#thededfa

[dragonagitator]

$224 for a vest that will replace carrying a purse isn't that ridiculous, right? People spend more than that on their everyday carry purses all the time, right? It's been sitting in my shopping cart for a couple days now and I still want it, so it's not an impulse buy. But it would be credit card debt that I won't be able to pay off until January.

The cheapest alternative from the same brand is $129, but that one only has 9 pockets vs. 42 pockets on the expensive one. There are other brands with vests in the ~$50 range, but so far I haven't found any with zippered inner pockets, which is a must-have for me because I don't trust my valuables to snaps or velcro.

Maybe I should just sew my own custom vest? Then I can make it out of natural fibers instead of buying something that will shed microplastics every time it's washed. A nice duck canvas, perhaps.

Unfortunately, I never learned how to use the sewing machine that I bought years ago. I chose it because it's capable of sewing leather and canvas, so I could definitely make a sturdy fitted vest with it, but my ADHD says "no" every time I try to watch the video tutorials. I need a human person to stand over me and tell me what to do but the nearby sewing classes are always full. :(

I suppose I could just hand sew a vest. It's not that big, and hand sewing might be easier for something with a lot of fiddly little pockets and zippers and whatnot anyway. I've hand sewn a dress before because my ADHD has more patience for spending hours hand sewing than 30 minutes watching a video tutorial.

@your-fav-russian-assassin help I am having vest angst pls advise you are my official vest fashion consultant now

@thededfa and you are my general sewing and crafts consultant pls advise kthxbai (btw how have you been, man?)

I found where all the missing pockets on other women's clothing went: this vest has them all.

@your-fav-russian-assassin what do you think?

[fiadhaisteach]

'Tis Impressed Reader Touting Works - 2022.01.08

Legacy of Protection series & Virtually Faded Universe series by AntlersandFangs (@thededfa) & Celtic_Lass (@thecelticlass) - MGiT(h) & MBiT(v) siblings (pairings listed in each story) - 857,686 words (combined) - all complete

      🔸 I almost don't know where to start with this one. Epic & self-indulgent, all at the same time, these stories are some I come back to again and again and again 🤩. I can't tell you how many times I've reread these as I sometimes read just my favorite parts... and usually end up reading until the end again, because the authors drag me in every time, but do sometimes (rarely) manage to just read a few bits.

      🔹 Another protagonist named Emma, though this time she's a Modern Character and was displaced with the 2nd protagonist, Damon, her best friend/brother/blood sister.

The rest of this post has spoilers that may change your initial read through of the stories. If that's not your cuppa, click directly to the main Virtually Faded Universe series and read them in order. You won't regret it. Otherwise... let's continue on.

(mostly) Stand Alone Prequels

 ⚜️Protection - Glorfindel/OFC(h) - 53,993 words - complete

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Additional Tags: Kidnapping, Cultural Differences, Misunderstandings, Language Barrier, bitter sweet, there be smut, we make no apologies, Extremely and Unapologetically Self-Indulgent, reverse, Middle earth Character in semi-modern earth... sorta, AU territory, Family Fluff, Glorfindel has a family! Summary: Everyone assumes that Glorfindel went to Mando's Halls when he fell defeating the Balrog. Assumptions are rarely correct. Do not expect any historical, canonical, cultural, lingual, or any other kind of accuracy. :)

 ⚜️The Black Devil - OMC(h-e)/OFC(h), Glorfindel/OFC(h) - 41,530 words - complete

Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Glorfindel (Tolkien), Glorfindel's Wife, multiple OCs Additional Tags: language barriers, Cultural Differences, middle earth character in earth, there be smut, Slow Burn, Arranged Marriage sort of, domestic abuse, but not from the pairings, Extremely and Unapologeticly Self-Indulgent, We started this and now we can’t stop, AU territory, Happy Ending, Family Fluff, Light dom/sub undertones Summary: The misadventures of Glorfindel's son

otherwise known as: Mom, don't be angry, but I sort of bought a wife and she's terrified of me

 ⚜️Virtual Friends - OFC(h) & OFC(h) - 2,080 words - complete

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: original child characters, Main Story characters' moms Additional Tags: uhhh, this will only make sense if you read Virtually Faded, It's just some useful background info for later in Virtually Torn Summary: A pair of distant, really, really distant cousins meet at a family reunion, and find something special

  Main Story

 ⚜️Virtually Faded - Solas/MGiT(h), Cassandra/MBiT(v) - 519,973 words - complete, but you do NOT want to stop here

