#your art style is so fluid and cool. i love it

[themortaldraw]

this is so lazily done lol but I wanted to doodle turnip four (he thinks he looks bad ass, the monsters they're fighting are laughing at him)

TURNIP FOR WHAT!!

[lilybug-02]

:D We gotta end it off somehow right?

CT Kris in the background:

The actual reason they ditched Chara.

Fan-art because I can draw. And I um.. kinda really love @akanemnon‘s comic…

Kind of a minicomic below…

Please forgive me. I’ve had this in my head forever and just wanted to share my AU meeting yours. That is my Final message. Goodbye. 🫡 jumping in this hole now 🕳️🚶‍♀️

[solxamber]

PSssstt I just Love the idea of teaching epel the capoeira fighting Style, it looks like somewhat of a dance but it’s really cool, and Vil has no choice but to allow it because this type of martial arts doesnt seem as brutish as other styles

I went to research what capoeira was to write this and got sucked into watching an hour of videos.

Also thank you for the request, I hope you like it <3

The day you decided to teach Epel capoeira was the day Vil learned what real suffering looked like.

“Dance fighting?” Vil had narrowed his eyes at the words, suspicion already hanging heavy in the air. “I don’t want Epel involved in anything that makes him look any less graceful.”

You had simply waved a hand at Vil, grinning with mischief as you spun towards Epel, who looked at you like you were about to hand him the holy grail of badassery. “Don’t worry, Vil, it’s not brutish. It’s artistic. There’s rhythm, elegance—”

“And kicks to the face,” Vil deadpanned.

Epel perked up immediately. “Wait, kicks to the face?”

You clapped a hand on his shoulder, nodding. “Kicks to the face.”

“That sounds amazing!” Epel grinned.

Vil sighed dramatically. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?"

You took Epel to the courtyard for your first capoeira session. He stood there, looking a little confused, while you bounced lightly on your feet, demonstrating the basic movements with a graceful sway of your hips.

“It’s like dancing,” you explained, “but with more flair. See, you start with this move—the ginga. It’s all about rhythm, making your opponent think you're in a dance, then BAM—”

You twisted into a fluid kick that had Epel’s eyes widen in awe.

Epel tried to imitate you, his movements a little stiff, but the kid had spirit. “This feels so cool already!”

You flashed him a grin. “Trust me, when Vil sees this, he won’t even be mad. He’ll be impressed. Just imagine his face when you pull this off with grace and precision.”

“Or,” came Vil’s voice from a distance as he watched the two of you, “I’ll be horrified at the utter lack of coordination.”

You turned to Vil with a dramatic bow. “Fear not, great Vil, for Epel is going to be the most elegant, face-kicking machine Twisted Wonderland has ever seen.”

Epel, laughing, threw himself into another attempt at the moves. The kick didn’t quite hit the mark, but you saw potential. His eyes sparkled with excitement. “Am I getting it? I feel like I’m getting it.”

You patted his back. “You’ve got the spirit! Now, just remember, it’s not just about strength, it’s about flow. You want to move like water, Epel.”

Vil rubbed his temples, clearly beginning to wonder why he had allowed this madness. “Flow like water, he says, yet here we are, barely avoiding disaster…”

With a sly look at Vil, you added, “Hey, why don’t you try it too? You’ve got good rhythm from all that stage practice.”

Vil blinked at you, entirely unamused. “As if I would risk breaking a nail on this—”

But before he could finish his sentence, Epel swung into a surprisingly graceful spin-kick that nearly grazed Vil’s nose. Vil jerked back, eyes wide.

“Oops,” Epel said sheepishly. “Sorry, Vil.”

You burst out laughing, and even Vil couldn’t hold back a small smirk. He raised an eyebrow at you. “Fine. I’ll admit… there’s a certain charm to it. Just as long as Epel doesn’t try this at a gala.”

Epel grinned, puffing his chest out. “I could totally pull this off at a fancy party.”

You snickered. “And if anyone asks, just tell them it’s interpretive dance.”

Vil groaned. “I should have known you’d drag me into this chaos.”

“Chaos?” You winked at him. “I prefer the term… art in motion.”

As you continued training Epel, Vil found himself shaking his head with amusement. “Just don’t destroy any furniture when you inevitably try this indoors.”

You grinned. “No promises.”

[late-draft]

Hello, Dema here!

First off—I have fallen desperately in love with your artworks. You have a very particular style, strong and fluid all the same, and I can't help but admire the way you draw and how you approach character design.

And talking about character design...

I saw your post about Zuko's bold design in S1 when compared to what we got in S3 and—as much as I love S3-Zuko—I completely agree with you. Something I've always loved about Zuko in S1 is just how striking he was, how much of a presence he had, even when he was being tossed around by a twelve-year-old. That being said, I love Zuko, I love him in armor and pointy shoes and with a ponytail, and I loved your alternative design for him.

What do you think about his S2 character design? How does it flow with the story beats and his overall character arc? Much has been said about the Hair-Growth-Means-Character-Growth (and I find it interesting, also, that he cut his hair again before joining the Gaang), but I'd like to know your opinion on how that translates to character design and how the decisions made in the show could be either good or bad in that regard.

Sorry about the long ask! I've just been thinking about this a lot, lately, and would like to know what you think. Hope you have a good day ❤️

AAAA Dema hii!!! I'm so happy I got a message from you, I didn't expect it!!

I'm super glad to hear, I'll wear it as a badge of honour and I must tell you that I also love your art, you wonderfully do volume and the shading done through a contrast of sharp and soft areas! Super solid anatomy too and I'd be lying if I said I didn't look up to your art!

Yess the character designs in the show actually are rather strong, I like a good balance between memorable and functional. Zuko is just *chef kiss* but, considering just how many appearance changes he goes through, some are bound to be weaker than the starting one. That said, I'm gonna go through a few of his S2 looks and make this reply long, ha!

The starting one when he ends up huddling with uncle Iroh with other poor refugees, fits extremely well for the narrative at the moment. It's actually one of my least liked looks for him, and that's great!! It's precisely how it should be, because he's also arguably at one of his two lowest moral points in the story - he basically lost almost all hope, no clear goal, nothing to fight for, he's desperate precisely because of the lack of orientation and thus his morals degrade and sink veeery low. He gets on my nerves so goddamn much in this period LMAO I want to beat him up, he looks like a recovering drug addict... annoying, entitled whiny jerk stealing food and anything shiny for his uncle, but even then he just does not cross the moral event horizon. Excellent characterization. He just looks atrocious and it's great because it fits this low point.

Next he gets the standard boyish square of a hair, no notes here...

But theeeen, he arrives at one of my favourite looks of his, and it's not just because the clothes fit him very nicely (I've seen fandom say they look too big for him which, maybe?? But it doesn't look like he's swimming in them to me) And a thing I've noticed which, maybe it was just an accident on design part but I'm not sure considering they colour coded the entire cave scene; in this part his clothes match the shape of Katara's, first one in bottom then the one in top. The collar is the same haf-circle design but I don't know, maybe there was a limited pool of clothes designs guide which they cycled through. Or, he really is meant to come close but miss Katara by a beat, like sine and cosine chasing each other.

But besides this outfit fitting the inconspicuous Earth Kingdom customer service persona, it also (perhaps inadvertently) does this VERY cool thing:

It makes his shape look closed off and guarded, supposedly non-threatening. It's most visible in his fight against Jet, whose shape is open and goes in many directions like an aggressive star. But then look at what Zuko's shape does:

When he attacks, it opens up to reveal the hidden aspect, again the aggressive star shape shows up! The same thing happens in "Zuko alone" episode but I think it's most clearly visible in this fight against Jet because here he has a direct contrast and comparing with Jet. I think this is an example where the outfit, whose similar design exists irl, overlaps with a great visual metaphor and enhances the narrative at that moment in story. He's still that combative firebender but he has to keep that aspect concealed most of the time. Plus it just looks badass as hell!!

Animators really knocked it out of the park with many frames. I think Jun was too early and missed his better hairstyle, but Katara was just in time.

I agree it's super funny how his hair in the Beach is awfully long, covers his face to an uncomfortable degree and then he apparently shortens it before joining the Gaang, insane behaviour Truly an "I'm so angry and depressed I won't show my face nor be capable of seeing anything because there's nothing nice to see in my life" look...

I guess all his appearances in S2 cover his mental states, but only one of them is extremely Extra (the tea server, doesn't even take the apron off and goes to fight) and I don't see any spot where a similar tier design could be shoved in, narratively speaking. So all in all, S2 did as much as S2 could have. More tea server arc please though, the Guru episode really feels like it skipped 800 km of plot and everything that happened in it is so crammed and pretty sus in terms of character behaviour.

