#my art supplies? highlighters and a pen from the floor

[what-is-love-babey-dont-hurt-me]

Been a fan of doodling neon colored rats lately 🍁🍂

[iraprince]

hello! do you have any advice for switching from traditional art to digital? (i recently ran out of supplies so im relegated to my computer lol) i hope youre having a good day!

i sure do!

first off i really recommend clip studio paint, but i also recommend u wait for it to go on sale. it goes 50% off a few times a year, so imo it’s worth waiting, but it also is usually on sale for only a few days so u have to stay on top of it. they usually announce on twitter etc. the tools don’t make the artist and obviously it doesn’t Really matter what program u end up settling on, i’ve just been really pleased with CSP and i wanted to recommend it

second: nothing that u can do with digital art programs/tools is cheating and it took me way too long to really internalize + understand that. copy-pasting stuff instead of redrawing it, using symmetry rulers, using transform/ctrl+T to stretch or squash slightly off anatomy instead of starting over -- when i was first getting into digital i A. didn’t know u could do this stuff and B. felt weirdly guilty doing it once i figured it out, as if i was a worse artist for using the tools that are literally built into the software or that it was lazy or dishonest to do so. that, it turns out, is bullshit. any drawing is just a constant series of decision-making and a lot of digital tools just help u make or retract or edit those decisions faster than traditional does. it’s not better or worse, it’s just different, and it’s worth ur time to figure out which of those differences are the most convenient and useful. this stuff exists for a reason! use it! save ur wrists and ur patience and ur time!

figure out file organization early, because it’s something u don’t have to deal with irt traditional art and so it probably won’t come naturally, but it also makes ur life harder to have a desktop swarming with wip files that are all titled “kjsrhrfgdhgj.psd” or whatever. some ppl sort into folders by date; for me it works better to sort by content (i.e. i have folders for tvrn stuff, patreon stuff, different fandoms, dnd/ttrpg stuff, “misc ocs” for characters i don’t draw much and “misc fandoms” for one-off fanart that doesn’t merit its own folder, etc etc; this is what makes it easiest for me to find stuff, but ur system might end up different.) i admittedly still name my files keysmashes if it’s personal stuff rather than work/commissions, but at least it’s all sorted into a category where i can quickly find it again anyway

also, u can hybridize traditional and digital! i frequently like my traditional pencil lines better than what i can do digitally, so i often scan them in, turn them into lineart, and color digitally (here’s a tutorial on how i prep that). but even if u don’t have a scanner, a carefully taken phone photo with high contrast can still be used the same way. i tend to lay my sketchbook flat on the floor in front of a window, squat down and hold my phone as level as i can while i’m taking the pic, and then i blast it in my phone’s built in gallery editor (highlights/shadows and contrast) before sending it to myself and doing the same thing w tone curve/levels in csp. it’s not perfect, but it’s presentable, and it can be a good way to ease urself in if ur feeling frustrated w the learning curve on digital draftsmanship.

oh, and this tip is really small but it’s ended up being rly helpful for me: resist the urge to zoom in way past 100% scale view just bc u can. if there are times where u absolutely need to, sure, whatever, but there’s no point in regularly tweaking tiny things pixel by pixel at 250% zoom bc nobody who looks at ur art is gonna see that and ur just bloating ur own time spent on things and creating unnecessary stress for urself!! if 100% zoom doesn’t give u the control u want, that may just mean u need to work larger to begin with.

set up a comfortable workspace with a Good chair. look up proper posture and try to stick to it. i know we’re all gay and it sucks to sit in a chair properly but otherwise ur gonna hurt urself. take even more frequent breaks than u do when drawing traditionally! screen bad!

also, if ur tablet has a way to calibrate pressure, try that out. a lot of them are set in a way where you have to press really hard to get full line width and over time it can really seriously strain ur wrist; u can’t manually set pressure in traditional tools (besides like. using softer lead i guess lmfao) but u can with tablet pens and u should try it, bc if u can use a lighter touch overall it really goes a long way towards preventing injury in the long term.

this is all the stuff that came to mind immediately; i’m sure there are tons of basics i haven’t covered, depending on how much of a transition this is for u, but there are a lot of tutorials out there written by ppl more patient and more educationally-oriented than myself so you’d be doing a better service to urself seeking those out than if i were to try to clumsily emulate them lol. good luck + have fun!

[uwuwriting]

The writings on his skin Shinsou Soulmate au

Soulmate au with communication via writing on their skin.

Oh god this is bad, I’m not happy with it at all. My original draft got deleted and I had to rewrite this at 2 am and I’m dead. I didn’t proof read it because I swear I’m gonna pass out so I’m so terribly sorry for butchering this. I love Hitoshi to the moon and back I hope he has the most wonderful birthday I LOVE HIM. Hope this doesn’t suck that much. Love ya. 💖💖💖💖💖

Rules 

warnings: mentions of bullying, some angst, fluff

When Hitoshi was young he used to believe in soulmates. He couldn’t wait to meet the person that would fit him like a puzzle piece. In the early age of five, Shinsou Hitoshi was filled with positivity and hope. Hope that in the future he would get to enjoy all the things he liked with someone special. 

He was so excited for the first day of school. some of the kids from his neighborhood would be in his class; they didn’t like him they were really afraid of his quirk and would make fun of him all the time, but he didn’t care. He would make new friends and just ignore them. Stepping into the classroom he was met with about 18 new faces. 18 possible friends. A smile spread across his face as he made eye contact with one of the kids. The boy was playing with some LEGOs as Hitoshi made his way to him. 

“Hi I’m Shin-”

“AHH IT’S THE MONSTER!!!” the boy cried out as he stumbled backwards putting a respectful distance between them. The whole class turned to look at them and one by one all the kids slowly took a step back. They were all afraid of him. They all wanted nothing to do with him. They-they.

“He’s a villain!!!”

“Someone call All Might!!!!” 

More children joined the mocking and the cries for help. A group of boys, two of which he knew, walked up to him growls leaving their mouths as -even though Hitoshi was a tall child- they towered over him. Pushing him to the ground, one of them snatched his backpack emptying the contents on him before throwing it at a corner of the room. 

“Villains are not allowed here! Jihiko-sensei will kick you out, villain!” Right on cue, Jihiko-sensei stepped into the room, her eyes landing immediately at his wide eyed face and trembling form. 

“Boys that’s rude!” grabbing his backpack she started putting back his scattered supplies.“Apologise to Shinsou right now!”

Reluctantly the four boys bowed their heads, mumbling an apology before rising their noses up in the air and walking away, leaving a terrified Hitoshi on the floor. 

During the first day of school he knew that he wouldn’t be getting new friends and with that his doubts of even having a soulmate bloomed to life. 

Middle school was not as bad as elementary. He had gotten used to the teasing and the name calling. He couldn’t say that it didn’t bother him; it really did but he had learned not to show it. Even now, years after that fateful first day in kindergarten, he had no friends. All of them pushed him away, some more politely than others, leaving the word ‘villain’ lumming over their heads as they turned him down. He was fine though. No soulmate mark had appeared but at this point he couldn’t really be disappointed. After all, someone like him -a monster, a villain- didn’t deserve to have a soulmate.

It was a normal day in his boring middle school. So boring that Hitoshi had turned to doodling on his arm. It was not a habit, he hadn’t done it before since he saw the doodles as tattoos and he didn’t want to give others more reasons to call him evil. Plus he liked his arms clean. But he was bored and it was hot and he wasn’t functioning correctly. At some point during his history class, he fell asleep. He woke up to a light tickling sensation running up his arm and a dim shine appeared on a spot near his wrist. 

‘You can’t draw….’ 

He blinked once, twice expecting the words to disappear but they didn’t. They didn’t fade, they were real. Bold black letters stared back at him as he marveled at the sight. He … he had a soulmate and he could actually speak to them. Snapping out of his trance he scrambled for a pen and thought of a response. He didn’t wanna seem desperate. Deciding on sarcasm he wrote beside their own message. 

‘Well excuse me Picasso’

 He waited for a response for what felt like centuries. This was amazing, incredible, astonishing all of those long pretty words writers use to describe their female characters in poems. Would they want to meet him? Did they live nearby? Were they the same age? So many questions swirled inside his head he almost missed the mandala pattern that appeared on his wrist. The design became more vibrant and visible as the minutes ticked by. It was beautiful. 

‘What’s your favorite color?’

‘Purple….why?’

‘Be patient sweet soulmate of mine, you’ll see.’ 

His heart skipped a beat. Oh lord he hadn’t even met them yet and he was already getting butterflies in his stomach. Slowly purple highlights started to appear on his skin, matching the black outlines perfectly. They truly were a Picasso. 

‘There now you have true art on your hand.’

‘Confident are we?’

‘Only when it comes to inter-soulmate communications.’ 

He liked them. He knew that from the first moment. A smile took its place on his face as he saw new letters forming on his skin, warmth blooming in his chest as he stared at their conversation. Soulmate...maybe he wasn’t so lonely after all. 

UA High. This is it. He was finally here. A place where heroes were made. It’s his time to show all those pesky brats that called him a villain that he could be a hero. A fine one at that. Getting placed in the general department was a disappointment and kind of a let down. He thought he did well on the exam. Apparently, having a grape quirk was more hero material than his brainwash. He wasn’t fazed though and neither was his soulmate. They hadn’t stopped speaking since their first conversation back in middle school. His day would start with a small, sloppy good morning scribbled on his wrist. They were there for him whenever he needed someone to rant to and he was always their shoulder to cry on. Well inky shoulder? They had agreed to keep their identities a secret along with their gender leaving everything to the hands of fate. 

‘She shall bring us together, babe.’ They always called him that, not that he minded. 

‘Well she should hurry up kitten.’ And he in return he given them that pet name. They never complained. He hadn’t mentioned which school he applied to, only that he would be becoming a hero. So when they mentioned something about a Bakugou Katsuki he was intrigued. 

‘Yeah he is in my class. Super annoying 0/10 would not recommend.’

 They went to the same school. What a coincidence. Maybe fate did work fast. Choosing his next words wisely he replied. 

‘So you are in class 1-A huh? Funny.’

‘How do you know that?????’

‘I’m in the general department that’s why.’

There was no response for some time. He knew Aizawa was a harsh teacher when it came to discipline, he gets a taste of his discipline every afternoon at six,  so he didn’t write anything else. Later that day, during his training, the familiar tingle distracted him. Glancing down on his arm, he totally missed Aizawa’s capture tool coming straight for his leg. Before he knew it, he was swiped off his feet and started hanging upside down from a branch of a nearby tree. 

“You are distracted Shinsou!” Aizawa sighed below him. Hitoshi read the message quickly before turning his attention back to his teacher. 

“I’m sorry Aizawa-sensei.” 

“Yeah yeah just don’t be like that during your training with my class. You remember that it starts tomorrow right?” Aizawa said as he got him down, letting him fall with a loud thud. 

“Yes sensei I know.”

“Great, now go get some rest I don’t want you passing out the moment you step in the forest.” 

Shinsou had never gathered his things quicker. Draping his jacket over his shoulders he sprinted to his dorm, an idea forming in his mind. He didn’t know if you wanted to meet him yet but he sure as hell wanted to see you. Grabbing a pen from his desk he scribbled under your previous message. 

‘Can you draw one of your mandalas on my wrist?’ 

Y/N was late. Like super late. She had missed her first alarm and had only gotten up because of the pounding at her door. She had stayed up the previous night drawing something for her soulmate. She kept messing up and redoing her work one too many times. Reaching her classroom she slid the door open and tiptoed to her seat seeing as Aizawa-sensei hadn’t gotten out of his sleeping back yet. Sitting down she let out a sigh of relief as her friend leaned over to her. 

“Late night with your soulmate???” She sang teasingly which only made Y/N roll her eyes. 

“Shut up Sky!” Soon they were instructed to put on their hero costumes and meet their homeroom teacher at the edge of the mini forest right in the outskirts of the school grounds. 

Skipping out of the girls locker room she looked down at her wrist where the mandala from last night looked back at her. She ran her fingers over the lines wishing she could see the design on the recipients skin.  

“Come on man! We’re gonna miss the intro move your ass!” Sky grabbed her arm and yanked her forward, ruining her moment of longing as they made their way to the forest. 

Aizawa-sensei was accompanied by another person. A boy almost at his height with vibrant purple hair and the most tired eyes Y/N had ever seen. He was staring at the class giving small nods when someone asked him something. 

“This is Shinsou Hitoshi. Most of you will know him from the sports festival, he fought the problem child.” Midoriya hid his face in his palms at the name. “He will be joining the hero course come next year so have fun training with him.”

Shinsou raised his hand to scratch his neck, a nervous habit Y/N concluded, when she saw the intertwining lines on his wrist. The purple stood out. It was more vibrant on her design, slightly losing it’s shine on his pale skin possibly because he received it. Was that? Was he? 

“Who wants to pair up with him?” at that her arm shot up instantly, without even thinking. Aizawa motioned for the rest of the students to find their partner as she made her way to him. He was taller up close, her head barely reaching his chin. Extending her drawn on hand she greeted him. 

“Y/N L/N, nice to finally meet you Shinsou.”

Bonus:

The house was quiet. Oddly quiet. Hitoshi let his bag drop next to the coat hanger as he took off his shoes. The TV could be heard playing from the living room but no voices accompanied it. Where was she? Making his way to the kitchen he found a bowl full with steaming soup that looked like it had just been made. He left it on the table, his first priority being to find the girl he was looking for. Slowly walking up the stair he heard a humming coming from the room down the hall. 

Once at the top he made his way to the pastel violet door, grasping the knob and pushing it open. He was met with the back of his soulmate, humming the soft tune he had heard earlier as she rocked steadily back and forth. The mess of purple hair on her shoulder raised its head revealing those stunning e/c eyes he adored so much. 

“Daddy…” the little girl in Y/N’s arms let out a low sleepy mumble. Turning around she saw her husband standing in the doorway of the nursery, a smile adorning his face as he looked at Kei. Kei, at the sight of her father, started doing grabbing motions trying to leave her mother’s embrace. Hitoshi let out a low chuckle as he took the two year old in his arms, letting her wrap her chubby arms around his neck and nuzzle into his neck. 

“Happy birthday Toshi.”

Shinsou Hitoshi could have never imagined he would be here today, holding his daughter as his soulmate stared back at him. He was happy, beyond happy actually. Words could not express. Extending an arm out to her, she took it tucking herself under his chin as one of her hands came to rest on the back of her baby. Kissing both of his girls, he squeezed them closer to him.  

 “Thank you kitten. For everything.”   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TAG TEAM AY:

@iwaqchan​ @the-arcana-fan-fic​ @angelwritings​ @axerrri​ @reinyrei​

[liberty-barnes]

Keep You Safe

Peter Parker x Female!Reader

Prompt: “I can’t decide if that’s cute or something characteristic of a psychopath”

Warnings: slightly creepy Peter, but like the endearing kind of creepy, also Petey being a dork,,,as always, protective Peter Parker, Endgame related angst but only for a sec, cuddlesssss, and fluff, lots of fluff, because I’m a hoe for fluff... and Tom Holland’s biceps but that’s a story for another day

Word Count: 2167 words

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

A/N: School has officially closed which means that I’m now forced to stay home all day (which wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t locked at home with my dad and he’s getting on every single one of my nerves) and do the homework our teachers send us by email... I didn’t even know Microsoft Teams and OneNote existed until a week ago... so that’s something. I usually write stuff on paper during class cause let’s be honest, I only pay attention to what my teachers are saying when I’m forced to (don’t do this kids, listen to teachers, God I’m a such a bad example) so I’ve got about 5 stories written and I thought “Hey, since I’m too lazy to do my physics homework, why not post it all on tumblr?” So yeah, hi, this is my version of “quarantine is driving me crazy and I need an escape”. And before you ask, yes, I’ve succumbed to the toilet paper juggle thing already, it was not pretty.

Masterlist 

Peter Parker was not a creep, he was simply a worried boyfriend.

There is nothing wrong with following your girlfriend after school to make sure she gets home safe before going back to the Tower. Or asking Karen to alert him whenever you leave the house so he could follow you to make sure you were safe. Or gifting you one of those morse code bracelets that monitored your vitals and location because he knew you’d never take it off and that way he could constantly know where you were and how you were feeling.

