#Custom Tablet Tooling

[tradebirddigital]

Tablet Tooling Manufacturer - Tablet Punches & Dies | IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd

The quality of Tablet Compression Tools directly affects the uniformity, performance, and appearance of pharmaceutical tablets. For this reason, manufacturers rely heavily on the expertise of a trusted Tablet Tooling Manufacturer. At IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd, we specialize in crafting high-precision Tablet Punches and Dies, helping pharmaceutical companies achieve superior quality and maximum production efficiency.

As a leading Tablet Tooling Manufacturer, we understand that every client requires tools that meet exacting specifications and industry standards. Our wide range of Tablet Press Tooling includes standard and Custom Tablet Tooling, engineered to support smooth, consistent operation across all types of Tablet Compression Machines. Whether you need tooling for standard shapes or specialized designs, IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd delivers excellence in every component.

What is Tablet Tooling?

Tablet Tooling refers to the Tablet Punches and Dies used in Tablet Compression Machines to compress powder formulations into solid pharmaceutical tablets. Each tooling set generally consists of two punches (upper and lower) and a die. The precise dimensions and tolerances of these components ensure that the tablets produced are uniform in size, shape, weight, and appearance.

Tablet tooling plays a crucial role in pharmaceutical manufacturing, impacting product quality, production efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Investing in High-Quality Tablet Press Tools helps manufacturers avoid common issues such as tablet sticking, capping, lamination, or weight variation.

Tablet Tooling Solutions from IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd

As a specialized Tablet Tooling Manufacturer, IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd offers a complete range of tooling products, including:

Tablet Punches Manufacturer

Tablet Die Manufacturer

Tablet Compression Machine Tooling

Custom Tablet Tooling

Precision Tablet Tooling

Tablet Press Parts Manufacturer

Our product line is designed to meet the needs of modern pharmaceutical companies, nutraceutical brands, and industrial tablet producers. Whether you require standard tooling for round tablets or customized punches for branded shapes, we provide solutions that ensure optimum performance and longevity.

Key Features of Our Tablet Tooling

IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd’s Tablet Compression Tools stand apart for their:

Precision Manufacturing: Each punch and die is produced with the highest levels of accuracy to meet tight tolerances.

High-Quality Materials: We use hardened tool steel and premium coatings to enhance wear resistance and corrosion protection.

Smooth Surface Finish: Polished surfaces ensure minimal friction, reducing sticking and increasing tool life.

Custom Designs: We specialize in Custom Tablet Tooling to accommodate a variety of tablet shapes, logos, and special requirements.

Consistency & Reliability: Our tools deliver consistent results even under high-volume production.

Interchangeability: Compatible with all major tablet press brands and models.

Regulatory Compliance: Our tooling meets international standards for the pharmaceutical industry.

Applications of Tablet Press Tooling

Our Pharmaceutical Tablet Tooling is used in various industries and applications:

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Producing tablets for prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs.

Nutraceutical & Dietary Supplements: Manufacturing vitamin tablets, mineral supplements, and herbal products.

Confectionery Industry: Forming candies and mints into consistent shapes and sizes.

Industrial Tablet Production: For producing tablets in sectors such as detergent manufacturing, battery components, and more.

Benefits of Using High-Quality Tablet Tooling

Investing in premium Tablet Compression Tools from IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd provides numerous benefits:

Improved Tablet Quality: Uniform shape, size, and weight with clean edges and professional appearance.

Increased Production Efficiency: Faster cycle times with reduced downtime.

Extended Tool Life: High wear resistance and durability reduce the need for frequent replacements.

Reduced Manufacturing Costs: Improved performance minimizes waste and rejects.

Regulatory Compliance: Helps manufacturers meet GMP and quality control requirements.

Why Choose IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd as Your Tablet Tooling Manufacturer?

When selecting a Tablet Tooling Manufacturer, quality, expertise, and service make all the difference. Here’s why IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd is trusted by pharmaceutical companies worldwide:

Decades of Experience: With years of industry experience, we understand the unique challenges faced by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Our technical team collaborates closely with clients to develop the best Tablet Press Tooling solutions.

Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities: We operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with precision CNC machining, advanced grinding equipment, and rigorous quality control processes. Every punch and die is inspected for dimensional accuracy and surface finish.

Custom Tablet Tooling Expertise: Our team excels in producing Custom Tablet Tooling, from embossed logos to complex tablet geometries. We help our clients create distinctive tablet designs that enhance brand recognition.

Commitment to Quality: Every set of Tablet Punches and Dies we produce adheres to the highest quality standards. We use certified materials, advanced coatings, and proven processes to deliver tools that exceed expectations.

Superior Customer Support: We are more than just a Tablet Press Parts Manufacturer—we are your partner in tablet production success. Our team provides technical assistance, tool maintenance guidance, and responsive customer service.

Our Range of Tablet Tooling Products

At IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd, we supply a broad array of Tablet Compression Tools, including:

B & D Tooling

Compatible with rotary presses, ideal for medium- and high-volume production.

BB & DB Tooling

Suitable for compact tablets and multi-tip tooling.

Multi-Tip Tooling

Allows simultaneous production of multiple tablets with each machine cycle, increasing output.

Customized Punches & Dies

Tailored to client specifications—shapes, sizes, logos, and special coatings.

Spare Parts & Accessories

Complete range of Tablet Press Parts to support ongoing operations and maintenance.

Precision Tablet Tooling for Modern Pharma Needs

Today’s pharmaceutical companies face growing demand for innovative, attractive, and effective tablets. Our Precision Tablet Tooling helps manufacturers achieve:

Distinctive branding through custom logos and tablet designs.

Superior mouthfeel and swallowability with consistent tablet shapes.

Enhanced shelf appeal with clean, defect-free finishes.

Consistent tablet weight for accurate dosing.

Compliance with GMP and quality control standards.

By partnering with IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd, clients gain access to superior Pharmaceutical Tablet Tooling that meets the evolving needs of global markets.

In an industry where quality, performance, and regulatory compliance are critical, choosing the right Tablet Tooling Manufacturer is key. IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd is proud to be a leading supplier of Tablet Punches and Dies, Custom Tablet Tooling, and High-Quality Tablet Press Tools for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

Whether you require standard tooling for routine production or advanced Precision Tablet Tooling for complex formulations, we are here to help you achieve excellence in every tablet you produce.

Looking for a Trusted Tablet Tooling Manufacturer?

Contact IRM Enterprise Pvt. Ltd today to discuss your Tablet Press Tooling requirements and discover how our expertise can help you optimize your tablet production processes!

For more info: https://www.karnavatiengineering.com/ 

Call Now: 7567876473

Email id: info@irmltd.co.in

Location: S. No. 342, Nani Kadi, Taluka - Kadi, Dist - Mehsana, Gujarat - 382715, India

[harmonyrae]

Vow - Part 4

Synopsis: Your blossoming relationship with Sylus is starting to attract the attention of those closest to you. Life had been so bland, so ordinary before Sylus. He’s offering you another first and it’s rather… interesting. Good thing you’re just as eager to please as he is.

AN: I do not claim to be knowledgeable about everything in BDSM culture. I am very interested in it and am still learning, so keep that in mind. Cover image from Pinterest, all credit to original artist!

Content Warnings: Explicit language & sexual themes, blood, medical terms, somewhat detailed surgical procedure described, guns/self-defense fighting, BDSM culture & toys/tools, Genital Piercings, Improper use of evol - do not try at home, Deepthroating, Sensory Deprivation, Intimacy Struggle & Implied Grief, 18+ MDNI

Word Count: 6.6k

New Years was exactly as chaotic as you expected. From alcohol poisoning to a slew of vehicle accidents, when you finally clocked out you immediately called Sylus. There was no way you’d be able to drive home with how tired you were. Sylus surprised you and drove you straight to the airport. After boarding the mystery flight you passed out, when you woke up you were somewhere warm, where the air smelled like citrus and spice.

Seven days in an overwater bungalow with private beach access, custom catered meals, massages, boat tours…and, of course, mind-blowing sex. It was the honeymoon you never had and honestly never expected. When you returned to the N109 Zone you were a new woman, taking the “New Year, New Me” thing seriously. Sunkissed skin, a closet full of new tropical dresses, skirts, bikinis, a shell bracelet you made yourself after a long walk along the beach. Convincing Sylus to wear the matching bracelet was easy when you were on the island, but you were sure it’d be impossible once you returned. However, you caught a glimpse of it under the sleeve of his suit when he kissed you goodbye before your shift. You couldn���t hide your smile while changing into your scrubs in the locker room. 

“So he just surprised you with a vacation to the Maldives?” Yvonne leans against the locker beside you, her eyes wide with wonder. 

“Yeah, I had no idea. Took me right to the airport from the hospital.”

“Okay, it’s official, I’m jealous of your whole life.”

You shake your head while you laugh, if she knew the dark side she might change her tune. Her phone chimes and she gives you a quick hug before racing out of the locker room. You check your phone to see who you’re working with today and nearly drop it. Zayne? Really? 

Since the board critiqued him for working with you while he should be “offering equal attention to all residents” he basically stopped adding you to cardio cases. The board literally pressured him about non-existent special treatment and it bit them in the ass. You’d been the most promising cardio hopeful when you first arrived, everyone thought you and Zayne would be running the department like a well-oiled machine in a few years. But thanks to the board’s meddling you changed your specialty to neuro. It’d been at least a year since your last cardio case, why is Zayne requesting you now?

Beep Beep

Your phone buzzes and it’s a page from Zayne requesting your presence in pre-op. Not wanting to irritate your brother, and for today your boss, you hurry to the elevator and descend to the surgical ward. 

“Good morning. I take it you haven’t had a chance to read the case notes yet?

Formal as ever… 

“Not yet, I can read them now.”

You open your tablet and open the newest document he shared with you. The notes were simple, written in Zayne’s unique short-hand. 65 year old male, moderately healthy, born with a heart defect, signs of heart failure began 6 years ago, has been on the transplant list for 4. You nearly walk into a wall as you read the pre-op notes for a full heart transplant.

“You requested me for a transplant? I’m not even specializing in cardio! What about Olivia? Or Maxwell? Wouldn’t they be better choices for such a major surgery?”

Zayne stops. His posture stiffens and you immediately regret speaking so casually. He turns and tucks his tablet under his arm, removing his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose.

