#might try to paint a digital version of this

[d-criss-news]

‘Maybe Happy Ending’: Darren Criss’ New Musical Shows the Lovesick Side of AI

Whether he’s standing  under the glare of a spotlight on a Broadway stage, or perched in front of an open window at a bustling Nolita coffeeshop, one fact stays the same: Darren Criss practically vibrates with energy. And that observation isn’t just because Criss currently stars in the new Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, where in a world filled with robots, energy is everything.

Criss plays Oliver, a life-like “Helper-Bot” living out his lifespan in a small apartment in Seoul, Korea. For all his robotic tendencies, stiff limbs, and jointed movements, Oliver is clear from his very first song that he cherishes his simple, unwavering routine: chatting with his potted plant Hwaboon, listening to old jazz records, and waiting for mail from his owner James. But when Claire (Helen J. Shen), the Helper-Bot across the hall, crashes into his life because of her broken charger, the two’s budding friendship and matching dream to visit South Korea’s famed JeJu island catapults them onto a journey about the importance of memories and the complex nature of love. 

Written by Hue Park and composed by Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending is a charming addition to a Broadway scene usually dominated by revivals and shows based on established intellectual property — with Criss’ performance giving Oliver passion and heartbreaking depth that feels like it should be impossible for a battery-powered assistant. But what shows the musical’s strength and staying power is its extremely dedicated online fandom, also known as Fireflies, who have used word of mouth posts on TikTok, Reddit, and Tumblr to drive up ticket sales and take the musical from scrappy newcomer to a Tony contender. And whether it’s kismet or something more magical, there’s something incredibly significant about a musical thriving from its online fandom being led by an actor whose career is defined by them. Criss tells Rolling Stone he doesn’t take lightly how much fans feel attached to the Broadway musical. After all, he was a fan first. 

“You don’t go to school for this,” Criss says, black-painted fingernails curled in front of a shot of espresso. “Nothing can prepare you for the oddness and the beauty of [fandom]. It’s a mutating organism. I get it. And whenever anyone wants to be a part, I’m very grateful, because I know what is driving that engine.”

When Criss exits the stage door left of the Belasco theater after a performance of Maybe Happy Ending, it’s always unclear which version of the 38-year-old people are cheering for. The average person might recognize the actor for his time on the Ryan Murphy teen-comedy Glee, where he played a cappella group leader Blaine Anderson, love interest of Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer). There’s also Murphy’s 2018 FX limited series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, for which Criss took home a Primetime Emmy for his portrayal of killer Andrew Cunanan. He’s also been on Broadway for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Chess, Hedwig and The Angry Inch, and American Buffalo. But what the layman might not be aware of is Criss’ digital start via the now-famous YouTube musical theater group Team Starkid. He played boy wonder Harry Potter in Starkid’s theater parody A Very Potter Musical, which was filmed during he and his friends’ final semester at the University of Michigan. The show went viral on YouTube in 2009 — kickstarting Team Starkid’s presence online as a generation-defining digital theater company. 

Before A Very Potter Musical was quintessential YouTube history, it was the school’s annual basement musical theater show for “shits and giggles.” His senior year, Criss played Potter and wrote several songs two days before the show. Because they performed in a classroom that was set up with performance cameras and mics, the group convinced lead writers Nick and Matt Lang to cut the footage together, which ended up on a DVD the group gathered to watch together. After graduation, the friends decamped to different cities, but people kept asking to be sent the DVD. So Criss uploaded it to YouTube to save money on postage. “It was literally just a means to share with our friends, unaware that anybody outside of our dumb group of friends would be interested in this very niche thing,” he says. “But I just remember waking up and getting a notification that we were the number one subscribed channel in 50 countries.” 

While Criss describes the experience of going viral during such an early stage of the internet as  “uniquely terrifying,” he also notes that his jumpstart into the online world with Starkid has made him realize just how rare it is that collaborations with friends not only succeed but are well received. Maybe Happy Ending’s director Michael Arden is married to Criss’ college classmate, Andy Mientus, who was an associate director of the show’s first run in Atlanta. Criss’ co-star Shen is also a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and Criss describes her as both an actress with “supernova potential,” and a dear friend. 

“The thing that scared us about [Starkid] at first was the thing that ended up being a huge asset to us, which was this sort of scrappy, me and my friends quality to it,’” Criss says. “It’s a moment of great pride and joy for me, because it was what you dream about, which is like, ‘Oh, if I could just make stuff with my friends.’ With a lifetime of creating stuff, I know the feeling of being into [a project] when other people aren’t, or vice versa. But I’ve loved this show since we started making it, and the fact that other people responded to it is really validating.”

Even if there was a good way to spoil the magic of the show — there isn’t ��� it would be a disservice to try here. But Criss, a father of two, calls Maybe Happy Ending “the greatest possible thing that could be happening to me and my family creatively, spiritually, emotionally and mentally,” because the schedule allows him to have time with his wife and kids. “These are very valuable years I will not get back,” he says. “And I’m keenly aware of that, so I get very emo about this very beautiful moment in my life.” But it’s not just a return to Broadway for the actor, it’s a return to the very theater where he starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2016, but with a friend making her Broadway debut. 

“The fact that Helen and I are now just sharing this moment, and that marquee, there’s a real poetry to it,” he says. “I get to behold this staggering Broadway debut. I think this is gonna be one of those moments that we talk about many years from now. ‘Oh, I saw Sutton [Foster] in this,’ or ‘I saw Audra [McDonald] in this.’ I saw Helen in this eight times a week. And I had the best seat in the house.”

Fandom aside, Maybe Happy Ending also has a clear draw with the prescient questions it raises about artificial intelligence and the idea of planned obsolescence in an actively growing tech field. Yes, that doesn’t sound particularly conducive to a no-intermission musical helmed by a talented predominantly Asian-American cast and a jazzy, romantic score. But that’s the sheer surprise of Maybe Happy Ending, which manages to tackle giant thoughts of romance, trash, and a human devotion to tech, all within an hour and 40 minutes. 

“I got asked a question today, like, ‘How soon do you think [robot helpers] are gonna happen?’ And I was like ‘It happens now,’ We have emotional relationships with our technology,” Criss says. “You lose your phone in a fucking cab, you go insane. Your phone is an extension of yourself, for better or for worse. I always tell people like when they’re trying to get their head around the pitch for the show, ‘Well, how many old iPhones do you have in a drawer?’ How many old pieces of technology do you keep for reasons beyond rational belief systems? We ascribe parts of ourselves into these things that are part of our story, and we can’t let them go.” 

Broadway fandoms aren’t something that can simply be manufactured to help with a show’s appeal. Theater is a notoriously inaccessible medium, with filmed versions either expensive or entirely unavailable. It’s an art that is experienced best in person. But that proximity can also bring a bit of a taboo about digital fans, where their fervor and intensity can put off actors or creatives. Criss notes that while this can seem weird to some, he always encourages people to double down on the love for their interests. After all, he says his intense love of musicians and movies is what got him to this stage in the first place.

“People say ‘Don’t chase your heroes.’ No,” Criss says . “Wait outside of buses for them. Go to a store and get your sneakers signed by them. Keep track of what they’re doing. And then cultivate your mind and your skill set to get to a level where your abilities put [you] in a room with them. That’s the way the inspiration wheel works.” 

[velociheroviridi]

🌠 Metereology 🌌

I'm new to watercolor but I wanted to try it out for this prompt!

