#strong focal point of the piece

[seivsite]

BRUSHSTROKES OF MAGIC.

includes: lyney x fem!reader. painter!reader, fluff, may be ooc lyney, painter and her magician muse — wc: 591

You had finally secured tickets to Lyney and Lynette’s captivating Magic Show.

After putting in hard work through small art commissions and assisting others, your perseverance paid off. Luckily, you found yourself seated in the second row, enjoying a perfect view of the entire stage. As the lights dimmed, a spotlight illuminated the enchanting magicians.

“Welcome to Lyney and Lynette’s Magic Show!” Lyney exclaimed, his arms wide open in a welcoming gesture.

The performance unfolded before your eyes, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

The show concluded with a burst of applause, whistles, and amazed cheers filling the room. Lyney and Lynette took their bows, expressing gratitude to the audience before exiting the stage.

While others started to leave the theatre, you remained lost in your thoughts, unable to tear yourself away.

You noticed Lyney’s occasional glances in your direction, but you brushed them off, assuming he was merely engaging with the audience. Your hands moved instinctively, retrieving a small paper and a worn pencil that you carried everywhere. Swiftly, you sketched the scene, capturing the magicians as the focal point.

Unaware of another presence, you snapped out of your trance when a red rose materialised before you.

Your eyes widened at the sight, then lifted to meet the culprit—a mischievous grin adorning his face.

“Well, M’lady, perhaps we should step outside before we find ourselves locked in here,” he suggested, tucking the flower gently into your hair. Extending his hand, he invited you to join him.

You accepted his hand, and he turned to his sister, who stood waiting.

“Took you quite a while,” she remarked, her expression unchanging.

“Apologies, Lynette. It seems M’lady was deeply absorbed in thought,” he responded.

“Please stop addressing me like that,” you murmured, your cheeks tinged with a blush.

“Apologies again! I haven’t had the pleasure of knowing your name. I’m Lyney. This is my sister, Lynette, and you are...?” He walked alongside you as the three of you departed the theatre.

“(Name), pleased to make your acquaintance,” you replied.

From that day forward, your bond with Lyney grew remarkably strong, much to Lynette’s amusement as she shook her head at her brother’s persistent attempts to win you over.

In a meadow bursting with vibrant blooms, Lyney stood amidst the flowers, becoming both your muse and a devoted spectator. As your brush danced gracefully across the canvas, each stroke seemed to weave a rich tapestry of emotions.

“Are you almost finished, M’lady?” Lyney’s voice broke the tranquil air as he noticed your momentary pause.

“Hmm, just a few more minutes,” you replied, urging him to remain where he stood.

When the art piece finally took shape, it radiated colours and beauty that surpassed mere brushwork. Lyney was thoroughly impressed, unable to contain himself as he pressed a kiss to your cheek, prompting a delightful blush from you.

“Thank you for immortalising me in your art, M’lady. I shall treasure it,” Lyney expressed, his tone sincere.

“It’s no big deal,” you replied with a smile. Lyney settled beside the portrayal of yourself, gazing at you with unwavering attention.

“Is something wrong?” you questioned, perplexed by his sudden change in demeanour.

“No, it’s just that something has been occupying my thoughts,” he confessed, his fond gaze fixed on you.

Your head tilted in curiosity, awaiting an explanation.

“Despite my belief in the wonder of my magic tricks, they pale in comparison to your beauty and talent. I’m afraid, M’lady, that you’ve stolen my heart. So, will you do me the honour of accepting this responsibility?”

NOTES. he’s cute i like the idea of painter!reader w lyney whos a magician, also my second genshin work weee. kinda rushed this so whatever plot i have is a bit wonky, maybe.

TAG LIST. @yanqingisim

LIKES AND REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED! ‹3

[knuppitalism-with-ue]

And here it is! The Madygen Formation in all it's incomplete glory! Added the hand so you get a feel for the size of some of these colossal insects!

This time the research team outdid themselves. LOOK AT ALL THE INSECTS! I bow before these friends who help especially with subjects I'm not familiar with!

As usual this also means the Wikipedia page got an update, many more taxa have been added!

Here also the unfinished/abandoned version from yesterday. For people who wonder, I didn't finish it because it's composition didn't work for me, there are individual good parts part the lack of strong focal points and distribution of elements just didn't work for me.

For me these pieces have to be more than just showcases of flora and fauna of a formation, they also have to function as an art piece so that they can still function beyond their scientific expiration date.

[animatedjen]

What's some stuff you're really hoping to see in Jedi 3 (either narratively or gameplay wise)?

Oh I'm so glad you asked this 🙌 Because I have THOUGHTS.

Gonna put everything under the cut so this doesn't clog up the feed with a wall of text (whoops.) Some of these ideas I hope to create concept art for, after I replace/fix my very cranky thirteen-year-old tablet. Anyway let’s start with gameplay!

Gameplay!

Maintaining Cal's abilities: Survivor handled this beautifully by keeping many of the skills learned in Fallen Order, instead of undoing Cal's growth from the first game. I think it'll be trickier to keep this momentum into Jedi 3 (the skill tree has gotten so large!) but story reasons could push Cal towards new types of abilities instead of bloating the current options.

