#legitimately everything I dream of for my own artwork

[milo-the-mage]

oh,, oh my god this is absolutely amazing whoa

whispers

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

EVERY WEEK I WILL POST VARIOUS REVIEWS I’VE WRITTEN SO FAR IN 2024. YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE REVIEWS HERE.

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42. Identity by Nora Roberts--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the best things I did for myself with this book was going into the story without reading the synopsis. I legitimately knew absolutely nothing about this book and man, when that first twist happened I was HOOKED.

The familial relationships in this book were everything and I loved that there weren't any of the usual tropes in this one when it came to the romance. It was a thriller first and a romance/familial story second. I did love how all of the characters communicated and worked together, even if their dialogue was sometimes a little awkward--especially when discussing intimate things. I know all families are different, but I wouldn't confess to my mom and grandma that I just came back from a night of pure sex LOL. But hey, to each their own.

The love interest was interesting. I really liked him and his blunt delivery, but sometimes he DID push that line of like "Alright, I guess we're just going with this." It was funny watching these two come together and I'll be honest, when he was a certain way (which I know is just his personality), I thought "wow, our standards are flat against the floor." While the relationship sometimes felt stilted, it didn't detract too much from the story for me.

Now the villain was something else. He was creepy and horrendous. I actually pictured his face changing from when he first meets the MC to when he sees her sick friend. It's horrendous and he was so well written--especially when we get to see his steady decline into even more madness.

Overall, this was FUN and had some very disturbing moments. Roberts is a little too good at writing someone who thinks so horrendously and does some horrible things to his victims. I recommend this for the sweetness of the family and a character who loves her job, but also for the creepy POV of the serial killer.

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43. The Unknown by Katherine Applegate--⭐️⭐️

It's been a few weeks since I've read an Animorphs book because the library holds time is sometimes brutal. Why am I mentioning this? Because this was one of the rare books in this series that I didn't feel any urgency to read. I'll be super honest: This one felt like a weird dream. Half the time I was confused about how the characters got to certain points in the story.

I'll still be reading the rest of the series, of course, but this one was just okay. I do love these adventures, but this felt almost like a filler book?

Anyway, onto the next one!

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44. The Titan's Bride Vol. 1 by ITKZ--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will admit that while this storyline was actually sweet and pretty intriguing, this book is...nearly all porn. Had me blushing through the whole thing. I'm intrigued by where the story is going and I'm kicking myself for not having ordered the rest of the books yet, but yeah, this was basically porn with a sprinkling of a sweet and fantastical storyline.

I will say that the artwork is stunning!

Sigh. LOL.

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45. Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef--⭐️⭐️⭐️

ONCE THERE WAS would have been better as an adult fantasy book. Why? Because so many things in this book felt like an adult fantasy book--there weren't any adult themes, but a lot of the circumstances were a bit of a stretch. I think I, as a reader, wouldn't have had to suspend my disbelief so much if this had simply been an adult.

I mean, a fifteen year-old inherits her dad's Vet practice and and lives alone?

By the end of the book, I had forgotten this was YA.

Moving on from that, this book had a really cool concept. I loved the idea that there's a vet out there destined to take care of mythological monsters. I also loved that it was such a diverse set of characters too, including the MC. We get to see more about her culture and her father and what happens when Western society stamps out that aspect of an identity. For example: food, language barriers, and culture.

While the book felt a little all over the place, I really liked seeing the MC in action when it came to these magical beings. I also really liked how Monsef explored the concept of grief and how important it can be to just feel the emotions.

Overall, this book was OKAY. There were points where I was a little bored and a little confused as to why this was YA, but I can also see why so many people might love it. This was like Dr. Doolittle for mythological creatures.

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46. Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura-- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn't know what to expect from RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART, but I had a pretty good time with what Segura gave us. From the badass FMC to the stuttering and himbo of a MMC.

I think with books like this one, I need to not take the storylines too seriously so I can fully enjoy it (which I did). The romance, tension, and spice were great. The adventuring was fun (even though I would have loved to see a bit more). I think reading the author's note also helped in realizing how much leeway was given to the characters' adventuring, since it isn't really like this in real life.

This really felt like I was watching a movie. It was a quick and addicting read and had me hooked from the very beginning.

There is one character, however, who is clearly Pansexual and I do wish they had said that instead of having the FMC confused as to how one person could like more than one gender. I do like that this character explains it, but I do wish Segura had gone the extra step of saying the term.

Anyway, I enjoyed this for what it was and I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the rating!

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47. Olive Harvest in Palestine by Wafa Shami & Shaima Farouki (Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don't normally rate or talk a lot about the storybooks I come across. But I came across OLIVE HARVEST IN PALESTINE while scrolling Instagram and I knew I immediately wanted it on my shelves. It's beautifully illustrated and the story it tells of an event that was a yearly tradition of harvesting and pressing olives in such a beautiful place like Palestine was both eye-opening and heartbreaking.

It breaks my heart to know that all of that beauty is now only on pages of storybooks, memories, photographs, and videos taken in passing. My heart ached while reading this important book. My heart cries for those olive trees that were hundreds of years old.

If there is a storybook you pick up this year, let it be this one.

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48. Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan--⭐️⭐️

When I read the first book in this series, I was hooked. I thought it was powerful, heartbreaking, and incredibly addicting.

And I don't know if it's because I spent yesterday sick in bed, but BLOCK SHOT was the last thing I wanted to finish (even though I only had like 4 hours left in the audiobook). I finally finished it earlier today but because I knew I wanted to finish it so I could get to the third book. Normally, I tell friends to DNF books but sue me, I wanted to give this book a shot.

All of that being said, I WAS intrigued at the beginning. I loved how these two knew each other from way back when and how, even years later, they still couldn't fight the chemistry between them. Call me wild, but I personally don't know how I would have reacted if I the FMC and the events of the first part of the book happened. On one hand, I get it because being a fat girl has always been my identity. Being the butt of fat girl jokes? Been there, done that. But on the other hand, I found that this FMC had a massive chip on her shoulder that she carried for the majority of the book, which she then moulded into a slightly unhealthy thing.

I'll admit, I found the portrayal of her body and how even the MMC referred to it (like being fat is a horrendous thing) really icky. I know that this was written a few years ago, but it made me so uncomfortable that the fat girl's humiliation was one of the big motivations for the FMC to "better" herself, as if her intelligence and already existent beauty wasn't enough. Don't get me wrong: wanting to feel a certain way and looking a certain way isn't a bad thing, I think the phrasing of it was just not it.

Which leads me to saying that...the FMC was one of those characters who supposedly had a powerful presence and was touted as this saint, but LOL, let's be real. She wasn't. Sure, she could put her business face on, but man, she was someone who was so easily manipulated. There were so many instances where I wanted to shake some sense into her. Like, we KNOW the MMC was an asshole, but at least he admits it? He was honest about who he was, while she was the one play acting.

I won't even touch on the fact that there's cheating in this and it's not like in the first book, where it felt like a glimmer of hope and fear. Here it was all pure selfishness. And I don't think we should always like the main characters in books, but like...at least make them consistent. I don't know, the FMC annoyed me and again, while I didn't like the MMC, at least he was honest.

Also, that twist. I saw it coming, but it added a whole other level of ick to everything and the FMC.

I'm disappointed with this book, but I'll still be picking up book 3.

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49. My Love Mix-Up! Vol. 1 by Wataru Hinekure (writer), Aruko(illustrator), & Jan Cash (Translator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved MY LOVE MIX-UP! and how much fun it was. The storyline was entertaining and while I think things happened a little too quickly in this first volume, I did love the antics and honesty the MC had for his situation. I can never tire of these kinds of stories where kids are just casually living their lives and falling in love with the unexpected person.

This reminded me a lot of BLUE FLAG, which was one of my favourite reads a couple of years ago. I loved the friendship aspect and how, even though things have the potential to be messy, that friendship perseveres.

I also laughed quite a bit at that twist at the end. Will definitely be aiming to get this entire series!

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50. Happy Place by Emily Henry--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think I always kind of know what to expect from an Emily Henry novel, so while I went into HAPPY PLACE with a bit of nerves, I also knew I would probably enjoy it. I didn't read the synopsis, as per usual, and I was (unsurprisingly) hooked from the beginning. This book was a shot of melancholy, heartbreak, and that magic feeling that summer sometimes brings out in us that anything is possible.

At first, I was put off by the going back and forth with the past and present. Mainly, I've always found these kinds of stories feel a little abrupt when they have a flashback chapter every so often and I become impatient for the present day story. But as the story progressed, I realized it was impatience mingling with anxiety. I was afraid to see what broke these two up; what had the power to come in between these proclamations of forever I-love-you's and soulmate-y kind of love stories. I was worried and while I had to force myself to face it, I'm glad I did. I obviously won't say what it was, but I will say that it felt like a very real reason, even though these two would heavily benefit from couple's therapy.

I also appreciated the friendships and how this book isn't just about the romance that broke, but the relationship between friends. There are different kinds of happy places in this book and many of them include these amazing friends who are guilty of a huge crime: growing up. I find that I related a lot to the one friend who spent her time chasing that high of youth caught in a summer breeze. I remember summers long past full of memories that will never be replicated, but growing up means knowing that those memories exist, even if life and time changes everything.

Much like many other Henry books, this delves into deeper topics as well, like familial trauma, grief, mental health, and abandonment issues. Those were palpable on the pages as the characters faced these very real parts of themselves.

I'm not giving this a full five stars because of the flashbacks and how messy the MC and her love interest were. Communication is a golden rule I wish more romances adopted, but I also can understand that in order to have diverse characters, we need to be mindful of the ones who genuinely have a hard time communicating--usually because of mental health and traumatic responses. All of that being said, I still stand by this couple being chaotic--even if they were probably my second or third favourite couple in the Henryverse.

ALSO, DID EVERYONE PEEP THE BEACH READ EASTER EGG?? Hell yeah.

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Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts?

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Happy reading!

[thedarkmistress16]

please gush about your passions and pastimes!!! I would love to hear about them

ack- im happy you want to hear about them!

Passions:

obvs as y'all know recently and just in gen., i guess, writing- i love crafting worlds and stories where anything can happen and just creating scenes above all else, like getting lost in the details of everything. I love getting lost in my own world and making myself happy as most self-indulgent writers do (and showing off my legitimate skill in a proper form of writing after doing shitpost-y things for so long is pretty rejuvenating, XD). And upon going back to some of my older, posted works and wips, I still laugh at the dumb shit I thought was the best stuff ever and now find myself giving those ideas a refresher like my last writing update, because it's still a legitimately enjoyable read.

i love sketching for similar reasons, but more so to visualize a fuzzy, almost-there idea, usually about fashion. Like recently I re-drafted some outfits for a fic idea I had, in order to make the world and designs make sense in my head. And I redesigned an existing outfit, running with certain themes and embellishments in design. I'm so happy I can churn out simple sketches like that when i really put my mind to it and feel content with the finished product nowadays. I feel accomplished as a hobby artist now and it's all thanks to heavy online research, a few how-to books, and putting effort into one art class. It's the second hobby of mine that I want to be good at, almost as much as my writing. Speaking of, I sometimes draw what I write or dream about because it's that prominent in my head.

Wow i love music guys- ha, but you already knew that *lenny face*

Past times:

I really like playing the simpler games in life- not as much in the vein of it being less difficult or busy, but more so with fewer controls, interesting mechanics, and a captivating style that I can easily fuck around in or beat some levels for a few hours. Bring on the (spider) solitare (only 4 suit sucks ass why do i do this to myself), jewel quest (FUCK YOU CROWS), barbie's fashion show (SINGLE DREAM-), zoo tycoon (fuck guest happiness), and sonic adventure or x-men of course.

MMD vids are v neat, like I know a handful of choreos that are fun as past midnight exercises to get my blood pumping and i get to discover new songs and learn more about other languages at the same time! Also the aph as mmd crack vids are the best whether its them making 'i hate this' or 'yeah im hot shit' faces or being completely into it as they're forced to dance or simply copying a vine. Like, they give me brainrot and serotonin at the same time its so fun. I love seeing all the different outfits for mmd vids in general, too, on top of new covers i never would've known about.

I really love analyzing things in general, actually. It's how I learn most of the things I do and know now, even though it technically causes me to lose large chunks of time because all i'm doing is staring at the damn thing, XD. Sometimes (all the time) I'll look at a gif or vid of a character changing their facial expression as they do/say something and I'll be completely enthralled by it. Something similar happens when I stare at REALLY GOOD artwork. I think it's the technical part of my brain trying to figure out the individual elements which make up whatever that thing is, like what facial muscles are being used to convey that emotion or mix of them, what the character is feeling, how the lighting or shading of the environment or extra details in editing affects said expression, etc. And for art, I'm thinking of the lines, posture, composition, object placement, color palette, negative space, tone, and all that jazz you learn from studying art.

