#First time trying proper full body sketches for a while

[illegally-blind-and-deaf]

posting the halfling

"As feather is to flight,

As light is to star,

As kindness is to good

So Acorn

Is to wood."

— Acorn, Spell Songs

ID:[A traditional pencil sketch of a hobbit boy dancing amongst butterflies. He wears a pale shirt with big billowing bishop sleeves, a tailored vest and dark, poofy trousers. His hair is light and curly, and his legs and feet are also covered in hair.] Even ID

[gh0st-t0wn3]

I finally had time to make proper designs for the Trio!

Redson: Ver 1

Ver 2

I couldn't decide on if I liked it better with the braids or not so I just posted both, but anyways!

I gotta admit, I used to not like the idea of redson having Bull features (except for a small pair of horn maybe) but the concept really grew on me and now I really love it and wanted to try making my own design and I'm really proud with how it turned out.

I would've added more scars, since Guanyins throne pierced his entire body, but there came a point where it just looked like there was too much going on so I had to get rid of a few scars to tone it down, so we're just gonna say they faded over time, okay? Okay.

I also made him Miao (one of the largest ethnic minorities in southwest China) on PIF's side, and Mongolian on DBK's.

The Miao ethnicity of China has a long history, rich culture, and an ancient folk religion. Adorned in beautiful traditional clothes, possessing natural talent for singing and dancing, they live in uniquely designed indigenous architecture, which I think fits perfectly with how I imagined Princess Iron Fan and with her; Redson.

As for DBK being Mongolian, I saw someone else talking about this headcanon and I just liked it so I decided to use it, I don't really have a specific reason for it, I just thought it fit, not sure why though, it's just one of those things that makes sense even if you don't know why, you know?

Mei:

I made her taller and gave her a long dragon tail (like really long, it drags along the floor if she's not holding it up), though her scales are pretty much everywhere across her body they're most noticeable on her shoulders, thighs, and face (they're a bit hard to see in this photo because they're kinda hidden behind her hair, but I did give her scales beside her eyes)

I also gave her horns these little spiral designs around them, gave her sharper nails, and designed her ears to look like coral, since she's a water dragon and I thought they looked cool.

Honestly idk what else to say about her design, I didn't have anything specific in mind when designing her, I kinda just had to wing it, but I'm happy with how it turned out :)

(I also made her Bengali, on her dad's side, but it's not really important or has any reason behind it, just a headcanon I've had for a while, don't know where it came from though)

MK:

Alot of people have speculated that the monkey form we see during the fight against Azure in season 4 isn't MK's full form yet, that we're just seeing a fraction of what he's yet to become, based on the fact that while he has the weird side burns, the tail and the face marking, he also lacks a natural skin tone, they didn't give him a proper nose etc, so I wanted to play with the idea.

I decided to make him this strange mix between human and monkey, leaving him pretty much human with the addition of his tail(s), and weird li'l monkey feet.

(I was also gonna give MK more arm/leg hair, it was in my first sketch, but I forgot to add them when I was doing the line art and didn't realize until after I saved it as a jpeg, so that's my bad, but I'm gonna add it in to any other art I make)

It's also a bit hard to see in this, but I designed his staff with more details, specifically adding dragon-esque imagery to the Golden ends, this is because (for anyone who's new to the fandom/hasn't read JTTW) Wukong's staff was originally one of the several pillars that held up the sea in the dragon palace, until he stole it and shrunk it down to use as his weapon.

I also did MK's clones :)

Porty MK:

I gave him stripes of coloured hair and gave his tails all different colours, though I don't think he would actually dye it, instead I like to think that he would use that really crappy dollar store spray in hair dye (or hair chalk). I kept the fishnet clothes that I added in my originally design of him for my headcanons post, and decided to give him striped elbow length fingerless gloves.

I also gave him a cropped shirt, ripped shorts and these weird fingerless glove-esque shoes for convenience, since regular shows seem like they would be uncomfortable.

Edit: my dumbass forgot Porty's stupid print jacket 😭

Artist MK:

For Artist MK I gave him overalls and a jacket over it, which he wears specifically for when he's doing paintings so he doesn't ruin too many of his actual clothes (I know I said that this was inspod by Circusapple, which it still is, but this is almost exactly what I wear when I'm painting too, just in different colours).

I also gave him those gloves that digital artists wear so they're hands don't accidently trigger something on the screen because everyone knows that every artist just walks around with their art glove on even when it's not necessary.

Delivery MK:

I have to admit, I was never a big fan of MK's work uniform just being his regular clothes with a work jacket thrown over it so I wanted to try and make him look a little more professional and decided to instead give him a chef coat (similar to the one Pigsy wears on the show as well), with a logo for the restaurant on the chest, along with it I gave him plain black pants, since casual red jeans didn't seem very professional (I know he's just a delivery person, but if you were to look at pretty much any food corporation, even people who do deliveries have to wear uniform, so it's always been kinda strange to me that he's just in regular clothes). 

The shoes were harder to make professional given the whole "half-monkey" thing so I opted to give him the same strange fingerless glove-esque shoes for comfort and convenience, but made them plain black as well.

[quibbs126]

Okay, I have…a design for Lux here

Honestly, it still isn’t the best. Probably on me for spending all of today trying to make a design that worked and not taking more time

Probably should have also colored those practice sketches of Megatron and Optimus, and maybe drawn more of them too, probably would have helped in the long run, as well as let me figure out their colors again since it has apparently been a long time since I drew them

But oh well, I have something, so at least now I can tell you about Lux herself

These are the other previous sketches relating to her by the way, just for posterity’s sake

I thought giving her this younger design based on the cogless bots would have been easier than working out her adult, alt mode based design, since the cogless bots don’t have alt modes. But the problem is, their frames are still based on parts of their alt mode, just not to any extent that it’s actual kibble, just alluding to it, if that makes sense. So you know, I had to have an idea of how her normal frame looks. Which I didn’t. So it was harder than I wanted it to be, and this is what I got in the end

I need to figure out a proper full design for her I think. I still have TFA and TFE Megatron for my inspirations, along with some copters, I just need to figure out how to put them all together

She very much looks like a D-16 painted blue like this, but whatevs

Her trapezoid and arm circles are supposed to be the few references to her alt mode I have, that being her front with the trapezoid, and potentially where her propellers go on her body. I don’t actually know where to put them realistically, but I think it’d be cool if she could use them like blades in combat

For now, I think I’m sticking with that blue, grey and black color scheme for her, and the yellow eyes work fine

Design’s serviceable enough for now, but needs work I think

But anyways, on to the real thing I wanted to discuss here, her lore. Or I suppose more accurately, her relationship with Megatron, since that’s most of what I have on her honestly

Okay, so first off, Megatron was the one to carry her, which I’m noticing is a running theme of mine. Now I’m not sure when exactly he would have been sparked, but let’s say for the sake of things, between getting their T-cogs and meeting the High Guard. The main thing is that this would have been just before Orion and D-16 fell out and Megatron was banished

Some weeks or so after, particularly during moments where he’s feeling incredibly distraught over everything that happened and feels incredibly isolated, Megatron started to feel something else around his spark. He couldn’t quite place what it was, it was too vague and small to be able to tell, like a very faint pulse on his spark, but something about it gave him comfort, while giving it back to the strange feeling. He wasn’t sure what this thing was, but he figured he either made it up as a coping mechanism, or it might be because the cog he had used to belong to someone else, and it was affecting him weirdly. But he didn’t really tell anyone, since he didn’t want to admit it made him feel better like some immature child, and again, he didn’t think it was anything important. He just considered it the “little light” on his spark

Only to find out much later, on complete accident, that that “light” he was feeling was in fact, a sparkling. His and Orion’s at that. No one knew he was carrying, pretty much because he had grown too big for it to make a noticeable impact on his body (and anything that did was assumed because of his enormous rapid growth spurt), and because also no one was looking for it. But one accident a bit too damaging led to him needing a full body scan for all his injuries, and a close to fully formed sparklet was revealed to be in his forge

And unfortunately because of how late anyone found it, as well as the fact that the Decepticons are very lacking in proper medical equipment, Megatron pretty much has to carry the thing to term now, much to his frustration. I needed a reason for him to not deletus that fetus. He hates the idea of this at first, hating Orion/Optimus for putting him in this situation, hating the High Guard for being ignorant enough to have not found this sooner when he could have gotten rid of it (which they kind of have to concede the point there), and hating the universe for this fate

But he does eventually start to come around more to the idea, particularly when he realizes that this sparkling was the same thing that’s been giving him comfort in these turbulent times, and when it comes to mind that this is the last thing he has of Orion, not really choosing to see Optimus as Orion, just who came back after his death. The best idea the Decepticons had for what to do with the sparkling after it was born was to just send it to Iacon, making the Prime deal with his mistake, but Megatron grew more and more hesitant of the idea

And then when the day came that the sparkling was born, he was more conflicted than ever, now that he could actually hold it in his hands and see her for himself. While he didn’t give an answer at first as to whether he wanted to get rid of her, he eventually decided that he indeed wanted to keep her, naming her Lux

It wasn’t the ideal option for the Decepticons, sending her to Iacon would have been the best choice, but during the time before the sparkling was born, they figured that since they no longer had an Energon shortage and weren’t being hunted down, it wasn’t impossible for them to care for a sparkling should that be the decision, though the lack of medical supplies would be a worry

But basically after Lux was born, plenty of the Decepticons pitched in to try and help Megatron with her, since he’s their very young leader and now single parent, and again, kind of their fault for not noticing. Also they haven’t seen a sparkling in ages and she’s cute. Thundercracker happens to be her favorite babysitter. Soundwave is another top tier babysitter, but she just likes him more

This is also what gets Megatron to finally properly start opening up and trusting the High Guard, since he knows he can’t take care of Lux all by himself, especially since he knows very little about sparklings. And if they can be proven trusted with her, maybe he can trust them with other things as well

But one other thing, Megatron does not tell Optimus that Lux exists whatsoever, and he doesn’t want him to know. Part of it is to spite Optimus, excluding him from something he too would probably find so precious. But another part that progressively grows bigger is fear; the fear that if he knew, he would take Lux away from Megatron, never to see her again

While part of it is paranoia, it’s not entirely unreasonable either. Optimus lives in a giant city while Megatron lives out in the wild, Optimus has access to everything she might need or want, Megatron and the High Guard are essentially criminals and could be considered dangerous to a young sparkling, and Optimus is the Prime and ruler of Iacon. Even if he might have the decency to consider letting Megatron keep his sparkling, someone else in Iacon might try to fight for Lux to stay in Iacon instead, possibly even taking matters into their own hands. So he won’t tell Optimus, for as long as he possibly can

Megatron does genuinely care for and love Lux, but he’s also not the best parent either. He’s a bit emotionally dependent on her, with her being that last bit of Orion, and someone who unconditionally loves him, and it does feed a bit into his fear of her being taken from him; he also doesn’t really want her to leave. It may be something he eventually learns to grow out of, as it’s really not healthy for either of them, but it could also not. But at least for now, this dependency isn’t too egregious, nor is it something Lux takes notice of, or something the other Decepticons warn Megatron about

I suppose I should actually get into Lux herself. Though to be honest, I don’t have a lot on her anyways, outside of her backstory

I do have that she’s generally a cheery little bot, and she really likes the surface, particularly the animals up there. Thundercracker is her favorite guy, outside of her carrier, and them both being blue possibly has something to do with it. She’s also probably a little too okay with violence for someone her age, due to the company she finds herself in. They may be her responsible guardians, but they’re definitely teaching her ways to kill

She also has this thing of, if she does not understand why a rule exists, she does not listen to it. It made the first few cycles with her very difficult, and a testament to Megatron that she really was Orion’s sparkling. She has a habit of sneaking out a lot, though usually it’s just to watch animals or something harmless

Though this could extend to her being prohibited from ever going to or near Iacon. She may not go now, accepting the explanation that dangerous enemies live there, but that explanation may not hold up the longer she observes it, and she may one day decide the rule’s worth breaking. But will she go to Iacon and what chaos will ensue if she does? I don’t know

I mean I imagine at some point Optimus eventually learns of Lux’s existence, I just don’t know the specific circumstances as to how yet, or when. She could sneak into Iacon as a child, it could be a Quintesson attack mixed with a Decepticon encounter that weeds her out via Megatron trying to protect her, it could be Airachnid kidnapping her, or they don’t encounter until she’s properly grown. I’m not sure yet

But yeah, I think that’s all I have on her lore for now, and honestly it’s getting pretty late, so I should probably just end things here

She needs more working, but I have a lot about Lux, so I just needed to share

[dervampireprince]

The Historical OCs Have Designs!

