#watching a practice composition video

[wall-eye]

So much of art is just understanding the science of where people look and why

[dazzelmethat]

OH … those artist teachers/YouTubers weren’t lying about ‘do thumbnails’ and ‘draw like a painter’ advice..

[lunavagans]

Drew a moment from my fix-it fic (link for those interested in the context for this), and DAMN. I have a lot of thoughts about it, most of them very proud ones :D was very unsure about skipping the flat colours entirely at first, but it turned out for the better. Focus was supposed to be on the light and shadows interacting at the hand, after all…

… which is also why I cut out his face. Have the sketch with it, anyway.

LASTLY, GUESS WHO ENROLLED AT THEIR LOCAL UNIVERSITY??

[mooomuzan]

— drinks or coffee? ; jjk men & bllk men ; first date hc

rooftop dinner ( gojo & kaiser )

they would take you to the fanciest rooftop dinner imaginable, the kind where the menu doesn't even have prices. "Don't worry, babe, it's all on me," they'd say with a grin, ordering the most expensive champagne just to impress you.

spending half the night teasing you, leaning in too close and smirking every time you get flustered. But when the conversation deepens, he surprises you with his insight and how intently he listens to you, even leaning forward slightly as if hanging onto your every word.

as the evening ends, they make sure to call a car for you, but not before gently brushing a strand of hair behind your ear and murmuring, "I had fun tonight. Let's do this again."

tucked-away coffee shop ( megumi & rin )

would take you somewhere quiet, like a late-night park stroll or a hidden coffee shop, both avoiding loud crowds like the plague. Trying to act cool and uninterested but side-eyeing you the entire time, making sure you're enjoying yourself.

awkward at first, hands shoved deep into their pockets as they avoid meeting your gaze, still noticing the little things about you, like how your eyes light up at certain pastries or the careful decoration or how you instinctively fix your hair when you're nervous.

by the end of the date, they'd walk you home in silence, the cool air filled with unspoken tension. When you thank them, they just nod, but the slight redness on their ears would give them away.

arcade ( yuji & isagi )

they'd love the idea of an arcade date, practically bouncing with excitement as they lead you inside. "Let's try everything!" they say, grabbing your hand and dragging you to the nearest game. While Isagi would be a mix of competitive and adorably nervous, especially when you beat him at a few games, Yuji would be hilariously bad at most of the games but doesn't care, laughing along with you and celebrating every small win like it's the greatest thing ever.

they insist on winning you a prize from the claw machine, muttering, "Okay, one more try," about ten times before finally handing you the plushie with a triumphant grin.

by end of the date, their cheeks would be flushed from laughing so much, and as they walk you home, they keep glancing at you like they can't believe you're real.

netflix and chill ( toji & nagi )

now there would be a shift in dynamics here! while Nagi would be too lazy for anything fancy outside, inviting you to his place to chill and play video games, Toji would just enjoy the casualty of staying in, wine and takeout.

of course, Nagi would be surprisingly good at making you laugh with his dry, offhanded comments about the game, and he doesn't even complain when you beat him. Toji, on the other hand, would be casual and teasing, but there's a warmth to the way he makes sure you're comfortable, throwing a blanket over you when you get cold without saying a word.

as the date winds down, they'd lean back on the couch, watching you with a small smile and muttering, "You're not half bad, y'know." For them, that's practically a confession. (bonus points for Nagi being casually touchy but never crossing boundaries.)

art museum ( nanami & sae )

for them, a quiet art museum date is ideal. They'd walk beside you in contemplative silence. When you linger too long at a particularly confusing abstract piece, they'd raise an eyebrow, saying "I suppose art is subjective," with a small smirk, letting you enjoy it without judgment.

their answers to questions about the art are minimal and to the point, like "It's fine" or "The composition's balanced." You find it frustrating but charming in a way.

before you leave, Sae'd hand you a small print of your favorite piece of art, his usual nonchalant attitude masking the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. "I notice things," he says with a shrug, but the subtle warmth in his eyes betrays him, while Nanami would let you browse the gift shop but insists on paying for whatever you choose, slipping the cashier the money before you can protest. When you thank him, he responds, "It's nothing," but you can see the soft smile hiding behind his usually calm exterior.

[bc-jpeg]

hello i love your art so much, do you perhaps have any tips on character design bc yours are so distinct to me? thank you <3

tysm, anon! I'm glad you like my designs, since you decided to ask me for tips <:D

actually, I don't consider myself very skilled in creating character designs, and I don't really feel like i’m focusing on this in my work, but from the outside view I really like watching this area in my favorite media. I don't know if I can give really working tips, they may not be suitable at all for your creative process and character vision.

here I’ll talk more about creating a design based on an existing image, like minecraft skins, where everything is shown in a very minimalistic way originally and you just have to work from it.

I try to focus as much as possible on the feeling of "is this thing actually suitable for the character or not?", trying to create some kind of composition in the overall design of the character so that everything is in its right place. and that's it, I guess..

I don’t like frequent themed designs that changes every arc/season/smth. in my opinion, yes, it can be beautiful, but it doesn't work at all in my head. some characters TEND to change clothes frequently, sometimes it's literally a character feature that explained by the plot, but it’s not for everyone, I feel. instead, I try to change the original design a little bit for various occasions. especially when you have a base of specific items of clothing, it's a lot of fun to try to keep the same clothes, but changing the shape, details, etc.

I don't like changing the canonical design much, for me it feels wrong by default. but it's still fun to adapt things to your own vision, the main thing is not to get carried away. these frames of the canon makes you think outside the box always, I love it.

logic and practicality are also important to me, simply because that's how I live my life. I’ll obviously choose something practical and comfortable for a daily physical work or a survival games, rather than something fancy. BUT at the same time, I want to do some ordinary practical details fancy still, because it's interesting in the context of practical design.

this doesn’t mean that I’ll assert every detail only on the logic basis, but most often it is so. I like the thinking process itself, how I can adapt a thing so that it works in design both visually and practically and works for the character’s essence.

+ personally, I really like asymmetry in designs, it looks interesting

therefore, I will probably highlight from my entire answer:

— focus on your sense of character, but do not forget about logic and practicality, it’s so useful sometimes.

— try to analyze the character as much as possible so that you can convey many features through their design. shapes and colors are the ultimate basis.

— often look at the design in full picture, so you don’t get some overloaded parts, otherwise the whole design falls apart

[sources with universal advices from professional character designers who have been in their industry for a long time will be useful here, you can find many videos on this topic on youtube]

— references. save as many references as you want, scroll through the pinterest feed at least once a day, there are many unexpected details that can be used to create a character design. artbooks for various media are a very cool thing for this, I dream of a collection of such books.

— if I work on something from scratch, it’s easy to draw a multiple versions of the same design, with some changes, just to see which of them is working the most. also always trying to analyse each of them, “what I like about this version? and what about that?” and etc. after the time you can find a perfect combo of each criteria you like from every versions.

— sometimes also you just have to give it a time, if you doubt some parts of the design.

I tried to think on something more to add here, but for now that’s it-

[stopdoomscrolling-cafe]

photography

hey there! welcome back to our cozy cafe! photography is an excellent way to capture and preserve memories, express creativity, and see the world from different perspectives. it helps you notice the beauty in everyday moments and improves your attention to detail. plus, it's a wonderful way to relax and connect with nature or your surroundings.

let’s explore why photography is an amazing hobby and how you can get started. 🍵✨

why photography is a great hobby:

creative expression: photography allows you to capture the world from your unique perspective. it’s a fantastic way to express your creativity and tell stories through images.

mindfulness: it encourages you to be present and notice the beauty in everyday moments. this can be incredibly calming and therapeutic.

learning and growth: there’s always something new to learn in photography, from mastering your camera settings to exploring different styles and technique.

social connection: sharing your photos can help you connect with others who have similar interests, whether through social media or photography clubs.

step-by-step guide to start photography:

choose your camera:

start with what you have, even if it’s just a smartphone. as you get more into photography, you might want to invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

check out this video on choosing your first camera.

learn the basics:

familiarize yourself with basic photography concepts like exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

this tutorial covers the basics of photography.

practice composition:

learn about composition techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to make your photos more visually appealing.

watch this video on composition tips for beginners.

experiment with lighting:

lighting is crucial in photography. try shooting in different lighting conditions to see how it affects your photos.

here’s a guide to understanding natural light in photography.

edit your photos:

editing can enhance your photos and bring out the best in them. start with basic editing software like lightroom or free apps like snapseed.

this video provides a beginner’s guide to photo editing.

join a community:

connect with other photographers to share your work, get feedback, and learn from others. online forums, social media groups, and local clubs are great places to start.

so, grab your camera, step outside, and start capturing the world around you. happy snapping! 📸☕🌿

[cupcakeslushie]

I have a question and you might’ve been asked before, but animation, do you have any tips for beginners? Love your content btw 🥰

Even tho my degree is in animation I must be honest…😬 nowadays I very often don’t have the patience for anything more complicated than animatics. So I’m trying to stick to tried and true advice lol…

Probably the biggest tip would be that, yes the beginner exercises may be boring, and not look very cool, but they are essential to getting those skills you need down. The flour sack exercise, the wave principle—doing squash and stretch, and timing studies to really nail the way that movements should “flow” properly. These are absolutely necessary skills to master if you want to make fluid animations.

