#freshen up my drawing process

[applestruda]

THERE IS NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE YOU ARE AWESOME AND YOU DONT NEED TO OWE ANYONE ANYTHING!!!!!! PLEASE TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ty for the kind words i appreciate them!

I realize I probably don't need to apologize for it or anything but it's just been a few years since I've been this artblocked and it felt weird to not be drawing as much

[mschievousx]

now and then | b.b.

pairing: benedict bridgerton x ofc, anthony bridgerton x ofc (platonic)

summary: loraine silva always knew she was not normal. she loves unusual things. she love her father's guns, horses, boxing, climbing a tree, falling from a tree, engineering, astronomy... oh, and a man eleven years older.

series masterlist

prologue

she stirred awake with a grumble, as she does most days—which is immediately replaced with a grin after ten minutes of simply opening her eyes and staring at the ceiling. another day, another number of various things she can do. and so, she wasted no time to freshen herself up.

as she stepped out on the streets of grosvenor square, her immediate touch brought radiance to the place. no, she was not a smiling fool nor was she greeting everyone. it was not that type of radiance. she hated that. yet, one can argue the opposite when she finally arrived at the bridgerton's house.

"'tis a fine day, is it not?"

"raine!"

the girl jumped up, her book forgotten as she put it on the couch and hugged the girl who's standing with open arms under the arch to their drawing room.

"oh, how i have missed you, eloise!"

"why do you both act like you were not together the entirety of yesterday?" colin voiced out as he read the newspaper, not bothering with any greetings. they have all long passed that. eloise sent a glare to her brother just as their mother arrived.

"loraine, darling!" she took the young lady's cheeks in delight, "how are you and your father?"

she smiled warmly at that. violet took it to herself to act as her mother-figure, given that their families were closely tied, "never been better, lady bridgerton."

the older woman gave her a look at the use of her title before leading her to a couch near the fireplace.

"are you well-prepared for tomorrow's start of the season?"

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

"are you well-prepared for tomorrow's start of the season?

violet smiled as she asked her second-eldest daughter. eloise is well-prepared, she knew, in terms of physical and material aspects. internally, however, her daughter was having a fit, both of nervousness and fury.

"mama, i am very much prepared, but you should know that i am calling for all miracles right now so that i cannot attend tomorrow."

raine laughed, saying it's a good thing she's much prepared at the very least. her friend turned to her with a look of betrayal.

"you will be this next year, and i thought we're gonna be spinsters together!"

"no, that was penelope." she said as she stood up and dusted her dress, "when my season comes, i would very much like to marry, especially to that man dabbling on his pad."

she gestured with a head tilt to the man sitting near colin. they all need not turn to know who she was referring to as eloise rolled her eyes. raine chuckled at her reaction before another voice graced the room. well, not exactly grace.

"ugh, it's too early to deal with you."

violet turned to her eldest and immediately closed her eyes with a sigh before giving him a pointed look.

"anthony, it's already nine, and don't be rude."

the young lady turned to the source of the voice and grinned in an instant, clasping both her hands together in chest level sweetly, "i have missed you so much, anthony!"

"i don't share the sentiment." he replied with nonchalance as he took a biscuit and sat by his younger brothers.

"anthony will be marrying this season."

she paused for a moment, as if processing, before she broke out with laughter as she heard the words marry and anthony in the same sentence, but noticing the silence around her, she turned back to violet, "no... seriously?"

"why does it come as a surprise to everyone?" the man in question grumbled. raine finds herself nearing the eldest.

"but why the sudden change?"

anthony sighed as he swallowed the biscuit on his hand, "it probably has not come to your little mind that this family needs a viscountess. a viscountess is a lady that—"

"shush," he's lucky that's the only thing he got from her, given that she is to become a viscountess herself next year and he was mansplaining. she looked up in glee and clasped her hands again with true joy this time, "oh, i'm going to have so much fun this season!"

violet thinks that anthony and raine is a great pair and she would have been pushing for it already, had raine not been in love with benedict.

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

"as much as i love you, lady bridgerton, i do not want to talk about anything with relation to my societal season and marriages."

kate and anthony entered the room, just in time for the debutante's antics. the matriarch sighed at the apparent lack of interest from the girl, while the latter broke into the widest grin.

"i would, however, welcome the conversation if i'm paired with benedict."

she turned to her other side where lies the subject, both of the topic and her affections, "speaking of which, will you marry me now, ben?"

the second-eldest son did not open his eyes from the sleepless nap he was having as a boyish smile made its way to his lips, "not a chance."

"ah, what a shame." she smiled at the sight of him before turning back to his mother with a clap, "well, there's always tomorrow."

[rhapsoddity]

i STG i had an ask asking about how to format comics / advice,, but its vanished,, I must've accidently deleted it so OOP

have some scuffed comic advice ig??

so heres a very very basic comic, very much how I used to format my comics when I was younger

the problem with it is every panel is a bust shot, so all the panels look the same

one way to freshen up your comic is to change the style of shots! kept one close up, but then I changed one to over the shoulder and one fullbody shot of both characters

also sticking to the rule of keep characters on the side they're shown, unless you show a panel of the characters moving from one side of the panel to the other

if you're struggling to figure out what shots to use you could always put everything into one panel, means you have to draw less lmao

full page comics with multiple panels is a bit different, and I'm not experienced in them so I cant give advice for those lol

Lemme know if yall want me to explain how I do anything else for my comics/aus! I'm mostly making it up as I go along but I can try to explain to yall my thought processes lol

[darklovecat]

how do you know what suits you best?

Knowing my McJimsey Essence!

Discovering my style essences was an important aspect of my journey towards defining my personal style. Your physical appearance, build, height, facial characteristics, hairstyle, manner, voice, and expression all contribute to your overall style essence and I have found McJimsey Essences to be a valuable tool in figuring out what clothing looks good on me and upgrading my style.

The 7 Style Essences.

The 7 Style Essences Explained.

The Ingenue Style Essence.

The Dramatic Style Essence.

The Natural Style Essence.

The Romantic Style Essence.

The Angelic Style Essence.

The Gamine Style Essence.

I don't follow Kibbe, I find it too restrictive and the typing posts are amusing to me because people always disagree and there seems to be a great deal of discrepancy despite the supposed expertise of those involved. It's meant to facilitate the process of finding your personal style but there's more confusion than clarity, Kibbe is not exactly what I'd call a fashion icon, so I avoid it all together.

I've been following McJimsey Essences for years now and I find it a lot more straight forwards than categorizing people based on their body types and there's just so much more depth to it and room to play around and have fun with it. It's not as rigid or limited as other style cults, most people are a mix of multiple essences, and it allows for creativity and experimentation while still offering guidance which I love.

I am mostly ingenue with a strong undercurrent of gamine, lots of ethereal and a dash of romantic. I still love dressing in all of my classic looks but adding elements from my essences have worked wonders for creating a more cohesive and harmonious look and I can switch it up based on the occasion. I love browsing through Pinterest, saving outfits and recreating looks, updating my wardrobe, revisiting and drawing inspiration from Art and Fashion in Clothing Selection, and taking notes to freshen up my look.

Cat.

[eeunoia]

ENHYPEN Series

sinag — psh.

prelude

synopsis: waiting for a great plot twist in your life, the ruthless and powerful mafia boss park sunghoon forced his way in to it.

pairings: park sunghoon x oc

word count: 2k

warnings: a contains violence, guns, killings, abuse, obsessive love & other stuff. if you can't take this stuff, feel free to scroll away. let me know if i missed some.

note: leave some messages on my ask! thank you so much for reading.

© 2023 eeunoia — all rights reserved.

here ‹ teaser | chapter one › here

You screamed as you sat yourself up from your bed awoken from sleep by a terrible nightmare. Shaking a bit, hair messy and drenched with cold sweat, your eyes wanders around the dimly lit room anxiously. One of your hands slowly trailed towards your chest and clasped your frantically pounding heart. Being acutely aware of what happened in the dream made you so upset.

Tears formed at the corner of your eyes, unable to even think properly. These are just one of those days when you dream or more like relive what happened to you that horrifying night. Memories you wish to entomed at the back of your mind and eventually forget about it. If you can only get rid of it like magic, you would trade anything. You stood up and head towards your bathroom, bowing to your fate to go on your day like nothing’s wrong.

