#from the amazing landscape to the colors

[lilliangst]

biblically accurate, semi-realistic candace or kandake, who was a nubian queen

image renders:

Incoming yap about the current genshin problem:

As a Chinese person swarmed by western media, Liyue means so, so much to me. Seeing the culture that I've been taught to be ashamed of all my life being represented so accurately and positively makes me incredibly happy. It was the first time I saw the famous landscapes that I've visited in person and recreated a fantasy game. Seeing characters wear clothes with similar designs to what I’ve worn and eating similar foods to what I’ve eaten, is indescribable. The euphoria I felt when I first climbed atop of Qingyun Peak and heard the music is something I wish I could experience again.

That being said, Sumeru was a mess, and Natlan is just depressing. What I would give to have people from SEA/SWANA, Latin America, Africa, and Indigenous groups etc. to feel the same way I did when strolling through Liyue.

HYV’s colorism isn’t just stifling their character designs; by whitewashing real-life people, real cultures and even their deities, they are inadvertently whitewashing history. They are taking from actual ethnic groups: learning their history and struggles, then retelling these narratives after replacing their people with bleached protagonists in orientalist clothing.

All this because of what? Out of touch beauty standards? The possibility of lower sales? Dehya is extremely loved in China and her fans donated thousands to a children’s charity in her name. Other Chinese companies like Lilith Games and Bluepoch don’t have this problem. Dislyte is able to consistently pump out gorgeous character designs with varying skin tones and Reverse:1999 makes accurate designs and does in-depth research into the cultures of their characters.

It’s a basic lack of respect.

I've heard that Iranian players were extremely happy and touched by their representation, and that's amazing. And most European, Chinese, and Japanese players are fine with theirs. I just wish this extended to the representation of people with skin tones that are darker.

HYV has shown that they are capable of making characters with darker skin tones and interesting designs, but they will only do that for npcs and enemies. Orientalism, culture mash-ups and inaccuracies across regions is unfortunately common in the game, but the problem with the unchanging pale color of playable characters reflects an obvious and sinister bigotry. I do personally believe that a lot of this has to do with the meddling of higher-ups; many playable characters look like they’ve been white-washed at the end of the process, and just from an art/design standpoint, they fit darker skin-tones much, much better.

It is impossible for Genshin to be a fully “fictional fantasy game” because they chose to bear the responsibility of incorporating real life cultures into their world-building. The criticisms about Sumeru and Natlan are what they brought upon themselves. If you don’t want to represent properly, don’t do it at all. You cannot take everything from a culture and leave their people out of it. They deserve the same respect and research as the region representing your own nation.

For the people who have seen themselves represented in media over and over again, or for those who do not care about being represented at all: even if YOU don't care, others do, and they have a damn good reason for it. This is a big deal, it isn’t too much to ask for, and I will be blocking racists. Peace.

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 ( just pretend i wasn't gone for months guys )

between smartphones, computers, ipads, and screens everywhere, sometimes i feel like i have pudding instead of a brain and i need to engage in three-dimensional activities that don't involve staring at pixels all day, here are some ideas to get in touch with creativity and real word again.

𝟭. drawing and colouring ( 🎨 )

whether it's drawing landscapes, characters from your favorite series or simple doodles, putting the pen on the paper relaxes me instantly. if you are not good at freehand drawing or you're simply lazy, there are many coloring books for adults with mandalas (my personal favorites) or animals/natural landscapes, also online you can find many drawings to color that you can print. in discount stores you can find packs of colored markers at a great price, after all we don't need to be professionals.

𝟮. puzzles and diamond paintings ( 🧩 )

i recently discovered diamond paintings and i'm obsessed with them, on amazon you can find many sets with amazing designs and composing them is really relaxing. having something to focus on for a few hours a day is really essential, puzzles are perfect for this purpose too.

𝟯. reading and writing ( 📚 )

this is a more challenging activity, when we are burnout the last thing we want to do is use our brain, but reading a good novel or writing down a few pages in your journal can distract you from the present moment and give you a bit of a break while still keeping you productive. every second spent reading or writing is a second invested in your personal growth.

𝟰. experiment with outfits and makeup ( ✨ )

i have a lot of clothes but zero outfits, my favorite activity is decluttering my closet, putting away things i don't wear anymore and experimenting with new styles. also sitting at my desk and trying new makeup that's different from my usual eyeliner and mascara, i find it so fun and it's a great way to reconnect with my image when i've spent a month stuck in my room studying.

𝟱. cooking and baking ( 🧁 )

i'm not a good cook and i've burned more cakes than i care to admit, but i have to say it's terribly fun and therapeutic, especially if you're cooking with someone. u think anyone who cooks professionally hates having a second person in the kitchen with them, but when friends make a cake (ugly but tasty) and then eat it together in front of a cup of steaming tea - now, now, that's real therapy.

𝟲. working out, dancing, doing yoga ( 🩰 )

put on some music, dance in your room, follow your workout routine, lay out a mat and do stretching or yoga, connect with your body after being locked in your mind, physical activity is very important to keep your mind fresh ( mens sana in corpore sano ). if you can, go to a park, or an open space, just be careful of excessive stimuli.

these are some of the things i do, feel free to comment on your de-stressing activities.

[neptuneiris]

Cruel Summer (01/10)

Sunset's Bay

pairing: modern!aemond × fem!reader

summary: There are two sides to the city of Sunset's Bay, the rich who live in 'Crown's' and the poor who live in 'Black Waves'. What happens when a rich guy and a poor girl meet and inevitably fall in love? In the city where they live and with their status, that can't be possible.

words: 5.8k

series masterlist • next part

I wasn't sure about posting this but if you like the story I will continue with it, it all depends on how you receive it😬

in case you like it, I want to advance that the story will be a kind of forbidden love by the fact of rich and poor hehe and I have a lot prepared, basically everything is already written, I just need to structure it in a better way

this has only been an introduction to the world of Sunset's Bay, so I hope you enjoy it and the warnings will be added as I post the chapters if you like it🤗

so enjoy!

Sunset's Bay.

The hidden but mostly inhabited beach on the California Coast, with golden and white sands that slide into crystal clear waters of such a deep blue that it seems infinite.

According to Google, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern California and where teenagers living in surrounding cities yearn to come every time a new summer begins.

Sunset and sunrise on these waters are beautiful, as they transform the horizon into a palette of vibrant colors, from warm shades of gold and pink to soft purple and the deep blue of night.

Every summer, the beach comes alive with exciting surfing tournaments, as well as Sunset's Pier, the midpoint of the beach where everyone mingles, transforms into charity events with live music, fireworks and lamp shows that illuminate the night with a mesmerizing light show.

Boat and yacht rides add a touch of sophistication to the coastal scene. This allows tourists to explore the waters beyond the beach, visit small islands up close and enjoy the serenity of the open sea.

But on top of all that, everything is meticulously maintained, most of it, like the clean, spacious beaches, adorned by palm trees swaying gently in the sea breeze.

And your favorite section, the volcanic stone cliffs that are distributed in specific locations on the beach, offering rocky walls as you sit on the seashore behind you and all around, emerging as natural guardians of the beach.

And from their heights, you can take in panoramic views of all the beauty of the landscape, encompassing the vast endless ocean and coastline to the endless horizon.

You always looked forward to coming here as a child when a new term at school ended and your mother was always willing to come and spend the vacations with your relatives, the Blackwoods.

They always welcomed you and your mother and together with your cousin Alysanne, you had an amazing summer.

Ever since you were little, you have always been tattooed with the memory of the sand on your feet, the salt air in your nostrils, the water enveloping you completely and the sun in full sunset caressing your whole face as you watched it on the horizon starting to descend on the shore of the beach with the cliffs behind you.

And now, that's all you know, a life in Sunset's and your frequent days at the beach.

Living with your aunt and uncle and Alysanne in a house big enough to also make room for you on the beach shore, this has been your home for exactly a year now.

And now summer has begun.

"Sam has sent a message."

You raise your gaze to Alysanne as you finish cleaning one of the tables.

"He says to meet him at the beach with the others in the evening. Do you want to go?"

You place a small smile on your lips.

"Sure."

"Table nine!"

You both turn your heads toward your boss, who looks at both of you as if he wants to kill you at any moment, and you quickly rush to serve the food, briefly wiping the sweat from your brow to keep working.

"Hurry up, Blackwood," Mr. Frey tells you reluctantly as you begin to pick up the orders on the tray.

You let out a long breath and glance at the clock briefly before going to serve, realizing that you will have to put up with this for four more hours and for the rest of the summer as well.

Unfortunately you and Alysanne have to work, as it has been for some months now at a seafood restaurant where the 'rich' people from this side of the city come to enjoy the delicious food.

And because of the summer, the work has increased. But that doesn't stop them both from having fun now that summer has begun.

So as soon as you and Alysanne finish your shift, you head home as soon as possible and start getting ready to meet your friends at the beach.

Previously going out and having fun was a problem for Alysanne's parents, your aunt and uncle were not the liberal type, but as soon as you both started working and helping them with the household expenses with what you could, they started to be more permissive and understanding.

And this is your home, the less ostentatious side of the city, but still genuine.

Once you join Sam and all the boys on the beach, you head for the small boat floating near the shore.

It is not a luxurious boat, much less can it be compared to a boat or yacht of the latest model, but it is a modest boat that has seen many summer seasons.

And it has taken them all to many spots on the beach and you have shared many anecdotes on it.

And as the boat glides through the calm waters, you and Alysanne enjoy the laughter and stories shared by the boys from the neighborhood, Sam, Daniel and Chase.

The three of them have been childhood friends of Alysanne's and when you came to live with her officially, she introduced you to them and now you all have formed a group of friends where you enjoy afternoons like these with Sam's boat and where you also go swimming and surfing all together.

The sea breeze caresses your faces and the sun slowly begins to descend as it paints the sky in warm golden tones, until the afternoon turns into night.

And on the beach, with a campfire in the center, the starry sky above and all together in a circle, you start burning marshmallows and drinking beer.

"And tell us..." speaks Daniel, watching you both curiously, "How about the slave life for the rich people?"

You and your cousin let out a small laugh.

"Slaves?" you repeat amused.

"Well yeah, come on, you said your boss... what's his name? Grey? Payne?"

"Frey," Alysanne corrects him.

"Yeah, that," he points to her, "He's a jerk or not?"

"And no concept of patience and prudence," you add.

"I imagine the ones who eat there are worse, no?" asks Chase.

Daniel snaps his fingers at him.

"Lannister?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. Jason Lannister has that vibe."

"I put him in the top one of the most hated, along with the Baratheons. And I have a feeling the Arryns do too, I don't know why," Daniel again looks at you both, "Right?"

"You work for them," Alysanne tells him amused, "Don't you know that?"

"Well, it's not like they can tell me much for cleaning their boats and yachts but... no–they're extremely nice, though..." he holds up his finger with a thoughtful expression, "Though I think there must be something wrong with them."

Alysanne lets out a snort.

"They're rich and live at Crown's, practically owning all the establishments on the beach just like the Lannisters, Baratheons, Tyrells and others leaving nothing for us, the poor ones, because they despise us," she says with an ironic but true tone "Of course there must be something wrong with them."

"One time one of them didn't leave me a tip," you say, remembering, "The Tyrell's."

Sam looks at you amused.

"Tips are not obligatory."

"Oh come on," you retort, with a touch of irony, "They're rich, they can have yachts and mansions, but can't they at least give me a five percent tip?"

"Yet it's not obligatory."

Everyone lets out a laugh.

"Yeah, it's not the nicest place to work and the customers aren't necessarily nice but the pay is good, after all," Alysanne says as she shrugs.

And that's true.

Even though it's not a good work environment, the necessity is what makes you not quit and endure as much as you can. Even though your aunt and uncle are taking care of you and taking responsibility for you, you know you can't continue that way forever.

You want to be independent, pay for your own things, especially you want to pay for college, but to do that, you have to work and now this is the job.

Besides it's useless to find work elsewhere when the owners are still the same; rich and arrogant. And you can't find work on your side of the city because the pay won't be much or maybe they won't even hire because they can't afford it.

But right now, being here enjoying the summer with your friends and your cousin, you allow yourself not to think about it and just continue to criticize the rich people.

And after many cans of beer, Chase picks up his guitar and you all together start singing in the most off-key and horrible way possible, laughing amongst everyone with the jokes filling the air, just like the heat of the flames and the aroma of roasting marshmallows.

"You had a party and didn't invite me!?"

Almost everyone together turns their heads unexpectedly toward the approaching outside voice laden with amusement and mild reproach.

And then they all see Cregan Stark with a huge grin and a bottle of beer in hand.

The guys soon start showing off at the mere sight of him, making jokes and greeting him with great enthusiasm, as Cregan greets them.

And you just watch Alysanne with a sly smile, amused by Cregan's sudden appearance, but of course, she quickly hides all traces of whatever her reaction is to seeing him, adjusting her expression to one of neutrality as she tries to appear disinterested.

But you know.

And you're amused at how she acts as if you don't know her.

Cregan Stark is the spoiled son of one of the wealthiest families in Sunset's, living in one of the most exclusive areas on the Crown's side.

His appearance reflects his status; brand name clothes, really expensive accessories, late model car and an attitude that denotes familiarity with luxury. However, despite his wealth, Cregan has proven to be different from other boys in his social environment.

Although he has access to all the luxuries, he does not carry with him the air of superiority and arrogance that many would expect from someone like him and that those of his class usually display.

