#incredible display of art skills from me here

[antaripirate]

POV: you are alucard emery about to teach the strange antari that you brought aboard some magic

[mylovesstuffs]

OT13 reacting to their s/o being very artistic

Request: can i request an ot13 reaction when the reader is a very artistic person ? maybe like she has a sketchbook just for drawing them or always make them a handcraft present like paper flower ykyk. thank youuu sm <3 !

A/N: I HOPE YOU LIKE THISSS!!! 😭💖 THIS WAS SO FUN TO WRITE!!! Thank you for the ADORABLE request, and I hope it made you giggle and kick your feet!! 🎨✨💛

Seungcheol: Blown away by your skills. If he ever walks in on you sketching, he’d just watch you for a while before softly saying, “That’s amazing.” If you made him a little painting of the two of you together, he’d keep it in his wallet or frame it in his room. He’s so proud of you and always hypes you up. “I can’t believe I have such a talented S/O.”

Jeonghan: He tries to act chill about it but the truth is, he loves it so much. If he ever catches you sketching him, he’d be like, “I know I’m handsome, but is drawing me that fun?” (he's melting inside). If you made him a cute little craft, he’d display it in his room and pretend it’s not a big deal, but if someone even tries to touch it, he’d be like, “DON’T TOUCH THAT…!!”

Joshua: He finds it incredibly sweet and would cherish every little thing you make. He loves watching you while you’re drawing and would even try to learn from you. He’d treasure all the sketches you made of him, keeping them in a box to look at whenever he misses you. “I can’t believe you put so much effort into this for me…” 🥺💖

Jun: Super supportive but also competitive. If he sees you sketching, he’d be like, “Let’s see who can draw better.” (spoiler: you win). If you gifted him a DIY card, he’d try to make one for you too, but it’d be a funny disaster (but it’s the thought that counts). He’d constantly tell you, “You're so talented! Don’t ever stop creating.”

Hoshi: The first time he sees a sketch of him, he immediately asks if he can keep it forever. He’ll brag about it to everyone, carrying it around like a proud boyfriend. If you give him more handcrafted gifts, he’ll display it in his room like a treasure. “YOU MADE THIS WITH YOUR OWN HANDS?! IT’S AMAZING!” 🥺

Wonwoo: Obsessed. He won’t react dramatically like others, but he’ll carefully flip through your sketchbook, admiring all the drawings you made of him. If you made him an origami flower, he’d keep it on his desk forever. He’s so touched by the fact that you express your love this way. “You always put so much effort into your gifts…”

Woozi: The first time he sees your artwork, he’d actually be like, “Wait. You’re actually amazing at this.” If you gave him a little hand-painted keychain, he’d keep it in his bag forever. He might even try drawing with you, but if he’s bad at it (I don't remember how good or bad he's at drawing 😭), he’ll act all nonchalant like “I should just stick to music.” 😂

Dokyeom: SO GIDDY ABOUT IT. He’d constantly ask to see your sketchbook and react so dramatically to every drawing you show him, “I LOOK SO HANDSOME!”. If you made him something like a paper flower, he’d never throw it away, keeping it in a safe spot forever.

Mingyu: LOVES being your muse. The moment he finds out you draw him a lot, he’ll start posing weirdly just to mess with you. “You need more references? Here, look at my perfect face.” 😂 But deep down, he treasures every single thing you make. If you crafted something for him, he’d show it off to everyone like, “LOOK WHAT MY S/O MADE ME!!”

Minghao: LOVES your artistic side. He’d be so impressed by your skills and might even start sketching with you. If you made him a little DIY bracelet, he’d wear it every day. He’d always encourage you to explore different art styles, and if you painted a portrait of him, he’d be so flattered. “You captured my beauty so well.” 😆

Seungkwan: He’d be so overwhelmed with happiness every time you gifted him something handmade. Very vocal about how much he loves it. If you gave him a handwritten and illustrated letter, he’d tear up and read it over and over again. “YOU LOVE ME SO MUCH???” Also, yes, he will tease you but he’s secretly so soft about it too.

Vernon: He’d have a very chill reaction but internally, he’s so touched. If you gifted him a handmade keychain, he’d actually use it all the time. He’d really admire your sketches of him, probably taking pictures of them because he loves them so much. If you catch him zoning out while looking at your gifts, he’d be like, “What? They’re cool!”

Dino: SUPER touched by every little thing you make him. He’d probably be too shy at first to react dramatically, but you’d catch him staring at the gifts/sketches. If you made him a cute doodle of him dancing, he’d frame it in his room. “You put so much love into this… I love it.” 😭💖

[imaginehappyhavoc]

Could i ask for the thh boys with an artistic reader that likes drawing them? Thanks! -🌠

Pairing: thh boys x artist!reader

Genre: fluff!

Warnings: N/A

Makoto Naegi:

♡ Makoto thinks it’s the sweetest thing!

♡ He considers himself pretty average in all aspects, so it was a shock to him when you said he was your favorite model.

♡ He gets really flustered every time you show him one of your sketches, but it doesn’t stop him from telling you how amazing it is.

♡ You’re just so talented! It’s hard not to get butterflies when you draw him so pretty!

♡ The little heart you drew next to him was also a pretty great addition, he thinks.

Byakuya Togami (platonic):

♡ I’m gonna be honest, drawing Byakuya is like submitting a sketch to an art show.

♡ The first time he notices you drawing him, he demands to see it. He has to make sure you’re representing him properly, after all.

♡ His critiques, while unwarranted, are surprisingly constructive.

♡ He’ll then say something along the lines of: “Try again. Here, I’ll even give you a better angle.” And he’ll pose.

♡ He’ll never admit it, but he loves the attention.

Yasuhiro Hagakure:

♡ It takes him forever to realize that you were drawing him, and not just doing random sketches.

♡ When he figures it out, he quite literally makes the “:0” face, followed closely by the “:D” face.

♡ He all but begs you to let him see your drawings, and he hyped you up endlessly once you let him.

♡ Now, he keeps trying to convince you to make a career out of your art. He says he’ll even be your first investor!

♡ You wonder where he plans to get the money for that, but you decide not to ask.

Leon Kuwata:

♡ This mf goes wild.

♡ He tries so hard to hide it, but oh dear lord he’s so in love with you. How did he manage to bag someone so talented and sweet?

♡ Like Byakuya, he’ll pose for you. Unlike Byakuya, he’s joking.

♡ He’ll totally ask if he can keep the drawings you make of him.

♡ If you let him, he’ll keep them in his school bag, and pull them out to show people at the slightest provocation.

Chihiro Fujisaki:

♡ They have absolutely no idea why you think they’re such a good model, but they’re certainly not complaining.

♡ However, it’s hard for them to keep still once they realize you’re drawing them.

♡ They just get so nervous! In a really good way!

♡ When you’re done, they’ll shyly ask you if they can see. If you say yes, they’ll blush about it so hard they can hardly speak.

♡ They want to keep your drawings, but they’d never ask. Maybe someday they’ll find the courage to take one back to their dorm, just to admire your work.

Mondo Owada:

♡ Speaking of flustered: Him.

♡ This man is a mess about any kind of affection that isn’t physical touch. He has no idea how to cope with it.

♡ He can’t wrap his head around the fact that he’s the one you wanna draw. He never thought he was all that attractive.

♡ Once he sees one of your sketches, he’s suddenly made very aware of the way you see him. You think he’s beautiful, and Mondo just can’t deal with that kind of adoration.

♡ He ends up shouting his thanks to you, as he always does when you get him flustered.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru:

♡ He is so deeply moved by your work.

♡ He would praise you until his last breath, if he could. However, it wouldn’t be efficient, so he settles on displaying your art.

♡ According to him: “It’s an incredible skill that you’ve honed so well! It deserves to be appreciated, not just by me, but by everyone!”

