#the art of being yourself

[dandylion240]

Rose hummed to herself as she pulled items from her closet. She hadn’t planned on organizing her closet today but she needed to make room for the new items she purchased the day before. Then the minister’s sermon about the good samaritan prompted her to see if there was anything she could donate to the shelter. Of course the boy she met at the church came to mind and she had to admit her sudden interest in charity and church was partly due to her hopes of seeing him again.

“Knock knock,” someone said behind her.

“Oh hi Dad,” she turned, smiling at him.

“Did you buy that much,” Kade asked, teasing his daughter a little.

“You know me,” she said “I like to shop.”

“I hope your father’s credit card can handle it,” Kade said. “Did Brooks get anything?”

“A few things,” she shrugged.

“I suppose mostly baggy pants and t-shirts,” Kade said.

“You know Brooks, he likes what he likes,” she said.

Kade got a faraway look in his eyes “I remember when you were both little how you’d dress alike.” 

“Daddy, Brooks isn’t doing this to hurt you,” she said, coming over to him.

“I know,” he acknowledged softly. “Brooks never liked it when we put her, I mean him, in a dress.” Swiping a hand across his eyes “I just don’t understand where we went wrong.”

“Daddy you didn’t do anything wrong,” Rose said, giving him a hug. 

“Maybe I need therapy,” he said, hugging her back.

“It couldn’t hurt,” she quipped.

“I suppose not,” Kade said “I’d like to understand what she’s, I mean he’s going through.”

“Then I think you should,” she encouraged.

“So what are you going to do with all this stuff,” he asked.

“I’m going to donate it to the shelter,” she said. 

Rubbing his chin “good idea. I think I’ll see if there’s anything your father and I could donate too.”

“Great,” she said moving back to her closet “there’s plenty of old guys who need clothes too.”

“Thanks a lot,” he chuckled.

“You know what I mean,” she called after him as he left her room.

Rose entered the shelter, her nose wrinkled at the scent of unwashed bodies assaulting her senses. Perhaps she should have brought along basic hygiene products too. It wasn’t something she’d ever thought about before, she’d always had everything she ever needed. 

“Excuse me,” she said, approaching one of the servers as they replaced one of the tubs of food.

“You’re late,” the worker said, handing her the empty tub. 

“What am I supposed to do with this,” she demanded but the worker wasn’t listening as they started serving the people in line.

Looking around, Rose wondered where she was supposed to put it. There were tables where people were sitting and eating. But she decided against that, she couldn’t put it on the counter as there wasn’t space. She walked through the swinging doors into the kitchen. 

“Where do I…” her voice ground to a halt when Fox came into the kitchen from the back. 

“Don’t just stand there,” someone yelled at her. 

Jumping she bumped into a shelf sending a container of mustard to the floor.

“What’s the matter with you,” the same grumpy voice demanded. “Get a mop and clean that up.”

Rose clutched the dirty pan to her chest, her mouth flopping unable to form a coherent thought to save her life. 

“Give her a break,” Fox said, coming to a stop beside her “I don’t think she belongs back here.” 

“I um,” she looked at the floor “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Fox said, “it’s just mustard.”

Nodding Rose looked up, her heart kerplunking in her chest. “I wanted to donate some clothes to the shelter and I…” She held up the pan “someone gave me this and I don’t know..” She shrugged wishing she could just disappear. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s a bit chaotic during lunch,” Fox explained, taking the pan from her and leading the way to the sink where similar pans waited cleaning. He grabbed an apron “but if you wanted to help we could do with a dishwasher.”

She took the apron from his hands “I … um …” looking at the mountain of dishes she swallowed. “I guess I could load the dishwasher.”

Fox’s laughter filled the room and several of the workers turned to look at them. “You are the dishwasher.” Grinning he asked “you do know how to wash dishes?”

“Yeah sure,” she sounded doubtful as she began to tie the apron around her waist.

Shaking his head, Fox said “it’s ok. I was only teasing. You don’t have to do the dishes.”

“No,” Rose said firmly, “I want to help.”

Previous/Next

[hinamie]

together, we do the same thing again //

[egophiliac]

IF YOU GO NOW TO SILVER'S PROFILE IT SHOWS "SILVER VANROUGE" I AM!!! NOT OKAY!!! WAUGH

OH MY GOD 😭

like...it wasn't even just "oh we'll call you Silver Vanrouge now", they just straight-up made the adoption official, under the statute of Malleus Says So. he's legally recognized as Lilia's kid! I'm so happy for them!

this may take some getting used to though

[demaparbat-hp]

Crush, crush, crush!

[katsinspats]

Thematically appropriate comic for Make a Terrible Comic Day!!

