#yes they are all on wall paper glue in this comic and i love it

[sonicattos]

shaking and crying

[wonder-womans-ex]

See It In Your Eyes

The sequel to ‘Cause Boy I was Made for You 

When Finn O'Hara was eleven years old, he got two things for Christmas: an Iron Man action figure and a telling off. There were probably other things, too, but in ten years (or eleven, or twelve, or even thirty for that matter) he wouldn't be able to remember them. 

But the action figure had been the one he'd eyed in the toy store window for the past seven months, and the telling off had been from his Aunt Isla. 

"There are two things you must never ask a lady," she had scolded. "Her age, and to see the mark on her wrist. Remember that, Finnegan." 

(For the record, he hadn't asked to see her wrist. He had asked her to pass him the stuffing, and he'd said "What's that?" when her sleeve got bunched up around her elbow.) (Not like she cared.)  

***

When Logan Tremblay was eleven years old, he nearly broke his jaw. One of the boys on his team tied his shoelaces together after practice and he fell and smashed his face on the locker room bench. 

After three and a half hours in the ER, he met his own eyes in the bathroom mirror, cheek swollen comically huge, and thought, don’t let it get to you, even though it already had. 

***

When Leo Knut was eleven years old, he got his first job. Sure, it was only a paper route, but to Leo, it was everything. Not only was he making money (real, actual money; his dad couldn’t tell him his Monopoly skills were just pure luck anymore) but he was the first in his family to learn anything interesting. One morning, halfway through his rounds, he flipped to the sports page. The words Local Team Manager Loses Job over Sexuality glared up at him. 

At lunchtime, when his parents asked about the news lately, he merely shrugged and took another bite of his taco. 

*** 

When Finn O’Hara was fifteen years old, he fell in love for the first time. Not with a person, no, but no one could deny that he was in love—by the fourth rewatch of Mamma Mia, his mother was resigned to promising him extra dessert if he would please, for the love of God, just sing anything else.

***

When Logan Tremblay was fifteen years old, he and his sister Noelle woke up at five in the morning on April Fool’s to rig their house. Noelle, admittedly, was behind most of it, but Logan came up with five spectacular (if he did say so himself) pranks: baking soda in the cereal and vinegar in the milk, which caused his father’s breakfast to fizz and explode the moment he poured it out; semi-permanent hair dye in his mother’s shampoo (her hair kept the blue tint for almost a month); all the hard-boiled eggs in the fridge swapped out for raw ones and vice versa; glue in his father’s shaving cream; and, just because he felt like it, all the toilet paper in the house hidden in the downstairs freezer. The day was a bright spot in a patch of darkness—it had been only a week before that he had found the tumblr post about anxiety symptoms and thought, maybe…

***

When Leo Knut was fifteen years old, he quit baseball—for good this time. His coach was confused as to why anyone would give up an 84 mph fastball and a glove that could catch any pop fly in favour of the ice, but Leo was sure. Hockey was his destiny. The pitcher’s mound had nothing to offer him, not anymore. 

***

When Finn O’Hara was eighteen years old, he met Logan Tremblay. His first thought—though he would not accept it until years later—was, He has very nice lips. I would like to kiss them. His second, mere moments later, was, Wait shit no fuck no dammit shit fuck.

***

When Logan Tremblay was eighteen years old, he began to wonder who his soulmate was. Maybe she would have coffee-brown eyes and a gap between her front teeth, the perfect height for him to rest his chin on top of her head. Maybe she would be taller, with wide hips and sharp elbows and long eyelashes. 

He tried to shake his fantasies of fiery red hair and gorgeous grins, because Logan was a hockey player and hockey players weren’t queer. 

*** 

Leo Knut is eighteen years old, and he is being pulled down a dimly lit hallway by Finn O’Hara. His wrist is warm beneath Finn’s grasp, his heart beating a little too fast for his liking. 

“Where are we going?” Logan asks from his place at the end of Finn’s other arm, but he gets no answer. 

Finally, they reach what Leo assumes is their destination: the…. Well, Leo isn’t sure where they are, actually. Some sort of storage room, he guesses, judging by the net in the corner. 

He still has no idea why they’re there. 

Logan is looking at Finn expectantly, a curious expression on his face. He looks like he knows what’s happening, and the thought bites at Leo’s heart. Great—he’s the only clueless one here. 

Finn takes a deep breath, and then another. “Hi,” he begins, and then stops. 

Not sure which of them he should look at, Leo focuses on a spot on the wall between Logan’s and Finn’s heads. He senses one of them watching him. He doesn’t check which it is. 

“So,” Finn tries again. “Ugh. I’m bad at this.”

“What exactly is ‘this’?” Logan’s brow, when Leo sneaks a glance at him, is furrowed, only a sliver of green eyes visible beneath his squint. 

There’s a thunk as Finn lets his head fall back against the wall. “This is me finally deciding to man up and tell you I’m in love with you.” 

Leo’s head turns to look at Logan so fast his neck hurts. He sees Logan blink once, and then twice. 

***

Finn meets Logan’s eyes. He can practically feel the electricity crackling between them. 

Because Logan knows.

He has to. 

He has to know that Finn’s heart nearly beats out of his chest every time Logan smiles. He has to know that sometimes he’ll be talking to someone, anyone—Cap, or Coach Weasley, or the press—and he’ll think about Harvard and he’ll forget how to breathe. Logan is half of Finn’s heart. 

But whether or not Logan knows it, the look on his face says he feels the same. Finn feels his lips start to curve into a smile. 

And then Leo says, “Why am I here, then?”

There are a hundred ways Finn could answer that question. One of them is ‘Why wouldn’t you be?’ and another is ‘I don’t know.’ He could be passionate. He could be tactful. He could be poetic or blunt or gentle or any of those things. 

What he goes with, in the end, is philosophical. 

“Who decides it’s wrong?” Finn says to the floor. “Any of it. The feeling. The wanting. The having, even. If it’s real, then how can it be wrong?”

He can’t see Logan’s face, nor Leo’s, but he imagines they must be confused. He goes on, not entirely sure he knows what he’s saying and not entirely sure he cares. “And maybe it’s destiny. And maybe it isn’t. Why does it matter? If it’s real and painful and there for the taking, why bother about whether it’s supposed to be?” 

Finally, he looks up. He senses that one of them is going to say something, and whichever it is, he cuts them off. 

“Maybe it’s not you. Fuck, maybe it isn’t either of you, and maybe I’m the only one who thinks it should be. But it has to mean something, doesn’t it? Because if it doesn’t… why bother at all?” 

And maybe, Finn thinks, I’m going to start crying.

***

Logan, mind still wheeling, is the only one who gets an inkling of what Leo is going to do before he does it. Finn certainly doesn’t, and he’s not quite sure Leo does either. 

He grabs Finn by the collar and pulls him up, their faces smashing together, red and gold curls tangling between their foreheads. Logan watches them slowly break apart, far enough away to lock eyes, yet still so close they’re breathing into each other’s mouths. His heart surges—with jealousy, yes, but also with something fiery and sweet. Something akin to excitement, or—dare he say—love. 

“Whoa,” he says out loud, not realizing it until Leo and Finn both glance over at him. His cheeks start to colour.

Then Leo places a hand on his shoulder and leans down to kiss him, too. This one is more gentle by far that the previous; a dance rather than a battle. It makes sense—Finn’s always been the brash one, the impulsive one, while Logan is tentative, sturdy—and it seems fitting that Leo is the one to remind them of that. 

Logan still doesn’t know what they’re doing there. 

Well, he knows what they’re doing, of course. They’re kissing. But he doesn’t know why Finn picked now to haul them halfway across Hogwarts arena and make it happen. Maybe if he really thought about it, something would come to him. 

