#i think i like this pen/coloring combination

[lavender-linens]

Oh boy, do I have opinions about beginner fountain pens! Keep in mind that I have smaller sized hands, which does influence my opinions.

I highly recommend pelican twist and pilot kakuno! Both are pens designed for elementary schoolers, so you get fun colors (the rose gold pelican twist is so pretty!). They are also very pleasant to write with for long periods in my opinion and are very ergonomic. I've tried lots of pens in person, and these are my favorite beginner pens other than the platinum preppy (which is excellent for how cheap and convenient it is). Platinum plasair is a very comfortable pen and writes very smoothly, but unfortunately it's ugly and clunky in design.

For more expensive pens, I would like to own the pilot prera, I tried it in person once and it was a wonderfully balanced pen. It's a bit overpriced for what it is though. I love my Waterman hemisphere, it's so elegant, ergonomic, and has lasted me 8 years and counting! My local pen shop isn't the biggest fan of Waterman (they don't have good margins for local stores and they switched mainly to converters apparently) but it's one of my favorite pens hands down.

I have tried the lamy safari. I don't know why everyone recommends it (I tried I back before the qc issues). It's overpriced for what you get, and the balance of the pen is horrible posted or unposted. No. Bad pen. Just why?

Pilot metropolitan is better balanced and super smooth, if a bit heavy for my taste. I don't own one even though they are super pretty because I hate the step down to the grip.

I personally recommend buying a converter and an ink syringe and being done with the whole cartridge issue.

I love Clairfontaine French ruled paper, but they recently changed the line coloring and now it's too bright. Boooo. Nakabayashi's Logical Prime is a wonderful notebook, so cute, pretty, and elegant. Do not be tempted to get their Logical Air though, the paper quality sucks and you will hate writing on it.

My ink recommendations are J Herbin, Diamine, or my new favorite Pilot Iroshizuku (seriously, so smooth). For some reason every single dark red ink I've tried has dried up in my very reliable pens.

Herbin: Lierre sauvage and poissiere de lune are my favorites from Herbin. Perle noir works well. Blue des profundedores is a good ink, but I'm not a fan of the color.

Diamine: claret is a lovely bright pink, blue velvet is a rich and shocking dark blue. I recommend both highly.

Pilot Iroshizuku: I am obsessed with ama-iro and prefer it to konpeki. Tsutsugi is nice, it's almost exactly the same as Diamine claret. Yama-budo is lovely as well. Iroshizuku inks are very well lubricated and very saturated, and the bottle is gorgeous, I love them.

I recommended pilot kakuno and Diamine claret to my friend who was just getting into fountain pens and wanted something violently pink like Elle Woods might have. She was very, very pleased with the combination.

My brother: I've just got him on the platinum preppies.

My bf: has a twisbi and another heavier pen I don't care to remember. I don't like either really, he really would just prefer to steal my pens. Maybe I should get him a kakuno. I think most fountain pens are way too big or made for men with giant hands.

ok, if you're a beginner and are interested in getting into fountain pens, i recommend jetpens' beginner guide because it's pretty alright

note: i don't recommend shopping at jetpens - they aren't bad by any means, but goulet pens is family owned and gives you a lollipop and sticker freebie with every order! i prefer them because of that. they also just have better customer service and, like, actually do sales sometimes. jetpens never does sales and when they do the deals are Bad

for beginner pens i personally recommend, if you wanna go REALLY cheap, get a jinhao shark. they use international standard cartridges AND include a converter for under five dollars! people seem to really like the pilot metropolitan for beginners, but i personally hate it for its garbage converter, proprietary fill system, and slippery grip section. the lamy safari has a triangle grip that some people hate and it also uses proprietary lamy fill systems, but it is far superior in my opinion. if you want to play it safe, i would go with pilot - lamy has some quality control issues. if you want to cross your fingers for a really good batch and experience, go lamy. for other options, check out the beginner pen selection on goulet's site! if you have any questions about specific pens in that selection then send an ask, i am insane and will probably have more information for you

do not buy disposable fountains as your first pens - they aren't representative of the experience.

info on different ways to fill your pen are here! i will always recommend bottled ink over cartridges - there's more options and bottled ink is better for the environment!

for inks, i'll always recommend waterman intense black if you want a black ink. it's nothing if not reliable! for more colorful options, try the pilot iroshizuku line. they're amazing!!!! please note that SHIMMER INKS are NOT for beginners. if you want glitter, make sure to practice with other inks and pens first so you know you like the hobby... glitter is not for the faint of heart in the fountain pen world. do not buy any NOODLER'S INK, the guy who owns it is a trump supporter and conspiracy theorist.

for paper, i would recommend not using something super textured or fibrous, as the fibers can get caught in your pen and cause a clog. printer paper is crummy but not the absolute worst - your ink WILL feather and bleed somewhat, but it won't be terrible. for dedicated paper, try rhodia, tomoe river paper (MY FAVORITE), or clairfontaine! you don't have to worry too much about this if you're a beginner, just make sure not to use your pens on highly textured paper

there's a lot more i could talk about, so again, feel free to ask! this is just the basics =)

[sholangagaga]

Another random piece I did, Michael Afton!

Post SL, he's just a funky synthetic/human combo that has a strange obsession with coffee

[iindigoeyed]

saw this dress and purse and i KNEW i had to draw this, it's so her!!

[dresshistorynerd]

Sewing 1890s Day Dress in Doll Scale

I went slightly overboard with this second historical doll project. Here's my first one. The style is from around 1897 and more of a middle class style. As with my first doll outfit, I tried to stick to historical methods as much as possible, but the scale forced me to do some deviations. I hand-sew everything though sewing machine was already widely used, because in this scale it's easier to control the stitch, there's not that much to sew anyway and also I just really like hand-sewing. Here's all the items I made. As said, I went a little overboard. One thing that's missing is the corset cover, but the layers of fabric were creating enough bulk on the waist as is so I decided to not make one.

This time I decided to try repainting the face. I don't have any doll customization materials, so I used acrylics. After couple of attempts I got decent results. Acrylics can't make as smooth and delicate finish as pastels, pencils and gouache, which can be used on vinyl with basing sprays, and I'm not experienced with painting small details on 3D objects, so it's a bit smudged at points, especially with the other eye. I aimed for 1890s very neutral make up and the type of expression that was popular in fashion plates and other illustrations.

Undergarments

Combinations and stockings

The combinations are split crotch as they were in the period. They are from thin cotton voile I have a lot of and is very appropriate. I didn't have really tiny enough lace for this, so it's kinda bulky, but I think it's okay enough. The stockings are cotton knit, which fits well. The garters are not actually necessary for this doll since her legs are rubbery.

Corset

I made the corset from a firm-ish linen and satin rayon pretending to be silk as the fashion fabric. The stitching of the boning channels is not super neat, this fabric is very unforgiving, I didn't have exactly matching thread and the scale made it very difficult. I of course didn't have tiny busk, so I used small hooks, sewed thread loops for them and used narrow metal wire for the edges. I think it looks surprisingly right on the outside. I used the same wire as the boning to reinforce the lacing on the back. I didn't actually use boning elsewhere but the tightly packed linen edges in the boning channels kinda work like lighter boning. I think it keeps the shape pretty ways even with just that. I stitched cotton tape inside to shape the corset further. I also didn't have tiny metal eyelets so I hand-sewed the lacing holes.

Bustle pad

The bustle pad is from linen and stuffed with tiny cabbage.

Petticoat

The petticoat is from the same cotton as the combinations.

Outer wear

Skirt

The fabric is cotton half-panama. It's pretty thin, but firm. I would have liked to use a woven wool, but I didn't have any that's thin enough to work in this scale. I think this cotton looks close enough in this scale to a wool with a tight weave, so I'm imagining it's that. My problem was that the cotton was white, but I wanted light brown. I wasn't going to buy any fabric for this, so I did the reasonable thing and dyed it with red onion peals (I've been doing natural dye experiments so this worked well for me).

