#i keep thinking the summer outfit is too simple but then i remember

[milktian]

working through Felix's seasonal outfits and I've only just finished summer,,,,, ougougg I would take a break but I'll forget how to draw tomorrow so I'm using this while I can

[aliwritex]

WITH THE RED DRESS ON mv1

summary: Max finally has a free time, all for his girlfriend after working for so long and he wants to make a night that they’d remember.

warnings/contents: max being a sweetheart, brief mention of reader being petite, garter and stockings, slight size kink and stomach bulge mention. oral (f) and pinv

an: inspired by Red Dress by MAGIC! ENJOY!! (this was so not the dress i was envisioning)

Max had been waiting in your room for what felt like ten thousand lifetimes.

He told you about two hours ago that he had made a reservation at your favorite restaurant. He watched you through the open closet door. Your makeup was done, your hair was ready and you even had a pair of shoes set aside but Max had already seen you try on five different dresses.

He looked at the time on his watch – 09:01 P.M. If you don’t make it to the restaurant before nine thirty his reservation will be discarded and you’ll probably be seated at a terrible table, not the one he picked at the outside area of the place.

At this point, all Max wanted to do was walk into the closet and make you fall apart on his tongue and his cock until you regret making him wait so long. He couldn’t take any more of you wearing only see through panties and those fucking pantyhose as you looked for the next dress.

As he walked over to you, Max debated on skipping dinner and just having you to himself but he remembered why he was doing this anyway. You mentioned how you’ve been working over time and wanted to make a night that you’d remember.

“It’s nine, darling” his hand snaked around your waist, head resting on your shoulder.

“I know, Maxie, just haven’t found anything to wear”

He stared down at the arm wrapped around your waist – 9:05 P.M.

“Put on whatever, you’ll look good regardless” he kissed your neck and walked back out.

Max left the bedroom to refresh, he paced around the kitchen before pouring two glasses of water. He finished his water and even put the cup back before walking back to the room with yours. When he walked into the closet you had already taken off another dress.

“I didn’t even get to see that one on” he handed you the glass.

“It looked terrible, need to get rid of that one.”

“‘kay, you have fifteen more minutes. We need at least five to get there.”

He grabbed your empty glass and made his way back out. Max decided to stay outside to ease his anxiety away so he threw himself on the couch with a sigh before pulling out his phone to scroll mindlessly. As much as he tried keeping his mind on his phone it started to wander back to you. You in your pantyhose, you in his shirt last night, you in nothing this morning.

He was starting to lose it but with exactly ten minutes left on the clock he heard the bedroom door close. His head snapped back, chin settled on the couch’s backrest as he looked at you, smiley eyes twinkling in the dim light.

“‘M ready. Can you take my phone in your pocket?”

“Wow”

“Do you like it?”

He walked over to you, taking your hand in his and making you spin around for him. You chuckled at his actions, finally feeling pretty and comfortable in your outfit. He pushed you up against the closest wall and kissed you with need but you stopped him almost instantly, making him groan.

“Thought we were late” you teased “now you have lipgloss on your mustache”

He looked down at you as you wiped his mouth with your thumb. The small red dress fits you perfectly, hugging your chest and snatching your waist before flowing more freely around your hips. Maybe a little too freely, Max thought, as a quick wind could make it flow higher than you’d wish. But you felt good and it was perfect for a summer night.

On the way to the restaurant all he could think about was how he would take that dress off the second you got home.

As you sat down at your table you started telling him how much you appreciated that he used his time off for a simple night like this with you. He wasn’t really paying attention and if you were being honest, you could tell. His eyes were shifting from your lips to your chest to your hair to your eyes but never hearing a word you were saying.

“Max!” you called, pulling him away from his daydreaming “I want the same as always, do you need the menu?”

“Huh? No, sorry”

He ordered for you both, including a red wine and turned back to you, face red with embarrassment.

“Shiraz?”

“What? It’s what you always have with this dish, no?”

“It’s probably the most aphrodisiac wine ever”

“Well, I didn’t know that. But I guess we’ll have a fun night then”

You would’ve teased him about you finally knowing more about something but Max was distracting you too. His beard was more present than normal and you had done his hair yourself, just the way you liked it. But what you stared the longest at were the rolled up sleeves of his shirt, and how his chest filled it.

You eventually caught each other starring and chuckled, quickly falling into daily banter. He had you feeling like a teenager with every small flirty comment about you. When the plates came you were both about to lose your minds. You were feeling hot all over, your feet running up and down his calves under the table.

“Stop teasing me”

“Finish up, we can skip dessert tonight”

Max ate as fast as he possibly could, almost choking from not chewing enough.

Max probably drove over the speed limit all the way back to his apartment but you were inside in less than ten minutes.

“Baby, slow down” you chuckled as he completely attacked your neck and jaw.

He had pressed you against the wall right next to the front door, his hands fisting your wrists above your head as his hips pressed against yours.

“Can’t” he muttered, “you made me wait so long. Just wanted to bend you over in your closet and fuck you so good”

“Maxie” you whined at his proposal.

“I know, love, c’mon, lemme make you feel good.” his hands traveled down to your thighs, pulling them up so he could pick you up and walk you to your room.

You giggled on your way in, his soft hair tickling you as he kissed down the straps of your dress. He placed you on the bed, legs dangling off the edge and kneeled down in front of you. Max reached for your shoes and started unbuckling them slowly.

“Max! Just pull them off.” you told him in a groan.

“You told me to slow down” he kissed your knee.

You rolled your eyes and waited as he pulled them off and smiled when he finally started kissing up your calf. You lifted your torso onto your elbows to look at him as his lips brushed against your skin through your stockings making you shiver. He kissed all the way up to your naked thighs, placing his head between them as he went under your skirt.

You chuckled again and bunched up your skirt around your waist to find his face buried between your legs, kissing closer and closer to your middle. Your hands ran through his sandy hair, messing it up before you tugged on it to make him look up.

“C'mon, Max”

He dragged his lips past your underwear and started leaving kisses up your stomach, biting the skin that covered your hip bones.

“Take this off” he told you and got up from his knees.

Max watched you unzip and take off your dress as he unbuttoned his own shirt and took off his shoes. His eyes caught how your tits were almost spilling out of the thin lace bra and how you shivered as the cold air hit your skin, your hairs going up and your nipples getting hard. He walked back over to you, standing between your knees as he looked down at you.

“Aren’t you just the prettiest?” he ran his big palm up your stomach right to your tits, folding the bra under them. “And look at these, fuck!”

He took one of your tits in his hand and bent over you to mouth at the other. He took everything he could into his mouth, making sure to swirl his tongue around your nipple. You arched your chest into him, running your fingers through the short hair on the back of his head.

“Maxie,” you whined, bucking your hips up to feel him growing against you, “please, need you so bad”

He listened to your pleas and popped your breast out of his mouth, starting to kiss down your sides and leaving a mark right on your ribs. His fingers hooked on the straps that connected the stockings to the garter around your waist and unsnapped them, freeing him to tug your underwear down your legs.

“You know what? I like the straps”

“Thought so” you teased as he snapped them back together and pulled away from you to see them.

Max got down on his knees again, this time throwing your legs over his shoulders to bring your cunt as close as possible to his face. The kisses he left to your thighs were loud and wet, making you squirm in anticipation. When he finally got to your cunt all he did was gently lick at your clit, slowly and barely applying any pressure. He felt you shiver under him as his tongue slowly worked harder against your core, applying more pressure with every small lick.

You pulled his head closer to your cunt, forcing him to dive in properly and push his tongue to your hole. You moaned when he circled it around the opening and took it right back to your clit. Max did love to drive you insane but he was done teasing so he finally took your clit between his lips and sucked on it. You pushed your hips to his face and he smiled, happy with the state he had gotten you to. He took his fingers up to your cunt and spread your wetness around before pushing them in, you clenched around them, feeling them pump in and out of you.

“Max, baby” you whined

“What is it, love?” he asked between kisses to the sides of your thighs “Tell me what you need”

“Just- don’t stop please, feels so good”

Your boyfriend took the encouragement and dived back into you, his lips and tongue working your clit relentlessly as his fingers started curling up inside you. It had been way too long since he last took care of you like this, you were way too sensitive as you felt it build up, a warm and agonizing feeling down your belly. It was too soon and it felt too strong but you couldn’t hold yourself back, the alcohol making you lose all control of your own body. You felt your orgasm take over you like a strong wave, your mind going completely blank as Max groaned onto your core, his fingers still working you all the way through it.

Moans left your mouth freely as you clenched and spasmed around him, your hips rocking back and forth onto his face and hand till they came to a stop. You finally looked down at Max, lifting yourself on your elbows to catch his face completely soaked in your squirt as he looked at you with a smile on his face.

“I missed this” he kissed anything he could reach, stomach, thighs, cunt, “you made a bit of a mess, though, think we’re gonna have to sleep in the guest room.” he chuckled.

“C’mere,” you reached for his arms and guided him to hold himself above you, “please, fuck me.”

“Anything you want, love”

He stood up and undid his belt and pants as you climbed up on the bed so your legs weren’t dangling anymore. Besides everything, the look Max had on his face translated into – mostly – tenderness, he was so in love with you, you were the only thing on his mind and all he wanted was to be close to you. He climbed on the bed, fully bare and positioned himself between your knees, his hard cock brushing against your wet folds made you moan.

“So sensitive, huh?”

You just nodded, taking your bottom lip between your teeth to try to contain any other sound that threatened to spill from your throat. He rested his cock on your stomach for a second, loving to see the comparison of size, before lowering himself to kiss the skin behind your ear. It was one of your biggest soft spots and Max knew it well, making you let out a suppressed moan past your lips. He then went down to mouth at your clavicles as he drove himself into you. Then you couldn’t even try to suppress the moan, it came from deep in your chest, loud, desperate, even. Your eyes screw shut and your nails dug into the skin of his arms and back.

“Look at me,” he asked, “so beautiful, schat. I love you so much, fuck. Gripping me so good”

You just threw your head back, completely lost in pleasure as he slowly dragged in and out of you. His hips moved as slow as he possibly could, watching the way your face curled in pleasure and desperation. It wasn’t like he could go faster, really, you were still adjusting to his girth and he could barely pull out from how tightly you clenched around him.

But when you finally molded around him, allowing space for him to move, he started going at it, thrusting so deep you could see your uterus move on your lower stomach. Despite the ‘roughness’ of his thrusts, Max kissed you soft and gently, a hand caressing your hair as the other lifted your leg up to give you a better angle of his cock, it was all about balance.

“Baby,” you called “let me ride you”

You heard a slow sigh of ‘fuck’ leave his lips before he pulled out to sit against the headboard. You threw your leg over his to straddle him and lifted yourself up only to sink onto his cock again. You both groaned as he filled you up and you reached for his face, his beard scratching your palms as you pulled him closer for a kiss.

“Missed you, missed your cock”

“I missed you too, darling, everyday”

You kissed him again as you started to move back and forth, slowly dragging your clit on his lower stomach. Max’s hands were on your hips guiding your movements as he took a tit into his mouth, licking and sucking at it, at that point your chest was covered in his spit. You felt so much closer to him like that, feeling his chest press to your stomach as you hugged his face to your breasts.

Max started guiding you faster, his own hips moving slightly to match yours. His lips left your boob to kiss at your neck and one of his hands moved down between your bodies, circling your clit with the pad of his fingers. And there it was again, your stomach tightening as you clenched around him.

“Close, schat?” he whispered

You could only whine and hum a positive sound as he rocked you harder on him. You grabbed his face with both hands, bringing him into another kiss. Your tongues were sliding against each other’s as you came around him. Max shot his cum inside you immediately, bringing your hips to a smaller movement so you could ride out both of your orgasms.

“If you don’t stop i’m gonna need another one” you told him after resting your head on his shoulder, his hands finally stopped moving your hips.

“Sorry, darling.”

He left a trail of kisses from your shoulder to the spot below your ear, small pecks that made you shiver. Max rested back against the pillows with you on top of him, taking a somewhat comfortable sleeping position without disconnecting you.

“I love you so much, darling”

[walaskart]

Those Green Eyes

Summary: Loki reaches out from beyond the timelines.

Loki x Reader (No use of Y/N)

A/N I'm just trying to get out of my writing slump so I'm writing the first thing that comes to mind: my darkling Loki <3 Will there be a second part? Hopefully! I want to do it from Loki’s perspective. Also yes, this is cheesy because I like cheesy. Love y'all.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He came in your dreams, disappearing the second your alarm startled you awake, reminding you of reality. Your life began to feel distant, like there was a part missing only those mischievous green eyes could fill. You rose from bed, rubbing your eyes and trying to grasp on to that laugh you heard last night as you slept. You can’t remember when it started, only how you felt the first time you felt his presence as you slept. As you make your morning coffee, you try to piece together the vague details you could still remember; long, ink black hair, long fingers, his fleeting laugh, those sparkling green eyes. His name. You knew his name it was on the tip of your tongue. L-

Later. Right now you had to focus on what's real, so you walk back to your bedroom, ignoring your unmade bed and picking out an outfit for another day at the antique bookstore you worked at. You picked a simple pink sweater and jeans, too heavy for the summer weather but perfect for the air conditioned store. Now finished with your mug of coffee, you grab your bag with everything you meed for the day and prepare to leave your apartment to start your walk to work.

As you walk down the busy streets of your tourist filled town, suddenly every person you saw reminded you of him. 'Those cheekbones look familiar' 'Those are his lips' 'That’s his hair'. Your eyes dart from person to person, trying to puzzle together the man in your dreams, almost like a collage of features. Though none of them had his eyes. Those effervescent green eyes. Tonight, you think to yourself, I'll look more closely.

Your whole shift, you're head is in the clouds as you answer questions and check out books. You've had dreams of strangers before, but why did he keep reappearing? Why is he stuck in your head? And why can't you remember? You interrogate yourself over and over until your shift ends, looking forward to crashing in bed and see his face once again.

By the time you get home and finish your dinner, you're ready for sleep, somehow feeling closer to him than usual. After your shower, you lie in bed and get as comfortable as you can and feel yourself drift into sleep. I'll see you soon, L-

Your eyes open, taking in your surroundings. Every night it's somewhere different, tonight you're in a field of grass and wild flowers. You look down to see you're wearing a green slip dress and no shoes. You feel the wind rush through your hair and everything returns to you. You remember.

"Loki!" You call, and begin running. You don't know where you're going but you know you'll find him. "Loki!!"

And suddenly there he is. Sitting under a tree in a loose green shirt and black pants, he hears your calls and looks to you with those beautiful green eyes. As he stands and smiles, Loki opens his arms for you to run into.

“My darling,” Loki chuckles as you are enter in his embrace and suddenly you remember every night you've spent with him now. Sitting together, sometimes talking, sometimes not. You remember his stories; his quest for a throne, his family, his adventures, his ending. You remember him listening to your stories of your bookstore in Salem, your search to adopt the perfect cat, your current novel you’re reading. You remember the places he’s taken you in your dreams; any place on Earth you ask for, Asgard, Yggdrasil. Every place was empty, except for the two of you. When you asked, Loki explained none of it was real, just him projecting an image into your dreams.

Tonight, there was no adventure, no stories. Just you and Loki resting in each other’s arms under the tree.

“Good morning, darling.” Loki chuckles and kisses the top of your head. You hear your alarm, quietly at first but slowly growing louder.

