#instead of doing it in grayscale

[karrasyne]

quick little young garrett redraw/painting practice

i never paint or color any of my pieces so i thought i'd just do it cuz i kinda suck and need the practice also i just like drawing garrett

[the-mang0tree]

ok i like how i painted the top

[pivsketch]

had an inspiring and riveting discussion about pixel art with some friends recently. heres some unfinished sprites of best friends + orange cassidy as a result. and a zoomed out version w/ some progress shots

[llycaons]

studios sometimes alter character color palettes for the anime tho...see utena being originally blond, kurapika's eyes changing color, etc. I think priest should have brown eyes personally. in the manga he and leah also have somewhat similar designs in their civvies but on the cover his hair was a lot more ashy than leah's bright blond hair, so it would be a lot easier to distinguish them...there's so many blond ppl in this manga tho it's wild

another thing I noticed staring at the covers was almost everyone has pupils of two different colors - witches, humans, and demons. you see it in the manga as another ring within the pupil, but on the covers you can see they really do have two-toned eyes, or eyes with a ring of another color around the outside

it's a cool idea and very distinctive - and verge's demon mark matching his eye is fun - but some of these color choices...

[pillowenvelopchair]

Grits teeth

[losts-art-shit]

A couple secret Santa things- the first one is finished, the other a wip

[lackadaisycats]

I’m obsessed with the Lackadaisy comics way of shading/colouring! Could you please give a tutorial of how you do that and what brushes you use?

Here's a sample I used for the Lackadaisy Essentials art book. About 98% of the time, I'm not using specialized brushes - just basic soft and hard-round brushes, with various opacities.

Digital scan of the establishing shot pencil drawing - I added some some grid lines on top to double check the 1-point perspective. I didn’t include the characters here because I knew I’d be using the art as a background for more than one panel in the comic.

Initial lighting pass - This was done almost entirely by burning shadow directly into the pencil art scan. This way, I preserve a lot of my pencil lines (rather than painting over them) and the grain of the paper remains in play. This helps retain a sort of aged, natural media look despite the largely digital nature of it.

Contrast and brightness adjustments - Here I hand-painted more minute details into the rug, decor and fixtures with small diameter round brushes. I drew a wallpaper pattern on a separate canvas, then applied it as an overlay layer here too. And, of course, the characters arrived as raw pencils on new layers.

Character compositing and color wash - I didn't want to go fully monochrome with the colors, but I also didn't want to treat this like a full color digital painting. Instead, I opted for something resembling a warm-to- cool wash, achieved with a color layer on top of the grayscale base. Young Mordecai and Rose were toned to match the scene with a combination of burning, dodging and painting.

Lighting effects and atmosphere - Overlay layers can be used to push warm values into a much more saturated, vibrant place than a color layer alone can manage, and that's what I did here to create the streaming sunlight. I used a screen layer to include overexposure on bright colored elements as well. Floating dust motes in the light were added for atmosphere, and I polished the characters up with their own color and overlay layers to match the scene.

There's another, older process breakdown here on the Lackadaisy web site too, if you want more information.

[mx-paisley]

Huevember 8-9 🌀🎹 MALEVOLENT PART 20 SPOILERS!!!

I THINK I DEVOURED!? I dont know what possessed me to cook this delicious meal what the hell

looks familiar? You might have seen my kayne fanart back in may. This drawing is a redraw of that but expanded into a one page comic. I hope the composition is not too confusing to read ahaha. Oh and look, updated kayne design yipee

Huevember prompt list below

I really like this new rendering style ! For this drawing, I painted in grayscale first and then used Gradiation Map after, instead of Blending Modes like I usually do. I will use this style always from now on :]

[pucksandpower]

Seeing Color

Lando Norris x soulmate!Reader

Summary: the average person goes their whole life without seeing so much as a drop of color, so safe to say you’re quite surprised when the sky suddenly turns blue while you’re covering Formula 1 for the first time

The sky’s a muted gray, just like every other day of your life, as you stand in the bustling paddock of Silverstone, trying to ignore the knot in your stomach.

This isn’t what you signed up for. Football’s your thing — sweaty players, goals, and post-match interviews in rain-soaked stadiums. But motorsport? Formula 1? It’s a different beast altogether.

“Just one race,” your supervisor had assured you. “It’ll be fine, Y/N. You’re a pro.”

Easy for them to say. The paddock is a maze of garages, team colors (which are a uniform grayscale for you, of course), and a cacophony of sounds that’s more overwhelming than a packed Premier League stadium.

You’ve been briefed on the basics — Max Verstappen’s the reigning champ, Lewis Hamilton’s the legend, and Lando Norris, the homegrown young talent, just secured P2.