In fact, Cregan became friends with Chase, who works for his family in the ports.

And it was Chase who introduced him to the group and although at first no one felt confident with him, Cregan instead of imposing his status, imposed a genuine and friendly demeanor that won the friendship of everyone in the circle.

Later everyone understood that he doesn't really enjoy being with people from the same environment as himself. The wealthy teenagers he usually hung out with, for the most part, were overly judgmental and arrogant.

So thanks to Chase, he found company with all of you, the guys from across the city who don't have a mansion and all the money in the world, but who are genuine and free of pretense.

Despite the looks people give Cregan for not understanding his choice of company, he deliberately ignores them. His parents don't say anything to him either, although he says they clearly prefer that he stop interact with you.

"I am deeply, intensely and extremely offended," he says expressing mock indignation, holding a hand to his chest, watching you incredulously but amused.

"Come on, man, don't get dramatic," Chase tells him giving him a friendly tap on the shoulder.

"Yeah, we're just getting warmed up," Sam encourages him.

"Besides..." says Daniel, in an exaggerated tone, "We can't send messages across the beach, us poor people have to use carrier pigeons like the olden days to get anything to you, but guess what... we're so poor we can't even afford pigeons."

Everyone lets out a laugh, enjoying Daniel's humor in implying the differences between the poor and the rich on the beach.

"Stop, seriously, why didn't you guys tell me you were doing this?" Cregan asks, taking a seat on the logs.

"I heard there's a party on your side of the beach and I figured you'd be heading over there," Chase tells him, "Which you did, didn't you?" he points to the beer in his hand.

He lets out a long breath.

"Yeah but it was pretty fucking boring."

"Boring?" you repeat incredulously, "A party with a DJ, champagne and yachts I highly doubt is boring."

"Well, not that it wasn't fun," he says looking around and observing everyone, "But I wanted this, to be with you guys, the atmosphere."

"And how did you know we were here?" asks Alysanne curious.

"I didn't exactly know," he smiles at her, "So I just decided to come and try my luck."

"Oh man, stop it or you'll make me cry," Daniel jokes, holding a hand to his heart.

"He loves us, doesn't he?" asks Sam, with a smirk.

"Yeah, he definitely loves us."

Everyone laughs and you watch discreetly as he and Alysanne start throwing their little looks at each other.

"Party with DJ and yachts? Man, if I were you, I'd be enjoying that," Sam confesses, shaking his head in a gesture of incomprehension.

"It's not big deal and people are hateful, believe me."

No one argues with him about that but you too sometimes wish you could have fun like that, have the experience of going to a beach party like the rich kids in the movies, just once.

But the time will come, someday, there are still many summers left to enjoy.

The conversation flows as the boys settle around the campfire, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the cool night breeze blowing in from the sea.

The atmosphere is filled with laughter and banter, and the relaxed beach setting becomes the perfect backdrop for a night of genuine camaraderie.

Cregan, with his carefree and genuine attitude, seems to fit right in with all fo you and that he values sincere company over superficial luxury.

And you don't know exactly how much more time passes or how many beers that Daniel brings back the theme of the rich party on the other side of the beach.

"Hey, Cregan," he says, leaning forward with a mischievous expression, "Since you're here, why don't you take us to that party? I'm sure it's not as bad as you say."

Cregan raises an eyebrow, amused but surprised.

"What?"

Something about Daniel's words clicks in everyone's head, even yours, so you quickly exchange glances with Alysanne. And Cregan notices how everyone starts to truly consider it.

"Do you guys really want to go to that party?"

"And why not?" asks Alysanne, with an grin, "I'm sure we can have fun, even if we're not part of the rich circle."

"Yeah, and besides..." adds Sam, with a persuasive tone, "It would be interesting to see what the other side of the city is like from the inside. We've never been to a party like this."

Cregan seems to think about it for a moment, looking at the boys with a mixture of doubt and amusement.

"Seriously you guys are telling me this? The rich haters?"

You shrug.

"The rich hate us too."

"And that's precisely why we want to go," Sam says, gesturing animatedly, "We want to try something different. And who knows, maybe we'll give you a good reason to have a little more fun at that party. Right, Chase?"

Everyone looks at Chase, who shrugs.

"I guess that wouldn't be bad."

"But you haven't thought this through," Cregan insists, "As soon as they see you all, they'll know you're not like them."

Everyone looks at themselves and well... he's right.

The rich, especially those who are the same age as you, have a radar to recognize someone who is just like them... or not.

But you don't blame them, since you have them too, the difference is that you don't make disgusted faces or criticize in whispers as soon as you notice.

You notice your two-piece bikini top is wrinkled and is clearly second hand, besides your worn-out sandals. Alysanne is also in the same condition as you and the boys... well, they're worse.

Sam's shirt is torn, Chase's is torn, and the clothes are visibly secondhand.

"We have better clothes at home," you tell Alysanne and she nods.

"And we take our shirts off and stay in shorts," Daniel says, in solution, "Are we at the beach or not?"

"And if something goes wrong, we can always run out and come back here," Alysanne suggests.

Everyone nods and basically watches Cregan with puppy dog eyes, hopeful that he will take you to his kind of people.

"What do you think, Cregan?"

Cregan is silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over the group around him, analyzing and thinking about all the things that could go wrong. And he doesn't pass up the abandoned cat look that Daniel and Sam throw at him.

And finally, he lets out a laugh and a resigned sigh.

"All right, all right. I'll take you. But if we have a bad time, don't say I didn't warn you."

"That's what I like to hear!" exclaims Sam, raising his arms in victory.

"We won't regret it."

"We may not but the rich will."

"Thanks, Cregan," says Alysanne, patting him on the back.

You frown as you watch her gesture and also notice Cregan's confused look for a moment, but go back to watching the boys.

"Well, then let's go before I change my mind."

You put out the campfire, pick up the trash and with laughter they all very animatedly walk away from your spot on the beach, heading first towards the trash cans and then towards Cregan's car.

"You do know Cregan likes you, don't you?" you say to Alysanne, walking a little further away from the guys.

She gives you an incredulous look.

"What?"

"Oh come on and you like him too, don't deny it."

"Of course I don't."

"Of course you do."

"You're crazy."

"And you won't stand a chance if you keep treating him like just a dude."

"Oh yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

You let out a laugh, understanding that it will be difficult for her to accept and share it with you, so you give her time. The guys behind you laugh too, with the echo fading into the salty air, leaving the sea breeze and the sound of the waves behind.

The difference in locations is completely noticeable.

You leave behind the small wooden houses, the unkempt streets, the establishments where you and your friends can shop, the bicycles and old cars, to move to large neighborhoods with green grass, trees and bushes on every corner with huge luxurious houses, almost mansions with modern cars and expensive decorations.

The guys are excited and so are you, as you have never explored these sections of the beach before, which are completely exclusive and with access for the rich people.

Obviously there are entrances with booths and security guards, so Cregan's appearance alone proves he's a Stark and he's allowed in without objection.

And soon enough, you arrive at the party.

"Oh my goodness, look at this," exclaims Alysanne, wide-eyed as she takes in the scene.

"That's a Prestige F4?" asks Sam in surprise, eyeing the luxurious yacht in the distance.

"Seriously, how much money do these people have?" mutters Daniel, in shock.

"More than you'll ever have," Alysanne tells him with a smirk as you all walk onto the beach illuminated by the party lights.

"You don't know that," Chase replies to her, pretending to be offended, "Maybe someday I'll get rich and buy one of those," he points to the yachts.

"I'm very offended that you didn't invite us to your parties sooner," Daniel says to Cregan, putting a hand to his chest as if he were badly wounded, "How could you hide all this from us?"

"Don't draw too much attention to yourselves, guys," Cregan asks with a mixture of concern and amusement in his voice.

"We won't," says Sam, "We'll just enjoy ourselves apart from the others but inside, you get it?"

The music starts to get louder and soon enough, we are inside the party.

Blue and purple neon lights illuminate the white sand, creating a dazzling contrast against the night sky. Waves break gently on the shore, almost muted by the music vibrating through the air.

There is indeed a DJ from a raised platform and most of the people here dance in the center to the music, some with cocktails in hand, bottles of champagne or recording the moment on their phones.

Near the dock, several luxurious yachts are docked, all decorated with lights flashing to the rhythm of the music. There are people inside them, enjoying the party from right there.

Some people get off the yachts to join the party on the beach, while others stay on board, enjoying the view and the exclusivity it offers.

If not beer, there is a bar offering a variety of exotic drinks and gourmet appetizers, such as sushi, caviar and canapés.

And throughout the party, groups of people are spread out, chatting animatedly, laughing, toasting and dancing. There are also party games, such as beer pong and spin the bottle.

While others gather around improvised campfires farther away near the sea, where the atmosphere is more relaxed, watching the spectacle around them.

The air is permeated with the smell of sea salt mixed with expensive perfumes and the sound of laughter and music all along the beach.

It is a party that clearly reflects the wealth and status of their hosts, as well as the people present; pure spoiled kids with rich parents.

"Are we going to have fun or what!?" exclaims Sam excitedly, fully entering the party and everyone follows.

Chase convinces Cregan to be worrying since most of the people here are in their own world and he doubts drunkenly checking to see if they have the latest model Iphone or what.

And honestly you relax too as everyone here is having fun and you along with Alysanne look more presentable in nice bikinis.

They are second hand still but they are more cared for than the others you have.

Sam quickly orders drinks, surprised and excited to have gotten a bottle of champagne, then Cregan and the others take him and you and Alysanne to a more secluded spot.

You make a space for yourselves on the sand, a bit secluded from everyone, having the view of the huge luxurious houses, the cliffs in the distance and also the illuminated yachts on the dock behind you.

Pretty soon you have your beer and start enjoying yourselves just like everyone else, not worrying too much and just pretending you are one of them all.

Mingling with the rich at Sunset's pier is one thing, since the pier is the center of the entire beach and there are no prejudices there, but now pretending to be one is completely different.

You find yourself watching everyone around you when Alysanne nudges you slightly and points her gaze to a specific spot.

"Look at that."

You follow her gaze and see a group of girls.

"That bracelet is from Pandora, I saw it on Instagram."

From here you can see how their gold and silver necklaces and bracelets sparkle. Also the bikinis they have on are beautiful, certainly brand name. There is also a girl with a Guess bag and they all have the latest Iphone model in their hand.

And you turn to Alysanne with a shrug.

"Why are we judging when it should be the other way around?"

"We're not judging, we're just noticing the differences between girls like them and girls like us."

You both let out a laugh.

"You definitely want that Pandora bracelet, don't you?" you look at her amused.

"And you don't?"

The two of you continue to observe or rather admire all those rich girls who have fancy accessories when suddenly you hear a specific boast behind you.

You turn your head and see the dock, noticing how some impeccably dressed people are boarding one of the larger yachts docked near the shore.

And there they are.

You think as you make out those distinctive black, red and silver hair.

Of course they couldn't miss a party like this, the sons of the most influential families in the city, the Lannister's, Baratheon's and Targaryen's, practically the elite of Sunset's.

You've seen Cerelle, Tyshara and Loreon Lannister before on the Sunset's Pier, their red hair gives away who they are instantly. They always brag about their luxurious yachts, cars, jewelry stores and everything else they own.

Their father, Jason Lannister, has built an empire based on shipbuilding and port development.

From what you understand, his company designs and manufactures some of the most advanced and exclusive ships for the world's elite.

In addition to this, Lannister also owns a network of ports and shipyards on several coasts, allowing him to maintain a steady flow of wealth through port fees and contracts with global corporations.

This influence has given him a prominent place among the city's powerful and his family has inherited not only his fortune, but also his imposing and domineering character.

So it is no surprise that the Lannister's are typical spoiled children with clearly very wealthy parents, as are the others, especially the Baratheon's, Cassandra, Maris and Floris.

Known as much for their tanned skin and peculiar dark hair as for their arrogant attitude, they always seek to be the center of attention at any such social event.

Cassandra, the eldest, has a dominant bearing and never misses an opportunity to show off her status. She is also the best known of the daughters to go out every now and then with a boy from an important family either from the city or abroad.

Next, there is Maris, the quietest of the three and the most reserved, but still, as you have heard, just as spoiled and boastful as her older sister.

And finally, Floris, Cerelle's best friend and supposedly the most arrogant, capricious, shallow and boastful of the three.

She is the one who seems the sweetest at first glance, but her spoiled nature soon becomes evident when something doesn't go her way.

You also know that there are two other children, a daughter and a son, Ellyn and Royce, but apparently Ellyn prefers to stay at home and Royce does not live here.

Her father, Borros Baratheon, is a most important and influential shipping magnate and merchant in the region, known for his connections with outside businessmen.

He owns one of the largest commercial fleets operating along the entire Pacific coast. You don't know exactly what it's about but the guys have talked about how his company specializes in logistics and shipping goods across the ocean or something like that.

And finally, the sons of the most powerful family in the entire city and the entire country, the Targaryen's.

Viserys Targaryen is known as the most powerful man in the entire country and by extension his entire family as well. He owns one of the largest and most influential corporations in the region.

Your uncle Ben always had a kind of admiration for him, though your aunt always expressed her dislike of him, as well as the other families, for simply being other greedy money-rotters who drive up the costs of the city for all that they invest to elevate their status and leave you poor people increasingly difficult to make a living.

You honestly couldn't agree with her more, but the Targaryen's have been forging their main empire here in Sunset's for a very long time now and there is nothing that can really be done about it.