♡ If you get flustered about it, he’ll reassure you that you have nothing to be embarrassed about. He’s so proud of you, and he’ll tell everyone who’ll listen about it.

♡ While he’s very flattered that you chose him as the subject matter, he’s far more focused on the quality of your drawings. The hard work you must have done to achieve such beauty is truly admirable, in his opinion!

Hifumi Yamada (platonic):

♡ Hifumi is an artist as well, so this makes him happier than anything else!

♡ Once you reveal that you’ve been drawing him, he reveals that he’s been drawing you, too. Art trade ensues.

♡ He’ll model for you enthusiastically. If you need help figuring out how an arm would look when bent this way or that, Hifumi will happily demonstrate.

♡ He gives the most useful, constructive criticism you’ve ever heard in your life. Real, good advice that helps you improve.

♡ You two will sometimes just sit in silence with each other, drawing your friend while they draw you. Good times, all around!

[justporo]

Still more fluffy relationship headcanons for Astarion and Tav

You guys seem to really like these, so I'm keeping them going for as long as I can. And - I know I said I couldn't do requests atm - but when (if?) I run out of ideas how about you can send me prompts for headcanons on specific topics?

Here we go though, more small ideas and moments for these two idiots!

Astarion is a tease, always flirting with you (for the most part), always kissing you or touching you, always whispering something dirty directly into your pointy ear; sometimes even doing that flat out while you're out in public... with people around.

Deep down he's always wondering though when the day will come that you don't want to be with him anymore; you know that and you try your absolute best to remind him every moment of every day that you want to be with him forever, slowly working to turn the "when" into an "if" and then making him forget altogether

You are basically a street cat, but Astarion? He's a man of culture! And he loves to take you out and frankly just goddamn educating you

He takes you to museums, telling you in incredible detail about the artworks and the displays because he knows his history, also - he's incredibly smart; you enjoy not only him enjoying himself talking about stuff he likes but also just eat it up, eager to learn about stuff you never had the chance to before

Dancing: That's another thing. He knows all the dances: from the silly court dances Wyll showed you once, to the much more interesting and intimate ones where you're flush against one another's bodies

He teaches you, being so close to him, you can't stop fawning, holding you like you're something incredibly fragile and precious while moving you ever so passionately

You've never done this and are incredibly insecure at the beginning, but "Don't worry, love, let me hold you and I'll guide you, you just look pretty" - but then you pick it up quickly and it becomes one of your favourite pastimes with him

You have artful skills of your own though: since you're a former thief and had to stake out targets and places sometimes for weeks on end, you had a lot of time on your hands and taught yourself to draw a long time ago and drew whatever you had to observe: a nice compromise between keeping your eyes on whatever mattered and still having something to do

So, you finally draw him, something you'd promised him a long time ago when you merely had started travelling together; you spend a whole night just to get the first portrait right and Astarion gets uneasy because can't you just let him have a little sneak-peek?

When you show him the drawing, he's just speechless - "What, even more magnificent than you remembered?" you tease him, but you see how his fingers are tensing holding the paper and there's a single tear on his cheek when he looks and smiles at you broadly "No, love, just flustered about how you don't seem to get my chin right"; you call him a liar softly and he sniffles and draws you in for a really long hug and he thanks you deeply

Ah, I also love using these to sneak in facts and ideas for my Tav and helping me flesh out a backstory and more details for their story and relationship. Also don't mind me sprinkling a little angst on there.

Of course, the drawing idea has been imagined many times before and rightfully so, Astarion deserves it. But it's... I haven't drawn really in a loooong time but he really makes me want to give a portrait ago. I had to get it out for personal reasons.

[shroudedscribequill]

It's really struck me lately how often Tulin's physical strength gets completely glossed over in discussions. We know the Great Eagle Bow is an exceptional weapon, we're literally told most adult Rito don't have the strength to use it effectively in combat. Yet, here's Tulin, this tiny fledgling, a fraction of the age of Teba, Link, and Revali, handling it like it's nothing. It just feels wild that this isn't highlighted more often as a sign of his inherent power.

Thinking about it, it's the fledgling part that makes it even crazier. He's still incredibly young, nowhere near fully grown, and he's already proficient with a bow designed for the absolute peak of Rito warriors during their prime. Comparing his size and age to say, Revali when he uses it, Tulin's ability stands out even more starkly. It's not just skill, there's a very clear physical capability there that defies his age.

And honestly, that makes me wonder about his future potential. If Tulin is this physically strong as a child, what is he possibly going to be like when he's a young adult? Imagine him at the physical age Link is in Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, with that same inherent physical prowess further developed. He would genuinely be one of the most physically formidable Rito that exist within Hyrule, undoubtedly surpassing the likes Revali and Teba in raw power.

Also makes for some funny interactions with Link, because of all the art I see of Tulin hugging Link or tackling him, and not being consciously aware of his own strength from his displays of affection.

[dwarf-vader-of-middle-earth]

So when I was in college, I initially began with my lifelong dream to become an artist. I was in fine arts, trying to get a degree, with 15 credits my 1st semester of almost entirely art courses, save a single college introduction class I was required to complete.

And yet I lasted 1 semester before switching majors.

It was one professor in particular who completely burned me the fuck out by being a relentless motherfucking piece of shit. I'd actually written to the dean half way through that semester about the professor, and he was never seen again at the college after said semester ended. Whether he was fired or left, I'm not sure.

But nobody liked this man.

Said professor on the very first day saw a student who bought the correct size sketch pad but the slightly wrong type (it was an incorrect paper weight), and he straight up flipped the pages lazily and, in front of the entire class, loudly declared, "You will never get an A in my class." Not once, not twice, but three times he said this in the span of one minute to the girl.

He told students repeatedly throughout the semester that they would never make it as artists.

However, it was obvious that I was his primary target.

No matter how incredible and accurate my works were, even when other professors I had repeatedly and deeply commended me for the things I drew or modeled or crafted, this one professor continuously told me, more than anyone else, that I was a terrible artist. Word for word he said, "You are a terrible artist." Or alternatively, after every class, he'd see my assigned drawing and inevitably say to me, "Your drawing is terrible."

At one point, everyone in the class sat in an arc and did the exact same drawing of shaded rectangular objects in a still life from different angles, and at the end, each student put their works on display in the fine arts building so it was the first thing anyone saw when entering. A huge honor!!

But the professor saw mine, no different from anyone else's, and said, "This is unacceptable. It's all wrong. You cannot hang this up." And he made me redo the piece overall to even consider it for a grade, then still never let me hang it because, somehow, it was still unacceptable.

Not a single artwork I completed in his course received above a C+ grade.

And at the end of the semester, my professor told me word for word, "You have no business being an artist. Why are you taking art classes?"

I looked at him and replied with something to the effect of, "I was going to be an artist, but I don't want to anymore because of you." I then took my fucking sketchbook and walked out without another word.

I switched majors after this.

My spirit was broken. For years I did not draw at all. I hardly made any art whatsoever for a good 6 years, in truth. I used to come home and draw every single day for over a decade!!! I took my sketchbook to the beach and drew on the beach!! I took it with me when I went traveling with my family to any place at all!! My middle and high school teachers knew me for my art, and I even entered into competitions sometimes, and had pieces I'd drawn put in college galleries on several occasions!!! I literally sat there making art every single day religiously!!!! It was all I ever did growing up!!!

And yet for 6 years it actually mentally hurt me like a knife ripping a fissure in my brain if I even so much as lifted a pencil or tablet pen. I couldn't even begin to fathom drawing anything. Ever. Not to any extent.

My professor had told me so many cruel things, said such terrible stuff about my skills and ability as an artist.

So why would I want to make art after all that??

What reason did I have to be an artist when I was so awful at art as a whole???

And I genuinely believed this for so many years. I dreaded art, I'll even admit I feared it!