[heartsbyani]

my dear skz,

seven years!!!!!!!!! seven years of passion, resilience, and unwavering dedication. stray kids, you are not just a group.. i don’t think that word alone can capture what you truly are !!! you are storytellers, dreamers, architects of sound, and the very definition of self-made.

from the very beginning, you built everything with your own hands—writing, composing, producing, and pouring your entire souls into every song, every performance, every moment. you fought battles that most never saw, overcame doubts that tried to silence you, and stood strong against every storm that came your way. and because of that, you are here, standing at the top, not because anyone handed you a crown, but because you carved your own throne with nothing but raw talent, relentless effort, and the unbreakable bond you share.

since 2021, i have walked this journey with you—not from the very first step, which is regretful, but still long enough to have witnessed your triumphs, your struggles, and the love you pour into everything you do. and in return, you have given me something i could never fully put into words.

in the darkest moments of my life, when the weight of the world felt unbearable, your music and just you, became my refuge. your voices, your lyrics, your melodies—every note felt like a lifeline, pulling me back when i thought i had nothing left. you reminded me that i am not alone, that pain is not forever, that even in the hardest moments, i can find strength. and that is something i will never take for granted.

my eight, you have not only been a source of comfort in my life but also my greatest idol. as someone deeply passionate about music, since i was a little kid, watching you create, compose, and pour your souls into every track and action has really resonated with me. 

you showed me that music isn’t just about sound; it’s about telling stories, baring your heart, and leaving a piece of yourself behind in every note. the way you fearlessly push boundaries, experiment with new styles, and make music that is entirely yours—it makes me believe that i, too, can carve out my own path, no matter how difficult the journey may be !! 

chris, the best leader, the rock—you are the very foundation of stray kids. your being, your patience, and the way you carry the weight of the team on your shoulders with such unwavering love is something i will never stop admiring.

minho, the quiet strength, the precision, the artistry—you dance like poetry in motion, every move sharp yet fluid. you have a mind of your own, but beneath your cool demeanor is a warmth that shines through when it matters most.

changbin, the lyrical genius, the powerhouse of emotion—you don’t just rap, you feel every word. your passion is contagious, your words cut deep, and your ability to turn emotions into art is unparalleled.

hyunjin, the embodiment of expression—whether it’s through dance, through painting, through music, everything you do carries a piece of your soul. you wear your emotions so openly, and in doing so, you remind us that it’s okay to feel, to embrace every part of ourselves.

jisung, our ace, squirrel gave—you make everything look effortless. your voice, your rap, your lyrics, your presence—it’s as if music runs in your very veins, and watching you create is nothing short of magic.

felix, the light, the warmth, the heartbeat of the group—your voice is deep and grounding, yet your presence is soft and comforting. you have a heart of gold, and your ability to bring light into even the darkest spaces is something truly special.

seungmin, the perfectionist, the voice that carries emotions so delicately—you sing with such clarity, such depth, and every note feels like a conversation, like a story being told just for us. your dry humor and teasing make stray kids feel like home.

jeongin, the maknae on top—you have grown so much, not just as an artist but as a person. your confidence, your vocals, your quiet resilience—you remind us that growth is endless, and that even the smallest steps forward are worth celebrating.

eight members, eight different strengths, eight reasons why stray kids is what it is. you are not just a group, not just artists—you're a family. and as long as you keep running forward, stay will be here, running with you, and supporting you. always !!!!

the world now sees you for what you truly are—talented goofballs, global artists, history-makers, the embodiment of passion and perseverance. and you deserve every single bit of it. every award, every sold-out stadium, every milestone—it belongs to you, not just because of your talent, but because of the love and sincerity you pour into your music and the connection you share with us, your fans. you never needed anyone to pave the way for you because you paved it yourselves, brick by brick, note by note, standing tall with your heads held high. that is what makes you different. that is what makes you irreplaceable !!!

stray kids, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. and as much as you have given to us, i only hope that in some small way, we, stays, can give that love back to you tenfold. i hope you always know that no matter where life takes you, you will never walk alone.

thank you for the music, for the memories, for the strength, for the laughs, for everything. happy 7th anniversary, sweethearts !!!! you deserve all the love this world has to offer, and then some.

eight is fate, eight makes one, eight or none. stray kids, you make stay stay.

love love love, yani ৎ𑁥

[astro-inthestars]

THANK YOU CHIP I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND HOW YOU DRAW HANDS

Me when I fall asleep! Hi bestie, I just wanna know... How do you draw hands?? You have a certain style to it, that makes it look so shaped yet still fluid like... I can't describe it, but what's your process when drawing ✨hands✨ (...of tiIIIME– sorry.)

Huh! Well I guess I never really thought about it... I kinda just auto-pilot when I draw hands now that I think of it, so I don't really have a "process" But I'll try to explain the best I can regardless!

Though not what I always do(sometimes I just wing it), I start with the usual shape base for the palm! Though sometimes I forget it's the palm and just use it as a base- and it's not a strict base! Don't gotta follow it 100%, if you gotta break it to make the pose work better, do it! I always have an idea of where the fingers will be when I draw the base, so I don't really map em out at all like others would with the circle thumb trick n all. (nothing wrong with that trick of course, just never worked for me)

More under cut!!

During the sketch I usually just vaguely map out the fingers like this, like mittens! And honestly, more often than not I keep em like that in the final product, lmao.

Don't be afraid to merge together two or more fingers if it helps get the pose across better! Just make it obvious it's not one huge finger by adding bumps or a line where the fingers would usually split.

I always add a curve to the base/fingers to make the poses less stiff! No matter the pose, I try to avoid straight lines on the hands! Even the slightest curve is enough for me. Though that doesn't always fit! Sometimes you gotta have a straight line or two, especially if it suits your style more! Nothing wrong with that.

Remember that the thumb and the index finger are attached! Try to make their lines flow together when possible.

Also, when I draw clutched hands, I make the index finger poke out a bit!

I don't usually draw hands with wrists attached now that I think about it(I like drawing long sleeves,,), but when I do, I make sure there's a clear dividing line between the wrist and the palm, so they don't look merged together!

Use reference pics when needed! Pinterest is usually my best bet for quick and easy hand ref pics of all kinds! Though you can also use your own hand! Whether by taking a pic or just posing it long enough. You are your own free model or something rejiagdlzf BUT if it's something simpler, I usually just pose my free hand under my desk and feel it out/imagine the hand and go from there.

And of course, the thing everyone says...

Practice makes perfect!

Though I suppose if I'm being completely fair, I never really followed that and just drew for 7 years and hoped something happened... I still struggle with hands ALLLL the time, but these are some things that I learned over the years that made em a bit easier! I guess my number 1 tip would be to just- not stress about it! I don't pay attention much when I draw hands and just let my brain go off while I think about I dunno Hatstache or something LMAO

But uh! Yeah! I hope that helped and was at least a bit comprehensible! Hope I didn't forget anything- If you need something a bit more specific then I could whip somethin up for ya real quick! Just ask! ^ This also goes for anyone reading- if I can be of any help, I'd love to try my best!

[storkmuffin]

Hello! I’m the anon that sent you some questions to pick at your brain a couple weeks ago and wanted to swing by since I’ve seen soo much more discussion and questions since then. Love to see it honestly and see that you’ve deep dived even more to Ateez 🤑

I know that my curiosity and questions stemmed when you went off about how Seonghwa was openly expressing himself and KQ being cool with it, but I want to know a bit more about how Seonghwa comes off to you and presents himself to the public. Basically what are your general thoughts about him? I was intrigued after I read your answer to the question that is in the same vein but for Yunho.

Since I've been maniacally spouting off about Ateez I keep wanting to add disclaimers to my opinions because I'm extremely wary of presenting myself as the Korean expert on Korean fandom or Korean public tastes or in any way representative. I'm not qualified to do this, and particularly not about anything to do with kpop. So I guess I'll do that here. And now, for the fun of writing, I am going to just not disclaim or water down anything I say with, I think or To me or Personally because I just want to basically flip out about Park Seonghwa the Idol.

So! My valued Seonghwa anon, strap in, because WHEEEE!!!

General thesis: Seonghwa is the Ateez member whose Idol Persona is the most deliberately crafted, with the most sophisticated understanding of exactly what male Idols are supposed to provide the female Fandom. He's not just the best at Being An Idol in Ateez - he's better than all of the Stray Kids members too (my only other reference, sorry). He keeps evolving the Park Seonghwa Idol Persona by continually adding and amending elements, many of them contradictory, and then playing them against each other to induce curiosity and obsession.

Seonghwa is handsome (strong nose, strong jaw line, big eyes), but he's also pretty (often long hair, pointy chin, full lips, expressive eyebrows). Seonghwa is physically manly (tall, long limbed, broad shouldered, muscular, big feet) but has intentionally added femininity to his frame (itty bitty waist, fluid hip movement, balletic port de bras). The theatricality of Ateez's style to date makes it more clear than most groups that there's a being that's The Idol / Performer/ Performance and The Person Who Has A Performing Arts Job, and what Seonghwa does so well is to make you wonder which one you're seeing, and to often make you believe you're seeing The Person even during what is clearly the Performance by The Idol.

What's real? What isn't? What's performance and what's genuine? Much of the draw of Idols is that the line between those disparate things is deliberately kept blurry and porous. (In ballet, for example, it's not porous. There's the ballet dancer being a Fairy Prince on stage and then off stage he's himself and you're not supposed to wonder if he has Fairy Prince feelings, you know?)

During the very first Wanteez episode, airtime August of 2022, Seonghwa was 24, and already 4 years into his Idol career. The set up for this 'reality' show was that Ateez went back to high school, which was 5 years in his past. This piece of entertainment is in the fine tradition of casting actors who are 26 to play 16 year olds that exists in all of media all over the planet. The self he's presenting here is that of a very masculine, manly guy. He uses the full of his lower register speaking voice. He shoves the other actors aside, shouts at them, and mocks Yeosang because he doesn't know how to do the 반장 (Class President) role of making the call and response to get students to bow to the teacher. He's advertising the fact that in his now-lost and utterly unknowable pre-Idol 'real life' he was, in fact, the Class President of an All Boys' high school. He was a dominant boy, who was popular, and a leader. He was also a good boy, trusted by adults, and not a class clown or a truant or bad at school. He's not insisting on it or anything, because that's not fun, but he's letting you know that maybe, just maybe, he would be wonderful boyfriend material for a good Confucian values girl like most middle class Korean girls are still raised to be. He's hinting that the "eldest in the group but bottom of the food chain" persona in the Ateez group dynamic may just be for the job, and he's an alpha, actually.

