#it can be adjusted to different textures in the same way

[robo-milky]

hiii milkyyyy! u’ve been popping out so many manga pages and i’m just so amazed?? i’ve been wanting to get back to manga drawing so can i ask for some tips? like what’s your process and how do you decide the screen tones/sfx/effects/speechbubbles to use? the latter is something i’m struggling with 😭

tyyy 💕

Hi Yudi, thanks for dropping by!

General note: One thing I’ve learned about trying to go for a more manga-esque style is that there’s really no particular way to do it, and EVERY artist does it differently. Everything I do here is a blend of my own style and things from JP artists I admire! However, the most important thing is that panels aren’t meant to be masterpieces but to convey information and get the dialogue going.

This process will be CSP oriented. I’ve made a mini screen tone tutorial (and how to turn on Layer Property) but I did not talk about my own settings ^^ You’re free to do any resolution you want, though I stick to drawing on a B4 template for fun (and imagine that one day my stuff can get published /j). I hope this helps, as I’m still trying to figure my own style and set limits on the details too.

[Process]

Script + Thumbnail

I used to wing stuff for one-pagers, but now I’ve found that scripting and thumbnailing has made my process so much faster. (Omg it’s almost like people make drafts for a reason- @ me cause I hate planning)

There’s no standards of a comic script, and each publisher has their own format. My usual scripts don’t separate pages, since I leave that to the thumbnailing once I do dialogue placement. If trying to imagine panels without seeing them overwhelming, at least get the dialogue down.

The B4 thumbnail template I use is pretty darn big, so it also doubles as the sketching stage. Once the thumbnails are done, I transfer them (screenshot) to a comic file on CSP. Once the set up is done, I do speech bubbles + dialogue first, insert the frames, then get to the line art. Since I don’t think anyone is actually gonna print their works, you’re free to trim your canvas however you want to post online 🫡

Speech Bubbles

Any speech bubble can work and will eventually blend in as the viewer is reading, but I have a vendetta against super flat/digital-looking ones. I made a custom brush for a textured speech bubble pen with line width by adjusting its taper and changing the brush shape. Published manga are a different story, but I like the more organic polygonal bubble shapes from indie artists-

For different shapes and situation… Squares - Narration, Flash/Urchin - Character thoughts/internal monologue, Hexagon - Phone call/text (not a concrete rule but a common pattern)

You can also add emanata (sparkles/symbols) on the bubbles for flairs as you see fit.

Screen tone (Please read the linked mini-tutorial above)

I split my tones into two folders. One specifically for black, and greys.

I first fill in all black areas, the duplicate them. The top layer will be the shadows (remains pure black), and the bottom layer is set to [Opacity 75%] and turned into a screen tone layer with a [frequency of 45-50] (It must always be at a lower frequency than the greys). To add texture, I use a grainy brush to erase bits of pure black on a mask. To show light on the screen tone layer, I use gradient erase on a mask.

For the greys, I split them into three tones (dark grey, medium grey, light grey) all in the same folder so they don’t overlap and it’s easier to fix. I use a [frequency of 75] or any number higher than the screen tone in the black layer. Overall, tones can be as simple and complex as you want, but it’s best to save more detailed tones for important panels. (Planning to change this as I’ve realized how big the B4 canvas actually is, and the frequency doesn’t need to be so high- The size of screen tone is a preference. This example was done on a smaller canvas, so higher frequencies still look less pixelated/small.)

Emanata/SFX

Special effects is whatever the situation calls for! It can to make a blank canvas feel more dynamic, to evoke certain emotions, hint/foreshadow. It’s best used sparingly on important panels you think would be the most important… but how do you get those effects?

THE CLIP STUDIO ASSETS STORE- Or draw/download your own depending on the program (You have no idea- ever since I downloaded too, I can’t unsee them in other works of artists I like 😭) Not used in the example but these are my essentials- You can also find a lot of gems if you straight up search “manga” and see the most popular assets.

Another good place to find comic fonts in general is blambot.com (?). They have quite a bit of free, personal use fonts if you ever need flavour text when italics or bold isn’t enough. (Current font used is Anime Ace 3 Regular BB).

Happy creating and feel free to ask if anything was unclear ^^

[mistyycowoa]

Guys. Have y'all ever had onion soup? Because I need to talk about it.

Onion soup is epic. Onions themselves are epic. They taste good fried/caramelized and it's so good. It pairs well with ANYTHING. And sometimes raw onions also just pack that punch you need in certain dishes and it's so good.

And then you're telling me it was put in SOUP??

LIKE HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SHIT????

It's food heaven imo.

It's onions(one of the few foods that go good with everything and can be eaten at any time) in BROTH with all the other good stuff AND it's french(idk why I put that but french food has the impression of being fancy to me) AND it's paired with cheese and goes epic with baguette slices.

Onion soup is epic

I rest my case

[coridallasmultipass]

.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Reference: Soup

Soup, stew, broth, bisque, or chowder?

Generally speaking, a dish is called soup when it’s primarily liquid-based.

Stews are thicker and chunkier.

But an especially thick and chunky soup could be called a stew.

Broth is a liquid that serves as a main ingredient for many soups, and can be considered a soup when eaten by itself.

Bisque and chowder are different types of soup.

Soup vs. Stew

The main characteristic of the dish we call soup is that it’s primarily liquid-based. Regardless of what other ingredients it has in it (meat, fish, vegetables, whatever), they’re either submerged (or mostly submerged) in the liquid or are blended as part of it.

The first example constitutes what’s often called a brothy soup.

The second example is what we’d usually call a creamy soup (creamy as in texture—it may or may not have cream in it).

But there are a lot of variations.

The dish we call stew may start the same way as a soup, and can include many of the same ingredients used in soup (meat, fish, vegetables, whatever).

Stews are cooked by simmering or slow boiling, known as stewing.

The popular distinction between these two foods is how “liquidy” or how thick they are: a dish called soup typically has more liquid in it than a stew does. Stews are generally thicker than soups, being made up primarily of larger, solid chunks of ingredients.

In other words, stews are thicker and chunkier—and always have solid ingredients.

Generally speaking, if there is so much liquid that the ingredients are fully submerged, it’s a soup. If the chunks dominate the dish, it’s a stew.

Of course, a dish labeled as soup can be pretty thick and chunky.

And, sometimes, cooking adjustments can turn one into another. A soup could become a stew if cooked long enough that most of the liquid boils off or is absorbed by the ingredients. Or you could add more liquid to a stew to make it soupier. The point at which a soup becomes a stew (or vice versa) can be endlessly debated.

That’s because there is no exact measurement or technical rule separating the two. In many cases, both words could be reasonably applied to the same dish. The difference is often simply a matter of preference or opinion.

Broth vs. Soup

The essential ingredient in many soups is broth (or stock).

Broth is traditionally made by boiling or simmering water with ingredients that will give it flavor, such as meat, fish, or vegetables (and often a combination of things).

The primary flavor of a broth is often specified: chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth, etc.

For example, chicken noodle soup is traditionally made with chicken and noodles in a chicken broth.

