#this is the last line I wrote but it was like a month ago lmao :(

[bripops]

last line challenge

so @jtownnn continues to be an angel who tags me in writing posts and I continue to be the person who doesn't tag anyone else. consider this an open invitation!

post the last sentence you wrote: "Fine," he relented, "it's not like Blaine locked the door behind him, but if you didn't get a milkshake too I'm calling the cops and having you escorted off my property."

[kroosluvr]

present day

if every day will be like this from now on, i'll look forward to every single one.

ok. Sits down. help meeee i tried using csp's comic tools for once (and also gradient maps + coloring w monochrome) to save time bUT I ENDED UP SPENDING THE USUAL AMT ANYWAY SO. . erm. WELL IT WAS FUN ANYWAYS

hiiiiiiiii i wrote this script 4 months ago nd finally did it (had this on the backburner for 20 million yrs bc i wanted to get out other angst bullshit first)

the parallels of goro's back (x3) on the first 2 pgs are kinda not 1:1 as i'd like but REGARDLESS i still like them. goro, who had utmost control over his life, running it like a machine, regardless of how he feels or if he's tired or if he wants to give up.......he was in control. knowing, of course, that his life is on the line at every waking moment, but since he was always on edge, always alert, he was still in control.

but now, surviving the long winter and coming out to the other side, he's lost that control AND that edge. now what is he left with? what is there left?

very speficially in the 2nd page.... i think its so <3 YAY <3 that goro, now, doesn't feel the need to take such spic-and-span clean-cut care of his appearance.., guy who rolls out of bed and throws on a shirt to go hangout w akira and sumire. he decides to tie up his hair and forgoes his gloves... feels more "comfortable" to change his apperance, to let down his guard a little. <- was the rough symbolism JKDSHKFS

sumire getting the choco croissant but letting goro have the first bite YEAHHHH WHATEVER

4th page symbolism is also rough i didnt think abt it too hard LMAO. 3rdsem goro watching his detective prince self leave. he knows acutely well that chapter of his life is over - whether he survives the long winter or dies in it. all that he knew - even though it was miserable and awful and frustrating and dangerous - is gone.

and now there's just this: the present day. whatever that means.

i think something important to me abt royal trio is just the idea of Learning To Just Exist: no need for a "purpose" or a "calling" or some overarching "goal". they just learn to exist.

and of course none of them really have a benchmark for "wow i like this i want to live like this" so they just roll with the punches, as they always have, but yknow. finally getting to live their honest student life as they always deserved

edit: and most importantly for goro, i think, is learning to cut himself some slack. "despite everything" he says, despite all the shit he's endured AND all the shit he's done, he feels like this is "right." whatever that means, he's ready to take it day by day to figure it out. AND THATS THE WHOLE THING Punches wall really hard

edit: I ALSO FORGOT. i think the sentiment of "being waited for" for goro means a lot. since he had to do everything by himself, fight for himself, decide everything for himself frm such a young age, the idea of akira and sumire waiting for him, inviting him out simply for him to be there -> is really meaningful to him, more than they could know.

edit AGAIN: also goro sleeping in means a lot to me. i imagine that guy has pretty terrible insomnia. ALSO HE HAS A BEDFRAME! i like the thought of his apartment being so /r/malelivingspaces throughout the game. he doesn’t deserve a bedframe. BUT HE HAS ONE NOW!

goros expressions in the last page gve me a hard time. sparkly....

also im SO freaking sorry if his voice isnt too well-written... i had a crisis over the wording while draiwng htis so much DSKHASKDASJK AND THE PANELING AND WHATEVERRR IDEK WHAT IM DOINGGG but it was fun!!!! exploratory..... regardless i will keep workign to do him and royaltrio justice. THUMBSUP EMOJI.

[pricklepearbloom]

OMG I loved your latest fic!

You wrote a line about Elain trying to undermine Ruby when she first came into the IC, would it be possible to get a little fic exploring that more and the fallout???

a/n: omg I’m so happy that you guys loved my last post so much! Here’s a quick little blurb about the tension with Ruby and Elain.

Original post: All I Want

What Do You Want (All I Want prequel)

Pairing: Azriel x OC (Ruby) 

Warnings: some angst, some fluff, Elain slander (duh we stay Elain haters)(but also tbh some ooc Elain)

Word count: was supposed to be a paragraph or two and is now 4.1k words lmao

“I don’t know about this. What do I bring? What do I wear!” Ruby was practically shredding through her wardrobe to find an acceptable outfit for the very last-minute invite to dinner with Azriel’s friends and the freaking high lord and lady of the night court. Ruby and Azriel had met about two months ago. They were taking things slow, getting to know one another, as per Ruby’s request, although Azriel didn’t mind it. He was more than happy taking things one step at a time, relishing in the time that he was spending getting to know his mate. His mate. He had waited centuries for her and now that he found her, he would wait as long as she wanted before accepting the bond. 

Azriel’s lips quirked up in amusement at his mate’s antics from his seat on her bed. “What’s wrong with what you’re wearing now?” Ruby whipped around in mock shock. “I absolutely cannot believe that you are even suggesting I wear this,” she gestured up and down her body showing the jeans and t-shirt she had been sporting this morning “to meet your friends and the high lord and lady. The high lord and lady!” she practically shouted, throwing her hands up in disbelief. Azriel shook his head with a soft chuckle to himself knowing that she was teasing for the most part. 

“I promise whatever you wear, they will love it. And you.” He added raising from his spot resting his hands on the sides of her arms, he nudged her chin up with one crooked finger to look into his eyes. He could see a glimmer of insecurity and internally he laughed in disbelief, what could someone like her have to be insecure about, she was perfect in his eyes. “Come here.” He said gently as he brought her into his arms, she fit like a puzzle piece in his grasp, he tucked her head underneath his chin and he pressed a firm kiss to the top of her hair. “All you have to do is be yourself, my love. They will love you no matter what, because you are an incredible, wonderful, beautiful female.” He nods thoughtfully “Plus they know that I’ll break their knees if they don’t.” Her eyes shot up to his letting out a surprised laugh lightly hitting his arm. “Shut up, no you won’t.” She burrowed deeper into his comforting hold. 

Ruby let herself stay in his arms for another 30 seconds, she counted, before releasing her arms and letting her lips lightly brush along his jawline in a soft kiss. His entire body shuddered at the feeling, “If you keep going, I will cancel dinner and keep you locked away in here.” He ground out his body stiffening, some parts more than others. His dark eyes looked down on her as if to say, ‘your move.’ Her eyes widened considering his words carefully. 

They were in the early stages of their courtship, it felt like her body was a live wire constantly. She could feel his energy as he moved about the world, always aware of him. When he touched her, she could practically feel her brain tearing itself in half; she was anxious to see what he was going to do yet had never felt a comfort quite like being held by him. Everything was new and exciting, but it also felt like they had been together for hundreds of years. 

Ruby had found out quickly that when Azriel said something, he meant it. He wasn’t a male of many words, but he made them count when he did choose to speak. Ruby, on the other hand, was basically a never-ending stream of consciousness. You never had to guess what was on her mind or what she was feeling, she would tell you. Azriel loved that about her. As a male who only knew secrets and hurt, it was extremely refreshing to be with someone who offered themselves so openly. 

“As tempting as that is, I would really like to meet your friends.” Azriel groaned half-teasing half-serious. “They’re important to you,” she pressed nonplussed by his reaction. “I think I should meet the family that I’ll be tied to for all eternity don’t you think?” She nudged her chin at his chest, and he let a smile tug at the corners of his lips. Eternity with his family and his mate sounded like bliss, so wonderful he almost didn’t trust it. “Alright,” he acquiesced begrudgingly, leaning down closer, so his lips were lightly brushing the outer shell of her ear. “I suppose if you insist on going then I can just ravage you later.” He murmured softly letting a shadow trace around her clothed nipples which immediately responded firming to form sharp points. Ruby’s core tightened; they had been taking things slow. So. slow. 

She was the one who wanted to wait until they accepted the bond to go all the way but as she found out, there were plenty of ways that he could “ravage” her without even removing a single layer of clothing. ‘Those shadows were something else’ she thought before shaking her head at the thought. Her face felt hot under his darkened gaze and she had to practically force herself to take a step back from the gravity of Azriel that pulled her in time and time again. 

Ruby swallowed thickly, “I suppose I’ll have to wear something cute, so you have something to tear off later.” Azriel let out a dark chuckle, flexing his hands as if trying to reacquaint himself to the feeling of not having her in his arms. “No darling,” his voice had taken on an edge to it “I don’t intend to tear anything off. I’m a man not a boy, I plan to take my time with you. Unravel you bit by bit.” His voice was laced with dark promise. He could smell her arousal blossoming into the air, and he took a step toward her, half a second away from throwing her on the bed and having his way with her. 

Ruby’s eyes didn’t leave his as she gulped almost comically, nodding slowly. She skirted around him, leaving a wide berth between them. If she got any closer, she would be sucked in and they would never get out on time. She grabbed the first dress her hand touched and practically jogged to the bathroom to change. She normally didn’t have any qualms about changing in front of him, he had seen her in far less in far more compromising positions, but she had a feeling if she were to start taking off her clothes right now with him in the room, they wouldn’t see the light of day for a week or so. She pulled on the black knit sweater dress that she had grabbed and freshened up her makeup. Her body was buzzing from Azriel’s attentions and the anxiety that was becoming more pronounced the closer the dinner drew nearer. She had to redo her lipstick four times because her hand was slightly shaking, she didn’t even attempt to do her eyeliner. She could hardly get it right on an easy day but today was full of nerves, so she figured she’d save herself the agony. 

