#i know it's because the materials are high quality and there's a lot of lace and stuff but have you considered. i don't wanna pay that much

[xluxsolarisx]

clawing at the edge of my enclosure at you..,, auuaAA auuaaghrvf asuugh aahbgsffdhnrd. you know how it is

raps at the glass of your enclosure despite warning signs saying not to because i want to see what will happen. because i am fundamentally curious. anyway yeah i do know how it is

[temis-de-leon]

Gn!MC with tactile hypersensitivity

Characters: Mammon, Asmodeus, Belphegor and Barbatos (x reader, separately; could be read as romantic or platonic)

Main Masterlist

Anon request: Hello! May I request maybe a Gn!reader who has oversensitivity to like textures with the demon brothers? Or the side dateables? Like certain fabrics with mess with them more and work the reader up? If they touch like rough textures they tend to scratch at the skin as it feels irritated. I don’t really know how to explain it as I suck with words but I have the problem a lot.

.

Mammon

Another reason for him to believe humans are weird and over-sensitive.

Not only you can’t stand too high or low temperatures, but also certain Devildom foods, books and critters; and now a 35% wool jumper?

He swears babysitting a child is easier than taking care of you and acts really mean about it, but everyone can tell it’s just his way of hiding how worried he is about you.

The first thing he notices is the fidgeting, although that would’ve been obvious even to a blind man. You squirm in your classroom seat, still unused to your brand-new uniform, and mindlessly scratch the skin under the collar and the seams until it’s red.

Mammon can only watch in a stupor as you kneel in front of the bathtub when you return home to soak the clothes in fabric softener.

But the jumper.

You jump at the contact, like it electrifies you, and then stare at it with undisguised discomfort, never touching It ever again.

That 60% polyester and 5% elastane are enough for him to swallow his pride and ignore his embarrassment, letting his affection for you show as time goes by.

The bond between you grows faster than anyone could’ve ever anticipated, so it’s not strange for you to find some of his belongings in your room. A spare charger, a toothbrush, his sunglasses case, a nail polish bottle… Small things.

However, not long passes until those small things evolve into something permanent with deeper intentions, like an unopened bottle of Devilish No. 5 or one of his beloved leather jackets.

It also doesn’t feel that weird anymore, now that you know him better, whenever he insists on you wearing the clothes he leaves there.

Not like you’re going to complain. Everything he has is of good quality, soft under your touch, and durable.

But don’t go babbling out that he’s doing this for you! He was just cleaning his wardrobe, that’s all!

Asmo

Going shopping with you feels like getting a gift wrapped in glitter and laced ribbons; he can’t get enough of it. And lately, it’s been even better than that because now you are the one asking him to go together.

He has nothing against your style, even if he would still modify it a little bit to perfectly match his, but he enjoys grabbing your arm and taking you to different stores, choosing a wild variety of items for you to try and, if you’re up to it, get out of your comfort zone.

That’s how he discovers your problem.

No matter what he chooses, you always consider it way longer than anyone else would ever do, including him; reading the tags to check the fabric’s materials and sometimes even not touching the item at all.

You tell him it’s because of the texture and how it feels to the touch, unpleasant and irritating, and while he doesn’t understand the sensation in its entirety, Asmo gets how certain types of clothes can cause aversion.

One of the most important things for him is feeling comfortable in what you are and what you’re wearing and no one in all the realms deserves that more than you, so he is already helping before being asked to.

As superficial as he seems sometimes, he is also extremely generous to the people he loves, and he happens to love you a gigantic ton.

Just tell him what type of fabric triggers you so he can avoid those while shopping; it’s like they don’t exist in the same world as you anymore.

Belphie

One moment he’s peacefully sleeping in the attic, his whole body sprawled over yours and an old blanket covering both, and the next he’s waking up alone and cold. The blanket is useless without you.

He thought you were mad at him, cue him trailing behind you with a confused and offended stare for the next few hours.

Why did you leave without telling him? Why did you leave at all, to begin with?

Oh, you’re not mad? Then come back!

You need to expressively tell him what the problem is or else he will drag you to bed again and pass out on top of or next to you.

Thankfully, his clothes are not the issue and he can still wear them comfortably while cuddling you at the same time. The blanket, however, is another story.

It’s been used for longer than you’ve probably been alive and the wool is pilled beyond recognition. Actually, it’s not until he decides to retire the blanket for your sake that he realizes the colour is also washed down to the point of looking like another thing completely.

Knowing that his previous blanket was so awful it made you scratch your own skin leaves an incredibly sour taste in his mouth.

In his defence, you could’ve said something sooner, but oh well.

Good riddance; it served good until it didn’t.

From then on you have complete freedom to use whatever feels more comfortable for you so you can keep sleeping together uninterrupted.

Besides his, yours and the attic’s bed, he has slept on the floor, the cabinets, tables, rugs and whatnot, so he isn’t really picky about what you’re choosing.

His priority is that you’re comfortable and satiated because as long as you’re there, he doesn’t need anything else.

Barbatos

Lo and behold, another festival has reached the Devildom.

How does anyone have the time to live their private life while dealing with school, (possibly) a job and the occasional event, you wonder?

Good question!

Anyway.

It’s not you who goes to Barbatos asking for help to design your costume; instead, he is the one sending you a message for permission to take your measurements. And who would reject such an offer from the royal butler?

Barely a couple of days later, you find yourself on top of a small platform in one of the guest rooms in the Demon Lord’s Castle while Barbatos kneels at your feet and holds a sewing tape in his hands.

He’s talking about the design, its colours and the length and you’re only thinking about fabrics, but would that be too much work for him? Of course, he lives to serve and he has made that abundantly clear on numerous occasions, but perhaps being too demanding was crossing a limit.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

He understands your struggle and acts very normal about it. Besides, he also wants you to be happy and comfortable and if he’s the one actively making that a reality, then it’ll be that much better.

Additionally, searching for more suitable fabrics means that you will both spend more time together, which Barbatos deeply appreciates.

In the end, not only will you look perfect in a costume he has made specifically for you, but he will also get to know more about who you are and what makes you you.

As insignificant as it may look, every single detail is very important to him.

.

.

Taglist: @ilovecandys2010 @ollieoven @kingofspadesdelusion @whimsybloom

[the-epic-hiram-lows]

ignoring all visual staples in the comic and show... if you were tasked with wardrobe for riverdale, which aesthetics would you pull from?

Ooooh!

This is difficult, but I love it. For the sake of sanity, I am going to maintain color-coding to some extent. Also, please read my explanations and look at the pictures, because they both add a lot of context.

I will probably only get to one or two characters in this post, but if this gets a good enough reception I will happily continue the series.

Veronica Lodge

For Veronica... I would basically scrap the entire thing and start over new. I want to see a business-savvy teenager, sure, but I also want to see a former Hermes-toting NYC socialite who knows how to party. How do you marry those two concepts? The outfits do not all need to 100% represent every aspect of her, but her wardrobe should.

Though Riverdale (the show) fully embraces camp, Veronica's outfits should always look somewhat effortless. We should get the impression that her wardrobe is endless, and wardrobe is second nature, though it doesn't have to be tasteful. She would embrace a high-low aesthetic fairly often (think: perfectly undone waves and a white tee with a vintage Chanel skirt, or pair of black ankle boots with a delicate lace number and pearls.)

Veronica is a trendsetter and early adapter because she has her finger on the pulse. There is no excuse for these tired PDA mom looks. Here are aesthetics I would pull from when styling her:

Clueless/90s Academia Prep Revival

This is a girl who name-dropped Cruel Intentions! She knows these references. These looks are not only chic and young, but they scream 'old money' while also fitting into the Riverdale 50s academia undertones. We get to keep Veronica's signature stuffiness- but with the addition of casual pieces, a sense of novelty, and lots of upper thigh, we get a youthful, refined, sexy aesthetic. Unfortunately, most of the examples I used are not in the desired color palette, and many of them are cheapo material, but let's use our imaginations.

Click for more!

Y2k Socialite/It Girl

I want to see the glitz and glam! Veronica is the kind of girl who's had the $1k sundae at Serendipity 3's more than once, just for the hell of it. Where is the fun?! My immediate thought was Paris Hilton's famous 21st birthday look with the silver dress. Ignoring how she accessorized it, this would be a perfect reference (however inappropriate it would be in a school scene.) I want details like sheers, sequins, glitter, maribou trims, etc. The colors would be more subdued here- washed out metallics and neutrals, mostly. There are ample ways to make this more 'wearable,' but maybe sometimes Party Mode Veronica is too much.

Mob Wife

I know, I know. I was going for minimalism up top! Effortless! What happened? Well, what happened is this is Riverdale, and Veronica is Veronica. All characters in Riverdale are subject to extreme lifestyle changes- and, often, seemingly contradictory traits. In Riverdale, you are only one arc or setting change from a different aesthetic. Veronica is both the daughter of a mobster who tries really, really hard and (should be) the cool fashion girl among her peers. She wears many hats. I am just trying to make sure they're all stylish. Veronica should have a chameleonic quality to her. We should get the impression there are several Veronicas, all of whom had a wardrobe ready for whatever the occasion du jour is. A heist? Dinner with a crime family? Church with daddy? She has the tools necessary for all of these occasions, even if her wardrobe looks a bit contrived. In other words, Veronica didn't just fall out of a coconut tree. She exists in the context of all in which she lives, and what came before her. With this aesthetic, we get to have fun with some European and femme fatale influences.

Business Bitch

This is where Veronica as we know her gets to shine- it is the closest thing to her actual Riverdale aesthetic, but cuntier. You'll see all of the above come together here, as it is the fourth quadrant of her personality. Though this iteration of Veronica would be heavy on the black and white, high contrast thing she already has going (which I love!) there is plenty of room for color... even if the examples I pulled say otherwise.

[misfits-alley]

Meet In Utero, my first classic sneaker design! I named this one In Utero because this beautiful skull faced moth was one of my first original designs, has always been one of my favorite and always reminds me of the album by Nirvana and what life was like for me then. It's so cool to see little pieces of you come out in your art and to actually see someone wearing it and loving it as much as do is just an absolutely AMAZING feeling!

As a lot of you (my closer friends) know, I have been making custom printed boots from designs for a while, but this new stage of my journey is COMPLETELY different, new and right up my 'Misfit Alley'!! lol

These custom shoes are handmade by master Italian craftsman from pristine Italian leather. Each designer pair is a one-of-a-kind, combining handcrafting tradition, quality and modern style for a product that’s perfectly Italian.

This shoe is made from Italian canvas with details in genuine Italian materials including natural cotton laces, and metal reinforced eyelets. The logo is featured on the side of the shoe and is surrounded by materials inserts.

I even got to design my OWN shoebox!! I still can't believe that I was granted this AMAZING opportunity, I feel so LUCKY!!

IT GETS EVEN BETTER!! In Utero was given the "Staff Pick Award" when I submitted it for manufacturing approval!! The feedback from my design team was:

"The team was blown away by your classic sneakers, In utero, and is so excited to see how it resonates with customers. A very unique Classic high top indeed!

Your branding is on point—great logo and amazing packaging design too. Your glam style is innovative and fashion-forward as well as unique.

Keep pushing the boundaries of design; your unique vision truly shines through! The In Utero high tops are a fantastic blend of gothic aesthetics and modern craftsmanship. I love how the rich, black materials and edgy details encapsulate the rebellious spirit you admire, while the genuine Italian accents elevate the overall look. The branding is bold yet understated, allowing the artistry to take center stage, which is a testament to your graphic design background."

I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face for the last two days, I'm still pinching myself to make sure it's true! lol

NEXT.... I am looking for 10 (and ONLY 10) Ambassadors to be influencers of the Misfits Alley BRAND and be part of the handpicked list of founders who will help me launch my new shoe line and MORE for the WORLD to discover! You will receive special discounts on pre-order designs waiting for production such as these, special VIP perks and gifts for your time, support and my appreciation for being part of this journey with me!!

I will thoughtfully and carefully be picking these 10 Ambassadors. I'm not gonna lie, the more followers and influence you have, the MUCH greater your chances!!

This is JUST THE BEGINNING of the fashion forward Misfits Alley line that is yet to come! Soon, we'll be offering a wide range of new apparel items and styles and bad to the bone new decor and household items to show off your unique style!!

If you're interested in becoming an Ambassador, please DM me directly through my personal page OR through the Misfits Alley page.

https://www.facebook.com/misfitsalley/

I GREATLY appreciate even just a share, comment, like or follow to show your support and OF COURSE, a pre-order to help me get my shoes into production even faster!!

Thank you for supporting my art and my journey friends!

[thelostrainbowthenovel]

TLR Fashion Posts: Talia Neptune

Finally getting into making more fashion posts! I have been meaning to do some more for a long while, especially with Talia here is I love her fancy tomboy style so much and wanted the chance to explore it more. So, I hope you enjoy!

