#i'll stick to my fantasies. thanks. at least i have that.

[mysunshine-youremoonlight]

its not even 9pm why am i having the 9pm thoughts :(

[matchadobo]

HEYY! I ADORE UR FICS WWWWWWWWWW Can i request the fantasy prompt with the dialogue 2? The knight and queen one. I think a little angst would be nice if you can add it hehe I'm so excited for this, thank you! :)

KIDD; queen!name x knight captain!kidd

🌷matchadobo's 500 followers event🌷

wc: 3937

dialogue: "it'd be unbecoming for the captain of my knights to get caught sneaking out of my chambers at dawn, is it not?"

warning/s: nsfw🔞 (mild but seggs still mentioned), afab reader, royalty au, angst (this was pretty mild) w/ happy ending, arranged marriage

"mornin'." you hear him mutter on your skin, his warm breath and wet lips pulling you awake. you flutter your eyes open, turning to your side to face him.

"what time is it?" you stretched on the bed, whining as you felt your lower half be quite sore. he sat up reaching for the clock on your side of the table to flip it up.

"a little more and i'll get caught by your maids. guess i better go, aye?" he placed a light kiss on your temples before hopping out of your thick blankets. only to be pulled by you back to the bed, mewling on his frame as your lips searched for his face and reached for a kiss.

"that so?" you mumbled with a smile before connecting your lips with him. he grinned through it as well, placing his arm beside your head so he could prop himself up. because he couldn't bring himself to latch off you, especially with your tugs on his locks.

"hm? this is new, her majesty's all clingy." he teased, biting playfully on your lower lip. "usually you throw me out soon as you open your eyes. 's the matter? did i do that great last night?"

"you were extraordinary, captain." you played into his jokes, laughing subtly with him as you let him go and sat up to stretch your arms.

"but really, i must go. mornin' trainin' for your knights. plus, i could use a lotta breakfast. i'm all used up from last night." he placed one last kiss on your shoulder before finally getting off your massive bed. you hummed in agreement.

"it'd be unbecoming for the captain of my knights to get caught sneaking out of my chambers at dawn, is it not?"

he looked over his shoulder as he stopped midway while slipping into his sleepwear. "have i woke up on the wrong side of the bed or are you eager to have me back in there with ya?" he laughed a little, puzzled at your response.

"have you back in here? oh captain, i'd rather have your ass in the barracks, straightening up my military. can't have my country in the least bit vulnerable." you dismissed, getting off the bed to fetch your robe since your sleepwear was quite literally translucent. plus, mornings were really cold.

"sounds like you're gonna miss me, though?" he snaked an arm around you, biting the neckline of your robe as an attempt to take it off and start something to somewhat alleviate the tent in his pants as he saw you got out of the bed.

you smiled leaning into his touch for a moment but opted to latch off of him as a means to not get carried away like you always do. you turned to your side only to have you trapped in his embrace. you kissed each other, small pecks with playful smiles and grabby hands.

"miss? i think that's more on you than me." you finally latched yourself off of him, excusing yourself to the bathroom. "maids arrive at 6, i think you have 10 more seconds."

kidd heard the routinely glide of the wheels down the halls, signaling your tray of breakfast is just around the corner. he gave you one last grin before sneaking off the window where he usually goes when he slept a little to much with you. you hear him fall down by the bushes, its rustles giving you giggles simultaneous with the arrival of your breakfast.

and that's how it usually goes with him. he crawls into your bed at evening, all worn out from training and his captainly duties. wounds fresh and grime and sweat sticking on his snowy skin. you'd be lying on the bed in your sleepwear, expecting his arrival as you eyed him up and down with his usual armor discarded.

during those nights, you weren't the queen nor was he captain of the royal knights. you two are lovers with your limbs intertwined, skin sweaty against each other's lips. you'd be one in your sheets, fucking till dawn and drawing stories about your walks on life. all the while, skin on skin against one another as one of you rubs figures on the span of the other's torso.

but it never went past that. only when the sun sleeps and the moon remains is when you love each other. it's bitter yet sweet, those nights were something to look forward to. it was a regular thing. outside of your chambers, you two are nothing but a part of the nation's government. neither of you really confronted the burning question that is your relationship.

yet when he was called on for council on your arranged marriage to your allied country, his heart had dropped.

he arrived late, but he met your eyes as you sat by the head of the table from across the room. eyes darting on the handsome bastard holding your hand. you had a perturbed face, as if very uncomfortable at his arrival or was it the jackass feeling you up?

but kidd knew one thing, that shit hurted. he knew it would happen eventually, a queen shall need a king and be bethroted. never had he thought he'd see it so soon. but what right does a mere knight have?

"what kept you, captain?" one of the nobles of the crown had comically asked the frazzled captain.

"took out a few maniacs in town, pardon me for disturbing your little tea party here. carry on." he cleared his throat, excusing himself to a seat far from you that was reserved for his position. it was nothing sort of unusual for the captain to have such a caustic approach, so everyone rolled it off as a chuckle.

but not you. he had a bitter gaze on you. his fingertips grazing the handle of the teacup prepared for him as he anxiously listened in the council.

"her majesty is set to be wed with the prince of the west blue a week from now, i think it's safe to say that preparations must be underway." one bloke started while the others agreed with him.

"i'm elated to announce that my kingdom has already planned ahead for the royal wedding. i hope it's not too forward for you, my queen, to say that the wedding shall occur on west blue?" the handsome nitwit suggested, a foolish smile on his face as he consulted you. oh it irked you.

before you could open your mouth and cause problems, kidd had done it for you. like he usually does in saving your ass multiple times. "it is forward. having the marriage on west blue is asking for too much, seeing that a queen must stay at her territory." he interjected, voice firm as he held eye contact with the clueless fool that is your fianceé. "moreover, suggesting a queen leave her country and possibly put the country in danger is unfavorable for the south." he continued, "your royal highness." he added with a cutting tone, almost against his will.

sensing the tension, one of the council members stepped in. "oh i assume the prince just wants to welcome her majesty to the west? a little customary for the bride, perhaps?" the fool was too stunned at kidd's response to even agree.

"you're the captain of the south's knights, are you?" the prince stepped in, gesturing to kidd who had a sharp but subtle glare at him. "would you be so valiant in taking charge for the south, then? i'm sure her majesty would love a day off, especially on her wedding day."

"somethin' so unique about you that you want to decide everything for her majesty now, aye? your royal highness."

it was stifling. the atmosphere is thick you had to adjust your corset. he and the prince were in a sort of staring contest. kidd had a smirk, a grin as if he was so proud of himself for unobtrusively embarrassing the prince. the poor thing was fuming and had his fists tight on his lap.

"enough. give me time to think. although, kidd is right. abandoning my country even for a day is something i never will voluntary do." you asserted, and order was established once more. "i appreciate the gesture, your royal highness. but i must honor my post here. save your preparations, though? wouldn't want it to go to waste." you ended with a kind, bitter smile.

the bastard had a half-assed smile to you, looking back at kidd like he won. when in fact, he lost. and kidd made you feel that ticklish sensation once more, like a flame scorching on your stomach.

as soon as everyone started getting up to leave, you spoke amidst the shuffling of clothes. "not you, captain. i'd like to have a word."

the prince snickered, an annoying tug on his lips as he bumped shoulders on his way out with kidd. somewhat rejoicing at what you declared.

kidd looked at you pissed. hollowing his cheeks as he sauntered towards you and raised a brow. he sat down at the edge of the table nearest to you, waiting for you to berate him.

"gonna punish me for snarkin' at that pompous arse? the hell do you want me to do? dally about while he-" you stood up and grabbed him at the back of his neck to kiss him before he carried on with his protests. he grinned through the kiss, hands flying to untie your corset. but you pulled away, feeling his advances.

