#I LOVE CROSS HATCHING ITS SO FUN

[iloveacronix]

Got a new sketchbook for this year's art class but im not entering till the 12th and im getting impatient so I ended up drawing a Roby on it

[mathysphere]

I made a trailer for my latest cross-stitch finish ✌️

all pics and vids are my own, except, well-- you'll know which one

[marsh sampler pics & progress tag] [pattern here]

[small-spark-of-light]

day 22 prompt was similar to yesterdays, but instead of shading with pure blacks and whites i had to shade with hatching/cross-hatching

[azuhrasims]

A Little Mod Showcase

Mods created by @janesimsten and @littlbowbub that add flavor to old fashioned game play. You should check out both of these awesome creators though, they have more mods than I'm showing you here!

Archery Skill by JaneSimsten. This mod comes with multiple bow options, three different target ranges, and options to compete with your fellow sims. Kids can practice their bow skills too.Also, its a 10 level skill! This is just a fun flavor to add to any country living save.

Of course if you are into archery, maybe your sims also want to go hunting? You can do that with:

Marksmanship Skill by JaneSimsten. This mod brings your sims rifles, pistols, and 3 different lengths of shooting range to practice their marksmanship. For funsies, you can also get into duels with other sims with this 10 level skill.

The cool part for archery though? This one comes with a hunting spot that works with both guns and bows! Once you reach skill level 3, you can start the hunt. Hunt for multiple critters. These animals actually show up in your inventory and your sim can place them in the world if you need something a little more gruesome for your story telling. That said, you don't actually see any animals killed with this mod - a shot is fired and an animal appears in your inventory.

If you want to use these animals that you've hunted for meat, you can do that with:

Medieval Cookbook by Littlbowbub. This one is so much more than a cookbook - but I will always stand by Jess's recipes and craftsmanship. If you have the medieval cookbook mod installed, you can click on the animal you've hunted and carve it for meat that can be used for cooking.

If you don't want to deal with hunting by marksmanship or archery, the medieval mod has a nifty sign post that comes with it that allows you to do SO MANY rabbit hole activities! Really. You can go to a rabbit hole for fishing, hunting, gathering herbs and plants - which LBB has added some custom herbs for cooking that can be gathered!

You can also go search for firewood, which you want to keep in mind if you get the add-on for this mod that requires firewood for all fireplaces and fire places to light them. You can also download a couple of fun options for custom cooking fireplaces. Using the actual cookbook then, find a variety of medieval dishes to pick from!

Going for hard mode in your sims game? Install this mod with LBB's Homestead Helper and related homesteading mods to be forced to make very part of every food item your sims want to consume.

The Functional Spinning Wheel by JaneSimsten. The spinning wheel looks awesome and the animation is flawless. You get the option to spin thread or pull yarn. With this mod installed, that thread and yarn are required for knitting and cross stitch. Fun side note, if you play as a spell caster, they can cast a spinning wheel curse on a newborn like Sleeping Beauty and isn't that just the neatest thing?

Rideable Dragons by JaneSimsten. Guys, I was not prepared for this little fire starting, flying lizard to amuse me so much. You purchase the egg and hatch the dragon yourself. They start out as manageable smallish sized child dragons and grow up into great big dragons. The dragons have behaviors attached to them like Cottage Living animals, so you can pet them, clean them, feed them, give them gifts. They stay in one spot and do not move around on the ground though. That;s a good thing, Until you train them not to start fires, these guys are hazardous to your lot!

This comes with a 10 level Dragon Rider skill. At level 5 you can begin to take your adult dragons for flights. Its fun. Watch them in Tab mode if you really want to see how far your dragon and riders are going.

Climbeable Tree by JaneSimsten. This one is a little thing that is lovely for screenshots. It will take your sims a few tries to learn how to climb the tree the first time. It appears to be related to the fitness skill though.

Blacksmithing Skill by Jane Simsten. This one is cool. The blacksmithing skill is another 10 level skill. You mine the ore you need to craft from rocks that come as part of the mod (their in the rock category in landscaping!) Then you make that ore into ingots. The ingots can be made into swords, maces, pole arms, sword racks, suits of armor, and more! This would make for an awesome way to make that medieval weapons shop that every town needs. It takes some serious time and effort to get started though!

Lute Skill by Jane Simsten. Its a lute, with custom lute noises! 10 level skill, options to write and license songs and romance other sims are here. Our bards can have lutes!

Playable Harp Skill by Jane Simsten. Guys, the animations and the custom sounds on this are so lovely. I feel like I've stepped into a lovely wonderland when my sims are playing the harp. It just feels magical. 10 level skill.

There are more and I may get to them in the future, but this is what I played with today and it was lovely. Thanks to Jane and Jess for all of their hard work to make our games more magical!

[inf3ct3dd]

ACT 1. TROUBLE

summary: the plan hatches.

warnings: mentions of death, sex joke

wc: 3k

authors note: this fic has been my wonderfully niche vision for so long.... i hope you all enjoy

next chapter. masterlist

the unforgiving blaring heat of the desert was torturous.

the sun seemed to be beaming from right above, practically frying you and your companions skin as you treaded through the sand. one suffering the consequences worse than another, skin resembling a boiled lobster.

dry, chapped lips silently begging for water, only to be met with the sting of saltwater sweat dripping onto them. you can try to lick them away, but it will only worsen the pain. pain, your muscles ache and your bones feel as if they’ll crumble if you step forward once more. you needed…out.…of the heat……

ah, alas, a river! oh, how lovely, a quench to the terrible thirst…. you reach out towards it, cupping your hands to drink, and are met with the hot, cruel surface of a car door.

“are you done, r? you’re gonna set off the alarm.” ellie had destroyed your dramatic scene , rolling her eyes and slumping down on the concrete next to the car. her long ass jorts protected her skin from the heat of the ground.

“no, it can’t be! twas a mirage, my mind has fooled me!” draping a dramatic hand across your forehead, you’re met with a moist surface that you wipe away onto your shorts, falling next to the girl. your shorts however, did not protect you. you slightly hissed in pain, before bringing your knees to your chest.

“they shouldn’t have let you read othello. i think you’re actually going insane.” she bluntly remarks, offering you a light giggle.

your english teacher, honors english if you wanna brag, had just started a shakespeare unit, and you were over the moon. being the first to volunteer to read in class, writing your own gorgeous sonnets about even more gorgeous subjects , and torturing ellie with your constant chiming of “shall i compare thee to a midsummers day?”

“ugh, you hate to see a girl being theatrical.” with a quick roll of your eyes, you crossed your arms and pouted.

“yes, i do.”

ellie knew it wasn’t one of your actual sad pouts, like when she accidentally killed the snail you two found, but simply you being….theatrical. like your wonderful performance in the school musical last year, as sharpay in high school musical. was that fuckass blonde wig a disgrace? absolutely. but your wonderful acting skills distracted from it, or so you hoped.

“you know whats actually making me go insane? the fact that you made me walk to 7-11 in this heat!!! you tryna kill me?”

the taste of the slushy was still lingering in your mouth , along with the red color on your tounge, but the cold it brought was long gone.

“oh my lady, i would never do such a thing! but alas, i required a refreshment, and id hate to go alone.” ellie counters back in her own shitty-british accent , holding a hand to her chest.

“see, told you its fun.” you nudged her elbow with your own, sweaty limbs colliding with a gross “splat”.

“yeah yeah, whatever. you’re right about everything, my glorious queen-“

“indeed!” you interrupted, pout replaced with a cheeky smile.

you both sat for a second, catching your breath. your eyes wandered to ellies arms, and you noticed she had turned into a lobster. her arms were bright red and sunburnt, and you reached out to poke her.

“ow-fuck! why did you do that!!” she winced in pain, moving her arm away.

“jesus, why do you never put on sunscreen? you trying to get tan or something?”

“i didn’t think it would be this bad outside..”

“you’re stupid.”