...I am remembering that metereology might not have as much to do with space as I was thinking but uhh he's looking at the atmosphere too so that counts

[gibbearish]

idk looks pretty clearly posted to me, kinda seems like you just. didnt read the rules and then broke them lmao

Today's sponsored post is to inform everyone that Reddit's r/Art community is run by pigs with no lives. At best, I was mildly annoying initially. They just slung mud. If this is what a community touts as its “best,” it's trash.

[dntaed]

chapter one ── welcome mat

oh, my clumsy heart: a roommate jason series.

♥︎ roommate!jason ✗ gn!reader

SYNOPSIS: A man, an expert in every unsavory action of his less-than-legal occupation, like Jason, shouldn't be so nervous about meeting a roommate. Yet here he is—his nails digging crescents into his palm as his eyes lock onto your nervous smile.

TAGS: roommate au, friends to lovers, tooth-rotting fluff, awkward flirting, mutual pining, emotional intimacy, eventual romance, AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES!! canon-typical violence.

CHAPTER SYNOPSIS: Jason follows you back down the hall, the strange tension between you both melting away. This might not be so bad after all. He could get used to this—whatever this was.

✹ ꕀ SERIES M.LIST ; NEXT ; SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

The kaleidoscopic colors of this evening dance across concrete streets. It paints a striking contrast on the canvas. Neon signs flicker and hum, beckoning you inside the markets that are tucked between towering brick apartments, their garish lights bleeding into the surrounding shadows. The air is thick with the smell of street food, rainwater mixing with exhaust fumes, and the subtle scent of asphalt. People move across the slick pavement, their hurried footsteps tapping out an almost rhythmic pattern. They slide between the occasional car like busy bees, all lost in their own heads, each one with a mission of their own deep in their determined minds.

It’s all strangely calming to see. As if Gotham itself is just a backdrop to the urgent lives of the people that live within it. If you only forget the dim alleyways beside those cozy markets—places that hide secrets not meant for curious eyes. The ones that ooze dark promises, whispering of things better left unseen.

The dichotomy of Gotham City.

Jason leans against his motorcycle, eyes tracing the chaotic beauty of it all. He’s been here long enough to know that Gotham’s pulse is erratic, its rhythm always just a little off. He runs a hand over the leather of his jacket, the material clinging uncomfortably to his skin. The heat of the jacket presses into his shoulders, far too warm for the damp night air, but it’s a comfort nonetheless. A familiar weight. The soft, persistent drizzle makes the jacket feel even heavier, and yet, it’s the only thing that grounds him in this mess of neon lights and cold streets.

With a deep breath, Jason reaches into his pocket, fingers brushing over the crumpled edges of the paper he’s been carrying for days. A small, almost ridiculous thing, but it’s his lifeline now. His thumb presses into the creases of the paper, smoothing it out just enough to read it again, even though he’s already memorized the words.

DESPERATE NEED OF ROOMMATE! $600 // East End // Thompson Apartments // 2BD!

Gender doesn't matter. Just pay rent on time. The apartment is "vintage," not old. Two bedrooms, a functioning kitchen and bathroom.

CONTACT FOR MORE: (555) 123-1443!!

Jason’s eyes linger on the number for a moment, tracing the digits with his mind. He called it a few days ago, desperate like the ad claimed. His situation demanded urgency, just like your voice on the other end of the line. The surprise in your tone when he explained why he was calling made him hesitate for just a second, but then he remembered: Gotham didn’t care about how people got by. It only cared about getting by. And he needed something in the East End, something that wasn’t going to make him stand out too much.

The whole thing was a gamble. He’d told you he was just a student, trying to save some cash, and that was the truth… at least the version of it he could afford to tell. The truth, in his world, was always a little murky. You didn’t ask questions, and maybe that was why he agreed. Maybe it was the way you sounded—genuine, in a way he wasn’t used to. The thought had stuck with him.

East End apartments weren’t the stuff of dreams, but they were affordable. They were quiet, in a way. Too quiet sometimes.

As he waits, Jason wonders—did you even believe him?

Was he really just some lost student? Or was he something else entirely? Someone you’d let into your life, someone you’d risk the quiet life of your apartment with?

His nails dig into his palm, the tightness of his grip a quiet manifestation of his nerves. There’s a strange tension in the air, but it’s not just the apartment he’s here for—it’s the uncertainty of it all. What’s the chance you think he's a serial killer? He wonders briefly.

Fifty? Thirty, if he doesn’t completely blow his first impression.

The shuffle of footsteps behind the door jolts him back to reality. He can almost picture you, wearily moving down the hallway toward him, hesitating for just a moment before reaching for the door. A brief moment of expectation passes before the door creaks open. Jason’s breath hitches, but he doesn’t let it show.

He can’t—he won’t let it show.

And then there you are, standing in the doorway. Your nervous smile hits him like a wave. The way your lips pull up just slightly, your eyes flickering with a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. You’re the kind of person who’s been worn down by Gotham, but not yet broken by it, and for a moment, Jason wonders how long that will last.

"Jason, right?" Your voice is soft, but not shy. It’s curious, but not probing. Your gaze flicks down, taking in his figure with a casual assessment, as if you’re already trying to figure out if this stranger is going to be worth the risk.

Jason stands frozen for a beat, before he finds his voice. "Yeah, that’s me." His words are a little rough around the edges, but they come out more steady than he feels. "I, uh... I called about the apartment."

For the briefest moment, your smile falters, the weight of the decision settling in your shoulders. But you push through it, stepping back from the doorway with a small gesture. "Come on in. Welcome to your new place—or at least, part of it."

And just like that, the door swings open.

You stand in front of him, blocking the way into the apartment. Jason shifts awkwardly, eyes flicking to the side, not entirely sure if he should even be here. His words tumble out in a clumsy attempt at being casual.

"Yeah," he mutters, a little too quickly, "2BD, right?"

You pause for a moment, looking at him with an amused glint in your eye. Jason mentally kicks himself for even asking. Of course it’s 2BD. The sharp click of the door opening behind him only makes his discomfort grow.

It’s quiet for a second as he waits for you to respond, but you don’t seem to mind at all. A small, genuine smile breaks out across your face, your cheeks rising slightly, your nose scrunching as you fight back a laugh. It’s the kind of smile that seems to warm the entire room, and Jason can’t help but notice how it shifts your entire demeanor. He forgets for a moment what he was even thinking.

With a soft laugh, you gesture to the open doorway. "Come in," you say, your voice light and inviting, like there’s nothing more normal than him being here. It pulls him out of his thoughts, and without thinking too much, he steps inside.

He follows you through the apartment, the faint smell of coffee and something vaguely floral lingering in the air. His eyes drift around, taking in the space: the mismatched furniture, the little trinkets scattered about that seem so personal. It’s cozy in an unexpected way. A coat rack by the door is crowded with jackets and hats—yours, he assumes. The mirror next to it reflects the two of you, and for a second, he pauses, not sure if he’s looking at the reflection of two strangers or something more familiar.

You continue talking, not missing a beat. "So, this is the living room," you explain, waving a hand to the center of the room where the couch sits. It's worn, a little tattered, but there's a kind of charm to it, like it’s seen a lot of life. " The landlord upstairs calls it 'vintage. ' I call it 'good enough to survive.'"

