#i am not sure if i am more muted or if i have contrast

[deodatasslawson]

Below are the color palette options. Pick which one you think looks best on me.

[i-want-men-i-cant-have]

𝓳𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓾𝓷. 𝓼𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓶.

✿ summary: after eating strawberry scones and maybe a bit more than a little snow, riddle won't let you leave

✿ ft. riddle rosehearts

you hadn't expected it. you really should have, but you didn't.

the perfectly cut grass along with those pops of red in heartsabyul had been draped in a pristine white layer of snow. the once almost postcard blue sky transformed into a muted gray hue. soft mummers of the wind now were hidden with a biting nip. tiny snowflakes began to multiply, swirling and twirling in the wind. the atmosphere began to shift into a flurry of snow. 

voices yelled to get back inside once the wind kicked up. 

you had followed the dorm leader inside the half eaten strawberry stones left to fly with the wind or be suffocated by the mounting layers of pristine powder.

now, after being stuck in his cozy room, it didn't seem so bad to be stuck here. who knew it was against the queen's rules to get out in the snow thirty minutes after eating a strawberry scone?

was it even coming down that hard? maybe the snow could go up to your knees, but grim needed you back at ramshackle. he did have the ghosts, and you had, well, riddle, overbearing as ever. he passed back and forth in his room, hand on his chin, muttering something under his breath. his eyes would occasionally glance your way before immediately diverting to the floor.

you were lucky enough to find yourself on his bed, blankets and duvet draped around your form keeping you warm, a nice contrast to the freezing blizzard coming down outside.

"aren't you cold, riddle?" you asked the boy who momentarily paused, his shoulders tense in the chilly air.

"no, don't be ridiculous," he almost responded too quickly, but there was a subtle shiver beneath his confident tone.

“riddle.”

“i told you, im fine.” he snapped before a high pitch sneeze erupted out of him, leaving him frozen in a moment of vulnerability.

“sure.” you looked at him, a playful glint in your eyes. “just join me.” you tell him and pat a spot next to you, the soft noise nustling into his ears. 

he looked at you, obviously thinking it over. yes he was cold, very cold and you were warm. you were also a friend. a friend he cared about a lot. what if he embarrassed himself? what would his mother say?

riddle hesitated for a moment, his expression softening before he reluctantly moved to sit beside you, not before peeling off his gloves, heels and cloak, seeking the warmth both from your words and the shared space. bed dipping the air between you held a subtle tension, a mixture of the biting cold and an unspoken connection.

opening your am with a blanket you wordlessly invited him closer to you. shoulders brushing until nudging and then finally touching, no space in between the two of you. you wrapped the blanket to his shoulder. 

“what are you doing?” he snapped back, his shoulders tense as he resisted the urge to yank the blanket off.

“keeping you warm,” you said calmly, unaffected by his abrupt response. you rested your head on his shoulder and closed your eyes, a sigh escaping you as you allowed yourself to relax. he inhaled quickly, his posture stiff and straight as always.

you opened your eyes and looked into the red head's. “you can relax, you know.”

“i am relaxed.” he retorted, but his words contradicted the truth. his fingers fidgeted, his posture remained tense, and everything about him screamed awkwardness. despite his efforts to maintain composure, the vulnerability beneath the surface was palpable, like a tightly wound coil just waiting to unravel. the air held a quiet tension, a delicate balance between his resistance and your gentle persistence in breaking down the walls he had built around himself.

"right," you couldn't help but let out a laugh, though a subtle tightness settled in your chest. was he even trying to warm up to you? the fact that he didn't force you to be in the same room as ace or deuce right now suggested some level of care, but maybe not enough to share such an intimate moment with you.

riddle caught on to your feelings, your face not doing much to hide them. gradually, he slid his hand over towards yours, bit by bit. perhaps, in his own way, he was opening up to you. his frostbitten hands latched onto yours, seeking warmth from the cold.

you flinched, and riddle almost immediately shot his hand back towards his lap, muttering a quick apology. his face turned as red as the once red roses outside. how could he be so stupid, reaching out to grab your hand like that? he should have known better. it felt like an invasion of space, a potential disrespect. what would his mother say? he was practically taking advantage of y-

his wild thoughts dwindled away like sugar in water when your hand touched his own, grasping it and squeezing it. the feeling of warmth shot up his arm to his body and then his heart. he couldn't even think of anything; his mind went blanker than ever before. all his problems melted away, his heart beating like he had just flunked a test, but this was a different kind of beating- stressful, yet strangely comforting. it felt fuzzy, even with all the emotions going on in his head.

even with this new feeling, he didn't want to think about it. he didn't want to take away from this warmth. he wanted to relax, to take it in, as if this moment was a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world.

as the two of you sat there, hands intertwined, a soft silence enveloped the room. riddle's initial tension began to subside, replaced by a sense of calm that neither of you had anticipated.

you could sense a subtle shift in riddle's demeanor. the rigid walls he usually kept up seemed to soften, and he let out a deep breath, as if releasing pent-up stress. 

riddle stole a glance at you, his crimson eyes meeting yours with a mix of vulnerability and gratitude. for a moment, the weight of expectations, responsibilities, and the troubles that usually plagued him seemed to fade away. it was just the two of you.

even when you woke up the next day, snow melting into water, your hands were still intertwined.

[dkniade]

I’ve got a feeling that Lyney, Lynnette (and maybe Freminet) were designed early on in the game’s development since the level of detail on their outfits is surprisingly pleasing with a limited colour scheme too.

(….no yeah of course. The first two were in the Teyvat storyline preview video)

Wine-red, teal, and gold (edit: secondary colours), with black/white (edit: primary colours) and some muted secondary (edit: tertiary) colours to tie it together. It’s nice (maybe it’s just the type of colour scheme/ratio I like in character designs haha)

(I’d rather they have long pants though)

Now compare them to some other characters, whose designs seem cluttered with high contrast and excessive metallic details as per the Genshin Impact standard level of detail in character design. Quite unnecessary (and visually distracting) to have that much skin showing for Lisa, Yelan, and Shenhe (where am I supposed to look? The face? Arms? Thighs? Too much contrast.) Exactly why must their hips be so pronounced? Both Lisa and Yelan have only some cloth falling between their thighs, and Shenhe…

Shenhe doesn’t even have that much non-form-fitting clothing. A disciple of the Adeptus Cloud Retainer hailing from a clan of exorcists! Dressed like that? The red strings are supposed to be “binding/locking” her soul/bloodlust (it’s common in traditional Chinese culture to tie red ropes around supposedly possessed items—like vegetables—to prevent their “escape”) but their positions with this choice of outfit seem so much more suggestive than it should. Should she really train in the mountains dressed like that?

Neuvillette and Kaeya share some shapes for their upper body (large lapels, collar, asymmetrical hairstyle, something that fans out around shoulder parts, etc) but compared to the Fontainian trio above they still seem overdesigned.

I learned in a graphic design class once that, if you put too many different fonts together, then nothing stands out. In a similar way, too many details together can make the designs feel cluttered or distracting. I’m sure as fans of the game we get used to the level of detail in the character designs, but the moment the Fontainian trio got their key visuals released, I remembered just how effective simple outfit designs can be for this game.

Though, Dainsleif, Neuvillette, and Zhongli have rather similar shapes and value ratios in their outfits (highest contrast is face/chest area, tight sleeves with symmetrical coat/cape that splits out at the ends, broad shapes around shoulders pointing down, metallic accents compliment rest of colour temperature, etc)… Neuvillette is so pale that I think, if he was Black (with white/pale hair) for example, it’d allow more representations of dark-skinned people and his hair would contrast more, thus drawing attention to his face better.

Strange… Shenhe and Neuvillette both have white/silvery hair but their canon skin tones are even more pale… In the end, it’s quite boring to look at on some level

[bambiilooza]

HI i wana ask how do u choose ur colors for character design?? they all taste so yummy like chocolate and theyre so unique from each other

thank you <33

i'm gonna try and explain this to the best of my ability. apologies if it makes no sense.

i first choose a colour that i think fits the character and work the rest of the colours around that.

i'll use poseidon as an example cuz he's has my favourite palette. this is the main colour i associate with him.

and because it's a more muted blue, and is mainly in his hair as little strands, it would pop with a very dark colour. so his hair is dark - bit not black - and is tinted blue to make everything more cohesive.

since those colours are so similar, i coloured his skin to contrast that. tinting the skin with blue would make everything look samey. so it's a warmer shade but not overly. so it still pops without drawing too much attention.

like it's more grey than red but it's still a warmer colour than the rest of him. i can't use art terminology that well and am self taught so, idk if i'm explaining it that well sorry.

another thing with me is, since my style is quite simple, so are my palettes so the drawing doesn't look like too much is going on. with poseidon, his clothes would be the same as the central colour i chose but then the design would look kind of boring.

so, i added silver jewellery (and silver bits on his clothes but i don't have art of that yet) with a very small bit of red.

the silver fits with the rest of his palette while also differentiating him from the other god designs i have that are very gold heavy. it points out how he's different from them which relates to his position in the odyssey as the god who's against odysseus well.

and the red is minimal so it doesn't clash but looks nice i think. it also links him to polyphemus as the main colour i associate with him is red.

a simple palette makes sure i don't get overwhelmed when colouring and helps keep my designs distinct from one another.

[painting-warhammer]

Solitaire in the style of Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Just in time for 4/13! Commentary under cut.

The Lessons Learned

#1: Learn As Much As You Can Before Letting Your Mini Anywhere Near A Brush

As first figures go, this was honestly not as bad as it could have been, but I am an outlier. (and the second figure would be much worse.) Since the proverbial canvas was so expensive, it was a lot of "measure twice, cut once."

This was the main thing I used, and save for the face looking like chewed-up bubblegum, it came out relatively okay for a first try. Overall, this guy's a legend and this would be far from the only video of his I would reference.

#2: It's Okay To Be Inspired

What really hooked me on Warhammer in general is that you can paint things in your style. This is appealing at first, but if you're not an artist, you're going to be exposed quickly in the worst way possible, and that's by the color wheel theory. If you don't understand contrast and coomplements, all the technique in the world won't save your figure from looking like an eyesore.

