#my pen slipped

[herbs-and-poultices]

We love it when an injured character winces as they try (unsuccessfully) to sit up. It's a popular trope for a reason.

I would also like to draw your attention to when it hurts to lay down. Yes, they'll definitely be more comfortable lying down than sitting up, or maybe they're so exhausted they could barely stay upright even if they wanted to. But getting there? Maybe they have a friend there to help with an hand behind their back, maybe they have to lean on their arms and try to slowly ease themselves down without pulling or jarring anything too much. Either way though, there are winces and grimaces and sharp intakes of breath, and muscles shaking and tensing and maybe suddenly giving out on them. And at the end, finally sinking into the mattress or makeshift bed, their jaw is still clenched and eyes squeezed shut and breath coming in short gasps and body rigid for several moments afterward as they wait for the pain to fade away.

[lordfries]

[paper-bag-arts]

i had a vision

[lovergurls-world]

This pen is romantic.

Me having it is romantic.

But what could possibly be so romantic about a pen? It's just a pen, right? Oh... It's the pen he gave me once when I was at his place. Actually, I took it for a moment to note something and then I gave it back to him. But he said: "Keep it. Use it to give your exams. Let it be your lucky charm." Those words were fucking romantic. And I didn't realize it at the moment. So I kept it. And I have had it since.

We broke up.

And I still have it. I use it to write down important things and I fear one day I might lose it.

I don't want to lose it.

Me having this pen is romantic.

[mothbaubles]

[duohensheng]

drinking you in; one last glance before the mirror catches up with me

or, jgy indulges for a moment too long before going Back To Work, feat. blissful lxc

[grimacingheron]

I was meant to be drawing myself, but was listening to Welcome to Night Vale and my pen slipped.

These are drawn from episodes 26 to 33.

I love Cecil and Carlos. <3

(I couldn't decide if I liked having colours or not, so you get both.)

[zoethehead]

Applying this to my asmodian (Art by kiwibats)

Ya know the thing characters do before they come to consciousness? That perfect lil thing where they do that wince, and their eyes which are closed squeeze shut even tighter as their brows forrow, then they slowly open their eyes, blinking against the too-bright light, especially coupled with a soft little noise of distress… just such good shit 👌

[mare-finis]

You never know how far out to sea you have gone,

Until you turn back to the shore.

After a certain point,

Returning will seem harder than continuing outwards,

Despite the gathering clouds,

And despite the building swell.

Always just a little farther,

A little bit more.

If you are lucky, the storm will break to drown you.

But before the waves pull you under, they will liftyou.

Higher than you've ever been.

And you will get your glimpse at the far horizon,

And it turns out,

That beyond the next horizon,

Is another one.

And another one.

andanotheroneandanotheroneandanotheroneandanotherone

And this sea is endless.

And your journey was pointless.

And it's cold, and you can't breathe and you're sinking,

Sinking,

Sunk.

A wave brings you all the way back to the shore you started from.

You cough up your failure, and it sinks into the sand.

And you get to your feet.

And you look out, towards the horizon,

And you wonder what lies, just beyond it.

Are you ignoring the gathering clouds?

The building swell?

You step into the water.

It's cold.

You take another step,

And another step,

andanotheroneandanotheroneandanotheroneandanotherone

And, wait. When did you get that far out?

[herbs-and-poultices]

I'm sure this has been said many times before, but -

That stage in recovery after a serious illness or injury that is just... Quiet. Peaceful. Contented, even.

Not fully well yet but on the mend, more comfortable than they have been for a while. Appreciative of conversation with pleasant company, a good book, a bowl of something warm and nourishing. Sitting up in bed, or in a chair by the fire with an extra blanket draped over their shoulders, accepting a supportive arm or shoulder to move between. Not desiring much else, for now.

[oooocleo]

blorbo parade continues 🙏

patreon

[herbs-and-poultices]

A variation:

Young but determined Newbie, hardworking and eager to prove themself and their worth to the team

Grizzled and commanding but kindhearted Team Leader, who demands excellence from the team and also cares deeply about them

The day after a challenging mission, Newbie lies wounded and fevered on their cot, watched over by a teammate, writhing from pain and fever-aches, eyes wandering below barely-cracked lids, uneven breaths catching in their throat, unable to settle.

Team Leader comes in to see them, puts a hand on their shoulder or their brow. Their voice is gentle but firm: "You did good, kid. Rest now."

And Newbie obediently quiets, squeezing their eyes shut, measuring slower though still hitching breaths, trembling as they fight to lie still. Team Leader doesn't move until, a few minutes later, the wrinkle in their brow smooths, their breaths deepen, and their limbs finally go lax.

No thoughts head full of a feverish whumpee lying asleep and quiet in their bed, caretaker by their side, only to suddenly frown and mutter in their sleep, head turning restlessly on their pillow, whimpering weakly in confusion and fear --- and caretaker is there immediately with a damp cloth pressed to their forehead, shushing them in a low and soothing voice - and that's all it takes to calm them. They don't even open their eyes, sliding back into sleep with the caretaker gently thumbing their hair.

[miausterx0x]

i love him in goth makeup

[newtonbridgerton]

hey creloise nation how do we feel about how every character in has a carefully color coded wardrobe (bridgerton blues, featherington yellows) and cressida is almost always dressed in creams and pinks EXCEPT for two scenes

the scene at the ball where she is wearing what looks like a white gown with midnight blue sleeves and silver accents which is inline with what the other girls are wearing now that they know the queen is looking for someone 'sparkling'

and then in the scene immediately after where she happily skips over to eloise and eloise incorrectly accuses her of gossiping about penelope and colin

in that scene her outfit is a soft bridgerton blue that matches eloise perfectly. is it to emphasize the line she says about eloise finding a looking glass to find the cruel one? or is it to symbolize the effort cressida is putting into putting her (pink) past behind her and aligning herself with eloise (blue)?

[paper-bag-arts]

disco girlies 🪩✨

[herbs-and-poultices]

To add:

The first time a younger/newer team member sees their mentor carried back like this. To them, their mentor was always unflappable, unassailable, larger-than-life. Somehow they never imagined their mentor could get hurt, like any other flesh-and-blood human. They never imagined they could look so... vulnerable.

The first time a younger sibling sees their role-model older sibling get badly hurt. In the past it's always been older looking out for younger: protecting, teaching, keeping them out of trouble, gently scolding and caretaking when they get themselves hurt. But now, part of that role is suddenly reversed.

Something I've been thinking about lately when it comes to team whump:

A usually strong, rigid, and reliable teammate being carried back to base by the team leader, looking like a limp ragdoll in their arms.

The whole team is huddled around their unconscious teammate, witnessing the very first time anyone's ever seen them so... small. This person has always been the team's source of safety and security, and until now everyone else had forgotten just how young they are.