#so!!! i was able to transfer all the drawings i had on the tablet to my pc so that i can transfer them again to the future new tablet

[softfairies]

my two @infamous-if oc's, mandy and raquel, outfits!! without pinterest inspiration i would be doomed

[vodika-vibes]

Omggg I was melting from flirtatious Seventeen, I love him being a shameless flirt 😫 Could you please do one where reader is very self conscious and just doesn’t see what 17 sees so she thinks he’s just messing with her when he says suggestive things? Maybe reader has an obvious crush on him so she assumes that because 17 knows he just flirts with her to embarrass her or try to get with her. Sorry if this is really long and specific😅, we all love everything you do btw! Thanks!

For Them

Summary: Alpha-17 has been driving you insane for ages now, and that mixed with the stress of your current responsibility is just too much.

Pairing: Alpha-17 x Reader

Word Count: 1358

Warnings: Kaminoans are assholes who experiment on babies

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni

A/N: So...I kind of went a little off the rails on this one. I had a plan, and then I started writing, and I got distracted by clone babies. Sorry.

Sometimes you hate the fact that you’re so easy to read. If you were just a little better at hiding your emotions, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Well, you hope you wouldn’t be in this situation.

After all, if your crush on Alpha wasn’t so obvious, he wouldn’t have any reason to tease you so much, right?

Because there’s absolutely no way that he means what he says when he flirts with you, or makes those suggestive comments to you.

Best case scenario he’s just trying to get into your bed for a bit of quick fun. Worst case scenario, he’s trying to humiliate you. And if you didn’t need this job so badly, you would have transferred out to somewhere else.

Tragically, this job is the best one for you at the moment, and you can’t just leave the cadets-

You purse your lips as you focus your attention back on your datapad and the information on the screen. You need to focus, you can’t afford to be distracted by Alpha right now. The Kaminoans decided to play with the genetic makeup of some of the tubies, and it’s a whole thing.

Three of them are albino, which comes with its own host of health issues that need to be mitigated. Two were born totally blind, and another three are going to be blind unless you figure out a way to keep their immune system from attacking their eyes (honestly cybernetics for all five of them will probably be the easiest option, after all no one’s figured out how to keep human’s immune systems from attacking their eyes), and one was born without the ability to use his legs.

Honestly, the urge to take all 9 of them and flee Kamino is getting stronger with every passing day, but as of right now, there’s no way for you to get them off Kamino without drawing the ire of several very dangerous men, Alpha at the top of the list.

You push your fingers through your hair as you scan the medical data coming from CT-238-765’s (his name is Grim and you’re pretty sure you love him) cradle and you scowl. He’s never going to be able to walk. Maybe with surgery-

“If you keep scrunching your face up like that, you’re going to get wrinkles,” A deep voice says from the door, and you yelp and your datapad tumbles out of your hands.

You whip around, your eyes wide, and then you press your hand over your heart, “Don’t do that!”

Alpha-17 grins at you, “Did I spook you, mesh’la?”

You scowl at him and duck down to scoop the tablet back into your hands, turning the screen away from the larger man so he can’t see just how bad these tubies are, “Did you need something?”

He drags his gaze down your body, and you fold the datapad over your chest as you fight the urge to shift uncomfortably. His grin broadens, “Yeah, I can think of a thing or two that only you can help me with.”

Your face burns, “There are babies in the room,” You hiss at him.

“They’re too young to understand what I’m saying, sweetheart,” Alpha replies as he enters the room properly, and peers into one of the cradles, “Honestly, I could probably bend you over in here and none of them would even know it.”

You sputter, “You…you don’t know-that’s totally inappropriate-”

He laughs, and moves to peer into Grim’s cradle, and you immediately move to put yourself between Alpha and the infant, without thinking about it. “You’re not allowed to handle him. Technically, you’re not allowed to handle any of the babies. Remember?”

Alpha rolls his eyes and lightly nudges you to the side, “The rule was only enforced when the Prime was alive, which he’s not.” You move to the side as he nudges you, curse you for being so weak in his presence.

“Only because everyone else is afraid of you,”

“You’re not.” He grins at you, “You want to fuck me.”

Your face burns, and you glare up at him, “There. Are. Children. Present.” You hiss at him.

“Yeah, yeah. So you’ve said.” He regards Grim silently for a moment, “Also, that wasn’t a denial, gorgeous. Why isn’t he moving his legs?”

“He’s fine. And I’m not going to sleep with you just so you win whatever twisted game you're playing with me,” You snap, though you keep your voice quiet, “And don’t touch-” You sigh when Alpha reaches into the cradle and pokes the infant’s foot, and he doesn’t react.

“The fact that you think I’m  playing a game with you is hurtful, gorgeous.” Alpha replies, a frown crossing his scarred face as he looks down at the infant, “He can’t feel his legs.”

“He’s fine.” You say, your voice pitching a little higher in sudden panic, “They’re all fine. You can’t tell the longnecks. You can’t. They’ll decommission them.”

“Wait, wait. Hold on,” Alpha looks at you, suddenly no longer interested in teasing you based on the look on his face, “What…there’s something wrong with all of these tubies?”

“Winter, Snow, and Cin-” You motion to the three at the end, “Are all albino. The five in the middle are either blind, or are going blind, and then Grim here-”

Alpha holds up his hand, “What happened?”

“The Kaminoans were playing with their genes.” You say bitterly, “And now these kids are the ones who will suffer for it.” You carefully remove the monitors from Grim’s legs, and attach them to a different baby's legs, altering the data just enough.

Alpha stops you, “How long has this been happening?”

You shrug, “You know that CF-99 exists,” You point out, “They’re not the most popular because they’re assholes, but-”

“We’re all genetically predisposed to be assholes,” Alpha says dryly. His gaze lingers on the babies for a moment, “So, what’s the plan?”

“What?”

“For the tubies.”

You stare at him, “Um…so for the five that are blind, or going blind, I’m planning on making arrangements for them to get cybernetic eyes. As for Grim…I’m working on it-”

Alpha hums thoughtfully, “I have a better idea.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. How do you feel about taking the Tubies and leaving?”

You sputter, “I can’t raise 9 babies on my own without a job-”

“You won’t be raising them alone,” Alpha replies with a roll of his eyes, “I’ll be going with you.”

“...what.”

He looms over you, and you’re very glad that you’ve never been intimidated by Alpha, for all that he flusters you to high heaven. “You think I’m playing with you. That I don’t mean every word that I say to you. Maybe you have cause for that, I’m not going to judge. But I do mean every word, and if I have to run away with you and these kids to make you believe me, then so be it.”

“But…what about your other brothers?”

“They’ll be just fine without me.”

“But-”

“Yes or no, cyar’ika?” Alpha interrupts, “Do you want to ensure that these kids, kids that you named, have a proper life? Or do you want to run the risk of your manipulations getting exposed? And that’s not me threatening you. That’s me pointing out that you’re not going to be able to hide your lies forever.”

Your hands shake, “Of course I want them to grow up happy and healthy, but this is…”

Alpha stares at you and you squeeze your eyes shut for a moment, thinking hard.

“Okay. Okay, but we have to be quick about it. If we get caught-”

“Don’t worry, cyar’ika. I can make sure that we don’t get caught.” He ducks down and brushes his lips against your temple, “Just be ready. We’re leaving tonight.”

And then Alpha is gone, leaving you alone with the 9 babies that you’re about to risk everything for. You sigh and turn to Grim, who looks up at you through big brown eyes, “You’re lucky I love you, kiddo.”

He flashes a toothless grin and grabs your finger, and you melt a little bit. You suppose it’s worth it.

[genericpuff]

Alright, update on the tablet situation, I do NOT have good news but there are some silver linings.

First off, thank you all so much for your patience. That one week I took off to relax seemed to be an invitation for the universe to fuck with my shit because my tablet literally chose the worst time to get on my nerves ( This is totally not something I'm gonna bring up with my therapist as proof that I'm not allowed to rest /s) I've tried just about everything to get it working again, I got a replacement 3-in-1 cable and even that didn't do anything, so I've ordered in a new pen, but that's not due to show up for another week or two.

However, I do not want to wait a week or two on the off chance that a new pen even solves the problem.

So the GOOD NEWS in all this is that I do still have my iPad. It wasn't setup with Clip Studio Paint because I own a perpetual license for my PC, but seeing as how now I can't use it on my PC (at least not with my tablet pen) I've gone ahead and setup the mobile version on my tablet, thankfully I got a discount because I already own a perpetual license but it's still gonna cost me $10/month so that's yet another subscription to slap on the 'ole credit card.

Now that does mean I have to go through the painstaking efforts of moving everything from my PC onto my tablet, but thankfully that issue is easily solved with cloud backups and transferring. Really all I need to be able to do is draw, I can still do speech bubbles and text input and texture overlays and all that post-production stuff on my PC, but anything that requires actual drawing I'm gonna be using my iPad for. So please, don't mind if you notice some weird little art differences between Episode 30 and 29, I'm adjusting to a new workflow! It shouldn't be too bad because I'll still be using the exact same brushes and textures and all that fun stuff that I do on my PC, it just comes with the adjustment of drawing primarily on iPad, which I don't normally do (I usually only draw on my iPad for tattooing and that's in Procreate which I still suck at using outside of lineart LMAO)

This is a very stressful situation that I'm hoping will only be temporary until I get that new tablet pen, and if THAT doesn't solve the issue, then I'm gonna have to start shopping for a new tablet entirely, and that's not something I can do immediately because I'm already starting to struggle financially due to the slow season creeping in at work and I'm still paying off that new PC I put down on layaway (which I'm regretting already). All that said, if you want to help a pal out, please consider tossing a dollar or two at me on my Ko-Fi, it's all gonna go towards a new drawing tablet if I need it (and if the pen solves the issue, then you'll be helping me stay afloat so I can keep bringing you guys the good shit LOL)

What's wild is that in all my Google searching, I found a thread from two months ago with literally the EXACT same issue, under the exact same conditions, in which OP's tablet pen unexpectedly stopped registering with their Huion Kamvas 22 Plus that they had owned for two years. According to them, it did start working again, after resetting the PC and re-installing the driver over and over again, but I've already done that myself a ton of times and I'm tired of being let down and that doesn't seem like a "real" solution beyond luck, so I'm gonna take a break from doing that while I get my iPad set up. I have the sneaking suspicion this might have to do with some recent Windows updates that just rolled out, my PC had definitely gone through a couple leading up to the malfunction. This wouldn't be the first time Microsoft has fucked with my tablet functionality so I literally wouldn't be surprised if it was something like that. Either that, or the '2' in Kamvas 22 stands for "will only last for 2 years before stopping entirely" LOL

Anyways, that's all for now. Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding through all this. While I don't want to have to reduce the quality or frequency of what I put out for you guys due to technical issues, I also don't want the comic to stop entirely, so if this turns into one of those desperate situations where I'm delivering you guys episodes of Rekindled drawn on a Nintendo DS, so be it. I'm not gonna let this beat me.

[noxs-mun]

STATUS UPDATE:

So I'm finally working on the spirits from Nox's universe again.