Chapters: 101/101 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: self insert ocs - Character, original male qunari character, Original Female Character, All the Companions, multiple original characters Additional Tags: extremely and unapologetically self indulgent, Modern Girl in Thedas, Modern Characters in Thedas, Humorous, you're going off script a bit hun, misunderstandings are hilarious, Solas Being Solas, Snowball Fights, Cameos, sorta Slow Burn, Dragon hunting, in universe racism, worst world state, like worse than possible in the games, solas finds out, Minor Character Death, drug mention, Self Harm, Feels, You've been warned, Angst, It just keeps happening, Elvhen rituals, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS, just keep that in mind, Unreliable Narrator, Babies!, fluff soooo much fluff, Back to plot, Damnit Emma, gets a little dark, Sorry Not Sorry, Cousland’s a psychopath, Hey y’all Surana’s here too!, Knives are romantic... well here they’re romantic, Everything’s connected, AU territory Summary: Game night gone horribly wrong! Two friends find themselves in a game, one has the mark the other is along for the ride. Follow Damon and Emma as they dive into the world of dragon age. Emma loves dragon age and it's characters but being pulled physically into Inquisition with the worst worldstate imaginable? Plus getting the anchor? Thankfully her longest and best friend is right beside her... only thing... He's now a Qunari and hasn't played the games yet.

  [You Need These] Sequels

 ⚜️Virtually Torn - Thranduil/MGiME(h) - 68,977 words - complete

Chapters: 25/25 Fandom: TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms, Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Thranduil (Tolkien), Original Female Character(s), Oropher (Tolkien), Gil’galad (Tolkien), Glorfindel (Tolkien), OC’s, Elrond Peredhel Additional Tags: Modern Girl in Middle Earth, Care, Friendship, Emma is broken, Healing, Panic Attacks, Emotional Instability, Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Protective Thranduil, It will get better... eventually., Quadruple G, Galadriel is... annoyed?, Emma can block her, Scars are important, Young Legolas, Non-Graphic Rape/Non-Con Summary: Emma saved the world from being torn apart... but in doing so she is torn from her family and became a shell of her former self.... But fate is not done with her yet.

Once again she falls from the sky....

Continuation of Virtually Faded

 ⚜️Virtually Separated - Solas/MGiT(h), Cassandra/MBiT(v), background Dorian/Iron Bull, background Alistair/Josephine - 54,231 words - complete

Chapters: 23/23 Fandom: Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Fen'Harel | Solas, Original Male Character(s), All Companions, multiple OCs, Cassandra Pentaghast, Original Female Character(s), Glorfindel, Legolas, Gimli, Beth!!! Additional Tags: broken bonds, This will hurt, Modern Character in Thedas, MGiT, in universe racism, Gets a little gray, Kidnap- uh... fostering., we are aware Emma took the brains with her somehow, The kids are amazing!, Family reunion!!, now all we need is a few hobbits and we have a fellowship :D Summary: She's gone. She's gone, and there is nothing he can do besides care for their children and try to keep Solas alive till she makes it back.

because he believes she'll come back

She has to

Continuation of Virtually Faded

 ⚜️Virtually After - Thranduil|Solas/MGiT(h), Cassandra/MBiT(v), background Glorfindel/OFC(h), background Dorian/Iron Bull, background Gimli/Legolas - 70,892 words - complete

Chapters: 23/23 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Cassandra Pentaghast, Fen'Harel | Solas, The Iron Bull (Dragon Age), Thranduil (Tolkien), Glorfindel (Tolkien), Glorfindel's Wife, Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli (Son of Glóin), Original Characters, Elrond Peredhel, Felassan (Dragon Age) Additional Tags: Canon Divergence, Modern Girl in Thedas, Modern Character in Thedas, Healing, cuddle piles, Reunions, Kids, shape shifting, Valor revealed, Felassan revealed, Emma has been collecting LOTR elves..., major character deaths, happy ending! Summary: After they were torn and separated, they have finally found their ways back to each other.

continuation of the Virtually Faded universe, highly recommend you read Virtually Faded, Virtually Torn, and Virtually Separated first.

