#went a bit overboard with this…

[lovlidollie]

i love whimsy!reader soso much… i was wondering if rafe joins in on making tea blends or perfumes w her or jus hovers over her making sure she doesnt make a mess? also i would love to read whimsey!reader making him some sort of cologne unprompted nd his reaction cause we all know this boy is feining for some attention and praise….

hello lovely nonnie thank u so much for this !!! not proofread so pls ignore typos c:

i think in the beginning he’d try to, kind of like it being his way of wooing her or impressing her. whimsy would think it’s just sooo sweet that he’s willing to do something that she loves so much, and would just give him free rein to do whatever he wants. the issue arises when it becomes glaringly obvious that he’s actually shit at choosing notes and complementary scents. his candles end up smelling like bog water and the mini perfumes he make seem to evaporate before they’re even on skin.

i think there’d be a similar issue with tea, starting with the fact that this man simply does not drink tea in the first place. i feel like he’s more of a coffee guy as it is, so green/black tea just never sounded appetising. HOWEVER. i think he falls in love with whimsy’s chai. like it’s got that milky element that he likes, it’s got the caffiene, and it just tastes that fucking good. his favourite would be her version of kashmiri chai; the little boy in him feels emasculated over ever enjoying a pink drink, but his tastebuds win him over everytime he takes a sip.

now whenever she is actively making her lil potions, rafe hovers. he’s a hover-er. he watches everything like a hawk; making sure her hands don’t get too close to any open flames, moving any jars she’d precariously left near the corners of her table. he’d always be reminding her to wear her gloves and apron and has that ‘disappointed dad’ expression whenever she accidentally burns herself whilst making candles. with the perfumes, he can’t stand to be in the room for too long, all the fumes and smells giving him a headache. he’s always asking whimsy how she can even survive in there, then realises he needs to start taking her out for fresh air whenever she becomes too absorbed; he wonders if the gases have had some sort of effect on her.. bc it would for one explain her ‘weirdness’.

he’s very good at collecting all her dried flowers though ^_^ i think his favourite thing to do is bag all the rose petals and organise her drawer of tea blends. he’d surprise her with expensive tea plants that he’d especially gotten imported just for her </3

if she were to gift him with a cologne out of nowhere, he’d literally be speechless. so that’s why he wasn’t allowed in her studio (he was like a lost puppy just sitting outside her door begging to be let in). she’d be like “just wanted to give my sun a little stardust. i tried to make it smell like things that remind me of you.” it’s literally the most thoughtful gift anyone’s ever gotten him, and his heart stutters painfully when she reveals it’s called ‘ray.’ a perfume for him, under her nickname for him. (you just know she got it good that night….)

you can bet your ass he’s going around shoving it under everyone’s noses. “look what m’girl made me. yeah, she’s reaaal talented, she’s uh — she’s good at what she does. n-no. no, she doesn’t take requests, the fuck…”

[eydilily]

🐌🐌🐌 BAM!

close up shot :3c

and a lil progression comparison

[cherpupz]

utmv meme dump pt. 1 / ?

credit :3

killer - rahafwabas horror - sour apple studios cross - jakei95 dream + nightmare - jokublog swap - p0pcornpr1nce / au community error - loverofpiggies ink - comyet dust - ask-dusttale

[random-cockroach]

*Sets the table and serves the first dish* Unholy Texaid animatic for @transformersbloglol (Vortex's design is based on @/disformer's designs) (Used mecha au version of them by Keferon)

Song: Lilianna Wilde - Grind Me Down (Jawster remix)

[inafallsaway]

Drawing time!

[yellowvixen]

week 22: ✨idol✨

[yes-no-maybe-soo]

A couple of things that I love and admire about Sylus ♡♡♡

(This got long so decided to add a cut dhdjfj there is just too much to appreciate when it comes to this man ^^;)

For earlier parts in this "series": go here and here

How mentally and emotionally strong he is. His past never broke him or managed to twist or warp his soul. Which considering his background is incredibly impressive. This is a man that suffered severe trauma pretty much from infancy and onward for thousands of years. He is heavily implied to have been abandoned as a child due to being "weak". He self harmed at an early age. He witnessed the total slaughter of the only kin he'd known. He was nearly murdered himself for no other crime than looking different. He was tossed into the abyss to rot for over a millennia, stuck in place with a greatsword lodged through his chest. All of this happened while he was still a juvenile. He most likely hadn't experienced a single day of real happiness or care in his life up until meeting his sorceress. But even before they get properly close, he shows her kindness and compassion despite never having known any himself. We learn that he has never eaten a human soul, nor harmed anyone that didn't deserve it. When he dies, his soul is revealed to smell like flowers. He never lost his innate goodness. In the present, he also shows that same remarkable inner strength and stability, now even more noticeable with added age and further maturity.

