#the flowers are pretty impractical for a flower crown yes but they are flowers that i like

[wowshiny]

wishing you all happiness, peace, and love

🌈🌻🌱 12/12 in my series of happy frogs for pride month :]

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[kimyoonmiauthor]

I thought it might be fun to list "Best cultures for", imo, BTW, doesn't include SK in most cases.

So using my Anthro degree for something. This is Academic interest. I'm only giving the loose reasons why. I'm not particularly promoting fetishization here. I'm saying, do the research into this specific culture for this specific cultural aspect. rather than blind worship.

Agriculture

Of the three major regions, (West Asia, Southern China-ish, Meso America/Northern South America) hands down, The Americas.

I mean, if you look at the genetics and origin of the potato, that itself is super impressive. Through domestication alone, they managed to make the potato grow in all environments, AND changed the amount of genes the potato has. !@#$ What? Really? And then you have things like Amaranth, corn, squash, beans of different kinds, quinoa, tomatoes which is related to nightshade, which is used more than eggplant worldwide, and Sweet Potatoes which they gave to Polynesians. Also single handedly through the Potato and Sweet Potato saved China, Korea, Ireland, and several other places from famine, thus also helping to end the slavery cycle in Korea, China and Japan. I mean... who are you going to rank the highest in that case?

Second place ranking I have to give to Western Asia. Daaaaamn, you have wheat, oats, barley, sheep, goats, cows, horses (supposedly), pigs. That's pretty impressive.

Third place Southern China—rice production, most of the world's commercial flowers, soybeans, a lot of the fruits including citrus. You also get honey.

Honorable mention to South Asia for Chickens. (Indonesia and India specifically)

Despite this, apples are my favorite fruit. lol I need to eat a Courtland apple please. I can eat them by the bushel.

Sea navigation

Hands down, Polynesians, beats the pants off of everyone else by a nautical league. When you can feel sea currents with your hands, be able to get your people first to the South Pacific from China, and then navigate ALLLLL the way to the Americas and beat Europeans, Yes, definitely they get the crown several times over. I mean... think hard about it. When you memorize stick charts, casually and then don't have them at sea and sometimes your tattoos are only brief reminders, FLOORED.

Make Europeans in the same time period look terrible.

House design

I'm looking at passive solar, specifically rather than aesthetics. For me, this is kinda toss up. Indigenous peoples rocked it pretty hard, especially in the South West US into Mexico region. They were exceptionally good at regulating air flow. But Koreans invented underfloor heating. And Chinese figured out Feng Shui which is just Passive solar+ a bunch of other stuff that's practical. (Such as your bathroom shouldn't be above your kitchen). But I have to admit I also admire some of the Indian Passive solar efforts (subcontinent). This one is hard to decide. But if you're researching, I'd look there.

Gender

My favorite to point to is Bugis people of Indonesia. 5 different genders. Freaking awesome. Of course it's a bit disciplined these days by the government, but it's worth investigating.

As I wrote before East Asian gender systems of the past were often more fluid and flexible and still are compared to European ideologues.

Clothing?

No one has impressed me that much, tbh. It's a pick and choose. I can choose the most impractical, but not the one that wins my heart for inventiveness.

Crakows, though, crack me up every single last time. Especially for the Phallic nature and that they were associated with men. But that's on the impractical list. That's also why I submitted it for review on History Hit's fashion list. I haven't gotten over it since I first saw it, I think it was on a Dan Snow documentary about British kings. I mean look at them and resist laughing your butt off.

Religion

I personally think that real Voudoun is much cooler than what's in the movies, which is really racist 98% of the time. It is a Synchronized religion, and it is Christian-based in some ways, but c'mon, look it up and be impressed.

BTW, I really dislike the conflation of zombies with Voudou, granted as an outsider, since it belongs to Bokor and is a warning against *becoming a slave* not about white people trying to shoot zombies with grey and darker faces because OMG, slave uprising psychology.

Zonbis, are cooler than zombies since it's about overcoming and resisting masters, rather than about masters mass killing their slaves, which is what the later meaning seems to say. Ad Zombie movies are at their best when they symbolically get the original concept and meaning. So like becoming a work drone.

^^ I still have a soft spot for Muism as a Korean, but ya know, Korean. I lean towards liking shamanism, probably because of the historical acceptance of LGBTQIA and disability.

Shamanism is also appealing in some ways because often shamanism says that if everything in your life is going wrong, then that might be a sign of powers or spirits calling to you, rather than saying in the old Christian ideology that you've sinned deeply, so you need to repent.

But this is usually not what people are asking about when they are thinking about religions. They usually want the polytheistic, Jade Emperor, Greek, Roman, Egyptians, Norse route. Or Monotheism. Kinda dull, really. Where are the other types in fiction. I mean, Druids?

Give me some totemism for once.

Government System

Look up Wigan Council. I might also be biased towards it because of Gaya, but it's a way to play with things and also allow for more LGBTQIA royalty. Royalty without autocracy?

Inventions?

Hands down, no doubt, Islamic Empire. I mean, when you have Automatons without electricity, you're winning without question. When your people are inventing surgery, calculating the size of the Earth, allowing women to read, learn and write, inventing the lens, which is the cornerstone of so many inventions, and you got Europe's Bacon by inventing the Scientific Method first, historical crush does't cut it. I mean, when you can calculate a pointed arch, do geometric mosaics with mathematical principles, I am floored beyond reason.

Conclusion

This isn't to say I'm not impressed by specific things from other cultures as well, but this is broad strokes. Vedanta Hinduism, for me, is impressive from India. And I really like the practicality of Hanbok. (Why hanbok over hanfu is a long, long post) And I've raved over kimchi before multiple, multiple times, more than you know (quora... I think I have the most answers and I also answer with the food science of Kimchi down to the bacteria.) BTW, dumplings are damned clever.

What are your favorite culture for specific things from those cultures? Would you choose different cultures for each of these things? If so, why? What impressive things have I missed that have floored you?

[foxglovesound]

Are the flower leader thing still a thing in this universe?

yes and no in a way! i mentioned previously that i was getting a little frustrated with the flower details i was using because i felt like i was being a lazy writer (im honestly pretty hard on myself when it comes to writing/storywriting TT__TT ) and i couldnt figure out an explanation for how they were getting these non-native flowers that grew in vastly different climates while in the traditional wc setting and in the middle of winter, or at least not an explanation that satisfied me as the writer! i also wanted to diversify the traditions of the clans more, so now there's some new customs! each clan leader does get a leadership accessory, but it depends on the clan itself

(details below the cut, feel free to read as theres nothing spoilery besides just lore details!)

RiverClan leaders wear the skull, pelt, bones, or skin of a piece of prey hunted specifically for them. The seer takes out a hunting party to locate the prey and brings it back to the leader to eat and then clean + wear -- this prey has symbolism, based on what is caught. Plumstar wore the skull of a crow around her neck, which doubled as a warning of loss to come but also of community and strong bonds. There's in-canon symbolism behind the prey, and this tradition extends throughout the entire clan: apprentices will sometimes take the first prey they catch to seers to find out what symbolism the prey is, and use that to "predict" their future!

ShadowClan leaders do not have an accessory they wear every day like RiverClan leaders do, but they do have a special accessory for special occasions! It's a crown of twigs/branches woven together, and decorated with many different flowers cumulated over the leader's reign, as gifted by their warriors. They wear this crown to Gatherings and ceremonies, but nowhere else, as it is special. Burdockstar wears a forget-me-not flower not as a leadership accessory but as a union gift when she took Moon as her mate :>

As ThunderClan values their strength and power, ThunderClan leaders often wear the remains of some epic battle they were a part of. Patchstar wore the tail of a fox she led a patrol to kill during her deputyship, as well as the fox's skull. The tail was a daily accessory, but she only wore the skull to battles. Accessories like these may be passed on from parent to child, and Patchstar was going to pass these accessories down to Lionstorm when she passed, but things go haywire and the accessories disappear in the chaos. Laurelstar has no accessory, which is viewed as taboo and cowardly -- implying she has fought no great battles to proudly display. Laurelstar is already fighting against the odds because she's a low status in ThunderClan known as a Dead Loss, but I'll get into that sometime later ;>

WindClan leaders have no accessory, as they view these as impractical and flashy. A leader may have a few flower petals scattered in their pelt, but they do not elevate themselves above their ranks nor give flashy displays. Accessories too large may get in the way of speed and agility, as well.

[mahou-furbies]

I actually really liked those insight posts about Precure brooches, items, and fairies. I was wondering if you could do one about their weapons?

The Precure rankings take quite a lot of time to write so it’s nice that someone reads them!

But yes, the weapons. I haven’t made it a secret that I dislike the toy ad-like weapon designs so I don’t really care for many of these (common complaints: looks ugly and cheap, too much pink even for non-pink characters, rainbow buttons where they don’t belong, buttons or lights that don’t seem to serve any purpose, too much detail), but reading about me complaining about that for dozens of paragraphs probably wouldn’t be very fun. So I won’t put that everywhere and this will be more about judging the items in relation to each other than how they’d fare against all fantasy item designs I know.

Especially with the season I haven’t seen it was a bit bothersome to see if an item was weapon or not, so I just made some quick judgements. I’ll do the other items that aren’t in this or the other precure item posts later.

Futari wa Precure

Not a huge fan of these kind of items where the design philosophy seems to have been “it doesn’t have to resemble a weapon in any way, a pink plastic thing with buttons will do”. I’m not against all weapons looking incredibly impractical (like I love Mew Ichigo’s Strawberry Bell) but here these just look incredibly bland and cynical to me (I mean cynical in a different way than me). 

I was going to be more generous with this since I thought it was a bow and bows are always elegant weapons and I’m always happy to have those regardless of how dumb the design looks, but reading the wiki I guess this is a baton instead. Boo! Still I like how it can be both a heart and also be bent open. The design makes me think of a baby toy though with all the round corners.

Futari wa Precure Splash Star

I like how the girls wear their items differently and the way the heart is framed is nice. But apart from that I don’t find these particularly aesthetically appealing, and they also look a bit too busy compared to the rest of the costume. Busy item designs are less of a problem if its a handheld item that’s clearly not a part of the base design, but when the characters are supposed to wear the item it often looks very out of place, as if it was just tacked on because the marketing team demanded it. Okay I’ll stop with this now

Not pictured: the versions with a star instead of heart, but they look otherwise the same and I like the heart better.

Yes! Precure 5

We now reach weapons I actually like! They’re pleasantly simple without unnecessary buttons everywhere, but with the tulip-like design with the cute little swirl there’s actually some point to it and it’s not just haphazardly placed buttons and lights and jewels. And as a fan of customisation I really like how everyone has their own take on the item. The pink girl apparently doesn’t feel the need to fit the theme though and hers is a lot less interesting to me, but at least it can sort of look like a flower (more like a butterfly though) so it’s not completely out of place.

Laser swors? That is a good idea. The flower is pretty too but I’d prefer it if it was a bit smaller, now it looks a bit unbalanced, and also why does everyone have to have a pink one again? Meanwhile the powerup version looks a lot more cheap, busy and gaudy.

Not a fan of this one, it feels like a portable lottery wheel, which would be a fun idea if Milky Rose had to work around with an item that gives her random powers, but I’m guessing that’s not the case. Another option would be that she’d use this to cut pizza. The blue roses and purple handle would make for a pleasant colour scheme, but then there’s the rainbow mini roses which break that, I think this would look more appealing if the roses were detachable and she’d attach the one she wants to use, but I guess the spinning wheel is supposed to be the Thing here.

Fresh Precure!

Pretty standard magical girl wands, white with obligatory pink for everyone and rainbow lights. At least everyone gets a crystal thingy at the tip in their own colour and card suit and it’s nice that they use their items differently (though Berry this is not a sword no matter how you try to slice it) but otherwise I’m not really interested.

Nice colours and the wing is cute, and I actually like the bizarre idea here. Like you could add power to the harp with the heart while playing it, or attach different attacks or whatever. But this exemplifies my main issue with the Precure items: okay, you can’t sell an actual harp with actual strings to kids so you sell this instead, ok. But why does the item in the show have to be a 1:1 replica? Disney can sell Elsa’s castle legos or inaccurate cheap-looking dolls but the counterparts in the movies look perfectly serviceable, so why can’t Passion have actual strings in her harp instead of these huge led lights?

Heartcatch Precure!

I like the metallic or glassy sheen at least in this shot and the shape of the handle. What I don’t like is the middle heavy design, I’d rather have the rainbow thing in the middle (which I’d prefer not be rainbow) either be smaller and moved to the tip, or the end part being longer so it’d look a bit like a sword.

This one is rather basic, like it’s just a circle with hearts around it. But at least it doesn’t do anything stupid and the colour palette checks out.

Suite Precure

I like the idea of being able to split the item in two but especially Rhythm’s looks a bit silly when it’s not in two parts, like now it’s not a baton or staff or really anything I could describe. But somehow I still like Melody and Rhythm’s items, at least they have consistent colour schemes and despite initially looking very different actually use the same base so that’s nice customisation. But how come the pink girl didn’t get the more ornate one? The guitar looks more on the cheap side, this is a toy guitar, not a magic guitar. And are those multicoloured buttons I spy again? But thanks to the more calm colour palette it’s not the worst toy guitar ever at least.

Smile Precure!

My first impression on this was “wow this is so dumb”, but the horse’s sleeping eye with the glamorous eyelashes makes it loop back to awesome. This is girly fairy tale magical girl design cranked up to eleven and I can only marvel the boldness. However like with the Heartcatch wand this one feels a bit unbalanced, the bottom and middle are pretty big so I’d prefer if the “blade” part was a bit longer and again the rainbow hears feel unnecessary.

Based on design alone this is a contender for my least favourite battle item, but I’ll have to hold my full judgement until I see it in action. But this has it all, there’s obligatory pink and rainbow, overdesigned, looks very cheap and gaudy. 