I saw the original post this morning and it made me get out of bed to make something, so thank u Pseudonym Jones mission accomplished

[inkskinned]

i hate to say it because i'm neurodivergent and a chronic-pain-haver but like... sometimes stuff is going to be hard and that's okay.

it's okay if you don't understand something the first few times it's explained to you. it's okay if you have to google every word in a sentence. it's okay if you need to spend a few hours learning the context behind a complicated situation. it's okay if you need to read something, think about it, and then come back to re-read it.

i get it. giving up is easier, and we are all broken down and also broke as hell. nobody has the time, nobody has the fucking energy. that is how they win, though. that is why you feel this way. it is so much easier, and that is why you must resist the impetus to shut down. fight through the desire you've been taught to "tl;dr".

embrace when a book is confusing for you. accept not all media will be transparent and glittery and in the genre you love. question why you need everything to be lily-white and soft. i get it. i also sometimes choose the escapism, the fantasy-romance. there's no shame in that. but every day i still try to make myself think about something, to actually process and challenge myself. it is hard, often, because of my neurodivergence. but i fight that urge, because i think it's fucking important.

especially right now. the more they convince you not to think, the easier it will be to feed you misinformation. the more we accept a message without criticism, the more power they will have over that message. the more you choose convenience, the more they will make propaganda convenient to you.

[blabberoo]

doodle break of this thing

[monatoxin]

i'm not afraid of you now

[dandylion240]

“Are you sure you’re alright with postponing the wedding?” Jason asked as they sat together in the living room looking through bridal magazines.

“Positive,” Stella said, “we were rushing things before. I want my dream wedding and more time to plan means I’ll get exactly what I want.”

“True,” Jason hesitated, “but I thought you wanted a simple wedding. Ever since you were little you talked about a simple wedding in the garden.”

A slight frown creased her forehead. “That’s what I thought I wanted. Brad reminded me how much I wanted a fairy princess wedding.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked.

“Brad knows me so well I’m sure he’s right,” she said, tossing the magazine aside. 

“Or maybe he’s looking for an excuse to delay the wedding,” Jason said, choosing his words carefully.

“Not you too,” she cried. “Why doesn’t anyone believe I’m happy with Brad,” she demanded.

“Are you happy?” he asked.

“Of course,” she snapped. “Sorry it’s just,” sighing, she looked away not wanting to finish.”

“But you’re having a hard time dismissing what your brother said about Brad,” Jason said.

“Brad wouldn’t cheat on me,” she said before he even finished.

Jason raised an eyebrow “did you ask him?”

Her face puckered in thought “I did but he…”

“He what?”

“He started talking about postponing the wedding and I,” she let out a small sob “I agreed. I let him convince me I wanted something I don’t want. I don’t want a big wedding or dress. I want my garden wedding.” Shoving the bridal magazines onto the floor “and I don’t want a different dress.” Looking up “what do I do?”

“You need to be honest with Brad and tell him what you want,” he said.

“What if he breaks up with me?” she asked.

“Then you’ll know,” Jason said, wrapping an arm around his daughter offering what comfort he could. 

“I thought he loved me,” she murmured against her father’s shoulder. “This is what we had talked about since we were five years old. Why would he ask me to marry him if he didn’t love me?”

“I don’t know sweetheart,” he murmured, patting her back. “Maybe he didn’t want to disappoint you. There could be a hundred different reasons.”

Pulling away from him Stella stood up. “I have to talk to him.”

Jason watched her as she marched towards the door like she was on her way to face a firing squad. It was times like this he wished he could protect his children from getting hurt unfortunately there was no way to protect his daughter from having her heart broken.

Stella’s car came to a jerking halt in front of Brad’s house. The front door opened as she was getting out of the car. She wanted to deny the truth of what her eyes were seeing. Brad had his arms wrapped around a woman in a tight mini skirt. The woman was all legs and their bodies were attached in more places than just their lips. 

Stella let out a strangled cry as she stood frozen half in and half out of her car.

In stunned horror, Brad pulled away from the woman in his arms. “Stella, what are you doing here?” 

“Is that the little girl you were telling me about,” the woman asked, smirking at Stella. 

“I’m not a little girl,” Stella said, slamming her car door shut. 

Putting his hands out “let me explain.”

Crossing her arms in front of her Stella glared at him “it better be good.”

The woman sashayed to her car, humming softly “oh honey you won’t believe your ears when you hear it.” Stopping by her car she called out “Brad, it’s been fun but don’t call. We’re done.”

“But,” he protested but all he could do was watch as she backed out of the drive and drove away.

“Well I’m waiting,” Stella glared at him, foot tapping on the ground.

“What did you expect,” he grumbled “I’m a man and I have needs.”

“Oh,” her head doing a sort of circular nod, “so it’s ok for you to cheat because it’s a manly need.”

“It’s not cheating when there’s no emotional connection,” he said. “Not like you and me. We’re connected on a whole other plane.”

“Oh I’d say our planes are flying at two different altitudes,” she said.

“Come on Stel,” Brad whined “it was just sex. I love you baby.”