The Targaryen business empire focuses on multiple sectors, but they are best known for owning a very prestigious bank, where they serve wealthy elites and large corporations, as well as financing large scale projects, such as real estate developments, technology or even public infrastructure.

You understand that he has built and manages shopping malls, corporate skyscrapers and exclusive developments in major cities across the country, as well as high profile tourist destinations like Sunset's.

So basically all of them and him especially have total control over the financial resources of the region, as well as infrastructure and development in the most luxurious sectors.

Although Viserys and his wife Alicent are no longer seen as much at events this side of Crown's and on the pier, their influence still shapes everything that happens here.

"Hey."

Sam snaps you out of your thoughts when you feel him tap you on the shoulder and you turn your head towards him, confused and attentive.

"Hm?"

"What are you looking at?" he asks you amused, sitting down next to you and offering you a new bottle of beer.

"Oh, no, nothing, just..." you shake your head, taking the beer and not paying attention to the son's and daughter's of rich parents.

But Sam had followed your gaze before.

"I know, they're beautiful, aren't they?"

You immediately watch him intently.

"Who?"

"The yachts," he tells you as if it's obvious, "Imagine spending a whole weekend on one, just doing this..." he points to the beer and all the partying, "In the middle of the ocean."

You let out a small laugh.

"That's your biggest dream, isn't it?"

"And for the yacht to be mine, obviously," he says excitedly, turning his gaze back to the dock where they all are, "If I used to see them from afar and feel envious, now it's torture to have them so close."

You look to where he sees and he has a very good point. They could live perfectly well on one of those yachts and there would be no problem, which is also one of your dreams.

"Oh, come on Sam," you give him a friendly smack, looking at him again and you notice the gleam of longing in his eyes, "Surely your charm can make a girl from Crown's fall in love with you and let you enjoy the amazing yachts."

He looks at you incredulously.

"A Crown's girl with someone like me? Are you kidding?"

"It's not impossible," you shrug.

"Oh yeah, here at Sunset's everything is impossible if you don't live on this side of town."

And that's another good point and very true.

Daniel joins you and Sam's little group and you stop paying attention the moment you turn your gaze back towards the yachts and them specifically.

This time you focus on the Targaryen's, Helaena, Aegon and Aemond.

Surprisingly, despite being in the top tier of the wealthiest and most powerful family in the entire city and country, compared to the Lannister's, Baratheon's, Tyrell's, Arryn's, Stark's and Greyjoy's, they are not so smug, superficial and arrogant.

Although, come to think of it, the only exception is Aegon.

The eldest of the brothers, he is characteristic of his carefree and arrogant attitude. His life is summed up in parties, girls and excesses. Everyone knows him, he is the soul of the party and drives all the girls crazy.

For him, life is a game where he always wins. Sometimes he seems like the typical privileged son who has never had to strive for anything, but his power lies precisely in that.

Then there is Helaena, the only sister among the Targaryens who has a pleasant and gentle presence.

Although she is rich, the richest of them all and extremely beautiful, she doesn't abuse it, she doesn't show it off, she's not shallow or arrogant, besides she's always looking out for her siblings.

She is the kind of person who doesn't need to shout to be noticed and with just a quiet smile, she earns the respect and admiration of those around her.

You know a little about her as Chase has a little now not so secret crush on her and honestly you don't blame him, she is absolutely beautiful and even kind, which is rare due to her provenance.

And finally there's Aemond, who of all them, he's always been... different.

Where Aegon is shameless and carefree, Aemond is calculating and serious. Always impeccably dressed, with an expression that doesn't say much and keeps him at a safe distance from most.

From what you've heard, he's extremely intelligent, he's also reserved and quiet, the complete opposite of Aegon.

There is also a rumor about him about his left eye, something about an accident as a child and where he apparently wears a prosthetic.

You don't really know much about it or him but he's always been intriguing and mysterious, in a way.

You focus on him specifically, watching him from a distance, curious, as he takes a seat on the deck with an expression you can't read as it doesn't tell you much.

You watch as his short silver hair moves slightly in the wind and breeze, as well as he watches everything around him intently, to again focus on his siblings and Floris.

Floris is his girlfriend, apparently they have been dating for a few months now and have given a lot to talk about since no one expected Aemond to even date anyone.

But there they are.

You watch as Floris approaches him and takes a seat on his lap, looking radiant in a tight dress and a huge smile on her face, but he, on the other hand, remains expressionless.

Floris murmurs something in his ear, to which he responds with a slight smile, but averts his gaze to the horizon. However, she gently takes him by the jaw and leaves a soft kiss on his lips.

They begin to kiss and you look away, trying to refocus on the party and enjoying yourself here with your friends.

However, being here with all these wealthy people, especially the Targaryen's, you can't help but feel that divide about the rich and the poor at Sunset's.

You feel like you live in two different worlds, where they, the rich, live a life completely oblivious to the concerns of the people on the other side of town, in Crown's.

While you and the others work in the restaurants, clean their yachts, boats, houses and make sure their lives are comfortable.

They float above it all, the Targaryen's, Lannister's, Stark's, Baratheon's and so on, attending parties and making decisions that only benefit their own.

But you, the poor, the ones who live in Black Waters have nothing, you don't have the money, the influence or the power. Even the name of your side of town is a mockery to them, the rich, in despising even more the poor who don't have what they have.

But that's the life in Sunset's Bay.

[regressionschool]

little women: amazing adventures

The playground is alive with the sounds of giggles and the joyful shrieks of Littles, their colorful clothes and padded bottoms dotting the landscape like a field of bouncing bubbles. It’s attached to the new Littles daycare, a space designed for their needs—soft, colorful, and filled with all the fun a Little could want. The sight brings a smile to your face as you sit on a nearby bench, watching over Valerie and Anna as they scamper around, climbing, sliding, and chasing each other across the play structures.

Valerie, dressed in her adorable green overalls and a bright yellow T-shirt with a little cartoon pig on it, is perched at the top of a play structure, her legs swinging freely as she pops her pacifier in and out of her mouth. Her diaper, visible beneath the loose fabric of her overalls, crinkles with each movement, the playful prints peeking out every time she shifts. You can't help but notice how carefree she looks, fully immersed in her Little space, unburdened by the concerns of the adult world.

Beside her, Anna is equally playful, though her plain white diaper looks a bit more clinical compared to Valerie’s vibrant one. It stands out against her pink dress, which rides up as she climbs and tumbles through the playground. Her pacifier bounces slightly from the strap clipped to her shirt. As you watch them giggle and slide down together, you notice more Littles scattered around, their pacifiers bobbing in their mouths as they toddle and waddle, their diapers clearly visible beneath shorts, dresses, and rompers. A few of them have even shed their pants entirely, too caught up in their games to bother with modesty.

A few moments later, you see Valerie and Anna hand in hand, toddling toward you. Valerie’s face is determined, while Anna looks shy, her steps smaller, her face hidden behind her paci.  “Hey there, girls,” you greet them, smiling down at their adorably mismatched pair. Valerie looks up at you and tugs Anna closer, her voice soft but teasing. “Anna’s messy,” she whispers, though loud enough for you to hear. Anna’s cheeks flush a deeper pink behind her pacifier, but she stays quiet, clearly embarrassed.

You raise an eyebrow, glancing over at the daycare, wondering why they came to you instead of Anna’s caregiver. But then it hits you—Anna’s eyes keep flicking to Valerie’s colorful diaper, her plain white one now crinkling as she shifts awkwardly from foot to foot. You chuckle softly. “I think I see what’s going on here,” you say with a grin, bending down to their level. “Anna, do you want one of Valerie’s fun diapers?” Anna nods, her cheeks still rosy, but there’s a sparkle of excitement in her eyes. Valerie giggles, clearly pleased with her role in helping her friend get a fresh, cute change.

“Well, alright then,” you say with a playful sigh, pulling out two fresh diapers from the bag, one with bright animals for Valerie and another with cute stars for Anna. “Let’s get you both cleaned up.”

A few minutes later, the girls are both in fresh, colorful diapers, their old ones discarded into the trash nearby. Their pants, however, are now sitting in your lap—both of them had decided, without a word, that they were much more comfortable without them. Valerie gives you a cheeky grin, her pacifier bobbing slightly as she adjusts the waistband of her diaper, clearly proud of her choice.

“Feel better, Anna?” you ask, giving the shy girl a warm smile as she peeks down at her new diaper, the bright prints now decorating her waist. Anna nods enthusiastically, finally letting out a giggle. “Much better,” she murmurs behind her paci. “Good,” you say, patting both of their heads. “Now go on, go play.” The two of them run off, giggling and waddling back to the playground, their bare legs and colorful diapers on full display as they rejoin the fun, leaving you with their little discarded pants and a heart full of warmth. Watching them scamper around, you can’t help but smile at how perfect the moment feels—just Littles being Littles, without a care in the world.

[feroluce]

On Sampo's name (ALL of his names!)

I feel like everyone who's a fan knows the meaning of Sampo's full name by now- the sampo was a legendary item that could magically make endless supplies of gold, flour, and salt, all priceless items at the time! So it works perfectly for a scammer businessman like Sampo. ☆

"Koski" is the Finnish word for "water rapids" which might seem kinda random but actually makes sense for him, since Aha and the Masked Fools are also referred to with water terms:

This kind of analogy isn't specific to only Aha and the Masked Fools, but it does still tie them together. So water rapids fits perfectly! Sampo wants to stir the pot! He likes to shake things around and spice things up! He's taking that stagnant pool and turning it into water rapids! It would actually explain his ridiculous hair color, too; a dark blue wave tipped with white foam haha

EDIT: an amazing contribution from @ricochetlovebombs, who heard it from hoyolab user Rattaboy. If you interpret his first and last name together, instead of separately like I did, you would get something like "money river."

In other words, Sampo's name literally means CASH FLOW SKXJMDMDMD

What I really wanted to talk about is his drag alias name, though, Brughel Poisson, because to me that's where it gets really interesting.

So like in the English version, Sampo goes by Brughel Poisson when he's in disguise. Searching for just "Brughel" itself doesn't seem to get you much at first: a Flemish and Dutch Renaissance painter named Pieter Brueghel the Elder, who was famous for his landscapes and peasant scenery, especially Hunters in the Snow and The Blue Cloak.

He's referred to as "the Elder" because he had a son also named Pieter Brueghel (the Younger), and he began a long line of painters, all named Brueghel. Some of them did original work, and many of them created reproductions of the Elder's art to sell. The Elder was also famous as a printmaker. All of this is hilarious when you remember that Sampo is an infamous counterfeiter and has sold a relic called the Parallel Universe Printer JSKZJSMD

There is also something called Brueghel's Syndrome, named after one of Brueghel's paintings called De Gaper, which pictured a man yawning widely. It's a condition that causes the mouth to open and gape uncontrollably, twisting a person's countenance into a distorted mask of their usual face.

Tumblr doesn't have a way of censoring pics like twitter, so for the sake of the medically squeamish, I'm just showing De Gaper here. But if you look up Brueghel's Syndrome, you can find pictures of actual patients, some of whom really do make faces resembling Aha's comedy and tragedy masks!

In the Chinese and Japanese versions, his alias last name is a lot more silly- In those, "Sampo" is phonetically written as "san-bo" and "san-po." And in disguise, his last names are phonetically written as... "Bo-san" and "Po-san." The Chinese version uses different tones, but still. This smug asshole seriously just decided to write his own name backwards and called it a day NDMKXMDMD

In the English version, Poisson itself is kind of a reused Hoyo asset- it's also the name of Navia's fishing village in Genshin Impact. Which is a really silly name for a village, because it literally just means "fish" in French smzjxkdkdk but!

Again, more water imagery. And in English, if something is suspicious, we say that it's "fishy," which is perhaps the most fitting association yet for someone as shady as Sampo ☆

And for a good while I thought that was the only connection. But then. My beloved @hydrachea, who is an actual native French speaker, dropped this on me right after April Fool's Day:

Poisson is literally the word you use to pull an April Fool's prank.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Beautiful, huge mid-century modern 1959 brick home in St. Paul, MN. 7bds, 4ba, $800K. It's completely original, but I do have a few questions.

The entrance hall floor is flagstone, and it has a stone planter. On the left there's a semi-transparent wall with a large matching light fixture going thru it. Very stylish. Then, there's a railing to go down the stairs to the sunken living room.

The large living room has 2 mirrored wall inserts. The sleek modern fireplace has no hearth or mantel, it's set right into the wall.

There are dents in the carpet from the furniture, but are those circles actually sculpted details? Looks like they left 2 cool lucite stands.

The dining area alongside the kitchen is quite large and has a built-in banquette with shelves on the ends. There's also room for stools at the counter.

Very big kitchen with completely original cabinetry. Look at the little door in the backsplash.

Amazingly, all of the appliances are original too. And, look at the colorful mosaic backsplashes.

The den is very large, has a great stone fireplace wall, and tons of built-in storage.

Big, original bath with tile murals and a marble counter. That gold swan faucet is in again.

These two rooms connect. The carpet in one is beautiful and the other has a flagstone floor. I don't know, maybe it's an office. It does have an outer door.

I like the lamps in the hall. Could that be a laundry chute behind those 2 little doors?

This is a cool bedroom. What could that little door be for?

Love this original pink bath.

This is the largest bedroom and it's the primary b/c it has an en-suite.

Love the blue sink and toilet.

And, look at the mosaic wall over that blue tub.