Doki Doki! Precure

This is some seriously extreme lipstick. I guess this is a serviceable design if you want to make a lipstick based weapon, it’d probably not look very impressive if it was regular size. I like the twist-able red jewel, and the fact  that while she can use different lipstick colours, the item sticks to just red and yellow.

Here we have the collapsible bow I was hoping we’d get with Shiny Luminous. Apart from the obligatory pink palette for everyone I really like these, again bow makes for a great weapon, and I also like its collapsed form, that thing just invites you to press a button and have it open up. Though holding the bow looks kind of awkward. And is this the largest Precure weapon we have? Where are the huge staffs?

For starters, I find there’s something absolutely hilarious about the name “Magical Lovely Pad”. Story-wise it has the baggage of belonging to an attack where the other characters send their power to Mana (of course) so she can take all the spotlight, but as far as the design goes I guess it’s alright for a magical tablet. And I thought this was one of the items where it just floats in the air awkwardly but apparently the Cures do hold it in their hands, so points for that.

The harp is kind of silly looking but i have to commend it for at least having the strings not be thick as a straw.

Happiness Charge Precure!

A pretty straightforward item, nice colour palette and the heart ribbon things at the ends are the same as the bracelet and resemble the brooch too so it’s consistent with the reset of the items in the season. I also like how it can be split into maracas too.

I think the idea of a star-shaped tambourine is perfectly serviceable, but this one just looks kind of cheap, like we’re in the baby chew toy category again. But I feel this could be salvaged if you gave it a more harmonious colour palette, made the heart look more like a crystal and the jingles metal (i.e. not so plastic-y).

This one always felt hilarious in that you have a grown man character showing interest in this thing. But as a weapon it’s one of my least favourites. The makeup pens that come with this are fine I guess (though the makeup the girls put on themselves looks like the “this character doesn’t know how to use makeup” kind) but the main item is very unappealing to me. I guess it boils down to the fact that this kind of items feel more like that the Cures just push a button and then the item does its magic light blast of goodness and love on its own, while with the wands and musical instruments and such the Cures feel more like they’re actively using the weapon.

Go! Princess Precure!

An alright wand, even if the tip feels a bit too heavy. The mostly white-and-goldd design is a lot more preferable to the usual pink, the dress up keys get to take a part, and the tip looks a bit like a crown.

This is in the same category as Passion’s harp, nice colour palette and a musical instruments make for a great magical girl weapon in theory, but here the result is just too cheap and toylike. No way I can imagine a violin sound coming out of this, the only thing I hear is two pieces of plastic rubbing together.

This is it, the worst item. Magical girl weapons don’t all need to resemble actual weapons, but there are some limits to how far you should go. Out of all the Precure items this feels the most like the toy department just said “we want to sell a toy castle, so have the main characters play with one in every episode after its introduction”. Can’t they use a less awkward item to conjure this castle around them and sell a miniature version of that as a dollhouse or something?

As a toy this is fine, like I had a similar little castle (it was semi-transparent blue and you could turn on a pink light in it) and sure I could imagine placing some Pikachu toys on it and have them dance, but as a weapon in a story I hate it. 

Mahou Tsukai Precure!

These look pretty nondescript and forgettable. At least they don’t have multicoloured beads running down the staff, but there’s not much to talk about.

This one is cute but kind of basic too; the gold butterfly feels a bit unnecessary but if you remove it the whole thing would be pretty bland. Still, there’s nothing overly stupid and I like that the flower bud doesn’t miss the obvious that it should open in an attack.

Kira Kira Precure A La Mode

This one is a bit too bulky, but at least it makes it stand out a bit more. It also helps the item not look so unbalanced with the huge glass (?) ball in the middle. And it’s nice how you can see the Kira Kiraru in it; it makes the item feel more real when you get to see the resource it uses. The cream like decorations are cute and appropriate and the walking cane shape reminds me of the candy filled plastic canes I used to get from the summer market as a kid.

I got nothing on this, it’s another magical girl wand that doesn’t particularly stand out in any way. At least the rainbow buttons fit the theme this time?

Google tells me it’s an actual product, but to me ‘creamer’ still sounds like a Wrong kind of name to use in a kids’ show. That aside the idea of piping cream on the enemy is fun, but I don’t think they do that in the attack... But for the potential I like the design; unsurprisingly I’d remove the multicoloured decorations on the handle but otherwise it’s alright.

Hugtto! Precure

This one feels really generic, white staff with pink accents and rainbow jewel thingies. Not interested, next!

These look a bit too bulky for my taste, I think they’d look better if the neck was longer. The colours are also a bit too gaudy for my taste (and the guitar totally disappears in Macherie’s dress), though in their defense in better pictures you can see they have more white so the result isn’t quite so stuffy. But still magical guitars make for a good weapon for idol themed characters.

This feels really generic, like it’s just a bunch of hearts glued together. Next!

Star Twinkle Precure

The wand is pretty basic, but there’s something in its simpleness that I like. If you removed the pink and purple crown thingy it would be better, like only neutral white and gold, and everyone’s theme colours equally in the shooting star (or I guess the star is also yellow for Soleil but it still feels more neutral than the usual pink). With its many colours and short tail the shooting star feels like something from a baby nursery but I guess if the tail was longer it’d start feeling more like a sickle.

As for the prefume bottle, I don’t find the design particularly attractive, and it also feels like yet another case where pink has been shoehorned in. And the little ribbon feels very unnecessary.

Healin’ Good Precure

My criticism on Passion’s harp also applies here, and this time I also find the overall design less appealing with several of the details feeling a bit tacked on.

(the wands have already been bitched at in the henshin item post)

[happy-whumper]

💐🌼🌺🌹? For Olivia? I love her very much ~ @froggywhumpy

Aaaah thank you!!!! Thehe yeah I love her too :))

💐 What flowers would be used in a flower crown for your OC? Why those choices?

Okay First thing that came to mind were sunflowers, because they're her favorite flowers. Then also Roses, for two reasons actually, First because they kinda remind me of her a little bit in terms off, they look all nice and innocent (if you will xD) but if you don't watch out and get too close you'll get hurt. And also they stand for Chaos and I just Think that fits her. And last but not least Gladiolus which is a very pretty flower and also symbolises strength.

Yes I just googled the meanings of flowers, leave me alone xD

🌼 Has your OC lost anyone close to them? How did/would they respond if so?

She has indeed, still working that one out a bit for Future pieces, but what I can say is that she responded to that with trying to forget about it as good as possible and instead of dealing with her feelings she instead just focused on surviving, getting stronger etc. She also has a lot of guilt about that, which she also does not want to Deal with at all xD

🌺 What does your OCs formal wear look like?

That is a very dangerous question xD you have no Idea how much time I have spent looking at dresses she would wear to an formal event aksjakaha

Okay so she usually likes to wear dresses, but they can't be too short because that would be impractical. Basically something that looks good and she could still run/fight someone in xD Colourwise she prefers black over literally everything xD also I always like to say that she wears dramatic dresses XD

And with that also high heels to make her look taller, she does not like how small she is at all xD

🌹How's your OC with flirting? Either receiving or the source?

Okay I already answered that one earlier, but to sum it up, she is not very good at it xD in terms of she literally doesn't know how to and if someone was flirting with her she'd be pretty oblivious

Unless it was obvious of course, then her reaction very much depends on who's flirting with her xD So she either just forgets how to use a brain or she'd (more or less) politely inform the Person that she is very much not interested xD

Thank you so much for the ask Abbey!!!!!

[the-mystical-aquatic-gay]

So my friend @flags-and-fanfiction​ and I have this massive ML Rewrite that we’ve been planning for ages. We haven’t actually started a fic for it or anything, but since quarantine started, I’ve actually been drawing up some costumes for it.

Anyways I thought I’d share some of them with y’all cause I’m actually pretty proud of them!

First up we’ve got a redesign of Miss Chloé Bourgeois’ Queen Bee costume

This design might change at some point, and obviously I didn’t draw in hair or a mask or anything, but this is the outfit we’re probably gonna go with! If you want details about it I’m gonna have some extra stuff under the cut.

Okay let’s dive in here, I’m gonna have notes about the actual costume and about the rest of her design that wasn’t drawn here. Actual drawing stuff first:

I’m gonna try to work from the bottom up so let’s start with the shoes. Yes I know I kept the heels from the canon design, yes I know heels are high impractical for combat but hear me out:

Her suit is magical, if the suits’ are powered by tiny gods that can make the suits look like whatever their wielder truly desires, then I think its plausible that those tiny gods could use magic to allow the wielder to fight safely in heels if they really wanted it.

Chloé is pretty feminine in canon and we plan on keeping that in this AU, so I thought the heels would be a nice thing to keep.

Pointy things are good for jabbing your opponent if they grab you, I think Chloé would take advantage of things like that that other people would see as a weakness and turn them into a hidden strength.

I think that’s enough on the boots so let’s move on to the skirt

The skirt is actually dual purpose, yes it’s obviously a cute little skirt for our Queen and it adds a little splash of blue to her design. But one of the things we’ve decided on for this AU is that any miraculous based on an animal that can fly (Ladybug, Bee, Butterfly, etc), yeah, the person using that miraculous can now fly when transformed. So when Chloé needs to fly somewhere, that skirt will shift up and become wings on her back.

Aside from that, the skirt is another little bit of femininity to her costume and honestly, as long as they’re not long enough for you to step on or something, skirts give a great range of motion and I think Chloé would recognize and use that. In case you weren’t sure from the drawing there is actually a black miniskirt under the skirt that can switch into wings.

Next up the arm things, I just kinda thought they looked cool honestly? They do also follow the idea I mention before though of pointy things being good in close combat though. An alternate idea I’d considered but couldn’t get to work properly (because for some reason I was doing this on Paint 3D) with gloves lined with fuzz like I did on the shoulders. I still might change it to that idea in the future.

Next is the vest and undershirt. I don’t think there’s really much to elaborate on here, it’s just a vest and shirt. All I can really say is that i wanted to have a collar and goes out away from the neck but I didn’t really have room to draw it with the puffballs there so I just drew the shape but attached to her neck instead.

I already mention the puffballs, so I guess the only thing that I really wanted to say here was that those are supposed to be yellow with a light dusting of orange over the top of fuzz/fluff/whatever you wanna call it.

Next we have the things that aren’t in that picture but will be a part of her design in the fic, how her powers differ from canon, and anything else I can think of:

Her hair is gonna be a crown braid with little blue flowers woven in

Why flowers? That actually has to do with her powers! See we think that all powerful gods only giving their wielders one single power that they can only use once is dumb, so we’re changing that.

We don’t have the entire power system figured out, magic systems are hard y’all, but we do have some ideas. For Chloé her powers now are:

Main Power: we haven’t settled on a name for it, but those blue flowers? They’ll be used to seek out people how are willing and able to cooperate with the heroes in their fight. The magic that brings them to Chloé will also protect them from just getting insta killed by the akuma or something.

Secondary Power (might have more than one of these later): her weapon is gonna be a giant honey dipper, if needed she can use it to trap people in a giant glob of honey - and yes, this is basically just venom

We don’t have an official idea for her mask, because we’re changing basically everything for this AU, but I at least am thinking that she’d look cool with some sort of wire frame mask? Yeah they’re obviously not great for hiding faces, but neither are the canon masks, so chalk it up to miraculous magic disguising their identities.

This is the style of mask I mean:

That kinda thing would be so cool on her right? I love these kinds of masks so i just kind fell in love with the idea when I thought of it!

Anyways, I think that’s all the major stuff we’ve got for our version of Queen Bee right now. There’s more stuff we have for Chloé herself, like just as a character outside of the mask, but that can be its own post if people are interested. At some point soon ish here I’m probably gonna do a post about Night Prince, who is our take on Felix with the Black Cat miraculous (this isn’t an “Adrien loses his miraculous partway through the fic” type of thing, he has it from the start, we’re giving Adrien the Turtle when the time comes)

I hope y’all enjoyed this look into our AU and I’ll try to give everyone more soon! 

Edit: here’s the link to Night Prince’s post

[catsafarithewriter]

Secret Santa: Wolfiethewriter

A/N: Hallo, @wolfiethewriter, I’m your Secret Santa! You asked for “soul mate AU where people see the world in black and white until they meet their soul mate” and “Haru/Baron immortal angst” and I decided to combine the two :)

(Grimm, it was difficult to keep this secret from you - I’m so well hydrated now XD - and I’m fairly certain you twigged pretty early on, but enjoy!)

x

The first time she meets him, she sees gold. 

It’s early evening, but a sunrise breaks over the tiny world she’s found herself in. It’s a bright, impossible colour; a fantastic, fantastical dawn that she has no name for. 

The sunrise fades, but the colour remains. She sees it in the gold of the streetlamps and the flowers that sit beside the house. As the doors open, it spills out onto the cobbled courtyard and the ground is stained gold. 

“How did you do that?”

Her host pauses, the sure tap of shoes and cane faltering. Maybe he had expected the words, but not the tone. She is breathless, almost in awe. She rounds on him and, for a moment, his eyes catch the streetlights and glimmer gold also. 

“Do what?”

“The light, it’s...” She flounders for words, devoid of the vocabulary to describe what she sees. “What colour is it?”

She returns to quickly to bathe in the newfound light and misses the flash of fear that clouds the Creation’s eyes. “Gold,” is all he can say. “I believe the light is gold.”

“You believe?”

“I have been told.”

She looks back to him then, confusion muddying her grey eyes, and she sees more than he would like. “What colour do you see?”

He smiles a smile she will come to know well; a bittersweet, secret thing. But, right here and right now, to her, it’s only a smile. “White.” He turns to her fully now, that flicker of fear lodged carefully away. “Now, you say you’re having a bit of trouble with those cats from the Cat Kingdom?”

x

There’s so much gold in the Cat Kingdom, it’s almost blinding. The King is bedecked in it and she is made to match; gold glimmering in the jewellery about her neck, the bodice of her gown, the crown atop her head. Everywhere she looks, that sole gleam of colour breaks up the monochromatic world. 

