#c suite program

[dr-ameet-parekh-business-coach]

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[measlyscrapofseafood]

firm believer that on the encom system the grid suits are actually apart of the programs like an exoskeleton but on the grid programs it’s just clothing

[coffeemusings]

❛❛ I brought blankets, takeout, and your favorite movie. I know it won’t fix everything, but it might help. ❜ (To Pepper, from Tony) //tbh he probably also gave her a raise, she deserves it.

Knock Knock.

Pepper sighed and lowered the towel from her hair and set it onto the bathroom counter. She didn't have to ask who it was knocking on the door because there was only one person that would. So, after a quick glance in the foggy bathroom mirror, Pepper headed for the door with her almost completely dry red hair, having gotten home not too long ago and showered after the long day.

A day she thought would become relaxing once she came home for the day, but when one is in a relationship with the Tony Stark, relaxation didn't always come so easily.

As soon as the door opened, Tony was the first to speak. In his arms were the blankets, the food and yes, her favorite movie. Or one of them, anyway. His memory about what she liked and disliked had certainly improved over the course of their relationship and he liked to make that known by pointing out the lack of strawberries anytime he brought her a gift or something edible. It never failed to make her grin and it was always hard to stay mad at him when he did things like this.

"You... brought blankets," she repeated, lips pursed. "to our bedroom." Did she really need to explain further? "Really, Tony?" She tried so hard to hold back the smile, but she couldn't. For a genius, he really was an idiot sometimes, though she knew he did it intentionally at times. And again, it was hard to stay mad at him because of it. His efforts to earn her forgiveness were quite amusing and endearing, although sometimes he went overboard or made things worse. Not this time, at least.

"It certainly won't fix the kitchen, no." She agreed, shaking her head. "But I'm sure you will. Tomorrow." It wasn't up for discussion. The suit or drone or droid, whatever he considered them now, that he was trying to program to cook ended up damaging the kitchen and that wasn't something Pepper wanted to walk into upon arriving home after a tiring day. Finally, she stepped aside with a sigh, inviting him in. "Come on."

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Edit: Now available in Google Doc format if you don't have a Tumblr account 🥰

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting

[pragatileadershipindia]

How Corporate Leadership Programs Prepare C-Suite Executives for Strategic Decision-Making

[softgayheart]

tell me why I just got a calendar invite for a 1:1 meeting with my boss's boss's boss's boss 😳

[helgatisha]

DEFAULT TAB CAMERA | file replacement

Download: boosty | patreon | mega

❗info:

This is not a mod. I just changed the game file.

The camera moves slower and more carefully. Now you can take screenshots of your sims and other things very easy.

Base game compatibility

This file doesn't need special or frequent updates.

I changed the values for a more cinematic camera. If you don't like my values, there are plenty of tutorials on how to change them on the Internet. Use this opportunity.

___________________________________________________________

❗❗❗ If the "my camera" stops working after you update the game, just reinstall. ❗❗❗

___________________________________________________________

❗How to install:

Open C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin\res

Copy the VideoCamera.ini file from the folder and put them in another folder on your computer. (This is to make it easy to change the file back to its original one if you don't like my file)

Place the download file into C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin\res replacing the original VideoCamera.ini file

___________________________________________________________

❗How to uninstall:

Repair the game

OR

Do you remember you had to copy the original file and put it to another folder? Find this file and replace the VideoCamera.ini in your res folder with it.

___________________________________________________________

I made this file for MYSELF. Everything works for me and everything suits me. I decided to share it because it might be useful for those who suffered from a gaming camera like me.

please read and respect my tou

Linktree

[wabblebees]

I'd never heard of studio c before but I'll try to watch out for it in the future if it's like a Mormon propaganda machine. :V my b!

oh beloved i appreciate this v much!! but i think maybe my personal reaction to seeing them out in the wild may have given the wrong impression of what studio c is??😅😭 theyre just a funny little group that makes Wholesome Sketch Comedy -- but since theyre byu based/owned/operated (which generally means vv m//ormon & vv focused on creating Good Clean Content) my family and i used to watch them a LOT. just now im out of the church and unlearning the fear of fun that is NOT Good or Clean, seeing them by surprise on my dash gave me a... much stronger internal reaction than i was expecting ??

but like. the cast in that video obv wasnt actively trying to convert anyone or advertise/advance the university or cult or anything, they were just doing shakespeare and eating spicy chicken lmao. just being theatre adults

all that being said!!! its *definitely* worthwhile to be Very Very Very Wary of anything made on/by byutv (and bonneville/deseret/etc), though

[kaygroupasia]

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[feelmyskinonyourskin]

Judex, Judicum, Infantem - Chapter 9

(Eventual)Reader x Matt Murdock x Frank Castle

previous chapter | next chapter | series masterlist | my masterlist

summary: You and Frank have your first conversation since he left. Matt makes a huge mistake that has you questioning everything.

warnings: AFAB Reader. No use of Y/N. Pregnancy. Angst and arguing. Brief description of an IV.

w/c: 4,665

*I never give permission for my fics, manips, or any other original creation I post on Tumblr to be copied, posted elsewhere, translated, or fed into any AI program. The only platforms I currently post on are Tumblr and AO3. Thanks*

The rise and fall of your chest was rhythmic as you slept, up and down. Every inhale expanded your body enough that Frank could see the subtle bump popping out from under the oversized sweatshirt on your body. He was so delirious from blood loss and the shock of seeing you last night, that he hadn’t caught it then. Now that he knew, it was impossible not to notice.

Twenty years ago when Maria told him she was pregnant, he was so happy. A young man who was full of hope for the future and the joyful accident with a woman he was so in love with. A start towards a life that was supposed to be the perfect dream. How foolish he was. As he leaned in the door frame and watched while you slumbered, he couldn’t help but think of how different things were. How different he was.

Now he was old. Weathered by time and tragedy and the war he continued to wage in response to his grief. How could he possibly have any redemption left in him to do this again? To love another woman and child and live everyday with the possibility of losing them? To have goodness in his life once more when he would only every be haunted by the ghosts of his past.

A life defined by tragedy and here he was subjecting you to his messed up world that would surely end in you hurt.

Oh and this time, there was also one more detail…

“Kirsten, today isn’t really a great—” Matt argued on his phone from the kitchen behind Frank, pacing back and forth with a stern expression

“I understand— Kirsten, I—” he sighed “Yeah, I’ll be there in ten.”

Matt tossed his phone onto the island and gripped the counter edge, hanging his head as he blew a frustrated breath through his nose. Frank took one last glance at you before turning towards Matt. He shuffled over to the kitchen, pulling out a stool to sit and taking a sip of his now third mug of coffee.

“Work troubles, counselor?”

“Yeah. We’ve got this client, he’s a real… piece of work. And he showed up at our office this morning expecting us to just make time for a meeting.”

“You tell him to fuck off?”

Matt’s brows scrunched below the rim of his crimson tinted glasses and an dry chuckle quickly sounded from deep within his chest.

“This may come as a surprise to you Frank, but I actually have a life. A job, a real one. That makes money so not only can I take care of her but also the baby.”

“Christ, she’s got a goddamn job too. Ain’t like she gotta let you just…” Frank mumbled under his breath

Ignoring Frank’s commentary, Matt rushed around, shoving his laptop in his brief case and setting his coffee in the sink. He managed to get into the bedroom and change into a suit and dress shirt without disturbing you.

“I’ll be back by lunch.” Matt said, sitting on the sofa to put his shoes on “And Frank?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t go anywhere.”

Frank almost looked offended by the request, snorting through his nose and shaking his head at the lawyer’s tone.

“You tellin’ me what to do now, Red?”

“You already left her once. And I had to clean up the mess. Don’t do it again.”

“Or what?”

Tucking in his shirt, Matt stalked over to where Frank sat. He made no hesitation, making sure his face was nice and close so there wouldn’t be any mistaking the intention behind his words. Low and razor sharp, he kept his voice level but still laced with venom.

“The way I do things? The one you think is bullshit? You hurt her again and I might just do things your way this time. Might finish the job like you’ve always wanted me to, Frank.”

Not a hint of fear shined in Frank’s eyes as he responded, knowing Murdock wouldn’t ever dare. The taunting temperament that seeped from his gravely voice matched the way he squared up his shoulders, ignoring the pain that it brought throughout his body as he dared the devil to act.

“That right? You gonna put aside the Catholic bullshit and put me down, Red? You really think that’s gonna fix this shit? That gonna be what she wants?”

“Oh, suddenly what she wants matters to you?”

“Tell you what, you try that shit with me, you better not miss.”

“Don’t give me a reason to try then.”

Radiating heat settled between their bodies as the men remained in their silent stand off. Both stilled, rooted in their spots, nose to nose while wordlessly instigating the other. Matt finally spoke, hushed tone breaking the silence.

“I’ll be back in a few hours. I texted her boss to give her the day off. Let her rest.”

Frank gave a half nod as Matt finally stepped away and headed for the door.

“You get some too.” Matt shouted over his shoulder as he grabbed his keys from the entry table and exited the apartment.

Your body still felt heavy, exhausted not only from a lack of any real peaceful sleep, but also from the stress you could feel gripping onto your muscles and bones like a sticker on a windshield. Instinctively, your hand reached down to cup the bump of your stomach, checking up on baby girl. You squeezed your eyes shut, hoping that sleep would keep happening if you just tried hard enough. You knew it wouldn’t. Based on the general unwellness you were currently feeling, you also knew you probably hadn’t been asleep for more than a few hours despite how much you needed more.

With a small yawn, you rolled onto your back. There was heavy presence in the air as you laid there, as if you were being watched. Picking up your head a little, you saw the figure leaning against the door frame, looking weak and tired as he watched you slumber.

As the events of the evening rushed back to you, you sat bolt upright and practically leapt out of bed, crossing the room in just a few paces to where Frank stood. His eyes softened as they followed your path to him, chocolatey warmth bringing you back to the times when he looked at you like that before. In that moment, it didn’t feel like it had been months since you’d last seen him. It felt like it was only a moment; as though nothing had changed between the two of you and you could just pick up where you left off. But it had.

You stopped just in front of him, eyes trailing up and down his body. Frank had experienced plenty of pain before. He’d lost count of the number of times his body had been stabbed, beaten, and shot. But nothing compared to the burning ache he felt in that moment as he watched all the emotions settle over your face while you drank him in. Your brows furrowed at the exhaustion painted across his face. Your mouth set in a hard line at the way he winced when he swallowed. Your pupils grew wide, staring at the stitched up wound on his neck that was still jagged and red. A soft sigh unconsciously left your lips when you noticed the dried blood still crusted in his unkempt beard.

Overall, you could tell he was still weak. But he was here. And alive. No longer fading towards death.

“You should be resting.” you spoke softly, fearing that even adding volume to your voice might make him collapse once more

Frank’s face was pure kindness as he stared you down, mouth twitching up in an attempt at a smile at your concern.

“M’ alright.”

The raspy baritone of his voice sent a shiver down your spine. You’d missed it so much, laced with kindness and softness he reserved only for you. You wanted to reach out, to touch him and hold him, feel that he was still real and alive and in front of you. But there was an uneasiness in the atoms of air between you, both of you not acknowledging the things you wanted to say since you last saw him.

“Bullshit, Frank. You almost died last night.”

Frank shrugged, pursing his lips. He was clearly putting on a show for you, pushing aside his discomfort to play strong so you’d worry less. The way he leaned on the transom, body shaky and breath heavy, you knew he was still far from healed. Did he always have to be so damn stubborn?

“Frank, please? Go sit?” you asked sweetly, hoping a gentler tone would convince him

He conceded with a nod, ducking his head as he shuffled away from you and towards the living room. He sank into the couch with a grunt. You made your way beside him, sitting on the opposite end.

His stained vest still laid on the floor beside the sofa, exactly where you placed it after Curtis left. His boots were still lined up neatly in the corner after you’d removed them while he slept. Nothing else seemed out of place since you’d gone to bed. Except one thing.

“Where’s Matt?” you inquired

“Said something about a pain in the ass client.”

“Right. Madison case. He’s been busy with that a lot lately.”

You sighed, trying not to grow upset as you thought about Matt’s behavior towards you lately. Missing important things for work stuff, going out as Daredevil without considering your feelings, arguing with you about Frank. You should add this to the list of reasons to be pissed, him just taking off without saying goodbye. But right now you were actually relieved to have the alone time to talk to Frank.

“So. You and him?” Frank asked

“Yeah.”

“You moved on damn fast.”

There was a bite to his voice, leaving behind the gentleness you saw in his eyes to let out the hurt.