But of course he’s not going to think about it, because Leo is still kissing him. 

When one of them finally pulls away—Logan isn’t sure who—Leo reaches one hand up and touches Logan’s lip. They stay there for a long moment, neither of them moving, before calloused fingers carefully skate across his waist. He turns towards Finn. 

They surge forward together, meeting in the middle. One of Finn’s hands fists in Logan’s hair, the other slipping under his shirt, as they kiss for the first time in nearly four years. 

He can taste salt. One of them is crying; it’s probably him.

When Logan starts to break away, desperate for air, Finn chases his mouth. Within a few seconds, though, he’s pulled back, too. It’s almost simultaneously that they remember there’s another person in the room. 

Leo’s lip is between his teeth as he worries at it. He doesn’t speak for a long moment; the silence, before it shatters, if practically tangible. “You two have history,” he says, like it’s a question he already knows the answer to. 

“We do,” Finn answers easily. There’s something fierce in his eyes. “But it’s the future that matters.”

Logan wishes Finn would stop sounding like Plato. Or Socrates. Or Aristotle. One of them, anyway. Finn is an American in his 20’s, not a 2000-something-year-old Greek. In any case, mystery is decidedly not Finn’s colour. 

Leo shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

“What do you mean, then?” 

“I mean you guys are—you’re practically—” he breaks off. One of his hands moves towards Logan, only stopping when it hovers mere centimetres from his wrist. “May I?” 

“I—sure.” Logan’s heart skips a beat when their fingers brush. Leo gently turns his hand so Logan’s palm is up, and it’s not until Leo starts to push his sleeve away that Logan realizes what he’s doing. 

But by then it’s too late—those three paw prints he spends so much time agonizing over are on display, no longer private, no longer just for him. For a split second, he considers covering his wrist again and leaving. But he does no such thing. 

Because if he can’t trust Finn and Leo, he can’t trust anyone. 

Finn’s mouth opens slightly in surprise. “It’s—” he says, and there’s barely any hesitation before he’s pulled his sleeve up, too. 

It takes a moment before Finn’s soulmark registers in Logan’s mind. When he does, he starts to smile. 

They’re soulmates. 

***

Leo feels his jaw clench. He knows he should be happy for them—and he is, really. They’ll smile at each other, and they’ll kiss again, and they’ll go on with their lives as that one couple who are so in love it hurts to look at them. 

He turns away when tears start to pool in his eyes. He’ll go back to the locker room; they obviously want to be alone right now. “I’ll just… yeah.”

Just as soon as he takes his first step towards the door, Finn grabs his arm. “Wait,” he says, and Leo stops. 

“Logan and I are soulmates,” says Finn, all in one breath, “But there are three prints. Not two. And I know that it’s rare, but Re—but I’ve been told it’s possible. That it’s happened before.”

Leo thinks he knows, but he has to make sure. “Do you mean—do you think we’re—”

“I know you’re only eighteen,”  Finn continues. “And I know there’s no way of knowing for a while. But does it matter? Even… even if I’m wrong? I love you—I love both of you—soulmates or not.” 

Leo waits for one of the others to say something more. When neither does, he wonders why, and quickly comes to the conclusion that it’s because they’re waiting for him to say something. 

“Who told you?” he asks the moment it pops into his head. It’s not the best thing he could say, but it’s not the worst, either. 

“Told me what?” 

“You said someone told you it was possible to have two soulmates. Who was it?”

There’s a pause as Finn cracks one of his knuckles, deep in thought. “Loops,” he whispers, but not until Leo has decided he’s not going to say anything at all. “I was talking to Loops yesterday, and I told him I thought… anyway, he said I should tell you.”

“You told him we’re soulmates?” Logan’s eyes are wide and fearful. “He knows we’re…?”

“Not you guys, no. Well, Leo, maybe. I just said you were both on the team, that’s all.”

“But you would have had to say something about my age,” Leo concludes, the dots starting to connect in his head. “And I’m the only one who’s not nineteen yet.”

“Yeah.” 

Logan swallows, the almost comical gulp audible in the quiet room, and he crosses his arms over his chest. There’s something about the gesture, however, that tells Leo it’s an act of protection, not defiance. “He’s not going to… tell anyone, is he?”

“No. And if he doesn’t, I won’t.” 

“What?” Leo thinks he might be missing something. 

“He won’t tell anyone we’re… gay.” It’s the first time any of them have said it—that three-letter word that, in their profession, could ruin everything. “Because he has his own secrets. There’s a difference between being ashamed of something and wanting to keep it private.” 

Logan’s eyes widen slightly. “You mean… we’re not the only ones?” His voice is incredulous, choked with emotion, and Leo reaches out a hand to him. 

“I don’t think we ever were.” 

***

Finn feels as though he’s floating. No—this is better than floating. This is dreaming. At any moment, he’s going to wake up staring at the ceiling of his bedroom with Leo asleep just a wall away. A mile away. 

It’s like he’s watching, not experiencing, the way Logan’s fingers twine with Leo’s, love overflowing from the gaze they share. He’s imagining the kiss Logan leans forward to plant on his cheek. Leo’s arm wrapping itself around his shoulders is all in his head. 

But it isn’t. Without having to speak, the three of them make their way out of the storage room and back into the hall—blond and brunet hand in hand, blond holding redhead so close it seems he’ll never let go. Finn leans into the warm body to his side, and he feels Leo stagger slightly as Logan does, too. They seem as though they would be perfect on the cover of a book, or a movie poster—Three’s Company, his mind provides, and he files it away just in case he ever decides he wants to sell the rights to his life story. 

He’s a long way from that, though. After all, it’s been barely half an hour since they started to unravel this knot they’ve spent so long tangling themselves into, and right now all Finn needs to do is try his best to make sure they don’t get tied up again. 

The locker room is almost abandoned. Pascal’s packing up the last of his stuff, and he smiles when they enter. Logan, for one, stiffens slightly in fear, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any need to. Indeed, the only thing Pascal says as he does up the zipper of his bag is, “Be good to him,” and none of them knows who he’s talking to, so they all nod. 

Finn waits until they have the room to themselves to pull Logan close to him. “It’ll be okay,” he says. “I promise.”

“But if people find out—”

“Then we’ll have to deal with that—all of us will. But you don’t have to be afraid. The team’s family. And family means no one gets lost behind or forgotten.” 

Logan nods, chewing his lower lip. It’s obvious when the gravity of Finn’s words clicks in his head—the expression on his face twists into one of confusion. “Wait a second—why does that sound familiar?”

“Because it’s from Lilo and Stitch.” 

Swiveling his head towards Leo, Finn stage whispers, “Shhhhh!” This gets a smile out of Logan. 

“I knew I’d heard it before somewhere. Shame on you, Finn—plagiarizing the words of an innocent blue alien!” He stops, blinking. “There’s something I never thought I’d say.” 

Finn smiles. This is his life now. He thinks he’ll have a lot of fun getting used to it.

***

Skates swishing over the ice, Logan lets the world fall away. He stops thinking about everything—even Finn’s contagious laughter and Leo’s broad grin fade from his mind as he gets closer and closer to the goal. 

Almost there, almost there—

He shoots. The puck whizzes past Kasey’s elbow, only barely missing him. 

“Nice one, Tremblay!”

Moody is nodding in approval. Logan feels a rush of pride—it’s an easy, everyday drill, something he’s been able to do in his sleep since he was a kid, but praise is always a good thing. When he can’t have a cheering crowd, he might as well have a coach who admires his talents. 

“Merci!” he says, beaming, and then, on second thought, adds, “I’d be surprised if it wasn’t!” 

Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Finn and Leo bump shoulders. His heart swells—they love each other, and he loves that they love each other. Somehow, he finds it hard to believe it’s only been a day since the storage room and the kissing and—

“Tremblay!” Logan is shocked back out of his thoughts by Coach Weasley’s (albeit slightly amused) shout. “Stop daydreaming and take another shot!”

“Yes, Coach.” 

He’s sweating by the time he’s finally allowed to sit down again. He takes a swig of Gatorade, watching Finn try and sneak up behind him. 

“Boo!”

“Hi, Fish.”

“Dammit.” Two red eyebrows lift and fall again. “How’d you know I was here?”

“I saw you. You’re not inconspicuous.”

“You don’t just love me so much you could sense me from halfway across the world?”

Logan can’t help it—he glances around furtively, heart pounding, hoping desperately that no one heard Finn’s comment. “Well, that, too,” he adds, once he’s sure everyone else is sufficiently distracted. “But mostly that ginger head of yours just sticks out like a sore thumb. I call you mon rouge for a reason, you know.”

“Fuck you.”

"Peut-être plus tard.”

“In English, please?”

“...Maybe later.”

“But I want to know now.”

(If only he knew.)

Logan feels giddy as he realizes they really do have time for ‘maybe later.’ They have time, and they’ve earned it. After all, it’s been a day. It’s been eight years. 

It’s been forever. 

***

It’s almost a year later that Leo wakes up in an empty bed. He yawns, stretches, arches his back and hears his joints pop. For a moment, he wonders where his boys—even now, the thought that they really are his boys makes him unbelievably happy—are. 

Then he hears the voices from the kitchen. A smile spreads across his face at the exclamation of “Oh, shit!” and he swings his legs over the side of the bed, placing his feet on the floor and preparing for whatever disaster may greet him. 

(Honestly, who thought letting Finn and Logan cook was a good idea?)

And true enough, the moment walks into the kitchen he’s greeted by two things: the grinning faces of his boyfriends, and the smell of smoke. 

“What’s burning?”

“The bacon.” 

“Of course it is.” He reaches over, taking the pan from Finn, and scrutinizes it. “Salvageable,” he declares, “But please never try to make anything other than instant ramen again.”

Logan nods sheepishly. “Sorry,” he says. “We just wanted to make you something special. Y’know, for your birthday.” 

Right. 

His birthday. 

He’d actually forgotten about that. 

He’s not sure how—it’s all he’s been able to think about for almost a month now it’s here and he knows all three of them have the same thing on their minds. Sure, he’s excited, but right now, he’s leaning a little more towards terrified. Today’s the day. 

But he knows, when he lets a very real grin spread across his face, that they won’t pressure him. They know it’s his choice, and they’ll respect that. He has nothing to worry about except for the fact that the smoke detector is around six seconds away from going off. 

“Here,” he instructs Logan, putting the frying pan down on the stove. “Grab the fan from the bathroom—the little portable one—and bring it in here if you don’t want the fire department racing lights-and-fucking-sirens down our street.”

“Oui.” 

“Finn… just try not to set anything else on fire.” 

The hustle and (incredibly mild, all considering) panic only lasts for a few minutes. Finally, Leo presses a kiss to the top of Logan’s head, ruffling Finn’s hair, and opens the fridge. “Thanks for the breakfast, by the way.”

“Anytime.”

“...Or not.”

They all laugh at this, and when Leo grabs the milk and pours out three glasses, he watches them. He sees Finn pull out Logan’s chair with an exaggerated bow, glancing over and smiling when he and Leo lock eyes. 

It’s the classic movie dilemma. Will he, won’t he. Won’t he, will he. 

He waits until they’re all seated to bring it up. In the meantime, he rubs his wrist through the long-sleeved shirt he wore to bed yesterday for this very reason. It meant he was warm last night, but at least he gets a choice this morning. 

“So.”

Finn and Logan both look up. “Yeah, Peanut?” one of them asks—probably Finn, but Leo’s mind is too far away to give it much thought. 

“Are we going to talk about it?”

This time, it’s definitely Logan who responds, shrugging and poking at his bacon before saying, “Do you want to?”

“I think so.”

Here Finn cuts in. “I only have one thing to say, and that’s that whatever’s on your wrist? It doesn’t change anything. You’re mine—you’re ours—no matter what. We don’t have to be soulmates to be in love.” 

“I know that. I just… I used to feel like I was missing something, you know? It’s been ages since I did, but at the beginning I felt like this was your relationship, and I was just an extra part of it.” 

“I… I didn’t know you felt that way.” Logan’s eyes are earnest, emotional. Leo thinks he might see tears there. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. No, really—I felt that way, sure, but I don’t anymore. I know you guys love me. That’s what matters. I’m just tired of having the ability to tell myself I don’t belong, and this… this is what confirms it either way. 

“I want to know. I really do. But I can’t help being afraid of the answer.” 

Finn opens his mouth to speak, but Logan beats him to it. “It’s your choice. Whatever you decide to do, we’re here for you. You can do it today, you can do it tomorrow, you can do it in a year, you can do it never. Je t’aime, mon amour. Toujours.”

Time seems to slow down in the instant it takes Leo to reach into the deepest recesses of himself to gather all the courage he can find, take a deep breath, and pull up his left sleeve. His hands are hidden under the table, so neither Logan nor Finn knows what’s happened until Leo’s face spreads into the widest smile he’s ever worn and a choked, happy sob escapes his lips. 

He can see in both their eyes the instant they realize—Finn first, Logan following mere instants later—and he rubs a thumb over the golden print. Somehow, he knows that one’s his. 

He’s already seen this mark a hundred thousand times, but it feels so much more real there on his skin, blue and golden and green and—

“Yeah.” They know what he means. He wants to shout it out loud, sing it boldly as he walks down the street, because they’re his soulmates, and the only thing that matters more than that is that they’re in love. 

thanks to @peggyrose19 for betaing and @lumosinlove for the incredible characters <3

[btsimaginefactory]

BTS Daycare AU

Running a daycare out of your house can’t be too hard, can it? You wish you could say that at this point. When some of your mother’s co-workers talked about wanting a smaller, more personal care experience for their children, she proposed the idea to you. Not too many kids? Yes, please. You don’t even have to leave your house? Sweet! Getting paid weekly? Even sweeter! But you could’ve never imagined just how much these little boys would teach you and how much they’d turn your life into the messiest adventure.

Jin 

The eldest; the drama queen

This kid is low-key the boss okay.

Never fails to make a little situation into the apocalypse.

He was super shy for the first week, not straying from your side, but after that, he becomes the main attraction.

Takes his role as the eldest very seriously and he LOVES to baby the youngest ones.

Can be a little bossy, and gets rather upset when the others don’t do what he tells them, thinking he knows what is absolutely best for them. He is correct most of the time…

Prefers imaginative games instead of brain games; the world is his stage.

One of his favorite activities is helping make snacks or lunch for everyone.

The term “tattle-tail” has been thrown around a little *cough*

Sings seriously when he thinks no one is watching but refuses to sing anyway other than goofy when they all sing together.

Also, you can tell if he doesn’t like what he is eating because he won’t be humming; he ALWAYS hums as he eats.

Yoongi 

The sloth; the rule breaker

(You were all expecting this, and it’s 100% just facts)

The kid who is always sleeping. He can sleep anywhere, and you can find him in the most hilarious places and positions.

Makes a big gummy smile on command, not understanding why it gets such a reaction from people.

This being said, he pays close attention to what reactions he gets from good vs bad behavior.

Says “I’m hungry” but when you call him to eat he doesn’t want to move.