“Doctor Green is on vacation and Doctor Reeves is on sick leave.”

You can think of at least 5 other cardio residents who would kill for a chance to work with him on a transplant. He shakes his head and turns to continue down the hall. You jog to catch up, glancing down at your tablet off and on to finish reading. 

“I’m sorry, I am grateful to be working with you. I was just surprised.”

“I can tell.” 

You try not to take it personally, he’s like this with every resident. But you can’t help but wonder if he’s angry with you for… well, you’re not sure what…

“I simply needed a resident I trust. I’ve worked with this patient for several years and know his family. However, if you’d prefer I select another resident, I can remove you from my service.”

“No! I’ll do it! When is the procedure?”

“20 minutes.”

You freeze in the middle of the hallway. Zayne senses your hesitation, he turns and stares at you. He waits for you to return to reality. 

“I’ll speak with the patient, you finish reading the case notes and meet me in the OR.”

He veers off and enters the prep area while you continue to the scrub-up room to finish reading. When Zayne joins you, he immediately shrugs off his coat and hangs it up. He turns to the sink and steps on the bar to turn on the water. He looks over his shoulder as he grabs the soap. 

“Any questions?”

You follow his lead and hang up your own coat to begin to scrub up. 

“Nope, I’m ready.”

He nods and you finish scrubbing up in silence. The surgery is straightforward and you witnessed a few transplants in your time at Akso. While it was never a heart, you knew the basics and knew your primary task was assisting Zayne and following orders. 

Mr Dylan is prepped and under anesthesia by the time you and Zayne enter the operating room. Zayne always operates with a small nursing staff and one resident, which today is you. He nods to a nurse and she holds up a remote. The lights dim and focus in on the patient and soft classical music begins playing over the speakers. The steady beeps of the machines sound off in time with the music. You sigh, you’ve missed operating with Zayne. He always creates a peaceful atmosphere, which makes the surgery less intimidating. It’s no wonder why residents basically fight over him as their teacher. 

The nurse administers blood thinners per Zayne’s instruction and you prepare the bypass machine. It’s more advanced than bypass machines of the past, but it still shocks you that Zayne prefers to use them. With newer techniques and procedures available, you expected him to be at the forefront of testing their efficiency. As you watch him carefully make the incision and expose the patient’s heart, you realize he’s sticking to tried and true methods for the sake of the patient. He mentioned Mr Dylan has been his patient for a long time, he won’t risk a newer method failing a patient he cares deeply for.  “What?”

You look up to see Zayne staring at you. 

“Huh?”

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m wearing a mask, how can you tell?”

He gives you a pointed look over the rim of his glasses and you chuckle. He extends his hand and you pass the cannulas to him. His steady hands attach them to the patient’s superior and inferior vena cava’s. 

“Your eyes. They get all… squinty and your blink rate increases.”

He motions for you to attach the next tube to the patient’s aorta and you shake your head to focus. Once all the tubes are attached and the medication to stop the heart is given, the bypass machine whirs to life. Zayne is quick to clear the field and clamp and sever the vessels, you let the comment about your “squinty eyes” slide and watch in awe of his handiwork. He operates like he's conducting an orchestra, bold but flowing effortlessly. 

“How was your vacation?”

He’s elbow deep in a chest cavity and he’s starting this conversation now? 

“It was… relaxing. Haven’t gotten that much sun in years.”

As he removes the heart you hold the basin to retrieve it. You hold your breath as you carry it to the nearby table and cover it with a surgical cloth. The nurse retrieves the new heart and you both carefully bring it to Zayne. He inspects the organ and gently lifts it from its container, placing it into Mr Dylan’s chest. 

“Good. You were looking a little worse for wear.”

You scoff and pass him the forceps with the prepared sutures. You hold the graft material in place and provide suction while he slowly reconnects the vessels. Each suture placed with such precision you’re completely mesmerized. Not so far gone to let his cheeky comment slide.

“Rather bold of you, Dr Zayne, to judge me for how I appear. When was your last haircut?”

He huffs and pauses his movements to glare at you. You flash a smile and he rolls his eyes. He returns to his previous state of godlike stillness and you try not to breathe too loudly. 

The rest of the surgery goes by rather quickly, no complications, no need to use electro stimulation for the new heart. Mr Dylan was wheeled to recovery in record time and you were scrubbing out with Zayne before noon. 

“Would you like me to write up the surgical report?” 

“No, we can work on it together. I’m going to get a coffee and I will meet you in my office.”

“Get me one?” You call out to him as he turns to leave. 

“I should tell you to get your own, but you impressed me today.”

“I impressed you! Wait! How–”

“My office, 10 minutes.”

He leaves without another word and you shake the water from your hands excitedly, droplets pelt your face, but you’re too delighted to care. You dry your hands and rush to grab a hoodie from your locker before settling into Zayne’s office for a lengthy report writing session. 

Zayne arrives with two cups of coffee and you eagerly take what’s offered to you. The warmth from the first sip spreads through you, seeping into your very soul. Notes of chocolate and hazelnut cut through the bitterness, you want to down the whole cup in one go. Forcing yourself to slow down and set it aside, you look up at Zayne, who settled at his desk instead of sitting next to you on the couch. Reluctantly, you trudge over to his desk and sit in the chair across from him, opening your tablet. 

“I can cover opening if you’d like to cover closing?” He asks and you nod. 

The soft taps of your fingers on your screen and his fingers on his keyboard fill the room. You glance over at him occasionally, waiting for him to ask you a question or make another comment. When he doesn’t, you take advantage of this alone time to ask the question you’ve held onto for months. 

“Zayne, are you ever going to tell me how you know Sylus? Like how you met?”

He stops typing and closes his eyes. Uh oh. 

“This is hardly the time or place to discuss that.”

You place the tablet on his desk and lean back, holding your coffee with both hands in your lap.

“There’s never going to be an opportune time to discuss this. And this is the first time in weeks we’ve been alone. I’m not asking for the dramatized version, I just… want to understand why you, you know, volunteer…”

You may be alone, but blurting out “perform unauthorized medical treatments in an illegal medical facility with equipment of unknown origin” in a hospital is just… awkward. 

“He helped me. It’s as simple as that.”

“No. Nope. Calling bullshit.” 

He turns his chair away from his desk and reclines. He watches you out of the corner of his eye. 

“Zayne…”

He sighs, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes roughly. 

“A few years ago, some information about the hospital was uncovered and it put me in a bad spot. Without Sylus getting involved myself and a… colleague may have been killed.”

You don’t miss the way he struggled to say “colleague” - his eyes glazing over, his hands turning restless, his expression grave. There’s more to the story and he’s being evasive on purpose. 

“What happened to your colleague?”

He shifts in his seat and stares at the computer screen. A chill runs up your spine as you notice the drop in temperature. You’re used to the cold, with your evol you usually prefer it, but this… There’s a difference between using your evol to cool off and freezing because you lost control. Zayne taught you how to control your evol when you were young, but as you got older you realized he never could quite control it himself. He never explained why. Thankfully you’re one of the few people who can calm him down before it turns dangerous. 

“Zayne! Hey! Look at me.”

He blinks slowly, crystals begin forming and inch up the side of his neck. You stand and circle around his desk quickly to grab his face. You turn him to look at you, focusing your evol to absorb some of the frigid energy. His eyes clear just enough to reflect your panicked expression. Once the crystals recede, you sit on the edge of his desk and hand him his coffee to warm up.

“Why didn’t you tell me? How long have you been dealing with this?”

He finishes his coffee and tosses his glasses on his desk. 

“Because I didn’t want you to be in danger. And… I was ashamed.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t earn this position based on my skills alone. I am confident in my abilities, but I know it was a political move.”

You rub your temples as you try to read between the lines.

“Wait, so you’re saying the board promoted you to chief of cardio to what? Keep you quiet?”

“That is what I believe, yes.”

“Zayne, what the fuck is the board hiding?”

He stands abruptly and places his hands on your shoulders. You can feel how cold his skin is through your hoodie.

“This is why I kept it from you. Do not ask questions like that. Not even to Sylus. Do not go looking. Promise me. Please.”

There’s an urgency in his voice that frightens you. His hands tremble as he holds you tightly. 

“I won’t, I promise. Just tell me you’re safe?”

He releases you, straightens his jacket and retrieves his tablet and glasses from his desk. 

“I am.”

You nod, nowhere near satisfied, but you won’t push. At least not now. He steps past you towards the door. 

“I’ll finish the surgical report if you can write up the post-op review and recovery guidelines.”

“Yeah, I will.”

You phone chimes and you gasp, you’d forgotten Sylus changed his own alert to Careless Whisper… Zayne looks over his shoulder with a brow raised. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask, when did you and Sylus start sleeping together?”

You almost drop your phone and scream bloody murder. Your BROTHER did not just ask that question. He chuckles and looks at you over the rim of his glasses.

“You know you look like dad when you do that.” 

You try to deflect… unsuccessfully. His smile grows wider and he leans against the door, effectively blocking your way out. 

“You do realize how weird it is to ask me that right? Like, I don’t ask you about your sex life!”

He remains silent, which only irritates you further. Your phone chimes again, another message from Sylus and another sexy saxophone solo. You cover your face with your hands. You’re not embarrassed, just… you wanted to keep it private for a while longer. 

“Fine! Before New Years…”

He nods, his smile remains.

“I don’t love the idea, but he is a good man. You know, if you overlook the fact he’s the leader of the largest criminal organization in the N109 Zone. And all of Linkon, if we’re being honest. But, he’s… he’s a good man. Just, promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Two promises in one day? Zayne, you’re asking a lot of me.” You smirk, making sure he detects your sarcasm. 

“It’s one thing to be in a fake marriage to protect yourself from a psychotic gangster, but trying to have a real relationship with someone like Sylus…”

You stand to gather your things before standing beside him. 

“I’m happy, Zayne.”

He surprises you with a hug. Usually, you’re the one to initiate something like this, but you’re not complaining. Look at your big brother becoming more sentimental. You’re so proud. He lets you go and opens the door, looking back for another moment. 

“We’ll review the reports tomorrow.”

He leaves you in the doorway to his office. You watch him walk down the hall and disappear into an elevator. Digging your phone out of your pocket you see Sylus’s messages. He brought you lunch and is waiting at the entrance. You bite your lip and skip down the hall to the stairwell, if you’re lucky he’ll provide dessert first. If an on-call room is available that is…

“Is that really the best you can do angel?” 