Peter Parker was not a creep.

He watched from his vantage point on top of a building as you and MJ left the mall, Slurpees in hand and carrying at least five shopping bags each, most of them being from art stores and only a couple from clothing. The sight of your bright smile made his heart burst with affection and he listened intently, still able to hear your melodic laugh over the hustle and bustle of the busy street.

He followed you at a safe distance, losing sight of the two of you as you entered the subway. Karen kept him aware of your whereabouts though, and he saw you again when you exited the subway station, now alone.

You walked a couple more blocks and entered your apartment building, but Peter only truly relaxed once he saw you entering your bedroom, having a clear view through your window. 

He stayed for a few more minutes, admiring how beautiful you looked doing something as mundane as cutting tags off your newly bought clothes and throwing out the plastic wrapped around your new art supplies. 

He then made his way to the Tower, where the Avengers chose to live again, for practical purposes.

“Hey everyone!” He immediately greeted his teammates after walking into the kitchen, mask off and hair slightly messy.

“Hey Pete,” The twenty-year-old witch gave him a chilled bottle of water from the fridge, already knowing that the boy would be parched.

Peter kissed her cheek and did the same to Pepper, Carol, and Morgan who were all sitting at the table playing Uno, no doubt to make the young Stark happy.

“Where is everyone?” The young spiderling asked after downing his water bottle.

“Bucky and Sam are in the gym, Bruce is messing with something in the labs, and Sharon went grocery shopping with Rhodey.” Carol set down a blue five, not even looking up from her hand. For a superhero, she sure sucked at card games.

“Oh, okay. I’m going to my room, be back to help with dinner!” He called back before walking to the elevator and pressing the button to his and May’s floor. 

After everyone returned from the Blip, the Parkers lost their home and Pepper immediately offered them a floor at the Tower, not wanting her not-really-but-still-kind-of-feels-like-it son and his aunt to be living on the streets. Peter was very happy to be living with some of his favorite people in the world and very grateful for the opportunities it provided him.

He entered his room and pressed the button on his chest, the suit retracting to a simple spider pendant that hung around his neck, looking like an ordinary chain. He took it off and put it in his charging cradle before changing into a pair of grey sweatpants (your favorite though he still doesn’t understand why) and his blue Midtown sweatshirt.

He sat on his desk chair, ready to start his homework but a vibration from his phone made him postpone the task, choosing instead to open the messaging app on his custom made StarkPhone.

Princess 👑 ❤️:  heyy :) Princess 👑 ❤️:  can i meet you at the tower later? Princess 👑 ❤️:  i want cuddles :)))

He smiled at that and immediately texted you back.

Baby🕷️ ❤️: i’ll ask Rhodey and Shar to pick you up on their way home :) Baby🕷️ ❤️: love you <3 Princess 👑 ❤️: love you more <33

He texted Sharon and after receiving confirmation that you were in the car with them, he turned his phone face down on the desk to avoid any distractions and started on his English homework, hoping to be done with it when you got here so he could cuddle in peace with his beloved girlfriend.

Twenty minutes later, he was almost done with his homework, fully engrossed in the words on the page that he had to meticulously read, highlight and analyze. He barely noticed when you entered the room, his spidey sense no longer detecting you as a threat, but took a much-needed breath of relief when he felt your hands around his shoulder, rubbing softly.

No words were needed as you kept rubbing his shoulders while he finished his homework, relishing in the soft kisses you left on the crown of his head from time to time. He finished the last sentence on his analysis and set his pen down, sighing. He closed his eyes and put his head back so it rested on your shoulder and you kissed his forehead, hands around his neck, hugging his upper body from behind.

“Cuddles now?” You asked, voice soft and soothing reaching his over-worked brain.

“Yeah, baby, let’s go.”

You kissed him on the forehead once more and took off your shirt, staying in your white lace bra and pastel pink sweatpants before laying down on the king-sized bed. You made grabby hands at him and he took off his own shirt, laying down between your legs and resting his head on your breasts. Your right hand made its way to his soft brown curls while your left rested on his upper back, hugging him close to your chest. His arms tightened around your waist and a pleased sigh left his lips, his lashes fluttering and tickling your skin as the tension rolled off of him in waves with every gentle pass of your manicured nails through his scalp.

Peter loved this position. There was really nothing sexual about it, he just loved hearing your heartbeat and feeling your colder skin against his naturally overheated one. He loved protecting the city and all of its inhabitants but here, in your arms, in this bed, he wasn’t Spider-Man, the newest Avenger. He wasn’t the Starks’ unofficially adopted kid that would take over SI alongside Morgan and Harley. He wasn’t the kid who brightened up everyone’s day and felt solely responsible for their happiness and well-being.

He was just Pete. Your Pete. Your fragile, vulnerable boyfriend who just really needed a hug, and you were more than happy to provide.

“How was your day?” He asked, voice slightly muffled because of his mouth’s position, buried in the valley of your breasts.

“Pretty good. I went to the mall with MJ after class and we bought a bunch of new clothes and art supplies for our trip to DisneyWorld.”

“Why do you need new stuff just to go to DisneyWorld?”

“I need Disney themed stuff.”

“You already have Disney themed stuff.”

“But I need new ones so that every time I see them they’ll remind me of our trip to DisneyWorld.”

He chuckled at your over-the-top-ness and nuzzled his face deeper into your chest.

“‘M hungry.”

“Must be cause you didn’t eat.”

“Did too!” He snorted at that.

“A Slurpee doesn’t count as food, princess.”

A silence enveloped the room and he felt your heartbeat quicken.

“I never told you I had a Slurpee.”

Oh shit.

“Y-Yeah, you did, you said you went to the mall with MJ to do some shopping and had a Slurpee after.” He was panicking but focused on playing it off as best as he could.

Spoiler Alert: he’s a very bad liar and can’t hide anything from you.

“No, I didn’t so how do you know that?”

He stuttered and incoherent sentence your way, trying and failing TRYING VERY HARD to defend himself. 

“Have you been following me?”

Shitshitshit.

“N-No?” He hated that he couldn’t lie to you, one look at him and all his secrets would come out like some kind of verbal diarrhea.

You pushed him off your lap so the both of you were sitting up, looking at him with nothing short of hurt, confusion, and betrayal swirling in your beautiful sparkling eyes.

“Have you been taking advantage of EDITH and your powers to spy on me?”

He didn’t answer, simply hung his head, closed his eyes and waited for the blow-up that was bound to happen next... but it never came, only a broken whisper followed by a heart-breaking sob reached his ears.

“Do you not trust me?”

“What?” His head snapped up and he stared into your eyes, seeing the tears threatening to leak and cursing himself because he caused that, he caused his babygirl pain.

“W-Well if you're following me it must be because y-you don’t t-trust m-me.”

Your words were punctuated by a particularly loud sob and he quickly gathered you up in his arms, nuzzling his cheek on the top of your head soothingly and threading his fingers through your hair.

“Nonononononono, baby that’s not it, I promise.” He took your face between his hands and kissed your tear-stricken cheeks, resting his forehead on yours. “It’s just that... with everything that happened with Tony and Beck and my identity being revealed, then almost going to prison, thank God for Pepper, I just... I’m constantly worried that someone’ll come after you because of me, because of what you mean to me, and that I won’t be able to protect you and I just need to know you’re safe, always because you’re the most important person in my life and I don’t know what I’d without you, so I followed you and asked Karen to update me on your vitals every hour so I know you��re safe and alive, and real, and... I just need to know you’re safe.”

He took a deep breath after finishing his jumbled up explanation, finally shining light on the fears deeply installed within him for months.

“I can’t decide if that’s cute or something characteristic of a psychopath. Cause you wanna protect me but you do it by following me and invading my privacy.”

“Wha- psychopath?” You both burst into laughter, foreheads still resting against one another.

“Well, you’ve been following me around for a while. Do you have a camera in my bedroom?”

“No! Of course not! Just... in the lobby... and one facing your apartment door... and on your fire escape facing your window...”

His cheeks were flushed red and he was looking everywhere but at you, seemingly embarrassed by his predicament.

“You said you had Karen monitoring my vitals... how?”

“Oh, um... remember the bracelet I gave you for our six-month anniversary?”

You lifted your right wrist, cocking an eyebrow as if to say ‘this one’.

“Yeah, so um... I actually made that. It’s got nanosensors that monitor your heartbeat, blood pressure, sugar levels, emotional state and a bunch of other things along with a tracker that’s constantly activated. It’s all connected to Karen, so she can let me know whenever you’re in trouble...”

“Is that how you always know when I’m having a panic attack or when I’m on my period?” Your eyes softened up and an adoring smile graced your face when he nodded.

“You’re a dork.” You straddled him fully and properly, then kissed him on the lips softly.”But you’re my dork, and I love you. And I love that you want to keep me safe and that you’d be willing to sacrifice your dignity and do something quite illegal to make sure I stay safe.”

He smirked at you.

“You know, out of context that sounds a bit twisted.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled fondly at him.

“What can I say? From time to time, I sure do love me a bad boy.”

He smiled and kissed you on the lips, slow and passionate, filled with all his love and adoration and relief, pure and utter relief because you’re here, with him, and you know, and you don’t hate him, in fact, you love him even more.

He fell back on the bed, taking you with him as you resumed your previous position, only this time with you on top.

“So are we gonna mention that when Tony did the exact same thing to you you threw a fit and had Ned hack into the suit?”

“Shut up.”

That night, when Peter got back home after dropping you off, EDITH alerted him to movement on your fire escape. His heart was beating faster than a hummingbird’s as he pulled up the live footage but it all turned into a breathless chuckle when he saw the surveillance video.

You had put your whiteboard in such a way that it would be seen by the camera and scribbled a ‘Goodnight baby <3′ on it.

Baby🕷️ ❤️: goodnight princess <3

And this is what I do during my English and french classes... English because I don’t need to (perks of being trilingual) and french because the teacher spends the lesson talking about stuff I already know so I really don’t care.

With that said, please stay in school and listen to your teachers... do as I say, not as I do.

Anyway, I hope you liked this little one-shot. Please don’t forget to like, comment and/or reblog if you feel like it!

Love you all, Libby <3

[when-i-was-your-angel]

Hues of Blue

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes (40's and Present)

Word Count: 1486

NSFW: Non-Explicit

TW: Rage attacks, Steve being angry

Tags: ANGST, Minor Fluff but mostly Angst

A/N: This is set between TFA and TWS! Steve still thinks Bucky died in the war. bold sections are flashbacks.

Summary: Steve tries to paint a portrait of Bucky. What color were his eyes again?

Inspired by my good friend Meral, @/CAPSBVRNES on twitter. Love ya, doll.

Steve had a long day.

Said day started with a rather pleasant dream about waking up with Bucky in between his legs. This was quickly ruined by his alarm clock. Little Steve hadn’t seemed to notice that it was, in fact, only a dream. After Steve had er- taken care- of that problem in the shower, Tony called. There was some life or death mission debrief he was needed on. So he drove two hours through New York City traffic to get to the tower, only to find out Tony needed his opinion on what qualified as a “classic” suit. Steve didn’t even dignify him with an answer before he stormed out of the building. Now, four hours later and his day wasted, he was finally arriving back home.

Steve unlocked the front door of his Brooklyn brownstone and stopped dead in his tracks.

Boxes. Boxes upon boxes of… art supplies? Based on the pictures and labels on the boxes they were filled with paints, canvases, brushes, pencils, easels, and more. Steve looked around nervously and spotted a note on top of one of the many cardboard boxes.

Sorry, Capsicle. Had to get you out of the apartment so I could deliver this shit.

Paint me something pretty.

-T.S.

A hesitant smile made its way onto Steve’s face. His day just got a whole lot better.

- - - Three Hours Later - - -

A few hours, a shit ton of cursing, and a helping of elbow grease later, Steve had himself an art studio. He had set up the three easels Tony got him, positioning them in front of the windows in the office of his brownstone. There was also a simple desk in one of the boxes that he rather enjoyed the look of. It was simple but made of solid oak. He could just picture Tony saying ‘It’s old fashioned, like ye ol’ Cappie.’

With a slight grunt, Steve stood and looked around his new studio. He hadn’t had something so… domestic in years. He smiled and unwrapped a canvas, sitting down in front of an easel. He raised a pencil to his canvas to begin sketching… and nothing happened. “S’pose seventy years and a cryogenic freeze gives you art block.” He thought.

Steve stood and walked around the few rooms in his modest house, looking for inspiration. His gaze flickered over his photo album. “That’ll do.”

He picked up the leather book, flipping through it. There weren’t many pictures. It had been difficult to get a photo back in the 40’s, and he didn’t have many people to take pictures of nowadays. A few pictures of his ma, one of him in the third grade, and- Bucky.

A black and white version of his best friend sat before him. He was told not to smile in his military ID photo, but the little shit found a way to flash a grin right as the camera clicked. The photographer had been too lazy to redo it- and that was it. Bucky was smiling like a damn runaway criminal in his personnel file. Steve worked the picture out of the clear film holding it in place. He had gotten the photo from SHIELD’s files. It was one of few pictures of Bucky in existence. Less than a dozen original copies were left on this earth. He ran his fingers over the sharp of his Bucky’s cheekbone and the plump of his lips. He remembered all the cold New York nights when those lips sat on his neck. Bucky would spoon him- ‘For warmth’ - he said. But the pink lips on the shell of his ear, on the pulse carrying his life’s blood, said it was for so much more.

So Steve went back to his new art studio and sat down in front of his easel again. He clipped the small photo to the wooden frame and picked up his pencil. He took a deep breath and started sketching. He bit his lip in concentration as he worked. After thirty minutes or so, Steve had a drawing that resembled something like his best friend. He smiled and set to work mixing his paints.

Steve always started with the skin. Habit of his from before when he was using cocktail napkins and a waiters pen to draw. He managed to nail Bucky’s complexion pretty much spot on. The cool shades of his under-eye and the baby pink ones of his cheeks.

Then came hair. Shades of brown highlighted with yellow and pink in the lightest of spots. Bucky always hated how thick his hair was but loved the effect it had on the ladies. Said it was a pain in the ass to take care of but it was all worth it when he brushed a hand through the locks and had all the girls positively swooning.

Next was clothes. The green of his fatigues wasn’t perceptible in the black and white photograph but Steve knew that color better than the color of his own eyes.

Eyes.

What color were Bucky’s eyes?

Blue. But there were a million shades of blue. Cerulean, teal, turquoise, baby blue, stormy blue- Ah. Yes. A stormy blue-grey color. He could see them now. Staring into the crisp ocean of his eyes as Bucky kissed him for the first time. He was smaller back then, barely came up to Bucky’s chin, but he didn’t care.

December 1941 - Four Days Before Bucky Leaves

“Hey, Stevie.” Bucky said after Steve opened his door to the frigid New York City air.

“Hey, Buck. What’re you doing here?” It was a reasonable question. It was midnight and Buck hadn’t been by in days.

“Can’t visit my best guy before I ship off to war?” Bucky gave him his smirk but Steve could see the fear in his eyes. The unspoken ending to that question- ‘before I never come home’. Steve smiled and stepped aside, letting him in.

Steve smiled at the memory. He looked down at the paints before him. Blues and whites and purples and reds. He started mixing them carefully, hoping to put a physical representation of the color he still saw in his dreams.

“C’mon. I’ll make you something to eat.” Steve said, walking towards his very empty kitchen.

“You don’t have’ta-”

“None of that. What would Mrs. Rogers say if she knew I wasn’t feeding my guests?”

“She’d call you smart and tell you not to waste your food on a dead-” Bucky stopped himself. That’s not what Steve needed to hear. Steve was quiet as he made his way across the threshold back to Bucky. He stared down at his hands, picking at his fingernails.

“You’re going to come back. You’ve gotta.” His voice was small. Bucky’s heart nearly shattered at the sound. Bucky took Steve’s hands in his, squeezing them slightly.

“I will. I promise.” Bucky stared into Steve’s eyes to reassure him that above anything else, he meant the words he was about to say.

The colors weren’t turning out right. Greens were too blue and blues were too purple. Everything was a mess. Steve felt himself growing frustrated and brought his mind back to simpler times. Times with him.