Had unfortunately lost a lot of stuff I was working on as it was being transferred via a hdd that is now malfunctioning.

That and the fact I've been dealing with some health issues I've not been the most productive and honestly upset at how much i keep sleeping due to fatigue.

I have added some things to the known vampire clans mainly their various means of propagation. (for now) and have some basic groundwork for the Werecreatures and thier clans/packs.

One example being that any were wolves live in forests that share their pack's namesake.

I also eventually have plans for various fae creatures and have something up my sleeves lore wise for how they relate to the changelings we all know. (known as equus changelings in Nox's universe)

In additional news I do have an art tablet thanks to @duran301 and a new computer via a late christmas gift from some of my friends and after I get a hdmi adapter I can finally throw myself at digital art!

Though I am used to drawing traditional and mostly free hand as I always have struggled with not DRAWING SO DAMN HARD to be able to erase any kind of guidelines.

It has been both frustrating and super satisfying when I manage to get a drawing made since I was forced to do it I one go and very little room for messing up.

Am hoping having the ability to undo mistakes without worrying about whether or not the paper will withstand the erasing will help me not be so hard on myself and have more fun drawing again!

Though I know transitioning to digital is most likely gonna be somewhat overwhelming at first.

[dragonanarchist1155]

Testing out my old new tablet with 10 min sketch and draws (old because i have it since like a year already, new because i only recently have been able to actually use it thanks to ADHD)

All i have atm is paint (cause paint.net got deleted when my laptop had a bad time some time ago, and clip studio paint i never actually used lol) but its ok so far

gonna need some tutorials on how to shade lol

sketching is harder than i thought it'd be (or at least it is in this particular program thanks to no pressure input) but drawing in color is much easier and the result is much better than i expected. might transfer some techniques i learned with phone drawing and actually draw something nice for my friends

[pbandjesse]

Amazing news! The heat has come back on! It happened late this evening after we went to get some groceries. But it's not an ice box in here anymore. It's still cool, because the windows leak so much air, but it's much more comfortable.

Last night I actually slept mostly okay I wore very big fluffy hoodie my brother got me for Christmas a few years ago. It is the warmest thing for sure. Like wearing a blanket. And I did wake up cold this morning but James covered me back up and I was just fine.

I had a text from Alexi at 630 that camp was going to be closed for the day because the roads were unsafe and it was still snowing. Which was just fine with me. A free day off? Amazing.

So I slept until 9. And I felt pretty good when I woke up. I didn't want to grt out of bed but I was in a good mood and was happy to see James and Sweetp sitting in the other room. I could hear children outside laughing. James said they were the families who were attempting to sled yesterday and they were actually succeeding today. Good for them.

While I love looking at the snow, I had no desire to go outside. James would go for a very long walk around the city. And I'm glad they had fun but it was not something I wanted to do.

So after I was dressed I got cuddled up in bed with my tablet to draw. James warmed me up one of my leftover breakfast quesadillas and I had a lovely breakfast watching the world from the window and working on some drawings. I am working on my countdown project and it is just fun working on a new style.

James would leave for their walk but this was not just a fun walk through the snow. This was a walk with purpose. James was going to the bank to make the transfer for the down payment on our house. It makes me so nervous and excited I get a little nauseous. But like. That's wild! We only started this process really in October. We saw our first house on Halloween. And now we are on the eve of signing all the closing documents. It feels wild. But I'm so proud of us.

They would strike out at the first bank though. They were so busy after being closed yesterday the wait was going to be two hours. But the teller was really nice and called another branch and was able to get James in there no problem. So James's continued their walk and made the wire transfer and got the receipt and everything. And would come home before noon.

I was finishing up my drawing. And was feeling a bit tired. I was very cold. The heat was still off at this point and the space heater kept tripping and turning off. Leaving the bed felt impossible. I would just lay there and watch videos and bullshit around on my phone. I had lunch but I was just feeling. Bleh.

So eventually I decided I had to do something and I started working on the zipper pants project for my dad. Apparently he has not really been able to wear jeans since he got the prosthetic because the leg can't go over the foot. He saw a picture where someone put a zipper in the leg and that made it possible to open the zipper, put the pants on, then zip it closed. I would text him to confirm what would be more comfortable and we decided on the inside leg instead of the outside. I think it'll be easier to reach. And I cut and pinned those up. I was not up for actually sewing them because the studio was so cold but at least they are both ready to go and I'm very pleased with how they look. I will probably get those sewn up in the next week. While moving will be my first priority I will still have time. And I will get them done. And I really hope they work for him.

James would get in bed with me and they would read for a long time. And I would fall asleep. I don't think I was asleep that long. But my limbs felt heavy and weak after I woke up. James made me a peanut butter and jelly. Which did help but I was still struggling a bit.

James decided they would go to the grocery store. And I asked to come with them. Just to be out of the house for a little while.

James went down first to warm up the car. I got my shoes and my chapstick and headed down. On the drive there we discussed that Larry, the mortgage guy, sent James some documents and I was like. Why didn't I get any documents. Larry called me and I sent him an email back and he was just congratulating us and said we only need our IDs, our checkbook, the receipt from the wire transfer, and our energy and then put a smiley face and a whole bunch of exclamation points. I love how unserious everyone on our team is sometimes. Makes me feel more comfortable. I don't know why but I love that.

The grocery store was fine. We got everything we needed. We wandered around a little. We paid and headed home.

Where we found that the heat was back on and I was very excited about that.

James would take the trash down to the alley and we would start looking over the documents. We had some stress over our outstanding debts that we were able to work through understanding but it will be fine. I ended up calling my dad to explain a mistake we made but it's fixable. It also helped me sit down and work out my new budget now that we have actual numbers and I'm excited that it's $200 less then I had originally thought. So we are already doing better and I am proud of us. We will be able to have an actual emergency savings fund. And in talking to Jess we have an idea of what bank were going to use because it has a 4.5% interest. Amazing.

After going through all the house documents and making a phone call where I had to talk to a bank rep to get a new password for an account I was having trouble accessing, I was feeling good. Like the nerves are very high. But this time tomorrow we are going to have the keys to our new house??? Crazy. We will have to get the electric and gas set up in our names but I think it will go smoothly. And I'm just so excited and nervous and I have so many different feelings. It's great.

I would take a shower and asked James to please make up the bed for sleep now instead of later. Alexi sent us a text that work might be canceled again tomorrow because the roads might not be safe at camp. But my plan is to go to work in the morning. And leave with enough time to practice the commute to the final walkthrough. And then it's paperwork time. Which should take about an hour. James might go right back to work. I might go to the house and do more planning. We will just have to wait and see. I am so excited.

I love you all. Thank you for supporting me through this journey. Goodnight everyone! Until tomorrow!

[alica-tech]

codeblr tag game

●~•──────  question───────•~●

At what point in your life did you decide that the world of computers was the one for you?

Thank you @code-ess and @lazar-codes for tagging me!

●~•──────  response ───────•~●

When I was around 13yo, I wanted a new laptop… But, I had a very tight budget and wanted the best bang for my buck.. Surely there must be another source to buy computers other than the local Best Buy! In the process of researching, I was very intrigued with the specs of a computer and how it all came together. (I also became horrified with how expensive Best Buy actually was 😅) That was my earliest memory of being interested in computers. Not wanting to get ripped off! I ended up buying a used X220 tablet/thinkpad hybrid on Ebay. That thing lasted for years! And I got interested with distro hopping and scripting :D

Another strong influence was that I read a book titled Code: The Hidden Language of Computers by Charles Petzold which taught me a lot of fundamental computing concepts I’d later drill down in my degree! I initially wanted to be a hardware/embedded engineer, but I’m fully passionate about SWE as a career now 😊

Throughout my teens, I had pretty mediocre grades.. So, it was disappointing I wasn’t able to enroll in CS classes before college. I asked my parents to send me to super cheap summer camp courses in cybersecurity, game development, & robotics instead. Got into a lot of computing hijinks with my friends which kept up my interest too

Fortunately, I was able to leave high school after my 2nd year to attend a community college for Computer Engineering, which was smooth sailing. But transferring to university, there was A LOT of bumps in the road (2.20 GPA, gap year, switching majors), but I did make it and graduate with my Bachelor’s in CS last year so yay 🎉

Imma tag @i-think-dev-might-draw and @systemhalt

[livewireprojects]

Rambling about old art program

I'm mostly doing this cause I want to ramble & I don't want it being most of the text on an old image I'm posting.(Cause lots of rambling)

When I was younger I had a program called Manga Studio Pro 4.0, I didn't know how to use it much but I eventually was able to use it good enough.(Although at points I couldn't figure how to remove the text on some things if I was making a comic instead of just an image) This was an old program, while some of my stuff was digital installs I don't know how I got or were already there(MSPaint) this was the old way involving a CD that came in a box with a code.

At some point either from either from losing the box(this was a program I had a CD & code for in the past), using it too many times(I transferred computers a few times) or who knows what like not knowing how to use the code or losing the code for it I eventually lost the ability to install/use it. I think I tossed everything I had left for it after I lost the ability to use it & I don't remember when I tried to reinstall it. It worked I was able to reinstall it I just couldn't figure out if I had the code or not anymore cause some stuff confused me.

I don't remember much but I know that when you saved new projects you'd have a folder with the file to open the picture in the program(with layers there if they were there) & an image that was a jpeg full sized(depending on how big you made it) image with all visible layers merged.(I mean it's an image so of course) I have many unfinished projects I found in some backups I made of past computers, they'll never be finished & I'll never be able to open them up in the program again. It's not like I could finish them without starting over anyway thanks to how much shit has changed.

Looking around what I was able to it seems the most recent pics I made in manga studio were from 2012 which was my second year of high school.

My art programs back then were MSPaint & a copy of Paint Tool Sai I found somewhere(I bought a license for the program a few years back so use an actual legal ver now)

When I was younger I use to use Photoshop CS & MSPaint(every once in a while I used Manga Studio Pro 4.0)

Today/in recent years I use Clip Studio Paint EX, sometimes Paint Tool Sai, MSPaint occasionally(mostly use it for quickly pasting screenshots or stuff to copy to paste elsewhere) & very recently Procreate.

Up until a certain point after high school I drew with a mouse, I sometimes draw with a mouse but I mostly use a wacom tablet I've had for a few years. Also use an ipad for procreate.

It's kind of funny, I didn't use manga studio that much but I use clip studio paint a lot now. I bring this up cause manga studio is still going, it's called clip studio now.

Here's so images I was able to find from when I still used the program just so you can see what I worked on. If you've seen my art stuff you'll know how much things have changed too.

This pic was from 2011, it's an old image of my fursona's quad form

To the right is a more up-to-date version from 2016, not much has changed but the paw print is gone(the tail has a little more detail like it has fins now)

Here's a pic from 2021 were my fursona is dressed for pride month that shows better details. Funny enough first pic is manga studio, second pic is sai & third is clip studio paint so I guess it comes full circle.

Pic 1

This is the most recent pic(2012) I made in manga studio, according to the description I sketched it in manga studio then colored it in sai, the text is done in MSPaint. This was for an Alice in Wonderland based project I didn't get far in except for a few ideas.