Shirtwaist

The shirtwaist is from the same cotton as the undergarments. Yes, I dyed it too. I didn't have thin enough cotton in a color that would fit with the skirt and the purple bow, so I dyed it light blue with fabric color. Since I already went the trouble of dyeing I decided I might as well make a small flower print to it since that was popular in the era. I didn't want it to jump out too much but the lighting makes it even less visible. I made it with a white fabric pen. The collar and cuffs are reinforced with linen. I also sewed small stick-like beads to the cuffs on both sides, so one acts as a button (I sewed a buttonhole too) and the other makes it look like they are cufflinks. The bow is from the same fabric as the corset and the belt is sewn from the same cotton as the shirtwaist. The buckle is from a barbie belt.

Waistcoat

The waistcoat is from the same fabric as the skirt, thought the lapels and the back are from another satin rayon. I tailored the front panels and the lapels by stitching the linen interlining with tailor's stitches (I don't remember if that's the correct word in English) into shape. There is some wonkiness on one side of the hemline for some reason.

Boots

I made the slightly insane decision to make the shoes fully from leather, like they would have been in the period. I had an old broken leather wallet I had saved in case I needed some leather scarps. It has fairly thin leather, so it was workable here. It's light brown though, so I used black shoe polish to darken it. I wanted black or very dark brown shoes. I stacked the heels from glue and leather pieces and carved them into the right shape and sewed the shoe itself to leather shaped as the sole and glued it to the heeled and shaped sole. After I had shaped the shoes and the heels as much as I could I painted the heels black.

[sleepyparalysisdmon]

Let Me Hear You Say

The three times that Minghao resists confessing, and the one time it accidentally slips.

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: mentions of alcohol consumption and being drunk.

This is part of the Three Times series. This one is inspired by this reaction.

One

“I’m here!” You bust into Minghao’s studio, tossing bags, a coat, and half a dozen other things down in a chaotic mess. “Traffic was terrible,” you moan, collapsing onto the small couch in the corner. 

Minghao looks unimpressed with your dramatics as he peers over his canvas at you. “You sure do know how to make an entrance,” he muses. “What kind of trail of destruction did you leave on the way here?”

“Just a few things knocked over, I don’t think anything broke this time.” Some might think you’re joking, but Minghao knows you’re serious. You’re a bull in a china shop on a good day, and an F-5 tornado on a bad day. He secretly thinks of these comparisons affectionately. “What are you working on?” 

“I don’t know, to be honest. I had some colors in mind and I just went with it,” he mumbles, stepping back to see what he’s done. You join him glancing over the canvas. You give him a wide smile. 

“I like that shade of blue.” 

“So predictable,” he chuckles. “Make yourself useful and mix me some more of it then. And don’t waste paint.”

“No promises!” You exclaim, taking his palette from him and going to the work bench that holds all of his paint collection. When you hand the palette back to him a couple minutes later, he examines the color closely. It’s so, so close that it’s nearly imperceptible. Bull in a china shop that you are, combined with the skills in some arts that you lack, he’s kind of proud of you that you’re willing to stand still and focus long enough to get so close. He doesn’t have the heart to correct you. He never does when he can tell you’re really trying. 

But you’re pouting anyway, glancing between the palette and the canvas. “It needs more white.” He holds the palette above your head when you reach for it. 

“No, it’s fine. I told you not to waste paint. It’s so close I barely noticed.” 

You smile, though it doesn’t quite reach your eyes. “You’re just saying that. It’s obviously too dark. Give it here. I’ll add a little more white.” 

“No.” Minghao is already dipping the brush in the color you mixed. “I like this one better anyway. Don’t forget the ratio you used. I want you to write it down.” 

“Okay,” you sing, grabbing a pen and paper from his work bench. Once you’re done, it goes it the collection of Y/N’s Colors, a special little spot in the corner stacked high with little scraps of paper. He wonders if you notice how often those colors reappear in his works. Probably not, which is just as well.

Two

It’s Minghao’s day off and you drag him to the art gallery. You say there’s a new collection that you’re interested in seeing. It surprises him, because it’s usually him that’s dragging you to places like this. It’s usually too quiet and not exciting enough for you, and you bounce on your feet, trailing behind him until he’s ready to go. 

This time, you’re many paces ahead of him on the sidewalk, turning excitedly to get him to hurry up. “Since when do you rush for something like this?” Minghao asks, watching you bounce up the stairs to the entrance. 

“You’ll see.” Your eyes are a little wild. You grab his hand and start tugging him like he’s not moving fast enough. Usually you both would start at the beginning and slowly make your way through the room, but you’re tugging him somewhere in the middle. You come to an abrupt stop and he nearly bumps into you. “This is the one I wanted to show you.”

You point to a photograph. It’s black and white and a little out of focus, but that’s the entire point. He recognizes the style and doesn’t really need to look at the little placard underneath the photo. “You didn’t tell me you submitted something,” he admonished, admiring your work. 

You sort of squeal and shake his arm. “I didn’t think they’d accept it. I found out yesterday,” you talk fast. It’s only because he’s known you for a while that he can keep up with your motor mouth. “I guess someone had to pull out last minute and mine was a back up. It’s small, but isn’t it cool?”

“It is,” Minghao says genuinely. “This is great, Y/N. I’m proud of you.” He pushes you towards the photo. “Come on. Pose for a picture.” 

“Oh, no Minghao. You know I prefer to be behind the camera,” you whine, resisting his shove. 

“I won’t post it. It’s just for me,” he promises. You sigh, standing next to your piece. He snaps a quick photo before you decide to bolt. He lied a little. He didn’t post it on social media, not even his private accounts. But he did get it printed and framed for his studio. He hangs it up high so you won’t be able to reach it and get rid of it easily if you ever notice it. 

Three

Woozi whistles when he flips through the pages. Minghao spins in the chair, waiting for a response. It’s not too often that he presents lyrics for the group’s use. He’s better at other forms of media, primarily visual aspects. Still, sometimes he tries his hand at it and gives it to Woozi to do with it what he will. 

“I could use some of this,” Woozi finally says. “I’ll credit you if I do.”

“Don’t bother,” Minghao waves off. “You know that’s not what’s important to me.”

“I know,” Woozi chuckles. “You make it pretty obvious what’s important to you.”

Minghao raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, my focus is performance and choreography.”

“I know that,” Woozi rolls his eyes. “I meant, it’s obvious who all of these are about. You should really do something about that.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Minghao says shortly. “They’re just lyrics. They aren’t that serious.”

Woozi hums, though he looks a little bit entertained. “Denial is a really strong start, but not very convincing though. What’s so wrong with just telling her?”

“Tell her what? She’s just a friend.” 

Another eye roll, and Woozi goes back to his computer. “Fine, have it your way. You can deny that, I guess, but you can’t deny the writing credits you’ll get.”

Minghao leaves the studio before he can be roped back into that conversation. 

Four

Later that night, he agrees to go out with some of the members for drinks. He’s distracted and keeps taking whatever is handed to him, drinking faster than he normally would. He’s busy replaying the conversation with Woozi in his head. He’s never said it out loud, never admitted it, and no one has ever called it out so blatantly either. He’d always preferred it that way, maybe because then it doesn’t feel real and he can shove it to the back of his head to deal with later, or never. Something about Woozi’s direct comments make it hard to ignore, makes it feel real and it’s a little suffocating. 

He’s nearly asleep at the table when he loses the grip on his glass. His eyes snap open, scrambling for it, but it’s not that it’s slipped. Rather, a hand his tugging it away. He recognizes the hand because he’s watched it mix paint for him more than a few times. He releases the glass and puts his head in his hand, rubbing away the headache that’s formed somewhere between his eyebrows. 

You rub his back, voice teasing. “Having fun?” 

“Loads,” he mumbles. “What are you doing here? I thought you had to work.”

“I did. I’m already off. Jun called and said you might need a ride home,” you say lightly. Minghao checks his watch and groans at the time. He’s lost hours dozing at the table, it seems. You laugh, patting his back. “Come on, you can crash at my place. It’s closer.”