After taking a shower and dressed up to fully freshen yourself up before going to the office, you stopped by your kitchen for a coffee. While waiting for the beans to be ready, your mind went blank and to feel frazzled without even starting your day is unbelievable for you. The nightmare sure worked and sucked all of your energy for today.

The ride on the way to the company you work at was surprisingly short, probably because you are still out of it. When you arrived at your floor, Laurie, one of your team members, looked in distress. She was leaning over her table, hands resting over her head while staring blankly at nowhere. At the sight of you, a hint of irritation flashes through her face.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, jumping off from her seat then start dragging you towards the pantry of the office. Taking advantage of the early time and having the whole room for yourselves.

“What happened? You don’t look okay.” it was funny coming from you when you aren’t too.

She sighs and rolls her eyes, “What happened last night on your date?” her way of saying it was like an interogation. The bitterness through her tone was clear. Your brows folds and draws together, causing a crease to your forehead. It was hard for you to put the puzzle together right away.

“Huh? Last night?” your words stall at the attempt of remembering of what you did the past night.

Your brows arched after a couple of seconds, “Ah! You mean with Mr. Kang? It’s not a date, Laurie. Its a work dinner.”

The unpleasant look on her face shows off her frustrations about something. “Well something obviously happened and you did something that upsets Mr. Kang! Maybe he thought it was a date! Did he confess? Did you reject him?” she sounded worked up, trying to make you throw up answers she’s been deprived off. It was too many for you to even process it one by one.

“He invited me to go on a trip outside of the country and I declined it saying I have a boyfriend—”

“He did what?!” her eyes were big and even held both of your arms, shaking you a little. You blinked a couple of times, confused and started to feel uneasy of her behavior. You two aren’t the closest friends and she’s very vocal of her totally not liking you. She often tries to make malicious comments about how Mr. Kang has always too kind with you, envying.

“He likes you, Ae!” she says. “And now that you rejected him, he’s punishing all of us. Thank you very much!” the sarcasm was too much that it hurts your ears.

You are still confused, but you shift your weight on your other leg before trying to catch on what’s happening. She lets go of you and leaned over the counter before staring blankly at the wall like a new found habit. She looks like she’s about to go crazy any minute now.

“Why? What did he do?” the eagerment now passed on you, worried of what he possibly did that upsets Laurie this much.

She glanced at your direction, eyes shooting glares, “He wants us to start again with our campaign advertisement.”

Now that made you utterly shock. You refuse to believe what you heard from her. Closing your distance with her, you stepped once and gently grabs her arm to make her look at you.

“He can’t do that! He just approved it yesterday.”

She pursed her lips and shoved your hold off. ”He just did, Ae. He calls me a while ago and he looked so pissed.” she then lets out a strained sigh. Even without saying it straightly, you are being blamed. She’s blaming you.

“I can’t believe you flirts with him and then rejects him! Now all of us have to suffer because of you!” the veins over her neck pops out in frustration.

“I neve did that, Laurie.” you tried telling her, but she just rolls her eyes as she cross her arms.

“Whatever! Everyone here knew you’re suspicious.” she mumbles the last line. You heard it, tho and you aren’t surprised.

Your shoulder fell too as you leaned over the counter beside her. Eyes shut for a while you throw your head back and silently wished all of this are not happening. The exhaustion you were feeling before going here just got worst. This day isn’t going well for you already.

“There you are,” the two of you snaps your head at one of your workmate when she talked.

“Mr. Kang is looking for you, Ms. Lee.”

You stood up straight as you glanced at Laurie for a while. She showed an unpleasant expression before rolling her eyes in defeat. You told the girl that you will go in a bit and so she left. Laurie turns and face you.

“Go and try to change his mind! Do something, Aelia! Fix the mess you created!” her requests came out arrogantly and gave a short nod.

You feel bad that she’s making up stuff and that she’s blaming you, but you admit you felt bad for the whole team. Maybe you are at fault at some way and so you should really do something about it. You can’t just let it all put into waste.

Determined to stood your ground, you walks towards the office of your boss. His secretary’s restless expression on her face indicates that he’s probably in a foul mood. It somehow made you feel anxious.

“He’s waiting for you.” she stood up and opted to open the door for you, “He’s in a very bad mood, Ae.” she whispers under her breath as a warning that made your knees almost wobble on your way inside.

He was at his swivel chair, a folder on his hand, forehead creased while reading whatever document it is. He didn’t spare you a glance at all. Its starting to make you wonder if the guy from last night’s dinner and him are the same person. Thinking that you made someone upset pinches something in you. You hate that feeling at all.

“Good morning, Mr. Kang.” you tried to sound enthusiastic to somehow lift the mood, but to your dismay he was unresponsive.

“I want you to prepare your passport.” he stated that made you blink twice. His words didn’t sink in, totally not processing for you. Did he mention passport? Your passport?

“Sir?” you calls, baffled on the spot.

He finally lifts his gaze and eyes you with a placid look on his face. “Are you deaf? I said prepare your passport. I will send you in another country for a business meeting and a seminar.”

You have no idea if he’s just talking too fast or his words are just nonsense that’s why you cannot understand any of it. Pretty sure it was the latter as you can’t help but to start feeling irritated. He can be upset about last night, yes. But this is terribly unrighteous.

“I’m sorry Sir, but I can’t—”

“You can’t?” he cuts you off then lets out a scoff, “Are you saying I promoted the wrong person to be the team leader?” his tone taunting, sounding more like a challenge.

“N-No, Sir. It’s just I can’t go on a seminar and leave my team with all the works due.” your reason definitely makes a point, but your boss sure is determined on making you suffer.

“I don’t care. This is an order from your boss. Are you seriously reasoning out to me? I didn’t know you are this arrogant.”

You pursed your lips and tried hard not to say anything that can upset him even more. He closed the folder he was holding and tilts his head to the side.

“Its either you go to that seminar or you put your resignation letter on my table tomorrow morning.”

Your shoulder fell at what you heard. He held you at gun point. You worked hard to earn the position you have right now, you did everything you could to be here and so you surely didn’t want lose this. If you think about it, there’s a lot of benefits if you go to this seminar. You’ll learn from it and it will be good to your work records, all in all you’ll gain from it. It’s just that after what happened from your last trip which is years passed already, you developed fear of going on out of the country trips. The mental trauma it caused you left a deep scar that just by thinking of being in a place you barely know cause you panic attacks. It was terrible.

Laurie was hopeful when you walked inside your office. She peeks through the cubicle like a meer cat and gaze at you with full curiosity.

“What? What did he said?” she asked.

You sighed heavily and crashed yourself over your swivel chair. The frustration, annoyance and stress slowly spoiling your mood you couldn’t even make yourself into saying it to her. Some of your team members were there as well, looking and waiting for an update. They already assumed that it didn’t go well based on how you’re looking right now.

“He tasked me to attend a business meeting and seminar outside of the country.” you mumbles that made Laurie even more confused.

“What? Why is he sending you there on a trip while we suffer here to revise everything?” she exclaimed, she’s so upset yet again.

The glares on her eyes didn’t slipped off of you. Its not surprising anymore. It often happen whenever the boss favors you, she always thinks that you are charming your way to success and that you’re being unfair. That was totally untrue. You know to yourself how much you worked hard for this. Some people just couldn’t keep their thoughts to themselves, judging you wrongly out of envy.

“It’s not a trip, Laurie. Its for business.” you tried to tell her, but she rolls her eyes and arrogantly sat back down.

“Whatever! This is all your fault in the first place! You’re making us re-do all of it while you go on a trip!” she started blabbering that made some of your workmates to stare.

You wanted to tell her that she’s wrong and that it would be more traumatic for you, but you refrained yourself. Instead, you stood up and went out to go to the bathroom. Thankfully, nobody was there so you can breath and calm down. Your mind are on a mess as of the moment. There’s just so much going on. You wanted to let it all out and to tell someone about it.

“Mom,” you calls out after she picks up the call.

“What is it? I’m playing poker with my friends! Why are you calling, Ae?!” obviously, she wasn’t interested. When did she ever took interest about your life or to you in general? Despite of it, you tried to still open up to her.

“D-Do you think I should quit my job? I’m really having a hard time.” your voice cracked while saying it and just by hearing you, a normal person will feel sympathy. It was clear as a water that you are having a hard time.

“What do you mean quit your work?! Are you crazy?! How will we pay our debts after sending you to college? What about our rent, our food? You are so selfish! You only think of yourself!” she was outrageous.