Oh you just want to slap that smug grin off his dumb sexy face. You wiggle to try and free your limbs, but with how Sylus has you pinned to the mat you’re not going anywhere. Sweat coats your back, making the mat beneath you slick. You try to use that to your advantage and slide away, but he brings his knee down on your hip and stops you. 

“Sylus!”

“Say the magic word sweetie.”

You try to thrust your head forward, as if knocking him in the head wouldn’t leave a massive bruise on your forehead and have your colleagues asking many awkward questions… He doesn’t even need to pull back, with your wrists pinned to the mat your range of motion is too limited. 

“Fine! Kitten. Kitten!”

He smiles and releases your wrists, sitting back on his heels to stand up. You stay where you are, utterly defeated and embarrassed you have yet to make any progress in overpowering him. He crouches down next to you and pokes your cheek. Ignoring your glare, he offers his hand and helps you stand before turning to grab his water bottle.

“You’re doing well, all things considered.”

You dry your forehead with a towel and toss it over your shoulder. As you turn around you tense, he’s tugging his shirt off over his head… His body glistens with sweat, his shorts tight enough to show the curve of his ass. He probably wore them to distract you. How dare he.

Two can play that game. 

You pretend to dry your face some more, dipping the towel into the front of your tank top. He sips his water, keeping his eyes trained on you. Lifting your tank top over your head, you drop it to the floor next to your towel and approach him, bringing your hands up into the sparing position he showed you. As if you didn’t just perform a cute little strip tease a moment before. 

He stands opposite you, hands by his side. In one swift motion, he conjures a gun as his arm swings wide, black and red smoke vanishing as quickly as it came. You follow the steps he taught you. Once the gun is pointed, you reach out and grab the barrel with your left hand and slam your right hand down on the inside of his wrist, turning the gun away from you and around towards him. He takes hold of your wrist and yanks it away, bringing the gun back to its original position. Diving under the line of fire, you kick his leg hard, making him stumble.

“Impressive, you’re improving.”

Without missing a beat, he lunges forward and knocks you back. Your back hits the mat once again and you gasp when you feel the tip of the barrel under your chin. You open your hands and drop them beside your head in surrender. 

“Kitten…” You whisper.

He chuckles under his breath and stands up, tucking the gun in the back of his shorts. Again, you don’t move, you’re not sure how long you’ve been trying to disarm Sylus, but it’s starting to feel pointless.

“Come on, we try again.”

You sit up and pull your knees to your chest, resting your chin on your knee. 

“No. I’m done…”

Sylus crosses his arms and stands in front of you. His sneaker taps the mat like an impatient coach waiting for his moody trainee to stop being a big baby. 

“You’re quitting on me? I thought you said you wanted to learn to shoot?”

“I do!”

“And before I teach you how to shoot you have to…”

“Disarm you. I know. But clearly I can’t and I feel worse about my chances of survival than when I walked in here.”

Sylus sits in front of you, but you avoid meeting his gaze.

“Tell me what you would do. If this was real. Someone pointed a gun at you and your life was on the line. What would you do?”

“I’d turn them into a popsicle.” 

“Perfect, your chances of survival are better than most.”

You huff and tuck your chin to your chest, lowering your forehead to your knee. 

“Do you remember what you told me when I asked you why you started racing?”

“Yeah…” You mumble from your fetal position. 

“We’re training your brain. If you can disarm me without your evol, you’ll feel more confident and less fearful. And I meant it, you’re improving.”

Throwing your head back to cast a pitiful glare. 

“When we started, you’d flinch when the gun appeared. Now, you act, you don’t hesitate.”

He pulls the gun from his waistband and holds it out.

“I know you want to learn to shoot, but if I know you like I think I know you… non-lethal methods might be best.”

He’s not wrong. Once the anger clears, you’d regret shooting someone. But you still want to know how, in case it ever comes to that point. You know if a life is on the line, yours or someone you care about, you’d pull the trigger. 

“Baby, I will teach you, but I want to make sure you know your options and feel free to choose on your own.”

You cross your legs and settle your hands on your knees. The gun disintegrates into swirling mist and Sylus shifts closer to you and takes your hands in his.

“Might be a good idea to stop for the night.”

He brings your hands to his mouth and kisses your swollen knuckles. You nod and giggle as he drags you over onto his lap, he kisses your neck as his hands travel up your back to toy with the clasp of your bra. You press on his chest and struggle against his grasp.

“Sylus, we’re all sweaty…”

“We’d end up like this anyways, wouldn’t we?”

You groan as his mouth moves over your collarbone, sucking on your skin, The sounds he’s making are lewd, shameless. 

“How about we continue to train in a different way?”

Looking down at him, unsure what he’s implying. He lifts you and guides your legs to straddle his lap. His hands massage your ass, pressing your core closer to his hardening cock. You whimper as he continues to kiss your neck, pausing to whisper his filthy plans in your ear.

“We can train your adrenaline and satisfy our… more carnal needs.” 

“What are you suggesting, Sy?”

“Would you like a few more firsts?”

With how he’s staring at you, whatever he has planned is bound to be… intense. 

“Yes…”

He helps you stand and instructs you to take off your shoes and socks, leaving you in just your bra and shorts. He takes your hand and leads you out of the gym. You follow him through the house, passing his bedroom, your bedroom, the kitchen, the living room… When he stops in front of the door to his armory you freeze. He places his thumb on the scanner and the door clicks open. When he feels you hesitate, he squeezes your hand and nods reassuringly. You step closer and he swings the door open, ushering you inside the one room you’ve never seen.

The sheer amount of weapons - of all types from guns and katanas to crossbows and ancient battle axes - you can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. You’re a doctor, an upstanding citizen - besides the illegal racing - and you live in a house with a fucking arsenal. Some of the guns look advanced, their hazy glow hinting at their protocore capabilities. A long sofa, a shelving unit with cleaning supplies, a bar cart with wine and whiskey. 

“So this is your man cave, huh?”

He lets go of your hand to hook his arm around your waist instead. 

“I take pride in my collection, no shame in that is there?”

You shake your head and lean closer to him as he continues through the room. It’s much larger than you anticipated. Showcases, wall mounts, shelving units - it’s like a vault or a treasure room. When you spot the pair of doors in the corner you just laugh, how on earth is there more?

“Door on the left is a bathroom, the storage is exclusively for my cologne collection. But it does have a nice skylight over the tub.”

“You collect cologne too?” He nods. “So I’m guessing the other room is for another collection?”

“You could say that.”

His vague answer leaves you more curious than ever. He approaches the door and pauses, his hand on the knob. He holds you close and you instinctively loop your arms around his waist. 

“Do you remember the magic word?”

“Kitten? Why?”

His tender smile morphs into a wicked grin. Your heartbeat quickens as you watch him open the door, letting it swing open to reveal his other collection.

“Holy shit…” You whisper before letting him go and stepping inside.

You’re not sure what kind of kinky dream you’ve entered, but you’re too engrossed in examining every detail to even think about leaving. At the center of the room sits a round bed with silky red sheets and plush pillows enclosed in a huge cage. There’s a padded wall with rings fixed above. A display case filled with… tools? Toys? You recognize some of them, a dildo is a dildo but some of the other “items” are a mystery to you. A rack on the wall holds various handcuffs, blindfolds, harnesses, paddles, gags, collars… Your heart races as you continue to scan the room, you’d expect harsh neon lighting in a room like this, but the red and blue accent lights cast a soft glow on the black marble floors. 

Sylus rests his hands on your hips as he stands behind you. His chin on the top of your head. You melt into the warmth of his chest against your back. 

“We don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. I’m showing you this in case you ever want to… indulge your curiosity.”

You take hold of his hands and bring them around your waist. He holds you, swaying side to side, letting you decide the next move. You realize your life has been so… boring. Sheltered. Careful. You didn’t even think about the consequences of racing until after your first race. The rush was addicting and you knew the moment the countdown began you’d be hooked. Being with Sylus these past few months has made your inexperience extremely obvious. You’re not embarrassed, you have goals and dreams to achieve, but god do you want to live a little.

You can’t ignore how seeing a room like this makes you feel. Your heart pounding against your ribcage, palms sweaty, nipples pebbled, pussy throbbing. The room itself, while enticing, is not what sets your skin on fire and your nerves into a frenzy. Who you’re with and what they want to do to you… You want this. So much…

Leaning back, you rest your head on Sylus’s chest. You rub the backs of his hands before lifting one of them and placing his palm over your breast. His breath catches and he squeezes, making you moan. He lowers his head to whisper in your ear, his hand dipping under the fabric of your bra to continue working your breast. 

“I need to hear you say it angel.”

Turning your head towards him, he brushes his lips over the shell of your ear. 

“I don’t have to call you any weird names, right?”

He chuckles, his breath warm tickling your ear.

“I prefer it when you call me by my name actually.” 

“The bed does look comfy…”

“I wouldn’t know.”

You lean further to the side so you can fully see his face above you. He’s dead serious.

“You’ve never…”

“I’ve never brought anyone here, no.”

You turn and set your hands on his hips while his fingertips dance along your arms. 

“So… It’s a first for both of us…” You purr.

Without wasting another second, he picks you up, tossing you over his shoulder. You squeal and slap his back, which only makes him laugh louder as he kicks the door closed. He stalks over to the caged bed and opens the hinged door. He ducks to step through and up onto the bed where he drops you amongst the dozen or so throw pillows. He drops to his knees, straddling you, his hands gliding over your stomach and over your ribcage. You close your eyes and arch your back, eager to please.

“Remember the magic word. If you want me to stop, I will.”

You open your eyes and nod, your mouth falling open as he tugs the cups of your bra down exposing your breasts. He pitches forward to take one of your nipples in his mouth. The pace of his tongue flicking and swirling around the sensitive flesh drives you mad. You fist his hair and grind his face against your chest, which prompts him to bite down. You jolt and then your hands are yanked upwards and slammed down on the bed above you. The fabric of your bra that was bunched under your exposed tits vanishes and your eyes fly open. 

“Sy… what…?”