As Loki runs his hand through your hair, you think it’d be okay to forget every morning as long as each night you come back to this.

You look up at him and smile. “Until tomorrow night, Loki.”

As long as you come back to those beautiful green eyes.

[bilehwit]

Just read your Bilehwit Au on Ao3 and was greetes by the amazing ref for the lamb here on tumblr!

And yes i absolutely love it when people explain clothing choices in character design especially since you wrote Lamb culture is based on the Old English pls do ramble 🙏

Well hello!! This my first ask from someone I've never met before, so I'll ask you to please be patient with my wild trails of thought.

This will be a long one, but I'll focus on two main outfits - the daily wear and the ritual outfit, as they have the most symbolism.

The easiest one is obviously the leaf outfit - cute, I love it so much!

The leaf was chosen for its symbolism in English mythology. The tree itself is well beloved as a symbol of strength and a symbol of fertility - acorns are often depicted as lucky, and an oak full of acorns is a good sign of fertility!

I also chose oak because I think they're very beautiful trees - they can live for up to 1,000 years, and they can grow to 30 meters wide in their leaves. That's amazing to me. They also smell nice, and I remember climbing them when I was little, so it's nice to share the oak with my lambsona.

Next, let's talk about the sacrifice outfit - it's oddly bridal, no?

Well it's intended to be!

The use of white/silver to denote Purity is an old concept, but white wedding dresses in England were only truly popularised after Queen Victoria wore the colour to her wedding - previously a mourning shade.

I chose silver satin as the fabric, and a simple design, as I wanted a bridal look but also something that felt sleek and pure. Bilehwit is a virgin (virgin sacrifice in all ways) and it's a cruel trick to play.

Also, Shamura in my fic struggles to see/differentiate between objects, so having an all white lamb made it easier for them to stay focused.

So while this outfit feels bridal to us, the symbolism in fic is more that it was easier than dying fabric, just raw spider thread spun into a dress.

Shamura did make the veil themself, though, for reasons you will see later ;3

Now, we get to the heavy hitters! First up, the daily outfit.

Now, Anglo-Saxons were all about those layers! So this outfit actually has more layers than you'd even think.

Under the base dress is a thin cotton chemise, or under dress, made to soak up the oils of the skin and sweat, changed most often. Bilehwit would use these as pyjamas in the summer months, too, to keep cool while covered and decent.

The next layer is the linen, with the thin dark band. This would be a slightly tighter layer to the body, and would be long sleeved to offer protection from the sun and the cold. Linen would be the lighter colours, as they'd be protected more, and linen was used as a middling layer to hold heat in winter. Air would be trapped between layers and keep people warm, and also it protected them from any scratchy wool. The woven ribbon at the bottom is decorative.

The next layer is my favourite. This is the red layer, the thicker dress, made often from wool or from linen again. This is made from wool, using a technique called naalbinding, which is what the Anglo-Saxons would have used, as they didn't knit like is common today.

Anglo-Saxon embroidery and weaving was actually really well known in Europe for its fine work and was gifted to Emissaries and Kings. The weaving and sewing business in England went hard as hell, and it's where most people would be employed for personal use or as gifts.

The embroidery of flowers on the cuffs of the red dress, as well as the colar, are those of Achillea millefolium, or 'Red Velvet', flowers. These tiny buds are native to Europe, western Asia and North America, and are small blooms that self seed and explode into colour. I chose them after seeing the flowers on a sketch, and decided that I had to include them.

Red in flower language is always to do with romance and passion. I wanted Bilehwit to show that desire, as they are a hopeless romantic at heart, and they also just feel a deep-seated loneliness that they want filled. The red flowers are the only flowers they've ever been given, and they've spent hours tracing the embroidery threads and staring silently at the sky.

The final apron layer is just that - an apron. It's a thin, boxy piece of fabric that is played on top to ensure the front of the dress stays somewhat clean, and there is a secret pocket behind it that they store honey-sweets in for children (and themself). Just a length of plain cut cloth!

Tied together with a woven belt, this outfit is my second favourite - I love every detail, and when I can talk in fic about it, I will spend thousands of words trying to detail what it means to me, and probably failing.

The final outfit now, one that definitely won't be seen in fic for a good long while - the Fancy/Ritual set.

Look at ittttt ahahahahagahqabqgagagquipqguqugjv

Okay, keysmash over, serious time!

Now, this outfit is interesting, because not only does it have embroidery and styles of old English culture, it also has mixes of Indian influence too!

"Well, that's random to add," I hear you murmur, and you're right. Why would I add that?

Well, because originally I was going to make Narinder have a more Egyptian vibe! I thought; ah, perfect, he'd do great as a Sphynx cat, the Egyptians loved those cats.

See, as it turns out, Narinder is actually a Sanskrit/Hindu name. It's a form of the name Narendra, a masculine name that means "Lord of Men". It's a very formal name, and one I immediately knew I had to switch things around for.

Following this, I was also able to determine the domains and cultures of each other Bishop, by tracing back names and meanings! That's a whole other post I fear.

Back to the dress!

The outline is far more recent than Old English, medieval style dresses, and that's because, uh... I wanted it. (This one is not very historically accurate. Forgive me.)

I wanted a mix of English style embroidery and Indian embroidery styles. Will come back and edit in which style I went with specifically, but I wanted the ritual set to be a touch more dedicated to Narinder, with darker colours, and more Indian fusion embroidery.

The black is velvet, the red is silk, and the white is linen - why? Again, it looks cool.

I can't lie, I have very little explanation for this besides the fact it looks bangin'.

But yes!! That's all my explanations at this current point in time for outfits! However, if you have any further questions, please ask away, and I will happily detail everything and anything about my AU and fic! Thank you for joining me on my rambling!

[yuriko-mukami]

Her Calamity Maniac Prologue

Beta reader: @ruki-mukami-dl

A/N: It's so nice to be back with this story. I still struggle with the language at times and I feel like there is still a lot to learn... but writing is a journey, so it's alright. And I simply need to tell this story, so I keep going with it. I hope you can enjoy it as well. Always feel free to like, comment and/or reblog. I truly appreciate it. 🩵

Chapter Selection

⚠️ WARNINGS ⚠️

This story includes themes that can be triggering. The content has traits similar to those of Diabolik Lovers' games. By reading forward, you accept that the story is meant for people who enjoy dark romance with scenes intended for adult readers. There won't be further warnings, so if you aren't a fan of these types of stories, DO NOT READ.

TW & CW: Toxic relationship behavior, bullying, captivity, sex, violence, blood, biting, various kinks, and probably something else too.

Chapters with sex tagged with #steamytimes and chapters with either toxic content or violence tagged with #lurid lilies.

How many mornings will there be? Will the night ever end? Ah, coming apart, reaching the sky! White flowers scatter around me *

— Vanilla by Gackt

“Ready for another semester?” Ruki’s words brushed against Yuriko’s ear. The night had fallen, yellowish light illuminating the school building when the couple stepped out of the limousine.

Nodding, Yuriko straightened the hem of her new skirt. The black fabric slid perfectly over the baby pink petticoat she had fallen in love with the instant she had seen it. A deep burgundy cardigan embraced her body, complimenting the pink dress shirt.

Thinking about her outfit made Yuriko peek at Ruki’s. She still remembered the relaxed, almost rebellious manner he had sworn his uniform last semester. But now, when the summer was taking its last breaths, something had changed. Even though the hem of Ruki’s shirt still hung loosely, the general impression was much tidier than in the spring. Much more Ruki-like. His uniform matched the way he wore his casual clothes.

I wonder… Yuriko shifted. …what exactly was the reason for him to dress so sloppily earlier…? While pondering, Yuriko lifted her hand, tugging the inky ribbon that was tightened around her neck. While it was beautiful, it compressed her throat… Kind of… It wasn’t actually even touching her skin, yet she could feel the strangling sensation.

“Turn around.” Ruki’s hands grabbed Yuriko’s shoulders, forcing the movement. She stumbled, blinking.

“Eh? What is it, Ruki?”

“You pulled this again…” Hastily, Ruki lifted his hands and started to fix Yuriko’s ribbon.

Frowning, Yuriko gazed at Ruki. “But it feels like squeezing my neck when it’s put neatly…”

Ruki’s brow tilted up. “Is that so?”

“Mhm…” The need to snake a finger under the strap of the ribbon grew stronger but Yuriko kept still, not wanting to annoy Ruki.

“Do tell me why you enjoy my digits wrapping around your neck, clenching it, but you cannot stand a simple accessory.” Ruki’s voice was a mere whisper, yet the heat coursed to Yuriko’s cheeks.

“Umh…” She shifted, averting her gaze. “It… it’s different… then…”

“Perhaps your master should train you with a collar so that you can handle your school uniform without trouble.” Ruki chuckled as he finished with the ribbon, straightening in front of Yuriko.

“Ehh?!”

“You like that thou—?”

An abrupt squealing filled the air, drowning Ruki’s voice. “Oh! It’s Kou-kun!”

“Hey, Kou-kun!” Voices carried over the yard, and suddenly there was a swarm of girls heading closer. “You never believe what happened during the summer!”

“Out of my way!” A shoulder bumped against Yuriko’s, making her stagger. But before she met the ground, a strong arm had already secured her.

“Let us go to the classroom. It is turning crowded here.” Ruki shot a glance at Kou who was grinning, greeting his fans while Azusa and Yuma sneaked around and headed toward the school building.

Taking Ruki’s hand, Yuriko beamed. “Yes, let’s go. I can’t wait for the classes.”

“Now, that is what I wanted to hear.” Ruki began to walk. “You are such a good girl.”

I watched as Yuriko ran her fingertips along the shelf in the school’s library, searching for the right title we would need after the lunch break in the last class of the night.

“It’s so nice to be back.” Yuriko’s voice bounced through the room. Following right after her heels, I kept my eyes on her. If I had known that we would need the book for our literature class, we could have brought the first edition from home. But the teacher had failed to inform us beforehand, and now there were too many third-year students in the usually peaceful space, searching exactly the same book we were after.

Knowing already, where we could find the tome, I pressed my hand on the small of Yuriko’s back and guided her in the correct direction. “You enjoy your time here?”

“Mhm, yes. Nothing is better than spending time in a library…” Yuriko was mumbling, her eyes fixated on the book backs.

Nothing? While I agreed that the libraries were one of the most joyful places to spend time in, I could come up with even more pleasant activities, especially when those involved my angel. A chuckle rumbled up my throat. Sometimes, Yuriko was still innocent even though I had pulled her into this endless night full of monsters. “Do you remember our fateful meeting here~?”

Yuriko did not respond, yet I could distinguish how her muscles tensed slightly. And oh, how I enjoyed the rosy flare that covered her porcelain cheeks. She arrived at the shelf that held the tome we were searching for. Leaning forward, I picked up the book and stuffed it into my school back for checking it out later. “There is something else, I wish to have before we go. Walk forward.”

I could not help but admire how Yuriko obeyed without a question. She had always been so easy to handle, like perfect prey. Yet had she had become so much more, but sometimes I missed the excitement of the hunt. Now, the opportunity was excellent since she had already finished her meal, we had gotten the book, and still had time to spare before the bell.

Leading Yuriko in the darkest part of the library, I watched her every move. She stopped as she met the corner, and I spun her around. “You did not answer your master’s question.”

“Eh?”

“Do you still remember our fateful meeting here?” I locked my gaze with the teal that almost disappeared as her pupils widened and the color on her face deepened.

“It… it wasn’t the first time… I saw you…”

A smirk jumped on my lips. “Is that so~?” I traced Yuriko’s bottom lip with my thumb. “Do tell me more.”

“I… I mean… I noticed you in the classroom already… The book you were reading… and the way you looked like…”

“And how was that?”

Yuriko gasped, murmuring something that sounded like ‘trouble’. Leaning closer, I pressed my palm against the bookshelf right next to her head and allowed her to see the tips of my fangs. “I gave you trouble, did I not?”

A swallow made Yuriko’s throat vibrate and burned mine. The ache was always there when I was with her, the urge to pierce her skin and suck her delicious liquid of life into me. “Answer me.”

“You… you did…”

Pushing my thumb on Yuriko’s lip, I nuzzled her hair and nudged it off her ear with the tip of my nose. Her feral scent greeted me as I inhaled right next to her earlobe. Her blood was gushing in her veins, luring me in, inviting me to take the bliss I yearned for. This demonic fluid of hers was enough to drive a Vampire insane.

“And… would you like to have more trouble?” I made sure she was the only one who could hear my words by caressing her ear with my lips as I allowed them to slip out.

A gasp against my thumb. Such a perfect answer. I slid it between her lips, sinking it into her wet cavern. Her tiny tongue met it with a flick that made me think something else. But I should delay that need for later times.

However, the more urgent one…

“Your master is about to have his lunch.” I kept my mouth against Yuriko’s ear as I spoke. “If you have objections, you should voice them out right now.”

“I… I… have… no… such…” Yuriko’s words came out with difficulty as I teased her tongue.

“You truly know how to please your master.” I hustled Yuriko against the bookshelf with my body, tracing her ear with my nose until I reached the column of her neck. Quiet thumping thrummed through her skin as her blood flowed in her veins, calling me. I followed her skin with my tongue, searching for the perfect spot, enjoying how the buzzing sound got faster and how her scent turned thicker by the second.

“I will prey on you tonight,” I whispered against Yuriko’s skin. It was amusing how my words made her draw breath. Waiting for a moment, I watched her. Would she voice out our agreed word? Deny my wishes, for this place was inappropriate?

Yuriko shifted as I moved my thumb in her mouth. “...umh…”

It was impossible not to smirk. She pleased me very well. “I hunt you down and eat you alive.” A promise I would give her over and over again. She would always be my prey and my angel, my good girl and my naughty little thing in the same package.

Opening my mouth, I scraped the delicate skin, enjoying the moan that vibrated on my thumb. “Suck it like a good girl and your master will give you a reward~”

“...ungh…” Yuriko’s whimper was such a bliss to hear, but even more charming was the soft tongue that curled around my finger with her suckles. Fuck, I wished I could stuff something else into her mouth.

But now was not the time, so instead, I allowed my fangs to sink through her skin, breaking the throbbing vein and letting the hot liquid gush into my mouth. It filled my senses with its aroma, thrilling my brain like I was fed a drug made directly for me. Sucking the blood, I replaced my thumb with my index and middle fingers in Yuriko’s mouth, blocking her moans with them as she quivered between my body and the shelf.

“...more…” I sucked harsher, enjoying every little drop that coated my tongue. Usually, I was not fond of sweet things, but Yuriko’s blood made an exception. It was thick and rich, full of taste and it only turned more nectarous as she took in my fingers, making wet little noises that painted pictures in my mind. In her as well, I could tell when her scent changed more feral and condensed with lust.

In that instant, another smell hit my nose. Death. Not the kind of scent that lingered around the Vampires but the other types of undead beings. One that I had become familiar with, more than I would have cared. The smell of the zombies.

“Ohhh! Yuri-Yuri, keep that face! I need to capture it with my phone!”

Yuriko whined, tensing all over. Sighing, I pulled my fingers out of her mouth and my fangs from her skin, licking over the bite marks. “Later. Your master is not done with you.”

After fixing Yuriko’s hair, I turned around. “Elizabeth Virnien, I would recommend putting that phone away if you do not wish to lose it. And if you already took a photo, you are to delete it.”