Scrapbooking is a fun pastime for me that's extended from celebratory cards to actual gifts to my personal sketchbooks. It's part of the "creating something out of nothing/seeing what you can create with some basic templates and decorations" kind of mindset. And it makes me happy because I get to be creative and my family members and friends (even my employer) love them as part of their gifts every time and come to expect it from me each holiday, so I'm constantly encouraged to do it in the best way. I've recently kinda gone overboard on using ribbons and charms for the spiral and stickers and washi tape for the actual book itself on my sketchbooks, but I find myself wanting to draw in it more because I did that, lol.

I love rewatching the things I love. I usually have the same commentary about it, but its nonetheless enjoyable. And I never know what new thing I'll discover about it next, even if i've seen it over 50 times and only have it on as background noise and don't actually watch it. And yes, I will easily let something play on repeat at least that many times in my lifespan as well (like, a full day of it, at least).

wow i love staring at characters im attracted to for hours on end can i get a HUYEA-

[imnothingimnobody]

"Accomplishment" P1 "The Fall p2 "Swans"

This my feeling. I correspond with people on speed first getting into The Fall, primarily from Europe, because I hold one of the largest .jpeg scan archives and live recording archives of the group (except the 80s fans and they're aging out). So they get to read interviews from when the record they're listening to (there are 40 "official" ones and over a hundred others). Then they write to me and I see the wheels turn and they edit posts on the group dedicated to analyzing those LPs. It's more important to me than any serious music criticism could ever be because these people already like the music, they just don't have all the information on it yet. They can make up their own minds. I worked on a project called "The Fall Annotated" started by another American fan. The Fall aren't that popular here and so many references in the music were topical. It finally gathered the information from the European fans who had it. Scans started getting traded, song files shared. Our goal through correspondence had become to make it a sort of Wiki for The Fall, a resource that annotated the obscure, unfamiliar, overly specific (supported by third party sources like interviews) etc. It grew and now includes everything they released officially. When Mark E. Smith died in January of 2018, I entered a flurry of activity related to archiving material related to The Fall that lasted several months. I still think that's important, I don't give a fuck that no one cares. The internet let me see that a few people do that I otherwise never could've met. When I was young and the "world wide web" was being introduced that was my dream of what it could be. It would unite everyone around the world -- music fans, niche hobbyists, amateur historians, legitimate scientists. I thought a huge burst of advancement of mankind would happen and in some ways it truly did. By the end of 2018 the work that I could contribute to was done. And it still stands for anyone who googles the Fall Annotated. I didn't pick the name but that's the accurate description. It is a series of annotations of Mark E. Smith's body of lyrical work. I started to correspond with Julia Nagle, Smith's ex girlfriend and member of The Fall for 5 years. I never betrayed anything she told me to the general knowledge of the group. I respected what they did too much for that. Before them, the band Swans...I added greatly to the canon of scanned interviews, concert posters, and especially live bootlegs. A film producer working for them from Europe contacted me in 2017. He asked about using the live file I had of the Bochum West Germany concert from 1987. He wanted to know more about other bootlegs, and wanted written permission to use them in the documentary he was making. I wrote Michael Gira (only permanent member of Swans) and he replied. For one he sent me a signed 8"x10" photo. Secondly, a letter (typed). He said to give him whatever he asked for and he was sorry he couldn't pay me. I talked to the director and sent him everything I had. I sent Michael Gira a letter that thanked him and said I never wanted money -- I wanted more people to hear their music. December came. My girlfriend got hold of 1 of the 500 box sets pressed by Swans and with autograph. Vinyls of two albums, a CD copy, and a digital download within a box set with expanded artwork. At that time I was making the money to keep us going and I wondered how she'd spent over $100 without it affecting anything. She told me, "I e-mailed their site and mentioned you. He sent it for $25." I never accomplished much in my life. These are the things I hold dear. The Fall:

[curvynerdfan]

Wolf of Kattegat

Thank you @boomhauer for requesting. This is the longest piece I’ve ever written totalling over 3.5k words. It has definitely put me in an Ubbe mood! I hope you enjoy it!

Ubbe x tattoo artist reader

Ubbe was giddy when he woke up Thursday morning. Hvitserk had managed to get Ubbe scheduled with his tattoo artist. His brother’s tattoo artist was renown in Kattegat and all of the surrounding cities.Their art was immaculate and it was surprisingly difficult for Ubbe to get an appointment without Hvitserk’s help. He could have always asked Ivar but that kind of frustration didn’t appeal to him.

It still shocked him that it was so difficult for him, a Ragnarsson, to get on the artist’s schedule. He knew she was phenomenal, that is why he was willing to wait. But who in their right mind would deny Ragnar Lothbrok’s son.They must be insane, it was very rare for someone to be unaware of his family’s line of work. The Lothbrok legacy was known across the country and no one dared cross them, those who did rarely lived to regret it. The High Seat Incorporation was involved in a plethora of business endeavors. It’s name paid homage to Odin and everyone’s deep seated belief that the Lothbrok family descended directly from the All Father.

While he could have gone to his typical tattoo shop, this tattoo was special to him. His father was referred to as the “Wolf of Kattegat” and he now felt confident in stepping down as leader and letting Ubbe take over. Bjorn took over foriegn affairs after his uncle Rollo’s betrayal. Many people thought that Bjorn would be the next leader of the Lothbroks, he was passionate about travel and felt like he was following in his father’s footsteps but still being his own man. Hvitserk’s role was much more on the criminal side of the business. He enjoyed participating in the night life and was typically running their club or meeting with unnamed business partners. . Ivar majored in architectural and mechanical engineering but always wanted to be involved in raids. He was also called in to retrieve information, when typical methods of torture just weren’t cutting it. .Lastly Sigurd was in charge of the creative qualities behind their business. Of course the family was involved in criminal activity but a majority of the business was legitimate. Sigurd helped with marketing, contracts and business relations. The new tattoo was going to signify Ubbe’s new status, while honoring his father at the same time. ========================================================================

“We aren’t open for walk-ins until 12pm darling,” she said without lifting her head, “ You’re three hours too early.”

“No, I believe I am right on time.” a gruff voice responded.

Y/N snapped her head up and almost gave herself whiplash. She had never seen a man this stunning and powerful in her life. She felt her jaw drop and her cheeks flush with embarrassment. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt and dark wash jeans. There were several pieces of jewelry adorning his body. A chain with several charms that looked like runes, a golden band resting on his wrist, and a skull ring were the most notable.

“I have an appointment with Y/N. I hope she is in. I even brought a peach green tea, like mother said.”, he gestured, lifting the large iced drink in his right hand while keeping his coffee in his left.

Ubbe was beginning to worry. While the girl behind the counter seemed nice and was no doubt talented based on the sketches he was staring at, she didn’t necessarily give off the vibe of the talented and high end tattoo artist responsible for the work he has seen on his family members. She was wearing an oversized cardigan and a pair of ripped jeans. Sure there were tattoos peaking out but the glasses resting on top of her french braided hair did not give off badass tattoo artist vibes. A smirk creeped across his face when he realized she was gawking at him and cleared his throat to get her attention again.

“ Ohh, um, yeah I can take you back and get you set up”, Y/N said with a small smile.

Ubbe followed the lovely lady through the back of the parlor and design studio, up a flight of stairs and was happy to see how professional Y/N’s workplace was. Not that the downstairs parlor was trashy, it was just obvious for the public. This area seemed intimate and very classy. A shapeable leather tattoo chair was in the center of the room. It appeared that the artist can manipulate the chair so the arm rests and leg rests could be extended or bent for the customer’s comfort.

“You can have a seat,” Y/N gestured to the chair “I’ll go make sure everything is ready.”

The girl walked out of the room and Ubbe couldn’t help but hope that she was going to get his artist. While alone, he took in the rest of his surroundings. The walls were pitch black but there were large windows with sheer curtains to keep the room light and airy. A massive mirror sat between the two windows so clients could check their work. There were also framed pieces of artwork scattered across the room. The tattoo cart sat to the side of the chair and could move as the artist pleased.

Ubbe realized he had been observing the space for a while and quickly sat down when he heard the door began to open. He tried to look relaxed and nonchalant so he stared at one of the art pieces, a muscular panther resting in a tree. It was a beautiful piece that seemed to possess raw power even though the beast was snoozing.

Y/N had quickly ran into her apartment once she got Ubbe settled in her studio. She made sure there was nothing in her teeth, added a quick swipe of lipgloss and sprayed some more perfume. The man in her studio was gorgeous. Everyone she questioned before accepting Ubbe as a client failed to mention that particular trait. He oozed power and an air of dominance. She could tell he was in charge of any situation but was confident instead of cocky. That trait obviously ran in the family.

“So, when will Y/N be here?”, Ubbe finally asked, he was really starting to doubt whether he’d be getting a tattoo today.

Y/N did a double take, “What? What do you mean, when will I be here?”

Ubbe looked shocked and he was astonished. Then she realized that neither of them introduced themselves..

“Oh wow! Hi, I’m Y/N Y/L/N and I’ll be your artist today!” she said with a sheepish smile,”I am sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’ll take that tea from you now.” she reached her hand out.

“My apologies, I assumed you knew what I looked like.”, Ubbe apologized.

He quickly handed over her drink, their fingers brushing when he passed the drink off. When Y/N reached to grab the drink, the oversized aztec-patterned cardigan fell off of her shoulder revealing detailed snake tattoos trailing across her left collarbone and shoulder.. It also revealed what may be a bralette or some kind of black laced tank top. Ubbe let out a huff when he took in her appearance for a second time. His eyes darkened when he realized how beautiful she really was. The fluffy and plain cardigan with what he believed were called ‘mom jeans’ gave her a demure and almost frumpy look. The outfit was definitely more for comfort than aesthetic. He couldn’t help but admire her body and the artwork that enhanced it. He also noticed chunky snake earrings dangling from her ears and a chain necklace caressing her throat.

“Alright, here is the finished tattoo outline. Please be honest and let me know if there is anything else we need to alter before we start. It won’t hurt my feelings. Every tattoo has a special meaning and I want you to be able to look at it with pride.” Y/N rambled before gently placing the sketch in his lap before setting up her rolling cart.

A small smirk rose on Ubbe’s face. While Y/N was obviously flustered, he could tell that she was passionate about her trade and dedicated to giving her clients the best experience possible. She wandered over to a black minifridge and patted the top of it where a keurig rested.

“While you look your tattoo over I can run through some basics I find important. Your brothers said you already have plenty of tattoos so I hope you know how to care for them properly. Either way, I have a set of printed instructions for you and I usually have customers come in a week after getting inked so I can lay eyes on it and make sure no touch ups are needed. I will also provide you with a healing salve and cleaning solution.” Y/N waved her hand over the fridge, “You’re getting a decent-sized tattoo with a significant amount of shading so we need to make sure to take breaks. I have a wide variety of snacks and drinks available. Feel free to stop me at any time for any reason. Today is all about making sure you have the best experience possible and the tattoo is something you love. That being said, do you have any questions or are there any alterations I need to make before we get started?”

Y/N finished her spiel and shrugged off the cardigan on her shoulders. Ubbe began to answer her, but lost his words when her body lost the cardigan. He was slowly beginning to realize that Y/N may be his dream girl. Her jeans were higher on her hips and he stopped breathing for a second when he came to the conclusion that she really was just wearing a bralette for a top. He could see a rose peaking out on her right hip and tried to stop himself from imagining how far down that design trailed.

A dainty giggle brought Ubbe back to the conversation again, “Umm”, he shook his head to clear it, “No there is nothing I’d like to change and I will let you know if I have any other questions. Thank you for being so helpful.”

“Okie dokie then! Let’s get started!” Y/N said clapping her hands together. “Uh, I think you’re going to have to take your shirt off.” she stated, her voice slowly softened to a whisper.

Ubbe chuckled to himself and began taking his shirt off and Y/N gently told him to leave it on halfway. He wanted the tattoo on his right forearm so only his right side had to be uncovered. Her client’s comfort was always her first priority and even though she would love to see that hunk of a man completely naked, she knew it was better to be professional.

She began to lay the outline down where they had decided to place it and tried her best to keep her gaze from wandering to his delicious abs and bulging arm veins. Y/N softly grabbed Ubbe’s hand and dragged him in front of the mirror. Trying to guide the muscular man was a little more difficult than she had expected. She tripped herself up while leading him and felt his other hand wrap around her waist, in hopes of steadying her.

Ubbe notice Y/N get her boot hung up on a floor board and quickly grabbed her waist with the hand she hadn’t already claimed. He pulled her to him with his right hand and steadied her with his left. He let out a sigh of relief once they were both steady. Y/N gasped, and her free hand went to rest on his chest. Ubbe looked her over to make sure she was okay. His eyes trailed up her body, eyes pausing on the curve of her waist and again on her breasts before quickly trailing back up to her face. Y/N’s eyes were zeroes in on Ubbe’s face. Her eyes were trained on his lips. Ubbe let out a hum that Y/N could feel in the palm of her hand and snapped her eyes up to his.

