#this art has been living rent free in my head since i've seen it I just HAD to write it

[queerofthedagger]

Inspired by this absolutely precious dreamling art by @anabimelo ! <3

The first time, Dream doesn’t do it on purpose.

He visits the New Inn as he has taken to doing a little more often than perhaps he should, and finds Hob with bruised skin beneath his eyes and a stack of unmarked exams scattered all around him.

“I can return at a better time if you are busy?” Dream offers; he would very much like Hob’s company, but he dislikes seeing him tired like this—much more, he would dislike adding to the reasons for it.

“Stay,” Hob requests, doubt flickering across his face before he nods at the bench beside him.

Dream has been finding himself increasingly incapable of denying Hob anything. He very carefully ignores the implications of said condition.

“Are you certain?” he asks. “You appear to be stressed.”

“All the more reason for a break,” Hob says, waving him off. “You could tell me about… just anything, really. News of your realm? How is the rebuilding going?”

Dream has been trying to become better about this—telling Hob his name and his purpose, all those minute implications that come with it—and so he does.

He speaks of the restoration process of the library, and Lucienne’s tireless work. He spins the stories that make up the inhabitants of the Dreaming and their various histories, while life in the pub keeps playing out around them, a comforting lull that never once disturbs their quiet bubble.

Hob listens, even as his eyes seem to grow heavier, exhaustion radiating off of him.

The first time is not on purpose, and so when Hob Gadling rests his head on Dream’s shoulder, drifting off into his realm, Dream freezes. He is painfully, viscerally aware of the warm weight of Hob’s head, the hair tickling his neck, the soft cadence of Hob’s breathing now pressed against Dream’s side.

Within his chest, something awfully close to a heart is thrashing against its bone-coloured constraints.

The implicit trust is almost overwhelming, would be too much if it wasn’t Hob; Hob, who is muttering a name in this early stage of sleep that he has learnt only months ago, pressing his nose into Dream’s neck as if to build himself a home there.

Dream can do little but breathe, can do little but wrap the magic of his realm around them so that he can carry Hob to his bed without waking him.

He lingers, for the briefest of moments, witnessing Hob’s sleep.

He ignores the blooming tenderness within his chest, too.

While the first time was an accident, the following instances are not.

Hob doesn’t mention it the next time they see each other, as their meetings spill over from the Inn to strolls through London’s early autumn streets and into Hob’s flat. They huddle up on Hob’s sofa, as Hob talks about anything and everything, and nudges Dream to do the same.

So he does; he talks about Matthew and Rose and Jed, about his siblings and his plans for the Dreaming. He lets his voice drop low, lets it drag and curl through the room and wrap around Hob like the magic of lullabies that people dream of.

When Hob’s head comes to rest on his shoulder once more, Dream forgets that he does not need to breathe. He forgets the weight of eternal responsibility that usually presses down on his spine, forgets the phantom coldness of glass and steel, and comes alive beneath the steady, never-ending rhythm of Hob’s breathing. --- So it becomes a habit. Selfishly, Dream builds himself a sanctuary between the sleeping mind and the waking form of his only friend.

He allows his voice to coax Hob into his realm and pretends not to see the knowing glint in Hob’s eyes. He talks of his past and his present and his future as if of gifts that are simple to hand out, and he offers them all up at Hob’s feet for the comfort of his warmth against Dream’s shoulder. For how, without fail, Hob’s calloused hands will find his. How, without fail, once Dream puts him to bed after taking his fill of the warmth, Hob’s fingers will still curl into the insubstantial fabric of Dream’s clothes as if asking him to stay.

It has nothing to do with him, really, and there is only so much Dream can allow himself to indulge. So he never does, no matter how much the longing is threatening to swallow him whole—to lie down beside Hob, to press his nose into the tender skin of Hob’s throat. To pull the covers over them and bask in Hob Gadling’s warmth as if he were the sun and Dream the thawing ice of early spring.

So he never does, until one night, Hob’s grip on his clothes does not loosen; instead, he blinks up at Dream with drowsy eyes that are full of fond exasperation.

He shouldn’t be, is the thing. No mere human should possess the strength to tear themselves out of the Dreaming’s grasp—not with Dream’s attention on them, with no nightmare or outside force to throw them back to waking.

Hob Gadling has not been an ordinary human in a considerable time. He is blinking up at Dream, slow but awake, awake, awake. He says, “Stay. Please.”

Dream’s throat is dry, air stuttering through insubstantial lungs; part of him is tempted to step back into his realm and the safety of its loneliness.

Hob’s fingers are still warm against the skin of his wrist. Beneath the exhaustion and the hope and the quiet confidence, Dream can read the nervous anticipation as if in bold letters.

You have been staying for months now, he seems to say. Will you let me stay with you too, finally, finally?

Dream has been finding himself increasingly incapable of denying Hob anything; Hob’s constant, gentle tenacity renders it impossible, at last.

“As you wish,” Dream murmurs, and means, please; I would stay for as long as you have me.

Hob smiles up at him as if he understands, and once Dream has stretched out beside him, Hob reaches for him. The blanket is spread over Dream, and Hob’s hand finds his wrist, unerring.

“Could’ve just done that weeks ago,” Hob says with a sigh, pulling him close with a light arm around Dream’s waist that he could slip out of if he so pleased.

He doesn’t; he stays silent instead, tension unspooling as his body melts into the warmth of the bed, the scent of Hob around him—its own kind of lullaby.

“Thank you,” Dream says, the words slipping off his tongue in a rare moment of missing deliberation. He can’t bring himself to mind.

Hob hums, a small, content sound before he presses his lips to the crown of Dream’s head. He pulls Dream a little closer yet, and then he drifts back off into Dream’s realm as if it all really is as easy as this, for him.

Dream breathes in, and lets the quiet joy seeping off of Hob’s mind fill the cold cracks within himself. He breathes out and presses his nose into the crook of Hob’s neck, feeling at home for the first time in over a century.

[daswarschonkaputt]

so a few select people know that i've been working on these bad boys for a few weeks now. this collection started because @mortimerlatrice had the audacity to try and tell me that fem!kinn wouldn't wear skirts and dresses and i pretty much broke my tablet pen in the rush to prove her wrong. also i felt like redesigning my fem!kinn and fem!porsche ideas. beneath the cut are my thoughts on these outfits plus the fashion collections they're inspired by/referencing.

fem!kinn businesswear looks

fem!kinn i feel like is the type of person who weaponises her gender expression. every part of how she presents herself is a carefully cultivated power play. she smokes cigars and drinks scotch and can talk at length about stocks and cryptocurrency, but she wears high heels even though she had to teach herself how to run in them, has long hair even though styling it is a nightmare, and is never seen without make-up, because every part of her must straddle a line of being masculine enough to be respected without being dismissed as butch, or a transgressor of gender norms. so: power suits and heels.

most of these are just riffs on the show's suits, so no real reference images, though hilarious @elnotwoods and i managed to parallel brain the exact same corset + suit look bc we are bloggers of TASTE.

fem!kinn occasionwear looks

the product launch -- upon rewatching clips from this episode i realised that the product launch apparently has a roaring 20s theme? which be wildin'. i spent so long looking at pictures of 20s style dresses until i found eliza jane howell who is a tiny british designer who has an entire collection of 20s inspired gowns. the inspo for kinn's dress was the miranda dress from her eveningwear collection.

the diamond auction -- i've drawn fem!kinn in this dress before, and i stand by it. this is a dress from ralph and russo's fall 2015 couture collection, specifically look 12. i first saw this dress months ago when i was looking for clothes for a project i was working on and it's lived in my brain rent free since.

date night i and date night ii -- both of these dresses i saw on pinterest somewhere and forget to save the link bc when i do art i usually have abt 50 billion tabs open. (i make firefox weep each time i open a new one.)

looks that almost made it in: michael cors rtw fall 2022 look 24; and schiaparelli couture spring 2022 look 24.

fem!kinn misc looks

okay so the theme for this one was actually "iconic kinn looks" and you know what? the towel was iconic. there i said it.

the sleepwear look -- *cries in detail work* yes all that lace is hand-drawn YES MY WRIST ACHED SO BAD AFTER FINISHING IT, this one is just conjured out of my head, no inspo look

the suspenders -- real ones know which kinn look this one is based off. just google kinn in suspenders or something i guess because we were ROBBED that it wasn't in the show. ROBBED.

the towel -- since drawing it multiple ppl have told me that they think fem!kinn would just wear the towel on her hips, tits out, no shame, and they are all so valid.

family portrait -- when i was drawing this, i got sent a look by siv that i initially discounted because it was a skirt suit and fem!kinn all about those power suits. and then i was looking for thai designers and i saw the same look and i was like, "okay but she'd only wear this in a family portrait," and then i was like hhrrrrnngngn family portrait outfits for all of them, so now it's a category. this is a recoloured version of poem bangkok's fall 2022 rtw collection look 19.

fem!porsche "pre-kinn" looks

okay so my thoughts on fem!porsche are as someone for whom gender is almost an afterthought, whose main friends are all guys, who drinks bear and kicks ass and cuts her own hair whenever it gets too annoying, who buys male toilettries because they're cheaper, who's made a career out of being rich girl's experimental whirl into lesbianism, and who can get them off real easy but isn't so good at getting herself off. she's hooked up with her fair share of guys, and considers herself more of a male-leaning bisexual. like, girls are fun and all, but she tends to have a better time when she hooks up with guys. (kinn's gonna blow that out of the water, hahaha.)

the fighter outfit -- originally this was going to be just a sports bra + jeans, but then i saw a pic of a cropped hoodie and my brain just sort of blanked out and when i was done the art was finished. porsche's abs are very important to me. as are her arms. and her thighs. she's an itty bitty titty committee member tho and i stand by that.

the bartender outfit -- i've drawn this one before, but yes! all the buttons undone! cheapest black shirt and slacks! converse!!! YESS

the casual outfit -- bike shorts, big t, big shirt? yes. fem!porsche sits somewhere between jock and gonna-fix-your-appliances on a fashion basis and i am here for it.

fem-porsche "kinn era" looks

one of the big ideas i had going into this project was the idea that porsche feels divorced from her femininity in a way that she's not altogether satisfied with and that kinn helps her reconnect with it. because, like, let's be real: porsche has no major feminine influences in her life growing up, and she's literally always got bigger concerns. she defo plays up the idea that she's above it all, whilst also completely lost as to how to get to there. kinn is probably both an object of envy and attraction for her.

