#i can't seem to find the motivation to draw lately

[12am-motivation]

hey guys quick question: tiny barb or tiny sol

[papiliotao]

・❥・THE ELYSIAN PURSUITS OF ACADEMICS

♡ — Reader: GN

♡ — Characters: Albedo, Alhaitham, Kazuha, Scaramouche, Xiao

♡ — Synopsis: studying with him

♡ — Content: fluff, modern AU, school AU of some sort

♡ — A/N: I definitely didn't write this in an attempt to unwind after like three weeks straight of quizzes and tests. If you're currently suffering through school (or remember going through something similar), I hope this fic will help ease your pain! Also, if you like this please consider reblogging or commenting!

ALBEDO, who agrees to help you study without informing you that he has ulterior motives. While it is true that he wants to aid you in any way possible, a more selfish motive also lies concealed behind his gracious actions.

Lately an unfamiliar emotion has had a grip on him. It lingers, following him around, making its presence known through the uneven rhythm of his heartbeat and the way his cheeks haphazardly become rose-tinted. And while the feeling has haunted him throughout euphoric daydreams and sleepless nights alike, he finds that it is most potent when he is with you.

So now, he is sitting in the library with you, attempting to quell his curiosity and confirm his hypothesis by spending time with you to discover the catalyst for the unexplainable sentiments that plague his heart. As he glances down at his books, he notices that a thick fog fills his mind, permeating every corner of the space with tangible clouds of exhilaration. His eyes can't help but wander to you every once in a while. It almost as though there is a magnetic force drawing his aquamarine irises to you.

Whenever he is finally able to avert his stare, soft tufts of his ash-blonde hair fall and tickle his face, obscuring his view of you. However, out of a desire to seem inconspicuous, Albedo never moves to brush the strands of hair away, and one day, when you inevitably notice, you decide to help him.

A fleeting touch causes a cherry hue to dust his cheeks, and when you make eye contact with him, embarrassment overtakes Albedo. As he mutters a barely-audible "thanks" under his breath, Albedo comes to a conclusion.

He loves you.

ALHAITHAM, who is irrefutably genius yet one of the worst study partners. Ironically, his brilliance is ultimately the reason he is an ineffective tutor. Whenever he tries to explain anything to you, he uses complex terminology that sounds otherworldly, and he brings in concepts that are much too elaborate and obscure.

To some degree, Alhaitham enjoys seeing the clueless expression on your face as he uses his wits to concoct a verbose response to your questions, and when your features twist into a coalescence of confusion, he finds it oddly gratifying rather than irritating. It's endearing, and the way you attempt to keep up with his complicated explanations instead of giving up causes the slightest bit of emotion to slip through his logical front as his heart warms and a soft smile breaks loose on his face.

However, when pessimistic musings begin to spill from your lips into the air of the tranquil library, Alhaitham decides that perhaps it's finally time for him to try harder to accommodate you instead of maintaining his admittedly pretentious habits for his own amusement.

He knows that it's not your fault that you can't understand everything he says, so he doesn't see why you're criticizing yourself, but for you, he makes an effort to put your needs over his own leisure. Despite the fact that you can't see eye-to-eye, Alhaitham can still pick up on your feelings of insecurity and insufficiency, so he tries his best to slow down for you.

KAZUHA, who silently admires you as you chew on your bottom lip, allowing a groan of frustration to escape you as you exhale. To Kazuha, you look absolutely adorable. He suppresses the laughter threatening to bubble up and out of his chest, raising one of his hands to his mouth in order to conceal the tender smile blossoming on his face behind slender fingers. His ruby eyes feel permanently fixated on you as you mull over an assignment, and they sparkle with unspoken adoration with every move that you make.

He knows he should be studying, but he finds it impossible to concentrate on anything in your presence. You make his heart race erratically, and the utterance of his name from your lips whenever you need help penning down eloquently-conjured phrases sounds sweeter than the soft clinking of wind chimes in a gentle spring zephyr. 

Sometimes he longs to see the day where you finally catch him staring from across the table you're seated at, but you're always too focused on your work to notice anything off. So for now, he takes every opportunity he can to silently observe you, picking up on all your more subtle mannerisms.

And after each session of quiet hours spent in the library that pass far too slowly yet all too quickly at the same time, Kazuha takes your hand in his and walks you home, basking in the warm artificial glow of streetlights. Your bag is slung over his shoulder as the two of you stroll back to your house in the midst of a silent evening. The crisp evening air sends tingles down your spine, but Kazuha's comforting touch prevents you from shivering.

When you finally reach your destination, Kazuha says an earnest goodbye. Unbeknownst to you, he is already anticipating your next study date, walking away from your front door with a love-struck grin adorning his pretty face.

SCARAMOUCHE, who calls you an idiot for the fifth time in the span of an hour. The words leave his mouth with ease, as if insulting people is second nature to him. And perhaps it is, because whenever he helps you study, he can’t help but spout harsh fallacies whenever you get a question wrong, reprimanding you for your lack of understanding.

Although his words are rather cruel, you aren’t in a position to refuse Scaramouche’s assistance. When he’s not busy badmouthing you, the indigo-eyed boy is actually capable of offering valuable feedback. 

Besides, there are times where he actually shows some semblance of care for you. On days where you overwork yourself, Scaramouche never fails to find a way to discreetly complain about how long you’ve been studying, effectively forcing you to take a break. He likes to pretend that he’s doing it for his own sake, but deep down, he’s really just trying to look out for you.

If only you knew the full extent of his affections toward you. Every touch of your soft hands to his as you hand him your pen makes his heart flutter, and each "thank you" that falls from your lips causes a pale sunset blush to dust his fair cheeks. Perhaps one day, you will realize that all the brutal insults he sends your way are all made in a desperate attempt to conceal his overwhelming feelings for you.

XIAO, who feels his heart seize up each time he leans closer to you to get a better look at the homework causing you an unspeakable amount of grief. When he talks to you to answers your questions, his voice noticeably softens, and when you turn to him to thank him for helping you, he immediately averts his sunlit gaze.

He buries himself in piles of textbooks to distract himself from the perplexing butterflies settling in the pit of his stomach. However, whenever you call his name to ask for his assistance, his attention immediately snaps back to you.

He's surprisingly patient while teaching you. Although he's rather strict, his methods are effective, and he is completely honest with you if he believes you need to work on something. Xiao can't help but feel a twinge of guilt whenever your face falls as you get a question wrong. However, he knows that being truthful is the best way to aid you in fixing your mistakes.

And when all is said and done, Xiao finds that the way you smile with satisfaction evident in your features upon figuring a difficult concept out is the greatest reward he could ever ask for. The grin that adorns your face is woven from the stuff of dreams, and he hopes he will have the privilege of seeing for the rest of his life.

I don't really like the way I ended Albedo's (sorry), but I was too sleep-deprived to think of anything else :( Anywayyyy, have a lovely day!

[heartfullofleeches]

VA Reader pulling a harmless prank on seemingly innocent yan-

Shhh.

"Be quiet, it's ringing!" Stifling your own baited laughter, you press a finger to your lips as you hold the phone to your ear - shushing your partner in crime. Huddled together on their couch, you and your accomplice hover over their phone like two kids. about to take part in the same comedic pastime. Similar to those fictitious children you both had trouble containing your excitement for the mischief planned to unleash. You angle the speaker below your lips as the line connects.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is Y/n in today?"

The line goes dead.

"What?" You dial the number again, beginning to wonder if this was as good an idea as when it was shoved in your head. You've been in the voice acting business for a couple months now - a lifelong passion finally realized with dedication and training. Paid roles were far in between, but you had fun with what you did, and were on the road to starting an asmr channel with the assistance of a good friend. Being somewhat of a prankster, that same person suggested you prank call your job and already had a script to boot. It was a little hard to say no with the effort they put into it.

"Hello?"

You regain peace of mind as the phone clicks. Too late to go back now. Once again you relax yourself, swallowing as you breath through your nose and draw your voice from the reaches of your throat.

"Hi, I called just a minute ago? I was asking about someone who may work there?"

The line goes quiet - again. You would've suspected them to have hung up again if not for the labored breathing on the other end. Your coworker forces out a chuckle.

"I'm sorry, nobody by that name works here."

One thing you learned after spending so much time together with this particular coworker was they were a terrible liar. It's what made you glad they're the one that picked up on top of their obvious caution in fear of your safety. Others would be glad to rat out your location if it meant less time take out of their schedule. If anything, the person you were speaking to now would drop everything to help you out. Just the type of person they were.

"Are you sure? We went out the weekend and they mentioned this place while we were talking. They suddenly stopped answered my calls after chatting not stop and I'm worried about them."

You read over your notes to pass the time until they reply. Wow, your friend really thought of everything. At this point you could possibly wing things out, but they had witten heavily in-depth paragraphs detailing possible scenarios and what to say as a result. Real gushy things too. If it weren't for their goofy nature you'd start to wonder what the true motives behind this prank were.

"maybe that's for the best."

"Pardon?" Your voice falters. That certainly wasn't what you expected. They seemed abrasive from the beginning of the call, but that drop in their tone was something you've never heard from them before.

"What do you mean by that?"

Your coworker mutters something you can't quite make out. "It means take a hint. They clearly aren't interested in you if there's no explanation for their disappearance - not that you deserve one. Who the fuck do you l think you are?"

Your hand clinches around the phone hearing that subtle hiss in their voice. Your friend grips your shoulder, worry clear as day. You wanted to drop the act, but had to see this out. "Look, I just wanted to know if they were available-"

A heavy object clatters to the floor.

"Stop. Saying their name. If they won't speak to you then you're as good as dead to them, and I'll make that happen if you don't learn your place. I won't let anyone ruin what we have..."

Your friend reaches for the phone. "Maybe we should hang up-"

"If you hang up this phone I will slit your throat. Your friend can be a witness before I do the same to them. Maybe they'll get a grave. I will hang you out to bleed like the worthless pig you are and leave your body for neighbors to find. You don't deserve to go missing. A cold case is more than you'll ever be worth it you think you can take what's mine. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill yo-"

"It was just a joke!" You hang up the phone and chuck it onto the table like a hot coal. It worms back into your hold with the vibration of dozens of texts flooding in, crashing to the carpet as you recoil from the shock. Yours starts to blow up with messages too, screen still opened on their chat from when you punched in their number.

"Was that you?"

"You're doing that voice acting thing, right? You really had me fooled. Haha."

"I was messing around too. Your safety is really important to me so I panicked."

"Are you still coming into night?"

"Y/n?.... Please?"

"Hey, Answer me... I'm sorry."

"I think I cut myself picking up the glass I broke. Can you take me to a hospital? Please.."

You shove your phone in your pocket before your eyes can register the picture loading on screen. "I gotta go"

You're out the door before your friend can get out a single word. Ten minutes later, they receive a request for a window call from an unknown number. They answer it.

All that's on screen is the trail of red an empty bottle of food coloring. Your coworker holds up a peace sign off screen.

"How deep should I make that grave?"

[thestarfishinjootsoffice]

A ghost face x child!reader who’s Sidney little sister?🤔

Seems like this anon and the last one are sharing same braincell.

I'm not sure if you meant ghostface Or Billy.... Or Stu.... Or the others.... So i decided to do this a little differently

Edit: I just realised this was probably supposed to be a head cannon but my thick skulled brain realised too late.

