anotherdayforchaosfay

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

Mercenary

I mentioned that the recent DA comissions inspired to try drawing my own faves… DA2 is tricky, since it's the game I have the most nostalgia for, but I've decided to redraw my Fenris portrait from 2020 :D That one was for the very kind Irianlethenil who introduced me to the series!

Print here!

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

they should make nervous systems that are less nervous

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Viktor & Rolf Spring 2023 Couture

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Art Nouveau Butterfly Pendant Brooch OMC Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Gold

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[anotherdayforchaosfay]

solavellan, sharing a bed tent

"We've accomplished enough for today. Let's set up camp," the Seeker said brusquely as the sun set on of their first day of excursions, in the Hinterlands woodlands, with the green light of a healed Veil tear still veritably crackling over their skin. She tossed her pack on the ground and knelt, taking out pegs and tools with her strong hands. "Herald, help me with our tent."

Lavellan paused. She'd been in the middle of turning towards Solas—an unthinking, instinctive show of preference, one he refused to think too hard about—and so was stuck in this frozen position, unmoving as a startled halla. "Oh," she started, and failed to continue. Unable to find a tactful way to say no. Her expression, usually unreadable, now looked uncomfortable.

The silence stretched long enough to draw attention to itself. Varric raised his eyebrows with an author's—or gossip's—bloodhound instinct for intrigue. Even Cassandra eventually looked up, more confused than affronted. "Is there a problem?" she asked.

The problem is that you are a Chantry official and she is from a persecuted group, Solas thought, and you are completely blind to the imbalances of power you yourself perpetuate.

But he didn't say any of it aloud. There would be no point to it. He waited instead to see how Lavellan would extricate herself from this tangle, observing without interfering.

"I'm a light sleeper," Lavellan said, her voice taking on the laughing hue of an apologetic joke. Her mouth curled up; it didn't quite match her eyes. "Your heavy armor would keep me up at night." A subtle enough attempt, if inelegant under the circumstances. Solas approved.

Sadly, it seemed understanding subtlety was beyond the Seeker's capabilities. "I don't wear armor when I sleep," she said with a frown, painfully straight-faced.

More silence. Lavellan's smile stretched thin—Solas could see the strain on her cheeks, the way the corners of her eyes tightened. He could also see the moment she gave up, that split-second display of resignation. She really was going to agree, and spend all night tense and drawn, and pay the price for it tomorrow.

Solas drew breath to speak. "You can sleep in my tent if you'd prefer, lethallin."

Lavellan's relief was immediate. It rushed our of her in a sigh, her body completing its movement to turn fully towards him. "Thank you, Solas." Her eyes were wide and deeply green, looking up at him with more gratitude than he deserved. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Solas made a courtly gesture—offering her what? Crude canvas in an even cruder forest?—and schooled his face into an expression he hoped was reassuring. "After you."

"Wait!" Cassandra scrambled to her feet, looking so genuinely alarmed that Solas wondered if he'd somehow missed a step. "You can't do that!"

Lavellan stuttered in her motion again, her shoulders tensing. "Why not?"

"Because he's a man!"

The silence that descended this time had a distinct tinge of incredulity to it. Lavellan showed her most open emotion so far: honest confusion. "…So?"

Cassandra spluttered, her face reddening. "But—that's—surely you'd be more comfortable with—with another woman!"

"Elves don't care about shit like that," Varric cut in, his gaze and grin taking on a mean glint. "But I guess you've got your mind in the gutter, huh? For shame, Seeker," he added, shaking his head theatrically. "I'm suddenly afraid for my virtue."

"You shut up," Cassandra hissed menacingly—then turned towards Lavellan, stiff and blotchy-faced. "Is this truly what you prefer?” she asked, then at Lavellan’s answering nod deflated. “Very well. Then I won't get in your way."

An unexpectedly honorable response. Made in earnest too, if the Seeker's serious, guileless expression was any proof. Solas found himself reconsidering the woman, and Lavellan herself seemed both surprised and moved by the act. "Thank you," she said, and this time her smile warmly touched her eyes.

The rest of their preparations went on uneventfully enough. Solas and Lavellan worked in silent tandem together, their teamwork efficient as they ignored the bickering happening behind their backs. Before long the tent was set, the sun was setting, and goodnights were said.