Azriel flew them to the Townhouse, once he set Ruby down on the terrace, he took her hand and guided it to the inside crook of his elbow. She ducked her head as her face got hot, following his lead through the French doors, her ears perking up at the sound of laughter and shushing. 

“I think that’s them!” a distinctly feminine voice sounded before a stunning blonde female appeared in the doorway wearing a gorgeous red silk gown that left little to the imagination. She looked incredible. Her face had a bright smile on it as she practically strutted up to the couple. “You must be Ruby.” Ruby nodded with a soft smile “Ruby, this is Morrigan.” Azriel says, gesturing to the female in front of them. “Oh please, it’s Mor. We have been so excited to meet you.” Mor grasped her in a tight hug “We’re going to be the best of friends, I can tell.” Ruby’s chest warmed at the welcoming, if all of his friends were like this then she clearly was worried about nothing. “Any friend of Azriel’s is a friend of mine, he speaks so highly of you all.” A scoff sounds from behind Mor and her gaze lands on a tall Illyrian with long hair, half tied up into a bun. 

“Azriel? Speaks? Sounds doubtful to me.” He teases striding forward rustling Azriel’s hair. Ruby’s lips quirk up at the obvious sign of familial teasing. Azriel playfully shoved his hand away and fixed his hair “Ruby, this would be Cassian-““General, teen heartthrob and the star of all of Azriel’s nightmares'' Cassian cut Azriel off shooting him a wink. “Ain’t that the truth” Azriel muttered underneath his breath to Ruby who let out a laugh. Cassian’s grin widened at the sight of Azriel smiling fondly down at her, they truly looked like a vision. “Come, let’s introduce you to everyone else, they’re already sitting down for dinner.” Mor said, grabbing Ruby’s hand dragging her away from Azriel. 

Ruby glanced back at him over her shoulder, eyes wide and he couldn’t help but let out a laugh at her expression, excited and terrified. Two hands clasped down on his shoulders from behind shaking him a bit back and forth. “You found her.” Cassian said gently, Azriel dragged his eyes from the view of Ruby walking away with Mor, absolutely entranced. “Yeah, I did.” He patted Cassian’s hands once before following after her like a puppy. 

Ruby was led into a grand dining room with five people sitting around a table. “Everyone, this is Ruby, Azriel’s mate.” Mor announced Ruby gave an awkward wave “Hi, it’s so nice to finally meet you guys.” A female with light brown hair approached first, giving her a hug. “Welcome! I’m Feyre and this is my mate Rhys.” She gestured to a male with violet eyes standing behind her sporting a well-tailored suit. “High Lady, High Lord it’s an honor to be here, thank you for inviting me into your home.” Ruby said, bowing her hair in respect. “Oh cauldron no,” Feyre started waving her hand and Cassian let out a loud laugh before Azriel hit him in the stomach.

“Please just call me Feyre.” “And I’m just Rhys.” Rhys stuck out his hand to shake, before Ruby could reach out to take it a low snarl sounded from behind Ruby. Rhys’ eyes flicked up and he rose a brow before coolly tucking his hand into his trouser pocket. “Apologies, I should have realized.” He nodded to Azriel and Ruby. Ruby felt a bit mortified, but it quickly faded away when she felt Azriel’s hand on the right of her waist, bringing her back into his front placing a quick kiss on her temple. She unconsciously leaned back into his hold watching as everyone moved around at Feyre’s suggestion to sit, she felt a prickling sensation on her neck and her eyes found a petite female with mousy brown hair staring bullets at her. 

She blinked and when she opened them the female was conversing with the female next to her and passing what looked like a vegetable mix of some sort. She must have imagined it, shaking her head of what she thought she saw. She took the seat that Azriel had pulled out and offered her. He sat next to her placing his hand on her thigh as if to remind himself that she really is there sitting next to him. She placed her hand on top of his rubbing her thumb over the dips of his scarred and calloused knuckles. One shadow snaked around her ankle in response, a comfort that Ruby had gotten used to.

“Oh Ruby, this is Nesta, Elain, and Amren. Nesta and Elain are my sisters and Amren is Rhys’ second.” Feyre said while sitting down in the chair that Rhys had pulled out for her. Ruby sent them a smile, “Hi, it’s nice to meet you guys.” Nesta nodded at her, narrowing her eyes as if she was trying to figure her out. Ruby felt a bit unnerved but didn’t let that sway her, Azriel had warned her on the way that Nesta was a bit cold. Elain’s gaze wasn’t even on Ruby, it was on Azriel, his attention however was squarely on Ruby almost… pointedly. Her eyebrows scrunched as her eyes bopped back and forth between the two. Clearly there was something going on here that she wasn’t made aware of, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Azriel, catching the glimmer of unease in his. She didn’t want to make a scene so she softened her expression and plastered an appeasing smile on her face.

The dinner continued quite pleasantly but Ruby couldn’t get rid of this nagging feeling that she was missing something that had to do with Elain. At first, it was subtle. Since Elain was sitting directly across from Ruby she tried to make conversation while Azriel was busy talking to Cassian who sat on the other side of him. “So, Azriel tells me that you’re a painter right?” Elain’s lips pursed in a tense condescending smile “That would be Feyre.” Ruby’s cheeks heat at the slight error, Elain waves it off “Don’t worry, you’re so new it will take you ages to get to know the family and fit in you know?” 

The comment rubs Ruby the wrong way, it felt a bit patronizing but she brushed it off thinking that maybe she was just reading into things. “Thanks, I’m not used to being around such a big family, it can be a bit intimidating.” Elain tilted her head and nodded slightly. “No family?” she asked, taking a sip of her wine. Ruby shook her head patting her lips with the napkin from her lap, “None that I talk to anymore.” Elain raises an eyebrow ever so slightly at the information. “Well Azriel certainly does love a charity case.” She mutters under her breath causing Ruby’s eyebrows to shoot to her forehead in surprise. The sinking feeling in her gut becomes more pronounced as she shoots her gaze to Azriel thinking that he’ll back her up. But he’s still so engrossed in a conversation with Cassian she was certain he didn’t hear a word. When she turned back to Elain she was already in another conversation with Nesta. She wanted to stand up for herself and for her relationship but she didn’t want to cause a scene, so she subtly rolled her shoulders trying to physically not let it bother her. But Elain’s comments didn’t sit right with her. 

Throughout the rest of the dinner, Ruby barely spoke. She responded when asked a question but didn’t try to start any more conversations with anyone but Azriel. She spoke softly to him but he could tell that something was off, a shadow caressed her cheek in concern but she patted his leg silently conveying that they would talk later. She struggled in her mind with what she would say to him later. Should she tell him the comments Elain made or just move past it? She didn’t want to cause a rift, she and Azriel had talked a bit about his past so she knew how much his friends, now family, meant to him. 

As she sat there watching them all interact she couldn’t help but ruminate on Elain’s words. She was very new and she didn’t know them all that well. Most of them, apart from Elain, seemed lovely and very welcoming. But the feeling of being outside of the jokes, outside of the familiarity was hard to ignore. Her insecurities were rearing their ugly heads telling her that she didn’t deserve to be there. 

Why would she?

She wasn’t anyone special. 

She didn’t deserve Azriel.

Did he just like her because he felt like he could save her or fix her?

No that was ridiculous, they were mates for crying out loud although they hadn’t accepted the bond yet.

Her thoughts buzzed around her head like a swarm of insects preparing to sting and cause maximum pain and discomfort. She glanced at Azriel and saw him letting out a small laugh shaking his head at some dumb joke Cassian told. Something about the Day Court being dramatic? She wasn’t mentally present enough to comprehend his story. She kept a smile on her face and nodded along when she thought she should but her mind was somewhere else completely. Everytime her eyes landed on Elain, she thought she caught the smallest smile on her face like she could actually see the insecurities swirling around in her head. She felt irritation, anger, sadness, discomfort, and embarrassment all swirling inside her. 

As the dinner ended and everyone began to stand up to leave for the night, Ruby grabbed a hold of Azriel’s hand allowing him to lead her back toward the balcony from which they entered. “Oh! I forgot my bag at the dining table, let me go grab it,I'll be right back.” she squeezed Azriel’s hand once swiftly maneuvering through everyone back into the dining room where she found herself alone with Elain who was holding her purse. Elain had a sugar sweet smile on her face that made Ruby’s teeth hurt just to look at it. “Thank you for grabbing my bag, I was just coming back for that.” Ruby reached out to grab it and Elain pulled it away at the last moment holding her gaze. 

Ruby’s eyes narrowed at the action and took a deep breath trying to find the patience. “Could I have my bag please?” Elain slowly handed Ruby her bag but didn’t let go, instead pulling Ruby closer so she could see the glimmer of malice she held in her eyes. “He’ll get sick of you, you know. He doesn’t trust the decisions the cauldron makes, he told me himself. He and I were going to run away together until you came along and he felt like he was obligated to make it work. He’ll see you for what you really are and come back to his senses. Come back to me.” Elain released her grip on the purse and her smile snapped back onto her face like it was rehearsed before turning on her heel leaving Ruby shaken, limply holding her bag at her side. Was what she said true? Or was she just fucking with her? That must be it. There was no way Azriel would have said those things or wanted that horrid woman. She would ask him and he would say no and that would be that. 