Jason smirks, the corners of his mouth quirking up. He can’t help but picture the landlord as some old guy with too many opinions and a wardrobe that probably includes some out-of-date tweed. "He gives you trouble?" Jason asks, his curiosity piqued more than he intends. The instinct to size up the situation—just in case—kicks in, and he mentally bristles.

You shrug as you look around the room, your hands resting on your hips. "Trouble? Probably. But we’ll share the burden." Your smirk is sly, a glint in your eye as you look over at him. "Perks of a roommate, right?"

Jason can’t help but laugh at that. It’s not a joyful laugh but one laced with sarcasm. "Yeah, perks. Just what I needed."

You quirk an eyebrow, clearly amused by his reaction. “You put up the ad just to 'share the burden,' huh?"

"Yep," you answer matter-of-factually, a hint of mischief in your voice. "I figure there’s a sea of desperate students in Gotham, all waiting for a chance to be this lucky."

Jason chuckles dryly. "And I’m the lucky winner, huh?"

He can’t tell if it’s the way you talk or the subtle shift in your tone, but something about it strikes him. The way you linger on certain words, like you're testing it, or maybe just savoring the sound. It makes him feel odd, in a way he can’t quite place. But it’s a feeling that pulls him out of his usual guarded state, just a little.

Jason falls into step behind you, still lost in thought. The way you speak, the way you carry yourself—it's not like anyone he’s ever met. It’s easy to forget how much time he’s spent alone, only surrounded by people who treat him like an object or a tool or even a bomb about to go off that they try to soothe with sickly soft words that are too soft for his liking. You act like he’s just a guy—no judgment, no pity, just a weird stranger showing up in your life, as normal as it can get. Just two very normal roommates, nothing more. He doesn't know how to feel about that yet, but it pulls at him more than it should.

“So, tell me," he says, eyes scanning the hallway now, “What's the catch here? There’s got to be one, right?”

You turn back toward him, the corners of your mouth twitching upward. "The catch?" You raise an eyebrow. "Oh, you’ll see. There’s always a catch in Gotham, Jason. Always."

Jason feels a little shiver crawl up his spine. Gotham. Yeah. He knows all too well about catches in this city.

His usual self-consciousness is creeping back up. But then he notices the way you look at the space, the way your voice flows as you explain the apartment to him, and for some reason, he feels a bit more at ease.

You give him a teasing glance, one that feels almost like a challenge. “Don’t sound so disappointed, Jason,” you reply, your voice light, almost sing-song. “Is Jason okay?”

It’s a simple question, but it catches him off guard—he's not used to people just asking. He doesn’t even realize it, but he’s been holding his breath for a second. Jason swallows, trying to brush off the sudden wave of discomfort that floods over him. It’s like you’ve peeled back a layer, even if just for a moment.

“Yeah,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair, trying to play it off. “It's fine.”

You look at him for a moment longer, studying him as though you're trying to decide if he’s being truthful or not. There’s a softness in your gaze now, a sort of warmth that feels unexpected. Finally, you nod, as though satisfied with his answer.

“Good,” you say, your voice lowering slightly. “Well, if you're going to be living here, you should probably know that the kitchen is... charming.”

Jason laughs, the sound a little more genuine this time. “Charming? What, like ‘charming’ the way Gotham is charming, or charming the way an old car is charming?”

You give him a quick, amused glance before leading him toward the kitchen. "A little of both, honestly. But if you’re expecting anything gourmet, you’re going to be sorely disappointed."

The kitchen is small but functional, with a modest fridge and a few dishes cluttered around the sink. There's an old-school stovetop, the kind that looks like it could use a little love, and a countertop covered in mismatched mugs. The place feels real. It’s not pristine or overly decorated, but there’s something oddly comforting about it.

“Let me guess,” Jason says, leaning against the door frame with a smirk, “The fridge is a disaster, right?”

You chuckle softly as you pull the door open to reveal the inside. "Only if you’re picky about food that’s almost safe to eat.

Jason peers inside, trying to stifle a grin. "Ah, looks like exactly what I expected."

The fridge is stocked with a variety of takeout containers and what Jason can only assume is a collection of leftover meals—some with more questionable smells than others. It's a far cry from any kind of organization, but it feels comfortable. Like it belongs here.

"So," Jason says, crossing his arms, "What’s the deal with this place? How long have you been here?"

You turn to face him, leaning against the counter with a casual ease that suggests you’ve been in this exact situation before. "A year," you say, shrugging. "It’s not much, but it’s home. You learn to make do with the weird stuff."

Jason nods, looking around the kitchen. "Seems like a good deal for Gotham. Nice and cheap, right?"

"Exactly. And you don’t have to worry about too much. It’s quiet, for the most part. Except for the landlord, of course," you add with a wink, "But that’s just part of the fun."

Jason chuckles, feeling a bit lighter than before. There’s something about the way you talk, something that puts him at ease. He’s used to walls—metaphorical ones—but in this moment, he feels like you’re letting him in just enough to make him comfortable.

“Guess I’ll be sticking around then,” he says, his voice lowering into something that’s more teasing than serious.

“Better get used to it,” you reply, your tone matching his as you throw him a sly grin. “We’ve got a lot more to share.”

Jason raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ll hold you to that.”

You laugh softly, pushing off the counter as you gesture toward the living room. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place. If you think this is interesting, just wait until you see the bathroom.”

Jason follows you back down the hall, the strange tension between you both melting away. This might not be so bad after all. He could get used to this—whatever this was.

© dntaed | all rights reserved. even when credited, these works are not allowed to be reposted, translated, or modified.

[bowandbrush]

I’ve been tinkering her design for MONTHS and I just love the potential of Big mamas’s assistant- So this is my AU Venus de Milo. I’d like to think of her as a painted turtle yokai, I might change some things idk. Anyways

I’m trying to go for a “moon” pattern. I also noticed the canon version of her has a tiny shell bump, so AU explanation? She’s a premature child. Shell never fully formed.

I lot of the AU (most of it actually) is written out in traditional storyboard form. Which is annoyingly painstaking to digitalize

[phantomonabudget]

Charles Dance/Yeston & Kopit Concept Makeup

Phantom Cosplay & Makeup Application: @phantomonabudget

Prosthetic: @dyadmufx

This is my first interpretation of what Erik (The Phantom) might have looked like in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of the Yeston and Kopit stage show. This version is quite famous for never showing Erik's face. Instead, we are left with only clues to his actual appearance. I imagine that decision was made as often the imagination can co.e up with far worse possibilities than whatever they would have out on camera. Still...it's fun to try.

Makeup Design

There are few clues or hints in the movie to build upon. We know the eyes are sunken in due to the eye shadow applied to the actor, Charles Dance. We know that the mouth, jaw, and skin around the edge of the face appear to be unaffected. And when pressed about his appearance, Erik says only: "I have no face. I have only the semblance of a face...and no one should have to look at it."

So...not exactly descriptive, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

Given the visual clues (or lack thereof), we know the middle of the face is the only area affected and it is completely covered by the mask. I chose to use a beautiful, foam latex base prosthetic appliance by DYAD FX. I kept the skin tone similar to that of the mouth and around the face, but carefully and thinly layered colors from my alcohol activated pallettes to give the effect of a very thin, pinkish tone to the area. I painted in veining to further the effect of the thinned out skin.

...No Nose??