"Thank you again for the save," Lavellan said with a sigh, her tension having disappeared the moment the canvas cloth flapped closed. She was kneeling, unwrapping her bedroll with unhurried, graceful movements. Her eyes twinkled when she smiled at him. "I hope this isn't too much trouble for you."

"It is nothing," Solas replied, willing it to be so. "A small thing to sacrifice for your comfort. Remember, I am here to help."

Small was also the inside of the tent; a fact he hadn't considered, back when he'd opened his mouth with such uncharacteristic impulsiveness. Even with space left courteously between their bedrolls, reality was undeniable: they were too close together, their shifting too loud, their bodies too aware of each other. Or maybe that was just Solas. He told himself he couldn't actually feel her body heat warming up the side of his arm, drawing up goosebumps. Not literally.

"Goodnight, Solas."

"Goodnight."

A steady breathing. Solas listened to its constant rhythm, slowed down his own to match it. His hands were clasped demurely over his belly. He didn't look over.

Only when nightfall had truly fallen, hours later and with the forest's sounds adding their counterpoint to the ambience, did he risk a glimpse. Lavellan slept curled in on herself, lying on her side with a hand slightly outstretched. Did she have a companion back at her clan? Someone who would grasp that hand and curl towards her, sharing her breath? Her sleeping face looked like she wouldn't reject such acts, her expression slack and defenseless.

Solas turned his gaze back to the tent's roughspun ceiling. He closed his eyes, and shut his mind.

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The henna has now peeled off. I have another hour before I can get my hand wet, then a layer of oil over it to keep it safe when I shower. The color will darken over the next several days, and the effect will stay for about two weeks.

Henna at the farmers market!

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Love in the battlefield 🔥

Ended up coloring it! And it looks a lot more dramatic with the rough outlines

sketch

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Henna at the farmers market!

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finally used a ref I loved but kept procrastinating using 🙏

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Just as one major project ends (bathtub and shower replacement), another begins. Tomorrow, four windows are being replaced. Three are separating from the house, and the fourth is replacing one in my husband's man cave so he can install a air conditioner on it. His room is an oven at this time of year.

After the windows are done, it's gonna be a few days of deep cleaning. Then...we paint. Except I need some help affording the paint. What's going on, you ask? The dining room, which has two of the windows, will be converted into my quilting room.

That table is for my frame and new machine, and will be moved once the windows are in. I'm painting the room green, and moving The Monster (a massive hutch) in there after making some adjustments to it. Namely, new hardware, removing a spoon display, and putting a layer of paint primer on it. The Monster will house all my mugs, teacups, tea, cookbooks, and all things related to using my new frame and machine.

What I need is some help buying the paint, hardware (nobs and hinges) for The Monster, painting supplies, and a few other things for the room. With your help, I can have this project done by the end of the month.

You can help me out twice over by freeing up limited space in my sewing room and standing wardrobe. How? By purchasing work from my shop. I have many listings and they are definitely taking up limited precious space. Here are pics of my most recent listings.

This is the summer of Get Stuff Done. With your help, it will be done faster. The sooner this is done, the sooner I can get back to sewing. After the room is painted, I'll be making a stack of quilt tops to turn into finished quilts. Ideally, a half dozen finished quilts in my shop by December 1st. Until then, work on the room and then on a dozen quilt tops. I just need help getting the supplies I need.

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Sadly I don't have an artist credit for this fantastic Welsh flag dragon quilt (it was on a sales stall), but it was too wonderful not to share!

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My second Homestead Star quilt. This was created for a lovely lady I know who suffered a house fire just before Thanksgiving. She adores dragonflies so I chose the Dragonfly Illusions fabric line and a black background. I love how the colors popped. I tried to use the quilting to extend the star into all that empty space. It was my second time using a quilting ruler and I must say, it’s harder than you think! I actually enjoyed the pebbling the most. The backing was donated by Stitch! Quilt shop in Reardan WA and the batting is 6mm bamboo.

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Friend group chats are fun. Today one of my friends, who keeps pet crayfish, found babies in a tank that was supposed to be a males only. No choice but to empty out the whole tank to fish out the babies of unknowable origins. But lo and behold, there was a culprit: one teeny tiny little female had somehow escaped containment, evidently specifically going out of her way to break into this all male tank to get railed by like 15 males twice her size. Possibly completely different breed, too. Monsterfucker supreme.

So for a good solid hour or so, the whole group chat was focused on. slutshaming this one specific little crustacean. With like 300 babies.

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@prime89

He's right tho