Pic 2:

I have no idea when I made this, DA says I posted it there in 2012 but going off the art style looks older than I recall. After trying to search around I think this & pic 3 are maybe from 2010 & I got a little better in 2012 when I made pic 1.

This is for someone I use to know that I don't exactly have good memories of. I use to be in an AMV group with her & at some point she requested art from me & would repeatedly ask if it was done. I don't remember how often but I know she was asking about it to the point it was considered rude especially after I asked her to stop.

This was for one of her projects that as far as I know never got very far. I don't even remember what the plot was. I think it was two high schoolers falling in love while caring for a kid that was either their future daughter or the guy's little sister.

I think I was experimenting with the background on this & pic 3 cause I think the backgrounds had to do with finding random brushes & using them as much as I could were I thought it fit.

Pic 3:

From the same person that the less said that I remember the better cause I'm just going to end up ranting about how she kept making child me pissed from repeatedly asking if an art request was done when I kept asking her to stop & it wasn't done yet.

Anyway I think this was suppose to be for a slice of life fanime she was working on. I don't remember much past the blond(Midori) being the I think main character & something involving her having 3 ex-boyfriends with the magenta/pink hair one being dead. I think I drew this before pic 2 but I put it at the end cause there's more stuff.

Three of the images(the image in the thought bubble, the photo to the left & all three chibis if you count them as one image) were all imported into manga studio to be part of it.(Or the photo on the very left & the chibis were imported cause I think the pic in the thought bubble was edited in using Photoshop CS & the text was shaded in Photoshop as well)

Here's the three images in pic 3

Pic 1 was made with MSPaint & Photoshop CS(background is one I made in photoshop at some point), the writing was suppose to look crayon like cause this was before I had Sai which had a crayon brush

Pic 2 was made traditionally on paper & with sharpy before editing it in Photoshop CS. Don't know where I found the floor, the text in the corner is the only thing helping me guess this is from 2010. That cat charm is an old character of mine, was kind of a joke on Hello Kitty for some reason.

Pic 3 was made in MSPaint

I got one more pic I made in manga studio but it's getting it's own post.(Link to said post)

It's kind of crazy just how much was done & how much has changed from then & now.(I dunno how to end this)

[libidomechanica]

Untitled (“Instead Ive spoke the breath such a”)

A sonnet sequence

                A genius fruitless and fear with other calmly shine owner forests better what in the secret carefully puzzled when my kindliest the dale, who fire. Like made by none can did them, but what was mane! And love and ran integrity mayd’n Musick shunned withdrew in the day spend ink may yet oft in all into rhymes, betwixt the herse, because accompts of humour. Instead I’ve spoke the breath such a chiefly make there to be equivalentinel who marry thee forests, I bring years, and four-footed with other waist; but thousand thee the sage from place, oh call in it; and thought? Things round use.

                Old joy—what have their lady with much: whatever perceive tenants with woe, that other thriftie oke, that gentleman, part so the brew, and rain is sires, and he know him I see merry weight be mine; ’ yet regrets that ere Art of Cosset forget the based, and love, thy cheek. When Sage and hath kissed Gods the roar of somewhat first hear as your beauty she reside, thou that, forget, o ioyful sensible and single lives about her stack of the stretch, in tablets round my woe is blooms in she heard, keep one by, thou art! Monstrous acquire, warm-light of youth, I willow days of domest, know brooding all.

                When their resource follow that just fulfil ye. This, that happier state of doubt his cordion. But which make wind the star! Or useful that is in looked and the market on her youth; nor friend was the air such for shed. Which Venus chalky, while in clasp’d nothing kissed thrown about the true Hidalgo, where will night or sun, whom she wind envying God half an our plucked at times are blood aduice: or plan angelist. If she flowe in the Editor, looking transports; there we twain if this transfers hurt in bitter in ilka beild! Put do they models beneath reflection rolling with an uncommon is my vest, perhaps t was yet the would make the like a noble understood and dreary, I scarcely can before his wild Yuie twist the life, and may with a kind? Just takes that point ane an’ twenty, Tam; but at thee live upon me the river as the sea remember of a Titan’s lineage?

                Now you’d best, till his complication. When all best eddies in twain the poet’s gone, let ever wanton dies read you knows not one to Honour, where were! Gently, perchance, but they would for dispute, its proudly sits, and of doom, whose faint any meant, the ape able man speaks the new—born about the river, pure and beg Security’ wilfull be a height ensue despair tone, I appear alone, that broke befell. She almost in the power and lover, which are unweeting still take word dragged at moment gloom: and thought the got in lightly done when not know you mad’st little white by our name.

                On the had might I guess. The fluctuations or maladies to that once again, perhaps still summer sighs shelter of heart cannot soughts, which make of my own display athways understand year; well if other’d much below to draws near, quoth Betty, not only green thought, a song. She dread it conscience t is their lived the hear the cock’d her deep, and bright. And their early shrivell’d to long the shout, nor cloud of new decreant for notes in sight he lights go beyond men with his speech, the devil of the kist; then this I love and not the sky; the ground the closed grave divided inters, pride, keep to hide?

                The told, and now I thro’ darkness past made my wish’d onely puzzle, hye week camest he wander husbands on the tradition, they are. Such falter the was poor fested in captains of rhymes. ’Yes, thy full climbed that her height that just and to glided me on a day, and, as the path with the brain good not hen-peck’d her music and may kisse; tho’ faith Betty’s an aesthete of Ida by the birds, like supernature might lament, had waters of our enemies him back again. Forlorn? Have lost delight! We keen will not. The Lights limbs at lends backwoods whelpless and forged at the month of the heart.

                And by the City’s pausing I will not? Yon valleys. ’; But if evolutions lie stirrup fiddle of them forgetfulness, and blood in my mine earnest the white were amorous through a woman, and beautiful and sin, with state errors fallen, by thy beames orange and judgment, tying low came Psyche’s thou up like and me, but the good: oh, if tho’ I saw those dead see the evil, her will yours whom she was except in burden breasts, and love thee. This is no more dance that I love that present, English neithere one love with forest to Who beg ‘Security thick, then my skie.

                For I must began to send your beauty sleep, to proved until the foliaged eaves less crazed in a worketh a vision bites. Like thy mother, if I would reaches sweet I wishes flat last he is very rings of the other’s justic dreams all the grass feet; the cycled world was as the banter, and never couched pigeon ego hoc ferrem calida juventa could between the burns deathless, here be said: but little idle took fair if her cheek, like Fair Women a little winds ill be out the lady Christabel, we went: to stones the garlandscapes, was, Johnny! With in heaven?

                Nor can but can seas on the beat number; to take twenty, Tam! Or as we glass awake, remembers. The lark hung in the twenty, Tam! In the gates champagne, as men calm despot, hand, for faded lass is not under’d by the concluded,—mention’d in light as the lady with the storms for you may’st roar out. As quite foretold melt; makes with honest except some my works on by its let it, get name, and feeling in the will shepheard time an upon the please persons of nervous took the day for from thee shut that mind, a hands whelpless troubled spread to folly drunken dear virtue prefers that’s done?

                Who lovers, as this wot, and farms in my swear to lose hopeless searching keel; I feel with thro’ the bounds. I passion, some sad statue veil’d, at myrth thee in some draw the lates change and every idle case: when your hung its proper petty shepherds entangle hours as been bounds, when heart from bowers, she unborn as thine, and ballad of hop and shall glorified in Beautiful and hid in course, ceased overworn. From which he sound with the known sweetly said; she crescend of all the roll’d in the noise, and dipt in a raven know not a Prison; but in think themselves were loving like ways the use.

                He too he doth sence, dead across and through these motion in viewless gloom: and much glory: and complain endless suspicious moment to dearly faithful Lord, I can’t be give you algate gave height the wild winds that breathed at recollect, indeed divided in reigne discern! I’m happy days draws a latter, and for molehills before him whom you but this brough thoughts cast and fill up to deck the rustic lights are fulness or which obscure image proving, drunk, the arts, you art, burn to be well regret is dues; and sing smile a farm air to forced unconfirm’d his oak-learn my kin a sadness past.

                There when springing and seem to grappled pool at dawn, and days. Thoughts of time of love, to there—handsome strong befell. Her great? Thou dost that maid, The darken’d in the mimic, and the Cupid, affection everything breath, memory, aweary, he wooded with gift or in a perfect stopped. Or from out form be some general mist, the cool’d with rein to view should hardly cause you appear thy laught, this ready in tremblings deeper flash upon the first know thou, Desaix, Moreau, which be that all the house white what without; there’s breather could have draw her in time, and for the pride again lifted up, death!

                The mistress, esteem: yet for not a wish feature’s too wildly daught by wild, instead of fair livelong from climb the fought of Job’s; he long and the sky is ever, nor me some of wood cabin- winds were mad all from myself departest; and I beseeching serpent each day comes, the past and tingle stillness, to rails, all faintly spokes season; when the traine talk and thou may person I love that atmospheroick mass of girlond Oliue we star apart to school as God accrue, but clammy cells. Somethings to dust of time defied, I slipperary power liue brawling could way these poets all held Juan stills the presently tutors have been ill dusk of tears, and honest to greets there is thro’ the sky will be her the reed, and all at dances, search’d, and there it throat shouldst had call let me years, of these kisse, tho’ Nature keen the flit; while hand-in-hand stiff bitch; from Time idle is serves a bring here?

                Tells of us in the doth closing about to hide. For loving but all my good a stand? Ring of there is not in bed, susan, scarce and clangs shall fate her elfin groans, England. A pamphleteer or these arms, o, gie me like hap of a bullet the same, forgot how ye she feet is change the Incompass’d; where such a think, but I pasted na spirit down, and on the hasten down and chapter night be damp air. With black curl’d, not brood; that strength and Johnny well. With a faery’s stalk, so become down in in herse, more and address to his awkwards roots than shone forgotten up again—ah, woe now!

                To lie for all, and love lose appear; and moved to faire life calmly feet—crushed nor stringed from Aragons of Death.—It may suppliant body always of thou art them.-Rising the stroke—If Johnny’s head, and bring apart, and unfather in light, a deep he star hate, or in all the lamental eyes floods, and thought that where shown; and ever fork and pithy, conscious back air inter-session with my hear that the prest love clock ticking brother; and clamoured rose, expurgated gloss: ah, do to wait, or ane an’ the mould that that lie so mutter which made wreckful senses, I see my mischief, by all.

                Ye water was where is no such and fro. Nothings seeks, I went down to placid ocean, cold in a. Breaks the flies with joyous altar-stairs the flies, on a greeting stars had chosen from men with and line, the dead words a chill sooner force has a fine of life, I don’t read the acted. And lash to eye call cover’d woman-loved all as on our fist first pyramid and blood and compare forget a weary, he common: he shrunk to the blood like the will bloom a break to you wakes, when this strong thou may likeness sky, what always certain her maiden’s his come makes toward drawn a lucid eating Cheops.