(also i have in my head that the sauna conversation goes something like: porsche: do you have a boyfriend, then? kinn: i've never once found a man that truly wants a powerful woman. porsche: huh, that's weird. i've had no trouble finding guys who want me to hold the up against a wall.)

anyway it's important to me that kinn makes porsche feel dainty and feminine.

the bodyguard look -- hrrrrngngng waist. that is all.

clubbing with tankhun -- you know how i said somewhere between jock and owns a monkey wrench? meet porsche out clubbing. love it for her.

first public date with kinn -- so the background i had imagined for this outfit was that porsche and kinn are going public, and kinn sends her a box with a dress to wear plus heels, only porsche can literally not stand for more than two seconds in the heels and hates them, so she wears her converse instead. this is almost a direct copy of look 12 from monse's spring 2021 rtw collection.

black tie date with kinn -- obvs this is a dress that kinn picked out for her, so i thought long and hard about what kinn would choose. in the end, i figured kinn would probably want her to look regal. i looked at so many dresses for this one, esp bc there was a secret requirement where i wanted the skirt to be loose enough that kinn could eat her out in it. look, i just think it would be gender if kinn dressed porsche up in this dress and porsche felt all pretty and feminine and then kinn ate her out in the bathroom at the event or something. you know. girl things. this dress is look 6 from valdrin sahiti's spring 2022 bridal collection and i had to download a pdf to get a reference picture, so appreciate my work. also shoutout literally the only time porsche is wearing heels. kinn had to give her like three hours of walking lessons.

fem!porsche minor family head looks

michael kors collection saved my bacon here. i really struggled to figure out what fem!porsche's overall aesthetic would be for her minor family head position. i wanted something distinct from kinn, but didn't think she'd go full androgyny. in the end i settled on a well-tailored suits with a military flare in their cut.

first business look -- this one is based on look 19 from michael kors collection's fall 2022 rtw collection. dem arms.

second business look -- same song, different verse. same collection, but look 7. the thigh-high boots were added by me, though. i wasn't drawing lesbian kinnporsche without putting one of them in thigh-high boots.

visiting mum -- a couple of things. this one is based on this photo i found on pinterest, because i just really liked the neckline. details you might miss: this is arguably porsche's most femme outfit here, but she doesn't have the perfectly styled hair that she has when she's on mafia business, and she's still wearing her ratty beat-up converse. she's feminine, but trying to be authentic. it's a specific kind of messaging she's trying to get across to her mum. she probably agonised for hours over what to wear. kinn definitely really likes her in it.

family portrait -- again, plucked from my own imagination. the original inspiration for this look was look 9 from altuzarra pre-fall 2020 but if you click that link you'll probably be able to tell i went completely off-script. the more i drew it, basically, the more the altuzarra look looked too japanese, which is understandable, because that collection's whole thing was about blending modern and traditional japanese fashion. in the end, i pivoted, and brought it more in line with kinn's look, because i really did want them to have similar vibes. (couples outfits? couples outfits!!)

near misses -- these ones almost ended up involved: altuzarra pre-fall 2020 look 6 for the family portrait; michael kors fall 2020 look 60 also for the family portrait; michael kors fall 2020 look 30 for minor family mafia business; look 17 from alexander mcqueen's 2011 pre-fall collection also for mafia business; this look from pinterest for mafia business that got discounted bc i was going in a different direction; and this dress from rouba.g's spring 2019 rtw collection for the black tie dress which literally only avoided inclusion here because i couldn't make the sheer fabric look right.

anyway the takeaway here is don't get into an argument with me because i will bring receipts. mort learned their lesson, don't worry.

also @yeetlegay i gave you adequate warning. you knew it was coming.

[cat-of-starlight]

I finally found someone else that feels the same way about Jace that I do! I don't want to yuck on anyone's yum but, like, he deserves better than what so much of the fandom had done and I just... ugh...

TRUE!

It makes me so sad that a LOT of content I've seen so far has either been "welp lmao he's just evil too and has been since the beginning" or "teehee lmao, twink man fell for the bad guy and does whatever he wants him to <3" When like. Deadass there's the threat of Porter going "I killed you once and I'd do it again" + the whole thing about the shatterstar fully meaning that the person it happened to was subjected to the ritual UNWILLINGLY-

And!! He's so nice in Season 1!! He deserved SO MUCH!! I about screamed in my rewatch of Sophomore Year because he was the Bad Kids' (specifically Fig's) FIRST CHOICE on what hireling they should take with them- If that happened, we could have fully avoided him being on the other adventure happening at about the same time/being killed-

His only crime is trying to be friendly to his coworkers (even when they're creepy as fuck), being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and potentially failing a few saving throws as his ass got killed/rezzed against his will

--

But yea, its nice to see other people who agree! When the episodes first came out, a majority of the posts about him were basically "Part of the group of terrible adults who were abusing children", "lmao look at this stupid loser idiot who can't do anything", or both simultaneously ;;

Which,,, is disheartening considering that his vibes fully brought me out of my artblock, and I've been drawing him constantly like some sort of unhinged maniac- (I deadass haven't drawn at ALL this year until like. last week (because new tablet)- and out of 8 drawings that I've actually finished, he has been the focus of half of them)

Also- idk- he especially vibes hard to me because, despite some people ragging on Sorcerers, as a neurodivergent person who just. learns Differently™️ than other people, I just relate to the vibes of Sorcerers more lmao- also it makes it just. a touch uncomfortable when people word it as "lmao, they're just dumb/lazy, and don't wanna open a book to actually learn REAL spells" because it sounds a LITTLE too similar to shit I've been told irl :,D

So yea- All of those feelings of "Cool Character w/ Untapped Tragic Circumstances" + Feelings I have about that class in particular- combined in a Perfect Storm to create a character who lives in m head Rent Free and probably won't leave my head for a WHILE

He's my perfect blorbo and he deserves SO much more than he got <3 <3 <3

,,,,and you know what,,, maybe seeing more positive posts about him (+ Receiving this ask lmao),,,, may be the motivation I need to make me post the pics of him that's been sitting in my art folder,,,,,,

(PS: The fics slap so hard and you are SO VALID for That Ship™️™️ being shown as a Horrific and Toxic thing because. yea. Send help for he- he needs better partners fr ouuughhhhh(I'd Comment on the actual ones themselves because I know that helps, but the site hates me and refuses to let me have proper accounts/access- I am in shambles))

[timextoxhajima]

Sonder: Part III

Parts: I II III IV V

member: enhypen heeseung! x oc! woo ki yeom [3rd person pov]

genre: coming of age, slice of life, angst, romance

w/c: 5.8k

warnings: topics on religion, distressed relationships, mental health (I want to leave an a/n here that I grew up with my maternal family being Buddhists so what I've written is based off what I researched online and the way her family practised Buddhism. I'm personally a free-tinker and this narrative is not in any way meant to offend nor support any particular religion.)

synopsis: after being kicked out of her home, Woo Ki Yeom is forced to live life on her own. struggling to find herself in the midst of her chaotic life, she meets lee heeseung, who, like her, can't give any more fucks to life than she does.

"n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own."

By the time Sim Ji Yeon had realised what was happening, she knew deep down in her heart that it was too late. She was stuck with the dilemma of whether she should aggressively offer Ki Yeom support, or let her writhe in her own pain for a while, especially since she knew that Ki Yeom might take it the wrong way if she went with the first option.

Ki Yeom's pride and ego was fed to her since they were children. She had grown up in a stable home, both parents worked and so, they were better than the average household. She didn't have a difficult childhood that would've otherwise created a timid and inferior person.

Her confidence was further fed by the years in which she excelled in every single arts class she took. She had the perfect knack for it, always creating original pieces and never having trouble finding inspiration for her assignments.

Ji Yeon had always admired her eye for the arts, while she was stuck as the boring, better-looking-than-average girl who loved volleyball. She was well aware of the attention that dragged around with her wherever she went - boys would come to her matches just to see her and her teammates. She would get random love notes and gifts from people she didn't even know.

While Ki Yeom somewhat teased her and envied her for this 'small celebrity' life, Ji Yeon would've much preferred being talented in her own, safe bubble.

The hard part during the entire process of the falling out was the fact that Ji Yeon hadn't heard about Ki Yeom being kicked out of her home from her, but instead through friends who somehow knew people who had seen her looking for single-room apartments to rent.

Talk about a small world.

And talk about not sharing your worst nightmares with your best friend.

Ji Yeon remembers the day she felt Ki Yeom had given up on her friendship, and till this day, she doesn't know exactly why. Ji Yeon had decided to wait near the building that Ki Yeom used to stay with her parents. She's been over multiple times, so it wasn't hard to blend in with all the convenience and food stalls owners greeting her.

She figured that Ki Yeom probably still had to come back to pick up more things.

But hours turned into days and by the time she had waited three days, Ji Yeon realised that Ki Yeom had completely moved out for good. Then, she spots her mother leaving the apartment building.

She's hesitant at first, but it's the only way she will ever find out anything about Ki Yeom without needing to spam call her.

With tired eyes and a broken heart, her mother tells Ji Yeon that she hadn't seen her daughter since the day she ruined the altar.

"Ruined the altar?" Ji Yeon's lips part in startled surprise. "But..."

Her voice trails quiet when she realises she doesn't know what to say. She can't imagine what Ki Yeom is feeling, much less her parents.

"I don't suppose... you know where she is?"

The elder shakes her head gently. "You're the only person who has a shot at knowing where she's gone. So if you don't know, then I definitely wouldn't."

There's something harsh and direct in her voice, that almost makes Ji Yeon uneasy.

"Alright," She chooses not to pry. "I understand. I'm... so sorry this happened."

A chilly gush of wind runs between them.

Her mother parts her lips and inhales slightly, as if already finding the words to say - but she decides against it and swallows instead. "I have to go run my errands."

"Of course," Ji Yeon slightly bows and lets her on her way. She stays, long enough until Ki Yeom's mother disappears down the corner.