“I’m always going to come back to you because-” His breath hitched and Steve took notice, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

“Because I love you, Stevie.” Steve tilted his head in confusion. Why did Bucky seem so nervous? They had said they loved each other before.

“Yeah, I love you too, Buck- why’re you-”

“Oh, not like that- for Christ’s sake.” Then Bucky was kissing him.

‘So this is what love is.’ Steve thought. Then Bucky’s tongue was tracing Steve’s lips.

Oh.

Oh.

Paint was everywhere. Frantically, Steve mixed colors in a blur of tears. ‘It’s not right.’ He thought. ‘That’s not him.’ ‘That’s not my Bucky.’

Bucky shared his bed that night. Unlike other nights, however, they were both naked. Pressed against each other for ‘warmth’, should anyone ask. Steve watched Bucky long after he fell asleep. The crease in his eyebrow, the setting of his jaw, the way his eyes moved behind closed lids- chasing dreams. Soon enough, Steve curled into Bucky’s body as he always did. They spent the next four days like that. Wrapped in each other. And for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t cold.

Steve screamed as he threw his palette out the window. The glass shattered and rainbows of light filtered through the broken glass- mocking him. Steve kicked and cried and punched until the entire studio was a mess. In the aftermath of his rampage, Steve lies on the floor. Surrounded by glass, paint, splinters, and blood, Steve sobbed. He broke because he was gone. He crumbled because they didn’t have enough time. He was wrecked because ‘if only we had known. If only we had tried earlier.’

Steve lies on the ground in a brownstone in Brooklyn.

Numb.

Broken.

Cold.

[fabulaee]

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE

// A 🐺 fic based on my Stay journey’s aesthetics which was a coffee shop au bc they remind me of those times when I used to go to the café to draw and would see fellow regulars but unlike y/n and Chan, I never interact with them. We all just share a table 😂😂😂

*

*

*

Monday. Wednesday. Friday

That was the set schedule for your coffee run. MWF from 9 am to 10, then coming back with your study supplies from 1 to 4 in the afternoon. It was routine; the small college café a safe haven from the slight messy floor of your dorm and the formal vibe of the library. Here you were focused and at peace of mind. The aroma of the coffee beans and soft sounds of the coffeeshop’s playlist serving as background noise.

There wasn’t much students at this time of the day compared to the much later prime of the evenings. The café then filled with college youths grabbing a drink after a long day’s worth of lectures and test reminders or staying to cram a night’s worth of information. There was something about cafés that seemed inviting and less suffocating yet at the same time a place where you can find the nursing students with their big thick books opened with streaks of neon yellow running across them.

“Vanilla Bean Cold Brew for y/n!”

Standing up, you went to grab your drink leaving behind the pastel rainbow set of highlighters and gel pens on top of your notes. You quickly thanked the barista as he handed you a straw before plopping back down on your seat continuing where you last went off. Something about the history of impressionistic art. You sighed as you lifted your eyes across the room, it was currently 2:30 pm on a Wednesday afternoon. A good time to take a break before your mind starts to commit brain fart.

*

Chris Bang. Affectionally called Bang Chan by his friends. Music major with golden hands, a good candidate for the honor roll, member of the varsity swim team, and resident social butterfly. An all rounder any college is proud to have.

You heard about him once or twice from your common friend, Yang Hongseok. They met at the gym apparently and became quick friends through the Japanese exchange student, Adachi Yuto, and their shared love for fitness.

You see him sit at the same spot everyday since the middle of sophomore year. His laptop with the cute decal of Deadpool open and his AirPods snugly tucked in his ears. He's always has his blonde head bopping to a song he's playing on either his phone or his laptop. Always seemed so engrossed in this little world he made for himself across the room, ignorant to the bustling crowd of students that come and go.

He looks up catching you off guard. His lips curled slightly upwards, chuckling to himself as he watches your cheeks turn pink in embarrassment. Great, he must think I'm a weirdo!

With a quick exchange of nods you both went back to doing your own thing. Just a regular day at the coffee shop.

*

“Do you mind if I sit here?”

It's the Friday following Monday's slightly embarrassing incident. You looked up to find the same Chris Bang, laptop in hand, smiling at you like a friendly yet lost puppy. Warm brown orbs looking back at yours.

“My laptop's about to die and this is the only table with an outlet.” He explains himself, a tiny awkward giggle making up as the period.

“O-oh, of course!” You stuttered, hastily making room for him despite the large space as you swiped for the stray pastel highlighters and napkins closer. “No one's sitting here so go ahead.”

He whispered a small thanks before setting down his laptop to grab his bag from his usual spot while you went back to your notes. It was silent for awhile, only the sounds of pen against paper and the soft tick tack of the keys. At some point you hit a mind block, eyes glazing in boredom as you stared at the blank space of your notebook. You felt your table mate leave his stationary position too. he stretched in his seat before turning his attention to you.

Sensing his sudden gaze on you, you flashed him a small smile. You were never one to start a conversation, often keeping to yourself and minding your own business. A bit of a complete opposite towards the friendly Australian who somehow knows at least three students from each program.

He smiles back at you showing off his cute dimples and an outstretched hand. “Hey, I'm Chan. I never caught your name.”

Again with the cute giggle. It seems to be like a signature to him but it's cute still the same. You grasped his hand giving it a soft shake. “Y/n,” you answered curtly.

*

The following days you find yourself hanging around Chan more. Afternoon study sessions were no longer a date between you and the textbook or the small watercolor set you laid out on the table. Chan was there to fill the space making the long table that was a party of one to a party of two and maybe some on certain busy hours but mostly it was the both of you in your own tiny world.

You got to know him, his likes and dislikes. His major and passion for music, sometimes slipping in a few complaints about certain homework here and there; What else he likes to do. Apparently mr. Chris Bang was gifted in so many areas you often wondered what good he must've done in his previous life to be this gifted. Not only was he a jack of all trades, he's also the master of all.

You even had a small debate between Deadpool and Spider-Man. God, he's such a nerd it's adorable!

In return he knew these things about you. How you're taking up art as your major hoping to make it out as an illustrator one day—

“it would be so cool if you drew a variant cover for Deadpool!”

“Ha! We'll see about that, Chris Reynolds.”

He knows how you like to collect stickers and are quite passionate about making sure your notes are beautiful. He knows how you loved your drinks iced despite it being the middle of winter.

“Isn’t the weather too cold for that?” He’d ask with a quirk of his brow, amused brown eyes glancing at the iced hazelnut latte you have in your hands.

“Nope!” you replied, taking a sip as you did so. “It’s always the perfect weather for an iced coffee, Bang.”

He only chuckled at that.

*

It hit you like a freight train. You didn’t mean to fall for him. It wasn’t supposed to happen. You and Chan? No way, it was just supposed to be just friends. The kind where you hang out and have fun, no feelings attached. He was just supposed to be that regular from the café, right?

That was the plan, right?

But you can’t deny the small flutters from your heart much like those newly emerged butterflies. How you can feel that giddy feeling of excitement when you spot his mop of chocolate curly locks outside the café’s window. How you mirror his smile when you get together to talk about anything and everything under the sun. Bang Chan in all his cute dimpled glory, soft curls and hearty giggles was just too much to adore.

Yet it wasn’t that what pulled you in to the Music major. You felt love blossom when you both stayed up late, when the café was quiet after a busy day. The only people around being a couple medical students, some late night goers, and the employees. You felt the tiny flower buds start to bloom when he stayed with you then; keeping you company under the dimly warm fluorescent lights, laptop tucked away and a hand playing with yours.

You felt it bloom when you cuddled on the booth’s sofa one rainy November day. He scoots over next to you when he saw you shiver from the corner of his eyes. He’s naturally warm —you’d often tease him how he made the room hot. Why? well it’s because he’s from Australia! which earned the loud chorus of laughter from his friends and Chan’s ears turning into the color of the fire hydrant.

“Babygirl, you’re shivering.” He mutters as he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you gently towards him. You accepted the subtle invitation, sides sticking together as you both went through forgotten notes and half finished coffees.

You felt it when you caught yourself staring at him a little longer than intended. Eyes drifting from Jisung’s expressive face to glance at the older one. You watched him look at the former with such adoration in his eyes; how he looked like a proud dad. You watched him nod along and laugh to Jisung’s animated story about how he and Hyunjin would fight back in the day, a fact that still seemed to shock you seeing how they are the best of friends.

Your eyes would linger on him while he worked on his music; focused and determined, hiding the exhaustion and sleepless nights prominent on the dark circles under his eyes. He was handsome even if he looked like shit. Hell, he was handsome even when he sported the infamous broccoli colored hair. You’d find yourself in a trance, like it was a dream. The world didn’t matter as much anymore when it was only you and Chan in the small dimly table, surrounded by the aroma of coffee beans at the small quaint cafe at the corner of the street.

*

You loved him. You loved him in the most beautiful of ways; you loved him in the most perfect highs and in all those crevices full of flaws.

You loved him in those bright moments, when the lights were shining on him during a 3RACHA gig. How they made him more beautiful, how they made him stand out from the 2 younger members. You loved watching him do what he loves; how he immersed himself in a world that was different from yours. How his version of colors and dried paint were beats and melodies, rhythm and tempos.

You loved him in the lowest moments; when the tide was high enough to cover you. You loved how you fit perfectly in his arms, how he became a shoulder to lean on when you felt the world was against you and you to him. When he would open up to you about his worst fears and his grandiose ambitions; when he spilled his heart out at the underlaying insecurity that’s been biting him due to his perfectionist attitude. You became his confidante; the one he can trust his heart to.

You loved him in the times he was vulnerable. You loved him when he would bask in glory and shining lights. You loved him like those cheesy lines in love songs. You loved him like how the tides would look at the moon in awe and yearning; gravitating with every push and pull.

You loved him in ways words can never describe. How the seeds he planted in your heart bloomed to the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.

You love him simply because he’s Chan.

You promised yourself you’d be just friends. It was safer that way but then again, what is love when she’s not one without twists and turns?

What is love when she comes to you, sneaky and sly like a weed disguised as a flower, whispering into your ear that it’s him.

It’s him, it’s him, it’s him.

It was always him, it just took you some time to figure that out.

*

When you first met Chan, he was simply a friend of a friend. Someone you knew because your brothers are his friends. He was the guy you’d hear about in passing, the popular cool guy with a heart bigger than a massive sized teddy bear and a smile that could cure the most depressing of days. Someone who, in probability, would just be an acquaintance to you.

He was that guy you regularly saw at the coffee shop you visited every week. He was just some guy from the music department who would flash you a friendly smile because you were a familiar face.

Funny how fate made him more than what you originally expected him to be.

[emergenciesstory]

Rescue Who?

A/n: For @star-spangled-bingo square “Rescue Mission” as well as a prompt list (in bold)

Characters: Nat x Bucky, Steve, Reader

Word Count: 1905

 "I know you’re lying.” 

You sighed, sitting down on the sofa. Of course he thought you were lying. Things had been out of whack ever since the blast. It took you weeks to find everyone, some better off than others- but all together again. All you needed was him. You needed him back. 

     “How do I know that I can trust you?” He asked before you had said anything. 

    “You don’t. That is the leap of faith.” You said softly. “I know it sounds insane, but you know me. It may be deep down, but I know you do.”

    Steve hesitated, looking at your face, past the mask, calculating. Your eyes made him feel like home, but it was fuzzy. Steve tried to put the pieces together, but there was movement in the window behind you.

“Who the hell are you?” He asked sharply. He was really tired of the people coming into his small apartment. You looked, smiling at the bulky man with a large mask and metal arm.

“We have a problem.” The man addressed you calmly. You turned your attention back to Steve, taking his hand.

 “I’ll explain later. Right now, we have to get out of here.” You said softly, taking in everything processing on his face. Banging in the hallway behind you told you time was running out. 

“Nomad, come on we don’t have much time. Please.” The man said roughly. Steve looked in your eyes, the gold flecks no longer present in his bright blue eyes. There was something missing.

     “Who, Who is Nomad?” Steve asked, looking between the two of you. 

“You don’t…you don’t remember your name?” The masked man said, roughness dropping. He sounded almost, sad? No, couldn’t be.

“I’m, I’m just Steve. I don’t know a-” He was cut off by the sound of shattering glass behind him. You grabbed his arm and rolled along the floor behind the couch, landing on top of him. “What the hell was that?” His whisper was full of fear but his eyes said he trusted me.

“I didn’t drive all this way just to say ‘hey, I need a place to stay’. You are in danger, whether you remember why or not. Now we need to go.” You scrambled up, catching the Gun Bucky tossed and shooting two of the intruders. Pulling Steves arm out to his balcony, you pulled on your gear you had left out there. 

"I swear, I’m cursed.” you heard Steve mumble, taking in your gear. “Why is this happening, who are those people?”

 You sighed, watching as Bucky set up the escape, the attackers all disposed of- for now.

“You are a great man, Steve, With great power and influence. But with that-”

“Comes great responsibility.” You both said in unison. Steve rubbed a hand across his face. 

“Things are coming back, I don’t know where but I think I’ve heard that before.” He said softly.

“That’s good. It’s a step. I know this is a lot to take in, but we’re here to help.” You handed him a harness, already clicking in. “Put that on.” You watched as Bucky signaled from the other end, clicking in Steve's Harness. Hesitation was all over his face.

     “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” You said softly, looping your arm around him. He rested his on your shoulder, taking a breath and you both stepped off. The whizzing was short, but Steve followed your lead in taking off the line once in the other building. 

    “Nice placement, Buck.” You said, unhooking the line and placing the harnesses in the bag. 

    “Buck.. Bucky?” Steve questioned, looking at the man. 

    “That’s my name. You gave it to me.” You heard Bucky’s smile through his expression as gunshots went off. “Get down.”

    Shots rang out, but seemed to be scattered. “They don’t know which we’re in.” You said softly, looking for the gun. When you found it, it was already in Steves hand, Two shots ringing out and then silence.

“I can be bad ass too.” Steve said simply, handing you back the gun. 

“That you can.” You said softly. “Come on, Nat is waiting on the roof.” You led your crew through the building and up to the jet, pointing to a seat for Steve as you locked up the gear and Bucky jumped in the Copilots seat. You heard some muttering in russian before hearing skin hitting skin.

"What was that for?” Bucky yelled, holding his face. 

“Were you being a Jerk?” you asked holding in your laugh.

“Yes.” “No.” both rang out at the same time. You smacked Bucky lightly on the other side.

“There, Now it’s even.” You sassed.

“Hey! What was That for?” He glared

     “I mean, it’s not like you’re going to stop being a jerk.” Nat sassed back. You went and sat beside Steve, who was smiling softly in a lost sort of fashion. “What? I meant it as a compliment.” The two went back to bickering in Russian, causing your heart to hurt just a little.

    “You know, normally it’d be you that calls him out for being a jerk.” You said softly.

    “I can feel the block, you know?” He said after a moment. “In the way that this isn’t familiar, but it is. I know this has happened before, but for the life of me I don’t know when, or how I know you.”

    “It’ll come back.” you murmured. “And if it doesn’t, that’s okay too.”

_____

    “What’s next?” Steve asked as the jet landed.

    “Umm, next would be debriefing for us, and seeing what you remember.” You said, grabbing the go bags and throwing them over your shoulder. You looked at Steve who looked lost in what to do. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll help you through it.” 

    Steve’s shoulders visibly relaxed as he looked back up to you, a soft smile highlighting his face. You gestured off the ramp and into the compound. 

    “Shall we?” You smiled, taking his hand. The two of you walked down the ramp and towards the lockers.

    “Ah! Finally, you’re back!” Tony’s voice carried in the hanger. 

    “Tony, right?” Steve asked, looking at the older man.

“Good to have you back, Cap.” Tony clapped the man on the shoulder.  “I’m sure your Fiancee was happy to find you, with the wedding coming up and all.” 

“Fiancee?” Steve cracked an eyebrow, as you made faces behind him. 

“That would be me.” You said softly, unable to backtrack when Steve looked at you. “I didn’t want to pressure you. If you didn’t remember, I could live with trying to get you to fall in love with me again.”

“And if he doesn’t? The odds of all of his memories returning is-”

Tony was cut off by Steve clearing his throat.

“I umm, I think I’m going to take a look around, see if anything jogs my memory.” He said, taking a couple large steps back before turning and disappearing behind a door. You slapped Tony in the arm, hard. 