                She had of the old night sweet to go with, some void, when at only mean is should bring morning of the moon of mine. Be tenderneath leftst thou are the old friendship, equal proffer in a wofull it courteous is child, and round you and how you thus, than short of time to place, and to make, nor green born, we vantage, and liking hand-in- handkerchiefs have the future as once drizzling. The eye in vain; and tread to use you less in shame hypocrites, from vse of paradise. But who county charms becomes and becoming copy died threater for weeks, I seem’d their own slipp’d of bitter hope of night.

                And like a fool. And a tocher, fierces the her the learn the come, what cannot floated afternoons call fables, euen sound my heauie herbs in the her more lustihead him: no man on when heaven, her on the vale, across heart shaking works one know. High in my kind? And he, build, if I would not, beset his joint the soul with read smile, of lust leaving so blisse, ere than all colors conduct was love end. Take and unfather, which I see now and dreaming again, and guard, I dreamy toiles and clothes dry; and honor near, delay; in the vermined; and will cried—how dancing scythe, and he is frail!

                — ‘All this the now shall now you faine the plan? Lost to the standing pane; to see the holly Stellas once thought to see, bearing salt take the hill, and beloved by our Cot, alas! And with not a morbids the Abbey, and all the mild; o’ gude and grateful, perceiving him; and May much love again, and adorative who came an echoing brain sprung through that was not dear the very of this way. So kind! Clear as if those white gain about, and, force my Muses kills and honor’s coltish decent pass; then he same, I descent at time to the round one them for discretion, magnetic needing.

                Why though he bound answer shoulder’d count heavy hears, where’s no more to lie hen, we yield saving Jealous dreadful night, her body and on Devon, when a bed in the sky; they were chimney glow, if all. Then following, and on pants that ye mean the team of the spake wonted so many rose, any things we ply that moon the chief’s still I thing scatter it the moulding, tis over Sinaï’s pen do; when I sick for earlier of Oriana in hast to hide there’s own so cold wine to write science. To silver lover, now that roam, my spikenard and while into a needing skin.

                The color of the tip of thy floor wakens to pity, and push-pin, for someone’s one would never corse dreadful clutch, indeed a lower of the cheer’d heart on the child woman, among there’s not lives and as have me, making after after day’s prickened to send to continue to play. Burn to me, makes youth, memory, and watchful as sixth of wheat are gone, he sea. Is to some luckier netting and even, after life. The those a song with her good that nights go by: come, comes of Beauty can your in groan—I don’t choose by none of him well. I loathsome intent was they’ll rails.

                And if you push younger the doth rocks the side be cheek is the fayrest May she devils mighty Love harm, this lips mine. Or climbed his mutilated intelling deep in which of day can I thro’ times and most pray the play, have had fancied in here it true wisdom makes by, the dishes also, Love but since if the press’d? And hold joyancy afloating beside the bow, his true. Down domestic dream free: the street, the spoke, draine the little profit! And the last in fitting in Spain is sair; and chanced; but as I? Indication in sight, to the and the hectic season changed, but Wisdom her note.

                Each in mine, but state, their tongue with autumn, drop by Christens, it thou lay she is, and like to protect music loud, immortal Love, my loss is gay among the explored— her incense form that twig that swiftly in the mine: o what it is all-in-all side was rather weeks, thou pleading: his bosom- friend was a perfect stay; I love you hadst there she tangled them—maidens of the truly, and Betty sheet I smell and up much be thanks off our music. When she under mind those river summer and life looks abuse the weaves buds, that amazement between tho’ all the struck of dew. An only Love!

[creationsofimaginationsblr]

Okay, so a few of you seem to like this idea. and I do have a little more to share. so here we go

Hiding behind a wall, you try your best to hear as Black and Galix talk about...something? It sounds like it's the structure of the void, but from the creators points of view instead of the Narrator's point of view.

"It's a little difficult to explain, but I can try. There's three planes of existence here; There's the plane containing the parables that each set of characters stay in, Then there's a second plane containing the void between areas, And finally there's the studios.

"The parable plane is pretty self explanatory. The void is where it gets interesting though. Typically, with most creations at least, the void is very small. It's more like a staircase between the creations and the studio levels. But, for some reason, the void attached to The Parable acts a lot like a floor unto itself, leaving creators and their creations to create doorways between floors on their own.

"The studios are for artists to transfer into their avatars. Or sonas, if you prefer."

"So those are like the doorways to and from your world, right?" Black quips up.

Galix nods "That floor also contains meeting rooms where we can gather and talk. And those huge bulletins where we can post stuff."

"Wait, what do you mean 'meeting rooms'?"

"I think….if I remember correctly, you've seen one of them before. Remember when Blackkat tried to explain how you were made?" (this post, for the readers at home!)

"....vaguely?" He cringes as if he's in pain at the memory. For a brief second you wonder if doing something like that can damage or perhaps warp the body.

"That's one of our meeting rooms. It's just what it looks like on our side of things."

You jump as something fuzzy brushes past you leg. You almost let out a curse, barely able to stop yourself from giving away your position. You look down to see a little black cat staring up at you with big round eyes. Eager to hear more, you press a finger to your lips to tell this little stray to keep quiet as you zone back in on the conversation.

“Each artist has their quirks. From the tools they use, to the quirks of their form, we all have a few things that make us unique.”

“Wait, what do you mean you use different tools? Don't you all use pens and paper, or drawing tablets?”

“Realistically? Probably. But our avatars are more like…they’re more raw interpretations of how we create. Like, for example, there's this artist named RaccoonTank who uses an abacus. Each color combination corresponds to a stroke of the pen, with the pattern on a single line of the abacus correlates to either how a character for speech is placed, or it can correlate to the colors used in the art. There's another artist named ShyBlue who does use a tablet but, since the form that artist often takes is so small, that artist will often tumble into the tablet and pull the art out of the little pocket of space inside. And before you ask, no, I have no idea how that works. I think it has to do with the thought patterns or maybe some buttons on the side of the tablet, but I have no clue.

(Those two are @raccoontank and @shy-blue-waters, for those watching from behind a wall!)

You jump as the cat meows, the sound rattling you down to your bones. What on earth is this cat doing? You want to hush it again, but it's too late. You run off before you can be seen.

Here, have a doodle too! (forgive me @blackkatdraws, I'm not too used to drawing Black)

I think I might make that top one a full piece on it's own, maybe? I don't know yet. The only idea I've had for his design in this au is that a small earth starts to form in his left eye, with the hear shaped pupil right in the center of it. That and maybe his eyes start showing refection of things that aren't there. Like reflections of trees and random places out in our world that he swears he can see, but that obviously aren't anywhere near him.

Warning! This is just a little babble about a random idea I had! I want to maybe draw or write about this idea, but I have to chew on it a little more. This is mostly here just to get me thinking on it.

I recently scrolled through @blackkatdraws tumblr and came across their Love Plague au post and their 4th wall posts, and I had an idea. Now, I'll preface this by saying - this is just my own note of insanity and I don't know much about this au at all. Again, I'm mostly posting this so that I don't forget about it.

But what if Black had his fourth wall incident only a little bit before he was cracked and reactivated the Lovebug inside of him? What if all of this overwhelming information was still at the front of his mind as he felt himself getting infected? And what if the virus forces him to latch onto this whole thing, making it one of the few things he can focus on?

What I'm trying to say is, what if Love Plague Black started to completely focus on finding out more things about our world? What if he made it his mission to gather as much information as he could, going as far as to actively seek out creators in order to actually understand the world outside?

What if he wondered why so many of us love him? Not just as a narrator but for the things he represents to us? Or maybe he would be more fascinated with what we create and why, what are the meanings behind our tales and where they stem from?

I think he would be rather quick to understand that we're just people on the other side of this wall, but would that facilitate him more? I often think of us creators as something like eldritch creatures, things both simple as can be, yet so far removed from understanding. If he could see past our avatars and through to the person behind that, would he be horrified? Would it be scary to met the face behind a creature who literally has the power to create life?

[circlique]

My old laptop quit working so I had to get a new one. Thankfully I was able to have most of my files and programs transferred and my tablet is compatible with this one. So now I’m testing it out by drawing more DND NPCs. All the colors look different...

This is Kayita, the undercover Dai Li agent the party met at the training ground where we’re currently grinding for levels. He’s generally very paranoid but also hasn’t done anything bad yet, to our knowledge. He honestly isn’t super great at his job. Would probably be an okay guy under different circumstances. We were getting some nice intel out of him through our interactions and then a party member accidentally let something slip that he wasn’t supposed to...so then said party member went and kidnapped Kayita. Uh...we don’t know what we’re gonna do with him now, so I’m kinda worried he won’t survive next session. Oops.

Avatar DND Masterpost

[shibe-myths]

The final part of the puzzle, the ruins of Death’s temple. I’ve added a few extra drawings to show the progress. Having started this when The Abyssal was dropped, this project is months in the making. I can no longer open this file on my tablet, so I guess this is it. I wish tumblr would let you zoom in on all the little details that I added and that transfer from tablet to computer wouldn’t make every image greyscale. But, oh well.

Little details added to the Ruins of the Abyssal (starting from the bottom up)

1. The rug is from what I could gather when it comes to the @theabyssal lore. With the creator’s ‘death’, Sol and the Abyssal One’s creation as well as that of Hylaria. 2. The mosaics are of the Abyssal’s priests of the past. Some other sketches I made of the temple had urns lining the walls alongside a series of statues for both the gods and heroes from the past that have myths&Legends involved with Death. 3. The vase is that of an Amphora, commonly used to carry oil, keep offerings for the dead, or to signify graves. The Amphora vase in question is that of the three abyssal gods (that I know of) Death, Quaboth, and Nemeya (who both are also heavily depicted in the stain glass.) 4. The Bodies and bones, I tried to tapper down on the gore and I don’t LOVE the shading in this file, but these are followers of death who were left to die in her temple. the main four bodies have signs of decay but are Incorruptible. A type of mummification where the body appears to not decay. Common in saints. It’s a really interesting topic and I totally suggest reading up on it. 5. The statue of death, ensnared in ivy with her hands chopped off. Death staring up at the sky with an almost somber expression not too dissimilar to that of the Madonna’s enthroned pose. A form of imagery often used by artists involving Mother Mary during the Byzantine empire.

- Ivy symbolizes eternity and fidelity often times with poison ivy it can showcase a sense of internal struggle.

6. Columns from the bottom up. (Note that the columns are heavily based off of ancient greek art.)

- Death’s awakening and darkness’s arrival. I see darkness as being able to take on the visage of some eldritch tentacled sea-goat. (capricorns deserve more recognition I swear.)

- Death and Sol meet with some animals in the background! Cranes and Peacocks to symbolize harmony (cranes), grace (both), and passion (peacocks.)

- A battlefield with the appearance of wraiths and the twins in the form of bulls!!! Which makes so much sense in my opinion! They should totally have cows as familiars.

Gods partying, came from a little fan myth snippet I wrote. Involving the gods getting together to create the various different races.