I don't know if it comes through if you don't speak Korean, but when he's shouting 가자! 가자고!! (Let's go! Move now!) at Wooyoung in Wanteez #1 during their race, he doesn't even seem like the same person as the one on whose lap Wooyoung tries to do a headstand to be obnoxious in a different content. In that other moment, Seonghwa gently clasped the upside-down Wooyoung in the middle, even though he was clearly in pain, and murmurs, "You'll get hurt. No, really, be careful. You'll hurt yourself."

Which one is he really? Both personas are being created and performed by Seonghwa the real person, in coordination with script writers, editors, and the other performers, so he's both and he's neither. But they're both so appealing to women - the reliable older brother/ leader boy who can bring order to the class chaos maker, and the kind, gentle, sweet dance crew 'elder' who wants a junior dancer to not get injured while gamboling. We want all of it to be real. [Heart eyes go here]

The alleged "real person" Seonghwa breaking through the mask (even if we really love it) of the "Idol genre performer" Seonghwa exists in behind the scenes moments like this one:

He's saying something to camera, speaking in his very polite, Idol Off Stage Talking To Atiny voice and diction and facial expressions. His voice is soft. He's deliberately pitching it higher. He's using grammar that I would describe as Respectfully Friendly. HongJoong, off camera, is doing some Who Is Real? tug of war of his own. HongJoong is supposed to be the clever, goal oriented leader with a lot on his shoulders. What he's doing is being extremely childish, using HIS higher register, to taunt, "Seonghwa is a moron! He's stupid!" in a tone that's somewhere between an annoying younger brother and a boy with a crush.

Seonghwa reacts by 'laughing' at first, and stoically continues to be 'professional' in doing his job of providing information appropriate to a behind the scenes clip. Then, at some point, he 'can't take it anymore,' so he turns his entire face away from the camera to holler, 그만해! ('That's enough!') in a big, roaring voice, stepping entirely out of Respectfully Friendly diction into I'm A Man About To Kick Your Ass diction. He turns back immediately after that, suddenly putting the polite Idol smile back on, and says, back in the higher pitch, friendly diction, "Yes. And now I am going to go get him. Byee~"

I say once again: The whole thing was almost certainly scripted. They may or may not have done more than one take. It's so expert in making the straight female Korean Fan feel that jolt of feeling like she saw The Real Man behind the Idol Mask, but at the same time, not mar her pride (and this is a real thing that the Korean Fans actually profess pride about) that her fave is so good at being an Idol - always polite, always smiling at the fans, in control of his temper, committed to providing good content.

I've never been to an Ateez concert, and I also don't know if this was a concert or a fan meeting or whatever (The different categories of show you can go to for kpop are still kind of confusing to me), but! There was a very young woman who decorated her Ateez wand with the Seonghwa animal character, and managed to catch his eye when he was walking among the aisle of the concert audience. He accepted it when she handed it to him, smiled at it, and then kissed it before giving it back to her to move on.

She was ecstatic, obviously, and I was shocked. This seems like extraordinary levels of fanservice to engage in, while performing live, and while alone among seated fans, far away from the stage, other members, and I assume, his security detail.

It says something about Korean audience behavior and codes of decency, as well as whatever it is that's the trust that's built up over time between Ateez and the Atinys. But I also wonder if say, Hongjoong or Jongho would be able to think of doing this, on the fly, while singing and having to hit marks. Like, he had to move on from this area and get back on stage and sing and dance the next song, right?

And of course, this is the same person who was doing this in concert:

I still find the above type of performance in a kpop concert to be a shock. It's so outside what I understood, in my distant, casual way, to be the norm for what kind of show Kpop Idols are trying to put on. Just amazing.

And then there's the (to my eye, very blatant) queer signalling that he does, which I've already written about. The dress wearing, the choice of songs to cover, and so on. But while he's doing that, he's also very good at gamely doing all the parasocial for-the-straight-girls play acting of being the fantasy boyfriend. He has multiple personas for that too! The intimidating Gyeongsangdo manly man, who will scowl at you when you say you wanna break up, to demand, "Try saying that again," (to which San screamed Please spare my life in response, making Seonghwa 'the real person' break up into laughter) code switches with the nice, decent, conservatively raised country boy who will give a long sincere speech about how well he'll treat his girl to the presumably disapproving parents of that girl. He has facial expressions, body language, and vocal tone and dialect word choices to optimize his performance of all these personas. He's so good at it and it's a delight.

So, as someone who loves theater, performance, dance, opera, ballet and now, 마라맛 Kpop, I think Seonghwa is really a virtuouso at being an Idol. And this is very self-directed and possibly self-taught. There's a performance intelligence he's using at all times any time he's on camera, and it evinces great creativity and cleverness. I especially like that he chose to base a lot of his persona on kindness as the dominant trait, as well.

The thing is!! Compared to HongJoong and Yunho, who have prototypical Boy Idol faces, Seonghwa actually looks like a character actor. He can look genuinely a bit scary. There isn't anything cutsey about him, on sight. San, whose persona is to be Guileless, once said about himself, Seonghwa and Mingi that they have "forceful" (쏀) faces, to which the other two immediately said, No, I'm cute. So that makes me wonder what he's going to do in the time he has left before mandatory military service, and how he plans to go on after he re-emerges as a 30 year old man. All Kpop Boy Idols have an End of Youth time, that is marked by this mandatory military service.

He's definitely one to watch with interest, and so far, I feel like I can be relaxed rather than anxiously concerned, because as I've said, he just seems so good at figuring out how to do what he's supposed to do.

Oh and I found the below 'character analysis' by another Korean Atiny who also clocked Seonghwa as queer in 2021, but using a very different tone and approach to myself, so I thought I'd share!

Translation:

First Impression: By day, an ordinary Kpop Idol, but by night I am emperor of the gay club!?

Character analysis: Was shocked because the face doesn't go with the way he speaks. Gay club doesn't apply - he's the emperor of the stuttering dummy club. He's really awkward, but he manages to not be the town fool purely on the merits of his bass voice. Rather than stand out in group situations, does his job quietly and unobtrusively. Appears as though other members give him due respect even if he doesn't loudly demand it.

I have no idea what they meant when they said "gay club" (again, in 2021 and this would be year 4 post-debut and year 2 of the pandemic) and if in her mind gay men are all socially super adept or speak really fast or something, but from the context it seems like the Emperor of the Gay Club is supposed to be a smooth operator, and Seonghwa didn't seem that way to her. And assuming this OP's reaction was more or less mainstream about Seonghwa's initial Idol Persona, the changes he's made to that Idol persona since 2021 just go to support my Park Seonghwa Is A Virtuouso of Being An Idol thesis.

[cloudss-space]

hi I absolutely adore your writing style! Feel free to ignore this but it would be super cool to see ronin x a reader who loves watercolors and drawing:DD

Paint me how you see the world

( killer chat ) muse ronin x painter reader ... fluff ...

author's note: hello you and thank you !! im a big fan of artist x muse, so thank you for this request !! i hope that it is to your liking <3 trigger warnings:

none

The cool afternoon breeze carries the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers as you walk side by side with Ronin, your fingers intertwined like the branches of a tree reaching for the same light. The world feels expansive yet intimate in his presence, the path ahead a quiet promise of discovery. Your bag is slung over your shoulder. It contains a collection of watercolours, brushes and your special notepad. It shifts softly with each step.

The sunlight filters through the canopy of leaves above, dappling the ground in patches of gold and shadow. Each step feels lighter than the last, as though the earth itself recognises the connection between you and Ronin and chooses to cushion your journey. His thumb strokes idly over the back of your hand, a small but grounding motion. When you glance up at him, his soft smile mirrors the warmth in your chest.

You pass clusters of wildflowers that sway in the breeze like delicate dancers, their petals kissed by sunlight. The air hums with the quiet songs of nature—the trill of distant birds, the rustle of leaves, the gentle murmur of a nearby stream. It's a day that feels otherworldly, a perfect moment stolen from a dream.

Your bag bounces against your side, the clink of your art supplies creating a comforting rhythm. Ronin notices the sound and glances at you. His dark eyes are warm with curiosity. "You brought your paints," he says, his voice steady and calm.

"Of course," you reply, a small smile playing on your lips. "Days like this are too beautiful not to capture."

He nods, his gaze lingering on your face for a moment longer before returning to the path. "Let's find the perfect spot," he says.

It doesn't take long. The trail leads you to the edge of a small clearing where a solitary tree stands tall and proud, its branches stretching skyward in a silent hymn of life. Beyond it, a serene lake glimmers in the afternoon light, its surface a mirror reflecting the endless blue of the sky. Nearby, a vibrant floral arrangement, a natural bouquet, colours the grassy ground.

"This is it," you say, your voice a soft blend of awe and certainty.

Ronin releases your hand, guiding you to the base of the tree. His movements are careful and deliberate, as though this moment deserves nothing less than reverence. He helps you settle against the trunk. Its rough bark is reassuringly grounding.

