#pared-down palette

[femmefatalevibe]

Femme Fatale Guide: How To Master An "Effortlessly Elegant" & Put-Together Look

Table of Contents:

Treat your skin like royalty

Take ample care of your natural hair

Dress in crisp neutral outfits that cater to your body shape

Choose your accessories wisely

Embrace feature-enhancing makeup

Keep your nails clean, filed, and simple

Regarding your signature scent(s)

Follow your dental & bodily hygiene routines religiously

Treat your skin like royalty:

Use high-quality skincare twice a day

Wear sunscreen every day

Remove your makeup every night before bed no matter what

Use makeup that doesn't clog your pores/irritate your skin

Change your pillowcases weekly

Eat plenty of produce & drink lots of water

Prioritize sleep

Limit or eliminate alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and processed foods/sugary drinks

Keep your skin exfoliated/derma-planed

Take ample care of your natural hair:

Use high-quality shampoo/conditioner combos that suit your hair type & don't cause build-up

Hydrate with a scalp mask 1-4 times a month

Use cold or lukewarm water to wash your hair

Apply shampoo to the roots/hair covering your scalp and conditioner only on the "ponytail" section of your hair

Use a specialty hair towel after getting out of the shower

Always comb wet hair and brush 1-3 times a day when dry

Limit heat on your hair when possible & always use a heat protectant every time you do

Use non-elastic or silk hair ties

Get regular trims at least 3-4 times per year (get your hair layered if it's very thick)

Try to limit how much you dye or, especially bleach, your hair and do elaborate styles with tons of heat & harsh products

Dress in crisp neutral outfits that cater to your body shape:

Embrace minimalist basics (tees, tanks, blouses, sweaters, jeans, trousers, blazers, leather jackets, coats, etc.) in high-quality fabrics (Pima cotton, Merino wool, Tencel, mulberry silk, etc.)

Choose options in black, white, grey, charcoal beige, navy, burgundy, or cream depending on your skin tone and preferences

Invest in a collection of sleek footwear options (black boots, loafers, black pumps, white sneakers, etc.) in minimalist, timeless styles that suit the color palette, hemlines & proportions of your go-to outfits

Ensure your shoes and accessories feel proportional to the weight/silhouette of your outfit, color-coordinate with the rest of your look, and have streamlined hardware from head-to-toe (all silver, all gold, or one piece that mixes silver/gold and another gold & silver piece each to balance out the color palette)

Keep all of your clothes steam and lint-rolled, so they look crisp & fresh all-day

Befriend your tailor to take in or let out clothes as needed when purchased off the rack

Choose clothes/styles that flatter your body shape and proportions

Utilize belts and bra tape to adjust the waist, keep shirts tucked in, and keep straps from falling down or create an impromptu cuff/hem on your pants

When in doubt, select a neutral head-to-toe monochrome outfit

If on a budget, consider choosing black, grey, camel beige items to hide fabric imperfections that could cheapen your look

Choose your accessories wisely:

Select sleek, simple neutral (& almost exclusively) monochrome shoes made with smooth (recycled/vegan) leather with

Pair almost any outfit with a shoe featuring a slight platform, block heel, kitten heel, and/or a sharply pointed toe to elongate your silhouette

Complement your outfit with structured, pared-back handbags with no logos (Focus on quality and construction, not the brand name) in a neutral shade and timeless silhouette

For jewelry, choose at most one statement piece and all others should be focused on different areas of the body (e.g. don't mix statement earrings with layered/bold necklaces or stacked rings * bracelets). When in doubt, choose simple diamond chains or earrings, sleek bangles or chainlink necklaces & bracelets, simple pendant necklaces, and minimalist rings in hardware that all go together

Embrace feature-enhancing makeup:

Cover up any dark circles, blemishes, or hyperpigmentation with a color-matched concealer

Lightly contour with a bronzer that complements your skin tone

Fill in your brows for a naturally full look (or get them professionally tinted)

Apply a light wash of rose, coral, or mauve blush

Use black mascara with a little bit of eyeliner and/or a subtle wash of brown eyeshadow on the lids

Apply a "your lips but better" nude shade or "just kissed' berry lipstick or pigmented lip balm for a subtle wash of color

Keep your nails clean, filed, and simple:

Maintain cut, cleaned, and filed short nails

Opt for a square or almond nail shape

Choose a timeless nail shade (pink, nude, red, beige, dark cherry, navy, dark purple, black) with no nail art

Hydrate your hands and scrub under your nails daily

Regarding your signature scent(s):

Ensure your body wash/lotion and perfume scents don't clash

Test perfumes for a trial day to ensure they smell divine with your unique pheromones

Choose a fragrance appropriate for the seasonal/occasion

Apply a dab on each wrist and on your neck/behind the ears. If the scent doesn't project well on you, try applying these small dabs on the cuffs and shoulders of your jacket/walk into it to get it on your hair (if it would stain your clothes)

Don't layer more than one heady perfume at a time or scents that don't have complementary and/or shared notes

Follow your dental & bodily hygiene routines religiously:

Floss every day (after each meal if possible)

Brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush twice a day

Have mints on hand if you're a garlic, spice, or coffee lover

Keep your lips & hands well-moisturized and protected with SPF

Shower your body daily and be extra diligent in scrubbing your privates, everything behind, and under your arms

Don't use very hot water in the shower (it burns/dries out your skin)

Exfoliate 2-3 times a week with a sugar scrub

Moisturize daily or anytime you get out of the shower

Apply SPF on any exposed sun (especially in the summer or when the UV index is high in your area)

[lushafterglow]

Bite Me

Chapter One -> who is she?

Paring: streamer Sukuna x influencer F!reader

Summary: A little Q&A video — sponsored by an AD company you did an Ad campaign with — blew up over night. Fans shipping you with your newly revealed crush, who so far appears as if he don’t even know you exist. Sukuna’s reaction to seeing your AD, did not help the shipping.

Masterlist

Warnings: cursing, dirty jokes, 5 year age gap

Taglist: (to be added just ask)

Series Masterlist

You placed your camera and made sure all the lighting was good before clicking record on your go-pro.

Today you were talking about your new brand deal, and doing a little Q&A video that your fans had been requesting for, for quite some time.

You cleared your throat before you started talking, “hello it’s me, how are you guys today?”

You asked the camera knowing you won’t get a response back so you continued on. “Today we’ll be talking about my new brand deal and then doing a Q&A at the end of the video.”

You looked to your desk and grabbed your new make-up brand deal. “I have partnered up with Elf , and we made something so exciting. Well exciting for me and I hope for you.”

You showed the camera an eye shadow palette, eyeliner, and brushes.

“We have created an 18 color eyeshadow pallet, that has four highlighters inside.” You placed everything down and opened the pallet and grabbed your camera.

You showed the camera what the pallet looked like up close before putting the camera back onto its stand. “So 14 eyeshadow colors, and 4 highlighters. Let’s go over each highlighter first.”

You took your finger and picked up some product before swashing it onto your forearm.

“This fist one is call pink dahlia. It’s more of a nice light baby pink shade. As you can see lots of shimmer so that’s nice.”

You picked up the next highlighter and repeated. “Now this next one is kind of a chrome looking highlighter, and it’s called melody. Don’t ask why I choose these names.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at the name as you spoke it. You like the name and thought it’s was pretty, your just now realizing you’ve already give two of four highlights a human name.

“The next one is one I’m really excited about, it’s a blueish purple highlighter! So if you look from one angle you can see the blue undertones.” You moved your forearm slightly. “And if you look at this angle you can see the purple undertones. I really like this one. Probably my favorite.”

You grabbed the final highlighter and showed you swashing it before speaking about it. “This one is called enchanted and it’s more of a tan-ish neutral shade and it’s really an easy go too.”

You grabbed a makeup wipe and removed the highlighters from your arms.

“Now there’s like 14 eyeshadows and I’m turning into a ulta worker at this point but I’m going to use my favorite colors and show you a look with the new brushes.”

You grabbed some eye shadow base before blending it out.

You grabbed a brush and started to show it to the camera before using it. “This one’s really freaking cool, because it has two sides. So I’m going to use one side for the eyelid and the other side to buff it all and blend it out better.”

You showed the brush up close to the camera before taking your eye shadow pallet and dipping into the the Smokey black shade. “This shade is called onyx.”

You tapped your excess power off and started to just place the black on your outer eyes. And the started to slightly blend it out.

“Now I’m going to grab this dark red and do the same and place it in the middle and blend it out gently into the black.” You did as you said and blended it out with a light hand and then went back in with some more of the black and blended it out a little, while giving it a bit more smoke.

Then you grabbed your make up wipe and made the cut sharp.

You grabbed the eyeliner next and with a light hand you applied it to your waterline, “something cool about this eyeliner is, one side is pencil while the other is liquid.”

You put it t down and showed the camera a view with your eyes close.

“Really nice, feels super light, no fall out, I really like this look, so i definitely recommend. Now I’m just going to finish my make up and I’ll be back to show you the finish look.”