"that was so attractive." you wiped off your smudged lipstick. "but dare do that again and i'll have you in the pit with no food." you hit his head lightly.

"tch. you seriously gonna marry that, pillock? he's a bag of shit." he crossed his arms, rolling his eyes. "it ain't too late to cut off his head, i'll do the honors."

"yes, i know you don't like him. neither do i." you sat back down, defeated on your chair. "you know why i got to though. west relations are looking weak, especially border conflicts." you rubbed your temples, sighing as you recall the tireless meetings you have to sit through.

"want to put that stress to somethin' else?" he suggested, getting closer to you. only to get pushed away with a weak laugh.

"get back to work, you insatiable bloke."

the rest of the day passed as usual. stolen glances across the large windows as he looks up at you from the barracks and you over the balcony of your towers.

but when evening came and kidd hadn't seen you enter your chambers, he found it strange. he was half-expecting for you two to continue your nightly adventures since he finished with his duties early. it's already past 10 and you're still gone.

he started asking the maids but they have claimed that you were in the dining room with that prince who refused to get back to his country if he hadn't had dinner and wine with the queen. sounds like a bastard with plans, bad ones.

in the nick of time before you finish the whole bottle of wine you clutched close to your chest, staining your dress, kidd had already snatched it off your hands.

"oh, hello captain." you smiled, waving at him. clearly inebriated.

"your father told me to fetch you, your majesty." kidd placed the bottle down, eyeing the prince who was getting a little to comfortable with you.

"didn't know a knight is needed for a quaint dinner with the future king."

"think it does. especially when the queen is half out of her mind. your royal highness."

if it wasn't for you vomiting on the prince's clothes, they wouldn't physically stop barking at each other. the prince exclaimed in disgust, shaking of his arm with a sour face. all kidd could display was a grin as he gloat with the misfortune of the prince.

"father's orders." he smiled wryly, carrying you bridal style. honestly he'd manhandle your frame across his shoulders easily but he knew carrying you like this would piss the prince off more.

"you're one damn meddly knight, are you not? tch, you'll serve me in no time, remember that." the prince bit off as more of a threat than a statement. it made the vein on kidd's forehead twitch.

"tell you what, your royal fucking highness. if it's the queen, i'm in no damn business to screw around. especially with a crapheaded jackass like you, i am in no way ever leaving the queen in your hands. i have the authority and guarantee of her protection. a foppish like you is but an embarrassment." he said through gritted teeth, towering over him with you on his arms. "so i will meddle however the fuck i want."

"you're just a bloody lowborn with heaps of metal and a preposterous title. you're all bark. you dare speak to the prince that way? besides, how is it any of your bloody business what we do? she's gonna be bethroted to me, i'll have no need for permission on what i shall do to her."

oh kidd has had enough. kidd placed you down back on your chair before throwing in a punch at the prince, who was instantly knocked out upon his impact. his eye brusing and nose gushing out blood as he coughed nonstop, rolling on the floor as he gasped for air. how embarrassing.

without looking back, kidd carried you back to his chambers. he knows the consequences; the nation and you. you'd be the most disappointed to him above all. but he's undeterred, especially when it comes to you. who knows what could've happened if he hadn't came?

kidd placed you down your bed. he wet a towel by your sink to wipe off your chin and cheeks with vomit residue as you snored to dreamland.

"i'd get an earful from you when you open your bloody eyes, won't i?" he snickered, dabbing the cloth gently as he admired how you look from the faint lantern on your bedside table.

"you fucking what?!"

"he got on my nerves. that prince has got a foul fuckin' mouth. he's got dirty little plans for you, name." he sat bashfully down the bed as you paced around the room.

"why would you punch the prince?! he hasn't woken up! what if they throw arms against south?! this is what frustrates me the most about you kidd, you act without fucking thinking!" you bit at your nails, going uneasy as a thousand other scenarios of chaos appeared in your mind.

"i half expected a nagging but a thank you would be nice." he shrugged, running his fingers through his hair.

"a thank you?! for starting a war?!" you look at him baffled such a thing would cross his mind after what he did.

"it won't be a war. the prince is way too head over heels for you. and they're outnumbered, south has got allies and all they've got are tanks."

"is this about the matrimony? are you so against it that you have to cause an international chaos?" you pushed him by the shoulders and he loosely budged, letting you hurt him a little.

kidd was hesitant to answer. he always was about your relationship. he feels possessive towards you even though you just keep your beds warm, make momentary love. he's well aware that it's only up to that point. he's a lowborn and you're a queen. that much is more than enough to tell you two will never be a thing.

"you know what? take a week off, kidd. i'll have to suspend your duties. killer will take charge. it's best if you don't attend the wedding." you sat on the other side of the bed in defeat, pinching the bridge of your nose.

"what the fuck, name?"

"oh you have no right to violently react after you beat my fianceé up."

the tension was tight. glares and nostrils fuming at the quick exchange of ill intent. this was more than just a banter, it's turning into a fight. and the two of you know better than to keep it going. but it's going to explode in kidd's chest, it's only a matter of time before everything spills out.

but orders are orders. and kidd has never refused an order from you. he spitefully left, armor clanking in chorus with the vein twitching in his forehead. at this point, he wanted to beat the shit out of that prince more.

"...k-kidd, wait." you hesitated, second guessing if you really should. kidd stopped in his tracks.

"this is the only way, yeah? i get that. 's always been like that. royal bullshit, aye?"he said without turning around. you can hear the pain in his voice but it did not waver, his tone was just a bit scorned. "it's all for the damn crown."

a lot of time has passed now and it's the longest that had gone by without you two speaking to each other. tomorrow is your wedding day and you wanted one last chance to see kidd because you hadn't seen him since then.

but it's only a matter of time before your selfishness prevails. you were suffocating with the thought of not seeing him. to push through with this marriage. so you went out at night to see him.

and just when things could get any more unfortunate, rain started pouring and you got wet. after you took your time fixing yourself up for him, just to get drenched on your way.

and when you're finally there, there was a long time where you just stood in front of the door of his house. your hand hanging as you hesitated to knock. you kept getting drenched. shivering as you reluctantly tried knocking and facing him. then you just said fuck it.

"it's this fuckin' late, is it that imp-" he had his shirt off and his pants loose, his hair disheveled like he just got off the bed.

yet all this time of thinking and being alone to yourself, you couldn't say a single word to him. all you could muster was the tears flowing down your already damp cheeks. your lips quivering, begging to say anything, just anything at all.

before you could finally speak, kidd pulled you by the wrist with one hand while the other on the back of your neck. "are you fuckin' nuts? you wanna get a fever before you get married?" he mumbled to you, embracing tight as you sobbed on his chest with a tight hug on his waist.

he reached behind you to shut his door and it got quiet. his heartbeat dominated your senses, which was ultimately as fast as yours. you kept muttering sorries.

"don't. your eyes'll be swollen for your wedding." he said yet he kept brushing your hair, palm sweeping down the strands of your hair. "you'd hate that, aye?"

you sniffled, wiping your tears with the back of your hand. trying to get a hold of yourself.