How well he takes care of his people. All evidence points to him being an amazing boss and leader. It's especially touching to see how much the twins admire and appreciate him.

The effect he has on those that come under his wings. They all seem to flourish and come out stronger than they were before.

His aura. His scenes in LAR and his entire anecdote gives me chills to this day.

His perfect jawline. It's immaculate.

His honesty. He never lies to MC. Not even once. He doesn't ever whitewash himself and is upfront about his desires and his greed. Similarly, from what we've seen, he honors the deals he makes with anyone seeking his protection (No Way Out, Elysium).

His straightforwardness. On a personal level, as a ND individual, I appreciate this quality in others immensely since reading subtler signals more often than not isn't my forte and tends to stress me out trying to figure out what they are trying to convey to me. So it brings me comfort to see Sylus be straightforward with his feelings for MC. He may not always be direct with his words – both he and MC like to talk in riddles at times – but his actions and his demeanor always are.

His quick thinking and savvy.

Just his sharp intelligence in general. He is always eight or ten steps ahead of his opponents.

His sheer unwavering confidence and charisma. Both enough to fill the mariana trench.

How he is incredibly emotionally mature. He is calm, composed, never abuses the power he has, never lashes out, never loses control of himself. He isn't bitter, doesn't dwell on the past. He isn't brooding or hateful. And when MC tells him he sucks at something (giving a massage in the specific instance I'm thinking of) instead of getting annoyed or taking it personally, he asks her to teach him how to do it. When she says that he is pestering her, he accepts it and gives her the space she says she wants without arguing even a little. We have never once seen him fight with MC over anything. Nor can I even picture a scenaro where they would, try as I might. They're just too chill/emotionally intelligent to get heated or argumentative.

Overall his emotional strength and maturity shows itself best with MC. He definitely made major mistakes in his treatment of her at the start of LAR out of desperation and a misguided belief that the end justifies the means, but the moment he realizes that he has gone too far and that he needs to stop trying to force their past onto her, he stops. Nor does he ever try to manipulate or hold their soulbond over her head (he never even mentions it to her). Instead, he puts his all into building a relationship with the present her from scratch, on her terms, at her pace. He falls in love with and cherishes the present her, just as much as the past her. That is not to say though that all emotional scars have healed. Of course not. Whenever MC unknowingly makes those oddly specific references tied to the shared past she doesn't remember, it's bound to hurt him. But he handles it amazingly, staying composed. And he still aches for her to remember – but I suspect in large part for her sake rather than his. He wants her to know herself entirely, every single part. She deserves to know her history. But crucially, he never pushes the issue. All he does is make gentle references in the hopes that she might remember. But that's all. At the end of the day, on a personal level, if MC never recalls anything, then he'd be fine with that. He is overjoyed just to be a part of her life again, to hold her in his arms.

And imo the probably biggest instance of his maturity and strength? Being willing to let her go, if that is what she desires. Remember that MC represents everything good, beautiful, and joyous in his life. She is the best thing that happened to him. The one person to love, accept, and want him unconditionally. The sole individual to truly see the real him (the only one that dared or cared enough to try). After his resurrection he has yearned and searched the galaxies for her for an unknown but more than likely vast amount of years. And yet... he is willing to let go, for her sake. Even though it would destroy him on the inside. Because she is so much more important than his own desires.

Following on with the maturity theme, I admire the way he approaches losing. He isn't a sore loser but bears it with ease of mind, which isn't always the case with people like Sylus who are used to coming out on top. But to him, whether he wins at a competition or not doesn't affect his confidence or self worth, and he can readily acknowledge when he's been fairly beaten by an opponent. The only time he truly cares about winning is if MC wants him to. And then he'll make sure to win no matter what.