You felt your heart ache at her words. Not only that your Mom didn’t listen to your words, but she only thinks of herself. You are thankful for them for sending you to college despite pursuing the degree you don’t really like. But after graduating and working, your parents started depending on you like you’re their bank or something. They stopped working and just left everything under your care.

“I’m s-sorry, Mom.”

You have a lot of things you wanted to tell your Mother. None of it came out from your mouth. As always, you kept it to yourself. This is one of the things you hate. Your best friend always tells you that sometimes, you’re being too selfless. That you’re such a people pleaser.

A tear left your eye as you try to get your shit together.

“Stop being ungrateful and be a good daughter to your parents! Don’t give me headaches!” and with that she ended the call.

Your parents are not very fond of you. Ever since you were a child, you are by yourself. You learned things alone. Before, you tried to convince yourself that its because your parents are busy working to support your needs. Later on, it slowly dawned in you that maybe they don’t really love you. They just did what they need to do in order for them to have someone they can depend on. And they did. They raised someone with a soft heart, someone who values family so much that she will turn blind-eye to everything they do.

It was tiring, but you have no other choice. They are your family and even if they’re cold, they are all you have. Sometimes, you just wished you will find someone who will love you the way you love them.

“Park Sunghoon.” the young man lifts his eyes from the papers he was reading over to the old man who entered his office. The frown on his face tells Sunghoon that he’s clearly upset.

“You have no business in being here, Mr. Kwon.” he tried to sound casual.

“I will not tolerate this behavior anymore! My daughter doesn’t deserve this humiliation!”

Sunghoon sighs and settles the folder down to his table. “You’re the one who kept on putting her in that place. I already told you, I will never marry her.” his strict blank eyes watches him carefully, unfazed.

“You are a disgrace to your family! What kind of man will turn back to a promise? And you are calling yourself a leader?!”

Sunghoon tilts his head over to the side, “As far as I remember I never promised anything. It was my father who proposed about that engagement. I had nothing to do with it.”

“You are to follow your Father’s order! And that is to marry Luna!”

He scoffed, an unamused grin crept over his face. “I am not under him, Mr. Kwon. I don’t bow to him and follow his orders.”

Sunghoon stood up, his aura intimidating the older one. “I created my name on my own, without any help from him. Do you think I will let him control me? Nobody will ever make me follow their orders.”

“And yet you are a slave to your own emotions.” Mr. Kwon stated.

Sunghoon didn’t speak.

“This obsession you have with this girl,” he starts. “soon it will be all a waste of time. Once you realized it was just one of your rebellious stunts to prove something, you will know that marrying Luna is your best option to widen your influence and power.”

“I will do everything so you end up with my daughter.”

Sunghoon clenched his jaw and silently stared at the old mafia boss' eyes. Slowly, he grins.

“There’s only one girl that I will marry.” he says in calm yet cold tone. “And I’ll do everything as well to have her.”

here ‹ teaser | chapter one › here

main master-list

sinag main master-list

permanent tag-list:

@rubyanne @map-of-border @hwangjangmi @crjwon @love13tter @edensgardenn @simpforniki @classicroyalty @bridgebridgebirdiebridge @hime98 @moonsclassyslore @ddeonubaby @yeoungie @acciomylove @mymeloem19 @jvngw0n @dreamjerky @minamoons @clar-iii @herasalvatore @nyfwyeonjun @rcveribin @yizhoutv @one16core @soobin-chois @kyutiepeachy @chareadingpurposes @hwalllllllelujah @solelyenha @90sni-ki @nourhan-8 @nikipedia07 @yangbreads @drunkjazed @kimmchijjajang @hoonbrry @axartia @all4haru @sta-rie @hiqhkey @purplepuppychild @iceeee @wtfhyuck @tobiosbbyghorl @nikililmj @moonlightisland @ayayiiie @aeyeree @bitchychildmiracle

tag-list:

@heeseung-min

[tendebill]

OCtober day 4 - re-design

i decided to use this as an opportunity to freshen up charlie :D! another Evoterra side character. her old design is below if you're curious

(more info/prompt credits under the cut)

so, beware, here's her old/original design, at least from what i could rememeber, she did go through one more re-design before, plus i couldn't be arsed to find the actual drawings of her i'd done over the years. also im pretty sure i created her as a tokyo ghoul oc??? or something like that??? not sure. also she used to have a bigass scythe as a weapon, which has since been passed onto another character - Hyo.

she doesn't play a major role in the plot, she's mostly just a fun character to have around. she was subjected to similar experiments as Bitzy and some of her crew, but while most of them got mutations (some came out better than others), she was among the many that were just hurt by the whole process and seemingly got no powers out of it.

i need to refresh her exact story and condition a little bit, but, FUN FACT, she's not actually powerless!! she's CONSIDERED powerless but she's really not! i made it canon that she was experimented on using Maffi's DNA and based on the experiments they conducted on Charlie, two other characters (Brendon from one of my previous posts and another character ive yet to name or design) were able to unlock some form of mind control powers safely with great results. all at her expense. but, despite everyone thinking Charlie has no powers, she did actually get her own, silly mutation.

she can talk to squirrels. no one believes her and she honestly doesn't believe it either, based on everyone's reactions and doubts, but she can.

no idea if i'll be able to post the next few prompts "on time", but i do plan on skipping palette week, so i might spread the posts out, instead of posting daily.

prompt list by @/_bweird on twitter!

[spiderdreamer-blog]

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Movie sequels are a funny thing. Done well, they can be clever, meaningful expansions of the original film or give artists chances to take the creative impulse in a different direction; compare Ridley Scott's Alien to James Cameron's Aliens. Done poorly, they seem like cheap cash-ins with lazy writing and not an ounce of true artistic passion. Nowhere can this divide be more apparent than in the decade-plus of direct-to-video Disney sequels that kicked off with 1994's Aladdin follow-up The Retun of Jafar. As I've said in other posts, it's not ALWAYS true that these or the TV spinoffs were bad. In addition to my previously published review of 101 Dalmatians II and Atlantis: Milo's Return, I swear by Aladdin and the King of Thieves for being a solid adventure film. And Cinderella III: A Twist in Time fills in characterizations for characters that often came off as ciphers in the original, as well as being a clever story in its own right. Some could even be downright inspired, like how The Lion King 1 1/2 takes a page from both MST3K and Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildernstern Are Dead compared to the original's Hamlet influences. But many fumbled in trying to justify further stories for characters that weren't necessarily built for them or did lazy reversal rehashes. Curiously, though, a built-for-the-theaters sequel beat this crowd to it, in the form of 1990's The Rescuers Down Under, coming to us in the midst of the Disney Renaissance. How does that one stack up?

A sequel to the 1977 film The Rescuers, Down Under reunites us with Miss Bianca and Bernard (Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart, reprising their roles), two mice who are agents of the Rescue Aid Society, which dedicates itself to helping lost or kidnapped children. Their case this time is Cody (Adam Ryen, who, in a fun fact, dubbed his own part in the Norwegian dub), an Australian boy captured by the evil poacher McLeach (George C. Scott) and his sidekick goanna Joanna (Frank Welker) in pursuit of the great golden eagle Marahute. Bianca and Bernard catch a flight with Wilbur the albatross (John Candy), taking over from his brother Orville from the original, and catch up with local hero Jake (Tristan Rogers, the only natively Australian actor in the film) to track down McLeach.

The most immediately striking thing about the film compared to its predecessor is its look. The original Rescuers was made in the heyday of Xerography, the process wherein Xerox machines could print animators' drawings directly onto cels and save a shitload of money/time in terms of hand-inking and painting. Starting with 101 Dalmatians (which necessitated the process both for the logistics of all those puppies and because the gorgeously rendered, lovingly hand-painted over years of production Sleeping Beauty had been a financial failure), this gave Disney's films a scratchier, more graphic look through the next couple decades. It's not a BAD way to make a film, and I would say the results often looked quite good, especially for moody, atmospheric scenes such as the swamplands in the original film.