Ghostface x child! Sidney's little sister! Reader!

Warnings:

Relationship: platonic!!

Ghostface was only seen as a serial killer whose sole purpose was wanting to be famous and popular. All about the movies. A killer with no other sole purpose or motive.

Out of the people the ghostface himself would've thought of being attached to, he never expected he would be attached to the younger sister of the girl he's going to kill.

The masked black robed knife wielding killer would find himself sitting somewhere near a tree with a small child next to him rambling about what's going on at home or at school.

He also finds himself listening or not at all. Most of the time focusing on the little person and wondering why he's sitting down with her instead of stalking and killing other people. He wouldn't think of killing the girl besides him, he isn't really fond of the thought of that.

But more of playing and interacting with the kid who he knows as "Y/n". Sometimes scaring her a little bit with the house phone at night. He doesn't mean any real harm from it.

Growing more attached than he ever thought he would've. Day by day growing more anxious at the idea of killing Sidney.

'What would she think? What would y/n do? Finding out the person who calls himself Ghostface, who has basically been your best friend, murdering your older sister?'

Through the thin fabrics of his mask, he watches intently at the two figures chatting. His leather gloves gripped tightly against the handle of his knife. Frustrated at himself earlier when he had quite some time convincing y/n that the killer who had been murdering people near where she lives wasn't him. Why was he so fixed on making sure the girl wasn't scared of him? What got him to act like this?

Y/n didn't even seem to be scared in the slightest. Her words ringing almost endlessly inside his mind.

"I know you aren't. Because you're my best friend, and my best friend would never do something like that!"

What would she do if she found out that yes, indeed her 'best friend' would do something like that.

Staring at Sidney reach out to grab something from the cabinets. Then looking over at the shorter girl who jumped excitedly at seeing her favorite snacks in the hands of her sister.

His leather gloves let go but the knife remains grasped.

Sighing, he stood up and turned around. Now listening to the sound the ground and boots make every time he takes a step. It seems he would have to delay a little further until he figures things out.

———————·

Despite his very edgy thoughts from above, he acts completely different around you.

You can practically hear him beam behind his mask, always running around carrying you at night and shit since he can't really go out in the morning.

Doesn't want you finding out his real identity cause what if you accidentally spill the beans? Then everything will be ruined. He wouldn't really mind if you mentioned him as ghostface only to Sidney cause it'll probably make her on edge more. But then she'll probably never let you out alone again.

So he made you promise and swear 20 times to never reveal his existence.

Also since this is Ghostface.. His way of loving (platonically here ofc) isn't exactly considered... Normal. Extremely dead set on making sure he doesn't do anything or spill anything to make you scared of him unless he knows you won't. Won't ever tell you the truth either until or unless he's cornered.

Does a lot of stuff with you. Either drawing, singing, dancing, cooking (in someone's house or yours when no one is home) or playing some random sports. (Unless it's in winter, he's SWEATING)

Every time you get a house call at night you're 99% sure it's from Ghostface. He either starts with something sounding series or straight up tells a corny pun.

Would get emotional whenever you verbally make it apparent that you appreciate him. Like fr.

He can't stand the thought of hurting you. Ever. (Plus he would probably technically murder someone who ever looks in your way a little wrong.)

You can tell him all your 4-12 year old problems and he would fix like.... 99.9% of them. (By murder and threats) and that one 0.1% is a real problem. (That he can't fix by murder and threats)

His urge for killing Sidney will be half nulled since he sees how close you two are. Overtime he'll be more and more unsure of what to do, he doesn't want you to hate him in any way.

But for the time being, he's just gonna cherish his time with you because he feels he's too far gone in the dark maze to back away and find his way out.

---------

Here's a Special Wednesday Post, I'm trying to cherish my time before the exams hit me. Have a good day :) !

[laneynoir]

Legolas x reader

Word count: 1900

Request (that i took way to long to start) for @jaimelamour

- archery practice with Legolas!! cute light-hearted drabble idea:)) reader/legolas getting flustered at the close proximity, fumbling hands, the Pining!!,,,,this idea is so cliche but sooo cute

(Also, I again borrowed a charactor from @sotwk go check out Naneth' s stuff, its truly amazing)

This was not a good idea. This was an awful idea. This was absurd. Who even thought of this?

Ah, yes. Of course.

Honestly sometimes you wish you could pull a Merriadoc and get kidnapped by a tree, just so you could stop making such rediculouse decisions.

A voice calling your name pulls you from your thoughts, leaving a smile to settle at the sight of Sam infront of you. He holds a plate of creamy looking... Something. "Hello Sam, what is it that smells so delightful?"

"Why it's scalloped potatoes Mx. Y/n." He blushes a bit at the compliment, an endearing sight, and one which fills you with a strange feeling of mixed mourning and hope. "I was going to see if you would like some?"

Grining you give him your permission to load up your plate, realizing to late that he is still more accustomed to feeding those with Hobbiton appetite, and you've now got more of the spuds than you could ever manage eat. Still, nothing Samwise has ever cooked could be turned down, and you dig in.

The hardonic taste of garlic, onion, and somthing else that you can't place, bloom on your tounge, sharply reminding you of the lack of prior meal. "Mister Gamgee, you have my heart, soul, sword, and boots. Stake my life on it, this is the most superb meal I've ever had the pleasure to taste!"

Sam shuffles his feet, embarrassed by the kind words. "You can keep your boots please -nasty foot prisons really- tis hardly a meal. I only made enough for appetizers." He nods politly to someone behind you before scurrying off.

You scoop up another fork full the the food, letting out a small moan of appreciation. "Whomever is behind me can take a seat, I dont bite."

A strangely pink faced Legolas sits oposit you, a small smirk as he speaks, "I know for a fact that your words are false, I need not elven eyes to have noticed the sizable chunk you tore from one orc."

"That doesn't count." At his humorously  disbelieving facial expression you shrug. "Fine then, I promise I don't usually bite pretty princesses. Better?"

His only response is a small laugh. "May I purloin some of your potatoes?" You nod, and after a short search you find an extra fork, though not another plate.

His eyes light up in delight when he takes a bite and you smile, staring a bit to long for it to be considered entierly friendly, though thankfully he seems not to notice.

"So... Did you come only to steal my food, or did you have an alternate motive?" Legolas blinks, looking at thr plate with a guilty expression that you wave away.

Shaking his head he answers. "I was intending to ask if you wished to start your lesson, but did not wish to interupt your mealtime."

The mental This Is Still A Bad Idea reminder goes off, but the Prince's hopeful expression is more than enough to hit snooze.

"You're not interrupting, truthfully I was jot even planning on eating before Sam brought these to me. He is truly to sweet for his own good." Your eyes are on the plate before you, so you do not see the crease that apears between Legolas' eyes.

"If you are willing, I have found a suitable range at which to practice, as well as a bow that I believe with suit your draw strength."

"What I can't use your's?" You tease, looking up in time to see a strange flicker in your friend's -for this is what he is, no more- eyes. It is gone almost as quickly as it came, and you do not dwell on it.

"I- I would allow you, of course, but the bows of Lothlórien are meamt for a more expirianced-"

You raise and eyebrow, mouth firmly set into a line so as not to laugh. "Are you saying I am week my prince? If that is the case, I beg you simply get to the point." His eyes are (beautiful, how are eyes allowed to be so-) immediately blown wide, as he turns an interesting shade of sunkissed rose gold.

The blush extends all the way to the tips of his ears, and you have the strangest urge to trace the path of pink with your fingertips. Instead you interupt his sooft panicking, "I was joking, Legolas, I understand that you know much more about your weapon than I can ever hope to, and I trust you completely."

Legolas nods and a small smile appears. "I hold your trust as my most valued prize from this terrible war, I know it is hard won."

His gaze holds yours steadily, so you shoce a bite of potato in your mouth before you do something stupid, like kissing the Prince of Greenwood.

Not long after, you stand at the entrance to a long rectangular courtyard. This is going to be fun, you tell yourself. You're going to learn things, and shoot a bow, amd stop waching Legolas so closely.

Knowing full well that at least half of your thoughts were empty of any hope, you step in to meet the resident blond elf. And for the love of the green lady, does he have to be so perfect? The light of the afternoon sun glints off of his hair, making it look as if it glows, while accepting his figure at the same time. He holds a bow that is smaller than his usual choice, runing his hand along the wood, appraising.

He gestures for you to come closer, which you do of course. You would go spelunking in the ruin of Isengaurd is he asked you to.

"That's where we'll start, if that is okay?"

For a terrifying second, you fear that you've spoken alloud, and this only slightly fades whem you realize that he's been speaking for a time already.

Mentaly shaking yourself, you nod, pleading with your inner monolouge to be quiet and let you focouse. Shockingly, it does not comply.

Legolas shows you the beginner stance, which feels slightly odd after your sword training, but you catch on pretty quickly. The proximity of Legolas to yourself is nonexistent, and there are more than one instances which almost convince you that he is deliberately trying to fluster you.

When he shows you the apropriate hold on the bow, his hands ghost over your own, positioning them to perfection, and nearly causing you to drop the weapon. He steps back after telling you to draw the bow, but cautioning against sharply relising the string, as there is no arrow and it would split the wood.

Legolas nods, satisfied when you slowly relieve pressure from the string. He pauses a moment, seeming unsure, so you tilt you head in silent question. Eyes trailing over your arms, which are bared against the day's bright heat.

"You do not have you vambraces?" The question is more of an acknowledgment, but you incline your head in response regardless. In a second I unties the leather string holding his own in place, loosening then just enough to slide from his forearms.

Avert you eyes spawn of chicken, your brain reminds you.

After pulling both of the simple deep brown articles off he looks at you, raised eyebrow, and gestures for your arm. You hold the bow in one hand, and with nowhere to put it, you extend the other for Legolas.

The leather is warm still from his skin as it slides against your skin, and to prevent a shudder, you say; "You dont have to give me these you know, I'd be fine."

Legolas smiles, softly as always. "Fine perhaps, but few deserve pain, least of all perfection, and if I am in a position to keep you from it I will." The ernesty in his voice suprised you, and you feel a red cross your face, not caused by the heat.

"What do these markings mean?" Legolas' hands still for a breath, freezing from the tightening of laces. Quickly you stumble back from your words. "I do not wish to pry, please forgive-"

"No!" He shakes his head, and the tears in his eyes send a flash of guilt through you. "Please do not apologize. Some of them are mearly ornamentalb but this one," he is tracing an indent. "Is the mark of my... Teacher." Drawing a breath he whispers a name. "Gelir"

You let the silence stretch out, before; "I'm sorry for your loss, was he your..."

Legolas looks up with alarm, and surprisingly, a laugh. "No, Gelir was my brother, and the finest hand with a bow or beast to ever walk the natural earth."

On impulse, you reach out, placing a hand on his cheek. "I feel quite treble now, and not a little embarrassed. Is there anything I can do?"

His smile has returned, and you are glad for it. "I will tell you if I think of anything."

Pulling the second knot tight, Legolas releases your arm, something you are both relived for, and dissapointed. "Now I get to shoot right?" When he nods you take up your position.