P2. The words feel alien, even though you repeat them to yourself over and over, willing them to become familiar. Podium finish, second place. You’ve got this.

But the truth is, you don’t. Not really. And it’s showing as you fumble with your notes, trying to prepare for the post-race interviews. Your heart’s racing faster than any of the cars on the track.

“Hey, you alright there?”

The voice comes from behind you, startling you out of your thoughts. You turn around and see a young man — not too tall, with curly hair, and a faint smirk playing on his lips. You recognize him immediately, even in black and white.

Lando Norris.

“Yeah, just-” You scramble for professionalism, straightening your back and offering what you hope is a confident smile. “Just getting ready for the interviews.”

Lando’s eyes flicker down to the notes in your hand. “First time covering F1?”

Your smile falters. “Is it that obvious?”

He chuckles softly, and for a moment, it’s as if the world around you narrows down to just the two of you standing there in the paddock, the sounds and chaos fading into the background.

“A little,” he admits, leaning casually against the wall, as if he’s got all the time in the world. “But don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you.”

You can’t help but laugh, the sound surprising even yourself. There’s something about his easygoing manner that puts you at ease, just for a moment. “I appreciate that.”

“Y/N Y/L/N, right?” He asks, and you’re caught off guard that he knows your name.

“That’s me,” you reply, slipping into the role of interviewer as best as you can. “Congratulations on P2, by the way. How was the race for you?”

He glances at you, and for a brief second, his expression changes. It’s subtle — almost imperceptible — but it’s there. Something shifts in his eyes, something that makes your breath catch in your throat.

“Thanks,” he says, but the word comes out softer than you expect. There’s a pause, a moment of hesitation, before he continues. “The race was … it was intense. But honestly? Standing here right now … it feels like something else is happening.”

You frown slightly, not understanding. “What do you mean?”

Lando looks at you again, more intently this time, and you’re acutely aware of the way your pulse is thumping in your ears. “Look around,” he murmurs, his voice low, as if he’s sharing a secret. “Do you see anything different?”

You blink, confused. You glance around, expecting to see the same monotone world you’ve always known, the same dull shades of gray. But instead … you see it. A soft glow in the distance, a faint tinge of color in the sky.

It’s … blue.

A gasp escapes your lips before you can stop it. “What …”

Lando steps closer, his expression as bewildered as yours. “You see it too, don’t you?”

“I-I don’t understand,” you stammer, your heart racing even faster now. “This can’t be real. I’ve never seen color before.”

“Neither have I,” he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. “But … I’m seeing it now. Because of you.”

The air around you feels electric, charged with something you can’t quite name. Your eyes lock onto his, and suddenly, the world isn’t gray anymore. It’s alive with hues and shades that you’ve only ever imagined. His eyes, a stunning shade of fluid green, meet yours with the same wonder.

“This can’t be real,” you repeat, more to yourself than to him. You’re trying to make sense of the impossible, of the vivid blues and greens and reds that are slowly seeping into your vision, like the world is waking up from a long sleep.

Lando reaches out, his hand hovering near yours, not quite touching. There’s a vulnerability in his gaze that’s startling — like he’s just as unsure of what’s happening as you are. “I think …” he starts, then stops, swallowing hard before trying again. “I think it’s because we’re soulmates.”

“Soulmates?” You echo, the word feeling foreign on your tongue. You’ve heard the stories, the myths — how the world is black and white until you meet the person you’re meant to be with.

But it’s just that, isn’t it? A myth? A fairytale? With over 8 billion people on Earth, the chances of actually meeting your fated match are slim-to-none. Most of the population has grown to accept that they will never see anything other than black and white.

“Yeah,” he says softly. “That’s what they say, right? You don’t see color until you meet your soulmate. But I never thought it’d actually happen. Not like this.”

You’re silent for a moment, trying to process it all. The colors, the implications, the fact that this person — this stranger — is suddenly supposed to mean everything to you. It’s overwhelming.

“I don’t even know you,” you whisper, voicing your fears. “How can we be soulmates if we don’t even know each other?”

Lando’s smile is small, almost shy. “I guess we’ll have to change that, won’t we?”

The words are simple, but they carry a weight that you’re not sure you’re ready to bear. But when he looks at you like that, with such sincerity, you find yourself nodding.

“Yeah,” you agree softly. “I guess we will.”

He takes a step closer, and this time, his hand does brush against yours, sending a jolt of electricity through your body. You feel it in every nerve, every inch of your being. It’s like the world has shifted on its axis, and you’re standing at the center of something much bigger than yourself.