 “You could have warned me, how was I supposed to know he had no memories of you?” Tony said quietly, apologies written on his face. 

“You may be the dumbest father figure I have ever met.” You sighed, rubbing a hand over your face. “It’s not your fault.”

“Stephen would agree, I’m a bad influence.” Tony shrugged. “I’ll have Friday keep an eye on him.” 

“You better.” You said, rolling your eyes. “I have to go debrief.” You dropped your bags into the locker room and badged into the Shield headquarters. 

“Where’s Steve?” Nat asked as you crossed into the conference room.

“Tony opened his big mouth about the whole Fiancee thing.” You sighed, grabbing a file and filling out mission details before Fury came in.

 “You should’ve seen that coming.” Bucky mused, pushing your leg playfully under the table.

“No, Bucky, I shouldn’t have seen that coming. I shouldn't have seen any of this coming. But I did. I saw the blast weeks before it happened, I saw a timeline with none of us remembering each other. I saw the worst things I could imagine.” You snapped, slamming your pen down. “I don’t think you realize just how much I saw, how much I prevented, and how much it sucks that Captain freaking smartass didn’t listen to me.”

“Woah, маленький.” Nat said softly. 

“Don’t “little one” me, Natalia.” You slammed the file down, kicking your chair out. 

 “What is your problem?” Bucky grabbed your arm, spinning you to face him. He studied your face, anger melting on his as he followed your eyes. He pulled you into his chest, one hand on your head and the other running circles on your back. Your anger turned into hiccuping tears, melting into his shirt.

“It’s not fair.” You whispered between sobs. 

“We’ll get him back. It might take time, but he’ll come back to you.” Bucky shushed. “It's just another rescue mission. A little bit at a time.”

You cried for who knows how long, everyone leaving the room to give you some privacy. You silently thanked Bucky as he let you go, encouraging a shower before finding Steve. With a nod, you ventured out of the Debriefing room through the hanger and moved towards your room, swiping in without second thought.

“Hey.” Steve’s voice came from the couch, pictures in hand from around your shared apartment.

“Hey,” you sniffled. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”

“I live here, right?” He cracked a smile, looking around. “We live here.”

“Sometimes,” a small laugh fell from your lips. “You tend to spend a lot of time in the city at my old loft. Something about the-”

“Light being better to paint.” You finished in unison. You nodded, watching him.

“Yeah, I figured that out when I didn’t see the normal chaos of art supplies here.” He gestured, looking back at the pictures. You leaned over the couch, looking at the array he found. Years of dates, little moments, and your proposal scattered around. Collages you made with concert tickets and souvenirs from places you liked to eat. You smiled softly thinking back. 

“This was our first date, right?” He pointed to a picture of you feeding him a french fry in the park.

“First official date, yes. Nat and Bucky convinced us to stop dancing around each other and go on a double date with them.” You smiled sadly. “You refused to eat french fries, said the burger was greasy enough.” 

Steve was quiet for a long time, and you began to get anxious. 

“Steve, if you don’t remember I don’t want to force you. It’s okay, I know this is a lot. I’ll just gather some things and stay in the guest suite across the hall.” You began walking to the back bedroom, still rambling. “Honestly, I meant what I said, I don’t want to pressure you into anything.” 

A hand grabbed yours in the hallway, spinning you to face his crystal blue eyes. 

“You’ve only heard his point of view. You never thought to ask mine.” You looked at Steve, no words coming out.

“He’s right, I don’t know if I’ll ever remember everything, but I got here pretty easily, I knew my way around like a reflex. I’m perfectly happy making new memories because there's one thing I can tell for certain: You were the best part of my life.”

[acaseforpencils]

Robert Leighton.

Bio: Mostly in The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal, along with appearances in The New York Times and even SpongeBob Comics. But I’m a puzzle writer too, and my most recent book, Puzzlelopedia, is fully illustrated by me. I’ve also illustrated a number of non-fiction books for kids.

Here’s my favorite New Yorker cartoon:

Find this print here!

I chose this cartoon because the idea and exact wording came to me all at once; I instantly knew it would sell; it sold the first time I submitted it; I was happy with the finished drawing; when I added the washes, I didn’t ruin it. Just about every other cartoon I’ve done varies in one or more of those elements.

Tools of choice: My tools are nothing special or exotic. Decent brushes, Higgins waterproof ink, Winsor & Newton gouache, Faber-Castell kneaded eraser. My finished drawings are on Bristol Vellum 100 lb. paper. I don’t spend a fortune on the paper, but I don’t buy the cheapest stuff either. It has to hold up to my watercolor washes. I love going to art stores (I could have spent all day in Ginza Itoya in Tokyo) but I don’t really believe that better equipment is responsible for better cartoons. Just be comfortable with what you use, or find something you like better.

My favorite drawing pen for finishes is the Pigma Brush by Sakura. I think lots of people use these; they have waterproof, archival quality ink, and when they’re new, the brush is really tight and expressive. I sketch with any old pencil I happen to have around (mechanical or plain). I like my fancy Japanese pencils and my Tombows but I’ll grab whatever is handy.

Tool I wish I could use better: I’m so thankful for white gouache, both for corrections and for highlighting. But it never works quite the way I’d like. I always have to add a little water so I can spread it easily—otherwise it’s like toothpaste. But then it dries translucent, and I need to add layer after layer before I’ve masked what’s under it.

Tool I wish existed: We all wish our finishes looked as spontaneous as our roughs. I’d love a program that could take a scanned rough and tighten it up so it looks print-ready, but not labored over.

Find this print here!

Tricks: I can share some of the tricks that have allowed me to get the effects I get. But please don’t take my advice, because I’m rarely happy with my finished pieces.

In no particular order:

Rotate the page while you draw. I don’t tape down my artwork. My arm is more comfortable at certain angles; for example I draw long lines from down to up. So I turn the paper as needed to keep my movements smooth.

Use a smaller pen point on the small details. I use a broader brush for my main lines, but I don’t have the skills to get in there and use that brush for the smaller details like faces and fingers. So I switch to smaller points for those areas. If these uniform lines lack the feel of brushwork, I’ll manually add accents, but that’s often unnecessary.

I place anything that can spill into the center of a tape roll. That way I can’t accidentally knock over the ink, or the dirty water, and ruin everything.

This cartoon, with a reference to M.C. Escher, has been permanently installed on the 84th floor of the Empire State Building.

With few exceptions, like the Escher cartoon above, I don’t use a ruler in my finishes. I’ll use a ruler to work things out in pencil, but I’ll trace that line freehand to give it a more spontaneous feel.

If you’re not feeling it, walk away. I occasionally lose my touch in the middle of doing a finish—my line gets wobbly, or just doesn’t feel natural. It’s always better to walk away than to plow through. Come back later and it might go smoothly from then on.

Two more things about my process:

I work pretty large; the image area is usually about 8 x 10 (drawn on 11 x 14 paper); I use pretty bold lines so the work won’t appear too wispy once it’s shrunk down and printed. Lately I haven’t been too happy with the look of my printed line, and I may try to go a bit thinner, but it’ll be a long slow process of trial and error.

After I add washes, I scan the work and clean it up in Photoshop. (I use a Wacom-style tablet screen made in China by Yiynova.) I duplicate and darken the black lines so they stay nice and sharp, even if I change the exposure of the washes.

Misc: One of the things I’ve learned over the years is not to care too much about any one finished piece. It is, after all, a cartoon and not an illustration. Too many details, too exacting a drawing, can slow down the delivery of your point. I’ve seen people looking at cartoons while reading on the subway. Within five seconds they give a glance, understand the joke (or not), and move on—even if they love what they’ve seen.

Website, etc.:

www.robert-leighton.com

My most recent book of puzzles, written with my partners, illustrated by me.

...............

Editor’s Note: A Robert Leighton fan sent a letter asking for him to be interviewed a couple months back, though funnily enough, Robert and I had been in talks for him to be on Case since 2016! Well worth the wait! 

If you enjoy this blog, and would like to contribute to labor and maintenance costs, there is a Patreon, and if you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee, there is a Ko-Fi account as well! I do this blog for free, and your support helps a lot! You can also find more posts about art supplies on Case’s Instagram and Twitter! Thank you!

[iibons]

honeyed strawberries

genre: fluff

word count: 1495

pairing: renjun x reader

warnings: none

a/n: this is my first drabble, i hope you like it :)

there was a certain dream-like quality to the library. perhaps it was the big arched oak doors that led into mouth of the first floor, or the soft maple of the bookshelves, hundreds of thousands of words entombed with within them. maybe it was the scent of rotting wood and pulpy pages and the lingering aroma of freshly-brewed coffee from the morning. but if you were honest with yourself, you knew it was because of him. he appeared to exist like a polaroid picture; blurry, soft, and with a phosphoric aura that radiated a color similar to the sun’s corona. he was like the sun, too—hard to look at but impossible not to see. and like the sun, too, you liked him from afar; you weren’t afraid of sunburns or ultraviolet rays, it was just that you knew what happened to those who ventured too close.

but damn damaged retinas. “hey renjun, i didn’t expect to see you here. what’s up?” he was sitting at an empty table by the window, appearing to be deeply involved in the manga he was reading. outside, a big redwood tree obscured the view of the city. but it was familiar to you; you knew across the street there was a run-down convenience store where you and your sibling sometimes bought watered-down slushies in the rogue heat of summer, and maybe stale pastries from the last aisle if you had money; and then there was the art supply store, and next to that seomun’s diner which was an odd coalescence of floral wallpaper and checkerboard floors, mingled with the scent of grease and burnt food. on this side of town, everything had a rain-beaten and dilapidated quality, but this library was the only one nearby so you swallowed your wits and made the walk down here. and what did you know, you stumbled upon the presence of an angel.

renjun looked up from his novel, surprised. your current acquaintance was that of an in-between, not-quite-friends, but there was some type of familiarity there; after all, you did encounter each other pretty often during school.

“oh, hello.” he smiled. your heart ballooned in your chest. he gestured to the chair next to him, where his backpack sat. the top of the table was a bit of a mess; a textbook opened to the beginning of chapter twelve, sticky notes in varying colors of pink, blue, and yellow decorating its’ surface, highlighted notes, and an assortment of pens and highlighters strewn haphazardly. and an opened container of what appeared to be…strawberries drizzled with honey. “truthfully, I should be studying for the psych quiz. but i guess i got a bit distracted.” renjun chuckled quietly. you wondered if anyone in this library knew cpr, just in case.

“ i see.” you cradled your book closer to your chest. “you like to read?” you inquired casually.

“oh—yeah,” he smiled. the balloon of your heart filled with heat; it began to roam freely around your chest. you could feel it tickling your ribs. “you can sit down, i-if you want. i mean if you have somewhere to go…”

you shook your head, quickly shouldering the strap of your bag off and onto the seat in front of you, before you took a seat in the one next to it. he’d gotten flustered—cute.

“i’m supposed to be studying. but i guess i have a hard time focusing too.” you set your book down on the table. it was a worn paperback that you’d already read tons of times, but it was one of your favorites and you never got tired of it.

“in the presence of so many words,” he gesticulated wildly, trying to encapsulate the library within his palms, “it’s hard not to.”

in the presence of celestial beings, you thought, it’s even harder.

but you just smiled. “you’re right.”

you both settled into a comfortable silence, then. he, reading the chapter in his textbook and making notes in the margins. every now and then he would look back at his notes, then the textbook, then he would scribble something down he needed to remember. you opened your paperback and pretended to read, although you were more preoccupied with what he was doing. he picked up a strawberry, watched the honey drip, before putting it into his mouth. as he bit into the soft seedy flesh, his teeth and lips became stained with crimson. strawberries and honey? an odd combination. but if he liked it, it couldn’t be that bad. his hands—his hands! what a contemplation. they were thin and slender, tendons moving at the slightest action, with pale pink nail beds. wrapped around a pencil, they moved with ease; renjun’s penmanship was meticulous and precise. he caught you staring, and you quickly adverted your gaze back to your book; but the hue on your cheeks gave you away.

“you’re friends with chenle, right? i see you guys hanging out at the promenade sometimes.”

ah, zhong chenle—a wildfire of a boy and you’d been bitten by the flames. he was chaos in a person, you thought; but controlled chaos, at least when the situation permitted it. there was never a dull moment with him.

“yeah, kind of. i helped him with his essay for literature last year and we became friends. but we don’t tell each other our deepest secrets or anything like that,” you laughed.

renjun hummed. it came from the back of his throat and you swear the sound reverberated in your own chest. he turned back to his notes, before turning to his backpack and opening the main compartment. he rummaged around until he found what he was looking for—a glossy blue folder. in his neat handwriting, the top of it read ‘psych.’ he opened it, searching for a paper.

“that’s weird,” he began, furrowing his eyebrows. “i can’t find my notes on mood disorders. would you happen to have them?”

“oh, uh yeah—“ you turned to your bag, pulling out your notebook. you found the page, before sliding it over to him. he picked up his pen and began writing. “sorry if it’s a bit messy,” you apologized.

he gave you a reassuring smile. “it’s fine, don’t worry.” the hot air balloon of a heart expanded, taking up all the room in your chest.

you’d waste so many words on him—monologues about the sunsets in his eyes and sonnets about his willowy fingers. the daffodils blooming on his cheeks. enough to fill up the entire library. so many words that no one could even read them all. you’d breathe words into existence for him, in tongues that weren’t real yet. he was just the kind of boy you went above and beyond for; you couldn’t really help it. expressing your love was on a grand scheme, simply saying it could never be enough to accurately describe how you felt.

a moment later he slid the notebook back over to you, expressing gratitude. you put the book back in your bag, offering him a smile. renjun began to collect his pens and put them in the front pocket of his bag, before organizing his notes into a neat stack and placing them in his folder and back into his bag. he closed his textbook, and put his novel on top of it. he checked the watch on his wrist. “it’s nearing noon. i guess i should head out now. thanks for um, talking with me.”

you got up, picking up your bag and sliding it onto your shoulder. “of course! it was a pleasure.” you didn’t want him to go. but you also didn’t want to brave the walk home from the library in this heat, so you understood that sometimes being disappointed is inevitable.

he stood up too, scratching the back of his head. he opened and closed his mouth, appearing to struggle to vocalize what he wanted to say. “y-you know that café by the promenade? the one that just opened? i think it’s on the corner of jongno-gu…”

you didn’t, but you nodded your head anyway.

“well, if you ever have time, maybe we could go check it out? i heard they have really good chai lattes. but if you don’t like coffee, they have like, crepes and stuff too.” he visibly gulped, his adam’s apple bobbing.

you’d pinch yourself, but that’d only look weird. instead, you said, “that sounds really nice. i would love to.”

and renjun smiled so brightly even the sun covered its’ eyes. “alright. we’ll talk more on monday, okay? enjoy the rest of your day.” he grabbed his bag and the container of strawberries, before he walked in the opposite direction, towards the back exit. he spared you one last wave before walking out. you waved back, feeling blood rushing in your ears.

you’d fallen in love with an angel, and everyone knows how the story goes…

angels were never meant to love humans. but you couldn’t help but think they had to be wrong.

[wizardwritings]

Worse Than Nicotine

Prompt: “You’re the health-conscious med student and I’m the chain-smoking art student who’s also your barista and you leave me notes on smoking and lung health on your napkins and also a 20-page essay on lung cancer tucked under your saucer” AU. Where Sirius is the chain-smoking art student.

Word Count: About 5,500.

Warning(s): Smoking, sexual tension, kissing, motorcycle ride without all the gear. Don’t accept a ride from someone on a motorcycle unless they supply the proper gear and you’re wearing pants and a heavy jacket, preferably. Do some research before riding!

Note: Sort of a modern, college AU. This isn’t smut, but, I have to warn you, it does end up being smoking hot. Hah. Get it?

To the barista with the pretty grey eyes,

Smoking can cause the lens of the eyes to fog up and the whites of the eyes to turn yellow. Don’t ruin their beauty. If not for yourself, then for those who have the pleasure of seeing them. ;)

Love, Y/N.

Sirius rolled his eyes, a slight chuckle escaping his lips as he pocketed yet another note from you. If you were to open a spare drawer in his flat, you would find a collection of tossed napkins with rushed scribbles littering the surface. Maybe one day Sirius would take your insistent advice, but right now, all he wanted was a drag.