Down Under, however, took a different approach, being the first Disney animated film to be fully inked-and-painted digitally in Disney's CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) pipeline. This has a number of advantages, such as better integration of the CGI elements like McLeach's Truck Of Doom, but not the least of which is the bright, vibrant colors. The Outback truly feels like an epic stage for the adventures, with the justly famous Marahute flight showing off its grand scope and beauty. Even the urban night-time New York scenes feel freshened up compared to the muddier vision of before. Even beyond that, the filmmaking has evolved. The original's director, Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman, was a fine talent (I'm especially partial to his Robin Hood), but the 1977 film feels awfully slow-paced for what's supposed to be exciting and propulsive. Down Under's directors Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel use tighter angles and much brisker editing to lend a real sense of Spielbergian action mechanics, such as in a scene where the mice try and board the Truck Of Doom or the nervy climax.

The character animation is excellent as usual, with the obvious standout being Glen Keane's Marahute. Bird anatomy is perhaps the hardest to do in animation outside of horses, and Keane gives the eagle both a sense of realism and character without anthropomorphizing her to the same degree as the rest of the cast. Mark Henn, meanwhile, does a solid job of grounding Bianca and Bernard as a duo and separately; they never reach too far for effect and seem more or less like normal people doing their best. The great Ruben Aquino, whose resume is more diverse than he gets credit for (Ursula, Adult Simba, and Pleakley are among his characters), gives Jake a full dashing-rogue bearing. Nik Ranieri does honestly some underrated work with Wilbur on the anatomy front, and Duncan Marjoribanks and David Cutler attack the duo of McLeach and Joanna with gusto. The way the latter moves in particular is hilarious, such as in a scene where she tries to steal eggs from a pondering McLeach.

Story-wise are where things get interesting. In addition to the original being well-suited to a sequel (literally having the "you've got another case!" ending), we smartly get things rolling fast. The first film is about the same runtime length-wise, but it spends a long-ass time getting anywhere, or at least feels that way. Whereas this is like "yup, we're off to the races, kids, iconic eagle flight in the first 10 dang minutes". Thus, while Bianca and Bernard don't enter the film for a hot minute, we don't feel like our time's being wasted in the first act as we set up the situation. I like also how the potential triangle between Bernard, Bianca, and Jake is handled with remarkable subtlety. Bianca barely seems to notice, while Jake is certainly puffed-up but never outright cruel to Bernard, and the latter gets a great chance to step up to prove himself when the time comes. The only possible negative effect is that the film is ultimately on the short end, and the plot is fairly simple as a result. Thus we get some goofy comedy padding with Wilbur being subjected to unhelpful medical practices to straighten out his back, as well as a pair of scenes with Cody and some Marketable Animal Friends as they try to escape McLeach. Hardly bad, but a little perfunctory.

I also like Cody a little better as a kid protagonist, tbh. The original film tries to get a lot of pathos out of the plight of Penny, who's not just an orphan, but a KIDNAPPED orphan. It's not bad in and of itself, with an effective scene where the villainous Madame Medusa insults her passive-aggressively to try and get her under her thumb. And it anticipates where Don Bluth, who worked on the film as a directing animator, would go in terms of his own child protagonists like Fievel or Littlefoot. But a little of it goes a long way, even if my heart's not fully made of stone. Down Under trades things up for Cody in terms of being well-adjusted with a single mother and tenacious enough both to save Marahute upfront, as well as seeing right through McLeach's transparent attempt at bullshitting him (though a later manipulation DOES succeed).

The audio end is a good marriage here too, starting with Bruce Broughton giving us an absolutely iconic adventure score. There's lots of distinct themes here that all weave together fantastically, never feeling overly like a "cartoon" score. In terms of the voice cast, Ryen gives a nicely natural performance, kid-like without ever being too cutesy, and brave, but not SO brave that it feels out of place. Gabor and Newhart, the highlight of the earlier film, reach a nice equilibrium between "society lady who takes nobody's shit" and "nice normal guy who can nonetheless keep up with her". Rogers is one of my favorites here, his Aussie twang lending some authenticity to the proceedings, and his soap opera experience (he's a longtime fixture on General Hospital) lets him access the slightly broader cartoon acting necessary. Candy, of course, was a comedy legend, and he adjusts well here in terms of making Wilbur a distinct chatterbug with a noble streak rather than simply recycling his genteel screen presence. My favorite performance, though, is undoubtedly George C. Scott as McLeach. Always an intense, thoughtful actor (he's my favorite Ebenezer Scrooge on film), he makes what could've been a generic "evil hunter" type into something really memorable by snacking on the scenery and giving him a real cruel streak. And I'd be remiss without mentioning Welker's Joanna, who nearly sounds like an anticipation of Andy Serkis' Gollum in her slobbery growls and chuckles.

I'll be honest, I can't be TOTALLY objective about this movie. It was one of the first Disney films I owned on VHS, and many a rewind was had because I couldn't get enough. It's a little rougher around the edges now that I'm an adult, true, but when Marahute starts to fly as the music swells? Every time, I get transported back to a living room in Peachtree City, Georgia, inches away from the TV. That still means something, and thankfully, most of the movie still backs that kid up.

[ranuunculus]

thx @phant0m-l0rd for tagging me! (sorry I didn't do this sooner..!)

what book are you currently reading?

I'm re-reading The Lord of the Rings... but this time in English. I first read it in spanish some years ago and I need to freshen up my memory about it because I really like Tolkien's writing. Also been reading through Lovecraft's Cthulu Mythos in between books!

what's your favorite movie you saw in theaters this year?

without a doubt it was Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse. It was beautifully realized and I had been anxiously waiting for it since the first film came out! It was truly beyond any expectations I could've had, it was insane!

what do you usually wear?

oversized t-shirts, the occasional button up shirt and ripped jeans :P

how tall are you?

I'm pretty short, like 1.65 m i think (or a bit less...?)

what’s your star sign? do you share a birthday with a celebrity or a historical event?

I'm a libra! I share birthday's with Zi:Kill's Tusk :3

do you go by your name or a nickname?

online, nickname always, irl a mix of both i think

did you grow up to become what you wanted to be when you were a child?

I think it's too soon for me to make that call, but surely my younger self didn't foresee me turning out like this :P

are you in a relationship? if not, who is your crush if you have one?

nope, and I don't have a crush either, I'm a loser when it comes to romance..!

what’s something you’re good at vs. something you’re bad at?

I'm good at fixing clothes, I think, and I suck pretty bad at doing my make-up :,)

dogs or cats?

I love both, but If i had to choose one as a pet for myself, I'd go with cats!

if you draw/write, or create in any way, what’s your favourite picture/favourite line/favourite etc. from something you created this year?

I'm very glad to say I'm currently very happy with everything I've painted this year which is surprising for me, but the Ghoul illustration I made is honestly one of my favorites, I had no idea what I was doing in the process but now I'm trying to reproduce it ;_;

what’s something you’d like to create content for?

I've been very proactive in making art for things that interest me lately... but I still want to expand on my Silmarillion designs and maybe even illustrate some scenes from the book!

what’s something you’re currently obsessed with?

besides visual kei in general, I've been playing Ace Attorney and it's VERY fun.

what’s something you were excited about that turned out to be disappointing this year?

I can't think of anything at the moment

what’s a hidden talent of yours?

I guess I can mimic other accents when speaking pretty well..?

are you religious?

nope!

what’s something you wish to have at this moment?

I could really benefit from una torta de milanesa right neow... I'm hungry...

gonna tag... @blanktryptich and @6side9side (u don't need to answer all of this though...!)