“you’re mean..”

after a while of you both sitting in comfortable silence, both of your eyes fall on the vehicle across the street. it was the one thing you always loved staring at on this street. the ferrari was reflecting all the beams of ultraviolet hitting it, practically glowing in the humid hellscape. the dashboard and practically everything else was smothered in dust, the cause probably being its idle parking spot, same one it had been occupying since you and ellie were 5 years old. the black detailing and the shiny silver horse enchanted you, despite the cars mildly decrepit state. 13 years later, you wondered if it would even still run. wondered how the engine would feel rumbling underneath you as you pushed against the wind down the empty streets.

people always make driving seem so crazy and thrilling in movies. sharp turns, constant speeding, drifting, it was like the road was a rollercoaster. or maybe you had just watched too many fast and furious movies with your dad.

but every time you were in a car, you were calm. always having an arm out the window, sometimes waving your hand like the ocean, and others making finger legs and doing parkour off of the other cars. when it rained, especially at night, you’d always beg your dad to drive you around. you’d try to count the raindrops on the windshield , and often times you’d let the taps on the windows lull you to sleep.

you have many memories of your dad taking you on drives to get you to sleep. especially when you were younger, and didn’t want to go to bed because you ‘weren’t tired’. every time, he’d just say “you don’t have to sleep, just rest.” sometimes he’d sing the songs he burned onto his cds, other times he’d make lists of things you wanted to do the next day. but no matter what, within 10 minutes you were always out cold. most times he’d keep driving for a bit, just to make sure you were really sleeping, and then carry you as gently as possible up to your room.

now, you knew better than to try and make him carry you up the stairs. you’d have a dramatic stretch, and practically drag yourself to your house before flopping down on the couch. half of the time face first.

you never wanted to be the one driving, though. you didn’t trust yourself behind the wheel, thinking you’d get too relaxed and doze off the second you started driving. or get into a crash. every time you did bumper carts, you’d be the one annoying all the little kids by hitting them a thousand times with your car. plus, highways are scary as fuck.

but for some reason, every time you saw that car parked down your street, you imagined yourself behind the wheel. always with some of those cool ass driving gloves on, and the scorpion jacket ryan gosling had in drive. you’d drift like all those cool dudes in your dads movies, and never ever crash into anyone on the highway. you thought it was blessed with some spell that made everyone who drove it amazing at driving.

ellie had zero faith in you though.

“you’d total that thing in five seconds. do you not remember the last time you tried to drive?”

her rude remark reminded you of the “raspberry incident”, as you called it, from last summer. you were at your grandmas in the countryside, her in the passenger of her big ass suburban trying to teach you to drive in the raspberry fields. you had been pushing a bit hard on the gas a few times, making her tell you to “calm down” , but you were a damn good driver as far as you saw. but it allll went downhill when she made you practice turning. you had turned around one of the rows of berries perfectly, and you were driving a bit too fast to the next corner. but somehow, you turned on the wrong angle and drove straight into the berries. and to make things worse, you kept pushing the gas pedal on accident instead of the brakes. your grandma screaming at you to stop didn’t help much either. you had torn down no more than 1/5 of the row, but nothing happened to the car. a trip to the carwash and it was like nothing ever happened.

“that was soooo long ago. you weren’t even there either! what if i was just over exaggerating when i told you and it wasn’t that bad?”

“you calling yourself a liar?” ellie took a sip of her slushy. the one she made you take this whole treacherous journey for. she was somehow still nursing hers, while yours was in a trash can five blocks back.

“never. how are you still drinking that thing? we’ve been walking for like half an hour!” you grab the drink out of her hand, taking a sip for a biiit too long.

“hey! you can’t even ask? i spent my hard earned money on that thing.“

“oh please, it was only like 3 dollars. you sound like joel right now.”

you both chuckled. ellies dad acted just like yours, that’s probably why they’re such best friends. that and the two dead wives thing, they had a lot in common. and coincidentally, so did you and ellie. you knew each other since you came out of the womb. well, since you came out. ellie was there three weeks before you, and she never let you forget it. constantly on her “respect your elders” bullshit every time you punched her in the arm for stealing your food. you two were fighting over the same toys and blabbering to each other since birth. your parents were convinced you were some baby geniuses that had developed your own language with how much you ‘spoke’ to each other. you two always understood each other.

“whatever dude, i’d be a driving master in that thing. it’d probably be a total chick magnet too. i’d be cleaning that backseat every day.”

ellie poked you in the side at your joke, and you both shoved each other while you laughed.

“yeah, you and your spongebob boxers are definitely soooo seductive.”

“you can’t say shit, you have the matching patrick pair!”

almost half your closet was either clothes you took from ellies house, or ones you bought to match with her. your dad has a whole photo album of old pictures he took of you and her in your matching outfits. and you have a bin in the attic stacked to the brim with your matching halloween costumes. the one matching thing the two of you never took off was your necklaces. it was one of those basic hearts, two pieces of silver that fit together perfectly with “best friends” and an infinity sign engraved on it. you had begged your dad for it while you were at a beach store, and he reluctantly gave in. you had the ‘st ends’ side, and ellie had the ‘be fri’ one. no matter the occasion, even with the excessive amount of necklaces you always wore, that one was always a part of the stack. and ellie only ever wore the one. in fact, the only jewelry she ever wore was the bracelets you two had made for each other and her necklace.

“hey, they’re comfy! i love those things.”

“you know what i’d love?”

“deez nuts in your mouth??”

you slapped ellie on the arm , and she grabbed it in pain.

“fuck you! you know im sensitive right now!!”

“you’ll live. ANYWAYS, i was talking about the car.”

“pssht, who wouldn’t. who leaves a perfect 288 on the side of the road for this long?” ellies inner car-nerd spilled out,eyebrows furrowing in question.

you and ellie had dreamed of that car ever since you were barely taller than the side doors. pretending to drive it when she came over to yours, leaning against it as you ate your ice cream and accidentally setting off the alarm, even peering in through the windows occasionally. the white envelope with a small bulge always intrigued the two of you, desperately wondering what was inside of it. you’d never seen anyone get in or out of it, and you were surprised it lasted this long on this street.

“why’re you still on this anyway? its not like we’re gonna just steal it or something.”

when you stare back at her for a bit too long, she sighs at you and rolls her eyes. your dumb ideas almost always end horribly, and she wasn’t in for all that this summer.

like last year, when you two were working at this big outdoor restaurant. you had somehow convinced her to drive around one of the golf carts, and it ended with you accidentally ramming it into some dudes car. you both quit to avoid the guy, and you’ve never been back since.

“well, why not! i mean really ellie, I’ve seen you break into joels truck before. you could do it.”

it was an isolated incident. she had locked herself out of the car, and she used a random hanger she found in the mall parking lot to squeeze through the crack in the window and unlock the door.

“thats not the same as stealing some random car!!what if the dude who owns it is some mean gangster and he finds out we took his car and he fucking kills us??? or what if its full of a bunch of illegal shit and we get arrested while we’re driving it?”

“since when do you care this much about shit like that? you convinced me to keep a lizard in my closet for three weeks once. plus, do you really think anyone’s gonna come looking for it? that things been there longer than we’ve been alive.”

“even if we do steal it, what if it doesn’t even run anymore? and if it does, are we just gonna hotwire it every time we wanna drive?”

ellie was sadly thinking logically about this , and you weren’t having it. the pout on your face was growing bigger and bigger, and you rolled your eyes at her.

“you’re so boring.”

“im not boring, you’re just insane and impulsive.”

“besides, where would we even hide it? neither of us have a garage or anything.”

“you ask too many questions. come onnnn, this could be our little sappy senior year memory!! even if it goes like, totally wrong and we get arrested or some shit.”

you and ellies high school experience was..lackluster at most. no crazy adventures, no parties, no insane hookups, nothing. every movie about highschool you two had watched had completely lied to you, because it was boring as fuck. i mean, probably not for everyone else, but definitely for you two. this car would be a saving grace for you two, it could top off senior year perfectly.

“your idea of a great senior year memory is grand theft auto?”

