#drawing an interior and actually put effort

[cynicallyneutral]

A lil date 🍅🍥

[zooliminology]

Hey ! Love the art!!! Was wondering if you can share your painting process or your creative process!! In love with how you paint! ❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗

[Sure! Also, I just realized that using brackets would be easier to differentiate when I'm 'in character' so I guess i'll type like this and a little more freely for non-in-universe asks from now on.

I'm not really sure how to describe my creative process because it can differentiate between each drawing and sometimes the process is really stupid

I'll usually come up with a creature or environment first. I'm inspired by a lot of roblox games like the liminality zone, and @thatonegaycactus has also given me an amount of great creature ideas a few of which i still need to get to. But Golbo was inspired by that one image of the deflated horse if you know it

Coming up with the goobers first is even variable then, either I'll draw it out beforehand or have a good idea of how to put it into a drawing, but once I've came up with the creature as I was drawing the actual drawing (not good!)

I also like to utilize Minecraft when drawing because otherwise trying to do geometry/interior perspective is a great pain and I'm not particularly great at drawing straight lines.

Here's a timelapse saved from my program to hopefully give a better idea of how I draw bc honestly im not great at explaining my processes. Especially because they uh... change with my mood and what I'm trying to do]

[For Golbo I've drawn a concept of him beforehand, and you can see me momentarily pull up a stock image for a split second before deciding to go with minecraft lol, the start of the trend.

You can also see me do the thing in black and white first which helps with the values. But as you can see.... the thing that took the longest was the grass. Despite this being the most popular zooliminology entry, it was by far the most annoying one to draw LOL. but i've been told the extra effort is visible

You can also see in the newest one I'm trying to draw (exclusive sneak peek time) I'm still using minecraft lol

But I guess fun fact about the one I'm working on as of 1/6/24, this idea LITERALLY came to me in a dream]

[phoenixyfriend]

Worldbuilding: The ASPIRE Method

Part 2 - Arts

Now available on Patreon!

I'm including the first third of it here on tumblr for free. The rest is available on Patreon for as low as $1 to access all posts.

A – Arts

When physically visiting a society for the first time, Art will be one of the first things a person encounters, namely in the form of fashion, signage, and architecture. When studying a culture from afar, it is often among the last. In that regard, the order in which your story takes place will have varying degrees of exposure to the culture’s art.

In a visual medium, art provides a subconscious element of worldbuilding that can help set tone without having to take up time in the dialogue. Background characters and so on can inform the world in a colorful manner, suggesting elements of culture to the viewer while the foreground conveys the story itself. In a written narrative, mentions of art and artistry take up time and space by nature, and so you have to pick and choose which elements you talk about. The mention of a single form of art is used to suggest a much deeper background. In both cases, determining which art exists will help you decide which you display to the audience in pursuit of telling your story.

Which forms of art are most common?

Some cultures have very elaborate architecture. Others don’t put much time and effort into architecture, but do a lot with textiles. Paintings are going to be more common in regions where canvas or paper are easier to make. Some regions will have a focus on wooden or stone carvings that are unlikely, or even impossible, in others. Most have music, but frequently different kinds. All of these are forms of art, but not all of them are necessarily going to be common in the world you are building.

Ask yourself which of these forms and mediums of art are ones your culture puts time into, and why:

Architecture: stone, wood, or other

Painting and drawing: on canvas, on stone, on paper, on vellum

Sculpture: stone or wood, clay, metal (wire or mold), rubber, glassblowing, etc. - This includes aesthetic pieces, but also things like functional ceramics and furniture crafting

Textiles: fashion, tapestry, beadwork, interior design

Literature: written or oral, includes prose, poetry, and nonfiction

Film and Theater

Music and Dance

Culinary arts

Cosmetics

And when you decide on them, ask yourself why? What is it that has your culture focusing on one thing at the expense of others? For instance, if your culture is one where inclement weather is a major problem, then architecture may focus primarily on durability, and less so on visual appeal; in turn, the actual focus of artists is more likely to be an indoor activity, like storytelling or music. However, the primary dictator of what art people do is what they have to work with.

What tools are available to your artists?

The further in the past your story is set, the less likely your culture’s people are to have access to a wide variety of pigments and materials. Natural sources of pigment are limited, especially when there are low levels of trade. The local community is also likely to prioritize certain kinds of crops over others, which has a direct influence on the accessibility of textiles and paper.

A culture with a short growth period will likely prioritize food over any form of creative resources; textiles will likely be livestock-derived (like wool and skins), rather than cotton or linen, and will also have much less availability of plant-based art supplies like canvas, paper, and so on. They may focus on pragmatic art forms, such as teaching tools, or styles that can be built into things that are already being crafted, like weaving patterns. Their themes may also be influenced by having more free time in the winter.

Meanwhile, tattoos are popular across the world due to only requiring pigment and a sharp implement��� and the knowledge of how to not get infected.

A more modern artist will have access to a wide variety of tools and options, including things like cameras and recording equipment.

Consider these elements:

Which pigments are available? How are they sourced? Which can be safely used for paint, textiles, construction, and cosmetics? - Pigments can be derived from plants, minerals, animals, or synthetic processes. If your world has low trade, figure out which ones are common in the area. Some pigments can be used in paint but are less functional for dyeing. Some can’t be ingested, and so aren’t safe for culinary arts, but are very good for oil painting. - A paint that is toxic to the skin may be used in cosmetics and textiles (see: lead face paint, which was used even when knowing the toxicity), but is much more likely to be used in painting and construction.

Which plants grow nearby? What can they be used for? - Are the trees suitable to carving, to steam bending, to architecture, to weaving? - Can other plants be processed into textiles, pigments, food? - Is there something unique and interesting, like a bioluminescent algae that can be used for glowing paint?

Which animals are available? Are they domestic or wild? How are they used? - Animals can be used for enabling other arts, such as oxen pulling plows to grow basic crops. - Some can be trained to perform, for dance and theater. - They can also be raw materials. This includes wool, feathers, furs, leather, vellum, horns, bones, silk, and even skins for glue. Some are hunted, and some are cultivated. - Note that antler, certain feathers, and wool can be harvested without harming the animals, and would be useful for a society that tries to abide by pacifist or vegan principles. - Others can also be gathered after a natural death, like bones, horn, and skins. The only ones that require a forced death or harm are vellum and certain kinds of silk, though natural death may impact the quality of other materials, like skins and furs.

Which raw materials are inherent, which need to be gathered, and which need to be cultivated? - A person’s own voice or body does not need to be gathered. A dancer or singer does not, for the most basic forms of art, need tools. - Sand for glassblowing does need to be gathered, but occurs naturally. - Flax for linen needs to be cultivated before processing, with a dedicated growth period in temperate climates (helpfully, it also produces food).

For a few historic examples, consider that Tyrian Purple is an uncommon color in textiles before the introduction of aniline dyes, and so Tyrian purple is often limited solely to royalty in period works. This includes the classic Roman example, but also the use of ‘Royal Purple’ and related shades in England after the introduction of a sumptuary act in 1463.

Since the Iron Age, darker, less saturated shades of purple could be achieved through mixing red (e.g. madder) and blue (e.g. woad, indigo), but are generally less intense, and still expensive due to the need for two forms of dye. Meanwhile, common colors in Medieval English art included, among other things, ochres, woad, madder, and chalk.

How intense is the processing period for materials?

How many people need to be involved in that processing? Can it be done in one day, by one person?

Weaving a basket from reeds is relatively centralized. One person can gather materials, cut them to size, and produce the final product.

Synthetic materials require oil drills and chemical production plants, employing hundreds of workers.

Creating a wool and linen dress requires: - farmers (both for sheep and for flax) - processing to clean and spin the raw materials - weavers to make the base textiles - dyeing vats to add color - a dressmaker to actually put together the final product - The support for this process also includes someone who makes buttons or other ties, someone who crafts looms, someone who makes barrels, and someone who breeds dogs for herding those sheep.

Is it theoretically possible for someone to unilaterally do everything from start to finish with no outside help? Yes. Are some of these elements vertically integrated? Probably! Is it likely, or a good idea, to handle everything from start to finish? Not for most scales of production. While farming and spinning are often done by the same people, it’s more likely to be a family business than a solo one. One farm can include the process from start to finish, but your couture dressmaker isn’t very likely to be your shepherd.

Human history is a patchwork of people specializing their skills in order to maximize productivity so everyone can have more free time at the end of the day. If one person has the loom best suited to making linen bedsheets, and another has a loom better designed for woolen cloak fabric, the individuals will produce more fabric in total if they each specialize on their looms, and then trade the results, rather than swapping looms or buying their own. This subject will be touched on in greater detail in the Economics section.

[sangfielle]

would love your take on the saarebas as a part of DA canon (until recently i guess lmao) because they're a piece of qunari worldbuilding that i am oddly besotted with, but they also feel to me like another one of those details added to make qunari seem more "barbaric", which was then given some cursory nuance to try and make it not look as uniquely bad (for example, you can draw a comparison between the abuses circle mages suffer in kirkwall and the plight of saarebas, but the visual language of one group being confined to barracks and the other being chained and collared like animals is still going to have someone engaging with the work associating some very fraught traits to an arvaarad that they then wouldn't to a templar). i don't really know how to work with them in a fanon context for my own enjoyment that doesn't feel like uncritically leaning into the most racist parts of how the qun is presented, but deleting them the way DATV did feels worse. what do you think?

also you made a post abt them all being Government-Assigned Nonbinary that gelled with my interpretation of them lol

i sat with this for a little while, because i wanted to have something better to say than "i basically agree with you about all of this", but the problem is that i basically just agree with you and there's not that much you can say about saarebas that you can derive from the actual text of the games. they're categorically denied depth and we're refused any insight into qunari society and, like, the non-antaam qunari mind (sten and the da2 arishok, specifically, i guess -- inquisition doesn't want you to consider iron bull qunari so i won't, tallis is semi-useful as an insight into the position viddathari are forced into when speaking to those outside the qun but that's it [just in da2, i thought about revisiting redemption in case it would provide any insight but i feel pretty confident every character in that show is one-note without re-watching it], i guess you can have that one conversation with ketojan before it* kills itself?) (tevinter nights would have been a great place to put a story from the perspective of a saarebas but that didn't happen, so whatever).