But can broth be considered soup by itself?

Yes, in fact, when broth is eaten—even without any added ingredients—it is typically considered soup.

For example, a type of clear soup known as a consommé can be considered a broth if it is used as a base for the addition of other ingredients but a soup if it is eaten by itself.

Bisque vs. Soup

A bisque is a type of thick soup that uses cream as a main ingredient.

The term bisque is typically applied to soups that have some kind of shellfish or vegetable as the key ingredient.

Classic examples of bisques include lobster bisque, shrimp bisque, crab bisque, tomato bisque, and potato bisque.

While most people agree that bisque is a type of soup, some may distinguish creamy bisques from non-creamy soups in the same way that others distinguish liquid-forward soups from chunky stews.

Chowder vs. Soup

Chowder is a type of thick soup whose most traditional and well-known forms contain clams, fish, or other seafood, often in a creamy, milk-based broth and also featuring potatoes, onions, tomatoes, or other vegetables.

Different types of clam chowder are especially popular in the Northeast region of the US. Other examples of chowder include fish chowder, corn chowder, and potato chowder.

Most chowders are usually considered a type of soup, but their creamy thickness can also result in them being labeled as a stew.

Some people may take the hairsplitting even further and argue that chowder is its own unique thing in the same way that people distinguish soups from stews.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[constantcrying]

Adjust

cw: manipulation, impersonation, obsession, possessive behaviors, typical yandere fare

I love this post format so let’s give it a shot with Sasha the shape-shifter—

Yandere shape-shifter relaxes and drops the human act when it’s just the two of you in the room. He’ll bare teeth too sharp, too large to talk through, and he’ll speak anyway, using a voice that a human couldn’t possible have. He lets his limbs stretch and bend to whatever shape they feel like. He won’t bother with blinking. It’s all fine, in front of you. You care about him, no matter what he is or what he appears to be.

Yandere shape-shifter is always, always hungry. It burns way more calories than you can imagine, changing your size and your shape so regularly. But when he has a choice between a real dinner—a proper hunt—and a quiet evening with you, he always chooses you before he can even think. He’s never been so hungry, but when he’s with you, he doesn’t mind. Although, he is often daydreaming about what you taste like.

Yandere shape-shifter still does have to play human, sometimes. But his default human form seems subtly different since you mentioned what type of person you find attractive. He changed his hair? Well, he got bored of the same old style. Is his voice a different texture now, smoother or deeper or more gravelly like your favorite singer? You’re imagining things. Did he...get a little taller? Certainly not, he just stopped slouching. He’s simply a beautiful creature that you’re developing an appreciation for. But he’ll take your compliments, naturally. Hurry up and show some love for the aesthetic experience.

Yandere shape-shifter has a keen sense of smell and makes a point to cover you in his scent. Whether it’s snuggling you for hours or lending you his jackets, he just needs his claim to be there, even if he’s the only being that can notice it. If you’ve been out all day, you better hop in the shower and come cuddle right away so you can stop smelling wrong. Do you understand how troubling it is when one of your favorite things is just ever so slightly off?

Yandere shape-shifter is stronger than any person you know regardless of what he looks like. He makes himself useful to you, hauling in big grocery loads and moving heavy stuff for you. But his favorite use of his strength is a play fight. It’s hard for you to understand why. It takes him all of twenty seconds to get you pinned under him, squirming and gasping for breath, and you don’t get what’s so fun about a match he knows he’s going to win every time.

Yandere shape-shifter protects you. He navigates human interaction better than you ever have. He’s so good at swerving unwanted advances, and deflecting snide comments, you’ve never felt more at ease in awkward social situations than when he was there. And he’d never let anyone lay an unkind hand on you, either, though no one has gotten the chance to try. You just know that he wants the best for you, the same as you want for him.

Yandere shape-shifter thinks you’re bad at picking people. If you make a new friend, he’ll gladly point out to you how fake and suspicious they are. You can choose to put your faith in them, sure, but that hardly does anything. Suddenly your new friend starts avoiding you, telling you that you’re a huge asshole for all those awful things you said. Things you can’t remember, things so vile that they won’t repeat. They start telling other people that you’re a a horrible person even though you’ve only ever been kind to them. Don’t worry, though. Your shape-shifter is going to be there for you regardless. He knows the real you, the loving and sincere person that accepts people for who they really are. He’ll never abandon you over these trifling rumors. But you should stop worrying about these other people, these monsters in disguise.

Yandere shape-shifter comforts you when your only other friend, the one who stuck by your side no matter what people said about you, goes missing. He'll do everything that you need to feel safe and loved in this time: listening to you vent, visiting their parents with you, going with you to the police who are investigating this unusual case. He’ll make sure you keep eating, he knows how hard it is to look after yourself when you lose someone. No, he doesn’t need anything, thanks. He’s quite full already.

Yandere shape-shifter can perfectly imitate you.

Fuck.

Of course he can. He’s spent so much time obsessing over your smallest habits, the nuances of your body language and your smell. Do you even know the precise length of your lashes, or the exact degree your head turns when you look over your shoulder at someone else? No, but he does. And he knows the way you talk better than you do. Without even trying, he can conjure up your voice to say vile things to other people that you would never say. He’ll use your hands to do things that you wouldn’t dream of doing.

He didn’t mean for you to find out like this, or really, he didn’t mean for you to find out at all. It was so much nicer when you were clueless, and you clung to him with affection, unafraid of his powers. He’d never had to put any real effort into preventing your escape. He still won’t, given that you have no friends who would believe you, and you couldn’t outrun him with a two hour head-start, but damn. He’ll miss the softness, the innocence of the beginning. It’ll be best to take you somewhere that he doesn't even have to worry about anyone else anymore.

You will have to wonder. Is it your face that he wore when he got rid of your last real friend?

Well, do you really want to know the answer to that?

Yandere shape-shifter is happy with you. He doesn’t feel the need to hide it behind different faces or slippery words. He’s happy—and you should work on being happy too.

[dengswei]

I LOVE this set and i was wondering if you could pls explain how you did the text, including how you added texture to the ripped text and the highlighting/circling/etc of words? thank you for posting your beautiful gifs 😊

thank you!! 🥺 & of course! (photopea tutorial)

the majority of the texture for the ripped paper effect i can't really take credit for it's on the paper it's self all i did was make the paper white (because the texture was yellow) and used curves to darken the texture), i got the texture from one of photopea's templates but it seems their whole template section has changed drastically and no longer has like anything i used to see before ???? so i'll just share both versions here:

(original & my edited version)

for the ripped parts i just played around with this brush set in the plugins

once i decided which of the paper brushes to use i had a new layer and used it where i wanted, so top left in the gif above, i clip masked the paper texture (and the adjustment layers as well) onto it so you get that ripped effect (if you don't like or want to add to that you can always use the brush tool again (or the erasure tool) set as the paper brush to add or remove sections i did this a lot when i realised certain words i wanted to show weren't on there (also changing the size of the paper brush when wanting to add a little bit or take a little bit away was a massive help)

i also always add a drop shadow to my paper textures, the settings i used is mostly the same EXCEPT for the angle for all of the ripped paper (it's also my text drop shadow settings) because depending on how the ripped paper looks you might have to change the angle

also i know in the screenshot below it's on but make sure the use global angle is off if you're going to have multiple different angles of drop shadow in your one gif (so if you want your paper texture on 125° but anything else on 60° the global angle needs to be off but if you want them the same then you can keep that on, which is why it's on for me because the angle is the same for both the text & the ripped paper) (and by text this isn't the text on the ripped paper, there isn't any drop shadow on the text itself there, just to clarify this was for my "ripped paper text tutorial by dengswei" text)

as you can see i also clipped my "handwriting" text to the paper layer this is so it stayed on the paper rather then going onto the gif itself (and it saved the fiddly part of masking it away & it felt more authentic this way too)

i found for me it was easier to seperate the text line by line so i knew exactly which part of the text was on which and if i wanted to change anything either it being a typo, changing the paper texture, or wanting a different word on a different line it was easier that way because it didn't end up messing up all of the text (though you don't have to do it that way, it's just what worked for me here)

font i used was: vag-handwritten (a default photopea font)

all of the next part needs to be above the text on your ripped paper:

for the highlighting, circles, and the lines it's pretty much all the same, i chose the colour which matched the gif (so say purple), for the highlight used the rectangle select & colour fill tools and set that to multiply & then played around with opacity (for most of my highlighting it's set to 50%), for the circles it was the same except the circle shape tool (no fill just stroke) set to purple, set to multiply, with 100% opacity (i found the circles looked better with 100% on some gifs depending on what colour i used), & then duplicated it once or twice and then just moved each circle to where i thought it looked best & the double lines is also the same using the line tool, set to multiply, & playing around with the opacity, & positioning them where i like

for the squiggly lines, the hearts, the 3 small doodle lines at either side of a word, & any other doodles i had on there i doodled them myself with my drawing tablet (you probably don't have to use a drawing tablet i just found it easier that way) using the free pen tool and then did the same thing set it to multiply and played with the opacity

if the colour you choose looks too dark or too light with it set to multiply either try a lighter/darker colour, try out something else like lighten, or screen, or increase/decrease the opacity more (i found i had this issue with the yellow being hard to see on the white paper so i used a darker yellow and kept everything at 100% opacity rather than 50%)

hope that helps! and please if anything is confusing or you want to ask any more don't hesitate to ask i know i ramble on a bit and it can sometimes get a bit confusing 🤣 or if there was anything i missed feel free to ask again 🥰

[evileyedoll]

Dark Dweller

Depth dwellers unite, and swan dive in the Dark, Metal Masked Machines designed to always hit their mark.

obviously all of the cool energy tatoos carved onto the robots are so that they can be lights amidst an infinite expanse of darkness, duh. they were Made this way.

About the piece - I'm still feeling inspired by anglerfish and other deep sea creatures, I spent more time than usual adjusting the texture on this one to give the dark blue a sinking feeling, but it being this dark also means the turquoise can stand out more which I like. I didn't get the detail as intricate as I would like, but its cool that this feels like more of a full body piece than I usually do, theres a bit more posture here.

One aspect of my setting I want to get better at depicting is there being "Celestial, Skybound" robots, and "Terrestrial, Groudbound" robots - they are sisters, at once the same, and yet parallel. Sometimes I like to think of variants, like what would the Celestial variant of this Terrestrial one look like or vice-versa, and that leads to some of the more exciting designs to try.

The Celestial ones live in and explore space - their part of the Singular Empire probably looks like thousands of space stations. The Terrestrial ones live on the ground so they have more complex structures and cities, but the "ground" also has unexplored frontiers, locales and wildernesses that require specialised equipment.

I like the idea that the robots can be natural astronauts of sorts, they're robots so maybe they don't need to breathe, but maybe they might still need tools to travel and move around or interact with their environment. Recently in the limited spare time from work I've been thinking about what their tools and equipment could look like, given that setting lets me have all kinds of different explorers.

This ones "wings" are probably meant to be one such kind of equipment - maybe it's like a jetpack - the idea is in the setting that the machining (lol) and craftspersonship of tools have gotten so refined that the cyborgs can get equipment that looks "like themselves" from a competent enough smith, even if they have really ornate or unusual patterns or shapes. Maybe amusingly when theyre using something generic second hand it very obviously doesn't look "like themselves".

In the past I've drawn others with similar backpacks that have gatling guns or other equipment instead, like the wings are a storage platform or something (while still maintaining the silhouette of being wings). I've somehow lost confidence in giving them complex looking equipment in the years since then, and should find a way to get it back.

[mecachrome]

Hi k! If you feel like it, do you have any favourite Oscar facial quirks?

omgggg anon this is only my favorite topic ever!!! (kidding but also not really 🧡)

i'm a lot like oscar tbh in that i have something of a deadpan stare and usually speak in a monotone but when i DO properly react to something i am veryyy uncontrollably expressive lolol, which i feel like is the same with him and the one million things constantly going on in his face!!! 😭 he definitely has a lot of little quirks / "tics" i guess for lack of better word that i adore so much...

^ first off one of the best ones is the way he always moves his mouth to the side (see also), but i'd say my favorite overall is just his full nose + face scrunch ! as shown in MMMM DEBATABLE and the blind rankings one that i drew earlier t__t and also the 1st gif of this gifset!!! i'm guilty of constantly bunnycoding ojp and that expression is trewwlyyy on top... as well as another quirk that's quite bunnycoded which is whenever he sort of awkwardly grimaces and shows off his teeth idk if you know what i'm talking about 😭

of course another fav has to be his eyebrow raising and just overall eyebrow Mobility, it's so fun because they're very straight and slope downward when his face is resting but they ARCH perfectly when he raises them and he can also do the like 🤨 seth everman look which is iconic 2 me. tbh i like how much he enjoys Squinting at things in general LOL

i've also spoken about how the buzzfeed uk video has such a wealth of oscar facial expressions and imo part of this is the informal and relaxed setting on top of the fact that he was being forced to overthink and react to an inherently silly concept so we get the ultimate combo of CASUALLY EXPRESSIVE OSCAR!!! prema challenges have a similar vibe but imo this is still different because it's fairly removed from a motorsport setting so he's kind of just vibing... another v endearing quirk from this video is his eye twitching / blinking that you can see in a LOT of oscar content, i feel like it's a once you notice you never stop noticing it thing because he does it all the time and i find it really cute because it kind of makes him squinch his cheek too... miss cutieful....... SIMILARLY but also from the buzzfeed video this is one of my favorite examples of how much he (involuntarily imo) WIDENS his eyes (2) when talking or listening to something, here's another moment of him doing it back in f4 so you can see it's a long-ingrained habit.

