#these questions really encourage me a lot

[lesbianbootheng]

Whos your LEAST favorite character hsr and why ? No wrong answers, just curious hehe

ooo that’s a good question… i guess jade for human trafficking or exchanging 1 Pair of Chains for another. i’m still kinda confused and iffy and don’t know how i feel about her bc i heard some people say it’s not true, it’s an exaggeration, etc & i haven’t gotten far enough in the game to know. or know enough about aventurine or jade’s lore. regardless the mention of human trafficking is a lot already so she’s already on my bad side

outside of jade is… dr ratio? which. sounds weird bc i actually do LIKE his character but… i won’t lie: some of his comments? his actions? rub me the wrong way

the way he calls people idiot… i know he only does that if ppl are squandering their potential and opportunities but. It’s really hard to achieve that potential when so much hard work is put into that. and there’s a lot of external circumstances that can prevent people from achieving that. so being called idiot for that… just rubs me the wrong way

for example: i have a sibling that struggles a lot academically. and he’s struggled for years. he’s improved a lot since he started but due to always playing catchup he’s gotten tired of trying. as a result, he kinda gave up at one point. my family and his teachers had to give lots of encouragement to set him up on the right track again. being called idiot (when my brother sees himself as one) would NOT help that.

another person that doesn’t try to reach her full potential because of outside circumstances: my mom. she’s always been real smart to me, and capable of pursuing higher education (all the way to masters). however, she puts more value to her family over her own education. and i don’t think she’s dumb for “squandering her potential” but. people just have different values. not everyone cares reaching their max. they just want to live and that’s okay.

finally, on the other side of the spectrum: me. i’m someone who’s been trying to reach his potential for YEARS. i worked so hard that it jeopardized with my mental health. consequently, i had to stop and focus more on myself than my education which. even now im still not used to. and while reaching my potential is important i think if i were called an idiot for no longer prioritizing that. it would hurt me </3

tldr: while i understand why dr ratio does what he does (he’s a scholar who’s goal is to cure the world of stupidity: make education universal) there’s people that aren’t in a position to prioritize that or care about education all that much. and yknow what? that’s okay. so long as you know enough to survive then it’s okay to not reach your max.

that doesn’t mean i dislike him. if anything, he’s all the more intriguing because of this flaw: but i won’t deny that it rubs me the wrong way. (it’s why im having my oc be his narrative foil and address this flaw: how not everyone values education the way he does, why, and how to decrease these factors. also how to ppl bc u cannot make ur goal be “spread education to the masses” and not know it w to communicate with them bc canonically: he struggles and he struggles HARD!!!

[archaiclumina]

Thank you and see you when we get back from Tural!

I wanted to take a moment to thank all the people who 1.) encourage my sleep deprived insanity and shitposting 2.) made this foray into the adventures of Shore Tones and Garlemald Cup possible and 3.) explain where the fuck Garlemald Cup came from. This is long so please look forward to it under the cut

(づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ♡

What the fuck is Garlemald Cup, bestie???

Ok. Fair question. ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ it's based on this meme about Russian tea.

I had already come up with the idea to make Shore Tones an extreme sports WoL for the countdown challenge in Seafloor. There were a few reasons for this, my OCs aren't really related to the MSQ. I've never really played a WoL like character and I tend to shitpost a lot on my first playthroughs but I thought it would be fun to participate anyway, and a cool way to showcase some of the amazing mods people have made over the last few years! I figured it would be fun seeing as we're going to have to be mod free for at least a little while! (Full disclosure, Shore Tones was already a meme joke about canon Roe names and sims horse RP spawned long, long ago between me and my beloved esoteric waif wife ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ @tacitruin ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖, so if anything, this project gave her more backstory c':)

However, I was having a lot of trouble coming up with something for "Early Access" and, one sleep deprived evening, I was discussing this with Angel and my Husband in game. Somehow, we got to the subject of the Golden Cup meme and Angel made a joke about Professor Widget and Sharlayan academia and that was that. The idea was in my brain and I had to make it a reality.

And, I really couldn't have done it without help, so a shoutout to some very important people, all of whom I love dearly!

٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡ Thank yous (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈)

First and foremost, a big thanks has to go to ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚ @gatheredfates! ‪‪❤︎‬‪‪ for all their work in creating community initiatives and a space for XIV creatives to come together! Sea's decision to be the change she wants to see in our community is truly inspirational to me, and it's nice to find ways to be part of it and support those endeavors! I'm very grateful to have had the chance to meet so many awesome folks through the Seafloor community! Thank you for everything Sea, you're an absolute legend!!

Secondly, I really have to thank my husband, ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ @reconditerune ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆, who is not only amazingly supportive of my insane ideas, he helped me hugely by laying out the panels for the comic. He's also insanely patient when I spiral anxiously because things aren't working or mod is breaking or I am just hangry and need a sandwich because I've been wrestling with 39 cups for 2 hours. Some people would slap my bitch ass upside the head, but he doesn't, he makes me a sandwich c': Thank you so much babe for being such a wonderful human. I love you!!