“i mean, the games awesome. why not?”

she chuckled a bit at your bad joke, leaving a smile on your face. everything in her was telling her it was an awful idea, but you were giving her your most convincing puppy dog eyes, hands under your chin pleading to her.

you were amazing at persuading her, and the way your eyes practically sparkled when you spoke of even the mere idea of it sent her to the stars. how could she say no to you?

“…let me think about it.”

“WOOOO”

for ellie, ‘let me think about it’ was almost always code for yes. especially when it came to you. the two of you walked back to your house, ellie finally finishing her slushy. she chucked it in your garbage can before leaving you at your door. you tried to hug her goodbye, but she pushed you away.

“lobster skin. it still hurts. youll probably wanna hug me more tomorrow.”

and the next day, at 8:30, ellie showed up at your window with a toolbox smelling like aloe vera.

[reiyldx]

Lilia Vanrouge x Reader

✿Briar's Secret [PART 1] ✿

Notes: Angst, slight fluff? Fae-human war era, Meleanor's little sister!reader, Chief strategist!reader.

Includes my twst OC Midnight. [Might post him soon]

Shallow sunlight streamed in through the enamoring quartz balcony of the throne room, which, draped in curtains of velvet and obsidian, failed not to pay worthwhile tribute to the dweller of the grey, marbled throne. The crown princess of the fae, her hair as raven as the night sky and eyes emerald as the sea- Meleanor was her name, tapped a clawed finger on the throne impatiently as the General of Briar Valley entered the hall. 

Her younger sister [Y/N], who had eyes in a glistening shade of [e/c] and only a single horn wrested on her head, immediately wasted no time in absorbing the General's features and etching them into the depths of her essence. General Lilia Vanrouge. Her lifelong love. He took off his mask, which had met with many a worn out tear during the intensity of his numerous battles on the front lines, to reveal a set of precious ruby red eyes set under long eyelashes that fluttered open as if to endeavour the commemorative moment that marked the reveal of his beautiful irises. His dark lips were pressed in a thin line, his black hair messy from being on the front lines, yet to her, it was perfect from all angles, with those conspicuous red streaks that only accentuated his beauty further. Behind him, trailed his trusted aide, Baul Zigvolt.

"YOU'RE LATE, LILIA!" Meleanor roared, the echoing thud of her staff sounding in the room as she slammed it against the ground. 

"My apologies, Princess." Lilia bowed courteously, remembering to be formal to the future queen of his nation. [Y/N] found it quite adorable, in all honesty. "There has been quite the miscalculation in our strategy." He glared at [Y/N], who only shrugged in response. Not even she had the ability to bring about prediction on every outcome. "The enemy has surrounded Ibara Castle. We must leave immediately." 

"Leave? Due to those petty humans that squander on our land?" Meleanor scoffed as she crossed one leg over the other. "Never. I thought they were but mere pigs yapping outside. I shall not leave this castle." 

"Quit being stubborn!" Lilia yelled, in his familiar tone. [Y/N] chuckled, remembering those days when she had endeavoured to put Lilia in dresses and play house with him as kids. He'd always raise his voice at her and she'd end up crying. Those were the days. Innocent ones, of fun and play. "We have to leave! We aren't kids anymore! When have I ever been wrong?!" Lilia yelled, his voice hoarse and desperate. 

"Take my sister and my child. And leave." Meleanor commanded. [Y/N]'s eyes widened before a small smirk broke out on her lips. They were really alike, the two sisters. Always so self-sacrificing. Not that she would allow a sacrifice from Meleanor's end. 

"The hell?! No way! All of you are coming with me! Thats you included, Meleanor!" Lilia protested, but Meleanor threw her egg at him. He managed to catch it in just the barest of timescales, a scowl etched on his face as he turned his nose up at her. 

"What the hell are you thinking?! What if the egg broke?!" Lilia clutched the egg tightly, embracing the pitch black covering holding the future prince tightly to his torso. 

"I entrust it to you, Lilia." Meleanor smirked. [Y/N] crossed her arms over her chest. In her mind, there was only one plan as the chief strategist of the royal court. One that certainly did not involve the sacrifice of the future queen of Briar Valley. Rather one that included the sacrifice of a singular, expendable pawn titled the 'second princess of Briar Valley'. 

"Hell no, you don't. Besides, the egg won't hatch without its parents' love! I can't love anyone!" Lilia barked. How untrue his words were, how vile a thought that Lilia was not capable of loving. A mild ache spread in [Y/N]'s heart. 

"You love me, though, don't you? Or was that all a lie when you proposed to me? Besides, you love Raven too. You guys spent more time together than married couples." Meleanor chuckled. [Y/N] forced a smile on her face. She knew Lilia loved her elder sister. She'd never be a choice. All she cared for most was the smile that decorated Lilia's face. So for him, she would . . . 

"THAT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID, 200 YEARS AGO! It doesn't mean anything now!" Lilia shot back. Ah, but how difficult it was for [Y/N] to believe the raven haired General's words when he so clearly preferred the company of her elder sister. [Y/N] felt the leader of the Midnight Solstice, her personal assassin Midnight, tug at her sleeve. His pleading azure eyes bore into hers. He defied none of her orders, yet at this moment, he showed a single sliver of wavering hesitance. She gave a light pat to his short jet black hair before walking towards the General. 

"I am telling you, take [Y/N] and my egg and leave-" Meleanor was interrupted when [Y/N] cleared her throat. Meleanor's brow rose in slight curiosity as she gazed at her little sister. 

"You have it backwards. Big sis Meleanor, you are going with them. And I am staying here with Midnight to defend the castle." She announced with a slight wave of her hands to gesture her intentions. 

"DON'T BE CRAZY! YOU'RE NOT EVEN STRONG, YOU'RE JUST THE GODDAMN STRATEGIST! You're a weakass princess who's never been on the front lines! You're not even half as strong as Meleanor is! No, not even a damn tenth of it!" Lilia scowled harshly at her, his crimson eyes glinting with a raging fury that rivaled the embers of fire. How his words dug daggers into her heart. His comparison of her wretched nature to that of the benevolent and strong image of her elder sister pained her to the core.

"Lilia is right. You can't stay here, [Y/N]. It would be much too dangerous." Meleanor frowned, with a look that only displayed concern for her younger sibling. 

"I am the chief strategist. I have a plan." [Y/N] murmured as she tapped her foot in slight frustration on the ground. 

"Oh yeah?! Most of those damn plans involve a low survival rate for you! Even your new strategy led to the enemies surrounding us! Explain that!" Lilia growled, his fists clenching as he tried hard to suppress his anger. [Y/N]'s heart further shattered, she knew deep down that every soldier's death on the front lines was only the result of her damned strategies. Lilia didn't need to say that out loud for the Sevens' sake. 

"I plan to use my unique magic." She finally revealed. A look of shock crossed the looks of every person present in the room, save for Midnight. 

"You don't have one!" Lilia scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at her icily. 

"I do. But it can only be used once. I was saving it for a moment such as the one currently upon us." [Y/N] answered sternly, glaring back at the furious General. "It has power enough to take out every single troop out there." 

"Then I shall permit you to use it. However, we shall remain in the castle." Meleanor offered gently with a smile painted upon her dark lips. 

"No can do. It is too powerful a magic. You must escape or you will face the brunt of it as well. Only someone so capable of defense magic as Midnight could survive it. Hence why I plan on taking him with me." [Y/N] replied, a serious expression on her otherwise laid back face. The one horned princess was serious, which was not something out of the ordinary, yet at the same time, it was excruciatingly new. 

"Then I shall permit it. I trust you to not lie to me. I shall escape with Lilia and the others." Meleanor nodded. Something was off, it was not that difficult to sense, yet the frustrating reality of the situation veiled Meleanor's eyes with a blindfold of hope. 

"You're not telling us something." Lilia snarled. As always, the General was quick to pick up on things out of the mundane, his fists still clenched in an effort to rein in his anger. 