I've been saying I'd get this done for a while.

I have three ASMR audio series where I initially had no plans for the characters I portray in them to be actual proper original characters. No name, no design, no attachment. And the first one I did, the 'visiting king', was initially meant to be just a one-off audio. I had no idea these series would get so popular, and the first 'visiting king' audio is still my most viewed video on Youtube currently sitting at over 100k views. And soon what was a one-off audio became a whole series, and then I made others similar to it.

These three audio series ('Visiting King, 'Villain x Hero' and 'Guilty Priest') never had character designs or names. But as people started liking them and as I kept getting more requests for them I wanted to try and design them and turn them into proper OCs. But I was scared. People loved the audios that just had photographs of my outfits in them, what if my designs were a disappointment? What if they didn't live up to people's imagined versions of them?

Back in April-May 2024 I designed the Guilty Priest and named him Father Hawthorn. I added him to the OC stickers and keychains I have for sale on my Etsy shop.

And then I just never got around to designing the other two. And it felt more nerve-wracking to try and design them, especially the Visiting King as he's my most popular series of audios in terms of Youtube views (yes even more than Love Bites).

But yesterday I thought okay, enough, I have to design them. People have been asking for over a year and I keep saying I will, I have to try.

I had a much clearer vision for the Visiting King, so I challenged myself to design the Villain first. I really struggled. I erased so many sketches. And I only kept a few of the scraped designs on the final concept art sheet. Finally I got so frustrated I stopped drawing him in the basic standing pose I use for all my ref sheets and thought I'd try and draw a more fun pose and maybe that would help. And somehow it did. And then drawing the King was much easier.

(Thank you to mellon_soup for their free-to-use pose references, you can check them out on Patreon where they have free poses (with extra behind their paid memberships) that you can use to reference or use as a base).

I shared the work-in-progresses of drawing these guys with my 18+ Patreon-only Discord members to get feedback as I went along and they were so sweet. Me and my Discord members also discussed other ideas I had about the characters, including the fact that I... have started shipping them very badly. To the point I think it's canon now (not canon in their 'x listener' audios but in their regular stories). And thank you to my Discord members for letting me write just so many drabbles about them last night and how I think they would meet and get together.

And thank you to my Discord members for joining in on writing about them and in someone's case, instantly drawing fanart of their designs. They all already had pages on my fanart museum, but now the King and Villains pages are updated and there is a page for fanart of both of them together.

So below are their reference sheets. In order of when I first came up with the characters (which ironically is the opposite order of when I designed them). Lucien (the King) and Lysander's (the Villain) sheets are entirely new, whereas Hawthorn had one before but I've finally drawn a full body of him that isn't a chibi so the sheet has been updated. These are also on my fanworks guide now.

Thank you guys so much for the support on all my audios, and especially my original character ones. It always means so much when people listen to them, even if you came only for a fandom character and then gave my original boys a shot. It's always been a dream of mine to have original characters that other's like and care about and I can share with other people, and I'm so happy to have found that space with you guys.

The next time each of these characters have new audios I hope to have thumbnail art drawn that will replace the photographs of myself. I hope that change doesn't upset or disappoint anyone.

Anyway this got long. The men are below. I hope they're all kissable.

(PS. If there is an interest in my posting my drabbles about Lucien/Lysander please let me know, I've already written sfw and n#sfw things about them and I'd love to draw them as soon as I get less scared of drawing romantic and n#sfw art. If I end up writing a lot of drabbles or anything longer I'd put it on my dervampireprince AO3 too. I have a n#sfw Leon/Dracula Castlevania fic (my first full fic I've written in 2+ years) I posted no there last week, and Alucard/Olrox NSFW drabbles and art I've been posting all week on here.)

[aureoboros]

commission info!

hello!!

i’ve had health problems that are making it very difficult for me to work and function outside of my home, which just isn’t viable with how expensive necessities are. so i’m opening up commissions! reblogs are greatly appreciated :]

a lot of my examples are bg3/dnd related, but regular ocs are more than welcome, too! i can also do fanart for other media if you’d like.

for right now, these will be through paypal. just send me a dm here if you’re interested! more information below the cut.

- first come first serve, i will keep in contact with you throughout the process and start the sketch asap. Depending on the level of detail, it could take anywhere from a week to over a month. I work pretty slowly but I’m trying to get better at being faster! my pen is also broken so that’s another factor to keep in mind. I can still draw, but it’ll take longer until I can get a replacement.

- while this is over dms for the moment, i’m going to make a proper form to fill out! reference photos are greatly appreciated for ocs, but detailed descriptions work too! i would also prefer if you provided a short personality description, and any ideas you have for poses or character interactions. i want it to be as close to what you envision as possible! if you want the drawing to be set at a specific time, or a specific aspect ratio for the image, let me know that too! busts cut off at the mid-chest, and half-bodies are cut off at the mid-thigh. i can also make icons (head-shot only) for a discount! also extra characters for sketch commissions are at a discount!

- payment comes after you’re happy with the composition! i’ll block out the characters and where they’ll be on the canvas before moving on to the full detailed sketch.

- more explanation on backgrounds: basic flats, simple patterns, and simple objects for framing are free of charge. keep in mind that detailed backgrounds are not my strong-suit, but i do need the practice, and i will try my absolute best. the more detailed the background is, the more it will cost, but everything is negotiable.

- i can do anthro characters (like tabaxi, dragonborn, etc) in my detailed style too! i don’t have as much experience in drawing robotics or machinery, but it’s not off the table. i like doing little details :]

- my general rules are: i will not draw ships that would be illegal in real life, or anything hateful (racist, homophobic, the obvious), and i don’t do nsfw (artistic nudity is fine). don’t use my art for ai training or nfts.

- if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

- thank you for reading ^^

for more examples, check the #digitalart tag!

[kbthebearcat]

This is the result of me touching up on an old painted portrait that I attempted to do back in 2020. I kept telling myself that I’d finish it someday, and while I still feel like this looks unfinished… I’m more satisfied with it at least. I had to do some plastic surgery on his face, and I also fixed some shading and touched up on the hair. I could have done more with the background… It’s supposed to be a forest, but I left the trees un-rendered because tbh, I didn’t feel like doing much more with this besides focusing on him. XD I might go back and edit the background if I can gather the drive to do so… This is Marsh by the way! He’s an adopt I got a long time ago from LadySaltBeard (just a warning that this artist does some pretty suggestive/sensual art now. This wasn’t the case when I got the adopt though or at least I didn’t noice as much of it…. So yeah… I was kinda torn on sharing a link to their page, but I want to give proper credit, so… yeah. 😅) At the time I was really trying to experiment and get better with painting and rendering, so I picked him as my subject. Probably not the best thing to choose for a first artwork of him… because it took me FOREVER to finish and in the meantime he just kinda got pushed way in the back burner. I’d love to work with him more some time in the future… and draw a full-body of him. He’s a naga! You can see the original adopt art of him at his Toyhouse here!

Also… I wish I recorded the transformation process, but I do happen to have the old sketch and what the piece looked like before I began ��surgery” haha. Pics are below the cut!

I can see some errors in these that I still kept when I fixed it up, like his ear being too low… I used to do that a lot and I still struggle with that sometimes.

[prismsoup]

OH also i saw in a sketch two other iterators that are in the same local group as TLSPTS, i think it was Structuration of structures and Fractures amongst others?

What do they do in the story (if they have an impact)? I assume they don't like Spears that much x] grumpy robot

Ooh yes ! I haven't drawn these two in a while

Structuration of Structures is also a First Mass Construction Wave ( gen 1) iterator, their construction was finalized a bit before spears' own (probably the equivalent of months or a year or two before his own construction was finalized). It shouldn't be that important since their age difference is negligible but it's often a point of conflict they bring up because Structuration "technically" is his senior (in the sense of being older) (they refer to their actual group senior as Administrator) and they do love to remind spears of that whenever they're in the middle of a debate.

Speaking of debates, these two do that quite often. Their respective Houses don't exactly get along but it's reflected quite more through them, especially since spears' aggressive behavior was something that was heavily encouraged by his Creators. Beyond yelling about how their theories and works and ideas are better, as the two oldest members of their group (after Fracture Amongst Others), they're also constantly bickering about who should be the actual Administrator of the group. If they could, they'd get each other dismantled.

Fracture Amongst Others is the group Administrator, she's the oldest of the bunch since she's a model from the Prototype era (gen 0). She still struggles with handling the more recent communication systems so Structuration helps her with that (and does try to use that as a point for them to be made the new Administrator, or at least take the role "unofficially"). She doesn't really like conflict so she tends to simply avoid it until it's way too urgent or problematic. If you need a general vibe, just think "facebook grandma" I guess. She would send these over-edited sparkling gifs with "BLESSED MONDAY" or "GOOD MORNING" written in fancy fonts in chats if she wasnt too busy with- whatever it is she's doing, no one really knows, she's generally not very active in the comm lines of her group. She's kind, but simply not very helpful as she seems clueless about anything that's happening most of the time. She doesn't dislike Structuration or spears, but they do give her the equivalent of headaches quite often.

There are other group members but I just- never really got the time to ever create them I guess ? Besides one other guy, Calls from the Past, who tried to run simulations within simulations to find out what happened to Sliver of Straw and got trapped in them, only to emerge thinking they were SOS but stuck in someone else's body.

here's a doodle of FAO btw

she has that permanent TBH stare it's not visible here but her puppet has a bulkier build because it's basically a metallic shell full of organic components a proper fully organic puppet (or one that has a better harmony between both organic and mechanical components, and isnt just basically meat stuffed in a can) probably wasnt exactly easy or viable yet at the time of her construction

[creativeenquiryryanmurphy]

Critical Review

Critical Review  

This project has explored Shibari, from the history of the practice to the modern-day adaptation to mindfulness and the scope for individuality within the rope community. This practice has been massively influential in my life, as a nonsexual, more art-based act, and has given me a community, friendships, and a much broader appreciation for preserving my own internal piece. I initially wanted to highlight the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding sex, BDSM, and ropework within modern society. In the UK we have a systemic issue surrounding sex and intimacy in all its facets, that issue is shame, plain, and simple (UCL,2013). Shame has prohibited people from engaging with health professionals, practicing dangerous methods of sexual activity, and hiding their true interests from their significant others( Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). Adding BDSM into the mix alongside shame can lead to life-threatening practices that are avoidable provided proper research and openness can be achieved first. My body of research has allowed me to see the growth in acceptance of BDSM and Shibari in society, and its positive impact on the mental health of the people that participate. An article published by Psychology Today showed that the publication of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ in 2011 (a terrible reference for BDSM practices) showed a marked increase in public interest and participation, thus leading to it being more intensely investigated by psychologists and sexologists around the world.  

The Sexual Variety in Norwegian Men and Women of Different Sexual Orientations and Ages study showed that out of a participant pool of 4,148 (2,181 men and 1,967 women) responded. The questions spanned everything from gender identity, sexual orientation, and relationship status to what aspects of BDSM they had actively engaged in and what they wanted to try and never had. The results showed that people who engaged with the practice tended to have higher levels of education, covered a broad range of careers, and were better at communicating with others, both in sexual and nonsexual aspects of their lives, (Træen, B., Fischer, N., and Kvalem, I.L. (2021)). These are just the findings of one study but thousands more have been carried out globally and the results have all shown similar findings. I have speculated that the ability to allow yourself to have internal revelations regarding sexuality and how this can translate into the art world is the same skill and has a lot of room for exciting innovation combining the two. 

