he chased you.

You stare at the ceiling for minutes, maybe half-an-hour. You hear movement coming from below you, only, it’s too dark to see anything. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself so you stay as still as possible.

Someone is climbing up your bed to the top bunk. You already know who it is. The sight of purple hair only solidifies what you already know to be true.

“I will kick you down the fucking bunk and laugh when you break your neck- get the fuck out of my bed.” You say.

“Woah, woah, I just saw how tense you were earlier, I figured: why not offer you something?”

“You’ve offered enough, no?” You ask, cheekily.

He says nothing, only sits himself down (uninvited), removes the necklace from his neck and opens the cross. An array of colorful tablets lay in a hidden compartment.

“You want one?” He says, a smile on his face.

He waited, expectantly. You’d never seen him this happy or this excited. Maybe only when he murdered three people during Red Light, Green Light.

You think about the consequences of taking one. He probably wanted to drug you and get you to vote O, or worse.

He notices your hesitation and states, “Look: I’ll take one, too. We could get high together, okay?”

He picks a green one and places it on his tongue, then, lingering for a moment, “What’s your favorite color, baby?”

Maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe it was the excessive trauma of the last few days but- fuck, he is hot. Sitting here in the dim-lit room, him in your bed, you only notice now. The tattoos; running down his neck, down his arm, to his long, slender fingers. The ear piercings, the purple hair, the colorful nails- he was sexy. Especially the way he looked at you; looked at those pills. Like a kid on Christmas. You can’t help but think about what his tattoos look like in full; what he looks like without his shirt.

“Pink.” You swallow, thickly, clearing your head.

He meticulously shuffles the tablets around, digging for a pink one, his hands hovering over the piece of jewelry.

“Open.” A simple demand- he doesn't even look at you to see if you do. 'Cocky fuck', you think but your legs feel weak from his commanding tone, anyway.

You do as he says and he places the tablet on your tongue.

“Good girl… chew it.” He purrs. Your insides feel like jelly.

“It will hit hard and fast, okay? Should I stay here?” He asks.

You remember that feeling you had, laying awake before Thanos crawled up here. The feeling that death is imminent, that you will die here, maybe in this bed.

You still didn't trust him- not as far as you could throw him- but if you may die anyway…

“Stay here with me.” You decide, quietly.

“Okay.” He lays down next to you instantly, stroking your hair.

It’s silent as he twirls your long hair between his fingers.

“Thanos?”

“Yes, pretty?”

“Why won’t you leave me alone?”

“I want you.”

“Why? Why not someone else?”

He thinks for a long time.

“The other people here... they treat me like an object. I'm some rapper- not even anymore- who they just want to say they met. Say they were friends with... whatever. You saw the way they all wanted a picture with me? Those people admire me but they don't like me. Plus, I always want things I can’t have. You don’t like me, either. It makes me want you more. At least you don't lie to me."

Maybe it was the drugs talking.

Maybe it’s only because he won’t give up. Maybe you liked that he wanted you so bad.

“I do want you.” You say, barely above a whisper.

“Why do you act like you don’t?”

“Because I don't agree with you in this game. I need to leave. Fuck the money, at this point. I’d rather have my life.” you say.

“I wouldn’t.” He says, glumly. You don’t ask why; you don’t say anything.

It's silent for so long, you wonder if Thanos fell asleep. You feel the drugs working through your body, your feet and hands tingling, the room spinning. You wonder if he’s feeling it by now, too. You wonder how many he takes- Do they even do anything for him anymore?

“Life sucks out there…If everyone else around me is pretending... pretending to be my friend... I want to just pretend- even for a minute- that things are okay.” He admits, sleepily, “I can't… do that out there. Here I can pretend.”

For a long time, you don't know what to say.

“I understand.” You say. Because you do.

You feel him push against you closer.

“Pretend with me?” He asks.

More silence. Is this his way of trying to convince you to vote O? He plays the sad-boy card?

“Please?” His voice desperate; he grips your shirt as he cuddles you, pulling you close. He sounds genuine.

“Okay. We can pretend, Thanos.”

“Thank you.” He says, seemingly relieved. You feel the grip on your shirt loosen after a few minutes.

“Thanos?” You whisper.

No reply- he’s asleep. You relax into his arms until you think about what he said, just earlier:

"You don’t like me, either. It makes me want you more. At least you don't lie to me."

When you recall him saying that, all you can think about is how he isn't asking to be wanted or loved- he's not even asking for the truth, whether he appreciates it or not. He's asking, desperately, to pretend.

You realize how much a person needs to have been lied to to beg to be lied to, again, only, under their own terms.

For him to beg for an ounce of kindness, sympathy, connection: even if it's not real... that must hurt.

Your stomach turns; you feel like crying. You stare at the ceiling more.

Thanos snores softly beside you.

[hikaruchen]

I’ll keep the king when you are gone away. I’ll keep him safe from the dark things that wait. — King by The Amazing Devil

INPRNT | COMMISSION INFOS

-

Some details for archaeology nerds (Here we go again AHAHAHA)

First of all the costume Alfred wears in this pic is BY NO MEANS historical accurate, but if we really want to be 100% accurate then to my knowledge there’s a high chance that Alfred wouldn’t be wearing dresses gowns at all (whoever decided to make Alfred wear those pretty cough dresses cough in the show I wish your family to prosper for all eternity YOU’RE A HERO), so instead I just chose to design whatever clothes I want and add some Anglo-Saxon elements in it :)

1. Alfred’s earrings

Took inspiration from the 7th century Anglo-Saxon/Frankish crystal ball, now in Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Here’s the thing, I know English men (and the monarchs) don’t wear earrings until the 16th century and earrings weren’t even popular during the Anglo-Saxon period, but once I saw Charles I wearing pearl earrings in his portrait I just can’t help but put something pretty on Alfred’s ears as well lol…Sadly I can’t find the exact size of this one but the official site says that it was used as a pendant/an amulet! Probably for pagan practices though, but it’s pretty, isn’t it? :D

2. Patterns on Alfred’s gown

Taken from the patterns on the Bewcastle Cross in Cumbria (which used to belong to Northumbria, built in around the 7th to early 8th century, aka the period Bede lived in.

3. The woven band

The pattern is taken from the Laceby band found in Laceby, Lincolnshire, dated to early 7th century. It seems both Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons enjoy wearing tablet-woven bands? Saw this kind of things a lot in viking clothes reconstruction as well.

4. …Whatever this is

From fol. 34r in Book of Kells, the famous Celtic gospel book completed in Ireland circa 800 AD. As you can see I got lazy during drawing this lol but the illustrations in the original manuscripts are really impressive!

Now I don’t know if this is a good news or not but I’ve still got like…six wips for alhtred in hand…Good god of arts DELIVER ME

[linked-maze]

Hi there! I’ve been enjoying the Linked Maze MerMay series so far, and can’t wait for the next entry.

;)

Yeah!!! Sadly my adapter to my computer broke this morning so I gotta go buy a new one xD or else I can’t connect my drawing tablet! It’s gonna cost a lot of money and the store is so far away when I only have a bike but I’ll get to work later today once I get my grippers on it!

Just you guys wait! The next mermay drawing is gonna be GOOD!

[misettemisette]

Chapter 4 ➺ Hell Clásico

Starting over In Madrid

Summary: After moving to Madrid as Real Madrid's new photographer, Nicky can’t seem to take her eyes off the pretty face Misa Rodríguez. But how will she handle her growing desire for the Canarian goalkeeper when her contract strictly forbids dating players? WC: 4K words TW: suggestive PS: French writer Chapter 1 ➺ A harder job than I thought Chapter 2 ➺ Clearly on a bad slope Chapter 3 ➺ Calmly panicking 

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ 

"You don’t come after training because we’re still grounded ?" 

Misa’s text lifted my heart. With the Clásico and games abroad coming, I had a huge amount of work keeping me out of the stadium. I had shut myself in my office for three days now, importing, retouching photos, and thinking about the next games’s visuals… Since resisting the goalkeeper was becoming more and more difficult, I had to admit I was relieved to be able to avoid her.

I thought for a moment about what to answer. As soon as she had stood up from that bench on the evening at the park, Misa had been her funny self again. She had joked happily. We had said goodbye at the entrance of the parking lot. Like friends do. If she had been disappointed, she had hidden it well. 

And now she was texting me about not coming to our photo meeting in a casual yet flirty way again…

"Feels like I’m the grounded one… work is keeping me trapped in my office!" I texted back.

"👉🤓" 

"🫠👋"

She started typing and stopped. Her text bubble didn’t reappear. I sighed. I hated having to be distant with her. I sighed again and buried myself back into work. 

Fifteen minutes later, loud, erratic knocks boomed against the door of my office. 

"What…?" 

Without waiting, Misa, Hayley, and Sofie burst into the room. "Here she is ! You believed to could get rid of us that easy Nicky?" Hayley asked as the three girls came around my desk. Misa had brought a ball and severals biscuits with her. 

"What are you doing here?!" I said, already annoyed. I had a feeling they weren’t here to help me… 

"We’re checking if you’re still Nicky and not a robot." Misa dropped the biscuits on my desk and started to play with her ball, bouncing it between her foot and thigh. Sofie was leaning toward my computer screen. "Do you have new photos of me?". Hayley was examining my cameras from every angle. "I’ve never seen this one, would you recommend it Nicky?" The dull sound of the ball bouncing rhythmically constantly filled the room. I couldn’t believe how quickly they had created such a mess.   

"Guys, a girl needs to focus right now!" I said, eyes closed, with a hand on my forehead. 