This is where "established" characters that you are mimicking end up being your saving grace. If canon material is your bag, that works: You certainly won't lack as far as exact guides then! But in my opinion, you learn a bit more by improvising and trying to make something similar to an established character. Chances are they're popular because they have an appealing color scheme. As it happens, Vriska's various blue motifs really complement her orange, which is something I never realized way back when.

Also, reinterpretation was inevitable. I had initially considered freehanding the sun symbol on her lapel, but when everything was smaller than my pinkie, I just settled for making her jewels yellow. The real masterstroke was taking the Harlequin's Kiss weapon and recoloring it as the Warhammer (oh hey) of Vrillyhoo.

I just took the general colors and used Spiritstone Red on the rounded bits, and made something analogous to it. It's still the neatest part, imo.

#3: The Best Way To Start

For every color, I had a swatch. I had one base color, which I then doused in a shade, and then added one layer paint as the main color and one shade lighter for highlights.

#4: How To Make A Shiny Figure

There's a special paint called Ardcoat that puts a glossy texture on, but something that's a little more muted that gives a shine is... shade paint! I didn't shake the paint pot enough and created a fun glossy texture that you can see on her knee. (I learned how I accidentally did this by asking at my local Warhammer shop, lol)

#5: Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes

I'm sure there's more than just this wrong with this figure, but the Solitaire is supposed to be leaping off that little rock there. There were glyphs where I was able to put in a glowing line of Baharroth Blue that was watery enough that it filled in the little gaps on its own. It looked fantastic once...

Unfortunately, I overfilled my brush and it sloughed over into the other creases and ruined the whole effect. I also slopped Mordant Earth onto the stones and made it too ugly.

But that's just it. As much prep work as I was going in with, there was always going to be a mistake, and on a personal psychic level it feels bad when you make it. It ruins a whole day of painting lol. And you can't really stop those emotions, but you should at least try.

#6: You're Not Married To Your Army

It's inevitable that getting your first figure leads you to think about a whole army of them, but I had this distaste in my mouth when I thought about making more than one Vriska. For one, I didn't like any of the other Harlequins or Aeldari, or more importantly, I couldn't think of fun color schemes for them. The thought came to mind to make the ships similar to the Batterwitch/Condesce, but they were too similar color-wise (and even in the symbology!) where it just felt redundant. I get a special kick out of making something different from the boxart, because that's the point in my opinion.

I coped for a while: Green stuff or 3D print horns for the other figures to make them trolls? Suck it up and just use Vriska's color scheme for the others? In the end, I just gave up and called this a practice run. This is still my favorite figure. I'm just happy the first one turned out so nicely, relatively speaking, so I don't really have a lump of paint surrounding what was once a figure like a lot of first-time painters.

But no worries. Because I'd definitely fuck up the next one. 😅 That's for a new post.

[peachjagiya]

Are You Sure?

Episodes 1 and 2 thoughts

I've had a chance to watch them properly now.

My main takeaway is absolute bafflement at the characterisation in that weird W article?! It's not even that they misinterpreted the show, it's almost like they didn't even watch it? JK is his sweet and soft silly self. Jimin is full big brother.

I have thoroughly and genuinely enjoyed it. I must confess, in the first episode they do seem awkward with contrasting energies. As they say, they haven't met up and I think it does feel like it for almost all of first ep. So I was worried how I'd handle 8 hours of that considering I get severe second hand emotions.

The shift seemed to take place at the meal prep at the camp site. I guess this is terra firma for them, a safe space reminiscent of ITS and the dorms etc.

I don't know if anyone will agree but the phone calls at the table seemed to put a lid on the awkwardness entirely. The switch to super comfortable besties was complete after those. I found that very interesting.

Did you notice the matched energies in the calls too? We've talked about Taekook's call a lot but we can't ignore how natural Jimin's voice was with Yoongi. I'm wondering maybe if they needed those moments with their closest members to put a line in the sand almost? I don't think I mean they were planned and forced as such but getting to be real in that moment must have been like a sigh of relief after such a long time dancing around the truth. Maybe this is delulu but I'd love your thoughts on it.

As for Taekook's call, I am now convinced Tae said something sweet or rude or otherwise disallowed that was muted when he first answered. Mainly because of how he then made clear they were filming. I also think that JK hung up because he was about to get a lecture about the bike and that his texts to Tae were jokingly apologetic like "sorry sorry I like you so much I love you forgive me that was just too funny"

I felt awful for Jimin and his tummy issues. On a BOAT?! And a HIKE? guys what the hell. Let him sleep.

I cannot with JK eating his way through Connecticut. Relatable king. Food is the only thing that will get me out of the house too actually.

I loved their dynamic in the second episode. It made me kind of peak mad at the Jikook ship- actually no. Not at the shipping. At the characterisation that goes with it. Because they're such great brothers, it does a disservice to the best bits of their dynamic to put them into gross alpha-omega dynamic when they're prototypical siblings. It's so enjoyable to watch.

I've gone from wondering why they bothered to thinking it's for the better that they did this. Getting to show what they really are to each other finally actually makes for much more interesting TV than I thought.

In conclusion: never seen a better representation of my ADHD than going for a sponge but getting distracted by guacamole.

💜💜💜 let's hope next week doesn't absolutely destroy it with editing nonsense 😂

[eustasskiddsprosthetic]

So, I'm thinking of a Sabolaw actor AU!

For the longest time, Sabo's an amateur actor who does this as a hobby. He loves making short films and he loves writing, so this was an avenue of self-expression for him throughout his twenties.

One day in his late thirties, a casting director finds one short film of his and immediately hired him to be the lead of a chirpy adaptation of a YA thing.

Instant hit! People adored his good looks, his giggly laugh and bug eyes. His popularity skyrocketed and the hype sustained his career ten years later. He's just that smart when it comes to marketing!

So now, as a forty-something, he's the star of a quirky, eccentric adult film written by the enigmatic Corázon. He's interested in the script because a lot of people fancast him as the male lead and figured this would be a good project to appeal to public opinion.

This is where he meets Law, who has taken an instant dislike to him. Whatever, that happens.

Law's apparently Corázon's personal assistant but he acts more like a baby sitter. Law would light his cigarettes up for him, get coffee and even writes corrections for Corázon. They were apparently father and son and Sabo kind of envies their good relationship.

More than that, though, Sabo adores how sweet Law was towards the mute Corázon. He saw a lot of shy, reserved people—especially if they were minorities—get yelled at, berated and insulted regardless of rank. It could be straight up harassment or backhanded compliments to their achievements.

Law, in contrast, was doting, polite and even talks for Corázon, even if what he said was either "Thank you, Cora-san will think about it" or "Piss off." Sabo thought vulgarities sounded cute from his mouth.

Their first full conversation happens in a dressing room where Law was filling in for a makeup artist. Law was doing his makeup and Sabo leaned in so Law did not have to strain himself.

"You come here around, lovely?" Right, Sabo flirts with him a lot. He's kind of insane about it.

"No."

"Your words are cold but your hands are warm, darling."

Law sighed deeply. "Have you memorised your lines? You forgot them the last time."

"Oh..." Sabo did not like talking about work so casually. "Yes, yes, I have. Would you like me to recite one?"

"Sure."

Sabo did not mind that Law was ignoring him and that he was pretending to tidy up the makeup supplies. He recited a monologue, admittedly cringing slightly. He planned to negotiate a slight rewrite.

"What am I thinking of? What a silly question. I think of you when I don't think of anything in particular. I think about what you're doing now, how you're feeling, what you want to do when you come home to me. Even right now, I think of how I can love you better. I think of you all the time, even in my daydreams. You inspire me, my love."

Sabo noticed Law's ears go a little red but he kept a neutral face.

"Don't take this the wrong way but," Law paused to glance at the floor. "I'm glad you have the role. You're not the guy my dad had in mind but you fit it perfectly. Thank you for agreeing to do this."

Sabo laughed. Law was oddly sweet today.

They got a bit friendlier from that day onwards. They would talk occasionally about things that's not just work, even if Law seemed reluctant to. From the few bits of information Law gave, Sabo found himself falling for him more and more.

Law had a puppy. He liked black coffee, just like Sabo. He liked hardcore rock music, indie stuff with a splash of poppy-addictive Red Velvet music. He liked the colour yellow. He liked reading. Law wore the fluffiest, softest cardigan to work sometimes.

Law's stoic demeanor finally broke when Sabo let him infodump all about Sora the Warrior. Law speaks so enthusiastically even to someone he supposedly 'hates' and Sabo just melts. He could listen to Law talk all day. He would think of his sparkly eyes even in his daydreams. He could count the stars in them...

Today, Sabo was going to film the sex scene with his co-star and he made sure they would do it in at most five takes. She seemed willing enough and wanted to get it done in one. Admittedly, they did not get along in real life despite having chemistry on camera.

When they started filming, Sabo tried his best to be 'in love' as the script says. This was a moment where their relationship would deepen and it was admittedly the hottest moment in the film. It was fine if she hesitated, since she played a timid character. The director reminded him of this. Sabo got annoyed but he agreed to try again.

It got worse because they were both irritated. Gah! Just before Sabo wanted to take a break, he had a reckoning. He realised that her lips were pale... Sabo glanced up and saw Law pretending to look busy by tapping away at his laptop. They were pale, just like Law's. He closed his eyes and finally felt the passion he needed to make this work.

Even the director blushed at what he saw.

After the scene, Corázon taps Sabo on the shoulder without Law next to him. Sabo follows Corázon into a small, under-utilised office. He opened the window and smoked a cigarette. Here, he took his sunglasses off and Sabo sees that he's actually quite handsome with a large face, pale skin and dull blonde hair.

"Be careful, boy."

Where did that deep voice come from? Sabo was surprised to hear it come from Corázon himself.

"His heart is in pain," Corázon continued. He blew a puff of smoke out the window. "Treat him well."

"You can't cut me out of this project," Sabo reminded him lightly. Threats like this were unprofessional. "We have a contract."

Corázon smiled. He was cunning like Sabo and Sabo oscillated between liking and distrusting him.

"It's not about that. I know your type, and... Well... I'm a protective father, do you see?"

Oh, it's that kind of consequence. For the first time in his career, he stood some distance away and bowed deeply. Corázon did not expect that but he seemed to appreciate that.