The direction that my work has gone in leading toward the final degree show has been drastically influenced by the previously mentioned research and the shift in attitudes toward Shibari in the public domain. I wanted to push myself and my practices to more closely mirror the joy, playfulness, and more intuitive nature of the ropework I was seeing on social media. This change has come in the form of 3D elements. Rope is a tactile medium and Shibari is an intensely practical process, adding this more sculptural/installation-based method, devoid of the human body as an anchor point, has given me a far stronger connection to the work I have produced. This has pushed me to better understand the centuries-old techniques that have stood the test of time and are interesting in their own right. I am predominantly a painter, I gravitate to structure and have full control over every aspect of the work I make, from initial sketches to colour placements and compositions. This kind of sculpture/installation required me to completely reimagine my creative process, and rely on more intuitive methods of making. It has been a big change but it is something that I think will continue throughout my work. Allowing myself to become fully caught up in the moment while working on these large-scale installations has been some of the most peaceful moments of this degree year. I believe that this has been the biggest shift in my body of work. The rope artist Hajime Kinoko has said “Shibari is all about connection” and I tried to channel that in my work as it is a key in his. Kinoko is a rope artist specialising in performance and installation-based art, having gained international attention for his work over the last decade specifically. This mentality of connecting with the materials being used, the space being inhabited and the headspace you are in all contribute to the kinds of ties that are being done, what knots work with the rope you have, and the space you are trying to tie are reminiscent of meditation and are incredibly peaceful. 

This new-found, meditative approach to creating has been a refreshing change in the lead-up to the degree show. Being able to step back and take time to properly evaluate what I want to achieve with my work for such an important deadline has been invaluable in keeping focused and not letting the stress become overwhelming. The beginning of this project was shrowded in external stress factors, taking a considerable toll on my mental and physical health, however, a newfound clarity with the work I am making and knowing that the end is on the horizon has reignited the passion that I have for this specific topic. This rediscovered joy combined with the newfound methods has allowed me to branch out into a more abstract and natural way of interacting with space and scale, both of which I have struggled with in the past. To me, this signifies a kind of evolution, in both my thinking and my willingness to engage with the outside world, knowing that not everything needs to be micro-managed has allowed me to better understand how my brain works in general but specifically with art. When I get more physically involved with my work I can better drown out distractions and focus on making something that brings me joy and properly portrays how incredible Shibari is as a practice and rope is as a tool. 

Allowing myself to also explore different ways of gathering information and the circumstances that I create best in has been enormously helpful. I wish that this had come much sooner in my academic career but having these skills in place now can only be a good thing and they will continue to be useful as I become a more professional artist. Realising that I work better on my own, in my own studio, where I can focus is much easier than trying to concentrate in a shared location. I can listen to musicians, podcasts, and interviews with artists, psychologists, and professionals discussing their research and findings about the chosen topic, I can absorb those influences better, and it helps to shape the piece that I would be working on. I found that this method works due to working with a therapist after being diagnosed with autism and OCD, both of which drastically impacted my ability to connect with people and my work. Knowing my needs and creating a space that was entirely my own was massively beneficial in the lead-up to the degree show. 

Shibari has been part of my life for the best part of six years, it has always provided a tactile and very sensory form of connection with others that I struggle with in most situations. The peace and vulnerability that can be achieved with a simple bit of rope is intense and astounding with the right person. It holds a very special place in my heart and I believe that is a quality that shines through in my most recent work. In previous modules, I have included myself in the work, through photos, videos, and self-portraits; this was my stumbling block. My sense of self-image was what was holding me back. Trying to create art that I was passionate about was being tainted by my negative self-image resulting in me hating and struggling to finish pieces, this led to the very conscious choice to remove the human form entirely. Accepting a more abstract and naturally growing form, in a style that was so different from my own, was where the passion and joy that underpins my entire body of work was able to creep back in, and I feel that it shows. With reflection, I now see a different form of beauty in previous work, I see an intense want to be involved in the process as much as possible, it was a labor of love but it was to my detriment, it was an earnest want, but I did not want to be perceived by others because I do not see myself as perfect and thus unworthy of being in the piece. By letting the piece, completely on its own without human form, people can form their own opinions on the work, they can attach whatever emotions they please and I do not need to feel the judgment personally. 

This project has grown exponentially and entirely unexpectedly with time. I had no idea how much self-reflection would be involved and in turn, alter the parameters of my entire creative practice, specifically my installation in the degree show. Knowing more about myself and my ways of making has given me a much broader understanding of what my art is and how to communicate my passion with the world. 

Word count; 1,553

Bibliography

-Bao, H., Mergenthaler, D. and Zhao, J.J. (2023). Contemporary Queer Chinese Art. Bloomsbury Publishing, pp.33–42.

Barry, M. (2017). Rope Bondage as Meditation. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@maddiebarry16/rope-bondage-as-meditation-e8a89b701cd8.

-Castleman M.A., M. and Drevitch, G. (2023). BDSM Is Increasingly Mainstream, and It Boosts Intimacy | Psychology Today United Kingdom. [online] www.psychologytoday.com. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/all-about-sex/202301/bdsm-is-increasingly-mainstream-and-it-boosts-intimacy.

-Cowan, S. (2017). Choreographing through an expanded corporeality. [online] researchspace.auckland.ac.nz. Available at: https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/36942.

-Dolan, E.W. (2021). New research has found heightened levels of sexual satisfaction among BDSM practitioners. [online] PsyPost - Psychology News. Available at: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-has-found-heightened-levels-of-sexual-satisfaction-among-practitioners/.

-Field, N., Mercer, C.H., Sonnenberg, P., Tanton, C., Clifton, S., Mitchell, K.R., Erens, B., Macdowall, W., Wu, F., Datta, J., Jones, K.G., Stevens, A., Prah, P., Copas, A.J., Phelps, A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2013). Associations between health and sexual lifestyles in Britain: findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). The Lancet, [online] 382(9907), pp.1830–1844. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(13)62222-9.

-Hester, M., Mulvihill, N., Matolcsi, A., Sanchez, A. and Walker, S.-J. (2020). Practitioner Resource 3: Understanding existing prevalence data on the UK sex industry A practitioner resource summarising content from the 2019 Home Office Report ‘The nature and prevalence of prostitution and sex work in England and Wales today’ Authored by Professor. [online] University of Bristol : University of Bristol . Available at: https://beyondthestreets.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/UoB_BtS_PractitionerResource3_UnderstandingExistingPrevalenceData.pdf [Accessed 10 May 2024].

-McKenzie, R. (2012). A Different Way to Think about Creativity: The Case of Autism and Outsider Art. [online] brill.com. Available at: https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9781848881273/BP000012.xml.

-Roxo, A. (2017). HOLY F*CK: WHY SHIBARI BONDAGE IS THE ULTIMATE SURRENDER. [online] the Numinous. Available at: https://www.the-numinous.com/2017/06/01/shibari-bondage/.

-Technology, L. and Технологии В Инфосфере (2023). On the Art of Shibari as a Form of Writing. Technology and Language, [online] 4(3), pp.49–58. doi:https://doi.org/10.48417/technolang.2023.03.05.

-Tecun, A. (2017). Volume 1 - Ritual & Cultural Performance [Special issue]. performancereal.pubpub.org, [online] 1(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.21428/b54437e2.350e0b75.

-Træen, B., Fischer, N. and Kvalem, I.L. (2021). Sexual Variety in Norwegian Men and Women of Different Sexual Orientations and Ages. The Journal of Sex Research, 52(2), pp.238–247. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1952156.

-UCL (2013). Survey examines changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes in Britain. [online] UCL News. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2013/nov/survey-examines-changes-sexual-behaviour-and-attitudes-britain#:~:text=Changing%20attitudes%20towards%20sex&text=One%20in%20five%20men%20(20.

-Vagabond, M. and (2021). Research Recap: Does BDSM Lead to Better Sex and Relationships? [online] Bound Together. Available at: https://bound-together.net/bdsm-better-sex-and-relationships/.

-Zissmann, R. (2023). The Artistry of Bondage by Hajime Kinoko. [online] Pen Magazine International. Available at: https://pen-online.com/arts/the-artistry-of-bondage-by-hajime-kinoko/.

[oldb1og]

request by @callmegkiddo

(happy valentines day! this isn't Valentine-themed but I figured I might as well say it lol. i hope you enjoy this!)

Sawyers w/ a creative s/o who lacks motivation-

Tinker sawyer-

Tinker is definitely the most creative one out of the bunch, while he may not be what most people think when they think ‘artist’ and as much as he denies it, this man is talented.

I mean with all his metal-working, trap designing, and making stuff to improve the house, it’d be hard for him not to develop creative talents.

He has a bunch of used notebooks full of different ideas for stuff scattered around his room and his workspace in the barn.

But of course, every creative person gets creative blocks, even ones who deny being creative, so he definitely sympathizes with you.

He’ll try his best to help you get out of the blocks, even though he doesn’t really know-how.

he usually just powers through his blocks since the state of the house depends he’s creativity so his helping may just make it worse at first.

but once he understands that it doesn’t work for you, he’ll try to come up with some other methods to help.

you get to be one of the few people(aka, the only person) allowed to go through his notebooks if you need inspiration.

you’re always welcome to sit in the barn and write/draw as he works, it may get loud sometimes due to power tools and what-not but it’s the quietest place in the sawyer’s residence.

he’ll gladly read your writing and give feedback but all he really reads are informational books so he probably doesn’t really understand it completely if it’s fanfiction or something.

he’ll still support you the best he can.

alfredo sawyer-

This man doesn’t have a creative bone in his body, the only creative thing he does is make his weird little collages with his magazines.

But just because he isn't creative doesn't mean he wants you not to be, he loves your drawings.

He’s got a whole little area in the gas station of just the stuff you’ve given him (he was super proud when he first showed you it)

He’s more than willing to read the stuff you write but do not use him as a proofreader because he knows absolutely nothing about proper grammar and will say it’s amazing even if it’s just gibberish.

He’s not quite sure what to do when you hit a creative block other than forcing you to help him with his collages.

It doesn't really help but he thinks it does and it makes him happy to spend time with you doing his favorite hobby so he’ll keep making you help even after you explain it doesn't help.

He’s an absolute pervert so any ideas you get from him are NSFW.

He’ll use his magazines for references when he's trying to give you ideas.

Definitely has requested self-inserted smut on more than one occasion.

Gets really confused and defensive when/if you say no.

“What! Why not? You said you wanted an idea!”

Tex sawyer-

tex is creative but it’s all in “homemaking” talents, like baking and sewing.

though his creative talents aren’t really something huge in his daily life, so the few times he’s gotten blocks it didn’t really matter because he just didn’t bake or sew for a bit.

but he still does his best to help you out of slumps.

he’ll give you flowers and suggest trying to sketch them, he’s even willing to attempt drawing them with you.

Your lack of motivation actually inspires a monthly date where the two of you do something creative together, like painting, sculpting, or even just some of the craft kits that stores sell in the toy aisles.

his art skills are slowly improving, while he’s not looking to become an artist he gets so proud and giddy when one of your couple projects comes out good.

tex secretly reads cheesy romance novels and has a big stash of them hidden in his closet underneath clothes he doesn’t wear.

He absolutely marks pages with scenes that stick out to him. rather it’s blue for scenes that made him cry, red for the steamy scenes, or green for scenes that make him cringe in second-hand embarrassment.

no one can change my mind on this.

(also if he trusts you enough to tell you about it and you tell anyone else it will literally break his heart since it’s such a personal thing to him. so you better keep it to yourself)

so of course he’d love to read any of your writing, especially if it’s romance-based. kinda shocking when he gives advice on it, especially if it’s before you know about his reading hobby.

“I know what you’re tryin’ do here but ____ confessed kinda fast, don’t ya think?” “wh-“ “I’m just sayin slow burn would make more sense for these characters”

he’s always there to give suggestions on stuff, y’all will probably have a couple of the creative dates about writing.

you’re also allowed to read his novels, just make sure you put them back and don’t let anyone know whose book it is. And don't be surprised when the love interests do some of the cute things tex has been doing your whole relationship.

[well-its-not-human-anymore]

Hi! Could I get HC from the guys? 👀 How they would always react to catching the reader seeing them "badly", in addition to the fact that he usually avoids them, but with his brothers it is incredible and they feel bad because they think they do not like him.  But she actually likes them and she looks at them like that because she "studies" them to draw them and she is too clumsy and shy to talk to them, that's why she ends up avoiding them. Until finally he catches her drawing them with lots of hearts or maybe they'll find her notebook with lots of portraits of them.