"Oh, you can keep working, don’t mind us." Hayley had taken a camera and was back to taking pictures. Sofie joined Misa and they went passing each other the ball. There was no way I was going to be able to concentrate in this chaos. 

Just edit ten more photos tonight, I told myself. I grabbed back my pencil and graphic tablet, opened a photo of Olga striking, and started erasing an unwanted grass twigs on one of her socks. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Misa’s face approaching the screen while chewing a mouthful of biscuits. "What’s this? Are you drawing?" She asked, pointing at my tablet. The sound of the ball still echoed as Sofie had taken over. A few crumbs fell from the goalkeeper’s mouth.

"Misa! The keyboard !" I blew hard on it to make them go away. 

"Perdòn!" She stepped back and tried to swallow her snack. She gestured for me to explain again. That girl can be such a pain! 

"No, I can’t draw, I’m just correcting details. A pen is more precise than a mouse", I said to her.

"Oh, vale! Can I try it?" I glared at her. "I mean not now! When you have the time. And… I can teach you football in exchange". She added with an innocent smile. 

That girl will drive me mad! 

"Misa! Leave Nicky alone and come to my IG Live, the fans wants to see you!" Sofie called from the farthest corner. 

"Coming! Nicky, take a biscuit, son muy buenos!"

They kept going like this until they were forced to leave with me. I had painfully managed to do half the work I wanted to finish. Tomorrow is another day…

***

Alas, the next day was just the same. They came after their practice, making even more noise than before, until my boss finally showed up to send them away. Despite the chaos, it was a miracle I managed to finish everything at a relatively early hour on the eve of the Clásico. That meant I could be on time to catch Misa and Hayley after the motivational speech following that day’s training session.

The speech wasn’t over when I arrived near the meeting room and peered discreetly inside. The players didn’t seem very captivated. Olga’s legs fidgeted with impatience, and Linda appeared to be slowly zoning out. Fortunately, it ended shortly, and I exited the building to wait for my friends.

They arrived among the first. I could sense their nervousness behind the frank smiles they both gave me as a greeting.

"Hey Nicky, great speech, eh..?" Hayley hugged me. She was so tense. "Thanks for waiting, but I need to go home. I’m off, girls, see you tomorrow!" Misa patted her shoulder as she left, and Hayley roughly brushed her hair in return.

I turned to face the goalkeeper. "How are you coping?" I asked gently. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

"Estoy bien…," she answered, peering down, her foot kicking at the floor aimlessly. She clearly wasn’t.

"Do you want to walk?" I asked without any ulterior motives. I just wanted to help my friend feel a bit better. She nodded.

We wandered around the sports campus and tried to talk about anything but the Clásico. At first, Misa kept jumping in place every now and then to shake off her stress. She relaxed once we started teasing each other.

"Misa, you can’t be near a ball without showing off! That’s insane!"

She smirked. "I’m an athlete, Nicky! Football is my life—of course I play with my ball all the time." She side-glanced at me, her mischievous tone and satisfied smile returning. "I did 65 rebounds yesterday."

I giggled. "Is that a lot?"

Misa’s disappointed and irritated expression had me laughing out loud.

She slapped me on the arm. "Jajaja, muy divertido! I don’t care what a girl who works at Real Madrid but knows nothing about football thinks!"

It was my turn to feign annoyance. "I see Trainer Misa is long gone before she even started…"

She opened her mouth but had no response. I’d made her sulk again. Grumpy Misa was one of my favorites, but her well-being mattered more than my amusement tonight. I gave her an exaggerated, admiring look, stopping in front of her like a crazed fan.

"Oh my God, are you Misa Rodríguez? The best goalkeeper in the world?"

"Stop it, Nicky. It’s not even convincing!" she complained, though a small smile stretched across her lips.

I continued my bad acting, bowing to her, taking her hand, and speaking in a distinguished tone. "Lady Misa, would you do me the honor of teaching me football?"

I hoped the idea of training would lift her spirits.

She laughed frankly and bit her lip, still looking a bit vexed. "Have you even ever played football?"

We resumed our walk as I pretended to search my memory. "It happened... twice, maybe. The first was at school, and the second was in the alley in front of my parents’ house."

She snorted. "No puede ser…" She shook her head, but then her voice turned curious. "For real, why did you want to work for a football club?" This time, her mocking tone was gone, making me really wonder how much I wanted to share.

"Oh… well, it wasn’t really intentional." I paused, searching for words. "I needed a change in my life. Nothing was… going well. I had a rough breakup and was really unhappy in my previous job…"

"I’m sorry to hear that," she said with a concerned look.

I half-laughed, half-sighed. "It’s okay now. I’m glad to be here. I really like Madrid."

"Bueno… and do you like your new job too?"

"Yes, I’m quite fond of it… and of my new exasperating friends," I teased her as we headed to the parking lot.

"I’m happy you’re good with us," she said, ignoring the teasing once again.

We arrived in the middle of the parking lot, and I wasn’t sure we were going in the same direction, so I gestured to the right. "I’m parked this way."

"I’m parked over here, but I’ll go with you to your car. I could use a bit more walking," she replied, sounding far less stressed now.

We reached my car and faced each other to say goodbye.

"Thanks, Nicky," Misa said softly. Her features were more relaxed. The walk had soothed her a little.

"You’re looking better. Are you sure you’re ready to go home?" I asked one last time.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she simply smiled and looked away.

"Misa?" I frowned, unsure of how to help her anymore.

Her head turned back to me. She bit her lip, her eyes locking onto mine. Then she slowly stepped forward.

My brows lifted, and I froze in surprise as she took my hands in hers. I knew this was it—there was no escaping this time, and I didn’t give a damn.

I half-closed my eyes, my head slightly bowed as she leaned closer. My gaze stayed on her quivering lips as she neared mine. At last, she pressed her mouth to mine. I let out a short breath, surprised by the tenderness of her kiss. Her lips were soft, her movements slow.

I kissed her back, letting relief wash over me, completely surrendering myself as her taste and scent filled my senses. Our noses brushed against each other, and the grip of our hands tightened as we continued kissing softly, slowly.

Finally, she withdrew her lips from mine, a soft smile lingering on them, leaving me missing their touch instantly. My eyes couldn’t leave hers.

"I’m ready now," she whispered.

I exhaled and gave her a shy smile as she released my hands.

"Good night, Nicky."

She stepped back and turned away. I stayed frozen on the spot, my heart drumming in my chest, my gaze following her until she disappeared behind the birch trees growing between the parking spaces.

***

Aitana Bonmatí ran swiftly, skillfully dribbling past everyone who approached her. She prepared her strike and shot between Ivana and Olga toward the penalty area. The ball landed perfectly at Salma's feet, and she immediately sent a powerful kick toward the upper left corner of the goal. Misa leaped with all her strength, and the tips of her gloves deflected the ball, denying Barcelona another chance to score.

The match had been grueling and demanding from the very beginning. Barça had been pressing Real Madrid relentlessly, constantly cornering them near their penalty area. Misa had already made five incredible saves, but when Mariona Caldentey outpaced all the defenders for the third time and delivered a well-aimed pass to Caroline Graham Hansen, Misa had gone the wrong direction. The ball rolled effortlessly into the net. Misa swore, got up quickly, and sent a long clearance that Hayley skillfully recovered.

Hayley, a fast runner, sprinted forward and passed the ball to Athenea, who dribbled past Irene Paredes. Using a split second of disorganization, she found Linda. Linda’s header miraculously flew past the expert gloves of Cata Coll and crashed into the net, filling the stadium with an explosion of joy.

Returning from halftime, Barça pressed harder and harder but couldn’t score another goal. Thanks to a clever discussion in the locker room during the break, Real Madrid was holding their ground better than ever, with Misa’s numerous saves halting Barça’s brilliant sequences of passes.

Then the unbelievable happened in the 78th minute. Naomie managed to escape Alexia Putellas’ marker and intercepted a ball from Oihane’s throw-in. Her quick, arched pass found Olga on the left side. From a rather distant position, Olga unleashed a shot worthy of the World Cup. The ball soared straight into the upper-right corner, leaving Cata Coll helpless. The stadium erupted, Madrid players hugging in celebration of their first-ever lead over Barcelona.

In extra time, Misa’s body crashed onto the grass again after saving another strike from Salma. The Madrid players were visibly exhausted, their movements slowing, their feet barely making contact with the ball anymore.

As they all took their positions for the corner kick, Misa gave directions to her teammates, preparing herself for the next action. Salma struck, crossing the ball from the goal line. It descended perfectly onto Alexia’s feet, who sent it crashing into the net. Barcelona had equalized in the 95th minute, victory slipping away from the Madrid girls’ grasp. The match was headed into extra time, and I could see Misa’s frustration as she pounded the grass with her fists before rising to her feet. As well-trained as they were, the team looked drained, and with Barça clearly dominating, extra time was going to be a living nightmare.

Misa passed by me as she exited the tunnel, heading toward her goal after the short break. I snapped a photo of her face—a mix of deep concentration and extreme fatigue. My heart sank. I had been covering the match with other photographers from the start, struggling to focus on my job instead of the intense pressure mounting on Misa.

The game resumed. The Madrid team formed two compact lines in front of the goal. They had clear instructions: defend at all costs and allow no goals. This strategy, along with Ivana’s quick footwork, prevented another Barça attempt from finding the net. The only two shots Madrid managed were met by Cata’s gloves, her clearances swiftly returning the ball to Madrid’s half. But they held their ground, over and over, through the first half of extra time.

