#so yes it's a very arduous process

[hosseinis]

hello!! I really hope this isn't a rude question, bc I'm genuinely curious. I've been wondering for a while now why people who make gifs from a movie or a show or whatever get upset when somebody else uses the gif in something or want credit for it. Is the process difficult? I'm not 100% how to make a gif but I can't imagine it being that arduous. Anyway like I said not trying to be rude have a good day :D

hey there! it's not a rude question if only because you're asking in the first place instead of just discrediting it.

the thing a lot of people don't understand is how much work actually goes into making a gif, because we don't just plug the video into a gifmaking program and call it a day. a lot of us start JUST with the process of pirating the highest quality video we can find, which can be anywhere from an hour or two of downloading to days at a time (my record is five days for all five seasons of the a-team, but that's a story for another day)

so there's already at least a few hours potentially, just from downloading. granted, we do other things obviously but that's still time that's going into the process.

so you have to download those videos, find the clip you want, and then there are several different methods of getting the clip into whatever program you use (i use photoshop). most of the time i have to reformat the video from .mkv to .mp4, because PS doesn't take .mkv but the highest quality videos are typically in that format. so i put that into a reformatting program, which can take at least another hour depending on how long the file is.

so i've finally got the file ready to go in photoshop, and then i can actually start working on the gif itself. i've now spent at MINIMUM two or three hours just getting this video ready. then i personally clip it down to the exact scene i want it and go from there. if you're just doing a random assortment of scenes, you can choose whatever you want. but if you're doing a scene itself, you have to clip that scene in bursts so you can add the subtitles based off the mouth-movement.

so say you're doing a gifset of your favorite character from a tv show. well, you don't want to just have all of the gifs come from the same episode. so you do the reformatting process all over again. more hours. you do that eight or nine or ten times until you have all the scenes you want. and THEN you can start the actual editing process.

what size should it be depending on what kind of gifset you want to do? 540x540? 540x405? do you just crop it first or should you resize it? the resolution might go down depending on how you resize it. do you know what smart sharpen is, and which levels you should have it on in order to make the scene look the best? what's a smart object? what percentage should your frame rate be so it doesn't look too fast? it's completely different between live action and animation, after all. do you know which colors you should use in the adjustment layers, like selective color? does levels or curves work better for what you're trying to do? how do i get rid of the yellow in this scene so it matches the other gifs? what's the difference between linear contrast and medium contrast? should you use exposure or vibrance to get the shadows you want?

you've done all that, it looks good! you go to export it as a proper gif so you can post it to tumblr. but don't forget your settings on that either! transparency dither, web snap, the amount of colors and what size it should be. you do all that and the gif ends up being over the 10mb limit. so now you have to go back and carefully chip away at the frames until it's under the limit, which means you ultimately have to choose what to sacrifice from that scene so you can properly export it.

so you try again. okay, it's on 9.7MB. that's going to read as 10MB on tumblr. back in you go to chip at it again until it's going to read as 9MB instead. finally. you export the gif, add it to tumblr, and then tumblr doesn't like how it looks when you import it and destroys the quality, so you have to go back and try different export settings until it looks the way you want it.

so you do that nine more times. The Entire Process. downloading and reformatting the .mkv, getting the scene you want, clipping it, resizing and cropping it, coloring it, exporting it, and if you're adding subtitles then it's an entirely new process to add on! and don't forget that if you're doing a mix of scenes, you have to color them all depending on their own lighting, so you're basically doing the process again from scratch.

then you try to think of a fun caption. maybe you want to choose a line you feel best summarizes the character or scene. you put that caption through an HTML formatting program so it can be a gradient (the easiest part!), make the caption look pretty, and then tag it and press send.

you've spent HOURS on this process. literal fucking hours. you've been learning how to carefully manipulate the colors to look good, you know what frame rate looks the best, you have all of your settings saved as .psds.

and then someone right clicks, saves the gif (or just copies it) and posts it to twitter with their own funny little caption.

they get 26k likes, who knows how many retweets, a bunch of new follows. they get all the attention for that gif when they put zero work into it. all they did was write a caption and press send.

you got 400 likes and 165 reblogs on your gifset over on tumblr. maybe you get some tags on it if you're really lucky.

so tell me. wouldn't you be a little frustrated, too?

and just in case anyone wants to try and tell me this doesn't happen, you're welcome to compare the stats on this gifset of godzilla versus the repost on twitter.

[nnugatoryextravagance]

Little did I know the key to gender euphoria wasnt wearing a specific kind of clothes it was to just not wear half of them because the summer heat makes me want to explode and die, I have so much gender right now and all im doing is laying awkwardly in front of a standing fan by my bed without a shirt on, this is truly what being a boy is amen god bless

[b0tster]

So like is it normal to question if you want to be a big or a girl and thinking that the whole transitioning thing just seems like too much of a hassle and shit? Like if I could be a girl I would but the whole process just seems generally arduous and annoying.

Idk what I’m even asking.

questioning your gender is something a lot of people do, but cis people tend to come to the answer very very quickly ("am i trans?" "..." "ok no lol") if you are repeatedly questioning your gender to the point ur reaching out to trans people there is a high chance that you are trans, and could be worth looking into. also, if one of the main reasons you're on the fence is because "it seems like its too much of a hassle" ask yourself if u would transition if it wasnt an intentional hassle created by the government, and was instead very easy. if the answer is yes, then you are probably trans

[traumxrei-archive]

【 v. plated perfection 】

summary: now that yuu was better, they still had nothing to do. that is, until they heard the cheerful tune of a certain white haired maid floating down the halls… maybe they should go see what kalim is up to.

word count: 1.3k

author’s note: kalim’s part !! i really wanted to do the whole shoujo manga cliche w/ this one so i hope you enjoy ^^

[ the perfect debutante series | or read on ao3 (coming soon) ]

There wasn't much left to do for Yuu when they finally got permission to start working again. (That was an arduous process on its own.) It appeared that Azul, Jade, Riddle, and even Jamil had pitched in to take care of any last-minute preparations.