It's kind of funny because when I study people to draw them, they think that I look at them with hatred xd maybe I should increase my glasses prescription

God, glasses are such a pain in the ass but I have to wear them. If I don't anyone within my near vicinity doesn't have a face. But why they gotta get dirty so easily???? Makes me wanna explode or something

TMNT Headcanons

The boys w/ a quiet reader who is fine with his brothers but acts cold around him and stares a lot

Michaelangelo

mikey couldn't describe his disappointment upon realizing that you didn't want to be friends with him

well, you never actually said that to him

but he was pretty sure it was the case

you'd never made an effort to be friends with him

stared at him an awful lot though, but there was always something off about your gaze when you looked at him

like you were sizing him up, scrutinizing him, like he was an opponent

it kinda worried him

to add to that, you didn't even attempt to look embarrassed when he caught you staring

you'd just stare harder

on your end it was quite the opposite

you always found the brothers fascinating and you LOVED studying their anatomy, you'd confessed this to Donnie early on and he happily indulged in your questions

and you loved how easily you got along with the boys

well, except for Mikey

but it wasn't for a lack of trying

whenever the orange sporting turtle came around your normally flamboyant personality crept back into its little corner and hid

any words of excitement that had previously been with you died in your throat

for the longest time you didn't understand it

and you hated not understanding things, so you turned to your only outlet

that's how you ended up with an entire sketchbook full of the youngest brother in vastly different styles and poses

you had a separate book for the others, none of them as detailed as this

and when you stared to analyze you'd fallen into a habit of not looking away when caught

by your logic, if you stared back hard enough he'd look away first or just assume you'd zoned out

he didn't

and on one hectic day you'd left your sketchbook open on the kitchen table in your rush to get to work

you hadn't even noticed the slip up until Leo texted you to let you know during your shift

instant panic

in truth, Mikey was the one who discovered the book upon waking up from his nap and he'd spent the next three hours analyzing every drawing

when you finally dropped in after work to grab your book the turtle was waiting for you with it in hand

he'd asked you if you hated him

you told him no and accepted your sketchbook from him

he was relieved and screaming excitedly, just in his head

"Do you maybe wanna hang out sometime?"

You sighed in relief and nodded

"If you're cool with it- you don't think I'm weird do you?"

"I mean- you are talking to a turtle..."

you lightly shoved his chest and smiled, although it faded within a second

"Oh hush, 10 o'clock tomorrow? I'll bring snacks."

he was so stunned he could only shoot you finger guns in approval

Donatello

Donnie genuinely couldn't understand your unease around him

he'd followed all the proper expectations of holding a conversation

he was polite and engaging

so why wouldn't you talk to him?

this boy has read so many social blogs to try and figure out what he was doing wrong and he just couldn't put his finger on it

you were fine with the rest of his brothers, you'd stay up for hours laughing and gaming with them

you'd even sat still long enough to listen to Leo explain some old Japanese myth that he'd read about in a book

but with him it was always a quick, cordial greetings and farewells with bland small talk in between

Donnie had picked up pretty quickly that you weren't interested in any sort of interaction with him

and he convinced himself that that was okay

but that didn't explain the staring

he'd caught you in the act several times, eyes narrowed and locked on him

especially when you were alone with him in a room or just in the lair

the poor turtle just couldn't put his finger on it

then he caught you drawing, he noticed early on that you always carried a small sketchbook on your person but he didn't think much of it

and it wasn't so much that he caught you drawing, in fact, he wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't snapped at him while he was trying to do a sudoku puzzle

"Damn it Donnie! Stop moving! If I fuck this arm up one more time I'm gonna decompose!"

he'd quickly moved back into the position he was in prior

"sorry?"

but you'd gone silent again, occasionally glancing up from your work and running your eyes along his frame before looking down again

nearly twenty minutes later Donnie had finished the puzzle and it seemed as though you had finished your drawing

"Uh- can I ask what are you-"

"I'm drawing you but you kept moving your arm and making me mess up. You always do that when I draw you so every damn picture I have of you stays a sketch because you always come out looking like a fucking octopus."

He just stared

"Sorry, I uh- I didn't mean to explode on you like that. I'm just- I'm really bad at talking to you okay? It's so easy with everyone else but you've just gotta be so damn smart all the time and I worry that you'll think I'm boring so I just... don't talk to you?"

Donnie is stunned™

You refuse to show him the drawing until you can complete the line art and color it

But at least he knows that you don't hate him

Leonardo

To be completely honest Leo didn't mind that you were distant from him

You created an aura of calm when you were around and you always managed to distract his brothers while you were present

And he enjoyed the alone time

But after a few months that calm acceptance turned into jealousy

Not that he would ever admit it

He would just push it off and ignore it, that usually seemed to work

So why wasn't it?

And your obvious staring problem didn't help at all

Leo didn't spend much time considering his appearance but something about your gaze made him self conscious

And he hated that with a passion

Why was it that you could hold entire debates with his siblings? Even his dad for gods sake. You'd have hour long conversations on almost everything but whenever he tried to say hello you'd make up some lame ass excuse and scamper away

He just wanted an explanation

It appeared that the answer resided in your sketchbook

You'd left it open on the couch when Raph had called you away to spar with him

Leo very delicately flipped through the pages, careful not to disturb some of the polaroid pictures of his brothers

He was admittedly surprised to find pictures of himself among the pages

One of him in a handstand, another of him meditating, there was even one of him mid sneeze that you'd recreated with pencil and paper

The image of his eyes was the most startling, but the book held no polaroid of his eyes

You drew them from memory

And he was shocked when you returned to the room and didn't immediately panic

But that might have been because he didn't try to withhold your book from you

"It took me three months to color them, your eyes. I could never get the shade of blue just right."

"I'm gonna be honest with you y/n, I really thought you didn't like me."

You had the nerve to roll your eyes and follow it with a laugh

"I don't. I mean- I do but no, you just remind me a lot of myself and I haven't exactly figured out why yet. I thought that maybe if I drew you it'd be easier to figure you out..."

"Well did it help?"

You grinned

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

Raphael

If there was one thing Raph hated it was not understanding something that was right in front of him

which is ironic, as a much younger version of himself probably couldn't care less

and a part of him wishes he didn't care about it so much

he wishes that your blatant avoidance of him didn't upset him

but shit, it got under his skin better than any needle ever could

was it too much to ask for you to just tell him what he said or did wrong?

was he asking too much of you?

but on the same scale you'd never shown obvious dislike towards him, you were never rude and you sure as hell didn't talk shit about him to his brothers

you got along great with them

in fact it was getting more difficult to remember a time before you became a part of his family

he'd become so used to your presence that it no longer put him off when he found you hanging around the lair

but in another sense he was certain that you hadn't spoken more than three sentences to him in your time knowing him or his family

so what was the reason

several months in he finally caught onto the staring, your narrow, glassy gaze locked onto his body and refusing to look away

he stared right back at you

this annoyed you for several reasons

because within five seconds your very peaceful drawing session had turned into a staring contest and your eyes were getting VERY dry

then you exhaled in a half-sigh and looked back down at your paper

"Huh, I guess your head is more of an oblong shape..."

he took offense to this

"What tha' hell is that supposed t'mean?"

now your eyes held more of an amused silent judgement, you begrudgingly held up your sketchbook

"I'm drawing you, you fucking walnut."

"Oh..."

now you rolled you eyes and tossed the book to him, he nearly dropped it and fumbled with the pages

your annoyance was quickly growing

"Careful with that."

He flipped through the pages at a snails pace, assumingly because he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing

you had some real talent

when he looked back up at you he was wearing that crooked smile

"and here I was thinkin' that my eyes were just green."

Hope I was able to get this down pretty well! I really enjoyed writing this one! Thanks for the patience!

-Mars 🌠

[bestiesenpai]

Inamorata - Sukuna

You have no idea how much I like this idea lol ya know the meme ‘i got a boyfriend, yeah he kills people he’s crazy’ this is exactly what went through my head with this. Femme reader, I went for a...Sukuna is his own person and not attached to Itadori kind of thing? Like just a stand-alone demon. I had probably way too much fun writing this and would be down to write more for this concept

Content warnings: killing/murder/homicide choose your preferred noun, a little yandere?, size difference and Sukuna is in his four armed form, uhmm there’s a knife(main use to cut open readers palm in the beginning) and also licking blood from said wound, violence/gore at the end

Apparently there was a demon on the loose. From what you’d read on online forums and heard through the whispers of older people on the train, there was a foreboding presence terrorizing the city, preying on the weak and helpless and hoping to take over the world.

There were blurry photos and horrible sketches of what the creature supposedly looked like and the form it took, but none of them seemed to match up. The tattoos on the face and body were always off, the amount of muscle and the stature of the creature were all different depending on who you went to.

Which is why you decided, against all better judgement, to go looking for him. All the stories you’d heard about the demon, the kind of creature it was centuries ago in its prime, had intrigued you. With the mystique and terror surrounding this demon, you’d be a fool not to try and get a peek for yourself.

At first you’d tried a summoning circle, clearing a large space in your bedroom and drawing intricate patterns on the floor in hopes of his arrival. That method quickly turned futile as no demon ever came - but now you probably had a few ghosts watching you sleep at night.

The second method was to try and make a pact with the devil himself, slicing open your palm and dripping blood onto the pages of old scriptures. Attempting to sell your soul had worked even less than the first method and all you had to show for it was a bandage around your hand for two weeks.

“I’ll definitely see him now.” You mumbled to yourself, walking straight to where the demon was seen most: the red light district. Walking past bright neon signs and nearly naked women in shop windows, you took a peek into every alleyway you came across.

“Hey pretty lady, what’re you looking for?” A rough, scratchy voice sounded behind you as you walked past the umpteenth alleyway of the night.

“What do you think?” Not looking over your shoulder, you kept walking. The voice, while sounding absolutely disgusting, didn’t belong to a demon and therefore not worth your time.

“I think you’re looking for trouble.” Curling his fingers around your arm, the man you were trying to ignore snatched you back, making you stumble and fall into his chest. The nasty scent of body odor and cigarettes was wafting off the man, making you worry that his stench would cling to you for days.

“Not the kind you’re talking about.” Pushing away from him, you furiously wiped off your clothes. Looking this man in the face irritated you, he was wasting his time and you knew exactly what his intentions were.

“Don’t play so hard to get!” Forcing a less than charming smile on his face, the man made the move to grab you again.

“Don’t touch me!” Slapping his hands away, you took generous steps back from him. “You’re getting in the way of my search.”

“Search?” Quirking a brow at you, the man took a moment to think before his brows rose in surprise. “You’re looking for Sukuna, aren’t you?”

“That’s his name?” You’d never heard his name before, only seeing some people refer to him as a four armed creature from hell.

“Yup, and I’ve seen him a couple times.” Crossing his arms over his chest, the man smirked triumphantly. “You could say he and I have a kind of friendly relationship.”

“Do you now?” Your eyes trailed up from the man to the dark alleyway behind him where two glowing red eyes emerged.

“Oh yeah, Sukuna’s a great guy! Even offered to give me a position in his little army.” The more he spoke the brighter the eyes got and the fuzzy outline of a gigantic body was starting to take shape.

“His little army?” Slowly taking steps back as the figure came forward, you barely had time to react before the man was snatched up by two giant hands and yanked backwards. Lifting him into the air, it wasn’t long before a mouth with gleaming sharp teeth opened up and swallowed him whole.

As the eyes drew their attention back to you, a nervous laugh left your chest that you couldn’t force to stop. Every step you took back was now accompanied by a step forward from the creature until it fully left the alleyway and you saw exactly what you were dealing with.

Right in front of you, in full form and glory, was the demon you’d been searching for. The scrawling black tattoos along his entire body, the four arms, pink hair, second set of eyes and his impossibly muscular physique - all of it was exactly like you’d been hoping for.

“Hello, pretty little thing.” His voice boomed despite being relatively quiet, a slight echo to the deep timbre. It was almost melodic in a way, somehow soothing your racing heart just slightly.

“S-sukuna?” You squeaked out, back meeting the brick wall of a building.

“That would be me.” Chuckling as he stopped a few feet from you, Sukuna crossed his secondary arms and looked down upon you. The sheer height and width of his body easily dwarfed yours, your head only barely reaching his ribcage.