I wanted to give the illusion of not having a nose (or at least that he was losing his). This is certainly the holy grail of Phantom visual design for most Phans, as we have truly only seen one makeup design faithful to the original Gaston Leroux novel...and that was Lon Chaney nearly 100 years ago! So I wanted to try to incorporate that element into this design.

However, it is impossible to eliminate the nose using makeup alone, as effects makeup is additive, not subtractive. Meaning, we add things like prosthetic appliances to the skin to create an effect, but can't take away what the person naturally has. Any time you see a missing nose in film and TV, it is removed using visual/digital effects (VFX). Oftentimes, VFX compliments a prosthetic effects makeup design (like Red Skull in the Marvel movies). It is possible to hide the nose under surrounding prosthetics, but in my opinion, that is usually not successful for realism. Adding more material under/around the nose makes the end result look more simian (ape-like) than just a human without a nose.

To allude to this effect, I instead painted the majority of my nose dark to appear like a cavity, and left the tip of the nose. I felt it gave a better and more realistic overall look. It simply suggests the nose is missing (or soon to be completely missing) instead of trying to physically bury the nose in a ton of material.

Overall, I'm happy with this first attempt but can already think of changes I'd like to make. I enjoyed this and look forward to doing more interpretations of classic Phantoms, to include a Gaston Leroux concept makeup in the near future!

[imaginable-horror]

Actually added colour to my little drawing of Jonny!! Perhaps we will actually finish this one, it's looking more possible. Only spent a little over half an hour laying these base colours down but I do like how it's looking so far.

Lineless version under the cut because I do like how it looks if you ignore my shoddy colouring

Honestly might see if I can try and keep it largely lineless. I've been meaning to try that style of drawing out since I have a lot of trouble with line art in digital paintings; it's really hard to get nice lines without the stability of a pen or pencil, and I don't get any of the natural variation in line weight either which makes things feel a lot less dynamic since I have zero idea and very little intention with what I'm doing when I create things. Art just kind of happens to me and it looks like whatever it looks like.

[chenria]

I had the ambitious idea to give digital watercolors another shot, and who better to paint than my OC, Alessandro? So… here we are! It turned out better than I expected, and I even picked up a few tricks along the way. I might just have to try this again in the future...

Brushes used: - Procreate Watercolor kit by @artbylouris - Procreate Splatter by @mcsamdesign Sketch done in CSP, colors done in Procreate. You can get a high resolution version and the WIP snaps if you join my Patreon.

[traumas-mermay-2025]

AVAST, YE! Welcome to:

🦀🦈 Trauma’s Mermay 2025! 🐋🐬

Where we temporarily detach from the usual Halloween-y Inktober-y vibes full of pumpkins, autumn leaves and undead horror, and instead enjoy the warmth, smell of the ocean, and underwater horror! (Because it’s still me and I gotta throw some edge in there, right?)

Here’s the rules!

If you want me to see and collect your art here, tag this blog, currently named @ traumas-mermay-2025 !! I will also be following and checking two tags, #traumasmermay and #traumasmermay2025 (if some brave and awesome soul posts on AO3, use these same tags and feel free to tag me @ secreterces5)

No specific fandom for this one! I know mostly TMNT folks follow me on here, but hey, this is a chance to show off OCs, DnD ideas, and other blorbos you would like to turn into fish people! Can’t wait to see them!

ANY ARTFORM IS ALLOWED. Drawings/paintings physical and digital, writing long and short including drabbles and blurbs. I wanna see all of it!! Introduce me to new things I had no idea about! If I get insane enough I might try to make something out of clay!!

If you feel intimidated by a list of everyday prompts but would still like a structured challenge, fear not! You may instead focus on only the mermaid specific prompts, spaced out to occur every three or four days (the math was complicated on this okay don’t ask), focusing on fun mermaid designing . . .

. . . or you may pick one of the “sets” the list has been divided into, and try to create a linked story using the entire set!

Of course, you do NOT have to do all the prompts, you don’t have to do them in order (though I will schedule early art to post on the day of the prompt), and you don’t even have to post them in May! I’m down to accept late submissions until October, to be honest! Point is, feel free to take inspiration wherever whenever, and make only as many as you can without burning out <3

So in short: do whatever you fish! ;D

Some of these prompts can be turned into spooky art, and you are free and encouraged to do so, but always remember to tag with appropriate warnings!

Full prompt list version:

Only Mermaids Version:

Usually I would announce each prompt on the corresponding day, but this time I’ll be doing so in sets. As usual, though, I’ll sprinkle in some extra ideas for y’all :) That will be all, and with that:

BEST FISHES, EVERYONE!

(All prompts will also be written out in text under the readmore!)

1. Mermaid in a Bucket 🪣

2. Aquarium 🎫

3. Bubbles 🫧

4. Anything-but-fishtail Mermaid 🐙

5. Old Fairytales 📖

6. Frozen Over / Iceberg 🧊

7. Submarine 🤿

8. Prehistoric Mermaid 🦖

9. Fishing 🎣

10. The difference between a siren and a mermaid 🌗

11. Mermaid Games 🏅

12. Biohazardous Mermaid / Toxic Waste Mermaid ☣️

13. Shipwreck 🚢

14. Pirates! 🏴‍☠️

15. Venomous 🐍

16. Mermaid for Dinner! 🍽️

17. Lilypads 🌸

18. Selkie 🦭

19. Curse 💀

20. Space Mermaid 🪐

21. A Mermaid’s Pet / Companion 🐠

22. Shells and pearls 🐚

23. Gods of the Sea 🔱

24. Giant Mermaid 🦑

25. Wet Hair 💧

26. A Swim in the Moonlight 🌙

27. Atlantis 🌊

28. Robot Mermaid / Cyborg Mermaid 🤖

29. A mermaid’s kiss 💚

30. Blood in the water 🩸

31. Eldritch Mermaid 👁️

[rosiesocosy]

I did it! I finally made a cosy list of art prompts for October. This is my version of Inktober! And I call it:

COSYTOBER! 😍

For years I didn't make my own because I figured, I'm just a really small artist and basically have no reach, so who is going to join in, you know? And that really hasn't changed much. 😂 However, I really want to do this at least once in my life. And I feel if there was ever a time to do it, this is it. In between hospital visits and struggling with real life stuff, I need some cosy art.

Here are the cosy prompts for October:

Pumpkin

Leaf

Broom

Bunny

Fox

Frog

Soup

Mushroom

Book

Moon

Rainbow

Witch

Cat

Hedgehog

Ladybug

Brew

Ghost

Picnic

Owl

Rain

Forest

Cosy

Hat

Wand

Spooky

Pie

Magic

Bee

Sparkles

Cauldron

Halloween

All human-made art is welcome. Traditional and digital. Whether you like sketching, drawing, or painting, everyone can join in! Maybe you prefer cross stitching, sewing, modelling clay, or paper crafts. As long as it's creative and created by you! Everyone is free to participate.

Please tag me (I'm RosieSoCosy on all the socials) and use hashtag #cosytober2024 so I can find your work!

Don't worry about having to do all of them. I know the pressure prompt lists can give, and I want this to be fun and cosy. If you can't do them all, that's fine. So do whatever works for you. ❤

I will be sharing my own progress on my blog, here, and other socials. I will check out and share my favourite entries. I might stream some of this over on Twitch. If you plan on streaming/recording the prompts, let me know, and I'll try my best to watch!