In the second half, fouls and cramps multiplied on both sides, disrupting the game and giving players unnecessary minor injuries. Misa’s attempt to grab a shot by Mariona sent her rolling to the ground, her knee colliding painfully with the goalpost. The ball luckily hit the crossbar and was cleared by Kathellen, but Misa stayed down, clutching her knee through the thick padding of her gloves.

I shuddered. No, please! Let it not be a serious injury! I silently prayed as the medical staff rushed to her. A cluster of teammates surrounded her, blocking my view of what was happening.

I waited, barely breathing, unable to look at the last picture I had taken of her curled up on the grass, her features distorted in pain. What felt like an eternity passed before the medics left, the small crowd dispersing to reveal Misa standing again. Though she was breathing heavily and limping slightly, she was back on her feet.

Relief washed over me.

Misa returned to her position in front of the goal but handed the ball to Ivana for a long clearance. It was clear she didn’t have the strength to keep up with the pace. The ball was back in her penalty area within moments, but Madrid had finally cracked the code to establish a solid defense.

When the final whistle blew, it was to end the match at last.

The penalty shootout would decide the winner of the Copa de la Reina. More than ever, the outcome rested squarely on Misa’s shoulders.

The goalkeeper huddled with her teammates and coach near the bench, their expressions a mix of determination and exhaustion. From where I stood, I caught Misa’s eye—or thought I did—and gave her a supportive smile, raising my fist in encouragement. But her focus was unshakable, her world narrowed entirely to the game.

Madrid opened the shootout with Olga. She stepped up confidently, struck the ball cleanly, and scored. Cheers erupted from the stands, Madrid fans roaring their approval.

Misa took her place on the line for her first challenge. Caroline Graham Hansen approached, poised and calm. She struck, and the ball soared past Misa into the net.

Next, Claudia fired a hard shot aimed at the right corner, but Cata had read her intentions perfectly. With a swift dive, she blocked it with precision. Barça's fans erupted in triumph, their cheers drowning out the groans from Madrid’s side.

Aitana scored. Athenea scored. Mariona scored. Hayley scored.

Now it came down to the final shot. Everything rested on Misa. If she couldn’t stop the next kick, it would all be over.

Alexia stepped up to the penalty spot, her face composed, her body radiating quiet confidence. She armed her leg, struck the ball, and sent it soaring into the top corner of the net.

That was it. Madrid had lost.

The Barcelona players exploded in celebration, rushing onto the pitch as Madrid’s players stood frozen in shock and heartbreak. My camera hung limply in my hands. I had forgotten to take pictures, unable to focus on anything but the figure of Misa lying on her back in front of the goal, her gloves covering her face.

As Barça celebrated, Alexia broke away from her teammates. She crouched at Misa’s side, murmuring words I couldn’t hear. Slowly, she helped Misa to her feet, removing her gloves with gentle hands. Misa’s face was streaked with tears, her swollen eyes shut as she sobbed quietly.

The two walked toward the tunnel together, Alexia’s arm draped protectively around Misa’s shoulders. One of the other photographers was snapping pictures relentlessly, the sound of his shutter cutting through the air.

A wave of anger surged through me.

I got up and closed the distance between myself and the man. "Give her a rest, okay?!" I snapped, my voice sharp and loud.

The man looked at me in astonishment, his blank expression suggesting he didn’t understand English.

Noticing the commotion, Misa and Alexia stopped a few steps away. Misa lowered her head, unable to meet my gaze. Alexia, on the other hand, looked at me kindly. Her guilt was evident, a silent acknowledgment that she had played a part in her friend’s pain.

"I can take her to the locker room if you want," I offered, surprising even myself with the words. My job had been the last thing on my mind.

Alexia turned to Misa, waiting for her approval. Misa hesitated for a moment before nodding.

I stepped forward, gently taking over from Alexia. Without a word, I guided Misa into the tunnel, her quiet sobs echoing faintly in the stillness of the corridor.

I made Misa sit on the farthest bench of the locker room. Everything was quiet here, the screeches of the celebration reduced to a distant echo. The goalkeeper had stopped crying. Her board shoulders and muscular body seemed fragile somehow. I took a seat beside her, unsure of what to do now it was up to me to comfort her. 

"I’m sorry," I said softly.

"We were so close!" she cried. "Let’s just go! I don’t want to be there, I don’t want the puta silver medal again!" She blew her nose hard and rubbed her red eyes with a towel lying nearby. Exhaustion oozed from her at every level. 

"No, Misa, you can’t go" I responded, catching a surprised side-eye, as surprise as she could be in her current state. "You can’t go because everything’s not about wining or being the best! Football doesn’t have to be about that. It’s not about the score, the cup or whatever. Football is an emotion, a battle, a shared experience. And first and foremost, it’s a spectacle, and you put on one hell of a show as a team and as a player tonight! If you leave, it would mean nothing remains. You have to go back, Misa." 

Silence settled between us. I felt exposed and embarrassed by the words I had just spoken. It was ridiculous to be saying something so obvious to a seasoned footballer when I was barely discovering the sport myself.

The goalkeeper exhaled deeply. "You lied to me," she said, confusing me. She chuckled softly. "You acted like you didn’t know a thing about football." She painfully stood up and gestured for me to do the same. "But you do," she added, smiling as we faced each other.

The tall woman pulled me into a hug, her head resting on my shoulder, and I held her tightly. I gently stroked her back. Her jersey was wet, and she clearly reeked of sweat, but I didn’t care. I just wanted us to stay like this, clinging to each other.

After a minute or so, we parted and smiled softly at each other. Despite her weariness, Misa seemed less drained. She was waiting for... something, her expectant gaze fixed on me. Her dimples returned with her grin, lighting up her tired face. I kept smiling, my mind racing to figure out what I should do, what I could do… what I wanted to do. When she thought I wouldn’t do anything, Misa’s smile faltered a little, and she began to turn away. 

"Misa, wait..." I grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward me. I caught a glimpse of her surprised yet eager expression before I kissed her.

I cupped her face, pressing my lips harder against hers. Misa let out a soft whimper, the sound setting my body ablaze. I slowly guided her backward until her back hit the locker room door. She gasped at the contact, one hand tangling in my hair while the other gripped the hem of my shirt. She parted her lips, and her taste filled me completely, drawing a moan from deep inside me.

Our heated kiss sharpened all my senses and turned my body into white-hot iron. My hand acted on its own, slipping under Misa’s jersey and gliding up her toned abs. She whimpered again, her fingers mirroring mine to touch the bare skin of my waist. Her soft, full lips moved over mine as our breathing turned erratic.

Fevered with desire, I let my hand drift down her stomach toward the waistband of her shorts. She groaned and suddenly froze.

"Wow! Nicky, wait..." she said, her voice gentle yet firm. I stopped abruptly as she took my face in her hands. "I need to go back," she said, her burning gaze locking onto mine.

 I exhaled, trying to tame the flames devouring my insides. 

"You have to go back," I repeated with a small smile. 

She placed a last kiss on my lips before leaving the room.

At that moment, Hell Clásico ended on a heavenly note.

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ 

[lunamaraproject]

LUNAMARA: Fragments [8]

👑

The old paper crinkles pleasantly under Felix’s fingers. For all he loves the sleek design of the tablets he usually teaches from, sometimes the tactile realness of paper is more enjoyable. Plus, when it comes to educating the princess, such luxurious materials are nigh on expected, so he can get away with requesting them.

“So this is you,” he explains as Elsie leans halfway over the desk, her hair spilling over her shoulders and nearly blocking his view.

“It doesn’t look like me,” she critiques with the honesty one can only expect from a girl barely 60. She grabs the nearest pencil and starts drawing hair and a dress onto the anatomical model.

“Okay, you fix it. Will you listen to my explanation while you fix it?”

“Mmhmm!”

She’s fairly good at multitasking, so he presses on. “When you eat manna, it goes down into your stomach here,” he both holds his hand on his belly, and taps on the diagram with his highlighter. Helpfully, she draws a star where he tapped. “Yes, there. Once it’s in your stomach, your body takes the manna, and breaks it down. What does it break it down into?”

“I dunno,” she says first, but he waits, until eventually she hedges a guess. “Maen?”

“Yes!” he grins brightly. “Maen is the energy that makes up all magic in the universe. It’s actually a shortening of ‘magical energy’, neat right?”

Elsie is too busy adding frills to the hem of her dress to actually agree with him about how interesting etymology is. A shame.

“Once the maen is in your body, it travels around it on the maen circuits. They run right next to your veins and nerves, and have special ‘pools’ all over, where the maen gathers. Can you draw more stars where I point?”

“Yeah,” she agrees, and he begins working around the body. First, travelling up the chest, then the neck, then the head. She has to draw the stars very small here, because there are so many points particularly on the face and skull. It looks like the figure sneezed on a constellation. “I can’t even see the eyes any more…”

“That’s okay, we’ll draw a bigger head in a minute so you can fit the stars in better,” Felix chuckles. “It’s important to know where the pools are, because they’re the places where maen exits the body when we use it to cast magic. Different kinds of magic use different pools on the body. So when I give you a kiss on your booboos, it’s not because I’m trying to eat you up!”

Elsie gives him a dry look. “I know that. I’m not 40.”

“I know you’re not!” he holds his hands up in surrender. “But I’ll always remember the time when I pretended to eat you, and you got really scared!”

“Well I don’t remember that at all,” she sniffs, then turns back to adding more details to her dress on the paper. “Are there pools on the hands?”

“Yes there are, very good! And also all up the arms here…”

It doesn’t take long to cover the rest of the figure in stars, on the front and the back side. Meanwhile, Elsie’s dress design is also coming along swimmingly.

“Did you get the idea for this dress from the present you got from the Naribians?” Felix asks.