He lets you throw his arm around your shoulder once he’s standing and he hopes it doesn’t look like you’re carrying him, though you kind of are. You help him into the car and even buckle his seat belt. If he were sober, he’d never let you do that, but he’s a little overwhelmed by how nice you smell when you lean in close. He must doze off during the drive, because he wakes up to the smell of your perfume again as you’re leaning over him to unbuckle him. 

Inside your apartment, you help him out of his shoes and help him lie down on the couch. “Feel like you’re going to be sick?” He shakes his head and prays it will stay that way. “Okay, be right back.” In what feels like both a spilt second and a hundred years, you reappear with a bottle of water and a few aspirin. “Take these, get a head start.” He does as you say and then curls up into the pillow. A fluffy blanket comes over him. 

“Thanks. Love you.”

You laugh and the sound makes the corner of his lips turn up. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever said that. Who knew you’d be such a sweet drunk?”

“Just to you,” Minghao mumbles. 

“Aww, am I special?” You chuckle, brushing back his hair. 

He hums in agreement. “Yep. Love you. In love with you.”

You guffaw, standing up. “Okay, honey. Get some rest.” He’s pretty sure he’s asleep before you even turn the lights off. 

He wakes up the next morning to the smell of coffee. It’s strong, mostly because when he opens his eyes you’re waving the mug under his nose. He rears back, groaning at the sudden movement because his head is pounding. You laugh, placing the mug in his hands. “Aspirin is on the table. Take some more. Breakfast is coming up.”

Later, in between bites, you ask, “So did you have fun last night?”

“I don’t know,” Minghao mumbles. “Don’t remember much to be honest. I didn’t do anything stupid, did I?”

“It depends,” you smile, taking another bite. “Does confessing your love for me count as stupid?”

Minghao chokes on his coffee, nearly spraying it across the table. “I did what?”

“Yeah,” you say casually. “I don’t know if it was the alcohol talking, but you said ‘love you’ twice, and then ‘in love with you’ once. It was very sweet. You’re very sweet, even if you didn’t mean it.”

Minghao’s silent for a long time and you let him be, probably thinking he needs a minute to collect himself from the embarrassment. But you’ve got it all wrong. He kind of wishes he had the liquid courage he did last night. He can’t really look at you when he says, “I meant it.”

You stare at him for a few long seconds before finally smiling. “Good.” You’re up on your feet and he never knows how you have so much energy, but you’re bounding around the table and cupping his face, pressing the smallest peck to his lips. 

He’s momentarily stunned before he’s pushing you back. “Oh, come on, Y/N. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.”

“I have a brand new one under the sink. You better hurry.” He does, jumping up to run to the bathroom. He can hear your laugh echo down the hallway and thinks this will probably the first and last time he’ll ever be relieved to have gotten drunk the night before. 

[amymbona]

I love you so much. Seriously, you are so precious.

Can we address the fact that art can be so mean? Like, that sauna scene is so extra and wild. The meanest boy ever with literally no reason.  So I was thinking about a reader, being actually a good girl, kind and shy and nice and pretty and everybody just loves her and art is going bananas over it because he can't stand her, and he's so mean and manipulative and kinda crazy kinda want her to "show her true colors 'cause he's not buying the good girl act" kinda wants her to be his, but after he MAKES HER his. Molding that pretty thing to behave how he wants.  sorry if you can't match my freak it's fine it's cool I won't cry :( 

User I love you so so so much *kisses your forehead* 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶 I'll definitely match your 𝔣𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔨. That's what I'm here for! Perhaps I could make this a little series. 🤭🤭

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Art is so crazy for you. He adores the thin ribbons at the end of the braids you usually wear, tied into two neat bows. He has the collection of your plaid miniskirts etched into his mind, knowing exactly what kind of low cut tops you combine with them. Sometimes, you're dressed in so little clothing - one of your short skirts and a stupidly thin blouse that shows more than it hided - that he questions whether you're still comfortable, and considers offering you a hoodie of his.

You're a kind soul too, not hesitating to lend people your pens if their runs out of ink and stops writing, generously offering whatever the person next to you might need. Somehow, you seem to carry whatever could be missing. You're so soft spoken, encouraging people and comforting them if their exam doesn't go well, always laying your palm on a person's shoulder to rub it and bring them a sense of comfort. And people adore you for that, their faces shine when they spot you in the corridor and you smile at them. You are the Stanford's sweetheart.

And sometimes, Art can't help himself but stare at you in the class, chewing onto the end of his pen, wondering whether that smile is permanently etched onto your face. Because even now, when you're simply sitting and listening to the lecture, there is such an aura of grace and easiness glowing around you, as if you were made to convince the whole class that they have nothing to worry about and everything is going to be okay. You're simply too soft for your age, in his eyes, too benign for the people you hang out with a too gracious in general. All, as if you were hoping to get something in return, even though you never ask for it.

Art is tempted to find a crack in your shell, to discover who you really are, because he's definitely not buying the good girl act. So he gets to work. Being Art Donaldson, he approaches the whole situation cautiously, surprising himself with his own patience. However, he's aware that if he really wants to get as close to you as possible, it's gonna take some time. Even despite your friendliness, you surely can't be naive enough to let him in with a simple smile.

He is a mastermind, of sorts, accidentally forgetting his pens or erasers and asking to borrow one from you. You respond with a usual smile and a soft "Of course," and let your fingers graze his palm when you hand him one. He's so tempted to keep it by the end of the lecture, as if to keep a part of you with himself. But he can't do that yet.

Slowly, Art figures out most of your schedule, showing up in the cafeteria or the campus' park where you might currently be. Some hi's and hello's are exchanged between the two of you, accompanied by a cute smile on your face. The more you smile at Art, actually, the more he is tempted to wipe that expression off of your face. He wants to see you cry, to see you scream and whine and beg and yell, to finally see the walls you've built up around yourself fall and uncover your true self.

Soon, without actually planning it, Art becomes obsessed with you. But not with the gentleness or your actions, nor the generosity of your innocent soul. Definitely not with your kind smile and big eyes. On the contrary, he wants to see them fill with tears, he wants them to be red and glossy while they look at him. He wants you to either encourage him to keep hurting you or beg him to stop, squirm and whine and protest, that you can't take all the pain he's about to give you. As long as you are below him, helpless and vulnerable, he will be content with his doings.

[greeneyessmize]

Penolise analysis time!

Show Penolise had to break so we can get a healthy Penolise. Let's talk it out.

I think we really need to see how the dynamic of Penelope & Eloise's friendship was unhealthy for both of them.

- Penelope deferred to Eloise's thoughts and wants almost all the time. She might try to cajol Eloise to her way of thinking, but it was nearly always a gentle thing that she easily let go. She never fully contradicted Eloise and put her foot down.

- Penelope deferred to Eloise out of fear. Who was Penelope's one friend that she was able to be close to in a socially acceptable and public way? Eloise. As someone who as a bullied kid got down to only one friend at times? I sure did my best to always be on their good side no matter how I felt about things. No matter the cost or what hurt was still held.

- Eloise has been encouraged to have her voice, to have it loudly, and has been rarely contradicted in any meaningful way even in her own family. She thusly values her own opinions above all. She states herself that she just can't understand why others don't see the world like her. And her cutting comments to nearly everyone around her shows that if full HD color.

- Eloise is the fifth of eight children. Even as the second daughter in that brood, she doesn't have much say over things that matter in the home or in her family. So, she stretches for every scrap of individuality and independence she can find. She has to be different at any cost. And she must always be right.

These factors combine into what we have witnessed in the show so far:

- Penelope clams up to keep peace with Eloise as much as she can, she keeps LW a secret because she must have something somewhere where she is in charge and allowed to express herself freely and actually influence people and events. She gets that nowhere else in her life.

- Eloise runs rough shod over any dissent from Penelope because Pen is so mild in her disagreement that it can't even penetrate Eloise's ego. It's always Eloise's ideas, Eloise's adventures, Eloise's desires. And since they are hers, surely then must also be Penelope's too.

When Eloise discovers that Penelope is LW, not only does it feel like a betrayal for the scandals revealed by Pen, but it shatters the mirror she assumed Penelope was.