"it's damn near midnight. ain't the castle lookin' for you?" he let you go, fetching a blanket from his couch to dry up your hair and cover you up.

but you don't know what came over you. somehow your restraints came off and you threw yourself to him, connecting your lips with him. was it his warmth? was it the yearning for several days? or was it the way he looked at you with the same eyes he usually does under the dim light of your chambers?

and he was guilty too, he was hungry for you. he got to work to helping you wiggle off your clothes, carrying you as he wrapped your legs around his waist. he grinned in your lips before slamming you down his bed. "came all this way 'ere for a fuck? never thought the queen would-"

"shut up." you grabbed the back of his neck to kiss him again. you don't wanna hear it, you want him in you already.

it's that void he left when you dismissed him. you must've mistook it for the itch of him every night. but really, you wanted him close. you want to feel the warmth of skin as he pushed your waist towards his scarred torso. the feel of his wet lips on your mounds as you pushed his head further to your chest. you never want to let his hand go when he intertwined his fingers with yours and placed a soft kiss on your forehead.

when you exchanged breaths as he slides himself in, your fingernails grazing on his back when he completely pushed himself in. he pressed foreheads with you before bucking his hips, smiling as you tried stifling a moan.

and it went on for hours. until the bed creaked. until the mattress was damp. until your voice croaked his name an uncountable number of times. until you two lost stamina from being sex-starved idiots.

"i love you, kidd." you said as you lie naked in his sheets, wrapped up in his arms and blanket. you two had just finished. your foreheads sweaty and your limbs tired.

kidd's head snapped to the side to look at you, completely shocked at your sudden statement as you looked earnestly into his eyes.

"tch, beat me too it." he placed his arm behind his head as you snuggled to him. "i long for you the most, my queen."

"i'm sorry." you chuckled bitterly, looking up at him. "i should leave by dawn."

kidd reached down for a kiss, smiling on your lips before kissing on your nose. "instead of saying sorry, you still have until your deadline. your majesty."

you left when he was still sleeping. soundly as he snuggled up to you. you shook off his grip, picked up your clothes, gave him one last kiss on his forehead, and left his house before the sun rose.

but he was awake the entire time. it took everything in him to not stop you and pull you back to bed. the fading of your warmth and cologne left him hollow and cold. he sat up after you left, watching you cautiously make your way back to the castle. seeing the love of his life go. he couldn't go back to sleep after and popped open a bottle of scotch.

you stand before a mirror. the compliments given to you by the maids remained dulled by your ears, as you saw nothing but a lone rose encaged in a glass. what was once a dream you fantasized with the man who once seized your heart, was now a fleeting moment for a bride such as yourself.

"you sure about this, name?" your father mumbled to you as you waited for the entourage to finish and the church doors to open.

you looked at him with a shocked look, eyes dull as you alternated between your father's knowing ones.

"you know what kidd told me when you two were young? too young to know the difference between the two of you." he started, holding your shoulders so you're facing him. "he said that one day, he'd be the one waiting down there for you."

you dropped your bouquet of tulips, almost shaken at what your dad said. "he did?"

he nodded. "and he plans on staying true to his promise." he gestured to the back, asking you to look behind you.

"i ain't plannin' to just be your captain, name. i've got to fuckin' marry you."

omg 😳

hello anon! thank you for the request, i hope u'll enjoy this 🥰🌷! i'm not really good with angst soooo pls don't eat me 🙇‍♀️

i have exams! 😭 i have a shit ton to study mygooood so i kinda struggled doing this. nevertheless, i hope it was worth it! i had fun imagining kidd as a knight heheeheh 🤣😍 i'm also looking forward to my other fic requests, it's still not too late to request guuuys 👉👈

if you guys are interested in requesting a fic for my 500 followers event, my askbox is open! click here for the main event post for more info :DD i have open slots for forced proximity, hurt to comfort, fantasy, he puts you in your place (smut), and modern aus!

[zeldaelmo]

Hellooo

I'm looking for good Zelink AU fics. I've already read all of yours, so.

Do you have a rec list or some fic you'd like us to try? Zelink in modern setting, fantasy anything but canon lmao (I've read too much of that)

BTW have you read Hit list by zestycrouton? It's high-school au and pretty old fic from ff.net. One of the best fics, all characters so well developed, it felt like you're watching a movie before your eyes. Yeah, I highly recommend.

Ah, thank you for reaching out and what an honor that you've read all my AUs! 🥰

So, here we go. I try to stick to stories that haven't been recommended over and over.

My friend @deiliamedlini writes a lot of AUs. I'm linking the Pirate AU, but there are tons of others, too. Some get dark, and don't think she won't kill characters off just because they've grown on you. 😂

Speaking of Pirates, my friend @mistresslrigtar also has one. She also has an ongoing rock star AU that I also recommend!

If you're looking for something short, you should check out @ladyhoneydee 's work. She writes a lot of modern AU and everything comes with a manageable word count! This is a sweet coffee shop AU, but she has tons of others, too.

If you're more looking for stories that have that 'game feel' but are based on own ideas, I'll direct you to @nocturnalfandomartist's blog(s). She has several AUs going on, with concept art and all!

I've only started to explore @abbyz-elda 's work but what I read so far I enjoyed greatly. Currently listening to this one with my screen reader when I'm out running, but I recommend the Sci Fi AU 'A Link to the Stars', too.

Next on my read list is @flutefemme's TP 1920th AU. I read enough of Flute's fics and snippets from this one that I'm confident to recommend before reading.

Another friend who loves AUs is @louwhose. Recommending this one because it's the last I read:

I also enjoyed @sparklyhyperbole 's fairy AU and the ongoing fic.

And last but not least, Puppy Love by @liv-andletdie .

I'm very, very sure I've forgotten a ton of authors and stories, so please reblog and add your own recommendations and/or self recs!

More about Hit List under the cut. TW: mentions of school shootings.

I skipped Hit List as one of the few fics when I went through all the zelink fics on ff.net and Ao3. I heard that the characterizations etc are really good, but since it's about a school shooting, I didn't want to read it. I'm not doing well with violence in general, and a story that deals with any aspects of a school shooting is not what I want to read for fun. That being said, that obviously doesn't say anything about the quality of the fic and isn't supposed to discredit the story in any kind. I heard others enjoy it greatly. It's just not for me. 😊

[00127am]

signed with love and forever yours, chenle

postage. zhong chenle & gn! reader, cursing, mentions of kissing, very brief mention of sex (only in name, no details) cost to ship. 625 words

i can't seem to get you out of my mind.

you stick to my skin like glue that i just cannot seem to wash off. it's annoying, really. having to exist in each and every moment with the preconceived fantasy of you playing in my head with every word and every breath and every movement (all dedicated to one more second spent with the vision of you in my head). i hate how much i think of you, nearly as much as i hate being away from you (though the latter proves to be much worse).

i haven't been able to stop thinking about you since before any kisses of ours. and before the first time we fucked (does the use of the word fucking ruin the letter for you? i can practically hear you nagging me to change it to "making love," or something equally as stupid). you've haunted my mind since i before felt your touch on my skin and before you flashed that strikingly pretty smile in my direction. i can't tell you when it began. when you made your permanent home in the forefront of my every waking moment. but i wouldn't be surprised if you were always there, from the moment we first met.

i know i say that i don't remember it. and i don't, not your version of our initial meeting. and maybe i avoid the topic to hold myself from the embarrassment of admitting that i've been aware of you for much longer than you've been aware of me. or perhaps because if we did talk about it, and you pried (like you always do) then i would be forced to admit that i've been utterly and incomprehensibly in love with you from the moment i first saw you. a memory which i revisit nearly as often as i fantasize about you.

it's not revisited enough. at least, not enough to burn off the remainder of your lingering presence in my mind. something i doubt i'll ever be able to truly remove, though i'm not sure i'd ever want too. but if i did, if i had to move on from you, i doubt that i would ever be able too. both a matter of lacking the courage and the simple fact that i'm afraid that i will not ever be able to love anyone as i have loved you. because you, in every essence of yourself, are love to me. more so than any textbook definition and scientific measurement.

i can't seem to get you out of my head. so do me a favor and come to me in person instead. please.

about chenle's love letters.

all of chenle's letters are never meant to see the light of day, much less your gaze. he writes them on whatever is in his reach in the moment, the spare napkin laying on his desk and the back of the cardboard box from his most recent purchase. his words are lovely and kind, filled with an adoration that he expresses to you in touch rather than prose, filing the letters away in the bottom drawer of his desk. they'll reach your eyes some day, just not now, not when he feels like his heart may burst at the mere thought of you.

he often writes his letters in an irritated daze, bottom lip caught between his teeth and eyes set, furrowed, upon the bridge of his nose. the grip of his pen is tight, ink pushing harsh into the paper. all of his letters are written with love, despite being tainted by the faint impression of vexation. an aggravation stemming from the fault of feeling too much. loving too much. something chenle finds easy to blame upon you for all intents and purposes.

your mailbox

taglist. @evilsailorsenshi @222brainrot thank you for supporting me! ♡

🧾 © 00127am 2024

[marianchurchland]

I was tagged by @deedala (shoutout to the old BSN) for birthday themed questions <3

And since there's some overlapping relevance, here's my birthday want list from a few months ago, which just happens to contain a little bit of DA fanart (all my dragon age wishes were indeed granted, thank you very kindly).