—

When you started to record again your make up was finish and you had pull out a list on your phone of questions asked.

“This is the finish look, and I have thirty minutes before I leave to do this Q&A.”

You look down at your phone and read off the first question. “Do I plan to do a giveaway soon? Yes. I will probably post on my tiktok about it soon, so look on there.”

“Do I like video games?” You couldn’t help a little laugh that left your lips as you gave your answer. “Yes, but I rage too much so I don’t play much.”

“Any collabs soon? Yes, obviously Elf but I also plan to do a collab with @ThatgirlNobara so that’s gonna be fun.”

“Do I know Gojo Satoru and if so do I think he’s hot?” You gave a slight smirk to the camera. “Yes, but I think someone else from that group is hotter. Which will lead to the next question.”

“I noticed you follow Sukuna, what are your thoughts on him?” When you went to answer you couldn’t help the laugh and the faintest blush coming to your face. “He’s my celebrity crush, my TikTok is full of edits of him.”

“How did I get to where I am? I’ve gotten this question a lot and there’s a simple answer. Do what you love, if you love makeup do makeup. Be kind, and always have an open mind. It’s not something that happens over night you just have to have goals and the patience to achieve them.”

You did a little stretch and noticed the time. “That’s all for today, I hope you enjoyed this video and I’ll see you in the next one.”

—

Sukuna was reading the comments and he drummed his fingers on his desk.

Sukuna when do you plan to launch the Minecraft series?

“Me and the boys are gonna have it out within the next week.”

You haven’t played Valorant in a while… have you seen the new trailer?

“Valorant? No I haven’t seen but we can look while we’re waiting for Gojo to get his shit together and get on.”

Gojo’s whined out a hey from Sukunas headseat.

Sukuna switched the live to one of his side monitors and pulled up YouTube, looking up the trailer.

“Five months ago? Damn I’ve been out the loop.” Sukuna pressed play and immediately and Ad came up and it was one of those long 15 second Ad’s you couldn’t skip.

“Ugh come on. One thing I hate are Ad’s.” When the Ad came to an end Sukuna expected to see the trailer but was disappointed by another ad. “Are you kidding me.”

This one he could skip so he waited five seconds but in the fourth second you appeared across the screen stopping him and making him pause instead.

“Holy shit she’s hot.”

A bunch of who’s came from Gojo and his brother Yuji while the chat started to spam your name.

Chesterf6297: That’s Y/N

Rando101: That’s Y/N L/N she’s a beauty influencer

Toji - fushiguro: damn she’s fine.

“Who the hell is Y/N and why haven’t I seen her sooner?” Sukuna asked his chat but didn’t bother too look at the comments as the Ad drew his attention once again.

He pressed play and the Ad was talking about some make up bullshit that he couldn’t care less, no he was focused on the red that was popping out your eyes. As if you were wearing that for him.

“Dude she’s hot as hell.”

“Whooooooo?!” Gojo’s whiny voice came through the headphones once again and this time Sukuna blessed him with an answer.

“Someone name Y/N L/N.” A gasp came from Gojo as he recognized the name.

“Omg I saw a tiktok edit of her, hot as hell. Her recent video she called me hot too.” Gojo purposely left out the fact she said Sukuna was hotter just to fuck with him.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny.”

Quinntonsu75: dude it’s true

Ginahjsh45: Yeah but she also said your hotter

Hislhu: Yeah she said that

Sukuna read the comments but kept his mouth shut and just watched the trailer. By the time he was finished Gojo had logged onto Fortnite and the squad started to play.

They played a few games and usually Sukuna would talked to the people he was playing with (talk shit) or he would interact with his comments and veiwers.

However in between games he was currently looking you up, you had officially peeked his interest, though he didn’t make it anymore obvious. He didn’t talk about you for the rest of the stream, but you stayed in his mind for it.

—

You scrolling through your DM’s responding to people — not to the rude or weird ones, you blocked them — when you noticed that Ryomen Sukuna himself had sent you a dm.

—

Sukuna: Hey.

First chapter out 🤭 this is so short compared to my other works. I’m in the works of making part two and I plan to make it way longer.

Part Two

[m0nsterqzzz]

★ Happy Endings in the Avengers Compound ★

paring: wanda maximoff x female reader

summary: Wanda is to afraid to make a move with you but what about when you get a date that isn't her?

warnings: literally nothing, it's just pure fluff, jealousy if that needs a warning? really shitty ending cuz i didn't know how to end it lol, a tiny bit ofcussing, terrible writing

a/n: I wrote this while I should've been taking notes in English cuz I was so boreddddd got this idea from a video my friend sent me that was all like, "girl whos obsessed with you does your makeup or something" cuz there's this girl in class who likes to do people's makeup and it was so fucking funny cuz she kept making comments I swear so yeah I just wanted to say that. enjoy :)

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

With a big grin, you harshly push open Wanda's bedroom door and squeal. “I got a date with this really pretty girl at the coffee shop!” Wanda's head snaps up from the book she's ready, and no amount of enthusiasm takes over her face. “A girl? what's her name, last name, date of birth, addresses, place of work, and hometown?” you chuckle, sitting criss cross on her bed and taking her cold hands in your warm ones. “Her name is Vanessa but I call her V, her last name is Tanner, birthday is March 23rd…I don't know what year, I don't know her address, she works at the hospital a few streets away, and I don't know where her hometown is.”

She takes a moment to think before questioning, “So you're going out with a woman you barely know? That doesn't sound safe honey.” You chuckle and nod. “I do know her! We spent like two hours talking in the café!” She looked back to her book and muttered, “Yet you still don't know how old she is.”

You giggle, and a sudden thought appears that makes you smile even brighter. “You should do my makeup! She's taking me out to dinner at a really fancy restaurant at seven.” Wanda frowns. You hate fancy restaurants. The last time Tony tried to take the team out to one, you stared at the menu with a disgusted look on your face the entire time. Wanda ended up taking you to a diner later that night, and the burger you had was much better than the snail food Tony made you try. Why are you going out with this girl if she didn’t even care enough to learn that?

Wanda rolls her eyes a bit. “Why would I do that?” She asks, and you smile. “Because you love me.” you say. and she mumbles something incoherent before looking at your face and sighing in defeat. 

You cheer, launching yourself into her arms and letting your head rest against her chest. The corners of her lips tug up at your happiness, but they go back down when she remembers why. 

“Come on butterfly.” She helps you up off the bed, leading you to her vanity and forcing you to sit on the chair. She grabs a bronzer stick, gently applying it to the middle of your cheeks, kind of on your cheekbone. She grabs a beauty blender and blends that in before grabbing a blush palette. Bucky walks into the room, laying down on Wanda's bed and beginning to talk about some guy he met at the park today. “And he’s such an attention seeker!” He ends with, and it’s silent until Wanda speaks quietly- clearly to you, “Just like that girl you’re seeing.” You scoff, and Bucky bursts out laughing as he looks between the two of you. “What's that supposed to mean? You haven’t even met them yet!” You say, and Wanda shots back, “And I don’t want to.” Bucky holds his stomach in laughter, and both you and Wanda turn to glare at him. The frown on your face is clear as you look at Wanda, and she sighs as she tells you, “I’m sorry okay Butterfly? I just…..I don’t know.” You miss the way Bucky smirks at the witch as he leaves the room quietly. 

“I guess…..I just don’t like that she has you and I don’t.” This brings a small giggle out of you. “Of course you have me Wands! You’re my best friend!” You say, oblivious to the way she grimaces at the word “friend”. She sighs, and doesn’t say anything as you apply some eyeshadow and highlighter to your face. “There you go Butterfly.” You look at yourself in the mirror, grinning at the sight and then at her. You kiss her forehead in thanks. “Thank you Wands!” You say, beginning to run out of her bedroom to go search for an outfit to wear. 

“Anytime darling.” She mumbles, releasing a heavy sigh and holding her head in her hands. Someone gently knocks on the door, and she wipes her tears away and says without turning around, “What’s up Butterfly?” A slightly deep and raspy voice speaks teasingly from her doorway, “I thought that nickname was reserved for your girlfriend?” 

Wanda turns around, facing the redhead woman in the doorway and lets the tears fall. Natasha’s smile falls, and she instantly walks to Wanda and wraps her up in a hug. “She-she’s going out with someone else Nat! I’m too late!” Natasha knows about Wanda’s crush on you, as it was revealed after Wanda finally snapped at her after months of the ex-assassin teasing her about the way she looks at you. Natasha’s always been a very, go for it type person, so that’s the advice she had given Wanda the first time the younger girl asked for help asking you out. The witch practically laughed in her face.