i don't know how much help i can be of in terms of "how do i engage with this in a non-racist (etc) fashion", because i think the answer might be that you can't? i think that for basically everything surrounding the qunari, it's very difficult to not play into the bigoted stuff baked into them without doing a ground-up rewrite of the entire society. you're right that totally ignoring the bigoted writing and just hoping that works like vg does isn't really a solution either though. my suggestion would be to just go into whatever you're doing aware of the politics of the depiction of the saarebas and be mindful to not act like their treatment is uniquely barbaric relative to circles. if the thing you're doing isn't solely focused on qunari, spend some time looking at andrastian treatment of mages and make a point of comparison? if you're writing, make an effort to treat any saarebas and arvaarad as, like, people with interiority in the same fashion as you would templars and mages? if you're an artist, uh. it is much harder to get away from the imagery. i don't actually know what to tell you about that.

that's very basic advice but i don't have much specific rewrite advice besides "probably be mindful of and utilize the fact that in-universe it's implied that ketojan's treatment was extreme and not the typical way saarebas are handled (the specific visual language of the stitched lips are supposed to be a second-to-last resort handling method, not typical practice. i will say that i really deeply dislike the stitching scars that people love to put on their tal-vashoth mage ocs. that's probably more personal preference and me being anal about minor lore notes, but it feels to me like it leans into the idea that qunari treatment of mages is worse and more damaging than andrastian methods, especially when people don't really treat tranquility with the same weight despite that being... worse, probably). iirc saarebas (redemption) was treated notably harshly throughout its* life in the qun but didn't bear any specific visual markers besides the collars that would imply that it was held on a particularly tight leash. again, didn't rewatch redemption for this and it's a pretty vauge memory in my head, so i'm less sure about saarebas (da:r) than i am about ketojan and hissera (and i admittedly don't know jack shit about saarath, but there's very little to know, it seems like?). hissera and saarath have the stitches, but i'm pretty sure that's because they wanted to maintain a visual continuity with the saarebas more than anything else, because hissera isn't noted as being a mage that needs to have a close eye kept on it*, on account of... it's allowed to travel around thedas by itself under its own supervision. so i guess that's another thing worth keeping in mind, that a few saarebas are trusted to just be by themselves and do whatever, like wynne is with the circles? actually probably the most straightforward comparison in terms of level of treatment of the typical saarebas would be to fereldan circle mages specifically. if you want something to use as a yardstick for their treatment (similarly to andrastian circle mages, though the chantry will less readily admit it than the qun, is that the primary role of a mage is being a tool of war). also worth being aware of the fact that unlike thedosian cultures, saarebas are specifically noted as being revered in the qun to some extent. people don't... hate them, probably. the qun is too much about anti-individualism and living as a part of a whole for that to be the mindset about people who are occupying a very restrictive role

*i mean, you saw my post about it. i feel like the -bas suffix denotes a set of pronouns and a gendered role.

[genericpuff]

i have this problem where i have to spend shitloads of time drawing and mocking up extra stuff that probably isn't even that important because i need to fundamentally understand what it is that i'm drawing and perceiving through the creation process so i can have the confidence in showing it to others, even if what i'm showing to others will likely go unnoticed

i'm sure it's not a bad problem to have because it means i'm actually putting in time and effort to develop things like props, backgrounds, worldbuilding lore, etc. but the downside means i spend way too much time stressing over little pointless details that don't affect the story and i don't even know if other people will notice. and when i try to go easier on myself and remind myself "puff, no one is going to notice these tiny pointless details if they go missing or aren't taken into account", that little voice in my head chirps "you're the kind of person to notice these things, so there are definitely others who will, so you absolutely have to make sure you have the layout of artemis' house designed for those people who will pay attention to those sorts of tiny pointless details like you do-"

anyways here's the layout of artemis' house that i finally settled on after 2 hours of fiddling with it and moving things around and trying to figure out how the fuck stairs work from a top down view, based on the 3D model i used for it in Ep 18. only the exterior of the model was designed so i had to figure out how to fit an entire living space inside the pre-existing 3D shape (subtracting the garage extension of the model that I thankfully didn't draw in Ep 18, phew) and what i had already shown of the interior in Episode 19 and thus couldn't be changed (such as the closet being to Persephone's right and the dining area being immediately visible from the front door and the couch in the living area needing available space behind it because artemis fell asleep behind it in Episode 16, yes these are the things that my brain works itself into a tizzy over-)

i guess it can serve some kind of purpose outside of my own head if you want to make a sims version of her house or something idk LMAO

although i'm realizing that there's still an issue with this because this stupid 3D model is covered in stupid windows which i've already drawn in Ep 18 and there's one SPECIFIC stupid window to the right of the front door which is precisely where the closet and stairs are in my drawing and i'm realizing that i'm accidentally creating some fucked up house of leaves scenario where the house has features that by all means shouldn't exist nor function but exist unapologetically with full functionality anyways

this is the part where i need to go to bed and worry about it later when i can boot up the sims and build the house myself just for the sake of fact-checking myself, please stay tuned because this may not even be the final version of the house after i'm through with building it in-game (。_。)

[maridiayachtclub]

let's try documenting a big Satisfactory project!

so i have this facility called SPINE. it's a multi-function structure with a stupid (but cool) name. pics under the cut because they're big:

it's bad and it could stand to be renovated.

it was one of the first large facilities i built. it was conceived as a centrally located factory that would gather in resources from the surrounding area, use them to manufacture various fundamental parts like iron plates and screws and whatnot, and then funnel them outward to specialized factories. where possible, additional functions could be built within what felt at the time like a roomy interior, and the structure could be extended upward to make more factory space within.

in addition, it was built on legs, making space underneath for three purposes:

allowing tractors and other vehicles to pass through (at the time, i had an automated tractor running stuff back and forth between a few buildings, and anticipated having a fleet of little wheely friends going to and fro)

making space for ceiling-mounted conveyor belts that would not just move materials through the building but provide the means to deliver them up into the building's interior for processing

room for aminals to wander through :)

so, seeing as this was going to be the center of a general stream of many different products needed throughout my growing factory-city, it seemed analogous to a a spinal column. hence, SPINE, or rather, S.P.I.N.E. what do the letters stand for? i figured i'd think of an appropriate combination of words eventually, but i never did. the name nevertheless stuck

SPINE has been doing what i have asked of it for a while now. the inside chambers mostly look like this

anyway, as mentioned, this was made early on, and while i think the concept is sound, the implementation has ultimately proven insufficient. the space underneath ended up being too small for the variety of materials i require to move through, as well as all the necessary branches needed to move things back and forth between the transport space on the bottom and the factory spaces inside. here's what the underside looks like:

seriously it fuckin sucks down here bro

i can't just keep extending the conveyor lines further down from the ceiling; making enough space to move all these materials and move them up into the factory requires all sorts of stupid twisty turny conveyor belt tricks. the backside, where everything funnels in, is absolutely embarrassing. wizard-of-oz-man-behind-the-curtain bullshit. glasgow willy wonka experience-ass levels of fulfillment. slapdash mickey mouse duct tape effort. real "I didn't do my homework and now i gotta make up this presentation live in front of the class and they can see me sweating" energy embodied.

the horrid tangle running through SPINE is complicated by its output, set up so that it delivers things to my central storage barn. things need to leave the facility in a very specific way, like so:

this part, at least, works fine. this massive vein of conveyor belts is a bit ugly but it works very well. i put a lot of time into designing my central storage barn (there were spreadsheets involved) and it paid off. look at this shit, look at how neatly everything gets sorted into easily accessed bins

i love it. the power fantasy of living in an organized environment, realized here in digital form!

unfortunately the clean functionality of this building just draws into stark relief how bad SPINE is. even if I spruced up its exterior, fully finishing the walls and adding fripperies such as signage and doors and lights, its core functionality is insufficient for my needs. SPINE was conceptualized and built far in advance of my understanding of what i would actually need it to do and i can't stand it any longer! no more!

so, i'm planning to tear it all down and replace it with a bigger, better-organized SPINE. in addition to making it look nicer, it could actually be expandable without adding another strand into its already tangled guts. it would give me an opportunity to incorporate the functions of numerous smaller satellite facilities, cleaning up the surrounding landscape a bit and making room for other factories i know i will have to build in time. it would, potentially, allow me to incorporate a train station or two, so products could be picked up or delivered as needed... not something i need at this time, but even if i never do, having the capability of entertaining visiting trains is a worthy goal in itself.

anyway i haven't started on that yet. SPINE 2.0 is still in the planning stages, and i'm leaving on a trip in a day or so so i'm not gonna be able to start on this project in earnest for at least a week.

i might keep documenting the project here for funsies. i love Satisfactory; it's a perfect vehicle for one of my favorite things to do in a game: turning nothing into places. if you're in a video game and you see a bunch of hills and trees and rivers and piles of iron ore and other natural features, it doesn't really mean much on its own, but spend enough time there and you grow accustomed to it. you put together a mental map, figure out whatever routes you're going to be taking through it, learn how to navigate it quickly and efficiently, and soon that random bit of wilderness is a place. the rocks you have to navigate around and the rivers you have to jump over become familiar sights. and if it's a building kinda game, and you're populating this unsullied wilderness with the mortal profanity of civilization, that place is even more place-y than before. i very much like the places i have built in Satisfactory, so regardless of how this is received, it's fun to talk about it, get some of my internal thoughts on this project down in a format that can last. at least until tumblr shutters its doors and gets sold to some venture capitalist vultures in 2026

[neonjawbone]

So, out of curiosity: as someone who's got a long-running web comic AND who's got a novel coming as well, have you found that your process for writing each are very different?

Are there things that are the same?

Did you find one easier than the other?

Did the type of media you were making influence the genre you chose to work with?

Sorry, just super curious since I haven't seen anyone do both before!

ooh!! I love this question!

Yes, I'd say, the process is very different! I've said this to a couple friends so far, but working in prose has been like reuniting with an old friend. Pretty common story, but I was a huge reader until sometime in college (around the time i got on social media and my adhd really took a nosedive), so actually writing (and by extension, trying to get back into reading) has been REALLY fun and interesting. My process for storytelling itself is really similar, but writing for comics can leave a lot up to the visuals. What the backgrounds look like, expressions and character acting, these are things i tend to leave to myself on the page. When you rely on them overmuch in prose, what you get is a kind of boring slog. Working in prose has lead me to try and write not how things *look* (as is my instinct coming from comics) but how they *feel*.

Furthermore, prose is such a different game. Idk how else to put it. The act of writing is so uniquely vulnerable, and while theres things I miss from comics (expressions being wayyyy up there) theres also so much cool shit you can only do in prose. Stuff like really getting into characters interiority, and through multiple pov characters painting different pictures of the world and your cast.