Eloise has to learn that Penelope was always her own person with separate thoughts and feelings and ideas and triumphs. She has to learn to listen. She can't yet, but she needs to listen to Penelope's story, all that she ignored and all that Pen withheld. Moreso, she needs to try to understand why Penelope has written the things she has. This will be the only way for Eloise to start to grow up. Eloise has to learn that her perspective is only a small part of her relationships with other people.

Penelope needs to show Eloise who she really is. She has to be comfortable showing when she disagrees. She has to give herself permission to be herself. This is hard because to Penelope, she is only loved conditionally. She is only loved by her mother for doing as she is told and for briefly having Debling's attention. Her sisters never even gave her that. Her dad? Pretty much absent. And the second Eloise found out she was LW? Gone.

I think when they finally manage to perform what I outlined above, that we will see Penolise 2.0 and it's going to be so much better. It can have balance, it can have understanding, and be a deeper friendship than either of them knew was possible.

[yuurei20]

Twisted Wonderland 2nd Novel translations (pt2)

(first post has run out of space 💦)

Cafeteria Meeting "Cater is seated next to Riddle. Deuce sits beside him and asks, 'Clover-senpai isn’t with you?'"

Meeting Jamil and Kalim (pt1) "‘Why Jamil, Kalim. I did not expect to see you in the cafeteria.’"

Meeting Jamil and Kalim (pt2) "‘Information gets around quickly.’ ‘We just so happened to hear about it. May we bother you for the details?’ In response to Riddle’s inquiry, Jamil narrows his eyes."

Meeting Jamil and Kalim (pt3) "Jamil waits in silence for the conversation to pause, and then continues once more."

Riddle and Unique Magics "‘It's not something that just anyone can do. But the foundation for unique magic often lies in common, basic spells. A mage takes those spells and combines or improves upon them as needed.'"

Grim's Realization (pt1) "‘Magic that can control other people's movements? Man, if I had a unique magic as convenient as that, I'd be controlling the teachers to make every day a self-study day.’"

Grim's Realization (pt2) "‘…Cay-kun thinks Grim might be on to something here.’"

Ruggie Escape (pt1) "Though Yuuya had been hoping that their last class of the afternoon would somehow never end, today it concluded exactly on time."

Ruggie Escape (pt2) "With everyone situated Cater begins with, ‘Let’s get straight to it. Ruggie-kun, do you know anything about this?’"

Ruggie Escape (pt3) "As Riddle does not know the nature of Ruggie’s unique magic, he will need to make the first move."

Ruggie Escape (pt4) "Ace and Deuce immediately look down at their own breast pockets—their magical pens are gone."

Ruggie Escape (pt5) "They are attracting onlookers, now, who further trip up Grim and the others."

About Riddle (pt1) "‘I kinda envy you though, being able to respect your housewarden like that.’"

About Riddle (pt2) "‘Ah!’ Deuce suddenly exclaims aloud, looking to Yuuya for support."

Riddle and Jack (pt1) "‘You have deduced Ruggie Bucchi’s unique magic?’"

Riddle and Jack (pt2) "The look on Deuce’s face seems to say, 'Now you bring this up, after all of that?’"

Riddle and Jack (pt3) "‘It’s just like Yuu says. You haven’t gotten anywhere, and you’re just going to keep repeating what you've been doing like some kind of moron?’"

Riddle and Jack (pt4) "‘I will keep it brief,’ Riddle continues without the slightest shift in his expression."

Savanaclaw Dorm (pt1) "Ruggie had only intended to pass through the lounge, but he is stopped by Leona calling out to him."

Savanaclaw Dorm (pt2) "Ruggie has always suspected that the sharp contrasts between Leona’s reactions are one of the ways in which he manipulates others."

Savanaclaw Dorm (pt3) "‘Heh. Celebrating already, when you’ve barely got claws in your prey.’"

Morning Jack "‘Hey. I said wake up.’"

The Day of the Tournament (pt1) "'All right! Is everyone here?'"

The Day of the Tournament (pt2) "The march itself was suggested by the chair of the spelldrive tournament management committee, the housewarden of Octavinelle."

The Day of the Tournament (pt3) "Instantly, the auditorium erupts into sound."

The Day of the Tournament (pt4) "’He’s saying that, but both Ace and I have already accepted it.’"

The Day of the Tournament (pt5) "‘Saying he should stop causing so much trouble for his vice-house warden, that kind of stuff.’"

The Day of the Tournament (pt6) "‘I heard that it’s because the housewarden tutors people who are at risk of failing their classes."

To the Festival (pt1) "They descend the long staircase, turn onto Main Street, and suddenly everything is different from what they are used to seeing."

To the Festival (pt2) "Shops line sides of the street, offering colorful foods and goods packed together under white canvas awnings."

Jack and Yuuya "First-year student, Jack, has been selected to play for Savanaclaw."

Meeting Azul (pt1) “'Oh my, is that Jack Howl of Savanaclaw?’"

Meeting Azul (pt2) "‘My name is Azul Ashengrotto, and I am honored to be the housewarden of Octavinelle. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.’"

The Confrontation (pt1) "Shutting down his unique magic, Ruggie runs towards the tower at the edge of the sports field."

The Confrontation (pt2) "‘Well, well.’ Leona greets Riddle with an exaggerated bow."

The Confrontation (pt3) "‘Points for enthusiasm, but what’s left for you to do?"

The Confrontation (pt4) "‘How. You should have all been caught in that stampede.’"

The Confrontation (pt5) "He straightens his posture even more and raises his voice once again."

The Confrontation (pt6) "‘There is no chance. At all,’ Leona asserts in a clear voice."

Leona Collared "Leona fights to remove the collar by force, his hair whipping about his face in his violent struggle."

Facing down an overblotting Leona, Riddle has a confession to make "Riddle confronts the glowering Leona with determination. ‘I am not mocking you. Leona-senpai. I respected you.’"

Leona and Lilia "Riddle is already looking ahead. He has his regrets and his turmoil, but he still continues on the path of becoming a good housewarden."

Leona's Unique Magic (pt1) "From somewhere comes a low voice. At first Yuuya cannot tell who it is, but looking around him he notices Ruggie, his eyes dark and shimmering."

Leona's Unique Magic (pt2) "Yuuya looks up at the sky in a daze, and then feels something tickle at his ankle. Gently moving sand is pricking at his skin."

Leona and Ruggie, to overblot (pt1) "‘Leona-san, what are you thinking!?’ Ruggie steps in front of Leona. ‘Why would you use your unique magic like this…if you keep going—‘ ‘Why?’ Leona interrupts. 'Obviously, it’s to shut you all up.’"

Leona and Ruggie, to overblot (pt2) "‘Right, Ruggie? I really can't stand people who don't listen. I thought you would've figured that out by now. You're skilled at reading people's moods and selling them flattery, after all.’"

The Transformation "‘It is you who should be silent!’ Lilia shouts."

Cater and Yuuya "'Ruggie is lying nearby. Yuuya wraps one of Ruggie’s arms around his shoulders and Grim attempts to take a share of Ruggie’s weight by grabbing onto his thin waist, but the limp body weighs them down."

Ruggie Wakes Up "Jack's agile wolf body slides across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirtying his fur. Leona gives him a cold, piercing glance."

The Overblot Battle "Columns of sand rise up and advance towards Ruggie and the others, engulfing everything in their path."

Leona and Falena "From the moment I was born, there’s been a boulder on top of me that’s too heavy to move."

Post-Overblot Leona (the flashback monologue) "I grew tired of thinking, so I decided to enroll at Night Raven College, though I had no interest in it. I knew I was just running away from the pain, but my heart felt lighter, nonetheless."

Jack and Leona (pt4) "‘All this messing around. We don’t have time for this!’ Released from Ruggie’s unique magic, Leona rubs against his reddened cheeks and raises his eyes."

Trusting Riddle "In the very front row, Riddle puts a hand to his mouth as he shouts, ‘What are you getting despondent over? Defeat Leona-senpai, beat the crap out of him!’ The normally refined Riddle swings his fist around."