(Her sister's: Amaya)

================================================

Talia's style in a way can be described as a fancy or stylish tomboy, as she does not feel all that comfortable with the traditional flowing skirts and dresses of her kingdom, but still enjoys a stylish and feminine style with her outfits and accessories. A lot of her outfits are also pretty revealing that show off a lot of skin, both because she knows she is attractive and it is in her tastes already, but also because they are easier to move around in and all sorts of room to layer accessories. Tight-fitting and sleeveless tops, crop-tops in all sorts of styles, sleeveless rompers, bralette tops, jumpsuits that are either completely form-fitting or have wide legs, formal, fitting, or flowy shorts, fancy lace leggings, and flowy or loose-fitting pants. Prefers halter or v-necklines with her tops, and largely prefers to have her arms uncovered, but does have a couple of formal or fancy jackets to wear if the weather is colder. As already stated, she cannot stand skirts or dresses that much, but if she must for a formal or royal event, then she is more inclined to wearing high-low ones with attached shorts underneath, or jumpsuit dresses. For footwear, she has a pretty large collection that consists almost exclusively heels and sandals, ranging in various styles and lengths but she prefers strappy or decorative ones the most.

For colors, she has a very bright and peppy color pallate, that ranges more on the warmer side. Yellow and pink are two of her main favorite colors so she wears those the most, with her preferring lighter and more pastel shades of yellow, and more vibrant and brighter pinks. Also enjoys oranges and silver-blues, with light purples and reds on occasion but never any green. As traditional Arianian clothing is mostly white with gold accents, she does have a lot of white pieces in her closet to balance with her more colorful pieces, and does have a few light or silver gray pieces as well, with black only being for some accessories. Prefers solid colors with her clothes but does have some pieces that have celestial motifs and patterns on them, and loves diamond embellishments or glittering and sparkly material. As she is royalty she works with the palace designers to make a lot of her clothes, so they are all made out of high-quality material but she also loves to go shopping with her sisters or friends, so a lot of her clothes have been bought in Arialas as well.

For accessories, she absolutely loves wearing jewelry, and does not care about being excessive or "extra" in this department as she always layers a lot of it with her outfits. All of her jewelry is gold in color, and she owns plenty of gold necklaces, bangle and cuff bracelets, rings, and large dangly or hoop earrings. Most of her jewelry pieces contain celestial motifs and are simple gold to balance a little better with her outfits, but she does have a lot of pieces that contain diamonds or have a sort of "shimmer" quality to them. A big fan of armbands, intrically-designed ones or simple cuff ones, and anklets but she only wears those with shorter heels. Owns a few belts in plain white or gold, most with fancy buckles but she does have a few chain belts. Doesn't wear hair accessories that much since she has shorter hair, but when it is styled all nice she has some fancy hair pins to pull it back with.

For her hair, it is naturally wavy and she keeps it at around chin-length, wearing it down most of the time but she does like curling or pulling it back in fancy styles for royal events or just because sometimes. It is also a natural silvery-white color, which she always found too boring on its own and loves to experiment with different hair colors or color combinations, with her right now sporting a pretty, all-over salmony-pink color. Absolutely loves wearing makeup, and does not care if her looks are considered "extra" on a daily basis. Her usual looks consist of shimmering eyeshadow in gold, pink, or other warm shades, a little bit of highlighter and blush, and shiny but natural-colored lip-glosses or lipsticks, to have her makeup looks draw more attention to her eyes. Loves getting her nails done, preferring to keep them long and usually likes to get glitter polish or some sort of fun design, with her and her sister Maya liking to go to the salon together to get their nails done. Enjoys wearing perfume, with her liking sweet and romantic scents.

- Some inspirations:

[ivyleatherwriting]

Another Night, Another Awakening.

S. 1202 Saint Seiros High School – Dorms

“Dorothea, you have to focus. You’re never going to get better at history if you don’t put in the effort.” The irritated voice was just enough to stir Dorothea from her thoughts that had wandered elsewhere. “I don’t have to be here, I’m here because I want to help you pass this term. You already had to repeat a class from last year and you know how strict Headmaster Seteth is.” Ingrid lost the vigor to put some heat into her lecture but not to the point of tiring.

“I know Ingrid and you know how grateful I am. I just can’t bring myself to care about these tales of old men doing all these things and men around tables arguing over political nonsense. At least teach us just the political nonsense then.” Dorothea tried to appear more bored than she was and adjusted her stockings a bit.

“It’s hard to understand the turmoil of a period without knowing the people behind them! It’s crucial to understanding what’s going on.” Ingrid forgot who she was arguing with for just a second and let it out.

“Then why don’t you talk more with Claude then? I mean, I know he’s not your type but bonding over musty old books is more romantic than other… outcomes.” Dorothea’s hair flashed from left to right.

A sigh that didn’t show as much frustration as she wanted as Ingrid stood. “You’re hopeless Dorothea. You can’t get better at a subject until you show it some basic respect.”

Dorothea stood as well. “Thanks, Ingrid. It wasn’t a waste; I remember some of it but I just don’t really have a lot of… stamina. Much like you in math and magic class.” A sly smile and drawn-out delivery always threw Ingrid for a loop, for Dorothea’s entertainment if nothing else. “And thanks for standing up for me with the headmaster earlier, that took a lot of guts.”

“Ugh. How am I supposed to be upset with you when your teasing is followed by such a good hearted thank you? Don’t mention it. I know your class leader stirs up a lot of trouble but it’s not a coincidence Mercedes and Hilda stood up for you too. Even if Hilda’s intentions are… questionable.” She nervously looked to the side. “Your skirt was within regulations, and there’s nothing that says the material of your stockings must be lace or nylon. Even if it’s showy and inappropriate in many parts of Fodlan.”

“It’s okay Ingrid. You’re allowed to look too. I’m sure most of the women would prefer it than the likes of Lorenz or Sylvain.” Her smile wasn’t as smug and knowing as usual. It was oddly genuine?

“Don’t compare me to them Dorothea! Especially Sylvain.” Ingrid’s voice couldn’t manifest being upset or angry, just confusion.

Dorothea slowly stepped toward Ingrid. “I wasn’t. Just be careful, you might give some cute girl the wrong idea. You can be a bit oblivious; you know?” It wasn’t until Dorothea’s fingertip touched her hair that Ingrid finally recoiled a bit.

“I’m not oblivious!” The small stammer didn’t help. “I just don’t understand Adrestia and your unusual behavior in some situations.” She stepped back just a step.

A slightly overdramatic sigh. “Ugh let’s not do this again. Let me thank you for the tutoring by getting you some food. Professor Byleth is usually making food around this hour.”

“Your professor makes study food?” Not oblivious at all.

“Sure does! It’s not the same quality as the food at the school clubhouse but she has surprising range and can make a lot of different things. Her only rule is that you must help her make it or help around class. I bet I can get her to give something up for free though.” A sly smile and she turned to the staircase, with a bewildered yet hungry Ingrid in tow.

“T-thank you Professor Byleth. This looks delicious. If not in gold, then at least let me help you later after class.” Ingrid looked at the braised short ribs before her with some exotic Dagdan seasoning. It looked like too much seasoning but too much flavor is better than too little after all.

“Absolutely not. I know Hanneman doesn’t always keep up on providing food for you all after dinner. Besides, you’re a growing girl and if you’re going to swing a lance you’re going to need muscle. Eat up!” A very slight smile flashed across her face. “Besides. Dorothea is more than capable of making up for your share of it later, she can put on some muscle helping with the weapon maintenance.” Her smile was much wider and certainly less genuine.

Ingrid’s smile matched Byleth’s as Dorothea looked for a way to keep her cool. “I agree Professor, if Ingrid is going to take a young maiden’s heart someday, she needs to cut a strong figure.” Dorothea stuck the landing, undefeated still.

A small chuckle. “Well, don’t stay too late Ingrid. Hanneman has his flaws but he’s quite good at enforcing curfew. Catherine was also looking especially bored today so I wouldn’t give her too much excitement. She turned on her heel and left to clean up the kitchen.

The two ate their fair share. Dorothea enjoyed a rib or two while Ingrid cleaned her plate (it’s only polite of course) and the two went out to the terrace as the moon had fully risen. Dorothea produced a flask of wine that she convinced a person from town to sell her and the two resumed their conversation over a small drink.

“Um, Dorothea. Isn’t Helena going to…?”

“What? Her? No. Believe me; Edelgard reins her in if that’s possible. We have an unspoken agreement in the Black Eagle Dorm. What happens in the dorms isn’t anyone else’s business. Besides Edie, Helena, and Petra are studying. Lindy is sleeping. Caspar is doing goddess knows what, and Bernie is hiding. Who’s going to say anything?” A knowing smile and a small sip.

“Speaking of Black Eagles affairs, I feel like I have to ask. Is it true that you were… well.” A nervous touch of her uniform. “Did you really spend the night in Petra’s room?”

“My.” Dorothea finally was off her game. “I know you’re direct but that’s a bit much even for you, Ingrid. The full moon perhaps?”

“It’s nothing of the sort, I know the headmaster is investigating and I wasn’t sure if you needed any more… help with him.” A quick gaze to her left, looking at nothing.

“Well, for you Ingrid I’ll answer. Yes, I spent the night in Petra’s room. But it’s not as steamy and romantic as your wild imagination might think. At first.” A quick smile. “We were designing a version of the school uniform but based on typical Brigid clothing. I thought it might be a fun diversion for her since she studies and works harder than most anyone here. She wasn’t interested at first, but before long we had sheets full of potential designs. She complained that our uniforms covered too much and didn’t let our skin touch the sun. Believe me, the first time I’ve heard a girl complain about that.” A pause.” Then, we talked about other things, life and love. And wine. Turns out Petra can handle her wine. And one thing led to another, and we lost an hour or so just kissing and letting our bodies rest against each other’s. Nothing untoward, mind you.” Dorothea drank more than she did last time, drinking an impressive amount. “It just kind of happened.” She looked up and expected a shocked and bewildered Ingrid only to find… fascination? Undivided attention?”

“I… I apologize Dorothea. I suppose I assumed something tawdrier. Kind of the like the rumors of women in middle age Pegasi brigades having “overnight meetings” in the stables.” She was nervous but not enough to redirect her or make her leave.

“Oh. Well, those are romantic in their own way. Two women fighting in a war finding a love of their own. Even if some of them would make even me blush.” Her smile was smaller this time. “No, this was Petra and I looking for something. Apparently in Brigid and especially Dagda women pair together. They commonly adopt orphans and farm, hunt, and even fight together. And that led to more conversations… and more wine, and we just lost track of time…” Dorothea didn’t break eye contact, but her expression was more vulnerable than usual. Her eyes drifted to her left as she remembered more pieces of that evening. Her words started to lack their usual up and down delivery, getting flatter as she spoke.

Ingrid had never seen Dorothea like this. Girl talk and serious talk were always a part of their friendship but this pairing of the two was unusual for both of them.

“I came into this school with a lot of assumptions about my future and about myself, and all it took was one night and permission to go beyond those assumptions. I’m not saying I’ll run away to Brigid with Petra or anything, and I think I still came to Saint Seiros to find something. But instead of a husband or secure future, I think I came here to find love. I knew what love looked like from the outside, but now I have to learn what it looks like on the inside.” Dorothea put down the flask and peered off to stare into the full moon.

Ingrid remembered why she spent so much time with Dorothea. She was frustrating, unpredictable, and a bit much to handle but it was moments like these that she couldn’t share with anyone else. “Dorothea.”

A head turn as Dorothea kept the tears back, almost as if it was Ingrid’s rich, low voice that brushed them aside.

“I didn’t want to come here originally. There were other schools that interested me more, the thought of coming to a boarding school had little appeal to me. No one else really liked the idea either, but it was when I met Mercedes the night before we were to catch the train here that I wondered if it might be a good idea after all. She talked about how women who came here were changed just by being away from the circumstances they grew up in, if just for a little while. They became something unique, something more genuine just by sharing life with other girls their age. When I think about what you’ve told me, it’s become clear to me that I haven’t done anything of the sort yet. I need to learn, I need to grow, I need to…” Ingrid trailed off, letting her words melt into the warm midnight air. She was lost in her own downward gaze until she heard the telltale clicking of heels, looking up to see Dorothea right in front of her, kneeling down to Ingrid’s seated height.

“We all have things to learn, and it’s never too late to make up for lost time.” Dorothea brushed a bit of Ingrid’s hair aside, their eyes locking and their souls exposed to the other. “You know how far behind you are on the journey to discover yourself, I had no idea I had so much in front of me. I. I think…” Her face relaxed, as Ingrid exhaled.