When is yours? June 15th

Where were you born? Vancouver, Canada

How do you feel about your legal name? Are you using it online and/or IRL? I’m fine with my name ��� and I definitely use it online. I don't think it's ideal, but I’ve never come up with a handle that I like enough to stick with.

How about your sign? Do you feel it "fits"? No, although my main associations come from people in high school reading me my horoscope out of Seventeen magazine, and it being something along the lines of, “girl, you’ve got the gift of the gab! You’re the life of every party!” Thank you, Seventeen, but wrong on all counts.

What's your earliest memory related to your birthday? My parents hosted a birthday party for me when I was maybe four or five years old, and as soon as the cake emerged and everyone started singing “Happy Birthday”, I buried my head under my arms and refused to come out. And when you think about it, having a bunch of people all staring at you and smiling and singing your name in unison IS, actually, very strange and uncomfortable...

What's one of the best gifts you've ever received? Every shiny that anyone has ever sent or given to me!

How about one of the best you've given yourself? I think that an excellent gift blueprint involves choosing a book that you like (and which you think the receiver might also like), and then collecting a few treats that might pair well with it and turning it all into a small care package. Example selection: your favourite fantasy book plus a box/batch of cookies plus a package of nice tea or coffee plus a stubby beeswax candle plus a random treasure object (nice stone or little animal figurine or dried flower, etc.) And in case I misinterpreted the question, I think it also works well as a gift to yourself. (I made a Patreon post that expanded on this a while back, so I'll link it here, too.)

What's your favourite cake flavour? Dark fruit cake! 2kg of raisins drowned and left to rot in sin.

How about your favourite flowers? All the common weedy wildflowers in my area, like yarrow and foxgloves. I also I stop to smell every rose I see. Personal best practice.

Have your ever thrown a birthday party? If yes, tell us about your favourite one. No, and I pity anyone whose birthday pleasures rely on my party-throwing skills.

What's the ultimate birthday song? I’ll say “Come Undone” by Duran Duran, because “happy birthday to you” is in the opening few lines (and also because I love this song). Beyond that, I’m drawing a blank.

And last but not least, pick a celebrity with whom you share your birthday. Ice Cube!

I'm scared to tag anybody I don't know well, so with zero pressure: @klovharun and @unstablemable, who can at least tell me no in person.

[sgtmickeyslaughter]

WEEKLY TAG WEDNESDAY

thank for for tagging me @mybrainismelted and the birthday gal @energievie

---

When is yours? August 23rd

Where were you born? The city of angels but we moved when I was a baby

How do you feel about your legal name? Are you using it online and/or IRL? Love it! I think it's so cute, but not a super common name and it's typically spelled with a "J" in the US and a "G" in the rest of the world (hence the nickname Gigi) and my name was stolen from an Aussie so my entire life it has been pronounced wrong by people reading it in the US which I don't love. I have a long running fantasy that someday I'll leave the US and go somewhere my name is always pronounced right.

How about your sign? Do you feel it "fits"? Yeah! I think all the typical virgo traits apply, and some leo since I'm a cusp. I would switch out the word perfectionist for pragmatist on all those lists, but that's just me

What's your earliest memory related to your birthday? I had a big fifth birthday party at the beach with the kids from my class and all my parents friends and their kids, there was a diy slip'n'slide and bbq and cake, and my dad set off fireworks he saved from 4th of july, very fun

What's one of the best gifts you've ever received? For my third birthday my mom's friend got me a teddy bear that I still have and adore and sleep with when I'm sad.

How about one of the best you've given yourself? I got myself a pair of nice gold hoops to replace the nasty tarnished 4$ ones I wear everyday

What's your favourite cake flavour? I love a classic birthday cake with rainbow sprinkles, but honestly I'm not a big cake person

How about your favourite flowers? I love roses and white lilies

Have your ever thrown a birthday party? If yes, tell us about your favourite one. When I was turning seventeen I threw a bonfire out in the woods that wound up being massive (the party not the fire) and I didn't know most of the people there by the time I left so that was weird but very fun! Now, I just stick to small parties on the roof of my friends building bc its summer in the city.

What's the ultimate birthday song? I'm going with Evie, I think it's true that hot girls cry on their birthday. So it's my party and I'll cry if I want to cry if I want to

And last but not least, pick a celebrity with whom you share your birthday. It's such a random collection of people, but I'll say Julien Casablancas in honor of all the guys I dated in college who had big fat crushes on him and wouldn't let me forget it

tagging:

@spookygingerr @jrooc @mmmichyyy @iansw0rld

@creepkinginc @gallawitchxx @catgrassplantdad @blue-disco-lights

@atthedugouts @stocious @burninface @ian-galagher

@heymrspatel @solitarycreaturesthey @thepupperino @mickeym4ndy

@doshiart @em-harlsnow @lingy910y @softmick

[adobe-outdesign]

could you review some of the neopets as animals outfits, like the fennec kacheek, red panda vandagyre, and cockatiel pteri? (those are examples, choose whichever you like!) thank you <3

(Note: I included a random selection of outfits in this post, but feel free to send in asks if anyone wants to see a specific outfit I didn't cover.)

I'll be honest, I'm personally not super big on the "outfit that resembles a real-world animal" trend. First, I play Neopets for the cool fantasy creatures; even the most true-to-life Neopets species have some pretty fantastical colors. I feel like making pets just look exactly like actual animals kind of defeats the purpose of them being Neopets. I get why people would like it and I'm not saying it's bad; it's just not my thing.

Also, the other reason I'm not always big on these outfits is that a lot of Neopets have colours that already resemble real animal patterns. Not only do the outfits blur the colour/customization line quite a bit, but usually I like the colour ones much more, as they keep the actual design of the Neopets in place and just change the patterns and colors, rather than covering up the fun fantasy elements. This also helps them avoid the uncanny valley effect, which I talk about more below.

Also I might be over thinking this but who is making these outfits. None of these animals seem to exist in-universe as far as we're aware. what are the shopkeepers basing these off of. the colours at least have a magic as an excuse

Examples that I think are okay:

Feathery Pteri Outfit: This one's nice! I like the layered patterning on the wings and the high-contrast colors. Most, though, I like that this sticks fairly close to the actual pet, mostly just changing up the tail shape. This almost could've been a paintbrush colour, but then again what colour is up in the air.

(Side note: the eye clipping over the beak is a rendering issue? I think?)

Bouncing Zafara: This one definitely strays farther from the actual pet than the Pteri, but it's a fitting animal choice and it doesn't fall into the uncanny valley, which is all I care about. The body is still somewhat recognizable as a Zafara in terms of shape, and the Miamouse as the joey is super cute.