More synergy between the lightsaber stances: I like all the stances in Survivor and it'd be A) disappointing to lose any of them, but B) overwhelming to add MORE combat styles. Being able to flow between the stances more fluidly would be fun though, with specific combos unlocked depending on which two are active together. Now if Merrin lets Cal borrow her knife-staff and he puts his lightsaber on the end... MAGICK SABER PIKE GO.

New or adapted movement mechanics: Maybe the ascension cable is replaced with a force ability (Force Ascend or Force Leap for an extra vertical boost?) or is "upgraded" to connect between two anchors, letting Cal create his own temporary ziplines.

Replayable missions: This could be explained in-game with a Force Tear or Cal's own interactive echoes. But I'd love the option to experience story missions and boss fights again post-game.

Customization!

This is a bonus section because Merrin should get new outfits. Haven't decided how to make it part of gameplay yet, stay tuned.

Cal's cosmetics in Survivor are mostly cool, some just funny, but overall a huge improvement from Fallen Order (yes, even though we miss all the poncho designs). For Jedi 3 I'd love to see more story-centric cosmetics that tie into the communities and people Cal has met along his journey. A Legacy outfit (incorporating pieces from his three Jedi masters), an Anchorite-inspired outfit (with arm tattoos), a bounty hunter outfit (the prize after defeating the Brood), etc. Maybe a Bogling outfit? No not made from Boglings; it looks like a Bogling. Hang on lemme fix my tablet—

Narrative + Gameplay!

Explore Tanalorr: Right now this sparkly, strong-in-the-Force, temple-carved planet is a huge mystery box for Jedi 3. There's a few directions it could go - more High Republic history, another civilization (the Nihil? someone new?) lurking in the shadows, or Force-related secrets hiding below the surface. Each Jedi game has followed Cal's exploration of an ancient culture, and I think Tanalorr can be a focal point in that journey.

Defeat Sorc Tormo and the Haxion Brood: I mentioned this in an ask earlier this week, but I so want a resolution to this fight against the Brood. Especially since roaming bounty hunters would threaten the Hidden Path. Maybe Cal breaks back into Ordo Eris, or hunts down Sorc Tormo on another planet. Maybe there's a Force-only stealth section?? Maybe a big multi-wave boss fight? Maybe Caij is there??? (no she doesn't get an invite to Tanalorr)

Dark Side Force Slow: The fact that Cal's Force Slow ability kept its red-stained aura, even in the Survivor post-game, is great. I love lasting consequences and ludonarrative harmony, yes yes yes. Really hope this isn't fully resolved by the start of Jedi 3 (potential timeskip makes it tricky but whatever) and the ability receives some sort of healing through Cal finding his way out of the darkness.

Narrative!

Timeskip?: I vote no, but I think Jedi 3 will vote yes, likely to age up Kata and allow Tanalorr to be more developed. But that also means Cal and the Mantis Crew goes through character development without us (boo) or remains emotionally stunted until we get there (also boo?). I'm more comfortable with the five year gap between FO and Survivor than I used to be though, despite "missing out" on big character moments, so maybe it'll be okay. Maybe. 👀

The Hidden Path builds a home on Tanalorr: This works until it doesn't, whether from outside pressure or the threat of a spy within. I don't think Bode's fears should necessarily be validated, but I do think the risk will keep Cal on edge and hurt his ability to trust (both others and himself.) It'll drive decisions that strain his relationships and be a source of conflict for part of the game.

The Mantis gets semi-retired and then reinstated: I just love the mental picture of the Mantis parked somewhere cozy and decorated with cloth and lights and a hideout for Kata. It's become too small and high profile to use for gathering the Path, but when the plot gets going, they're gonna need her back in action.

Three main antagonists: The Empire, an unrelated third-party with their own goals (Nihil or someone else), and Cal's own demons. The first two drive the external conflict, the third drives Cal's inner conflict and the story's themes. More on that at the end.

A memorial garden: It's designed by Pili and filled with native Tanalorrian plants and trees, from which the Anchorites hang cords and windchimes and bits of colored glass. Cere's saber was buried beneath the largest tree. Cal plays her hallikset here when he's too troubled to meditate. If we want to be mean, this place gets damaged during a battle in Act 3. If we want to be less mean, this is the place that doesn't get damaged during a battle.

Kata has some sort of student-teacher relationship with Cal: I'm torn on her being Force sensitive: this is a story about Jedi and "guide her through the darkness" is pretty telling given Cal's own darkness at the end of Survivor. But Cal helping Kata (and Kata helping Cal) can happen regardless of her Force sensitivity - it would just look different. This is a soft answer because I'm still exploring ideas around it BUT admittedly the angst levels would be higher if she is sensitive.

A battle against the shadow self: Look this one is cliche. I don't care. I want a huge cavern in the depths of Tanalorr where Cal gets to fight a dark version of himself that switches between all his former enemies. If we're making a video game here let's physically beat up our darkness. Let's have it not work. Let's bring Cal to rock bottom to remind him that he is more than his darkness and he doesn't have to do this alone. Let's go back to that same fight later and then we finally win.