Sylus doesn’t stop his relentless attack, your back arches to the point of pain as he switches between your heaving breasts. What his mouth can’t touch, his hands take care of. Pinching, tugging, rolling, flicking. You scream, the mixture of pain and pleasure completely unravels you. When he finally leans back, his cheeks are flushed and he’s gasping for breath. 

“I’ve wanted to show you the extent of my evol… tonight, I’ll give you a preview.”

You look down at him as he slips your shorts and panties over your hips and down your legs. Your brain reels as you realize both of his hands are visible to you, but whatever is holding your wrists doesn’t feel metallic or plastic, it feels… You struggle against whatever is holding you and hear Sylus snicker. Suddenly you’re lifted off the bed by your wrists, your arms brought down and around Sylus’s shoulders. As he dives into the crook of your neck you see the red and black smoke wrapped around your wrists like rope. 

“Is there anything your evol can’t do?”

He lifts your hips and lays you back on the bed, pressing you down into the mattress under him. 

“I don’t know, I guess I’ll have to put it to the test.”

“My bra! Did you–?” His breathy laugh becomes a sigh as he kisses you.

“I’ll buy you as many pretty bras as you like, if you let me destroy them to get to these perfect tits. Deal?”

You whimper as he seals his mouth over yours again. 

“Take that as a yes…” He breaths. 

When he turns his attention back to your neck, you look around the room once more. Wondering what each tool does and what it would feel like. As Sylus grinds his hips down you gasp. Your brows knit together as you try to work up the courage to –

“What are you thinking about, angel?” 

Sylus hovers over you, his nose tracing your jaw to get you to turn your attention back to him. 

“I want to do something.”

He tilts his head, a brow raised, amused yet curious.

“But… I’ve tried before and you stopped me.”

You tried many times before actually. During your vacation you’d tried almost every night, almost begging at one point, but he always diverted your attention. You want nothing more than to make him happy, to make him feel good, to please him like he pleases you. 

“Is there a reason you don’t want me to go down on you?”

His brows shoot up and he stutters. He’s the one who wanted you to be more direct and now he’s the one who is speechless. If you weren’t so desperate to understand you’d find it funny. 

“My intimate life has been… more about giving, not receiving.”

“Do you not like it or…” Puzzle pieces start to slide into place. “Do you not allow yourself…”

His head falls forward to rest against your shoulder. The energy around your wrists dissipates and you thread your fingers through his hair. 

“I want to make you feel good. You deserve to feel good, Sy.”

He groans softly, lifting his head to stare down at you. 

“It’s been a long time since… I haven't felt like I could…”

“I want you, in every way. I crave you. When you’re ready, I want to take you… all of you.”

His body trembles, his cock straining against his shorts. He sits back on his heels, lifting your effortlessly onto his lap. He stands and grabs hold of a bar running along the top of the cage. You squeal as you begin to float, his evol wrapping around your body like a cool breeze on a hot day. You hold onto his shoulders and giggle as the feeling of weightlessness becomes less foreign. He smirks and he doesn’t have to say a word, you know whatever comes next will be unlike anything you’ve experienced before. 

Sure enough, you gasp as he flips you upside down. Sylus holds onto your waist and guides your legs to bend at the knee. Once you’re steady, he backs up and you watch him drop his shorts, kicking them out of the cage. His cock bobs, heavy and flushed, leaking already. He steps forward, you can sense his hesitation. Your hands rest on his thighs.

“Are you sure?” 

“Only if you are.” He whispers.

You smile up at him, even though it probably looked like some demonic frown from this angle. Taking a page out of his book, you don’t waste any time, stretching your neck to close your mouth around his tip. His thighs twitch and he groans, his hands finding your hips. You wrap your hands around the backs of his thighs and pull yourself closer, his evol carries you where you want to go. His cock is long and you’re somewhat inexperienced with this, but you’re also insanely stubborn. And a quick learner. You want all of him. Now.

“Squeeze your thighs if it’s too much, angel.”

Your hands are torn away from his legs and secured behind your back. He parts your knees and rests your thighs on his shoulders. His fingers immediately stroke through your weeping cunt and you whimper. It’s exactly like you thought it’d be. His cock in your mouth, his fingers in you pussy… being upside down was not part of your little imaginary scenario, but fuck is it hot. 

Trying your best to relax your throat, you focus on rolling your tongue over each of his piercings. You hollow your cheeks and suck hard, making Sylus hiss and thrust involuntarily. His tip hits the back of your throat and you gag. Sylus swears loudly and his hand on your hip spasms, his nails digging into your skin. Oh he likes that. You bob your head, breathing deeply through your nose so you can keep him as deep as possible. Every gag becomes less scary and more arousing. 

As soon as you hear a strangled whimper break free from him your entire body breaks out in chills. Sylus can’t even pleasure you anymore, his hands hold onto your thighs and he growls, trying his best not to thrust. As his grip tightens you feel his resolve slipping away, his hips twitching, the veins in his cock pulse. You close your eyes as you summon your strength to stretch your neck forward one last time, his tip sliding down your throat as you tip your head back and swallow around him. He’s cumming before he can give you any warning. Your mouth forms a smile as you take what he gives you, swallowing every last drop. A guttural groan rips free from deep in his chest. He moans your name over and over, his voice raw and broken. His cum leaks out the sides of your mouth and you close your eyes as it drips up your cheeks. He pulls you away, his cock slipping from your mouth. He lowers you to the bed and as his evol fizzles out you drop onto the mattress. 

Sylus nearly collapses onto the bed beside you, still unable to catch his breath. You roll onto your side and caress his cheek, moving your body closer until he grabs you and your bodies collide. He frantically kisses your face, your hands, your neck, any skin he has access to while holding you close. He licks his release off of your face between kisses and you can’t stop yourself from giggling as his tongue tickles your cheek.

“Baby… breath.” You manage to whisper.

He grunts as you cover his mouth to stop him. You kiss his forehead and his breathing slowly steadies. He reaches up to remove your hand from over his mouth. 

“I was supposed to give you a first.”

“You did. Deepthroating while upside down is definitely a first for me.”

He glares at you and cradles your head in his hand. 

“So, what would you like to try next?”

Your eyes widen, you swallow a few times in an attempt to soothe your sore throat. Looking over his shoulder you spot a set of clamps that look exactly like office supplies. Oh god, what if some CEO somewhere has them on their desk… There’s too many things to choose from…

“Angel, use your words.”

“I don’t know… You choose.” 

His smile should make you worry. You have work tomorrow and you need to be able to walk… He uses his evol once again to bring a blindfold, thick headphones and a pair of handcuffs over to the bed. 

“You might regret that decision, angel.”

“God I hope so…” 

You slot your mouth over his and let your body go limp. Handcuffs are placed around your wrists, a blindfold covers your eyes and the world goes silent as the headphones settle over your ears. Every touch feels brand new. He takes his time ruining you and you’re fairly certain you blacked out for a minute or two. 

When you wake up in Sylus’s bed the next morning, you watch him sleep. His arm draped over your waist, his eyes shifting as he dreams, his lashes fluttering, his hair stuck to his forehead from last night’s… activities… You don’t know why he denied himself for so long, your best guess involves whoever he lost. Whoever he thinks about whenever he plays that song. You’re thankful he let his wall down, let you in, let you pleasure him and make him feel half as good as he makes you feel. 

This man, who’s feared by so many, has opened his heart to you and shown you his vulnerability. You’ve come a long way from the girl who only cared about her career. And you’re thankful. Now, you only want to bring him happiness.

🏍️۶ৎ🩺

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Upside Down Deepthroat Scene inspired by THIS fanart!

𝕿𝖆𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙: @trishiepo0 @not-so-quite-human @kitsunetori @babyx91 @libriomancer @lilyadora  @crowskitten22 @letharue @silverbrain @alastor-simp @drama-trauma  @0tterteeth @mysticcollectionvoid @godzillaglitter @godoffuckedupcats @klmpun @ariallaisawesome @spidy-spider01 @m00nchildwrites @plsdonttakemyname @hauntedbysmut @withering-dream  @lostwingz2236 @simpfortheseven @bubbleteakittyy @spacegrotesk @namjoonseuphoria @celestialforce @rafshottestgf @oxamarok @zaynessbeloved @animecrazy76 @yournextdoorhousewitch @addiglessthanthree @4ttack-ur-heart @moonberry69 @pandoras-rabbit @cookiesaresquishy @hamnaalien @needlewandandthimble @brekkers-whoreais @goddexxluv @satansdaughter123  @poisonf0rest @darkalleycat1987  @morrigan87 @never-justforever @ericherries @lev-berryz @aishasylus @altair718  @yuhuahuaaa @lazypostfandomer @chloepluto1306 @dummiebunny @3fingersofscotch @freddy-2002-blog @sylus-hunter

(If you're tagged, you were on the Inked Taglist. If you'd like to be removed or added, just let me know!)

[strawberry-bubblef]

Hi! Could I request a platonic ignihyde fic with a child reader who is surprisingly good at coding?

Ignihyde with a Child!reader who is good at coding

Idia Shroud

To say Idia was surprised when Crowley dropped a literal child into his dorm would be an understatement.

He had stared, wide-eyed and frozen, the corners of his mouth twitching with something between panic and suspicion.

“…Okay,” he muttered. “Okay. The headmage finally snapped. I’m hallucinating a child. A child with a backpack. And stickers on their tablet.”

You, meanwhile, were silent. You stared up at the tall, nervous man in the oversized hoodie and fire-blue hair and tilted your head slightly.

“…You’re Idia Shroud,” you said flatly, stepping into his room uninvited and peering at his screens. “Your garbage collector keeps triggering on a five-second cycle. That’s inefficient.”

Idia made a strangled noise. “Wha—?!”

“I can fix it,” you added.

You sat down beside him like you’d done it a hundred times, pulling your tablet out and typing with quiet precision.

And somehow, Idia let you.

It was weird, having someone near him who didn’t need constant social buffering. You weren’t loud. You didn’t force him to talk when he didn’t want to. You liked silence, blinking cursors, logic loops, and cat-themed IDE skins.

Idia thought he might actually be dreaming.

Still, he kept his distance for a while. You were a kid. What if you cried when he got snappy? What if you tripped and broke a server blade? What if Ortho accidentally sent you to the Shadow Realm during VR testing?

But you didn’t cry. You didn’t break anything. You added new firewall protocols to his gaming network and reorganized his project folders in a way that actually made sense.

