#this is very frustrating but also objectively silly

[pumpkinrootbeer]

I hate the fixation part of anxiety disorders, especially when it is something that in no real world will ever materially affect me in any meaningful way bc what do you mean I have spent the better part of three hours so anxious im nauseous over a hockey player *potentially* not resigning with a team. I have real boy problems too and my brain chooses this to get so fixated on I'm almost crying over it. I WANT TO BE NORMAL!!!!

[revelboo]

I love how you made TFP Shockwave an unapologetic FREAK in the name of science and logic

I love how he wants to be so physically entwined with reader but also so deadpan about it

Like it’s hot but also such a riot to read

I have a lot of fun writing him and creating misunderstandings between him and his human🤣

Yeah, they’re incredibly stressed out all the time dealing with him because they can’t get a read on what he’s thinking at all. Have no idea what he wants either

🔞 🌶️

Point of Extinction Pt 18

TFP Shockwave x Reader

• Thighs trembling, one of your calves locked up in an agonizing Charlie horse during the third round and you’re pretty sure your legs are just useless noodles at this point. You’re definitely sore, but he’s finally out. Or at least his optic’s dim. And it’s giving you a break. Pushing yourself up, you grimace at his glowing mess he’d made slicking you to nearly your knees.

• Risking a glance at him to make sure he’s really recharging not just taking a break, you scoot yourself toward your blanket trying to be quiet. Because if he comes online still horny, you might just die. Had never imagined too much sex could be a problem, but then it’s never been a problem you’d had to deal with. Keeping an eye on your giant alien- lover? What are you to him? Because you have no idea what he is to you. Are you still an experiment? Maybe this is the experiment? Seeing what his slick does to a human. Or are you just a fuck toy? Using an end of the blanket to try and clean yourself up, you try not to think about permanently glowing in the dark down there.

• Coming online, his head turns to find you cleaning away his release. Again. And your shoulders hunch guiltily upon realizing he’s up. “It’s more effective if you leave it,” he growls, annoyed with you and himself for caring. For taking satisfaction in the way you look slicked with his release. Venting raggedly as his spike stirs again. How are you doing this to him? Some sort of pheromones? Head tipping as you pointedly drape the blanket across your lap, hiding yourself from him, he pushes upright.

• Tensing, you’re aware that there’s nowhere to hide if he decides he needs to ‘replenish’ his nanites again. “I need a bath,” you manage, skin prickling at his stare, watching his antenna flick. Still want to ask him to explain about his nanites, but you’re half afraid he’ll just fuck you silly again if you do. “Humans don’t just walk around with jizz trailing down their legs.” Especially glowing, alien jizz.

• “Jizz,” he repeats, filing the word away. And you’re raking your fingers through your hair to send it into disarray. “Thirteen may bathe,” he decides. Because your little, frustrated expression makes him want to make you happy. Wants you to smile at him again and you do. Feels his spark warm as he stands slowly and mass shifts. “Do not remove anymore jizz while I acquire supplies to tend to you.” He adds, pointing his cannon at you. Needs his nanites well established before proceeding with his new objective.

• Why does he have to make everything sound so ominous like it’s a threat? “Sure,” you manage, smiling weakly and trying not to laugh at him saying jizz in that serious, blunt growl of his. And he’s leaving. With his spike just swinging. Mouth opening to say something, you blow out a breath instead. He’ll figure it out. Or traumatize some other aliens. Hear someone’s very offended “put your fragging spike away!” As the door closes behind him and you snort.

Previous

[mikaela-the-slut-expert]

If you do take requests at this moment, can I request a Hualian x GN reader where reader feels like the third wheel, and when Hualian look further into reader, they find out that reader is hurting themselves/trying to change in the way they look

That Hualian would baby reader, like take sharp objects out of arm’s reach, or spoon feed reader when it’s time to eat. Giving reader kisses and words of affirmation every time they’re around

Lol, I’m feeling very angsty, but if this request is a little too far, you don’t have to do it (I hope you’re doing great! Make sure to drink enough water!) 🥰

Shape Shifting Heart

HuaLian x gn!reader

Ignore grammar mistakes

Slight OOC

Made up looks about reader for plot

Tyyy Pepsi zero has become my hydration 😔🙏

Also I'm so sorry for disappearing but I've had like the worst few months of my life ever so 😃🙏 bear with me

____________________________________

Being with Xie Lian and San Lang is the best thing that has ever happened to you. There's so much love to go around with three people and everyone is always taking care of each other! So you never listened to people being hateful about it, whether that be other gods or ghosts. You guys are happy and that all that matters right?

What happens when all of you aren't happy, when it's just one person bringing down the mood and the whole relationship? That's how you've been feeling lately. You haven't been much use to Xie Lian and San Lang these days. Often, you've been curled up in bed and staying hidden under the covers. For what reason? They don't know. You won't talk to them, and while Xie Lian and San Lang pride themselves on knowing you inside and out they can't figure out what's wrong.

You can't tell them. It's kind of embarrassing, humiliating even. How do you tell your lovers, "I feel like the third wheel, I feel neglected and left out" to the two kindest people you've ever met. Everything you do seems to make it worse and you're trying your best so you don't understand why it seems to put your relationship more on edge.

You had honestly just wanted to sulk and pout for a few days in bed over something silly. When they stopped visiting the bedroom it became a problem. All you do is lie here so what could possibly have made them want to leave you alone? You aren't even doing anything to warrant them off! Xie Lian and San Lang easily coddle each other all the time so why don't they think to do it with you? They stopped coming to the shared bedroom, even going as far to sleep in another bedroom together, but by themselves without you.

It only made you feel worse, are you so depressed and off putting they don't want to be near you now? Sadness becomes frustration and it fuels you to get out of bed in what has been weeks. You leave the room disheveled and groggy hoping to find one of your lovers to receive some affection, to you it feels like you haven't had in forever.

You find them together in the kitchen, an awfully domestic scene. Xie Lian cooking dinner and San Lang attached by the hip. The way San Lang holds Xie Lian's waist and stays close while Xie Lian bustles around the kitchen. Where you had once been and would usually love to hear the sound of their laughs and love filled giggles all it sounds like is mocking joy of what you once felt. How many nights has it been like this? How many nights have they been content without you?

"Making dinner without me?" You pipe up, leaning against the kitchen counter. Making dinner is a silly thing to be upset about. A part of you feels awful for being so jealous but the other doesn't. It's not like you're jealous of San Lang or jealous of Xie Lian. You don't spite a specific person. You're just jealous of the love they share, of their bond. You're envious of their happiness, you just want to be included too!

"Ah, y/n!", Xie Lian gives a wobbly smile, "Of course not" Xie Lian didn't know how to bring up that they've been trying to give you space. He doesn't know how to say it in a way that would sound reasonable to you. These days you've been a little irritated and you easily take words they say but add a whole new meaning to it. They know it's not your fault, it's one of your episodes maybe.

No one moves. They don't know whether to extend a hand to invite you or not but you seem to take it upon yourself. You walk closer and stick right up to Xie Lian's and San Lang's side. The tension - you can't tell if you're imagining it or not, you've been imagining a lot these days - is thick. "Well I feel a little better so I'll join from now on, what are you making?" You try to make conversation, you try to move closer in hopes that the domestic scene will just continue.

