#hmm these designs are not set in stone

[astro-b-o-y-d]

Thinking about Tangerine Junction again. Maybe one day I'll finalize designs for the main trio.

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

I think Jason would be a furry

[lemoncrushh]

Stones T-Shirt

Summary: Commenting on Harry's Rolling Stones shirt at a party leads to going to a concert with him.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1200

A/N: A silly little blurb written in 2017. Originally an oc, edited to be a reader fic.

You'd commented on his Stones t-shirt at a party.

"Have you ever seen them?" he asked you an hour later when you were in the kitchen making a drink.

"Who?" you made a face, completely forgetting about your previous encounter.

Harry laughed, pointing at his shirt. "The Rolling Stones."

"Oh. No," you shook your head. "Never got to."

"Mmm, you should. Everyone needs to see them at least once."

"Well...next time I have an extra hundred or so burning a hole in my pocket, I'll buy a ticket."

"Hey Y/N, are you making me one of those?" your best friend Sheila asked as she entered in the kitchen.

"What am I, designated bartender?" you scoffed.

"Of course! Now hook me up!"

You shook your head as you began to mix her drink, just like you both knew you would. As you poured the liquor into the glass, Harry leaned against the counter.

"They're coming to town next week," he commented. "We should go."

You gave him the eye while you squeezed a slice of lime into Sheila's drink. For a second you thought you'd misheard him.

"We should?"

"Yeah," he smirked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

You bit your lip as you handed Sheila her glass. "I'll think about it."

Sipping through her straw, Sheila nodded her head at you. You knew what she was trying to say, but you didn't care.

"Hmm," Harry sounded. "Well, while you think about it...maybe you can make me one of those?"

You glared at him, his cocky expression quickly making your defenses crumble. You chuckled and grabbed a fresh glass. "Sure."

Just then three more people walked in, catching you making Harry's cocktail.

"Yeah, I'll take one too, Y/N!" exclaimed Jordan.

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"What the hell, who made me bartender?" you argued.

"Harry," Sheila winked.

"But you asked for a drink first," you pointed at her.

"So. He followed you in here first."

You looked at Harry whose mouth grew into a smile. You laughed as you handed him his glass and began making three more. By the time you passed them out to your customers, your own cocktail was watered down. Frowning, you took a sip anyway.

"So did you think about it?" asked Harry, placing his empty glass on the counter.

"Sorry?"

"The Stones concert."

"Oh. Um..."

As if it were a sign, "Start Me Up" began to play from the speakers in the next room. Harry and you both froze.

"Looks like they're playing our song," he chuckled.

"Oh for fucks sake, go out with him!" shouted Sheila.

You shook your head as the color rose to your cheeks. "Alright."

"You won't regret it," beamed Harry. "Everyone needs to see the Stones."

You both stood outside the outdoor venue watching the sun set. You could hear the drum beat of the opening band playing inside as the excitement began to fill your veins.

"So when should we go in?" you asked Harry.

"After sundown," he replied. "That's the best time. Not as many people trying to get in."

You nodded, a little disappointed you'd be missing the opening act, but then again you had no clue who they were anyway. Finally, when the sun had disappeared behind the horizon, Harry grabbed your hand.

"C'mon," he whispered. "This way."

You smiled and followed him up a ramp. You zig zagged through a maze of several barriers until you reached a fence.

"What are we doing?" you glared at him, confused.

"Waiting for the all clear," Harry muttered.

"Wait...what?"

He squeezed your hand and looked at you timidly. "I don't actually have tickets," he admitted.

"What? We're...we're sneaking in?"

"Yeah."

Releasing your hand from his, you felt your stomach plummet to your knees. "Have you lost your fucking mind?!" you shouted.

"Shh!"

"No, I won't shh! I'm out of here!"

"Y/N! Wait!" he grabbed your hand again just as you rounded the corner. "Please."

"You're insane," you grumbled.

"Trust me. We can do this. I've done it before."

"Oh, that makes me feel so much better!" you threw up your hand.

Taking your other hand, Harry looked you in the eye. "Please."

With a defeated sigh, you followed him back to the fence. You watched as Harry carefully climbed over it, landing softly on the grass.

"C'mon," he beckoned.

With hesitation and a sour feeling in your gut, you reached up and grabbed the metal fence, sticking your shoe inside a hole to pull yourself up. When you reached the top, however, you got scared.

"I can't," you shook your head.

"Sure you can," said Harry, his arms out. "I'm right here. I'll catch you so you won't hit the ground."

"It's not that...I don't..."

"Swing your leg over."

Swallowing hard, you did as he said and you were able to climb post of the way down until he caught you in his arms.

"See?" he breathed in your ear. "We're okay."

Once again, you smiled at his use of the word "we".

"This way."

Your hand in his, you ran to another nearby barricade that wasn't as difficult to climb over. And that was when you saw the stage.

"Oh wow," you mouthed.

"Great innit?" Harry smiled.

You weren't close, in fact you were in the very back of the venue, behind the crowd that sat on the lawn. But somehow the thrill of it all made it worth it. Suddenly the lights went out and the audience went wild.

"Let's go over here," Harry gestured to the right and you weaved through several people until you stopped at an empty space between them.

You watched Mick Jagger strut across the stage in all his glory. Your stomach did a few flips until you found yourself cheering with the rest of the crowd. By the third or fourth song, you and Harry were dancing.

"This is so awesome!" you screamed at him as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Glad you came with me?" he leaned against you as the band went into "Angie".

"Glad? I could kiss you right now!"

You realized what you'd said the moment the last word dropped from your lips. Harry's smile faltered only slightly as his eyes shifted between your eyes and your mouth. Then tilting his head, he kissed you.

You weren't sure if it was the adrenaline still zipping through you from before, or just the mere sensation of his lips on yours, but that kiss was electric. You wound your arms around Harry's neck as he pulled you closer, your kiss deepening. You heard Mick asking "where will it lead us from here," and you found yourself wondering the same thing.

By the time the concert was over, you were wiping your cheeks of tears of joy.

"You okay?" Harry asked as he took your hand and you walked out of the venue with everybody else.

"Yeah," you nodded. "Yeah, more than okay. Thanks for that."

"Like I said, everyone should see them at least once."

"That's not what I mean."

Harry stopped and turned to look at you with question in his eyes.

"Thank you..." you said, "for the best night of my life."

If you enjoyed, please like, comment, reblog or send me a msg!

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[beneathsakurashade]

Hallo!! Can I req Savannaclaw with Fem!Reader who does diamond art? :3

(Lemme know if this req bothers ya BTW!!)

Leona Kingscholar

Originally he didn’t care much for your talent, seeing it as boring. Just something that his favorite herbivore found interest in that he did not. Which was most things actually...

 But one time when Cheka snuck onto campus and saw you carefully placing the diamonds onto the canvas, slowly forming the design of a little lion. He was amazed immediately.

“There’s nothing special about putting plastic stones on stuff” Leona groans as he lays on his bed and listens to his nephew go on and on about the diamond art. “‘S just placing fake little gems on stuff. Not really useful”, he watches lazily as you and his nephew work together.

 You share a knowing look with Cheka as Leona falls asleep. Picking up trays of tiny diamonds you both get to work on showing a certain cat that your talent is indeed useful.

 Leona woke up from his nap with a bedazzled face. Cheka, Ruggie, and you had a good laugh about it.

 You’re now the Prince’s official Diamond Artist of the Sunset Savannah.

Ruggie Bucchi

“Y’know, you could make a ton a’ money with that talent of yours!” He grins as he passes you a little tray of diamonds. “I know, but I’m doing this for fun, not for money” You smile as you fill in the empty spaces with colored gems.

