#the only good video tutorials are bob ross paintings.

[yaboisoph]

Going to absolutely bite whatever happened that caused every tutorial or guide for anything to pivot to being entirely video. It stinks!!!! I just want a written document with a couple of pictures thrown in where needed or some video clips if completely necessary.

I cannot process information when it is just the droning voice of some person either moving through the tutorial way too fast or too slowly with no middle ground!!!!

[kotori-mochi]

Can't afford art school?

After seeing post like this 👇

And this gem 👇

As well as countless of others from the AI generator community. Just talking about how "inaccessible art" is, I decided why not show how wrong these guys are while also helping anyone who actually wants to learn.

Here is the first one ART TEACHERS! There are plenty online and in places like youtube.

📺Here is my list:

Proko (Free, mostly teaches anatomy and how to draw people. But does have art talks and teaches the basics.)

Marc Brunet (Free but he does have other classes for a cheap price. Use to work for Blizzard and teaches you everything)

Aaron Rutten (free, tips about art, talks about art programs and the best products for digital art)

BoroCG (free, teaches a verity of art mediums from 3D modeling to digital painting. As well as some tips that can be used across styles)

Jesse J. Jones (free, talks about animating)

Jesus Conde (free, teaches digital painting and has classes in Spanish)

Mohammed Agbadi (free, he gives some advice in some videos and talks about art)

Ross Draws (free, he does have other classes for a good price. Mostly teaching character designs and simple backgrounds.)

SamDoesArts (free, gives good advice and critiques)

Drawfee Show (free, they do give some good advice and great inspiration)

The Art of Aaron Blaise ( useful tips for digital art and animation. Was an animator for Disney. Mostly nature art)

Bobby Chiu ( useful tips and interviews with artist who are in the industry or making a living as artist)

Sinix Design (has some tips on drawing people)

Winged canvas (art school for free on a verity of mediums)

Bob Ross (just a good time, learn how to paint, as well as how too relax when doing art. "there are no mistakes only happy accidents", this channel also provides tips from another artist)

Scott Christian Sava (Inspiration and provides tips and advice)

Pikat (art advice and critiques)

Drawbox (a suggested cheap online art school, made of a community of artist)

Skillshare (A cheap learning site that has art classes ranging from traditional to digital. As well as Animation and tutorials on art programs. All under one price, in the USA it's around $34 a month)

Human anatomy for artist (not a video or teacher but the site is full of awesome refs to practice and get better at anatomy)

Second part BOOKS, I have collected some books that have helped me and might help others.

📚Here is my list:

The "how to draw manga" series produced by Graphic-sha. These are for manga artist but they give great advice and information.

"Creating characters with personality" by Tom Bancroft. A great book that can help not just people who draw cartoons but also realistic ones. As it helps you with facial ques and how to make a character interesting.

"Albinus on anatomy" by Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle. Great book to help someone learn basic anatomy.

"Artistic Anatomy" by Dr. Paul Richer and Robert Beverly Hale. A good book if you want to go further in-depth with anatomy.

"Directing the story" by Francis Glebas. A good book if you want to Story board or make comics.

"Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger. A good book for if you want to draw animals or creatures.

"Constructive Anatomy: with almost 500 illustrations" by George B. Bridgman. A great book to help you block out shadows in your figures and see them in a more 3 diamantine way.

"Dynamic Anatomy: Revised and expand" by Burne Hogarth. A book that shows how to block out shapes and easily understand what you are looking out. When it comes to human subjects.

"An Atlas of animal anatomy for artist" by W. Ellenberger and H. Dittrich and H. Baum. This is another good one for people who want to draw animals or creatures.

Etherington Brothers, they make books and have a free blog with art tips.

📝As for Supplies, I recommend starting out cheap, buying Pencils and art paper at dollar tree or 5 below. If you want to go fancy Michaels is always a good place for traditional supplies. They also get in some good sales and discounts. For digital art, I recommend not starting with a screen art drawing tablet as they are usually more expensive.

For the Best art Tablet I recommend either Xp-pen, Bamboo or Huion. Some can range from about 40$ to the thousands.

💻As for art programs here is a list of Free to pay.

Clip Studio paint ( you can choose to pay once or sub and get updates. Galaxy, Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, or Chromebook device. )

Procreate ( pay once for $9.99 usd, IPAD & IPHONE ONLY)

Blender (for 3D modules/sculpting, animation and more. Free)

PaintTool SAI (pay but has a 31 day free trail)

Krita (Free)

mypaint (free)

FireAlpaca (free)

Aseprite ($19.99 usd but has a free trail, for pixel art Windows & macOS)

Drawpile (free and for if you want to draw with others)

IbisPaint (free, phone app ONLY)

Medibang (free, IPAD, Android and PC)

NOTE: Some of these can work on almost any computer like Clip and Sai but others will require a bit stronger computer like Blender. Please check their sites for if your computer is compatible.

So do with this information as you will but as you can tell there are ways to learn how to become an artist, without breaking the bank. The only thing that might be stopping YOU from using any of these things, is YOU.

I have made time to learn to draw and many artist have too. Either in-between working two jobs or taking care of your family and a job or regular school and chores. YOU just have to take the time or use some time management, it really doesn't take long to practice for like an hour or less. YOU also don't have to do it every day, just once or three times a week is fine.

Hope this was helpful and have a great day.

"also apologies for any spelling or grammar errors, I have Dyslexia and it makes my brain go XP when it comes to speech or writing"

[drac-onion]

"I made this!"

So I have a bit of an unhealthy relationship with art.

I would never call myself an artist, but I would never disparage someone for doing the exact same thing I do and then call themselves an artist. An artist, to me, is someone who makes art. Simple as. Sure, you could more minutely define it as someone who makes a living from art, but you could also argue that the specificity of that would fall under whether or not someone calls themselves a professional artist. Meaning that they do it as their profession. (IE: a paid occupation, usually involving prolonged training and/or formal qualification.)

So, by that rule, I'm an artist because I make art (sometimes), but not a professional artist, because I don't make a living from it.

I suppose I could call myself a writer, too, but let's not get too into the weeds on etymology and labels. I'm some rando that makes art (sometimes) and writes (sometimes, and I even post sometimes too! [keyword: sometimes])

I'm pretty apprehensive about posting things I've made because of weird vulnerability I feel around it. Cuz like, I tried my best (or maybe its just a quick n dirty something or other for a laugh) and now that thing is going to be out for anyone to see? Spooky.

Well, I'm going to try to change my mindset and post things that I made cuz I made them, and if other people see them, great. If not, then it's for me to look back on anyway. It's not about likes or reception or anything. Just for me to look back on. It's just a scrapbook that I just so happen to put somewhere for others to look at if they want.

I recently went through my PC and located everything I've ever made and put it one spot. It's organized by year, and it was kind of wild to see how far I'd come in some regards.

There's some pictures I took of my sketchbook from when I was following Mark Crilley's art tutorials. Some attempts at pixel art (some of which aren't half bad, tbh) and some sketches I made in that old Sketchbook app for android. I actually had to hop on my old deviantart for some of it (oof) since I couldn't find the original files. They're probably on an old laptop somewhere, but I couldn't be bothered to pull the hard drive and dig for it.

I can really pinpoint my artistic motivations and pursuits in each year.

2013: Pixel art (just the worst pixel doubling and uniform outlining, yikes!)

2014: Traditional art and youtube tutorials, along with some pixel art here and there)

2015: I could only find one drawing from 2015 (had to grab that one from facebook...YIKES) and its a not-too-shabby drawing I did from reference.

2016: Following along with a Bob Ross episode in Mario Paint. This one actually looks really good. Maybe I'll post it one of these days, cuz it's kinda neat.

2017: Bought a drawing tablet with the money I made from working. Downloaded Sai and tried drawing from figure references. Some of it is really bad, but some of it shows an understanding of figure, which is kind of impressive in hindsight.

2018: Some more Bob Ross pixel art. I followed along with the same video as in 2016, but in Aseprite (the demo, so I only have a screenshot of the finished product because you can't save in the demo) and damn, it's still one of my favorite things I've ever made in Aseprite. Especially for only being 4 colors (GB green palette)

2019: Some more Sai stuff. Probably all done in the same session, but it's not the worst I suppose. I'm pretty inconsistent when it comes to focusing on art. I tend to get pretty distracted when I'm not immediately good at something. (And now I know why, although hindsight is 20/20)

2020: Uh? Couldn't find anything from 2020. Given what occurred that year, that's not all that surprising TBH.

2021: Some music I made and a doom level I made. This was sort of my intro to making levels for games. We had to make a game pitch for a school project and I went all out on making a demo. I think I clocked my hours and it was well over 40 hours put into the level alone. Made a custom weapon sprite any everything. It's pretty cool.

2022: My intro to working in 3D and making youtube videos. I started in Gmod, making simple animations, before eventually swapping to SFM for stills. Then a friend asked why I didn't just learn Blender instead, so that's what I did. If you know me from twitter, then you've probably seen these. They're NSFW, so maybe don't go digging if that isn't what you're into. That was sort of where my unhealthy relationship with social media and art began, because I started focusing a lot on views and likes and reception for things instead of just making things I wanted to make. (Mostly because I was surrounded by and learning from actual professionals, who do it as like, a job.) Sure there were things I made because I wanted to make them, but for the most part, I was going for the popular thing and wanting to "get big" at the time. Cringe, I know. Such is life. You live and you learn. Some of the best I made during this time was cuz I wanted to make it, and those are the ones I'm most proud of to this day.

2023: Burnout city! Unemployment will do that to you. Sure I worked on some stuff here and there, but I really burnt the hell out. Ended up working on some Doom levels and some little things here and there. Making a titlecard for a friend's youtube video, a cover art for a HM2 level, finishing my second reload animation, and a couple blender things. 2022 felt so productive in comparison, where did it all go wrong? (Oh yeah, the weird obsession with views. Right.) Then I got into writing that summer and I've sort of kept up with it. AO3 says I wrote 93k words that year, so that's not nothing. (I promise I'm working on another big project. It's just...hitting some creative snags. Again. Such is life.)

2024: The current year. I'm...trying to get back into making things for me. Writing things because I would read it. Drawing things that I would look at, or that I find interesting. Once again, I'm sort of trying to game my attention problems by not focusing TOO hard on one thing at a time. Otherwise I'd never finish anything, and while I'm not concerned about having things to post to social media, it does feel good to look back and see things you've actually finished. It's better to finish something and have it be like 50% of what it could have been than never reach 100% and then it just lives on as a reminder of your inability to finish things. I'd rather call something done and move on than obsess for ages over "what could have been." Or maybe I'm just waffling because I'm still trying to shake my weirdness. Bah. Some stuff I make might never see the light of day, but that's kind of a shame. I like making things and sharing them with other people. It's fun.