Happy Cosy Spooky Season! 🎃🍂

[lovekipani]

Part 2 - Alastor Smut - Alastor's Perspective

Alastor Fucks You Part 2 - Alternate Perspective

If you haven't read the reader's POV of this, you can do so here.

My partner and I collaborated on this story from Alastor's perspective to mirror my previous version written from the reader's perspective. So if you are curious what was going on in Alastor's mind when he was fucking, here's our one-shot of just what that might be. Enjoy.

Plot: Alastor wants you... bad. But not just as a one-night stand. He wants to make a deal to keep you as his personal toy. And the kicker is...you want it just as bad.

It’s 2 am, and I’m hungry for restless, mortal souls that struggle to sleep.  Souls that are particularly…vulnerable…to what I have to offer.

But, I rarely get to venture into the living world these days…where TV and digital technology have taken over (fuck you Vox), weakening my access to souls – a link dependent on powers of old…the power of voice.  The power of frequency.  Instead, I roam Hell, claiming souls in bondage in exchange for what I can offer them…what they need and crave.

Since I expired and ended up here, in hell 90 years ago, I have been known by many names, but legend knows me as Alastor. The Radio Demon.

It seems like it’s going to be just another night in Hell.  I sit in my den, dimly lit with the soft glow of demon fire, the sound of 20s jazz crackling in the background as I raise my glass of whiskey to my lips…the cold thick liquor burning as it slides down my throat.

I am tense and restless.  It’s nothing new.  As much as I lord over the souls in Hell, nothing down here can satiate my hunger…my shadow’s hunger…for the flesh of a mortal soul, and it has been too long since I have had my fill.  My power, invisible yet pervasive, emanates like waves.  But like water crashing against a dam, my powers are confined within the walls of Hell unless the perfect, damned soul tunes in.

I drift off in my thoughts.  Maybe I’ll go over to Charlie’s hotel and fuck with Husk.  Grouchy old fuck is so easy to rile up, and he’s the best bartender in town.  I straighten my red pinstriped jacket, and fix my red and black hair – after all, a gentleman, even a Demonic one, must not be seen in public unkempt.

I open the door to step out, when suddenly I feel a shift in the air.  Something I have not felt for so long, yet so unmistakably familiar.  The shadows in me stir, knowing that this could mean.  My stag ears straighten, scanning the airwaves.  I don’t so much see her, but sense her – a sensation at once faint, but all the while so vivid that it paints a picture in my mind.  I close my eyes as I feel a grin spread across my face, baring my razor sharp teeth.  The tentacles of my shadow rippling under the silk fabric of my jacket.  They are hungry.

I see her now, still faintly, standing alone in her dark apartment, leaning against a side table with a cold drink in one hand, her other hand fiddling with the dial on an old wooden radio – most likely a family heirloom.  Her grandmother’s, maybe.  I can see her frustration as she turns the dial back and forth, trying to find the right frequency.

She is a vision.  Thick long blonde hair that reaches the top of a perfect ass held in low rise jeans that fit just right.  The low cut V-neck tee hugging her hour-glass figure, barely containing her breasts.  But there is more to her than her looks…something deeper inside.  Sure, it takes a damned soul to connect with me, but there is something more.  Something darker.  A hidden truth.  Something deliciously sinful.

Finally, she finds the frequency, my frequency.  She visibly relaxes and closes her eyes as she listen to the old 20s sounds.  Little does she know that she has just sealed her own fate.

“Good girl,” I whisper.

My entire body vibrates as the old radio connects with my energy, and the vision becomes clearer, and the portal, invisible to mortal eyes, that has been closed to me for so long finally opens.

I straighten my body, holding one hand against the small of my back, the other holding my staff, topped with an old radio microphone.  I draw in a deep breath.  I can practically smell her perfume – a familiar scent from a French fashion house – mixed with the sweetness of her skin. 

I gather myself, holding my shadow in check.  “Patience, Alastor,” I say to myself.

Taking one last deep breath, pulling my shoulders back and letting my frame take on its full size, I concentrate my thoughts and my powers for my long-awaited return to broadcast radio.

“It’s show time,” I mutter to myself, an evil grin spreading across my face, knowing what is to come.  My body tensing, I project my energy, my thoughts, and my voice through the air, and right into her ear.

I slip into the shadows.  A Demon watching his prey.

“It’s my pleasure to introduce you…"

Alllaasstor... I breathe into her ear.

I watch as her eyes snap open and she looks frantically around the room, trying to locate the source of my unexpected voice.  I chuckle again…I fucking love this part.  I can see her body tense with confusion. 

Strange…usually what I see is fear.

I hear her whisper under her breath…”Alastor.”  I watch as she leans back, taking another sip of her drink, trying to relax.

Who is this woman?  It’s time that I find out.

With a simple thought, the lights flicker, and I watch with sadistic glee as her eyes widen and her body straightens. “What the fuck was that?” she says out loud to herself. 

Another simple thought, and I plunge the room into darkness.  I watch her in darkness, and her confusion brings on an arousal that I have long missed.  I can feel my cock harden in my tailored pants, growing and aching for what is to come.

“Lets have some fun,” I say to myself, as I turn the room a sinister, crimson red.  I watch as she closes her eyes, visibly shaking her head, trying to wake herself from what she believes to be a dream.

I step out of the shadow and stand directly in front of her as she opens her eyes, my eyes menacing and fixed on hers as I grin wide and bare my razor-sharp teeth. 

Her body stiffens with fear as a growl rumbles in my throat, that primal hunger growing.  I can feel her fear and I feed off it, my frame growing as I tower over her, my cock hardening into a steel rod as a sensual gasp escapes her soft lips.  Her face flushes red and my heightened senses smell not fear…but desire.  Her whole body emanates the scent of a woman in heat.

I release my shadow that I have held in check.  The tentacles of my inner monster reaches out, wrapping themselves around her ankles and snaking up her legs and thighs, around her waist, gripping and squeezing her tits through her clothes, and wrapping around her throat as I lift her into the air.  I pull her head back, exposing her neck as I step closer, my prey held in mid air.

I step forward, pressing her back against the counter, and lean my face close against her neck, taking her scent in like a feral beast.  I bring my face close against hers, not touching, but close enough for her to feel my heat, as I growl into her ear, “mmm…you smell delicious.”

My shadow pulls her back further, arching her back to expose her breasts to me.  I can feel her heat and wetness as my shadowy tendrils, like phantom hands, press and explore between her legs.  Instead of recoiling in fear like many have in the distant past, her hips roll and seek me out.

Yes…that’s the deep, dark truth that I sensed earlier.  This dark, sex-crazed soul that I will both set free, and claim as my own fuck toy.

As my demonic shadow holds her aloft, I grip her hip with one hand, my claws digging into her soft flesh, while the other runs down her cheek.  I love the feeling of her body under my claws... so sensitive, soft...vulnerable. My shadow spreads her legs as I pull her hard against me, the shaft of my hard cock pressing against her slit through her jeans.  I can feel the moist heat burning through her jeans.

I lean forward, the tip of my tongue licking softly from her collarbone up to her ear.  “What a darling specimen you are, my dear,” I purr into her ear as I grind against her cunt, my cock desperate for release.

I press my weight over her, the underside of my shaft covering her slit, with the tip of my cock against her naval.  I watch her face flush and contort with desperate desire and lock my eyes with hers.

“Allasstor…” she breathes hotly.  I set my demonic desires free as I tighten my hold on her body.