“It’s okay kid……it’s okay.” Natasha tries her best to soothe her, but nothing seems to help as the tears continue to fall so she hesitantly pulls away and asks, “Do you love that girl Wanda?” The answer is obvious. “Yes….more than I love anything.” Wanda says. Natasha gently smiles. “Then you’re going to do what you should have done a long time ago. You’re going to buy her her favorite flowers,” Wanda nods along, sniffling a bit as she tries to build up her courage. “,you’ll put on some nice clothes instead of sweatpants and a hoodie,” she giggles and looks down at her comfortable clothes before nodding. “,and most importantly, you’re gonna do it today. Before she goes out on that date. I’m like 84.62 percent sure she likes you back so it’ll all be all right.” Wanda’s eyes go wide. She was expecting this to be more of a in a few weeks plan, but clearly Natasha had other thoughts. The redhead doesn’t give room for complaint though, as she simply gets up and walks out of the bedroom.

Wanda takes a deep breath, wiping her tears and glancing up at the clock on the wall. It’s currently 4pm, so that means there is 3 hours until your date with that bimbo.

Three hours for her to get a bouquet.

Three hours for her to figure out what she's even going to say.

Three hours for her to get her shit together.

Those three hours are spent with Bucky and Natasha, spending the first hour going to multiple stores in search of the perfect bouquet. It’s stupid really, the need to find the perfect bouquet but the older two just roll their eyes and stay silent. 

The next hour is spent trying to figure out what to say, and both Natasha and Bucky could not stay serious as Wanda rehearsed on a pillow. That pillow was thrown at Natasha's head.

The last hour was an hour of panic, especially when you came in to say your date was 10 minutes away. This was her time. She walks through the hallway, finding you sitting on a couch in the living room. You changed clothes, and you look absolutely stunning. She stops walking for a second to admire you, but a giggle from behind her causes her to abruptly turn around. She sees Tony, Natasha, Bucky, Steve, and Thor all standing there with smiles.

Tony's is more of a smirk, but everyone else's is supportive as they give her silent thumbs up. She rolls her eyes at them being nosy and continues to walk closer to you.

Your focus is on your phone, but you look up with a bright smile when you notice Wanda's platform docs. “Hey Wands! What's up?” She swallows thickly, sweaty hands gripping the bouquet a bit tighter behind her back. “Wands? Why do you look so nervous?” You giggle, and she can't help but smile at the sound. 

The group is still watching from the doorway, and Natasha rolls her eyes when Tony pulls out his phone and presses record.

Wanda reveals what she was hiding, and you immediately gasp at the sight of the beautiful flowers. “Well aren't you just a gentle woman my dear? These are beautiful Wands. Thank you.” She smiles as you bring them a bit closer to your nose and sniff them. “Not as beautiful as you.” She cringes, and you immediately burst out laughing. “That was sweet but it was definitely the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say.” She nods.

Tony agrees quietly and Bucky hits the back of his head.

“So um….Butterfly.” You nod to acknowledge her. “I was- I was thinking recently and um…” Your phone begins to buzz, and you simply place it in your purse as you give her your full attention. “Well…” She takes a glance at the group who's still in the doorway, and they all send her encouraging smiles. It's then that you notice them, sending them all confused smiles before looking at Wanda again.

She's taking one last deep breath when Jarvis suddenly alerts the house. “There is a woman named Vanessa Tanner at the front gate, saying she's here to pick up her date.” Natasha and Bucky instantly panic, looking at each other before going back to Wanda.

As if those are the magic words, Wanda's eyes widen and she begins to ramble, “I really, really, really like you Butterfly and I know you may not feel the same way but Natasha and Bucky said you did and I figured that if there was a little bit of hope, I should try it.” A shocked look takes over your face. “It's totally fine if you don't feel the same way but I just couldn't let you go out with that bimbo named Vanessa if there was even a small chance you liked me….half as much as I do you.” She doesn't take her gaze off the floor, and she takes your silence as an answer as tears fill her eyes.

“Wanda. Look at me.” You demand, but she shakes her head no and continues to study the carpeted floor. “Wanda. Look…at…me.” She slowly looks at you, and the happiness in your eyes is enough to make her let out a small sigh of relief- not complete relief though. 

“I wish you had told me this before I practically threw myself at a woman I barely know. Because I'd much rather you be the one picking me up for dinner than Vanessa.” You both giggle, and she hesitantly asks, “So...what does that mean for us?” 

Natasha rolls her eyes and Tony shouts, “Ask her out you dumbass!” It's clear he's talking to the witch in front of you and she blushes red as she glares at him before turning back to you. “He's right. So, would you like to go out with me Butterfly?” 

You take a moment to pretend you're thinking about it before asking playfully, “And what would we do on this date Miss Maximoff?” She hadn't really thought about it, so she takes a minute to do that before declaring, “I'd take you out to dinner, not a fancy restaurant with food you hate, but your favorite dinner a few streets away. And then I'd take you dancing to that place we went to for your birthday because you had a lot of fun there, and then I'd bring you back here and make you a homemade dessert. Your favorite.” You smile. “Then yes, I’d love to go out with you Wanda Maximoff.” You lean in a bit to kiss her cheek, and she blushes a bit.

Suddenly, cheering erupts and the sound of a confetti popper going off can be heard. “What the hell Tony?” Wanda asks, but both of you can’t help but chuckle. He grins. “This long lasting nightmare of having to be around you two’s sexual tension is finally over!” Natasha smacks his arms and questions, but it’s more like telling him what to say, “Don’t you mean, “I popped that confetti popper because I’m so happy two of my teammates have finally found happiness”?” He’s silent for a minute before he laughs loudly as says, “No. Not at all. I meant to say, this long lasting nightmare of having to be around you two’s sexual tension is finally over! Let’s party baby!” You giggle, but Wanda narrows her eyes, letting them glow red. Suddenly, the second unused confetti popper in Tony's hand flies up to be level with his face, and he mumbles, “Well shit” right before it goes off. 

While he’s spitting out small pieces of paper from his mouth and trying to blow them out of his nose, the doorbell rings. “It is Vanessa Tanner.” Jarvis notifies, and you start to walk to the door with Wanda hot on your heels. “Where are you going?” She questions with a hint of sadness in her voice as she’s sure you're going to go on that date with Vanessa even after everything just happened. 

“I’m going to go tell her it won’t work out.” You say casually, and the smile is right back on Wanda's face as she uses her powers to freeze you in place and run ahead of you. You simply laugh, calling out, “Wanda! Wanda!” She turns around for a second to look at you. “Be nice please?” She giggles. “It’s nice of you to think I can do that Butterfly.” She runs off to go probably harass Vanessa, and you're left frozen in the hallway with a small chuckle. 

What Wanda doesn’t know is that you’d been waiting for that day even longer than she had. She’d always been it for you, ever since the first day she came to the compound. But over time, you slowly lost hope she felt the same way, and decided to just move on. If Wanda hadn’t done that sudden declaration of love, the future you two eventually have together would have never happened, and that's something you now think about daily.

[fayes-fics]

Benedict +Regency+ spanking

Thank you our Queen O'Smut

Kinktober: Benedict + Spanking

Kinktober 2023 Masterlist

Paring: Benedict Bridgeton x fem!reader

Warnings: 18+ smut, minors DNI, spanking, vaginal fingering

Author’s note: hi lovely 🫶 thanks for this. My muse settled on this idea immediately, and I hope you enjoy it! 🧡

Your fingers dig into the plush velvet chaise arm, your toes curl against the polished wood floor, hissing as you adjust to the sting, inner thighs damp already, betraying just how alright you are with what is transpiring.

“Do not pretend, darling wife, you are not enjoying this,” Benedict rumbles silkily into your ear as if intuiting where your thoughts have run. The tip of his nose grazes over your temple, and he inhales deeply, “I can smell how aroused you are.” 

You whimper at his words, his large hand rubbing a soothing circle over the dark bloom on your bottom. Then his hand is gone, and the room reverberates with the sound of his palm slapping down onto your flesh yet again as you groan and push back into his hand.

“Do you have any idea how exquisite this painting will be?” he queries, a rich chuckle into your hairline. “Your beautiful naked body, thighs glistening with want, cheeks daubed with my handprints. I could make a fortune selling such a risque painting in the salons of Paris,” he intones, swirling fingertips over your abused skin. “Luckily for you, I am a greedy man, and this one is just for me…” 

With another smarting slap, those are his parting words as he stalks away, rounding behind his easel. You pant lightly and stare at the rich emerald velvet before you as he picks up his paintbrush, wishing he would just throw you onto the chaise and fuck you so hard your teeth rattle. You imploringly whine his name after a few impatient moments, rubbing your thighs together, needy for relief for your pulsing clit.

“Use your words, darling,” he teases, muffled around a paintbrush he clenches between his teeth as he paints large strokes with another.

“Please… I am aching; please fuck me,” you are almost begging now, bum cheeks burning hot as your cunt.

There is a clatter of his palette and footsteps, then a large hard worms between your thighs from behind, an obscene wet sound as he buries two fingers inside you as you cry out at the invasion.

“So needy,” he huffs, bemused, but you don't complain as you hear his other hand fighting to undo his trouser buttons. 

