#i don't have a working color printer which doesn't help

[egophiliac]

I didn't actually mean for this to coincide with Twst's third anniversary, but hey, good timing is good timing. happy anniversary, everybody! 🎉🎉🎉

SO YEAH: a bunch of you guys were asking about prints of my unique magic/signature spell posters, so here are 6.25" x 4.25", 300 PPI versions of the images (the extra .25" is for bleed, so that a 6 x 4" print will still have the white border without it getting weirdly cropped). my color experiments did, uhhh, not go very well, so there's no color-correction, sorry. :') they should print reasonably okay, but it will depend on your settings/printer/paper/etc., so I recommend doing test prints first if you can!

this is current with the Japanese version, so it does contain spoilers through episode 7, and for the Glorious Masquerade event -- I plan on keeping it updated as I do more, so it will continue to be pretty spoilery! no plACEholder though, sorry, I didn't do him at print resolution. :( there are also a couple of alternates, if you decide you like those better: a red background version of Cater (to fit in more with the rest of the hearts boys), and a version of Ortho's with the ??? in ascii instead of binary. edit: and now also the unused version of Vil's!

disclaimer: these are for PERSONAL USE only! please do not sell them/make them available for sale in any way (including uploading to print-on-demand websites). also, please don't repost, reupload, or use them as bases/materials/etc. (though if you want to use them as inspiration for your own art in this style, absolutely feel free! ❤️)

thank you!

[dizzy-n-busy]

★There's Peace in Submission ★

In other words, Rook is overworked and Auron helps!

{cw: Mildly/unintentionally suggestive(?), non-sexual kneeling, d/s w/ pet mention, Rook behaves pet-like and enjoys it}

I dunno why this thought has plagued me but have it 🔪🔪

• • • ★ • • •

They were overworked.

They knew they would be, with a job like theirs and a Boss like that, it was bound to be straining.

However, it doesn't stop the fact that it's a lot. Yeah, Rook's a good employee who gets work done properly and has higher-ranked levels of experience compared to some of the other new hires, but it's still a lot of work.

Still too many words, too much blue light, too many hand cramps, back pains, repetitive gossiping voices they can just barely hear beyond the clicking of keys which seem endless but never enough.

It was maddening.

So much so that Rook had stood at the printer about 5 minutes after their papers were already printed, thoughts garbled and a migraine buzzing behind the pain killers they'd already taken. They swallow and blink out of their trance, collecting their papers and trudging off to their Boss's office.

They focused on the clicks their shoes made and not the vertigo peeking around the corner - which keeps happening everytime they're up for too long - thinking over their greeting for the red-head. Just a small and simple 'good evening sir, I have all the records you asked for' and they'd be out, filling out the rest of the hours till close with the constant humming overhead lights and blank stare at a screen.

Fun.

Rook eventually sees a shiny, copper colored name tag glimmering on a dark oak door. They straighten their spine as they walk down the hallway to it, barely remembering to knock first.

Knock, Knock...!

Two knuckle taps got a chilled 'come in'.

The doors hinges hardly squeaked due to upkeep but with how overwhelmed Rook's senses were, they were deafening.

Auron sat on the opposite side of the room, half covered by his desk and laptop, writing on a piece of paper with quick glances. Rook swallows down the exhaustion and creaks open their mouth.

" I have the records..."

They flinch at the crackly tone and poor introduction, their throat felt like bleeding from the misuse.

The voice seemed to shock Auron, given how he paused and glanced at who spoke. Behind the expanse of his pupils laid a bleak confusion.

" Rook? " He spoke differently, a bit softer than normal. Despite his gaze being analytical and cold, Rook felt their knees almost go out at the worry flashing in his body language.

They tried to talk again but it seemed fruitless when he beckons them closer, their body moves subconsciously and they feel inclined to shut the door. Auron leans in a bit closer as well, staring into their eyes.

Rook liked Auron's eyes, through the clear glass of the frames perched on his nose bridge did his brown eyes shine; having a wall that always seemed to fall away when they locked eyes. Those same glass framed eyes fitted around Rook's face with assessment.

Auron's lashes fluttered slightly when he did, Rook noted that his bottom ones were always just a tiny bit longer and more pronounced than the thick layer on top. His eyes lid a bit and he leans back in his chair.

" Have you been taking care of yourself, Rook? " The sentence falls slowly, with a drawl of sentiment lagging a bit behind.

Rook creases their brows and almost drops their papers, " why do you ask? "

Auron raises a brow at the distinct lack of his title in their sentence.

" Considering your one of my most prevalent employees, with a very important job, I'd hate it if you started lagging behind due to - " his eyes give them a once over, " - personal issues. "

Rook knaws at their inner cheek, looking down quickly. It was expected of them to behave professionally but they don't even know how to respond without breaking down into frustrated tears.

" Eyes on me. "

It was a familiar sentence, one that was dipped in baritone - one they couldn't disobey.

" Tell me what's wrong, Rook. " His softened brown eyes search theirs for any hints, unknowingly disarming them further with the milk chocolate color, " I want to know if I can help at all. "

Now, Rook has never been particularly shy; if they wanted something, they'd ask - but his question sparked more than just asking for a 5 minute break.

" Can I kneel for you later? "

They kept their voice low, mostly to keep it from crackling again. They stared at Auron who seemed just a bit taken aback, shielded eyes hold a firm gaze. It's too much for Rook, they glanced down.

They've talked about this recently, a random droning conversation a week ago by now; prattling on about anything that came to mind. Rook confessed that they liked kneeling for Auron, not in a sexual way (unless the time calls for it) but a therapeutic way.

They told him how they felt safe and comfortable sitting by legs and placing their head on his knee. He told them that could be arranged whenever they need it, he even bought a pillow on one of their outing trips.

" Why later? "

Their eyes rush back to his just as he throws down something to his side; Auron motions them closer and they follow, legs numb and arms heavy. Crossing the barrier of his desk showed a pillow on the floor, right beside his legs. Rook's eyes flicker to his immediately when he speaks.

" Why not now? " The red-head shifts forward and grabs the records from their hands. His sentence discombobulates them more.

They rush out an anxious explanation, the thoughts they've been having crystalized into words.

" We're still on the clock and I still have more work to do - " They can hardly feel Auron's hands encompass theirs, " - I have to file some extra data and fix a new hires misstep in the system...! "

Their rambling falls short when Auron squeezes their hands. " As far as I'm concerned, you've done all that you were assigned today. "

Rook wants to retort, but they can't. He only scheduled them to do the records today since they completed a large chuck of work yesterday. Their mouth hangs open in a part from lack of response and Auron grins at them.

" And extremely well at that, I can just tell by the papers here that you didn't slack a second on it. "

Rook almost preens at the praise rolling down their spine. Their knees buckle.

" Kneel for me, pet. "

Rook dips to the plush pillow on the floor, one knee after the other; their hands slipping from Auron's to rest on either side of their thighs. They keep their eyes on Auron, finding his head slightly tilted and leaning against his knuckles with his elbow to the glossy surface of the desk.

He taps his leg once with his off hand, the pointer and middle finger skirting the edge of his knee, clad in tailored pants.

It was inviting.

Rook gently lays their head to it, feeling the thoughts slip away. They barely catch Auron ringing up someone.

" Hey, Trish? Cancel everyone whose supposed give me their work in person, I have important business to do. "

And they sat there for hours as Auron looked through their work they'd given him. Loving the dull ache in their knees and the smooth fabric against their cheek. Auron had started playing some random instrumental music, saying it helped him concentrate.

Rook knew it was for them but they didn't bother saying anything about it, they don't even think they can talk right now.

Auron shifts back in his chair and gazes at the darkening sky from the big glass windows. He sighs contently and looks down to Rook sitting still and relaxed by his leg.

He can see that their mouth is slightly open and their eyes are damn near closed, he places a hand in their hair, " Rook - "

He gets cut short when their head follows his hand, leaning into the delicate touch and now showing their face to him from the crane in their neck.

Their eyes fluttering and rolling to a close, a catch in their breath - dissimilar to a pant - brushes against his inner arm which they lean their cheek to; their skin warm and soft against his pulse.