It doesn't. The room is tense and so are your lovers. You hate it. It makes you want to lash out, cry, and scream. Xie Lian and San Lang seem to be walking on eggshells around you and you don't know why. You've never gotten angry with them before, you've never been violent or aggressive with them so why are they acting like you're a ticking bomb?

San Lang attempts to break the tense atmosphere first. Wrapping hesitant hands around your waist and nuzzling into your hair, hair he will not mention is a bit notty. "We missed you" he murmurs into your long, bright locs. "We're glad you feel better" this seems to get the night moving smoothly again. It's pathetic how quickly you melt into San Lang's touch and preen at his words. It finally feels like you're included in the domestic picture they make.

The three of you eat dinner and enjoy it, Xie Lian's cooking has been getting a lot better but that's probably because you and San Lang were in the kitchen to help him. You're filled with a deep satisfaction when Xie Lian gently grabs your hand and all of you go to your shared bedroom together. Xie Lian pulls you into bed and They cuddle up next to you under the covers, placing gentle kisses on your face and shoulders.

You feel suddenly energetic because of the affection you're receiving. Making you giggle and kissing them back with new found passion. You won't lie you guys haven't had sex in a while so. . . You easily climb on San Lang, and straddle his hips. Kissing him eagerly and nipping against his lips. They weren't expecting you to be so eager but who are they to deny you.

Xie Lian gets behind you and slips off your robe, running his hands over your body. Your back, arms, hips, and thighs- your thighs. Xie Lian's hands freeze, and moves his hands as if he's been scalded. The sudden movement catches San Lang's attention and he sits up but he keeps you in his lap. "Gege what's wrong?" San Lang stares at Xie Lian and suddenly all the attention is off you. Somewhere inside you, you feel a little miffed at Xie Lian's reaction.

But you're concerned too so you turn your head to your other lover with concerned eyes, however Xie Lian is the one staring at you with pity. He turns on the light and sits next to San Lang. "His thighs, San Lang. . ." You scrunch your face. Of course that's what Xie Lian reacted so strongly about. While you were rotting in bed you were feeling so down in the dumps. So- so maybe you took it out on yourself and used your sword on your own skin.

It's not that big of a deal, they're already healed and just remain thick scars across your thighs but it matters to your lovers greatly. They've explored your body many times, and they know these are new. "Baobei, what happened?" Xie Lian cups your face with gentle hands but you turn your head the other way. You're irritated the night has stopped over something so trivial. "Nothing important, I was just feeling upset a few weeks ago, it's trivial now. Can't we just- can we not focus on that?"

Your face is scrunched in irritation and you try to roll your hips against San Lang but he removes you from his lap and onto the silk covers. You groan in frustration. The night was going perfectly and now it's all messed up! San Lang's eyes narrow as he gazes over your legs, and you swallow nervously. "This isn't something we can just ignore Y/n. You know that. . . Let's stop here for tonight" If it were San Lang saying it you wouldn't have minded as much but it's Xie Lian.

Xie Lian loves San Lang's body even with the scars on it so why won't he love yours?! "We don't have to stop! Just- ignore it, would you please?! I can get rid of them, I can look like whatever you want me to be! " You never notice when you start heaving for breath, when tears line your eyes and you try to cling to one of your lovers. You don't notice when you subconsciously change your body into something else because it's something you've always had the power to do.

So when your skin becomes smooth again, and unmarked it's something you don't even look over. But for Xie Lian and San Lang it's completely different. It's like looking at a stranger's body. Like looking at somebody who's never worked a day in their life, someone who has never gone to battle, something you are not but you're desperately trying to be. You have no scars, and the callouses on your hands have disappeared. They've memorized everything on you and now you've made yourself look completely different.

To you, it feels like they look at you with disgust and anger. You're breaking down and it's not something you're even registering. "Y/n stop!" San Lang gives up on keeping you on the bed and he lets you crawl into his lap, he cups your face with surprisingly gentle hands that contradict his angry voice. "Breathe Baobei" he rubs comforting circles into your hips and Xie Lian rubs your back. They're trying to get you to breathe and to stop hyperventilating.

San Lang never looks away from you, and he plants tiny kisses in your cheeks to get rid of your tears. When did you start crying? You don't remember. You eventually calm down from listening to your lovers instructions and their loving touches. When you're finally breathing normally again and the tension leaves your body they try talking to you again. Xie Lian rubs his fingers through your hair, he doesn't like how you've easily changed yourself. He misses your bright locs not the dark ones you've decided to take on. He kisses your head. "I want to talk to my Y/n now. Can I?" Xie Lian asks sweetly.

You've always been you but he wants to talk to his lover not the made up version of yourself. You sniffle and San Lang pats your waist. You take the encouragement and change back to your original body. When you make a weird noise in your throat that sounds close to a sob Xie Lian wraps around you and kisses your nape. "That's good Baobei, we're proud of you." San Lang and Xie Lian glance at each other and in that moment decide to drop the topic about your new found scars. They can only try to find the root of the issue now.

San Lang kisses your forehead and then below your eyes and then your lips. "Tell us what's wrong?" San Lang poses it as a question. As in, you don't have to but it would greatly help them if you did. You feel pathetic and selfish. You don't know why you broke down over something so silly and foolish. "I-I felt, I felt like a t-third wheel. You guys seem so happy without me and all I do is mess up, I'm sorry " you start to cry again and you rub at your eyes harshly but San Lang holds your wrists gently and keeps them away from your eyes.

Xie Lian kisses your shoulder. "There's nothing to be sorry for baobei. No one's at fault." He runs his hands over your thighs, making circles with his fingers. "We didn't mean to make you feel left out, we just wanted to give you space. We thought that's what you needed" Xie Lian explains softly. You nod and sniffle. That's more reasonable than whatever your mind came up with. San Lang pulls you closer by the waist. "If we make you feel like that tell us Baobei, we'll fix it immediately" he says with narrowed eyes. You know he isn't upset with you and he's probably beating himself up for not being able to tell. You kiss him deeply and sigh against his lips.

"M'sorry, I know you love me I just- my mind tells me awful things." You whisper in San Lang's lips and kiss him again. San Lang grunts and playfully tugs a piece of your hair. "Should I beat it up for you?" It makes you giggle.

🦊🪷

For the next few days and even few weeks they baby you endlessly. Xie Lian keeps an eye on sharp objects and makes sure you can't get into the weapons room. He also confiscated your sword and he won't even let you hold knives in the kitchen. The only sword you're allowed to be around is E'ming and they know you wouldn't do that to him or San Lang.

They have no problem with dragging you everywhere they go and often San Lang likes to feed you during meals. At first you blushed and insisted you could do it yourself but San Lang waved your concerns away and said "Let me take care of you". They coddle you a lot and one of them is always in the room with you. You know now that you need to work on your communication and not let your mind get to you. It was a big misunderstanding but San Lang and Xie Lian treat it as if it was a genuine problem.

You're suffocated with love but you wouldn't change it for the world.

[nexahexagon]

tr!Sneeg and tr!Ros fic, exploring the idea of them both being Moth and Butterfly hybrids, respectively. Specifically, that moths squeak as a warning to predators.

Ever since Ros was turned into a butterfly at the Snail Race, she had a much larger connection with Sneeg. It wasn't a lot, but it was more than they had before. 

At first, it was awkward. He was hesitant to assist her in tasks involving her wings, giving her the space to ask him herself. It was a long process of small and gentle corrections over the span of a week until she could comfortably tuck her wings under her cape. 