Freshwater Lenny: Kind of the same case as the Zafara; not super one-to-one with the actual pet, but it's still recognizable as a Lenny and isn't too uncanny. The legs are a particularly nice touch, actually changing the pose to look more heron-like (though they are also the part that strays dangerously into being too detailed).

Please don't:

Adorable Kacheek: Sorry to the fans of this one, but this outfit just resides deep within the uncanny valley to me—like it's a mascot suit instead of just a normal pet. The artstyle is way off from Neopets, looking much more Subeta-ish (except Subeta's art usually isn't so off putting). It's not a bad artstyle, mind you, it's just not very Neopets-ish. I also feel like a fennec fox was also a bad pick for this one, as it's basically unrecognizable as a Kacheek at all.

Feathered Eyrie: Speaking of the uncanny valley, this is another pet that lands squarely there due to having entirely too much detail in the shading and weirdly realistic fur textures. It also just doesn't look very good aesthetically—the beak doesn't fit the face, and the wings are an absolute trainwreck (not only is the perspective wrong, but the left wing is coming from the middle of its back!). On the plus side, you'd be hard pressed to not recognize this as an Eyrie, and it's a fantasy creature instead of a regular animal, so I guess that's something?

Furry Meerca: Hmm... no. This one also suffers from an overly-detailed artstyle and way too much realism, which is especially jarring when placed on top of the Meerca's heavily stylized body shape, resulting in a perfectly round animal with hyper-realistic animal eyes. It's also particularly bothersome because we already had a chipmunk Meerca design in the form of the striped Meerca colour, which is just this but less soul-haunting:

Which is what I meant at the beginning when I was talking about colours vs outfits. The colour is a Meerca that looks like a chipmunk; the outfit is a chipmunk that looks like a Meerca. Big difference.

[factual-fantasy]

27 ASKS! :D FANK U! :}}} 💖

Ah! That I did. I mistook them for a bot.

Folks, you gotta put a unique profile picture of some kind and at least put in your bio "IM NOT A BOT!!-" If you have all the default stuff artists like me will assume you're a bot and just block you on sight :(

Sorry about that- I unblocked your friend. And thank you! I'm glad you like my stuff! :DD

Well,, Seam has some permeant injuries too. :( Such as his missing eye and the scars around his neck and wrists that will never fully heal..💔

Between sci-fi or fantasy? I thiiiink I prefer fantasy. XD And no its not just becuase of my name-

(Post in question)

Looking back I didn't illustrate it super well- it was intended to be something less earthy, yes. Not straight black though, It was supposed to be a really dark red. It seems black.? But anything it stains is stained red. And it was supposed to be rather thick compared to human blood.

If I ever draw it again, I'll be sure to get it to look right next time <XD

@khoiazo

@thesleepyteen1214

:DD Thank you! I'm glad you like it! :}}

Now as for Peso. I think its impossible for Peso and Barnacles to have met as kids- not only is there that age difference,, But I thought that polar bears are from the Arctic, and penguins are from the Antarctic. On the other side of the planet!

None the less- if they somehow met, I don't imagine much would happen other than them potentially becoming friends. :0 Kwazii sure ain't going anywhere, he's sticking with Barnacles family!

Oh man, if Bibi and the gang were real they'd all be screwed.😔 I don't have what it takes to take care of them properly in the real world-

I imagine that the Deltarune crew only really stay in worlds that seem safe. So if it looks safe? They'll stay. And probably not think too much about all the weird critters running around <XD

Not sure how the FNAF guys would react. A world where imaginary friends come to life seems impossible! They might think the imaginary friends are actually animatronics-

The princess quest game wasn't implemented into any of my AUs,, sorry! <:/

I've seen the game floating around, though I don't really know what its about. Also I heard whispers of a potential controversy..? Idk I'm a bit weary of the game <XD

If Freddy had a problem where he started hoarding lost kids after hours? That would be horrible for the kids.. but pretty slick for Vanessa.. 👀

Aww! That's so cute! I love all the different names! XD Having someone to man/assist in the cupcake factory would be really cool/useful as well! :DD

@beryl-shade

I was thinking that no one else in the group other than Frisk remembers. But Jevil? He.. had some kind of reaction to it.

Like when the reset occurred, Jevil had this horrible spike of anxiety and he broke out in a cold sweat and shakes. But before he could even process what was wrong, Frisk swooped in and saved Seams life. Right after he was saved, the shaking and sweating began to subside.. huh, strange..

(The second question was answered in the ask right above this one! :} )

In the comic that I was intending to draw- we would see little snip-bits of most everyone's reactions.

Jevil reacted how you'd expect.. he completely broke down. Screaming and wailing over Seams body..

Frisk froze at first, but then turned on her heel and sprinted into the woods in order to uh.. reset. No screaming, no panic. Just dead silent, sprinting into the woods..

Goner kid was freaking out so bad over Jevil screaming that when she saw Frisk run.. all she could think to do was run after her. So she did..

We don't see Grillby's face, but you can see his hand light up greenish/blue and his coat burst into flames as he realized Seam is dead..

River and Spamton weren't really meant to be seen on screen. But you can see Asgore physically become more misty/unstable when Jevil started screaming..

You know? Maybe for the sake of everyone it was better that I didn't end up drawing all that <XD 💔

No no, nothing about tombstones. The Easter egg lies in this panel.. 👀

@snickerdoodlezz

F.. FANK U,,, 💖🍽

Thank you so much!! :D

As for my brushes? I just use the standard pencil brush set to 3.0 for sketching and line art. And I use the standard pen tool for coloring! :}

@youlikwjazz004

I have seen a decent sized chunk of Adventure Time yes! Although I don't really know the story and I definitely don't know all the characters,,

But out of the characters I do know? It would have to be Simon Petrikov! ✨ With Jake as a close second. Aaaand maybe Prismo as a 3rd placer? I don't know him too much but his design slaps and he seems really chill 😎

(comic in question)

As Freddy explains, he (and the others) had a "bug" in his system. Which made his eyes purple. (Although he wasn't aware that they were purple-)

And after he crashed on stage they reset his system. Wiping the "bug" from his programming. Turning his eyes blue again :0

@storylover2

I imagine that what ever it tastes like depends on my mood. Lately its probably tasted like when you just brushed your teeth and you eat an orange 😖

Also please do not eat my noggin I need that to art-

@ocinstituterep

It's been a while since I've thought about them.. 🤔 If we're using the same formula as I did before.. (the stories of the real life cars are translated to the characters).. then that means some of them aren't doing so hot <XD

We've got a few break downs, some are still broken down. A few sold to better homes.. and a few new (very old) comers! Some are back on the road and some are still on the road when they probably shouldn't be <XD

All in all, I'd say they're doin ok :}

@beelze-juicee

:DDD THANK YOU!! And don't worry, I'm sure I'll come back to it every so often. Even though I'm a bit weary of this fandom.. I cant help but love the characters and want to draw them sometimes XD

(Kirby family in question)

<XD Sorry, no can do! I'm glad you like them! And thank you! But I'm afraid my blessings cannot be purchased.. <:/

@ninaandthegames

Yooo that is the coolest dog I have ever seen 😎

:D Thank you! And I'm not currently into any animes.. although there are some that I attempted to watch and liked for a while :0

Such as Kirby right back at ya and My hero academia! :0

@elegysonnet @willthemechanist (Post in question)

XD He's just embodying his spirit animal. A narwhal ✨🦄🐟✨

[risunsky]

2023 review

So, was it a good year ?

I think so, I've enjoyed challenging myself, I've tried Beksinski for a second time, Klimt twice, I've done a crossover hellraiser which I'm quite happy with… I made cement for the first time and it was great!

At the 2022 review I said I wanted to do more horror, so I went for gore with all my emaciated skeletons and I'm very happy with that.