After her mini pep talk, she bolstered herself up enough to walk back out to the group. Her eyes met Azriel’s unable to keep the distress out of them from the interaction he was immediately alarmed. When she reached him, she held onto his arm seeking comfort and support. She might have leaned on him a bit too much because his body was wound tight and tense sensing her distress. “Thank you for having me, it was really lovely to finally meet you all.” She said to the group but mostly to Feyre and Rhysand. They all bid each other good night with promises to meet again soon. She felt a whoosh as Azriel swept her up into his arms and took off into the sky back toward home. 

She didn’t speak on the flight home, Ruby kept her face hidden in his neck trying to take deep breaths and remind herself that Azriel was her mate and he would never betray her. Once they landed Ruby went inside and walked calmly into the bedroom, Azriel following behind like a sad lost puppy. “Did-” Azriel’s voice cracks and he clears his throat to try again, his eyes tracking Ruby as she makes her way to the dresser to pull out some pajamas. “Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry if it was a bit overwhelming, everyone has been dying to meet you.” With her back turned to Azriel she took a deep breath. She knew it was bothering her a lot so she needed to address it but it didn’t make it any easier. 

“Elain told me that you don’t trust the cauldron’s decisions and that you are only with me because you felt obligated to try. Is that true?” She set down the pajama set that she had picked out on the top of the dresser spinning around to see the taken aback look on his face. “Is it true Azriel?” she pressed again to get an answer. “No! Well, I mean-” He started stuttering causing Ruby’s eyes to widen and her mouth to gape in shock. Azriel feels his heart is going to beat out of his chest with how hard and fast it’s beating in panic. That stupid comment coming back to haunt him. “Ruby, can we-” he clears his throat again “can we sit down for a second and talk about this. It sounds bad I know but please let me explain.” Ruby sees the desperation in his eyes and nods slowly taking a seat on the bed. 

He paces in front of her, his shadows darkening and buzzing around frantically like the physical embodiment of his inner panic. “Listen I did say something like that but that was before I met you.” He paused and knelt in front of her daring to put his hands on her knees, she accepted the comfort and placed her own on his asking the question that had been nagging at her since she met Elain. “Why would Elain say something like that? Obviously there’s something that you’re not telling me.” Azriel nods, hanging his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you because she doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.” 

Ruby nods slowly taking in the information. “I’m not upset that you have a history with someone Azriel, I just think that that was something you should have shared with me before meeting her. I mean I feel like I was totally unprepared and she said some really nasty things and I wish I would have known before going.” Azriel looked up sharply, his eyes darkening. “What did she say to you?” he gritted through clenched teeth. Ruby looked down fidgeting with her hands in her lap, feeling nervous all of a sudden. She didn’t want to get anyone in trouble or cause any sort of rift between Azriel and his family. And for better or worse, Elain was a part of that family. 

“She said that you would get sick of me and eventually go back to her. She said I was a charity case and more or less implied that I wasn’t good enough for you and I wouldn’t fit in with your family.” Ruby said softly, her insecurities present in her voice. Azriel was shaking his head before she had finished speaking. His scarred hands held hers tightly, trying to get her to look in his eyes. “My love, I’m so sorry she said those things to you. You don’t deserve them. Elain and I-'' Azriel took a deep breath “I thought that I loved her. I had this warped view that because there were three sisters and three brothers that we were meant to be together. But that was before I met you. You reset everything. I wasn’t in love with her, I loved the idea of her. I love you. You are everything to me Ruby and there is no way that you are not good enough for me, if anything it’s the other way around.” 

Ruby’s face was wet with tears and she choked on an incredulous laugh at the idea that he wasn’t good enough for her. “I love you too. Are there any more jilted lovers I should know about?” she half-joked sniffing away the last of her tears. Azriel brushed them away “No darling, that’s all. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Ruby nods “Just be honest with me going forward, that’s all I ask.” Azriel nods frantically at the chance to fix things with her. “Yes, yes of course.” He quickly raised to sit next to her on the bed and kissed her with everything he had. His lips molded with her soft plump ones, his hands circling the back of her head holding her like a precious gem. Because that’s what she was to him, precious.

[mumms-the-word]

Forearms

Pairing: Gale x Tav (Dani) Summary: Set immediately after this fic about Dani settling into a new life with her companions on the road, Dani offers to mend Gale's robe. Which involves him having to take it off, naturally. (no smut, just Dani being ridiculous about Gale's forearms) A/N: This is 100% the moment where Dani is like "oh no he's hot." She thinks everyone is hot, but this is the moment where Gale starts to rise above everyone for her. It's silly, it's stupid, and I wrote it like months ago, but y'all asked for it lmao also yes this does adhere to the Gale Wrap Shirt Theory (I just borrowed Astarion's shirt because I don't have mods)

Dani stretched out her back and got to her feet, leaving behind her now-sorted camp supplies to make her way over to Gale and his cooking fire. She peered down into the pot before looking at Gale. “What’s for dinner tonight?”

“Stew,” Gale said, smiling apologetically. “I hesitate to give it any more of a descriptor than that. Oh, and a few leftover loaves of bread, too. Might as well use them up before they go bad. I think one of them was starting to mold…”

He said this last line to himself, turning to rifle through the box that contained most of their food. He pulled out a small, torn half-loaf of bread and examined it, turning it this way and that before tearing it and peering inside. Dani reached over and plucked the smaller half from his fingers, claiming it for herself. She tore off a bit and popped it into her mouth.

“Seems decent to me,” she said.

Gale looked briefly alarmed before shaking his head, amused. “You’d probably eat it even if it had mold on it.”

“Not true. I’d scrape the mold off first and eat around it. Wouldn’t be the first time.” She raised her eyebrows at him as she pulled off another bite of bread to eat, silently challenging him to judge her.

Gale made a face but didn’t respond, turning back to his stew and flicking his wrist. The spectral mage hand that was stirring the pot lifted the ladle for him to inspect. He picked up a small spoon from his utensil set (of course he had a utensil set wrapped in leather, a hodgepodge set he’d collected over the last couple of days, but that he kept packed away like it was some sort of adventurer’s kit) and used the spoon to taste the broth in the ladle.

“Hmm…nearly there, I think,” he said. He let the mage hand go back to stirring while he wiped his spoon on a bit of cloth he had tucked into his belt. “Gods, what I wouldn’t give for my spice shelf. Or just some extra salt.”

“Just add it to the list of things we’ll buy as soon as we see any,” Dani said, still eating her bit of bread piece by little torn piece. “I know I have a running list of my own.”

“Far be it from me to add to your growing shopping list of potentially expensive and ever practical items,” Gale said dryly, “but if you do happen to find a small case of salt, or any spice really, I think we’d all be a little better for it. It shouldn’t detract too much from your funds. I know you’re careful with your money.”

She arched an eyebrow. As the team’s craftiest barterer, she was in possession of most of the money, and her companions had already watched her haggle and cajole until a price was a bit closer to where she’d prefer it to be. Sometimes it took a minute.

She thought about pointing out that she was “careful” with her gold for a variety of reasons, including stocking up an emergency fund for magical items should his arcane hunger trigger and she find herself without something to give him. But she stayed silent, watching him pull a few herbs from their food box and set them on a flat rock he’d taken to using as a cutting board. He sat with the rock in his lap, cutting the herbs up with a dagger that he kept on hand for food preparation. As he turned to hold the rock over the cookpot and brush the chopped herbs into the stew, she noticed a bit of white peeking through his purple robe sleeve, right at the shoulder seam. A tear in the fabric.

“Take off your robe,” she said.

He jolted, nearly dropping the rock and dagger directly into the stew. “I beg your pardon?” Maybe it was the firelight and the darkening shadows of dusk, but Dani could have sworn his face was suddenly pinker than before.

“Your robe,” Dani said, tossing the last bit of bread into her mouth and holding out her hand. “Take it off. You’ve got a tear.”

“Wha—a tear?” Gale looked all down his arms and the front of his robe before twisting his neck to spot the rip in his shoulder. “Argh, damn. This was one of my better robes, too…”

Dani snickered and gestured for him to get on with it. “Come on, hand it over. I’ll fix it for you.”

“What—now?” 

“Why not? You’re busy. Everyone else is busy—well, except Astarion. And I can mend it for you.”

Gale looked a little surprised. “I didn’t know you could mend.”

She shrugged. “My mother is a seamstress and I used to help her out every now and again. Plus, when you’re on the road, you have to keep up with a few skills. You’re just lucky we have a bit of needle and thread on hand. So.” She gestured again with her hand.

Gale squirmed as if uncomfortable. “I’m sure it can wait. The stew is nearly ready and we’re all about to dress down for the night. I can give it to you then.”

Dani rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, Gale. If it was armor Lae’zel would be hounding you until you gave it up for her to fix. If it was your spellbook you’d want to mend it as soon as possible. Just take it off and let me do it.”

“Fine, fine.” He held up his hands, his face still a little flushed, but he acquiesced. He undid the belt around his middle and tugged off his leather bracers before finally untying the robe and shrugging it off. He still looked a little sheepish, but he willingly handed the robe over to her. 