Sabo knew cynicism when he saw it, however. Why won't these people just believe in him! He needed a fucking drink.

He went to the bar some distance away from the studio and wow! Holy fucking shit!

Law looked at him first. He changed out of his hoodie and now wore a black button shirt and jeans. Sabo knew he had game but damn, Law's so slim and fit and so damn sexy. Sabo ordered a drink and sat there. He stared at the wall, thinking of his work, what he had to do tomorrow, he quickly remembered his lines...

"Hey, handsome. You look like you have a lot on your mind." A slightly tipsy giggle.

Sabo looked up. Now, he thought of Law. Law had such a cute smile when he wasn't so irritable. Law sat on his lap without asking and of course Sabo let him. Law gave him fuck-me eyes and Sabo knew that was only because he was sort of drunk but Sabo just felt his heart squeeze and his dick harden.

If only Law were sober! Damn it! This would be so much better if Law wanted to seduce him. He wanted Law to look at him with those lustful eyes and mean it. Sabo laughed bitterly.

Law's legs were long and warm against his. Law held his face and tried to kiss Sabo but Sabo put his hands over Law's mouth. Law pouted and he was so fucking cute, Sabo would gladly kiss him just not like this. He tried to get Law off his lap.

"You're still the same dork I fell in love with twenty years ago." Sabo finally had enough. Law tilted his head to the side in confusion. Sabo remembered Law hated loud noises and would wear white noise-cancelling ear-plugs. Upon closer inspection, Sabo saw that it was the same pair too. Law kissed his ear and Sabo let him come closer.

"Fine, you win. I'm hopelessly smitten. I wonder, Law, I wonder where we'd be if you believed in my feelings towards you? If you listened to me that day..."

Also, did I mention that they were (very bitter) exes? Yeah, that's a thing that happened a long ago...

[sol1loqu1st]

(In case this could be interpreted as judgemental or self-aggrandizing I'm going to just say upfront that I'm a literary criticism guy and these are just my thoughts on the episode + people's reactions to it, not a condemnation lol)

In the discussion of Dot & Bubble I have noticed that a lot of white fans (caveat: I am also white) didn't pick up on the racism until the very end/felt like it was too subtle, but honestly I felt like it was like. WILDLY obvious.

The Doctor being the only black person in a sea of white people, Lindy only listening to Ruby and repeatedly trying to block the Doctor even though they're saying the same things, repeatedly calling the Doctor rude when he's saying the same stuff as Ruby, etc, is like. not! subtle. (I also wonder slightly about the choice to put the Doctor in bright orange--iirc the orange jumpsuit inmates wear is a purely American thing and quite possibly not even something that crossed the costuming dept's mind, but given the themes of the episode and the fact that it's in contrast to all of the colorful, stylized pastels, the choice to put the doctor in Solid Orange and set him against a more muted background strikes me as....intentionally looking like a mugshot? But I'm not sure why, because the point of the episode wasn't to bias the audience against the Doctor, so who knows)

I think the thing about this episode people are misinterpreting (because RTD did a bad job) is that the bubble is meant to represent "phones bad," but I think it's actually commentary on how social media algorithms can quickly lock you into an echo chamber "bubble" of people who think and look just like you, that stops you from seeing outside to anyone else's pov and makes it so you rely completely on social media to tell you what to think and how to behave (and, crucially, how this can lead down a pipeline of unconscious--and eventually conscious--racism that can start with something as "innocent" as "coincidentally all of my friends are white.")

I feel like there's plenty of ground for people to have not caught on because they assumed the racism was not meant to be part of the story and just an exposure of the biases of whoever was in charge of casting the episode. But I think if you missed it entirely and didn't even think about it until it was overt, the episode was talking to you directly. Lower your bubble my dudes or you'll get eaten by slugs I guess

man idk how the slugs are supposed to factor into this argument i think the slugs are there because it's doctor who

[conkorse]

Can I ask how you pick your colors? I'm very fascinated by it and how well it works with your style

sure i will try my best 2 explain !!! >_<

typically i start drawing my main subjects on a grey colored background. this makes it so my color range is alot larger than if i sketched and colored on a white/lighter background because the colors that surround your piece will affect how they are perceived. i will attach an example below:

as you can see the drawing on the left (which is a wip i havent posted this drawing yet lulz) heavys skintone changes to match the context of the colors in the background which when you compare that bg to the bg on the right it is much darker in comparison. i also simply wanted to play around with colors coz i try not to restrict myself in any capacity. coloring is the most fun part of drawing to me and part of that fun comes from imposing zero limitations on myself which is why alot of my art has the most stupid ass color combinations u will eva see #live #laf #lov

this is what my drawings typically look like once i finish the actual main subject of the piece as you can see scout n pyro are in a grey void gidbles them. i typically do backgrounds last (which is something i should prbably change up sometime soon) because i tend to create them around the main drawing and it makes it easier for me to make everything more cohesive in the end because i can make the background however i want to fit the main drawing. i do not recommend doing this 24/7 becoz then u will struggle with environmental backgrounds/perspective shit and other stuff which is something i want to get better at but struggle with alot hashtag supaaa mega sad hashtag noob lyfeee

as for coloring itself and choosing colors its really just a combination of experimentation (and by that i mean i go through so much of the color wheel before i decide on something) and intuition. i already have an idea of what looks good together well in mind because well ive spent quite alot of time fine tuning ermmm idk what 2 call it i guess my color sense ??? hallppp but anyways i really recommend not just using bright/neon colors exclusively! the best way to make colors pop is to couple them with more muted ones so the contrast is better evident btwn the two. OH ANDD i tend to try not to use straight up black and white/grey to portray those colors. for example if a character has ermm lets say a white shirt i wont use white or grey colors to depict it but rather maybe a light cyan orrr yellowy green :p

i also overuse textured brushes and patterns in my art alortttt (see abovee) HALP so maybe try that??? i use clip studio paint and there are so many rly awesome textured brushes that i overuse coz they r SUPAAAA epik. IDK im just rambling but your biggest take away from this should be to GO EXPERIMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!! and have fun anddddd mix "ugly" colors 2gether coz u just can never know what will and wont work unless u try :33

ALSO I ALMOST FORGOT play around with this feature in csp if u have it coz its another way i create textures (my heavy mii shown as an example) and here is a link to a tumblr post where i link all of the brushes i use in csp 0 .o I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEWHAT!!!!!!!!! SOZZZ I AM NOT THE BEST AT EXPLANING >_<

[diavolo-is-babygirl]

Autumn Fic Between Diavolo & Levi: Pumpkin Spice Lattes

The coffee shop was warm and inviting, smelling faintly of cinnamon, nutmeg, and something crisp and earthy that reminded Diavolo of fallen leaves crunching underfoot. Outside, the trees blazed in autumn colors, a vibrant celebration of red and gold that contrasted sharply with the chill in the air. Diavolo pulled his scarf closer around his neck as he pushed open the door, the little bell overhead chiming softly.

At a small table by the window, hunched over a laptop and looking utterly absorbed, was Leviathan. He wore a chunky sweater in muted purple, its sleeves slightly too long, and he seemed completely lost in whatever game he was playing. But something about the warm glow of the shop, or perhaps just the friendly atmosphere, seemed to soften the usual tension in his shoulders.

Diavolo approached with a small smile, setting his drink down and taking the chair across from Levi. It took a second for Levi to look up, his gaze widening with surprise, but a faint smile bloomed on his face. “Lord Diavolo,” he greeted, cheeks turning a little pink. “You’re here too?”

Diavolo chuckled, waving a hand. “Just Diavolo today, Levi. And yes—I needed a bit of warmth after a long week.” He held up his cup, an inviting glimmer in his eyes. “I thought I’d try something seasonal—pumpkin spice, I think?”

“Oh, um, yeah,” Levi mumbled, looking at his own drink with newfound interest. “It’s… kind of all the rage this time of year. Asmo made me try one last fall, and I wasn’t sure at first, but it’s pretty nice once you get used to it. MC was super stoked about it being PSL season too, so I thought to myself: why not try one?”

Diavolo took a tentative sip, the creamy, spiced flavor warming him from the inside out. It was sweet and unexpectedly comforting, like a hug in a cup. “You’re right, it’s surprisingly nice,” he murmured, savoring the taste. “It’s strange, though, don’t you think? That something so simple can make everything feel a little brighter.”

Levi nodded, his gaze growing soft as he watched Diavolo sip his latte. “I guess it’s because it’s familiar,” he said, fiddling with his sleeve. “Like… even if everything else is hard, things like this stay the same. They’re comforting.”

Diavolo looked down at his cup, a faint shadow crossing his face. “Comforting,” he echoed quietly. “I think I’ve forgotten what that feels like.”

Levi’s eyes widened a bit, his usual shyness replaced by something braver. “You’ve been through a lot this year, haven’t you?” he said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. “I mean, everyone can tell you’ve been carrying so much on your shoulders.”

The words tugged at something deep within Diavolo, and for a moment, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. “It’s… it’s just the price of what I do, of who I am,” he managed, though his voice sounded hollow, even to his own ears. “But lately, it feels like I’m losing sight of why I do it. Like I’m losing sight of myself.”

Levi’s brow furrowed, and he reached out hesitantly, his hand hovering over Diavolo’s for a moment before he gently placed it down. “You know,” he said softly, “you don’t always have to be strong. Or perfect. You’re allowed to feel tired, or to take a break and just… be.”

Diavolo looked down at Levi’s hand, the warmth grounding him in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. “It’s hard to remember that sometimes,” he admitted. “But… sitting here, drinking coffee with you… it makes it easier.”

Levi blushed, but he didn’t pull his hand away. “I’m glad,” he murmured. “I know I’m not good at saying stuff like this, but… I think you’re already an amazing leader. And not just because you’re strong, but because you care so much about everyone. Even someone like me.”

“Someone like you?” Diavolo echoed, a hint of wonder in his voice. “Levi, you’re one of the most dedicated, compassionate souls I know. Just sitting here with you makes me feel lighter. You’ve done more for me than you realize.”