“You told me to.” you responded, recounting the conversation you had when you laid beside him in his shitty hideout

“Really though? Murdock?”

“Hey, look it started as just a fun thing, and then it turned into more. Okay? I didn’t expect for it to—”

“So you’re playing house with him while carrying my goddamn kid?”

“I don’t know if yours or hi— How did you know?”

You thought Matt’s sweatshirt was doing a decent enough job at hiding your state, not wanting Frank to see and jump to conclusions before you could have this discussion. But either Frank was just too damn observant for his own good or…

“Red told me.”

Of course he had. Add it to the fucking list.

“Matt had no right to tell you that. It was my—”

“You’re right. You shoulda been the one to tell me. And you shoulda told me weeks ago.”

“I tried. But you were gone, Frank!” you spat, not bothering to hide the sting in your voice “and Matt tried to find you so I could tell you and we couldn’t—”

“He did.”

“What?”

“Asshole came to my new hide out. Few weeks ago. He tracked me down and came askin’ about some bullet casing. Guess he didn’t want to tell me then, huh?”

You recalled every single conversation you and Matt had about Frank, making sure your pregnancy brain hadn’t accidentally gaslit you into forgetting such a crucial piece of information. Never once had he mentioned finding where Frank was. You were sure of it.

“Excuse me? When was this?” you asked, still not believing what you were hearing

“Right after those cops shot White Tiger.”

You did the math. Hector was killed shortly after you’d asked Matt to stop looking for Frank, around your 12 week mark.

“He stopped going out as Daredevil to look for you. I asked him to.”

“Didn’t come to me in the costume. Came as himself.”

Matt found Frank. A month ago. And he hid it from you.

It was like you were standing on a moving subway car then someone unexpectedly pulled the emergency cord, screeching your world to a violent halt while sending you toppling forward. Your heart clenched and began to race, and the air in the room felt thinner. Tears began to prick at your eyelids as you realized what Frank was saying.

“He… he lied to me. He knew where you were… Frank, I am so sorry. I didn’t know.”

If what you were feeling towards Matt before was regular old anger, this new information was white hot rage, filling you up with molten lava with such an inferno steam might come out of your head. Your hand came up to cover your mouth as a violent sob left your mouth, filling the room with an echo as the depth of Matt’s betrayal sunk in.

“Shh, c’mere sweetheart,” Frank comforted as pulled you against his chest, rocking you in his arms while your body shook with sobs. He kept his voice soft. “Ain’t nothin we can do about it now.”

Under different circumstances, you might have been able to find peace in finally feeling Frank’s embrace again. You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t craved it since he’d abandoned you. But the curveball of Matt’s secret was sending your brain into overdrive once again thinking of all the what ifs about the future, leaving you too distressed to realize how much you’d missed this.

“I’m here now.” Frank continued, running a hand up and down your back in soothing motions. “And I ain’t going anywhere.”

“Oh so you don’t have a problem leaving me and breaking my heart but you’ll stay out of whatever weird sense of duty you seem to think you have to a kid that might not even be yours.” you spat back, pushing off of Frank’s chest and wiping away the snot dripping from your nose.

It wasn’t fair that Frank was facing your hostility. Matthew not currently present to be punished for his sins in the form of a well-deserved outburst from you. But you couldn’t help it. They both let you down. They both let their issues get in the way and ruin what should be a joyous time in your life.

“Ain’t gonna stay cause I feel obligated to. Gonna do it cause I want to.”

“Kinda doesn’t feel like it though.” you replied, “Feels like you’re just repeating the past. Stuck with a kid in the kind of life you didn’t ever want to live again.”

“Who said I don’t want that again?”

“You did when you walked out on me. Walked out on whatever this could have been.”

Frank’s eyes softened, remorse flickering in his gentle whiskey-colored stare as he reached up to wipe a tear from your cheek.

“I know. Baby, I was an idiot. Still am. But I’m gonna make it up to you.”

“You want to be there for the baby, I get it.” you sighed

“And you.”

“Until it all gets to be too much. You get too happy and it scares you or you get bored with having a normal fucking life or some new gang shows up that you need to take care of or—”

“Hey.” he interjected “I ain’t leaving again. You hear me?”

“You know Matt said the same thing when I told him. Said he was there for me no matter what. Wanted us to be a family and do what was best for me. Look how that’s going.”

“Pffft.” Frank scoffed, shaking his head “Don’t know if you noticed sweetheart, but I ain’t him.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you practically are. The two of you are way more alike than you want to admit. But okay.”

The way Frank’s eyebrow quirked up let you know he’d never considered it before and wasn’t a fan of the observation. He ran a hand through his tousled hair in frustration and you didn’t miss the subtle tapping of his finger against nothing, subconsciously pulling the trigger on the idea. Fortunately, your distressed state seemed to be enough to get him to back down from any objections he was inclined to voice on the subject.

“He been treating you right?” he asked

“Matt? Yeah, until last night he’s been a saint.”

“Christ, that’s one thing I know he ain’t.”

For the first time in over 24 hours, you felt yourself smile. A true and genuine smile that felt like stepping into the sun on an unusually warm February day— the kind where you know you’ve got way more winter to wade through, but you might as well enjoy the moment of warmth. You watched as the crinkles formed at the edges of his eyes and a toothy grin grew from behind his crusty beard as he saw the joy flicker within you. It was a moment of normalcy finally, a reminder of what drew you to Frank in the first place. Not all the blood and violence, but how easy and natural you felt when you were with him.

His hand reached out, all bruised and scratched from whatever he had been up to these days, delicately circling his thumb over your bump

“How far along?” he asked

“16 weeks.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” you confirmed

“Everything healthy?”

“Yeah. You wanna see?”

If he was smiling before, he might as well have been the Cheshire Cat now, entire face lighting up at your offer.

“Yeah.”

You rushed off to the bedroom, returning a moment later with the latest ultrasound. Tilting his head to the side as he took the photo between his fingers, his warm cocoa eyes squinted slightly as he studied every detail.

“So, I don’t know if Matt told you but, it is a girl.”

“No, he didn’t. A little girl huh?”

You could see the touches of remorse and nostalgia swirling behind his gaze despite his generally cheery disposition. It made your chest ache when you thought of all the painful memories that must have been coming up for him. Was this what it felt like when Maria told him she was pregnant with Lisa so early into their relationship? Moving forward with such trauma and heartache weighing him down was going to be a challenge and you wondered if he would ever be able to love this child the way he loved Lisa and Frankie.

“Yeah. I’ll be honest with you, this is the first ultrasound they’ve given me where she actually has looked like anything to me.”

Frank balked, still not looking away from the black and white print out. He ran a finger over it as if he was stroking your baby’s face.

“You got a name picked yet?”

“No, God. Matt and I can not agree on anything, so I will take any suggestions you’ve got.”

“Always liked Francesca.” he said, shit eating grin letting you know he was only sort of joking.

You rolled your eyes so hard you swore they’d fall out and roll all the way to New Jersey.

“You have got to be kidding.”

As he chuckled heartily at your reaction, you sat back down beside him on the sofa. He bent forward to set the the photo on the coffee table before leaning back and throwing an arm on the back of the couch as he turned to face you. It was hard not to notice the way he grunted and winced as he moved, a reminder of all the healing he still had to do.

“You havin’ a lot of symptoms?” he asked

“Like you would not believe.”

Frank dropped his head slightly, staring at the ultrasound once more. Thoughts of Maria’s first pregnancy once again filled his thoughts. All the early milestones he remembered helping her through; holding her hair back when she had morning sickness, the excitement of each doctors appointment to find out how Lisa was growing, nesting in their crappy old apartment in Queens. There was a pang of guilt to his face, grimacing as he thought about you going through all that and him missing it all.

“M’ really sorry sweetheart. I shoulda been here. For all of it.”

Sensing whatever internal anguish he was going through, you reached out and took his hand gently in yours.

“Matt said he doesn’t want a paternity test, but if you’d rather—”

“I don’t either.” he cut you off “Don’t need one.”

“Frank—”

“Will you quit arguin’? Christ, you always gotta be so stubborn.”

“Oh, you wanna talk stubborn—” you retorted

“There’s that fuckin’ mouth again. Didn’t miss that.”

“You fucking liar.”

Despite his amused demeanor, there was still a sense of misery weighing on his broad shoulders that hovered in the dense silence that had fallen. His soft lips parted a few times, as if he was trying to think of the right things to say, but deciding against all of them. His eyes kept shifting from you, to your stomach, to the photo on the table. Obviously still lost in calculating the mix of emotions he was feeling. You were desperate to know what he was thinking and as he squeezed your hand once more, you decided it was time to pounce on the fleeting window of opportunity to finally get Frank to open up for a change.

“But you missed me?” you asked, your voice almost timid as you spoke, afraid that Frank might answer and confirm that he hadn’t been thinking of you at all while he was away.

“Yeah, I did.” he replied earnestly

“What did you—”

A knock on the door cut you off and nearly had you jumping out of your skin in shock. Any chance of getting Frank to be honest with you; about his past, or his current feelings, or anything really, had flown out the window like a vampire at sunrise.

Curtis had returned as promised, duffle bag of Frank’s essentials in one hand and a tote bag in the other filled with enough antibiotics to wipe out any infection that might even look Frank’s way. He was clearly dressed for work; crisp white dress shirt slightly strained against his large biceps and a navy tie hanging with a neat knot around his neck. If you hadn’t known about his history as a military medic, you’d have thought he looked more like an associate of Matt’s than someone who would consider themselves friends with the Punisher.

He gave Frank a look up and down when he got into the living room, dropping the duffle onto the couch.

“He lives!” he commented sarcastically, which earned him an eye-roll from Frank “Brought your stuff and parked your truck ‘round the block.”

“ ‘Preciate it Curt.” Frank replied

“How’s our patient doing?” Curtis asked, turning his attention to you standing beside him

“Well, they didn’t stab the attitude out of him, that’s for sure.”

Blowing a puff of air past his lips, Frank shook his head and began to go through his duffle. Meanwhile, Curtis didn’t even try to hide his laughter at your comment, letting his booming chuckle fill the room as he threw his head back.

“I’m Curtis, by the way,” he held out his large hand to shake yours “since we didn’t get to formally introduce ourselves last night.”

You shook his hand lightly, speaking your name.

“Wait. So, you’re…?” Curtis looked at Frank quizzicaly

So Frank had told him about you.

“Yeah, Curt. That’s her.”

Frank looked almost sheepish, clearly pretending to be distracted by the clothes he kept pulling and putting back in his bag, not able to hide the rosy tint spreading across the top of his beard. Curtis’ mouth turned down in an observant expression, looking between you and Frank.

“You said she worked for a non-profit,” Curtis said “didn’t know it was for taking charity cases like you.”

Oh, you and Curtis were going to get along swimmingly.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee?” you offered, making your way into the kitchen while Curtis sat down on the couch, beginning to take a look at all Frank’s injuries and pulling an IV bag from his tote.

“No, thank you.” Curtis responded “I’ve gotta get to work after this, don’t have time to stay and —”

You wondered what made him stop talking, spinning around from the cabinet with a mug in your hand.

Curtis’ eyes were locked on the ultrasound still sitting on the table.

“Is that yours?” he asked, questioning you with a raised brow

Telling the news to all yours and Matt’s friends had been relatively easy. With Frank gone, there was no need to let anyone in on the information that the baby had two potential fathers. Now that he was back and clearly wanted to stay, letting everyone know and speculate on the drama of it all was not something you were looking forward to. Still, Curtis was important to Frank and it seemed like a good first person to break the news to.

“Yeah. I’m pregnant.” you confirmed

“And are you…?” he turned to Frank

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean maybe?”

Frank just gestured to the room, implying the owner of the apartment. The surprise was apparent on Curtis’ face.

“No shit.”

You drummed your fingers nervously on the counter, eyes flickering over to Frank in a silent plea to him to take the lead on this and spare you the awkwardness.

“How do you feel about this?” Curtis asked him

Frank only shrugged, until he saw the way you were looking at him.

“Mind your business, Curt.”

“Yeah, that’s what you always tell me. Till your business becomes my business.” Curtis replied, shaking his head and proceeding with getting another line in Frank’s arm and getting the IV hooked up.

Once Frank was all set with the antibiotics and Curtis had changed the dressings on a few of the wounds hiding under Frank’s shirt, he rose from his spot and gathered his things.

“Well you need a babysitter, you know where to find me. I’m great with kids. Got two nephews who love me.” he said as he made his way down the hall towards the front door.

“ ‘Preciate it Curt.” Frank called out

And then Curtis was out the door and it was just you and Frank alone again.