The moment the robe was off, something shifted in Dani’s mind. She realized only then that she’d only ever seen him either fully dressed in his robes or in his velvety lounge clothes, but never in just his white wrap shirt and high-waisted pants. She paused a moment, her eyes roving over his form. In just his shirt, pants, and boots, he cut a trim figure, looking a bit like one of the handsome men drawn on the covers of tawdry romance novels she used to read back in Baldur’s Gate. Especially when he set one hand on his hip and frowned faintly at her, his earring glinting in the firelight.

“I hope it won’t take too long,” he said.

She blinked. Oh right, the robe. “It’s a simple tear, super easy to fix,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

She turned and hurried away, her own face feeling a little warm. Was she honestly thinking…no. Well—maybe. Gale was handsome. No point in ignoring otherwise. But Gale in just a shirt and trousers? Or, perhaps, Gale in just his trousers…or, going further, Gale in nothing but—

Gods, Dani! She mentally shook herself and sat back down at her bedroll, digging her sewing kit from her bag. Now was not the time. She said she’d mend his robe and she would, so she had better get started.

But mending was mindless work for her, leaving her alone to her thoughts, so of course her mind drifted back to the subject of Gale as she dragged needle and thread through the purple fabric of his robe. Why was she only now struck by how handsome he looked? Sure, she’d flirted with him before, but she flirted harmlessly with everyone in camp. It wasn’t her fault she was surrounded by attractive companions. But Gale…

She glanced surreptitiously at him as he worked by the cooking fire, his focus on the food. He’d rolled up his sleeves to his elbows to keep his cuffs away from the food, which was honestly worse for Dani. Rolled up sleeves and forearms? She could just swoon. She watched as he packed away unused food items and utensils, muscles in his forearms flexing, the dark hair on his arms made darker by the dusk and firelight. He stood back and rested both hands on his hips as he watched the stew, his white shirt stretching a little more tightly across his chest.

She bit her lip and focused back on the robe. Just get it done, girl, and then give it back so you can go back to thinking he’s just a fun, quirky wizard nerd and not the hottest guy in camp.

Oh gods, if only.

...was he the hottest guy in camp? 

She glanced around quickly at Astarion, still lounging with his book. His lips made a pretty pout as he read and his hair was damn near perfect, but he didn’t make Dani’s heart flutter in quite the same way the sight of Gale in his wrap shirt and rolled up sleeves did. She searched for Wyll, walking around in his ragged black tank and black trousers, his biceps glistening with a fine sheen of sweat as he carried the last of the firewood over to Gale. Even with his devil horns, he was an attractive man. Dani was tempted to think he was even hotter than Gale—until Wyll set the fire down near Gale and Dani was forced to compare the two of them again.

…damn. What was it about Gale?

Gale glanced her way, raising his eyebrows at her questioningly when he caught her staring. She felt her heart go ba-dump like some cliche heroine in a romance novel and she quickly lowered her gaze back to her work.

Damn it. It was his eyes wasn’t it? His big, stupid, wet brown eyes, made darker and richer in the evening light. That and those stupid forearms she’d never seen before.

She almost wished she could go back to fifteen minutes ago, when she thought Gale was “handsome enough” but not exactly tempting. Not with Astarion smirking at her from across the campfire and Wyll flirting with all of them, not to mention all the flirting she’d done with Karlach and Shadowheart and Lae’zel too. She forced her attention back on the final stitches, determined to get this robe fixed as soon as possible.

She finished the last stitch and knotted the thread, giving the fabric a little tug on either side of the mended seam to test the strength of her work. Not bad, she had to admit. It almost looked as good as new.

She looked back at Gale and then down at the robe. She should give it back. Right now. Immediately. But…then again…if she kept it longer, he’d have to walk around without it longer. Which meant more eye candy for her, in theory. She pursed her lips, glancing back at Gale again.

No! She had to give it back. Now or never, Dani!

She got to her feet and walked back over to the fire, his purple robe tossed over her arm. He looked up from the cookpot again as she stopped near him.

“All finished?” he asked. “You do quick work.”

“Thanks,” she said, holding out the robe to him. Be casual, Dani girl, don’t be odd. “I’m famished. How much longer until dinnertime?” Success!

“Any moment now, I suspect.” 

He took the robe and examined the seams, running his thumb over the stitches. She was caught up watching his hands, admiring the perfect shape of his nails and how long and slender his fingers were. A pianist’s hands, she thought idly. An artist's hands. The kind of hands she'd want drawing patterns on her skin, fingers curling into her softer parts, sliding up her thighs to—snap out of it!

She sucked a short breath through her nose, trying to distract herself. Her gaze traveled up to his wrists, and then his bared forearms. There was a faint hint of ash lingering in his arm hairs from standing so close to the fire. Without thinking, she reached out and brushed it away. He looked up, surprised and she snatched her hand back, hiding it behind her back like she’d done something wrong.

“Sorry,” she said. “Just some—some ash. You should probably put that robe back on. As soon as possible, probably.”

Oh gods, she could just die.

Gale stared at her a moment before glancing at his arms again and then the robe. She saw something shift in his expression as his eyes came back up to meet hers, but she dared not interpret it. That, she thought, would be a dangerous mind game and her imagination was already working overtime.

“Well,” she said, and hated how weirdly breathless the word came out of her mouth. She cleared her throat. “I’ll go fetch the others, then, shall I?”

Without waiting for him to respond, she turned on her heel and hurried away, intending to go after whoever was the furthest away from the cook fire. Surely she’d cool off in the time it took to gather everyone. Fantasies were for bedtime, not right before dinner when the object of her fancy was right there.

But when she finally returned after all that, he was still standing in his wrap shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He hadn’t even put the robe back on. He laid it off to the side.  She glanced at the robe and then up to Gale, who was ladling stew into bowls and passing them around. He caught her eyes and gave her a faint, intentional smirk meant just for her before turning his attention back to the stew.

That’s when Dani knew, with a rush of realization that struck her a bit like lightning and left her sitting, silent and dazed and a little offended and a little impressed.

She’d been as obvious as day, and now he was teasing her about it. And that smirk? He was being a bit of an arrogant bastard…but gods, he was suddenly all the sexier for it.

She was doomed.

[asp1diske-art]

Your technical skill with lineart and shading is amazing in itself, but it's your ability to convey emotion and atmosphere in your work that is trademark to me :) its incredible how you can show through gesture and body language just what these masked, expressionless characters are feeling, and how the environment itself conveys that. Your lurien comics, especially the one that ends in something along the lines of "I return to the kingdom you abandoned" are I think the spark that made Lurien go from Some Guy to Deeply Interesting for me, and your use of color pop and shaky line contributed so much to the feeling in those comics. You are one of the artists whose skill at evoking emotions I aspire to <3

Oh wow, I've been reading and re-reading this for the last 20 minutes this is amazing.

So, emotions!

If there is one thing I'm proud to have accomplished during my time in Hollow Knight, it's the skill of expressing tone. Because here's the thing, facial expressions are just one of the many components of tone. (I even wrote about this in another ask some time ago.) Colors, gestures, camera angle, lighting, paneling, lines and narration - all of these come together to convey the mood of the scene.

Check out these wips from the Watcher and the Watched comic, for example.

You can see that color played a huge role in setting the atmosphere in the comic. It shows that this comic is taking place in the Watcher's Spire, but it also gives a dark, subdued feeling that wouldn't come from idk, a yellow background. The backlight emphasizes the ominous tone of the last page. As does Lurien's pose - coupled with the butler looking up and Lurien looking down, it makes it look like Lurien is looming over his butler (and the reader). All this builds up to deliver Lurien's lines with maximum impact.

So yeah, a lot goes into conveying tone in comics, and I'm very happy to hear that it was recieved well!!

The Lurien, Dreamer comic. It's almost 2 years old now but it's still one of the favorite comics I drew about him. Together with the City of Tears comic, it's the epitome of my interpretation of Lurien. My characterization of Lurien's relationship with the Pale King was quite different from the usual fanon at the time (I don't know how it is now, I haven't gone into the tags in years haha) and I wasn't really sure how people would take it. So I'm glad to hear that it got you interested in Lurien!

It's the one that took the longest too lol. Usually I draw comics in a single setting, but that one took 3 days. Besides Two Ghosts (which was an 18 chapter+@ comic that was over 50p and took about 2 months), no other comic has broken this record. I put in a lot of care into it, and it still holds a special place in my heart.

Honestly half the reason I use messy, sketchy lines is that I suck at drawing clean lines lmao. But I like to think that I've made the best of it and utilized it as an art style. In that comic especially, because the whole thing takes place in the dream realm and I wanted to give a rough, unreal feel to it.

I'd show breakdowns of this one too but the file is so big it keeps crashing lol. (Pro tip - draw your comic pages in separate files. Don't be like me and draw 300dpi 10p comics with 30 layers in each page in a single canvas. It will crash and you will be sad.) But drawing the White Palace was a interesting challenge because I usually draw in highly saturated colors whereas the Palace is, well, white. So I had to work out a way to color this without making everything looking grey, while also making it recognizable as the palace. iirc I used a lot of overlay & burn & dodge layers along with a few difference & subtract layers to give the white a slight yellow tint to stand out from the dark blue. (I'm pretty sure they're the culprits crashing the file.)