Arrow fitted to the string you exhale as you release, frowning when it misses the target entirely. Suddenly there is a presance at your back, shifting your feet slightly, and repositioning your arms.

Legolas remains against you, hands on yours as you draw back again, this time hitting near center.

You turn excitedly to him, foot twisting in the process on an unforseen length of rope that lies half buried in the ground. Legolas catches you before you can fall, and for a brief moment you think he is about to kiss you. But he helps you back to your feet, smirking all the while.

"Of course I fall. This must be a murder attempt." You grump, pleased when he laughs quietly.

"What's this?" You glance to the ground noticing a glint of dark green. You bend down to retrieve it, only to feel you head make contact with another.

Legolas let's out a hissing noise, and the stone is gone from your thoughts. "Legolas?"

"I am fine, though it seems you have caught me."

And you have, as his hair is tangled around the pin on your shoulder. You look to his face, "Only after I fell for you."

His eyes widen, though he makes no sighn of discomfort. "Here is your stone"

You shake your head quickly. "I should like you to keep it, if you will."

Legolas tilts his head to the side. "My best friend married a dwarf, I know what this is."

You tilt your chin defiantly. "Good."

His face is still blank as you reath sharply. "I think I know what you can do for me."

Meet inches away from him you ask, "And what would that be my prince?"

Without a word he closes the gap, kissing you with far more zeel than you could have expected. The hand you'd earlier placed on his cheek now finds it's way to his neck, holding him close when you lips disconnect.

Forhead rested against his, you close his still open hand around the leaf shaped emerald. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me now."

"Well yes," he agrees. "My hair is still caught on your broach."

[dc-and-arfrona]

Slow Burn

Jason Todd x GN! Reader

Summary: Slow Burn

Masterlist

------

The rain pours relentlessly over Gotham City, mirroring the turmoil within my heart. Determined to bring justice to these streets, just like Batman and his allies, there's one person who always seems to stand in my way — Jason Todd, the Red Hood.

Jason has a tragic past, just like I do. He was once Batman's protégé, but his path diverged from the Caped Crusader's. Now, he operates outside the law, taking down criminals with lethal force. Our ideologies clash, and we find ourselves locked in a never-ending battle of wills.

One night, as I pursue a gang of armed thugs, I stumble upon Jason in the midst of a firefight. Surrounded and outnumbered, I make a split-second decision to join forces, our common enemy temporarily forgotten.

Together, we fight side by side, adrenaline coursing through our veins. It's chaotic, but it's also exhilarating. When the dust settles and the thugs are apprehended, we both stand there, breathing heavily, realizing that maybe, just maybe, we make a good team.

Curiosity ignites within me, and I want to understand Jason's motivations, his reasons for crossing that thin line that separates vigilante justice from outright vengeance. I seek him out, proposing an alliance born out of necessity, each recognizing that alone, our impact is limited.

As the days turn into weeks, I begin to peel back the layers of Jason's hardened exterior. He's guarded, but I persist, determined to break through. Late nights are spent sharing stories, exchanging banter, and gradually, a fragile bond forms between us.

In time, I discover the pain that haunts Jason. The loss of his family, the betrayal he feels from Batman, and the constant struggle to find his place in a world that has forsaken him. His actions are driven by a desire for justice, albeit in a darker, bloodier form.

The more I learn about Jason, the more I realize that beneath his tough exterior, there's a vulnerable soul seeking redemption. I see the good in him, even if he can't see it himself.

As the lines blur between professional partners and something more, we find ourselves caught in a complicated dance of attraction and mistrust. Every heated argument is followed by an undeniable pull, drawing us closer together.

One night, in the quiet confines of a hidden safehouse, our walls crumble. The fierce rivalry transforms into an unquenchable desire as our lips collide and our bodies intertwine. In that moment, we both know that this is more than just an alliance born out of necessity — it's the realization of a connection that has been brewing for far too long.

In the aftermath, we lie tangled in each other's arms, our breaths slowing, our hearts beating in synchrony. The vulnerability we've shared strengthens the bond between us, reminding us that we're more than adversaries or partners — we're two souls intertwined in a complicated dance of love and darkness.

As the days pass, our relationship continues to evolve. We share stolen moments in the midst of danger, stolen kisses when no one is looking. The thrill of being together, of defying the odds, fuels the fire within us. We become each other's anchor in the chaos of Gotham, a refuge from the relentless fight for justice.

But love is never easy, especially in a city as unforgiving as Gotham. Our union draws the attention of those who seek to exploit our vulnerabilities. They strike at our weaknesses, using our love as a weapon against us.

In the face of danger, we become each other's shield. We fight side by side, protecting not only the innocent but also our connection, our love. The battles grow more intense, but so does our resolve.

Together, we discover the true power of love in a world consumed by darkness. It's a love born from adversity, from unlikely encounters and shared struggles. It's a love that defies logic and defies the odds. And it's a love that will continue to burn, even in the face of the greatest challenges.

From that night on, our paths merge not only in the fight against crime but also in the warmth of each other's arms. We become each other's solace in the storm, supporting and understanding one another in a way no one else can.

However, the world outside the walls of our secret haven isn't as forgiving. The day brings new challenges and new enemies who seek to exploit the fragile bond between us. They know that striking at my heart would be the surest way to bring us down.

We both struggle to balance our personal relationship with the weight of our responsibilities. There are nights when we passionately argue about methods and ideologies, threatening to tear everything apart. But somehow, in the midst of the chaos, we always find our way back to each other.

As time passes, I learn to trust Jason in ways I never thought possible. His protective instincts kick into overdrive whenever I'm in danger, and I reciprocate by providing a steady anchor in his tumultuous life. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with.

But the world of crime-fighting is unforgiving, and sacrifices have to be made. Jason's darker tendencies clash with my unwavering belief in the power of redemption. The strain on our relationship grows, and doubts begin to creep into my mind.

In a moment of frustration, I confront Jason, demanding answers. The tension is palpable as I question his choices, his methods, and whether the love we share is worth the sacrifices we both have to make.

Jason's gaze softens, and he reaches out to cradle my face in his hands. With a mix of vulnerability and determination, he assures me that he'll do whatever it takes to make things right. The weight of his words settles in my heart, renewing my faith in the love we've built together.

We navigate the complexities of our love amidst the chaos of Gotham City. Our relationship becomes a constant push and pull, a delicate balance between passion and conflicting ideologies. Yet, in each moment of doubt, our connection pulls us back, reminding us that love can thrive even in the darkest corners.

Together, we face the relentless onslaught of foes, fighting not only for justice but also for the preservation of our love. Our battles become a reflection of the struggles within ourselves, as we grapple with our own demons and strive to find common ground.

In the face of adversity, we discover the true strength of our bond. Our love becomes a source of light in the shadows, guiding us through the darkest nights. We learn to compromise, to understand each other's perspectives, and to accept that our journey will always be a tumultuous one.

The world may question our connection, dismissing it as a temporary infatuation or a dangerous distraction. But we know better. We know that our love is a flame that burns brighter with each passing day, igniting our souls and pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Together, we fight not just for Gotham but also for each other. We become each other's pillars of strength, offering unwavering support and love in a world that constantly tries to tear us apart.

With our bond tested and strengthened, we face the world with renewed determination. United against the darkness that consumes Gotham City, Jason and I become a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of love amidst chaos.

Together, we overcome countless obstacles, both external and internal. Our love serves as a guiding light, reminding us why we fight so fiercely for justice. It's not just about protecting the innocent; it's about creating a better world for ourselves and those we care about.

As time goes on, the people of Gotham begin to see the change in Jason. The once-vigilante has transformed into a formidable ally, driven not just by vengeance, but by a desire to make amends for his past. The Red Hood becomes a symbol of redemption, a testament to the capacity for change in even the darkest of souls.

Our relationship deepens, solidifying into an unbreakable bond. Together, we defy the odds, proving that love can conquer even the most insurmountable obstacles. The once-enemies have become lovers, etching our names into the history of Gotham City.

We navigate the challenges that arise from within and without, relying on each other's strength and unwavering support. We face the scrutiny of those who question our alliance, but we stand firm, knowing that our love is founded on a deep understanding and acceptance of one another.

As we stand on the rooftops, overlooking the city we've sworn to protect, I feel an overwhelming sense of purpose. With Jason by my side, I know that no challenge is too great, no darkness too consuming.

The rain still falls, but it no longer mirrors the turmoil in our hearts. Instead, it becomes a cleansing force, washing away the sins of the city and nourishing the seeds of hope we've planted.

In the face of adversity, we've found love. In the depths of darkness, we've discovered light. Together, we're unstoppable, ready to face whatever challenges await in the shadows, knowing that love will always prevail.

[froznwater]

im so sorry this is incredibly random but if i dont write alenoah i WILL die but i cant think of anything to write. do u have any simple ideas. ignore if not

HI!!! tysm for your ask <3 i hope you can find something to write amongst all the ideas. These are a bunch of ideas have written down in my notes/google drive/tumblr posts and have not got gotten around to. I still might at some point in time but feel free to use them. I will still do my own take if I get the time/motivation. There's simply so many, why not share and inspire some fics :)

----

General ideas:

Noah knows/learns spanish. Bonus points if Alejandro isn't aware until the perfect moment.

Alejandro thinks he can get away with flirting with Noah in spanish. Noah starts shit talking in spanish. Noah learns so he can hear all the little comments Alejandro keeps making under his breath. etc. so many possibilities.

Now that the show is over and Noah's off to college, he realizes he’s missing something in his life. Maybe it’s his friends, maybe it’s a lack of ever-looming danger, OR maybe it’s Alejandro. Who fucking knows. He’s too busy trying not to be in love with Alejandro to figure it out. 

Their group project is failing, horribly. There’s one thing Noah knows for certain: Alejandro's to blame. At what point does slippery eel turn into a term of endearment?

They have never ever fallen asleep next to each other. Let alone in each other's arms. Never.

Time loop where Alejandro is stuck on the episode where Noah gets voted out and sticks himself to falling in love because he can’t let go of his pride long enough to simply let Noah stay in the game and move on.

Noah loses his contacts and starts wearing his glasses more often. Alejandro notices. Everyone notices Alejandro notices.

Alejandro and Noah team up to get their friends together (insert whatever ship you like) and end up together in the process/the other two were trying to do the same thing for them.

A commentary timeline on how Alejandro's charisma turn into exploitation, how Noah's patience turned into indifference, and how they parallel each other. (I've written a few hundred words for this one lol.)

Each thinks the other doesn't like them. Cut to third party POV that watches and witnesses them completely a mess for each other.

Noah, once voted out in I See London, learns about Alejandro's family. Who have been very vocal since the show started airing.

Exploration of how Alejandro tries really really hard. Yes, He's at the top of the class, but so is Noah. Noah who sleeps through classes and doesn't turn in homework and shows up late or simply not at all and is still right up there with him.

“I would kill to be like you. To just absorb all the information fed to me. If I were you I might actually- “(beat my brother) “Might actually what?” “I told you. I don’t want to talk about it, Noah.” - "Do you know how long I studied for that test? Hours. And you- You got a 96 with no effort at all." It was a 98. But this seems like a bad time to correct him.

Dialogue one-liners prompts i've written down:

"If we make it out of this alive, I'm going to kiss you."

“Why do I feel like I cant say no to you?”