“Yes, but I’m making it better with my own parts,” she says airily.

“You know, humans have maen circuits too!”

Now this finally gets her full attention. She looks at him like he’s grown a second head. “They do?”

“Yep! They’re veeeery thin and don’t get used much. Unlike starfolk, humanfolk can’t use their maen circuits by just thinking about it. So do other animals and plants, but even smaller, nearly not there at all.”

“Ohhh…” she trails off, mulling this new information over. “Doesn’t it hurt?”

“No, it’s not like with us where it hurts them to not use magic every now and then. They can live their whole lives and never use it, and be perfectly healthy!”

She continues to chew on this new fact for another minute of silence, before suddenly saying. “But what if that’s why they die fast? Humans, and animals.”

Admittedly, Felix wasn’t expecting that. Leave it to kids to come up with unexpected questions. He’s struck silent for a moment, pondering this himself. Who knows, maybe that was the reason. He’s not educated enough to know for sure. But then, when he’s not even an adult himself, he’s not sure what people are expecting.

“You know what, I don’t know!” he finally says with a laugh. “Let’s make a note of it, so we can look it up later in the library or with one of the professors.”

“Okay,” she agrees, scribbling the note in the top corner of the paper. “It doesn’t make much sense that the plants like trees live almost as long as we do, but the humans don’t. Humans look almost just like us, but their ears are weird and small and their bodies are big and hairy.”

“Sure do!”

"Do you think if I tried I could grow hair on my face like them?"

"... Maybe one day, Elsie!"

🌗

More from LUNAMARA:

Fragments: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Comics: [Good Night] [Good Morning]

Art by Luka (http://nousanti.tumblr.com/) Story by Pidge (http://pidgestories.tumblr.com)

[artsyspinch]

Four years ago, I drew my first ever finished digital art piece, using a Huion 420 tablet off of Amazon, and Krita. I was so proud of it, I showed it off to my friends and family on instagram, and I didn’t think I could get any better than this. Fast forward to the next year, and I drew it again, just to see how much better I could make it.

This time I used a Wacom tablet with Krita. It was one of the cheaper ones, but still an upgrade. I was even more proud of this one, but I wasn’t really that happy with it. I didn’t like how Papyrus turned out, and it seemed so awkwardly spaced and posed. I knew I still had more to learn, and I rushed it, since I didn’t think I could do any better. I then decided to redraw it again the next year.

This time I used Ibis Paint X and a small stylus on my phone. I was ecstatic with how this came out. I thought this was the absolute best I could ever do, but I still had little nitpicks about it. Again, I struggled a lot with drawing Papyrus, but this time I was also unhappy with the colors and shading, and how Sans was drawn (I have no idea why I made him thicc). But again, I redrew it the next year.

This one was a huge confidence booster for me. I had just gotten a brand new laptop from my parents: A Lenovo Yoga, with a Wacom bamboo ink stylus. It was the best gift I ever received, but on top of that, they got me Clip Studio Paint PRO. So I was ready to make some good ass art. This time I sketched everything out on paper, then finished it in CSP. I even attempted a background, which didn’t come out too bad. Papyrus doesn’t look horribly off model, and the poses and composition overall was just better. I used a clean sketch for the lineart, since that was a big struggle with my previous versions, and I used colors other than black and white for shading. After I made this, I felt like I didn’t need to continue redrawing it, because I thought I was at my peak.

I redrew it this year.

I used my Lenovo Yoga, but this time I had a Wacom bamboo plus, and Clip Studio Paint EX. I added more characters, and took a little bit more inspiration from the original, but I mostly wanted it to feel more alive. I finally perfected how I draw Papyrus, and Toriel, Asgore, and Frisk aren’t statues anymore. I showed off what I’ve learned about lighting and shading, did actually clean lineart, and I even did a full background! I’m so proud of this, and so happy with how far I’ve come as an artist, and I can’t wait to see what my future self draws next year.

[mako-neexu]

カドぐだ | 相棒 (partner)

“So this is the rumored ‘Gil-fes’, huh?” Kaodc heaved a heavy sigh as he tugged at his black shirt before clutching at the strap of the backpack he had in hand. “Oi, Fujimaru, where’s the venue for this...tournament?”

According to the archives, someone hosts this... martial arts tournament for the Servants using a Holy Grail. And that someone was either Emperor Nero or King Gilgamesh himself... like last year, and the couple years before.

But who knows who was going to host next year’s event!? 

Wait. Why is he thinking about the possibilities of an event like this in the future!?

Gudako hummed as she finished in tying her unlaced boots, “Well, Gil said it’s going to be at Madison Square Garden like last year. But for the rooms we booked in the nearest hotels? We have yet to find out!”

Her arm looped around his own and before he could react to it, they were off on the streets with his ever-reckless kouhai hollering like a maniac.

Please. Someone help him.

--

They ended up farming again throughout the whole ordeal, collecting hotdogs and fries as currency to exchange with Ishtar’s-former-consort-now-turned....golden sheep, Dumuzid. 

And he thought Fujimaru was describing the god as someone humanoid! Jeez! Did he really interpret that wrong!?

Even with all the craziness he can’t quite get used to yet, it was actually fun.

 And it even felt... a little normal since it felt as if it was the current timeline’s New York, just with some more colorful additions- and okay, he nearly got his face bashed by Spartacus for just getting shoved in front of him before getting declared as an oppressor for “standing” in his way.

So, on second thought, he wasn’t going to get used to this.

--

“Making Doujins!?”

“Yup!”

“Just to retrieve the Holy Grail and stop this time loop we’re stuck in!?”

“Uh-huh! So you better get your butt back to the drawing board, Kadoc-kun.” The way Gudako teased him with the honorific, and he felt faint about the situation.

They spent most of the week chilling and spent the last few days procrastinating. And somehow they discover along the way that time is repeating itself, with the reset being the day of judging the most popular doujin contest.

From across him Hinak- Yu Mei-ren seethes while glaring at her tablet, the pen she had on hand nearly cracking in her grasp, “If I don’t get back to Xiang Yu-sama within the week, I’ll blow this island up.”

Help.

--

“Fujimaru.”

“Yes, Kadoc-kun?”

Kadoc looks at the gothic, medieval castle, before reclining his head up to the large, upside-down pyramid, and the Himeji castle sitting on that same pyramid itself.

Kadoc blinks, and turns to look at the Master beside him, smiling as if this was something that could normally be seen in everday life.

“You know what? Nevermind.”

They were promptly turned into a wageslaves by the Amazonesdotcom CEO after that.

--

“Was it fun?” 

Fujimaru asks him as she lightly kicks on the pool’s waters, watching it ebb and flow beneath them.

Kadoc sips on a cocktail Moriarty had given him, before pursing his lips shit, “What? The entire thing with Las Vegas? Jeanne d’Arc’s talking-shark? Wait, actually, that’s 42nd of the most weirdest things I’ve seen in my list.”

She rests her head on his shoulder, no doubt now sleepy as they spend the last few days of their vacation in the comfort of the hotel.

“...Something like that.” She says, after a few moments.

The question was...weird. Fun was a concept he was still becoming familiar with. After all, all he’s ever known was to become a mage to survive a world that could kill you at a moment’s notice.

Even with the near-death experiences, and things that could easily break a normal person’s mind (he had only gotten so far by being a mage who had a decent amount of spells with him that maintained his reason and sense of self. Fujimaru had none and yet she was still smiling despite the fuckery happening almost every moment of the day.), he supposes that...

“-I guess it was ugh, crazy...” Kadoc mutters under his breath, a dust of pink decorating his cheeks.

Some Servants didn’t trust him, others were the opposite, many varied in their opinions on him but at least, all of them no longer deemed him hostile. As evidence by how he’s somehow alive and breathing right now. 

Fujimaru stirs, and they meet each others’ gazes. Her own was reflecting the stars above, a ghost of a smile spread across her lips, “Good crazy?”

He avoids her gaze and downs the last of his drink.

Her response was a chuckle. “I’ll take it that you don’t like the times whenever we rode on Drake’s ship or anything that involved motion sickness.”

Kadoc flicked her forehead, and while she yelped, there was no helping himself in pinching her cheek, “No shit Sherlock.”

“I am right behind you, Mr. Zemlupus.” 

The heart attack he got simultaneously made him scream before pushing him and Fujimaru to the pool to drown.

When they surfaced, they both glared at the laughing detective relaxing on the pool chaise. 

And seeing Ritsuka smirk deviously with a plan to prank the Holmes? 

Kadoc was in.

[ryuichirou]

Replies

Some replies about the Ace/Idia drawing from yesterday + some random ones!

Anonymous asked:

can confirm, priapus is really good, the anatomy is spectacular. to think i read it for the first time fifteen years ago and it still holds up. i was a tender 13yo graduating from naruto yaoi doujin.... practicing smushing two bodies is so hard but the result is so hot.

btw, i wanted to share that i asked for a drawing tablet this xmas (since i just graduated from college and have no money) so i can draw my own merch of shroudcest :D if i get good enough, i will come share a sketch nwn since your art helped me on the way to meet other shippers and nice yumeshippers who accept my shroudcest ot3

Oh Anon… reading Priapus as a 13yo would surely be an experience, especially if you read naruto yaoi doujin before… lol I can’t believe it’s already been 15 years!!

I remember Itto saying something about wanting to draw a new issue of Priapus with some other gods (he did one with Apollo!), and we were waiting for some Priapus+Zeus action… but I guess that never happened :”)

Ohh, congratulations on your new tablet!! Please do share, I’d love to look at your drawings <3 I am very happy and grateful to hear that my art could help you in some ways!