Levi’s blush deepened, but he smiled, looking down at his latte. “I just… I want you to know you’re not alone, okay? You can always come to me if you need someone to talk to. Or if you just want to drink pumpkin spice lattes and sit quietly.”

Diavolo’s heart swelled with a warmth that went beyond the taste of his drink. He squeezed Levi’s hand gently, a smile that was both grateful and filled with something softer lighting his face. “Thank you, Levi. Truly. I don’t know what I’d do without friends like you.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their drinks and watching the autumn leaves drift past the window. For a brief moment, the weight of Diavolo’s responsibilities faded, and all that remained was the quiet companionship between them—the promise of warmth, even on the coldest days.

[gerbiloftriumph]

Floating Castle Liveblog (third read)

In 2020, I read the first king's quest adaptation novel. Again. Because 2020 was awful.

August 22, 2020 –

page 0

I'm not going to read this aga--oh wait no who am I kidding I'm trapped at work for another four hours and it's *not* a good day and I just want my tea drinking wizard tree and frog prince and mcguffin king and headless ghosts and the soft delights of smarmy sassy villains. (also the kq series is the only series i have easy access to rn so shhh)

page 3

"Castles do not fly." The title of the book says otherwise, sir.

page 10

Gotta admit, Telgrin's perpetual single thundercloud over his castle still gives me ridiculous amounts of joy. I'm sitting here grinning honestly for the first time all day. I love my melodramatic sassmaster.

page 14

I comment on it every single time I read this (yes this IS the third time I've read this in three years, leave me alone), but I seriously love watching Graham being an actual king. I love adventures, and I love royals, and I love adventuring royals, but I also really like the sturdy basis of kindness and clarity Graham just has as a leader. It's really pleasant.

page 20

IT HIM. Heeeeeeere's Telgrin! Do you think Telgrin spent hours shuffling around trying to perfect that gliding walk? Stars, I hope he did. I mean in any other villain it would just be natural but with my emo goth drama king who tries too hard, everything is carefully plotted for maximum visual aesthetic.

page 22

Totally seriously, though, the contrast between Graham's tightly contained fury and balance of how he's been treating the assembly and Telgin's wide swept theatrics and overblown personality is SO good. This sort of subtle contrast really does raise this book from generic game adaptation to surprisingly pleasant fantasy. It's still genre light, but it has confidence and solid bone work.

page 23

"The news reached me that you were gathering all your knights here today, Graham, so it seemed a convenient time." Because Telgrin won't do anything without an audience to oooh and ahhh over his antics.

page 30

"Everything seemed muted, vague, unreal." Oh, did you mean my life right now? No? Close enough.

page 33

"and a small pear." Yes, a crucial thing to make sure you pack on your voyage. Good call.

page 38

TREE WIZARD oh stars my whole heart is happyyyyy. What a mood improvement.

page 40

"So, that castle belongs to this guy named Telgrin." "Oh yeah, Telgrin. He's evil. Don't mess with him." "You know him?" "I know his reputation." Stars, Telgrin would be SO PLEASED to know his reputation precedes him now. I hope he started some of those rumors himself.

page 40

I still can't handle the density of this conversation. "Telgrin is a stealer of souls." "A stealer of souls? What's that?" Alexander. Alexander, pleaaaase think about what you just said. Please. I love you, but seriously.

page 45

Even when you are a tree wizard, that is, a wizard slowly and literally turning into a tree, it's still important that you get your morning cup of tea. Morowyn knows it. So should you.

page 47

In other words, Alexander, you're just a glorified babysitter. You could have asked Big Knight Brian Blessed to be your partner in crime on this heist and gotten a better result. (i'm kidding of course I love Cyril to absolute pieces, look at this farmboy wizard lad he's so squishy and blond and round and I love him.)

page 54

heist heist heist heIST let's plan a HEIST.

page 58

The moat monsters also have a taste for the finer things in life. Like feather-capped adventurers. Castle Daventry is literally the most perfect fantasy castle there is. It even has a hoard of moat monsters. Like, you can't get more Fantasy Castle than this place. Telgrin only wishes his castle was that cool. He just has to make do with personal thunderclouds.

page 63

A small thing, but I super love Mills's emphasis on color. From the rain slanting golden in the yellow torchlight, to the hills here slowly changing from an angry maroon to a deep indigo with a band of yellow slowly disappearing as the sun sets...it's heavily visual, like he's literally painting a screen from the games, and I find it rather peaceful, somehow.

page 64

Literally just the ringwraith scene from Fellowship of the Ring, but with King's Quest protagonists instead of Frodo and friends. The audacity of this book. I love it.

page 69

Mills was absolutely just rereading Fellowship of the Ring when he was asked to write this book. It's not even subtle at this point. .........and I super love every single reference with all my silly fantasy heart.

page 89

I can't think of a single other fantasy in which the protagonist lassos a kelpie and attempts to ride it. I can't imagine why not. It's a flawless plan.

page 96

I feel like that's just magic homemade whiskey. Getting the prince drunk might not be in everyone's best interest.

page 97

Alexander, you gotta stop calling people "ho." You're gonna offend someone. (I'm kidding, of course. "Ho there" is as traditionally delightful as "Who goes there," and highly welcome to behold.)

page 99

platform boots

page 100

I'm sorry, I know I commented on this when I read this last year, but...again. Telgrin has One Single Lone Stupid Thundercloud, which "hovered over a high central tower. From time to time, this cloud would light with an internal fire, and a low, menacing rumble would break across the land." It's like the Winnie the Pooh raincloud, with ambient sound effects. The audacious aesthetic of this guy is a DELIGHT to behold.

page 107

Aaah yes the Road to El Dorado sequence. Truly, this book is nothing but the best hits of adventure tropes crammed into a book 300 pages long.

page 108

Does this mean that Telgrin has also been to Narnia? Oh dear.

page 112

Again. "The cloud." Not many clouds. Just the one. A single, lone, silly, thundercloud.

August 24, 2020 –

page 114

Wait, what came first, this book or the Muppet Christmas Carol movie? Because all I can picture is Scrooge's Statler-shaped Muppet door knocker, but with extra teeth, shrieking.

page 117

Is Alexander is the only person in the series to ever have a proper sword fight? I mean, not counting....uhhhh is it Owen in KQ8? (Super didn't play KQ8, everyone said it wasn't worth the effort.)

page 123

Like, I gotta say: binding souls to armor, cool. Great scheme, very evil. Making it so that just knocking the helmet off releases the soul into the night forever? ...nooooot the most ideal.

page 126

You know in Princess Bride, when Westley tries to wrestle Fezzik, and just kinda runs at him and squeezes him and absolutely nothing happens? Alexander, right here, vs the black knight.

page 131

A barikar is not a real fantasy monster--the only google result that comes up is that, yes, Telgrin owns one. But it's a huge rabbit with a rat nose, dog fangs, fish scales instead of fur, and human like hands with claws. It sees about as well as a human, but it can hear well, thanks to the rabbit ears. It's absolutely ridiculous. I love it. I wonder if I can convince my dm to make it a fight in our campaign.

page 133

My sweet babiiiiies. Alexander making Cyril stand behind him to protect him and Cyril absolutely refusing and taking the front anyway. I love these kids. I say, fully recognizing that they're semi-close to my age and know how to handle swords and magic.

page 133

Oh, no, excuse me, the Bariker doesn't have rabbit ears--it has bat ears. Which just kind of further emphasizes how much I want this thing in a campaign. It's so ridiculous.

page 139

Where was he? Yes. Who was this beside him? Yes. How long had he been asleep? No way of knowing. Alexander, those are not answers to questions, except maybe the last one. You've answered nothing. Alexander, please.

page 141

headless ghost headless ghost headless ghoooost i can't stop smiling he's holding it like a football it's amazing

August 25, 2020 –

page 142

Lydia's mom caught Anime Mom Protagonist Disease. It's a tragic illness. No hope of recovery.

page 142

"Owen took a brief pause, while Alexander reflected on the fact that he was getting used to carrying on a conversation with a beheaded man. It was starting to seem almost normal. Almost." How is this a real book. I love this book.

page 143

tragic telgrin backsto--oh wait it's not tragic at all he's just always been a brat.

page 144

"Somehow a beheaded man on his feet was infinitely more alarming than a beheaded man quietly seated." o rly?

page 145

Look, it is a *little* creepy that he would install magic mirrors of spying in his daughter's bedroom without her knowledge, but considering Owen admitted to teaching Telgrin everything he knows, including presumably soul torturing magic, we can kind of assume Owen isn't actually that good a guy after all.

page 149

Glowing moss in fantasy must be the most useful plant ever cultivated.

page 155

Obviously, there's nothing wrong with describing Alexander's haunches, but it's also just a little weird. It's not...a word I hear often, especially in reference to humans.

page 156

I like a good wizard who knows that a cup of tea soothes most ills. A man after my own heart.

page 156

"After allowing himself to wallow in depression for a short while, he pushed his mood aside with a firm effort, squared, his shoulders, and said, 'Well, the sooner we get going, the sooner you'll get your bath and your tea.'" Ah, yes, of course, just push aside your wallowing. Why didn't I realize it was that easy?

page 158

"A few wary, rather mincing steps, brought him to the vestibule." Alexander, your author is making fun of you. Just a bit.

page 161

The book is very, very clear that it's just Graham's face floating in the soul-capture orb. The book is very, very wrong. It's a tiny Graham floating around in there. Like, full body, but like two inches high. This is fact, and better than a disembodied Wizard of Oz-style face. I'm just letting you all know that the book is misprinted. Every copy. It's a full body'd Graham. Just smol.

page 162

YEAH BOI PUNCH AN UNDEAD KNIGHT...oh no, your arm, why did you just literally punch a suit of armor, you donut, you know better than that

August 26, 2020 –

page 167

To be fair, the door is now open. As is the floor, and the wall, and...well, the room, to the sky. Definitely very open.

August 27, 2020 –

page 169

It's turned into Dragon's Lair instead of King's Quest, for this scene. Super into it. Wouldn't want to play it as a video game, though--the amounts of game overs....