Ingrid’s hand blindly reached out and found Dorothea’s thigh. The feel of leather should have been familiar, but those now infamous leather stockings felt like nothing she had felt before. Her hand went flat on Dorthea’s thigh and Dorothea’s hand rested on top of hers. “Dorothea. Will you- Could I? Can…?”

Dorothea’s exhale sounded like a chuckle, but it was a somewhat frustrated exhale. She was finally out of answers. No clever retort or way to lighten the mood. No way to get the spotlight off her this time. “I guess it’s only fitting that it’s my room this time.” Dorothea’s other hand rested on Ingrid’s chin. “Come.”

The clock struck midnight and the quick slamming of a door rang through the hall. Professor Byleth sighed, a bit out of exasperation but also one of resignation. She took the stack of exams she had put off grading and set to work finishing them. Getting her across campus wasn’t going to be easy but she had time to come up with something, only for the opening of another door to break the silence. The pair of footsteps weren’t that of sneaking students, but ones who didn’t care for stealth at all. Her head looked up as the white-haired girl and her raven-haired attendant came with a note, and a small cloth bag.

“I believe we can be of some help, Professor.”

-------

“Thank you, Shamir. As always you come to my rescue when it’s most needed.” The bag gently rested against the table, the familiar tinkle of coins ringing in her ear.

“Not a very dramatic rescue. When I accepted your retainer, I expected to walk you all back from town on days off or scare men who get too close. Not sneak a tipsy student past Catherine and the rest of the faculty.” Her tone bordered on curt, as usual but her raised eyebrow betrayed her amusement.

“Well, we all have very different needs. I also have a feeling given her class leader’s… opinions we might see a class transfer, I have Professor Byleth but would you sign as well?”

“Of course. Don’t pay me for that, though. I’ve heard rumors of what goes on in the Black Eagle Dorm, and I’m not about to let you girls get in trouble for having a little fun. I can’t protect you from everything, and things went a bit too far this time, so be more careful.” There was the lecture to expect from a professor.

“Of course. Once the rumors spread and we see any changes in behavior it could cause quite an uproar. I’m sure your academies in Dagda don’t have issues like this?”

“Not like this, rich girls sneaking wine into the dorms and fooling around isn’t something we see a lot of. Of course, we have healthy outlets and not having to worry about people who shove their noses into your business.” A gentle tap of the toe of her boot.

“Well, I’m grateful all the same. Your name isn’t known to them, but just know you’ve done the students of Adrestia a great service, and we never forget those who care for us. The Hresvelg Rail Company will always come to your assistance should it be needed; you have my word.”

A genuine smile this time. “I’ll keep that in mind. You’ll be late for class.” Shamir took the bag of coins and put them in her bag. “One more thing. Everyone hasn’t caught on to you and Professor Byleth yet, but just because they’re narrow minded doesn’t mean they’re stupid. Tread carefully, especially after the word gets out. Summer term break makes people forget all kinds of rumors, but those who’ve made this school their life have very, very long memories.”

“Your wisdom is appreciated, thank you Professor.” Edelgard bowed and excused herself. As she exited the office Helena stepped out from the shadows.

“I trust it went well, Miss?” Her low voice almost dissolved into the shadows as if it were her own presence.

“Very well. I don’t think she’s motivated by the coin we give her, at least not with matters like these.” A knowing smile.

“Then perhaps we can be more judicious with how we give it out? There are many things we can use it for, Miss.”

“No, Helena. She helps us at a great risk. The political upheaval to come is nothing compared to our personal matters here at school. But all who aid me, and my friends are to be made whole for assisting us at their own risk. And if her tone is any indication, the risk to her and our classmates is higher than they might anticipate.” Her tone darkens a bit as she turns to look Helena dead in the eye.

“Of course. I’ll write to the treasurer and send for some more appropriate funding.” A small, malevolent smile.

“Thank you. Now I must visit Professor Byleth, would you meet me in the dorm lounge in an hour? I think the students of Adrestia need to come to a… mutual understanding about how to tread going forward.”

“At once, Miss Edelgard.” Helena bows slightly and starts walking to the chancery.

Edelgard watches as she walks away, her mind starts to wander a bit before she catches herself and sets off for the faculty building.

[taeyamayang]

LOVE LANGUAGE

ㅡhc on how they show affection

tokyo revengers | haikyuu | jujutsu kaisen

✦ BAJI & SANZU - acts of service

ㅡthe saying "actions speak louder than words" may have taken up a notch by these two. they would do literally anything to show their love (not bc they suck with words, but that could be a possibility too lmao). baji, compared to sanzu, is a bit softer, and by that i mean he is courteous like a gentleman. he opens the door, put his hand over your head when it starts drizzling, reaching high places, tying your laces when he sees it undone, cooking you breakfast in bed, etc. whereas sanzu would go lengths just for you. pick you up from work even if it's hundreds of miles away? sure. climb back to your 6th floor apartment for the wallet you forgot? no problem. punch your asshole-of-a-colleague on his face? he's good at that. these two will show their loyalty and devotion towards the small gestures and favors they do for you. so, better keep an eye on the details.

✦ MITSUYA & DRAKEN - words of affirmation

ㅡmitsuya and draken is the friend and lover 2-in-1 package. when you need someone to support you in times of crisis (mostly mental and emotional crisis) these two will soothe your nerves by their use of words. they have the ability shift your mood positively by the use of reassurance and advices. i'm pretty sure they are not aware of their ability to do so, but their oblivion actually adds to their charm. you just love how they look at you with bewildered faces as they wonder what they have done to cause you to smile from ear to ear. they don't know how much you adore watching and listening to them as they explain their perspective on things. you just love their unique way of thinking.

✦ RINDOU & INUI - physical touch

ㅡgod, these two can't keep their hands to themselves! they love touching, groping, and stroking every part of your body exposed to them. they take advantage of small spaces. they love sitting next to you when you eat out, intertwining hands while walking, when you rake your fingers through their hair as they lay their heads on your lap. they aren't afraid to show their love through intimate touches. hence, these two are probably the best kissers, i mean with the amount of practice they had i wouldn't doubt the premise. just... at night, keep it low for the neighbors.

✦ KOKONOI & HAKKAI - gift giving

ㅡthere are two types of gift givers (based on my expert opinion /sar) one that goes to the mall, picks an item that you like or would best suit you, purchasing it, then having it wrapped in the gifts section. on the other hand, the other type of giver would rather create a gift from scratch. the former is koko and the latter is hakkai. although, there is no "better giver" it's just that the style of giving depends on the person. i hc koko as the type of giver that when he sees an object and instantly reminds you if it, he will purchase it and gives it to you to show that he remembered you. whereas, hakkai, to me, is the type to create something from nothing. he's the type to mess around art materials, crafting a gift while thinking about you.

✦ MIKEY & IZANA - quality time

ㅡthey don't mind killing time looking at a sunsent and sitting next to you, or listen to you talk about a shitty movie you saw the other day, or sit through a rant about your neighbor who refuses to segregate their trash. every second and minute spent with you is precious. they find happiness and comfort in the most mundane moments; as long as the person they are with means so much to them every second is would mean a lot. they probably have one rule when going out tho, they don't want your phones stuck to your face. if they're spending time with you they want your full attention to them because in return they are entirely yours.

missed writing hcs so here ya go. hope ya enjoy it :) also, correct me if i'm wrong cos my memory is a bit hazy. izana has only appeared in the manga and not yet in the anime, right? so if you have not read the manga i suggest you not to search him to avoid spoilers. thanks.

m.list | tr.list

[firespirited]

Heya! I hope you are well. I was wondering if you could inform me on what you meant when you said that MGA (Founder of Bratz, LOL Surprise, Rainbow High, etc) treated Hayden Williams badly. For reference it was in a post about how MGA stole a black creators look for a doll. I'm just wanting to know what happened because I'm trying to dig on the internet to find something about that and it's like hiding from me lol. Thank you for your time.

Hi! What a lot of people don't know is that toy companies give doll designers a set of parametres to work with: It's a set of catalogues:

what fabrics/trims/accessories/paint/molds/finishings/hair/hairstyles are available

at what cost

& how much total costs they're allowed per doll.

So a budget cook barbie is not going to get an apron, a belt or buttons: it'll be printed on to her dress, she won't get real denim, just printed thin fabric. A headband will be plastic not elasticated fabric. Hems cost extra, an opening handbag costs extra. A designer picks and chooses what priorities they want for their doll: you can have a shawl or the more complex earrings but not both.

Some doll designers come up with an initial drawing but then rework that based on what's available and within budget. Some work from available fabric swatches and a set amount of extras to create the doll's drawing. MGA is notorious for putting out dolls with box art that's the prototype not the actual doll that made it to production.

Here's Bratz Kina's prototype vs the Kina doll that got produced:

The socks and arm warmers are gone, the top and skirt are a pink dress in one colour, the hair fibre has changed, no face jewel or handbags, the ribbon trims are gone. Those extras cost too much.

Doll design is a specific job, you're working at 1/6th of human scale so you can't use human sized fabrics or expect them to drape like it would on a human body.

Here's is barbie wearing iconic designer dresses translated to plastic and printed fabrics by doll designers: https://www.glamour.com/gallery/designer-barbies-limited-edition-fashion-barbies

You'll notice that The Blonde's chain corset is now just a static plastic gold painted piece instead of chains because even though Barbie can easily find and afford small chains: assembling them on a small corset would be too expensive.

Here is barbie dressed directly by human designers: https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toy-shop

https://hauteliving.com/2015/08/see-it-13-fashion-designers-give-barbie-a-haute-makeover/581969/

Hayden Williams was told his digital drawings would be translated to dolls without being told the limitations he should abide by. For example: he drew a Yasmin with matching socks and shoes except this time they couldn't do boots or find socks to match the shoes so they flocked some shoes and gave her some different velvet socks.

When the complaints hit, Bratz didn't explain that they'd messed up by not giving Williams a price and materials guide and then they had reworked his designs into what worked best for their budget. He was left to field angry customers like every choice was his, the dolls had his name on them after all! Quality control was terrible and many corners were cut on quality to fit the budget: what they should have done is seen the initial designs and said 'Oh woops! We can't make these at an affordable price, let's hook you up with our materials catalogue and give you a fixed amount of itemized costs per doll" or they could have teamed him with a seasoned doll designer who'd be able to say: "well you can have pink shiny boots at our budget or we need to come up with a new shoe design". look at those tiny eyelets and tiny lace on the dolls: those have to be custom ordered/installed. Same with the Boyz blue shirt print: that's custom fabric. Each adds up.

It's a special skillset and MGAe leaped to make a promise they couldn't possibly fulfill then left a clothes designer to deal with the fallout.

[azureaqua]

Giving the Ikesen guys modern outfits (because I can) <Pt. 2>

Yeah, we’re doing this. I've probably put way too much thought and time into this. But at this point I have to share it. Why the Ikesen guys, you ask? Because they have the most traditional clothes, especially seeing that nowadays western-style fashion is present everywhere! Let's get it!

→ PART 1 HERE, if you missed it!

How did this post even came alive? Tbh, I was just browsing Pinterest and one of my secret hobbies is that I like to thirst over fashion runways and designer stuff. Not that I would ever buy them, or have the money to buy them, but I still enjoy it for some reason haha. So one time, I was looking at an outfit and suddenly a warlord popped into my head. That's when I decided that I'll do a full detailed research on this. Inspired mainly by their armors and color palettes. (First I thought about drawing the outfits myself, but my drawing skills are questionable, so I edited them instead. My editing skills are better, I promise.)

Also, as I said; these are from fashion runways, so almost everything is from luxury brands and/or quality designers. So not the 'typical' street fashion, because I figured it would be more interesting this way. Plus since I needed a lot of jackets and blazers for the guys, I'm thanking Balmain, because most of these are from their shows XD.

Takeda Shingen

At first this wasn't quite the outfit I invisioned for him, but after I completed it... You know, it's for the better. He needed something big, something voluminous. I also got mafia boss vibes, like with Nobunaga and this time I really went for it with the coat. The one-piece suit underneath gives a nice contrast and introduces a new accent color! This isn't really in Shingen's palette, but it did good for the whole picture. I was hesitant once again about the boots, but other shoes would have looked wrong so, Shingen will slay the high lace up boots! I added a subtle accessory to his big coat and a hat as well. I feel like he would look good in it!

Uesugi Kenshin

I found a lot of big, fancy fur coats for him, but I ended up using the smallest and the least fluffy out of them haha. Kenshin is elegant and graceful. They mention it all the time when he's fighting or when they talk about his mere presence. But he's ruthless as well. So something 'painfully' beautiful was the idea. It's a mix of styles and textures with the big fur and checkered jacket, but the long satin suit with a trail underneath. Plus black dress pants. And I may or may not have given him discreet high heels. He needs to look taller next to Shingen lol. He got leather gloves as well, it was to make the outfit complete!