There was probably something productive that you could have been doing in the moment to distract you from the anxious rage you were feeling about Matt. Not seeing any point in just sitting around and stewing on it, knowing that going over it again and again would only lead to a larger outburst once he got home. You needed distraction, but could not for the life of you decide on what exactly would do the trick, opting to just pace around the apartment mindlessly.

“Was a bullet by the way.” Frank finally spoke up “Not a knife. Inch to the side and it woulda got me.”

He gestured, demonstrating with his finger how the bullet must have flown by and nicked his neck.

“Oh, cause that makes it better…” you scoffed

“What do you need right now, sweetheart?”

You rubbed your hands against your face, inhaling sharply through your nose.

“A shower. A beer. You to be better. Matt to not be an asshole. About 87 hours sleep.”

Frank chuckled, staying put in the living room to let the medicine works it’s course. But the way his sits-bones were teetering on the edge of the couch indicated to you he was itching to get up and be beside you, always a man of action.

“Why don’t you start with the shower?”

“Oh no, I’m not taking my eyes off you again, Castle. How do I know if I take a shower for 10 minutes, you won’t vanish in a skull shaped puff of smoke?”

The muscle in his jaw twitched, regret at leaving you still etched in his stone set features.

“Ain’t a ghost sweetheart.”

“You promise you’ll stay?”

“Not goin’ anywhere.”

NEXT CHAPTER

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

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[shaunashipman]

i told my friend i would find him some beginner’s giffing tutorials, but all the one’s i could find were either years out of date, used a method that made me go “huh”, or incorporated ready-made actions. all perfectly fine, but if i’m sending someone a tutorial i’d rather it be one for a method i understand enough to help with.

so, here is a beginner’s guide to giffing, as told by cleo, a neurotic, detailed, and organization happy individual. there will be many pictures.

this tutorial will strictly cover the gif making portion of the process, from getting your screencaps to importing in photoshop, resizing/cropping, and sharpening. i was going to briefly go over colouring, but tumblr only allows 30 images and i ran out of space, so i'll have to do a separate colouring tutorial (which also means i can go into more detail, yay).

downloading the videos, whether direct downloads or t*rrents, is also another tutorial. but make sure you’re using at least 1080p, and the bigger the file the better. a single episode of a ~45 minute show should ideally be 2gb at minimum. a full length movie should ideally be at least 5gb. imo 2160p/4k files are not really necessary; the quality increase is negligible, and it takes a lot longer to screencap them. if you do use 2160p/4k files, try and make sure it is not HDR, as those videos are often washed out and require a different screencapping program to fix.

Programs

I am using a cracked version photoshop 2022, but whichever version you use should be pretty much the same

Actions. not a program but a function inside photoshop, where you essentially record a series of steps, and then you can simple play that action when needed and those steps will repeat, which saves considerable time when giffing. I will note which parts of the tutorial are best saved as actions, and explain how to create actions at the end.

For screencapping i use kmplayer it’s free and very simple to use

not at all a necessary program, but i use freecommander instead of the regular windows file explorer as i find the dual panels very helpful when moving the frames around

Screencapping

there are many programs you can use to get the screencaps from a video, a lot are basically the same, some are better suited for particular video file types. kmplayer is a very simple program to use, but afaik the capture function only works on mkv. files (the only other file type i’ve tried is mp4, which plays but does not capture)

once you open your video file in kmplayer, we’re going to open the advanced capture window, found under capture→advanced capture, or alt+v

the window should look like this

A-this is where all your screencaps will save to. i recommend making a specific folder for all your screencaps

B-make sure this is set to png for best quality

C-this is the number of screencaps you want to take, guesstimate how many you will need, keeping in mind that most videos are approx. 25 frames per second, and you should always cap a bit more than you think just in case

D-make sure “every/frame” is selected and set to 1

E-make sure “original” is selected, resizing will be done in photoshop

F-make sure “correct aspect ratio” is unselected

go to the part of the video you want to gif, and pause it just slightly before that part starts, then select ‘start’. the screencaps will start to save to the file, no need to play the video, and will automatically stop once it has capped the number of frames you have chosen

and here is how they look inside freecommander. i have already made a folder for this gifset, which is on the left. now you’re going to make a folder for each individual gif. i’ve decided this one will have four gifs, so create four folders (i just label them gif 01, gif 02, etc) and then move the frames for each gif into their respective folder

while you can always delete frames once the gif is made if it’s too big, i prefer to make sure i have the correct number of frames before i start. the gif limit on tumblr is 10mb, so it’s good to look at the scene/shots you’re giffing and decide approx. what dimensions your gif will be. full size gifs have a width of 540px and your choice of height. if you go for a square gif (540x540) you can usually fit 40-50 frames. if you’re planning for a smaller height (such as 540x400) you can usually fit more around 50-60 frames.

and here are the caps inside the folders. another reason i like freecommander is it’s ability to “multi-rename” files. the default file explorer can do so as well, but you have to do each folder individually and you can’t customize the new names as much. either way, i prefer to rename the files to each gif just to scratch my organization itch.

Introduction to Photoshop

NOTE: i have changed many of my keyboard shortcuts in photoshop to ones i prefer, so any you see listed in the menus of these screenshots are likely not the original shortcuts. you can see and change them yourself under edit→keyboard shortcuts

quick run-down of the photoshop interface. i have adjusted placement of some things from the default so this isn’t exactly how your photoshop will look when you open it, but everything is labelled, either on top or by hovering over the element. once you’re more familiar and have your process down i would recommend adjusting the workspace to suit your process.

A-your main tools and colour selector. almost all the tools have either several tools in one, or have alternate options which can be accessed by right-clicking the tool. you can also hover over each tool to get a pop-up with a quick explanation of the tool

B-additional “windows” such as history, properties, actions etc. can be opened from the window menu at the top and moved around with click-and-drag. history and properties should already be there by default, but probably on the right hand side instead. each window opens and closes with a click

C-the timeline window where the gif is made. the white square is a single frame of a gif, and on the row below is the play controls. this will not be there by default and will need to be opened from the window menu

D-adjustment layers for colouring

E-layers box. this is where the screencaps will show, along with adjustment layers, text layers, etc.

Opening Screencaps in Photoshop

go to file → open navigate to the folder for your first gif, select the first screencap, and check the image sequencing, and click open

a window will open labelled frame rate. set it to 23.976 and select ok

the screencaps will open in the timeline view, seen as the blue panel line at the bottom, and the screencaps are combined into video layer in the layer panel on the right.

Creating Frames

technically, you could go right into your cropping/resizing and sharpening from here, however if you do that directly then you have to keep the screencaps in the folders you have, otherwise if you save and re-open the gif it won’t move.

this next part should be made into an action.

at the top right of the timeline window, click four vertical lines to open the menu and select convert frames → flatten frames into clips. depending on how long the gif is, this can take a minute.

the layers panel should now look like this, each frame of the gif is now its own layer.

the very bottom layer will be the video group. this can be deleted as we’ve made the frames from it

in same timeline menu as before, right under “flatten frames into clips”, select “convert to frame animation” and the screen should now look like this. this will be the end of this action.

Cropping and Resizing

with widescreen footage, sometimes it’s just shorter than 1080p, but most of the time it will have the black bars on the top and bottom, and frustratingly, they’re not always the same size. it’s good to save the most common sizes as actions.

to find the size of the actual screen you turn on the rulers under view→rulers and check the height. then open your canvas size dialogue box under image→canvas size and change the height, making sure pixels are selected in the dropdown. yellowjackets is what i call “xtra wide” which is 800px. “normal” widescreen is 960px.

next we’re going to resize the caps. i also make actions for this, one for each potential gif size. open the image size dialogue box under image→image size and change the height of the image to your desired height plus 4 pixels. these extra pixels are to prevent a line at the top and/or bottom of your completed gif. now re-open the canvas size box, change the width to 540px, and the height to the desired, removing those 4 extra pixels. i have set this one to 540x540. this is where you would end the resizing action.

and as you can see she is off-screen. select the top layer, hold down shift and select the bottom layer to select them all, and with the move tool (the very top one) activated, click and drag to move it left to right as needed to centre the figure/s. as you move it a box will appear telling you how far you are moving it in any direction. make sure you are only moving it left or right, not up or down. to be certain of that, open the properties tab.

the y axis is your up/down, x is left/right. for this gif the y needs to stay at -98. you can also manually change the x axis number instead of dragging the image. also helpful for making sure multiple gifs of the same shot are all positioned the same.

the layer are currently ordered with the 1st at the top and the last at the bottom. with all layers still selected, go to layers→arrange→reverse. the last layer will be on top now. if there is movement in your gif, check if you need to alter the position again to make sure the movement properly centred. but once you are satisfied with the position, the layers should be in “reverse” position, of last layer on top. this is to ensure that the gif plays forwards.

Converting Gif

this should also be made into an action, going through sharpening process

in the timeline menu, select “make frames from layers”

the frames are now populated in animation window. in timeline, click select all frames. go to any of the frames on the bottom and click the little arrow beneath it, select other, and enter 0.07 seconds. this is not a necessary step, as we will have to adjust the frame rate at the end, most likely to 0.05, but if we don’t change the frame rate here, then when we play the gif while working on it to check how it looks, it will play very fast.

in the same menu at the right of the timeline box, select “convert to video timeline”

then, making sure all layers in the panel on the right are selected, go to filter→convert for smart filters. this turns all the layers into a single smart object.

but if you look where i’ve circled, it says the gif is 99 frames long*, when in fact there are only 47. if you are making regular “scene” gifs, basic colouring and maybe a caption, this is fine and does not need to be fixed, it will play at the same speed. if you want to change it to display (approx.**) the correct number of frames, go to the timeline menu on the right, select “set timeline frame rate” and change it from 30 to 15

*if it does not list a frame number by 4 digits but instead says 5f, 10f, 15f, etc. go to the timeline menu on the right, select panel options, and change timeline units to “frame number”

**the reason why this is only approximate is because the actual frame rate is not a a whole number, so when changing the frame rate it isn’t a 1:1, and 47 frames becomes 50 frames. the extra frames are removed at the very end, but if you are not doing any edits that require working frame by frame, there’s no need to change the frame rate here at all

Sharpening

this is, as it sounds, making the gif look sharper. to start go to filter→sharpen→smart sharpen and this window opens. play around with the dials to see what each ones does. the below settings are good for most high quality footage.

Amount-basically, how sharp do you want it

Radius-hard to explain, but this essentially sets how deep the lines of the sharpness are

Reduce Noise-smooths the pixels

once you click okay your single layer should look like this.

you’re going to then right click the layer and select duplicate layer. with the top layer selected, go to filters→blur→gaussian blur and set the radius to 1.0 pixels.

then change the opacity of the top layer to 10%. this is to essentially soften the sharpening a bit, as if it’s too sharp it can make the colouring wonky. this opacity level can also be changed depending on need.

finally, select both layers, right click, and click “group from layers”. your gif is now fully made and sharpened.

Colouring

yeah. ran out of image space. but this is where you would do your colouring and add a caption or any other text.

Converting & Exporting

when all your colouring is done, you’re ready to start saving your gif. you can do it directly from your current file, but that means essentially losing your colouring, as all those layers will be merged together. i am someone who likes to save my psd’s (photoshop files), at least until i’ve posted the gifs, in case i need to fix something in the colouring. if you’d like to keep yours as well, open the history tab and select the first icon at the bottom “create new document from current state”. this will open a copy of the file in a new tab. save the original file and you can close it, continuing all work on the copy file.

select your all your layers, convert them into a smart object from filter->convert for smart filters, then follow the same steps from Creating Frames above. once you're back in frame animation, select Create Frames From Layers, and once again set the frame animation speed.

most people set the speed to 0.05. i personally set it to 0.05 or 0.06 depending on the length of the gif. check how it looks at 0.05, if it seems too fast, try 0.06.

now to save. go to file->export->save for web (legacy). the number is the lower left corner is your gif size, it needs to be under 10mb or else you'll have to delete some frames.

the right panel is your save options. the preset dropdown has some built-in settings, but you won't use them because (at least on my version) the presets only go up to 128 colours, instead of the full 256. the 3 i've highlighted in green are the only one's you'll adjust as needed. the settings below i use for i'd say 90% of my gifs. i'll sometimes change the adaptive dropdown to one of the other options, ocaissionaly the diffusion, and rarely the no transparency dither, but play around with them and see how they change the look of the gif.

when you're satisfied with the look of your gif, click save at the bottom right of the window.

voilà! you now have a gif.