She stepped back when he attempted to touch her. “I suppose that makes it alright then.”

He smiled, “I knew you’d understand.”

“Yeah I understand,” she said “I understand that you’re a lying cheating toad.”

He stared at her like she was talking a different language. 

“I’m gonna do what any self respecting princess would do when they find out their frog prince is really a toad,” she said, turning away while walking to her car.

Chuckling a little “and what is that? Give him a kiss.”

Stopping, she turned to glare at him. In a violent jerk she pulled her engagement ring from her finger, scraping away a layer of skin along with it. She lofted the ring at his head “no, throw the toad back.”

“Oww,” he cried, clapping a hand to his forehead a moment after the ring bounced off it leaving a tiny knick spoiling his perfect complexion.

Jumping into her car, she slammed it into gear only realizing when Brad had to jump clear that she had put it into drive instead of reverse. With hands that felt like they’d become jello she threw the car into reverse, her last image of Brad was of him dusting off his jeans as he rolled to his feet.

Previous/Next

[anxiousapplepie]

After 4 painful Acts and at least a dozen traumatizing experiences that will haunt them forever, Traveler!Bonnie gives the friendship quests a try! And discovers new and terrifying interesting information about the Researcher.

[kettledemon]

One push, and all your problems will go away

[chalkrub]

it's yet another art fight - revenge for @babayanska

girls' night!!

[shadelorde]

I think a part of ART that is so underrated by the fandom sometimes is how much affection it shows for the people it loves. It's big and intimidating and mean sometimes and has no sense of proportionate retribution, but it's also very open about how much it loves its crew and Murderbot. It's not really just a hair-trigger angry ship, it's deeply protective of the people it houses in its hull.

And I wonder how much of that is informed by, or contributes to, the fact that it's a research transport that also goes directly into corporate territory and it and its crew protect and shuttle slaves and indentured servants and other disenfranchised people out.

And to do something like that, it's no wonder that it's so willing to take down anything that challenges it.

I mean. Imagine if your job was to protect your humans and you lived in a universe where everything is being slowly eaten by massively imperialistic mega-corporations who want you and everything you stand for wiped off the face of existence. You have to learn how to Fight the Hell Back.

[hvackisser]

What if in another life I was a princess and you were my humble but devoted servant who had secret tunnels and passageways throughout the castle you used to better meet my needs and also ocassionally to watch me sleep at night (just to make sure I'm safe and comfortable of course no other reason)

Haha jk....unless 😳😳😳😳

Yeah I definitely cooked with these I'm ngl! Based off one of my favorite fics 'I'll Be What You're Falling On' by @/prissyplastique here and on AO3 (fair warning it IS smutty and gets a little sad at the end) these were really fun to draw! I had planned a third piece that makes the story kind of a Cinderella thing where Hector dons a beautiful and intricate mask he makes to attend a ball intended for the princess to find a suitor and he sweeps her off her feet...I still might, but I got impatient lol 😂 and a little design note, I'm not great at drawing flowers but the flowers in the portrait and the vases in the first drawing are meant to be red gardenias which symbolize a passionate but secret love!

Taglist♡: @me-myself-and-my-fos @flowering-darkness @sunstar-of-the-north @changeling-selfship @cherry-bomb-ships @rosieaurora @tropgothships @little-miss-selfships @starlos-soulmate @limey-self-inserts @candyheartedchy @space-sweetheart @clancykisser @squips-ship @berryshipbasket @soulnottainted @saturdaymorningcartoonz @severants @tex-treasures @sparkyscissorhands @iwishihadfangs @fictodreamer @adoredbyalatus @heartribbons @wizard-ships

[swiftmitsu]

🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵

you are all welcomed here

girls, guys and fellow non-binary folks,

whether you’re here to browse through stunning art, create amazing content, share your unique headcanons and thoughts,

you’re allowed to be yourself here. 💛

[crayonurchin]

First art of the new year is all about re-structuring your internal monologue.

In my early 20s I was working full time in London with many social commitments and a variety of hustles and side projects.

In my later mid 20s I cater to many sensory and social drain needs I have and indulge in special interests while respecting my lower energy reserves and celebrating my different way of processing the world.

Did I get more autistic? Nah. I got less fake.

-

[Art description: Three panels showing figures on a black background. Long descriptions follow.

1. A drawing of OP as a person with hip-length hair and a dress standing sadly with her hands clapsed together in front of her. She is coloured a muted rainbow gradient. Behind her, two pairs of nondescript figures chat while smiling. White text says, ‘I’m getting more and more autistic the older I get.’ 2. OP’s colours are brighter, and her expression looks happier. Crayon-like scribbles have crossed out the text from the previous panel. 3. OP’s colours are vibrant, and she balances on one leg and throws her arms out as she dances. The text above has changed to say, ‘I’m becoming more and more myself the older I get.’ \End descriptions]