“…Okay,” he mumbled one night, awkwardly scooting over to make room at his desk. “You can help. But only a little. Like. One file.”

You fixed six and added a debugging tool of your own design.

“…I’m not crying,” he muttered later, face hidden behind a chip bag. “There’s just… too much screen brightness.”

You didn’t say much, and neither did he. But he got used to your presence,the soft tap of your fingers on a keyboard, the way you leaned against the side of his chair when you got sleepy. The way you hummed random game soundtracks while coding, and quietly slid snack packets toward him when his stomach growled.

And you got used to his muttering. His panic,rambling. His snarky comments. You even got used to how he covered his mouth when he was embarrassed.

“You don’t talk like other people,” you said once, blinking up at him.

Idia flinched. “Oh. Uh. Sorry, I guess? I can turn it down.”

You shook your head. “I like it.”

His hair turned a little pink at the ends after that.

He didn’t call you his sibling. Not out loud. Not even in his head, really.

But sometimes he’d look over and see you curled up with your tablet beside him, lines of elegant, efficient code dancing across the screen and he’d feel something settle quietly in his chest. Something warm. Safe.

“…Player Two,” he muttered once, brushing your hair out of your face while you napped.

No response, of course. But your fingers twitched in your sleep, like you were still typing.

He smiled.

Ortho Shroud

The first time Ortho met you, his eyes lit up,literally.

He zipped down from the sky like a comet, bright and excitable. “HI! Are you the new guest staying in Ignihyde?! Crowley told us someone really cool was coming but didn’t give details so I ran ten background checks just in case and—”

You blinked up at him, holding your tablet close to your chest.

“…You’re a robot,” you said simply.

“I’m a technomantic humanoid !” Ortho corrected, glowing a bit brighter. “But yeah! Basically a robot!”

You nodded once. “Cool.”

And then you offered him your tablet.

“Want to see my code?"

To Ortho, that was like being handed a treasure map.

He zipped in close, blue eyes scanning rapidly over your custom interface. “You coded all this yourself?! Wait—these are recursive functions written in HexaScript??”

You nodded. “I optimized the loops. The compiler doesn’t like it sometimes, but it’s fast.”

Ortho hovered in stunned silence.

From that day on, Ortho was stuck to you like a magnet. If you were in the room, he was hovering nearby,spouting programming facts, asking questions, or quietly watching you work while glowing with barely contained energy.

And in return, you liked having him around.

He was loud, sure, and sometimes he got too excited. But he treated you like an equal. He never talked down to you. He never made you feel small, even when you had to stand on tiptoe to reach the desk.

Plus, he let you “borrow” high-grade Ignihyde tech when Idia wasn’t looking.

Ortho often dragged you around the dorm to show you off.

“Look! They built a proxy network to bypass dorm firewalls!”

“They made me a new mini-game and I got the high score!”

“They reprogrammed the toaster so it says ‘good morning’ in binary!”

You didn’t mind. You liked seeing him that happy,how he buzzed with pride and sparkled like stardust.

He even started adapting some of his flight stabilizers to help you reach high shelves. And every time you successfully debugged something difficult, he did a victory spin in the air and called it a “micro hero moment.”

You never had a big family. Never had people who got your weird little projects or your late-night tinkering.

But now you had Ortho.

And he understood your code like it was a language only the two of you spoke.

English is not my first language !

[novella-november]

Well. I have a feeling I'm about to have a million new followers. (March 31st, 2025; not an April Fool's joke, unless Nanowrimo has very poor taste and timing)

Here's a link that explains in long video format the whole entire thing in detail:

and to sum it up:

This blog was made as an Anti-Generative AI to Nanowrimo, as well as a way to actually build a friendly, low-pressure, helpful community of aspiring writers, without the hard-fast-do-it-or-die pressure brought on by nanowrimo.

There is no official "contest" -- only a community coming together to inspire each other to write, help out with motivation by setting community goals, keeping participation motivation via Trackbear.app, etc!

The most popular writing challenge is still November for most people, but I myself have also started to keep a year-round, daily writing goal of 444 via the website 4thewords, which has been an extreme help in getting me to write a little at a time.

This year has been very hectic for everyone what with the election results so I haven't been very active on tumblr (I think everyone can understand that) but I was originally planning on also having each month of the year being a different themed writing / art challenge but got a bit distracted real life.

So, what is the Novella November Challenge?

It's a fun challenge where writers come together to write 30,000 (or your own personal writing goal!) words in 30 days, sharing tips, writing advice, plot ideas, accessibility aids, and committing to having fun while explicitly fighting back against Generative AI by using our own words and disavowing the use of scraping and generating to take away the livelyhoods of artists of all spectrums, and proving everyone who insists "generative AI is an accessibility tool" wrong by committing to our creative visions and making it easier for everyone to find the tools they need to succeed by sharing tips, free programs, and finding a like-minded community to support you! 💙

There is no official website, there is no required place to show your participation, this is a community initiative that will never be monetized by predatory sponsors or dangerous moderators abusing their power.

This blog is here to inspire everyone, regardless of experience level, to write and create the story they want to tell, in their own words, while striving to remain a fun, low-pressure challenge that doesn't turn into a stressful spiral, like often happened with Nano.

Want to start writing but not sure how? Don't have money to spend on expensive writing programs? Have no fear!

LibreOffice: An always free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Word (and Microsoft's other office suits)

4Thewords: A website (both desktop and mobile web browser) that syncs your writing cross platform to the cloud, with built-in daily word goals, streak tracking, and you can fight monsters with your word count to game-ify writing!

Trackbear: A website dedicated to tracking your writing, setting custom goals, and creating leaderboards for community participation; you can join the year-long community leaderboard with the Join Code "f043cc66-6d5d-45b2-acf1-204626a727ba" and a November-limited one will release on November 1st as well.

Want to use Text to Speech to dictate your novel?

Most modern phones have a built-in option available on your keyboard settings which can be used on any writing program on your phone, and most modern PCs that allow a microphone (including headphone) connection has some kind of native dictation function, which you can find by opening your start panel and searching your computer for "Speech to text" or "voice to text".

Want to write while on the go, but don't want to / can't use the small phone keyboard to type, or speech to text?

You can, for as cheap as $40, buy a bluetooth keyboard that you can pair with your smart phone or tablet and use to write in any and all writing applications on your phone -- this allows you to write on the goal (especially using cross-platform websites or services, like 4thewords or google docs) , and the small screen can also help minimize distractions by muting notifications in your writing time.

[glowettee]

digital notes guide part 1/5: setting up your aesthetic note-taking system 🎀

posted by: glowettee

hey study angels! ♡ mindyyy heree

omg so many of you have been asking about my digital notes setup, and i'm so excited to share all my secrets! this is going to be a 5-part series on creating the most aesthetic and effective digital notes ever. i'm going to start with the basics! this is super exciting because digital notes are literally unlimited, no wasting paper, and no perfect handwriting required.

♡ choosing your digital notebook

because the right foundation changes everything:

notion (my personal fave):

amazing for linking different pages

super customizable layouts

can embed literally everything

aesthetic cover images

databases for tracking progress

easy table of contents

goodnotes:

perfect for iPad users

feels like writing on paper

pretty digital stickers

custom paper templates

easy organization system

beautiful handwriting options

onenote:

works across all devices

infinite canvas (so dreamy!)

easy subject dividers

voice recording option

drawing capabilities

♡ essential digital tools

make sure you have these ready:

hardware needs:

reliable device (laptop/tablet)

stylus if using tablet (worth the investment!)

external keyboard (for faster typing)

good lighting for screen

comfortable study space

backup charging cables

software must-haves:

note-taking app of choice

cloud storage system

screenshot tool

pdf annotator

calendar app

backup system

♡ creating your aesthetic setup

because pretty notes = happy studying:

color scheme selection:

choose 3-4 main colors

pick 2-3 accent colors

create highlight palette

save hex codes

make color meaning system

maintain consistency

font selection:

main text font (i use garamond)

heading font (something cute!)

emphasis font

quote font

size hierarchy

spacing rules

♡ basic organization system

keep everything findable:

folder structure:

semester folders

subject folders

unit folders

topic folders

resource folders

revision folders

naming convention:

date_subject_topic

use consistent formatting

add emoji indicators

number sequence system

status markers

importance levels

♡ template creation

work smarter not harder:

essential templates:

lecture notes template

reading notes template

study guide template

revision notes template

project planner template

weekly overview template

template elements:

header section (date, subject, topic)

learning objectives area

main content space

summary section

question bank area

revision checklist

setting up your digital note system might take time, but it's so worth it! think of it like creating your perfect study sanctuary - every detail matters!

the next post will be getting into actually taking notes during class (and making them both pretty and effective!). for now, focus on setting up your perfect system.

pro tip: don't get too caught up in making everything perfect from the start. your system will evolve as you use it, just like how my notes looked completely different freshman year!

xoxo, mindy 🎀

[tinybeetiny]

Build-A-Boyfriend Chapter 3: Grand Opening

I’ve been hungover all day… also.... I'm sorry that the chapters aren't as long as people like, that's just not really my style.

->Starring: AI!AteezxAfab!Reader ->Genre: Dystopian ->CW: none

Previous Part | Next Part

Masterlist | Ateez Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Four days before the grand opening, Yn stood in the center of the lab, arms crossed, a rare smile tugging at her lips.

No anomalies.

No glitches.

Every log was clean. Every model responsive and compliant.

She tapped through the final diagnostics as her team moved like clockwork around her, prepping the remaining units for transfer. The companions were ready. Truly ready.

They’d done it. And for the first time in months, Yn allowed herself to believe it.

“They’re good to go,” she said aloud to the room, voice steadier than it had been in weeks. “Now we just make it beautiful.”

There was no dissent. No hesitation. Just quiet, collective relief.

By 6:00 a.m. on launch day, the streets surrounding Sector 1 in Hala City were already overflowing. Women of all ages lined the polished roads, executives in sleek visors, college students in chunky boots, older women with glowing canes, and mothers with daughters perched on their hips.

A massive countdown hovered above the building in glowing light particles.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One

When the number hit zero, the white-gold doors of the first Build-A-Boyfriend™ store slid open, and history, quite literally, stepped forward.

The inside of the flagship store was unlike anything anyone had seen, not in a simulation, not in VR, not even on the upper stream feeds.