But all the same... I missed it terribly. I'd do small things here and there, minor pixel sprites for like an RPG Maker character, but nothing akin to the full cityscapes I'd draw, or the large 4ft x 2ft fantasy still life pieces, let alone realism portraits. And truthfully, I was lucky to so much as complete the very rough sketch layout of anything at all. I actually fully completed maybe 4 things from start to finish in that time frame of 6 years.

I'd gone from hundreds of pieces per year to 4 pieces in 6 years.

It felt like a failure of all that I stood for, and everything I was and worked to achieve my entire life.

Yet the yearning for art, the freedom of creation, it never eluded me regardless of what I tried to do. It felt like a desperate, innocent soul bound in chains and tortured endlessly without a way to be free from his binds unless he could make art once more.

And finally, early last year, I said fuck it.

I could be the world's worst artist, and still make art. It didn't have to be good or acceptable to anybody, myself included, in order for it to be worthy of being called art.

I didn't have to be incredible at art to be deemed worth of the title of artist.

So long as I made things, entirely regardless of what anyone said about them, I was free. Neither approval nor disapproval had any right to determine my validity or my permission to create in any capacity.

Last year, I picked up art again. Not entirely drawing, but instead other forms. 3D models of my characters put in custom scenery photoshopped and edited by myself. Pixel drawings done by keyboard and mouse. Physical pixel pieces with Perler beads melted together. Sewing plushies and various blankets both by hand and machine.

I wanted to liberate myself from the shackles of judgment and stop equating the approval of my art to the right to make art at all.

And it was a fucking grueling, long 6 years. Truly, it was fucking hard.

Yet I did it because not a damn soul has the right to tell me I can't. Not even myself. I'm not going to let others bar me from creativity anymore.

These 3 pieces are pixel drawings I did in the last year. Fully and entirely digital pixel art done by hand.

These are 2 physical pixel pieces I have done in the last year. That 1st one used over 12,000 beads placed by hand.

Those are 2 Photoshop pieces I made using various assets I edited by hand to fit the overall scene.

And these two pieces I made in Photoshop just this week with various assets, as well as my own modeled characters. I had them professionally printed, then put them in frames, and I'm proud to say that both will be on display at a local queer center for their transgender art show on Transgender Day of Visibility next Friday. :)

I've hauled ASS to make this happen. The countless late nights I've spent just creating until I lost track of time are... astounding. There were times I buried myself in creativity so much that I would start at 8pm and suddenly it was 5am and I had no idea of which day. I have to begin physical therapy because I've aggravated an old injury by doing so much art lately.

But you know what?

It brings me immense joy to make the things I do.

I could have the whole world up my ass yelling and screaming from the mountaintops that my art is shit and I'm terrible at what I do, and I wouldn't give a goddamn fuck about it. I'll sit in my little corner making the things I do, having fun, and enjoying myself.

Because approval has no bearing on my right to create anything.

So let this show anyone, no matter who you are or what you feel about your skill, that you're allowed to create regardless of opinions and approval. The fact that you make anything at all is incredible, and you yourself are doing amazing just for the mere fact that you're creating art of any sort.

Don't stop making art. Even if the world is against you, keep making it. Even if everyone says it's terrible, keep making stuff. Even if the top of the top tells you you'll never make it, tell yourself it doesn't matter, and keep creating art.

Because your freedom to create is more important than the approval of what you create.

The freedom of creativity is more important than your level of skill at creating what you do.

Terrible art is better than no art. And truly you'll find the more you make, the less you'll feel bad about what you make because the joy of creating outshines the fear of doubt.

Fuck the haters. You are worthy of creativity regardless.

[thegoofyfanaticus]

(( Art is commissioned from the incredibly talented ArtReplicant. Original story by me. ))

The sound of flesh meeting flesh filled the warehouse, echoing against the cold, concrete walls as Shaun drove his fist into Jordan rock hard abs trying to bust through Jordan’s defenses. Jordan countered with a heavy body blow of his own. Both fought in a rhythm where every punch landed with a sharp, heavy smack, resonating like a drumbeat, intensifying the crowd’s focus. The Pack members surrounding the fight were silent, eyes locked on the two fighters, captivated by the ferocity on display. None had pegged Shaun to be as skilled as he was. Ethan only smiled and nodded as he watched. Welcoming outside challengers like this would do The Pack good. Perhaps they had grown complacent. That wouldn't do if they were to continue to carry out the charge given to them. Complacency opened the door for certain actors to grow bold and encroach on their territory. That would put the town and its community at risk. Ethan couldn't let that happen on his watch.

Shaun’s fist swung forward, his knuckles cracking against Jordan’s cheek with an echoing, hollow thud. Jordan grunted as his face swung to the side by the blow, absorbing the impact. His muscles tensed as he held his ground not wanting to even take a step back in retreat from Shaun. He retaliated with a sharp jab that grazed Shaun’s jaw, sending a loud pop echoing through the air. Shaun’s head snapped back, but he shook it off, his eyes blazing as he bore down on his opponent.

Jordan growled, trying to push Shaun back with a furious combination of punches, each one landing with a solid smack against Shaun’s arms and shoulders. Shaun gritted his teeth as he absorbed the blows, the raw power behind Jordan’s punches vibrating through his muscles. But he refused to give an inch. Instead, he shifted his stance, catching Jordan’s next hook on his forearm with a resounding slap, then firing back with a body shot that landed square on Jordan’s ribs. The sound was deep and punishing, like the strike of a hammer on thick leather. Jordan’s breath hitched, a faint gasp escaping as he felt the shock of Shaun’s punch reverberate through his body. Shaun had power and his punches hit deep. Jordan knew that he had to keep defenses up and muscles flexed if he were to absorb any more body shots. Jordan also knew it would be better if he didn't absorb many more body shots. Regardless, he wouldn't let it slow him down. He was here to prove a point. Jordan doubled his focus, swung his arm up, and attempted to catch Shaun off guard with a hook to the temple. Shaun ducked at the last second, the whistle of Jordan’s fist slicing through the air above him.

Shaun seized the opening, driving his fist into Jordan’s side with a powerful, meaty thud. Jordan let out a sharp exhale, his muscles rippling as he twisted to absorb the blow. The Pack could feel the weight of that punch, the raw power of the street fighter’s determination as if each impact was meant to prove that he belonged here, that he was worthy of The Pack. As Ethan could hear the murmurs start, a grin slowly crept across his face.

[lilenui]

My favourite page from the Complete Character Book <3 (no duh!) I love Ito Yu's art a whole bunch, and even though the art style and character designs were what got me to check the show out in the first place, I don't think Chiba's anime adaptation fully does it justice. That's because the anime has a very rigid, hard-shaded look, while Ito's art has this soft, voluminous three-dimensionality to it. Especially when it comes to hair and cavernous clothing that seems to engulf the characters. It's so unique. I also like her preference for a more stocky build with her characters, gives some variety from your typical noodle anime silhouette. Plus the endless variety of facial features on display. Her rough drafts for the show are a display of incredible skill and talent all on their own. Here's some interesting notes on the page:

Shino's particularly wide shoulders are to differentiate him from Akihiro, who is wide and sturdy all over, and from Orga, who is slim and narrow like a straight line.

Akihiro is built like a judoka, he always tucks his shirt in.

Shino is built like an olympic swimmer or a basketball player.

His shoulders are really wide.

Further notes on Shino: Both ears pierced, cheerful, muscular, short hair, Latino appearance.

The crying Shino sketch is from when he's mourning Denji, the quote above says: "Didn't you say that, Danji?"

When Yamagi's hair is lifted it reveals his beautiful face with japanese features.

Yamagi is beautiful but he's also strong.

Yamagi has small, short eyebrows and a shallow nose bridge.

He's quiet and unobtrusive but he likes being with everyone else.