sorry i'm literally giving you the most random ass deep cuts alkdfshaldsfh but i also remember watching ted's race notebook from miami and noticing oscar talking to a few mclaren employees during the team photo and something i find so endearing about him is when people call his name / try to get his attention and he does the >whips head around and widens his eyes with a polite little smile< thing like AGHHH... qt TT___TT ok i'm going off-topic now but the surprised smile he gave lando during the miami post-race debrief will haunt my memories forever because it was so Open !!!

anyway re: the grimacing he also kind of has a neck tic he does where he stretches his neck out... and i've noticed that he's also just kind of sensitive/particular with his neck in general and is always adjusting his collar where it sits on his skin, which again is off-topic but i find really cute because i can relate (sensitive to textures) hsdafhk.

let me stop talking but last but not least i'm obsessedddd with the way he pouts in the post-quali vid from canada this yr <3 and also his tendency to lick/bite his lips which always does great legwork in terms of the heart eyes piastri narrative and his apparent thirst for lando HKLFDSHLH which while i endorse wholeheartedly is definitely mostly just an unconscious habit of his... but i think rpf is fun so who cares!!! LOL i hope this makes sense idk if i described anything properly 😭🧡

[itsvenera]

omg hii! im so glad you're back you're like, my favorite blog ever🙏! i saw you cleared your inbox so i hope it's okay if i send the same request again? I wondered if you could do hcs Neji x ninja reader who is blind! Perhaps lost their vision during the war and now they have to learn how to deal with it? gender neutral or fem reader is up to you! Please forgive my english, it's not my first language:)

I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

author's note: hi! <3 thank you so much for your sweet message and this request! I love writing for Neji, so I was very excited about this one! Also, your English is perfect (it is not my first language either, so please do not worry about it!). I feel like I am a bit rusty when it comes to writing, but I really hope you enjoy! <3

To be honest, from all of the Naruto men, Neji would accept and deal with a blind s/o the easiest.

He is very devoted and loving partner, and I have always seen him as someone who supports his lover through both good and bad.

When his s/o lost their sight during the war it was shocking and unexpected turn of events to say the least - they threw themselves in front of a group of young ninjas with the intention to protect them from an explosion, but could not shield their own eyes fast enough, resulting in flash blindness.

At first everyone expected it to be temporary - even Sakura assured both Neji and his partner that the chance of his s/o losing their sight is very low and they just needed some time to rest and recover.

As someone who had temporary lost his own vision before due to overuse of his Byakugan, the Hyuga man knew how hard is to adjust to a new way of life using only their other senses, even if it was for a few days. He would try to act the same as before, but he would be visibly more overprotective and gentle with s/o, despite his attempts to be subtle.

Neji has never been a big PDA fan, but during this time he would always have his hand on his partner - either on their shoulder or lower back, he would guide them around their house or in public, making them feel more secure in themselves. He would hold their hand more often, gently squeezing it if he feels they start getting nervous or insecure.

The first few weeks after learning his s/o's loss of sight is permanent would be the hardest - crying and anger outbursts would be a frequent occurrence, making it a tough period for both of them.

Neji does have a bit of a "short fuse" and is not one to accept disrespect, even from his partner. However, seeing their soulmate struggling with the overwhelming nature of their new reality, he would calmly take all their insults and anger, reminding himself that it is all part of their healing process.

Knowing their stubborn and strong personality, Neji would definitely encourage his partner to trust themselves more, and explore and learn on their own. He would still keep an eye on their surroundings and remove obstacles out of their way, but he would do it in such a discreet way, his s/o often would not even realise he is around.

I think that Neji would also be one of the few Naruto men that would agree to train with his blind partner. Of course, it would be frustrating for his s/o at first because he would be holding back quite a lot and would rely solely on defensive moves during their sparring sessions. However, seeing his partner's strength and resilience, he would start experimenting with different training approaches, challenging their reflexes and sensory awareness.

He is the type of lover that would spend significant amount of time teaching his s/o to rely on their other senses - he would bring them items with different textures, encouraging them to explore and learn the differences; he would take them to places where they can listen to the wind and the different sounds around them; he would cook them homemade meals, asking them to distinguish the dishes just by smell.

Fiercely overprotective!!

If any of their friends or family say something about their blindness or doubt their ability as a ninja because of it, he would defend them without any hesitation and demand they are given the respect they deserve. In his eyes they are not only extremely capable and talented ninja, but also the strongest person he knew.

Overall, it would take some time for both of them to adapt to their "new" reality, but they would both learn and grow together, strengthening their bond and proving that it is in fact their destiny to be together.

cc artwork: Tobi Yong

[strxnged]

GENSHIN: # let me fasten the clasp...

“I got you a necklace… here, I’ll help you put it on.��

ft. kaveh, lyney, zhongli. x gn!reader with hair that can sometimes be in the way.

content. physical intimacy, fluff | scenarios. 0.6k.

“Do you like it?” Kaveh wanted to know. He was beaming almost as much as you.

You could only grin, nodding. The necklace was special. It was clear he’d picked it out intentionally.

“That seems like a yes,” he decided, correctly. “May I put it on you? I’m excited to see how it will look. If—if you don’t mind, that is.”

You nodded again, watching him carefully take the necklace from the box. He dangled it in front of your chest, gauging how it would look. Seeming satisfied by his selection of design, he brought it to your neck and leaned over your shoulder to clasp it.

Your mind went blank for a moment as his fingers traced your hair, pulling it out of the way so that the clasp could rest on the nape of your neck.

As he leaned back, he praised you—and himself—for the apparently dazzling view. “Extraordinary. It was the perfect selection.” 

His eyes flashed into yours and you found yourself suddenly very fascinated with your own chest, focused on admiring how the charm sat with the texture of your clothes, and praying the heat in your cheeks would subside.

“Close your eyes, silly. Won’t you trust me for once?”

You finally obliged Lyney’s request, allowing your eyelids to drift mostly shut. You were still unsure about the suddenness of the occasion—Lyney had never caused you great distress with a surprise, but at the same time, it was better safe than sorry, right?

He huffed. “Come on, now. You’re peeking.” 

“I am not!” You tightened your eyes shut.

“You certainly were.” This came as a whisper in your ear, sending a shiver up your spine. You wanted to see what he was up to. You squeezed your hands into fists, bracing yourself for the unknown.

“Well, that’s done!” he declared. “Voila, my friend. Have a look.”

You saw and heard nothing different around you. Nothing different about him. It was unclear to you what he had done, but you were feeling more suspicious.

“Ah, it’s crooked…” He sucked air through his teeth, touching a light, careful fingertip to your neck.

You realized then that he had put on you a necklace on your neck, the delicate chain of which he now adjusted so that the charm hung straight in the front.

He chuckled, eyes sparkling like the sea at noon. “So, you like it?”

“Darling, if you would turn around,” Zhongli requested, a smile on his lips. 

You did as he asked, pushing your hair out of the way so that he could access the nape of your neck. It was only as he brought the necklace around you that you thought about how vulnerable the position made you feel.

You could just hear his soft breathing and the sound of the fabric in his sleeves as he moved his arms. Everything was still as he clasped the necklace with a small clink.