“I, uh,” she shook her head, “yeah, um, look over the outline in the mirror and from other angles. Every once in a while a client can find an angle that ruins the aesthetic, so make sure you love where it is at.” she said, gently pushing away from him and walking over to grab her drink off of the cart.

The refreshing drink helped her clear mind and her throat. Ooo, that man made her heart race faster than anyone before. After a couple of long pulls from her drink she looked up and smiled when she noticed he really was analyzing the design from every angle.

“This tattoo means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”, her voice soft but curious.

He nodded his head and made his way to the chair, “ It really looks phenomenal the way it is Y/N, thank you.”

She blushed and let out a soft “thanks.”

He settled into the chair and she dragged her rolling seat and cart across the room. She pulled gloves onto her hands and got ready to start. She turned his arm to get the best angle and Ubbe began to speak again.

“You have no clue who my family is, do you?” Ubbe continued when she shook her head. “”We run The High Seat, it is one of the largest incorporations in the country and most definitely the most expansive in companies and investments. Have you ever heard of the Wolf of Kattegat?” he asked. When her eyes squinted in recognition, he continued, “He is my father, Ragnar.”

She stopped him to ask “Aslaug’s husband?”

He chuckled, he could only imagine what his mother spewed about his father,”Yes, that Ragnar. Anyways, he has decided to step back from the business and work more legitimate in a position of advisor. I am taking over as the Wolf of Kattegat. We are also the commanding family of Ansuz”, he chuckled darkly when she flinched, “now, doll, you have nothing to fear from me or my family. Let alone any of my heathens. My mother adores you. So do Hvitty and Ivar. Hate to say it but I think I am under your spell as well.”

“I-I’m not sure how to respond to that,” she said, paying careful attention to his arm,”and my reaction wasn’t all from fear, a majority of it was because it is hard to believe that I am that naive. The leader of the most dangerous crime organization is sitting in my chair.” she let out another giggle, this one reminded Ubbe of Floki, “hell, I even interrogated your family before deciding to take you as a client. Why didn’t you just make me?”

“Mother taught me better than to demand a woman to do anything and I admire your dedication”, he noticed your confused look, “You only tattoo those you believe you can trust. In turn, your clients, my family trusts you. It is like a badge of honor to say my wolf was designed and ingrained in my skin. I refuse to taint that by behaving like a pompous ass.”

She smiled at his description of her work. Y/N knew her practice of vetting clients was peculiar. Most artists were more focused on the money they can make off a client. She wanted to know the person she was leaving a piece of herself with. Y/N had spent over a hundred hours perfecting the piece she was now inking into his skin.

The next couple of hours were spent talking about his family, the stress of his new position, and so much more. Ubbe made sure to ask questions about her family, interests and upcoming projects. At the end of the session, Y/N felt like she had known him for years. The Wolf of Kattegat seemed very down to earth for such a renown crime boss and CEO.

When the tattoo was finished, she cleaned it and instructed Ubbe to look at it in the mirror. His eyes scanned the mirror several times enjoying the way the tattoo made him look and feel. He twisted his wrist several times, analyzing the way the light was hitting the wolf. Y/N was bouncing on her toes. She wasn’t sure if she was excited or nervous. Ubbe’s face suddenly lit up and he grinned from ear to ear and Y/N couldn’t help but let out a little squeal of excitement.

She sat Ubbe back down and began reviewing how to care for the tattoo one more time while carefully wrapping his arm so the shirt wouldn’t irritate it. While she was elated that the god-like man before her loved her art, she knew he was about to leave. She felt like she truly knew Ubbe and the rest of the Lothbrok family. It hurt to think that it may have only been for the day.Once his arm was properly bandaged, she no longer had a reason to keep him with her. Y/N gently let him know it was finished. He immediately pulled out a stack of cash.

“Ubbe! This is too much! We already discussed price before you got here.”, Y/N said, exasperated.

“Yes , we did. That was before you brought this beautiful piece to life on my skin. That was also before I realized how important you would be to me.” He paused and let out a chuckle,” I will not ask you out today, lest you believe that is why I am paying you this amount. I am giving you this because you managed to make this tattoo more remarkable than I could ever imagine.”

Y/N’s cheeks warmed when Ubbe implied his desire to date her. It was good to know that it was not a foolish desire held on her own. She loved his praise and was happy that he loved your most recent passion project. She also couldn’t help but feel empowered by his words.

“Thank you, Ubbe. I will see you in a week to see how it is healing.” she stated clearly trying to sound professional before leading him down the stairs and to the front of the shop.

Ubbe smiled to himself. He would not ask her out today, but he did make sure to slip his number into tha cash during one of their breaks. He only hoped she would notice it soon. The pair had carefully made it to the front windows of her shop. Both appeared to be thinking of a way to delay their goodbyes. Instead of procrastinating his eventual departure, Ubbe decided to embrace it and use it as an opportunity to embrace her as well.

Y/N froze when two burly arms wrapped around her waist. She slowly reached her arms up around him and rested her cheek on his chest. Ubbe took a deep breath of her vanilla scent and lightly pressed his lips against the crown of her head.

“Goodbye, princess”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

6:57 PM

So should I save your number in my phone under Ubbe or Wolf of Kattegat🐺?

@justahopelessssromantic @princessofthalia

[mooncat457writing]

Me In My Writing Tag Game

Rules: Give five examples of you including parts of yourself in your writing/artwork

Thank you @kattlupin for the tag!

Doing this was a little interesting because I feel like I end up putting a little bit of myself or my life into everything I write, whether it be a character's favorite tv show or an exchange between friends that I've had in real life. But these five are the most obvious examples of me putting myself in my writing, going from kind of superficial to deeper.

You Can’t Outgrow Goats: Remus' love for both goats and the Washington D.C. Zoo is based on my own love. I will drop everything to feed and pet a goat if I can, and I love zoos. I have gone to the zoo on nearly every vacation I've gone on in the past 5 years, but the D.C. zoo will always have a special place in my heart.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: This one is a little more abstract, but I absolutely love Cinderella. I have since I was very small so that fic has a bit of my soul in it. It's very near and dear to my heart.

Holiday Traditions (Champagne): The wedding ceremony between Sirius and Remus was very similar to my own. My husband and I didn't say our own vows, like they did, but I lifted the language for the handfasting part of their ceremony directly from my handfasting.

OWLs: I put a lot of myself into Emma, the OC I created. She's kind of who I wished I was in high school, or who I tried to be. Kind, spunky, legitimately confident, not just faking confidence hoping no one sees through it. I've grown and matured a lot since then, and I'm much happier with the person I've become, so I don't really have the need for an alter-ego anymore, but Emma is for teenage me, and writing her is kinda cathartic.

And finally, the biggest example of putting myself in my writing:

Of Queries and Quarantines: James and Lily's storyline about their wedding is basically exactly what happened to me and my husband. We were supposed to get married in September 2020, but obviously, we couldn't because of COVID. We ended up having a small ceremony outside with immediate family and our best-people on the original date, and rescheduled the big party for this year.

Honorable mention: Apparently I just unconsciously insert myself into James when I write, because on multiple occasions when @hellcatdraws has beta'd my work, she has said that she's heard half the things James says come out of my mouth at one point or another over our 10-year friendship. She also yells at me because my Sirius sometimes acts like her, so I guess she's the Padfoot to my Prongs 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tagging: @anemonenemerosa @wanderingbandurria @lenscribbles @sunflower-swan

[edwardiansuggestions]

LAST NIGHT I found myself in a strange, far-off land, where the world was all peaks and lakes with nothing in-between except small livings traversing mountainsides, where labourers worked the little farms that lay like ribbons here and there. Tall bridges suspended a golden track from castle to castle, the carriages not driven by heat and coal but by some strange reaction in the metals themselves; the carriages, on contact with the rails, would shoot off in one direction, the friction lighting them up from within, and sending currents to shower the stations, carved from creamy marble, into glorious light. My home - or, at least, the home of some cousin or other - was beside on of these stations. It was a castle, and the castles of this land were not at the centre of towns or cities, but stood in the centre of lakes, rising high into the air. The bridges were some hundred feet high, but the castles towered above them, their impassive square walls cut sheer, with few windows.

My home was peculiar in that it sat apart from the station: a trackless bridge spanned the chasm between the station and the gates, narrow and with crumbling columns. There was a bridge-house, too, by the station - which, the tenants told me, was very odd, as the aristocracy did not tend to keep staff that lived outside their own home. I spoke to them for some time, but I recall them seeming disturbed by my presence, so I thought it fit to leave, and to walk the bridge back home. I remember thinking of my childhood in that castle, and the happy years I had spent, and the artwork I had painted in my nursery with my friend, who I know believe was my cousin.

I went into the central hall, which was lavishly decorated: everything seemed like a gentlemen’s club, with panelled walls, red drapery defining one room from the next, and billiard tables here and there. It was not odd to see billiard tables in the main room, as guests were received on what we might call the ‘ground’ floor, but which, in this world, would be called the ‘bridge’ floor, as there was, really, no ground floor at all - the castle was so tall, and its base submerged in a lake, that the floors must have swept onwards and onwards into the earth itself, with reception rooms becoming kitchens, kitchens becoming servant’s quarters, servant’s quarters becoming wine cellars - the parties held there necessitated them - the cellars becoming basements, and then stretching into, I image, empty halls with vaulted ceilings, with stone-hewn walls, and what we might call dungeons, and then into the earth itself.

There were guests present as I came in, and they were my aunts: three of them, all wearing these odd furs that had very heavy lapels, and the coats of which flared outwards while their skirts were very narrow, so they didn’t look like they quite fitted their bodies right, and they all held drinks. There were other guests, but the layout was such that I couldn’t see them: the rooms, as I think I said, were panelled and curtained in such an orgasmic manner that they obscured themselves from view. The wood was cherry, I think, which I don’t like at the best of times, but set against the red curtains and green of the billiard tables it was stifling. I left the party to go to my nursery, which was on the bridge floor, and which was not one of the ‘internal’ rooms of the castle - though this is not to say it was one of the few to have a window, as, though there were only a few rooms with windows looking outside onto the lake, mountain, and sky, there were lots of windows inside the castle to offer views of different rooms within. Lots of these internal rooms would have windows, as well as dumbwaiters that travelled up and down the castle to provide food to essentially any floor, and any of the most internal rooms.

The window was large, with a flat base and curved top, and it was open. It was so big that a large stick must have been used to close it, which, I imagine, lay somewhere I didn’t inspect. My friend or cousin was there, and he was happy to see me. We looked out of the window at the night sky. We looked at the artwork we had toiled at when we were children - most of them featured curtains. I remembered, then, that at night, we would lie awake (we slept in the nursery, in two very wide, low beds raised above the rest of the nursery by a few steps) and the window would rattle slightly, and then we would hear the sounds of curtains being closed and opened, and we would draw pictures of them. This, I recall, would happen at three in the morning every night, but it had abruptly stopped as we grew older. I would have forgotten it, if it wasn’t for the paintings in the nursery.

I left my cousin, who went to bed, and went back to the party to find my aunts just leaving. After they did so, my dad sat down with me. I think he wasn’t my real dad, in the sense that, in this dream, he was played by my dad, but he was not legitimately him. We sat in an ante-room, which I thought was odd - most of the rooms in the castle were essentially hall-ways leading to stairwells, which led to other floors, and most of the rooms that led off from the ‘billiard rooms’, as I will call them, were either very large (as my nursery was), or, at least, had some purpose. This one just had chesterfield sofas in it, facing one another. We sat down, and behind my dad’s head I saw a candlestick coming out of the wallpaper. This was the only part of the wall that had actual paper, and not panelling. It was red, the same red as the curtains, but with a paler flocked pattern on it. It was like the red, but pinker.

The bridge-door opened and my aunts came back in. They were wearing their furs, but said they hadn’t gotten them back yet. This, I think, was an odd excuse my dream conjured to get my dad away from me for a moment, while I inspected the wall. I did so, and some part of the wall was a knob - I think an obvious knob would be the candlestick. Let us say, then, that it turned ninety degrees to the left, opening a passageway, which, after a few feet, had a narrow staircase leading down.

I have not discussed the layout of the castle with regards to the rooms, but my nursery’s beds were, as I have said, on a small platform. This corridor, I think, led underneath this platform, and I walked down them. Disappointingly, the decoration became no less ostentatious: the walls were curtained, it was well-lit, and all just as stuffy as before. The only difference was that the walls were papered, not panelled. I descended the stairs, and walked through three rooms separated by those same curtains I have mentioned incessantly, and found myself to, I calculated, the space directly below my nursery. It was a bedroom, narrower but deeper than the nursery, and with a smaller window, the drapes drawn shut. This room was dark. Like every other room except the nursery, it was stifling, but the lack of light and airing had made it, unlike the others, take on a musty smell. I walked over to the drapes, and opened them to look out at the sky, and to air the room. I pulled them open, and was greeted by darkness. The window had been boarded up from the outside - or, I think, there was some turn I had not registered, and this window was an internal one, and on the other side there was another room - but this, too, had been boarded up.