She quickly realized why Sneeg hid his antennae under his hood, as well. While she was a great deal shorter than him, she still would occasionally smack them on door frames and low-hanging branches, making them sting for minutes after. She could only imagine how many times Sneeg would have hit his on objects before he conceded to a hood. 

And there was also the very beginning of her transformation, where he warned her of the fragility of her scales. It shocked her to find out that Butterfly wings were just a ton of tiny scales. But he warned her that, if they weren’t covered, her wings could rip easily. 

Foolish had made her a cape after hearing so, one that matched the banners of the kingdom. It was silk on the inside, and a velvety feel on the outside. Apparently, he’d gotten the material recommendation from Sneeg, who’s hooded cape was the same. 

And above all that, Ros became more attuned to Sneeg’s squeaks. She hadn’t heard it before, or it was too quiet for her to catch. But now it was as loud as a snap of her fingers- and as quick as one too. 

The first time she heard it was when she was sitting in the castle’s kitchen, making food just before bed. Sneeg had shown up an hour earlier, talking about needing more materials for arrows. Normal, mundane things. Nothing special. 

He asked if she had any feathers, and she directed him to the storage chests just above the kitchen. She tailed him as he went to check, enjoying spending time with someone from the kingdom. He had gone through five barrels when a light squeak startled her. 

“Did you hear that?” She asked. She had been in a daze, it being so late. She was nodding off already before she’d heard the noise, and wasn’t sure if it was in her head or not. And not only was it a noise, but it was like a physical vibration. Like the noise had traveled down her spine for a split second. 

“Hear what?” Sneeg closed the barrel he had searched, his eyes cutting across to the staircase, then the windows. They narrowed suspiciously, and his hands immediately fell to his sides, ready to conjure his weapons if needed. 

Two more squeaks filled the room after his words, in quick succession of each other. It was very unnerving, and shook her breathing. Chills chased after the vibrations, making her shudder. 

“That! You don’t hear that? The high buzz noise?” She, in response to Sneeg’s suspicion, pulled out her spear and turned her back to him defensively. She felt, surprisingly, threatened.

They stood in silence for a few seconds, Ros trying very hard to listen for the noise again. She felt a little silly, getting so worked up over a small squeak. But it felt like a strange warning. She heard it one more time. Behind her. 

She turned to Sneeg, who held a sheepish grin. 

“It’s. God, I forgot you can hear that now.” He reached up and pulled the hood off of his head, his antennae sticking upwards. It felt as though she was able to properly listen to him now, as if she wasn't able to before. His voice held a crisp that she found unfamiliar, the sound of his voice rattling like crystal marbles in her head.

“It’s a moth thing. It’s. It’s supposed to “scare” enemies, or make you nervous, or something.” He shrugged, seemingly embarrassed having to explain this. “I do it when I’m frustrated. Humans don’t hear it very well, and they aren’t affected by it. I think Demons hear it, Bad might have reacted to it once. Um.” 

He, through the explanation, was scanning the barrels intensely. Not seeing if they held what he needed, but rather was avoiding looking directly at her. 

“I don’t think butterflies make the same noise? Might be why you got jumpy.” His eyes landed on the barrel he last checked, and he continued his search. 

They sat in silence for a few seconds, the only sound being Sneeg’s rummaging through the barrels. 

“You don’t have to stop just because it scared me.” Ros rested a hand on Sneeg’s arm to get his attention. She found it interesting. Something new that brought them closer.

“I’m not gonna do it if it’s not necessary, Ros.” He grumbled, and Ros delighted in this clear communication. Even with him mumbling under his breath, nearing a whisper, she still felt his words dance through the air and shake her antennae. He was practically speaking directly into her ear.

She found herself wishing he would keep the hood down more often. There were very few things bridging their connection to each other. She thought Clown was an important part of that, and with him gone she would gladly grasp at straws to keep whatever was holding her and Sneeg together strong.

And in truth, finding out that the large, scary, ominous, high-powered smith would squeak when he was scared or frustrated? Well. 

She found it endearing.

“What?” Sneeg turned to her, an incredulous, baffled grin on his face. Ros’s face flushed hot from embarrassment. 

“Not like-! I mean, I just never expected something so. So,, you know? From you!” She sputtered in defence. She hadn’t meant to say that last part of her thoughts aloud, and was deeply mortified. To call her very scary and intimidating friend endearing? She wished her reset would come sooner.

But Sneeg simply laughed and reached a hand to tousle her hair. She let out a surprised laugh herself and ducked away. And although a small gesture, she noticed how naturally and easily he avoided roughing up her antennae. She briefly wondered if anyone else would have taken that into account.

“Whatever,” he groaned dramatically, “just keep this squeaky business between the two of us, alright?” There was a playful threat in there that eased Ros’s embarrassment slightly.

“You got it!” 

He closed the barrel he was rummaging through and turned only to pat her on the shoulder. He began setting off downstairs and to his room.

“I’m headed back to my island, let me know if you need anything.” He called over his shoulder. She said her goodbye’s as he descended the stairs and began making her way to her room.

“Ow!” Sneeg’s exclamation shook through her head and a phantom stab of pain lanced just behind her eyes. She tenderly reached for her antennae. He must have forgotten to put his hood back on.

She made a mental note to raise the height of all of the doors in the castle.

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

You seem like an incredibly well read person, plus someone with a lot of insight into intimacy because of your work. So, in light of your romance book reviews, which are an absolute highlight on your patreon, do you have any insight into what is needed/suggested for a good romance novel?

g o d this is so fucking hard and also really fun to chew on. I want to preface this by saying this is ENTIRELY subjective and based completely on what I *PERSONALLY* find that I enjoy in a romance. this isn't, like, an objective guide on how to write a romance that doesn't suck. that doesn't exist because people like different things, and I'm speaking from one perspective.

also I should say that my preferred flavor of romance novel is solidly contemporary. I haven't read many historicals, certainly not enough to opine well on them, I don't do those mafia dark romances or whatever the fuck, and I've barely dabbled at all in any kind of fantasy romance, whether they're full high fantasy or witchy urban fantasy stories. (although I'm about to do one of the latter next month, you can vote for a book on my patreon rn!)

having gotten all of those caveats out of the way, here's some shit I like and dislike:

there are exceptions to this but broadly, I prefer a POV for everyone involved in the relationship. to me a romance where we're only seeing events from the POV of one member of the relationship automatically makes it seem like one person matters more in a dynamic where everyone should be of equal importance. also, god, if the plot's really going to hinge on not knowing what's going on in one partner's head suggests that miscommunication is going to be a pretty critical part of the plot, and I hate that shit. TALK TO EACH OTHER. I'LL KILL YOU.

on that note, there needs to be an actual compelling reason why the characters can't be together, okay? the #1 driving tension of every romance is "why the fuck can't they be together yet" and you BETTER have a good answer. whether it's interpersonal or external forces, if there's a very easy solution to what's keeping them apart then your characters look dumb and I'm bored. one of the most frustrating romances I've ever read involved two characters who were mutually attracted to each from the JUMP, who refused to act on it because they were coworkers (neither of them in any position of authority of the other, nothing unprofessional or inappropriate about it) and they were "only" living in the same state for A YEAR. A FULL YEAR !!! shut up. get a grip and kiss each other.