Your eyes couldn’t stay in one place as you looked at Sukuna. There was too much to take in and you could feel yourself quickly becoming overwhelmed trying to commit every detail to memory.

“You’re…” Licking your lips nervously, you could only meet his eyes for a moment before settling on the mark on his forehead. “You’re wearing womens clothes.” Tied around his waist and hanging off his legs was indeed a womens kimono, a surprising pristine white shade.

“That’s what you decide to say at our first meeting?” An echoing laugh bellowed from him and Sukuna shook his head, running one hand through his hair.

“I-I’m sorry it’s just...they never mentioned it online.” It felt a little silly to be explaining yourself to him when at any moment Sukuna could eat you like he did that man and you would have no way of stopping him.

“Little thing, I have a question for you.” Fixing you with a suddenly sharp stare, Sukuna lowered his brow and bent down, placing two arms above your head and two at your side, trapping you in against the wall with no possible outs.

“Yes?” Pinching your eyes closed, you held your breath as you waited for the inevitable bite of his teeth around.

“Are you scared?” Sukuna whispered, his breath fanning out over the top of your head.

“Yes.” It would be a lie to say no and you had nothing to lose by telling the truth. Sukuna’s eyes bore into you, the weight of his stare physically making your back bow.

“What did you think of me eating that man just now? Was that terrifying for you?”

“No.” Sukuna took a pause at your answer and although you couldn’t see it, his brow furrowed for a fraction of a second.

“What did you feel then? Surely you must have thought it was horrible.”

“N-not really.” Slowly cracking one eye open, you looked up at Sukuna, almost breaking your neck from having to stare directly above you. “I was actually quite happy you did that. He was getting on my nerves.”

The barking laugh that left Sukuna’s mouth made you flinch and throw your hands in the air. It was so loud it seemed to vibrate your entire body and a few windows on the building behind you shook from the force.

“You’re telling me you liked me killing that guy?” Grabbing you by the collar of your shirt, Sukuna held you up in the air, eye level to him. You nodded, pitifully kicking your legs out to try and get back to solid ground. “Aren’t you a messed up little thing?” Still laughing, Sukuna took a proper once over of your body. “Pretty, but messed up.”

“P-please let me go!” You whimpered, hands desperately clutching Sukuna’s to try and not fall out of your clothes and onto the ground.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like how I hold you?” Shaking you for good effect, Sukuna smirked wildly at your scared little squeaks. “Tell me your name.”

“It’s (Y/N)!” Shouting into the air, you felt relief flood into you as Sukuna finally lowered you back to the ground and his hands released you.

“(Y/N)?” Sounding it out on his tongue, Sukuna shrugged to himself. “I like ‘little thing’ better.”

“I’m only little compared to you.” Fixing your clothes, you tried to regain your breath and stop your body from shaking so violently.

“So, what’s a creature like you doing out so late at night here? It’s not safe for a human like you to roam around these parts.”

“I was looking for you.”

“Me? You were looking for me?” Sukuna snorted, waving his hand dismissively at you. “A human like you looking for me? I’ve really seen it all.”

“It’s true!” Pulling out your phone, you quickly showed him all the data you’d compiled on him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Sukuna! I did a summoning circle, I’ve looked in hundreds of online forums - I even tried to make a deal with the devil!” Showing him the mark that was still healing on your palm, the fear that was in your body was slowly trickling out and being replaced with- hope? Excitement? It was hard to say, but as Sukuna grasped your hand between two fingers and looked at your palm, it would be wrong to say it was a negative emotion you felt.

“You really did all that for me?” His voice was much softer now but it still sounded like he was mocking you. Smoothing the pad of one finger across your palm, he felt the ridges of your palm and the wound.

“I did. I find you really fascinating and I- I just wanted to learn more about you.” You faltered when he looked at you, a fierce heat overtaking your cheeks at admitting out loud that you’d been looking for a demon because you found him interesting.

“Are you perhaps interested in me?” A smirk tugged one side of Sukuna’s lip up and he chuckled when your expression only grew more flustered. “Oh little thing, you’re more messed up than I thought.”

“Will you tell me more about yourself? Please?” The words tumbled out of your mouth desperately as you let Sukuna stretch out your arm and grasp your hand more firmly. He didn’t answer you or even acknowledge that you’d spoken, instead grazing the tip of one long sharp nail along the line of the cut.

“I find myself liking you more and more, why is that?” Sukuna’s tone sounded like he was addressing himself as he spoke aloud, turning your hand every which way as he kept scraping his nail against your palm. “Were you my lover in the past, back when I reigned as the ruler of this whole land?”

Racking your brain to try and remember any information on Sukuna potentially having a lover, you were ripped back to reality when Sukuna dug his nail into your skin, reopening the cut and making blood flow freely.

“Ow!” You couldn’t yank your arm out of his grasp and you watched in mild horror as Sukuna lowered himself to your hand, letting his tongue hang out of his mouth and drag across your skin. His tongue quickly became coated in dark red blood, his saliva starting to mingle with your blood.

“You taste so familiar, you must have been mine.” Lapping up your blood now, Sukuna didn’t stop until he could tell you were starting to get weak from blood loss. The lower half of his face was now covered in red, smeared across his skin like paint.

“Sukuna, that’s gross.” The mumble slipped from your delirious mind, making him laugh as he waved a hand over the cut and made it go away. Slipping your hand from his grasp it was like there had never been a mark there in the first place.

“A human telling me what’s gross?” Licking his face clean, Sukuna grinned down at you. The longer he looked at you the longer memories of a past you returned to his mind. The irresistible draw he felt to come to you tonight had been the same one that called to him centuries ago, making you the center of his otherwise cruel and empty world.

Placing two hands on the wall behind you, Sukuna leaned over you once more, this time grasping your chin and turning your face up to him. The saliva that had mixed with your blood had also given you new memories of the past as well, and as you looked at Sukuna you remembered all the things the two of you had done together.

“So, my pet, what shall we do first?”

Sukuna ended up carrying you home, having you tucked inside his kimono as he leaped on rooftops across the city. Opening your bedroom window, Sukuna shoved his body through, having to make himself slightly smaller to fit inside the house.

“Are you uh, hungry?” Standing awkwardly in the middle of your bedroom as Sukuna sat on your bed, you weren’t quite sure what to do now.

“I could eat.” Laying fully back on your bed, it creaked and groaned as Sukuna rested his weight on it. The thought of offering to take him to the kitchen came and went quickly in your head; just getting him into your room was a hard enough task.

Fixing him and yourself a quick meal, as soon as you were done eating Sukuna picked you up and rested you on his abdomen. Even after shrinking himself down your legs were still stretched as wide as possible in hopes of wrapping around his waist.

“As the memories of you return, I realize how much I’ve missed you, my pretty little thing.” Petting down your back, Sukuna looked at you fondly. Propped up on two of his arms, he could stare directly at your tiny body sitting atop him.

“What kind of memories do you have?” So far, the only thing you could seem to recall were memories of a more sexual nature. One’s of you and Sukuna wrapped up in each other's arms, both of his cocks stuffed inside you as you begged to cum.

“I remember giving you the world, whatever you wanted was yours for the taking.” The look in Sukunas eyes was surprisingly soft and you could feel the love coming out from him.

“Whatever I wanted?” Repeating the words, your mouth hung open slightly at all the possible things you could get.

“The world may exist to serve me, but I exist to serve you.” Fully sitting up, Sukuna held you against him as he leaned down, lips grazing your forehead. “What do you want, (Y/N)? I can get you anything in the world, I can do anything in the world.”

“Kill for me.” The whisper that left your lips was almost too quiet for even yourself to hear. But Sukuna nodded, having heard you perfectly. Your words made his body thrum with excitement and his nerves were on edge.

“Kill for you?” He repeated, kissing you on the forehead. The fingers that held you closely dug into your sides and if Sukuna wasn’t careful he could crush you completely.

“You love me, don’t you?” There was just the slightest hint of worry in your voice. What if you were overestimating your power over Sukuna? He could say no or even kill you himself.

“You have no idea what the things my love for you will do.”

Although it pained him to do so, Sukuna left you once the sun began to rise. He had other things to attend to, temples that worshipped him as a god to visit. Promising to see you once dusk began to settle over the sky, Sukuna leapt from your window and into the horizon.

“You came back.” Even though he swore up and down he’d come back, it still shocked you to see him back on your bed once it hit a certain time of night.

“Of course I did.” Sukuna almost seemed hurt you would question him. Holding out a hand, as soon as you grasped one of his fingers he pulled you to him and nestled your body into his side. “Did you do what I asked?”

“The list is in my pocket.” Before leaving, Sukuna had told you to make a list of all the people you wanted him to kill for you. The list had started out short, just a few people that had hurt you that you couldn’t let go of, and then it grew to others, politicians and corrupt people in the media.

“Quite impressive, little thing.” Reading over the list, Sukuna stood up. “Shall we go then?”

“Go whe-” As Sukuna threw open your bedroom window you were met with a strong gust of wind. “Sukuna, where are we going?” You asked him over the wind in your ears. Putting his upper arms into the sleeves of his kimono, he made sure you were nestled safely inside.

“We’re going to take care of the first person on your list.” Wrapping an arm around you, Sukuna jumped out of the window. Though this wasn’t your first time in this position, you hadn’t been fully cognizant when Sukuna took you home last night. Now, with a head clear and no lack of blood to distract you, you could see the lights of the city clearly as they whipped past you.

“It’s beautiful.” Carefully leaning forward, you gazed at the downtown area with all the flashing lights and swerving cars.

“If you say so.” Patting your hip, Sukuna pulled you back, resting your weight fully on his arm and clothes. He wouldn’t admit it, and despite knowing he would catch you in a millisecond, Sukuna didn’t want you to fall out and fall to the ground.

Coming upon the first persons house, he settled you on the ground outside. You were in a tightly knit residential area standing directly under a streetlight, with rows of houses that all looked similar. In a flash, Sukuna had broken into the house and grabbed the person you were after.

“This them?” With a tight grip on their ankle, Sukuna shook them side to side.

“Mhmm.” You didn’t need to look to know he’d gotten the right person, just the feeling you had around them was enough to confirm it.

“W-what’s going on here?!” They screamed, blood pooling in their head the longer they hung upside down.

“Don’t speak.” Sukuna barked, shaking them once again. “You don’t speak to her, or at all.” The person screamed again, a high pitched sound that quickly got shut off as Sukuna swung their body and smacked them against the ground. “I thought I told you to be quiet.”

For a moment you thought they’d died from how hard Sukuna hit them against the ground, but a small whimper and breathless gasps sounded from where their face was crushed against the pavement.

“Do you know why I’m here?” You whispered, standing over their motionless body. Rolling over onto their back, they shook their head and started to stammer. “If you can’t answer my question I don’t want you to make a sound.” Pressing your foot onto their throat, you flinched when their hands came up to try and claw you away.

“Don’t touch her.” Instantly pinning their arms down, Sukuna glowered. “How would you like me to do it?”

“Let me think.” Staring down into their glassy eyes, a million options went through your mind. Sukuna’s power was limitless, there was nothing he couldn’t do. If you asked him to throw their body into outer space, he would do it in a heartbeat. “Rip them limb from limb. You can eat them if you’d like.”

“As you wish.” A sick grin curled Sukuna’s lip and he drug their body across the ground until they were directly underneath him.

“(Y/N) wait! W-wait please!” Their shrill cries fell on deaf ears, and the sound of the first limb being torn off their body was something you could get used to. “Oh- oh my god, my leg!”

“God I wish you’d shut up.” You kept your eyes on the person's face, refusing to look at where blood squirted generously from their now missing extremity.

“Allow me.” With the swipe of one claw Sukuna gouged out their throat. Hot, bright red blood spilled out onto the pavement, pooling and almost making it to where you stood. Throwing one leg into his mouth, Sukuna used a non-bloody hand to lift you up and place you onto a brick wall.

“Thank you.” Giving him a gentle smile, you now had a front row seat to Sukuna ripping apart this person's body and slowly devouring them. There was a mess of blood coating Sukuna’s skin, far more blood than when he had drunk yours.

As you watched Sukuna eat this person, a sense of satisfaction washed over you. It felt good to get justice in your own way for how this person wronged you. After being told to let it go, try and move and let time heal the wound, you could finally get closure the way you wanted.