Auron smiles, seeing them far more relaxed and calm then they were when they first arrived. He moves his hand to coddle their cheek, making their eyes open blearily, the color almost completely black from the expanse of their pupils.

" Let's go home, Rook. "

• • • ★ • • •

[katy-l-wood]

If you're an indie author who has considered working with a printer in China, but hesitated because working with an international printer seems scary, here's how my week went to show you that it absolutely is not scary.

I have a Kickstarter planned for my next book in January. I needed two things for this at the moment: some arc copies to send around to a few book influencers ahead of the campaign, and an actual sample of the fancy version of the book that I'm aiming for with the Kickstarter.

I decided to use IngramSpark for the arc copies because I'd get them a lot quicker, and they'd be cheaper since I only need a few. So I put together all my files, get everything all sorted into the proper templates and file types and everything. Get all the way to the last stage of uploading everything and...error code. Error code #303, specifically. What is error code #303? Who knows! Ingram certainly doesn't tell you. Just says to "contact your credit representative." I figure "credit representative" might mean it's an issue with my credit card, so I put a different one in. Nope, still error #303. Okay, maybe it's a browser issue. Let's try the dreaded Chrome. Nope, still getting #303ed. Website issue? I'll just try again tomorrow. Nope, still #303ed. I found one single old Reddit thread that mentions the error, but it was in relation to using a promo code for the upload fee. But Ingram doesn't HAVE upload fees anymore, so...???

I finally cave and send a ticket to the help desk, dreading how long it will take given Ingram doesn't like to provide customer service unless you pay them these days. Shockingly, they get back to me in about a day, but only to tell me that I have to instead contact this weird other "credit support" email. They don't forward it to them or anything, just tell me to do it myself. So I do, copying over my original email about the mysterious #303 error. Few hours later they reply saying the issue has been fixed. I still have no idea what the issue was, mind you, but I did finally get my book shoved all the way through the process. But! But! Now I have to wait 2-3 days for them to create a digital proof for me to approve before I can actually order the damn thing. And last time I did this, my book got stuck again and I had to email them again to get it fully pushed through which took about an additional week total. So when will I actually be able to order these arcs? Who knows!

Meanwhile, I emailed my printer in China on Sunday night about the sample of the fancy version and my representative got back to me by Monday morning with a fully detailed quote on exactly what I needed, various photos of samples all under the same lighting so I could pick the right colors for everything, and templates ready to go based on my specifications. She did it so fast I actually wasn't ready for her and had to tell her it'd be another 48 hours before I could get her the files.

So yeah. Working with international manufacturers who actually give a shit is a DELIGHT. No need to be intimidated by it.

[genericpuff]

Can’t wait for someone to make a copy of RS’s coveted “signature” stamp and just buy a few dozen books, stamp them, and sell them as “autographed” at a huge markup, and goofballs will buy them all.

I mean seriously, that stamp will be incredibly easy to copy if it’s not already been copied, it’s the polar opposite of exclusive or personal. Why anyone would pay $20 for that is beyond me but it proves that RS is a shrewd business person by any means necessary and will be richer than I ever will be. No wonder Hades is her idol.

No joke, there are pictures of Rachel using the stamp at SDCC and-

That stamp is literally just a standard one that you could order through any custom manufacturer. It's not a roller in any way, there's no unique cut they're working off of, it's just a round press stamp.

And it shows because this is the quality of the actual ink when it's on the paper-

Basically low grade printer ink on glossy paper. It's not gonna last at all, and it turned out exactly how I was expecting - there's too much solid color with too thin empty areas so the ink is bleeding into what's supposed to be 'white' (we deal with the same concepts in tattooing so I knew this was gonna happen as soon as I saw the stamp design).

Anyways so that's my long-winded way of saying that I took the stamp that was on Rachel's IG from her promotional posts, desaturated it, added a tone curve layer to adjust the sharpness/clarity, and threw it into VistaPrint. Just for science, and because I'm an asshole trying to prove a point.

Would literally only cost me $20-$30 for the stamp after shipping.

Now for obvious reasons I'm not saying anyone SHOULD do this, like... I'm showing you this for science but really, don't go making counterfeits because of this LOL This is really just to demonstrate how easy it would be for anyone to make a convincing replica, which is the unfortunate drawback to using stamps as your "signature" - and with a very low quality printer shop stamp to boot - because it makes it pretty easy to copy. Not to mention showing off the stamp design beforehand through social media means that people (like me, oop-) can rip it out of your image posts and reverse engineer it into something that can be uploaded and purchased. I get she wanted to make sure that people knew what they were getting, it would have been a HUGE piss off to go see her for a signature just to find out she was doing a stamp, but like... these are the risks that come with stamps.

Don't get me wrong, you can just as easily forge a signature, but it's a little harder to nail someone's personal signature vs. a stamp and you can usually find ways to make it more unique (like what Junji Ito did by giving out little doodles on each signature). It also doesn't help that that stamp is made so cheaply that a poorly done replica would probably be on the same level of quality as the authentic one. And of course she added insult to injury by deciding to sell ACTUAL HAND-SIGNED BOOKS WITH ONLY ONE BOOK THAT HAS ONE CRAPPY DOODLE INSIDE AT ONLY ONE SPECIFIC BOOKSTORE A WEEK AFTER SDCC WAS OVER THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR EVEN IF IT MEANS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN EXTRA COPY OF A BOOK YOU ALREADY OWN-

sigh This isn't an uncommon thing to do, it's not unique to Rachel, but it gives me grifting gacha vibes and it feels like such a fuck you to the people who travelled all the way out to SDCC and paid for the ticket prices just to get a shitty printer ink stamp and then find out a week later after they've undoubtedly gone home that one bookstore in San Diego actually has hand-signed copies. I've seen Youtubers pull this kind of shit with vinyl printings and Youtooz figures and it's equally tacky.

If she had done it either with handwritten signatures or at the VERY least a better quality stamp design and higher quality ink, then yeah, it would be harder to make it seem legit for anyone who's not privy to creating things like lino cuts or using roller ink and thus make it a much more valuable collector's item. But the books at SDCC were literally made with a stamp that anyone can replicate for $20 and then the hand-signed ones were offered at only one bookstore after Rachel had already flown home. It feels so impersonal and cold to the audience that has supported her through all the bullshit she's pulled in the last year.

[livseses]

Headmate nametags!

It's pretty simple but eh, why not share what it is and how we did it.

Just three examples of nametags.

So here's the supplies list:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/PG-Safety-Lanyard-Black-1-Count/164213552

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pen-Gear-Plastic-Name-Tag-Badge-ID-Card-Holders-3-3-8-x-2-1-4-Clear-12-Ct/885720811

Key ring

Notecards (blank ones, not ruled)

Scissors

Markers

And it's pretty simple.

Cut the notecards to 2 ¼" × 3⅜" (or eyeball it to fit into the card holder)

Write the name of a headmate on two cards. This is a chance to stylize with your own flair. Pick colors the headmate likes and/or play with the font. We used this website to explore different font styles: https://www.fontspace.com/

Put them in separate holders but facing opposite directions (put one in one holder, and the other in another holder with the writing facing the back).

Repeat this for all of the headmates getting name tags, except put the first card into a holder that has one reversed (so that from the front it shows one name, and the back another).

When you get to the last name, put the backwards facing card into the first holder in step 3.

Stack them up so that the duplicate names are next to each other.

Slip a ring through the whole bunch. A keyring has been working for us so far. We tried a binder ring but it got loose and kept falling off.

Hook the lanyard on and you're done!

You should have a name tag that shows the same name on both sides (that way when the nametag inevitably flips about, your name is still visible). You pop the ring off of the lanyard and flip to the name of the new fronter when you switch.

If we could manage to get documents and printers to do what we want, we'd some day like to print out our pictures on these nametags so that folks know what we look like. We'd also like to get the nametags laminated for durability. But in the year or two that we've had these, we've only needed to replace the cards themselves once!

We know this doesn't work for systems that are too large or ones that have trouble knowing or sharing who's fronting. But we've found this really helpful around friends and family. (Bonus points: folks we aren't explicitly out to don't seem to notice enough to say anything. Closest we got was someone commenting "what? Worried you'll forget your name?" To which I replied "yup!" And they left it at that. So it doesn't seem to even be as overt as we imagined it would be!)