September is my favorite of all.

Outside of my fanart world, my biggest freelance achievement has been completing a big comic commission on time and now that the book is out and I've had good feedback from both commissioners and readers I'm relieved and quite proud. It's been a stressful time so it's nice to see that it hasn't all been for nothing. So, even though I'll never stop considering myself as a learner and experimenting with new things, I think that this year I've finally managed to settle on a style, or a range of styles, that I like and that I think I'll stick with for a long time. I've been drawing for a very long time but this is the first year I've felt so strongly that I've found MY style. As for my universe, it seems that somewhere in the horror area of dark fantasy it is my home.

What's planned for 2024?

In terms of priorities, the gift commissions, yeah.... I'm soooo late. I've finished one, but two are still on hold, and have been for at least a year now. I'm terribly sorry about that, because I haven't been overwhelmed like that for a long time, and I intend to sort it out as soon as possible.

It should also be the year I finish the Goya remake. Ideally, I'd like to finish in February because that's my birthday month, or March because that's the anniversary of my discovery of Ghost.

For the rest, don't take it as a promise, because I tend to let myself be carried along by my desires and they are constantly changing. For example, I was planning great things with Nunussy but the poor thing was left on the side of the road. My interest in it just died. it seems that shipping characters and writing an alternative universe for them is not my thing. I have at least 3 shorts comics ideas, more or less ghost related but always mixed with something else. I really really want to work on it but it's a lot of work and this year I need money, like more than usual so I don't know... I also want to do Bloodborne fanart.

The fails

I haven't kept to my plan to draw the other characters in the Ghost lore, oopsy. I still haven't had the time to open any commissions, but last year was really special, working on a big contract that kept me busy for months and that was something new, it was stressful enough. 2024 should be different. I had to show a bit more of my traditional technique, let's say I do it with the Goya project, it's a semi-failure.

Not really a failure: I still haven't come up with a design for an official t-shirt. I think that's because I'm more of an illustrator than a designer and for a good design I need to find a special thing. It's not a big deal for me, just, if it happens it's cool, if not, well, not the end of the world.

To finish

I'd like to thank all those who follow me and who like and share my drawings, including those who remain silent in the shadows - I'm myself a lurker so I understand! Of course, a huge thank you to those who have supported me on ko-fi, it's the first time I've tried this system and I'm happy to have had some support pretty quickly!

my apologies if there are any English mistakes in this text, which is still too long

Have a great festive season!

[honeybewrites]

Writerly Questionnaire

Thank you @paeliae-occasionally for the tag, @harmonic-melodii for the tag, @the-golden-comet for the tag, @sableglass for the tag, @the-letterbox-archives for the tag,

@ominous-feychild for the tag and @willtheweaver for the tag!! Also thanks to @davycoquette for creating the game!!

About You

When did you start writing?

Hmm, that shouldn't be a hard question and yet here we are. Honestly, I don't know. I have a really shitty memory, especially when it comes to my childhood. I think I might have been around ten when I first started?

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

No, I definitely like writing the same stuff I read. Fantasy and sci-fi is my jam! Throw in some massive world building, some angst and whump and you've got me hooked.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you’re often compared?

I definitely haven't been compared to anyone. I would like to emulate Brandon Sanderson in the sense of his massive world building and phenomenal magic systems.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

I don't really have a set space. I often write on the living room couch because it's the most comfortable. I do have a desk that I will occasionally write at, but it's pretty uncomfortable after a short while, and I mostly use it for other work instead.

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

The car or the bathroom. I know it's sounds super strange, but driving without any music, or better yet riding with it, often gets my brain thinking. And wether I'm showering or just washing my face, a lot of my best ideas come to me in the bathroom.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

I really don't know, but I doubt it. Like I said, my memory is shitty. We had moved about five or six times by the time I graduated high school. It was all in the same city at least, but different parts of it. As for people, I was a hermit. I didn't have any friends or hardly ever talk to people my age.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Does whump count? On a more serious note, I haven't done what I call a deep edit in years. I think, just off the top of my head, trauma and abuse are pretty reoccurring, along with internal emotional issues like trust.

Your Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, past WIP, never used, etc.)

That's a tough one! I love my babies! I think my current favorite would be 703. She's been around the longest and honestly, she'd helped me through some bad times and I'm not sure I would be here without her.

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

As much as I love her, 703 and I would not get along. She's a little too trigger happy and I'm a little too non confrontational. I think Rage and I would hit it off pretty well though. Maybe Fres too if I could break through their barriers.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

I have said this before and I'll say it again, Master Gerd. That man is a straight up bastard and I would gladly choke the life out of him if ever given the chance. He just makes me so angry.

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

It's pretty different for each one. Sometimes they start with a name, other times they don't. It is pretty consistent that I just start writing them into the story before coming up with all the details. If the character sticks around and starts to have a more predominant role, that's generally when I'll go into detail about their backstory and they get their own file in my doc. But this isn't always the case. Sometimes, I just already know all this information from the start and I can write it all down. 703 was like that. Sometimes things come up along the way slowly. But for the most part, I just start writing and everything else works out fine.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Trauma!! Gotta have the dark backstory haha! Most of my OCs have very unhappy and traumatic childhoods/young adult lives 😈. Protectiveness also comes up quite a lot along with being physically strong. I mean, most of my OCs are in a "cult" of some kind that generally goes around fighting things... okay maybe cult is a theme too now that I'm thinking about it. I've got the Mors (bad cult) Oraniz (morally gray cult) Ryuk's pack (wholesome cult) and mafia like organizations in Rune Storm (also bad/morally gray cults)... yeah I think that might be a theme.

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc.)

Animation style. I've always wanted, especially when I was younger and life hadn't taught me anything yet, to have my work turned into an animated series. Even now, that little dream, that I realize is very unlikely, stays the same. I think you can do a lot more with animation than you can live action, and it's always how I've imagined my OCs. Albeit it is a little more "realistic" animation, like Dreamworks, Disney, those kinds of things.

Your Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

If I don't write down my OCs and world, I'm pretty sure I'll go mad. I love sharing my writing, but I write for myself first and foremost. And writing has gotten me through a lot of really hard times in my life. It's something I can always turn to and it helps me express and process things. I can't imagine my life without it. It's just a part of me.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

Honestly, just saying you enjoyed it is more than enough. I never thought I'd have anyone that would be interested in my writing enough to leave comments on it. Every time I get one on anything I post, it always makes me smile.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who “gets” the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

I think I’d like to be seen as just a really good world builder and nice writer in general. I don’t really have any expectations 😂

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Um world building maybe? I’m not really sure I’ve got any greatest strengths deal when it comes to writing. I don’t think I’m horrible, but I’m certainly not great or anything.

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

Uh, no. This is the only place I’ve ever talked about my writing. Don’t exactly have any irl to discuss it with or anything I trust to read it. That would get me in a less than ideal situation pretty fast.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

I think it could use a lot of work if I ever want to publish it. I definitely enjoy doing it, but I don’t think it’s all that great.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Yes. Honestly, I never thought anyone would be interested in my writing anyway. Plus, if I’m the last human, I need some form of entertainment haha

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I’d like to say it’s pretty much for my enjoyment, but I’m sure there’s some influence of what other people might like too. I’m a chronic people pleaser unfortunately

Tagging @yourpenpaldee @fractured-shield @anaisbebe @aalinaaaaaa @nczaversnick

@kaylinalexanderbooks @wyked-ao3 @diabolical-blue and anyone else who wants to hop on!! Seriously, everyone should do this tag game, it's super fun and insightful!

