#i'd add images but i'm too tired

[tekatonic]

the only midori/leak/spoiler-oriented post i will ever reblog

because hi Sonic fans, did you know about Metaphor: ReFantazio ?

[transgender-catboy]

I'm so captivated by his . Everything.

[roosterforme]

Aim for the Sky Part 33 | Rooster x Reader

Summary: Bradley can't wait to learn if Rose is going to have a younger brother or sister. Planning for the baby means planning for the future, but Bradley can feel that you're unhappy. With help from friends, he finally figures out why.

Warnings: Angst, adult language, body image, DILF Roo, pregnancy, jealousy, vomiting

Length: 3500 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

Aim for the Sky masterlist. This was written to accompany my series Is It Working For You? along with a bunch of my one-shots and other series, but it can be read on its own! Check my masterlist for the reading order.

You'd been quiet for days, chalking it up to exhaustion from work, but Bradley was a little concerned. He was missing out on a lot of cooking and cleaning at home, as well as responsibilities with Rose. Most days, he was collapsing in bed right after you, body tired and brain overworked. But he was close to advancing a few of his pilots to the next stage in their careers, and he didn't want to let up just yet.

Truthfully, he was enjoying many aspects of his day-to-day at work. He loved making decisions that would benefit his group. When he had a compelling answer for his superior officers, it made him feel so good about himself. He didn't even mind putting in the extra hours. But it was clear that Indigo wanted to be his class pet, and he wasn't quite sure what to do about that.

She was weighing on his mind a lot, most likely because she was constantly invading his office hours. He wanted to tell her she didn't have to try so hard to be the best aviator in the bunch when she just simply was the best one. But that would be feeding her ego, which probably wasn't the smartest option right now.

"Are you ready?"

Bradley looked up from his desk to see you standing there, and he jumped to his feet. "Of course I'm ready," replied with a smile, pushing all of his paperwork to the side and logging out of his computer. "Been looking forward to this."

You smiled softly, hand resting on the slight swell of your belly as you shifted your weight from one booted foot to the other. "Me too," you whispered, and Bradley grabbed his keys, wallet and phone from his desk drawer. He reached for your hand, lacing his fingers between yours and headed out into the sunny October afternoon.

"Time for our final guesses," you said. "Do you think it's a boy or another girl?"

Bradley looked down at your face, the perfect curve of your cheek catching the sunlight. You were beautiful. Every bit as stunning as the day he first laid eyes on you in one of the classrooms he passed on a regular basis. "Sweetheart, if there's anything good or just in this world, it better be another girl. Then I'd have three of you to look at."

"Rose looks like you, Bradley!" you insisted immediately, breaking out in the biggest smile he'd seen on your face in weeks. 

"Rose looks like you. Everyone thinks so. She's adorable." He pulled you to a stop and leaned down to kiss your cheek. "And her face already has this exact curve that I'm fucking obsessed with." 

Bradley let his lips linger, loving the way your cheek warmed as you stepped all the way into his embrace. You seemed on the verge of telling him something or asking a question, your posture never quite relaxing. He'd noticed that recently. Like you couldn't let yourself completely go with him like you always did. He wanted to ask you what was going on, but he was more than willing to wait until you were ready to say something on your own.

"We'll be late if we don't get a move on," you whispered. Bradley responded by kissing along your cheek to your lips. "I'm serious, Roo," you mumbled.

"Let's go," he sighed. "Dr. Morris already thinks I'm an idiot. I better not add tardiness to her list of complaints about me."

A short drive later, and the two of you were walking into the waiting room right on time. You barely sat down before a nurse was calling you back and handing you a hospital gown.

"It's weird without Rose here," you said as you got undressed. Bradley held out the gown for you to slip into, shaking his head.

"Nah. This is just for us. She can hear all about it later after work."

He was just about to close the distance to stop you from tying the gown closed so he could get another look at you, but Dr. Morris strolled in.

"How are we all doing?" she asked, shooting Bradley a look on her way past. It wasn't like he was capable of knocking you up again, but she was looking at him like he might have.

"Fantastic," he replied at the same time you said, "Okay."

He shot you a look as you eased yourself up on the table. He wasn't sure what he could do to make you happier. A conversation was clearly necessary now, but he didn't even know how to initiate it. If finding out more about the second Nugget today wasn't enough to make you smile, he didn't know what was.

He dropped down into the chair at your side, wrapping his big hand around yours as Dr. Morris spread that warm gel across your belly and asked you an array of questions. He listened to your answers as his heart beat a little faster. He was excited about this. Soon you could talk about baby names and nursery themes. He couldn't wait to meet his second child in the spring. 

Bradley kissed your fingertips, watching intently as your doctor isolated some ultrasound images. Then she asked, "Do you want to find out the sex?"

"Fuck yes," Bradley gasped, scooting his chair a little closer. "I mean, please."

You and Dr. Morris were both wearing smirks as he squeezed your hand. He was so excited, it was hard to swallow. He didn't care if it was a boy or a girl. He felt the same way last time around, too. He just wanted a healthy kid he could dote on.

"It's a girl."

He was up out of his seat, sending the thing screeching across the floor as he hooted. Okay, so maybe he did have a bit of a preference for another daughter, but he would have been happy either way.

"Another girl!" he shouted while you smiled up at him. "Just me and my three beautiful girls."

Bradley let his lips collide with yours, kissing you until he got his fill. Dr. Morris and the rest of the ultrasound and everything else could just wait a few minutes while he soaked in this pure perfection.

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

Bradley had been inundating your text thread for days with links to various nursery themes, but meanwhile you and he hadn't even decided which room would be your second daughter's.

"A second daughter," you whispered at your desk. Your parents were excited; you got to watch your mom and dad cry over FaceTime. Rose was too young to care, but one day she might have an opinion about her sister. You, on the other hand, felt like a mixed bag of emotions.

You wanted to be happy. You really did. But it was too hard. Somehow letting your sadness ebb and flow was easier. Especially whenever you ventured too far away from your lab or your office. Indigo was always around. It was like she knew were to find you. And perhaps she did. Your name was in the directories around base. But it felt like she was mocking you. She obviously wanted your husband, and he was either oblivious or hiding something.

When you managed to let your intrusive thoughts win out, you checked his phone only to find pretty much nothing untoward. Other than ruining the surprise of what was probably supposed to be an anniversary gift, all you found was one unanswered message Indigo sent to him a while ago. It bordered on flirtatious, and you were a little concerned that he gave her his phone number, but there was really nothing there.

But she was in your face on base enough that you kept to your office as much as you could. Of course, today was the day you were absolutely starving, and you left your lunch at home. You could pop down to the cafeteria, grab a sandwich to appease yourself and the baby, and then bring it back up here to eat it. Should be a piece of cake.

Hot turkey sandwiches were on the menu, and you almost cried tears of joy as you had one packed up in a container with extra gravy and a side of mashed potatoes. It smelled so good, you couldn't wait to take a bite. 

When you were waiting for the elevator, you froze with your lunch in your hands. You could see Indigo and Spice heading out of the cafeteria, and there was hardly anyone in the lobby for you to try to hide behind. You felt absolutely ridiculous as you stood there eavesdropping.

"What kind of progress have you made?" Spice asked, voice carrying over the sound of conversation around you.

Indigo smiled and laughed, showing off her perfect teeth. "Well, I can't give you details here, but... it's no wonder he's willing to spend so much time with me after hours. Anyone with eyes can see his wife let herself go this time around." Your cheeks burned as she added, "He's more than happy to help me with absolutely anything I need."

You sucked in a deep breath, certain she was talking about Bradley. And you. When the elevator arrived you ducked inside, jamming your finger against the button for your floor. As the doors slid shut, Indigo's gaze connected with yours, and she stood there proudly with her friend like she'd actually managed to steal Bradley from you.