“Well, maybe you should consider” he teases and snatches a diamond to study. “Hmm maybe..”. Spotting his curious eyes you resume your teasing “They’re cool aren’t they?” you snatch it back and glue it into its numbered spot.

“You should make a design for me” Ruggie smirks. “Why? Do you want a visual reminder that you love money more than me?” You quip back and motion for him to join you at your desk.

Your duo works on a piece together, a design made from a photo of the two of you on your first date. Cute and memorable. Ruggie hides it in a place that only he knows the location of.

You both run a little diamond art side business, taking commissions when it suits your fancies. (Ruggie charges more though-)

Jack Howl

He stumbled across you fully enamored in your art. At first, Jack didn't understand it, you enjoyed sticking diamonds to material?

But as he watched you he soon grew to respect your determination and precision.

You decided to make a custom design of a little cactus for him. Watching Jack during one of his Track club meetings, as he finished. "Tada! I made a present for you" You smile as you show him the little package.

Pretending to ignore the embarrassed flattening of his fluffy white ears and the hyper-wagging of his tail. "Thanks..." he mutters and continues "It's not that bad...". (He loves it)

He hangs up the design in his room proudly. Along with several other things that you added diamonds to, his favorite cactus pot included.

Thank you dearest mootie for requesting a headcanon set from my shop! I do hope that you enjoy your purchase. Please visit again whenever you can and have a most wonderful day ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧.

[urmanzack]

i had an idea... for malleus.... imagine attending the school ball dance or something im not sure with him.... meow

May I have this dance?

———

Summary: At the end of every year, Night Raven College hosts a winter ball before the long break. With all your friends abandoning you, you’re left with a last minute date with a guy you’ve never even met. Let’s just say, it didn’t go to plan. However, there’s someone you’ve been eyeing off for a while now. Maybe this is your chance to talk to him? Fandom: Twisted Wonderland Characters: Malleus Draconia Warnings: Insecurity A/N: anon when i catch you. this is gonna be 2-3 parts, this first one more setting the scene

———

You heaved a sigh, sitting on the cold steps. Today was the night of the NRC winter ball, classes had gone by leisurely because everyone was too ecstatic to stay focused— which didn’t go down well with Professor Crewel. Gosh, even the teachers seemed excited. It was truly the event of the year.

And you? Were dressed up for nothing.

The chilly night air filled your lungs, as if a ghost was trying to comfort you because your friends certainly weren’t going to.

A Savanaclaw boy had originally asked you out to the dance, obviously not wanting to be alone; you accepted despite not knowing him. Look where that got you now. A stupid, last minute date that didn’t even show up.

It must’ve been a dare. How could I have been so foolish?

You felt so disappointed, deep down you’d been looking forward to this. Deep, deep down that familiar sadness was brewing inside you threatening to swallow you whole. Oh, how it was sickening. Tears threatened to fall, but just because your eyes were dry! Nothing else. Nothing at all. You weren’t looking forward to this at all. You didn’t care.

Ballroom music caught your attention, a small, sad smile peeked at your lips. Hopefully your friends were having fun, and not sitting outside like a complete loser.

Hmm… maybe I should just go look for them. I can’t return to my dorm like this can I?

Your mind was made up. A little burst of confidence helped you stand up, pulling yourself off the stone steps and stand at the halls entrance. You closed your eyes, taking in a deep breath.

No more than an hour. And certainly no dancing.

‿︵‿︵‿ ୨♡୧ ‿︵‿︵‿

Inside was gorgeous, you couldn’t deny the amount of sheer effort put into the design of the ballroom. The student council committee had worked hard, and it showed.

Soft snow glittered on the floor, set up in the corners as little mounds. The lighting was like rays of moonlight, reflecting off of your eyes. The whole hall was very well put together. It looked elegant, similar to a scene from a fantasy movie.

However— cheap blue party streamers hung from the ceiling showing it wasn’t all that fancy.

With other people dancing, chatting away with their friend groups, kissing their partners in their matching prom outfits… you couldn’t help but feel alone, and a tiny bit self conscious. Was anyone noticing you standing around by yourself?

I’ll just find someone I can talk to, or hang around. Where’s my group anyway?

Although. After wandering in the shadows for ages, this wasn’t working. You glanced down at your feet, kicking the blue streamers. This was awkward.

No signs of my friends, or Malleus.

Oh, Malleus. Diasomnia’s dorm leader was so dreamy.

Your eyes drifted to the punch table that seemed very tempting right now. No one was loitering there, so you wouldn’t get caught in conversation with someone you didn’t know.

I’m already here…

Just one drink, and then you’d leave… right?

Wrong.

You were on your third cup of fruit punch. Music beat loudly in the background, it wasn’t interesting enough to focus on. Just party music, sounding more to a blur. You sighed. This whole thing had been a fluke, abandoned by your date and friends… it didn’t feel good. It was a hollow feeling that left a lump in your throat you couldn’t swallow. The lights became all fuzzy as you began dwelling in your thoughts.

Malleus.

Oh so perfect Malleus, you couldn’t help but wonder what he’d think of you in this attire?

Actually, was he even here? Surely Diasomnia would tell him about the one and only Winter ball. As third years, this was something that was celebrated yearly. But this one was different. It was your last year at Night Raven College, it was special. And for Malleus… surely Lilia would make sure he knew it was today. If not the classrooms and dorms being empty should be a big enough clue.

In complete honesty, you’d secretly been hoping he’d ask you out to the ball. The disappointment when he didn’t was… immeasurable.

So instead I made the mistake of trying to ask him. As if I had a chance. You thought bitterly, digging your nails into the side of the plastic cup.

[pencildragons]

snippet from my upcoming foxquin fic sinner, sinner (come to dinner) for foxquinweek !!!!!

“Commander Fox,” says the Chancellor, smiling his kindly smile. Fox stands very still and stares straight ahead, past Palpatine and through the great transparisteel window at the city below, skyline exploding in the brilliance of the sun’s final dying rays. The fanciful part of him that will one day be responsible for his death imagines that, if he’s just still enough, Palpatine will forget him entirely. It’s ridiculous, he knows, he knows, of course he knows, but he clings to it anyway, endeavours to move as little as possible, turns trying to hide even the slight rise and fall of his chest into some sort of test of how good his impression of being a block of stone is. “Sir,” says Fox. “Commander Fox,” Palpatine says again, still smiling that awful fucking smile, but sadder, now, mournful, bushy eyebrows doing something terrible and expressive. “You have disappointed me.” “Yes, sir.” “I gave you a very simple directive, Commander, and still you failed.” Fox is barely breathing now. Only a few klicks away, the spire of the Jedi Temple burns in a halo of pink-red, spearing through the cloud-strewn sky. It looks like one of the paintings hung in the Senate rotunda corridors, the ones that like as not cost more to procure than he did. His throat is dry. He tries to swallow. It sticks. It is likely he is dehydrated. There is a little light flashing on top of the spire, warning away in-atmo transports and low-flying starships. Orange-blue-green. Orange-blue-green. He stares at it, so he doesn’t have to look at Palpatine. “Yes, sir.” “Such inadequacy is, of course, unacceptable, Commander, as I’m sure you’re aware. I really had hoped it would not come to this, you understand.” Liar, Fox thinks. You love this. “But there is only one way to learn, and that is through experiencing consequences of your actions. Perhaps next time you will not take your sworn duty so lightly, hmm?” “Yes, sir.” “Draw your blaster, please, Commander.” Fox blinks and, in his surprise, breaks his stillness to turn his head to face Palpatine properly. “…Sir?” “Must I repeat myself twice? Draw your blaster from your holster.” Slowly, Fox draws. He wonders if this is some sort of test, if he’s going to be punished further for making his weapon naked in front of the Supreme Chancellor of the entire fucking Republic. (In the light of the dusk spilling through the window into the opulent office, Palpatine’s eyes seem almost gold. It is for but a brief moment, just the rays of the fat sun catching oddly, and then they return to that sharp, ice-chip grey like nothing at all happened.) “Good,” says Palpatine, and smiles again. Like this, he looks like some natborn’s father’s father—grandfather, he believes the term is—all benevolent wrinkles and knowing looks. “Set it to kill.” Fox sets it to kill. It is not a difficult thing. He is just as much a weapon as the blaster in his hands, well-oiled, clean, smooth. Efficient. He was designed for this. It is easier to follow orders mindlessly; his brain, like all their brains (except, perhaps, Kote’s, but Kote’s a little fucked up and is an outlier for everything else, anyway), is primed for command, made to obey. A perfect, thoughtless gun, with just enough ruthlessness and self-determination to set them apart from the CIS’ droids. That’s the idea, anyway. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the Kaminoans failed in the execution of something. “Turn around, Commander,” Palpatine murmurs, words soft and smooth and rich as the heavy velvet-fabric from his home planet that he has all his clothes cut from. “And fire at will.”