“Another love letter from your favorite med student?”

With a shrug, Sirius rested his palms on the countertop, sending his co-worker and flatmate, James, a smirk. “You could call it that.”

“What does that make it? The third one this week?” asked James, spinning a permanent marker on the tips of his fingers.

“More or less.” Sirius checked the time before peering out the cafe windows. “It’s kind of endearing, I think. You know, in an annoying, motherly sort of way.”

James let out a laugh, pushing his glasses higher on his face. “What did it say this time?”

“Oh, just not to ruin my beautiful eyes by smoking.”

“Beautiful?” James squinted, zealously searching Sirius’ face. “Your eyes? Are you sure these notes aren’t meant for me?”

Sirius snorted, brushing his hair to the side. “They’re definitely for me.”

With a mischievous grin, James drummed the tip of his pen on the counter. “Sure they are.”

When the door chimed, James was ready to take the customer’s order, making the drink himself since business was slow at this hour. Once the latte was ready and the customer was seated, he turned back to Sirius.

“But what if it’s not just for you?”

“Pardon?”

James shrugged. “I’m only saying, what if you aren’t the only mysterious, smoking barista in your little med student’s life?”

“First of all, she’s not my little med student.” Sirius paused, a small smirk playing on his face. “Not yet, anyway. And second, that’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Still, as ridiculous as James’ suggestion sounded, an unsettling feeling entered Sirius’ stomach at the thought of you flirting with someone else.

“I don’t know about that,” James drawled. “Have you even talked to her?” Sirius opened his mouth, but quickly shut it at James’ pointed look. “Besides asking for her order.”

“She’s always busy studying from that textbook of hers,” Sirius said defensively. “I was trying to be polite.”

James hummed, tapping his foot on the linoleum floor. “That’s chivalrous and all, but if she has time to write you a little note on her every visit, I think she would be more than willing to take the time to talk to you.”

Sirius thought on his best mate’s words, just now questioning why he had never made a move.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Sirius snorted, “Since when did I need girl advice from you?”

“Looks like the roles have been reversed,” James said with a grin. “A girlfriend will definitely wise you up.”

Sirius’ only response was a cocked eyebrow.

“And as the one with a girlfriend, and therefore the one who is wisest,” James chose to ignore the huff he heard from Sirius, “I say you need to talk to her before she thinks you don’t like her.”

“I will–”

“And when I say talk to her, I mean soon.” James paused. “And when I say soon, I mean tomorrow.” Taking in Sirius’ amused eye roll, James continued, “Y/N is incredibly smart and–forgive me, Lily–incredibly pretty.  She’s not going to wait around if you show no interest.��

“I show plenty of interest!”

“Then you’ll be fine with showing even more tomorrow.”

“Fine. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” said James with a nod of affirmation. “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomor–”

“Oh, bugger off, Prongs.”

- - - - -

To the barista with the beautiful voice,

I’ve heard you and your friend with glasses sing along to the music as you guys worked. You have an amazing voice. On a completely unrelated note, smoking can damage breathing control, dry out your vocal cords, and strain your lungs. Be careful and, please, be safe!

Love, Y/N.

Sirius didn’t bother to stop the smile that spread across his face. You really were an observant one, he thought.

Throughout that day, he had been subtly trying to sneak glances at you while you sat at your booth. That time, you had no textbook with you. Just a phone you were hurriedly typing on. It would’ve been the perfect time for Sirius to approach you.

But he didn’t. And soon enough you had left, shooting him a quick grin before tucking the napkin under your saucer.

Maybe tomorrow.

- - - - -

He really is too pretty to die.

You shook your head, blinking once. With a look of determination, you returned back to your textbook, running the cap of your highlighter underneath the words as you read.

You had to focus on studying for your exam next week. The cute barista would have to wait.

A cafe full of potential distractions might not have been the best place to study, but with your flatmates having their monthly movie night, you reckoned that a house full of drunk college girls would have been even worse. And, to be fair, you didn’t think your barista would be working a shift this late.

Plugging your earphones in, you blasted some white noise, turning the page of your textbook. Time to get busy, you told yourself.

About a quarter away from being done with your study session, you felt a warm presence above you. You looked up, your eyes flittering over to their name tag.

Sirius. Your barista. A small smile found its way across your face.

Bringing your gaze to his, you took an earphone out. “Hi.”

He smiled back with an amused expression. “Hi.”

Your nose scrunched up ever so slightly as he got closer, a faint smell of nicotine still lingering on his shirt. Trying not to be rude, you huffed softly.

“Yes, I did just have a cigarette,” Sirius supplied with a deep chuckle, answering your unvoiced question. “My shift ended and I needed to get off store grounds to smoke.”

Disappointed, you hummed slightly. You worried he would never take your notes to heart. Or worse– He paid no attention to the napkins and tossed them on sight.

“But I couldn’t leave you here alone to study without some caffeine to last you the night.” He slid you a cup of coffee, careful not to spill the drink on your books. “It’s on the house.”

You felt your cheeks heat up. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to– Really.”

Sirius shrugged nonchalantly, giving you a noncommittal smile. “It’s the least I could do in exchange for my newly acquired knowledge on the dangers of smoking.”

“So you do read my notes!” you chirped, satisfied. “Thank goodness, I was worried my efforts were all going to waste.”

“Of course not.” He brushed the loose strands of his hair from his face with a slight smirk. “My favorite part is always the address. The barista with the pretty eyes or the soft-looking hair or the beautiful voice or the tauntingly ravishing, kissable lips–”

You let out an indignant laugh, keeping him from teasing you further. When he never responded to your little notes, you thought Sirius might have been broody and shy. But taking one look at his playful grin and relaxed posture, you realized he was anything but.

“Strange. I don’t recall ever writing the part about your lips, but,” you trailed your gaze from his eyes to his mouth in one exaggerated motion, “maybe you’re not wrong.”

He matched your stare with his, running the tip of his tongue across his bottom lip. Clearing his throat, he placed the palms of his hands on his jeans.

“I don’t want to take up too much of your study time,” said Sirius as your wrapped your hands around the cup. “But hopefully I’ll see you again soon.”

“Actually–” You cut yourself off, looking down at your textbook. You could finish studying tomorrow, but it wasn’t everyday a cute barista returned your advances. “I’ve finished studying for tonight. You can take a seat–you know–if you’d like.”

He grinned, glad you didn’t kick him out. Sirius slid into the booth, facing you.

Finally lifting the latte to your face, your eyebrows furrowed at the art on it. You glanced up at him only to see he was looking intently for your reaction. When Sirius caught your eye, however, he shot you a grin.

“Do you like it?”

The crema formed the shape of a delicate rose, the white foam a stark contrast from the dark latte.

“It looks beautiful,” you replied honestly, careful not to ruin the design as you moved. “You did this?”

He nodded.

“I can’t even draw this on paper,” you admitted, letting out a laugh. “I have absolutely zero artistic ability.”

“Oh, please.” Sirius raised an eyebrow at you. “You’re just being modest.”

You matched his expression with a challenging one of your own. “No, believe me; I’m really not.”

Pulling out a scratch piece of paper from the back of your notebook, you placed it in front of you. Using Sirius’ latte art as a reference, you attempted to sketch out a rose.

After almost ten minutes of frustrated grunts and feverish erasing, you turned the drawing toward Sirius to reveal a meek, two inch drawing of something that resembled a flower.

Taking the paper in his hands, Sirius held it up to the light. “I mean, if you squint really hard and shake the paper really fast, it looks quite interesting.”

“Funny,” you deadpanned, grabbing hold of Sirius’ forearm to stop him from shaking the paper. You made a face. “Not everyone can be blessed with artistic abilities.”

“It just takes practice.” Sirius leaned back into his seat as you took a sip of your latte. “And, perhaps, you should stick to your annoyingly endearing cigarette facts.”

You huffed, the corners of your mouth tilting upward in a wry smile as a comfortable silence fell over you. The only sound heard in the coffee shop was the muffled music being played from the speakers. Scanning Sirius up and down, you saw he carried an aura of effortless elegance you had never noticed before.

Shifting slightly, you mixed a packet of sugar into your coffee. “The notes didn’t annoy you, did they?”

He cocked his head to the side.

“Because they weren’t meant to be naggy,” you said in a rushed tone. “It’s just… I know how detrimental smoking can be and I didn’t want you to get–”

“I told you,” Sirius started, waving you off with one look, “I like them.” He brushed his hair behind his ear. “Now, if it were anyone else, I might’ve been annoyed. But it was you… An intelligent, beautiful girl that I was lucky enough to catch the attention of.”

His gaze stayed focused on your face, the sudden attention causing heat to rush to your cheeks. The amount of times you blushed in a conversation embarrassed you; you were a normally collected person, but the smallest of compliments could set you off.

You took a sip of coffee, keeping the mug in front of your face in an attempt to hide your blush. “I have plenty more facts about smoking. Maybe one you’ll actually listen to.”

Sirius laughed lightly, shaking his head at your accusatory look. “I read every word, sweetheart. And I will admit, I haven’t been smoking as much.”

“Really?”

“Only a couple cigarettes a day.”

“Sirius!”

He smirked at your cry of concern, offhandedly stating, “It’s better than a pack in one sitting.”

“You better be joking.”

“You act as if nicotine is the worst thing in the world, Y/N.” Sirius rubbed the back of his shoulder, keeping his eyes on you. “I’d say there are things worse than nicotine.”

“It’s not nicotine that’s the problem.” You paused, pursing your lips. “Well, it is. In a way. It’s a stimulant like caffeine, which isn’t too bad, but nicotine is a highly addictive drug and the fastest way to get your fix is by smoking. And as I’ve stated in my notes, in the long run, smoking–”

You broke off abruptly, hoping Sirius didn’t think you were looking down on him.

“I mean, not that I’m trying to pressure you into quitting.” You broke your gaze, staring down into your coffee as you mindlessly stirred it around. “If you do decide to quit, it should be a conscious decision that you make for yourself.”

“I know.” He nudged the edge of your shoe with his, causing you to look up to see a small smile on his face. “Now stop worrying that you’re going to hurt my feelings. I’m a big boy; I can handle it.”

Rolling your eyes, you let the conversation shift into something more lighthearted. You asked him about his art, he told you to ask him for lessons anytime, you told him you might have to take him up on his offer. He asked if you had a life outside of med school, you replied with a hearty shove.

Before you knew it, the two of you were leaning closer to the edges of your chairs, becoming more comfortable as time went on. You didn’t want this to end. But when you caught a glimpse of the time on your phone, you knew it had to soon. Trying to find a bus to bring you home to your drunk flatmates at eleven o’clock at night wasn’t exactly the safest thing.

“Well,” you said hesitantly, “it’s getting late. I better head home.”

Sirius nodded, standing up next to you. “I might as well go, too. Let me walk you out.”

When you made it out of the cafe doors, Sirius bidding his co-workers a farewell and goodnight, you searched the parking lot for the nearest street with a bus stop. You turned to Sirius, his face pale under the harsh street lights.

“Can I walk you to your car?”

“I actually didn’t drive here today.” Kicking up the gravel with the tip of your shoe, you felt his gaze on you. “I’ve never been a fan of driving at night.”

“Hmm.” Sirius nodded with a slight hum. “I’ll wait with you until your ride gets here, then?”

“I was going to take the bus.” At his curious glance you continued, “My flatmates and I usually have a girl’s night a few times a month, but I had to study.” The breezed up, prickling your skin as you rubbed your arms under your shirt. “So I asked one of them to drop me off and told them I had a ride home.”

He quirked a brow. “But you don’t.”

You shrugged, tucking your stray hairs behind your ear. “They needed a night to unwind; I didn’t want them to worry about me.”

“That’s ridiculously selfless of you,” Sirius stated, moving closer when he saw the goosebumps on your arms. There was a comforting warmth radiating through his uniform and you had to keep yourself from pulling him closer. “I can give you a ride to your flat, if you’d like.”

“No– It’s fine. The bus stop isn’t too far from here.”

Sirius folded his arms, shaking his head slightly. “Not that I doubt your capabilities, but I could never just let you navigate your way through the city at this hour.”

You bit your lower lip. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

“You’re not,” he insisted. “But do you know what would be a bother?”

You didn’t respond.

“Leaving you here and spending the rest of my night wondering if you made it home safely.”

Rolling your eyes, you fought off a smile. “Well, when you put it like that…”

Beaming, Sirius took your hand in his, leading you to the staff parking lot. You may have just had your first real conversation with him today, but getting a ride from him still beat wandering the streets at midnight. Plus, the feeling of his hand around yours helped warm you up. That, of course, was the only reason you enjoyed it.

Telling him your address, he entered it into his phone GPS. His eyebrows furrowed. “I’ve actually dropped James off there before…”

He trailed off, a small smirk making its way onto his face. You have him a curious look, but decided not to question it.

Soon enough, Sirius pulled out his keys and a small clang sounded. He let go of your hand and patted the vehicle in front of him.

Your jaw almost dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He met your dubious expression with a smirk of his own. Unlocking the chain, Sirius looked up at you to say three simple words. “You like it?”

Folding your arms, amusement flooded your features. You shook your head slightly, the corners of your lips tilting upward as you saw Harley-Davidson branded on the ride. “Why does this not surprise me?”

“I’m going to pretend that was meant as a compliment,” said Sirius, passing you a spare helmet.

You raised your eyebrow in question, wondering why he kept more than one with him.

“When James–my co-worker with the messy hair and glasses,” he paused at your giggle, smiling. “When James and I have the same shift, I usually give him a ride to our flat. So I make sure to bring an extra helmet with me.”

“That’s the only reason?” He raised an eyebrow at you. “So charming random girls at the cafe and wooing them with your hot ride isn’t a frequent ploy of yours?”

“Nah,” Sirius drawled, unbuckling the strap of the helmet with his fingers. “Not frequent. I do it once a week, at most.”

You rolled your head to the side, jutting your lower lip out slightly. “I’m not sure I want a ride from you anymore.”

He laughed, the soft sound echoing in the empty parking lot. “I’m only kidding, sweetheart. Don’t fret– Unless you consider James competition. But I must say, with his tight grip and delightfully caffeinated scent, he might be tough to beat.”

“Well, damn.”

Shooting him a coy smile, you grabbed the helmet from his hands, plopping it onto your head. Sirius gave you a once-over, eyes stopping at the loose strap under your chin. Leaning forward, his fingers brushed against your jawline, tightening the helmet so it fit snugly atop your head.

“Safety first,” he murmured, face still mere inches away from yours.

With a lazy smirk, Sirius pulled away, tugging the back of your helmet to make sure it wouldn’t come off before patting the top of your helmet. You huffed, slapping his hands off.

“Sorry.” With a hint of laughter in his voice, he didn’t sound very apologetic. “You just look too damn cute for your own good in that.”

“Cute?” Your lips turned down into a pout as you folded your arms, trying to look aggressive through your face shield. You unbuckled the helmet and placed it under your arm.

“Cute,” Sirius affirmed, breaking out into a grin as he pinched your cheeks. “And your little pout just makes you look even cuter.”

You attempted to pushed his hands away, but they somehow managed to stay rested on your face. “Just cute?”

“Amongst other things,” he breathed, brushing a small spot behind your ear with the pad of his thumb. As he pulled away with a cheeky grin, you released a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Sirius laughed at your reaction.

“That wasn’t funny,” you scowled, nudging him in the arm to let him know you weren’t upset.

“‘Course not.” Pulling a shirt out from his Harley, he turned back to you. “I’m just going to change, teach you the basics of riding as a passenger, then we’ll be off.”

Without giving you the time to turn around, he pulled his polo off, swapping it for a loose-fitting black tee. Your gaze followed the exposed parts of his abdomen as he fumbled with getting his shirt on. You caught a glimpse of black ink on Sirius’ chest, furrowing your eyebrows as you tried to make out what it was before he clothed himself.

Sirius met your stare with one of his own. You quirked a brow at him.

“You smoke, you ride a motorcycle, and you have tattoos?” You gave him an amused smile. “You’re my father’s worst nightmare.”

“Let’s hope you’re not a daddy’s girl, then.” He didn’t give you time to process what he said, instead holding his own helmet under his arm. “Anyway, when you’re on the motorcycle, I need you hold on as tightly to my waist are you’re comfortable with.”