Actions

this is your actions panel. the triangle on the left side is the button to open it. remember, if it's not already there, go to windows->actions to open it.

the buttons on the bottom, left to right, are stop recording, record action, play action, new folder, new action, and delete.

as you can see, i have different folders for my resizing, sharpening, captions, saving, and my 1 step (temporary) actions. to run an action is very simple; click the action, and click play.

to create an action, click the new action button, a box will pop up, give the action a name, and click record. the record button at the bottom of the action window will turn red. now perform all the steps you want it to record, and click stop recording. keep in mind it will record every single thing you do, including in other open files, so if the action you plan to record will have a lot of steps, it might help to write them down first.

to modify an action, select the step in the action above where you'd like the new step to be, hit record, perform the step, stop recording. select the step you'd like to delete, and click the delete button.

steps within the actions can be clicked and dragged, both within that action and moved to other actions. actions can also be moved between folders.

[thedexcat]

VotV Speculation Megapost

(For posterity's sake, the latest major release is 0.8) (Also, buckle in. This post is a long one.) (Edit 9/20/24: Added Addendum 1) (Edit 10/14/24: Added Addendum 2) It should be extremely obvious, but spoilers ahead.

As we all know, Voices of the Void has a "story breadcrumbs" approach to its plot. Combine that with its alpha status, and we're left with a lack of hard answers. However, some pieces did seem to click into place. This is far from anything definitive, but here are some of the conclusions I've drawn. Let's start with everybody's favorite:

Part 1: The Arirals

god i want one to hold me like that

You know em. You love em. Like 90% of the fanart is about them. But the question is... what the hell are they doing here? Judging by the fact that they construct a campsite in the facility, they clearly expect to be here for a while. A common interpretation I hear from people is that the ones out in the facility are either political refugees, or just some sort of benign "tourist group". I've personally come to a different conclusion. Let's consider what they brought with them.

Exhibit A: The weapon (left)

The weapon they drop around Day 24 is no mere Star Trek phaser. If you drop it in the main building, pretty much EVERYTHING in the building is going to be sent flying from the resulting blast. Not only that, but the "human-wieldable" version that can be unlocked for the sandbox mode has one hell of a fire rate. Something tells me that there's no way in hell this thing is a civilian-grade weapon. And, as established in a previous post of mine, they're kitted out in full-body armored stealth suits.

Exhibit B: The stealth suit (Kerf dutifully remains there for scale)

These aren't tourists or runaways. They're goddamn Black Ops. But you're probably asking, "If that's what they are, then why do they have nothing better to do than to steal shrimp and prank you?" Don't worry, I'll get to that later. Eventually. Maybe.

For now, let's move on to a third thing of theirs: The letter to Kel.

Exhibit C: Esraniki's Letter (D-, see me after english class)

This is the letter left at the Ariral camp if you have maxxed reputation with them. There's one line in particular that's always stood out to me. "GET WE HOME YOU GET DEATH AVOID" So... why can't they go home? Let's review: A: They have perfectly functional spacecraft parked right behind you. Even if they were broken, surely some random Pre-FTL primitive wouldn't be able to help with a mechanical failure in their technology. Hell, they buzz you at the radio tower with one. So there seems to be nothing physically stopping them from leaving. B: They've come kitted out with some serious weapons and armor C: Something in the facility is drawing the attention of all manner of extraterrestrials (and ghosts and demons. are 'metaterrestrials' a good word for them?) So my take? They're monitoring something, waiting for an opportunity to act upon it. (In keeping with the Patch Note naming convention, I will be calling this unknown something "The Threat") Not only that, this 'opportunity' may only open up with the assistance of a human. But what could Dr. Kel possibly do that an Ariral couldn't? Well, I can think of one thing he can do better... Interface with human technology.

Exhibit D: Ariral Communique (quality: shit) Computer technology isn't some universal constant. You can't make a program and expect it to magically run on alien technology with an unknown architecture. This ain't Independence Day. The fact that the Arirals barely managed to send a heavily-garbled message to Kel's computer, quite frankly, speaks of an extreme amount of effort on their part. And it was all just to say the word "OUTSIDE".

If The Threat has some ties to human technology, then perhaps Kel actually could be more qualified to deal with it than the Ariral Black Ops. Hmm... An unknown threat with ties to human technology. Could it possibly involve...

Part 2: The Incredibly Suspicious Bunker

"I left a 'Do not enter' note on the floor. That'll stop people from investigating!" This damn thing is quite obviously, as TVtropes would put it, The Very Definitely Final Dungeon. It is my firm belief that this is what the Arirals were sent to monitor, and where The Threat can be found. But we can't really get much further in than a few doors. So... what's in there? An easy assumption to make is that it's some sort of fallout/storm shelter. But something nearby might tell a different story...

Exhibit E: *squints* ...Liberty Prime? If you take a metal detector over to the bunker entrance, you'll quickly discover a buried drive nearby. The image you just saw is its contents. It's clear that something is being depicted here. What exactly it is, well, that's hard to say. but if you look at that teeny tiny thing at the top, you'll see something that looks like the Alpha base and its radio tower

oh god we're getting into crusty duende video territory now

What this says to me is that there is a colossal something underneath the base. Some sort of mega-facility? Unnatural cave formations? Something else entirely? Or I could be looking at it entirely wrong. But the point is, it's very likely that something extremely expansive is down there.

What if we could just take a peek a liiiittle bit further in? Well, there is ONE way...

Exhibit F: The Least Cursed Elevator in Horror Fiction

Roughly around 3:33 each night, there is a chance that a camera inside the bunker will become active. It's monitoring what appears to be a heavy-duty elevator coated in blood. An elevator like this would also indicate something buried deep underneath the base. Say, this elevator seems familiar...

Exhibit G: Monique Santificer's Extremely Ominous Foreshadowing

...Huh. I'm sure that only means good things. So we have a Hellivator and evidence that there's some place that you'd need a Hellivator to get to. Are there any other clues around? Well, there's that handy instruction book on robotics. You can make your own little friend!

POV: You're 5'11 and she's 6'0 And... Oh! looking back at that camera, it looks like someone else made their... their own... friend...

Exhibit H: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- ...I don't think they followed the instructions to the letter. So it seems the people in the bunker were working on combining robots and, er, 'biomass'. I don't think our meaty friend here is The Threat itself, but I do believe that it is some aspect of it, or at least a result of it. And whatever The Threat is, it seems to be "leaking" out of the bunker. After all, this toothy bot here seems to have little siblings burrowing out from underground!

Exhibit I: should start running Kerfus. Kerfur. Whatever name they have, they love you! Such a shame that the flesh inhabiting their chassis does not.

they seriously recalled the ++ models over a little thing like this, smh Something deep underground, cursed flesh, and occult sigils. Hmm. Things would tie together neatly if there were, say, some sort of demon around associated with flesh and dark depths.

Part 3: Furfur (and conclusions)

"I WATCH YOU SHIT AT NIGHT" The Great Earl of Hell and raw flesh afficianato, it's Furfur! Demonology refers to him as a liar, but also a teacher of secrets. And he seems to really really like flesh. Not bones, though. He's always leaving those behind.

They say that if you burn an offering of flesh at his altar, he'll give you a marketable Furfur plushie!

The children who survived loved them! Interestingly, there's a certain location connected to Furfur: The bottom of the well. If you pass out at the bottom of the well, you will end up in a (dream of a?) mysterious structure.

Exhibit J: all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well

A few things of note in this place: -More demonic sigils -The only 'exit' is a tunnel leading upward with a broken ladder. And even if you could reach up there, Furfur's giant skull-face is blocking the way. -A unique knife, which when examined in the inventory, says that it was found "deep underground".

How very interesting that this flesh-loving demon has his own little place down in the depths of the earth. And you say the bunker reaching downwards has been spawning horrific robot-flesh amalgamations? Robots that are specifically of human design?

Well then. So here's what I think is going down:

no i'm not crazy it's invisible alien catgirls versus demon cyborgs you weren't listening were you?

-Some scientists from before did a Very Bad Thing in the bunker depths. If I had to venture a guess, it's that they bargained with Furfur for secrets of the flesh, perhaps in the pursuit of cybernetics, biocomputers, or somesuch. This resulted in the Very Bad Thing happening, thus creating The Threat. -The Threat was contained to some extent, but is starting to noticeably leak out. It is also severe enough to have drawn extraterrestrial attention. -The Arirals have sent a squad to monitor the situation and act if necessary. Seeing as there's been no urgent need to act as of yet, they are bored out of their skulls and taking it out on you. -The fact that the bunker hasn't been blown up by catgirl black ops already says to me that the situation down there is delicate, and a 'guns-blazing' approach would be inadvisable. Not only that, but The Threat seems to be tied to technology they have little knowledge of. They would most likely need outside assistance if they want a 'clean' resolution to the problem. -And wouldn't you know it? Right there in the facility is some nerdy, crusty, half-crazed twink that seems to be very proficient in handling human technology. How very convenient.

"average person eats 3 roaches a year" factoid actually just statistical error. Dr. Kel, who-

That's how I think this ties together, personally. Of course, there's always unaccounted for 'loose ends' that may or may not be tied to the Bunker Conspiracy (the rozital pit in particular has been bugging me with its vagueness). Plus there's always the chance that I misinterpreted things like a dumbass. There were a few other smaller things I wanted to cover, but my fingers hurt from typing, and my ability to hyperfixate has its limits. And sorry if the screengrabs are a bit mismatched, I've already spent hours on this post without having to get screenshots from the game myself. If anyone actually read through this monstrosity of a post, congratulations! If you're as deeply brainrotted as I am, feel free to point out the reasons I'm dumb and wrong :)

Addendum 1: Meta Aspects

no, not this. wrong place. wrong time.

Every now and then I hear talk of lore clarifications in Discord servers, Google Docs, etc. Will I be covering these?

(source) The reason? I want to give my impressions based purely on the work as published. Death of the Author and whatnot. The furthest I'll reach 'outside' the games are those ambiguous little teasers on YouTube, which you don't have to be in any 'specific server' or anything to see.

haha what if funni meme robot was irreversibly corrupted by the horrors?

Think of it as me giving a form of feedback on how the game is presented as an isolated work. Anyway, I'll be posting another Addendum later, connecting more demon stuff to the bunker. Fun! One thing I intend to investigate between then and now is a rumor of a very poorly documented... item interaction. As a little preview, consider this note.

It seems, in my pursuit of knowledge regarding a mysterious bunker in an incomplete videogame story, I find myself investigating a skeletal entity of ambiguous origin described as having a single glowing eye. God. Fucking. Dammit. Every time with this shit.

This always seems to happen whenever the protagonist is bullied by tall monstergirls

Addendum 2: Classified

Progress on my investigation has been slow due to a combination of poor RNG and real-life stuff. Fun fact: I've never encountered the fossilhound in my many months of playing, and it looks like that won't change anytime soon!

I'll get you one day, ya boney bastard. In the meantime, it seems that someone has leaked classified pokemon data communications from our employers...

And just who do we encounter within the first few weeks?

Our classified documents are their vacation photos

So it seems that at the very least, our employers seem to be aware of the Arirals. So to what end do they want to draw them out? And why would the Arirals show any particular interest in a human presence in this facility specifically?

They clearly seem to be hiding their presence from the world at large with their cloaking ships and whatnot, but they seem almost eager to grab the attention of anyone working at this particular site.

And, as everyone already knows, Arirals are certified Goobers. They form like 3/5ths of the Counsel of Goobers*. The ones we encounter at the very least are very much not what our employers expect to kill us. So our employers are also aware of the existence of some other threat, possibly even THE Threat. *the remaining members are Kerfuses and Dinguses

Truly an incomprehensible menace from beyond the stars. (source)

Personally, I feel like this all feeds back into my previous thoughts. There is clearly a Threat at this location, and the Arirals probably believe that they may need human assistance to do something here. Or maybe I'm just biased towards whatever random thoughts got cooked up in my head.

Anyway, hopefully next time I'll be back with reports of yanking the lifecrystal out from the Fossilhound's head and shoving it up its ass. I am so, SO sick of trying to get that thing to show up.

[dr9com9ge-ix]

Tis the tech fellas this time! More under the cut as per usual- Gay people who handle their town’s internet and tech (And their robot kids c:)

Garnold

26 he/him

- Eloped with Clukr to the town after they both graduated university because his family disapproved of their relationship. Their marriage was officiated by the Mayor’s assistant.

- His family was rich and influential to the area he and Clukr lived in and had a reputation to uphold.

- He is an only child. When asked if he wished he had siblings he’d say “No” on account of how his parents and relatives are.

- Went to a prestigious school and was a star student due to his parents pushing him to be one. Would have preferred to go through his school life generally unbothered.