Planning is also another important, but sometimes overlooked aspect of animation. Some ppl (read:me) wanna just jump straight to animating. But planning in those first simplest stages really helps save you headaches in the later stages, when things are getting more complicated and all over the place. Storyboarding helps you plot your timing, choosing where key shots will go, camera angles, pacing ect.

And speaking of camera angles. STUDY STUDY STUDY cinematography! Something doesn’t have to be animated for it to be applied to animation. Perspective is a massive beast to tackle once you start storyboarding and unless you want boring shots and stagnant compositional framing, you need to learn all the ways you can frame a scene and your characters! Idk if you’re up for watching some horror movies, but those are a great source to pull from, as they tend to always frame, pace and even light their shots in really interesting and dynamic ways!

It’s also great to practice with free programs before you spend money on things like a subscription for photoshop or any other fancy software. Most interfaces are similar enough, that beginning with something free like Rough Animator or Blender can give you some good practice before you commit!

That’s all I can think of right now! And sorry if that wasn’t exactly what you were looking for…if you want me to try to give more specific advice on something just drop me another ask—I’m willing to keep rambling on!

Lastly, just few good videos I have saved!

Good traditional habits for digital animators <- basically Toniko Pantoja’s whole channel is a goldmine of knowledge!

Drawing figures in perspective

Every Frame A Painting is also a great channel for breaking down film/composition/writing—there’s a video for virtually every aspect of cinema

-Chuck Jones -the evolution of an artist

-Akira Kurosawa- composing movement

-Satoshi Kon- editing space and time

[mellozheist]

hellooo!! first of all: I ADORE YOU your art is amazing and your animatics are so gorgeous and inspiring!! I'm sure you've already been asked this question but I couldn't find an answer so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask again: what program(s) do you use to animate? What's your process like?? I've been wanting to try and learn to make my own but I have no idea where to start and I figured I should ask a master :P

ello! I appreciated your kind words :D

sorry about the delayed reply, I thought I could have drawn my process out for you but it turns out I don't have enough time so here I go

I use Clip Studio Ex (still on ver.1) only Ex can do animation If you considering buying it

CSP Pro can only animate 12-24 frames which is difficult to work with

I wish to get back on Toonboom but I'm hella out of practice (It's a good program tho, though just not so friendly with beginners)

My process is to find inspiration first, for example

when I do fan animation/animatic like Hermitcraft or Life series

I just listen to the audio or songs on a loop until I have a rough idea in my head of what I want to draw

(When you start something, Just use the idea of "What you want to draw/express" not what others want to see, Just make sure you're having fun, and we can figure out along the way later)

TIP : If you don't feel like starting making animatic right away, I suggest you make other kinds of art for that Idea first, like some sketching art, illustration for catching the vibe you want to go for, or just character design as a reference! :D

after that, make rough sketches, It doesn't have to be pretty, just do a quick sketch so you won't forget the vibe and energy (it can be on paper, I recommend using a pen instead of a pencil cuz you won't have to delete and redraw, just make a new one, it's quicker)

I make re-sketching sometimes to fix composite or make a better pose sometimes, timing and spacing are also very important to make the movement smooth

I make a line of action guide for some difficult movements sometimes

When I do Lineart I just open all the videos to watch while head empty cleaning Lineart

There are many more processes for professional animators

I recommend you check out videos, there are tons on YouTube

here's some that I learned from

[infinitelystrangemachinex]

How to tell Arcane leaks apart from trailers and teasers

There are NO LEAKS in this post, so please read.

In summary: to identify leaks, look out for 1): watermarks, 2): unfinished animation rendering, and 3): poor image and video quality.

Tumblr isn't too bad right now, but Twitter is rife with clips and screenshots of the leaks, and YouTube has full uploaded leaked clips. These leaks show up on YouTube if you even search just "Arcane" or "Arcane season 2."

Here is a list of legitimate trailers and teasers posted by Netflix and Riot. These are not leaks and the clips and gifsets about them on Tumblr are from legitimate sources:

Season 2 first look

Season 2 teaser (short)

Ekko and Heimerdinger sneak peek

Season 2 teaser trailer

Jinx and Sevika sneak peek

There's some confusion in the tag about what constitutes a leak and what is simply a trailer or a teaser shared legitimately by Netflix and/or Riot. This is understandable because the first 5 episodes of season 2 leaked at the same time that Netflix and Riot were accelerating season 2's marketing.

Most people in the fandom do not want to be spoiled at all, and so are not excited about the leaks. Most people don't want clips, screengrabs, or even vague allusions to the leaks in the Arcane tag. They most certainly do not want spoilers sent to their inboxes, either. (DO NOT DO THIS. Don't be that person either on anon or off. Goodness gracious.)

Still, there is always going to be someone who posts the leaks in the fandom tags. However, there are many more people who make gifs and posts about the legitimate season 2 teasers and trailers. There are still almost 3 months until the first episodes drop, so we will be dealing with dodging these leaks for a long while.

Here's how to tell what's a leak and what isn't:

1): Watermarks

From what I've put together, someone at one of the dubbing studios leaked the first 5 episodes of Arcane season 2. In their entirety. However, these leaks were not production ready. The leaks are also completely watermarked and have a big running timestamp ticking throughout the run of all of the episodes.

This is difficult to visualize beyond what little Riot shared about the production of season 1 in Bridging the Rift. So I will post a NON-SPOILER screengrab of the title card of one of the leaks I took (just a few seconds before I realized I was looking at a leaked episode).

Below is a screenshot I took of nothing more than the Arcane title card from the season 2 title sequence. This is not a spoiler! Please use this example to help you tell a legitimate teaser from a leak:

Can you imagine watching 5 EPISODES of Arcane with these watermarks all over every single frame??? I'm begging you, do not subject yourself to watching Arcane in this manner, no matter how bad you want to know what happens in season 2.

These watermarks are practically impossible to remove, especially from every single frame. So any visuals you see that look clean, production-ready, and gorgeous from season 2 are definitely from trailers or teasers, not from leaks.

Here's a screengrab from the recent sneak peek posted by Netflix/Riot for comparison:

No watermarks, the animation is finished, the video quality is high. This is a legitimate teaser and not a leak.

2): Unfinished animation render

You don't need the full finished painterly animation from Fortiche to complete a dub. You just need basic character models and their movements, along with the finished script.

Much of the leaks are just this: the full complete scenes from every episode, character models are moving as they will in the final edit, the episodes' composition is complete, but the animation is unfinished and doesn't have the final painterly polish yet.

Below is a NON-SPOILER screengrab from Riot/Fortiche showing the animation process. This screenshot is from season 1 episode 5 during Vi and Sevika's first fight and shows the stage of completeness of the animation that most of the leaks show:

Notice that the scene is comprehensible, but the lighting effects and painting-like style of Fortiche is missing. It looks... okay, but unfinished-looking compared to what we know Arcane looks like. A big chunk of the 5 leaked season 2 episodes look like this.

Here's the final render of this scene for comparison:

However, I will say that I accidentally watched the first few seconds of the leaked season 2 episode 1 before it registered in my brain that I was watching a leak. There were watermarks like in my first point above, but for this particular scene, the animation was finished, and it seems like the sound mixing was finished too.

So it is possible that there are leaks floating around with gorgeous finished-looking animation. So look out for watermarks no matter what, and also -

3.): Poor image and video quality

When people say that the leaks are "potato quality," they mean it. On top of the watermarks and big timestamp across the runtime of all the 5 leaked episodes, the video quality is also pretty bad, certainly less than 360p.