Next I'd like to thank ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ @thefreelanceangel ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ who not only helped spawn and then encourage my stupid idea, she loaned me her character for this project! Chance is amazing and beautiful and deserves a better cameo than this one for sure, but I am forever grateful you let her in on these shenanigans! You're the best! I can't thank you enough for all the wonderful things you do to support the community too! (Like putting up a prize for this prompt challenge!!!)

Also, a massive thank you to ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ @ahollowgrave ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡whose knowledge of mods was an indispensable source of assistance throughout this harebrained project! Thank you so much for finding me a cup full of bones! Of course Odette knows where to find one!! c':

(Pictured: Cup, full of bones)

You are a darling and am so grateful for you! (She's also responsible for helping find the Skis! Thank you a million times!!)

Another thank you and shoutout for mod help must go to the wonderful ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚ @angelinecarax! ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚ who blessed me with rollerblades! Thank you also for always cheering me on and for helping me with Glamourer shenanigans and thank you for just being the awesome bean you are!

Thank you as well to any of you who laughed at this stupidity, left me a kind tag on it!! (or on any of my original content over the last year and whatever it's been) it really means a lot to me!!

Mods used

Special shoutout and credit to the mod makers, here's the links to all the extreme sports mods!

Surfboard

Skis

Speedboat

Skateboard

Rollerblades

That's it from me here for a little bit! (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡ My queue is paused for now and I'll be taking a little break from tumblr for the early access period!

-`♡´- Thanks to those lovely folks who have sent me asks! -`♡´- I will be scheduling them when I start checking tumblr again — after I have smashed my way through DT at least once! Remember, if the queues get too much on NA, you can run with us on Sophia, Materia!

(づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ♡Just look for Shore Tones and Carving Tide!

Happy dawntrailing! (✿◠‿◠)

❤︎ Elu

[miss-conner3]

Is Ando aware of how long he's been dead for? Does he miss his previous life/family members? Does he have any recollection of what it's like to dead/the afterlife?

Sorry for all the questions I'm just super curious.

It's okay (ouo)

I'm happy to answer, but I think I'm going to have to leave out some things because some of the answers to your questions are things that I want to see separately in future posts.

So if you're okay with that, here I go...

¿Is Ando aware of how long he's been dead?

Like a newly resurrected person, Ando felt the shock of time as soon as he was aware of where he was, who he was with, and how vulnerable he felt at that moment (by "vulnerable,” I mean naked, okay?). But he still isn't aware of how long he's been dead or why his brother is so insistent on his company when he previously remembered him as more independent.

Eventually, he will find out.

¿Does he miss his previous life/family members?

As strange as it may seem, Ando does feel a certain nostalgia for his previous life. However, it is not as if he wanted to continue trying to reach the sea, exposing his life alongside a group that, although it helped him with his survival, could also have easily abandoned them to him and his brother at the slightest feeling of uselessness.

It's just that Ando, like a sheep who has done everything to prove useful in the most extreme situations, would feel somewhat displaced when he finds himself in this new situation where his "usefulness" is not so necessary. He would see how his younger brother is more proactive, leading a group of different species that move and work in almost family harmony. And while he would also seek to help, he would always have “that something” that made him feel out of place.

So yes, he would miss his previous life a little, where he at least felt useful.

As for his family… that will be a story I will tell another day.

¿Does he have any recollection of what it's like to dead/the afterlife?

I will see this at some point in a future publication, but what I can say is that just as Ando does not have any memory of his death, this one would not have any memory related to the afterlife either.

Besides… it's possible that he didn't even get to be there.

Although I think I already answered too much with that last one. Hehehe.

Anyway, that would be all I could say, at least so far (owo)

¡Thanks for asking!

[oddly-casual]

Fiona and Cake spoilers seriously

(Something I noticed abt Betty and Simons relationship)

I love Betty and Simon’s relationship, I think their back story is so cute and romantic and all that lovely stuff don’t get me wrong.

But there’s this under tone of Betty constantly giving things up for Simon and we don’t really talk about it a lot???

Like, Betty let Simon have his moment with the artifact and the pubic, she also doesn’t go to her trip in favor of going on an expedition with Simon. Then when she goes to leave again she stays for Simon.

Even Fiona is like “you went with her on the bus?” And Simon just looks all confused like “what? No, why would I do that?” Like- hello???

Then after that she gave up her entire life and mind to get Simon back to the point where she literally says “I don’t know who I am without him anymore.” And that just sucks! Since the beginning Betty has been the one giving up the most, her mind, her own possible career, and it’s a story of love of course and it’s very sweet but it’s also a story of sacrifice.

Their love wasn’t a perfect solution, it was already sort of imbalanced when it started and I lowkey love how we see those cracks even before they’re together.

Again, I love their relationship and I think it’s sweet. I just think we should talk about Betty’s side more, especially when she tells a story of what most women do in relationships, sacrifice.

[skitskatdacat63]

"Non paeniteo potitus."

+ details & process

And, process !!

The jump btwn the second to last and last always surprise me whenever I make one of these because I always forget to take snapshots after I start painting. It's always like: oh yeah heres the lineart with some colors- BOOM fully finished✨️

What he's holding are the Austrian imperial scepter and orb, seen below:

I was going to draw the crown too but decided I don't hate myself that much(maybe some other day), and gave him a golden laurel crown, bcs I'm obsessed with that as a motif, and also its very remincient of the boy king statue that started this whole thing!