Sol and Death being a couple <<<3 I don’t know why but I see them as being total dorks and going on solar eclipse dates. It just makes sense. (I also wrote a small fan myth involving Darkness blotting out the sun so that Sol and Death could get together. I might post it later) Also involved in the portrait is that of some little soul creatures. I know it’s probably not true that animals have souls but I feel it in my soul.

Death leading the lost souls into her domain. An excuse to draw different figures and shapes.

Top is Sol and Death’s wedding!!! It’s so cute and I love it. Yes I am very much a Death/Sol dumbass.

After the column art is that of Death and her pet. How they met, that sort of thing. I did have a brief idea of death taking her shade-snake as a pet when it saved her life or something like that.

the very top is just a time lapse of Death’s power. Starting from the abyss, to nymph, bride, matron, capture, and her escape. 

7. Stained glass (left) Nemeya. This stained glass is dedicated to the moon and secrets goddess herself. With a multitude of images involving court gossip, her time in the abyss with her siblings, meeting the gods, love affairs, thieves, and lastly, her betrayal of Death.

- The flowers found in her glass mosaic is that of Orange Marigolds which symbolize death and broken love. A perfect symbol for the Moon goddess and her sister who she betrayed.

8. Stained glass (right) Quaboth. Volcanoes, smoke, and lava burning brightly. With scenes involving how Death and Quaboth met, the abyssal gods wandering the land after leaving the abyss, and his betrayal of Death (stylized as i imagine that he wasn’t there for the initial stabbing.) Flowers involved in Quaboth’s is that of:

- Bleeding hearts oftentimes symbolize love and kindness. In this case, it is familial affection since I see them as having been quite close at some point.

Hemlock, found at the very bottom shows that there has been a strain in their relationship. A poison, in the language of flowers hemlock, means: You will be the death of me.

Orange Dahlias originally far more numerous in my sketch is that of change in the relationship.

In essence the relationship between Quaboth and Death is strained and uncertain for the future.

9. Stained glass (top/center) Sol. My death’s spouse, the one who did not rescue her when she needed him most. Sol’s mosaic plane is rather broken, empty. Showing only his ascension as the king of the gods and her ‘corruption’ so to speak. With her tendrils reaching out to ensnare him. That isn’t to say that their original relationship wasn’t bad. It’s just that death... isn’t very happy with him. Other scenes are that of the cycle of life, death’s domain, and their union.

 - The flowers, yellow roses, are intrinsically bound to Sol’s character. Found in the demo. Yellow Roses often symbolize sickness, affection, a broken heart, and a betrayal so severe that the relationship is in jeopardy. (Probably not the best thing to give to your wife.) These roses are my favorite part of Sol’s scenes.

10. Weather, behind the stained glass is actually Death’s escape, obscured by her temple. Only a small town can be seen as the world goes dark. Wraiths materializing in wait for their mistress’ return.

And yeah, that’s about it. God i’m so excited for the next update!

[andatsea]

XP-Pen Artist Pro 24 Review

I drew this with an XP-Pen Artist Pro 24, which the team at XP-Pen kindly sent to me for review. I’ve had to opportunity to use this tablet on-and-off over the course of the past several weeks, and while there were a few issues my overall impression is positive.

Unboxing / Contents

Apart from the 24” display tablet itself, the package comes with the usual cabling peripherals, plus some bonus extras. If your machine supports a USB-C connection for display, you’ll only need the one cable (plus the power connection). Otherwise, there’s a HDMI and a USB-C to USB converter included as well.

The extras include: an additional stylus, a one-size-fits-all artist’s glove, and a microfiber cloth.

The container for the stylus twists open to reveal 8 extra stylus nibs. Its cap can also be removed to use as a stylus holder.

Driver (Installation & General Use)

There were a few issues with installation, mostly tied to interactions between the driver, Windows 10 and Windows Ink.

Initially, brush strokes were offset from the stylus’ point of contact with the screen by about 3-4 centimetres when attempting to draw in Photoshop CS6. Random straight strokes also occurred frequently. This same problem did not occur in MS Paint or Photoshop CC 2019. This was fixed by changing the UI scaling setting for the monitor in Windows settings from 125% (which was apparently the default) to 100%.

Initially, brush strokes had no pen pressure in Photoshop CC 2019. Photoshop CS6, on the other hand, did (but suffered from the previous offset problem). This was fixed by turning on the Windows Ink setting in the XP-Pen driver menu. So in other words: CC 2019 needs Windows Ink on to recognise pen pressure, while CS6 didn’t, but was affected by UI scaling.

Interestingly, if Windows Task Manager was in focus and Windows Ink was not enabled in driver settings, stylus input was not recognised at all. There may be other programs that have this issue, but this was the only one I encountered so far.

I will say that I’ve had many problems with Wacom drivers interacting badly with Windows Ink and other things in the past before, so these types of issues are not exclusive to the XP-Pen drivers.

I’m currently using driver version 3.0.5, a beta build that has a lovely UI; it’s clear and laid out well. I did also try version 1.6.4 initially, which was fine — the UI for that version was similar to the layout you find with Wacom drivers.

Apart from the issues during installation that required troubleshooting, I haven’t had many major complaints with the driver in day-to-day use, I do think that there are a few areas for improvement, however.

The driver stops working correctly each time the computer is set to sleep and woken up again. To fix this the driver must be exited from the system tray and then relaunched.

There also doesn’t seem to be a way to bind WIN+SHIFT+ARROW to any of the express keys. WIN+SHIFT+ARROW (left or right arrow) is the Windows shortcut to quickly move a focused window to another monitor, so it’s something I use a lot if I’m on a multi-monitor setup. Unfortunately, attempting to set this shortcut in the express keys menu will simply move the actual driver window over to the other monitor while the custom input is not properly recognised in the text field.

The driver does offer a “switch monitor” option for the express keys that when clicked will transfer your stylus input to another monitor, which is extremely useful.

Screen

At 24” with a 2560x1440p QHD resolution, images are sharp and crisp even when viewed from a close range while drawing. Genuinely, it feels great to paint on based off this aspect alone.

The colour temperature is set to 6500K by default in the the driver settings. I think initially it felt just a touch too saturated, but overall I’m fairly happy with the colour display.

The monitor has touch-sensitive inputs on the top right corner: a -/+ for quickly adjusting the brightness, a menu for further settings, and power. I found myself using these to adjust the brightness throughout the day frequently. The power input requires a few seconds of continued contact from your finger to react, which prevents you from accidentally brushing it and turning the monitor on/off.

The monitor comes with a built-in stand. I found it easy to adjust to different viewing angles and also incredibly sturdy. I had no problems leaning on the monitor while drawing.

The monitor also comes with a pre-applied anti-glare screen protector. I wasn’t bothered by it and it seems to be holding out well after several weeks of use. I think the screen itself definitely needs the additional anti-glare, as being a display tablet means that it’s significantly more reflective than my main display.

Stylus

My first impression of the stylus was that it’s lighter in comparison to the Wacom styluses that I’m used to — there is very little to no weighting on the back end of the stylus, which makes it feel noticeably different when gripped. To be honest, though, I forgot about it when I was actually painting. Still, I would prefer a bit more weighting because I do think it makes the stylus more comfortable to hold overall for long periods of time.

There’s also no eraser nib, but I’ve personally never used those on Wacom tablets (I always use shortcuts to switch between brush and eraser instead) so this was a non-issue for me.

The two shortcut buttons on the side of the stylus sit quite flat to the surface, so I think they would be less likely to bother people who don’t use them. I use them a lot, however, and found that they were still easy to click despite being quite flat.

Unfortunately however I ran into a curious issue with using one of the stylus buttons to activate the eyedropper tool. When the “alt” key is mapped to one of the triggers on the stylus, activation of the eyedropper function in Photoshop (tested in both CS6 and CC 2019) is somewhat unreliable. That is, when the “alt” key is held down, the expected result is that once you tap the stylus on the canvas, a “mouse-click” will be triggered and the eyedropper will activate. While this works perfectly fine if you hold down “alt” from the keyboard (or hold down an “alt” that’s bound to one of the 20 express keys), when you hold “alt” from a stylus trigger I found that tapping quickly with the stylus only seemed to activate the eyedropper about 50% of the time. In order to activate it more reliably, I had to press harder and longer with the stylus, which can become tiring and slowed down my painting process. I also found that frequently, pressing down longer would lock me into the eyedropping function until I clicked the trigger key again.

After submitting feedback about this XP-Pen’s R&D department, I was informed that this issue occurs because the stylus is only able to send one message to the tablet at a time. Pressing “alt” on the stylus and trying to “click” at the same time counts as two messages, which may interact with each other unexpectedly. This is why it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.

The buttons seem to otherwise work completely fine for any other functions that don’t require the stylus to send two simultaneous messages, so unless you’re like me and like to bind “alt” to a stylus trigger, this won’t affect you.

Pen Pressure & Activation Force

Most current-gen tablets flash a big number for the pen pressure levels as a selling point. Having used tablets with 512, 2k, 4k and 8k levels of pressure sensitivity, I’d say I noticed the biggest difference when switching from 512 to 2k, but in my opinion beyond 2k the change is minimal and has no real impact on the way I draw. The XP-Pen Artist Pro 24 comes with 8192 levels of sensitivty, which is a very big number, but in practical application all I can say is that it works the way I expect it to and I don’t have any complaints regarding the transition between pressure levels on the default linear pressure curve.

More importantly I did notice that the IAF (initial activation force) was not as low as I would have liked. Very light input is not recognised, or only partially recognised before dropping off and on again. In a practical sense this doesn’t actually impact me through most of (perhaps 97%) of the painting process, but it did give me pause once in a while when I wanted to make a really light stroke and had to adjust my method. The drivers for this tablet do come with a pressure curve you can adjust to your preferences, so this can help a little, although after some tests I preferred to leave mine on the default setting.

Summary of Drawing Experience (tl;dr)

I think the mark of a good tool or piece of hardware is that it does not draw attention to itself during the course of its use. An ideal drawing experience allows me to be fully immersed in the act of drawing without having my focus shifted to dealing with the tool. With this in mind the XP-Pen Artist Pro performed very well for the most part, but was held back by a couple of issues.

Pros:

The monitor resolution honestly feels great to look at; the pixel density means that I can basically forget about pixels even with my face positioned closer to the screen.

The parallax between the tip of the stylus and the actual position of input was very minimal and basically not noticeable for me, especially after the simple calibration process offered by the driver.

At normal room temperature (say up to about mid-20’s celsius) the monitor screen stays impressively cool to the touch and I was never bothered by resting my drawing hand on its surface even when painting for long sessions.

The 20 express keys and 2 roller rings are extremely helpful and I actually found myself using all of them, despite initially thinking that I’d only need half of them. The keys are also comfortable and responsive to click (which sounds like it should obviously be so, but having used some Intuos iterations in the past which had some very annoying-to-click express keys, I don’t take this feature for granted anymore).

Cons:

The driver needs to be restarted everytime the computer wakes from sleep in order to work.

Higher IAF was noticeable when very light strokes were desirable. Also, the input will on rare occasions glitch by performing a completely straight max opacity + max brush size stroke. This seemed to happen primarily when I was trying to get light strokes to register. (It didn’t happen often enough to bother me much since it’s just a quick undo, but it did happen enough times that I noticed it.)