Now that everything was decided, the previously fast-approaching ball seemed to approach at a snail's pace. On top of that, Yuu had even more free time than usual because the Duke had taken over their work to "give them more time to plan". They did come up with an idea for something special at the Debutante, but it was undergoing some final review from the head butler, so it was a waiting game.

That was why they were strolling the halls, looking for something that they could do. A cheerful tune floated down the halls catching Yuu's ear. They instantly recognized the singer's voice, approaching the open door carefully.

Inside the grand room was Kalim, silverware and dishes spread out in front of him. The silver haired maid looked more put together than usual, his short skirt fluttering over stockinged legs as he spun. A white and gold bandana laid over his silvery hair, ribbons trailing down his neck.

"A whole new– Master?!"

Yuu suppressed a laugh when Kalim finally noticed them, "Hello Kalim, that was a nice song you were singing."

"Oh, I think so too! It's a classical ballad from Scalding Sands. But, Master," The maid blinked, his earrings clinking when he tilted his head. "What brings you here?"

"I was bored." And wasn't that the truth? It was easy to be a little more unfiltered with Kalim. Red eyes sparkled knowingly at their words.

"Hmm, then Master," Kalim very gently grabbed a plate. "What do you think about this plate?"

The plate was...shiny. So shiny, in fact, that Yuu felt a bit dazed, "Er, why did you pick that one out?"

"Well," Kalim set the plate aside. "Jamil and Azul told me to pick something perfect. It's Master's debutante after all!

Kalim started listing on his fingers, "They said, 'pick something that shows off the dukedom's opulence, elegance,' and..."

"Humility?" If it was those two that gave Kalim advice, they would know a thing or two about not going overboard on the flair. 

"Yes! Something like that," Kalim pouted. "But it seems that this set isn't to Master's liking." They could see the metaphorical puppy ears droop as he picked up the plate, going back to the display cases.

"It's only a little bit too shiny," Yuu said quickly, trying to soothe Kalim's mood. "There are plenty of other options."

"Theb how about this one?" Kalim picked up a dish with flowery vines adorning its rim. The gold tipped edge made it look all that elegant. "I think it's very pretty."

"Hmm, but I don't think it would fit with the interior decor of the ball," Yuu offered. "It would be very nice to use for the gardens area, but the plates should be uniform."

A thoughtful look crossed Kalim's face, "How about using it as serving plates? It would also make it easier for the chefs if they knew which plates would go to the hall and which will go to the garden."

"That's very thoughtful of you," Yuu said, and Kalim all but beamed at the compliment.

"I heard Jamil complaining about it before," Kalim said, taking out some serving plates. "One of the times that he was helping out at a party my Baba held, the servants weren't given clear instructions on which food was for which hall and it was a mess."

"Okay, now we have some flowery serving plates and trays!" Kalim dusted off his skirts. "Do you have any suggestions, Master?"

"How about choosing something with Night Raven colors?" Yuu took a seat on the bench beside the tray of plates.

Kalim perked up at that, "That's a great idea! The grey plates are somewhere on this shelf..." The silver-haired maid crouched, reaching for another plate, "This one seems very Night Raven colors." The plates had a grey base, and symmetric white lines crisscrossing to create an intricate pattern.

It was certainly an elegant choice, "That's a bit..."

"...too serious," Kalim concluded, sliding the plate back to its spot. "I guess I'll look at the top shelves."

They watched as Kalim dragged a rolling wooden ladder toward the shelf, "Don't forget, to lock the wheels." Yuu stood up, approaching the shelf as Kalim started climbing the ladder. He made it to the platform, opening the doors to the cabinet.

"It's alright Master, I've been doing this all morning," Kalim called out, as Yuu braced an arm against the ladder. Suddenly, Kalim shouted, "Oh! I found the perfect one!"

Kalim spun in his excitement and that was when it happened. Yuu could do nothing but watch as Kalim's body tilted unnaturally to the right, and—

Yuu lunged forward.

It was instinct, and they could barely think before their back was hitting the ground. A burst of pain hit their shoulder as they rolled before finally coming to a stop.

Their chest rose and fell, the blood rushing in their ears. Kalim's weight was keenly on top of them. That much they could figure out. Yuu pried open their eyes, their chest feeling stifled when—

Oh. Kalim's eyes were such a startling shade of red. Yuu had never seen his eyes that close before. The maid's head jerked back, his earrings chimed at the action. His ribbon brushed against their neck. The sensation was strange. A little ticklish, making them huff out a short breath.

Kalim blinked, his mouth falling open. He reeled backward with a shout and they winced as they heard another thump. Yuu sat up, gingerly touching their shoulder. Kalim was still lying on the ground, his skirts in disarray, still seemingly shocked.

And then Kalim shot up, hands clasping their own, "Master! This– I'm so– this maid apologizes for such a blunder, the ladder was— I-I should've been more careful, but— Oh, the others will kill me if they—"

“The others won't find out," Yuu reassured, glancing at the spotless floor. "None of the plates are broken, and we are both fine, save for our clothes."

"But—" Kalim seemed to sputter, hands gesturing wildly. "But Master, you—"

"Instead of arguing, why don't you show me the plate you found?" Yuu stood, dragging Kalim with them.

Kalim looked conflicted, his stare swinging between the cabinet and them, "Still, you... Master shouldn't do anything dangerous like that again. Promise?”

“I promise,” Yuu nodded toward the shelf. “Let’s see the plate that made you so excited.”

Kalim climbed up the ladder— but not before double-checking all of the wheels to the ladder— before returning with a white plate, with grey flowers and gold patterns lining the border, “Isn’t it perfect?”

“It is,” Yuu agreed, taking the plate into their hands. “You found the perfect plate.” Kalim pumped his fists in the air, before going back to grab the rest of the set. They grinned at Kalim’s quite antics, nodding along to the happy tune he was humming as he placed the plates onto the cart. 

“Should we go have a treat to celebrate?” Yuu suggested, and Kalim’s eyes grew even more shinier than before, his previous mood forgotten.