No taglist as these drabbles are so short

[geraltofriviacollection]

Chapter Eight

Paring: Geralt x Reader

Summary: Reader is thrown into the Witcher’s world. Will she survive? 

A/N: sorry that I haven’t posted anything in a while. I got a promotion at work and things have been crazy. Please enjoy this next chapter. I have not edited or proofread. Please do not repost, translate or copy my work without permission. Please leave comments! ❤️

The journey to The Temple of Melitele is a tense one. All of us are on edge for different reasons. Ciri because we wouldn’t let her kill herself. Geralt because he thinks Ciri is always hurling herself to deaths door and myself for well all of that and what’s coming next in this fucked story. The panic of what’s going to happen to Ciri comes crashing against me in waves. I know they are both picking up on my strange behavior.

Our first night away from the Witchers keep is oddly quiet. Once we have finished eating Ciri immediately settles into sleep. Something that I find out of character for her. Normally she is a chatter box full of questions, asking Geralt and I for stories. I walk over to the other side of the fire where Ciri has tucked herself into her palette.

“Are you alright? You’ve been rather quiet today.” I ask her softly as sit looking down at her young face.

“I’m fine.” She says not meeting my eyes. I narrowed my eyes at her before replying.

“Is this still about us not letting you become a Witcher?”

“No, This is about me not being able to make my own choices.” She explains finally looking at me.

“Ciri, I know why you want to sacrifice yourself so badly, but even after you will still have the guilt you feel at surviving what others did not. We want you to make your own choices. We also want you to make those choices for the right reasons.” I gently stoke back a loose piece of her hair before pressing a light kiss to her forehead. “Get some sleep.” I tell her before leaving her.

I walk back over to my spot on the other side of the fire. I stare at the flames so deeply I don’t notice geralt's return until he places a few larger sized logs he found on the fire. He comes and sits next to me while we both watch the warmth dancing in front of us.

“Is something going to happen?” Geralt ask breaking the silence. I look at him with shock and a questioning look. “I can tell now. You start behaving differently before.” He admits.

I feel that light ache as if warning me from saying too much. “Things have changed in ways that I didn’t expect and knowing but not knowing always sets me on edge.” I sigh, placing my head in my hands, rubbing my eyes with my palms. Geralt pulls my hand away from my face and I find myself staring into golden eyes that reminds me of the sun itself. He looks at me gently stroking the back of my hand with his thumb.

“ Most would have ran off by now but you are still here. Stop overthinking and underestimating your ability to handle whatever may come. You can’t let fear consume you. Ciri needs you….I need you.” He admits. His words bring heat to my cheeks.

The softness of how he looks at me makes my heart begin to pound in a new way. I swallow as my throat feels dry in the intimacy of this moment. My tongue darts out to wet my lips and his eyes dart down to catch the movement.

I take his advice and bring my lips to his before I can overthink it. My eyes close as I move my lips against his, it takes a second to realize he’s not kissing me back. As I start to pull away he places a on the back of my neck as his thumb strokes my lower jaw and he kisses me back. The kiss is full of emotion that I can’t place. His tongue darts out and licks the seam of my lips. I squeak in surprise. I feel him as he pulls away. His thumb lightly strokes over my swollen bottom lip. I open my eyes to see a strange expression on his face.

“What is it?” I ask, pulling his hand from my face.

“I may not be able to give you what you want.” He says looking down at our entwined hands. He stands and starts to pull away from me. The reasonable part knows I should let this go and never speak of this again especially because of what’s yet to come. I start to let him go but a voice whispers “He might not choose her.”

I grab him tighter, stopping him from pulling away from me. “I want you to give me what you can and I will do the same for you. Only what we can.” I emphasized,looking up at him. He pauses for what feels like a dozen beats of my heart. Then he turns back to me and looks back down at my hands before meeting my eyes.

“Only what we can.” He agrees before sitting back down next to me. Geralt grabs my hand again and we simply sit there staring into the fire.

The next day I’m consumed with the thoughts of Geralt's lips on mine and the ‘only what we can’ agreement will mean when we get to the temple. Even after Geralt's encouragement not to worry I can’t help but have some anxiety of what’s coming. The day has passed by with my being stuck in my own head. I have to force myself to tune in to the beginnings of an argument between the two of them.

“…..We were safe.” Ciri says. This is the first time I have head her speak since we left Kaer Morhen.

“The trial of grasses isn’t safe.” Geralt replies. I sigh already knowing where this conversation is going. It’s enough to make me want to throw myself off Roach just to not have to hear this argument again.

“Not Listening again.”

“You want to kill yourself trying to become a mutant so if you survive you can killl yourself trying to get revenge. Which part did I miss?” Geralt dully remarks. Ciri opens her mouth to reply, I cut her off.

“We are not starting this all over again. I feel like I can literally say what is coming next from each of you. You both make good points. I mean for goodness sakes both of you…”

Geralt pauses Roach and looks up at the trees. A small tingle runs down my spine. As the air becomes still. We continue forward reaching the lake.

“This is the shallowest part of the river. I’ll check that it’s safe to cross.”

“What do you mean safe?” Ciri ask

“I’ll try and draw it out first.” He says look out to the water.

“Draw what out?” Ciri frowns. If he could just give a little more detail on the front end I swear we could save hours worth of this.

“It’s some type of chernobog.” Geralt answers.

“I don’t know what that is.”Ciri Replies.

“I’m sure whatever the hell it is, it's not good.” I mutter under my breath. Geralt tells us to say where we are and he walks into the water. He’s only thigh deep when a monster with wings appears out of the sky. Ciri calls Geralt back as the beast nears. My heart starts pumping harder.

Geralt pushes the monster back with an invisible blow. It recovers before flying back, geralt tries to hit the beast again but only catches the foot. The thing screeches and makes a dive toward us. Geralt shouts for us to get down. I push ciri from the horse. She tumbles to the ground. I push off just as something catches the back of my right shoulder. I cry out as I finally hit the ground. Geralt shouts for us to run.

Ciri and I get up and run for cover as Geralt looks around for the monster. After a few moments Geralt motions us out from where we’re hiding. Ciri runs to roach , seeing her on the ground. The deep cuts on the end of her body from the monster. Ciri and Geralt both lean down to comfort her. I look away, tears forming in my eyes.

“Is there anything we can do?” Ciri ask. Geralt pulls a small knife. Ciri walks to me and places her head on my shoulder. I hear the sound of roach’s last breaths. I hum to ciri to cover over the sound of the knife cutting into Roach. Geralt stands, I pull gently away turning from Ciri and place a hand on Geralt's arm. He brings his large hand to cover mine.

“I think we might have a problem.” Ciri calls out a bit frantically.

“What is it?” I ask turning back to her. I grab her face turning it from side to side. Pull away and look over her. “Are you hurt?” I ask still inspecting her. She steps back from my hands and look behind me with wide eyes. I turn to Geralt. “What on earth is wrong?” I almost shout panic is rising in my throat.

“You’re injured.” He says walking up and turning me around.

“I don’t feel anything” I tell him to try to pull away.

“That’s either shock or adrenaline.” He places his hand on my right shoulder and I jolt away from him. The pain slams into me at his touch. “I think you got caught by the claws jumping from Roach.” He explains. I twitch in pain.

“Stand still.” He almost growls.

“Well now I can feel it and it hurts.” I say still squirming. He holds a firm hand on my neck and shoulder to stop me from moving as he places a bandage on it. “That will have to do for right now to slow down the bleeding.” He says tying the last knot I wince a bit. The monster screeches coming back for a second go around.

“It’s time.” Geralt says walking over to ciri. “Are you ready for this?” He asks, looking at her. Ciri nods her head saying yes and Geralt gives her instruction to go up on top of the rock. She looks at me and I nod encouragingly. She heads that way and Geralt turns back to me, pulling a small bottle from his pouch drinking the contents. The black webs form around his face and when his eyes open blackness. Has covered the golden hue I have found myself so fond of. “Stay here.” He says before stalking forward into the forest.

The beast spots Ciri from the rock and aims right for her diving down. I feel the warmth come and my skin begins to glow as the beast gets closer. I have a ball of light aimed and ready when Geralt appears from nowhere and slices through the best causing it to fall crashing to the ground. The forest shakes as the huge body lands.

We continue on our journey and my back stings in pain from the rake of the bog monster's claws. I’ve definitely slowed down the pace of the entire group. The Temple of Melitele finally comes into sight after hours of walking. I stumble as we pause to look. Geralt shoots me a look before walking over to me and placing a hand on my head then grunting. He turns me around my back facing him and I stand there looking at Ciri.

“You’re losing too much blood.” He says pulling the quickly made bandage away.

“Will she be alright?” Ciri calls out looking past me to Geralt as I hear something tear behind me and something presses against my wound. I grit my teeth at the feeling.

“I'll be fine. I’m sure the temple has talented healers that will fix me right up.” I reassure her. She comes and holds my hand in comfort. Geralt puts more pressure on my wounds I grunt. He holds it there for a minute until he begins tying things back in place. Once he finishes he moves in front of me and just stares.