“Can I ask you something?” Lando’s voice is quiet, almost tentative.

“Of course,” you reply, your voice just as soft.

“What’s your favorite color?”

The question catches you off guard. It’s such a simple thing, and yet, in this moment, it feels like the most important question in the world. You look around, taking in the colors that are now flooding your vision — the vibrant greens of the trees in the distance, the deep blues of the sky, the bright reds and yellows of the cars and team logos.

“I don’t know,” you admit, and the honesty of it feels right. “I’ve never had a favorite color before.”

Lando smiles, a real smile this time, and it’s like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Pretty sure I’m legally obligated to say mine’s papaya,” he laughs, and you notice it for the first time — the vibrant hue of his team’s colors, standing out against the grayscale world you’ve known until now. “I think you’ll like it.”

You smile back at him, feeling the connection between you deepening with every passing second. It’s terrifying, and exhilarating, and everything in between.

“I think I might,” you say, and the words are full of a promise that you’re not sure you fully understand yet, but that feels right nonetheless.

For a moment, the world falls away, and it’s just the two of you, standing there in a kaleidoscope of color that’s bursting into life all around you. The roar of the engines, the clamor of the crowd — it all fades into the background as you look at each other, truly seeing each other for the first time.

“So … what happens now?” You ask, your voice barely above a whisper.

Lando’s hand tightens around yours, and there’s a steadiness in his gaze that grounds you. “We take it one step at a time,” he says. “We get to know each other. And we see where this goes.”

The simplicity of his words is comforting. There’s no grand declaration, no rush to figure everything out. Just a promise to take things as they come, to let whatever this is between you grow naturally, in its own time.

“I’d like that,” you say, and you mean it.

He grins, that boyish charm back in full force, and you can’t help but smile in return. “Good,” he says. “Because I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other.”

There’s a warmth in his tone that makes your heart skip a beat, and for the first time since this whole whirlwind began, you find yourself excited about the future — about the possibility of what’s to come.

“Yeah,” you reply, your smile widening. “I think we are.”

And as you stand there, hand-in-hand with Lando Norris, surrounded by the vibrant colors of a world that’s finally come to life, you can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, this is where you were always meant to be.

[demonic0angel]

Final Gift (click for clarity)

Extra:

Due to this poll, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that Jazz won 3rd place! And in this artwork made after the poll, you may not have noticed that the diamond that Danny holds isn’t given to either Duke or Cass, so I thought it’d be sweet if Danny gave it to Jazz instead.

Until Jason catches them and can’t recognize Jazz’s clownfish brother as the orca….

I could not be bothered to draw the hands for the extra but it just makes it funnier 🤣

Image description:

The first picture is one with Jazz and Danny as mermaids. Danny is an orca and Jazz is a whale shark. Danny cheerfully presents diamonds and bracelets to Jazz and she gushes over her gift.

The second picture is a 3 panel comic.

Panel 1 has an image of Jason tearfully watching them with a broken heart, holding his own gifts and clearly about to present them to Jazz.

Jason: ….

Panel 2 has both Jazz and Danny staring at him in shock and horror, with Jazz being somewhat panicked.

Danny and Jazz: !!!!

Panel 3 has a frantic Jazz trying to comfort a crying Jason. Danny watches them from a distance, sweating.

Jason: *sobbing* Do you like him more than me?! Is it because he’s grayscale?!

Jazz: *panicked* No! No! It’s not like that!

[egophiliac]

How do you draw your high contrast, shape-y pieces? I’ve tried something similar but it always end up off, any recommendations on brushes or exercises that could help with improvement?

(I wasn't sure what part was giving you trouble, so this is sorta an all-over smattering 😅 hopefully some of it helps!)

• the kind of brushes don't really matter, just what you're comfortable with using! more chisel-shaped or calligraphy-style brushes might be harder to control strokes with though. I do personally like using brushes that are like...Mostly Round But With a Little Grit to 'Em!

• work at a higher size and/or resolution than your final size (I usually work at ~3x final size). scaling down will smooth out little imperfections and some of the little aliasing weirdness that comes from raster transformations (scale/rotate/etc.)

• drawing with your arm, as in moving from your elbow while keeping your wrist pretty still, makes big smooth curves much easier (you can also go from the shoulder for BIG movements)

• most drawing programs will let you rotate the canvas -- drawing downward strokes tend to be easier to control (extra cheat: if a stroke is proving troublesome, I'll sometimes draw it as best I can on a new layer, move/rotate it into the exact position I want, and then merge it down again)

• instead of trying to draw a super precise shape and fill it in, I usually draw a bigger, shittier shape, and then use an eraser or layer mask to kinda chisel it into the shape I want:

• Always Check Your Values -- especially if you're finding your colors feel kinda muddy or not contrast-y enough, it's a good idea to make sure there's contrast in the light/dark as well as the hue/saturation! I usually have an adjustment layer set to 0 saturation that I keep on top of my document, and just periodically toggle on and off to check. (there's some debate about the most accurate way to check values, but this works well enough for high-contrast solid blocks of color.)