“Oh! Jamil was cooking up some tester desserts last night!” Kalim gushed, grabbing their hand. “Let’s go and ask him for the rest!” Yuu laughed as they were hurriedly led down the hallway. They had all but abandoned the plates there, but oh well. Maybe having fun and letting loose with Kalim was exactly what they needed before the debutante. (And sweets. Sweets made everyone’s days feel better, right?)

thank you for reading ^^ if you’d like to read more, check out my masterlist ! like the art ? look at more of dumple's works on insta !

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[spiderh0rse]

notes from the process of building my butcher-cherish fic. lots of em.

Will first clarify none of this is set in stone I'm still in the planning/winnowing out all the outside influence I don't need stage

for the purposes of this fic five had a minor combat thinker ability. projected reverse-afterimages. sees motions people make before they make them. six has some major heat resistance. seven has enhances reflexes, and having super strength multiple times over has made following through on those reflexes even easier. ten has a tinker power focused on,,, ehh figure it out later

To make the strength stacking a little more interesting, FIRST'S is straightforward enough, but if he's in more pain, he's got more power. Can't use his induced agony on himself, nor can future users. Refused to take care of minor injuries. Would frequently engage in self-harming behaviors to make himself stronger. Thinks that may have been his power's way of hinting at the inheritance. Wondered if Thinker headaches would ramp up the power. THIRD: In this case, fear makes his strength greater. Again, incentivized to get into dangerous situations to reap greater rewards. Believes now that most powers operate in this fashion, but doesn't quite have his head on straight enough to say any of that. SIXTH: straightforward and minor. Brute 1 alongside her Mover whatever rating NINTH: Stronger when angry. Fighting style was get close, make the opponent mad, then dredge up his own bad memories and get pissed enough to kill the other guy. ELEVENTH: Stockpiles. When he's not using it, he gets more in the stockpile. Able to release it either all at once or like a sort of tap. This can't be turned off alongside the other strength powers, but does *amplify* them. It runs out long before everything else does. Priority is on ending fights fast.

on the topic of naming what is functionally twelveish ocs

One: Butcher Two: blood based name? Vascular? Three: former hero so name should follow PR sorts of things. Hindsight? Implies Thinker power but could work. Four: Pestilence? Nah. That's got a wider range of connotations. Fester is too straightforward. Putrefact? Straightforward as well but slightly less obvious. Five: oogh a tough one. How do you name combat thinkers. Placeholder: Forethought Six: thinking something vaguely uhh. Behemoth-themed? Mythology at any rate but I've got very little suitable in my head for that. Ifrit maybe. Something I'm forgetting. Seven: yet another subtle power. Hard to get a name from. Jitter? Probably looks weird throwing himself around like he does. Shudder? Along these lines. Eight: Stoneknapper is a GREAT one I've seen but I don't want to knockoff that. Not VISIBLY anyways find a synonym Nine: Bearskin. I'd contemplated making him a Case 53 but the name would be on the nose here. Ten: i am not figuring out the Tinker's specialty and giving a name based after it right now. Unless. Shit like rube goldberg machines. Makes some normal action into a giant trap if you set it off. Just call him Rube. Eleven: Buildup. Name misleads into thinking he's got escalation going on. Opposite is true. Twelve: again I really liked Nemean but without her being a lion case 53 that has less impact. Workshop this one. Thirteen: oh god it's another super strength. I need to give him more than that and then I'll figure out a name Fourteen: Quarrel Fifteen: Cherish/Cherie (Sanguine? Cheerful in nature and blood-themed)

Urrgh XIII's strength. Uhhh. Fuck it that isn't all he has. The strength is like. A minor aspect of something else. Direct consequence of a power? Needed side effects? Maybe he's got like. Denser physical makeup. Yeah he's tougher everywhere and that includes muscles. Bam. Easy. Bulwark

Yes I'm mostly working on making sure the Butchers feel like people. Arduous task! But on the topic of how they aren't all a catatonic mess being dragged deeper into the ocean as Tattletale planned

How to work around Bonesaw's alterations,,, could argue that if it altered the Gemma, then the new shard coming with built-in "yeah here's a new control schema" fixed that on accident

i think this has just enough of a root in existing parahumans lore to not feel impossible while also being difficult enough to predict being able to happen that Tattletale didn't account for it

[hinamie]

Hi! How are you :3 I’ve got an ask! Do you draw poses with construction? Or what’s your method? How do you tackle difficult poses?

(I hope that’s an interesting ask 🫣)

Hi !!!! I'm doing well thank u thank u <333

this IS an interesting ask but i apologize in advance because i am about to say so many words with a minimal chance of them making sense bc frankly i just..,, don't have a good method orz ,, it's a bit sad dsgghd like yes I'm largely self-taught but fr someone who has been drawing their entire life my fundamentals r honestly awful most of everything i do boils down 2 me winging it and praying tht it works out

to start off ! one thing abt me is i do not tackle difficult poses difficult poses tackle Me and i have 2 fight for my fucking life every gd time :( real talk tho poses n figures have always been one of the harder elements of drawing for me because i'm coming to realize i kind of struggle with visualizing ? I really need to have something already in front of me and shape it from there but the thing abt the human body is it can look and pose SO many different ways. that being said usually i start with the messiest human-shaped scribble you've ever seen in your life and play around with the limbs until i have a ~vague~ idea of the pose i want to go for. with my rough sketches i rely very heavily on the torso/shoulders/neck as a way to ground the pose because that's the part of the body I'm most familiar with :'> once i've got the chest i can usually wrestle the rest of the body to cooperate, though how long and arduous a task that ends up being depends on th overall complexity. action poses my beloathed </3 With them i just Look and Guess and Pray

circling back to the limited visualization element. i collect refs like a magpie with trinkets i've got a novel-length anatomy folder on pinterest bc i just ! don't know what most things look like unless I'm looking at them :( it balances out a bit though because a skill of mine is I'm very good at (fr lack of a better word) copying what i see? all i mean by that is i usually don't need 2 bother with using grids or breaking things down into shapes since I can pretty easily translate what i see onto the page n manipulate it to fit the piece as needed

anYWAY im getting sidetracked gomen gomen i knew this wld happen but ! tl;dr if i had to put an order to my process it wld b

scribble something resembling a human in something resembling a pose

map the neck shoulders n torso as a jumping-off point

spend 300 hours looking through arm and leg angle refs and try to frankenstein something together from the ones i can find at the Correct Angle

bonus: undo all my hard work and/or hide the parts im not confident in by putting clothes on it

hope u could get something (if anything) out of this !!!