"I know you don't actually care about me, but thank you for trying to pretend that you do." (Said by Noah is joking. Said by Alejandro is bitter.)

"You can't win against someone who has nothing to lose."(Alejandro OR Noah angst.)

Soulmate aus:

My big two: Telepathy/Mentally linked.(imagine this one as a wt rewrite omg) And Whatever you draw on yourself shows up on your soulmate. Matching tattoos.

First words on each other. (I've done this one already here. but feel free to do it as well!!)

Communicating through dreams. (If you know cardcaptor sakura; like that.)

General AUs:

Until dawn AU.

Gakuen Alice AU.

My Babysitters A Vampire AU. Zombie Apoc AU.

Harry Potter AU. Reality Dating Show AU.

Infinity Train AU!!!!!!

Veronica Mars AU!!!! (i wanna do this one ALOT noah is sooo veronica LMAO) OBLIGATORY IDEAS:

seven minutes in heaven.

wrong number.

trapped in a closet.

movie night. noah is sitting under alejandro and lol they are physically, platonically touching for awhile. (leads to finally getting together).

one gets injured, the other fixes them up in the nurses office :P.

short "prompt-ishs" i've started writing:

“What the hell is your problem, Alejandro?” And this time, the tone was so disgusted, so bitter, that something snapped, deep in Alejandro’s chest.

Fuck it.

“What’s my problem?” He asked, incredulous. “What’s my problem? You’ve got to be kidding me, Courtney. I almost died. I almost died, paralyzed and alone, and the only friend I thought I had didn’t give a single shit! The only person who cared was Noah, of all people. I quite literally come back to life and the only thing you can do is whine about your girlfriend problems.”

Courtney takes a step back.

“I was stuck in a robot for months, my legs barely work, my family moved on- actually, I don’t know if they ever actually even noticed,” He laughs, broken, “- and you have the audacity to ask me what my problem is?!”

Alejandro is over playing nice. He’s had enough.

-

this one is a rivals team up to get out courtney blurb

little idea about Alejandro getting into zodiacs.

moments where alejandro questions why Noah is so attractive

-

SEND MORE ASKS IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE IDEAS!!! / IF THEY HAVE ANY IDEAS OR CONCEPTS TO ADD OR EXPAND ON :)))

[dejavante]

heartworm | myg

synopsis: "Life always presented unexpected twists and turns; that much was always pretty much guaranteed and inevitable. But you never expected to fall in love with the man held captive in the old snow globe you found in your grandmother’s attic following her passing. If only you’d known your time together was limited, you probably would’ve spent less time throwing snarky and sarcastic remarks his way and would’ve instead confessed the feelings of your heart. It’s been weeks since his disappearance now, and you still can’t adjust to the void he’s left in your life. And no amount of wishing and praying over that snow globe will bring him back…"

↳ pairing: yoongi x reader

↳ genre: modern fantasy type AU! | fluff | a dash of angst but nothing that will have you balling your eyes out, lol

↳ word count: 2.1k

author's note: this is just a little drabble that I've been sitting on for a while now. I've been pretty uninspired lately and haven't been able to finish any of my longer pieces, so I thought maybe I should start off small. I say small, but this drabble is 2.1k words long... anyways, enjoy!

masterlist | asks

You'd hated this place from the moment your grandmother had bought it. There was something about the heavy musk of mould, and the nauseating rose air freshener that your nana would use to camouflage the stench that had you wrinkling your nose in distaste. Or perhaps what repelled you the most was the tedious hike up the cliff that left your legs aching for days to come and the old rickety front door that banged against the frame during its battle with the wind.

While it's true that you'd never done much to hide your dislike of your grandmother's home before, you'd found that there was an unusual calmness to the raging sea – something in its temperamental rocking and in its ruthless habit of violently crashing against the ridged boulders of the coast that painted an odd likeness of tranquillity.

You sit back in your seat with an airy sigh, fingers twisting into the worn material of the blue sweater you don as a means to preserve heat – though this wouldn't be much of a problem if only you could find the strength to tear away from the turbulent scenery to grab the comforter off your bed.

But alas, you can't seem to let your focus stray from the smudged window, not for the growing numbness in your fingers and certainly not for the fatigue that weighs down on you.

For every moment over the last few weeks that you couldn't express your agitations, the storm raging outside granted you a moment of much-needed relief. It helped in soothing the burning flame within, taming your sullen mood.

Your eyes flicker over to the crooked shelf above your bed, sifting through the trinkets you didn't have the heart to throw away before finding what you're looking for. The glass dome of the snow globe has long since lost its shine. Now, it no longer glistens under the dim lighting of the room with the thick blanket of dust that clings to its surface.

At some point, looking at it had become too hard. Remembering the gummy smile that would smile at you from over the glass dome or the baritone voice that droned on about the snowy scenery within, stopped giving you solace and became more like a nightmare. As a result, those nostalgic and intimate moments attached to the snow globe became more fragile than the thin sheen of glass that encircled the world within.

Perhaps that's why you chose to place it on that particular shelf. Because during another day of self-prescribed bed rest, you knew that you couldn't catch sight of that empty snow globe – remembering hurt too much. Although you'd wager that forgetting would amount to equal amounts of pain.

It's a loud clap of thunder that draws you from your long reverie, shooing away the clouds of gloomy thoughts and replacing them with a deep-seated feeling of longing. And oddly, it's in that flicker of emotion that you tried so hard to repress that you finally find the motivation to do more than just mope — to finally confront the reality that you'd been running away from for weeks now. So, with a sigh that is sodden with reluctance and dejection, you urge yourself to move, gaze remaining keenly focused on the object of your affections as you swing your legs off of the window seat and push yourself up.

The aged floorboards creak beneath your weight as you pad sluggishly across the room, singing atrociously off-key until you reach the foot of your bed and crawl on top of the unmade mess of sheets.

You barely manage to untangle yourself from the bedding as you tentatively reach out for the snow globe, allowing your fingers a moment to dance over the dome of glass. The signs of neglect disappear under your touch, and you hoped, a foolish tendency you knew, that as the strings of dust melted away to reveal a clearer view of the snowy scenery within, there would be a change of fate.

But your hope for his return had proved to be futile. Because, yet again, that lone piano sits in the snowy square awaiting a master that will never return to it. Likewise, you wait for a love that slipped through your fingers too early.

Yoongi was far from a perfect man — that much he'd expressed and admitted to you himself on multiple occasions. It was hard to get along with him initially, not with how frantic and frustrated he was with finding an escape from his curse now that he was free from his snow globe prison. And somewhere within his state of near insanity, it wasn't difficult to see that he was simply afraid of being forced to endure that solidarity all over again with no second chance at freedom.

"I'm not scared," He'd bite back, his tone bordering that of a petulant child about to have a tantrum. "You try being holed up in there for so long,"

Though oddly enough, Yoongi would wax poetics about the internal structure of the globe despite his hatred for being trapped within it. With high, frosty skies, bright strung lights, and a mellow atmosphere fabricated for the sole purpose of carrying the soft melody of his piano, he'd said that it bordered perfection.

"It's the sort of place that you share with someone," Yoongi had once explained softly. "It's not built for solidarity,"

The day he disappeared still resonates clearly in your mind as if it'd only occurred yesterday. It plagued your sleep and daydreams, relentlessly taunting you for the words you never dared confess out of fear. Not until it was too late, at least.

You weren't sure why you kept doing this to yourself. It was a system of torture to continue clinging to the idea that perhaps if you fed the snow globe enough of your tears, prayers, and affections, some sort of miracle would happen. Because each and every time, you were left disappointed and with another crack that the fragile mess of your heart was forced to bear during its futile battle against hope. Heaven knows you couldn't handle another battle, not with how close you were to shattering.

The sheets rustle underneath your movement as you shift to sit back on your haunches with the globe cupped securely within the warmth of your palms. For a moment, you're unsure of what to do, the unfamiliarity of the situation finally dawning upon you as you stare intently at the object of your affections.

You'd tried everything to avoid this moment, but you were always pulled back towards it by an invisible force that tempted the longing within you that was no longer satisfied by memories of him.

The glass glistens dully in the room's light as you twist the snow globe in your hold, surveying the snowy territory in all its different angles to perhaps find an abnormality that would lighten the bulb of hope. However, all you find in return is a distorted reflection of yourself in the glass that stares back at you, highlighting your swollen eyes and the hollowness of your cheeks.

You can already hear Yoongi's playful remark about your dishevelled appearance, and the thought garners a soft smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes.

Though it's only a matter of seconds before the moment of bittersweet reminiscing gives away under the pressure of loneliness that quickly settles into your bones. The shift is gradual, languid and done with little effort. You begin to deflate, your shoulders sinking and globing around your frame protectively as you cradle the globe close to your chest.

"I really miss you," You whisper, voice watery and thick with the heaviness of unsorted emotions. "I didn't even get to tell you how much I love you.."

Being hung over someone for such a long time feels almost childish. And though you knew that the complexities of emotions were too far intricate to be dealt with within a matter of weeks, you still felt rather pathetic for torturing yourself this much. Especially with the uncertainty of how Yoongi felt towards you. Though you'd wager that your situation garnered an exception because in no way were your circumstances to be classified as normal.

A dry, humourless laugh bubbles past your lips as you press a palm to your eyes, wiping away the budding tears that blur your vision before the disorienting fog of self-pity can settle any deeper in your mind. You clear your throat and give your head a small shake to refocus yourself as you draw the globe away from your chest, steadying it in one hand as you reach out for the lever in the back with the other.

Under the delicate manoeuvre of your fingers, the cylinder begins to spin, plucking at the teeth of the comb to create a melody that encases each of your senses and casts a wave of nostalgia over you. The music is orchestrated in a subdued register, mellow and silky in its composition as if it were a lullaby. And if there was anything that reminded you of Yoongi the most, it would be this particular song with the way that it flowed effortlessly, engulfing the room in a soft and timid yet harmonious and enigmatic resonance that burst with passion.

You reach for the lever again as soon as the soft, fading echo of the concluding chords finally dies down and allows for a brief moment of comfortable silence. However, before your wrist can complete the first full turn of the mechanical arm again, your ears are flooded with the distant performance of the very same melody that had just faded into the tranquillity of the room.

For a beat, you remain motionless, heart pounding in your chest and mind unable to string together a coherent thought. You were damn near certain that this was nothing but a fabrication of your imagination, taunting you relentlessly for the regret you held and guiding you to the brink of insanity.

As if in a trance, your feet find the floor. Your grip on the snow globe loosens as you stumble towards the door, slipping from your grasp and shattering against the floor. The sound of the breakage bleeds into the background, becoming a second priority to the music you follow out of your room and down the corridor, like a sailor enchanted by a siren's song.

There's a moment as you reach the end of the hall when you flicker back to reality, pausing a mere few centimetres away from the spare room to contemplate the rationality of the situation. It hadn't escaped you that this entire set-up felt almost too good to be true — because in all the weeks of your misery and longing, why now?

But there was no mistaking that melody, not with the level of familiarity that you had with it. Its intricacy, like its composer, was both special and specific. You didn't need to see who the musician at your grandmother's old piano was to know in your heart who it was.