“All done?” You asked once the last piece of their body was consumed. Standing up to his full height, Sukuna still looked down at you. The blood on his skin began to sizzle off, evaporating into the air and leaving the pungent smile of iron behind.

“Have I made you happy?” He responded, cupping your face and lightly squishing your cheeks. Smiling proudly, a warm flush washed over your face the longer you and Sukuna looked at each other.

“Yes, very.” Nuzzling into his palm and kissing it, you let out a breathless laugh as Sukuna did the same.

“I’m happy to please you.” Kissing you on the top of the head, Sukuna pulled out the list and crossed out the first name. “Shall we go to the others now?”

[yostresswritinggirl]

hello, recently i’ve been getting sexually harrased by old men on the internet because of my body. if you’re comfortable doing it, would you mind writing albedo comforting a reader who something similar happened to them? but please don’t describe it happening if you can

(was supposed to queue this for tomorrow but accidentally posted AGAIN but aight, early gift bbs)

Hey anon, first of all, I wanted to check if you're doing better after that ordeal? Have you talked to someone you trusted about this? Second, I hope you told those mean men off, they are truly disturbing and disgusting. I wish that after this, you'd still manage to be comfortable with yourself :((

Thinking about those kind of behaviour makes me gag and I hope that you'll find comfort someday and soon.

As for your request, I will make sure that there won't be any triggers in this answer. And so to avoid that this will be bulleted, I hope you can take your mind off with this fic!

White Lily

Albedo providing Comfort to Reader after an Unpleasant Encounter

Do you remember the meaning of White Lilies that Albedo endearingly associated you with?

Delicate, untainted, the Alchemist handled you like you were the finest dust of gold carefully drifting down the side of a beaker.

Besides wanting his White Lily for himself, Albedo acquired your heart to ensure your protection. To nurture you, bloom your brightest, watch your white petals glow in healthy conditions and prosper.

In his great care, the man almost IMMEDIATELY noticed how you wilt and appear so dim. Because to other people Albedo barely understands and cares for others, he pays attention to things he cares about the most and that includes you.

Albedo doesn't approach you immediately, as he was scared to worsen your mood even more with a wrong move.

His touches are minimal, aiming to guide you to the extra chair in his laboratory, and place around a soft wool blanket around you.

He'll stand a good distance away but still keeping the keenest eye on you as he watches for any signs of when your mood switches, either good or bad.

This gentleman will not invade your personal space during this time and it's up to you if you ask for cuddles or urge him to come closer. He really just doesn't want to hurt you any further.

He’ll indulge you like a mistress with a bell.

While in his company, he’ll provide you with things that will distract you, but in the Albedo Way™: he’ll turn on the burners so you can watch and listen to the bubbles the hopefully-harmless liquids produce, he’ll sketch beside you so you can get distracted by the sheer beauty of it; and your favorite: plucking a branch and giving it life in front of your eyes.

When it comes to physical comfort, Albedo usually has his hand and lips on your head. Why? It’s the safest route in his opinion.

He knows the importance of physical contact and how it comforts people, however he doesn’t master that thing.

If he gets really into it, he’ll softly nuzzle the crown of your head, softly stroking your hair while murmuring against it.

If you’re not ready to talk about it, that’s fine

But this genius and his aura has a way to coax out answers out of people. You’ll be leaning to his touch, “my beloved petal, together we’ll make sure you’re back to your usual blossom. I’ll always be here with you, and I will be sure to listen once you trust me enough,” and then suddenly you’re spilling your guts out to him.

The more you talk about the incident, his grip around you will be tighter, inching you closer to his chest with a protective grasp around you.

It’s like instinct: like he’s physically protecting you, pulling you away from the pain.

But also a way to make sure you don’t see the burning glare in those once soft, teal eyes.

Million paradigms stir in his mind as he continues to listen, and soon enough (even without uttering the person’s name), he’s already figured out who he needs to brea- confront.

“No matter what they say, darling, you are worth every inch of respect and innocent adoration. They are nothing but monsters, aimed to wreck havoc and haunt your mind. But know that you are more than just your body, you’re made of the most beautiful soul I have ever seen.

I will make sure that you live in a world free of insecurities, so that everyone would see you for who you truly are.”

C O M F Y HOURS

What??? Experiment? Cursed sword whomst?

Everything is off the table, full schedule suddenly as empty as the abyss as he asks if there’s something or somewhere you want to be other than his messy and crammed laboratory

Do you want to be away from people? You’re suddenly making your way to one of his camps outside of Mondstadt with a beautiful view

Do you want to be distracted more? Albedo’s an expert at keeping someone entertained and distracted because of Klee: he can teach you how to sketch, read a book to you (Legend of the Sword anyone?), heck he’ll even try to sing just to get you smiling again

All throughout the day, you’ll notice how reluctant or reeling he might be when it comes to touching you

Taking a split second of a pause before placing his hand on you, even if it’s the most innocent place he can put his hand on

He’ll tap his finger on your palm, before slowly wrapping it with his

Don’t get him wrong, he’s not just doing this because he thinks you’re uh ‘sensitive’

He just doesn’t want you to think of him the same as those guys; it would break his heart to make you uneasy, much more scaring you

Because he loves you not because of your physical properties but the warmth you provide to his cold soul

And that what makes you truly beautiful, White Lily

Bonus: He instigates Kaeya into hunting down those nasty humans, to the point that he bribes the Cavalry Captain with a proper self-portrait sketch just for this one occasion.

Writing this gave me such soft hours vibe hnghng- I hope that everyone feels safe and comforted anytime they need it. Somewhere out there you will find comfort. I hope you enjoy this, anon! And I hope you’re feeling much better now <33 sorry if this came out looking like a general comforting reader hc than the intended scenario ackkk

[sw124]

Sooo I’ve decided to post at least my sketch of Clover so people can see a proper character sketch of her. Note I don’t normally draw, I do more writing but if I need to sketch something out for someone to see then I’ll do it. Also this isn’t a ‘complete’ sketch of her, I’ll do a finished pic soon

Name: Clover

Occupation: Daycare assistant/medical

Family: Brothers Sun/Moon

Appearances : Roughly the same height as Gregory when standing, wears jester themed clothing all color coated in hues of green. Wears an oversized top with her insignia both on her cheeks and shirt, wears stripped pajama like pants and ballet slippers. Rounding out her appearance having a two pronged jesters cap with bells on the ends instead of tied to her wrist like Sun and Moon.

Job description: Specifically desgined for children who have mental and physical conditions, Clover has been outfitted with every line of medical knowledge from basic first aid to EMT level emergencies. Her index fingers contain needles for administering insulin and epinephrine an for taking blood sugar levels for those who are diabetic, her pinky holds anti-bacterial gel/spray, produces bandaids via mouth [to look like she’s sticking her tongue out at you in a multitude of colors] her ring and middle fingers have rollers that can apply salves or ointments. Her hands can heat up or cool down for children who have chills or fevers, has built in inhalers and breathing masks for children with asthma or breathing issues, her facial recognition software was modified to scan patrons and instantly gather medical information on children.

She is also modified with software that can help her identify social and behavioral cues to help children who become overwhelmed or are about to have meltdowns, when a child sits near her they’ll notice a unique scent. Her body produces calming aroma’s to help relax and sedate children who are either agitated or overstimulated. Scents most commonly used are ‘Rainfall, Fresh Bamboo, Lavender, Lilac and lastly Lilac with Lemon’ at most is used when nap time occurs. Though designed for these specific purposes its shown she is very popular among children who are ‘introverted’ in nature. Is also updated with cooking capabilities for children with specific dietary needs which the parent is responsible for giving full details on.

Personality: Clover tends to be aloof with STAFF but at most is a quiet individual, sweet if not a little on the shy side when it comes to new staff members or that of security. But an overall kind individual.

Relationship: Initial interaction was at first met with some apprehension but that lasted for two seconds before being welcomed with open arms into the SuperStar Daycare, the idea of having a ‘little sister’ seemed to make both Sun and Moon ecstatic, they became more welcoming when they learned of her features

General day to day: When it comes to Daycare activities Clover strives to help make Sun and Moon’s jobs easier, providing help to Sun when he has a group of rowdy energized children and can’t address the quieter ones. Clover is programmed with hundreds of stories to tell the children, at nap time can play a soft music tone while producing calming scents to help children who have a hard time falling asleep which makes Moon’s job that much easier. The insignia’s on her shirt and little marks on her cheek glow in the dark providing a ‘night light’ for children afraid in of the dark. Is also programmed with lullabies but will only sing if Moon is nearby to offer support or give the name of a lullaby/song that wishes to be sung.

I hope you all enjoy this, I’ll try an post a colored image of her in the future.

[I should also note that my friend @rainy-nomad has drawn her as well, this was the sketch I showed her, but I wanted to post this sketch just for the heck of it.]

For Clovers finished design this is what Rainy did, honestly she came out perfect

https://rainy-nomad.tumblr.com/post/674425406031577088/happy-belated-birthday-birthday-buddy-for-the

[wraithsoutlaws]

“Snowglobe”

2,072 words of fluff i wrote this depressed and i don’t like it very much but it made me feel better just on the basis of how much i love them and it even gave me motivation to sketch something so im deciding to share it anyway :>

Dagger and Dum Dum head North to meet a shipment for Maelstrom and get stuck in a storm that becomes their first time experiencing snow.

“He’d never been to Seattle, but it didn’t look much different from Night City. Narrow your eyes and you wouldn’t know which one you’d stepped foot in by the look of it alone—corporate skyscrapers jutting out like broken bones, their empty shadows hanging heavy over beggars perched on the corner of each block. Gunshots to the tune of a child’s lullaby. Neon singing ads to your dreams.

Dagger gazed up at the red tinted pollution, a blanket of color spread like a pool of blood against a wall of bleak gray.

The cold was different.

And the sky.”

It was Heavier somehow, though the air felt smoother in his lungs than the rancid smoke of Night City. He kept his head up as he walked, shoving past bodies without a thought, watching as his breath spilled out of him in a visible fog. Swirling, twisting, dancing. Colored lights made it glow as he huffed, trying now to form circles, to shape the air like he would smoke from a cigarette. An impossible task, it seemed, but he didn’t look away from the formless clouds as they disappeared around him, against the edges of the city blurred in his vision.

A hand gripped him tight on the arm and yanked him sideways, narrowly pulling him from the throes of a pole on the sidewalk. Dagger only caught it in the corner of his eyes—Dum Dum quickly taking his full attention with a half-hearted scowl. He knew him well enough to know there wasn’t much anger in that look, but his voice could be deceiving.

“You hear a word I said?” His tone rang like he knew the answer already. He shook his head before he gave Dagger a chance to say it himself. “Should’ve let you bruise your face on that pole.”

Dagger smirked, a playful thing with a flash of teeth. “You said the shipment comes in at four and we’ll have plenty of time to make it to the docks, and then you spent the last three blocks bitching about how the cold makes your shitty chrome joints stiff.”

Dum Dum’s scowl twisted into a smile. His laugh sounded like a fork in an electric socket, and Dagger could feel it in his bones just the same. A pleasant spark beneath his skin that left the hair on his arms standing straight.

“It was only two blocks, asshole,” Dum Dum said, still smiling. He ran a rigid hand up an equally tense arm as if suddenly reminded of his own discomfort. It didn’t matter how much heat ran through those wires when the cold kept them from working proper. Neither one of them had anticipated the sudden drop in temperature as they crossed state lines, and neither one of them had packed for it either, but Dagger didn’t mind it so much; that chill biting at his face, a sharp, unfamiliar sting that kept the bounce in his step fresh. Or at least, he could get used to it, if he had to. Got cold out in the Badlands sometimes. He could live with it a while.

He shrugged out of his leather jacket and held it out to Dum Dum wordlessly. A shiver ran up his spine immediately, an icy caress spreading over him. He pushed it back down and waited for him to take it, but he didn’t move.

“You’ll freeze, gonk,” Dum Dum said after a moment. “Need it more than I do.” “I don’t wanna listen to you whine anymore.”

He scoffed, and rolled his head in lieu of red, vacant eyes. “You spend more time bitching than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“But here I am peachy fuckin’ keen.” He flashed a grin and pushed the jacket forward, insistent this time. Dum Dum hesitated but finally took it, a look of defeat on his face as he pulled it on, like he was the one doing a favor and not the other way around.