The glimmering died from the girl’s eyes. “But…”

I stared at the tiny zombie as icy as possible. She might be Yuriko’s friend but that did not mean she was free to do whatever popped up in her mind.

“Haa… okay…” Puny digits flew on the screen of the phone, and soon after, the device disappeared from my sight.

Yuriko sneaked next to me and was about to step forward, but I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her there. She was still radiating the intoxicating aroma of love and lust which I wished to indulge deeper, but it was clear that the peace we had stolen during our lunch break was now over.

“Eli-chan, it’s so nice to see you again.” A genuine smile as if Yuriko was not bothered by how her friend had just disturbed our private moment. “How have things been? Is everything okay with Shin?”

So easily the name of the Founder dropped from Yuriko’s lips. Again, I was reminded of the agreement I had made with Tsukinami Shin for the sake of my love. Had it been a mistake? Karlheinz-sama was rarely wrong – if ever – and that meant I had played on both sides while I should have been faithful to him.

But for Yuriko’s sake, I was willing to flex the rules, cross the limits. I would do anything for my great benefactor, but I wanted to keep this one love for myself. No matter what could come our way. I would always fight for Yuriko.

Elizabeth roamed closer, a smile now lingering on her face. “Everything is good. I’m actually happier like this, Yuri-Yuri.”

“Then I’m happy for you, Eli-chan!” Yuriko beamed by side. “Is he treating you well? He never got back to me when…” Her voice trailed off.

“When?” The question left my lips at the same moment as Elizabeth’s.

Yuriko shook her head, making her curls dance around her face and giving me innocent eyes. “Oh… nothing…”

“Now, you’re lying. You know, you’re a terrible liar.” Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Yuriko.

I pressed Yuriko a little closer. “I have to agree with Elizabeth on this one. Do tell us what this is about.”

“Umh…” The rosy blush returned to the porcelain cheeks, but for once I was not pleased with it. Yuriko averted her gaze, now glancing at her shoes. I could hear how her heart thrummed against her ribcage while the sour scent of nervousness spread around us.

I grabbed her chin, lifting her face again. “Speak up.”

“It… It’s nothing… I just texted Shin during the summer… since I was worried about Eli-chan… But he never responded.”

Elizabeth’s eyes bulged. “You texted him behind my back?”

I frowned. “Correction, you texted that Founder behind your master’s back?”

Yuriko practically squirmed in my grasp. I did not like this at all. My familiars had missed such a detail, so had my brothers, for no one had mentioned it to me. Even Yuriko had kept it secret.

“I didn’t mean anything bad with it, I swear!” Teal in Yuriko’s eyes started to pool; she was shivering. “I was just so worried! Eli-chan had those punctual marks on her skin… and… and… I have… bad experience… with the… Sakamakis… so… I didn’t want… anything to happen to her. I meant to hurt neither of you. I’m sorry! Please, forgive me!”

“Yuri-Yuri…” Elizabeth closed the distance between us and took one of Yuriko’s hands. “I’m not that mad at you. But it wasn’t your secret to tell.”

“Please… don’t abandon me for it…” Yuriko’s voice turned into a quivering whisper. I squeezed her against me, not minding that Elizabeth was still linking their fingers. “I… I… can’t lose you two… just because I did something stupid…”

“I’m not abandoning you, Yuri-Yuri. You’re my best friend forever.”

“You know that I will never let go of you. So, stop this nonsense.” I stroked Yuriko’s side. “I do not like that you send messages to other men while I am away, but no matter what you do, I will not shove you aside. You belong to me. Forever.”

The silence wafted between us all. Elizabeth gazed at Yuriko but suddenly her eyes met mine, radiating determination. “I guess we’re stuck being friends forever then, Ruki.”

“It would seem so, Elizabeth.” The words came out of my mouth slowly. When I had redeemed Yuriko for myself, I had signed up for much more than I had imagined. But I had sworn to keep her tears away. Even though I had failed once more, I would make her happy. And for that, I was willing to let this glimmering-eyed zombie into my life. “But no sneaking photos of the situations that are not meant for your eyes the begin with.”

“I… I promise…” Elizabeth mumbled, and I could practically taste her disappointment in the air surrounding us. I did not understand why she was curious about such matters, for she must get her share of bites daily.

“Now, did you have something you wanted to share with Yuriko or was there another reason why you are here?” I wished to turn the course of this conversation, for it seemed to make Yuriko sad, and for that, I hoped for good news from Elizabeth.

“Oh, yes, yes! I wanted to tell you both that I was transferred to a special class from my own. So, I’m not studying with the first years.” Elizabeth beamed instantly. “The only sad part is that I’m not in the same classes with Subaru anymore… but I get to spend a lot of time with Shin~”

Yuriko swiped the corners of her eyes and flashed a smile to her friend. “That’s perfect, Eli-chan! I’m so happy!”

Another lie, but that was probably on Elizabeth and me. I had not expected Yuriko to react so heavily to our questions. This was probably something I should pay more attention to in the future.

“You know…” Yuriko continued talking to Elizabeth. “Ruki and I need to go, so… I’ll text you in the morning and we can talk more about it.”

“Yeah, see you, Yuri-Yuri!” Elizabeth waved her hand but then placed both of them on her waist. “And if you don’t text me, you have to buy me a basket full of sweets!”

“I’ll make you a meaty dinner as soon as you can come to visit!” Yuriko giggled but there was still hollowness in her voice. Paying a final glance at the zombie, I tried to make my smile look genuine. “I will make it if it comes to that.”

* Translated by me Original lyrics Ah いくつ朝を迎えれば Ah 夜は終わるのだろうか Ah 空に散りばめられた Ah 白い花にかこまれていく

[dead-lights]

beware of greg!

continuing this save

I finally got rid of the noble vampires (after friggin bloodvein ate morgyn's witch bestie) only for this guy to show up to raid the fridge. like i just looked up and he was there.

take into account - i have both simple living and off the grid enabled on this lot, so it's actually been really hard to manage food for the humans. morgyn and their witch bestie lorena are constantly starving and they're all so broke that they can't always afford to buy food at school. they really couldn't spare that bowl of stew.

the lot is also haunted, hence guidry, spooky, gets hit by earthquakes, volcanoes, has gremlins, and wild foxes. i wanted them to suffer ok and they absolutely are

yeah you walk away

lilith was not particularly impressed by those garbage werewolf books caleb keeps fishing out of the lake (yes, my attempt at light pacific northwest grunge for her lmao, i wanted to use this set for the household bc it felt right for moonwood mill)

i just like her in gay haircuts ok.

caleb gets a space shirt bc he always hogs the telescope when he visits my sims' lots. morgyn's witch friend lorena always wears black, and her daughter audrey always wears pink. also audrey is a mermaid. morgyn's outfit is supposed to resemble their canon turtleneck/red coat.

caleb and morgyn did homework together in matching shirts despite the fact that i don't remember assigning that outfit to morgyn...

caleb seems unimpressed by the view (they're currently mad at each other because they both expected to be asked to summer prom, with the result that neither of them asked and they both stayed home). Keep in mind, they already went to spring prom together.

oddly enough, morgyn is listed as having a crush on caleb but not the reverse, but caleb is the only one who gets all the whims and moodlets related to that. ahhh, EA glitchiness

morgyn and caleb are kinda unique in that, across save files, if i have them in the same household they will invariably get romantically involved, whether i intervene or not. i did not intervene in this case. when i first started playing RoM and vampires (i got them at the same time) i had two siblings from the same household trying to romance them (bc i wanted one sibling to become a spellcaster and the other to become a vampire). if they were invited over at the same time they'd ignore my sims and hang out with each other to the extent that i was having trouble romancing them, at which point i started a new save and embraced the cagyn life.

incidentally, the closest parallel i have to that is the sim (valeria) who failed to romance morgyn. For whatever reason, if I let her interact with Rory, sparks fly. If I make her a werewolf, i very quickly get a fated mate notification just from talking. i accidentally made peace between the two werewolf factions once because Valeria was a member of the moonwood collective, she had a (non-romantic) conversation with rory, they discovered they were fated mates, and they started dating.

caleb tried to paint left-handed while holding encyclopedia vampirica for whatever reason - he has zero points in painting, so maybe he just doesn't know better :P

caleb had an emotional breakdown about morgyn (despite not being the one with a crush supposedly????) and ended up missing class because he was too busy sobbing in the bathroom, despite his ability to rapidly fly upstairs to get there on time. he doesn't even have the sadboi vampire weakness yet... oh honey, the worst is still to come.

i don't think guidry, the ghost of geoffrey landgraab, and lilith are exactly helping morgyn and lorena learn new potions, but Morgyn's outgoing trait means their social bar drops SO FAST like oh my god so i'm sure they appreciate the company.

as has been the case with most of my saves, Caleb is actually really good with children. which is good, because lorena is constantly starving/exhausted/bored and needs a lot of help taking care of the baby. currently caleb & lilith are handling most of the childcare because lorena can't friggin sleep bc of the haunted house nonsense.

additionally: we've had a few visits from Temperence at this point. So far, the best strategy I've had is for Caleb to mesmerize her, and keep her under until she's ready to leave so she can't harass people.

[smolghostbot]

Patchwork Melody - Summer

Part two of the four-part story, the part where Patch and Melody are forced together into their "status quo". Link to part one here. Dashes denote a POV change.

Word Count: 7.2k! I think this is the longest part, but boy it's a little bit long I'm sorry... CWs: The main "conflict" of this chapter is confronting Patch's past abuse. So. Yeah. No explicit details are given for any actions, but kidnapping, physical contact, and scars are mentioned. There's also a brief onset of a panic attack, though it doesn't progress as much as the one in Spring.

Tag list: @gt-daboss @reborrowing

=====

Part 1

Patch stared up at the human, who seemed to have a slightly different eye color (maybe a trick of the light?), but was unmistakably Melody, the human who had allegedly “accidentally” kidnapped them not two weeks prior. The human was wearing a bright yellow sundress, contrasting the somewhat dark and dingy alley… and making it frankly embarrassing that the sprite is just now noticing them. Seriously? This human is big even by their standards, how do they keep sneaking up on me like this!?

While they could try to run, should try to run, they instead felt compelled to give a single small head nod, silently giving the human a chance to say whatever they want. With their arm feeling better, and knowing their enemy this time, they'd be able to escape a bit easier if push came to shove… hopefully.

Melody started off by asking a simple question, "How, uh… I guess you're still hanging around here, huh?", which garnered a simple cautious nod from Patch.

"Oh, cool. Um, have you… been by my door at all? Not like, in a weird way, but…" Melody trailed off, as Patch nodded their head, getting a surprised reaction from Mel.

"Oh! You have! Did you, um, get any of the apples? I was wondering if I was feeding you or just the local rats, y'know…" Patch gave another simple nod, this time accompanied by a soft bow.

"Nice! I'm… glad I could help you out. Is your arm feeling better?" Patch remained still at this question, afraid of giving away their secret defense.

"That's fine, you don't have to answer. So… you don't have to answer this either, but, if you're still around here, maybe we could… meet up again? On better terms. Maybe… tomorrow evening, at sunset. By my porch? We can both sit as far apart as you want and I could maybe just, ask some questions? You don't have to agree now or anything and I totally get it if you don't want to. But I just… I feel this need to make it up to you. I know, I know, I'm acknowledging a debt, but… there is one. I'll, uh, bring snacks, too."

Patch was silent, thinking about this. The human could easily catch up to them again, why would they set a trap like this? Why even lure them back in after freeing them? To savor the betrayal? Was this some kind of long con? No. She didn't know I was here. That face was clearly one of surprise. What's the plan here?

"Okay, well… this alleyway, uh, is kind of dark and sucks, and not super safe for me to just be standing around in… so I'm just… gonna go inside now”, Melody stated, with an air of awkwardness in her tone, as if coming up with an excuse on the spot, “But just… remember what I said. Sunset, front porch."

And with that, Patch watched in curiosity as she walked away from them, again.

The next evening, against their better judgment, the sprite made their way to the apartment door they recognized from the little flower bed outside of it, where they had been abducted previously. Why am I here? I shouldn’t be here… but she did promise food, they reasoned, and food was in short supply at the moment.

Sure enough, Melody was sitting there, on the ground, wearing an outfit similar to when they first met, though the shirt had a different figure on it. Unsure how to make their presence known, Patch walked closer to the human, fear in every step as they looked around, worried not only about Melody spotting them, but any other humans as well. As usual for this area, nobody tended to walk around, which was good. After all, that's why the sprite had set up shop around this building anyways.

Patch's thoughts were interrupted as Melody called out to them, her voice soft yet projecting, "Oh, it's you! You actually showed up!"

Patch awkwardly took a few steps back, keeping well more than a human arm's length between them, which caused the human to sigh softly.

"Okay, if that's where you're comfortable. I promised snacks, so here you go, I was out of apples so I figured a pear slice might be good? To be honest, I don't know what you actually eat… maybe you could tell me, and I could bring that next time?"

Mel gently placed the pear slice as far away from themself as possible, and watched as Patch walked over and tried to drag it just a little bit farther away.

-

Patch nodded and bowed as they began to take bites of the fresh fruit, once again eating around the skin of the fruit, which Mel watched with fascination.

"So… I noticed you never eat the skin of the fruits… should I peel them for you next time? If… If there is a next time." At that, Patch nodded.

"Oh, that reminds me, sorry, um, so I don't know if this helps, but, I figured since you can't talk, we could communicate like this!" Mel said, as she picked up a notepad next to her and reached out to place it near where the pear slice was placed. Once again, Patch tried to pull it even farther out of reach, but when they failed to move the heavy notepad, Mel took the initiative and scooted themself away from the small figure slightly.

"You can draw on there, I have a pencil if you need it, I could maybe break off a piece of the lead for you?"

Immediately, Patch's eyes lit up, and they swung their backpack over their (better) shoulder, reaching into the bag and pulling out their own little piece of pencil lead.

"Oh! You just, uh… had that, huh? Okay. Well then… What does your kind eat? So I can get you more types of food, if you want to keep doing, you know, this."

Patch started drawing at once, doodling little drawings that Mel couldn't quite make out from how far away she was sitting. After the little being stopped drawing, he stepped away from the notepad, and resumed eating the pear after putting the pencil lead away. Melody took the chance to scoot forward again and grab the notepad. Looking over the drawings, she was amazed at the quality, considering how fast Patch drew the figures on the page. Several different fruits, vegetables, and grains that Mel recognized were drawn, as well as some things that she wouldn't expect, grass, flower petals, and seeds that she couldn't identify. "I see… so you eat plants… are you some kind of herbivore?"

The confusion on Patch's face was obvious, even from the distance Melody was sitting. Once again, she chuckled as his little head tilted in confusion, his large ears flopping a bit as he did. "Sorry, a herbivore is a type of animal that eats plants. Like, they don't eat other animals or bugs or anything. Is that right?

Patch nodded affirmatively as they finished eating the slice of pear. Afterwards, they cautiously began to back away, having fulfilled the deal of answering a question in exchange for food.

"Ah… okay, I guess I get one question a day, then? Fair enough, if you want to answer one question for a snack then that works. Um… I'll be here tomorrow, too, if you want more. I'll try to bring something different, too, and make sure you get lots of different foods to eat."

Melody stood up, startling Patch, who began to back up faster, before they noticed that the human was moving towards her building's door. "See you tomorrow, then?"

The sprite cautiously nodded their head yes as they turned and left.