I turned back around, and decided to turn on a light to see if I could tell whether this room was internal or not by looking through the boards. I went to a light, and rubbed its base. Like the trains, I think lots of the power in this land was drawn from friction, rather than heat. I did so, and the room lit up. It was dim, and oddly cloudy. And then I heard a noise from the bed. I looked and saw that there was a man in the bed, only his head visible above the red covers. Against the crimson sheets his face was waxen and pale, and he was unbelievably old. His hair was yellow and where it touched the pillows it stuck and was surrounded by a darker tone of embedded grease. His eyelids were half-closed and crusted so that they could barely blink, his eyes were wet, his lips the same colour as his skin, and his skin so jaunt and thin that it looked as though it was sloughing off his strong cheekbones. There is no way to describe it without sounding sensationalist, but I got the impression that his skin was disconnected from his bones, only held together as he did not move. He looked, to sound worse, tender.

I don’t know if his eyeballs moved, as they were cloudy and crusted over, but he was looking at me. And he moaned, his partly open mouth glistening in one corner with saliva, in a low strained way, quietly, but with desperation.

And I looked at the curtains on that boarded window, and at the corridor leading up the stairs to a door that could be opened, I think, only from the outside, and thought of the hundreds of stories ascending to the bedrooms and attics of the castle, and descending into cellars and store-rooms below, and the dumbwaiters that travelled to the internal rooms. I remembered the drawings I had made of the curtains opening and closing by night, and how they had stopped one night as I grew up.

I think at some point I realised he was my great-great grandfather, though I know that sounds silly. I left and went back to my aunts, and the people from the villages on the mountainside walked past the station, and were walking on the tracks, so we went out to ask them what they were doing. I pathetically asked them ‘has the war ended’ or ‘has the war started’, and one of them replied ‘we are going to the festival’, and that was all.

[sweetonmylove]

The “Our Bromance Is Outta This World” KiriBaku AU Fic Rec List

So... I've lost count of how many fic rec lists I've put out now, but the reasons remain the same as when I first started. I just love finding THAT fic that makes me happy, makes me smile, makes life seem a little better, and I wanna share the shit outta them!  I love sharing my admiration of the beautiful writers who have used their time and talent (for free), because after all, they are just as passionate as we are about the ships we choose to partake in. I would like to genuinely thank the 500+ individuals who have chosen to allow me to come across their feed with our mutual love and adoration of all things Kirishima Eijirou and Bakugou Katsuki related. To show my appreciation, here, please take this rec list and read to your hearts' content, just as I have <3 If AU’s aren’t quite your thing, please feel free to glance at past lists and look for the upcoming Random list!

In The Dark of The Night *E* ~ Arxaris (In Progress/8? Ch.)

Gladiator Kirishima, Emperor Bakugou, Aged-Up, Blood & Violence, Strangers to Lovers, Light Dom/Sub, Top Kiri, Bottom Baku

The one where Arx blows our minds with a gentle giant gladiator Kiri and a lusting Emperor Bakugou. Dudes, the fight scene is just whoa, and you can never go wrong with reading anything from this brilliant writer.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20067655/chapters/47526529

It Will Find You Here *E* ~ Arxaris (8 ch.)

Aged-Up, Strangers to Lovers, No Quirks, Backpacker Bakugou, AirBnB Host Kirishima, Hurt/Comfort, Top Kiri, Bottom Bakugou, Panic Attacks, Praise Kink, Possessive Kirishima

Yes, I've rec'd this before, I know. Buuut have you read it yet?? If not, I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys our boys in other settings with a steamy/angsty plot, great characterization, and a bonus chapter to end it all. Am I biased because it's Arx' work? No, I legitimately fell in love with this fic because it's so fresh and one of a kind.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18848662

(Love Is) An Open Door *T* ~EnchantedEmmeline (12 Ch. and fucking worth it)

Modern Setting, No quirks, Aged-Up, Café Owner Bakugou, Firefighter Kiri, Barely there angst, Humor (Oh my god, so much), Fluff, Bakusquad members

If you want to laugh your ass off and fall in love with these two idiots all over, then this is a MUST read! I personally could not put this down. Bakugou gets drunk and winds up unknowingly trespassing into Kiri's apartment… Kiri winds up fawning over a sock that was left by Bakugou… hilarity, fluff, amazing characterization, I just-please read this!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15978500

At The Beginning (With You) *T* ~ EnchantedEmmeline (Part 2 of the above fic)

Modern Setting, No quirks, Aged-Up, Wedding, Humor, Fluff

This fic picks up shortly after (Love Is) An Open Door, to conclude the fluff and humor that is my cup of tea.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16153397

Everglow *M* ~ Maplefudge ( In Progress 5/20 Ch.)

Fantasy, Freeform, Worldbuilding, Dragon Kirishima, Soulmates, Beautiful artwork by Se7en!!!

Speaking of re-rec'ing... have you started this journey with Maple yet? If not, I highly suggest you do! Maple is another incredible writer that just has some of the fluffiest, sweetest, greatest fics out there. If Dragons aren't your thing, she has many many other fics that you should check out! Maple is AMAZING and she took my Krbk fanfic virginity!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19422127/chapters/46221091

Achromatopsia *T* ~ PurplePersnickety

Soulmates, Fluff, Pining, Mutual Pining

In which the true colors of the world appear when you touch your soulmate for the first time

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17832155

Top Of The List *T* ~ PurplePersnickety

Pro-Heroes, Roomates (Oh My God), Mutual Pining, Fluff, Getting Together, First Kiss

The one where Bakugou lists his favorite things. Super fluffy and sweet <3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18469453

Manly Man Falls for Manliest Man *T* ~ Afuzzyowl (In Progress/9? Ch.)

Modern Setting, Aged-Up, Slice of Life, Developing Relationship, Pining, Actor Bakugou, Salaryman Kirishima, Kiri has a huge gay crush on Bakugou-what else is new?

Or the one where Kirishima meets his favorite actor Bakugou by chance encounter and real feels start to develop (for both of them)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18310007

Mine *E* ~ Alienqueen42 for candy_cadet

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Smut, Drinking, Jealousy, Est. Relationship, Use of the word slut, Rough sex

Where Bakugou gets hit on and Kirishima is jealous

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18200363

Welcome Home *T* ~ empyreansunflower

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Long distance relationship, Est. Relationship, Marriage Proposal

Bakugou waits at the airport to welcome Kirishima back home

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18098600

Broken Bridges *E* ~ DeathBelle (14 Ch.)

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Pining, They haven't spoken in 2 yrs., Very Minor Character Death, Sexual Content, Happy Ending

Kirishima moves back to Japan after working abroad for two years and he finds out that old feelings die hard.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14888358

Obvious *T* ~ AmethystUnarmed

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Secret Relationship?, Kidnapping, Minor quirk torture, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Angry Bakugou, Protective Bakugou

Everyone had suspicions that Kirishima and Bakugou were in a relationship but nothing concrete… until Red Riot is captured

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17606090

Done With Having Dreams (The Thing That I Believe) *T* ~Futurehearts

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Est. Relationship, New Years Eve, Marriage Proposal

Fluffy goodness with a proposal!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17374442

Still Here *T* ~ IcyHotHeart

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Angst w/a Happy ending

Kirishima takes a position in America and Bakugou is left waiting for him back home… Bakugou does not want to give up hope that the only man he had ever loved will return to him. Super super sweet ending and I promise, it is a happy one.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20086867

Linger *E* ~ NightBronze

No quirks, Bar/Pub, Aged-Up, Strangers to Lovers, Bartender Kiri, Drummer Bakugou, Pining Kiri, Bathroom Sex, Getting to know each other, Implied Getting Together, Dirty talk, Top Kiri, Bottom Bakugou, Fluffy Ending

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15590841

Jealous (It's My Right To Be Hellish) *E* ~ Sheila_thetank

Aged-Up, Jealous Bakugou, Possessive Bakugou, Eventual Sex, Getting Together

Where Bakugou gets jealous of anyone talking to HIS Kirishima and things are sorted out

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18903370

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This *E* ~ Sheila_thetank

Aged-Up, Sharing A Bed, Friends to Lovers, First Time, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17187371

Here Comes The Bride *E* ~ Obsessed_As_A_Coping_Mechanism (6? Ch.)

Supernatural AU, Vampire Kirishima, Bartender Bakugou, Blood, Biting, Self Injury, Mentions of Suicide Attempt because becoming a vampire takes a catalyst, Fluff, Angst, Smut, Includes Art from TheHappySunflower88

Shows as a work in progress, but it feels completed. This is a wonderful piece of work guys, and if you're into vampires and the like, you should check it out

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16462376

Red Riot Otaku *M* ~ Bryan

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Obsession, Mutual Pining, Mutually Requited Love, Realization, Implied Sexual Content, Pillow Talk, Getting Together, Fluff & Humor, Includes Art from TheHappySunflower88

Basically Bakugou collects anything and everything Red Riot related and his secret obsession is discovered *gasps*

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17531618

King of The Kitchen *T* ~ Confuse_The_Queer

Restaurant AU, Strangers to Lovers, Getting Together, Chef Bakugou, First Kiss

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18091583

And My Heart Went Boom *T* ~ Slumber

College/University AU, Mechanic Kirishima, Motorcycle owner Kirishima, Bakugou crushes HARD, Pure Fluff

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12957423

Mission Accomplished *NR* ~ SoftWhispers_ColdGoodbyes

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Tooth Rotting Fluff, Fluff w/o Plot, Idiots in Love, Warm & Fuzzy Feelings

Short and sweet~ The boys open their own agency together, but it doesn't feel quite complete yet, at least to Bakugou

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19428121

So Take My Hand… *G* ~ Pirateofhearts (Speightbrigade)

Est. Relationship, Perfectionist Bakugou, Marriage Proposal, Tooth Rotting Fluff

Bakugou proposes to Kirishima.. And it's so sweeet and soffft <3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20100010

Role Model *G* ~ Claus_Lucas for Silver_Sterling

Aged-Up, Pro-Heroes, Est. Relationship

The boys return to Yuuei to discuss being Pro-Heroes with the new class 1-A Students. This is just tender and beautiful. A student asks Kirishima if it's manly for a man to love another man

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19782532

It Don't Bite- YES IT DO *T* ~ Wholesomeworm

No Quirks, Coffee Shops & Cafes, Dog Obedience school, Dog Trainer Kirishima, Bakugou crushes hard, Super fluffy and sweet, humor

Kiri trains dogs and Bakugou is stuck taking in his mom's dog for training

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19929556

As always, please be kind and share your love with the incredible authors who poured themselves into these works. Kudos are fantastic and shouting out your love & adoration literally feeds our beloved writers' souls… which in turn, helps inspire more of the tremendous fics we all crave!! Do yourselves a favor and read these, relish in the phenomenal creations , and *PLEASE REBLOG* (even if you've read these), as someone out there might not have and these writers deserve ALL the attention they can get!!

@arxaris @maplefudge @icyhotheartwritings

[ajokeformur-ray]

Is it too late to cash in on some feels? 👀 also, you're such a doll, spreading positive vibes is so important right now, so here's some for you; Erika, you're gorgeous, creative, talented, passionate, welcoming and genuinely kind! I'm so glad I know you, you ray of sunshine! 💕

asdfghjkl Ezzie!!! Ohhhh my god I was hoping you’d send an ask in skksks. It’s never too late, my love, you can always cash in! asdfghjkl me?!! OMG you’re too kind to me, thank you so much for some of the feels too!! It means a lot to me sksksk I’ve not been feeling so good recently so I wanted to put some love out there into the world! 💕💕💕

I.... admire you so heavily. You are, for starters, so beautiful. I remember seeing one of your selfies back a few months ago and I legitimately choked on my coffee, like ?? how ???? But more than that, more than that, you are... a literary genius. You are so poetic in the way that you shape words and the amount of work and research you put into how you write is truly awe-inspiring. I can only ever dream of writing such prose; such artwork should be framed or something! Even your “word vomit” (an injustice to you, my dear) is so palpable and so raw and you are such a literary inspiration to me. I daresay if you ever went into published works I’d want one of the first signed copies. You’re so passionate and your love for J just shines through in everything that you write; you and I write him differently and we view him differently, but I have so much respect for all the work, care and attention which you put into writing him and I always enjoy reading about him through your eyes; I wish I was half as brave with my own writing to explore the topics which you do! The general aesthetic of your blog is just so... inspiring and it’s so wonderfully you and it just... you are a marvel. 