  Companion Stories

 ⚜️A Faded Companion - 31,537 words - complete - side stories, alt PoVs, & art

Chapters: 7/7 Fandom: Dragon Age (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Loghain Mac Tir Additional Tags: POV Minor Character, Modern Girl in Thedas, in game racism, Outsiders POV, Thedas elves, Companion POV, ART!!! Summary: a collection of companion pieces to Virtually Faded, all from different points of view or happenings that didn't make it into the main story

Companion to Virtually Faded (main story)

 ⚜️Virtually Unspoken - 14,473 words - Solas/MGiT(h), Cassandra/MBiT(v), Thranduil/MGiME(h) - complete - extended scenes for us smut lovers

Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Cassandra Pentaghast, Original Male Character(s), Fen'Harel | Solas, Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: Shameless Smut, Safewords, sub/dom, First Time, Biting, Possessive Solas, Jealous Solas, Inexperienced Thranduil... but he catches on ;), Bondage, Anal Sex, Everything is consensual Summary: The smutty side of the Virtually Faded Universe, some of those yummy scenes we didn't keep in the main fic :D (also an apology for the angst... )

        🔸 If you read through the individual story tags, you may have noticed that these are Dragon Age x Tolkien fusion, though it's not obvious for most of the main story. Imagine that Arda is pre-Elvhen Thedas, or DA Thedas is like the sixth age (or maybe seventh) of Arda & the continent of Thedas is Aman/Valinor (Middle-Earth is across the sea); and the Evanuris were (mostly) 1st Age elves who renamed themselves 🥸 🤯... and prophecies will be fulfilled.

      🔹 I'll never be able to watch the Hobbit quite the same again. Stupid Silly, foolish, feels 😭. 💖💖💖

(previous TIRTWs & TIRTW Key/Legend)

[granteddrop]

So I read @thededfa ‘s It’s a Small Universe and there’s space cats :3

Left is Huhui and right is Nashini :D

[sunrise-stitchery]

Taking a break from the hood to use some yarn that @thededfa gave me a while ago to make handwarmers!! My area has been having a hard time with the winter storm, and I typically dont like wearing gloves so Im making an alternative.

[bashful-vixen]

@thededfa I  I bequeath my interpretation of Fen’s face and hair to you! Hope you enjoy. Included the Elfroot Crown for some added story supported fairy aesthetic. Ficlink for the randos that may see this: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23430319/chapters/56157814

[thekingsphinx]

So I read @thededfa version of humans are space orcs and I really liked that so I drew a shitty version of Huhi the Anxious Space cat! Hope you like it!

[fool-of-ages]

@thededfa this you?

‘don’t you want your favourite character to be happy???’ no? i want my favourite character to be interesting. i want me to be happy. which sometimes involves my favourite character being in exquisite agony

[kabretoss]

5 mutuals you want to know better! Tagged by @obstinatecondolement and replying from my sideblag rather than my artblag.

1. favourite colours: Gimmie dat red. Forever red, with bonus points for red/purple combinations and red/orange/yellow combinations.

2. last song i listened to: Not counting the DnD background music during today’s session? This morning my wife put on Genghis Khan by Miike Snow because she had it stuck in her head, and yesterday I spent most of the afternoon listening to the album Rumours from Fleetwood Mac. I forgot Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow was from that album, which is wild.

3. last movie i watched: Kiki’s Delivery Service. I CRIED. It’s a movie so purely about the work and joy of the creative process, and it was so good.

4. last TV show i watched: Star Trek: Lower Decks because I am an egotist who enjoys seeing my own work on screen.

5. sweet, savoury, spicy: Excuse me?! Sour please!

6.  bubble water, tea, or coffee: Mmm, tea forever. Bubbly water only as a mixer.

Tagging @thededfa, @lynaiss, @maneatingbunnies, @timsutton you old bastard, and @cacopheny bc it’s been forever

[fiadhaisteach]

"Stained Glass"** Solas Romance Card

**Acrylic on canvas

Today's WIP Wednesday isn't a WIP anymore, because my eldest came in yesterday, while I was working on touchup, and asked, "Why are you still working on this? It looks like it's all done." I took his words to heart & finalized it this morning.

I've been tagged in the last couple of weeks by @thevikingwoman, @crackinglamb, @noire-pandora, & @roguelioness. *sends you all virtual hugs & air kisses*

Thanks to @all-that-you-can-draw's March 9th prompt

Draw something made out of (or inspired by) stained glass.

Things I’ve learned along the way:

painting over bits you're unhappy with is okay

pencil lines dragged into the paint make neat effects

dip pens work with thin/drippy paints & auto paint detailing tools can be used on canvas 😉

I really really like angled flat brushes

masking fluid is amazeballs

make sure your paints are really truly dry before masking, if layering, though

different gloss mediums are all kinds of different!