There's more to explore story-wise and I will eventually, but I'm overall not concerned about Jedi 3's narrative. Respawn has been very intentional with their writing of Cal Kestis and the Jedi series so far (despite some last minute changes to Survivor) and I love this character and this story because of all the great work they've created. I really hope they finish this journey the way they want to. That being said—

How should Jedi 3 end? Should Cal die?

No: I'll argue Cal dying at the end of the trilogy completely undermines the entire lesson of Survivor.

Cal wouldn't stop fighting the Empire: The Cal we meet at the beginning of Survivor definitely wouldn't. That Cal also watched countless friends die to that same fight and saw two different Jedi fall to their passions-turned-obsessions that led them to the dark side. He may wrestle with remnant obligation or a bitter apathy, but he's definitely not as single-minded as he was before.

Cal would sacrifice himself to save the Path: Yeah, he probably would. Cere did exactly that during the Siege of Jedha when all else failed. But maybe the Path could be protected without Cal needing to be a Weapon - a lesson Cere also wanted him to learn.

Another way: I think the Koboh abyss (that separates Tanalorr from the rest of the galaxy) could be destroyed. I don't know if Cal would choose to destroy it, but I think the Empire would: if they can't reach Tanalorr it's the next best thing.

Now Cal has to make a choice: Leave (continuing the fight alone) or Stay (shepherding the Path for an unknown future.) It doesn't mean they never find a way back to the known galaxy, but it'll take time. Enough time for a New Hope to appear.

Whatever your opinion of the Sequel Trilogy, the line: "That’s how we’re gonna win. Not fighting what we hate. Saving what we love." is not only a complete thesis of Star Wars, but fits really well with Cal's journey. He's become very good at fighting. He wants to save everyone in Fallen Order, and he can't. He still wants to save everyone in Survivor, and they refuse him. His Fight has made a difference (again, Cere says as much) but it's clear this can't be Cal's final answer.

Choosing to protect the Path, choosing to trust the Force, choosing a home. That's what he's been fighting for. I love Cal Kestis because he isn't the chosen one and he isn't going to save the galaxy. But for his family and his community, he saved their galaxy. It's cheesy but I don't care, and you know Greez and BD would agree with me.

-

Okay this got so, so much longer than I expected. Bonus points if you made it all the way down here haha. I've had a weird assortment of concepts and ideas over the past year but never wrote them down in one place - until now. I've said it before but part of my hyperfixation with the Jedi series is because it isn't finished yet and Survivor ends on such a gut-wrenching cliffhanger. Whatever happens to this series, I'm slowly finding some sort of catharsis through all the edits and photomode shots and half-baked concepts. Thanks for tagging along ✌️

[justporo]

Revelations

A Night of Fake Smiles and Hidden Lies: Chapter 10

As the joy and their love still echo through each other, Astarion sweeps up Tav for another dance - that makes them reminisce about all the things that might have been and be thankful for all the things that are.

Author's Note: Three months... It took me three months to get back to this - I am deeply sorry but life - you know. I have however this and four more chapters already drafted ready for you - and there's still more to come so I hope you're ready to jump back into this adventurous night with Astarion and Tav, start the night anew or maybe get lost in it for the first time? Anyways, I hope really hope you enjoy a chapter of a lot of emotions and banter - there's quite some more stuff to come!

Songs: Serenade for Strings in E Major - Antonín Dvořák (and also that's their second waltz)

Pairing: Astarion/Fem!Tav (You)