I’m so sorry that you’re going through writer’s block again. We’ve spoken about it at length before but let it come to you, darling; ironically, the more you poke it, the more it’ll dig its heels in and refuse to listen (who does that sound like? *cough J cough*). I truly hope that you find your creativity flowing again, soon. You are such an inspiration to me in so many ways and I really enjoy talking with you. You’re such a beautiful, knowledgeable, intelligent, wholesome and genuinely lovely person and the overall vibe you give off is one I’ve always felt drawn to; it’s mystery, it’s dark, but it’s also... safe? I don’t know how to explain it sorry it’s 1 AM but you’re just... you truly are ✨✨✨✨, for want of a better word, and I love you so, so much. I’m sending you strength and love and I hope your laptop issue is resolved soon, if it hasn’t already been!💖

[ecreau]

A Decade To Remember

2019 the end of an outstanding decade (even though technically 2020 haha). Wow I never could have imagined it’s been 10 years! I feel like I’ve been working since 2010 and to think I graduated 2013. It was stressful after these years but fulfilling. Here’s a rundown of my life after a decade.

2010

I was still a university student and I remember I had better class schedule than my previous year. I am a morning person I wanted to finish everything before 6 in the evening and the rest of my evening would be, binge watching, gaming or sleeping. Anyway, in my university you could create your own schedule by enlisting to the class you like. Basically, my schedule this year was from 7 in the morning to 1:30 in the afternoon only!

I spent most of my free hours going to the malls after class and different events. And majority of my classes had the best professor who gave me at least 1.75 (equivalent to 80%) in my card.

2011

This was the year, I guess I suddenly became a bookworm and a collector. I have been collecting Kzone magazines ever since a kid but this year all my lunch money went to books and DVDs. To the point the book lady called me as “Calvin and Hobbes guy” because I bought comic books to her every Friday and finished them after 5 days. It was fun and fulfilling in the sense I finished a lot of novels and comics.

During break hours, I spent it by playing The Sims 2 with my friend. We just create characters and never really had to play the main game. Those were the days.

2012

I was so scared sharing my art and design works because of criticisms. But this year, I felt proud of myself because this was the year I got an invitation to be an intern in an award-winning advertising agency. I never could have imagined it because at the start no one actually was answering my emails and calls and after a week, I got 3 calls from different agencies. I was happy because I learned the basics especially working outside the comfort of your classrooms.

2013

The year I graduated, I was happy because it meant no more sleepless nights because you need to paint, design and also review for your next subject! But boy, I miss being a student. 2013 was also the year I met a person who inspired me the most and eventually my first heartbreak.

It was also the year I got my first part-time job as a Human Resource. I was having fun because 2 of my friends in college were with me. For my first ever salary, I spent it for 3DS and Pokemon X. I can still remember how excited I am after the saleslady gave me the box and cartridge. I hastily went home and opened the console. I could not believe I would be playing Pokemon again after years of not. We could not afford of buying the previous games and so after getting a job in 2013 I promised myself that I would not miss a single game anymore.

I was happy and fulfilled this year even though there were bumps because being a fresh graduate was difficult especially looking for a company who’s willing to train newly graduates.

2014

This was the year of confusion. After I left my first legitimate job, I had a 6 month break. Literally, no one wanted me as their graphic designer I was sad but at the same time I did create a lot of personal projects for myself. I created my first portfolio and traveled overseas.

It was the year of relaxation, self-improvement and creating artworks.

2015

I got my first full-time job, as a graphic designer from an outsource company in Singapore. It was the first time I needed to speak English when working; it was uncomfortable at first eventually I got used to it. I nearly got fired from the job because of having no experience at all but did overcome all the challenges because of my colleagues.  

I lived in an apartment together with my colleagues, spent most of my salary buying games again and ate to different restaurants. I had I guess a mixture of bad experiences more than just the good ones. I left the work, fortunately, I got hired again.

2016

It was this year I had a major downfall in terms of my emotional. I didn’t take it as a serious condition until I hurt a lot of people already. It was also the year I had my first full-time job that I stayed for a while (about 2 years). I enjoyed the work but never thought how to maximize my potential as a designer.

I was hired as a graphic designer in a restaurant company and within 2 years I ate a lot of good food, like seriously never been tasted before cuisines. I created a lot of designs I dreamed of when I’m still a fresh graduate- billboards, flyers, brochures and website landing pages.

2017

After 2 years, I left the company because it wasn’t fulfilling as the previous years. I never really got a high appraisal in terms of salary (hello management ugh) even though I was mainly the person who created the ‘face’ of the company.

Nothing significant happened on this year but just I wanted something fresh. Out of the toxic company that I have in to.

2018

The start of better ‘me’. I was depressed for a long time and I honestly didn’t know about it. I thought it was just me having normal problems but it was more than serious. I got a new job and it let me work as early as 6 in the morning (I’m a morning person). Going out early after work helped me a lot to cope up while doing consultations with my doctor. After several months, my doctor told me I’m better. I was so happy and fulfilled. I got a lot of new friends which eventually turned into traveling mates. We planned several travels together.

This was the year, I was so grateful I let my guards down and asked for a professional help. I’m out of the toxicity I got into and I am more than happy.

2019

Everything I experienced in this year was out of my comfort zone. I got fired for the first time, I was sad but eventually got hired where my schedule is flexible. I traveled to Palawan, Philippines with my friends, watched 2 concerts, 1 Broadway musical and was part of a volunteers program held by our national sports committee. I had the best year ever. It wasn't perfect which I loved.

I also started listening to self-help podcasts. It helped me a lot and is still helping me. One of my favorite podcast, The Morning Rush and The Eve's Drop. The use English as their medium of speaking. Check it out guys!

To sum up everything in 10 years, here's a photo of my plush, Hugo eating the best potatoes in the world!

I can’t wait to fail again and stand up this year. Go for it 2020!

You can see full post here: plaidconnection.wordpress.com/…

[cacoxthes]

hello everyone ! my name’s colleen and i’m here to slide in and present a, hopefully, flawless intro for ya’ll. my pref pronouns are she/her and i am currently in CST, eagerly awaiting bastille’s new album release. honestly, intros have never been or never were really my thing, so rip to this bad boy. nevertheless, i wanted to prep something! so, without further ado, i present to you penni c. brooks, the newest recruit in the wheeler PD! please leave a like if you’d like to plot!!!

Full Name: Penni Carr Brooks

Gender Identity: Cis-female

Pronouns: She / Her

Sexual Orientation: Panromantic asexual

Occupation: Police Officer

Character Study: ( alcohol tw )    Officer Brooks had always been a rare breed of Hoosier. Her childhood was filled to the brim with dreams, as expected of every child, but people always commented on the fact that a little girl wanting to be a police officer was an oddity. If that weren’t enough, her infatuation for flowers and fragile temperament directly contradicted the hazardous life of an officer. Her parents couldn’t help but remark on how she’d violently sob when a stuffed animal of hers ‘died’ in their conversations, or on how she’d shriek excitedly when they’d come home with a new bouquet of flowers. She wasn’t made for that kind of life, they’d reason and laugh gently at the antics of their daughter. Of course, they never deterred her directly, that would have been degrading, but she certainly wasn’t absent during those boring, often drunken conversations. As for the church sermons, they were just plain wrong, although she had a special place in her heart for religion. The scarce times her parents were not tipping back shots, they would point fervently at the window of the town’s flower shop when they passed, since gone out of business, and procure the word florist from their mouths almost mockingly. It was an honest living, people insisted, although their lips would straighten with a lingering ‘but’ never exiting. Brooks was no stranger to the phrase they refused to add: but, there was not a cent to make out of selling flowers. People didn’t care if a rose should best be gifted when offering a promise or setting out for a new beginning, and they especially weren’t willing to buy if it wilted in a week. They were happy with her struggling economically, just so that she might not break a stereotype.     From candies in the grocery store to the fabled badge of the police department, her grip had never loosened on what she wanted. To many who knew this trait, it was not shocking to think that when the eleven year old girl set her mind to it, the twenty-two year old would achieve it. That, she did. Personally, however, Brooks accredits attaining her dream job to luck; it was the right time and the right place phenomena. She’s certain for her hands shake when she holds her pistol in them and guilt tickles her gut any time an ounce of pressure is placed on her. No doubt she was hired because they needed somebody to fill a blue suit. Sure, she was excitable, extroverted, and well-liked, but she was a calculated risk and probably the only one who applied in a town like Wheeler. Nevertheless, she takes her job very seriously despite letting people off with a warning a little too often. Even going so far as to swear off alcohol and drugs, in case she might be called in at any moment; however, it’s more likely her parents are to blame for that. Nonetheless, she’s often found helping the community in anyway she can.    Her heart has always been worn on her sleeve and that hasn’t changed. Given the recent events though, she’s come to the realization that she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she drew the artwork her parents still showboat on the fridge. Protect and serve was something that she thought would be easy in the town of Wheeler, but her luck seems to have run out as of yet. She was lucky no one heard her heartbreaking sobs the hour or so after they answered the call to investigate the Klein’s. Whatever is happening, she is certain that no one should have to go through what Bobby and Paula Klein are. Stuck in a situation she can hardly muster the confidence for, she draws on dwindling supplies of optimism and innocence. Though perhaps it’s telling she never lets her lilacs die, even when her daffodils have slowly dwindled to a single survivor.

Headcannons: (bc I couldn’t fit them above) + She loves flowers so much that it’s not even funny that everything she wears outside of her uniform has floral patterns on them. Her favorites are the Hawaiian shirts that are far too baggy for the likes of her. + Has been to a singular botanical garden in the state of Indiana. + Brooks’s relationship with the church is something she treasures and something that she always strives to improve upon. It’s very rare that she misses a Sunday mass. + When she’s actually sad, she ugly cries, so ugly that she ends up drawing nosebleeds a lot more than she’d ever let on. + There is no legitimate reason Penni has for being asexual, not that she needs one; she just doesn’t find that she’s sexually attracted to anybody, especially since she was teased for being ‘boy crazy’ at a young age. As for panromantic, she hadn’t ever really had a relationship with anybody but a man ( or more so, boy in 5th grade ). In her own eyes, she’s heteroromantic. + She’s worked so hard since she sporadically chose her life goal at age 11. Her entire life has been dedicated to becoming a police officer, and being the youngest on the squad is exhilarating. However, she truly just barely made the cut; she hasn’t been a receptive daughter or friend throughout everything up until she achieved this. She’s hellishly ambitious and it tends to hinder a lot of the things she finds important in life, or at least what the church finds important.

 Wanted Connections: (of which there are a vast supply somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind and I could only offer a few interesting ones) + Self-Proclaimed Best Friends Forever: The school system isn’t so bad if you have a friend by your side and these two were nearly inseparable. Their friendship started early into elementary school and somehow made it out alive through puberty and high school. There’s no doubt they don’t have matching BFF jewelry. + The Mentor and Mentee: Among people saying to give up the chance of ever achieving your dreams, there was a voice speaking out amidst the crowd. Whether having abandoned their own goals with regret or fought the current that kept them from their future, they find persistence something important -- and likely annoying. + The Prettiest Eyes: Brooks can’t help being starstruck anytime she meets those eyes. She’s well aware that being gay is a sin, but it’s alright if she admires those eyes, right? Even if she stares into them for far too long. + Too Many Differences: It’s not really personal, but it totally is; these two do not like each other. However, they really can’t afford not liking each other, not in a town like Wheeler. It’s likely that they’re both suspicious of each other with the new headlines and whenever there’s a new lead, they’re always each other’s first suspect.

[evaceratops]

tag games

there are like 10000 of these in my drafts so i’m going to do them all at once in one big post, organized by who tagged me

tagged by @leopoldjamesfitz

name: eva

gender: female

height: 5′0″

sexuality: ace as heck

what image do you have as a wallpaper? fire emblem awakening cutscene screenshot

where do you see yourself in 10 years? livin the dream as a researcher at the monterey bay aquarium

if you could be anywhere right now, where? yosemite national park, or monterey

what was your coolest halloween costume? ... is it weird that i legitimately can’t think of one

last kiss: uhhh i’m assuming this is in a romantic context, so never

have you ever been stood up? this would require having been planning to go on a date in the first place, so no

what’s your favorite 90��s show? is kim possible from the 90s

favorite pair of shoes: there’s these black and gray tennis shoes that i really like

favorite fruit: cherries

stupidest thing you’ve ever done: download fire emblem heroes i legitimately forgot about chem lab once and missed the entire thing and didn’t realize until a week later

favorite book: .. you come into my house and ask me to choose One, you absolute fool,, just to spite you my answer is all 35+ books of the warriors series

colors i’m currently wearing: black, brown, denim

last band shirt i bought: 5 seconds of summer, like 2 years ago

last band i went to see live: the oh hellos!

last song i listened to: masterpiece theater III by marianas trench

lipstick or chapstick: definitely chapstick, i’ve always hated makeup

last movie i watched: pacific rim uprising

last 3 shows i watched: i think i watched a few episodes of total drama island and pretty little liars with my sister recently, and the third... probably voltron?