You nodded, noticing his sober expression. Riding a motorcycle wasn’t a joke and he wanted to make sure you knew that. Still, it was something that should feel fun and exhilarating.

“If I’m accelerating or riding too fast, wrap your legs around mine.” You raised an eyebrow and even Sirius couldn’t help but smirk at that. “By doing so, you will get a better grip and, at the same time, tell me that I should probably slow down.”

Sirius went on with a brief summary on what to do and how to communicate with him while riding and, by the end of it, your stomach fluttered with nerves and excitement. You all but clambered onto the bike, putting your helmet on and wrapping your arms around his torso.

“Keep them here,” he stated with a small laugh, bringing your hands hands from the center of his abdomen to his sides.

Feeling rejected you let out a soft, “Oh.” Maybe you were reading this incorrectly and Sirius had no interest in you after all.

Sensing your discomfort, Sirius placed his hand on top of yours, briefly interlacing them to give you a firm squeeze.

“It’s not that I don’t want your arms wrapped around me–because, trust me,” he let out a throaty chuckle, his voice growing quieter, “if I had my way, your arms wouldn’t be the only thing wrapped around me.”

You bristled, your face flaming at his wanton statement. For a moment, you were glad you had a bulky helmet on to cover your tomato-like complexion.

Feeling you stiffen, Sirius threw his head back at your reaction, his chest vibrating with his deep laughter. You edged away from him on the seat and you knew if you could see his face, he’d be smirking.

“But it’s not about me right now.” He turned back to you once he sobered, eyes searching for yours through your face shield. “Right now, what matters is your safety, okay?”

“Okay,” you murmured, giving his side a gentle squeeze.

Securing his own helmet on the top of his head, Sirius revved the engine, checking one last time to see if you were comfortable.

You laughed at his concern. If anything, you thought Sirius would’ve been the type of guy to ride without a helmet, going at dangerous speeds to prove his expertise. But, so far, he had been nothing but cautious. A little too cautious, in your opinion.

“I’m fine, Sirius. Now–what is it you told me?–stop worrying. I’m a big girl; I can handle it.” You heard his airy breath of amusement through the low speeds of the parking lot. “Now, take a little risk.”

You saw him shake his head, voice swimming with mirth from your challenging words. “That’s what I like to hear.”

And with that, he took off.

The city lights passed by in a blur, the breeze biting into your exposed arms and you were grateful for your helmet a second time today. In the middle of the night, the streets were yours; the cars were sparse and space was plenty.

An estranged mixture of fear and excitement coursed through your veins as you tighten your grip around Sirius’ abdomen. It wasn’t until he slowed down and pulled closer to the sidewalk did you notice you were screaming the whole time.

“Are you alright?” he called, amusement lacing his tone.

“Better than alright!” You attempted to lower your voice, not wanting to yell in Sirius’ ear. “I just scream when I’m excited, sorry.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he accelerated once more. Though he wasn’t going very fast, the force of inertia caused you to wrap your legs around his. You were vaguely aware of the feeling of your thighs pressed against his as you edged your body closer to the center of the seat, leaning your head to the side to avoid knocking Sirius’ helmet.

As soon as you fell into the groove of riding, you placed your feet back on your own pegs, taking one arm off of Sirius and stretching it out above your head. With the breeze billowing through your fingers and tossing your hair back, you’ve never felt more in touch with your surroundings.

“Yeah!” you cried, urging Sirius to drive faster.

You felt the rumble of his laugh through his thin shirt, thinking how unfair it was that warmth exuded from his back despite the cold air around him while you had goosebumps covering every square inch of your arms.

Before you knew it, Sirius had pulled up in front of your flat, the motorcycle silencing itself to nothing more than a soft purr. Killing the engine, he helped you off, keeping his hands on your waist for longer than he needed to.

“So,” you breathed, rolling your bottom lip into your mouth.

Sirius let his hands linger around you before slowly retracting them. “So.”

“Thank you for the ride.”

“It was my pleasure.”

You nodded, avoiding eye contact. Any charm you might have previously possessed went down the drain when Sirius stared at you. All you knew was you missed the warmth of his body on yours.

“Going to have a smoke after this?” you remarked, arms folded in a challenge.

He let out a huff of amusement, running the tip of his tongue along the inside of his cheek. A sideways grin made its way onto his face. “Depends. If I say yes will you stay out here and make sure I don’t?”

You gave Sirius’ arm a playful push, leaving your gentle grip on his tricep. “If that’s what it takes.”

Running your fingers along the light cloth of his sleeve, you smirked at the slight tightening of his muscles. Sirius quirked an eyebrow at you, deliberately skimming his lower lip with his tongue.

Two can play that game, you thought with a small shake of your head.

Stepping closer, you peered at his face through the harsh lights littering the streets, the gleam casting a shadow on his eyelashes. Tilting your head to the side, you brushed the tip of your index finger over the cool skin of his cheekbone.

You moved back, pretending not to feel the intense stare Sirius was burning into you. You shot him and innocent smile, bringing your forefinger and thumb together.

“Eyelash.”

Though you shifted away from him, the proximity between the two of you still left you in a compromising position. Focusing your attention back on Sirius, you noticed the bottomless greys of his eyes had turned a stormy color from your interaction, his jaw clenching.

Blowing the stray eyelash from your thumb, you shut your eyes, making a wish. When you finished, you slowly looked up at him, smiling. But his gaze was already on your lips.

You tried not to smirk.

Testing the limits, you cupped your hand under his chiseled jaw, running your thumb along the light stubble peppering his face.

“Sweetheart,” Sirius rasped, a tone of warning laced through his voice.

You traced a circular pattern on him, your touch so light he barely felt it. Still, he was aware–painfully aware–that it was there. Your hot breath was feathering the base of his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing at your light touches.

“Did you want me to stop–”

A low growl escaped from the back of his throat as Sirius grasped your wrist firmly in his large hand. He rubbed the sensitive part of your forearm with the callous of his thumb.

So, he doesn’t like being teased.

“Sweetheart,” he said again, voice still hoarse, “I don’t think you know what you’re getting into.”

“I think I do.” You fingered the hem of his shirt, daring to inch closer. “But how about you show me, anyway?”

And he did.

Dropping your wrist, Sirius placed one hand on the small of your back, pressing your body against his, and the other cupped against your cheek.

As he toyed with the strands of hair framing your face, twirling it around his forefinger, Sirius kept his gaze intently on yours. He trailed his fingers down the length of your hair, the edges of his knuckles skimming past the crevice of your chest.

A satisfied smirk formed on his face as you shuddered, arching away from him, his other hand still applying a pressure just above the curve of your ass.

“Sirius.” You almost groaned, your voice strangled in need. You wanted more. You wanted his lips on your lips, his hands in your hair– More.

His amused hum rang through your body, heat spreading to the core of your abdomen. Still, he made no move to change his pace.

Lacing his fingers through the back of your hair, Sirius gave it a slight tug, causing you to expose the vulnerable parts of your neck to him. He continued the stroke his thumb in downward motions through the material of your leggings, peppering your jawline with chaste kisses. He started near your chin, making his way up to where the base of your ear met your neck. His stubble tickled your jaw, leaving you to wonder how it would feel elsewhere.

Moving away ever so slightly, Sirius brushed the spot behind your ear with his soft lips, blowing a hot puff of air against your cool skin.

You shivered.

He was getting you back for teasing him. But he was going harder.

You were getting frustrated. Your stomach twisted in anticipation, heat coursing through your veins. In that very moment, there was nothing you wanted more than for Sirius to place his mouth on yours.

“Please,” you moaned.

With his lips still brushing the base of your ear, he whispered, “Please what?”

Grabbing at the collar of his shirt, you pulled his face closer to yours. “Please– Just kiss me, already.”

“Since you asked so nicely…”

A strangled whimper escaped from your mouth. You were are the end of your line, unable to take his continuous teasing any longer. Taking matters into your own hand, you stood on the tips of your toes, craning your neck up to meet his lips.

“Finally,” you murmured against his mouth, causing Sirius to laugh into the kiss.

The deep vibrations from his chuckle rang through your body, a feeling of pleasure erupting in your chest. You eased into his caress as you brought your hand to cup his jaw, stroking his peppered stubble.

His large hand pressed against your lower back, pushing your hips against the rough material of his jeans. For a second, Sirius broke the kiss, nipping the soft flesh of your bottom lip, then soothing the spot with the tip of his tongue.

The next moment, his mouth was back on yours, moving against you in a tantalizing dance. The night filled with the cacophonous sounds of gasps and groans. You were sure Sirius could feel your heart beating erratically through your ribcage, your chest flattened against the defined muscles of his.

The kiss was better than you could have ever imagined.

You pulled away, breathing heavily for some much needed air. Sirius let his forehead rest on top of yours, his lips parted in a pant, his warm breath teasing your hypersensitive skin.

He grinned, breathless and dazed by the kiss still lingering on his mouth. “Now, wasn’t that worth the wait, sweetheart?”

You let out an amused huff, your arms still around his neck. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

Sirius trailed his hands down from your waist, to your hips, and went lower still, stopping to cup the curve of your ass.

“Still going to have a smoke after this?” you breathed, eyebrows raised in a challenge.

He wore a hooded expression, smoothing the furrow between your brows with a light kiss. You looked back up at him to find a look on his face that made your stomach churn.

“Nah.” Sirius removed your hands from around him, toying with the tips of your fingers. “I’m good.”

Interlacing his hand through yours, he gave you a small, but firm, kiss on the lips.

“I think I found something much better than nicotine.”

Aw, I can’t stop grinning. I hope you guys enjoyed! xx Fia.

[hectormirroredreflection]

A Look Into The Future: What Will The Art Deco Glass Furniture Industry Look Like In 10 Years?

15 Style Features Of A Dream Cooking area

All developers and also homeowners have their suggestions concerning what makes a fantastic kitchen, however throughout my years in the layout world, I've pertained to rely upon several best approaches for creating an effective, useful, lovely space. The addition of any kind of one of these products would significantly boost the appeal of an area. Integrate them all, as well as you would certainly have one stunning desire kitchen area.

1. Ample lighting. Incorporating different sorts of lighting in any area is fundamental, however it's particularly valuable in the kitchen area. An abundance of natural light is superb, however cooking areas additionally require practical resources of artificial light: ambient lights to develop an overall radiance, task lighting to illuminate workspaces and also accent illumination to highlight attributes in the room.

Brightening on a budget: Not prepared for a lights overhaul? Start by replacing your old light bulbs with LEDs-- they last longer, are extra energy effective as well as are available in amazing, cozy and neutral colour temperatures. Undermounted LED rope lighting, or puck lights are also budget friendly choices for lighting locations where cupboards cast darkness.

2. Abundant seats. Among the biggest demands I listen to as an interior developer is a requirement for even more visitor seats. People often tend to congregate in kitchens, so make certain there is sufficient room for pals to collect in locations that won't hinder the performance of your prep area.

Round tables are a wonderful method to provide simpler traffic flow and also can typically seat 4 to six people. Drop-leaf or extendable tables provide you flexibility. They can be pressed against the wall surface off the beaten track when not in use or gotten used to develop added seats for entertaining guests. This is a good service for a home that lacks an official dining-room.

3. Surface. A big island with great deals of counter room and also seating offers room for cooperation. Regular jobs such as paying expenses, sorting through mail, doing research or whipping up dinner can be implemented without first needing to move points around to make area. Having this clear surface area additionally has an emotional result that makes the residence seem clean also if other locations of the home are haphazard or covered with heaps of items.

No area for an island? Here are a couple of space-saving tips:

When every square inch counts, do not give up surface location for the tiny things. Mount your paper towel holder to obtain it up and out of the method. Rather than making use of a knife block, shop flatware on the wall using a magnetic strip. Locate a reducing board that fits over your sink or cooktop to ensure that beneficial counter space doesn't go to waste.

Fold-down workstation surfaces are the Murphy bed of the kitchen. They give you additional space when you require it as well as run out the means when you do not. They're likewise rather low-cost and also very easy to set up.

Or aim to our following must-have kitchen accessory: the movable workstation.

4. Movable workstation. An island on wheels, and even a bar cart, is terrific for cooking and enjoyable. It supplies more storage space and a versatile surface for prepping as well as serving.

What to look for: Stainless steel is great due to the fact that it's sturdy as well as simple to tidy, or decide for the extra budget friendly option, butcher block, for a different looks. When it involves dimension, make certain you have concerning 36 inches between the edge of the island and also bordering counter tops so as not to impede website traffic flow. Depending on your choice, you can select counter height or bar elevation. Make note of what's most comfortable prior to you go out shopping.

5. Ordered drawers. Split and dominate! Save your time and also peace of mind by keeping things cool and very easy to locate. Inserts as well as divider panels include framework to cabinets where loosened products often tend to accumulate. Having marked areas for all probabilities and ends will certainly assist you avoid overflow.

When searching for organisers, bear in mind first to gauge your cabinets. Prevent affordable plastic alternatives that warp gradually, as well as instead, search for something simply as sturdy as the cabinetry.

Tool storage space is essential. It's better (and cleaner) to nicely conceal devices than to have a bouquet of spatulas remaining on the counter.

Shallow spice storage permits you to swiftly see what you have instead of screwing up through a crowded cluster of containers. Incentive points if you relocate your spices from their initial packaging right into matching containers.

Stack cooking sheets and also cutting boards up and down in deep cabinets (if you have them) or narrow closets for less complicated accessibility. Dividers will maintain them upright. Do not forget to specify different cutting boards for produce, meats and bread.

Organisation for food storage space containers always appears to be a second thought (and also among the messiest components of the majority of kitchens). The amount of times have you reached for a piece of Tupperware only to locate its corresponding cover has disappeared? Cabinets consume loose covers, so keep them with each other. We favor glass storage for food as it is microwaveable and also remains in good condition much longer.

6. Pot as well as pan (and also lid) organisation. If you can get hold of a pot or pan and its cover without evasion the remainder of your cookware around, you're golden. Hanging them from hooks is a wonderful method to achieve this feat as well as make reliable use of upright room.

7. Pullout corner storage space. Smart closet organisers supply simpler access and assistance increase the otherwise dead area where your Tupperware lids are possibly concealing.

You can locate a multitude of products such as this online or via your neighborhood cabinets firm, and also the majority of corner features can be retrofitted to your existing kitchen cabinetry.

8. Committed appliance storage. Surprise storage space for tiny home appliances liberates counter space for a lot more useful usages.

When creating your kitchen or renovation cupboards, think about adding an appliance garage to keep your tools concealed. Homeowners also can convert an existing office by installing pullout shelves that supply quick and simple access to home appliances when you require them. Whatever you do, assign an assigned area for each and every gizmo, so they do not wind up awkwardly stacked on top of the refrigerator or out on the counter.

9. Tough hardware. Protect your cupboards with equipment. In time, oil from hands can use down the coating and unclean up or scratch the paint. Prevent unnecessary damage with sleek pulls or handles that will extend the life of your cabinetry. Search for a strong metal or something durable with significant weight. It will certainly benefit you-- as well as your cabinets-- in the lengthy run.

10. Citrus. When life offers you lemons, placed them to function. Whether you're including a little enthusiasm to your dish, spritzing up a rejuvenating beverage, loading up on vitamin C or just tidying up the cooking area, citrus is a valuable product to have on hand (plus, it presents well as a great splash of colour).

Lemons as well as limes are fantastic for organic rubbish disposal cleanup. Running the peels through water aids to clean the blades, and also the oils refurbish the fragrance. You can additionally prepare your organic cleaning service with lemon, baking soda as well as vinegar-- guide clear of marble countertops. The acid can trigger discoloration and also etching.

11. Hand Towels. Use decorative linen towels to minimize waste by utilizing less paper towels. Not just are towel towels much more environment-friendly, yet they additionally conserve you loan and include a little charm to the kitchen area.

In addition to your attractive tea towels and towel napkins, you'll desire to maintain a stack of cleaning towels or microfiber towels handy, so they're ready to order when you require them. It will certainly be much less unpleasant to pass up the benefit of paper towels if you're well-stocked for the next mess.