And yet, you find yourself hesitating to step forward and confirm your suspicion. Instead, you stare blankly at the door, heart thundering against your ribcage as you resist the urge to step forward and push the door open. Because even with how much time you'd spent practising and planning the words that you'd say to him if you were ever given a chance to meet again, you were certain that you wouldn't manage to utter a single word.

You don't notice when the music finally fades into the combined quietness of the house, nor do you hear the soft click of the door's mechanism turn as your hearing drowns in the dull and piercing ring that consumes your sense and renders you unbound to your surrounding.

The call of your name seems distant, its hand reaching out into the void of the ocean, where it becomes lost between the flickering of your muted sense as if it were a dream. And you would've gladly accepted it as that if it weren't for the palm that presses to your cheek to coax you back to reality.

You don't expect to be hit at full force by a surge of emotions when you step out of your reverie to meet the eyes of the one calling for you. And while his touch is wholeheartedly welcome, your emotional collapse isn't.

Yoongi offers a gentle smile of reassurance, his hand rising to wipe the trail of tears that slip down your cheeks before your face is cupped within his palms. You make no attempt to stop him as he inclines his forehead against yours, instead welcoming the close proximity he offers by leaning further into the warmth of his touch as he murmurs something indistinguishable to your clouded mind before his lips find yours.

"I love you too,"

all rights reserved © dejavante

the copying, modifying, translating or reposting of any of dejavante's content is under no circumstance permitted.

[voidposter86]

BAD END : WILITNG ROSES

[SO! Hello, I wrote a little fic for Ib and I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it. Do let me know what you think!]

She knew if she waited, she'd be able to see. Ib waited for the blur to leave her eyes.

What was that called again?



Ib shook the thought out of her head as the childish drawings that adorned the floor came into few. The only thing Ib was scared of right now were the other creations of the gallery and the idea that she may be alone.





I don't have my Red Rose...





And Garry's not here, either.





She slowly stood up and looked around, and Ib could feel her heart sink. The box was filled with drawings scribbled everywhere, as well as what made her stiffen- the headless statues, dolls, mannequin heads. They didn't seem to be moving right now, but she felt the absence of the rose in her hand. There was no sign of petals around her, so Garry was her first priority.

Taking her first steps, she walked slowly, watching the ornaments littered about the room- as if they were just dropped in, like her. Off a short distance, she caught sight of a familiar coat on the ground. She ran over to her friend as if her feet suddenly hit coals.



"Garry...!" Ib called out in a poorly hushed voice. After a light shake, he finally stirred.



"Oof.....Ow, I hit my head...." he mumbled as he got to his feet. When his eyes finally fixed on Ib, his face seemed to grow more concerned by the second, but he tried to match Ib's tiny bit of relief. "Ib....!! Are you alright?"



"I'm fine."



"....You look pale. Are you really alright?"





"I can't find my rose..."

"What?! You lost your rose!! That's not good, it's gotta be around here somewhere!"





Almost frantic, Garry stayed by Ib as they started to sweep the Toy Box for her rose. Garry understood the gravity of what was at stake if they couldn't find it and fast. He wasn't sure Ib did, at least entirely.





"Oh, the key..!" Ib knelt and grabbed the yellow key they had found the box for when they heard a voice behind them.





"Ooh, What's this? A present for me?"





Both turning, Garry felt panic settle in as he saw one of those horrid dolls hand over Ib's rose to Mary.





"Yaaay~! It's so pretty, can I have it? Oh, thank you!"





"No...that can't be..." Garry led Ib over by the wrist in disbelief; they were too late. "Mary....!!"





"Oh, Ib and Garry! Did you find what you were looking for?" Mary's almost sarcastic surprise cut him off. Garry was struck silent for a moment; Ib's life hung in the balance, and how he handled this was important. "Anyway, lookit! Isn't what I got so pretty?"





She showed off the rose with a single petal like a new toy.





"Mary...please, that rose...."





"Ahh, I knew I'd seen it somewhere before!"





"Please, give that back to Ib..." Garry tried his best to control the desperation in his voice; he couldn't risk any rash actions.





Ib silently watched the exchange unfold. She knew the roses were important, and it was really painful if a petal came off, but what happened after all of them were gone? She wasn't entirely sure. Garry was trying his best to save her; she knew that much, and it seemed tense.





"Ib, What would you do if only two of us could leave?"





Ib snapped back to the two when Mary addressed her specifically, "Ib, do you want this back?" Mary slightly gestured with her hand, clutching her rose.





Ib thought about it for just a moment. Mary and Garry, would they leave together? Garry had dismissed the idea of Mary having a motive not too long ago while talking in the artificial light. Had her parents been trapped here, too?





I could stay with them. I could stay here instead. It will be alright, won't it-





"Ib-" Garry didn't know what was happening in her head, but he couldn't let Ib entertain any ideas. Before he could say anything else, Ib gave her answer.





"I don't mind."





"Ib, what are you saying? That rose is your life here!" it sounded more angry than Garry had meant it to.





In her sweetest voice, Mary offered, "Okay, then how about this. I'll trade her red for your blue rose!" she looked Garry in the eyes, "I like red, but I like blue even more."





Garry had to stifle everything he felt: Angry, Scared, Worried. He couldn't refuse; that wasn't an option. He slowly stepped towards Mary, careful and ready to make the trade, when Ib grabbed his coat.





"Garry, don't, I said it was okay...!" Ib had to do something to stop them. Garry didn't deserve to go back to how she had found him, and she hadn't done as much for him as he had done for her. She locked eyes with Mary, "Leave!"





Garry looked exasperated while Mary suddenly filled with sorrow. Mary kept Ib's eye contact. "Is being with me that bad....?"





Ib shook her head furiously, "I can't choose....!"





Garry could feel his heart clutch as he heard her shaken voice, but it quickly bubbled up as anger- and through gritted teeth, "Mary....!"





Before he could take another step, Mary started to leave the Toy Box with heavy steps. "Fine, but I didn't want to go with him! If you don't want to go..!" The bite in her voice frightened Ib more than anything else Mary had done before.





Ib's hands began to shake as Garry tightly held her wrist as he tried to follow Mary, "WAIT!"





Oh, I've made a huge mistake.





Ib was finding it hard to breathe as fear took an even greater hold, and her knees gave in. Garry could feel her body sinking against his as she tried to stay up.





"Hey, hey! Ib? Take deep breaths. Stay with me now!" His voice softened as he talked to her, but there was no time. "Here, I'll carry you on my back. I have to catch up with her, okay?" He could fathom leaving her in this scribbled room by herself, and as soon as he felt her arms around his shoulders - trying not to think about how weak of a grip she was managing - he lifted her and briskly followed in Mary's footsteps before he felt a chill down his spine. It felt like the temperature dropped and the light dimmed.





"Not good, not good...!" He felt this feeling somewhere before, and he knew the danger was about to escalate. He couldn't die here. Taking a deep breath, "Come on, you can do this...."





The assorted creations started to move aggressively about the room, and he had to dodge them all. Trying his best to run, he heard Ib's shaking yelps as he made a beeline for the hallway ahead of them.





Praising Lady Luck or whoever was responsible, they made it into the dark hallway without getting attacked. A sigh of relief escaped Garry when he suddenly felt Ib's grip tighten.





"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...." she managed to choke out.





Hearing Ib's defeated voice made Garry's heart hurt in a way it never had before. "Hey now, it's alright, we'll just get your rose back from Mary. Okay...?" He tried his best to flash a smile back at her, but he felt her bury her face in his back. For a split moment, his eyes got hot, knowing she couldn't see his face right now.





Why, why is this happening?! Why can't I keep her safe...!





Garry continued down the hallway, trying to turn that inner chastising into whatever fight he had left. He took a deep breath and saw the turn of the hallway ahead. "We have to be close, right...?" quietly adding, "Ib, are you with me...?"

"I'm here..." she responded weakly.





"ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵈᵒ ᴵ ᵈᵒ, ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵈᵒ ᴵ...ˀ"





Garry heard Mary's voice around the corner. "Hey Ib, do you think you can walk now....?" His voice strained. He didn't want to ask, but he couldn't do anything with both hands occupied.

"Can I lean on you...?"

Garry couldn't help but chuckle. She was smart and picked up fast. "Yes, but I'll need you to use the wall if we run into Mary, okay? Either that or sit by where we enter. I'll keep close, I promise."





He slowly bent down and let her shuffle off. He didn't like this idea, but any amount of apologizing wouldn't change the fact that he couldn't carry her much longer. Ib leaned against his left arm as they both continued around the corner. It was a staircase, and Garry made sure to keep an eye on her. She was pale but seemed to still be able to move around well enough. He guided her to his right and whispered, "Wait a few steps down here, okay..?"





As swiftly as she could, Ib moved against the wall and slid down as quietly as she could. The relief that ran across her face once she was down was heart-wrenching to Garry. He squatted to her level, "I'll get your rose back, okay?" He found he couldn't look her in the eye when he said that, instinctively closing his. The smile he managed to make was awkward, but he quickly shot back up and quietly peeked into the open room where Mary was standing.

"I don't want to go with him...I wonder if he got caught in the box...?" Mary curiously looked at the severely wilted rose before stepping towards the stairs.

Garry's breath caught in his throat. What would he do here? He can't confront Mary; that puts Ib's life at risk unless he puts forward his own again. His gaze drifting toward Ib. Both of them should be able to leave; a painting shouldn't take precedence. No matter how life-like she was, he found himself not caring anymore.

He looked up instead and listened for steps. It sounded like Mary had started pacing a bit. If she comes down the stairs, he would have to pray he can grab the rose before she can process what's happening, which is also extremely risky.

Mary's voice made him freeze, "Well if she doesn't want to go with me, she can be with him." Her sigh was full of disappointment; she hovered her fingers over the last petal.



Sheer panic caused Garry to turn the corner- no more time, his only option was to rush her- "WAIT, DON'T-" His voice escaped far louder than he intended.

"Aah......!" Mary's surprise caused her to flinch. Her fingers jerked, and it was all the force it took. A strange look came across Mary's face; it didn't look like regret or shock, mostly an imitation of the two at once. She took an apprehensive step toward the door behind her as her eyes shifted from the stem to Garry. His arm was out, frozen for a moment, before it limply dropped to his side. Garry said something, but she couldn't hear it. Absently, he walked towards Mary with uneven speed, and startled, she dropped everything stumbling backwards toward the door when she realized he wasn't even registering she was there. His eyes flicked back and forth between the stem and petal, before suddenly rushing toward the stairs and out of Mary's view.

"Ib, you dummy....it didn't have to turn out like this." She turned on her heel and made her way towards the exit of this fabricated world she hated so much, "I'll be fine on my own."

Garry nearly fell down the stairs to Ib; hearing Mary's steps fade was of no concern to him. Looking at Ib's state, though, almost made him break completely.

One arm draped on the stair above, towards where he was standing before. The other clutched both her shirt and bow, probably only having seconds to realize her heart had stopped. Almost afraid to look, he knelt down so he could see her face. Her eyes were still half open, and her jaw was slack. Without thinking, he closed her eyes.

She's really....

"...dead." Saying it out loud didn't seem real. He had to be having a nightmare, or this gallery was playing a trick on him again. It wasn't possible that in just one movement, this 9-year-old girl in front of him would never move again or experience the life she should have. His body dropped entirely to the floor.