You pull your bag onto your lap and unzip it, the familiar scent of paint and paper rising like an old friend. Your brushes are neatly bundled, their bristles soft and ready. Your watercolours gleam like tiny jewels in their case, a spectrum of possibilities waiting to be realised.

Ronin sits beside you, close enough that his shoulder brushes yours. He doesn't say much, he rarely does when you're painting, but his presence is vital, like the sunlight that dances across the pages of your notebook. You glance at him and see the subtle curve of his lips as he watches you unpack, his expression soft and unguarded.

You open your watercolor pad, its blank pages filled with promise. The flowers at your feet and the shimmering lake in the distance call to you, their colors vivid and alive, begging to be preserved. You dip your brush into the water bottle you've brought along, the bristles darkening with moisture, and then touch it to the paint.

The first stroke is always the most exhilarating. The soft bloom of colour spreads across the paper like a sigh, capturing the blush of a nearby flower. You lose yourself in the rhythm, the brush gliding over the page in fluid, deliberate movements. Time slows, the world narrows to the vibrant hues that spill forth beneath your hand.

Ronin leans back, one arm casually stretched over his knee, his other hand plucking a blade of grass. He watches you with quiet fascination, his gaze occasionally drifting to the lake or the sky as if to compare your work with its muse. "You're incredible," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper, as though afraid to disturb the magic in the air.

You pause, and smile at him. "It's not me," you say firmly. "It's the world. I'm just trying to do it justice."

He chuckles, low and warm. "You always say that, but I think it's a little of both."

Your cheeks flush at his words, and you return to your painting, your brush moving with purpose. The flowers take shape beneath your hand, their petals layered with delicate washes of pink, yellow, and white. The lake follows—a pool of soft blues and greens, the edges rippling with light.

When you finish, you lean back to admire your work. It's not perfect – your art never is, at least not in your eyes – but it's honest. It captures the feeling of the moment, the tranquility, the beauty, the love that fills the air like a soft melody.

Ronin leans closer, his shoulder pressing against yours as he studies the page. His fingers trace the edge of the notebook, careful not to smudge the wet paint. "You've captured it," he says simply, his voice filled with quiet admiration.

You turn to look at him, your heart swelling at the sincerity in his expression. For a moment, the painting is irrelevant. All that matters is the way he looks at you, as though you're the only thing in the world worth seeing.

When he leans in and gives you a soft, lingering kiss on your temple, it feels like the final brushstroke on a masterpiece—complete, perfect, and entirely yours.

The world narrows to the soft whisper of bristles against paper as you continue to paint. Each stroke is deliberate, the colours blending seamlessly as if the pigments themselves understand the intimacy of your craft. The flowers at your feet bloom anew on the page under your touch, their petals vibrant and luminous. Every detail is meticulously crafted: the curve of a petal, the way sunlight dances on dewdrops, the gentle shadows that cradle the grass.

Ronin's presence is solid and comforting, like the tree trunk you lean against. His dark eyes follow your movements as you dip the brush into your water jar, then into the palette. The brush's soft tap against the jar's edge punctuates the stillness, creating a rhythm as natural as the rustle of leaves overhead.

"You make it look so easy," he murmurs, his voice low and warm.

You smile, but your gaze remains fixed on the page. "It's not easy," you reply, "but it feels right."

Ronin shifts slightly, his arm brushing against yours, a quiet gesture of closeness. His gaze shifts decisively from the painting to your face, studying the way your brows knit in concentration, the faint curve of your mouth as you lose yourself in the process.

The lake, shimmering in the distance, begins to take shape beneath your brush. You confidently apply soft blues and greens, allowing the colours to blend seamlessly like the ripples that dance across the water's surface. The trees reflected in the lake become faint shadows, their shapes imperfect but evocative.

Ronin leans closer, his breath warm against your shoulder. "How do you know where to start?" he asks, his tone curious, reverent.

You pause, considering his question as you rinse your brush. "I don't always know," you admit. "I just let the colors guide me. It's like… listening to a melody you've never heard before but somehow know by heart."

He nods, a thoughtful smile curving his lips. "That's beautiful," he says, his words weighty with significance, as though discussing more than just your painting.

The flowers come next, their vibrant hues standing out against the softer tones of the background. You deliberately layer pinks, yellows and whites, bringing each petal to life on the page. The light dances on your water jar, creating rainbows across your notebook, and for a moment, it feels as though the world itself is conspiring to enhance your art.

Ronin watches every movement, his fingers idly toying with a blade of grass. He doesn't speak often, but his presence is a constant dialogue – a quiet hum of support, a steady rhythm that keeps you anchored.

"You notice things most people don't," he says after a while, his voice thoughtful. "Like the way the light hits the petals, or how the water reflects the sky."

You glance at him and immediately notice the admiration in his tone. "Everyone notices," you say, dipping your brush into the paint. "They just don't always take the time to see."

He chuckles, low and rich, like the rustle of leaves in the breeze. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just you."

His quiet compliment warms you more than the sunlight filtering through the branches. You return to your painting, adding the final touches to the flowers — the faint veins in the petals, the soft shadows where they overlap.

Ronin shifts again, resting his chin on his hand as he leans closer to watch. His proximity is comforting, his warmth blending with the golden glow of the afternoon. "It's incredible," he murmurs.

You glance at him, your brush hovering over the page. "It's not finished yet," you say, though his praise makes your chest feel lighter.

He shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips. "It doesn't matter. It's perfect."

His sincerity fills you with warmth, as if he were wrapping you in a soft embrace. You return to your painting, your brush moving with purpose. The lake shimmers under your hand, its surface dotted with faint ripples that echo the rhythm of your heart.

The final strokes are applied deliberately. You add hints of sunlight glinting off the water, the faint curve of the shoreline where the grass meets the lake. Each detail is a testament to the beauty of the moment, a quiet secret shared between you and the landscape.

When you finally lower your brush, the painting feels alive. The flowers and the lake seem to step off the page and into the world. You glance at Ronin. His expression is soft and unguarded as he takes in your work.

"It's us," he says simply, his voice filled with quiet awe.

You tilt your head, confused. "What do you mean?"

He gestures to the painting. "It's everything we are. It is quiet, beautiful, full of life. You've captured it all."

His words catch you off guard, but as you look at the painting again, you realise he's right. It's more than just a scene; it's a reflection of this moment and the bond you share. As Ronin reaches out to take your hand, his fingers warm against yours, you feel as though the painting has captured not just the landscape, but the very essence of your love.

The watercolour of the lake and flowers dries on your lap, the colours settling into the paper like memories etched into time. You glance over at Ronin. His dark eyes are still studying your work, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. His profile, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the branches, catches your attention—the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his brow, the way his hair shifts slightly in the breeze.

A quiet thought stirs within you, growing louder with each passing moment. You lower your brush and look at him fully, the world beyond fading into the background. "What if," you begin, your voice soft but certain, "we find another place? A place where I can paint you."

Ronin turns to you, his brow arcing slightly in surprise. "Me?" he asks, amused and curious.

You nod, a smile tugging at your lips. "Yes, you. This garden is beautiful, but you are the most beautiful thing here."

He chuckles, the sound warm and low, a ripple of joy that feels as natural as the breeze. "You've been painting flowers and lakes all day, and now you want to paint me?"

"Why not?" you reply, leaning toward him slightly. "You belong here as much as they do. Maybe more."

He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing playfully. "I don't think I'm as colorful as the flowers," he says, though there's a faint blush rising to his cheeks.

You reach out, brushing your fingers lightly against his hand. "You're more vibrant than you realise," you say, your voice filled with quiet conviction. "Let me show you."

For a moment, he studies you, his gaze searching yours as if trying to find the truth in your words. Then, with a nod, he rises to his feet and offers you his hand. "Alright," he says, his voice soft but steady. "Lead the way."

You take his hand and feel the warmth spread through your fingers as you rise beside him. Your watercolour pad and paints are safely stowed away in your bag, their weight a comfort as you move away from the tree. The path ahead is dappled with light and shadow, a mosaic of possibilities stretching into the distance.

You and he walk in comfortable silence, your hands still entwined. The garden unfolds around you, each turn unveiling new bursts of colour and life. Clusters of wildflowers sway gently in the breeze, their petals catching the sunlight like tiny mirrors. The air hums with the sound of bees and the rustle of leaves, a symphony of nature guiding your steps.

As you walk, you envision Ronin standing amidst the garden's beauty, his presence as natural and captivating as the flowers and trees. Glance at him and capture not just his likeness but also the quiet strength and warmth he carries.

The path will eventually lead you to a clearing. A gentle hill rises before you, its crest crowned with a single tree whose branches stretch wide and welcoming. Beyond it, the garden unfolds in a vibrant patchwork of colours, the horizon kissed by the soft hues of the afternoon sky.

"This is it," you say, your voice firm and confident.

Ronin observes the scene, his gaze sweeping over the hill, the tree, and the garden beyond. "You have a good eye," he says, a small smile playing at his lips. "It's perfect."

You lead him up the hill, the grass soft beneath your feet. At the top, the view is even more breathtaking: the garden stretching out like a living canvas, its colours vibrant and endless. You gesture for Ronin to stand beneath the tree, the sunlight filtering through the leaves casting dappled patterns across his skin.

"Right there," you say, your heart beating faster as he moves into place.