That's really the operative word of this whole ramble.

Fun

I do things because it's fun. I should want to do things because they're fun. Of course that's easier said than done when you have my specific brand of brain problems, but ya gotta catch the wind in your sail when it blows, right? (If that even makes sense.)

So yeah, here's hoping that this weird ramble convinces me to post things. Not because I want to get clicks or likes or engagement. But because I want to remind myself of how fun it was to do.

Like that Kolibri doodle I posted yesterday was something I did for fun. I though it'd be fun to do, so I did it. Simple as.

So here's to fun. Let's do stuff for that, and forget about clicks. I'm doing it for me. If you happen to like it, then more power to you. But I wanna have fun for me.

Yeah.

(Watch me then never post anything because my interests have waned and I hyperfixate on something else and then have to look at this post in a few months and cringe at the thought.)

But hey, nobody else is reading this anyway.

Right?

[feelingofcontent]

DNP Rewatch: Never Have I Ever!

Date video was published: 01/17/2020 (X)

DNP Main Channel Rewatch: 406

The first video of 2020! A nice 'easy' video for the start of the year. Also the first story-type video for Phil since coming out (not counting the draw my life).

0:00 - love that his painting from Trying To Follow A Festive Bob Ross Tutorial! is now in the background. also he turned on the lava lamp too late...it’s doing nothing in this video

0:02 - why did he say “period” so weirdly

0:06 - he did post several of those

0:16 - love the running “Phil.exe” annotation joke. also, now he’s done the Never Have I Ever concept a lot with his Shorts videos

0:35 - that “naked” was very intense

0:48 - a chance to tell stories he couldn’t tell pre-coming-out

0:56 - that is very censored... “and no comment” yeah don’t think I want to know 😳

1:10 - um. well this is a start. somewhat surprised he left one in that he skipped over

1:14 - love the giant “LIES”

1:24 - why is he sharing so much about his wedgie issues 😂

1:44 - “self butt fondler” sure

1:55 - Phil is amused by these questions...also he didn’t give an answer to that one, lol

2:00 - nooooo, dapg clips make me sad

2:13 - can’t believe he didn’t eat a bug ever as a child

2:17 - does it? my first assumption would just be like, colored it with a bath bomb or something. but either way, we see where Phil’s mind is...

2:30 - why is there so much pee

2:52 - “that’s a dodgy one to admit to...” no shit

2:54 - let me tell you...my shock the first time I watched this, when Phil started a story for this question

3:20 - the build up to the story is great

3:37 - love the “I’m gay” as the first thing

3:45 - I mean...I guess that is one way to get out of the situation. also was saying “tongue session” necessary 👀

4:07 - again...just didn’t answer the question. he only answers about every-other-one 😂

4:09 - but Dan has

4:28 - he is very consistent on that

4:43 - someone always takes it too far

4:48 - he promoed the video with this photo of course

4:59 - what does that even mean. I’m glad Phil can laugh about it now

5:20 - I don’t think I would want to see angry intense Phil

5:46 - love that you can see Phil remembering things

5:51 - poor Kath, lol

6:07 - radio show! also, Phil knowing he can just find a clip of that immediately

6:30 - Kath with the solid advice and the random questions

6:50 - yeah I’m with Phil here; can’t go too long without brushing my teeth or I feel gross

6:57 - ...did he need to say it like that

7:05 - still can’t believe his parents let him walk around with that hair

7:16 - that is a very loud animal noise, yikes

7:27 - this is such a Phil reason to get kicked out of a bar

7:39 - Phil really does like boats it seems

7:53 - good advice there from Phil

7:59 - “who wrote this, an alien?” 😂

8:08 - they scare me slightly too...maybe not for that specific reason

8:21 - the targeted ads really know him, haha

8:32 - love his reaction to that

8:40 - aww, nice but gullible Phil

9:06 - agree about the wording; he is certainly giggling a lot at that though

9:18 - “I got to talk about pee a lot” priorities?

9:40 - the endscreen on this one is very long

I guess my summary of this video could just be “why, Phil?!” It is a very amusing one and I like hearing new Phil stories that he hadn’t told before.

DNP were both back in London for the New Year (1, 2) and then had a relaxing early January (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), as usual. They also went to a VR bar with Martyn and Cornelia (1, 2, 3, 4). When Phil filmed and posted this video, he was home by himself. This is when Dan was in LA for mysterious meeting reasons (1, 2). They did talk a bit in one of the stereo shows that it was for potential joint projects.

[4stars-uswnt]

Home Is Wherever I’m With You [Christen Press x Reader]

requested by anon: Hey, there just want to drop of this prompt in case you feel like writing it. Reader got home after a few months being away from CP because of the quarantine, maybe a moment of CP confronting R that she’s jealous of R’s teammate that got to lockdown together. Thanks.

A/N: after a week break (for the election and other stresses of life) (and technically i haven’t written in like three weeks bc of life and school), we’re BACK! hope y’all like this one :) and as always, feedback is more than welcome!! anyways, back to your regularly scheduled programming... 

“Hey, baby, I’m home,” you call out, as you enter the LA apartment you shared with your girlfriend, closing the door behind you, “fucking finally.” You mumble under your breath, as you drop your bags onto the floor.

“(Y/N)!” Christen runs from the bedroom upon hearing your voice, but before she can crash into you for a long-awaited hug, you put up your hands to stop her.

“Woah, Chris,” you almost falter at the sight of her pout, “I just got off a plane and came from the airport. I need to shower and get all these yucky germs off me.” You smell your shirt and make a face to exaggerate your point.

“But I missed you.” Christen pouts, and you give her a sympathetic smile.

“I missed you too, babe, but I just wanna be extra safe. Can’t have you getting sick or anything like that.” You wink, as you make your way to the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a minute.” Blowing her a kiss, you disappear down the hallway.

Christen sinks down into the couch, letting out a frustrated groan. If the forward was being honest with herself, she more than missed you; she was jealous. Although she knew that you loved her and only her and the two of you had been dating for almost two years, Christen couldn’t help the green-eyed monster from taking over when she constantly saw you on Sofia Huerta’s instagram.

The past two months, you had to quarantine in Seattle and stay in your apartment that you shared with Sofia during the season, while waiting for COVID to settle down enough for you to travel. During that time, you and Sofia spent a lot of time together, doing anything to keep you entertained.

Unfortunately for you, Sofia had often posted on her Instagram story photos and videos of your activities, whether it be a movie night or a bike around Discovery Park, leading to a very annoyed Christen Press.

It wasn’t that Christen was jealous in the sense that she thought there was something going on between you and the midfielder, more so that she was jealous that it was Sofia that got to spend time doing all that fun stuff with you rather than her.

Too caught up in her thoughts, Christen didn’t notice you plop down next to her. “You there?”

“Hmm,” she turns to face you, “yeah, yeah, just got lost in thought.”

“Well, now that I’m all clean,” you smirk, wiggling your eyebrows suggestively, as you move to straddle your girlfriend, “I thought we could make up for some lost time.”

“I like the sound of that.” Christen leans in closer to connect your lips.

—————

The next morning, after a long uneventful night, you woke up in your own bed next to your girlfriend for the first time in months. Turning over, you smile and admire the sleeping woman next to you. Wanting to do something somewhat romantic, you silently slip out of bed, careful not to wake your girlfriend, and head to the kitchen to make some breakfast.

As you were fixing up some coffee and healthy yogurt, oats, and chia seeds (or whatever healthy stuff your girlfriend puts in her breakfast), Christen was groggily waking up. Rolling over, she reaches out to the other side of the bed, expecting to find your warm body, only to be disappointed with cold sheets. Christen rubs her eyes and sits up, but before she could call out to you, you enter the bedroom, carrying a tray with two bowls and a cup of coffee.

“Good morning, sunshine.” You smile, leaning down to give your girlfriend a peck. “Brought you some breakfast in bed.”

“Thanks, babe.” Christen’s heart melted, as she looks to see what you made. “Aw, and you even made my favorite.”

“Yup.” You playfully boast and wink. “Your favorite for my favorite.”

Your girlfriend can’t help but giggle at your cheesiness. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it, love.”

Right as you go to take a bite, Christen grabs your wrist. “Wait.”

“Whatttttt?” You whine like a child.

“Lemme take a photo.” She explains gently, ignoring your antics.

You roll your eyes, as she takes a photo of your bowls and posts it to her Instagram story:

The two of you spend the rest of the morning in bed, eating breakfast, giggling, catching up, and just enjoying each other’s much missed presence.

—————

Later that afternoon, as the two of you were doing your separate tasks, Christen preoccupied with re-inc and you with your article for the tribune, you finish typing your thought and shut your laptop. You get up from the sofa and approach your girlfriend, who’s sitting at the kitchen counter, wrapping your arms around her waist and resting your chin on her shoulder.

“You almost done?”

“Almost.” Christen hums, smiling slightly, as you kiss her shoulder and then her neck, making your way up to her cheek.

“I’m bored.”

Christen finishes writing her email and then turns around to face you. “Well, what do you wanna do?”

“You’re done?” You ask, feeling slightly guilty from pulling her away from her work, knowing she had more to do.

“I can be, if you offer up a better alternative.” Christen teases.

“Oh, I definitely have something better to offer.” You smirk and bring her in for a deep kiss. You immediately swipe your tongue on her bottom lip, asking for an entrance, which the green-eyed woman grants. Your mouths move in a perfect harmony, like a well-rehearsed dance. As you kiss down her throat, Christen lets out a sigh.

“Yeah,” she breaths, “this is definitely better.”

“Yeah?” You mumble into her neck.

“Mhmm.”

“Well then,” you pull your head out of the crook of her neck, “you’re just gonna have to wait till later because I found this Bob Ross tutorial that we’re gonna do.” You exclaim giddily, and you give Christen’s nose a quick kiss.

“Really, (Y/N)?” She calls out after you, as you go to get the supplies, slightly riled up. But when you come back, balancing canvases in one hand and paints and brushes in the other, Christen completely forgets about her frustration, as she sees your enthusiastic smile.

“C’mon, Chris.” You nod your head for her to follow you into the dining area. “And bring some wine too!”

Christen laughs, shaking her head, but grabs a bottle of rosé and two glasses.