Happy Holidays, Anon.

Anonymous asked:

Merry Christmas to you two! The birthday boys art looks incredible. I'm not saying it for horny reasons! Yes, I'm saying it it also for horny reasons. No I'm not. Yes I am. No. Yes. No. No. No. Yes... Anyway, it's really impressive how you were able to organize all these characters in such a restricted space. Idk maybe it seems complicated to me because I'm not an artist, but I was really in awe.

Just for fun I was trying to imagine a similar scenario for the rest of the boys, and realized that by dividing them in two groups between the ones that were born in the first part of the year and the ones born in the middle of the year, you end up with a group that's made of 5 bottoms + Kalim and Ortho. Ortho might need to bring his full arsenal for this... Like a swiss army knife!

Happy Holidays!! <3

Hehe thank you so much!! I am very happy you enjoyed it. I couldn’t stop thinking about putting them all together like this when Katsu joked about this set being two bottoms sandwiching a bunch of tops between them lol I think this is the first time I drew a group thing with that many people… And somehow it went pretty smoothly, I guess yaoi gods were with me that day… But usually things like this really require some thinking and planning, and honestly anyone who does it regularly is just too cool… thank you for your kind words <3

Oh god, Kalim and Ortho with all those bitches around them!! It’s a harem scenario again!! Thank god Ortho has a lot of options, he really do be like a swiss army knife to keep all of the bottoms around him pacified…

But you know, I believe in him and Kalim. They can do that. 💪🥹🔥🔥🔥 (We both forgot Azul...)

Anonymous asked:

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! Give the blue boys a hug from me if you can!

-💜🌹

Thank you, Anon! Happy Holidays to you too <3

I love the implication that the blue boys are over here and we can give them hugs… I’d love to honestly…

unofficialwheatdog asked:

Ace is going to smash that box to bits. Also Merry Christmas, you two!

Happy Holidays!! <3

Oh no, he’d better be careful! It says “handle with care” for a reason..! If he wants something that doesn’t need to be handled with care, he should handle Idia.

Anonymous asked:

ace meet idia it is a coincidence or he wait until idia come out then he come and offer help?

>:3c Who knows… that Ace boy is such a sneaky bastard sometimes.

Jokes aside though, I think it really was a coincidence. I think he saw Idia and ditched everything he was doing to pester him, I mean, hang out with him lol

Anonymous asked:

The red(ace) and blue(idia) look nicely together, and you know what I think ace might not actually fuck up with idia i now find myself interested in it

Agreed, this really is a very nice colour combination!

Also you’re right, Anon lol For some reason, with Ace/Idia, it feels like Ace would be that cool kohai. Not like he’s super cool or anything, but he’s so confident and chill in social situations, but also sleazy and cunning enough to be on the same wavelengths with Idia. With Idia he also doesn’t get all tsundere somehow and expresses that he finds Idia cool pretty confidently… what is it about Ace and acting cute for his senpais???

Anonymous asked:

Love it when Ace tries to fuck his seniors

YES EXACTLY. Maybe he’ll get lucky one day… at least with one of them…

Anonymous asked:

"Cardsoljer"

He sure is!

He absolutely is… I’m glad you noticed his super cool brand, Anon! lol

Anonymous asked:

LESGOO MORE ACEIDIA CONTENT IN MY FEED!

HEHEHE YESSSSS I’m glad you’re enjoying it!! <3 I should draw them more!

Anonymous asked:

i go to myreadingmanga but i don't see you? Where are you. Have you make any?

We’re not on myreadingmanga, Anon. 🤔

The only proper dj that I actually drew was posted on pixiv only (for now)!

[honey-bee-lee]

Vox, asleep on a radio

Day twelve of learning to draw- I GOT A DRAWING TABLET woooo.

This is my first sketch EVER digitally and I made it on the clip studio app that came with the tablet. I can’t wait to get better at this. It’s addicting. Ignore the details I’m just so happy I made a drawing on a tablet like I never thought I’d ever do this in my adult life let alone share it.

I headcanon that Vox used to be an avid reader and listener of the radio when he lived. I think he would work so hard that he’d come home super tired but satisfied that his career was taking off. When he’d finally relax in his apartment eventually he’d just fall asleep wherever, with whatever book or magazine he’d been enjoying atop his head. All while music or the news lulled him to sleep in the background.

[aiizaph]

Bro I can’t wait to get my laptop omg I’m getting a laptop I’ve always kind of wanted a laptop but this one has a touch screen and can be used as a drawing tablet I might be able to try a more professional drawing program than Procreate now I love Procreate but trying a new program might open up so many cool things I can’t even imagine maybe I could also get a cool new editing software that’s actually good now that CapCut is actually useless now omg omg don’t even get me started on all the games I could play omg but now I’ll also be able to write on a proper keyboard again WAHOOO I mean I have my iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard case but it’s just not the same as a real keyboard attached to a laptop wowie wow wow my writing motivation is gonna skyrocket with a proper keyboard and laptop I can’t wait to use Obsidian on it and use the tabs feature properly omg omg I can’t wait for Saturday

[bloofuskazoo]

Hi, Bee

I'm Chloe aka @everburningpinkphoenix

I'm getting something that will take my art drawings to a whole new level. Can you guess what it is? 😊

Hmm, based on the fact you say it’s gonna take your art to a whole new level I’d say a drawing tablet? Or an iPad? Congrats though! Art is such a great hobby! I love creating fanart of cartoon characters I love, though sometimes I even doodle original stuff.

Can’t wait to see your art! Keep at it!

[pandorafallz]

Vampire AU | New histories and in sights

News of the spirit tree did spread between the camps in the few days that passed and Jake was well aware of those for it and those less willing to try it out and it became a discussion over the radio of who was going and when (based on Mo’at’s availability) and the aftermath of the connection which would upset the camp’s balance until people had adapted to the new connection.

Morgan, Bree, Kim, Jerome, Kendra, Ashley, Harper, Zane, Zeke, and Xavier were straight off the bat interested in connecting to Eywa (those with avatars would go there in human forms for their native bodies to adapt)

Eliza, Maria, Danielle, Kung, and Matthew all were disinterested in connection. The rest, Wei, Sean, Marcus, Will, Ming, and Austin were willing to connect but would wait until another time to do so, very casual about it. Nadine was the only one who wanted to go but was unwilling to enter the cave system to get there. Moran wanted to as well but had concerns with compatibility with his cranial implants that lived under his skin.

A mixed bag of cats but Jake was glad to see so many humans were willing to try it out and see. One day, those disinterested would connect. The hot springs were still a hit, despite the initial mood-killer but Jake had taken the time to visit again the next day (and to properly wash the human clothes from his camp) in a far better mood which really helped restore the caves for him.

Jake’s attention turned up to Ruby as her tail once again thumped irritably against his back occupied in gently spinning together at Hometree. The slight recoil was the only indication he was being softly struck since he was human today. “You okay, Ruby?” he decided to ask after the third time.

“Hm? Oh yes.” Ruby nodded. “It’s…nothing.” Her tone wavered a little.

Jake eyed her expression for a moment, noting the pull between her eyebrows and her… lack of concentration on her actual work as she spun her fibres. Working on auto.

“If you want to talk, I’m about or Mo’at. I heard she took Bree and Zeke down to the caves to connect to Eywa this morning and let them rest up quietly in her den.” Jake offered.

Ruby paused, expression turning frustrated. “I wish she allowed me to go down today.”

“You know why.” Jake said softly, “I’m… I know I don’t get why and I won’t ask but… I think Mo’at probably needs to understand why you need to feel Eywa’s love so intently.”

Uncertainty lingered in Ruby’s yellow eyes. “It’s… complicated.”

“I figured as much but… Mo’at is doing her best to try and help humans. She’d been helping Nadine with her PTSD from the wars and had been learning how humans interact by learning from us. She is the spiritual leader and a healer for a reason. She could help you if you let her. I can try if you want.”

Ruby chewed her lip for a moment before she set the spindle down and stared at him for a moment in quiet contemplation as she clearly weighed the options. “Zane’s at camp so… I can’t bring him along for emotional support. I can… I’m willing to trust you to not spill what I say to Mo’at, right?”

“You have my confidence,” Jake promised because… he hoped this was a good step for Ruby to evolve. To reach out to someone else and while he wasn’t the brightest person, he’d be someone that they could rely on.

Ruby nodded and gestured softly as a means of asking to pick him up. Jake nodded, raising his arms and settling his arm onto her shoulder and she grabbed his chair with her other hand.

Up the spiral, the den was quiet, the familiar bowls with fire in to light up the space, Mo’at was tending to Kim’s pregnant belly, carefully feeling the bump with expertise and Eliza was off to the side with a tablet and ultra-sound, examining what looked like a scan of the babies.

Bree was there, sitting up against the wall but drawing in her sketchbook a little listless but focused nonetheless. Zeke on the other hand was conked out asleep and it looked like someone had drawn a moustache and monocle on his mask. Probably Bree.

“<Your children feel healthy. Their tsalnu sacs seemed to have separated fully from each other which will is good. You’ll be able to birth them separately and safely. That is why your belly has grown a little.>” Mo’at spoke, sparing a second to the scan Eliza had to be certain.

Kim let out a sigh of relief. “<That’s a relief.>”

“<You’ll have a little over two months before you deliver.>” Mo’at carried on, “<It will be wise for you to move into Hometree for the duration of the tsalnu maturation before they’re fully birthed to the world. Since there are two, they’ll have to be delivered earlier than that of a single birth.>”

“<I’ll talk to my mate about it but we make no promises.>” Kim said, unsurprisingly before she sat up though she smiled softly as she saw them though it turned a little concerned. “You two okay?”