[chaletnz]

Salar de Uyuni: Part 1

Once onboard the night bus we were served half a styrofoam cup of boiling water and a tea bag of our choice, I chose coca tea to try and settle my stomach for the ride. Then we were given our dinner which was actually great, it was like a little in flight meal with rice, vegetables, and chicken in a sauce. It’s a shame I didn’t really have much of an appetite because it was delicious. Through the night I slept a decent amount which surprised me, it could’ve been all the random stops on the side of the road for 30-60 minutes at a time. All these delays meant that we arrived into Uyuni right around sunrise and they took us to a viewpoint to watch it and eat our breakfast of a white bread sandwich with ham and cheese and a juice box. I drank the juice but left the sandwich on the bus - silly because I could’ve fed it to some sad street dogs. When we alighted in central Uyuni I was in desperate need of a toilet but everything in the entire city was closed based on my walk around for about half an hour. I headed for my hostel and they let me use the facilities there until I needed to go and meet my tour. Since the wifi actually worked I decided to book a flight back to La Paz which was about $90 - I could not envision sitting through that bus ride again and arrived in La Paz needing to fill the hours until check in. I freshened up with a change of clothes, and brushed my teeth then went back to the tour office which was packed with people so I sat outside on the step to wait. I chatted with the Austrian guy Rafael who had shared my Peruhop bus from Puno and the night bus too. The conversation was a good distraction from the radio nearby that was blasting Daddy Cool on repeat. Finally we were all summoned inside to go over the plan for the day tour, as well as the plan for the three day tour which is seemed most people had booked. There were four others in the day group; Fatima from France, Adrian and Jane from Leeds, UK, and Paul who was Indian but had relocated to Denver, CO with US citizenship almost 20 years ago. It was a good bunch of people to spend the day with and with our driver Miguel and guide Bismark we set off to our first stop El Cementerio de Trenes. A train track runs across Bolivia from nearby Potosi to Chile that was historically used as silver was discovered in Potosi and through a drawing in the sand Bismark explained that the dollar symbol was actually born here as a double letter PP that stands for plata Potosi. The train cemetery itself was a place for all the old steam locomotives that have been retired as they are too slow in today’s modern age so they’ve left to rust in the middle of nowhere in Bolivia’s desert. Our next visit was the town of Colchani which works mostly on producing table salt by mining the salt crystals, processing and washing, and adding iodine so it can be consumed. I bought a souvenir magnet and some bags of flavoured salt for Korey and then sat with the group for our shared lunch. Our driver Miguel had prepared lunch of vegetables, beef, and quinoa for us of which I could only manage a few bites. None of us drink fizzy drinks but we all had our arms twisted to try a few sips of the Bolivian Coke as Bismark said it’s sweetened with sugar cane instead of the high fructose corn syrup in the US. I never drink Coke at home though so I had nothing to compare it to but my teeth still hurt drinking it!

Dinner on the Todo Turismo night bus from La Paz to Uyuni, and the first glimpse of Uyuni at sunrise.

[convergenceproperties1]

Preparing to Sell My House Fast in Grand Junction: What You Need to Know

Selling your house quickly in Grand Junction can be a streamlined process if you approach it with the right knowledge and preparation. Whether you’re looking to move for a new job, downsize, or make a lifestyle change, understanding the key steps to prepare your home for sale is essential. Here’s what you need to know to ensure a smooth and efficient selling experience.

1. Understand the Local Real Estate Market

Why Market Knowledge Matters

The Grand Junction real estate market can fluctuate to sell my house fast Grand Junction, influenced by local economy, demand, and seasonal trends. Familiarizing yourself with these dynamics will help you set realistic expectations and make informed decisions.

Action Steps

Research Market Trends: Look into recent home sales, average days on market, and pricing in your neighborhood.

Consult Local Experts: Real estate agents in Grand Junction can provide valuable insights and data specific to your area.

2. Set the Right Price

The Importance of Competitive Pricing

Pricing your home accurately is crucial for attracting potential buyers quickly. An overpriced home may sit on the market longer, while a competitively priced home can generate interest and offers.

Action Steps

Conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA): Review the prices of similar homes recently sold in your area.

Seek Professional Advice: A real estate agent can provide a pricing strategy based on their experience and market analysis.

3. Enhance Curb Appeal

First Impressions Count

Curb appeal is vital in creating a positive first impression. A well-maintained exterior can draw buyers in and set the tone for what they can expect inside.

Action Steps

Landscaping: Mow the lawn, trim hedges, and add colorful plants or flowers.

Exterior Maintenance: Freshen up the paint on the front door and repair any visible damage to siding or gutters.

4. Make Necessary Repairs

Addressing Issues Before Listing

Investing in repairs can prevent negotiations from stalling or buyers backing out due to concerns about your home’s condition.

Action Steps

Conduct a Home Inspection: Identify and fix issues, such as plumbing leaks, electrical problems, or structural concerns.

Focus on Key Areas: Prioritize repairs in high-impact areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

5. Stage Your Home

The Benefits of Staging

Home staging helps buyers visualize themselves in your space, making it more appealing and marketable.

Action Steps

Declutter and Organize: Remove personal items, excess furniture, and anything that might distract buyers.

Professional Staging: If budget allows, consider hiring a professional stager to highlight your home’s best features.

6. Use High-Quality Marketing

Getting Noticed in the Market

Effective marketing can significantly impact your home’s visibility and attract potential buyers quickly.

Action Steps

Professional Photography: Invest in high-quality images to showcase your home online.

Online Listings: Utilize platforms like Zillow and Realtor, and leverage social media for wider reach.

7. Be Flexible with Showings

Accessibility is Key

The more accessible your home is for showings, the more potential buyers can view it.

Action Steps

Flexible Scheduling: Be open to showings during evenings and weekends to accommodate different buyer schedules.

Prepare for Last-Minute Requests: Keep your home clean and ready for impromptu showings.

8. Work with a Real Estate Agent

The Value of Professional Guidance

A knowledgeable real estate agent can simplify the selling process and help you navigate the market effectively.

Action Steps

Choose a Local Expert: Look for an agent with a proven track record in Grand Junction.

Discuss Your Goals: Clearly communicate your timeline and objectives with your agent to align your strategies.

9. Consider Cash Offers

The Advantages of Quick Sales

If you need to sell your home urgently, considering cash buyers can expedite the process.

Action Steps

Reach Out to Investors: Many investors are looking for properties to purchase quickly and can often buy as-is.

Explore Wholesalers: They can connect you with cash buyers who can close quickly.

10. Prepare for Negotiations

Being Ready to Compromise

Negotiations are a normal part of the selling process. Being flexible can help you close the deal faster.

Action Steps

Listen to Offers: Evaluate all offers carefully and be open to counteroffers.

Know Your Limits: Determine in advance what concessions you’re willing to make.

Conclusion

Preparing to sell your house fast in Grand Junction involves a combination of market knowledge, strategic pricing, and effective presentation. By taking the time to understand the local market, enhancing your home’s appeal, and leveraging professional help, you can position yourself for a swift and successful sale.

Reference: Sell my house Fast Grand Junction colorado

Reference: Sell house Grand Junction

Reference: Sell my Mesa County house fast

[yet-another-blog]

After the arches were painted red, and the pattern finalised. The pattern was transferred onto a piece astate, with a projector I transferred the pattern onto the arches with a piece of chalk. The actual tracing of the pattern was simple enough but there was slight issue with connecting with the lines with parts of the bigger pattern.

As I worked on this, I learnt about using different hand techniques to effectively draw out the patterns. Partly because I learnt that drawing with my wrist for long periods of time really hurt it, whilst I noticed a massive improvement when I drew with my arm as opposed to my wrist. While I did improvise parts of the pattern due to awkward surface angles, however I don’t think they ended up being noticeable due to the density of the pattern on the inner arch parts.

The next part of this process was to paint the pattern onto the actual surface of the arch. I used a gold paint that was more akin to a paste, due to it being mixed with glue as the paint itself had dried out from a previous project. While I’m unsure whether it was because of the paint being used was high quality or if the glue had a factor. However I found that the more paste like paint easier to apply, when I compared it to applying more liquid paint from a previous experience.

I would like to try out adding glue to paint once again just to see the result. Whether it was a fluke or not, it was useful.

The actual painting of the arch was a process in itself, as I did have further difficulties with the higher parts that needed to be painted due to my own height. I fixed this by getting a box to stand on, it helped in the end but I could tell that the bottom looked more rough compared to what I could reach.

In the end I was happy with how the arches took to the pattern. As it really livened up the background with its Golden hues under the lights. As I also applied the earlier method of not using my wrist. Due to the pattern consisting of mainly curved lines, I found painting with my arm was more efficient due to less burnout that my wrist faced during the mark-up stages.

I repeated the same methods onto two more flats that were to go above the arches. With this in mind I matched up the patterns accordingly with chalk and paint, this happened to be more straightforward then last time. Allowing me to be more time conscious with this being done the same week as the filming.

The flats didn’t have end up going above the arches in the end. I was disappointed as I has spent the time making sure that the lines matched up exactly; though they did end up looking nice once set-up. Having a similar effect to the arches as the paint was a metallic gold.

I did add some finishing touches to the flats to make them less sparse with the patterns. This was because I happened to have had more paint leftover then I had anticipated in the end. With the unexpected quantity I used this to freshen up pieces of the arches where it was visibly noticeable. I had also noticed that due to one of the arches being textured that the paint took to the ridges awkwardly unlike the opposite arch which lacked the ridges.