3 characters i identify with: arc trooper echo from star wars, ricken from fire emblem awakening, pidge from voltron

books i’m currently reading: the song of roland for my medieval history course, aaaand i’m in between the first and second books of my reread of the dawn of the clans arc of warriors

what’s your favorite song(s) to sing/hum? probably willow tree march by the paper kites

what’s your favorite flower/tree/plant? italian cypress,, and most other evergreen trees tbh

favorite colors? navy and pretty much any shade of blue/grayish-blue, dark red, gold

what do you always doodle? it varies depending on what i feel like that day but yesterday it was cats and dinosaurs

how do you take your coffee/tea? i can’t have caffeine so i don’t drink coffee at all and i rarely drink tea, but with tea i’ll use like 3 entire packets of sugar and nothing else

favorite candle scent? pine, or the ocean

sunrise or sunset? is this referring to the warriors books with those titles or the actual times of day sunset

what perfume do you wear? none

what’s your go-to dance move when you’re alone? ... i don’t even know

favorite quote? shrug emoji,, i just don’t think about this stuff i guess

favorite self care routine(s)? taking a long bath/shower and then going to bed early or reading a book i like

what color are your eyes? grayish-blue

what’s your favorite eye color on others? i’ve always thought brownish-green looks pretty cool

favorite season? why? fall/winter because i like cold weather and rainstorms

cheek, neck, or nose kisses? cheek kisses but also why aren’t forehead kisses on here

what does your happy place look like? anywhere in the sierras or along the coast of california

favorite breed of dog? i’ve always thought huskies are really pretty even though being around big dogs makes me a little nervous (i am 110% a cat person)

do you ever want to be married? if so, what colors would you pick for your wedding theme? no

cursive or print? print

favorite weather? THUNDERSTORMS.

Rules: Choose any three fandoms (in random order) and answer the questions.

i choose: heck, let’s go with the 3 i’ve been most into recently!

star wars | fire emblem | warriors

the first character you loved: 

anakin skywalker. i still remember being indignant when ahsoka talked back to him in the tcw movie | either lissa or frederick | probably dovewing (i borrowed the fourth apprentice from a friend and read that first before going back and reading the rest of the series)

the character you never expected to love so much:

probably ezra bridger, tbh! i started watching rebels purely for ahsoka and rex and did not expect to get so attached to the ghost crew literally within the first 5 minutes of spark of rebellion | TAKUMI | ... god, it’s so hard to remember these things, the first time i read these books was so many years ago... squirrelflight, maybe?

the character you relate to the most:

echo! i used to read encyclopedias for fun as a kid so i understand his love of the reg manual | probably sumia? i don’t quite have self-esteem issues like she does but i do tend to downplay my strengths and kinda write myself off. plus we both love reading and even tend to prefer the same genres (mostly fantasy and fiction) | leafpool because i too spend a good deal of my time pretending everything is fine even if it’s not and trying to fix my mistakes,

the character you’d slap:

wat tambor | fernand | clear sky. i’ve had enough of that dude

three favorite characters (in order of preference):

anakin, kanan, rey | gaius, takumi, lissa | JAYFEATHER, lionblaze, bramblestar (if i’m being totally honest jayfeather alone is favorite characters #1 through 10 for this series i love him SO MUCH no one else even comes close)

a character you liked at first but don’t anymore:

... i don’t really care for ventress? i don’t dislike her, but i don’t seem to like her as much as everyone else does. i thought she was cool the first time i watched tcw all the way through, but now... | cherche, maybe? i don’t think i’ve ever really disliked a fire emblem character - at least not one from any of the games i’ve played - but i’m not as interested in cherche as i used to be | sorry, dovewing

a character you did not like at first but now do:

ahsoka, believe it or not. i don’t remember caring about her too much when tcw was first airing, but i really like her now | camilla | as usual i never really disliked hollyleaf but i like her more now than i did the first time i read the books

three OTPs:

anidala, kanera, ultimate rarepair™ arcmaiden | the Original Rarepair™ ricken/lissa, chrom/sumia, gaius/robin | bramblestar/squirrelflight, lionblaze/cinderheart, hollyleaf/fallen leaves (honorable mention for bluestar/oakheart bc i do love me those classic and tragic Forbidden Relationships but hollyleaf falling in love with a literal ghost is just too good of a concept and is therefore slightly higher in the rankings)

tagged by @minhoruns

rules: bold your aspirations!

AIR: I have small hands • I love the night sky • I watch small animals and birds when I pass them by • I drink herbal tea • I wake to see dawn • The smell of dust is comforting • I’m valued for being wise • I prefer books to music • I meditate • I find joy in learning new truths from the world around me

FIRE: I don’t have straight hair • I like to wear ripped jeans and overalls • I play an organized sport • I love dogs • I am not afraid of adventure • I love to talk to strangers • I always try new foods • I enjoy road trips • Summer is my favorite season • My radio is always playing

WATER: I wear bracelets on my wrists • I love the bustle of the city • I have more than one set of piercings • I read poetry • I love the sound of a thunderstorm • I want to travel the world • I sleep past noon most days • I love dimly lit diners and fluorescent signs • I rewatch kids’ shows out of nostalgia • I see emotions in colors and words

EARTH: I wear glasses • I enjoy doing the laundry • I am a vegetarian or vegan • I have an excellent sense of time • My humor is very cheerful • I am a valued advisor to my friends • I believe in true love • I love the chill of mountain air • I’m always listening to music • I am highly trusted by the people in my life

AETHER: I go without makeup in my daily life • I make my own artwork • I keep on track of my tasks and time • I always know true north • I see beauty in everything • I can always smell flowers • I smile at everyone I pass by • I always fear history repeating itself • I have recovered from a mental disorder • I can love unconditionally

rules: spell your url out with song titles

exeunt - the oh hellos viva la vida - coldplay anna sun - walk the moon caves - haux earth - sleeping at last red hands - walk off the earth all the right moves - onerepublic the royal we - silversun pickups ophelia - the lumineers pompeii - bastille stay frosty royal milk tea - fall out boy

tagged by @autisticpadme

rules: list the top ten songs you’ve been listening to lately

masterpiece theater III (by marianas trench), willow tree march (by the paper kites), 3. wake up (by arcade fire), valley - reprise (by the oh hellos), you of the light (from the fire emblem: fates soundtrack), the royal we (by silversun pickups), the last of the real ones (by fall out boy), alight (storm) (from the fire emblem: fates soundtrack), where is your rider (by the oh hellos), enishi (from the fire emblem: fates soundtrack)

[dio-roga]

‘AskMarshandBroflovski’

Author/Artist:              jovishark Additional Credit:        puppetamateur Status:                         Complete Links:                           Tumblr Rec No:                        #2 (Part One)

The Gist of It (aka. TLDR)

‘Stan and Kyle go through a whole lot of shit during their last couple years of high school; with side-characters and sub-plots galore. Honestly dudes, it’s hard to summarize this one since it’s just so jam packed with all kinds of everything. This askblog, maybe more than anything else I’ve read, really does encapsulate that whole ‘something for everyone’ feeling. Just trust me my dudes, ships galore, on-point writing, and gorgeous art. Go go.”

Also putting this before the page break: I know, it’s technically not a Cryde work, but I guarantee, there’s more content between those two in there than in most exclusively cryde-centric things. For a bit of trivia, it was this blog that got me into Cryde as a ship to begin with. So c’mon below, and I’ll try and reassure you…

Also also: Fair warning, this rec’ll be long af. I’m a little obsessed. So, get yourself a drink or something?

Storytelling

So like I said in the gist, the premise is fairly simple from the outset; Stan and Kyle start up an askblog, and your usual mix of hilarity, drama and ‘will-they, wont-they’ romance ensues. Now I had read askblogs before this one, and generally found them a lot of fun, but holy shit− from the get-go dudes, from the absolute start, this one had its hooks in me like nothing else has ever quite managed before or since. I’d originally just come across it after seeing some of the Craig/Clyde panels on some google search one weekend; then before I knew it, it was Monday morning and I’d read the whole blog front to back, and was experiencing like, genuine feelings for the first time in a long while.

A lot of what snagged me was the writing, which I walked in totally not expecting to take my soul hostage the way it did. The dialogue I’ll talk about with the characters, but as far as the actual story elements were presented? It reads like a god damn mini-series, with actual self-contained story arcs, side-scenarios that mesh in with the A-plot and oh my sweet jesus, the world building in this thing… Seriously dudes, I normally try and stay more grounded in tropes and clever literary devices and what have you, but with this blog I have a lot of trouble not getting like, emotionally invested.

I think that really is what makes this one so special; the atmosphere. There’s this underlying theme of determination and overcoming adversity (mirroring the writing of the blog itself, if you read the authors notes throughout− something I’d defiantly recommend) It’s the sort of writing that genuinely inspires people, deals with difficult subject matter and just generally gives off a positive vibe about soldering on and making good on big life changes, and that includes everyone, of every age and background.

And therein lies another giant strength, the variety. I would think it a very difficult task for someone to not find something they enjoy in this story; it’s a god damn carnival ride− not to spoil too much, but there’s a wash of different genres, different dynamics, different methods of storytelling and different perspectives on those stories. There’s music, there’s action, audience-participation, and enough backstory and little details that I’m still picking up new things even after having read through multiple times.

And lastly, oh boy− pitchforks and torches at the ready –there’s the content between Craig and Clyde. Now I’m not going to sugarcoat it, or really bother trying to hide the fact that these two don’t wind up in a happy relationship here. But please, and I really do mean this, don’t let that dissuade you. They have a very complicated relationship that keeps changing throughout, but their bond never goes away− so just because it isn’t all kisses and romance, I’d say it’s still one of the most endearing relationships I’ve seen written about the two (hence why I’m sticking to my guns on calling this a cryde-recommendation). Honestly, and I can say this from experience here, it gels with how boys like that can end up acting at that age. Despite everything, they still wind up being the biggest player in each other’s lives.

Characters

There is just characters bursting at the seams here, if you’re a fan of someone in the show, you can bet they’ll probably make an appearance somewhere along the line; or at least get a mention. Even Scott Malkinson gets namedropped, and that’s the first time I’ve seen him show up in something I’ve read in this fandom in like, forever.

Stan and Kyle are great picks for the leads, it feels easy experiencing the events unfold from their perspectives− honestly, it’s like watching a more grown up version of the TV-show for the most part, with Cartman and Kenny filling in with their usual contributions of being an asshole and a sweetheart respectively. (I really do love the way Cartman’s handled; he plays a tremendous bastard to be sure, but in a way you could imagine his childhood-self becoming- he makes a delightfully hammy and worryingly formidable antagonist) Also features pretty much my favorite version of Wendy I’ve come across; she’s the real MVP.

Craig’s low-key stealing scenes at first, before kicking things into high-gear and trying to take over the show throughout the run, to the point where he’s pretty much the focal point of all the drama several times. He’s a bit of a mess, but understandably so. Truthfully, all the characters have a unique take on them (all in keeping with how you’d imagine their canon counterparts at that age) and it’s a delight to learn what makes them all tick. I think with Craig especially, his views often radically differ from what you’re presented with by the other characters (including Stan and Kyle) and it’s never written in a way that forces you to side with any particular party as being ‘in the right’. Something I always find refreshing when it’s done as well as it’s done here. Everyone is presented with both strengths and faults, with actual long-running consequences for past actions, good and bad, and it’s up to you as the reader to make what you will out of it.

But then you’ve got the dialogue, and my god, it really takes the cake. There’s not much I can say apart from I legitimately thought some scenes and mannerisms must have been penned by Trey himself− the humor especially. Truly guys, you’re in for a treat. I would have loved to have asked the boys a question back in the day.

Style

Since I’ve gone long on the writing, I have to pretty much devote this section to the artwork because it’s fucking magic. Picture paints a thousand words and all that, and my god, does it ever do that here− the way things are scripted and tied in with the respective art? It makes for all sorts of amazing comedic timing, adds tenfold to any of the emotional scenes and just makes the story flow like a dream; I always have trouble putting it down once I get started.

Jovi’s just an incredibly talented artist, there is simply no escaping this fact. Each and every character has a unique design that fits their character and− I realize this one’s super subjective –to me, they all have such charm and personality in the way they’re drawn. It’s this masterfully presented cartoon-style with an emphasis on expressions, movement and color that I honestly just adore. Even at the very start of the blog, where the art is almost entirely different than it winds up looking at the finishing point two years later, I just love it− again with a South Park comparison, it reminds me of the watching the early cardboard-cutout style of the show compared to its newer 3D designs, both holding a special place in my heart in their own ways.

It floors me to think this was the author’s first major project. As mentioned above, I’d greatly recommend reading through the blog in its entirety, including all the commentaries by the mods, the funny tags, the side-art. One of the most inspiring things about this work is getting a sense of the love and dedication that was put into it over the years it was running; like watching the behind-the-scenes on some giant motion epic and coming to terms with how much effort went into producing what you’re seeing. It’s practically another story itself, and no less heartening than with the boys and their trials and tribulations. Seriously dude, so much kudos.

Favorite Things

The content variety. There’s just so much to love here, things being kept fresh and exciting throughout the super long run-time of the blog without feeling disjointed, on top of managing a satisfying conclusion. There’s a lot of fun to be had, no half-measures.

