#the making off

[super-secret-turtle]

~Behind the scenes, unspoken words~

Closed just for fun

"Dameon, you gotta help me with something," Shadow pleaded, his deep voice echoing through the well-appointed living room of the sprawling mansion. He held up a piece of paper with a hopeful yet slightly desperate look in his bright green eyes.

Dameon, the tall, handsome striped hyena with the same piercing gaze, put down his guitar and leaned back in his chair. "What is it Shadow?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"I wanna write a love letter, but I can't think of the right words. You're the smooth-talker here," Shadow said, tossing the paper onto the table between them.

Dameon chuckled, his tail swishing gently behind him. "Alright, who is the lucky girl?"

"Kim," Shadow replied, his tone dropping to a murmur as if sharing a sacred secret.

The name hung in the air for a moment. Dameon knew Kim well, she was a regular visitor to his Zoo, often lingering by the tiger enclosure. Her dark brown eyes and the way she carried herself suggested a sharp intellect and a sense of humor that matched Dameon's own.

"Why not just tell her how you feel?" Dameon suggested, his own words measured and thoughtful.

"Because she's… she's different, man," Shadow said, his usual confidence momentarily wavering. "I need to make it… special."

Dameon nodded, understanding his friend's plight. He stood up, his fur ruffling slightly as he moved to the antique desk in the corner of the room. "Alright, let us give this a shot," he said, pulling out his glasses, a fresh sheet of paper, and a fountain pen.

The two of them sat down to compose the letter, their heads bent in silent concentration. Shadow's eyes darted around the room, seeking inspiration, while Dameon's remained focused on the task at hand. It wasn't every day that a mutant turtle asked a hyena for romantic advice, but in their world, it was all part of the tapestry of friendship.

The room was filled with the sound of the pen scratching against the paper, occasionally punctuated by Shadow's frustrated growls. Dameon took the lead, his elegant handwriting flowing across the page as he crafted sentences filled with earnestness and wit. Shadow, on the other hand, was scribbling down ideas, most of which ended up in the discard pile.

After what felt like an eternity, Dameon held up the completed letter. "How about this?" he asked, his voice calm and steady.

Shadow leaned over, his eyes scanning the page eagerly. "You wanna read it to me?"

Dameon nodded, picking up the letter with a gentle touch. He cleared his throat and began to read:

"To the enigma wrapped in beauty's cloak, Whose smile ignites the dullest day, Whose laughter is the sweetest music's stroke, And eyes, the poets' muse alway—"

Shadow's eyes grew wider with each word, and he leaned in closer, entranced by the rhythmic flow of the poem. The words painted a picture of Kim that was both tender and fiery, a testament to the depth of Shadow's unspoken feelings.

"Your grace is like the moon's soft glow, On nights when darkness tries to claim, You shine, a beacon in the shadow's throe, A flame that warms without a name."

The room grew quiet as Dameon recited the verses, the only sound the occasional crackle of the fireplace.

"But why, oh why, this silent dance? Why hide what's clear as day? Your heart beats in a secret trance, While I'm lost in love's ballet."

Shadow's eyes gleamed with excitement and a hint of nervousness. This was it, his feelings laid bare on the page, wrapped in the finery of poetry that he had never before dared to attempt.

"If only you could see, my sweet, The storm within me rages, For you, I'd fight, I'd never quit, To earn your heart's sweetest wages."

The letter grew longer, each line more intimate than the last, delving into the quiet moments of longing that Shadow had never quite managed to express.

"Your voice, a siren's sweetest call, It echoes through my lonely nights, Your touch, a whisper in the hall, A gentle guide that sets my soul alights."

The turtle's face grew serious as Dameon read, the words resonating with a truth that pierced through the armor of his usual bravado. He knew he was incapable of crafting such eloquence on his own, and he was deeply moved by the hyena's understanding of his heart.

"Yet here I stand, a silent guard, My feelings trapped in shadows deep, Praying for the chance to be your lord, And watch your every quiet sleep."

The room was so still, it was as if the very air held its breath. The fire crackled in the background, casting flickering shadows across the floor. Dameon's eyes searched Shadow's, looking for approval, for any sign that he had captured the essence of his friend's tumultuous love.

Finally, Shadow spoke, his voice thick with emotion. "That's… that's perfect, man. Just… perfect." He took the letter from Dameon's hand, his own trembling slightly. "I can't believe you did this."

Dameon offered a warm smile, his green eyes shining with friendship and pride. "You got this," he said, placing a reassuring hand on Shadow's shoulder. "Just remember, it is not about the words on the page, but the feelings they convey. She will know it is from you."

Shadow nodded, folding the letter carefully and tucking it into his bandanna. "Thanks, Dameon. I owe you one."

-----

I hate feeling vulnerable, but not with you, you make me feel safe and protected. You're so kind, patient and understanding, and you have an excellent bedside manner, unlike some other doctors 😬. You have a nice smile and the most captivating eyes. I often think about the conversations we've had.