Tekkadan uniform was designed by Juuki Maejima, Ito Yu's husband. Jackets and pants are a common feature, underneath are random t-shirts and tank tops. Yu's comment on Shino: "Initially he had short dreadlocks*. To be honest I thought he was going to be a very minor character, kind of a small fry (lol). It was a great surprise to see him become such an active participant. I didn't expect it to be an ensemble drama which gave spotlight to so many characters, I thought the other Tekkadan members were rather minor characters at first. They've all become important people." Yu's comment on Yamagi: "My impression of him was someone of asian descent, so I was surprised to see that he ended up blonde. His hairstyle seems to reflect the director's image of an introvert. It's only when Shino caressed his head that both his eyes were revealed, and I think that's why grown-up Yamagi in the last episode decided to lift his bangs and show both his eyes. Grownup Yamagi wasn't something included in my proposal, I was very impressed with the artistic skill of showing his whole heart at a glance with just a single image." *I have also seen it mentionned on twitter that Shino initially also had a lot darker skin. As a result of several edits he gradually ended up looking more like Asian/Latino mix. The reason why his design was changed were never given, but my take is that dreads were deemed too difficult to animate for someone they thought would be a minor character.

[unparalleled-alacrity]

YOUR ANALYSIS ON THAT MUSTARDSEED ART??? HOLY SHIT I'M GONNA WALK INTO TRAFFIC, IT'S SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, JUST KNOW I READ THE TAGS IN AWE!! I'M SO SO SO GLAD I GOT THE DESPERATION DOWN, IT'S PROBABLY MY FAVOURITE MUSTARDSEED EMOTION!! AS WELL AS HIM KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO HIM! THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT DRIVES ME CRAZYINSANE OVER AXE!!! ANYWAY MAYBE THIS IS WEIRD BUT THOSE TAGS GAVE ME LIFE, THEY'RE SO GOOD, YOU MADE MY EVENING WITH THOSE

Thank you!!! ouughghgh that Mustardseed art took over my head for the whole rest of that day!! There were so many other things that I wanted to also put in my tags, but not only was I running out of space, I couldn't manage to string anything together into something coherent. Sorry that it's taken me so long to answer this ask; I've been really busy but still wanted to take the time to properly express how much I loved loved LOVED the Mustardseed piece. I'm saying this completely without exaggeration: I have spent the past 5 days carrying around with me a paper that lists some of the things that I want to say, and it's been going everywhere with me. I hope I can express how absolutely incredible your art is.

Here we go!

I can't possibly start this in any other way than addressing the amazing expression of emotion displayed by the piece. I mean, yeah, I mentioned it in my initial tags, but WOWIE WOW WOW it really grabs you. My very first reaction when I first saw it was thinking to myself, "Woah, look at the raw expression on his face. He looks trapped and absolutely terrified about it." Well, wait a second. Duh. He's stuck in a wall and about to be chopped up, of course he's scared.

I guess on some level I had it in my head that Mustardseed was doing exactly what he wanted to do; he was exactly where he wanted to be, and that the events of this episode were just a little miscalculation in his plans. A simple misstep. Him being caught when trying to bug the Latvia apartment wasn't the desired outcome, but it was something that could be worked around. But really he doesn't want to be there. His actions throughout all of season 7 are made from desperation, doing whatever it takes for his and OVERMike's freedom. It doesn't bring him any joy that it has come to this. Edgar mirrors this in Mutiny, threatening iterations of himself and his boyfriend out of necessity, even though he himself says that he hates to do it.

Seeing the cornered-prey look on his face just made all of the pieces fall into place. He's trapped in these walls and is going to die. Just as trapped as he is outside of them. I hope that how much thought your art compels me to put forth stands as a testament to your skills.

Other things I found notable:

I had kind of mentioned this already too, but the new version has a reflection of light in Mustardseed's eye that works well as a representation of the knowledge that he has. You can see the fear echoed through his body language, yet he doesn't close his eyes or turn away his head. He stares at what's coming for him head-on.

I think that your use of space really augments the emotions conveyed. The hands pressing against the edge of the wall and how his back is partly clipped out of frame create an atmosphere of claustrophobia. The way one of his legs is lifted makes it seem as if he's almost trying to climb his way out. All of the body language makes everything look super visually compelling

The depiction of Mustardseed's panic realizing just how dire of a situation he's in lines up amazingly with how multiple characters are having similar revelations during that part of the season. Mustardseed had been a threat to Base up to this point, sure, but hadn't been a major issue until Axe. The death of an Edgar was a huge blow to the Mikes, and they started to realize just how dangerous Mustardseed was. In the very next episode, Mutiny, the heat is turned up for OVERMike and OVEdgar. Though they had been trapped for a while, the confrontation with Mikey and Edgar puts the OVER iterations into an even tighter bind, with the consequences clearly laid out for stepping out of line. I love how your art so beautifully encapsulates that realization.

I hope I managed to articulate some of my thoughts here. Do you understand the power you wield with your talents?? I am not going to be normal about that Mustardseed piece anytime soon and am going to be thinking about it for a long long time.

[alinaastarkov]

✨ fave creators art challenge ✨

based on the wonderful idea by @withered-rose-with-thorns

i will be doing this as a series now that i once again have time, kicking off the year with the incredible @ughmerlin

i don't even know where to start with you jagoda, your style is beautiful and effortless and you've inspired me in so many ways. you and maria got me to start giffing merlin finally, and your love for your favourite shows shines through in everything you make. the way you make colours pop and blend so skilfully together needs to be taught in schools, and you always have so many incredible and creative ideas that i can't help but be inspired by. every time i think you've outdone yourself you outdo yourself again! everyone should always be taking notes (i know i am!) every time you post and on top of that, you are the sweetest, funniest person which makes appreciating your skill even easier.

with that being said, here are some of my favourite sets of yours (even though this list cannot possibly do justice to all the sets that made my jaw drop which is... all of them)

morgana + magic: i just had to start with the set that you and i miraculously were so in sync on. i remember messaging you worried you'd think i copied 😭 and yet you couldn't have been nicer, and you were right that the more of these sets we have the better (tho i personally will always prefer your version). the colours are just incredible, how you managed that effortless rainbow AND combining two colours in each gif so that each one matches the power on display. morgana was desperately in need of a set showing off her awesome magic and you so delivered.

geraskier travels: this one is so stunning it makes me emotional every time. that combo of orange and teal is just??? it's so soft, bright, glowing from every corner. and the blending is an absolute masterclass. i'm obsessed with the illustrations mapping out their journeys, it ties together the whole theme of the set so well and adds the perfect little touch to each gif. and seriously, you're gonna have to teach me how to colour like this sometime.

gwen's story: i love red sets so much and this might just be the cream of the crop. it's so RICH and GORGEOUS and PERFECT, the contrast of the b&w gifs with the red making the red and gwen's beauty pop even more. the glitches are incredible and work so well to show how far she came in her journey, and the layout is one of my all time faves to show all the different roles she played throughout the series. i could probably be here forever talking about everything i love about this so i'll just say: RED!!!!

merlin season 4: petition to make this shade of green YOUR colour because every time you do it you reach new heights of incredible beauty. the blending in that first gif alone made my jaw drop the first time i saw it and i am completely OBSESSED with the video tapes and film reel effects you used. and seriously, the way you coloured everything so consistently and perfectly deserves to be studied because how???

who said it: witch bitch edition?: i will be filing a second petition to make this shade of purple your other colour because every time i see it i think of you and the incredible sets you make, specifically this one. you combined morgana and yennefer, two of my greatest loves, so how was i not going to obsessed with this? not only that, your humour shines through in this set. it's so funny and made even funnier by the fact that either of them could've said any of these lines.

yennefer + hozier: hozier is another of my great loves so OF COURSE i am obsessed with this. you made those ink drops look effortless, even though i know well just how much effort it would've taken. the colours are incredible and the lyrics match perfectly. and the way you did the text in this? i just love how it feels like cut out lines from a book coupled with the big text which colour matches perfectly to the gifs. catch me using this set as inspiration in the future for SURE.

morgana + taylor swift: when i saw this set for the first time, my reaction was somewhere between silent awe and the hugest grin i could muster. this shade of pale gold (which i may be submitting as your third copyrighted colour) is just extraordinary and this song for morgana is simply perfection. you always make your sets look simple and effortless, yet knowing how much work went in to them just adds to their incredible beauty.