• on the same note, instead of using pure grayscale colors, particularly full black (#000000) and white (#FFFFFF), adding a little bit of color into them can give you a richer, more interesting and more cohesive result.

(and even when using pure grays, using slightly "off" from full black and white can be more interesting! and it's not to say DON'T use black and white and gray, more just...use them thoughtfully, instead of by default?)

• color thumbs/sketches/roughs, whatever you want to call them. people get SO weird at me about these for some reason, but they're literally just...a little sketch of figuring out colors before you start painting. they don't have to be final or detailed or any good or whatever, it's just to get a starting idea! working super fast and loose especially helps to get out of the mindset of Doing A Good Drawing and more into messing around with shapes and negative space and all that fun stuff. :> then later you can focus on the Doing A Good Drawing part, without having to also think too hard about the other stuff.

• Keep It Simple -- 100% the hardest part. I have absolutely not mastered this in any way. 💀 it's SO easy to overwork this style and end up too detailed/too unfocused/just too much going on -- half the time I spend on these things is just adding details -> squinting at it for a couple of minutes -> erasing all the details again. you gotta keep in mind that it's about getting an idea across more than anything else, and when it comes to that, less is almost always more!

(this is one of the reasons I sometimes make myself use SUPER restricted palettes; when you only have three colors, it forces you to really think about what's important to show and how to leave things implied. ✌️)

[glowettee]

your dream life is jealous of how much time you spend doomscrolling.

hey sweethearts!! mindy hereeeee, so i've realized something… like how we're all literally addicted to our phones?? and how our dream lives are sitting somewhere in the corner of our minds, pouting and wondering why we never hang out anymore??

i had this moment last week where i realized i'd spent THREE HOURS scrolling through videos of people organizing their fridges (which like… is satisfying but also?? what am i doing with my life). and then i had this thought that actually shook me: what if my future self could see how i'm spending my time right now? would she be proud or would she be like "girl… what are you DOING?"

the truth is that our phones are literally engineered to be more interesting than our real lives. they're designed by actual geniuses who understand our brain chemistry better than we do. it's not a fair fight!! and yet we blame ourselves for not having "enough willpower" which is honestly just mean??

✧ why we're all trapped in the doom-scroll cycle:

our phones deliver perfectly timed dopamine hits (the happy brain chemical!!) that make us feel momentarily good but leave us wanting more

the algorithm knows exactly what will keep us scrolling (it's literally studying us)

our brains are wired to seek novelty and our phones offer infinite novelty

real life has friction and requires effort; scrolling requires zero effort

we use our phones to escape uncomfortable emotions that actually need processing

the comparison trap makes us feel like we're "researching" our dream life rather than building it

i realized something that changed everything for me: the time i spend consuming other people's lives is time i'm not creating my own. and like… that's the whole game??

✧ how to break free (in ways that actually work):

identify your "scroll triggers" - for me it's when i feel anxious about my work, when i first wake up, and weirdly when i'm hungry?? once you know your triggers you can create little alternate pathways

create "phone-free zones" in your home - i have a little basket by my front door where my phone goes when i come home, and my bedroom is completely phone-free (i bought an actual alarm clock like it's 2005 and honestly?? life-changing)

practice the "dopamine pause" - when you feel the urge to reach for your phone, pause for 60 seconds. just sit with the discomfort. often the urge will pass, and if it doesn't, at least you're making a conscious choice

redesign your home screen to be boring af - delete all social apps from your home screen, make everything grayscale, turn off all notifications except calls/texts from actual humans who matter

schedule specific "input" and "output" times - block 30 minutes for consumption and 90 minutes for creation. your ratio should always favor creation over consumption

try "analog hour" before bed - read physical books, write with pen and paper, stare at the ceiling and let your mind wander (this is where all my best ideas come from tbh)

use the "future self" visualization - whenever you're about to fall into a scroll hole, close your eyes and visualize your future self. what would she want you to do with this precious hour of your life?