“You have such a lovely voice…maybe I should broadcast your screams tonight for all of hell to hear while I fuck that needy little cunt,” I growl as my shadowy hand grips her hot pussy through her jeans, pressing hard against her clit.  I feel her tense and whimper, and I tighten my grip on her tits, my shadow splitting into thin fingers, slipping inside the collar of her t-shirt and inside her bra, teasing her nipples, rolling them into hardness.

“Or maybe it’s your screams they’ll hear, Radio Demon?” she moans into my ear as I claim her body.

“Oooo, I love that demonic little mouth of yours.  I’d like it even more if it were wrapped around my cock.  Or maybe I’ll just bend you over this counter and fuck that delightful little pussy instead?” I growl as grip and massage her ass.  As much as I want to fuck this cock-sucking slut’s throat, my shaft longs to be buried inside her cunt, and to fill her to the brim.

I flip her over with ease, her tits pressed against the countertop as I press my cock against her ass.  I wonder what her tight little asshole would feel like?  I press my chest against her back, and I feel her hand slide back, reaching to free my cock.

“Be careful, girl.  I’m the monster you were warned about.”

“You’re the monster I want,” she moaned back. 

With one hand holding her down by the back of her neck, I rip her jeans and panties off in one violent motion, leaving them in tatters on the ground.  I can smell her cunt, and can see her pussy dripping with desire.  I flip her onto her back, my claws gripping the collar of her t-shirt as I tear her t-shirt and bra in two, her tits spilling out, topped with perfect, hard nipples. 

I lick my lips, as I command my shadow to tease her cunt, the tendrils stroke lightly up and down her pussy lips, gently prying them open, exploring every wet fold, learning the contours of what I am about to devour.

“Perfect…”, I growl deep as I begin to devour my little demon whore.  My mouth starting at her neck, tasting her skin and biting, marking her.  My clawed hands paw her breasts, squeezing them hard until she whimpers in delicious pain, my clawed fingers pinching her nipples as I twist and pull at them.  My hands grip her thighs and spread them wide as I kiss down her abdomen, down her mound and breathe in her cunt, my fingers spreading her pussy lips and exposing her swollen, needy clit as my tongue lashes the sensitive bud, licking the length of her slit as my shadowy fingers teased and rimmed her tight asshole.  I suck hard on her clit and feel her press her pussy into my mouth, a loud moan filling the room.

I rise from between her legs as I watch her breathe heavily, her eyes heavy-lidded, pleading for more.  I rip my shirt off and hold her gaze as I unbuckle my pants, and I watch with pleasure and satisfaction as I watch her gaze drop between my legs as my demon cock springs free, thick-veined and ridged, dripping and glistening with precum.  I slide the length of my cock up slowly her slit, starting at the junction between her cunt and her anus, making sure she feels and acknowledge every inch that is about to fill her.

“Let’s give the listeners a show they’ll never forget…” the little slut purrs as she grinds her pussy against my shaft.

Pushing her ankles above her head, I slam into her in a single deep stroke, my pelvic bone crashing against her clit that makes her groan in both pain and pleasure.  I can feel her cunt stretch to accommodate me while drenching me in her juices that run down my balls.  There is no elegance or tenderness, just a demonic beast claiming his prize as I drive my full length into her over and over, pulling back until just the tip of my cock is inside her before I slam fully back into her, and grinding my pelvis against her clit.

“Al…Alastor…of fuuuckk…” she moans and whimpers as I claim her sweet little cunt.

I pin her hands above her head as my body keeps her legs folded up above her head, as I fuck her relentlessly, watching her face as her eyes roll back with pleasure, and moans turn into whimpers.

I can feel her pussy clenching and tightening around my cock, massaging me inside her.  I remain inside her and enjoy her ministrations, as I whisper into her ear.

“That’s a good girl…I know what you are.  Now enjoy getting fucked in ways you have only dreamed of…”

I feel her cunt tighten and gush with wetness in response, as though she has been awaiting permission for her true self to be liberated.  I slide one hand under her ass, running a finger between her ass-cheeks, feeling her cream dripping over her asshole, as I tickle it with the tip of my clawed finger.

“Yess…such a perfect little demon whore…such a needy little cunt…You’re mine.  All mine…” I growled.

“Yes…I am yours…” she gasps as her orgasm builds.  I watch her face as I continue to fuck her, as she fades from the world, sinking deeper into a world of pure pleasure and ecstasy. 

I can feel her pussy swelling and getting tighter as she nears her climax.  Her orgasm will be my claiming of her soul.

“Is it a deal?” I ask as I seek her complete submission.  My cock swells in anticipation, filling her and stretching her even further.

“Yes! Yes! Alastor!!! Yes!!!” she screams as her body is wracked by a seemingly endless orgasm, relinquishing all control to me, as her cum gushes like a fountain, soaking my thighs and leaving puddles on the floor.

Her submission triggers my release, as I growl deep and bury myself deep inside her, my balls tightening, and my cock pumping thick seed deep into her hungry, eager pussy, filling her.  My cum spills out as I slide out my still-twitching cock.  Needing to empty myself completely, I stroke my cock as she watches me, and finish over her body, covering her belly and breasts, howling into the night.

As I catch my breath, and slowly release my grip on my newly claimed prize, I see that she has slipped into a deep sleep. My mark glowed a faint red on her mound…the mark of the Radio Demon. 

I wrap my arms tight around my prize’s exhausted body, as I summon my shadow. Darkness falls around us and in a moment, we are back in hell, in my office.

I sit in my velvet armchair and watch her as she sleeps in my dimly lit room. My eyes glide over her naked form, watching her breasts swell with each breath.  I can feel my arousal returning again, my cock starting to rise.

For how long she slept, I don’t know.  Time has no meaning in Hell.  Afterall, Hell is forever.  At last she stirs, and opens her eyes, and I see her blink away the sleep, and watch her gaze drop from my face, down my body, to the erect cock that has been waiting for her.

“Welcome to Hell, Darling.  Your deal starts now, and my listeners will want more,” I say with a smile as I approach her.  She rolls onto her back, opens her legs, and wraps her ankles around my waist, pulling me down against her.  Her tongue searches out my mouth, and my tongue dances with hers, tasting her.

“Best not to disappoint them then,” she moaned as I sink deep into her.

Want more?

Check out the Master List here.

[bloobydabloob]

Any tips on getting better at realism? I've been drawing very cartoony works forever but I really want to branch out and draw more realistically and hone that style but Everytime I try it never feels human 😔

Suuuure. Sorry it’s fairly long, answer under the split thing.

I’d say mainly just practice drawing from reference first. Before I started doing any sort of more abstractive or non referential realism, I spent time practicing with maybe 20 or 30 paintings from reference.

Here are just some that I made during that time. I think they really really helped me to learn the principles of painting appealing realism, different kinds of people, color, skin, lighting, and anatomy.

In terms of actually drawing realism (whether from reference or not) I think the most important tip I can give, as well as the most overlooked ironally, is stylisation. Most realism that I see doesn’t connect at all with me which I think is maybe what you’re talking about when you say your portraiture doesn’t “feel human”.

Learning to draw realism in my eyes is largely about learning how to shortcut every single thing you can. So instead of drawing everything exactly how it is using an image, learn how to stylise realism in your own way. I find that if you don’t find a way to simplify the process, it can end up being A : Busy and B : hard for you to create more realistic images from imagination or from real life instead of photographs.