A stranger approaches her table, his slow, sure steps somehow familiar but his cape and mask unknown. Unlike the rest of the world, he is cast in tones of black and white, tempered by her limited eyesight. But, as he takes her hand and leads her onto the dancefloor, his eyes catch the light and - just for a moment - glitter gold. 

She knows him then. 

x

The first time she meets him, she sees gold, but it doesn’t last. 

She walks away from that world - from magic and cats and Creations - and adulthood sweeps her up. She packs away her childhood fantasies and she forgets. And, as she forgets, the gold fades. 

x

And then she returns.

x

It’s an accident - or fate - she takes a wrong turning, a left where she should have taken a right, and ends up on the threshold of the Sanctuary once again. This time there are no cats vying for her hand, no strange gifts shadowing her; this time she comes and she stays of her own accord. 

This time, the light show is white. 

x

At first she stays for her curiosity - and although curiosity and the cat never mixed well, she risks it regardless - for this is a world that few humans stumble onto, and even fewer discover twice. She stays because she sees spirits and magic and other kingdoms and, even in the grey cast of her monochromatic vision, her world is bigger than ever. 

And then she stays because she discovers she is good at this. At helping people. She is a mixture of human recklessness and human compassion, and the two combine to make her a strong cornerstone of the Bureau. She has no magic, but she can move through places that Creations and cats cannot, and her mortality gives her an empathy that perhaps Creations lack. 

At some point, all the other reasons melt away though, and it becomes something more. Something other than curiosity and skill. Something that she can’t quite name, even if she had the courage to. 

And then she sees green. 

x

It’s not even on a case. It’s after, when all the running has been done and the adventuring brought to a close, and the Bureau linger in the Sanctuary to celebrate a job well done. Baron passes across a cup of tea and his hand brushes hers, nothing that’s not happened before but this time her heart skips a beat and she sees green. 

She misses the cup and it shatters across the carpet. She apologises, but she’s not sure what she’s saying. The words are automatic; a kick-in defence as her mind runs amok. She looks back up to Baron and, sure enough, his eyes are still green. 

x

She doesn’t know what the colour is at first. It’s only when she sees the grass and the trees, and she remembers the book that Hiromi had bought to school in their teen years, that she can put a name to it. “So You’ve Met Your Soulmate: A Beginner’s Guide to Colours” had been the title. Haru had read it once, but the colours it announced were invisible to her eyes. Still, she had devoured through it, her and Hiromi excitedly learning the colours that plagued the sky, the sea, the trees. Learning a vocabulary of a language she couldn’t see. 

x

Red comes in the thrill of a case. 

They’re running - because of course they’re running, they always are - and he pulls her round a corner just as a fireball singes the space she occupied moments ago. He pulls her to safety and into his arms and, for a moment, the two of them both forget they’re running. 

They’re close, too close, and all she can see is green. 

Then she laughs, because she doesn’t know what else to do, and pulls away, but her heart is beating fast and when the next fireball soars past them, it’s red. 

x

“We’ve made a mistake,” she overhears one lazy evening. She pauses at the Bureau doors, hand poised over the handle. Inside is the rise and fall of shadows as Baron paces. “Somehow, the magic of the Sanctuary has interfered with the soulmate connection. It’s the only way to explain it.”

The click of talons reveals Toto’s presence atop the internal balcony. “She doesn’t seem distressed by it,” he says. “Does it matter if she sees in colour?”

She stays her hand as Baron’s pacing clips to a halt. “Of course it matters! If it continues this way, she’ll lose all chance of finding her soulmate. Because of us! She deserves to-- We can’t just let her--” His voice cuts off in a break of composure that she has never heard before. When he speaks again, his tone is tempered. “She deserves happiness. If this continues, we’ll have to rethink her time with us.”

“Baron--”

“I will not be responsible for her losing her chance at love!”

x

She doesn’t tell him when she sees gold again. 

x

“So you really can’t see colour?”

They come to a rest in the underground wood, a quiet moment mid-case, and their guide gives Haru a searching look. The woman is Haru’s age, her hair the same shade of grey as Baron’s fur and Haru can’t help but wonder if they’d continue to match if her sight was full-colour. 

Haru turns her gaze up to the canopy above, where greens of every hue gather, and she shrugs. “Where I’m from, we don’t see in colour until we meet our soulmate.”

Usually. 

“Well, that sounds impractical,” their guide says. “How can you tell unripe fruit from ripe? Poisonous mushrooms from safe? What if there’s a snake or a predator? How do you spot those without colour?”

“Most of us live in cities,” Haru says. “So it’s not a problem.”

Their guide squints at Haru. “Are your soulmateless folk nocturnal? Do they have night vision instead?”

“No, I don’t... I don’t think so. I think we’re just colour-blind.”

“Huh.” 

Haru shrugs again. “So everyone in your world is born with colour vision?”

“Most of us, yes.”��

“That must be...” Haru trails off, not entirely sure how she wants to finish that sentence. “I can’t even imagine.” She sighs and leans back against a tree trunk, her gaze catching the green, green canopy again. Further off, she hears the footsteps of the rest of the Bureau returning from scouting their side of the forest and she misses her guide’s question. 

“Sorry, what was that?”

“I said, so you’ve never been in love?”

Haru doesn’t move. “I said I haven’t met my soulmate,” she replies. “It’s not the same thing.”

x

She is careful. 

She tries to be careful. 

But the world continues to grow brighter every day, and she tells Baron none of it. 

She tells him other things instead, and in time that overheard conversation is almost forgotten. She tells him of the disastrous date, but not the red tulips she received. She talks of her camping adventure with Hiromi, but not the green of the forest. She spins tales of the fireworks for New Year, but forgoes how it lit the sky golden. 

She almost forgets, but not quite. 

She could walk away from it all, of course. Do as Baron said; salvage what is left of her soul-link before it breaks entirely under the strain of... whatever this is. Find her real soulmate before it’s too late. 

Then she looks to Baron in the glow of a star-soaked sky and the blackness shifts to a midnight blue, and she knows she’s not going anywhere. 

x

“You told me you couldn’t see in colour.”

Baron lowers the paperwork and raises his gaze to the case file she holds out before him. They’re old, before her time, but the handwriting is the same. The illustrations are the same. 

The only thing that differs is the colour. 

He meets Haru’s gaze, and she’s not sure what emotion she expects in his eyes. Surprise? Guilt? Sadness? And all three make their appearance, but not before fear.

Just a flicker, and then it’s gone. 

He looks back to his file, straightening the sheets in a fashion made to look nonchalant. “I can’t,” he says. 

“Then explain this.” Her grip tightens on the old case file. “Explain why this is in colour.”

He takes it from her and as his gaze skims it, something akin to relief clouds his eyes. He brings the file towards him now, an almost-smile gracing his lips. It’s bittersweet. “I didn’t say I never saw in colour.”

“Oh.” Heat rises to her cheeks,not one of embarrassment, but one of shame. Her mind jumps to the obvious conclusion - perhaps one she should have seen a long while back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise--”

“She’s not dead,” Baron says. He tucks the file back into place. 

“But she’s not your soulmate anymore,” Haru says, the question resting in her eyes if not in her words.

“No. I was created... alongside another.” He shuffles more files, but the action is decidedly mechanical. “We were created together, literally sharing a soul.”

“So what happened?”

“The War happened. We were taken in by a young couple who were separated and, as we spent more time apart, a curious thing occurred.” His movement stilled, save for a nervous tap of his fingers. “Our colour vision began to fade, piece by piece.”

“That - that’s possible?”

“For Creations, apparently.” He gives her a sharp look, as if belatedly realising the implications. ”It’s not the same as whatever is happening with your sight - it can’t be. What happened to Louise and I... it was because we were both becoming our own person. Shaped by the world and the people in it, it was no longer possible to share the same soul.”

A pause. 

“So what do you think is causing my sight?”

He shakes his head. 

He shakes his head and looks away and doesn’t meet the gaze of her brown, brown eyes. 

x

Baron’s world has been monochrome for so long and yet he still cannot pinpoint the exact moment it crept into sepia tones instead. 

Brown brings a strange warmth he had come to forget. Brown was the colour of freshly-brewed tea. Brown was the colour of fields after reaping. Brown was the colour of her eyes. 

It’s subtle. It’s not the blinding gold of his light, or the brilliant blue of the sky or the raging red of fire, but it is warm and it is home and it is Haru. 

Impossible, of course; some glitch of magic, of course, but it’s there all the same. Colour where once there was none and he tries not to think on it too long. 

And, after all, it’s just the one colour. 

x

She pulls him into a dance - the summer air is light and warm and the city’s festivities are a joyful hum - and he sees yellow. 

x

She steps out before he can stop her, arm raised towards the monster. “It’s okay,” she croons. “It’s okay.” She looks back to the rest of the Bureau, her mortal eyes seeing what Creation ones had missed. Forgoing logic in a fit of compassion. 

She smiles. “I think it was just scared,” she says, and the forest is flooded with green. 

x

Red comes quietly, sneaking in alongside the browns and yellows. It comes in the mundane moments, the cups-of-tea moments, the quiet moments. Red is the colour of the berries they bake into tarts, creating a new batch to bribe Muta with. It is the colour of the fire they sit by after a long case. The colour of the sunrise. 

x

She catches him before a fall, caught on the edge of a cliff. “I’ve got you,” she promises;” hands entwined, and her hair frames her face and the sky behind her turns blue and he almost slips in his shock. 

Her grip tightens. “I’ve got you,” she promises. 

x

“Maybe it isn’t so complicated,” Toto says. He hops along the Bureau’s balcony as he watches over his oldest friend pour over ancient tomes. “Maybe you really are just soulmates.”

“If we were soulmates, we would have both seen colours upon our first meeting.” Baron fixes Toto with an iron stare before the other Creation could remind him. “Both of us, every colour.” 

“You’re a Creation. Maybe it’s different for us.”

“I already had a soulmate,” he retorts, “and Haru...” He trails off, eyes set down. Toto wonders what emotion he would see otherwise. “Haru should have the chance to meet her real soulmate - before whatever magic that’s disrupting her soul-link breaks it entirely.”

Toto decides he doesn’t like the direction this conversation is going.

“Baron? What are you doing?”

Baron inhales suddenly; the breath is both triumphant and defeated. “Found it. Toto, pass me the scarf Haru left last week.”

“What are you doing?”

Baron scoffs, and it is a tight, impatient sound, like he knows he will lose his nerve if he tarries too long. He snaps his fingers and the cane that is hooked over the balcony railing flies to him, snagging up the forgotten scarf as it goes. He snatches both up and lies the latter across an open page. Toto catches a glimpse of a rune before it disappears beneath the patchwork fabric. 

Toto has halfway guessed the kind of ancient spell Baron has located, but he is still hoping against it when an image rises up. 

It’s of a human, ordinary and everyday - and Haru’s soulmate. 

Baron smiles. It does not reach his eyes. 

“Found you.”

x

The museum’s lecture hall is quiet as Haru waits for the Bureau. The door proclaims a guest speaker due any moment, technicians congregating around the sound desk, but still the Bureau leave her waiting. Her fingers twist anxiously at the necklace Baron gave her last Christmas while her mind plays over their last encounter. 

A simple check-up, he’d said. Probably nothing, he’d said. Still, maybe worth dropping by the museum to make sure nothing was amok. 

Go ahead, he’d said. His hand reaching out to her, cupping her cheek in a rare show of spontaneous tenderness. His words casual, but his tone... off and an ache in his eyes as if he were trying to burn every moment into his memory forever. 

I’ll be right behind you. 

How can something so close to a promise sound like a goodbye?

“Are you okay, miss?”

She jolts from her thoughts, pulling the chain of her necklace taut. “Yeah, I’m fine, I just...” She looks up, eyes travelling up a vest and jacket, across the name tag that denote the guest speaker, and finally to eyes that shift from brown to hazel. 

In that moment, the whole world glows that little brighter. Colours blossom from grey and fill the lingering spots of monochrome, like a veil lifting from her eyes. 

Her necklace snaps, but she doesn’t reach for the fallen butterfly charm nor for the man - her soulmate - but finds herself reeling. She’s on her feet, her head shaking until the world is a vivid, brilliant, multicoloured haze. 

“No,” she whispers. “No, not you, please...”

The man - not her soulmate, please, anyone but - starts to reach out for her, and then stops. There’s hurt and confusion in those eyes - eyes she was fated to love, to adore, to cherish - and a returning plea on his lips begins to form.

“No,” she says, and the sky dims to grey. “No,” she says, and the grass loses its green. “No” - the sun pales to white - “No” - roses are white and tulips are black - “NO!” - the worlds snaps into shadow and light. 

And everything has changed. 

There’s hurt and confusion in those eyes - eyes that are no longer hazel, not even brown, just a nondescript grey - but now there is fear also. She doesn’t know what she’s done - doesn’t know if it should be even possible - but all she can do, all she can bring herself to do, is whisper an apology and flee. 

Her mind doesn’t know where she’s going, but her heart does. Her feet lead her back to the Bureau and her whirlwind pace doesn’t change even as the Sanctuary’s magic shifts her down to a figurine size. She slams through the Bureau doors and, sure enough, there he is. 

“You knew,” she growls. She walks and keeps walking, forcing him to back up as she approaches. “You knew my soulmate was there!” Her hands curl into fists around the lapels of his jacket, not letting him escape, not this time, even as her gaze fixes on his bowtie. “Why?”

A sharp intake of breath. She feels the fear, even if she cannot see it. 

“You should have a choice--” he begins. 

“You idiot,” she whispers. “You idiot.” Her voice is hoarse, throat ragged from unshed tears. “I chose you. Don’t you get it? I chose you.”

She looks up.

Green. 

His eyes are green. 

x

“If soulmates do exist, they’re not found. They’re made.”