Unfortunately even the touching up did little to reduce the smudging effect. While I still could very much see it, this was because I had been the one thinking about the issue. I don’t think you could see under the lighting but it still bothered me nonetheless.

[ledenews]

So, How Much Did That Interstate 70 Project Cost Anyway?

Twenty-five bridges and ramps. Five replaced, 21 refurbished. Three years construction following two bid processes. One pandemic and one “Roads to Prosperity” initiative. Add it all up and the result is a like-new-and-blue Fort Henry Bridge and a freshened stretch of interstate from Wheeling Tunnel through Elm Grove. Bridge decks held together by plywood were rebuilt, steel girders forged in the 1950s were removed and replaced, and the tallest of all the spans – the “Fulton bridges” – were demolished and modernized. The first bidding process took place in the summer of 2018, and the state’s projected price tag was $201 million. The lowest big received, though, was more than $275 million and W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice rejected it and sent his Division of Transportation engineers back to the drawing board. About a year later, Justice approved the $214.65 million bid submitted by Swank Construction for the same project minus the state-line-to-state-line paving that was included in the original plan.

From below the new westbound section of Interstate 70, it is apparent the beams and piers are much larger than the old ones. “I know the Governor had everyone take another look,” said Charlie Reynolds, the district engineer for the DOH”s sixth district. “My predecessor (Tony Clark) was in this position during that project, and I think everyone involved did a hell of a job.” So, how much did the historic project ultimately cost the taxpayer? According to Reynolds, the final tally was $223,521,227, just about $9 million more than Swank’s estimate. “I had been asked about that number by several people so I dug in and started asking about it in Charleston, and that is the number,” Reynold said. “It took a while, and it was a lot of work. I know people expected the worst, but it went pretty well from what I remember and from what I’ve been told. It needed done, there’s no doubt about that.

The majority of residents of the city of Wheeling had never seen Interstate 70 in this condition in their lifetimes. “There’s a lot going on throughout the district and it’s a lot to keep up on,” the former state lawmaker said. “And we have some pretty big projects coming up this summer, too, and hopefully a lot of paving throughout the district, too.” Interstate 70 made its way through Ohio County during the 1950s and the Fort Henry Bridge was dedicated in 1955, but Wheeling Tunnel was not completed and opened until December 1966. “The I-70 project was overdue and I’m glad it got done,” Reynolds said. “And for a project of that size to be managed that well is impressive to me.”

The growth of Interstate 70 was an attraction for Wheeling residents, including those working for the local media outlets. (Photo by Al Molnar) Read the full article

[llinguet]

The Secrets to Successfully Selling Your Car Wash

Selling a car wash can be a stressful process that takes lots of time and effort. However, those who are diligent and do their research have a much better chance of achieving their desired result. To make the process go as smoothly and quickly as possible, it's important that you understand the steps involved in a successful car wash sale. Doing so will ensure that you can have a successful negotiation and maximize the money you get for the sale. First and foremost, you must do your research to determine the fair market value of a car wash. To account for the various factors such as location, equipment, and customer base, it's important to fully familiarize yourself with what's on offer and have a good understanding of what comparable sites are fetching. Having a strong understanding of the trends within the industry will also give you an edge when negotiating. Additionally, having a good understanding of the industry's legal requirements such as licensing, insurance, and permitting will give you an even greater advantage. Taking the time to do the research before making an offer will ensure that the deal you get is the best one for you. Finally, make sure to create a strong and reputable profile for your car wash. You want to create a great online presence that will attract customers and get the word out to potential buyers. Proper advertising and marketing of your car wash can be the difference between a quick sale for the right price and a slow, drawn-out process that results in you losing money. By following these basic steps, selling my car wash can be a rewarding and successful process.

Prepare the Vehicle for Showing

Presenting a vehicle for sale is sometimes an art form. Get creative and make sure that the vehicle stands out. Start by cleaning the interior, exterior and engine thoroughly to give it that showroom appearance. Add a protective wax coat to the exterior. Next, spiff up the interior with new floor mats, a car freshener, and wash out windows. Use your creativity to make the vehicle stand out from the rest. Polishing the car and replacing the hubcaps and trims will give it that extra special look. Having a full tank of gasoline is also an option that may add to the appeal of the vehicle.

Select the Appropriate Pricing for Your Car Wash

Before you hang the shingle outside the car wash, you must consider the most appropriate pricing for your services. You can set your own prices depending on the services you offer and the resources you use. Consider offering services that your competition doesn’t, such as a full interior clean and leather care package. Set your prices high enough so that you can cover your costs but low enough to draw in customers. Make sure to advertise special packages and discounts during a slow season.

Advertise your Car Wash

Advertising is a key part of the business, without it, your car wash won't realize much success. Depending on your budget, you can opt for print advertising, radio ads or television commercials. You can also use more cost-effective methods such as flyers, posters and social media. Develop a slogan that reflects your pricing and services to encourage customers. Don't forget to follow-up with emails and phone calls to give reminders about car wash specials and discounts.

Develop a Positive Sales Pitch

Having a positive and well-rehearsed sales pitch is essential when selling car washes. You need to be able to quickly convey your message and explain the services you wish to offer. Practice in front of a mirror and refine your speech until you feel confident. Show enthusiasm for the task at hand and for your services. Mention any loyalty programs or customer referral rewards you may have. Offer free samples or complimentary treatments to encourage customers to come back to the car wash.

Set Up an Attractive Display Area

The car wash display area is one of the simplest ways to attract people to your business. This area should feature a large car-shaped sign that contains the list of services offered along with your prices. The best way to make the whole area beautiful is by designing attractive displays of your cleaning products. Have several sample containers of wax, polish and other cleaning materials ready for display. Put colorful banners across the walls and include information about all the services you offer.

Network with Potential Clients

Being active in the community is a great way to network and reach out to potential customers. Attend expos, car shows, and car-related events in your region. Take part in neighborhood activities and charity events. Take out space in local newspapers and radio shows to advertise your services. Offer your car wash as a sponor of school events or team sponsor. Participate in local business groups and networking functions.

Make Use of Online Strategies

Nowadays, social media is one of the most powerful sales tools, so make sure you use it for the promotion of your car wash services. Create a website where customers can find everything they need to know about your car wash. Post ads on popular online forums and discussion boards. Make use of Instagram or Snapchat Ads and set up campaigns targeting local customers. And last but not least, offer loyalty programs or coupons to your loyal customers via email campaigns or on your website.

Conclusion

Selling your car wash successfully doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With the right approach, you can maximize your returns and make sure that your potential customers have a positive experience. Start by creating a solid marketing and advertising plan, setting realistic pricing based on the local market, and taking care of the exterior and interior of the car wash. Keep in mind that providing great customer service and effective communication is key to success. With these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to successfully selling your car wash.

[eldenstars]

My sister got me this giant squishmallow dragon for christmas and I love him so much I doodled him 🥺

[boysbeloving]

Okay....so this post by @domsaysstuff about an Artist!Porsche AU would not leave my head and I was talking to Dom about it and she said 'Write it!' and ....I...don't...write...??!!!

But with encouragement from Dom and KP just sitting in my brain, I wrote something. (Please be gentle this is me losing my fanfic writing virginity)

I would like to thank and lovingly blame Dom for this. and if Dom is my blame spouse then @arewedoneyet is my blame-in-law....bestie that photo of apo is....something

@nattaphum have you seen this apo? ofc you must have seen this apo...you have seen all apos...a true fan

ANYWAY!

This is chapter 1 of the fic!

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

Kinn shows up at Porsche's apartment at the agreed time. He rings the doorbell, twice.

He wants to turn around and leave. He feels awkward standing outside the apartment of a man he barely knows. 'It's business. It's for business,' he tells himself and gathers some willpower to continue facing a closed door.

The door finally opens.

"Oh! You're actually here. Wow. You must think really highly of my art." Porsche leaves the door wide open for Kinn to enter and he has already turned away from him by the time he speaks the last line.

'Rude,' Kinn thinks. 'At least look at me while talking to me.'

Kinn enters a modest room. The painting set up is arranged on one side of the room and there is a mattress on the other. There's a small display shelf with family photographs and trophies. An eclectic collection of books occupies some space too.