The legitimate teasers and trailers and screenshots released by Netflix and Riot are all of very high video quality.

A note on early leaks

There are some leaks from earlier this year pertaining to Vi and Caitlyn's story that came from the Annecy Animation Festival Arcane panel. These leaks weren't treated as seriously because no full clips leaked, and they were mainly high-level summaries of season 2 plot points.

Those leaks are now difficult to tell apart from text posts about these new complete episode leaks. There are a lot of text posts out there about Vi and Caitlyn's story in particular as well as extremely spoilery text posts about certain characters who were in the Council tower at the end of season 1 episode 9.

There isn't much we can do about text posts

In the end, Tumblr has been pretty okay with keeping visuals from leaks out of the tag. I still see a potato-quality screenshot from the leaks every now and then. But most pervasive is people talking about spoilers from the leaks in text posts. These posts are tagged with the fandom tags and spoilers are only tagged sometimes.

Often, if the person is only vaguely alluding to the spoilers, they won't tag spoilers at all because they think being vague is enough. It usually isn't, because the post is still alluding to events outside of season 1 and the teasers/trailers.

The only thing we can do to completely avoid these posts is to not only block "spoiler" or "leak" related tags, but to avoid and block the Arcane fandom tags altogether, which is a shame.

Please, if you're someone who saw the leaks and wants to post about them, all I can ask is to at least tag your spoilers: "arcane spoilers", "arcane season 2 spoilers", "arcane s2 spoilers", "arcane leaks", or even just "spoiler", "spoilers", or "leaks" is better than nothing.

Even better would be to simply avoid using the word Arcane in the post and not tag the post with any fandom tags at all, keeping the post relegated to your blog with as little context as possible. This includes avoiding using the correctly-spelled character names in the post as well. Until the episodes drop in November, this is the most polite way I can think of to talk about the leaks and spoilers on your blog.

[o0kawaii0o]

Had issues with layout in the ask post so here's the rest!

However 1 artist comes to mind for now and that's Murata Yusuke; I'm rereading Eyeshield21 (again lol) and each time his art makes me go "wah so damn good".

From colours, to how dynamic and alive pieces can feel, to lighting/shading, to textures, etc. Lot of the pieces also have this feel of mundanity in it which I really like, and I also how at time I feel like I'm there as well. I love the mixture of realism in lighting/shading (and at times anatomy) with the manga/comic style!

The last image also was a bit of an inspo for my latest Luffy art!

As for tutorial, I might elaborate in another post at some point (cus it's quite a broad thing to go about). Like I've mentioned before, I'm soaking up things along the way! Which includes things like colour theory, lighting/shading, composition, etc. But I personally don't recommend forced research/practice; art needs to be fun after all, take things at a time but it might be nice to try something new with each piece, however how subtle.

I can recommend Saito Naoki's YT channel! I watch his 'whimsical correction' videos during lunch at times haha - Each 'correction' (more like professional advice) has a certain goal/theme which can be improved upon, which can be story wise, appeal, anatomy, etc.

--

Anyway, some advice I have for now are kinda my 'cheats' will follow now! [Disclaimer: these are things that work for me and are by no means the 'correct' way of doing things. So if I say things like "avoid this", it's something I personally do.]

My strength lies I think mostly in my lighting/shading at this moment!

My flats aren't bad or anything, but I feel like it really comes alive after shading. And the first thing to do is to establish where the light source is. Try to avoid 'pillow shading', work in bigger shapes and don't be afraid to do so. Working digitally, I can recommend to take a big brush and just put it very roughly on your character. You have the means with digital art to easily erase parts that are too much and to refine shapes afterwards.

One cheat is bouncing light.

(This was a Multiply mode layer set back to Normal mode for sake of visibility.)

You gotta have a bit of understanding of volume of where to apply it, but it's light that's been reflected by e.g. the ground back up again. This little variation in shading can add a lot. Note that it's better to go from the OG shading colour and sliding it on the colour wheel (hue) to be either warmer or cooler and then sliding in the square/triangle (saturation and value).

More examples of bouncing lights:

It depends how intense the light is reflected; the more, the harsher the contrast is compared to the OG shading colour.

Second cheat is 'light terminator' and 'substance scatter', not sure if it's really the correct terms but oh well.

This reddish tone (again on the Multiply shading layer) is kinda the border line from light to shade. It's reddish on skin (if you have red blood haha) but you apply it on other things with other colours too!

Make sure you don't overdo it and put it everywhere, also note if you use harsh or blended brush strokes, maybe even both for variation! Try it out and see what works best for you!

--

That's it for now; this took more time out of me than planned 💀 you better appreciate this anon! /jk

My main motto regarding art is "fck around and find out". This mindset also helps with keeping art fun!

[gingerteafairy]

𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓹𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

Love potions work and don't require magic. You just a charming bartender with a sugary smooth talk. tags n warnings: smut/mdni, bartender!alex x fem!reader, temperature play, licking, little dry humping as usual, drink kink, drunk sex. word count: 4.3k masterlist

@ikkyfics that video inspired the hell out of me, thank you for being my friend, this is for you. a little nasty, but it's a gift

It was your first time in a pub. Since your teenage years, you’d fantasized about it, maybe influenced by the romantic movies you watched. The space was small but cozy, with an almost secret charm, as if you had just discovered a cave filled with new sensations. The woody scent of the furniture blended with the perfume of alcohol and cologne, creating an inviting atmosphere.

You walked in, adjusting your outfit—perhaps a little too sophisticated for the occasion. You made your way to the bar, the sound of your heels softly echoing against the floor. The place wasn’t crowded, and you sighed in relief when you found an empty seat. You sat down, crossing your legs, the fabric of your clothes gliding over your skin.

Your gaze wandered around the bar, landing on one of the bartenders. He shook a cocktail shaker with skill, and the emerald liquid poured smoothly into the customer’s glass. It looked delicious; you found yourself making plans to try it later. The girl grabbed her drink and moved to a corner, leaving room for the curly-haired bartender to approach.

“Good evening,” he greeted you, his voice full of natural charisma. A charming smile played on his lips as he threw a towel over his shoulder. “What can I get for you tonight?”

“Good evening…” you replied, hesitating. The drinks you’d researched online vanished from your mind like locked characters in a game. You bit your lip before admitting, “Well… it’s my first time in a pub. I don’t know what to order.”

He raised an eyebrow, a playful sparkle in his eyes. “Lucky for you, it’s not crowded tonight.” With a corner smile, he quickly crouched down to grab something under the counter. “Here, this is the menu. If you want, I can make a few for you.”

“Would you do that?” you asked, your voice clearly full of expectation.

He shrugged, his response casual. “It’s fun. Look.”

Before you could answer, he was already in motion. You watched as he grabbed bottles and utensils, his movements precise and agile. There was something fascinating about the way he worked—like an alchemist mixing unknown potions, each ingredient transforming right before your eyes. The vibrant colors, the shine of the alcohol under the bar lights… it was almost hypnotic.

When he finished, he lined up six glasses in front of you, each with a unique color and composition.

“Mojito. Margarita. Negroni. Martini. Piña Colada. Cosmopolitan,” he pointed to each one, and at the end, he touched his own chest with a smile. “Alex.”

You laughed, surprised by the confidence with which he included himself on the “menu.”

“Are you on the menu?” you asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by the boldness and precision of his flirting.

“Does it bother you?” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes locked on yours as he dried his hands on the towel over his shoulder.

“No… just surprised.” You ran a hand through your hair in an automatic gesture, twirling a strand between your fingers.

“Years of practice in front of the mirror,” he joked, drawing an easy smile from you. There was something magnetic about him—an effortless charm that made everything around feel lighter.

“I recommend starting with the Piña Colada. It’s smooth, sweet, tropical.”

You stared at the decorated glass, the creamy tones looking inviting.

“Sounds interesting.”

“If you want something more refreshing, the Mojito is a good choice. Balanced, not too strong. Doesn’t hit you right away.” He chuckled, sliding two glasses toward you.

You made your choice and took a sip, your eyes widening at the burst of flavor. A satisfied sound escaped involuntarily from your throat, and Alex smiled with evident amusement. You wanted to drink it all at once, but he snapped his fingers in the air.

“Slow down, sweetheart. You don’t want to get a hangover on your first adventure.”

You laughed, setting the glass on the table, your tongue running over your lips to catch a remnant of the drink.