Sorry this got long, I really took this as an invitation to ramble about my art hkfsldjkflj

Thank you for all the compliments! It's an honor to hear that my art could be someone's aspiration, and I'm very happy that all my Lurien art got someone else into Lurien. I hope you have a nice day :D

[raphaelesbian]

🔪🔪🔪

🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

LMAO, probably this line:

One, single sentence. Not even a very good one, if you ask me. But it involved looking up a labeled diagram of the ribcage, and googling a bunch of things like "most deadly way to be stabbed in the heart" and "most important part of the heart" and "fastest way to die puncture heart." And then reading the abstract and skimming the paper of a medical case study about complex cardiac stab wounds. All because I wanted it to be like "hey btw raph has killed and he has these things in his head now." Which isn't new information or anything.

Sometimes you just... get sucked down a rabbit hole for a throwaway line you wrote like 9 months ago. As one does.

Probably less weird (in this PARTICULAR fandom at least) but I have read so many vet blogs about turtle care??? It's so wild how when you look for information about how to care for, say, a broken shell, the only place to find it is seemingly a website that looks like this that was probably last updated in like 2004

Does Dr. Hines have any idea how much ninja turtles fanfiction he has helped generate? Does he even know?

[wehadabondingmoment]

TAGGING GAME!

In a new post, show the last line you wrote (or drew) and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like).

Even with her clumsy pronunciation of the word government, Adrien had been excited to play the game. And then he had thought about his mother’s disappointed face and let Chloé eat all the candy on her own. 

“Maman, can I have cool balloons for my next birthday too?” Adrien had asked her. It had been a sunny day and he had picked out daisies from the garden to put them into his mother’s braid. “Oh, Adrien,” she had sighed, after he had explained what exactly he meant. “Aging isn't something to look forward to. We all just celebrate to pretend we’re not miserable. You don't want balloons that let everyone know that you're one step closer to damnation.”

Adrien hadn't understood some of the words but he had never asked for balloons again. 

(Maybe he hadn't forgotten his mother's age. Maybe he had never known it to begin with.) 

Adrien placed the towel on top of the sink and turned around. He needed a second shower. 

Since @rosie-b showed us more than a line I thought I would do the same :D This was originally supposed to be for @coffeebanana because she sent me a prompt (hurt/comfort after a nightmare) months ago and I fully forgot about it💀 I don't even remember if I was gonna make it lovesquare, Adrino or platonic Chlodrien. But if you're reading this, feel free to tell me your preference xD Someday I'll finish it lmao

No pressure tagging @coffeebanana @raspberrycatapult @kasienda @crizztelcb @halfahelix and @hamsteriffic, do it for writing or art as you please :) super rarely on tumblr atm so I apologize if you have all already been tagged before

[mirahuyooo]

Prompt 1 with joon? Throwback in the baby au hehehhe

001. “Can I come over?” + kim namjoon

— Namjoon’s baby now has an actual baby

word count: 1,338 contents: FLUFFY FLUFF, roMANCE, whoLESOME VIBES, established relationship (husband & wife), KIM NAMJOON as YOUR HUSBAND AAAAA, joon calling you baby ✋😩, Jimin & Tae being absolute menaces but they’re your absolute menaces, baby on the way! Y/N is planning a reveal soon uwu (Takes place before Baby) pairing: kim namjoon x reader

[masterlist] | check out more of [Four Years with Mira]!  

A/N: ANON!!! I’M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONGGG I’m going through the last of my semester rn and I have to complete some requirements 👉😭👈  I’m back writing again tho!! I also assumed you meant the “Baby” imagine I wrote two years ago lmao I hope y’all like this one! 💖💗💕

The gold band now bound on your ring finger glints under the light of the side table lampshade. The sight of it elicits butterflies in your belly, along with a soft, giddy smile you had to bite back. 

Seven months have passed since you heard the hushed awes and soft piano music. 

Seven months have passed since you saw him waiting for you down the aisle.

Seven months have passed since you became Mrs Kim, wife to your other half. 

Married life with Kim Namjoon, you find, has paradoxically changed and didn't change a lot of things in your life. Love with him is still so consistently devoted and wholesome that you hardly felt any drastic change between the two of you, and yet your heart has never felt more secure, more safe, and more loved than ever before. 

“Joon, can I come over?”

“Of course, baby,” your husband gladly says on the other line. You can almost feel the warmth of his dimpled smile. "Let me know when you're here so I can come down and fetch you, hm?"

It was something of a habit that'll never die, you suppose—one of the many things that didn't and will never change. 

Like before, you would go to his studio if you had time to spare, and like before, you would bring along some food for the both of you to eat while he gives you a little insight on what he's working on. A hand of his habitually rests on your thigh, as the two of you chew on jajangmyeon while one of his latest works play faintly in the background and you both share thoughts. 

"I've been thinking of changing the bea—"

A ringtone sounds through the air, cutting  Namjoon's words short and soiling the serene atmosphere. You lift your head from his shoulder and anticipate what the call meant as he picks it up, especially when you know the ringtone is the one he has for work. 

"Hyung?" he says to what you assume is one of their producers. 

You don't understand much of the conversation aside from the somber expression that seizes your husband's face. Namjoon's brows are furrowed, his tongue prodding at his cheek as he digests the words of whoever was at the other end of the line, humming in agreement and responding once in a while. 

You have a feeling you already know what's going to happen next. 

The apologetic smile he flashes you mid conversation confirms your brewing thoughts, far before he ends the call. “I’m sorry, baby,” Namjoon begrudgingly sighs, tucking his phone away as he rests his head on your shoulder for a moment, not wanting to leave in spite of having to. “I have to go to a meeting about the album.”

As expected. 

Namjoon, ever an artist of his craft, still keeps most of his masterpieces under his sleeve until he’s satisfied with them, the two of you having made a tradition out of spending a night together at home to react to his work in full. (Mostly, the time is spent with you gushing and squealing over his songs while he sits beside you in a mess of bashful dimpled smiles and shy deep giggles.)

You press your lips where you could—the crook of his neck left a bit open by his loose-fitting sweatshirt. “It’s okay, Joonie,” you sweetly assure him, in spite of your crestfallen heart already sick with needy longing. “I’ll just hang around here, until you’re done.”

You two exit his studio, Namjoon taking his time walking on his way to the meeting when Jimin and Taehyung come to the hallway. Their eyes light up at the sight of you, wide grins as they skip towards you both.

“Noona! Hyung!”

Namjoon feels a bit better with leaving you, really, knowing well that the boys are great company until he’s done with his meeting. "I'll be back, baby," he smiles, lips pressing a tender kiss on your forehead before the two boys link either of your arms with theirs.  

“Don’t worry, hyung,” Jimin huffs, light-heartedly rolling his eyes as he tugs you over to them. “We’ll be at the practice room when you need us!”

The two of them don’t wait for Namjoon’s response, pulling you along with them towards their practice room, where the faint thrum of music already reaches your ears. “Noona, I forget your name at this point, really,” Jimin is quick to tease, jokingly sighing and shaking his head. 

“How could you?” you dramatically gasp with a smack to his back, the young man only laughing in response.

Taehyung clearly agrees, poking at your side to join Jimin’s little teasing game. “He’s right though. Namjoon-hyung only ever calls you baby,” he muses, the two of them grinning like they heard the juiciest gossip in the building. “Heck, I have no doubt the baby will think that, too!”

In spite of the blush that sets your cheeks on fire, you merely scoff. "Don't be ridiculous," you say as you shush Taehyung, “and keep your voice down, will you?”

Though you and your husband certainly have your fun, Namjoon assured you he was in no rush to have children. His baby fever has waned in the recent years, but you hardly had any doubts your husband wouldn't step up to the responsibility of being a father, especially to you, whom he swore his forever to. 

The universe, knowing this well, saw it fit to give you its blessing to parenthood. Jimin and Taehyung were the first to know, having seen your pregnancy test results by accident before swearing to keep the news in secrecy and helping you plan the reveal.

Jimin gasps quietly as he realizes it. “Right,” he whispers, leaning in to scold Taehyung in a meager, secretive hiss. “We haven’t made plans for the reveal yet, remember?”

The man in question, too, gasps and covers his mouth, the three of you looking like idiots bunched in a circle together outside the practice rooms. “Oh, shit,” he curses under his breath, “sorry. I’m just excited to be an uncle.”

“Why would you be an uncle?”

It must’ve been ridiculous how your souls left your bodies for a moment, the three of you whipping your heads toward the familiar voice who caught wind of Taehyung’s excitement. Your husband stands, not far from you all, an eyebrow raised in confusion.  “Nothing, hyung,” Jimin—bless him—quickly pipes, covering the fact that their leader and his baby are going to have an actual baby. “What brings you here so soon?”

In Namjoon’s hands were your phone and a hard drive, which he must’ve retrieved from his studio for the meeting. He shows your phone to you, the screen displaying a notification from a missed call. “You left your phone on the table and it was ringing,” your husband says, “It’s from a Doctor Young? Are you still sick, baby?”

You thank the stars your husband doesn’t seem to realize what the call means. He must’ve not been able to answer it in time to know about the ultrasound sonogram you asked for your doctor to print out. “I’m fine,” you assure him as you take your phone, giving his cheek a kiss to further ease him. “I just went to Doctor Young for a check up last week, remember?”

Worry swims in his eyes as he looks at you, some doubt still lingering. If your doctor had to call you back, then there must be something wr—

A squeeze to his hand knocks him out of his stupor. “Trust me, Joon,” you smile up at him, before nodding to the hard drive disk that remained in his hold. “Besides, don’t you have a meeting to go to?”