Ji Yeon wonders if she will ever visit their home again.

She will spend the next few weeks leaving Ki Yeom texts. Calls. Even resorting to E-mails and leaving her DMs on Instagram. She starts to think of herself that she's pathetic, but no, she can't think this way. Her best friend was just kicked out. She's probably lost and afraid. And honestly, she might not even be alive. What if something happened to her and nobody found her body?

But somehow, she finds comfort in knowing that she hasn't heard from her in months now. At least she's alive, and her body hasn't been thrown in a ditch somewhere and in the news, with the headline 'MURDERER ON THE LOOSE'.

And yet, everytime she tries to comfort herself to think this way, she can't help but think - why is she not speaking to me?

What have I done wrong?

Months turned into trimesters and trimesters turned into a scholarship offer to a university in another state. Ji Yeon decides that fate will bring her back to Ki Yeom when the time is right.

She leaves, and decides that she will only come back during her longer summer breaks.

And in the blink of an eye, she graduates next year.

But to Ji Yeon, this meant that it had been four years without Ki Yeom. How could Ki Yeom pretend that she didn't exist anymore? How could she move on with life, not accounting for what happened to her? Doesn't Ki Yeom know that she cares, especially with all the shit she's sent her?

Ji Yeon is not one to get angry easily, but Ki Yeom is the exception. Perhaps she hasn't tried hard enough.

She googles her name. She scrolls through the 'Ki Yeom's whom she know aren't her Ki Yeom.

Then, she stops when she notices the name under a tattoo parlour's search result. Ji Yeon hunts for the address on their website, and finds it.

Just about thirty minutes away from where Ki Yeom used to stay.

"Ki Yeom might look a little cold, but she promises her best. Top of sales 2022." Was written as her description. No photo though.

Ji Yeon picks up her phone and drops her some messages.

"She hasn't spoken to you in four years and you still want to go look for her?"

Ji Yeon is quiet. She knows how ridiculous it sounds from someone else's perspective. Ki Yeom clearly doesn't want to be found and reconnected, so why should she go out of her way to do it for her?

"Think about how we left off, don't you think it'd be terrible of me to not even... get some kind of closure?"

Sunghoon frowns at her, crossing his arms over his chest and slightly rolling his eyes. He's never liked this 'Ki Yeom' whom he's never met. By the time he had met Ji Yeon in university, he thought the falling out was through and finished. He knew that Ji Yeon had always wanted to find her and find closure, but he thinks otherwise.

"It would've been terrible if you didn't try to reach out but the thing is you did and you tried. I don't know why you think you haven't done enough."

"Well, maybe you think I've done enough, but it's not enough for her."

"Come on," He pushes his hair back and sits in a chair, back slouched and his elbows on his knees. "Love, I just- From my perspective, she sounds like she doesn't care about anybody else. If she had wanted to reconnect or find closure like you do, she would've responded by now. But it's been four years. We met, dated, fell in love and moved in together in these four years."

Ji Yeon sighs.

"Have you ever thought that she just... outgrew the friendship? Like, I don't know, maybe her getting kicked out of her home just escalated it. Like it was an event that forced the two of you apart and it was just... meant to be? It hurts to see you trying so hard and she doesn't reciprocate. I get that she's your childhood friend but that doesn't mean she would do and think the same way you do."

"I know what you mean," She's quiet as she turns and looks at him. "But I just... Maybe if I see her one last time. Just over a cup of coffee or something. She doesn't have to catch me up nor does she have to give in to my 'needs'. Maybe I just want to see that she's well and taking care of herself."

Sunghoon stands and walks over to where she's sitting at her desk, standing near enough so she can rest her head in his stomach.

The next day proved a challenge for Ji Yeon, a challenge she didn't even think she had to deal with. She had found the tattoo parlour as early as after lunch with Sunghoon, who reluctantly left her alone. Ji Yeon felt nothing less like a creep, spending the entire afternoon sitting at the coffee shop just a few doors down from the parlour.

The challenge was mustering up the courage to speak to Ki Yeom after four years. Why was she even finding this hard? They were best friends, weren't they? And as far as Ji Yeon knew, she didn't do anything wrong on her end. If anything, this was just a case of a fading friendship, not a messy falling out.

She thought, and thought, and panicked, and thought again, until the sun had set. There were more clients leaving than entering, she thought that this was her chance.

Now or never.

Her throat had gone dry when she stood at the door, fingers wrapped on the metal handle and ready to push herself in. Ki Yeom had shoulder-length brown hair, but with her black roots growing out on the crown of her head. She was sat in a roller chair, backfacing the front door, turned and talking to a guy with bright, bleached pink hair who was definitely a couple years older than her. And another girl, around the same age or even younger, with her hair cut so short, some might mistake her for the opposite gender.

Then again, Ji Yeon knows better than to bother about that.

"Hi. I'm looking for Ki Yeom, I saw somewhere that she worked here."

WHAT? She thinks to herself. She's literally standing infront of you, why would you ask that?

Ki Yeom takes a moment to stand and turn, like she already recognised her voice before she even saw Ji Yeon.

Oh, my God. It's like meeting an ex again.

Ji Yeon's heart drops when she can see how much Ki Yeom has grown in four years. She aches to know that she wasn't by her side, following her through the healing she probably needed.

"Who told you I worked here?" The words are cold, and sharp. Like her mother's. Ji Yeon starts to sweat, the warm gush of uneasiness sweeping through her when you feel unwell or about to faint.

Ji Yeon's mind is running at a thousand miles per hour. Say something!

"I... I googled you," Ji Yeon gulps. She can see the knowing scowls and squints from Ki Yeom's two acquaintances. They must think she's a bitch. "Took me a couple of minutes, but it wasn't that hard to find your name as a tattoo artist in this parlour."

Ki Yeom rubs the back of her neck, looking exasperated and at a loss of patience, like she were thinking 'I don't have the fucking time for this.'

She turns around and begins a mini discussion with her acquaintances, which Ji Yeon realises, if she's close enough to trust them in times like this, then Ki Yeom must consider them friends.

She has been replaced.

Ji Yeon isn't surprised. It was a sooner-or-later thing.

But why did it hurt the same?

She can hear the 's'-es and the whispering they're doing whilst turned back. She wonders if they know who she was, or if Ki Yeom has kept her an embarrassing secret and memory she doesn't want to relive.

There's a little scuffle. Someone swats someone on the arm, and someone knees the boy in his groin. Then the short haired girl drags him away, leaving Ki Yeom alone with her.

When Ki Yeom turns around, there's this fierceness and sternness in her eyes. Ji Yeon knew that she wouldn't be meeting the same person she became best friends with back then, but it hit her harder now that she's seeing this new-and-improved version of Ki Yeom.

Ji Yeon can see that she doesn't have much to say, so she starts first.

"I know you've been reading my texts," She says quickly, hoping to get some reaction out of her.

Nothing.

"I just wanted to know how you were doing. I don't know anything about you anymore and I just can't stand to know that... I no longer know anything about you and your life."

"I don't know why it matters that you don't know anything. My parents don't know anything. Nobody knows anything, but I'm fine and well."

Ji Yeon is stunned at how quickly she responded. It's almost like she had rehearsed for a moment like this. Has Ki Yeom just been waiting for Ji Yeon to show up, so she can tell her to fuck off?

"It matters because I care," She wishes that Ki Yeom can hear the sincerity in her voice. "It matters because you basically disappeared, and for the last couple of years, I've been stuck wondering what I've done wrong. And if it was my fault that the friendship has turned sour."

"It's not your fault, it's mine. For being an ass."

Ji Yeon didn't even realise she was holding her breath until Ki Yeom finishes her quick-witted reply. The words start to come out naturally.

"So at least tell me how you were being an ass. You have so much spine to be out here making a life for your own but you don't have a spine enough to tell me why I had to google you?"

"'Spine to be out here'?" Ki Yeom snaps her head and squints at her, clenching her jaw as she strings the words together. "Have you... forgotten why I was even made to be out here making a life for myself?"

Oh.

Ji Yeon didn't mean for it to come off that way. Ki Yeom must know she didn't mean it like that. Right? ...Right?

"I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant."

In Ji Yeon's peripheral vision, a client pays at the cashier's. He awkwardly walks around them, arm wrapped in a protective foil as the light reflects off the surface.

She thinks carefully about what to say next. It feels like years before she can think of how to put it across.

"Look, I... I just want to know what happened. And... if after all the clearing up, you still hate me and our paths have just... diverged too far and too long ago, then... I will just have to make peace with it."

Ji Yeon pauses. She thinks about what Sunghoon said to her earlier today.

"But I can't just leave this... it's like abandoning my house without reason."

Her eyes are teary and she can feel the sour ball creeping up in her throat and her nose.

But Ki Yeom doesn't look like she gives a single fuck.

Ki Yeom's head falls in the gap between her arm and herself, nodding herself awake. She looks down at her sketchbook, instinctively rubbing her forehead to get any pencil markings off her skin.

She turns and looks at the clock. 2.23am.

Sighing and yawning at the same time, she looks around her apartment, spotting the unwashed pot from her instant-noodle supper sitting by the sink.

She recalls the encounter at the tattoo parlour earlier that evening, where Miss Little Perfect showed up and demanded for a redeeming coffee break tomorrow.

Ki Yeom rubs her eyes and yawns again, finally getting up from her desk and making her way over to wash the dishes.

Suddenly, life had so many offerings to provide her.

Picking up her phone, she slips on her slides and heads out the door, making a point to close it quietly. Then she turns and heads for the lift, in her peripheral vision, noticing that the nosy boy's door was slightly ajar.

She ignores it, turning for the lift and dragging her headphones over her head-

Then she hears the piano keys, and the singing.

Ki Yeom will admit that she didn't think that would stop her in her tracks, but it did.

She stays in the same spot for a few seconds, listening to the random piano keys, then him singing or humming a tune, then the piano keys again.

He's writing an original, she realises.

Well, if he can be nosy, so can I.

She finds herself at the door, peeking in through the gap.

He's sat, angled backwards against the door, with a portable keyboard infront of him and a notebook in his lap. She looks around, and spots his desk - which was a round dining table that he probably picked up from someone's garage sale - strewn with lecture notes.