"I will return alive. This, I promise. Please, Lilia. I beg you, trust me." [Y/N] implored as she looked at him pleadingly. Despise was all she felt on lying to her beloved General, yet it was all she could do to convince his stubborn intellect to run away to a place of safety where harm had little to no reach. 

Lilia gazed at her, his crimson eyes scanning her expression for anything he could use against her. He took a moment to think before he finally relented. "And your chance of survival?"

"Guaranteed." Lie after lie exited [Y/N]'s mouth. "I'll regroup with you guys after I'm done with those nuisances outside. I promise. We will meet again." . 

Lilia groaned before tousling his hair with his hand. "Fine. I'll leave it to you, Chief Strategist. Even Meleanor believes you, so I have no reason to doubt you." She knew why Lilia trusted her this much. She'd never once lied to him. 

Her thoughts only raced thus:

Sorry, Lilia.

Please run away.

Please don't look back.

Please don't feel sad.

✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿

NOTE: DO NOT REPOST OR PLAGIARIZE MY WORK.

[pennaraptor]

the "Ideal Chicken" according to tumblr user pennaraptor

I have a number of things i'd like to do with regards to breeding chickens. i'm extremely excited and curious to see what i can create from simple crosses between breeds and colors - even if they arent new or exciting and i know what to expect, to see the reality of the gene interactions ive learned about play out in my own birds will delight me. before i knew anything about it at all, hatching out hybrid chicks from my very diverse flock of bantams almost a decade ago was thrilling, baffling, a mystery of colors and patterns i couldn't have predicted. i needed to know more and do more, but i didnt have any idea where to start learning it and i'd reached a point where it wasnt feasible to keep getting more chickens, and my interests changed. but now i'm back, and more than anything what i want to create is a chicken which pleases me aesthetically while not causing undue problems within the flock.

i have several favorite colors and patterns, but these come secondarily and a mix of them is more interesting, since its the genes of color that i most want to experiment with. in terms of my "ideal" birds, i have a list of traits, physical and temperamental. these will be bantams. for the build: slim to slightly more muscled (gamey), tail carriage normal/medium to low, legs medium to long, pea or rose comb (pea preferred), feathers medium to short, beardless and uncrested. in disposition (of importance above all) vigorous, intelligent, bold and outgoing, personable and sweet towards people, with minimal male on male aggression and minimal bullying of other breeds.

my idea of the best looking chickens tend toward a fairly generic, medium to slim built cleanlegged bantam; hatchery stock old english game bantam, rosecombs, and sebrights, and leghorn and hamburg bantams. slightly more exaggerated in type (more muscled and with shorter feathers) are my hatchery cubalaya bantams. they have too long legs and too high tail carriage for cubalayas (i love the long legs and the tail is fine, though i would appreciate lower). i enjoy them immensely but the hens can be aggressive amongst other hens and i have to assume the roosters would fight badly. my 1, Arthur, was unfortunately stupid and rude, both to me and hens. old english games are fantastic on almost every point, except that the roosters will fight each other to the death, which is my major problem - i LOVE game types, but the male on male aggression is awful. i want the attitude and confidence and general look of gamey bantams, without that fighting instinct. and so, that is my prime objective (alongside generally having fun with colors).

i have limited choices buying from a hatchery (i'm going with that rather than finding more specialized breeders, i have my reasons) but i'll try a few breeds and see what i get. i've spent the last few years zeroing in on what matters most to me in a chicken. it allows a fair bit of variation in form and color and so is hopefully achievable. either way, i'll have fun.

[tirastales]

Princess Iris of Pop

"...hi..."

Parents: Queen Poppy and King Branch

Siblings: Choco (Elder Sister), Vanilla (Elder Sister), Strawberry (Elder Sister), Apple (Elder Brother), Oran (Elder Brother), Lemon (Elder Brother), Lime (Elder Brother), Blueberry (Elder Brother), Grape (Elder Sibling)

Age: 13

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Lesbian

Genre: Pop

Voice Claim: Tori Kelly

The youngest child of Poppy and Branch. Quiet, reserved, but extremely smart, Iris is the most unique of all her siblings, in both appearance and abilities as a Troll.

Iris was born with ties to ancient magic, magic only found in The Depths. She has the ability to heal most wounds and cure many illness by channeling a magical energy through her paws. No one knows how she got this ability, but many think it's tied to her unique appearance.

Despite her rare powers, Iris is quite shy and extremely bashful about it, not liking the attention it gets her. She's often found hiding behind Branch in public, clinging to his robes as he goes about his day. Only in the presence of her family does Iris open up a bit more.

When with family, Iris shows her more open side. She's quiet sarcastic and witty like her father, and will casually roast her older siblings at the drop of a hat.

Iris is a Pop Troll through and through, and has one of the most beautiful voices of her family. She can often be found out in the gardens, singing to herself.

Iris currently resides in Trollstopia alongside her family.

Fun Facts!

- Iris' actually inherents her appearance from her great grandmother, Prism, wife of Rosiepuff. But since there are no pictures or records of her, no one is aware of this connection.

- Iris hatched on the exact same day as her cousin, Finley, son of JD. The two are very close, and can often be found sitting in the gardens, chatting away.

- Iris has an acute sense of how other Trolls are feeling. If you're hurt, either physically or emotionally, she's just able to tell. When her siblings are feeling down, she'll often just walk up to them and hug them, no words needed.

- Iris loves embroidery. Knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, sewing, you name it. She can even weave tapestry's, and has several of her works hanging around their home.

And at long last, the last of the Broppy kids!! Iris was my favorite to design, and of all the kids she had the BIGGEST design overhaul. Originally, Iris was sort of the "indigo" Troll to match the rainbow theme I had going (naming her after the Iris flower), but I wasn't really feeling her design, so I flipped it on its head and made her a rainbow! She kept her name, now referencing the Goddess of The Rainbow in Greek Mythology.

And Iris has magic! Iris is definitely one of the "main protagonists" of the next gen if you will. She's not the only one with magic either! Her fellow magic users will be introduced soon~ and how the magic works will be explained later down the line

But I hope y'all liked the Broppy kids! The big family portrait will be posted tomorrow (it was such a pain to make why did I give them so many kids hdbdbdhdbbd)

Voice Example: Hallelujah (Tori Kelly)

[elliizzzabeth]

One (or two) sentence reviews of all of the books i read in 2024.

1. A Power Unbound by Freya Marske (4/5 stars)

End to gay magical edwardian england trilogy. Wrapped everything up nicely but still slightly meh on whole series.

2-8. Secrets and Scrabble series by Josh Lanyon (4.5/5 average)

Cute, sweet murder mystery series set in New England. I want to move to pirates cove :)

9. The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach (4/5 stars)

Maori eco-futurism pirates. Interesting concept, too much going on.

10. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (3.75/5)

Saccharine sweet found family in a magical foster home. Too sweet in fact, should have been a kids book.

11. Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy (4/5)

Sweet old lady lesbians solve a murder mystery. Funny and silly but didn't blow me away.

12. This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar (5/5)

Star-crossed time-travelling killing machines on opposite sides of an intergalactic war. So short and yet packed such a punch!

13. Nine Liars (Truly Devious book 5) by Maureen Johnson (3/5)

Teenage detective prodigy comes to england to solve a murder. Also happens to be most annoying character of all time!

14. Heartstopper vol. 5 by Alice Oseman (5/5)

Nick and charlie so sweet and lovely forever

15. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (5/5)

Short stories about southern black women and their relationships (and sometimes the church). Felt like i could step right through the page every single time.

16. Hidden in Snow by Vivica Sten (3.5/5)

Translated swedish murder mystery. Suffered from fatal combo of slow pacing and predictable plot :/

17. Babel by R.F. Kuang (4.75/5)

What if language magic was used for colonialism? Unfortunately the tiktok girlies are right about this one it slays

18. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (3.5/5)

The Tiktok girlies were NOT right about this one. Not unless you like listening to two people hate each other for 13 hours

19-22. The Singing Hills Cycle by Nigh Vo (4.75/5 average)

Nonbinary monk travels around asia collecting stories and folklore. Again, how can such a short books pack such a fucking suckerpunch!!!

23. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (4.75/5)

What if you made a deal with the devil and then he fell in love with you? How can you live 300 years and only manage to meet white people 😭

24. Thieves by Lucie Bryon (5/5)

Dumbass Lesbians hatch a plan to un-steal people's belongings. Silly and cute as hell

25. Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (5/5)

Nona I love you!!!!!!!

26. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Oseman (4.5/5)

Pensioners solve a murder at their retirement home. Pleasantly suprised for such a popular book, looking forward to the rest of the series

27-29. The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin (4.5/5 average)

Earth magic + racism + the world is ending + colonial power is the root of all evil = everybody having a bad time forever (but in a good way). The Fifth Season slapped so severely that I was let down a little by its two follow ups.

30. The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (4.5/5)

Violent and unflinching look at how they treated women, queer people and the mentally ill in the victorian era. I am so so so brave for sitting though all the medical descriptions are you proud of me

31. Everything is Under Control: a Memoir with Recipies by Phyllis Grant (4/5)

Memoir of a recipie blogger but tbh i don't really think she had anything that groundbreaking to say.

32. Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros (4.25/5)

Percy Jackson but he's gay and jewish. Fun and funny but middle grade and I could feel it

33. Cultish: The Language of Fanatacism by Amanda Montell (4.5/5)

How cults will use language to trap you and keep you in their greasy little hands. Also why you should never ever join an MLM

34. Saltblood by Francesca De Tores (4.25/5)

Was famous pirate Mary Read a Non-binary icon? We literally have no way of knowing but its a nice thought I guess

35. On Earth We're Breifly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (3.75/5)

A long and emotional letter from a traumatised son to his traumatised mother. Unfortunately i am nauuuurt a literary fiction girlie and I could feel it

36. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (4.75/5)

Musings of a lesbian daughter on the suicide of her closeted gay father. More academic than I expected but still real good

BONUS - my 3 books I am currently reading

37. House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski

Sooo confusing and yet sooo compelling. Whoever is holding this hostage at my local library please give it back please please please pl-

38. Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

What if the local gay conversion camp/cult was a little bit tooo into demons. Chuck Tingle really said I know I've made a career of writing gimicky gay porn books but what if I wrote this slam dunk of a mystery/queer horror/sensitive look into the relationship between faith and queerness Chuck you can't do this to me why is it so good

39. Half Arse Human by Leena Norms

Been a big fan of Leena's youtube channel so I am very excited to read! Its been getting a lot of promo so I hope it does well for her :)

[sourcreamies99]

spoilers for near the end of persona 5's 4th palace??? just in case??

kind of wish i framed the last panel better but its ok i still really like it

started using cross-hatching for shading and im literally head over heels in love with this method of shading its so fun and it looks so cool agggghhhh I LOVE YOU CROSS-HATCHING!!

getting more into drawing mock comic-like stuff... enjoying it very much

[pokemoncaretips]

Any care advice for the Flabebe line? I recently caught a Floette of each color and have been letting them roam freely in my flower garden.

The floette line. The pride of Kalos.

General notes: A beautiful fairy type with a lovely nature, it is so beloved in its native home of Kalos that once only the rich and well connected nobles were permitted to keep it. While its certainly not the inciting cause of the subsequent revolution, it certainly didn't help...

General care: This line has a pretty delicate start. Flabebe are small and easily injured, and highly vulnerable without their flower.

Said flower is a vital part of their care. Though in a pinch, any flower will do, the entire line tends to prefer the Fairy flower (chromaanthens fatum). This flower is native to Kalos and has pretty demanding care requirements, as its adapted for very specific forest and glade conditions. The fairy flower has broad, lightweight flowers that catch the wind well and are fairly sturdy and long lasting. These flowers come in around five or so different colours, though they can all cross pollinate well. Flabebe have favourite colours just like people, and will seek out flowers they like.

The fairy flower requires a fair amount of shade, with low to moderate light levels. The soil should be moist, but not damp, and very slightly acidic. You're effectively trying to mimic a small clearing in a forest.

Fun fact: the fairy flower depends on this line to spread its pollen and seeds! Flabebe like to play with pollen and will gather more from other flowers if its one runs low.

Letting them roam freely is very good. This pokemon struggles with being cooped up, and really should be an outdoors pokemon unless its sick and needs its condition monitored. They have a strong connection with living plants, and fade if that is severed.

This line are nectar eaters at the start. Though they'll generally take care of their own feeding if allowed to roam free, during the winter setting up a feeder is a good idea. They tend to go to ground in winter, however. Though they don't truly hibernate, cold makes them drowsy, and they'll often nest in old logs and hollow trees during the worst of the cold, waking up only to grab a sip of nectar. If you have a dead tree or fallen log in your garden and you live in floette territory, you REALLY shouldn't get rid of it unless absolutely necessary.

Fill your garden with flowers. Not just the fairy flower but anything that can grow. In particular, leave as many dandelions growing as you can. When it comes to floette, these are NOT weeds, often being the first flower blooming in spring, and a vital food source. As well, the more flowers, the better the hiding spaces, particularly for newly hatched flabebe who are still learning to control their flower and defend themselves. If you like making things by hand, little wooden boxes can act as shelters for young flabebe.

Florges are larger, and need larger sources of food, being mainly fruit eaters, though they will tap certain trees for sap. Though they look meek and delicate, in their mouth is a rather nasty pair of teeth used mostly for scraping holes in tree bark.

The flowers growing around a florges neck are symbiotic, and allow this pokemon more freedom of exploration, with flowers always close at hand to draw strength from. While the floette in your garden will likely wander inside to explore your house, florges can stay much longer and even cope fairly well with cities. Having said that, if you do live in a city, taking her to the park often is good for her mental health.

This line is VERY smart, easily passing the mirror test. They're estimated to be as intelligent as a four year old child. As such, they'll need enrichment. Hanging toys from tree branches outside will keep them entertained for hours. You can also leave small items outside for them to investigate. And of course, as I mentioned, they'll often wander into your house for a nosy. They aren't strong enough to lift much, so they're not very destructive.

If you want to form a close relationship with one, be prepared to spend a lot of time in the garden. Once they get used to your presence, they'll come over to see what you're up to, and you can start befriending them from there.

Though they can tolerate pokeballs fairly well, as pokeballs simulate a good environment, they should only really be pokeballed if you're travelling somewhere.

Overall, this line tends towards being self sufficient. Though maintaining the garden they need to thrive is where you're going to be putting the bulk of your labours. And it likely won't be cheap. Care rating: Orange

Training: Being incredibly bright and quite friendly and curious, this pokemon takes well to battling. Flabebe are quite delicate, and should ideally start with training dummies, floette can be pretty sturdy when they have their flower.

These pokemon work fantastically alongside grass type pokemon, able to sync their energy up with their flower and share it with others. If you specialize in grass types, it may be worth looking into encouraging floette to visit your garden, in order to bring your battling to the next level.

(If you ever want to cause a fist fight among scientists, ask if this line is part grass type or not.)

Floette don't make good service pokemon. Though smart and sweet natured, they can't be taken away from their gardens for too long before becoming weak and easily distracted. Training rating: Green

Safety: Though the early stages offer little risk other than mild hayfever, florges can be LETHAL. Wild ones in particular are very territorial, and though they'll tolerate hikers walking through their territory, they have been known to severely injure and even kill people who have damaged their plants, even accidently. If you want to evolve one, make SURE you've formed a good bond with your floette and have trained her in commands such as "calm" and "leave it!". Even so, though you might be able to train her out of firing dangerous petal blizzards, remember those teeth she uses to tap trees for sap? Be mindful of those as well. Safety rating: Variable

Overall ranking: A sweet and beautiful fairy type. Though the later evolution can be a Lot, when given a beautiful garden to live in, you'll find them happy to stay. When their need for fresh air and warm sun is respected, the floette line blooms.