"Why don't you sit here," Porsche waves his hand in the general direction of the easel. "And I'll start with the painting once I've freshened up and eaten something. Sounds good?" An insincere smile creeps up on Porsche's face.

Before Kinn can protest and remind Porsche that he's a busy man who has an art gallery to run, Porsche has disappeared into the bathroom.

When they finally get to the painting process, Porsche shifts Kinn's position four times in a span of twenty minutes. Sometimes the angle is not right, sometimes the light is unflattering and sometimes Porsche just doesn't feel it. 

Porsche, of course, is doing all of this simply to get on Kinn's nerves, to waste the rich man's precious time and to physically manoeuvre the powerful man as he pleases. He can see that Kinn is getting frustrated but Kinn makes no comment and agrees to all of Porsche's demands. 'He has immense control,' a thought passes Porsche's mind.

Once Porsche has set everything in place, he goes to his canvas and makes a show of drawing big strokes and keeps shifting his eyes from the canvas to Kinn's form perched on a stool.

***

Kinn had looked at Porsche's art displayed at Yok's Gallery two weeks ago. He was immediately taken in by the bold strokes, the vibrant colours and the blatant honesty depicted in the pieces. When asked about the artist, Yok had informed Kinn that Porsche was a small independent artist (who hated the concept of elite art galleries and stuck up rich people who consumed art for show and fake sophistication). Kinn had then approached Porsche with an offer to have his art displayed in one of his high art galleries. He had convinced Porsche that he needed to give him only one art piece, that's all. And the money Kinn offered was generous. And it would be paid in advance.

Porsche was against the idea as it did not align with his principles. But he was also acutely aware of how his bank balance did not align with the increasing cost of living. The extra money would help with the rent and some daily expenses. This in turn meant that Porsche's own earnings and savings could be diverted to his little brother Chay's education. Porsche had agreed to Kinn's demand on one condition. Kinn was to be the model for Porsche's art piece. And this is the reason Kinn is in Porsche's house on a Thursday (of all days).

***

Kinn sits absolutely still. His body is buzzing with excitement and nervousness. Kinn doesn't want to ruin Porsche's concentration so he controls himself and stills himself so he can be captured on canvas. If Porsche is doing this for him then he will do everything in his power to support this in every way he can.

Porsche continues to make a show of sketching Kinn. It is a show because Porsche has already painted Kinn. He had taken the photo reference from the art gallery's website and completed the painting two days ago. Just because he's getting generous amounts of money for this doesn't mean he's not bitter about it. 'Fuck it. I'll make the most generic portrait ever and add some bold background colours and call it a day,' Porsche had thought when the money vs principles debate had gone on for too long in his head. He is now simply amusing himself by making a man like Kinn dance to his tunes under the guise of painting him live.

"That's it for today. I've made great progress!" Porsche says in a loud voice. 'Maybe I need to tone it down a bit,' he thinks quietly to himself.

"Oh! But it has only been one hour. That's it?" inquires a genuinely surprised Kinn.

"Yeah. I can't paint for more than one hour at a stretch. I need a break to recharge my creative muscles you know," Porsche answers smugly.

"Will the piece be completed within a week at this pace?"

"Khun Kinn, are you doubting my creative process?"

"No! Absolutely not! I apologise if I overstepped. I trust you to stick to the committed timeline. May I take a look at what you have done today?"

Porsche freezes. "Aaaaahhhh. No. You can't look. That's not how I work. You'll get to look at the final piece and I am open to one round of minor revision. That's how this goes."

Kinn stares at Porsche's face. Porsche feels naked, as if all his lies are written on his face.

"Sure. I respect your creative process, Porsche. I'll see the painting when you're ready to show it to me. See you tomorrow." And with that Kinn opens the door and walks out of Porsche's apartment.

***

This goes on for a full three days. Kinn shows up on time. Porsche wastes the first twenty minutes and then fakes painting for an hour. Kinn has come to Porsche's house in the same suit, the same hairstyle, the same socks and the same shoes. 'Is he wearing the same underwear too?' Porsche thinks to himself. And he reminds himself not to think about Khun Kinn's underwear, or about Khun Kinn changing underwear.

This goes on for a full three days and Porsche cannot take it anymore. There's kindness in Kinn's eyes that Porsche cannot escape. There's sincerity in Kinn's actions that make Porsche feel guilty. There's determination and grit in Kinn's stance that makes Porsche question his integrity. 'I...don't do this. I don't cheat people. I don't take advantage of them. This...is not me.'

This goes on for a full three days and Porsche breaks. He needs to be physically away from this facade.

"I'm hungry. Let's go out to eat," Porsche blurts out.

"Right now? What about the painting?"

"Khun Kinn, nourishment is important for an artist. We don't just survive on 'inspiration' you know," Porsche answers in mock admonishment.

Kinn laughs.

'He laughs? OMG he laughs,' Porsche files this information somewhere deep in his head.

Porsche takes Kinn to the busy streets of the town. He seems to know every aunty selling fried insects and all the uncles preparing noodles. Porsche laughs freely, gives compliments unabashedly and takes compliments surprisingly well! (no shyness, no argument, no dismissal) Kinn thinks about how confident Porsche is in himself and it warms his heart. He feels he has met a sincere hearted person for the first time in a long while. Maybe he's a bit jealous of Porsche's freedom. He's also enamoured by his looks. Now that Kinn can look at Porsche without having to be conscious of his own pose, he observes how the light shines on his skin making it shine golden. How his hair flies in the wind, how he sticks out his tongue a bit while cracking a joke, how he tips his head back while blowing smoke out of his pretty mouth ('He has a pretty mouth and his lips seem to be soft,' Kinn thinks and files this information deep in his head) and how he's so tactile. Kinn finds himself being unreasonably envious of the people who know Porsche so closely. They get to listen to his jokes, they get to see him laugh, they get to be lovingly touched by him. Kinn tries hard to remember if anyone's casually touched him, just a simple hand on his arm while walking or a lingering touch on the shoulder to catch his attention or a leg pressed up against his while sitting. And he draws a blank. This is when he decides that the timeline for the painting can be relooked at. His priority now is to experience this strange closeness, and to deepen it. His priority now is to hang out with Porsche.

***

There is now only one more day remaining. Kinn has not brought up the deadline since the first day. It's about to be a week. Kinn has always offered to go out after spending some customary time perched on the stool. 'How about some nourishment for the body and the soul, Porsche?' Kinn's voice rings in Porsche's head and it brings a smile to his face. They have spent entire days together, eating, talking, taking public transport, clicking photographs. And all those moments have been filled with laughter and fun.

Porsche looks at the completed portrait of Kinn, referenced from the gallery website. And decides to tear it apart.

He unlocks his phone and looks for the one photograph he had taken of Kinn laughing at the joke one of the market aunties had cracked. He prepares a new canvas and starts painting.

***

Kinn doesn't show up at Porsche's apartment the next day. He messages him to come to the gallery at 5 in the evening.

With the final portrait?

No, just you.

Porsche is secretly relieved because it gives him more time to finish the new portrait. But he's also disappointed that he doesn't get to casually spend time with Kinn. Had he taken it for granted? Had he allowed himself to hope for something that might never happen? Had he crossed some invisible line? He chases away these thoughts and continues to work on the portrait till it is time to go meet Kinn.

***

It is a big building. 'So much space! There could be houses here!' anger flares up in Porsche but he quickly gathers himself again.

He's met with a young, bright and smiley man in a suit.

"Hello! You must be Porsche. I'm Pete, Khun Kinn's assistant. I'll take you to him. Please come this way with me."

He passes the corridor and he can see the display area. The art pieces put up are not just the ones conforming to the current trends and commercial in nature. There are different art forms. Ones that he has seen in underground forums, or belong to other independent artists he's heard of.

"Does Khun Kinn hunt for independent artists and showcase their art in his gallery?" Porsche is curious and it does seem like a long corridor to walk.

"Yes! Khun Kinn is passionate about art. He appreciates all styles. He ensures that a section is dedicated to an independent artist at every open event. He does it because he wants to have good art displayed in the gallery and also because he insisted that supporting independent artists be a CSR programme of the parent company."

"Parent company?"

"Oh yes! Khun Kinn doesn't simply run an art gallery. He's a businessman. Here we are. Khun Kinn, Porsche is with me."

Before Porsche can process this information he's met with Kinn looking sharp in a suit. It's a different suit, not the one he wears for the painting sessions. 'He would have changed his underwear for sure,' Porsche thinks vaguely.