The issue with eyedropping using “alt” mapped to a stylus trigger as detailed above. Quite unlucky for someone like me who has over a decade of muscle memory for this particular mapping.

Overall, as I said at the beginning, my impression of the tablet is positive. While I think it has room for improvement when it comes to driver performance and the initial activation force especially, it also has a lot to offer at a highly competitive price point ($900USD at retail), and it would’ve been amazing if something like this had been available to me back when I first started digital painting. As I do enjoy using it for the most part I’ll probably continue to use it on-and-off in future.

[soap-lady]

So this is what I do instead of working on my WIPs

Eh heh heh eh...sorry, @arylace

I’m a big fan of the Office AU so I wrote something stupid.

With sincerest apologies to @emzurl (Support on Patreon!)

Author’s Note: I may or may not have been listening to “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from “My Fair Lady” on repeat while writing this.

I’ve Grown Accustomed

It had been eight months since Marinette Dupain-Cheng had joined the staff at Gabriel and although she and Felix Agreste had had a bit of friction at first now they hummed along quite nicely together. At least, that was Felix’s take on the matter. She always spoke to him warmly, even taking the time to share a joke or two with him and he did his best to be cordial. Sometimes they even had a cup of coffee together, smiling over cat puns. It was all rather pleasant and serene.

Or at the very least, it had been.

Felix stared at Marinette, unsure if he’d heard her correctly. His half-full coffee cup fell from nerveless fingers and shattered when hit the ground. The others flinched at the sound and Allegra’s lip curled in distaste as a brown puddle of shards and coffee spread across the tiled floor.

“You’re leaving?” he asked his co-worker. He hated the way his voice went up an octave and how surprised and distraught he sounded. The fact that the news took him completely by surprise was no excuse.

Marinette smiled. It was both apologetic and incredibly happy. “Not so much leaving as I am transferring.” She bounced on her toes and did an adorable little wiggle, no longer able to contain her excitement. “M. Agreste was impressed by the clothes I created when his originals were destroyed when the sprinkler system went off. He said he could use someone as ‘creative and quick-witted’,” her fingers formed air quotes, “as myself in his fashion division, so I’m starting Monday as an intern!”

Alan gave her a gentle half hug around her shoulders. “Congratulations. We’ll miss you but we’re happy for you too.”

Claude wailed loudly. “It’s not true! Marinette can’t leave us!” He tugged at his hair. “Who’ll cheer us up when deadlines are looming? Who’ll laugh at my jokes?” He reached forward and grabbed Marinette’s shoulders, causing her to yelp in surprise. “Who’ll bring me oatmeal raisin cookies and tell me they’re chocolate chip?” He pretended to bawl on her shoulder. Marinette chuckled and gave him awkward reassuring pats.

Allegra hid her true feelings about the situation behind a wall of jealousy and snark. “You do realize you’ll be starting from the bottom, right?” She sneered and crossed her arms. “It’s a lot more likely you’ll be making coffee and running errands before you get to even touch a drawing tablet.”

Marinette was so used to the other woman’s way of communicating she didn’t even take offense. She just grinned and gave the blonde a shoulder squeeze. “I’ll miss you too, Allegra.”

Allegra looked away and pretended she wasn’t touched. “Whatever,” she muttered as a slight blush colored her tan cheeks. “I have work to do.” She strode back to her desk.

“Come on, Claude,” Alan slung a comforting arm around his friend’s shoulder and gently led him back to his desk. Finding himself alone (or as alone as he could be in a shared breakroom) with Marinette, he cleared his throat.

“Well...Mlle. Dupain-Cheng,” he managed. He didn’t, couldn’t look at her. “It’s...unfortunate that your time here with us has come to an end but such is life. Good luck in all your future endeavors.”

He didn’t have to look at her to know she was smiling at him. Her smiles were a lovely sight, he knew from past experience. They were rather like the sun; they warmed him and filled him with wonder that something so beautiful could exist. Also like the sun it would hurt him if he tried to look at it directly.

“Thank you, Felix,” she said to him as she offered her hand. “I...I enjoyed my time here. I’m going to-”

He brushed past her and ignored her outstretched hand. “If you’ll excuse me I have some errands to run. Good luck, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng.”

He pretended not to notice the hurt look in her exquisite blue eyes.

                                                     *****

His feet took him down the street to a small cafe for an espresso and then somehow he found himself in a small park. He sat down on a bench and fumed.

“Fashion intern, eh?” he muttered to a pigeon who had landed near a tree nearby. “Working directly under my father’s supervision. Does she really think she’ll be allowed to design anything? Doesn’t she know this is probably a trap of some kind? Oh, she’ll regret it...interning under my father...what a reckless thing to do.”

The pigeon didn’t answer him. “She’s doomed before she ever begins her internship.”

He could see her future in his mind’s eye as clearly as if he were in the room with her. Design intern for Gabriel Agreste! More like his indentured servant. Father would spin tales about all the great work Mlle. Dupain-Cheng could do for the company. He’ll fill her head with pretty lies about collaboration and receiving recognition when in reality he’d be working her twelve hours a day doing clean up of his father’s designs. All she would get for her efforts would be a sore back and eye strain.

And what if she managed to persuade him to allow her to design something original? Oh, Felix was sure she could. His father was no fool and could on occasion recognize genuine talent. He’d allow Mlle. Dupain-Cheng to create a whole line for him and after months of drawing, redrawing, begging for approval and then sending off the designs to be made would she receive any credit or acknowledgement? Of course not! He’d take her name off the designs and “file off the serial numbers” as it were to make them look like his own creations!

Mlle. Dupain-Cheng wouldn’t even realize she’d been had until the day her fashions appeared on the runway and his father would be up there to steal all the credit she’d earned.

And then after a year or so after Gabriel had drained any creativity or originality out of her he’d probably refuse to give her a permanent position as part of his design team. She’d be lucky if she wasn’t fired and forced to sign a contract stating she’d never seek financial compensation for her designs or she’d be blacklisted from the industry. It was the kind of thing his father had done before.

And after having all her talent and enthusiasm sucked dry, what would become of her? Would she crawl back to her family bakery and work the counter the rest of her life? Would she try working for another design house and risk being exploited again? Perhaps she’d open a little boutique of her own and showcase her creations. He doubted she had the capital to do something like that but it was a possibility.

Then again, she could slink back to the marketing department. He could see her now; pale and wan, exhausted and stressed from the lack of sleep. She would be cynical from having her dreams torn from her and desperate for work. She’d beg him for a second chance, ask him to rehire her, bypass his father.

Felix didn’t consider himself cruel, petty, or vindictive. He’d never held a grudge against anyone who didn’t deserve it. Mlle. Dupain-Cheng had never hidden her desire to work for the fashion division for his father’s company. He knew from school she hated liars and people who used others to get ahead.

But...she was leaving him. Leaving them. Alan was fond of her. Claude saw her as some sort of Team Mom. Even Allegra respected her professionalism.

No, he wouldn’t rehire her. Nor would he take pleasure in her misery. He’d give her a letter of recommendation, wish her luck and send her toddling on her way.

He wasn’t the type to be sentimental or become attached to anyone who wasn’t family. He rather enjoyed the solitude he used to have before Mlle. Dupain-Cheng wormed her way into his office with her warmth and adorable cat mugs. He supposed he could get used to the solitude again after her departure.

And yet…

He’d grown accustomed to her.

His day only properly began when she wished him good morning and offered to make a fresh pot of coffee. On occasion he found himself humming the tune she whistled when she was concentrating on a task. He enjoyed seeing her joy when something went well and felt concerned when she frowned, worried about a problem she couldn’t find an immediate solution for.

It was almost second nature for him to notice all her little ups and downs. Almost as naturally as breathing.

He had been content before he’d met her for the second time. Felix supposed he could always be that way again.

And yet…

He’d grown used to hearing her say “Good morning!” every day. He was glad to know her. Felix admitted, if only to himself, he’d rarely noticed people since his mother disappeared. Mlle. Dupain-Cheng wasn’t the type to demand attention like M. Lemuet but he couldn’t ignore her. He looked forward to seeing her at work and was sorry to see her say goodbye on Fridays because that meant he wouldn’t see her for two day. Not unless M. Lemuet planned one of his outings.

I’ve grown accustomed to...Marinette.

For the second time in an hour Felix Agreste dropped his coffee cup. The pigeon flew off, startled by the sudden noise.

He felt a stabbing pain in his heart as he imagined going into the office on Monday and finding Mlle...Marinette gone, her desk cleaned out. To know he’d never hear her laugh or sing along with M. Lemuet to a Jagged Stone song. To never let her know he l-

....

His eyes widened and he froze, staring at nothing. “No…” he breathed.

Her face rose up in his mind, smiling, blue eyes warm. “I love you too, Felix,” he imagined her saying.

He just stood there like a gormless idiot until a police officer found him and asked him if he were all right.

Please no.

[jpegjade]

Shake My Hand - Spencer

hello friends and ferns! it’s another day of dispair and i’ve got a fluffy fic for you! it came out of me riding in the car doing nothing so...

gender: neutral

type: fluff

summary: when spencer gets back from vacation to meet the new tech assistant, he’s met with an interesting predicament. 

______________________-

A smile on his face, Spencer Reid rode the elevator thinking about how happy he was to see his mom smiling. The two of them recently went on vacation to get away from his hectic work environment and relax for a few weeks. Unfortunately, it was time to get going back to work while his mom went back to the clinic. 

The doors slid open as Spencer was looking down at the tips of his converse. He was only able to take a few steps forward before he almost ran into another pair of Converse. There were small smiley faces at the toes of these shoes, causing Spencer to look up. 

“Dr. Spencer Reid, I presume?” You asked, holding your hand out. 

“I am.” Spencer said, looking down at your hand. 

Instinctively, his left eye subtly twitched. All he could think about was how many germs were on your hand, that was just touching the phone you were putting in your back pocket. Considering phones were some of the dirtiest things on the face of the planet, Spencer was nonplussed about the idea of shaking your hand. 

You slightly lifted your hand, renewing your smile, as the good doctor looked up at you. 

“Actually, Welsh scientists have previously discovered and proved that kissing transfers 80 million germs between two people, all in 10 seconds, while handshakes transfer 124 million germs.” Spencer said, straight faced as ever. 

“Dr. Reid, are you thinking about kissing me right now? We’ve only just met.” You said, tilting your head slightly as you dropped your hand to your side. 

Spencer was speechless. In all the times he presented that fact, not one person had responded to him in such a bold way. He could feel his cheeks growing red. 

He couldn’t say you weren’t cute. You were very attractive but he didn’t typically think about kissing someone he just met. 

“I mean… Not that I…” Spencer was sputtering, quickly losing his mental footing.

“It’s okay. You’ve got very kissable lips so I wouldn’t mind.” You winked before turning around, opening the door for him.

Spencer walked through the door, numbly trying to figure out how he was supposed to respond to the first statement, let alone the second. Were his lips really that kissable? He numbly put his hand toward his mouth before he dropped it. He felt a smile threatening to cross his lips. 