[you-will-return]

For once, I'm actually doing what I said I'd do in a timely manner.

So this will be jacket post part two: electric boogaloo, bc I didn't want the other one to get too long.

Anyway so yesterday I finished all the sewing (you'll see what I mean) and on Wednesday I finished the painting at Maxi's place (who btw came over and helped me finish my uni stuff so everybody go thank Maxi bc otherwise I'd still be sitting here crying over my shitty printer.... anyways)

Let's get to it

Here we have the front of the jacket (I'll show the collar area in more detail in a sec). On the right pocket I added my LOTSAD pin (yes, I still think the abbreviation is funny), originally I wanted to put the Blind Channel one there but then I realized 'sewing inside of a pocket sucks ass, as does sewing through two layers of jean fabric at once', so here we are. The sewing doesn't look very clean but fuck it (it's just rock'n'roll, okay I'll shut up). Maxi told me 'It would've looked better if you had cross stitched it' to which i replied 'Honey, I'm just glad that it's on there'. Anywho underneath the ghost, between the buttons I added the word(s) 'care fully' (which can be read as one or two words and I kinda like that. It's a Mitski reference but also I just love playing with language).

Here we have the LOTSAD pin (and shitty sewing job) in more detail and as you can see I finally added the GIANTS pin above the Get Up coward.

The Joonas smiley got some company. Tbh sewing the beads on like this was so much easier than trying to sew on the pins.

More beads!!! I decided to make the rays two-colored bc why not? And I know the bead placement is a bit on the nose, but eh who cares? Also I added the birds last minute bc freedom and the sea and all that (in my heart they're evil lil seagulls).

(This is nothing new but I just wanted to show it to y'all colored in)

From bottom to top: The knife (!!) is finally colored in and I couldn't be happier. Imagine walking by someone and then boom KNIFE!! (I hope you can tell how much I love this stupid bloody knife). Above this I added one of my favourite songs off of the new album. But yeah it has a star in the middle, bc they're burning (again lost an arm and a leg on the creativity). And you might notice that these beads are different, and that's bc I did this arrangement at home, where I had a greater variety available :)

My favourite part of the jacket, still. It's so simple and yet it just works. Again, I know that you've seen this before but I just wanted to show it outlined and coloured in :)

Now for the back:

Top to bottom: since my collar is usually down, I put the Watching Over Me mainly here for myself, but it's for good reason. This lyric really means a lot to me on a personal level and it's from the first MCR song I ever listened to (so it's double special), so no one but me (and you guys now haha) has to see it or know it's there, but I still wanted it to be included. Secondly: the Bad Idea back piece is done!!! Yaay!! And the roses don't look like colored in 8s anymore (double yay!!). I'll admit it looks pretty edgy (what about this jacket doesn't) but I really enjoyed painting it. I think I might have also done it out of spite for my 9th grade English teacher, who, after I had done a presentation abt MCR, told me:"Nice presentation. But Anna, all that blood and gore? Is that really necessary?" Yes, yes it is ma'am.

Lastly: the rest of the back. Yeah I kinda just went ham with the beads and pins, but it was fun (for the most part). Bottom to top: The 747 is finally colored in, bc of its position it's kinda reminiscent of an incomplete license plate but if you knew my history with this number, you'd agree that it makes this just that much more fitting.

Above it the Blind Channel beads, kind of as a summary of everything above them.

Then we have Balboa (why is there a heart bead? Bc Maxi had some lying around and I thought it looked pretty). I really like this song and I would give a lot for that skeleton Breakdowns for Breakfast t-shirt.

Above Balboa we have a part of glory for the greedy. No deeper reason for why it's here just 'mwah'. This was the first bead arrangement I sewed on btw and lemme tell you it was a struggle.

Talking about struggle we have the Don't Fix Me pin arrangement that made me want to throw myself into a river. I struggled so much with this but I ended up really liking it. Pink + edgy??? Fuck yeah, that's what I live for. I know the song itself is not everyone's favourite, but I've been listening to it on repeat ever since it came out so lol

Lastly we have the Left To Die beads (yes alive or only burning, again, that song has been living in my head rent free ever since I first listened to the album and not just bc of the jupiter line haha). When I first heard the chorus I was like 'huh' and then i thought about it some more and I was like 'hUH?!?', anywho needless to say this lyric hits me every single time (:

Soooo.... that's the jacket. Edgy, wonky and with a certain.... diy-charm.

Hope you enjoyed this journey and its outcome as much as I did.

Bonus: The diy saftey pin necklace (by me) and saftey pin earrings (by Maxi), that I'll probs wear at the concert. Alongside a Revenge bracelet that I wanted to sew onto the jacket but sadly didn't know where to put.

[levelrazearts]

Custom MPM Barricade, a very extensive touch up basically cause Hasbro couldn't tell what purple was from blue and I was salty about >:3 But yeah, a other MPM painted and I don't regret it cause I really like how he came out, particularly with the contrast between his body and the wheels, which I painted in a flat rubber (actual color name lol) and was pleasantly surprised with how it looked and it helps them look like real tires almost. Probably coulda used it as a wash on flat black but next time perhaps. Basically this figure is a lot of flat and gloss black, gloss white, silver, gold, flat rubber, purple metallic flake, some flat red for the eyes, and Molotow chrome pen for the side mirrors. The windows I decided to cover them over in black sharpie for, as much as I woulda loved to keep them clear, it would help fill the arms out just a bit better, and one of his door windows had a pretty nasty scratch that I wasn't able to get rid of sadly and thus this was the next best option, and I do like how it turned out. For the wheel weapon, because it's spikes were made out of rubber, I did the same thing that I did with Ratchet in spray painting them just in silver and putting a clear coat on afterwards which definitely helped keep it on. After that it was just touching up on the plastic bits of it with gloss and flat black, rubber and some silver and it was good to go. Also used some Toyhax stickers (the 643 on his front and next to his doors as I needed them, unfortunately couldn't find a new Decepticon badge to replace the purple ones and I have to figure out why my printer doesn't want to work to print out my own as I did make some so I just lightly painted the blue on them in purple for now and I think they look okay for now. Reference for this was a bit hard to get but in the end I think I was able to get him as accurate as possible minus some liberties but I like how he came out and am glad to be done with him cause he took a bit to long to complete lol. Certainly gonna be doing more of these now as it's rather fun to match all the details up and have been learning new details while revisiting the scenes that these characters appear in so yeah, that's that

[study-with-aura]

August 17, 2022

*scheduled post*

I most likely won't have time to post Wednesday because of my schedule, so I thought I would write a list of tips that I have learned during my time being homeschooled from 1st to now 8th grade. Not only have these things helped with keeping a positive outlook when the day or week gets difficult, but they have allowed me to be successful thus far in my schooling and in all of my extracurricular activities.

My Guide for Homeschooling Successfully:

Set a routine. Routines help to plan out the day and make sure that things that need to get done can get done. But be flexible. The routine doesn't have to be set in stone. Plan out when schooling will take place and schedule other activities around it.

Get dressed. One thing my mom instilled in my brother and me when we began homeschooling was that we could not attend school in our pajamas unless we were having a special pajama day. Because we school on certain holidays that public schools are out, we usually use those as pajama days. Getting dressed and ready for the day helps with putting me in a positive mindset and can be great for mental health!

Get involved. There's a crazy myth about homeschoolers that we're secluded away from the rest of the world because we don't attend a regular school. I can say that this myth is nearly 100% false. There are homeschool clubs in many areas. Our library even offers STEAM classes once a week for homeschoolers and a nearby nature center also has special classes geared specifically for homeschooled students. There are sports clubs one can get involved in at a local recreation center like the YMCA or maybe dance classes like I'm in. There are even scouting troops or church youth group gatherings. Socializing is important for all humans as we have a need for connection, and there are many ways to stay connected and build useful skills like leadership, teamwork, and cooperation.

Take on a hobby. Hobbies are great for anyone to have, and they can also help with learning. Who says learning has to be boring? One of my hobbies is video gaming. I've watched my brother play his video games since I was young, and I recently in the past couple of years started video gaming with him as well. While you might think, "what can one learn from a video game?", in truth, there's a lot that can be gained. For one, it helps with determination and perseverance. If I can't defeat a boss, I don't give up. I find out what I need to do by fighting it over and over again until I finally defeat it. I also learn strategy. Some games I play require logic and strategizing in order to succeed. This can help with thinking creatively. I recently started playing an MMORPG with my brother, and I joined his guild. The guild runs dungeons together and this requires group coordination and effort and the ability to work together respectfully as a team.