-

For the next several weeks, this pattern continued, with Patch showing up to Melody's patio every day to answer another question in exchange for a piece of fresh food. Throughout those weeks, Melody learned much more about the little being and his people. He was an adult, yet only ten years old, apparently about the equivalent of being in his early 20s. He enjoyed drawing, and had a real talent for it. His people live around humans normally, and scavenge things that the humans don’t need in order to survive, but Patch wouldn't elaborate on why they did that. For every answered question, the curious human had three more. Even despite that, Melody had grown to appreciate these little talks, though each one was only a few minutes long at best. And, the best part to her was that Patch seemed to be slowly growing more comfortable around her, no longer quite as skittish as he had been earlier in the summer.

As Melody sat at work, looking through the notepad and reminiscing about the previous weeks, remembering each conversation based on the drawing, she was already thinking about more questions to ask her new friend. There were still a few unanswered questions that she wanted answered, but wasn’t sure how to ask. After all, she was still terrified of losing the trust she was slowly building with this tiny creature, that she still couldn’t name. Her new little friend could draw most things, but she still couldn’t decipher the writing system he used. Research at work had given no results, which was maybe to be expected when dealing with a mysterious secretive being, but still. Melody would have killed to know what her new friend was, and what their real name was.

Part 2

“Hey Patch! I wasn’t sure if you were going to show up today, with how cloudy it is. Guess I’m just that irresistible, huh?” Melody said with a wink, as Patch rolled his eyes. In truth, the sprite was counting on Melody bringing food today, they had no luck scavenging recently… not that they would tell the human that.

“I’m just kidding, don’t worry. Anyways, I wasn’t sure what to bring today, but I got some berries at the store, and figured you could bring the leftovers home with you!” At that, Melody placed a few berries near the sprite, a couple of raspberries, blueberries, and most tantalizing of all to Patch, a strawberry, almost half the size of the sprite. He wasted no time taking the berries, wrapping each one in fabric, and shoving them into his backpack, before grabbing a tiny knife out of his bag and beginning to cut into the strawberry.

“Woah, okay, berries was a good idea then. But hold on, you know the deal, now I get to ask a question. And, I was thinking today I would maybe ask a tough question, so if you don’t want to answer it just let me know and I’ll ask a backup question.”

Ah, there’s the catch, thought the sprite, who had been thinking that this was too good to be true. Still, in the spirit of not offending the human, they waited to hear out her question.

“So… you’ve told me a lot about your kind, but I want to know more about you. So… what’s your story? When we, uh… first met, you mentioned another human who was, um… not nice. What happened there?”

Patch was as still as a statue as they heard the question. The sprite had done a good job of almost forgetting about them, and now they were being asked to describe them… how to even begin to sum up that time… and in drawings, no less. They would struggle to even speak about it, if that was an option for the mute sprite.

-

An awkward moment passed between the two, with Patch frozen in deep thought, before Mel started to worry that they had offended their little friend. “Okay, okay, no worries, uhh I had the backup question, remember? New question, forget about that person. No need to bring up bad memories. Um… so… do you have a favorite animal?”

The unamused expression on Patch’s face made it clear that he caught her bluff about the question being planned in advance, but regardless, he relented and motioned for the notepad. After he finished drawing, Mel noticed Patch continuing to mark something, this time on the back of the page. She paid it no mind, figuring he would show her when he finished, but she was surprised when Patch folded the page back over as if nothing happened. Getting the idea, Melody decided to ignore it, figuring she would check it later.

“Okay, so what do we have here… Oh my gosh, is this what I think it is?” Melody cried with delight as she took in the drawing of one of Patch’s kind, distinguished by the giant ears, riding on either a rat or mouse (Melody couldn’t tell), wearing some kind of saddle and harness, as if it were a mount. “Do… do your people ride on rodents like this for real?”, she said, awe in her eyes. As Patch nodded yes, Melody began to squeal with excitement. “Oh my gosh, that’s adorable! Do you have a little mouse friend?” Patch shook his head no, but Mel continued to coo at the idea. “Oh, that would be the most precious thing ever!”

Finally, after the human calmed down, a silence overcame the both of them as Melody watched the little being eat the strawberry with fascination. Patch ate individual seeds, dipping them in the juice of the strawberry. It was fascinating to Melody, but the look they got from Patch told her that their staring was making him uncomfortable. “Oops, sorry, sorry. I just can’t help it, you’re so cute when you eat! But I’ll mind my own business, sorry.”

After eating almost half of the strawberry, and removing most of the seeds, Patch finally seemed full, putting his little knife back in his bag. As he went to leave, his ears twitched moments before the sound of thunder was heard. Melody could hardly get a farewell out before the little being ran off in a panic as a few sparse raindrops fell to the ground. As Melody went inside, she hoped that Patch got home safe.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Mel remembered the back of the notepad. Taking a glance at it, she saw what was clearly a detailed drawing of a hamster cage… with a small figure inside, distinguished by their large, pointed ears.

Mel’s stomach dropped a bit at this, as she was unsure what to make of the situation. Was this… literal? A metaphor? She made a mental note to ask Patch for a follow-up… but the next time she saw him, she couldn’t bring herself to ask, remembering how distressed he was last time. He would tell them when he was ready, they reasoned.

Part 3

A few days later, it was all over the news: A tropical storm was coming. Everybody was preparing for it, people panicking and going to the stores for supplies, taking off of work, planning safety routes. But Melody could only think of one person, that being Patch. The last she had seen him was in that alleyway. Where was he living? Would he be safe? He probably doesn’t even know about the storm, thought Melody. That afternoon, umbrella in hand to combat the rain, Mel returned to the spot where she had seen Patch earlier in the summer, and gently called out in a whisper, “Hey, Patch, are you around?”

-

Patch rolled over in their makeshift shelter, nestled between the bricks in the dark alley they had called home for several months. It was more like a nest than a proper home, made out of an assortment of discarded fabrics and materials, used to keep body heat in and the elements out. It was the middle of the day, which would normally be when Patch would go out to try and borrow, however, traveling through the rain at their size was an exercise in futility. Patch chose instead to remain at home, conserving energy and heat by taking a lazy day. It wasn’t until they heard that familiar voice calling for them that they decided to wake up and investigate.

“Listen, I don’t know where you’re hanging out, or if you can ever hear me… I might just be talking to myself… but please come by later today, okay? I really need to talk to you…” Patch was a bit concerned with the urgency in the human’s voice, as she normally spoke in a relaxed manner, except for… that one time. Putting on their backpack, and grabbing a piece of plastic to use as a makeshift umbrella, Patch left their little nest, being sure to approach the human in such a way that she wouldn’t know where they came from.

-

Mel was relieved as they saw the tiny form of Patch walking near, using a discarded yogurt lid as a little umbrella. “Oh, thank the gods, you were still here! I was worried I was talking to myself… listen, we need to talk, this is important.”

She kneeled down, cringing slightly as her knee rested on the rainy concrete, but she disregarded it quickly as she focused on delivering her message. “Listen, there’s a big storm coming, and the worst of it will be here in the next few days. I don’t… know where you’re living right now,” Mel said, as they looked around the alleyway, wondering where Patch had actually emerged from, “But… I just wanted to let you know that it’s going to be pretty bad. And… if you don’t have anywhere to stay, um… I figured you could… stay with me?”

Melody immediately saw the apprehension in Patch’s body language as he took a hesitant step back.

“Whoa, whoa, don’t run, don’t run, listen. I… uh… saw that drawing… and I want to assure you, this is nothing like that. I just… I want you to be safe. You wouldn’t be… whatever the situation was last time. You’d just be a guest, staying for a few days until the storm passes, and then you can leave, I swear it. Hell, if you want to leave during the storm, you can too, though I don’t know why. Consider it a promise, a pact, whatever you want. I just want you to be safe.” At that, the human put her free hand over her heart, before extending it towards Patch, held as if she was going in for a handshake. Melody still didn’t know if Patch was technically a fae, but they felt like treating this with that much severity was still the right thing to do.

-

Patch was torn. Melody had seen the drawing, and they clearly already had guesses based on the last time… Patch knew they meant well, but couldn’t avoid thinking of the situation. Once again, they’re being approached by a human in an alleyway, being promised safety and protection… memories flooded back of the last time this happened, of how that human acted so sickly sweet to them for all of a single evening before… could they trust that Melody wouldn’t do the same? Sprites were particularly sensitive to the weather, Patch knew that the human wasn’t lying about the approaching storm. The decision caused them to start breathing heavily, weighing two options that both seemed risky. They could chance staying outside during a natural disaster, in a shelter barely protected from wind, or risk the human showing their true colors like the last one did. Was this truly good intent, or was it the long con, spending weeks gaining the sprite’s trust just so they could be thrown into a box like some kind of prize? Patch tried to think rationally, but their thoughts began to spiral as their chest tightened, worried about making the wrong choice.

“Patch? You okay?”, the human said, pulling her hand back.

Hearing the nickname snapped them back to the present slightly, enough to assess the situation a bit more rationally. If they stay out here with that storm coming… they die. If they go with the human, Melody… even in the worst case, they’ll live. Probably.

Still panicking, chest pounding heavy, they held out a hand, mirroring Melody’s earlier gesture. As the human reached back out towards Patch, the sprite winced, only to have Mel gently poke their outstretched hand with her index finger, in a sort of facsimile of a handshake. They remained there for a moment, staring at each other, before Melody spoke.

“It’ll be different this time, I promise,” Mel said, determination in her voice. “Do you… want me to carry you to my apartment, or do you want to walk there?”

Patch took a step back, and bent down, placing their hand on the ground palm-up. Melody got the cue and mimicked the motion, waiting to see what would happen, before Patch climbed onto her hand. A small shiver ran up her arm as the sprite climbed aboard, his tiny wet footsteps moving around on her palm before he sat down, and looked up at the human, nodding his head. Very slowly, and a bit clumsily, Melody stood up, before very slowly walking towards her apartment, her guest in tow.

Part 4

“Okay, well, um, let me formally welcome you this time to my apartment. It’s not much, and it may be a bit unsafe for you to go wandering, but make yourself at home regardless,” Melody said, as she opened the door, “I could, um, put you down on the floor, if you want, but I’d feel a bit better if I could put you down on a table. So we could be more eye-to-eye, you know.”

It took a moment and a glance from the sprite before Melody realized the odd sentence structure, quickly rephrasing in a way that her mute friend could answer easily. “Sorry… Just point where you want to go, I guess.”

After a moment of deliberation, Patch pointed to Melody’s coffee table, a shorter table that they could easily climb down if need be. The human nodded and gently placed her hand palm-up on the table, letting Patch walk off, though it was more of a stumble. The human sat down on the floor in front of the couch, such that Patch was at her shoulder height. Afterwards, the two of them looked at each other with uncertainty, both anxious about what the next few days would look like.

“So…”, the human mused idly, unsure what to do now, “Um… are you, uh… hungry? Thirsty? Need anything?” Patch shook their head in a no, although truthfully, they were a little hungry, as always. However, the sight of Melody standing up from a sitting position always made Patch anxious, being such a reminder of the vast height difference between the two. Instead, the two of them sat around for a moment, before Melody broke the silence again. “Do you like games? We could play like… a board game or something. I don’t know. Honestly, I’ve never really, uh… had a guest over before. That’s pretty sad, huh?”

Patch took a moment to think, before having an idea of what to do, they just hoped Melody would understand. After doing an exaggerated confused tilt of their head, they pointed to a nearby book, hoping to start a conversation about it. “Oh, that? That’s just a book I’ve been reading through.”

After another awkward silence, Patch smacked their palm against their face and began another approach. They made mouth shapes with each hand, and began pantomiming the two hands talking to each other. It took a moment before the human seemed to realize what they were doing. “Oh! Sorry, you’re trying to start a conversation, aren’t you. Oops… Ok, um, let me try again,” With that, Melody began to speak a bit more on the book Patch had pointed to. “It’s, um, about this vampire, well, she doesn’t start the story as a vampire, but it’s not really a spoiler because it’s part of the premise, but it doesn’t happen until partway through the first book, but anyways she has to find this guy-”

Patch was desperately trying to keep up as Melody began to ramble about some kind of creature called a “vampire”, nodding their head and tilting their head when they needed clarification. This side of Melody was a far cry from the stuttery mess that Patch was speaking to just a moment ago. It wasn’t exactly the conversation Patch had in mind, but it was oddly endearing watching Melody speak so passionately about something.

“- So then by the third act of this book she has to choose whether to embrace her vampire side or side with the humans and it’s this really great story and that’s where I’m at right now… sorry, I’ve been talking for ages, ”

Patch nodded, still trying to process the conversation. The concept was interesting for sure, and in some ways, they could relate… not that they could express that to the human.

“Sorry, I get pretty excited when I talk about books sometimes, heh. But hey, look at the time, it’s about dinner time and I’m ready for some food… What about you?”

Patch’s eyes went wide as they stared at the giant red eyes of the human in front of them, and the toothy grin on her face. She’s… just teasing, right? She doesn’t mean…

-

Melody was beyond confused as her little friend suddenly seemed terrified as soon as she mentioned food, backing away from her slowly. “Are you… not hungry? What’s with the face? Where are you going? What happened? What did I say?”

After a moment, Patch seemed to turn red with embarrassment, as he bashfully scratched his head behind one of his ears. He waved his hand dismissively, before motioning to his stomach to confirm that he was indeed hungry.

Melody couldn’t even grasp what Patch had been set off by. “No, seriously, what was that? What happened, so I don’t say it again? Was there like, a specific word?”

After noticing Patch go completely still and silent, seeming lost in though, Melody decided to simply sigh and continue on. “Well, I’m just gonna… go get the food now, then. I actually made a salad yesterday, so you can have some vegetables from that if you want." The human left, and a moment later returned with two plates of greens, one containing only one or two pieces of each item in the salad. “Here you go, bon appetit!”, The human said with a flourish as she placed both plates on the table, with the smaller portion placed near Patch. The little being seemed afraid of climbing onto the plate, but after an encouraging nod from Mel, he stepped up and began to eat, using his own small utensils from his bag. Melody watched with confusion as Patch went out of his way to position himself such that he was facing away from her.

Part 5

After the meal, which was slightly awkward without any conversation, Melody tried to think of what to do next. “I guess… the next step is to figure out where you’re gonna be sleeping tonight. Not that we’re going to bed now, but just to plan, you know,” the human said, closing her eyes in thought. “I mean, the obvious choice is the couch, but what to give you for a blanket… it’s way too hot out for somebody so small to use one of my throw blankets. I don’t really have anything small and light, aside from, I don’t know, a sock or something.”

Patch shook his little head aggressively no at that, with a fervor that Mel hadn’t seen in a while from him. “Okay, yeah… I mean, I was thinking of this one soft pair I have, but I guess maybe that would be weird. I guess the only other thing I have would be a washcloth? It would be a bit of a rough texture, but it would do for a few nights, if you want.”

Melody made a square with her fingers, roughly indicating the size of the cloth. Seeing that, Patch accepted, and Melody nodded her head to match his own motion. “Got it, I’ll get one for you later. For now, um, want to sit on the couch and watch TV?”

-

Watch TV? Patch thought, confused. They thought about it, not sure if they remembered what a TV was, but decided to just accept, hoping that whatever it was would be uneventful. Truthfully, after such a comparatively big meal, the little sprite was tuckered out, and the comfort of being in a human home again rather than their shelter on the streets was a bit… intoxicating, almost. All they really wanted to do was curl up and fall asleep, but their human host seemed insistent on waiting a bit before calling it a day.