[m-for-musings]

Honey Webbing

Part 19

The sizzling of vegetables and the aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the kitchen as Halsin tended to the morning meal. He had woken up from his trance a bit earlier today, so he found himself tending to the day’s home activities. His movements were methodical, a familiar routine that provided a sense of grounding amidst the chaos of the last few weeks. Halsin stood at the hearth, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed by the troubling thoughts swirling within. He thinks about how he should help Baleen's family with the funeral preparations, or should he keep his distance for now to avoid inflicting them more pain? He also thinks, now that he had time to process the events of the past nights, about the memory of that dream, that re-played out vividly in his mind, and the intimate encounter with Minthara that had unfolded in his subconscious hleaving him profoundly unsettled. 

Halsin paused, his brow furrowing as he contemplated the possible root of this intrusion. He couldn't help but wonder if the drow's words while under the effect of the painkiller had somehow seeped into the deepest recesses of his mind, manifesting in this… odd manner.

With a heavy sigh, Halsin tried to focus his attention back to the pan. It was not the first time he had found himself drawn to his foes, a realization that troubled him deeply. Despite not considering her any longer an enemy in the proper sense of the word, it was a fact that, in his youth, he had bedded almost as many adversaries as he had slain, a fact that he often grappled with, his moral compass constantly at odds with his desires.

It was in these disturbing introspective moments that the druid could no longer ignore the void that had taken root within his life. This void had grown more pronounced after the arduous battles he had faced alongside the group who would become the saviors of Baldur's Gate, from the relentless struggle to lift the Shadowcurse, all the way up to Baldur's Gate to vanquish the Elder Brain. Halsin's fingers tightened around the worn wooden spoon, a subtle tremor running through his hands, as he realized that what he feels right now it's a profound solitude that left him, in a very real sense, touch-starved – craving the warmth and comfort of another's embrace, the tender caress of a lover's hand.

But how could he be so lonely, if he is surrounded by people all the time? His children, his students, his neighbors, his protegés… Yet no romantic partner. The druid's mind drifted back to the troubling dream. Could it be that his subconscious was trying to fill the void, to find some semblance of companionship, even in the most unlikely of places? Or was it simply a reaction of his psyche at his… peculiar carnal impulses? Halsin shook his head, his expression utterly troubled, as if to physically dispel the thoughts that threatened to consume him. It was better to not delve into such… strange introspection. Yet, try as he might, he couldn't escape the lingering disquiet that had taken root within him. The dream, and all that it implied, would continue to weigh heavily on his mind.

Halsin's gaze drifted to the window, where the first golden rays of dawn were just beginning to peek over the horizon. Why now? Why her? It could have been literally anyone else, at any given time. He traveled alongside her some time ago, yes, but there were much more people with them. Also, Halsin now lives in an ever-growing village, fully populated with all sorts of people. Surely there were a bunch of villagers that he finds attractive and possibly reciprocate the feeling, who would be interested in engaging in a relationship, be it casual or otherwise. So, why…?

A soft rustling sound caught his attention. Halsin turned, his gaze falling upon the familiar figure of Minthara, standing in the doorway. The drow’s expression was inscrutable as always. Halsin couldn't help but wonder if she even remembered the things she had said a couple nights ago – the startling admission about her intentions at the goblin camp, the mocking jests that had so thoroughly unsettled him.

"Good morning," Halsin greeted, his tone cautious, yet cordial. He wondered if he should broach any subject, to ask Minthara about her talk with the girls, or ask if she recalled the events of that night. But the prudent part of him hesitated. Instead, Halsin gestured to the simmering pot, offering Minthara a silent invitation to join him for the morning meal. The druid's gaze remained steady, trying not to betray none of the questions that swirled within his mind.

He watched as Minthara silently made her way to the table, lowering herself onto the bench with a subtle grace that belied her wounded condition. A good sign, the druid mused; an indicative that the spell took the desired effect. With a gentle gesture, Halsin served her a steaming cup of tea. The drow accepted it with a brief nod, her fingers curling around the warm ceramic as she brought the cup to her lips, taking a slow, contemplative sip.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "Are your wounds healing well?"

The drow paused, her fingers tracing the bandages on her leg. "The pain is negligible now," she replied, her tone blunt and detached. Tilting her head slightly, she added, "Your... ministrations were adequate, I suppose.”

Halsin couldn't help but detect the begrudging gratitude in her words, and he felt a flicker of relief wash over him. "I'm glad to hear it," he murmured, offering her a small nod.

Minthara took another sip of tea as she studied him. "In that case, I suppose I can relinquish your room back to you," she said, "I'll take the couch instead."

Halsin raised a hand, shaking his head slightly. "There's no need for that," he assured her. "You should rest comfortably while you recover. The couch will suit me just fine."

Minthara arched a brow, but she didn't protested. "As you wish," she conceded, a touch of guarded respect in her tone.

Halsin couldn't help but study her, his gaze searching for any hint of recognition, any sign that she recalled anything unusual. Minthara's features remained impassive, but there was a slight fidgeting of her hands, a subtle shifting in her posture that betrayed an underlying unease.

“Thank you for tending to Mera in such… delicate matter.” Halsin ventured, his voice laced with a hint of gratitude. “It can be a difficult moment for one as young as she is.”

“It is only difficult because you, surfacers, make it difficult.” Minthara's response was tinged with a touch of disdain.

Halsin nodded thoughtfully. “I dare to say that I agree. Among druidic circles, there is much less fuss about various aspects of the body’s natural processes in general.”