Huge rec room downstairs. A nice bar would fit well beneath the lights. There are lots of built-in shelves and a stone fireplace wall.

There's also a full original kitchen down here. I like the ceiling of light, but what is that stuff up there?

This home is amazing. Another original fridge. Look at all the cabinetry and shelving.

Even the laundry room is huge. And, look at the drain in the floor in case of a flood situation.

This house just keeps on going. This is gorgeous and must count as the 7th bedroom.

And, right outside this room is this beautiful room. This home is crazy with the huge rooms and so many built-ins.

There's also a lovely yellow shower room down here w/an original sink and toilet. Also note the tile murals.

There's a terrace on the main level and a covered patio on the ground level.

Beautifully landscaped .53 acre. It doesn't have a pool, but look at how close the neighbor's pools are - Helloooo, neighbors!

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2160-Upper-Saint-Dennis-Rd-Saint-Paul-MN-55116/2091427_zpid/?

[justanotherbirdbrain-blog]

Geology and the Economy/Trade in Your Fictional World: Explained

Hi, I'm Bird. I am a geology Ph.D. student and I love reading fiction and playing videogames, however something that can really pull me out of a fictional universe is a lack of understanding of basic geology, and how that would influence your fictional world. Today I will cover geology that can effect trade, some landscape features, and construction!

Things that are typically necessary/desired in a fictional world are building materials, gemstones/precious metals, and fossil fuels/ sources of energy. However, a lot of these things are not found together, and they typically have some features to make them more distinct in terms of landscape, so lets talk about it!

Gemstones/ Precious metals and landscape features

Typically, gemstones can be found in two different rock types. The first is intrusive igneous rocks (magma that slowly cooled underground to form course-grained rocks like granite) and high grade metamorphic rocks (rocks that got put under intense heat and pressure under the earth's surface). Some minerals are more likely to form in particular conditions than others, but for the most part these minerals can be found interchangeably within both of these places. *Note: this is a gross oversimplification but we are starting small

(Yes it is a shitty chart better pictures will come further in the post)

If you are writing these minerals based off and igneous deposit, good descriptions for the rocks would be speckled, with mineral grains of about the same size and varying in color. They should NOT be striated, and they will often form bald (unforested) cliffs that are typically rounded and not jagged.

If you are writing with metamorphic rocks, you would expect these rocks to be layered, typically having light and dark layers with some minerals possibly being much larger than the others surrounding it. These textures can definitely (sometimes) be observed from a distance.

*Final notes about minerals* Quartz varieties are difficult, quartz can be found in volcanic, metamorphic, sedimentary, and intrusive igneous settings. If you are writing about agate specifically it is almost always volcanic in nature.

Diamonds are found in volcanic ash deposits called kimberlites, these deposits can occur in any rock type, so while they are igneous, they can be found anywhere. They have zero connection to the surrounding rocks.

2. Fossil Fuels

If a region is producing oil or coal, it is going to be from a sedimentary environment that is very rich in ancient plant material (like millions of years old). A unique feature of these locations would be finding lots of plant fossils, and rocks that can be found in association with these would be sandstone, shale, conglomerates/breccias, and limestones. Sedimentary rocks form in layers, so if exposed the layers will be very visible from a distance. You can also get unique features due to preferential weathering (fancy way of saying some rocks are harder than others, so when exposed to the same weather some rocks will break down faster than others). Also, natural oil seeps are a thing in places where natural oil is prevalent, but I couldn't find a good picture sorry.

3. Building Resources

based on the rocks found in each region, the buildings will be made out of different materials, so lets breakdown what building materials would be used based off what rocks are present in the location.

Sedimentary rocks- lots of options here, so I will just info dump. If the region is drier, limestone is a good choice, historically may desert areas use limestone, it is soft and easy to carve, but it will dissolve slowly with rain. Sandstone is a durable rock that can be used, but it is very hard as it is made of quartz. Clay! shale breaks down in humid environments and will often make clay, this is a great, amazing building resource that could drive economy.

Metamorphic rocks- Marble.... if you want to make luxurious marble temples, metamorphic rocks are a must! Other comments, metamorphic rocks will often have layers of weaker minerals and stronger minerals, that means they will break along a defined surface. A lot of older houses in the Italian Alps (Aosta Valley) use these rocks for roofing. Slate roofing is also common in a lot of places, slate is formed from really low grade metamorphism, so this resource can be available in both sedimentary and metamorphic locations within reason.

Igneous- Granite (light) and Gabbro (dark) is very hard and therefore it is used frequently in countertops today. This is also important because these rocks will take a high shine from polishing. Igneous rocks are also perfect for making cement! Volcanic ash mixed with quicklime and salt water is the recipe for roman concrete which is arguable much better than current day concrete but otherwise doesn't offer much more benefit.

Thank you if you made it this far, I want to make more guides in the future to hopefully cover more geology topics that can influence a story (possibly natural disasters and associated landscape features for subtle foreshadowinggggg)

This guide is very simplified! It is supposed to cover a lot of information for people who may not know a lot about geology, but are interesting in creating fictional universes! If you know a lot about geology already, please avert your eyes, or comment something additional!

[heartilywrites]

hi hi!! can i req a kuvira x fem!waterbender reader where the reader is on team avatar and they met in s3 and we’re all flirty, what would kuvira do to r in s4?? ty!!

،، Everlasting love ; Kuvira

resume: where Kuvira and you started something you didn’t know how it could end.

content warning: fem!waterbender reader x Kuvira ; description of eye color ; you're part of team avatar ! ; time skip ; kinda long os ; no use of y/n ; open ending

wc: 3k

a/n: I'm sorry I took too long to write this one, but I was trying to get everything I wanted to explore in just one post and apparently I can't do that in under 2k words🧍🏽‍♀️ HOPE YOU ENJOY :D

“ Once upon a time, I was falling in love, but now I’m only falling apart.

Blue eyes wandered around the landscape with such fascination, you were so immersed in your own thoughts about the city that didn't realize when the group stopped by a big salon, your body bumped with Mako.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Shit, sorry...! Where are we?” you asked to the bender, clearly you didn't pay attention to anything said before.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Meeting the mother of the airbender.” he said making you face the other way were some metalbenders were doing a choreography.

Now you stood still watching the dance unfold right infront of you. You were so amazed at the way they used the metal to catch people and how easy it looked to bend.

At the final stand, your sight got caught by one of the girls at the very top, even from afar you could spot a little dot below her left eye.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Let's take a break, everyone!” you heard the matriarch say and giggle a little bit at how fast everyone scatter.

Your eyes followed the girl and Kuvira could feel your gaze in her, so when she turned around to get a glance of who was looking at her your hand waved timidly.

Korra called your name when she saw you distracted, her head made a movement about going out of there and you were quick to follow.

It was safe to say that now the metalbender was all you could think of, you went with the team to the city in a mission to meet the new airbender and take her to the north with the rest of the nomads, but that was all. You couldn't do much as a waterbender in a city made of metal, so you went wandering around the place, still mesmerized with the architecture.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey!” you smiled at the captain when both paths bumped each other. “You're the one in the dance group, aren't you?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira.” the soldier presented herself, you said your name back. “You're the one that came with the avatar.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I am, she's with Su's daughter right now.” you explained, tilting your head to the left. “And I wanted to explore a little bit...” both your hands went to your back, you didn't lose anything trying to shoot your shot, right? “Do you know any good guide that could show me around?”

Kuvira looked confused for a good second, she couldn't seriously don't catch that. “I thought Aiwei showed you around.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I mean... Not really, he showed us like two places at best.” you said, shrugging. “Just if you can, maybe you can show me around?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Oh...” you saw the girl's cheeks change to the most subtle tone of pink, her head moved trying to hide it. “Well, right now I'm on duty, but..”

She stood in silence, thinking for a bit while your bottom lip was trapped between your teeth for what felt almost an eternity.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “How about at dawn we meet at the door of your dorm?” she finally said, you nodded way too fast for your liking.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Would love to!” your smile grew being met with one smile of hers, a little bit smaller. “See you at dawn, then.”

She made a little bow which you reciprocated and both continue each respective way. 

The rest of the day you were humming a melody while walking around, sitting down or even just existing. Your friends were quick to catch up your change of acting. The first one to point it out was the avatar.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Spill it, what got you so happy?” she asked once your group was alone, Asami giggled.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Not what, who got her happy? Is the real question.” the inventor corrected the girl, Korra opened her mouth surprised looking back at you after looking at Asami.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “No one!” you started, trying to hide a smile, a couple seconds where needed for you to get closer to the girls. “Okay, there's this girl in the guard team...” your friends assemble with you, Bolin taking place beside the non bender, interested too in what was said about your new crush.

Mako rolled his eyes funnily before getting pulled in by his brother.

Now that your friends knew, you totally regretted it when the time came and you were waiting for Kuvira... with the rest of the team at your back. At the very sight of the metalbender, you were so quick to get water out of the container you always carry on you and threw it at them gaining a small scream from the earthbender and some grunts from the fire nation pair. A mufled 'bitch!' was said by the avatar in a friendly way, everyone went inside to hide giggling when they heard the captain greet you. Clearly peaking out the window, fighting each other in whispers and dropping to the floor when Kuvira almost got them in the act.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'm sorry if I made you wait too long, there were some matters I needed to take care of.” she excused herself, you were quick to shake your head.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Don't worry!” you almost shouted, blinking a couple times before clearing your throat. “I mean, uhh, it's okay, let's go.”

Almost in a desperate manner, you took Kuviras wrist and made her walk with hurry away from your friends, you already knew they would make fun of you.

The first ten minutes were a bit uncomfortable for both parties, Kuvira would point a spot and tell you the history behind it and you would nod while looking at her instead of where she pointed, but you making questions about them was what made the metalbender relax in your presence and once you felt that from her, you relaxed too.

At one point of the night, Kuvira led both of you to a viewpoint in the city, the moon was starting to rise in-between the mountains surrounding the valley and the captain stopped right at the handrail.

She stopped your talking about how the night started to feel cool and pointed for you to look: they were closing the domes, your mouth opened amazed at the view of big pieces of metal rise on your surrounding and close on top like a cocoon would. While looking up you walked backwards and bumped into the dark haired making her laugh in low voice, her arms got you so you wouldn't fall.

Once the show was over you turned to the body next to you and took a step back from her almost embarrassed, Kuvira stopped her hands from looking for you again. “Sorry, heh, I don’t have good balance while looking up.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “It's okay...” she murmured smiling a little bit, her hands rubbed against each other before putting them behind her back. “I think that's all the history and places of Zaofu that I can teach you so far.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “It was great,” you confessed, your body looked to sit on the handrail, moving your feet in the air. “You should be a tour guide, it suits you.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'm okay being a captain.” she said after laughing at your idea, you smiled big. “Want me to walk you back?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Let's stay a little bit more, yeah?” you requested leaning on your hands. Kuvira nodded before starting a new conversation.

The next couple of days were mere chaos for everyone since the infiltration of the Red Lotus, so you and Kuvira saw each other less and less, but everytime both were in the same area she would wink at you and you would smile back or vice-versa. Before leaving the metal clan to follow Aiwei on his plan you left a note for Kuvira on her hand on your way out and waved her goodbye without saying a word.

“I had fun with you this days, call me when all of this is over. ;)” followed by your land-line number and your name as signature.

If you were honest, the following days were a big blur in your memory. Fighting some crazy powerful benders and seeing your best friend so close to dying got the best of you, but you were so glad to have all of your friends alive and well.

A couple of weeks passed and after Jinora's ceremony and Korra's departure to the south, you received Kuvira's call.

You were so happy when you heard her voice again, the feeling was the same from her side. The first call would be filled with silence and some other typical question from the other, but both of you dragged it as much as you could to not hang up so quickly.

The next calls were more interactive, she would tell you about her day and you would tell her about yours, the thoughts on your mind, her descriptions about training or dance practice, both promising to visit the other as soon as possible.

But it didn’t last long.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You... You want to unify the Earth Kingdom?” you asked stopping your pace in your apartment, on one hand you had the phone's base and the other the phone close to your ear.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Someone has to.” she said, on her end you could hear noises of people walking and talking about loading stuff. “Bataar and I are going to take the role on that since Suyin is too self-centered to do so.”

Your body had moved to the closest sofa and you sat down in there while bitting your nail. “Are you sure about this? It could... I don’t know, be a bad idea? There are way too many bandits in every state. They will eventually choose a monarch, no? They can handle it.”

A deafing silence filled the line, Kuvira sighed.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I knew you wouldn't understand it, your nation is not the one on the verge of falling apart.” her voice hardened, you blinked surprised. You tried to call for her by name. “I have to go, there are things I need to do.”

And she hung up leaving you with a frown while looking at the phone.

That was the last you knew about her, you tried to call her back but only got through Bataar and when asking about the metalbender he would just say she wasn't there and hang up.

Weeks passed, everyone started on their own things and you could only get more worried about the girl. You knew Bolin got into her team and you thought that if maybe he was there it meant that the situation couldn't be that bad, right?

Wrong, as the time passed by you only heard bad to worse things about Kuvira. They called her the great uniter and with that name you heard about the way she would make the states surrender to her. After three years you had totally gave up on having contact with her, but you continue to have contact with Bolin, after all he was one of your best friends and you wanted to know about him.

He would tell you about the train, the destinations and how Kuvira was doing in a "discreet" way since he knew about how you liked her, Bolin was lucky to not be near you when you read those parts.