“Can you make it the rest of the way?” He finally asked me. I nod my head, I start walking to prove how fine I am. Something happens behind me and I hear their footsteps join mine. A short time later Geralt scoops me into his arms.

“You can put me down. I’m fine.” I tell him quietly glancing over a Ciri who is strangely interested in the sky without clouds. I look back up at Geralt who just grunts and rolls his eyes.

“You’re slowing us down and I would like to reach the temple before night falls.” He says looking dead ahead. I start to open my mouth but he cuts me off. “This is me giving you what I can.” He leans down and whispers. My mouth closes and I settle back in his arms with pink cheeks.

@freegardenbanananeck @kas0417 @lillianacristina @mxtokko @wonderlandfandomkingdom @lovemesomuchhh @novaacanee

[fault-classic]

May and June were pretty busy for me, so I didn't have as much time to work on game dev. I'll condense what I've done over those two months into one post.

May and June's work was focused on building a CAMP area. This is where the party gathers outside of the dungeon, and where Ashley can save the game, switch out party members, and rest to restore HP and MP.

It all started with this mockup image here. Originally the Camp and the entrance to the dungeon were supposed to be two separate rooms with a fade-to-black in between them, but that idea didn't make it past the initial concept stage.

The idea for the trees to form this black barrier around the room perimeter was also thrown out - I couldn't use the same principles for designing interiors as I did for outdoor areas. It would take a different approach.

Getting the look right was an involved process. My first blueprints for the entrance made it out to be this enormous megastructure when I actually constructed it in-engine.

Gluing the trees together like A Link to the Past was a good idea though.

Attempts to pare the map down into something more manageable resulted in this awkward half-way step. There were still too many repeated textures for my liking, it was still too big, and it kind of looked like it was under construction instead of being in ruins.

This is the last mockup I went with before I collected the assets and actually built the thing in engine.

I found it useful from a technical perspective to start with a very blown-out, saturated colour palette, and then work "subtractively" from there, dialing down the colours using the in-engine tools as appropriate.

Have I shown off the diagonal stair movement before? That was something I coded myself. The tops and bottoms of the stairs act as little triggers that change the outputs of the movement keys as appropriate. You don't have to zig zag down the stairs like I've seen in some RPG Maker games.

Party members who aren't currently following Ashley will hang back at the campsite. Ashley can swap them out like so - but the assets for everyone aren't quite done yet. Yolei doesn't have a walking sprite!

I did a lot of experimenting to figure out the range of different palettes I could get without making changes to the tileset assets themselves.

I coded an in-game clock that ticks down when Ashley walks around outside of camp. The weather conditions and lighting change depending on when the party returns to camp - this would be late in the day, around sunset.

If the Ashley returns to camp after dark, the remaining party members will have a little fire set up.

The effects to make this fire work right are really elaborate. I might make a second post to explain everything that went into it.

[taylorswiftstyle]

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | October 24, 2022

Dorothee Schumacher 'Graphic Statement Jacket' - $1,085.00 Dorothee Schumacher 'Sleeveless Jacquard Top' - $280.00 Dorothee Schumacher 'Graphic Statement Flared Pants' - $520.00

I will always love a suited moment and I think there are so many fun aspects to this that I love. The black and white palette, the high neck of the top, and the general chevron pattern.

For a television moment, I feel like this print overload could come across as a bit dizzying and overwhelming. And sure, a simple swap of the top to a black one would have pared back the print overload enough. 

But I think she actually pulls off this print well - and it’s also so fun but with a slightly retro 70s nod with the power shoulder and flared shape of the pants. By creating a big block of pattern throughout her entire body that is almost overwhelming in its graphic overload - it actually forces you to look at her face for a respite. And I kind of love that in the craziness if you needed a second of calm for your eyes, that her face is where you need to rest to get it - especially because that high neckline stops just at her jaw.

Truthfully my only major complaint is that she should have quickly unbuttoned her jacket when going to sit down. Not just for a more comfortable seating experience for her, but also a cleaner line for still images. 

Worn with: Nick Horey, Sara Shala, and EF Collection jewelry and Jimmy Choo boots

[seraphimcollections]

stars aligned // Namor/deaf!reader

chapter 3

Warnings: no warnings in this one

Synopsis: Namor and Namora share an interesting conversation while Thulile gets slightly more comfortable in her captivity.

Word count: 1k 

Additional notes: as a holiday gift to everyone, I decided to post one more chapter for today! I’ll be taking the next few days off for the holiday but I’ll be posting soon! Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!!

Yucatec Maya:

In ajawo’ - my king

ka’a suku’un - cousin

le mareas le destino cambiarán ti' le Kukulkan ka le ku desafía u k'aay sirena ku pare tu taan leti' - the tides of fate will shift for the Kukulkan when the one who defies the siren’s call stands before him

In disculpas - my apologies

ch.1. ch.2. 

______________________________________________________________

Namor stepped into his private sanctum. Almost every wall was adorned with hand painted murals of his own creations. Namor stepped around his table with different paints and parchments covered in every kind of swatch of various colors. His dark eyes cast down to his wrist, seeing the dark beads he’d picked off his prisoner. His very fascinating prisoner, for a land-dweller. 

“How did she write it…Thulile, that was it,” Namor grumbled to himself. 

Of course he couldn’t forget such a name, it was like something he never had and yet it had his full attention. A fact equally attributed to its holder. Namor would be a fool to ignore that his prisoner was easy on the eyes with a fiery stubbornness to match. But that’s all these were, observations. Nothing more. 

Namor picked up his palette and brush, returning to his latest unfinished mural. However the ancient king wouldn’t be allowed to sink into his focus when one of his prized generals stepped into the hut, announcing her arrival. 

“In ajawo’,” Namora held her hands open in their custom, “may I approach?” 

Namor held a smile, never taking his eyes away from the mural, before nodding, “of course, general. What do you need from me?” 

“We should discuss the prisoner,” Namora said. 

“What of it?” Namor said, pretending to be disinterested. 

“You could not of seen it, in ajawo’,” Namora watched her king carefully, “it is exactly how the prophecy said.” 

The brush in Namor’s gentle hand stopped centimeters from the stone before he placed it back on the palette with a sigh. 

“Not with this again, ka’a suku’un,” Namor placed the palette on the table, “that prophecy was a silly bedtime story, you know this.” 

“How could you say that? Fen saw it for herself, spoke of it on her deathbed,” Namora argued. “le mareas le destino cambiarán ti' le Kukulkan ka le ku desafía u k'aay sirena ku pare tu taan leti'.”

“Yes, I know it just as well,” Namor waved dismissively. 

“Then you see it the same as I do, my king,” Namora placed her hand on the table. “You are not blind, and neither was Fen.” 

Namor smiled cynically, “yes, I can not deny my mother’s dying words, but that still doesn’t change the danger in such fantastical words. The tides will change, that could very well spell the end of Talokanil as we know it. No, I will not risk our people and our home over a silly fairytale.” 

Namora frowned before standing straight once more, “well, I will honor that.” 

“I wish to honor that I do not want to speak of this again,” Namor said, removing the kimoyo beads from his wrist, “prepare a small militia, it’s time to move out.” 

Namora watched as Namor walked past her to exit the hut, “may I ask where we are headed.” 

“Wakanda,” Namor smirked. 

-> 

Back in her cell, Thulile was turning it nearly upside down. She looked in every nook and cranny, looking for a weak point or something to tinker together. After her tireless search, Thulile let out a frustrated wail, throwing her hands up. There was absolutely nothing to be found besides the swinging hammock. 

Next Thulile tried the bars. She tried everything, squeezing between them, prying them open and picking the lock with a small bobby pin that somehow wasn’t washed away. Nothing worked. Thulile let out another wail as she banged against the bars, letting her hang in defeat. Thulile tried her best to calm her breathing but the panic wasn’t going away. Thousands of thoughts shot through her mind.

‘So there’s been a secret civilization of blue people at the bottom of the ocean for gods know how long with a king with pointy ears and feathers for feet. What’s tough to understand?’ Thulile thought. 

Too lost in her thoughts, Thulile didn’t realize a woman approached her cell. The masked blue woman looked at Thulile with an amused smile before gently tapping on her hand. Thulile jumped back, throwing her hands up in defense only to see the young servant standing there. The servant giggled at Thulile’s reaction. Thulile looked over the woman, sensing her softer demeanor. 

“You are Thulile, yes?” the woman said kindly. 

Thulile squinted, reading the woman’s lips before nodding. 

“My english is rocky, in disculpas,”the woman gestured to a woven basket she held in her hands, “I’ve been asked to give you these.” 

Thulile watched as the woman placed the basket in front of the bars before stepping back. Thulile looked at the woman again before approaching the basket like an animal scouting out the danger. Thulile pulled the clothes out of the basket and brought them to her chest. Thulile blinked in confusion as the woman opened the palms of her hands, one of the other, and bowed her head. 