“Sorry, it’s just so good.” You grabbed a napkin to wipe the corner of your mouth, his gaze following your movements.

“Second round.” He leaned slightly forward, like a host about to reveal a prize. “Something stronger and more sophisticated. Margarita and Cosmopolitan. The best of tequila and vodka, with a fruity touch.”

“You make it sound so good,” you smiled, reaching for the next glass, ready for the next experience.

“It’s because I love Cosmopolitan. I know, it’s cliché. Sex and the City. But I put a double shot of vodka in mine.” He joked defensively, watching you sip the chosen liquid more gently this time, paying attention to every note.

“It’s strong,” you commented, lowering the glass and setting it on the table, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through your chest.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “You haven’t seen strong yet.” He picked up two glasses with darker colors and placed them in front of you. “Espresso Martini and Negroni. Dry, strong, citrusy.”

“Wow, you convinced me.” You laughed, impressed by his ability to make even a drink choice feel irresistible. Grabbing one of the glasses, you brought it to your lips more cautiously this time, allowing the liquid to burn slightly down your throat before swallowing.

"Yes. Just a second." He moved away casually, going to attend to a new customer—the woman who had just arrived at the bar.

You should just stick to your drink, but for some reason, it bothered you. There was no reason to feel a little pang in your chest, but you felt it anyway. A subtle bitterness, like an echo of that drink. Dry, strong, citrusy.

You shook your head, pushing away foolish thoughts. He was just doing his job. Deluded. Yes, definitely.

When Alex returned, his eyes scanned the glasses and landed on you, noticing that the level of your drink had dropped considerably.

"Someone really liked this drink," he joked, crossing his arms, the work towel still hanging on his shoulder.

You shrugged, feeling the warmth of the alcohol beginning to blur the line between rationality and impulse.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, watching you with a mix of amusement and caution.

"A little dizzy," you admitted, resting your elbow on the table to hide the slight instability.

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head with a half-smile. "Too bad... I was hoping to have some fun with you."

The words escaped before you could filter them. "You still can."

Maybe it was the alcohol loosening your tongue, or maybe it was just the Alex effect on you.

He chuckled softly but shook his head. "I don’t like taking advantage of others." The smile he gave was polite, genuine. He grabbed your empty glasses and turned, walking to the back of the bar.

He was ethical, too. Men like Alex had been extinct, you were sure of it. But then, just before disappearing completely, he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"You know, you seem like a really cool person," he said, spinning the glass in his hands, thoughtful. "I have a solution for this."

"What?" You leaned slightly over the counter, intrigued.

"I’ll get like you," he said, grabbing an empty glass and mixing some drinks without even consulting a recipe. He brought it to his lips and downed it all at once. "My shift ends soon. By then, I should be starting to get a little tipsy."

You widened your eyes, letting out a surprised laugh. "Oh my God. You really are amazing."

Excited, you reached out to grab another drink, but he was quicker and moved the glasses out of your reach.

"That’s enough juice," he joked, swapping the drink for a pitcher of water and pouring you a glass. "Drink this. It’ll help."

"Fiiine…" you grumbled playfully before bringing the glass to your lips.

You weren’t sure if it was the alcohol or the magnetic effect of Alex, but you spent a long time smiling like a fool. You tried to hide it, covering part of your face with your hand whenever your gazes met. But it was useless. He noticed.

Every now and then, he’d take another small sip, just enough to keep him present at work, but noticeable enough that his energy started to shift. He laughed more, cracked more jokes. He became even more charming—if that was even possible.

When his shift finally ended, you felt a little more sober. He, on the other hand, was starting to look visibly cheerful, his posture relaxed and his smile more effortless.

"How’s it going?" He asked, circling the bar to meet you face-to-face.

You looked up, realizing just how tall he was.

And, up close, even more handsome.

"Wow, you’re gorgeous," Alex murmured, leaning in closer, his eyes scanning your face as if he wanted to memorize every detail.

The proximity lasted only an instant before he pulled back, letting out a nervous laugh and running his hand through his curly hair. "Oh my God, sorry. What am I doing?"

You laughed, the effect of the alcohol and his presence making everything easier, lighter. You grabbed his hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against yours.

"No. Come closer again."

Alex paused for a moment, as if processing your words, then smiled, interlacing his fingers with yours. Slowly, he brought your hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on your fingers. His soft laugh filled the space between you, and he tilted his head slightly, fascinated by the way a lock of your hair slid to the side with the movement.

"Come with me," he said, pulling you by the hand.

Without hesitation, you followed him, crossing a side door that led to a narrow staircase lit by dim yellow lights. He stumbled on the first few steps, laughing at his own slip, and you laughed too, holding his hand tightly until you reached the top.

Alex unlocked a door with a key, stepping inside first and glancing around before making space for you.

"Where are we?" you asked, surveying the cozy environment. It was small like the bar downstairs, but much more organized.

"My place," he smiled, spinning the key in the lock before tossing it into a bowl on a table.

"Above the bar?" You raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Family business. I’m taking care of it while my parents are away." He stretched, his t-shirt riding up slightly, revealing a strip of pale skin and a provocative waist before he moved closer again. His hand found the small of your back, tracing a slow path to your waist.

"You’re full of surprises," you smiled, feeling a shiver where his fingers glided—firm, yet gentle.

He tilted his head, studying each expression of yours with that intense gaze. The flush on your cheeks gave away the warmth of the alcohol in your system, but there was something more there—something genuine.

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" he asked, his thumb giving a lazy massage to your waist.

"You did at the bar," you murmured, looking up and noticing how close your faces were. "But I still don’t know how to respond to that."

"Respond like this."

The whisper came before the touch. Alex closed the distance between you, his lips finding yours with the same softness as the Piña Colada you had tasted minutes earlier. But there was something more in his kiss—a mix of all the drinks in the world. A sweet, warm, slightly intoxicating touch.

And you wanted more.

The kiss slowly broke, neither of you wanting to leave that moment.

"Do you always kiss like that, or just when you’re drunk?" you joked, your face breaking into a smile that turned into a carefree laugh.

"I think getting drunk makes me a little desperate," he laughed, pressing another kiss against your lips. "I think I slobber a lot when I’m drunk. Is that bad for you?"

"You think you’re slobbering? Then I must be a fountain," you laughed, not hesitating to steal another kiss from him, using his arms as support to lean in.

“I like things a little wet.” He teased with a sideways smile and you knew exactly what he was talking about, judging by the hoarseness of his voice. “Have you ever had drunk sex?”

“No.” You said, feeling your heart race at Alex’s implicit suggestion. “Actually, I’ve never done what I’m doing now. Going up to the apartment of a bartender I just met.”

“Fuck.” He laughed, leaning his head against yours with more force than he planned, groaning in pain, smoothing his forehead. “My God, I must be really drunk. Sorry.”

“No plobrem. Pro. Prob. How do you say that word?” Your laughter became loud as you massaged your forehead. He took your hand away and kissed the spot, as an apology.

“I don’t invite a drunk to my apartment either.” He expressed, with an amused look through his brown eyes. “I enjoyed the experience with you. When I saw you I thought you were pretty, but in fact you’re ugly. No. Wait. It's the other way around. Beautiful. You. I thought you were beautiful. Holy shit. Forget everything I said now.”

Your bodies swayed with the sweet melody of laughter filling the room. Paying closer attention, it was noticeable that the bar still existed downstairs, small murmurs crackling beneath the floor and the firm chords of Glenn Miller sounding muffled from the speakers downstairs. You stifled your laughter. Alex did the same, trying to camouflage the smile that still insisted on marking his face.

“When I saw you arriving, I thought of offering you Love Potion.” He pondered, starting to sway his body to the light rhythm of Moonlight Serenade in a dance so eloquent to the melody of the song.

You inhaled deeply his perfume, the lingering scent of the extra shot of vodka in the special Cosmopolitan. “What made you think of that possibility?”

“Well… the first reason is because I love that drink. It’d be a perfect cliché to give you a love potion.” He beamed, lowering his hands to your hips to guide them closer to his pelvis, making you feel his aroused state discreetly. “Vodka. Peach liqueur. Cranberry juice and prosecco.”

“It looks delicious.” You hummed, your mouth opening slightly at the sensation of the light friction between the tissues. “And the second reason?”

“The drink is pink.” He smiled widely, laughing even before the answer that would follow was so comical and erogenous. “I would ask you nonchalantly: you know what else is pink? But I thought that would be sexual harassment.”