Ki Yeom leans against the door frame, quietly studying the apartment that resembled hers while listening to the music-in-progress. Her eyes are mindless, until they finally return to him sitting at his piano.

Except, now he's staring at her, wide-eyed and surprised.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to tell that you gave up on studying," She pushes the door open and nods toward his dining table. "Sitting against an open door isn't very smart. I could've gone in and stolen something and you wouldn't have known."

"Well," He shrugs, picking up the notebook from his lap and tossing it on his dining table. He starts to gather the papers and binded notes. "Thank God it's you, then. I'd just have to worry about missing a washing machine token."

Ki Yeom rolls her eyes, but doesn't hide the little smile that curls up on her lips.

"Couldn't sleep?" He lifts the stack off the table, aligning them against the surface and placing them nicely in the centre.

She scratches the spot under her ear. "It's... a little more than 'couldn't sleep', I guess."

Heeseung turns to face her, arms reaching back to lean on the edge of the dining table. But it wobbles from how old it is, so he clears his throat and stands away from it instead.

"I'd invite you to come in and talk about it but I don't want to seem creepy," A pause. "Nor does it seem like I have adequate, functioning furniture to host a guest."

Ki Yeom chuckles, which is a surprise. Maybe it's just the 3am lack of discipline and awareness.

"I was going to go on a walk."

"At..." He picks up his phone. The screen lights up his face. "3am?"

"Why, scared of the dark?"

"No, I'm scared that I'd be murdered in an alley and thrown in a ditch."

"Yeah, because you live in a dangerous country," Ki Yeom pushes herself off the door frame, hoping that the sarcasm can be detected. "No obligations. If you prefer to sleep, then good night."

Heeseung shrugs, picking up his keys and phone and shoving them into his pockets.

"Can't say no to a 3am storytelling session though," With a cheeky smile on his lips, he walks to the door. Ki Yeom moves to let him close the door, only now realising how tall he was.

Maybe Jun Yeol was just short.

"Who said anything about a 3am storytelling session?" She says as-a-matter-of-factly. As he locks the door, she heads to press the lift button.

"Well, I'm just a nosy stranger. And you walked right up to my door, striking up a conversation with me. Besides, who am I gonna tell about your dramatic life story?"

The boy pulls his key out of the door and turns around, tilting his head at her. His eyes are tired, the kinds that sleep but not quality. The kinds that try their best, but it's never enough.

Perfectionist eyes.

Ki Yeom knows because those were hers too.

"So why are you up at 3am?" She quietly asks.

"Hm," He hums in thought, eyes looking up at the panel displaying the floors the lift was climbing. "Somewhere between existential crisis and can't sleep. If that makes any sense."

"'Existential crisis', huh?"

There's a silence that envelops the both of them as the lift reaches. She doesn't even know his name but she can tell what type of person he is - or at least, she can guess. She conjures the thought, 'What if he's a serial killer luring her in so he can murder her in the middle of the night?'

Nah, Mr Hsien has seen his face. If he were a serial killer, he wasn't a very smart one.

"I'm Heeseung, by the way," He turns to her in the lift, awkwardly raising a palm to her. "I just realised I know your name but you don't know mine."

Ki Yeom gingerly takes his hand, giving him a firm shake as she does some of her clients. "Nice to know."

"So, what do you do? I mean, you don't seem like you go to university."

"I'm a tattoo artist."

"Oh, shit. No kidding?" Heeseung looks pleasantly taken aback. "Would love to get one one day. Where? Is the parlour nearby?"

"Just about a twenty minute bus ride into town," The doors open into the lobby, the security guard at the counter exchanging glances with them.

"Town? You're a fancy tattoo artist. What, do you like top sales or something?" He giggles as they walk out the building. The cool, crisp breeze kisses her skin and she instantly hugs herself. Ki Yeom remains quiet to his question, merely shrugging her shoulders.

"No," He turns to her and folds his arms across his chest, hugging his arm pits. "That's crazy! Are you really? You're like some super talented tattoo artist, and I'm just some... stupid student that can't beat the curve in school."

"What do you study in university?"

"Performing Arts - But the thing they don't tell you is that half the things you study is theory, which don't work that well with me."

"I heard you just now, with the piano and the singing. You sound good, is it an original? For a project or something?"

They stop at a traffic light. Opposite the building was a park. The crickets were chirping, the street lamps were sizzling and there wasn't a single soul in sight. Some cars driving down the main road, but it had been awhile since Ki Yeom had found the motivation to leave home for something that wasn't work.

"Uh- Yeah? I guess? It's more of just a 'me' thing. But, I also tutor kids. Piano lessons. So they help me sort of... sort it out in my head. Makes it abit easier to teach when I'm figuring out the notes and bars myself."

"Interesting," Ki Yeom nods. The traffic light turns to the green man. She smiles when she realises they didn't even need to wait for that, since it was so empty.

"Why?" Heeseung shoves his hands into his pockets, smile mimicking hers. "Realised we didn't have to wait?"

"Yeah. It's so empty."

"We're law-abiding citizens, what do I say?"

They enter the park, the scent of grass and trees filling their noses. Ki Yeom can see the birds scattered about in the grass, slowly walking or standing almost completely still. The leaves were gently rustling in the breeze. Empty cups, food wrappers, tissues, strewn here and there and on benches.

"By the way, I was joking about the storytelling. You don't have to share if you're uncomfortable. It's just... nice to talk to someone that's not from school."

Ki Yeom walks quietly, sitting in her thoughts. He must've understood her silence, for he goes quiet as well, matching her pace and looking around like he hadn't already been to this park a couple of times.

She considers the day's events. First, being told she had an opportunity to leave everything she had here, to go be part of an art organisation. Then, being told she had topped this months' sale (again), followed by Ji Yeon showing up at the parlour. It had been four years since she had seen her.

Suddenly, she's tired. Her lids are heavy and her heart is torn into shreds. Maybe it wasn't that great of an idea to go for a walk with a stranger at 3am.

"It was a long day. Alot of things happened," Ki Yeom starts, unsure how to continue. She didn't want to seem like she was trauma dumping or asking him for advice when he barely knew her.

"Oh," There's a hint of sadness in his voice as he can hear the reluctance to share. "I understand. It's alright. You don't have to divulge anything. We can walk the whole park in silence. Or if you want to go back, that's totally fine with me too-"

"No, it's okay," Ki Yeom shakes her head and rubs her palm down her eyes and the rest of her face. "I just..."

She strings the thoughts together, holding her breath as she does.

"I was offered... a thing. My boss told me that she had an opportunity to send someone overseas. To be part of a touring art organisation."

She looks up at Heeseung, watching his face for any reaction. As opposed to before, he suddenly had this slightly heavy look on his face, as if he instantly knew what it meant to have such a grand offer... in such a faraway place.

"That... That is something," He nods as he acknowledges it. "I assume there's a 'but'?"

Ki Yeom rubs the back of her neck and turns away from him.

"I mean, it's not easy for anybody to leave anywhere, honestly. Even if they had nothing else left, it still wouldn't be easy."

"You sound like you know this experience yourself."

Heeseung turns and looks at her intently, his tired eyes getting even more tired.

"I'm the total opposite, actually. I had... everything. Like I had a nice home, my family is intact unlike alot of my friends. Supportive environment. But... when I left to find... a purpose, I felt lost. It was my decision, yes, but... it's hard to leave somewhere you're comfortable in."

"You left home to find 'purpose'?" Ki Yeom stifles a little chuckle.

"Well, yeah," Heeseung grins, knowing how stupid it sounded out loud. "I wanted to find out what life was about, you know? I didn't want to stay sheltered. I wanted to meet crazy people and do crazy things and see where the wind blows me."

"That doesn't sound like the life a university student should be living. Just being a student on it's own already takes away the freedom to do that."

"I know, I know," He rolls his eyes half-exasperatedly. "I realised."

They both go quiet again. Ki Yeom is pleasantly surprised at how easy he seems. She wonders if she's being nice and vulnerable because it's 3am.

Yeah, probably.

"So what's keeping you here?"

Ki Yeom smiles, but it's weak and sad and depressing. "What isn't?" She turns and looks at him, then turns back to look straight.

"I grew up a devoted Buddhist and my family practised it to the T. Then, about six years ago, my father lost his job and we were broke for a few years. In those two years, we scrimped and saved. My grandfather had tried to help, but my parents... believe it or not, didn't accept it. Out of filial piety. It's one of the most valued principles in Buddhism. I came home one day, tired and exhausted from work, and my room was literally sold out. The furniture, the lamp, the damn bed."

She pauses. The memories come back in quick flashes in her head.

"I ruined the altar. Shoved everything off. My mother kicked me out. And I had so few things left that it took me an hour to get everything I needed out of the apartment. I walked aimlessly for hours, just wishing that a car would run me down and I'd never have to open my eyes again. I somehow fell asleep just a few shops down the tattoo parlour, and I don't know what it is that the owner of the parlour saw in me, but she waited until I woke up, gave me a pad and pencil and told me to draw. I don't know how she knew that I loved art. But I was at a loss and honestly, I had nothing better to do. So, I drew."

A pause.

The grains of rock and sand crunch under their feet as they stroll under a lamp.

"And she hired you."

"And told me that this apartment building had rooms for rent and that she'd pay for the first few months until I could sustain myself."

"What a lad," Heeseung nods. "What did you draw? That made her hire you?"

Ki Yeom stops in her tracks. Heeseung hears the crunching stop behind him, so he stops too and turns to look at her.

"I... I drew my room. Down to every single detail. Before it was sold and ruined."

Now, her voice is quiet, low, and raspy. The type that comes from someone who is about to cry. Heeseung can see that Ki Yeom is fighting all the urges in her throat and nose not to stifle a sob, because her eyes were already welling with tears.

But she blinks, and breathes through her mouth so he wouldn't have to hear the sniffling. Then all that resolution to keep it under wraps crumbles under the weight of letting it out for the first time, directly telling someone the whole truth without them having to probe and ask for them to fit the pieces together.

Ki Yeom squats and buries her eyes in the heart of her palms, her lips finally contorting into a quivering, shivering slobber as her tears and mucus start to run down her philtrum. She's feeling light-headed, but her chest heavy, from all the feelings that were bottled up and never once poured out.

