#mind transfer technique

[annoyinglandmagazine]

Caranthir at the annual Feanorian strategy meeting: You know, we could just chuck it all and turn to piracy. It would be a LOT easier.

[alfheimr]

My Favorite Cheap Art Trick: Gradient Maps and Blending Modes

i get questions on occasion regarding my coloring process, so i thought i would do a bit of a write up on my "secret technique." i don't think it really is that much of a secret, but i hope it can be helpful to someone. to that end:

this is one of my favorite tags ive ever gotten on my art. i think of it often. the pieces in question are all monochrome - sort of.

the left version is the final version, the right version is technically the original. in the final version, to me, the blues are pretty stark, while the greens and magentas are less so. there is some color theory thing going on here that i dont have a good cerebral understanding of and i wont pretend otherwise. i think i watched a youtube video on it once but it went in one ear and out the other. i just pick whatever colors look nicest based on whatever vibe im going for.

this one is more subtle, i think. can you tell the difference? there's nothing wrong with 100% greyscale art, but i like the depth that adding just a hint of color can bring.

i'll note that the examples i'll be using in this post all began as purely greyscale, but this is a process i use for just about every piece of art i make, including the full color ones. i'll use the recent mithrun art i made to demonstrate. additionally, i use clip studio paint, but the general concept should be transferable to other art programs.

for fun let's just start with Making The Picture. i've been thinking of making this writeup for a while and had it in mind while drawing this piece. beyond that, i didn't really have much of a plan for this outside of "mithrun looks down and hair goes woosh." i also really like all of the vertical lines in the canary uniform so i wanted to include those too but like. gone a little hog wild. that is the extent of my "concept." i do not remember why i had the thought of integrating a shattered mirror type of theme. i think i wanted to distract a bit from the awkward pose and cover it up some LOL but anyway. this lack of planning or thought will come into play later.

note 1: the textured marker brush i specifically use is the "bordered light marker" from daub. it is one of my favorite brushes in the history of forever and the daub mega brush pack is one of the best purchases ive ever made. highly recommend!!!

note 2: "what do you mean by exclusion and difference?" they are layer blending modes and not important to the overall lesson of this post but for transparency i wanted to say how i got these "effects." anyway!

with the background figured out, this is the point at which i generally merge all of my layers, duplicate said merged layer, and Then i begin experimenting with gradient maps. what are gradient maps?

the basic gist is that gradient maps replace the colors of an image based on their value.

so, with this particular gradient map, black will be replaced with that orangey red tone, white will be replaced with the seafoamy green tone, etc. this particular gradient map i'm using as an example is very bright and saturated, but the colors can be literally anything.

these two sets are the ones i use most. they can be downloaded for free here and here if you have csp. there are many gradient map sets out there. and you can make your own!

you can apply a gradient map directly onto a specific layer in csp by going to edit>tonal correction>gradient map. to apply one indirectly, you can use a correction layer through layer>new correction layer>gradient map. honestly, correction layers are probably the better way to go, because you can adjust your gradient map whenever you want after creating the layer, whereas if you directly apply a gradient map to a layer thats like. it. it's done. if you want to make changes to the applied gradient map, you have to undo it and then reapply it. i don't use correction layers because i am old and stuck in my ways, but it's good to know what your options are.

this is what a correction layer looks like. it sits on top and applies the gradient map to the layers underneath it, so you can also change the layers beneath however and whenever you want. you can adjust the gradient map by double clicking the layer. there are also correction layers for tone curves, brightness/contrast, etc. many such useful things in this program.

let's see how mithrun looks when we apply that first gradient map we looked at.

gadzooks. apologies for eyestrain. we have turned mithrun into a neon hellscape, which might work for some pieces, but not this one. we can fix that by changing the layer blending mode, aka this laundry list of words:

some of them are self explanatory, like darken and lighten, while some of them i genuinely don't understand how they are meant to work and couldn't explain them to you, even if i do use them. i'm sure someone out there has written out an explanation for each and every one of them, but i've learned primarily by clicking on them to see what they do.

for the topic of this post, the blending mode of interest is soft light. so let's take hotline miamithrun and change the layer blending mode to soft light.

here it is at 100% opacity. this is the point at which i'd like to explain why i like using textured brushes so much - it makes it very easy to get subtle color variation when i use this Secret Technique. look at the striation in the upper right background! so tasty. however, to me, these colors are still a bit "much." so let's lower the opacity.

i think thats a lot nicer to look at, personally, but i dont really like these colors together. how about we try some other ones?

i like both of these a lot more. the palettes give the piece different vibes, at which point i have to ask myself: What Are The Vibes, Actually? well, to be honest i didn't really have a great answer because again, i didn't plan this out very much at all. however. i knew in my heart that there was too much color contrast going on and it was detracting from the two other contrasts in here: the light and dark values and the sharp and soft shapes. i wanted mithrun's head to be the main focal point. for a different illustration, colors like this might work great, but this is not that hypothetical illustration, so let's bring the opacity down again.

yippee!! that's getting closer to what my heart wants. for fun, let's see what this looks like if we change the blending mode to color.

i do like how these look but in the end they do not align with my heart. oh well. fun to experiment with though! good to keep in mind for a different piece, maybe! i often change blending modes just to see what happens, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. i very much cannot stress enough that much of my artistic process is clicking buttons i only sort of understand. for fun.

i ended up choosing the gradient map on the right because i liked that it was close to the actual canary uniform colors (sorta). it's at an even lower opacity though because there was Still too much color for my dear heart.

the actual process for this looks like me setting my merged layer to soft light at around 20% opacity and then clicking every single gradient map in my collection and seeing which one Works. sometimes i will do this multiple times and have multiple soft light and/or color layers combined.

typically at this point i merge everything again and do minor contrast adjustments using tone curves, which is another tool i find very fun to play around with. then for this piece in particular i did some finishing touches and decided that the white border was distracting so i cropped it. and then it's done!!! yay!!!!!

this process is a very simple and "fast" way to add more depth and visual interest to a piece without being overbearing. well, it's fast if you aren't indecisive like me, or if you are better at planning.

let's do another comparison. personally i feel that the hint of color on the left version makes mithrun look just a bit more unwell (this is a positive thing) and it makes the contrast on his arm a lot more pleasing to look at. someone who understands color theory better than i do might have more to say on the specifics, but that's honestly all i got.

just dont look at my layers too hard. ok?

[alexiroflife]

"second place"

sorry y'all

suguru geto x reader

Synopsis: suguru reminisces over loving you and losing you to satoru

to sum it up: no matter what, satoru will always be number one while suguru comes second

WC: 4,122

Warning(s): angstttttt angst angst angst, jjk season 2 spoilers, mentions of death

One thing that Suguru Geto always understood was that he would never compare to the world’s strongest sorcerer.

When Suguru met Satoru, he instantly knew that he was different. Aside from his unique physical properties that drew more attention than most like his porcelain white hair and his brilliantly vibrant sapphire eyes, there remained Satoru Gojo’s destiny to become the greatest, which he undoubtedly already was at such a young age. 

Satoru gathered all of the attention whilst simultaneously doing so with such arrogance and pride, and while Suguru understood that anyone who found themselves in Satoru’s place would likely behave the same way, it proved to be rather taxing at the worst times. While Suguru was subjected to the confines of his curse technique, exorcizing and absorbing filthy curses then repeating the pattern all over again, retaining and manipulating the very objects of his consumption at will, Satoru snapped his fingers and the entire world was at his feet.

Suguru somehow never envied Satoru despite his clear advantage. Satoru was his best friend above all else, and Suguru was secure enough in his own power and skill not to compare himself to the godly likeness of the Gojo clan’s most prized possession. The black haired boy did not deem himself capable of envy, for it was a rather cruel form of torture to grow jealous over something that you yourself could never obtain.

Suguru didn’t mind being the second best in high school, for the role to carry first place would always be Satoru’s, and who was he to desire a burden like that? Satoru had the entire world’s eyes hovering over him, monitoring each breath that was sucked into his lungs and each step he took upon the concrete. Satoru had the power to strip the world of all its life, and while it sounded enticing to withhold that strength from an outsider’s perspective, to have that skill constantly surveyed under the pesky gaze of an untrusting, possessive, and manipulative society was not up Suguru's alley.

Envy was for those who were insecure, for those who could not accept that Satoru would remain above all for now and ever more. Suguru was not an insecure man, and he was far too close with Satoru to want what he would never have.

That was, however, until you came into the picture.

You were a new student during their second year; a transfer. You appeared seemingly out of nowhere, catching the attention of the students who were eager to know more about your impedance into such a small society. Suguru remembered the exact day he met you. He and Satoru were saddled with the responsibility of showing you around and helping you acclimate into your new environment. The boys initially didn’t understand why they had to be burdened with such a chore, but Yaga reminded them that this was their punishment for being sloppy during their last mission. He hoped for it to teach the two of them some patience and discipline.

The boys waited for you in an empty classroom, Satoru complaining about how lame it was that the two of them had to do something so stupid when your face peered into the room followed by a swift knock on the door frame.

Suguru and Satoru looked up from their seats to identify you, and Suguru’s face dropped. You were beautiful, gentle with your approach as you stepped in cautiously and waved in greeting. You had an air about you that exuded confidence though it was clear in your reserved introduction that you were slightly nervous to have been put on the spot, and forced to locate a room in a school that you’ve never been inside on your own for that matter. You were a little rattled, but you still made a good first impression.

Your cursed energy warbled inside you like a gentle, roaring flame, encapsulating your figure in an assertive matter. You didn’t look it, but your cursed energy within you was fiery, fierce, yet tamed well within your mass.

Your (e/c) eyes looked between the boys and they sat up, suddenly impacted by your presence. A soft, amiable smile touched your lips as you batted your pretty eyelashes and lowered your hand. “Are you two Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru?” your voice fluttered out heavenly, gazing curiously at the teens. 

Suguru suddenly stood to his feet to introduce himself properly, while Satoru followed with a hand on his hip. “Yes,” the curse manipulation sorcerer spoke up. Normally, he would have casted a smile your way to make you feel more welcome, but instead his face was blank, somewhat overcome by your attractiveness, both internal and external. “Sorry, you’re the new student?”

“Oh, yeah,” you nodded. “(L/n) (Y/n). Probably should’ve led with that,” you laughed lightly at yourself, and Suguru’s heart skipped a beat, touched by the angelic sound. He was taken aback by himself momentarily, unsure of how you managed to catch him off guard when he was normally so cool and collected. There was just something about you though, the way your eyes sparked life. 

“No way, can’t be,” Satoru said, his suave voice lifting into the room as he stepped toward you and tilted his head, studying you through the round dim lenses of his glasses. You looked at him in slight confusion, unsure of where this white haired boy was going with his initial reaction. “You’re way too pretty! I was expecting a nerd who looked like a troll,” he announced bluntly and Suguru lowered his head with a disappointed exhale.

You pinched your brows and parted your lips. “Huh?!” you exclaimed, and Suguru was quick to step in behind Satoru, punching him in the back of his head. Satoru yelped, rubbing the tender area he was hit with a grimace. 

“Don’t pay attention to this dumbass,” he told you, finally allowing a smile to slip onto his face, one that you associated with trust and kindness. “It’s good to see you. I understand you’re transferring from a different school.”

You softened and turned your attention to him, cheeks slightly warm. “Mhm! I’ve been working on my cursed technique for a long time now, but I went to a normal school in the country until I was pushed into this direction,” you explained to him lightly.

“I see,” Suguru nods. “What brings you to Jujutsu High then?”

“Getting sick of watching innocent people die,” you responded rather casually, a soft smile still on your face and Suguru understands completely.

“I hate to break it to you, sweets, but here’s not the place where you’d really stop seeing all that,” Satoru jumped in again, smirk sneaking its way onto his face.

“Satoru, be nice and don’t scare the poor girl off please.”

“I’m just being honest! She’s gotta know what she’s getting herself into. She seems too nice.”

“I mean it, before I tell Yaga to break your legs.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

You chuckled slightly as you watched their interaction, concluding that the two of them must have been good friends. “No, you’ve got a point. A lot of people told me that when I started my admissions process here,” you said lightheartedly, catching their attention again. “I know what I’m signing up for. While death is inevitable, the least I can do is put forth my strength toward helping others who can’t help themselves.”

“Looking out for the weak,” Suguru agreed, and you hummed in affirmation cheerfully.

“Exactly.”

Suguru found that the smile he gave was more genuine than the last after listening to you, having determined that you would fit in amongst him and his fellow students quite well. 

You grew close to the boys within a matter of weeks, training alongside them, studying with them, or hanging out with them outside of school. You learned a lot about the two within a short amount of time, from Satoru’s otherworldly strength to Suguru’s somehow serene brutality when it came to fighting curses. You were thoroughly impressed by them and in turn, the boys learned a lot about you. 

Your close friend from school had died a week before your enrollment at the hands of a curse you hadn’t been able to fight, truthfully posing as the motivation that pushed you into Jujutsu High as well as your previously mentioned goals. Though you were weaker than the guys, you withheld immense promise, physical strength, and plenty of room to improve and polish yourself. You were determined, generous, disciplined, selfless, and devoted, and Suguru found himself falling for you quicker than he would have liked to admit.

You swept up his heart into your hands effortlessly, somehow managing to trap the student into a frenzy of your warmth. Suguru didn’t know what it was about you that got to him first when he met you. Perhaps it was the expression on your face displaying a cute sense of eagerness intertwined with uncertainty before it snapped away in an instant when you introduced yourself, your beauty and sureness blossoming with your socialization with other students. No, maybe it was the smile that graced your face that stretched your glossed lips into a curve and pinched the corners of your cheeks and the light in your eyes.

Or it could’ve been the fact that you were so caring, so completely indulged in the lives of others that he didn't understand how someone like you could stomach an occupation like sorcery, how you had always asked how he was doing when you saw him with a genuine interest playing at your lips, how you praised him when he told you, Satoru, and Shoko that he had tweaked and improved one of his manipulations over a powerful curse and threw your arms around his neck with just as much excitement for him as you would have had for yourself. You were just so good, so bright, so beautiful that it was impossible not to be drawn to you.

Nevertheless, beneath all that sweetness and charm was a fire that raged within you, revealing itself in all its glory when you were out on a mission exorcizing curses from grades four to three, and at later times, even grade two. Suguru stared at you with surprise the first time you’d leapt into the air, spinning your body swiftly and descending recklessly over the head of a nasty curse with a hand outstretched, lips warping into a twisted grin and eyes sharpening with rabid intensity. 

You were as crazy as you were generous, and Suguru was captivated by it. By you. 