rbs deeply appreciated :]

[ramblingoak]

The Perfect Moment

Mushy May in Lucifer's Hollow: Day 14 - Doing Each Others' Makeup

Mist x Aurora (using a bonus prompt today and kind of playing with it a bit)

This fic is set in an alternate universe in a town called Lucifer's Hollow. It's sort of like a Satanic version of a Hallmark town. For Mushy May I'll be using the prompts to post little snippets of life for the humans and ghouls that live there 💙 Thank you to @forlorn-crows for putting Mushy May together!

~ In Lucifer's Hollow Mist owns an antique store called The Reliquary and Aurora owns Little Sunshine Tattoos ~

Warnings: mentions of a tattoo needle otherwise just very sappy, sfw, 670 words (thank you to @ghuleh-recs for the dividers!)

“You need to hold still unless you want me to mess up.”

“I am holding still.”  Mist ignored Aurora’s look, taking a deep breath and trying to relax again.  It wasn’t that the needle hurt, it just felt…weird.  The buzzing sound was almost worse but Aurora had put some music on that was helping her tune it out.  “How does it look?”

“Hideous.”

Alright she deserved that.  She resolved to stay quiet and let Aurora work.  The ghoulette had been fretting over the design of the tattoo for weeks now.  Sometimes even going over to Mountain’s to get Rain’s opinion.  Mist had seen dozens of different variations of it, each one more beautiful than the next.  She had started to feel bad about asking Aurora since it was obvious her girlfriend was stressing over the whole thing but to Mist there was no one else she’d rather have design it.

And obviously no one else she’d rather have tattoo it.

“Thank you.”  Mist glanced over when the buzzing stopped, her eyes immediately meeting those of Aurora’s.  “I’m glad you’re doing it.”

“Baby, I’m honored you asked me.”  Aurora grabbed a rag and wiped away some excess ink.  “And the design you wanted it’s…well…”

“It’s what?  I thought you liked the idea.”

“I do!  Mist, I love it.  It's…well it’s us.”  The ghoulette sniffled a bit and Mist felt her own eyes watering slightly.  “I love you so much.”

She knew she wasn’t supposed to move but nothing was going to stop her from kissing Aurora at that moment.  The ghoulette’s lips were soft like always, a hint of coffee still clinging to them from earlier.  It was chaste at first but like usual it didn’t take long for the kiss to deepen, for their mouths to open and their tongues to tangle together.  Mist pulled away after a moment and cupped Aurora’s cheek, swiping at the few tears that had escaped with her fingers.

“You’re such a sap.”  She yelped when Aurora playfully nipped at her thumb.  “But I love you too.”

“I’m never going to get tired of you saying that.”

“Me calling you a sap or saying I love you?”

“Hmm, probably both.”  Mist grinned as she settled back in the chair, placing her arm back where it had been resting before.  “I’m almost done.  Just going to add some color to the water.”

“Take your time.”  

When Aurora started the tattoo gun up again Mist looked down at her lap, focusing on the silver ring the ghoulette had given her not too long ago.  There was a single pink stone on the band, the same shade of pink as Aurora’s eyes.  She still couldn’t believe it, her and Aurora were now engaged.  They had gone and picked out a matching ring for Aurora too, but her stone was the same shade of blue as Mist’s eyes.

It was a moment she was never going to forget.  They had trekked out into the woods a bit, heading towards the pond that was close to Mountain’s farmhouse.  The whole town was awake and watching the skies, waiting for the aurora borealis to appear.  It was an occurrence so rare that a big event had been made of it.  People were camped out in their yards or in the various parks around town.

But Aurora had wanted to be away from everyone, claiming that she just wanted to have a nice private picnic together.  It didn’t really matter to Mist, there wasn’t much Aurora could ask her to do that she’d say no to.  Besides, a picnic next to the water with the aurora borealis above their heads?  It was the perfect moment, a moment Mist would never forget for as long as she lived.

And it was a moment she had decided to memorialize with a tattoo.  One that combined her favorite spot in town with her favorite moment of her life.  One created by her favorite person too.  Satanas, they were both sappy and gross.     

Mist wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you'd like to be added/removed from the tag list (or if I accidentally left your name off) of this fic or any of my others please leave a comment or send me a dm! Thank you 💙

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More fics in the Tales From Lucifer's Hollow masterpost

[uninformedartist]

My Final Post Regarding Velvette As a Character

And I must say it ends on a good note :) sort of.

Original twitter thread: https://twitter.com/OhTheSunnySide/status/1643798183674249216?t=ta0YMJ4NpmkticJXIuqqZQ&s=19

Oh the sunny side gave a wonder critique on hairstyles of ethnic characters on two upcoming indi animations, Far fetched and Pen pals forever. The critique came from a black person and was a sound and valid critique. The response from Ashley and Marie exemplifies how a creator especially one who is making or trying to make an independent animated series should respond to critique especially from ethnic voices.

Just look at these responses from both creators, so beautiful to see like this warmed my heart to see how Ashley and Marie took the critique. Marie said they will better even going as far as hiring the right people and Ashley stating that she'll revisit Piper's design in the final series. But sigh enough about this absolutely positive critique and creator response this is what should have happened with Velvette. Over so many years ethnic voices have critiqued Velvette's design in it lacking all ethnic features yet Viv wants to push she's a black woman. She was even hostile to an artist who redesigned Velvette from the leaked character sheets and said the person whitewashed Velvette in the redesign but she's bloody grey ashy toned in her original design like I cannot what. Anyhow her design still could've improved in the final series and...

Yeah nope. My point in all of this is listen to ethnic voices especially if you're an independent project because that is truly where you can make representation shine. Viv prides herself on starting Hazbin as an independent animated project and time and time again got wonderful criticism to better her especially ethnic characters like Vaggie, Val, Alastor, Niffty, Velvette and the list can go on. But she didn't she took all criticism from these voices as an attack on her and basically said "stuff your critique and wanting to see better more accurate representation my designs are perfect and need no changes". And I know Viv is half Salvadorian but that doesn't negate from the fact her ethnic characters are badly designed, Marie is Chinese but took that criticism with care and would better because she is not part of that ethnic group of one of her characters and is making a show that highlights representation so they will better the character's design, just beautiful to see. Viv as we all know doesn't take criticism well I get it but to shut out ethnic voices on designs you could've changed on so many occasions (basically over 10 years really since she had these characters for so long) is deeply insulting and heartbreaking. And that old excuse on "its just her artstyle" is bull its not even valid for a number of logical reasons if your artstyle cannot be pushed to incorporate ethnic features, I don't need to go into how bad that is.