Set up a dedicated workspace. It's important to have a dedicated workspace for schooling. My brother and I have a study room that we solely use for our schoolwork. Some of our friends have spaces set up in their main living room or outside the kitchen. This dedicated workspace can help the brain know that it's time to focus. It's similar to how people say not to have the television or computer in the bedroom. The bedroom is meant for sleeping, and we want our brains to recognize that it's time for bed, not entertainment. Having a dedicated workspace also means that all the supplies should be located within reach instead of having to move around a lot to get anything that's needed. My brother and I each have our own desk on opposite sides of the room. My desk has my gel pens, highlighters, pencils, my binder that I put all my schoolwork in, coloring utensils like crayons and markers plus other art supplies in one of the drawers, scissors, glue sticks, and extra notebooks and composition books. We also have a central printer in the room which is great because I prefer to print off my work as I go instead of all at once.

Ask for help. My brother and I teach ourselves by following a curriculum, but sometimes I may not understand a concept no matter how many times I look over the examples or watch videos. Because my brother is four years older than me, he's a great resource to help explain things in a way that may make it easier for me to understand. But my parents always help too. If I have questions about a writing assignment or a presentation I have to put together, they're always there to reassure me and help walk me through the parts I can't figure out on my own. There's nothing wrong with reaching out for assistance when necessary, but I always try to solve the problem on my own first and never wait until the last minute. The moment I realize that something isn't working no matter what I try, I ask for help.

Take charge of your own education. The great thing about homeschooling is that even though I'm following a set curriculum, I have the option of diving into topics more deeply because I set my own pace with my learning. Right now, I'm reading an optional book for Modern History because I was curious to learn more about George Washington Carver's life after reading a short biography. The other great part about homeschooling is schooling in the field! Yes, that means field trips! We schedule trips to the local art and science museums as well as going to the local parks to immerse in nature. This allows me to apply what I'm learning to real life scenarios or to study certain topics through primary sources.

Take breaks. During the time I do my school work, I typically take about three to four breaks. My brother and I take an hour or so break to fix and eat lunch, and I like to also take a break after finishing any difficult lesson. Usually about halfway through my schoolwork, I will take a walking break. I like to go outside and walk for about 10 minutes before coming back in and finishing up my core schoolwork for the day. After I complete my main schoolwork, I'll take another short break before I start any of my supplemental learning such as Khan Academy, Duolingo, or my extra daily reading. Breaks allow for information that I learned during the previous study session to have time to process. I find that if I jump from one subject to the next without giving my brain time to process any new information, I can't recall it as well when it comes up again. This is another reason I like to meditate when I finish my main schoolwork. It allows my mind time to actively rest and re-center before going into my supplemental study sessions.

Set goals. Goalsetting is very important! I like to set goals by quarter, which for me is about 45 days of schooling. While I like to set overarching goals, it's also good to set a goal for each course. On top of academic goals, I have personal goals that my planner refers to as character/spiritual goals, and other goals that don't fit cleanly into either section. Character/spiritual goals can be things like meditating, taking on a leadership position in a group that one's involved in, or volunteering for so many hours a quarter or semester. For other goals, I put financial literacy goals, such as creating my first budget. This complements my computer course since I'm learning Excel this year. I also put goals about video gaming on there, so I spend less time on my video games of the weekend and more time with my family or taking on a new hobby. Make sure that the goals being set are SMART goals. This means that they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.

Have fun! I think it can be easy to get overwhelmed at times, but remember that homeschooling is whatever one makes it out to be. There's no one right way to homeschool. Find what works best and go for it.

Have a great year!

[blahandwhatever]

Had some legit good times lately, feeling better, getting back in touch with parts of myself that had gone underground for a while - but still sleeping sooooo much most days, feeling drawbacks each time I cut it short.

Slowly getting into the transition into fall and out of the bittersweetness of the end of summer. I think I did good at summer, all in all, and it's easier to be content with the end when I feel I lived it fully. I think, too, it's as good a season as any for The Burdens - enough sunshine and other pleasures to keep my spirits up at least some of the time, enough free outdoor entertainment to enjoy myself without much money (thankfully, I made keeping my gas tank full a priority, which I didn't always do before in times like this - and then I'd find myself frustratingly limited).

That said, I still feel like this transition is a bit quick - already so many color changes and some almost-bare trees. I usually don't think much about catching the fall colors until October.

I keep trying to catch up on various things at home and keep finding myself deprioritizing them in favor of job hunting, work (when I have it) and other money-making ventures, sleep, and/or the outdoors. The past three days have all revolved around unmissable outdoor opportunities. Thursday I went to the botanic garden again for another free admission day - even when not at its peak, it's still a good place for a nice long walk (and one of few walking spots that don't feel weird to dress up for). I still find myself in these back-and-forths between periods of getting overly sedentary (and/or housebound) and periods of making up for that.

Yesterday was a rare (for recent times) opportunity to enjoy some real warmth, so I made sure to go for a Buffalo Grove walk while the ever more elusive sun was still fully out. Had a little photo shoot with an unusually unflappable butterfly. Then, having received my latest taste test gift card (for probiotic-infused cherry colas), I had to do some shopping, and then I scrapped some other plans to take a nighttime shower and get to bed early in hopes of getting up and leaving the house at a reasonable time the next day.

Had an unusually difficult time sleeping last night - not just in terms of falling asleep early but throughout the whole night. Wonder if it could be as simple as having skipped my yogurt and not substituted it with an extra calcium supplement. Last time I had unexplained sleep troubles, calcium turned out to be the solution. I didn't think I'd be that sensitive to one-day fluctuations, but in any case, I made sure to correct that today, and we'll see.

Today I went to Naperville - usually a Sunday thing, but the weather was looking worse on Sunday, and it might've been my last chance to go for a bike ride this year. Given my poor sleep, I was, as usual for these trips, not in the best state - it's a curse, I swear. Still, I enjoyed the sights, and I did end up going for a bike ride - which I felt lukewarm about for a while, given my meh mood, the cloudiness, and a chilliness that left me regretting not dressing warmer, but eventually I warmed up, and the sun came out, and some pretty clouds formed in the sky, and I wound up doing a fairly thorough excursion through my favorite places along the lake route.

Other than that, my mother fed me as usual, and stocked me up on her cooking, and gave me a Crockpot she'd bought for herself but decided she wasn't going to use. I helped her sort out her latest issue with the dystopian nightmare that is a modern HP printer. Neither of us was in the best mood, nor the worst; we talked a bit and made do. Managed to go quite long without broaching the subject of my father - who's usually gone on weekends when my mother doesn't work, off playing poker - but inevitably, I asked eventually, and inevitably, that opened the floodgates it seemingly always does. I'll probably make a separate post on the latest with my parents,* though there hasn't been too much drama, and I've been relatively detached from it.

Last weekend I went to Schaumburg on Saturday and spent most of Sunday bogged down in a work project. Looks like this Sunday will be similar, in the interest of getting paid as soon as possible and staying on top of the razor's edge of my bills, though at least this project's not quite as long. Then there's the neverending chore catch-up and more job applications. Good enough for a rainy day.

I'm dying to finally put an end to the underemployment. Something's gotta give.

*Or maybe not. Might not write much about that situation unless it's actively on my mind a lot or there is some major development.

[maplecornia]

chapter 28

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱: 2.13K

𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔢: romance | slice of life | fluff | angst | bts x female!reader | ot7

𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: You watched them from the sidelines ever since you were a young teenage girl. Now you’re grown up, they’ve returned after 2 long years and everything has changed. What happens when you pull back the mask and find the darkness within? What happens when you see that they’re broken?

𝔞/𝔫: Jin looks kind of like a vampire in my banner ngl

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: cliffhangers | angst | fluff | slight mentions of self hatred | depression | mental health illness | self harm | occurs in the year 2024 | set in a timeline where BTS went to the military together | slight language

tags:@kookaine |@fangirl125reader |@kookiebbyxx |@taradevonne |@rae-bear |@mangminnie |@pixiekooo

What does he know?