The Exhibition Match (pt1) "The disc passes to Deuce as he races down the side of the field. Deuce is not as skilled as Ace, but he has stamina, and he is fast on his feet. He effortlessly overtakes the grouped players of Yuuya and the others, steadily advancing towards the goal."

The Exhibition Match (pt2) "With a glance for the ghosts who come for him, Leona sharply calls out, ‘Jack!’"

The Exhibition Match (pt3) "Ruggie and Jack rush to Leona, who has fallen to his knees, his hands flat on the ground."

Yuuya Knocked Out Grim is called over, the ghosts are gathered, and Yuuya huddles with Ace and Deuce to set the strategy for their next move.

Cheka (pt1) "‘Unca, I finally found you!’ Something bounces like a ball into the infirmary."

Cheka (pt2) "Cheka looks to Jack with his large, round eyes, only to turn abruptly about and go to hug Leona again."

Cheka (pt3) "'Perhaps realizing that he is being laughed at, Cheka looks around the room with a curious look."

[trollpostings]

Kicking my feet writing on my trolls blog with a glitter pen. I think that the putt putt trolls have sharper teeth and claws and stuff and are generally more "wild" than most other trolls because of the, gestures, 20 years of isolation. And their food is not their size!!! The food they eat is not their size!!! They're tearing into that stuff! They're eating burger patties that probably feed like ten people at once!

I am a huge lover of the "trolls are an adaptive species" headcanon. I also like big chonky teeth and claws in character design. So I'm combining those. Also I noticed that most, if not all, of the putt-putt trolls are monochromatic except for Viva! Clay too, to an extent. Can we talk about the fact that he's gone so far to change himself that his literal skin has shifted from bright blue to a teal color? Anyway, I think putt-putt trolls are like, chameleon sort of trolls. They can change colors instantly in order to camouflage.

They also don't seem to be eating the same sort of berries and fruits and vegetables that the Pop trolls are used to. Points at the burger patties again. They're eating meat. They're mostly eating meat. And yeah I know that there's troll sized burgers in canon, but we mostly only see that in Lonesome Flats, and I'm talking about Pop trolls right now. Pop trolls are not shown eating meat very often. To go from a mostly vegetable/fruit diet to a mostly meat diet (with like, the fries and shakes too, of course) in a very sudden shift can make a person very sick and mess with their body, which is why when people change diets, they do so in small increments. For body and health safety.

Also I don't think they're cooking the Putt Putt course food super often. For safety. Smell travels. Look at how fast Bridget and Gristle found them after they'd made food hours earlier! They're definitely not taking that risk often. Viva did say it was for celebration. They're probably eating that stuff frozen

There's a lot going on in this post, but the main big point is. Putt Putt trolls likely had a massive sudden shift in literal physiology and biology. Such as quicker color shifting, camouflage, sharper teeth made for eating meat and pointier claws for meat as well. I also said this in an earlier post but I do think they move silently. You will not see them unless they want you to, and that's literally canon (when the group firsts enters, when Clay literally disappears between frames to get to the gate, when Bridget and Gristle get to the putt putt course, ect).

[internet-rat]

"Let them look"

Part 1 of: Aemond Targaryen x Hightower OC (This fic takes place before the king dies, but both characters are 18)

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

Leilana Hightower had not been in Kings Landing since she was a child. Still, she did not come unprepared. She had exchanged letters with her favorite cousin for years. Aemond had spared her no details of the happenings in the court in his letters. His penmanship was beautiful for someone who would rather wield a sword than a pen. He was always eager to know her thoughts on different matters. It made her feel like he saw her as an equal in many ways. Her aunt, the queen, had invited her to stay at court when she was 18. Leilana entered the great hall where a gathering of courtiers, advisors, servants and royals were gathered. Wine was served and someone played a lovely tune on a lute. Somehow the tune felt foreboding to Leilana. She had chosen to wear a modest but elegant green silk gown. Her dark brown hair hung in elegant ringlets which flowed down her shoulders. She behaved demurely but with poise, like she had been taught. She was nervous though. It was her first time around so many people. She decided to observe quietly from a shadowy area of the room.

Aemond Targaryen's lilac eye, the one not adorned by the sapphire or shielded by a patch, scanned the Great Hall. The shimmering light of the wall sconces cast flickering shadows over the revelers, and a melody of clinking goblets and idle chatter filled the air. His silver hair fell in a long, sleek curtain over his shoulders, a stark contrast to the dark, regal attire that hugged his muscular frame. The atmosphere was thick with tension and merriment, an odd combination that only a Targaryen celebration could muster.

His gaze was like a hawk’s, predatory and unyielding, surveying the flock of nobles until it alighted upon the shadowy nook where Leilana Hightower stood. Despite his wild disposition, the sight of her catalyzed a certain restraint, a reeling in of his impulsive nature. As he approached her, the subtle clink of his armor and spurs announced his presence before his deep voice broke the silence, making her heart flutter. It was him.

"Leilana Hightower," Aemond addressed her with a half grin, one that bespoke irony - the son of Alicent and niece of his mother crossing paths amidst the throes of potential strife. "It is unlike a flower of Oldtown to wilt in the shadows. Or perhaps, you found the luminary gathering too blinding?"

He stepped closer, his good eye reflecting the subtle hues of the dim surroundings, taking on a soft, almost hypnotic glow. While his stance and tone exuded confidence, there was also a hint of conspiratorial kinship in his demeanor. It was almost as though he was unable to hide his inner joy of seeing her here, after all these years. She had grown more beautiful to him than ever. He had to make sure he did not stare at her in a disrespectful manner.

"Tell me, cousin, what thoughts occupy your mind on such a celebration?" Aemond continued, his voice low, yet laced with an unexpected gentleness. "Or is it that you, like me, find pretense tiresome?"

Aemond reached out with one gauntleted hand, slowly, to allow her to adjust to the notion of his touch, and offered a goblet of Arbor gold, the rich golden color of the wine a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them. His gesture was simple yet loaded, a symbol of the respect he held for her.

They could speak plainly with one another, at least in their letters. She decided now would be no different. She took the wine goblet gently, letting her fingers graze his just a little. She replied in her thoughtful voice, deciding to voice her thoughts to him.

"I think a war is coming."

Aemond's eye narrowed ever so slightly at her touch, an unexpected flutter of something undefined stirring within his chest. War. The word hung in the air between them, weighty and potent. His fingers lingered just a breath longer than necessary before retracting, the cool metal of his gauntlet a sharp contrast to the warmth of her skin.

"Aye, Leilana," Aemond's voice was a whisper, rich with the undertones of impending conflict. "The drums of war beat in the hearts of men and women alike within these walls. Can you hear their rhythm? It is a melody that speaks to my blood, to the dragon within."

He took a measured step forward, closing the gap between them. His very presence was like a looming storm cloud, dark and charged with energy. His eye locked on hers, seeking, probing for the depth of her understanding.

"But war," he paused, leaning in closer, so close that his words were for her alone amidst the din of the feast. "War is not just a clash of swords and shields, my cunning cousin. It is a dance of shadows and whispers, of secrets and allegiances."

His words curled into the shadowed corner where they stood, a secret shared in the open yet hidden from all but her. Aemond was known for his prowess in battle, his ambition, his unquenchable thirst for glory—but in this moment, he was also unmistakably a Targaryen, with all the political acumen that bloodline entailed.

"And what role will the rose of House Hightower play in this dance, I wonder?" he mused aloud, his tone almost teasing now, but his gaze remained sharp, hungry for any glimpse into her own schemes and intentions. "Will you bloom in the light of the flames, or will your petals fall underfoot in the chaos to come?"

His words were a challenge and an invitation, an enticement to join him in this game of thrones, where every move was perilous, and every player risqued destruction—or unimaginable power. Aemond's hunger for such power was insatiable, and he sensed a kindred spirit in Leilana—one who might rise to the occasion and claim her place amidst the strife, a queen of the battlefield in her own right.