A sob escaped your lips, and you tripped along to your office door. You really did look awful. Your skin was broken out, and you were going to need to start wearing the maternity tent well before your third trimester. Your belly was already tender, and then the baby decided this was the perfect moment to kick hard enough you thought you were going to wet your khakis.

"She's right," you whispered, tossing your lunch onto your desk and running for the bathroom. One glance in the mirror as you ran for an empty stall left you sobbing in the ladies' room. You looked awful. It was no wonder Bradley was paying extra attention to her. The fear that looking at Indigo had already turned into touching her was eating away at you. When you flushed the toilet, you turned and gagged before emptying the meager contents of your stomach into the bowl.

When you finally made it back to your office, your stomach couldn't handle a single bite of food. You dumped it in the trash.

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

Bradley was just wrapping up a meeting with Maverick when Indigo cornered him outside his office. "Can I help you with something?" he asked, trying to keep the amusement from his voice. She was getting to be relentless.

As she shook her head slowly, she laughed. "I already told you, Sir, I can think of countless things you could help me with."

"Well why don't you run some of them past me?"

Her eyes widened as she licked her lips. "We could do that at the Hard Deck? I could still buy you that drink?"

Bradley sighed, hands planted on his hips which somehow drew her in closer. "I can't let any of you buy me drinks. Sorry, but that's not going to happen." He nodded toward his door. "But I have about fifteen minutes if there's something I can help you with."

She nodded. "Fifteen minutes would probably be more than enough, Sir."

Indigo stepped inside his office, glancing back at him over her shoulder, but Bradley saw another familiar face turn the corner in the hallway.

"Hey, there, hot shot," said Natasha, making Bradley smile. "You have a minute?"

"Actually, no," he replied, watching as his best friend looked inside to see who was waiting for him. She made a face, gaze snapping back to his. "Can it wait until later?"

Nat pressed her lips together like she was fighting off a scowl. "I wanted to see if you were free to workout with me later," she whispered. "I could stop by after dinner, and we could do some reps in your garage?"

"Absolutely," he replied. "See you around seven?"

"Yeah." 

She took one more look at Indigo before marching back the way she came, leaving Bradley with nothing to do but take a seat behind his desk.

"Do you want me to close the door?" Indigo asked, voice laced with hope as she half stood.

"Leave it," Bradley replied, once again showing no hint of favoritism. "Now, what did you want to talk about?"

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

After dinner, you excused yourself to Rose's nursery to feed her and make a phone call to your parents. Bradley kissed you on the forehead before doubling back to the bedroom to change into gym clothes. When he let you know Nat was coming over to workout in the garage, you seemed almost relieved.

He started setting up his weights and bench press when he heard the sound of a familiar engine pull up to the house. A minute later, Nat was strolling in wearing bright pink spandex with a matching gym bag. 

"I could spot you a mile away," he told her, and she chucked her bag at his chest. They both laughed when he caught it.

"You know what I can see a mile away?" she asked.

"What?"

"The word dumbass written across your forehead."

He rolled his eyes, dropping her bag onto one of the mats. Then he froze as he heard another engine pull up to a stop at his driveway. This one made him glare at Nat.

"Why is he here?" Bradley asked, and a split second later, Jake came strolling in like he owned the place. 

Nat and Jake shared a look as Jake tossed his gym bag next to hers. "I thought I might need some backup."

Now Bradley was annoyed and also confused. "Backup? For what?"

Natasha closed the distance to him, patting Bradley on the chest with a firm hand. Her dark eyes conveyed concern as she asked, "Are you fucking stupid? Or are you doing it on purpose?"

"Huh?"

"I love you, Bradley. I really do. But I still have to follow girl code."

"Nat, I have no fucking clue what you're talking about."

The clanging of Jake adding weights to the bar made Bradley want to scream as Nat shook her head in pity.

"She wants in your pants," Jake drawled.

"Who?" Bradley asked, still unsure what they were even talking about.

"Your student with the crazy blue eyes!" Nat said, smacking him hard on the chest.

"Indigo?" Bradley asked, taking a step away from her. Both Nat and Jake were nodding as Bradley's brow creased. "She's like twenty-six years old."

"So?" Nat asked, hands planted on her hips.

"So, she's not trying to get in my pants. I'm married. Everyone knows I'm married."

Bradley held up his left hand, complete with wedding band. He rarely ever took it off, especially since it got him into hot water with you when he was deployed. But as he watched the band shine under the fluorescent lights, his lips parted wordlessly, and he stood there while both Nat and Jake scrutinized him.

If Indigo had been flirting with him this whole time, he'd written her off as an overzealous young pilot trying to prove herself. Now every interaction replayed through his mind, and he rubbed his palm over his eyes as he groaned. There was no way this was happening to him. He'd been alone with her on several occasions in his office. The door always remained open, but she'd pushed for him to close it.

Bradley's cheeks burned with mortification, and he wasn't sure he could even look Nat in the face. If Indigo really was trying to get in his pants, then he was a joke. He was an absolute joke, and none of the younger pilots took him seriously in his new role. That thought made him sick, but not as sick as the idea that maybe you'd noticed something as well.

Bradley swallowed hard. "Oh, fuck." When he swallowed again, he wanted to scream.

"Okay, there's my answer," Nat whispered, wrapping her fingers gently around his wrist and pulling his hand away from his face. She pressed herself up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Thank god you're just stupid. It would be so much worse if you were messing around with her intentionally."

"I'm not," he barked, angry at the insinuation. "I wouldn't. I've never even touched her!"

Nat's hands were on his chest, coaxing him to calm down, but he was too worked up. "Easy, Soul Sister," she said, but he was shaking his head now.

"I'm fucking married, Nat! I made wedding vows. I have a daughter, and my wife is pregnant with another girl. What the fuck would I cheat for? What's going to be better than this?"

Bradley's chest was heaving with ragged breaths as she guided him to sit on his bench. He landed hard, jostling the weights as he looked up at two sympathetic faces.

"Nothing's gonna be better than Angel," Jake drawled. "I'm still not sure if it was dumb luck or divine intervention, but she's way out of your league, Bradshaw."

"I know," Bradley snarled. "You think I don't know that? She's fucking perfect." He tilted his head back, blinking up at the lights. "Do you think she knows Indigo was trying to flirt with me?"

"Absolutely," Nat replied, and Bradley forced himself to meet her eyes.

"Yes, asshole," Jake added. "She's not stupid like you are."

"Fuck." Bradley stood and started pacing around. He felt like his job and marriage were suddenly on the line. He didn't know what to say to you that wouldn't potentially make things worse right now. If he could think of something reasonable, he'd run across the yard and back inside the house and say it to your face.

Maybe this was part of the reason you'd been so quiet? But it didn't make sense. He never talked about Indigo outside of the context of work, because there was simply nothing else to say. But after that night at the bar, you were really fucking mad at him. He thought you were mad that he got drunk, but maybe there was more to it.

"God damn it," he groaned, realizing Nat was lifting weights while Jake spotted her. "Do you think I should talk to Mav tomorrow?"

"Yes," they both replied in unison. The fact that they agreed on something was scary enough, but that let Bradley know just how fucked he was.

But he would take care of everything. He'd talk to Mav and figure it all out. What other choice did he have? 

"I'm heading inside," he murmured. "Can the two of you turn off the lights and lock up when you're done."

Bradley didn't wait for an answer. He was already walking across the backyard, craving your reassuring touch that he wasn't quite sure he deserved. When his phone vibrated in the pocket of his shorts, he pulled it out. He was met with another text from Indigo, but this time there was a photo as well. She was on the beach at sunset, the orange and pink sky somehow making her eyes look even more startlingly blue, and she was smiling at the camera. When his eyes slid down the screen to her cleavage, he almost dropped his phone. But not before he read the text.