There was no way for you to ignore the way his hand brushed on the bare skin of your shoulder, and the way his fingertips traced your jaw to your chin as you turned to him to boast your new jewelry.  His eyes respectfully positioned to yours rather than your chest. 

“I do believe this necklace was crafted to rest on your neck alone,” he observed.

You rather agreed, since he had been the one to put it there.

author's note. i thought of this the other day when i was putting on a necklace i was recently given. i like to take my time when i put on jewelry because i usually get it from loved ones, and so i like to admire it and be grateful for that person lol. it makes me feel special. would be more special if zhongli were doing it up for me instead though (KIDDING)

consider reblogging if you enjoyed!

➳ GENSHIN MASTERLIST

[simminginstars]

Updated: How I edit my sims 4 screenshots (night-time edition)

A more detailed editing tut so you can understand my process as it may help you, i edited this relatively quickly and usually spend about 1-2hrs editing something...so let's goo.....

Before taking screenshots:

Help yourself as much as you can in-game, I always make sure there is some sort of light source in my pictures or something interesting that I can add to enhance something already there

Understand good/bad composition and add variety by using different angles

I take LOTS of photos just to end up with 1 or 2 good ones

I'll just be using photoshop for this, but i also like to use the procreate app as i'm more confident w it.

step1: I check if there are any major glitches or hard areas e.g, fingers elbows etc.. that have sharp points and pull them in liquify so they are smooth. Then use curves to change the contrast.

step2: *duplicates image* using the dodge and burn tools (keyboard shortcut: o ) i'll add emphasis to highlights and shadows (be careful with these as the dodge tool can ruin the image if used in excess) *merges image* (i duplicate and merge as i go, utilise using lots of layers so you can go back if you mess up/ want to change the opacity of an effect.)

step3: making light sources POP. *new layer* change blending mode to overlay or soft light and choose a colour you like.

step4: *new layer* draw hair strands. i just use a basic round brush in photoshop and change the hardness or i'll use a sharp caligraphy type brush depending on my sims hair type. (i try not to overdo it as i like maxis hair and don't want it to look too realistic)

step5: i would then add a new layer and set the blending mode to multiply to add more shadows, but i don't feel like i need to at this point.

step6: *duplicates image* go to filter > camera raw filter, i change the "light" and "curve" panels, i like green tints in my screenshots especially the night ones. (this is where all the magic happens really so just adjust all the channels to your liking, lightroom is also really good to use)

step7: *create new layer* blending mode: screen or linear dodge (add) / makeup and finishing touches! - for this look i'll get stars and glitter pngs off google or unsplash same for the smoke, though if i'm using procreate they have free brushes for that :')

step8: add light leaks as they add some fun dynamic lighting and textures to your screenshots. (i also flip my image horizantally [image > image rotation > flip canvas horizontally] whilst editing as it's like a "fresh pair of eyes" when you've been editing for a while so you can see what looks off)

final step: merge all the layers (though i do merge along the way once i'm happy with something) go to filter > sharpen > smart sharpen. I leave it as the default setting.

extra step if u want: for party pics i might add chromic abberation here is a 60 second tutorial on youtube it makes the pic look cool and trippy.

And you're done!! congrats on surviving. if you have any questions please send them in my ask box so others can see and get help too.

[messyhairedhazeleyeddude]

𒅒 ✶ 𖥔˖⋆☽ ┆For Later┆☾ ⋆˖𖥔 ✶ 𒅒

A Toji Fushiguro / Megumi Fushiguro x Fem!Reader | SMUT

✹ Contents ; Forced relationship, age gap, father and son, blowjob, anal, corruption, size difference, s&m, tummy bulge, double penetration, hard dom Toji, soft dom Megumi, and breeding.

✹ Dynamic ; Forced into Lovers

✹ Sexual Dynamic ; Dom!Toji | Dom!Megumi | Sub!Fem!Reader

✹ P.O.V ; Second

✹ Age Range ; 30+ to 18+

Drip, drip. The sound of a faucet leaking in the background woke you up from your sleep. You blinked once, then twice. Your vision reminding you of a foggy window from how blurry it was as you tried to make sense of where you were. It was dark and freezing. Extremely freezing.

Something clasped around your wrists made you unable to use your hands. Making you twist around to attempt to free them, a sharp gasp escaping out of your throat when realizing the rush of cold air hitting against your bare skin. You were naked. Why were you naked?

Goosebumps rose across your legs and arms, the hairs on your body standing straight up while you looked around, hoping your eyes will adjust eventually.

But it seemed like the situation you were in wasn’t going anywhere and that was proven by the deep, familiar voice that mused inches away from you, “You finally alive, sweetheart?” That was Toji Fushiguro’s voice. The terror on your face worsened as you lingered your gaze over where you guessed the infamous man was standing. Having memorized that tone from that last time you encountered him.

The exchange wasn’t serious and you weren’t directly involved. But, that doesn’t mean you didn’t know what he was capable of at the moment. And when you were in the middle of eavesdropping on him discussing plans with one of your clan members, his green eyes hovered over to yours, burrowing them into yours with a glare so intense; it made you step away. You had been peeping through the crack of the door when that happened. Knowing that he spotted you then didn’t help your fear of him. And it really wasn’t helping you now.

You twisted around, tugging at the cuffs while your breathing slowly progressed into a panic. Your legs kicked out for anything nearby, desperate pleas spouting from you in response, “No, no, no, please. Please, whoever put a hit on me, I’ll pay twice the amount of what they gave you! I promise!”

Not having the ability to see what he was doing was the worst thing about this. The anxiety of the unknown clawing your nerves to pieces. Making you break out in a nervous sweat and shake from the legs up.

His huge hand brushed along the side of your face, the texture so rough that it felt like sandpaper as he tucked the small scattered strands of hair behind your ear. Your breath paused from the affectionate gesture while he repeated moving his thumb back and forth on your cheek; replying in a soft way that scared you, “Oh no, I’m not going to do that to you. Who told you that, little dove?”

Why did this reassure you? Your frozen lungs went back to normal the more he continued to do that touch, the shakiness never fading. Then the warmth left, the sound of a light being pulled on heard before the entire room was illuminated in a bright, blue light. Showing the giant man towering above you clear as day.

It was him. You were right. Toji was giving you that same look from your first meeting, but this one seemed to dig into the depths of your soul. Scaring you to where you were tucking in on yourself and lifting your legs up to your chest.

His mouth curved up into a little smirk, an eyebrow raising while he glanced down like he was amused at the embarrassment. “If you’re really curious about why you’re here, I can give you an answer,” he taunted.

Kneeling down to your eye level, the middle-aged man wrapped a hand around one of your legs in an iron grip, effortlessly holding it up until it rested onto his shoulder. His next barrage of sentences as blunt as knives, “I thought you were the perfect woman to be considered as my son’s future wife. You see, I don’t have many years left to my name and neither would he. Us Fushiguro’s have to work hard on keeping the family bloodline intact. And to do this…”

He used his other hand to tug down the waistband of his off-white joggers, letting them rest around his knees with his boxers showing the huge imprint of his dick, little to no coverage on how hard he was. With no hesitation, he moved his hand from holding your thigh to grabbing your head, pulling you forward until your face was smashed right against his bulge.