Leilana had already joined the game a long time ago, when she decided she would aid him. Her wits could calm the impulsive storm which roared in his dragonheart. She placed her hand gently on his arm and smiled her small smile. Her voice was low and soothing.

"You know I will always support you in any way I am able to..."

Aemond's posture shifted ever so slightly, the tension in his muscles easing at her touch, though the radar of his attention never waned. The contact made him feel safe in a way he had not expected. Her letters had been of comfort, but her presence was even more potent in so many ways.

"Your support," Aemond began, his voice a deep timbre of velvet and steel, "is not something I take lightly, cousin." He paused, his gaze holding hers with an intensity that was both piercing and strangely vulnerable. "It is a treasured blade in my arsenal, especially when wielded by someone as... capable as you."

His words were a testament to the respect he held for her intellect and poise, qualities he found most valuable in the great game they were all unwillingly part of. The Targaryen prince was a man who seldom offered praise, but when he did, it was earned and genuine.

He lifted his free hand, the metallic sheen of armor catching the light as he traced a finger down the delicate fabric of her sleeve, not quite touching her skin, but close enough for her to feel the heat of him. It was a rare gesture, uncharacteristic of Aemond, who was often guarded and withdrawn—a man known more for his ruthless ambition than tender moments.

"In truth, Leilana," he said, leaning in so that his breath fanned lightly across her cheek, "your loyalty could be the beacon that guides me through the impending storm."

His words were almost a whisper, a secret confession of dependency in a world where such admissions were dangerous. It was clear that her presence, her alliance, had become something of an anchor for the volatile prince. For someone who rarely allowed others into his orbit, who found solace in the thrill of battle and the unyielding back of his dragon, Vhagar, Aemond's openness with Leilana was a stark deviation from his norm.

"But should that storm break," he continued, his eyes narrowing with undeniable determination, "I will need more than just your support—I will need you- ah, your cunning, your insights... your power."

The air between them was charged, and Aemond stood steadfast, a tower of strength and ambition, extending an invitation to not just stand beside him, but to join him in the very eye of the hurricane that was to come. It was an offer of partnership, a recognition of her potential to be as much a player in this deadly game as any man, as any Targaryen. And in the heart of Aemond, there stirred a fierce desire to see just how brightly the Hightower rose could shine amidst the fire and blood that was their birthright.

They had always gotten along well, ever since they were children. She would never keep secrets from him, and would keep him informed on any intel she had about the Hightowers and their dealings. They had the same grandfather, but he did not entirely trust Aemond. But she did, and she always appreciated how he saw her as an equal in a sense. He did not treat her like just a woman, but as someone who could hold her own in this world. Secretly she had romantic feelings for him as well, which made her loyalty to him even stronger. She replied gently.

"You shall have all of it."

Aemond felt the weight of her words anchoring him to the moment, as though binding him to an oath. Her loyalty was a prize more valuable than any jewel, more potent than the strongest of wines. He had long recognized they were of the same essence, two halves of an ancient Valyrian coin, equal in measure and equally as rare.

"Then I am richer than the Lannisters and more fortified than the Night's Watch," Aemond declared, the hints of a rare, genuinely pleased smile playing at the corners of his mouth. His voice resonated with a sense of triumph, not just for the allegiance she promised, but for the human connection so seldom embraced by him.

His good eye fixed upon her with an intensity that betrayed his tumultuous inner storm—a storm she seemed to quell with her mere presence.

"And should the day come when I take what is rightfully mine," he said, his tone fraught with the promise of power and retribution, "your place shall be at my side, not as a mere shadow or whisperer of secrets, but as a force recognized and revered."

Aemond was not given to such assurances, and fewer still would he make in the presence of another soul. But with Leilana, there was a bond, an understanding that went beyond the machinations of court intrigue or the lust for dominance. In her, he found a kindred spirit.

"Come," Aemond commanded softly, the word less an order and more an invitation. He extended his arm, offering it to her with a deference that could be construed as protective, or perhaps possessive—a gesture that belonged to a world outside the political chessboard where they both played their pieces. His eyes held a question in them, and they seemed softer. A softness only reserved for her.

"Let us step away from the shadows and into the light," he continued, urging her to join him in the view of all assembled. "Let them see the unity that will shape the future of the Seven Kingdoms. Let them see the power that lies not in dragons or swords, but in the alliance of two minds that together are unbreakable."

His gaze never left hers as he waited for her response, the offer hanging between them like a covenant—a pact that could elevate or destroy, a gamble that Aemond was willing to take. For in Leilana, he saw not just a cousin or a confidant, but perhaps, the very reflection of his own ambition and the indispensable ally in the war that lay ahead.

Despite her poise she could not quite suppress the blush that painted her pale cheeks once he said her place should be at his side. She was not sure if he meant it the way she hoped. At least the words leaving his lips could make her dream. Maybe he saw her as more than a friend and ally. She smiled her soft smile and gently interlocked her arm with his.

Aemond felt the subtle warmth against his skin beneath the cool steel of his armor as Leilana's arm slipped into his—an affirmation of their unspoken pact. Her blush did not go unnoticed, a rare bloom of color upon her otherwise pale visage, and though he made no direct acknowledgment of it, there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eye. Aemond Targaryen was not often moved, but the sight stirred something within him, a smoldering ember he seldom allowed to flare.

He inhaled the delicate scent of lavender that wafted from her, a soothing counterpoint to the iron and smoke that often clung to him like a second skin. Together, they stepped forward into the throng, their entwined arms a silent declaration of unity and intent. Whispers followed in their wake, the nobility keenly observing this display that could very well shape the political landscape in the days to come. Aemond was acutely aware of the eyes upon them, the speculations and predictions that would be born of this moment.

"Let them look," he murmured to Leilana with a hint of defiance, though his words were for her ears alone amidst the din of the feasting hall. "Let them get used to the sight of us, together."

[spilledkaleidoscope]

I really like your DE portraits artstyle! Do you have any tips on how to replicate it?

I THINK I've written about it before, but since I am too lazy to look for it...

There is some variation between how the portraits are done - I tend to refer to the Smoker, Glen, Titus and Trant in terms of style.

I think the most characteristic things about these is

Sketchy lines with bold shadows (think nose, neck, eyes). I usually have a brush that responds to pressure (size of brush) and velocity (faster: more transparent; combined with texture this allows me to add a bit of "crunch" if I want to)

noticable difference in detail between face and the rest of the figure

more painterly, often geometric background

color variation! Make your primary painting brush a flat one that has color jitter enabled. I change the settings around as I draw for more variety. It helps if you have a setup where you can make the tip of the brush rotate with your pen (I've had this since december and its very nice).

This also goes for your palette in general. The DE Portraits tend to use lots of different colors even in things that read as grey or white. For example, if you look at the Hanged Man Portrait, his grey skin is actually desaturated purple, yellow, green and blue. There is little to no mixing going on here, so what I do is make a little mixing palette and then just eyedropper colors from there. ALSO don't be afraid of saturated colors and color contrasts! Liz' portrait is done a bit differently than a bunch of others, but the green highlights are notable.

Finish up by coloring some of your lineart or painting over it in places to make it more lively. I feel like the less put together a character is, the more abstract the portrait becomes (I'm thinking of Idiot Doom Spiral or Cuno's Father) (Harry is the exception I guess) (Unless you are like me and refused to look into the mirror LOL)

Hope this is helpful! I learned this by doing some studies, including the Disco Sapphic portraits that are rather slight variations of existing portraits.

buuuut I feel like my "freehand" portraits have become competent too:

[easybrainrot34]

🖼️Lil Benedict Bridgerton Headcanons Pt 2🖼️

Woohoo part 2 baby!! Part 1 is right here! Some of these are modern!AU some of these are Regency era. As I said before I am truly a ✨slut✨ for this man. Hope y’all enjoy 😊

All r fluff and crack. Bonus Polin Headcanon ❤️

🎨= modern!AU

🎻= Renaissance era

🎨🎻= either

Also mentioned : Colin, Anthony, Kathony, Queer!Eloise, Gregory, and Polin

Ps, my ask and request r open :)

🎨 He went on a gap year before college to travel the world. He went kinda everywhere but he’s not one of those people that’s pretentious and has to talk about it all the time (no shade Colin, he’s more of an excited puppy about where he’s been anyway)

🎨 During cov!d he really honed in on his skills as an artist but also got really into skincare and hair care. Now he does a whole curly hair care routine because even though I can see him keeping his hair on the shorter side, he still likes it to have a little body.