The two fell silent for a moment, the only sound was the soft sizzling of the vegetables in the pan. Halsin's focus had drifted, and as a result, the vegetables had begun to brown, nearing the point of being completely overcooked. Jolted back to the present by the telltale sounds, the druid quickly shifted his attention to the stove, deftly removing the pan and its contents before they could be ruined. Halsin could feel Minthara's piercing gaze upon him as he worked, her silent observation heightening his awareness and causing a slight tension to creep into his movements.

"Why waste such a powerful spell on someone you hate?" Minthara finally spoke, her voice laced with a hint of accusation. "Why not just let the infection spread, and bury my corpse somewhere? Be honest, don’t patronize me with that ‘compassion’ talk again.”

"We’ve had this discussion before, haven't we?" Halsin met her challenging stare unflinchingly, his brow furrowed as he let out a short sigh.

"Have we, druid? You said we could discuss this once the haze cleared from my mind.” She pauses, taking a sip of her tea. “Well, the concoction's effect has long faded. Let us speak now.”

So she had not forgotten, after all. The druid felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. Torn between worry and bafflement, Halsin struggled to maintain his calm demeanor. How much did Minthara recall? And more importantly, how would she use that knowledge against him?

Halsin drew a deep breath, steeling himself to meet Minthara's gaze. With a slight frown, the druid resigned himself, prepared to face the drow's incoming taunts and jibes.

"I would not be the man to let one of the saviors of Baldur's Gate perish," he replied, striving to keep his tone even and matter-of-fact, though a hint of annoyance crept in. He paused briefly, serving the freshly cooked meal. "Besides," he continued, "despite all the animosity between us, you have never let me down in combat before. Against your better judgment, I suppose. So, you can see this as reciprocity, or even retribution, for old times' sake.”

The druid fell silent for a moment as he studied Minthara's features once more. "Are you satisfied?" he asked, his words tinged with a faint note of challenge.

"Satisfied?" she scoffed, the word dripping with a mixture of derision and reluctant respect. "No, I'm not satisfied. Although… Your reasons are sound, I'll give you that." She paused, her gaze fixed on Halsin, in contemplation. The druid held her stare, refusing to back down, even as the weight of her scrutiny threatened to unsettle him. 

For a fleeting moment, Halsin found his gaze drawn to Minthara's features, despite his best efforts to maintain a neutral demeanor. As the drow sat across from him, the morning light filtering through the window cast a warm glow on her features, highlighting the edges of her expression. Halsin couldn't help but notice the delicate arch of her brows, the striking contrast of her dark skin against the brightness of her light hair. Even visibly exhausted and weary, there was an undeniable allure to Minthara's appearance – a feral grace that captivated the senses. Halsin felt a flutter in his chest as his eyes traced the elegant line of her jaw, the curve of her lips. He chastised himself for this wayward admiration, but in this moment, he could not deny the raw beauty that radiated from the woman who was, for all effects, his adversary.

“Is something the matter?” Minthara raised an eyebrow, and Halsin felt his cheeks flush with warmth as Minthara's piercing gaze fixed upon him, her keen eyes seemingly picking up on the slight shift in his demeanor. He cursed himself inwardly for allowing his composure to slip, even for the briefest of moments. 

Clearing his throat, Halsin quickly averted his eyes, focusing his attention back on the food before him. "Nothing is the matter," he replied, his voice betraying a hint of unease. "I was simply... lost in thought, that's all."

But Halsin knew it was a poor attempt at deflection. Minthara was not one to be easily fooled, and he could feel her scrutinizing him, as if she was searching for the truth behind his words. The druid shifted uncomfortably under her penetrating gaze, his fingers fidgeting with the clutery in his hand. If she indeed found it, she didn't say anything. Minthara's expression remained frustratingly stoic as she silently resumed her meal, her movements almost casual. Halsin watched her warily, half-expecting her to pounce on his weakness, to twist the knife and mock his discomfort.

But the drow said nothing, content to simply eat her breakfast as if nothing untoward had occurred. The kitchen fell into an uneasy silence, the only sounds the gentle clink of her clutery against the ceramic bowl and the quiet crackle of the fire. Halsin found himself holding his breath, his heart pounding in his ears as he waited, with bated breath, for Minthara to make her move. Yet she remained infuriatingly composed, leaving him to grapple with the turmoil of his own mind.

Minthara finished her meal in silence, the bowl scraped clean. With a soft sigh, she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet.

"I will be out with Mera in the morning," she announced, locking eyes with Halsin. "Do not wait for us for lunch."

"May I ask where you're taking my daughter?" he inquired, his brow furrowed in a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Minthara's lips curled into a faint smile, the expression both enigmatic and unsettling. "We're merely going for a walk," she replied cryptically, before turning and making her way towards the door.

Halsin watched her go, torn between relief and unease. Was this a gesture of goodwill, or did the drow have something else in mind? He couldn't help but worry for Mera's safety, even as a part of him felt oddly reassured by Minthara's apparent willingness to spend time with the girl. With a heavy sigh, the druid resigned himself to the uncertainty.

< Part 18 | Part 20 >

[seblaineaddict]

You Kissed My Flaws...& Made Them Perfect

In a world where every single person has a Soulmate bearing their identical Soulmark and is bound by law to pursue a life with their Soulmate once located, Sebastian and Blaine are gay as a rainbow men from very different countries, who have never met....yet.

Sebastian Smythe is a charming, devilishly handsome (and doesn't he know it!) 30 year-old commitment-phobe still living in his native Paris, where he is an LGBTQ+ Rights Lawyer. He is highly promiscuous, enjoys the finer things in life, especially very expensive Wines and Spirits and First Edition Science Fiction novels, comes from old and new money, and is a bit of a risk taker, to boot.

As far as his 'love life' goes, he pretty exclusively prefers hookups and shuns anything serious, to which end he has never sought out his Soulmate. He really doesn’t see the point, is 100% against people being forced into 'unnatural' liaisons with someone they have never met, just because they share some unremovable (believe me he has tried to remove it - many times!) permanent Body Art that's branded into their skin.. somewhere...on their bodies, and he is determined to challenge, then ultimately overthrow, the Law that decrees you will become bound to your Soulmate from the very second you locate them.

