#sometimes quality art gets you in the right mood

[loveemagicpeace]

🦋Mercury & Communications🦋

Mercury in Aries - your way of expressing yourself is very direct and you can be harsh with your words. You focus a lot on topics that interest you. You can have a strong opinion when it comes to things that involve you. You can be very impatient when it comes to information and you want to know it right away. At times, your communication can be more aggressive and you don't like so many details. You use highly expressive language and throw a lot of slang into your speech.  You are not so attentive to things around you. Criticism or negative feedback can be taken personally. Still, they are not afraid of a fight or a challenge, on a mental level. They like to talk about sports. In life, they can be involved in many sports activities. Mercury-in-Aries people suffer from headaches, especially in a raucous and noisy atmosphere.

Mercury in Taurus- your way of communicating is more slow, monotonous. You like to have conversations (especially you like to talk about food, music, money, movies), I also noticed that they like debates that are of better quality and include rich content. They stubbornly stick to a certain opinion and give in only when they have good arguments for it. They like to talk about clothes or beauty in general. They also like to talk about nature or plants. These people rely on their senses when it comes to processing information. Smells, noises, and mood are all employed. Mercury in Taurus people have an overall pleasing manner of communicating. These natives learn best when they see real-world uses for the theories they’re trying to absorb. They will not talk with all people , but only with those they feel comfortable with. Taurus are often successful art and antique dealers.

Mercury in Gemini-your communication is very fast and variable. Also, your way of expressing yourself can be too fast for some people. You can absorb a lot of information, but you are not a person who would think about something for a long time. You can quickly change your mind and decide on something else. You like to change topics and get information from several different sources. Many times you are more interested in the opinions of others and can make decisions based on them. You can quickly get bored and replace your energy. Gemini people pick up more from their environment than most, and they can process information at lightning speed. At times there is a distinct lack of order in your life. You would make a wonderful debater, public speaker, or ac- tor, and you have lots of friends because of your infec- tious good humor.

Mercury in Cancer-your way of expressing yourself is usually emotional. A lot of your words come from emotions and how you feel at a certain moment. You put a lot of emphasis on family and their opinion. There can also be a mother here, who in some way affects how you think and communicate. You have to be careful not to rely too much on your mother's opinion. You like emotional conversations that cover many deeper topics. Most of all, you like to talk in a comfortable place, such as at home, on a comfortable chair, on the sofa, while drinking your favorite drink. You can quickly become emotional in a conversation and if someone hurts you, you can be rude with your words. that Mercury in Cancer natives will remember almost anything — from their own past, to your conversation two months ago. Mercury- in-Cancer people are successful as scholars, historians, teachers, and writers. You are likely to make a profit in real estate and may inherit money from the maternal side of your family.

Mercury in Leo- your way of communicating is fast but superficial. Many times, if you are not interested in the topic, you will no longer listen or give importance to it. Sometimes you can say things that are out of place and only later realize that you may have exaggerated. Your way of expressing yourself is also dramatic. You like to talk about others, gossip, love dramas. In conversation with others, you often find yourself in it. You are excellent at promoting ideas and getting their message across. These people can be very attached to their opinions, taking pride in their beliefs, which are often rather idealistic. You are also very confident in everything you say.  You have a sunny side that is always with you. Though you would rather play than work, you are determined to be successful.

Mercury in Virgo- your way of expressing yourself is stable, sometimes judgmental, firm, realistic, even political. You like to talk about serious topics. Many times the topics can be politics, the world, work or general happenings in everyday life. When you speak, you always tell everything in detail and you can go very deep into the details of certain things. You can also be conflicted when it comes to expressing opinions. Many times you can give advice to people even if they don't ask you for it (you always want to find a way to solve a problem). They generally pick up a lot of facts and figures, and learn their own trade well, but have trouble truly absorbing the knowledge they collect on a deeper level. Mercury in Virgo natives may appear humble at times, but they get quite protective when it comes to handling day-to-day affairs. A fault is your eagerness to take on too much work or too many projects. You wear yourself down, and at times become nervous and hypercritical. As a Mer- cury-Virgo you have a superb talent for creative crafts.

Mercury in Libra-your way of communicating is beautiful, gentle, warm, pleasant. You can talk to any person and you can create a way of talking to any person. Although you can be a bit judgmental at times. You can talk a lot about your partner and the relationship. The theme of love is primarily in the foreground with this Mercury. If you are interested in anything, it is the relationships of others or what is happening with others. You can also have the quick influence of others (which means that sometimes you think with the head of others or rely on what your partner says). Your partner's opinion can be very important to you. You are also always looking for harmony and peace in conversation. You are good at solving other people's relationships because you know how to look at things from an objective perspective. You are especially successful if you team up with a strong person who can direct you.

Mercury in Scoprio-your way of expressing yourself is through depth, emotion, directness, truth. You are always looking for the way to the truth, no matter what the situation is, you will always want to know the truth, because that is what will set you free in a way. You can have obsessive thoughts, and especially if you like something, you can only think about it for days. You like long emotional and deep conversations. You like to have a really open, real conversation with someone. You like it when the person tells you their secrets and that you can share a dark side with the person. You don't like small talk. You are direct and sometimes very harsh, especially if someone makes you angry or hurt. You can say the harshest things to a person without a bad conscience. Your way of communicating is also very passionate, inspiring and dedicated. You always know how to empathize with other people. You probably have a volatile temper, and Mercury-Scorpios are known for their biting sarcasm when crossed or upset. You have an emotional intelligence. You will fight for a cause even if it is hopeless, or sacrifice your time and ener- gies for someone you love.

Mercury in Sagittarius-your way of expressing yourself is very energetic, intellectual, optimistic and happy. You always know how to find the good side of a situation and you know how to see the key things in a conversation. You can help others with your words. You give good advice to others. You can also help others find their way. You are open-minded and honest. You're a life-long learner who loves discussing deep, philosophical questions. You also have an expressive nature and a great sense of humor, which often make you the life of the party. Your opinionated and honest personality can sometimes hurt peoples’ feelings, and your visionary way of thinking can make it hard for you to focus on small details. Your mind naturally absorbs new information, and you love pondering life’s deep questions. Some people find you too blunt and outspoken, but that quality springs from Sagittarius’s basic honesty.

Mercury in Capricorn- your way of expressing yourself is usually very realistic, serious and maybe sometimes more cruel. You can also have a pessimistic view. This makes you a practical person; your thoughts are more realistic and down to earth; and communication over concerned matters is precise and clear. You don’t waste time and get down to the point, earning people’s respect. You speak when you have something to say and choose your words carefully to ensure you appear well-spoken and knowledgeable. You can talk a lot about work and this could be the theme most of the time. Mercury-Capricorns often at- tain positions of leadership because they are so dependable and have an air of authority. Life is serious to Mercury-Capricorns and you see its dark side—though a redeeming trait is your dry sense of humor.

Mercury in Aquarius-your way of communicating can be very different from others. Many times you can emphasize things that involve society and friends. You can also look a lot at your friends and what they think about a certain thing. You are rebellious when it comes to your opinion. You can talk about very strange, unusual topics (such as: aliens, robots, etc.). You are intelligent, idealistic, humanitarian, open-minded, eccentric, and unconventional. • You spend a lot of time in the realm of your mind, and you’re always searching for logical, rational explanations for things. You love to analyze character and motivation, and with your finely tuned powers of observation are able to predict accurately how someone will react in a certain situation. Sometimes you may seem eccentric, for your ideas are ad- vanced and you also enjoy saying things that shock other people.

Mercury in Pisces- your way of expressing yourself is very poetic, dreamy, cute and loving. You can have a very friendly way of communicating with others and you never want to hurt other people. Many times you pay more attention to how others feel than how you feel. When you talk about a certain thing, you really get into it and your mind really opens up and you usually have a sparkle in your eyes. You like when someone listens to you and you are happy to talk about it. Because you can often be misunderstood, you don't like to talk to many people, but only to those who bring you warmth and give you the feeling that they understand you. You are also sensitive, imaginative, and open-minded. You think in colors, shapes, and feelings and express yourself through abstract ideas and art. ou prefer to live in your fantasies rather than deal with facts, logic, and details. You are big on feelings and impressions rather than words, trusting your inner voice to tell you what’s going on rather than what’s right in front of your face.

🎸For personal readings u can sign up here: https://snipfeed.co/bekylibra 🎸

-Rebekah🩷🧚🏻‍♀️

[thesuperiorrobin]

��� Love language

༯ quality time:

Damian has been alone for most of his life.

So he’s such a sucker for spending his free time with you.

Need help with school work? Damian putting his aside and rushes over to help you because he knows the lesson all to well.

Most of the time he’s busy so his time with you is very limited.

Been gone for weeks and the only time he’s free is training in the bat cave? He called you up so you can come over and watch it.

You two walk Titus together. Sometimes in silence or sometimes steering up conversations. It’s one of your guys favorite activities together

Second favorite (if your long in the relationship or are married) is bathing together. Nothing sexual or anything. Just you two together—washing each others hair as a simple gesture.

Loves baking with you. Baking new recipes with the help of Alfred sometimes.