Another thing I admire is how he is so willing to adapt and adjust for MC and the love he bears her. For instance, Sylus is not by nature or temeprament a patient man. He wants to get things done and wants them done fast. A good example of this is in the most recent event, where he does not have the patience to let flowers grow naturally and so tries to force the process. However, when it comes to MC? He is willing to wait infinite lifetimes. He always walks at her pace when it comes to their relationship, and never pressures her. He gives her as much time as she needs to figure her feelings out. He is an impatient man willing and ready to be endlessly patient for his beloved

For all that he is down bad for MC, Sylus isn't a doormat nor spineless in regards to her. He won't just mindlessly agree and go along with whatever she wants but has a strong will, agenda, and boundaries of his own. He teases and bullies MC (affectionately), gives as good as he gets from her, and doesn't hesitate to call her out and/or fluster her for his own amusement. Leading to the banter we all know and love.

His ability to truly self reflect and grow. I am referencing what happens in and after LAR 1-8, where he disappears for a while after having gotten hit by a harsh but necessary reality check. My belief is that he went away initially to cry, but that he also did some major self reflecting. Afterwards, his behavior toward MC changes quite dramatically. He realized that he fucked up, and is determined to do and be better for her. And he never falters. We stan a person that recognizes they fucked up and learns from it. His character development and growth in general mean a lot to me.

How incredibly skilled he is at driving those mototcycles of his. No wonder MC feels safe riding with him no matter how fast they go or how dangerous the terrain.

That his crimes never affect innocents. Sylus has always made it a point only to harm or kill those who truly deserve it.

Despite how he claims never to have comforted anyone before, he is touchingly good at it. He is incredibly emotionally intelligent and attentive. He is always so quick to pick up on how MC is feeling, and he also knows when it's best to give advice, when it's best to act (ie send her something to comfort her, take her on a joyride etc), or when it's best to simply listen and be there for her. Most of the time he is incredibly in tune with her feelings and her needs.

And he can be so achingly tender when he comforts her. A great example of this is in Where Hearts Live, when at one point MC feels embarrassed and insecure about verbalizing how she feels. He is so patient and gentle, holding her close in his lap and rocking her, softly reassuring her that she can talk to him, that he wants to hear what she has to say. And there are other examples of his kindness, such as with animals and plants. A huge reason why this is so admirable to me is that Sylus is a man that has lived a rough life, and with few exceptions seen and dealt with the worst humanity has to offer. He has had precious few opportunities to witness or experience goodness or tenderness from others. And yet he has no trouble being either to those he cares for. It comes so naturally from him. Again, further proof that he has always at his core been compassionate and kind, and that those qualities have withstood throughout all the hardship and violence.

Lastly, I (naturally) greatly admire his hands. They are mesmerizing. Large and rough, yet elegant and beautiful. I can stare at them for hours and never get tired.

Ok I lied I also need to add his veins. Both on his hands and on his bulging arms.

[badninken]

King of Spider Miles

I was going for 'postcard that the Donquixote Family very generously sends to potential business partners in the shitty little town they chose to reside in, so the people will know what their ruler / local mafia boss pirate looks like'

Nah but, I fell for a fictional town that gets almost no screen time at all. I just love that Doflamingo picked a literal garbage dump as his base of operations, sticking his Family into this fortress-looking waste processing plant, allegedly taking in like 100 hopeful but ultimately useless kids as mobster pirate apprentices and then losing all of them because his weirdo brother beat them and threw them in the trash until they ran off crying. What an era.

The landscape of scrap heaps, smoke stacks, industrial brick buildings and the name all speak to my imagination. It's like, Machinarium and Peaky Blinders meets Law's Little Nightmares-esque experience of being a tiny kid in a big hat amongst HUGE monster men. Just very into the Spider Miles vibes and the potential of that place aesthetically.

I also want to know if Doflamingo could use the constant chimney smoke and smog to create sky paths. Just create spiderwebs in the sky all over town and take a little walk.

[featherfangart]

'And what if we combined the rune we just found with that leather gauntlet you've had lying around at home for months?' 'Have you been going through my stuff again?' 'What? Of course. What if there was something useful!'

Emerald Ruins. Aka how much have I missed drawing greenery? Yes. u_u

Zach belongs to @lesoldatmort; Rafe, the excited nerd standing on the rock is mine

[el-on-mars]

Don’t go back there, into the forest.

[otterloreart]

Here goes my brain: what if carousel pony sold now? Well, Tara toys mainly makes activity/craft kits. In fact they HAVE a paint kit of a unicorn. But what if it was

Carousel Cuties?

details under cut!

My proposal is a combination of the above 3 concepts, but MORE.