You find yourself spacing out as you stand at the printer, waiting for Namjoon's schedule.

Just when you thought you had found some normalcy to your already chaotic life, you find yourself here. Biting your bottom lip, you groan, falling on top of the printer, the warmth as it sparks to life easing you even if it's for a little while.

"Why me?" you murmur, your brow furrowed and eyes glistening with helpless emotion. "Why now?"

What happened to the auditions you had sent before? In a time where you believed that you could achieve your dream without anything or anyone else holding you back. Were you not good enough then?

What makes you good enough now?

Groaning, you slide off the printer and run your hands through your hair. Your neat look has been thoroughly rumpled, just like your day, and you wonder if there will ever be a time where you're allowed to breathe.

Where you're welcome to let go.

With the small slip of paper sliding out of the printer, you grab it and turn swiftly around, ready to take it to Namjoon.

If only life were easier.

With a sharp cry, you bump into a couple of people walking by, and scalding hot liquid splatters between the two of you. A bitter, almost pitch black liquid soils your shirt and destroys the schedule you hold in your hands.

Coffee? Again?

Sighing, You wipe some of the drops off your face before glancing up to see if the pair is all right.

It's two girls and from the looks of it, they seem to be staff themselves, perhaps working on the publications team. You try to catch a glimpse of their badges, but they're moving too much and you can't get a good enough look.

However, you're able to catch a glimpse of their features perfectly fine. One of them is tall, with a soft tan to her smooth skin, and darker features. She has obsidian eyes that glitter when the light catches them and a square jawline that matches her demanding aura. Her hair is long and straight but looks soft to the touch. She doesn't wear many expressions on her face, however, and looks to be a bit standoffish. She would be hard to get close to.

The second one is the one who was carrying the coffee and though her face is pulled into one of disgust, you can tell that she's gorgeous. She has soft honeydew skin and almond butter eyes. Her face is perfectly symmetrical, and her lips full and glossy. Her eyes are large and wide, a deep brown color, with long dark eyelashes brushing against her cheek each time she blinks. They would otherwise be beautiful if they didn't sparkle with hatred and malice.

After a moment, you recognize what you've done; panic rising in your throat, you scramble to do something. You quickly reach for your emergency towels, but you've left your satchel in your small office. Cursing silently underneath your breath, you reach down to pick up the discarded cup and help her as best as you can.

"I'm sorry I--"

"Watch out will you?!"

Stunned, you step back, not sure what to do. It's been a while since you've been yelled at like that. A while since you've felt that shock. Swallowing hard, you shake it off and proceed to pick up the cup, keeping your distance.

Maybe it's better to just leave her alone.

"Wait..." at the sound of her voice, you look up, rather disinterested. "Who are you?"

Rolling your eyes, you turn to the trash can. You can't believe you expected an apology. Her friend, the one who was helping her clean up, peers at you before nudging her.

"She's who we were talking about, remember? Jaejin's replacement."

At the mention of your friend's name, your ears perk, and you drop the coffee cup in the trash can. Just what have they been saying about you two? Biting the inside of your cheek in annoyance, you turn around, facing them head-on.

"Oh!" The coffee girl's eyes widen. She looks you up and down as though inspecting a piece of meat. Her lip curls as she turns to her friends, eyes darkening with disgust. "Why didn't they ask one of us? She's hardly experienced."

You raise an eyebrow. Do they think you can't hear them? The dark beauty shrugs, her black eyes dull with disinterest.

"I heard she knows Jaejin. He gave her the post."

You try to be angry, you try to deny the accusations...but they aren't wrong.

Somehow, that makes it worse.

"Who is she, a colonizer?!" Ms. Coffee scoffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. You try not to flinch, but you can't control it. You swallow hard, curling your hands into fists at your sides.

"Besides, isn't Jaejin dating Mijeong?"

Your breath stops as you hear the words, the same words Sunoh said when you met him. The same words which remind you of everything you have lost.

If they continue to speak, you don't listen, you can't hear them. The roar starts in your ears as your blood rushes to your head, and spots cloud your vision. You can't see, you can't think, you can't function.

Why is it still so hard?

Why can't you let go?

You feel yourself begin to sway as the room swirls into fragments of time and space, and you lose sight of where and who you are.

The only thing left is pain.

Always pain.

"Who says he isn't?" The hand wrapping itself securely around your shoulder, the soft calming voice at your ear, brings you back to reality and you're able to breathe again.

"Jojo?" The tall dark beauty's eyes widen and she steps back a bit. It seems as though she's started a fight she won't be able to finish. Jojo narrows her eyes, her hand tightening around your shoulder as she pulls you behind her in a protective gesture.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing." Miss Coffee quickly intervenes, sending a wide smile your way. One that somehow comes across as menacing, matching the anger in her eyes. "Just a careless newbie is all."

Her voice is dripping with sarcasm and her friend beside her pinches her in her side, whispering something incomprehensible in her ear. The Coffee Girl shakes her off, growing furious by the second. You narrow your eyes her way. This has to be more than a stupid coffee spill, but what could she possibly have against you?

"Come on, Jojo. She's the one in the wrong. If it were any one of us, you wouldn't give a second look." She snarls before turning to you and reaching around Jojo to push you backward.

"Ya!" Jojo cries out in surprise, stepping in front of you, but not before the damage is done. Caught off guard, you stumble back into the printer. Her friend gasps, and steps back. You wonder if she's considering removing herself from the equation. Pulling yourself up, you glare at her before stepping forward.

"What's your problem?" you hiss, your hands clenching at your side to try and contain your anger. Jojo steps in front of you once more, just in case you decide to start swinging some punches. Frustrated, you push her aside. It's not like you're going to do anything. Jojo sends you a sideways glance, but you ignore her, focusing on the target in front of you. “What are you, a child?”

"Did you hear something?" The girl smirks, nudging her friend beside her who swallows nervously. You don't know why, but that only makes you angrier, and you consider stepping across Jojo to smack some sense into her. Instead, you deepen your glare and roll your eyes.

"Pathetic..."

Are you wrong? She's acting like a child. So naturally, your snide comment doesn't sit well with her. Eyes widening in anger, she raises her hand to slap you across the cheek, and you flinch.

But the strike never comes.

Opening your eyes slowly, you turn to find someone has come in between the two of you, hand wrapped tightly around the girls. You look to Jojo, half expecting the source to be her...but it's not. Her eyes are wide and she seems to have frozen.

So then who?

"Now now." Your eyes widen at the voice and your heart starts pounding hard in your ears as he steps in front of you, shielding you. The girl stares up at him with shameful fear, as though her entire world has just been shattered. "You should really watch your temper."

He drops her hand and she steps back, her friend catching her from behind.

"You never know who might be watching."

He gestures to the room, at the groups of people watching, whispering to each other. They don't hide their interest, nor their disgust as they send looks towards the girl.

Satisfied, he turns to you, a reassuring smile breaking out on his face. The same face known and cherished worldwide. Up close, it's even more unreal.

Kim Seokjin.

"As you said, Yen is new, and when you were first starting out, you made way more mistakes believe me." Jojo snaps, her eyes glittering with anger as she turns to Coffee. She steps forward, leaning beside her ear.

"I would be careful who you make an enemy, sweetheart." She whispers harshly, loud enough for anyone close to the two of them to hear. "Namjoon quite likes his assistant, wonder what he'd do if something happened to her."

Though the threat wasn't directly said, it's clear what Jojo meant and as she pulls back, smiling sweetly; the girl's pale face tells you that she clearly understood.

"Is that all then?" Jin says from beside you, causing you to jump. When did he get so close? The girl glances at the two of you and seems to grow furious at the sight. Her pale face quickly flushes with anger and she scowls before storming away, ramming her shoulder violently into yours before she goes; her friend scuttling after her.

"Ya!" Jojo calls, but the girl is already gone, and you don't mind. Scoffing, she shakes her head before turning to you. "So immature...what are we kids?"

You don't respond, instead, you turn away from the pair of them, finding your printed schedule discarded and drenched on the ground. Sighing, you pick it up, holding it gingerly in your hands.

Everything soiled.