Brushes your hair for you/ washes your hair for you during wash days.

Sometimes you two don’t have to be doing anything

Your presence alone puts him at ease.

༯ physical touch:

Damian’s physical touch comes from the lack that he never got growing up.

He’s also someone’s who isn’t really good at showing emotions but his physical touch makes up for it.

He didn’t understand it at first and thought that it was probably just something you just enjoyed (truth he enjoys it more then you)

He craves for your physical touch.

Please hug him, grab his hand, cuddle him, hold him in your arms. He craves it.

Had a shitty day at work/patrol? Your arms are open as soon as he gets home and doesn’t waste time in getting in your arms. Sleeping away the pissy and sour mood he’s been in

First time you hugged him, he didn’t really understood what was happening.

This feels nice he thinks and doesn’t let go until you do

Only in private, however in public you two are seen holding hands or pinkies

When he does it the feeling last forever.

Feeling down? He’ll rub your back in silence until your feeling a little better then before. A way of telling you that he right there if you need anyone to talk to

Exited about good news? He’s the first one to have his arms open waiting for a hug, Arms securely around your waist/back, swaying the both of you side to side. It’s the same if you’ve been having a shitty day

Overall just loves having you in his arms

Head over heels if it’s the other way around

༯ gift giving:

Damian is very crafty when it comes to art.

It’s also very obvious bc he’s an artsy person and can make stuff with his hands without struggling

He’ll make portraits of you and gives them to you.

Having a piece he made in your room for an anniversary. Still sitting above your bed till this day.

Loves making you paper flowers. Not the kind you make in kindergarten for Mother’s Day but the kind that should be but In a museum

When these flowers die that means my love for you has faded, he says you knowing that the flowers are fake and will never die. It’s cheesy but really cute.

But over time his gift are less self made and more bought later on in the relationship (when you two get married)

He will gift give you expensive jewelry. He has money. And tons of it it won’t effect him at all

Buys you matching sets so you two can match.

Take them. I got them especially designed to fit your taste love. Shame really because they look so good on you that you have to wear them.

Idk there’s just something about you wearing his initials around you finger on a metal ring that makes him go crazy sometimes.

[cookietastic]

You’re in art school right? Do you have any tips for making digital paintings like yours? They’re both hyper realistic and have a dream like quality to them that’s so amazing (also super excited for your prints, just ordered some!)

I graduated last year/that was my second degree :D!

A have a few things I can run down-

Photo reference. There are things I legit cannot get down right that I need photos for so my family ends up being my reference for things/I get photos from them doing poses I sometimes need.

If you can't get photo refs you can always use 3d models too to help with shadowing and where light should hit!

There's posemyart justsketchme -

Also anatomy4sculptors has some free photo scans and 3d models of the body

2. Pureref

Feel like no one talks about pureref enough but I like to make little refs and inspo boards before I draw! Plus it's like free

3. Thumbnailing

Omg please thumbnail. Like it's honestly a lot of fun cause you're not showing them really to anyone unless you need help picking but they're scribbles and doodles for you to know what you want your composition to look like or what the mood is gonna be

Again they don't have to be anything special could be stick-figures or whatever but it's to help you plan

4. Post-Work

I play around with curves and blurring so much like there's a lot that happens even after I finish comes sometimes I'm like "no I don't like these colors" and end up playing around with them more with curves and color balance

I made a tutorial about curves here! I also talk about the darken and light layer here too cause they're legit my favorite layer modes to play with and not a lot of people talk about them. I can't find my one talking about blurring+ noise(if anyone finds it please link it over :D)I might have to make a new tutorial on those- I think one of the things that gives it that dreamy feeling is the blur I use-

I like to keep things I don't want so much attention on blurred out/ and keep things I want you to grab your attention more in focus

also like using textures are fun too to add over art sometimes. It also makes like the art feel less sharp+ adding noise gives it that fuzzy look to it

I like make my own to add over or use some I got over the years! They're fun to slap on and have as overlay

5. Bug your friends lmao

I have bugged @chrispypapas in the middle of the before to ask him for help/to give me a second eye on things cause 1. Sometimes there's something you don't catch your friends do and tell you what to fix or 2. You're being overcritical and it's fine

I hope this helps :D!

[artsekey]

A Spectacular, Spooky Spectacle!

I feel like I always preface these little game recommendations with, 'I'm not a gaming blog, but...', so I'll spare you this time.

(This post is not in any way sponsored-- I just like highlighting games that really knock it out of the park!)

Beacon Pines is a well-paced choose-your-own-adventure game with a compelling narrative that delivers at every turn. You step into the shoes of 12 year old Luka only a few months after his mother goes missing. Armed with nothing but the help of his good friend Rolo, the sly wit of his newest neighbor Beck, and the power of Charms, it's up to him to unearth the truth behind their quaint town... and save it from catastrophic ruin.

Without spoiling anything, Beacon Pines is gameplay light. Instead, it takes it's cues from the visual novel genre... with a twist. The story unfolds as a narrator guides you through the various chapters, and through your journey you'll encounter branches where one word makes all the difference. That's where you come in! Using the collection of terms you pick up by exploring the world, you can radically alter the course of fate. You'll rarely get everything right on your first try, but don't worry-- even failure is rewarded with new clues, new threads of the mystery, and new hooks that will draw you further into the story.

Sitting at a runtime of 5-7 hours, Beacon Pines is short but satisfying. The art is bright, fun, and well-rendered. The characters are all well written, and the music perfectly encapsulates whatever mood the story demands-- whether it's the comfort of a slow morning or a warning of danger in the dark.

However, the thing that really sets Beacon Pines apart from other visual novels is the writing! The mystery is a fun romp that keeps you guessing, the "multiple paths" mechanic is executed so well that you never really feel like you've made a bad choice, and best of all, the characters and their interactions feel sincere. I found myself smiling, laughing, sometimes stunned silent, sometimes teary-eyed... Though the game is short, the world is just deep enough for the story and it's characters to swim.

Beacon Pines is really just... sweet and genuine. I think that's the best way to describe it. If you need something to whittle away a few hours and get away from it all and like story-driven games, give Beacon Pines a go! It was recently on sale for $4.00, but it usually retails for $20.00.

For reference, other games I love that I'd put in a similar category (note, not the same-- I'm mostly looking at high-quality narrative games here! I'm providing this so you can decide if my taste aligns with yours!):

Firewatch

Oxenfree

Disco Elysium

TellTale Games (Tales of Monkey Island, Tales from the Borderlands, etc)

Inside

Night in the Woods

Slay the Princess

[mouwrites]

hi hi! can I request some headcanons about the ninja (+pixal, if you're up for it) having an artist s/o? okay thank you, also I love your writing!

Oooh yess!! Where my artist ninjago enjoyers at⁉️ I’ve come to nourish you <3

Ninjago - Ninjas (+ Pixal) with an Artist s/o

Jay

Immediately asks if you can draw/paint/etc him

If you agree, he will ask again in the future

….honestly he’ll probably keep asking even if you say no

What can he say? He wants to inspire you ;)

If you have art block, he immediately jumps to pose dramatically or arrange a bowl of fruit or something

He’s equally enamored with the quality of your work and the fact that it came from your hands

He loves all your work, even the pieces you decide to scrap/re-do

“What are you doing?? That was perfect!”

“Jay? How long have you been standing there-”

On that note, he loves to watch you work

Even when you don’t know he’s watching… (he’s a little obsessed)

But the plus side of this is that he knows the exact products you use, and he can see when you’re running low

He makes sure to replenish your stocks for you :) so you won’t ever have to worry about running out mid-project

He also makes sure to flaunt your work as much as possible, especially the pieces he “inspired”

He truly thinks you’re the best artist in the world, and he WILL fight someone over it

Cole

I see Cole as a pretty artsy guy himself, so he’d be thrilled to have an artsy s/o

You might not expect it, but he’s really in tune with his feelings, so to me it makes sense

He’s not quite as artsy as you, but he knows how to appreciate it

He’s more into the performing arts himself, but he has no less respect for other types of art

He’ll totally arrange work sessions for you both, which vary depending on the vibe you’re working with

Feeling like doing something a little dark or moody? Dramatic piano. Candles. Wine/grape juice in wine glasses.

Feeling colorful? Open windows. Flowers in vases. Candy and fruit. Maybe some cartoons playing in the background.

Point being: he knows how to get a vibe going

He really loves to work alongside you, even if you’re not doing the same thing

Sometimes he tries to sketch or paint, but more often he’s just watching you work or practicing moves

(You guys totally have a shared studio btw; wood floors and barre for him, easel/supply cabinet/whatever you need for you)

You guys definitely help each other out too

He’ll teach you a few moves so you can be his dance partner every now and again, and he’s more than happy to be your muse in return

He doesn’t really do performances or anything (dance is just a side hobby), so he has all the more respect for you if you publicize your work

He loves all your work, but he’s also a great source of constructive criticism

“I like this one. It’s darker than your other pieces, though, isn’t it? More drab.”

“Yeah, that’s kinda what I was thinking. I think I was just in a mood when I made it.”