12. A clear catch-all space. Every day life makes it difficult to have an arranged house 24/7. Documents, tricks, shoes, water containers, bags and also other numerous products tend to stack up promptly in specific locations. Avoid surface area clutter by giving each of your points a designated home. Keys, mail, phone battery chargers as well as pens ought to all have a specialized landing spot, whether it's a full-fledged, built-in command centre, the back of a cabinet or ordered area inside a wardrobe.

13. Confined garbage as well as recycling. Garbage can occupy floor space, can scent bad and also provide mayhem for family pets. Covert storage is optimum, however if you do not have that alternative, at least ensure your containers have lids. Maintaining bins and also bags with each other makes it very easy to separate waste as well as recyclables.

Cabinets can be retrofitted to house custom-made pullout containers, however if you're seeking a simple remedy, look into preferred sellers like The Container Store or Ikea for a range of containers that will work to fit your existing room.

14. Coffee station. Life is just a little bit less complicated when you have everything you need in one area. If you can discover a means to construct it in or enclose it, also better. While a full-on coffee bar isn't constantly practical, having all your cafe accoutrements-- coffee maker, mill, beans or grounds, filters, mugs, sweeteners-- in one committed area will streamline your morning regimen.

15. Personality. Whether it's enjoyable, colourful devices or a sensational item of art work, a kitchen area needs to have an inviting atmosphere that permits for convenience, leisure and great times.

Accentuate your residence's fascinating architectural details. If you have beautiful old glass-front cupboards, flaunt some vibrant bowls or perhaps some classic glass wares. Delight in little accents, such as wacky doorknobs or vintage curtain tiebacks. These small information include fun, unanticipated style and personality.

[angeltriestoblog]

Bullet Journaling 101: My Story, Flipthrough, Tips and Resources

A bullet journal is a system of organization created by Ryder Carroll that “aims to track the past, organize the present and plan for the future”. It’s a diary, journal and planner all in one: an amalgamation of all the facets of a person’s life in a series of different bullet points. Several YouTubers and bloggers have attributed their newfound sense of productivity and success to this and attested that it has helped tremendously in reordering their priorities.

And just like everyone else who seemed tempted by the idea, I’ve been wanting to join the whole movement. In fact, I’ve been watching flipthrough videos since last year, with my “bujo inspo” YouTube playlist amassing a grand total of 109 videos as of press time. I’ve followed a lot of Instagram accounts who’ve made a living out of this practice, and even put a short-lived Pinterest account (for the third time since the ninth grade – I don’t know why it can’t stick with me) in the hopes of gaining inspiration to get started. But, none of those worked in helping my intimidation die down.

I have been exposed to a great number of bullet journal spreads that are so aesthetically pleasing and color-coordinated that they seem almost unrealistic. I lacked the skills and resources required to start. Not enough Tombow brush pens or collaging skills in my arsenal, I thought, which would just lead to a decline in my journal’s appeal. At this juncture, I would like to point out that a bullet journal’s main priority must be functionality. Yes, it can also serve as a great medium for artistic expression but this must not hinder it from serving its true purpose: to get its owner’s life together.

Anyway, dumaldal na naman si Angel. Wala talagang kupas.

If it’s of any interest to you, I use a Leuchtturm 1917 ruled notebook in the color purple, which I got for half its original price at my local National Bookstore. I was initially supposed to go for the dotted version, as it is more popular in the bujo community. Turns out I forgot to check the label before paying for it, and only found out I had bought the wrong version when I had got home. I don’t have any regrets though: I find it easier to write on lined pages, and they don’t really change its effectivity.

I have a black Pilot G-Tec in 0.4mm thickness for writing, as I feel my handwriting looks best when I use this pen. Alongside these are my Dong-A fineliners—which are a great alternative to the much pricier Steadtlers—and my pride and joy, my Stabilo pastel highlighters. I have a black Artline Stix brush pen, which I use for my headings, and a normal pencil for making rough drafts of spreads. I also keep a thin pad of Post-it notes that I replenish weekly on the front page, where I write down any ideas that pop in my head that I’d later on put in its respective spread. I’m trying to keep my set-up as minimal and low-maintenance as possible, but with a pop of color here and there so it won’t end up being too bland and boring.

But contrary to popular belief, there is no fixed set of materials that one must purchase to start a bullet journal. In fact, there doesn’t even need to be any purchasing at all: you can start with something as simple as an old notebook lying around your bedroom floor, and the regular pen that you use for school. Colored markers and washi tapes and any other art supplies are purely optional.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s a peek into what’s actually inside my bullet journal:

Key: Consists of a series of symbols that mean to organize entries into different categories. I have tasks—which can be subdivided into those that are complete, have been migrated or scheduled on another date—events and notes, which can be further emphasized by an asterisk that means they are a priority.

About Me: A short page on the side complete with my basic information. I don’t intend on sharing this with anyone else after this post, but I like keeping this as it feels like a standard way of starting a journal.

Index: Serves as a table of contents. It’s incredibly helpful when it comes to locating spreads, but it cannot fulfill its purpose if one is not consistent in supplying the information it needs. I like to jot the page number and a short description of what’s written on it in the index immediately after I fill out another spread so I don’t forget.

Future Log: My next six months at a glance. This is where I write all major activities and events. I’ve considered putting in birthdays of people who are important to me as well, but I feel like they’d take way too much space so I’ll work on assembling a separate spread to keep track of them.

Collections: Just a few pages to jot down some books I need to read, movies to see, posts to write for this blog and places to go. If ever you have any recommendations, you can shoot me a message here on Tumblr or any of my social media accounts.

(Half) Year in Pixels + Habit Tracker: Admittedly my favorite spread so far. Although I did have to make the grids manually because I’m using a lined notebook, I am very satisfied with how this came out. On the far left side, I’ll be tracking my mood by coloring in squares according to how I felt during the day: purple if great, red if good, orange if it was smack dab in the middle, blue if it was an off day and green if terrible.

For the remainder of the spread, I’ll be monitoring my progress in developing five habits of my choice and checking the corresponding box if I was able to do it on that specific day. The ones I’ve chosen to focus on are drinking eight glasses of water a day, eating only one cup of rice for lunch and dinner, not lurking on anyone’s accounts during my free time to avoid counterproductivity, saying only kind words towards others and using social media for only an hour a day.

Monthly Spreads: Pretty self-explanatory. This is the one I’ve made for November 2017, and I feel like this is the layout I’ll be sticking to. On the left-hand page, I have all the days of the month written vertically with an important task or event beside it. You might have noticed that these are the exact same items under my Future Log, and think that the whole practice of bullet journaling can get quite repetitive but I find it better to write the same things over and over again so they stick to my head.

To the right, I have an expenses tracker, where I write everything I’ve bought for the month. I was supposed to add a box to indicate my savings goal, but I’ll get around to that eventually. I also have a sleep tracker, which I will be doing in the form of a line graph, and my five main goals to give me a sense of direction.

Grades Tracker – 3rd Quarter: Where I write down all the marks I’ve gotten in all my subjects. I write down HW for homework, PT for performance task, Q for quiz and SW for seatwork, then my score but I haven’t been able to do the latter yet since none of our class activities have been graded yet. I’m aiming to become at least a Merit Card Awardee by the end of the school year, so this tool will be extremely helpful in ensuring that everything I do is a step in the right direction.

I have a page that shows my class schedule for this semester and two weekly spreads but the former is too private to divulge and the latter is still under construction, so I decided not to include any pictures of them. Besides, I don’t think any of them would be of much interest to you. Do note that this serves mainly as a source of inspiration. Your bullet journal does not have to follow this format. Since it’s highly flexible and customizable, revolves around you, you wants and your needs, you call the shots at the end of the day and are given full authority to change things up to your liking.

If, by any chance, this post has made you consider converting to this system, congratulations. You’re making a great decision, and I can’t wait for you to see your life get whipped back into shape. I’ve only been bullet journaling for two weeks tops, but I can honestly say that I’m never looking back. As mentioned in my previous blog post, it has given me a newfound sense of order in and control over my life, and keeps motivated to do the tasks required of me. Literally my favorite feeling in the world right now is getting to cross out everything I needed to do for the day.

Below are some resources that I found could be helpful for any bullet journal beginner. There’s honestly much more where that came from, and you can always message me for them:

Ryder Carroll’s (the creator of the bullet journaling system) video

The official Bullet Journal website

Boho Berry on YouTube

AmandaRachLee on YouTube

Caitlin’s Corner on YouTube

planningwithkay on YouTube

Mistral Spirit

[adobecharacter-blog]

Using the Bone Tool in Adobe Flash

A puppet is a figure of a person or other living being frequently constructed with jointed limbs, suitably painted and costumed, and moved usually on a stage by a pole or by hand from below or by strings or wires. It is usually controlled by an external force and its movement isn't inherent but is caused. Puppets are utilized to entertain in lots of actual people.

Using puppets has a lengthy history. Greeks were the first ones. Producing such shows was expensive, and considering that Greeks were fond of theatrical props, puppets were employed to take the place of actors. Puppets were made to resemble real characters and their movements are due to manipulating wires the sticks or strings.

Kinds of Puppets

The first sort of puppet is that the puppet which controlled and is typically suspended by a range of strings. Another kind is that the hand puppet, which is controlled by one hand that occupies the puppet's inside. A Ticklebug is a four-legged puppet, similar to a hand puppet by drawing attributes on the hand 21, but made. Black light puppet is lit only with black lighting with both hides the puppeteer and enriches this puppet's colours.

Other kinds are the Bunraku which originated from Japan; the Ventriloquist dummy; the Rod puppet which is very similar to a marionette; however, is operated by a pole instead of strings; the Marotte that's a simplified rod puppet that is merely a head and/or body on a pole; a Shadow puppet which is a 2-dimensional rod puppet that operated behind a display and a light source projected in the rear produces a shadow of the puppet on the screen that may be seen from the audience; the Water Puppetry which is native to Vietnam; the Wayang which is an undercover puppet; the Human-Arm Puppet or a Two-Man Puppet that's somewhat like a hand puppet but is larger and requires two puppeteers; the BuDaiXi that's a Chinese puppet series; the Digital Puppet that's a digitally animated figure; along with the Finger Puppet which is little type that just fits onto a single finger.

Want to make money with digital photography? Want your very own Photographic small business? Its wedding photography, keep reading to discover other ways of earning money and begin your own business! Here's a list of those 10.

Your very own digital, photography based, home business could begin here...

* Matchbooks. Parties, parties, birthdays, firework parties, barbecue supplies. Listed below are a sample. Or add to your ever growing lists of items. I understand people don't smoke in bars, pubs and the like anymore, but a book of matches to take home and outside, is a great advertising tool for a lot of businesses.

* Memo Pads. Memo pads are another marketing ploy, such as above, or how about the souvenir market? A good deal of small tradesmen and girls would adore a reasonably priced memo pad, that had their own name and phone number, but a striking image of these, or their vehicle. To give to their customers.

* Napkin Rings. Napkin rings, for the entertainer. Restaurants, or weddings, parties. Plenty of people would pay above store costs for an unusual gift such as this.

* Tins. Tins are everywhere, not just the obvious biscuit, flour. But other kinds of valuables, storage, old letters, old coins, nick-knacks, pencils and pens, artificial blossoms. What about the tins that seem like meals, but are? You can (no pun) get, blank tins, or just about recycling?

* Stick Puppets. Stick puppets are excellent toys, hours of enjoyment for adults (who would not like to find some politicians on a pole?) , or kids, (their mum and dad, pets, friends). You can print sticky prints that are back out to put onto card & sticks, or offer the support for individual pictures. Again gifts, souvenirs Stick to it and you may make a home business that is fantastic!

* Old Photos. A great deal of people find old photos intriguing. You've got the ones of towns and cities that a hundred decades back and the style photos. You can recreate this using a view that capture the picture doesn't contain anything contemporary and turn it to a sepia print, either digitally or with a print kit. Apart from enlargements as souvenirs, they also make great postcards. There are expensive franchises for victorian portrait businesses now, the specific same prints can be made on your computer or from kit. In the event that you desired, with clothing to change into, the portrait service could be offered by you, you pick.

* Mosaics. There are artists today who make a living producing mosaics, from photos or art. And there is great software that can do it to you. Mosaics make advertising. So put on, personalizing, or company? Do you know any contractors? A mosaic of their assumptions would look good on boards, cards,letterheads.

* Mobiles. Folks make a fantastic living making products. You see the advertisements in bulletin board or the ward and lets face it there is not a great deal while daddy is waiting to make an appearance to read! Mobiles make great gifts.

* Mugs. One of the most popular advertising medias around, they are with every image on these. Narrow focus on classes that are smaller, the market, individuals buy everything that represents their hobby or fire. I will not even begin a list here, you understand exactly what I mean... oh alright, golf, fishing, football, horses, cats, dogs, ducks, wallabies, centipedes, OK I am getting sarcastic!

Decision Shopping Bags. You'll have fun with them, they are great for humor, you know a photograph, or animation of a worn out guy, with the caption 'I store, '' he drops'. Or political such as ' **** occurs, and thus don't vote Labour.' Or your view of this town, or what ever picture. Look out for special occasions, they may need bags. Examine the bags around you, where do you think you can improve, or do they give you ideas? .

This is simply to get your brain and your creative juices going! The internet has opened up an never ending need of everything and anything. Stock photography has changed, gone are the exceptionally skilled, large format shots of models and beaches, that needed to be technically perfect, well they aren't gone, but they are not the only opportunities for aspiring photographers who want to make a living with their hobby, their own fire. Pictures which you wouldn't believe started life up anywhere and the capability is available to everyone, and in the comfort of their own home.

A children have toy for parents who wish to develop their child's technical and creative skills. Following is a list of 9 trendy camera projects for your photographer.

1. About Me Journal

Your youngster will love taking photos of their objects themselves and their environment. Print off these images and blend them into an "About Me" Journal. An alternative to this is to make a "My Day" Journal about a unique day, or even a special outing.

(Photo tip: The Vtech Kidizoom Spin and Smile makes shooting self portraits a breeze. Rotate the lens towards you to see yourself on the camera display)

2. Photo Puzzle

Just take this photo of a loved one, print it off, stick it onto card or laminate it, cut it and you've got a quick and easy to make puzzle gift!

3. What Can I?

There'll be some excellent and some not so good pictures in your children's photo library. Using present photos or by taking new photographs, get your child to challenge you to play the "Mystery Object" match to guess the name of the object in the picture.

Among the best things about After Effects is whether you can create animations that are intricate, It's used for some of the most famous Hollywood character cartoons we understand, You May Also create simple, helpful and Usable animations on your first moment.

Learning procedure or any new instrument, it is valuable to establish that the 'fundamentals', the fundamental tools that form the building blocks for this particular tool and in After Effects or any timeline based animation tool, the basics are layers and stopwatches.

What are 'stopwatches' ? Stopwatches are the point and click tool that you use to identify a place at which quality or a specific event is set, the icons. When you 'click' a stop watch you are creating a keyframe on the timeline for that property. When this event will take place, you are telling your animation. The easiest example is place. You have an animated ball, a ball that is bouncing. At position and time 0, the commencement of your animation is on a ledge. It is nudged off. 1 second, your ball's place is half way to the ground, at 2 minutes, it strikes the floor it is so on and back in the atmosphere from a bounce.

Your 'stopwatch' is the tool you use to place those keyframes, to 'lock in' a new value for the characteristic that that you are animating, in this scenario, the ball's job. At every specifying or second event above, you click on your stopwatch beside your position feature, and the position value is listed for that moment. When you play your animation back, you see the values you specified played out to the rankings you defined at the exact time you recorded.

Using After effects text animation is one of the basic tools in logo animation. When it comes to media cartoon among the design choices and which tool is best for the task depends on your logo is primarily text and can be represented with a text application whether the animations that are available for text.

Let us first look at how you would go about animating your logo if it is largely a text symbol with a few graphic highlights. One of the most effective set of presets from the Adobe is your text animations. Just about everything you can imagine, what you've observed from text tumbling to sliding in to colors, from 1 side or another and luminous can be obtained as a text preset.

Use the text tool to create your logo text, picking your font. Create. Directly across in the text 'twirl down' arrow would be the 'Animate' attribute with it's twirl down pair of animate features. Pick 'position' . You will instantly see a component Digital Puppets under your text, 'Animator 1' using it's own place component and a 'Range Selector'. Twirl open the range selector to view 'start', 'end', and 'cancel' options, each with it's own stopwatch suggesting that every property can be animated.