[pallisia]

How are you going about designing and creating fictional flowers and plants? Are you riffing on existing flowers, focusing on aesethics/vibes, deep diving into botany/taxonomy, sticking mostly to real flowers, etc.? Have you made more flowers than will ever actually "play a role" or even appear in the game? Asking because I love bestiaries and the uh, plant equivalent. I'm excited for the game but also the idea of flipping through a sort of field guide for soulsov plants. Thanks!

i would say a little of the first two options you listed. my understanding of plants is pretty shallow, and as cool as it would be to go botany pervert mode, i'm not really that guy. for now at least, i'm trying to keep it easy on myself by using real flowers as a foundation and adding in fantasy touches where they feel appropriate.

when i started planning this system out, i worried that using real flowers would break immersion if their etymology was too tied to the real world. i still think there's a degree to which this is true, but i was overthinking it a little. like, gardenias were named after a guy named alexander garden, but that sounds vague enough that i could easily come up with another reason why they have the same name in my setting. on the other hand pallisias are based vaguely on the common marigold, and since the "Mary's Gold" got its name for obviously christian reasons i decided to call it something else.

of course, all of this is subject to change. maybe by the time i make it to the end of this story i will have gone botany pervert mode by some miracle and i'll have a completely different answer to this question

[green-planets]

Sharing some of my thoughts on Cinderella's Castle because I have no one to talk with irl about it (I'm sure most of my points have already been brought up by other people but whatever!) Dark fantasy is my bread and butter so I'm a little disappointed that I had such mixed feelings after my first watch through.

BE WARNED THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT!!

First thing's first, the set, lighting, PUPPETS, and COSTUMES were gorgeous!! The team knocked it out of the park with the look of the show!

Also the twists on the classic Cinderella story were *chef's kiss* The explanations for why no one could remember Ella's face, how the glass slippers worked, and the Stepmother CHOPPING OFF ELLA'S FEET!?! AND SEWING THEM ONTO PUTRICE'S SKIN SUIT SO SHE COULD WEAR THE SLIPPERS!?!?! Strokes of genius. I applaud the Langs

I wanted to see way more of Sir Hop-A-Lot and Crumb! I think they definitely would have benefitted from having a song with Ella, it would have helped solidify their bond and helped flesh out their characters (tbh Ragweed felt like he had more character than either of them 😭)

The songs were VERY hit or miss for me and I felt like a few of them didn't really match the tone of the show. Ash to Ash was a standout number (Kim absolutely killed it!!)

Bryce was amazing as expected and I'm so so happy she was the lead! Her voice is to die for and she brought so much emotion to the role of Ella

I was surprised the Prince and Tadius didn't get a comedic song. It would have worked so well for the scene where Tadius was announcing the ball! He could have been describing ideal characteristics of a queen to the Prince while the Prince goes off on horny ramblings, Tadius gets more frustrated as the song goes on until he finally throws up his hands in defeat, etc.

That being said, I was not a fan of the majority of the raunchy humor. Almost every line that came from the Prince was so unnecessarily gross. I know that was the whole point and I love James as an actor but the character just was not for me. Maybe I'm getting too old for constant streams of dick and poop jokes. I kinda wished they had stuck with a more serious tone overall

This is definitely a nitpick: the fairy godmother scene was SO GOOD (probably my favorite tbh) but I was SO distracted by the pants (AND THE SHOES STICKING OUT!!!) The costume would have looked more ethereal with a floor length skirt imo (or at least cover up her feet!)

I loved Jeff as the narrator. His interactions with Ragweed were very fun!

I had some issues with the pacing and the ending felt very rushed. Ella's final confrontation with her Stepmother should have been an epic battle but instead we got an exposition dump, a flash of light, and it was over :/ Kind of disappointing for the big climax of the show tbh

This is a criticism I've had with several Starkid musicals (aka Hatchetfield trilogy) where we have a character's friend(s) die horrifically and get very little emotional reaction from said character. So THANK YOU Langs for letting Ella properly mourn Lucy and Justine at the end!!!

I do have a lot more thoughts but they feel like nitpicks and complaints about minor plot holes and such, so I don't know if they're really worth sharing at this time. Anyway, overall I thought Cinderella's Castle was okay. The good parts were REALLY REALLY GOOD but unfortunately there were a lot a bits I personally did not enjoy as much as I'd hoped. I'll try to give it at least a second watch before my digital ticket expires to see if any of my opinions change. If not, I'll wait until the pro-shot comes out next year.

[ernmark]

As an extension of your post about epithets, I'm wondering if you can help me pin down what it is about the use of phrases like "those eyes" or "that mouth" that have started to just drive me bonkers when I read some fanfic. At times I come across it and it feels completely natural, and other times it feels like a somewhat lazy shorthand for expressing a character's admiration. Thank you!

I can't speak with certainty, because this isn't a problem that's come up enough in my own fandoms for me to really analyze it in context, but I'll give it my best guess.

Phrases like "those eyes" and "that mouth" work most effectively for me when they're a reference back to a previous description. Maybe those eyes are really exceptional. For instance, Sir Damien in The Penumbra Podcast goes on at length about Lord Arum's violet eyes to the point that "those violet eyes..." are already a recurring motif inside the work, so the fics that use the phrase are all calling back to that.

Sometimes, though, you'll get writers refer to features that don't make any sense in the situation. I've seen lots of complaints brought up about prose describing a character's "plush lips" and "fine ass" when the actor portraying that character very decidedly has neither of those things-- often completely ignoring the qualities that the character actually does have in favor of the generic "sexy" ones.

Often, "that [body part]" carries a very strong sexual connotation, particularly about what the POV character would very much like to be doing to "that mouth/those thighs/those arms/that neck/whatever". They tend to work best in my opinion when the point-of-view character has very specific fantasies/memories that are described, or at least implied, on the page. But sometimes you'll get that phrasing from a character where it doesn't make sense for them to be thinking of the other person in those terms. Maybe they're sexually inexperienced in a way where specific fantasies seem out of character, or their preferences within the narration veer very sharply in one direction but the designated body part implies otherwise (for example, the writer's gone on at length about them exclusively liking to bottom but describing the other person as if their intention is to top them-- not out of irony or subtext, but because that's a generic "attractive feature").

I think it also ought to be said that which features are emphasized, and the adjectives used to emphasize them, work best when they're deliberately chosen to build a specific effect-- is the other person's vibe elegant, or brutal, or delicate, or whatever? Picking qualities and features that reinforce that vibe can be super evocative and feel much more personal than sticking to the standards. In a recent fandom I'm in, one character is singled out as being exceptionally strong in the canon, and specifically noteworthy to the character that he's frequently shipped with. Consequently, a lot is done with his love interest thirsting over the breadth and power of the character's shoulders. Shoulders weren't sexy before, but they sure as hell are now.

TL;DR: if I had to guess at what makes that phrase fall flat, it would be a lack of specificity to the actual character, or an inconsistency with the way the people in the scene are characterized.

[xxx-theartofsuicide-xxx]

ohhh my god im so glad i stumbled upon random discourse you’re apart of. because i remember finding your account when i first started shipping babes (unfortunately happened to be around the musical-era… *shivers*), and you literally inspired me to not gaf going forward in life and sticking by what i believe in (fandom wise, at least). thank you for that. also i am so happy to see you haven’t changed one bit. you have a banger personality and i’d argue more people need to be like you honestly

The antis have gotten better at gaslighting and their numbers have grown and they've grown more delusional. They don't think they're antis anymore lmao that's a lie.

Everyone who has ever been jealous of me in this fandom is at this very moment using this delusional anti's posts to tell everybody how and when they saw Goody Rae with the devil 💀

I present a challenge for every single one of them bitter bitches: write something better than me. Write a great beetlebabes fic that's sexy and in character and full of the best tropes and gets you noticed. I'm fucking begging you please. Show me up.

I've been waiting for years and no one has ever risen to the challenge.