This beach is so beautiful. Wish you were here.

Bradley couldn't decide what to do. Turn around and go back to the garage? Go inside the house? Sit down on Rose's jungle gym and cry? Smash his phone to bits? When another text appeared, he looked at it immediately.

Oops, I sent that to the wrong person. Have a good night, Sir.

Bradley squeezed his phone in his hand until he was afraid it might break. Then he opened a different text thread and pounded out a message, hitting send immediately. 

Mav, I need to talk to you about something important first thing in the morning.

When Bradley noticed movement, he looked up at the sliding glass door. You were carrying Rose around the living room, bouncing her in your arms as you yawned. Getting the Nugget ready for bed was supposed to be his job. He loved it. The bedtime stories and the snuggles were the best part. He needed to have this.

Finally he walked inside, sliding the door closed quietly behind him, trying not to panic. Rose was nearly asleep, but you let him take her into his arms. Bradley kissed her all over her sweet face before forfeiting her to her crib, then he climbed in bed with you. When he reached for your hand, you curled up against him, and he let his hand rest along your belly.

"I love you, Sweetheart," he whispered, heart aching. "I love my three girls."

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

Start getting your shit together, Bradley. Indigo has shown she's relentless. Also, I thought I was solid on the baby's name, but I might put it to a vote. Stay tuned. Thanks @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 34

@hotch-meeeeeuppppp

@solacestyles

@blog-name6996

@bcon24

@avada-kedavra-bitch-187

@katiebby04

@marantha

@averyhotchner

@abaker74

@heli991113

@k-k0129

@noz4a2

@shanimallina87

@ccbb2222

@xoxabs88xox

@thedroneranger

@cherrycola27

@fanboyswhore9

@xomrsalliej4787xo

@desert-fern

@horseslovers2016

@mattyskies

@hookslove1592

@blahehblah

@sadpetalsstuff

@local-spidey

@schoollover

@lex-winchester

@nicole01-23

@jessicab1991

@happyrebelruins

@samsgoddess

@bellaireland1981

@sagittarius-flowerchild

@mygyn

@yuckosworld

@daggerspare-standingby

@nessjo

@trickphotography2

@lyn-js

@furiousladyking

@godsfavoritebabe

@bethabear12

@halo-mystic

@sherlockstrangewolf

@theamuz

@khaylin27

@glenpowellluver

[huellitaa]

girl's guide to academic success: ep 1! ⊹˚. ♡

──★ ˙ ̟🎀 this post focuses on: actively rooting for success! ♡ part 2 -> ♡

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 1. organisation

first off, have something to organise ur academic life with! i personally use notion (which i'll add later) but u can use anything as long as it's cute, convenient, unique and accessible to you, your life and your schedule specifically. especially as a visual learner, i like to have somewhere i can dump literally everything regarding a singular area in my life, so i do this for almost everything along with school and i highly recommend this <3

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 2. recognition of talents & improvements

analyse your strengths and weaknesses. think back on tests, exams, marks, and analyse which ones you got highest and lowest on. dont beat urself up for it, obviously; it's just to check which subjects you're doing good in and which ones have room for improvement. for example i love science but im not the best at it sometimes and we had an assessment recently and i didn't get as high as i'd like so i wrote down a little list on a piece of paper in my pencilcase for the topics i got the least in for me to study on my own to practise later.

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 3. laying out goals

set down specific goals; i like to do this week by week accustomed to my schedule that week in my school notion page along with images and vision boards based on the term/semester, but you can do it for the week, the month, the year, anything as long as its helpful to you

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 4. productive planning

plan accordingly based on ur time energy. when creating any to do list or productivity plan dont pile a ridiculous amount onto it that just leaves you stressed and overwhelmed because that defeats the entire point; this works the same for academic plans and goals and lists etc.

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 5. extra credit

put extra work in to the subjects you know will help you in the future. for example, for my personal aspirations i need to excel in english, history and textiles so i always try my absolute hardest and put my all into those lessons and do extra studying for them in my free time where i can. school is to prepare you for the future so take advantage of that

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 6. asking questions

please don't be shy to ask questions! that's what teachers are there for and you won't have them forever so take advantage of it while you can! you can even do it in that little window of time just after class if ur too nervous to ask in class. for example, on my last english exam i went to my teacher after class and asked about what i needed to improve on to get the marks i missed next time, and he told me i added too much detail and some other things so i wrote it down and am keeping a note of it to remind me to improve on that next time! (i got top of my class though so i didnt mind. still kind of pissed i added too much detail though)

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 7. participation

participate! ok im saying this as someone who still struggles with social anxiety a fair amount but if u wanna get higher marks and get on good terms w ur teacher i 100% recommend this. i don't do this in every class but i do it where i can and when i'm confident in my answer, and it's really intimidating at first but what i did is i did it first in the classes i felt most comfortable on and continued from there. it gets easier every time i swear, and nobody's judging you; they'll forget about it after five minutes. plus, what would they be judging you for? being smarter than them?

🧸𓂃 ࣪˖ 8. prioritising ur health

this is mentioned a lot in these types of posts but if you're tired or burnt out or overworked or just feel like you need to take a break then do. do the best you can and compromise like i said earlier if you need to, just make sure u are prioritising yourself over anything. <3

──★ ˙ ̟🎀inspo

──★ ˙ ̟🎀my notion

i also really recommend this layout by @honeytonedhottie ♡

all my love 🩷✨💬🎀💗

[blackboard-monitor]

how i've finished inktober every year for eight years and counting

Every time I mention around other artists that I finish inktober every year (meaning I draw and ink 31 drawings, one every day in October), I get questions like "how???", so I figured I'd make a post about it on the off chance it's helpful to someone. Please note that all my advice is based on my personal experience and you're a different person so what works for me may not work for you, and you can do whatever you want forever.

What it boils down to for me is two basic rules: 1) keep it simple and 2) manage your expectations.

Tools

Paper/sketchbook

I started my first inktober in my journal at the time, and because I'm neurotic like that, I've had to do every subsequent inktober in whatever journal I was using at that point.

The benefit of this is that each journal has had a page size of A5 or smaller, which can be tricky when trying to get in a lot of detail, but on the other hand forces you to limit the size of your drawings to a pretty managable size.

Paper type can also be important! Last year in 2023, my journal was a Moleskine sketchbook (image 1), which was actually designed to handle some degree of wet media, which was a game-changer for me as an ink wash enjoyer. Don't get me wrong, I've been using ink washes in most of my previous journals as well, but inking is a lot nicer when your paper isn't constantly buckling (image 2) or pilling and the ink isn't bleeding all over the place, inclunding through the page (image 3). Pages that stay flat instead of buckling are also a lot easier to scan or photograph, if like me you want to post your art online.

In short, my inktober paper recommendation is to use a sketchbook no larger than A5, and go for one with nice, thick paper if you intend to use wet media.

Sketching

I sketch everything with a single 6H pencil that I got from my brother in 2019. Because the lead is so hard, it allows me to scribble to my heart's content without the sketch getting too dark or hard to erase. Sometimes I'll refine the sketch with a HB mechanical pencil, which shows up really nicely on top of the 6H lines, but I may skip that step if I'm feeling lazy or the first sketch is clean enough.

Inking

I've used a variety of art supplies in my inktober drawings. For the most part I've always stuck to greyscale, with the exception of a couple of red or gold accents some years.

My main inktober tools are a set of Micron fineliners in various sizes, and liquid India ink, which I use with a dip pen and with brushes. I usually mix up a mid-tone ink wash in a small bottle, and use that throughout the month.

Fineliners pros: portable, require minimal setup, can use on the sofa or in bed or wherever Fineliners cons: creating texture and filling large areas is a lot more time-consuming. In 2021 I did inktober exclusively in fineliner because I was tired and couldn't be bothered to deal with liquid ink, but I ended up spending more time than maybe ever on the drawings because it took so long to add texture with pens.