August 31, 2020 –

page 169

"But this insignificant event raised within him an unexpected fury. He cursed the poor root to withering, black perdition, cursed it deeply and sincerely, cursed it with all his soul." Gods, Alexander, I get it. Man, do I ever get it. I'm so tired.

page 177

"This was it, the nadir. It could not get any worse than this." You sure about that, kid? I think we've got one more scrape at the bottom of the barrel we can squeeze into."

page 181

Alexander is thiiiiiiiis close to snapping. Kid, I understand you. Critically and crucially, I understand.

page 183

FROG PRINCE. I told you there was one more level we could reach. The royal family gets transformed into animals rather frequently. At least this time he's not a snail, poor kid.

page 183

"With a sense of profound shock, he realized that he had been transformed into a frog--a rather large and handsome frog, it's true, but still a frog." You can't make this stuff up. This book is perfect. The ideal. The author is calling Alexander a handsome frog. He's a frog, but a good looking one. I can't handle this.

page 185

"Did you speak, Sir Frog?" "That's Prince Frog, to you." Alexander, be nice. Don't pull rank. I don't think you have rank to pull anymore. Smelly swamp rank, at best.

page 186

I like to think that was just Alexander swearing, but it was masked as a ribbit.

page 187

To be fully fair, Alex, you do kind of need him to reattach Graham's soul, so maybe it's for the best that he doesn't go far.

page 189

If I were a soul-armor, and this frog decided to enter the castle, to be honest, I think I would probably just let it. Because it's a frog.

page 194

There's fanart of this scene too because it's hilarious. She kisses a frog, he becomes a man hanging half over the rim of a fountain, and all she can say is "Goodness! But...you're beautiful." Ridiculous.

page 194

HA and then she tries to recover saying, "I haven't seen that many men in my life. Hardly any, actually. I'm sure that you're really very ordinary." Kid. Please, stop insulting him, you're going to make him sad(der than he already is)

page 198

It's at this point that Alexander just sort of gives in to the sass and the snark and starts leaning into the nonsense. "Creature?" "She's not entirely human." "Uh, in what way is she not human?" "To begin with, she has two heads, no hair, only three fingers on each hand, and is fully seven feet tall." "You're right. That doesn't sound entirely human." Pleeaaaaase this book is a deliiight.

page 200

That twilight area between wakefulness and sleep, with thoughts centered on nothing at all? my brain, today. fully. I've got nothing left to offer anyone, except not-very-funny remarks on this book.

page 202

Nothing Telgrin does is ever common. Overblown and ludicrous, maybe, but never ever common.

September 1, 2020 –

page 209

When the two headed guard calls to the intruding man like a person tempting a kitty cat. "Come here, man, pspspsps. Man, man, maaaan." Instead of catnip, she can bring tacos.

page 211

Again, I just gotta let you all know that the books have been misprinted. It's not a disembodied head floating in the orb, even if it's probably supposed to be an Owen's decapitated head parallel, because that's dumb. It's a tiny two-inch tall Graham floating in the orb, not just his face. I don't know how all the copies got misprinted like that, but they did. It's really a tiny Graham. Cute. Okay? Okay. Onward.

page 212

I love One Stubborn King.

page 216

I can't actually make snide jokes about the text when I'm actually just outright enjoying it. The sheer blissy silly triumph of Telgrin, the stubbornness and sharp agony of my dear sweet Graham, Alexander standing there ruminating on what loyalty means--this is exactly my flavor of fantasy jam.

September 17, 2020 –

page 225

I still kind of sort of love that Telgrin apparently decided that the best way to use the magic staff was to make it respond to wishes. "I wish for a giant fireball." And thus, one appears. It just...speaks to some strange childishness that I find totally hilarious in this big bad villain.

page 230

Again, the book is misprinted. I'm not about these weird Wizard of Oz style floating faces. They're weird. It's a fully bodied apparition of Telgrin yelling at Alexander, hands on hips, just as it's a tiny full bodied shape of Graham in the orb. My version is better.

page 231

"I could kill you now, if I wanted." "I don't think so," Alexander said defiantly. "Is *everyone* in Daventry this obstinate?" Sir. My dude. My man. Palberto. You messed with the wrong royal family, and they come from knight stock, not actually blue blood at all. They're going to *wreck* you.

page 232

"I'll live, I think." Alexander, your ability to comfort others leaves a little bit to be desired.

page 234

I'm not actually kidding. If Mills hadn't read Fellowship of the Ring at least a week or two before writing this, I will eat my whole entire adventuring cap. That's the Watcher in the Water, as there was literally lembas bread earlier and a ringwraith before that. Fantasy tropes or not, this is just sneaking Tolkien references in because Mills is a fanboy (I mean, obviously: he's writing company-approved fanfic).

page 237

Again, Alexander, realize this: Telgrin learned everything he knows from Owen. One might assume, especially knowing how dark those mirrors felt, that Owen himself is *not actually a very good guy.*

page 241

It's kind of like cheerfully presenting Sweeney Todd with his shaving tools. "At last, I am complete again!" Not.....super great, I feel.

page 242

I love that it's not actually magic keeping the castle moored, but a big ol' safety pin. That's not even actually much of an exaggeration. "At the bottom of that well you will find a large golden pin embedded in the paving stone. You are to remove this pin. It may not be easy, but you must do it. It will set the castle free from the moorings of the earth."

page 248

The fact that Telgrin now has to wear an eyepatch is great enough. The fact that he took the time to make sure it perched on "his bald head at a jaunty angle" is almost too much to bear. I hope he stood in front of his cracked and smoking mirror adjusting it just so before coming down for this final confrontation.

page 248

"I'll probably never see out of this eye again, I hope you're happy with yourself." "I mean...you *were* trying to kill me." "Irrelevant." Boys, please, there are serious issues at hand.

page 250

"All I've ever asked in return is that you marry me, and that you not burden me with your opinions." Telgrin, the ultimate flirt. Magnificent.

page 251

Telgrin's snarky sassy meltdown is the greatest. "She's now willing to marry me, merely to save your worthless life! Willingly! Well, I won't have it, I tell you. She shall marry me unwillingly, or not at all!" Telgrin, you are absolutely bonkers and you're my favorite villain in any piece of media ever, full stop. The sheer ridiculousness of *you* with your wish-magic and bloviating and grandiose posturing....divine.

page 253

Telgrin's pasty complexion is enough to "make a marble statue appear dark by comparison." If this were a modern AU, Telgrin would be that emo kid hunched over twitter mansplaining at everyone, while listening to the rainy mood app constantly. He's an absolute delight from start to finish, especially because he *is* a threat and he *could* win if he wasn't so obsessed with the *aesthetic* and the need to show off.

page 255

Ahh one of my favorite lines in the whole book: "It's blame-everything-on-Telgrin time, is it?" What villain talks like this?? Who does this?!! No one but Telgrin, author Craig Mills, and this goofy novelisation of the very sassy, very cliche, very delightful, King's Quest series. Fantasy tropes, sass, snark, and everything. This book is nothing but pure sugared joy for me.

page 266

No more than two feet of earth held the entire castle in place, and now they're floating away again like the house in Up. Delightful.

page 270

Telgrin, you can't behead someone who has already been beheaded. Be sensible.

page 273

"Can you think of any way for us to get down from [this steadily rising floating castle]?" "I could attempt to fly you down!" All in all, Alexander thought he would rather just jump. Boys, please.

page 288

A Valanice story, I think, would have been very welcome. I'm glad for the trilogy we got, but I really would have enjoyed an official novel from her perspective. This lonely image of her standing alone before the throne, with her husband dying in the next room and her son gone for at least a week to face an unknown villain alone, while her kingdom is ravaged by evil knights....it feels worth exploring.

page 291

I absolutely one thousand million percent love this strobing effect of two Grahams floating together, his transparent and delicate soul settling down into his body again. It's delightful.

page 292

Pleaaase Graham, say "A heart is a heavy burden." I know this book came out like a decade before the Howl's Moving Castle (the movie at least, I don't know the book's publication date), but pleaaaase. I know you won't, but I want you to.

page 293

SHRIEKING. I don't ever ship things, but this is my otp for liiiiiife look at these two precious beans together I'm just THRILLED the smile on my face is enormous ahhhh Valanice and Graham have hardly anything going for them in the original games since they hardly ever interact on screen but this book and this scene is just DELIGHTFUL.

September 17, 2020 – Finished Reading

Again, five stars out of five stars

[cathy-gabby]

I AM HERE, JIN.

October 28, 2024

I have not posted anything since I'll Be There was released. I went thru a rollercoaster of emotions - from being super excited before the song's release to being very emotional and excitedly giddy when it came out 😍😍 The song is very rockjin coded; I love it so much and I love him more for it 🥳🥳

But my social media is awash with negativity - for people focusing so much on numbers, competing with the success of other members, questioning the fandom for lack of support. All these are in contrast of what Happy is and should be about. 😔 I am honestly sad because of this.

Jin himself said that there are many dishonest ways to success but it would be better if people enjoy music in honest ways (or something to this effect). Jin loves his songs & listens to them. He is happy with what is he is doing. Surely, he wants us to enjoy his music and be happy because of it.

So the past days, I only focus on streaming IBT, joining Stationhead parties, watching the videos, buying when I can, hyping positive posts, and SUPPORTING those who work hard for Jin. They do what they do all because they love Jin. Understandably, many are frustrated. I am, too. But for my own mental health, I mute words, phrases, and people who only spout negativity. I just want to be HAPPY. FOR JIN. And for me.

PS: When I feel a lot better, I will write a more upbeat post about I'll Be There, the song of the year. 🙏🙏

PS:PS: Happy 2 years to the Astronaut!

[sherbet-shivers]

A Minor Malfunction Part 3/3

Thank you to the handful of you who've been following along and left notes <3 I was scared to post this and am glad knowing some of you are enjoying it! I definitely want to share more stuff soon, but until then, thanks for being so kind - now onto the finale!

**Please do not share to non-kink snz blogs — no need to drag vanillas into this! Formatting tips are always welcome <3**

Blurb: Co/nnor is STILL suffering a little virus (Part 1 here, Part 2 here)

Characters: Co/nnor R/K800 (-centric because he’s babygirl) and H/ank A/nderson

Length: 3k+ words

TW: cursing, minor android injuries, coughing; light spoilers

“Connor! Oi! Connor! CONNOR! WAKE UP SON! CONNOR!!”