Kai

He’ll make requests, but mostly for things he thinks would be cool

“What if you did one with, like, a car shooting flames from its exhaust pipes? Oh! And the driver is super handsome with a flaming cape and swords and sunglasses that are made of pieces of the sun!”

“That is insane. …I’m starting right now.”

He really admires your art, and he’s honestly a bit jealous of your skill

He actually has a pretty creative mind, just not the means to express it

So he’ll be shy about it, but eventually he asks if you can give him some pointers

He doesn’t want to keep asking you to bring his sharks flying in jets over volcanoes to life forever, after all

He’s gotta learn to be independent!

So he’ll quietly join you while you work, watching you closely and trying to follow along

He gets frustrated when he isn’t instantly as talented as you, and you have to laughingly assure him that skill takes time

He only gains more respect for you as he tries to stay calm

He learns to truly admire your work this way

And with his admiration came a tenfold increase in support

However you share your art, he’s the #1 supporter

Posting online? He’s already liked, commented, and shared on 7 different platforms. At a showcase? He’s dressed sharply, stationed not-so-inconspicuously in front of your piece(s) and getting others to talk about them

Zane

He also has a deep appreciation for art

He doesn’t always understand non-logical things, but art has a way of resonating with him

So to have a partner who makes art…

It adds a whole new level of emotional depth to your relationship

You already make him feel complex things, so seeing art that’s from you is truly an experience

The wistfulness he gets when looking at normal art is only amplified when he remembers that your hands produced it

He likes to be with you when he admires it, squeezing your hand while he takes in the little details

He’s a quiet admirer, but he’ll absolutely attend any events you’re featured in/support any online presence you have

He never gets tired of looking at your work; or looking at you work, for that matter

If you let him, he’ll watch you work

He’s dead silent, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on how easily you get creeped out

Eventually, when you finish, he’ll stand up and join you at your side, admiring the final product

You know he likes it when he reaches for your hand with a smile, letting you rest your head against him

The most you’ll get verbally is “it’s beautiful,” but trust me, he feels so much more deeply about the piece (and you <3)

Lloyd

Lloyd is more curious than anything when he finds out you’re an artist

What kinds of art do you do? Can he see your work? Have you always liked art?

He’s eager to see your work, but he’s not sure he can “appreciate” it properly

You have to reassure him that there’s no one way to “appreciate” art, and however he feels about it, that’s just how he feels

Your response only increases his interest

He ends up getting more into art because of you

The art of appreciation, if you will

He wants to be able to understand your work more so that he knows how to support you

He mostly spends hours just staring at your work, trying to notice the little details

He’d love to watch you at work, too, if you’ll let him

He asks questions all the time, but still tries not to annoy you

He’s actually already a natural at “appreciating” art, but the fact that he’s always trying to learn only makes him better at it

So you can do nothing but smile while he tilts his head, carefully formulating his next question

They’re surprisingly deep at times:

“Do you think this piece uses smoother shapes because you were feeling relaxed, so you moved more slowly? Or perhaps you were just emulating your calmness subconsciously..?”

“That could be it. I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“Oh, sorry, am I overanalyzing? Sorry-”

“No, no, you’re totally right.”

You’ll ruffle his hair affectionately, and he’ll wrap an arm around your shoulder while he continues to examine your piece :]

Nya

I’m gonna be honest, I don’t see Nya as the type to get all deep over the meaning of art

Like, if it’s pleasing to the eye she’ll appreciate it, but she doesn’t think about it too much

It’s just too abstract for her tastes; the pseudo-reasoning of art critics gets on her nerves

But for your work she makes an exception

Well, not really an exception—she doesn’t take to pseudo-reasoning

She knows you, she knows your feelings, so when she sees your work, she sees a piece of you in it

It’s something she doesn’t see in other art pieces; she doesn’t know the artist, so it’s nothing more than a visual piece for her

But with your pieces, she can dig deeper because she knows deeper information

That’s why she loves your work, and why she loves watching you work

You’re the only artist that makes her feel like she really understands art, and for that she appreciates you

(She still thinks that most critics talk out of their asses though)

On that note, she will fight your critics. She will hunt them down and make them regret ever trying to “understand” your work

“Tch, look at this idiot. He doesn’t even know what he’s talking about! He doesn’t know you!”

“Nya, he’s complimenting my work-”

“But he doesn’t understand it!”

Honestly you think it’s a little funny how she’s unintentionally become one of those critics who argue about a piece’s meaning

Only for you though ;)

Pixal

She has a vast trove of knowledge, but feeling is something she often struggles with

There are few things that actually give her profound emotions

Your art is one of those things

The fact that it came from you, that your hands crafted it…

It stirs something in her, and suddenly the shapes and colors come to life

She asks you about it often, trying to understand

“Why is it… calming?”

“Well, I suppose I used some pretty muted colors, and the imagery is kinda peaceful… I dunno, does it calm you?”

“Yes. It makes me feel calm.”

Obviously you’re proud of her for better recognizing her emotions

And she’s proud of herself!!

Your art helps her understand a part of her that she’s only beginning to explore

And, since it comes directly from you, she credits you with the help :)

She loves to see your finished work, but she also finds herself mesmerized by your creative process

Watching the piece come together, each motion bringing it closer to completion, helps her understand the art itself

She tells herself that it helps her understand her feelings, too

Even though she knows that not every piece is dedicated to her, she always thanks you for showing her your work <3

Thanks for this request!! And thank you for reading, take care you little rockstars <33

(divider by saradika)

[sprinklenoodles]

Basically though, I binge-read ALL of A Legacy will Be Crowned Like, ALLLLL that was there so far and my gosh am I hating myself for not reading it sooner! I was a fool! A looooser!!! No joke, I was just hooked, enthralled. Also, since I am far too excited to put my thoughts into a coherent structure, some other disjointed thoughts are the following: 1. Kijo Togami. Even without the fic note at the end of his introduction chapter mentioning how he was fun to write for you, I could just sense it OOZING all over his dialogue and actions. Really like this interpretation of his character. He sucks yet he fascinates me. Makes me wish I had a consistent design for him so I can just draw him. 2. Byakuya is really fun to follower here. Even with knowing the end result of the competition, the fun lies in his decisions, how he solves problems and the said problems he faces. Also, it helps that, due to his age, one is already bound to route for him as the underdog of the family, even with the trajectory of how he preforms in the competition being clear to the reader. Like, even though we KNOW he's not going to fail due to the nature of the canon as this is a prequal, one can still worry about him and his wellbeing. I like that a lot! You fond a good balance with that since a pitfall that can occur is that the reader isn't invested with the main character because they already know what will become of them. Also, one other thing I wanna add is that I like how he's not written in a belittling way or as an over-competent super genius. He's still a kid but it's also apparent he has exceptional qualities that make him different from the others but not annoyingly different 3. The siblings. Though there isn't too much to say, I like just their being. There isn't much info on all of them but it fits since we're following Byakuya. We get small details though. Do wish I knew what they'd look like cus I am just at a loss still. Also, I liked Byakuya's dynamic with a "certain character" I don't wanna spoil btw for those who are just seeing this, so I will just say "that one prick" and those who know will know B] 4. I know I already mentioned Kijo but I just LOVE the staging of those intermission chapters where he's talking with Aloysius all sinister with a glass of wine. Like, he's giving diabolical energy with just a hint of camp that makes him so fun to read. And, I just adore his remarks to Aloysius, very cold, uncaring. How he clearly tears the butler down with his sharp words and the showcase of Aloysius's character with how he handles this. Cus, he's been around as Kijo's main butler for ages and it shows! Also, I swear. If I didn't have art block at the time I'm writing this, and could draw some backgrounds, I'd SO draw a detailed, colored piece of Kijo sitting in his fancy chair, turned away from Aloysius as he monologues, eyes intent on the screens watching the contestants. Like MMM I LOVE IT!!! It's so moody and I can just feel the atmosphere oozing off the page!! AAAAH!! Also, mentioning it now, while reading, to set the mood, I listened to some Pokemon music. And, since why not, here's what I listened to Here is Number 1 - listened at the beginning before it got epic. basically the first chapter only AND here is Number 2 - was a general listen. something eery but not horror like AND, my favorite Number 3 - THIS GAVE ME THE SHIVERS WHEN I READ CHAPTER 9 MY GOOOOOSH! WHY DOES THIS FIT SO WELL FOR KIJO?! Or at least, I fits for me at least! I could be wrong though! You can decide for yourself if it does!! Dunno if it's just be but my gosh and I just aaah! I can't even word it right cus I'm too busy being so hyped for this! Got the metaphorical chills!! Will totally draw art of this like, sometime. Might take me ages and I totally have to get better at backgrounds in order to draw these set pieces but like, yes!!!!!!

AHHHH. Got so excited while reading this!!! Thank you SO much.

But lemme go into what u said.

1. Kijo- he really does just suck. Guy couldn't care less about his children unless they're his heir. But also, he's entertaining. The stupid dude is just like that.

2. Byakuya- He really is the underdog, though he refuses to believe that. The thing is, he does think he is better than his siblings- he is destined to become heir- yet he can't exactly show it to them. He knows that they're physically stronger- he's a scrawny 11 year old.