create ✧ focus-core ✧ routines - these are deeply satisfying rituals that give your brain the same dopamine hit as scrolling but actually build toward your dreams (for me it's making fancy coffee while listening to a specific playlist, then writing for 45 minutes)

practice "productive procrastination" - if you absolutely must avoid your main task, have a secondary important task ready (like if i don't want to write, i'll organize my study materials instead)

implement the "touch it once" rule - when you pick up your phone, have a specific purpose and do ONLY that thing, then put it down

the hardest truth i've had to accept is that there's no magic hack that makes this easy. creating a life that's more interesting than your phone requires actually building that life brick by brick, day by day. and the beginning is SO HARD because your brain is literally withdrawing from its favorite drug.

but i promise you something magical happens after about two weeks - you start to feel… different?? more present? more alive? and you realize that all along, the life you were searching for in your phone was waiting for you to look up.

your dream life is waiting for you to stop watching other people live theirs and start building your own. it's jealous of your phone, yes, but it's also patient. it knows that eventually, you'll come home to yourself.

xoxo, mindy 🤍

p.s. if you catch yourself scrolling after reading this, please don't feel bad!! just gently put your phone down, take a deep breath, and remember that you're breaking a literal addiction. be kind to yourself through the process, okay? tiny steps in the right direction are still steps. 💗

[da-shrimping-station]

the amount of beef i have with this outfit....

They dressed the King of Greed in rags. Literal fucking rags for an outfit. It's more tattered than Belphie's! Sure there's a lot of gold there but it's all being drowned in the stupid color palette. How can the gold stand out from the piss yellow colors they put him in 😭 there should've been black on the outfit! His base sprite is like 70% black from his robe thingy and it's fine! That's good contrast and it makes the golds more obvious!!!

Look at this. I went and set the image into grayscale and the original sprite is dogshit with the color values. It's all one blob of gray. Sometimes a good design isn't just about colors but contrast too.

Look at the other sprites. They have a decent enough balance between light and dark values.

For Lucifer, the dark coat outlines his silhouette better and the belts create segments in a way so his body doesn't look like a blob of white.

For Belphegor, it's all black yeah but that makes you immediately look at his chest and face (and his piercings), which becomes the focus instead (no I do not want to talk about his funky ass hat what the fuck is that)

Satan, Asmo, Levi, and Beel have good enough values all over. If there are areas where it looks like the same shade in grayscale, they differentiate it through either color or texture. I.e., Satan's pants and coat lining are red but they vary in saturation and texture. Pants are a saturated red while the coat lining is patterned. Same situation with Asmo's belt wrap and coat lining, as well as Levi's coat and the bow’s patterned cloth (what a fucking diva he just has to have a bow)

Beel's coat lining could have more differentiation. Ik his base sprite is purple on the inside, but if they didn't wanna mix in Levi's colors in his outfit, then they could've gone with a lighter shade of green.

But Mammon,,,,oh dear me what the fuck did they do to youuuuuu 😭 bro wait til I get my shrimpy hands on a better quality version of the sprite i have so much to say about it

Anywayyy, thanks for reading til the end! 🦐

[goddessinnerglow]

Become Your Best Version Before 2025 - Day 16

Digital Detox and Mindful Living

Today, let's talk about something we all struggle with: our relationship with our devices. You know the drill: endless scrolling, bouncing between apps, answering notifications like your phone’s your boss. It’s exhausting! I’ve been there, too. One moment, I’m looking up a recipe; the next, I’m deep in a rabbit hole watching “hot girl morning routine” vlogs or reviews of the trendiest Stanley cup dupes.

And then I’m left wondering, where did my time go?

But this isn't about making you feel guilty or telling you to throw your phone away. Instead, let's explore how to create a healthier balance between our online and offline lives.

Simple Ways to Start

When it comes to digital wellness, small changes can make a big difference:

Put your phone in another room while you sleep

Turn off non-essential notifications

Use grayscale mode on your phone (it makes those colorful apps less tempting!)

Set specific times to check social media instead of constant scrolling

Creating Phone-Free Zones

Choose spaces in your life where phones aren't invited:

During meals

The first hour after waking up

While having coffee or tea

In conversations with friends

Your bedroom (or at least not right next to your bed)

Mindful Moments

Replace mindless scrolling with mindful activities:

Take three deep breaths before checking your phone

Look out the window instead of at your screen during breaks

Notice the sounds around you while walking

Feel the warmth of your coffee cup in the morning

Observe the colors and shapes in your environment

Screen Time Swaps

For every digital habit, create a fulfilling alternative:

Instead of morning scrolling → journaling or stretching

Instead of bedtime TikTok → reading or gentle stretching

Instead of lunch break Instagram → eating mindfully

Instead of endless news scrolling → reading one quality article fully

The Art of Being Present

Practice presence in simple ways:

Notice the taste and temperature of your food

Feel the sensation of water on your skin while washing your hands

Listen to the sounds in your environment

Observe your breath for a few moments

Feel your feet connecting with the ground as you walk

Creating Better Digital Habits

Make technology work for you:

Use app timers to limit social media use

Schedule "do not disturb" hours

Organize apps by purpose, not habit

Delete apps that don't add value to your life

Move social media apps off your home screen

Reconnecting with Reality

Fill your offline time with meaningful activities:

Start a hobby that uses your hands

Have face-to-face conversations

Spend time in nature

Write letters to friends

Cook a meal from scratch

Read physical books

Practice drawing or coloring

Your Daily Digital Detox Plan

Start small with these daily practices:

Morning: Wait 30 minutes before checking your phone

Work: Take regular screen breaks (try the 20-20-20 rule)

Evening: Set a digital sunset time

Bedtime: Create a phone-free bedtime routine

The goal isn't to eliminate technology, it's to use it intentionally.

Today's Challenge

Choose ONE phone-free zone to implement

Try a 10-minute mindful activity instead of scrolling

Notice how you feel during and after this change

Every moment you choose presence over distraction is a gift to yourself. You don't have to be perfect, just a little more mindful each day.

See you tomorrow for Day 17!

♡ ☆:.｡ Keep glowing, babes! ♡ ☆:.｡ With love, Goddess Inner Glow.

[alikesical]

Forever Yours.

❛There's no love lost, but I'll be forever yours❜

Jason Todd x reader

trigger warnings: angst, character death

word count: 2564

Jason didn't know how to exist anymore...

Everything around him was wrong. All that he did, felt mechanical, like a mere muscle memory.

He woke up. He went to the repair shop. He'd go home. He'd lie still on his bed until his body gave away to exhaustion.

He was alone, even when in company, and God knows he had company. Dick and Tim, sometimes even Damian, would drop by and force him out of his room, even for a little while. Trying to take his mind off of you.

It never worked.

Why would it? How could he ever take his mind off of you when you were the one good, beautiful thing in his life. He didn't deserve you. He knew that much, but that never kept him from being selfish. From barging into your life.

"Please tell me you can fix it!" you pleaded with him the moment he got out of the repair truck, tears threatening to escape from your eyes.

Jason chuckled at your panic. Cute, he thought, as he walked towards you car, that had definitely seen better days, "I don't know what's wrong yet," he says and you simply nod, cursing yourself for asking stupid questions.

You struggled to stay quiet as he looked over your engine, not wanting to break his concentration.

"Well-" he opens his mouth to speak, but you're quick to interrupt him before he could even get a word out.

"It's bad isn't it?" you groan, pacing around, hands flailing around, "I dont understand how this could have happened! I haven't missed a single maintenance appointment, I swear! Please, you have to do something, I'll do anything! I really need the car-"

"I was about to say that its an easy fix," he chuckled cutting your rambling short, "But since you already offered to do anything, what about a date?"

You had a lot of these fights in the beginning. While trying to keep you at an arms length, Jason had not treated you the way he was supposed to, often being cold and rude. He thought he kept you safe that way, that you'd see him for who he really was and run for the hills.

He smiles to himself, remembering how flustered you got before agreeing with a shy smile.

Little did he know, you were anything but shy, never afraid to go head to head with him and demand to be treated right, even if he towered over you.

And you did see him. Only you actually did, not the twisted version he had in his mind, but who he was down to his core. You saw how scared he was, how much he needed to be loved. And that's exactly what you did, after sitting him down and ripping him a new one, for acting like a dick.

Jason shakes his head, as he approaches your door. He should not be doing that.

You were gone, he shouldn't be reminiscing, it just hurted him more.

But he can't help it.

Those memories are what remain of you in his mind, he couldn't help but recall them, searching for even a flicker of comfort in them. But that was never the case.

Instead he was reminded about how he'd never see you smile at him like that again, and his already broken heart, would get smash into smithereens all over again.

He didn't know how for long he was standing outside your door, not daring to step in. Afraid of what it would do to him.

He knew it was unhealthy, coming here day after day, but never entering. He should go in and gather your stuff, empty the apartment for someone alive to move in.

So he kept paying your bills three months later, keeping the apartment frozen in time.

But he couldn't bring himself to.

It felt like trying to erase you, move on. Jason didn't want to move on.

He feels his chest tighten at the familiar sight of your living room.

Babs told him that he should go in, at least try to get some closure.

He knows she's right, she usually is. So he takes in a shaky breath, trying to steady his hand as he unlocked the door.

"Jason?" you called as you stepped out your room, trying to put on your earrings, "Why are you not dressed yet?" he heard the click of your heals moving closer to the couch he sat on.