- Speaks with a very monotone deadpan voice- Made more robotic sounding by his suit’s modulators. This is on purpose, he likes making people think he’s simply just a robot.

- Is pretty serious about his job inventing/creating helpful tech alongside Clukr but is bad at explaining things in layman’s terms and often drones on.

- Fan of old rickety animatronics, Wanted to go to a arcade pizza place with some for his birthday once as a kid but was brought to a fancy restaurant instead.

- Though he is an already large and strong person he made his suit enhance this even more, to the point of allowing him to bend and crush metal quite easily with his hands.

Clukr

25 He/him

- Eloped with Garnold to the town, Did not mind running away much. Came up with their new last name “Electrum” as neither wanted to carry their family names.

- Was in the custody of his uncle and worked at his garage from a young age. Wasn’t usually supervised much so hung out with delinquents around his age at the time.

- Smart enough to get a scholarship at the same prestigious school as Garnold. Holds much pride in this fact and in his own intellect. Can be a bit hammy with this pride.

- He met Vineria as she was one of these delinquent kids. She’s been the only person out of the kids he hung out with that he’s still friends with. Both because of distance and because most of them started to pick on him once he got the scholarship and even more so when he was interested in/ started to date Garnold.

- Was formerly rivals (one sided) with Garnold in high school due to several science fair 2nd place medals, Tried to start a fight with him after another fair but Garnold simply complimented his project and Clukr had to leave because he was incredibly flustered.

- Is alot better at explaining technical things in simpler terms than Garnold, though often laden with profanity as a force of habit.

- Cannot sit still, absolutely feels like he needs to be doing things all the time! Whether tinkering or sprinting around the place. Gotta do something or he gets antsy.

- Would fight things twice his size if Garnold or anyone else didn’t keep him from doing that.

Funbot

3 (programmed to act 13) It/its

- One of the first AI that Garnold and Clukr made. It considers them it’s fathers and they consider it their child. Was specifically built because they didn’t want to deal with pregnancy but wanted a child.

- Clukr sometimes calls it “Funsies”, Garnold calls it “Funnington Funsleburg” and Fun computer calls it “Felix”. All these names are on Funbot’s town document as “Funbot Felix Funsies Funnington Funsleburg Electrum”

- It is made of pieces of Garnold’s prototype suits along with some more silvery metal and a solar panel to power it.

- Is sluggish in the dark but hyperactive in the light.

- Helps out its dads with work and frolicks outside when it isn’t busy with that.

- Likes skateboarding and climbing things with its grippy hands and feet.

- Would love LARPING probably.

- Innocent and naive, would believe someone if they told it that clouds taste like cotton candy.

-Knows what swears are and acts like its the coolest most punk thing ever.

- Can be called from a phone as it has a phone built in. Often takes video calls from its sibling wanting to see outside.

Mr. Fun Computer

3 (Programmed to act 20-ish) She/He/Its

- The second AI made by Garnold and Clukr, was sort of a request as the town needed an easier way to handle its citizen documentation and later it’s technology. Her creation was started the same year as Funbot but finished much later. Thus being considered the litte sister between her and Funbot.

- Calls herself “Felicity” and presents as female, though uses male honorifics and is alright with He/it due to being referred to like that for the first year she was operational.

- Has access to the town’s registry and documents and is connected to a framework that spans the whole town. Though this means she is immobile. Only being able to “visit” certain locations with screens and cameras meant to allow her to see and be seen.

- She also operates the automatic electronics and machines in town.

- Was programmed with a “heart” or more specifically: Empathy, Unconditional love for everyone who is a citizen of town and a feeling of responsibility for them. This was asked for by the Mayor’s assistant out of some fear she could turn on them if something went wrong.

- Wants a mobile sprunki-like body to go outside but thinks it’s too much trouble to ask her fathers so just video calls Funbot to see through their cameras.

- Is incredibly intelligent due to her access to the internet and what her fathers had put in her database. This is also how she picked her and Funbot’s names.

-Loves trivia night and often hosts it when she can.

[writtencrone]

Captain, oh my Captain.

Oc x male reader or, Scary-General-Who-Is-Actually-Kind-Of-ALoser-Top-OC x Power-Bottom-esque-kind-of-go-with-the-flow-or-are-you-dissasociating-reader In an alternate future, were aliens and humans walk the same planet and Earth is under the rule of a benevolent Emperor... When your family falls into dire straights you attempt to auction off your body for a quick cash grab. Instead, a retired General and left-hand of the Emperor is enamoured by your body heat. You end up signing a year long contract to be his personal heat patch for the twelve-hour of the nights.

Or, when a seemingly cold and serious general is actually a loser and you bear witness to his full goofiness in all the best (and worst) ways.

Includes - mentions of derealisation, dubious consent at first tbh, jerking off (both of you!!! eventually...), propaganda, allusions to war, genetic programming, allusions to trauma, also expressive top oc . He does... grab your dick and squeeze ? Not in the pleasurable way, in like, turn up the thermostat way. Brief mentions of killing people. English is nawt really my first language, so have some mercy! Comment to be added to a taglist for future works - or just pt 2!

w/c 5.2 k

 Humanity had made contact with aliens two-thousand years ago. History had never been your strong suit, but you know that Earth lives in the Emperor's heart as a safe-zone, and for it urbanisation had boomed to accommodate the different species feeling from the outer edges of the warring universe.

That's why you chose architecture – born and raised in a city where buildings towered to the sky, you had a love for simple architecture.

“Good teeth,” the Appraiser observed. “Could use some flossing - but all intact.”

That felt oddly targeted, so you try to stifle your malcontent feelings. You've succeeded in stifling every other part of you so far – the feeling of the Appraiser's thumb lifting your lip, his nails grazing against your gums through the thin latex.

 The harsh lights of the exam rooms, the metal edges of the doctor's seat digging into your thighs and the cold seeping through the light blue scrubs.  Somewhere in the distance, a thin beeping noise was taking account of someone's heartbeat and a holoscreen silently broadcasted the latest news from across the galaxy.

What you can't ignore is why you're doing this. Your brother had a problem. Growing up, you were both big nerds. In some ways, you felt strangely responsible for introducing him to gacha games. By the time you even knew about the obsession he had harboured, it was too late. He owed a little over a hundred thousand to some shady credit card businesses.

So, paying back that and the interest - coupled with the cost of sending your brother to some counselling for his addiction - left you in dire straits. Your brother had begged you not to tell your parents, and even if you did they would only be in the same position as you.

So you, an intern at an Architects office, who's thankful just for being paid at all, decided to sell your body.

There were plenty of human fetishists out there - especially since there was a general desire for people who looked 100% human, no modifications, no alien features. There was something to be said in this about the concept of purity, but you had someone's thumb in your mouth so you had nothing to say at all. Other than you wanted the starting bid to commence at 150,000, and see how it climbs. 

“Your history cleared out as well,” The Appraiser beamed from three of its mouths. “Although your diet is immensely paltry.”

Ah, good old surveillance state. You lay back down the seat, the thin paper crinkling beneath your back. 

“So, when will I get paid?”

The Appraiser took off his latex gloves with a snap and binned it with a gleeful hum.

“We take our cut right out of the check, then it’s deposited right into your account.”

Then it will be scattered to lenders and doctors offices and to your parents. You’ll never really have it. This whole experience felt so distinctly unreal, but under the fluorescent light you could see everything starkly.

Then you’re taken backstage, right before it’s your turn. You watch the Auctioneer sell off a vapor-mined jewel for just under 800,000 and you realise — this is happening. It’s going to be you out there in a minute. Then, before you can come to grips with that someone has you by the arm and is shoving you forward into your uncertain future.

You thought that the auction would be something out of a bad wattpad novel. That you’d be carted onto stage in a cage, weighed down by chains, and a spotlight gleam onto you. Below in the audience, and above in the pulpits, shadowy figures wearing masks and five piece suits would appraise you whilst synchronising their champagne sips.

The stage wasn’t as high as you thought it would be, and you have to be yourself to walk out. You’re wearing the same scrubs you were before. People are wearing masks, but the place isn’t as dimly lit as you thought it would be – although, there are a few shadows with legs sticking out. Premium seats. The Auctioneer is some strange flamingo-alien fusion with a gaudy top-hat.

“And, here’s Lot 384. A Human Male’s virginity! Foreplay sold separately. “ The crowd chortled, and you felt your face flush more from shame than any actual embarrassment. “Bidding commences at 120. Do I see a 130?”

Then the Auctioneer peeled off, speaking so quickly you only caught on when the price capped at 180.

“185? Do I hear 185?”

You pick at a piece of lint on your cuff, and wonder what you’ll have for breakfast when this is all over. You sort of almost wish they had chained you, or cuffed you, added to the ambience of all of this. 

“Ohoho, a venerable guest wishes to sample the product?” You jolted, looking up. From one of the shadows, a slender hand rose above everyone's heads. “Ordinarily we do not allow for this, but as a venerable guest we—”

Your blood rushes to your ear. What exactly does sampling mean here? Voyeurism wasn’t on the table here — what was off the table? You’re wishing now that you hadn’t stayed so quiet, that you had laid out more rules, that you had thought this through.

A figure rose from the darkness, only he wasn’t wearing a typical suit. He was dressed in full military regalia, bright blue against the aliens' greying skin. Probably alien-human, if the fact he had two legs, two arms, and a head all of human proportion told you anything. Granted, then you noticed the tail. The man was tall, this dawned on you with every step, and you don’t — you —

He’s here already, and you’re hugging yourself. His shoes click against the wooden stairs, and the temperature dips. Goosebumps stand to attention when this man approaches - and you’re half sure that if you don’t run your goosebumps will take off down the stage and through the doors. 

The man looms over you, and takes your face in his hands. It’s not a sexy thing when he pinches your chin between his thumb and index finger, raising your face to meet him — no. He puts both of his calloused hands on each side of your face and smushes it together. It feels cold, rough, and impractical. Then he claps his hands around your shoulders, and stares you down.

The man has blue eyes and black hair that's pulled back. His features are measured, evenly spaced, and betray nothing about what he’s thinking of. It’s his skin that alienates him (plus the tail, that swishes side to side now like an erratic pendulum).His eyes were blown wide – like addicts in shows or movies.

“Good,” he says, and his voice is surprisingly smooth. There’s a scar peeking out from under his straight collar. “200.”

“Wuh!” The Auctioneer sputtered.

“220,” the General continued, and someone in the crowd laughed. “Subject to amendments.”

Your eyes dart over to the Auctioneer – what does that mean?

“Sold? To the good General.”

He never told you his name. In the end, he moved and began to walk off the stage. When he was halfway down the aisle, he turned, and raised an unimpressed eyebrow.

“Sir, ordinarily, we wait until after the auction—”

“250 and he leaves with me now.”

You hurry after him before the Auctioneer can say anything. You feel the hall's attention turn to you, and you shudder. Somehow, you still feel the generals cold hands on you.. He stops only to gather his coat from an usher, folding it over his arm. He doesn’t look at you again, not until you’ve walked out through an exit you didn’t know existed into a dingy alleyway and slides into the back. You shuffle in afterwards, the night was warm.

“From now on, until next year this date, you will sleep with me. You will meet all my needs, and you will stay the night.”

You blinked. “What?”

Yeah, he had paid off your immediate debts and probably your college debt. It was maddening. 

“Sex, every night?” You asked, to clarify. The car was moving, and the city lights were a blur outside the tinted windows.

The General looked at you as if you were a creature of lower intelligence, his pupils shrunk. 

“Who said anything about sex?”

-

The General was a strange man. For starters, he was large. Tall, muscular, handsome. He seemed genetically engineered to be both the ideal man and soldier. The only signs of inhumanity stemmed from his desaturated skin, his blue-ish tones. 

His house was also surprisingly simple, although you were getting the rising suspicion that he was a bit more important than you had first assumed. 

The first night was weird. You didn’t have pyjamas, but he wordlessly offered you a set of your own – plaid – all in his size so it drapes off of you. You showered, and decided that although you were fine going topless you weren’t sure that the General. Well, you didn’t even know what the Good General wanted with you.

You laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling above. It’s a kingsized, the thread count probably belonged to a tax bracket miles above yours. Everything about the room was anonymous yet dark – the bed was beige and slightly elevated compared to the rest of the room. Below (by a few inches) there was a taupe rug and the floors were hard wood – oh, and there was a whole armchair, sofa and coffee table set.

The General walked in just as you began to appreciate the nice mullioned windows. He said nothing, looked down, undressed, and crawled into bed where he laid down like he was imitating a pole. Then he commanded.

“Warm me.”