- The Good Place, 

[grubus]

some snippets I hope to one day turn into actual fics but are, for now, just snippets! Critical Role edition;

What if when Beau and Molly did insight on Caleb after asking if he had/has kids, what if they rolled just as high jokingly asking Nott the same question. AU where Nott is found out early on that she is a mom, but everyone are still convinced it’s a goblin child. Based off of the early episodes of cr, right after the Howling Mines; 

“Well, if Caleb got no kids, what about you Nott?” Beau asks, tipping her chair back, balancing on the back legs of it. The way she says the question is snarky and haha-funny, the way the boys back home used to ask Veth if she really thought anyone would want to kiss her. The way her brothers not so kindly teased her about buttons. Jester’s giggles, Fjord’s sigh, Molly’s snort- of course no one would think Nott has any children. She’s a little goblin girl.

She thinks about Luc and chokes back the affirmation. 

“HAH!” Nott laughs and she fumbles when she puts her mask back on, inches closer to Caleb, the chair too big for her to move the whole thing but it’s alright. They already sat close together. “Me! Kids! Haha, funny. Nope! No kids here!”

Everyone at the table grow still. They stare at her, and yes, maybe Nott laughed too loudly, too shrill. But the mask is back on, so it should be fine. They can only see her eyes like this. It’s fine.

“Nott…” Caleb slowly says, and no, no- “Do you… have a child?”

Female!Fjord AU; cursing

She thinks it would be easier, if she had been born a man. Easier to gain respect- deepen your voice, flex your muscles. Be deserving of it, act like a proper half orc that knows how to be civilized.

It’s harder as a woman. It shouldn’t be, she knows. But pretty women gain respect easier than the ugly ones and, well. Half orcs are never the pretty ones. She tried to file down her tusks and all she did was give herself more scars, and the fucking orphanage wasn’t exactly an ego boost for a scrawny girl with too big ears, too green skin and too big teeth. 

It’s stupid to even try and look pretty. She still does, though. Even if the only job she can get is onboard Vandran’s ship. He mutters about how impractical such long hair is at sea as if he doesn’t have long hair himself, but Fjord just keeps it braided and tucked away and pretends she doesn’t hear. When she crawls back onto land with a strange sword and horror crawling up her throat, she buys a nice cloak. It has little swirling flowers on the hem. 

When she meets Jester who calls her pretty and asks if they can travel together, Fjord doesn’t say no. It’s the first time, after all, that anyone ever called her that.

Besides, Jester is cute. She’s funny. 

And Fjord is lonely.

Female!Caleb AU;

Her hair is longer than she remembers liking, tangled and dirty and more brown than red. She wishes she could grow a beard to hide her face further- but the matted mess is good enough. A bit of dirt helps, too. No one would look at her now and think of Brianna. 

Brianna was clean and proper, with shoulder length hair, patched but neat pants and too many books and a big grin on her face. 

No, she is Caleb like this. And, somehow, Nott never commented too much on the male name that she had picked out by accident, mind catching on a long dead uncle’s memory as she met those goblin eyes in the dark jail. At least Caleb is as far away from Brianna as one can get. It’s actually a bit of a relief, and most people are too polite to do more than blink when she introduces herself. 

She’s Caleb. Brianna…. is put away. It’s not a safe name, anyway. 

When Jester asks to brush her hair, she says no. When Beau offers to cut it, she says no. It’s too dirty, too long, too matted- but it’s fine the way it is. So much safer. 

Nott laughs and smears a bit of dirt onto Caleb’s cheeks, and Caleb smiles back and puts a dot of dirt onto the very tip of Nott’s nose. 

When Nott asks if she can make Caleb a flower crown, she says yes.

[livingcorner]

How to Create a Stunning Low Maintenance Garden

Have you always wanted a garden, but were discouraged by the lack of time or by the Herculean efforts that often go into creating one?��Or maybe you’ve rented a property with a garden, are tasked with looking after one, or are completely new to the world of gardening? If anything above sounds familiar, the low maintenance garden is just what you need! Here, a big emphasis is placed on hardscaping features, perennial plants, and other laid-back elements that don’t require your constant attention to create a garden that practically takes care of itself.

So, if you:

You're reading: How to Create a Stunning Low Maintenance Garden

Are new to gardening;

Want to freshen up your garden the easy way;

Don’t have much time to care for a garden,

Then this article is for you!

Since you’re probably already itching to create your own version of this maintenance-free paradise, let’s examine what goes into making it a reality, starting from the very beginning.

How to Create a Low Maintenance Garden

Keep plant variety down to a minimum

It’s simple math – the fewer plants you have in your garden, the more free time you will have to enjoy it. You can even go one step further, remove all plants and lay a gravel garden. There’s hardly anything more low maintenance than that! Of course, if you’re not fond of such extremes, there are still some options.

For example, you can plant evergreen shrubs like lavender and euonymus, or you could add some colour by introducing a few (emphasis on a few) plant containers. Just make sure to stick to a maximum of two types of plant to cut all work down to a minimum.

Leave your lawn out of the picture

Lawns demand lots of attention, so it’s no wonder they’re branded as public enemy number one by low maintenance gardeners worldwide. But how can one replace such a crucial feature?

Plant native or regional plant varieties around the trees in your lawn.

Pick species that won’t interfere with the trees’ roots, for example, spring bulbs like scilla or crocus.

Create gravel paths, 4 to 8 feet wide.

They will prevent weeds from growing and will help excess water drain faster. Add pavers or flagstones for improved looks.

Read more: The History of the Garden Gnome

Create seating areas at key locations near your paths.

Transform designated compost, trash, and/or tool storage areas into gravelled land for your benches. Use vinegar products or flame weeders to keep these spaces neat and free of overgrowth.

Replace what remains of your lawn with wide plant beds.

For an all-year-round good look, plant evergreen and native border shrubs, grasses, bulbs, and perennials.

Spend your time where it counts

The art of low maintenance gardening is to get the most out of your green space with the least amount of effort. And to do that, you need to make every minute you spend outdoors count. Look around and note all garden features that you find yourself interacting with the most.

Whether it’s a small vegetable patch or a water feature, make sure to focus your efforts on one particular thing and minimise maintenance work everywhere else.

You can do this by replacing the lawn with paving, swapping needy plants for shrub borders and so on. You can also position maintenance-heavy plants next to your home entrance or shed to drastically reduce the time spent carrying things around.

Scratch “weeding” from your to-do list

All that precious time spent in uprooting weeds can be saved if you replace some of those flamboyant (although pleasant to look at) perennial beds with shrubs. Here’s why:

Shrubs are way easier to plant through a weed-suppressing membrane.

Unlike their colourful cousins, shrub beds don’t require regular watering.

Then, all you need to do is add a mulch layer on top (bark and gravel will be perfect) and you can spend the next several seasons in blissful denial of the existence of such invasive plants.

Show the soil in your yard some love

Sure, feeding your plants is important, but did you think of what you can achieve if you do the same with your soil? Cover this important aspect of low maintenance gardening by enriching your soil with compost.

This will allow soil tilth to build up which, in turn, will help your plants “digest” their meals more easily. And the best part is that you only need to do this once a year! Just scatter the mineral supplements under the annual compost layer and you’re good to go.

Apply mulch the low maintenance way

This essentially means covering all your plant beds with a mulch blanket that is approximately 4 to 6 inches deep. This method serves a double purpose – not only will the mulch suppress the weeds, but also conserve some of the moisture. For best results, use well-rotted dairy manure and spread it from October all the way up to April (advisable only during snowless winters).

Let technology do all the work for you

No garden is truly low maintenance without an automatic sprinkler system. Simply install it at a location that will benefit as many of your plants as possible, sit back and enjoy a beverage of your choice as the sprinklers do all the field work for you. Just make sure to maintain them every now and then to be certain that your plants will be getting their vital sustenance on time.

Build your garden with hardscaping in mind

When you really think about it, it all makes perfect sense – the more inanimate objects one garden has, the less maintenance said garden will require. In other words, consider replacing your lawn with paving and reduce the number of plant beds in favour of slate paths.

Not all forms of hardscaping are easy to keep in tip-top shape, and this goes double for pretty much anything labelled as “softscaping”. For instance, deckings need to be cleaned quite often, while gravel-laid areas will require regular raking to keep the surfaces even.

Read more: How to Plant Flowers in 5 Easy Steps For a Garden Full of Color

Fill your kitchen garden with perennials

Sure, perennials take their sweet time to blossom, but they also basically take care of themselves. This latter quality makes them a perfect low maintenance gardens material.

By opting for perennials, you will also spend much less time researching your garden’s soil type, worrying about your local climate, or dabbling infrequent pruning activities.

Here are some contenders for the low maintenance crown that you can plant in your kitchen garden:

Salad burnet;

Sorrel;

Wild rocket;

British gooseberry.

6 Big No-no’s in Low-Maintenance Gardening You Need to Avoid

Introducing containers to your garden. Looking after container plants is a very demanding task since it involves regular feeding, watering, and occasional repotting. If you do opt for container gardening, choose larger containers that hold more compost since these won’t have to be watered as frequently.

Planting tender plants en masse. For example, such are winter wrapping and lifting which need to be relocated in a protected environment for propagation each year. You should also scratch bedding plants, vegetables, and seeds from your planting list, too. Instead, grow vegetation that will not need any special treatment once planted outside.

Disregarding your plants’ needs. You can’t place shade-loving plants in direct sunlight or vice versa and expect them to thrive. Before you do any sowing work at all, make sure to pick plants that are well suited to your local climate and your garden’s soil type.

Growing plants that need artificial support. A few examples would be delphiniums or any climbing plant in agricultural history. The reason? They are tricky to maintain, and ivy, in particular, can quickly grow out of control and suffocate the surrounding plants.

Painting and staining your fence or furniture. Yes, the final result will look impressive. In the world of low maintenance gardening, however, doing this is impractical since you will have to eventually refresh the paint again, and then again, and then… you guessed it. So, make it easy on yourself by leaving your fence or furniture’s natural colours intact.

Plants that serve as food for snails. Most snail species are herbivores and will happily devour your garden if it happens to be a snail paradise. Avoid tender and succulent-leaved plants (broccoli comes to mind) in favour of natural snail repellents, such as bellflowers and cyclamen.

A Few Final Words

Everyone deserves a nice place to relax and by now, we hopefully helped you change the way in which you view gardening as a whole – as a fun activity as opposed to an insufferable chore. Just remember that less is always more when it comes to creating a low maintenance garden.

Of course, as with all artistic outlets, gardening should always be done with passion, a pinch of good mood, and at least a tiny bit of effort as no garden deserves to be neglected by its owner!

Need help maintaining a stunning garden?

Fantastic Services offers a complete and professional garden maintenance service. The reliable gardeners come equipped with all the tools they will need and the skills necessary to keep your garden lush and fresh. From hedge trimming to planting new flowers, we can handle it for you!

Turn your garden into your personal paradise! Find out about out garden maintenance service here.

Takeaways

Keep plant variety to a minimum.

Avoid investing in a lawn, as they require more maintenance.

Consider creating a gravel garden.

Invest in automatic sprinklers.

Focus on hardscaping.

Avoid planting many tender plants.

Try to avoid plants that attract pests, such as snails.

***

Did you find this information helpful? Can you think of other low maintenance gardening tips & tricks that you’re willing to share? Let us know in the comments below and keep on gardening!

Image source: shutterstock /J. GALIANO

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-create-a-stunning-low-maintenance-garden/

[hollywoodx4]

Sticking With the Schuylers (42)

Happy anniversary day everyone! 6 months!!  I’m so happy to see a bunch of new readers (welcome, hope you enjoy the ride) and I’m very thankful to have made it this far :) Thank you all so much for making this story possible !!

Here’s the second part of your present! A double post day

1  2  3  4   5   6   7   8   9   10   1112   I  13  14   15   16   17   18A  18B   18C  I  19   20   21   22   23   24   25  26   27  28   29   I  30  31  32 33 34 35  36  37  38  39 40  41

Tagging: @linsnavi  

Warnings: This story is pretty heavy on mentions of both physical and emotional abuse.

A venti vanilla latte with a double shot of espresso; the steam billows into the air from the open lid of a paper coffee cup, granted more air to cool itself down. Through layers of thick and cloud-like foam the steam creates magnificent swirling patterns, its constant change a dance of uncertainty before it disappears completely. The fog blends with the stagnant, aromatic air of the coffee shop. Eliza watches it come and go in waves of attention. How strange it is that the air that gives life to herself is also taking it from this fog-dance.

               Her goal is to empty the paper cup. Its contents, much stronger than she is used to, burn on the way down. Caffeine settles in her veins, pumping blood now awake and riddled with anxiety to her rapidly beating heart. She inhales the bagel she had bought-its purpose is to soak up some of the wicked potion, to quell her nerves. The coffee is making her stomach turn. The caffeine does nothing but become its partner, egging it on. It is a power source much too heightened for the weight of her body and the unfamiliarity with copious amounts of artificial energy. Today, however, she needs it.

               Eliza leans over the table, eyes narrowed in concentration. Across the space she had claimed lay an organized sort of chaos-a pile of her belongings once neatly organized lost to the busied state of her mind. She can barely see past the thick book she has been filling; can barely feel the ache in her hands or the pinch in her downcast neck. She concentrates on the thinned out scratching of graphite on paper, a brushing as her hand moves in flurried motions. It is controlled by memories, this moment; her mind aches with the task of transferring three-dimensional dreams onto a flat surface. The translation is a difficult one-it is impossible to bring about a feeling through a series of scratches; of lines and dots and sketched figures that fit only the bill of her subconscious world. In Eliza’s head, Lisa had said, these gatherings of color and light and blurred lines make perfect sense. There is a translation of emotion she is able to read just by the touch of blue or a hardened press of graphite. Eliza doesn’t quite buy that theory. It helps, though, this consuming task. It keeps her busy.