now, having said that: whatever your bullshit reason is for these two characters to be interacting with each other, you need to COMMIT to that shit so hard that I, the reader, will feel silly for even questioning the logic. the worst offender I've ever seen on this front is D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, which pulls its protagonists together via a reality TV competition and then just... promptly loses any interest in really dealing with the actual realities of being filmed 24/7? it's insanely distracting how little the book engages with its central hook, and was a huge point deduction for me. whereas you have, like, The Bride Test, a book with a premise that skirts dangerously close to a little bit of human trafficking but embraces the whole premise so wholeheartedly that you completely forget about the potentially horrific elements in there. who cares that Esme was bribed here with the promise of a green card if she seduces a man she's never met? there's whimsy happening! we've moved on! it's literally fine and she's in no danger except the danger of a BROKEN HEART.

this one is going to seem SO obvious but like. I need them to be actually like each other. I'm not saying they can't be mutually bitchy while they grow to like each other or anything, they don't have to always be NICE to each other, but there are so many M/F romances where the dude is just flat out fucking MEAN and condescending to the girl until he decides he wants to fuck her. and sometimes even after that! stop it! after a certain point I don't want her to fuck him I want her to run him over a car!!!! there's suuuuch a line between "guy I butt heads and exchange banter with but could fuck if we just got to know each other" and "man who hates me and is for real fucking bullying me."

"kisses only," "doors closed," whatever term they use for a romance novel without any sex scenes on page, I don't like it. listen: I know that they're not everybody's cup of tea, and I FULLY recognize that a lot of romance novel sex scenes are unfathomably cringe. and yet, I need them. partly because they're funny, but also because if this book wants me to be invested in the developing relationship between two adults who are supposed to be WILDLY sexually attracted to each other, then I want to see the damn sex. no matter how many bad similes or unfortunate adjectives it entails. and if you're not going to show me the sex, don't you dare have the characters gushing about how great it is. I'll be the judge of that, thank you very much. (I'm looking at you, Sorry, Bro.)

related: there's this thing that I call "Horny Wolf Syndrome," which is derived from this tweet:

initially I used it to refer to when previously sweet-tempered male romance protags inexplicably started talking like horny wovles during sex scenes - "LET ME SEE YOUR PRETTY CUNT ON MY COCK" and the like - but now I more generally use it to refer to scenarios in which characters of any gender completely dispense with their established personality while they fuck in order to fulfill a more broadly appealing, one-size-fits-all sexual fantasy. I hate that shit; if your characters act like completely unrecognizable people during sex, you didn't write very strong characters. one of my favorite things about writing sex scenes is that it's so SO interesting to see how their the characters' personal quirks translate into a setting that's very different from most other contexts, and it's deeply disappointing when authors take the easy route in favor of some pornhub dialogue.

one of the things that actually won my most recent read, Raiders of the Lost Heart, a HUGE amount of points with me was how frank the female lead was about initiating sex for the first time. it was completely in character for her and felt really different than any other book I've read, and honestly? it was a breath of fresh air.

[superkirbylover]

saw a post talking about ableism in cartoons. overall i agree with the message of the post, but the points made and said feel really infantilizing.

for context, i am disabled and many members of my family are as well. this is all drawn from experiences.

there is something to be said about exclusively designing characters who are insane and crazy with a form of lazy eye. there is something to be said about portraying disabled characters as incapable and stupid. there is something to be said about how these tropes continue to push the idea that disabled folk are "other" and are treated poorly. however, the post and OP made a few comparisons i really didn't sit well with.

they claimed the design of old man mcgucket from gravity falls is ableist for giving him wall-eyes as a way to portray how crazy he is. however, the post failed to mention that he's also a mechanic. he's a genuinely smart character with real accomplishments that happens to be crazy and disabled via his eye condition. he has depth. i don't associate his craziness with his disability, and it feels ableist to me to exclusively focus on the eyes and ignore how he isn't just "the crazy guy." i understand wanting to avoid stereotypes, especially harmful ones. however there are real people who sometimes fall under these stereotypes. as a kid, i fell under the stereotype of flapping my hands when i was happy or excited. and yes, there are people who condemn and discourage autistic folk from doing this because it's "stereotypical." that feels insanely ableist to me.

there is something to be said about trying to avoid harmful stereotypes of disabled folk, but i feel like people tend to overcorrect. derpy hooves is an excellent example; rainbow dash gets very frustrated with her in season 2 and is a bit rude. her voice was silly and she was oblivious. because some parents called and found this offensive, there was a redub and re-animated version of the scene featuring her. however, this version is infinitely more ableist to me. it's no secret derpy is disabled, and i personally resonate with her. to me, she is autistic. on top of missing social queues and having a hard time understanding things occasionally, her lazy eye can impare her visually. it is an undeniable fact that sometimes, disabilities will frustrate other people. my autism frustrates my friends and family sometimes. this isnt rooted in ableism. to me, its much like how non-disabled folk will get frustrated with each other. people should treat others, including disabled folk well and avoid getting mad at things they cannot control. however, erasing the fact people do get frustrated with autistic folk feels infantilizing. people will get frustrated with me. sometimes i do things that are objectively irritating. i don't want this erased. it's a part of being human. what i don't want is the irritation being used as a justification to treat disabled folk as sub-human. this isn't what happens at all in the scene. now, in a later season with derpy and rarity, i have many issues with the scene and how derpy and rarity are portrayed, so i do think there is something to be said there.

as long as the character has depth and is portrayed with respect, much like a person, then personally i don't find issues. i am personally tired of people overcorrecting for ableism in media. there is some correcting to do, don't get me wrong. but i don't want my disabilities washed down to the point where negative experiences with my disabilities are erased. they are important to my and many other folks identities as disabled folk. i don't want my experiences to be sanitized.

[clairdelunetarot]

Addressing an Ongoing Issue Before My Return

I have noticed strong similarities between my content and this person's ever since I created my blog, and just a few days later, this person @/hermetiqa changed the aesthetic of theirs. I know i am a small blog with less than 400 followers and i disappear a lot. I have had sad experiences with plagiarism before, people have stolen my work (tarot and non tarot), and even if this isn’t exactly that, it’s really frustrating when someone with a bigger blog starts taking a lot of inspiration from you, never acknowledges it, you block them, and even after being blocked, they come back and keep doing it.

There’s no problem with being inspired, the issue is the context and how often it happens. Especially because this person changed their aesthetic after I opened my blog, along with their masterlist. I only found out now that they kept going because some friends outside my tarot blog told me. My last post was in November and guess what? So was theirs. I don’t know them, and they don’t know me. But the vibe here for me stinks bad. There’s also one thought that crossed my mind, even if it sounds silly: their blog has been around longer than mine, so what if I come back and they do it again? I won't feel comfortable because they made it weird. They could have said: oh and this masterlist was inspired by clairdelune. Like, they have paid readings, and are gaining money out of people. If you are having a business at least be transparent and support newcomers with their small business too when there's something you like or something you take inspo from.

PSA: I don't want anyone to give me advice on how to proceed, I just want to vent about this and not feel like I'm crazy. Even if it doesn't seem like it, this takes A LOT of time and days. Making tarot readings for a lot of public is draining because of the energies, and then decorating and coming up with something to make it look attractive is also draining. It's not a crime to get inspired, but the way this person has handled it has made me angry and feel a very bad energy around it.