-------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm here...This is the one!" In awe of the painting in front of her, Mary could barely contain herself. Not heading the warnings that followed her every move, she smiled as the frame vanished. "I can get out from here....I can finally go outside! I'll eat lots of candy, go all sorts of places, and make lots of friends!"

She jumped into the painting with no hesitation.

-------------------------------------------------------------

He couldn't do it. He couldn't leave Ib's body here.

Garry moved over to her and turned around, gently leaning her forward as he adjusted to carry her on his back again.

Just slightly heavier.

Listening only to the echoes of his steps, he made his way past the stem, not even daring to look at it or the crumpled petal next to it. The dark staircase ahead wasn't even an issue, nor was the paint he didn't even bother to read; the reception desk made him stop.

"Were we...really so close...?"

It was finally hitting him. Ib was dead, limp on his back, and they were just a staircase away from the way out. He felt the burn on his left cheek return, feeling undeserving of this girl's desperation to snap him back to reality. He unknowingly left a 9-year-old girl choosing who got to live. He knew he couldn't have done much differently, yet he couldn't forgive himself for it at the same time. Anger he had no real outlet for besides himself boiled up, and out of frustration, he continued up two sets of stairs to a painting in its own room. He was sure Ib was talking about this one when she explained her situation to him when they met.

The frame to it was already missing, giving it depth. Before Garry could take a step, he heard the familiar sound of paint writing a message. Looking to the ground, he read what it said, and it almost made him wish he could smash something, anything.



You can forget if you leave, Garry.

He made his way over to the painting, making sure to step on the message he was sure was mocking him now.

Forget? I might as well be spitting on Ib.

Looking at it, he sighed, trying to release some of his tension. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing anymore. Maybe he wanted to try and send Ib back so she wouldn't have to be here. Any thoughts he might've had stopped when he noticed black paint started to ooze from the top.

"Ah, so we're stuck here. I thought...that if maybe..."

Garry didn't fight the tears that started to fall down his face. He just walked over to the wall on the right and carefully set Ib's body against it. He couldn't bear to look at her, keeping his eyes on the ceiling as he moved next to her. After feeling for it in the coat pocket, he pulled out his rose, bringing it to his felid's view. Healthy, a vibrant blue.

It disgusted him.

Garry brought his eye level back down towards his lap before tearing a petal without any pause. How many things had be promised her towards the end? Apologized for?



First, was that he'd get her rose back.

Second, he let Mary get away with her life.

Third, he said they would get out together

Forth, that he'd treat her to macrons.

Fifth, he apologized for worrying her in that awful room- letting himself fall victim in the first place.

Sixth, letting his nerves get the better of him.

"Hey, Ib? At the very least, you won't be alone..."

His body hurt, and he felt weak. Taking one last look at the girl he failed- he hadn't noticed slumped against his arm- he focused back on his "rose." Feeling nothing but the wetness on his cheeks, he muttered, "I'm so...so sorry. I couldn't...."



Seventh, he couldn't be who he needed to.

It was the last petal.







[thevagabondexpress]

reasons for a character to be angsty *other than* "abusive/deadbeat parents," "was bullied/assaulted," "queer and living with homophobic parents," or "someone died"

okay. hear me out. maybe it's just me but i'm tired of seeing the very heavy, triggering backstories listed above used to create brooding darkness within a character. now, that's not to say you can't use those. i've seen a couple authors use them and handle them very well. but i feel like they've been overused and, for the majority, not handled particularly well most of the time. hence, i've created a list of alternative reasons for your fictional charater to be a 'lil angsty without that weight of trauma that could be fumbled easily if not handled carefully. feel free to use these and share this around, that's what it's there for. feel free also to provide suggestions in the comments and i'll add them to the list.

∘ time period specific generation z angst: "the planet is turning into a pressure cooker, everything is on fire, democracy is crumbling like a dry pound cake, and nobody who has any power is doing anything because they only care about making money."

∘ habitual insomniac who just can't f***ing get their sleep schedule together. they're snarky and brooding because they're so. f***ing. tired.

∘ eldest sibling angst.

∘ middle sibling angst.

∘ youngest sibling angst.

∘ existential gender/sexuality/educational/career/faith/insert here crisis

∘ crisis of desired vs. perceived identity: "I want people to see me this way but all they ever see is this."

∘ they have a goal. they're really motivated. they're trying hard and they know they're good at what they do. but for some reason either they face consistent roadblocks from other people, or other people just refuse to acknowledge it.

∘ wanting something they can't have, but not in a whiny "he's so hot and I want to go out with him but he won't look at me" sort of way. no, as in, "I want to go visit my family in [insert country] but I don't have the time or money to go and I haven't seen my cousin in years she must be walking and drawing on the walls by now."

∘ unhealthy workaholic with a deep dark secret: that research project, etc. they've been obsessing and staying up late over and pushing everyone away for . . .

∘ sympathy angst: character has a friend/relative that cannot or will not acknowledge the emotions they ought to be feeling, so this character starts feeling the emotions for them

∘ character is caring for someone who is injured/ill (they don't even have to be dying, or in critical condition) and it's taking a toll

∘ character has been in one profession for a long time. now they've quit, moved on, and are doing something else. maybe they've retired. but they miss their old job, plus they find themselves falling back into the old habits. they worked that job so long they don't know how to be anything else.

∘ generational gothic: the character has uncovered a long-buried secret. maybe about their family. maybe about their place of work. maybe about their hometown, or the house they bought. whatever it is, everyone else seems to have forgotten it, and moved on. but they know. and they must cope with the burden of this aged secret thrown over their shoulders.

∘ performative angst: character is really into one of the fine arts. or building cars. or a martial art. or history. or science. whatever. point is, they develop angst deliberately as a performative state because they think it sounds cool.

∘ something the character has always believed to be a concrete fact turns out to be just another terrible fiction.

∘ character discovers a truth about themselves they had not previously realized. now they must analyze it, and come to terms with it. ∘ career-based moral/ethical angst: I do what I have to do because it's necessary and important (or because it's what i've always known, or both). but is it really good, or right? could there be a better way?

∘ time-period specific 1960's system-directed anger, whether that's to do with the civil rights movement or the war or both.

∘ character has moved to a new place. now, they must adjust to new societal expectations and customs, and possibly new food and culture as well. they feel strange and out of place, and miss their homeland.

∘ the character recently ended a relationship (romantic or otherwise) that was no longer functioning. they're the person who ended it, because they could see that things weren't working out anymore, but they're also very aware that the "it's not working out" went both ways and is much their fault as their friend/partner's. hence, they've gone and convinced themself that they were the bad guy, even though they really weren't.

∘ character had a massive falling out with a beloved friend or relative and now the two can't get along. they can barely be in the same room and it's dragging on the both of them and everyone around them.

[w98pops]

I just love how much layers your characters have. I love Aletus. Im really enjoying how he's a good father, sweet guy but a legionary and a coward and its doesnt seem out of place, you write him so good. I would love to see and read more of Aletus. He's great. Not a great person, but a character 4sure. ❤️❤️❤️

TW: MENTIONS OF Menstruation, child marriage, slavery, sex, Aletus being Aletus

Thank you a lot. There is so much Aletus loving lately for some reason, and I'm totally not complaining, I loooove when my characters are loved 😭🙏🙏 I don't really intend much on writing nuanced characters, I don't think they're THAT great, but I'm glad it seems organic and people enjoy it. Aletus is a deeply flawed man and I planned him like that from the start. AND since y'all want more of him for some reason, here's more.

The reason he's not a total anti-hero is probably because I mainly tell and draw my characters from Wendy's perspective. For her, Aletus is a god-like figure. He was always kind and gentle with her, he taught her everything, pretty much, he was there for her always and his opinion matters to her more than anything in the world. She loves him dearly and will never let go of that love. So she tends to dismiss all the bad shit, because she loves him, or because she doesn't know.

I mean, he's a legionary after all. I don't want to spoil all the stuff 😭 because I still want to do SOMETHING with this story. At the very least, an illustrated google doc or something 😭😭😭, but holy fuck is Aletus an awful human being. Not in a cartoonish type of way, like legionaries tend to be, but like. He's an absolute megalomaniac. In a subtle more boring way. He thinks he's better than anyone else and it's his only motivator, most of the time. He thinks he's better than other legionaries, he's better than the enslaved, he's better than the NCR, he's better than Sarah and Wendy. He loves Wendy, genuinely, but. He loves the love she has for him more. Aletus preys on her dependence on him and thrives when she's unhappy. He's not aware of this, of course, it's a deep unconscious thing he just does. Her love make his ego grow, his love makes her miserable. He's never cruel or unjust to her. But Aletus does things that are kinda good on paper, as in reality it fucks up everything.

There's a big fat example, which I referenced many times in my posts, it's the way Wendy "escaped" the Legion. She never really did. She never wanted, she had a normal life, her dad was a privileged man and she never even knew the fact that she was a slave. But as soon as she hit puberty and the whole afab menstruation bullshit started, Aletus just kinda. Kicked her out, crudely speaking. By the laws of fhe Legion as soon as a girl starts to bleed, she has to get married, and Aletus couldn't have that. Not because she's still a child and it's fucking awful, but because If Wendy gets married then she will have all her attention on her husband and Aletus won't be taking up all her mind space all the time. He tried to let her escape like. 2 times. The first time she refused, the second time he physically forced her and ordered to ran away, she came back. She literally had no problem living in the Legion. She was fed, she had toys, she had a loving father and she was safe. Wendy grew up soft and fragile, she wasn't ready for the Wasteland, and Aletus chose to ingore it because HIS DAUGHTER IS IN HER EARLY TEENS SHE CAN'T MARRY, I'D RATHER LET HER BE KILLED BY THE TERRORS OF THE POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD. I'm laughing at it, but it's kinda still a hard choice. So I don't inherently judge Aletus for the fact that he physically moved Wendy on the caravan he bribed while she was sleeping, so she wouldn't disagree again or find a way back home. But it was one most cruel thing he did to her. Although, Wendy never held a grudge against her dad. She couldn't possibly, even though she should totally. She's not that kind of person.

I think that one of his actions characterises Aletus the most? I mean, this one and the fact that he refused when his ex-lover Noam offered him to escape the Legion with him and Wendy, which was years before her "escape". I don't think I need to explain that one? Aletus is a coward, and he had no reason to leave Legion. Noam was a victim of Caesar's conquest. Aletus chose this life. For all the reasons Wendy refused to leave, by the way. He's a megalomaniac AND a hypocrite.

He's kind of an awful partner too? Not counting Sarah, he's an absolute asshole to Lucullus. I mean, it's Lucullus, but still, when you're in a relationship you typically have some sympathy for your companion. Aletus, on the other hand, sees Lucullus as a tool. Easy access to sex + easy spying on Wendy, no more. Pretty much was with all of his other boyfriends. He just can't bring himself to care for another human being as much as for himself. AGAIN, HIS LOVE FOR WENDY IS REAL. IT'S JUST BURIED UNDER A GAJILLION LAYERS OF CRUSTY EGO. Noam was probably the only one who truly saw Aletus for what he is and made a smart decision: he left.