 

From start to finish:

(under a read more)

 

First tracing

 

Then erasing, repositioning, retracing, creating outer tree.

 

1st colors plus erasing & recreating the tree roots.

 

More colors.

 

I played with a dip pen...

... & diy acrylic ink on my color test canvas. Plus, of course, more colors.

 

I’d gotten stuck on the tree...

but @sandraugiga helped me out (plus playing on practice canvases)

 

Adding gloss layers & lining

(even with all my practice, it's still being figured out)

 

Then I decided to redo the roots

 

The very last things were touching up the lining & cleaning up the outer edges. There were, of course, other steps in the two month process 😁, but I didn't take photos of them all.

And now I am out of room for close up photos. 😝

I will tag forward to @serial-chillr, @mogwaei, @himluv, @thededfa, @beaubartley, @little-lightning-lavellan, @johaeryslavellan, @emerald-amidst-gold, @midorimaddie, @shift-shaping, @redinkofshame, @iarollane, @pedlimwen.

[angelic-anissa]

@thededfa I know I must have gotten my point across by now by how often I show up in your askbox but yes

Your fics are actively making my life better/srs

[youslybadger]

@thededfa

Here is the final version of the patch! I changed the wording slightly, because I dislike green olives.

It's going right on my patch jacket

[nonbinary-octopus]

Okay so earlier today I read this story by @thededfa​ and since then I kept thinking about adrenaline as an illegal drug, and how would one explain to aliens that actually your body naturally produces the stuff under stress.

Which of course lead to thinking up a story with a human deliberately doing something to raise her adrenaline levels and having the aliens test her blood for it before and after, to prove it and clear the name of her human coworker who got in trouble for “using illegal drugs.” And that lead me to looking up what activities you can do to get an adrenaline rush, because my first thoughts were “zipline” and “get chased by a big alien” and there are some problems with both of those ideas. (namely, setting up a zipline is not exactly a simple task, and if you ask a large, predatory alien to chase you, it might accidentally trigger their hunting instincts, which would be actually dangerous)

And along my research, I found out that adrenaline is also called epinephrine. As in EpiPens. And I just stared at my screen, blinking, like

for several seconds.

[kaceycat]

@thededfa You wrote in the tags that you like curly hair no matter what condition it’s in. Well, my friend, have I got a gift for you.

Unbrushed:

Brushed:

It’s heavy enough to pull the curls straight towards the roots, and insanely thick and untameable. Like a mix between Hermione and Merida.

Fun fact, I used to have pin-straight hair as a small child, and it wouldn’t hold a curl no matter how much heat was used. Then, it changed. I’m also the only person in my immediate family to have curly hair, though my aunt and grandmother on my father’s side both have/had it as well, so it’s those German genes in me.

Bonus post-brushing, this time with me facing the camera

it’s eating me alive, send help. I think there’s an entire family of squirrels living in here with me. It has its own registered zip code now. it takes like 6+ hours to air-dry after washing

[angelic-anissa]

@thededfa was immediately reminded of your one Kirkwall story (was it Kirkwall hits like a Brickwall?)

*tugs you around by our red string of fate like you’re a dog on a leash*

[sparkyarmadillo]

(My interpretation of) Micheal and Mikel sketches from @thededfa 's fic/story It's a Small Universe, based on that whole humns are weird trope. And frankly, it's a fun story with adventure, bonding (pfff, humans), family, and shenanigans. Cause you can't do a humans are weird thing without shenanigans.

I do love how Mikel's beak thing turned out. It was harder to draw then at an angle, but over all i love her sillhouette and general appearance. Didn't know what to do, if anything, for clothes, then figured there's feathers and clothes would make it too stuffy. The slightly futuristic clothes I also like. Lady Gaga had been mentioned in a way that made it seem like she wasn't quite a 'classic' yet, so not too far ahead, so a simple t shirt, some techy fabric legging/yoga pants thing and a jacket with a slight futurey look double collar going on seemed appropriate.

Then of course i had to put a small Green bean plant in there.

[stephanidftba]

@thededfa tagged me to spell out my url using song titles, then to tag as many people as there are letters in my URL.

Sound of Silence by Disturbed

T

Eli the Barrow Boy by The Decemberists

P

H

A

N

I

D

Fire Drills by Dessa

T

B

A

tagging @yokothetypo because they convinced me to post all my unfinished tag posts from drafts.