“So what scene are we painting?”

“‘Island in the Wilderness.’” You scroll through YouTube until clicking on the video.

“Sounds hard.” Christen states hesitantly, as she pours some wine for the both of you.

“Eh, it probably is, but that’s the fun of it.” You shrug, thanking her, as she hands you your glass.

“Whatever you say, babe.”

While you’re setting up the canvases on easels and open up the necessary paints, Christen quickly pulls out her phone to take a picture of the set up, once again adding it to her story:

“Ready?” You turn to your girlfriend, about to start the video. Christen nods and picks up one of the brushes.

About 10 minutes into the tutorial, you lean back into your chair, frustrated by the difficulty of the painting.

“Ugh! This is so hard.” You set your brush down, replacing it with your glass of wine. “How does Bob make it look so easy? Mine looks nothing like his, or even yours.” Pouting, you gesture to Christen’s piece, which unfairly looks quite similar to the video’s.

Your girlfriend just chuckles at you, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek, hoping to placate you. “(Y/N/N), yours is looking great.”

“You have to say that. You’re my girlfriend.” You huff jokingly.

Christen ignores you and continues to watch Bob paint some trees just by flicking his brush back and forth.

Having given up on your own painting, you sit back and watch your girlfriend gracefully paint. You soon become bored, Bob Ross’s soothing voice almost putting you to sleep, so you grab one of your brushes. Reaching out, you poke Christen’s cheek, dotting blue paint across the side of her face.

Her jaw drops, and she turns to face you, as you have to stifle your laughter.

“You did not just do that.” She glares at you, readying her own brush, and before you know it, you have a stripe of green paint down your nose.

You raise your eyebrows at your girlfriend and then narrow your eyes. “Oh, it is so on.” You reach out in front of you and dip your hands in paint, and you see Christen out of the corner of your eye doing the same.

Before she could prepare herself, you’re smearing paint up and down her arms.

“Hey!” Christen shouts. “That’s not fair. I wasn’t ready.”

“All is fair in love and war.” You cheekily smirk.

“Alright, if you wanna play that way…” Christen trails off, as she cups your cheeks with her painted hands, squishing them together, effectively rubbing paint all over your face. “There you go, love.”

“That’s it. You are so getting it.” You wipe your mouth, where some paint had gotten.

Christen squeals and goes to run away, causing you to chase after her. Catching up to her, which is no easy task, fortunately for you, the forward had been wearing socks, you wrap your arms around her waist and pick her up. You nuzzle your nose in the crook of her neck, effectively spreading the paint.

“(Y/N), my clothes!” Your girlfriend exclaims in between laughs.

“It’ll wash out. And if not, I’m pretty sure you have like at least ten other shirts just like that.” You set the other woman back down on the floor, and she turns to wrap her arms around your neck.

“I love you, (Y/N).” She says with a giant grin on her face.

“I love you too, Christen.” You rubs your nose against hers, snorting when you see paint end up on her nose. “You’re more beautiful than any art piece.”

Christen giggles and brings you in for a sweet kiss. Pulling away, she backs away from you, slowly turning around to head to down the hallway.

“I think I could use a shower now.” Christen reaches for the hem of her shirt and pulls it over her head. Looking over her shoulder, she throws you a wink, as she unclips her bra. “You coming?”

Your eyes widen at the sight of the smooth skin of your girlfriend’s back. Shaking your head, you knock yourself out of your stupor and eagerly follow Christen into the bathroom, almost tripping on your own two feet.

—————

About twenty minutes later, the two of you are clean, having gotten rid of nearly all the paint off your bodies. As you’re going to get dressed, you notice Christen changing into a pair of sweat shorts.

“Babe, you might wanna change into something a little warmer.”

“What? Why?” Christen furrows her eyebrows, tilting her head in confusion. “What’s wrong with my shorts?”

“You mean besides the fact that they’re mine?” You tease, earning a blush from your girlfriend. “We’re going out.” You tell her succinctly.

“What? Where?”

“It’s a surprise.” You pull on a pair of loose jeans and slip on a warm sweater.

“Well, will you at least tell me what to wear?” Christen prods.

“Wear some layers. It might get cold.” You give her a quick kiss before heading into the kitchen to prepare your surprise, leaving your girlfriend absolutely clueless and struggling to pick out some clothes.

While Christen was fussing over her outfit, you quickly put together some fruit, and some cheese and crackers into a picnic basket, along with the bottle of rosé, two glasses, and a blanket. Scanning the apartment, you quickly thought of what else you needed. You snatch two of the pillows from the couch and stuff them in another bag.

'What else? Is that everything?’ You think to yourself. ‘Flowers, definitely need some flowers!’

You grab the basket and the bag with the pillows and head to the front door. “Chris, I’m gonna go pick up the mail!” While that was only partly true, as the mail had definitely been sitting in your box all day, you were also gonna go put these bags in your car and pick some flowers on the way out.

“Okay, thanks, babe!” She yells back from the bedroom. With that, you kick the door shut behind you and head down to the garage.

After having picking some flowers from the shared garden at the front of your apartment building, putting everything in the trunk, and grabbing the mail, you reenter your apartment.

“What took so long?” Christen asks with no malice in her voice.

You look up from the mail, and your breath hitches. Your girlfriend was wearing a simple outfit, a pair of light-washed jeans and a sherpa quarter zip, and her curly hair was in a half-up-half-down bun. While it may be simple, her beauty never failed to take your breath away.

“(Y/N)?” She pulls you out of your thoughts.

“Sorry,” you shake your head, “I ran into Jerry, and he wanted to know, and I quote, ‘where the hell’ I’ve been.”

Christen chuckles. “Of course he did.”

Jerry was the doorman and was very excited when he found at that Christen Press and (Y/N) (Y/L/N) would be living in the building, as he was a huge fan of women’s soccer.

“So, you ready?” You reach out to take your girlfriend’s hand.

“Yup.” She squeezes your hand. “You still not gonna tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope.” You quip. “You’ll just have to be patient, my love.”

“Fine.” Christen pouts, and you kiss her cheek, wiping the frown off her face.

—————

It was about a fifteen minute drive to the beach from your apartment, and when Christen recognized the familiar route, she piped up.

“We’re going to the beach?”

“Mhmm.” You hum. “You’re too smart for your own good, Press.”

“That’s what happens when you go to Stanford.” Christen teases, knowing your distain towards the school, you yourself having gone to Cal.

“Whatever.” You mumble under your breath, earning a small giggle from the other woman.

You park the car and race around to open Christen’s door for her. “M’lady.” You say with a fake posh British accent, as you hold your hand out for her to take.

“Why thank you.” She blushes, responding with her own accent.

As you open the trunk and pull out the things for your picnic, Christen’s eyes soften and feels her whole body flush with a warmth she could only describe as love.

“(Y/N/N),” she gasps, “what is all of this for?”

Closing the trunk, you give her a goofy grin. “What? I have to have a reason to spoil my girlfriend and take her on a romantic picnic on the beach?”

“I mean— no.” Christen’s cheeks tint pink.

“That’s what I thought.” You throw her a wink. “Now, c’mon, this food won’t eat itself!”

The two of you make your way down onto the beach, finding the perfect spot where there weren’t very many people. After you finish setting up the blanket and pillows and unpack the picnic basket, Christen snaps a photo of the serene setting, as the sun is almost setting.

“Chris, come join me!” You wave over your girlfriend, who notices that you’re now sitting on the blanket, snacking on some grapes.

The forward slips off her shoes and takes a seat next to you, sinking her toes in the sand.

“This is amazing, (Y/N).” Christen intertwines your fingers and kisses the back of your hand. “Thank you for this, and this entire day really. I don’t know what I did to deserve it.”

“Just being you, Chris. You deserve the world.” You smile softly. “Annnddd, I figured since we’ve been apart for so long, this was the least I could do.”

“Well, thank you, again.”

You lean in to give her a sweet kiss. “Anytime, babe.” And Christen could tell by your voice, and just from knowing you, that you truly did mean any time, that you would do anything for her because she would do anything for you.

Watching the sunset, the two of you snack on the food and sip on the wine you’d brought, conversing about plans for the holidays and the upcoming Olympics.

At the break of your conversations, as you sit in silence, watching the waves crash and the last rays of sun reflect across the water, you feel your phone buzz. Checking the screen, you see it’s a text from Megan, and you chuckle in amusement but also in confusion.

“Chris, do you know why Pinoe texted me saying: ‘Thanks for making me look bad with all your romantic gestures. Now Sue is badgering me, asking why I never do stuff like that for her.’?”

“Um, I have no idea.” Christen looks down, suddenly finding the sand incredibly interesting.

“Hmm, okay.” You eye your girlfriend suspiciously, as you text your teammate back, asking her what she’s talking about. Seconds later, you get a response telling you to check Christen’s Instagram story. Opening the app, you click on your girlfriend’s posts and notice she’s documented the activities throughout your day, from breakfast in bed to painting Bob Ross to your romantic picnic.

Looking up from your phone, you turn to Christen and see she’s still fiddling with the grains of sand.

“Chris?” You gently coax. “Is this what Pinoe was talking about?”

She nods, feeling embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

“No, no, no,” you grab her hands, guiding her to look at you, “I’m not mad at you, baby, not at all.”

You weren’t angry or upset with her for posting those pictures, as your relationship wasn’t a secret to anybody, but you knew this wasn’t like Christen at all. You knew your girlfriend was a very private person, not one to post or flaunt your relationship on social media, and you respected her decisions and boundaries, being a somewhat conserved person as well.

“I’m just surprised, that’s all.” You continue, gently brushing a loose hair out of her face. “What brought this on?”

Christen murmurs something under her breath.

“I’m sorry? I didn’t quite catch that.”

She takes a deep breath and repeats herself. “I wanted to show everyone that you’re mine. I know it’s stupid, but I was a jealous of Sofia and how you two got to spend so much time together. And I know that you would never ever cheat on me, I know that, (Y/N), but it just sucked that I couldn’t be with you for the past two months, so I just wanted to show people that—“

You bring your girlfriend’s face closer to yours and kiss her, cutting off her rambling. Leaning your forehead against hers, you look deeply into her eyes.

“I love you, Christen. And being away from you for these past two months absolutely sucked because you’re my home, Chris, as cheesy as that sounds it’s true. I’m sorry if I did anything to make you feel like I was ignoring you by spending time with Sofia. I love you and only you.”