Prose is easier, bar none (okay, this is kind of incendiary) what I mean is, prose is less labor intensive. The act of creating/storytelling/art is still WORK. No matter how you're doing it. And certainly, sometimes I'll beat my head trying to convey something in prose that isn't like, boring. But I can bang out 1k-5k words in a day without aggravating my RSIs, it is not draining in the way that comics are, simply put, yeah. It's physically easier to type words (for me) than it is to draw a comic.

Example: Though I started work on my novel, OTAS, about a year and a half ago, maybe only 6-7 months were spent writing with any regularity (and even on writing days I was still able to do many other things!). The graphic novel I worked on, TPATPG (out in AUGUST!!) took two years of near constant, daily work which allotted a majority of my drawing energy..

Now, I don't think my influences have really changed so much, BUT I made a conscious effort to read prose books with more regularity since starting to incorporate fiction writing. I think it's very important to take in the media you want to work in!!

In conclusion, working in prose has been really fun, and I'm excited to do more of it!

[things-about-cars-in-posts]

You know a lot about cars so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask: How hard would it be for me to make up brand new cars and 3D model them? The stuff shown here looks fun, and I want to give it a go sometime. (p.s as compensation for submitting an ask not focused on a thing about a car: the interiors of the Italdesign Orca and Mazda MX-81 Aria are silly looking things that everybody should get to see.) (p.p.s i don't understand cars or 3D modeling but i believe it'll all work out fine)

If you want encouragement: every single 3D car shape you've ever seen, from videogames to renders to cars on the street, was either drawn with 3D modelling or with something even harder - and none of those people have a significant genetic leg up on you. You're too short to play basketball, you're too fragile to boxe, you're too heavy for marathons, but you're not too anything for 3D modelling. The only thing it takes is effort.

If you want a warning: effort it does take. 3D modelling is deceptively complex - you think you can model a radio no problem and an hour later your work amounts to a volume knob and you realize you're gonna be here a while. I've studied it for a semester and would be pretty lost if I had to draw curves as complex as a car's, although had I had your interest I would've likely dug deeper on some specific aspects on my own (and actually retained all the lessons on complex curves :/) But yeah, holy hell are cars complex. Nowadays especially, but in general - the lights, the vents, the seals, the panel gaps, all things that are incredibly minute yet essential details that can make or break a design, even at the lowest detail (because of course modelling difficulty varies wildly with the detail level you're targeting). Modelling a car from scratch, I'll be astounded if it takes you less than a year. But by the end of that, any car you model will no longer be from scratch, as you'll already have built the knowledge base!

If you want advice: take your time to learn the tools before you try and tackle any big project. For one because naming your first 3D model "car" and messing around until you have a car is like taking your new bicycle to the bottom of an alpine pass and messing around until you're at its top: you'll be there for as long as it takes you to give up, accomplish nothing and leave feeling useless. For two because starting a project without all the knowledge base it needs will just mean its quality will suffer from the start to the points of the project where you pick that knowledge up. For three because starting a project knowing what to do and how to do it speeds up the process massively and provides a massive boost in confidence and motivation because you know what is ahead and how to tackle it - there's nothing more demoralizing than closing up the day with no idea of how to progress from there. For four, because you need to make sure you like the tools. Modelling a car in abstract is "making a car" or "expressing your vision" or whatever poetic way you put it, but in practice it's using a piece of software for a troubling number of hours. If using that software is a chore to you you're never going to push through the learning curve involved in modelling a car, and that's for the best as modelling a car would be a miserable time.

If you want guidance: here's a Volvo wagon. Their boxiness is nigh on legendary, in the car community the "brick" nickname is nigh on a synonym for Volvo. And this is the 960, the boxiest Volvo that ever boxed.

Look at all the curves. The rear windshield curves forwards and the side windows curve inwards, making the angle between them curve diagonally (how pronounced are those curves? Are they constant?), the entire side of the car has a gentle curve to it, and the fenders flare outwards with a smooth blend between their slope and the body's (what do you suppose the radius of that blend is?) - to say nothing of the hood, the rims, and my God, that mirror is a positive sculpture! And also, the end of the rear door is tilted forward - why do you suppose that is? Well, it's clearer in the much older 240...

...you can clearly see the rear door's window frame is following the lower, downward-sloping roofline of a sedan, indicating the sedan's doors are being reused for the wagon. But now that you looked at the Volvo before, you can see the shape is more bare, more simple -free of the indentation that circled the 960's body, for instance- but much more soft and rounded, with the taillights curving inwards (how much?), the rear windshield having rounded corners (and perchance a rounded top to match a curved roof?), hell, the curve of the rear angle kicks outwards at the bottom to meet an inwards slope that goes from headlight to taillight!

This is how you have to come to see cars - by which I don't just mean noticing these details, but this analytical look being how your eye approaches a car shape. Because you can't learn to write without the ability and interest to read, if you catch my drift.

Once you've got a grasp of the tools involved, a nice idea could be to get a 3D model of a car (I recommend starting with a very boxy one and potentially working your way up), deleting a part (like a fender, or a door) and trying to recreate it yourself by eye - see what challenges you encounter, what you struggle with creating, how the result looks compared to the original, and such.

Also, a thing I would advise is to look into cutaways and diagrams and such, just like you learn anatomy when drawing humans because if you don't you'll end up with something that looks awkward and unrealistic and you will not know why. For example, these two designs seem starkly different, don't they?

And yet, if you overlap them...

...the driver seat is at exactly the same place. Why? Because that's just as far forward as you can seat a person before the crumple zone either is insufficient to absorb the force of a high speed impact or begins including their legs. This is just one of plenty aspects but I've gone on long enough already.

If you want a challenge: set a reminder for next year to come back here and show me your progress. Even if it's not anything close to a car yet, if -as you should- you set some intermediate goals that stimulate and excite you, you can still be back in this askbox with something to be proud of and I'll go wooo!!! I remember you!!! It's so cool you stuck to it and have now made this thing!!! That's great! and you'll feel SO good about yourself. Deal?

Oh about the concepts, The MX-81's steering wheel... sidewall? always made me uneasy, it looks like it's coming off (and like some airport surface that has been touched by too much gross stuff) but I do dig the CRT right in front of you! The one that's going in my car is black and white and a lot smaller than that, so a tinge of envy is there.

Also, if you like the Orca's steering wheel, you may well enjoy the '88 Grand Prix and Citroën C4/C4 Picasso's! Ride, Pontiac Ride! Or transform and dance, that's cool too!

[ellzilla]

One day I should draw smth and actually put effort in the bg but um. I don't got the energy to get a headache with interiors lol anyway, here's a certain cultist .1 seconds before being tackled and mauled

[omorfiamanila4]

High Quality Real Estate Photography Brings in More Visitors

Just like the photo on your business card gives a first impression of yourself, the photos of your listings give the first impression of your property for sale. Quality photos of houses for sale can make a world of difference in the amount of interest in a property and the amount of showings. Studies have shown that the more photos a property has on an on-line listing, the more clicks it receives. Of course, quality here counts a lot! You want viewers to keep clicking through your photos and to not get sidetracked by another, better-looking listing. Below are some basic photography tips for the do-it-yourselfer.

Focus, focus, focus! Most digital cameras will self focus. Just lightly press down the shutter button and you'll most likely notice your camera doing half the work for you. Once your camera is focused, keep a steady hand and quickly capture the shot.

Try every angle. Sometimes the slightest difference in angle can make a big improvement in the overall shot. Move around the room and take a variety of shots from different angles to capture different features in the frame such as a grand foyer staircase, fireplace, swimming pool or landscape.

Lighting is your best friend. Try taking pictures with and without the flash. Try turning on more lights in the house. You'll quickly see which way is going to look best so you can proceed with your photo shoot. Try opening draperies and be sure to come prepared with a few basic light bulbs to replace any burnt out bulbs in table or floor lamps. A picture always looks better if the lamps are actually lit.

The first photo of your real estate listing needs to be as fantastic as possible. This photo is typically an exterior shot of the home taken on the best possible day filled with sunshine. Remember to only show your home and crop out the neighbors' houses on either side if needed. Spruce up the real estate photography yard, mow the lawn, put away the garden hose, toys and lawn ornaments, close the garage door, remove all cars and trash cans from the driveway and open all the blinds inside the house. Finally, try to take the photo from the opposite side of your driveway. This trick lessens the amount of unsightly driveway pavement in the photo. The photo above is a great sample of an exterior photo that draws people in to want to see more.

Next up are the interior photos. Not every room needs to be represented by a photo. For example, a small bathroom is probably not something you need to take a photo of unless it has amazing tile work or a designer look. The most important rooms to photograph include the kitchen, living and/or family rooms, dining areas and the master bedroom. Other possibly rooms to feature would include a home office, secondary bedrooms and possibly a luxurious master bath or a spacious master closet.

Other highlights to include would be a basement, especially if it's partially or fully finished and of course any significant outdoor spaces such as courtyards, swimming pools, golf course views and professional landscaping. Extra photograph opportunities would include impressive community features such as gated entryways, ponds, fountains, walking trails and children's play areas.

By following these tips it's easy for anyone to capture a home's best features including experienced Realtors or homeowners trying to sell for sale by owner. Remember, as with anything practice makes perfect. If your photos don't turn out as expected, pick another day and try again. You'll be amazed at the difference in quality of photography done on an overcast day as compared to a sunny day. For even more impact try a night-time exterior photograph of a home with beautiful exterior up-lighting or even a photo of a crackling fireplace on a snowy day. Putting a little extra effort into taking the best photographs possibly will ensure your listings stand out from the crowd.

[quickdeaths]

It wasn't worth explaining, she thought. Not the whole of it, at least, and not when Sonia Nevermind had made clear her feelings on the matter already. Yet, to Shinobu, it was obvious, self-evident, what punishing her and her companions would do for the world. No, the lived they had taken would not be returned, and the lives they'd destroyed would not be rebuilt, but the people of the world would see in the execution of the sixteen remnants of despair a kind of justice. The world had cheered, decades ago, when dictators and drug kingpins had been killed, and their deaths would have been no different. No lives would be bettered or improved, but it would be enough for the world just to see the limp bodies of those who had hurt them.

Whether they would get those limp bodies was another matter entirely, and Sonia seemed very convinced, or determined, that they would not. If that were the case, then who was Shinobu to say anything against it? She'd already made her promise to live, as well as she could, and so if it was the opinion of the courts or tribunals that she not be put to death, so be it. Soon enough, she'd be sent to Japan to find out, and whatever followed from there would happen as everyone else willed it.