In closing, listen to ethnic voices especially if you're making independent animated projects, animation on its own is unique medium to show representation without restrictions, its an open playing field you literally design the character you can do justice to representation. And if you're designing a character out of your ethnic group reach out, heck sometimes we make mistakes designing characters from our own ethnic group, ahm Vaggie. And lastly being independent you can get a lot more viewer feedback and engagement and that can be the most helpful. Marie and Ashley I hope live up to their word as I'm exited on both their series, wish Viv did the same but oh well we'll just be repeating ourselves, same old story thats set in stone hmm.

Edit: sorry if I used the wrong phrases or words, my English is on holiday now haha

[matchmakerstuck]

I'm gonna STRIGGLE W THIS cuz I'm kinda stoned and also have a . Really poor memory

I don't know the ages if anyone but please set me w an adult bc I'm 22 🙏 it's been. A really long time

Obviously they need 2 be OK with smoking weed

I draw (sometimes) and I fucking love roblox. Oh my god. And slop content (Garten if banban and max design pro)

This is a mess I'm so sorry I took a screenshot of your little list so I can reference it so I don't foeget.

They gotta fw my horrific anxiety and possible autism 🙏 and my inability to take compliments /lh and pare ntalissues..... sorry/lh

Pet peebes... hmm...chewing w their mouth open would get them shot on sight. I also hate country music

They also gotta fw cats

Sorry if this is the worst thing ever I'm stoned

roxy (post game, when shes 20, obvs) and hear me out on this

I think she could chew with her mouth closed if you asked her to, and she LOVES cats. I think she could definitely deal with the anxiety and everything but you would HAVE to make room for her issues. treat her RIGHT. She would probs be ok with you smoking weed and would play roblox with you.

Seriously i think shed like you :3

[lovelylogans]

the parent trap

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: where dreams have no end

A hello, a goodbye.

⁂

Janus examines the pot critically. There is the occasional bubble, here and there, the pot taking its precious time to work its way up to a simmer, let alone a boil.

“Smells good in here!”

Janus turns, seeing Patton; hair a little damp, the scruff around his jaw trimmed down to at least a five o’clock shadow, wrapped in a comfy-looking button-down and big, chunky-knit cardigan, the sort that must keep him awfully warm on chilly vineyard nights.

“I’m boiling salted water,” Janus says, amused. 

Patton shrugs, smiling at him. “Must be my imagination. Um—are you in the mood for wine?”

“Ooh, yes,” Janus says, pleased. 

“Red or white?”

“You tell me, vintner extraordinaire,” Janus says. “What goes best with canned vodka-tomato sauce?”

“Hmm,” Patton says. “Homemade or store-bought?”

“Homemade, it looks like,” Janus says, lifting the mason jar for Patton’s eyes; it’s scrupulously labeled, with what must be Virgil’s handwriting, as Janus can’t recognize it.

“Ooh! Good, Virgil’s vodka sauce. We’ll want a red.”

Then, oddly shy: “Would you like to see…?”

“The wine cellar!” Janus says, pleased, setting a lid atop the pot. “I knew you must have one, I just wasn’t sure which key went to which door…”

“Well,” Patton says, picking up a key. “Follow me, then—we’ll go to my private cellar,” and Janus falls into step slightly behind him.

“There’s the public one open for tours, of course, but I keep my favorites down here…” Patton unlocks the door and descends the stairs, talking all the while. “Did you know, I’ve also started collecting wine?”

Janus laughs. “A man of many interests, I see.”

Patton chuckles, too, briefly detouring flick a light to light dim lanterns hanging overhead, and then, in a well-practiced maneuver, strikes a match and quickly lights a genuine candelabra, blowing out the match before he’s lifting it up.

He smiles bashfully at the look that Janus is giving him. “I know it’s a little overdramatic—”

“Far be it from me, to criticize someone else’s flair for drama,” Janus says.

“—but the cellar down here does get pretty cold, just by design. So a lot of candles is really multi-purpose. C’mere—I’ll show you some I think you’ll be interested in...”

Janus follows, but he does take time to examine the space. 

Descending the stairs with his ex-husband would probably make anyone think that Janus was about to be Cask of Amontillado’d, if it had been anyone but Patton’s wine cellar.

Gray stone walls and floors, with big columns holding up load-bearing rafters; Patton’s taking the time to light some extra candles, even as a small, battery-powered chandelier has been turned on. There are more traditional wine racks, a third of them empty (“room to grow,” Patton says) and some slightly less-traditional wood cabinets.

Janus follows him over to stand by an alcove—filled with wine racks, of course—and examines the bottles; some are a little dusty, but they’re mostly looking like Patton’s secreted little treasures.

“Ah! Here,” Patton says, stopping before a particular section, pulling one free and presenting the label to Janus, exactly like any trained sommelier would. “A 1921 Burgundy. They say the rain this year made this the best Burgundy ever harvested.”

Janus touches the worn label, fascinated. Patton carefully replaces the 1921 to its place of glory.

“Oh, and here—you’ll appreciate this one—” He opens another cabinet, removing yet another bottle, tilting it so Janus can read it in the candlelight.

“V-E Day, 1945,” Janus reads in a stunned whisper. “That’s incredible.”

“I love this one,” Patton says fondly. “Oh, aw, and this one too—”

He points to V-E Day’s neighbor. 

“What makes this one special?” Janus says. “Bottled the day of the moon landing?”

Patton laughs. “Not quite. Um—it’s a Bordeaux ‘52. My parents served this wine at their wedding. My sister might—what?”

“Oh, Patton,” Janus says, smiling up at him. “That’s so you.” 

Patton blushes, and Janus takes the time to examine him; he’s showered and changed since the aftermath of the disastrous hike, which means he’s also shaved away that clinging five o’clock shadow—Janus remembers it once seemed to sprout up on his face like it truly was clockwork.

Patton, a fully-grown adult now, with a vineyard and his own wine collection, and here was the cabinet full of his favorites. The one of historical significance seemed obvious for most, but placing the ones of great sentimental value in places of pride?

That was Patton Parker all over.

Patton moves to put it back, and Janus examines the next in line.

“What’s that one?” He says, reaching for it, and Patton jumps.

“Oh! Um—”

But Janus already has it in hand, reading the label. “Where Dreams Have No End…, 1983.”

There’s an illustration of an oblong sort of wheel, cut into slices, with each segment staggered; some white, some with every color of the rainbow, two opposite segments containing an illustration of the phases of the moon.

Patton clears his throat awkwardly, rubbing at his freshly-shaved face. “Um—that one actually took me years to track down.”

“What’s so special about this one, that it’s earned the place right between your parents’ wedding wine and V-E Day?”

Patton smiles at him, a soft, shielded thing.

“That’s the wine we drank at our wedding.”

Janus inhales sharply. He suddenly feels as if he is holding the most precious diamond in all the world. 

The wine they drank at their wedding. That rushed affair, so long ago, with their fellow passengers and the captain who’d married them as their guests. Janus had worn the best suit he’d packed—Patton wore the only suit he owned—and they had been married at the bow of the ship, overlooking the sea.

Patton had wept from happiness at seeing him and Janus’s cheeks had ached for days afterwards with the width of the smile. They had been constantly touching, then; Patton’s calloused hand holding his, Janus leaning against his shoulder when he’d felt sleepy after another excellent dinner. On their wedding day, they’d been like giggly, flushing teenagers, giddy with the brush of first love, their hands on each other constantly, whispering we’re married, we’re married, you’re my husband, I love you, back and forth, back and forth.