16 years of merlin: the vhs tape effects here took me right back to my childhood in the best way even though i was almost too focused on the beauty of these colours and blends to notice jfkdsjs. every blend is immaculate, the scene choices are perfection (and some cause me deep levels of pain lol) and you have made every colour here just work for you. i'll take that tutorial any time it is convenient for you please :)

merthur week: lyrics: now your sets for merthur week recently absolutely took me OUT. imagine my delight opening my tag to see a bunch of sets all THIS level of epic creativity. hozier again nearly made me WEEP. the light effects cutting their faces like a broken mirror??? and it's so seamless i can't even see the line of the blend even though it's perfectly straight. this is what exceptional blending looks like and you need to start teaching classes seriously.

merthur week: quote: where do i even start. just... HOW??? every scene is perfectly matched i would barely even be able to tell the shots were 5 seasons apart. the green is just STUNNING. the growth you showed with this style is incredible and i am still in awe at how you made these shots match like this is seriously insane.

jagoda, you are one of the people who truly inspired me to get better and giffing and you continue to inspire me every day. it doesn't seem like it i know 😅 (motivation and/or time has been low recently) but trust me every time i open photoshop i'm thinking of at least one of your sets at all times. not to mention you're an incredible person and friend and i'm so lucky to know you even just a little bit <3 here's to another year of watching you kick ass at the giffing game.

[sorreltail]

I love how you draw eyes, they're so human and emotive, I love themmnm. Thanks for sharing your art, have a fantastic day!

thank u Q_Q what a lovely thing to take time out of ur day to tell me it’s really made my day!!!

if anyone’s curious, here r the big influences in the way I draw eyes:

flightfootwarrior, tribbleofdoom and allikatnya were my biggest wc inspos as a little kid (from the ages of 6/7 to about 9 I mostly just consumed whatever warrior cats content my older brother showed me, because he understood how to navigate the internet better than me, and he was a big fan of al and copied his drawings, then I’d copy those in turn LOL). i also naturally gravitated towards the way al drew because he and i had both grown up watching kimba and been heavily influenced by it so i was picking up what he was putting down in bones shatter…. i understood the visual language…. i kind of assumed everyone did LMAO i was like duh. kimba the white lion is universally beloved? no?

90s/00s toys, mostly MLPg3, LPS and barbie, had a big influence on me!

dreamworks 2D millennium era films: prince of egypt and spirit: sotc are my two favourite movies ever and i watched them religiously as a little kid. both of these movies are fairly heavy and serious for animated children’s movies and they both show off an incredible display of “acting” skill on the part of the animators in moments of both subtle and intense emotion; a lot of this is conveyed through expressions in the eyes!! both movies use close-ups on the eyes and faces a lot. i have always yearned to be able to capture faces and expressions with the kind of grace and believability these movies do…

[tired-old-men]

"So!" Cedar pipes up, grinning happily as he hobbles over with his cane, "Not much of you Guardians compared to my family, huh? I'm curious. Got any photos or stories of your elders? Do love me some old vintage photos and learning some strange history!" He giggled, "I love peaking at ones in my family myself! hehe!".

Hawking makes his way to the small yellow echidna in his wheelchair, holding a photo album in his lap. 

“Ah this I could answer for ya lad! Me and Spectre are what’s left of the ‘Old Guard’ of Guardians, per se. While I may be too old to continue being the Head of Household my grandson has done quite the tremendous job upholding the mantle. But man, when I was active in my duties I worked alongside some incredible people I am proud to call family”

He gently pats the photo album in his lap before levitating it with his chaos abilities towards Cedar to better display the photographs.

“Let’s see what we got here, and take this old man on a trip through memory lane....”

“First and foremost, we have our First appointed Guardian Steppenwolf. He’s the one that began our group many years ago after the untimely death of his father from the uprising of the Dark Legion.  His legacy surpasses all of ours with how much he’s done not only for this Island but for his family as well. He always had such a strong stoic demeanor, even in his old age he was wise and headstrong. I believe if we were to compare families, he would be the equivalent of that Shepherd of yours from what I hear.”

“Then there was his son Moonwatcher.  He was quite eccentric especially in comparison to his father. This picture in particular was captured from his first visit to our base, Haven, a father and son like night and day I tell you.  He was obsessed with this space show of his, when I was young he would have been about as old as I am now, and he would still be watching that show, even when blindness took over he would still listen to the episodes  having them memorized by heart. He always had this bright energy to him just always upbeat and ready to tackle the day. While he certainly was aloof he was a good guy, very openminded about social change, and had a great mind for the stars, he almost became the first echidna in space, believe it or not.”

“Moonwatcher’s son was another 180 in terms of personality between father and son. Unlike his father Harlan was very stoic, he  had one of those faces of someone not to be messed with, but that was just his general appearance. He’d mastered the art of meditation to strengthen and channel his chaos abilities, so he was always very introspected and had a great sense of wisdom. Sometimes he would give you advice or even a small piece of wisdom that would really make you think, I always came to cherish that about him”

Hawking flips over the page to this photograph and his face lights up.  “Ah this, this was the pinnacle of the Old Guard! This was quite the historical moment for us. When Harlan’s son Rembrandt came up with a monicker for us ‘The Brotherhood of Guardians’. A small change but an accepted consensus between us that solidified our bonds as Guardians, as well as a symbol of upholding our commitment to this Island, and all life that inhibits it”

The old echidna stumbles upon this image and gives a hardy chuckle. “Ohoho! Oooh good times good times! That was me and my old man Mathias back in our prime, we did such great work together. All my wisdom and skills I owe it all to my old man, for shaping me into the man I became.  Although I have to say it’s so interesting seeing him like this, the older he got the more he began following in Harlans teachings, delving deeper into the chaos force and strengthening his bond with it through meditation. He began wearing these long intricate robes, his demeanor was a lot more calm, and there was this aura about him that was hard to describe but very much felt. He truly was an incredible man on all fronts, I’d like to think that even to this day.. I feel like he watches over me” He smiles.

Hawking flips through a couple of pages until he lands on a particular image that makes his eyes soften, a sheepish smile escaping his lips as he reminisces on the image for a moment before speaking. “This… this was a special moment for me. There I was alongside my son Tobor and his lovely wife Voni-Ca, and can you believe that little ball of sunshine is my dear grandson Spectre? He looked so different as a small boy, quite the curious little puggle he was! …This photo is particularly special since it was the day I had the honor of passing on the mantle of Guardian to my son. It was a very proud moment for us all…” Hawking took another long look at the photograph, his eyes beginning to show a hint of sadness, he clears his throat as he flips through another couple of pages to a different Guardian all together. 

“My granddaughter needs no introduction, for I’m sure Thunderhawk has spoken about her greatness many a times, but she was truly a delight to this world.  Janelle-Li was relentless and surpassed any challenge that was ever imposed on her. I can’t deny she had an uphill battle in earning the title of Guardian, but she blew everyone out of the water with her sheer determination alone. She was truly one of the best of us and gave us a perspective like no other.  Here we have her guiding her son Athair when he was just a young lad. He's also was quite the eccentric echidna himself, but his mother had such a patience with him, really guided him right and supported him in his endeavors regardless of how silly others might have found it. Besides being an amazing Guardian she was a wonderful mother, she even help raise Sabre when he was a young Guardian. Really set him right and gave him the much needed love and guidance when he moved away from his parents and his tribe to live on Angel Island.”