TBH I was at target today and they have all those little animal kits you draw on and I was thinking about how to... zhuzh them up? so to speak? The thing is that a lot of them are just plaster characters with paint. While they make a good activity for a kid, briefly, they cant really be played with like a toy.

Decora Ponyz do kind of reach across this gap, since they have a sticker gimmick. But I like the idea of 1. something a bit more permanent, like paint, and 2., including mixed media. Especially since stickers are so prone to falling off.

Also, the typical paint in these things is super cheap. But imagine having PUFFY paint which is more 3D, and then it would imitate the sculpted details on a more complicated toy. Obviously ideally this would have more paint colors but i think to make production more practical you would limit the palette for each cutie. (Which yes, would include non-ponies in thhe final version)

Also I didn't have time to draw it but the final piece is that there should be a separate (DECORATABLE) carousel for displaying all of your decorated cuties. You can pull the little stick out of the stand and put it in the carousel and maybe even turn it with some fun mechanism. And you can store all the paint and ribbons like inside the carousel so it has multiple functions!

[es-draws]

Gain progression of my OC Olivia

(more outfits below the cut)

[accidentcache]

tease.

feat: keigo takami. college au.

warnings / cache notes: SMUT. minors dni. language, oral (m receving, implied f recieving at the end), face fucking (that feels lewd to type LMAO), reader is a massive tease i wanna say. just torturing drunk keigo with some head and he snaps. 2.6k. i went overboard. whoops.

m.list

keigo is a touchy and clingy drunk. you've always known this. he also turns into a bigger brat than yourself— that's what pissed you off tonight. the entire walk home he was feeling you up, would not take his hand off your ass for a single second.

but how could you yell at him when he had those precious puppy dog eyes and those cute little curls that stuck to his sweaty little forehead? his cheeks were rosy from alcohol and his eyes were glazed over and he clung to you like you were his lifeline— but he kept touching and whispering flirty and borderline depraved things in your ear the entire walk home.

upon finally getting to his apartment, you set him up against the wall just inside while you close and lock the door. his fingers hover around your waist— never drifting too far.

you bend to kick your heels off and keigo takes advantage of the position to grind his hips into yours. an exasperated sigh leaves your lips— his actions are sloppy and messy and nowhere near as sexy as he was trying to be.

"keigo," your voice is tight, a hand clasping overtop of his in some attempt to ground him or at least sober him up somewhat. "let's get you to bed."

keigo whines. his fingers dig harder into your hips and his mouth finds your neck when you straighten up in front of him. his chest presses against your back and most of his weight leans onto you. "baby—"

"no," you cut him off. you peel his hands off of you and wrap a hand around his wrist, twirling yourself around to turn him around at the same time. you press your palm in the space between his shoulder blades and push. "you're going to bed. you're plastered."

keigo sighs dramatically but he complies. there's a cheeky smirk on his lips as he makes the way down the hall on uneven footsteps, and when he reaches his bedroom door he struggles to open it at first. if you weren't so irritated at his bratty behavior you would've chuckled at how he went face first into the wood before he managed to get it open.

by the time you've gotten things situated out in the main room, keigo is face down on the bed when you go to check on him. his wings are limp and spread out along the sheets, lazily twitching as he hums under his breath.

you make your way into the room and stand at the edge of the bed. "you are not sleeping in that," you say, motioning towards his clothes that are rumpled from a night of drinking and reek of alcohol and sweat.

keigo turns his head to peer up at you. when his hazy golden eyes lock onto your form, he smirks and the tips of his wings flap ever so slightly. "can't i?" his voice is still so slurred when he speaks. "i don't wanna take them off. too lazy."

you feel your eyes roll to the back of your head. clicking your tongue in disapproval, you motion with your finger towards his sprawled out form. "sit up."

keigo lets out a drunken giggle— full of mischief and nothing good ever comes out of that noise. he surprisingly obeys your command, however; even if it is with a half smirk and over dramatic movements. he manages to hoist himself up, propping himself back onto his hands on the edge of the bed.

"happy now?"

your patience is worn thin at this point. you can feel your lips curl into somewhat of a growl and your knees force his legs apart just a tad too roughly. keigo doesn't mind, obviously. he's far too drunk and if he's honest, he likes when you're a little rough with him.

your hands tug at the hem of his shirt and he lifts his arms so you can pull the fabric over his head. he catches your gaze when it lingers just a tad too long on his exposed chest and he smirks.

the smug little shit.