Ink pros: you can achieve small details with a dip pen as well as quick texture and fill in large areas with a brush and ink washes Ink cons: can be messy (protip from 2022 Liekki, don't spill ink water all over your laptop), usually you have to sit at a table of some kind, you need to wash your brushes and dip pens, if your paper isn't designed for wet media, it'll buckle or bleed

Pick your inking tools and techniques based on how much time you have!

Prompts/ideas/subject matter

I've always stuck to the "official" prompt list, because it brings me joy to scroll through the tag of the day on instagram and see how others interpreted the same prompt. Or, rather, it used to bring me joy to do this, until instagram's enshittification stole our ability to look at tags. Maybe I'll have some luck with that on Cara going forward; here's hoping.

As for ideas, sometimes they come easy, sometimes it's like pulling teeth and I have to enlist all my friends to brainstorm with me (sorry, y'all). When in doubt, draw the first thing that comes to mind when you read the prompt; don't overthink it (like I often do). I like to try to come up with a less obvious interpretation of a prompt, but this is also where I often get stuck and have to harass my loved ones for ideas. Sometimes it helps to relate the prompt to a tv show/book/etc. you're into; I've done quite a bit of inktober fanart, as well as art of various DnD cahracters from games I've played/DM'd. If all else fails, just look at what everyone else is drawing that day.

Time management

Be realistic about how much time you have in a day to work on inktober, and then set your expectations accordingly. If you only have an hour, stick to a size and level of detail that you can realistically finish in an hour. I've done some very quick scribbles in my years of inktober when I've been busy that day.

My personal philosophy is that I try not to plan too much ahead; I don't do any sketching until day of, and ideally I don't try to come up with ideas for a prompt or at least decide on an idea until the day before at the earliest. Containing each drawing in one day helps me have realistic expectations of what's doable. This does mean drawing late into the night sometimes after procrastinating or struggling to find an idea all day, but it's what works for me.

If your goal is to complete inktober, it's better to do a small shitty drawing in ten minutes than to fall behing by starting something way too ambitious that you'll never be able to finish in a day.

Secret third rule!

Accept the fact that you aren't going to be happy with every drawing.

Inktober was created as an exercise to practice inking. Think of your drawings as sketches, not finished masterpieces. Some of them will be bad, at least in your own eyes. Sometimes you'll put a lot of effort into something that just doesn't work out. For example:

To quote Joe Hills, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of practice. So you fucked up today's drawing. Tomorrow is a new day – that's the beauty of inktober. "Ever tried, ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." (Samuel Beckett) Progress isn't linear, either; some years are consistently mediocre, other years it's all over the place with a couple bangers and a couple really shitty ones.

Every inktober I've made drawings I love,

drawings I'm indifferent to,

and drawings that straight up suck.

And I'm at peace with that.

Thanks for reading what turned into a pretty long post, and I hope some of it was helpful. Happy inktobering!

[idontwanttospoiltheparty]

Paul McCartney Discography Album Cover Ranking

Because I Feel Like It!

25. What was the vision here. I'm genuinely baffled. That pink feels so out of place. Why am I thinking of that one Narnia book.

24. C'mon, man.

23. Denny literally looks like he's about to sneeze. Linda's slaying tho. Why is the contrast so high. You can't even tell they actually took these pics on location.

22. It should probably be lower than London Town but I'm too much of a sucker for red/blue contrasts. It emphasizes his asymmetry way too much.

21. It's kind of a neat picture but it doesn't match the album At All. (Linda I Love Youuuuuuu)

20. The squished artist name and feet upset me. Nice picture though.

19. Striking. I really love the font. The reflection feels like too much.

18. Inoffensive. The colours are lovely.

17. Not super ambitious but a well executed concept.

16. Very cute and cool composition!!!

15. Neat concept. I prefer the cooler tones of the deluxe edition.

14. Love the copper here and the delicate touches of purple.

13. Integrating the album title into the actual subject is always inspired. I wish the tracklist could be found on it too though!!

12. Again: big red/blue contrast fan here. I just find myself wishing the picture (which is good!) was better integrated into the background somehow. Really like the font and the tetris-like blocks though, it feels very in character with the production.

11. Beautiful composition. Just lovely, possibly the most underrated one.

10. Love the handwritten title, the little pie detail, the colour palette, the fact the picture is slightly blurred. this is like if the Driving Rain cover was thought-through.

9. Unapologetically quirky like the album itself. I go back and forth on the blue frame but the portrait itself is so goddamned inspired I have to give it a spot in the top ten.

8. Gorgeous picture. The birds in motion are amazing. I wish Paul's haircut was better but what can you do.

7. This is amazing to me. This cover TELLS a story (I know it's basically a screengrab from some TV special lol). In connection with the title it makes me think "the egg" is earth itself. The way the lighting creates a natural frame. It's just so cool and unique.

6. I cannot decide if the concept of Mike McCartney happening to see his brother through the kitchen curtains and snapping a picture of it or having a specific vision for this image and getting Paul to pose for him is more impressive. This is the stuff of legends. He was fucking 18 or something. Though a part of me wonders if it really works as an album cover. I'd need to look at a physical copy more closely.

5. Back at it again with the blue/red. It works so well with the album's mood as a whole and it's a lovely picture to boot.

4. I just love getting lost in all the details of this one. There's so much to look at without the whole thing feeling over-crowded or overwhelming. I can see the brushstrokes and I love that.

3. The funky af font matched with the super super simple motif. Nothing to add. Having the title vertical and horizontal was inspired.

2. Iconic. Christopher Lee is literally on it.

Sorrrrry but the way it combines black and white with colour and it's VISIBLY homedrawn marker and the yellow is so iconic. This shit goes crazy, I don't tire looking at it.

[rainsandrains]

i made an oracle deck! (sort of)

ok, so i don't believe in anything mystical or magical, including when it comes to tarot/oracle/etc cards. HOWEVER i do think that including an element of randomness can offer something of what you get when you're talking to a friend and they bring up something you hadn't thought of - prompting you to see things in a new light, or reconsider something you didn't previously think was an option.

these cards are old playing cards with magazine (mostly national trust) images glued on. the words are as follows: birth, death, disintegration, unity, nourish, solitude, the past, the present, the future, act, listen, rest, work.

for example: today is imbolc/brightening. i'd forgotten about it, and i had a hard day yesterday, so i was struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed, let alone decide on a way to celebrate/observe. so i pulled a card: "listening". oh... right... i don't need to decide on something to do, i can just slow down and pay attention, maybe walk outside and notice any signs of spring.

it took quite a while to decide on the words for the cards. i like tarot imagery but i don't really resonate with it, at least not at the moment, and there were too many cards to memorise - it felt overwhelming. i hadn't seen any oracle decks i resonated with and liked enough to spend money on, and i want my practice to be as eco-friendly as possible which means not buying new if i have another option. but i took inspiration from tarot, from oracle decks i've heard other people talk about, and (perhaps most significantly), from t.x. watson's sunset oracle deck, which i highly recommend looking at (and i may well buy at some point). it's 54 cards, so too much for me right now, but watson basically created four suits that reflect their own values and what they wanted from an oracle deck personally, and from hearing them talk about it on tiktok it sounds like they essentially have a secular approach somewhat similar to mine (though i think with more "believe it's magic for the duration of the reading so as not to engage the critical mind and ruin it" than i can normally manage). anyway, i picked a few pairs/trios of words that made sense to me - i wanted all of the "answers" to lead to something positive. birth/death - new beginnings, what can i start or nurture / what needs to end or be let go of in order to move forward? disintegration/unity - can i accept some chaos or messiness, can i take something apart? / how can i unify disparate-seeming elements to align with the same goal? rest/work - there are times for both of those things, and if i get the "work" card when i'm very tired i can ask "ok, how do i make work feel possible today? can i do the necessary admin to make work easier tomorrow?" etc.

i might add more cards in future - if i think of things i want to include, i can just use a couple more of the old playing cards and some more magazine pictures. it's quite fun deciding on the perfect match of image and word, especially when the words are quite abstract.