Christen shakes her head. “No, (Y/N), you didn’t do anything wrong, I promise. I was just frustrated by this whole pandemic and not being able to spend time with you.”

“Me too, Chris, me too.” You pepper her face with kisses, causing her to throw her head back giggling.

“And I’m sorry if me posting stuff from our day made you uncomfortable.” Christen apologizes sincerely, before nudging you with a slight smirk on her face. “I just wanted to show off my amazing romantic girlfriend to the world.”

You let out a hearty laugh. “I don’t mind being shown off, babe, not at all.”

“Good, because I plan on doing it for a long time. You’re stuck with me.” She sticks out her tongue at you, earning a fond smile.

“Lucky me.”

[thorsthot]

thor’s quarantine hobbies

sickkk i love this - ok so here are a few:

baking - thor was always one to bake different pastries and such for you and others, but he never really had as much time to do it as he wanted. so quarantine allowed him to bake as much as his heart desires. trying new and perfecting old recipes. you taught him how to make peach cobbler once. he was so in love. i think his top two to make would be, peanut butter and chocolate brownies (peanut exchanged for something else if u have nut allergies) and a strawberry-lemon tart. (yes he’s made focaccia bread)

knitting - this is something that randomly happened after he watched a craft video on what to do with all this new free time. he was surprisingly good at it so he began knitting mittens, scarves, hats, even socks. etc etc. sidenote: has indeed begun quilting.

painting - occasionally he’ll follow bob ross painting tutorials (usually every sunday).

friendship bracelets - quarantine is lonely :(

puzzles and legos - did he stay up all night building a big ass spaceship? yes. did he regret it? not one bit. the only problem is that he doesn’t know where to put it now.

[moriaenships]

for the acrostic game, bc we've been talking abt it, gimmie benoit blanc xP

Leryn... youre gonna call me out like this huh............................................

mr Blanc......... my handsome csi kfc husband....

feel like it was obvious this would be long and YET. i didnt anticipate it. no readmore we scroll fast like men.

B- Before - before you decided to make them your F/O, what did you first think of them/their source?

WAS OBSESSED HONESTLY. he was my favorite part of the movie. which is saying something because Knives Out made my top 5 movie list right away it's so fucking good. but he was the highlight for me.

love his stupid accent and the way he's such a dork. and the movie FUCKS SO HARD

E- Emotion - is your f/o open with their feelings or do they keep them close to their chest?

oh Benoit is so open with his feelings. like when they're personal and private, it's important for him to be open and honest. when it comes to case stuff, he's way more tactical about expressing himself. calculating. and hot.

N- Nostalgia - what’s your f/o’s favorite memory?

his first successful case, honestly. like that one's easy. he's got a lot, but the one that kickstarted his career and allows him to do what he loves whilst helping other people out? holds such a special place in his heart.

O- Online - what is your f/o’s social media presence like, or what would it be like if they had internet in their world/era?

LIKE. there's no way he's active on social media. he has a twit that he only posts on like when i remind him, and i basically run his insta to just post pics of food and travel shots.

I- Image - show us a picture of them that gives you a lot of feelings. if they aren’t a visual character, describe your mental image of them!

its this one because i love forearms. i love suits. i love him having his button down rolled up at the sleeves showing off his arms. im a simple man.

T- what skills of theirs would they teach you? what would you teach them?

he'd definitely help me/teach me to be more observant. which is. so sad honestly but i'm super oblivious and not very observant. he'd have fun making little games and challenges around the house to help me become more observant.

as for me teaching him... i'd teach him how to cook my favorite dishes. teach him what little i know about photography and then we could learn more together. it would be fun to do together. idk if i have skills that he'd like to learn :/ what's he gonna do with all my photoshop abilities????

B

L- Language - what’s their love language? what’s yours?

his is definitely quality time and physical contact.

mine are quality time, physical contact, and words of affirmation.

so when we're together, we are most often in the same room, probably cuddled on the couch together or snuggling in bed.

A- Art - do they draw or paint? what about any other kind of art? what’s their favorite style/subject/another artist who inspires them?

he paints to relax. a soothing and calming hobby for him to indulge in. he's most likely to follow along to Bob Ross videos and simple tutorials on youtube if he doesn't want to make something just on his own. but otherwise he'll just have his favorite music, movie, or audiobook on and lose himself in the painting.

N

C- Confession - which of you admitted romantic interest in the other first (if they’re the flirty type, when did they admit they were really serious about the other?) how did they do it? what was the reaction?

yeah uh. he's definitely the one who confessed first. he's not overly flirty (but hes not NOT flirty? he's proper flirty and but doesn't disaster flirt unlike some people (robbie moriaenships im looking at you)) so it wasn't so much like "hey all my fun little flirts mean something" but like "when i flirt with you specifically, it's because i am interested in you."

and honestly that's kind of how it went. a meet up for coffee and a walk as normal and a flirty exchange that was immediately followed by,

"Mads, you know that when I flirt, it's not just a casual thing. i am interested in you."

followed by me blushing horribly and stammering awkwardly and Benoit just smiling to himself and letting me process my feelings as we walked.

(of course i return his feelings. we're married.)

[caffernnn]

Ok, but I would love to hear more about this makoharu paint and sip date 👀👀!

They deserve a fun craft night together!! And I have ideas!! 🎨🍹

- They prep by getting cheap canvases of different shapes and paints to play around with. Haru has some of his own brushes and stuff already but splurging on some extras for craft night is fine! (also Nagisa heard about the date night idea and insisted they all do a paint and sip night together whenever they’re in Tokyo next — the supplies will be inevitably ruined)

- Haru and Makoto approach art... quite differently. Haru sees a blank canvas as an opportunity and loves having the freedom to experiment; Makoto sees a blank canvas and will freeze for several minutes because being able to do anything with an endless amount of choices means endless opportunities to “mess up” somehow. Haru takes this into consideration when planning the whole thing (this is Haru’s big date to plan which is FUN)

- There’s a ✨system✨ to this whole painting thing that Haru thinks is fool-proof (or will help them narrow down what’s fun if/when they ever do this again). Some of the canvases are tiny enough for them to do a few paintings each without it necessarily taking forever or being overwhelming. 1) Haru enjoys the Bob Ross series on Netflix and wants to try replicating one of those with Makoto, 2) he’s seen videos of “pour paint” and “string art” they could try (low-pressure and abstract), and 3) they can surprise each other as a gift for the last one.

- I don’t have drink recommendations, but they do have some ~special~ beverages along with the snacks Haru’s bought/prepared (it’ll be a long night; might as well have fun with some snacks). It’s probably fruity and gets Makoto slap-happy halfway through the night

- Makoto is so impressed with how much effort and planning Haru put into the date and smiles at every turn. He tries to let loose and not hold himself to any high standards for the night; this is for fun!! They start out trying to follow a Bob Ross tutorial (easier to try that one out before they get too tipsy) and it goes as well as you think it would. Their paintings only vaguely resemble the example at the end — Makoto couldn’t help watching Haru work most of the time (so he missed some steps) and Haru wasn’t invested in following the rules in the first place. Onto the next one!!

- Pour painting is fun. Haru insists they try sharing a canvas for this one and it is remarkable just how quickly Makoto can make a mess, especially with a slight buzz. They pick out most of the colors together (blues, greens, black and white) and it gets really interesting when Makoto decides they need to put their handprints somewhere on the piece. Makoto becomes a convicted fingerpainter on the loose and ddeeeefinitely got some paint on Haru’s forehead when trying to kindly move his bangs out of the way.

- Haru is about ready to tap out and just spend the rest of the night cuddling or talking but Makoto almost cries at the thought of not getting to make Haru something (big baby too tipsy 🥴) so they continue on. Haru does a simple depiction of stone steps with a bunch of shrine cats but spends most of the time watching Makoto work because his tongue is sticking out a little bit and he just looks so determined to do a good job at whatever he’s up to. By the time they reveal their art to each other, neither of them can really figure out what Makoto was going for, but Haru loves it all the same.

- They now have a tiny gallery wall of their paint night pieces and it will surely grow in time <3

[indigosandviolets]

suggestions/ideas for fanfic, from a writer who learned this shit the hard way

does your fanfic have a very specific setting/things characters do? have the main character (reader, OC, whatever, i will be referring to them as the MC) do something adjacent to that.

ex. your story takes place during a war and your love interest is a soldier? make the MC a translator or have them work on the supply line, to give contrast to the story while keeping them in the action

ex. your love interest is a chess grandmaster? have the MC be a journalist/artist/sculptor! that gives you a chance for the love interest to teach them chess and for the MC to learn more about the love interest

you want to do a coffee shop au? have the love interest work across the street, at a bakery

so, you’ve decided to do one of the above or chosen a random hobby for your character but you don’t know how to write it? look up technique!

journalist route? of course you know how to do that, you’re doing that by writing the fic! just have the MC describe what’s happening in front of them, and you’re golden

translator? best bet would probably be wikipedia. it would also help to do general research into the language you’re translating, and if you’re having the MC speak the language, you could either translate it then and there (“they looked up at the LI, smiling. “Vi we hvem vi er,” they say, “We are who we are.”) or leave a key at the end of your fic

artist (painter/drawing route)? watch a youtube video on someone painting. it’s literally that easy. shit, the best help would be Bob Ross, because he actually explains what the hell he’s doing and with which brush.

sculptor? youtube, baby! some people do step by steps of what they’re doing, so try and find something like that

knitting? youtube, again. there are a ton of step by step tutorials for how to do certain patterns, sweaters, hats, scarfs, and more! plus, looking up these tutorials make you more knowledgeable of a person, and it also really helps with Jeopardy!

you don’t know whether or not your x reader is inclusive enough? get vague, babes, but not too vague!

use they/them pronouns (unless you’re posting multiple versions for the fic) for the MC, or write in the second person, and instead of describing things about the way the MC looks, pay more attention to how the MC feels

don’t! assume! race! you never know who is going to read your fic. don’t use phrases such as “their face paled” or “cheeks flushed”. instead, use “their blood ran cold” or “they felt their face heat up”, it’s so much more inclusive and in my experience, it leads to better writing because you spend more time explaining the why those things happened

for the love of all things holy, don’t let your love interest run their hands through the MC’s hair. you can’t do that with all hair types. i understand, it’s a tender thing, but you can show tenderness without having that happen. instead, rubbing circles onto the back of hands while they’re being held, back rubs, shoulder touches, forehead kisses, cooking for each other, have the MC play with the love interest’s hair (if possible)

if you’re writing a character who is neurodivergent, disabled, trans, LGBTQ+, mentally ill, etc. and you’re not any of those things, please, for the love of fuck, do proper research. as a trans gay man with depression and anxiety, i cannot tell you how many fics i’ve read that don’t portray any of those things right. please, do research, talk to actual people who have any of the above mentioned, and have someone beta your fic.