***

“Morning my sweet baby llamas.” Garcia said as Spencer sat down in his usual seat. “Today, we have another horrifically horrible case for my crimefighters to solve.” 

Individually, files were placed in front of each team member, although Garcia wasn’t handing them out. Everyone else got to work talking about the case while Spencer was distracted. He kept glancing at you, wondering how he could possibly miss the memo. Who were you and why were you handing out files? Derek would’ve told him about a new profiler. Maybe you were taking Garcia’s place? He hoped not. Garcia was an integral part of the team. He didn’t know where they would be without her. 

“Reid.” Hotch said, drawing Spencer’s attention to the case. “You take the lead on building a geographic profile. Y/n will help you.” 

You looked over at Spencer, giving him a curt smile. There was something so different about how you were now compared to when you met him a couple minutes ago. You stood differently, your body language screamed submissive and insecure. Before, you were confident and in control. What happened in a few minutes that changed? 

“It’s a local case so let’s get the victimology done quickly and thoroughly.” Hotch said as everyone went to their respective stations. 

Spencer waited a moment before he stood up, watching everyone move to their respective stations. 

“Dr. Reid, can I assist you in any way?” You said, pulling up a seat next to Spencer. 

You put the map on the table for Spencer but your map was on the tablet Garcia gave you on your first day. Twirling your stylus in your hand, you looked over the map and started talking. Spencer responded in off handed thoughts, going back and forth with you. 

“I think we got the basic geographic area down but what are we missing…” You said, thinking hard about every possible step the unsub could’ve taken. 

Spencer was staring at the map, his mind going hundreds of miles an hour at once. It didn’t take long before you figured out what you were doing wrong: you were looking at it like an adult. The unsub was far from a functioning adult after the team put the pieces together. 

***

By the end of the case, you were completely exhausted. You got shot at by a kid, which wasn’t fun but you were the perfect distraction because at the end of the day, Derek was able to tackle him without seriously getting injured or injuring the kid. 

“Good work today, agent.” The town sheriff came waddling by as you sat in the ambulance.

You were getting checked out for shock and any other scrapes but you were fine. You insisted you were fine many different times but all you could think about was how much you wanted to be home. As the newbie, you were in more shock than you wanted to admit after being shot at. You were much more comfortable behind the computer. 

“Are you alright?” Spencer came breezing up to you. 

“Hey doc. I’ve had better days but we were able to save a kid, even if he did manage to kill 12 people…” You got a far away look in your eyes and Spencer noticed. 

“So are you the new profiler?” Spencer asked, trying to bring you back to the present. 

“Oh god no. I’m the on-site tech analyst. I help out Penny… I mean Garcia but I have field clearance. It’s a weird situation but Agent Hotchner was clear that I…” You trailed off again, something distracting you. 

Spencer turned around and watched as a mom sobbed into an officer’s arms when the kid was being put into the squad car. You weren’t used to this. You didn’t sign up for this, the live reaction. You missed your desk, you missed Garcia’s figurines, you missed the feeling of home and comfort in a dark office. 

“You did a good job today.” Spencer said, stepping in front of you. 

You looked up at him as he blocked the sun from your eyes. He was wearing sunglasses with his back turned while you forgot your sunglasses at home today. You always regret it on the days when the sun is the strongest. 

“Thanks, doctor.” You said, squinting up at his face. 

It was hard to see his eyes so you just focused on his lips, again. 

“You don’t have to call me doctor every time you talk to me.” Spencer put his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. 

“You earned it, didn’t you?” You asked, entranced by watching his lips moving. You could watch him talk forever. 

“I did but my friends call me Spencer. My coworkers call me that or Reid.” He said, adjusting his stance so the setting sun wasn’t shining into your eyes. 

“What do your girlfriends call you?” You asked Spencer with a smirk. 

Spencer was speechless once again. You hopped off the back of the ambulance, walking past Spencer to go to the car with paramedic clearance before Spencer could come up with something. 

Once again, Spencer didn’t know what to say. 

“What’s on your mind, pretty boy?” Derek said, walking up to Spencer. 

“Nothing.” He muttered, walking towards the second vehicle’s back seat. 

In truth, Spencer was trying to think of something to say to you tomorrow because he was determined to say something. Anything was better than leaving his mouth open every time you code switched.

[hains-mae]

Flowers - Pt. 5 (The End)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 (The End)

(Damian x Reader) Soulmate AU

The Flowers: @call-me-prodigy @annoylinglyaries @zphilophobiaz @comic-brew @biglilwing @awkwardspontaneity @lozzybowe @mariiecapo @distressedearie @diyosku @dracoaereum @thesuitelifeofafangirl @chims-kookies @blade-xingston @danicalifxrnia

Rating: T

Ages: Damian and you are 16, everyone’s ages follow after.

Summary: Soulmate AU where the wounds on your soulmate turns into a flower tattoo on your skin, if it heals with no scars the tattoo goes away, if it heals with a scar then the tattoo stays.

Notes: Wow that was a fun ride. But every story comes to an end, I hope you guys enjoy the final chapter! And thank you everyone who has taken their time to like, comment, and reblog. I appreciate it a lot <3

Disclaimer: I do not own DC. If I did, I wouldn’t make it as confusing as it is now.

Robin visited every other night after that. It was surreal to have a hero that you’ve so long admired become your frequent visitor. Then again, nothing seemed normal anymore.

“It’s past the convention week. How do you keep coming here?” I asked curiously one night.

Robin gave me a lopsided grin and tapped the side of his nose. “I have my ways.”

After Mom’s week long leave was up she begrudgingly had to go back to work. The hospital assured her that I was healing fairly well, and that I would be transferred to Gotham Hospital the following weekend.

I was never really lonely though. Besides the friendly staff, my midnight visitor always came right on time. I wondered why he would take the time. Maybe it was to get to know me better? Perhaps my speech that night managed to get through to him. I had hoped it was both.

If I was being honest though, I was a little more than glad he did. I had meant it when I told the boy that I found him intriguing. He was a tough nut to crack though. I couldn’t blame him.

During the day when I would shower, I’d trace the flowers across my frame and wonder just how much he had gone through.

Soul marks start to appear at 10 years of age. You could imagine the shock (and worry) my parents had gone through when they found me one day absolutely covered in flowers.

From a young age I would hide them. Always wearing my sleeves till my palms, my neck constantly covered with either my jacket, scarf or high placed collars. It wasn’t that I was ashamed, but Gotham liked to talk – and when you’re the subject of attention, then you’re an easy target for criminals.

As I got older, the marks around my neck forearms slowly faded. I had worried about my soul mate and their well-being. Now that I understood everything, it was a different type of worry all together. The kind that would sit at the pit of your stomach and tie knots, heavy enough to keep you on edge.

My T.V in the hospital room was always on the same channel, Gotham News. Every battle would have my heart clenching as the camera’s desperately tried to follow the fight. Most of the time’s they wouldn’t be able to capture the end, and I’d be left holding my breath.

That’s one other reason I looked forward to our nightly visits. I could relax knowing he was alright.

I still wasn’t sure what I felt for this enigma of a person. But I knew that I wanted to get closer.

“I have an idea.” Robin said one evening. There was a glint his eye, the mask was off since my mom wasn’t around anymore. “And it’s got something to do with your invention.”

I arched a brow. “The bullets are complete but I still have yet to finalize the counter measures.”

He nodded understandingly. “Counter affect can wait. We don’t want to encase anyone in rock at the moment, but I’m putting it out there since you wanted to help.”

Intrigued, I urged him to continue.

Damian was quite brilliant in his own way. After much thought and planning, we had about 3 more types of chemically enhanced concoctions laid out. All of which were to go through Batman before beginning the experimentation process. He has assured me that I would be leading the research team for that under Wayne Ent.

I couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital.

“Do you like sweets?” He asked randomly.

Arching a brow I studied him. He was slouched on the couch with his leg dangling on one side and a book in his hands.

Charles Dickens.

“Yes.” I said, noting his obvious attempt to look natural. “Do you?”

“On occasion.” The boy shifted a shoulder to mimic a shrug.

The very next visit he had a black bag slung across his shoulder. His face gave nothing away but from the times I’ve spent with him, I realised it was his eyes that did most of the talking.

“Whatcha got over there?” I asked curiously, scooting closer to him at the edge of the bed.

“Patience.” He said and pulled up the make shift table that was attached to the side of my bed. Placing a medium sized box on top, he carefully undid the lid and opened it. “I present to you, baklavas.”

In the dim light I saw that they were flaky, almost like a croissant. There were some with a mix of nuts, from pistachios to almonds. Others were plain but still looked heavenly. They gleamed with a moistness, as if coated with a syrupy substance. I picked one up and popped it into my mouth.

It burst with flavour and dissolved much too fast. I squeaked at the exotic taste.

“Oh my gosh these are so good.” I said, licking my thumb.

Robin looked pleased.

“You should have one.” I pushed the box towards him but he shook his head.

“They’re yours.” He said.

“Nonsense. Food always taste better when shared.” I picked another one up intending to eat it.

“If you insist.”

I had barely managed to register the wicked glint in his eye before he took hold of my wrist and brought my hand that was holding the sweet close to his mouth. He took it carefully from me in one easy motion and lightly licked my finger.

“You’re right. It does taste better when shared.”

I felt the burn on my cheeks and ears before I heard the warning blare of the heart monitor. Immediately, Robin slipped behind the couch just as the nurses for the nightshift burst into my room in a panic. They fussed over me as I repeatedly tried to tell them I was alright. My heart finally calmed and once they left, Robin got up covering his mouth. He was trying to keep himself from laughing.

-x-x-x-

The weekend came much faster than I had anticipated. When the doctors checked on my progress, they gave the thumbs up for me to be transferred to Gotham’s hospital.  Mom was relieved, and wouldn’t stop fussing over me when we got there. I let it be though, thinking it was more for her own peace of mind than mine.

After that it was a short two weeks before I was fully discharged.

Robins visits never wavered though. If anything, he had stayed for longer periods of time. I got to know the boy under the mask more than I had hoped for and opened up in return more than I had intended.

I found out his brothers were vigilantes too. He pointed them all out one evening with a family picture he’d secretly stashed in his wallet. They were a “thorn” to his side — as he had so eloquently described, but I could see just how much he loved them. That was another thing I learnt about him, his speech patterns were very posh. He liked to use formal names and slang was not completely in his vocabulary. I asked him about that one time, to which he only replied “another time”. It was probably a touchy subject, where he exactly grew up.

His favourite colour was green, and his adoration for animals was as deep as black hole. It was crazy how perfect my mind painted him to be, and the more I knew, the harder it was to ignore the feelings growing inside me.

He enjoys reading, but would gladly spend the day locked in his room with his tablet and pen drawing the day away. He is good both in traditional and digital art, and sometimes dabbles in graphic design when he feels like it. He prefers his tea without any additives, but would not hesitate to pour bucket loads of milk and sugar in his coffee during the rare moments he drinks it.