"It's fine," Shinobu murmured, nibbling on a scone, forcing herself to take tiny bites, even when she didn't especially feel like eating, so as not to waste Ayaka's efforts. "It isn't as though I expected them from you, Nevermind-san. They're an inefficient food, anyway - too much trouble for the taste." They could only imagine that the sense of guilt festering in the pit of their stomach at even this spread would be amplified were someone to go through that much effort on their behalf. "One has to take them down daily to encourage proper development of the jammy interior, and discourage wrinkling or mold. It's unnecessarily complicated work."

Her mother had said something, once, about them being the perfect gift. Even a small box of self-made hoshigaki showed an incredible amount of time and care, like any handmade gift, but unlike a blanket or a painting, a gift of food didn't insist upon itself. Once eaten, the box could be discarded, the gift savored and taken in the spirit it was given, without breeding resentment, unlike the sort of thing that demanded prominence, and permanence. Then again, her mother had said a lot of things about a great many topics, few of them with any sort of expertise. Besides, when again would Shinobu Yaguchi, murderer that she was, be in any position to give, or receive, any kind of serious gift? As she was now, all she could do was make crude pencil drawings when the mood struck.

It was a struggle just to keep her head upright, and Shinobu was grateful that Sonia's attention seemed to have shifted, even if only temporarily, to Ayaka. "Yeah. Nice to see you too, Nevermind-san, I guess," Ayaka murmured, her speech a little muffled as she stood, awkwardly, at the side of the table without sitting down, but also without making any movement towards leaving. "And, it's fine. I was going to bring it out for everyone later anyway, so." Even Shinobu could tell that much was a lie, given how the items in particular were chosen with her taste in mind. The compliment, meanwhile, went unacknowledged entirely.

But Sonia had more to say, more to ask, and it seemed to Shinobu that Ayaka wasn't sure what to say in response. "If you want something for your scone, you should just ask for it instead of forcing yourself to eat something you don't like," she finally said, having apparently settled on chiding the princess in a grumpy tone rather than actually answer her question. "It's not like I don't have things in the kitchen." Shinobu hadn't noticed any dissatisfaction on Sonia's end - not that she was paying especially close attention - but perhaps Ayaka had, or, more likely, she was using it as an excuse to put some distance between herself and Sonia for the moment. "Don't eat that until I come back."

It was a warning delivered in a particularly serious tone of voice, before Ayaka turned and made quick, hurried steps back in the direction of the kitchen, surely in search of something that Sonia could apply to her scone. Surprising even herself, Shinobu couldn't help but give a small chuckle and a weak smile before biting into a rice cracker. "She's amusing, isn't she? Ayaka." Although, if Sonia hadn't known Ayaka before it all, Shinobu wasn't sure she'd find it as funny. "She's hardly changed at all."

It was comforting. Shinobu herself had changed. There was as much difference between herself now and that cold prince as there had been between the cold prince and that warm, precocious child. But Ayaka, even with the pain she'd endured, the physical and emotional scars inflicted upon her, was still quiet and thoughtful, warmhearted beneath a prickly exterior, and unable to resist stepping in on behalf of others, even while complaining about it the whole time. She was still so similar to that girl whose face had flushed at the prospect of having her first kiss stolen during that asinine game of Anzu and Miss Hanasaki's, and who had whispered, in private, her appreciation for Shinobu pressing her lips to her forehead instead.

Why, of all things, that memory was so strong, Shinobu couldn't say. Perhaps because it had been a night that so many of them had been together? Herself, Anzu, Tsubasa-san, Ayaka, Miss Aoyama, Miss Hanasaki, Miss Nakagawa, Miss Kamiya, and Miss Aoi. With the simulation designed to remind of their shared class experiences and friendships, they supposed it only made sense that such a memory would be preserved so well. She snacked upon a small handful of peanuts and forced herself to take a single bite of melon before setting the rest down on her plate. Even eating this much seemed difficult, but to waste Ayaka's efforts was an impoliteness she couldn't abide.

A minute or two later, Ayaka returned with a small mason jar filled with orange-yellow jam, and perhaps the dullest plastic knife in existence, smacking them down on the table in front of Sonia with an audible thump. "It's mango jam," she mumbled, pulling her hands back and crossing her arms over her chest. "We don't have any commercial pectin, or other additives, so it's just mango, lemon juice, and sugar. If you know what you're doing, it sets decently, though. And it's sweet, so it complements the tartness of a lemon scone."

Shinobu wondered if that was her way of answering Sonia's earlier question - commercial ingredients, things that couldn't be easily made from the meat, fruit, vegetables, and simple seasonings they had on hand. If it was, it was obtuse enough that she wasn't sure if Sonia would pick up on it. "Shinobu, is there something else you want?" For her part, Shinobu shook her head, having nearly finished her coffee, but still left much of her food untouched. "Ah, no, I'm just not very hungry. Besides, I regret troubling you already, Ayaka, so there's no need to do anything else." That answer didn't seem to be acceptable to Ayaka, who clicked her tongue dismissively, looking first to Sonia, then to Shinobu, as if to try and rope the princess into things. "I'm the person who brings you your meals, so I know how much you're eating. You need to get your strength back by eating more, and eating better." There was a flicker across Ayaka's face that Shinobu recognized as the impulse to turn away from her own words, to brush them off in some hot-and-cold kind of way. It was a testament to their friendship, then, that Ayaka looked to quash that impulse. "Take better care of yourself, and stop pushing yourself so hard."

"I am glad to hear it, that you wish to continue on living after everything that has happened," Sonia told her sincerely as they climbed the few steps it took to reach the Hotel Mirai's front door. What had once been an elegant tropical getaway now served as a refuge for those most hated in the world, and the peeling paint and creaking floorboards were evidence enough that maintaining the buildings were the last thing on the minds of those in the Future Foundation. Of course, plenty of Makoto Naegi's most trusted friends had enough to handle on a day-to-day basis, but Sonia had trouble believing that none of the personnel in matching dark suits and grimaces couldn't be bothered to pick up a paintbrush or carpentry tools for repairs. The cabins, she knew, were in even worse shape, with porch steps that had succumbed to mold and bug damage as well as leaking roofs. Two things that needed to be seen to that she was forbidden from assisting with. A matter of personal health and safety, her staff had said, the moment she tried to reach for a hammer.

It had been suggested that she should leave it to Hajime Hinata, or someone else far more qualified to make cabin repairs than she was. But in turn, it had left Sonia feeling rather restless. Until she could find new problems to sort out, that is: Shinobu's concerns seemed like a good place to start. "But Yaguchi-san," She started, handing Shinobu the can of cold coffee before they found a table to share while they enjoyed their drinks. "This so-called 'deserved punishment' you believe you must suffer: what sort of positive change will that bring to the world? Those who have lost people dear to them...sentencing you to pain and hurt shall not bring those people back to them. If you were still dangerous I could understand such needs to keep you isolated and restrained, but I think anyone who spends even five minutes in your company would see that you do not wish to cause harm anymore."

Surely they could repent for their crimes without needless suffering. Justice was a tricky thing as far as The Tragedy was concerned, Sonia thought as she sank into her seat and took a long sip of water. The former Class 77-A was prodded, cajoled, bullied, and likely blackmailed into being a part of Junko Enoshima's grand plan for a tragic future. They'd caused disasters and crises around the world, to the point most countries needed to be rebuilt and restructured in their wake. And yet, with every former Remnant she'd spoken to (she hadn't been given much of an opportunity to speak with Masuda: he'd proclaimed his disdain for her the day she'd arrived and hadn't budged on that opinion), they regretted their actions deeply. They wished they hadn't done it. If only an Ultimate had invented time travel and things could've been different.

A thought that made her melon soda taste a bit bitter: if only things could've been different. Then, she thought as she glanced at Shinobu across the table, she wouldn't need to have buried her resentment. There would be none to speak of: she wouldn't have fallen in love with her, her heart wouldn't have been broken. Something far more selfish and less important than The Tragedy, Sonia grimaced at the thought. It had no place here.

"Hoshigaki?" Sonia repeated, grateful for the change of topic. Even if the woman sitting across from her had no idea what was on her mind. That was for the better, really, if Shinobu never knew: she didn't need anything else to trouble her, she had enough to contend with. "I think so. I might have had them before, once or twice, but it has been many years since then. Unfortunately, I do not have any aboard my ship." Something she was sad to admit: if Shinobu had named something in the ship's storerooms and refrigerators, Sonia would have brought it no matter how many complaints she received from her staff.

It wasn't as if she'd have any luck drying them out on the island either, if what Ayaka Sato said was true. She'd made her entrance at just the right time, right before Sonia had opened her mouth to tell Shinobu exactly what she'd thought regarding the food supply on her ship. Saved from embarrassing herself, Sonia thought as she smiled at Ayaka. She couldn't know how grateful Sonia was to her in that moment. "Sato-san, it is good to see you," Sonia replied, nodding to her. "And thank you for preparing this snack. You are very kind."

She then surveyed the tray: melon, rice crackers, peanuts, and scones Sonia doubted were too sweet as they lacked a sugar glaze as well as chunks of fruit or chocolate in them. This was made with Shinobu in mind, Sonia realized as she gave Ayaka a small, secret smile when she felt sure Shinobu wouldn't notice. Her friend needed to eat, far more than Sonia herself did, but she also didn't want to offend Ayaka and not indulge in one of the scones. Her compromise was to choose the smallest one on the tray, alongside a slide of melon, for her plate.

"How are you feeling today, Sato-san?" Sonia asked, splitting the scone with ease. Even if there was no marmalade, jam, or curd to be had, that didn't stop her routine movements when encountering a common tea snack. "Please, if there is anything you need that would make life easier, or at least more bearable, here, I would like to know of it, if I am able to assist in some way."

[gengrasmotorcars]

Greython Construction

A "Hotel Renovation Specialist" is a subclass of general contractors who specializes in making improvements to existing hotels that are more welcoming to guests. It would be more appropriate to call this kind of company "Hotel Renovation Specialist."

We've just refurbished the hotel and will show you our modernized PIP solution.

Greython construction is particularly strong in the hotel, motel, and inn building sector hotel renovation company Because of our dedication and hard work, we have reopened hotels throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. The size and decor of hotels can vary widely.