Akechi Mitsuhide

I know his official nickname in the game is the kitsune, but c'mon! There so many cool clothing pieces with snake designs! I. Just. Had. To. The simple shirt and long skirt-like pants underneath his green coat are to tone down the outfit, because of the pattern. He got some fancy leather dress shoes, in sleek black color as well! Then the coolest piece in my opinion is that big, bedazzled snake that is hanging around his neck! I also wanted to put something to his waist, to make a contrast, then I found these funky glasses with similar snakey design, also some resemblance to the biblical term 'serpent in paradise'.

Kicho

Well, Kicho is canonically a woman in history. So I dared to give him a more feminine silhouette and garments. His outfit is the most subtle and simplest beside Kanetsugu's. (And mostly my style, I would gladly wear this! XD) The pants' material and its color shifts slightly, so it has an elegant feeling! I also gave him discreet heels, unintentionally this time haha. The top is a shorter winter coat, made from a thicker material and I have to admit that the detail in the front wasn't there at first. I cut it out from a dress and edited it on and it was a really good idea! Plus Kicho got a small Gucci handbag, because he's THE beauty king lol.

Mori Ranmaru

I don't know why I associated him immediately with butterflies, but it's a thing now! At first I found this adorable coat/poncho and I knew I had to use it! But I needed something under it, so this simple white turtleneck seemed a good contrast. Then the slightly loose pants just looked too cute with the boots! So overall I think it's and adorable, lively outfit, just like Ranmaru! It's not as colorful but I can definitely imagine it on him!

Ishida Mitsunari

I admit, maybe I've gone a little overboard with him. Again I'm not sure why I associated these long, dangling pieces of fabric to his outfit, but Mitsunari would look absolutely precious! It's a bit chaotic over there, I made it from a lot of asymmetrical coats, dresses, suits. Also the colors are a bit random, but I think it could work? He would make it look good, any day! There's also a graceful vibe to both the outfit and Mitsunari!

Tokugawa Ieyasu

I had different plans for him at the beginning as well. I wanted a darker color palette and a 'skater-boy' theme, if it makes sense? But in the end that's how it came out. I feel funny about the printed pants, but he rocks it! I had some problems with the white turtleneck under the asymmetric coat, it still looks weird the way it's under it, but I hope it's not that disturbing! The colors are mostly muted, but that dark, wine red does good for the full picture!

Sarutobi Sasuke

I'll be honest, I feel the least accomplished and proud about this piece but I tried! I wanted to mimic his ninja outfit, but spice things up with this so-called 'tech-wear'? Tech fashion, I think that's how they call this kind of style. I had this idea because it matched him as a ninja, as an astrophysicist and a genius in general haha. I tried to put some more color into it, than the muted grays, I hope it helped!

Kennyo

I really wanted to keep the traditional feeling of his robes this time! I think I gathered good materials for it, but the top robes look a bit weird and all-over-the-place. The pants are baggy, and maybe the black is too much, but it doesn't need to be colorful, it's Kennyo we're talking about haha. Don't ask about his shoes, I just went with it, it felt right. The purple cape thing behind him was a last-minute idea, but I think it was a good decision to bring back his another main color, beside this dark yellowish shade!

Well, this was quite the work!

Especially writing the descriptions, but I definitely wanted to do them, to show what were my intentions and ideas! I hope it's understandable and not that repetitive!

Hope you enjoyed!

[babybattips]

🖤 Non-obvious Goth festival etiquette and tips 🖤

Hi! I came back from a festival, it was amazing! And I wanted to maybe give some tips to younger people who want to go for the first time. My advice is based of the Castle Party Festival in Poland.

1. Know your limits. This doesn’t only apply to alcohol and god knows what types of drugs (just don’t do drugs, it’s 2022 and no one is going to be impressed), but to clothes, makeup, crowds and noise levels. Castle Party takes place in a medieval castle - Freya from the channel It’s Black Friday described it as WGT but with hills. Well, it’s not only hills, also medeival European pavements. How do people wear Demonias and Pleaser shoes, I legit have no idea - it’s hard to even walk in pikes on these stones. Obviously not every goth festival has medieval castles, but most if not all of them require a lot of walking and standing, so heels can be painful; you could also just sprain your ankle in both heels and high platforms, if you’re unlucky or just in a hurry. Lower platforms are ok, I had 5cm / 2 inches and was super comfy.

When it comes to clothes, check the weather forecasts and please oh my fucking god, take something rainproof  that isn’t an umbrella, so a raincoat or a foil cape. Umbrellas and parasols will cover the stage viev for other people. Also pack something that won’t be too awful in the heat, even if it’s not fancy and pretty. If the forecasts suggest cold weather, take a WOOL sweater or shawl with you - not acrylic, not velvet, wool. You can buy one second hand if you don’t support fast fashion or if you’re vegan (you won’t be supporting the wool industry that way). Don’t forget about high SPF sunscreen and a hat for sunny days.

Remember that concerts can be LOUD - especially goth shows with strong bass guitars, so definitely take earplugs if it’s your first time - you might end up not using them or they might save your ears.

2. If you’re a newbie, don’t try to seem experienced. Everyone’s gonna see through it. When I’m walking at a festival, I can clearly see who’s new - and it’s cool to be new. Goth needs new people and you’ll be just as appreciated as elders, if not more.

3. Don’t try to put a super fancy outfit together if you lack experience in the fashion part of goth. The entire style walks the line between beautiful and extremely tacky - if you can’t afford higher quality clothing from a store, go thrifting! Like I do! Don’t support Killstar or Punk Rave, they SCREAM polyester and other fabrics that start with poly- (all of these are plastic). I’m gonna be harsh here but it’s literally Pathetic with a big P to dress in an aristocrat inspired outfit if it’s not made of high quality materials. Silk, linen, cotton, wool, rayon and other natural fabrics are your friend. When choosing a goth outfit, look at the lace carefully - avoid nylon and raschel lace, go for cotton and embroidered tulle lace. Silk lace is also amazing, but hard to find.

It’s better to wear a simpler outfit than buy a “fancy” one on aliexpress - remember, most goth festivals have press reporters and there’s a huge chance of your pictures appearing on the internet. You don’t wanna be embarassed when you find them.

Here’s my outfit from this year, made of wool, linen and cotton + leather shoes. I also had an organza petticoat under my dress.

And under my capelet was this (sorry abt the thrift store tag):

Some older photos from ye olde days (from oldest to newest):

(these made me very nostalgic but also huh I had a glowup. Wouldn’t leave the house like this nowadays)

4. When watching the live shows, try not to bother other people in the crowd - for example, if you have a gigantic hat - take it off for the concerts (if it’s not too sunny - if you have a hat because it’s hot, that’s a different story - take care of yourself.) When you’re dancing, try not to bump into others too much if it’s possible. If you have to give up your spot to go to the bathroom for example - there’s a chance you’re not coming back, especially if it’s a famous band. It’s possible to go back to a spot just by the stage after leaving, but it’s difficult. Most of the time you either go pee or keep watching from your nice spot.

If I gave up my spot during She Past Away live show, there’s no way I’d get it back.

Basically have fun, avoid a heat stroke and don’t wear stilettos to a medieval castle.

[breakyeol]

touch it (sensual oils)

one shot

┗ pairing : baekhyun x reader

words: 4k

warnings: smut, sensual massage, byun-booty, hand job, light overstimulation 

a/n; because baekhyun deserves it

Baekhyun had a bad day.

That much was glaringly obvious from the very moment he stepped through the door, looking about ready to crawl beneath your bedsheets and never come out. He collapsed into your arms with a pathetic whine the moment you rose from where you were situated on the couch, the full weight of his body thrown against your chest. You grunted at the unexpected impact, quickly wrapping your arms around his slim waist when you felt his knees beginning to give out.

“Baek!” You yelped, struggling feebly to support the both of you. “What are you doing?!”

“I’m too tired to stand,” he cried out dramatically, voice muffled against your shoulder, “my body feels like it’s turning into mush.”

You clicked your tongue at his familiar dramatics, a fond smile flitting across your lips in spite of yourself. “Oh my poor baby~” you cooed playfully, petting the top of his head, “they worked you into the ground?”

A heavy pout tugged at the corners of his lips, big droopy eyes swinging up to meet yours as he bobbed his head. “I’m already sore. I’m not gonna be able to move tomorrow.” He complained noisily, hands curling into tight fists around the material of your sweatshirt.

This close, you could easily make out the lingering scent of sweat clinging to his skin, and you didn’t doubt for a second he worked until he was drenched in it. There was a flash, an image that passed before your eyes, of Baekhyun, sweat rolling down the smooth slope of his chin, dripping from the fringes of his bangs, glistening enticingly above his brow, his mouth pink and open, gasping. It vanished just as quickly as it had come, and your attention was drawn back to the whining mess of a man squirming against your chest.

“Go shower,” you suggested, not trusting your voice above a careful whisper, “then come to bed, okay?”

“I don’t want to. Just hold me.”

You snickered, combing your fingers through the short hairs on the back of his neck, feeling the way his body melted into the tender caress. “I will gladly hold you for the rest of the night… after you take a shower.”

He only offered an unintelligible grunt in response, showing no signs of detaching himself from your body, his hold around you tightening in a display of stubborn resistance. There was little doubt in your mind that he’d keep this up for as long as your patience allowed – which, given how soft you were for the man, was a fairly long time –, but you knew you’d both be better off once he felt clean and refreshed, cleansed of the day’s many hardships.

“You’ll feel a lot better afterwards.”

A groan this time.

“I’ll make you feel a lot better afterwards.”

At that reparation, his head snapped up, eyes wide and, despite the exhaustion, glinting with a hint of excitement. His spine straightened, grip around you loosening somewhat as strength seemed to return to his muscles. “Really?” He whispered, pink tongue slipping out from between petal lips. So easy. You could’ve scoffed, but thought better of yourself, settling for a suggestive cock of your head that could be interpreted in a number of ways.

“Go shower,” you hummed, pinching his chin between your thumb and index finger and guiding his face down towards yours, “then… we’ll see.”

He let out a huff of breath, eyes going hooded as they flickered down to trace the smug curve of lips. “You’re mean.”

You laughed lightly, planting a kiss that was far too short for Baekhyun’s liking to his pouted mouth before skillfully untangling yourself from his arms. “We’ll see just how mean I can be once you come to bed.” You called teasingly over your shoulder, grinning in wild amusement at the low curse that followed.

It wasn’t too long after you’d made your way into the bedroom that you heard the soft hiss of the shower. You waited until you heard the low groan that told you that your boyfriend had finally stepped beneath the hot spray to permeate through the separating wall before you jumped into action.

This wasn’t the first time Baekhyun had come home looking ready to collapse and you doubted it would be the last. There wasn’t much you could do about him having to go to work. No matter what you said or how many times you told him he should give himself a chance to rest and recover, he would always put his everything into his work, because that was just the kind of man he was. He was all passion and fire and unrelenting persistence even when he felt like he might die. It was a quality that sparked both admiration and fear inside of you.

There was a certain helplessness that came with being the person he came home to after a long day of work, body and mind teetering dangerously on the brink of exhaustion. There wasn’t much you could do to ease his stress, as he wasn’t the type to verbally unload or express his unease to its full extent. Sure, he was dramatic, but only in a playful sense. That was his way of downplaying and covering up his true feelings, to both you and himself.

But, there were still other ways you could help. And, with some brainstorming and a bit of research, you’d come up with the perfect plan to help ease some of Baekhyun’s tension. Though, you had to scramble a bit to set the scene, you knew it would be fully worth it to see the look on his face.

It was just as you’d lit the final candle, completing the final touches, that you heard the shower shut off. Perfect timing. You quickly situated yourself on the edge of the bed, the cool air caressing your scantily clad body, rousing goosebumps across your skin.

But, the chills tickling your spine were little more than a second thought as Baekhyun stepped into the room donning nothing more than a towel that hung dangerously low on his full hips. He paused just inside the doorway, his brows shooting upwards as he took in the state of your shared bedroom. Wide eyes danced over the flickering candles laid out strategically across the hardwood floor to encircle the bed, swept over the scattered rose petals, before finally landing on you.

You, wearing a deep crimson lingerie set, a sheer silk robe, and nothing more.

His bare chest, still glistening with water droplets, rose sharply as his breath hitched. A low curse tumbled from his lips, almost too faint to hear over the seductive instrumentals pulsing from the speakers.

A satisfied smirk broke across your face at his reaction, pleased with yourself for having successfully caught him off guard.

“Surprise,” you sang, voice low and silken.