ALSO, kinda the reason why he neglected Sharky as a child. Sharky looks so much like him, he hates it. He's egotistical, but is lying to himself about it, and through Sharky's eyes he sees himself for what he is, and really really doesn't like it. Also, Sharky was non-verbal and not really interested in nerd stuff that Aletus got Wendy into. Aletus' negligence of his own kid (who he's BIOLOGICALLY related to) was for good, in the end.

Aletus is a coward who can't look in the eyes of his own child and his cowardice is the reason he canonically dies during the Second Battle for Hoover Dam. Wendy comes to him and begs him to leave the Legion with her, she KNOWS that they will lose and he will die, but for Aletus, Legion is all his life. To live past the Legion is to live to face the consequences of his actions, and we can't have that. Again, in the end, his love for self was stronger than love for his daughter. His as does not deserve a good ending 😭🙏

But I still think he's likeable. At the very list. He's a Dante Alighieri fan, very dramatic, but with a good sense of humor. He's smart, cares for Wendy, does silly stuff from time to time, but actually did a LOT for the children that were forcibly recruited and enslaved by the Legion. I don't know If i mentioned in plain this fact, but Aletus is a pre-school teacher by profession :) With a degree in history. He genuinely passionate about teaching and he truly does everything for his students. In the comparison, he's just a good survivalist. There's nothing inherently wrong with being selfish in this hard cruel world and we all make mistakes. Most of them Aletus did unintentionally or out of self-preservation anyway. And we can't all be superheroes and find the courage to face our inner demons, sorry for cheesiness.

I LOVE Aletus. I think he's pretty good in terms of complex morals and writing. I like my dilfs morally grey and miserable.

Thank you for the feedback and giving me a reason to ramble about my favorite idiot!!!!

[nebulous-rain]

Hello! My name is Moriah and I am a junior in high school. I was wondering if I might be able to get your insight on a few questions I have?

I am in my final years of high school and am starting to think about college but I have no idea what I want to pursue. I know I love art, so for a long time I have been thinking about getting an art major or going to an art school.

I’m reaching out because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR ART and I think you are a very talented artist! I have been in love with your art for so long and I am curious and wondering how you are able to fit drawing into your life?

1.) If you are going to college for art, or went to college for art, what is it like? Do you think going to school for art or having an art major is worth it?

2.) how can I fit art into my everyday life? I’m sure you have work and other things to do in your life so how do you balance it out? (I just want to know how you can draw as much as you do!)

3.) do you do art as a hobby or a career? If it is a hobby how to you balance art, work/school, and home life? If it is a career or part-time career is it an alright source of income?

Thank you so much! And sorry if these questions might seem personal. I just want to know how other artist manage to draw and create their work and still have an adult life. Thanks again, and thank you for being a huge inspiration in my life to create the art I love! Your art means so much to me!❤️❤️ ❤️

i am going to CRY this is the sweetest message ever. i'm happy you found your niche and i'm even happier that i could help inspire that!!! i'm not sure if i'm gonna be able to answer all your questions, but i'll try to squeeze in some possibilities where i fall short:

1) growing up i definitely figured i was going to end up in art school because that's what everyone told me i should go into. but as i got older in high school i was kind of panicking cuz i really didn't want to turn my hobby into a job, and i figured out that i wanted to go into education!

but that's just me- my wife is actually going to college for graphic design sometime soon because she loves what she does. if it's something you really enjoy, and that you think you can monetize while still enjoying it, then it's definitely worth it! money is important but you need to put you and your happiness first.

2) to be honest, i haven't had the time or energy to do much art lately (if you look at my post dates you can see how spread out they've been the past year)- but this entirely depends on how you manage your time and your workload. i'm horrific at time management! so that's my problem. BUT, i think sneaking in drawing time in little ways helps a lot, as i tend to sketch small panels of a potential comic or animatic on notebooks and papers while i'm listening to lectures. i've even posted ms paint doodles i've drawn during class

i always have plans for what i'd like to draw once i have the time. it's kind of motivating, but also frustrating, and it's hard to efficiently empty my brain of ideas while still keeping up with everything else. this might be something you'll have to wiggle around once you get settled into a routine each semester!

3) i really wanted art to stay as a hobby for me. the idea of drawing and creating art every day for things i wasn't inspired to do made me really nervous, because what i really wanted was to make fanart and draw my little guys all day lol

if you take anything away from this, i think the most important thing is that if you want to keep art in your life, you will. if you desire having time to make art just for yourself, you'll find time to work that into your life, one way or another- but in order to do that you absolutely need to have a positive mindset about what you're going into, and if you can't find that positivity, maybe it isn't for you

thank you for asking!!! i'm not sure if this'll be any help, but i appreciate the questions <:')

[tamelee]

hi! I really enjoy your art, it has a very unique touch to it that I really like. do you sell prints of your art anywhere?

I've never been much of an artist myself, but lately I've been feeling like I would really like to try and learn how to draw. I know it takes a LOT of practise and that some have a more natural touch to it than others, but do you have any tips for a beginner? where should I start? I have tried reference pics and stuff like that but I never seem to get them right. how can I keep myself motivated when nothing I try turns out the way I imagine it?

sorry if you've already answered something similar to this, I would love to read that too. sending you good vibes and many thanks in advance ✨

Aaaahh thankyou so much! 💕 I don't yet but will soon I'll update on that 🎉🫶

Absolutely!

And wow that's great to hear! I'm really excited for you honestly because it's really fun :3 Well, my ways have always been a little unconventional but most teachers would tell you to pick up a pen and paper and.. just start drawing/doodling with whatever reference you have. Or if you have a pen tablet already, explore the program you're working with. Any kinds of brushes, try them out, try functions the program has- see what it does, make it a fun experience because you can't make any mistakes. It isn't something you have to deliver to anyone, this is practice and this is for you. Put on some music or watch a show on the side that's easy to follow (not one you have to pay close attention to) and just scribble away. You can use an extra program like 'Pureref' (which is free!) that allows you to drag in any references you need on top of your drawing-program or create an extra window where you can drag in any images and rearrange everything just the way you like it, like this:

And then let's try a Sasuke sketch in that pose upper-left corner.

I usually flood the document with a bunch of references in case I need it. (It's always more than I need but I hoard my files a lot 😂.. I think it's a fear of it not being enough "just in case"- but it's okay.) When I'm coloring a sketch, I think of colors beforehand but it kinda depends on my mood. Most of the time I don't bother until I get to the lighting stage. If you feel like you don't really got the hang of using a pen-tablet yet, there is a good tutorial with exercises here. And don't worry at all!!! Because it'll get much easier and easier overtime, just please take care of your hands and stretch gently always. Remember it is never supposed to hurt.

Honestly the way to improve fast with art is... just get obsessed over something 😂 and draw that. Find something you like and enjoy drawing it at least from my understanding that is what happened to many people. For me it's.. well.. If you want to get inspired, go to places, preferably professional spaces and make a board with art in styles you really like. (Or a folder for example!)

This way you can use references to make something and it's a good start/practice ^^! At least it was very helpful for me! If you feel like nothing turns out the way you imagine it, then don't worry about it please.. creating something involves so many steps it is nearly impossible.. or it is impossible actually to have something turn out exactly as you imagine it beforehand. It is more important that the end-result is something that is satisfying which has more to do with the actual process itself. And I know that is not something you might want to hear now but I guess you'd have to experience it? At least for me, every new art I make involves something along the lines of "oh I kinda liked that" or "ew, no, nope, no, not doing that ever again" it's a constant process. Here are some helpful video's for beginners because I think visual inspiration would be more beneficial for you than just a bunch of text from me!

5 FIRST STEPS TO LEARN TO DRAW

HOW TO DRAW SIMPLE FACES

HOW I STUDY DRAWING

Advice for Starting your Art Journey

Extra (not necessarily for beginners):

Why BELIEF Is More Important Than TALENT

How I Reduce TOXIC Perfection As An Artist (Best Drawing Exercise TO Do)

What to do If you aren't Improving

Why it takes so long to get good at art

I hope any of this is helpful to you and I hope you have a nice day 🌷💕! Happy drawing!

[sevilemar]

Hey! I know you haven't been super into SHC lately, but you seemed like a good person to ask for this sort of thing. I'm a double Lion who's thinking of playing a double Snake in DND, and I was wondering if you had any tips--like things I might not immediately think of about his priorities and behavior. For a little context, I think his one and only Person at the start of the campaign will be his brother, and his circle will gradually grow to include the other PCs as time goes on. (1/2)

He's also true neutral (though he might transition into neutral good) and a rogue, ftr. I'm thinking his initial motive will be to earn money for himself and his brother, and his first tactic when faced with adversity will be to try to find out what the person opposing him wants and see if they can cut a mutually beneficial deal. Does that all sound reasonably Snakey? I have to shift my thinking a little to see through his eyes, so I figured I'd check with a real double Snake. :)

You are asking about two of the things I like to think about most, ttrpg and shc, so I'm thrilled about your ask, nonny.

This already seems sufficently snake-like to me, and if that's all the prep you wanna do for him in this regard, you'll be completely fine. But you asked me for tips to build on it, and I have a few things buzzing through my mind.

- You'll be in snake sec face mode with your party when you first start, since they're not your people yet, and I assume your brother is backstory rather than a player at the table. And since role play (e.g. multiplayer) is a big part of the experience, you'll get a feel for the face you'll show your party first. My tip would be that once you get that, start thinking how neutral would be/feel different. Maybe your GM let's you have a scene with your brother to get into it? Because once you got that, and the other assholes in your party slowly get under your skin and into your circles, you can slip in more and more neutral when you play with them. But keep that just for them, because it's special, and others haven't earned it yet.

- For all the snake secs I talked with, me included, neutral feels like our asshole state. It's direct, unfiltered, untailored, and deeply unsafe. So only go there in situations when you feel emotionally safe with whomever you're talking to. And because you're snake primary as well, that probably means safe in the sense that they wouldn't leave you even if they saw you unshowered, in your rattiest clothes, with bad breath and bad attitude and unattractive stubble and last night's make up clumped about your face. Because that's what neutral feels like to us.

- Even if double snakes are not usually the leader, we don't always just go along with whatever our people do. Arguing is perfectly acceptable, especially if they're doing something dangerous and stupid. (Although I do mostly find myself following them, and adjusting to them a lot. That might just be a me thing, honestly.)

- If you have trouble deciding where someone is in your circle, and what you're willing to do for them, you can literally get a paper and draw it out. And the more you get into your character, the more you'll know what each circle means, both in terms of how to get there and what they'll get to see from you.

- Mutually beneficial deals are a great starting point. If you can get people to agree to them without much fuzz, awesome! But don't be shy to use other tactics as well. If you can't convince them with facts and arguments, try to intimidate them instead, or become very agreeable and sweet and appeal to their kinder side, or whatever else you feel might be effective with this person. Don't worry if it feels out of character, or like it's weird to do a complete turnaround in one conversation. It's not you who is doing this but your character, and he is a snake sec, and that's what we do. It's what face changing means.

- Depending on your table, don't be shy to go off on your own occasionally when it's about your brother. This very much depends on your table and your GM though, so I would talk to at least your GM if that's OK. You don't even have to play out these scenes, but even saying 'While you celebrate your victory, I first let my brother know I'm still alive, and join you a little later' or something like that will probably feel very snake primary.