Enjoys music time the most, ranging from banging drums too loudly, to very seriously playing the keyboard.

Although soft-spoken most of the time, he makes the other boys laugh more than anything else.

The quiet cuddle bug, who gets explosively mad if you wake him in any way other than peacefully.

Hoseok 

The glowing flower; the wiggler

This boy is so polite.

The first day he is hesitant, but after only a few minutes, he is a big ball of sunshine.

Cheers on the other boys whenever they do anything.

Dances to any music, and is the wiggly one when told to sit still.

He has to have a mat mate for nap time.

Easily cries when he does something wrong or thinks he has.

THE HONEST TO A FAULT DUO WITH JIMIN.

As loud as Namjoon can get, Hoseok is infinitely louder, and 90% of the time. In public, though he is the one shushing everyone else.

He prefers to fall asleep in someone’s arms and usually needs someone to stroke his back or hair to get to sleep.

Get’s nervous about being himself and sharing his own needs.

Namjoon

The natural born leader; the reader

He is a wiggly baby with Hoseok. He is almost always moving in some way, even when sitting still.

The others tend to follow him around like little ducklings, drawn to his natural leadership, but it can get him angry sometimes when they won’t leave him alone when he wishes.

Doesn’t understand the term “inside voice”. The more excited he gets, the louder he gets.

Cries when he gets really mad; the classic, “I’M NOT CRYING!”

The one who always gathers everyone up when you are trying to get them in a group.

Has a bit of a hero complex, and likes to play the hero in most games.

Loves reading to everyone, and helping teach the others to read.

Sometimes he goes off on his own without anyone knowing until they suddenly realize he is missing.

Thinks he is grown and has a giant soft spot for the youngest, Jungkook.

Jimin

The sweetheart; the lover boy

THE HONEST TO A FAULT DUO WITH HOSEOK.

The one everyone wants to be around but he can’t figure out why.

This boy is the quiet sweetheart who captures your heart in seconds.

Comes up with the best stories to tell.

He is always cleaning up after the others.

Loves to “deliver” lunch and snacks to everyone.

So physically active, it tires you to just watch him.

He always wants to draw or paint and encourages the other boys to express themselves creatively.

Creative genius.

His favorite game is dress-up, and he takes it so seriously it’s amazing.

Sticks to Taehyung like glue, but trusts Namjoon most in a crisis.

Sometimes he gets fussy for seemingly no reason, although a frequent reason is not getting enough attention and praise.

Taehyung

The family puppy; the happy go-lucky boy

This cutie is always pretending to be a dog. Puts a collar on and everything, taking the role so seriously.

The “what do you mean I don’t have enough money?” kid.

He cannot comprehend why things in the world work the way they do instead of the way he declares them to be.

DOODLES ON EVERY SURFACE… paper, books, walls, floors- it’s all fair game.

Adamantly goes to sleep on his own, insisting he doesn’t need anyone else because he’s a “big boy”, but he always ends up on someone else’s with them.

Plays dumb a lot to get out of trouble, but has moments of pure genius that leave everyone stunned.

The kid who runs in every day, barreling in and ready to start the day with a smile.

He gets lost a lot because he doesn’t pay attention and runs off.

Gets into yelling matches with Hoseok.

Always has to play an animal, hardly ever a human.

Jungkook

The baby; the bottomless pit

The small baby boy who loves to be THE baby.

The others keep trying to teach him dirty words, sigh….

HE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY???? How can he hold so much inside him?

Also, he is always on the move. Getting him to settle down for a nap is a job in and of itself.

Also… he is always almost killing himself or everyone else; you gotta keep an eye on him.

He has the shortest attention span, but we’re working on it.

Prefers playing outside, no matter the weather.

He communicates more with sounds and short phrases that full sentences. I think his vocabulary just isn’t big enough yet for him to express himself through words.

If someone else is crying, he is going to cry; no hesitation. He especially cries when anyone is fighting in front of him.

Gives everyone the smug grin as he is being picked up and held, more than obvious to the others he got out of something bad he did because of his cuteness.

{{I am so 100,000% going to continue this AU because I’ve been wanting to for ages, whether it be in a fanfic or comic or drabbles blah blah, so I hope you enjoy it! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH💗💘💗 - Admin Chaejeong}}

[houseofvans]

SKETCHY BEHAVIORS | MEL KADEL (LA)

Los Angeles based artist Mel Kadel’s intricately detailed, carefully plotted, and insightfully drawn and watercolored works often feature her iconic female protagonist exploring, struggling, suffocating, and entangling as well as confronting, battling, and overcoming abstract obstacles and unlikely circumstances. From walls to furniture to customizing some sweet Vans Customs, Mel’s works has been featured in galleries all around the world.  Like her art, Mel is not only one thing–from running her own online shop, silk screening and hand coloring her own prints, to actively utilizing her art as a platform for her activism. In this latest Sketchy Behaviors, we find out more about Mel– from her first art show to what inspires her as well as what project she’s been the most proud of this year!  

We love Mel, so will you–Make the leap. 

Photographs courtesy of the artist | Additional photographs by Aaron Farley

Introduce yourself (and maybe a fun or interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself or background). I’m an artist living in Echo Park.  I came from the east coast with a couple suitcases to see what it was like, and I’m still here 20 years later.  I grew up in the suburbs, and when I was a teenager I delivered pizza and became obsessed with drawing.  My high school art teacher Selby and I still write each other on a regular basis.  If it wasn’t for her, I might still be delivering pizzas.       What was the first thing you remember ever drawing? What do you remember about it?  My brother is 3 years older than me, and would come home from high school when I was about 13, and give me the same art lessons he was doing in class.  One that comes to mind was turning a photo upside down and drawing it, an exercise in observation.  So he handed me David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” album, turned it upside down, and said “draw this”.

A lot of your work feature a female protagonist interacting, feeling, and encountering obstacles and overcoming them.  Who is she and what does she represents?  I’ve always removed myself from these characters when talking about my work, but as time goes by, I’m realizing more and more how much I’m a part of them.  They are little snap shots of emotions that I connect with enough to try and communicate.  The characters walk a fine line between strength and vulnerability, which is something most of us can relate to.  

What’s your most favorite part of the creation process? What’s your favorite thing to draw when working on a piece?  Do you have a least favorite part? The initial pencil sketch is my least favorite part.  It’s just not that interesting to me, so I try to get through that pretty quickly.  Once I begin going in with color and pen lines, I get into a really nice meditative state.  

What was your very first art show like? And how did that come about? I showed my work around LA for a couple years, in cafes and group shows, before having my first solo show at Jeff Electric Gallery in 2002.  The “Los Angeles Horse Show” was a collection of photos and drawings based on a toy horse that I carried around for months.  This horse was my copilot, coming with me to every music venue, bbq, and party.  I’d photograph people holding him, and based a large body of work from these portraits.  I had some fun times taking pics of Tony Alva, Raymond Pettibon, Don Bolles, and over 100 other friends and local characters.  I loved how social the project was.  The horse helped me get to know a lot of people and became a buffer to a relatively new city.

Favorite materials? When and why did you start staining your own paper? My materials are really basic:  Paper, pens, ink, and maybe some glue.  Years ago, I would draw on old book paper.  The yellowish color gave it an instant warmth that I liked.  But it had limitations because the sheets were so small and fragile.  So as a way to work larger and use more ink & color, I needed something stronger.  I tried to mimic these old sheets by staining thick water color paper with coffee.  The coffee’s tone helps make the colors I’m looking for, and gives me a base that feels comfortable.  I try to work on white from time to time, but It never feels quite right.