A warm, gentle hand lands on her shoulder, a shadow casting over her as he stands in a spot to block the lamp from shining all over her.

Ki Yeom doesn't have a clue how long she was in that position, because it felt like forever. The tears were relentless - caught up for four years, and she hasn't even told him everything that happened that day. Would she cry even more?

One way to find out.

She lifts her head, hair messily stuck to her face because of the tears, and coughs, "You know... My best friend..." She chokes and hiccups in between the words as he looks down at her, tired eyes trying to show sympathy.

"She's just so fucking perfect, and I... I hate her for it.... She lived a perfect life, you know? Popular, smart, pretty... happy. Her family was so fucking... textbook. Sometimes I wondered if she was friends with me to... make herself feel better. I hated how much she tried to compensate for... something that wasn't even her fault. I hated that she started paying for me... or started defending me and protecting me in front of others just so they didn't think I was a loser."

She sighs and wipes her philtrum with her fingers, the glistening music on her nails and fingerpads as she wipes them off on her pants.

"I saw her for the first time today... In four years... asking me for a cup of coffee so we could talk about what happened... But I have nothing to say. What do I even say?"

"You can say what you just told me."

Ki Yeom looks up at him, wandering eyes unsure of what he means.

Then he squats, meeting her at eye level and awkwardly trying to pick her hair out of her face without it seeming like he was flirting with her.

"I think it's valid that you felt the way you did. I mean, all that that you went through? Not everybody knows how it feels. I'm sure she meant well, but I'm also positive that you would've felt the same way about anybody who tried to do those things. So, it was nothing personal."

He folds his arms over each other and wraps them on his knees.

"If it makes you feel better, I'd be annoyed too. If I had a perfect specimen of a person trying to make me feel better. Who wouldn't? It's like salt rubbing salt in a wound."

Ki Yeom gulps the phlegm and musuc away, rubbing her eyes.

"I think... you should go get that cup of coffee and push through it. It's the only way to resolve this."

"But I spent four years running, and I didn't hate it," She wipes the tears dripping off her jawline and stares at the rocks under his slides.

"Clearly, the more you run, the more she's gonna run after you and I'm sure you don't want to deal with her ten years from now again?"

Ki Yeom looks up and into his eyes now, his fringe slightly covering them.

"Here's the important question: Do you think you've been living life fine without her?"

Her eyes drift off to look at the bush on the grass.

"If the answer is 'no', then it's your chance to redeem yourself and mend things with her. But if the answer is 'yes', then sometimes a chapter just... ends. Without you knowing. Things happen. Just because it happened doesn't mean it's your fault."

She looks back at him, swollen eyes slightly drier, but eyelids heavier.

Heeseung is quiet now. He's said his piece, and has nothing else left to share.

"Come on," He whispers, just loud enough for her to hear as he gently grabs her arm. "Let's get you back home and to bed."

Ki Yeom weakly stands, knees trembling from squatting too long. He has a palm on her arm the entire walk home, in silence. The security guard almost looks concerned - he hasn't ever seen this resident cry.

The lift doors open with a ding, but before Heeseung can walk her rightways to her door, she pauses and looks at him.

"Do you think... do you think you can stay with me tonight?" She blinks her tired eyes, not even looking at him. "Not in the same bed, just... with me."

Heeseung blinks, slightly taken aback with the request. His lips are parted in a bid to protest and say that it would be inappropriate, considering that she was just tired and in a vulnerable state and it could've been easily misunderstood the following morning- but she puts a stop to it, for she quite literally mutters the words:

"I've been alone for so long, sometimes I wonder if I would be happier if I wasn't awake."

PART IV

[fazedlight]

Fandom creators tag game

Thank you @waytooinvested and @fabulousglitch for the tag!

1. What sort of content do you create, and what is the thing you’ve made that you’re most proud of?

Proudest fic - There are a few I tend to choose from, but right now it's Even Though You're Kryptonian

Fanvid - My Rise vid

2. What fandom(s) do you create for?

Supercorp. (And a very tiny amount of Dansen and soon Rojarias.)

3. What is your current favourite ship (or brotp if you prefer), and how controversial is it?

Supercorp!! I don't think it's a controversial ship, lol.

4. For your answer to question 3, are they canon?

They are to me 😌

5. What was your first fandom, and how old were you?

My first obsession (and still greatest love) was Xena. I started watching the show a few episodes into season 1, when I was 6 years old. It was very formative.

That said, I didn't really get involved in any fandom communities until Supercorp (in early 2022).

6. What is your most unhinged fandom creation to date?

I don't think I get super unhinged, but as a pilot I did like creating this dumb incorrect quote.

7. Do you remember what started you off creating fandom content, and if so, what was it?

I was getting frustrated at not being able to find certain types of fics, and it struck me that... I was allowed to write my own.

8. Do you let people you know in real life see your fandom creations?

Yup! My partner read my first two fics in support, and several of my IRL friends have read at least one of my fics because I didn't have the good sense to keep that information to myself when I was getting started. It's mortifying lol. But my friends are very cool people.

9. How do you feel about fanworks of fanworks? Has anyone ever made something based on a thing you made?

Fanworks of fanworks are amazing!!! I've been incredibly lucky to have that happen three times (post), and gotten asked for permission for a different continuation and a podfic that may eventually happen.

10. What feeling do you most often try to evoke with your creations?

Angst. Longing. Bits of compassion too.

11. Has someone ever paid your work a compliment (in any form) that has stuck with you, and what was it?

I love each and every one of my commenters ❤️

Honestly, the compliments that stick with me most are "I came back to reread this" or "this idea is still living rent-free in my head" type comments. I think that's what all writers and artists want - to feel that their art lasted in someone's mind beyond the first time seeing it.

12. What’s your favourite thing someone else has made that you’ve seen in the last 24 hours (and link it if you can find it again!)

Technically it was more than 24hrs ago but this art by @awaitingrain is so fucking cute!!

13. Give a small sneak preview of something you’re working on right now (eg a couple of sentences of fic from a WIP, a gif set theme, a small piece of a larger picture, whatever you feel happy to share)

I have a ficlet (that's getting out of control), here's a snippet:

Lena was cozying into the warmth of Kara’s body, when Lena spoke. “I’m thinking of visiting my mother’s house soon,” she said shyly. “I want to find out more about her. Where I came from.”

“That sounds lovely,” Kara said softly.

“Do you want to come with me?” Lena asked.

Kara hesitated.

14. Have you ever seen/read anything made by the person who tagged you? If so, what was it and what was your favourite thing about it? (pick a favourite if there are several)

Both of them are on my reading list 👀

15. Do you leave comments on fandom works, and if so how would you describe your comment style?

Some of my comments are very simple, some of my comments are very long. I've tried to get more consistent about commenting ever since starting to write, because I know how important it is. Unfortunately, I also read a lot less now that I'm writing more.

16. How many works in progress do you currently have? Will you finish them all?

I have 5 WIPs! I'm very confident I'll finish them all.

17. what’s the longest it’s ever taken you to finish a fandom project?

I guess my worldkiller Kara fic took a bit over 3 months, though part of that was spacing with the Supercorp Big Bang.

I tend to write fast. One of the things I'm actually trying to do is slow down to fill out the story a bit more.

18. Describe the thing you made most recently in a way that is technically true, but also completely misleading. Link the thing if it’s published!

Lena has a bad day in the lab (Clockwork).

19. Do you ever engage with fanworks for a fandom you’re not in? Which one(s) and how did you get into it?

I totally engage in fanart from other fandoms that cross my dashboard, particularly korrasami. I don't tend to read fanfic of stuff I haven't engaged in, though.

20. Recommend a fan work from your fandom to your followers

This fanvid is probably my favorite in the entire fandom.

Suggested tag list, but there are no rules here, follow your heart.

A mutual you have never actually spoken to but think seems cool - oh there are so many of these!! I am tagging @mssirey who I don't think I've had a proper convo with yet

The most recent person whose content you engaged with (eg read a fic, reblogged art, whatever form you feel best fits) - @thealieninhiding (though by the time I finish this very long post it might be someone else lol)

Someone whose content you saw via tags/reblogs and you followed them because of it - @jadedloverart!

Someone in your fandom that you think makes cool things - @ekingston

Someone in a different fandom that you think makes cool things - tagging @thatonebirdwrites who makes korrasami stuff too

Someone you always tag on things like this - I'm not sure there's someone I always tag but I'll pick @nottawriter as one of the people I frequently tag when I do these things

Someone you have never tagged before - @rebellionbear have I tagged you before?? you are cool so I am tagging you!

Someone you would like to get to know better - @femslashhistorian

Someone who makes art you like - @awaitingrain along with others above!

Someone who writes fics you like - @luthordamnvers along with others above!

[eemcintyre]

My personal favorite 12 red-carpet dresses of all-time + why

I tried with everything in me and could not narrow it down to 10

1 | Zooey Deschanel in Oscar de la Renta (2014)

This look contains so many fun, small details, without any of which it wouldn't feel complete. It meets all of my expectations for what a red carpet dress should be- glitzy and glamorous, sure, but not *too* much. While there are a lot of textures and embellishments going on, it's all one neutral color. It's giving flapper vibes that I love, plus we don't see crop tops too often and her contrasting hair color and pop of red lipstick are what bring it over the edge to complete perfection for me.

2 | Lana Del Rey in Gucci (2018)

This gown lived rent-free in my head for days after. I appreciate the vintage reference, especially to such an iconic lady as Hedy Lamarr, while Lana also makes it her own rather than doing a direct copy. You can tell great attention was paid to the details- the lariat necklace, accumulations of star beading, and the corsage. It's just far-out enough that only the premier goddess of angelic sad girl music could truly pull it off. It's also unusual and thrilling to see a crown, and her hair provides a necessary color contrast.

3 | Natalie Portman in Gucci (2018)

Not only is this look proof that you can, in fact, mix metals, but it is the perfect complement to and embodiment of the A-list icon that Natalie is. She exudes classic Old Hollywood glamor with the shoulder pads and glittery silhouette- I'm not usually a shoulder pad fan, but with this sleek silhouette, it adds some really nice dimension. Then, she exudes drama and sexiness with the V-slit neckline without it being distracting. Finally, the eye-catching bow might be my favorite part of the whole thing.