They’d been so happy.

“Oh,” Janus breathes out at last. It seems too small and too large a reaction all at once.

“I now have every bottle ever made.”

Janus stares up at him, his lips parting in shock.

“You do?”

“I do.”

Patton says the words differently than he had then, but the tenderness of them still hold true, even a dozen years and a divorce later. Janus looks to the bottle, back to Patton.

“Can we open one?”

“Of course we can,” Patton says. “You’re the only one I’d ever drink it with.”

They inch closer. Closer. Patton smells of body wash and aftershave,  

Janus tilts up his chin, his face getting closer to Patton’s and he waits for one heartbeat with bated breath.

 Janus wonders wildly if this is it, if this is it, the moment they pick up where they left off all those years ago, and keep going forward, if he’ll go upstairs and Patton will stand behind him and kiss the back of his neck as he puts the finishing touches on dinner, and if they will be smiling and secretively giddy at the dinner table, feet touching under the table where their children wouldn’t be able to see. 

Two heartbeats. 

Janus’s heart sinks. He knows before Patton even has to say it.

It’s a nice daydream. But for them, there is no moving forward.

Janus peers up at him through his eyelashes, hoping to find—find something of the joyous man that Janus had once married. But Patton’s eyes are closed, and he looks pained, lips are pressed together and jaw tense.

“I’m sorry,” Patton whispers. 

“No,” Janus says. “Of course. Of course not. I’m sorry. You just broke up with your fiancé today. Of course you shouldn’t be sorry.”

“I just—”

“I know,” Janus says. “Perfectly reasonable. The wine—remembering our wedding—it got to me. I’m fine now.”

“Are you sure?” Patton says, quietly concerned. “I can offer you—” he pats his pocket. “Well, not a handkerchief, but I guess a clean sleeve…”

“No,” Janus says, putting a resolutely calm expression on his face. “Really. Little wobbly. Fine now.”

And then, there’s the rumble of car tires across gravel, the flash of a headlight in a window.

“That will be Virgil and Logan.” Patton murmurs. “I should probably—”

Janus does not mention that Virgil surely has a key.

And then Patton is backing away a couple of steps, his face now half in darkness, a slanting line of the light directly across those incredible brown eyes. 

And Patton stares at Janus, his mouth twisting up.

Janus would reach for him.

Patton, barely moving, shakes his head. 

“Hello?” Virgil’s voice filters in from above. “Anyone home?”

Their eye contact breaks; the moment dies.

Like their marriage did.

“We’ll be right up!” Patton calls, and, oh so carefully and tenderly, he tucks the bottle of wine back in place.

He locks the cabinet. 

He turns away, and leaves.

Janus takes a moment to wipe his eyes dry on his own sleeve, and put on a good show for his children.

For their children.

⁂

Sammy whines at the sight of suitcases coming down the stairs, the sight always just enough to put him on edge.

“It’s all right, Samster,” Patton mumbles, though it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be all right. “It’s okay. Me and Remus and Virgil—we’ll be right here.”

Sammy chuffs, displeased, but he stays put even as Patton goes to help Logan put the suitcases out on the front stairs, where the roof will shield them from the rain, coming down in an onslaught.

Logan clears his throat, looking out to the vineyard.

“Erm—if I were ever to accompany Roman back. To visit here.”

Patton catches onto his meaning quickly.

“You’d be welcome any time,” Patton says. “Any time. Of course you would be, you’re family. Remus would be thrilled to bits to see you.”

Logan smiles, in his muted way.

“Hey, even if—even if Remus is over there.” Patton says. “You’d be welcome to come and stay with me, to see him. God knows we need all the love we can get around this place.”

And then Logan’s sticking out his hand, looking too overwhelmed for words.

Patton takes it with a firm grip, like his own father taught him, and shakes it.

“Come whenever you’d like,” Patton says. “I’m not just saying that: you’re welcome anytime. You—you seem to make him really happy.”

“Yes,” Logan says, his voice quiet and melancholy, as everyone’s voices have been this morning. “Yes, I rather I hope I do.”

There’s the creaking of the door, and the sound of quiet footsteps.

“Papa?”

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Logan says, and withdraws back into the house. Surely to have his own moment with the new flame he’ll be leaving behind.

Patton swallows hard, the tears already springing to his eyes.

He doesn’t want to say goodbye to his creative, flamboyant, mischievous, brave, polite, precious boy.

“Hey there, sweetie,” Patton says, leaning against the door. He can see Remus and Janus out of the corner of his eye, Janus bending to hug him, the pair of them with matching, wretched looks on their faces, and if he focuses on that any longer he’ll start bawling immediately.

Roman swallows once, twice. Then:

“I’m really gonna miss you,” he chokes out.

“Oh, honey, me too,” he says, and he barely gets the words out before Roman’s flung himself into his arms.

“It’s not for forever,” Patton says, trying to comfort himself as much as he’s trying to comfort Roman. “We’ll be spending Thanksgiving together in a couple of months, you and me and Remus and your Grandfather.”

“We are?”

“Of course we are!” Patton insists, clutching him tightly. “I’ll show you all the wonders of American cooking. Or—Virgil will. Turkey and stuffing and gravy and biscuits and cranberry sauce and pumpkin and pecan pie. The whole nine yards.”

“Promise me,” Roman insists. “Promise me I’ll see you then.”

“I promise,” Patton croaks out. “I promise. A herd of thundering horses wouldn’t be able to tear me away.”

“You’re sure?”

“I am,” Patton insists. “I am. I’ll take you to an American football game, like a lot of families do, and we’ll carve pumpkins even though it’ll be a month late so Virgil can make us pumpkin pie and seed snacks, and we’ll make mulled wine and cider, and we’ll rake big old leaf piles for you and Remus to jump in…”

And so Patton holds his son close, weaving him the mental image of a perfect, idyllic Californian autumn day until he sees Janus and Remus separate, Janus stroking back Remus’s hair and staring at his face intensely, as though memorizing it until he can see him again.

And, as though sensing it, the twins turn to face each other at the same time.

“I’ll see you, Papa,” Roman murmurs.

“I promise,” Patton says again, and the twins walk toward each other.

Roman takes a deep breath. Remus practically lunges for him.

The kids seize each other in a massive bear hug, Remus looking like he’s one wrong arm placement away from strangling Roman, Roman pressing his face into Remus’s shoulder as if they’ll merge together if he stands close enough, as if he won’t have to go.

Patton tries his hardest not to sniffle, but he does reach up and wipe a finger under his eye.

There is a silent presence who steps up beside him, close enough to touch, close enough that Patton can feel the heat of him in this chilly rain.

Probably the only person who can understand this specific heartbreak, of divvying up your children again, of watching one of them go.

The pair of them watch their children go, Roman holding the umbrella aloft above them, Remus’s arm slung over Roman’s shoulders, as though trying to extend the hug for as long as he humanly can.

Patton reaches out to squeeze Janus’s arm, rubbing up and down.

“Take care of yourself,” Patton murmurs. It doesn’t feel like enough. But what else can he say?

“Yeah,” Janus says. “You too.”

And he hesitates. Before Patton turns and, wishing desperately he had acted differently the night before, presses a soft kiss to Janus’s cheek.

Janus’s eyes are closed when Patton draws back to look at him again.

“Bye,” Janus murmurs. He steps away, onto the balcony, opening his own umbrella and rushing for the car.

“Bye,” Patton sighs after him.