On the day of the coronation, you were in the north water tribe with your family; you've been living there after the second year with the excuse that your parents needed help at home and it would also give you time to breath familiar air with the whole team dispersed, but your peace wouldn't last much as you heard on the radio news about how Kuvira named herself the leader of the new Earth Empire.

It took a call from Mako saying how they needed all hands on deck to stop Kuvira to get you back in Republic City. Bolin was in charge to update you with everything after you greeted everyone with a hug.

You couldn’t believe how the ex–captain got so power-hungry to the point of initiating a dictatorship, you felt as she was a completely different person to the one you met at Zaofu.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You need to talk to her.” you heard the detective say, snapping you out of your thoughts.

After blinking for a moment and digest Mako's words, you frowned. “Why me? Korra should try to talk to her again.” you pointed to the shorthaired one.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Because she's crazy about you.” Asami said in a almost funny tone. “Bolin told us how she would ask him all the time how you were doing.”

Your eyes shot to the earthbender, clearly he hid that from you, the boy tried to shrink himself in his place.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “She used to say she wanted to talk to you and try to make you part of the army somehow, I used to tell her that it was a crazy idea because you are a waterbender and the army was all earthbenders... and Varrick, but he was the engineer and she would say that you could be her right hand at everything and–” his word vomit got interrupted by the avatar.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “See?” the other waterbender took your hands into hers. “Try it, for us... For the city, we don't have too many options and I know you still care about her.”

Korra said that last part with such caution, trying to not get a bad reaction from your side, expectant to your gestures and face. You were static in your place, how could you do that? It was true, you didn’t disagree with the avatar, you still cared for Kuvira. After all, the time shared with her was one that you always thought about when you felt nostalgic, she made you feel good, you had discovered feelings you didn’t thought you ever had with anyone ever and it did hurt seeing how the earthbender changed for worst.

Your hands squeezed the ones holding them and a faint smile appeared on your face.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Okay, I'll try it..” a cheer burst in the room by your friends.

You were amazed at how fast they got Kuvira on the line ready to talk to you, with everyone at your back you took the radio on your hand and cleared your throat. She talked first, calling you by your name.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey, you.” you said, nervously and bitting your inner cheek. You would never know, but she softened at the sound of your voice, thankfully she was alone. “It's been so long, huh?”

A small giggled left her mouth and you got goosebumps at the sound. “It has... I'm sorry at how I ended things.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You don't have to apologize, Kuvira, I'm just glad you're okay..” you said in a whisper, there was silence then, you were thinking and she was waiting for you. Korra poked your side making you wiggle a bit, saying non-verbally that you needed to start. “But you are in time to stop your plan.”

She sighed exhausted, shaking her head a little bit. “I knew this was about the unification.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira, you need to stop.” the avatar tried to jump in, your arm stopped her from taking the radio off your hand.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “...Can we talk privately? Just the two of us.” she talked to you, saying your name at the end. You turned to your friends who were looking over your shoulder expectant.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I got this,” you assured the group with a smile. “Please leave us alone, it will be fine.”

Everyone was hesitant about leaving, but finally let you by your own with only the radio.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira, please, think this through.” you started once they left the room.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Join me.” she spat suddenly, taking the words out of you. “Be my right hand in the unification.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira... I don’t—”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Rule the Earth Empire with me.” she interrupted. “There was not a day I didn’t imagine us together ruling the empire, of us being together.”

Your mind turned blank at what was said, she didn’t stop thinking of you. Just like you didn’t stop thinking of her...

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I would give my army if that means you will be with me in this new era for my nation.” Your eyes were dancing everywhere, looking for something that could give you answers. “Please, primrose, be my consort. Rule with me.”

The nickname and title said threw you out of yourself.

You were ashamed to say there was a part of you considering the offering, but how could you do that to your friends? to Republic City? Your feelings for Kuvira were strong, but were they that intense to betray everyone else? To betray the friends who lend you their hand when you needed them? Those who you have gone through hell and heaven with, the ones on the other side of the door waiting for you to have an answer for them, the group of people that wanted to save a whole city and called you in because they knew it would work out with you there as well.

After giving her your answer you stopped the communication and went to open the door, making the four fall at your feet as they were over the door trying to listen. “Oh, hey, how are ya?” Bolin asked like nothing.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “And? How it went?” Korra asked once she got back on her own feet, one look at your expression and she knew something was wrong with you. “What happened? Are you okay?”

You nodded and breath in deep before breaking the news. “We need to get ready to defend the city.”

Even though your feelings for the girl were strong, they didn’t blind you to follow her in the dark. With the hurt of your heart, you had to stopped her, even if that meant that what you two had would disappear.

[poisonlove]

Misunderstanding

Prompt: Amidst the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, Y/N finds herself entangled in a web of emotions. Navigating the captivating landscape of her newfound celebrity life, her heart becomes a battleground between two captivating co-stars, Emma and Jenna. The boundaries between fiction and reality blur, leading Y/N into a maze of confusion. With Emma's vibrant charm and Jenna's enigmatic aura, Y/N grapples with a choice that could redefine not only her on-screen performances but also the very fabric of her personal bonds. Blinding lights cast shadows on her feelings, leaving Y/N torn between two captivating forces in a world where fiction collides with reality.

Wordcount: 1.9 k

Pairing: Jenna ortega x reader

Author: sorry for this shit

It's amazing how a simple pastime can turn into an extraordinary opportunity.

My world, where I enjoyed imitating movie characters in online videos, was shaken by the surprising news from Tim Burton. The master of dark cinema personally chose me for a role in the second season of Wednesday Addams. The transition from a simple pastime to a set with a professional cast, a renowned director, and a real dressing room is something I could never have imagined.

I was nervous as I watched the cast of the first season, observing me with enthusiasm and joy, new faces to see and integrate into the plot. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights, taken aback by all this unexpected attention.

"Welcome!" Hunter, a guy with puffy brown hair and a perpetual smile, extends his hand to greet me. With a small smile on my lips, I accept the greeting and chuckle with embarrassment. "Thanks," I reply with flushed cheeks, not sure why I should thank him.

"Finally! I was tired of always working with the same faces," Joy intervenes with a smile on her lips. The girl had a drink in hand and raises it to her mouth, drinking its contents. "You're always friendly, Joy," George, a guy with curly hair and sweet coffee-colored eyes, smiles at his friend with amusement. "Welcome," he adds, smiling broadly.

"Hi!" My eyes turn to the sound of the voice, and I see a girl with short brown hair and piercing blue eyes. I smile nervously, recognizing Emma Mayers: the actress was notably more beautiful in person. "You must be my new love interest," she adds, widening her lips in a beautiful smile, blue eyes looking at me attentively. "Yes..." I chuckle weakly, nervous.

I can't deny that the fact that I'm her new love interest embarrasses me: I'm not entirely sure I can pretend to flirt or kiss someone for pretend. I shudder at the mere thought. "Well, because George was a terrible experience," she says, smiling mischievously, trying to downplay the situation.

"I love you too, Em," the guy called George intervenes, rolling his eyes at her comment. The blonde laughs, and the sound of her laughter makes me shiver slightly, increasing my nervousness and causing the blood flow to stop on my cheeks. "I know," Emma sticks her tongue out at George, and he imitates the gesture.

My attention is captured by a couple talking to each other, conspiring who knows what. The guy laughs softly and puts his arm around the shoulders of the shorter girl who looks at him with a small smile on her lips. I recognize the couple as Jenna Ortega and Percy White. I had heard rumors of a possible romance between them, but I thought it was nothing more than a rumor: I knew the media always wanted to meddle in the lives of the famous, spreading gossip and causing a stir on the web with sensational news. But the way they look at each other and touch makes me feel a lump in my throat.

Percy directs his gaze at me and smiles broadly.

"Hi!" The brunette takes his arm off Jenna's shoulders and walks towards me. "Welcome, we're glad to have a new addition to the cast," he says, smiling with genuine happiness and kindness.

Jenna's eyes are fixed on me, and my body is suddenly invaded by shivers and excitement, my heart beating wildly. The series' protagonist approaches with an enormous smile on her lips, and my knees wobble at the beauty she radiates: Brown eyes, dazzling smile, dimples on her cheeks, and freckles surrounding her face.

"Welcome," Jenna smiles genuinely and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tenderly. I reciprocate the hug with surprise, sighing audibly at the moment I feel her perfume invade my nostrils. The scent of what seemed like vanilla made me smile timidly.

Jenna breaks the hug and smiles genuinely at me.

"Want to take a tour of the place?" Emma intervenes quickly, approaching us. Jenna looks at her co-star with curiosity and simply takes a step back, getting close to Percy, always glued to this guy. I sigh audibly and smile at the blue-eyed girl with enthusiasm, nodding. Emma smiles triumphantly and takes my wrist. "Can I join?" Hunter says eagerly, and George looks at us attentively.

"Me too," George says pouting, and Emma nods enthusiastically.

(...)

Three weeks have passed since my arrival, and despite having a great relationship with the entire cast, Jenna, Emma, and I were practically inseparable. My feelings are a whirlwind of chaos and insecurity, not knowing exactly which girl to choose. Emma, a beautiful and friendly girl who is always ready to help me when needed, or Jenna, the stunning brunette, kind, and affectionate, but suspected to be linked with Percy.

I tried talking to George and Hunter, and both advised me to make a decision before ruining the friendship between Jenna and Emma. I didn't even know if they felt the same, and the idea of choosing one of them scared me. The most selfish part of me suggested keeping both, but my heart didn't want to suffer and, above all, feel guilty.

"Hey," I divert my attention from my thoughts and unconsciously smile when I see Jenna standing near me. "Can I sit?" She asks curiously, chewing her lip nervously.

My eyes carefully watch her gesture.

"Sure," I say, taking off my sweatshirt and placing it behind my chair. Jenna adjusts herself and crosses her legs, her thigh pressing against mine. "Are you going over the scene?" She asks curiously, her eyes watching the script in my hands. Shivers run down my spine feeling the contact of her leg with mine, the warmth emanating from her body.

"Yes..." I clear my throat, and Jenna nods, smiling shyly. I immediately notice Jenna shivering from the cold, and I worry about her. "Do you want my sweatshirt?" I ask with genuine concern, and Jenna denies, pushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Sure? Are you cold" I raise an eyebrow in confusion, and Jenna sighs loudly, shivering once again. The brunette nods slowly, and smiling, I take off my sweatshirt and hand it to her. Jenna puts it on, looking incredibly adorable as it hangs loosely on her.

"Thanks." Jenna smiles genuinely and comes closer, resting her head on my shoulder. Emotion grows inside me, and I nervously smile. I look down, and I see Jenna's hand brushing against mine. Gathering courage, I grab it, intertwining our fingers. I feel Jenna's pulse racing under my touch, her arm relaxing.

"So..." Jenna says in a low voice, breaking the silence around us. "Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?" She asks with curiosity, looking at my script resting on my legs. Jenna's thumb absentmindedly caresses the back of my hand, making me shiver slightly. In reality, I'm confused because I don't know if I feel something for Emma, but in simple terms, I'm not in a relationship. "No... what about you? Are you with Percy, right?" I ask with my heart in my throat, nervousness running through my body. Jenna raises her chin and looks at me with confusion.

I was afraid to hear her answer. Jenna breaks the contact between our hands.

"Percy? No... we're just friends." She says, smiling broadly, and I suddenly feel stupid and relieved at the same time. "Oh... I thought so," I say with flushed cheeks from embarrassment, and Jenna smiles, shaking her head. "I know... the internet spreads rumors," Jenna murmurs, puffing irritably, "but... Percy and I have nothing," her eyes sparkle as she looks at me. I couldn't help but get lost in her gaze, two coffee-colored puddles analyzing me carefully.

"Mmmh..." Jenna clears her throat and looks away at her hands, "have you set your eyes on someone?" She innocently asks, playing with her fingers. Someone? Actually, two, but obviously, I couldn't say that. "Maybe..." I say hesitantly, and Jenna looks at me from the corner of her eye, an involuntary smile spreading across her lips.

"You?" I ask with embarrassment, and Jenna nods, making a face. The blood boils in my veins at the thought of Jenna being in love with someone else. "Oh... who?" I ask almost in a whisper.

Jenna looks up, observing something in the distance. George, Emma, and Joy walking side by side, laughing, and saying some nonsense. I follow her gaze, and disappointment fills my body seeing that she was looking at George. The curly-haired guy laughs softly while playfully pushing Joy. Emma, on the other hand, looks at me with interest, smiling broadly, her beautiful smile printed on her lips. Involuntarily, I smile too, and Emma keeps looking at me, bright and lively eyes.

"Do you and Emma go out together?" Jenna asks quickly, her gaze suddenly becoming serious "No," I say with confusion, and Jenna continues to look at me attentively. Occasionally, I could sense the brunette putting up a barrier with the outside world, but I really wished she would show herself as she was. I wanted to get to know her and make an impression. A part of me wanted to do the same with Emma but the latter was already quite extroverted, and it was easy to read her emotions. Jenna, on the other hand, was unreadable.

"Oh..." Jenna looks at me with embarrassment, and I smile at how adorable she is. "I know who you like," I intervene, and Jenna's eyes widen, her body stiffening at my words.

"You have to tell him... you know?" I say with a bitter smile. Jenna softens her gaze and continues to look at me, her thoughts and feelings unreadable.

Him? She says spontaneously.