For a moment, he didn’t move, his own amazement rooting him in place as he visually inhaled the sight of you. Your skin was hot beneath the intensity of his gaze, blazing as it trailed torturously slow up the length of your body, not daring to miss a single detail.

A faint buzz of nerves fizzled in your gut.

You’d never done anything like this before. Presented yourself in such a way to him, that is. All wrapped up in silk and lace of only the most sensual nature, bathed in smooth orange candlelight that tickled your ankles and crept up the smooth length of your lower legs. This was something new for the both of you, something unexplored. But it also wasn’t everything you had in store.

When he moved, it was with the utmost cautiousness, as if stepping too quickly or too harshly might disturb the beautiful illusion spread before him. But still, he moved, unable to resist the temptation.

Without speaking, his hands found your face, curving around the shape of your jaw and winding around the back of your neck. They were cold against your skin, and you couldn’t suppress the shiver that rippled down your spine as he leaned over you. You let out a soft hum at his touch, head rolling back under his gentle coaxing.

Not a beat passed before his mouth found yours, eager and impatient. You didn’t hesitate to kiss him back, easily finding the smooth slope of his naked waist and tugging him closer. He moaned somewhere low in his throat, tongue slipping out to trace the seam of your lip. You allowed as much, indulging the hungry press of his mouth, the careful nips of his teeth — until he tried to lay you down.

Your palms met the swells of his chest, and he pulled away, breathless and confused. “What is it?” He asked hoarsely, licking over his swollen lips. You’d be lying straight through your teeth if you said he didn’t look irresistible in that moment, wet hair hanging messily over his brows, dark, hooded eyes, all haze and lust as they stared down at you heatedly, full cheeks blushing a feverish shade of red. But you had plans for tonight, plans you didn’t intend to discard for the sake of sexual pleasure.

“I’m not fucking you.”

He gasped, disbelief coloring his features. “What? Why not?”

“Because,” you grinned, settling your hands on his hips, “I’m going to give you a massage.”

“A massa— ah!” his words cut off abruptly with a high pitched yelp as you suddenly spun him around, all but throwing him down onto the petal covered mattress. He could only stare at you in shock as you crawled over his nearly naked body, mouth curved into a playful smile.

“A massage.” You confirmed, sounding rather proud. But, he still looked less than amused, so you elaborated. “You’ve been working so hard these past few weeks, and I know you’ve been stressed and your body is exhausted. A massage will help release some of that tension.”

“You know what else releases tension?” He asked, sinking his teeth into his lower lip. You cocked a brow, feeling the light press of his fingertips as they feathered over your thighs, taking an obvious path upwards. Desire and mischief swirled in his eyes, voice low and thick as the words dripped slowly from his dangerous tongue, “Hot… passionate… s—”

You snatched his hands from your skin before they could reach their destination, pinning them to the mattress on either side of his head. “Shut up and roll over.”

He huffed, pouting up at you scornfully but obeyed nonetheless, rolling onto his stomach. “Do you even know how to give a massage?” He snipped as you settled yourself on the back of his towel clad thighs.

“I’ve done my research.” You offered lightly, sparing a moment to admire the lithe, sinewy build of his shoulders and back before you moved, reaching for the tall bottle you’d situated on the nightstand earlier. He followed your movements from the corner of his eye, curiosity breaking through the petulant facade.

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit cruel?”

“Perhaps,” you teased, pouring the translucent golden liquid into your palm, “but you’ll enjoy this, I promise. Just… relax.”

A defeated sigh escaped his chest, his body deflating beneath you. “Fine. But, this better feel better than sex or I swear to god I will—” he jolted with a soft gasp as you suddenly pressed the heels of your oil lathered palms into the area just between his shoulder blades and pushed outwards, “sue.”

You smirked smugly to yourself at the breathlessness with which he completed his sentence, obviously not having expected the pressure to feel that amazing.

“Good?” You asked, voice tinged with arrogance.

“Uh-huh,” he admitted immediately, moaning throatily as you rolled your thumbs deeply against the base of his neck, “oh fuck that feels so good.”

You chuckled, skillfully working your fingers across the planes of his broad shoulders. He melted deeper into the mattress with every knot you deftly unwound, soft, relieved moans breaking from his open mouth. The smooth, lavender scented oil glistened captivatingly on his sun-kissed skin, the delicate aroma gently permeating through your bedroom. It was a lovely, soothing smell, subtle and unimposing. You spread it diligently across the smooth expanse of his upper back, before gradually beginning to work your way downwards.

His sounds of bliss lowered in pitch the lower your hands reached, dipping into silky tenor groans when your hands reached the delicate dip of his waist. But, as you moved to massage the area just above his hips, he suddenly jolted, spine arching, a strained curse rushing from between clenched teeth.

You couldn’t help the concern that sparked to life in your chest at his response. “Does it hurt?” You asked, easing up on the pressure but not removing your touch completely. Sucking his lips into his mouth, he nodded with a soft, hesitant hum, glancing back at you from over his shoulder. “What happened?”

He made a strange noise in the back of his throat. “I just… twisted it weirdly during practice, I guess.” He offered weakly, shivering as you poured a small puddle of oil in the small of his back.

“Did you take a break?”

His silence was all the answer you needed.

“Baek,” your tone turned scolding as you gently worked your fingers into the tight dip of his waist, “just because you can fight through the pain doesn’t mean that you should. You’re not doing your body any favors by pushing it this hard.”

“I know but I—“ he sighed heavily, pressing his face into the sheets, “I just… don’t want to disappoint anybody.”

Oh, your poor, sweet Baekhyun. Always trying to please everyone else even when it ends up hurting him.

Pausing in your movements, you leaned forwards, bracing your hands on his shoulders so that you could speak in his ear. “Nobody is disappointed in you, Baek. You work so hard everyday to be the best you can be, and it shows. Everyone knows that you put your everything into what you do. And everyone’s proud of you,” you pressed your lips against the curve of his throat, slowly working your way up to the curve of his jaw, “I’m proud of you.”

He glanced back at you through his eyelashes. “Really?”

The question is so soft, so uncertain, and you feel your heart clench painfully in your chest at the thought that this man truly doesn’t understand just how many people adore him for just being… him. “Of course.”

You didn’t miss the rising of his cheeks, though he tried to hide himself beneath his arm, suddenly shy. You bit back a grin of your own, pressing one final kiss to the shell of his ear before returning to your earlier position and resuming the massage. He felt a dozen times more relaxed beneath you, the previous tension occupying his muscles having magically dissipated.

Sometimes, all he really needed was a little reassurance.

The smile that settled across your lips was unwavering as you took to kneading at the supple flesh of his hips, just above the top of his towel. Somewhere in the back of your mind, there was a flicker of a thought. A mischievous, dangerous thought. A thought that had your attention lingering on where the towel was tucked and secured on his right hip. Glancing up at the back of his head, you allowed your fingers to trail discretely towards the damp, white fabric, toying with it lightly so that he wouldn’t notice — not even as it came undone.

It was only as you peeled it swiftly away from his body and Baekhyun felt the rush of cool air across his backside that he realized what had just occurred.

“H– Hey!” He yelped, swinging his head around fast enough to give himself whiplash, eyes wide with disbelief.

“This is a full body massage, Baek. It’s not a full body massage unless it’s full body.”

“My butt does not need massaging.”

You grinned, sinking your teeth into your lower lip as you cocked a challenging brow. “I beg to differ.”

“Pervert.” He hissed.

You gasped, splaying a hand across your chest. “Who told you?”

He scoffed, rolling his eyes at your antics, but put up little resistance as you nudged his hands away from his butt. The tips of his ears and the back of his neck turned a dark, lovely shade of pink, and he quickly buried his face in his arms. Taking that as his nonverbal cue to continue, you poured yourself some more of the lavender scented oil, overturning your palm to let it drizzle onto his cheeks. He flinched slightly, the sensation catching him off guard.

So cute. You bit into the inside of your cheek to keep from cooing at him, opting to set your hands upon the gentle curve of his ass and knead your fingers into the soft, toned flesh. Baekhyun stifled a moan in the crook of his elbow, eyes fluttering as his body responded to the soothing touch.

“It feels good, doesn’t it?” You asked, tone teasing.

“Shut up.”

You snickered, massaging deep circles into the muscles of his upper thigh. He groaned deeply, fingers curling into the sheets. “Right there, right there— fuck, right there. It’s so sore.”

Heat flickered faintly in the pit of your stomach at the low rasping of his voice, grunted roughly through clenched teeth. Geez, why’d he have to sound so damn sexy…

Brushing off the thought as best you could, you forced yourself to focus on massaging the tension from his hamstrings. But each brush of your fingers over the insides of his thighs, intentional or otherwise, coaxed a round of violent shivers and breathless moans from your very much nude and very much oil covered boyfriend. You swallowed a mouthful of saliva, jaw clenching as you squeezed your hands around the backs of his lower thighs.

The sounds he was making weren’t helping your… situation in the least.

“How are you so good at this?” He asked, somewhat airily as your hands glided upwards, to just below the curve of his ass before returning to the crook of his knee. The question snapped you out of whatever trance you’d put yourself in watching the way his slick, honeyed skin dipped and curved deliciously beneath the pressure of your touch.

“Re- research. Lots of research.” You cleared your throat, shifting downwards on the mattress to set to work on his calves.

“You’re hands are fucking magic.”

Warmth slipped into your cheeks at the praise, your heart picking up speed within your chest. He was making it difficult for you to focus.

“I told you you’d like it.” You hummed playfully, beginning the slow ascent back up the length of his naked body.

“You were right,” he conceded easily, sighing in bliss as your hands slid over the small of his back, “I love it. Feels so fucking good, you have no idea.”

A content (and perhaps a bit smug) smile settled across your face. You couldn’t have asked for anything more. All you wanted was to make Baekhyun feel even just a little bit better after what you knew had to be a long, hard day— and you goddamn succeeded.

“Baek,” you murmured, and he gasped softly, not expecting your lips to be right next to his ear. He let out an unsteady hum, blinking hard twice when he felt your lace covered chest press against his back, “roll over for me?”

Swallowing thickly, he nodded. You lifted yourself off of him to give him just enough room to turn onto his back beneath you. All at once you were nose to nose, soft puffs of breath caressing your mouth. He was looking up at you with those eyes again, those hooded, wanting eyes, his hands clenching at the sheets somewhere down by his sides. You could see the dark flush on his cheeks, the desperation slowly seeping into his expression.

“Are you going to fuck me now?” The question was quiet, barely a whisper on his delicate pink lips. But the fire it ignited inside of you was anything but— loud, violent, and devastating, ripping your so well kept self control to shreds in a matter of moments.

“Yeah,” you whispered, sliding a slick hand down his toned stomach, “but I’m going to touch it first.”

He barely had time to react before your hand was around his cock. He gasped, back arching, forcing his chest flush against yours. Surprise flickered across your face upon feeling him already fully hard and throbbing against your palm. “Oh?”

“What?” He huffed out breathlessly, swinging the tip of his tongue over his lower lip, “did you expect me not to get hard while my sexy girlfriend wearing sexy lingerie rubs every inch of my body with oil?”

Pausing, you squinted down at him. “It was the butt massage, wasn’t it?”

He glared, and you grinned.

But any annoyance was wiped clean off his face as you squeezed your fingers around him, stroking his dick at a slow, borderline torturous pace. The remaining oil on your hand combined with his precum provided the perfect lubrication, the slide smooth and wet, the lewd sound of it making you clench around nothing. Baekhyun’s head rolled back, mouth falling open in a silent moan. But, not for a moment did his gaze break from yours. You bit your lip harshly, a violent heat licking at your veins, the sheer intensity of his dark stare making your head feel dizzy.

“You look… so hot right now.” You hadn’t intended to say the words out loud, but you also couldn’t find it in yourself to feel even the least bit ashamed.

The corner of his mouth curled into a sultry smirk, an airy chuckle rumbling somewhere low in his chest.

“Yeah?” You nodded. “Then kiss me.”

You did so without hesitation.

Baekhyun let out a heady groan, hands surging up from between your bodies to cradle your jaw as your lips worked against his with a hunger you hadn’t realized you possessed. It was uncoordinated and messy, all lashing tongue and vicious teeth, biting and sucking and licking until you were certain your that lips were raw. You were dizzy and intoxicated by the taste of him, and he wasn’t in much of a better state. With his cock in your hand and your tongue in his mouth, it didn’t seem like he’d last much longer.

Beneath you, Baekhyun’s hips bucked and rolled, frenzied and desperate. Your hand stilled around him, allowing him the luxury of control as he fucked himself violently into your closed fist. Each moan that tumbled from his mouth into yours was louder than the last, and you relished in the unabashed displays of pleasure, taking an immense amount of pride in knowing that you were the cause of it.