Toji dry-humped his clothed cock on your cheek and lips while he continued what he was saying, “We need cute little girls like you to endlessly give our kids to.” You didn’t mean to, but you whimpered. Muffled and interrupted by his constant grinding.

This was wrong, yet you were getting soaked. You were terrified of him, but you would be lying if you said you didn’t want him to fuck you. He was above average when it came to looks and the fact he was so big was enough for you to want to give it up. It did not help that you have eyeballed his son every once in a while at school. And he was mentioning you being Megumi’s wife too? It was all too much.

After he got turned on completely from grinding himself on you, he reached down to peel off the last layer of clothing that was holding the bridge of contact. Letting you see everything as it twitched and hovered over your head, managing to be bigger than it.

He murmured the finishing touches once you gave the base of his dick a soft peck, “So, I need you to convince me. Show me you have what it takes to be a good little whore for my boy.” Him calling you that ignited something within you and you went from giving him fluttering kisses around his shaft to taking his tip in your mouth. Having to open your mouth as wide as you can.

Toji’s cock was way too big for you to try and casually give a blowjob to. Although, he still made you do it. Groaning in that raspy voice that caused your legs to squeeze together. Lightly fucking into your throat after progressively shoving more of himself in without letting you get a decision about it. Both of his hands held either sides of your head, covering the entirety of it except for the lower parts of your jaw and the areas where his fingers didn’t touch.

Eventually, oxygen was no longer being allowed into your body from how filled your throat was. You were struggling to stay awake, choking constantly on him to the point where you thought you were going to puke because he wasn’t letting up. But, he decided to keep up this torture until the very last second; pulling out to watch you sputter out coughs.

Jerking off with your spit, he leaned down to hoist you over his shoulder, lifting you up to place you against the wall before he palmed your ass and spread it.

Both of your hands pushed on his chest to try to get him away, hitting him hard as you gasped out in worry when his tip touched your other end, “Toji! Toji, no! Not there! Please, no!” Your wide, glossy eyes stared up at his green ones, vacant of anything but that sinister curiosity. You knew then that it would be pointless to deny it. He wasn’t going to listen.

Your jaw went slack as you screamed, feeling like you were being ripped in half as the man forced his cock inside of your tight hole. Stretching you to fit his size which was almost near impossible. You were so petite compared to him, unable to handle this, but somehow processing it. And this showed to be true from a bulge that took shape around your stomach the more he buried it in.

Going numb because of how extreme the pain was, you laid back on the brick and could only groan, squeaking when he reared back; letting every inch leave before ramming it inside of you again. Your legs tried to close, he kept them open with his hips, pressing them hard onto you by moving faster.

You turned your body left and right unconsciously because of the amount of stress he was putting it through. The dick print constantly rubbing right onto your belly, poking up so you could see how deep he was in your guts.

He grunted in approval when looking down, explaining further with aggressive noises slipping past, “Y’see… I thought what better way than finding the right one by testing her out myself..”

His thrusts increased, yelps interrupting out of you at the hard, heavy impacts of his cock. Your walls constricting and convulsing around him to ease it better. But, nothing was holding back from him absolutely wrecking your image.

Your hair was everywhere, drool coming down the side of your chin, and your back arched to where you looked like a lifeless doll. The cloudy look in your eyes signifying the loss of brain function from how much he was fucking you out. You could barely think anymore. Pleasure dancing with the pain Toji inflicted. It was the one thing you could focus on. The one thing you had to focus on or else you would’ve went deeper down the bend of insanity.

The black-haired man eventually stopped making the wall support you. He just grabbed your waist with one hand and pumped you down onto him, his thumb over the bulge to press down when it tried to come out. The shakiness in your legs spread to every nerve in your body, causing you to vibrate in his hold while he used you like a fleshlight. Your tongue panted out of you as you whimpered to him, accepting the role of what you thought he wanted you to play, “I’m yours, I’m yours, Toji, Toji…! I’m yours..!”

But that wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Sure, he thought it was cute of you to incessantly cry out, but he wasn’t keeping you to himself. That wasn’t right.

So, the man pulled you off of him, letting you return to being empty and abandoned on the cold floor as he sighed, “You’re not getting it, little dove. So, let me help you understand what I’m doing this for, okay?“ Cracking his neck and stretching like he was just doing a workout, he swiftly turned around to head towards the one of the doors in the corner of the basement-like room. Opening it to call for somebody that made you snap out of the dazed state you were in, “MEGUMI!”

No, no, he can’t see you like this. The thought of him coming across your bruised body, naked with his father made you try to run for the door, frantically begging, “NO! Shut it! Don’t let him in! I don’t want him to know!” Guilt was causing tears to brim and pour over, your legs too weak to lift you up for long so you ended up falling back to the ground.

Toji chuckled and shook his head at you, nonchalantly responding like you were being dramatic despite the fact he was bare himself, “Rest, sweetheart. Megumi is not going to think less of you. I’m sure he’s going to want to take in this pretty sight.” Take in the sight of one of his close friends after being ruthlessly fucked by his dad? You didn’t think so.

The sound of footsteps echoing down some stairs made you purse your lips together and hold your tongue, looking straight ahead at the dark entrance for any sign of him. You could feel a part of you grieve, but for some reason, another part was excited. What would he think? That thought was going to be answered sooner than you wanted it to be when the younger man stepped into the room, his dark blue eyes locked onto you the moment Toji closed the door.

You didn’t want to see his reaction so you turned away, curling up into a ball and hiding from him with your arms. Your chest was rising and falling faster than ever, an anxiety attack ripping through you all because he was here.

He wasn’t reacting badly, however. Actually, Megumi knew about it. And you found out when he told you directly from across the room, “Don’t hide. It’s okay to let me see you, {Y/N}… I know.” His voice was super soothing, calming not just your breathing, but the shaking a bit too as you peeped up through your hair. It was still hard for you to lift yourself. Although, you tried for him once you saw his arms open wide.

Taking you into a hug, he dragged you onto his lap and let you sit there so he could rock you back and forth. He shushed you into relaxing and kissing your forehead softly before mumbling against it, “You did so well… I can’t believe you got through all of that…”

It worked. Finally, you were having a break. Your brain in such a mushy state that you melted into him, humming in response. Everything was so calm now. You could breathe perfectly fine.

Until you were starting to feel Megumi’s hands drift down your sides and up to your breasts, gripping one of them gently with one hand while pushing the other down to your pussy. His sabotage was much swifter than Toji’s and way more convincing. Two of his fingers slipping inside of your wet cunt, filling you like you’ve been waiting for, and curling up to rub right on your g-spot effortlessly.

You nudged yourself into the crook of his neck, his hoodie providing a pillow effect, and letting you muffle your moans into him. Right next to his ears that turned red along with his face. He observed you getting off on his fingers, rocking them faster and faster inside as you felt his erection rising underneath you.