There's some symbolism of this, both intentionally but also just historically. I love that the orb represents that the monarch is holding the world in their hand, basically every old monarchy has one of those, and I think it's very cool for symbolism. But also bcs of that, I was forced to basically draw catholic fanart so, you win some you lose some. The star halo above him head is both to reference those religious statues with star crowns(I saw them a lot in Europe and they imprinted onto my brain), as well as: his four championships of course!

[sysig]

Care for your sparring partner (Patreon)

Bonus:

[wouldnt-give-a-fig]

A consoling message from Lemony Snicket (an original poem)

Dear Reader, 

If this letter finds itself in your hands I am immensely hopeful that you are the Intended recipient. Correspondence has Been known to be inaccurate before, A word which here means “there are better ways  to deliver sensitive information than by carrier pigeon” (No matter who you are, however,  Please make sure to feed Wilbur some  Sorghum, millet, or even sunflower seeds  Upon receipt of this letter. Those are his favorite.)

As you know (at least if you are who I  Think you are), it is not easy to complete Baticeer training with a full course load, Ask the right questions in the wrong environment, Earn a living while you are spending it, And write essays on an empty stomach.

You might find yourself thinking  That you ought to have known better, That of course ill-fitting glasses come from ill-meaning optometrists, That leaking roofs require attention before monsoon season, That you can only order so many root beers before  The waiter tells you to leave the restaurant, Even if the person you have scheduled to meet three hours ago  Has not yet arrived.

But in a world that is wretched And makes a wretch out of you, There is no greater defiance than to Speak to it kindly. Collect your fearful doubts and doubtful fears Nothing is nobler in a face of tears  Than to keep going.

In all this noise May you find the corner of the library Where it is quiet.

— L.S.

[devotedlystrangewizard]

thinking gabriel thoughts (again)

[knowlesian]

one of the most valuable life skills is discerning the difference between “this is bad” and “this is not for me”

[woundedheartwithin]

Something y’all need to know about me is, if I message you or tag you or send you an ask or comment or address you in the tags, I am NOT expecting an answer! Not ever, and I mean that. I will not get upset if you never reply to it, and this is for two reasons:

1. I know intimately how stressful and scary and exhausting notifications can be, especially when you’re not feeling so great mentally/physically/emotionally, and I will automatically assume this is the case if I don’t get a reply, even if I see you actively posting on my dash

2. I have already forgotten that I sent you something

[lhrry]

x

[venusofsuburbia]

Where do you get most of your inspiration from? How does that inspiration morph into a concept and then a story with characters?

oh I steal stuff. shamelessly and relentlessly. I see a character in a movie or tv show and go "oooooooh now THAT'S interesting" and then I steal them. the key is to steal from a wide variety of sources and then dump it all into your brain pot and shake it up until it comes out cooked into something completely new. in my opinion, feeding your brain a wide and varied diet of influences is critical so that your stuff isn't a carbon copy of anything, but rather a fresh new mélange that's greater than the sum of its parts.

so the characters always come first. now that I've got them, I figure out when and where they are, what kind of story they're in, and their relationship to each other-- Hollywood, 1930s, classic noir, he's a villain from her past and she wants revenge. soon as I know that, it all seems to unfold in a way that makes sense; the characters behave logically in the circumstances of the premise, and I just follow the threads. I usually talk out the major plot beats with @tybaltsjuliet, who is a literal angel, because having a sounding board is apparently an unskippable step that I have tried to do without and simply cannot.

ok now I steal more stuff. needs more drama? stuck on a plot point? I steal one, but do it from a completely different style of story than the one I'm writing. I had a huge breakthrough with the aforementioned 1930s classic Hollywood noir when I lifted a bit of plot from Inglourious Basterds of all things. the important thing is that I keep poking and prodding at it, messing with concepts to fit the tone, rearranging events to suit the timeline, tweaking characters so they do what I need them to do... until suddenly, somehow, the story elements look nothing at all like the stories I took them from.

so we have my old Hollywood noir, where the premise is borrowed from Lust, Caution (dir. Wong Kar-wai), the inciting incident is lifted straight from Inglorious Basterds, the characters are fairly standard tropes from classic gangster movies, and they all talk like they're in a Philip Marlowe novel. you could say that there is nothing at all original in the whole thing, but you know what? the summary of the final product sounds, if I do say so myself, fucking brilliant. because the artist is a prism through which light passes, and the light cannot help but be changed because of it, so I try to be influenced by as many ideas as possible and trust that my grubby fingerprints all over them will be what makes them shiny and new.

[nandorisms]

.

[blujayonthewing]

patreon: [adds ability to see how many times a post was actually viewed]

me looking back through them: [steepling my fingers in front of my lips] .... should I be doing more pinups.

[mrfoox]

I'm going to struggle to sleep and get up tomorrow

Curse it all

[minakoaiinos]

Animating this season like you can't have the slightest bit of jest and god forbid jesting about yaoi