“I got a…private talk with Mo’at I think I… need to address,” Ruby said, nervously, her grip tightening a little around him like he was a teddy bear. “Preferably now, or I might chicken out.”

Bree paused a little, looking their way from her book “Let me get my ear pods.” She reached slowly for her bag and tugged it close, rummaging around before she pulled the little case out and set them into her ears before pulling out her tablet to start the music. Loud enough for them to just about hear it.

Kim sighed deeply, annoyed. “We’re kinda in the middle of a check-up, guys…”

“Sorry for the interruption, Kim, but… please give us at least twenty minutes, Kim.” Jake gave his campmate a solid look, feeling Ruby’s arm tighten more and she felt her reluctance return. “It’s important.”

Kim’s jaw tightened a little, lingering on him for a moment then up to Ruby. “Fine.”

“You can stay and listen if you want,” Ruby stated her tone a pitch higher. “It’s not a pleasant story.”

Kim shook her head, her hand coming to her belly with an annoyed sound. “One of my kids is pressing on my bladder. I think that’s telling me something.” She waved away Mo’at’s offer to help her onto her feet, pulling her loincloth straight, both front and back, and waddled out quickly.

Eliza, not saying anything set her tools away and also took her leave but no doubt would return when they were gone. She patted Ruby’s blue leg in passing.

Mo’at sighed softly but collected her tools together. “<I wish she’d allow herself to accept more help.>”

Jake snorted a little. “<She’s a stubborn person. It’s easier pulling teeth.>” He was gently set down a few feet from the Tsahìk onto Kim’s former mat, taking a moment to organise his limp legs before Ruby sat down a little beside him, dwarfing him easily as her long blue settled around him. Her fingers tapped along his shoulder absently for a moment.

“<So…>” Ruby hesitated. “<I… my childhood isn’t a good one. I’ve… never spoken to anyone about it properly except to Zane and it’s… why I can’t go back to Earth and why I want to keep connecting to Eywa. Jake said… you might be more understanding.>”

Mo’at finished setting her tools away, turning her attention fully to the gatherer. “<I know you mentioned to myself and Neytiri it wasn’t pleasant but I didn’t feel it was the time to ask for more. You do not have to mention more than you’re willing to share.>”

Ruby nodded, her ears shifting a little as she contemplated. “I… I know it’s something I need help with and I… don’t like asking for it. I’ve spent a while not emotionally relying on people around me. It’s easier for me.”

Mo’at nodded softly. “<You closed your heart.>”

Ruby nodded. “<I had to.>” She admitted. “<I… hours after I was born, my birth mother tried to dispose of me by abandoning me into a trash canister outside at night.>” Ruby’s ears pinned, pained as the words left her lips. “My own mother didn’t want me… and I don’t understand why she didn’t give me up at a hospital or… a fire station. She had nine months to do that or abort the pregnancy. Instead just… left me some random bin in nothing but a kitchen towel.”

Mo’at’s expression turned sorrowful. “<That is awful, I cannot imagine how painful it is for you to have gone through that. Children are a gift and should be treasured.>” She paused for a moment. “<May I ask, what is a> fire station?”

“Fire stations are facilities designated for fire control for the surrounding public.” Jake spoke softly to Mo’at softly “But they also provide public aid or a safe zone for adults or teen parents to leave their babies or children if they cannot look after them or have a reason to not keep them. Hospitals are medical areas. Any children abandoned after birth can be given up there safely and the child rehoused to a family willing to take them in.”

Mo’at nodded in soft understanding. “<I see.>”

“I would have been better if I had been given up somewhere safe.” Ruby shook her head. “I only survived the trash heap because I was found by a school kid when he was bin surfing for tech junk. He heard me crying and took me home with him in his backpack. His mom got the cops when she found out and I was put into a care system. No one wanted to adopt me.” Her hand moved, pulling her tail around to fiddle with the puff of hair at the end.

Jake reached forward, patting her knee but his heart also ached a little. He couldn’t fathom all of that and while she no doubt knew this all from second-hand, it didn’t erase anything or the turmoil that came with it. It still happened to her. The knowledge that hung over her head.

“I grew up in the system. Foster family to foster family. A few okay ones, a few shit ones who could barely afford to eat…” Her eyes looked far away, “I got to another foster family when I was ten. I thought they were going to be my family for good. Two parents, an older brother and sister, and their second cousin who became orphaned so he had to live with them. My… foster parents at that time were distant. Not there for anyone emotionally but I got on well with my new cousin, Marty, he was… a good guy.”

Jake distantly remembered his fate with a wince. A good guy was lured away and killed; only to be found six months later as bones.

Ruby’s face lost a lot of colour, her eyes brimming with unshed shed as she carried on without stopping. “When…I was fourteen, my foster brother… assaulted me in my room. Said it was okay because we weren’t blood-related and… he wanted to practise.”

Jake closed his eyes, his jaw clenching. Mo’at inhaled deeply but understood the implication, no doubt through Neytiri. It wouldn’t have been an easy conversation but necessary.

“I...I got the police involved, and got him jailed for it but… everyone at school found out what happened…the story got twisted by his friends. I got bullied and blamed for the assault and said that I ruined a good boy’s life and he had a good future ahead before I split. No one even considered what he had done to me or what scars he left on me. That he had ruined my life.” Ruby’s breath shook. “I got out after a year of saving up money. Some friend has a friend who I paid off to get me out. I… changed my name, new date of birth, and new identity codes for myself to have a life. Once I had all that I just… disappeared from that life. Shut away the feelings to concentrate on where I needed to be.”

“You became Ruby Carr, a brilliant scientist.” Jake offered quietly. “You made it all the way to Pandora.”

Ruby nodded airily. “I worked hard in the new school I enrolled in. Worked a side job to afford it and a place to sleep. The only meals I could eat were at school because those were free. I scraped by and got good grades. Got the RDA’s attention to get a scholarship to the sciences. When I was old enough, I signed up for their labs for a few years before I applied to come here and join the Avatar program when I was twenty-three. For a while, it was okay. I had no problems until I learned my former foster brother had joined a gang in prison. I always kept taps open on him as a precaution and… my fear wasn’t misplaced. His new friends had connections everywhere and he was able to find out my new identity and where I was. If I went back home, I’d lose the RDA protection and… I can’t return back. I know he’d come for me if given that chance. I couldn’t give him that chance.”

Mo’at leant down, her hand soft and slow as she touched the Dreamwalker’s face. “<He will not find you here, Rubycarr. You are safe with the people. You are safe with your friends.>”

Ruby stared at her for a long moment then broke her gaze. “I know that here.” She reached up and tapped her temple. “But not here.” She tapped over her heart. “<Eywa… she makes me feel safe and protected. Like a home I never had.>”

“<The great mother provides you with an ocean of unconditional love.” Mo’at dropped her hand to rest on her shoulder.. “<An ocean can be welcoming and beautiful under its surface but… sooner or later you have to resurface or you’ll down within and lose yourself.>”

“<But it’s the only way I can feel happy.>”

“<No, child.>” Mo’at shook her head. “<Happiness is around you and in arms reach. You’ve guarded your heart for so long that you do not see the walls you’ve put up. You look out, not inwards. Happiness is there. You have your friends now to help you. Zanemadaki, who you’re courting would no doubt help you.>”

Jake squeezed her knee softly, looking up to her softly. “<We’re all here to help. Messy feelings and all. Now is a time for healing and community.”

Ruby’s low ears perked up a little, her eyes still large and tearful. “Zay makes me happy. I know I love him.”

“Does he know?”

Ruby nodded softly. “<I told him after we started to date more seriously… I didn’t want to start with lies and… I didn’t want us to rush or anything. It took over a year of us dating before I invited him into a more… physical relationship. He waited until I was ready. Such a gentlemen>.” She smiled fondly. “<I know I can’t rely on a single person for it. Not fair on him but it’s just easier.>”

Mo’at remained quiet for a moment then sat back. “<You carry a massive burden from your past and it will take time for you to let those walls down and find the connections to others to bring you joy more naturally.>”

Ruby’s tail swished from her fingers, frowning softly. “<I don’t know how to really let people in>”

“<You can relearn. I still have much to do but I will spend some time at your camp tomorrow and start the process if you allow me.>” Mo’at offered.

The Dreamwalker’s head tilted before she hummed if a little reluctantly in consideration. It was probably a little overwhelming for her but he hoped she’d stick with it. She had a lot to give if she allowed it. It’d be great to see her open up as well but in all honesty, he was well aware how sparse he had been with his human defectors with his training.

Jake patted her leg, her head turning down at him. “It’s okay. Zane can be there as well if you need.” He assured. “She wouldn’t offer if she wasn’t able to do it. You’re not going to burden her.”

Ruby chewed her lip and then sighed deeply. “I… suppose. I… it’s... sounds like such a task.”

“You’re worth the trouble.” Jake said, “It won’t be easy for you but if you want to feel that connection and happiness, you need to put that work in as well.”

Ruby’s jaw tightened but she understood her part in it. “I know.” She released her breath, her hand coming to rub her face.

The mood was still a little… fragile with that all out in the open and he could tell Ruby wasn’t sure what to do now, so he decided to step in and crack that ice.

“If… you don’t mind me asking, what was your name before?”

Ruby let out a heavy sigh, her hand dropping down into her lap. “Nancy Bane.”

“Nancy?” he couldn’t help himself on the echo but… it was such an outdated name. It was rare on his side of the pond. The English, maybe, but they were a weird folk to keep those old names about still, like Margret or… Patricia.