[bootyshortsjacob]

ANNIE!!! Hi! Can I request Maeve, Homelander, and Starlight threeway? So, let me set the scene. Starlight, baby supe is under Ezekiel. Ezekiel and Homelander has backdoor deals with baby supes. Homelander and Maeve are together, sort of. He knows about Elena but he knows he and Maeve had fun banging. So, however you can fit this in. This is my 4th time as of august 12th requesting this. Please Annie. If I could write, I would.

This is part 2. I forgot to add that Starlight goes along with everything. Maeve and Homelander is like her favorite supes and she is happy to be there. Maybe some praise kinks? Good girls here and there. However you write it Annie. Pls

I'm sorry it was almost a month responding to this. Broke my wrist and writing and stuff has been... weird. Any way, a little of the chapter and the rest on Ao3.

Meeting Her Heroes (Maeve/Starlight/Homelander)

Maeve was tired of being a perfect partner, tired of photoshoots and events where she had to fake herself with Homelander. All those fake smiles and forced touches were taking a toll on her. Finally, one evening, Maeve had enough and cornered Homelander beside where they would hold their meet and greet.

He looked over at Maeve then, eyes cold and assessing. "What, Maggie? Mean to tell me you can't just pretend for a few hours?"

Maeve clenched her hands at her sides, furious. "It is not just a few hours, John—every day. It's every day. I'm just… exhausted from every press event, interview, and every piece of shit lie we have to believe that's 'in our best interest' as a couple."

Homelander chuckled. There was this nasty curl to his lips, the corners of his mouth quivering. "Oh, poor Maggie. Being with the most powerful man on the planet must be so exhausting. It's tiring dealing with you, too. In the beginning, you were fun . Now? Jesus fucking Christ."

Maeve's jaw clenched, but she would not be pushed away. "The thing is, John, it's been all about power for you. That's all there is. You don't care about me; you're worried about what I'm projecting to the world. How we're a perfect image couple."

Just as Homelander was going to snap on her, a familiar face came into view, and he wasn't alone. He hated those lower-ranked supe freaks that Vought paired with, especially Ezekiel. Who in the world would think God is the reason for Supes? He was a God himself.

Ezekiel was coming to meet them—the charismatic man on the verge of being arrogant—smiling confidently, with only a few other low-ranking Supes trailing behind him, desperately trying to catch the Leader of the Seven's gaze.

Homelander and Maeve stared at the tiny, sheepish blonde standing behind Ezekiel. Their eyes locked for one long moment, and something seemed like understanding fluttered between them.

Ezekiel smiled wryly at the sight of their brief shared moment. "Ah, Homelander, Maeve. I thought I'd drop on in and introduce you to someone." He motioned to the blonde supe behind him; her eyes darted between them nervously.

Homelander never took his eyes off the blonde, appraising her. "Who's this?" He inquired, his tone mixed with curiosity and the tiniest amount of possessive questioning.

Ezekiel grinned and was entertained by the friction between them. "Meet Annie, one of our rising stars in Capes for Christ. She can influence electricity... A pretty useful power, eh?"

Annie stared back at them, brown eyes big and skittish as she nervously pulled at the hem of her skirt. "She can tell you her Supe name, but her favorite Supes growing up were you two! And I told her I could pull some strings and have her meet you guys."

Maeve felt pity for the obviously ill-at-ease and anxious young Supe. Meanwhile, Homelander was intrigued, plainly. He circled in on Annie and looked her over. "Is that so? You idolize us, huh?" Homelander said in a voice thick with praise and mockery. He leaned in close, gentle fingers tilting Annie's chin to get a better look at her, a predatory grin spreading across his face.

Maeve had gently moved his gloved hand from Annie's chin with a roll of her eyes. "We're your favorites, Annie?" She asked softly.

Annie raised her eyebrows in amazement as Maeve gently moved Homelander's hand out of the way. "Y-y-es," she gaped. "I…I thought you were both the greatest Supes… And it's..." She stopped for a second. "It's an honor to meet you..."

Homelander chuckled at this—the sound made Annie shiver. "Glad to know we have fans. Especially a pretty little thing like you." He ran his eyes over her, his gaze stopping and lingering over her body.

Read here!

[costalpearls]

I saw Les Miserables live recently!! The show was amazing! I'm thinking of picking up the book sometime soon

I was kind of disappointed in the merch, so I thought I'd try designing my own. I actually have more ideas but I kinda got tired lol...

Notes under the read more

"Who Am I?" two-tone long-sleeve tee. Text should be a serif or cursive font. Sleeves read "Condemned" and "Damned." Front "Who Am I?" If there's space, the back could be blank and the sleeves could have the whole "If I speak I am Condemned" and "If I stay silent I am Damned" (with the Condemned and Damned in larger text)

3. "Can You Hear The People Sing?" mask and beanie. Should be red. Could be sold as a set or individually. Bold uppercase font. Could add Cosette image if it's too inflammatory on its own

4. Pekaboo pocket shirt. "Jean Valjean" written on visible part of pocket with "24601" underneath. Not sure about the colors. Black/blue? Blue/grey? Red/black?

5. Eponine mismatched earrings. Stainless steel. Umbrella on one and a heart with "On My Own" engraving

6. "In My Life" locket. In My Life embossed on the front. Space for two photos. Gold or silver

7. Gavrosh youth tee. Stonewash red. "What little people can do" in bold, uneven text written on a diagonal

8. Marius pocket watch. Gold or silver finish. Front has embossing with a rain cloud, an empty chair, a waving flag, and a gem to look like a ring. The inside has a space for a photo with an engraving that reads "Bring him peace Bring him joy"

9. Backdrop "Stars" tee for the Javert fans. His solos are really good and we have to pay homage to the set design as well.

10. "See you all in hell!" fan. Purple with glittery gold words. Should be a bold, all uppercase font.

[innerbeast]

within a dream(scape) ;

he wasn't sure what came over him, this sudden fogginess settling within his head. every muscle had begun to feel heavy, weighted; movements growing sluggish as though he'd been out and busy for days on end.

exhausted, he realized. that's what this felt like.

whatever he had been doing came to a crawling halt, hands pressed against a counters edge to try and force himself to remain upright. dar'khol managed a few, slow blinks, hoping to will some energy back into his vision; to keep things from blurring from the thick blankets of sleep rolling over him. he was used to fighting this off, but was failing miserably this time around.

it didn't feel natural, wasn't right. there was no reason for him to feel so tired -- regardless of how highly emotions had been running, with how busy he's tried to keep himself without going too far.

but his body wished to tell him otherwise, causing him to jolt as it grew lax, trying to force the miqo'te over. eventually, dar found himself giving in to the heaviness, legs bending at the knee and carefully bringing him down to the floor. hands slipped away from the counter, body turned to press his back against the cabinet doors underneath.

again, his head drooped. again, he fought with his eyes to keep them open.

ultimately, they fell shut. dar'khol's head dropping before his entire body slouched, falling to the side until he was comfortably wedged in the corner of the counters; cheek smooshed against a cabinet, legs sprawled out in front of him and arms left to rest limply in between them.

his slumber guaranteed the moment a gentle snore sounded.

. . .

' khol'to... '

he knows that voice. gentle with a light roughness, warm and comforting.

' khol'to. '

he finds himself humming in response, left at ease the more the voice spoke. it was so familiar, he was happy to hear it. wanted to keep hearing it while a sense of longing curled up against his chest; heartbeat quickened yet steady.