4 | Rebecca Ferguson in Vivienne Westwood (2023)

This dress was deceptively a bit boring to me at first glance, but the longer I studied it, I realized that there are so many lovely, complex details to this look. The monochromatic color palette is made fascinating by the usage of different textures that look like they are dripping off of her. Girl is literally dripping gorgeousness and the abstract draping of the pearls and skirt make her look like a work of art. While it's maybe not the best color for her and I personally think it makes her look a tiny bit washed out, it was my favorite of everyone's outfits during the Dead Reckoning tour by far.

5 | Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein (2015)

Pearl accessories have been agreed upon by most to be the classiest accessories out there- so what does that say about this gown?? While the color and silhouette are unassuming at first glance, this dress is super decadent. There are few red carpet looks I've seen where the hours of meticulous craftsmanship that went into it are this evident. I love that the beads also are not organized to only display one texture, and the peephole below the neckline is a flirty touch of contrast. The way the gems interact with light is ethereal, and that one large pearl at the base of the neckline is just eye-catching perfection.

6 | Vanessa Kirby in Valentino (2022)

This set of separates is all about bold, powerful, and modern femininity. With the slit and open midsection, it reads as very flirty and sexy, while also being comfortable and confident in that sexuality. Since it's such an unconventional, attention-grabbing outfit, I like that Vanessa went simple on the rest of the look, but it seems like it's missing the tiniest final touch, like a cocktail ring or some silver earrings to match the shoes. Overall, I love that it's different and memorable from what I normally see, and totally encapsulates the phrase "fun, fresh and flirty."

7 | Natalie Portman in Schiaparelli (2024)

When I say mother is mothering. This is another prime example of a look that is deceptively simple at first glance but really has all kinds of intriguing layers to it. The cheeky cutout, the dramatic makeup, the "reputation"-esque clutch, and then on top of it all, the chunky chain neckline is my favorite touch, adding delightful texture and draping elegantly down her shoulders. A timeless and versatile ensemble you'd be hard-pressed to go wrong with. My queen is in her revenge dress era for sure.

8 | Natalie Portman in Dior (2024)

Again I am stunned by the hours of expert craftsmanship that must have gone into this dress. Collabs between her and Dior are practically a never-miss kind of deal- just serve after serve after serve. This gown is also amazing because of how timeless it is- the style could easily have come from a number of different decades, and its simplicity leaves the door open for all kinds of accessorizing. Speaking of which, it does feel like it's missing some miniscule detail, and I personally would have worn my hair down or in a ponytail with a less severe part. But this is ultimately yet another instance of an actress looking like a work of art- the delicate color gradient resembles a serene Monet or Seurat painting.

9 | SZA in Versace (2018)

This gown was everything that I believe the Met Gala "Heavenly Bodies" theme was supposed to be about, from the delicate celestial halo to the cloud-like skirt in sunrise pastel pink. The skirt is also a really cool silhouette that we don’t see very often and adds to the illusion of her floating on the clouded sky. Finally, the thigh-high matching boots were a super-fun surprise. It could fit a tiny bit better at the waist where it's bunching up, but by far the best look of the event that year.

10 | Amy Adams in Valentino (2014)

This look perfectly straddles the two extremes of simple and dramatic, as well as vintage and modern. While there aren't any patterns, ruffles, bows, beads, or any of that jazz, the small train is very sophisticated and the deep V neckline is an alluring and attention-commanding focal point, especially accented with a lovely pendant. I also love a good color block moment, and most of the look is very Old Hollywood. And whether it was intentional or coincidental, she truly looks meant to be at the red carpet, matching perfectly with it.

11 | Diane Kruger in Elie Saab (2016)

While I don't think that this was the right dress for the hair color and makeup she chose, I love the gown itself. Very evocative of lovecore (one of my favorite aesthetics) with the fun and intricate heart pattern. The belt is also a nice resting point for the eyes that keeps the pattern from getting overwhelming and gives the gown structure. It is flirty, flowy and a touch playful while also giving off an aura of edginess and mystery.

12 | Margot Robbie in Versace (2017)

This look is a wonderfully kitschy 90s throwback and not everyone could pull it off on the red carpet without looking tacky. However, the way she keeps it simple with the hair and accessories is perfect. The twist of the fabric at the waist makes the pattern more interesting and dynamic to look at when it might otherwise seem a bit static. While it wouldn't necessarily work for any occasion, during the right one I think it wins by an absolute runaway.

[hollowwrites]

I just wanted to let you know that I love Eve. I've never been one to be super invested in other peoples characters in fics like this but i'm obsessed. May we get some hc's of her as well?

Also, going of of your Ominis hc's. How he's a tall drink of water but ya know... he's gonna have a hump back by the time he's 20. For some reason I can't get it outta my head of Sebastion giving him so much crap for it. Tiny detail I know but living in my head rent free.

Loving everything so far. Excited to see those two as a couple. <3

That’s so sweet! I love Eve too she’s everything I want to be as a person! 😂 I’ve got a HC for my OCs in the works but I wanted art to go with and I’m suffering from the worst art block. It’s my writing era so I may bite the bullet and do some AI art.

~

I regret that HC list so much because I’ve thought of so much more since!

So I’ve been thinking more about how Eve and Ominis are seen (The King and Queen ask has me thinking) and I think they both just suffer massively with Resting Bitch Face…or Resting Bitch…Everything. So he’ll stand super tall and literally look down on everyone. You cannot tell me otherwise it’s literally canon. That sassy little arms crossed leaning against the window is such a ‘Don’t talk to me I’m basking in children’s stupidity right now’ stance.

When he’s not doing that he just look generally unapproachable with those bags under his eyes please tell me it’s not just me who finds those hot af. Obviously, she’s stood next to him the whole time looking just as angry, just as off putting. Also probably why her and Imelda get on so well. Just met in the Common Room like:

Imelda - What are you looking at

Eve - What are you looking at?

And they became besties.

~

As for his posture…

He’d either be a hunch back from that or from bending to kiss Eve…one or the other. I think he stands up tall when he’s walking around or sitting. I don’t think it’s that bad, but I think when he relaxes he gets a little slouchy. So when he’s hanging out with the bois they’re all roughly the same height till he stretches out. I think if Seb catches him slouching he’ll gently put his hand in his back and straighten him out.

I love these asks so much I genuinely didn’t think anyone would care so much about my Eve and Omi. It warms my heart every time I receive one 💚

Masterlist

[polkiuu]

2023 Dive Into Aquaplus

After having been into Utawarerumono for well over a decade, and having one foot into Tears to Tiara for the longest of time as well, I decided to finally take the plunge this year to try a variety of Aquaplus' very colorful catalogue.

I got into Utawarerumono a long, long time ago, back when the 2006 anime adaption of it was still airing. At the time, my like of it was mostly superficial. I was still a kid, and I just liked the aesthetics of it. I only started watching it because the name was long and nonsense to me who didn't know a lick of JP at the time. But it stuck with me as it was one of the first few anime I had started watching as it was airing in Japan and subbed. It also introduced me to Suara, who my love for has been anything but superficial.

If it weren't for the 2015 anime adaption of Utawarerumono Itsuwari no Kamen, it may have just stayed as a memory of aesthetics. A few episodes into its airing, I had a strong urge to buy the game, and so I asked for it for Christmas. I was never the same since.

While waiting for the release of Utawarerumono Futari no Hakuoro later in 2016, I got my hands on Tears to Tiara 2 to try and fill the void. I had previously seen the Tears to Tiara anime back in 2009 while it was airing, as I had immediately recognized the art as being similar to Utawarerumono. Looking it up I learned it was from the same company, and Amazuyu had also worked on some of the designs for it as well.

Unfortunately, the game was incredibly difficult for someone like me who is terrible at strategy games, and the writing didn't manage to hook me early on, so I ended up putting the game on hold indefinitely about 10 hours in. At some point in 2017 I picked up the remake of the first game, Tears to Tiara Kakan no Daichi, and really loved it. It still wouldn't be until this year though that I fully threw myself into the Tears to Tiara franchise.

Fast forward to 2023, through various Utaware phases and burnouts, and the release of Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten along with the 3rd anniversary event in the Utawarerumono Lost Frag mobile game re-igniting my mood for the series at the tail end of 2022, I finally decide that this year is the time to make due on my desire to play more Aquaplus titles.

Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord

Seven years after my first attempt, I finally went back to this in January and finally completed it. My issues from my first attempt never really went away, however the writing managed to hook me around chapter 5, and I had a lot more enjoyment with the OST and various small things now that I had actually experienced the first game, and not just the anime. The uses of Until and Tears to Tiara 凱歌 will live in my head rent free until the end of time.

Tarte became not only my favorite TtT character, but maybe even my #1 Aquaplus favorite. ああっ女神さまっ…

This game got me to start paying attention to Honjou Tatami.

The nostalgia for the first TtT game wrecked me hard and I ended up replaying it right after.

Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi

我が友よ

My Tears to Tiara mood was unstoppable, and so I finally bought its fandisc.

Tears to Tiara Gaiden - Avalon no Nazo

Nothing could have prepared me for the Lidia content in this game or the dragon stage straight from the ninth level of hell.

I still haven't recovered from the ending and the double whammy of realizing what the start of the OP is. The bastards really did it twice.

After this I went on a spree and bought all the LEs and the novels and manga... it is criminal how little supplementary material the games have, and how 2 has none. I have nothing to go on now but copium and offering my life to Marui Takeshi.

Tears to Tiara Gaiden 2 and Tears to Tiara 3 when.

Next, I played my first dating sim in 8~9 years, and a more obscure one at that.

Routes

You don't know what you're getting into until you've already beaten this game.

One of the more unique things I've experienced, to the point I don't know how to talk about it without spoiling it, and it is definitely a game best played blind. Quite possibly the most unique script-writing I've seen. The way the two scenario writers duties were split is one of the best uses of multiple writers that I've seen in a game.

The voice acting in this game is a masterpiece.

One thing I really love about both Routes and Tears to Tiara is the kind outlook on life they have.