He began growing closer to you, reaching out to touch you at any chance he got by picking imaginary lint from your hair, or grazing your lower back with his palms as he brushed past you, or grabbing your wrist to hold you back and tell you to wait for a moment while you were on a mission, when in actuality there was no threat to prevent you from walking into you. He was always listening to you talk, nodding his head in engagement with a soft smile and locking his eyes over your face with loyal concentration, bringing up the things you had mentioned into later conversations to spark your interest and keep you engrossed for hours. He even liked to sit with you in silence, claiming that he was studying with you when Satoru would ask what the two of you were doing sitting alone in an empty room when all he truly desired was the constant chance to be near you. 

You had got to him, enraptured him in your essence without struggle. He developed the biggest crush on you and planned to one day ask you out until the day both you and Satoru approached him on separate occasions to inquire about the other, and whether he believed either of you would be interested in dating the other.

That day, Suguru sank into himself as he was reminded, once more, of Satoru Gojo’s everlasting advancement over him.

With no reason to tell either of you otherwise, Suguru told you both that if you wanted to pursue each other, you should have. And so you did, and the dark haired man was forced to watch as Satoru Gojo took away the very first thing that Suguru believed he could have that he didn’t, and that was you. 

Consequently, cold calculating envy slithered into Geto’s life and captured his mass within its slimy coils. 

Suguru didn’t believe that he would’ve been bothered too much by the shift in dynamic at first, for he had always seen the way Satoru had begun to cling to you and the way you’d welcome yourself to his attention happily. Previously, he just hadn’t identified it as any more than friendship, but looking back, he supposed that he was likely so desperate to win you that he turned his head away from the signs. Even so, he didn’t believe that his reaction to seeing the two of you together would be that bad, but it was. 

The dark haired man had accidentally walked in on the two brushing shoulders closely and giggling to each other privately on Satoru’s bed. He froze upon seeing you, the image seizing him in his tracks and stripping him of the decency to be happy for you. Instead, when he looked at you, the sight of your skin touching his, your normal smile replaced by a love-stricken beam and rosy cheeks, and your eyes shining under Satoru’s gaze, he felt his heart clench to the point where he could feel his heartache in the bottom of his throat, choking him up and making his eyes go wide. 

It was far worse, however, when you both looked up at him as though he had interrupted, giddy smiles fading to make way for a friendly facade. Suguru hated it. He hated the way his gut churned when a giggle sparked by Satoru slipped into your stunned greeting of him. He hated the way you pretended as though you weren’t just glowing red and laughing with the sprite of a love-stricken toddler before he walked in. He hated that the way you looked at him was so different from the way you looked at Satoru, the gorgeous glimmer in your eye diminishing and the muscles beneath them relaxing. 

He hated watching you with his best friend. Watching your love bloom for the man who could have had anyone in the world, and yet he chose you.  

But Suguru could not say that he blamed him. You were perfect, everything about you, from your head to your toes. You were strong, you were intelligent, you were stunning, you were joyful; what star in the sky wouldn’t stun the mightiest man on earth up close?

And who was Suguru to be envious when Satoru Gojo was his competition? He had told himself before that Gojo’s position didn’t bother him in the slightest, at least not when it came to jujutsu. But after you, after watching him wave around the privilege of holding your hand, of kissing your lips, of caressing your waist, of holding you close, Suguru could not fight the urge to wish with everything in him that he was in Satoru’s place. Though you wanted Geto as his friend, he selfishly longed to have more.

He selfishly dared to compare himself to his best friend.

Then, the mission with Riko happened. 

Suguru watched as a bullet whipped through the young navy haired girl’s head after promising her that she would return to her loved ones and to the outside world, ripping into her brain and stealing her life as she crashed to the floor. Suguru witnessed the fear of a world stripped of Satoru Gojo during a fight with an astonishingly strong non-sorcerer who claimed to murder his closest friend, then murdered the little girl he was expected to protect. Suguru watched Satoru descend a bright hall with Riko’s body cradled within his arms, eyes dull yet body intact against Toji’s words, emerging like a ghost manifested into life and once again reminding Suguru that Satoru Gojo remained on a level above all else, avoidant of rejection and avoidant of the natural laws of life. 

Suguru grew empty, the sound of your laughter fading into the darkest caverns of his mind, echoing into his nightmares riddled with dreams of your body lying helplessly beside Riko’s. Images of you sitting on Satoru’s lap or kissing his cheek flashed across the holes of his mind as it shadowed itself into inky darkness, a hatred for human life manifesting within his gut. You and Satoru would mention that he had lost weight, or that he looked tired, or that they barely saw him around anymore, but Suguru became numb to it. To all of it.

He thought of you when he wiped those lives from that village, pupils shrunken and strands of hair whipping about his head as the cries of agony- of the weak sang over the mountain, angering him. He missed you, he thought as he slaughtered those villagers. He wanted you with him. 

He found you after disappearing, a few weeks following. You sat out at a nearby park, taking some space for yourself to think, when he emerged from the trees. You jumped to your feet, taking a few steps away in alarm as he waved at you with a smile, the same kind smile that led you to trust him upon first meeting. “S-Suguru?” you called out, brows curling in what he could not determine to be sadness, anger, or heartache. 

“Hi, (Y/n),” he said to you softly, and you ached, the sound of his voice just the same as it had always been. You didn’t know why you expected it to be any different, but it felt stranger that he was behaving like himself, as though he wasn’t a mass murderer. 

You stilled when you saw him, eyes wide and body trembling. “What are you doing here?” you demanded and he approached you slowly, tired eyes turning kindly down upon you. You looked at him, pained, his eyes carrying a hint of insanity in them that you had never noticed before. 

“I came to see you,” he admitted, eyes looking over you. “You look nice.”

“Suguru,” you begged him with the call of his name alone. “Why…”

“I wanted to ask you to come with me,” he said to you abruptly, and you stared at him incredulously, nose turned up and brows angled. 

“What?”

“I’ve loved you since the second I knew you, (Y/n),” he spoke to you earnestly, jumping straight into the point without turning back. He knew that if he were to approach you, he had to put all of his cards on the table with little room for miscommunication or time for hiding his true emotions. He needed to present the choice to you, his feelings to you. He needed to try. “Satoru was my best friend, but I loved you then and I love you now.”

You looked mortified, bottom lip quivering and cheeks reddening as you rejected the information physically initially, muscles in your face tightening with discomfort, then disbelief and pity. “Suguru…” you breathed in an awed, devastated whisper. “Suguru, what do you mean? Why are you saying this to me?”

“I want you to leave with me,” he proposed to you, standing close and taking your quivering hands in his. You shook your head rapidly, looking between your hands in his palms and his earnest expression, hazel eyes melting over you with hope. 

“Leave?” you whispered, shaken by the things he was saying in addition to his physical appearance before you, touching you, speaking to you. 

“Leave Jujutsu High,” he pleaded gently, firmly. You were speechless, staring up at him with such intense pain in your normally shining eyes. “Come with me. Make a better world with me, we can do it together. You can do it by my side, and we won’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

You were thrown by his bluntness in asking you to kill human beings alongside him, against your morals, against your life’s devotion, against your school, against Satoru. “You’re asking me to become a murderer with you.”

“I’m asking you to be with me.”

A lump built in your throat as your best friend gazed at you tenderly, helplessly, and you didn’t have the strength to pull away so quickly from the person you lost. Suguru Geto was a criminal. He was no longer your friend, no longer someone you could stomach thinking about, but the love you had for him remained, feeding into your grief over a boy you once knew to never hurt a fly as long as it was weak and innocent. And suddenly, he wanted to slaughter every non-sorcerer with you in his partnership. 

And he loved you?

“Please, (Y/n),” his hand lifted to hold your cheek and you squeezed your eyes shut, clenching your jaw and tugging at your lips. “You were always there for me.”

It looked like it took every fiber of your being to muster up the strength to shake your head and lower his hand. “No,” you frowned, your lashes dotting your bottom cheek with tears. “You can’t ask me to do this. You can’t tell me you love me knowing that I’m with Satoru. Knowing that what you did is unforgivable.”

Suguru’s heart snapped inside as he stared down at you with a melancholy smile, tilting his head to gaze gently at you. He knew what you were going to say before he had even come to you, and that was okay. You didn’t have to want to be with him, you didn’t have to agree with him, and you didn’t have to love him. You were good, naively obsessed with the protection of non-sorcerers that were the scum of the shoe worn by someone like you, but good, and you were allowed to choose whichever path you wanted to take, even if that path led you away from him and further into Satoru. 

He hadn’t come to argue. He hadn’t come to convince you. He hadn’t come to harm you. He simply meant to ask, and he did. 

He nodded his head softly toward you, acceptance washing over his slightly wounded face. “Okay,” he said, his voice low and quiet. 

Your face fell, shocked by his quickness to oblige. You were prepared to fight, but instead, the look in Suguru’s eye made your heart tremble and your eyes well. 

“Wha…?”

Suguru stepped in and lowered his lips to meet your forehead gingerly. His lips were warm against your skin as he lingered for a few moments before pulling away, releasing your head from his hands. You looked up at him wistfully, frightened for what he was about to do. “That was all I wanted to say. I wish you and Satoru all the best,” he nodded his head lightly again before turning over his shoulder and walking off.

You stared after him wistfully, eyes blurring over as the vision of him washed away with his presence. “...Suguru?” you murmured weakly, but he was gone, and you were left alone.

A decade later, you were face to face with Suguru once more at Jujutsu High, standing close to your husband, Satoru, with your posture rigid and your face frozen in shock, Satoru glaring ahead through his blindfold from beside you. 

Geto smiled, arm tucked over Yuta Okkotsu’s, your students standing perplexed around you as your former best friend greeted you. “Satoru, (Y/n)! Long time no see!” he called kindly, eyes opening slyly to look between the two of you. “Still together, I see? And as professors no less?”

“We’re married, Suguru,” Satoru revealed sternly, and Suguru’s brows raised and his chin tilted up slightly in response.

“Ah,” his eyes slid over to you, an unreadable emotion in his eyes. “Really?”

You couldn’t respond, for you were too shocked to see him. The last time you did, he was confessing his love to you and asking you to join his absurdity. You never told Satoru about it. You felt as though the moment was too private, too alarming to reveal to your now spouse. 

Even years later, Suguru felt the claws of jealousy dig into him again as he scanned the silver ring you wore around your finger. He chuckled slightly to himself, releasing Yuta harshly and turning completely to face you. 

“I can’t be too surprised,” he smiled, Gojo lifting a brow at the comment. “After all,” he kept his gaze on you. “The great Satoru Gojo will always get any and everything he wants.”

-

me personalliy i would've folded, idk.

[csuitebitches]

The Charisma Myth: things that I liked

Three quick tips to gain an instant charisma boost in conversation:

Lower the intonation of your voice at the end of your sentences. Reduce how quickly and how often you nod.

Pause for two full seconds before you speak.

The very next time you’re in a conversation, try to regularly check whether your mind is fully engaged or whether it is wandering elsewhere (including preparing your next sentence).

Expensive clothing leads us to assume wealth, friendly body language leads us to assume good intentions, a confident posture leads us to assume the person has something to be confident about. In essence, people will tend to accept whatever you project.

when you can project both power and warmth together, you really maximize your personal charisma potential.

charismatic behaviors must originate in your mind. Knowing how to skillfully handle mental discomfort is even more important than knowing how to handle physical discomfort. Anxiety is a serious drawback to charisma. First, it impacts our internal state: quite obviously, it’s hard to be fully present while you’re feeling anxious. Anxiety can also lower our confidence. Anxiety, low presence, and low confidence can show up directly in our body language, as well as reduce our ability to emanate warmth.

 The single most effective technique I’ve found to alleviate the discomfort of uncertainty is the responsibility transfer. Pick an entity—God, Fate, the Universe, whatever may best suit your beliefs—that you could imagine as benevolent. Imagine lifting the weight of everything you’re concerned about—this meeting, this interaction, this day—off your shoulders and placing it on the shoulders of whichever entity you’ve chosen. They’re in charge now. Visually lift everything off your shoulders and feel the difference as you are now no longer responsible for the outcome of any of these things. Everything is taken care of. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy whatever good you can find along the way.

Golfer Jack Nicklaus said that he never hit a shot, even during practice, without visualizing it first. For decades, professional athletes have considered visualization an essential tool, often spending hours visualizing their victory, telling their mind just what they want their body to achieve.

“There is good evidence that imagining oneself performing an activity activates parts of the brain that are used in actually performing the activity,” Professor Stephen Kosslyn, director of Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, wrote me. Visualization can even physically alter the brain structure: repeated experiments have shown that simply imagining yourself playing the piano with sufficient repetition leads to a detectable and measurable change in the motor cortex of the brain.

Silvia recently confided that visualization is one of the secrets to her success. Before key meetings, she’ll imagine “the smiles on their faces because they liked me and they are confident about the value I’m bringing them. I’ll imagine as much detail as I can, even seeing the wrinkles around their eyes as they’re smiling.” She visualizes the whole interaction, all the way through to the firm handshakes that close the meeting, sealing the deal.

A twenty-second hug is enough to send oxytocin coursing through your veins, and that you can achieve the same effect just by imagining the hug. So the next time you’re feeling anxious, you might want to imagine being wrapped up in a great big hug from someone you care about.

Self-confidence is our belief in our ability to do or to learn how to do something.

Self-esteem is how much we approve of or value ourselves. It’s often a comparison-based evaluation (whether measured against other people or against our own internal standards for approval).

Self-compassion is how much warmth we can have for ourselves, especially when we’re going through a difficult experience.

It’s quite possible for people to have high self-confidence but low self-esteem and very low self-compassion.

Types of charisma:

Focus: Focus charisma requires, of course, the ability to focus and be truly present. Good listening skills are nonnegotiable, as is a certain degree of patience. To develop focus charisma, cultivate your ability to be present.

Visionary charisma makes others feel inspired; it makes us believe. It can be remarkably effective even though it won’t necessarily make people like you. We assess visionary charisma primarily through demeanor, which includes body language and behavior. Due to the fact that people tend to accept whatever you project, if you seem inspired, they will assume you have something to be inspired about.

kindness charisma comes entirely from body language—specifically your face, and even more specifically your eyes. Kindness charisma is primarily based on warmth. It connects with people’s hearts, and makes them feel welcomed, cherished, embraced, and, most of all, completely accepted.

Authority charisma is primarily based on a perception of power: the belief that this person has the power to affect our world. We evaluate someone’s authority charisma through four indicators: body language, appearance, title, and the reactions of others. you’ll need to learn how to “take up space” with your posture, reduce nonverbal reassurances (such as excessive nodding), and avoid fidgeting. You may need to speak less, to speak more slowly, to know how and when to pause your sentences, or how to modulate your intonation. Look expensive. 