What kind of music do you listen to while creating stuff? I’m all over the place.  NPR, music, podcasts, listening to tv, and silence.  I go back and forth all day.

Who are some artists that you currently feel are creating some really cool stuff? They first few that come to mind:  Chantal Joffe, Andy Rementer, Michelle Blade, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Wangechi Mutu, Richard Colman, Jules de Balincourt, and Travis Millard.

What would your ideal collaborative project be like? I would like to collaborate on more functional pieces like furniture, wall paper, bed sheets, lamps, anything that’s can become a part of a space.

What do you look for when you see an artist’s work? What are you drawn towards art wise? There is nothing in particular that I’m looking for, but if something strikes me it’s like a gut reaction.  Similar to the way you might feel a connection to someone when first meeting them.  It either clicks or it doesn’t.  Whether it’s a comic or an abstract painting, I’m attracted to that underlying feeling it gives me and some sense of authenticity.   

Has it been difficult being an artist?  What are some of the challenges you face, and how do you overcome them? I don’t know of anything that isn’t difficult in one way or another.  But yes, art has it’s own unique challenges beyond just creating the work.  For most people the challenges in the studio are part of the process, but trying to make a living at this can be an emotional rollercoaster.  There are these blissful moments where everything seems to be clicking, right before you’re hit with uncertainty, and that voice in your head has to keep you moving forward.  That personal dialogue can be really hard to do over and over, especially if you have some insecurity hanging around.  But really, that’s the hard stuff.  Once you get past that, you’re golden, at least for a little while. 

What project are you the most proud of? What’s something you’d love to do but haven’t had the opportunity to do yet? I put an image out this year during the Women’s March with the words “Her Rights Unite”, making posters and t-shirts.  With everything suddenly shifting in our country after the election, and this huge uproar happening, I felt very strongly about connecting my work to this moment.  It’s like the images I’ve been making my whole life about people (mostly women) struggling and persevering, connected with something larger and louder than ever before.  

How are you “Not Just One Thing?” When I’m not working on drawings, which is pretty solitary for me, I go the other direction.  Walking, hiking, gardening, dog walking, seeing friends, being a spectator.  I’m good at being a sponge.

What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t an artist? Running my family’s arcade at Knoebel’s Grove amusement park, in Pennsylvania.  I worked at the arcade when I was 15, and still day dream about dropping everything and moving back to run the business after my uncles retire.  

What are your favorite Vans?  Canvas Old Skool

What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do? Every artist I know has carved a very unique path for themselves.  All trial and error really.  What works for some people, doesn’t necessarily work for others.  And that path changes all the time.  So my advice is to not watch other artist’s careers too closely. Choose what feels right to you, collaborate with others, try to apply your work in different ways to keep things interesting, and while you’re busy trying to show it off to the world, remember that your work is more interesting than mimicking the vision of someone else.   The ups and downs will always be there, so enjoy the moments that feel good, there’s nothing like it.  

What do you have coming up for the rest of 2017?   The rest of this year will be spent creating work for exhibits next year.  In 2018 I have a solo show in Los Angeles, and will be traveling to Japan to do a little something at Beams.  I also have a collaborative project that I’m working on with Michelle Blade, so hopefully we’ll be releasing that next year. 

Follow Mel Kadel Website:  http://melkadel.com Instagram:  @melkadel Shop:  http://melkadel.bigcartel.com  

[theamazinguchihabruhs]

Childhood story #2

The wedding

“Fucking dishes,” Shisui closed the tap before taking the gloves off. He threw them on the counter causing it to get wet again.

“Can you put these in the cupboard?” Itachi held two mugs. The curly haired teenager ran his hand through his hair before looking rather annoyed.

“Do it yourself, ‘Tachi!” He snapped.

“Owh, Shisui, I want to but...My height in total is 145 cm. You think I can reach that far?” The eleven years old shoved the mugs back in Shisui’s hands and the older boy was left with no comeback.

“Fine, whatever.”

“So is the moodiness coming from your acne getting worse?” The voice of Itachi sounded teasing.

“It is acne...Wait you said that..I thought you meant pimples.” Shisui put the mugs back in their place.

“You know it is normal around your age-”

“I know that! You don’t have to lecture me.” Shisui sighed annoyed.

“You know what might help-”

“You shutting up about it. You aren’t a doctor. You are allowed to lecture me if you are wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around your neck, like my dermatologist.”

“At Least I know how to spell ‘stethoscope’.” Itachi grinned evilly the moment Shisui looked down at him.

“You were one of mom’s big mistakes.”

“After you.” This kid was on fire, and Shisui only got more frustrated with it.

“Owh...Now I feel bad.” Both Shisui and Itachi looked at Madara, holding a dirty glass, “No wait..I don’t!” With a satisfied look on his face, he put the glass down. “Good luck, suckers.”

“I take that back. He was her biggest mistake.” Shisui said pointing at Madara, who was walking away while sticking up his middle finger.

“Something we can agree on.” Itachi looked at Shisui and they both chuckled before grabbing the gloves.

“Niisan~ Are you ready for our wedding?” The voice seemed to come from behind the corner. Both Shisui and Itachi turned their heads and saw a small bit of Sasuke’s shoulder, who was hiding behind the wall.

“Otouto, I will be done in a minute-” He wanted to walk towards the six years old, but the boy heard the steps and suddenly covered his eyes, “No~Niisan, it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!”

“Ah~ right! Give me half an hour.”

“Half an..Hour..” Sasuke repeated questionable.

“When you look at the clock and see the long line reach the number 12. Alright?”

“Yes!” The kid ran the other way and Itachi couldn’t help but to smile seeing his baby brother run to the garden.

“What is that about?” Shisui asked.

“Owh he wants to marry me. I read about it, it turns out that some kids go through this phase.”

“Why don’t you read a comic book, like every darn kid.”

“Are you jealous?” Itachi raised a cocky eyebrow. Shisui scoffed and turned back to the sink.

“At the very least I expected to be invited to the wedding of my own brothers.” He joked.

“Very well, half an hour by the oak tree in the park. Don’t be late for the ceremony, and as a gift, I would recommend some tomatoes from the fridge, also there is no free bar.”

“Why should I even be going?” Shisui shook his head.

“Can I borrow your white top? I sort of promised him to wear white.”

“No,”

“Comen on! I promised!” Itachi argued.

“Won’t be the first  promise you break in his life.”

“Don’t be mean. I won’t ever do that. And I don’t need your top. I will ask mom.”

“Right, ask for her dress while you are on it.” Shisui rolled his eyes, though it didn’t bug Itachi one bit. As Itachi wore his white pants and his mother’s blouse he had some minor struggles braiding his hair as Sasuke had requested.

“Itachi, what are you doing?” Izuna cocked his head confused.

“Ah, could you help me braid my hair?” Without having to ask for a second time. Izuna was already on it. He sat on the couch while Itachi sat in front of him. “So, I am going to braid a lock on the right and then on the left. Then I will join them together in the back.” He said it like he was really good at it, though the end results were two crappy braids joined together with a hairpin.

“Dad?” Itachi saw his father read the paper, “Could you walk me down the aisle? I am getting married today..Sort of..”

“Are you an adult already? They are right...Time flies by.” Fugaku lowered the paper to look at his son, sitting on the ground. “You look just like your mother.”

“Dad, stop the lame jokes. They are not funny.” Itachi showed one teenage characteristic that stayed with him till the early twenties; he rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Sasuke wants to marry me,” Itachi stated, causing Fugaku to drop his paper on the ground.

“It is apparently a phase kids go through,” Shisui added.

“I know that!” Fugaku raised his voice, “Why you? I am his daddy..He is supposed to ask me to marry him.” The old man seemed to be hurt.