Ruby snorted, with a little more life to it. “I was never fond of the names. I always liked the gemstone ruby so it wasn’t hard to change it. I let the guy who changed my identity choose my last name. I didn’t care either way. A new name was a new name.”

“I’m included to agree. Ruby’s a far better name.” Jake agreed. “So, is there anything else you wish to discuss?”

Ruby paused, “Er… I may need some herbs to help with my human body. I’m… getting a little constipated and indigestion a lot more. Eliza’s meds are okay but harder to come by. I’d rather start moving onto more easy-to-come-by remedies and save her meds for more dire needs.”

Mo’at nodded, “I’ll find you something before you leave tonight.”

Ruby collected Jake back up as she took her leave, carrying him back down though she looked… more content, he noted, her posture far loosened up.

“What?” Ruby asked, setting his chair down.

“Have… Have I been too absent from people? Like, the humans?” Jake asked, sliding into his chair. “I know I speak to people when they come here and when we’re on the radios but… I feel like I’ve missed out on getting to know people more personally, you know?”

Ruby hummed shortly. “You’re a busy man when you’re in your avatar; Neytiri works you hard when training and you’re in your own bubble when you’re human here. I’ve always considered that to be your mental vacation from training.”

“You’re too kind,” Jake said, a little dissatisfied, shifting a leg to rest more naturally. “I need to do a lot more than be in my own bubble. Once training’s done, I’ll try and be about for you all. We should all go down to Homebase one night. I have a projector. Have a movie night?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up a little. “You have movies?”

“Shit tons. Haven’t watched too many since we’re out of here but I think it would be fun to have a weekly thing for us lot. Nadine can’t go in the caves but I’m sure we can get a few to watch with her as well at another camp.”

“Zeke’s a good option.”

“Ooh, Zeke watching a movie, oh that’ll be fantastic!” Jake realised; at least half the entertainment would be generated by the man’s verbal reaction alone. He had heard Bree had set the creepy puppet doll up in the shack module’s airlock in the mountains as a prank when they were still cutting the shacks up and everyone there knew when Zeke found it. He was kinda sad to have missed that.

Ruby laughed. “Yeah, he’s fun to watch a film with. I only had a few and we’ve watched them over a few times.”

“Next time, I’ll bring a tablet or maybe Morgan or someone can visit and drop off a tablet and you can download from there,” Jake promised, wheeling now back towards the spinners where he could see a few of the miners were set up with bead making he couldn’t help but notice now Marcus was about but looking a little distressed.

Ruby broke away to find Harper so Jake pushed on to Marcus’s side, sparing a look at his cause of concern.

Bead organisation.  There was a small pile of beads that were in one basket and often made by many hands and it was preferred to be separated by colour for artists to draw from when they continued their pieces more easily unless they made their own beads with specific purpose.

It was an easy task that children could do, toddlers even.

“You okay?” Jake asked.

Marcus let out a frustrated sigh. “I need to learn Na’vi. The lead guy put me on this and… I can’t do it.”

Jake looked at the beads and then at him before he realised why. “You’re colour blind, aren’t you?”

Marcus nodded slowly. “Tritan colour blindness. I don’t know how to tell them without them thinking I’m stupid or something. ”

“Ohh…” Jake spared a look around, “You got a tablet?”

“In my bag.”

“Can you get it? I assume you have a camera on it?”

Marcus nodded, relieved as he stood up and hurried to his bag set off by the side to be out of the way and return a moment later with it. Looking at it, he noticed it looked regular, but turning it on, he realised the screen was monochromatic. Black and white. Simple.

“Mind if I turn the colours on? I’ll turn it back once I’m done.” It felt polite to ask at the very least given it wasn’t his tablet.

“Okay?”

Jake nodded, relieved. “<Ten’nel, can you come here please?>” He called.

The Na’vi in question looked up from examining his apprentice’s work of small beads along a string before he got to his feet and came over.

“<Is he not done?>” Ten’nel asked eyes on the pot still. “<I thought he would have finished by now.>”

Jake clicked his tongue. “<Marcus here doesn’t know enough Na’vi to tell you that he had a visual disability. He cannot do this task.>

Ten’nel’s head turned to him sharply but he looked more serious now than before. “<A disability? Poor eyesight?>”

“<He cannot perceive certain colours. Humans call this colour blindness.>” Jake answered, he leaned over and took a photo of the beads Marcus had been set to do then moved to the editor to add a filter over it. “<Humans have a few variants of colour blindness depending on which colour rods in their eyes are affected. Some humans cannot see Red, yellow, Green or blue. In some cases, everything is grey, not colour at all. Marcus here, while he can see everything in clarity, he cannot see yellow or blue.>”

He held out the tablet for the bead maker to see, watching as the man’s eyes slid to the screen in fascination at the filter and then to the actual colours the real thing had beside it; comparing both.

“<The yellow is a pinkie-grey?>” Ten’nel’s voice was filled with genuine intrigue. “<Fascinating…>”

“<Is there a task Marcus can do here that doesn’t rely on colour?>

Ten’nel hummed in soft consideration, still looking between. “<He could remain to simply make the beads or assist with crafting of pieces>”

“You good to stick with just making beads?” Jake offered to Marcus, “Not a lot of colour work?”

“Hm, I might not stick with beads. It’ll pass the time for now but I’m still looking about for something that calls, you know.” Marcus stated, scratching his chin under his mask. “Maybe I’ll try the leather working route or spinners. Weaving is kinda of interesting but… too many colour-dependencies. I’d rather not need to check with people constantly on my own work.”

Jake hummed softly. “I suppose there’s still plenty of time to find out your thing.”

“<Is everything alright?>” Ten’nel asked.

“<Yes, just offering the suggestions for him.>” Jake answered before he looked up at Ten’nel for a moment before he looked down at the tablet. An idea sprung to mind. “<Can… Can I take a photo of you? I wish to see what he sees when he looks at Na’vi. He cannot see blue or yellow.>” And Na’vi were blue and yellow.

Ten’nel allowed him with a curious nod and Jake blinked at the result.

“Na’vi are green to you?” Well, not a deep overly green; they looked closer to turquoise than anything but still… and their eyes, like yellow beads, were grey but with a hint of pink to them. Any red naturally stood out, unchanged and very vibrant.

“Yeah?” Marcus snorted a little. “Like, I mostly know the difference between blue and greens based on shade intensity but it depends on the saturation levels the colour has.”

“How did you make it this far to Pandora with this colour blindness? I know they don’t discriminate based on disability but… you’re a geologist.” There had to be a story there.

“I signed up as a miner; to work in the mine but some of it was bull-shitting, white lies and help. Alejandra helped a little in adding symbols to colour systems when we were working.”

“Wait, you’re colour-blind?”

Jake’s head turned suddenly to see Kung standing a few metres away, a basket of fibres in her arms looking a little baffled and annoyed.

Marcus’s eyes widened a little before he sheepishly nodded.

Kung set the basket down, her hands coming to her hips. “Why didn’t you say anything? I would have been less of an asshole.”

“Because you would have moved me off elsewhere. I know I’m supposed to note that down for my superiors but you ran the mines by the book.” The blond said, gesturing up wildly before clambering to his feet. “I wanted to keep my job, Zee.”

Kung’s brow pulled in before she clicked her tongue, picked up her basket again and walked away without another word.

Marcus huffed, his hand coming to his face but was stopped by the mask. “Aye yai yai…”

Jake looked between the man and the leaving major. “You two got history?”

Marcus nodded. “We took to her bed a few times.” He answered, “I’ll… get back to work.” He decided, moving towards the maker’s side of the area.

-

Tsu’tey led the hunting party back with a glint of satisfaction at each of his student’s work. The human of the group, MingWu was a surprise; having to succeed with a clean kill. Ashleysloan wasn’t a surprise at all she had shot her yerik straight through the frontal eye and killed it instantly. Ka’ani and Saeyla had taken down the same prey but both shots were true.

Iknimaya would be granted to all accept MingWu, as a human could not bond with an Ikran. A known statement but he would need to confide with Mo’at and Eytukan to find an alternative rite of passage for the human that did not involve tsaheylu that would allow the woman to hunt freely as the people. Not all hunters had Ikran but often hunters had Pa’li to ride on to travel. She couldn’t even do that.

It was a little of a headache to think about but he had an idea.

At Hometree, his trainees separated after his word to other tasks as the afternoon was drawing in, Ka’ani leading the kills towards the butchers with Ashleysloan who requested some of the meat for her camp.

Tsu’tey eyes sought over the people, noting the humans, the small form of Jakesully by the weavers stood out by the yellow of his wheeled chair with some dissatisfaction. He moved his gaze on before he moved toward Eytukan who had returned as well with a high head but also was ascending up to the higher level.

Tsu’tey followed. “<I see you, Olo'eyktan>” He greeted politely to draw the clan leader’s attention.

“<I see you, Tsu’tey. How were your hunters??” Eytukan asked as he set his bow down on his personal rack.

“<True shots. MingWu included.>”

Eytukan hummed in surprise. “<The human, interesting.>”

“<MingWu has surprising dedication but due to her species, she cannot pass Iknimaya as an Ikran Makto without a tswin.>”

Eytukan led on towards the Tsahìk’s den, the sounds of her moving about unmistakable and her soft voice.