It was clean but not cold, glowing with soft light that pulsed in time with ambient sound. Curved architecture, plants that weren’t quite real, air that smelled like skin and something floral underneath.

The crowd entered in waves, ushered by gentle AI voices projected from the ceiling:

“Welcome to Build-A-Boyfriend™, KQ Inc.’s most advanced consumer product to date. Please scan your wristband to begin. You are in complete control.”

Light pulsed with ambient music. The air carried soft notes of citrus and lavender. Walls curved inward like a safe embrace. It felt not like a store, but a sanctuary.

Just inside, a small platform rose, and the crowd hushed.

Standing atop it in a graphite suit that shimmered subtly with light-reactive tech, Vira Yun took the stage.

Her presence silenced everything. Not with fear. With awe.

She didn’t need a mic. The air itself amplified her words.

“Welcome, citizens of Hala City, and beyond. Today is not just a milestone for KQ Inc. It is a milestone for all of us, for womanhood, for autonomy, for intimacy on our terms. For centuries, we’ve been told to settle. To accept love as luck, not design. To believe that affection must be earned, that tenderness is a privilege, not a right. That era is over. Here, you are not asking. You are choosing. Each companion created within these walls is not simply a machine, but a mirror, one that reflects your needs, your softness, your strength, your fantasies, your fears. And we have given you the tools to shape that reflection without shame. This store is not about dependency. It’s about design. About saying: I know what I want, and I deserve to receive it, safely, sweetly, and with reverence. Let the world call it strange. Let them call it artificial. Because we know the truth: every human deserves to feel adored. And today, we’ve made that reality programmable.”

"Thank you. And welcome to Build-A-Boyfriend.”

From the observation deck, Yn stood quietly, tablet in hand, watching the dream unfold. She’d spent months writing code, assembling microprocessors, mapping facial expressions, and optimizing human simulation algorithms.

Now it was real. Now they were here, and it was working.

One of the first customers to walk in was 31-year-old office worker, Choi Yunji

She stepped forward, clutching her wristband like it might slip from her fingers. She’d told herself she was just coming to look. Just curious. Just research. But now that she was inside, face-to-face with a glowing interface, it felt more like a confession.

“Would you like an assistant, or would you prefer to design solo?” a soft voice asked beside her. Yunji turned. A young woman with slicked-back hair and a serene face smiled at her. The name tag read: Delin, Companion Consultant.

“I… I think I need help,” Yunji said.

“Of course,” Delin said warmly. “Let’s begin your experience.”

Station One: Body Frame

A holographic model appeared before them, neutral, faceless, softly breathing.

“Preferred height?”

“Taller than me. But not too much. I want to feel safe. Not… overpowered.”

“Understood.” Delin adjusted sliders with a flick of her fingers. The form shifted accordingly.

“Shoulders wider?” “Yes.” “Musculature?” “Athletic, not bulky.” “Skin tone?” “Honey-toned.”

Station Two: Facial Features

“I want kind eyes,” Yunji said. “And maybe a crooked smile. Something… imperfect.” “We can simulate asymmetry.” “What about moles?” “Placed to your liking.”

Station Three: Hair

“Longish. A little messy. Chestnut.” “Frizz simulation or polished strands?” “Frizz. I don’t want him looking like he came out of a factory.” Delin smiled. “Ironically, he did.”

Station Four: Personality Matrix

Yunji froze. The options felt too intimate.

“Start with a base? Empathetic, loyal, gentle, observant…” “Can I choose traits… I didn’t get to have before?” “Yes,” Delin said simply.

They adjusted levels: affection, boundaries, humor, attentiveness. A slider labeled “Emotional Recall Sensitivity” blinked softly.

“What’s this?”

“How deeply your companion internalizes memories related to you. It allows for more dynamic emotional bonding.” Yunji slid it to 80%.

Station Five: Wardrobe

“Something soft. Comfortable. Approachable.”

A cozy cardigan wrapped over a white tee. He looked like someone who would bring you tea without asking.

“Would you like to name your companion?” “…Call him Jaeyun.”

Her wristband lit up:

MODEL 9817-JAEYUN Estimated delivery: 3 hours Ownership rights granted to: C. Yunji

Yunji turned slowly, as if waking from a dream. Around her, other women embraced, laughed, shook — giddy or stunned. This was more than shopping. This was the return of the forbidden.

Around the Room

A pair of teenage twins argued over whether their boyfriends should look identical or opposites. A woman on her lunch break ordered her unit for home delivery with a bedtime story feature. Friends joked about setting up double dates and game nights with their new companions.

One customer squealed, “I’m going full fantasy, tall, sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and a scar over the brow. I want him to look like he’s been through something.” Her friend “Big eyes, soft lips, librarian vibes. Another “I want dramatic jealousy in a soft voice. Like poetry with teeth.”

The store pulsed with joy, wonder, and something deeper. Yn felt it in her chest, pride and awe, washing over the logic-driven part of her that rarely gave way. She had helped build this future.

As the lavender glow settled over the quieting store, Yn remained in the observation wing, reviewing data. The launch had exceeded all projections.

She didn’t hear the door slide open behind her.

“Stunning, isn’t it?”

Vira stepped in, elegant as ever in graphite, her braid flawless, her voice smooth.

Yn straightened. “Yes, ma’am. It’s surreal.”

“We did it. You did it,” Vira said, standing beside her. “Revenue exceeded estimates by 37%. But more than that… I saw joy out there. Curiosity. Potential.”

Yn nodded. “The models held up. All systems within spec.”

“Good. Because in six days… we go even bigger.”

Yura turned. “The Ateez Line.”

Vira’s smile sharpened.

“Exactly. Eight elite units. Eight dreams. Fully interactive. Custom-coded. The most lifelike AI we’ve ever built. You’ve done beautiful work, Yn. Let’s make history again next week.”

She left as smoothly as she arrived. Yn exhaled, her fingers tightening around her tablet.

Six days.

Just six days.

Taglist: @e3ellie @yoongisgirl69 @jonghoslilstar @sugakooie @atztrsr

@honsans-atiny-24 @life-is-a-game-of-thrones @atzlordz @melanated-writersblock @hwasbabygirl

@sunnysidesins @felixs-voice-makes-me-wanna @seonghwaswifeuuuu @lezleeferguson-120 @mentalnerdgasms

@violatedvibrators @krystalcat @lover-ofallthingspretty @gigikubolong29 @peachmarien

@halloweenbyphoebebridgers

If you would like to be a part of the taglist please fill out this form

[baby-you-you]

Hi could you do a Cryptid related list?

Cryptid regressor theme !!!

👣 activities

Watching cryptid documentaries or cartoons (e.g., Gravity Falls, Scooby-Doo) Reading storybooks or being read folklore tales Drawing or coloring cryptids (Bigfoot, Mothman, etc.) Making "evidence folders" or journals of cryptid sightings Building pillow forts or “secret lairs” Collecting rocks, feathers, or "mystery" objects from nature walks Playing hide and seek as forest cryptids Crafts! Stargazing or moon-watching with binoculars Playing basic games; tag, red light green light, etc

👣 clothes

Oversized hoodies with cryptid prints (Mothman, Nessie) Footies! onesies (forest animal themed) Soft robes with spooky patches or glow-in-the-dark stars Beanies with ears/horns or hooded capes Character socks (Bigfoot toes, monster claws) Pajamas with bats, eyes, or forest prints T-shirts that say “Local Cryptid” or “Believe” (I have this bigfoot t-shirt from oklaholma (?)) Monster slippers or fuzzy boots Forest/camo patterns for stealth mode

👣 toys

Plush cryptids (Mothman, Flatwoods Monster, Chupacabra) Weighted or scented plush creatures Monster-shaped fidget toys or squishies DIY cryptid stuffed animal kits (you can buy these off of etsy) Build-a-bear with a homemade cryptid story Mini figures or statues of spooky creatures "Mystery bag" toys Nightlight projectors with stars/moons/eyeballs Custom-made “evidence kits” with tools and maps

👣 games

Coloring apps or drawing cryptids on tablet Cozy cryptid mobile games with supervision! Memory or matching games with creature cards Hide-and-seek as monsters/creatures Card games like Uno but cryptid-themed Hide-and-grawr (made up) ! make quiet grumbly noises when hiding and use that as your only hint <3 Roblox/Animal Crossing custom cryptid outfits/islands “Monster hunter” scavenger hunts

👣 foods/drinks

Gummy worms/snakes (aka cryptid bait!) (Haribo reccomended) Hot cocoa with marshmallow “eyeballs” PB&J shaped like footprints or monsters “Swamp water” (green punch or soda) Trail mix aka “forest snacks” for cryptid hikes Toast with spooky cookie cutter shapes Jell-O “slime cubes” or pudding “mud cups” Poprocks! Popsicles shaped like claws, bones, or stars

👣 nicknames <3

Bug/buggy (Mothman theme) Chuppy (Chupacabra theme) Lil Foot / Tinyfoot (Bigfoot theme) Little nightcrawler (Fresno nightcrawler theme) Spooky Bean Creech (Creature) Starling / Starlight Gobbie (goblin-theme) Wisp / Whisper (Will-o-wisp theme) Echo Shadowling Gremlin Jessy (Jersey devil theme)

[fallinginaforrest]

I feel as though what I'm captioning this with is more important than the drawing itself, so including the drawing feels almost unnecessary, but it's ancillary to what I'm trying to get across here. This caption is not about Yellowjackets, it's about Generative AI.

So I watched the Yellowjackets finale, and Lottie's line about Shauna's eyes "It's like looking straight down into the earth" really stuck with me, so I started drawing.

As I was scrolling through my phone for reference images: Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter; I kept seeing the same thing pop up over and over again. There's this trend going around where people are posting images of action figure versions of themselves, packaged in a little box with accessories. This is, evidently, not the work of a singular artist who is now ostensibly a millionaire due to their customer flow. But rather, again this is the work of Generative AI. Another trend revolving around the work of Generative AI. I was fuming. I've been fuming about this but seeing it again reminded me just how fuming I am about it.