Reminded of his agenda, Namjoon’s eyes go wide. “Oh shit, you’re right,” he gasps, looking at his own phone for the time. With a fleeting kiss stolen from your lips, your husband sprints off to another direction. “I’ll fetch you as soon as I’m done!”

God, you love that man.

[castleclerics]

possible origin for the idea of edward creel from the og inspo: montauk project, and other parallels

edward creel truthers pls listen to this part of this interview i’m gonna throw up

if you don't know, this is Preston Nichols, who wrote the book “The Montauk Project: an Experiment in Time” which is where the conspiracy that inspired ST originated from. in this interview he’s talking about Al Bielek, who was also involved with Montauk and their experiments for ref.

(I DO NOT KNOW WHY ET IS COVERING HIS FACE DONT ASK ME)

EDWARD?? NEW FAMILY????? GET ME OYUT OF HERE ,

(he also explains a lot of timeline stuff in there if u wanna look but it's hard to copy word for word bc he veers off a lot lmao)

i already knew about the Montauk MK-Ultra relations but only now am i finally relating all the experiments with time to all the time fuckery in this show

so Al claimed his name was actually Edward Cameron and to be one of the missing crewmen from “The Philadelphia Experiment” aka "Project Rainbow". here's some backstory:

so when this ship vanished it was said that a green or blue fog took it's place. which is so funny especially because what i believe the ST fog to be is a visual representation of when a timeline or dimension switch happens. and Al claimed he slipped through time at random and landed in 1983 at Camp Hero because of the vanishing ship.

like Vecna's victims get dragged to a different plane of existence or timeline when he has a hold on them (hence why they are no longer in their physical bodies) so cue the blue-green fog.

and at camp hero they did a lot of experiments with broadcasting to new alternate realities and time experiments. Duncan Cameron was used for these and they started to realize he could manifest objects outside the current time and they would appear hours or days later. which falls in line with ST. we see objects changing places especially right after some weird time-related thing just happened.

for example Joyce always "misplacing" her keys after shit happens to Will the night before, or Will's walkie falling in the bathroom but being right by his feet on the field.

eventually Duncan could open an aperture and they started abducting boys aged 10-16 to send through the portal (probably what Preston is talking about in that interview)

*cough cough Brenner controlling Henry or whoever tf to commit mass murder maybe who knows*

and their first training mission was always sending them way back in time to a world in ruins and without life.

RAAAAAAAAAARARRARARARDRFDFDHSHF

Preston also claimed there was a large on-site library of videotapes for every mission

so that's cool

last fun thing is that this video of Preston is interesting because he has this sound room in his house and he lays down and listens to the swan lake theme and says this is the same recording they played at Montauk "for the matrix or the background of the transmissions(?)"

he also has lights set up that flicker with the frequencies of the music yayyy

bro it just reminds me of Victor with DALDOM and he says vague stuff about how your you can travel to different places mentally by doing this and he sees weird activity like people appearing out of nowhere LIKE SHUT UPPPPP

i think i covered everything all this digging was from months ago and i didn't take notes like an idiot so i had to research it all over again so i hope i didn't miss anything i originally wanted to include but this shit is wild !!!!

[underlockv]

I recently made a gift for Hocus' birthday and I forgot to post about it here until now! Behold, The Unofficial Unlicensed Talking Magnetic Karl Heisenberg Plush!

More pics and info under the cut!

I've made dolls like this in the past, and had a pattern for it, but this project took me a while. Partially as he was hand sewn (and hand embroidered) and I have a mild hand tremor, partially because I kept adding stuff to him and making him more detailed as I went along (so much so he was late for birthday, sorry Hocus!) but I'm glad Hocus likes him thats the most important part! He wasn't entirely a surprise because I had said I wanted to make him for them, but I think maybe they weren't expecting how overboard I went on the project (nor was I! I just kept having ideas).

I really wanted to be able to make an alternate outfit for Karl based on a fanfic my friend wrote so I made a base doll body and then made Karl's clothes with a bunch of little buttons and snaps. The shirt buttons are decorative (made of sculpey, I couldn't find small enough regular ones) and it has a hook and loop (velcro) tab on the inside. The pants are a combo of this and some snaps. The belt has snaps but technically works like a real belt and then the undershirt also has snaps as do the "boots". His necklace accessories (sculpey, wire, paint) just tie on and off loosely with strings of embroidery thread. The hat has a cardboard/maskingtape base for shape and just an eyeballed-pattern sewn around it (I think it turned out nice!)

(this is prior to me adding his scars in embroidery thread).

The Glasses though are attached with his second feature

I knew I wanted to add some semi powerful magnets to his hands so he could pick up metal objects because that just MAKES SENSE with Karl's powers. I also made him his hammer (paper mache, paint and sculpey again) and added in a magnet to it's handle (as I wasn't working with actual metal for it lol, but I forgot to photograph it before I sent him off) . But in the process of doing that I realized if I attached some magnets on the inside of his head I could also make glasses that snap on and off, and that solved the issue of them staying in place.

Third feature: HE TALKS! Yes, just as advertised on the box if you squeeze him he says a voice line. Just one voice line really, but it's a long one. I'd argue it's probably the most important line he says in the game that really decides his fate with our protagonist (not in his favour, unfortunately). I used a voice recorder for plush toys that allows up to 20 second recordings. one of the unlisted features is there is a zipper on his back so they can take the recorder out for battery replacement, or to rerecord the message if desired.

POV: you're about to go in the hole (I only took a vid for this in the middle stage lmao). The last part of the manual goes over the alternate outfit and then includes a personal message for Hocus I won't show here. The alt outfit, is like I said before, based on a fanfic. But it's actually the unpublished portion of Hocus' long running fic series so its technically SPOILERS. I may post about it later because I actually tea-dyed fabric while making it and it was a more involved process than expected lmao. I hope you enjoyed reading about all the details of this ridiculous project! Oh! btw the box is actually the box the Chris statue came in for the RE8 collector edition. I bought it a few months ago from ebay (found a good deal!), and inspiration struck when I realized I still had it so thats why Karl got an official looking unofficial box lmao. I just cut chris' face off it for the window haha.

[theangrypomeranian]

What got you into shipping Darryl and Becky? I’d love to hear the backstory of this pairing. 👀💕💕💕

i always wonder if people realize the pandoras box they're opening when they give me a chance to talk about my obscure rare pair lol because i could talk for AGES about these two <3333 so they come from my fic Baby Steps (ps just because i'm linking it i am not asking people to read it, this thing is SO LONG lol). Darryl was in the fic from chapter 3, while Becky actually didn't get introduced until the end of chapter 13. it was throw away line about him bringing her along to the end of the year bonfire that was there because i think i'd rewatched V For Valentine-detta and felt bad for her. then a couple of arcs later i made a throw away line about Darryl having a crush on her mostly just for shits and gigs. i actually had no intention of having them end up together. but then @jimmyjrsmusoems answered someone's ask forever ago saying she shipped them and it was like a switch was flipped in my brain. suddenly i couldn't stop thinking about them and what their potential dynamic could look like. i wrote a one-shot for them and ended up thinking they were really cute. i came up with an angsty backstory for Becky (that's honestly just a lot of projection because that's writing for ya lmao) and how Darryl was helping her and next thing you know i'm obsessed. they've taken a bit of a backseat in my mind recently because the last couple of months took a toll on my mental health and they were partly associated with that, but i miss them with my whole chest. and just in thinking about answering this ask my brain came up with a fun au for them that i might just write lol. sorry this got so long - and sorry it took me a couple of days to answer, i had to gather my spoons for it. please feel free to come chat with me about them if you ever want to! and thank you so much for giving me a chance to squeal over them. <333

[underratedandoverit]

The Simplest Of Things

~1,9k words orangekip (orange cassidy/kip sabian), can be read as gen

takes place in immortal fears/belt corruption au. this will most likely end up being canon at some point, but for now have it as a separate piece. apparently i originally wrote this like a month and a half ago, but just didnt like it enough so i never bothered with it, tho reading through it now its not so bad so.. you can finally have it

theres a lot of thoughts between these two about one another pre-relationship especially during the healing arcs that i'd like to explore a lot more, the problem being its so far into the story its gonna take a while for me to actually get there so. thats why this exist. first of probably many like this

its fluffy, maybe tad angsty cause kip is just like that, but yeah. a little bit of insight on the feelings he has in immortal fears, especially at the beginning of the healing arc. yay (i also wanted to write a followup to this, sssooo maybe that'll happen somewhere down the line? who knows, i just know kip has a lot of feelings already lmao)

@midnightpretenders0 @stormbornpirate @ss-trashboat

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Kip slowly came to, becoming aware of his surroundings little by little. The surprisingly soft pillow under his head felt odd, him having no memory when he had actually fallen asleep in the bed last time, let alone seemingly having slept like this. He could feel the blanket wrapped around him and the mattress beneath him, definitely confirming that Kip was in bed, not on the couch or the floor or wherever he ended up passing out for the night when the exhaustion became too much for him to bear.

Kip really couldn’t point out the last time it felt like he had slept the whole night. The past few weeks, maybe months at this point, had been almost like a coin flip on how his nights would go when he got to bed, and most often he had flipped tails on that bet. Tossing and turning through the darkness, if he managed to get some shuteye it was very fast replaced with nightmares that kept plaguing him until he was forcefully pulled back into the real world, leaving Kip restless night after night.