"now lift your hips," you order next, pointing a finger down to his hips. a short huff of air leaves your lips when he purrs at your tone, and he only grins at the way you roll your eyes. he knows you're only feigning annoyance— if you were truly annoyed with his antics you would've left him to fend for himself for the night. he's just wondering how far he can push you.

your fingers make quick work of the button and zipper of his jeans and the bulge and strain only make it more difficult.

keigo is also a horny drunk.

he leans back just a tad as his hips lift up as you tug the fabric down his hips and tights. the smirk on his lips turns just a tad more smug and crooked, his head tilting back as he watches you with eager eyes. "c'mon babe. you know you wanna," his words are still slurred, but have gained the weight of lust.

your eyebrow quirks upwards as you manage to get his pants down his knees. "what makes you think you deserve my touch right now?"

his lower lip juts into a pout that you fear is just a little too genuine. his eyes drop to that puppy dog gaze and he spreads his thighs ever so slightly, the muscles twitching with the light strain. "babe, don't be mean to me…"

you have to sigh in response. your tongue pokes at the inside of your cheek. "you like when i'm mean to you."

keigo's cheeks flush. "i do," he admits just a little too easily. he sits up in a rush and you can tell he immediately regrets the decision. his hand rises to press his fingers to his forehead as if to soothe the spinning that you know his brain is dealing with at the moment. "baby, please," he pleads.

you stare back at him with both eyebrows now raised. your arms cross over your chest and you adjust your stance in front of him. your eyebrow twitches, higher up in the form of a taunt and your head tilts. your lips curl into a smirk, "beg."

keigo scoffs in amusement. "excuse me?"

by now the alcohol has settled in his system— making him more stubborn and cocky. shortly he will realize this will be his downfall, but he's not paying attention that. he's clearly not used to you being so… forward. keigo calls the shots usually. it's how things usually flow in bed with the two of you.

and even though your attitude is arousing to him at the moment, his stubbornness outweighs it heavily. he makes it show as he leans back, throwing his arms behind his head with a smirk. "you're gonna have to ask me nicely, babe."

oh how his smirk drops when he sees you sink to your knees in front of him. there's no way you're giving in this quickly, so keigo can only assume you're up to something devious. you move inbetween his legs and his thighs clench almost involuntarily.

you don't touch him. you merely make bold eye contact with him over the obvious tent in his boxers and a shaky exhale leaves his lips. he swallows thickly— you see his adam's apple bob as he forces the lump down— and his voice shakes just the slightest bit when he speaks. "baby," he mumbles, his tongue feels heavy in his mouth. "don't tease me. not right now."

your lip juts out in a condescending pout almost immediately. your hand raises to trail the tip of your finger along the outline of his cock through his boxers and you watch with a satisfied gleam in your eyes as his cock twitches and jumps under your feather light touch. your eyes flick back up to his, an eyebrow still raised in a taunt.

keigo's face is flushed. his smirk has long faded and has been replaced by a wanton expression of need and desperation. "stop teasing," he growls, his entire body twitches as he restrains himself from grabbing a hold of you or just bucking up into your touch entirely.

now, you're pushing it. you lean in with a smug smirk, your mouth hovers overtop of his cock. the heat of your mouth just causes him to twitch and throb more. keigo lets out a strangled moan at the feeling and his breath gets caught in his throat.

your eyes don't leave his for a second. "make me."

"you little—" his arm moves, reaching toward you— but he stops himself. "stop fucking teasing."

"you're so twitchy," you mumble as your lips brush against him. the only part of you to make contact with him is the ghost of your lips and it drives keigo insane. "i haven't even touched you, baby…"

keigo's breathing is labored with the effort of holding himself back. he grits his teeth and his eyes shut briefly as he tries to compose himself but he swears he sees double when he looks back down at you. his voice— low and rough— has a hint of pleading underneath. "just touch me already, fuck."

keigo's heart rate picks up when he hears you chuckle. he groans, the noise pulled from deep in his chest when your nose nudges against his cock. it does nothing to help his situation when you purr a tiny little "oh, baby…" at him in response.

he can feel the heat growing at the base of his spine. it's getting increasingly harder for him to not just grab you and force you down on him. even drunk he's still respectful— but it's like you're deliberately pushing the limit.