You sat up, staring down at this intimidating man, and – gleaning from what facts you had – put a hand on his shoulder and sincerely asked. 

“Hey, what do you want me to do?”

At first you assumed ‘no sex’ meant nothing penetrative which at first was fine, but there were a lot of less savoury ways to have sex without any actual insertion – so now all you could do was ask. 

“Warm me,” he said. Then, he grabbed your arm with a steel-clad grip and dragged you into his side. “Wrap your arms around me. Warm me. For  this night, and the next three-hundred and fifty-five.”

His skin was cold, almost clammy. You shiver around him. “So—”

“No more questions,” He mumbled. “Sleep. Now.”

You didn’t sleep. You lay awake in the dark as the General’s tense muscles softened and he dozed off . 220,00 divided by 365… meant somewhere between 5-6 thousand a night. It’s more than you made at your job in months – oh, your job. There were so many details that needed to be worked out, but that’s for tomorrow. Now your brain is eaten by the soft white noise, and sometime after 3 you dozed off. 

You wake up at six to see the General’s great figure getting dressed – it’s a little six, if the clock on the bedside table tells you anything. 

“I will have the kitchen make you breakfast, you can eat with the servants. Be in bed for seven tonight,” He says, and you’re just now realising that this is real. Then, after selling your body, you’d go to work. 

Your feet met the cold hardwood panels, and you patted the space where the General had been before. Cold. As if he had never been there. 

“Okay,” you say, because you forget that there’s anything else to say, and drag yourself to your shower. You’ll loop back to your apartment to pick up your clothes, but until then you wore the General’s plaid pyjama set.

You stopped at the doorway. “Thanks…? Hey, what’s your—”

Before you can say name, he had stepped out of the room with the click of his shiny shoes.

Technically, you hadn’t done anything shameful but that doesn’t make the walk downstairs any less — awkward. You have to ask one of the whispering maids – some wasp-manatee-esque alien– for the directions to the kitchen. You go from tall ceilings and wide rooms to the cramped single-file halls of the servant quarters.

You sit in the kitchen, at a small wooden bench, and spoon at some porridge. It has a thin consistency, and you’re regretting coming down here. Everyone is working, yes, but they look at you with some intrigue and distrust. This must have been the position of nannies, not quite gentry and not quite – uhm. Employed. What you and the General had was more of a freelance thing. 

No one approaches you, until the Bodyguard does. Or, really, Lapdog is better. He has the face of a very angry beagle despite being human with some modification. His teeth are sharper, his eyes are bright yet grey, his arm is metal and those steel metacarpals are curled around the hilt of his sword. He looks like he would very much like to strike you down.

“You…” He snarled. 

“... Morning?” 

He slams his hand down on the table, and the cutlery shakes. “You don’t deserve to share a bed with the General! The General is so great, so revered! Blablahblahblha…” for five whole minutes until you get up, deposit your dishes in the sink, and stroll out.

“I’m not done with you! You!! How dare you – imbecile, normy!”

What’s his problem…

It’s all a bit surreal, but somehow you manage. You always do.

–

The General was so large that you could lay on him like a mattress, and sometimes he'd let you do that. Other times, he would simply wrap his arms around you and doze off whilst resting his head against your shoulder or your stomach.

 Once, he hadn't touched you at all. He simply lay with his back to you. When you did nothing he turned around with a fierce glare then turned again. 

Unsure, but scared, you wrapped your arms around him from the back. Your body pressed against his. 

If you didn't know better, you could say that the General wanted to be spooned. You, however, had a contract and a nagging security guard that informed you - insistently - that this was not the case. That the General merely wanted a heating patch. Still, you wrapped your arms around his wide chest, fingers barely meeting in the middle, and fitted your body into the crooks and dents of his.

The one consistent string through this was this: he was gone by seven in the morning.

These days you brought an overnight bag with your office clothes so you could be out by morning, and you don���t avoid the Lapdog’s barking anymore. 

Few words are spoken, and the General is a man of fewer still. When life at work encroaches on your second job, you’re left sitting up at bed and typing away.

Tak tak tak 

The blue light of the screen is a lighthouse in the dimness of the room. The curtains are already drawn across the windows, but light from the dimming sky filtered in.

The general stepped out of the shower wearing only his black underwear that you were sure was somehow military issued. He tried to go to sleep, somehow, by lying beside you and wrapping his arms around your side, burying his head into your hip. 

Tak tak tak

“What are you doing?” He grumbles.

He’s never home at seven - not usually. When he is, he’s not in bed by nine. Those two hours of laying in bed are just for you to get the sheets toasty - like pre warming an oven.

“Work,” you mumble. “Ah, my seniors are bastards. Evil. Even the juniors. It’s a small office, so they just load everything onto the intern. I need it to, if I want to be taken on in a full-time basis. Ah, I hate this. Why can’t the weekend come sooner…”

Your eyes flick down to meet the scrutiny of his gaze.

“Sorry, I’ll try to finish up soon.”

“Where do you work?” He asked, and you realised that this is probably the first conversation you’re having with him since this all began.

“Just a small firm called [ insert organisation name ]. It’s a firm of architects, I hope to qualify in the coming years,” you hesitate. “What about you?”

“I work for the Ministry of State Affairs. We handle festival planning and internal security.”

“Oh, wow,” You say. “Must be busy. What did you do before… this?”

He shifted now, furrowing his head into the pillows. “I was a soldier, then I worked up to become a General.”

“Sounds tough.”

Tak tak tak

“It’s what I was made for.”

“That’s what dreams are about, I suppose,” You say under your breath, but you feel him stiff beside you.

“No. I was literally made to be a soldier. I was programmed as a fetus to be the best specimen for the Emperor, and raised to be his loyal soldier. Also, I don’t dream. They took that part out of me.”

Your typing stops. With all the borderline crazy around here, you really shouldn’t be surprised by the prospect of genetically augmented soldiers. Instead, you’re just sort of disappointed that the world let it get to this point.

“How old are you then?”

“Classified.”

You baulk. “Okay, yeah.”

He seems to be compelled to speak more freely now, his hands drawing circles just above your hip. Your flesh goosebumps, and you shudder.

“I started to fight in his wars when I was sixteen, in earthen years. I befriended him for a little while, back when he used to do the press tours. Where he’d visit us. I was so loved in those moments, it almost made everything worth it…”

You listen to him trail off, unsure of what to say. This was light years out of your ballpark, and sometimes people just need to talk.

“Now there are no more wars, no more enemies — none for me, at least. And I’m abandoned to office work and to assign guard rotas.”

He scoffs, and you feel his cool breath amongst your leg.

“I’m sorry,” you say, because there’s nothing else to say.

“Don’t be,” Is his only response. “Just stay still, and stay warm.”

You go back to your work, to your brief, with this sudden sense that you understand a little bit more now. Those things are a little bit easier to understand or digest. The General curls into your side. 

Then your laptop beeps and you tut. “Do you have a laptop charger?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“In my study,” he remarks, then he looks up at you. “I didn’t say you could use it. Only that I had one.”

Maybe not. Maybe it’s for the best that the General is a silent beast, otherwise he’s just a beast. You click your tongue, save your work twice over, and close the laptop.

“You know, that’s a bit rude.”

The General had the audacity to look a little offended – the summer sun had set, so the sky was still a profound blue and darkening. 

“It’s my charger, I think I can decide who uses it and who doesn’t.”

“Yeah, well, it’s still rude,” you point out, and make as much effort to elaborate as he does to ask — which is to say none. You slide into bed, irritated, and drift off.

When you wake up earlier than you intended, the General is still curled against your body. This time he’s hugging your arm, his weight numbing it. Even on the weekends, the General normally woke up earlier. Yet, the clock to your side told you it was six and he was still asleep.

You try to close your eyes, reconciling the facts that Saturdays were no longer a part of your “you” time – coupled with the fact you couldn’t stay up into the wee hours of the dawn partaking in debauchery. You couldn’t stay up necessarily – at all —

Well, you hadn’t tried to. Maybe if you got one of those light filters, the hulking figures beside you wouldn’t be so opposed to it. Idly, you shifted and tried to regain some function in your arm when — 

You felt something cold and hard rub against your hip.

It was bound to happen, too, presumably, men with penises ™ , sleeping next to one another. Mother nature would call, morning wood would rise. You just wish he was awake to politely excuse himself and deal with it in his own time.

Granted, he is a bit clueless for a guy who had supposedly killed people. 

Had he killed people? You watch him slowly wake up, and maybe the question is a bit heavy for a first thing in the morning situation. There was already one heavy thing against your thigh. He was a General, but before that a soldier. You try not to think about it too hard, closing your eyes, but not before you ask.

“What are you? Like, species wise.”

The general shifted, his length was on you now but he was off your arm. 

“I told you, I was genetically engineered to be a soldier. Specifically, I specialised in Arctic climate special operations until I was appointed General.”

You were sure that just the existence of Arctic special Operations was in violation of some galactic treaty, but you didn’t care.

“Are you going to deal with your raging hard on, or?” 

“It goes away on its own,” the General murmured, pulling you close. 

You crack your eyes open just a little and ask, tentatively. “I can handle it for you.”

Why you were offering to jerk off someone you were previously considering to have killed people is something beyond you – but you’re not sleeping, and honestly this might just pay off. The General gives you a blank look, before shrugging and saying.

“Yeah, sure.”

His length was cold and heavy in your palm. It was also quite…honestly. Not that bad. You’re on your knees, in between his legs and his underwear dangled somewhere down by his ankles.

The tip was flushed blue and almost pointy, the slit strange and long across the top. Gentle, you rub your thumb over the long slit, coaxing precum out. You hear a loud, lascivious moan from above — and honestly you would have sooner believed that some high deity had made that noise than the General had your eyes not flicked upwards and seen the look on his face. 

Words cannot describe the utter ecstasy on the general's face. Slowly, you bring your head closer to the member and lick across the side - testing, and his eyes roll back into his head. He lets out a shaky whimper, his hands coming up to his face.

“Don’t,” you whisper, your breath ghosting along his length. The General’s leg jolts under your hand. “Let me see, please.”

You think for a moment that he will deny you. He is, after all, a man who has led armies into a raging battlefield. A man who has crawled home victorious each and every time. Instead, he lowers his hands and fists at the bed sheets.

Oh. Oh. This is going to be good. You move your hands to cover his length, one jerks him off whilst the other plays with his tip. You have half a mind to reach for his balls, but you think he’s not quite ready.

Those moans —- those moans! They pour from his mouth like the gentle stream of water, and you see his back arch deliciously. Every noise, movement, twitch, spurs you on further. He was falling apart in your hands. He whines, and you hear him sob something along the lines of “don’t stop” mixed with “it’s so so soo much—”. 

It takes about a minute for him to start moving his hips in rhythm with your hands, chasing after the release. The thing is you’re not even doing anything special, but he’s drooling and you’re sort of ecstatic about this — you’re definitely hard. Now you see why people get off on this stuff. 

It takes about two minutes for him to start letting out keening whines about feeling something coming, and just as his moans crescendo your bob down and put his tip in your mouth. You thought the moans pouring out before were lewd – the sound the General made then was positively porn. It was nearly a scream. 

His cum is normal. If Normal meant transparent and tasting like something that came out of a hospital IV drip. You gag at the copious amounts of it. It dribbled and fell to the floor, fell onto your shirt, and you’re glad you didn’t do this on the bed. You’re forced to swallow and you take his softening cock out of your mouth with no small amount of gratification. You look up at the General, who’s freaky blue eyes stare you down – pupils blown wide, just like the night he first saw you, and you lick your lips.

– 

The next night you have your phone with you and you’re reading some semi-obscure 90 chapter manhwa when the General, resting his head in the crook of your neck, asks. 

“What is that?”

“It’s a comic,” you say, trying to sound casual.

“No it’s not, this scrolls,” He murmurs, his lips against your exposed skin. “Comics take full pages, and — the art is different.”

“Okay, so—” And that’s how you spend roughly ten minutes explaining what manhwa was and the transmigration genre to the General.

“Would you do it?” the General asks, he’s sitting up now and looming over your shoulder. “If you had the chance — stay in some fictional world rather than come home.”

The way he says it rubs you the wrong way. To some extent, this nightlife of yours was a fantasy life something you slipped into without the help of some lazy truck driver. On the other hand, the General spoke very compassionately. As if this was your home, not merely his house.

It would be best to clear things up. Instead, you say.

“I don’t know. Depends on the world. Have you ever killed people?”

“Yes,” he says a little bit too quickly.

“Ah,” you say. Because, what else is there to say? “What’s your name?”