Our ability to extensively remodel hotels stems from our status as a turnkey construction management and design-build organization. Thanks to these characteristics, we are able to fulfill the needs of any client. Since this is one of our primary areas of expertise, we are very knowledgeable in it.

crews of the highest class, who put the safety and comfort of their passengers first and foremost in their minds.

You must take all necessary precautions to keep the hotel operating normally during the renovation. During that time, the hotel will be closed for repairs.

When it comes to hotel refurbishment, we are among the most well-known companies in the Americas and the Caribbean. Our expertise is desperately needed in these spheres. These topics, and more like them, will be included in our research hotel renovation companies near me The aforementioned regions are part of our service area. We know what it takes to restore a hotel to its former glory and will do all in our power to ensure that your business continues to run properly during the process.

As a hotel renovation design and construction company, we provide a variety of services, such as drawing up custom floor plans and 3D colored models. Our extensive library also includes high-detail 3D color models, which aren't included here. We provide a wide selection of products, some of which can be explored in VR with the same tactile feel, audio quality, and spatial awareness as the actual thing. We also have a large variety of other products available, some of which are color renditions in a three-dimensional space. We have the in-house resources and seasoned project managers to oversee full-scale hotel renovations that are tailored to the specific requirements of each individual client. That's why we offer unparalleled assistance. Because of this, we are able to more efficiently serve our customers and expand our offerings. If any problems come up throughout your home renovation, we have the resources to deal with them. Our streamlined methods allow for the restoration of hotels to their previous glory in record time.

MEANT TO ASSIST

When it comes to significant branded hotel renovations, no one does it better than Greyton Construction. For several decades, the business has been thriving. This group has been going strong for decades. As a result of living for such a long time, they have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience. Their reputation for excellence has spread throughout the country. The construction time will be less disruptive to the property owner and more productive thanks to our efforts. All changes, whether to the outside or the interior, are included together under one word. It would be impossible to stress the importance of this one universal criterion for making these modifications.

OUR WORK

Our expertise is in building and renovating hotels for large hotel chains with 50-500 rooms. Possible time frames for addressing these issues range from ten weeks to a year. The time required to make all the required adjustments could range from two to ten years. Depending on how complicated an upgrade is, it could take anything from 10 weeks to one hundred. On average, a project takes us two years to complete from start to finish. We oversee the daily operations of these hotels located all over the world. The hotel's public spaces, including the lobby, restaurants, and event spaces, may all be updated without jeopardizing guest rooms.

In this piece, I'll argue that our process is superior to others like it and explain why that benefits our firm.

Our approach is deceptively straightforward because we focus on the fundamentals: careful planning, strict adherence to deadlines, and assigning the appropriate number of professionals to each project. When did all of these variants first appear? From the people in charge of cleanup to the CEO, everyone on the team needs to know what's going on. Inquiries to (866) 571-4600, thank you. There will be less money coming in and more going out if we delay getting things done. All of this is common knowledge to us. The process will repeat itself daily until the business is back up and running.

You need to get in touch with Greythorn right away.

Please enter your information below to be contacted by a member of our management team regarding a project. We promise to respond as quickly as possible. Please fill out this form if you would like to discuss a current project with a member of our management team. Be as specific as you can. We hope to be better equipped to address your needs now that you have this channel open to you. I can't tell you how much your help has been appreciated.

[oninspecte]

MOST COMMONLY OVERLOOKED IN HOME INSPECTION

A new house is the most expensive investment you will ever make; therefore, you must have it professionally examined before closing to make sure your future home is functional and structurally sound.

Your greatest chance of finding any problems or issues of concern is during a home inspection. This can help you to renegotiate the total price of you home before you close the deal. Home inspectors are experts who are knowledgeable in many home systems and all aspects of building. However, it is still very possible for some issues to go unnoticed by the inspector.

1.       Roof Leaks

Most home inspectors do not actually climb onto the roof to do the examination. They will use binoculars to scan the area from the ground and from windows on higher floors for any evident defects.

However, the team at Oninspecte is very thorough and makes the effort to climb onto the roof for a complete inspection.

They will also look for indications of water damage within the house. This visual examination will show nail pops and damaged or missing shingles, but it might not show concealed leaks.

2.      HVAC Problems

Many intricate electrical parts found in furnaces and air conditioners are vulnerable to damage. Running any HVAC equipment through a heating and cooling cycle will allow the inspector to gauge its general condition. They could also offer you a rough sense of when you would need to start thinking about getting a replacement device.

The unit may fail as soon as you gain control because these tests are fairly sporadic and do not provide assurance.

3.      Defective Appliances

All main appliances should be checked to make sure they are in functional and in working condition as part of a thorough home inspection.

In order to ensure there are no leaks or other evident issues, washers, dryers, and dishwashers are routinely put through a few cycles. This is only a preliminary diagnostic analysis to look for any internal problems. Appliances that are going to break down frequently continue to function for the duration of the examination.

4.      Grading Issues

Water can seep in around a home’s foundation due to soil settling, improper gutter installation and maintenance, and building mistake, which can harm both the home’s facade and its contents.

Water damage to the foundation can also draw undesirable insects and provides an ideal habitat for the growth of harmful mold. It may be challenging for the inspector to see these problems because of shrubs, bushes, or even snow or leaves.

What Can I do?

It is in your best interest as the buyer to attend the inspection, this will allow you to, make notes and ask questions. This valuable information can be used in your negotiations as well as prepare you for any eventual repairs.

Ask your broker to include a clause in your purchase agreement requiring the seller to permit inspections of the home’s interior spaces, including the basement, attic, and crawl spaces.

If the home inspection reveals anything suspicious, don’t be afraid to get in touch with a roofing business, HVAC professional, or other experts to carry out a more thorough evaluation.

[anon-of-the-void]

I feel like this needs to be said for everyone doubting themselves at any time with anything they do. (And I hope I make sense) This can be applied to EVERY interest one may have (but NOT including immoral shit. I do not support murder or anything criminal as a hobby. Just needed to clearify that. Moving on!)

We do our hobby because we like doing it. We appreciate the struggle and can be proud when we have finished the project.

Naturally we love to share that with others. Hear their thoughts on it. Hopefully get them hyped on it like we are. Receive praise for the work we put into it. It is nice to be known for something you do and are good at according to our interpretation of being skilled or "talented". There is no shame in it but people can be fucking cruel and some idiots just love to break others for a quick laugh.

Suddenly you are cringe when you do incredible stuff but don't have the community yet to back you up with views and likes and compliments. Now, any skill has become a contest for who is the prettiest or who makes it look the prettiest or who makes it sound the prettiest.

Niche things became mainstream. New things are being changed to fit that wave of a trend for some quick money grab.

Greed has killed passion.

We got addicted to the high of receiving praise in the hundreds to thousands to millions with just the press of a button. A button you can click on accident. A millisecond of barely an effort that has no character, no opinion, no thought and should have no weight to how we feel about the finished projects.

Sure, we use it to measure how valuable we think our skill is to the outside world. To everyone around us. To those living their own life and experiences. To the taste of people we may not have wanted to cater to. To a taste the project was never created for. But it has an opinion. And it's gonna use it.

In a lot of cases I see the doubt in the people who want to make it in the art world but simply get screwed over by the digital systems that helps so many other things become mainstream and the norm. And that shit is exhausting, never being first choice. Never being picked. And the few that pick you seem laughable in comparison to the big guys you may actually outdo with your creations.

What I am trying to say is that, if you create to be recognized and known for it, for the likes, for the fame- and you make it? Good for you. -if you fail at it? Quit it. You are not passionate about what you do. Maybe you even hate it. It can be incredible and some people will hate the loss of you creating things that others are passionate about. But still. Quit it. You are only hurting yourself. Choosing a path to get to fame- that thing you actually want- that you cannot stand is not helping you or the people in your life.

If you create because you appreciate the lows and are proud of the results. Get giddy when you get that idea and scrable to collect your materials. When you get lost in your own little bubble and forget time or that you had not eaten a thing for the last 10 hours. If you'd rather die than lose your vision or be unable to listen to music ever again or cannot draw or write. When you'd try everything in your power to find a way to still practice makeup or fashion or interior design even if all that's left is a brain with ideas, desperate to manifest them into something everyone can see, while being stuck in a decaying body. Imprisioned in your own flesh and bones. And you are not too focuses on all that you lost with it but instead cry for never being able to dance again or sculpt or simply making a little paper star to gift to someone retail worker who got yelled at by their boss again. If you'd rather die- do not quit.

Do not quit.

Never fucking quit.

Our days are numbered. We grow older and become more frail. We will be at that point eventually. Do you really want to mourn the ideas lost in your skull, stuck in your brain that will never see the light of day? Would you regret having silenced yourself because you didn't reach a silly little number of people you cannot even confirm are real (that is what we are online. A number. A made up name. And most of the time just some blank profile with nothing to show for itself.) I would. And I am pretty sure you would too.

If you create, and put your own needs to the side to create for anybody but yourself- take a breather. Throw your phone to the side. Go out and buy your favorite snack and drink and go on a walk. Sit outside and observe your surroundings. Be aware of what you see. Talk to yourself. Point out that the grass looks really soft and cozy. Or that that color is really pretty. Or count the rings of a cut down tree. Marvel at the age it reached. Wonder why it was cut. Give it 5 minutes of care that you wish you'd get from others. It sounds silly and it will feel silly but it will distract you or even make you aware of thoughts your brain was hiding in a corner.

If you can't find yourself enjoying anything you do, roll with the first ideas you get wondering what you used to do when you were a child. Board games? Dress up? Play make belief with some figurines? If you have it at home you are good to go to be cringe in the safety of your room. Be ridicolous! The sillier the better. Your goal is to reach a state of giddyness, happy stimming and your eyes glossing over, maybe even crying from the overwhelm of happy little feelings. Or go out and visit your favourite toy store with the intention to spend 20 bucks. Look at the toys you used to see as a kid still being sold years later. Look at the new toys and extended lines that were added into it. And if you are unsure about being there to buy toys for yourself then you are the fun aunty looking for a gift for the niece's birthday.

Important is to distance yourself from it for however long you think you need to. Do other things you know will bring you joy. You are in no rush to get back to creating in that specific hobby. After all, you are creating meals and outfits every day! Creativity needs a nap too sometimes.

Just never quit.

We all hate to lose. Hate to depart. And even when you choose to lose to greed in regards to that specific interest, maybe it was not worth fighting for. Maybe it is just a stop on the journey you want to stay at a while longer. Simply have fallen into the trap of tour guides instead of venturing out on your own. The possibility of doing so, getting lost or finding your connection back to the group are still as present as when you first arrived. All it takes is a choice or a happy little accident. Just never stop moving.