"Now I have to start all over."

Behind you, Jojo and Jin give each other a look before Jojo kneels beside you and places her hand on your shoulder. When you don't look at her right away, she peers into your face and you turn to her, your face blank.

"Yen, are you alright?" you nod before pulling away, throwing the schedule in the trash can.

"I'm fine."

Jojo sighs before standing as well.

"Why didn't you stop them?" you pause at the question.

Why didn't you stop them? You're not sure you know yourself. You wanted to, you wanted to fight back...

But you have no fight left.

Sighing, you shake off the feeling of despondency before turning to her and smiling weakly.

"Were they wrong?" Jin furrows his brow in concern at the phrase. He tries to read your expression, understand what's wrong but it's near impossible. You've closed yourself off to everyone around you, and while you try to act tough, you're afraid. Sighing you turn away from them, unable to handle the pitying looks. "Besides, I don't have to answer to them."

I don't have to answer to anybody.

After a moment, Jin walks to your side and places his hand gently on your shoulder. Surprised, you flinch away from his grasp, but it doesn't phase him. He looks down at you with a somber expression before noticing your drenched shirt. You follow his gaze and the heat of embarrassment floods your cheeks. You quickly fold your arms across the stain, acting as though it doesn't exist. He smirks a little at the attempt.

Now she...she's interesting.

"Jojo?" He calls, still staring at you, and you narrow your eyes.

What is he expecting, a cookie?

"Would you mind printing out the schedule for Ms..." His eyes search for your badge before he locates it and takes it, reading your name. "...Lin today?"

Jojo nods but looks towards him a bit perplexed.

"Sure...but what are you planning to do?"

Smiling he twirls your ID in his hand before you snatch it away from him which only makes his smile grow wider. Taking your hand, he turns and pulls you behind him, Jojo staring at the two of you in shock.

"I'm going to help her change."

𝔫𝔬𝔱𝔢: another BTS member encounter! and yes, it's the cliche stop of the slap, shut up 🙄

chapter 29 here

check the Infinite Stars masterlist for more chapters

check my BTS masterlist for other BTS content

check out my masterlist for other kpop fanfics

[dnd-apothecary]

Sticker Poll Results

You guys definitely want physical stickers, which I love and respect. I, too, collect so many stickers. Ask me how many books of planner stickers I have. Actually, don't.

Here are some thoughts on digital stickers for your consideration, and if you want to go the physical route, I gotchu boo, I am working on it.

Pros to Digital Stickers/digital files for print your own:

No sticker anxiety - if you use them in a note taking app, you can use the same sticker over and over again, as well as move it and not have to deal with the anxiety of 'wrong placement' ever again.

PNGs are supported for multiple note taking apps and what have you - I just have to figure out how to do this, and I am actively researching this

If you download them yourself and print and cut them yourself, whether on a cricut/silhouette/plot cutter machine of your choice, or you do it by hand, you can print off as MANY AS YOU WANT. FOREVER. See the first point about no more sticker anxiety.

resize them. make them bigger or smaller. layer those bitches.

immediate access to the file, no shipping required. Instant gratification and serotonin, baby!

Less expensive because you are paying for it once. All you are paying for is my time. No extra supplies or overhead are added.

No limit to quantities. Everyone who wants them would get them.

Cons to Digital Stickers/digital files for print your own:

Not everyone has a digital note taking app, so I recognize this is a niche market

Not everyone has a printer or access to a printer. Or if they do, it's not a color printer.

Sticker paper can be expensive, especially if you're going for waterproof vinyl so it can be used outdoors or on items that get a lot of use, like laptops

It's time consuming to print your stickers, then line them up on a cutting mat and run them through the software to cut them, not to mention cutting by hand is tedious

there's a slight learning curve for using the digital stickers.

Pros to Physical Stickers:

They are physical stickers that come in the mail. Happy mail makes a happy heart!

There is something so fun in looking at a sticker sheet or handful of stickers and deciding which one is your favorite and that you will use first.

Appeases the sticker gremlin

Can be used as rewards for completing tasks! Fill up a sticker chart, a calendar, use it for tracking your meds/habits/whatever

Typically a cohesive theme on a sheet

Can make cute bundles!!

Cons to Physical Stickers:

They have to be shipped. Listen, we know our turnaround time isn't the fastest. I'm just sayin'.

Sticker anxiety is a thing.

May get damaged in transport (even though we would do our best that this doesn't happen, it happens)

Limited number of stickers.

More expensive. You would be paying me for my time designing them, printing them, cutting them, the sticker paper, the ink, and the shipping supplies, plus the learning curve for me to get them the correct size, scale, and print/cut correctly OR having to go through a 3rd party to have them made for me.

Less likely to go on sale

Limited quantities

That being said, I have no qualms or issues about making physical stickers. I like doing both, and will probably offer both, tbh. I will just focus on the physical ones first.

That all being said, you guys mentioned you wanted more themed stickers, so what are we thinking? Do we want them based off dnd classes? Do we want them based off of the store fragrance lines? Do we just want various dnd monsters/magic items/clicky clackies?

Help me out so I know what I should be spending time and energy on that you guys actually want!

[honeyimthedevil]

Tattoo artist AU

Pairing: Peter Parker x Tony Stark

Word count: 2,2K

I wrote this for a friend's birthday and they let me post it

***

Peter cleaned the exes ink from the fresh tattoo and wrapped it. He explained to the person again what he can and can’t do and then walked him out of the salon. He changed the needle, cleaned the stool and sat down, waiting for his next client.

A sleek car pulled up in front of the salon. One very good-looking man got out of the Audi and looked at the sign on top of the shop. He opened the door, making the bell over in jingle.

Peter turned around at the sound of the bell and smiled.

"Welcome to Peter's tattoo studio! I'm Peter. How can I help you?" He walked up to the person, who turned around to face him.

"Hello darling," the man smiled back at him, "I believe I have an appointment to get my first tattoo"

Peter's mouth watered at the sign of the man in front of him. The male looked strangely familiar and very very handsome.

Peter reached for his notebook and looked over the names.

"You're Tony Stark?"

"The one and only" the man answered.

"Come with me, sir"

"Please, call me Tony"

"Okay Tony. You can sit here," Peter pointed to the stool, "Do you know what kind of tattoo you want? And where you want it?"

"Yes, I know what I want. But before I tell you, your tattoos look phenomenal!" He complimented, looking over Peter's arms.

"Thank you, Tony. Will you tell me what I'm gonna be doing, please?"

"Yes. Yes of course. I want it on my side. Here's a picture" Tony got a phone out of his pocket and scrolled a little before turning it to Peter. The boy took the phone in his hands and observed the picture. It was a single red rose with the words 'love is love' in cursive along the staple.

"Okay," Peter gave him back the phone, "Can you send me the picture. You can get comfortable. You can just lift your shirt or take it of, whatever you're comfortable with"

Tony took of his shirt, revealing his scared chest, and threw it on the chair next to the bed. He was quick with sending the picture, then he lied down on the side that wasn't getting tattooed.

"Take your time, Pete" he said, looking around the room. The boy took the colors he needed and put them, along with the gun on the rollable table. He went to the computer and clicked a few buttons. The printer at the corner of the table buzzed and a single sheet of paper appeared.

"How old are you?" Tony asked, looking over Peter.

"I'm gonna tell you only if you tell me first" the boy said, taking the sheet, a spray bottle and cotton balls and putting them on next to the gun, on the small table.

"I'm 45. Now you" Tony answered.

"You don't look 45. I thought you were 35 at max. I'm 19, turning 20 in a few months"

"You're young. I, to be honest, don't remember that part of my life really well"

"Why?" Peter asked, turning to Tony, "oh, sorry. That's a personal question. You don't have to tell me"

"It's okay. I was drunk most of the time, and high, and I don't mean I was tipsy kind of drunk. I was completely wasted. I stopped drinking anything other than beer when I was 30"

"Oh. I haven't tried anything other than beer. I'm still underage" Peter said.

Tony nodded, falling silent. Peter rolled his chair to the bed and put on gloves. He opened the bottle and poured some of the liquid on the cotton.

"Do you want it here?" Peter pointed around the middle of Tony's side.