"I'm sure George will feel the same," I say, smiling broadly, hiding my pain, and Jenna snorts with frustration. "It's not George," she says with irritation, making me blink in surprise at her reaction.

Emma walks towards us and stops in front of me. I look up, and Jenna looks away towards the floor. "Y/n, shall we walk a bit? We need to rehearse," Emma says, smiling broadly, her eyes curiously looking at Jenna. The brunette was silent, her hand gripping the chair arm tightly noting Emma's interest. "Um... sure," I say, smiling slightly, following Emma.

Let's start walking without a specific destination, simply enjoying each other's company.

"So... I noticed there's something between you and Jenna," Emma says, smiling weakly, walking alongside me. The girl with blue eyes puts her arms behind her back, walking absentmindedly.

"What? We're just friends," I say nervously, my heart pounding wildly against my chest. "But you like her, right?" She asks with a faded smile, her blue eyes looking at me attentively. "Yes," I say, not being able to lie to her. Emma lowers her gaze and looks at the tips of her shoes. "But I also like you... I'm really confused," I continue suddenly revealing a truth I wanted to keep hidden.

"I like you too... but Jenna is my friend," she says, smiling broadly, her eyes bright at the mention of her friendship with Jenna. "Jen is really introverted and hard to understand... I don't want to lose her friendship," she confesses, continuing to walk alongside me.

"Why should you lose her friendship?" I ask in confusion, and Emma rolls her eyes at my comment. "It doesn't matter," she says, laughing and elbowing me in the side. "So..." I say, and she quickly interrupts me, "I'm sure you like Jenna more, I think the on-set kisses confused you," she says with sadness, her blue eyes losing their liveliness.

"Emma..." I say sadly, feeling a void in my chest. "I told you she and Percy are not together, right?" She asks, and I nod, "but despite that, you still weren't sure," she says bitterly, looking at the floor. I feel a pang of pain in my chest and nod quickly, unconsciously knowing that Emma was right.

"Don't worry about me, I'll manage," Emma smiles genuinely and chuckles, but her eyes are dull.

"Okay," I say uncertainly, "so let's remain friends," I say almost bitterly, and Emma nods her head, "friends," she repeats weakly. "Sorry, but I have to go," Emma adds quickly, her steps increasing considerably.

I watch Emma walk away from me with sadness.

...

That same night, I found myself at a small party with the cast, Emma, and Georgie, dancing animatedly together. A part of me was sad, but at the same time, Emma had given me the green light with Jenna, and I had to move forward. I was slightly jealous of Georgie, I admit.

My eyes were on Jenna, who was leaving the party, and I unconsciously followed her.

As I open the door, the cold cuts my cheeks, and darkness surrounds us, a pleasant silence accompanying us.

"Do you need some fresh air too?" Jenna asks while lighting a cigarette; she was so damn sexy. "Yes, I love Hunter, but his trailer is too small," I laugh, and Jenna just stares at me.

"So... do you like Hunter? But I'm sorry because you know that he..." I start, but Jenna quickly interrupts me, smoke escaping from her lips. "Why do you assume it's a he?" she asks almost angrily, and a shiver runs down my spine at the intensity of her gaze. "Alright... so Joy?" I say, smiling slightly, sad but ready to support her. I had already lost Emma, and the chances of losing Jenna were skyrocketing.

"No!" Jenna throws the stub on the ground, looking at me with shining eyes. Her cold and exasperated response surprised me. Jenna sighs in frustration, crossing her arms to seek warmth. I hated not being able to read what she felt and thought; it was so damn difficult.

"Why do you care?" she asks defensively, and I sigh at her comment. "I want you to be happy," I confess, and Jenna stares at me without batting an eyelash. Her eyes soften, and she takes steps toward me. "It's you," she whispers.

I blink incredulously, and Jenna smiles genuinely. "Me?" I say with a smile on my lips, curious.

"Yes, damn it!" Jenna says, frustrated. "But I was afraid you liked Emma, and I care about her friendship," she confesses later.

"I like her... but I like you more," I admit, and she looks at me seriously, something incomprehensible swimming in her eyes.

"Am I not the second choice?" she timidly asks, the barriers she had finally broken ready to rise again to defend her emotions.

I shake my head; honestly, I liked Jenna from the moment I saw her.

Sensing the tension in the air, Jenna delicately bites her lips, then sticks out her tongue to moisten them. My eyes follow her with admiration, caught by the gesture exuding sensuality.

Red, full lips, so kissable.

Without warning, Jenna leans in, her presence intensifying the atmosphere charged with desire. With confidence, her lips meet mine in a long-awaited kiss. Jenna's strength and energy transmit through the contact, while the moment becomes charged with palpable passion. Jenna's hands firmly grip my shirt, and mine find her hips almost immediately, pulling her closer. During scenes, Emma used to kiss me tenderly, slowly, without invading my space too much, which was completely the opposite of what Jenna was doing.

Oxygen soon runs out, and we break the kiss, my nose brushing against hers, my eyes able to see the freckles around her face. "Wow," Jenna says, smiling widely, her breath slightly infused with alcohol. I smile too. Jenna wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me gently. "I'm glad you didn't do anything with Emma," Jenna says, smiling against my neck. I smile bitterly and let myself be carried away by the hug and her intoxicating scent. "Yeah," I say weakly, and Jenna tightens the embrace.

I had chosen Jenna, and there was no turning back.

[morlock-holmes]

Okay, guys, after reading a post by @centrally-unplanned I just took that ACX "AI Turing Test" that Scott Alexander did, and I am screaming, as the kids used to say.

You guys are way, way overthinking this.

I thought I would do better than average, and I guess I did; excluding three pictures I had seen before, I got 31/46 correct.

Not great if you're taking the SAT, but I feel like if I could call a roulette spin correctly 2 times out of 3 I could clean up in Vegas.

So, what is the secret of my amazing, D+ performance?

You have to look at the use of color and composition as tools to draw the eye to points of interest.

AI is really bad at this, when left to its own devices.

For example, here:

Part of the reason to suspect that this is AI is the "AI house style" and the bad hands that I literally only noticed right this exact second as I was typing this sentence. Even if the hands were rendered correctly, I would still clock this as AI.

The focal point of this piece ought to be the face of the woman and the little dragon she is looking at (Just noticed the dragon's wings don't match up either), but take off your glasses or squint at this for a second:

Your eye is being drawn by the bright gold sparkles on the lower right side of the piece. That particular bright gold is only in that spot on the image, but there's no reason to look there, it's just an upper arm and an elbow. The bright light source highlighting the woman's horn separates it out as a point of interest.

Meanwhile, the weird aurora streaming out of the woman's face on the left side means that it is blending in with the background.

In other words, the way the image is composed, and the subject matter suggest that your eye should be drawn here:

But the use of color suggests that you should look here:

That's a senseless place to draw the eye towards! It would be a really weird mistake for a human to make! In fact, I think there's a strong argument that the really close cropped picture of the face of the character is a strong improvement. It's still not a particularly good composition, but at least the color contrast now draws the eye to the proper points.

In fact, I would say that a good reason for my performance not being even better was this alarming statement at the start of the test:

I've tried to crop some pictures of both types into unusual shapes, so it won't be as easy as "everything that's in DALL-E's default aspect ratio is AI".

Uh...

So how about this one:

This is a lot better anatomically and in terms of the use of color and light to draw the eye towards sensible parts of the painting. The lighting makes pretty good sense in terms of coming from a particular direction and it also draws the eye to effectively to the face and the outstretched hand of the figure.

It's also a really flat and meaningless composition and subject matter that no renaissance artist would have chosen. What is this angel doing, exactly? Our eye is drawn to the face and hand, and the figure is looking off towards the left side, at, uh, what exactly?

But then I thought, "Well, maybe Scott chopped out a giant chunk of the picture, and this is just a detail from, like, the lower right eighth of some giant painting with three other figures that makes total sense"

This makes sense as a piece of a larger human made artwork, but if you tell me, "Nope, that's the whole thing and this is the original, un-cropped picture" I'd go, "Oh, AI, obviously.

All of the ones I had trouble with were AI art with good composition and use of color, and human ones with bad composition and use of color. For example, this one:

This has three solid points of interest arranged in an interesting relationship with different colors to block them out. I'd say the biggest tells are that the astronauts' feet are out of frame, which is a weird choice, and looking closely now, the landscape and smoke immediately to the right of the ship don't really make sense.

But again; I had to think, "Maybe Scott just cropped it weird and they had feet in the original picture."

Here's another problem:

StableDiffusion being bad at composition is such a known problem that there are a variety of tools which a person can use to manually block out the composition. In fact, let me try something.

I popped open Krita (Which now has a StableDiffusion plugin) and after literally dozens of generations and a couple of different models I landed on ZavyChromaXL with the following prompt:

concept art of two astronauts walking towards a spaceship on an alien planet, with a giant moon in th background, artstation, classic scifi, book cover

And this was the best I could do:

Not great, but Krita has a tool that lets you break an image into regions which each have different prompts, so I quickly blocked something out:

Each of those color blobs has a different part of the prompt, so the green region has "futuristic astronauts" the blue is the spaceship, the orange is the moon, grey is the ground and pink is the sky, which gives us:

Still way too much, so we can use Krita's adaptive patch tool and AI object removal to get:

I'm not saying it's high art, or even any good, but it's better than the stuff I was getting from a pure prompt, because a human did the composition.

But it's still so dominated by AI processes that it's fair to call it "AI Art".

Which makes me wonder how many of the AI pictures I called out as human made because one of the traits I was looking for, good composition, was in fact, actually made by a human.

[starboykel]

Little Mermaid 🌊🐬 pt 2 !

part 1!

mermaid!reader x sailor!John Price

!!warnings: fluff, none really just super cute :) F!Reader

English isn't my first language! Not proofread, i apologize for any gramatical mistakes

It has been a few weeks since the strange encounter with the mermaid and captain Price hasn't stopped thinking about her since then. Her beautiful tail, who had shine in that moonlight, the cutesy way she spoke... He wasn't being able to get her out of his mind.

⋆｡𖦹°‧

A few months passed. He had lost hopes to find the mermaid again, she was probably too scared to get out of her place again, he tried staying up as long as he could but he was always dragged to bed by his sailors after 2 am...

Price had a mission today, catch some fish. He prepared everything and got on his boat, he wasn't planning on getting some big catch, just some small fishes that he could eat in 2 or 3 days.

He was in a safe distance from land but still a few far into the ocean, the sea was calm and he didn't had any worries...

While waiting for some fish to take the bait, he starts appreciating the landscape... Which was just the sun and water, but it was still beautiful.

After a few moments, he starts noticing a strange movement on the water, it was getting closer and closer and closer... He grabs his gun and points at it but when he sees the familiar color of the mermaid's tail, he immediately puts it back down.

"Y/N?! Is that you?!" He shouts, looking at the water for any sight of you until you emerged from the water, looking at him with curiosity.

You wanted to ask him what he was doing here, in the middle of nowhere, if he was lost but you couldn't figured out how to say it, it was too complicated for you.

He sighs in relief, "I thought you were dead." He says and sits back on the boat, "What brings you here?" He asks, grabbing a cigarette from his backpack and lightening it up.

When you doesn't answer, he looks at you with a raised eyebrow, "Did the cat got your tongue?" He asks. You tilts your head, looking at him confused... What's a cat?

"What... What cat?" You asks, trying to sound audible, the strong accent making it almost impossible. Price stares at you for a moment before realizing... You don't know what a cat is. He chuckles, looking at you softer.

"Cat is a domestic animal, a feline. You know what a pet is?" He added, looking at you and taking a puff of the cig. You nods, you've read about dogs before in your books but never cats.

"Well cats are... Like little lions, tigers. They hunt rats, cockroaches, uh... You don't know what any of these are, right?" He explained and then asked and sighed when you nod. He took off his phone from his backpack and showed you a picture of a cat, "that's my cat, his name is Whiskers, my daughter begged for a cat after she went to her friend's house, she takes care of him and such." He spoke, smiling.

Your eyes sparkles, that thing was cute! The cat's orange fur mixed with white was adorable, his big dark eyes and pointy ears were like nothing you saw before. Price chuckles, seeing how amazed you looked, you try reaching for the phone but he flinches, "Nuh uh. You're gonna get it wet." He puts his phone back on the backpack, you looks up at him confused and he smiles, "Don't give me that look... Hey, can you get on the boat?" He asks and gives him hand for you to grab. You grab his hand and he lifts you up like if it was nothing and puts you on the boat, that's when he gets a good look on your body.

Your tail was beautiful, shining in the sunshine, the jointed fingers and the fact you didn't had a belly button, it was weird but fascinating, you were so pretty, the wet hair and how the sun shines in your skin was mesmerizing.

"Oh god, you're so beautiful." He was amazed, he touches your cheek and caresses it, feeling your soft skin and how cute your eyes were, it was nothing like he saw before, big but with sharp pupils, probably to see better on the dark sea, you touches his hand, leaning into it, his touch was so comfortable and warm and your skin was chill, kinda blue.

You then see the fishes in the bucket and looks at it a bit confused, you points at it. He looks at it and smiles, "That's what i do to survive, pretty. I sell fish to feed my little girl." He explained and you nods understanding, your family had a similar business, your father hunts shrimp, crab from the deepest seas, the ones that tasted the weirdest and was still extremely delicious.

"Mine... Dad sells... Hm..." You starts but forgets the word for 'crab' and 'shrips', so you starts mimicking the movements of a crab, which makes Price starts laughing heartily, finding it funny and cute.