🎨🎻 He would never admit it to Anthony (at least sober) but he wants the love that Kate and Anthony have for each other. He is such a hopeless romantic and I think he wants nothing more in this world than to find someone he feels he truly can’t live without.

🎻 Now we all know Benedict goes to balls more out of family obligation than actually wanting to, but I truly feel like once he’s married, he wants you to throw balls every season. He loves being able to show you off and what better setting them a ball with you as the person of honor. I also feel like he would enjoy throwing balls/parties for his more artistic, not part of the ton friends.

🎨 Now let’s say this is a modern AU where Eloise is a lesbian and our dear Ben is bisexual. I feel like when Eloise came out to him and said “I’m gay” he said, with no hesitation “you too?” I feel like the next day this man would just barge into her place with a gift bag full of Girl in Red, Chappell Roan, and Raneé Rapp albums, a pride flag, and a Carabiner. She would give him the “these are all stereotypes” lecture, but truly she appreciates it.

🎨🎻 I feel like he is very weak willed when it comes to his nieces and nephews. Like he is the favorite uncle, yes it took him bribing the kiddos, and yes he has no shame about it. He would stay firm with them (respecting the majority of set rules) but he will let them get away with small things. It will take him having his own kiddos to understand where everyone is coming from. (trust & believe that the siblings take their revenge)

🎨 He’s weak for a sundress. Weather it’s a cute little flower print, or a simple solid color, he just loves a little flowy sundress. I can’t explain it. It’s just this man’s weakness. (Btw this is what I mean when I say sundress, because apparently the Internet is having a debate about this right now lol)

🎻 Y’all remember when people were painting on each other’s bodies during Covid? Yeah he would do that. I feel like he would very much use u as a canvas during yall’s honeymoon. I feel like it would also end in a little ✨spicy time✨

🎨 While I can really see this man not giving a fck about whether he is fit or not I feel like as he starts to get a little bit older (late 30s early 40s) he would sign up for the gym. I feel like this will be a combination of him wanting to, but also Anthony, Colin, and Gregory would tease him about getting a “dad bod”. He knows though that you love it so he wouldn’t try to get too fit, just enough to be a little toned.

🎨🎻BONUS🎻🎨

He has such a fondness for Pen. This man is in her corner, if her and Colin get into a fight he automatically is taking her side. If he sees Cressida doing some shady sh!t he’s calling her out right then and there. I also feel once Colin and Pen announce their engagement, he would go to her and say “I’m sorry it took him so long to realize what we all knew” AHHH I JUST KNOW HE SHIPS POLIN!!!

[apicelladonna]

Some your middle-aged married Albus&Gellert headcanons?

Where to begin!? These are general musings whether they stayed together in another lifetime or met in secrets during the war.

Albus-Gellert middle aged married fellas let's go

Beverage of choice: Tea and black coffee (Gellert swears that he saw Albus dump a whole sugar bowl into his tea but still frowned and say it wasn't sweet enough for his liking)

Mornings: Albus is a early riser because of his morning classes while you couldn't wake Gellert (night owl) even if it there was a raid unless a necessity.

Bookmarks: Leaf pressed personalized bookmark gift from Elphias- Doesn't or it will crease the binds so he just remembers the page.

When mad: Cold silent anger - passive aggressive temper

Perspective roles: The Sword & The Pen

Love language: Acts of service - Words of encouragement

Favorite body part of their partner:

(Albus: Gellert's hands when they swing animatedly when he is very vocal with his afternoon rants. Or choke him)

(Gellert: Albus' blue eyes that sucked him deep into its trenches and he gladly drowned in them. Albus' plump bottoms/thy lovely peaches to behold)

Endearment

(Albus to Gellert): 'Dear boy', 'Darling' 'My Cherished Stars',

(Gellert to Albus): 'Schatz' 'Sonnenschein', Any of the languages he can speak that has the endearment close to 'Precious Treasure' he's said it-

Blood troth: Albus kisses Gellert's lips first then the troth, Gellert kisses the scar on Albus' hand first then their troth.

Public Displays of Affection (Albus): Discreet pinky finger holding, the shit you see in Bridgerton and more, says I love you to Gellert with his eyebrow scrunch-

PDA (Gellert): He is a damn peacock with what we've seen in the Lestrange Mausoleum rally where he just shines their blood troth for all to see that he's taken. Basically: This is my husband, have you read his research article regarding the advantages of not eight but twelve properties of Dragon blood? Astounding man he is. Too humble for himself. Here have a copy-

Bedroom intimacies: gone were the days of fiery passion of their youth, when they are in their own little world, when they are alone in their bedroom, a hotel room in europe or where ever Gellert's rallies or Albus' conference were, it was selfishness of the two combined to think they had the time to map out each other's skin, scars, freckles, and marks..

There is no urgency to reach a state of euphoria, each kiss and touch was already bliss in borrowed time.

They will argue for hours end about the most mundane things.

Gellert: Does Albus like me?

Vinda: You do know you are married to him?

Gellert: I know but does he LIKE me?

One time, both were dead tired from their perspective ordeals that they just collapsed on their bed still wearing their coats and shoes.

Clothes: Simple sweaters - vain bastard, only the best silk shirts (Gellert gets colorbinded the minute Albus' wardrobe turned into a variety of bright plum, yellow, and blue. What a way to go-)

Pastime : Discovered a fondness for knitting - Catch up on the books he bought years ago from various old libraries he'd been to in Europe

Godric's Hollow: Will always visit Bathilda for tea if they are in the area and then end their day by visiting and cleaning up Ariana's gravestone.

Favorite color:

(Albus) Gold

(Gellert) Blue

Feel free to add your own takes! Thank you again for this question! I'm sorry it took me long but I wanted to give it my all. Cheers!

[ninja-knox-ur-sox-off]

Wobbly Hearts AU

Summary: Kai doesn’t like soulmates. He doesn’t want them and he certainly doesn’t need them. High school is hard enough without all the extra stress of soulmarks and finding your soulmates. He decided at a young age he didn’t have time for soulmates and he plans to stick to that decision. Unfortunately, as always, the universe seems to take a lot of joy in messing with him. or Kai struggles with reading and it’s everybody’s problem.

Hi there! Yes it's the very fic I've been yelling about in vague posts and tags the last 6+ months! It's been so long since I've posted anything to ao3 I've forgotten how it works but I'm doing my best! This fic is an AU set in an alternate universe of the LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017) combined with a lot of the characterization and aspects from the original LEGO Ninjago show. It's over 100k so buckle up and prepare for some shenanigans!

the first chapter is UP

sample under cut

Kai got his first soulmarks when he tried to eat a marker.

Tiny, with fumbling fingers, freckles and barely two years old he didn’t remember that day in the slightest. But his parents told the story to him and Nya all the time when they were little. 

It was the little red marker they said that he went for. His mom didn’t notice until he’d pried off the cap and stuck it into his mouth after several unsuccessful attempts that ended in red marker all over his face. She’d gotten it out of his mouth before he could really try to eat it like he’d been meaning to. He'd started crying at the abruptness of his marker being taken away, but those tears dried up fairly quickly after his mom scooped him up. 

His mom laughed that maybe his soulmates wanted him to feel less alone because a blue marker appeared not long after they started to wash off the red.

His first soulmark.

Kai grew up with their scribbled colorful lines on his skin. At first it was the hazardous meaningless lines of a toddler and then, as time progressed, they became more purposeful doodles. They were just another part of life he didn’t fully understand but accepted as fact because his parents simply smiled and spoke over his head of soulmates. He didn’t think he really grasped much of the concept of exactly what a soulmate was until he turned five.