Avoid holding a drink in your right hand, especially if it’s a cold drink, as the condensation will make your hand feel cold and clammy. Before shaking someone’s hand, whether you are a man or a woman, rise if you’re seated. And keep your hands out of your pockets: visible hands make you look more open and honest. Make sure to use plenty of eye contact, and smile warmly but briefly: too much smiling could make you appear overeager. Keep your head straight, without tilting it in any way, and face the person.

Ask people open ended questions, focus on questions that will likely elicit positive emotions. With your questions, you have the power to lead the conversation in the direction you want. In fact, even when you’re speaking, the one word that should pop up most often in your conversation is not I but you. Instead of saying “I read a great article on that subject in the New York Times,” try “You might enjoy the recent New York Times article on the subject.” Or simply insert “You know...” before any sentence to make them instantly perk up and pay attention.

Another way to exit a conversation with grace is to offer something of value:

Information: an article, book, or Web site you think might be of use to them A connection: someone they ought to meet whom you know and can introduce them to

Visibility: an organization you belong to, where you could invite them to speak

Recognition: an award you think they should be nominated for

When someone has spoken, see if you can let your facial expression react first, showing that you’re absorbing what they’ve just said and giving their brilliant statement the consideration it deserves. Only then, after about two seconds, do you answer. The sequence goes like this:

They finish their sentence

Your face absorbs

Your face reacts

Then, and only then, you answer

The next time you’re given a compliment, the following steps will help you skillfully handle the moment:

1. Stop.

2. Absorb the compliment.

3. Let that second of absorption show on your face. Show the person that they’ve had an impact.

4. Thank them. Saying “Thank you very much” is enough, but you can take it a step further by thanking them for their thoughtfulness or telling them that they’ve made your day.

It’s not just metaphors that can paint the wrong picture. Some common phrases can have the same effect. When you tell someone, “No problem,” “Don’t worry,” or “Don’t hesitate to call,” for example, there’s a chance their brain will remember “problem,” “worry,” or “hesitate” instead of your desire to support them. To counter this negative effect, use phrases like “We’ll take care of it” or “Please feel free to call anytime.”

You can deliver value to others in multiple ways:

Entertainment: Make your e-mail or meeting enjoyable.

Information: Give interesting or informative content that they can use. 

Good feelings: Find ways to make them feel important or good about themselves. 

The longer you speak, the higher the price you’re making them pay, so the higher the value ought to be. 

If your goal is to communicate power, set the pitch, tone, volume, and tempo of your voice in the following ways:

Pitch and tone: The lower, more resonant, and more baritone your voice, the more impact it will have.

Volume: One of the first things an actor learns to do on stage is to project his voice, which means gaining the ability to modulate its volume and aim it in such a targeted way that specific portions of the audience can hear it, even from afar. One classic exercise to hone your projection skills is to imagine that your words are arrows. As you speak, aim them at different groups of listeners.

Tempo: A slow, measured tempo with frequent pauses conveys confidence.

To emanate vocal warmth, you need to do only one thing: smile, or even just imagine smiling.

Charismatic people are known to be more “contagious”; they have a strong ability to transmit their emotions to others.

The most effective and credible compliments are those that are both personal and specific. For instance, instead of “Great job,” you could say, “You did a great job,” or, better yet, “The way you kept your calm when that client became obnoxious was impressive.”

Here’s one specific—and surprisingly effective—recommendation for phone charisma, courtesy of author Leil Lowndes: Do not answer the phone in a warm or friendly manner. Instead, answer crisply and professionally. Then, only after you hear who is calling, let warmth or even enthusiasm pour forth in your voice. This simple technique is an easy and effective way to make people feel special. I recommend it to all my business clients whose companies have a strong customer service component. The gains in customer satisfaction are impressive.

Charisma takes practice. Steve Jobs, who appeared so masterful on stage, was known to rehearse important presentations relentlessly.

Retain at least a certain measure of equanimity. Most charismatic leaders are known for their ability to remain (or appear) calm even in the midst of turbulent circumstances.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

more notes on: writer's block

It is an anxiety we feel when we are unable to transfer ideas from our heads to the page.

It is a feeling of inadequacy—that whatever we write will be unoriginal, unimaginative, or have very little value.

It is a temporary state in which we are so overwhelmed with the expectations of an assignment, instructor, ourselves (inner editor) that we can’t get started.

Techniques to Combat Writer's Block

Stream of consciousness writing

There are variations to this type of writing. In general, the ideas are the same: writing freely without considering grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.

The most important aspect of this exercise is to just write.

Variations include: write what comes to your mind as you focus on your topic; write with your eyes closed; cover your computer screen and type freely; write slowly while focusing on each shaping of the letters; or set a timer/alarm and write non-stop for 10-15 minutes.

Change your location

If you usually write at a computer, try the kitchen or dining room table.

If you usually write at a desk, try a seat by a window. Or how about a coffee shop, a park, or the library?

Relaxation techniques

Take a break from trying to write. This will help you to rejuvenate (but come back soon)!

Take some deep breaths. People who tell you that physical exercise is important for mental activity are telling the truth.

If nothing's happening on the computer screen or paper, take a walk around the block. Hit the treadmill or tennis courts or drive to the gym. But take your notebook with you.

Fresh blood will be flowing through your brain and jogging might just jog something loose in your head. It happens.

Start in the middle of your writing project

Avoid the problem of getting started by starting on a part of the project that interests you more and then come back to the introductory matter later.

After all, your readers will never know you wrote the introduction last (another joy of word-processing technology!).

Talking aloud

Talk over your paper with a friend, or just blab away into a tape recorder (even better).

Play the tape back and write down what you hear in clusters of ideas or free write about them.

Accountability & community

Set up a time and place to write with someone else or a few other writers.

Start by talking about what you are working on, your struggle, and what needs to be done.

You can set a specific amount of time for everyone to write silently (an hour or a few).

Then come back together in the end to vocalize what you accomplished (and what you still want to accomplish if more needs to be done).

This goal setting, accountability, and community are highly valuable for the writing process.

more on: writer's block

[billthebullfrogs]

sure thing.

“Hey, firecracker,” a voice—unmistakable, to you, at least —calls from behind, and you instantly knew who it was. “Need to talk to you.”

There was only one person that would call you that nickname. Luke Castellan, the bane of your existence, thought it was extremely funny to remind you of that one time you almost burnt down the pavilion. The moment they figured out it was you; you had earned the nickname you dreaded so much. He loved reminding you of embarrassing stuff you did. You desperately wanted to wipe that self-satisfied smirk off his face. What did he even want? Didn’t he have something better to do than to bother you?

He leaned against one of the posts in the arena, eyebrows raised expectantly. He just needed a change from training the newbies. He wanted to go all out, and the best person to do that with was sadly you. Well, at least the satisfaction he’d get from beating you—because he would beat you, obviously, was totally worth it.

You sighed, “What?”

“Need a sparring partner, that's all,” he said, a smirk still tugging at the corner of his lips, now accompanied by a raised eyebrow. “And I'd rather have you than anyone in this camp.”

“That sounded too nice for your standards... Are you that desperate?” Your eyes narrowed; you were skeptical.

“Desperate to beat your ass, yes," he said, an easy laugh breaking past the steely look on his face. Luke was aware of the fact that he often annoyed you, and maybe he liked it just a little. "Besides, I wanna try some new sword techniques I came up with. So, whaddya say? Pretty please?" His head tilted a little when he said that, he was giving you that look.

You were silent, biting your lips just like you always did when you were focused. After a moment, you gave in. “Fine,” you said. Maybe you’d benefit from this, too.

"That’s my girl," he said as he casually walked toward you. "I promise not to go easy on you. If you feel like you're gonna trip and impale yourself with my sword, just say the word, alright?" A smirk flitted past his lips, though his words seemed genuine enough. Luke knew you would never stop being rivals. But the feeling of respect he had for you was real. He trusted you and even cared for you, but he’d rather commit war crimes than admit that.

“Fuck you,” you spat as you got into your signature fighting stance. Maybe this was a mistake, but if you gave up already, he’d think you’d gotten cold feet.

“If you ask nicely.”

That smug bastard. You hated him with all your heart. You hated his stupid smile and the way he made everyone around him feel comfortable, even you. You hated the butterflies he gave you. You hated his guts.

With a smooth slashing motion towards his torso, you started the fight. He blocked it with ease. Without a further word, Luke went in towards you with a quick and precise strike, sword arm extended forward in a tight grip with the tip aimed towards your sternum. He wanted to overwhelm you, thinking you hadn’t improved since the last time you sparred. But oh, was he wrong.

You’ve been watching him, his rather aggressive style of fighting, and the look in his eyes when he tried a certain move for a long time now. You’ve fought him many times before, and you were getting the hang of it. You’ve been training a lot, and while he was busy with the new campers, you had developed your own, unique fighting style. He knew you as a pretty good fighter, who could almost keep up with him on a good day. Almost. But now, you’d surpass his expectations. You blocked his hit, your body moving smoothly like liquid. Instead of using all your strength to try and withstand his attacks, you just gave in. Let loose. You used the force of his hit and channeled it, transferring it into your own with ease. He did not see that coming.

You'd always had a strong sense of intuition and your body would respond accordingly, as if it had a mind of its own. Luke was quick to counter, his body leaning back with a fluid motion to avoid any of your quick strikes, all the while trying to find an opening. The back-and-forth movement that was once just a spar has now become a deadly dance of swords, the two of you constantly in motion, no pause in sight. There is a certain excitement in the air, almost a spark that has ignited your mutual hostility and aggression.

Your movements were fluid as if you could predict all of Luke's moves in advance. You were a master of timing, of anticipating all of the demigod's strikes. Not once could he match your fluidity, his movements jerky compared to your graceful flow. There was something about the way you both fought so elegantly that made you feel like you were part of an agile performance, each of you matching the other's movements perfectly. It felt less like a fight and more like an art.

Yet even as you moved with effortless ease, the clash of swords kept you both on your toes, your bodies moving in such perfect sync that neither could find a flaw in the other's defense. Your movements almost appeared as if you were both working together, but this was not the case—in fact, Luke was becoming more frustrated by the second as he strained to find a way to slip past your guard.

“You’ve improved,” he breathed out while you fought. “I like it.” The way he said that sent shivers up your spine. It was embarrassing how these words affected you so hard that you made a small mistake. It was a mistake that could happen to even the best swordsmen in history, but a mistake nonetheless. And it led to his sword held at your throat. You fucked up. And he made you feel it, the cold tip of his sword gently tapping your chin, forcing you to look up at him. You prayed that he didn’t notice the color on your cheeks.

“You're distracted too easily.” He looked serious for once, that glint of smugness had left his eyes for just a moment. “I win again.” And there it was again, that stupid smile of his. He dropped his sword and held out a hand to help you up. You let him pull you up, trying to ignore the butterflies in your stomach. “Did you get what you wanted out of this fight?” You asked, and he nodded. “Much better than trying to teach the newbies not to drop their swords while fighting.”

“Good,” you turned to walk away, but he grabbed your wrist. “Same time tomorrow?”

You could’ve said no, could’ve walked away, could’ve done ANYTHING, but instead, you looked at him and said, “Sure thing.”

[mtchee]

I would love to read a story about Nanami from jjk with someone who’s his polar opposite!since he’s stoic and serious I think it would be interesting to see him interact with a bubbly and affectionate person. I was thinking it could be something along the lines of, him and reader not really getting along at all. Like reader tries really hard but he doesn’t really care for her :(. But she’s so persistent 24/7!! Which eventually leads to her being in a coma for a while and he visits her every day! I’m a sucker for angst/comfort…

Anywayy I hope you get to seeing this! I find stories like these to be especially interesting..

Time to Spare - [Nanami Kento] GN

blurb:

Nanami's never met someone so bubbly, so willing to go out of their way for others. You remind him of Haibara, almost. Someone who will inevitably lose themselves for the sake of others. He sees no point in getting attached. You're simply co-workers, another sorcerer in the city. Always so generous with your time, when Nanami would rather spend his alone. Soon, he learns that maybe, he doesn't mind sharing his time with you as much as he had thought.

requested by: anonymous

cw: not edited, second-person-pov, minor angst/comfort, fluff, sunshine x grumpy, i may rewrite some of this at a later time, sorry this took so long??, live laugh love nanami

[1.8k]

| masterlist | jujutsu kaisen collection |

Nanami's never been more exhausted.

Every aspect of work sucked, whether it be in a stuffy office or the backstreets of Tokyo, it's all the same. Conforming to society's improbably standards, sucking up to the higher ups--pointless.

And when he thought that his salarywork sucked the life out of him, integrating back into jujutsu society was like a slap in the face.

He's come across many new faces since his return, most of whom he couldn't care less for; he sees no reason to involve himself unneccessarily, unlike a certain someone.

That certain someone being you.

You're not new to the jujutsu world, but you certainly act like it. Oohing and awing at all the different techniques, boundless questions spilling from your mouth like a waterfall.

And just like a rushing waterfall, you're loud and transparent. You reminded him of Haibara. You wear your heart on your sleeve, every word you say true to your soul. It would do you more harm to tell a lie than the actual lie itself.

And you're smiley. So very smiley.

Your cheer has those around you perking up ever so slightly, your positive aura seeping into their gloomy mood and transferring over. Your energy is infectious, and your kindess knows no bounds.

But where some see kind, others see naive. And Nanami knows that it's only a matter of time before you get yourself hurt. But that will be no one's fault except your own.

To his ire, you've attached yourself to him for reasons unknown to all but you it seems. Your face brightens whenever you see him, whilst his remains as passive as stone. When your pearly eyes seek his in approval, his remain sharp cut in the opposing direction. Although you speak to him sweetly, excitedly, he remains curt and brief.

He sees no reason to get attached, and he's not inclined to make new friends.

At times, your company is so grating he'd almost perfer to be in the proximity of Gojo.

Almost.

He'd never truly stoop that low.

Such a subjection would be much too cruel, even for you.

"Nanami-san!" You approached him one day with a lightly crinkled paper bag, "is your mission in Roppongi today? I saw the bakery you normally go to was closed this morning, so I made you a sandwhich instead! The lettuce I had isn't as fresh, but it should still be crunchy!"

He had acknowledged you with a nod, but only took the lunch offering once you'd nudged it into his hands.

"[last name]," he had addressed you curtly, "don't go out of your way to do such needless errands. It's better to conserve your energy for your own sake." You had only giggled and shook your head fondly in response.

You had been there when Gojo first placed Yuji under his supervision, snickering in the corner when the young sorcerer greeted him with an ecstatic "nanamin!"

He could only deadpan at your not to secret conspiratorial whispers with the boy after he had scolded him for the nickname.