His head immediately turned towards the sound of your voice wanting to answer you, but found him self unable to.

You stood before him looking like a vision in your white dress, hair neatly pulled back. The sun was hitting your face, as you moved towards him, and he could swear heaven was real, because where else could someone like you come from?

You were the first light, to ever grace this world, and he was selfish to keep you away, to call you his. But he couldn't help but keep you close, hold on to your light.

"Jason?" you call again, now standing in front of him, a hand resting on his shoulder. You had this soft expression painted on your face, the same one you always had when you looked at him, the one that made him feel like he was worth something.

He smiles, bringing his hand over yours delicately, as if you'd break if he added any more force, "You are beautiful," he says and curses at himself for not being able to come up with something better. All these romance novels he read going to waste at the sight of you.

"I'm sorry, but an urgent mission came up," his heart breaks at how your smile falls, hating that he was the cause, "I'm really sorry sweetheart."

You chuckle at him, and he could get drunk on the sound, "Thank you love," you go and sit on his lap, throwing your arms around his neck, placing a soft kiss on his lips, palm caressing his cheek.

Cherries. You always wear the same cherry flavoured lipgloss.

After a moment you pull back, tilting your head as you looked at him, "I'd say you clean up well, but you're still in your T-Shirt?" you question, and he lets out a sigh.

You sigh deeply as you stand up, leaving him cold in your absence, "You better make it up to me!" you say pointedly, "This is the third time you had to cancel plans."

He knows. He knows all the times he messed up, even if you don't.

This, however, was not one of them.

He had this whole plan. He'd tell you the Bat called, you'd go out with your sister to have a nice dinner, and then she was gonna ask you to take a walk at the park, where he'd meet you both, under strings of fairy lights.

Jason was excited to get rid of the weight the little box added to his jacket, and sincerely hoped you'd get to bear it on your finger.

But for now he had to appease you.

"I know, I will," he follows your example, tailing you as you head towards the door, to grab your coat, "Give your sister my greetings" he says, holding it up, helping you slide into it.

"I will," you peck his cheek before opening the door, "Love you!"

"Love you, be careful," he calls out, watching your form descend down the hallway.

You turn around and smile at him, "I always am."

You never made it to the park.

There was an attack on the building you were dining on. By the time he got the news, you were lying open on a surgical table.

And by the time the surgery was over, you were gone, and he was left alone, the box in his pocket suddenly weighting a million tons.

He was too late...

He remembers everything about that that day.

He remembers he smell of the hospital, the face of the surgeon when she told him that she's sorry and that you aren't coming back. How the nurse called Bruce to come pick him up, after he spent 2 hours staring at the wall. Bruce's usually stoic face, looking down at him with pity.

He does however remember clearly how he got out of his bed and sneaked out of the manor, determined to avenge your death...

How he couldn't stop crying the whole night, the pain that seeped through his bones without any signs of stopping when he thought of what happened.

The following days however had formed into a mush, and he didn't know when one began and the other ended.

Dick told him that he didn't speak to anyone for days, locking himself in his room. He told him that he could hear him scream your name in the dead of the night.

He couldn't recall that. Or atleast he didn't want to.

He remembers stalking the Iceberg Lounge, waiting for Penguin to come out. He remembers his brother appearing out of thin air, reminding him that you wouldn't want him to go down this path.

He exhales as moves around the house, forcing the memories out of his mind, staring at the framed pictures you had. Some with your friends, some with your family, some with him.

He remembers crying on Dicks shoulder, not able to take it anymore.

He couldn't look at them, you couldn't bear the memories.

Still, his feet seemed to come to a halt where he knew a particular picture hang. He looks at it, trying to hold the tears in desperately.

It was a polaroid picture of him lying on your bed shirtless. He thought it was the ugliest photograph you've ever taken, but still picks it up.

"Why would you even want to take a picture of me?" he asked you not really understanding.

He was ugly. He knew that. All the scars on his body only proved it further. He can't understand why you would waste perfectly good film on him.

"Shush," you motion over him, legs straddling his waist, "Stay still!" you command but he still reaches up to grab the camera, just to be met by your hand pushing him down.

He knew that, practically, he could easily escape this predicament, but something about the position you were both in and your gaze left him unable too.

It was dangerous how much of an effect you had on him.

"Must there be a reason?" you ask, trying to get a good angle, "Can't I just take a picture of my very handsome, very hot boyfriend?" he sees you smirking behind the camera.

He remembers how fast the heat crept up his face, and how he immediately turned his head away from you trying to hide it. That was then you snapped it.

He hated that you had proof of him being flustered, but you always claimed it to be your favourite photograph of him.