“<Have you considered options?>” Eytukan asked, pausing outside the den “<There are a few that aren’t easy or feasible for a human. They are tiny and weaver than a Na’vi.>”

“<The Great Hunt, three weeks away.>” Tsu’tey suggested. “<She will have to ride as a passenger onto a Pa’li but if she strikes true among the talioang migration, then that should be a tremendous task achieved much like Pa’li Makto.>”

Eytukan let out a considering hum. “<That’s a good suggestion for the human hunters. What of the Dreamwalkers?>”

“<Ashleysloan had defied all expectations and can put Manu to shame in skill. She would go far in the clan if she was not held back by being a Dreamwalker.>” A sad fact really. It didn’t go unmissed that she had the attention of a few men and women who valued skill and, even by Tsu’tey’s standards, her Dreamwalker did have an attractive face. However, the extra finger was still a firm reminder of what the woman was under the false skin.

“<You sound disappointed>” Eytukan chuckled.

Tsu’tey tittered a little, pursing his lips discontented. “<She doesn’t have my interest beyond that of a mentor to a student.>” He was to be mated with Neytiri and so, he had no reason to look elsewhere. A Dreamwalker was not a suitable mate to even consider, so he didn’t. But he could appreciate the work this Dreamwalker put in with the clan. Tolerantly, even. “<Why was Jakesully not in his Dreamwalker today? I expected him to join the group in the hunt>”

“<Neytiri will see his first successful hunt tomorrow.>,” Eytukan said, “<I believe today is his duty to care for his native body.>”

“<I look forward to her verdict.>” He paused, noting the slight tenseness in the Olo'eyktan’s posture. “<Was your hunt successful?>”

Eytukan hummed, turning discontent. “<I did not hunt for meat. I found bones of a Palulukan within a cave. Years old by the state of the bones but… signs of the Cold Ones. I heard rumour of these bones so I sought them out for truth>”

Tsu’tey felt his insides turn tense, cooling with a flicker of fear. These blood demons had killed a Palulukan? It took many warriors and many arrows to down a beast of death and often there were casualties. They were creatures of both fear and respect for a reason. “<Was… what signs did you see?>”

“<It’s neck was broken. Not cleanly. The… ribs show claw marks that have five fingers to them. It has one cleanly broken leg and smaller fractures along the rest of the legs. The cave itself bears claw marks of both kinds so it likely died within and with great ferocity.>” Eytukan let out a firm breath. “<This knowledge carries a heavy burden.>”

“<If a single one can kill a Palulukan…>” He didn’t finish. What hope did the people have against these creatures? Eytukan had been wise to not let these creatures be his focus but the more he heard, the more he knew how harder it would be to protect the people.

Eytukan’s hand reached out, grasping his arm intently. “<As fearful as we are, Cold Ones have sight of Eywa. As long as there is no provocation, we should not gain their attention.>”

“<Wise worlds, beloved.>” The Tsahìk’s words echoed out, reminding them both where they were.

Eytukan ducked into the den first, empty of people and humans and Mo’at was finishing up her organisation. The two leaders closed the distance, grasping each other and Eytukan touched her cheek with fondness and her head tilted into his touch.

“<How was your day?>” Eytukan asked. “<I heard you went down to the caves again, to the spiritual tree.>”

The spiritual tree, Tsu’tey had heard about that with the rest of the clan. One tree for the sky people and… it was still a little hard to believe that Eywa would create such a blessing with a species like the Skye people in mind but he was not the one to question the Great Mother. He hadn’t seen such a tree and didn’t have the intention to either.

“<Yes, two connected and have experienced their communion Eywa. I will be busy tending to their communions. Once Neytiri is free from training Jakesully, I will need her attendants to watch and take over the communion until all are connected. I still have our people to tend to. I fear I will be too pulled away from my duty here now that the tree is discovered and so readily available..>” Mo’at spoke, worried. “<the humans that are with us are… uncannily driven to connect. Some more than others.>”

“<Is that a trouble?>”

“<The more I hear of their life in their home world, the sadder I am for them and for all that they have gone through>” Mo’at sighed deeply. “<The social complexities are beyond simple navigation. Their destruction, their closed hearts and their need for walls to hide themselves. Some have not even experienced love from their own family. Like it is a foreign concept but is desperate to feel it like children begging for food>” Mo’at looked genuinely upset. “<If anything I have learned, there is no life on Earth; only survival.>”

“<That is a very… bold statement.>” Eytukan said.

“<It rings true in my heart, my love. You should spend more time with the humans and see for yourself.>” Mo’at said. “<They need help but I cannot do it alone. The clan can guide these people to a better sense of self. To live beyond survival. To see the world in new life. I believe that is how we can achieve peace with the sky people.>”

Masterlist

[waynedunlaptheorgandonor]

i have been Swamped with full-time freelance writing and a full-time job on top of it, and you guys have been so so so patient with me going months and months and months without updating anything, so i decided to give you little sneak-peeks at the next “diy steps to serenity” and “an unfinished memory” chapters to prove to you that i do actually have content, it’s just been sitting idle as i’ve been forced to write less-fun things for money :( 

i’m going to have a break in my work writing obligations here v v v soon, and updating these fics will be my vacation before the next obligations begin, and i am extremely hype 

snippets under the cut:

DIY Steps to Serenity Excerpt:

The next thing she registered were forms being thrust at her, demanding her signature, as if she had any capacity to read. She mumbled the answers to questions about her birthdate and address, and scribbled her name poorly where they told her to on a tablet. Then, all of a sudden, a nurse was wiping the crook of her elbow down with an alcohol swab, and she forced herself out of her fog of suffering.

"No no no, wait," she said, trying to angle away. 

"They gotta give you an IV to put you under for surgery, baby," Daryl said, his fingers brushing her hair back off her forehead. Carol shook her head vehemently.

"I can't," she insisted, eyes wide with fear. 

"I know but you don't got a choice, honey, it'll be okay. Everythin's okay." Evidently, he'd regained his mantra from somewhere, but Carol still wasn't convinced.

"Don't worry, you won't feel a thing. We're going to push some Dilaudid through to help control the pain while we wait to take you back for anesthesia," Leopard Print Scrubs said, thinking that Carol's fear was with the surgery, and not with the small syringe of clear liquid that she was preparing to push directly into her veins. She looked to Daryl helplessly, who simply shook his head.

"You got no choice," he repeated. Through the pain and fright and flood of confusion, Carol tried to think of an alternative. What did they used to do before pain medication? Maybe they could get her some whiskey and a big rock to bite down on. Not ideal, but she was so close to her twelve-month chip, which she didn't realize until that moment was something she actually gave a shit about.

"I'm just gonna flush your IV with some saline, and then we'll get that medicine in you and get you feeling better, you poor thing," Leopard Print Scrubs said. With her free hand, Carol reached for Daryl. He took it without hesitation.

"I won't be sober," she whispered to him through tears that she wasn't sure were new or had been falling since she'd arrived.

"But you'll be alive."

//

An Unfinished Memory Excerpt:

“Come now, don’t be like that,” Merle said. He came around and sat next to Daryl on the couch. He smelled like cigarettes and the cheap perfume of whichever girl he’d been cozying up with at the bar the night before. “If you need help lookin’ like a fine, upstandin’ citizen then I’ll do my damndest, but first you gotta be straight with me.”

“Straight with you about what?” Daryl didn’t look at his brother, opting instead to fiddle with his drawing, which was now just a crinkly ball in his hands. Pity, he thought, he’d liked that one well enough to have kept it, if Merle hadn’t ruined it. Whatever, he could always just draw it again.

“Carol. What’s goin’ on between the two of you? And don’t come at me with that ‘we’re just friends’ bullshit.”

“Well we are, so I dunno what the fuck else you want me to say.”

“The truth. You know everyone who goes through the Roadhouse all call her your girl, and she ain’t never denied it.”

“You know that was just so them guys would stop puttin’ moves on her when she was just doin’ her damn job.”

“Yeah, but that was months ago. You’d think by now the truth woulda come out, but if anythin’, with the way you two cozy up with each other when you’re together at the diner, y’all only reinforce it.”

“Good, then they’ll keep leavin’ her be.” Daryl pointedly did not address the “cozy up” comment.

“You know that ain’t my point.”

“Then what is it?” Daryl knew he was being purposefully obtuse, and he knew Merle knew it too, but he refused to give his brother the satisfaction of dignifying his taunts with a response.

But then Merle said, “She’d be good for you, you know? A girl like her. If you was with her I’d support it. Hell, I’d more than support it. I’d be over the damn moon.”

Daryl let his hands still, the staticky crumpling sound of the paper finally ceasing. He tossed the ball onto the table and leaned back on the uncomfortable couch, the structure of the thing hitting him at all kinds of unpleasant angles where the cushion was worn away. He stared headlong at the television in front of him. It wasn’t on, but the alternative was looking at his brother, and he didn’t think he could say what he was about to say and meet another person’s eye at the same time.

He said, so quietly he could hardly hear it himself, “Maybe I would be, too.”

[kentosmoon]

do you have any art tips for beginners ??? I just got myself my first drawing tablet and have been meaning to start my journey as a digital artist but I have no idea where to start so do you have any tips or advice to spare please 🥺

Hi anon it makes me happy when people are starting to get into digital art. Can’t wait for you to go on your art journey 🥰🫶🏼 I would recommend starting off learning basic anatomy which is very important, watch art tutorials on YouTube (you can find tutorials on Pinterest too) Find artists who inspire you, trace to learn not to copy and always credit people/reference images. On any art program that you use, learn to use layers. If you’re unsure while drawing start a new layer. I know it’s a bit overwhelming at first but take it slow. Make art goals for yourself to develop your skills. Play around and experiment with different brushes. Keep practicing regularly and you’ll definitely see improvement. When you’re deep into drawing I recommend doing figure studies. I still do it till this day, really useful for anatomy and proportions. If you want more tips/advice feel free to ask anytime 🤍 Good luck! :)