"Pssh, don't mind him," He could hear the smile in your voice, "he's actually really nice once you get to know him."

Nanami disagreed with you. He is not quite nice.

He is well mannered, and can read social cues decently enough. He's observant to a point he can depict when one's mood switches at a particular point in conversation, letting him know when to diverge the topic at hand. He knows when to keep his mouth shut, unlike some. But opposingly, he will not stand to be walked over, strictly knowing his boundaries.

In Nanami's opinion, he is not nice. He's just a decent human being.

You, on the other hand, suit the definition of nice in its purest form.

"Nanami-san! I like your hair today!"

It's the same as every other day.

You're the type of person to go out of your way to make someone feel good, whether it be complimenting someone's outfit, or sending a stranger a quick wave and charming smile. Unlike him, you're quite agreeable in conversation. Even on conversations you might not agree, you carefully express your contrasing opinion while keeping the other's thoughts in mind. Your niceness gets you talked over sometimes he's noticed, though you never let it hinder you.

"Oh, Nanami!" You had gasped once, too in shock to remember your formalities regarding him, "your jacket is all torn up!"

Hardly. There was a tear in the seam of his shoulder from an altercation with a curse. The higher ups had neglected to inform him of the apropriate number which he would be facing. He had handled it nonetheless.

He had shrugged off the garment after tucking away his wrapped blade. He would have simply folded it over his arm to deal with later if not for you reaching out and tugging it from him.

He didn't quite put up a fight in you taking it from him, letting it slip from the crook of his elbow.

"I actually have some thread at home. The colour might be a tad lighter, but it'll be hidden in the seam, so you can't even tell!" You smiled at him, all teeth and reassuring eyes, "I can drop it off for you tomorrow--it'll save you the trouble of finding a tailor. Oh! When I do, how about we get lunch together too?"

You're much too generous with your time, in Nanami's opinion.

When he'd rather bask alone, tie loose, shoes off, with a glass of whiskey on the rocks and a book in hand in the low light of his living room, you're skittering around; out and about either chattering away and wishing someone a pleasant evening, or walking from one place to another, street to street to pick out what you want for dinner before treating yourself to a series of desserts that you're more inclined to bring to jujutsu high the next day in a share box.

You'd more willingly spend your nights tending to someone else's problem than settle in the quiet of your own company.

Hm.

True to your word though, the next day you turned up at his door with his jacket neatly sewn and pressed across your arm. By your feet was a carefully placed reusable bag of his favourite luncheon accompanied by a sheepish, but nonetheless heart-warming smile on your face.

Nanami thinks you're much too generous with your time indeed.

Now though, seeing you laid across the medical bed in Shoko's sanction, skin losing it's colour while your lips dry by the day, he can't help but be a little selfish, seating himself in your eerily quiet company.

You've never been so quiet before. It's unsettling.

Your latest mission landed you in a hot zone with four first grade curses. You held your own, but ultimately knew you wouldn't leave unscathed.

You'd successfuly excorcised the curses, ridding them of their existence. But with them went your consciousness, partly an after effect from one of the fiends, and partly due to your imminent exhaustion.

For two weeks you'd been silent.

In that time Nanami realised that in your generous sharing of time, your deeds were gradually returned. Many others visited you in the times Shoko allowed, heavy hearts and occassionally teary eyes sparing every second they could to stay a little longer at your side, hoping that their share of time would transfer to you, and you would awaken once more.

Though none gave their time quite like Nanami did.

The moment your weary body reached the med bay, Nanami remained seated by your bedside.

He hadn't said anything at first, only taking place by your side, sitting quietly, listlessly, until Shoko ushered him out for the night.

The next day, he sat with his jacket folded over his arm. The seam had yet to come undone--a sure sign of your impeccable work. He breathed in time with your slow breaths.

On the third day, he brought lunch with him. He got it from a place he knows you frequent, choosing something he thought he'd seen you favour the most. If you didn't eat it today, he was sure you'd eat it during the night if he left it there.

He simply turned a blind eye to the sight of the untouched lunch when he returned the following day.

In the second week, he approached your form with three flowers--an admittedly meek sight in comparison to the slowly fraying boquets others had left in their visits. The white gardenias would compliment the tint of your lips once you reach good health.

He believed you would.

The world would be damned if it snuffed out one more gleaming light.

He added three more flowers two days later, white jasmines, to accompany the others. They'd been placed in a pretty vintage vase that Gojo has scounged up from somewhere on one of his visits. One of the few things the man has been useful for, Nanami supposed.

He noticed your breaths weren't as shallow anymore. And although your lips were still dry, your skin had begun to flush slightly with your colour.

He decided to read to you that day, sure that you were sick of the snivelling silence.

Another two days pass, and it's on the brink of the third week of your unconsciousness that Nanami walks in with three more flowers to add to your collection, beautiful red roses to add some colour to his otherwise bland concoction. You'd appreciate some more colour, he's sure.

Nine pretty flowers posed in a healthy posture by your bedside table, and Nanami took his seat by your side as he always did.

He picked up the book he had been reading, glancing at the door for any guests unwelcome in his space, before continuing on from where he had left off.

His voice is low, not quite emotive, but ensnaring nonetheless. He reads for an hour or so, passing a good few chapters before he decides he's sick of his own voice. He'd realised over time that he preferred yours more.

He silently promises to continue reading after a moment, placing the book open and down on his knee while he clears his throat, shifting for more comfortability.

A quiet hum eminates from his left, and he pauses.

"...I like that chapter," your voice, uncharacteristically hushed and croaky from lack of use, rings in his ears, and he stares at you with carefully placid features despite his racing heart.

You hadn't move much, only tilting your head on your pillow to better face him.

Your cheeks look fuller all of a sudden, and despite your obvious malaise from laying stiff for so long, you smile at him warmly, like you always do.

Then, your eyes flit to his jacket discarded over the back of his chair.

"The seam hasn't broken, right?"

The corner of his lips twitch into a downward smile.

Nanami thinks you're too nice. You're much too generous with your time. But he'd never dare complain when you spend it all with him.

And he too, thinks that he enjoys the sound of you more than his own quiet company.

[prettieinpink]

Being that girl once again- back to school!

It’s back to school season everyone, and my favourite times of the year. In this post im going to give you stuff to do for back to school + advice in specific areas of your school life! I hope everyone can take away something from this post <3 

THINGS TO DO BEFORE BACK TO SCHOOL <3

Revise your past term content in your core subjects, ensure there’s nothing you do not understand(it’s better to understand now than have to understand later)

Review what you are going to be learning for this current term in your core subject, you don’t have to study it, just familiarise yourself. 

Catch up with your friends- hang out, call or text before the new school term. My favourite thing is to create predictions of drama, couples etc in the upcoming term w my girlies!

Create SMART goals for you to achieve that term, in any aspect you want. I say; 1 goal for academics, 1 goal for social and 1 goal for extracurriculars/sports. 

Clean your room !! do a deep clean and declutter. E.g wipe down all surfaces, hover pillows, vacuum floor, clean mirrors, take out any clothes you dislike

Do an everything shower + face masks!!

ACADEMICALLY

Everyday afterschool, revise everything that you’ve learnt today + the things that you struggle on

Anytime you get homework, complete it as soon as possible. Most of the time, it’s easy and non time consuming. 

Create study guides for exams/tests while actually learning instead of when the assessments are actually coming up. It saves you a lot of time, which you can use for studying effectively.

If you don’t already, have a specific learning/studying style that works for you. E.g flashcards, blurting, mind map, spaced repetition, the feynman technique. (ofc you can have multiple). Just know the pros and cons of each studying technique. 

Or, what I do is that I assign specific studying techniques to different subjects e.g science - blurting, HASS - flashcards, maths - the feynman technique. This may be different to what you have the most success learning.

Have a place, time every day or at least most days, where you can study without distractions. I like to study at the library afterschool, it’s chill and literally void of any distractions.

The only advice in which i’ll say is not optional– do practise questions under the said test conditions. Stop using websites, listening to music, being on your phone etc. Get in the zone and transfer the environment. 

SOCIALLY

Make an effort to say hi or goodbye to some people, even if you do not know them that well. If you’re up for it, ask them how they are going or how their day has been.

Start remembering names and birthdays. This will literally make people like you so much more, it’s so simple but people swoon over this. Process names in your mind and write down birthdays in your calendar. 

Don’t be afraid to talk to others. Most people do not care if you talk to them, and some are glad that you talk to them. This is how people become well-known or well-liked. 

Watch videos on how to converse with people you do not know well effectively and become close with them. TED x has a lot of videos on this, and are usually helpful. 

Don’t try to fit in with the crowd. It’s so draining, and even if you think they do, they most likely dislike you(sorry!) . Instead, find/be with your people. 

Join a club/extracurricular. You meet so many like-minded people this way, while still developing your own skills. I say everyone should at least have one solid extracurricular. 

If you are in a talking stage, three weeks is enough time for him or you to decide if you’re willing to date them. It’s not the 1920s anymore, we have imessages, facetime, skype and others to communicate and get to know each other without contact

Call out your friends if you notice them doing something toxic or generally anything they shouldn’t do. E.g gossiping, getting mad at others, bullying someone. If they continue, it will influence you in the long run.

MENTALLY 

Reframe your mindset. I know most of us do not favour school, but do not dwell on negativity and find ways to be positive/neutral about your circumstances. You’ll feel so much better.

Detach. Detachment is literally essential in highschool, there’s so much drama and most likely you will somehow get tied up in it. Stop absorbing what happens and let it influence you, observe what happens and learn from it. I have a post on this here. 

Start saying affirmations everyday. I know affs are usually viewed as a manifestation thing, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be a simple one minute way to cultivate a neutral/positive perspective of yourself. 

Journal. Things will happen, so journaling is a great way to discuss your circumstances, feelings, trauma, relationships etc and develop a sense of identity at the same time. I have a post on this here. 

Meditate. It can be go-go-go constantly, but just take a break and gain some mental clarity and see how much better you feel decluttering your mind. 

Embrace a change and growth mindset, especially in an environment where we are constantly required to adapt. 

PHYSICALLY

Start stretching.. seriously. You sit at a desk for like 5 hours a day excluding lunch and recess, everyday, which is of course going to do a number on your body. It can relieve pain in many different areas.

Have at least 1 form of exercise you do everyday. I know being students, we have to sit at a desk constantly. But, do not give up on practising good exercise habits. Not only can it help with results, it’s good for you.

Get the recommended sleep of 6-8 hours per night, which is good quality sleep without disruptions. It helps with long term memory and you’ll feel better. 

Start packing healthy but tasty lunches to school instead of buying. You’ll save so much money in the long run, and it’s better for your body. 

BEAUTY 

Get your uniforms tailored just a bit. Not too noticeable, but enough that it fits better on your body. Especially for button formal shirts, as they make you look 10 times as bulky than what you actually are. 

Buy new jewellery, earrings, necklaces or whatever you’re allowed. Subtle but noticeable jewellery makes girls look so pretty.

Learn new hairstyles!! Don’t just wear the same hair everyday, mix it up, it’s fun and makes you look attractive. 

Get a good eyebrow gel + clear mascara. Legit life changer, I look so much better everyday because I look put together without make up.

apply  vaseline on areas you would apply highlight, but avoid your eye area. 

Have a good skincare regime!! Being a student is stressful, getting pimples is a sign of stress. 

Okay that's it. Happy back to school everyone! Here’s an affirmation for you <3

I am intelligent and capable. I am skilled and confident in my abilities. I am perceived well by others. I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am looking for this term to be full of good grades, vibes, friends, growth and fun. 

[mywitchyblog]

The Importance of Spiritual Hygiene in Reality Shifting.

Introduction :

Reality shifting, the practice of consciously transferring one's awareness to an alternate reality or desired reality, has gained significant attention in recent years. As more individuals explore this metaphysical concept, the importance of spiritual hygiene represents a crucial factor in order to shift succesfully. This essay delves into the often overlooked aspect of maintaining spiritual cleanliness and its profound impact on a shifters journey.

Just as we maintain physical hygiene for our bodily health, spiritual hygiene is essential for our energetic and mental well-being, particularly when engaging in practices that involve altering our state of consciousness. By examining the foundations of spiritual hygiene, exploring effective practices, and understanding the consequences of neglecting this vital aspect, we can make our shifting journey smoother and easier.

In the following sections, we will explore the intricate relationship between spiritual hygiene and reality shifting, providing insights and practical guidance for those seeking to optimize their shifting journey.

Disclaimer : Read Post entirely if you didnt understand something tell me and i'l clarify it for you.

Masterlist

I. Foundations of Spiritual Hygiene in Reality Shifting

A. Defining spiritual hygiene

Spiritual hygiene, in the context of reality shifting, refers to the practice of maintaining a clean, balanced, and harmonious energetic state of being. It encompasses various techniques and habits that aim to purify one's spiritual, mental, and emotional bodies/states. Just as physical hygiene involves cleansing and caring for our physical bodies, spiritual hygiene focuses on cleansing and nurturing our non-physical aspects.

At its core, spiritual hygiene is about cultivating a state of inner clarity, positivity, and alignment with one's higher self. This involves:

Energetic cleansing: Regularly clearing one's aura/energy/chakras of negative and stagnant energies that may accumulate from daily interactions, stress, or environmental factors.

Mental clarity: Maintaining a clear and focused mind, free from excessive worry, doubt, or negative thought patterns.

Emotional balance: Processing and releasing emotions in a healthy manner, avoiding emotional stagnation or overwhelming states.

Intentional living: Aligning one's thoughts, actions, and intentions with their highest values and spiritual goals.

Spiritual connection: Nurturing a connection with one's inner guidance, higher self, or preferred spiritual entities.

Energetic boundaries: Establishing and maintaining healthy energetic boundaries to protect oneself from external negative influences.

Vibrational upliftment: Consistently raising one's vibrational frequency through positive practices, thoughts, and experiences.

In the context of reality shifting, spiritual hygiene takes on additional significance as it directly influences one's ability to navigate between different states of consciousness and therefore realities.

B. Connection between spiritual cleanliness and successful shifting

The practice of reality shifting requires a high degree of mental focus, emotional stability, and energetic alignment. Spiritual hygiene plays a crucial role in facilitating these conditions, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful shifting attempts. The connection between spiritual cleanliness and successful shifting can be understood through several key aspects:

Vibrational alignment: Reality shifting often involves attuning oneself to the vibrational frequency of your desired reality. A spiritually clean state allows for easier alignment with higher vibrational frequencies, making it more feasible to connect with and shift to your intended/desired reality.