"Yes"

Peter ran the cotton over Tony's skin and then threw it in the bin. He placed the print on the disinfected stop and pressed it for a few seconds, then put it aside.

"It's not supposed to hurt much. Tell me if it does" he explained, preparing the gun.

"Okay, Pete"

The boy turned it on and the room was filled with the buzzing sound. Peter made the first line and wiped the exes ink.

"How did that feel?" He asked.

"It didn't hurt at all. You can continue"

Peter nodded and continued with the stem.

"Tony, can I ask you something?" The boy said, breaking the silence.

"Of course"

"You seem very familiar, have we met before?" He wiped away the ink again.

"Do you buy New York Times' magazines?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with it?"

"I was on the cover a few months ago"

"You were?" Peter asked, amused.

"Yeah, because I confirmed I was gay. It's been a big scandal over the years, my sexuality"

Peter got lost in his thoughts for a second.

"Wait, you're Tony Stark, the CEO of stark industries?"

"The company is mine. I'm not CEO, though"

"You're a millionaire!" Peter exclaimed.

"A billionaire, actually. Don't treat me differently because of my money. I've had enough of that"

"I won't" Peter nodded.

"Can I- can I tell you a secret?" The boy asked.

"Um, yeah, if you want to"

"I'm bi. Nobody knows, well, except you"

"Still in the closet, I see. I completely accept you. Anything else you want to get of your chest?" Tony asked.

"I'm still virgin. Don't laugh at me please. I just haven't found the right person yet"

"I'm not gonna laugh at you Pete. It rare to see that these days. Let's be real, I'm the one in the wrong here, losing my virginity at 14" the man explained.

"You were 14?"

"Yep, and it was with a prostitute. I'm not proud of it" Tony wiggled.

"Don't move" Peter gripped Tony with more force

"Sorry"

An hour later Tony's tattoo was ready. Peter wrapped it and let the man sit on the bed.

"If I, hypothetically, asked you out what would you say?" Tony suddenly blurted out.

"Hypothetically, I'll say yes" Peter answered.

"When do you finish work? I'm gonna get you"

"You're my last client for today"

"Oh, then I'll wait for you to close and then imma take you for a coffee maybe?"

"Yeah, coffee sounds good" Peter smiled at him.

Peter started tidying up the studio, while Tony sat on the stool asking if he can help with anything and the boy saying no every time. Thirty minutes more later they were walking out of the shop.

"Is this your car?" Peter asked, pointing at the flashy yellow Audi parked in front of the studio.

"Yep, my favorite" Tony unlocked said car and opened the passenger door for Peter. The boy sat in and the man closed the door, going to his seat. He breathed in the smell of the car and started the engine, driving off.

"Which coffee shop do you prefer?" Tony asked.

"I make my own coffee at home. You choose, I don't know which is good"

"I make my own coffee as well. Do you wanna come to mine?" He proposed.

"Well, if you don't mind having a stranger in your house" Peter said.

"You're not a stranger. You're Peter" the boy chuckled.

"Okay, we can go to yours" Tony nodded and continued onward.

With the music in the background, the car drive was filled with chatter. They entered the suburbs and Tony parked before one of the fanciest houses Peter has ever seen. They entered the house with Tony being welcomed by his AI. Peter looked around amazed.

"Wow, this place is amazing" the boy exclaimed.

"Thanks," Tony said, leaning on the dark leather couch, "How do you like your coffee?"

"With lots of milk"

"Of course," the man chuckled, "you heard him, J" he told, looking at the ceiling.

"Okay, boss. One black coffee and one with a lot of milk will be ready in a minute"

"Thanks J. Do you mind if I go change?" He asked Peter.

"No, not at all. I'll advise you not to put a shirt on though and you can unwrap the tattoo, let it breath"

"Okay, I'll be back in a sec.

Tony walked down a corridor and Peter was left alone in the living room.

"Mr. Parker, your and sir's coffee are ready and are in the kitchen, the second room on your left"

"Um, thank you Jarvis"

Peter went to the kitchen and took the two steaming cups in his hands. He put them on the table in the leaving room and sat on the couch. Around a minute later Tony was back, now in a pair of sweats with white socks and no shirt on as Peter said he should do.

"Thank you again, the tattoo looks amazing" Tony said as he sat down and taking his cup.

"Well, after all, that's what I do for a living"

A comfortable silence fell over them, they sipped on their coffees.

"Do you plan on going to university?" Tony asked.

"I wanted to go. I was supposed to be in MIT, they accepted me and everything. But then I discovered my passion for tattoos after getting my first one when I was seventeen. I opened the studio when I was eighteen, almost two years ago. And I love my job, it pay the bills. So what else can I want?" Peter explained.

"That's good, that you like what you're doing" Tony agreed.

They started a small chat and before they knew it it was dark outside. When Peter acknowledged that he said, "I should better get going. I don't wanna bother you"

"You're not bothering me, Pete. And since you're already here, why don't you just stay for dinner as well?"

"Well, um, okay. I guess I can stay for dinner" the boy agreed.

"Amazing! I won't try to cook anything because I would probably poison you. What pizza do you like?"

"Pepperoni or margherita"

"JARVIS, order one pizza pepperoni and one margherita, please" Tony said.

"They're on the way sir," the AI said a minute later, "and will be here in twenty minutes"

"Thanks J"

"No problem, sir"

When the pizza arrived Tony put the two boxes on the table in front of them with a pile of napkins.

"Do you wanna watch a movie while we eat?" Tony asked.

"Why not. What movie should we watch?"

"I don't know. I heard that new animated Disney movie was good"

"Do you mean Frozen?"

"Ah, yes, that one. Do you wanna watch it?"

"I don't see why not"

Without saying anything else the movie started playing on the TV.

At the scene where Anna turned to ice and Elsa's love turned her back to life Tony looked at Peter. The boy was crying.

"I guess the tuff  guy isn't that tuff" the man said, voice laced with sarcasm.

"I have two arm sleeves of tattoos, yes. That doesn't mean I'm though. I'm actually very feminine. I wear panties and I like lingerie. I would wear skirts and crop tops but I'm scared of what would people think" Peter said through tears, clearly not thinking what he's saying.

"You wear panties?" Tony asked. The boy nodded and stood up, pushing his jeans down, showing his round ass in those black lacy panties he was in. He then pulled his pants back up and sat down wiping his eyes like he didn't just showed his ass. Tony stood there looking shocked. Peter turned to him and looked at him confused.

"Why are you.... I just showed you my ass" the realization hit him like a hard rock.

"Uh huh, you did" Tony agreed, still looking shocked.

"I'm sorry, I- "

"Your ass is amazing," Tony interrupted, "I like you even more now. Wanna see it again too"

"You wanna see my ass again?"

"Yes, and to squish it in my hands"

"I have an idea"

Peter stood up again and took of his jeans, leaving them on the floor. He crawled on the couch and lied on Tony's lap, ass up. The man looked down at him even more shocked than before.

"You'll let me touch your ass?"

"Yep" Peter wiggled, making his ass jiggle.

Tony's hands settled on the roundness, giving it a squish, making Peter giggle. He didn't move his hands after.

"Can we stay like this for a while?" Tony asked.

"Okay," Peter shook his head, chuckling, "but I have a better position for that" he moved so that he was sitting in Tony's lap, their chests pressed together and the man's hands on Peter's ass again.

"Yeah that one is better" Tony said.

They didn't talk much after that. Peter stayed cuddled in Tony's chest and soon found himself drifting off. His head was tucked in the crook of Tony's neck, the smell off his cologne filling the boy's nostrils. When the man realized Peter was asleep he stood up, the boy still in his arms, and walked to his bedroom. He put the boy down and lied next to him, cuddling him from behind. Tony fell asleep too, with Peter in his arms and said boy's ass pressed against his crotch.