               The work that she has done lays before her in torn-out pages; it had felt right to keep them side-by-side, in a series of sorts. Her drink is only 1/4th of the way gone. Her table is filled with a dusting of color and torn paper and the potent stench the two espresso shots bring her once tame latte. Eliza cannot bring herself to look at them altogether. She’s sure she’ll have to next week, when she’s stuck in the room filled with a sense of try-hard feng-shui and Lisa’s favorite and completely impractical magenta suede pumps. She’s sure the amount of scratches on paper will at least double by then.

               Living by herself hadn’t been hard before she’d known exactly what safety had felt like.

               The scratching pauses. Eliza draws in another long sip of what is essentially only caffeine and looks down at the progress she has made on her current scene. Her mind dutifully directs itself back to autopilot, back to graphite shavings and a stained hand and subtle movements that fill her mind with purpose. The art lets her mind wander, to fog and to disappear for a while. For that reason, she loves drawing more than any other hobby she has had.

               When their girls were young, Phillip and Catherine Schuyler had sat them down in turn on their sixth birthday. What do you want to do? They had asked, and presented them with flyers and brochures of activities they could choose from; hobbies, interests. These things would keep their girls well rounded-and they had. Angelica chose tennis; she and Phillip had already been out on the courts, during special dad-and-Angie time her sisters had always been jealous of. It had become a way of networking, having a daughter who hit those rubber balls with a vengeance and spoke her mind so passionately. In choosing this hobby Angelica had chosen to become her father’s right hand girl. The zeal for tennis lasted only a short while, but the political upbringing brought her along to eagerly fill the role of Phillip’s doubles partner. Angelica was a pretty good tennis player, but she’d found her calling in networking with his colleagues. This was-and still is-her niche.

               Peggy had bounced between activities so many times Eliza finds it hard to keep track. She’d done gymnastics for a while, but the arduous hours in a sweaty gym hadn’t been worth the pretty trophies for the youngest daughter. From there she’d tried basketball, and dance, and then softball. In each sport, she’d found something wrong. The real problem with Peggy and sports is her tendency to fall on her face, proven in several well-hidden home videos.

               For Eliza, the memory is vivid. Right when she had woken up on her sixth birthday she’d come barreling down the stairs. She’d been the one to sit with their parents-to initiate the conversation. In her fluffy pink party dress, and hair done-up in an elaborate braided crown, she’d spun on shining white mary janes before insisting that ballet was her only option. From the very first class, she had fallen in love. In elementary school it had been the costumes that won her over; sparkles and sequins and layers of tulle that puffed her out like a cupcake. She’d wear the frocks around the house, only taking them off when bedtime and tulle became an incompatible match. As she got older she got better, and a fixation on costumes turned to trophies. This didn’t last long. The thrill of winning felt glorious in her heart, which swelled with unfiltered joy each time her parents brought flowers to her competitions (a glorious rainbow of gerber daisies-they always brought flowers). The swell of her heart then translated into a multitude of feelings. As her solos grew harder they also grew stories-Eliza was called upon to play a character in these moments, and she’d grown fond of the opportunity to tell stories through movement. That was when she realized how much she could release from a repetition of pirouettes or a leap across the studio floor. The negative feelings in her heart were translated through her heart to her body, and down through the floor. They would stay there in that studio.

               When she’d grown too old to compete-when volunteer work and schooling and life had gotten in the way-Eliza had felt lost. Dancing had been her release. When she’d left it, she’d left the ability to spin away her feelings. And then she’d met James.

               Sketching became Eliza’s freedom almost as naturally as dancing had.  It started on a whim, a trip through a craft store and a glance in the right direction. She’d grabbed the tiny blue sketchpad as an afterthought, perhaps for a project she hadn’t quite planned yet. Then, things turned difficult. Life became taxing to live. Eliza could not dance; she could not even leave her apartment. The colorful sticks of charcoal had taken to her hands like second nature. The colors, their palate often in tandem with her own skin’s unnatural coloring of cruelty, often dusted her arms and the length of her palm. She let her fingers roam across paper, smearing purples and blues and peaches together to create a starry night of colors. Eliza never sketched to gain praise. Her art would not hang on gallery walls. But sitting in front of a blank canvas, her mind took solace in a new medium to press herself onto. The covers of her sketchbooks breathe a sigh of relief when they are opened.  In turn, she thanks them for their time. With charcoal, or graphite, or pen, her mind is able to heal.

               The healing also comes with the aesthetic of the coffee shop, wrapped in sparkling silver tinsel and cutout snowflakes, cable-knit blankets draped over warm leather couches. Her drink had been served in one of the last red holiday cups, a reminder of the holiday season now in the past. Just before they’d left for her family’s Christmas Eve party Eliza and Alex had sat in this same booth, drawing trees and snowmen and stars on each other’s cups with a Sharpie John had smuggled over the counter. She’d laughed at his rendition of a reindeer; a mess of basic shapes akin to a child’s shaky artwork. Her cup is now bare, devoid of any kind of design. She stares at the dimensionless red, lets its bright coloring hurt eyes which seem to be searching for its imperfections.

               “You alright?” The voice pierces through her fog, hushed and soft and bright in timbre. John leans over the counter to speak to her, an eye trained on a fat, handsome man in an identical uniform. It’s the first day in a while his boss has stopped by this particular Starbucks, and as shift manager the collected, charismatic Latino is attempting to look busy. So far the day hadn’t been too taxing-a few discrepancies with a new employee messing up drinks, one millisecond of a lack of filter…yes, so far John Laurens would check this off as a pretty good day. His boss seems impressed, looking over a beautifully painted mural of snowflakes and swirls that graces the glass windows. It is a job he was supposed to assign to one of his employees; he’d scoffed at the thought. Within their ranks, there was not a stitch of artistic talent. He’d called Peggy instead, who’d come a few times that week and adorned a borrowed green apron to paint in exchange for the company-and the free coffee.

               His smile widens when his boss turns to approve the decoration, his hands moving as if he’d been cleaning the counter the entire time. When the man turns back around again, John’s shoulders drop. He’d meant to be excelling at the day-showing management that he really did deserve the raise he had gotten. The raise is all but forgotten when Eliza walks through the door. If she hadn’t nearly stumbled her way to the counter, her uncharacteristic exhaustion would have been noted by the sheer weight she seemed to be carrying around. Each footstep hit the hardwood flooring heavy, wading through a tumultuous mud that keeps her pace slow and her eyes to the ground. Her order spills between slightly upturned lips and a smile that doesn’t quite reach her cheeks. And when he hesitates-stares at her dull and unmoving expression-she moves along as if nothing has happened.

               So he can’t ignore her. As his boss walks slow and meticulous circles around the shop John juggles his attention between a sudden influx of customers and Eliza’s sinking form in their usual booth. She has a wide span of work lain out before her which she bends over in a concentration only broken by the opening of the door or a voice too loud too soon. Then she’s hyperaware, throwing her hands over her work as her body is jumpstarted by the shock. She fits the lag of the shop’s music; acoustic guitars and soft vocals by artists who use their breathiest voice to convey a dream-like feel. Usually, Eliza Schuyler fits into this aesthetic like the piece of a hand-crafted puzzle. Today, her energy carries to the counter and sets his own heart to her own erratic rhythm.

               Between his boss and his currently incompetent employees John keeps a piece of himself tethered to the table Eliza has holed herself up at. For a moment he considers sneaking out back to text Alex, to give him warning and ask for his help. His fingers even hover over the screen of his phone for a moment, typing and erasing before his head is filled with the voices of his mother, and his sisters. They’d think it a terrible idea to meddle like this, sticking his nose in business that only kind-of pertains to himself. He’s not sure about his youngest sisters (Emily would probably have already gone and gotten Alex herself) but Amaia and his mother would adorn identical expressions. The slightly lowered brow, the crinkling of skin between them, and a constant company of arms crossed over chests….this is how he’d been raised. He fears the power of the women in his family, but he respects their opinion more. Even though they are not there, and they have not said a word, they are right. They’re always right.

               In lieu of meddling John walks back and forth along the back counter of the bar, scrubbing down machine handles and picture frames and the bottom of the fridge. From this vantage point he can see her perfectly. She’s sketching, a thin pencil between dexterous fingers making hasty lines across paper that is no longer blank. The rip of its release breaks the soft sound barrier of the shop then, cutting through murmured voices and the whirring of appliances to announce its presence. He flinches, watching her lay the piece in a line of matching canvases. There is only the simplicity of a blurred monochrome blanket or art she had been working on for hours now, since he’d opened the doors to the shop. He can’t see much of anything from this point. He inches closer.

               He’s lucky, he supposes then, that she’s sitting so close to the sink area. When his boss looks over he can soak his hands in water, clearing utensils and blenders and tools from his path. He does his best impression of a well-tuned employee, eyes turned to a focus and pace moving rapid although he is not really doing much work at all. It turns out that for John, pretending to be busy is harder work than actually doing his job. The façade is worth it.

               The pictures she has drawn all seem to be linked, although there is no clear start or finish to the story she is illustrating. Then, it is abstract. There are no real characters, just one hastily sketched figure that is blurred in some drawings and scratched away in others. A page in the middle has been covered in darkness, so much so that John can still see the dusting of graphite that has loosened from a harsher pressure on the tool. Another directly next to it features only a face which, although clearly hastily drawn with a gathering of identical lines, isn’t much unlike her own. There is a blur, where she’d smeared the darks and lights together from her left eye to the tip of her chin so that she is barely unrecognizable. The choice seems odd on such a lovely portrait. Looking closer the blur continues, up toward the head where glossy hair typically fell into loose curls. She had blurred that too, turned dark hair darker and highlighted it with harsh lines throughout its nest. These lines twisted and contorted, wrapped around the neck in tight twists that pinched at her skin. This is where the picture stopped. She’d started another.

               The one she is working on now, in hard concentration, features a rolling of markings that resemble the cloth of a curtain, or a dress. A dress, John decides as he leans a bit closer, is more similar to what this picture must be conveying. Through the blackened canvas the fabric stands out, white and clean and polished with a bow. It hangs from one corner of the frame, where it’s being pinched by hands that dwarf it in size. There are hard, sharp lines adorning the hand, which does not translate in harmony to the softness of the silk and the flow of the dress. From the line of focus this scene portrays, from top left to bottom right, there is the hand, the dress, and another figure. This one is small, creating the illusion that it must be floating away. Where the hand is sharp and the dress soft, this figure floats somewhere in the middle. Unlike the other pieces of work she’d created, the girl in this picture does not show her face. Her body is both curled into itself and splayed out, upside-down and floating in a sea of black graphite. Brilliant dark hair billows below her head, hanging and catching in the sketch to create motion. Where John had thought the figure was simply floating, he guesses again. There is nothing peaceful about this piece. Where the sketch of just her face had been pleasant-save the blurring of its left side-this falling in an endless space of darkness gives off a vibe that sticks in his gut. A chill runs through his blood, beginning and ending in an infinite loop that makes him want to turn away from it all. His sight pans back out to the grouping of pictures, depictions of scenes within Eliza’s mind that come in flashes of horrific memories.  His intake of breath is audible, and uncontrolled. He puts a hand over his mouth when Eliza turns sharp to face him. He’s been caught.

               “John!” Her hands rest on her table, covering the figure and the face to no avail. He’s already seen it all, that much is evident by the uncomfortable brushing of his top and bottom lips to each other, the way his eyes can barely meet hers. She moves to say something else but can’t figure out what it should be; she could explain herself, the pictures and the coffee and the frantic look on her face. She could accuse him for invading her privacy, but what good would that be? She’s sitting in a public place, his place of work…she’d been stupid to think he wouldn’t notice her there. She hadn’t been thinking at all, actually.

               There is a level of unrest that’s lain harsh on her gentle features. Soft lips are curved into the mirror of a smile, wistful and hopeful and pretending. The beginnings of dark rings hang under lifeless eyes, illustrating her exhaustion and keeping herself away from him. He nods, although no other hint of conversation has been given. It’s a response to her body language; her harsh covering of art and her inability to say anything more. Although he doesn’t fully understand, he knows. This is not something he should be poking his nose into. In the moment he notices her sharp defense he decides to leave the art alone, although he cannot un-see what he has seen-they are both aware of this fact.

               “So….a venti?” Eliza laughs then, shaking her head and piling her art back into her sketchbook. She uses her fingers to shake out her loose curls, tossing them over her shoulder.

               “Yeah, it’s been…interesting. It was an interesting night.” She doesn’t need to say anything more-the saccharine fragrance of vanilla espresso and the overly done lilt in her voice are enough to give away her true meaning. John frowns, drumming his fingers on the countertop, contemplating what to say.

               “I uh, yeah. Yeah, it wasn’t too good for Alex either. Have you talked to him?”

               “Today? Yeah. This morning, just to say hi. About this?” She holds her sketchbook in her hands, caressing the cover and looking down at its worn-out binding with the bite of her lip. There is a sensation that comes along with even looking at its cover, something between the release of peace and an aggressive hold on her heart that keeps her chained to its therapy. The choking of her heart is necessary. Holding the book, it seems useless. But it’s opening its pages-translating feeling to rough lines and vast spaces that make it worth its initial pain. Telling Alexander would mean having to show him what she’s done-to explain each of the moments she’d had to sit down, where words were not enough to release her emotions. It’s something that makes her cringe upon the thought. It’s not necessary, not yet.

               “I don’t want to make him feel guilty.”

               “Say no more, E. We’re done talking about it.” John has a way of glossing over things; of making people forget he ever even knew what had happened. Flashes of the night before present themselves in the forefront of his mind; Alex standing wearily at the door, his fight with Lafayette…even this morning he had been lackluster, leaving the apartment without breakfast or coffee. If he didn’t like Eliza, he could’ve presented her with all of the consequences her actions had caused, the effects of her choice. If he hadn’t known her, or what she’s going through, this would have been very easy to do. Letting go of people is something he has no trouble with, especially when those people have hurt those that he loves. This is different. While Eliza had hurt Alex she hadn’t done it intentionally-this move had been the best decision for them both. And Eliza…he’d grown closer to Eliza in the past few months than he’d anticipated. Dropping her, if there ever would be a need, would be harder than he’d thought.