The human held out her hand again, letting Patch climb on as she sat on the couch, placing Patch on the far side of the couch. Melody pressed a button on a plastic box, causing the device across the room to spark to life with a fanfare. Ah, that’s what that was called, Patch thought, remembering the device from the first house they lived in, as a young child. At the time, it mostly showed old images in a somewhat brown tone, but this was a much more vivid display with many colors. Patch wondered if the difference was technology improving over the decade, or if it was some kind of choice. After all, they grew up in the house of a much older human than Melody, a human who was older than their parents and grandparents… the reminder of their family made the sprite sigh.

As usual, Melody broke their train of thought by asking about what they wanted to watch. “I’m not sure what types of movies you like, but I like fantasy, mostly… they really let you imagine what it would be like to live in those worlds. Here, I’ll show you one of my favorites, check this out!”

It was a fairly boring story, at least according to Patch, some quest to destroy a ring for some reason they couldn’t keep up with, but what entranced the sprite was when the image would soar over the world, showing scenes that the sprite couldn’t even imagine previously, of geographic features that must be absolutely astronomical in scale to the little sprite, as the people in the TV were already so small compared to their surroundings. It felt like only moments before the video ended, although the darkness of the room and the rain picking up outside indicated that the sun had sunk below the skyline ages ago.

“Well, I’d show you the rest of the trilogy, but it is getting really late, how about we call it a night?” Mel asked, getting a nod of approval from the sprite. The human stood up and went to the bathroom, returning with a folded-up washcloth. She set it gently near Patch on the couch as she spoke. “Here’s the washcloth, as promised. Hopefully this is comfortable enough for you.”

In truth, it would be difficult for this couch to be less comfortable than the alley nest they had been sleeping in. Even despite the sprite’s reluctance to fall asleep around a human, Melody hardly managed to turn out the lights and utter a “Good night, Patch!” before the little sprite began to drift in and out of consciousness.

Part 6

The sprite woke up in a sweat, looking around. Ah, of course I’m back here, they thought, as they stared out the bars of the cage. A dream, again, or perhaps the couch they were on was the real dream. They were never certain, but the deep blue eyes staring at them felt very real. They spoke, their tone a sickly sweet one hiding a poison underneath. “Aww, did somebody have a little nightmare? You were twisting and turning in your sleep. Well, no need to worry, you’re safe now, here with your favorite person. Why don’t you come out here and let me hold you for a minute, to calm you down?”

The sprite began to panic. As much as they hated this cage, it was a brief respite from the human. As the door to the cage opened, the human spoke again, their tone beginning to drip with frustration.

“That wasn’t a question… come here, —”

…

The sound of the human using that name, their actual name, was finally enough to shake Patch awake, convinced it was a dream. After making sure that they were, in fact, awake, they tried unsuccessfully to go back to sleep. They would repeatedly nod off, have a dream about being approached by a human, either human, and jerk awake, only to repeat the process. Eventually, they simply decided to stay awake after only a few hours of sleep, spending the rest of the night looking around the room, taking in potential places to hide or escape… just in case.

-

The next day, the storm was raging outside in full force, causing the apartment to be dark aside from the artificial lighting.

Melody came out of her room to see Patch wide awake on the couch. “Hey Patch, good morning! How did you sleep?”

Patch nodded, though the bags under their eyes would have told a different story if Mel had looked closer.

Melody and Patch resumed watching more movies, with Mel explaining details as she noticed her friend’s confusion with the medium. Patch spent the morning drawing on the notepad, making little sketches of some of the wide landscape shots and even some of the fantastic creatures, though Mel was quick to inform him that they were fictional… probably. “After all, I would have said the same thing about a little fae with big adorable ears too, if you asked me a month ago.”

However, one thing that was bothering Melody was just how timid their friend was. It felt like every movement of hers spurred an intense fear reaction from her little guest, who still seemed skeptical of her intentions. Finally, Mel paused the movie that was on, and decided to confront him about it.

“Listen, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you, but… I want to understand what’s got you so jumpy. I feel like everything I do is upsetting you, and I don’t understand why. I want to help. Because, well, I don’t know if you feel the same, but I think of you as a friend,” the human pleaded. “Is this about… that other human?”

After receiving a small, but hesitant nod from Patch, Mel continued. “Can you… try to explain what happened? What they did? What you did? Anything would help me know how to be a better friend, please.”

Patch sighed. They knew from when Melody had originally asked that she would inevitably ask again, this human was curious if nothing else. But, maybe, just maybe, explaining to somebody what that human did would help. Patch made a motion for the notepad they had been writing in, and Mel took the initiative and flipped the page. “Would it help if I do something else for a bit and come back? Less pressure?”

After thinking on it, Patch accepted that offer, and Melody stood up, walking into her bedroom and closing the door. Patch could hear the distant sound of running water coming from inside the room as they solemnly began to draw. About a half-hour later, the human returned, and after asking permission, took a look at the thoughts that had plagued Patch for years.

-

… Horror was the reaction Melody had, seeing the drawings in front of her. She had suspected something bad when Patch drew the hamster cage, but this… this stranger has treated Patch like… she struggled to believe this was real. After the first drawing, an innocent one of Patch taking the human’s hand, the other drawings depicted a story of Patch being captured, threatened… tormented. Patch kept in a cage, the human’s fingers around the tiny thing’s neck, Patch being held above a grinning mouth, and other drawings that Melody couldn’t even bring herself to describe. Mel shuddered at the idea that somebody like this lived so close to her, somewhere in the same city block, even. What kind of sick person would treat any living being like this?

“Patch...” Was all Melody could say, her blood simultaneously running cold and burning with hatred towards his abuser as the images swirled in her mind. Patch wasn’t just captured, he was treated like a plaything, some kind of toy for a complete monster of a human. “Fuck.”

Melody noticed her little friend staring at her, anxiety in his eyes and his ears pulled apprehensively against the side of his head as his hands fidgeted with the scarf around his neck. “No, no… I’m not mad at you, how could I be? I just… what they did to you… how long did this go on for? How long were you their…”, She couldn’t bring herself to say the word she was thinking. “How long were you there?”

Patch shyly held up two fingers. “Two? Two what? Days? Weeks? … Months?” Melody questioned, getting more worried as Patch stayed silent. Finally, she quietly said “... Years?” garnering a small tearful nod. Melody had to stop herself, remembering Patch’s age. The poor thing had spent the start of his young adult life like that. Melody noticed Patch fidgeting awkwardly with his scarf again… the scarf he was wearing during the middle of the summer. As he fidgeted, loosening the scarf, Melody could just barely make out a deep mark across his neck now that she was looking out for anything unusual. Patch could only look everywhere except Melody’s eyes, tears welling up in his face.

“Patch… take off your scarf”, Melody said, somewhere between a question and a demand. Patch nervously complied, keeping the scarf in his hand as he anxiously fidgeted with it, while Melody took a close look at the scar on his neck. It wasn’t directly where his vocal chords would be… but it was close.

Melody wasn’t known for being a particularly quick to anger person, but she had to do some impromptu deep breathing to calm down, lest her anger scare her timid friend. “Fuck. Is that why you can’t…?” She asked, terrified of what the response would be, but Patch shook his head in a no, to the human’s relief.

“Either way, I need you to know… I’m sorry. For what that… that monster did to you. I swear to you, I would never… I’d like to think nobody would act like that, but I especially would never… ugh, no wonder you were so terrified!”

There was a long, painful silence that followed as the both of them looked at each other, pain in Patch’s eyes and fury in Mel’s. After another deep breath, and choosing her next words carefully, Melody decided to break the silence. “I know I’m not perfect… but mark my words, as long as I’m here, you’ll never have to fear them again. I promise.”

Patch made a beckoning motion, breaking Melody out of her rage. She saw him holding out his hand, and gently moved her hand closer to match, expecting a simple touch, but was caught off-guard when her little friend wrapped her finger in an embrace. Melody held her hand deathly still, as Patch began to cry enough tears to match the storm raging on outside.

The rest of the day was uneventful. The two of them watched TV, with Melody eventually noticing her little guest’s fascination for the wide shots and switching to nature documentaries after the movie ended. Before long, Patch fell soundly asleep on the couch, right next to Melody, who dared not move, not wanting to wake him up.

Part 7

“So… now that the storm is over, I guess you want to leave, huh?”

It had been about a day since the rain stopped, and the flooding outside had receded to a point where Patch could safely leave, if he wanted. Back to… living in an alley, raiding trash cans and plant pots for food…

Patch sighed, knowing that what they were about to do was stupid. If Patch wasn’t way past “Don’t interact with humans”, they would be judged so heavily for what they were about to ask. But despite that, and despite their own fear, they had to try.

-

Patch motioned for the notepad, and Mel diligently grabbed it for them, even though she was confused. Was he just saying goodbye or something?

It took a moment for her to recognize what Patch was drawing. It was a simplified version of Melody’s apartment, with a figure representing Melody standing inside it. In the space between “outside” and “inside”, there was a small figure, clearly representing Patch. Finally, there was a strange spiked figure on the outside which Mel deduced was the little fae’s way of drawing the sun. Melody tried to decipher what he was saying using their limited knowledge of Patch’s culture.

“The storm is over, and you’re… inside the wall? What… oh! Your people, you mentioned they live in human houses without being noticed… stop me if I’m assuming too much, but… you want to, um… move into my walls instead of leaving?”

Patch nodded, and Melody seemed conflicted. “Well… I can’t just pretend you don’t exist, Patch. We hung out, we watched movies, we bonded! How am I supposed to just… ignore you sneaking around and taking things?”

Patch’s expression dropped, as he went to put on his backpack, only to be interrupted. “Hey, hey… I didn’t say I was kicking you out, I said you couldn’t sneak around here. If you want to stay, it wouldn’t be like this”, she said, motioning to the notepad. “If you want to stay… I’d love to have you. But as a roommate, or a friend, not a stranger who steals my things. That’s fair, right?”

Patch wanted to argue that it was borrowing, not stealing, but considering the language barrier between them, arguing semantics seemed stupid. They considered the deal Melody had made. For the last few days, she had treated them nicely, and her disgust at their past had made Patch trust her much more… Hesitantly, he nodded, and the deal was made.

“Really? Oh my gosh, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting you to agree, but I’m honored! From now on, I’ll be the absolute best human roommate possible! You won’t regret this, I promise! Okay, let me think, we’ll need to get some strings for you to get around… I’ll need to make you your own room somewhere… obviously not with a box or anything…”

Melody’s expression darkened a bit as she thought to clarify something for Patch. “Oh, and Patch? Just to be clear… you can still leave, whenever you want, just say the word. Or, uh, draw it. You’re a friend, not… you’re not trapped here. Anyways…”

As the human began to ramble again, making a list of things her new roommate would need to feel at home, Patch felt an emotion that they hadn’t felt in years… a small, skeptical glimmer of hope.

[sisterpaw125]

The community has spoken

(This is gonna be a long post)

Since the results are in I will began working on the fic. However due to personal reasons, there is a chance I won't finish the first chapter till 2024 spring (maybe even summer, if the final exams are too hard).

But worry not my dears! I won't leave you hanging. I will do my best to post small sketches of our group (alongside everyone else) from scenes in the fic, random activities and of course shitposts😇.

Now let's not waste anymore time and let me introduce our main group!! (Remember: the nightime looks are still work in progress!)

Greg/Gekko🐊

● Currently 14 going on 15

● Puberty was pretty generious with him, but at the cost of his sleep

● His intrests didn't changed much over the year, except he took on workout

● He also seems to ran out of his luck because every time he fights a nighttime villain he gets a new bruise/scar.

●Still does herowork at night, but not every single night. The Power Heroes made a schedual about who patrols which night

Luna girl/Luna🌙

● Just turned 15 years old

● Her hair turned completly silver over the years

● Puberty blessed her with all the good stuff

● Works at the local flower shop part-time

● Nothing changed regarding her villany

Romeo Mechano💻

● 15 years old

● Still has a HUGE ego, also likes to make sure people know their below him

● He got wrinkles all over his face due to stress (it's a miracle he didn't get a second white streak)

● The only reason he is still in high school is because he keeps failing in literature + his behaivour

●He spends most of his school days making plans for his robots and world domination

Night Ninja/Nick✨

● Just turned 16

● Nobody knows what he looks like. He wears a face mask and bodysuit that covers 90% of his body, only leaving his hair out

● He dyed his hair blue with red ends, in honor of his villain outfit

● He's a quite student who tries to stay out of most of things (projects, competitions, talking), not because he's shy, he just doesn't think avrage people deserve his attention

Kevin Wolfie🐺

● 14 years old

● He's just happy to be here

● During daytime most of his wolf features disappear, leaving dark marks behind (they kinda look like dirt marks)

● Wait- how did he even get into high school? Simple, he forged some document alongside Rip and Howler

● Is suprisengly smart when it comes to school

(That's everything for now, ba-bye!!)

[sprucetreeconspiracy]

Do you have any tips for making masc goth outfits? Especially for summer, that's what I'm struggling with the most

hello! I'm not an expert considering how much crossdressing I'm quite comfortable with and how feminine my style is in the end but I'll try! my thoughts are prolly quite generic and recycle various other people's ideas.

if it's too hot for jeans or sth worse (fake leather from plastic) i usually wear shorts, often from the women's section because they will have shorter legs (my legs are the best part of me) and often more fun materials like velvet or sth shiny. guys shorts have the too long and too boring/sporty/"casual" for a good look -disease for me most of the time. you know the cargo short type.

cut out shorts from any old trousers you wanna snip will do fine if you've got those available.

sometimes i wear tights underneath for aesthetic reasons but that may not read as masc depending on how traditional we're thinking.

too hot for boots? I'd like to get myself a pair of winklepickers but rn i have cesare gaspari's take on what a dr martens 3 eyelet platform 1461 would look with a bit more heel. A simple black dress shoe can also work rly well, like plain toe oxfords, monk strap version too if buckles are ur thing. for rain I've got rubber chelsea boots. overdressing w shoes a bit is fun because they're a thing you will see of yourself without a mirror. because I'm a bit of an xmas tree i sometimes accessorise w some flavour of leather straps (narrow recycled belts or stray bag straps) around an ankle or sth.

sun hats are fun and if it's not a bajillion degrees a woolen one will be fine too. for when it is i got myself a black wide trimmed sunny from a random grocery shop.

some shirts can be easily layered as a light jacket if you wish to have sleeves and or layers, or if the cut makes for a cool shape.

my generic tip is to avoid materials that don't breathe as much as you can and to focus on the aesthetic you want to achieve regardless of where the clothes came from, as the masculinity or femininity isn't all in the labelling. think of yourself as a character designer when outfit planning if that's a helpful way to conceptualise.

and when secondhand shopping i usually just browse by colour first, then fabric (visually), then i look at the actual piece like is it sth i could wear or customise into a wearable thing, is the condition ok for what I'd get it for, is it a shite material that gets sweaty easily etc. (sometimes i still get crappy materials cuz they work for the aesthetic like dude i can't afford leather trousers even secondhand and most see through stuff is like polyester or some shit.)