Remus opens the car door for Janus, the sound of their “I love you” “I love you too” between them reaching Patton even through the loud pattering of the rain.

He watches Virgil gently close the car door on the other side, stepping back, putting his hand over his mouth.

He watches Remus slam the car door, waving at the window, before he sprints back to the porch, running to get the best vantage point of the car leaving.

Virgil follows, pale and silent as a ghost.

Remus waves, but then he falters, Patton puts a hand on his shoulder, squeezing.

“Pa,” Remus says, his voice cracking, leaning back against him hard. Patton wraps his arms around him, taking his weight, and bending to press his lips to the top of his head.

“I know, kiddo. I know. I’m sorry,” he whispers, his own voice wet, rocking him back and forth, just like he did when Remus was a baby.

When Remus and Roman were babies.

But they’re just so big now. 

“I’m so sorry.”

Please don’t go, Patton wants to say. He wants to sprint out into the rain, fall to his knees in the mud, plant himself in front of the car, and cry out to the world to hear to beg for them not to go.

But he doesn’t.

And so they go.

previous chapter | masterpost | next chapter

[hoshibatake]

Sunflower Live - Chapter 7

Previous chapter

Beach

Hokuto: Heh, what a nice sea breeze.

Subaru: It was a great idea to come here〜!

Subaru: …Huh? Hey, it’s Anzu! Ahaha! What a coincidence we run into each other here〜 Whatcha doing? Did you want go swimming?

Subaru: No? Hmm, you couldn't decide on a design for our costumes, so you came here for inspiration?

Subaru: I see〜 That’s the same reason we’re here☆

Mao: You know we’re gonna set up a booth during the Sunflower Live, right?

Mao: We’ve decided on most of the things we’re gonna sell, but we thought it might be a nice idea to sell some hand-made goods as well.

Mao: So we came to the beach in the hopes of thinking of some ideas for those.

Subaru: Forget that, though! We’re at the seaside, so let’s have a swim! Splash, splash…☆

Hokuto: Whoa! Don’t jump while we’re standing in the surf. You’re gonna get my pants all wet.

Hokuto: And swimming might sound nice, but none of us brought our swimming gear. Or did you bring yours, Akehoshi?

Subaru: Nope. But even if we don’t have swim trunks, we can still swim if we just strip down to our underwear! It’s no problem!

Hokuto: What do you mean, "no problem"? Anzu is right there, so don’t you dare strip down to your underwear.

Makoto: Yeah. See? Her face is bright red.

Hokuto: Fumu… It doesn’t seem like she’s blushing because of Akehoshi’s lack of discretion, though.

Hokuto: Her face radiates heat and she seems listless. Aren’t those symptoms of heatstroke?

Makoto: Wha!? That’s bad! We have to get Anzu into the shade and have her lie down, right away!

Mao: …Oh! There’s a parasol over there. I don’t know who it belongs to, but we’ll just borrow it for a moment.

Subaru: Anzu, are you alright? Do you want me to go buy a cold drink? It’s alright because you have a drink with you?

Subaru: But don’t push yourself, okay? We’re your friends. If my friends are suffering, it feels like I’m suffering too.

Hokuto: It seems to be a light form of heatstroke. As you say, you should recover quickly if you just rest for a while.

Hokuto: Still, we can’t just leave Anzu here alone. Someone should stay behind to take care of her.

Makoto: I’ll stay with her, then. We’re here to come up with ideas for merchandise we can make, so you guys should go and see if you can find some stuff we can use in our crafts.

Mao: Alright, we’ll leave Anzu in your care, then. …Oh, and it would be bad if I dropped my phone in the sand, so can I leave it with you guys?

Makoto: Understood〜 Leave it here with me.

Subaru: Here, you can watch Daikichi, too! Otherwise he’d just see something sparkly somewhere and go running off〜 I wouldn’t want him to get hurt in the process!

Makoto: Oh, alright. …Hmm? Hey, did he take a particular liking to Anzu?

Subaru: Yup. I bet he’ll be a good boy as long as Anzu is here with him.

Subaru: Okay well, I’ll leave him in your hands! C’mon, let’s go look for sparkly things〜☆

Mao: Ahaha, looks like it’s true what they say about dogs and their owners being alike.

Mao: Alright, I’m off too. How about you, Hokuto? Do you want to go look for sparkly things with us?

Hokuto: No, thanks. I think I’ll take a stroll and try to come up with some ideas.

Mao: I see. I hope we all come up with some good stuff.

Subaru: Oh! I found an empty bottle! Look, look. It’s all sparkly when the sunlight hits it. So pretty〜☆

Mao: Hey, now. It’s dangerous to touch random glass bottles. …Hmm? Subaru, isn’t there a pretty stone on the ground near where you’re standing?

Subaru: Huh? Where? Oooh, that is sparkly and pretty! It’s almost like a gem〜♪

Mao: Isn’t this what they call sea glass? They call them the gems of the sea.

Subaru: I’ve heard about those! So that’s what they look like?

Subaru: Hey, don’t you think we could use something this pretty to make some merch?

Mao: You’re right. I’m not sure about that glass bottle, but sea glass seems like something we can use. These shells all around us seem like something we can use as well.

Subaru: Hmm〜 …Oh! What do you think about making bracelets or necklaces?

Mao: Yeah, they might be suited to be made into accessories. But how would we go about making them? Maybe I can ask Ritsu when I see him next.

Subaru: …? Why would you ask Sakuma-senpai’s little brother?

Mao: Oh, apparently he’s pretty good with his hands〜 And he makes accessories pretty often, actually.

Mao: He gave me a necklace once. He said: “I made this necklace while thinking of you, Maa-kun.” It made me pretty happy〜♪

Makoto: Heheh. They seem to be enjoying themselves.

Makoto: Huh? Whether I don’t want to go join my friends? No, I think I’d prefer sitting in the shade and watching them for a while.

Makoto: They’re all amazing. They shine so bright. They’re just themselves, and they don’t flinch at all when others look at them.

Makoto: For the Summer Live I did some training to learn how to catch the audience’s eye…

Makoto: …but I just can’t get used to that kind of stuff. When people look at me, I can’t help but shy away. Ahaha, pretty pathetic for for an idol, don’t you think…?

Makoto: It’s not pathetic at all? You thought I was really cool during the Summer Live? Well, thanks.

Makoto: Anzu-chan, you seem to be looking a little better. Do you want to go join our friends? See? Akehoshi-kun is calling you over.

Makoto: Oh, but if you start to feel worse again, you should come back here right away, okay?

Makoto: …Me? I think I’ll stay here a while longer. I’m looking up some information on my phone.

Makoto: Huh? You think I should enjoy the beach while we’re here?