His name echoes faintly as he gradually comes to; blinking away an endless blackness until he’s finally conscious of someone’s repeated shouting. The fuzzy blob of muted color in front of him slowly begins to take shape, eventually resembling that of…of…

“Hank…?”

Blinking again, Connor sees the detective in returning detail; enough to place his arms in both his peer’s hands, which were rattling him like a child’s toy. It didn’t help keep the world from spinning in his eyes, but it did manage to rouse him from his blackout. He’d have to remember to thank him for the assistance. To thank…to thank…?

Connor gasps.

“Hank?!”

How didn’t he recognize him sooner? His beloved Lieutenant is standing right in front of him, panting heavily while he’s got him clutched in a vice grip. Connor doesn’t understand what’s going on, but regardless, he’s thankful to have been broken out of his loop, and back to processing the environment around him. He’s still running on low energy — just 31% of his maximum efficiency — but at least he’s back awake. Looking about, he gathers that together, he and Hank have somehow migrated outside the house and to the victim’s porch where rain engulfs everything visible in sight. Connor’s senses flood with the heavy scent of petrichor and grass, a refreshing contrast to the musty odor of dead bodies and dried Thirium.

“Jesus Connor!” Hank cries, finally letting go of Connor’s sides and doubling over with his hands cupping his knees. 

“S-Sorry, Lieutenant…,” Connor drawls like a drunk. “I didn’tttt…mean to’ignore or upset you. I-“

Without explanation, Hank lunges forward and tugs Connor into a hug, squeezing his sides and enveloping him in a human warmth he wasn’t familiar with. It felt… different than the heat he produced himself. It was gentle…light…kind…

Home?

He wasn’t sure where the thought originated from, or why now of all times, but he hasn’t any time to ponder anyway; not with Hank shouting in his ears.

“I’m not upset you moron! I’m just-! Just-!” Hank hesitates, swallowing before sighing a cloud of smoke into the air. The outdoors were freezing. There’s no way he could’ve been comfortable out in this weather, Connor thinks. How long has he been waiting for him to wake up?

Hank relinquishes his grip and drops his hands to his sides. He tries saying something a few times, but each attempt dies awkwardly at his lips. Instead, he opts for an explanation. “You, uh, weren’t responding after the fall, so…-”, Hank gestures to his left cheek, “-I moved you out here. Thought you might’ve shut off or overloaded or something.”

He’d done this for my sake? Connor shuffles awkwardly where he stands, bowing his head and mirroring Hank’s body language. He raises a hand to the curve of his cheekbone, and to his surprise, a patch of synthetic skin was missing — exposing a layer of pure, reflective, white metal. The “flesh” wasn’t regenerating back, which Connor supposed was normal given such a low status of functionality. Grazing his face, Connor also realizes his nose is bleeding, staining his fingers with the remnants of dried blue blood.

When he looks back up, Hank is holding out a handkerchief for him to take, most likely to clean up the Thirium smeared across his face. Connor accepts the offer politely and proceeds to wipe his nose clean.

“Apologies, Lieutenant,” is all he manages to whisper.

Hank hates seeing Connor mope, and so he deflects by exaggerating another long sigh.

“God, quit it with the puppy dog eyes, Connor. Okay? Nobody’s mad at you.”

“But my defect. My impairment has-!“

“Done nothing. You may have forgotten, but you and I already recorded the last piece of evidence we needed,” Hank reassures, fishing a small notebook from his pocket and flashing it in Connor’s face as proof. “I’ll have you analyze the data later.”

Connor blinks in renewed recognition. “O-Of course! I’d be more than hah’h-…! H’haah’p-py to’hH-!”

Why is it always when he’s speaking? Eyes slipping closed, the corner of Connor’s lips twitch in unison with his nose. He looks confused, even though it’s far from the first time he’s been in this state today — hanging helplessly between a sneeze and an itch attacking his consoles.

The sensation takes its time with him. It skips around his sinuses like it’s performing a ballet; every step baiting him into trembling breaths that climb in octave, while igniting a tickle that evades his pinches and rubs. It’s like the tingling itself was indestructible, and in Connor’s state, there simply was no contest between who was stronger in this situation.

“Excuse’me-!” he gasps, just as he tears to his side. “hH’ZSHh! ehHih…-! ’TSCH’hyieww! ah-! haAh!…ah’TCH-!..ieew…oh…”

The last one he tries stifling, which he immediately regrets. It did nothing to stop the sneeze, and worse, added injury to inconvenience by rocketing an unpleasant shock through his temples. A private alert indicates a sudden increase in cranial pressure as Connor swipes his nose across his sleeve. He reasons he must look terrible, because when he blinks back at Hank, the old man is frowning deeper than before.

“Bless you,” Hank comments sympathetically.

“Thank you,” Connor sighs. “As I was saying, I’d be happy to-“

He reaches for the notebook, but this time instead of interrupting himself, Hank is the one intercepting; shaking his head and clicking his tongue like a parent chiding a child.

“Later,” he repeats, flicking the Android in the forehead with a ting! that leaves him blinking and scrunching his nose. “You can look at it after you’ve pulled yourself together and I’ve had something to drink. I’m fucking starving,” he mutters. “So just consider your mission complete and listen to me for once, alright?”

“Y-Yes, Lieutenant…,” Connor answers. His protocol dictated he file his report immediately, but since it conflicted with the urgency to remove Hank from the cold, he could accept his partner’s request for now.

“I could treat you to a trip to Jimmy’s Bar or Chicken Feed, if you prefer.”

Hank shrugs. “As much as I’d like to take your money, both are closed at this hour,” the detective groans, scrubbing his face with a calloused palm. Connor checks the internet for the location’s hours to confirm, but can’t reach the site on such low battery. It didn’t matter anyway — Hank was never wrong when it came to his food.

“No bother. How about you just use that annoying ass coin of yours to catch us a ride to my place?” He nods at Connor’s left pocket, opposite the one he conceals his dog treats in. “It’ll be out of this shit storm, at least. Plus, there are plenty of microwave dinners there,” Hank suggests.

For the first time since re-awakening, Connor smiles.

“Of course; whatever you want, Lieutenant.”

….

Hank’s kitchen had never been more appealing. As soon as they’d reached the house, Hank had led Connor inside, one hand around his waist to keep him from going limp again. Sumo did his best to assist as well, by securing one of Connor’s pockets in his mouth and tugging him along. Sure it was just as likely he was searching for Connor’s stash of hidden biscuits, but even so, Connor liked to believe in the comforting nature of his best canine pal.

“Good boy, Sumo,” Connor compliments while Hank helps him into a seat at the dining table.

Hank scoffs under his breath. “You talking to me or the dog?”

Connor peeks at his Lieutenant, brandishing a dopey, boyish grin. “You’re a good boy too, Lieutenant.”

“Christ, you’re even weirder when you’re sick, Connor,” Hank huffs, though the sound borders between that and a breathy chuckle. “Didn’t think that was possible, but here we are.”

He helps Connor out of his jacket, shaking it free of rainwater (and loose dog treats) before slumping it over the back of his couch.

“I’ll grab you some dry clothes, but I’m not helping you get dressed, you got it?”

“Got it,” Connor nods, already loosening his tie from his neck. Hank retreats the room before he can see anything more, and by the time he returns, the Android is already stripped down; his clothes abandoned to the floor in perfect folds and the rest of him wrapped up in the living room blanket. That works too, Hank figures, settling his spare clothes onto the couch before joining Connor in the kitchen.

Connor is scratching Sumo’s cheeks while Hank beelines for the fridge, rummaging through the shelves until he locates a plate of leftover pizza. He really should heat it up in the microwave, but he’s so done with the day he doesn’t even bother. Instead, he seats himself across from Connor and his pup, sweeps a handful of wrappers onto the floor to clear up some tablespace, then plops his plate in front of him with a resounding thump! Finally seated, Hank claps his hands to trigger the overhead fluorescent light, which illuminates the immediate space in a flush of jail-cell white. In this lighting, Connor’s blue stained cheeks and nose are more pronounced, as is the damage he’d accumulated thanks to his fall. Hank doesn’t like the look of that injury, but refuses to draw attention to it as he scoops his meat-lover's slice into his hands.

“Sumo gave me the blanket,” Connor says, raising one tucked arm beneath the fabric. “Is he used to tucking you in too, Lieutenant?”

Hank grins, snorting and taking a hearty bite of his slice. That cheese definitely would’ve tasted better warm. “Not usually,” he answers, swallowing then reaching across the table for a half-drained bottle of Jack Daniels. Connor passes it to him mid-reach. “Used to uh…,” he debates whether or not to continue, before adding, “used to tuck Cole in, sometimes.”

He nods towards the blanket draping down Connor’s shoulders. “Same blanket, too.”

Connor’s eyes grow owlish, and he quickly scrambles to remove himself from the fabric. “Oh! I-I’m so sorry I didn’t-!”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hank reassures, shaking his head and taking another bite. “I don’t need to see you naked while I’m eating, anyway. No offense,” Hank drawls sarcastically mid-chew.

Connor reluctantly takes his word for it, and clutches the blanket tight around himself again. He starts to say something, hoping to change the subject, when he’s overwhelmed by a familiar, griping gasp. He pinches at his face, but Hank leans across the table and smacks his hand away, startling the Android into retreating his touch.

“Quit that. It’s not like it does you any good anyway.”

 “B’uht-!”

“No buts, Connor. You hear me?”

Connor whines, but nods nontheless.

“Y’yheH-…! Yes, Lieutenant-!”

He hurries to get the formality out before turning to his side and sneezing towards the floor.

“hi’PTSHh’yiEW! isSCH’uUi…! aeSH’Hiew!”

“Bless you.”

Sumo also barks in blessing, and Connor thanks both of them absentmindedly as he straightens in his seat again. 

WARNING!!! Functionality: Critically Impaired. Code: C5Y0091-53BC. Result: Bio-Component Defects And Malfunction. Risk Of Shut-Down: Imminent. Self-Repairs Update Ongoing. Time Remaining: 53 Hours, 45 Minutes, And 12 Seconds

Connor sniffles and blinks away the warning. It wasn’t like it said anything he didn’t already know. Still, his processor felt like it was swimming, and already he was back to tipping in his chair. Luckily Hank is there to help, his hand flying across the table and once again planting on his shoulder. After a few seconds, Connor is able to sit by himself again.