But since he isn't heir just yet, he is not that overconfident. He knows that he needs to work hard to become heir. Plus, his siblings aren't idiots (for the most part) They're Togami's, and just cuz he is gonna be the heir, doesn't mean that they couldn't prose a problem, like a certain somebody.

3. The siblings- Yeah, there isn't much known about them since Byakuya simply... doesn't care. He sees them as his competitors, nothing more. Unless they become a thorn in his path to become hei, he just doesn't think about them unless the situation calls for it.

Like I said, he doesn't (fully) underestimate them but that doesn't mean he ever focuses on them. Their looks aren't really described since Byakuya couldn't care less about that for the most part.

I do have small descriptions for all of them tho if you're interested! Have a little page in a document with just a wee bit of info about each sibling. That also includes which THH character they represent.

4. The intermissions were also some of my fav things to write. Just seeing Kijo's thoughts on everything and how his... behaviour towards Byakuya changes a wee bit with every chapter is just very fun to write. And Aloysius goes perfectly with this since there is just such a big power gap between them which leads to Kijo being much more open.

And Kijo does trust Aloysius- in his eyes, he's the best servant possible. Doesn't change the fact he just sees Aloysius as a servant though... Poor dude.

But glad you liked it so much!!! For some reason, people really like it, despite it being such a small fic in my eyes. Can't wait to see what amazing art you come with once your artblock is gone! Be sure to take your time :D

[mrs-snape5984]

“As long as I'm with you, I've got a smile on my face…”

“Save your tears, it'll be okay. All I know is you're here with me…” (“Here with me” by D4vd)

Suffering from ME/CFS makes me feel like my whole world is falling apart in front of my eyes. Since I’ve already lost so much joy and so many abilities due to this devastating disease, my continuing loss seems to increase even further.

As some of you might know, do I love to write my own stories about Severus and Julia just as much as I enjoy using my tumblr blog as some kind of journal, whenever I’ve commissioned another artwork. It’s my way of rolling out a red carpet for the artists of Snapedom…it’s my way of honouring them for their talent in their profession. Commissioning those amazing people and letting them make my ideas and fantasies come to life, is my very own manner of coping with my physical and emotional pain.

And now, this coping mechanism seems to crumble into pieces as well as everything else, that I’ve already lost! It hurts me to admit, that my brain fog takes advantage of my capability to create vivid images with my words. My thoughts are getting blurry and chaotic. I’m struggling to find the right words to express my emotions (it’s even worse in my native language German than in English!!)…and this scares me to hell!

My mind was the only place, where I could find some shelter from my infuriating and terrifying reality of losing myself to ME/CFS. What if I forfeit my only - just barely existing- talent now?? How should I flee this nightmare of existence if writing wouldn’t be an option anymore?! How should I express my gratitude towards all those marvellous artists of Snapedom, who are all weaving my emotional comfort blanket with each piece of their art?!?

I don’t want to give up on my writing…and I won’t…even though my pride would probably fade away with each badly written chapter of my fictions…and with each unworthy post on my blog. I must admit, that I’m already acknowledging the loss of quality. 🥺

I found an inspiring poem about the importance of staying resilient, no matter how difficult the hardships of life might become, and I want to share it with you:

"KEEP GOING" (Better known as "DON'T QUIT") by Edgar A. Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and debts are high, And you want to smile but have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but DON'T YOU QUIT!

Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won if he'd stuck it out, Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You might succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up, When he might captured the victor's cup.

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown,

Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint on clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

My dear @mmad-lover, I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for your dedication to this stunning piece of art and believe me, it was worth every single second of waiting! Paula, I was incredibly touched to hear, that my request seemed to be something special, something personal to you. I can assure you, that, indeed, all of my ideas have a profound meaning to me and I’m glad that you’re such an empathetic person, who sensed that particular importance of your art to me. Your devotion to this drawing is palpable in every single detail, every line of your brushes. You created exactly the mood, that I wished for Severus and Julia. It doesn’t matter that the world is burning to the ground around them, they will always have each other’s backs! Just like I’m relying on Severus for more than 21 years now. Thank you for everything, you precious soul! I’m glad that I met you and I hope, we’ll stay in touch. 🥹

🖤Severus & Julia🖤

🖤Sevy & Jules🖤

[cyborg-franky]

Prompt: hello friends! thank you for providing us with such a fun event, can it be April already? 🤧 if anyone of you feels inspired from it, can i request grocery shopping headcanons with Law, Thatch, Sanji and Robin? like would they scold you for buying too many sweets or do they leave you at the checkout to fetch something they forgot and you panic like when you did when your parents did the same? lol just thinking out loud 🤣 i’m sure i will love everything you come up with! thanks a lot!!

SFW

Repost of mine from libary of ohara

Chaos, she lives for it.

She will let you get whatever you want, she doesn’t mind.

If it’s Halloween she’ll add almost every decoration she can find in the store, deal with it, this is your life now.

100% takes all the free samples, she has many hands, a sample for each right?

She enjoys watching badly behaved kids run around and trip over, the delight on her face when the little shit walks into something.

A fun person to shop with, will always coax you into shopping at strange times of night because that’s when all the lunatics come out, she enjoys being around ‘interesting’ people despite how you cling to her when the guy arguing with the can of baked beans makes eye contact with you.

Neither of you is going to be the one that reminds the other you need more than coffee and Halloween decorations for substance.

BELOW CUT - LAW - SANJI - THATCH

-Every time he hears a child scream you can feel he has this look on his face even if you can’t see it. - Is the type to��move someone’s cart if it’s in the middle of the lane. - Law is already mentally done with the trip the second you set foot in the place. - Hears a child crying and just nods his head and mumbles ‘mood’ under his breath. - You have to bribe him with coffee to get him in and to shop. - Has very few opinions on things but will be vocal if he doesn’t like something. - Tries his best not to throw hands at the next person who gives him and his tattoos a shitty look. - Sometimes you decide to leave him on the magazine row and do the shopping yourself. - It takes you both as a pair two hours of him dragging his feet and being unhappy to shop whereas it takes him five minutes by himself. - Just rooms everything into the cart regardless of if you need it.

Has like five shopping lists.

Spends like an hour caressing the melons and other produce to make sure he’s getting the best.

Will fight to the death with the man at the fish counter over prices.

Will fight to the death with the cheese guy if he thinks he’s being cheaped out on quality.

Will fight to the death with the meat guy who cut a piece with too much fat.

Just expect a battle over everything.

Also mansplains all the wines as you pass them, he gives you like an hour-long ‘pros and cons’ of this wine versus this when all you wanna do is get smashed this weekend on the £2.99 bottle of red with the clip art font on the front.

You can have whatever you want as long as he gets to check the label.

He will also fight you to the death if you pick up instant noodles or microwave meals.

Thatch is just an angel.

He might spend too long picking out bread, you notice how much his hair looks like a fancy loaf.

He can’t walk past the fruit section without picking up a pineapple and making a joke about Marco.

You beat him to it now, just to speed things along.

It’s you who needs to have a magazine to hand when he’s shopping in the hair care section.

He’s talking about how he needs like eight bottles of the £10.99 brand, or his hair will just not behave for him.

Puns, puns oh lord puns.

“We need to grab some buns” “I’ll give you some buns to grab” -EYEBROW WAGGLES IN 4D-

He’s fun though, he lets you have some bad things and treats as well as good choices.

Likes to use the cart to whiz along, enjoy a forty something year old man going ‘weee’

[juniefruit]

*~artist bf hyunjin~*

I'm in love with artist hyunjin like is there anything more perfect. no

Word count: 560

Artist / art student boyfriend hyunjin who thinks you’re a masterpiece. You’re his muse in every aspect. His gold round-frame glasses glint in the afternoon sun as he sits in his studio, contemplating his current work-in-progress. His crisp white blouse and coffee-colored slacks suit him so well. He looks angelic in the golden light rays. The room is littered with paint tubes and brushes tucked away into cups of all shapes and sizes. 

On the wall hangs his favorite portrait- of you. It was a heat of the moment decision months ago- he couldn’t wait until christmas or your birthday in order to present it to you. The strokes of paint along the canvas are subtle but hold so much attention to detail. The way your eyes glimmer and body flows in the 2-dimensional space washes a calm over you every time. You watch Hyunjin from the doorway in silence for a minute or two before he senses your presence and looks behind him frim the stool he was sitting on. No words are exchanged, but a simple smile as you lock eyes conveys the right message. Life can be so tranquil in moments like these- Knowing you’ve found love, and there’s no better way to show it than through the eyes of an artist. It’s the small things he notices about you that matter the most- his recollection of your favorite colors, artists, and art styles. 

Sometimes, he lets you watch him paint. He doesn’t mind when you ask him questions or make comments. He would never tell you to repress your thoughts. But, you might get paint splattered all over you, which leads to you grabbing some paint and poking it on the tip of his nose. 

Carries his sketchbook with him everywhere!! He loves to draw random things in public like people sitting on the subway or ordering coffee. When you’re together, it’s usually you though. 