- Depending on how seriously you're playing, having your brother as your first priority can lead to some conflict with the party and/or the main story of the campaign. You can justify a lot in the name of story and staying together, but there may or may not come a time when your and your party's goals might differ too much, and/or they are not high enough in your circles yet to justify staying with them. Since I don't know your character or the story you're playing, I don't have anything for this. Retiring your character might be an option, or finding out that your brother does not need to depend on you so much anymore, and wants to fend for himself for a bit. I don't know. It's probably not going to get to this, but sometimes it's good to know that you got options if it does (hello there, my inner bird^^).

That's what I can think of right now, nonny. Like I said, you don't need any of it to play a good double snake character. And if reading it is making you feel like you don't wanna do any of this, forget it all and just go and have fun. Because I hope you have lots of fun with your character and your table!

[spymaster-and-socialite]

What about andre draws you to him/why do you like to write him?

(i tend to really latch onto characters who i strongly relate to in some way, and andre is no exception. i enjoy writing him so much because it's easy for me to get into his head... maybe my interpretation of him is total BS and i'm just hardcore projecting, you tell me LOL. but anyway.

the key thing about andre (imo anyways) is that he is an expert reader of people/social situations - this is what makes him a good head of intelligence, but it also causes him to put up like 50 different fronts at all times in order to 'play the system' that he's so hyper-aware of. everyone likes andre because he knows how to MAKE everyone like him. he is extremely skilled at catering to other people's tastes to be as well-liked as possible and enjoy the benefits of that - and in a spy context, at reading other people in order to manipulate them, lol. andre has cultivated this image of himself as this super cool guy who has all his shit together at work but who also throws fun parties, who's smart and charming and Hot and can do art and play every instrument blah blah... and this is great and all, but a) it's not entirely accurate lol, we know he's kind of a hot mess in both his job and his personal life; and b) if you're always putting on whatever personality you think will most please those around you, then who are YOU really? what does it say about andre that he needs to be (and later on, pretend to be) this perfect person?

not to get all personal, but i relate a lot to this whole vibe of needing to project a 'perfect' self-image to feel in control of others' perceptions of you because you over-rely on others' perceptions of you to define yourself LMFAO. i think andre is genuinely trying his best to do what he thinks is right, but he fucks up - often - because he confuses facades with reality. now, i love to hate on andre for being a hoe and a dumbass who caused his own downfall LOL, but i can't seriously dislike him for his mistakes. while many of his choices/tactics are questionable, by the end, andre literally just wants the war to be over so he can be with peggy, which - despite being a selfish motive that contrasts sharply with the broader visions of liberty that characters like ben have - is more understandable on a personal level. as andre's whole facade crumbles and he starts actually failing at shit, the war stops seeming to him like one long dance or game where his only goal is to perform and 'win.' he's actually starting to understand himself on his own terms and figure out what he actually wants!... but it's too late.

in the turn universe as well as historically, andre is remembered in a flattering light - suggesting that he may actually have achieved the control over his image that he desired at the start. but the 'real him' (the andre who did everything because he was in love, not for the king) is forgotten almost immediately. he didn't plan to become this almost-martyr figure - but he was trying to succeed at an impossible task, and in the struggle between finding and losing himself in it, he pushed too hard.

tl;dr: i promise i DON'T relate to andre because i think i'm super hot and smart and can play an epic tune on the flute lmfao, i relate to him because he's not a perfect person and i just think that's neat lol.)

[no-psi-nan]

A while ago, a friend suggested writing Saikechi with ASMR as the theme, and I started on a lil one-shot but then stopped when I realized I'd have to write a truly big huge-long Akechi monologue to do it the way I'd planned. So instead I put that headcanon into Intimate Variety lol.

But I did write 1k of it, and it seems a shame to just delete it, so I'm gonna post it here for anyone who wants to read what there is of it, plus my notes on what was going to happen next. I'd say it's T-rated, basically just talking lol.

ASMR Sleepover Time

"Chiyopipi, Chiyopipi… Here's the bottom line: if ya wouldn't do it with your momma, it sure af ain't platonic."

"Well, I've heard people say that massages are a romantic thing, but isn't giving your mom a massage pretty normal??"

"I mean, yeah, platonic affection is a hella gray zone and it's different for like almost everybody. But purposely making somebody feel intense physical pleasure ain't it, chief– that's where I think most people gotta draw the line."

"I don't know, Miko-chan, I still think it can be platonic! There's nothing weird about whispering in someone's ear or petting their hair, right? Whether it happens to be an ASMR trigger has nothing to do with it!"

"Babygirl, would it be platonic to rub your buddy's feet if you knew they had a foot fetish?"

"That's different!! That's a– you know! Totally different from ASMR!"

[You guys sure like to discuss weird topics, good grief.]

"Oh hey Kusuo~! Wait, maybe you can settle this debate, babe–"

[I am not getting involved in this conversation.]

"Did I hear someone mention a debate? Oh, hello Kusuo-kun, Miko-chan, and Yumehara-san! My apologies, I couldn't help but overhear some sort of stirring discussion on this corner, though I haven't yet cottoned on to the particular topic under consideration. Would you be so amenable as to restate it for me?"

(Akechi admits to having experienced ASMR before but immediately changes the topic to some of the research on the subject. Saiki thinks to himself that ASMR sounds like a lot of weird bullshit and doesn't really have any interest in the matter, especially since it probably can't affect him.)

[Akechi Touma.]

[Why the hell are you calling my house this late at night?]

"Oh, hello Kusuo-kun! What a pleasure to hear your voice, I fully expected that you'd immediately hang up immediately upon being handed the phone before even discovering the purpose of my call!"

[I still might. What a pain… I was seriously climbing into bed right now.]

"Kusuo-kun, by any chance, are you using your telepathy right now? It's only that I'm hearing your voice in my head quite perfectly without any of the mild audio distortion typical of cellular networks!"

[ …Maybe.]

[Never mind that. Why are you whispering?]

"To be perfectly honest, it is actually my de facto bedtime right now as well! As my mother has settled in to sleep in the room next door, I thought it would be prudent to maintain a more discrete volume of speech so as to not disturb her slumber."

[Again: why the hell are you calling my house this late at night?]

"Oh Kusuo-kun, it is simply that I currently find myself well-situated under a set of lovely clean sheets and my favorite weighted blanket, accompanied of course by a choice selection of stuffed animals. With the enforced darkness of my blackout curtains and the pleasantly cool temperature of my bedroom, these are indeed optimal sleeping conditions. And yet despite all this, I find myself unable to succumb to Morpheus' grip."

[ … ]

[Good grief, what do you expect me to do about that?]

[I don't have any special powers that can put people to sleep. The best I can do is play a lullaby through telepathy.]

"While I will be the first to admit that a telepathic lullaby does sound quite relaxing, it isn't particularly what I had in mind as the aim of this phone call. Now, I'm sure you are quite impatient to discover the objective of this communication, and I am happy to inform you that my motivation is twofold. First, I have lately been concerned about the quality of rest you've been enjoying lately, ever since your powers were temporarily deleted and summarily restored. And I am very certain that you are currently rolling your eyes and are about to rebuke me for interrupting that very sleep, but please allow me to elaborate. It is my understanding that the range of your telepathy has increased somewhat, causing you to hear more peripheral mental voices than before. This, in turn, must be creating more difficulties in winding down to an appropriate relaxation state for restorative sleep. The seemingly obvious solution would be to wear your germanium ring to bed, forestalling the thoughts of your neighbors and family. However, both you and I are aware that completely cancelling your telepathy is the source of great anxiety for you, due to your learned hypervigilance. Despite logically knowing that no enemies are in pursuit, no amount of reasoning will allow you to relax when you are experiencing nothing but your thoughts in the lonely darkness of your room. This is why I propose this late-night conversation. I expect it will be more comforting and familiar for you to hear at least one other voice while wearing the germanium ring, hopefully easing your anxiety to the point where you can more easily drop into a restorative sleep. If this experiment is successful, it could prove to be a simple method for alleviating your fatigue."

[ … ]

[And the second reason?]

" … …Well. It is simply that I would like to talk with you, Kusuo-kun. You are my very best friend, and yet we rarely have opportunities to 'chit-chat' one-on-one, due to our schooling, your rather large social circle, and your tendency towards introversion. I hypothesize and hope that this hour and method may serve as an effective way to catch up and enjoy each other's company."

[ … ] 

"I have seen evidence of happiness in you when we share space, however reluctant you may be to organize such occasions yourself. In fact, it is quite fortuitous that your friends are so familiar with your reclusive nature that they do not take offense at your distaste of initiating encounters. Less understanding companions might truly believe that you do not desire their presence."

[ … ] 

[You have a point. What a pain… ] 

[Maybe I should ask my friends to hang out sometimes. Instead of waiting to be strung along.] 

"Indeed! You may even discover that being the organizer enables you to select the time, setting, and duration of each encounter to your preference, instead of remaining at the mercy of whoever roped you into the encounter." 

[Alright, alright. I get it.] 

[We can talk for a little while. See if your idea works.] 

[I could seriously use more sleep… ] 

"Marvelous! I am always delighted in your willingness to challenge yourself for the benefit of your loved ones. Such an admirable trait~" 

[ … ] 

"But I digress! 

(Akechi calls Saiki on the phone because he knows clairvoyance can be tiring, especially if Saiki also has to use his telepathy long distance. Saiki is annoyed at first because he had just been about to go to bed and get some rest, but Akechi suggests that he use his germanium ring since he's going to be awake anyways, and rest a bit that way. Saiki agrees, possibly because Akechi's whispers pique his interest, and quickly realizes that having only Akechi's whispering voice in his head feels really really nice. The silence of the ring is usually too complete for his comfort, so having Akechi affectionately talk his ear off gives the perfect level of noise. Saiki finds himself experiencing ASMR and shivering with delight, actually humming out loud to let Akechi know he was listening or to respond to a prompt, and taking a while to respond to more complex questions because he's so relaxed and drifty.

Akechi catches on quickly and makes sure to minimize the audience participation part of his rant, monitoring Saiki's state of relaxation by the amount of time between breaths and the tone of his hums. When he notices Saiki drifting off to sleep, he smiles and his topic drifts to how much he loves and appreciates his best friend and that he hopes Saiki has sweet dreams, though he avoids using Saiki's name so as to not wake him up. When he hears Saiki's deeply asleep, he lets his voice trail off, then he places the phone on speaker next to his pillow and hugs a teddy bear and falls asleep, both of them comforted by each other's quiet breaths.

Akechi wakes when Saiki does, wishing him a good morning and yawning. He says he slept better than usual and hopes Saiki did too. Saiki grudgingly admits that he slept very well, and that maybe Akechi's phone call was a good thing after all. Akechi tries to fish for more info to see if his ASMR theory is correct, but Saiki dodges his attempts. However, Saiki does say that he wouldn't mind having another "sleepover" and Akechi immediately jumps on the opportunity, getting him to agree to a real sleepover quite soon. During the sleepover, Saiki gets to enjoy Akechi's whispers close up, along with the gentle touch of his hand combing through his hair. And then Akechi admits that hearing Saiki's voice in his head often gives him a similar ASMR experience, so Saiki later [reads] him a book while they snuggle, and Akechi shivers delightedly against Saiki's side. )