Warnings: none

CHAPTER LIST | PREVIOUS CHAPTER |NEXT CHAPTER

~~~

You could have just stayed like this for the rest of your days: Astarion’s arms firmly holding you while the world blurred around you completely with your head thrown back and you dancing together until the world would fall down.

Your vampire being your single focal point, the one thing to always return to, the only thing you really ever needed – while the rush of the dance and the prickling sensation of having drunk just a tad too much gave you a feeling of pleasant light-headedness. Life could be so easy, so beautiful.

The waltz went on forever with you and Astarion beaming broadly, drunk on love, champagne and each other. And yet the dance ended all too quickly.

When an enormous crescendo began announcing the end of the waltz you lifted your head up again and grinned broadly at Astarion who was still rushing with you over the dancefloor as if he’d never done anything else in his life.

His red eyes were so open, the smile on his face as genuine as you had ever seen. A look that could almost make you believe that it had truly always been like that: no two hundred years of torture, just this perfect, gilded vision of a happy life.

You both knew it wasn’t true – but for this moment it was more than enough.

Horns in the orchestra rose up for a grand finale. Astarion turned you even more eagerly for these last couple of rounds, an almost feral grin splitting his face. Just the pure joy of the speed with which you were almost tossed around, made you throw your head back once more. A joyous, wild, almost feral laughter escaped from your lips – caused by the simple but deep delight of feeling so, so alive. You saw it on your vampire’s face too: a power so strong his undead self might’ve been more alive in this moment than others were in their whole existence.

Astarion’s hand let go of yours and joined his other at your waist and you leaned back even more to enjoy the dizzying rush, your hands quickly moving to cover your lover’s while you were sure you had never felt this free in your life. Flying couldn’t have felt any better than this.

And the vampire couldn’t rip his eyes from his beloved, the corners of his mouth curled up so far it made his face ache as he beheld his soulmate experiencing some of the rawest, purest joy, he’d ever seen in anyone. It seemed one of the divine entities he’d prayed to had eventually answered his pleas by putting you in his way after all. Finally blessing him with a piece of paradise.

But not a single god could have even competed with you in this very moment as Astarion could barely believe the beauty of the love of his life. His feeling of wonder and glee not second to yours in this moment that felt almost detached from anything – your surroundings, your past, your future.

Truly a night and a moment to never forget.

With a beat of the drum the orchestra ended on a high note. Couples all around you broke into cheering and clapping while the other guests joined in. The volume quickly rising levels over what the musicians had just ended with.

But Astarion and you didn’t join in. His hands were still on your hips and his eyes on your flushed face full of happiness. Your chest was heaving heavily. Who could have predicted that dancing could be just as exhausting as going into battle (or indulging in other physical activities). Your earlier assessment had been quite right you felt like. Although of course the aftermath felt much more delightful and much less dreadful.

It did nothing to bother you though because wild, unbound happiness was still flooding through you. And you saw it mirrored on Astarion’s face as well in the way his eyes sparkled like garnets and you felt his hands restlessly squeeze and tap on your hips, his vigour barely contained.

He opened his mouth wanting to say something while around you people were still in a frenzy. But before he could get a word out you stepped forward, dragged him down by his face and crushed his lips to yours in a way you had never kissed him before. The urge to show him how your heart was flowing over with love for him in this very moment was just too strong to resist. You needed an outlet for the overflowing in your chest – your whole body!

The vampire let it happen, arms raising almost helplessly before he wrapped them around you and pulled you in closer, kissing you back with just as much force and emotion. And when you released him, detangling from his arms, his crimson eyes were wide with surprise. He almost stumbled back being released from your passionate embrace.

Astarion was flustered and obviously speechless.

It must’ve been an illusion of the low lights, but it almost looked like a slither of pink blush crossed over his face up to the tips of his pointy ears. He blinked several times while his mouth was slightly agape, and his eyes were still on you: as if he had perceived a miracle right in front of his own eyes. And maybe that was exactly what you were to him.

Well, that surely was a first.

Your giggle felt almost a little hysterical as you rode off the last waves of this incredible emotional high and wrapped your arms around Astarion as your vampire was still staring off into space in surprised but delighted bliss. Meanwhile around you the dancefloor emptied slightly while the thundering applause had drizzled out already.

“We need to do this again some time, love, if that’s your reaction”, Astarion murmured as he regained his wits slowly and reciprocated the hug slowly. You buried your face at his chest, still grinning almost maniacally, not ready to let the moment pass.

Some of the guests passing around you, leaving the dancefloor threw the two of you glances. Everyone had seen your display of heartfelt affection and that seemingly had warmed up the crowd to you. One or two people went as far as touching your or Astarion’s shoulder as you kept standing there: the very illustration of a happy, young fairytale couple.

As that thought crossed your mind you almost started to giggle again – your little ironic roleplay had maybe become just a little tad too convincing.

You lifted your face off Astarion’s chest who had let his thumbs wander softly over your arms. “Now, my prince, are you ready to get your white stallion and steal me away for our first night of passion before we get married, and I have no other task in life than bear your children and raise them while you go off to some war from which you’ll never return?” you asked him, rambling on and on with the newly found energy and placed the back of your hand on your forehead in a dramatic gesture.

The vampire’s eyebrow in the meantime had arched higher and higher the more you added to the cliché imagery of your fairytale. He grinned at you, eyebrow still raised, giving him the expression of seriously questioning your sanity in this moment. “Darling, I honestly think you’re getting just a tad too much into this,” he whispered while the party, the drinking, the chatter rose up around you again.