John wears a lopsided smile, body propped on the length of his lower arm against the countertop. He drapes the cloth he had been pretending to clean with over his shoulder, eyes dusted with the familiar hints of mischief.

               “You want to be distracted?” John sends the proposition her way with inflection in his voice and a quick glance back to his boss. Luckily, he still hasn’t noticed the lack of work ethic he’s been presenting.  He turns back just in time to see Eliza’s hesitant nod.

               “Emily’s coming to game night on Friday.”

               “Oh good,”

               “-Oh yeah, I’m kind of making her come.”

               “Oh?” Eliza’s turned completely in the booth now, facing John and leaning slightly against her table. He’s completely relaxed now, barely passing a glance at the wandering man with the clipboard. He’s not too concerned with John, either; right now he’s fixated on the well-being of a couple sitting on the other side of the shop.

               “She’s….she’s had it rough. Her friends are all assholes and I hate them.”

               “John!”

               “I’m being generous here. They’re all a bunch of stuck up little hypocrites and she just needs a night away from them. The one person I hate more than them is her girlfriend.”

               “What’s wrong with her?” She’s trying to play the middle man and he groans at the thought of it all, rolling his eyes at her sweet tone and open mind. He wants to project his mind to her own, to show her the girl that is currently holding his middle sister’s heart hostage in a rampant game of tug-of-war. His strong, independent sister has been pining over this girl for years to receive nothing in return but an ever-changing frame of mind.

               “She’s a serial dater. She’s crazy, and manipulative, and they’ve broken up four times in the past few months. This is so not my sister. And her friends? Her friends could care less, they’re only concerned with whether or not this girl will be at the apartment and if she’s brought food. They’re exploiting Emily for some halfway decent chef who just graduated from dishwasher and hasn’t set a single goal for herself in her life. They’re the worst match.”

               “So you’re forcing her to hang out with her brother and his friends because….”

               “You and your sisters are good people-you got along when you met her, right? I mean she’s kind of a bitch but once you get to know her she’s great. She needs some new friends, desperately. Plus, she’s Alex’s sister too so you need to get in with the family at some point.”

               “Alright, I’m sold.”

               “Really, that easily?” Eliza laughs at his shock, nodding and gathering her things. She gestures behind John, pulling her lips into a nervous curl as the sound of footsteps approach them. He turns just in time to see his boss, large and a pitiful attempt at being intimidating. It gets John moving. His lanky form putters around the little bar, grasping at Eliza’s half-empty cup and attempting to recreate what he’d made her much earlier in the morning. His facial features are immediately set to a concentrated sort of smile, which he flashes at his boss with a set of pearly white teeth. His boss nods. Eliza rolls her eyes. Once again, John has avoided work with only his boyish smile.

               She leaves him then, thanking him for the mucked up version of her drink she’s already too caffeinated to drink. It feels nice to have a purpose; to set out to class with a new goal in mind. By the time her day is over she’s busy compiling lists-thoughts and facts to tell her sisters about the friend they need to make. Going home to an empty apartment is lonely; quiet. But she has Alex on the other end of the phone, his exuberant tenor telling her every story he knows about Emily Laurens. He understands her; with a goal in her mind, Eliza can be busy. With this goal in her mind, she barely needs the release of her sketchbook. Her thoughts are geared toward an uncontrollable optimism, a need to reach the end result so clearly paved in her mind. Friday can’t come quick enough.

[fearofaherobrine]

Roleplay Server Log #157

“Fake Steve, Another Night at the Bar, Alexis, Herabrine, Noah and the Spooky Clown”

[Lie] Hands Notch a wool block-

[Notch] Thank you Lie, honestly.... - starts scrubbing the mess off the counter.

[Stevie] Father!  My hands are dirty!

There is a sudden loud thud at the door. A strange Steve has just walked right into the wall beside the door leading into the bar. The Steve stumbles back and feels around himself as if blind.  He finds the door and stumbles through.

He stands straight and tilts his head back, strutting stiffly into the bar with his face almost looking at the ceiling. He walks past the group and heads to the far corner of the bar and feels his way onto a stool. He gestures to Sam for a drink.

[Lie] Looks at the Steve in confusion- Um...

[Sam] Gives him a drink but seems to be trying not to laugh

["steve"] hisses out a barely discernible "Oi." And nods.

[Doc] waves at the Steve and asks with a giggle- so which brine are you with?

["Steve"] - looks up at the ceiling - Oi!

- Closer inspection reveals the Steve to actually be a shabbily constructed costume, and it's wearer forgot to put eye holes in the sloppily painted Steve head. W the wither skeleton is trying to peer down his chin at the drink in front of him, working out how to " drink" like a Steve.

[CP] Is too drunk to care or notice-

[Sam] whispers to the "Steve" - just hook your finger over the lip and put it in the liquid

[TLOT] Goes to poke his own Steve, but he's fallen asleep in the booth and is snoring lightly

[W] (In wither speak) Just out doing Steve things.... yessir. Just out being all fleshy and alive breathing air.... nothing to see here. - realizes he's in front of humans and brines... parrots "Oi...." again. Picks up drink and splashes across the Steve head - Refeshing!

[Ruby] What the actual fuck?

[Lie] - Er...  Uhhhh

[Notch] Well then... Nice to know everyone is having fun...

[Stevie] His hands are covered in brown dye gunk-

[Notch] Come on Stevie, we'll go in the bathroom and you can wash your hands

[W] - (has learned to parrot a few words does a passable  CP impersonation) Oi! Fucker!

[Stevie] - Okay

[gem] -is laughing in the corner-

[TLOT] Realizes what he's doing- that's a bit familiar isn't it?

[Doc] It's uncanny really...

[W] - happily - Fucker. Grrrrr.

[Notch] it's walking by him with Stevie and starts giggling uncontrollably

[Doc] Winston, actually you might be interested in chatting with this "Steve"

[Winston] - Oh?  Why is that?

[TLOT] Mentally to Winston- because he's not a Steve at all

[Winston] Turns towards the "Steve"- Hello...

[Ruby] is just staring and slowly emptying hir glass - this is ridiculous

[W] - hello.... I mean.... Aah! A skeleton!  Oh no! - lifts up the Steve head to give Winston an exaggerated "wink" and thumbs up before putting it back down as if no one else saw

[Winston] Glances around for a bit of help at what to do with the odd wither skeleton-

[W] - holds up wrist in front of the Steve head as if checking a watch - Oh look at the time! Got to get back to my Steve-ing in the dirt with the pointy thingie.

[W] -realizes he's speaking wither again, panics - er... oi! Oi! Fucker fuck... oi! -stumbles toward the door

[[Wither] Watches W leave- I...  What just happened?

[W] - knocks into CP in his haste to leave -

[CP] Growls but is to drunk to really do anything-

[W] - sighs with relief at not getting blasted and makes his escape, making whooping noises as he goes

[Winston] - WHAT WAS THAT!?

[Doc] That's W, he's a bit odd.   But an entertaining fellow, especially when I can understand him directly.

[Winston] - I see...

[Lie] Starts idly looking through the coronation paperwork-

[TLOT] is just laughing - the pointy thingie?!

[Lie] - Um...  TLOT?

[TLOT] yeh?

[Lie] - Pointy thingy?

[TLOT] projects what W was saying exactly- next time Steve goes mining I'm gonna think of that. " Steve'ing indeed!"

[Lie] - Oh!

[CP] - Fucking Nether...  I don't wanna deal with Trender...

[Doc] At least we're not actually inviting him... You know you don't have to ask him, they're just dresses right?

[CP] - But he can make one perfect for her...

[Doc] if Lie can find a good picture online I can make her whatever she wants, it'll just self adjust as it goes to the higher res seed.

[CP] - But Trender can see exactly what will work...

[TLOT] Yeah why does Trender get to pick what she wears anyway? She's a queen, she can wear whatever she wants!

[Doc] That is kinda stinky. Lies a grown woman, she should be treated as such

[Lie] - Yeah except I don't know a thing about dresses...

[CP] - Gotta make impression on mobs too

[Ruby] Fuck men picking things out for women anyway! - shakes hir fist

[Doc] As long as she can kick their asses, who cares what they think? She's not a dress up doll, she's a warrior like the rest of us.

[CP] Groans-

[TLOT] Do you really want to wear a dress Lie?

[Ruby] She needs battle armor!

[Lie] - It really depends on what the dress looks like...

[Ruby] Something you can fight in!

[Doc] Short toga with an offensive vine belt? You could wear that purple armor I made from Cps gems.

[Lie] - I don't know...

[Stevie] Puts his dirty hands on the bathroom door as they enter-

[Notch] Wipes the door behind him with a sigh.

[Doc] Come on Lie, seriously, what would you wear to just kick every pixel of someone's ass?

[Lie] - I...  Don't really have anything...

[Doc] I didn't say you had to have it already! I'm asking you what you want.

[Lie] - I don't know!

[Doc] Lie... It may be the alcohol talking, but I kinda want to shake you right now.

[Lie] - This is not stuff that I'm used to okay!

[TLOT] Do you want Trenderman here putting his hands all over you?

[Lie] - Er, well...

[CP] - Trender isn't that invasive...  He's been doing this for so long that he can generally just look at somebody and know their sizes

[Notch] Sticks his head around the corner - For what it's worth, I would gladly take you out and buy you something if I could leave.

[Lie] - Thanks Notch

[Doc] I give up. Do what you want. But if the guy has to be here, lets do it while I'm still drunk. I can't take anymore emp crap sober.

[CP] - He's actually pretty good at controlling his...

[Doc] Control don't mean squat if he wants to do it.

[CP] - He'll also probably want to work on my server...  Fuuuuuck

[TLOT] THEN DON'T CALL HIM.

[CP] Groans and bangs his head on the table a little-

[TLOT] It's none of his business anyway! Please just let me do it.

[CP] - Have you seen your fashion sense?

[TLOT] I didn't pick for color Cp... The armor was a gift from my husband when I was near freezing in the snow. The cloak was what my Testificates gave me instead of a crown. And the helm belonged to me back before NOTCH destroyed my powers. You of all people should understand things having sentimental value.

[CP] Grumbles-

[Lie] Is peeking through some more of the papers-

[Flux] - So your clothing items are sentimental?

[TLOT] Blushes a little. -It all has meaning. Steve's bone armor was my gift to him, and the gem in the center of his chestplate was our Testificate's way of honoring him as their high priest. Apparently if a Testificate is in that position; the job comes with a hat.

[Flux] - Interesting...

[Lie] Is getting a bit overwhelmed by everything CP is going to have to do for the coronation-

[TLOT] Cp, I'll make whatever she tells me too anyway, it's not on my taste.

[Stevie] Runs out of the bathroom with no pants on-

[Notch] Goes after him - Stevie! Just because Deerheart does it doesn't mean it's polite in mixed company!

[Stevie] Crawls back into the booth with CP-

[Ruby] He's full of piss and vinager isn't he?

[Winston] - Usually he's full of fear and piss

[Notch] Stevie come out of there!

[Stevie] - But I wanna color more!

[Notch] You don't need to take your pants off to color!

[Doc] Well....

[Deer] - Why not?

[Notch] It's not necessary.

[CP] - Hey!  That's my line

[Notch] .... Sam?

[Sam] ?

[Notch] Can I have another drink?

[Stevie] Sits there rather happily as he continues to draw-

[Doc] Takes out a blanket and punches a hole in the center before dropping it over Stevie's head like a poncho.

[Stevie] Looks at the blanket curiously- What's this?

[Doc] It's a blanket, duh.

[Notch] Turns to Cp but gestures at Stevie- He's turning into you.

[CP] - Good for him

[Notch] Takes the boilermaker from Sam and takes a large gulp.

[TLOT] Can we have some calming flowers Lie?

[Lie] Puts the papers down- How do you do this on a regular basis?  Hm?  Oh, sure- She spawns several calming flowers

[Notch] He's usually not this bad!

[Lie] - Kids have days like this where they're extra energetic

[Doc] Has brought up a small screen and is browsing random images of clothing.

[Ruby] Is pointing at things over hir shoulder- nice, lame, stupid, impractical, gaudy, eh, that's pretty good.

[Doc] That's Xena Warrior princess!

[Ruby] I like it.

[Doc] -Facepalm.-

[Lie] - I think I remember that show?

[Doc] Good representation with an undercurrent of girl/girl romance. But it's kinda plain. Mostly just brown leather.

[Lie] Blushes as she remembers the things Doc bought her-

[TLOT] Sees her thoughts - Yeah, you could wear that. Go for a kinda dominatrix look.

[Lie] - NO!

[TLOT] We could add a skirt for modesty. Or flowy pants.

[Lie] - No no no no no no no no!

[Doc] Why not?

[Lie] Embarrassed whine-

[Doc] How about we go to World of Warcraft? They have lots of nice clothes there.

[Lie] - I don't know...

[Doc] Can we start with a color scheme at least?

[CP] - Something reminiscent of the overworld...

[Doc] So green, and maybe blue?

[Lie] - Maybe?

[Doc] I could find or make some gems, gold or silver findings?

[Lie] - I'm not really fond of jewelry or anything elaborate...

[Doc] Not even if I cut you a necklace of emerald leaves?

[Lie] - Mmmm...  Maybe?

[TLOT] At least we're getting somewhere now. Skirt or pants?

[Lie] - Uhhhh...

[CP] - I vote dress... Makes it easier to take clothes off to fuck...

[Lie] - CP!

[gem] I vote dress because they are flowy and free and comfortable

[Lie] - Maybe? I don't know, I don't really wear dresses...

[gem] even for special events?

[Lie] - Yeah, not really...

[Lie] - I've just, never really been comfortable in dresses or skirts...  Probably because they were pretty much forced upon me

[Doc] Pants it is, you've had more being forced into things then anyone deserves

[Lie] - I mean if we find something that I actually really like then maybe, but yeah...