Mental clarity and focus: A cluttered or chaotic mind can hinder the concentration required for shifting. Regular spiritual hygiene practices help clear mental fog, reduce intrusive thoughts, and enhance the ability to visualize and focus on the desired reality.

Emotional stability: Intense or unprocessed emotions can create energetic blockages that interfere with shifting attempts. Maintaining emotional balance through spiritual hygiene practices allows for a more stable and conducive state for shifting.

Energetic purity: A clean energy field is more receptive to the subtle energies involved in reality shifting. It allows for clearer channeling of intentions and easier detachment from the current reality.

Spiritual protection: Good spiritual hygiene includes practices that protect one's energy field. This is crucial during shifting attempts, as it helps prevent interference from unwanted energies habits and so on...

Intuition and guidance: A spiritually clean state enhances one's connection to inner guidance and intuition. This can be invaluable during shifting, helping navigate the process and make decisions aligned with one's highest good.

Belief and intention amplification: Spiritual hygiene practices often involve affirmations, visualizations, and intention-setting. These reinforce the belief in one's ability to shift and amplify the power of intentions, both critical factors in successful shifts.

Energetic flexibility: Regular spiritual cleansing increases one's energetic flexibility, making it easier to adapt to the vibrations of different realities and facilitating smoother transitions during shifting attempts.

Subconscious alignment: Many spiritual hygiene practices work on a subconscious level, helping to align deeper parts of the psyche with the conscious desire to shift. This internal harmony can significantly enhance shifting success.

Resilience and perseverance: The discipline cultivated through consistent spiritual hygiene practices builds mental and emotional resilience. This is crucial for persevering through challenges or initial unsuccessful attempts in your reality shifting journey.It can help you fights against negatives habits ,thoughts and allow you to break through and not to give up.

In essence, spiritual hygiene creates an optimal internal environment for reality shifting. It clears obstacles, enhances necessary skills, and aligns one's entire being with the goal of shifting. By maintaining a high standard of spiritual cleanliness, practitioners of reality shifting can significantly increase their chances of success, enjoy more vivid and controlled experiences, and navigate the process with greater ease and safety.

Moreover, the benefits of spiritual hygiene extend beyond just facilitating successful shifts. It also helps in integrating shifting experiences, processing the insights gained from different realities, and maintaining overall well-being throughout one's shifting journey. As such, spiritual hygiene should be considered a fundamental and ongoing practice for anyone seriously engaged in reality shifting.

For exemple this is what happened in 2020. Rememeber when people told you to drink water clean your room take a shower etc... That was exemples of spiritual Hygiene .Theres tons of ways to do it but those where somme common exemples that people did you didnt have to follow them by the letters but it helped a lot of people.

II. Practices for Maintaining Spiritual Hygiene

A. Cleansing rituals and techniques

Maintaining spiritual hygiene requires regular cleansing practices to remove energetic debris, reset one's vibration, and create a clean slate for reality shifting. Here are some effective cleansing rituals and techniques:

Smudging: This ancient practice involves burning sacred herbs like sage , palo santo (White Sage and Palo Santo are cultural appropriation), or cedar to cleanse spaces and auras. The smoke is believed to attach to negative energies and carry them away as it dissipates.

Salt baths: Soaking in a bath with sea salt or Epsom salt can draw out and absorb negative energies and toxins from the body and aura. Adding essential oils can enhance the cleansing effect.

Visualization meditation: Imagine a bright white or golden light flowing through your body, cleansing every cell and your entire energy field. Visualize negative energies being washed away or transmuted into positive light.

Sound cleansing: Use singing bowls, bells, or specific frequencies (like 528 Hz) to cleanse your energy field. The vibrations help break up stagnant energies and realign your personal frequency.

Breathwork: Practices like holotropic breathwork can help clear energetic blockages and oxygenate the body, promoting a sense of lightness and clarity.

Crystal cleansing: Use crystals like clear quartz or black tourmaline to absorb negative energies. Pass them through your aura or place them on specific body parts to draw out unwanted energies.

Energy combing: Visualize or use your hands to "comb" through your aura, removing any stuck or tangled energies.

Grounding exercises: Connect with the earth's energy through barefoot walking, hugging trees, or visualizing roots growing from your feet into the earth.This will help you ground yourself which is key to prevent spiritual psychosis.

Chakra balancing: Focus on each chakra, visualizing it spinning cleanly and brightly, removing any blockages or imbalances.

Journaling and emotional release: Write out negative thoughts or emotions to acknowledge and release them from your energetic system.

Shadow Work : Arguably the best method of spiritual hygiene out there it invovles digging deep inside yourself in order to incover part of yourself that may cause issues or explain why you act the way that you act.If there is a question you feel like it makes you feel weird or that you are trying to dodge it that means that it is where you should dig.

B. Ongoing maintenance of spiritual purity

While periodic deep cleansing is important, maintaining spiritual hygiene requires consistent daily practices. Here are some techniques for ongoing maintenance:

Morning and evening rituals: Develop a routine that includes practices like meditation, affirmations, or energy clearing to start and end each day with a clean slate.

Mindfulness practice: Stay aware of your thoughts and emotions throughout the day, addressing any negativity promptly to prevent energetic buildup.

Energy shielding: Visualize a protective bubble or shield around your aura each morning to deflect negative energies throughout the day.

Regular meditation: Incorporate daily meditation to quiet the mind, release stress, and maintain a high vibrational state.

Gratitude practice: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude through journaling or mental acknowledgment, which naturally elevates your spiritual vibration.

Nature connection: Spend time in nature regularly to reset your energy and align with the earth's natural rhythms.

Healthy lifestyle choices: Maintain a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep to support overall energetic health.

Conscious consumption: Be mindful of the media, conversations, and environments you expose yourself to, avoiding those that lower your vibration.

Regular energy checks: Perform quick energy scans throughout the day, clearing any accumulated negativity.

Affirmations and positive self-talk: Use affirmations to maintain a positive mindset and high vibration.

Spiritual study: Engage in regular reading or learning about spiritual topics to keep your practice fresh and evolving.

Decluttering: Regularly clear your physical space, as this often corresponds to energetic clearing.

Sacred space maintenance: Keep a dedicated area for spiritual practices, regularly cleansing and energizing this space.

Intention setting: Start each day or week by setting clear, positive intentions for your spiritual hygiene and shifting practices.

Prayer : Prayer can be a form of spiritual hygiene where you pray and visualise or accept that whoever you pray to will grant you what you asked for.

Self Care: "As within,So without . As without So Within" this saying states whatever action taken in the physical or the spiritual will reflect on the other side.So taking care of yourself physically will also help you mentally. I know it is easier said then done but just trying even a litlle bit is enough and can help you tremendously. Things like brushing your teeth,doing skin care lisenting to music that makes you feel good is beneficial.

By incorporating these cleansing rituals and maintenance practices into daily life, reality shifters can create and sustain an optimal energetic environment for their shifting attempts. This consistent attention to spiritual hygiene not only enhances the shifting experience but also contributes to overall well-being, clarity of mind, and spiritual growth. Remember, the key to effective spiritual hygiene is consistency and personalization – finding the practices that resonate most strongly with you and making them a regular part of your routine.

III. Consequences of Poor or Absent Spiritual Hygiene

A. Negative impacts on shifting attempts

Neglecting spiritual hygiene can significantly hinder reality shifting efforts and lead to various undesirable outcomes:

Difficulty in shifting: A cluttered energy field can create barriers to successfully transitioning between realities, making it harder to initiate or maintain a shift (as in grounding yourself in your DR).

Inconsistent or unstable shifts: Poor spiritual hygiene may result in shifts that are brief, unclear, or difficult to control, leading to fragmented or unsatisfying experiences.

Unintended destinations: Without proper energetic alignment, shifters might find themselves in realities that don't match their intentions, potentially leading to confusion or distress.

Increased vulnerability to intrusive thoughts: A lack of mental clarity can amplify doubts, fears, and negative thoughts during shifting attempts, sabotaging the process.

Energetic interference: An unprotected or "dirty" energy field may attract or allow interference from unwanted energies or "entities" (the whole entity thing cannot happen but some shifters claimed it to be so but you quickly realize that it is all in their head and they start going into spiritual psychosis) during shifting, potentially leading to disruptive or even frightening experiences.

Difficulty in maintaining focus: Poor spiritual hygiene can result in a scattered mind, making it challenging to concentrate on shifting intentions or visualizations.

Emotional instability during shifts: Unprocessed emotions or energetic imbalances may surface during shifting attempts, causing emotional turbulence that disrupts the experience.

Difficulty in returning or grounding: Poor spiritual hygiene may complicate the process of returning to the original reality or grounding oneself after a shift.

Increased skepticism and self-doubt: Repeated unsuccessful or unsatisfying shifting attempts due to poor spiritual hygiene may erode confidence in one's ability to shift, creating a negative feedback loop that could cause a snowball effect and scar you for life.

B. Potential risks to personal well-being and energy

Beyond impacting shifting attempts, neglecting spiritual hygiene can have broader consequences for one's overall well-being:

Energy depletion: Constant exposure to negative energies without proper cleansing can lead to chronic fatigue, low motivation, and a general sense of being drained.

Increased susceptibility to negative influences: A weakened energy field may make one more vulnerable to picking up others' negative emotions or thought patterns.

Emotional imbalance: Poor spiritual hygiene can result in mood swings, irritability, or persistent negative emotional states.

Mental fog and confusion: Accumulation of energetic debris can lead to difficulty in concentration, decision-making, and clarity of thought.

Physical manifestations: Prolonged energetic imbalances may eventually manifest as physical discomfort or health issues.

Spiritual disconnection: Neglecting spiritual hygiene can lead to a sense of disconnection from one's higher self, intuition, or spiritual guidance.

Relationship strain: An imbalanced energy field can negatively impact interactions with others, leading to misunderstandings or conflicts.

Increased anxiety or paranoia: Poor energetic boundaries may result in feeling overwhelmed by external energies, leading to heightened anxiety or paranoid thoughts.

Stagnation in personal growth: Neglecting spiritual practices can hinder overall spiritual development and self-awareness.

Negative thought spirals: Without proper cleansing and maintenance, negative thought patterns can become entrenched, leading to a pessimistic outlook on life.

Blocked intuition: An unclear energy field can muffle intuitive signals, making it harder to make decisions aligned with one's highest good.

Increased sensitivity to environmental stressors: Poor spiritual hygiene can make one more susceptible to the negative effects of electromagnetic fields, crowd energies, or other environmental factors.

Difficulty in manifesting desires: Since reality shifting is closely related to manifestation, poor spiritual hygiene can obstruct one's ability to attract positive experiences or outcomes in any reality.

Karmic accumulation: Some believe that neglecting spiritual cleanliness can lead to the accumulation of negative karma, potentially affecting future experiences across realities.

Loss of energetic discernment: Without regular cleansing and maintenance, it may become increasingly difficult to distinguish between one's own energies and external influences.

In addition to the previously mentioned risks, it's crucial to highlight more severe consequences that have affected some shifters who neglected spiritual hygiene:

Mental health misinterpretations: Many individuals who attempted shifting without proper spiritual hygiene have experienced mental distress, leading them to mistakenly attribute these issues to shifting itself. This has resulted in some believing they developed psychosis or other mental health conditions, when in fact, these were consequences of poor energetic maintenance.

Physical and mental scars: Neglecting spiritual hygiene has left some shifters with lasting mental and physical scars. These may manifest as persistent anxiety, unexplained physical sensations, or a lingering sense of disconnection from their original reality.

Loss of faith in shifting: Due to negative experiences stemming from poor spiritual hygiene, some practitioners have erroneously concluded that shifting is "fake" or dangerous, abandoning the practice altogether.

Energetic attachments: Some shifters have reported feeling like they've brought back unwanted energetic attachments or entities from other realities, leading to persistent feelings of being watched or influenced by external forces.

Reality bleed-through: Poor boundaries between realities, caused by inadequate spiritual hygiene, have led to some shifters experiencing unsettling "bleed-through" effects, where elements of other realities intrude into their daily life.(These are nothing more than extreamly vivid hallucinations and at this point please seek help this is not normal at all).

Difficulty in maintaining a stable sense of self: Some practitioners have struggled with identity issues after shifting, finding it hard to reconcile their experiences across different realities. This is often exacerbated by poor spiritual hygiene practices.

Chronic fatigue and energy depletion: Many shifters have reported feeling constantly drained, unable to shake off fatigue even with adequate physical rest, due to energetic imbalances.(and again you are not suppoised to feel exhausted or tired when you shift back to your CR/OR considering that it is not that version of you who did all those things but your DR self not your OR self by logic it shoudnt and cannot happen)

Increased sensitivity to negative energies: Some individuals have developed hypersensitivity to energies around them, finding it overwhelming to be in crowded places or around certain individuals.

Nightmares and sleep disturbances: Poor spiritual hygiene has led to some shifters experiencing persistent nightmares or feeling like they're involuntarily shifting during sleep, disrupting their rest and daily functioning.

Difficulty in grounding: Some practitioners have found it challenging to fully "return" to their CR (current reality) or feel grounded in daily life, leading to a persistent feeling of dissociation.

It's important to emphasize that these negative experiences are not inherent to the practice of reality shifting itself, but rather consequences of neglecting proper spiritual hygiene. Shifting, being a spiritual practice, requires the same level of care and maintenance as any other spiritual or energetic work. Just as a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind, maintaining spiritual hygiene is vital for a healthy shifting practice and overall well-being.

By understanding these potential risks and the importance of spiritual hygiene, practitioners can approach reality shifting more responsibly and safely. This awareness can help prevent negative experiences and misconceptions about shifting, allowing individuals to explore this practice in a balanced and beneficial manner.

If you do not beleive me do it yourself. As in do the research look at the articles testimonies and story time from "ex-shifters". You will soon realize that it all stems for a poor or non existant spiritual hygiene that's what fucked them up.Not Shifting, they shot themselves in the foot.

Conlcusion :

Reality shifting, a practice of consciously transferring awareness to alternate realities, relies heavily on proper spiritual hygiene. This concept encompasses techniques for maintaining energetic cleanliness and balance, which are crucial for successful shifting experiences and overall well-being.

Spiritual hygiene in shifting involves regular cleansing rituals, such as smudging, meditation, and energy work, as well as ongoing practices like mindfulness, grounding, and energy protection. These techniques create an optimal internal environment for shifting by clearing energetic debris, enhancing focus, and aligning one's vibration with desired realities.

Neglecting spiritual hygiene can lead to significant challenges, including difficulty in shifting, unstable experiences, and potential risks to mental and physical health. Some practitioners have mistakenly attributed negative effects of poor spiritual hygiene to shifting itself, leading to misconceptions about the practice. By understanding and prioritizing spiritual hygiene, shifters can enhance their experiences, prevent negative outcomes, and foster holistic well-being across all realities they encounter.