“Also you do know my stance on horses, sweetheart.”

You laughed and pinched one of his cheeks. You were definitely still feeling high of everything and were in a silly mood. Thankfully Astarion didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he could barely contain his own laughter as he answered you.

“But at least you put the night of passion before the marriage, at least it’s not a prude tale,” he continued, his voice taking on a sultry note while he inclined his head to you.

“But scrap the terrible, stereotypical ending, my love, I’ll happily stay right here with you for as long as we both want to,” Astarion closed, his tone now a lot more genuine again. You could only answer with a big happy smile, placing your head against his chest again.

The orchestra in the meantime had taken a short break, some of the musicians allowing themselves to indulge in a singular glass of offered champagne before they continued playing for what would surely be a very long night still.

You pulled back from Astarion a little with a sigh: “You’re right, I guess this is all going straight to my head more even than the alcohol. I guess once we’re back home I will have to spend a week in the Lower City and get shit-faced every night at Maeve’s until they let me sleep under the big bench on the floor. You know to ground myself again.”

“Ah see, there’s my little feral street cat that I love so much again”, the Astarion replied in a haughty tone – with a tinge of disapproval and teasing disgust.

You kicked him – but only slightly as you stood too close to him to get him properly. “Be nice, you prick!”

The vampire only laughed and while holding onto your slim shoulders pressed a quick kiss to your lips. The orchestra was now getting ready to start playing again. The conductor tapping his baton against his stand again to gain everyone’s attention. Another waltz was announced while you tried to kick Astarion again for being a meanie.

“You could give me just one deeply romantic moment once in a while, you know that, Astarion? Without ruining it with your sass!”

“I didn’t bring up getting drunk at this piss poor establishment someone even dared to call a tavern,” Astarion replied. You simply tried to swat his arm but the rogue took a half step back, dodging just out of your reach

“Did you really get so drunk at this forlorn tavern that they let you sleep it off on the floor?” he asked with mock worry on his face

“I won’t answer this question right now, Astarion,” you replied and let go of him to take a step back yourself while pursing your lips.

“Well then, darling,” he said and grabbed hold of your wrist before you could step away from him further. “Allow me another question then: will you join me for another dance?” The low, golden light of the chandeliers sparkled in Astarion’s eyes as he said that with his head slightly bowed to you. He was all of a sudden on his best behaviour again as you heard the musicians in the orchestra readying themselves for another piece.

In this in between moment you took a second to take your partner in again. You had been with him all night. You had seen him get dressed even but with how he looked at you right now you were just wholly smitten by him again. He looked like sin in a suit – and you were so ready to indulge again. Forgotten was the short insolent quarrel. But how could you stay mad at him for long when the look on his face and wide red puppy eyes spoke of nothing but adoration and deep affection for you.

So, when his smile and his offered hand promised you another round of exhilarating joy should you accept his offer, you didn’t even think before agreeing and grabbing his hand.

His fingers wrapped around yours as Astarion smiled happily at you and swung you around once more while the strings softly began playing a new piece.

Your vampire made you take one – or two – extra turns before he pulled you back in, arm wrapping firmly around you once more and then starting to twirl around the room again. It was a slower waltz now that fit well with how the mood seemed to have shifted from electrifying frenzy to something a bit calmer now. The dancefloor had emptied quite a bit. Many of the guests, as you noticed while turning your head around while Astarion made you glide over the polished wooden floors, were back to drinking, chatting, showing off and gossiping. And another thing you noticed: if everything had been highly polished at first, just like the gold buttons on most everyone’s doublets or the silver of amulets around necks, there was a slight general disarray noticeable. Some cravats and scarfs had been loosened, buttons opened up, lipstick smeared, and headpieces started to slide dangerously off people’s heads. All which was going hand in hand with a general air of tipsiness and derailment. At this point in the night, it might’ve been impossible to find just about one person not slightly stumbling from maybe having had one or two glasses of champagne too many.

And you were pretty sure you even spotted at least one hysterically laughing tiefling lady sipping directly from a huge, heavy-looking bottle – having to use her other hand to even get it lifted. When another turn took you around again, you spotted her once more – and realised that it was the woman who’d been involved in the group from earlier. Apparently, she had dodged her cheating husband for a good bottle in hopes of something less treacherous – good for her.

Your gaze snapped back to Astarion, trying to find out if he had spotted her as well. And you knew he had when you saw his wicked, almost vicious smirk as he pulled you in a little closer with his hand on the small of your back. He sighed abruptly and dramatically while his face formed to a mocking expression mimicking disappointment and compassion: “Seems not everyone can be as lucky, loving and harmonious as the two of us, my love.”

Apparently just for the timing of the punchline did your feet choose this moment to make you stumble and almost fall onto Astarion. He hissed at you.

Only his roguish quick reflexes grabbing you by the shoulders and counterbalancing you stopped you both from toppling over. He lost not a moment before picking up the pace of the waltz again while you were still recovering from the shock.

Astarion clicked his tongue in disapproval, lips pursed: “I stand corrected.”

You snarled at him and were just about to show him how ‘harmonious’ you could be when you noticed something out of the corner of your eye. Someone else that was familiar.

You craned your neck in hopes of catching another glimpse while Astarion kept scolding you for not paying attention and how you would cause the two of you to lose the image of the imposing, perfect couple if you tumbled over each other while dancing. But you were indeed barely paying attention and therefore ignored what your partner was blabbering about.