Makoto: I’m fine over here. Watching everyone have fun is just the way I like to enjoy being at the beach. Don’t worry about me and go have fun♪

Next chapter

[overgrownmoon]

the never ending process of thinking about my ocs and wanting to redesign them, yet again, because no one can behold me to staying with one design ever

LOTS of rambling about my ocs below the cut ye be warned

that being said i’m thinking about yavari. she just kind of became a mash up of things i like. i have no idea if i like the centipede tail anymore. i also had the idea of giving her a giant centipede as a familiar that wraps around her shoulders. what if i gave her a scorpion tail? the centipede tail is so large and awkward i wonder if she would benefit from having something more sleek but still deadly. there’s also the antenna… she used to have horns that got replaced with the antenna but i can’t decide if i like them anymore, they kinda compete with her big ass ears for space. hmm.

also been thinking about kamaka. they’ve got through so many iterations that he honestly doesn’t have any semblance of consistency besides being yavari’s foil and reluctant travel partner to lover. i thought about making her a binturong bc they’re very cute and fluffy but also deadly predators, but i could also see him as a bear? i once designed her as a bee too.

the only things i’ve got set in stone is that she is from a rich noble family and ran away to live their live how they wanted free from societal expectations. his original incarnation was a dwarf and i’ve been trying to think of ways to play into that? i also wanted to base their design off polynesian cultures to reflect the sea-faring aspect of the story? yavari is a pirate after all, and her clothing is a mishmash of what i imagine to be scrounged and upcycled clothes from wherever she found them.

i think the real problem is that i have only the bare fucking bones of the idea of a story. i have an idea of how they meet but nothing for where the story goes or how it ends, just a lot of ideas for how these characters interact and bounce off each other. 100% of this project is just mashing my dolls together and seeing what they do. the setting is fun adventure on the high seas, and i know i want their arc to be that they make each other better people by the end of the story. idk how that happens tho.

my specialty growing up was always making characters and thinking about how they interacted with each other and their setting and coming up with all kinds of intricate world building but i have no idea how to plot. what even is plot? i don’t know, i spend more time reading nonfiction books about plants and space and bugs than i do reading fiction, which is something i want to fix; gotta refuel the creativity tank

i’ll figure this whole thing out one day. it’s the journey not the destination etc etc

(all of the same stuff can be said about my concurrent project about alien worldbuilding. not a drop of plot to be seen there, either, nor can i stick to any final design decision!)

[mrfroag]

any chance you'd be willing to share why you made some of the design choices for the scret soulmate fusion?- it always facinates me to see why artists do certain things and your design is especially cool👀👀👀

!!!!!!!!!!

Oh watch out you've unlocked the froag unskippable cutscene you're not safe from my abnormality about rocks now >:))))

For real though, there were a couple reasons I picked Apatite for the secret soulmates fusion, but. I'm going to put this under a cut because this WILL be long:

I'm honestly not sure how people usually find rocks to look for for gemcyt fusions, but for me the thing I found most simple was to just. Scour geological and gemology websites for any information I could find about blue gemstones. I had a couple criteria in mind- since Grian and BigB's current designs are opposite ends of the blue spectrum (Bigb leans more ultramarine/warm blue, while Grian leans more turquoise/colder blue) I wanted to look for a stone that ideally had a good mixture of the two, and preferably with spotting or interesting color patterns to sort of match the speckled nature of blue quartzes [also I wanted to potentially give them freckles. I'm a weak guy]. So I spent a few hours looking around on various websites, comparing gemstones for their hardness, chemical properties, what their cuts were, etc? I probably went a lot deeper than I should for. A rock to make a funny little fusion guy out of, but it was basically me squinting information about a rock and thinking "hmm. can I see secret soulmates in this rock" until I found some that clicked. By the time I was done with that I had Apatite, Sodalite, and Larimar as my top three potential choices, and eventually picked Apatite:

Number one, it looked like a really fun gemstone to pick colors from!!! It has a lot of interesting color patterns, and I especially liked the little bits of gold you could pick out in it, which would be fun to mess with. And secondly, Apatite is actually pretty fragile as far as gemstones go- it only has a rating of 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, and isn't often used for jewelry because of how brittle and easy to break apart it is. And that was a little interesting to me. Grian and BigB choose each other as soulmates, they trust each other, they go against the fate of the game to swap gifts and resources and be together. But there's also the way in which at the end of it, Grian still kills Ren and doesn't even realize he's killed BigB until it's already over. Something about the way that even if they choose each other that isn't enough to change the way the game goes, or fully break the other alliances they have. So, it was kind of inchresting to connect that fusion to a rock that's a bit softer.

In terms of the actual DESIGN for Apatite though, it was mostly just me messing around sketching until I hit something interesting? I knew before I picked the gemstone that the weapon was probably going to be some kind of bubble contraption- I was originally going to go for some kind of detachable bubble sword where you had the physical hilt, and then a bubble/water blade that could shift shapes, but that was before I dug into BigB's design and found out he actually uses a chakram [which is a sick as hell weapon btw]. So it ended up being the perfect shape for a bubble wand fusion!!

The chef theme was a silly little homage to how Secret Soulmates started because Grian and BigB exchanged little cookie gifts and promised to exchange food, and also just because. Look at these two goobers. I feel like they'd be moderately competent chefs together and it made me giggle to think about, so I went with it! Plus, having a little chef theme and tilting the bubble wand so that you could move it a bit like a frying pan, giving it exploding bubbles that could look like food- it sounded like something a little goofy and silly, which is the main theme I was going for lol.

The three sets of arms was honestly more of a whim kind of thing- I'm still sketching out and designing this dude in my brain so i might add on or take stuff away later when i give it a second pass. But I knew I wanted at least one of the sets of arms that Grian contributed to be water hands? Firstly because it'd be kind of fun for a silhouette, it'd match up with the chef theme (give this guy so many sets of hands he can be his own sous chef), and also because it'd kind of match up with the trickster, multiple sets of repeated limbs motif that other Grian fusions like marblegroves' Charoite design have, which I thought would be cool. Gonna be real most of it is because I thought it would be cool or funny.

I think that mostly covers it so uh. Hope you enjoyed unskippable cutscene if anybody has made it this far criminy. Hands you a gold star or something I guess if you're down here ^-^"

[nach0]

death thrice drawn liveblog except i'm just gonna post it all at once @deathricedrawn your fic gives me brainworms

under a readmore bcse long + spoilers GO READ THE FIC (i reblogged the link a few posts ago)

love gem being too introverted to leave her tower even when she's evil and murdery and all that

side note that reminds me we haven't seen much of xornoth this fic hmm. wonder where they're at

yeah those statues are like. they're definitely people she just turned to stone right. that's what she did there. what happened to their faces.

YEAHHH GEM PIANO MAKES AN APPEARANCE

*points* gayasses

(btw alice i did see your reply to my comment! read it all and no coherent reply just yet but yesyesyes you put so much thought into this fic and i love it)

"Now I’m starting to regret sending my advisors on a paid vacation.” GEM???? 'paid vacation' IS THAT WHAT WE CALL STATUING PEOPLE NOW????

gem you can't talk about sausage's name your brother is literally fail whip

ALSO!!! CALLING PEARL MOON AS A GAYASS NICKNAME!!!! YES!!!

TWO SENTENCES LATER 'MY DEAREST MOON'

SWEETHEART!!!! MY HEART CANNOT TAKE THIS!!

also pearl ily but you're a dumbass how did you forget about your One Job

fwhip. fwhip stop playing with gem's toys

STOP BULLYING SHRUB LEAVE THEM ALONEEEEE

(also they/them shrub my beloved <3)

SAUSAGE IS FOURTY?????

fellas is it gay to make the person you're cosmically connected with a ring to save her from dying

gah when will someone speak to me like gem speaks to pearl here YOU'RE MY SUN MY MOON MY EVERYTHING.....

fwhip nooooo don't fall into the endless all consuming pit of rage and revenge

just like. go to therapy man you need it more than the ACTIVELY EVIL ONE

a few final thoughts:

gem says she's not a mind controlled mess like sausage, and it's true she doesn't seem to be actively controlled, but there's almost definitely at least an influence of some kind.

like in Sweethearts Never Met when she gave the egg to fwhip she was scared. something was happening to her, she couldn't control it, and she didn't like it. Now she's waxing poetic about the corruption (and she's damn good at it too i was like 'yeah ok that sounds pretty beautiful' at points)

side note. i love stars. i love the night sky. i love this whole thing being set against a meteor shower that's SO PRETTY

i think they should kiss. not even in a romantic way necessarily but like. evil style.

pearl is definitely a gem and now corruption sympathiser but i'm not sure if she's going to go all the way in like gem has

everyone's an unreliable narrator! no one has any ubiased thoughts about anyone!!! girliepops just talk to each other also stop being mean to shrub >:(((

on that note i really want to see a fwhip and gem confrontation or even gem and sausage from gem POV. we've gotten a few raw and honest moments with her, but for the most part everything has been carefully chosen words and actions designed to get the reactions she wants.

gem if you would step over to this dissection table and let me peek in your brain rq much appreciated

what is GOING ON with her i have so many questions

this might be longer than the actual liveblog so ima cut it off here EVERYONE SAY THANK YOU ALICE FOR AN EXCELENT VERY TASY CHAPTER

go read Death Thrice Drawn it's good for your mental health. i mean unless you go insano mode like i have but oh well. enrichment.