You two frequent the art museum in town. Hyunjin holds your hand as you meander through the galleries. He notices which paintings you admire the longest- whether it be renaissance, contemporary, mid-century, surrealist, you get the idea. Once you enter the gift shop, he gets you stuff with the paintings you liked on them (postcards, magnets etc).

It’s also a possibility you go to those paint-your-own pottery places, or a guided group painting class. He’s always over-qualified for those, but at least it’s quality time well spent together. 

On another note, your house always has at least one fresh flower bouquet, courtesy of your boyfriend. His justification is always that they reminded him of something about you. For example, if you’re not having the best day, he’ll come home with blue-purple flowers that are meant to represent that feeling, to convey that he’s aware of your state. Or if it’s a bright summer day and you’re in a good mood, he’ll bring white and yellow flowers that represent happiness and laughter. 

Third date idea- going to the forest for a walk, then setting up a picnic in the meadow. You packed some dried fruits and nuts and a few drinks. It’s a perfect sunny day, and everything seems to be glowing. Birds chirp around you as leaves shimmer in the brisk wind. Hyunjin is wrapped up in sketching the scene in his book, as you take a deep breath and enjoy the tranquility. 

[ask-the-royal-absol]

👌

(Ish. God, I love it when you come to my streams. It's like a treat for me. I get so excited when I see you appear. You've joined a lot more of them recently which I just really love. A lot of the time, you type in stream chat. I totally get it. It's a mood. But I also enjoy when I get to hear your voice too. We've had some of great conversations. Lieftino real. The damn music from Monday's stream. When you and Hoodie were theorising about my blog. Fucking top tier. Of course I can't say whether you were both right or not. That'd be spoilers lol you've just got such funny things to say sometimes and I really value that. We've had some good laughs. When you talk about your blog, I'm always here for it. Like, fuck you can't just drop things and not expect me to want to know. Keeping me damn curious about Pikavee. Clearly going to be the evil mastermind of the blog. Obviously it's no pressure to join stream but it is such a pleasure when you do.

Now blog stuff. Fucking Lief. You really decided to present the world with a bastard and not expect me to fall in love with him? As an official aficionado of asshole characters, it's my duty to find them and love them. Like yes, you go fuck up someone's day with your quips. Do that. I just enjoy every post with Lief. He's such a complex character and I just jive with that. Me and complex characters my beloved. Let this little man have something good happen to him. And don't get me started on Pikavee. Big baby. She. Let her have nice things. I know damn well you're going to bully her in the future. I'm here to put a stop to that. She's in my custody now. Holds gently. Then again, that's probably a bad idea. I'm so damn curious as to where your story is going to go. I need more of it.

I absolutely love how you mainly focus on writing. Because your writing slaps. Give me that high quality dialogue. Gimme all of that. I get it takes a fuck ton of time to carefully craft each piece so it's well worth the wait when you do post something. And mmmm your art. Delicious. It doesn't happen often. But when it does, I'm all over it. Like, yes. That's some good damn art right there. I just really love how you draw your characters. Art styling on everyone over here. I will appreciate it forever. Thank you for allowing my eyes to view it. When it happens, it's such a damn delight.)

[antigone-ks]

Lantern of Evil

It's been almost 5 years since I posted this on AO3, so I thought it was time to clean up some typos and put it onto Tumblr.

MASTERLIST

Summary:

“You’re in a good mood today,” Natasha commented, holding the phone steady as Tony and Sam devolved into a slap fight. “Haven’t seen you smile this much since, y’know.”

“This is quality entertainment,” Steve said. “You don’t get this every day.”

“No you do not.” She turned the phone toward Bucky, who whistled as he sprinkled sea salt over the meat. He looked up, winked directly at her, then tossed the rest of the seasoning like a long-haired Salt Bae.

“But you seemed pretty chipper when you snuck back in before the show started.”

***

Or, Steve gets de-serumed and falls in love over art, old movies, and taxi dances.

Rating: E for Explicity, Eventually

Tags: Steve Rogers/Reader; Plus Size Reader; Natasha Romanov (Marvel); Tony Stark; Sam Wilson (Marvel); James "Bucky" Barnes; background Bucky/Nat - Freeform; Skinny Steve Rogers; Pre-Serum Steve Rogers; Post-Serum Steve Rogers; De-Serumed Steve Rogers; all of the combinations of serums and Steves; Slow Burn; Awkward Flirting; Awkward reader; Awkward Steve Rogers; neither of these goobers know what they're doing; shameless Letterkenny reference; False Identity; horrible misunderstandings; love in art galleries; love on bridges; love on front porches; will earn rating in later chapters; I hope; inappropriate use of a history degree; Short Reader; Profanity; Fluff; Angst; Fluff and Angst; Smut; Oral Sex; Vaginal Fingering; Making Out; definitely third base; not all-the-way parking but pretty close; Biting; Cunnilingus; Fellatio; Vaginal Sex; Steve wants to be clear that this isn't fucking; Making Love

Chapter One: The Greens of June

And all the greens of June/ Come blowing through the door/ They make me want to live/ Like I never have before

____________________

You settled onto the bench, bag on the floor. The museum had barely opened – a bad sign; it meant you were either blocked or stir-crazy. Or both. Both was bad. You’d had the museum on your list of things-to-do-if-you-had-time, but when you’d first come to town you’d expected that there would never be time. You were getting the change of scenery and relief from responsibilities that you’d always wanted, so of course you never imagined that the same old problems would plague you.

Namely, writer’s block. Imposter Syndrome. “Every word I write is trash and I should sleep in the dumpster”-itis.

You’d gotten this amazing opportunity to take a sabbatical, move half a continent away, and just research the hell out of your magnum opus, a stroke of historical genius. Or what would be your magnum opus, if you could get the damn thing off the ground. Right now it was stuck at brevi opus.

Opus minimis.

You had piles of research, and a good starting point, but you either got stuck on the writing of it or spent days on end organizing the data until the sun coming in the curtains made you feel like a Morlock crawling out of its hole.

So you’d hit the museum.

It’d actually been working pretty well for you, the last few weeks, and you’d started making it part of your routine. Rather than wait for the Bad Times to force you out of the house, you’d come down every two or three days and just . . . pick something. A painting, a sculpture, whatever caught your eye, and you’d study it until your mind felt clear. Sometimes your mind would wander far enough afield that it circled back to your work, and you’d excitedly jot down a new avenue to explore or a turn of phrase you liked. Sometimes you got nothing but a peaceful feeling. Either way, it was good for you, and the initial guilt you’d felt at not being Productive At All Times had faded.

It sort of was productive, anyway. You told yourself so.

For the last couple of visits, you’d sat with Hamilton’s Joan of Arc and the Furies. It was Shakespeare’s Joan, about to be captured by the English and burned for heresy. It’s not . . . good . . . you think, you don’t like it, but there’s something about it. It’s like two different paintings in one, dark and bright, overbearing and reticent.

There aren’t many people around yet, no kiddie camp visits today, so you’re alone in this part of the gallery. The docents are used to you by now, and don’t bother eagle-eyeing you. You lean your chin on your hand and stare hard at Joan, at her Merveilleuse gown, which, like, didn’t Hamilton know she wore pants? Like, famously? But anyway.

“You know,” a deep voice said, “I’ve always wondered what’s going on with the light down by that first fury. What does it symbolize?”

You look over your shoulder at the speaker, a slightly-built blond man with a sketchbook under his arm. He’d shown up a couple of times before, wandering around with more purpose than the average tourist, like he knew which pieces he liked and why. He had a delicate face and serious eyes with just ridiculous lashes. You smiled uncertainly.

“Like, where even is it coming from? Under her skirt?” you ask, and he looks down at you and whoa nelly those are very blue eyes and chuckles.

“Is it the lantern of justice?” he says, quirking an eyebrow.

“Probably not in Shakespeare. Maybe a lantern of evil.”

“She keeps a lantern of evil in her skirt?” He’s smiling openly at you now, and it’s a really nice smile, and that’s the only excuse you have for what comes out of your mouth next.

“Lantern of evil – in my pants!” you chirp, grinning.

His eyebrows shot up and he gave an incredulous hah.

“Like, like the game?” you say hurriedly. “Where you add ‘in my pants’ to a quote, or a movie title?” You can hear your voice rising nervously and fiddle with your glasses to avoid looking at him. “One ring to rule them . . . in my pants?”

He’s laughing now – probably more at you than at the joke – but it’s enough to relax you a little bit.

“I have never played that game,” he said, eyes dancing. “But I know just the person to try it with. I’ve seen you here before,” he went on, glancing back at the painting. The tips of his ears went very pink.

“Yeah, this is turning into my happy place when work’s not going so well.” You look at Joan again and clear your throat. “I think I saw you, too . . . maybe Sunday?” Not that I noticed you. I’m not a creeper. I notice nothing. I can barely see.

He nodded and shrugged. “Probably, yeah. I’ve been here a lot over the past week.”

“Work got you down, too?” you ask. He kind of purses his lips and nods. Taking a breath, you gesture to the empty half of the bench. “Want to share Joan with me? She’ll take your mind off it.”