“You really think of everything, don’t you?” Your smile widened as you closed your eyes, waiting for Alex’s next kiss. His lips met yours with an almost lazy softness, as if he savored every second of the contact.

“I think about a lot of things.” He murmured against your mouth before pulling away just enough to watch your face. His thumb slid across your cheek, tracing a distracted path. “My mind never stops. I actually thought of something else for tonight while you were drinking.” 

His husky, casual tone sent a shiver down your spine. Alex placed one last peck on your lips before turning and starting to walk towards the kitchen. “Come here.” 

You followed him without hesitation, watching his every move as if trying to decipher his thoughts. He opened the refrigerator and began to take out some ingredients, his eyes focused on what he was doing. Rum. Strawberries. Lemon. Sugar. His shirt was slightly wrinkled, his hair messy, but still, he seemed to own every space around him. Washing his hands quickly, Alex grabbed a lemon and cut it in half with precision. Without a juicer, he improvised, holding the fruit over a glass and using the palm of his hand as a sieve to keep the seeds from falling out. The juice dripped slowly, the citrus aroma mixing with his already intoxicating smell.

The strawberries came next. He picked up a pestle, crushing the berries at the bottom of the glass with a controlled movement, his fingers firm around the wood. The sugar was added next, dissolving into the red mixture before he finally topped it all off with the amber rum.

You didn’t even realize you were biting your lip until Alex grabbed a few ice cubes and dropped them into the glass, the sound of the ice clinking against the glass. He looked up at you, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth when he noticed your expectant expression.

“Let’s head to my bedroom.”

His voice was low, almost an invitation, almost an order. Alex placed a hand on your waist, his touch warm even over the thin fabric of your clothes, and guided you to the bed without rushing, without letting go of you for a second.

When you reached the bedroom, he left the glass on the dresser, the ruby-colored liquid shining under the low light. Then, he turned to you, stopping for a few seconds to simply observe. His gaze traveled over every detail of you, as if he wanted to memorize your image.

He approached you again. This time, the kiss came slower, deeper. His mouth slid over yours with an almost torturous patience, his tongue tracing lazy paths, while one of his hands went up to the back of your neck, his fingers sliding through your hair. It was a kiss that felt like a long sip of something strong and addictive.

He pulled away briefly, his hands tugging at the hem of his own shirt before pulling it over his head in a carefree movement. The fabric slid easily, revealing skin warmed by the soft light of the room. Your eyes instinctively scanned his silhouette, watching the way his muscles moved beneath his skin as he tossed his shirt aside.

For some reason, that made you move too. Your fingers found the hem of your dress, and without thinking much, you pulled it up, feeling the fabric slide against your skin before falling onto the bed. Alex smirked at your gesture, but didn't say anything. He just picked up the glass from the dresser, bringing it to his lips for a slow sip. The clink of ice against the glass echoed through the room, and for a moment, your eyes fixed on the way he tasted the drink, the way his lips curved around the rim of the glass. 

Without looking away, he handed you the drink. The glass was now in your possession, the citrus and sweet aroma arriving before the liquid even touched your mouth. The fresh and slightly burning taste of rum slid across your tongue, the touch of the cold drink contrasting with the heat that your body was beginning to feel. 

A sudden need to settle down better took over you. As if the mattress was silently calling you, as if that moment demanded more surrender. Without hesitation, you lay down, feeling the weight of the bed adjust to your body. Alex just watched, his expression softening for a second, before leaning over you, his eyes filled with an intensity stronger than the rum itself.

“People do that at parties. It might be a little gross, but I’ve always wanted to try it.” He whispered against your mouth, his dark eyes fixed on yours as he pulled the dark jeans off your body. 

“What do they do?” You dared, biting your lip in anticipation, the excitement screaming inside your body. Alex bent down to kiss you quickly, smiling against your mouth before lifting a little and picking up the glass. 

He caught the ice in his mouth, keeping it in his cheek, returning with a lascivious look to your body. Leaning back down, you understood what that meant. The cold sensation spread to your neck. The ice locking an indescribable sensation in your collarbone. You couldn’t help but gasp, a shiver running down your spine as Alex began to slide the ice over your breasts, pulling your bra to the side. Taking the ice out of his mouth, he licked your nipple with his cold tongue, closing his eyes to memorize the sensation. There was no way to describe that feeling, you just allowed yourself to enjoy it, punishing Alex’s curls in your fingers.

“Was it bad?” He asked, standing up to glimpse his flushed, uneven face.

You bit your lip, wetting it before you started to speak. “No, it was… intense.” Your voice was thin as a moan, certain that Alex could see how wet you were and not just from the ice that was melting on your sternum.

“Wanna try?” He suggested, biting your shoulder.

“Yeah.” You purred, finding the strength to get up from the bed, sitting on your knees. You grabbed the glass and poured the sweet liquid down your throat, stopping for swallowing before savoring how it felt in Alex’s kiss.

You took the ice in your mouth and did the same step, sitting on Alex’s lap, his thick erection covered only by the thin fabric of his navy blue underwear. Placing the ice on your fingers, you slid your icy tongue down Alex’s flushed neck. He groaned, pulling your hips onto his lap, forcing them down.

Placing the ice back in your mouth, you went down to his chest, kissing the spot and sliding back down to his jaw. He grabbed your thighs in a stronger movement, not taking another second of teasing and kissing your mouth.

You broke the kiss quickly to remove the ice and kiss him hungrily, enjoying the hot and cold sensation. Alex pulled his cock out of his underwear impatiently, opening the drawer on the side of the bed and pulling out a condom, rapidly taking it.

Sliding the plastic around his cock, he pulled your panties to the side. You adjusted your position so he could stuff himself inside you. He pushed inside, groaning loudly when his entire length was inside your warm walls.

“Fuck, you’re so hot.” ​​He whimpered, pulling his hips back and forth, his eyebrows knitted together as he looked at your sexes touching between the forgotten fabrics. “Your pussy is so damn good.”

He threw his head back, his fingers buried in the soft flesh of your bum. You leaned forward, humming as you felt the thickness touch your spot. Your eyes watering with overwhelming pleasure. Alex opened his eyes, grabbing the glass from the dresser again and pouring some of the drink on your neck, licking the sweet skin hungrily. You moaned louder, your hands going straight to his brown hair, pulling it with trembling hands. 

“Alex. God— This feels so good. I can feel it on my— Fuck.” You couldn’t finish a single sentence, your system only focusing on Alex’s cock abusing your needy pussy, swallowing the entire length without complaining. 

“Kiss me.” He pleaded and you nodded, chasing his sweet lips, sometimes breaking the kiss with uncontrollable moans and pants, his hands sliding and squeezing harshly between your neck and breast, incapable of controlling his body. 

“Alex— Alex…” The name escaped, like the only anchor at the moment, your eyes cloudy. Alex’s tongue circling yours, his hips starting to move against yours, the smacking sound of flesh echoing through the room. 

“That’s it. That’s it. Fuck, doll. If you keep talking like that, I’m going to—hmmmm—come too fast and not even enjoy your pussy.” He whined, the tip of his cock sensitive against your cervix, his balls starting to betray his approaching climax. “So perfect. Shit.”

“Yeah? Then come.” You begged kittenish, your hips uncontrollably moving against him, forward, sideways, backward, up, down. Your body screaming for orgasm you knew it’d be hard like any other you had before. “Alex—”

“Gonna cum, gonna cum.” He warned, embracing your shivering body, grounding his feet on the bed and starting to force his hips up and down harder. “I’m so fucking close.”

“Alex, please don’t stop. Shit, i’m cumming.” You whimpered, burying your face on his neck, loud moans tearing from your throat as he fucked your pussy without the slightest mercy, moaning nonsense in your ear, babbling brainless as he engorded your cunt. 

His thrusts became more uneven, out of rhythm. He shutted his eyes, your walls squeezing his cock making him roll his eyes and spill out the pleasure.

“Oh, Alex. No. Alex, it’s too much.” You protested, your thighs aching and shaking from the position. Alex kissed your disheveled face, prolonging the sensation even more.

“Shhh. Hold on—just a little longer, love. Hold on for me, go on.” He groaned, grabbing your hair, one last thrust being given as he felt the cum all released. You were still moaning when he was slowly stopping, feeling him soften inside you. “That’s it… That’s it, so good for me. You take me so well.”