I also buy accessories secondhand and attach them into clothing or wear them on my body in some unintended way. like my fav way to wear my velvet shorts is to safety pin a thrifted black feathery chain necklace to the top so the charms and chains dangle a bit below the short leg.

dissecting old clothes that are no longer useful for anything else is also fun. got some fun zippers and studs from old pleather jacket and boots that were rubbish otherwise. and leather bits with eyelets for laces that I'm yet to slap on anything but their time will come.

a hardware store can be your friend for diy accessories, good for chains, o-rings and the like. got myself a shitton of chain from the boat section last year (and am yet to chop it into smaller accessories cuz i didnt remember to get a tool to cut it w... wore it as a harness a couple of times by stitching it together w safety pins tho).

craft shops for keyring materials are also friends, good for attaching aforementioned pieces.

so. I'd say create a silhouette you like then accessorise and keep your eyes open for pieces that could be a part of something bigger with or without some modifications. in terms of masculinity and or femininity I'd look at like traditional formal and smart wear from whatever historical period u wish and looking into the details that speak to you, then boiling them into the why that's appealing - is it the cut, the material, the fit, the shape - and finding or making sth that embraces some of those aspects.

this was a rly fun thing to think about so thank you for asking!

[meiko3323]

Kaeya hairstyle brainstorming

what it says on the tin pretty much 😅 for anyone that is interested in my rationale behind these decisions, allow me to elaborate. so i did some research on figure skating hairstyles and found out the Olympic dresscode calls for them to be "tidy" and that buns are fairly common. THEN i remembered that Kaeya has german roots (well, his name does), so that sent me down a rabbithole of german style braids and pretty much cemented the idea of a crown braid in my mind. plus that would tie in well w his i believe last name meaning "ruler of the forest" or sth like that. also in reference to his constellation, i thought to add a peacock element, w that little tuft of feathers they have on their head. i intend to include the peacock motif in his outfit as well (thats next on the brainstorm list) i totally coulda just stuck w his in-game hair, esp the hair from his summer skin would be perfect for this. but i wanted to flex my creative muscle too ^^

thanks to everyone that took the time to read all that, and if you didnt, hope you enjoyed the sketches of our dashing ice dancer =w=

now id love to hear from yall! which if any of those options do you think would suit our pretty boi best? or should i keep it simple for myself and refer to his in game summer hair? it even has a peacock feather weaved into his braid already. oh but im quite fond of the crown symbolism tho...

[amiablesummer]

romantisised asks challenge

hello to everyone, but particularly @stingrayextraordinaire who tagged me in this big but interesting challenge. Thank you so much! here we go…

1. if you were to have Hanahaki disease, what flowers would you cough up?

i'm gonna say blue hydrangeas

2. if someone were to catch Hanahaki disease for you, what flowers would they cough up?

pink roses or camellias

3. if you were any historic trope, what would you be? (i.e., the knight, the town baker, the witch of the forest, etc.)

I think I'd be the scribe writing down what heroic or ordinary deeds everyone else does. Ink on my hands, messy scribble, that's very me. Shut up in a room writing the past down, probably killed by the Vikings - at least i'd be remembered by the future readers of the scroll.

4. tell us about your ideal battle outfit.

i would definitely be wearing trousers. some cosy fitting armour, too, like Zoya’s dragon scale armour in Rule of Wolves that’s more like a second skin. nice and silver so it can catch the light. also with a cool cape like Eowyn’s in the Return of the King, an earthy tone, good for camaflaging. 

5. what would you be a goddess of and what would people sacrifice to you?

I would be a goddess of memory and nostalgia because that’s a big muse to me. People would probably sacrifice their childhood toys or clothes they don’t need to keep anymore. or maybe particularly bad memories.

6. name five iconic quotes that make you feel things.

“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer.” - Sam in the Two Towers movie

“The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” - Doctor Who, Vincent and the Doctor

"...We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high. We are gods in the chrysalis.” — Elbert Hubbard, quoted in How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” - Albert Camus

7. scythe, battle axe, broad sword, spear, or trident?

broad sword

8. what combination of natural scents would you use as perfume?

rosewood, gardenia and musk 

9. ancient scrolls or leather-bound books?

Leather-bound books

10. describe yourself as if you were a storm.

a summery storm, the kind that’s not loud but just consistent, rumbling across the sky all day and night as you lie comfortable in bed, romanticising it from a distance. the kind of storm that brings the enlivening, miracle rain that makes the crops grow and people smile. if you’re right in the centre of it, you know it best, and you can see the warm light shining on the rain out your window.

11. what type of flower (other than a rose) would you offer someone you were trying to court?

baby’s breath are beautiful, paired with golden wattle. 

12. honey in milk or cinnamon in tea?

cinnamon in tea

13. cabin in the woods, apartment in the city, or mansion in the suburbs?

i wouldn't mind a mansion for a day, but cabin the woods sounds the most cosy. i don't much like cities.

14. curtains of beads or lace?

nice white lace

15. vocal or instrumental music?

instrumental while writing and reading, vocal for chores and travelling.

16. describe your ideal fantasy outfit.

i like dressing up in 1850s style middle-class skirts, with pantaloons and boots, that you can pick up the edges of and it trails behind you. with a pretty blouse and a hooded cloak, I would run around doing cottagecore errands all day. 

17. of all the fantasy races to ever exist, which one would you be?

whatever race that talking cats are part of, i’d like to be one of those. or quite possibly a hobbit.

18. hard candy, fruit preserves, or spice cake?

hard candy, i have a sweet tooth

19. show us a picture of your ideal crown.

20. tying your hair up using ribbon, yay or nay?

yes. channeling Zoya Nazyalensky with a dark blue velvet ribbon. However i seem to always need a hairtie underneath it to hold my hair.

21. an evening in the forest with elves, a night in the caves with vampires, or a morning in the garden with fae?

An evening in the forest with elves, like in the Fellowship of the Ring.

22. tell us, in detail, about a curse a witch would put on you.

It would be a curse of being separated from others. Loss is my worst fear. being invisible, perhaps, from the people in my life, or stuck in a tower alone. I do not like isolation. it would make me have to face the parts of myself that I don’t like, and i would have to be independent, not having someone to lean on or able to live in the background of their life. I would have to make my own life, and that terrifies me. it would hopefully make me end up much more confident, if a little insane. 

23. talking with sylphs or singing with nymphs?

Singing with nymphs. singing is fun

24. mint, rosemary, basil, or sage?

I love rosemary. mint tastes nice. Basil is good in bolognese, and sage is a pretty colour. But rosemary is the best. 

25. favorite childhood story? (doesn’t have to be a fairy tale)

A lot!! As a little girl my favourite fairy tales were Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (aka the Disney movies). But my absolute favourite story was Robin Hood. I used to pretend to be him with a hat and everything, being the fox in the movie. I was haunted by The Nutcracker from seven years old. I cried over The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. I also remember loving Dick Wittington and His Cat.  My dad used to read me the Rainbow Magic books, and Milly-Molly-Mandy. As an older kid my favourites were Harry Potter, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 

26. tell us about an experience you’ve had that seemed unreal or supernatural. (doesn’t have to be scary)

when i was a kid there was this book i was really scared of, about kids who go into one of those big water tanks and feel something in there in the dark that is uncanny. When I remembered the book, I kept seeing the water tank that's in my town - Every time I looked at the horizon there it was. Not scary as much as haunting. I found the book recently when I was at a spooky read-in at my cousin’s school. The weird thing was I had just been saying that we should read it. It turns up right when I’m thinking of it, that deep dark water. I have nightmares about the water too.  

27. would you rather have poison or healing ointment in your traveling pack?

I’d say healing ointment because I like to think I’m a good person, but also because there’s other ways you could harm people whereas there's not many that you could heal them with. 

28. tell us three sayings that you live by.

just take one step at a time.

where there's life, there's hope.

knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. (Aristotle) 

29. vials or mason jars?

Mason jars because they can fit a lot of useful things in them. 

30. describe your ideal masquerade ball outfit (mask included).

It would have to be red… I don’t get to wear red often. Long flowy sleeves that I could swish around when holding the mask stick up - it would be a mask with pointy edges and feathers. Maybe embroidered with animal designs. The skirt would have those sewn on too, with dark red undertones, almost purple. It would have lots of sequins, but not too heavy, and big enough to twirl in. I’d curl my hair and have jewels in it too. I’d like to be classy. 

31. splashing around in a river with mermaids or flying through the sky with harpies?

Splashing in a river with mermaids

32. what would you end up in the dungeon for?

Not doing things on time, or forgetting something important; i am chronically late. Or going against the status quo, if this is a totalitarian society - I hate following the masses. 

33. if you were a fairy, what color would your wings be?

i do love pink and green, but some gold in there would look lovely too. and pale blue. 

34. if you could have any magical item, what would it be?

This is really hard, but I’ve always wanted a bag like Mary Poppins’ or Hermione’s which is bigger on the inside. An actual TARDIS would be cool, but I like the thought of being able to fit a library and an art gallery into a portable thing. I do also want a time machine though. Or a portal. Or a fortune-telling mirror/bowl. 

35. what song would the bards sing about you when you passed by?

A mixture of the vibes of Bleeding Heart by Regina Spektor, Hand in my Pocket by Alanis Morisette, and These Days by Powderfinger. that's super specific, so otherwise just something about hopeless romanticism...

36. would you rather be a pirate or a king/queen?

If you’re Nikolai Lantsov, you can do both. As for me, a pirate because it would be much more fun - I’m not one for politics. I’d have to be less squeamish though. 

37. would you spend more time in the field of flowers, the tavern, the docks, or the marketplace?

I would lie in the field of flowers drawing all day. If I had to work, I’d choose the marketplace. And the docks for an evening stroll. 

38. would you have a painting of yourself?

yes if it was very particularly done, like in an impressionist style or something really personal.

39. what skill are you famous for?

Remembering dates, like birthdays, details from things that happened a long time ago, and random fun facts. 

40. if you could live any fairy tale, which one would you?

The best aesthetic goes to “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” but I would also like to be friends with Puss-in-Boots.

41. stained glass windows or fairy lights?

Stained glass windows 

42. what kind of snow globe would you live inside?

One with one of those pretty Christmas cabins and a big tree, and snow on the ground, maybe with some animals like a deer, a fox or some bunnies, and a bonfire (with snow on it...)

43. what animal would you be reincarnated as?

A domestic cat who sleeps in the sun all day, preferably in a bookshop. 

44. lost at sea or lost in space?

lost at sea, but with a boat. I’m scared of the sea, but space is so much worse - at least someone could come rescue you in the sea.

45. if you could have a scar in any shape, what would it be?

i think a heart shape would be very cute. 

46. what celestial body would you write a hymn to?

The Moon has that celestial elegance, and I would give anything to be able to go there for a day or two. It has that lonely, feminine, mystery about it... But also Saturn because I have always admired its rings. 

47. describe a potion you would brew, complete with ingredients and desired effect.

i would want to make a potion to create calmness that could help anxiety, so I would use some lemon balm, some lavender which would also make it smell nice, and chamomile. to be a real fantasy potion brewer i’d probably add some rose petals and moondust and mix it together with cocoa powder because it’s tasty and, of course, vanilla essence. that probably makes no sense but hey, i made it up.

48. flying ship or underwater home?

flying ship. i like flying and i think someone totally needs to invent a boat-like cruise airship that’s not as dangerous as a blimp, for me to relax in. and the sky isn’t as scary as the ocean. 

49. if you were a nature spirit, what season would you dwell in?

Summer, as per my url. I would sleep outside and walk on the beach, and blow the cool change breeze in the evening. very nostalgic.

50. if you could haunt any place as a ghost, what would it be?

I want to be amusing and say my old school, since it is very ghost-populated. it would be fun to turn the lights off every so often. But I would have to choose the old but pretty cafe that I live near, which used to be the gatehouse for the cemetery. It has a really lovely feel to it and it could do with an eerie presence, since it is in the cemetery. 

i don't know if anyone else loves fantasy but if anyone wants to do some or all of these questions please go ahead <3 <3 <3 @anouri @mourningintodancing @peachtreesinblossom @tunisian @l0velyjewel @unhingedballad

[arkus-rhapsode]

Rating Fire Emblem Engage Casual Outfits

So FE Engage gave us FE characters in personalized casual wear. Which I think FE fan artist have dreamt up for a long time. So I’m gonna look through everyone of them and tell you what I think.

First up is the Alears

I gotta be honest their casual clothes just don't took that different from their standard outfits. I think Female Alear's looks better in the sense it does feel more loose and casual while Male Alear's is pretty layered. 

So Male Alear I'm giving a 5/10 and for Female 6/10

Following that we have Vander

I love how Vander's definition of casual is three piece suit, monocle, dinning jacket, and an ascot that puts Miles Edgeworth to shame. I think it works so well though for him 

Vander: 8/10

Gonna lump these Clanne and Framme together given how similar, yet distinct they look. 

Both are a shorts + jacket combo  with how each of them wear it fitting their personalities, Clanne's being more straight and fitted while Framme's is baggy and left open. Between the two, I think Framme wears it better especially knowing how they look underneath, the hat itself also just brings her whole look together. Clanne's is still good but its much more generic 

Clanne: 6/10 Framme: 7/10

Alfred

I honestly expected Alfred to look like he was always in a tracksuit, but I guess that wasn't princely enough. Not personally a fan of how the patterns on his shoulders are designed because it only works if he's keeping his arms at his sides full time. Also what is this yugioh double belt non sense and is that a whip at his side? 

Alfred: 3/10

Now for his sister, Celine

You remember Celine's normal outfit of the huge cumbersome dress? Well what if we paired that down into a breezy summer dress? The lighter pastles really work for her, with my only complaint being the cloth wrapped around her legs. If you want stockings, wear stockings. If you don't, don't. 

 Celine: 7/10

Next is Boucheron

Boucheron is a simple bulky boy so this makes sense. Pants, undershirt and collared shirt with some nifty design near the collar. Works for him but doesn't try anything 

Boucheron: 5/10

Now for Etie

Etie's casual outfit is like Alear's in that it looks way too close to their combat on. Just has different shoes and pulled her shirt down. Its not bad. And I do like her green and orange. But its just not much different for me. 

Etie: 5/10

Louis

I appreciate seeing an armor knight out of his armor. Plus is more turquoise color is nice and funky. Anyway very fitting for a butler type like him. I especially like the spats shoes most of all. 

Louis: 7/10

Next up is Chloe

It is perfectly Disney princess for her. Yet also has the charm of a village girl. Really like the the embroidery plus the shoulders being covered with the neck exposed. The pumps feel a bit much for her though. 

 Chloe: 8/10

Jean

Speaking of cute, school boy Jean. Went from a Ghibli character to a protag in a young boy's school series. I personally love seeing Jean not only loses his hat, but also see him wearing his glasses. The blue and green darker colors pair so well with the white being not over powering and bringing it all together. 

Jean: 9/10

On to Brodia with its first prince, Diamant

Diamant here looking like he came off another RPG. Look at this man he is strapped while just casually standing around. I will say though I do quite like the burgundy vest and the tanned shirt. With the fur lined cuffs of the jack being just the right amount of classy yet practical. Sadly is knee stocks and his ankle boots feel weirdly disconnected. 

Diamant: 6/10

On to his brother, Alcryst

Alcryst here takes Diamant's whole outfit and I think improves on it in nearly every way. First of all losing some of the unnecessary belts and while the red vest blended more with the browns, Alcryst's blue waist coat not only adds some need visual pop but also a really neat embroidery. He ditches Diamant's knee stocks plus ankle boots for some actual knee-high boots and it looks much better. I also like how the jacket does highlight the difference of his physique, hanging a bit more loose given he's not as bulky as Diamant. The only negative I have is the white gloves. Why? Who do you think you are? Hubert? Its just clashes in the worst way and really only exists to oppose Diamant's gloves. But overall its tight. 