“May a KuKulkan bless you, prophesied one,” the woman said. 

The woman smiled and walked away. Thulile, successfully confused, tried to wave the woman down to no avail. Thulile sighed while unfolding the metaphorical olive branch. Thulile blinked in shock seeing it fold out into a dress of intricate details. It was beautifully made, woven in shells and seaglass into beautiful archaic patterns reminiscent of the Maya.  Thulile looked around in disbelief, feeling there had been some sort of mistake. 

‘Is this how they dress all of their prisoners?’ Thulile thought. 

Nevertheless, she needed to get out of her soaked clothes. Taking another gaze around to make sure there weren’t any prying eyes, Thulile began to undress down to her undergarments. Thulile couldn’t help the shiver that cast over her body giving way to gooseflesh. Quickly Thulile threw on the dress, grateful for its long sleeves and how it dropped down to her ankles. Thulile twisted around, nodding at the craftsmanship. 

Thulile twisted her locs hair up into a messy bun as her mind replayed the servant’s strange words. She spoke of a prophecy, more than that, that she herself was prophesied. Thulile felt her mind become dizzy before collapsing back on the hammock. 

‘Madder and madder it gets…Bast, make sense of this mess.’ 

[queenofdragons12]

Babydoll — J.JK, B.C, H.HJ

WARNINGS : slight seductive, flirting, soft fluff

PARINGS : idol! hyrbid! J.JK + B.C + H.HJ X fem! dragon! reader + stray kids and BTS

a/n: there's a new series I'll do hope you'll like it!

Ch.1

Being a hybrid had never been easy. The relentless pursuit of others, hoping to capture and exploit your unique essence, loomed over your existence like a shadowy specter. As a dragon hybrid, the fuss surrounding you was amplified to an unbearable degree. The clamor of humanity's curiosity and avarice pursued you ceaselessly, driving you to seek solace in the seclusion of your current abode.

You had once dwelled amidst the constant paparazzi frenzy in the heart of bustling Seoul, South Korea. But now, you had distanced yourself from the maddening throngs of humans, carving out a refuge far away from their intrusive presence. Yet, even in your newfound sanctuary, those relentless few managed to sniff you out, their tempting offers purposefully designed to exploit your vulnerabilities. Little did they know, you possessed a wealth that surpassed their expectations, having amassed a dragon's horde of gold before your relocation.

Glimmering and lustrous gold was integral to your dragon nature — a testament to your legendary heritage. Once upon a time, you had reveled in the opulence of your hoard, but the desire to assimilate into human society had tugged at your heartstrings for years. It had become customary to seek out work, a means to integrate yourself within the tapestry of humanity.

And indeed, you still toiled away, for today held an important job interview, a gateway to a new chapter in your life. As you stood before the mirror, your gaze met your reflection, scrutinizing every detail. The mirror's surface bore witness to the intricate dance of your fingers as they grazed along the delicate ridges of your face, tracing the contours of your neck and collarbones. Dustings of golden flecks adorned your scales, shimmering in ethereal beauty, a testament to the melding of dragon and mortal flesh.

The hues that adorned your scales captivated the eye — a mesmerizing blend of deep blue, black, and golden dust as if the night sky had woven a celestial elegance garment. Each scale was a tiny mosaic, a fragment of iridescence that painted a portrait of your true self. With careful consideration, you selected a dress that embraced the color palette of your being. The deep blue fabric cascaded down your form, caressing every curve with a grace reminiscent of a leaf floating upon a tranquil pond. Embedded within its seams were delicate threads of gold, reminiscent of the treasure you had guarded so fiercely.

As the dress settled upon your shoulders, it unveiled a tantalizing glimpse of your scales, which adorned your skin like jewels. Their presence, even in this modest display, exuded an otherworldly allure. A smile graced your lips as your scales shimmered and danced in the gentle illumination of the room. You were a vision, a resplendent embodiment of beauty and power, ready to face the world that lay beyond your sanctuary.

With a final, confident glance in the mirror, you knew that you were prepared. Ready to step into the realm of humans, your dragon heart beating in harmony with the intricate melody of a world that awaited you.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱

Hyunjin had always reveled in the opulence of his wealthy family, a lineage that had long been a source of pride. However, his illustrious heritage was often overshadowed by the complexities of his werewolf lineage, which posed challenges in business. As the leader of the Lunar Shadows pack, alongside his father's old friend, Chan, Hyunjin had witnessed the thriving success of their pack. Yet, the constant thorn in their side remained the Wildfire Howlers, led by none other than the boastful alpha, the renowned Prince Jeon Jungkook's father. Despite the ongoing feud, Jeon Jungkook himself was confined to leading a small pack called BTS, a mere whimper in comparison.

However, amidst the mundane affairs of their pack, Hyunjin's attention was abruptly seized when rumors reached his ears of an upcoming appearance by new personnel. His curiosity was piqued, although a touch of boredom lingered within him. Such matters rarely concerned him, for his father, Ragnor, paid little heed to his son's and best friend's opinions, as they had already forged their own enterprise — Stray Kids, they called it.

Returning to the present, Hyunjin strolled through the grand corridors of his family's company. Then, he caught sight of a woman draped in a form-fitting blue dress, gracefully gliding towards him. His eyes fixed on her figure, exuding an air of unrivaled elegance. However, the dusting of scales adorning her supple skin truly captivated him. Their interplay of black, blue, and golden hues shimmered like a masterpiece, a canvas he would aspire to paint, blending dark shades with ethereal brilliance.

Halting in his tracks, Hyunjin's world came to a standstill as the woman turned her head, locking her captivating (e/c) eyes with his own. At that moment, his inner wolf roared to life, resonating within the depths of his being, screaming the undeniable truth—mate, mate, mate! A flicker of pain coursed through Hyunjin as he witnessed the woman tilt her head, acknowledging him before continuing on her way, the echo of her heels clicking against the pristine floor.

Hyunjin stood there, stunned and breathless, as his soul reverberated with the overwhelming presence of his destined mate. Never before had his wolf yearned so fiercely, recognizing this encounter as the real deal — the union that would bind them eternally. With your enchanting presence, you were his one true soulmate, destined to intertwine their lives in a symphony of love and belonging.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱

You scolded yourself silently, berating your outburst, as you leaned against the wall on the other side of the room, facing the office where your new boss awaited you. Why had you let out that startled scream? Coiled within your very being, your inner dragon hissed in disapproval, smoke curling from her nostrils. Because I could sense him, you cannot deny that you felt the connection too. You can't tell me he wasn't your type! Your dragon reminded you, her voice resonating in your mind.

Taking a deep breath, you shook your head, brushing aside strands of hair that had fallen across your face. With newfound resolve, you steeled yourself again and raised your hand to knock on the door. The air hung heavy with anticipation, nerves coiling within you like restless serpents.

Soon enough, the door swung open, and you nearly flinched as you came face to face with a man whose handsomeness surpassed anything you had ever witnessed. There was a striking resemblance to the tall, long-haired individual you had encountered in the hallway — a kindred spirit, perhaps? Your breath caught in your throat as your dragon flamed up again, reflecting the scorching intensity coursing through your veins. His dilated pupils mirrored your own, signaling a shared recognition — an unspoken understanding. At that moment, you realized he, too, was a hybrid.

Oh, boy, how would you navigate this intricate dance of fate? The intertwining of two extraordinary beings, destined to collide in a world that could be breathtakingly beautiful and treacherously unpredictable. Survival seemed daunting, for the path ahead was shrouded in mystery, with the potential for passion and peril in equal measure.

[mauesartetc]

I wonder how would you try to make a design for Beelzebub based on this?

This is Beelzebub from a mumming play.

Hmmmm. Interesting. Definitely a ton of colors to work with; we'll have to pare those down so they won't be visually overwhelming in cartoon form. Blue, red, yellow and purple appear to be the most prominent, so we’ll use ‘em as needed.

One thing that stands out right away is the horizontal orientation of the stripes on the shirt. This reminds me a bit of the horizontal ridges on an insect's body, and Beelzebub is traditionally depicted as an insect.

The feathers in this guy's hat could serve as antennae of sorts, and the butterfly could be useful inspiration for his wings.

First, some preliminary sketches:

A fair bit of trial and error here, combining elements from the photo and the drawing in the Infernal Dictionary. Just trying to figure out his personality, anatomy, and the overall vibe I wanted to go for. I scrapped the idea of butterfly wings in favor of something closer to his original depiction. Earlier versions had a more cartoony appearance, but in the end I shot for a more intimidating feel. This dude is an ancient demon king, so might as well make him look like one.

Now it's time for outlines and color!

Ultimately, I decided to add orange to the palette as it would draw a stronger connection between the reference and the design. The stripes on the man's shirt follow the pattern red-orange-yellow-orange-red, not just red-yellow-red-yellow etc. Thus Beelzebub's abdomen sports the same pattern as the shirt. I very rarely use more than four base colors for a single character, but in this case I felt it was warranted.