His smile is a slow, gentle thing, and even though you say nothing more until it’s time to leave, you feel warmer for sitting near him.

***

“Because they’ll clog up the drain.” Tony’s voice is clipped.

“They get rid of odors,” Natasha points out.

“So it was you.”

“You think I drink that light roast nonsense?” She looks up as Steve enters, the light of battle in her eyes. Well, the light of annoying Tony. It’s not hard. “Weak.”

“Now you’re a coffee snob, Romanoff? You – “ Tony points a pair of tongs at Steve “ – do some reconnaissance, rally the troops, whatever it is you do, and catch this villain.”

Steve clucks his tongue and fails to hide a grin. “Coffee grounds again? You know, we could just get a Keurig and solve that problem easily.” He ducks as both Tony and Natasha turn on him, allied in outrage.

“Just for that,” Tony says, “you get whichever steak I overcook.”

Steve eyes the barstools at the island. He can get into them now, but it involves just enough scrambling that it hurts his dignity. No one said anything the first time he did it, not even Tony, and that was somehow worse than teasing would have been. He’s not broken, for God’s sake. He’s a man of temporarily reduced stature. It’ll be fixed in no time, Bruce and Tony and Helen have promised, but . . .

He’d read a book once that described a gnome as a person whose ‘belligerence was compressed into a body six-inches high and, like many things when they are compressed, had an inclination to explode.’[1] Steve didn’t consider himself belligerent – although he had the urge to cross himself in penance and hope that Bucky was in a different building when he thought it – but he did feel like every human emotion was currently packed into a body too small to hold it all. This body didn’t fit, except that it did, and Steve honestly wasn’t sure which feeling was worse.

He leaned against the counter with – he hoped – an insouciant air and nodded at Tony. “’s long as I can gnaw through it.”

“Are you impugning my grilling skills, Rogers?”

“Wait, you’re gonna grill those?” Sam and Bucky entered the kitchen, apparently fresh off a sparring match. Sam’s skin glistened with sweat, and Bucky wasn’t much better off. Sam might not have super serum in his veins, but he wasn’t a pushover in the ring.

“How else d’you cook ‘em?” Bucky asked, wrinkling his nose at Sam.

“You sear ‘em on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet,” Sam said, holding up one finger, “finish ‘em in the oven,” two fingers, “serve with a garlic-herb butter.” Three fingers, waved in Bucky’s face.

Natasha leaned on the counter next to Steve and pointed her phone toward the argument. “Every time,” she whispered, hitting "record."

“Every time,” Steve answered.

“In the oven? Cook like a man, Sam!”

“Grill makes ‘em too dry,” Sam insisted.

“Hey!” Tony snapped his tongs at Bucky. “My meat. My rules.” He straightened his shoulders under Sam’s withering look. “On the grill, flip once a minute for the good grill marks.”

“That’s overhandling.” Sam’s tone suggested he was heading straight to church to light all of the candles for Tony’s soul.

“Wait – everyone, wait,” Steve broke in. Natasha quirked her lip at him, annoyed that he was ruining the show. He winked at her. “The real issue here is, aren’t you gonna season those things?”

“Yeah, where’s the salt and pepper, bud?” Bucky asked.

“Don’t start with me,” Tony warned.

“Where’s the steak spice,” Sam asked, rummaging through the cupboards. “I made you a steak spice months ago. My own blend, Tony. I gifted it to you. I’m not eating one of your bland-ass steaks again.” Tony abandoned the meat in favor of bodily hauling Sam away from the cupboards, giving Bucky time to grind at least a little peppercorn on each of the steaks.

“ – my steaks alone!” “ – killing the flavor, man. Killing the flavor!” “ – oversalting!” “ – can’t cook ‘em right, you leave it to someone who can!”

“You’re in a good mood today,” Natasha commented, holding the phone steady as Tony and Sam devolved into a slap fight. “Haven’t seen you smile this much since, y’know.”

“This is quality entertainment,” Steve said. “You don’t get this every day.”

“No you do not.” She turned the phone toward Bucky, who whistled as he sprinkled sea salt over the meat. He looked up, winked directly at her, then tossed the rest of the seasoning like a long-haired Salt Bae.

“But you already seemed pretty chipper when you snuck back in before the show started.”

Steve’s eyes were wide with injured innocence. “Snuck? Back in? I –“

“Can it. I don’t care – probably no one will recognize you – but if Tony finds out he’s going to turn into Chicken Little about security.”

“Tony can go lay an egg,” Steve said firmly, making Natasha snort with real laughter.

She sighed. “As hilarious as this is, I’m getting hungry." her voice carried across the kitchen. "Knock it off of or I’m calling Rhodey in.”

Tony straightened, Sam’s arm still around his neck. “Betrayal, Romanoff. I feel betrayed.”

“Yeah, no calling in the brass,” Sam complained. “We can settle this on our own.”

“Better settle that meat on the grill before the others get here,” Steve said. “Want help?”

“Excuse me,” Tony said, affronted. “I can handle the meat.”

The words left Steve’s mouth before he could stop them “ – in my pants?”

Natasha dropped the phone.

____________________

[1] Terry Pratchett, The Fifth Elephant

case/lang/viers – “Greens of June”

And all the greens of June/ Come blowing through the door/ They make me want to live/ Like I never have before

Read Chapter Two

[eviebyme]

That wayv venus sign post, can you also do one for nct dream? 🤧

nct dream venus signs

Mark

Venus in Virgo

Very mature and an excellent communicator. He will initially be apprehensive with his feelings but once he is comfortable, he has no problem letting his partner know how much he cares for them. Most of the time he is pretty lowkey. Mark is not one who will egage in PDA or go out on flashy dates. The way he shows his affection is being consistent and helping his partner with practical, daily life tasks. Mark never forgets important dates and will store information about you in the huge vault in his head. You’ll be shocked that he remembered your favorite song from when you were 12 or that restaurant you briefly mentioned months ago.

Some challenges he faces in romance is how to let things go. Mark tends to take things personally. Since he tries so hard to be consistent and remember things about his partner, he is easily hurt if his partner is not the same. He constantly feels as if he is giving more in relationships and eventually gains resentment over this. Also, he HATES disorder. Someone who is inherently messy, by his standards, really gets on his nerves. Hopefully he can let loose a bit and accept others faults by not comparing them to his standards.

Renjun

Venus in Pisces

Renjun is confident and self assured, but has a soft side which makes him very alluring. He is authentic and loves to explore his creative side whether it is through art, fashion, or music. His creativity is often expressed when doing things for or giving gifts to his significant other. All of his gifts and actions towards his partner have meaning and he probably thought about it for some time. Also, he is a natural leader and likes to guide his partner though uncertainties by providing advice and support. His love language is most certainly physical touch, and loves physical affection and (definitely) pda. He is probably the most affectionate of all the dreamies and doesn’t feel embarrassed when showing how much he loves you. You’ll feel very taken care of and appreciated as a lover and a partner.

He can be a bit of an escapist, when it comes to his feelings. Renjun has a hard time handling his emotions and needs constant reassurance from his partner. He can be hot and cold, mostly because he is like that mentally. Renjun is usually torn between what he wants and what he knows he needs. It is the downside of being rational, but he sometimes withdraws inwards due to his dissatisfaction with his current reality. Despite his withdrawal, he is very emotionally vulnerable and can become mean when on the defense. He doesn’t mean to be rude, but sometimes he really can’t help himself. Best to give him space when he’s in one of his moods.

Jeno

Venus in Aries

Jeno is SO optimistic guys! He really sees the positive in every situation and will believe in you when you doubt yourself. He believes if you have certain qualities - like patience, confidence, endurance - you can achieve anything. Usually he has very ambitious goals, which he is constantly working towards. If having you as a partner is one of those goals, prepare to be romanced like never before. Jeno is a hopeless romantic and will pull out all the stops from every romantic movie trope to win you over. He is not afraid to make the first move or make decisions when deciding what to do - because he usually knows what he wants right away. His enthusiastic and sometimes childlike approach to romance is refreshing to his partners.

He's not very not emotionally expressive. Usually puts on a happy face to 1. Not show any weakness by displaying emotions (his thoughts not mine) and 2. To keep up the illusion that everything is going well in his life (to convince himself and others). Also, Jeno can be very possessive. Not just over people, but also his possessions and ideas. He doesn’t like anything to disrupt the harmony he created in his life and gets very on edge when something threatens that harmony. To that point, he can be very stuck in his ways. If he has been doing something for a while, and it is working for him, he is reluctant to change. Jeno is not the passive aggressive type either, so he’ll let you know exactly how he is feeling and why he doesn’t want to change.

Donghyuck

Venus in Gemini

Natural entertainer, comfortable in social situations, and an all around burst of energy - Donghyuck is the king of Geminis in my book. He loves discussions and learning new things, while also experiencing all life has to offer. No topic is too obscure for him, he is willing to dive into any conversation with you wholeheartedly. Additionally, Donghyuck is exceptionally charming and uses his undeniable wit to his advantage when romancing potential partners. He's not afraid to make the first move, and you'll definitely know he likes you before then. Ever the lover of playful banter, Hyuck will enjoy teasing you and riling you up.