[sarahshot1st]

Vi found Sarah at the dock, sitting on a metal folding chair, nursing a Powder-Monkey whiskey as she held a fishing rod loosely between her legs. She approached but did not say anything, not wanting to disrupt the mood. In the distance, seagulls squawked as they flew over the harbor. Waves lapped against the wooden poles holding up the dock. Occasionally voices drifted down from the seaside marketplace, vendors calling out their wares, customers haggling over prices for the latest catch. And permeating it all was the ever-present stink of fish and salt and brine - the unique scent of Bilgewater that was so thoroughly soaked into the stone and wood and people that it refused to come out, no matter how hard you tried.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Sarah finally asked, acknowledging Vi’s presence without turning to her.

“Honestly,” Vi said, “I kinda hate the place.”

The redhead laughed. “Bilgewater’s an acquired taste. It’s definitely not every gal’s cup o’ tea, but for those who can learn to stomach its sights and scents, its sins and its stains …”

She trailed off, staring out over the harbor, not bothering to hide her look of fondness.

“It becomes home.”

Vi followed her gaze out over the murky, turquoise water, towards where the sun was setting over the horizon. Sploshes of pink, orange, and violet shaded the sky, creating a beautiful canvas in the sky - a fiery finale from the celestial orb before it exited stage right.

The two women stood in companionable silence for a moment, taking in the majestic sight.

“My old man,” Vi eventually said, “always used to say that sunsets were what convinced him that God must exist. That he couldn’t see all that beauty in the sky and not believe that there wasn’t Someone out there that made everything.”

“Hmm," Sarah said, not agreeing or disagreeing with the statement, simply responding.

“Oh, he knew about the ions in the atmosphere causing the colors of the sunset,” Vi continued. “Scientists can explain the how. But he always said they could never explain the why. The sunset serves no purpose; it doesn’t make it any easier for species to survive, to pass on their genes. The only reason it’s there is for us to enjoy. That sort of thing has to have intelligent design behind it, he would say; the random chance of evolution could never produce something so beautiful.”

Sarah slowly turned towards her. “Is that what you think, Violet?”

“I … I don’t know. I think … I think my father looks at the sunset, and sees what he needs to see. Proof that his life has meaning and purpose in an uncaring world.”

Sarah nodded, as if she had just said something very wise. “People often see the world through their own lens - one that is shaped by their unique experiences.”

Vi was silent for a moment. Then, abashedly, she muttered, “I’ve always thought it looks kind of like a lesbian flag.”

Sarah barked out a laugh. “Case in point,” she said, too earnest to sound teasing.

[https-furina]

archon, venti, vision, freedom, delusion, adventurers guild, guizhong, rex lapis, barbara, sakura blooms, lantern rite, ganyu and dainsleaf <3

aaaa love of my lifeee<3

archon; "which nation's known 'ideal do you like the most: freedom, contracts, eternity, wisdom, justice, or war?" this isn't fontaine bias at all but !! justice !! but if you know me well enough, you know that i have a degree in criminology (and explains it) but it's just coincidence that justice happens to be fontaine shshs

venti; "which character(s) do you think you'd get actually get along with if you were to meet in person and who do you think you'd actually dislike interacting with?" on the list of people i'd get along with: zhongli, childe, hu tao, beidou, kaveh, nilou, candace, kaeya & venti (together, pls take me drinking /hj), amber, heizou, ayaka, yoimiya, itto and thoma!! on the dislike list, i actually don't think i'd get along too well with bennett? (cries), ningguang (intimidating) and miko (also intimidating, i'd be very much like gorou)

vision; "if you were visionless, how would you compensate for the lack of elemental boost? pure skill and wit or would you invest in some premium fatui-made delusions..." i highkey think i'd pull a diluc with a delusion, go on a 4 year murder spree and become banned in snezhnaya and act like it never happened /j. but i think i'd genuinely be like heizou with wit and intuition? instead of martial arts (although i did karate shshsh) i'd make up for it with archery though <3

freedom; "if you were blessed with a vision, which one would you want to have (and which one do you think you'd actually get?)" i'd want a hydro vision !! but i'm fairly certain i'd end up with an anemo vision oopsie...

delusion; "what are your genshin unpopular opinions?" following metas is boring ): if you wanna focus on builds and teams that make sense and have good compositions, fair enough!! but also you don't have to do that, you can make teams out of whatever the hell you want. don't want to put an artifact set everyone recommends onto someone? don't! want to make someone a main dps who isn't typically one? do it! i'm a mix of both but like it's so annoying when people comment on others' teams. if it works for someone and they enjoy it, why the hell not <3 another one (which is gonna be controversial i apologise) but the community leans heavily towards mlm ships and seem to dislike wlw ships more and more. lyney x scaramouche is currently a ship but i saw people shunning clorinde x navia ???

adventurer's guild; "which genshin group would you align yourself with?" okay so i'm not 100% on the groups but perhaps 4ggravate? (i'm like someone put all four of them in an afab body) and also the losers who like books (alhaitham, xingqiu, lisa)

guizhong; "which characters have your favourite aesthetic and/or design?" alhaitham (aesthetic, if you've seen my bedroom + phone it's literally his colours), lyney (aesthetic + design), kirara (design), kokomi (design + aesthetic) <3

rex lapis; "what's your favourite cultural aspect of each of the released nations?" hmm okay, does windblume count for mondstadt? because i hecking adore windblume so badly - liyue would be the architecture !! inazuma is the shrines and their torii gates, sumeru is their attire and fontaine is food <3 if they all count shshshsh

barbara; "you're a tourist traveling teyvat, which locations in the game would you want to visit in person?" windrise, guyun stone forest, wuwang hill, dragonspine !! the grand narukami shrine + tenshukaku, serpent's head, watatsumi (all of it hehe), pardis dhyai, devantaka mountain, mawtiyima forest, opera epiclese and elynas !!

sakura blooms; "what is/are your favourite world quest(s) you've done?" the heckin melusines !!! and also neko at the asase shrine <3

lantern rite; "what is your favourite cutscene in the game so far?" i have too many favourites aaaa !! possibly the parade of providence event cutscene though <3

ganyu; "which character's rerun are you waiting for desperately?" albedo. hoyo. hand him over. (:

dainsleif; "what theory do you have about the lore and the archon's involvement with the destruction of khaenri'ah?" my current fave theory is celestia clearly destroyed khaenri'ah because khaenri'ah didn't believe in them? and i believe that khaenri'ah was possibly a very technologically advanced country - maybe so advanced that it scared celestia into using the archons to do their bidding. obviously we may not know because of his contract but i like to theorise that zhongli doesn't like khaenri'ah's blood on his hands but he made a contract with celestia to not tell the truth as to what happened.