In the Infernal Dictionary drawing, Beelzebub has a kind of scalloped collar that reminded me of a crown, so I colored my version with the same yellow as the crown floating above the demon's head. The man's face in the photo is purple, so of course I colored Beelzebub's face to match, with mandibles reminiscent of the man's mustache. The antennae are striped like the feathers and curled like they are in the illustration, and the eyes glow with a supernatural light.

Next I established a color pattern for the limbs. I knew I wanted to use the same purple and dark blue from the face, and place them next to each other to promote a sense of unity in the extremities. I also added a brighter blue from the man's shirt. Thus the pattern goes from dark blue (on his chest in the case of the arms) to bright blue, purple, and dark blue again.

The wings use the same colors as the eyes, with the darker yellow for the flat color (on Soft Light layers to make them translucent), and the pale yellow for the outlines.

Anyway, there's my thought process. This was fun!

[definitionsfading]

I’ve been strategically paring down my wardrobe and accessories for about two months now and in that time I’ve taken a serious interest in some of the nuance behind consumerism and why we all buy things to fill holes in our lives that cannot be filled with material objects. it kind of started, in my case, as A) a way to streamline my clothing into a closet that complemented my very colorful half sleeve tattoos, and B) a response to a noticeable weight gain that’s happened over the last year, but then kind of morphed into a utilitarian closet of neutral toned basics and more classic pieces in cotton/linen/denim that I can mix and match with pretty regular success. 

it’s interesting because [if you know me] I am the ANTITHESIS of a minimalist when it comes to home decor and styling, but with clothing it makes so much sense to me now. it makes so much fucking sense lmao! those minimalists are onto something. I’ve even cleaned out almost every piece of costume jewelry I had over the past few years and now just invest, slowly, in 14 or 18 karat gold so it will last longer and retains cash value. cannot explain how satisfying this has been. I will never buy plastic jewelry again. 

part of me wishes I had a youtube presence so I could better document this journey and how my mindset has shifted only since turning 30. at the beginning of the year I had no idea I’d be minimizing my wardrobe down to just primarily natural fibers and a specific color palette (white, cream, camel, brown, pinks, greens, black, and various washes of denim) but now that I’ve done it, it’s such a relief to my brain. and the better part is that almost all of it has been thrifted or found on the secondhand market. 

I probably have it easier than many people because I live in florida and can wear linen pants and tank tops nine months out of the year, but anyway. regardless of minimalist fashion I highly recommend taking a step back and assessing your relationship with consumerism, especially if it comes as a direct expense to mental health spiral responses. I’ve really tried to reduce my consumption this year and think through purchases much more carefully instead of making them impulsively during a moment of weakness. and if you have generalized anxiety like me, building a more utilitarian wardrobe of clothes in your desired color palette (doesn’t all need to be neutrals or black/white, that’s a fallacy) kind of takes all the stress out of creating outfits and makes getting dressed in comfortable clothing a no-brainer. your clothes work harder for you and you get the satisfaction of actually using them.

[itsthesiliconreview]

Minimalist Style: Embracing Simplicity in Fashion

Explore the elegance and sophistication of minimalism in fashion—a timeless style philosophy that places emphasis on quality over quantity and celebrates the essence of simplicity. Minimalist fashion embraces clean lines, simple silhouettes, and essential pieces that exude understated sophistication.

At its core, minimalist style advocates for a capsule wardrobe—a curated collection of versatile garments that effortlessly complement each other, allowing for effortless mix-and-match versatility. This approach encourages careful consumption and promotes sustainable fashion practices by prioritizing pieces that are timeless, durable, and made with high-quality materials.

By embracing minimalism in fashion, individuals can cultivate a wardrobe that transcends fleeting trends and reflects their personal style with timeless elegance. With an emphasis on simplicity and quality craftsmanship, minimalist fashion embodies an enduring aesthetic that resonates with those who appreciate refined style and thoughtful design.

The Philosophy of Minimalism

Minimalist style isn't about radical renunciation of possessions, but rather a deliberate shift towards prioritizing what truly matters. It encourages detachment from unnecessary clutter and focuses attention on belongings, relationships, and experiences that hold genuine value. Rooted in clarity and intentionality, Minimalist style fosters a lifestyle marked by purposeful choices and streamlined simplicity. It prompts individuals to assess their possessions, time, energy, and relationships with a discerning eye, eliminating distractions and fostering improvement in all facets of life.

At its core, minimalist style champions authenticity and rejects the superficial trappings of mass consumerism. Embracing simplicity, Minimalists consciously curate their surroundings, aiming to highlight the beauty, essence, and inherent purpose of the items they choose to keep. By embracing minimalist style, individuals cultivate a careful approach to decision-making, aligning their lives with their deepest values and aspirations.

Key Elements of Minimalist Style

Minimalist fashion is a sartorial approach that places emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and elegance, valuing quality over quantity. It is distinguished by its utilization of clean lines, neutral hues, and timeless silhouettes, reflecting a sustainable ethos that prioritizes enduring style over fleeting trends. In essence, minimalist fashion advocates for a curated wardrobe comprised of essential pieces that evoke joy and resonate with personal aesthetics.

Drawing inspiration from art movements such as Constructivism, De Stijl, and the ready-mades of Marcel Duchamp, Minimalist artists rejected the grandiose narratives of Abstract Expressionism, instead favoring pared-down, purely self-referential geometric forms. Similarly, in the realm of fashion, minimalist design embodies a similar ethos, focusing on the object itself rather than emotional expression. This aesthetic is characterized by the use of geometric shapes, limited color palettes, and a reliance on everyday materials, mirroring the ethos of quality over quantity.

In the context of minimalist fashion, simple silhouettes reign supreme, reflecting a commitment to timeless elegance and functionality. By embracing minimalist principles, individuals are encouraged to streamline their wardrobes, opting for pieces that offer both versatility and longevity. In doing so, minimalist fashion fosters a sense of mindfulness and intentionality, inviting individuals to cultivate a curated collection of garments that truly resonate with their personal style.

Furthermore, minimalist fashion aligns with the broader ethos of sustainability, advocating for careful consumption and a reduction in environmental impact. By investing in high-quality, timeless pieces, individuals can minimize their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable fashion ecosystem. In essence, minimalist fashion embodies a holistic approach to style, emphasizing simplicity, sustainability, and enduring quality.

Sustainability and Ethical considerations

Minimalist fashion, with its emphasis on sustainable practices and quality over quantity, strives to minimize the use of chemicals, water, and wastewater in its production process. While the fashion industry boasts a significant economic impact, it also generates an alarming 40 million metric tons of textile waste annually, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. In response, minimalist fashion emerges as a compelling solution, advocating for watchful consumption and timeless style. By curating a wardrobe of well-made, durable clothing, minimalist fashion extends product life and reduces the need for frequent replacements, thus conserving valuable resources.

Moreover, minimalist fashion champions responsible sourcing and ethical production practices, ensuring fair treatment of employees and safe working conditions. Through its commitment to simplicity and adaptability, minimalist fashion fosters a more sustainable approach to clothing consumption, steering away from fast-fading trends in favor of enduring aesthetics. By encouraging deliberate purchasing habits and discouraging impulsive buys, minimalist fashion plays a crucial role in reducing garment waste and minimizing the industry's environmental footprint.

As individuals embrace minimalist fashion, they contribute to a brighter future for both the planet and its inhabitants. With each conscious choice, they reaffirm their commitment to sustainability and responsible living, paving the way for a more harmonious relationship between fashion and the environment. In a world where every action counts, minimalist fashion offers a pathway towards a more sustainable and ethical future, where quality prevails over quantity and simplicity reigns supreme.

The Rise of Minimalist Fashion Brands

In today's media landscape, where discussions around global warming, waste reduction, and environmental consciousness dominate, there's a growing demographic embracing a sustainable lifestyle centered on self-awareness and minimalism. Aligned with the ethos of minimal living, there's a burgeoning trend in both lifestyle and fashion circles known as multi-identity. This trend seeks to blend vintage with modern elements, championing individuality, fashion experimentation, and a desire to identify with various subcultures and identities simultaneously.

As a provider of technology solutions and AI services for the retail sector, I believe there are numerous exciting opportunities for leveraging artificial intelligence to gain a sustainable competitive edge in these emerging markets. However, understanding the current landscape is essential to predict future industry trends accurately. Another growing market segment is the thriving secondhand clothing industry, valued at $18 billion and projected to grow by 11% annually. Companies like America's largest secondhand fashion retail marketplace have tapped into this market, offering a platform for swapping well-maintained clothes and providing access to coveted brands while promoting sustainability and reducing fashion waste.

Furthermore, big-box marketplaces and subscription-box startups are emerging as alternatives to traditional malls, catering to specific demographics like plus-size women. For instance, Dia&Co. offers a personalized styling and try-and-buy subscription service, focusing on quality pieces and high customer engagement. With substantial backing from investors like Sequoia, companies in this space are revolutionizing the e-commerce landscape, prioritizing sustainable practices and customer satisfaction over mass consumption.