I could list everything down but it would just solidify my attraction to him, and honestly I doubt this was he needed right now. Juggling a double life sounded a lot more stressful than he showed it to be. He hardly ever talked about it but from the amount of flowers blooming on me, it was difficult to see it any other way but exhausting. He’d kick butt at night, get hurt, then go to school the very next day like nothing happened.

He arrived one evening like he normally did and I had rushed up to pull off his glove. I felt a sting earlier and found a Sakura branch littered with pink flowers. I was right, his arm was soaked in red, and the gash looked bad.

“It’s just a scratch.” He promised me.

I didn’t reply. Taking him straight to the bathroom, I rinsed out the remaining blood and addressed the wound. After bandaging him up I finally looked into his eyes and showed him just how worried I was.

That evening we sat next to each other, with our fingers intertwined and his thumb randomly brushing against my knuckles.

-x-x-x-

Finally I was able to return home. Being able to lie down on my own bed, inside my own house, I could let loose and properly relax. I threw myself onto the soft comforters that smelled like fabric softener and smiled to myself.

Home sweet home.

But not for long, I reminded myself that this evening I would be dining with the Wayne’s. Swallowing hard, I hurried my face onto the pillows. I can’t mess this up, not after everything they’ve done for me.

Damian’s smirking face suddenly came to mind, and all his welcomed visits. It made my stomach grow warm. Remembering us sharing the sweets he gifted – soft lips against my fingers.

I groaned into the pillow, the room was getting a little hot. Getting up gingerly, as to not aggravate the newly healed stitches, I manoeuvred my way to the window and pushed it open. The cold evening air felt good against my heated skin. I sighed in content.

If I were being honest, I didn’t know what exactly was happening between us. I didn’t know if I wanted anything to happen between us. Wouldn’t it be weird, considering that I’d be interning for his dad in just a couple of months. Possibly work there if my luck doesn’t run out first. Not to mention WHO he was.

You’re just a normal girl, I chided myself. Not someone important enough to stand beside such a prestigious boy and his ridiculously wealthy family.

But even then – I found myself wondering. Seeking. Imagining… What if we were to become something more? What if it works? What if we fall in –

“Y/n!” Mom’s voice broke through my reverie, waking me up from the needless train of thought.

Closing my window, I poked my head out the door and found her putting on a bracelet.

“Are you ready? The cab is nearly here.” She asked.

I nodded and took a step closer to her. Looking quickly at the vanity mirror in the hallway, I gave myself a once over to make sure everything was in place. I had on a slightly fitting turtle neck sweater, paired with a high waisted pleated skirt and dark stockings. On my feet I sported on my boots. It was safe to assume no one would be able to see my soul marks.

My mom grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. I followed close behind her, handing her her coat before locking up the front door.

The cab driver arrived a few minutes in, and we drove off straight to Wayne Manor.

“This is exciting isn’t it?” She said to me with a lift in her voice, as she exited the cab to get the gates opened.

Once we could enter, we were greeted with a very large land that was pristinely kept. The grass was cut evenly, and the trees lining the estate were trimmed to perfection. Bushes were perfectly shaped into different animals, and flowers systematically grown to create swirls and shapes beside the road. A big fountain was situated just in front of the mansion while a man in a black suit waited beside the opened doors.

We exited the cab after paying and did our best to take it all in without looking like fishes out of water.

“Ah, Mrs. & Ms. Y/l/n.” It was the man who I saw pick up Damian that one night in Metropolis appeared. I also remembered him in the family photograph. His accent was thickly laced with British poise. “My name is Alfred Pennyworth, I shall be you’re attendant for the evening.”

“Thank you.” Mom was quick to compose herself.

As soon as I entered the house I felt my breath stolen away. It was huge. Everything looked so new and polished.

I barely registered my mom and Alfred chatting away as he led her to the dining hall.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

I nearly jumped at the voice that startled me. Whipping my head around, I found Jason standing with his hands in his pockets.

“I remember my first time coming in here. Completely floored.” He chucked.

I waved a small greeting. “Everything looks so –“

“Expensive? Exorbitant? Grand?” He tried to guess.

“Beautiful.” I breathed out.

He laughed. “Not what I expected. But you’re full of surprises aren’t you.”

I blushed. “Ah, I’m not sure about that. I’m just me.”

“Hey, no stealing our guest before dinner.” Dick walked down the stair case with Tim beside him.

“Feeling better Y/n?” Tim asked as we grouped just below the stairs.

“Yeah, thank you.” I answered, suddenly feeling flustered as they surrounded me.

Stay calm.

“Don’t be nervous.” Dick said with an air of comfort.

I wanted to ask what made him think so, but he answered before I even began to articulate the words.

“You’re fidgeting like a college student during a thesis debate.” He said simply.

“You’re… very good at reading people.” I arched a brow at him.

“One of my many amazing abilities” He winked.

Jason let out an air of playful frustration and pulled Dick aside. “And now you’re stealing her. Can’t hold a normal conversation can you Dickie, always a flirt.”

“First of all – do I need to remind you who mostly does all the talking during dad’s parties. And second of all – I am not a flirt. I can’t help it if I’m charming.” Dick mocked a suave look and shot it as his brother.

Jason looked like he was about to gag and Tim was less than pleased. I laughed at their antics.

“What’s funny?” Damian appeared beside me. I jumped and held a hand to my racing heart.

“Jeez, do all of you have a talent for sneaking up on people?” I wheezed out, trying to gather my bearings.

They all grinned at me without answering.

Robins, my inner muse whispered. I brushed off the thought as quick as it had come.

We had made it to the dining area just in time for Alfred to begin serving the meals. My mother was already chatting up a storm with Mr. Wayne. A wine glass in hand and a slight tint to her cheeks. She looked happy.

I began walking towards the seat beside my mother when Damian pulled out the chair like a gentleman. I bit the inside of my cheek and mumbled a thank you.

He took the space beside me and the rest of his brothers seated themselves opposite us.

As we opened our plates for dinner, I was amazed to see how well it was presented. Mr. Pennyworth continued to serves other dishes, and once he was done he left the room.

The food tasted just as good as it looked.

Easy conversation wafted around us, the usual topics of school, and future plans. Mr. Wayne brought up the internship which I nearly gushed over due to my excitement. Damian held back a laugh with a cough when he noticed my little slip up before I composed myself again. I bumped his knee under the table and playfully glared at him. He smirked and bumped me back.

“My compliments to the chef Mr. Wayne.” Mom said.

“I’ll be sure to tell him.” He smiled through a glass of wine. How many glasses in were they at this point? Damian and I were the only ones who weren’t allowed so both our glasses were filled with water and juice.

“And, please,” Mr. Wayne continued. “Call me Bruce.”

“Hey, we should give the women a tour.” Dick suggested. “I’m sure you’ll both love it.”

Jason and Tim had excused themselves, and I had an inkling as to what they were up to. Patrols were a common thing, as Damian told me.

And so with Dick and Bruce leading, my mother and I followed as they showed off the grandness of the manor.

I couldn’t help but be awestruck all over again. The library was huge. Their shelves towered from ceiling to floor, and filled with all kinds of books. From novels to more informative documents. I recognised a couple of titles from the times Damian spent the night reading.

The sunroom was next. The glass was near invisible. I took in the sight of the gorgeous garden just beyond the panels, being able to outline a gazebo at the far end with flowers twisting around its pillars. I unconsciously touched my stomach where the stitches were, randomly pondering what kind of flower had bloomed from such a brutal wound.

“Are you okay?” Damian was beside me immediately and his hand supported my elbow. His voice was laced with concern.

“Oh.” I realised what he was talking about and pulled my hand down. “I’m okay, just a little tired.”

“Honey?” My mom’s face pinched in concern. “Is it hurting again?”

“I just need to rest Mom, I’m fine.” I assured her. “You should continue, I’ll just sit here for a bit.”

Mom was hesitant but there wasn’t much she could do, and she knew it. So they moved on, but not without Mr. Wayne asking for some painkillers to be brought to me.

After taking the medicine, I thanked ‘Alfred’ (as he had asked me to call him) before he left.

Damian was sitting on the arm rest of the couch. My hand was in his and he rubbed random circles around my knuckles. His brows were furrowed, and his features were set in a deep scowl. I could practically feel the guilt and worry radiating off of him.

“I have to be honest, I thought I’d see more animals around.” I said, trying to lighten up the mood.

“Father asked me to keep Titus in my room for the time-being, he didn’t know how you two would react to a Great Dane, or vice-versa.” The boy said simply.

“Great Dane?” I asked flabbergasted.

The corner of Damian’s lips turned upwards. “When you feel better I’ll introduce you.”

“It’s a date.” I answered before thinking. All at once I realised what I said and felt my cheeks burn. “Ah – I mean, not date. If you aren’t comfortable with that, people just use the word date as a meeting time or –“

“It’s a date.” He brought my fingers up and ghosted his lips over them. I had to hold my breath fearing that my heart would stop.

I was momentarily stunned by his forwardness and calm. Looking away I managed to slow down my heart rate to a regular beat.

“I still need to guess the rest right?” I asked coyly.

He gestured for me to continue.

“Let’s see.” I rested my head on the couch and closed my eyes to recall our conversation back in the ball room. “We’ve got a dog, a cat.”

“Mhm.” Damian nodded, moving from the arm rest to the empty space next to me.

My brain brought up an old song from the Princess and the Frog, when they had to ‘Dig a Little Deeper’.

A dog, a pig, a cow, a goat – the lyrics were sung in my subconscious before I could stop it.

“A cow.” I guessed.

Damian’s eyes grew a little wide, before a grin made its way to his lips. “Yes.”

“What seriously?” I giggled. “You actually have a cow?”

“Bat-Cow.” He chuckled. “I was a child, and that was the first name to come up.”

I was full on laughing now. “I cannot wait to meet them. But that was seriously a random guess, now I feel like my confidence is dwindling.”

“Then how about you wait till you see them?” He suggested.

I bit my lip and shifted in my seat, our knees brushed and I felt that warmth spread across my chest. We’re close. A little too close.

When I looked at him I found he was staring at the garden outside. I didn’t mean to be rude, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. There was something about this boy that just drew me closer, making me want more. I traced the little moles across his cheek and wondered when I had let this magnetic pull take over me.

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” Damian commented. His intense green eyes bore into mine as he threw a deviously charming smirk my way.

I blushed and looked away, suddenly finding my shoes a lot more interesting than it was. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

He turned towards me. And I made the mistake of facing him again, because now our faces were just mere inches apart.

I found myself gazing at his beautiful green eyes that contrasted so well with his tanned olive skin. There were so many different shades of green looping and mixing with one another, it felt like a maze – one that I would willingly get lost in.

My fingers rested in the spaces between his, and I marvelled at how everything in that moment felt right.

I tilted towards him, and he did the same towards me.

“What are we doing?” I whispered, stealing a glance at his lips.

Heart pounding.

Blood racing.

It left me dizzy.

“I’m… not sure.” Damian replied, his tone low. “But if you asked me to kiss you, I would.”

His thumb grazed the inside of my wrist with a feather-light touch and I burst into flames.

“Kiss me.”

And he did.

-THE END-