Although I am quite nervous to tell you all of this, I want you to know that you are special to me. 💕

Forever yours,

The room remained silent as Shadow processed the words he had just read. His heart raced at the thought of Kim's response, and his eyes darted to Dameon, who was watching him with a knowing smile. "Well, she certainly seems to appreciate the effort," Dameon said, his tone light, but his gaze holding a hint of concern.

Shadow took a deep breath, his confidence briefly deflating. "But she thinks it's from you," he said, his voice laced with a touch of disappointment.

Dameon's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oops," he said, his tone playful despite the situation. "I suppose we will have to set the record straight, won't we?"

The hyena leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We can not have her falling for the wrong mutant," he quipped, trying to ease the tension in the air.

Shadow rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips despite his nerves. "Very funny," he said, tossing a pillow at Dameon. "But seriously, what do we do now?"

The two friends sat in silence for a moment, contemplating their next move.

"Perhaps we should let her know it was you," Dameon suggested, his expression serious once more. "But we have to do it carefully. She might be upset by the misunderstanding."

Shadow nodded, his mind racing. "Yeah," he said, his voice low. "But how do we do that without making it weird?"

Dameon's eyes sparkled with an idea. "Leave that to me," he said, standing up from his chair. "I have a plan."

The hyena strutted over to his desk, his tail swishing with excitement. He pulled out a fresh piece of paper and picked up his pen. "We will write her back," he said, his grin growing. "But this time, we will make it clear who her true poet is."

Shadow watched as Dameon began to write, the pen moving swiftly across the page. He couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and irritation at the ease with which Dameon could manipulate words.

"Here," Dameon said, handing the letter over. "Read it aloud to me."

Shadow cleared his throat and began:

"My dearest Kim, whose heart is a treasure, I hope this letter finds you well, filled with pleasure. I must confess, the words that you read, Were penned by my friend, though in my stead."

The turtle paused, glancing up at Dameon. The hyena nodded, his gaze intense. Shadow continued:

"I am but the vessel, the shadow of the flame, But the love you felt was my own name. The feelings expressed were not a lie, For in your eyes, I see the sky."

The words flowed from Shadow's mouth, the emotion behind them palpable. Dameon nodded, pleased with his friend's performance.

"Leave it in the same spot you found the first one. Let her connect the dots."

Shadow folded the letter carefully, his mind racing with the anticipation of her reaction.

[habken]

People don’t understand the concept of liking two characters’ relationship in multiple contexts. They can be lovers in one setting and just friends in another, their dynamic doesn’t have to be consistent in every piece of art I make.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Expertise can't help you here.

[batcavescolony]

Katniss is such an unreliable narrator. She says "Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me" girl you deliver strawberries to the Mayor, you hunt and trade for the district, when you fell at Prim being chosen someone caught you, when you went to Prim people parted for you, when you volunteered EVERYONE stopped. Idk how to tell you but I think you're a pillar of the community.

[mysterycitrus]

lbr he doesnt stand a chance against a real clownoisseur

[lylahammar]

My take on unicorns! I'd really love to make a mythical creature field guide someday, since the Spiderwick Field Guide is what inspired me to start drawing in the first place 🥰

[housederiva]

Gaby Soto is a gift

Edit: I missed one!

[iwritelmao]

Penelope: hey since you’re “not my kind and gentle husband” could you move that wedding bed bc I’m actually supposed to share that with my husband so…

Odysseus: *has just killed 108 people* *has not seen his wife in twenty years* *goes batshit at this bc THATS THE OLIVE TREE WHERE THEY FIRST MET!!*

Telemachus: oh hell nah, idgaf who you are no one yells at my-

Penelope: NO?! YOU WONT?! YEAH, I KNOW BECAUSE YOURE MY MAN! SO DONT PULL THAT EMO SHIT AGAIN OR YOULL SLEEP IN THE WEAPONS ROOM

…

Telemachus: my parents are perfect for each other

[burntblueberrywaffles]

[I.D. an edited version of the "is this a pigeon" meme. A man with glasses, captioned "my overstimulated ass" points at a butterfly, captioned "someone making an annoying noise". At the bottom of the image, a dialogue caption reads "is this a crime deserving the death sentence?" end I.D.]

[paintedcrows]

*through tears* HER LITTLE POG CHAMP

[solstinky]

[splatoonlink]

HELP i was watching off the hook perform and the angle i was at makes it look like pearl is being repeatedly set on fire 😭

[sofflepoffle]

I like how dropout shows often have an almost “filmed in front of a live studio audience” effect from simply having the crew obviously losing their minds off camera

[illusioncanthurtme--art]

Physically? I am sitting in my bedroom. Mentally? Spiritually? I AM DEAD ON THE FLOOR!!!!! THESE TWO HAVE KILLED ME!!!!

(Another drawing! This was originally attempt #1 at drawing stan, and then fiddleford just showed up. Kinda feels like them five minutes after the above acting like nothing happened though, so it works sdjkgkjfshj)

[morganpdf]

does anyone else feel kind of slutty refilling soap bottles