Another turn and then you saw them again: another couple enjoying the dance together. Maybe a tad slower than the two of you and a bit less fluently. And in one half of the couple, you recognised your lovely elderly lady neighbour. She was dancing with a man much taller than her small frame, elegantly clothed with long black hair, tied together at his back in a low ponytail. While they slowly and a bit sluggishly turned, you saw how young and devilishly handsome her partner was. She was beaming up at him. And just the huge, genuine smile took years off her aged face.

You couldn’t help yourself, your mouth fell open. Your gaze snapped back to Astarion once more, hoping again that he had observed what you had just seen. And surely, he had, because there was at least slight surprise and even a bit of admiration on his face – his downturned corners of his mouth and lifted eyebrows giving him away.

“Old lady still got it within her, it seems”, Astarion commented and hummed approvingly. You had to agree.

“I hope it’s not for her money or estate,” you replied. You felt how the vampire just shrugged under your hand on his shoulder. You craned your neck again to look at them. But when you saw how he as well looked at her as if she was the most precious thing, he’d ever come across you knew it wasn’t.

“I do wonder though. When they go to bed how well she’s taking it with the age differ-“, Astarion began with a wicked glint and a grin that made him look almost fiendish.

This time you stumbled fully on purpose. Causing Astarion to hiss at you angrily again.

“You’re one to talk about age difference, grandpa!” you hissed back and stuck out your tongue when he began twirling you around with more force as if he was trying to work the insolent attitude right out of you by force.

Had he called the two of you harmonious just moments ago? Apparently only if the harmony was accounted for by the way you both violently bickered with each other like an old married couple.

“Why am I even taking this from someone barely older than a child,” Astarion snapped angrily while his grip on you got a little firmer, trying to show you there would be no more slip-ups, not under his watch.

“Be happy, I’ve decided to take care of an elderly citizen, love,” you spat back but barely hiding a grin.

Astarion huffed. “You’re not simply after my money, are you?”

You snorted. “There’s barely any notable amount to speak of, is there?”

The pale elf sighed in mocking disappointment: “So you’re only in it for the love – how sentimental and very unbusinesslike of you, my dear.”

“Guess, we’ll have to do with the feelings we have for each other,” you sighed back. Astarion too gave you another dramatic sigh as well while you shared a deep look into each other’s eyes. Then you both started to laugh softly before the strings of the waltz became slower still and more melancholic, the bittersweet music making a feeling of yearning rise up in your chest.

You were focused wholly on each other again with only the music lulling you. The room, the party, the other guests swirled by in colourful but easily ignorable billows. With steady moves again now you let yourself be taken away by the feelings rising up within your chest and your vampire’s tender expression while you moved over the dancefloor once more with the elegance of water in motion.

“Have you,” Astarion began in a much more sombre and genuine tone now after a while of just gazing at each other, “have you ever wondered how it would have been? If we’d met under different circumstances? Happier ones, I mean.”

“You mean, if you hadn’t become-“ you awkwardly gesticulated around with your hand wrapped with his. He simply nodded. And you immediately understood what he was trying to say: would there have been a version of events where you had found each other without all the pain and the turmoil in between?

The way he looked at you in such a vulnerable manner now made your heart ache. You saw the cracks within him he usually did his best to cover up and hide – and that he only trusted you with to only ever see. If only there was a way to relieve him of this weight he felt.

A pained smile swept over your face: “I have.” You sighed. You had to look away for a single second.

“Although in every version I’ve come up with so far we would have crossed ways and probably would have only spared each other a spiteful glance – with me having grown up homeless on the streets and you being a magistrate with noble upbringing and everything”, you continued. And then you remembered something you had spoken about earlier that evening, your gaze snapped back to his. “And I would have probably left with your purse and laughed about how stupid you were.” A weak smile played on your lips with the weak attempt of lightening the mood again.

You saw some of the pain you felt mirrored on the vampire’s face. His gaze shortly slipped from yours as well as he seemed taken by his own imagination of an alternate meeting, another ending to your story. Then he offered you a small, slightly sad smile when he looked into your eyes again: “If only you were an actual princess, things might have turned out differently, my heart.”

“That’s a lot of ifs, isn’t it?”

Astarion shrugged and was prepared to move on from the topic, but now that he said it, there was something about it.

“Although,” you began, catching the vampire’s fleeting attention once more. He cocked his head slightly. “This might have not even the biggest ‘if’.”

Astarion’s interest was caught, his full lips forming a questioning “oh” while his eyebrows jumped up. Frankly, he seemed thankful for an opportunity to leave the territory of hurtful memories and regrets behind.

You cleared your throat, getting yourself ready to reveal something about your past you didn’t like to dwell on – at all.

“Well, I might have told you that my father was a pretty high-up elven noble, right?” Astarion bowed his head to you, waiting for the new piece of information in this, narrowing his eyes.

“Turns out, he’s actually the king of a small, mostly secluded living elven enclave in some Faerun forest – all this being part of the reason why my mother dropped me on the steps of some cloister after birth. A bastard child is one thing, but the bastard child of a king – unimaginable, not tolerable”, you burst out all at once like ripping the knife out of a wound. And just like a blade viciously pulled from flesh made blood gush from the cut, making it hurt more, you felt how a whole lot of emotions of long hidden away memories were about to wash over you.

You couldn’t hold the vampire’s gaze for a few long moments while you fought to not get swept away by hurtful, long stowed away memories. Astarion’s gaze at you softened, his thumb wandering over your entwined fingers. He didn’t fully understand what all this meant for you. But he surely knew and realised when someone was not willing to share further details about pain of the past.