29 year-old jaded (hopeless!) romantic Blaine Anderson is an equally gorgeous (though with a much more dapper and sweet side) Broadway star who lives in Upper Manhattan, New York, and is currently playing Elder Cunningham in The Book Of Mormon. He has had a similarly privileged upbringing to Sebastian, albeit in the US, and is not in the best place in himself. when our story begins

He (spectacularly!) failed to find his Soulmate after a long, long, long and arduous quest to do so, then gave up on men completely after his Fiancé Kurt, with whom he shared a tumultuous, unequal and in truth pretty freaking toxic six year long relationship, finally broke off their engagement. His heart is bruised and battered, and his self-esteem is in tatters, after Kurt slowly but surely eroded the very essence of Blaine and dulled the shine of everything about him that made him so unique and so vibrant….

...then fucked Blaine's co-star and ran off into the sunset with him…

What will happen when (via Grindr - of course!) these two polar opposites discover they are intrinsically and irreversibly linked? Can twin flames bound by law to meet, then pursue a life together, no matter how much the Fates seem to be weighted against them, make a go of things without killing each other in the process? Can an arranged (by law!) relationship ultimately beat the odds and lead to a happy ever after?

Well..you're going to have to read their story to find that out, but rest assured it will not be short on drama, heartache, pining, Angst, laughter, happiness, many hilarious and absolutely NOT so hilarious misunderstandings, and of course…a great deal of good old fashioned…

…hot sex! Oh, yes, and romance and Love of course, too! 😏😉

The unexpected news is - this is actually going to be turned into a fic! Yes..despite still having been unable to update my three ongoing Longfics, due to my increased commitments, I sat down last night to write a short bio to accompany this graphic, and..it took on arms and legs. So yes. A fic it shall become. Either a One-Shot or at most four chapters, but definitely a fic. Soon... And now that I have managed to make time to write, I'm determined to update my other three fics by New Year's Eve! 

Wishing everyone a fantastic 10 Days Of Seblaine, and also an amazing 12th (ahhhhh!) Seblainiversary on 8th November!

10 Days Of Seblaine 2023

6th November 2023 : Day 1: Soulmates/Soulmarks

@seblaineworld

[oakbuggy]

hey, just some art questions if you don't mind?

1. is nsfw art in anyway different to draw compared to non-spicy art? Do you find the process easier or harder? More fun maybe?💀

2. do you start your pieces with the guidelines, and shapes as a base before you outline for the specific positions/poses?

3. how long have you been drawing for? Do you prefer digital or pencil?

Apologies if that is too much, I love art, especially fanart 🥹 and I love your art style so much.

yea I don't mind, I'm honestly very flattered!

1: Yes, NSFW is way harder for me because I am so new to it! I have to look for more references and spend longer sketching than usual. The process is usually easier because,, it's just naked bodies rather than having to deal with clothing/fabric. I don't do anything too arduous for the stuff I'm posting here

2: I will show u!

I start with a v rough sketch. If I'm feeling lazy, it could look even simpler than this, but usually I would refine it to this level

I put in color flats and shadow flats, and put the shadows on multiply and lower opacity

And then I just paint on top! I prefer making corrections and adding details in this stage, it's the most fun part. I add further corrections and add other things like eye shines and Neteyam's stripes and then it's done 👍👍👍

3. I've not drawn for long, I've just graduated art school earlier this year! Now I'm recuperating at home for a bit as I deal with my post-grad depression 👍👍👍 I prefer digital but for works that need more preparation/ideation, I start with pencil.

hope this helps and keep loving art! It is hard but it can be fun 👍

[songofsilentechoes]

/)///v///(\ talk about the blocks! :D

"Ah yes, the blocks."

"Well, like all poros, they're paradoxically difficult to predict....and alarmingly easy to predict. Difficult to handle....and extraordinarily easy to handle."

"They're blobs of snuggles and fluff that radiate love...but in cube form in the case of that particular fluft. I think they're babies of the calmer, more serious ones I sometimes see on Ray'je's island. As babies, they're curious about their world...and react to everything as if it's the first time they've seen it....probably because it is."

"They're also very VERY impressionable...especially for bad habits and propaganda. No, I don't know how they understand the radio broadcasts. But they can and will decide that every news broadcast means the end of the world. When that happens, they seem to huddle up and barricade their nests, which until recently, meant my apartment."

"Also be careful about breathing a word of any problem, regardless of how mundane, in their presence. They WILL see it as the biggest problem facing them, panic and bunker down....or try and solve the problem. And before you say 'they're babies, what harm could they do?', consider the arduous process of returning large amounts of gold and jewels they took, borrowed and conned from all my friends back simply because I was a little light on funds that week, or was dreaming about purchases that I hadn't saved up for."

"No. I wasn't going to keep money I hadn't earned."

"A-anyway. They're well-meaning, but it can often result in disproportionate chaos. So...keep that in mind."

"On a lighter note, they're pretty easy to placate. I think they seek out snuggles and snax. Yes, I'm serious. I think all the panic and bunkering down is all because they see it as a threat to how they get snuggles and snacks...and so they make the nest feel safe, and attempt to help whoever they're bonded to in the way they think is best.....but they are only babies."

"That being said, I'm not sure if grown poros behave that much differently. I know Koko and Achara know poros better than me. Oba Chiasa seems to know just what to tell them, too."

[whatwhywhowherewhen]

Prompt / Fix-It AU for MDZS & TGCF Crossover

In the AU, the Burial Mounds were left / gathered in order to hide the entrance to The Ghost Realm at some point after tgcf. Most anyone thrown in dies immediately and then joins the city or has their spirit released by hand. Very limited grief on Hua Cheng's (or his husband's) part because they would have been killed regardless

Except This One Kid.