Ronin glances at you. His expression is a mix of curiosity and affection. "Like this?" he asks, standing still as the breeze ruffles his hair.

"Just like that," you reply, already pulling out your notepad and paints.

You settle onto the grass, brush poised above the blank page, and take a moment to study him. The light plays across his features, his stance is calm and confident, his eyes hold the entire garden within them — it's almost overwhelming.

You begin to paint, your brush moving with purpose as the image of him takes shape. The colours blend and bloom, capturing not just his form but the essence of who he is: the quiet strength, the gentle warmth, the undeniable beauty.

Ronin watches you intently as you work, his gaze steady and filled with something you can't quite name. The moments stretch and blur, the world around you fading into the background until all that remains is him and the soft hum of your connection.

When you pause to look up, your eyes meet his, and you forget to breathe for a moment. There's something in the way he looks at you—unspoken, infinite—that makes you feel as though the universe has conspired to bring you here, to this moment, to him.

"I'll have to frame this one," you say, a smile playing at the corners of your mouth.

Ronin chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not even finished yet?"

"It doesn't matter," you reply, your voice filled with quiet joy. "It's perfect."

The painting takes shape beneath your hands, and with every stroke of your brush, the world feels more vivid. Ronin, standing beneath the tree, belongs to this landscape, as though the sun shines a little brighter just for him. His hair catches the light, each strand a thread of gold and chestnut woven into the fabric of the day.

You pause, tilt your head to study him. He shifts slightly, one hand brushing through his hair, and you notice the faint curve of a smile on his lips. "Am I doing this right?" he asks, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Perfectly," you say, your brush poised over the palette. "Just stay as you are."

The colours you mix are soft yet vibrant, the blues and greens of the garden blending harmoniously with the warmth of the sunlight. You capture the subtle shadows that curve along his jawline, the delicate highlights that kiss the edges of his features. Every detail feels essential, as though leaving even the smallest part of him unfinished would diminish the scene.

Ronin watches you intently, his gaze steady and filled with curiosity. "You make it look easy," he says, echoing his earlier words.

You glance up at him, your lips curving into a smile. "It's not easy," you state, confidently dipping your brush into a deep amber hue. "It feels natural. This was always meant to be."

He chuckles softly, the sound blending with the breeze that stirs the leaves overhead. "Always meant to be, huh?" His tone is playful, but there's a softness beneath it, a quiet acknowledgment of the truth in your words.

You nod, returning your attention to the painting. The tree above him stretches its arms wide, its leaves forming a delicate frame around his silhouette. The flowers at the base of the hill add splashes of colour, their petals leaning toward him as if drawn by the same pull that keeps you captivated.

The painting comes alive, the colours breathing and shifting as though imbued with the energy of the moment. Ronin's presence on the page is more than a mere likeness; it's a reflection of the way he makes you feel: the warmth, the steadiness, the quiet beauty that grounds you.

"Show me," he says, his voice teasing but patient.

"Patience," you say, though your smile betrays your enjoyment of his curiosity. "The best things take time."

He shakes his head, laughing softly, but he doesn't press further. Instead, he shifts his weight against the tree. The movement is natural, unposed, and you are grateful for his trust in you to capture him as he is.

Your brush moves with renewed focus, adding the subtle textures of his clothing, the gentle folds that catch the light. You mix deeper shades for the shadows, the tones rich and grounding, a quiet contrast to the vibrancy of the flowers and sky.

Ronin tilts his head slightly, his gaze wandering to the horizon. The sunlight dances in his eyes, turning them into warm pools of amber and gold. You capture this, too, your brush sweeping across the page with deliberate strokes.

The painting feels almost complete, but you hesitate, your brush hovering over the page. There's something about him that's difficult to translate into paint – a kind of quiet radiance, a depth that no combination of colours can fully capture.

"You're staring," he says, his voice teasing but soft.

You blink, realising your brush hasn't moved in several moments. "I'm making sure I don't miss anything," you say, your cheeks flushing faintly.

He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "You've already got more of me than I could have imagined."

His words make your heart swell, and you dip your brush into the water one last time. The final strokes are slow and deliberate, adding the slightest details: a touch of light on his collar, the soft curve of his smile, the gentle shadow of the tree.

When you set your brush down, the painting feels whole. It's not just a picture of him; it's a portrait of this moment, of the love that fills the air like the scent of the flowers around you.

Ronin steps forward, his gaze dropping to the page. He studies it in silence, his expression unreadable at first. Then he looks at you, his eyes soft and filled with something infinite.

"It's beautiful," he says, his voice quiet but full of meaning.

You meet his gaze directly, your fingers still resting on the edge of the notebook. "You're beautiful," you reply, your voice as soft as ever.

The space between you vanishes as he reaches out and his hand touches yours. Everything seems to come to a halt, as though the world is holding its breath, and when he leans down to kiss you, it's like the final stroke on a masterpiece—perfect, complete, timeless.

The kiss begins softly, like the first stroke of a brush on a blank canvas, tentative yet deliberate. Everything else fades away. The rustling leaves, the hum of distant bees, it all becomes part of a gentle silence. All that remains is him—the warmth of his lips, the steady presence of his hand cupping your cheek, grounding you as the moment deepens.

His lips are warm, and faintly you taste the sunlight that has bathed the day. They move against yours with a tenderness that feels like an unspoken vow, a promise written in the language of touch. There is no urgency, only the quiet, deliberate unfolding of a shared truth—a truth you've both felt but never fully spoken until now.

The scent of the garden is in the air: sweet and heady, mingling with the faint trace of his cologne. It's intoxicating, a blend of earth and sky, grounding and limitless all at once. His hand slides down to rest against your neck, his thumb brushing lightly against your jawline. This gesture is so gentle that it sends shivers through you.

Your hands find their way to his shoulders, the fabric of his shirt soft beneath your fingertips. You feel the strength in him, the steadiness that has always been his anchor, and it's this steadiness that allows you to let go, to lose yourself in the moment.

Time stretches and bends as the seconds slip into each other like colours bleeding on a page. There is no rush, no need for anything beyond this connection, this melding of warmth, breath and quiet affection.

The breeze stirs around you, carrying the scent of wildflowers and the distant murmur of the lake. The world seems to hold its breath, in awe of this simple, profound act. The sunlight filters through the tree above, its golden rays painting your joined silhouettes on the grass below.

When he pulls back, it's not abrupt, but gradual, as if he's reluctant to let the moment end. His forehead rests gently against yours, his breath mingling with yours in the small space between you. Their eyes meet and you see everything: the softness, the vulnerability, the quiet certainty that this moment is as much yours as it is his.

Neither of you speaks at first. Words are unnecessary, pale in comparison to the emotion that lingers like an echo in your chest. His thumb continues to run small patterns over your skin, as if to reassure himself that you're still there, still his.

"You're incredible," he murmurs at last, his voice low and thick with emotion.

A smile tugs at your lips and you lean into his touch, your fingers brushing lightly against the nape of his neck. "So are you," you reply, your voice barely above a whisper, yet it carries the weight of all the things you feel but cannot yet articulate.

You and he linger there, caught in the golden glow of the afternoon. The kiss feels like the turning of a page, the start of a new chapter in a story you've been writing together without realizing it.

The garden around you seems more alive now, its colours brighter, its scents richer. The world itself seems to be rejoicing in your connection, a silent witness to the love that has unfolded between you like the petals of flowers swaying in the breeze.

Ronin's hand slides down to take yours, his fingers intertwining with yours in a gesture that feels as natural as breathing. He doesn't let go, and you don't want him to.

"Let's find another place to paint," he says, his voice warm and inviting.

You nod, your smile matching his. "Only if you promise to stay this perfect."

His laughter is quiet, warm, and utterly disarming. "I'll try," he says, but the way he looks at you suggests he's already perfect in your eyes, and that's all that matters.

As you rise and begin to walk hand in hand, the kiss lingers in the air, a moment that feels as infinite as the sky above. It's not just a memory, it's a promise: a reminder that no matter where you go or what you paint, you'll always carry this moment, this feeling, within you.

[ryemackerel]

Hello, I have a question about void/argbur, I saw in some artworks of yours that he can stick to like the wall when he’s like his void form, what is that stuff called, and is it sticky? Like do pieces of him ever come off?

P.S I love your art style😊!

[HEADS UP FOR HORROR/DEATH MENTION IN THE IMAGES!]

YOOOO It’s been a while since I thought about that dude! Super glad you asked, thank ya for the ask :-]

Gonna pull up some cool old art to further explain my vision too hehe. There’s some unpublished art in case you guys are curious bout that.

(Also just to clarify for anyone who needs it, I’m strictly gonna talk bout my hcs of the character, Argbur/Voidbur/Arthur! I kind of treat Arthur like an oc now! I will not be posting about cc!Wilbur on my page.)

Since I see Arthur being made in a lab, like a clone of a person who went missing/died, I like to think his body isn’t organic. (He was an experiment made to test if it was possible to revive a human being, although with inorganic material)

I usually just call it void substance (I haven’t come up with a name yet LOL), but think about it as a black kind of slime, which is the material his creators tried to make him with. It’s definitely pretty sticky, and it leaves behind a black residue on every surface it touches. Everytime Arthur leaves an area in his void form, there’s black markings he leaves behind.

Void substance is a type of chemical the scientists used to create Arthur (either it’s artificial or “natural” is something I’m indecisive about, like a parasite they found in the earth), and when it’s not kept in a closed, controlled environment, it has the potential to grow out of control and destroy its surroundings. The substance is almost “living” with a mind of its own, but it has no organic material.