The rare times he had managed to actually sleep, it had still been restless, thankfully often without terrifying nightmares at least, but it still wasn’t much, and definitely not enough like he needed. Most often Kip just passed out somewhere during the day for small power naps, although that habit was also definitely having an effect on his already faltering health, that only good, regular, full nights sleep would really be able to fix.

Kip sighed quietly, burying his head deeper into the pillow. If he was already this comfortable, he was definitely able to fall back asleep and get some more rest now that it seemed like he was actually able to do it, right? Who cared what time of the day it was, he didn’t have anything to do or anywhere to go to. He was on a medical leave and uncleared for work for an undecided amount of time right now, or at least so he had been told, so as far as Kip was concerned, he could just sleep the day away now that he could and not worry about it at the moment.

And then he felt the arm draped over his midsection, underneath the blanket.

As he became aware of the odd sensation of someone invading his personal space, Kip finally opened his eyes, taking a moment to adjust to the surprisingly bright room. He couldn’t tell what time it was, the darkened curtains always made that part very difficult for him when he woke up in this particular room that had been designated as his bedroom, but it was probably a safe bet to say they were somewhere in the morning hours. Not that it really mattered, as Kip’s attention was immediately on the familiar blond fast asleep on the other side of the bed.

Frozen in place Kip’s eyes widened at the sight of Cassidy, trying to find a logical explanation for all of this. Kip didn’t remember how they ended up here, he didn’t even remember how he had gotten to bed if he was being honest. The part that made sense was the one that Cassidy lived with him now so it wasn’t odd to find him in the same space as him, the other man having taken it into his own hands to make sure Kip was making it out alive and in one piece in his current state that he had explained was the aftermath of being the International champion.

Kip wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that, but everything he had gone through the past few weeks since losing the title – the nightmares, the dark thoughts, the hazy days, the sleepless nights and everything in between – were as Cassidy described to him, giving some sort of believable foundation to what he was talking about. He didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle together to make everything make sense, and to be honest Cassidy hadn’t pushed it on him either, just giving Kip a little to work with when he needed explanations why things hurt. Why he couldn’t sleep. Why he was exhausted. Why he had energy one day but couldn’t get himself to even sit up without help the other.

The help… That was the big thing for him. Kip, wanting to be the independent one he had been as a champion, had none of that anymore. Everything was a chore, he could barely stand by himself on some days. During the times he had held the title, things out of his control had happened and people that he had once been close with were gone. He had no one left.

Except for the one man he didn’t want in his life, that had ruined all this for him, but who was also the one that was making the most sense out of everyone around him in Kip’s current state of being. The man he had self-appointed as his arch nemesis.

Orange Cassidy.

And now he was there. Fast asleep next to him in bed, one arm lazily thrown over him. Without any explanation in Kip’s mind how they had gotten there, or what had happened the night before.

The questions and the panic was so obvious in him, and yet… He couldn’t do anything about the situation. He couldn’t move, or more accurately, he didn’t want to.

Kip was afraid that him trying to get away from this position was going to disrupt the clearly peaceful sleep that Cassidy was getting.

Before this moment Kip hadn’t really thought about it, being way more in his own dark mind than anything else, but this had to have some kind of effect on Cassidy as well. He was the only one always around to take care of Kip, he was the one always there making sure he had something to eat, to drink, and got at least some rest when it was possible. Cassidy was surprisingly patient with him, something Kip hadn’t expected after everything they had gone through in the past. They were supposed to be enemies, and yet the blond was treating him like an equal, if not more, since he was basically a sole caretaker of Kip’s at this point.

Biting his lip, Kip carefully slid his arm out from under the blanket, without thinking much reaching for Cassidy’s face, gently brushing a coil of his hair away from his face, running a hand through his hair a little. There was something mesmerizing to see him this peaceful, as Kip hadn’t really had a chance to witness that between either rivaling him, him being a champion while Cassidy disappeared from television, and then all of this which left Kip far less aware of his surroundings most of the time. To be honest, he was kind of surprised he even understood that it was Cassidy that was here for him, out of all the possible people. How he hadn’t stopped to even think about it before, Kip really had no idea.

He was so deep in his own thoughts that Kip didn’t notice the results of his actions, only after a groggy Cassidy took a hold of his hand that was still gently tugging on his hair and Kip got face to face with a soft pair of blue eyes, he realized where they were at.

“Morning.”

His voice was so quiet Kip barely registered it, he wasn’t sure if Cassidy was just hoarse from the sleep or if he wanted to avoid loud noises in his presence, knowing them to sometimes be triggers for headaches or anxiety or what have you when Kip wasn’t in his best condition. Kip just blinked at him a few times, feeling the words stuck in his throat. He desperately wanted, he needed, to ask what had happened that led them here, face to face in bed like this, when he couldn’t remember a damn thing from last night.

As Kip didn’t reply to him, Cassidy stirred a little bit more on his spot, the arm disappearing from Kip’s hip as he retreated it away, Cassidy using it to prop himself up and into a sitting position on the bed. Kip breath in a quiet sigh of relief noticing the blond was at least fully clothed, this ruling out at least one option about last night, and then Kip pushed that thought away from his mind as fast as it had appeared, without wanting to even question it why he had thought about it in the first place.

The blush making its way on his face at the thought though was probably very obvious as Cassidy raised a brow at him, rubbing his eyes a little to wake himself up.

“You okay? You don’t look well.”

Kip wasn’t sure if Cassidy was genuinely worried and asking or if he was just teasing him, so Kip shook his head quickly, tossing over in the bed so he could hide his face from the blond better. “I’m fine!”

He could hear a soft snort from Cassidy. “Good to hear. You passed out on the couch last night so I thought you might be catching something. Did you at least sleep well?”

Kip shrugged his shoulders before he could stop himself, but he sighed. “…Yeah. Thanks.”

He didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t want to hear any further explanations, this was all Kip needed at the moment. Whatever had happened after he had passed out downstairs was irrelevant, the key part was that he slept in his own bed and actually got enough rest to feel well rested for once after who knows how long of a time. How Cassidy fit into everything was not what he wanted to hear right now, probably not ever if he was being honest.

Kip could feel the bed move underneath him a little, before a soft hand ran through his hair quickly. He didn’t resist, but something about the touch felt comforting, as much as he hated it at the same time, knowing exactly who it was coming from. He just buried his head deeper onto the pillow again, feeling the bed shift a little again as Cassidy stood up.

As he walked to the door, the blond stopped, looking back at Kip who was peering at him just barely with half of his face buried into the pillow.

“I’m glad you were able to sleep. It’s been… A while since you got a full night's sleep last, I think.” Cassidy offered him a smile as he ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll make breakfast. Just come downstairs if you want any.”

As he opened the bedroom door and left the room, Kip had no intentions of following him. All of this was already so much to him, having to endure all of this first thing in the morning had thrown his brain into a loop that he didn’t want to start untangling right now by going downstairs to have breakfast with Cassidy after everything.

What he hated the most though, Kip thought as he pulled the blanket over his face with an annoyed groan as he was trying to shake the thought out of his head, was that the good night's sleep last night was most likely because of Cassidy.

And it was a thought he absolutely loathed with his entire being.

[taegularities]

i am guilty of not remembering muchhh bc of my short term memory 🤓🤠 so i skimmed the previous chapter and was refreshed hehe ANYWAYS wow it really has been a while since the last chapter but while reading blooming and starting palette,,, i felt this sense of familiarity with them and it's hard to describe but it's so good!!! It's like fav dramas/series/books that even when you forgot some details or a lot 😅 u have this instant bond/happiness and u still have these amazing feelings for the characters and the story!!! I'm not sure if ur getting me Rid aha it's the yapper in me but i guess the tldr is that i felt that "WE ARE SOOOO BACK MY BESTIES" like i REALLY felt it lol. And i was really happy to read cmi again ❤️‍🩹

While I do agree with others that this is also my new favorite chapter,,,,, I think that's also not true for me??? bc every chapter is my fav!!! It's really really really literally the whole story since then and everything u write is a favorite 💜

Aside from all the fluff that i loveeee, so much love for this chapter which included their friends and in a trip setting bc it's so wholesome and in relationships esp if ur the type to always go out with friends, it's fun to see everyone getting together 🫶🏼

Nowww some of my fave lines:

His attention is directed towards Jimin, the main organiser of your trip; everybody’s been posing questions today as if he’s studied the town and journey to the tiniest detail. Jimin rubs a palm over his tired eyes, sighing before he speaks. this is so funny bc MOOD

HEAVY AFFECTION!!!!

“People climb mountains, watch the world from above, need to see forests to figure out how good life can be. And that it can be worth living,” he says, his voice velvety soft. “But I feel that way with you every day, you know? I do… I do love you so much.” 🥲🥲🥲

“Huh?” he breathes out, moving to look up at you. His eyebrows still suggest slight pain, but there’s something so loving in his worn voice when he says, “You want kids with m—” I LOVE HIM PLSSSSS

And a lot more but those are what I instantly copy pasted lol. Also the "fight" at the end starting with jimin was so chaotic and funny to me lmao. It was all just so real + with oc and jk sorting it out in the middle of the road lol.