For context this was their blog before:

It was simple, cute, straight to the point with three pictures. When you went down to read your pile, no section of "signs" with mbti or astrological placements where there. I love mbti, i checked their readings superficially and never noticed them referencing them. Here, you can see it for yourself:

then here's where it all started for me. This is what their masterlist looked like before:

Now this is what it looked like after taking inspiration from me and not even changing the roman numbers. Just changing small details but the essence is there. That's the difference with inspo and copy. You can take inspo from someone but the essence is going to be yours. If they did not change a few little tiny things, this would be confused with mine.

After this I blocked them. My thought process was: If they are a big blog and can do this with no one raising their eyebrows, It's safe to say they could even take inspo from my pictures and even readings. I don't know them, I don't know if this could be a one time thing or something that can continue, or worse: something that can enter plagiarism. I was hoping this would be enough for them to never see my blog again. But no. It kept going. At least they haven't copied what i write as I am aware.

Now, this can get tricky because unlike plagiarism, this is more inspiration based. Which is not a crime, but again, this being done heavily, with no acknowledgement whatsoever because i am a lesser known blog and after getting blocked? Not so nice and too much to be coincidence. Check the dates.

Same months, and this one took two weeks because before that, they posted another reading in between. I mean, putting floating png objects is not a trademark. But after I blocked them for what they did with my masterlist it pissed me off. Right now, them gaining more interactions with their post after this and with no acknowledgement is what did not sit well with me. It is hard to be a new blog in the tarot community and opening a ton of ask games for people to then unfollow you when they get their energy and reading from you and never interact with your blog again. Specially when this was a chance for you to get some money for college. But then again, seeing the strong similarities gets tricky, but you can see the inspiration.

Mine:

Theirs:

They never posted that section before. You can see it in their readings before, right? So when I started posting it too, guess what? they did it too. You know, it doesn’t feel fair that even after blocking them so they would leave me alone and find someone else to get inspired by, they still have this recurrent thing with me and might keep doing it with anything new I come up with. Because i stopped posting readings, the last reading I posted was the same theme (romantic partner) and with strong similarities as mine. I have not posted ever since. The one before that for me was future spouse related and theirs too. You know what's crazy? Mine got a lot of trouble and issues with the aesthetic I had to pull it down. This person's energy is so down heavy it made me put down my reading.

This can be called speculation, but we are in a spiritual community and I believe this could not be a coincidence and their energy towards me is not a good one. You can check the date. All in november. This is also a warning for other tarot readers, if you are sensitive like me with people's vibes, beware when opening a tarot blog.

They don't just do it with one thing and move on, they keep doing it with several things even after not being well received by my end, and it becomes annoying and it literally made me put my own post down.

I just want to leave this here before closing this blog and moving on, because honestly this hasn't been my year and I know it’s just starting, but little things like this don't give me a good vibe to keep running such an open blog to any audience. The energy is so draining and I want to do impulsive things like deleting my posts. Because I start thinking back to times where people straight up stole my work or envied it and posted it as theirs and I don't want that happening again.

Again, please, be mindful with your comments. If you have something rude to say, keep it.

[snuggleboots]

₊˚♡˚₊ The Akatsuki, communicating their love ₊˚♡˚₊

₊˚♡˚₊ feat. Itachi, Kisame, Kakuzu, and Hidan ₊˚♡˚₊

Tags: Fluff, mishmash of random headcanons, general cutesy relationship stuff.

♡ Kisame communicates his love in various ways, but it's always most sincere in the little things he does. If you're both walking up a flight of stairs, he'll always walk behind, just so he can steal a kiss without having to lean down a bit to reach you. Usually, he'll follow that up with a stupid little, 'How's it feel to be the tall one for once?'

♡ He's a man who likes to sleep in, but when you're sleeping with him, it's his god-given duty to wake you up with some combination of stupid, sleepy shenanigans. It typically starts with some needlessly aggressive cuddling while he's waking up, which becomes a smattering of kisses and little nips dealt wherever he can reach, and eventually develops into... either cackling over your groggy irritation or moving into a little extra lovin', if you feel up to it.

♡ Cuteness aggression is a real thing, and it's his curse. If your tongue pokes out just a little bit when you're thinking hard or focused on something, if you flex your toes like a little cat when you stretch, or purse your lips when you're frustrated - he's gonna bite you. Always does. He can't help it, he gets the impulse to squish you, bite you, pinch, or bully you a little bit when you're minding your business, doing things that he finds objectively precious. You make his teeth itch when he catches you off guard, and you flash him those big eyes, and- UGH.

♡ Now, he isn't the perfect listener by any means, but Kisame is very attentive when tiffs happen in the relationship. He listens with the full intention to learn and solve the problem, and if things get a bit heated he'll calm himself down and ask you to back up and explain why you're upset. He doesn't make a habit of taking himself too seriously, which really helps him navigate rough patches well.

♡ Your personal space is his preferred space. You're stretched out, reading a book or resting your eyes? It doesn't matter where you're hanging out, that's still just as good as an invitation in his books. When he saunters on over and nonchalantly plonks his entire body weight on top of you, he doesn't even have the courtesy to say sorry for the disturbance. Nope, he's on a mission, hooking his arms around your waist and just burying his face in your belly. You're warm, you smell so nice, and he's livin' large on cloud nine, which means you're stuck there until he's decided he's had his fill for a bit.

♡ Itachi's a man with simple wants and simple displays of love. If your days are busy and he's tucking into bed before you are, he'll cosy up on your side to keep it warm until you're ready to join him for the night. It's a little silly, a little cute, watching a man like him streeeetch right out when you meander into the bedroom, and unceremoniously shimmy back over to his side before settling in and promptly passing out. That is, however, a quiet little token of his affection.

♡ He's perceptive about things you don't enjoy doing, and especially things you tend to stress about. Without so much as mentioning it, he'll tend to the little things like that just to take them off your plate. If you're sick or in pain, Itachi is more than content to take care of you. Sorry, it's a small facet of who he is, to tend to the very few people he cares about. The man also cooks, and pretty damned well at that. His breakfasts are a cure-all when you're feeling like absolute garbage.

♡ There is such a thing as an 'Uchiha pout', and he weaponizes it for petty reasons and to ridiculous extents. He isn't always just some stone-faced caricature of a stoic, and it's brilliantly displayed when you deny his simple requests, such as relaxing after a long day, curled up on the couch with him when he's having a low-energy, no spoons left kind of day.

♡ Yes, he wants to settle his weight into your side and just be - or better yet, rest his head on your shoulder and soak up some easy, effortless affection until he's feeling a bit better. (Please card your fingers through his hair, he won't nod off again, really-) If you really have the audacity to say no - and he will call it that - you're going to see him purse his lips, pinch his brows and angle his face away from you like some kind of disappointed housecat. 'You make me lonely', he'll halfheartedly mumble, because it's a guilt trip that works and he's fully aware of that fact. No, he does not feel bad about it, either.

♡ Kakuzu's 'love language' exists in subtle acts of service and physical touch, generally shared in private. No, he's not going to say he loves you, but he can show you that your presence doesn't irritate the part of his brain that makes him want to shove his fist through someone's skull.