Hyuck constantly puts his foot in his mouth. He often lacks tact and just blurts things out without thinking first. Since he is an empath, he can almost always tell if he's hurt someone's feelings or said the wrong thing - or if he's annoying someone by talking too much. He picks up on everything. Also, he is naturally flirtatious, which can be a problem in his romantic relationship. He might deny it, but he knows exactly what he is doing and usually turns it on when he wants something from someone. His free spirit may be exhilarating at first, but can become exhausting. Hyuck hates stagnation and will start to resist once a relationship becomes too comfortable.

Jaemin

Venus in Virgo

Outgoing, trustworthy, and stable; Jaemin has great qualities for a long term relationship - but it takes him a long time to get there. He is very cautious with his feelings and usually prefers to take things slow. Jaemin is the type to NOT kiss on a first date and wait a year before having sex. If he's serious, then he is going to take his time to really get to know you and see if you're the real deal. Nevertheless, Jaemin really takes his time getting to know people and their preferences. Gift giving is easy for him, since he knows exactly what his friends and family members enjoy. Also, he does chores. He prefers a clean house and will not shy away from doing the dishes/laundry (this is a biggie for me lol). Jaemin also has a strong moral compass and will always strive to do the “right” thing.

He is very...particular.. about things. When it comes to scheduling or other types of organization, he can be very rigid. He does not tolerate tardiness - in fact, he takes it personally. Also, his strong moral compass can be overbearing. He refuses to see the gray in life, and usually looks at thing with a black or white point of view. However, he is not so stubborn that he can’t be talk out of his ways. He is open to discussion, but is initially conservative when faced with certain situations. Also, about the chores - if you want to help him out and do the dishes, he will act like he appreciates it but will go over every plate you washed to make sure it’s clean.

Chenle

Venus in Scorpio

A very intense and passionate lover. Chenle loves deeply in everything that he does whether it is relationships or creative projects. When doing something he is passionate about, he pours his entire heart into it. Although, he can often be seen as serious, he does have a vulnerable side which is often locked away. Only those closest to him can see a glimpse of the beauty of his true self. He loves to travel and learn about different cultures. Chenle wants to expand his perspective by traveling all around the world and meeting all types of people. He will seek out partners and relationships with individuals that are different from himself, either physically or mentally. Out of all of the dreamies, Chenle strikes me as the one who would step the most out of their comfort zone when it comes to romance. In fact, I don't think he even has a comfort zone. If he likes someone, he will give it his all to make it work.

Chenle has a jealousy streak. His emotions can be overwhelming and, sometimes, uncontrollable and can manifest into negative sentiments such as jealousy or insecurity. He mostly represses these feelings, which only become worse over time. As you get to know him more and more, you can start to see these feelings he hides come to the surface. I don't see him as someone who lashes out at others though, everything is inward. It's also hard to console him when he is conflicted with his emotions. Just keep reassuring him!

Jisung

Venus in Aquarius

Will never judge you. In fact he will like you for who you are - all your quirks and insecurities included. He will want to know the story behind every scar and will want to know all of the surgeries you've had (he swears he's not being weird, he's just interested). Jisung prefers giving people space, mostly because he prefers to isolate himself, to do their own thing. Sometimes he can go weeks without contacting his friends, but he will still consider them to be very close. Also, there will never be any pressure in your relationship and he will 100% trust you out of the gate. Most issues in your relationship will be resolved if you talk it out with him. He is usually understanding and is not the type to hold a grudge. Jisung will be your best friend first, and then your lover.

In those weeks he disappears, not even you can reach him. He can just become so captivated with a project or a video game, or something with work, that he cannot see anything (or anyone) past that. It’s hard to have a real conversation with him while his head is in the clouds. To that point, he tends to bite off more than he can chew. He takes on too much and can jump into unrealistic scenarios with high hopes and expectations. Although his idealistic nature is cute, it can often end up hurting him and those around him when his hopes crash and burn due to him juggling too many things.

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✨Masterlist✨

[ell-arts]

I have a question, if it doesn't bother you, what tips would you give to beginning writers? and I'm also loving seeing your art and pmatga fanfics

Thank you! And it's not a bother at all 💙

There's a lot I can say regarding writing tips, and I might even make a series out of it where I share bite-sized tips for writing. For now, tips I would give to beginner writers would be;

Read books. You'll learn best by taking inspiration from your favourite authors and how they go about their writing. It also helps in building up your vocabulary.

Daydream! It helps with creativity and fosters excitement for your work, which helps a lot with motivation. I find that listening to music while daydreaming is an effective combo to conjure up great ideas.

Give yourself a standard of quality to aim for, but don't set the bar too high. Give yourself goals that are achievable for your writing, then look back and see where you can improve to take your writing further.

Avoid redundancy. This is where you use too many words or phrases that describe the same thing. Sometimes one may get caught up in trying to describe the moment as best as one can to get an idea across, and in doing so could convolute the paragraph. Reducing redundancy as much as you can will benefit your writing in the long run.

Avoid repetition of the same words or phrases in close sequences. For example, don't use 'shouted' multiple times within the span of 4 paragraphs.

Spell-check is your friend! I use the free version of Grammarly to help me with more sophisticated spellchecking - it helped me correct a lot of errors I would have otherwise missed.

In the same breath; reread your story to yourself as much as possible and listen to the way it sounds. If you don't feel convinced by the writing, chances are neither will the reader.

Purple Prose is when you use far too many big and fancy words in your writing, while Beige Prose is when you use the most simplistic of words, almost to the point of being boring. Find a nice balance between the two.

Pace your paragraphs according to the mood of the scene. This falls more under personal preference, but paragraph length can help with the pacing of a scene and serve as an aid to guide your reader's emotions through the story. If the scene calls for action, urgency, or a climactic moment, keep your paragraphs short and to the point. Longer paragraphs tend to read longer and evoke a sense of calm or focus, whereas shorter paragraphs read quicker and can thus influence the build-up of emotions for a particularly crucial scene.

'Said' is not dead, but it IS an overused word when indicating who is speaking. Spice it up a bit by looking into synonyms with some emotion or tone attached, like muttered, blurted, rasped, seethed, stuttered, drawled, etc. Even neutral-toned verbs can work like stated, intoned, voiced, questioned, etc. But sometimes, said is all you need - just use it sparingly.

Keep it simple. Sometimes a single sentence is all that's needed to get the right feeling across. Short but sweet.

Above all, have fun!

Additionally, I use this website, WordHippo, to help me out with new words or fresh synonyms whenever I'm looking for a specific word that will fit just right for the sentence I'm working on. Give it a try!

I hope this helps in any way! If any seasoned writers out there would like to give their two cents, feel free to do so!

[quirkle2]

I was wondering if there are any rare happy ritsu moments in ur zombie au since hes always miserable I think,, like is he always miserable or is he happy/not miserable and feeling kinda good sometimes?

VWHDGDGD NO YEAH OFC HE'S HAPPY SOMETIMES im just horrible and enjoy putting him through misery

ive never been able to get a genuine smile to look right on his face in my art style either i think thats part of it. as ive said his face is just built to be mildly uncomfortable and bothered and i lean into it sm it's starting to get kinda funny

but yes ritsu is happy plenty! i think, canonically, he just seems like the type of person to me that tends to turn lemonade back into lemons. he's easy to scare and his first reaction to things is often Dread and Anxiety. he dwells on the negatives a lot and seems to be a "hope for the best, expect the worst," kinda guy, but there's a section in this post abt shigeo always loving the little things in life, and ritsu steadily learns throughout the journey on how to do that and how healing it can rly be. even if he had to grow up too fast during this whole thing and learn things a kid should never have to, the journey also gave him some good insight and lessons in other places! ritsu is smart, he figures it all out

in terms of little things here n there he's the happiest lil guy on the planet when he finds one of his favorite foods—swings his legs while he sits and munches on a kitkat bar like he's got absolutely nothin in the world to worry abt. sometimes mob does smth funny that he laughs at; for the longest time i've had this silly image in my head of mob accidentally knocking down a bucket from a store shelf and it lands on his head and he just kinda stands there and makes noises.when the noises continue out of pure curiosity about the weird echoey quality it's giving them ritsu cannot help but lose it

besides tiny things tho, when tome comes around ritsu in general is a lot happier, just cuz he has somebody to talk to that will actually respond in some way. they're sorta reluctant partners in crime at first (at least on ritsu's end) but over time and over bonding they grow to rly like each other's presence. they bicker constantly but it's almost always fond eventually, and they shove each other and playfight until mob gets antsy enough to get worked up about it. rly, tome is a godsend to ritsu's mental health—after months and months of being effectively alone with his thoughts, he finally has another person to converse with. a person His Age, too!

tome is rly good at knowing when ritsu is thinkin himself into oblivion and she's Also rly good at being the most annoying girl on the planet to yank him outta that and replace any misery with Oh My God Get Off Me You Freak. she doesn't even do this on purpose at first, but over time she learns how to tell when he's thinking too hard and, ofc, she's grown attached and she cares, so she's as obnoxious as possible to lighten the mood

when they find reigen n teru, ritsu gradually gets Much happier still. now that he knows they're safe and the gang is finally back together (and now that there's an Adult present and he can relax a lil and let himself be taken care of) his stress levels r exponentially lowered. having teru back is another instant lift to his mood—im always a big fan of teru and ritsu friendship, and i think adding tome to their dynamic simply makes it more chaotic. truly a trio of the 3 most normal teenagers in existence which will surely bring nothing but good (reigen sweats offscreen)

actually this makes me feel bad for forever torturing him im gonna go draw happy zau ritsus brb ,.,.ok imback <3

[taiyaki-translations]

Autumn Cafeteria - Prologue 1

Season: Autumn Characters: Shu, Tsumugi Translator: taiyaki-translations Proofreader: raspberrytls

Shu: ���You there, waiter, may I get another cup of coffee?