"khol'to! quit your daydreaming, you've got plenty of time before needing to set sail. you were in the midst of telling me of your preperations for it -- bring back that excitement! i'm gonna miss that smile while you're away."

dar'khol's head snaps up, widened eyes blinking a few times before the room becomes clear. his chin was left resting in the palm of his hand, other arm beneath him, laying atop a wooden table. all of it was familiar: the wooden furnishings adorned with varying plants scattered about, either potted or strung along to grow around a beam or wall. those dusty, beige walls littered with crammed shelving. pots, photo frames and boxes. a few wooden carved animals decorating the edges, handmade gifts that were given time and time again, lasting for years.

the warrior only found himself settling the further he took in his surroundings, eyes eventually focusing on the woman who stood beside him, offering him a warmed cup that she set on the table in front of him. her smile an infectious one, dar returning the expression. the two of them almost a mirror image of one another, ears flicking in near unison, dangling an earring each that matched the other.

"sorry, ma," dar'khol chimes, "gettin' a bit ahead o' myself. i'm excited!" he takes hold of the cup offered, the aroma of the steeping leaves within earning a joyous wag of his tail. "i've explored so much of eorzea, even goin' passed it to the east, then further south... the west is a whole new deal."

his mother laughs, patting her sons shoulder and offering it a reassuring squeeze. "that excitement is going to run your furry arse into a wall," her lips curl with a knowing smile, head tilting playfully, "again." she adds, laughing once more before she's stepping over to take a seat at the table.

dar can feel embarrassment tug down his ears, brows knitting together as he hides behind a sip of tea.

"oh, ease up, moonbeam. i'm only teasing -- i'd be just as excited myself if i were you." khol gives a joyful flick of her own tail, leaning back within her seat as she takes a sip of her own drink. "khol'a will be mighty jealous, you might see him over there before long, too."

they both give a laugh to that.

"i'll be sure to show him the good spots. once i've found 'em all first, of course!" there's a smugness to dar's tone, head tilted back proudly. he's never had much of a rivalry with his brother, but it was always fun to pretend he did now and again. his mother always seemed to get a kick out of it. getting her to laugh was just more reason to do it.

"oh, i'm sure you will, khol'to. and i'll be receiving word in the mail of your little victory, aye?"

dar'khol flashes his mother a grin; a full-face smile from ear to ear that squeeze his eyes shut. an equally infectious smile that has khol's own eyes crinkling from her son's beaming joy. "i'll take that as a yes, then."

"you'll be gettin' a lil' somethin' along with it, of course! gotta fill in the empty spots on your shelves, somehow." and spoil her further with a souvenir from every corner he traveled to. she may not be able to come along on each venture, but he'd be damned if he didn't find a means of including her one way or another..

"empty spots?" khol questions, a brow quirked as she waves a hand towards them, "you better be willing to help me find these so called 'empty spots' before you go sending me anything more!" but she's laughing shortly after speaking, shaking her head gently all the while as she watches dar's ears fall back and his expression shift to slight bewilderment.

"i kid, luv. i kid. i've already a few places in mind for the next set of trinkets you'll gift me," her own grin seemed to help ease the warrior, again. both of them left in a cozy cloud of understanding laughter.

he missed this. he missed home.

he missed her.

there's something in the back of his mind that wishes to tell him none of it was real, he wasn't really here. reason wishing to remind him he'd only just fallen asleep not long ago... but he ignored all of it. either willingly or otherwise.

for as long as it would last, he was home. swaddled in the comforts of conversing with his mother again, eager to set out upon a new adventure. taking full advantage of his invitation to tural, reveling in these few moments before he'd be swept away by his growing excitement once again.

he can't remember a moment otherwise where he felt so... free.

. . .

as dar'khol let himself drift away further into memory, his sleeping form only seemed to melt in place further. from his place within the cabinets corner he'd managed to fall to the floor entirely. limbs curled inward, head tucked away within his arms, and his tail draped gently over a thigh.

occasionally, his ears would twitch. as though they were focusing in on spoken words, a soft smile left etched across his face. after everything he's been through up to this point... he's yet to feel this content.

[cottonccat]

This repost account is for food in general! Why? I'm world building a planet that has each taste receptor that humans has as a biome in the planet! This means there's different species and the dominant ones represent different foods! Basically I want to make food inspired characters one day :D

Edit: I do NOT support E.D. or ANY type of food restrictions by choice. I will repost vegan, vegetarian, carbohydrate free, etc. Meals specially if they are creative or cultural since I have no problems with the food itself. I don't like the evangelization of food and I believe everyone should eat whatever is available to them... Because shocker, disabled and poor people exist and in some places healthier food is not disabled friendly or it's expensive.

Back to the food things! Since they are for character designs, there's a few rules I set for myself:

No animal/character themed foods

Characters with food themes for inspiration

Objects and accessories with food themes also for inspiration

No repeated meal unless it has a difference with other reposted ones (I may have reposted too many french fries and burgers)

Art of people who do what I want to (pls check them out uwu)

No AI food (if I do repost generated images please tell me)

Food themed foods is allowed (this includes edible flowers)

I support all human rights, so it goes without saying I don't want any "phobic" or gen@cide supporters following me and you will be blocked if I spot you 💕

I may add later the guide of how to make OCs based on each taste, but for now I only have for sour.

I am so fucking tired of seeing ED and veganism which is fine if it's not vilainizing me for eating meat, I'm sorry for being autistic I guess??? posts I'd like to just exist Tumblr, please?

[esidolmail]

For my beloved Switch,

I'm honestly a bit nervous writing this, but you only live once, I suppose! I'm eternally grateful to have been able to follow your unit and activities for these past few years. I'm convinced whatever magic you three talk about is more than real, because every time I hear any of your songs or see an image or clip of even just one of you, it just makes my day so much brighter! I feel more than lucky to be a fan of yours, as you're one of my main motivations to keep going every day. Though, I'd feel bad writing this cheesy little letter of admiration without focusing on each of you individually, so...

Natsume: You're very interesting! You shroud yourself in mystery, keeping up this persona that I just can't help but be fascinated by! Every move you make, on stage and off, feels so, well, I'm not too sure how to put this... Calculated? I think. What I'm kind of trying to get at here is, you very much give off the aura of a skilled magician. Aside from that, I've been absolutely enamored with your vocals by day one. Your performances are absolutely enchanting, giving me the feeling of being whisked away by some fantastical creature, if that makes any sense. Honestly, your precense in general is wonderful, and I hope you continue to be the incredible person you are!

Tsumugi: You truly are a beacon of happiness! Honestly, I don't even know how to put how grateful I am for you into words. You do so, so much for everyone around you, and I think that's one of your most admirable traits. The love I feel from you when you simply talk about the things or people you like is positively radiant, and anything you say has a way to lighten my mood greatly! Your voice is like that of a songbird's; I could never get tired of listening to it, really. I believe everything you do is simply incredible! Though, I do know you tend to push yourself quite often... Try to get some proper rest, will you?

Sora: Sora!! You are an absolute blessing to the world, bringing light everywhere you go. Your upbeat personality is almost infectious, as you always find a way to bring a silly smile to my face. I know being an idol can get exhausting, especially for someone like you who can get overwhelmed by too much going on at once, but I hope you're faring well! I don't experience the exact same things you do, but I'm also not very good with a lot of sensory input, so I can relate to some extent! It's very tough at times, but I know you'll be able to keep yourself strong! Your bubbly performances are everything to me, and as I said earlier, the happiness you carry with you is absolutely contagious! I'm so, so glad someone like yourself exists! Please keep being the wonderful Sora you are!

And, to add on a bit and close this whole letter off, I am extremely glad, moreso than I could ever fit into a simple letter, that I've been lucky enough to discover the three of you in Switch. You've all helped me bring me out of the lowest points of my life thus far, and I am terribly grateful that fate has been kind enough to allow us to each exist in the same timeline. I adore you with my entire existence! Please take care, you all!! (*´ω｀*)

— Mya!!