If you wanted there would come a time and a place to talk more about this and what I meant for you. But the middle of a dancefloor during a big ball was neither for that.

You remained in silence for long heartbeats while you asked yourself why you had so randomly offered up this piece of information about yourself – something that you had neither thought about in a long time nor wanted to pay any mind to in the future. Where you came from meant nothing to you, only the present and the man that held you was important for you now.

After a while you had caught yourself again and you lifted your head to meet his gaze again.

“I guess that’s just what we are right now, Astarion, a vampire only having broken free from his master after two centuries and a former street kid that also barely made it as a thief”, you said with a small bitter laugh.

Astarion let his thumb wander over your entwined hands again while he pulled you in closer once more, both his hands on your back now as he still made you both turn around lazily, another waltz nearing his end.

“For what it’s worth, darling,” he murmured and offered you a genuine smile with wide, open eyes, “I’m sure you agree we would have both been happy if we hadn’t gone through everything we did to get here. But I am still very happy that I’m here now and that I get to share it with you, my heart. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

His crimson eyes conveyed his love for you as he cupped your cheek and the strings drew out a single last mournful note. Slowly your lips curled into a smile and saw it spread over Astarion’s face too – two partners in crime.

What was it even worth to mourn something that could have never been?

And you had to agree with him. You were incredibly happy for the time since you had met him, if not for the circumstances. But luckily, from there on out, things had been looking up tremendously.

Your future, you thought, looked quite golden, and with a fair share of garnets strewn across.

Taglist (DM if you want to be added please):

@spacebarbarianweird @sunfire-ancunin @tragedybunny @dependsonthedream @tallymonster @magazzne @micropoe10 @aoirohi @my-bunny-prince @lumienyx @fayeriess @aurasyn @margoteve @usuallyunlikelyfox @hollowmasque @worryknotdear @wraithmaine @darlingxdragon @hereliesblackdragon @ayselluna @ajokeformur-ray @i-cant-get-into-my-other-account @rikuyrk06 @marina-and-the-memes @somewhatclear @davenswitcher

[formlines]

In Our Wake

Amber Spindel

from the website: In this watercolor painting, I sought to capture the essence of our ancestors and the enduring legacy they have bestowed upon us. The orca, adorned with a galaxy of dark saturated magentas and teals, serves as the focal point—a majestic being that embodies strength, wisdom, and the spirit of the ocean. Its vibrant hues are a nod to the mysteries of the cosmos and the deep, uncharted waters that our ancestors once navigated.

As you follow the orca to its dorsal fin, you are met with a mesmerizing wake of swirling Native designs. These intricate patterns are not mere decorations; they are a visual representation of our colorful and vibrant past. Each curve and line is a tribute to the traditions, stories, and lives that have shaped our identity.

My people, known as the Strong People, have a deep association with the orca. This connection has been a source of inspiration for me in creating this piece. It is through their teachings and the inspiration they provide every day that I find the strength to create art that honors our heritage.

This artwork is a heartfelt homage to those who came before us. It is a reminder that their traces are indelibly etched into our history, guiding us as we move forward. The orca, with its cosmic colors and the dynamic wake it leaves behind, symbolizes the connection between past, present, and future—an eternal continuum of cultural legacy and guidance.

[femmefatalevibe]

Do you have any tips on getting attention when walking into a room

Confidence is KEY

Great posture (shoulders back, head held high, back straight, arms to your sides, chest expanded, deliberate & strong gait)

Greet people with a composed yet cheerful smile, a firm handshake, or signal a "hello" with a friendly wave across the room. Keep your body language open and inviting yet relaxed and confident.

Compliment others on their outfits or strike up a conversation on how great part of the event is (the venue, food, speaker, etc.).

Wear a well-fitting outfit paired with thoughtful accessories that coordinate well with your outfit. Ensure the pieces are tailored to fit your body, and line up proportionally (where the waistbands, hemlines, necklines, etc. hit on your body and meet each other)

Choose one statement clothing or accessory item (bags, bold jewelry, shoes, belt, broach, hair clip, etc.) as the focal point of your outfit. It's your "conversation-starting piece."

Apply an intoxicating signature scent that pairs well with your body chemistry. Be mindful of the scents you layer underneath (body wash, body lotion, etc., so they all work together and don't clash.

Ensure your hair is well-kept and styled in a sleek, shiny manner that flatters your face shape.

Apply makeup in a way that gives you natural glowy skin and slightly flushed cheeks, and choose either a smoky eye, eye-catching liner, or a bold lip as the focal point of your look.

Use shimmer self-tan lotion on your skin before the event for an extra glow.

Apply whitening toothpaste or whitening strips for an extra attention-grabbing smile.

[hmmarble]

HMMARBLEDESİGN - DRAGON+

When it comes to elevating the elegance of your bathroom or kitchen, few materials compare to the timeless beauty of marble. Marble sinks have become a popular choice for homeowners and designers alike, offering a luxurious touch that can transform any space. With a myriad of styles and finishes, marble sinks not only deliver functionality but also serve as stunning focal points.

Marble Sink

A marble sink can transform any bathroom or kitchen into a luxurious space. Made from natural stone, a marble sink not only adds elegance but also durability to your home. The unique veining and patterns in marble ensure that each sink is one-of-a-kind, making it a statement piece in your decor.

When considering a marble sink, it is important to recognize the benefits it brings. Marble is known for its resistance to heat and its ability to enhance the aesthetic appeal of any design. Additionally, it can be easily polished to maintain its luster, assuring you that your marble sink will remain stunning for years to come.

However, proper care and maintenance are crucial for preserving the beauty of a marble sink. Regular sealing is recommended to protect against stains and etching, which can occur from strong acids and cleaning products. With the right upkeep, your marble sink can serve as a centerpiece in your home, showcasing timeless beauty and functionality.