Arthur’s void form is very shapable and malleable, meaning he can shapeshift into anything he chooses, but remaining in a desaturated color. This explains his human form, which although it accurately depicts the form he was assigned with, his skin remains cold and grey.

Furthermore, bits and pieces can definitely fall/melt off of him when he isn’t maintaining his form (eg. he’s experiencing stress as his void form, or as his human form). However, I can see he’s able to regenerate his physical body. Void substance is very fluid and chaotic. I wouldn’t say it’s INFINITE, so I’m inclined to believe you can limit void substance through temperature (like extreme heat?), but that’s something I’m still figuring out.

Apologies for the ramble, but you reminded me of how much I love Arthur :-] I went into more detail than I needed to, but hope you enjoy the infodump!

[iztea]

Iztea I need your help💔💔 I'm genuinely trying to find my art style but I'm not very good at art in the first place, I'm a beginner and I just don't feel motivated to draw anymore because I'm not good at it,, can you pls link your tutorials so I can try to follow them the best I can..😓 I genuinely love your art and your a huge inspiration but I can't draw for shit. A lot of the tutorials on YouTube don't actually help me as much as they do for other people so I'm lowkey putting my faith in you to try and help me lmao, I just can't get the proportions of anything right, like I can't draw a body or head,, and when I trace things it just feels like cheating in art like ugghhjjnn,, can you help me😓☹️

If you struggle with proportions, then drawing over the reference photo (which you should totally have, btw) to get a feel for the distance between things is a great starting point. I also think you should have simplified anatomy references, as well as references from other artists. Basically, everything I mentioned here i don't want to repeat the same points

Tracing is not "cheating" if you're using it to learn. It can be very distasteful if it's used for finished art, where it is obviously meant to replace actual skill, or if it's traced from another artist. If you're using it to study and as a stepping stone to improve your skills, then it's totally fine and even encouraged (it's like doing assisted pull-ups at the gym). But you gotta to play it smart—tracing the actual outline without engaging in critical thought leads to ugly, mediocre, commercialized art that we don't want because we're cool based and always striving to improve ourselves

Okay anyways "But how exactly do I trace references in a smart way, iztea?" Well, like I said, you can lower the opacity of your reference photo and draw over it. Use the general shapes and volume of the body as your guide until you learn to draw without them. Don't follow the outline exactly—exaggerate or stylize the limbs to your liking. For example, I like drawing small wrists and long, slim necks because I think it looks more appealing. So whenever I'm using a reference, I (subconsciously most of the time) slim these body parts down, elongate the fingers, and so on. If you're still not sure what your style is, that's fine too. Use this exercise to find out what your hand naturally leans into

I'm not the cleanest sketcher, and it's been a while since I've done this sort of approach, so excuse the messiness but I wanted to show an example of how I'd tackle this technique. If you look closely, you'll see that I didn't exactly draw over the body parts, especially in the neck and arm area. I exaggerated the posture by adding more gestures—I made the shoulders rounder, the skull bigger, and the arms and neck longer and slimmer. I didn't focus on details like the face or fingers because that's not the point

The next important step after creating your guidelines is to redraw the lines from scratch on a separate layer, but this time without the reference. Set the reference aside and focus on copying your own guidelines. Afterward, compare the two drawings to check if your proportions are accurate. If they're off, take note of any recurring mistakes and correct them. For example, I have a tendency to draw the mouth too far down on the face, so it's something I am always aware of whenever I'm drawing. Other times, I draw the eyebrows too high from the eyes and so on. Another important thing to point out is that not all references are created equal—there are such things as bad or poor references. If the body’s silhouette looks like a blob or the limbs are heavily foreshortened, you'll find it much harder to draw so for practice, I recommend choosing poses that are fluid, clear, and expressive, with good lighting and features you can exaggerate. This will make it easier to understand the form and you'll have more fun in general I've provided a little comparison below. I'm not saying the 2nd pose is terrible and impossible to draw, it's obviously not, you can draw anything you want howeveerrr if you're just starting out, painting the 2nd one can be much more challenging due to it not being very clear in shape, value range, pose, gesture etc. So what I'm trying to say is to choose your poses wisely too

I don't remember doing any tutorials outside that hair one unless you consider my rambling sessions tutorials (i don't) but you can also scroll through the #ask iztea: art talk hashtag for whatever art-related question I might have answered I'm too lazy to link everything so YOU put the work and stalk my page

anyways yeah idk this is how i'd start.... so to summarize:

pull up references, from both real-life people, simplified anatomy sheets, and artists you like

draw over your reference photo and treat it as your training wheels

close the og reference, and use the newly traced, much more simplified outline as your new reference, and now draw the pose again, but "freehand" this time

compare the traced and the freehand version, take notice of your proportions and try to correct them

choose good, readable, easy to draw refs

never give up never what

[worldofsaia]

for your ask game + blue lock dr!! (i love your ask game btw it's so cool and unique)

⊹ 🛍️ TREAT YOURSELF — ✶ what’s the coolest thing you own in your dr that you don’t have in your cr?

⊹ ⏳ TIMELESS WONDER — ✶ how does time work in your dr? is it linear, fluid, or something else entirely?

⊹ 🕊️ SOULMATE THEORY — ✶ do you believe you have a soulmate in your dr? have you met them yet?

⊹ 🎢 ADRENALINE RUSH — ✶ what is the most thrilling experience you’ve had in your dr?

now playing ; who's number one by lil’ kim…

this ask makes me want to shift here again but i'm in the scriptmaster trenches with my hr. either way, I've made sense of my shift journal, since my memory can be ass. enjoy. :)

⊹ 🛍️ TREAT YOURSELF — ✶ what’s the coolest thing you own in your DR that you don’t have in your CR?

✶ a pink diamond encrusted tooth ring, shaped like a jaguar's head and snuggly capped over my right incisor. 24k carat rose gold. what? for good luck. it's small but luxurious, and custom-made; mr. ego's design. between the teeth of the jaguar is a slightly larger fire opal cut in a perfect teardrop to show off the deep, almost magical hues it features. it even has the date i left the organization on it; which i think is his fucked up way of mocking me, as if to say that i will always come back, even when i swear i'm done with the place.

i don’t trust him, only people with 0 common sense or a tragic case of sadomasochism trust him! but...i do like trinkets and money, and he knows that. ego jinpachi has a way of worming his way into your mind. it’s a calculated trust, born from years of shady exchanges, and i suppose, a weird parenting style. he's a better father to me than my actual father there.

✶ centurion black card. honestly i don't care about the card; i care about the experiences i can access with it, also the exclusivity. i mean, they don't just give these out to anyone. with a swipe of this pretty little card, i get into exclusive art auctions with the most eccentric, and utterly conflated collectors and creators. priceless paintings mixed with rare taxidermy, porcelain dolls that were once part of a haunted exhibit, and freaky sculptures made from excavate human bones (don’t ask, but not every skeleton beneath a church is considered a relic).

my favorite item so far has to be a mid qing-dynasty cherub made entirely out of red jade, and so intricately carved that it refracts sunlight like stained glass would. i usually flip the pieces for profit and then give back to vetted charities—but this, and my renovated cessna 172, I'm keeping. it goes so good with my decor and megs thinks it's nutty as ever.

✶ next would have to be my silk brocade furisode, hand painted and hand stitched. the story behind this is actually so wholesome. following one of my worst matches to date, i went into full recluse mode in my kyoto apartment, my only company being buckets of ice cream and call of duty to shield me from the unrelenting summer heat.

can you imagine my face when i opened the door? two burly, tattooed, hard-looking guys, bowing at my doorstep. honestly, i was pissed. i’d just been in the middle of a week-long pity party, and then these guys showed up uninvited, with no warning. it felt intrusive, but there was also something strangely intriguing about it? turns out, their boss—old-school, high-ranking yakuza—didn’t care that i was a foreigner. he’d seen me play, and that’s all that mattered. so what does he do? he sends me this immaculate beauty, dyed a perfect mauve with midnight blues, beaded with lighter crystals like snow. I'd received gifts from fans before but this was just pure joy to me, not even meguru's gifts are this wonderful.

they kindly explained the reason behind the designs—being that I was born in december (in that reality), it's traditional to gift items, or even receive tattoos that suit you without being flashy. one way to do this is to gift things based on seasonal associations. it was done in beaded kōri patterns, cranes by a river, depicted in flight with their wings soaring wide over a snowy landscape. last were the plum blossoms in shades of deep mauve, ivory, and soft pink.

⊹ ⏳ TIMELESS WONDER — ✶ how does time work in your DR?

✶ time runs on ego, duh. joking… sort of. there's no written time conversion here, but my preference is [1/hr cr = 1/day dr] or [1/hr cr = 1/month dr]. i've shifted here twice, and time seems to be the latter, if not a little intensified? when i’m deep in something, time drags on, every moment feels cinematic and personal. but when i’m in control, or better yet, when the activity is boring or unnoteworthy, it compresses. i’ve had moments where a game stretched for hours, and other times, hours go by in a blink.

⊹ 🕊️ SOULMATE THEORY — ✶ do you believe you have a soulmate in your DR? have you met them yet?