your tongue rolls out and flattens against him and it causes such a whorish moan to fall out of his mouth. the fabric dampens under your tongue but you refuse to move, obsessed with the way his cock throbs and twitches under your tongue. your eyes flick up to his once again and keigo swears his vision spins when he sees the corners of your mouth lift in a smug little smirk.

he thinks he's getting a moment of reprieve when your fingers curl into the waistband of his boxers. but the moment his dick is freed you only coo and stare at it, practically drooling at the sight.

you still don't touch him. at least, not in the way he wants you to.

you're evil, he's thinking to himself. you're an evil woman, teasing him like this. he makes a last ditch effort to control himself and grips his sheets with white knuckles. "baby, please…"

another chuckle from your mouth. you don't know why you turn so sadistic when you're in a teasing mood, but seeing keigo in this form was just too good. your tongue flattens along the underside of his cock and you hum against him. "so needy…"

his head knocks back against the pillow. "if you don't take me into your fucking mouth i swear to god—"

"you'll what?" your tongue leaves in favor of torturing him some more. your eyebrow lifts in a challenge.

a strangled cry leaves keigo's lips and that's how you know he's snapped. his hands surge forward, diving into your hair as he tugs you forward. "you're gonna get your mouth on me right this motherfucking minute," he growls out before he finally forces his tip past your lips and into your mouth.

he almost cries out in pure ecstasy the moment he feels your mouth. your throat tightens around him as he forces you down, both hands in your hair to make sure you don't move away from him. he moans loud and unabashed, his head rolling back with his eyes squeezed shut. "fuck," he breathes out after a moment. his hips rut forward into his mouth, "that's it, angel. just like that."

a swift yank forces your glossy eyes to dart up to his own. his chest rises and falls with labored breathing and he revels in the silence for just a moment. you swallow and gag around him when he pushes himself deeper and he breathes out another loud and throaty moan.

"you've been driving me insane," he manages out in a rough tone. he takes in how your lash line waters and the corners of your mouth pool with drool and a warmth spreads in his chest. he guides you with his hand in your hair, making sure your head moves in tandem with the rhythm of his hips.

your eyes start to flutter shut and your hands grip onto his thighs for some sense of stability. your scalp stings when he tugs your hair once again, forcing your eyes up to his. "eyes on me, dove," he orders through a rough moan. "keep those pretty eyes on me."

he knows he's being just a tad too rough but god damn does your throat feel amazing. he doesn't even care that your eyes are fluttering every time his tip hits the back of your throat— the way you gag just makes him throb even more. you're taking every inch of him so well that he forgets he was even irritated with you in the first place.

your nose is flush with his pelvis with each thrust, making your eyes roll to the back of your head. the noises are obscene— from both keigo and your mouth, but the sight of you is even more divine. it's so lewd and filthy that keigo doesn't even care that you're drooling all over yourself. his thrusts into your mouth only get quicker as he tries to chase that white hot pleasure he's been chasing since you took his pants off.

"god— you feel so good," his head tilts back with a moan. his body is taut with tension, the veins in his arms show restraint as he grips your hair tighter. if you weren't going almost lightheaded from the lack of oxygen, you would've moaned at the sight of him.

his cock throbs on your tongue and you know he's about to cum. his movements get sloppier— rushed and uncoordinated. "fuck," he swears, one of his hands moving to the back of your head. he repeats the swear over and over as his hips move faster and rougher as he chases his orgasm using your mouth.

with a final push, he forces his cock the farthest it will go down your throat as he spills inside of you. his hand stays on the back of your head to keep you there. his mouth drops open as he pants and moans and drags your name out in several syllables.

he pulls you off of him and keens in delight at the line of drool mixed with his cum that connects your mouth to his cock. you pant heavily once you're granted access to oxygen again, letting his release sit on your tongue before you swallow. you take heavy gulps of air as his hand cups your cheek.

his gaze is suddenly more soft as his thumb swipes along your cheek. both of you are panting, chests heaving but keigo's touch is gentle and soothing as he pushes strands behind your ear. his tongue darts along his lip as he drags his thumb along yours. "are you okay?"

you nod, feeling like your throat might combust if you try to use it to speak. keigo's mouth lifts with a small grin and he curls a finger underneath your chin. he coaxes you upward, pulling you ever so softly up onto the bed with him where he then cages you underneath him.