don’t! assume! religion! yes, Christmas fics are cute, but people celebrate more than Christmas! Hanukkah fics are cute! Kwanza fics are cute! shit, just snowed in, cuddled up together during December fics with no religious holiday implied are cute!

don’t assume size! please! i cannot tell you how many times i’ve seen plus-sized readers in comment sections that say “this man could not lift me up” or “fic: he picked me up easily me: no he did not” and it’s sad because plus-sized readers exist! how do you avoid that happening to your fic? don’t include size unless you are writing a specifically plus-sized reader fic. that’s it. that’s literally it. also, don’t include how tight or loose fitting clothes are, it’s generally good to stay away from clothes unless they’re important to the story.

include personality traits instead of physical traits, especially when the LI is talking to the MC (“i love the way that you laugh” or “you always think about the best in people” or perhaps “you get so worried over me, i’m fine, really”)

“i’ll never be as good as *insert writer here* :( “ yes, babe, you will. you know why? because every writer is different. we each have our own set of skills, so play to them! also, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

you love to write whump? write that fucking whump baby. be the best whump writer you can be

you love to write fluff but you wanna give a go at angst? do it! play around with it! no one said you can’t have both in the same fic

you only know how to write smut but you want to get better at fic overall? start with the build up to the smut, and go backwards from there, the why the two characters are engaging in smutty activities, the how, the when and where and what got them to that point. the better the build up, the more satisfying the smut.

not comfortable with writing smut/ you tried but smut isn’t your thing? then don’t write it. very classic case of “My Kink Is Not Your Kink” and “Don’t Like It? Don’t Read It”, except it’s the writers edition

if you are really good at writing emotions, but terrible at intersections, or vice versa, read fics that have good interactions/emotions, see what that writer does, and try to replicate it with your own spin on it. read from multiple writers, find the ones you like the best, and why you like those the best, and then do what they do in your own way

i hope these helped you, because i had to learn this shit the hard way. feel free to reblog and add your own advice, because i’m not perfect and if i left out an important piece of advice, add it!

happy writing, babes!

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

Replay ch 2

Reminder, this fic is rated E for Explicit  Nothing much in this chapter, though.

-------------------------------

Rayla groaned as her kick-boxing class ended.  She was sore everywhere and just ready to go home and take a long bath.  She had to work off all that cheese she ate at the office somehow.  She waved goodbye to her instructor and walked out, not giving anyone a spare look. Ethari was always on her for not being friendly, but Runaan had taught her well that the world would leave you alone with a steely glare and a firm stance.  Sometimes, she just wanted to be alone.

She got in her car and drove back to her apartment in silence.  She wasn’t in the mood for whatever the latest pop song was and her most recent podcast on world legal systems was taking a break this week.  She drummed her fingers a bit on the steering wheel in anxiousness.  She was still buzzing a bit from the guy at the cheese shop.  

Callum Evans….She had looked him up at the office and been intrigued by his background.  Military and political family, intercultural background, but, also, a bit of a tragic life.  Losing his father at the age of one?  Rayla couldn’t imagine living like that.  He had been honest when he’d said his group wasn’t involved in drama.  They were, apparently, well-known in the YouTube community for keeping to themselves.  Callum was a year younger than her by a year and a few days.  Almost exactly the same birthday….  He had pretty eyes and Rayla wondered if that’s the real reason she had said ‘yes’ to him painting her.  Also, he had a cut jawline and high cheekbones that made her want to lick them-‘WHOA’.

Rayla’s eyes went wide for a moment.  ‘Jesus, Rayla!  You met the guy one time and you have no idea if he’s not secretly some kind of pervert. Keep it in your pants.’  Maybe she was just horny.  She hadn’t had sex in a year, not since she’d graduated law school. Her ex and her had mutually broken-up due to Rayla wanting to continue working in the States while she had wanted to go back home to Europe.  Rayla didn’t do casual sex and she hadn’t had time to find a new SO.  There were fraud cases left and right right now and it was going to keep her busy for the foreseeable future.  She could do busy.  She was only 26.

When she arrived at her apartment, she parked and rested her head on the wheel.  She felt hot between her thighs.  ‘You met him once, Rayla.  ONCE.  This is ridiculous.’  She leaned back in her seat for a moment.  His eyes kept popping back into her head, open and honest.  He was thing, but not a twig.  Maybe had a bit of muscle on him…She was OK with a muscle head as long as they also had brains.  She didn’t like it when she was with someone who couldn’t keep up with her intellectually. They didn’t have to like or understand the same things, but he had to understand her explanations.  This wasn’t like her.  She didn’t….think about jumping a guy so soon after she met them.

‘Callum Evans…am I seriously hoping he’s single?’  She got out of the car, slamming her door.  She wasn’t doing this.  She was NOT going to be a pining fool like in those stupid rom-coms her ex liked or those period pieces Ethari and Runaan adored.  She did not pine.  If she wanted something, she took it.  And, right now, he was just a really good-looking young man and she was a horny woman who hadn’t had sex in a while.  That’s all it was.

She told herself that again and again on the elevator ride up to her floor.  She couldn’t stop herself from looking him up again when she booted up her laptop and finding his YouTube channel.  He had a whole side channel devoted to art tips and his artwork.  He even did something similar to a Bob Ross style tutorial for drawing.  Rayla watched video after video until it was well past midnight.  She didn’t even like to draw; she had an appreciation for art, but never enjoyed the creating part.  

Looking at the time, she groaned.  1:31 AM. She had work in the morning and she had to be up at 7 to meet a friend for breakfast.  The next video played without her consent, a spicy food challenge. She watched, fascinated, as Callum and Ezran complained at the lack of heat while Soren and Claudia had tears streaming down their cheeks.  Callum laughed more in this video than he had his art ones.  She slammed her laptop shut and got ready for bed, though Callum’s voice continued to replay throughout her routine.  When she closed her eyes, a pair of green eyes kept haunting her thoughts.  ‘Fuck. This isn’t good.’  

----------------------------

Callum blushed as he looked down at the text from the woman he had met at the cheese shop.  Rayla Burrows.  She was beyond pretty.  The moment he had seen her, his eye had refused to wonder away.  Pure white hair, purple eyes, 5’7, maybe, without her heels. Her frame had been perfect, too. Hourglass figure, tight ass (as Soren had mentioned), long legs, C-cup breasts (Claudia’s assessment).  He’d had to draw her.  He already had three times.  Callum looked down at his sketchbook.  Her face was staring back at him, head slightly tilted, eyes looking right into his.  

Her accent had thrown him for a complete loop, adding a layer to the already surreal package. She looked too perfect to be real, and her skin too fair, too….like a fae, maybe.  Give her pointed ears and she would be a perfect match for the storybooks he and Ez had read as kids.  Either that or she had stepped right out of a Lindsey Stirling music video.  Maybe she was a fae.  Even in her suit, it hadn’t been enough to throw off the image that she belonged in a forest somewhere, draped in soft fabric or by the ocean, among the waves.  He would love to draw her like that.  Surrounded by the natural environment and just at ease.  Or standing in the water as the moon shone down on her.  The moon…maybe that’s what she most reminded him of.

Either way, Callum had been out of his mind with nerves when he had asked her if he could paint her. Her stare had been intense and her posture indicated she could drop kick him with ease.  He’d always been attracted to women who could kick his ass, though. She had looked through his art with a critical eye, but it had softened dramatically when she landed on the picture of Amaya and Janai’s engagement party.  He had redone that drawing as a painting and it currently hung in their home, right above the mantle.  That she had chosen that picture, probably one of his greatest works, to be the deciding factor had been a pleasant surprise.  

When he had gotten her number and sat back with his friends, both Claudia and Soren had marveled that he had succeeded.  Soren spent the whole car ride back saying how hot she was and asking if Callum thought she was into him.  Callum wasn’t sure she had really even registered Soren.  She hadn’t really paid them much attention until he had come over. And he only figured that because he had been unable to take his eyes off her the moment he saw her.  Maybe, she was his muse?  

Callum got back to drawing his, hopefully, last picture of Rayla tonight.  Her hair had been up…how long was it?  The side braid she wore gave him an indication that it probably reached to just under her bust undone.  How did she make it look so elegant?  Further evidence that she was a faerie walking among humans, in his opinion. As he drew, he kept coming back to her eyes.   The vibrancy of them was offset by the lightness in their color.  When had lavender looked like neon lights?  Did that even make sense? , a

What did you laugh sound like?  What did she enjoy?  Would she like any of the content they made?  Did he want her to?  Callum finished the drawing and put it aside, taking his head in his hands.  Why was she invading his mind like this?  They had just met for a few moments and he wanted to draw her not date her.  Well, he wouldn’t say ‘no’ to a date.  But, there was no way a girl like that was single.    

Callum shut his eyes and one image kept coming to mind; Rayla in the ocean, turned back to look at him as the moon shone down on her.  It was beyond perfect.  Like she was a Selkie or something out of the Gaelic stories his Irish grandfather had told him when he was little.  ‘I’m in trouble.’

[master-sass-blast]

Painting Pandemonium

Alright, I know this should’ve been part two of “Out With the Old, In With the New,” but I had a bad few days and needed fluff. Part Two of last week’s fic will be up next week, barring any other mishaps.

Summary: You and Piotr host a Bob Ross painting party for your family and friends.

Rating: G for domestic fluff and found family stuff.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, Ellie Phimister x Yukio, Kitty Pryde x Illyana Rasputin (alluded to), and Alexandra Rasputin x Nikolai Rasputin.

Set after “Future: Realized.”

Sidenote: I’m thinking about doing a dedicated arc to Alexandra. She’s got an entire fleshed out backstory for the series, and I love her so much and would love to feature her more. Would any of you be interested in that/some Alexandra-centric fics? Let me know via DMs or asks; Tumblr changed the notifications system and made it too hard to keep up with reblogs.

Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @super-darkcloudstudent, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @nebulous-leo

It begins one sunny, early Spring day, when you’re watching your husband work on his latest painting (one of two hands holding each other, each smeared with the colors of the lesbian, gay, and asexual pride flags) in his art studio.

“Have you ever heard of Bob Ross?”