✶ no. well… maybe, i believe in soulmates, but when in this reality the whole concept is just ridiculous to me. it pisses me off (there) because meguru definitely has soulmate energy for such a random encounter. it wasn't really planned, i felt a slight ‘what-if’ there and scripted a fairly neutral past with him, nothing else. going there and experiencing him without any scripted preferences is what sold me all the way. it's genuinely so respectable how he goes after whatever he wants, you really wanna cheer him on when you see him because I've never seen someone so unassuming yet so utterly devoid of giving a shit.

i know i care for him a lot, but we're not dating, because the world of football, especially blue lock, is messy. he drives me insane too because i can see myself spending a lifetime with this selfish glorified soaked cat. he makes me feel things I don’t want to feel, but I refuse to imagine a world without him in it.

so…one thing led to another.

i think the moment i realized i’d met my match, was after a game? this was some time after the first time we hooked up. i remember thinking it's just a thing between athletes. it's all cortisol, adrenaline, oxytocin and ego. it happens !

speaking of. ego was working me like a dog to hype up the clubs that would eventually flock to rent my tenure. i was bruised, bleeding in places i actually made sure to guard, still buzzing on adrenaline. he ignored me at first, then came back, picked me up, piggybacked me to some hole-in-the-wall ramen joint. forced me onto a stool. ordered for me like he knew exactly what i needed.

when the food came, he didn’t say anything. just nudged the bowl toward me and stole my chopsticks when i didn’t move fast enough. i watched him eat, hair stuck to his forehead, sweat drying on his skin. i'd be mad if he didn't start blowing on the noodles to feed me. really, if that's not love, then what is?

he's frustrating, though, trust. not like seishiro, but his energy can be a lot to deal with when he's in mania. i can feel it, that i'll only love him with more of my soul going forward, but not in words, if that makes sense. i push him to his limits, i play harder when he’s watching, i let him see me at my ugliest, sometimes, because he's never once turned away when i needed him. i want to do the same for him.

⊹ 🎢 ADRENALINE RUSH — ✶ what is the most thrilling experience you’ve had in your DR?

the most thrilling experience… hard to say. my life is crazy, my friends, rivals, circles are all unhinged and unapologetic. i'd have to say it was a game. my team was getting mauled 2-5. on the edge of collapse, with everything slipping away. we were done. most of the team had already thrown in the towel. the crowd already counted us out.

i remember standing there, hands on my hips, feeling that crushing reality. that knife’s edge between breaking apart and becoming something unrecognizable. the enemy’s defense was more than solid. a glance at their keeper told me everything—she was already celebrating mode. i think it triggered something from my childhood there, growing up poor with a wealthy father who wanted nothing to do with me unless i was on a plane to j'burg to show off like a charity case? always being the vulnerable one, on the outside looking in, never the winner, always the consoled.

and then something inside me snapped. something ugly, something glorious. i remember thinking, ‘fuck that, fuck losing, fuck the rules, fuck being anything less than number one.’

my heartbeat became the only thing i could hear, its rhythm matching the countdown in my head. there was this slow, hot flood of arrogance, my body was liquid fire, pushing so hard that my hairs stood on edge. the state i was in didn't feel human. it felt more like touching something primal and untouchable! every muscle in my legs abd core ached while i dribbled the ball, it was like my steps weren't registering as tunnel vision towards the goal took over.

i swear the night opened up, offering every possibility, every outcome, every breath before it happened.

i could hear the opposite team calling to each other in german, maybe desperate, or panicked, judging by their faces. i don't think i realized this was ego until my girl, nia, made the final goal that matched us 5-5.

if i had more time, would i have done anything differently? no. that moment was particularly perfect, reaching into a bottomless well of rage and genius and sheer will—it ended in a tie but it was worth more than any win. i crashed like a fly after that, honestly.

[jullythevamp]

ok here are my opinions of nocturne s2 as someone who rewatched all 4 seasons of castlevania and the 1st season of nocturne for idk how many times

spoilers below the cut

so i did not know s2 would come out bc netflix decided to stay quiet and not advertise it! 😍 lovely

it's almost 8 months since the last time i watched season 1 so i did not remember all the details but i did not enjoy it like i did with all 4 seasons of castlevania. i watched season 2 today and i already prefer s2 over s1

good parts

the animation is soooo good even if i prefer the old art style over this new one the animation is soooo much fluid esp in the last 2 episodes

alucard is finally here !!! my fave from the main series and seeing him made me so happy :( his scene talking about da vinci... u 2 had gay sex say it . also the scene of him getting out of the river wow

also alucard mention of trevor :( stop

droltas backstory !!!! i love actual character building instead of just throwing characters into the narrative !!! the fact that she was the big boss instead of erzebeth made so much sense !!!! and she got her ass in the end !!!

the night creatures revolution !!!!! i love a story that happens in france around the revolution (im obsessed with innocent for this reason) and seeing the night creatures fight against erzebeth people while eduard sang a song he heard in HAITI????? wow

ofc annette is one of the best things of this show by far, i love her journey of finding her powers, even tho she did not show up her power as much as last season her arc was soooo good to watch i love her sm seeing her hugging her mother :((((((

and my favorite part of this season by far, MARIA!!!!! MARIA MY BELOVED DAUGHTER !!! her struggle with her powers and her mother becoming a vampire was sooooo idk how to even say it!!!! also the fact that as soon as she discovered that she had more powerful beings to conjure SHE WENT AFTER HER FATHER!!!! GET HIS ASS!!!! GIVE YOUR FATHER DAUGHTER ISSUES BY KILLING HIM !!!!! also her relationship with juste :((((((( so cute

mid parts

idk how to feel about richter so he's here. hm he's a good protagonist. idk what to say about him he's just cool

olrox and mizrak... i adore them but idk i feel like they could be so much more this season. also no gay sex. i know they're in the middle of war but why. also mizrak had to be transformed last minute? also couldn't they show it in full? like why cut it i loved that scene but why can't u just show the full moment

bad parts

olrox spent the season doing a whole lot of nothing??? last season he was actually doing something but from ep 1 to ep 6 he's just there. well at least he slays in the final battle

marias father whose name i forgot and i don't care enough about him to remember died in such a cool way and just. died. where's haunting the narrative? he was a forge master i thought he would try to at least protect maria in his ash form?

getting the story behind erzebeth and drolta just now kinda made s1 look like shit bc these 2 were just the villains and in s2 they are, yk, characters with motives and such

alucard seemed so weak for some reason? like yeah it was obvious that in castlevania he was going to not be the strongest in the room but how many years have passed since then?

also something about him giving his sword to richter made me mad for some reason like idk if he would do that...

annette leaving the spiritual world bc of ricther did not made me happy like girlie is SO POWERFUL she has the blood of OGUM SHE COULD DEFEAT THE BEAST BY HERSELF AND RETURN NORMALLY

some people commented that this season feels rushed and i am lowkey inclined to agree, some of my problems with this season could be fixed by just making it 2 episodes longer

overall i did enjoy it i am just really picky i give it 3,9/5 :D

here's my final ranking of all castlevania seasons:

castlevania s2

castlevania s3

castlevania s4

castlevania nocturne s2

castlevania s1

castlevania nocturne s1

that's it um ... thank u for reading c:

[spacedoutman]

You have a fluid, smooth and gorgeous art style that's really unique to look at, love the details, the expressions, lines and everything you put into when you draw them. it's always....starstruck 🌟!

the hair is also eye catching too, like you can feel the hair through the art and feel how magnificent it is to the touch it ^^.

in other words, Your art style is...

Beautiful like a painting. 💖

Thank you so much! Your art style looks like the color hot pink Ong! It reminds me a lot of those really cool cartoons from the 2000s! It’s very sparkly yet smooth as butter! You’re amazing at capturing expressions and exaggerating them in such a pretty way!

I love your color palette, it’s so easy on the eye! The way you shade is absolutely fantastic and so is your lineart! I love how much it varies in color and how it goes so well with areas that are shaded black and how those areas contrast the ones shaded in different colors.

The way you draw hair… omg, I envy it. Your art has so much character and it’s so fucking pretty! If it were music, it would have the vibe of I like you so much, you’ll know it by Wang JunQi, Guo Sida’s heroine os, Forever by Chanmina or maybe vs Sayu or Me! me! me! It reminds me a lot of synthpop too and pastels!

Thank you millions!! I really, really try my best, especially with faces! I’m so happy I was able to manage! Omg hair is so hard! I finally learned how to draw it by breaking it down into vague shapes and filling out details!!

I appreciate it PLANETS!!! Thank you endlessly! It makes me so happy and relieved to hear this, especially cause I’m not a talented artist naturally and I’m always worried my art will look bad again.

[sergeantnarwhalwrites]

Writerly Questionare

Woah okay. Thanks for the tag @winglesswriter! I'm gonna have the questions below the cut to try to make the copy and pasting easier.

I tag @chayscribbles @winterandwords @vacantgodling @the-void-writes @aether-wasteland-s @nanashi23 @televisionjester (Only if y'all want. Open tag too!)

About Me

When did you first start writing?

With actual purpose middle school. Like 6th/7th grade.

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

Sorta. What's actually funny is I really ain't a fan of romance but I write that shit on the side XD.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

I'm not really sure about that emulate part. I could list a shit ton of awesome writers though (the people I taged and many many more) Lol, I'm definitely not compared to anyone though.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

I'm usually writing in my room, on a crowded tv dinner table. But I write in a lot of places, including passenger seat of car. Or in the library if I'm settling on strictly typing stuff. (I usually handwrite)

What's your most effective way to muster up some muse?