Alcryst: 10/10

To the retainers! First is Amber

Y'know you to this point I could see all these casual outfits fitting a fantasy euro setting. Amber's however legit looks like he's some guy on the north east school football team. With his letterman jacket and wool cardigan. However, I must admit, I appreciate the commitment to the alpaca branding. And yes the wool does look comfy. 

Amber: 5/10

Jade

We have another armor knight out of their armor and once again its great. Jade's simple look really fits her personality with the single dress shirt supported by a midriff tighter does make her seem much more skinnier than you'd think she'd be, but still makes her upper body look strong. Also that hair un obscured by her helmet is just nice. 

Jade: 7/10

Now for Citrinne

Citrinne was a welcomed surprise. I had assumed her being super rich meant her casual outfit would be something ornate and high society, but instead she goes the opposite. Probably because her standard outfit is already a gown her casual clothes really feel like a step towards an actual streetware look. They keep her dress's basic elements like the brown with gold tips and shorten it up to her thighs, then add on some black leggings which her her a really tall yet shapely figure accented by these red heels. But the thing I like most of all is her coat. She had white in her design already with her boa, but now there's much more white with this nice over jacket. The fur neckline is also great, giving her both a cozy feeling yet also a damn she's rich vibe. Really does capture Citrinne of being a girl of wealth but not flaunting it in everyway intentionally. 

Citrinne: 10/10

Now for her partner, Lapis

Talk about cute. While Chloe blended the princess/commoner girl feel well, Lapis really does look like a girl from the country side. Seeing her go from her armor to this more breezy dress is a delight but the thing I like most is her shoes. A common observation of women wearing casual ware in JRPGs is they only seem to wear heels or boots, but Lapis goes with what I'd actually think someone from her background would, mary janes. 

Lapis 8/10

Its time to get Sappy with Yunaka

Once again, another banger outfit.  Yunaka going from her body suit to this more knee length dress and small sweater and dress shirt just feels perfectly on brand for her when she's not on duty. I especially like the slight color difference between her sweater and dress. Its just a well balance outfit. Not a big fan of the platform boots though. 

Yunaka: 9/10

Now this one was tough, just like Saphir herself

Saphir and her docksider outfit is just chef's kiss. Design wise its not particularly that unique, but what brings it together is emphasis on Saphir's muscular frame. Muscle shirt plus the fingerless guantlets is just great. Seeing a muscular older lady of color, what could go wrong? Well probably the fact that she's not actually old she's only 35! Yeah, really. Anyway, this is about grading fashion and while I love Saphir's design, can't say her outfit isn't what I'd have expected it to be. 

Saphir: 6/10

On to Solm with its future queen, Timerra

Timerra is once again a simple one, but it feels like it has more personality to it. I don't just say that about the color. But the wavy dress plus the loose croptop with holder sports bra look actually gives her a real ethnically unique look that doesn't feel like it falls into some sexualized amazonia/nubian woman feel that is kinda common for people to associate with poc women in fantasy. In my personal taste its a little too colorful for me, but I still like it. 

Timerra: 8/10

Now onto her brother, Fogado

So fun fact I first saw him on the Somniel in this outfit when he was playing guitar by the campsite and I recall clearly what went through my mind at that moment; "This man gets it". Like the black shirt and pants pulled to expose his shoulders and his calves would already be enough, but top it off with a chic yet colorful scarf is beautiful. The cyan belt are a but off, though I'd say it was to help break up the black and give his upper body some more definition. 

Fogado: 9/10

Merrin

Speaking of great fashion, we have Merrin and man everything about this works. The white undershirt length reaching her lap, the tighter shirt that makes it up to her collar without exposing any cleavage or pushing it up, her short jacket with the fur tips, and those banging high heeled boots tipped with gold that emphasize but ass kicking and fashion. It's all great. Such a shame about the tail. It's almost so ridiculous I want to give it a pass, but seeing her without it just looks much better. 

Merrin: 9/10

Panette

Panette going in her goth girl halloween outfit. Jokes aside I actually like this one more than her regular fit. But... its like Amber's as it feels a bit more out there for the setting, The rainbow stitches are really nice though. 

Panette: 5/10

Bunet

Bunet here feels like a fresher Boucheron. Like right down to the color pallet. But the apron coat paired with the ascot really does give him a fine look. I will say, while it fits for his chef persona... There's just too much material in the back for me. 

Bunet: 5/10

On to Pandreo

What do priests wear when not in their raiments? Well fuck boy style if Pandreo is to be believed. I kid of course, I appreciate the restraint to not go full frat bro with his outfit. The half tucked shirt and the sneakers without socks though was not helping exactly. But they classy him up with coat and scarf. Its good and fits his personality. 

Pandreo: 7/10

Seadall

Okay scratch what I said about Pandreo being the fuck boy. This man is definitely a fuck boy. He has a damn titty window! But once again, not too different from Seadall's normal outfit. It looks like he took the piece of clothing he usually wears around his waist and started wearing it. This also really makes his color scheme seem altered going from primarily red and black to a purple and black fit. 

Seadall: 4/10

To we make our way to Elusia, starting with their new Queen Ivy

Okay just full on elegant goth girl and I love it. Yes even the commitment to her headdress. The dark purple overall with just the uneven furnishes really makes this all come together. 

Ivy: 10/10

Hortensia

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum we have Hortensia. While you'd expect her to go for cute as it is her personality, she really does actually make it different from say some standard moe fit. The fiery pink plus the black with hints of blue give it a real stand out quality. With the gloves and the patterned leggings build on it in a good way making this almost pop punk princess look. The biggest knock against this for me are the up turned pointy shoes. That's just a yikes from me. 

Hortensia: 8/10

Zelkov

Look at this steampunk Specer's gifts man and his Nomura belts. Look, I like Zelkov, really do. And I like how straight to the point this fit his for him. Ditches his long cloak and now we got his tight leather vest with way too many buckles and his tight leather pants with more buckles. Its impractical and yet kinda raw. 

Zelkov: 7/10

Kagetsu

Overall, I like the Japanese rep with Kagetsu's fit. The looser feeling really fits his personality and covering up his usually exposed arms with this more brighter off white is also a good choice. But I just can't sign off on the onigiri pants. I can't. It looks like he's wearing pajamas. 

Kagetsu: 4/10

Next up to the certified cutie (he told me he was himself) Rosado

Okay maybe I should take back my Spencer's gifts comment on Zelkov and apply it to Rosado because man he looks like he just walked out of there with a bag of dark lights. I had though maybe Rosado would got for something more frilly given how they decorate their wyvern, but this dark emo princess actually still fits. Yeah even the weirdly mistmatch stocking/sock and two different slippers, I think its fitting for Rosado. I think their hair is also kinda tying it together. 

Rosado: 6/10

Onto his elegant partner, Goldmary

Goldmary has a lot of the same energy to her casual fit as Lapis does. Which is fitting given the similar backgrounds. She actually looks like a girl from the countryside and has a rustic charm to her. However, seeing her got from her usual peacocking armor to this more down to earth fit really gives this more wholesome vibe to her. And once again, the shoes just feel so right. Flat boots ankle boots just add to the country feel and love it. 

Goldmary: 8/10

Next up Anna-I mean, Lady Anna

Anna honestly pretty cute all bundled up. Which is funny as she looks the most like she's from Elusia compared to everyone else from there given its a... winter country. But yes its child-like and I think it works for the game's interpretation of Anna. 

Anna: 7/10

Coming up on the end, we have Lindon

Lindon traded his sage robes... for more sage robes. Given he's the oldest human on the cast, I didn't think he's have like a foxy grandpa look to him, but like Etie and Boucheroun it doesn't feel that much different from his combat outfit. 

Lindon: 5/10

Now onto our rep from the villains, first with Veyle

So here we have Veyle. Honestly dressing the evil mind controlled her in a pure white outfit makes sense and I do get the girlishness they want to invoke with her almost school girl like dress. But there's a few little things about this that just don't work for me like gloves seems to have changed from being up the forearm to being wrist length. I would've kept the gloves as is. Then there's the shoes. I like we gave Veyle some shoes but I feel like sandals fit more with her shoeless previous look than these slip-on heels. Also she still has on her ankle cuffs. which feels a tad wrong. The lace is really nice though

Veyle: 6/10

Last but not least, we have Mauvier

Like I said, love to see armor knights out of their armor and Mauvier seems the most casual of all. His outfit is basic while fitting his strong frame. With the biggest flourish being his vest and its ornate coloring. I think its the right amount of color the mixes with his darker colors.

Mauvier: 8/10

[vintage-brass-tc]

July TC Challenge Days 1-7

Made by the lovely @baeby-tc !!!

It’s the summer and I know we’re all thinking about how our TCs are holding up, and even some are starting to adjust to being without them like I am ….. so I took it upon myself to crawl back into the deep pit of my infatuation with them to fill out this form 😭 ‘tis the season!

~~

1. describe your tc’s physical appearance.

M is simply bald, has dark brown stubble, big dark brown eyes, and black glasses, as well as a smaller figure and a “dad bod”.

U, obviously, is younger, so he has sort of a sharp jawline, stubble, wide and bright, piercing blue eyes, slightly curly brown hair, and a more toned figure as he works out a TON, but no abs!!! I find this super endearing, because I love pudge ^^

2. what was the first thing you’ve ever said to your tc?

Probably “Hi” 💔, but I remember being really intimidated by M and thinking U would be a fun guy to hang out with, and was relieved that I probably wouldn’t fall for him. Boy was I wrong.

3. is your tc single or taken? or are you unsure? and are you single or taken?

M is married and has kids, while U, however, can never really keep a girlfriend (but he can keep me….. /hj). 😭 I almost never know if he’s single or not, since he is quite attractive and has had a lot of people flirt with him.

4. is your tc more of the athletic type, the nerdy type or the artsy type?

M is more of a total nerd, maybe a bit artsy too? He works out (and have made this super obvious to me) but he doesn’t talk about it as much as U, a more athletic type, does.

5. if you and your tc were in high school together, do you think you’d be friends?

M was cute in the high school photo he showed me, but the kind of personality he described to me that he had would probably clash with my own, as I’m one to listen to directions and he’d constantly talk in between reps and get called out on for doing so. Maybe it’d be an opposites-attract sort of deal, but I have a feeling he’d want to settle for someone prettier. I’m not ugly or anything but he seems like the kind of high school guy that has unrealistically high standards….

U probably wouldn’t talk to me??? But he was quite popular with the ladies, based on pictures I’ve seen. I don’t know how he really was in grade school so I cannot answer this, but I have seen him in a couple of old marching videos, and he looked to be … really weird and quirky 😭 I might have had a crush on him, if only by appearance alone. Maybe. Again, I don’t know enough about how he was back then to answer.

6. name one song that reminds you of your tc and explain why that song reminds you of them.

“Industry Baby” reminds me of U because it was the first stand tune he composed for us all, and because he played it so much, I just associated the song with him. The vibes check out as well!

“The Humpty Dance” reminds me of M because he told me in a sectional that he sang it in karaoke once. Absolutely traumatized after listening to it and imagining him singing it behind the mic…but the story checks out.

7. is your tc fashionable or are they more of the simple type? what is one outfit you’d love to see them wear?

M dresses fairly well! He always tries to match his shoes with his outfits and his pants and hats and whatever, and he looks quite nice (most of the time). My favorite outfit of his is his little dark green vest and white undershirt, or ANY SHIRT THAT IS OVERSIZED (I saw it on him ONCE and it was SO ADORABLE).

U dresses pretty well too when he feels like it!!! A lot of the time, though, you’ll either see him in a branded band/school T-shirt, a hoodie, or a tank top, and shorts or sweats, and a random pair of multicolored shoes that don’t really match, but I guess he has pretty privilege because he always looks good, even when he’s all groggy and tired. EVERY TIME HE WEARS SUITS (this goes for M too) I AM BLOWN AWAY…SO THAT’S MY FAVORITE KIND OF OUTFIT ON HIM.

[mysticnotebook]

Remember those Microsoft Windows wallpapers and screensavers in the late 2000s with their vibrant blue skies and water, and green terrains? For "My World", Aespa might have just taken inspiration from that style and today in Mystic Notebook, we are going to explore this concept change, or let's say evolution, for the want of a better word! 

 

Gone is the hyper pop/Y2K/futuristic-blingy style to be replaced by an aesthetic that seems to be calmer and soothing to the eyes. The girls are shown wearing flowy white dresses in natural landscapes: long stretches of desert and barren land, green grassy fields with glimpses of forest far behind, and frothy seas. At first, the set of pictures seemed rather blah to me, and I couldn't help but wonder if Aespa is doing a simple summer concept, which is so unlike them! But then things started to make sense! In this comeback, they are focusing on THEIR world, and the aesthetic evolved from their Y2K concept to that of "Microsoft wallpapers." This particular aesthetic is known as Frutiger Aero, a style that arose after the late 90s/early 2000s Y2K futuristic style! The evolution signifies a return to their real world ("my" world) from the very artificial and utopic world of Kwangya and the Flat, after defeating Black Mamba. Or maybe they are in the world of Mys, their fans.  

 

Now, Frutiger Aero is the style that has the futuristic element of Y2K aesthetic but with the inclusion of nature and greenery. It's an intermingling of scientific progress and a utopic feeling while keeping in touch with Mother Nature. The aesthetic lacks much of the artificiality of Y2K and inclines towards naturalism and humanism.  

 

In the new teaser video, even the greenery seems to have a sense of eeriness, don't you think? The girls are dressed in white, a symbol of a fresh start and purity and they seem to be searching for something. Maybe remnants of their past in the now barren land? Did someone attack Aespa's world while they were fighting Black Mamba? In my opinion, this real-world concept change was already foreshadowed in "Life's Too Short", which had a simple and preppy concept, very real worldish. The girls are slowly getting in touch with the real human world. 

 

Coming back to the style, I love Karina's outfit. It is by the brand, Kim Zisu, and though it has a flowy white summery vibe, the sleekness of the dress and the white boots are an ode to their futuristic concept. The concept photos can any day replace the old Microsoft wallpapers and screensavers; the wide blue skies with soft wispy clouds, the vast green fields, and the dark vivid seas are very reminiscent of the Frutiger Aero style of screensavers and wallpapers. 

 

The foreshadowing mentioned above perhaps started back in Savage Era, in my opinion. If you closely look at the album covers of "Savage" and "Girls", the colour scheme, floor patterns, and structure in general, are very similar to the Frutiger Aero concept.  

 

I wouldn't be surprised if everything was planned all along! Aespa and SM Entertainment are known for producing music and concepts that are far ahead of their time. Stepping away from Y2K futurism to a concept that is very tricky to notice, is quite a bold step. The teaser video intrigues the audience's mind with its haunting melody and I'm very excited to see how they explore their storyline after Black Mamba's defeat. 

 

 

 

ALL RIGHTS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEO TO SM ENTERTAINMENT.

[james-vivian]

Why White Outfits Are Classic That Never Goes Out of Style

Hey loves! Let's talk about something that gets me every single summer: the magic of white outfits. As soon as that sun starts peeking through the window for a little longer each day, my wardrobe starts craving one thing – crisp, clean whites.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: "Isn't white impractical for summer?" Honestly, for a while I thought so too! I used to shy away from white because of the whole "spills happen" mentality. But hear me out – there's a reason why white remains a summer staple.