[prpfz]

[20 M4F] 🌹In search for a kindred spirit🌹

... Let's try something different, shall we?

Aren't you tired of bland roleplays that only consist of one liners and smut? Or extensive, tedious paragraphs of nothing? What about partners that suddenly ghost you without any reason?

If so, look no further!

Creative spurts come out of nowhere, and the one I had came in the form of a longing for a story that would inspire in me the same kind of passion and intrigue I felt from the books I read many years ago, and probably also because of my great passion for D&D and fiction in general. That tenderness mixed with the right dose of wonder that once filled my mind with endless daydreams, stories and characters... If you get what I'm talking about, you'll be a perfect roleplay partner!

In short, I'm mainly looking for someone to be a huge nerd with 😅

Think of it as a detailed, long-term roleplay with everything a story needs to be good, and filled with all those things dorks like me go crazy for, like being emotionally invested in fictional events or even giving characters musical themes!

Recently been longing for a plot that deals with hypnosis, specifically a character (in this case mine) becoming slowly but inexorably more and more addicted to the other. The kind of sweet, soothing manipulation where the victim drowns in one's affection and sweet words in a toxic relationship that is yes pleasurable and thrilling, but completely detrimental for his own mental health in the long run. Potentially having his mind completely subjected to hers in the end ❤️

One where their life paths mix in a genuinely engaging story that gives ample room for character chemistry, intriguing (and admittedly very UNBALANCED) dynamics and that sweet, sweet drama

And of course, while part of it will be psychological mind games, I've always been a fan of more *literal* methods that incorporate more or less literal hypnosis, which can range from intoxicating perfumes, kisses that subject one's will, a sweet soothing voice capable of submitting one's mind... and as a personal favorite, long, silky mesmerizing hair~

Mainly because I think exploring this kind of darker plots gives an insight on parts of us that we usually don't want to think about... but in all honesty, that would also be kinda hot :3

Further information about the characters I have available, along with sheets and image references, will be discussed in chat. I'll tell in advance that if I enjoy a roleplay I tend to become VERY invested, with extremely regular and detailed responses, and I understand someone might not match my level of commitment, so anyone interested is kindly asked to be transparent and let me know in advance if the story is becoming stale to them once we're in it. I've had far too many partners suddenly ghosting me in the past and I'd hate that to happen again

⚠️ Last thing to add, might be VERY important to know that I hate playing dominant roles, but you probably already got that

And as a last treat, here's a little prompt of how it might look like:

🌹

*The man's steps echoed through the forest, each one causing the veil of dried twigs and leaves to crackle under his feet. It were hours, or maybe even days that he was wandering aimlessly in those woods in search for the ancient artifact, but until then it seemed like all he did was walking in circles. The tediousness of his task was almost driving him crazy, and he was constantly on the verge of giving up for good, but for better or for worse his determination dictated him to continue*

*And then it happened. At first, it seemed almost like a mirage, likely given how thoroughly exhausted he was, but upon closer inspection the figure he saw moving amidst the foliage became more and more definite. From occasional glimpses of white and purple, he could then make out the outline of a body, a feminine one, and its erratic movements less and less dictated by chaos... It was a dance, performed by what would have been a normal woman hadn't it been for those long, luxurious white hair that elegantly flowed behind her and bounded with every step she took*

*Awestruck, he walked closer without even considering what to say, such was his curiosity, but be it for distraction or a deliberate choice, once he was just a couple of feet from her, she suddenly twirled, making her silken locks swipe right across his face. Upon impact, a cloud of velvety rose petals wafted from it, and the combined effects of its silken softness and flowery fragrance made his eyes flutter*

*From there, the world seemed to slow down*

🌹

What else to say? If this sounds like what you're looking for, and you too want a story to remember, hit either the chat or pms~!✨ (Looking exclusively for 18+ writing partners)

like or dm

[iris-shifts]

🥀The Tortured Poets Department🥀

Talking about my favorite songs on the album!

In no particular order.

Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)

It took a few listens to get into this one, but I really enjoy it. I was excited that Taylor would be working with Post, and I think he adds an added depth to the song. I've compared it to Dial Drunk, which he did with Noah Kahan, because I think he adds the same effect and texture to both songs.

But Daddy I Love Him

I love this song. It's such a good song to sing along to, or dance to, or run to, or- you get it. The chorus is great, the transition through the song is great, everything is just perfect.

Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)

I gotta tell you, Taylor outdid herself with the collabs on this one. Post Malone and Florence + The Machine??? Again, a really nice depth and layer is added. Something about this song wakes you up, which I love.

Guilty As Sin?

Okay, this one- I love it. I loved it a little less when I found out the, um, subject was you-know-who. But, if you ignore that, this is great. What did it for me was the "What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh", 'cause wasn't that everyone's fantasy at one point?

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

It has "mad woman" vibes, and I'm loving it. Such a running song too. I was down in the basement, running my little heart out on the treadmill, imagining a whole scene. It was great.

The Alchemy

It's something about this one that I love. Maybe the football references, maybe the sound of it, maybe the images it creates. It's such a fun song, and I love the "He jokes that it's heroin but this time with an 'E'".

The Albatross

This is my favorite on the album. I didn't think I'd be able to choose a favorite, but here we are. I'm a willow girlie, so this one was just, an instant connection. The lyrics- the sound- everything.

I Hate It Here

Almost every word she said in this one- I could relate to it. Hello? "Secret gardens in my mind"- those of you who know-

thank you aimee

Very much a grown up "Mean". To be honest, I thought of "Clean" as well. This song, to me at least, felt like healing.

I Look in People's Windows

I loved the theme of this song. You know, seeing that person, and then you look for them everywhere, and you get kinda obsessed, and- I'll stop before I expose myself. Anyway, this one was cute and upbeat, overall a great song.

Peter

The gasp I gasped when it went "You said you were gonna grow up, then you were gonna come find me". Peter Pan and Wendy anyone??? I love this song, and I was indeed singing it the rest of the day.

The Bolter

"But as she was leaving, it felt like breathing". Need I say anything more?

The Manuscript🥀

*Sighs*. This one made me tear up. I'll admit it. It may just have been because it was the last song, but something about this did it for me. The single notes in the background- *sighs again*. It's just such a pretty song about moving on and reflection.

If you've gotten this far, thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm tired as fuck right now, so I apologize if you can't understand some of this.

[unchataparis]

Three Moments that Defines Lila's Character

In this article, I am going to present three moments which I think cinches the vital components of Lila's personality. 

1. Seducing Adrien

Lila isn't the type of person to dither. She goes for what she wants when she wants it. The moment Lila arrived at François Dupont, she wasted no time; she established her reputation, spread waves of accolades regarding her accomplishments, and headed straight for the boy she wanted to sink her teeth into.

It's not addressed in the episode, but I think Lila had her eyes on Adrien way before she came to François Dupont. Her intensity regarding him and her level of infatuation couldn't be a split-second decision. Whether or not Lila truly loves Adrien or only adores his reputation and usefulness is still up for debate (I'm personally leaning heavily for the latter, but chasing after Adrien has become one of Lila's defining traits, and obtaining him one of her main goals.

It is certainly the goal that made her cross paths with Ladybug. Ladybug's treatment of Lila in response to her closeness with Adrien triggered their rivlary and Lila's ire towards Ladybug. Acting on a jealous impulse, Ladybug had unwittingly gained herself a dangerous adversary and one of the most difficult villains she'll ever face; setting Lila off on the path to evil.

2. The Ladybug Mess

I don’t think I need to explain how well Lila manipulated everyone in Ladybug, but I do want to focus on the skit depicted in the image above.