“Gonna clock how long it takes you to complain,” he muttered, the shadow of a smile at the corner of his lips, anyway—dropped quick as his gaze darted down to the side pocket where a ball of matted fur poked its head out. Cockroach glanced up between the two of them, noted the cold with a long sniff, then quickly buried himself back into the depth of the jacket pocket for proper hibernation.

He hadn’t prepared for it, either.

The cold cut through him like a sharpened blade, but Dagger didn’t complain as they started back toward the docks. He kept his eyes up, watching once more the way his breath faded against the sky and left the city in a haze, noise dying in his ears.

They arrived early, of course. The freighter hadn’t come yet. The sea was choppy beneath the heavy sky as they stood at the edge of the pier waiting for a glimpse of the ship but it wasn’t even a shadow on the dim horizon. Murmurs of a storm flurried past them. It might not come in at all.

Dum Dum sighed. His breath huffed beside Dagger’s.

“Royce’ll shit if its late.”

“Let him. Makes for a good show,” Dagger said, eyes forward on the crashing waves, voice far away. There was a waiver in his words he was not expecting, chest trembling, stagnant in the cold as he watched his own breath hitch. He noticed the glare of Dum Dum’s optics in the corner of his eyes but he didn’t look to see if he was smiling, to see the ‘I told you so’ etched into his face.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and tucked his arms close to his core to hide the shiver in his bones.

“Quit staring at me,” he said, almost a whisper. Dum Dum didn’t listen, gaze lingering at his side. “I’m not complaining,” he added like an afterthought.

“Sounded close,” Dum Dum said flat, a touch of concern buried somewhere behind the sarcasm. He looked like he was about to say more before something else caught his attention. A swirling white petal floating down in front of them. Something so foreign Dagger hardly recognized what it was. They watched it quietly, followed its trail as it disappeared into the water like it never was. Then there was another in its wake, and another, before the sky was filled and crowded with a thousand more.

Dagger looked up, mouth falling open in awe as the snow fluttered over them like ash. Like the sky had suddenly crumbled. It was finished with this city, and this world. He respected its audacity.

Heavy flakes snapped at his face with gentle cruelty on the wind, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“You ever see this before?” Dum Dum asked, voice halfway between curiosity and glee as he tried desperately to grasp one, only to find his palm empty.

Dagger shook his head. It had been a long time. “Passing through Maine once when I was a pup. Only saw it through the car window. Clan didn’t wanna stop.” He felt a chill on his face that felt much closer than the others and left his skin stinging. He’d almost forgotten that day, or rather, didn’t let himself remember. The snow piled on the edge of the highway like abandoned corpses, too far away to touch. Without hesitation, he reached his own hand forward and let the flakes sink into him.

More and more filled the air, dizzying almost, to look at. He stepped back, took in the sight of the docks through the cracks in between and it all seemed new suddenly, like he’d stumbled into another place without noticing. The cold didn’t reach him here, the city was gone. He thought of the sandstorms in the Badlands, how they consumed, turned everything dark. This was different, a whiteout. Blinding in its brightness even against the flat grey backdrop of the sea. Impenetrable.

The only color came from Dum Dum, eyes glowing bright in contrast, and if he could see their expression he knew that it would mirror his own amazement. He can tell in the way he follows the downpour with his head, arms stretched out, a smile with each melted flake over the metal crests of his cheeks. The late shipment no longer seemed to matter, or the oncoming ire of Royce when he hears the news. Like the rest of the world, they faded into a blur and disappeared behind the veil.

Dagger watched him, amused at the sudden switch in demeanor, like he hadn’t a stick up his ass all day. It was a welcome change and contagious. He tilted his head back, gazed up into the oncoming flurry and stuck his tongue out to catch the flakes as they fell. Onlookers and passersby must have thought they were children but Dagger paid them no mind. They weren’t meant for this world, it belonged only to the two of them and as the blizzard erased their prying eyes from view, Dagger knelt down, gathered as much of the dusting as he could, and launched a snowball with all his force straight into Dum Dum’s face.

It knocked him sideways, almost took him straight off his feet.

He looked stunned for a moment, statuesque in his surprise as Dagger laughed from afar.

Dum Dum’s expression shifted into something sinister— merciless—but most of all, elated.

“You’re fucking dead,” he snapped playfully, already gathering enough snow for a counterstrike but Dagger already had his second in hand, nailing him before he could throw his own.

Another laugh tore through him, but he paid for it as an an unforgiving mound of snow exploded against the side of his head. The cold made his skull ache, but he was still laughing, fumbling with numb fingers as they continued back and forth in the same manner. Sore and freezing and utterly carefree. They’d pay for it later, but it didn’t matter now, nothing did.

The fight ended in a draw, when neither one of them could manage to lift an arm and the snow buried their footprints as soon as they appeared. It hadn’t slowed for a minute, and they both knew that they’d be stuck here for some time, in this city, this world that was gifted to them. They’d find a motel eventually, but for now they watched the sky fall with the same amount of wonder as when it began, huddled beneath the awning of a warehouse overlooking the choppy sea.

The ship hadn’t come yet.

Dagger didn’t mind.

He watched his breath in uneven huffs. His chest ached, but he couldn’t feel much else beside the cold—sharp tendrils slivering through his veins—even with Dum Dum pressed beside him. His body shook despite his best efforts, clothes wet and heavy with ice, hair nearly frosted.

Dum Dum shifted closer. Pushed his shoulder against him. “You’re shivering.”

“But not complaining.” He forced the words out through a pleased grin, steady somehow, even if his lungs froze whenever he opened his mouth. It was meant as a gotcha but it sure as shit didn’t feel like one, and though he could have, Dum Dum didn’t throw it in his face, either. Instead, he pulled off the jacket and draped it over the both of them. The thin layer of leather immediately eased the edge, made even better by the heat emanating from the cybernetics beneath Dum Dum’s skin.

Dagger felt himself relax, melting into the warmth between them without really meaning to as a pleasant burn spread through him. He leaned down and pressed his lips against the other’s. Felt hot to the touch in comparison to his own, and he smiled. His eyes closed momentarily, and when he opened them again he was half surprised to see the snow hadn’t melted.

He slumped back to watch the unrelenting flurry, a sparkling, untouched layer that obscured the edges of the world.

“We got time to kill,” Dagger said almost absently, his mind only half interested in the words coming out of his mouth. Eyes transfixed on the storm. Body heavy and warm and comfortable beside the other. “Imagine how pretty it’d be painted red.”

“Fucking nova,” Dum Dum said, voice a low hum.

The snow swirled on ahead of them, infinite by the look of it, locking them within its walls.

And neither one of them made an effort to move.

[paper-n-ashes]

The Late Shift

Characters: Paul Sevier x Female Reader

Words: 2k

Warnings/Tags: There’s actually none (I hope). I know. I’m surprised too.

Authors Note: This is so dumb. I’m aware. Look, I’ve been dealing with a horrendous writers block and shattered confidence and I made Paul Sevier gifs to ease my pain. It turned into this. I just wanted to try something a little cute and fluffy to get back into the swing of things. So... here it is.

*

It was going to be a long night.

Stuck on the Wednesday evening shift for the third time this month, you mindlessly fiddled with the pen in your hand. Twirling it between your fingers, your mind drifted away from the present moment, wondering why your boss seemed to dislike you so much to keep you here past 6pm in the middle of the week. He’d always been adamant this was prime selling time for this boutique suit store, with corporate clients needing to do their shopping outside of normal business hours.

You, however, knew keeping this place open was senseless, barely seeing more than a few unenthusiastic customers in these agonizingly slow stretches. Working on commission also made you all the more bitter about being paid minimum wage to stand behind a counter and doodle sketches of imaginary clients dressed in the outfits you personally tailored. This isn’t where you thought a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design would take you, that’s for sure.

“H-hello,” you heard a deep voice quietly greet you, startling you into focus. “Are you busy? I… think I need a little help.”

Eyes flickering up from the notepad, you were sure your pupils blew wide at the sight of the man in front of you. Standing at an imposingly large height, his hair a severely murky shade of black, with honeyed irises shining brightly behind delicate spectacles.

A human personification of tall, dark and handsome. Well, except for the clothes.

The stranger wore the layered combination of a grey tweed jacket and argyle patterned sweater, arranged over a particularly heinous, mustard-coloured button up. While the ensemble made you internally cringe, it gave him an air of intelligence, like the kind that hangs around stuffy, old college professors who have more academic accolades than you have fingers and toes.

“Me?” you coughed out, knowing full well you were the only other person in this tiny little shop. “Uh, yeah. I mean- No, no I’m not busy. What is it you need help with?” Even when you stood, the man towered above you, making you silently begin to calculate the high-numbered measurements you’d need to fit him in something.

“I have an important meeting scheduled for Friday. You know, the type you need to wear a suit to?” Evidently the thought of it made him nervous, as you noticed his cheek twitch slightly, his eyes scanning momentarily at the garments filling the space. “I’m… uh… not so great with clothes.”

Clearly, you chuckled inside your head, holding the word from your tongue. “You want me to pick out something for you?”

He took a defeated breath, his mouth twisting into an awkward yet wonderfully endearing smile. “Would you mind? Only if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble!” you burst, maybe a little too excitedly. “It’s my job!” Bounding out from behind the counter you’d been imprisoned by, you moved directly to the section of classic navy business suits. Slim line. Something to accentuate his well-built frame, rather than hide it away. You had to pause, swivelling back around to the dumbfounded man. “Is price an issue… uh…?”

“Paul,” he answered for you, slowly moving to where you stood. “And… I suppose not. Probably should spend the money on something that will last. If you think it’s a good idea.”

Oh thank god, you mused without showing the relief on your face. He’s not some rich asshole trying to flash his cash. “A good suit can last you five years, if you treat it right.” Your hand reached over to graze one of the deepened blue sleeves of a jacket at your left. “And a classic colour will never go out of style.”

Paul let out an embarrassed chuckle. “I think you’ve already noticed how lacking in style I am…” He glanced to your nametag, murmuring your name with a goofy smirk curling his lips. You’d never seen a grown man, especially not one of this stature, appear so adorable. It was horribly distracting.

“I’m sure you have expertise in other areas,” you stumbled, realizing only when the words came out how offensive they might seem. Yet Paul conceded to your comment, his rumbling laugh making your chest feel tight.

“Debatable,” he shrugged. “I’m just glad I found some qualified personnel to help me in this instance.”

Oh boy. Humble and charming? You were in so much trouble. Surely someone as sweet as this had another waiting for them at home. “I’m sure your partner could help you pick out something nice too.”

“Not an option in my case.”

Shit. Single too. You were truly fucked.

You turned, trying to calm your erratic heartbeat by focusing on finding an outfit that would contain his longer limbs. Plucking out a matching jacket and trouser set, with an ivory, collared button-up, you offered them to Paul, his features having melted into a sweetened look of intrigue. “Go and try these on. There’s a changeroom just behind the counter. See how they feel, and we can go from there.”

He nodded, taking the pieces with both of his large hands and shuffling away to where you’d pointed to. No sooner than the latch had locked were you dashing to where your phone was sitting at the register, flitting out a rushed text message to your favourite co-worker.

There was rustling you heard emanating from the changeroom stall, doing your best to ignore the urge of picturing Paul, a man you’d met only minutes ago, gradually slipping off his clothes to reveal the toned muscles underneath. You grimaced at yourself, shaking your head to banish the imaginations. God this was unprofessional.

Finally, a response lit up on your phone screen.

You laughed softly through your nose, about to type a reply when you heard the lock click open again. The breath in your lungs was stuck as Paul made his way out, the expensive textiles draping over his burly frame in a way that made your whole body tense.

He rustled a hand through his hair, looking up to you while fidgeting with the starchy material stretched over his chest. “Does it look okay?”

After all these years working this job, the enticing novelty of attractive men in well-fitted suits had slowly worn off, especially when most of them treated you with about as much respect as the used gum they spit out onto the sidewalk. Suddenly, all those preconceived notions were gone. On Paul, this ensemble instantly became the most captivating thing in the entire universe.

The inside of your mouth flooded with saliva, having to swallow hard before speaking again. “Great… it looks… great.” You did your best to conceal a settling exhale. “What do you think? How does it feel?”