Whether Hua Cheng notices Wei Wuxian the first "visit" or only after he causes a far greater ruckus bringing the Wen Remnants in (or during the first siege), he gets his story (because if anyone could pry the full thing it'd be Crimson Rain Sought Flower) and thinks:

"This guy is the same kind of self-sacrificing rebel with a heart of gold as Gege"

And decides to keep him. Yes, like a pet. WWX assumes he'll have to earn his keep or pay him back eventually but in reality the entertainment and reminder of his husband is plenty. Hua Cheng does not say this, because Hua Cheng is an asshole to anyone but his Gege

Xie Lian immediately reminds WWX of his Shijie cause he's nice and has a sweet + humble demeanor. WWX probably reminds XL of the Wind Master's engaging and accepting nature. Whether WWX keeps enough distance to avoid HC feeling jealous would depend entirely on if he knows who XL is + WWX's emotional state.

XL takes one look HC's newest find and can't decide if he'd rather WWX be their new apprentice or new kid. HC can't say no to his Gege either way

From here there are two routes:

1: XL goes "oh I know stuff about cultivating without access to spiritual energy" and stuffs WWX with protection (from people and damage from resentful energy) talismans in the mean time. Thus begins the arduous and long (13yrs maybe???) process of WWX re-cultivating a gold core with the new methods from Xie Lian

2: In the spirit of the immense and somewhat hilarious power difference between MXTX's novels, XL just... gifts WWX a new core. He gives him spiritual energy and helps him spin it til it sticks. WWX's system was already primed for a golden core and should be otherwise undamaged so... why not?

HC gives WWX tips on how to keep your head while full of resentful energy + all kinds of ghostly tricks.

Once HC realizes WWX isn't going to spontaneously die (the way humans are meant to in the Burial Grounds) and he didn't make any deals or bets with him he really has no excuse to keep him in Ghost City.

He gently deposits the weirdest and wildest mortal he's ever met in Yiling and sends him on his way. Not without a spiritual tool / talisman / whatever to instantly bring him back to the Ghost City of course. He claims it is from his husband. WWX already has a magical panic button from XL, so he knows this is a lie. Hualian expect letters.

The greatest conflict in WWX's life from that point on is trying to convince Hualian to accept the massive debt he's sure he owes them while they refuse on the basis of being Actual Immortals (they do not need it) and Decent People (they don't save lives to be repaid)

[thegoblinwitchqueen]

🌟HEAR YE,HEAR YE!🌟

COMMISSIONS STATUS|OPEN|

50% OFF “Sadie Bee has ❤️🪱” SALE!

So, a dog we rescued was found to have heart worms after the rescues’ first attempt with deworming was unsuccessful. As heart worms are extremely difficult to remove, Sadie will need to start the very long and arduous process of treatment. While I’m lucky enough to be able to pay for the treatment at this time, any commissions I receive will help go towards the bills and lighten the burden of paying out of pocket.

In no way am I begging or demanding that I be commissioned! It would just help us. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. NO GUILT!

🌟EMAIL OR DM ME 4 Inquiries!🌟

I have more examples of my art on my #my art tag on my tumblr account and on my IG @/wtchface

.:|EXAMPLES|:.

|BUST|

|HALF|

|FULL|

Thank you! 🌟

[ask-dcf]

Mod ask here

So I saw an old reblog you did once

And I gotta ask

Have you met your gf in person now

Sorry that I don’t know yes or now yet

Main Mod: We sadly have not as of now. We do know how we look. We have had video messages and we know where eachother live and all the personal stuff including our families. My mom has even spoken to her a few times. Sadly despite years being together with our anniversary coming soon we still haven’t been able to meet irl. We are working towards it though. Especially me with me putting money I save up for hopefully getting my own house near her. Which she ok with. All and all we both working hard to put money together to hopefully start a life together. QwQ

Gf mod @theyoshimister: "I have seen my BF's face via voice calls, I know his current location as well as his family. Honestly, I wish he lived closer by, especially when I have my weaker moments. But, with the plans we have, it'll come into fruition and I can't wait for it. To be frank, I still find it unbelievable that I have someone like him in my life, but he's just the sweetest person I've met. I'm very thankful to have him and I await the day where I can finally hold him in my arms. But, as he stated above, we are still working towards finally meeting IRL. It is a long, arduous process, but it will all be worth it in the end. "

One day we will be with eachother. For now. We simply have a screen between us. Love and bless to my honey boo qwq

[hpowellsmith]

sorry if this has been asked already but when making a game do you usually do coding first? super excited for honor bound btw!

There is a more detailed answer about this I think... somewhere... but Tumblr search is a whole thing so no worries! And thank you for your well wishes about Honor Bound 💖

(I need to index my posts or something when I have a minute)

But in a nutshell, yes I usually do. For a small game like the Honor Bound playable prologue, or the short bonus IFs I did to tie in with Creme and Royal Affairs, I did the code and prose at the same time - mostly because although there's branching and recorded variables, there aren't many (or any) stats involved. And just because they're smaller and more manageable.

My process for my CoG games is:

High level, broad outline of the whole project (required for project to be greenlit)

(for Honor Bound, which is the first time I've done this) notebook outline broadly sketching out the shape of the first half of the game. In Honor Bound's case I've done up to and including Chapter 6. I think I'll do this again in the future because it was really useful for getting a proper sense of where I was headed

Then chapter by chapter:

notebook outline sketching out the chapter's scenes and large-scale branching

code the chapter with placeholder text including all stat changes, tests, variable recording etc

as I go (ideal) or after having left it too long so it's more arduous (less ideal), check for any bugs that can be caught with automated testing

Play through to get a very general sense of pacing and spot any glaring continuity issues

Use automated testing to check difficulty and power balance

Write the prose

Playtest and edit

Check difficulty and power balance again because I'll have often tweaked stat changes or tests during writing and editing

Rinse and repeat

I'll diverge from the outline when needed or if it's getting too complicated, usually at the coding stage. Then I'll often tweak things and add things in (often adding characterful moments, sometimes changing stuff that doesn't flow how I thought it would). Usually by the time I'm editing the prose, I'm not making big scene-affecting changes because I've had the opportunity to do that earlier on.