In essence, spiritual hygiene is not just a supplementary aspect of reality shifting, but a fundamental component that ensures safe, enriching, and transformative experiences. As the practice of reality shifting continues to evolve, emphasizing the importance of spiritual hygiene will be crucial in creating a responsible and rewarding approach to this profound spiritual journey.

[honouredsnakeprincess]

A while ago I had this idea for a ttrpg set in a world sort of superficially similar to the very early 19th century of our world, except that the first industrial revolution was ushered in by the development of the ability to standardize parts of the human mind into Methods, which are sort of archived records of a person's skill that can be transferred to other minds using a specialized set of tools, so a gifted fencer can have his proficiency copied and given to his students, a master carpenter can have all his underlings working with his exact level of aptitude, and so on.

Methods didn't necessarily confer the physical ability to use them, mind you. The aforementioned fencing method wouldn't be very useful unless you were already reasonably fit and had a sword or similar implement on hand to use. A method can contain exercise techniques to get into shape, but it won't physically change your body.

Furthermore, methods often contain minor quirks of the person from whom the method is originally derived; a translation method might cause you to speak with an accent, a shooting method might make you hold your pistol in your left hand, regardless of what your dominant hand normally is, and so on.

Needless to say, though, this has dramatically altered social norms and the economy of the world; guilds are struggling to hang on as methods are leaked and circulated of techniques they previously kept a monopoly on the teaching of, popular uprisings become increasingly dangerous as common people can gain the instincts and knowledge of years of military training in mere days, and linguistic methods have allowed for an ease of translation never before seen.

The default adventure for this system was going to be about hunting down a serial killer among high society, which is eventually revealed to be a group of duelists who have taken to using a method to improve their fencing skills (and which has, unbeknownst to them, made them unable to let a slight go unavenged.)

I still think this is a solid premise, and I think it could be fun to have methods represented as cards explaining the unlocked skill and any additional quirks they might have, which can be traded between players and NPCs. Someday I will return to this project.

[loveandpeaceanddoughnuts]

Gojo Satoru couldn’t stand you. He couldn’t bear the faint smell of your shampoo in the stairwell you’d just left, the sound of your laughter disappearing around the corner.

He’d started excusing himself from staff meetings at school, much to the fury of the higher-ups. But he quite literally couldn’t be in the same room with you. Not after what he’d done.

The strongest sorcerer started letting his Infinity slip, hoping you’d brush against him in the hallway just so he could feel you again.

He got sloppy on missions, ending up on Shoko’s operating table more and more often. The last time, forced back into consciousness by her technique and a lungful of secondhand smoke, she had called him on it.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed, Satoru? You think that’s going to bring them back?” He took so long to answer that she started to worry he’d passed back out.

“I know it won’t.” His ocean-blue eyes were an abyss. “But then it wouldn’t hurt anymore.”

Gojo knew he hardly had the right to say it. You had only had one request of him when you got together, one thing that worried you about getting involved with him and his reputation. And he had blown it all up.

It didn’t matter that it was his first love, his high-school ex that he never really got over. It didn’t even matter that he had a good excuse when it came down to it. You had caught Gojo with his tongue down someone else’s throat, and ended it on the spot.

So he dragged himself and his self-pity around campus, half-heartedly instructing the first years when he wasn’t busy volunteering for suicide missions.

You kept your broken heart well-hidden, quietly requesting a transfer to Kyoto at the end of this semester. You looked right through him when you couldn’t avoid him entirely, and found empty bathroom stalls to cry in afterward.

+++++++++++++++++

You had carefully planned your escape, steadily sending your belongings on to the Kyoto school and distancing yourself from the administration of the Tokyo campus for the past few weeks. Now moving day was here, a one-way ticket clutched in your hand. It felt both impossible and inevitable.

No one was there to see you off, as requested. Your closest friends would come visit and everyone else didn’t care much either way.

Except for the person you were running from.

You felt him before you saw him, his Six Eyes boring into you from across the station. His snow-white hair was scruffy, sticking up like he’d been pulling at it. Dark sunglasses hid his shadowed eyes.

“Gojo? What the fuck are you doing here?” You knew he could hear your harsh whisper from where he stood.

“Gojo, huh? Ouch.” He crossed the room in a blink, pushing up his glasses to show off an exaggerated wince, one eye scrunched shut. “That hurts.”

“Good. You should know how it feels. Now if you don’t mind, I have a train to catch.” You tried to step around him, but he easily mirrored you.

“It doesn’t leave for another ten minutes. Can we talk?”

“Talk? Talk about what, asshole? How your ex tasted?” A pointless shove against his broad chest.

Gojo caught your wrists in one hand. “Please.”

You made the mistake of eye contact, taking a half-step closer, and your heart broke open all over again. He was so beautiful, so desperate, his vulnerability a halo. The wound you had tried to cauterize with space and silence flared back to agonizing life.

He sensed your hesitation- he knew all your weaknesses- and used the opportunity to pull you into his arms. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry, you have no idea…” murmured apologies into your hair.

“Fuck you,” you said to his chest.

“I know, baby.” A shaky laugh. “I know.”

Against all your instincts, the longing to melt into his embrace, you stepped back. “Satoru…” you did your best to ignore the hope in his face when you used that name. “You can’t expect me to forget what you’ve done.”

“I don’t! I swear. Just please, don’t run away from this. From us. I can’t lose you.” He still held your wrists, your pulses knocking against each other.

“You already did.”

He lets go, off balance, like you’d punched him in the gut. Your train doors are opening and you’re turning away, not before you catch the shine of tears in his blue, blue eyes.

You’re sorry too, so goddamn sorry, but you’re stepping off the platform and there’s nothing left to say, even if you had the time to say it.

The doors close indifferently, your world cleaved in two. Before and after, inside and out. You turn back, watching him shrink into nothing as you pull out of the station. He watches you disappear for much, much longer.

[ms-demeanor]

sorry if you've answered this before, and i hope you don't mind me asking, how do you know so much about computers and what seems to me like everything in the world? how did you become so knowledgeable? it's amazing

i just know a little about a lot of things and I probably have a fair number of things that I've dug into more than most people and less than people who actually focus on that stuff! It's kind of an illusion!

I do know a lot about computers and that's because I've worked at a computer company for 12 years and have been deep into a computery subculture for about 20 years - I do genuinely know a lot about consumer computers. That I'll own and that's experience.

I know a fair amount about literature because I've got a degree in it!

I know a fair amount about journalism because I've got most of a degree in it and I worked with journalists for a long time!

I know a fair amount about nutrition because I've got most of a degree in it and because I've been focused on reading a lot about nutrition for more than a decade because of my own food issues!

But mostly I'm just someone who falls down rabbitholes and has a decent ability to recall what I find when I run down them.

Also I get curious about things and will just go. Experience them.

Like at some point i came across a site for people who own and use RealDolls and I got interested in learning more. The site required an application because they didn't want people just trolling so I applied and I ended up reading through the whole site and reading the magazines they sent out for years after because it was just interesting. The way these guys bought clothes or compared repair techniques and cleaning techniques, the way they constructed identities for their dolls - it was all interesting! So now I know about the proper way to store a RealDoll and how their skeletons are put together and the best way to prevent rips or clean inserts.

Now imagine that with everything.

I got interested in quack medicine so I ended up reading the entire back catalogs of quackwatch and science-based medicine.

I got interested in the history of aspartame as a scare-word and I ended up reading a couple of books, SEVERAL entire blogs with decades-long runs, purchasing a military magazine from the 90s, and submitting a FOIA request.

But, like. I don't own a RealDoll or work in that industry. I am not a medical professional. I am not a chemist who works with aspartame. So I get these weird little collections of information where I know what *seems* like a lot to someone who hasn't looked into it but I know a lot less than someone who has taken the time to actually dedicate themselves to that topic.

And sometimes it's a years-long dive and sometimes it's a months-long dive and sometimes it's a few hours of me digging online until I feel satisfied with what I've learned and I never come back to it, but I've got three more talking points than your average joe at a party would.

(Also though I've attended various colleges at various levels for ten-ish years now and I've taken probably more college-level classes on a lot of subjects than most people have because I've now spent several years just kind of kicking around at community colleges and deciding that a cartooning class sounds fun or that a mesoamerican art class fills certain transfer requirements or that I might as well brush up on spanish, french, and german. Access to low-cost college classes in california is a big part of this, and having the time and money to take classes while i'm working is something that I've been very lucky with)

I've also worked pretty much continuously since I was 18, sometimes holding multiple jobs at once, and I know a lot of interesting people who do a lot of interesting things and I ask them about their interesting experiences and if they offer me a chance to go do cool shit with them, like launch a high altitude balloon or blow up some dynamite that's about to expire or join a band, I do it!

I was also one of those kids who had no friends and spent too much time at the library so I'd do things like read through medical textbooks or pull a book of home chemical formulas out of the trash and read it or take it into my head that I was going to read all of Shakespeare before I got to high school so I was a really annoying twelve-year-old and that kind of thing never really let up.

I don't know! I don't think it's that unusual and I think most people do this kind of thing I just happen to have less focus than a lot of people and talk a lot more.

[ceriphea]

A Starry Night

Summary: A perfectly clear night left you to reminisce your time with Astarion. Allowing him to explore his own boundaries, he's finally made the plans to spend a night full of pleasure and joy out of his own free will with you.

Pairing: Astarion x Fem!Tav(Reader)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Smut, little plot, oral sex, graphic language

Words: 4065

Additional: I may have just created a whole new side tumblr and satisfied my urge to write this down despite not long ago saying I wouldn't be writing anymore. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the read! I aimed to keep from descriptions of Tav so you could picture your own as best as possible. :)

Read on Ao3

The night was quiet. Much quieter than usual. Quieter anyway since Lae’zel and Shadowheart decided to put peace on their bickering and allow another to live in each other’s presence. Most of the camp had been resting as it was your turn to keep watch for the night. 

Not that there was much to look out for. If you don’t count random appearances of Mizora or vampire spawns. Most nights went by peacefully at this point. The only thing possibly interrupting a good night's rest were dunkards stumbling by the little camp your group had settled down in. 

Your eyes were settled on the sky, clear as ever. Every single star was visible to your eyes and it brought a small smile across your lips. It reminded you of your first night with Astarion. 

The two of you had started out as a fling. Something to make your situation a little more passable. After all, who didn’t enjoy good sex? However as time progressed and the more nights the two of you had spent together, the more the simple fun of having sex turned into feelings for another. It came easier for you than for the vampire. 

Astarion was troubled, damaged from the years of torture and pain he had endured. The closer you became, the more you learned about his trauma. And that was how you learned that Astarion had not enjoyed himself during sex for a long time. Your initial reaction was hurt. Mainly because of your own trauma that you carry with yourself as well as the fact that you’d like to think you’d do well enough to please your partners. Though after the initial reaction you understood. For him sex had always been a technique for his victims. A mere measure to bait people into aiding to his will. And he did in fact enjoy what you two had just the drive was not what it was meant to be. 

It was then, when you established your relationship with Astarion, showing him you cared about him beyond sex, that you told Astarion you wouldn’t have sex until he felt ready for enjoying it for the act that it is between two people that like each other. Not because he felt like he needed to just for the sake of it. To get an advantage out of it.

There were many times he had tried getting it on with you when you offered him your neck. He tried because he felt like he owed you for allowing him to drink off of you. However each time you turned him down for him to underline your point and make him understand he didn’t need to do something just to pay you back. It wasn’t like you didn’t want to have sex with him, you loved having him since he had been your best partner. You just wanted him to stop feeling like he was forced to have sex with no real meaning to him.

He understood after a while and now it had been a good amount of time since the last time you slept together. You couldn’t even recall how long exactly. Not that your mind was allowed to drift any further as the elf in question settled down to sit beside you.

“Pardon me, my love but I felt like my presence was required here,” Astarion said playfully, his red orbs gazing at you intently. Some of your thoughts must have slipped through to him thanks to that worm inside of your head. There was never any telling which thoughts you’d get to keep to yourself and which would be transferred over your illithid connection.

“Oh, did you now?” you inquired with a quirked brow aimed at him, trying to play it off like you haven’t been thinking all about him.

“Your thoughts are louder than you think, darling. It’s a surprise you haven’t woken up anyone else. Or perhaps they are now having sweet dreams about me,” he shrugged with a smirk, not once did his eyes leave yours. A slight blush crept upon your cheeks, fearing he heard more than you had expected. Not that it was anything to be ashamed of really but still, sometimes you liked to keep your thoughts to yourself.

“You wish,” scoffing, you rolled your eyes and let your eyes drift back to the sky again. Out of the corner of your eye you saw Astarion standing back up, his hand coming into your sight, an offer to help you up. “Come, I’d like to show you something.”

Once again your eyes met his before darting to his hand and back to his eyes. You were meant to keep watch and not exactly meant to go away from your post. And if you went with Astarion it could range anything from a few minutes to hours. As if he read your mind once again, the pale elf clicked his tongue and almost pushed his hand into your face.

“Come, no one is going to die. We’ll only be gone… shortly.” You knew he was full of shit but there was nothing else you could say against him. Finally placing your hand in his, Astarion pulled you to your feet. Instead of letting you go however, he pulled you in flush against him and pressed a peck to your lips. “There you go, now come on.” 

Letting go of your hand, the vampire then started leading the way away from camp. It wasn’t exactly far but far enough to barely see the campfire flickering. The air here was slightly clearer, the streets now empty. It was rather late at night, anyone awake at this time was either at a tavern or in their homes. 

“So where exactly are you taking me?” you asked, following your lover along. “If I tell you that would ruin the surprise. Now shush, we’re almost there.” A low chuckle escaped his throat. It was not exactly strange for him to have this sort of behavior, however something about him on this particular night just told you that he had something up his sleeve. 

A minute or two later the two of you had arrived at a house, empty by the looks of it but kept well in shape. Astarions slight fingers worked on the lock before opening up the door and inviting you in as if it was his very own house. Did you just let him break into a random home without any complaint? Yes, you did. In many views the two of you had shared your perspectives and breaking into places was a common ground. Whether the group needed loot or your information was in it. 

You figured that Astarion perhaps found some hidden treasure in here and wanted to reserve it for just you and him. It wouldn’t be the first time he had chosen to keep some valuables from the group in order to fend for you and him. But once you had entered the house, the elf swiftly moved behind you and chose to cover your eyes with his hands. You could feel his mouth near your ear by his warm breath first before he whispered, “Now walk as I tell you and keep those pretty eyes closed until I tell you to open them.”