He kissed your face, moving your messy hair to kiss you more intensely, a long, loving kiss. You reluctantly got off of him, feeling the emptiness return as he stood up and went to the bathroom to discard the stuffed condom. He came back to bed with a damp towel, drying the remaining liquid that was still on your neck and the sweat from your face.

“Better?” He asked, leaving the towel aside to lie down next to you.

“Yes. It couldn’t be better.” You smiled, settling into a caring hug in Alex's arms.

“Good. I guess the love potion worked.” He joked, pulling a sheet to cover your semi-naked bodies. “Although that wasn't a Love Potion. It was a Strawberry Daiquiri.”

“It worked. I loved it. Thanks for all the drinks.” You grinned, seeking Alex's contact closer, while he left gentle kisses on your forehead, turning to the side to hug you freely, letting the tiredness and the drink envelop you both in a deep and well-deserved sleep after so many experiences in the same day.

[iboatedhere]

could I please get "heart shaped sunglasses" as a prompt? I love canon but if there's an AU that speaks to you I'd love that too

I went with a photographer/model AU.

—

Alex didn’t grow up thinking he wanted to be a photographer.

He cycled through dreams that almost every kid has—doctor, teacher, President of the United States, and astronaut. For a few weeks, when he was four, he thought seriously about becoming a T-rex.

When he was thirteen, he found an old camera in the attic that his father had left behind when he moved out.

He watched a half-dozen YouTube videos to figure out how to get it to work, then took a photography class in high school and got a position on the school paper, taking shots of football games and events around town.

He thought he looked cool, carrying around a vintage camera that used real film in the age of sleek digital devices and camera phones, and he was good at it. He received heaps of praise from his photography teacher, won awards in local contests, and even sold a few prints at farmer’s markets and craft fairs around Austin.

Alex majored in studio art in college, focusing on photography and media. He learned about color, composition, and lighting. He studied Ansel Adams, Dorthea Lange, Steve McCurry, and Robert Capa. He thought about becoming a war correspondent, embedding himself in the most volatile parts of the globe and reporting the truth through photographs—gritty, raw, and dangerous.

Where he ended up was someplace much softer.

–

Alex first saw Henry Fox on the glossy pages of one of June’s fashion magazines when he was twelve.

Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. Maybe Cosmopolitan. He can’t remember. What he can remember is Henry Fox’s wide, blue eyes and golden hair. He remembers looking at the close-up photo of him for too long until June cleared her throat and met his startled gaze with raised brows.

He looked for Henry after that. Sneaking into June’s room or stealing the magazine straight from the mailbox when it was delivered. He’d bring it with him to the treehouse in the backyard and search.

Before Alex even had a word for it, most of the photos had felt exploitative. Henry, too young, around much older models. Odd poses and barely there clothing. Henry never looked happy. He never smiled. Alex would never photograph him like that. He never really thought about photographing him at all. Mostly, he just wanted to hang out with him. Maybe take him swimming at Barton Springs, to a baseball game in Round Rock, or ride their bikes together. He just wanted to make Henry smile.

Alex found out later that Henry’s father was a famous actor and his mother was a supermodel, making Henry one of the world’s biggest nepo-babies.

Maybe doors automatically opened for Henry. Maybe he has a trust fund or an inheritance and never has to work another day in his life. Alex is unsure of those things, but he is certain Henry is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.

–

Alex lowers his camera as the art director flutters into the frame, tugging on the strap of Emily’s bikini top and sweeping Henry’s hair off his forehead.

“Perfect,” she says before waving in Alex’s direction. “Okay. Keep going.”

Alex rolls his eyes and lines up another shot.

He doesn't really know what the point of this shoot is. He guesses it’s supposed to be playful…a fun day by the pool where Henry has stolen her heart-shaped sunglasses and perched them on the top of his head while she’s taken his diamond-studded watch and is holding it against her throat like a necklace. But Emily’s bikini is practically see-through, Henry is wearing a pair of swim trunks that hide nothing, and Alex doesn’t understand what they’re trying to sell, aside from their bodies.

So goes the fashion industry.

“Did you get it?” Henry calls out to him without moving a muscle.

Alex blinks through the viewfinder. “What?”

“Did you get the shot?” He asks.

“Oh. Yeah. Probably.”

“Good,” Henry says, “my foot is beginning to cramp.”

He shifts, and Emily hops off his lap and into a robe a PA is holding while Henry stands up, stretches the arch of his foot, and accepts his own robe.

It’s all so fast and formal as if they didn’t just spend the last hour dry-humping each other by a pool at a mansion in Beverly Hills.

Alex isn’t sure if he could pull that off, being that close to either of them and acting like it’s no big deal. Things are easier behind the lens of a camera.

Alex busies himself by pulling the photos up on his laptop. He took nearly two hundred. At least one has to be good enough to go to print.

“May I see?”

Alex nods, and Henry steps into his space, pressing their shoulders together before Alex can make room.

“Christ,” Henry says as he peers at the screen. “Am I really that pale?”

“We can fix it in post?”

Henry hums. “Add it to the list,” he jokes, but it’s not funny at all.

Alex knows that no one is perfect, but he thinks the people he photographs—Henry especially—are about as close to the idea of it as possible. That won’t stop every photo he’s in from being scrutinized and edited to death. They’ll airbrush out the moles that dot across his ribs, the small half-moon scar by his left hip, and the line between his brows. Whatever they do to Henry, it’ll be ten times worse for Emily.

“You’re very good at this,” Henry tells him. It’s not the first time they’ve worked together, but it’s the first time Henry has complimented him.

“Thanks. You make it easy. I mean you guys—you two—you and Emily,” Alex flounders. “You look good.”

“Is it the sunglasses?” Henry asks as he reaches up and touches the thin, pink frames.

“Yes,” Alex answers. “They complete the look. Maybe they’ll let you keep them since they suit you so well.”

“I’ll be sure to ask,” Henry says, the barest hint of a smile on his face.

—

Unsurprisingly, it was June that helped him shape his view of fashion.

When he was younger, he’d point to the avant-garde looks in her magazines and genuinely ask who the hell would ever wear this?

“No one,” She’d tell him as she snatched the magazine away. “Sometimes clothes aren’t meant to be worn, they’re meant to be admired. It’s like how some people go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Other people find their art in fashion magazines.”

He reminds himself of that each time he attends Fashion Week in London, Milan, or Paris. It’s an art exhibit; the models are living sculptures.

In the front row of the Dior show at Bryant Park, Alex thinks Henry makes a stunning canvas.

His hair is dyed dark brown, a near match to the cropped leather jacket he’s wearing, only half zipped, his chest bare. Alex watches his long legs in oversized wool shorts as they walk down the runway, where he stops at the end, poses, and then continues back. He looks down at Alex as he passes, tips his head up, and disappears backstage.

Only after he’s gone does Alex realize he didn’t get a single photo of him.

–

They let me keep the glasses, by the way.

Alex frowns down at his phone as he tries to parse out the Instagram DM that popped up on the screen.

He has two accounts—an official photography account and a smaller, more personal one, followed only by his family and friends. Alex knows he isn’t famous, not yet anyway, but he knows that people can get weirdly parasocial, and he’d rather not have to purge his main account a few years down the line.

This message, from a GEJames97, was sent to his personal account.

????? Alex sends back.

The ones from the shoot, the next message reads.

This is Henry.

Fox.

Alex’s frown deepens. Henry has an Instagram account. He has nearly four million followers and posts photos of his most recent campaigns at least twice a week. Not that Alex is keeping track.

Prove it, Alex says.

A few moments later, a photo of Henry Fox in the pink, heart-shaped glasses pops up.

Pez told me about this account. I hope that’s okay.

Pez…..???????

Percy Okonjo.

Percy Okonjo is an up-and-coming designer who is best friends with Henry. They have the entire fashion world buzzing with speculation that Henry will start working with Percy the second his contract with Dior ends.

Percy also was a guest editor for Vogue and had an undefined thing with June. Alex doesn’t know the details, and he’ll never ask for them, but it was enough that Percy followed Alex’s personal account.

How long are you in New York? Henry asks, and Alex feels his heart rate kick up.

Why do you think I’m still in New York?

Henry sends him a photo Alex posted earlier of a friendly Central Park squirrel eating a small piece of bagel out of his hand.

Until Sunday, Alex tells him. Why?

Doing anything tonight?

Alex blows out a breath.

Not yet.