Hawking slowly brings the album back to his hands, holding it open in his lap for a last long look before closing it gently, placing a palm over the cover fondly. 

“Ah- I hope that gave you an answer to your inquiry lad, give you some insight of my family members past, or at the very least got something interesting out of letting this old man ramble on.” Hawking gives Cedar a hardy chuckle. 

“Truly a pleasure talking to ya lad, feel free to drop by anytime for a chat.” 

[kfkr1ze]

[002-A27] your deeds are your monuments

Summary — ✈︎ Kafka explains to the students why they were chosen as candidates for Ward Mayors. Then, the long awaited report card grades are announced.

Characters— ✈︎ Sakujiro, Ushio, Nanaki, Kiroku, Muneuji, Akuta, Kafka

Location: Hama Asunaro High School Community Revitalization Club Room

Sakujiro: Thank you for your detailed explanation, President. Now, let us move on to the announcement of the highly anticipated results.

Your grades were determined by two grading systems. One being “relative grading” based on a 5 point system, and the other being “perspective grading” which were given letter grades. Your overall grade was decided based on the combination of the two.

There were around 10 categories you were assessed in.

“Joy of Service”, “Service Spirit”, “Hospitality”, “Ambition”, “Physical Strength”, “Mental Strength”.

“Communication Skills”, “Composure”, “Empathy”, and most importantly… “Ability to Respond to Accidents”. I believe that one was one you all felt severely on this trip.

Kiroku & Akuta & Nanaki: ………

Muneuji & Ushio: ………

Sakujiro: Each of the items I mentioned have around 108 sub-categoriesーー

Kaede: A-Around 108!?

Kafka: Sakujiro, you don’t have to go that far. Just hurry up with the announcement. I don’t think they can take the suspense anymore.

Sakujiro: Understood. I will now begin distributing the report cards with all the details outlined. When I call your name, please come forward.

Kurama Ushio-kun.

Ushio: Pyah! M-Me…?

Muneuji: You got so surprised you got called first that you accidentally bit your own tongue, didn’t you, Uu-chan?

Ushio: Shut up… Ow… Yes, here!

Sakujiro: Out of all 5 of you present, you were one of the least motivated on this trip. Do you have any objections?

Ushio: None.

Sakujiro: Indeed. The area you had most difficulty in would be your lack of “Ambition”.

Ushio: ‘Kay. Guess that means I failed. So unfortunate. Bye.

Sakujiro: No. Please allow me to finish.

Although you received a low score in “Ambition”, you did receive a high score in a different category. That would be “Service Spirit”.

Ushio: …Hah? I did?

Sakujiro: We heard from various people at the food stall you were in charge of. Things like, “Although his attitude could use some work, he ended up working very hard.”

You assisted with various little things, paid attention to details many would overlook, and were considerate… Everyone was pleasantly surprised, despite how your attitude seemed.

Ushio: ………

Sakujiro: And with that, you passed.

Ushio: Eh…?

Akuta: You did it, Ushio!! You’re the first one that passed! Gimme your report card, I wanna see!

Nanaki: Wow… Miracles really do exist. I thought for sure that you’d fail.

Kiroku: …grat…lations…

Muneuji: Congratulations, Uu-chan.

Ushio: …Tch. …Just shut up.

Sakujiro: Kinugawa Kiroku-kun.

Kiroku: ! ………… He…re.

Muneuji: Calm down, Kinugawa. Imagine him as a potato.

Kiroku: …tato……

Sakujiro: Your face is extremely pale. It is alright. Gather yourself.

Kiroku: ………

Sakujiro: I am sure in your case, this goes without saying, but your weakest point would be your “Communication Skills”.

Kiroku: ………

Sakujiro: Of course with Chief, as well as myself, the other students, and Gannosuke-san as wellーー

You could not communicate properly with most other people. In addition to that, although it managed to get displayed, the lantern you created remained unfinished.

Kiroku: ………

Sakujiro: However, you possess a strong sense of self. You have a unique worldview that no one else has.

You scored high in “Ambition”. You are very mentally strong, Kinugawa-kun.

Kiroku: ……Eh?

Sakujiro: And you also scored high in “Physical Strength”. You displayed incredible resolve while working on your art. Gannosuke-san laughed when saying, “He is a creator to his core.”

For those reasons, you have passed.

Kiroku: ーー………

Akuta: I THOUGHT SOOOOO!! I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA PASS SINCE THE BEGINNINGGGG!! Right!?

Muneuji: I did as well. With a talent such as yours, it would be impossible not to pass.

Ushio: Huuh? Buddha Statue ended up passing too. …Boring.

Kiroku: ………

Kiroku: ……!

Nanaki: You did it.

Kiroku: ……ank… you…

Sakujiro: Nanamegi Nanaki-kun.

Nanaki: Heeere.

Sakujiro: You did a splendid job at creating a song for the summer festival. Not only did you make it yourself, but you also operated all the equipment on your own as well.

While we did not have anyone to give a personal account on your work, we found there was no need for that anyways. 

The large audience that you gathered serves as proof of that. Your strong points would be your “Empathy” and “Joy of Service”.

Nanaki: Service?

Sakujiro: Music is created to be listened to by others, even if it was made with self-serving purposes. 

The pursuit of how to move people’s emotions… That in itself can be said to be the very essence of serving others.

Nanaki: …I think that’s a stretch though.

Sakujiro: Not at all. In fact, it is because those feelings are so strong that your mind is weak.

For all the reasons stated above, your weakest point would be your “Mental Strength”. Please do try to improve that in the future.

ーーYou have passed.

Nanaki: ………

Akuta: That’s crazy! I wasn’t worried that you’d fail at all, but I’m so glad you passed!

Kiroku: ……Cong……

Ushio: Sensei, what is this? Is this rigged or something ? At this rate, everyone’s gonna pass.

Sakujiro: I graded everyone based on a specific set of criteria. There are no biases in the results in the slightest.

Muneuji: That’s correct. So don’t look so upset, Nanamegi. Hold your head up high.

Nanaki: I’m not too satisfied with my results but… it’s whatever.

Sakujiro: Next up is Kaguya Muneuji-kun.

Muneuji: Present. 

Sakujiro: As for your grade, Kaguya-kun, there was little room for error. We have no complaints. You passed.

If we were to lay out a visual diagram with everyone’s results fully spread out, it is certain that your results would fill the greatest amount of area.

The most particular point to mention would be your “Calmness”. Perhaps it is due to your experience as the current vice-president of the student council. Your keen perspective was on par with that of us adults.

If I were to pick a weak point of yours, I would have to say that would be your “empathy”. Particularly, this is due to your stoic nature. Do you perhaps have a tendency to draw a line between yourself and reality to observe from a distance?

Muneuji: !

Sakujiro: “Empathy” is not just the ability to understand another’s emotions, but it is also about having someone share these emotions with yourself. You should allow yourself to share your destiny with others.

Muneuji: …Thank you very much.

Akuta: WOWW～～！ That’s amazing! He said there’s nothing to complain about! You’re so cool, with that charismatic helmet of yours!

Ushio: Well, it’s only natural you passed.

Nanaki: That helmet of yours is probably your only weak point.

Kiroku: …Cong……tions.

Muneuji: Thank you. And thank you, Uu-chan, for being even prouder of me than I am.

Ushio: …Obviously I would be.

Sakujiro: Last up, Isotake Akuta-kun.

Akuta: HEEEEEEEEEERE!!!

Ushio: Gh… My fucking eardrums are gonna burst…!

Sakujiro: Isotake-kun, in your caseーー

Due to your low score, you have failed.

Akuta: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaayyーー Eh…

Akuta: Huh?

Kaede: (Huh!?)