Something about the way he spoke sent a tingle through your stomach and into your core. Perhaps it was a bit of deprivation of intimacy that made any sensual act like this even more exciting to you. 

You trusted him with every single step, letting him guide you through the house that couldn’t be any quieter. Standing still for a moment, you heard him opening another door before your path continued shortly before you came to a final stop. “Open your eyes, my love,” his last words drew out in a seductive tone while his hands removed from your eyes. Opening them, you blinked a few times to adjust to the lighting in the room which was merely the night sky and the moon shining in through a wide set of windows. 

Before you displayed a master bedroom, decorated neatly with a bed bigger than you’ve seen in the past few years of your adventures. This wasn’t just some treasure he had found, this was more. And the thought of it alone sent a contraction of urgency through your core, leaving a damp feeling in your pants. Oh, how weak you were. You didn’t dare speak, still taking in the room as Astarion came into view, a knowing smirk plastered on his face.

“What do you think, dear?” his voice was merely above a whisper while his eyes burned into yours. Slowly Astarion inched closer, close enough to wrap one of his arms around your lower back, pulling you flush against his chest. Even if you wouldn’t say anything, your hardened nipples pressing through your thin linen shirt against his chest would tell him everything.

“Who have you bribed to get in here?” you teased, not wanting to give into him too quickly. He knew how much you wanted him, you didn’t need to tell him. 

“There was this drunk dwarf tumbling through the streets. I may have convinced him that this is in fact not his home. And by the looks of it, it may very well not be. Not for tonight anyway,” of course Astarion had to respond in a snarky manner just before his voice turned seductive again. You knew where this was going. And this time around, you weren’t going to stop him. All his last attempts had been whenever it wasn’t really convenient, mostly out in the open. This time he had taken the effort to find a nice and comfortable bed, a place of warmth. 

“But you and I both know we aren’t here to talk about such unimportant matters. Rather we are here because I want to devour you,” he started, his voice dangerously low while his eyes darkened in desire, “I want to love on you. Every single inch of you.”

He had barely touched you and yet your cunt was getting drenched in arousal by the second. It had been a while since Astarion voiced his desires for you in this way and oh, it was a turn on. The room immediately felt a dozen degrees hotter as your lips crashed against Astarions, moving in a passionate pattern while his hand that was initially resting along your waist from being wrapped around you, moved down to cup your ass. One of your hands slid up his chest and further up until it was settled on the back of his head, grasping a handful of his hair while the vampire deepened the kiss. A small moan escaped your lips when the hand on your ass gave you a firm squeeze. You were almost sure that were his fingers to wander further inward and to your core, he could feel your wetness through your linen pants.

Though instead of wandering to your core, his hand wandered to the back of your thigh, his other hand joining on the other thigh before he picked you up. Both your legs immediately wrapped around his waist. Within a few quick strides Astarion carried you over to the bed and more or less dropped you onto the soft sheets. 

Once more your lips met in a matter of passion and lust while the vampires hands now made their way to explore your body, tugging at your shirt in order to remove your clothing from your body. You were just about to interrupt the kiss and stop his wandering hands for a moment in order to ask him if he was certain this was what he wanted. That’s when your tadpoles connected and he let you know that this was something he wanted out of his own free will. Something he wanted to enjoy. 

And therefore you only deepened the kiss, allowing your own hands to wander his body now, tugging at his very own shirt and pulling it over his head. Astarion used that moment to remove your shirt as well just before his mouth latched back onto you. This time however his lips met your collarbone, actively leaving out your neck. He did his best kissing your skin and nibbling at you without letting his teeth graze your skin. Your eyes closed as the vampire moved to devour you just as he had announced before. 

Starting at your collarbone, his lips traveled down towards your breasts. While his hands cupped your round mounds, his tongue darted out tracing a wet line from the top of your breast to your hardened nipple and around it before his lips closed down on the sensitive nub providing it with a short sense of suction before letting his normal teeth tease for a moment. Then he moved on to do the exact same thing to your other breast. You couldn’t help but moan in pleasure, indecisive whether you wanted to close your eyes and simply enjoy the feeling or whether you wanted to watch him with his intense stare on you, aching to give you the pleasure he feels you deserve. 

The choice came easy as your eyes automatically closed the second his lips started traveling further south past your navel and to the hem of your pants. Elegant fingers slipped right beneath the hem, taking your underwear with them as Astarion removed your pants in one go, leaving you entirely bare in front of him. 

Only now that a slight breeze of air met your core, you realized just how wet you were. It was a surprise you hadn’t completely drenched your pants between your legs. Taking one of your ankles in hand, Astarion began peppering kisses all along the inside of your leg, positioning your leg angled on the bed and letting his lips travel until he almost met your core. Then he moved onto the other leg, once again mirroring the exact same motions which now had you with your legs spread and Astarions head lingering right in front of your raging hot core. “I want you to look at me while I feast on that delicious cunt of yours,” his voice was even lower now, arousal and hunger clouding his own senses while his hot breath fanned against your wetness. Just as he ordered you opened your eyes and glanced down at the elf between your legs. He looked like he had been starving for weeks and had the first real meal in front of him. And just like that he settled in and wrapped his arms around your thighs to hold you in place as his tongue darted out between your folds, licking a long stripe up to your pulsating clit. 

Once there his tongue ran slow circles around it. Once, twice and then his lips closed around the sensitive nub. He varied the pressure of his suction, earning several moans from you while it became increasingly more difficult not to roll your eyes into the back of your head and crumble under the pleasure you were feeling. Eventually he released your clit only to drag his tongue back through your folds, working you in all your favorite patterns. It didn’t take particularly long until you could feel your orgasm building up, blame it on the amount of time it had been since the two of you had sex. 

Astarion could tell you were getting close, his thumb finding your clit to rub circles on it while his tongue kept swirling around your folds as well as penetrating your core to pleasure those sweet spots inside of you. Without warning your vision blurred while your insides contracted, attempting to clench around a cock yet being left empty while your orgasm rushed through you. 

The vampire consumed every drop of your cum, working you through your orgasm until your hips stopped twitching. Your chest was heaving from your previous release, eyes once again meeting Astarion when he slowly withdrew himself from you if only to get rid of the rest of his clothing. His erection was standing tall and proud, precum smeared all across his tip. You licked your lips at the view. He moved in closer until he was leaning above you, almost getting into position. However you wanted to return the favor as much as you were dying to feel him inside of you. Your first thought was to just toss him over and take the upper hand, however this was all about giving him the choice. So you opted to give him the choice once more. 

Before he had lined himself up at your entrance, you covered yourself with a hand and gazed straight into his eyes as he met yours with confusion. “May I suck you off?” 

To others it may have seemed like a stupid thing to ask, however you wanted him to know he had all the freedom in the world to choose what he wanted. Astarion remained confused for a second or two more before capturing himself and nodding. “Of course darling, I’d love nothing more than to feel those sweet and luscious lips around my cock.”

His voice was almost like a purr as he removed himself from above you and settled down on the bed, leaned up against the headpost while you scrambled up to position yourself between his legs. Your core was still pulsating from your release or was it the need of being filled by that long and thick shaft that stood tall and proud in front of your face? 

One soft hand wrapped around his shaft, giving it a pump or two as your lips traced kisses along his thighs until they settled at his balls, traveling up the length of him slowly until you reached his tip. Your hand settled at the base of his shaft, holding him in place now while your tongue slowly swirled around his tip, earning low moans from the vampire. You could tell he was less used to this sort of act as his eyes darted between arousal and uncertainty. With help of your tadpole you let him know that he was allowed to stop you whenever he felt like he needed to. 

Your lips wrapped around his tip all the while your tongue still swirled around him. Keeping the pace slow, you slowly started taking him more into your mouth, relaxing your throat in order to take him as much as your body would allow. His breath hitched within his throat, chest heaving with pleasure while his eyes never left yours. Picking up the pace, your head started bobbing along his length, using the hand at the base of his cock to stroke whatever you couldn’t fit into your mouth. 

It wasn’t long however until Astarion gently pulled you off of his cock by your hair. His eyes had an apologetic touch within them before he spoke. “I need to have you, my love,” he spoke in an urgency. You understood and you wanted him to be in full control. “And I need you,” you responded with a gentle smile as you leaned up to capture his lips with yours. Your release still lingered on his lips, shooting another wave of heat right through to your core. 

Astarion didn’t waste time deepening the kiss, easily spinning the two of you around in order to have you pinned beneath him again. With ease he settled between your legs, allowing his length to slide along your wetness a couple of times before reaching between you in order to line himself up with your entrance. 

With one long push the vampire filled you with his entire length, stretching your insides deliciously. A gasp left your mouth at the fullness you had missed all this time. Astarion couldn’t keep himself from letting out a shaky breath either. He remained still within you for a moment or two, simply relishing in the feeling of your insides contracting around him over and over as your insides adjusted to the feeling of him inside of you.

“Please, fuck me…” you whispered against his lips, unable to take the stillness of him inside you any longer. Without any further notice, he withdrew himself almost entirely from you only to slide his entire length into you again. He kept on repeating the motion until he had picked up a moderate pace, each thrust earning a moan from you. You could tell it was different. Astarion had always been a rough lover. Fast and hard thrusts were his thing. Just a small glimpse at his face told you the whole story. Of how he was taking it slow in order to find his pleasure, his desire for this. His lips were kissing along your collarbone again, moving up to your neck until he hesitated.

Noticing the hesitation, your hand came up to the back of his head, bringing him in closer to your neck. You knew exactly what he was getting at. Or why he was hesitating. “Do it,” you moaned softly with his next thrust and that was all the confirmation he needed. His teeth immediately dug into the soft skin of your neck, the stinging pain feeling yet so pleasurable. 

As he was drinking from you, Astarion had picked up his pace, his thrusts becoming rougher and quicker. At this point he barely pulled even halfway out before his cock slammed back into you, brushing past all the good spots. Your moans picked up in volume, the mixed feeling of your cunt being pounded while your neck was being fed on combined an amount of pleasure you couldn’t even describe. 

Astarion felt it too, the pleasure of the entire situation, how tasting your blood made his cock turn indefinitely harder, how your cunt clenched and your thighs quivered with each of his thrusts. And he knew that all of this was because he wanted it. Not because he had to gain advantage for something or to manipulate someone. He released your throat for a moment, the blood running down your neck and dripping onto the pillow beneath you, if only to moan out your name, “Tav..” he grunted, knowing his release was near. Slyly lifting your legs a little over his waist, you caused his cock to change the angle within you, brushing right past your g-spot and close to hitting your cervix with every thrust.

“Astarion..” you moaned in return, feeling your own release coming in closer. His head lifted from your neck, wanting to see your face and he hooked his arms underneath your knees and essentially lifted you up higher as his hips pounded against you. The sound of skin slapping against skin as well as both of your moans echoed throughout the room. It only took one more thrust and you were sent over the edge. Your thighs quivered against his hold, hips twitching and insides clenching wildly as your second orgasm of the night rushed through you. It felt like you lost control over your body as you were not able to control a single movement.

Seeing your pleasure filled self, Astarion pushed himself deep inside of you, his body coming to rest flush against you as his release emptied all the way inside you, his own hips stuttering with just how much he came. 

Once he emptied himself entirely and both your bodies calmed from the intensity of your orgasms, he pulled his member out and settled on the non-bloody side of the bed, pulling you into his tight embrace.

“That was marvelous, darling…” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of your head, not minding the blood remaining at the corners of his mouth. “Thank you.”

His voice was sincere and you knew this was it. He found his control. His own will. The one thing you had been working on with him. “Not for this, my beloved.” You countered softly, finding his lips for a kiss. You stopped caring for the taste of blood a long time ago. 

The two of you had laid together, calming from your highs for a while longer. However this was not the end of the night just yet. You lost count of just how many times the two of you had sex that night. All you knew was that your shift of staying guard for the camp was long forgotten.

[majeoeje]

Start over

Megumi x reader (male implied reader)

I wished we were two other people more times than everytime you had forgotten about me

"You have really pretty lashes"

Megumi has heard you uttered these words countless of times before, at first he didn't harbor a lot of opinion on this, but now it serves as a painful reminder that he had to start over with you once again. But even now he can't comprehend how to respond other than a simple thank you

"You're Fushiguro right?"

"That's correct"

here we go again, he thought

"It's nice to meet you, i hope we can get along" you gave a lazy smile before entering your shared dorm room, all beat up from your previous fight as if it was just another day.. well you pretend that it was everytime because what else can you do? You once had told him

"Yeah...it's nice to meet you too" he told you. As if he was in a same play for who knows how many times

Megumi had lost count on how many times you had introduced yourself to him, he knew everything about you. Yet you're here asking about his name once again. Your cursed technique is the one to blame for this strange dynamic

That being said, your curse technique transfers memories into curse energy and a technique which grant their wielder the power to imbue a weapon of their choice with curse energy and a guarantee that it would cut anything as if it wasn't there

A cheap cost to pay for power, some would say. But he always watches the fear in your eyes everytime it has to come down to it, afraid you might use it too much to the point you'll forget how to breath.

Afraid...yes you were always afraid. Afraid that your life would succumb to nothing but blank pages of nothing. To the point you'd write every last detail of your day until late at night so that at least your days could amount to something. Even if it were as simple as you went outside and train like how you usually do.

"I'm kind of hungry, you got anything to eat?" You said perking up your head from the non-fiction book you curiously skimmed up from Megumi's bookshelve trying to gather information from the stranger in front of you

"Gojo-sensei dropped some apples earlier, suit yourself" he said pointing to a basket from the corner of his desk remembering how the unusual white haired man hasn't change over the years

"Well don't mind me" you say, picking one up before looking for a something on your side of the room

You didn't have to go through a lot before Megumi tapped you on the shoulder making you face him

"Looking for this?" He pointed to a small knife on his hand

"Oh thanks a lo-"

you didn't even finished your sentence before he took the apple from your hand

"Your hand's fractured, Miss shoko said you shouldn't try to move it a lot in the mean time"

He said, pulling a nearby chair before he started to peel the apple for you. Just how you liked it.. a prefrence that has never changed no matter how many times you've erased your memories

"Aye you did it in one peel, impressive" you commented "How'd you know that i like my apples peeled?"

"You made me do it for you for months when you broke 7 bones on your body" he said handing you the peeled fresh fruit

"Eh, really? Tell me about it" you rested your hand on your desk as you sat comfortably on your chair as if you were getting ready to catch up to an old friend after not meeting them for years. And despite how bad he think his storytelling abilities was, Megumi couldn't disappoint that glimmer in your eyes, never.