"Crab? It's that what you're trying to say?" He calms down a bit and asks and but nods.

"Yes... Crap!" He then laughs again, making you confused. "Crap...funny? Haha... Haha!" That just makes him laugh more at your attempt to laugh with him but clearly confused.

He takes a deep breath, "No, no. Crab, crap is what you say when something goes wrong, you know?" He says after calming down a bit, smiling.

You nods, "You know, you nod a lot, does your head doesn't hurt? You can always say 'i understand', 'got it' or 'yes'. C'mon, say with me 'got it'." He teaches you, "G...goot it...?" You try.

"No, no. Got it. Don't extend the 'o'." He smiles, explains. "Got... It.... Got it!" "Yeah! Like that!" His smile widen and he pats your head.

It was getting late and he had to go back to the beach, where the base was so he ruffles your wet hair, "I have to go, it's getting late and you should go too, it might be dangerous, the sea is full of surprises." He says. You smiles, your sharp fangs surprising him, "bye...bye!" You say before jumping on the water, swimming away on the big ocean.

He sighs happily and starts paddling back to base, he caught a good amount of fish and found the mermaid he was looking for, what a day...

┄┄ ︰ ┄୨୧┄ ︰ ┄┄

[art-that-fucks-you-up-tournament]

SET FIVE - ROUND ONE - MATCH TWO

"Uffington White Horse" (c.1380-550 BCE) / Chauvet Cave Bear (30,000 and 32,000 BP)

UFFINGTON WHITE HORSE: its public landscape art, its from bronze or iron age and people still maintain it and this chain of people working together, even through the original purpose is lost, the art is not, the community aspect of it (anonymous)

CHAUVET CAVE BEAR: I'm not a very emotional person but there's something about prehistoric cave paintings that make me cry my eyes out. There are too many examples (please check out the Altamira cave bisons they're beautiful) but one that never fails to amaze me is the Chauvet Cave Bear. He's painting with so much care, he's only one of hundreds and thousands of paintings in this cave, many of them more detailed, colorful and dynamic than this guy, but there's something about the careful lines that the artist (bc prehistoric people were artists) put on this wall that touches me. It's put in a scene where he's hunted, he's alone, in a peaceful position, possibly rummaging through a bush. The anatomy is maybe even cartoony with its tiny ears and small mouth but it's realistic in all the ways that matter at that time, anybody could look at it and see a bear, the artist had to carefully watch this bear (or many bears) to memorize its lines, it's humps and structure and the scrounge up the materials to paint, and finally put to rock this animal they admired from a distance. The Chauvet Cave has thousands of cave bear remains, estimating 200 individuals. The cave also has a quarter of ALL cave bear depictions in pre-history. That means that whoever painted this bear not only saw one in the wild but lived alongside these animals their entire lives, their culture was deeply locked with them. There's a chamber in this cave with 50 bear skulls, all of them carefully placed. This painting shows so much care and love from people that are often depicted as brute and uncaring but they were just as capable as any current human of not only caring but DEPICTING their love. It's a beautiful early representation of our capability for admiration and cherishing things that weren't essential for basic survival. Also the artist was damn good that bear has so much expression without even having eyes, the line thickness balance is amazing. (athenasabattoir)

(The "Uffington White Horse" is a prehistoric hill figure created by trenches filled with crushed white chalk. It is 110 m (360 ft) long and is located on Whitehorse Hill in England.

The "Chauvet Cave Bear" is a prehistoric cave painting in the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave located in Ardèche, France. This cave contains hundreds of preserved figure paintings from the Upper Paleolithic time period. The central bear is 120 cm (47 in) and was painted using red pigment.)

[artnwill]

My art inspirations

William Heath Robinson- He was an English Cartoonist that lived though 1872-1944. Not only do I enjoy his drawings because of the fun elements that he would bring into them with machines, but I really like his use of line. His use of a single width for his line work and other artists have directly affected my own works. I also really enjoy the flat colors that he uses in his works.

John James Audubon- He was a American- French artist and ornithologist ( study of birds) who lived from 1785-1851. He recorded and painted many species of birds that are native here in America. I love his art. The composition, the colors, the accuracy of the birds is to die for. Huge inspiration when it comes to drawing birds. Recommend studying his art if your interested in bird drawing!

(Also the last bird picture is of a Carolina Parakeet, which was the only parakeet native to the southwest of North America)

(unfortunately it went extinct around the 1900's, which is a shame as it looks like it was such a pretty bird)

He also drew some mammals from America (tbh though some of them look a bit..... odd). This guy looks hella cursed lol

(both bird and racoon pics were from my collection of books based on his art)

Joe Weatherly- He is a California based artist that focuses on animal art. His artworks are very dynamic in nature and I love his use of color in his artworks. He also has done multiple books on drawing animals and of his own art (first picture is of his book Animal Essence). I highly recommend him to anyone interested in learning how to draw animals!

Here's a link his website for anyone interested https://www.joeweatherly.com/

(Images were taken from my own copy of his book Animal Essence)

Group of artworks from Pauline Cherrett's book "Chinese Brush Painting: A Beginner's Guide"

I have always been a fan of brushwork in artworks and have always been inspired by Chinese brush painting and Japanese woodblock art. I've always liked nature and landscapes and flowers which tend to be the main subjects of this type of art and honestly I just really enjoy them ( I mean look at the brushwork its amazing).

(all of these pictures come from my copy of the book)

So this was just a small list of some of the artworks and artist that inspire me and my art. Wanted to write this blog for myself as a sort of reference point and to show others different artists that they may not know of. I also have another blog like this one which I'll link if anyone is interested.

Honestly this was so much fun to write! I mainly write a ton for college and it can be a bit taxing but it's nice to write something for myself and on a topic I really enjoy!

[paigegonerogue]

TLOU s2 first look (in video form) came out, and HOLY FUCK IT’S INCREDIBLE!! But you guys know me… you know how I am… let’s analyze this sucker.

Spoiler for tlou part 2

Other than the amazing dialogue and acting here, this scene thrills me because now we know we get at least a little more time with Joel. Thanks, Craig❤️

I’ve seen people say it could be therapy, which I love, but it’s also possible it could just be a normal conversation. Either way, I can’t wait!

Onto the next shot!

The “the tattoo looks bad!” People are sweating lol This looks AMAZING!! The scarring makeup is so well done! But ALSO did someone say shallow depth of field?? No?? Okay we’ll screw me I guess. Also, IT’S THE MOTH AGHHHHHH

Beutiful recreated shot. The shallow depth of field is gorgeous, and the lights… it’s just beutiful!

First thing’s first…

👏BELLA👏FUCKING👏RAMSEY👏 …holy shit.

It’s possible that the person holding onto Ellie’s shoulder is Maria, since if you turn your brightness up you can kinda see her side-shave hairstyle.

I have two theories for this: 1, this is right after the chemical burn? Or 2, this is after Joel dies? I could be totally wrong, though.

The guy in the background doesn’t look familiar to me, and none of the main cast have beards like that. I think he’s a new character, probably just a small role as a doctor.

ALSO DID SOMEONE SAY SHALLOW DEPTH OF—

This is definitely Jackson. You can see that the gates are the same as Jackson’s from ep 6.

And I’m fairly sure that it’s an infected horde, since none of them seem to have guns or weapons.

FUCK YES. LET’S FUCKING GO.

(No analysis here. Just hype.)

Definetly Seraphites, probably from the iconic forest scene. Looks great, love the lighting here.

First look at Dina!! Woo!!

Ellie has an assault rifle, and I think she might be on some rafters here, judging by the metal and because she’s definitely above ground level.

Gorgeous landscape shot, probably around the Jackson area.

JEFRREY WRIGHT RAHHHHHHHHH I don’t believe there’s a fight in the kitchen with Isaac in tlou part 2 (correct me if I’m wrong, but I definitely don’t think so?). He could be fighting Ellie here, which would probably be triggering for her (bad memories of guys fighting her in kitchens)

Firstly, KAITLYN LOOKS SO GOOD WOOHOO!!! Secondly, awesome recreated shot.

Not 100% sure, but could this be Tommy and Ellie? The first person looks like Tommy, with the longer dark hair and jacket. And the second person has the same color jacket that Ellie was wearing in the first look, and seems smaller than Tommy, which would also line up.

Awesome shot! I bet this is in the tunnels, especially since the shot after you see an infected slam against the doors.

Anyway, those are all my observations for now! This was the best 20 seconds of my day, and I’m so UNBELIEVABLY hyped!!

[momospetdog]

Garden of New Beginnings

Gardener!Hirai Momo x F!reader

warnings: fluff, js them checking each other out..? (idk honestly)

a/n: this is my first fic. plz bear with me

The moving truck rumbled down the quiet suburban street, finally stopping in front of a charming two-story house with a wraparound porch. The early morning sun cast a warm glow on the neighborhood, birds chirping as they flitted from tree to tree.

Hirai Momo, a beautiful and well-built gardener, was hard at work in her front yard. Her tanned muscles glistened slightly with sweat as she dug into the rich soil, planting vibrant flowers that added a splash of color to the neatly kept lawn. She paused to wipe her brow, glancing up just as the truck doors swung open.

You stepped out, stretching your back after the long drive. You looked around, taking in your new surroundings with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

The sun had reached its zenith by the time you finished unpacking the essentials in your new home. As you arranged some books on a shelf, a soft knock on the door drew your attention. You walked over and opened it to find a woman standing there, a potted plant in her hands and a friendly smile on her face.

“Hey, I’m Momo, your neighbor. I thought I’d bring you a little welcome gift,” Momo said, holding out the plant. “This is a peace lily. It’s pretty low maintenance and perfect for indoors”

You smiled warmly, your eyes flicking to Momo's sweaty neck and the messy bun that barely contained her hair. She accepted the plant gratefully. “Thank you so much, Momo! It's beautiful. By the way, nice to meet you Momo, I’m Y/N”

You smiled warmly, your eyes flicking to Momo's noticing how hard Momo had been working, you felt a sudden urge to reciprocate the gesture. “Would you like to come in? I made some of our specialty if you’re interested”

Momo’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Sure, that sounds great”

You led Momo into the kitchen, where a delicious aroma filled the air. You plated some of your homemade food and handed it to Momo, who took a bite and immediately closed her eyes in appreciation.

“Wow, this is amazing!” Momo exclaimed. You chuckled, a bit bashful. “It's a family recipe for chicken curry. I’m glad you like it”

As both of you ate, you chatted about the neighborhood and your background. Eventually, you brought up what had been on your mind since the morning.

“By the way, Momo, I saw you working in your front yard earlier. Are you a gardener by profession?”

Momo nodded, swallowing a bite of food before she answered. “Yeah, I am. I run my own gardening business. I love transforming outdoor spaces”

Your eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s perfect! I was hoping to landscape my garden, but I have no idea where to start. Would you be willing to help me with it?”

Momo’s smile widened. “I’d love to. We can start planning it out whenever you’re ready”

You felt a wave of relief and gratitude. "Thank you so much, Momo. I appreciate it. And maybe we could start tomorrow?”

Momo waved her hand dismissively. "It's no problem at all. Yes sure we can. Maybe I could check your garden so I could get an idea?”

You nodded eagerly. “That sounds great. Let me show you the backyard”

You led Momo through the back door and into the garden, which was a blank slate of overgrown grass and a few scraggly bushes. Momo’s eyes lit up as she surveyed the area, her mind brimming with ideas.

“This place has a lot of potential,” Momo said, stepping forward to examine the soil. “We can do so much with it. Do you have any particular ideas or themes in mind?”

You shrugged, feeling slightly embarrassed by your lack of knowledge. “Honestly, I just want something that looks nice and is easy to maintain. I love flowers, though, and maybe a small vegetable patch?”

Momo nodded thoughtfully. “Flowers are a great idea, and a vegetable patch can be quite rewarding. We could do a mix of perennials and annuals for color throughout the seasons, and I can suggest some low-maintenance plants that thrive in this climate”

“That sounds perfect,” You said, feeling more confident. “What do you think about adding a small seating area? I’d love a place to relax and maybe have friends over”

“Absolutely,” Momo agreed, her enthusiasm contagious. “A cozy seating area would be perfect. We could use some natural materials to keep it in harmony with the garden’s look. Maybe a small patio with a pergola covered in climbing plants?”

Your eyes widened with excitement. “I love that idea! You really know your stuff, Momo” Momo chuckled. “It’s what I do. Let’s sit down and sketch out a rough plan”

You both moved to the kitchen table, where Momo pulled out a small notepad and a pencil. She began to sketch, explaining her ideas as she went along. You watched in awe as the garden of your dreams took shape on the paper.

After an hour of planning and discussion, you and Momo had a solid outline for the garden.

Momo smiled warmly. “We can make a trip to the garden center tomorrow to pick up some supplies and get started right away”

You nodded, “Thank you so much, Momo”

“It’s my pleasure, Y/N,” Momo replied. “I’m looking forward to seeing this place transform and spending more time with you”

“Spending more time with me?” you blushed softly, your cheeks warming at the thought. You quickly looked away, hoping Momo hadn’t noticed.

Momo chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yes, you seem like good company. And besides, working on this garden together will be fun”

You felt a flutter in your chest, a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the neighborhood, you and Momo continued to talk about your plans for the garden. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter, and shared ideas.