So?

Will you lose your passion to your greed?

Or will you make them work together and face the dangers of other people's greed that try and consume you.

The battle never stops. Greed will always be our threat. Our opponent. But it makes a difference if it is our own greed betraying us or somebody else's who has yet to realize they are at war with themselves and the people around them.

And that is ok. It has always been ok until someone decided it wasn't pretty to them. But it doesn't have to be pretty.

It just has to be real.

Low key feel like once I complete the last two requests that came in I may quit writing. My stuff just isn’t getting much traction.

Thoughts?

[bwall-7204]

Encanto as things my family has said #2

Luisa: “who needs therapy when you have DOLPHINS?”

Antonio: “and it ended in a gay love story”

Mirabel: *drops cards* “aa i pissed everywhere”

Dolores: “you dropped the cards.. you didn’t piss anywhere”

Mirabel: *throws pillow at him*

Camilo: “i’ve been SHOT”

Isabela: do you know Tony’s brother Mike?

Luisa: “mike hawk?” *realizes*

both: *laughing*

Camilo: *clanking hammers* “Heh. I’m touching tips.”

Isabela: “i’m looking up ‘gay crisis’”

Luisa: “i told him to hang up the shirt and he left it on the floor”

Camilo: *walking downstairs* “pizza.”

Dolores: “this is why he doesn’t do interior design”

Camilo: “hey😠”

Isabela: “if I fall backwards imma die.” *proceeds to fall* “ahh~”

Mirabel: “look at this phone doing the gymnastics”

Luisa: “you won’t be laughing when he’s in the olympics”

Mirabel: “if you put it in the ice it’ll become snowboarding”

Camilo: “dies gayly”

Isabela: “ew he hovered above me”

Isabela: “efforts lame🙄”

Luisa: “i am atoms”

Camilo: “i have a will of choice Dolores”

Luisa: “well your will of choice makes me sad”

Antonio: “i’m holding my toes”

Luisa: “no no don’t do that”

Antonio: *drawing*

Mirabel: “Antonio”

Antonio: “i’m printing”

Dolores: *walks in room out of nowhere holding toothbrush and toothpaste* “laughing at dead people is a serious mental illness”

Luisa: “you’re remaking noises from the bee movie and it’s upsetting”

Camilo: “ya like jazz”

Luisa: *fake cries* “he asked me if i like jazz”

Luisa: “omg we should watch the alpha and omega movie”

Antonio: “i’d rather die actually”

Dolores: “why are the shrimps raving”

Mirabel: “fart less, with Advil, the gas pill”

Dolores: “why is your foot vibrating????”

Mirabel: “Where’s Zendaya?”

Antonio: “Don’t call me a banana!”

Isabela: “you’ve got too much pumpkin in your pie”

Mirabel: “yknow what’s funnier than 24?”

Camilo: “my forehead.”

Luisa: “what if when you break your bones they glowed like glow sticks?”

Dolores: “you good??”

Isabela: “ur mom”

Luisa: “why are you assaulting the coins??”

Mirabel: “assaulting them?? we don’t salt coins we pepper them.”

Antonio: “i mean among us are just jellybeans but with legs and a bag”

Dolores: “man y’all got nasty crusty kids”

Camilo: “Sexy~”

Luisa: “No, it’s a marker.”

[lubdubsworld]

Insatiable. ( Jungkook x Oc) Chapter 3

Pairing : Jeon Jungkook x OC

Rating 18+

Genre : Vampire Au!!!! , DILF! Jungkook ! Bodyguard AU! Babysitter OC!   Age difference!!! [ bet you’ve never seen all of this in one fic before? ]

[ Some notes : Born Vampires stop aging when they turn twenty five.  Turned vampires stop aging when they’re turned. ]

Chapter 1   Chapter 2 

Chapter 3

“So, you guys looked pretty cozy in the garden.” Somi pursed her lips, disapproval evident on her sharp features as she watched me hop around, trying to pull the pantyhose up over the fleshiest part of my thigh. It was just a little past six thirty  and I already wanted the night to end. 

“He was telling me how he wanted me to have babies so his son could play with them.” I snapped. 

Somi blinked. 

“And uh..is he providing the baby batter?” She said drily and I laughed.

“I think..... he’s attracted to me.” I said dreamily, remembering the way he’d definitely gotten hard at breakfast this morning. 

“I mean, he’s a straight guy with eyes? Not surprising....” My sister grinned. 

“No, I mean... like actually physically attracted. I felt it too. it made me want to do something unholy with him.” I muttered, eyes misting over at the idea of being spread out on his bed. Satin sheets underneath my body, the weight of his body on mine. 

“He’s a vampire. Pretty sure anything you do with him is unholy.” She winked. I sighed, running a hand over my face. 

“Are you sure this is the way to go? “ I glanced at the robin blue off shoulder gown. I was wary of drawing attention to my neck, especially with a Kim. 

“It’s beautiful. Besides, it is your color. I want to see the look on Jungkook’s face when he sees you. Want to see him regret all his life choices.”

“i thought you didn’t approve of him.” i said amused. 

“I didn’t at first. But then you told me he rejected you and well, no one does that to my baby sister,” She glared and I hugged her close, placing a kiss on her forehead. 

I hesitated.

“Would it be too terrible if I tried to seduce him?” I bit my lips.

Somi’s eyes widened. 

“Sera...”

“Just hear me out.” I said urgently. 

She sighed. 

“Somi, I’ve never been with a man. I just... I can’t get married as a virgin ..I absolutely refuse to. And I sure as hell don’t want to give it up to one of these pompous little brats who act like utter douchebags.  So what am I supposed to do? Now, Jungkook ..” I paused, taking a deep breath to steady my pulse which raced every time I thought about him,. “ ...he’s...he’s so gentle. And nice and I just... I think he’ll make it good for me.”

I felt my face flame, half certain there was steam coming out of my ears. 

Somi looked slightly slack jawed. 

“Oh..um.. okay.” She laughed nervously. “ And how are you goig to get him to agree to this?” 

“Beg? ....  I don’t know...” I groaned. “ What do you think?”

Somi hesitated. 

“I think, for now you should concentrate on showing him that you’re not a child. So , do well tonight. At the dinner. Be polite courteous ... make good conversation... he’s going to be nearby right? Let him see you as an equal... I think he needs to trust that you guys are on equal footing before he will consider anything more ....”

I stared at her, my mind racing.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.” I kissed her again.  “i love you. Now get my make up on.”  I said excitedly. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For all that I wanted Jungkook to be slack jawed when he saw me, it was my own jaw that came unhinged when I opened the door to the hallway at exactly 7.00 PM

I stared, my eyes literally popping out of their sockets when i took in the absolute fucking  vision  he looked like. 

Tight, fitted leather pants that molded to his legs , putting those deliciously muscled thighs on display, so tight on his crotch that my mouth watered . A dark belt, cinched tight around his ridiculously slim waist and he’d paired it with a  blue silk shirt , that flowed around his torso like water. A thin black and blue striped tie hung around his neck, knotted loose and the end brushing past his waistline and a small silver earring dangled from his earlobes, catching the light of the lamp in the hallway. 

My throat went dry as I stared at him. 

And then i squinted. 

Oh God, was that a   nipple?

Nope. Not doing this today . 

 “Please excuse me!” I said hoarsely, voice cracking and face flushing red as I turned right back around , wrenched the huge oak door open and all but flew into the safety of my room before  slamming the door shut in his face. 

I sank to the floor in a heap, pressing a palm to my heart, trying to calm my pulse which had shot up so much. Somi stared at me from where she was putting away her cosmetics, eyebrows raised in surprise,. 

“What’s wrong?” She asked worried. 

“I think I just came untouched.” I whispered, staring at her with wide eyes.

Her eyes widened and her lips twisted in disgust.

“Oh my god, you horny little pervert!!! Get up from the floor, you’re wrinkling the dress!!”

I breathed rapidly, trying to get my brain to function but the sight of Jeon Jungkook’s nipples covered only by a thin silk shirt was burned into my mind. 

i had never wanted to lick something so bad. 

The knock on the door made me jump.

“Sera? Are you alright?” Jungkook’s voice called from the corridor and I whimpered. 

“I can’t do this... Please... i can’t.... don’t make me..” I begged. 

My sister gave me a glare and stalked over grabbing my arm and dragging me up with ease. 

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not like you’ve never seen Jungkook before, how hot could-” She pulled the door open and froze in place, her eyes going wide as saucers, lips parting in surprise as she stared at Jungkook.

“ Fuck me ..” She whispered softly, clearly having lost all her senses at the sight of him. I elbowed her hard, trying not to burst into tears.  .

Jungkook frowned.

“Excuse me?” 

“Nothing!! Nothing...she’s just excited that I’m finally dating again!!” I laughed cheerfully. 

Jungkook glanced between the pair of us, a small frown on his face but he didn’t question me further.

“Should we go?” He prompted and I smiled, wide. 

 Just don’t look at him. Don’t look at him and you’ll be fine.

I kept my gaze straight ahead as we walked down the corridor. 

“You look nice.” He commented casually and I swallowed.

“You look.....” decadent...like the kind of dessert I’d be tasting for hours... please let me lick your nipples...”.different.” I squeezed my eyes, willing myself to calm down but it was impossible. I swelled and ached in all the wrong places and my thighs trembled with the effort not to rub them together. My insides clenched, arousal dampening the bikini briefs I had on and i had to bite my lips to resist the urge to climb him like a tree and grind down on his thighs till I came. 

 fuck. 

“ Your father mentioned that it would be better if i blended in with the other patrons. He thinks it would make your date more comfortable if I didn’t hover around in black like a ghoul. “ He laughed. 

“ Ahahahahah....” i laughed shrilly, barely listening to a word he said because I was having a mental breakdown. 

I glanced to the front of his chest again, a quick sharp glance and yup.....those were certainly a pair of nipples, the nub hard and obvious through the silk of his shirt. 

Jungkook left to get the car and i stood at the entrance to the mansion, shivering lightly. The small fur throw i had on my shoulder was more for decoration than to keep warm and the night was chilly. 

By the time Jungkook brought the black Bugatti around, I was shaking. 

“Ooh... That’s a fancy car.” I commented , heart racing with how handsome he looked, gripping the steering wheel and he smiled. 