(Whew… It’s nice to sit back and read every once in a while.)

(The library at Starmony Dorms isn’t terrible, but it sometimes gets so noisy that I find it difficult to relax.)

(With classical music gently playing in the background, this makes for a blissful experience, indeed.)

Tsumugi: Oh? Is that you, Shu-kun?

Shu: …If it isn’t Aoba.

Tsumugi: Sorry for suddenly calling out to you. Were you taking a nap?

Shu: No. I was simply closing my eyes and enjoying the music.

Tsumugi: Ahh. I’m familiar with this piano piece. It has a nice, melancholy feeling to it, doesn’t it~

Shu: This isn’t the place for you to stand around and talk, Aoba. Why don’t you take a seat for now?

Tsumugi: You’re right. Since this is a rare opportunity, is it okay if I sit with you?

Shu: …Personally, I’d much rather you didn’t.

However, being spoken to from a distance is even more unpleasant. Do as you like.

Tsumugi: Thank you very much. …Ah, the waiter brought you more coffee.

May I order something too? I’ll have the same coffee, and five loaves of round bread to go, please.

Shu: Five? Do you like them that much?

Tsumugi: No, I’m giving them away. (1) The round bread here is well received no matter what kind of function I bring them to.

The dough is soft and chewy, and the sweetness comes out the more you bite into it, so you don’t need to add anything to it.

Shu: Oh? This is the first I’ve heard of it. I’ve been here several times but never paid it much mind.

Tsumugi: Really? Then please, give it a try ♪

Wai~ter, please bring him some round bread. You can put it on my tab—

Shu: There’s no need. Since I’ll be the one eating it, I’ll pay for it myself.

Tsumugi: Is that so? And here I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to…

Shu: Good opportunity for what?

Tsumugi: Ah, no, it’s nothing.

What kind of book are you reading? It’s paper-back-sized, so is it some kind of novel?

Shu: It’s a recently published book containing commentaries on Shakespeare’s works. It seems to be popular amongst literary scholars for its interesting interpretations, so I was curious to see what it was like.

Tsumugi: Oh, so Shu-kun reads books like that too~ But doesn’t it interfere with your artistic vision?

Shu: It depends on the content. The internet is a place where people can make vulgar posts that have as much value as stones on the side of a road. But books like this depict the sort of high quality views I wish to absorb.

They say art is an explosion, but an explosion requires a catalyst—the accumulation of one’s studies and the skills one has honed.

By combining them, they take on form. Ideally, one could create something out of nothingness. But alas, I am not some kind of god, after all.

Tsumugi: ……♪

Shu: …What’s with that face? It’s disturbing.

Tsumugi: Fufu. Normally you’re so distant with me, Shu-kun, that I’m just glad to have your company ♪ It’s been a while since I’ve been able to talk about trivial things like this with you~

Shu: I beg your pardon? Trivial? …Listen here, Aoba. I was in a good mood today, so I allowed you to sit with me.

But you are a spiteful traitor. I advise you not to try and get too familiar with me.

Tsumugi: How cold~ Even though we’re friends?

Shu: Non, do not get the wrong idea.

Tsumugi: Ah, the round bread’s arrived~ Here you go, please try it.

Shu: I’d rather you not rush me. Hm, so it’s served with fig jam?

Tsumugi: Why don’t you try it without the jam first?

Shu: I was just about to do that. Stop talking for a moment.

Munch munch…

…Oh? The buttery aroma is quite nice.

The sweetness of the sugar is also just right. This flavor would go well with any dish.

Tsumugi: Fufu, I’m glad to hear you say so ♪

Actually, I was looking forward to your reaction. You love croissants, so I figured you would like this too.

But I was surprised to hear you’ve never had it. Do you not eat any bread other than croissants?

Shu: It just never crossed my mind to try it. I actually happened upon this place while I was looking for stores that sold croissants.

While I didn’t find what I was looking for, I liked the atmosphere. I’ve been coming back ever since.

It’s a hidden gem that’s empty even on weekends or holidays. It’s the ideal place for when you are looking for some peace and quiet.

Tsumugi: I know what you mean. Just looking out the window with a cup of coffee is a nice change of pace.

So it's such a shame that this café is going to be closing~

Translation Notes: 1. Tsumugi is bringing the bread as 差し入れ (shashiire), refreshments you'd bring to work or activities as a way to encourage people or help them recharge after working.

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[liketwoswansinbalance]

we could see that rafal can sing in rise, (the song about vulcan) but how would he sound like?

He strikes me as someone who would sing with a "Whatever. There's nothing to lose. Hell is empty and all the devils are here. So I'm performing for all these people who have poor taste anyway" mentality.

I don't think he would be head-turningly exceptional as a singer because I don't see the arts as his domain and I can't think of a reason as to why he would be professionally trained, so he's probably either an average singer or can sing better than most fellow amateurs.

The reason why I wouldn't automatically assume he's a bad singer is that he at least seemed attuned to sound? Though, I'm not sure if his having acute hearing/perception is canon in the prequels, even if it is canon in TLEA, so I could be wrong. And, he was able to maintain Fala's accent over a long period of time, so he can modulate his voice decently, I would think.

I don't think he singing would feature many or any random vocalizations either. He'd probably make sure he'd have substance to his lyrics and would keep strictly to the lyrics, even if he were improvising them. I also do not think he'd ever show any loose soulfulness like Hozier's style. He'd probably control his voice for emotional excess.

A note on accents: accents are often "neutralized" (Americanized) when people sing, meaning, Rafal would most likely lose his accent if he had a non-American one.

For potential representations of his voice, I've found some songs (some of these I've mentioned before):

"No Love in LA" by Palaye Royale - Like a anthem about there being no such thing as love in these Woods? Conveys his superior attitude well, especially at some points if he's in a cynical mood. Abrupt, combative, rarely melodious and continuous. I think there's also a kind of dryness or disparaging, spat-out tone to it, like a half-vicious/vitriolic, half-resigned, "[sigh] I'm done with all this" quality to it.

"Careful What You Wish For (the doctor said to)" by Jack Harris - Devoid of emotion or sung numbly at times. Abrupt. But it sounds too much on the verge of tears for him. Ominous.

"Who's In Control" by Set It Off - Very matter of fact and stative. Some kind of loftiness is present. Nearly everything in this song fits him, including the pitch I'd attribute to him. Neither too emotional nor too saccharine. Trying to get a grip on his situation. Starts out blasé, turns desperate.

"Innocently Annoying at 3am" by Elysewood - I've mentioned this one before. It's very close to how I think I'd imagine his voice.

"No Friends" by CADMIUM and Rosendale - About the right pitch. Even some of the lyrics, not all, fit him.

"Rule #27 - Drunk on Pride" by Fish in a Birdcage - I don't think he'd seem too mournful/sentimental with his voice. But the pitch seems about right to my mind, even if it's sometimes too high pitched to fit him?

"Rule #24 - Man-O-War" by Fish in a Birdcage - Emphasis on the flatness or speech-like quality. Probably, an example of a shanty (like the Vulcan song!). I just don't picture his voice as this deep or as accented like this.

"Rule #34" by Fish in a Birdcage - Sultry. Feels uptempo. If he's doing his villainous equivalent of playing with prey, I feel like this would be it. At the same time, I don't think he is that type of villain. He really does hop to it, and doesn't emphasize bark over bite. He bites without warning a lot of the time (e.g., killing Rufius). He conceals his motives and acts without anyone else being able to anticipate what he'll do. So, I guess this could also be singing for a theatrical and pragmatic purpose, like he did for his Vulcan song, to both serve as a distraction and to taunt. I feel like this song couldn't be entirely sincere since we've never technically seen him in love though.

"I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie - A love song if he's actually sincere? Seems unlikely, but if he wanted to seduce someone, I suppose this would make sense. Right out of the gate, there's death. I'm not sure if the pitch is quite right.

"Villainous Thing" by Shayfer James - Focus on not the voice itself but the (potentially) mocking tone: "Oh dear"—the drawn out sounds. We'd probably have to interpret this with a dose of sarcasm. Actually, this one reminds me of Sophie in TLEA as if he's addressing her. Eventually, I think it gets too ahem... lascivious for even him because his whole act (or actual nature) is that he's gentlemanly when he wants to be and can afford to be, and acts honorably in his typically skewed, perverse way.