“Maybe he knows you will die fast anyway. You are already so old.” Shisui received a deadly glare from his father. “Besides, shouldn’t we worry about him not marrying mom, who is like the only female in this house?” The curly haired boy got ignored.

“It is probably nothing personal, dad,” Itachi said.

“Why am I not invited?” Izuna asked.

“You can come, it’s in the park,” Itachi said and got up from the ground.

“He is there alone?” Shisui’s eyes looked concerned for a moment.

“No, Obito is with him. I think he dragged Madara along.” Itachi grabbed the two candy rings. “You can be the ring man.” he handed the rings to Izuna. “Don’t eat them.”

“I will tag along. I can tease both of you forever with this.” Shisui smiled.

“Yeah seems life is teasing you with the acne,” Fugaku muttered as he got up.

“Dad!” Shisui shouted.

Oxoxoxoxxo

“Ah, there is your bride, Sasuke. Look!” Obito pointed at the grass seeing Itachi walk towards them.

“Aaaah~ aniki is so pretty!” Obito chuckled seeing how adorable Sasuke was as he looked in awe. “Ah, daddy is here too!” He clapped his hands from excitement.

“Am I the only one finding this weird?” Madara sighed, sitting on the grass next to some stuffed animals. “And why does a teddy bear get to be the best man? I am a human.” Madara glared at mr. Roary. “I sure hope his real wedding has an open bar.”

“Shush, it is starting.” Obito threw a branch at Madara.

“Dude..He wore his good shirt for this.” Shisui took a seat next to Madara.

“Even a tie...A ninja turtle tie, but a tie,” Madara added, “So they involved dad in this too?”

“He even got offended why Sasuke wants to marry Itachi and not him.”

“Why do I have such a weird family.” Madara exhaled exhausted.

“We both.”

“Shut up, if freak shows still existed you would be known as Acne-boy the personification of Acne. If you were a comic book character you would be Acne-nator and your super ability would be to gross people out.” Madara turned his head to the imaginary aisle, his hair touching Shisui’s face, causing the boy to sneeze. “Are you catching a cold? Are you alright? Do you want my jacket?” Madara asked, looking at Shisui from the corner of his eyes.

“You need to see a therapist,” Shisui muttered before looking at Obito standing in front of the oak tree, holding a sheet of paper while Itachi and Sasuke were holding hands.

“We gathered here...In front of this oak tree to-”

“Kidding me? You really studied the lines-”

“It is from the internet, now shush!” Obito pointed at Madara, indicated the other to ‘zip it’.  He continued reading the after the sheet of paper before lowering it, “So you two have your own vows?” He asked. Sasuke nodded eagerly before grabbing a sheet of paper from under mr. Roary.

“Come on! He can’t even read!” Shisui threw his head back, not believing the sight.

“Hey! Objections come later!” Sasuke pouted before turning his head back at Itachi. He cleared his throat and turned the sheet of paper around, showing the drawing to Itachi.  “Niisan, this is us! Over like..Uhm..ten years! When we are old.” Sasuke pointed at the two stick figured in the middle, “But we are still happy and we have fun. We always play games and eat dango and tomatoes. I drew these hearts because will still loved you very very much.” He looked up and smiled a teeth showing smile while his cheeks turned pink, “I also drew the moon and the sun because I will love you day in and out. And Maddy made me glue the balloon there because he said I needed it for our honeymoon.”

Shisui eyes widened looking at the glued on condom. He turned his head to Madara.

“He doesn’t know what it is anyway!” He muttered before getting the very same look from Fugaku.

“And I know, there will be times that..I am messy and I think you are nagging. Like, Sasuke take a bath or Sasuke get in your pajamas or Sasuke go to bed and clean after yourself. But I love you no matter what.” He smiled lowering the drawing and grabbed the candy ring to put around his brother’s finger. Itachi laughed and poked Sasuke’s forehead.

“No matter what you decide to do in life. I will love you forever.” He said before joining their foreheads together before putting the other candy ring around Sasuke’s finger.

“With the ‘imaginary’ power invested in me by the country of Konoha. I declare you...Married.” Obito ripped the sheet of paper in two, “You may kiss your spouse.”

“What is a spouse?” Sasuke asked and looked at Obito who pointed at Itachi. “Niisan!” He wrapped his arms around his older brother and pushed his lips on top of Itachi for a short mini-kiss. Itachi lifted his little brother up and Sasuke automatically pressed his cheek against his brothers while wrapping his legs around Itachi.

“So, I have been promised ice-cream.” Madara ran his hand through his hair and looked at Obito.

“This is a beautiful moment and all you can think of is the bargain that made you come here.”

“Hella.”

“Hella, what does that mean, niisan? I mean...Waif..No....Husband?.. I mean spouse!”

“Look at you learning fast, little genius!” Obito patted Sasuke’s head.

“This is a beautiful moment. Let’s celebrate with some ice cream.” Fugaku said as he stood up.

“Yes! yess!” Izuna jumped up and down, “but now that Itachi and Sasuke got married.” Izuna looked at the two before looking back at Fugaku, “Can I marry Madara-nii?”

Fugaku lowered his head before exhaling deeply.

“Children...More like back stabbers…”He muttered.

------------------

*11 years later*

“Niisan,” Sasuke looked at his brother stepping inside the car. He was busy on his phone as his other hand was wrapped around the seatbelt.

“No, you can’t skip therapy. No discussions.” Itachi didn’t even look up.

“Can I have your hand?” Sasuke asked.

“Why?” Itachi asked he frowned while looking at the display.

“Come on, I won’t bite.”

“I don’t know about that.” Itachi put his phone down.

“Come on, worse case scenario, you will lose an arm.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know about you, but losing an arm is a pretty big deal for me.” Itachi sighed and gave in to Sasuke’s ‘pleading’. He turned his head to look at the window before feeling something wrapped around his index finger.

“You may look now.” Sasuke’s voice sounded slightly excited. Itachi didn’t react to it. “Niisan..”

“You said ‘may’-”

“MUST!” Sasuke threw his hands in the air, “you are impossible!” Itachi smirked as he then turned his head around. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at the candy ring around his finger. He looked closer, making sure his eyes weren’t tricking him.

“I walked past a candy shop and they were playing that 50 cent song so..I went to check it out and turns out they are making the exact brand again. I couldn’t help myself to get you your cherry flavored one...Since I ate yours back then.” Sasuke scratched his cheek before looking at his niisan.

“Nii...San..D-don’t cry! I didn’t mean to offend you or anything-” Sasuke gasped as Itachi suddenly jumped on him, his head hit the window, but it wasn’t too hard. “Aniki!”

“I still love you so, so, so much~ Otouto!!” He exclaimed, his chest pressed tightly against Sasuke’s. The younger Uchiha chuckled, letting his hand stroke Itachi’s back.

“Y’know as two old farts...I must admit...You are still pretty...Now get off me before people get the wrong idea-” He stopped mid-sentence, causing Itachi to turn his head around and see Naruto drag Sakura from her arm away from the car.

“Too late anyway.” Sasuke sighed as Itachi smiled and wrapped his arms around his little brother again.

-Special thanks to @emeneska-chan for editing-

[obsidianarchives]

Black Woman Creator: Afiya Augustine

Hailing from the tropical isle of Trinidad, Afiya Augustine is a writer, freelancer, podcaster, and creator of Pretty Poet Ink, an online handcrafted accessories boutique. Afiya finds tons of inspiration for her work from her love of pop culture, nostalgia, history, science fiction and fantasy. When she is not crafting, she spends time listening to music, tweeting, writing poetry and prose, posting photos of her family, catching a flick, or learning something new. We spoke to Afiya about being a creator, balancing creating with a nine to five, and who some of her favorite Black women creators are.