[TLOT] is already drawing on a bit of paper

[CP] - I don't like thinking of fucking speeches...

[gem] -grabs a few pieces of paper and decides to draw-

[Doc] does a passable impression of Cp- Oi! Fuckers! This is my new wife, respect and fear her as you do me, or I'll roast you alive!

[CP] Flips Doc off-

[Doc] Cp style grumbles-

[Lie] - What are you drawing TLOT?  A design for what your doing with the gold?

[gem] -wiggles a drawing in front doc making sure no one else sees it especially cp because on the picture is cp as a cat in a suit with a cigar with the tittle boss mob cp-

[TLOT] Geeze I got distracted. - Quickly he finishes the gold with a floruish, spinning it up into a simple urn sized-vase. - There you go Lie, big enough for a full boquet.

[Doc] Starts giggling softly. - I don't think that will work Gem.

[TLOT] Grabs some of the discarded ink blobs and starts coloring enthusiasticaly.

[gem] -giggles then goes back to drawing making different types of spacey like drawings-

[TLOT] Motions for Lie and slides his drawing over so she can see. - The colors probably need some work, but iron looks too cold with the blue and green tones and the gold is a little glaring. But I did try to pick it up on the accents. You've got big pants instead of a skirt and the arm pieces look a bit like your favorite shirt and they'll cover up Cp's pink collar so the mobs won't question it. Blue pants and brown shoes are good for a brine anyway, and I incorporated your offensive plants pods and thorns in the design. Cp said it should be a reminder of the overworld, so brown for the soil, blue for the water and sky, and green for grass. You can also fight in it and it shouldn't hinder you. What do you think Lie?

[Lie] - Seems a bit complex...

[CP] - Looks like shit...

[Lie] - CP!

[TLOT] Looks irritated- At least I did what she asked for. I bet if you had your way she'd be wearing nothing but a collar. - Thunks paper and a quill in front of Cp. - Let's see you do better. I already know you can't draw after that scribble mess you called a portrait of Doc.

[CP] - Can't... To drunk

[TLOT] hand on his hip, he's drunk enough to be sassy. - Then zip your lips.

[CP] - Fuck you, I'm only being honest

[Lie] - CP be nice

[TLOT] I think he just likes being nasty to me.

[gem] -looks at it- I think it looks nice

[TLOT] Thank you Gem. If you think it's too complicated Lie, what would you change?

[Lie] - I'm not sure... But perhaps just not having so many parts to it?

[CP] Is idly taping the quill against the paper-

[TLOT] we could lose some of the torso stripes if you want to have fewer colors?

[Lie] - And maybe the puff of the pants? It just doesn't really appeal to me...

[Doc] leans over- it's not too complex for pixel art at least

[TLOT] Tighter? Shorter?

[Lie] - I don't know...- Her brain is starting to short circuit since she doesn't have much sense for clothes

[Doc] Let me have a try. - Takes some more paper and ink and draws with the tip of hir tongue stuck out in concentration.

[Doc] Okaaaay... how about this Lie? Fewer colors, I kept the leaf motif, and just some soft shorts since Cp keeps his home rather hot. Redstone instead of diamonds, and some new boots to match? I think there's nothing wrong with letting the collar show. They respect Cp and if they know you can render him powerless they'll have one less reason to fuck with you.

[CP] - Laaaaaaaaame [Lie] - CP!- Spawns a sobering flower and deftly sticks a petal in his mouth

[Doc] Is scribbling on hir own paper and presses the sheet into Lie's hand -

[CP] Accidentally swallows the petal - Fuck!

[Lie] Looks at the paper and holds back laughter-

[TLOT] Pffft!

[gem] -looks at it and giggles-

[Lie] - I kinda like the flower motif, but I'd rather the collar not be showing. I know CP doesn't like it so I don't want to make him upset

[TLOT] We could use the sleeve pieces from mine and change the colors?

[CP] - That would just be more ugly

[TLOT] I am cordially inviting you to think of something better CP. The tools are in front of you. Put up or shut up.

[CP] - Fine asshole!- Takes a sheet and starts sketching

[TLOT] Watches expectantly.

[Doc] This will be rich...

[CP] Scratches away at the paper for a few moments before flinging it at TLOT. It's a very badly drawn dress with a crude possible jacket on top-

[TLOT] is just turning the paper around and around like he can't figure out which way is up.

[Doc] ick Cp. see I can criticize people too.

[CP] Growls and snatches the paper back- Fuck you, I'll be right back- Opens a portal and steps through

[Doc] he's been putting in a lot of portal mileage lately...

[Lie] - Hopefully he'll be back soon...

[Deer] - Here, hand me some paper please

[Doc] Here- hands hir lover paper and tools - you take a stab at it.

[Deer] Begins sketching-

[Doc] peeking-

[Flux] Has finished her food and takes the empty plates to the bar-

[Ruby] Gives her a calculating look - what's your story newbie? Are you some kinda weird brine?

[Flux] - Me? I am an embodiment of a far older server. My body is comprised of its raw magic

[Ruby] Neato, the going rumor is that I'm 100% kickass.

[Flux] - Kick... Ass?

[Doc] Ruby fancies hirself an accomplished fighter, that's all Flux.

[Flux] - Oh, I see

[Stevie] - Where did brother go?

[Notch] He stepped out for a minute. You know how he is.

[Stevie] - Oh...  Can I have more colors?

[Notch] If you share with Deerheart there and don't draw on the table.

[Stevie] - Okay!- Moves over to Deer's booth and takes crayons

[CP] Opens another portal and steps through grumbling only to be snagged by a tendril before he can close the portal- Damnit Trender!  Let go!

[Trender] - You attempting to design something is suspicious enough, now just what are you doing!?

[Doc] Is still a bit drunk and reacts badly to the tentacle, fumbling for a command block to close the hole- Cp! Run!

[TLOT] Gets between the hole and Steve and draws his scythe

[Trender] Steps through, still holding CP-

[CP] - Trender...  Go away...

[gem] -looks through the portal without sticking her head though- hi

[Doc] Is swearing - Cp! Do something! Dammit!

[Trender] - Oh no, you have thoroughly caught my interest right now

[CP] Grumbles and is holding a piece of paper in his hand-

[Trender] Finally notices the others- Oh, hello

[Doc] Deerheart?! Flux?! Try and close the hole at least!

[Flux] Focuses and manages to close it-

[Doc] Peers at the Slenderbeing- Who are you? And why are you holding our friend?

[Trender] - I am Trenderman, and I'm holding CP because he came barging into my room demanding I translate his horrendous childish scribbles and I want to know why

[gem] -has gone back to drawing-

[TLOT] Whacks Cp over the head with the back of his scythe - IDIOT!

[CP] - WHAT!?  NONE OF YOU COULD UNDERSTAND IT!

[TLOT] Understand what?! That you're a terrible artist?!

[CP] Growls-

[gem] -laughs at tlots statement-

[Trender] Sighs and with another tendril takes the paper from CP's hand and holds it out to Doc since they have no weapon-

[Doc] Takes it with a suspicious air and looks at it -

Lie

[Doc] What part of 'Lie doesn't want to wear a dress' was confusing you Cp?

[Trender] - That is what this one was trying to convey...  Plus a few minor adjustments

[CP] - Shut up

[Lie] - Can I see it Doc?

[Doc] Passes her the paper - freaking idiot...

[Lie] Looks it over and bites her lip a little, actually liking how it looks-

[Doc] If I could reach your head I'd swat you too Cp. How many of us asked you not to bring anyone else into this?

[CP] - I only needed him to redo the sketch!

[TLOT] Who cares? It's impractical and still not what she asked for!

[Lie] - Actually...

[Doc] Seriously Lie....? You're gonna let Cp dress you up like some fou fou doll? The mobs won't respect you in that. They'll think you're just his plaything.

[Trender] - Not necessarily, those minor adjustments I made to the sketch?  Gives it a stiffer, more military like feel, yet also retains the regalness I believe you were trying to achieve

[Doc] I'm skeptical.

[Trender] - You doubt me?  I've made gowns for Emporers and Empresses, I know what I'm doing

[Doc] Still skeptical. Dresses are totally unsuited for anything beyond making women look like pretty baubles for men to oogle.

[Trender] - I assure you, she will not look like that in this.  If made from the right fabric it will reflect the flames of the Nether, she will look as if she is ready to burst into the same flames her mate controls

[Doc] I'm not standing for anything unless Lie says that what she wants to wear.

[TLOT] Same here. She's had to eat enough shit with people pushing her around.

[Lie] - I actually don't mind how this looks...

[CP] - Ha, see?  I know my wife

[Doc] Gives Cp the most murderous stare he's ever seen.

[TLOT] If you're sure Lie...

[Lie] - Let's at least see how this works out

[gem] - is drawing her old dress she had when she was just a space angel-

[Doc] Makes a complex gesture at Sam and the skeleton puts a small glass of clear liquid in hir hands. Xe drinks it quickly while staring at Cp.

[Trender] - I can make the dress if you want

[Doc] Makes a small snarling sound in response.

[Lie] - Um...  I'm not so sure...

[CP] - Look, I only went to you so you could just make my sketch legible

[Doc] You know that's not how Slenders operate...

[Trender] - Oh honestly, you're just still mad you took the longest to fit a suit for since you kept setting it on fire

[TLOT] Why the nether didn't you just make it out of something fireproof?

[Trender] - Do you have any idea how difficult it is to acquire fire proof fabric that is durable enough to withstand his flames?  I had to make it myself

[TLOT] That's because you're not a brine. I made him a fireproof cloak just this morning.

[Trender] - Fascinating, and just how did you acquire that?

[TLOT] I used a bit of his hair.

[Trender] - Ah, see, I cannot do that, I'm assuming you have a way of duplicating it that is

[TLOT] Show him Doc, if you're not too drunk already.

[CP] - Not on me!

[Doc] Grumbles and snatches at Cp's shirt, taking a few pixels from one edge. They pull the bit like taffy making it into a square of blue fabric, and then throw it back at Cp. - Burn it Cp.

[CP] Sets it alight, it doesn't actually burn-

[Trender] - Interesting...- His mind is already considering what he can do with such fabrics

[Doc] His spawn clothes are fireproof, even lava proof. Brines clothes are as protected as they are.

[Trender] - I see...  This would be very useful out in the real world

[Doc] Grumbles - Got anything to trade? I can make quite a lot of several colors.

[Trender] - Well, if there's anything you require fabric, pattern or general sewing wise, I can provide

[Doc] No... but some items that are rather common on the outside would be useful... - is thinking.

[Trender] - What would you like?

[Doc] I need to think a little...

[gem] could you make me a new dress?

[Trender] - Looks over- What would you like?

[gem] something spacey.

[Trender] - Hmmm, I think I can provide...  I need a door

[CP] - Around the corner

[Trender] Puts CP down and walks around the corner, he focus' a small bit of his power on the door before opening it.  It no longer leads to the bathroom, but to a massive workshop full of mannequins, bolts of fabric, and anything else a designer would need.  He starts going through his fabrics to find something appropriate-

[gem] -looks though the door watching-

[Doc] Is making a small list- Rainbow glitter, a live mouse, pomegrante juice, a portabello mushroom, a box of frozen pretzels, a lime, a piece of silk, and pecan, dandelion, and walnut tree seeds.

[Trender] - Two of those I can provide now. What sort of silk would you like?

[Doc] Doesn't matter. I can make lots of things but textures are hard to replicate without an example.

[Doc] Make a list of what you want that's fireproof. From what I have on hand to sample I can give high pile brown, red, or violet fur, low pile yellow, violet or purple. Black or gray leather. Gold metallic or mauve stiff cloth. And cream, black, purple, light blue, medium blue, or mint green cotton. And purple rubber. All lava and fireproof.

[Trender] - Violet fur?  Is it synthetic?

[Doc] Rubs hir hair - Well... I'm a digital life form, but it's my real hair so... yes and no?

[Trender] - I see.  I suppose I could use a bit of each of the things you mentioned-  He reaches into a cupboard with a sign hanging from it reading "Splendy's activities" and pulls out a jar of rainbow colored glitter.  He then disappears deep into the warehouse and comes back with bolts of fabric including a periwinkle blue one of silk

[Doc] Takes the glitter and the silk- Oh that's perfect! I'll do my part, just leave the rest in Cp's room when you can. - Gets to work skimming off tiny bits of hir clothing and running them out into fabric like water falling from hir hands. The pile ends up being several yards of everything Doc is wearing, plus a larger pile of fur yardage made from hir two-toned hair. - Xe advances on Cp and makes quick grabs for a few pixels of his pants and shirt and a few hairs from his head before doing the same with them.

[TLOT] Can see what's happening and does his favorite doctor a favor by skimming his armor and cloak in the same way to make a few more yards.

[CP] Growls at Doc as Doc takes pixels-

[gem] -is watching everything excitedly-

[Trender] Rummages through a drawer and pulls out a small clump of diamonds.  He examines them as if debating something before placing them on a small table in his workshop before getting to work.  He works effortlessly and smoothly, stitching perfect lines and quickly a dress begins to take place.  It takes him several minutes, but he does hold up the finished product for one last inspection before leaving the workshop and entering the bar again- Here you go miss

[gem] -puts on the dress happily as a something weird happens. a heart fazes out of gems chest and through the dress. the heart seems to have a few cracks and looks like the shape heart not an organ. it is resting above the dress and is beating.-

[Doc] Uh Gem.... do you need help putting that back?

[Trender] - Dear, are you alright?

[gem] -looks at the heart- more then alright my heart is suppose to be there it was just inside me because it was just so broken but it has healed enough to come back!

[Doc] You only have one?

[Lie] Laughs a little- Hey Doc, looks like she wears her heart on her sleeve a bit more than you now

[Doc] Be careful Gem, that's a dangerous place to wear it.