“I’m gonna come,” he gasped the warning, his nails biting harshly into your shoulder, “fuck— fuck, wait— I’m g-gonna come.”

“Baek,” you panted, still trying to catch your breath from the kiss, “come for me. Please.”

His back arched, the furnace of his body overwhelmed but still trying feebly to fight back his oncoming high. Baekhyun didn’t like coming first. He’d always had the tendency of putting your pleasure above his own, making sure you came at least once (if not multiple times) before him. But tonight wasn’t about you. Tonight was about him. And you were going to make sure he knew it.

You buried your face in the crook of his neck, sucking a dark bruise into his skin while simultaneously rolling your thumb over his sensitive tip in a way that had him trembling pathetically beneath you.

“Oh god— oh fuck— y/n—!” He came with a hoarse cry of your name, hips bucking, muscles tensing, skin shivering. You felt his hot release spilling over your knuckles, slipping between your fingers. He whimpered and squirmed as the overstimulation kicked in, but you didn’t stop stroking him until he started begging. “I can’t, I can’t— baby, please—” his chest heaved and his eyes went glassy, the dangerous cocktail of pleasure and pain making his head feel dizzy.

Looking down at him, so wrecked and fucked out, with those flushed cheeks and heavy eyes, you felt your heart flutter at the same time arousal coiled in your gut. He was just too damn pretty for his own good.

You relented, gently releasing his spent dick from your hold. He let out a shaky breath before tugging you into another mind numbing kiss. You moaned softly against his lips, feeling one of his hands coil around the back of your neck while the other explored the expanse of your back. It didn’t take long before they discovered the clasp of your bra, deftly unclasping it. Distracted by the skillful flicks of his tongue, you didn’t realize what he’d done until you felt the lacy fabric slip down your arms.

A giggle bubbled in your throat, and you whispered against his mouth, “naughty boy.”

His lips curled, and then all at once you found yourself sprawled on your back. “Naughty girl,” Baekhyun retaliated in a low, playful growl, pinning your hands to the mattress on either side of your head, “making me cum even after I told you to wait...”

His head dipped and you gasped softly as he nipped at the sensitive part of your throat, one hand sliding down to grip at your naked breast. You bit your lip to suppress a whimper as he circled your nipple with a rough thumb.

“Guess I’ll just have to pay you back for it…”

You weren’t about to object to that.

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

I FOUND THE CHARACTER DESIGN POST... AHAHHA... cut & clothes and accessories & accents for Kisa simply because this darling must speak of his fashion identity to the WORLD (me. Me specifically). LMAOO

last ask woo

Cut and clothes

night: What does your OC wear to sleep? Do they have a favorite pair of PJs, or are they more the birthday suit type?

Kisa is either a fancy silky two piece pj set that he handmade or absolutely naked there is absolutely no in between lmao-

day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

You've seen his drive! How do I explain that look? Hot?? He's attractive, he looks so good. He dresses like he’s in command rather than a ‘lackey’ and I love that for him. He wears mostly the same thing for efficiency sake but he has so many clothes so..

formal: What's your OC's formal look? Do they like dressing up? Do they have different looks for different occasions?

Filigree, lace, intricate bead work. Usually in shades of black and blue with accents of silver cause they accentuate his own blue features. When Kisa dresses up he DRESSES UP. he loves looking good. And yes, of course he does? He makes a new outfit for each formal outing if he has the time.

informal: What's your OC's lazy-day look? How do they like to dress when they're winding down?

His idea of a lazy day look is still an expensive looking sweater and nice pants. Like I genuinely believe Kisa is never lazy about what he wears. You know the “purposeful messy bun” and “no make-up makeup” things? KISA.

outerwear: What's your OC's outerwear situation? Jacket, sweater, cloak? What sort of weather do they deal with most and how do they protect themselves?

He typically wears his long jacket, it’s not actually super idea for cold weather but Kisa runs relatively warm so it suits him well enough. Much like the rest of Razvedka, Kisa is typically dealing with Liyue or Snezhnaya weather. But he travels so much.. Sometimes he’ll completely forgo his coat if he’s hot though, his shirt is short sleeved. He protects himself with either an umbrella or hoping for the best, depending on the weather.

footwear: What does your OC wear on their feet?

Kisa likes to wear boots mostly, they’re just the most practical thing for his work. His are a little extra, they do go over his knees and are made of a more fabric like material so he can move more easily. Very flexible. He has nice shoes, too. Just.. Work.

road: What does your OC wear while traveling? Do they have high-quality equipment, or are they making do? What does their gear look like?

See because of how Genshin is set up with your typical video game character has one ‘fit thing, like his main outfit IS his work outfit and traveling outfit. He’ll adjust certain aspects of it, like switch out his coat or his boots, change armour if needed, wear different gloves, ect. But for the most part what he wears is what he wears. His gear is surprisingly pristine though. Even when he’s undercover and his gear looks less than nice, its just disguised that way. He always has the best of the best, he’s good at making it look like whatever he needs though. It’s part of his job!

armor: What kind of armor does your OC wear? Is it well kept? Bonus: where does it come from? Is there a story behind it?

He doesn’t wear visible armour, but his mechanical arm is incredibly heavy for a reason. It can fully stop a bullet if he blocks with it. Kisa is a very lightweight character, a quick striker, you know? So a lot of armour or heavy materials don’t work for what he needs. He’s spent a lot of time learning how to incorporate his arm into his fighting style cause of that.

arms: Does your OC have any weapons? What weapons do they carry, and how do they wear them when they're not fighting?

Polearm polearm polearm! Kisa specifically uses the Skyward Spine. I love u genshin weapons disappearing into crystals, where does it go? i don’t know! But if you want to be realistic, I like to think he has a way to attach it to his back.

roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?

I wanted Kisa’s look to be higher fashion than some of the other Razvedka members while also still at least being somewhat practical. He has a lot of metallic accents, he’s got a lot of pieces of colour. Even his weapon is bright. There are some steampunk influences in his outfit and this comes from Kisa’s main fashion inspiration being Fontainen which is rumoured to have that sort of aesthetic.

texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can't wear or don't like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer?

Nah Kisa isn’t picky. Every fabric and textile is good for something. And while he doesn’t LOVE every texture, he manages to work with it just fine so he can’t complain. Of course handmade lace made of silk threads is going to be more difficult than say cotton, but he has no big preferences. He just.. loves working with various types of fabrics.

wardrobe: How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?

TOO MANY FUCKING CLOTHES, KISA. IT IS UNNECESSARY!! YOU HAVE MORE CLOTHES THAN INESSA AND SHE ACTUALLY NEEDS AN OUTFIT FOR EVERY OCCASION. He’ll wear his clothes down though despite this. And then he’ll reuse the fabric for something else! A new clothing article or accessory or even something like a potholder. He doesn’t like to waste. And yes, of course, he mends his own stuff. And everyone else’s. Even you, Lucille. Come here.

accessories and accents

bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?

Kisa is actually surprisingly bare in terms of accessories. He sees the point of a good accessory, trust me. Look at how he dresses Inessa or Sasha. But for him, his /clothing/ is his accessory, its his statement. So he goes light on the accessories IF he wears any, and I think that’s the meaning.

hair: How does your OC wear their hair? Does it have some kind of meaning?

Tied back for the most part. Kisa’s hair is really thick, thank you good genetics, but it gets in the way and its heavy. He has to use a pretty thick band to tie his hair back to keep it out of the way. It’s just practical. Though he loves to do fancy hairstyles, he just doesn’t have a reason to for the most part.

makeup: Does your OC wear makeup? How often? What kind? Why do they wear makeup, and do they like it?

Okay he loves makeup. He owns a lot of makeup. It’s another one of his skillsets. But its again one of those things he himself doesn’t see as necessary. It’s something he likes doing on others, like adding accessories. BUT he loves a lil foundation and lip gloss. Makes him extra pretty.

favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?

His favourite accessory is his Vision which is.. a choice, but alright Kisa. Clothes he can remake, accessories although sometimes one of a kind are just items. His Vision means a lot to him. He wears it proudly. Its a show of his survival. Nothing else he owns shows that, besides maybe his arm but that’s something he’s more ashamed of. The Vision is a positive showing of his determination to live.

change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change?

Oh yeah for sure. When he left Natlan he pretty much did a 180 in aesthetics. From short hair and scroungy clothing to long hair and high fashion. He didn’t want to be who he was. He wanted to be somebody else.. So he became somebody else. Somebody Lela could be proud of. omg i never talk about lela anyways- he hopes she’s proud of him.

alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU!

Okay but modern au Kisa in one of that dark academia aesthetic kinda drives me crazy tbh.That or the tactical techwear. Either way, mwah. He has so much range.

[thewinedark]

Unique Dark Academia Fashion Ideas

By now I think we all know that silk shirts, oxfords, and old blazers are staples of Dark Academia fashion. Here are some ideas for fitting your wardrobe to the aesthetic that I haven’t seen a lot of. 

Tops

Silk button downs are great, but if you want something perhaps less fancy and simple, here are some ideas:

Cardigans. Specifically, tighter button down cardigans. While they are very similar to silk shirts, they aren’t quite as eye catching, and usually not as bright. I have a cream silk blend cardigan that I’ve been wearing under blazers instead of silk; it’s warmer, for one, and doesn’t make me feel so pretentious when my classmates are all in sweatpants.

Cotton. Especially for warmer months, a good cotton shirt looks great tucked in a pair of high waisted shorts or trousers. I would suggest one with buttons as an accent, to avoid it being too plain. You can also roll up the sleeves for peak “disgruntled professor/lawyer” look. 

Sweaters. I don’t just mean a black turtleneck here. Turtlenecks are of course great for winter and fall, but other sweaters are great also. I especially would suggest sweaters with interesting weaves or embroidery, as without the turtleneck they often need a little something extra to dress it up. There’s also the classic look of putting a button down underneath and pulling the collar out. For colors, jewel tones are always best in my opinion: deep reds, emerald greens, midnight blues. But you know yourself best, and if your hair looks great with cream, or light blue makes your eyes pop, go for it. Be sure to tuck over sized sweaters into your bottoms to avoid losing your figure. 

Bottoms

Bottoms are a little easier, as they’re usually not the statement piece of an outfit, especially in dark academia. Still, high waisted, pleated, 100% linen trousers are hard to find in thrift stores, so here’s some alternatives: 

Black jeans. Personally, I avoid low waisted pants like the plague. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find high waisted suit pants in thrift stores, especially ones with the tighter fit that I prefer. Often, I go for my pair of good quality, 100% cotton, extremely high waisted black skinny jeans instead. Avoid jeans with rips or that aren’t a uniform color. I definitely would suggest black if you’re going to wear jeans, though that may be my inherent dislike of blue jeans talking. 

High waisted pants of any kind. When it comes to tucking shirts in bottoms, you want a high waist. I can tuck the bulkiest of sweaters easily into my jeans, because they are high waisted and made of a thick material. Thin, flimsy material is hard to hide the lines of your tops in, and lower waisted pants often can’t hold the hem long before the top gets untucked. 

Skirts. I prefer more masculine clothing, but I do have quite a few skirts that I wear on occasion. And good lord, if they aren’t the most comfortable pieces of clothing I own. Specifically, long flowing skirts made out of 100% silk, cotton, or wool. Wool is great for winter months, and adds an extra layer of protection from the cold. Cotton and silk is best for the hot summer time, and if you’re having trouble with staying in dark academia fashion when you’re sweating out of your fingernails, consider skirts. A long skirt can dress up something like a t-shirt if you do it right. Sandals, a long breathable skirt, and a tied up or tucked in shirt is a great go-to when the sun is sucking away your soul. 

Shoes

I still don’t own a pair of oxfords. 

Boots. I’m a boot person. For dark academia, I would avoid taller boots; ankle boots or calf-length boots are the way to go. Go for leather, and tighter fits. A great way to pull your outfit together is to match your shoes and your belt or bag, and well as the hardware. If your belt is black with a silver buckle, go with black boots with silver accents. Try to avoid mixing metals (silver with bronze, etc.) if at all possible.

Ballet shoes. I don’t own any, but personally I think they’d be a great alternative to simple flats; especially if you lace the silk ribbons up your shins a bit. These are definitely best for summer months though, I would not recommend during the winter.

Accessories

A single accessory can completely change your outfit and aesthetic. Personally, some of my most used clothing pieces are not what you’d call dark academia. My go-to jacket is a bomber jacket with patches, and my usual boots are heavy Harley Davidson biker boots with metal caps. Here are some accessories that can turn your everyday outfit to something more dark academia-esque. 