[channoticedmeuwu]

AyYyY YOO WAIT WHAT- WAIT IM WATCHING MHA TOO RN- I mean I watched the first 3 ran out of time BUT LIKE I STILL KEEP UP WITH IT cuz one of my irl friends is a MHA stan- and kdrama mygod I have way too much man- I’m not even joking I tried making a list and it’s like WHOO I cant even paste it it’s way too long and omg I tried calligraphy man but it just looks like chicken scratch but with a hint of ✨ colour ✨ lmaofuckimrunningOutOfSpaceAgainIfItsNotTooMuchForYouToDropTheMaterialsThenPlsDo!-🥴

BDJDBDJDV A FRIEND OF MINE WATCHES MHA TOO

Calligraphy tips under the cut!

calligraphy and lettering tips :

okay so, to start from scratch, I used sticks (yes, you read that right. I'll get into that later) to do calligraphy. Then I switched to a brushpen after I got a hang of it. I used around 3 months to practice, after which I moved onto brushpen. The pens I use are the tombow dual brushpens, and the tombow hard-tip and soft-tip pens.

A brush tip is like a brush, the more pressure you put, the thicker the line you draw. The lesser you put, the thinner it gets.

If you know cursive, it'll be easier for you to write in calligraphy, tho if you don't, you don't have to learn it first, only practice the way you'll write your letters. I can't do cursive, and still can't lmao. My letters look like this

a good exercise to practice when you're a complete beginner is the wave practice. Like I explained earlier, the brushpen makes lines depending on how much pressure you apply. When you make upper strokes, (start from the bottom and drag up), you must apply less pressure in order to get a thin line. When you make lower strokes, (start from the top and drag down) you must apply more pressure than you did last time to get a thick line.

Then, you basically mush it together in a wave. Like this !

tombow dual brushpens :

• Notes and tips : my pen, the tombow dual brushpen, looks like this. This one is color #453. It has a normal marker at the back, and the brushpen in front. I personally recommend this one, the tip never wears out, which is a problem some cheap brushpens have.

• Price and where to find : I got these pens in a pack of 10 off of Amazon, I believe I got the pastel color pack. It was for around $24.

Tombow hard-tip and soft-tip pens :

• notes and tips : this one is way smaller, and I got these in black. They give a more solid lettering. The hard-tip is easier as it offers a more firmer approach. Soft-tip is more free. Both are equally good for lettering.

• price and where to find them : I got these off of Amazon too. They came in the same pack for $5. Pretty cheap and really worth it.

• sticks :

Tips and notes : Now, I used these sticks for practice, to get a hang of the way I form my letters, and to learn HOW to do calligraphy. This doesn't have any flexibility, (ofc because it's a piece of wood), but it'll help you form your letters, which will make it simpler when you change to brush. I dipped them in ink/paint + water and lettered.

pens look like this, and my calligraphy when I used them looked like this

The trick with these ones is that you have to use the the whole cut of the stick to letter (for thicker strokes) and use only the top tip to letter (for thin strokes)

It sounds complicated, but it's not. The tip of this also replicates a highlighter, so if you know how to work with these, you can do calligraphy with highlighters and pens with slanted tips too!

• Price and where to find them : I found these from my local stationary store, for less than a dollar. They had 5 in a pack. Try looking for them! I really recommend getting a hand of your letters before you move onto the strokes.

For my spreads alone : I use pictures printed out from my printer, these brushpens for titles, a silver gel pen to make some things pop by highlighting or adding effects on the letters, and some washi tape! I also used random paper, like newspaper, scrap paper, card paper, old book pages, magazine paper, LITERALLY ANYTHING to make my spreads. I've even used real flowers from my garden, which I pressed into my book so I could get a stamp type sample. It sounds like a hastle, so you can always start off simple, and then get more detailed! It's not hard, but really fun! Play some music in the background too!

I personally have heard alot about aliexpress, so do consider browsing it for any supplies you may like!

some YouTubers that helped me start a journal and learn calligraphy : @mihan, @Amanda RachLee, @honeymilks, @iwazumin, @justinebujo, @milkcloud and some others you can browse!

Last tip : some spreads may be good and absolutely beautiful! Some may be a little on the satisfactory side. Don't let that discourage you! Always take a break, drink a cup of tea, rest your hands and breathe, and start over! It's absolutely fun!

Good luck, love! I'm rooting for you!

[whatyoudiy]

Are you still looking for a DIY Valentine's Day gift that, for once, isn't kitschy, doesn't contain the colors red or pink or has anything to do with the shape of a heart and is also absolutely suitable as a gift for men? Then I have something for you today! For the Frosch blog I have thought of a cool, triangular picture made of wood for this month, in which the photo is transferred directly onto the wooden surface with the help of a photo transfer paste and which, thanks to the thick wood, can be placed anywhere. Like a picture frame with a picture inside. Just kinda cooler.

You might be wondering now: How does that work? In fact, DIY photo on wood is not as difficult as it sounds. All you need is a photo transfer paste and a laser printer (if you don't have one, go to the copy shop). You can also easily have the wooden triangles cut to size at the hardware store, all you need is a template of the shape on cardboard. A simple, beautiful and personal gift can be made in just a few hours. Whether it's for your partner, your best friend or your best mother - everyone is sure to be happy about such a cool wooden triangle with a photo imprint, isn't it?

[levelrazearts]

Oh my goodness this took forever cause I had to wait on stickers to come in but I finally got this guy all painted up. MPM Ratchet was perhaps my favorite figure from the Masterpiece line in general just cause of how nicely complex he was with his transformation and how accurate he looked in both modes. Until it came to the paint. Good God was he in sore need of paint, mainly in uh.....well everywhere. And paint him I did, but not before debating with myself for about a week as to paint him or not as I wanted to get one of the knockoffs and just work on that a bit mainly due to A. Not wanting to try and get or make the right yellow-green his primary color is. B. Didn't want to paint the rubber bits as painting rubber usually sucks ass and I didn't want to just sharpie it. C. As a MP figure he is rather expensive and if I wanted to ever sell him I would not be able to get full value for it. But what ultimately made me paint it was the fact that he was missing on of said rubber bits from his legs (that's like a pole sticking out) and that alone would probably keep this from being resold as highest a price as possible so yeh. Now he's worth probably $10 cause I butchered this figure :D

The primary color is a Color Shift Green Flash I found at Walmart whilst on my last leg on sanity after trying to mix a good color for him for a day and I instantly fell in love with it. Might be a bit more green than yellow but it works for me.

The life lines and more extravagant features I was able to pull off thanks to the Toyhax Voyager Ratchet stickers for the 2007 Voyager figure which work VERY well on this one, in that you can probably use all of the stickers on this figure and they'll pretty much match up aside from a few areas. The areas these stickers helped the most were the arms. And my goodness they look so much better with just them on. The legs also look better with black and silver breaking them up instead of just lime all throughout.

The missing pipe I had a difficult time figuring out, as I initially wanted to 3D print replacements for them and the black segments of his arms to get rid of all rubber pieces but was having some issues with my printer and I was able to find another method by taking an old wire coat hanger and cutting it down to size and shaving away at it to create two mostly similar pipes and glued them into place. For the arm grilles, I took a new approach and spray painted them black, and gave them a clear coat, which does seem to have worked for the most part but I will need to keep an eye on them as even though those have been done for about a month now, I'm still worried about them getting sticky or whatnot in the future. But they seem to be good for now so only time will tell.

The red lightbar, the simplest of things that should've been done with the mold originally was just create a little cut in the plastic between the bar and the light so that they rotate separately from each other and makes his physique look more slim. Also sanded and shaved parts of the hinges on the vehicle sides so that the paint and stickers don't rub off.

The accessories, where pretty easy lol. The gun was difficult in trying to get colors to line up correctly (though I might have the silver and black swapped but oh well), the missiles which I found out through looking at stills of him in the films he actually does have on his left arm, though he doesn't seem to use them interestingly enough, was just silver and black. And the saw was just black with rubbing a lot of it off and around so it's not as flat looking. Guess I should also mention with the ports in his arms that the gun and saw can tab into I spray painted as well and coated so they can last longer.

The "Search & Rescue" on his hood and back, along with the "Fire Department" on his back I took from pictures of the vehicle prop online and edited to be straight and sized as best I could and they work pretty well I think, with the hood one having to be painted over its letters with Color Shift Yellow Flash to give them a better pop. Will probably work on it a bit more than post a thing for it so anyone can use it themselves if they want to.

Overall, this is probably my favorite custom to date just cause of the shineyness of it, and that it makes a fantastic mold look so much better cause this is what we should've gotten from Hasbro (tooting my own horn here cause I'm proud of it) and Hasbro do better.