"That day you saved me from a first grade curse" he started, as you bit into your freshly peeled apple

"you used up your curse technique to the point you forgot how to wield your weapon"

Megumi was not one to run his mouth, he preferred to listen most of the times. But in times like this, he feels the need to encapture every detail about that period of time as much as possible. And in turn, you'd listen to his voice, tuning in his gentle tone. Perhaps you got distracted at some point but that is surely not your fault

"We must've been pretty close" you grinned, hearing him finished his story

"We were"

You were practically attached to the hip from middle school, so it'd be a lie to say you weren't. But on the darkest pit of his heart he still wished you two was so much more even after knowing you like the back of his hand. How you'd swing your weapon in such way as if you were a dancer, how you'd give a lame excuse on how you peeled too much orange or apples just to get him to eat , how you purposely talk to him to keep him out just to watch a horror movie program in the middle of the night, how you'd play your music loud enough to cause hearing problems when he's not at the dorm, how he knew that you were just assigned a roomate to exploit your Curse technique, how disconnected you truly are from the world, how you'd laugh, how you'd cry, how your skin would make him shiver everytime it touches his

There was never enough of you for him really. Yet he'd wished for the impossible everytime

"So..what's your curse technique?" You asked and he would always answer

Just what was one more start?

[candycandy00]

Promotion - A Gojo x Reader Fanfic

You’ll do anything to get Gojo to recommend you for a promotion to grade one! 

Written for @kuroov in exchange for making the lovely graphics for my welcome post. I hope you like it! 

Smut. 18+. Fem Reader. (Professional) Power Imbalance. Spit kink. Oral sex. Slight size kink. Divider by @benkeibear!

The cursed spirit in front of you writhes on the ground as it dies, remnants of your technique still glowing from its body. You whirl around to look at the man who accompanied you on today’s mission. 

“See? I did good, right?”

Gojo Satoru smiles and nods, his eyes hidden behind his blindfold. “Yeah, you did good. I didn’t have to lift a finger.”

You walk over to stand closer to him, tilting your head up to see his face. With your eyes shining, you ask, “Don’t you think I’m ready to be grade one?”

You’ve been gunning for this promotion for months now, and so far Gojo is still holding out on you. He can easily nominate you anytime he wants, and with a recommendation from someone as influential as him, that promotion would be in the bag. 

“Hmmm, I’m not so sure,” he says, his tone somewhat playful. “I need to see you in action a few more times, I think.”

You want to shout that he’s seen you “in action” plenty of times already, but you hold your tongue. You certainly don’t want to offend him at this point. “Okay. Will you come with me tomorrow then?”

“Sure, anything for my cute little kouhai,” he says, patting your head. 

You blush and look away. You’ve been trying hard to keep your relationship with Gojo purely professional, but he makes it difficult. He’s incredibly good looking, and he knows it. And he’s so flirty with practically everyone, it’s easy to see why so many of your fellow sorcerers are nursing crushes on him.  

In all honesty, you’ve got a bit of a crush yourself. 

“Let’s grab something to eat before we head back,” he suggests, casually wrapping an arm around your shoulders. You don’t think anything of it. You’ve seen him do this to plenty of other people and it seems to mean nothing to him. He’s just being friendly. 

“Okay,” you say, eager to keep his favor. You’re actually pretty tired and would like to go straight home to your apartment and go to sleep. But you desperately want this promotion, and that involves keeping Gojo happy with you. 

The two of you stop at a crepe shop on the way home and he buys treats for both of you, but has them wrapped and boxed. “We’ll eat them at my place,” he says, and you blink up at him in surprise. 

“Your place?”

He grins. “You’ve been there before. My little side apartment near the school. It’s close by so we’ll stop there to eat.”

“Oh… okay.”

You have been there before, three months ago. But you went with a few other sorcerers. Gojo was hosting a small welcome party for a new co-worker who transferred in from the Hokkaido branch. You’ve never been there alone with him, and you’re not sure how you feel about doing it now. You feel nervous, uneasy, but you also feel excited and flattered. 

Above all, you want to keep him happy. 

When you reach his apartment, he unlocks the door and stands back, gesturing for you  to go inside first. You step into the darkened room, and he steps in after you, flipping on the light switch and then closing the door behind you. The sound of it nearly makes you jump. You get the strange feeling that you’re caged in here with a predator, but it’s just Gojo, standing there slipping his blindfold off. You don’t think you’d mind being his prey. 

Instead of going to the small kitchen table to eat the crepes, he walks over to his sofa in the living room and sits down, then pats the cushion beside him. “Have a seat,” he says, opening the box in his lap and pulling out the two crepes wrapped in colorful paper. 

You do as he says, sitting down on the sofa to his left and maintaining what you feel is an appropriate distance from him. But you can’t help being extremely aware of how close the two of you actually are, how alone the two of you are in his apartment.  

He reaches you one of the crepes and opens his own. You carefully peel back the paper, not wanting to make a mess in his surprisingly neat living room. You’ve heard this is just a secondary residence he uses to be close to the school, but it appears to be well maintained. 

You glance over at Gojo as he takes a bite of his crepe. There’s something oddly sensual about the way his mouth opens, the way his lips encase the sweet treat. Is he doing it on purpose? After that first bite, he notices some cream filling on his fingers, and proceeds to lick them clean as you watch, transfixed. His eyes shift to your face and he asks, “Aren’t you going to eat yours?”

“Oh, uh, sure,” you say, feeling flustered as you take your first bite of your own crepe. You barely taste the thing, your mind so preoccupied with the positively lurid show Gojo is currently putting on beside you. He licks the crepe as if he’s making out with it, and his tongue flicks at the soft crust. 

He catches you watching him and smiles at you. “Wanna try mine?” 

“Huh?”

He holds his out toward your mouth. “Go ahead.”

You stare at the offered crepe, at the mound of cream filling where Gojo’s tongue has just been buried. Would he be offended if you refused? Do you even want to refuse?

“Okay, thanks,” you say, leaning forward and taking a small bite. You chew it slowly, savoring the taste. Is this what Gojo’s mouth tastes like? 

“Like it?”

You nod. “Y-yeah, it’s delicious.”

He grins at you, like he’s amused by something you’re not aware of. You go back to eating your crepe as he finishes his own, at one point getting the cream all over his fingers again. He’s such a messy eater. He puts the two cream covered fingers in his mouth, licking them as he stares at you. He coats them thoroughly in his saliva, then slowly pulls them out. They’re glistening, practically dripping. 

And then, he reaches his hand toward you, looking at you expectantly. Your heart races as you realize what he wants you to do. This is highly inappropriate, but you want to make him like you. You want to please him. So you open your mouth obediently, and his wet fingers slide in. 

He plays with your tongue as your lips reflexively close around the digits. You can taste him so clearly, you feel a fluttering in your stomach. 

“Good girl,” he says as you begin sucking his fingers, the sweet taste of the crepe lingering on his skin. He gently moves them in and out, seemingly enjoying the way your head moves forward to follow them when he pulls them back. 

“Such a cute mouth. I bet you’d like to suck something else too, wouldn’t you?” he asks, those gorgeous blue eyes watching you. 

This is wrong. You shouldn’t be doing this with your superior. This is not the way you wanted to get that promotion to grade one. But how can you refuse him? He could make or break your career. And besides… you’ve always wondered what his cock tastes like. You’ve thought about sucking him off too many times to count. 

You’re tired. You’re horny. And the hottest guy you’ve ever seen in your life is spreading his thighs apart on the couch beside you, unbuckling his belt. So you let him gently tug you off the couch and to your knees in front of him. When you look up, his cock is already out, inches from your face. It’s fucking huge, though you can’t say you’re surprised by that. Sitting here so low before him, his tall frame towers over you even though he’s sitting. 

With one hand, you reach up and lightly grip his shaft, then you lean forward and wrap your lips around the tip, your tongue flicking over it. You press your face forward, taking more of him into your mouth, quickly coating it in your spit before it hits the back of your throat. Then your head is bobbing back and forth, your lips and tongue gliding over him as his cock is effectively shoved into your throat and then almost back out, over and over. You gag slightly, but try to suppress it. 

Glancing up at his face, you find him staring at you, wearing a pleased expression. His skin is slightly flushed, but otherwise he seems surprisingly calm for a guy getting deep throated. But his cock doesn’t lie, and it’s twitching in your mouth as you continue taking him as deep as you can without choking. 

At some point one of his hands moves to rest on your head, fingers softly curling into your hair. His breathing gets a little faster, and you know he’s close. You pull back, letting him pop out of your mouth, then your eyes meet his. “You can cum in my mouth,” you offer, opening your lips and extending your tongue like a good girl. 

His grip on your hair tightens just a little, holding your head still, and then his hot cum is shooting directly into your mouth, covering your tongue. You keep your lips parted for a few seconds, letting him watch his cum sliding around before you swallow it all. 

He rubs your head, like you’re a puppy, and grins down at you. “I knew you’d be good at this.”

You’re just catching your breath when you gaze up at him and say, “Thank you.”

He looks at you like he doesn’t know what you’re thanking him for. Honestly, you don’t really know either. Your mind has been a little fuzzy since this all started. But he laughs as if he’s amused before he pulls you up by your arms and starts pulling your clothes off. You let him, having no desire to stop this now. You’ve already sucked his dick, why not go further? 

Soon, he has you face down on the couch, his strong hands holding your hips in the air as he fucks into you from behind. His body is heavy as it leans against yours, making you feel totally powerless and trapped, but it’s a feeling that thrills you more than scares you. 

Your face is pressed into the cushions, your hands gripping the plush fabric. You can hear his breaths, fast and heavy, and you can feel a satisfying stretch as his cock shoves all the way in with each thrust. 

A few minutes in, he slows his pace and bends down until his face is close to your ear. “Hey, you okay?”

You turn your head to the side to look at him. “Yeah…”

“You’re so quiet. Tell me if you want me to stop.”

“I don’t… want you to stop,” you breathe out, your voice nearly a whisper. Whatever this is between the two of you, it’s way too late to back out now. So you might as well enjoy it. 

He must notice your flushed face, your glazed eyes, because he goes back to fucking you as hard as before, one hand sliding around in front of you to find your clit. You jerk from the sudden pleasure, clamping your mouth shut to keep from moaning. You hear Gojo laugh. “There we go,” he says, his finger stroking you in a rhythm that matches his thrusts. 

You bury your face in the cushion to muffle any embarrassing sounds you might make as you climax, shuddering beneath him. Minutes later, he suddenly pulls out, and you feel something warm and wet hit your bare back. 

Later, you end up falling asleep on Gojo’s couch. You wake up the next morning with a blanket draped over you. Gojo steps out of the small kitchen and hands you a cup of coffee before sitting down on the other end of the couch.  

“Good morning,” he says cheerily. You don’t know where he gets the energy. 

You sip the coffee and look at the nearby end table. Your clothes are neatly folded in a stack. 

“Do you need to go home and change before the job today?” he asks casually. 

“Yeah, I guess,” you say, still trying to get yourself completely woken up. 

“I’ll take you home,” he says. “Then we’ll meet up later.”

You look over at him. “You’re coming with me again?”

“Didn’t I say that yesterday? I still have to decide if you’re ready to be promoted.”

You’re wide awake now. “You’re still not sure? But… I thought…”

He looks surprised. “What? You thought I would recommend you for grade one if you slept with me?”

You feel your face burning.  “I don’t know what I thought.”

He laughs and sits his cup on a table. “Look, if I was ranking your cock sucking skills, you’d be a special grade! But that has nothing to do with this. Grade ones get sent out alone, on very dangerous missions. I don’t want you to get ripped to shreds because I recommended you without being absolutely sure you’re ready.”

You sigh and stand up to retrieve your clothes. “I understand.”

He had a point. You didn’t want to end up dead either because you were prematurely promoted. But you were surprised he cared so much. Maybe he wasn’t the egotistical asshole everyone said he was. 

Maybe you’ll let him treat you to crepes again soon. 

[taigarrryen]

-> The Paper Art Post <-

Let's make some Wild Life ep.3 snails together!

First of all, I make a sketch (usually it's already the size I want the final thing to be, because I'm a very lazy person).

At the point where everything is apparent enough to have a clear vision in mind, I go to my paper scrap drawer and think of what colors and textures I want to use (although sometimes I initially start from the color palette).

Here they are! But don't get too attached, we're gonna destroy them later >:)

And while we're on it, let's talk a bit about textures!

Textures are like candy for our eyes. They are an easy way to trick your brain into thinking that something is more detailed than it actually is, hence it adds interest and makes the whole piece fun to look at.

However, this is also why it's important not to overuse them — it's easy to get lost in the details and accidentally make your piece difficult to perceive as a whole.

You can make textured paper yourself using literally anything you can come up with: paint a sheet of paper with gouache or tempera, make swirls and gradients with watercolor or inc, scribble with colored pencils, make prints with various objects (I enjoy making prints of crumpled paper tissues soaked in ink), etc etc. Packaging film or candy wrapping also can be cool.

My only advice is be careful if you use gouache: some colors can make your fingers messy even after completely drying, so that has to be kept in mind to avoid accidentally leaving a dirty fingerprint somewhere you didn't plan for it to be.

For the tools I recommend using not only scissors, but a modeling knife/scalpel and an awl as well. Modeling knife makes cutting small things much easier, and awl comes in handy when you want to transfer a detail on paper but don't want to use pencil.

For gluing stuff I use gluestick, rubber glue and double-sided tape.

Now the fun part!

You can add details with colored pencils and markers ↑

As you can see, the process is pretty simple: I cut the piece I need from the sketch and transfer it to colored paper.

When it comes to assembling pieces, you can carefully cut them so that everything fits together like a puzzle, or simply glue them on top of eachother.

Keep the scraps (unless they're objectively tiny, of course)! You never know when you'll want just that amount of just that color or texture. It's also much more practical to cut new details from the side of the sheet from which you have already cut, rather than start from different edge every time you need a piece of that color.

Don't rush to glue things down! Along the way you might want to move something a bit or put one piece under another, and with quickly gluing everything it won't be possible. I like to work in big parts, making every object or character in the picture first and then, after putting them on their places and fumbling around, gradually assemble everything like lego.

Here are two parts of the picture (Bdubs' snail + Tango&Etho's snails) and a piece of red film I want to put on the background in some places. All that's left is to assemble everything by carefully gluing it on to my sketchbook page :)

You also can elevate certain parts of your artwork to create depth and areas of interest, using puffy tape or п-shaped / [-shaped piece of paper and glue. It looks really cool, but I usually don't do that because it's inconvenient for me to store & I like to keep everything in the sketchbooks.

TA-DAAA, we're done! The best thing about this technique is that you don't have to be good at actually drawing to make something that looks interesting!

Hope this post was useful and you've got inspired to try paper art for yourself! (And if you did — send me your art in ask box or replies, I'll be very glad to see it :] )