“Da.” Piotr dabs some more magenta paint on the wrist of the left hand, then looks over at you and smiles. “I watched tutorials to learn English. Why ask?”

“Eh, just wondering,” you say, curling up in the cushy arm chair Piotr keeps in his studio –he says it’s so he has somewhere comfortable to sit when he’s thinking, but it’s as much for you as it is for him. “Wasn’t sure if he’d made it over into Russia’s cultural bubble or not.”

“Ah, that, not so much.” He takes a step back from his easel, eyeing the canvas with no small amount of scrutiny, undoubtedly weighing out whether the distributions of the colors on the two hands–the rainbow amalgam for the gay pride flag where the fingers interlock, and the lesbian and asexual pride flag colors on the separate, untouching parts of the hands and wrists—are up to his incredibly high standards. “Matushka found some for me to watch on tape when I started painting, but I earnest watched when I came to America.” He quirks his mouth to the side, then looks at you and jerks his head at the canvas. “Mysli?”

“Needs more yellow and green,” you declare after a moment of studying the painting. “Otherwise it’s a lot of warm tones and purple-y tones, and that just makes my eyes start glazing without something to liven it up.”

Piotr nods with a grunt of agreement, then adds more yellow and green paint to his palette.

***

 It continues a few weeks later, when the two of you are buying groceries.

“Hey, have you heard about those ‘Bob Ross painting parties?’” you blurt when you two pass the arts and crafts section of the store. When Piotr gives you a blank look, you elaborate. “You know, a bunch of people get together with a bunch of paint and canvases and shit and follow a Bob Ross tutorial while hanging out.”

Piotr blinks rapidly as he processes the concept, then smiles slowly and shakes his head. “I take it you have reason for bringing this up.”

“I mean…” You let your voice trail off, then look up at your husband with your patented ‘I’m-so-cute-you-can’t-resist-me-please-make-me-pancakes’ eyes. “We have a house. We have access to YouTube and Netflix –which are where the tutorials are. We have friends we like to hang out with.”

Piotr chuckles, then grins down at you. “Would you like to host ‘painting party,’ myshka?”

“Well, since you brought it up!” you chirp brightly, which only makes your husband laugh harder. “But yeah, I think it’d be fun! And we got paint right here!”

Piotr shakes his head –still smiling—as you gesture at the Crayola-stocked arts and crafts section, then ushers you away from the aisle. “We can host party, lyublyu –but we can get better paint than that.”

 ***

 It takes a few weeks of planning, gathering supplies, checking schedules, and inviting people –but finally, towards the end of April, it all comes together.

The kitchen counter is laden with snacks –chips, fruits and veggies, cookies, little sandwiches, and the like. The coffee table in front of the couch has canvases, tubes of paint, and jars of paintbrushes loaded on it. The TV that hangs over the fireplace is on and set up to play one of Bob Ross’s tutorials, once everyone’s ready.

Nearly everyone is already here. Kitty, Russell, Illyana, Ellie, and Yukio are milling around the kitchen, jabbering while they down various snacks. Mikhail and Neena are sitting on the couch, looking at something on Neena’s phone. Piotr and his mother, Alexandra, are talking about one of Piotr’s latest paintings, while Nikolai stands nearby quietly, only throwing in the occasional comment.

You grin when the doorbell rings multiple times in a row, then skip over to the front door and open it with a sunny grin. “Hey!”

Wade greets you with an enthusiastic bear hug. “Howdy yourself, pardner! Hope you saved some yellow paints for me; I’ve always found those ones to be the best tasting.”

You and Nate exchange a fondly annoyed eyeroll over Wade’s antics, in addition to a hug. “Glad you could make it, Dad.”

“Like we wouldn’t come.” He pats your shoulder, lips quirking into an amused grin. “Like he’d—” he nods at Wade “—let me skip out. He’s been talking about it nonstop for the past two weeks.”

 ***

 It takes no small amount of shuffling to get everyone situated so they can all see the screen. Kitty, Illyana, Russell, Ellie, and Yukio all cram onto the couch together (which Piotr drapes with towels beforehand), Neena, Nathan, Alex, and Nikolai take station behind the couch with barstools and easels, you and Piotr set up on either side of the couch, and Mikhail and Wade…

Well…

“This is fucking overkill,” Wade gripes as Piotr ushers him and his brother to an area he’d prepped by taping newspapers to the floors and walls before hanging plastic shower curtains over the walls and putting down one of his thick drop canvases over the newspapered floor.

“Language, Wade,” Piotr says. “And it is just small precaution.”

“Nebol'shaya predostorozhnost', moya zadnitsa,” Mikhail grumbles.

“You two are… most chaotic,” Piotr says, attempting to be diplomatic. “This will minimize clean up, at end.”

“Sounds like someone wants paint in his shoes,” Wade stage-whispers to Mikhail.

“Agreed,” Mikhail faux whispers back with a nod. “We wait until tutorial puts him to sleep, and then we put purple paint in shoes.”

“I was thinking red, but purple works, too.”

You laugh along with everyone else, then blow your husband a kiss when he sighs heavily and shakes his head. “Alright, are we all ready?”

 ***

 “Fu –freaking… why does he switch colors so much!”

“Relax, baby.” Yukio smiles at her frustrated girlfriend, then kisses her shoulder. “It’s just for fun.”

“Fun is playing Mariokart… or studying string theory,” Ellie growls through gritted teeth as she jabs at her canvas with a paintbrush. “Not… dab some stuff here and some other stuff there and making little blobs look like things.”

“Come on, Negasonic the Hedgehog!” Wade coos teasingly from where he’s swiping at his own canvas. “Think ‘happy little clouds’ and ‘happy little trees!’”

“Douchepool, I will jam this paint brush up your—”

“Language, NTW,” Piotr says warningly –though not without a good dose of fondness. “And, Wade, no harassment, please.”

“Harassment? Pretty sure your little protegee there was just threatening to harass my—”

“Wade.”

Kitty just laughs as she works on her own ‘mountain sunrise’ scene. “Relax, Ellie. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.”

“Incorrect,” Illyana retorts, brow deeply furrowed as she works on her own painting. “There is tutorial. That is right way.”

“Tutorial is only reference, to show distribution of colors and shades,” Piotr corrects his younger sister as he leans over to look at his mentee’s canvas. “You are loading brush too heavy, Ellie. Start with less, then add more if needed.”

“I think I am less ‘sunrise’ and more ‘disco rave,’” Nikolai chuckles as he peers down at his own canvas.

Neena lets out a ‘whoa’ when she looks over at Nick’s canvas, then laughs lightly. “It’s long distance art. Meant to be seen from far away.”

Nick laughs along with her. “At last, I have found niche.”

The corner of Alex’s mouth turns up in a smile, and she reaches out and pats her husband’s thigh with her free hand.

***

 Once you’re all done –which takes a lot of pausing and rewinding the tutorial video—you all set your respective canvases on the dining room table, then admire each other’s works.

Piotr’s, unsurprisingly, is the best. He’s the most experienced artist out of all of you, and very familiar with both the materials and Bob Ross’s work.

You wrap your arms around your husband’s waist and kiss his side. “Very nice work, honey.”

He wraps a strong, muscular arm around you and kisses the top of your head. “Spasibo, myshka.”

Alexandra’s is also a “top contender” (even though it’s not a contest, which means there really aren’t contenders, but whatever). It’s not as technically proficient as her son’s –none of yours are—but in balance, composition, and contrast, it’s one of the strongest.

The painter herself, though, regards her work with neutral indifference while everyone else ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ over it. “It’s alright. Average.”

You watch as Nikolai wraps his arms around his wife’s shoulders, murmuring something in her ear that you can’t make out –it’s likely in Russian, anyway, so it doesn’t make much of a difference—before kissing her temple.

Alex’s hand trembles as she places it on her husband’s arm. Just a little.

Before you can make anything of it, Kitty busts out laughing.

“That is amazing!” she guffaws as she studies Wade’s painting –which looks less like a ‘sunrise’ and more like…

Well, it’s somewhere between a ‘LSD trip realized’ and ‘inside of a rainbow.’

(Granted, they might just be the same thing.)

“Very Picasso,” Kitty adds, grinning and shaking her head.

Wade preens theatrically. “I always felt a calling the abstract.”

She moves to Nikolai’s next. “I actually really like this. I think the intensity of the sunrise colors really sets off the greens in the trees.”

Nikolai grins when Illyana translates for him, then does a little bow to Kitty. “Spasibo, tigrionok.”

You can’t help but smile as you watch everyone –the people you love so much—laugh and talk to each other and admire each other’s paintings. This is home.

 ***

 “You seem happy.”

You look up from admiring everyone’s paintings –night has long since fallen, and everyone’s headed back to their own places, but you and Piotr had offered to hold onto the paintings for a few days so they could dry. “Huh?”

“You are happy, lyublyu.” Piotr smiles softly as he watches you. “Glowing.”

You smile bashfully as you look up at him. “I mean… I am happy. We’re making a home.” Tears well up in your eyes, and you smile broader even as grief –well-papered over, but there all the same—rises in your chest. “And it’s so different from the one I grew up in. It’s warm and loving and friendly… and that makes me happy.”

Piotr smiles, melancholy tears shining in his eyes, then draws you into his arms and kisses the top of your head.

Yeah. This is home.

[lonely-xplr]

Tara is in denial like seriously not only does she seem incredibly immature and tone def regarding the actual effect from covid, but girl acts like she's hot shit because of who she's friends with. And its sad because she does have potential like i saw some people clown her early into the pandemic for painting on rocks but if you saw what she painted or pay attention to the canvasses she showed in her live today that she's done then youd be so impressed. I was and immediately thought "How do you not have a video idea, your video is right there like paint a portrait of a friend or follow a bob ross tutorial". Her naive mindset and Jordan managing her is going to ruin her i can already see it. I mean the fact that she said she's only going to college because her parents want her to have a degree because she's foreign(which shes not she was born in Maryland) is so wasteful.

i’ve had that same thoughts of them having real potential for good content, but they get lazy and/or are focusing more on the numbers, which is not the reason they should be doing yt. you have to show your audience that you care for the right reasons because most of us can tell when you’re not being genuine. that’s a huge turn off, so eventually you’ll lose subs. i don’t remember seeing the rock thing, but even what you said is a great video idea! it sucks seeing her act this way and honestly i’m losing a lot of respect for her.

[lostmypotatoes]

wouldn't it be better if you make something original rather than copying?

In my experience. Coming up with something original is alot harder than taking in a new skill.