"you were such a good girl," he mumbles, his fingers moving to the hem of your shorts. his breath is warm and still heavy with strained breaths against your stomach as he tugs the fabric down your hips. "let me repay you, hm?"

© accidentcache do not repost, translate or alter my work without permission. all rights reserved.

[khairosclerosis]

🍷 ' five fingers, two black hooves '

[atlaculture]

Hello!! Firstly, I love your blog, thank you so much for providing such useful and interesting information! Secondly, how was pirate culture in the Qing dynasty? Especially in regards to their clothes. I'd like to make an Earth Kingdom pirate oc, so I've been taking some inspiration from Jiang from the comics and Ching Shih, a famous pirate, but I'd love to see any information you could provide about this topic! Thank you!

What a neat question! The pirate culture during the Qing Dynasty was really interesting. Since I know I have a lot of historical fashion fans follow this blog, I'll show you the inspiration board I created first and then try to connect it to the Avatar world. If you're interested in the history of Qing era pirates or the greater context behind my clothing recommendations, you can click on the "Keep Reading" line.

So what might the pirates of the Qing Dynasty have worn?

Since Qing Dynasty pirates spent most of their time in the South China Sea and docked along the China-Vietnam borderlands--- both the Qing Dynasty and the Tây Sơn Dynasty had employed these pirates at different points in time--- they were likely a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese culturally, if not ethnically. Their clothing would reflect this, as well as incorporating fabrics and cuts that would be suitable for a tropical climate. In general, their wardrobe would be very Southeast Asian in style.

Since you seem to be designing a female OC, I figured I'd make a collage of clothing and accessories that a Qing Dynasty lady pirate might have.

Headwear

Khăn lươn (Vietnamese Women's Headwrap) - Used to keep hair neat and out of the way. It's like a halfway point between a turban and a hairband.

Khăn mỏ quạ (Vietnamese Women's Headscarf) - A bandana that Vietnamese women would wear over their Khăn lươn to shield their hair from the sun. It literally means "Crow's Beak Scarf", because the bandana forms a triangle shape at the front.

Mũ chữ Đinh (Vietnamese Military Officer's Hat) - Many Qing Dynasty pirates would offer their services to the Tây Sơn Dynasty (Vietnamese) navy. I can imagine some pirates wearing these hats as a spoil of war.

Nón lá (Asian Conical Hat) - A traditional hat that is commonly worn in Asia by any profession that labors outside. It's probably the hat most associated with East and Southeast Asia.

Đinh Tự (Vietnamese Women's Hat) - A giant, wide-brimmed hat made from dried palm leaves--- it's basically an Asian conical hat on steroids. Whereas the nón lá is relatively gender-neutral, the dinh tự is considered a feminine hat.

Tops

Yếm / Dudou (Vietnamese/Chinese Halter Top) - Fun Fact: Its original purpose was to keep the belly warm, as the stomach is the sea of chi!

Áo gấm (Vietnamese Tunic) - A thin overcoat worn over the yếm. It's often fastened with a sash.

Áo bà ba (Vietnamese Folk Shirt) - A lightweight shirt with slits on the side.

Suoyi (Chinese Folk Raincoat) - A cloak made out of local materials such as palm leaves and grass. It was also worn by laborers in Vietnam, Japan, and Korea.

Bottoms

Kangkeng Le (Thai Fisherman Pants) - They're from Thailand, but I've seen them worn in other parts of Southeast Asia.

Váy (Vietnamese Skirt)

Miscellaneous Speculation

Kiềng (Vietnamese Gold Necklace) - Traditionally, gold or silver Vietnamese/Chinese necklaces were solid rings of metal, rather than being composed of small chain links like European necklaces. I imagine a powerful Asian pirate queen would wear at least three kiềng necklaces.

Tattoos - Since Confucian cultures traditionally considered body modification (including cutting your own hair) to be a sign of rebellion and criminality, tattoos would be the perfect status symbol for an Asian pirate! For a uniquely Vietnamese look, you could try incorporating ancient Vietnamese (Dong Son style) patterns to your design. Alternatively, they could have "protection charm" tattoos on their body, to ensure that the spirits watch over them while at sea or during battle.

Cormorants (Fishing Birds) - Historically, the fishermen of China and Vietnam have trained these species of bird to catch fish for them. I think it would be really cool if your pirate OC had some bird companions.