♡ When the seasons turn and you inevitably wind up freezing cold every goddamn night, he's content to settle beside you on the couch and tuck your chilly feet under his leg while he unwinds with a good book. There's no need to fill the silence, just let it be and enjoy the moment. You're cosy, he's relatively happy, and for all intents and purposes, you two are set to have a wonderful, quiet night.

♡ And since Kakuzu's a habitual early riser, you're typically still snoring long after he's up and ready for the day. When it's time for him to get up and get dressed, he'll flop his blanket - because he sure as hell doesn't share one - over your head before he turns on the light to get dressed. When he's done and the light's out he'll pull it down and be on his way without having disturbed your sleep.

♡ On the odd time that you're waking up with him, he'll slip by while you're getting dressed and steal a kiss to your shoulder.

♡ When his nail polish is chipped and it's time to reapply, he'll let you do it. For one, it's less for him to do, but! It's also a little token of trust on his part to toss you the polish, plop his hand in your lap, and grumble something like, 'Don't paint my damn fingers this time'. You probably still manage to flood his cuticles, which he will grumble about, but it's the thought that counts.

♡ Hidan's love can sometimes be compared to that of a fat, obnoxious housecat. If he's off-duty when you're trying to enjoy some free time, he is firmly wedged up your ass because he likes attention and you actually listen to him when he talks about... whatever's bouncing around in his head.

♡ Lounging on the couch when he's just coming in from a month on the road? Haha, sucks to be you actually, because he's instantly ripping through the living room at terminal velocity, with full intentions of divebombing your sorry ass before you have the chance to scramble up and evade him. You're still wheezing from impact, and this guy's already launching into a tirade about every little gripe he's had about his mission. 'Kakuzu was a dick, the ration bars taste like shit, the coil broke on my scythe and, and, and...'

♡ Hidan loves a good late-night hangout, so he's usually around to burn time with you when you can't sleep. Even when you don't feel like talking, he always fills the silence himself by chatting your ear off about whatever comes to mind. Sometimes it's just life stuff, other times it's his interests - and often, he'll animorph into a used cars salesman for Jashinism. You expect it, he loves that you actually listen and engage with him.

♡ 'You only get to die if you lived, no matter how great or shitty your life was, get it? Seeing the end is a privilege', he'll mutter into the lip of a half-full mug. When you're tired at the table, jolting upright after accidentally dozing off for the fifth time during his proselytizing, Hidan will slide you a cup of something that'll keep you fucking wired for the night. It's not to be a dick, obviously, but you're listening! And this is important shit! 'Diseased, crippled, or fuckin'... broke; at the end of the day, you're alive, and your pain's recognised by Lord Jashin. Suffering is a gift imparted, that only the living receive, and...' something something Jashin is great, and you should probably definitely convert.

♡ He's claimed half of your bed, and sleeping with him fucking sucks. He sleeps like a starfish and steals the blankets, and you're not waking him up unless you feel like investing some serious effort into doing so. He snores, and on the nights that he winds up sleeping half on top of you, you have to deal with the fact that he drools like a dog and sleeps with his mouth hanging open. You don't wanna deal with that? Tough shit, you're comfy, and somehow your bed is just waaaaay better than his. Okay? Okay.

[olderthannetfic]

Does anyone have any tips on how to start writing by hand again? Not, from, like, a motor skills issue, but more from like a...focus issue/ADHD lens i guess?

I earnestly haven't written anything by hand in years. (I mean I still writes notes to myself and things like that but I mean writing in the creative sense.) Typing is faster for me, as it is for most people, but like, I USED to be able to write stories by hand! I want to get back into it because when I write on a device I'm too tempted to switch tabs and bullshit around on social media or games. Which is also an issue yes lol but for now I just want to fix a symptom, not a problem. I want to write again! I want to do it high school detention style, electronics locked away in another room and I just gotta write by hand! I want my hand to be cramping so badly by the time I'm done that when I crack my wrist I cry! Ok...maybe not that intense. But :P

This is either gonna sound really weird or really normal, but -- I feel like my brain is too fast for my hands. Or my hand is too slow for my brain. I just legit do not have the patience to write anything longform.

How do y'all recommend I get back into it and retrain myself? Should I maybe start with transcribing an already-typed fic? Should I start off with annotating books (if you're the type of person who thinks no one should ever write in books, pretend I said "take notes on a separate piece of paper", ok?) Obviously i know to start small and not try to immediately become Victor Hugo or anything like that, but I am wondering if anyone has any general advice on retraining that muscle.

I did go on google and reddit to try to find stuff but I guess I don't have the Search Engine Fu to word what I'm trying to say (most of the articles and posts were about, like, PT, or how to be less sloppy, and stuff) or it just seemed too...fluffy. Like "write in a pretty notebook uwu use your favorite pen!" Or just general focus/writing advice (quiet space etc) and not specifically on the Very Basic Skill of writing by hand, which is fair, lol. Plus honestly I'd rather get feedback from people I "know" even if it's just anonymously through fandom kvetching :)

I'd prefer tips specifically from someone who has genuinely retrained themself at this or at something that requires similar cognitive skills (I've worded that way too medically for such a silly problem ha i know), but obviously all input is appreciated!

--

My brain is definitely too fast for my hands. I usually prefer to type for that reason when I'm writing fiction, but I did just start using a new notebook with lovely mushrooms on it. I'm planning my porch redecoration/repainting, a bunch of knitting, decluttering, etc.

My biggest piece of advice is to get a really good pen. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it does need to have ink that flows beautifully. A frustrating pen is the death knell of getting anything done.

Anything that the shiny-light-chasing brain squirrels are supposed to calm down enough to do regularly can be built up to. It requires consistency. Set aside time every day. Treat it like those meditation exercises where the objective is less about never having a stray thought and more about coming back to the practice and re-clearing your mind every time it wanders.

[kelpeigh]

A common complaint among sitcom viewers is how nothing ever changes/develops long-term. The function of the unchanging plot/characters is of course is for ease of casual viewing and so re-runs can air out of order without confusion. WWDITS has always loved playing with that problem, pointing out that there's a canon reason for their characters to remain stagnant: they are literally immortal and unchanging. They've said it explicitly multiple times, most notably imo in the s4 finale "nothing ever changes around here".

So I think it was a little spicy for tptb to give that nod to fans with the hypnosis moment. They said, okay, here's the “best possible ending”, see how out of place the idea of happiness and contentment is here? Canon is not the best possible universe, this isn't even the best possible narrative, these characters are circlejerking idiot disasters and they’ll never be good, well-adjusted people, even after the show is over. They even showed us that this very documentary is a reboot and everything is more of the same.

In the series finale, they cranked the "nothing ever changes" to 11 and had Guillermo, the only character capable of real change, freak out about it, only to show us that he won't change in the end either. This whole season he seemed to be over Nandor, the other vampires, and vampirism in general. But now he's brushing Nandor's hair again. He's calling him "Master". He's acting hopeful when Nandor says there’s reasons he’s happy they won’t have cameras on them all the time… Then his final speech about moving on is a fake-out. By doing that fake-out he joined the vampires by accepting that he'll be a silly little guy forever.

You could argue that the only real change on the whole show is that Nandor really truly considers Guillermo an equal now-- and I like how that leaves Nandermos an open door to write further development post-canon. Cool.