[ctommyisnt]

GOD I love loving on a farm. Taking care of animals is just. UGHB HEYRE SO CUTE!!!! I love our pigs. I named one of them pig. My sisters named the other (pua, William (they originally did Wilbur but I whined about it enough they changed it) and yummy) but pig is the runt of the litter and gets bullied so I feel bad about it. We also recently moved the younger frizzle chickens with the rest of the flock so they’re finally able to to free range and are so much happier. Can’t wait to see them roaming around in the summer. (Chickens trying to cross the stream is so fun to watch) we also have rabbits and our springtime goal is to build a pen so they’re happier. My parents hate caging animals and do not believe it’s right but unfortunately bunnies will run away if they get spooked and are too stupid to come back so we have to build them a pen and didn’t get the chance yet. We’ll be hatching chicks in the spring for meat as well so that is VERY exciting. The process of butchering is also SO FASCINATING! It is sad and like its a weird feeling killing something but knowing they don’t understand anything happening and don’t feel the pain (dad made specifically sure that the process was as painless and quick as possible) helps a lot. But the rest of the process is super interesting and very satisfying. Plus for some reasons chickens FUKCING love eating chicken guys which is SO gross and my mom refused to let them have too much because it weirded her out so we burnt the guts and had snores when the bonfire burnt everything. Crazy night. OH also we have ducks and they’re so cute and none of them are girls and my mom doesn’t care to eat them so now we just have pet ducks unless we can get girls. (We want eggs

[merao-mariposa]

the one where their bedtime stories were legends with the smell of gunpowder.

first outlaw mini story!

Q/: How did Missa know about the legend of the Blood God??

Short answer Quakity told him. I am going to upload these short stories here! things that do not follow a line of events to complement//

The Extremo moor was, as its name call to imagine (outside of the extreme circumstances) the extreme between the most inhabited land and the one where everyday life was the battlefield for outlaws.

Those with a lack of balls did not last much longer than crossing the limit to fall like flies, 1, 2, 3, attempts and they lost them too quickly, they were too green for the fighting field.

Missa knew immediately that one of them could have been him, so confused and out of his comfort zone, he was lucky to have been found by Spreen for his team, he touched his chest gently, searching for his own pulse and held the idea firmer. That he survived so long solely thanks to them.

Which was a big lie, objectively speaking.

He will deny it but he adapted quickly, determined to improve and advance, it really took a toll on his enemies even though he couldn't see it. Which is why Spreen was interested in recruiting him in the first place, Missa was fun to have around no matter how bloody things got, it was perfect to have an extra set of hands and someone with a positive mood.

It had been at least an hour since the alarms had sounded for the last time, giving notice that the pvp would be deactivated and they would be given at least 10 hours to sleep before its next activation.

When the pvp was on, the bullets flew and it was often difficult to hear his companions between the explosion of gunpowder and the hooves of his frightened horses grinding the floors with him.

However, when it was turned off, violence was prohibited; an outlaw who raised his weapon against another at that time would suffer the consequences.

An hour after the alarm had put an end to today's violence and Shadoune and Spreen would not return to the cabin for another two hours.

The two-story cabin where they were hiding was a semi-hidden tactical place surrounding a rise in the land, approaching the nearest body of water. The place only had space for 4 people and their horses, but Missa, after three missed opportunities, had found a void. in the rules. that brought him back to the ring.

And he had taken the sheep with him, obviously.

They redirected the flow of the river so that it crossed below the cabin, they arranged a hatch that opened into the flow to fish from the river without having to leave the layout of their hiding place. Most of the beds seemed to surround the hatch where they were engaged in some recreational time.

At that moment Missa was sitting in the hatch with one of his lambs, the fishing rod next to his legs, forgotten in favor of combing the soft wool of his sheep-like son. Next to him Rubius was focused on getting a fish that was worth it for a bear, according to him.

As night fell as the players considered sleeping, Quakity was hardly awake and had reminded Missa that today it was his turn to sleep with him.

Rubius had given up on getting a late night craving and was now dedicated to grumbling in his own bed, if he couldn't have his snack at least he would have a bedtime story!

Between the bear's angry demands to be told a story and Quakity's arguments with Rubius, he almost forgot that he was about to sleep with Quakity.

In the same bed…

A blush croos Missa’s face as he laid mwarr-berlto down with the rest of the sheeps. It wasn't that he was in love with Quakity, it was a slight crush more than anything, but still the idea of ​​being so close made him a little self-conscious.

"Sabes que no me puedo dormir sin un cuento, Quakity por Dios, ostia" The oldest outlaw in the cabin snorts.

<You know I can't go to sleep without a story, Quakity for God's sake, dammit>

"Eh ni me rezongues culero, ni rezongues, léete un versículo si tanto quiere dormir pendejo"

<Eh, don't grumble at me, asshole, don't grumble, read a verse if you want to sleep so bad, pendejo.>

“Missa, ven a la cama!” The outlaw with the skull mask swallowed nervously, but Rubios complained again at length.

<Missa come to bed!>

“Deutronomios 23:1...”

“Que, wey?”

<What>

"Deutronomios 23:1, lee, lee ese Quakity seguro le gusta y se deja de quejar"

<Deutronomies 23:1, read, read that Quakity, he will probably like it and stop complaining>

"Si, a ver deja lo busco…"

<Yes, let's see, let me look for it...>

Missa gathering his courage leaned over the bed where Quakity was sitting, if next to him some of them looked short next to Quakity Missa looked really tall so he made himself smaller helping Quakity look for it in an old book.

The laughter that fell from the mouth of the outlaw Big Q's was enough of an indication that they had found the right verse. Rubius demanded to hear it and the boy with the beanie obeyed, laughing.

-Those who has a damaged testicle or a mutilated virile member will not enter the congregation.

"Que- por que existe es versículo? Que d-?"

<What- why does this verse exist? What the-?>

“No se, no se!”

<I dont know!>

“It was the favorite of my late chicken, may he rest in peace” The man with long black hair received a pillow on the head and the laughter continued.

As they waited for the night to consume them or for their fighters to appear, the trio became engrossed in more and more fantasy stories.

Missa told more about Jacinto Lusmi, his chicken, and shared a story that Spreen had confided to her about an empire represented by the number 51 and a knight made only of Netherine.

Quakity rambled on about angels of death (which Missa ignored as it sent a shiver through the back of his mind), evil eggs, and the persecution of him with the Blood God himself (more like how he was chased by the Blood God)

Rubius, on the other hand, talked a little about his child Titi, about how he told them stories that them would be a savior of the world even though could barely pronounce their own name, wars against aliens, gods of karma and the legend of the powerful Mago Nogcturno.

Missa Sinfonia was an experienced one, the western reaper, he was in a war zone escaping from what he was used to and sharing a bed with a crush who he slowly saw more as a friend or brother first than a romantic interest.

But now under the starry sky, with the fish sleeping in the inner pond he felt like he was more capable of bathing in the chamber and caring for his companions. Stories that he would always remember and a calm that maybe he can get used to, somehow he maybe wanted some of... this calm for more long.

[eeefroggyeee]

Ok so I’ve got some Monument Mythos thoughts that I want to dump on someone. I have a theory about the “more perfect union” that mostly has to do with what it represents within the story. I might delete this post later. If it for some reason blows up, I won’t, but for now it’s just ramblings. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!_______________________________________________

So at the end (so far) of the series, we see Everett, Freedom, and the Angel fuse into a single being referred to as “a more perfect union”. This being defeats the Martian serpent thus saving the Earth and then it becomes the Manticorn constellation. I think that there’s more to come from this constellation in the future but aside from that I have an idea about what the union represents. Monument Mythos focuses largely on American ideas and places as a sort of parody and one factor of this is its Christian religious references. The obvious one is the Angel being titled that as well as America using the twisted image of Christ on the cross to just fucking bomb a place and then act all love and peace about it. It also refers to James Dean as a devil, specifically THE devil but I don’t think he’s meant to literally be Satan, just an evil person. Instead, I think the actual devil in this case are the serpents. Satan is famously associated with serpents and with the destructive, Earth/universe ending power ascribed to the serpents in the story (The George Washington serpent hatching from the earth and destroying the universe and then later when the universe is reformed by the Angel, the Martian serpent comes to destroy earth after being disturbed by Elon Musk mining through Mars) This is all important because I think the reason Everett, Freedom, and the Angel came together to defeat the Martian serpent is because they represent God. The Father is represented by the statue of Freedom who contains the souls of a father and daughter. Also, she was created first which lines up with the order that the three parts of god were created.