[gem] yes and no this is more emotion based since I don't need blood pumped. that's is why it is cracked.

[Doc] You should have told me Gem, I might have been able to help. Wrap it up at least.

[gem] even if you did wrap it would still have stayed inside it just needed time to heal.

[Doc] What's it like Gem? Is it attached to you in the back? Or just hovering?

[gem] hovering

[TLOT] What happens if you try to move it?

[gem] it will move slightly and A better way to think of this is the part of my brain that belonged to my emotions is now in my heart and that part of my brain belongs to my guardians.

[Lie] - Well I like it Gem

[gem] -pokes it to the side and when she pulls her finger away it floats back and forth till it settles to its normal spot-

[Doc] Is smiling- I think it's cool, I'm just imagining it hovering around you like a little roomba, picking up pixel crumbs of emotions and being in different spots every time I look at you.

[gem] it would have never healed if everyone here didn't make me so happy.

[TLOT] Aww Gem...  I'd hug you but I don't want to squish it against my armor. - grins

[Trender] - I can taste your happiness, it is a more genuine emotion then I've tasted in awhile

[gem] -holds her arms out for a hug- it wont get hurt if it gets squished a little in a hug

[Doc] The funny part is he's warning you because with a little patience you could grill a cheese sandwich on his breastplate.

[TLOT] Was already hugging Gem - Oh bite me.

[gem] -hugs back- I am still a brine so a little heat is not to bad.

[Lie] Is still looking at the design in her hands-

[TLOT] Let's her go - I'm glad you're happy.

[Doc] Me too, I always meant for this to be a place for people to heal as well as hide.

[CP] Grumbles as he sits next to Lie

[gem] it doesn't feel like hiding though even if it is it's more of a home

[Stevie] - Father!  Look!  Look!  I made a drawing of mobs!  And you killing them!

[Notch] What? Why? You know I'm not.... I'm not, I mean you've probably never seen me fight at all.

[Stevie] - But you taught brother

[TLOT] I feel the same Gem

[Notch] So he wouldn't die in the wilderness, and so he could keep you safe.

[gem] -her wings are fluttering with happiness-

[Lie] Leans against CP- TLOT, what do you think of this design anyways?

[TLOT] Careful Gem, if you fly in here, you'll bump your head on the ceiling. haha

[TLOT] It's pretty enough, but it's not what you asked for at all. It's not even the right colors.

[gem] -giggles at that thought-

[Lie] - No...  But I do like it

[CP] - The biggest things the mobs from the End and the Nether like to see is the Overworld sky.  I can bring just about anything else to either of those places except the sky

[Doc] Then her outfit should be blue and white. Something light and airy, maybe even with some tulle and pastel accents. Everything the Nether is not.

[Trender] - It would be a simple matter to change the fabric and colors of that dress

[Doc] grumbles a bit.

[TLOT] It's okay Doc, you can make something for you and Deerheart at least.

[Trender] - If you need fabrics, just let me know

[Doc] Pulls out the roll of silk and runs a bit of it through hir fingers. - No... I have what I need. - Xe pulls a bit of it off the corner and spins it out in hir hands artfully. Changing the color to a warm orange with a bit of ink blob from Stevie's pile. Xe fluffs out the finished silk scarf and draps it over Deerhearts shoulders. - To match your eyes my love.- xe whispers to her.

[CP] - Hey Trender, when do you think EJ and Sally can go home?

[Deer] Giggles and kisses Doc in thanks-

[Doc] Stiffens a little at Cp's words - Not that we mind watching over them.

[Trender] - Brother is still recovering, so it may be another week or so.  And I know Brother is greatly missing his child

[TLOT] Don't worry so much about EJ Doc, he's been behaving okay. He mostly just putters around the caastle.

[Trender] - I should probably get back to the manor...  Splender can only do so much

[Doc] You can.... come back for me if you need a doctor, but I'm not staying the night again, okay?

[Trender] - Understandable, currently we are good medical wise though

[CP] Flicks his hand to create a portal-

[Doc] Braces for the smell. - Thank you Trender.

[gem] goodbye -waves-

[Trender] Steps through and CP closes the opening behind the Slender being-

[Alexis] Is gathering some supplies in her house-

[Herabrine] Creeps up outside and peeks in Alexis's window only to see her kitten on the sill. - aw

[Alexis] Walks past and absentmindedly pets the cat as she considers what else she might need-

[Herabrine] Runs her nails on the glass to make a spooky sound.

[Alexis] Jumps and turns towards the glass- Hera!

[Herabrine] Chuckles- That was funny. Your cat is cute too.  Do they have a name yet?

[Alexis] - Thanks, what are you doing here?  And no they do not

[Herabrine] Just making mischief.

[Alexis] - Of course you are

[Herabrine] Nothing harmful, just a pumpkin outside Alexsezia's door

[Alexis] - Well I'm getting ready to go out, so please don't do that

[Herabrine] Realllly? - Floats gently up and looks at her upsidedown from the top of the window frame- where you going Alexis?

[Alexis] - Not sure yet

[Herabrine] Exciting. I could give you a water potion and we could take a walk at the bottom of the bay.

[Alexis] - I'm not good at keeping track of time so that might be a bad idea

[Herabrine] Aww you think I'd just let you drown?

[Alexis] - If you found it funny, yes

[Herabrine] Nah, that's a lame joke, I can do better then that. I wouldn't mind showing off my wet builds though.

[Alexis] - Perhaps another time, I was planning something more land based

[Herabrine] Off on a little adventure? Don't forget to pack food and clean undies.

[Alexis] - Already have- Leaves through the door on the opposite side of the house that Hera is on

[Herabrine] Flies lazily around the side of the house and falls into step behind Alexis.

[Alexis] Is heading in the general direction of the library-

[noah] -is just standing in the middle of the path they are heading-

[Alexis] Tilts her head in interest at the Guardian- Hello?

[Herabrine] Peeks around the side of her- Is it a ghost?

[noah] -looks over- oh hey there.

[Alexis] - Who are you?

[Herabrine] catty - and who does your hair?

[noah] i'm noah I am one of gem's guardians and no one it is just like that.

[Herabrine] Ah the four armed gal with the huge tracks of land.

[Alexis] - Oh, what are you doing?

[noah] just chilling trying to find something to do.

[Alexis] - Oh...  Okay- Stands there a bit awkwardly

[Herabrine] She's going somewhere to make mischief, I can smell it. You should join me in following her.

[Alexis] - Hera!

[noah] sounds like fun.

[Herabrine] What? It's true!

[Alexis] Groans and starts walking again-

[Herabrine] Follows while snickering.

[noah] -is also following-

[Alexis] Her steps slow as they approach the forest behind the bar-

[Herabrine] Ohhh, the spoooky woods. With an off-limits sign no less...

[noah] danger seeking I see

[Herabrine] I knew there was mischief afoot. Humans can't resist.

[Alexis] - If there's a keep out sign on this server than it's for a good reason- Starts walking past

[Herabrine] You know you're curious. - Walks her fingers up Alexis's spine.

[noah] me nor gem or any of the other guardians have ever been in there which means i know nothing about it.

[Alexis] Tenses- Nope, not happening Hera

[Herabrine] It's not like you can die here.... not forever.

[Alexis] - I don't know...

[noah] adventure!

[Herabrine] See? He's got the right idea. Listen to the smoke guy.

[Alexis] - I'm beginning to hate you...

[Herabrine] Takes a deep breath like she's sucking up smoke coming from Alexis- Ooooh, tasty hate.

[Alexis] - The Nether are you doing?

[Herabrine] Just being a smart-ass. I can't actually eat emotions.

[Alexis] Rolls her eyes- If your so curious then why don't you just go in there?

[Herabrine] Because it's more fun to go with people who squeak when they get scared.

[noah] squeak like a mouse?

[Alexis] - Then you're looking for someone other than me

[Herabrine] coughs -bullshit-

[Alexis] - Excuse me?

[noah] -steps behind alexis and makes a really loud kazoo noise in her ear in an attempt to scare her-

[Alexis] Jumps and quickly turns, drawing her bow and aiming it at Noah's chest-

[noah] jumpy check.

[Herabrine] Grabs Alexis from the back and aggressively tickles her ribs.

[Alexis] Shrieks out a laugh- HERA STOP!

[Herabrine] See? She does make funny noises!

[noah] yep you were right.

[Alexis] - I hate both of you so much right now...

[noah] hate is a strong word from someone you barely know.

[Alexis] Scowls a bit-

[Herabrine] Come on Alexis, it'll be fun. And if it's not, there's always respawn!

[Alexis] - You know what?  Fine!  We'll go in!

[Herabrine] That's the Minecraft spirit!

[Alexis] Hops the gate-

[noah] yay adventure!

[Herabrine] Floats over it.

[noah] -flys over with hera-

[Alexis] Starts walking deeper into the forest-

[noah] I wonder if there will be ghost?

[Herabrine] Is noticing that the trees seem to be getting more detailed as they go along. - I feel like the resolution is changing...

[Alexis] - It is

[Herabrine] Whoah... maybe it's posted with warnings because it's a portal to the outside world!

[noah] -looks at himself he has become less blocky-

[Alexis] - I don't think so, from what Lie said, entering the real world for the first time causes immense pain, so wouldn't we be feeling that now if that were the case?

[Herabrine] Good point. I have been out there myself though. I can travel astrally. Just leave my physical body here.

[noah] lets see what's at the middle.

-As they head farther in, they reach the open entrance of LJ's circus.  The area in front of them was littered with old broken wood and tattered fabric from LJ dismantling and fixing things-

[noah] circus! -runs in-

[LJ] Appears right in Noah's path-

[noah] hello.

[Herabrine] What a mess...

[LJ] - Why are you here?

[Alexis] Has her bow ready to be used-

[Herabrine] A philisophical clown?

[noah] adventure.

[LJ] - This place isn't safe for you, I'll need to escort you out...

[Herabrine] I like unsafe things, and this place is wild. Everything is so detailed!

[noah] do any of the rides work?

[LJ] Scowls- You won't be able to leave without my help, it's how this place is designed

[LJ] - And currently no, none of the rides work, nor any of the game stalls

[Herabrine] Is just walking around poking things. She's unused to being able to feel textures fully as well as see them.

[noah] damn I wanted to ride some rides

[Alexis] - Is the inability to leave why there are warning signs outside the fence?

[Herabrine] I bet we have at least one person on the server who's scared of clowns. There's always one.

[LJ] - Oh there, is, it's the weird pale boy at Doc's place

[noah] yea I was there helping shield him from being able to see you.

[Herabrine] Oh the tattooed kid? I haven't met him myself, just heard stories.

[LJ] Grins- I need to visit that kid again

[Alexis] - Why?

[Herabrine] Be careful, I heard what he did to Jeff too.

[LJ] - To scare him, I am a pasta afterall

[noah] does that make ben the chilliest pasta ever?

[LJ] - Yeah, unless you get him wet or insult his height

[Herabrine] Barks out a laugh - A creepypasta! This all makes sense now!

[Herabrine] Does a little flip in the air and floats near Lj, she sticks out a hand. - Pleased to meet you scary brother. I'm Herabrine.

[noah] and get to close to hyrule he has become very protective.

[LJ] - Laughing Jack- Elongates his arm and twists it between his legs and up behind his back to shake Hera's hand

[Herabrine] That's crazy-pants! I love it!

[LJ] - Well I was originally a toy

[noah] whats the limit for your arm stretch?

[Herabrine] I was originally a giant spiked fish dragon with one eyeball.

[LJ] - About fifty feet I think?  I haven't checked in awhile

[Herabrine] Noah? Can you fly?

[noah] yea -flys up-

[Alexis] Is trying to stay unnoticed-

[Herabrine] Hey Lj? You should try and grab Noah! Then you'll know your reach for sure.

[noah] -flys up really high-

[LJ] - Okay, it will be a change from trying to wrangle BEN at bath time- He reaches up towards Noah

[noah] -is about fifty feet up-

[LJ] Easily grasps Noah- Huh, guess my reach may have grown...

[Herabrine] Niiiice!

[noah] -makes a victory kazoo noise-

[LJ] Let's Noah go and retracts his arms-

[Herabrine] Here. I'll show you a trick. - She floats down and her body suddenly collapses as her feet hit the ground. A transparent version of herself reforms behind Alexis and gives her buttcheek a fierce pinch.

[noah] -lets gravity bring him down but fly's again a half block from the ground stopping him from falling-

[Alexis] Jumps and swings her bow behind her- Damnit Hera!

[Herabrine] Returns to her body with a briney chuckle.

[LJ] Sighs- I should be getting you all out of here, come on, and stay close

[Herabrine] Sure you don't want some help with this mess?

[LJ] - Why?  It's my task and cross to bear...

[noah] help with people can always make it more fun and go faster

[Herabrine] Notes a few puddles on the ground- Bah. You could use an extra pair of hands, or three or four... - Several tentacles of water raise up and wave from the puddles. - For a fellow greifer, I can make time.

[LJ] - Fine, just don't screw things up.  Wait here till I get back

[Herabrine] Pulls up her feet so she's sitting crosslegged in the air. - Got it.

[LJ] Grabs Noah and Alexis and starts leading them out-

[noah] but I want to help

[LJ] - No, one person is annoying enough

[noah] what isn't annoying to you?

[LJ] - Candy

[noah] to be fair candy is pretty hard to get annoyed at.

[LJ] Has already gotten them to the edge of the forest and tosses them out- Buh bye!  Don't come back!

[noah] I want to come back when the place is all fixed up.

[LJ] - Nope

[noah] why not?

[LJ] - Because I said so

[noah] -makes a sad face-

[Alexis] - Come on Noah, lets go

[noah] where are we going now?

[Alexis] - I don't know

[noah] letting the wind takes up?

[Alexis] - Either that or get shit faced drunk

[noah] I can't get drunk.

[ALexis] - I'm not much for drinking, but after that I might

[noah] no I mean I really can't I don't have a stomach.