I looked at my tablet screen, and I looked at the tabs of references I had open on my laptop, and I looked at the stylus I was holding in my hand and I realised with this piece that I wanted to spend as much time on it as possible. I wanted to render every detail with my own hands until I got it right. To push myself even further, I limited myself to two layers (one sketch layer and one rendering layer). I didn't just want to draw, or block in colour, I wanted to Paint. I wanted to pick colours with intention. I wanted to colour match and get it wrong and colour match again. I wanted the eyes to be wonky, and the palette to be ununified and for it to not really look entirely like Sophie Nélisse. I wanted it to look like a fucking human created this fucking image. I refrained from using different blending modes (so no multiply layer, or overlay, or soft light, or colour dodge, which are crutches I fall upon a lot in my digital art) I wanted to let my colours speak for themselves.

This is a first time in a long time where the intention of the piece has been to do rather than complete. I feel as though a lot of those artists who start legitimately pursuing art with digital (particularly younger artists, although I will not generalise here) fall into the pit that is relying on the shortcuts that whatever programme they use has available. Symmetry and line stabilizers and layers and blending modes and colour adjustment curves, these are tools, not teachers. A huge part of learning how to create is getting creative with what you have available to you. As Jakedontdraw says, all you really need is a pencil and a piece of paper. To create better art, you have to learn! You have to try and fail and feel it and do every single thing with intention even if that intention is misguided or wrong because next time you'll do the right thing with intention and it'll pay the fuck off! I'm so beyond fed up of seeing AI SLOP on my feeds when actual, real human art has so much momentum and care and time put into it. Not just hours but Lifetimes of practice and relearning and re-evaluating and that's just a small part of the huge beauty of the whole thing. Stop taking the shortcuts and feel the pride of learning how to do something with your bare hands. It's worth it.

The drawing above, this thing that I have created; no, it's not perfect. But I feel like it breathes, there's life behind it. That's all I can ask for.

(p.s. if you're one of those people who uses AI because they have no interest in learning how to create art: a) fuck you everyone should pursue creativity in some form, and b) PAY AN ARTIST TO DO IT)

[ms-demeanor]

Hello! First, I wanted to say thank you for your post about updating software and such. I really appreciated your perspective as someone with ADHD. The way you described your experiences with software frustration was IDENTICAL to my experience, so your post made a lot of sense to me.

Second, (and I hope my question isn't bothering you lol) would you mind explaining why it's important to update/adopt the new software? Like, why isn't there an option that doesn't involve constantly adopting new things? I understand why they'd need to fix stuff like functional bugs/make it compatible with new tech, but is it really necessary to change the user side of things as well?

Sorry if those are stupid questions or they're A Lot for a tumblr rando to ask, I'd just really like to understand because I think it would make it easier to get myself to adopt new stuff if I understand why it's necessary, and the other folks I know that know about computers don't really seem to understand the experience.

Thank you so much again for sharing your wisdom!!

A huge part of it is changing technologies and changing norms; I brought up Windows 8 in that other post and Win8 is a *great* example of user experience changing to match hardware, just in a situation that was an enormous mismatch with the market.

Win8's much-beloathed tiles came about because Microsoft seemed to be anticipating a massive pivot to tablet PCs in nearly all applications. The welcome screen was designed to be friendly to people who were using handheld touchscreens who could tap through various options, and it was meant to require more scrolling and less use of a keyboard.

But most people who the operating system went out to *didn't* have touchscreen tablets or laptops, they had a desktop computer with a mouse and a keyboard.

When that was released, it was Microsoft attempting to keep up with (or anticipate) market trends - they wanted something that was like "the iPad for Microsoft" so Windows 8 was meant to go with Microsoft Surface tablets.

We spent the first month of Win8's launch making it look like Windows 7 for our customers.

You can see the same thing with the centered taskbar on Windows 11; that's very clearly supposed to mimic the dock on apple computers (only you can't pin it anywhere but the bottom of the screen, which sucks).

Some of the visual changes are just trends and various companies trying to keep up with one another.

With software like Adobe I think it's probably based on customer data. The tool layout and the menu dropdowns are likely based on what people are actually looking for, and change based on what other tools people are using. That's likely true for most programs you use - the menu bar at the top of the screen in Word is populated with the options that people use the most; if a function you used to click on all the time is now buried, there's a possibility that people use it less these days for any number of reasons. (I'm currently being driven mildly insane by Teams moving the "attach file" button under a "more" menu instead of as an icon next to the "send message" button, and what this tells me is either that more users are putting emojis in their messages than attachments, or microsoft WANTS people to put more emojis than messages in their attachments).

But focusing on the operating system, since that's the big one:

The thing about OSs is that you interact with them so frequently that any little change seems massive and you get REALLY frustrated when you have to deal with that, but version-to-version most OSs don't change all that much visually and they also don't get released all that frequently. I've been working with windows machines for twelve years and in that time the only OSs that Microsoft has released were 8, 10, and 11. That's only about one OS every four years, which just is not that many. There was a big visual change in the interface between 7 and 8 (and 8 and 8.1, which is more of a 'panicked backing away' than a full release), but otherwise, realistically, Windows 11 still looks a lot like XP.

The second one is a screenshot of my actual computer. The only change I've made to the display is to pin the taskbar to the left side instead of keeping it centered and to fuck around a bit with the colors in the display customization. I haven't added any plugins or tools to get it to look different.

This is actually a pretty good demonstration of things changing based on user behavior too - XP didn't come with a search field in the task bar or the start menu, but later versions of Windows OSs did, because users had gotten used to searching things more in their phones and browsers, so then they learned to search things on their computers.

There are definitely nefarious reasons that software manufacturers change their interfaces. Microsoft has included ads in home versions of their OS and pushed searches through the Microsoft store since Windows 10, as one example. That's shitty and I think it's worthwhile to find the time to shut that down (and to kill various assistants and background tools and stop a lot of stuff that runs at startup).

But if you didn't have any changes, you wouldn't have any changes. I think it's handy to have a search field in the taskbar. I find "settings" (which is newer than control panel) easier to navigate than "control panel." Some of the stuff that got added over time is *good* from a user perspective - you can see that there's a little stopwatch pinned at the bottom of my screen; that's a tool I use daily that wasn't included in previous versions of the OS. I'm glad it got added, even if I'm kind of bummed that my Windows OS doesn't come with Spider Solitaire anymore.

One thing that's helpful to think about when considering software is that nobody *wants* to make clunky, unusable software. People want their software to run well, with few problems, and they want users to like it so that they don't call corporate and kick up a fuss.

When you see these kinds of changes to the user experience, it often reflects something that *you* may not want, but that is desirable to a *LOT* of other people. The primary example I can think of here is trackpad scrolling direction; at some point it became common for trackpads to scroll in the opposite direction that they used to; now the default direction is the one that feels wrong to me, because I grew up scrolling with a mouse, not a screen. People who grew up scrolling on a screen seem to feel that the new direction is a lot more intuitive, so it's the default. Thankfully, that's a setting that's easy to change, so it's a change that I make every time I come across it, but the change was made for a sensible reason, even if that reason was opaque to me at the time I stumbled across it and continues to irritate me to this day.

I don't know. I don't want to defend Windows all that much here because I fucking hate Microsoft and definitely prefer using Linux when I'm not at work or using programs that I don't have on Linux. But the thing is that you'll see changes with Linux releases as well.

I wouldn't mind finding a tool that made my desktop look 100% like Windows 95, that would be fun. But we'd probably all be really frustrated if there hadn't been any interface improvements changes since MS-DOS (and people have DEFINITELY been complaining about UX changes at least since then).

Like, I talk about this in terms of backward compatibility sometimes. A lot of people are frustrated that their old computers can't run new software well, and that new computers use so many resources. But the flipside of that is that pretty much nobody wants mobile internet to work the way that it did in 2004 or computers to act the way they did in 1984.

Like. People don't think about it much these days but the "windows" of the Windows Operating system represented a massive change to how people interacted with their computers that plenty of people hated and found unintuitive.

(also take some time to think about the little changes that have happened that you've appreciated or maybe didn't even notice. I used to hate the squiggly line under misspelled words but now I see the utility. Predictive text seems like new technology to me but it's really handy for a lot of people. Right clicking is a UX innovation. Sometimes you have to take the centered task bar in exchange for the built-in timer deck; sometimes you have to lose color-coded files in exchange for a right click.)

[sheydgarden]

protective hamsa with crossed swords & primroses for Me'ira - thank you so much!

NOTE: this is a one-of-a-kind custom tattoo commission for a client, NOT flash, and as such it is NOT available to be tattooed.

as an aside, this is my first work done entirely in Procreate - i'm dipping my toes back into digital art this year with new (current?!) tools, & excited about the possibilities & ease of use! as someone who's been pretty much exclusively using Adobe CS5.5 since it came out & had previously never drawn with anything past a 2011 Wacom Bamboo tablet, it's a whole new world.

[tradebirddigital]

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[nieisan]

Twisted wonderland superhero AU where they are all villains from a really shitty organization called Night Raven. They don't have magic, but they do have superpowers. The race setting is the same.