(if you think you have, I'll be happy to tell you why I think your fic sucks)

Edit: the sad part? I don't think my fics are even that great. I was learning how to write with beetlebabes. The truth is that most of the best stuff is ancient and exists on FFN, and babes are just a repressed demographic afraid to confront our fantasies.

[fisheito]

What are you hopes and dreams for Yakumo? What kind of event theme would be your dream event? Any kinks or anything in particular you want to see in his rooms? Anything plot-wise you would like to see?

You know, I never thought about that

While playing , i suspend all my worldly desires. Then i take whatever I'm given like a good little F2P 🤣

Tho now that you bring it up🫨🤔..hmm...

Hopes n Dreams: a WIP , it seems . But for now...

- he needs to be in a dress. This is part of my agenda to have everyone put on the dress at LEAST once. No fakeouts like kuya's hakama pants. I want his legs sleeveless. Ready access. Destroy eiden while wearing a breezy skirt or smthh. Follow Blade's example , bc Blade is performing gender VERYwell.!!

Event???:

- yokai event with all three little beasties LOOKIN beastlier?? Yes???? Please??????????? I want them UNSETTLING and FERAL but with sharp beautifusful eyes.

in line with my desire for a snakular yakuhebi, i want him more monstrous. Covered in scales and the tail and the fangs with the dripdrop .which, yesyes probably never will happen but I'm gonna think about it anyway .

- I'm not creative when it comes to event ideas. The devs are way ahead of me on that. All i can think about is restaurant, but we've already had several forms of that. Barista yakumo..maid cafe...valentines parlour.... ahahahh I'm only ever thinking about eating...sorry... ...

- new jot note, new chance, becausr now i am DETERMINED to think of an event i wanna see. *scrunches brow* gmm..hmmm.......!!!! Does it count if i say some sorta winter event. One that requires yakumo to actually exist in cold weather. And he's wearing the giantest puffiest marshmallow of an 800layer coat because he's so very cold and will fall asleep in the snow if you leave him out there too long. Like, his silhouette is just a blob. There's nothing sexy about it. Covered head to toe in industrial arctic expedition protective gear 🤣🤣🤣 yakumo visits penguins. Wait what

-nononono JOT NOTE: TAKE 3! I *WILL* COME UP WITH AN EVENT! A CONCEPT! NOT JUST AN OUTFIT!. . . . . GOD but i just want an excuse to put him in the dorkiest/ most mundane outfits. He's just wearing farming clothes and helping his grandparents feed chickens. He's wearing a stupid little khaki uniform while catching bugs with a net like an amateur. Wait no he's the slutty glittery assistant in a leotard waiting to be cut in half by Magician Eiden where was i going with this i cant actually!!!--- move on to the next qursiyon

The ROOMS?:

- why has yakumo not hit it from the back yet. ? (Not counting FA R5..) Probably because doggystyle would deny him access to eiden's mouth, which is apparently a fate worse than cult sacrifice. Yakumo probably prefers to stare lovingly(🙄) at eiden's face while they're boinking so......

.

But *I* want them to throw it back. Just once. Eiden ass up face slightly-less-to-completely-inaccessible. Have garu as a guest instructor. I request this specific new angle just once kudapleas

- you mentioned kink and idk about elaborate kinks but '*slaps the roof of the car* TIE HIM UP. SUBJUGATE HIM. MAKE HIM WHINE AND CRY AND COME THE SECOND EIDEN TOUCHES HIS DICK. OR COME UNTOUCHED. THE POINT IS ,I WANT MORE OF THAT BULLYING FROM DARK NOVA R2

- it didn't occur to me to mention this bc i thought it was natural;assumed;common knowledge; but i shouldn't assume whatever i want is group consensus. So, explicitly stating that i am waiting for the snake hemipenes. I would love the non human look but it doesn't look like we'll get that. So I'll settle for 2 human dicks. Incredibly gracious of me iknow.

((Taking a break to thank all the fic authors who fulfill fantasies i know will never show up in game. The mind is a powerful tool but i still need kindling and these writers are made of dry sticks))

Um, ploT? Maybe?:

- the only thing I'd like for plot yakumo is to keep on showing his char development! He's changing ever so slowly!but steadily! Like how in his first interaction with rei, i was expecting him to get cowed by rei's blunt wording, but nope... he... understood what rei meant at base level and responded with a level of Spine and Emotional Awareness, instead of pure panic. Huh. Well whaddya know. Surprised me, fo sho. So I'd like to see him doing his best as time goes on ahhaha👈👉👈👉👈👉🤜

- i have NO idea where they arw going with the plot. Once again i must reiterate that i am like a child in front of a shiny screen re: consuming media. I have All belief. I am just going with it. There are no predictions or criticisms ongoing in my brain unless something is like... egregiously heteronormatively painful. So.

[deandoesthingstome]

Thanks to you, I've read a few Dom!Walter Marshall fics now, and it got me thinking.

There's a joke among my friends irl (and many others online) that the venn diagram for d&d/table top players and kinksters is actually nearly a perfect circle (and if you add SCA and rennaissance faires, it becomes a stack of pancakes). We've said this for at least 20 years, and it's caught on online (or maybe it was one of those things that was pulled from the collective unconscious. Idk).

Back in my kink club days, one of the dungeon masters there was also a D&D dungeon master, and almost every person I ever played D&D or Vampire: Dark Ages or any other dice-based RPG was also into kink/ bdsm to some extent.

Anyway, my point/question was this:

Henry Cavill is a d&d/rpg enthusiast, is he not? 🤔 🤭🤭🤭

All those Januhairy pictures got me thinking. And full disclosure...I haven't been attracted to Henry since I watched The Tudors back in the day, and even then, I was way more into John Rhys Meyers. But there is something about Henry with the longer hair and beard... makes me want to drop to my knees and say, "yes, Sir."

I'm late to the damn party, as usual.

Whoa. There is a lot to unpack here. Please bear with me! Also, I got wordy so here's a cut.

First, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to let me know the influence I've had on your reading repertoire. That is amazing!

Second, you can't just drop "I've read dom!Walter thanks to you" and not tell me what you've hit on! First thing that comes to mind for me, like immediately, is Under Orders. Please tell me you've given that a gander?

Third, I will be perfectly honest that many of the words or letters in the rest of your ask are foreign to me in their use. (That's a little bit of a joke. Welcome to me!) While I do know about d&d and rpg and renn faires, I don't play. And I have no idea what SCA is. Though also honestly, I'm not sure how pertinent to the ask that is, since...

Fourth, yes, I DO believe HC is at least an rpg enthusiast (if, again no idea, Warhammer is that kinda thing?). So I feel like you're hinting at a facet of his lifestyle I don't know anything about, nor do I want to. No judgement, just fact: I have no doubt the HC we see is a little bit of a character as much as any of his on screen personas, and while I don't doubt he's a gigantic nerd, I don't really want to dive deeper into thoughts about who he really is. All this is my way of trying to say that while I don't have anything against RPF (I wrote some for god's sake) or those who want to know more about HC personally, I just feel like I'm never gonna know who he really is so I'll stick to my character fantasies. Okay. That was a lot. Sorry.

Onto fifth position. Well, that's me on my knees in front of, at a bare minimum (and yes, probably bare) Walter Marshall (full head of hair, full beard), August Walker (adequate head of hair, full mustache, adequate facial hair), Captain Syverson (shaved head unf!, full beard), or Geralt of Rivia (full head of hair, no facial hair I think). Or any of several combinations of these 4 guys I currently travel between.

All that to say: I'm may not agree with you about the correlation between body/head/facial hair and how willing I am to get on knees and take orders. But boy, was this fun to think about.

And hey: If anyone reading has any dom!Walter you want to throw my way, I'll gladly take it.