Previous — ✈︎ Masterlist — ✈︎ Next

[tohruies]

HI DEAREST COCO!! ily sm and i hope you are well! pls pls pls feel absolutely no pressure to respond or acknowledge you’ve seen this, i j wanted to express my gratitude and honor to know you and be able to interact w you 🤍 ik this might seem silly but you truly mean sm to me and you’re such a kind and beautiful soul and you are such a joy to see on dash and have as a mootie. you are so caring and insightful, and i wish you nothing but the best!! you bring so many ppl comfort and i hope we are able to provide you w an ounce of good feelings back! your gifts are always so amazing and kind BUT i NEEED you to know that we love you FOR YOU and even if you werent so generous and thoughtful we wld still love you 🫶 you are also incredibly talented and such a gifted writer, reading your pieces is like a warm hug, your prose is so beautiful and your uses of literary devices rlly display what appreciation and passion you have for your craft ^_^ again pls feel no pressure to respond, j wanted to send a lil love note and remind you what an amazing person you are MWAH 🌟

🥺🥺🥺 my qteaaaaaa :c i love you so so so dearly so very dearly!!! i trust you are well? :c now that you've graduated with your masters (HOW FANTASTIC!! you have done so well friend 🥹💘) i hope you are recuperating and letting yourself breathe and indulge in all the simple pleasures of life as you so rightfully deserve after a most stressful two years 🥺 oh my gosh ;n; TEA!! pahhhh, what is all of this!!!!!!!!!!!

how do i respond to this!!!! aaaaaaa AAAA please aside from getting all flushed and tearful and ohhhgbdhe you are so cheeky and sweet and cute for saying all of this to me…… Unprompted! ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡ do you know how much you mean to meee!!!!!!!! gosh, i feel like you have always been so busy the past handful of months, getting to see you in any capacity on here has been the loveliest treat of all… i remember being all cheerful and excited to see you online more often during the past winter break sobsob — i really hope we will see the return of tea super duper soon!! once more…… 🌟

ohnshdbs you speak so fondly and sweetly of me i think i may never not get all weepy reading this message even if it is my 500th time over… did you know!! did you know. that it is you who is truly the kind and caring and thoughtful one!!!!!! :*) you who took the time to send me the most heartfelt ask ever oh my gosh tea i’m going to go incoherent bbaxbxjdns 🥺🥺🥺 and of course it is so like you to comment on my writing!!! and you know! it makes me blush more than ever, seeing how much i look up to YOU as a writer…. everything i have ever read from you… be it fics or little pieces of prose scattered into your selfship posts… you weave your words together so very beautifully, i am left in awe not only of your skill but how lush and vibrant and beautiful your mind must be sobsob!!!! to spend a day lounging around in the brain of tea….. surely i will be healed!! 🥹💝 AND IT IS SUCH!!!!!!!! a reflection of your heart my friend…. you carry so so so much good in you, it makes me all TTTTTTT because!!!! oh my goodness i cannot believe. i cannot believe!!! all these billions of people in the world and us two silly girls on the internet have crossed paths…. tea you are one in a billion i hope you know this!!!!!

oftentimes when i think of you, i think back to that valentines event you hosted and i get all teary NDVDVDN IT IS JUST LIKE!!!!! oh ;; tea is in grad school and she is so so busy and i can’t imagine how hard it must be and she is doing all of this. all of this!!! for all her friends here!! and it makes me almost frustrated????????????? becauseeeee there is no way for me to adequately show you the extent of my admiration and adoration for you besides…. doing the bare minimum — like making you a birthday gift!! or trying to share sweet sentiments with you!! or tagging you in art or reblogging your posts or sending an ask etc etc…

hhhhh i don’t even think i am making a lick of sense anymore i am just rambling from the heart……. as i usually do when i am so flipping overcome with emotion that i don’t know what else to do — I APOLOGISE SO DEARLY if i sound at all aggressive in my affections or just blatantly insane nsbshzbxs I HAVE SO MUCH HEART FOR YOU TEA ): please be happy and well forever oh my gosh ): i love you so so so much ):

[themegachessatron]

A Review of my time in Skyrim's Prisons (Featuring Some Followers): Cidna Mine

This is it.

This is the last in my series reviewing the prisons of Skyrim's hold capitals. Our topic this time is Cidna Mine, easily Skyrim's most infamous jailing facility. My experience in this prison is a large story filled with the good and the bad. So, how does the big daddy of Skyrim jails compare to its peers?

For the first time entering a cell, I was greeted by a staff member and told what was expected of me explicitly. She made it clear that this prison prioritises punishing prisoners with manual labour for the benefit of those in power than any form of rehabilitation. This idea is present throughout the prison itself. My greeting room (which doesn't function as a room for individuals) was only decorated with the essentials for its function. A table and sac containing items unknown. It was here that I was temporarily separated from my associates. The key word there being "temporarily"...

Sofia, who hadn't had her equipment removed (my associates' abilities to not have their things taken continues to baffle me) quickly found my location and then proceeded to show off a new skill of hers.

This woman, in all of her drunkenness, has somehow managed to master the incredible magical art of phasing through cell doors. She didn't pick the lock, she didn't teleport, she phased THROUGH. THE. DOORS. HOW?! I was shocked, and somewhat still am. She still refuses to share the secret of this ability to me to this day.

…Which made it all the more annoying when she almost immediately proceeded to do it again, all without explanation. Sometimes this woman confuses and frightens me.

Putting aside Sofia's ability to defy the very existence of metal cage doors, we were shuffled down into the main open space of the mine. A small fireplace illuminated the dark cavern, littered with pickaxes all throughout for prisoners to use to earn their very survival as the man pictured sitting at the fire told us is the case. What is plainly visible in this prison is function over fashion. The open space is able to account many prisoners at once and the lack of any proper seating/ bedding reinforces the core message of the jail. These prisoners are meant to suffer.

Moving more directly to the left we observe a more dimly lit path filled with ore veins, teeming with silver. A wheelbarrow is handily provided for prisoners to kart any silver they dig up, displaying a degree of efficiency not always seen in Nord mines.

It was while returning to the central cavern that the rest of our team reached our location. Inigo's superior sniffing service allowed him to pinpoint where in the prison I was and rally our friends to regroup. This made navigating the mine and escaping it simultaneously easier thanks to greater collective strength and harder as my friends would often block vital narrow hallways.

The opposing side of the mine was far more cramped than the first, with plenty of loose pickaxes scattered about. Under normal circumstances I'd say the liberal scattering of pointed cold metal tools would be unsafe for prisoners to be around, but seeing as the powers that be clearly do not care for the safety of prisoners at all and very rarely check on them it's not that much of an issue. After fully exploring this side of the mine, I was presented with the question of how to leave the mine.

Uraccen, a prisoner in these mines for many years that was as skinny as a pickaxe's handle and as pale as the snow was very helpful in providing insight as to the culture of prisoners in Cidna Mine, while also pointing me to someone who could aid in my departure from the mine. Madanach, a Forsworn leader who had been orchestrating the terrorist attacks on Markarth from inside Cidna Mine. However, reaching the "King in Rags" required getting past his guard dog.

The brute in question, aptly named Borkul the Beast, was built with a greater toughness than the rocks he leaned upon and a face that not even a mother could love. He guarded the door to Madanach's private room and looked to be a tough nut to crack. In all actuality that couldn't have been further from the truth. All I had to do was lie very slightly to convince him to let me through for an audience with the King in Rags.

Madanach's private space was, in stark contrast to the rest of the mine, was lavishly decorated with a full single bed, a storage chest (or potentially a prisoner belonging chest that may or may not contain Boots of the Old Gods), a desk with chair, multiple barrels, a rug to comfort the feet and plenty of food and drink. This abode is highly luxurious and clearly highlights the special treatment Madanach receives from his arrangement with the Silver Bloods. It highlights how willing the staff operating Cidna Mine are to go the extra mile for their prisoners (assuming said prisoners are high ranking members of the Forsworn with great influence over a native culture that is).