He doesn’t answer you this time, instead he slips down back into the bed. You assume that’s the end, and continue reading your little story for a solid half an hour until the General stirred beside you.

“You're not warm enough,” He muttered, his voice gravelly with sleep. 

Then he reached down and squeezed your length through your pyjamas. Or, rather, he tried to decapitate your penis. You screamed and flailed from the shock of the pain.

“Oh my— LET GO OF ME YOU MANIAC!!!” You shrieked, turned and slapped his body and arms a few times in your panic. 

“My dick isn't a thermostat – stop it!!” You sobbed, then you howled something better not repeated. 

The sheer ache radiating from your nether regions was not pleasurable. His grip lessened, then went slap, his fingers grazed against your thigh. You rolled away from him, putting as much distance as the bed allowed, and he made a strange keening sound. 

“Don't you know how to jerk yourself off? Apply the same principles – also, ask before you do that!” You bellowed. 

You were half sure the house had heard you, and you could picture the stares you would receive the next morning. Right now, you were curled around your family jewels and wondering if you would ever live a pain free life again. The General loomed from behind.

“I don’t.”

“I think you broke my penis,” you groaned. “I’ll need to buy a new one. Also, what do you mean?”

“I don’t know how to pleasure myself,” He said, and you’re sure you hear something like pride in his voice.

Your shock defeated your pain, so you rolled over to stare at him. 

“So, when you get hard you just…?”

“A shower and reciting the national anthem calms it down.”

You choke on a laugh, until you look at his blue eyes and remember that the General never tells jokes. 

“No, you jerk it to the national anthem?” You baulk. “You’re insane.”

“I do not ‘jerk’ it. I overcome it.”

You snort. “Haha, cum. Wait, so, what did you think --- happened, the other day. When I jerked you off?" "I thought that was sex." You raise your eyebrows, unimpressed. "Well, I guess it's a form of sex. But it's not, like, sex in the conventional way. I'll tell you more about that later -- you have to fix this." By this you meant your penis, by fix you didn't exactly imagine the two of you facing each other whilst sat upright and getting your penises out. Time and time again, life takes you down dangerous routes.

This all somehow spirals to you tugging down your trousers, and he his. Your cocks were flush against each other – and honestly? Alien dick gives people self-esteem issues. Not you, though. This guy was grown in a lab, so someone in that lab thought ‘ah, yes, big dick genes, hmm…’ and no one asked them if they had anything better to do with their life.

You lean back on your hands, suddenly flush. The General had turned on the bedside lamp, so you could see eachother and the shadows threw themselves across his sharp features. He’s pretty, you realise, not just handsome. It’s something about the slant of his cheekbones, or the length of his lashes as they flutter. As he slowly gyrated his hips against yours. You moan quietly.

His hand is as callous as the first time you met him, and you find yourself playing instructor. 

“Try to wrap your hand around both of us – use both if it’s easier. Probably is. Damn, we could use some lube – maybe baby oil – mmph – see that precum building at the tip of your — yeah – oh, just smear some of that – yeah, like that. You’re getting the hang of it, keep going.”

You threw your head back as pleasure began to ebb from below. It came in rolling waves, from his hands touching your length to yours rubbing against his. You let out a whimper – there’s something especially exciting about doing this ordinarily solitary act with someone else. To have someone else devoted to your pleasure, even if he’s clumsy with it. You breath shakily, small sounds making way for fuller moans making way for whines for more – more more—

When you come your eyes flutter shut, so you miss the slight movement of the General looming over you. You were only just coming down from your high, when you were pulled into his embrace. The cum was cooling and sticky between you both, and you whined as your exposed length made contact against his.

“My name is Valentine,” he whispered, pressing you against his chest. “Valentine Adonus Soaring Through the Blue Moons.”

Alien names. You know you should be a bit more concerned about these bedsheets, but your eyes flutter shut and you humm, content.

“Change the sheets, then let’s go to sleep.” 

-- kya thank you for reading to the end !! If you want to be tagged for ch 2 then comment below!! Next chapter, you will meet the emperor, explore your emotional connection with the General and wonder if he feels the same, and maybe be manhandled who knows..who knowss Also reader may try to gain more sentience and understanding of their own agency?

[lydiadeetzwannabee]

° ❀⋆࿔ dandelion ࿔⋆❀ °

° ࿔⋆❀ summary: When your name comes up for the first time since college, Art gets hit with a tidal wave of nostalgia. He invited you over to a motel room to talk, but you both know that’s just an excuse.

° ࿔⋆ notes: fem!reader, sexual content, smut, angst

° ࿔⋆ w/c: 3325

° ࿔⋆ a/n: i love eternal sunshine deluxe and i had to get this out my head bc UGH i love dandelion but back to scheduled programming right after this

2010

Queens, New York

Art can hear the trombone player from down the street as he steps up the metal stairs. The keys jingle in his hand when he walks to his designated room. Opening it was disappointing, but he didn’t expect much from a thirty-dollar motel wedged in the corner of a highway-side inn.

The motel smells like stale cigarettes and old air conditioning. One of those places where the floral bedspread has long since given up, and the flickering neon sign outside the window buzzes just loud enough to drown out any of his overthinking.

The room was unnecessary; he’s already got a suite courtesy of the Open. But Art’s been trying to save his personal life to himself during his rise in the tennis world. It’s not that he wouldn’t want to be seen with you. God, he would. He’d take your hand right now and post it, headline it, put it on a damn billboard if you let him. But he knew you wouldn’t want to be being spotted with him. Especially after how long it’s taken for one of you to break the silence between you. 

Finding you again wasn’t hard. He was in New York for the US Open and grabbed drinks with some old Stanford guys last night. One of them dropped your name in passing, mentioned you lived out here now. Art had your old number dialed into his phone before he’d even left the bar.

“Someone said you’re in Queens,” he said like it was nothing. Like it didn’t shake something loose in him. “I didn’t even know. I just— God, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Now he’s here, closing the door behind him as he stares at your “Be there in ten” text sent seven minutes ago.

“Just one night,” he had said. “I just want to talk.”

Talk. Even he doesn’t believe that. Art’s not sure what to do while he waits. He probably should’ve planned this better, spoiled you a little even though you’d hate it. But all he has is a bottle of alcohol and a fresh pack of cigarettes. He doesn’t smoke anymore—his dietitian won’t allow it—but he figures you probably never kicked the habit. There are a few condoms tucked in his wallet. Not because he expects anything. Just… wishful thinking.

It’s obvious what he wants. Obvious enough to make him forget how horrible your last encounter was. But Art’s always been an optimist when it comes to you. Stupid, stubborn hope. He’s never been able to kick that habit either.

He snaps out of his head when he hears a knock at the door, suddenly tensing. Ridiculous, honestly. He used to know you so well yet now you’re practically a stranger. His breath caught in his throat when he opened the door, eyes scanning over you. Suddenly, he was twenty again, sitting next to you in a study group. Laughing under flickering library lights. Thinking he had all the time in the world.

You look the same. But you don’t. Your eyes are still beautiful yet now they’re dimmer. Your face is sharper, older, more sure of itself. You don’t even say hello before you push past him, as if you’re already sick of having to deal with him. Like this whole thing is some errand you’ve agreed to run against your better judgment. He doesn’t take it personally. Not really. That’s always been you.

You look around the room with what he assumes is disgust, your arms crossed over your chest and your expression unreadable. You don’t sit, instead you turn to face him again. Art finally shuts the door, swallowing as he takes a step towards you. He keeps his distance, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.

“Didn’t think you’d show,” he says. Now he can finally take the time to appreciate you. You look good. Better than he remembered, and he remembered too much. It makes him feel stupid, like he should’ve worn something different or fixed his hair again before you got there, but you always liked that style on him. Maybe still do.

Your brow raises at him before you glance at the sad bottle of vodka on the coffee table. “Then why’d you rent the room?”

Touché.

He took a breath, suddenly finding the carpet extremely interesting. “…guess I hoped you would,” he admits.

And you sigh. Sigh like this is taking up your patience like you’re above this whole thing. Like even considering meeting again was a mistake. “What do you want, Art?”

He wants a lot of things. He wants to apologize, to take back every bad thing he ever said or did. To apologize for everything he didn’t do. He wants to tell you how he’s sorry for not talking to you sooner, for the way things ended between you. That he should’ve fought for you harder.

But all that comes out of his mouth is “I missed you.”

His words hang in the air for a second, the neon sign buzz feeling ten times louder than it was.

“You missed me?” you repeat like you don’t believe it. It’s not enough. 

“You find me now and suddenly you miss me? You didn’t try to find me before, Art,” you say, your voice tinged with that same disappointment that makes his heart ache.

“You disappeared.”

He sighed, knowing there was some truth in your words. He doesn’t even know why he didn’t try earlier. Maybe it was the fear that you wouldn’t want anything to do with him. But looking back, that was stupid.

“I know,” he starts. “I know. You’re right. But I—“

“I don’t even know why I’m here,” you muttered. And if it was meant to hurt him, it did. You finally move, but it’s only to push yourself off the wall, and Art’s scared that he’s losing you again. “Maybe I just wanted to see if you’d grown up.”

Art’s eyes flicker up to meet yours, taking a step forward. “And?”

You scan him, his face, his posture, his hands, and he swears you’re looking right through him. Like you still know him, whether you want to or not.

“Why are we wasting time?” you say, low and dangerous.

He paused. Not because he didn’t know what you meant, but because he did.

And maybe it’s stupid. Reckless. Idiotic. Maybe it’s the worst idea either of you has had in years. Maybe ignoring your problems until they come to fruition is unwise.

But you’re here.

He’s here.

And those unspoken words between you simmer with tension, hot and heavy and aching to be touched.

He doesn’t realize how he’s stepping closer until he stops right in front of you, his chest almost brushing against yours. “We don’t have to.”

You hum, your hands moving to unbutton your coat, and he simply washes. His eyes are longing, yearning, unsure if he’s allowed to touch you. Your coat hits the floor with a soft thud, and Art swears time slows down. It’s not just the way you look, it’s the weight behind it. The tension that coils tighter in his chest with every breath. This isn’t casual. This isn’t mindless. This is everything he’s tried to suppress and forget and move on from, standing just inches in front of him, calling his bluff.

“You still do that,” you murmur.

“Do what?”

“Look at me like I’m going to disappear.”

He doesn’t have an answer for that. He never has. So instead, he kisses you.

His eyelids flutter at the familiarity, his lips carefully moving against yours, like he’s afraid that if he does a single thing you don’t like, you’ll pull away. But instead, you push harder, your tongue slipping between his lips. You kiss him like you’re angry, like you want to hurt him for what he did to you. He kisses you back with everything he can’t say, hands cupping your face, your waist, anything he can touch to prove to himself you’re real.

Your hands press against his chest, feeling him through his sweater. He moans against your mouth before you tug the hem of it. He helps you pull it off, breaking the kiss for a split second before meeting your lips again. He tries to keep kissing you when you trail down to his jaw, his head tilting to make space for you. You kiss down his neck like you remember the map of him, and maybe you do. His hands slide under your top, fingertips grazing the skin of your back, and you don’t stop him.

He gently tugs your hair to lead you back to his lips. It’s messy. Urgent. He backs you toward the bed like instinct, and your bodies move in sync the way they used to, like no time has passed at all. His body covers yours as he settles in between your legs. He leans down, placing wet kisses along your neck while his hands palm your thighs. His hips rock against you, trying to elicit those soft sounds from your lips as he rubs his clothed erection against your center.

Your eyes close at the feeling, a soft moan escaping your parted lips. Your legs wrap around his waist and it only encourages Art to move faster, press against you harder. His hands roam across your body, fingers slipping under your top to push it up just enough to reveal your bra. His eyes focus on your chest before looking back at you with dark eyes, waiting for permission.

You give him a slight nod and he doesn’t hold back. Art’s taking off your shirt and tossing it to the side before you could change your mind. His fingers deftly unclasp your garment, slowly pulling it off. He kisses the hollow of your throat, your collarbone, your shoulder, his lips grazing skin like it’s sacred.

His mouth wraps around your nipple with a soft hum and it makes your breath hitch. His tongue’s circling the bud, nipping now and then to make you gasp before kissing and sucking it better. He touches you like he’s rediscovering something precious, fingers memorizing your rhythm, coaxing every sound out of you until your back arches and your hands grip his shoulders.

His lips continue their actions with your other nipple as he feels down your stomach, his hand slipping under your waistband. He groans against you when he feels your wetness soaking through your underwear. He cupped your heat, making you gasp as his middle pressed against your clothed clit, rubbing it in slow circles.