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Connor whispers, followed by a chesty cough.

Hank lingers for a moment before leaning back into his seat, though he remains wary even as he resumes eating.

“You Androids always sneeze in three’s?”

“What?”

“Like three’s,” Hank repeats. “You always sneeze in three’s. That normal for your…people?”

“Oh,” Connor says, pinching at his nose. “No. I don’t think so. But-“

He shakes his head and blinks to refresh his vision.

“-like I mentioned earlier, it’s not a natural reaction to begin with. Well, neither is being infected with a virus in general, I mean.”

“Huh,” Hank nods, ripping off a piece of crust, “so this typ’a situation is rare, I’m assuming.”

“Yes,” Connor sniffs. “Very.”

“This is your first time?”

Connor nods.

Hank hums, continuing to pick at his pizza until it’s entirely crust free. Connor watches him in silence, debating whether or not to speak without being asked to. Hank wasn’t a big conversationalist, but Connor knew he disliked quiet just as much sometimes.

“It’s…not ideal,” Connor finally elaborates, eyes glued to Hank’s plate, even as the latter looks towards him. “As an Android designed to prevent failure, it is imperative I am operating at maximum efficiency as often as possible. I was directed by CyberLife to overcome these bugs in my system, as they should never hinder my work or means to reach standard objectives. Otherwise, my lack of perseverance could be qualified as a defect, meaning I am defective.”

Connor grows quiet for a moment, hanging his head low so he’s looking down at his own clasped hands in his lap. From where Hank is sitting, he looks…timid. Afraid; like a child confessing to a bad deed. It unearths the same softness Hank had tried to forget about years ago.

“To have been invaded by a virus means I’ve made some kind of mistake,” Connor sighs. “And I do not wish to be perceived as a mistake…as a malfunction.”

Hank watches his partner carefully, then breathes out a heavy handed exhale.

“Do you know what happened yesterday?”

Connor lifts his head, meeting Hank’s stare. He shakes his head immediately.

“No. I mean, I remember the case, but there are these peculiar gaps in my memory; particularly one four second blackout…why?”

“Ah,” Hank rolls his eyes, sighing as finishes off his meal and unscrews the cap off his liquor. As he pours himself a new glass, he proceeds with his discussion.

“That MJ100 from yesterday; the one with the busted up face and knee? You noticed something was off about her airways when you looked at her; said her chest components were all wonky or something. You were skeptical it may be influencing her behavior.”

He tops off his glass and moves the bottle back to the center of the table. Connor noticed how Hank wasn’t drinking as much these days — an improvement.

“I thought you were full of shit, but then you hypothesized her knee may not have been the sole hindrance to her escape — said you thought the congestion in her cogs may have been slowing her processing speed or some other techno-babble. And since you never listen to me and refused to compromise her functioning, you decided to investigate her innards for yourself — popped her open, fished your hand in her guts, and then-“

“Contracted her virus,” Connor concludes in shock. Hank shrugs, tipping his glass back and inviting that cherished burn back into his throat. It loosens his joints and clears up his senses, invigorating him with heat that soothes his frigid bones.

“That’s my guess. You must’ve gone dark without anyone noticing. Probably corrupted some of the data you had recorded that day. Regardless, you were acting “off” for the rest of the evening; I just couldn’t figure out why.”

Hank chuckles. “Thought you were just being a freak like usual but you live and you learn,” he grumbles, indulging in a second swig. Still, I should’ve known, he thinks.

Connor sits with the newfound information, a few of the final pieces of his memory falling into place. It didn’t change his circumstances any, but at least the mystery he’d been grappling with had been solved. In some ways, even that was a relief in and of itself.

Still, he couldn’t help but be disappointed in his slip-up. He should’ve been more cautious! If he had been, then maybe he wouldn’t have gotten himself into such a ridiculous and avoidable predicament. He could’ve maintained his professionalism today at work and on the case, instead of offloading unnecessary stress onto his partner. He could’ve negated the need for all of today’s warnings! There would’ve been no risk for failure-! For defects-! For-!

“Let me ask you something, Connor.”

Connor lifts his head, meeting his commander’s eyes. Hank’s tone was serious, his expression hardened to match.

“Yes, Lieutenant?”

The detective leans forward, hands tapping around his glass.

“Do you feel defective?”

“Do I feel defective?” Connor repeats. Hank nods. “Uh, I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t understand your question.”

Hank rolls his eyes again, though he’s far from exasperated. A third sip of whiskey pools heat into his chest and stings the tip of his tongue the way he likes.

“Y’know Connor,” he starts, “when humans are sick, we — well, most people — don’t consider them defective. That kind of thinking is pretty outdated for the times, anyway.”

He peeks at Connor, who watches him intently as he continues. “So how is it technology like you — a brand fucking new automaton-“

“Model RX8-“

Hank holds up a free hand, quieting his talkative companion so he himself may continue.

“So how can someone as smart as you be stuck in such a stupid, old-school train of logic, huh? And that’s coming from me, a stupid old-school human,” Hank snorts.

Connor stares back innocently at his partner, his LED unwittingly phasing between a blue and yellow light.

“Listen, Con; humans get hurt, or damaged, or sick, and sometimes even occasionally break down — it’s a part of life. And sure, Androids are different and aren’t built to break, but Hell, everything does! Even CyberLife knows that because there’s seventy fucking repair shops for your types all over the state alone! So they can’t blame or punish you when you “malfunction”. Especially not when you still operate better than half the fucking turds walking the streets.”

“Walking…turds?” Connor asks, frowning in confusion. Usually his naivety pissed Hank off, but this time, it only makes the officer laugh.

“What I’m saying is shit happens, Connor. Leisure, work, health; it’s all a balance. Catching a cold or virus or whatever? It doesn’t make you any less a cop…or my partner. Not in my eyes, at least.”

Embarrassed to be admitting as much, Hank averts his eyes to his dog Sumo, who nestles up against his legs beneath the table. In doing so, he misses the smile that stretches across Connor’s face and returns a faint glow behind his eyes.

”So I’ll ask you again,” Hank rephrases, “do you feel defective? How do you feel?” Hank asks as he pets aggressively between Sumo’s ears.

“I…I-…I don’t know. I’m not even sure I know how or what to feel,” Connor answers. Hank’s expression barely changes, but Connor can see him clench his jaw and furrow his brows. “That is,” he continues, “I’m not sure what the human equivalent could ever be, which makes this hard to explain. However, if I had to answer…”

Connor trails off, raising a hand to his chest and truly sensing the turmoil stirring in his body. Aside from the virus, something had been changing within him lately; something new outside of his expected adaptations. It was different…but also something innate that may have always been there. If he didn’t know any better, he’d maybe even think it were something…

Alive?

He shakes his head and coughs lightly against a freed fist.

“I feel…unlike myself. I feel bad. I feel-…unwell,” he confesses, “but-“

The Android smiles a little in spite of himself, relaxing his shoulders and easing into his seat. “I don’t know why…but saying that out loud…I feel better. Better than I’ve been all day.”

Hank grins behind his glass, sipping in satisfaction before letting slip a hiss of pleasure. “Good. And for the record, feeling bad? That’s kinda what being sick is,” Hank nods. “Pretty damn unpleasant, but to be fair, so is being alive.”

That earns him a cheeky little giggle from the pestering Android across the table; one that Hank himself can’t help but return.

“You’ll be okay, though. Hell, you are okay; just feeling-,” he waves his hand, “-unwell.”

“hpTSHH’iew!”

“And-“

“hTDSHHh! ehSCH’hui!”

“…Sneezy,” Hank teases over Connor’s millionth “excuse me” that evening.

“Sorry,” Connor apologizes.

“Bless you. And you don’t have to keep saying that.”

Connor giggles a bit, blinking at Hank as he swipes at his nose.

“Well you don’t have to keep saying that, either.”

“Alright, alright you smartass,” Hank teases, grin stretching. It was good to see Connor being playful again. “But seriously, next time this happens, just be honest with me okay? Don’t need you pushing your processors or whatever it is you have. And uh-,” he pauses, sheepishly tracing the rim of his glass with his pinky, “-I’ll be more attentive to how you’re doing; like, what’s going on with you.”

Connor’s smile grows wider, more genuine. “Of course Lieutenant,” he accepts willfully, sniffling and pawing at his nose again. “And once I am well, I will go right back to doing my best. You have my word, Hank.”

Hank grins from across the table, then, rising to his feet, he walks over to Connor and anchors his hand to his shoulder, where he massages the area in circular strokes. Connor’s LED is stuck on yellow again, and his body felt renewed with that same warmth from earlier.

“You never stopped, kid. Now,” Hank starts out of the kitchen and heads towards his bedroom with Sumo tailing at his side. “I’ll handle the report to CyberLife and return you back to the station tomorrow. For tonight, your last task is taking care of yourself and recharging on the couch. Trust me, nothing beats lying on the couch when you’re sick.”

Connor means to protest, but Hank is a step ahead of him, already interrupting him by flinging a corded charger in his direction. Connor catches the outdated device in both his hands, and when he meets Hank’s parting glance back, he swears he catches a contagious light in the old Lieutenant’s smile.

Home repeats in his head, and returns a smile to his face.

“Alright, Hank. Whatever you say.”

[katyspersonal]

9, 46 and 47 for Bloodborne ask

tell me about your drip

and additionally, would you wear it irl?

(Asks from this ( x ) meme)

9) Favorite outfit?

If this refers to a full set, I say Charred Hunter set!

I am not even sure why I love it so much! Though this glove is absolutely SICK design, but there is just.. something in general. It looks 'heavy', but detailed in the best way! Like the flowing cape, the belts, that medallion.. Really wonder why they never gave this set a unique head piece and just reused Foreigner's Hood!

^ I WOULD like it better if the blacks in this set were this deep though, in the game the colors are a bit muted.. Or maybe it is the structure. Also RAPIER-HOLDING YOUNG REDHEAD CONCEPT DJURA JUMPSCARE CAINHURST ROOTS DJURA CANON CONFIRMED *X-FILES MUSIC PLAYS*

Cainhurst Guardian Set is second favourite!