Black Girls Create: What do you create?

I create quite a few things, actually. First and foremost, I am a writer. I’ve been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since I was twelve and have been a professional entertainment writer/editor for well over five years.

Next, I am the creator and founder of Pretty Poet INK — an online boutique of handcrafted wonders. I both design and create a plethora of things, which (at the moment) includes wearable and useable art otherwise known as jewelry and accessories. With my jewelry,  I often use actual semi-precious stones, crystals, glass and wood beads, in addition to plated and precious metals. My accessories are mostly fabric-based items like bow ties, hair bows, and I’m slowly venturing into things like wallets and pouches. In addition to pieces that are of my own design, I also do custom pieces for others, usually for special occasions like weddings.

Lastly, I host a podcast, called ‘Adult-ish’, which is tackles the everyday trials and tribulations of transitioning into adulthood and all the responsibilities that comes with it no one ever really tells you about.

BGC: Why do you create?

I started creating because quite honestly, I liked it. I’ve always been a person interested in creating. I like to express the way I’m feeling through my various crafts. I use my writings to express my emotions, thoughts, daydreams, and wishes. I used my jewelry to convey a feeling, a connection to a certain aesthetic, imagery. I love the idea of bringing something from my imagination to life. It’s very calming and it's also a feeling of accomplishment to see something start as just a few beads or a thought and watch it come together as a necklace or a poem.

The same kind of goes for my podcast. I record to connect; to share my experiences with others who may have gone through the same things I have.

BGC: Who is your audience?

I create for an audience of like-minded individuals, which at times is a very small group. As it pertains to anything I write or record, I’m reaching out to an open-minded audience, individuals who aren’t afraid to push their boundaries or ask silly questions. With regard to my jewelry, a lot of my pieces are for those who are OK and accepting of something “different,” who can find a deeper meaning in the baubles and connect to them on the level from their inspiration.

For instance, I really love historical content so biographical films or movies set in different decades fascinate me and can be reflected in my work. I also love MCU and DCEU films and books, so you’ll find pieces dedicated to that. Science-fiction and fantasy are genres I’ve been reading since I was a child, so some of my pieces are emblematic of those worlds as well as countries and cultures I’ve never seen but wanted to.

Overall, everything I create is for the nerds, the historians, the world traveler, and those who can find themselves lost in fantasy and wonder.

BGC: Who or what inspired you to do what you do? Who or what continues to inspire you?

I can’t recall when I was first inspired to write. I just remember picking up a pencil and making a story. I can remember when I was about seven or eight years old, I was with my mom visiting my aunt in the hospital. She was dying of cancer and so my mom was there with her speaking to the doctors. I was moving around a lot, so my mom fashioned a little book out of medical tape and napkins. She gave me a pencil and so I wrote a little story with illustrations. I remember my aunt even peaking, asking my mom, “What is she doing?” and I just kept making my little story. Since then, I’ve just kept a pen and a piece of paper on my person at all times.

I was inspired to start making jewelry when I worked in the bead shop of a craft store. It was one of my first jobs out of college back when trying to get a job in editorial was a long shot thanks to the recession. I would glance in magazines like Beadstyle or Stringing and see all these beautiful pieces and think, “how can I inject a bit of myself into this?” I loved the color compositions, the textures, and I wanted to make them expressive of who I was and what I could do. It was about bringing something to life… even though it’s an inanimate object, proving to myself that yet again, there was something I could do. And I’m continually inspired by the idea of being able to make something new. Putting a new object into the world. A sense of pride and accomplishment washes over me with each piece. So much so that I often find it hard to sell them! It’s me saying to myself, “Yes. I made that. I can make it and I did make this.”

The podcast came out of a conversation with a friend who thought our random, off-the-wall chats would be fun to listen to and so, after meeting with a few people interested in our chatter about turning into adults, a podcast was born.

BGC: Why is it important as a black person to create?

It’s important for Black people and especially for Black women to create because there aren't many of us who can have our voices heard. It’s very endearing to hear or see another Black person creating, whether it’s a book, a comic, a clothing line. I feel like we, as a community, have a super strong purchasing power and are always hungry to consume new things and as such, we should be investing in one another. Why not lift up those who can relate to you? Who can create items for you — that not only speak to who you are, but what you are? As a Black female entrepreneur, I’m trying to reach other Black people with similar interests to let them know 1. You are not alone and 2. Here’s a way that allows you to express yourself.

For me, I feel it’s important for us to create to connect to individuals like ourselves and to do so with our creations.

BGC: How do you balance creating with the rest of your life?

Terribly. LOL. I work a full-time job that requires me to travel upwards of 4 hours a day (and 5 hours on a bad day). But I do my best to think of creating. During my commute, I might jot down an idea for a design, write down combinations of colors and shapes that I like, or brainstorm ideas on how to sell or pitch a product. I’ll spend my downtime at work scrolling through websites for ideas, tips, supplies, etc. Maybe put some in a shopping cart and save it for later.

In the past, I used to commit to writing at least one new piece of prose a week, usually about something I observed on my commute home. But that’s when I used to get a seat on the trains. Now, if I have a thought for a story or a line for a poem, I may either jot it down in the Notes section of my phone or post it on Twitter.

On the weekends, I try to record an episode with a co-host one day and craft the next day. The only thing that sucks is that I have to limit my time when the ball starts rolling because I can find myself creating well into the midnight hour. And Lord knows I need all the sleep I can get to have the energy for work.

BGC: How do you balance creating when you feel drained or exhausted?

It’s very trying to balance creating when I’m drained or exhausted because when I’m in that mood, I really want to do nothing but relax and recharge. Sometimes, I will give in, but when I realize I’ve done for too long, I will put music on and sit in front of my table. Often times, touching my supplies, organizing materials, and going through my bins with all the little goodies, brings me back.

BGC: Do you have advice for young creators or ones just starting?

The first bit of advice — learn more about your craft. Next, take your time getting into it. Find a good teacher or mentors who can help you through it. Take a class here and there and see if you really like it or not. It’s OK if you realize it’s not for you.

In the very beginning, I was so excited about jewelry crafting that I spent a ton of money on beads and didn’t know what to do with them. I was also self-taught and found myself constantly looking for tutorials on the web to guide me through. Several years in, I’m still asking the pros questions and learning new techniques as well as understanding there are just some aspects of crafting that aren’t for me.

My writing is OK, but it can always be better. To improve that, I do my best to read one of the many books I haven’t cracked open yet on my bookcase. In seeing some of the different styles, vocabulary, structure, etc. I can better find my own voice.

BGC: Who are some other Black Women creators you admire?

Well, one is definitely my mom. She’s a seamstress and has been working a sewing machine for as long as I can remember. She’s also pretty handy with a glue gun when she’s ready, though I’ve probably surpassed her in that area. Other women I know include Tandeka Fable of Fabl Design and Shirley Blanc of SincerelyMe Sweets, both of whom are crushing it with their startups.

Women I admire from afar include Lorraine West of Lorraine West Jewelry, a handmade luxury brand based in NYC, as well as actor/writer/director Issa Rae because she’s hella dope. I’ve been admiring this woman since Awkward Black Girl on YouTube, and she even gave the OK for me to send her some of my jewelry pieces! Who doesn’t love her, like seriously?!  (Holla at me if you want more pieces, Issa!)

BGC: What are your future projects?

My future projects include expanding Pretty Poet Ink into several brands. As I previously mentioned, I do custom work for special occasions and am looking to bridge that into a bridal brand where I will be making custom bridal pieces and accessories — veils, bouquets, brooms etc.  In the not-so-distant future, I’d like to venture into home decor. It’s my dream to have people not only wearing but living with Pretty Poet Ink around them.