First of all, let's talk about the heat. Remember those lazy afternoons spent under the shade of a tree, wishing you could instantly cool down? White is your secret weapon! Unlike darker colors that absorb heat, white reflects it, keeping your body temperature a little lower. Plus, there's just something so refreshing about throwing on a breezy white dress and feeling that cool fabric against your skin.

Then there's the versatility factor. White can be dressed up or down with ease. I remember last summer, I wore this off-shoulder jumpsuit from EUG Fashion to a beach bonfire, and then the next day threw on a white linen blazer over the same dress for a casual brunch with friends. It's like a blank canvas for your personal style!

Exude elegant bohemian vibes. Get it now. Click here.

And let's not forget the confidence boost. There's something undeniably chic and put-together about a crisp white outfit. I remember a few years ago, I was feeling a little self-conscious about my body image. I wore this simple white tunic with and blue pants and a pair of sandals, and let me tell you, the compliments I got were a major mood-lifter. It's a reminder that sometimes, the simplest things can make you feel like your most radiant self.

Allure in a Long Linen Tunic. Get it now. Click here.

So, this summer, I'm embracing white with open arms (and hopefully no major spills!). Whether it's a breezy jumpsuit, a chic dress, or a timeless linen set, white is my go-to for feeling cool, comfortable, and effortlessly stylish.

What are your favorite ways to wear white in the summer? Let me know in the comments below!

[jungwonenthusiast]

hii can i request bestfriends heeseung and y/n who have never done anything together but one night while having a sleepover things just go in that direction 👀👀👀 (using prompts 8 & 12 please🥺)

A/N: this is such a cute concept i love it (u didn’t specify who says what so i chose lol i hope thats okay, I also made hee a soft dom)

Warnings: oral (f receiving), fingering (f receiving), unprotected sex, cock warming

Word count: 3k

You tap lotion onto your face as Heeseung pulls his sheet mask off. He pats the remaining product into his skin.

“You don’t even need that,” you roll your eyes. “Your skin is already perfect.”

“Jealous?” he teases.

“Yes, I one hundred percent am.” you admit and he chuckles.

You finish up in the bathroom and then plop onto your bed. Heeseung leans over you and grabs the remote on your nightstand. He clicks to Bojack Horseman as always then lays down next to you, scrolling through his phone.

You kick him in the shin. “Gimme some space.”

He frowns and sprawls himself on top of you. “What, you don’t wanna love on me?”

You laugh and try to push him off. “I feel violated.”

He rolls away, chuckling.

You’re scrolling through tiktok together when a video of someone joking about porn comes up. You cackle and Heeseung looks at you.

“How do you know about that?” he asks, wide eyed.

“What do you mean?” you ask awkwardly.

“Do you watch porn?” he asks and you turn away from him, giggling.

“That’s a very private question.” you say, covering your face with your hands.

“So you do!” he exclaims and he’s blushing too.

You guys talked about sex occassionaly, only when you were sharing stories about hook ups though.

“What kind do you watch?” he says, only half joking and you punch him in the shoulder.

“That’s an extremely private question.” you say.

“I thought we were for lifers.” he replies and you laugh.

If he were a female friend you wouldn’t hesitate to tell her all of this, but for some reason he made you shy. You still remember when you became aware that he was a guy. It was the summer before tenth grade when he grew three inches, his voice dropped, and his shoulders began to broaden. It was the summer you became more aware of his masculinity and ever since then, things kind of changed. Not for the worse, things are just different now. 

You continue to scroll when another scandalous tiktok comes up. It said something about wanting to be dominated and taken control of.

You groan. “Why do I keep getting these things?”

“The for you page gives you things that it knows you’d like.” he remarks and you scrunch your nose at him. “What? I think it was pretty hot.”

You choke. “You’re a bottom?”

“No!” he guffaws. “I meant to be the giver in that situation.”

“Ohhh,” you say, trying not to get too embarrassed. The thought of him doing that to someone drove you a little insane.

“Are you?” he asks and you shove him.

“You weirdo.” you accuse and he holds his hands up.

“I just think best friends should know these things about each other.”

You shrug him off and turn your phone off. “I don’t trust my phone anymore, let’s watch yours.”

You scoot over to him and rest your head on his shoulder.

He scoffs. “I thought you wanted space?”

“Are you complaining?” you tease.

“Of course not.” He fake yawns to get his arm around you and you cackle.

He taps a gentle beat onto your shoulder while scrolling through instagram. You can’t help but tense up in his embrace. He had been a bit more touchy than usual lately; random hugs, playing with your fingers, adjusting your clothes, and tying up your shoelaces whenever he could.

“Wow I do not like this.” he says at someone’s prom outfit.

“Me neither,” you frown. “It’s kind of outdated.”

“When’s our prom?” he asks.

“I think in a month.”

“We’re going together right?” he asks and your heart skips a beat. You figured that you’d go together but him asking you made you anxious.

“Yeah,” you try to sound confident.

“Are we gonna coordinate our outfits?” he lightly squeezes your side and you squeal.

“But we’re not going as a couple.” you say and he rolls his eyes.

“So? It’d be weird to show up together with mismatched outfits.” he says and you nod in agreement. “Do you have an idea of what you wanna wear?” he asks.

“I think I wanna go more simple and do black.” you say and he groans.

“You always wear black dresses.”

“And? I look hot in them.” you defend.

“You’re right you’re right.” he accepts defeat and you giggle.

As the night goes on you slowly slump further into Heeseung’s side. At one point his arm goes numb so you scooch in front of him and rest your back against his chest. You’ve gotten used to being so close to him, and at this point you just wanted more.

His arms are wrapped loosely around you as you watch Coraline on the tv. He reaches up to run his hand through his hair but instead punches you decently hard in the boob. You yelp and hold your chest.

“Ahh! Sorry sorry!” he holds your shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

You can’t help but laugh through your pain. “Trying to make me lose a boob or something?”

“Noo, no I’m sorry, forgive me.” he asks, sounding genuinely worried.

Sure you were exaggerating your reaction, but what’s wrong with having a little fun with him.

You elbow him in the side and he cries out.

“Revenge.” you say with a smug smile.

He waits a moment before grabbing your waist and flipping you onto your back. He’s always stronger than you would’ve guessed. You yell as he climbs on top of you and begins to tickle your sides.

You kick around and try to push him off but he won’t budge.

“Get off, I’m dying!” you cackle from his relentless tickling.

“You asked for it.” he says.

“I thought we promised no tickle fights?” you grab a pillow to protect yourself but he’s quick to chuck it away.

“I had my fingers crossed.” he jokes.

You muster all of your strength and hook your leg around him to get him onto his back, a trick Jungwon taught you.

Without thought, you climb on top of him and pin his hands down. It take you a moment to realize what position you’re in. You both freeze for a second before bursting out laughing.

You fall onto your back, holding your chest.

“What the hell was that?” he asks, laughing. “Some fifty shades of gray type of shit.”

You kick him in the shoulder. “I’m sorry!” you say through a fit of giggles. You try to push yourself up but your legs are bent in a way that makes it a little tough. Heeseung assists you and pulls you up into a sitting position by your waist.

You’re still giggling a bit when you feel his nose brush against yours.

“Hi.” you whisper and he waits a moment before gently pushing his lips against yours. Your heart leaps into your throat but you try to stay calm as possible.

He pulls away (to your disappointment) and looks at you with wide eyes.

“Fuck, I’m sorry-” he says and before he can finish your hold his face and kiss him back. His arms snake around your waist and he pulls you flush against him.

You can’t believe that this is happening. You wonder if all the things you’ve fantasized about would happen tonight. Of course not, you’re crazy, you think. But you could already imagine with hands adventuring your body, touching you just how you like it.

Your fingers dip into the back of his shirt collar. You’re barely touching his skin, but it still feels so special.

His lips move to your cheek, then your jaw, then your neck. Your breath becomes increasingly ragged as his kisses become more open mouthed and messy.

He looks up at you. “Is this okay? Like do you want this?”

You nod eagerly and he smiles. “Cute.” he says to himself.

He gently rests you onto your back and traces your waist before pushing your top up. He peppers kisses all over your stomach and ribs before getting to the band of your bralette.

You blush. “I would’ve worn something nicer if I knew this was gonna happen.”

He shakes his head. “I like it, it’s pretty.”

You tug your shirt over your head along with your bra. He lets out a small gasp and you rush to cover yourself.

“Wait, no no.” he pulls your hands away.

“You’re making me shy.” you turn your head away and he chuckles.

“So perfect.” he says before softly kissing your chest.

You let out a small moan while running your fingers through his hair.

He slowly runs his tongue over your nipples while rubbing your sides. You can feel wetness starting to pool in your underwear.

You instinctively swivel your hips, looking for some kind of stimulation and he smiles.

“Do you need something?” he asks teasingly and you feel your cheeks heat up.

“Yeah,” you answer.

“What is it?”

You shake your head out of embarrassment.

“Well you’re gonna have to tell me or I’m just gonna leave you like this.” he says nonchalantly and you sigh.

You swallow your pride. “Touch me, please?”

“Attagirl.” he says and tugs your shorts off. “Show me how you like it.”

Your eyes widen. “Huh?”

“You heard me,” he says. “Show me first.”

You breathe in nervously before sliding your hand into your underwear. You circle your clit once and do your best to hold in a moan. He pulls your underwear to the side to watch you.

“Do you think about me when you touch yourself?” he asks. “When you’re home alone and it’s late at night?”

You nod sheepishly and he smiles. “What do you imagine?”

“I’m not telling you,” you blush. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Don’t be embarrassed. If you tell me, I'll tell you what I think about too.” he suggests and you accept the deal.

“I-I imagine my fingers being yours,” you swallow thickly.

“Mhm,” he encourages you while gingerly kissing your thighs.

“And,” you hesitate for a moment. “I imagine your tongue on me, and you filling me up. What about you?”

He smiles. “I imagine touching you like this,” he rubs his hands down your thighs and reaches up to pinch your nipples. “I imagine kissing you here,” he kisses your inner thigh, “and here,” he kisses you so close to where you need him the most and you quiver. He grabs your hand and pushes your fingers into his mouth. Your eyes widen and he smirks. “You taste good.”

You nearly cum just from seeing and hearing that.

“I imagine doing this.” He lowers his head and licks a gentle stripe up your pussy. Your thighs snap around his head and he pushes them back open.

“Relax sweetheart, let me make you feel good.” he says before delving into you. Your back arches off the bed right away and your fingers find his hair. Goddamn he’s good.

He circles his tongue on your clit, hungrily but still gently.

“Fuck,” you exhale and he smiles.

He pushes a finger into you with ease and soon adds another. You roll your hips against his tongue as his fingers pump in and out of you. You whimper as the overwhelming pleasure runs through your body.

“Oh my god,” you squeak as your legs begin to shake. Already? You think.

His fingers stay at a steady pace as he messily sucks on your clit. You tug at his hair and he moans into you.

“Please don’t stop.” you beg and he obeys.

Your hips begin to lift off the mattress and he pins you down, keeping you in place. Your orgasm pours through you like sweet syrup, leaving you trembling under him.

He comes up to kiss you, letting you taste yourself. You wipe your juices off his chin with your thumb then lick it off.

He watches you in awe. “God you’re hot.”

You pull his hoodie over his head and push him onto his back. Your fingers trace his shoulders, then his waist, and every muscle on his torso. You kiss him down to the band of his sweats before pulling them down along with his Calvins.

His cock springs up and hits his lower stomach. You slowly kiss up his shaft then waste no time getting him in your mouth. He hisses and caresses your hair.

He hits the back of your throat every time you bob your head but you don’t care. His head drops back with a tempting moan.

“Fuck you’re good.” he says with a small smile.

You stroke the inches you can’t reach with your hand.

You wish you could imprint this image of him in your mind: his head lulling back, his adam's apple bobbing every time he swallows, his brows furrowing, his mouth parting open. You’re almost tempted to take a photo.

You take him all the way into your throat and swallow around him. The moan he lets out sounds better than a song.

You look up at him and watch him rake his hand through his hair. His abs contract every time you come down on him.

“Just like that,” he purrs, sending heat straight to your core.

You feel so dirty with your spit dripping down your chin but at the same time, it feels so good.

“Such a good girl,” he coos. “Sucking this cock so well.”

You nod at him and he smiles.

“Come here,” he pulls you into a position where he can reach you better and squeezes your ass. He tenderly traces his fingers down your spine before slowly pushing two fingers into you. You whine on his cock and he smirks.

“Still so wet.” he says while slightly curling his fingers, you jolt and he chuckles. “Feels good huh?”

You nod and he pets your hair. “Keep going, that’s it.”

His fingers pick up the pace as your sucking and licking becomes more sloppy.

His moans become more desperate and when he expects you to pull off you keep your head down, taking his cum down your throat.

“Did you just swallow?” he asks you, still breathing heavy.

You nod with a smile and he pulls you into a passionate kiss.

He flips you onto your back, eagerly kissing down your body before lining himself up with your entrance.

“Fuck me please,” you exhale and he smiles.

“Of course,” he pushes into you and you whine from the feeling. He stretches you out just right. “God you have good pussy.” he moans and you giggle.

He leans down to kiss you and you whimper into his mouth.

“Don’t stop,” you plead and he kisses your neck, sucking and nibbling to leave a hickey. “People are gonna see.” you say and he smiles.

“That’s the point.” he says. "Don’t you want people to know how good you are for me?”

You blush and nod.

“Give me one too sweetheart.” he says softly while leaning over you.

You rub up and down his sides while gently biting and licking at his neck, leaving a pretty red blush on his neck.

His fingers trail down to circle your clit while grinding his hips into yours. Your eyes roll back as he does so and he smiles. He can’t stop thinking about how captivating you are. He can’t take his eyes off you. Which gives him an idea.

He grabs your jaw and turns it to the mirror next to your bed. “Look at yourself.” he says.

Your heartbeat quickens, not used to seeing yourself in this state.

“Look how good you take it.” he says and you can’t deny it, you look hot as fuck.

He looks at you watching his cock disappear in and out of your cunt. You drag your hands over your waist and go to roll your nipples between your fingers.

His fingers are so slick on your clit from your juices and everything feels so good that you can’t really believe it.

He grabs onto the headboard for leverage and he looks so fucking good like this. Ever since he turned your head to the mirror, you can’t look away. You only turn to face him when your legs begin to shake and the fire in your stomach starts to dance.

“Please don’t stop,” you say with sparkling eyes. “I’m close.”

“Cum for me sweetheart,” he says right by your ear. “Be good.”

That alone sends you over the edge.

You’re back arches and your eyes roll back as your orgasm surges through you. He moans into your neck as he releases into you. You’re still pulsing around him when he finishes.

He kisses your cheeks as you come down for your high. “You did so well princess.”

You can’t help but cling to him and he chuckles. “I have to pull out of you eventually.”

“I like the way you feel.” you whine and he smiles.

You opt to cock warm him. He lays on his back and pulls you on top to straddle him. He gently pushes into you as you lay on his chest and enjoy the feeling.

He strokes your back and kisses your shoulder for a bit before he starts to subdtley thrust up into you.

You give him a look and he smiles at you sheepishly. “Wanna go again?”