Otherwise, characters are dynamic enough to be interesting, but any development gets folded into the multitudes contained within each vampire without disturbing their Set of Most Salient Attributes. Nadja learned human psychology but still can't empathize. Colin Robinson was literally reborn and he's slightly more chummy with Laszlo for it, but doesn't remember being raised by him. Laszlo's new-to-us passion for science is a re-invigoration of an old pursuit (Cravensworth's monster). We've also seen him make the mistake of thinking Nadja needs protection no less than three times this season.

Tl;Dr It’s frustrating that WWDITS wants to have its cake and eat it too, but it’s meant to be frustrating like that. It’s not new. It’s not exclusive to a ship. I get being more than frustrated about it because it feels like the same ship treatment we’ve gotten from a million other shows, but it really does fit here, on the “even when something changes, no it doesn’t” show

what IS objectively horrible that I will complain about to no end is there was no Simon the Devious this season

[anoant-haikyuu-dump]

Who in Nekoma is Photogenic?? 

Kuroo: Has a bit of a dorky smile and his hair never behaves but not that bad, at least he looks genuinely happy. He prefers candid photos over posed ones even if he looks silly. Also the type to get very sentimental over pictures, he loves to scroll through his camera roll every once in a while and laugh at them with his friends. Later in life he keeps physical photo albums and his JVA office is covered in picture frames.

Yaku: As the objectively coolest guy on Nekoma how could he not be photogenic? A closed-mouth smiler but he makes it look good, the lighting always seems to work in his favor too. He prefers sitting/crouching photos cause they don't emphasize his height.

Kai: THE BEST SMILE, he always looks the happiest to be there. He's usually the one offering to take photos of everyone else but then Kuroo and Yaku yell at him to ask a stranger so they can all be in it. Teases Yaku for fixing his hair beforehand cause y'know. Buzzcut.

Kenma: You just know he's hitting you with a classic Kenma squint. Can't smile on command nor does he bother trying, he groans when someone suggests taking a photo and complains until it's over. But sometimes Kuroo will hit him with a sneak attack and he looks radiant for some reason??

Tora: Can't fake a smile to save his life, looks like he's shitting himself in every photo. He's the type of guy to ask for a countdown but it never helps. Ironically one of the only ones who actually cares about his looks in photos so yeah he's just suffering.

Fukunaga: Either the cutest little cat smile or staring into space like he's having war flashbacks, no inbetween. Does bunny ears on whoever's in front of him or something weird that people only notice days later. Master at photo bombing.

Lev: I hate to say it but he's the most photogenic on the team, he does become a model after all. It's so effortless for him, it always seems to be golden hour when someone pulls a camera out in his presence. Pisses off everyone, especially Yaku who tries to catch him off-guard to prove that he's not that photogenic. This only frustrates him further ("HOW DO YOU STILL LOOK LIKE A MAGAZINE MODEL EATING CEREAL?!")

Inuoka: A goofy grin to rival Kuroos, he's just excited to be there. Sometimes him and Shibayama plan cute little duo poses together, they'd totally have a connected senior quote. Usually does a peace sign or a wave, something with his hands.

Shibayama. There's a 50% chance he's closing his eyes in every photo they take. One of the only ones who cares about how he looks along with Tora, he fusses with his hair a lot and always thinks he looks bad even when it's fine. Has worried about it less since Inuoka made photos more fun.

Teshiro: The photographer goes "Hey Teshiro, can you try smiling?" and he's like "am I not??". Completely straight-faced no matter how hard he tries, canonically he's kinda self-concious about his eyebrows so I don't think he'd like photos very much. Tried open-lipped smiling once and people thought he was gnashing his teeth so he never did it again.

[narfin-frood]

Silly question but how do you art?

Or more like, how is your process to draw? Your lines and posing are so loose and show the feeling of a character so well, like, how do you make your art so real with only a few lines is what most amaze me. Anyway I hope I'm not bothering you and that makes sense, thanks for reading!<3

you're not a bother, don't worry! i'm not sure if there's an appropriately concise answer to a question like this, but i'll try to explain my process for poses a bit, and if there's anything else specific you'd like to know about my process, feel free to ask, and i'll try to answer!

for posing, i find it's very helpful to start by thinking about what situation the character is in. you don't need a location or a background or anything (unless you're being #serious about it). for this, i chose "picking up something way too heavy" (cont. under cut, wall of text ahead)

keeping it very simple is key!!! do not worry about details!!! i am very bad at this. i love to add a little detail or two, like his eyes or his little expression, but i have to catch myself before i get too into it, otherwise i'll forget the point of what i was doing and/or get bored. use just enough strokes to get the point across, and stop there (for now).

i draw fast and loose, with long strokes, which also happens to help with the problem that happens if you start with any specific part of the body. it's important to start with... everything at once, or else you won't be able to see what needs to be changed or fixed until it's too late and you've already decided on where you want the head and the left arm to be!

to display effort & strain without just contorting the character's face, you gotta think about just how heavy the object is, how one would go about grabbing it comfortably, and whether your character is smart enough to lift with their legs.

wander is great (read: BEST CHARACTER DESIGN EVAR. i love him kisskisskiss) because he's not grounded in any sort of reality until necessary, and his limbs have no bones, but he still has specific proportions and volumes to refer back to if you get carried away with the wackiness. posing a character made up of several noodles of varying widths is very simple, because you can do basically whatever you want to push and pull and make it as clear (and/or as funny) as possible.

start with your line of action, in this case the long line connecting his neck and his left foot. think about where the floor is, so you can make the feet of your character and whatever else is touching it coexist in the same reality. think about clarity: big, simple shapes are your friends, and if you're not getting the gist of the pose through the silhouette alone, try again! there's NO shame in hiding the first layer and doing a couple more sketches until you land on something you really like. Don't polish a turd, especially if you yourself think it's a turd. it'll make you feel like you're wasting time, and drawing is about having fun and experimenting, so if it's getting boring or frustrating, it's time to try something else.

wander and other characters with no bones and no rules are great for posing because you can do things like make their arms bend the wrong way just to play with the clarity of the pose. this:

un-breaks the arms and makes a little more sense for somebody with elbows, but some clarity in the action is lost when the arms don't curve upward and away from the very heavy object he's straining to pick up.

grounding your characters is both more complex and easier than it sounds, and it unfortunately requires you to think about perspective (i know. i know. i know it sucks and it's confusing. i hated it for a very long time but once it clicks, you'll have it in your brain forever)

fudging a perspective grid is fairly easy, just draw several parallel lines and have them get closer to each other as they recede into the distance, and then do it again in the opposite direction. you can use the transform tool in whatever program you use most to fudge this for even less effort, by just getting a png of a grid and fucking with it

now that you've got your floor, think about those feet. the grid makes it fairly easy to envision how a shoe would look sitting on that floor:

this is also where having an understanding of volumes comes in handy, because things farther in the distance will in fact look smaller, but it's up to you to figure out just how much smaller it would be in comparison to the other identical thing with the same volume that's closer to the camera. usually it's almost negligible, but it becomes easy to spot if it's a little off.

and here's the pose i settled on! i made his noodle arms more extreme for extra XD factor and i put him on his tippy toes for that extra bit of height!

a lot of the principles i'm talking about in this post i mainly pick up from consciously watching my favorite cartoons (and live action shows) and if i really, really like the way something is done, or if i see something that i've never really registered before, i'll screencap it or i'll pause or i'll just keep thinking about it until i draw again.

this is called "building a visual library" and it's the #1 easiest and most important way to practice. it requires no drawing, unless you want it to. look at lots of art by artists you love, and if you see something and you think to yourself, hey, this looks really good, by all means, absorb it.

art is great and it's really fun and there's literally nothing wrong with taking inspiration where you can find it!! seriously!!! absorb your favorite parts of every art style you find cool and fun and put it into your own! you're the only person who can draw the way you draw, and while replicating an art style is fairly easy (or it can be, depending), matching it perfectly is Literally impossible, so don't worry about being derivative. Nobody will notice, and if they do, it's okay to say you're inspired by them! encouraged, even!

my own art style, like everybody else's, is a frankenstein's monster containing all of the things i've loved before!!! and i think thats beautiful and if anybody tries to tell you you've gotta be 100% original and have "your very own style", they're a filthy liar and they're definitely (consciously or not) already taking inspiration and reference from the things they themselves find cool and awesome.