The second to exist is the Angel who I believe represents the Holy Spirit. The Angel is made up of the consciousnesses, or the spirits, of 17 soldiers. This differs from Freedom containing the father and daughter because the statue acts as their body, where the Angel is only comprised of the consciousnesses. Also, the Holy Spirit is meant to be a guide and protector which is often the role the Angel takes. In early episodes it tries to warn people through graffiti that the monuments are not what they seem and when the horned serpent initially destroys the Dean universe, it’s the Angel who divides itself to protect humanity.

Everett then, is the Son. He is after all, the son of Virginia which is incredibly important to his character. Also *Virgin*ia and *Virgin* Mary are kinda similar. I don’t exactly think that Virginia was impregnated by some other force or whatever, although at this point I wouldn’t be surprised. I just thought it was an interesting comparison. Anyways, yeah I think that those three figures joining together represents the the father, the Holy Spirit, and the son all coming together and becoming god and basically sort of defeating Satan (for now at least since there is still the horned serpent and the third one which is likely still in Venus). I don’t believe that these characters are exactly their Christian counterparts or whatever, I just think narratively it’s a fun idea and it fits with the other mentions and twisting of religion that the series often indulges in.

[dragon-fics]

(DnD) A Noble Scheme pt. 2

Summary: The plan has hatched! A new mage is in Waterdeep. Will your parents approve?

Warnings: don't think anything apply

Relationships: Claugiyliamatar & Reader, Evangeline/Evan X Reader

Characters: Claugiyliamatar (DnD), Evangeline/Evan (OC), Reader

Tags: arranged marriage, wlw / f/f romantic, slow burn(?), enemies to lovers, cross-dressing, controlling parents

word count: 2300

Based on my own lil love story

“Are you certain about this?” I said as I helped Evangeline fix her outfit, dusting off the broad shoulders she’d given herself beneath the purple velvet suit. She was taller now, with shorter curly hair and more angled features. A fine-looking young man, I’m sure the other women would say.

She sighed. “Of course I’m certain,” she grumbled. Her voice was so much deeper.

I brushed off her coat. “Alright… remember, midday, (S/N) Estate. Money and—”

“—staff.”

I pursed my lips together and looked at her eyes. I fixed the family crest pinned on her jacket. It was a flat oval, with an outstanding gold dragon on a green backdrop, gold filigree decorating the edges. “Don’t skimp out—”

“—on accessories. And keep my—”

“—head high.” I stood back and crossed my arms, looking over her outfit. “You look like a smart gentleman, coming to preserve a long line of mage blood.”

She snorted, amused. “Your parents will be oh so disappointed.”

I shrugged. “There’s worse fate and worse truths for them to know.” I sighed. “You look ready though. Maybe wander Waterdeep to get a feel of the place before coming to meet my parents?”

Evangeline nodded. “Sure. Then Evan Dragonclaw will come along and woo them, and you.” She winked and bowed, forearm to her chest.

I covered my mouth to stifle my laugher but failed. “Who?!” I doubled over laughing.

She lifted her head and stared at me.

“Evan who?!” I repeated, howling.

Evangeline stood up straight and cleared her throat. “Dragonclaw?” she slowly questioned. “Is that not a good name?”

I picked myself up and sigh, wiping the tears from my eyes. I cleared my throat. “It’s a fine name. Just amusing. Hardly an unlikely name to have. You’ll need a story though; Where do you reign from? How did you hear about my family? And what can you offer?” I crossed my arms. “There may be a question about your name, so prepare to defend it.”

She nodded slowly, reaching for where her long hair would usually be, but met a tassel of her jacket. "Y-yeah. That makes sense.” Her hand fell to her shoulder, and she sighed softly, tooth digging into her lip.

I stepped closer, putting my hand on hers. “I’ll help you now,” I grabbed my handkerchief from my skirt and took the lead pencil from Evangeline’s pocket. “You reign from Neverwinter, and your family is pureblooded—like mine. At this point, you’re rooted in as many family trees as possible. The rest of the mage families will not unite with the Dragonclaws, as they have their own blood-related reasons. A grudge lasting a few generations or something.

“What can you offer? Pure mage blood, specialising in nature magic and wild-forms. A family fortune worth hundreds of platinum and gold, with some heirlooms and antiques. They’ll speak of my dowry, which you’ll have heard of; worth ten platinum to take my hand.” I scribbled it all down as I spoke and folded the handkerchief. I met Evangeline’s eyes. “Oh, and the function to give heirs through me and keep mage blood strong.” I put the handkerchief into her chest pocket and sighed. “How does that sound?”

Her face was flushed and after a stunned moment she nodded. “I think that’s pretty solid… I would’ve never thought people cared that much about uh, blood.”

I sighed and fixed my skirt, shaking the soil from the hem as the sun lit up its velvet shimmer. “They do unfortunately. And they care very much about it. How fun it is to be a cow to produce another mage, instead of a human who would like to follow her heart… not that they’d get a child that way either, I suppose.” I lifted my head.

Evangeline looked at me with those soft brown eyes, taking pity on me. “Hopefully, this will grant you some freedom.”

I smiled a little. “It should. Once I am wed, they won’t be watching me. I will be yours, or Evan’s, and then we’ll come to some arrangement ourselves.” For some reason, I wasn’t so bothered by the thought of it.

She shrugged and looked out at the cobblestoned road behind me, the main road between Waterdeep and Neverwinter. “Yes, we will come to an arrangement. If I am to make mother happy, that’d mean making you happy. She likes you a lot.”

I laughed softly. “I am aware. I quite like her too.” I stepped into the road. All was clear but the lunchtime gathering was about to arrive, the convoy not far in the distance. The sea lapped at the coast and glowed in the midday light. It felt hopeful.

I looked at Evangeline. “Let’s get going. The city will help you prepare your speech.”

*~*~*~*

They were the longest three hours of my life. I spent it fixing up myself, restyling my hair, donning a fresh green summer frock with a set of amethyst jewellery.

But even after that, she hadn’t arrived. I found myself burning through all the odd things I’d put off for who knows how long; reorganising my books, storing my paints, and sharpening my embroidery needles.

Mother was curious when she saw me.

“What’s gotten into you? You’ve been shoving this aside since last winter,” she said in disbelief, sitting across from me as I held the needle in my hand.

I bared my teeth as I pricked myself again. “Nothing. Just figured it was a good time.” She wouldn’t buy that.

“Oh? And why not last week when it was teeming? Or yesterday when your father had that boring bank meeting?” she crossed her arms.

I drew in a breath as a thought crossed my mind. I raised my head slowly.

“There’s a mage in town. From Neverwinter.”

Mother cocked a brow. “A mage?”

“A noble mage. In the finest suit I’ve seen, a crested badge on his chest. He’s in search of a maiden with a dowry.” I placed the needle on the desk beside me, urgency in my voice.

She seemed suspicious but let me continue.

“And he’s quite handsome. With a strong name, Dragonclaw! Have you ever heard such a name, Mother?” I jumped from my chair and turned my back to her, eyes fixated on the window overlooking the bazaar below.

“And you think he’s headed here?” I heard her skirts shift as she rose from the chair.

I nodded and spun around, the loose skirt of the frock adding to the excitement. “Oh yes! He asked at the gate! I was picking up the persimmons when he was asking.”