Listening to music and being busy as hell.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

I think so. I have a shit ton of black characters for a reason. I'm black, it's easy.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

The power of friendship, violence, we were forced to together so now we working together, and "good guys" doing bad shit too. Those are usually pretty prevalent in my stories.

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

Uhhhh that's hard to decide but I guess I'll go Saz. Saz is my stud bear morpher dragged into a battle against the humans. She is stressed, bro is going through it, and she's a wrestler.

Which of your characters do you think you'd be friends with in real life?

Most of them honestly. I think I'd be more than willing to hear about Hollis's (Robots & Gardens) exploits.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Cosma would get her shit rocked and I'd get mine rocked in return. And I think me and Green's anger problems would clash in really bad ways.

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

They appear magically in my brain. And I obsess over them like I obsess over all of my interests. The Fucked at Five oc's were the one's that deviated the most because most of them are based on the movie Open Season.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Tough exterior but actually really soft and big women go brr.

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc)

As a combination of as real people I imagined, comic book characters, art I made, and cartoon characters (like a banger indie animation).

My Writing

What's your reason for writing?

Teehee it's how I process a lot of things and also I have to fill the world with content I want to see cause no one else is.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

All of them for real. I love y'all. But any of them loving the characters as much as me honestly.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who "gets" the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

A cool dude who loves to write gay dorks gaying dorkily and fighting..

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Giving my character's a personality I guess.

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

I've been told I can write really fluid fight scenes or I have decent descriptions.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

Lol I think it's great when it's great and ass when it's ass.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Yep. My fanfic writing would probably be slowed even further but I'd still write whatever came to mind in general.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it's a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

Oh I definitely write what I know will amuse me. But I arguably think it's a mixture of both. Sometimes I'll see something or get a response that brings me to write. And it's bangers always.

When did you first start writing?

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

What's your most effective way to muster up some muse?

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

Which of your characters do you think you'd be friends with in real life?

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc

My Writing

What's your reason for writing?

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who "gets" the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it's a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

[vampstel]

Out of your favorite designs you’ve redrawn or has drawn who do you enjoyed working on the most?

As a character designer myself, I can’t help but love all my ocs equally, and learning from you actually helps me expand upon my stories. You’ve helped me so much writing a story for Victoria (She’s a princess vampire who is generations after Dracula (Temporary name because some details are being worked on) in my universe I don’t think this made sense but hopefully it does?) and I actually took some inspiration from your video in order to fully develop her.

I also love it when you diversity your work. It makes me really happy seeing all sorts of characters with real life details? If that made any sense. I like learning from you and I wanna try to understand more about details. Mainly because I suck at drawing details and idk how you do most of your stuff by hand. (I usually try to find brushes on IbisPaint on Pinterest for my work)

What kind of advice do you have for any upcoming artists who’s struggling with character designing?

Do you start with the character and then work on the story or is it the other way around?

This is going to be a VERY long response so it’s all gonna be under the cut…

I don’t really have a favorite design honestly... It’s hard to pick favorites when your characters have different aesthetics to them. It feels unfair to me to compare them because of that LOL so I try my best to avoid that.

That being said though, I can definitely say I had so much fun redesigning Elliot and making her her own person rather than a character who’s meant to represent me. She doesn’t have a full body render yet but… I think she’s neat :3

She’s just got all the things I love in one design and since she’s so personal to me, I guess you could technically say she’s my current favorite design out of all my OCs so far. Minus Rei, of course…

But yeah I can definitely relate to loving all your characters equally!! Victoria sounds cool and I’m glad my content helps you out ^_^

As for the last few questions… Details are really hard to draw especially if your art style is more on the cartoony side. There’s nothing wrong with using brushes or patterns online to help out the process but if you want to practice without them, it’s good to try out how to simplify details!!

Not everything has to be crazy complicated. So long as you get the general idea or silhouette of something in your art, it translates pretty well in the end results. Lots of artists simplify things to make it easier for the eye and it’s a hard skill to master but as you get used to it, you’ll become way better at it. Try and be fluid with your line work. That’ll help a ton!!

For advice on character design: I’d say the most important part to designing a character is making them feel alive by having meaning to their physical appearance and attire. A lot of beginner artists tend to forget that which results in a boring or un-relatable character.

We all have some sort of history with our appearances and it’s good to try and figure that out with your OCs. I usually do that during the design process but it’s fine if you do it after or before it. Before it is more ideal in a professional setting though!!

Go insane with designs. Mix and match aesthetics if you want and use LOTS of references and inspiration. That’s the second most important part. It’s why I have tons of pins saved on Pinterest and tons of reels saved on Instagram. But remember to always ask yourself questions like:

Would this character dress like this? What do they think about their clothes? Do they dress traditional, medieval, or modern?

Would they like this sort of thing? What sorts of fabrics and textures do they prefer to feel on their skin? Are they comfortable with revealing attire or do they prefer something more formal?

What sort of history does their clothes have? Was it a gift from someone, did they buy it from a thrift store or did they make it themself?

Do their accessories have sentimentality or are they completely irrelevant and something they use just for aesthetics?

Is there a way to incorporate things from their backstory or their current story to their appearance? Like scars/marks on their body? Maybe even accessories from a loved one or no?

Can you explain why they have specific physical features? Why are they skinny? Or muscular? Do they work out and eat healthy or do they barely take care of themselves?

It’s a lot to consider but when you can answer these questions, your character becomes much more lively and unique.

I personally tend to start the design of the character first but as I go through the drawing process, that’s when I flesh things out like their story and such. I don’t recommend this process to beginners since it’s SUPER messy but do what makes you feel comfortable! Hope this was helpful and thank you once again for the sweet compliments <33

[usdemigods]

Your Katsuki is a simp.💖😔 Good, good, and that top energy from Izuku?💋🔥 you're cookinggg!🔥🔥🔥

Hahaha, that aside, I wanted to ask you, which do you think are the parts that you enjoy writing the most? Is Izuku, because you usually use his pov? and which do you think are the parts that you have problems with?

I mean, for me you totally rock!! I love your fic cause It feels sooo cozy but also, kinda of real, sometimes I feel like I'm watching everything happen in front of me. Is so cool.

I wanted also to ask If you have any fic recs that you would like to share? Cause I have one 'the art of falling' by sapphicflower is soo funny and charmkng, and any work from seeress is awesome but she left ao3 since 2022 I think?

Anyway, I hope you are doing great and thank you for sharing your hard work with us! You're awesome 💖

My love for Katsuki knows noooo bounds. It’s interesting bc I started watching/reading MHA agesss ago (must’ve been 2016), and I dipped in and out of it since then. And I’ve always had an Izuku bias, but returning last year and catching up from season 4 onward…. something shifted 🤭 Katsuki is defo my fave character now, oop.

I’d say my fave part is writing Katsuki from Izuku’s POV, for this reason! I plan out Katsuki’s POV fairly heavily, so dipping into his feelings and motivations in my notes/thoughts, but then shifting out of that when writing Izuku’s POV is soooooo so fun 😛 Like…. Knowing what Katsuki’s got going on in his mind, but only writing what Izuku can see and hear through a layer of his own misunderstandings and hang-ups is a great exercise into perspectives.

The problem…. I think it’s having an idea of the wider plot but having to decide how to reveal things. I always psych myself out when it comes to: “Ah, I really wanna execute my plan of what’s really going on but idk how to develop it realistically while also making it feel entertaining to read”. So I end up writing filler scenes to make the plot feel real and fluid but sometimes I think “argh this just doesn’t feel interesting from a reader’s POV asdfghjkl”.

And YESSS thank you for the recs (I’ve been going through a reading slump so this is SO needed). The Art of Falling is one of my faves, the author does such a good job of slowing the burn and making the characters feel realistic but also their own. And Seeress 👀 their story “Let me assist you personally” was my DekuBaku awakening!! But I read it at a time where I felt I was drowning in fics to read so I never looked at their other stuff :( I took a peak now and there’s soooo much good food, I’m gonna be well fed tonight so THANK YOU ☺️

Here are some that have stood out to me:

[Kill God] by Majjale - AU but heroes. Villain Deku and genuinely SOOOO well done. I think this is my fave hero-verse AU. I love when fics are plot heavy but the romance between BKDK is so intertwined that you can’t separate it from from plot. And it has a good take on the top/bottom dynamic discourse. 10/10, but unfinished (don’t let this defer you pls!)

Every Other Freckle by DeerMeadows - CRIMINALLY underrated. When fic authors try to tackle a genre/style is just 🤌🤌🤌. it’s 90s-2000s survival thriller meets supernatural/horror. I highly recommend. It really commits to the genre and has horror themes (so plssss don’t read if any of the tags freak you out!!! >.<)

Chasing the rabbit by Mimiwrites - stands out as one of my fave fluffy (w a side of angst) oneshot !

My fave fantasy au is imperial retrograde by mynameis152. Truly a great slow burn 🤌

An author that doesn’t disappoint is thunderpoint ! I love their writing style so much

I’m aware most of these are fairly popular, and I defo fall into this habit of reading things that I can find easily :( BKDK fic recs can become a bit of an echo chamber so I’m gonna think harder !! And I’ll message you if I think of anymore (I’ve read so many it’s embarrassing 😭 and have lost track of a lot of my faves). And feel free to send me anymore you’ve really liked as well (in dire need of more recs) <3

(AND thank you for your kind words 🫶💋 I hold them dearly)