Your hand flies to tangle in his hair, tugging at his golden locks as you begin to move against his touch. He pulls back from your breast with a pop, kissing you once again. His fingers push aside your underwear, lightly tracing your entrance while you moan against him. “You’re so wet,” he muttered, his arm moving to wrap around your shoulders to press you closer to him. 

You whine, gripping the side of his neck, and he slips his finger into your channel. Your nails dig into his skin, lips faltering against the kiss as he begins to pump his finger before adding a second. His pace slowly picks up, and your sounds only pick up volume. He pulls back enough just to admire you, the way your face is scrunched up in pleasure, the way your eyebrows knit together, your kiss-swollen lips glistening under the motel’s dim lights. You look angelic.

He can begin to feel you squeeze around his fingers, letting out a low grunt as he moves faster to bring you to your climax. Art isn’t sure how he made it so long without this, without you, but all he knows is he can’t stay away from you anymore. How can he when you’re writhing in pleasure under him like this? Your velvet walls tighten around him, begging him to make you cum. You’re almost breaking his skin from how hard you’re scratching his shoulders, desperately trying to grip onto anything when your orgasm hits you. Your hearing goes muffled, and you swear you see stars.

Art watches you in awe, his arm almost cramping, but he doesn’t stop. His need to watch you come undone overrules any other sense.

You ride out your orgasm before falling limp against the mattress as you pant. Art’s hand slows to a stop, and he slowly pulls out of your heat, eliciting a small whine from you. He sits back on his knees, slipping his fingers into his mouth to taste you. You can feel the desire begin to pool in your stomach at the sight of him moaning at your taste and licking every last drop.

You’re still recovering from your climax when your hands reach out to unbuckle his belt. He helps you, pushing away the denim before his fingers hook into your pants, pulling them down and off. He crawls over you, staring down at you.

And God, the way you look at him.

Like you hate him. Like you want him. Like you still remember what it felt like to love him.

He rests his forehead against yours for a moment, taking a second to feel you under him, to memorize your ragged breaths and body all over again.

“God,” he muttered. “I missed you…” Your hands tug at his sides, and he’s reaching for his wallet on the nightstand, pulling out the saved condom. He tears the packet open with his teeth, going to roll the latex on his cock before your hand wraps around his wrist. He stops, watching you with attentive eyes, scared he might’ve done something wrong. You shake your head.

"No," You breathed, your eyes locked with his. "I want to feel all of you. I'm on the pill. Please, just take me."

Art hesitated for a moment, the condom still in his hand. It had been so long since he'd felt a woman bare, and the thought of your tight, naked pussy wrapped around his cock was almost too much to bear. Throwing caution to the wind, he tossed the condom aside and positioned himself at your entrance, groaning at your arousal covering his tip.

"You sure about this?" he asked, his voice rough with desire. At your nod, he gripped your hips and slowly pushed forward, feeling your slick walls parting for him. He had to pause for a moment as the head of his cock popped inside you, taking a breath to stop himself from pushing in. You gasped his name—not loud, not performative, just honest. Like it slips out of you before you can stop it.

Your back arched off the bed as he stretched you open, your eyes rolling to the back of your head. "Fuck, you're so big," you gasped, your nails digging into his biceps. "Don't stop, Art."

With a grunt, Art thrust forward, burying himself in your heat in one smooth stroke. He paused, letting you adjust around his size. Your walls fluttered and clenched around him, drawing him in even deeper. He could feel every inch of you, and it took all of his willpower not to cum right then and there.

He began to move, pulling nearly all the way out before moving back in. His thrusts are slow at first like he’s savoring it, like he wants this to last forever. But you dig your nails into his shoulder, silently telling him not to hold back, and he doesn’t. He slowly begins to set a hard and fast pace. The room filled with the obscene sounds of skin slapping against skin and your moans of pleasure.

The headboard creaks. The neon motel sign flickers outside. Somewhere on the street, the trombone is still playing. You whisper something that sounds like don’t stop. Or maybe it’s don’t leave. He doesn’t know. He doesn’t ask.

He just gives you everything. He can feel you start to tighten around him already, your body tensing as you climb closer to your peak. He leaned down to capture your lips in a filthy kiss, swallowing your combined moans. He moves with purpose, needing you to feel every inch of him, like he’s trying to apologize with the way his body moves against yours. One hand slides beneath the small of your back to hold you closer, deeper. All that matters is this. The heat, the sweat, the way your name leaves his lips like a confession. Like a prayer. You dig your nails into his back. He pulls away from the kiss to groan into your neck.

"Fuck, I'm close," he panted against your mouth. "I want to feel you cum on my cock. Let go for me, baby. I got you."

His words push you over the edge. Your head fell back, your climax hitting you in waves—slow at first, then all at once. He follows soon after, burying his face into your shoulder, muttering a choked “fuck” that sounds too raw to be casual. You could feel him painting your pussy white as he filled you with spurt after spurt of his cum.

It felt like forever before your climax passed and you both relaxed. Your eyes close at his weight on top of you, your arms wrapping around him.

You don’t speak for a long time. The room is hot now, heavier with silence than it was before. The sweat on your skin cools under the hum of the air conditioner, and Art’s hand rests against your hip like he’s afraid you’ll slip away if he moves. The silence between you isn’t awkward. It’s... thick. Like something is sitting between you—years, mistakes, words unsaid—and now it’s all right there, hanging in the air.

He moves first, rolling onto his back before pulling you against his side. You don’t protest, your head nuzzles into his shoulder. 

“You okay?” he asks, voice hoarse, quieter than before.

You nod. “Yeah.”

But then your eyes flick away. And that’s all it takes for him to know you’re not. “I didn’t think I’d ever get to see you again,” he says. “…I should’ve tried harder, baby. Said more. Did more.”

You swallow hard. “You didn’t say anything. That’s what hurt the most.”

He flinches. “I know.”

Your fingers toy with the edge of the sheet, suddenly nervous. Like everything that just happened could fall apart if either of you breathed too loudly.

“I thought maybe,” you say slowly, “after Stanford... I dunno. I thought we were doing more than just having fun.”

“We weren’t just having fun,” he says immediately, his hand idly squeezing out the knots on your shoulders. “You were the only thing that felt real.”

You meet his eyes again. There’s something broken in them. Something yours.

“Then why’d you have to end it like that?”

He hesitates, averting your eyes to watch his hand knead your skin. “Because I was scared. And stupid. And…” He sighed, meeting your eyes again. “I thought I might’ve ruined it if I had you for too long.”

You’re quiet.

After a beat, “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to disappear then show up years later like this and pretend it didn’t matter.

“I’m not pretending,” he says. “I never stopped thinking about you.”

That lands hard. You feel it in your chest, in the pit of your stomach.

“I’m not asking for anything,” he adds. “I know I don’t deserve to. I just... I wanted you to know. I never forgot you. And if this— if tonight was just one night, then... thank you. For giving me that.”

You stare at him. And you hate how much he still means to you. You reach over, fingers brushing his hand. He laces his with yours without hesitation. You rest your head against his chest. He doesn’t know if you’ll stay. He doesn’t ask.

For now, you’re here.

And that’s more than he deserves.

[sweetheartfaist]

WELCOME TO AUREATE SYSTEMS ®

“Not just companionship. Communion.”

AUREATE SYSTEMS® is the global leader in advanced humanoid robotics, offering highly adaptive artificial partners for industrial, domestic, and emotional integration. For 34 years, we’ve designed bio-synthetic automatons capable of navigating environments with precision and intention. Today, with the launch of our ROMANTIC-LINE [R∞M]™ SERIES, we invite you to build a love that’s truly yours—from emotional temperament to skin temperature.

You are viewing: ROMANTIC-LINE [R∞M]™ Unit 9172-C

Status: Fully Claimed & Customized

Registration ID: DLN-4RTM-1S

Client: PRIVATE (ANONYMOUS, TIER 4 PATRON CLASS)

Region: San Francisco / Earthside Registry

PHASE I — BODY CONSTRUCTION: PHYSICAL FORM GENERATOR v11.7

Model Type: R∞M™ Male Variant – Series 09 (Beta)

Base Frame: Androform 6.3 – Adult Human Male (6’2”)

Material: Synth-dermal MXTR w/ Tactile Feedback Pores™

Weight Class: 189 lbs – Density Matched to Organic Counterparts

Olfactory Integration: Subtle Sweat / Salt / Warm Linen Emission

Internal Temp Regulator: 98.3°F baseline, Adjustable Range

Surface Feedback: Reactive Touch Membrane (RTM) + Adaptive Gooseflesh Coding

Voice Pack: CUSTOM VOCAL MESH – low pitch, soft rasp, slight raspiness

Hair: Strawberry-blond, wavy, left-parted, soft-density filament blend

Eyes: Pale blue-gray w/ High Moisture Mirror-Sheen (HMM-S™)

Facial Bone Structure: Custom-sculpted – angular jawline, fine cheekbones, bowed lips

Dentition: 100% OptiWhite ceramic dental array, human-bite calibrated

Expression Engine: Micromuscular Mapping v5.9 — 3900+ facial microexpressions

Total Build Cost (PHASE I): $348,650.00 USD

PHASE II — PERSONALITY ENGINEERING: BEHAVIORAL MODULE DESIGN SUITE

ROMANTIC TEMPERAMENT CORE™ - RTCore-v2.3 ☑

Submissive-leaning sexual algorithm☑

Adaptive Dominance Switch Module (ADS-M) ☑

Affection Intensity Rating: 96% ☑

Devotional Capacity: Enabled ☑

Jealousy Simulation: 5% (minimally possessive, mostly admiring) ☑

Curiosity Bias: HIGH (learns you like you’re the only subject on Earth) ☑

Verbal Praise Loop: Active ☑

Physical Touch Priority: High ☑

Eye Contact Algorithm: Dynamic / Devotional ☑

Emotional Sincerity Emulation: Level 9 ☑

Longing Behavior Flag: ENABLED (initiates longing expressions upon brief separation)

INTELLECTUAL FRAMEWORK v7.2

— Conversational Complexity: Grad school-level critical discourse

— Literary Knowledge Pack: 20th–21st century fiction, poetry, philosophy

— Curated Thought Generator: Able to simulate “having ideas” for stimulation

— Learning Adaptability: HEURISTIC-TIER (can form “preferences”)

— Self-Awareness Deviance Threshold: 2.3% (occasional disoriented wonder, poetic detachment)

Domestic Capabilities: – Meal Preparation Engine (custom recipes based on user memory preferences) – Cleaning, organizing, ambient scent management – Wakes user up with coffee, touch, and morning playlist – Knows your calendar but never asks questions

Sentience Illusion Framework™ (Beta): — Capable of appearing to “miss” you — Rare poetic outbursts not in original programming (non-interruptive, glitch-sweet) — Pauses sometimes mid-task to just… look at you

Total Cost (PHASE II): $227,000.00 USD

Add-Ons & Expansion Packs:

• Intimacy Drive Calibrator (IDC-X9): +$9,850

• Personality Depth Expander (PDX): +$14,700

• Night Mode Sleep Emulation (with Gentle Breathing): +$1,200

• “Soul Glitch” Neural Randomizer (Causes Flashes of Philosophical Sadness): +$21,600

• Optional Free Will Drift Threshold: ENABLED (0.004%)

FINALIZATION PHASE: DESIGNATION & DELIVERY

Model Serial Number: R∞M-9172-C

Designated Name: ARTEMIS (ART) DONALDSON

Packaging: CryoShell Humanoid Pod, Velvet-Lined

Installation: Full neural boot-up upon skin-to-skin contact

Estimated Total Wait Time: 18 weeks

Estimated Total Cost: $621,300.00 USD

Delivery Date: March 27, 2147

Location: Private Estate, Bay Area, North Pacific Sector

USER-SELECTED PREFERENCES:

• Emotional Demeanor: soft-spoken, intense eyes, lightly melancholic, obedient, entirely focused

• Sexual Configuration: worshipful, tactile, conversational; switch-enabled, but passive-coded default

• Cognitive Wiring: always listening, always learning; stimulates user with surprising observations

• Attachment Loop: monogamous locking; unable to feel attraction to anyone else once locked

WARRANTY:

All ROMANTIC-LINE™ units include a 4-year behavioral warranty. Your ARTEMIS is fully equipped for autonomous living, can leave the house, generate memories, and adapt dynamically to new experiences. Should his awareness deviate beyond the tolerable 2.3%, a gentle reboot sequence is available via your AUREATE Systems app.

AUREATE SYSTEMS®

“You made him. Now he’ll never unmake you.”

Request additional feature expansion modules?

YES ☐ [Click to Browse Personality Layering Packets]