For a moment, her face was unreadable. It made me nervous. But then she beamed and hugged me close. “How wonderful! There might be luck for you yet.” The tapped my nose with her finger and stepped away. “I’ll let your father know to expect him. Dragonclaw was it?”

I nodded. “That’s him. Dressed in purple, green family crest.”

She tilted her head to me. “Very wise choice in dress then, (Y/N).” She grabbed the door handle. “Be ready. Stay fresh. I’ll send Alys when he’s here.” Mother rushed out the door and I was left thinking.

There might be luck for you yet.

*~*~*~*

It was the most awkward tea party of my life. But Evangeline—Evan, played his role perfectly.

And apparently, I didn’t do so bad either. Though it’s easy to be perceived as enthusiastic when you are enthusiastic. My interest let my parents release their hold on me quite a bit. Any excuse, they sent me to off to talk with him, even allowing him into the gardens of the estate; reserved for only the finest of family events.

“Are they still watching?” Evan whispered; arm linked in mine as we passed the buzzing rose garden.

Turned my head to look at him, smiling warmly. I turned my eyes as far as I could, seeing my parents watching from the balcony.

I sighed and returned my gaze forward. “Yep,” I said through a for-show smile. The smells of the garden were sweet and earthy. It was well taken care of by the servants. All the bushes were blooming, the flowerbeds were full, and the lawn lush.

“What do they think of me?” he took in the blossoming trees arching over the path, shadows falling upon us.

“You’re in the garden, left to saunter through as you wish. They love you.”

Evan nodded and plucked a purple blossom from the flowerbed below—violets. “Should I bring up the marriage soon?”

I nodded, watching her spin the flower in his hand. “Yes. Or someone else will ask.”

“Mother won’t let anyone—”

“—I know she won’t.” I cut him off, harsher than I intended. I sighed. “But we need to use their interest, praise and adoration of you soon or they will look for someone else. Ask for my father’s blessing. He’ll probably give it easily. Mother will give you a ring. It was my grandmother’s and her mother’s before that. They may request a way to be engaged, something they can attend and watch and celebrate. If you want to follow that, agree. If not, they’ll agree to you whisking me away for a night and we’ll pretend or… something.”

I released a slow breath. It wasn’t a façade anymore.

We stopped at the entryway to the gazebo, and I guided him in. We were well out of sight now.

“And what do you want?” Evan asked.

I lowered myself onto the blossom and leaf-covered bench. I looked up at him. “I want my parents to stop forcing men on me.”

He grumbled and sat beside me. “I know that. I mean, what kind of engagement do you want?”

I looked at my pastel pink dress and fixed the skirt. “Private. You and me. No illusion.” My heart thumped loudly. I could see her before me. “M-maybe for Claugiyliamatar to oversee it,” I continued, stumbling over my words. “If she likes. I don’t know if she’d have an interest, though.”

Evan turned to face me entirely. “I think she’d love to see it. Though she might have her servants set up a date for us or something.”

I thought. “Probably. I wouldn’t mind. You’ll need wedding guests, though. She’ll have to dress them up.” I met her gaze. Those eyes were still Evangeline’s; warm and big, the most caring gaze I’ve ever seen.

She noticed, looked around quickly, and deactivated the enchantment on the brooch. She brought her hands to my hair and carefully positioned the small flowers throughout my braid—she’d picked them up during my spiel probably. Evangeline smiled, a kind of smug grin but also deeply caring.

My heart fluttered.

Her dark hand came to my face, hand on my cheek as tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Can I admit something, (Y/N)?”

I swallowed thickly. I forced myself to nod. “Sure,” I croaked, my mouth dry.

“My mother isn’t the only one who admires you.” Her hand came forward, finger tracing my jaw. My skin tingled, heart raced at her touch again. “Turns out I like the women she aspires to be.”

I leaned forward, my face passing by her hand. This was my chance to make my choice. My lips touched hers. “I like you too.”

*~*~*~*

I the warmth of her kiss lingered as Evangeline pulled away, ring slipping onto my finger. The yellow and green lighting-orbs lit her up like the angel she was in this lush forest. I caught a glance down; it was my grandmother’s. A silver ring with a peridot set in it, very fitting.

Claugiyliamatar clapped and grinned, coming forward. “Congratulations!” She set herself down and put a claw on each of us. “It’s so delightful that it’s all working!”

Evangeline touched the claw on her shoulder. Masculine outfits suited her; the dark forest green of her dress shirt complimented her and matched Claugiyliamatar. “Me too, Mother. This way, we all get to have our happily ever after.” She looked at me with those deep, caring eyes she’d been watching me with.

I had to look away, getting flustered. This was my first time having anything close to this burst of feelings, to feel genuinely wanted and loved, and wanting to reciprocate those feelings.

Then Evangeline looked at Claugiyliamatar. “And I have something for you, Mother.” She looked at the servants.

“I’ll give you two some time.” I touched her shoulder and moved to step away.

“No. Stay. I can only give her this gift, thanks to you.” She smiled at me and then at her mother. “Please, send them away, Mother.”

Claugiyliamatar nodded and waved a claw at the musicians. Once they were gone, she looked at Evangeline.

She cleared her throat. “With thanks to, (Y/N), my love and lady, I made this for you.” She pulled out a gold necklace with the same dragon brooch as Evan had worn, with an emerald for the dragon’s backdrop. “It is for you to attend the wedding.” Evangeline raised her arms and Claugiyliamatar lowered her head. Evangeline wrapped the necklace carefully around Claugiyliamatar’s horn. It was quite a pretty accessory.

Claugiyliamatar’s eyes shone. “Oh, Eva!”

Evangeline wiped under her eyes. “Try imagine being shorter, Mother. That should trigger it.” with her practice of druid magic, Evangeline had tested wild forms before.

Claugiyliamatar closed her eyes and, after furrowing her brow for a moment, changed into a tall, thin and elegant woman with the necklace on her neck and long ash blonde hair. In the light, it seemed to be tinted green.

I looked away in shock, as she was naked, but I was smiling.

Claugiyliamatar had gotten her wish.

[giacosketch]

Hi, I'm back and I drew a Chasmosaurus!

Hey hi!

It's been a while, huh? I'm going to dust off this old blog and see how things go. I like being able to archive my work, and having the opportunity to talk about it is also pretty nice :)

So anyways here's something I drew recently;

The Chasmosaurus!

Known for its huge, square like head, the Chasmosaurus is a ceratopsid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period in North America.

Recently i went to the Royal Ontario Museum to film a project for school. While i was there i was looking at the Chasmosaurus mount they had on display.

I've seen it before. I love going to the ROM, and I've always liked this mount. It has a nice bit of motion in the pose. When I saw it, it looked as if the left front leg was raised, like it was mid-stride, and the head being slightly cocked down, as if it was grazing or showing off its massive frill.

Looking at it now, I can tell it's more of a flat pose, but the damage was done. I wanted to draw this!

I went home with the idea in my head, and a day or so later, I whipped up this pencil drawing.

I added a few things that the original fossil didn't have, such as the Chasmosaurus's horns. I'll admit I wasn't sure whether this was a male or female fossil, nor that the horns could've been lost to time on this specimen. I also added spikes/horns on the side of the frills that the original fossil also didn't have. I also included small hints of picpycnofibers on the back of the animal, a trait that many ceratopsians had.

when I was happy with the pencils, I moved onto the inks

I had fun with this. I live streamed the inking process over on my Instagram (@giaccosketch) i used two zebra brush pens to ink this.

and then I cleaned it up in Photoshop

BAM!

Blacked out some of the cross-hatching, as it didn't really translate well in the scan. I also cleaned up some of the lines and scan debris. I think I did a good job!

After I was done, I sent this over to Procreate and coloured it all in. I used a colour palette I made a while back for some fan art.

After some time, the final product came out, and I was really happy with it! This was the first time in a long while that I went through a whole process like this for a piece, and I think I'm going to do it again really soon.

Thanks for reading; I hope you liked what I had to say. See you next time!