Paul shifted to look at his reflection in the mirror, pupils trailing up and down, flexing his limbs in an attempt to get a proper impression of the new apparel. “It feels really good. Makes me look… sophisticated.” He turned to you, his expression unsure. “Right?”

Your smile was sparkling, nodding to his question. There was a small amount of work to do, noting how in your effort to make sure everything complemented his physique, you’d oversized him. The waistline of the jacket needed to be taken in, the shoulder lines sitting slightly off, and the trouser length needing to be taken up slightly. “A couple of adjustments and it’ll be perfect.”

“You mean taking it to be tailored?”

“No need.” You pulled out the wheel of berry pins from your pocket, kneeling down on the floor next to Paul’s feet. “All our tailoring is included in the price. Done completely in house.” You began to fold the bottom edge of his pants, pinning it to an adequate length. “I can have it ready for you tomorrow, all ready for your Friday meeting.”

“You do all the tailoring yourself?” Paul asked as you slinked another pin through the fabric.

“Sure do,” you chirped, moving onto the other leg. “3 years at a design school taught me a few things about cutting and sewing.” With the hemlines in place, you straightened in front of him, plucking out a roll of measuring tape from your other pocket. “I just… need to take a few measurements to properly alter the jacket.”

His cheek twitched, the line of his jaw seeming somewhat strained. “Sure. F-fine. Do what you gotta do."

You went with determining his arm length first, feeling out the boney point of his shoulder and striping the lined tape all the way down to his wrist. Then, after taking a deep inhale, you curled your arms around his hips, focusing hard on the little black numbers to ignore the fact Paul’s breath had started to skate over your skin with this close proximity. It was when you were lining up the thickened stripes indicating his chest circumference that you made the mistake of peering up, finding his alluring stare fully concentrated on you.

There was a moment. A spark to waiting kindling. Where impulse could have led you to do a dangerous thing. You’d never been the hasty type, never acted without considerable thought. Usually so shy and composed, never making the first move. Although right now, you could scarcely hold yourself back, desperate to know the sensation of Paul’s lips, how they’d move over yours, what they tasted like.

No. This was so inappropriate.

The compulsion was about to wither away when you felt a hand skim up your waist, the lightened touch shooting a thrill over your skin.

“Excuse me,” a gruff voice called from your side. “How much are these dress socks?”

You immediately stepped back, smacked into reality again. “$12.99. Exactly what it says on the box.”

The older gentlemen scrutinized the packaging, lids narrowed until he finally saw the numbers plastered at the border. “Oh, right. Eh, a little expensive for my taste. Thanks anyway.”

Flustered, you began to coil the measuring tape into its resting spiral, forcefully glaring at the floor. “I’m all done. You can get dressed into your own clothes now.”

In your periphery you saw Paul regarding you with a gentle nod, walking back into the changeroom without another word. Every part of you wanted to sink beneath the wooden floorboards, so horrendously embarrassed you could feel a smoldering heat prickle at your cheeks. Only to relieve some of the nervous energy, you ran to your phone.

Again, Paul was exiting out of the stall just as you were going to submit your reply, placing the neatly arranged garments over the counter. It was difficult to look directly at him, having to summon all remaining shards of your courage to drift your eyes up to his face. “Was there anything else you needed?”

His mouth parted, only to quickly snap shut, scratching at his hairline in the seconds it took for him to give you a response. “No. Nothing else. Unless there’s something more you think I need.”

You shook your head, wishing you could give another answer just to keep him here. “You’re all set.” The full price of his items flashed on the monitor in front of you, spouting it to him as your fingers flicked across the keyboard to finalize the purchase, with a personal discount that wouldn’t show on the receipt.

“When should I come by to pick it up?” he queried, passing you his credit card. “Oh, but there’s no pressure. Whenever you have the time is just fine.”

An idea flared. “If you give me your number, I can text you when it’s ready.”

“That works for me.”

Erasing all evidence of the conversation you’d been having, you brought up the number pad, handing your phone over. Paul swiftly typed in his details before placing it back in your palm. ‘Paul the Suit Guy’ the contact read, unable to stifle your laugh.  

“So I’ll see you tomorrow?” His eager expression made your heart quiver through a beat.

“Y-yeah,” you stammered. “I’ll see you then.”

Paul waved his hand in an awkward flourish to signal his goodbye, eventually moving far enough from your vision for you to finally take a full, relaxed breath. In a dazed hurry, you keyed in your returning message to your co-worker.

It was the precise moment your thumb had pressed into the ‘Send’ button that you realised your recipient wasn’t the one you’d intended.

You’d sent this message straight to Paul.

Fuck. Oh fuck. This was bad.

While you were scrambling to formulate a believable excuse, a new message popped up onto the screen.

Tags for my lovelies who might tolerate this nonsense: @tlcwrites @roanniom @princessxkenobi @hopeamarsu @blowthatpieceofjunk @mariesackler @leatherboundriot @foxilayde @modernpaw @cornmousequeen @direnightshade @safarigirlsp @blackberries45 @mylifeisactuallyamess @caillea @jynzandtonic @beskarbabs​

[slater-later]

i'm not saying prompt 10 with brian kelly,, but that totally is what i'm saying... please? :)

OH YES!  *cracks knuckles* I’m on this boat before it even sailed!

20/10 I really enjoyed this prompt. It was *chefs kiss* glorious. I love Brian Kelly with my whole heart. I’m rewatching the movie right now as we speak!

******

The two of you had aged. The long nights spent together, sitting together at the skate spark, munching on a bag of chips and an Arnold palmer, had shifted. 

You first met at the park, the boys and him grinding some railings over a long flight of steps. You had to watch, curled up on the park bench drawing. They hadn’t noticed you at first, curled up with your legs crossed as you marked your sketchbook. Drawing the flipping skate boardings and fast motions of their legs. It was a perfect way to fit in some figure drawings practice. They were so well absorbed in their tricks and banter, they didn’t notice. 

You had filled about a full page and half of their bodies, arms spread wide in the air as they balanced their board on the pipe. Grinding the worn rail with fresh marks, leaving a trail of red behind. 

Brian was having some trouble making it to the end of the line. He’d get about two-thirds of the way down and lose his balance. Clamoring onto the hard concrete steps with a shout, rolling down the rest of the way. A few times, he was able to land on the steps and kept on running, kicking his feet forward to run through the momentum. And the throb at his feet. He was furiously bright red in frustration, knees buzzing in ache. He was relentless and stubborn. He wanted to finish the trick!

And slamming his skateboard on the ground wouldn’t fix it, though it did happen a few times. It got him nowhere.

He had caught wind of your eyes. Curious as he was, he ran up the hill, wanting to say hello. 

“Whatcha got there?” He smirked.

“Hm?” You picked your head up, head milky from the self-absorbed high of drawing. “Oh, I was making some sketches of you guys. Is that okay?”

“Okay? Hell yeah! That sounds cool,” He laughed, gleaming. “Can I see?” He eyed your book. 

“Sure,” And you spun it around, his face lighting up. He had never seen something as fun as this! He loved skateboarding but add art? Even sicker! 

“God, this is amazing! You’re really good at this,” He tapped at one of your pictures, enjoying the style. You passed it to him. “I wish I could do something like this, I’m jealous.”

You laughed and he passed it back to you. You showed him another page of your drawings, “It’s not that hard, it’s practice,” You paused, showing him another. “And time, lots, and lots of time.”

“Hol’ up-” He stepped back, snapping his board to his feet. “Can you do something like this?” He pulled an olley, snapping his feet and the board into the air. 

“Yeah, I think I can… Just give me a sec…” Your eyes squinted, snapping the moment into your mind and making a fast sketch. Enough to get the gesture. 

He waited until you finished, sliding into the seat next to you. Patiently waiting and observing. “My god… You’re the next Picasso,” He mumbled, dumbfounded.

“Picasso wasn’t a great guy… but he was a good artist. Though, I appreciate the compliment.”

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t know,” He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “Do you want to come down and hang out with us? You seem really fun.”

“Yeah, sure, that sounds nice,” And the two of you walked, joining the group of friends.

****

  Slowly, your relationship bloomed. Friends turned to lovers and the two of you eventually moved in together. You both had properly graduated high school and you had enrolled in art school. Brian was taking a year off to work and figure out what he wanted to go to school for her. It seemed like the appropriate thing to do.

And it had given him time to properly grieve. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go to school and work on building a happy life for himself. It’s that the weight and chaos of his last year of high school were overwhelming. He didn’t have the proper time to understand how much the weight of his brothers’ life affected him. He had thought, they would be in each other’s life forever. He still didn’t like going home when he visited his parents, the memory of Vinh lingering. 

Moving in together was good for both of you. It cut your guys rent and living together was easy. He worked at a skateshop by the beach during the day while you went to classes. Taking the bus to get there. He was very supportive of your decision and had gotten your work to hang on the walls of the shop. He was proud to watch you grow. He even talked up your art and beamed when it sold.

Some nights with him rough. He’d be distraught over his brothers' death and the hole it left in his life. You’d soothe him, listening to his words and holding his hand as he cried. Pulling him close, tight.

Other days went well, you two laughing about some silly joke and the faces he’d make at you. He actually had quite the talent of doing impressions, one that you happily egged on.

One thing that you loved, was the sleepy nights in bed. Feet crossed and fished together, slipping against each other’s smooth skin. Brian was like a small radiator. He’d curl up into himself, pulling the sheets of the pillowy duvet cover around him. He’d tug at them, burrito-ing himself, exposing your feet to the cold biting air. 

“Brian-” You’d wine softly, shifting closer to him as you spooned. You could tell he was sad today, he had been quiet all day.

“Yeah?” He sniffled, turning his head softly. 

“Hey- are you alright?” You sat up, pulling his shoulder down against the bed. His face was red, slow tears flowing. 

“Honey,” You cooed, slipping back down and wrapping your arms around his torso. Brian wrapped them around your body, pressing his burry eyes into the pillow as he sobbed. “Shhh,” You whispered, pressing your cheek into his warm chest. “What’s got you upset?” 

“Vinh- again!” He choked bitterly, “I miss him. And I’m so sick of being upset! I hate this Y/N, I want it to end!” He bellowed. His body curled around you, the pressure solid. “I want… I want him back. I wish he didn’t die, I wish I told him how much I cared about him.”

You softly brushed the tears from his eyes, letting it pour out of him. You had learned that this was the time to listen. That you couldn’t change the way he felt. It was grief. “Your love for him is felt, he feels it,” Your soft lips were hushed, like a quiet prayer to his ears.

“I keep thinking if I could have done something that day- like um,” He sniffed, trying to clear his stuffy nose. “I should have convinced him to take that gig at the corner shop,” He shook his head, staring up at the ceiling. “But then I stole that box of pop rocks and blew it for ‘em”

“You’re blaming yourself again.”

“I know… I just, I hate that he’s gone.”

You stroked a hand through his hand.

“I’m alright, I’m…” He looked down at you, thumbing your cheek with a heavy sigh. “You know how I get. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize, he’s your brother. You should be upset.”

“Yeah,” He chuckled, forcing a tiny smile. Trying to peek a bit of happiness for you. He hated getting like this. He knew it hung heavy on the both of you. “Can we get some pizza? I’m hungry.”

“Of course, Bruno’s? Hawaiian with extra bacon?”

“Extra bacon!” He gleamed, bursting out with a laugh. “You’re spoiling me!” He roared, pulling you up and in for a kiss. “Thanks, Y/N,” He hushed, his tender tone creeping into his voice. His hysterics falling away. “I really appreciate you, for everything that you do. I love you,” And those lips came back, pulling you in close as your fingers slipped together for a deep kiss. “I don’t know what I’d without you, you’re my rock Y/N. Thank you,” He sniffed.

Your feet curled together, bodies relaxing as you took in the stillness of the quiet air. A siren passed, the sound drifting into your small apartment together. The two of you layed together, the hum of your warm bodies melting, the weight of each other a comforting feeling. The two of you stayed like that for some time in silence and your bodies grew sleepy. Unmoving in your quiet support for one another.

Eventually, your tummies grumbled. Gurgling with need.

“Y/N?” He whispered in your ear and you shifted, reaching for your phone.

“I got it,” And you called for the pizza. Delivery.