Also, I would ultimately love to finish and publish at least one novel, and a chapbook of poetry. And when it comes to podcasting, I’m hoping to land a spot on HBO or Showtime like some other famous podcasts out there. If not that, at the very least a live recording at a little bar with our few faithful fans.

You can shop Pretty Poet Ink here and subscribe to the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as find all her editorial work on her blog. You can also listen to the Adult-ish podcast on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, and Spreaker. Check out Adultish on Twitter as well.  

[nekoabi]

I am rubber, you are glue, do all 100

Let’s freaking do this...

1: when you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk? - Lmao, what’s milk?

2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day? - completely! it’s one of the best feelings ever...

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books? - pieces of paper usually

4: how do you take your coffee/tea? - I don’t!

5: are you self-conscious of your smile? - Always... 

6: do you keep plants? - Never tried tbh

7: do you name your plants? - I probably would, but then I’d forget their names...

8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings? - Singing or doodling

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself? - yes, a lot

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? - side mostly, but i seem to wake on my stomach sometimes

11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends? - Ukanlos and Kapi ;)

12: what's your favorite planet? - Earth... because we live here...

13: what's something that made you smile today? - being with friends

14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like? - a mish-mash of fandom things and theatre stuff everywhere

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is! - The hottest planet is not the closest planet to the Sun. Apparently, Venus is.

16: what's your favorite pasta dish? - tomato and basil pasta with cheese and chicken dippers.

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair? - NEON PINK.

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up. - “Oh no, there’s people here!!!!1″ aka the reason I never touched League of Legends since...

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it? - I wish I did, but I don’t

20: what's your favorite eye color? - dark brown, practically black

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces. - it’s checked black and white, with the pattern changing a bit. It has some pins in it, has a voodoo doll keychain

22: are you a morning person? - pffffft nah

23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations? - chill on tumblr, listen to music and chat with friends

24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets? - Cedric

25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into? - I haven’t broken in, what?

26: what are the shoes you've had for forever and wear with every single outfit? - Trainers that used to be my mum’s. They’re dying, but they’re so comfy

27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor? - Strawberry

28: sunrise or sunset? - Sunset, every time

29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing? - They laugh, it is honestly precious!

30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared? - yes

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks. -  i love socks, but no sleeping in socks... that’s just not right and makes me think about Waitrose

32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. - um, i had a huge laughing fit because of Memerald and “Your name is... Disappearance”

33: what's your fave pastry? - I... honestly don’t know...

34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it? - Lotus. She’s a bear, her midsection has been replaced and I love her.

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often? - Oh. My. Fucking. God. Yes. As an SM, yes. I love to use them to do anything; note-taking specifically

36: which band's sound would fit your mood right now? - I... don’t know... I wanna go for FoB?

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean? - I kinda like an organised mess, tho cleaning is so therapeutic for me omg

38: tell us about your pet peeves! - chewing with mouth open, talking shit about stuff you don’t understand, being mean to animals..

39: what color do you wear the most? - Black (likemysoul)

40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what's it's story? does it have any meaning to you? - An old friend gave me a necklace watch shaped like the riceball from Fruits Basket. It’s pretty special because we don’t talk anymore... even tho we’ve said we should...

41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving? - Does a Sonic comic book count? Because Sonic Boom comics are amazing!

42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it! - Nope!

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? - I think @laurenjillard, walking back to our student house

44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything? - I’ll get back to you on that...

45: do you trust your instincts a lot? - Sorta? I mean, it depends on the situation

46: tell us the worst pun you can think of. - Oh shit... I’m terrible at puns! I have failed Cardigan Bab! 

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe? - Brussell Sprouts.

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? - Spiders. Yes.

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought? - Currently, yeah! I last bought two Bullet for my Valentine albums, and a Sum-41 album!

50: what's an odd thing you collect? - I get plushies? I have far too many...

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them? - Freeze Your Brain.

52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far? - Oh crud... I forget... which memes happened this year? I guess, “if you play this at...”

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them? - I mean... I’ve seen the musical of Heathers and some bits of Rocky Horror/Pulp Fiction? Does that count???

54: who's the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face? - My dad, at a funeral.

55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point? - Told someone I liked them... 

56: what are some things you find endearing in people? - Their small habits that are fairly minuscule; usually playing with hair 

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics? - It makes me feel real active, I wanna move. I always want to lmao

58: who's the wine mom and who's the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why? - Vodka Aunt would be Powie, and schmutz as Wine Mom.

59: what's your favorite myth? - Tbh any, tho I do love fae

60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves? - I can appreciate poetry...

61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received? - Umm... I’m not even sure, for either... I mean, I gave some silly little toys once?

62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind? - Sometimes, orange to be precise

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be? - Yes, organised. Alphabetical. 

64: what color is the sky where you are right now? - Black. It’s 2:40am.

65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with? - Yes, so many. 

66: what would your ideal flower crown look like? - Black roses, with white, purple and red flowers interspersed

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel? - Mystified, intrigued... I want to go out in it

68: what's winter like where you live? - Cold and rainy! Shoutout to the UK!!

69: what are your favorite board games? - I mean, we played this Murder/Traitor game a few weeks ago and that was really fun!

70: have you ever used a ouija board? - Nah, but I’m kinda down...

71: what's your favorite kind of tea? - I DON’T!

72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you'll forget it? - Most things, yeah...

73: what are some of your worst habits? - Biting nails, chewing/licking lips, not making eye contact, shuffling...

74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. - American, amazing SM, wonderful sewing, creative, takes on everything at the same time, doesn’t know when to let something go, confident and bold

75: tell us about your pets! - I wish I could...

76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren't? - My assignment lmao

77: pink or yellow lemonade? - Yellow, I guess?

78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub? - Hate for the terrible memes, also memeyhate for everything else

79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? - Give me anything ever

80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why? - Soft purple, I did pick it. Soon to be a light and dark pink.

81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of. - like deep dark holes that you could endlessly fall into...

82: are/were you good in school? - I got good grades, and I’m passing uni so far!

83: what's some of your favorite album art? - honestly idk

84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones? - I would love to, but lmao pain! Planning for first: something kingdom hearts related, nothing too big...

85: do you read comics? what are your faves? - I do sometimes, Sonic Comics mostly. I’m slowly working through all the Archie ones :)

86: do you like concept albums? which ones? - Uhhh whut

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives? - At least the first Harry Potter? Beauty and the Beast/At least one disney film.

88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy? - lol art

89: are you close to your parents? - Yeah, kinda... I mean, it gets a bit complex due to my anxiousness, but yeah...

90: talk about your one of you favorite cities. - So big and sprawling, central is what everyone thinks about, all these places to see and experience.

91: where do you plan on traveling this year? - For the rest of this year, I’m just gonna go up to the shops in MK :)

92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch? - Closer to a pinch

93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most? - Natural, so straight and boring

94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday? - @juliettenotjuliet #loveyoubabe

95: what are your plans for this weekend? - To chill and do nothing

96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot? - I procrastinate a lot, on everything...

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house? - INFP, Gemini, Slyth

98: when's the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it? - I’m okay with hiking if it’s pretty and we can break a lot lol

99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. - Simple and Clean; Beauty and the Beast; What A Catch, Donnie; Not Alone; 3am; Nerdy; Loner in Love...

100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why? - I’d love to say future, but I know I’d go to the past... because I’m a nostalgic freak who can’t deal with going forward because lol i’m scared of going forward...