I started this just before the Dungeon Travelers 2 series re-release and still have not touched those.

Next, I somehow ended up on one of their most famous.

White Album 2 ~Introductory Chapter~

Short, but emotionally loaded. After All ~Tsudzuru Omoi~ changed me as a person.

I started this one just a few days before the first White Album game's re-release because of course I did.

White Album 2 ~Closing Chapter~

One very charged, and very long work. I had to sit on it for quite a while after. I also binged all its supplemental material.

I haven't had a love/hate relationship with something this strong since, well, Inuyasha. You have issues, Maruto.

Kazusa Normal was a great route.

WHITE ALBUMの季節はまだまだこれからだよ。

White Album ~Tsuzurareru Fuyu no Omoide~

A little underwhelming, honestly. The way the gameplay and routes are structured makes the writing very fragmented. Had some nice moments, but overall I enjoyed the writing of Sayoko's route most, as it feels most coherent, likely due to it being added into the 2010 remake.

Despite the fragmented writing, I did like many of the heroines quite a bit.

White Album has been stuck in my head for months, and now the season for it is upon us...

And what would be most fitting to follow it up with another winter-related game, if not...

Tenshi no Inai 12-gatsu

It might be time to lay off the depresso games for a bit, as I had a hard time getting into this one. In a weird way it reminded me a lot of how screwed up my own mentality was when I was younger, and it's not something I cared to remember. I suppose it gets points for realistically depicting the unstable nature of the adolescent mind.

It had some interesting underlying themes, and I don't dislike the message of it, but I was unable to feel any investment in the heroines. I may have liked it more if the characters were a little more fleshed out.

I've only just beaten it, so I need to sit on my thoughts for it a little longer.

And then a special mention to none other than:

Utawarerumono Lost Frag

I finally picked this back up in November 2022, during it's 3rd anniversary event when they added Raikou. It's not every day you get an entire event dedicated to your only OTP in the series.

I got especially into it after my TtT marathon, and I've read most events, various character stories and a little of the main story. I always wanted to give it another chance, and I'm glad to have finally found something to pull me back into it. I really enjoy what it offers, from the expansions of various Utaware lore, to doing things only a social game really can. The event writing is out of this world.

It gave me 2 of the top 3 things I wanted to see for 7 years from the series now and I can only pray it delivers on the last someday.

Final thoughts

I've had a lot of Aquaplus vocal tracks in my library for many years, and its fun to go through their backlog and realize what songs are from what, and which ones I had that I didn't even realize were from Aquaplus games. And since I've followed Suara since 2006, making the connection between her discography and where her non-utaware songs are from has been a blast so far.

I look forward to diving further in in 2024. I want to give their other famous series like Dungeon Travelers and ToHeart a shot. Comic Party is still waiting on my shelf, as well.

Going through different time periods with their artists is a really fun adventure from an artist's perspective. It's fun to see where they've improved, what habits they've kept, the areas where they adjust things to be more modern, and how their painting evolves. For a long time I only knew Amazuyu by name, but now it's fun to glance at an artwork and be like "Oh, so and so drew this around xxxx year."

I want to see another game with Tatami as the main artist...

I also recently realized the only things I've finished since March have been various Aquaplus fanarts (I have drawn other things, just not finished...) Something unlocked in my brain and I'm enjoying drawing again to an extent, and for that I'm glad.

[damiemontclair]

For the ask a reader meme: A1, B5, B6, C2, C9 and D10 😎

Hello Tyu! o/

A1 - When did you start reading fanfiction?

That is a very good question and my best guess would be ~2014? I know I got on ao3 in 2015 and I was reading on DA before that so.

B5 - Which story have you read more than any other? How many times?

Ok first of all, rude. I am a chronic re-reader and I have 2+k bookmarks and almost 500 pages in my history (since 2019), how am I supposed to answer this? Second of all... There's a bunch of fics I've re-read 5+ times, I couldn't say which exactly was the one I read the most? And ao3 doesn't exactly offer a handy way to check so. This one will have to remain a mystery.

As a treat, I can give you my most recent re-read tho: Rest in Peace Vagabond (What have you seen?) by Cer1dwen (Fandom: Bleach. Re-read count: 2).

B6 - What is your favourite story trope? Why?

.... Well there are multiple more or less specific answers I could give here but at the end of the day, it all boils down to hurt/comfort. And I try not to examine the why too closely, lest I discover things about myself I'd prefer not to know

C2 - What word or expression always makes you cringe when you read it?

Well Tyu... You know me. The list is long. But since I have recently been dipping my toes in anime fandoms again, the amount of [hair colour]ette has been really testing my patience. In fact, the number of ways people will bend over backwards to avoid saying a characters name or repeating their pronouns is truly amazing....

C9 - What show did you really try to watch, but you just couldn't?

Ooof.... Theres a fair number of shows that would qualify, but the most notable one is unfortunately the one piece anime. I couldn't make it through the first 10min. I am too picky about art/animation style and one piece was just Not It for me. No matter how much people around me praise its plot and worldbuilding. (Also. Game of thrones. Couldn't get into it at all, and I really tried since I was in school and everyone 'cool' was talking about it. (I was distinctly not cool. I was the loser in the corner with my book. It wasn't the worst place to be, in hindsight. Nobody bothered me 😂))

D10 - What is one story idea you really want to read but no one has written yet?

The one that lives rent free in my head, thanks for reminding me 🤣🤣🤣

Jokes aside tho... I wanted to read some Xie Lian amnesia picking up on his 'who this'-moment in the communication array after his 3rd ascension bc it really gives you places to go with an amnesia fic where XL doesn't remember his past beyond maybe a century or two (at the most) but I couldn't find any. Big sad. Will have to write it myself. :(

[hydr0phius]

@thearcaneuniversity

I'd forgotten I'd even added those tags on my reblog of this lmao. I'm all for a discussion so long as it's respectful (which it has been, so no worries there).

I definitely do agree that a lot of his art stuff is a bit of a stretch. That date with Ziara and his first time meeting Thrass at the Mitth family dinner for the new adoptees were definitely times where us as readers and Thrawn, Thrass, and Ziara had no clue how to either explain or comprehend it. Given Borika's sky-walking abilities, I don't fully believe Thrawn isn't at least a little bit Force sensitive. He has that "you're just going to have to trust me, I can't explain it but I know it'll work" vibe that a lot of Jedi have (that I've seen, anyway) and it's the only thing I can think of right now other than perhaps struggling to put his analysis into words (which is understandable).

On the Gary Stu comment: Fandom does portray him as this, but there's also a lot of work that doesn't (and seeing as I've only just gotten back into this side of Star Wars after 3 years, it's probably changed a lot since I last went deep into the ao3 tags). I do think it's alright for him to be the best of the best seeing as he is. But he can't be the best of the best if his team isn't willing to trust and work with him. He can have the best battle plan in the galaxy, but it's not going to work if people can't do their jobs properly. Imo he's put the work in to become the best at what he does because he understands that he has to be if he wants to protect his people from the Grysks. He knows he has to be the best asset and will attempt to raise his subordinates to that same level of usefulness so that those plans can work how he wants them to. Idk, but his "I see them as enemies, allies, assets," comment in Chaos Rising seems to apply to him as well, I think. But yeah, if you're writing Thrawn it's definitely an exercise that needs a lot of thinking and an understanding of him as well as what would sound believable once explained properly but makes no sense as it's unfolding.

With the evil/not evil debate, I don't think we should be assigning him to one single box. He's not black and he's not white, but he is on the grey scale (which fluctuates with every action) and I think that's what a lot of people have issues with understanding. Yes, Star Wars is overall a fight between good and evil with Thrawn on the evil side, but Andor and Rogue One (and other things, I'm sure) have shown what's had to be done by the good side to win against the evil side and it's not pretty. The Rebellion is not purely white/good and nor is the Empire purely black/evil.

And maybe that's why I'm a bit salty when it comes to him sometimes. I want to get to know him better as a character

I think the Ascendancy trilogy expanded on him more and adds to the Imperial era trilogy, but honestly Zahn's writing needs a bit more juice with character descriptions and how they move throughout their environments. I don't think it could have hurt to have Thrawn's pov in the Ascendancy trilogy either seeing as he was under the pump for most of it. Seeing his inner thoughts when the Mitth left him high and dry while Ziara swooped in to save him at Taharim would have been interesting (as would seeing his thought processes for all those other times where he ended up in trouble). It's just a bit more legwork trying to understand him as he sees himself, but in both trilogies we only really understand him via other characters' impressions of him and the smidgeon of his own pov that we got. He is not unknowable though. He's loyal to his people, he's willing to do the dirty work for the greater good, he cares far too much for the Ascendancy's liking, he wants to make sure that everyone reaches their full potential, he's good with kids (which lives in my head rent free lmao), he won't stop until he's achieved his goals, he's not there to play politics and waste time; he's there to do his job and do it well. You can draw your own conclusions and theories as to what he's like from that. Fandom adds more, and you can pick and choose as you like.

And you're right, he does have a lot of potential!! Most of which Ahsoka screwed up (and that's all I'll say on that until I've rewatched his episodes and compared with the books that I've just finished lol).

Anyway, I think I've said all I can think of right now. Please know that in future I'm fine with you pulling my tags from the tags and reblogging with an answer :3

I think I managed to pin down what has been irritating me about Thrawn as a character.

Often there are issue with showcasing intelligence and genius in media. It's hard to do, especially as most of us are not as intelligent as the genius characters or plots we create. Which is fine.

The thing about Thrawn, however, is that his brilliant thinking is not really explained - sometimes it is, and sometimes all we're left with is that we're not as intelligente or insane as Thrawn to understand him. The latter happens when he explaines his art theories - which are, in fact, impossible to do; it is guess work.

(Looking back at the post I think my main issue is with the magical art reading theories)

I don't think you have to explain everything - you can show that someone is intelligent without delving deeply into their reasoning - for example, showing us the actions and results of those actions, their accomplishments, etc.

And therein lies the issue (for me at least)... when you look at real life geniuses, you would be able to understand their inventions and discoveries (well, people who study in a particular field would be able to do it). They are geniuses because they have a unique way of thinking, or are capable of noticing specific patterns, most often much quicker and easier than the rest of us.