“It’s Namjoon’s . I thought you’d like to arrive in style today.” He grinned. 

I climbed in quickly, eager to get out of the biting wind. The interior was warm and cozy and i moaned, relaxing into the seats. 

“You look really good.” He said again, gaze flitting over me with a little more intent and I blushed. 

“You mentioned.” I whispered. 

“I see you in those godawful t shirts and stained jeans all the time and you’re usually just cleaning  spill ups or washing baby bottles  at the daycare so i keep forgetting .” He shook his head, thoughtfully, fixing the mirrors and glancing back. 

“Forgetting what?” i asked confused. 

“That you are literally the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” 

He said it casually, no fervent ardor behind his words . 

Just a matter of fact observation and somehow, the words felt like liquid heat being poured into me. 

it stuck me then, that I would give my entire life and soul to be on this date with Jungkook. To have dinner with him, to listen to him talk about himself. To tell him everything about myself. To just sit there, staring into his gorgeous face. Hold his hands over the dinner table and gaze into his eyes. 

 I’m so in love with you. 

“You’re not so bad yourself.” I said softly. 

“Yeah? I clean up good, don’t I?” He tilted his head, hair falling into his eye as he winked at me , a small smirk on his cherry red lips. 

I glanced away quickly, because staring at Jungkook was like staring into the fucking sun. 

staring at him made my eyes hurt. 

And it also broke my heart. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Sera....” Mingyu had a very familiar look on his face. A hungry, lustful , disbelieving look that I was altogether familiar with. 

I managed a weak smile in return, letting him hug me , wincing when he buried his nose into my neck, breathing in my scent like he was starving. And the honest truth was, I didn’t even blame him . Control came with age and Mingyu was way too young to have full control over his instincts. And I knew exactly what my scent did to a vampire’s instincts. 

But still, the grip on my waist was bruising and I was having a hard time breathing. I tried to push him away , a bit but Mingyu merely moaned, nosing in deeper.

“You smell amazing.” He sounded punch drunk . 

Over his shoulders, I caught Jungkook’s gaze as he sat at the table next to us. He was frowning deeply. 

“You okay?” He mouthed and I nodded.  it was way too early to pull the plug on this. We hadn’t even sat down for dinner yet. 

I grabbed the arm around me hard and dug my nails into the skin. That made him recoil, pulling away with a wide eyed look of horror on his face. 

“Oh.,..Oh God... I’m so sorry.. I didn’t mean too... I’m so sorry...” he apologized over and over again but I could see the way his eyes flashed red, every few seconds. His hands trembled and shook like he couldn’t wait to get them on me again and my skin crawled at the very prospect of it. 

The guy had zero control. He couldn’t keep his shit together for a dinner date in public. 

My mind flashed to Jungkook, how he’d barely batted an eyelash even while he was  literally  drinking from me and by contrast Mingyu looked like a snot faced, sniveling brat , desperate to have something he wasn’t entitled too. 

I sighed in defeat, tamping down the urge to cry. 

I hated this. Hated men like Mingyu who couldn’t see past what I was. Who couldn’t think past the idea that they would finally be able to drink from me, if they got me on a date. 

“It’s alright. Should we order?” I said softly, my voice shaking just a little. i jumped when water spilled over my hands, Mingyu having knocked his glass over while reaching for the menu. 

“Oh..Oh no.. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry...” He stood up, trying to grab the glass but the water had already spilled across the table dripping over the edge to my dress.

My brand new, Dior dress. 

I turned, letting my  horrified, miserable eyes flit  to Jungkook.

I blinked, shocked at what I was seeing. 

Jungkook was laughing, hard. 

I fought the urge to grin myself as he grinned, shaking his head in disbelief, fingers pressed against his lips in sheer disbelief. 

Well, I suppose it was a little funny. 

Mingyu was on his feet, bowing over an over again muttering about how beautiful I was and how sorry he was and I decided to put him out of his misery. 

Standing up, I bowed politely and stepped away. 

“Mingyu ssi.... I think we should postpone this to another day.” I said gently.

He glanced at me, his eyes flashing red again and gaze dropping to my neck. Oh, for god’s sake. 

“Can I have a taste though?” He said hopefully, holding a hand out to touch me and I flinched when his fingers closed on my wrist. .He yanked hard and I shrieked when his fangs came out, ready to sink into my skin.  

Jungkook materialized between us like he’d been conjured out of thin air. He grabbed Mingyu’s wrist, squeezing till the younger boy howled in pain and yanked him back so hard I heard something pop in his shoulder. . 

“Hands to yourself, Young Mr. Kim. I believe the lady said she would like to call it a night.” Jungkook growled into his face and Mingyu flushed. 

“Yes..Yes of course.. As you wish, Ms. Hwang. Can I have your number? “ He whispered and oh god, this was just so excruciatingly embarrassing for everyone right now.. 

Jungkook stared down at him like he was an insect he’d accidently stepped on. 

“You have to the count of five to get the fuck out of here kid.” He said drily. 

Mingyu flushed even redder, bowing to me once more before grabbing his jacket and scarpering away. 

I stared after him, completely stunned. 

“Can you believe he’s going to be a lawyer?” I whispered. 

Jungkook’s eyes met mine. 

We both started laughing at the same time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“This can’t be real. I refuse to believe, that what I witnessed was real.” Jungkook shook his head in disbelief as we waited for the valet to bring the car around.

I chuckled.

“You know what's actually unbelievable?  But true?” I said softly. 

Jungkook stared at me, eyebrows raised. 

“That is actually,  not  the worst first date I’ve had.” I admitted , grimacing. 

“Oh good god. “ He flinched. 

The valet arrived and I watched Jungkook head over to the driver side, before climbing in myself. I scrubbed the water stains on my dress after putting on the seat belt. Jungkook reached over, fixing something on my side of the dashboard and I held my breath as his shoulders brushed my breasts, the scent of his cologne filling my brain and turning it to mush. 

“so, what happened?” He asked settling back and I blinked. 

“huh?”

“Worst first date?” He prompted , pulling the car out into the driveway. 

“Oh... oh yeah. Freshman year of college. Agreed to date one guy...turned up at a hotel, he had three of his friends over.” I swallowed. “ They nearly killed me.”  

The car nearly veered off the pathway, Jungkook having gripped the steering wheel too hard and jolted it to the side.  

“Sera-  what? The sheer horror in his voice was palpable. 

“ They wanted a taste and I was an idiot back then I said okay just a taste for each of you...they were young...couldn’t control themselves .... so they just get drinking and well, I can usually let someone drink from me for a long time because my blood it sort of regenerates fast enough but...three people at the same time... I almost got exsanguinated.” 

“Jesus fuck.! tell me those bastards are dead...” He snarled. 

“My dad got them de-fanged.” I whispered. Jungkook flinched away as well. Being de-fanged was pretty much a death sentence because you couldn’t feed anymore. 

“Serves them right. Three of them...what the fuck.” Jungkook shook his head, jaw clenched. 

i swallowed.

“It’s kind of why I haven’t been with any Vampires. After that my dad got really protective of me and well, he doesn’t like the idea of me meeting  strangers. I was actually pre med back then. I couldn’t handle it. I quit and well, dad hired tutors for me and I got my degree in Childcare. And that’s okay. I love kids..” I laughed.

“You’re amazing with them. I’ve never seen Joowon this happy.” He said gently. 

“Its why I prefer staying with the clan. Only my family gets to feed from me occasionally because I don’t trust strangers to bite me, because they could lose control.”

The moment I said it, I regretted it. Jungkook’s eyes bore into me and i knew exactly what he was thinking. I didn’t trust people. Didn’t let anyone drink from me. 

And yet, I’d let Jungkook drink from me. He wasn’t family. He wasn’t even a friend. 

But he didn’t bring it up. instead he just sighed. 

“It’s not an excuse, you know. “ Jungkook said softly.

“Hmm?”

“Being young, its no excuse.  I’m not a born vampire which makes my instincts more potent and even dangerous but even in the first few months when I was turned... I never attacked anyone. Self control is a choice. That dude you met today... I doubt he gave a shit about you. Bastard just wanted a taste.... Could fucking see it in his eyes.” Jungkook sounded righteously upset on my behalf. 

“Now you know why I’m attracted to you.” I said softly. 

Jungkook froze. 

“Sera, -”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” I said quickly, hating myself. 

Jungkook didn’t reply. 

Cursing myself for ruining the mood, I cleared my throat.

“I still don’t have to be home for a couple of hours. We could go somewhere else...” I suggested softly.

Jungkook gave me a small smile.

“I’m your bodyguard, Sera. If you choose to go somewhere , I’m kind of obligated to follow you.” He reminded me. 

I flushed.

“Right.....yeah...yeah. of course.” I stumbled over the words, so reminiscent of Mingyu that I felt a little sick. 

“So where to, Ms. Hwang?” He said casually. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“People can’t stop staring at us tonight .” Jungkook grumbled, glaring at a couple who had stopped their bicycles, just to gawk at him.

I laughed, tugging on his sleeve to pull him to a more secluded spot of the river bank, both of us looking distinctly out of place in a crowd of people dressed in comfortable clothes. 

 I hugged myself, watching the waves lap the river bank as I sat on a rickety wooden bench, a few dozen feet away from the water’s edge . The river looked especially picturesque today, reflecting the incandescent lights from Seoul’s skyline. 

“It’s because we’re dressed like we’re presenting at the Oscars.” I grinned at him and Jungkook’s lips quirked in a small smile. He stood by, glancing around at the people watching by, occasionally at the river as well. 

“This is nice. Do you come here often?” He asked , eyes skimming the city’s skyline , as he stuck his hands into his pockets. 

I hummed. 

“Sometimes. With Somi or Jimin. They like those ice lollies you get down the road.”  I smiled. “ I brought the kids here one weekend and they had a lot of fun.” 

Jungkook laughed.

“I bet they did. I should bring Joowon here someday.” He said thoughtfully. 

“ I could pack you guys some lunch.  Make it a picnic. “ I suggested and his gaze shifted to me thoughtful. 

“That won’t be necessary Ms. Hwang. I’m sure one of the cooks will be able to do it.” He said evenly and I tried not to let the words sting. 

“Of course.” I turned back to the river. 

For a few minutes we didn’t say anything. 

“Where were you? Before moving to Seoul?” I asked quietly. 

Jungkook hesitated before moving around to settle next to me on the bench. 