When Momo finally stood to leave, you walked her to the door. “Thanks again for everything today, Momo. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow”

“Me too,” Momo said with a genuine smile. “Get a good night’s rest. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us”

The next morning, the sun was shining brightly as you finished your breakfast and got ready for the day. You felt a mix of excitement and nerves, eager to start the garden project with Momo. As you were tying your shoes, a knock at the door made your heart skip a beat.

Opening the door, you found Momo standing there with a cheerful smile, dressed casually in a tank top with a flannel wrapped around her waist that highlighted her toned arms and a pair of baggy pants “Ready to go, Y/N?” Momo asked “Absolutely,” you replied.

Momo drove to the local garden center, chatting easily about plans. When you arrived, Momo led the way through the rows of plants and supplies, her enthusiasm evident as she pointed out various options.

“This place is amazing,” you said, looking around in awe at the vast selection of flowers, shrubs, and gardening tools.

Momo nodded. “It is. Let’s start with the basics. We need some good soil, compost, and a variety of plants that will thrive in your yard”

As you filled the cart, Momo explained the benefits of different plants, offering suggestions for color schemes and layout designs. You listened intently, appreciating Momo’s expertise.

“I never realized there was so much to consider,” you admitted. “I’m glad you're here to guide me”

“That’s what I’m here for," Momo said with a grin. “Plus, this is the fun part—choosing the plants and imagining how it will all come together”

You spent the next couple of hours selecting everything you needed, from vibrant flowers to sturdy garden tools. By the time you reached the checkout, the cart was overflowing.

“Looks like we’re ready to get started,” Momo said, helping you load the purchases into the car.

As Momo drove back to your house, the excitement was palpable. Once you arrived, Momo immediately got to work, unloading the car and setting up their supplies in the backyard.

“Alright, let’s start by preparing the soil,” Momo instructed, handing you a shovel. “We’ll need to clear out any weeds and mix in the compost”

At one point, Momo effortlessly lifted a heavy bag of soil, her muscles flexing as she carried it across the yard. You couldn’t help but admire Momo’s strength, your gaze lingering on the defined muscles in Momo’s arms and shoulders. You quickly averted your eyes, hoping Momo hadn’t noticed you staring.

But Momo did notice. She caught your quick glance and felt a warm satisfaction. She smiled to herself, enjoying the subtle attention.

After setting down the bag, You turned to Momo. “Hey, before we get too deep into this, would you like to have a snack? My mom came over while we were away and made some lemonade and baked cookies this morning”

Momo’s eyes lit up at the mention of cookies. “That sounds perfect. A little break would be nice before we dive back in.”

You made your way to the kitchen, where you quickly prepared a tray with two glasses of lemonade and a plate of freshly baked cookies. You both settled at the kitchen table, the refreshing coolness of the drinks and the sweet aroma of the cookies creating a relaxing atmosphere.

“These cookies are amazing,” Momo said, taking a bite. “So,” you said, finishing your cookie, “what’s next on our gardening agenda?”

“Well,” Momo replied, leaning back in her chair, “we still need to prep the soil and start planting the flowers. After that, we can work on setting up the vegetable patch”

You nodded, feeling more confident with Momo’s guidance. “Sounds good. Let’s get back to it”

You returned to the garden, energized and ready to continue. Momo resumed lifting heavy tools and bags, each time drawing a glance from you. You found yourself captivated by Momo’s effortless strength and the way her muscles moved beneath her skin. Momo, aware of the attention, felt a thrill run through her but kept her thoughts to herself, focusing on the task at hand.

“Do you need any help with that?” you offered, trying to be useful. “Sure, you can grab that smaller bag over there,” Momo replied, pointing to a bag of compost. As you bent down to lift it, Momo couldn’t help but admire your form, well lets say your ass… her eyes tracing the curve of your behind. She quickly looked away, maintaining her composure.

You carried the bag over and set it down next to Momo, who was still working with the soil. “Where should I put this?” you asked, standing up straight and brushing some dirt off your hands “Right here is perfect,” Momo said, patting a spot next to the bed.

As you worked together, the tension between you grew palpable. Each time Momo lifted a heavy tool or bag, you couldn’t help but notice the way her muscles flexed under her skin, the strength evident in every movement. Momo, for her part, found herself stealing glances at you when she thought you weren’t looking.

After a while, you both took a break, sitting down on the grass to catch your breath. The warm sun bathed the garden in a golden glow, casting long shadows across the freshly turned soil.

“This is looking really good,” you said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you. Momo nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, it’s starting to come together nicely”

You glanced over at her, catching her gaze for a brief moment before she looked away. “Thank you for all your help today, Momo. I couldn’t have done this without you”

Momo chuckled softly, her voice filled with warmth. “It’s been my pleasure, believe me. Besides, it’s nice to have some company while I work” You smiled, feeling a rush of gratitude and something more. “I’m glad to be that company”

Momo wiped her hands on her pants and turned to you, a hesitant expression on her face. “Hey, Y/N,” she began, her voice slightly uncertain, “do you... um, have a girlfriend or boyfriend?”

You paused, surprised by the question but sensing Momo’s sincerity. “No, I’m actually single,” you replied. “I haven’t really been looking, to be honest. Just focusing on settling into the new place and now this garden project”

Momo nodded, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “Sorry, that was probably too forward. I didn’t mean to pry”

You smiled reassuringly. “It’s okay, Momo. I appreciate you asking. What about you?” Momo hesitated, then chuckled softly. “Honestly, my plants keep me pretty busy,” she admitted. “But, I’ve been thinking it might be nice to have someone to share things with outside of work”

You felt a rush of warmth towards Momo. “I understand that. It’s nice to have someone to share things with”

Momo nodded thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before she cleared her throat. “Listen, there’s a new café that just opened up nearby. Would you... maybe want to go there for lunch sometime?”

Your heart skipped a beat at the invitation. “I would love to,” you replied, your smile growing wider. “That sounds wonderful, Momo”

Momo returned the smile, relieved and happy. “Great! It’s a date then”

a/n: plz tell me ur thoughts and on what else i can improve 🙏

[xximpressions]

The Duchess

Anthony Bridgerton x Duchess!reader

Summary: After coming into a title you did not expect, you try to navigate rejoining the society you once knew.

Word Count: 1,710

A/N: Had this idea after seeing Netflix's spinoff of Bridgerton and could not put it down!! Let me know what you think! If I hear from enough people, I'll turn this into a series :)

Bridgerton Masterlist

Next

____________________________________________________________

Fighting the urge to let out a sigh full of boredom, you raised the glass of sparkling wine up to your lips.

While taking a delicate sip, your eyes roamed across the vast room once again. It seemed like they were in search of something, but you honestly could not say what. For what seemed like the hundredth time, your gaze was occupied by men who drank too much, women who thought too little, and musicians whose instruments were the slightest bit out of tune.

Taking in the sight as you stood by the table of refreshments, you were hit with the sudden realization that your eyes had been in search of the glamor a high society ball once offered you.

Before you were married, a party with such intricate dances and overhanging chandeliers would have certainly filled you with awe and amazement. But these days, you found that your feelings aired more on the side of weariness than wonderment.

You supposed that was to be expected given how unpredictably cruel you knew life to be.

Since your mother’s death following your birth, and your father’s death not soon after, you were raised by a frightful aunt who married you off to some lord not even a full month into your first season.

But as the fates would have it, your new husband ended up catching a fever during your honeymoon that quickly developed into something darker.

Having just enough time to get his affairs in order, the man you were sentenced to spend the rest of your life with, took his last breath only hours later.

This unforeseen turn meant you went from wife to widow within the span of a week.

Though you were not really acquainted with the one you called husband, the rules of society still demanded that you mourn him as if you were.

So after secluding yourself and donning black for the required year and a day, you looked forward to attending an event where you did not have to wear the subdued color. 

However, now that you were here, your mind incessantly wished that you were not.

Even prior to your marriage, a part of you always thought balls to be mundane affairs with only the prospect of finding a match to make it interesting. 

But now that you were aware of all the aspects that pertain to wedded life, you were not convinced you should seek it out again.

After all, you had already achieved what many young ladies set out for by using the marital institution to secure wealth and a respectable position in society.

With all that you could want in hand, you were starting to question what you were even doing at this magnificently dull soiree since parties such as these were for matchmaking and the marriage mart—neither of which held your interest as you were coming to learn.

Setting your drink down as you stifled another sigh, you turned and decided to start looking for some kind of exit.

Slowly making your way through the throng of elegantly dressed people, you first felt relief once you came across a set of double doors on a nearby wall.

Thinking them to be the doors you originally entered through, your next emotion was confusion when you saw an outdoor garden rather than an indoor hallway on the other side.

Realizing you had made a mistake, you were about to turn back in order to rejoin the party. But as the serenity of the quiet, night air enveloped your being, you found that your feet had slowly begun to make their way forward instead.

Hoping that a simple stroll through this season’s blooms and blossoms might put you in a more agreeable mood, you continued walking through the lavish landscape. 

You were not sure how long you spent wondering, but it could not have been more than a few minutes later before you eventually gave up.

Deciding it was best to just leave altogether, you started to make your way back to the party until a sudden grip on your upper arm prevented you from doing so.

In a flash, you spun around to face the one who had grabbed you and were both terrified and relieved to see it was a face you knew.

You had been introduced while you were on your honeymoon and your husband was on his deathbed.

When it became known that his health was failing, it was this man that showed up looking for an inheritance.

Being your husband’s younger brother, you could still remember how he heartlessly announced that he was present to ensure his place in the line of succession and nothing more.

So as your present fear turned into outright irritation, you let out an annoyed huff of your brother-in-law’s name while forcefully shrugging your arm from his hand and demanding to know,

“What are you doing here?”

When your pulling away caused him to stumble in place for a moment, your other senses immediately took note of the alcoholic stench permeating from his body and the slurred way he began to speak. 

“W-what am I doing here? What are you doing here??”

He jabbed an accusatory finger in your direction as he asked this question before he brokenly followed up with,

“If…if anyone should not be here, it is you and…and not I, you wicked harlot!”

You could not deny that your eyes had narrowed the slightest bit at this insult. So after straightening your back, you coldly responded to the drunken man in front of you.

“If you wish to address me, you will do so by calling me, ‘Your Grace’. If that is too much of a challenge for you to overcome, I suggest you do not address me at all.”

Done with the idea of being in his presence, you turned to make your way back inside only to be grabbed again not even a foot away.

Quickly putting your hands up to shove as hard as you could, you pushed your late husband’s brother back as you determinedly yelled out, 

“Unhand me!”

He only stumbled back a little before regaining his barings and making a second attempt to rush you.

Only this time, he was intercepted by another man.

Letting out a gasp as your brother-in-law was suddenly thrown to the ground, you could only watch as the person still standing threateningly said,

“I believe I heard the Lady say to unhand her. I would advise leaving now before I feel the need to intervene any further.”

He kept himself in-between you and the drunk on the floor as he spoke which meant you could not see who your rescuer was. But whomever they might be, it was obvious that their tone left no room for negotiation.

Watching over the shoulder of the stranger as your husband’s brother staggered to his feet, you kept your face blank as he threw one last glare in your direction and walked away on unsteady legs until he was out of sight.

Once you could no longer see him, you let out a sigh you did not realize you were holding and raised a soothing hand to your temple as you closed your eyes.

When you opened them again, you unexpectedly found yourself staring into someone else’s gaze.

You and the handsome stranger continued to stare at one another until you remembered yourself moments later.

Clearing your throat and taking a step back, you opened your mouth and cordially said,

“Good sir, while I appreciate your stepping in, I can assure you that I had the situation well under control.”

Raising a surprised brow, the man in front of you proceeded to cross his arms over his chest as he replied.

“Oh? You looked like you were in need of rescuing from where I was standing.”

“A matter of perspective then.”

Though you allowed the flippant response, it was your rescuer who allowed an amused smirk to grow on his face after the fact. Briefly looking you up and down, his tone was confident as he quietly repeated back to you in the quiet, night air,

“A matter of perspective, indeed.”

You felt an unexplainable flutter when he said this and his eyes locked onto yours. But before you had the chance to get drawn in another time, you decided to give a prompt nod of gratitude and goodbye and returned to the party at last.

Once inside, you looked back to take in the sight of the ball as you finally neared the correct exit.

In search of something again, your eyes continued roving over the crowd until they landed on someone already looking in your direction.

Catching the gaze of your handsome rescuer from across the room, you were pleasantly surprised to have a playful smile thrown your way after a respectful bow of his head. Unable to prevent your expression from mimicking his, you tried to keep your smile to yourself as you finally turned to leave the party.

On the other side of the soiree, Anthony Bridgerton was being brought back to reality as his eldest sibling clasped a hand onto the Viscount’s shoulder.

“Brother, what are you looking at with such intensity?”

But as the second oldest Bridgerton only had to follow his brother’s eyes to see what had captured his attention, he was no longer confused when they landed on your retreating figure.

Amused, the artist turned back to the Viscount when he dazedly asked,

“Tell me Benedict, who is that?”

“I do not know. I have only seen her a few times.”

As they both watched you leave, Anthony decided that this was not enough information.

“Come now, you must know more than that.”

Smiling at his brother’s impatience, Benedict calmly replied,

“All I know is that she is widowed and has just come out of her mourning period.”

And with what he had heard at his gentlemen’s club, and all that he had read from Lady Whistedown’s column, Anthony finished putting two and two together and was suddenly hit with the fact that he knew who you were.

“That is not some widow, Brother.”

Catching the last glimpse of you, the Viscount astonishingly breathed out,

“That is the Duchess.”

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