They were someone (or several someones) that could be his favorite person (or people) in the whole wide world if he let them. After Nya was born he argued she was his soulmate because she was his most favorite person in the whole wide world. His dad said it was a different kind of favorite. But Nya was family and that was just as important. 

It wasn’t until he was seven and struggling to learn the alphabet that he realized there was more than one soulmate out there for him.

Words started appearing as they learned how to write, the letters slanted and wobbly and hazardous. He watched their writing change and improve and watched them start to talk to each other. There were two of them. Two soulmates all for him. They talked in the simple words that they could manage. One excitedly scribbled I <3 U when they learned how. Kai had to ask his mom what the lines meant and she explained it with a patient smile. It means I love you.

He was ten and still just drawing doodles while his soulmates spoke of their favorite cartoons and what they had eaten that day. Letters seemed to float around his head and laugh at him as he tried to read what they were saying, frustrated tears biting his eyes and blurring the letters. Seeing him struggle, his mom would let him sit on her lap and read him the words out loud while he rested his head on her shoulder.

Pens and markers felt awkward in his hands. The little doodles he managed never looked as good as the doodles one of his soulmates was always making. Their doodles were of cool stuff, like ninja and dragons and mechs. The doodles were so cool and Kai doodled little hearts and flames around them as best he could to show how much he liked them. But half the time he couldn’t tell the hearts from the fire and explosions, everything so wobbly and awful. He tried to write his name once and it was almost worse than the hearts.

Keep Reading

[gemapples]

im so sorry it took me so long to answer these oml but YES i'd be happy to show how i draw and color :)

— SKETCHING

please note that i almost always sketch traditionally first lol it's just a lot easier for me to determine how the drawing is placed that way, but i always go over and re-sketch it digitally

for magolor i always start with a basic egg shape (lmao) and then i add his ears. then I draw the scarf; it's easy to determine the shape and dynamicism based on where the bottoms of the ears are located

then i usually add the cape and hood together. where and how these are placed and what these look like in general are very important because they're the main area that perspective is directed to (the ears and everything else is important too ofc!! but the hood and cape usually help demonstrate where he is looking and how he is moving the most). then i add everything else, usually his hands last!

— LINEART

ohhhhhh god my worst enemy. Hope youre sitting down because this will be embarrassing LMAO

lineart is easily what i struggle with most and is more often than not the most time consuming and grating step for me. If i had a choice i would drop it in a heartbeat, but my style is so dependent on thick lines and shapes that it's difficult to 😭 a hole i dug myself into unfortunately ITS FINE THOUGH. ANYWAYS I'm getting sidetracked

i use my finger to draw all my digital art, which means i usually have to use a Heavy stabilizer to avoid shakiness and staggered lines. Unfortunately ibis paint's stabilizer is actually dog water and doesn't even stabilize more than half the time (in which case i have to repeat lines over. And over. And over again until i get it right) but when it does like me and works properly it's very helpful!

i always use the soft school pen bleed brush as my main tool for lineart. This brush has been my best friend for everything, i even use it for sketching idk it just really like the way it looks lol. sometimes i change the aspect if i want the lines to look more ,, chalky?? or smoother depending on the work

i don't really use this tool much but for this specific piece, force fade was my partner in crime

also i think i need to mention that i use so many layers for this. So many layers lol like to the point it's embarrassing. and at the end i merge most of them (except for the gear patterns, rings on his ear, and eyes + hands, which usually need to be by themselves as they're colored separately) Thank you for layers

and i end up with this!

— COLORING && SHADING

yippee yahoo the fun part !!! the part that i love the most

at this point, if i havent already, i always create a folder for convenience in organization because this is the part that i stress the most about what details are on which layers lmao

then i add ANOTHER layer below that for the color, then i put every single color used on their own separate layer!

now, for shading, if im working on larger pieces with more complex shading, i'll usually plan it all out. normally when just drawing magolor, i don't really need to do this anymore because i'm so used to it lol, but for funsies i did it here anyways

then i use the bucket tool to fill them all in

i usually have a set color palette for all the characters i draw (though the way i shade white differs. A lot between my work as you can probably tell fhdfgf). For every color, i have two specific tones that are associated with the shading. for example, indigo + violet are shaded with my blue, pink + light orange (or lighter pink depending on my mood lol) are shaded with yellow, etc.

so, i shade the other areas with the 2nd shading color

a big tip i can give for coloring is to look at a color wheel when you draw. i know that sounds like. Such basic advice LMAO but that seriously was a huge help for me when developing my shading and something i learned while studying — if you notice, in all of the shading in my work, all of the colors used are analogous on the color wheel. note that not ALL combinations will work together like others obv !! but it's a huge step in knowing where to go with it

then i add other extra details like extra lighting, halftones (if i feel like it // if it fits the work), glow to his eyes, and color the lines and ta-da!

another tool i use a lot especially with my more recent art are blending modes, especially multiply. i use a clipping layer to add a dark color (usually a dark blue or purple) and set it to multiply, then erase the areas that emit light

and this is the end result! this is a very very basic demonstration of it fhdjg i was a pretty messy with the lighting and erasing in this example but you get the general idea right

and that's how i draw :) i hope this was helpful, and thanks for asking and being so patient with the response!

[gffa]

Sometimes I get defensive about those house decor posts I see going around where people say that the neutral colors/black & white sleek look is "soulless" and they want to bite, kill, rend, and destroy for getting rid of the color in their homes. Setting aside that people should be allowed to do whatever they want in their own homes, let me tell you what "color" means to me: Everything in my life was a different color. Every room had every color crammed into it. Which sounds like, oh, that must have been a pretty rainbow effect! It wasn't, none of these colors were meant to go together, it's a hot pink plastic shoebox set on top of a dark brown folding table holding three wildly different shades of brown hand towels, some cornflower blue notebooks, and orange pens. It's burnt orange shag carpeting in the living room and hallway, with slate blue chairs, and a white tv tray loaded up with bright yellow pill and cornflower blue bottles and pale wood bookshelf next to dark brown folding table next to pine-colored dresser next to medium dark wood nightstand, all of those that fake material with the sticker made to look like wood, not actual wood. It's lime green countertops and dark beige flooring with one faded yellow wall, one off-white wall, and one faded mint green wall. It's a pine wood mimicking kitchen table with gold trim that's a sticker not actual wood, combined with one black rolling chair, one maroon and oak chair (not actual wood), and one gray upholstered chair. It's a robin's egg blue frayed blanket tossed over the red-and-black walker in the corner, which is also loaded up with the dark green and dark blue exercise bands. It's white and beige pieces of paper plopped everywhere. And all of these colors are faded so they're not really even pretty on their own, it's just a mishmash everywhere. All of this together in one house and that's just a fraction of it, it's a constant clashing of colors and, if there was a foot of space against the wall available, it had another dresser, nightstand, or bookshelf shoved into it. I look at some of these colorful homes that people love and I think they're beautiful and I get so much joy out of people in their homes loving their surroundings! But I will never be able to live in that kind of color for myself again without being heartsore about it. I've gone for a neutral palette now that I'm making the design decisions, I'm choosing white walls (admittedly with a little bit of a blue undertone that you only notice when it's picking up other things' colors), black trim, and gray/white/black/brown reclaimed wood flooring. I picked out a gray/white/black comforter to throw over the bed with a black headboard and black + gray pillows. I'm getting some subtle green accents to put in the room, the guest room has been going with a pale yellow theme (to accent the black/white/gray/grown colors), I'm not eschewing color all together, but those bright, overwhelming colors are not what makes my soul sing. Neutral colors are not a soulless choice on my part, it's the first time in my life that I feel like it's finally clean, that I can breathe properly. You could scrub down a room with seafoam and forest green colors and have it so clean you could lick the walls and I would still have to go outside and take a moment to gather myself together if I had to live in it, because for me "color" means messy and I've had an entire lifetime of mess. I love when people put bright orange or bright green on their walls, that rocks and I will come over and genuinely tell you how beautiful it is, because I understand that it makes your soul sing. But understand that, in turn, having sleek, subtle colors makes my soul sing in a way that's just as genuine.