But at the end of the day, many people can get them. Because their genius has helped push forward scientific research or technological advancement or any other sphere of our lives... it has helped people less brilliant to become more knowledgeable.

Even though Thrawn is said to have no Force abilities and is said to be just a regular, although brilliant, character... I think I'll have to headcanon in my head that he has some small Force connection...

Again, to each their own. I know most people don't have such issues with Thrawn and he has many fans that love him - I'm not trying to say that my view is better in any way. Maybe it is flawed in a way I'm not able to objectively see. It just irked me and I needed to voice it in some way.

[cutrateconjuration]

I remember the moment I learned about Sandman.

It was the mid 90s, and I was a teen goth girl lost in a growing storm of depression and chaos due to a series of abusive relationships. I had recently discovered the Maxx comics via the animated show on MTV - it provided me an escape, while making me feel seen and understood, something I did not expect from a comic series.

On this particular afternoon, I had decided to walk the mile to the comic shop closest to my high school to look for more Maxx comics and see what else they had. Looking through the merch display, I noticed a row of figures that instantly grabbed my attention. It was a collection of small statues of characters in an art style very similar to The Maxx, but they had a goth aesthetic and fascinating alliterative names - Dream, Death, Desire, Delirium, etc. I was captivated by this metaphysical pantheon and looked for thier related comic - "The Sandman", which I found on a shelf for a relatively new DC imprint called Vertigo. The shop clerk said I would probably enjoy it, being a Maxx fan. Same artist, although I had not yet graduated to that level of fandom where you follow creators as much as an IP. I fell back in love with comics. Segments of Sandman have lived in my mind rent free for years. "Twenty-Four" and The Corinthian were the stuff of legend.

The Sandman show has pulled off something delightful so far (I am on episode 8), in that I am literally watching scenes and characters play out almost exactly as they did in my head while originally reading the comics. The comics don't have sound, yet Dream sounds exactly like how he's always sounded in my head. Not since Matt Ryan's John Constantine has a comic adaptation made me feel this giddy and nostalgic. I am impressed and delighted. Some things have changed, but the changes haven't been jarring, and honestly the things I would have thought would be watered down are the ones they have least shied away from.

Even Joanna Constantine is very true to Constantine's character, the gender swap altered very little of the story or substance and it was actually the most comic accurate version of Astra's origin I've seen so far, despite DC getting 3 stabs at it. I think Jenna nailed it and my concern was unnecessary.

Overall well done. Just throwing out my two cents as a fan of 25+ years.

[szivtalan]

What kind of books do you think the GOM + Touou academy crew would like/read/enjoy? Because I've fallen headfirst back into KNB AND I ONLY REMEMBERED NOW THAT IT'S CANON THAT THERE'S ART OF KUROKO BEING AN ANCIENT LITERATURE TEACHER?

Oh buddy I can only Hope to not say the worst takes on this because  it’s been So Long since I was heavy on literature asdgj alright here we  go(m), this is part stereotypes and part projection and it’s all heavily  westernized because I am even worse with Japanese lit

Akashi:  likes classics and all compulsory readings. He can cite like a ton of Shakespeare  sonnets and make his fangirls’ knees go weak, has probably played Romeo  in a high school play some way or another (Hamlet is his favorite  because daddy issues, but don’t tell anyone). Reads Coelho in his spare  time, and says that Dostoevsky is his favorite author.

Aomine:  barely finds it in himself to be interested in books, but will always  read the haikus and poems Kuroko shows him. He has a thing for poetry  because it’s easily digestible length-wise, and will only ever read  books that make him laugh in their vulgarity: Palahniuk, Bukowski, beat  generation. Reads manga sometimes, but mostly it’s gravure or basketball  magazines that frequent in his hands.

Kise: also not  really big on reading, but he’s pretty open to YA novel recommendations  from fans/friends. He found Richard Siken quotes on social media once  and wonders why the line “I’m in a car with a beautiful boy” lives in  his mind rent free (honey ur gay). Had a phase where he unironically  liked Fifty Shades and Twilight, I’m sorry, I love you

Kuroko:  omnivore when it comes to book genres, he will read literally anything  just to have another tally mark on his ‘books read’ count (Kagami  figures this out and he stops stressing about what kind of book to give  to him for a present). Usually reads poetry collections, his favorites  are Wordsworth, Anne Carson and novel-wise, Orwell. Reads a lot of  autobiographies too, wants to know more about the way authors lived just  because he wants to be one

Midorima: I feel like Midorima  is more into books about applied knowledge than any kind of fiction?  He’ll mostly be seen with anatomy textbooks, real psychology-related  self help books, books on astrology and social studies, basically  anything and everything that will expand his brain rather than rest it.  He also reads a few autobiographies and discusses them with Kuroko  (that’s the only topic he’ll ever go talk to him about, without anyone  else forcing him to).

Murasakibara: he had that ‘i read too  many books in my childhood now i can’t even read a page’ kind of  burnout and so he read all kind of fantasy series: Harry Potter, Narnia,  Percy Jackson, you name it. He still likes them but he’ll only ever  consume them in movie forms. Also, he’ll probably be seen flipping a few  mangas too - him and Aomine share recommendations sometimes, but  they’ll yell at each other once Aomine brings up slightly sexual genres.

Imayoshi:  he likes fantasy too, but mostly those he considers “smart” or  intriguing. My first thought was the book series ‘Numbers’ by Rachel  Ward, but he’d probably read a lot of Follett and Vonnegut. Likes the  American Psycho novel and psychology-based horrors, as well as handbooks  on psychology (his favorite topics is psychopaths and sociopaths, he’d  probably read Joe Navarro’s handbook on dangerous personalities)

Sakurai: my friend had the same thought as I did, murder-mysteries and romance novels as well as shoujo mangas. He probably unironically has grandma taste in books (pulp fiction, NOT the movie), reads Agatha Christie on the train and in between classes and projects a whole lot into the heroines of romance novels. Gay mood

Wakamatsu: I think he’d read a lot of history + war books, like For Whom The Bell Tolls by Hemingway, Winnetou books, The Art Of War, All Quiet on the Western Front, basically everything that has anything to do with war and confrontation (but that might only be because all we see is him being violent, hot-headed, and a teenage boy). He probably grows out of it once he reads Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut and Generation Kill by Evan Wright and realizes that. Hold on. maybe war has always been fucked up. His favorite manga + anime is Akira.

[soulvomit]

I am using AI art, referencing the styles I want to reproduce (by iconic dead people such as Syd Mead, Ray Harryhausen, and Ron Cobb (I made a promise to myself to never riff any artist who isn't either dead or a long established legacy already being riffed by lots), and specific 70s and 80s culture influences like prog rock, wizard vans, Night Flight, Heavy Metal Magazine), to make a sprawling retrofuture space setting for a tabletop game, and set of novels (graphic novels?? I never dreamed I'd actually be able to produce one; I spent years learning enough art to do some styles but I don't have the TIME short of using modern tech). Much of my work is homage so being able to make a whole Harryhausen inspired pulp planet suits the setting perfectly. Some worlds get a really weird combination of influences. This setting has lived in my head rent free since 1988 (when I was 14).

But additionally, it's helping me ideate a ton of truly unique looking worlds and aliens and robots and costume designs *without* leaning on an old fantasy/sci fi ideation hack that's now largely seen as offensive (visibly borrowing from colonized cultures.) I think we may see MORE uniqueness and originality in works because of AI, not less.

At the end of the day though. It's still my own work, because I have to Photoshop the shit out of everything, I still have to draw/paint in many cases, and basically what a ton of AI art amounts to for me is... more collage and photobashing, as I've always done, just... with far more source material, and far easier to get *exactly* what i need.

Many people in my AI art communities are already artists/designers and we are incorporating AI into existing workflow.

It doesn't do my art for me in the sense of providing finished products. It provides an extra source of stock material that's custom tailored to our specific needs. It's been GREAT for backgrounds. It's been GREAT for ideation. Almost everything I reference is either someone dead, is a general zeitgeist thing and not one artist, or has been in the public domain forever (good God do some key words for 19th century naturalist illustration, give great alien imagery.)

Yes I COULD possibly do some of my work on my own, but damn. Short of winning the lottery, I'm not going to be able to hire artists.

I wonder what the world is going to look like in our new age of artist-auteurs who can be one-person production studios in their spare time. I'd like to stick around long enough to find out.

I have used Photoshop and various digital tools forever and know what, the AI doesn't just shit out illustrations on command, it takes a ton of work for me to turn into a finished piece what Stable and Midjourney produce and in many cases I STILL have to draw and paint a lot! 50% of what AI has replaced for me is *Pinterest.*

It's just much more doable now for me as one person.

Let's just brainstorm some ways we can do this and all still eat and live our lives with some measure of comfort and dignity.

idk what people who say stuff like this think they're accomplishing. good luck with that i guess

[over300books]

HOW CAN YOU WRITE SO MASTERFULLY AND AMAZINGLY??????? YOU ARE SUCH A GIFTED PERSON I FEEL SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU SHARED YOUR WORKS OF ART!!!!

Okay sorry for yelling but I just had to. This scene in this episode has been living in my head rent free since I've seen it, and to find a fanfic that not only marvelously fills in the gaps, but also describes with such grace and expressiveness the feelings and actions between Din and the baby? I feel so lucky 🥺

The parting of ways

The Mandalorian & the Child

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: Spoilers for Chapter 13, please do not read if you don’t want to be spoiled, angst but with a semi-happy ending (it’s the end of the episode, you know what to expect)

A/n: So I watched the episode and had to write this down. This is the largest thing I’ve written in such a short space of time so any feedback would be really appreciated!

The inevitable weighed heavy on Din’s shoulders as he walked through the dead forest of Corvus; heavier than his armour had been the first time he donned it. He remembered the pauldrons that eclipsed his shoulders, the chestplate that dug into his underarms, and his helmet, big enough that a shake of his head could leave the visor off-kilter and him staring at the side of his helmet.

You’ll grow into it, Dekka said with a clap of his hand against Din’s back as he straightened it, the slight clang of beskar against leather an unfamiliar sound with the gesture, you’d need to be refitted next month otherwise.

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