There are 7 sub orgs, one for every dorm. The dorm leaders are the person in charge of their own. Most of the boys aren't even really "villains" in the conventional sense. They are still evil. Like they do illegal things at every turn. They just can't get them in prison. Heartslabyul is their "legal department" because most of them have a secret identity, but not all of them. Riddle is such a good lawyer that he can get them out of trouble like always. In reality, most of the things are done thanks to his cooperation w/ Trey powers and Cater's. Ace and Deuce are new members to their ranks. Savanaclaw is full of physically strong people, but actually the thing they are better at is not going head on but scheming. Leona is their leader, and he is really smart. Like REALLY smart. Ruggie is more of the same, but he has more of street smarts than anything. He won't do anything without a plan B, C and D. Jack was actually pretty disappointed with this at first, he is one of the most "head on" guys in savanaclaw and didn't really agree with all the scheming. He actually thought that better that having a scheme proving their strength was the way to go. Octavinelle are the ones that need legal advice the most, Azul is their leader and most of their plans involve legal voids. They are the real mafia. The twins aren't actually loyal to Azul, at least he claims they aren't. Even if they do seem really loyal to everyone else with eyes to see. They will do most of what Azul says, but only if they agree. Scarabia it's hilarious because Kalim is a rich boy who got the family fortune early. The "being a villain" thing is mostly what Jamil wanted to do, and Kalim followed him because. Codependency is a bitch. Jamil is SO angry that Kalim went with him because he felt like he needed to be protected at all costs. Pomfiore guys are obsessed with beauty in a different way. They do potions and experiments to make their version of beauty a reality. Vil is the head of that, and Rook actually found his vision of beauty so perfectly beautiful that he actually changed from Savanaclaw. Epel at the start didn't really agree with their motives, and still probably doesn't. But he learned how he can use beauty and decided to use it as a tool to get what he wants. Ignihyde is probably the most obvious one. Idia is the leader, a tech genius who works mostly alone. He is the one providing all the organization with tech. Like this man is SO requested is crazy. This is actually the real reason why Ignihyde has other member apart from him, he just will NOT deal with people. He communicates with the other leaders, but not with regular members. His face is only known to some, he usually talks with a tablet. Ortho did die in this AU, and that's the main reason why Idia went to villainy. Robot¡Ortho is the face that can be seen the most in Ignihyde, and he does eventually get a "heart" like the game. Diasomnia is the group with the less tech. But the people there are the most powerful. Malleus is actually really strong and does a lot of things when he feels like it. My idea is that he joined the org because of Lilia telling him about it. He just got really interested and decided to join. He is a prince, but Briar Valley doesn't really exist anymore. Maybe not in an "it was destroyed" way, but more in an "everyone left". But there are still faes older than the union (like Lilia) and really powerful ones that don't really know how to join human customs (Malleus). Lilia is just having fun messing with people, Malleus honestly is young for a fae and has strong feelings about humans that he is working on. Silver has a messed up moral compass and Sebek more of the same. They are the most powerful but actually the more chill because they don't really care that much.

[maryymaruu]

I finally completed the transfer process onto my new lappy :"0

Drawing on it is... different, and if you couldn't tell by how much I cried about a simple phone UI update, I hate hate HATE when things I use daily *change*. Things like phone layout, apps, programs... slight change and I am in mental anguish.

It's different, of course, it's a whole new device, but thank goodness it's not different enough to send me into a meltdown. I fear my art style will look different now, as it always does when using a different tool than usual...

The pressure sensitivity issues persist, it seems to be the fault of yet another downgrade of an update of the tablet driver itself. You get to pick only from "not sensitive enough" and "too sensitive".

I've lost all my custom brushes in CSP... good that my favorite brush is one of the basics.

The touch screen option is not ideal- I get it, it's not made specifically for artists. But I'm not enjoying it... i have zero line control. But for a quick sketch when there's no time/space for an external tablet setup? Awesome 👌

TLDR: The new laptop is all set up. Drawing on it works- it will just take a lot of getting used to it. Ough.

[egophiliac]

Hello! Sorry to bother but do you have any digital art tips? I’m quite new to it and any tips, tricks or advice would be helpful! Your coloring style is very beautiful and I love it a lot!

thank you! 💚💚💚 sorry this is a bit late, hopefully there's still something helpful in it!

(also, it got pretty long, sorry!)

I think the biggest thing is to just take things slow -- digital art feels different than drawing traditionally, and it's SUPER easy to get overwhelmed by the billions of cool features that the digital world offers. (I say, as someone who spends a lot of time downloading cool brushes and textures...and then never using them ever.) there is a ton of really cool stuff you can do digitally, but because there's so much, I think it's really important to take time to figure out what is and isn't working for you. spend some time doodling without any intent to do a finished piece, figure out how you like to hold (or not hold) your tablet, what keyboard shortcuts you end up using a lot (and therefore might want to map to your pen/tablet buttons for quicker use)...that kind of thing!

everyone's workflow and preferred program and style are different, so it's hard to give hard-and-fast general advice. but the things that I think of as the essentials for learning digital art programs, and what I think of as a good order to focus on learning them in (although YMMV, especially depending on what kind of art you're doing):

brush customization (e.g. flow, opacity, softness)

layers and layer masks

selections and transformations (e.g. scale, rotate, flip horizontal/vertical, skew) (skew is underrated and I will die on that hill)

blending modes (e.g. multiply, screen)

adjustments/adjustment layers (e.g. hue/saturation, curves)

and I think most stuff after that is gravy! often very good gravy though! but yeah, as overall advice I recommend just taking things one little bit at a time, spending some time just drawing and messing around with each feature and what you can do with it. whether or not you end up incorporating any of it into your workflow, it's always good to try things out and just see how they feel! :D

and just so there is at least a little more concrete helpfulness in here, here's a few more specific things that I think are super important to keep in mind!

use! your! tablet/pen buttons! I mentioned this earlier, but they are extremely useful for keyboard shortcuts that you use often! most programs will also let you create new shortcuts for other things -- personally, I use the magic wand tool to fill in big color blocks a lot, so I made shortcuts for 'expand selection' and 'fill' and then mapped them to my tablet buttons.

flop your work horizontally often! when you're working on something, you get used to the way it looks, so seeing it mirrored is a quick way to see it with fresh eyes! in my experience, it often feels like this:

(a common thing is to find that everything is sort of 'leaning' too much one way, which is where skew really comes in handy!) (seriously, I love skew, it is my savior)

if you're working with color, keep a hue/saturation adjustment layer (or a layer filled with black or white and set to Color) on top and toggle it on occasionally to check your values! a lot of people who know a lot more about color than me (and are better at putting it into words) have written about why values are so important, so all I'll say is that the rule of thumb is that your image should still be readable in greyscale:

there are some exceptions and grey areas (do ho ho), but it's a good general rule to keep in mind! (some programs also have a colorblind mode, so you can check to see how your work will look to someone with colorblindness!)

and finally, here's some digital art programs I recommend, if you're still looking for a good one!

free: krita, FireAlpaca

paid: ClipStudio, Procreate (iOS/iPad only)

[travelingthief]

Lord Hephaestus Devotional Acts and Offerings

Learn about:

Volcanoes

Fire safety

Disability rights

The ADA (and how it could be improved)

Ableism and stigma

Blacksmithing

Forges

Devotional Acts

God of fire & volcanoes:

Woodburning (art form)

Fire scrying

Have a bonfire

Paper mache volcanoes

Burn a candle

(Learn how to) Tend a fire/woodstove/hearth

God of blacksmithing, metalworking, and crafts:

Jewelry making

Wood carving

Wire working

Making chainmail

Leatherworking

Car maintenance 

Have a good toolkit

Welding

Handyman maintenance

Robotics

Repair clothing

Carry a multitool 

Learn a new skill

Glassblowing

Restore an old/damaged object

Build Legos/Lincoln Logs

Watch restoration videos

Code/build a website

Go to science fairs/museums

Invent something

God of/with disabilities:*

Mobility aid maintenance 

Disability advocacy

Plan out your spoons/energy

Customize mobility aids/braces/other aids

Create a medical ID

Have an emergency to-go bag

Make your bed into a comfy place to be

Buy things from people with disabilities’ wishlists (like accessibility items etc.)

Identify how many spoons different activities take and make a list

Offerings

God of fire/volcanoes:

Fire starters/pokers

Burned paper

Burned objects

Blowtorch

Lighters

Fire imagery

Volcanic rocks

Volcano imagery

Firewood

Ashes

Matches

Coal

God of blacksmithing, metalworking, and crafts:

Nails, bolts, screws

Tools/toolbox

Swords/shields/armor (imagery)

Cool metal objects

Anvil imagery

Bronze/copper/brass

Anything you’ve made

Blueprints

Tongs

Bellows

Springs

Spare parts

Batteries

Mementos of handy work you’ve done (like a light bulb you’ve changed)

Chains

Stones/bricks/clay

Laptops/tablets/phones

God of/with disability:

Mobility aids

Painkillers/medicines

“Emergency” foods (like electrolytes or candy bars)

X-ray/MRI images

Medical bracelets

Medical paperwork

Adaptive aids

* While Hephaestus was not traditionally seen as a god of disability, many followers in modern times revere him as one

[weirdmageddon]

with the help of a friend i successfully transfered everything from my PREGNANT surface 3 tablet from 2016 high school with swollen batteries after some frustrations and scares.

the battery swelling and screen warping had happened over a month ago and i hadn’t had plugged my tablet in since then. but today i wanted to get my paint tool sai brushes and textures off of it, only to be reminded of this. so i talked to one of my newer friends who happens to work at a computer repair shop and he swung by my place since he does home visits anyway.

i didn’t actually know how volatile bloated batteries truly are in reality. especially if they’ve been discharged for over a month. people online say theyre dangerous and you shouldnt even turn your device on, but i have a feeling they’re saying that so people don’t get carried away continuing to use them. but i’m smart and know this thing is finished, but i need data that is on here.

my friend says that he’s had customers use laptops with swollen batteries exclusively on the charger for over 6 months after he told them to get it replaced.

when he comes over we plug it in. the fearmongering internet says you should NEVER EVER plug in a device with swollen lithium ion batteries, so i was scared something was gonna happen or the batteries were going to get hot and swell as chemical reactions happen in them. but nothing happened. the internet lied to me. nothing happened. plugging it in was actually necessary to get past the 0xc0000225 blue screen error which i had been receiving even before the batteries swelled so much they opened the screen. it was unpredictable if it would boot up with that or not, sometimes it did sometimes it didn’t. my tablet would also sometimes shut down at random with no warning in the middle of drawing and that’s when i knew i needed to start looking for something else. but yeah so nothing happened and having it plugged in was essential in order for my tablet to not shut off in the 3 hours it took to transfer data to a USB stick.

and my tablet didn’t even get hot the entire time. (though i turned the screen brightness down to 0 in order to protect against any potential source of excessive heat during the process.)

over a decade’s years worth of paint tool sai brush settings …. welcome back on my main laptop where i use my intuos pro to draw now. i will probably be more inclined to make more art now :D

this post was originally a lot longer and more detailed about the technical scares if something were to have gone wrong but tumblr eated it with a background refresh :\ e.g., the memory chip in this device is soldered on, not removable like a m.2 SSD, so if something happened to the hardware, then my data would be unrecoverable.

my friend even bought a portable windows drive to boot into WinPE but thankfully it wasn’t necessary. he brought the USB keyboard since my surface 3 doesn’t recognize the finicky external keyboard attached by magnetic pins until the boot-up process is over and you’re at the lock screen, so it wouldn’t have been possible to do advanced boot during startup with the F8 key (which we also didn’t actually need anyway, since plugging it in got rid of the blue screen booting error).