Madanach indulged us with his history, as well as that of many of the prisoners in the Mine. His story is one of oppression, corruption and injustice; three traits that the stories of many of his cellmates share also. In this our group understood the gravity of the Markarth conflict and made a mutual decision to aid in the escape of the prisoners of Cidna Mine so as to deal a blow to the corrupt sphere of Markarth. Before fully accepting our co-operation though, Madanach had us prove our loyalty to helping his cause by... eliminating one of the prisoners.

I took no pride in his assassination. As the smell of cooking flesh entered my nostrils and the emerald embers spewed from his cadaver I fought internally as to why Madanach had felt this a necessity. While yes, the man was beyond a point of benefiting his cause, killing the poor man felt like a betrayal of what Madanach himself had preached only minutes ago. Either way, the deed was done. The poor sap had ascended to Aetherius and I finally had a chance to show off the cool looking green fire magic I had learned, so I suppose it wasn't all bad.

It was after this that Madanach had stated his need to address what prisoners weren't currently burning to a chartreuse crisp in a riveting pre-escape speech. A great idea... were it not for the brief instance of mental rot he experienced on his way there that saw him compelled to forcefully walk into a wall of the narrow hallway between his room and the main cavern. I am unsure as to the explanation behind such brain rot, but the nature of the walls of the hallway were found to be very intriguing by Teldryn, who proceeded to stare blankly at the opposite wall for multiple minutes (perhaps some latant, ancient Dwemer magic at play?). Both did eventually regain their senses, but not before some gentle...ish prodding from myself.

The King in Rags addressed his subjects against the light of the central fire, its flames pitiful versus the fires of ambition in the hearts of these men. Were they not about to commit multiple counts of murder as they escaped the city I would've felt inspired. Now I just feel somewhat dirty.

An outcove of the narrow hallway connecting the central cavern to Madanach's quarters contained the site of a Dwemer ruin, one running in connection with the city above us. Knowing what dangers lie within such ruins from experience, our team steeled themselves for the dangers that may have laid ahead.

The first hurdles we encountered were some particularly large Frostbite Spiders who had nested inside the ruins (not pictured above because my girlfriend reads these posts and is afraid of Frostbite Spiders). They proved surprisingly resistant to being burned to death by my green fire spells, but were no match for my teammates' steel.

Traversing deeper into the ruins presented us with greater volumes of Dwemer steam technology, from heavy piping to active Dwemer Sphere units that posed a danger to me, for the rags I wore aren't exactly Ebony quality. Once again, my allies proved invaluable in defeating the threats before us. I only wish I could have helped more.

It was soon after that the prisoner convoy reached a halt before the exit out into the city proper. Madanach took this time to take me aside, thank the team for assisting in his cause, returning my items to me (where he got them from I'm not certain considering the evident lack of a prisoner belonging chest in my case) and presenting me with the Armour of the Old Gods (See? I knew it was in that chest from earlier!) before leading his forces outside, where my friends and I quickly followed.

Awaiting us outside was the lord of the Silver-Bloods, Thonar, with multiple city guardsmen at his side. He challenged Madanach and his allies in broad daylight and tried to put an end to the Forsworn uprising in the city.

A massive fight ensued. Spells and swords clashed in this tiny corner of the city as Nords and Bretons fought valiantly in battle for their beliefs. We decided to refrain from getting involved in the fighting in this case (much to Sofia and Jordan's disappointment). Not that the Forsworn particularly needed our help. They mopped the floor with Thonar and his men.

No, as in they quite literally mopped the floor with Thonar. an interrupted necromancy spell saw the Silver-Blood's corpse reduced to an ash pule which was brushed all over the steps of the city. This combined with all the Nord blood staining the floors proved the Forsworn did LITERALLY mop the floor with the Nords.

Soon enough the battle was over, and as what was left of the guard saw to the dead and injured I was left to reflect on my time in Cidna Mine.

Overall, Cidna Mine is an exceptional jail that has effective staff, a strong and open layout, knows what it wants to be, generates a passive income through silver mining and great luxury (provided you are a Forsworn leader). Escape is also effectively deterred by the natural denizens of the dwemer ruins that connect the city streets to the mine. Although, I do take issue with the strong lack of prisoner observation and the multiple exit points the mine has out into the city. Those limitations place it short of The Chill in my personal rankings (which may end up being a post on here later), but still very much in the top echelon of Skyrim's jails.

Final Score: Nine Boots of the Old Gods out of Ten Boots of the Old Gods.

Aaaaaaand that's it! Thank you for reading my prison review series and (hopefully) enjoying my perspectives on these locations. I'm sorry some of them took a while to make (mental health's a bitch, am I right?), but I intend to post more often now on Tumblr. Mostly shitposts and memes and whatever comes to mind (most of which will be Skyrim stuff)

THANK YOU!

[naha-division]

Time was ticking as a certain karate assistant teacher’s birthday was coming to a close.

A package landed on the front steps of Ryūnosuke Sekiguchi’s home. There was no telling what it was, save for his information printed on a sticker that was plastered to the side of the package. Somewhat surprised upon receiving yet another gift, he brought it inside.

Inside was a desktop lightbox with intricate artwork carved into it.

Nesting alongside the lightbox was a small poster card. Short messages and autographs filled the poster card, but smack in the center of the card was a longer message, written in incredibly neat handwriting.

“Hey there, my fellow fighter!

I mean, kind of? You do martial arts, I do kickboxing… not the same but whatever. You’ve been an entertaining one on my trips to Naha, and! I was told it was your birthday today! Thought I’d send something, but I wasn’t really sure what kind of stuff you’d like… hope this will do! Enjoy becoming one year older, dude!

— Reiaki Suzubayashi from Minato Division

P.S: heard you’re a fan of hero movies! Well you’re in luck! I worked on set for some of those hero movies, so I got the cast members to sign their autographs here just for you!”

He opens the box and found it was a desktop lightbox and a post card beside it. He read the post card that was written by Reiaki from Minato and decided to test it. He takes out the lightbox, looking around it to see a in a different angle for a good view but most importantly trying to figure it out on how to use it. After he watch some tutorial videos and the only thing he can simply do was fetching a flashlight he could find in the toolbox at the storage room then place a flashlight our behind the carvings of Avengers to start to light up.

He tries to experiment by turning of the lights in his room and as he saw it, his eyes sparkled of how really awesome it looks right infront of him. The Avengers that he used to love since he was a kid felt like a nostalgia and probably he is still a big fan of Marvels even as an adult. He thought he can definitely use it as night light or maybe a display for his bedroom but either way he really loves the gift!

“Woah……this looks sick! there’s Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-man, Black Widow, my favorite two Wolverine & Black Panther, and every single heroes are in it! Haha! I can imagine Kyō would be pretty jealous have this cool lightbox of Avengers as my gift Hahaha!” He happily laughs and grateful for another gift that he never expect to get

Also he did remembered something along the way in the card about the autograph thing? so he checks the card again reading at the end of paragraph and it DID confirmed “wait…so she was able to get the casts to sign autographs just for my birthday sake?” he paused for a moment to process

“wow……I don’t know what to say about but all I know that was very thoughtful of her to go much length to give me their autographs. Damn…you almost got me there, Reiaki. I mean…she doesn’t have to do that for me but since it’s my birthday, I can let myself have this autograph for myself”

Regardless, he will very much use & cherish this lightbox gift for the rest of his life. He thought about wanting to thank her for the gift if ever he gets the time to visit Reiaki’s place in person.

“Hey…from what she said that she can do kickboxing huh? hmm……I’m wondering if she has time to have friendly brawl with me. Heh! as a assistant master, I kinda want to see how well she can use those boxing skills or even her kicks. This will be fun for both of us” he grins proudly of imaginimg which of both fighters will be K.O’d at the end