Up until this point, all of Lila's moves had to be planned: she needed to plant the fox-tail pendant in Marinette's locker, she needed to stuff the exam answers in Marinette's bag when it's somehow miraculously unattended (kudos to Lila for managing to sneak past both the heroine of Paris and the Kwami of Creation, by the way), but I believe faking an injury via the staircase was an impulse.

The conversation leading up to the incident in the American dub goes:

Lila: I swore I'd make your life unbearable, Marinette. Let's see how you get out of this one. Marinette: I'm not falling in your trap, Lila. Lila: Too late. You already have.

It seems to me that Lila was amused by Marinette's defiance and unbroken spirit, and decided to add a little cherry on top of the cluster-cake just to sink Marinette's reputation just a bit more. It worked. Because all the other immoralities could be excused on the matter that no one was hurt, at this point, maybe Marinette was just feeling the stress of being top-performing and cracked under pressure. But by painting Marinette as a malicious bully who would attack others when rightfully cornered, Lila managed to turn most of Françoise Dupont against Marinette. Neither her parents, nor Adrien nor Alya (and also not Chloé, apparently) were fooled, but classmates who were friends with Marinette since childhood fell for the ruse, as all their resulting mass near-Akumatisations revealed.

And Marinette herself was not immune. Managing to keep herself steady up till this point, it was Lila's meddling that almost caused Marinette to lose control of her emotions, and almost gifted Papillon the Miraculous he needed to tip the scales of the war.

Ladybug I believe, is a golden episode that exemplifies Lila's shrewdness and capability for manipulating.

3. Making a Deal with Adrien

I think that up until this point, Lila never believed that Adrien is dangerous. He could be a nuisance, sure, and a hassle to work around, but he was always only a barrier, not a challenger. Well, at the crux of the Ladybug episode, it appeared that the kitten had gotten tired of lazing around and decided to show his claws, because it was Adrien who managed to make Lila retract her statement and regain Marinette her place at François Dupont.

There’s two ways this conversation went. In the American dub:

Lila: Why would I do that? Adrien: Because we’re friends, aren’t we?

Adrien was basically showing his cards and telling Lila to play along if she wants him to remain nice and docile. Perhaps Adrien’s argument was helped along by Nathalie, who nodded behind her ward's back. But if Adrien hadn’t raised the possibility in the first place, there wouldn't have been any need for Marinette to be reinstate back into François Dupont. Adrien holds power, as minimal as it may be, and all the dangerous, important people around him – Lila, Nathalie, Gabriel, and even Félix to some point – aims to keep Adrien content and sated, for the sake of keeping up a façade if nothing else.

But in the French dub (my favourite), the conversation went:

Lila: Et pourquoi je ferai ça, Adrien? Adrien: Parce-que tu ne veut pas me décevoir, après tout nous sommes amis.

Adrien added on "Parce-que tu ne veut pas me décevoir", 'because you don’t want to disappoint me', an implicit threat very much in paucity in the American dub. Here, Adrien doesn't just show his cards, he tells Lila outright that it's in her best interests not to go against him, raising the exciting implication that Adrien will act against her if Lila doesn't do as he asks. Adrien is a very passive character throughout the entire show, it would've been intriguing to see him exploring by himself for the first time, striking out to investigate something on with own with Plagg, instead of his story being a side-route for Marinette's main adventure.

But whatever whichever version of Adrien says to her, ultimately Lila’s choice is to abide with his words. I can’t remember if any other character in the show has had a 'heart-to-heart' with Lila, knowing the truth of what she is and communicating directly with the person instead of the mask. Marinette knows the truth, but all of her battles with Lila leaves her woefully defeated, never addressing the real girl face-to-face, fumbling with her after-shadows instead, but Adrien has managed to cut through all the red-tape and confront Lila where it matters.

Despite her omnipresent reputation, Lila isn't all-powerful, and this scene in Ladybug shows her backing down from a fight, choosing to do something for another person that would be out of her way. This scene shows that despite Lila's reckless self-confidence, she is aware of her surroundings, and knows when to cut her losses. The writers did a great job by writing this scene in. Proving that, not only is defeating Lila possible, but cementing the fact that a villain with self-awareness is always more perilous than a villain who doesn't know how to call it quits (Chloé, at the end of Miracle Queen).

[darkrpfinders]

In search for a kindred spirit 🌹

[20 M seeking a 20+ F writing partner, GMT+1]

... Let's try something different, shall we?

Aren't you tired of bland roleplays that only consist of one liners? Or extensive, tedious paragraphs of nothing? What about partners that suddenly ghost you without any reason?

If so, look no further!

Creative spurts come out of nowhere, and the one I had came in the form of a longing for a story that would inspire in me the same kind of passion and intrigue I felt from the books I read many years ago, and probably also because of my great passion for D&D and fiction in general. That tenderness mixed with the right dose of wonder that once filled my mind with endless daydreams, stories and characters... If you get what I'm talking about, you'll be a perfect roleplay partner!

In short, I'm mainly looking for someone to be a huge nerd with 😅

Think of it as a detailed, long-term roleplay with everything a story needs to be good, and filled with all those things dorks like me go crazy for, like being emotionally invested in fictional events or even giving characters musical themes!

The standard setting would be a high fantasy one in whichever place our characters would fit the most, but nothing says we can't play modern, sci-fi etc. Being it the classic scenario of enemies who constantly bicker but slowly grow fond of each other, an unlikely friendship that can either bloom into something more or end up in tragedy, or something as simple as a character being in love while the other remains hilariously oblivious, every kind of scenario and character dynamic is well accepted, no matter how tropey. As long as it will keep both of us affectioned to the characters and constantly wanting to see where the story will go, I will call that a wonderful experience~

Needless to say, the story will be pretty balanced, so rest assured, despite it being detailed and with a rich plot, it won't just be an endless LOTR book or a tame fairy tale. Manipulation, fights, betrayals... some strong emotion is always needed, and how else could there be that sweet, sweet drama if not?

Further information about the characters I have available, along with sheets and image references, will be discussed in chat. I'll tell in advance that if I enjoy a roleplay I tend to become VERY invested, with extremely regular and detailed responses, and I understand someone might not match my level of commitment, so anyone interested is kindly asked to be transparent and let me know in advance if the story is becoming stale to them once we're in it. I've had far too many partners suddenly ghosting me in the past and I'd hate that to happen again

⚠️ Last thing to add, might be VERY important to know that I hate playing dominant roles 🤭

And as a last treat, here's a little prompt to give an idea:

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

The man's steps echoed through the forest, each one causing the veil of dried twigs and leaves to crackle under his feet. It were hours, or maybe even days that he was wandering aimlessly in those woods in search for the ancient artifact, but until then it seemed like all he did was walking in circles. The tediousness of his task was almost driving him crazy, and he was constantly on the verge of giving up for good, but for better or for worse his determination dictated him to continue

And then it happened. At first, it seemed almost like a mirage, likely given how thoroughly exhausted he was, but upon closer inspection the figure he saw moving amidst the foliage became more and more definite. From occasional glimpses of white and purple, he could then make out the outline of a body, a feminine one, and its erratic movements less and less dictated by chaos... It was a dance, performed by what would have been a normal woman hadn't it been for those long, luxurious white hair that elegantly flowed behind her and bounded with every step she took

Awestruck, he walked closer without even considering what to say, such was his curiosity, but be it for distraction or a deliberate choice, once he was just a couple of feet from her, she suddenly twirled, making her silken locks swipe right across his face. Upon impact, a cloud of velvety rose petals wafted from it, and the combined effects of its silken softness and flowery fragrance made his eyes flutter

From there, the world seemed to slow down

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

What else to say? If this sounds like what you're looking for, and you too want a story to remember, hit me up by adding me on discord: derrick4444

Hope to hear from you~!✨

derrick4444