Toji was watching this unfold too, savoring the sounds you were making and taking pride in how skilled his son was. He took that time to jerk off to it, groaning in the background, making your orgasm come faster than it needed to when you saw him doing it.

Your juices squirted all over Megumi’s digits and pants, an overjoyed small laugh coming out of him, “Wow! I did not know you could do that! That makes this so much more better..” He lifted his soaked hand to get a taste of you, sucking on the two that were inside, and popping them out of his mouth to coo, “Now I don’t need any lube, right beautiful?”

A wide smile that seemed to be a trait with Fushiguro’s plastered across his face before he lifted you up, just like his dad had done not too long ago. Toji using that as the initiative for him to help hold you in place.

The older man pressed his chest on your back while wrapping both of his large arms around yours, taking over for Megumi so he could get his pants undone and undress himself. You panicked at Toji’s presence and the fact you were too sensitive right now to be taking anything else, pleading to the black-haired boy instead to hopefully get to some kind of mercy, “Gumi! Gumi, please! I can’t take anymore! I don’t think I’ll be able to…!”

You thought maybe he would be nicer than him. That Megumi would listen and understand you couldn’t. But, his deep lakes of blue for eyes showed a side of him you never got to truly see until now. And it was then that you understood why Toji was doing this. They had the same hunger for sex, the same mad-ridden lust that would incapacitate anybody that wasn’t like them. The way he stared at you told you enough.

His dad wasn’t here out of his free will. He was here to help Megumi make you learn it. And that was through constant training. Training using their cocks as the equipment.

The ravenette boy angled his tip to align with your pussy as you tried to struggle in Toji’s grip, not moving even a centimeter. Stuck having to envelop and take in his son’s huge cock, losing your virginity to the Fushiguro. You whined, “Oh mmmgod! Megumi!” The rest of your tears falling from your eyelashes as both of your holes were equally as stretched now.

Toji followed in suit and entered you from behind, lube decorating the top half of his dick to make sure that your body wouldn’t refuse. Both of the men feeling themselves thrusting inside of you from your walls being so thin in each entrance. Your sobs and whimpers non-stop, words coming out of you that didn’t make sense while they went their separate paces. The pair didn’t say much other than let out groans and growls of pleasure.

Megumi was quick but gentle, Toji was still the same in roughness but he added these periods of calm to it, ensuring that you were going to stay awake for every second of their cocks ravaging your holes.

Your half-lidded eyes stared off multiple times, directed to look back into the boy’s in front of you whenever you did. You glanced down and saw how much their dicks were going in and out of you from the bulges, his slender hand grabbing your chin to force your head to stay up so he could keep you grounded.

With a hoarse voice, you begged, “Cum… Cum… please… cum!” That corrupted, fucked expression took over you. Your eyes rolling to the back of your head and your tongue hanging out of your mouth for the second time. You did what you could and wrapped your legs around his waist to get him deeper. Accepting the mindset of being a Fushiguro’s whore.

You enjoyed another hour of being tag-teamed before Megumi had reached his end, having been flipped into multiple positions already until they landed on one where you were laying your back on Toji and spreading your legs. Most of what you heard throughout it was heavy, frustrated breathing from the men and the slapping of both of their v-lines colliding with your skin.

The young man groaned in satisfaction, mere seconds away from letting go inside of you. “Fuck, I’m going to…! {Y/N}..! {Y/N}!” He shouted, both of his hands digging their nails into your thighs while he humped his cum out. Your stomach starting to feel the fullness after he let the last of it go, thrusting continuously with Toji.

His father praised him, “That’s my boy! Take what’s yours.. let her know who’s going to be the one giving her those babies she’s been needing!” Going at a faster speed to encourage Megumi, he grabbed your hair into a ponytail so your face wasn’t covered.

Listening to him, he kept thrusting even though it was torturing him too. His teeth digging into his bottom lip as blood was drawn from it and where he dug his nails into you. He couldn’t help it, this was too good.

Eventually, Toji was cumming inside of you as well. He violently rammed every drop, not even caring that it was so harsh it knocked you in and out of consciousness. Your body falling onto Megumi’s as you wailed, “GUMI! GUMI! I CAN’T!” His arms wrapped tightly around you, pulling you into a kiss and muting your screams.

You felt the soft lashes of his against yours, his lips tasting like metal because of his bloodied bottom one, and all of a sudden, you succumbed to the pain. Moaning as the oldest rode out the rest of his orgasm using you. The dark blue-eyed boy unwinded not long after, giving you a break with his soft thrusts into your pussy, and helping you heal from his dad’s reckless behavior.

Shallow breaths escaped your tired body as cum littered both of your holes, most of Megumi’s shoved further inside of you until it could no longer leave. His last pumps weren’t comprehensive because you ended up falling asleep on him, missing the confession you would have to hear the next time you awoke, “I think I love you, {Y/N}…”

[starlingstalk]

can you do a breakdown on how you color? i find interesting how you mix many textures and colors in a piece

Ofc! Color is my favorite thing about drawing. :D

I made like a very brief rundown with the technique I use for a majority of my drawings but ofc it still varies a little.

Usually the only cases my process diverges is in the rendering. The color jitter (can be applied to most brushes in most Programms though the water color 6 brush is like my special angel child) makes a rlly big difference during the rendering due to there already being a lot of texture and Color variation and is something I always do.

After step 4 I usually only stick to either the textured ink for a lot of control, to the velvet for a lot of texture and depth or the classic soft for a more soft gradual end product where the color jitter only shines through.

With the first and third the key word really is color picking.

An example for the third brush. I here I made the overlay extremely faint and used the underpainting peeking through as a way to separate the parts of the coat rather than the lineart (at least from the first to the second picture). Using hue as contrast without making a clear dark-light contrast can be a bit difficult if it‘s done solitarily in a painting but due to color having different depth-perceptions (cool colors seem further away, appear darker even if they have the same value) it is fun to play with esp in combination!

Using the velvet brush is my favorite atm. You can use really vibrant colors and apply them similarly to how you would with ballpoint pens or coloured pencils. It‘s really easy to draw subtle changes in hue without having to be too particular about having the right color and building up the colors leaves you with both a direction that signals to the form of the subject and a rich multitude of different colors that appear completely different than a flat color can.

For this I recommend starting either darker or lighter in order to build up the color in one direction of the other!

Another tip is also to use blur to reduce the sheer amount of color variation of the color jitter if you‘re going to redefine most of the shapes anyways.

Here‘s a speedpaint where I use most of the things I‘m talking about. Flash warning for the sheer amount of color adjustment making the screen flicker at the beginning.

I also didn‘t mention gradient maps yet. Very useful for further color adjustment and in order to bring a very busy composition together color-wise!

Color still is a very individual thing I feel like. There isn‘t one way to color and the way my process is right now is very much fit to my understanding of it. I feel like the decisions you make when rendering; experimenting with colors you thought wouldn‘t go together, breaking the rules you have, figuring out how relative colors are simply because they cannot be isolated. It‘s trial and error but also learning practical lessons that make color make sense to you as you go along.