ANYWAY. wall of text over.

TLDR: draw quickly, use long strokes (try not to pet your lines), have a specific situation to put your character in, get familiar with volumes and proportions, and have fun!!!

[tapwater118]

tpot 17 spoilers here's what i thought of it lalalala

overall very good episode!! not the *best* ever episode but not every episode can be. it was very silly and fun and also what the fuck is happening

this eliminations played out how i most expected it to, i like pillow and yellow face is alright i guess but it was definitely their times to go. love how pencil freaked out for a hot second over having the most votes (again) i knew they would do that they are so evil for it. I LOVED BOTTLE'S LITTLE DOODLES of course she draws 2018 cute boots and mouth good for her

speaking of bottle was such a fun host! the "everything she does takes literal days" thing was a bit overused but i'm glad they stopped doing that once the challenge started. nice little subtle bit of character-building for four given how he was seemingly happy with bottle taking over. bro cares more about cooking than hosting now i can respect the growth and progression

the challenge itself was a very neat idea, splitting up the teams like this is a very good way to get new groups of characters to interact who wouldn't have otherwise. i thought for a second when bottle shuffled everyone around that we were getting ANOTHER team swap and nearly screamed lmao. but yeah super funny how the eating contest objects where all chill with each other (for the most part) but everyone else was at each other's throats the whole time lmao

pencil. oughhhhh pencil. i am ill. i dont really think pen was the best choice to talk to her at the end but to be fair the options were pretty limited given that everyone else was either MIA or book. the bookcil scene was awesome yes girlie get ANGRY unleash your RAGE. i think it would have been a bit more impactful if they didn't have fanny going basically "erm, awkward!" right in the middle of it but yeah good food i am fed

oh my god what has happened to one's room. has gaty torn through there like a feral animal or something or was this all the product of one's own frustration. given how she fucking mutilates donut i wouldn't discount the latter possibility. also six is plot relevant what, and purple face is gonna lead them to the EXIT and then (theory time) one's gonna use that group to get three out of the fourtress for. something. idk yet but things are happening

individual challenges lightning round go! circus circumstances is amazing i love slasher tacks, love evil tv arc they should have him Kill more. ferris wheel was kinda whatever but i love how they're bringing back snowball's old relationships with certain characters, particularly gb and pen. THE FOURSE IS BACK I LOVE YOU FOURSE not much else to say i didn't already cover in the previous section. eating contest was fun they leaked price tag's search history (and loser got cancelled lmao). winner felt appreciated i need to kiss them what who said that

wow i had a lot to say about this one huh, forty minute episodes will do that to ya. elimination predictions: grassy is almost certainly out, the team 2 votes (aside from icy's) were really close last time so it really depends on where the icy voters' votes will go now, and just by fandom reaction i can tell you it will not be grassy. for 🎼 i'm less sure but i can certainly say bottle and pen are safe, they were all over this episode they got so much to do. i think it might be liy or tb as much as i hate to say it, they kinda got sidelined in their challenges

ok uhh tpot 18 or 19 will probably be a meetup episode so i'll be able to see it before the rest of you HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

For vaggie that spear is her support animal/therapist

For charlie, it's a rival she'd like to throw in lava but can't cause, it's vaggies support 'animal'

silly headcanon plot twist- Charlie's jealously at the spear ISN'T silly or irrational at all, it's a subconscious manifestation of Charlie's desperation for her girlfriend to actually open up emotionally to HER instead of to a WEAPON, confide fears and problems in CHARLIE, and a very frustrated, very also-emotionally-constipated-in-her-own-way Charlie doesn't wanna pin that frustration on Vaggie directly so she deflects all her anger to the spear, which as an inanimate objects, can't get any hurt feelings over this or decide Charlie is too much and dump her

we've done it. we've cracked the silly headcanon and found the angst waiting underneath XD XD XD

or maybe the above is all just what the hazbin crew speculates together, in their weekly "there's no way those two idiots don't have shit going on in their relationship" chaggie hotel gossip meet-ups

[cheerioskid]

moonrise au mumbo and grian doodles bc they are so silly ft. a quote by the lovely @germworms when we were exploring their dynamic

little bit of explanation below!

basically after grian disappears from his position as a god he lives in disguise on "square earth" and eventually finds his fav human, mumbo! (the moon prophet)

being so detached from the land of the humans leaves grian really curious about almost everything (yes like the little mermaid but w mcyt gods)

so he's pestering mumbo w all his questions and just generally never leaving him alone, mumbo is slightly annoyed by this and tries to get him off his ass by giving him random objects to inspect or he starts a fire for him to stare at for hours

grian is naturally very warm (sun god tings) and mumbo is naturally cold being the moon prophet so grian sometimes just hangs close by to make sure he doesn't die of hypothermia (red winter era, very cold brr) even though mumbo doesn't mind the cold as much

mumbo also has no idea grian is the sun god (remember no human has seen him in this form other than his prophet) so he starts complaining to bdubs about this weird guy who keeps following him around and is too frustrated to notice bdubs giving him suspicious looks

for more info about bdubs go check out Sea's character sheet for him!! also check the hashtag for other posts!!

[aj-lonefreak3753]

Dorks getting involved with violent shit epicly

@phantom-of-the-ruckus

@flowersofstarlight

SILLY!!! SILLY!!! SILLY!!!

And then not silly anymore...

Epic edgy emo moment

Poor Melody smhhhhhh 😔✊

Random angst dump (lore??)

Melody angst shit or whatever

All the handee men are mentally ill in some ways that they show

Melody is very lonely

she's pretty envious of Riley as Riley has a lot of responsibilities and things to do with very little spare time. While Melody is alone with nothing but sheets of music and old instruments. She would bug Riley quite a lot like offering to help her with things around the lab (just to feel somewhat useful)

Rather than doing nothing and feeling useless

the persona she plays: Naive, innocent, childish, energetic

It's who she is supposed to be, and how she is characterized

But deep inside she feels a mix of anger, sadness, and some resentment which causes her to act violent when she's alone

She has a habit of talking to unconscious hosts or rotting corpses, or inanimate objects like her instruments or just regular small items like pencils or pens.

I'd say she's slowly losing her mind

Her violence is just her way of getting out all that bottled frustration, but she also likes to show any possible friends

It's like showing someone your favorite fidget toy, something that helps you calm down and relieve stress or showing someone a dead bug and thinks it's a pretty neat thing but they think it's gross or disturbing

She would be ecstatic to show a friend something she loved like music or ripping a host apart

(She lacks self awareness)