The character dynamics are a treat. With such a big cast, there’s all sorts of different personalities playing off each other, with dynamic relationships that all manage to evolve and grow. Definite love given to proper character arcs.

Inspiring themes and feel-good moments really do make this a gem to read when you’re looking for a pick me up. The messages about dealing with depression and addiction, managing your health and fitness and even studying and making smart choices− all of them really hit home.

Relationships of all different types; one’s that work out, one’s that don’t, some being easy, some being hard, long ones, short ones, mistakes and awkward surprises. Romance is well and truly covered, and I like that it doesn’t shy away with the stuff that just doesn’t end well.

Some of the best artwork you’ll come across (and so utterly fitting of the material), drawn to such a quality standard and on such a short time-frame that it kinda makes my head spin. I’m now at the point that when I think about the characters, these versions are the ones that appear in my head.

It’s honestly a little embarrassing for me to talk about AMAB, and god knows it’s pretty presumptuous, y’know? New guy recommends beloved artwork that already attracted thousands of followers back in its day. I’m going to guess this’ll end up being the rec that I’ll have needed to have written the least− since like, all of you have probably already devoured the blog long before you learned about it here.

But you know? If anything, I hope this ends up reconfirming what an excellent choice it was for you to have read it. And as always with these review things, if the author should read this, I hope you know just how much what you’ve made affected me and countless others; how good you deserve to feel, and how proud the people in your life must be of you for doing something so important and worthwhile.

As usual, next post’ll be spoilers and artwork− and I’m just going to bury my head in the sand so hard because my artwork is garbage compared, but we’ll have to muddle through. Join me there for second hand embarrassment, okay?

[crystallinecrimsonmoth]

Future Serial Killer [ongoing]

Chapter 20

Negan sat with Carl draped over his lap in Doc’s office, his delicate head resting on the older man’s shoulder as he came down from the shock of shooting his father. His boyfriend carded gentle fingers through the waves of brown that the teen had let him untie, winding through the strands to work out any knots and kissing his forehead after every few strokes. The kid’s blue eye had drifted shut a few times when he was too relaxed to stay awake, but mostly his gaze was fixed on the bleeding man atop Doc’s examination table.

Rick was unconscious already, put out by a punch to the face when Doc requested that he be sedated. With the bullet still inside the other man, Negan had taken it upon himself to both break his nose and knock him out, offering the excuse that his body would stay asleep longer to keep him out of pain. More time for Doc to get the bullet out, which the medical man accepted.

They’d been sitting there for fifteen minutes when he finally managed to wiggle it out of the man’s upper arm, dropping the metal droplet into a tray held out by Ada. The girl set it to the side before getting more gauze to help stop the bleeding, both her and Doc wary of the fact that this was Carl’s father, and even if the son wanted him dead, that didn’t mean Negan would allow the two of them to kill him.

Watching them finally stop the blood gushing onto the floor, Negan turned back to look at Carl, finding him asleep again and letting a small smile onto his face. He looked so peaceful in his sleep but there was still a dark ring around his eye from days without rest, the stress of life before the Sanctuary still weighing on his skin.

Negan could definitively say that he loved every inch of Carl. Every imperfection, every flaw, every beautiful little crater in the scar that was his eye socket. Everything was perfect to him, but he still wanted to erase the dark circle that crept around his nose and made him look like a ghoul. A beautiful ghoul.

He couldn’t help lifting his hand up to the teen’s face, his thumb tracing the ragged edges of his facial scar like it were a textured painting by the finest artist in the world. There was such a dark beauty to the socket scar, and the way it contrasted beside Carl’s perfect blue eye made his whole face an exquisite abstract artwork.

‘Boss?’

Fuck, where did he go? The kid’s damn perfect face had him far too distracted.

Looking up, he saw Doc and Ada staring at him, both standing beside a still passed out Rick with a tight bandage around his arm.

‘He’s fixed up. Might be a few hours before he wakes though.’ Doc explained, heading to the sink to wash the blood from his hands while Ada busied herself with clearing away the soiled gauze.

Negan nodded, tucking his arms under Carl’s body, and standing up with the teen in his arms.

‘Alright, cuff him to the bed. I don’t need any dead guards when he wakes up.’

‘Will do, boss.’

Sighing with relief that his little lamb hadn’t managed to kill his own father, he carried him back to their bedroom, finding Lucille already sitting at the door for him. He picked her up before laying Carl on the bed, kissing his forehead.

He was still asleep, soft breaths leaving his nose as he tucked his face into the pillow under his head, hair fanning out behind him. Massaging his back to keep him resting, Negan felt a twinge under his fingertips and wondered if the kid was still in pain from the night before. He regretted being so rough, even if Carl had asked him to be.

‘Negan?’ The soft, tired lilt of his boy’s voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he looked towards his face to see that one blue eye staring back at him.

‘Hey, darling. Did I wake you?’

Carl shook his head, sliding one hand down his back to link with the fingers pressing into his muscles.

‘No, but your hands right there disturbed my dream, so I had to wake up.’ He gave him a little smile and Negan nodded, gently moving him onto his stomach and sitting over the back of his thighs, pressing into his back muscles again.

‘Were you thinking about last night?’

‘Yes.’ Carl admitted breathlessly, letting out a gasp when Negan worked his thumbs into the dimples of his back.

The man smirked a little at the admission, digging his hands in deeper to draw out moans from him. It worked instantly, and the teen was gripping the bedsheets underneath him for stability as his boyfriend played with his muscles.

‘I’m in pain because of you, asshole. You fucked me too hard.’ He let out a sleepy hiss which made Negan chuckle.

He leaned down, his body covering Carl’s as he kissed behind his ear.

‘You asked for it.’

‘I didn’t ask for it that hard!’

‘Oh please, please daddy, fuck me, fuck me so hard I can’t walk!’ Negan mimicked his begs from the night before, grabbing his quick hands when they reached behind his back to slap him.

He circled his fingers around his wrists, watching the way Carl struggled under him and hissed. It was cute for a moment but then Carl looked angry. Legitimately angry.

‘Bastard! I’m not- I’m not just a little toy for you to fuck however you like! I’m not a fucking object, Negan!’ He snapped, tears showing in his eye already as the man struggled to contain his fists.

It wasn’t funny anymore. He was hitting back with the intent to hurt him; which Negan didn’t like one bit. He wasn’t putting up with this.

Struggling with the teen for a moment, he easily overpowered him and had Carl pinned with his wrists above his head and Negan’s thighs on either side of his hips. That gnarled face looked up at him with rage covering his expression, but he’d stopped fighting against Negan’s grip.

‘Do you like being pinned like this or are you just a brat?’ The man questioned in a growl, forcing his hand onto his throat when he tried to struggle again.

Their gaze met for a long silence, two dark minds challenging each other to make a move before Negan loosened his grip on his throat, sitting back on his haunches and letting him sit up.

‘I’m not an object.’

‘I never said you were.’

‘You implied it.’

‘Little lamb, if I ever imply that you’re just a fuck-toy to me, I give you full permission to punch me-’ The older man was cut off in his sentence by Carl’s fist meeting his face.

They both froze for a moment, Negan holding his face and Carl staring at the line of blood tracing a pathway from the man’s nose to his lip.

‘What. The shit. Was that?’ The Saviour finally spoke, still covering his face with his hand.

He noticed Carl hesitate before he responded.

‘You told me to punch you if I thought you thought I was a fuck-toy.’ He murmured, looking embarrassed now as he looked down at his hand that did the punching.

Negan sighed, nodding, and bringing his hand away from his face, staring at the blood covering it.

‘Fair enough, darling. Is your hand okay?’ The bearded man asked, more concerned for his lover’s welfare than his own.

He took the teen’s smaller hand in his own, inspecting his thumb and knuckles to see if there was any damage. He sighed.

‘They look fine. I know you’re stressed about your dad being here so I’m not holding the hit against you.’ He reassured, stroking his thumb across the back of Carl’s hand.

The room was quiet for a few seconds before Carl looked up at him, blue eye bright and attentive, and suddenly Negan found himself with a lapful of teenager, his soft little tongue licking at the bloody mess of his face. He wasn’t sure what to think, too stunned by what the kid was doing that he couldn’t speak, and only managed to grunt when Carl wiggled his hips on his crotch, hands tightening around his waist.

The wet muscle lapping at his upper lip stopped, and Negan was surprised to hear a soft growl against his mouth.

‘Take your jeans off.’

He didn’t expect that. This kid went from black to white to fucking rainbow in minutes. He wasn’t sure if he could keep up with his psychotic little ass.

‘What the fuck did you just say to me?’

A set of nimble fingers wrapped around his neck and Negan saw a glint of mischief in that one blue eye. Something twisted too.

‘Jeans. Off. I want control.’

Well fuck, that got him hard.

It seemed like Carl was getting impatient too, judging by the way he undid Negan’s zipper and started working his cock to full length in his hand. The Saviour groaned, his grip on Carl’s hips tightening until he could only just help the teen shimmy his jeans halfway down his thighs. That feeling, the feeling of his bare cheeks on his throbbing cock that was filling with blood too fast for him to comprehend, was enough to make Negan give himself to the kid, and soon he was balls deep inside him.

Carl had his lithe little hands wrapped around the man’s throat, squeezing while he used him as a means of achieving pleasure. Negan knew his little lamb loved him, but this particular session wasn’t about love. This was his pretty killer taking out his stress and frustration on the only cock he was willing to sit on, riding out a high to release the tension in his mind and forget his father’s presence in the doctor’s office.

Negan lay back and let him have what he wanted, surprised at his own willingness to be in such a vulnerable position. Carl could choke him out of his existence if he wanted to and he wouldn’t be able to fight back. The Saviour was only half sure that he wouldn’t end up dead from this particular altercation.

God only knew what went on in his pretty lamb’s delicate mind.

‘You’re so thick.’ He heard a soft whine from Carl’s lips and looked up to see the teen’s head tilted back, his throat exposed, as he kept riding Negan, rotating his hips and keeping his hands on his neck so he didn’t speak and disturb his headspace.

The older man let him be, resisting the urge to buck up into the tight suction around him, and soon there were thin ropes of white spraying onto his shirt, staining the black fabric. Carl collapsed on top of him, chest heaving as Negan finished inside him too. They both lay there for a moment, only pants of heavy breath filling the air, before Carl was tracing the bruises on his boyfriend’s throat and making a little humming sound.

‘I still want to kill him.’

‘You’re a beautiful little psycho, Grimes.’ Negan chuckled fondly, but he didn’t try to talk him out of it, simply rubbing the teen’s back while he licked the bruises forming on the man’s neck like a kitten.

[christiangaleofficial]

11/15/17

This is something I wrote in my notes about Don Hertzfeldt, emotion, and inspiration while sitting in a parking lot, a month ago if I have the date right. Usually I feel the need to make art or write out some big thing as part of a project about this stuff, but I was feeling overwhelmed and my friend Robert Tate suggested I just write about it, so I did, and it helped me. I’m not editing it at all, but I’m putting it here just so I have it somewhere where people can know this about me and know me a little more (if anyone is left on Tumblr idk I haven’t been on here in a bit). I’m sorry about the language if you’re someone I need to be sorry about the language to, but also these were just my own thoughts and I didn’t really have the intention of sharing it. Also, I’m sorry if you are Don Hertzfeldt and you are reading this because it would probably be really weird to read this about yourself, I’m not like a psycho fan, I don’t think, just scared and inspired.

Yesterday, in the midst of sitting in the Bargain Outlet parking lot in a controlled state of stress-paralysis, I discovered that Don Hertzfeldt has been keeping an online journal since 1999. I was on my computer, desperately, trying to decide once and for all whether to head home to be with my family, head north to go to Mt. Tam and Pt. Reyes, head way north to Lost Beach and the Redwoods, head east to Sacramento, or head south through Palo Alto…. toward home as well, I guess. I don’t know exactly how I ended up on Don Hertzfeldt.

I discovered his journal and I couldn’t believe how many things it did to me. He is a figure I have built up in my head to be pretty big. I have ideas about what kind of person he is, from watching his films, in kind of a cycle- I tend to do that with artists who inspire me. His films inform my idea of who he is as a person, which in turn inform my idea of his films. This was one of those amazing moments where all the sudden I had access to his actual ideas, and they exactly fit with my idea of who he is as a person, except even better, if only because they were real. I was overwhelmed by inspiration about artistic integrity and the sadness of life and tying the two together.

Somewhere in all of this, it became relevant for me to watch a 2 minute short film he made as an intro for The Simpsons. It almost made me cry.

I later tweeted a string of tweets; “every time I feel like I might cry the voice in the back of my head goes "yes! you're crying! you're not an emotionless robot look how much you're FEELING!" and then I never cry.” and then: “anyway, this most recent occasion was from watching The Simpsons Travel Into The Future Couch Gag by @donhertzfeldt, I SERIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA WHY I haven't even watched that much Simpsons.”