Alex has only been at the bar for three minutes before Henry shows up. Alex appreciates the promptness, it gives him less time to be nervous.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Henry says anyway, leaning in to press a kiss to Alex’s cheek that leaves Alex feeling untethered. “Traffic in Manhattan is insane.”

“It’s fine,” Alex says, “you’re good. You’re…” Alex trails off because Henry is beautiful in jeans, a t-shirt (that probably cost more than Alex’s hotel room bill), and a Yankees cap pulled low over his face.

“If you want to go someplace else–,” Alex starts.

“Why would I want to go someplace else?” Henry interrupts, raising his hand to wave down the bartender.

“I don’t know. I feel like this place isn’t your usual vibe.”

It’s not a dive by any means, but it’s certainly not the flashy restaurants and clubs Henry usually attends.

“A few months ago, Pez brought me to this place in Chinatown. We followed this woman down a narrow stairwell for what felt like forever, light flickering and water dripping from the ceiling. I would’ve phoned my sister to say goodbye, but I didn’t have cell service. If I can survive that, I can survive this.” He glances around the bar. “I don’t fear for my life at all here.”

“You’re in America,” Alex tells him. “You should kinda always be fearing for your life.”

Henry snorts. “I suppose that’s true, but I am enjoying myself.”

“You just got here.”

Henry shrugs. “Then maybe it’s the company.”

Alex ducks his head. “How long are you in the city for?”

“At least another two weeks,” Henry tells him. “I’ll have a good bit of downtime, but not enough to fly home between shoots. I’m trying to figure out ways to keep myself busy. Do you have any ideas?”

Alex has about a million. He’s been thinking about this since he was twelve years old.

“Have you ever actually been to a Yankees game?” Alex asks, and Henry shakes his head. “They’re in town if you wanna go.”

Henry smiles, big and bright, even in the murky lighting of the bar, and Alex feels like he’s suddenly accomplished everything he could ever want in life.

[kottkrig]

I don't want to gatekeep anything when it comes to how I work as a digital artist (though I am pretty bad at explaining) and for what I know as a painter most of it boils down to:

Try out a variety of brushes, esp. ones with textures built in

Object brushes are also a huge help (such as foliage), but I like to manually edit them so they don't look entirely copypasted by adding highlights or changing their shape/opacity and so on

Use 3D models as assets to figure out the shape of things and build dynamic poses (Sketchfab, WoWhead dressing room, Blender)

Look into photobashing and using royalty free stock images

Tracing the above is fine and dandy when it comes to learning anatomy and setting up poses fast (just don't outright steal stuff and instead use it to learn)

Zoom in on other ppl's artwork and study the brushwork, the lighting, watch their speedpaint videos

But when you are starting the painting itself, setting up the composition/lighting/depth is easiest if you zoom out and view the whole canvas at a bit of a distance

Don't just learn the superficial shape of things; figure out the density, the texture, how they reflect light, how they bend

Putting in the effort to find references is always worth it, you have to practice a lot and paint ugly in order to improve

[tokidokitokyo]

How to Improve Your Handwriting in Japanese

Learning to write in Japanese, teaching others to learn to write in Japanese, and watching Japanese people write in Japanese has taught me that it’s hard to write in Japanese. Remembering how to write the kanji in the first place is hard (especially with the ease of writing in Japanese on the computer or phone), remembering the stroke order and then figuring out how to fit the character into the space that you have - these are all difficult. And then on top of that, you don’t want these beautiful characters to look like you were bouncing up and down on a dirt road while you wrote them.

Handwriting in any language varies by person. There are people whose handwriting is sloppy in Japanese, just as in any other language. My handwriting in English isn’t perfect either, but I want my kanji to look less like shaky squiggles and more like, well, a native Japanese speaker’s characters. So I decided to break down how I go about improving my Japanese handwriting.

Practice

When you learn to write in English, you practice your letters over and over again. When you first learn kana and then kanji, it is also a good idea to write them over and over again. This helps many people to remember the characters (stroke order, spatial placement of each part of the character), and by writing the characters over and over again you will be able to write more quickly. You also won’t have to look up simple characters over and over again when you want to write a composition or a letter.

When I first started writing compositions by hand in kanji I remember looking up a character in the dictionary to check stroke order or to check how the kanji was written more often than not. This is a difficult way to write anything and takes a lot of time. Practice will help you to remember the characters and not have to stop to check your dictionary as often.

A high school friend told me that her mother would sit her down at the table every night and force her to work on her penmanship until it was what her mother deemed suitable. When we wrote our AP English essays in class, her penmanship was impeccable, although it took her much longer to write the essays than most of the other students. The result of what she considered torturous practice was amazing handwriting that made me jealous. If I had spent every night laboriously perfecting my penmanship I might also have attained that kind of handwriting - but I did not.

This is an extreme example, and I’m not saying you have to have perfect handwriting, but if improving your handwriting is something you would like to accomplish, taking the time to practice will certainly help your penmanship.

Books

There are Japanese books dedicated to this, because beautiful handwriting is desirable in all languages, but they are written in Japanese and I personally didn’t want to buy a book for this purpose.

Websites

Websites are a bit more difficult to come by because most people want to make some money off telling you their penmanship secrets. However, there are a few websites with some examples of good penmanship.

Links

Here are some online links for handwriting practice:

Chibi Musu Drill is where I look for kana practice for my toddler. They have a variety of drill print-outs that you can use to practice writing the characters correctly. This is especially helpful if you are self-studying as it helps with the shape of characters and the stroke order, and how the stroke should be finished (i.e. abrupt stop or drag and fade out to a tail). There are also tests you can print out for kanji. The site is all in Japanese.

Hiragana | Katakana | Kanji 

Seiho’s YouTube Calligraphy School - VIDEO - Only in Japanese but the videos are easy to follow since she uses a red pen to highlight where to pay attention. This is more in-depth but has helpful hints on improving your kanji balance, but you can search 字がきれいに書く方法 to get more results.

Yumefude Penji on Instagram has videos showing how to write kanji properly.

How I Practice Handwriting in Japanese

For Kana

To practice handwriting kana, I find an example of good penmanship from a website. It’s best if the example is larger, or if I can blow it up. Then I print it out with darkened font. Drill print-outs also work well as they have characters for you to trace, then space for you to practice on your own.

I put a sheet of clean paper on top of the print-out and make sure I can read the characters through the clean paper. You can also get tracing paper. Then, I trace the characters multiple times. I try to feel the flow of the character as I trace it and to note if the stroke ends abruptly (とめ), has a kink in it (はね), or if it fades out to a tail (はらい).

Lastly, I practice on my own. I use the feel of the character I traced and try to replicate it. I compare my own work to the original sample, and try to determine how to get the characters to look closer to the original sample. My character might be too skinny, too round, or have a stroke out of place. I usually only do one character at a time until I am satisfied, and then move on to the next.

For Kanji

When practicing kanji, first, I use blank paper, download genkouyoushi (Japanese composition paper), or a notebook with wider line spacing for writing practice than I would for simply writing down vocabulary or notes. You can also buy special kanji practice notebooks. I do this so that I have the space to cleanly write out kanji with more strokes, rather than having to bunch together the strokes so that I can hardly read it. This way, I can practice the strokes with more room and pay attention to how the kanji fits together.

Then, I write the character several times. I try to get a muscle memory going for the character, remembering the individual parts, the radicals, the stroke order and what the kanji means. This helps me to remember the kanji, and then to understand how the individual parts fit together.

I am careful to not copy the typewritten Japanese characters, for these are often different than the handwritten characters. Using a kanji textbook or a website where they teach handwritten kanji is the best way to learn to handwrite kanji. Some dictionary apps also show stroke order and will show the handwritten version so you can see the difference.

9 Tips for Better Handwriting

Source

1. Hold your pen properly / ぺんを正しく持つ

2. Sit with proper posture / 正しい姿勢で座る

3. Create a calm setting where you can concentrate / 落ち着いて集中できる空間を作る

4. Write using the correct stroke order / 正しい書き順で書く

     a. From the top to the bottom / 上から下へ

     b. From the left to the right / 左から右へ

5. Take care with the Stop - Wing - Sweeping Stroke / とめ・はね・はらいを丁寧に

Showing stop - wing - sweeping stroke in kanji

6. Modulate the size of the character and write slowly and carefully / 大きさにメリハリをつけながら、ゆっくり書く

7. Make sure the characters rise to the right / 右上がりになるようにする

8. Make sure the spacing between lines is equal / 線と線の間隔が等しくなるようにする

9. Write with the intention of being read by others / 人に読まれるつもりで書く

My handwriting in Japanese is far from perfect, but when I have a chance I like to hand write characters to get a better feel for them and for their meanings. I hope this guide helps you to improve your penmanship!