Here is a 40 minute drawing I just drew from a random photo I pulled off Pinterest + small explanation on what helps me to break down an image. I simplify realistic portraiture by adopting somewhat of an angular style, but the best realism / semi realism artists I know of draw realism using their own stylisation methods.

I also personally find that it helps to start by blocking in instead of sketching with lines, but I understand that this is a personal preference and might not work for you.

I also say this for everything but there is no “cheating” in art and anyone who tells you there is fundamentally doesn’t know anything about drawing, especially in the learning process. Cheat if you want. Use grids to plot where things will be, colorpick, trace, liquify, transform, whatever. Although I do also recommend that you only use this as a way to learn and don’t rely on it as a crutch, it helps a lot to be able to draw independently of all of these factors. But I learned to draw partially *by* being a kid who traced and colorpicked and fucked around. Who cares

This applies to everything too but just practice a lot. I’m too embarrassed to show but when I first starting drawing semi realistic art without reference it fucking sucked. Like *really* fucking sucked because I am extremely extremely faceblind and I mean that. It takes me 3 seasons of a show to recognise an actor’s face. But because I’ve drawn hundreds of faces now I know what I’m doing kind of. I also never post any realism art immediately because oftentimes if I don’t look at it for a day or two, I’ll come back to it and notice that something doesn’t look quite right. I would say that definitely helps.

ALSO very important but look at it from far away or a little version. I always look at my drawing in the digital navigator on FA and it helps me to notice when something looks dumb.

Anyways hope this helped at all… lalala. I don’t know man. Don’t take my words as bible I’m just some guy and I am also not a professional and realism is definitely not my strong suit. Tutorials are bullshit and if you think any of this advice sucks for you then don’t take it and forge your own path. Bless

[atiny-for-life]

Ice On My Teeth - Teaser 1: Observations

Before the MV drops tomorrow, here are some things I already noticed about the teaser:

There's a golden "A" on the building, indicating this is not the Black Pirates' mansion but someone else's. I instinctively wanna say it's Ateez's but they later burn it down so I doubt it.

Also, when we last saw Ateez, they were back in the A-World and all sad and depressed about being apart, so it'll be interesting to see which version of Ateez this is. Are we back in the Z-World? Are we with Halazia's Ateez? It's tough to say just yet.

Also, someone seems to be trying to pull all the furniture through the tiny window on the top floor, though why and how they plan on doing so, I'm not sure.

This guy is a doctor (we see medical equipment in the room he's in) and Yunho's showing him something that has the appearance of a CT scan but shows the mansion instead of a brain.

We see this man again in the second teaser which will explain to us why he looks so nervous here.

Yeosang's inside the mansion (which is architecturally reminiscent of the museum in Strictland - the one from Say My Name) and he's got some masked goons with him who are also depicted on a giant framed picture in the back which is rather peculiar and puts some validity behind the theory of this being a dream/not real.

Or, alternatively, maybe this is another universe or a cult of some kind in which all people are forced to wear masks and this is the cult leader's art collection. I really don't know.

Side-note: I wouldn't be surprised if Yeosang hits this tennis ball in the MV and it turns out to be a grenade or something.

As @yeontan-my-love pointed out to me, the album release date is November 15th, which is likely what Jongho's digital pocket watch here is referring to.

Next we've got one of the many ballerinas we've gotten to see throughout the promo material. And again, we also get to see many paintings featuring masked individuals in the back. This is clearly an unusual museum/art collection, dedicated to all forms of art, not just paintings and sculptures.

We also get to see the ballerina's eye as she's looking at the spinning record of Golden Hour on which Wooyoung then appears in the next shot.

Fur coat wearing Hongjoong is front and center in the next shot, kneeling by a lit fireplace as two cubes appear in the flames in front of him. Not sure what this means yet, but it could be a reference to the phrase "roll of the dice", aka your future is determined by chance.

We then get some flashing text over fur coat wearing San's frame, reading "You the one I'm tryna finish" which is likely a hint at the lyrics.

Dressed up like Zorro, Seonghwa then appears in a hallway as ballerinas run/dance up behind him and hurry past him.

Mingi begins aggressively playing the piano as we show up, which wraps up the individual introductions and, once again, shows this museum's dedication to containing all forms of art.

The words "We don't have time" then keep flashing across the screen as we cut to a scene of Seonghwa going to sit with the other members and their goons outside the mansion/museum, which leads us back to the reason why they're here.

They are on a mission of some kind, perhaps in a shared dream, and they're running out of time to complete it. Whatever that mission may be though, I can't be sure yet, but we get some clues in the second teaser.

Ice On My Teeth - Teaser 2: Observations

We're in the same building but it's now on fire and a painting of two masked people dressed like Victorian royalty is ablaze - the fire was undoubtedly set by Ateez which means they have a strong hatred for everything within this building or what it represents (the hoarding of wealth? the people depicted on the art? the owner of this collection?).

The ballerinas are entirely unperturbed by the flames, as is Seonghwa (which, again, makes it seem more like this might not be real).

Jongho is in an office, a ballerina statue on the desk behind him and a giant clock on the far wall. There's also a golden emblem hung up on the wall which likely matches the one seen on the building's facade.

The record Wooyoung is laying on is now also on fire, but he's unaffected, seemingly even wearing a nightgown. Very cozy, very relaxed.

Yunho is right outside the building amid two walls of fire. Was he the one who set it? Perhaps.

We next get the small piece of choreo we've gotten to see prior to the live stream they did just now in which Hongjoong and Wooyoung showed us a piece of the chorus.

In the back, we here get to see the furniture they dragged outside to burn it.

Next, is the most telling shot to me: the doctor Yunho talked to earlier is being dragged across the driveway outside while Yeosang watches on in the shade of his umbrella, far from shocked.

From this we can derive this guy, this doctor, owns this place. And the scan Yunho showed him earlier? It must have revealed that Ateez know there's something hidden inside the mansion, something this doctor was trying to keep secret, likely something shady, perhaps even illegal.

In the final shot, the mansion has been burnt to the ground and Hongjoong has walked back inside to retrieve a tooth from a lower jaw left behind in the rubble. It must be the thing they were searching for. But why? Is this a CIA kinda tooth which contains a hidden compartment for a cyanide capsule or what? There's no real telling just yet.

Regardless, this is just what I could spot on a closer watch through of the teasers. I'm really excited for the full release tomorrow, especially the MV and the b-sides on the album!

[blacknight7890]

welp, essay time, lets talk about the clown in the room.

the amazing digital circus spoilers below!

so, Kaufmo's room.

The room of a mad man and a recently "abstracted" human. we don't know much about Kaufmo, other than he told unfunny jokes and was looking for a way out. He lost his mind at some point and got "abstracted" as the result.

What this means and how it happens is hard to say for sure as of now, but madness seems to be the main cause of it. Before he turned however, he has spread his madness to the rest of his room, so lets look at what we have here.

Most of it is simply the word "exit" over and over and over and over again with some disturbing art as well.

"EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT"

However, there are some exceptions. Certain spots have partially readable writing on them. To start with, the head of his bed.

"CAN'T SLEEP"

Its partially obscured, but its location behind the pillow make it obvious what it says. They say that they don't need to sleep, but this implies that he wanted to sleep, but couldn't. If that is due to just his madness, or something else its hard to say. Hard to know what that means as of now, but its something to note.