Weapons

Going to lean into the Vietnamese influence for the weapons as well. Most Vietnamese weapons were heavily inspired by Chinese weapons, but with uniquely Vietnamese touches. Generally, these weapons tended to have more tapered blades, metal engravings with floral patterns, and rattan-corded grips with smaller guards compared to their Chinese counterparts.

Dadao/Trường đao (Chinese/Vietnamese Machetes)

Jian/Kiem (Chinese/Vietnamese Doubled-Edged Swords)

Changdao/Guőm truòng (Chinese/Vietnamese Two-Handed Swords) - Fun fact: These swords were really popular with Chinese and Japanese pirates during the Ming Dynasty, as well.

Niuweidao - I don't think there's a Vietnamese version of Oxtail Sabers. Anyways, I've discussed Zuko's trademark swords at length elsewhere. They're civilian weapons that look very pirate-y to me.

Who would the Earth Kingdom pirates be? How would they make a living?

It has been shown that their is a Vietnam analog in the EK, as I've posted about before. The Swampbenders have some Vietnamese inspiration, as well. So the main base operations for EK pirates might have been that EK village that Zuko and Iroh begged in. Maybe the jerk that Zuko stole the swords from was a pirate.

Considering that Froggy Swamp denizens and other Water Tribers would probably be marginalized by EK society, I think their would be good reason for them to become pirates. Especially since waterbending would obviously be a very useful skill to have at sea. Also, since the Northern Water Tribe is shown to be a bit sexist, I could see the surprisingly not-as-sexist world of EK piracy being especially appealing to the ladies of the NWT. As far as EK natives go, farmers and fishermen who've been displaced by the Fire Nation would probably also turn to piracy. Similarly, jaded or corrupt Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation naval officers might switch to piracy, as well. What drives a person to piracy would definitely inform their clothing choices and weaponry.

Like the real-life pirates of the Qing Dynasty, Earth Kingdom pirates likely have no real national loyalties. If you paid them enough, they'd be willing to fight for either the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom. You also have to pay them off to cross their territory unscathed. Pirates raid merchant and military ships alike. For refugees who could afford it, they likely paid pirates to smuggle them into Ba Sing Se. Pirates probably also smuggled goods between nations, as well as drugs.

I also think Earth Kingdom pirates would worship water-related spirits, like Yue (+ the Ocean Spirit) or the Painted Lady. Perhaps they'd lay out offerings to spirit alters they'd have onboard or even "feed" the offerings to the seas themselves.

The Greater Context of Chinese Qing Dynasty Piracy

Who were the pirates of the Qing Dynasty?

The pirates of Qing Dynasty were predominantly made up of former farmers and fishermen. During this period, population growth in China lead to land shortages and many farmers lost their land either from being unable to keep up with rising taxes or outright theft from corrupt officials. Fishermen turned to piracy when fishing could no longer guarantee their survival, especially with European pirates and colonial ships invading their waters. In general, extreme poverty drove people to piracy.

Also, Chinese pirates were surprisingly more accepting of female leadership than men from more "respectable" parts of society. This is due to the fishermen roots of many pirates. Traditionally, when a fisherman died, his wife was expected to take over his boat and crew. Also, the two most prominent patron Chinese gods of seafarers are goddesses, Guanyin and Mazu.

What did these pirates do?

Qing Dynasty pirates were a unique fusion of bandit, mercenary, and drug smuggler. Obviously, if you planned on sailing through pirate-infested waters, you had better pay off the pirates to be left unscathed. Otherwise, your ship was getting plundered.

Qing pirates also offered up their talent for violence to the highest bidder during times of war. In the 18th century, Imperial Vietnam would frequently hire and train up Southern Chinese pirates to assist their fleets during naval battles. Those who earned merit during these conflicts would even be granted official military titles. In 1857, the Chinese government would even employ these same South Sea pirates to take down the Portuguese pirates terrorizing their waters.

Finally, as Qing Dynasty piracy reached its epoch at the same time as the First Opium War, Chinese pirates participated in a lot of drug smuggling. As pirates have no loyalty, they had no issue serving as middle-men in the profitable European drug trade.

Where were these pirates found?

The South China Sea was the stomping ground for Qing-era pirates, particularly the Gulf of Tonkin. In terms of ports and towns, they tended to spend a lot of time in the border areas where China met Vietnam. Remember that these pirates offered their services to both Imperial Vietnam and Imperial China, so they didn't exactly have national loyalties.

[king-of-docks]

Day 1: New experiences