Id like to make things easier for me so copying somebody else's work when I'm learning a new art supply or art skill like gouache/acrylic painting.

Looking up timelapse paintings or paint with me videos on youtube takes 40% of the hard part. I could use the 50% to focus on learning how to do it things in a much calmer space of mind.

I do keep all the name of artists original artworks I'm copying in my sketchbook but all of those things are for my eyes only.

... but I moore often than not look up Bob Ross' painting tutorials for my exercises cuz alot of his way works with how I want the painting to be.

Techniques have already been developed a hundred times over. I can just skip the entire trial and error phase by watching those who already knows what theyre doing.

ofcourse it'll take some work on my end but watching other people do it would give me some sense on what its supposed to look or how it would look or where it would look good.

Use them resources people. Its there.

[rhidenae]

Hello!!

So in light of Phil’s newest video (the Bob Ross Painting tutorial festive edition) I figured it would be fun to share some of the things I’ve learned when learning how to oil paint over the past year.

(Note: i swear I’m not trying to be mean I love Phil with my whole heart and I think he tried his very best. But that being said, I cringed the whole time I watched it because I couldn’t get over the tiny details of things he could’ve done differently to make the painting less of a happy accident)

Not in any particular order, but I’ve sectioned it into things petaining to supplies and technique.

Supplies:

1. Buy good paint thinner. Lots of it (I’ve spilt it on a rug, myself, a table, etc, and trust me that scent is HARD to remove)

2. Wear something you don’t care about to paint in. I have a sweatshirt specifically for oil painting days because I know I’m going to make a mess.

3. Invest in cheap paper towels or set aside an old towel you don’t use anymore for your paint excess. Trust me on this.

4. When you first start painting, you’re going to think that those little tubes of oil paint are only going to last you one, maybe two paintings. You will use too much at once thinking you are doing yourself a favor so you don’t have to keep refilling the palate. You will be wrong. As long as you’ve prepped the canvas and it’s nice and Moist™️ I swear that a little paint will generally go a long way.

5. Gesso is fancy and expensive but I’ve never found myself in a bind without it, so as long as you buy enough titanium white and wet your brush with a tiny bit of thinner first, your canvas prep will be *chefs kiss*

6. BUY. GOOD. BRUSHES.

7. SERIOUSLY.

8. Full disclosure, I acrylic painted for about a year and a half before I decided to try oil painting and I thought I’d be clever and use my all purpose brushes, which is fine in a bind, but they are very. Very soft. And soft.... does not cut it with oil painting. I have since bought stiffer brushes and they are my favorite things. So if in doubt and you’re buying supplies for the first time, I recommend Master’s Touch brand, which are generally not very expensive but good quality for the money spent.

9. Probably less important if you’re patient and willing to deal with it, but a steady easel does wonders for your state of mind when painting. Not having to hold onto the edge of the painting to keep it steady makes it much easier and more relaxing to paint. The downside is these are expensive af so I do not know the comfort of this and live in fear that my easel will fall over at literally any minute.

10. Save your floor! If you don’t have a floor that’s easy to mop like I do, make sure the surrounding area is covered because oil paint will splatter on the floor like you wouldn’t believe.

Technique:

(I’m not an expert clearly, so this is just things that help me as an amateur who is only doing this as a sort of therapy exercise. For serious advice pls pls reach out to someone who knows wtf they’re doing bc that is not me)

1. Watch tutorials. Before, so you know what to expect. During, so you have a point of reference. And after, to see where you went wrong and how you can improve. Bob Ross is of course fantastic, and I also like to watch MazArtStudio on YouTube, as she does some really beautiful landscape tutorials.

2. Everyone does something different with their technique, so figure out what works for you. Try different brushes and different styles, different types of paintings (I stick to landscapes because there’s more blending and I suck at doing any sort of precision work) so just try different things and find something that vibes with you.

3. Be careful how you hold brushes and knives. It’s easy to make something look messy if you’re holding the brush at a more narrow angle to the canvas, so if you’re following a tutorial step by step, pay close attention to how they hold their brushes and knives. I swear it helps.

4. The palate knife. The heckin palate knife. May or may not be your best friend. Definitely needs the devil beat out of it on principle alone. Bob explains it a little bit a more detailed tutorial on how to use that specific knife is better if it’s your first time trying to use it. My best personal advice is give yourself plenty of room on your palate to spread the paint, make sure it’s t h i n and scrape just a little roll onto the edge. Don’t just scoop up some paint and try to flatten it on the canvas: that probably won’t work. It’s frustrating and annoying but eventually you’ll get a feel for it and it might make it easier to use and handle.

5. The sky is where you’ll start generally, and I like to take my colors and paint in figure-8 motions, especially when I start blending a sunset or something together. It just looks nice and it’s an easy way to make the painting look less flat (in my amateur opinion)

6. Clouds are the worst in my opinion, and I suck at them. However, they’re pretty so if you’re going to do them, I find it easier to use a rounded brush and make more whimsical, round clouds (especially if I’m not striving for hyper realism)

7. Water is my favorite thing to do because it’s just... so nice. When I paint something I almost always have water in it, but be not afraid!! Water is not always blue!! I always take whatever color I have on top for the sky, drop to the bottom of the canvas, and paint from mid-canvas to the bottom in even, vertical strokes. So if you’re doing a sunset and you have yellow in the very center at the top, drop it down and do vertical strokes of that same color at the bottom. After you’ve copied the top to the bottom in vertical strokes (the direction of the strokes is important) take your (clean, and slightly damp with thinner if you’re me and have no patience) brush and blend the colors in even, horizontal, side to side, strokes. It makes the water look like it’s moving and it’s just. I love it. (Also, I like to go back and dab a brush in a little bit of white and do some white spots randomly through the water and blend that the same way, just to look more like reflection of the sun)

8. Trees!!!! Tress can be hard!!! But don’t lose hope, it’s fine, everything is fine. My best advice with trees is probably use a thin brush to make a line where you want your tree, then go back and add the limbs and leaves with a fan brush. I find it easier to start out from the top and hold the fan so that it’s vertical, and as soon as your tree starts getting thicker, flip it so it’s horizontal and just dab the brush against the canvas from side to side on the line (I don’t know how to describe it the way I do it but I do some variation of what Bob does, just less pretty.)

9. Not really a technique just a pet peeve, but if you’re giving a painting to someone or you’re hanging it up, and it’s a stretched canvas (meaning there’s canvas on the edges too) please please PLEASE paint the edges. I hate when I forget that and I hang something up and realize that the edges are white with very noticeable paint at the very edge. So do yourself a service and do that, especially if you’re someone who’s easily bothered by details like that.

And I guess that’s it from me!! I’ve only ever painted landscapes so I have no advice for portraits or anything else. Also, like I said, I’m not a professional, I’ve never taken a single art class, so take my opinions with a grain of salt because I’m really just shouting into the void here.

To prove how not a professional I am and also to flex that I indeed do watch Bob Ross tutorials, here’s some of the things I’ve painted, from oldest to most recent.

As you can see..... I do not qualify as someone to give advice, so these are just my opinions on what I think works for me so feel free to disregard this as you will lmao.

Anyway, subscribe to AmazingPhil and may all your holiday festivities be wonderful and bright ✨✨

[butterflystylesx]

Flecks of Gold

“Do I gotta convince you?

That you shouldn't fall asleep?”

“What do you have planned for tonight?” She asks, her hazel eyes looking around at the layout Harry has set up in the living room. Candles litter the fireplace mantel, that part making her chuckle as she realizes that Harry could’ve simply just chosen to turn on the fireplace instead.

“Can’t reveal anything until you put this on, lovie,” he says while handing her articles of clothing. She looks up at him, admiring his freshly shaved face and new haircut that shows off the sharpness of his jawline.

She takes the clothes out from his hands, sauntering away from him as she excuses herself to the bathroom to get changed. She places her bag onto the floor, her winter coat right beside it.

She feels a spark igniting deep within her tummy as she changes, as she pulls one of his oversized t-shirts over her head. She slips the pair of baggy gym-shorts right after, making sure to roll the waistband so that they fit tightly around her bum.

She still can’t believe it as she looks in the mirror. She’s secretly shagging one of the most sought-after celebrity. And hell, the sex was good, better than good.

She turns on her heel and walks out of the bathroom, her eyes searching for him in the living room. The only thing she seems to find is two blank canvases, various paints, and paintbrushes all thrown onto a tarp.

“Are we painting?” She shouts through the apartment, hoping he’ll reappear and literally sweep her off of her feet. The room is starting to smell of the scent of his burning vanilla candles, only a tinge of paint seeping into it.

Harry emerges from the kitchen moments later, two wine glasses in hand. She notices right away that his rings are off tonight, a sign that he has more than just painting drunkenly planned.

“Not quite,” he smirks, her insides melting.

“We’re painting while getting drunk on way too expensive wine?” She asks as she watches him set up everything, his laptop in between the canvases.

“I’m a lot more creative than that. Give me some credit, had to have something romantic planned after not seein’ my lovie for over a week.” Harry walks towards her, clad in a simple white t-shirt and loose gym shorts.

She blushes at the pet-name, something that is apparently new between them. Up until recently, both of them decided that what they were doing was just sex. But something has definitely changed over the last few weeks, something that’s making this arrangement a little more intimate.

Harry sits down in front of the one the canvases, his legs crossed beneath him. She follows suit, sitting cross-legged in front of the canvas opposite from him. She looks up and meets his eyes, the wetness already pooling between her legs.

Harry’s laptop screen comes to life, his Netflix account paused on an odd show.

“Bob Ross?” She asks, laughter erupting from between her pink lips. Harry watches her intently as she laughs, his heart practically melting away at the sight of her.

“We’re going to paint, drunk of course, and then we’ll see whose is the best,” Harry simply states. He notices how her mouth is open practically to the ground, a look of shock in her eyes.

“Told you I was creative,” she scoffs at that one. The most romantic thing he’s done up until now in their “relationship” is let her borrow his car on early mornings. Of course, he made her test drive it first, and when she didn’t crash it, she was granted use of his car whenever she wanted.

Harry pours the first two glasses of wine, passing one quickly over to her. She brings the rim of the cool glass up to her lips, taking sips of the luxurious tasting wine.

He plays the video, Bob Ross’ voice filling the room. They begin copying the video, slowly getting tipsier as the minutes pass them by. Her limbs feel like jello as she lazily paints a large tree onto the canvas, the alcohol already soaking into her veins and taking over her inhabitions. He finds himself cursing often, messing up on his painting every time he raises his head to look at her. She’s clever like that, doing nothing at all and still subsequently capturing his attention enough to catch him off guard.