It becomes less structured when it comes to larger-scale playtester feedback (ie once I've posted a demo update, or am doing beta testing) but I try to deal with bugs first, then larger-scale edits, then smaller ones. For Royal Affairs beta I started off trying to kind of... do all the changes at once and realised very quickly that for my sanity I needed to do it in a more organised way!

This isn't how everyone does it or the best way or anything, but it's what I've settled into over the years.

[republicsecurity]

Heroes at the Show

The cadets, clad in their red armored exosuits, moved with a practiced grace that bespoke both discipline and rigor. Their faces were exposed, revealing freshly shaved heads, a symbol of uniformity and efficiency. Their youthful features held an air of determination, reflecting the arduous training they had undergone.

The exhibits around them told the story of the Paramedic Corps: from their earliest days of service to their advanced technological developments. There were holograms depicting paramedics in action, providing medical aid in the most challenging conditions. Display cases held their iconic chastity cages, symbols of their dedication to service. The various iterations of their uniform, from the classical red flightsuits to the cutting-edge tactical armor, were meticulously arranged.

Visitor: (curious) Excuse me, young man. I couldn't help but notice your attire. You're quite different from the other visitors here. May I ask about your uniform and, well, your shaved head?

Cadet: (politely) Of course, sir. I'm a paramedic cadet. We wear this armor as part of our training, and the shaved head is also part of the process. It's designed to make us more efficient in the field.

Visitor: (intrigued) Paramedic cadet, you say? That sounds fascinating. What's it like to be a part of the paramedic corps?

Cadet: (thoughtful) It's a challenging but rewarding experience, sir. We undergo rigorous training to ensure we can respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively. Our conditioning prepares us for the demands of the job, and the uniform helps us perform our duties optimally.

Visitor: (inquisitive) Conditioning? Could you tell me more about that?

Cadet: (guarded) I'm afraid I can't go into too much detail, sir. It's a necessary part of our training, but it's also confidential. What I can say is that it helps us stay focused and disciplined.

Visitor: (respectful) I understand, young man. Your dedication to your duties is commendable. And your uniform, while imposing, certainly has its function, I'm sure.

Cadet: (with pride) Thank you, sir. Our platoon has been working hard, and our instructors decided to reward us with this visit to the museum today. It's a chance for us to learn more about the history and traditions of the paramedic corps.

Visitor: (impressed) That's wonderful to hear. It seems like you and your fellow cadets are dedicated to your training. And being in a tactical stream, I imagine you're quite accustomed to wearing these suits regularly?

Cadet: (nodding) Yes, sir. In the tactical stream, we're trained to live and work in these armor suits. They become like a second skin to us, and it's essential for our roles in the field. We wear them most of the time during our training.

Visitor: (curious) Living in these suits sounds challenging. How do you manage?

Cadet: (matter-of-fact) It does take some getting used to, sir, but our training is thorough. We learn to perform everyday tasks and even eat, sleep, and communicate effectively while wearing them. It's all part of the preparation to serve as paramedics.

Instructor: (approaching the cadet and the visitor) Everything alright here, Cadet?

Cadet: (respectful) Yes, Instructor. This visitor was just curious about our training and equipment, so I was explaining it to them.

Instructor: (nodding) Very well, Cadet. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. And, sir, if you'd like a guided tour of the museum, we have knowledgeable instructors available to provide more in-depth information about our history and traditions.

Visitor: (appreciative) Thank you, Instructor. That sounds like an excellent opportunity to learn more.

Instructor:(knowing) Ah, you've noticed the room with the HUD emulation. Yes, it's designed to give you a taste of what it's like to see the world through our paramedics' eyes.

Over there, you can see the evolution of our tactical armor suits. It's a testament to how technology has advanced to keep our paramedics safe in the field.

And if you're feeling particularly adventurous, we have an exhibit that traces the evolution of the chastity cages. The pièce de résistance! Here, you can witness the fascinating history of our beloved chastity cages. From the early models that barely held things in place to the high-tech, AI-connected contraptions you all know and love.

[fastcarremovals2]

How To Get Highest Benefit For Damaged Cars: Cash For Car In Brisbane

Having a car that is in a bad way can be quite a heel. It uses your property in a worthless way, it does not appreciate, and finding a buyer willing to accept one that has been wrecked is almost impossible. Getting enough cash for cars in Brisbane might make it very difficult to find the right one.

This means that many Brisbane car owners do not have the luxury of trading their second-hand cars or selling them privately. All of which begs the question, how does one sell a wrecked vehicle without losing money and still make some?

Picture this: Your vehicle was involved in a collision and the restoration expenses are well above your reach. It's obvious to you daily, as it occupies your driveway and emits an obnoxious amount of lost value from the wasted space.

You feel it is still of some value but the idea of going through selling a car without flipping out beforehand is overwhelming. From listing the car to haggling with potential buyers and handling all of the paperwork — it can be a huge stress (especially when your car is anything but perfect). Moreover, it loses its value over time.

Then think about the aggravation and cost of fixing it up just to get rid of - when you could be using that same money as a small down payment on a lawn tractor. Even the repairs are not as big of an issue; they usually cost a lot to fix and take more time and there is no guarantee that you will recover your expenses in a sale.

What if I told you there is a way to sell your car for more money - and the managing process would be much quicker than selling it on Craigslist?

Solution

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Free Car Removal in Brisbane To Earn Extra Cash

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Tell Them the Condition: Let them know how poorly your vehicle is to make sure you get an honest quote. Deceptive information - can result in a lesser final offer upon inspection.

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Get your car: Except that there has to be nothing prepared (make sure you take all sorts of personal effects out) and have the applicable paperwork. It reduces time and last-minute confusion.

Conclusion

Selling a car with serious damage need not be an arduous task. Fast Car Removals to get cash for cars in Brisbane allows you an opportunity to scrap your junk car and get paid instantly, without having to fix it up or go through any hassle in selling. If you choose a good service, get multiple quotes, and give an accurate evaluation of your car's state; then you can make quite a profit in addition to clearing up that room on your driveway.

Do not allow a car that is already declining in value to continue; use the best pipe-pushing roller services and get some money back from it.