[thebramblewood]

Apologies if you've answered this before, but I was looking through your asks and couldn't find anything.

Do you have any advice on how you take such good screenshots of your game? You have such a knack for lighting, having variety of shots, and making them immersive.

This is so sweet. Thank you! 🥰

If I'm being honest, it's 90% vibes and gut feelings for me. I don’t have any formal background in filmmaking or photography, and everything I know is by sheer osmosis. There’s a lot of fancy terminology to describe why certain image compositions look better than others. I admire and respect anyone who purposefully keeps that in mind. But I am definitely not that person. I think I’ve watched enough film and TV, though, to subconsciously be doing the "right thing" - or at least what looks right to me.

That being said, I think the best way to improve is practice. If you spend enough time doing something you'll obviously get better at it, even if you don't realize it at first. So the most important thing is to give yourself the patience to grow and the freedom to experiment! At any rate, here are some things I've learned that will maybe be helpful to others.

Camera Tricks: We all know the camera in TS4 can be a little wonky at times. I use Buckley's camera mod. It hasn't been updated in eons but still works as far as I can tell. It gives you more freedom with movement, and I've found it especially helpful for getting shots that are lower to the ground.

Now that I've realized how sneakily useful first person camera can be, I also take advantage of that all the time. There's the trick of making your Sim look in a specific direction. (This works with poses and gameplay actions, by the way! For example, I used it to turn Caleb's head toward Lilith while he was trimming the bonsai tree.) There's the Dutch angle trick explained in this video. This is great for moments of disorientation and unease. I also just straight-up used first person camera to convey Helena's confusion upon waking after being turned.

Also, saved camera positions are your best friends. You can save up to five positions using CTRL+5-9. Then you just click the corresponding number to return to that position. I've used these for so many reasons. By taking two shots in the same position and Photoshopping them together, I've been able to edit Sims in (like Vlad below), fix accessory clashes (the book was in the hat category, so Lilith couldn't actually wear it at the same time as the towel on her head), and to pose Sims in open doorways (Helena had to walk through the door to open it for the Vatores, so I shot both halves separately).

Zoom: I love smashing that zoom button, whether it's zooming way in or way out. Zoomed out shots are perfect for establishing setting or as interstitial shots during a long conversation when you don't want to always focus on Sims' faces. They're also great for the draaama. Extreme close-ups are great for emphasizing emotion or a tiny but significant detail. Playing around with the extremes of zoom is one of the best ways to achieve shot variety!

Focus: I don't think Reshade is a necessity for good visual storytelling, but it does make certain things easier. I rely a lot on depth of field shaders to pull focus in shots. I like using cinematic depth of field especially in conversations to blur some characters while emphasizing others. I feel like this helps ground conversations because it reminds us there are multiple participants instead of always zeroing in on the speaker alone. Another way to play with focus is to allow the angle to mirror the emotions of the conversation. It's an older shot, but I always liked how Caleb seems to cower beneath Lilith's bat form here even though she's technically smaller. And in the recent conversation between Lilith and Helena, I kept the camera to Lilith's back to emphasize her vulnerability and discomfort and put the focus on Helena's reaction to it.

Framing/Angles: I do this by pure instinct, honestly, and have gotten better at getting it right on the first shot over time. I used to take half a dozen shots of the same pose from different angles and choose the best one. Nowadays, I'm quicker to commit and often take only one shot. I've learned that if something immediately tickles my brain, it's usually the way to go. I usually angle shots so that the characters aren't looking directly at camera, as it seems more natural that way. On the other hand, sometimes the direct to camera look can actually work in more confrontational or unsettling moments.

Environment: If I can help it, I don't do my own builds. In some ways, this is a disadvantage because I have to set up the scene within a space that wasn't specifically catered to it. On the other hand, it makes for fun little surprises, like the ability to peek in through a skylight or frame two characters within perfectly placed archways. I like using objects and structures to create interest when I can. I often don't discover things like this until I'm pulling the camera around and randomly happen upon them. I definitely recommend navigating all around to see what you've got to work with before committing to any specific angle. You might find one you didn't even think of!

Lighting: I do what I can with the game's lighting. I avoid placing ceiling lamps or at least turn the brightness down much lower, and I don't usually turn all the lights on in a room at once. I tend to change the color to one of the warmer golden hues to avoid a stark white that washes everything out. I always like when I can get some sources of light into frame because it adds a lot to the ambience. But I've also been using Relight on all of my posts lately. It's an addiction, and it truly makes all the difference. I'll use it to give light sources a stronger glow so they stand out more and also to create shadows on Sims' faces. It's also very good for flashlights and computer screen glow!

After having self-indulgently written all this, I'm not sure how much is usable advice versus rambling musings. I find it hard to give storytelling "tips" because so much of it feels innate and personal and hard to put into generalized terms. I also don't want to imply that every one of my shots is perfect or that there aren't a million other ways to go about achieving good results. But thank you to anyone who's made it this far, and I hope you found it worthwhile. 💕

[voidheartkisses]

Okay hello hi hello,

First off you're amazing and a gift to the world, I wish I had even half your talent. Your last piece blew my mind and I just HAD to ask,

How long have you been drawing/painting for? I imagine forever but I'm always curious how long it takes before artists reach these sorts of levels where it evolves into full-scale projects as opposed to smaller hobbyist crafts. There are so many beautiful art pieces on this platform as a whole and I'm constantly baffled by it all

Sorry if my excitement is off-putting that piece is heavenly and my mind is blown. Hope you're doing well!

Hi and thank you! That's a good question

So I've been drawing since I was born, but I've been drawing digitally for 8 years. I think in the very beginning most artists should just focus on having fun, you'll basically improve by default

after a while you will want to improve. It will be slow, but this is the stage where you'll recognize what you need work on

I'd say the turning point is when you've finally gotten far enough into your art journey without any sort of formal training (ie, a lot of artists dont learn the basics/fundamentals first, which is fine since most of us start as hobbyists) But I think learning them really did help me a lot. You start to think more about how light and shadow lays, depth, 3D objects, and more.

I highly recommend watching this video about levels of art, it's been really helpful and motivating to me throughout the years

This part is going to be long so you don't have to read it but I just wanna give my personal journey and how I got to now if anyone thinks it'll be helpful:

(2017) With digital art, I started off on ms paint and occasionally ibis paint x. Mostly using anime deviantart bases (EMBARRASSING), but after a while I developed my own style based on the people I was inspired by at the time, I was just happy to draw and didn't care much about improving at this time

(2019) The people you look up to artistically will naturally change over time (and thats okay), after a while I decided to switch to firealpaca, where I guess I got more invested on how light and shadows work, as well as making my characters look a bit more natural and develop my own style, your preference in aesthetic may also change over time which is noticeable here

(2021) Eventually, I began to lean more into semirealism (which isn't everyones preference and thats okay! realism shouldn't be the ultimate end goal of art) but I really enjoyed making stylized characters look 3D and in natural looking environments, since I felt it spoke to my own experiences, a lot of artists draw from real life experiences. I focused more on anatomy at this time as well as textures and environments, composition also became a big deal for me at this time, as well as wanting to use different colors

(2024) The change from LINEART to DIGITAL PAINTING in 2022 was the hardest for me once I switched to clip studio paint, it was basically like starting all over and I was so lost. I had a lot to figure out on my own but I knew it was a transition I had to make to draw the kind of art I wanted. But I began to study and take more things into consideration, I didn't like my art so I simply kept going "I can do better", learning from my previous mistakes and slowly making something I would be more satisfied with. At this point art felt more like "projects" then anything, because I wanted to make pieces that were of quality and had time and care put into each of them, sure it meant there was no longer much quantity. but hey that's what my smaller Cult of the Lamb lineart drawings are for!! 💙

I'm still growing and I definitely have a long way to go, but I am very proud of my progress this year, and I'll continue to grow until I'm satisfied (haha im stubborn) I also want to develop my secondary lineart style that I do when I'm not painting, since I feel that is important too

in short; time, practice, dedication, and passion are the most important, draw what you love above all else because it will be your drive to keep going, staying motivated was the most important for me

Sorry for the long post 😭