“Busan.” He said , staring out into the distance. “ I worked for a warlock there . For five decades nearly. His daughter was part vampire , part witch and well... I was lonely. “ His face showed a whole lot of regret, “ She had Joowon five years ago and tried to offer him as a blood sacrifice or something when he was born.” He grimaced. 

“She what?” I said stunned. 

He ran a palm over his face

"I didn’t want to do it but I had to kill her. Joowon was three months old and well, I had to quit my job soon after. Moved to one of the smaller villages nearby. Your father paid for my food and lodging. He wanted me to come over to the clan at once but I didn’t want to be a freeloader. When your father suggested you needed protecting, i thought it would be a good way to pay him back for everything.” He sighed. 

“Did you know who I was?” 

He gave me a look.

“Every Vampire with a dick knows who you are.” He said ith a dry smile and I flushed, looking away. 

“Jungkook...”

“The most desirable of humans. The perfect mate. The unsullied jewel of the Hwang clan.” 

He was laughing now, eyes warm and fond in the fading light of dusk and I found myself completely bewitched. 

“Unsullied....” I shook my head. “ I can’t believe people know I’m a virgin.” 

Next to me Jungkook went completely still. 

I turned to him and there was no mistaking the stunned look on his face. 

“What?!” I said feeling like my face was on fire. “ I told you I’ve never been with a Vampire.” 

“I didn’t think you meant... “ He stopped, swallowing. “ Anyways its none of my business. Let’s talk about something else.” 

Something wicked began to stir inside me.

“I’m saving it for the right man.” I said softly. And then I turned to stare right at him, long enough to get the point across. 

He stiffened a bit more.

So i barreled on. 

“These bumbling fools who can’t string two words together in my presence....They don’t deserve someone like me, don’t you think?” I prompted. 

He swallowed again and I felt a sort of vindictive satisfaction. Just knowing that I affected him possibly just as much as he affected me. It soothed my bruised ego a bit, the way he refused to meet my eyes now, making up for his brutal rejection earlier. . 

“I deserve someone amazing, don’t you think Jungkook?” I pressed on and he finally looked at me, eyes blazing. 

“Only the best for you, princess.” He muttered  holding my gaze. and I tried to ignore the way the nickname made warmth bloom all over my skin. 

“Yes. Only the best. I don’t want any of these younglings with their fumbling hands and stammering words. I want a  man. Someone who knows how to put me  in my place.” 

Jungkook gripped the bench hard the old wood splintering under his strength and I bit my lips. 

“Someone who can be gentle, show me what I’ve been missing out on. Show me how good it can be with the right person, who can get me wet and wanting without even touching me...” 

He exhaled sharply at that 

“We should probably get-” he moved to get up but i was quicker. . 

Not so fast, Mr. Jeon. 

I scrambled over to him, climbing his lap and grinding down on him, before he could fully realize what I was doing. The impact took him by surprise and he grunted, settling back on the neck and hands gripping my thigh to stop me from toppling over. 

“Sera-what” he looked furious but i pressed a palm to his mouth. 

“Are you going to pretend you don’t understand what I’m asking for?” I demanded, heart pounding against my ribcage as I looped his tie over the wrist of my other hand, once , twice, giving it a yank so he had to bend over, his lips inches away from mine. 

“And exactly what are you asking for, princess ?” He whispered, his breath warm against my lips.

“A teacher. Someone who can show me the ropes.” 

“Ropes? For your first time....oh baby, you sure?” His eyes danced with mirth. 

Not entirely sure what he was implying, I just stared back at him.

“You can do it. You can be my  first. “ I brushed my lips against his, softly. it was barely a touch, hardly a kiss. 

Jungkook stared at me, his hands lightly squeezing my thighs  for one second, before falling to his sides again. 

“The only first I’m going to be,  is the first man to toss you into a fucking river, if you don’t get off me right now , Princess.” He said casually. 

I stared at him, refusing to budge and he stood up anyway 

i yelped, nearly landing on my butt before i managed to catch my balance. 

He made to walk away but i grabbed his arm, pulling him close. And it was ridiculous, the fact that he came closer, the fact that he let me grab his wrist, bring them up to my waist. 

“Please kiss me.” I begged. 

“You don’t want this.” He said softly, hands rising up to brush the hair off my forehead and I gripped his shoulders levering myself up to press a kiss to his lips.

It was quick, over before it even began. 

“That’s the only kind of kiss I’ve ever had. “ I said desperately “ It was a boy in college. He kissed me like that and then he asked me if he could bite me. I refused and he never talked to me again....”

“Sera...” He looked stricken and miserable and I let my fingers flutter to his collar, gripping it hard and yanking on it, feeling angry and upset and altogether miserable. 

How ridiculous...that men all over the country tripped over themselves to be with me and yet here I was, reduced to a pathetic begging mess just for one measly kiss from this man..... 

 “ I want to be kissed. I don’t know how it feels to be kissed..to be wanted for something other than the blood that flows in my veins.... I just want someone to kiss me because they want to...because I’m beautiful and precious and i deserve to be kissed and -” 

Fingers clamped over my arms, gipping me hard and almost lifting me off the ground as Jungkook pulled me up, my eyes fluttering shut just as his lips closed over mine, soft and tender and warm and wet and so delicious I couldn’t stop the moan that slipped out. 

I let my hands fall to his chest, the soft smooth silk of his shirt felt like heaven underneath my fingers and through the thin fabric i could feel his heart, pounding against his ribcage. I ran my fingers over his torso, the strong muscles flexing beneath my fingers and my fingers crept up to grip his upper arm, the coiled strength in his bicep making my legs quiver. 

He tasted like mint , his tongue licking the seam of my lips and begging entrance and my lips parted in surprise, the sensation so new and electrifying. 

I gasped when I felt his tongue tangling with mine as he pressed in closer. I groaned , almost forgetting to breathe when Jungkook’s  lower lips brushed mine, his teeth tugging the plump flesh of my lips harshly , biting down gently and my lips parted, giving him better access. He was so warm and strong and big and  i couldn’t get enough of him, my body wanting nothing more than to stay pressed against his for the rest of our lives. 

He used slow, subtle strokes of his tongue to taste me, gentle licks that made my head swim and it felt like I was drowning, in the heady taste of him . I felt weak as a kitten, my fingers scrambling up to grip his hair, tangling in the silky black locks, gripping to ground myself and i accidentally yanked a little too hard making him pull back, a little. 

 He laughed gently, right against my lips, the sound sexy and arousing and I groaned, chasing the taste of him and Jungkook obliged, nipping my lips again with his teeth , soft little pin pricks of pain and pleasure,  before laving the abused skin with his tongue. His hand came up to cup my cheek, holding me in place as he kissed me deeper . 

 I could feel myself go weak in the knees, stumbling into him and he wrapped one arm around my waist holding my body up as he nibbled and teased and drove me insane with his touch. 

Jungkook’s hand slipped, from my cheek, down to my neck, his fingers brushing back and forth on my bare shoulder before moving down, lightly gently brushing my breast . 

I melted, gasping as he shaped the swell of my breast with his hand, thumb rubbing gently against the tip till my nipples pebbled up and I felt a sob build up, pulling away from him to catch my breath, gripping him hard and burying my face in his shoulders, overwhelmed and shaking. 

“Darling... you alright?” Jungkook whispered, hands reaching up to stroke the back of my head and i clung to him, wrecked. 

“Please don’t let me go.” I panicked when he made to move away and he froze at once, drawing me closer, hugging me tighter.

“I’m right here princess. You’re going to be okay.” His voice rumbled through my body and I willed myself to stop shaking but i couldn’t. 

“What did you do to me...?” I asked hoarsely, my body thrumming. 

He laughed, voice low and tinkling. 

“I kissed you. You begged me to kiss you and I obliged.” He teased. 

I shook my head against the fabric of his shirt, clutching his waist harder. 

“That was not a kiss.” I snapped. “ That was...That was....attempted murder.”  

 Jungkook laughed harder at that, 

“Take deep breaths, darling. Relax.... You’re going to be okay. Just catch your breath you’ll be fine.” He kissed the top of my head, gentle and fond and I closed my eyes. 

“I need a few more minutes.” I said softly. 

“ I’m right here. “ He whispered. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jungkook turned the car off and we both sat in the silence, staring straight ahead into the murky waters of the river. I was still in shock, my brain rendered entirely useless from one single kiss.

 He had kissed me senseless. 

 Literally. 

“I can’t give you what I want.” He said gently. 

I bit my lips.

“I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.” I whispered. 

He made a sound, a sharp little exhale.

“Fuck, Sera...you’re killing me.” He swore. 

I clenched my fists. I was so scared, that this would be yet another rejection and I just knew that I couldn’t live without his kisses. Not now, when I knew just how amazing they were. 

“I’m serious. I... I won’t ask you to court me or do any of that serious stuff. Just.. Just want you to touch me. Keep touching me. And kissing me. ” I finished stupidly. 

Jungkook laughed a little.

“God, you’re so young... I feel like the worst kind of man for wanting this so fucking much.” 

I felt my heart soar at that. it was the first time he’d acknowledged wanting me and i reveled in it. 

“If we’re going to do this, I need you to understand exactly what you’re getting into.” He said softly. 

I felt my heart begin to pound, a steady thrum that was so loud in my ears that I couldn’t fathom how he couldn’t hear it. 

“This is going to be physical. Only physical. I don’t want you to dream of something that isn't going to happen. “ He said sternly. 

I nodded. 

It sounded like a recipe for a disastrous heartbreak but if i could get more kisses like the one I’d just had.... well, maybe I could deal with it when it happened. 

“I’m the one who gets to decide when , where and how.” He turned to look at me and I met his gaze. “ i won’t have you trying to climb me in the mansion in front of everyone.” 

i flushed. 

“Fine. “ I snapped. 

“You don’t stop meeting your potential suitors. You don’t turn them down without cause.” 

I groaned.

“Jungkook...” i began but he held a hand up. 

“Not all of them are going to be incompetents fools, Sera. There’s a guy out there good enough for you. “ He insisted ,  “  I’ll warm your bed till you find him, because you’re beautiful and I’m fucking weak” He shook his head, laughing without mirth, “ but... I won’t have you ruining your chances of making a worthy match. “ 

I nodded. 

“Alright. Anything you say.” 

He gave me another long look before starting the car. 

“Okay. My room, tomorrow. After 11.00PM. Wear something I can take off easily.” He said drily. 

I felt the grin creeping into my face, wide and shameless and he groaned. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note : Jeon Junkook ssi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A chapter inspired entirely by jeon jungkook’s nipple in that blue shirt.