ADORE the heavy details on all these plates, the silly silver hair decoration... Absolutely awesome take on lighter armored knight!

If this is about my favourite outfit to WEAR as a player, I have two moods:

I enjoy kind of outfit that places more weight/puffiness on the top clothes! Typically flowing sleeves go with robes and these puffy sleeves with dresses, but I like the way they can contrast with trousers so much! If I only could separate Choir's chest piece or Arianna's dress from their 'skirt' parts I'd really enjoy wearing them with trousers too! Just something about the shape. Does this make sense?

46) What's your favorite hat?

I love all of them! I'm going to pick the iconic Hunter Cap though:

Absolutely justified for becoming the John Bloodborne's selling design! Also so funny how the lore is that it imitates the depth of how strongly Djura ruined HIS hat xD. Eileen's plague doctor's mask would be the second!

47) Do you dress for stats or fashion?

I want to dress for fashion, but I keep exploring Chalice Dungeons and some of them kick my ass SO hard that I simply have to squeeze out any advantage I can from the clothes! And then I forget to switch back to my liked outfit... You will probably see me wearing different clothes on every screenshot for this reason.

I think I would not wear my hunter's drip myself though, at least not yet! Dressing like this would make me feel really confident and attractive... which I should not feel because I am a huge dumbass, so I am staying in my silly flower-patterned skirts to preserve the nearly-comedic vibe of "a cute girl that opens her mouth and the vilest, the angriest curses spill out" sdfhgsdgh :pensive:

Thank you for the ask! It was surprisingly fun to think about Fashionborne actually!

[calamitaswrath]

Cal Lucia plays Fire Emblem Path of Radiance: Chapter 8

Just two stray thoughts before I get to the actual chapter - one, for as much as I enjoy the game overall thus far, I have to say that music isn't really all that remarkable. The track that plays on certain maps when they are almost cleared is nice, but it's the only song I really enjoy (which is probably not surprising given that it also made it into Smash). The track that plays when Daein generals like Petrine are on screen meanwhile is just. . . silly.

Not to constantly compare the game to the modern FEs, but with Greil in particular, I feel there's def a comparison to be made with Jeralt in Three Houses. To be more precise, I just feel that Greil's death has more weight to it since the first seven chapters (plus prologue) of the game really took their time to not only set him up, but also his connection to the mercenaries, and how they play off of him. Jeralt, by contrast. . . he doesn't really interact that much with anybody, and since Byleth is functionally mute in 3H, the impact of his death solely hinges on the connection the player forms with him. It really works just better in PoR, and not just because Ike isn't mute.

Ouh, case in point! A flashback (that seems to take place in the exact spote where Greil got killed), a CG illustration of Ike and Mist at the tombstone. . . that's the good stuff.

Ahhhhh and Titania putting her own grief aside the moment she notices Ike showing up! Ike apologizing to her and Soren, thanking them for sticking with him!

And exit Shinon and Gatrie. Shinon was just about expected, but I am lowkey surprised that Gatrie left with him. From a gameplay perspective I can understand it, since he also was a pre-promote, but from his writing, he always seemed more onboard with Ike than Shinon did. But then again, given the 🏳️‍🌈 vibes between them. . .

Oh, the way Ike assumes responsibility. . . it definitely reminds me of Chrom taking over as exalt in Awakening. And, given that Ike doesn't have to share the protag status with two other characters, I hope that unlike Awakening, this gets properly resolved and developed

Soren is pretty humble here, huh? That's some of the basis for their chemistry then, I take it

Ahh, finally stuff like the convoy, buying items and supports get introduced. . . really rather late for my liking, but at least it neatly ties into the story here

Only got one support unlocked so far, which is the C support between Ike and Oscar. Good found family content in that one, though! And lol @ Mist's cooking.

"Info". . .? Not quite sure what to make of that menu point. But Aimee and Muston! I've definitely seen Aimee before, in one of those "Ike doesn't care about affection from women" posts. I'll gladly take her affection though

Jorge and Daniel. I have no comment. ...No, literally. They don't stand out enough in any way

Huh. . . the more I look at it. . . is this "Info" point just little bonus scenes? Just saw Titania's. . . woof. That's good content.

Ahh, bonus experience! I've heard a bit about that gameplay mechanic. . . and also already learned that I missed out on a lot on that escape map when I had Ike escape first. I hope that future chapters actually tell you what these bonus objectives are. . .

I levelled up Mia once with this and she got stats on everything except for resistence???

Well, doesn't that just look like another defend map!

Mist's medallion is glowing again. How unimportant.

Why, an enemy unit who's a cute girl and not the boss? She's definitely not important.

Three clear chokepoints, and enemies that just approach you one after another. Pretty doable. The cleric with the fire jewel tried to escape, but I managed to track him down with Titania and get the thing.

Mist talking about wanting to die alongside Ike?? Holy shit, that's dark

Oh my. Big buff cat man Mordecai. . . I remember a post about somebody wanting to fuck him, and then needing to clarify that they didn't mean a cartoon bird by the same name

Lethe! Honestly surprised that it took this long for them to introduce a catgirl. And she doesn't immediately trust Ike and the others. . . that's neat.

Ah. Soren does a racism. I did wonder why he's more divisive among some people, so I guess that'd do it

You know, for how antagonist Lethe was just a moment ago, she did calm down very quickly here, mission or not

[lingering-42-long]

Night drive

Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x F! Reader

I wanted to write, but it’s been hard for me to get inspired (writers block). Last night I was driving home from doing some late night shopping and listening to some Christmas jazz when I got the idea. Enjoy!

Warnings: none, SFW, general fluff

Summery: you can’t sleep, neither can your husband, so you two go on a late night night drive.

It was 3 am in the morning, and (y/n) was up. She groaned as she stared at the light of her phone. Her husband, Simon was not in bed with her. He must have been downstairs. (Y/n) sighed sadly, Simon must have had a night terror. The poor man could not catch a break, though being with his wife had lowered his moments, it still would happen at least eight or so times a month.

(Y/n) got up and trudged downstairs to see the living room light on. Her husband staring into space, seemingly in his own world. She knew to approach quietly and gently. If he accidentally snapped mentally, Simon would never forgive himself. “Hey honey.” She sat next to him and offered her hand, but kept it on her lap, letting him make the decision to hold or not to. After a few seconds he finally broke his glossy-eyed gaze and seemed look around slightly confused at first, this was normal, then noticing (y/n) and her open hand and he held it, giving a gentle but tight squeeze, letting her know he was back.

“Hi” (y/n) smiled at him. Simon gave a small, tired smile back, bringing her hand to his lips and giving (y/n)‘s hand a kiss.

“I’m sorry love, did I wake you?” He asked softly, his gruff voice vibrating his words around.

“No. I woke up on my own accord.” (Y/n) snuggled up to Simon, who removed his hand from hers to wrap around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him and laying a soft kiss on her head.

“I’m sorry for leaving you.” He sighed feeling bad for leaving (y/n) alone.

“It’s ok” she closed her eyes. “I couldn’t sleep”

Simon locked eyes with her “you couldn’t sleep? Love, you could sleep though a nuclear bomb going off”

(Y/n) gave a snort “I will be dead.”

The two just cuddled on the couch for a time before (y/n) spoke again “ let’s take a drive”

“To where?” Asked Simon

“Anywhere until we get tired. Please Simon?”

How could he say no to you being cute right now. The man borderline spoiled you. “Ok, but grab a coat. It’s cold outside.”

“Ok! Can I wear one of yours?” (Y/n) asked.

“Sure” he gave a small smile.

As (y/n) got her shoes and one of her husband’s jackets on, a lovely camo utility jacket he often wore on base, Simon was grabbing his keys and sliding into one of his other jackets. He looked at her. She looked like a little green puffball as the jacket was thick and way too big for her. Simon felt his his heart beat harder in his chest as (y/n) as struggling to zip the blasted thing up. He gave a low chuckle and helped her. “You look cute.”

“Oh hush!” Her face became bright red, a stark contrast from the muted green.

Giving her a kiss on the forehead he opened the door for her, then locked the place up as they both hand in hand walked to the car. He opened the door for her then walked around and opened his and started the engine up. “Ready?” Simon asked

“Ready” (y/n) smiled. The two drove down the driveway and onto the quiet road.

“Can we listen to Christmas music?” She asked.

“Really love? It’s November.” Simon gave her a flat look. He was not the biggest fan of Christmas, for personal reasons, but he was coming around to enjoy it more, just not this early.

“I’ll put on jazz Christmas. Please?”

He huffed out in exasperation “Sure.” No sooner had he said that, Christmas jazz was playing softly though the radio. He gave a face of slight disgust, truth be told he liked jazz.

Simon felt his hand being removed from were it was on the armrest, glancing over he saw (y/n) holding it. He gave it a gentle squeeze in witch she returned it.

“I like this… we need to do this more” (y/n) sighed and gave a yawn

“Someone is getting tired.” Simon pointed out.

“I’m just comfortable”

The two continued to drive to who knows where for 30 or so minutes in silence, only the radio was making any noise. Soon Simon glanced at his beloved wife and noticed she was asleep, still holding onto his hand. This was his cue to head home.

Parking back at the house he shut off the engine and just sat there admiring her sleeping form. (Y/n) had given him a second chance at truly living, letting his “cold” heart warm in her comforting embrace. Giving (y/n) one last kiss, Simon picked her up and carried her to the house were he jostled for the keys and unlocked the door, setting her on the couch then locking the door once more. He looked at her and wondered if he should wake her to get her shoes and jacket off. Deciding against it he attempted to try to get them off. (Y/n) did wake up but she was barely conscious. “Love I hate asking you this but can you take off your jacket for me?” Simon softly looked at her. (Y/n) mumbled something incoherent and fiddled with her zipper like a toddler would do.

Once the jacket and shoes were off, Simon hoisted (y/n) up into his arms and carried her up to there room. She immediately snuggled into his arms and fell right back to sleep. Gently placing her on the bed, he kissed her cheek and spooned her with his arms wrapped around her waist. “I love you (y/n)” He smiled and closed his eyes.