Suspenders. I would recommend suspenders for everyone honestly. I was having trouble with a pair of trousers, because I needed to keep them high on my waist and tight to tuck in my shirt, but they had no belt loops. Suddenly I realized someone had solved the issue centuries ago, and used my suspenders. It worked perfectly, and also added a whole new level of dark academia to my outfit. I like using them in a subtle way though: under a jacket or blazer usually, that I might take off if it gets hot and just so happen to show off the suspenders underneath. Or, never even take the jacket off and just let people get subtle looks at them. Drawing attention to suspenders makes me feel like a douche for some reason; maybe it’s the images of fedora tipping that flood in. 

Satchel or book bag. I know this one is a staple, but listen. Buying leather satchel changed everything for my look. I might have a bomber jacket, skinny jeans, and biker boots but a satchel thrown over one shoulder shifts everything about my appearance. If you are able to buy one new, Amazon has some great options under $100 dollars. If not, keep your eye out whenever you go to the thrift store.

Hair accessories. Try silk ribbons. Pull your hair back with them, braid them into your hair, or use them as headbands. Learn how to braid metal cuffs into your hair if you’re up for a challenge.

Scarves. Scarves are such an easy way to dress up an outfit, as well as keep you warm. I would suggest long, silk scarves that have enough width that you can style it around your head/hair, which I think is a great look that also keeps your ears warm. Jewel tones are definitely suggested here, especially if you’re wearing all black it’s a great statement. 

Jewelry. If you’re religious, I would highly suggest jewelry with some sort of religious symbolism. Religious imagery is something I defiantly associate with dark academia. If you have any jewelry pieces that were passed down to you, try them. I like rings a lot, but for my right hand I cover all my finger with heavy steel rings that cover my knuckles (for punching purposes). On my left hand, I have rings from my family. I would again suggest not mixing metals, though it can look eclectic if that’s a look you like. 

That’s all I could think of at this moment, but feel free to add your own or message me!  Go forth and dress to make yourself confident, whatever that may look like. 

[winterscaptain]

roots.

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader a joyful future fic

a/n: another one from 2026! aaron retires from federal service this year, at 57. 

words: 2.4k warnings: kids!, missing haley hotchner hours, language

summary: “Every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome.” ― George Washington, Farewell Address. au!october 2026

masterlist | a joyful future masterlist | ajf faq | requests closed!

SSA Mallory Kagan asks you to outline your career with the FBI - purposefully using your first name instead of using your title. It keeps the students guessing and paying attention. 

Plus, the payoff when they figure out who you are is the best part of the whole lecture. 

“My career at the FBI is more like a big tree than a path or a journey.” 

You look out over the classroom - blue shirts abound - and take a deep breath to center yourself. 

You’re used to giving this lecture with Aaron, but this is your first fall without him, which also means that this is the first academy class who won’t know him in person. 

They’ll only hear tell of the legend SSA Aaron Hotchner was stabbed nine times, lost his wife to a serial killer, and kept going. You know they’ll hear stories about his severity, his general lack of sunniness, hear rumors about the way he laughs with his children, his wife, and nobody else. 

You know the older agents tell stories about you, too. They say you ‘tamed’ Hotch, made him a little nicer. They might even say they’ve seen him smile at you, or they’ve seen you give him hell in public. 

Aaron Hotchner is practically a myth, now, only supported by your reputation, tall tales from academy classes of yesteryear, and his own legacy.

That retired bastard currently sits in your house with your kids, right on his fine behind, very likely falling into boredom-addled insanity. 

“Everything that I am - a parent, a wife, a friend, and an agent - is because of my work with the Behavioral Analysis Unit over the past nineteen years. My unit is my family, and I can’t get rid of them. Just like our own families, we love to hate each other.” 

The room laughs, and you know you have them hooked. 

“Jokes aside, I would encourage you to get to know your colleagues. Each relationship I built within my unit put a root into the ground, made the proverbial tree stronger - to extend the metaphor. I work with very few of the same people I started with, but I feel as steady and supported as I did back when they called us ‘The Elite Eight.’” 

You chuckle a little, clicking through your introductory slide to showcase a photo of the BAU in 2012. You point to each of them as you speak. 

“SSA Emily Prentiss, current unit chief of the Behavior Analysis unit and former head of the Interpol London office, responsible for taking down one of the most prolific international arms dealers in modern history.” 

The room is quiet, a little awestruck, so you add, “She’s a bit of a big deal.” 

They laugh.

“SSA Derek Morgan - you’ll probably hear stories about how he survived the Boston bombing with SSA Gideon in 2005, but don’t worry. He wasn’t there. He was with his momma in Chicago, celebrating her birthday.”

Another laugh. 

You’ve honed this routine over the last five years, knowing what to add, when to pause, what to cut if the students lose interest. 

“That said, SSA Morgan is one of the best profilers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Today, he’s a consultant for DC Metro SWAT and is otherwise retired.”

Continuing down the line, “SSA Jennifer Jareau - JJ. Former communications liaison for the BAU, State Department, and DoD. She currently serves with the BAU as a profiler. If any of you are interested in PR or media relations, find an opportunity to speak with her about her experience. Her husband, Will, is a detective with the DC Metro Police and has plenty of stories of his own.”

A student raises a hand, and you give her the go-ahead. 

“Sorry for interrupting -“

You stop her. “You didn’t interrupt. You raised your hand. Don’t apologize for taking up space.” 

She smiles a little. “Okay. Um, I’m curious. How many people in your unit are married and/or have children? My understanding is that the work-life balance can be difficult in heavy-travel positions like the BAU.”

“It can absolutely be a challenge.” You look back at the photo. “In the course of my career, six of my colleagues have been or were already married and all of them went on to have children.”

“And you?”

You laugh a little, forgetting you’re alone up here. “Right.” 

The class laughs, and you point yourself out on the slide. 

“I still had my maiden name when this photo was taken, but now I share five children and a last name with SSA Aaron Hotchner.” You throw your thumb at Aaron’s likeness on the screen again for good measure. 

You check in with SSA Kagan to make sure you can share everything you usually do with Aaron present - your marriage was often the punchline of your lectures, letting you toe the line of humor a little farther than you normally would. 

She nods, a little smile on her face. 

“While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend dating your unit chief or marrying your section chief -“ you pause, holding your hands up in surrender to the echo of laughter “- even if they are the same person - you can certainly find the best people without looking too hard.” 

Hands shoot up into the air, but that always happens. It’s around this time people start asking the good questions. The people from their course materials and the people in front of them start to link together. 

They also figure out that you’re Agent Hotchner. That Agent Hotchner - the one married to the Agent Hotchner. 

You look out over the crowd again. “I know you have lots of questions, and I’m happy to confirm or deny any rumors about myself or my family, but,” you pause for dramatic effect. “Hold them for now - you’ll want to know the players before you ask the questions.” 

Hands drop, but pens start moving. You continue down the line, skipping over Aaron. 

“SSA David Rossi, a founding member of the BAU in the late 1980’s. He worked closely with SSA Jason Gideon, developing a database that we use to this day - one that outlines signatures, modus operandi, and victimology of modern serial killers. SSA Rossi is also well-known for his books - ten of them, in fact, that cover what we do in a kind of…” 

You search for a word. 

“Conversational format. He retired a couple of years ago, and is a full-time grandpa to all 16 of the BAU offspring.”

A few scattered chuckles pass through the room. 

“And then we have Dr. Spencer Reid - I could enumerate his degrees, but we don’t have that kind of time. He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met, and remains an asset to the BAU in the field today.” 

You click to another slide - a photo of all of you taken a few weeks ago. 

“SSA Matthew Simmons - retired from the United States Army and former member of the FBI International Response Team, or IRT. He’s been with the BAU for ten years now. Like Dr. Reid and SSA Prentiss, he knows multiple languages - which comes in handy.” You look out and raise your eyebrows. “I hope all of you did well in your Spanish classes in high school - you might need it.” 

Another laugh. 

“SSA Luke Alvez and Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia are another pair that come from, shall we say, nontraditional backgrounds. While Garcia is no longer with the BAU, SSA Alvez is also celebrating his tenth year with us this fall.” 

A student raises his hand, and you call on him. 

“Isn’t Penelope Garcia the hacker known as The Black Queen? I learned about her work when I was at MIT.” 

You snort. “Nice way to slip in you went to MIT, there, bud.” You pause, waiting for the ruckus to die down as the student in question turns bright red. “But yes. Her experience was invaluable to our team. Just to keep up, we stole an analyst from the NSA to replace her - nobody else could cut the mustard.” 

You look back, stepping forward and pacing as you speak.”And finally, Dr. Tara Lewis. Formerly working in the FBI Counsel’s office as a forensic psychologist, she joined our team on cases where specific pathologies were in play before becoming a full-fledged member of our team.

“So, as you can see, there are so many varied qualities we look for in profilers, and your own path will be informed by the skills you develop, your temperament, and your dedication to the work itself. There’s no right way to be an agent, and when you leave the academy in five weeks, the whole world of the bureau will be open to you.” 

Clicking back to your introductory slide, you turn to the front of the classroom. “I know all my colleagues well enough to take any questions you may have about their careers and paths through the bureau. For any questions I can’t answer, I am happy to direct you to them with the understanding they may not get back to you due to our caseload. I’ll take your questions now.” 

Hands shoot up into the air, and you specifically call on the student in the back - the one you know has a question about Aaron. 

“So, when you say SSA Aaron Hotchner, you mean the same one that worked the Boston Reaper case for ten years?”

SSA Kagan checks in with you, ready to shut him down, but you call her off. 

“That’s right. SSAs Jareau, Morgan, Prentiss, Rossi, Dr. Reid, Miss Garcia, and I worked that case in its final year as well.” 

“I have a follow-up if that’s okay.” 

You tacitly give him leave to continue. 

“How do you handle cases that get that… close? I know there were considerable...” He searches for the right word. “...challenges. How did you guys deal with that?”  

Good question. 

Returning to the podium, you lean heavily against it, lacing your fingers in front of you. “You’ve all read the Reaper case file, yes? It’s still included in the MCRT training courses?”

There are nods around the room, but you check in with Kagan anyway. 

“The declassified version is covered,” She says. “They’re familiar with the full scope of the case.” 

“Okay. So, as you all know…”

You remind them what happened, from 1998 to 2009, finally landing where the students want you. “And on November 23rd, 2009, Haley Reneé Hotchner was George Foyet’s 40th and final victim. She was thirty-nine years old. And she was my friend.” 

The room is dead silent, all eyes on you, somber and attentive. 

“The case was personal. It became personal because Foyet forced our hands. He attacked Agent Hotchner in his home and then targeted his family. So, the question is, how do we deal with that? Right?” 

Even Kagan’s watching you closely. It’s the first time you’ve covered this case without the rest of your team. In your joint lectures with Aaron, the case is off-limits for questions. She’s never heard you tell the story in your own words. 

You take a breath. “And the answer is… you don’t.” 

There are some confused faces, so you elaborate. “There isn’t anything you can do to push the case away from you - that’s how people get hurt. In the meantime, you make adjustments. Agent Hotchner placed Agent Morgan in an interim unit chief position until the case was over, for the sake of his health and sanity. We chased down every lead, understanding that the faster we caught Foyet, the faster Haley and Jack, Agent Hotchner’s son, could come home.” 

A young woman in front tentatively raises a hand, and you open a hand to her. “Yes?” 

“What happened, you know, after?” 

“We moved on as best we could. Going back to my original point -” 

You leave the podium and take your place in the center of the floor again. 

“- the trust you have in the people you work with can carry you through a great many things. And not all of you will see horror every day - but some of you will.” 

You pause for a moment, hoping this is the part that really sinks in for them. 

“Always have something to come home to. Always have something or someone that brings you peace, that can take you away from the work.” 

+++

You set your things down and walk through the door, immediately accosted by two almost-eight-year-olds and their over-eager little brother. 

“Momma!” 

You haul Elliot onto your hip and kiss Sophia’s head as Caroline burrows into your side. “Hi, darlings! Did you already have dinner?”

Sophia moves to answer, but Aaron’s voice shoots around the corner. “Yes!” 

With a smile, you seek him out, dragging the girls along with you. Lo and behold, Aaron’s at the sink, washing dishes. Isaac’s supervising - sitting on the counter, swinging his feet. 

Aaron gets a kiss on the cheek from you as you pass and he turns over his shoulder, chasing you until you peck him on the lips, Elliot squished between you. Your son squirms, and you set him on the ground to chase after his sisters. Isaac hops off the counter likely off to investigate the happenings before retreating to his room for the rest of the evening.

For once, you’re left alone. 

“How was your lecture?” 

Your arms free, you wrap around him and rest your full weight against his chest as he backs himself into the counter. “Went well. Missed you, though.” 

The corner of his mouth tips up. “Did they ask about Foyet?” 