"Ah Porsche. Good you are here. There is a situation and I feel you could be of help."

Kinn places three paintings on the conference table. All of them are in the same style. They look familiar.

"Do you know who painted these? I feel you might know the painter."

"Yes. This is Namphueng's work. She's an independent artist like me. We are close. She's like family to me. Why do you ask, Kinn?"

There's slight movement in the room. How dare this T-shirt and jeans wearing man address their boss without honorifics? But Kinn is completely unfazed. He continues to speak to Porsche as if no one else in the room matters.

"Namphueng? I have been told that a Khun Gun has made these paintings. He has returned from abroad and having studied art from famous universities, he would like to showcase his work in my gallery. These three paintings are samples."

"No. This is Namphueng's work. Her husband was shot dead by loan sharks three months ago. She has two small children to support. She was surviving on her savings. She knows about my financial struggles so I think she never discussed it with me when money became tight. Khun Gun must have taken advantage of her desperation and offered her a deal. He's using her talent and passing it off as his own."

"Thank you, Porsche. This is what I wanted you to confirm."

And then Porsche sees Kinn in his element. The Kinn he had seen when they had met the first time. He orders for Namphueng to be located, contacted and brought to the office. He orders that a meeting be arranged with Khun Gun. He wants the legal team to be present in the meeting too. He downs his whiskey in one big gulp and asks for the reports on the last open event held in the gallery: the footfall, the sales, the popularity of the artist, the coverage in the press and the revenue sheet.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Porsche. Thank you for your time."

And with that Porsche is being escorted out of the conference hall.

***

When he reaches home, Porsche thinks about Kinn. How he has been with him all this while: speaking softly, asking politely, laughing loudly, eating EVERYTHING enthusiastically, shopping excitedly at thrift stores. And he thinks about how comfortable they've become in each other's company. They get into each other's personal space, call each other 'satt' fondly, share food from the same plate, in fact Kinn has been wearing Porsche's clothes for their daily outings (because Kinn of course shows up in that one suit for the consistency of the painting). Porsche is overwhelmed. He stares at the almost completed portrait of a gloriously laughing Kinn.

And it hits him. It hits him like a freight train. Kinn opened up to him. Kinn opened up to him so intimately. Porsche has had people posing for him break down. They say they feel naked under his eyes. They feel like all their sins are laid bare. They feel like repenting. And Porsche understands that. He understands the power of art, the intensity of an artist's gaze (he's been in that position). And he has comforted those people, given them space in his arms to cry their hearts out, given them the safety of the room to be able to scream and confront themselves.

How did he miss it with Kinn? It is only after the events of the evening that Porsche really understood how Kinn's walls had crumbled around him, how open Kinn was being. Kinn broke down too: not in tears but in laughs.

Porsche decides to paint the background red.

***

Kinn shows up at Porsche's apartment the next day at their agreed time.

He goes to sit in the designated spot but Porsche holds him by his arm.

"The portrait is complete. I would like to show it to you."

Porsche sees disappointment in Kinn's eyes. He understands; he feels the same way. What excuse would they have to meet up with each other now? 'It was good while it lasted,' Porsche thinks quietly.

He unveils the portrait. And Kinn is thoroughly confused.

"I...didn't pose like this."

"Yeah...about that. I took some artistic liberties," Porsche says with a cheeky smile.

Kinn smiles and then laughs. Both of them laugh.

After the laughing fit passes, Porsche confesses, "You look cute when you smile. And you look adorable when you laugh. I had to capture that. I hope you're okay with the painting. Do you approve or is there any revision you would like to suggest? You get one round of revision, remember."

"Let me think about it. Would that be okay?"

"Of course! It's your painting after all!"

Kinn gives Porsche one of his brilliant smiles.

"Ever since you've come here you haven't stopped smiling. Why?"

"Is it that obvious?" Kinn lowers his head and smiles. "Here I feel free, I don't have to please the shareholders, I don't have to be a boss, I don't have a schedule, I don't have to worry about authenticity."

Kinn extends his hand for Porsche to hold. And Porsche does exactly that.

"I would love to live like this...here, Porsche."

Porsche intertwines his fingers with Kinn's.

"Kinn, come on. Be real. You can't live like this. It's not easy. In your life you have so many people to help you at home and at work. It will be uncomfortable for you here."

"It'll be okay as long as it is with you. I-"

"Can you cook even one thing?" Porsche cuts into Kinn's idealistic romantic rant.

"Of course I can!" Kinn responds offended. "My eggs are delicious."

Porsche scoffs at the deliberate delivery of the line. Both of them look at each other and burst out laughing. ('What's a bit of balls innuendo between us,' Porsche thinks)

But Kinn's smile lasts longer on his lips, his gaze on Porsche slightly more intense and Porsche feels something stir inside of him. With newfound courage and intrigue he says,

"Well, why don't you feed me your eggs and I'll tell you how good they are."

***

[milfglupshitto]

albatross around your neck

chapter 1: in which stars blush, and drunken words are sober thoughts

info post

It all started when…

Okay, scratch that, go back. This all started because he couldn’t write worth a damn. Reports, sure. Summaries and abstracts, absolutely. Anything that comes with a skeleton gets done and done well.

Songs, once. Faded pages with marks crammed margin to margin, angry angry words talking about dust and wildflowers and a sour taste in your mouth. Pages he burned, before he left. Because sharp words cut and he’d tried to dull all the edges to soften the goodbye.

So no, he can’t write anything that’s really worth reading. The words don’t fit right. He can’t get the bones where they ought to go. But he’s always had trouble keeping his mouth shut, so. That’s how this all started. Now, it all started when the universe broke in two.

-thing on? Light’s- there it is! Alright.

I used to think that there was no one in the world who cared more about the truth than you did. So here I am, being truthful.

The truth is that this is the sixty-seventh time I’ve turned on this recorder since Vee gave it to me sixth months back. Course, all the other files are deleted, so you can’t really check. But I hope you’ll trust me on this one.

The other truth is that I am so drunk right now. So very, very drunk. I don’t know what the hell was in that bottle Ronan brought over- it tasted like hyperdrive fuel and it might as well have been, for all I know- but because of my very drunkenness I do not have the sense left in me to stop. Talking. So Take Sixty-Blasted-Seven is here to stay.

And anyway, you know me, you know how I feel about the- the stereotypes, you know if I’m having anything I’ve got good reason for it. And tonight I’ve got REALLY good reason for it. Don’t you worry, we’re off-duty to “grieve” tomorrow, too, and Vee’s taking care of-

Well. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Okay, tonight, right. Maybe you already know what I’m talking about. You always knew everything anyway. But hey, maybe you don’t- didn’t. Whatever. You sure as hell have surprised me before. Sure as kriffing hell.

I’ll just tell you. But I have to run around it a little, draw it out. Here’s another truth for you- I think if I talk long and fast enough, maybe you’ll stop listening, really listening, before I get to the stuff that I don’t know if I want you to hear.

It had been one week since the Steadfast left the Chimaera behind, one week since he’d agreed to commit a capital crime and gotten a promotion rather than a shove out the airlock for the promise.

One week since he’d thought, watching the ship pull away, stars I really hope you know what you’re doing.

Admiral Ar’alani had been hard at work plotting a course that would keep them at the edge of any trouble without pushing the navigators, and more than a few times she had summoned him to her office to weigh in, citing his “local expertise” as crucial to the task. Really, all he’d done was point out a few harbors that wouldn’t be as gossipy as the rest. Otherwise, his time was split between the responsibilities associated with his new rank, the private research he was now persisting in with new direction, and the subjects of that research themselves. And, of course, his extremely irritating charge. Small miracle, then, that he’d even had the time to see what he saw that day. Sure didn’t feel like one, but most miracles never do.

After spending half of his designated lunch break in the recreation center, thinking dark thoughts about just how poorly the little Aloxor investigation had gone, he’d taken a quick shower to freshen up and was just in the process of re-lacing his boots when the star-blur of hyperspace changed.

Just at the edges of the vortex, the harsh light blue was ringing purple, and the stars that were just barely visible past them (if you squinted) were distorted and warped. And by the time he had blinked, the effect was gone.

But just as soon as it had, the noise of the ship’s massive engine seemed, ever so slightly, to warp too.

He had turned and raced out the door to the bridge as fast as he could manage, without really knowing why.