We know about 'a picture says a thousand words'. For a quick illustration to realize how simple it's to prepare an animation using these basic configurations, place the range selector to it's default values of 0 percent for Start, 100% for End, and 0% for Offset. Set the range selector position 0,-200 (0 for x cancel, -200 for y offset). This setting for y will position your text above your stage.

Click on the stopwatch at time '0', move your deadline to 3 seconds and move the Start value to 100%. Scrub the timeline then preview your animation. You will see your text decreasing 'out of the skies'. For one easy setting that will add another touch of diversity using a single switch, look under the 'Advanced' section of your Range Selector for 'Randomized Order' and click on this from off to on. When your characters chanced upon the stage, they appear. This is a really popular effect with television and movie introductions, commercials, and needless to say, web site logos.

Total Moons, Dogcreek, think globally, act locally. Online Designer Tom Womack uses Adobe Design Suite creating sites. Adobe is my application of choice using possibilities. I use Premiere Pro for video editing, Flash for final Web picture. I am on a learning curve that is constant and regularly update my media site.

[chloecorvid]

For freshman going into art school: the bare bones recommendations

So ya chose to go to an art school... That’s great! 4 years of coffee and easy mac with a tin of paint thinner are in your future, friend! 

But what do you actually need for an art school? Do you need the master set of pastels and oils or do you just need a pencil? Honestly... It depends on the school. 

BUT!! From my own personal experience at the Kansas City Art Institute, I’m going to make a list of things to bring and what not to bring (at least on move in day). 

HERE WE GO!

The dorm.

Every college is different on how their dorms work. Some are communal (like KCAI) some are single room apartments. But these basics should help you know what to buy and what to leave behind 

( NOTE: every college has a different guide on what to bring and what not to bring. Please adhere to your school’s rules to avoid fines.)

YES list--the things you absolutely should bring

-mini fridge (2.5 cubic ft is good, if you share with your roommate you can go bigger)

-microwave; you OR your roommate. no one needs 2 microwaves.

-string lights. for when ya wanna see your desk but your roommate’s asleep.

-small trashcan. bring a pack of trashbags--draw string is the best.

-shower caddy/bag with flip flops. shower shoes are expensive, flip flops work the same. 

-house shoes. for those cold days and walking to the bathroom.

-a small shelf/storage ottoman/storage seat. You want to have space to store your dry foods and textbooks, but you wanna be able to have a seat other than your desk chair. 

-shoe organizer. whether it actually holds your shoes or not, this is great or organizing things. socks, cleaning supplies, hairspray and febreeze are off your desk and out of your closet. 

-door mirror. you can get some pretty good ones for cheap at walmart or target. be sure of your door dimensions first though. 

-2nd phone charger/long phone cable. for charging your phone in bed or at your desk. you never know how far away the outlet will be. 

-fairly new power strip. just to be safe and to plug all your stuff into. 

-body pillow if you don’t like cold walls. 

-a notebook for each class that involves reading or note taking. you might think you can use a binder for all your classes, but easier organization and lighter backpacks are always good. also keep a highlighter and pen with each notebook. it’ll be well worth it, trust me. no one likes losing pens on exam days. 

-at least 2 rolls of quarters (about $20). laundry. it costs $. at KCAI my laundry usually runs at $3.25 because i add a little more drying time. 

-some sort of storage for your desk that isn’t super heavy. I’m currently using both a plastic crate from walmart for books and a cardboard box to keep stuff away from where I work. 

-water filter pitcher. water purity is different everywhere, and even though the water may be clean, a lot of people get sick their first week in a new area just because of the water difference. a filter eases that discomfort just a bit more. 

-folding laundry hamper. I say folding because it’s easier on move in day and it holds more. win win!

-basic cleaning supplies. messes happen. 

-ETHERNET Cable. the wi-fi WILL go out while you’re at school. it’s just going to. so have an ethernet cable the proper length from the plug to your desk for your computer. (Note: ethernet is only best when the wi-fi is out. it connects to main campus computers and that’s dangerous. PLEASE only use when the wi-fi is down.)

___

NO!! list--leave this behind.

-your massive collection of books. I have too many here myself, but you’re not gonna read or use personal reference books as much as you think. Bring only what you use more than once a month. 

-stereo system. no one likes overly noisy neighbors. 

-pots and pans. unless you live in a swanky apartment dorm with a kitchen, you’re never gonna use that stuff. a coffee mug, bowl, and a microwave are as about as 4-star restaurant as you’re gonna get.

-movies in cases/videogames WITH cases. use a cd binder. works the same and saves space. 

-a bunch of fancy clothes. you’ll really only need 2, maybe 3 nice outfits in art school. pack 2 weeks of tops with 1 week of pants. saves space and laundry you have to do if you alternate weeks. coats, jackets, and cardigans are up to your style.

-anything that takes up more floor space than your fridge or ottoman. UNLESS you know for a fact that you’re gonna set up your desk under your bed in a “T” formation, there’s not much room. so consider a floor pouf or a cushion to go behind the ottoman to make a seat with a back.

-a bunch of purses, shoes, or hats. Again, UNLESS you know exactly how the room is laid out it’s hard to figure out space. if you use a purse, 2 maybe 3 is the most you’ll need. shoes are basically this: everyday, everyday #2, shoes for rain/snow, 2 pairs of nicer shoes, and flip flops for the room if you don’t use houseshoes. 

-your vast collection of coffee/tea mugs. I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to pick favorites. at most you’ll use 2-3. I personally only have 1 here and then I have my water bottle. 

____

Other than those things, check with your school list when it’s available to you to see what you need and what you don’t. Once you’ve filled the checklist THEN you can start bringing other things like books, pillows, electric kettles, irons, etc.

Every school is different, and KCAI has its own guidelines on what is or isn’t allowed. See what rules you can wiggle around and disguise based on your own needs. (aka not illegal stuff. duh. but like mattress pads and extension cords. 

Now that the dorm is covered, let’s get to actual art stuff! 

The short answer: every school’s different. and KCAI’s freshman/ foundations year is unique compared to other schools’. The reason being is that aside from animation and film, foundation year is like a free sample buffet on what majors there are. We have still lifes, charcoal, woodshop, illustration, writing, sculpture, painting, and individualized work all year. 2nd semester is when classes get more focused but still. it’s kinda crazy but really nice in the long run.

The budget that’s recommended IS a bit um... well... depends on the teacher. I personally had a teacher who liked for us to do a bunch of stuff without fully using our materials or would have assignments where new materials would run out and we’d have to buy more. 

A safe budget for supplies is about $200 per semester. Now, that’s for supplies only. Take into account food and amazon shipping and emergencies for the rest of your $. 

___

Stuff you’ll need that they don’t tell you in the beginning of the year

KCAI offers a “FOUNDATION KIT” at the beginning of the year that is about $250 all together. The list they give you is well organized so you can buy stuff on your own to save money. See what you already have or can buy for cheaper prices before you buy the kit. 

Now, again, every teacher is different. Here’s the BASIC list based on mine and other friends’ experiences. 

-glue gun.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. usually comes with foundation kit. I got a nice Superbonder dual temp. gun at Hobby Lobby with a stand. Works great and has a long cord. 

-more hot glue sticks than you thought was possible. sold in the KCAI campus art store. sculpture and cardboard are gonna be big parts in the beginning of the year, but you’ll be thankful later on. be SURE you’re using dual temp. sticks and the proper size for your glue gun. 

-sandpaper/ sandpaper block.   sold in the KCAI campus art store. not too expensive, like $5. the sanders are gonna be busy in woodshop. 

-safety goggles. sold in the KCAI campus art store. wood dust and/chips hurt. just get some simple safety glasses.

-masks. sold in the KCAI campus art store. not too expensive. get a new one every 3 weeks. about 2 needed in total. 

-measuring tape.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. OR go to walmart/home depot for cheaper. mine is a 12 ft self-lock one. it’s pretty good. 

-painter’s tape.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. I think it comes in the foundation kit, but you’re gonna run out. get at walmart for cheaper.

-(not a need but it’s super helpful) trashbag taped to your desk. saves trips to the trashcan and helps your space stay tidier. 

-speedball carver.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. to carve screenprinting rubber stamps when you get into pattern. PERSONALLY I ordered a set of wood whittling tools on amazon that work the same, were cheaper, and work on more than just rubber stamps (pumpkin carving!!) 

-baby wipes. you don’t really NEED these, as sinks exist, but when you work with charcoal and you don’t have enough time between the next drawing or lunch, these help a bunch. 

-push pins.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. teachers recommend the metal ones, I just use the clear plastic ones. less distracting when critiquing. 

-BIG ruler, more of a yard stick.  sold in the KCAI campus art store(?) I think it comes in the foundation kit, but you can always just buy a cheaper metal yard stick or share with a friend. 

-drawing pencils.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. comes with foundation kit. I’m not talking #2 pencil you use all the time, I’m talking 4B and 6H and such. Get a decent set with a sharpener. 

-vine charcoal.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. comes with foundation kit. this charcoal goes away FAST. get an extra box before classes start. 

-white chalk.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. for when your charcoal is just not erasing. 

-X-acto knife.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. comes with foundation kit. the blade is gonna dull down eventually so get an extra for later. 

-box cutter.  sold in the KCAI campus art store. think it comes with the foundation kit. Now, I personally am terrified of box cutters because I over-think injury possibilities, so I just use my x-acto knife (hello dull blades). But unless you’re a scaredy-cat like me, a simple box cutter is needed. 

-cutting mat, self-healing. sold in the KCAI campus art store (I thiiiiink). those weird green mats you see in sewing sections or on artist speed-draws? yeah you’re gonna need one. Big is good, small is fine too. 

___

Other stuff depends on the teacher. Trips to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Blick, Creative Coldsnow (kansas city), or other places for supplies IS gonna happen. If you don’t drive, find friends who are doing supply runs too and carpool. 

Art school is crazy and it’s fun, but it IS college. So keep a weekly schedule, take notes, and do your homework. 

Good luck! 

[ladyhannahjane]

How I Clean My Desk

If you’re like me, your desk is one of the places easiest made messy. It's not only my workspace, but it's where I write, study, do art, and where I sit for a large part of every day. Also, I have a bad habit of letting stuff pile up on it or putting everything that I chucked on my bed during the day on my desk when it comes time to sleep. I'm always cleaning my desk, so in my pursuit of Tumblr post ideas, I decided to take pictures of how I do it! 

1. The first thing I do is actually clean up AROUND my desk. I hung up the coats draped over my chair, put the shoes that were lurking under my desk in the closet, and threw away anything that had fallen on the floor.

2. The next thing I did was attend to all those random pieces of paper floating around. Some I threw away, some I put in my school binder (if you want to see a post on how I organize that, let me know!), and others I put back in this metal organizer I got from Target.

3. Once all of those spare things are out of the way, I put everything that's left on my desk in piles and try to decide what things I want to keep and what I want to store for later. Here, I made separate stacks for the school supplies, planners, sticky notes/notepads, and library books.

4. Some are really easy choices. All of the jewelry, for example, gets put away. (This ring is huge omg.)

5. Others are a hit harder. I use sticky notes frequently, but I decided to put them in this storage container, since I only need two pads at a time for whatever subject I'm studying. (Tip: Make sure your supplies are always easily accessible. This goes on my shelf and it's extremely easy to pull out and grab something from it.)

6. I always store my school books in my backpack during the weekend, because they are huge and heavy and ugly. 😬 Sometimes I'll stick them on my shelf. The only things I do not put into my backpack that I regularly take to school are my planner and my pencil case, which has my most-used writing utensils. I also take this time to clean out my backpack.

7. Next I stick my library books on my shelves. Since I only have two and I'm currently reading them, it shouldn't be too hard to remember they're mixed among my own books. 😬

8. I take some of the highlighters and makeup out of my pencil bag and return them to their rightful place.

At the end, here's my desk! All I have is my clock/radio, my rainbow lava lamp, my pen holder and pencil case, a clipboard I like to keep goals on, and my planner. (Also, in the time it took to make this post, I added a snack, hehe.) You could also Windex your desk surface, if you want to be super fancy.

I like to keep my workspace as clean as possible, but I do make use of my windowsill. There I keep have a cat sticky note dispenser, two mason jars full of highlighters and markers (for those aestethic picturessss), a stapler, and my solar-powered, dancing Groot there. (He's my studdy buddy.)

I hope this was helpful or at least mildly entertaining, lol. It motivated me to actually clean my desk instead of dumping everything back onto my bed. 😂

[delicatefury]

I hate how sometimes you have to try something out for a long time to find out what you like

This example, specifically, is about my current desk.

It’s a drafting table. That was by choice. I bought a $100+ drafting table from my local arts supply store (the dedicated one. Not an arts and crafts store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby) when I was in law school. I tend to spread out when I work, with open books and pens and highlighters and notebooks all over in a sort of semi-organized chaotic whirlwind, with my laptop either in the center or off to the side providing music. A large, open, flat space was exactly what I needed as a student.

 And it’s been pretty great the last few years, but there are a couple of problems. First of all, I actually miss having drawers. This wasn’t such a problem when I was a student and nearly everything I needed today, I’d need tomorrow and vice-versa. But nowadays, I need to keep stuff around in case I’ll need it in a month or three or a year. I’d also like to not have to go digging in other drawers around the office for highlighters and pens all the time.

The second problem is... well... my desk doesn’t sit flat. I know, it’s a drafting table, half the draw (heh. Draw) is that the table tilts for easier drawing/painting/etc. But that’s just it. It’s supposed to be moveable. I can’t move it. Or rather, it moves too much. The style of table is one where each leg is individually collapsible. You loosen the bolt and then the leg can be lengthened or shortened as needed. This is how you adjust the tilt. Higher tilt? Shorten the front and lengthen the back. Less tilt? Shorten the back or lengthen the front. The desk can go from three feet tall to over four feet if you prefer to stand when working as opposed to sitting.

But the table doesn’t stay the height I set it to anymore. Doesn’t matter how tightly you screw the bolts (and I’ve gotten calluses trying to tighten them), it’s never enough. The slightest bit of weight and whichever leg it’s applied to collapses as far as it can go. It’s bad enough that I can’t lean on my desk when I work or that I have to be careful about how many books I put on top of it at a time, but you have to remember that I have an 11lb cat. An 11lb cat who likes nothing better than to lay on my desk when I’m working on it. Who lands with the force of 11lbs spread out between two tiny kitty paws. And whenever he does... *Ca-thunk*. Down goes the leg and the whole desk jerks. Then I spend the next 30 minutes either raising the fallen leg back to where it was or lowering all three of the others as far as they go. 3 years and he’s yet to learn not to do that.

All this wouldn’t be so bad. I don’t need my desk to be tall, but the default is not flat. That’s right. When all the legs are as far down as they can go and the desk is balanced, the table tilts forward about 15-20°. At just enough of an angle to make it difficult to type but not enough to make drawing easier. I love this desk, and I sunk a decent amount of money into it at a time I was broke, but... yeah, there’s no good reason I’m putting up with this, honestly.

So I’m looking at Amazon for replacements, and I’ve had this nice wooden desk saved in my cart for ages now. It’s not exactly what I want (exactly what I want is $400. I have spending cash, but not that kind of spending cash), but it’s pretty damn close. It’s counter height, so I can keep my current desk chair (taller than normal, for the drafting table), and it’s actually a split desk. While about 1/4 stays flat no matter what (perfect for resting tools/water glass/my cat), the rest is a tiltable drafting table. But the adjuster is a folding bar with a ratchet mechanism (not the legs) that lifts it up from the desk base. And the default is flat.

I can deal with a mechanism. I can oil or remove or whatever if it ever stops working. Yeah, it’s a little smaller than my current table, but I don’t have to get rid of the table. It folds up. I can store it against the wall or in the attic (it’s an under-the-eaves type of attic instead of above-the-ceiling and my office is on the second floor next to it) until I need a larger work space. And my office is small anyway. A smaller table, maybe pushed against the wall... might make the space less claustrophobic. Basically, once I’ve finished buying the last few car repairs/necessities and I’ve paid for the new state’s bar exam... Yeah, I’m gonna get it. I don’t care if I’m moving in a year. I need a better work space before I lose my mind.