Anywaysss wow i think it took me 2 hours + to read and im not complaining bc i had fun savoring every word. I think i always say this but i (and i know the others too) am really thankful that you're here and continuing to share your ideas and writing with us 🫶🏼 the writing is always topnotch, its crazyyyy, good crazy 😇 and ig in behalf of us who aren't always here and even from the silent readers, thank you!! You'll always have our heart and support. I hope that during times that it gets quiet here (and i hope it wont) you remember that there's a lot of us who adore you 🫂

kAT 🫂 it's okay lmao even i forgot a lot and had to reread 😭 there's just a lot of info in those 370k words. and yeah, i totally get that… time may pass, but once we return to the fictional world we love, it feels like coming home. i was so relieved, too, once i dove into cmi again 🥺 and pls yap away, i vibe so much with yappers 😂

yes, ikr!!! i was so damn excited to write this chapter bc of the new dynamics and deeper friendships. this trip really brought them a lot closer. and babe, your favourite lines plsss 🥹 the mountain one has my heart… i think i wrote it literally months and months and MONTHS ago :') and i see, the kids one is really affecting people 😂 the fight was skfajksdf she was just so tired and it affected her mood and then jimin's just an idiot, too lmao 😂 ty for literally copy pasting lines??? this is always so flattering to a writer 😭

2 hours is still pretty fast, tbh!! it took me days to edit the chapter, so hahaha :') thank you so so much for providing me with this much love and warmth, kat. i appreciate your words to bits, like :( the last paragraph, i'm gonna sob 🥹 i adore you sm, too, ty for always being here, love 🤍

[astrababyy]

🌀 + ☔️!

hi!! geez, there are so many i could use for these two prompts lol.

🌀 || there's this one fic idea that i came up with and wrote a kinda cringey summary for a few months ago. it's called a wolf in sheep's clothing, and most fics titled along those lines have a tendency to have cringe summaries lmao.

Feyre Archeron is dead.

In the last stretch of the trials to free Tamlin, Amarantha stops Feyre before she can solve the riddle. Left at the mercy of the cruel general, Feyre is killed, and the Courts of Prythian fall to her tyranny.

It only takes two more years before Amarantha reunites with the king of Hybern and together, they lead their forces into the Mortal Realm to the south. As the Wall falls and enslavement overtakes the humans once more, a desperate attempt to stop it rises from the ashes of its ruins.

Four months after Feyre left to find Amarantha, she is confirmed dead. In mourning, the Archeron family reunites with their cousins to the east in the Continent to rebuild their old life. Two years later, their homeland is overtaken, and every human there is put in chains.

Angry, embittered, and aiming for blood, Nesta Archeron leads a rebellion against the faeries in her homeland, gathering forces from all across the world. But it is humans against faeries, and as the High Lords of Prythian lose all their power once and for all, they are fighting a losing battle against an infallible, unbeatable enemy.

But Nesta Archeron is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and the Fae can underestimate her all they want. For, human or not, she will tear down mountains and split the Earth in half if it will bring her sister back and free her world of its chains.

☔️ || dude, i have sooo many fic ideas for acotar that i don't think i'll ever get around to writing. most fic ideas that i come up with don't center around romance at all, and are very plot heavy so they're very daunting to write lol.

one fic idea that i just recently came up with was an atla-inspired story where post-acotar, pre-going to the night court feyre travels around the seven courts of prythian and learns how to use her powers. the reasoning i gave for the high lords not killing her the moment they discovered it was the foundational reasoning for a long, three book saga where each book centers around each archeron sister. basically, there's a prophecy about three made sisters that foretells the biggest threat prythian will ever face, and the sisters are the only thing that can stop it. so teaching feyre how to use her powers becomes this like vital thing. and she travels across each court, learns about their culture and magic system, and it sets the grounds for the daglan to rise again and try to take over prythian.

the first book would've been called legend of the cursebreaker, next would've been myth of the godkiller and last one would've been elain's, which would have been tale of the fatespinner. it's pretty obvious which sister is which. i adore the idea of the fic, but everything about writing it sounds incredibly daunting lol.

[grasslandgirl]

I've seen you talk about your wc spreadsheet before but I just saw it again in your tags please tell me about your writing tracking

aaaa bec HAPPILY i will do so <33

i got the idea like a year and a half ago (abt the beggining of 2022) from my dearly beloved friend jamie @jlinns who's been doing wc spreadsheets for a while themself and recommended it to me !! the bare minimum gist is to keep track of how much you write month to month and then be able to compare across months and years-- which really helps me maintain motivation and encourages me by having concrete numbers to show i HAVE gotten some writing done even if i don't feel productive

for my spreadsheet specifically, i'm detail-oriented and an overachiever so mine is like. really detailed and fairly complicated lmao; i have a row for every project i've worked on this year (as well as some that have carried over from last year) and all wips are collected under fandom umbrellas within the rows (color coordinated) and then each row has a column for every month as well as a running total sum column for that wip specifically. and then each month has running totals across all fandoms/wips so i can compare how much i wrote in january to how much i wrote in june etc etc and then a grand total sum box that combines how many words ive written across all fandoms/wips across all months up to present !!

it's kind of complicated and i use a lot of comments on certain boxes to keep track of totals month to month so i can find the difference between the may wc total and the june wc total for instance (especially on wips that are older than this year- of which i have so many) and i usually do a round up and double check across every doc i've worked on at the end of a month to make sure it's all accurate and up to date before the month turns over and i start adding totals to the adjacent column in all my wips !!

EXAMPLE SHEET:

this is really just a copy paste of the real format i use for my sheet, with the real wip titles and wc information subbed out for examples and additional information-- up at the top is one of the sum equations i use! [=sum(e8:p8) which basically breaks down to adding together the values between the cells e8 and p8 (e being the "wc jan" column and p being the "wc dec" column) and 8 referring the the row that refers to this wip in question! all the other cells in the "wc gross" column have the same equations, subbing out the number 8 for the row in question on down the line. all the equations under the months in the "monthly total" row are pretty much the same thing only inverted, =sum(e3:e17) for january, =sum(f3:f17) for febuary, etc on down the line, changing the letter value for each equation and maintaining the same block of numerical row values to encapsulate all the wips logged in the sheet!]

writing it all down like this makes it seem more complicated than it is, it think ? and of course, if this is something that interests you, it doesn't have to be as detailed as mine is!! the important part is that it helps in the ways you want it to, and that the help isn't out weighed by the work to keep it up !! (mine doesn't take that much upkeep, now that i've got it set up the way i like it, to be clear! the turn over to the new year (and a new sheet) was kind of a pain in january, but that's only bc you basically have to clean it out and make sure you're carrying over all the pertinent information!) google sheets is pretty easy to manouver and control, in my experience, and they've got a lot of cool things you can do with equations once you've got information in the cells, and a lot of ways you can organize and structure the information to your liking

anyway. thanks for coming to my ted talk skfjvbnskfjbnskfbjsn i did warn in the post that inspired this ask that i could talk about my wc spreadsheet (my darling) for a long time if prompted skjvnbsfkb so thank you for prompting me to speak on it, bec!! i hope this was interesting and helpful for you, and for anyone who bothered to read all of this!! (and i'm happy to go into more detail/answer questions about it if you've got them/if i was unclear/if you want help putting together your own !!) xoxoxoxoxoxo

[creeping-willow]

Doing one of these in case ppl wanna read my other fics :3

I do apologize for how bad half the botw fics are 😭 I wrote them like 4 years ago and was horrible with words

Call of duty (2)

Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

A Burning Hill - Simon "Ghost" Riley/Gary "Roach" Sanderson (Chapter 1/? Mini Hiatus until I get motivated lmao)

Roach longed to know more about the other man. He wanted to know his name, his rank, his entire life, all sorts of mysteries that he never wanted to solve in anyone else. Above all else, he wanted to know just how a man like him who’s voice and actions were filled with such energy and unbridled flames, seemingly was betrayed by the hollow and distant look that filled his gaze.

Roach always thought of Ghost as one of his closest friends. It was hard to form relationships in their line of work, especially since it always came with risks; but knowing him made it all the more worth it. If only it could last forever.

Brand New City - Call of Duty Ghosts Rewrite (Chapter 4/?)

“Logan and I made a choice, a promise. To the fallen Ghosts behind us. To Dad.”

“We’d fight Rorke and we’d stop him…”

“... No matter the cost.”

How he deeply regretted his words before their attack, how he wished he could take it all back, to have listened to Merrick and have let Rorke go; but his drive for vengeance got in the way, their drive for vengeance blind sighted their reasoning.

And now he was alone, Rorke had once again taken everything away from him while all he could do was watch; First his dad.

And now his brother.

Breath of the wild (5) (all are oneshots!)

(I don't write for Zelda anymore, but if I ever get back into it I might start again!)

Seafood Meuniere - Sidon/Link

Sidon and Link spend time together at Lovers Pond

Sweet like Appels - Revail & Link

A Night like this was uncommon for the two, but it was one they would cherish forever

Calla Lilly - Link/Zelda

In which Link confesses his love to Zelda, with the help of flowers

In My Dreams - Link/Zelda

In my dreams, shadows call, there's a light at the end of a hall.

Then my dreams fade away, but I know it all will come back, one day.

Or, the one in which Link is haunted by memories of the past.

Yellow Roses, Dried White Carnations - Zelda/Mipha

It's been months since Zelda realized she had feelings for the Zora Champion, but what will happen once she confesses?