And this was all true except the part where I said I SERIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA WHY, because I have a lot of ideas why. And it also made me think of some interesting things about how we portray ourselves on social media. I tweeted that to be funny and honest, and, I think, it was funny and honest. But it was also cute, and kind of skirting around what I actually was trying to acknowledge.

I very, very rarely cry. Maybe 5 times since starting college? Definitely no more than 10. And it makes me feel weird that I never cry, because it’s not that I’m just that chill of a person. I have very little chill, I care constantly, and about nearly everything. The reason it makes me feel weird is because I feel like I am never fully in an experience, a feeling, or a moment. I feel one thing, and then I think about why I’m feeling that, whether or not I really am, what that means, etc. I laugh and then I immediately think “was that even funny? am I even happy or having fun?” Crying, for me, means being totally overwhelmed by emotion, good or bad. I want to be totally overwhelmed by emotion, good and bad, but I rarely am. There is always the removed, disconnected, worried part of me questioning every experience, wondering why in the fuck life is even worth going through anyway.

So yeah, the tweet was funny, but that’s what I was getting at. I never cry because I am never that present in a moment. When I am for a split second, my brain thinks about it, and takes me out of fully experiencing the moment. It’s weird, but it’s how I am. In my best, and my worst, and all of my MOSTS.

Second, I could figure out why. I was reading things about how Don Hertzfeldt thinks- his random thoughts, his ideas, his dreams (literal dreams), and his integrity as an artist. How he refuses to do commercials, refuses to give almost any of his control over his own art to anyone else. The guy DISTRIBUTES his own work. That’s crazy. And to see that, and then see this crazy fucked up Simpsons short, and see how it actually had the power to move me in the span of about 30 seconds, and it actually implied some pretty deep shit, and aired on national television, made me proud, and encouraged, and yeah, pretty emotional. And on top of that, the short just moved me. It was an actually beautiful depiction of society devolved, implying a winking, dark joke about the show, with a beautiful segment remembering the actual connections they used to have- ending with, again, a winking dark joke. In 2 minutes. Later I found his journal entry about it, and he had almost no input or editing from the Simpsons- they just let him do what he wanted, and that’s what he did, and it’s amazing to me. It moved me, and the fact that he made it moved me, and it made me want to cry. I watched it some more times and it held.

Today, I continued reading his journal, and and AMA he did, and other Hertzfeldt things, and I am overwhelmingly inspired. I can’t believe that his thoughts imply all the things I hoped about him as an artist, and I can’t believe he, who is semi-notoriously removed from the pop culture/interview/etc world, has given us access to his real life and thoughts like this.

I found out that he isn’t really into animation or cartoons besides the fact that that’s what he literally spends his whole life making. They were just the form that was best to convey his stories and interests and the way he felt most comfortable working.

I can’t say how huge that is- I have already written before that he serves as a symbol to me of making art on your own terms- that he has made me worry less about meeting industry standards, curating the exact set of tools I’m supposed to, and instead has just made me want to focus on getting good. And I worry a lot about art in the physical, drawing sense, being my main set of tools to communicate with. I worry because this is not the kind of art that has most frequently or greatly impacted me. Movies and music, and sometimes books, and the words contained in all three are what mean the most to me- what I feel drawn to, fill my thoughts with, and to an extent, build my life around. I worry that I am being lazy or safe in pursuing art, that I am just doing it because I know I am semi good at it, that I will never fulfill my potential because I’m not trying to. That I don’t really have anything to say with artwork in that medium. and that i just use it to mask my words and make me less embarrassed about them, legitimize them. But drawing is what feels comfortable to me, what I know how to do, and gives me total control of what I’m doing. (I think that’s some of the draw for Don as well, he is branching out now, but traditionally has retained total control over his work by working in this medium). So to see one of my biggest inspirations working in a medium he isn’t necessarily most impacted or obsessed with, but because it’s what he feels drawn to, someone who has already inspired me to be like that without knowing that’s how he is- that’s a pretty big deal.

The other thing that has stood out to me is how humble his lifestyle and opinion of his own work is. He obviously is proud of it, but doesn’t think he’s great, and even if he does, seems to refuse to actively think it. I think for a long time I’ve expected to eventually transform into the pure-art-version of myself, for my ideas to all the sudden be all amazing and inspired and exist on a higher level than my fellow people, like I like to think some of my other heroes do. And I think reading his journals is helping to remind me that that is not how this works, and encourage me that is okay. It’s kind of awesome, actually, to think that I could do work now in my not nearly “ready” state that could mean something to people- I don’t have to get to a certain spot first. It’s just working, and sometimes the work works and sometimes it doesn’t but it’s just working and you have to believe in why you’re doing it, but that’s it. You don’t unlock some magic ability. And traditionally that has been terrifying to me, but somehow it’s starting to feel encouraging instead? Similarly to how It’s Such A Beautiful Day shifted from a terrifying, yet awe-inspiring piece of art in my life to an encouraging yet awe-inspiring film. It’s crazy to see my perspective shift in places that I formerly thought I, or life, had to. But it was actually just the way I was looking at things.

Anyway, I feel that I might end up owing a lot to Don Hertzfeldt. I am so happy he is out there and making art, and encouraged by his mind and the way he uses it. If I could follow in his footsteps even a little I will be happy.

Also, his work ethic is like a million times better than mine, so I better get the fuck to it.

(Here is a link to the couch gag if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m78gYyTrG7Y)

[entj-werewolf]

ISFJ, INFJ, ISFP, ESTJ

1. ISFJ: What's a memory that you look back on often?

I’m not sure what memories I look back on often, so I don’t quite know what one to pick. But, hmmm... I think in general, I’ll look back on lots of my days that I had been pretty physically crippled from my anxiety. It comes back to mind a lot because I’m in such a better state, that I can’t help but realize how much better I really got after that. It doesn’t always fully hit me until I’m doing something I hadn’t been able to do for 4 years, y’know? But at the same time, I missed out on a lot during those years and got very behind in some of my own pursuits/passions (like programming). I want to “catch up” somehow and make up for that lost time, but I probably can’t. I can still dream though... And keep trying.

Related to those general memories of that rough patch in my life, the bigger memories that stick out are the times I ended up in the hospital from horrifying panic attacks (which shot my heart rate too high and needed monitoring and serious calming down). Stuff like that?

2. INFJ: Is there something that people tend to misunderstand about you?

Definitely depends on the person, but there have been times I was misunderstood as being neglectful and/or not caring at all about someone - this usually coming from friends who haven’t known me for too long yet or are in defensive/skeptical states of mind. I’m not blaming them, of course, as I did do things that probably came off wrong despite not having any ill intentions. It’s just one of those strange matters of different perspectives that everyone deals with in other people at some point. I have mostly Feeling type friends who do want to feel absolutely loved, valued, etc., so I have times that I screw up in my wording and the context bursts into flames at them.

I mean, one time I made some off-handed jokes to some friends about how I wasn’t sure what caused lots of people I know (including one of these friends) to have crushes on me and so on. And I talked about how idk what crushes feel like, and joked that it’s kinda a “waste” for people to have said feelings for me and they should try to “stop” the feelings. Then, I accidentally remarked something in the midst of it (can’t fully remember what anymore now though).

I was mostly intending its harsher tone toward the people I had left from my life since they were being too creepy/manipulative with their crushes, but one of the friends with this crush thought it was directed at ‘em too. That friend didn’t really react hurt at first, but later in a private conversation brought it up and thought I was treating those feelings as a joke or something. Didn’t help that I was telling these people how I find such feelings as things that can be stopped out of sheer will (which is something I’ve done and continue to do for some other emotion things). Ughhh... Whoops.

There’s also the weird misunderstanding my different family members have toward me, buuut I won’t get into those here, really. It’s messy and would make this answer too long!

3. ISFP: How do you express yourself?

Usually my artwork, since that’s where I can draw anything I enjoy and have interest in. Sometimes, I also express myself through the clothes I wear, but that’s if I have reason for using those clothes at all. (Like when I was having fun with the Pokemon Go craze, I had a blast wearing my Pokemon clothes to go with it!)

4. ESTJ: How would you describe your work ethic?

Okay, so... Let’s see how to explain my work ethics... I will quickly disclaim too, however, that I cannot consider myself an outright expert on this who knows everything. This is just what I’ve figured out at this point in my life at 22 years old, mixed with some things I find ideal for the best kind of workplace in general. There’s also some stuff I observe in a “how to improve or use to best potential” kind of way, so I might have a few views that aren’t “fully practiced” or “tried and true.” I cannot claim either that my views on this are perfect, blahblah. This just goes on ‘cause I don’t know if to expect anything explosive or just a-okay to come from this, pfffft.

(This got really long and probably seems boring, so I have it under a read more only for those who really are curious and have time to read a near-essay on this crud. -coughs-)

People need to be respectful to each other and not be whiny about stuff (they’re allowed to have complaints, but those have to be reasonable and legitimate). Overall, constructive criticism is much more preferred over people just complaining all the time for the sake of complaining. I sortaaa see this as a general “interact with anyone” rule too, though....

Don’t underpay, and don’t overpay either. Really know how to measure monetary value in things and/or employees. But, also take advantage of “deals” in value changes. Supply and demand is cool and should be used for good reason when it comes to making product prices! Position and purpose that each person has in a job, plus the amount of quality work they actually do (not just the time spent doing it), is also important to measuring their paycheck’s worth. No favoritism, just fair observations and analyses of all of these values.

Speaking of favoritism, really avoid that too. It can screw things up, shake things out of balance, and put too many others at a disadvantage. Then, they likely are the type of people to think you’re being stupid with such actions. (This is more of a strict case to people working as employers or have this higher position, though... Doesn’t matter too much if regular employees have “favoritism” out of being friends. It just has to not distract them too much while they’re clocked in, and it’s all okay!)

Another issue with favoritism is an employer that clings too much to the work one of their employees brings to the business/job/whatever. This can be a huge hinderance on this favored employee, but also hinder the employer and their business in the long term. It’s like one of those obsessive girlfriends/boyfriends that never leave you alone and leech off your work! Avoid at all freaking costs! Teach the employer to let go if you’re one of these favored employees and you want to do something else with your life. Quitting is a free option, but you do have to balance the consequences of it. Don’t quit if you don’t have the next job to join, but also make sure your leave is on a good note so you don’t obliterate your reputation as someone people want to hire. Also, if that employer is rich with a tantrum, maybe avoid upsetting them with any dramatic quitting or anything. Idk if a person can seriously be sued just for quitting, but hey, I’ve seen people get sued for dumber reasons. It’s just a form of caution you have to learn, ‘cause there are ridiculous people out there even in professional positions, man.

(I may or may not also be this favored employee and hate it because I want to move on, the job is bad for my carpal tunnel and respitory health, and the boss doesn’t seem interested in hiring anyone else or able to find another person to take my place.... Help.)

Don’t be too pushy. This is coming from someone who’s seen as pushy sometimes (or lots of times), but there’s a time and place for everything no matter what position you have in a job. Often times, people are less likely to listen to you or value your opinions (whether reasonable or not), because instead they just see you as someone wanting everything to go your own way, and not open to anything else. Just, be wary of this. I’ve made mistakes on it (out of stress) and it probably diminished a bit of how my own parents view my ability to be an employee. It produces frustrating results - believe me. Wording is also important. If you’re careful with your wording and its timing, and how frequently you bring up the same reasonable or unreasonable criticism/complaint, then you won’t be seen as pushy quite that easily. You just increase your odds of seeming too pushy if you really are, y’know, lacking tact in your wording and constantly emphasizing stuff. It’s a bad habit of mine that I’m working on, but it’s something that all people gotta work on too in their own ways.

Clear communication is the most important thing in a job! No matter your position, status, role, whatever in a job.... This is key and can prevent so many future problems. If there’s a completely decided change in a schedule, policy, or anything else that affects the job, you need to make it clear ASAP. Don’t wait on it, don’t bounce around it, and don’t even try to be vague on this stuff to others. Make it clear, concise, and don’t screw up the information. Have it prepared as quick as possible, and then share it with others as quick as possible. It’s like the whole “rip off the bandage” thing. Slowly peeling it and delaying its removal is only going to hurt more, man. Comminucation is a bit of a problem in my current job, and it’s absolutely frustrating and exhausting. Not to complete fault of my boss, but that’s a whole other topic and again - not what I’ll get into here. Just saying, I definitely know how cruddy it can be for bad comminucation skills/tactics in a workplace (or anything involving cooperative efforts). I’m also saying this as someone who is still very socially awkward and is a bit shy, but if it’s something serious like this with vital consequences, I do try and step out of my awkwardness and hope to initiate this communication well. (I’m usually okay with responding to communication, but yeah, I try to force myself into the initiative parts for the sake of things like this.)

-DEEP BREATH- I think that’s the most I can write on this here. It’s as brief as I can keep this while also making sure the ethics are clear - in case this is actually decent advice for people. I’m not too sure myself, so who knows.

Thanks for the questions as always!