Now the sketch on the back wall. The phrase is fairly self explanatory, as far as we know, there is no way out of the circus. Not much to say about that, but the drawing is interesting. A fanged Cain chasing after Kaufmo. Seems he has a fear of the ringmaster, understandable at first, but further thinking makes you ask some questions.

"NO WAY OUT"

We see at the end of the episode that Cain actually tried to make an exit for them, but never finished his simulated version of the outside. When we first see him dancing around the idea of an exit door, we assume malicious intent. However, its more likely he was referring to this exit, rather than an actual way to leave.

This place is clearly a fabrication of the world outside The Amazing Digital Circus, one half built by Cain. He said he made it because everyone kept asking about it, but never finished it and didn't want them seeing his unfinished work. He also didn't want them ending up in the void, a slightly more important reason to keep it locked up.

But regardless, he did try to actually appease them, give the trapped humans the closest approximation to freedom he could. Its clear that Cain is not in full total control of the circus, its possible that even he doesn't know how to leave.

Anyway, back to my point. Cain is weird, strange, and insane, but he's not really "evil", so Kaufmo's depiction of him doesn't make total sense. But then again, the eyes of madness are hardly a reliable source. We will need to see more of him to learn his true intentions, but for now he just seems unhinged rather than actually bad.

Back to the room though, there is one more thing I want to go over, the foot of his bed.

"WHAT DID THE E------ SAY TO THE C--------"

this one is hard to determine, but thankfully for us, this isn't the only place we see this sentence. We also see it scrawled onto one of the paintings in the wide shot.

"WHAT DID THE EXIT SAY TO THE CLOWN?"

Now at first this seems nonsensical, but remember who wrote this. Kaufmo liked to tell jokes, this is the only real thing we know about him. In that light this is clearly worded as the setup to a joke. This begs the question on what the punchline is, but it also implies that the supposed "exit" somehow communicated with him. Probably not but its something to note.

We have no idea what the punchline could be at this moment sadly. It could be that him abstracting could metaphorically be the "punchline", or the lack of a response from the exit might also be it, hard to say.

"NO EXIT"

This is all what I can really determine from what we have seen in this room, other than interpretations of his various framed paintings, but I'll leave that to an art major or something.

Of course we have to ask if the "Exit" that he refers to even is the same exit Pomni found. They might have found something else, or maybe that exit door is a lot more important than we know. Maybe that weird computer is important.

Pomni seemed familiar enough with it that the mere sight of it sent her laughing mad. That vr headset looking thing is probably what she put on to get there.

All of this is just observations and speculation on the future, and I can't wait for the next episode!

[pathosketches]

Hi, I'm wondering what devices and programs you use for drawing? Maybe there are some tips on what to choose?

I use Clip studio Paint Pro! It's a program I honestly recommend because it's neither too complex nor too simple! Also added bonus of the amazing Asset Store that gave me 90% of my brushes HA

But if you can't afford it/don't want to 🏴‍☠️ it (because that'd be illegal of course of course of cour--) here's some free programs/apps I personally used :D ;

FireAlpaca ; I used it when I first got a drawing tablet and wanted to get into drawing on my laptop, It was a great intro for that! It might not be the best for intermediate/professional artists but If you're looking for a good easy to use Program I do recommend it, and it's Free :D

IbisPaintX ; *THEE* Free drawing app to use on your phone, I first started using it when I was *just* drawing digitally So I might not know much about how it's doing rn BUT a lot of mutuals i have used it and their artworks are GORGEOUS like professional-grade art (Also there's an animation update now-! how cool :3)

If it's a Safe, Free Program, there's no harm in trying it out, Even if you aren't sure at first, you might suddenly grow attached to the program!

Just because it's expensive, Doesn't mean you'll 100% like it. Don't jump head-first into a costly program without looking into it- I was lucky to try Photoshop through my sibling's laptop before deciding I didn't actually want it-

Try getting the program during sales! I personally got Clip Studio during a black Friday sale for 50% off-

To each their own, there isn't a *perfect* drawing program/app! everyone has different experiences and "feelings/thoughts" towards them. You might find an artist with a gorgeous art style, see they use a certain program, and think that's the one to achieve that art style/art- It might have helped but it isn't the 100% reason for the art obviously. I mean have you SEEN MSPaint artists?

Libre Sprite; A Pixel art program, Basically an older free version of Aseprite (which costs ~20$ on steam) I'm not a full-on Pixel artist so it works great for whenever i feel like messing around :D

Whiteboard fox; A website for drawing with multiple people! (or by yourself if you fancy it's drawing style!) Since it's a website, it works on both Computers and Phones-!

I think that's all I got? I'm not the best person to ask for advice cuz I dunno how to explain things properly but I hope this helped :)

*All of this was drawn on Windows XP and Windows 98 virtual machines, how ironic-

[kitty-av]

Hello! I got a new sketchbook and I decided to try it by drawing a Danny with my markers. I might try doing something with gouache too, because I honestly really enjoy the process and the look of painting with it.

I also have some things to ramble about under the line, which isn't strictly dp related, more so me comparing how I work with different mediums and being a little analytical about it, you know, as a treat to my brain because it needs it. •^•

So, to start with the Danny above, it's nothing overly ambitious, I was just vibing, but I think it looks nice. Here's the thing though, it looks weird to me, and the reason, probably, is that the process I use with the previously mentioned gouache doesn't translate well to markers.

Here's the process in question btw, a smol sketch to illustrate the way I work with paint but with markers:

See, that's a process that's clearly a bit more suited to painting imo. So it looks good but a little off with markers. And it's not just to markers. Here's what I mean:

This is digital. With the same process.

It's even weirder than the markers imo, but you can still tell that there's a process going on that's shared.

And the gouache version of this process looks like this: this is my most recent painting ( literally yesterday )

This was done in flat brush, and I think you can clearly see that the process I used across all these paintings started with my gouache work. Which also might be why Danny looks a bit different than them because I had to adjust my process. Rather than starting with colouring my canvas and starting the face with a contrasting colour, both Danny, and as far as I can remember the digital dude, started blank and I had to do the glow effect thing a lot less naturally - especially with the lack of brush strokes. The scratchiness of them is aesthetic. Like, brush stroke and direction is important guys, it adds a lot.

I think if I try to draw this Danny in gouache and explain my process better this would all make sense, but I haven't had the time to get back into art because of uni, and I rather like to. I especially want to try doing digital art again, but I've been doing it so rarely that I haven't really got a process anymore, so I'm a bit intimidated to do anything but portraits.

In any case, if anybody has good Sai brushes that could help me get that painterly vibe there, I'd be very grateful •^•

I want to start drawing and creating things for the Phandom again, but all I have currently are sketches, which I know aren't traditionally the easiest things to interact with visually, especially without colour. Still, I'm just going to share things I make and vibe, I suppose.

I have some interesting designs I'd like to try to make digitally, like that mermaid lady ghost from a while back, and her sister who I decided was Pariah Dark's fabulous ex. Still not sure on Queen's design, but I just want to draw a regal lady.

Yes, I am dumping previous designs here so I can share them again, partly to remind myself of them without scrolling back my Tumblr for a thousand years.

Also my Bois, the clones, who I still want to write into a story and don't know how, but like - I love them and want to show them to more people.

Well, that's all for now. Hope you all have a good day. •^•>💚💜💚