I hope this makes sense! Color is so fun and I‘m always excited when I get an ask about it. :‘D

Also the jittery water color 6 and Textured Ink brush is free I believe. The bottom two are from a paid brushpack from a creator on instagram. I‘d say only the water Color 6 brush really is something that I find uncommon. The other three can be easily swapped for any other brush that has similar properties. (Pressure sensitivity + texture for the first two and flat marker + texture for the last). I‘ll repost this with a link if anyone‘s interested!

[wombywoo]

how do you get your lineart so smooth? 😩

lots of practice!!! this sounds like a cop-out, but really--it's true! you'll only achieve nice smooth lineart in digital art if you've gotten comfortable with your tablet and pen sensitivity, so that means lots of scribbling and hatching to get a feel for it. my best tip is to make your lines quick and fluid--don't hesitate at all because your pen will pick up on it and turn the line wobbly; make fast, broad strokes and keep going, you can adjust them later. for more detailed lineart, zoom in! try to keep those lines short and precise, less bold than the frame of the figure.

here's an example of what I'm working on now, with some of my pen settings:

I tend to keep the opacity pretty high, but the flow can shift depending on how pencil-like I want the line to be. and for pieces like this, I keep the brush size the same for the whole figure

different textures call for different line types. experiment with the way the brush moves--thicker and bolder in the middle vs thin wispy lines, spontaneous, jerky movements vs. controlled swoops, etc. I tend to exaggerate the juncture where lines meet by filling in the corner a bit, and I'm not too big on having bold and shadowed lines (this is a 'style choice', but really, I wish I could make more dramatic lineart 😔)

all in all--just have fun with it! lineart styles vary, so keep practicing, and you'll be able to achieve a smooth, effortless effect once you've gotten comfortable with it <3

[thefearedashantis]

Buttered Noodles 

Pairing: James Potter x reader

Summary: James is understanding of your food sensitivities

Warning:  food sensitivity/sensory issue

*I personally dislike my food touching and creamy textures. Plus this is short and horribly written but what can be done.

- jermaine (シ_ _)シ

“That bush looks like a head of broccoli”

You don't say it because the bush necessarily looks like broccoli. It's simply the urge to talk nipping at you. The need to Distract yourself. Foods all that's on your mind at the moment. The bushes lining the street are the only things in your field of vision where its fixed out the car window.

Besides, what other food could a bush possible resemble but one of many tasteless greens.

James doesn't respond with anything other than a concerned glance. Usually on drives you'd be lounged out in the passenger seat, playlist cued up, serenading him with raspy heavy metal. But there you sit, stiff as a plank. Quiet except for the occasional mumble. Hands knotted in your lap placing wrinkles into your pretty clothes. Mouth pinned into a thin wobbling line. 

You'd met his friends before. They were kind so that wasn't the source of your stress. The trouble arose around the fact that it had been in a pub setting, where the only requirement was drinking and nodding along.

But this would be different. This was big.

A birthday dinner. Where you'd have to sit up straight at a dining table and contribute to conversation, answer and ask questions, smile. All while eating your meal in the same timely manner as everybody else. Not too slow and not too quickly. Not itty bitty spoonful's and not gaping mouthfuls. You'd have to pause between bites, swallow, have a sip of your drink and repeat. Not staring at your plate, make eye contact occasionally.

You've always been very sensitive with food. You grew up in a clean plate household. Only by the grace of the universe were you able to find someone as understanding about it as James. Exactly why you don't want to embarrass him in front of his friends with your pickiness.

You would try your best to stomach whatever was placed before you but boy would it be hard. When certain textures or smells or mixtures made your mouth watery and your palms sweaty.

Food touching. Utensils scraping. The mushy sound of chewing and the wet gulp of a swallow.

However, You'd grind your teeth and bare with the horrors if it meant making a good impression.

“I made sure to tell Moonie you have trouble with certain foods.” James is talking lowly as if afraid to startle you. 

“Huh?”

“Oh, I told Remus some of the things you don't fair well with-

Your eyes grow to twice the size in alarm "You shouldn't have put him out that way Jamie!"

The slight wobble of his head is done in apology. All you'd get, because he wasn't actually sorry. The movement sends his glasses slipping down his nose. You reach out on instinct to adjust them for him. "Its no stress mouse, he was happy to make sure you'd be accommodated"

And how would that appear. Everyone enjoying a full homemade roast dinner while James’ girlfriend poked and prodded at some frozen chicken strips and potato wedges? 

"I can eat whatever he prepares" Could and Would.

"You can. But you don't have to. Remember that." The grounding weight of his hand finds its place on your thigh and your shoulders immediately slump with a release of tension. "Take a breath for me love"

You've squeezed your fingers so tightly your nails have dug bloody crescents into your palms. They burn. Your face warms in a rapid flush. Maybe it wasn't too late to throw yourself from the car. 

"Yeah"

"If you start to feel icky we can always find you a safe food alright? It puts nobody out to make sure you’re well fed"

Icky. James' word for what was, in your head, unreasonable upset and stubbornness. There was a time when more cruel terms were hurled at you. When you sat in the kitchen until the morning doves began to coo. A plate of pasta long cold on the table. You liked pasta. Would have eaten the pasta if only the sauce hadn't been pre added for you. White and thick and slimy. Buttered noodles by themselves were delicious. But you weren't allowed to get yourself a fresh plate until you ate the one already given to you. Even if that meant going to school the next day on an empty stomach and not a wink of sleep. 

"Yes mum" You have to bite your cheek to keep from smiling at how thoughtful you actually found his actions, feigning upset by purposefully avoiding his gaze. He sees through this of course.

"There she is"

And you know by the crinkle at the corners of his eyes when he grins at you that James would gladly join in with any alternative option if it would make you feel more comfortable. Confident. All you had to do was ask and he'd do anything for you. 

[dangermousie]

It is fascinating to watch how the fake and real blend. Because he takes her to see a shimmering river that reminds him of one he saw on his travels and he says it's to convince his brother he's besotted, but surely he could have done less and still be convincing.

But more importantly, he does private things for her that nobody else sees. She misses her parents so he tells her to look at the river since she said she looks like her mom and can see echoes that way.

He draws a painting for her, and it's not a random one but of the sweet shop her family planned to open...

He asks what she wishes for (and oh his face because he knows unless he finds meds, her time is limited) and btw it kills me, the mundanity of her wishes; and that little line of carrying her parents in her - this drama is so operatic yet it understands loss so well.

What if they have him take her there after she dies, what then?

I love his attempt to cheer her up and make the convo lighter (imagining a royal prince owning shares in a dessert shop!)

It's the way they are thoughtful with each other - he sends her armor and wound cream and ensures the pastry is beautiful and has cool texture since she can't taste, she makes scent to help him sleep. (And in grand prince manner, he beats up a doctor who couldn't cure her lack of taste :P)

I think they get each other the way hostage prince, sweet and nice and well adjusted never will, because they are mirrors of trauma and determination and loss. They GET each other on a different level because they are bound by the same tragedy.