He didn't understand still. But he trusted your words.

He quickly puts it back to its place, not wanting to disturb the house. Wanting it to be exactly as you left it. Even though coasters were scattered on the living room table, and the plates you had used to eat lunch, still on the drying rack. Even though the toothpaste didn't have its cup on, and the shampoo you always used was left open.

This way you were still alive. Still living in this house. Still in his life.

A single tear fell on Jason's cheek, and he made no motion to wipe it. You had made him promise, that as long as he was in here, he wouldn't have to hide behind a mask, he wouldn't have to be Red Hood, the tough vigilante, just Jason Todd, your boyfriend.

It feel like he'd been going back on his promise if he wiped it away. So he left the tear dry and headed towards your bedroom.

The moment he stepped in he could immediately smell the perfume you had chosen to wear that day. He didn't know how, but it still seemed to linger. Or maybe that was just his mind playing tricks on him.

Not daring to look around, already feeling his throat tighten up, he made a beeline for your bed, immediately letting himself fall down, engulfed by the familiar scent of your bedsheets.

He could hear you scold him for being on the bed with outside clothes on.

"That's disgusting!" you exclaim as he let a sigh of relief when his back hit the mattress, immediately closing his eyes "You'll get grease on the sheets!" you stood in front of him hands on your hips, glaring down at him

He cracks one eye open ,"Ill just change the sheets then" he mumbles, but you had different plans for him.

"Or maybe... go change," you say grabbing his wrist, with every intention to drag him in to the shower and out of your bed.

But he suddenly tugs his arm back, and with a yelp, you go tumbling down on top of him.

"But I'm so comfortable," he sighs, wrapping his arms around you like a blanket, pressing his face into your shoulder with a dramatic groan.

You struggled, trying to get out of his embrace, but he only held you tighter, "It's not funny!" you whined, "Let me go, you're literally covered in sweat and garage funk."

"No can't do, you're a hostage now."

You struggle, trying to wiggle free, but he only tightens his grip with a smirk.

"Resistance is futile," he murmurs.

"I hate you so much," you mumble giving up, knowing this is a war lost.

"I'll love you more," he says, a grin creeping up his face, at the feeling of you smiling against his shirt.

A small sob broke though his lips as a laugh at the memory.

But the one became many, and the sobs became wails as he laid on the bed, facing the ceiling. He couldn't breathe properly, hyperventilating, but still did nothing to stop it, to calm himself.

He just laid there. Crying, remembering all the promises he made to you under the same covers he was staining with his tears, all the dreams he had for you both.

How you would get married in a beautiful chapel, and he'd cry when you'd walk down the isle. How you'd move out to the country, away from Gotham. Away from villains and vigilantes, away from danger. How you'd have kids, and they'd have his eyes and your smile, how you'd make sure they knew they were loved. How you'd invite your families over once a month, and you'd have this huge meal, filled with laughter. How he'd help you clean after, but you would end up getting nothing done, preferring to dance to no music as your kids giggled in the background thinking you couldn't hear them.

How you'd grow old together.

How he'd go first because he couldn't imagine living without you.

But none of that would happen. He was alive, and he had to learn how to live without you. He had to learn how to move on.

You would have wanted that for him. You would have wanted him to be happy, to find someone else. To live his life.

But he couldn't, not when you were not by his side, not when he knew you lied six feet under, in a flower decorated grave.

Everything around him reminded him of you. Of your smile and your laugh, how you'd hold him when the nightmares appeared, how you promised to always be there.

You haunted him, and he didn't want you to stop. He didn't want to recover...

So he just cried until all his tears dried up, and he laid on your bed closing his eyes, pretending he cpuld feel your warmth next to him, until exhaustion took him into it's sweet embrace.

At least that way he'd be able to see you smile at him again. He could feel the weight of your head on his chest, and the caress of your fingers against his scars. Hear your voice telling him you loved him, even if for the last time...

[tloubf]

ive tried looking everywhere for an in-depth tutorial for making graphics, headers, dividers, etc. but i cant find any ones who explain it to me well. do you mind trying to write out a tutorial? if not, that's okay!

haii!! i’m not sure how to write out a tutorial, so instead i’m gonna share some timelapse’s of me making graphics. ignore the disgusting colours, i always forget to use grayscale on photos since i colour them in procreate not ibispaint 😭

you can apparently only add one video from your camera roll on tumblr; so i’ll add the links to my other speed paints

tumblr header 𐂯 rentry graphic 𐂯 rentry graphic 2 ┈ my process is very messy and i’m rather indecisive. i apologize if it’s hard to follow or if this doesn’t help at all.