“Y’ave to play fair,” his words begin to slur. She smiles slyly over at him, the rim of her wine glass pressed against her lips. He can tell that they’re swollen, and all he wants to do is kiss them until they go numb.

They continue lazily painting, following the tutorial off of Harry’s laptop. She throws paint all across her canvas, carelessly painting. Harry can tell that she’s over the painting, but he’ll be damned if he gives in to her whims far too early.

He follows along with the video, his cock beginning to throb beneath his loose gym shorts. He finds himself wondering, “what has she done to me?” He just wants to revel in her, to smell the scent of her strawberry scented shampoo.

Bob’s voice continues spilling out instructions, her body perched up to look at the screen intently. Her bum is in the air, right in his line of view. She knows what kind of game she’s playing, and hell, she’ll be damned if he wins this time.

After a couple of more minutes of painting slightly intoxicated, they’ve both finished. Harry’s painting is obviously better because he didn’t spend the better part of thirty minutes fooling around like she did. She knows his painting is far superior, but she isn’t going to let him think that.

“I win,” she giddily says.

“You’re either crazy or blind,” he states, downing the last of the wine in his glass.

She giggles, her body laying flat on the tarp, paint getting onto her skin. She doesn’t mind though, because in some way it feels good and warm.

“Maybe you’re the crazy one,” he moves across the tarp, moving both of their paintings to the side. As awful as both of them are, he still doesn’t want paint to get all over them as they roll around.

“You’re right. I’m probably the crazy one right now because I missed you while I was gone,” he presses his soft lips against hers, his teeth gently biting into her plump lower lip.

She smiles against his lips, happy to finally be kissing him and touching him and getting all of him to herself. She feels like she’s living in a dream world as she tugs on his thick curls, the kiss deepening quickly.

His tongue swipes across her lower lip asking for entrance, and she, immediately, gives it to him. The alcohol makes their actions slightly sloppy, but she’d rather have sloppy than rushed anytime. He doesn’t want to be away from her, and for her, that is the highest compliment anyone could give her.

She moans against him, her hips arching upwards to meet his. She can feel the bulge in his shorts, the effect she has on him always noticeable.

He pulls his lips away, not wanting to waste any more time. The painting may have been a bad yet genius idea. His lips travel down her body, kissing her through the t-shirt and making sure to squeeze her thighs. She knows where he’s going with this, where his lips will end up, and it’s driving her absolutely mad.

His fingers hook into the gym shorts, quickly tugging them off of her legs. His eyes darken with lust when he finds that she is wearing no underwear, that her bare body was pressed against the thin material of his shorts the whole entire time.

He moves her t-shirt up around her waist, his eyes taking all of her in. She’s soaking wet, her body squirming as the cold air hits her where she is the most sensitive. She just wants to feel his lips around her or his fingers touching her. She isn’t picky; she'll take him in any way she can at this point.

“S’wet all for me,” Harry kisses her thighs, his hair tickling her skin. She sucks in a sharp breath when she feels his tongue lick a long strip up her center. Her boy is practically on the edge without him even doing anything, and she loves it.

He lifts his body to be eye level with her, a glint of confusion in her eyes. She doesn’t want to wait any longer. His fingers rub through her soaking wet folds, her back arching off of the ground. He watches intently, always loving the effect he has on her body.

His thumb presses against her clit, a filthy moan escaping her lips at the feeling. He peppers kisses up and down her jaw, neck, and chest, making sure that she knows how missed she was. Sleeping alone in hotel rooms don’t compare to waking up beside her with the morning sun pouring through the windows, that he knows now.

He inserts a finger into her dripping core, pumping in and out a couple of times before adding a second finger. She writhes and moans uncontrollably, her body now fucking his fingers in an effort to try and get a release.

The pit in her stomach only grows as he continues pumping in and out of her, his thumb continuing to press against her clit and his mouth still leaving bites across her neck.

Her legs press together every once and while when she begins to feel close, and he pulls them apart again, making sure she feels everything. Her walls clench around his fingers, her vision going white for a moment.

“Cum for me, and only me,” he says darkly in her ear. She moans out his name and cum’s all over his hand, making a proper mess atop the tarp below them. At this point, his cock is painfully hard beneath his shorts, and he knows that he needs a release right now.

She’s all breathy and out of it as she comes down from her high, her eyes watching him collect her cum and suck it his fingers, the sight almost making her cum again right then and there.

“Y’ wanna be fucked by my cock, don’t you Lovie?” He asks, his eyes watching her as he kneels over her. She nods her head violently, desperately wanting to feel all of him.

“S’what I thought,” he pulls his throbbing cock out from his shorts, the tip bright red and swollen, precum dripping down onto his shaft. She bites her lower lip, further making his cock twitch.

He pumps his cock a few times, her eyes watching intently as her chest heaves up and down in only anticipation. She won’t be completely satisfied until they’re connected at the hip until she feels him give her euphoria over and over again.

He rubs his shaft through her slick folds, wrapping himself in her arousal. He’s already thinking about how slick she’s going to feel, how mind-numbingly good her body is going to feel below him.

And just as he’s about to fill her to the brink, as he’s about to bottom out and thrust into her, his phone rings right beside them. She takes her head out of her hands, searching to see where the sound is coming from. For a moment, she hoped it’d be hers because she’s easily ignore it. But with him, well, he doesn’t just disregard many phone calls.

Harry pulls away from her aching body, his hand reaching for his phone and eyes skimming over the caller I.D.

“I’ave to take this,” he whispers. She leans up on her elbows, looking at him in shock. He’s really about to leave her, a mess because of him and his stupid romance, just to go and answer a phone call after midnight.

He tucks himself back into his shorts and stands to his feet, walking into the empty room to answer the call. She feels utterly humiliated as she puts her shorts back on and blows out each of the lit candles. She makes sure not to clean up any of the paint or mess they���d made. He’d have to do that himself.

She pads towards the room he’s in, standing out in the hallway and trying to listen to his conversation. At this time of night, she knows of only one person that would call him, of only one person that was standing in her way of having him be totally and completely hers.

She’s not a fool; she knows she isn’t a model and doesn’t compare to her, but she at least wants a fighting chance. She wants to be more than a shag after a long day.

She makes out the pet names spilling from his lips, content with knowing who it is now and walking away from him. She’d rather spend the night cuddled up in the comforter than hear his excuses and apologies.

After ten more lonely, waiting minutes, she finds herself in his shower, washing the dots of paint off of her thighs. Everything smells of him, and she hates that it bothers her so much. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

When they met, she immediately knew that he’d had commitment problems. I guess that’s the baggage that comes with a person when they’re never around long enough to develop a concrete relationship with someone. She wants more, but at this point, she knows this arrangement is more of a give and take situation than a give and give one.

“Why’d you turn all the lights off?” She hears his voice over the shower and purposefully ignores it. She doesn’t want to succumb tonight, but then again, the spot in between her thighs is still throbbing dangerously for his touch.

“Lovie,” he pulls the shower door open, her soaking wet body on full display again. Her knees practically go weak at the mention of the pet name, a name he doesn’t call her.

“M’tired,” she mumbles, trying her best to play it off.

“Is this about the phone call?” He asks, his brows furrowed and lower lip pulled between his fingers.

When she doesn’t answer he takes it upon himself to get into the shower with her, his shorts discarded onto the floor. She gives him distance, playing the game oh so well at this point. He knows she’s mad, but he also knows that she just wants him to be closer.

He peppers kisses across her shoulder blades, goosebumps appearing onto her skin. She wants to push him away, wants to tell him that this time she can’t simply be won over by bloody amazing sex.

His hands pull her close to him as she tries to rinse out her hair, her mind getting slightly flustered as she feels him against her bum. She’s trying to imagine that he isn't thinking of her, that he isn’t hard at the thought of her and their recent phone call.

“Stop,” she mumbles as she pulls his hands away from her body, stepping out of the shower, and wrapping a towel around her soaking body. She walks out of the room, leaving him alone knowing what he did wrong, but being far too stubborn to ever apologize for it.

Read part II here! 

[dorsey-m]

Newsies Do YouTube

What would the Newsies YouTube channels consist of?

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Crutchie - Trick shot videos. Dude Perfect style. The man is an absolute mad lad.

Most viewed video title: Bungee Jump Basketball Trickshot

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Jack - Painting tutorials. Sort of like Bob Ross, but with more angst, vine/meme references, and plain old swearing.

Most viewed video title: Painting Trees and Spilling Some Tea, BOYFRIEND ADDITION ~ (ft. Crutchie and Davey)

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Davey - Conspiracy/Unsolved Mystery vidoes. BuzzFeed Unsolved style. Without the ghosties. He takes a serious stance, but when Jack and Crutchie get involved, it all goes downhill.

Most viewed video title: My Boyfriends Try To Convince Me That Ghosts Exist

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Katherine - News videos. Sort of like Pew News, but with a more serious take. She's very popular due to the fact that she's hyper, excitable, and incredibly relatable.

Most viewed video title: America is Fucked and Here's Why

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Sarah - Song covers! She's got a crazy beautiful voice, and the ability to play multiple instruments, so people go NUTS to hear her cover their favorite songs. She often drags her friends and/or girlfriend in to do duets with her.

Most viewed video title: 20 Mad Lads Do A Cover Of Let It Be

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Racetrack - Prank videos. But videos are in good taste, nothing mean or over the top. More like, taking his friends on their dream vacations. He doesn't upload often, so he's become somewhat of an internet cryptid.

Most viewed video title: Boyfriend Got His Wisdom Teeth Out, And I Proposed To Him While He Was High!!! (He thought it Was a prank (it's wasn't))

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Spot - Cooking videos! He takes requests, but it's mostly him making his favorite foods. He has a more consistent upload schedule then his boyfriend does, but since YouTube is basically his only public social media, he is ALSO a cryptid. Him and Race are a Cryptid Power Couple.

Most viewed video title: No Need To "Get This Bread", You Can Make It Yourself

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Les - Story Time videos!!! Olan Rogers style. He's very funny, family friendly, and incredibly popular. He often brings other Newsies in his videos, and sometimes, the occasional super famous YouTuber. Two of them being Thomas Sanders, and David Dobrik.

Most viewed video title: We Started A Strike At Work??? Absolutely Destroyed the Patriarchy!!!

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They all have a combined channel, Try Guys style. They do random shit and have a blast. Sometimes, even the occasional vlog.