Conclusion

The essay delves into the elegance and sustainability of minimalist fashion, emphasizing quality over quantity and celebrating simplicity through clean lines and simple silhouettes. It highlights the philosophy of minimalism, which advocates for intentional living and thoughtful consumption, and discusses key elements of minimalist style, including capsule wardrobes and timeless aesthetics.

Minimalist fashion champions authenticity and rejects mass consumerism, encouraging individuals to curate their wardrobes with versatile, high-quality pieces that stand the test of time. The essay explores the rise of minimalist fashion brands like Everlane and Cuyana, which prioritize sustainability and transparency in their operations, promoting capsule wardrobes and simple silhouettes.

Furthermore, it discusses the role of minimalist fashion in promoting sustainability and ethical considerations, such as responsible sourcing and reducing environmental impact. The essay also touches on emerging trends in the fashion industry, including the secondhand clothing market and subscription-box startups, which cater to specific demographics while embracing minimalist principles. Overall, minimalist fashion embodies a holistic approach to style, emphasizing simplicity, sustainability, and enduring quality through capsule wardrobes and simple silhouettes.

[super-smash-bracket]

Alright, to explain how I seeded the bracket first:

After paring down the entrants to who won their respective polls, I then ordered them by AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED THEM. After that, I put CHAIN CHOMP as the REAL Pollrunner's Pick winner. THEN there were the SERIES POLL WINNERS. After that, I took the REMAINING contestants and put them in by group:

RETURNING VETERANS. This included Amaterasu and eShop Bag, and I then placed them in the ORDER IN WHICH THEY FINISHED last time! Some, like FUNKY KONG, were not in this category, however, due to WINNING A SERIES POLL.

ALREADY IN SMASH. These aren't characters who are playable in Smash, but DO show up physically. This includes Arcade Bunny, an Assist Trophy, and Topi, a Stage Hazard.

REPRESENTED SERIES. These are characters whose SERIES is in Smash, but they aren't physically. Notably, Blood Falcon and Tifa Lockhart fall into this category, as they are not physically in Smash, but are instead a palette swap and a Mii Costume, respectively. (This does NOT count Stickers or Spirits)

NINTENDO CHARACTERS. This feels like it should be obvious.

LIKELIHOOD. This is sheer subjectivity on my part.

THE OTHERS. Characters that neither fit above nor below.

EMERGENCY RATIONS. The characters I put in because I ran out of spaces to fill (lol). These fighters are sort of MEANT to be jobbers, but some MIGHT surprise all of us (Inteleon was pretty popular...)!

With all that out of the way, the bracket is coming up!!! Stay tuned...

[mychemicalraymance]

fr though one of the BEST things i learned about illustrating is paring down and relativizing your palette. you DO NOT need more than 2-3 colors plus black and white.  if you hit most areas of the color wheel it makes a lot of art unsatisfying and not really successful in terms of illustration and design. using non local colors and focusing on relational color dynamics is WAYYYYY more important than making sure Everything Is The Color It’s Supposed To Be. using combinations of maximum 3 colors plus b&w is part of the fast track to making more impactful and less frustrating digital art. also letting go of linework. i never ever understood linework in digital art beyond high impact graphic linework. unless it truly acknowledges itself as a visual element what the fuck is the point????

[angchongyicritic]

Ang Chong Yi talks about the Harmony of Flavors and taste sensations

Innovation has no boundaries in the exciting field of culinary arts. Cooks are always pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the kitchen, whether it is with traditional recipes handed down through the generations or modern techniques that question human understanding of food. 

Harmony of Flavors is commonly used to create the fusion of colors and flavors, which is one of the most exciting intersections of culinary creation.Ang Chong Yi has spoken about the Harmony of Flavors in Ang Chong Yi Savouring Symphonies: Palette to Palate and the Harmony of Flavors:

What is Harmony of Flavors?

A wonderful collective word that captures the precisely right combination of flavors and scents in a culinary masterpiece is called as Harmony of Flavors. This symphony of overtones that captivate the senses and enhance the dining experience is created by the harmonious combination of diverse cuisines. 

Imagine a dish that gently uses subtle aromatic herbs, tangy citrus, and the richness of savory umami. It is an explosion of flavor that is more than the sum of its parts, as each component contributes its special characteristics and blends together smoothly.

Basic taste sensation

The five essential taste elements of salt, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami shape the flavor of dishes. People inherently favor sweetness, likely linked to the taste of mother's milk, while salt, important for survival, becomes a desired flavor. 

Sour and bitter tastes are acquired, possibly due to evolutionary preferences for safer, sweet foods. Umami, associated with mother's milk, is found in meats, vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, fish, and fermented products. 

Secondary flavor sensations include pungent, spicy, astringent, metallic, cool, fatty, and enriching cultural descriptors. Pungency shows strong tastes like sage and rosemary, while spiciness refers to assertive seasoning or heat from peppers, sensed as touch and temperature. 

Piquancy is a pleasant spice, astringency relates to tannins causing puckering, metallic taste is undesirable, and fatty tastes connect to umami and mouthfeel. Understanding these elements enhances various culinaries.

Balancing taste

Balancing various tastes involves combining basic elements to create a more significant flavor profile. Sugar counteracts bitterness, while sourness will take on starches, mitigates salt, and complements sweetness. 

Salt is an economical spice that enhances flavor, reduces bitterness, and highlights sweetness, as seen in salted caramel. Bitterness, present in herbs, spices, coffee, and chocolate, adds complexity. 

Umami, the savory essence in meats, fish, dairy, and some vegetables, satisfies cravings. Spicy heat with a subtle sixth element will add warmth. Ang Chong Yi says a proper checklist of basic taste elements will ensure a well-balanced dish, transforming it from average to exceptional.

Developing a flavor

To create a complex, multi-layered impact, flavor is created by combining complementary or contrasting products in a certain order with seasonings and cooking methods. When serving the dish, food paring should also be carefully taken into account, as each component can enhance or diminish the overall composition.

Final thoughts

The food presentation and its visual appeal can shape the expectations of customers, so flavors should be harmonized in the right way. In Harmony of Flavors, if you want to know about food and drinking, read Know About Ang Chong Yi's Views On Food And Drink Pairing.

[strixop]

the future of yantao // 2.7 event spoilers

firstly, i’d like to open this with the fact that i am a yanfei main. beyond any means of meta gaming, i love yanfei as a character, and each time she has any content whatsoever i crawl for it, she was my first friendship lvl 10.

that being said, one thing i’ve said about yanfei and i’ll say again, she was a character made for the sake of making a character. she wasn’t made to be a vital knight of favonius, and god forbid she be recognized as an adeptus, hell, not even a half adeptus!!

so when i found the yantao ship, i predominately was happy for yanfei content, which would probably be seen as a sin in some shipping communities.

awhile ago in a video i heard a ship dynamic described as “one character people love, and a self insert or convenient character pairing to cope.”

this is how i believe yantao often works. i can’t say this for everything, because i have not seen everything, i am not everything, so i can’t speak for everything.

hu tao is a beloved character, hands down. she’s meta loved, 5 star, fun personality, happy to discuss mortality, friends with some beloved characters, and not afraid to throw down with some stubborn ghosts or fatui. it’s only logical that she deserve attention, and what has better attention than shipping?

well, first steps first, we need to find someone who’s preferably gay, from liyue, not already in an infamous relationship, and of age.

we get one option (at that time), yanfei.

it works- both pyro, probably gay, with dark and redish color palettes, and both with relations of rex lapis and the realms of mortality. but it also doesn’t.

they’ve never interacted, the voice lines are one sided, and driven on business, not interpersonally relationships. it’s like a dating app, you could do this couple, it’s a possibility, but there’s nothing saying that they have to work. but it’s already a thing, and it’s already gotten popular, so, might as well conform with the trends and disregard the characters anyways.

that’s where 2.7 comes in. yanfei is suddenly on a spotlight. oh wait, she’s part adeptus? and she’s a competent character, even in disaster? and she’s one of the smartest of a group of beloved and up-incoming characters? that’s crazy!!

even more so, the one night stand energy she and yelan radiate, or the law related wholesome energy that she and shinobou share. suddenly, there’s two very possible and likely love interests, that check all the same boxes that yantao couldn’t fill past fanon.

so the four star, the filler, the afterthought is now getting attention, reaching very lowkey homoerotic and wholesome places with new, never before seen characters. honestly? pretty deserved for her second (?) interaction in game.

though this means that yantao is likely on a decline, as someone who was a self proclaimed yantao shipper, i’m happy. i’m happy that one of my favorite characters of the game is finally getting a spotlight, getting a part to play. it’s not wrong to ship what you ship, honestly, i’d be surprised if she stopped being shipped with hu tao, but that’s what it is. shipping. fun between fans. it doesn’t matter if you like yanfei with hu tao, yelan, shinobu, heck, even eula, that’s your choice of what paring you like.

this is fiction, treat it as such.