“Mhmm. It was a good segue into trusting your team and building each other up, knowing when to step back, etcetera.” 

He nods. “Good way to bring it back around. How’s Kagan?” 

“She’s good, loving it, as always.” 

“Think she’s ever gonna retire?” He asks, tucking into your neck. 

You laugh as he presses kisses to the underside of your jaw. “Probably not.” 

Aaron leans back to look at you, bringing his hand to your face to brush over your cheekbone. “Are you ever gonna retire?” 

“Probably not.” 

“What if,” he says, his hands slipping into your back pockets, “you retired in…” He does the math in his head. “Thirteen-ish years and I make it worth your while.” 

“Oh yeah? Worth my while? And you’ll be, what, a hundred years old?” 

His eyes roll so hard you’re sure he could see his own brain. You pull him down for a kiss, but it doesn’t stop him from mumbling, “Give me a fuckin’ break,” against your mouth. 

“Never.” 

+++

tagging: @writefasttalkevenfaster @quillvine @stxrrywildflower @hurricanejjareau @ughitsbaby @rousethemouse @criminalsmarts @genevievedarcygranger @ssaic-jareau @hotchsflower @hotchslatte @risenfox @mrs-dr-reid @mrs-marcus-moreno @pan-pride-12 @sunshine-em @jdougl-love @dreila03 @forgottenword @aaronhotchnerr @ssa-morgan @tegggeeee @abschaffer2 @ssacandice-ray @ellyhotchner @lotties-journey-abroad @mrs-joel-pimentel-23-25 @mooneylupinblack @ssareidbby @qvid-pro-qvo @mandylove1000 @jeor @wakatoshislover @word-scribbless @bwbatta @capricorngf @missdowntonabbey @averyhotchner @joanofarkansass @popped-weasels @evee87 @nuvoleincielo @ssahotchnerr @this-broken-band-girl @winqhster @reidtomestyles @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @the-falling-in-the-danger @softbibxtch @iconicc @mangoberry43 @andreasworlsboring101 @kerrswriting @mac99martin @itsalwaysb33nyou @baumarvel @messyhairday-me @ssworldofsw @deagibs @crazyshannonigans @moonshinerbynight @jhiddles03 @teamhappyme @mendesmelodies @starsandasteroids @unicorn-bitch @ambicaos​ @itsmytimetoodream @pinkdiamond1016 

[kleptosuperstar]

hiii so uhh i really don't think anyone will see this because...i literally have one follower but im kinda making this for myself because me and my cousin are going to the mall and a few stores around the city in a few days SPECIFICALLY to lift and I made a list of things that we both want PLUS some tips for these stores seeing as I DO lift from most of them a lot sooo..yeah

SPENCERS: a moderately easy store seeing as there are TONS of blind spots and LP isn't employed. To top it off, cameras are never monitored, however they are low-hanging and somewhat high quality. Usually only 2-5 employees but the store is almost always crowded so if you find a blind spot it's a free for all. They wont chase but might call mall security.

What we want:

h20 piercing cleaner x2

toy cleaner

jojoba oil

hemp oil

septum and nose jewelery (we will actually have to purchase this, seeing as if you steal the jewelery they hand to you they WILL know you stole no matter what. Plus the packaging is riddled with RFID tags)

HOT TOPIC: Not that many blind spots, but employees usually don't care and rarely count clothing articles, which may have a tag or two, so check for those. Cameras are never monitored and the stores usually have a large layout so just watch out for customers and employees, find a blind spot and throw a bunch of shit into your bag They don't chase! :D.

What we want:

distressed thigh highs

over the knee thigh highs with bow

black fishnet lace thigh highs

black and white stripe arm warmers

black fishnet fingerless gloves

black floral tights

CLAIRE'S: whew lawd. I really really want to be helpful on this one but Claire's is a laughably easy place to lift from. No cameras, usually only 1 or 2 employees and if one is giving a piercing it's a free-for-all. THEY HAVE MIRRORS SO AVOID THOSE. My favorite blind spot there is behind the register if there is no one there, and that's all I have to say there.

What I want: (she doesn't want anything from Claire's apparently🙄)

Headphones

A tiara

Nail polish

VICTORIA'S SECRET: first of all lol, i feel ZERO shame in lifting from them. Please note that they do have cameras, and their SAs are trained to look out for shoplifters, however most of them are just confused college girls lol. Panties are NOT tagged. What I like to do is take a medium sized empty makeup bag and put it in my purse, and once I arrive to VS i put the makeup bag in the tote, I also drop my phone into the tote. I go around the store, picking out panties that are my size and i drop them so they can fall directly into the makeup bag. I do this with as many as I can fit into the bag and I do this with small makeup items as well. Once I'm done, I reach into the bag as if I'm looking for my phone (which i dropped in earlier) and that's the moment when i zip up the zipper of the makeup bag and pull out my phone immediately after and pretend to check the time and say something like "Damn, I gotta go. I'm late." Or something like that. Put the makeup bag in your purse and play around on your phone as you exit the store. And that's really it :) I rarely lift bras from there anymore so I can't REALLY help you there.

What I want:

a bunch of panties and some lip gloss!

BARNE'S AND NOBLES: I've never lifted from this place but I know friends who have. I'll give you the tips they gave me. There are cameras, and they are being monitored, but there are PLENTY of blind spots seeing as it is a very large store. The kid's section has no cameras tho, so if you're like me and look younger than you are, this could be for your advantage. No one expects you to steal when you're vibing in the kid's section. Most books have RFID tags, and hardcover books sometime have books engraved in the cover, so watch out for those. Most manga, some magazines, and just overall 99% of the books are tagged. Get what you want, flip through them and look for RFID tags while pretending to "read". If an employee sees you sitting down "reading" they won't suspect you unless they actually see you ripping out the tags. The worst that could happen is that they could ask you to move out of the book aisle so other customers can come through, if that happens, simply find another blind spot. Slip them into your bags like they're yours as SOON as you know they're rid of RFID tags. They won't chase, but probably will try to get you back into the store and if that doesn't work they'll try to get a license plate number or give your description to the police, neither usually goes anywhere tbh.

What we want:

fire force volume 1

fire force volume 2

fire force volume 3

fire force volume 4

Akame Ga Kill

Soul eater

Black lagoon

Kakegurui vol. 1

The seven deadly sins volume 1

Spy x family 1

Spy x family 2

Spy x family 3

Black butler vol. 1

Black butler vol. 2

Black butler vol. 3

Black butler vol. 4

Wotakoi vol. 1

Wotakoi vol. 2

Gangsta

Dictionary of witchcraft

The anatomy of the occult

Charms, spells, and formula

Moon spells

Gothic beauty magazine number 19

Nocturnal witchcraft

Necronomicon

The good witch's daily spellbook

A big book of practical spells

Any book on astrology

Gothic grimoire

Shingeki no Kyonin

Ulta: The second store I've ever lifted from. This store is easy, but not laughably. I feel like this would be a starter for babylifters. This store has mild LP, so watch out for those and NEVER EVER EVER conceal in front of customers, you should never do this in general but especially NOT in an Ulta. Get to your blindspot and make sure to detag depending on what you plan on lifting. Those mfs at Ulta tag like crazy. Put everything in your bag and remember to NEVER get too greedy at this store. They have a STRICT, VERY VERY STRICT no chase policy.

What we want:

better than sex mascara

lipstick

eyeshadow

makeup brushes

black liquid and stick liner

pink liquid liner (if they have it)

bronzer

brown eyeliner

eyeliner pencil

maracuja oil

any colorful eyeshadow pallate lol

WALMART: My walmart is so easy it hurts. Maybe about 5 cameras throughout the whole store to my knowledge, so the whole thing is basically a blind spot. The makeup aisle is heavily monitored tho so whenever I'm over there I make an effort to never look up to those cameras. Grab whatever you want/need and AVOID EMPLOYEES!!! they're everywhere. As well as customers. They are the two most annoying problems I've ever had lifting from a Walmart. I've noticed that aisles where you get things such as building materials are the most empty with no cameras. People usually only go to walmart because the food is cheap, so there are a lot of families who are usually only at one side of the store. Its rare that people ever need materials like those so seek out aisles like that to use as a blind spot. Wal-Mart doesn't seem to tag that many things, but ALWAYS check no matter what store you're at. If you're lifting something on the expensive side, just check for that.

What I want:

kinder buenos x2

sugar free monster energy

paint

paintbrushes

black lace

blue eyeliner

blush

nail polish

socks

THE DOLLAR TREE:

Pretty easy store tbh. The cameras are fake, and if they aren't they're never being monitored. I don't know about ALL layouts but mine has SO many blindspots it's crazy. If you're just looking for a snack, some makeup, or maybe a meal ? (Yes, you can get a whole meal if you lift enough stuff) then the dollar tree would be your place of interest. There are almost no employees walking around the store. There are usually only 2, and they switch between working at the registers and cleaning out the front of the store or whatever. Honestly this store is so easy just stuff shit in your bag lol. Even if you get caught they won't chase or call the police. Their stock is WAYY too cheap for that. I go there to steal candy or makeup brushes which is usually not worth paying for anyways so this is a beginner store. Knock yourself out ;)

What I want:

literally anything i see there that i want😭

welllll if you actually made it this far, thank you so much! I hope this helped someone and I hope one day I can make a master list of stores myself instead of just picking selective ones but this was all i was able to do :( i really REALLY hope this helped someone lmao just remember

✨ if its chain, its free reign✨

[figureskatingandrainbows]

The Skate Canada SP was waaaay better than SkAm, maybe because no one was skating with an injury? Although I’m pretty sure the women landed more triple axels than the men....

Nathan was either going to have a fantastic skate or another really bad one, and he decided to go towards fantastic. His 4Lz was a little shaky, but everything else looked good. I like the program, although the choreo isn’t as memorable as some of his other programs. There was a lot of two-foot skating as well, which is weird, since Nathan’s skating skills aren’t the best in the world but they’re good enough that he can handle more complex material. Although he did skate right after Jason, which doesn’t help.

Jason was AMAZING. He was on fire and deserves every single PCS and GOE point in the world. Sinnerman is a work of art, and he scored a 94 with no quad. That is true testament to his quality and magic and grace, and I am 100% fine with Jason Brown: Skate Canada silver medalist.

Keegan was also amazing. His knees are made of rubber, because how else does he save his wonky jumps? He has so much heart in his skating, and his k& c was SO FRIGGIN CUTE. Also, his spread eagle? *chef’s kiss* Gorgeous.

I’m glad to see Makar and Evgeni do well in the SP, although I know it won’t last in the free. Props to Evgeni’s crazy 4S save and Makar’s crazy 4Lo. Also, a moment of silence for our fallen man Roman, and Team Japan’s 3As at this event.

The women were absolutely bananas. And so was the PCS. 

 Mai Mihara was stunning, and underscored on PCS because she skated first :( I'm so glad to see her back and happy. Even though her jumps are tiny, they're rotated, and she still has lots of speed out of them. 

Karen was also stunning, although her combo was not. Her spirals are to die for, but her and the 3-3 are not friends this early in the season. 

 Wakaba! Wakaba! Wakaba! She looks so confident and happy! Not a fan of the program, but she skated so well! I can't wait for her free. One of the standouts for sure. 

Alysa was another standout. Even though the 3A was under, the rest of the program had so much speed and power and confidence. I love the music, and Alysa has really improved in skating skills and quality. 

Alena looked really hesitant on her jumps. They were all a little rusty, and she wasn't near her old level of performance. Also, the music was a weird cover and cut. At least she landed the 3A and looked happy at the end. 

Tuktamysheva is incredible, and I adore her so much. She really fought to get out that combo, and her 3A looked as good as ever. Her PCS was waaay too high. The only category she deserves above an 8.5 for is PE, which she is very good at, but her especially her SS mark should be way lower. She still deserves second place, just not so high a score. A 76, maybe? 

I like Kamila lot. She has loads of natural talent. Her spins and flexibility are incredible. She's a solid performer and has good jumps, although her combos are a little wonky. She creates beautiful moments in her programs thanks to her flexibility, so Dani G actually did something right! Her PCS was still too high, but she was nice to watch and I'm glad that she landed her 3A. But her costume... can she skate in some gorgeous black lace creation, instead if a salmon-colored burlap sack? Blech. 

Sui and Han OGM 2022! They are gorgeous in so many ways, and had a really solid SP. I'm happy to see Sui is healthy and they're not too hindered by injury. 

James and Radord seem really disconnected to me, especially Eric. He looks very flat and distracted while skating, and never interacts with Vanessa. I'm glad MT/M are ahead of them, and had a much better skate here than at Finlandia. 

Pavliuchenko/Khodykin were HILARIOUS. The program was literally ever single Italian stereotype ever. They skated well, but I'll just leave you with this.