Whether you are opting for a contemporary design or a classic style, a marble sink is a versatile choice that can complement a variety of themes. Its refined charm can elevate the ambiance of your space, making it feel more inviting and sophisticated.

Marble Sinks

Marble sinks are an exquisite addition to any bathroom or kitchen, providing a touch of luxury and elegance. Known for their stunning appearance and durability, marble sinks have become increasingly popular among homeowners and interior designers alike. With a wide variety of colors and patterns available, each piece is unique, allowing you to find the perfect match for your interior style.

One of the main advantages of using marble sinks is their aesthetic appeal. The natural veining and rich textures of marble can elevate the overall look of your space, making it feel more sophisticated. Whether you prefer a classic white marble with subtle grey veining or a bold dark marble with striking patterns, there’s a marble sink that can fit your vision.

Apart from their beauty, marble sinks are also known for their durability. Marble is a hard and long-lasting material, making it a great investment for any home. While it requires some maintenance to preserve its shine and prevent stains, a well-cared-for marble sink can last for decades. Regular sealing and gentle cleaning solutions are essential for maintaining the integrity of your marble sink.

When considering a marble sink, it's important to think about the design and functionality. Various styles, including undermount, vessel, and drop-in sinks, are available to suit different tastes and layouts. Each style offers a unique way to highlight the beauty of marble while ensuring practicality in daily use.

In addition to their aesthetic and functional benefits, marble sinks can also enhance the value of your home. High-quality stone fixtures are often perceived as luxurious and can increase the appeal of your property to potential buyers. By investing in a marble sink, you not only elevate your living space but also add value to your investment.

With countless options available, selecting the right marble sink for your home can be an exciting journey. Explore different colors, sizes, and styles to find the perfect piece that complements your design vision and fits seamlessly into your bathroom or kitchen.

Marble Wash Basin

A marble wash basin is not just a practical addition to your bathroom or kitchen, but also a statement of elegance and style. Crafted from natural stone, these sinks offer a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal that can elevate any space. The beauty of a marble sink lies in its intricate veining and rich textures, making it a captivating centerpiece.

One of the key advantages of a marble wash basin is its durability. Marble is a hard, resilient material that can withstand daily use while maintaining its contemporary charm. With proper care and maintenance, a marble sink can last for many years, making it a wise investment for any homeowner.

Beyond durability, the maintenance of a marble wash basin is relatively simple. Regular cleaning with gentle, non-abrasive cleaners will keep the surface pristine. However, it’s important to avoid harsh chemicals and acids that may damage the marble. Sealing your marble sink periodically can also help protect it from stains and water damage.

The versatility of marble wash basins is another reason for their growing popularity. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing homeowners to choose the perfect sink that matches their decor. Whether you prefer a classic white marble or a striking black vein, there's a style to suit every taste.

In terms of installation, a marble wash basin can be integrated seamlessly into different countertop materials, enhancing the overall look of your bathroom or kitchen. Pairing a marble sink with fixtures made of brass or chrome can create an eye-catching contrast that will impress your guests.

Furthermore, the luxurious feel of a marble wash basin adds a touch of sophistication to your space. It not only serves a practical purpose but also transforms your bathroom or kitchen into a sanctuary of relaxation and comfort.

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

Bad Batch Chopping Block

(some spoilers, tread carefully)

Alright, the safety net is gone. Even though Pabu still stands, it will never be safe for Omega or the boys anymore. The Empire has truly closed them in from every direction. So, who's gonna make it out of this season? Just to get this out of the way, Tech is either dead or comes back. The Tech Debate is too big to tackle here.

Definitely dead:

Echo- I think he's 100% a goner. Aside from being a strong mentor figure to Omega, Echo is gonna be a martyr for his cause. He believes so strongly in his fight for clone justice and he will follow it to the grave. I can definitely see him going out in a blaze of glory while Rex watches hopelessly. Plus, Echo dying might be the reason for Rex to retire and turn to Joopa farm. Echo is the last true connection he has to his old life and the 501st. Echo also gave Omega a new weapon which doesn't bode well for him. A gift he gave her is something she can remember him by.

Most likely dead:

Hunter- I do have some hope for him. There is a chance that writers don't kill him off because they want to finish the show with all the boys together. But sadly, that is unlikely. Hunter is the mentor figure and the first real paternal figure to Omega. As the oldest of the Batch (minus Echo), he has a responsibility to watch over them. In season 3, we see Crosshair slowly learning to take over as Omega's parental figure. It's possible that Hunter will die, as many mentor figures have before him, and Cross will carry the torch. I can definitely see that happening. Hunter dies protecting Omega and Crosshair is left to pick up the pieces

Wrecker- sweet Wrecker is too dang lovable. Unlike the others, he doesn't fit as neatly into a trope category like Crosshair and Hunter. Therefore, he could honestly survive because of that. However, I definitely think he could go out in a blaze of glory as well, something akin to Hevy or Hardcase. Imagine Wrecker getting caught in an explosion as he stays behind to save his brothers and Omega? But at the same time, I don't want it to happen.

50/50 (but most likely fine):

Crosshair- I honestly think he might make it out this season mostly in one piece. The only trope he fits right now is redemption equals death and honestly, I think we're past that point. Crosshair already began his redemption arc. He saved Omega, reconciled with his brothers, reconciled with Howzer, admitted his wrongs, and genuinely wants to be a better person. He doesn't need to prove to his family that he loves them or has changed because we see that. His brothers see that. Even his new poster shows him looking at his helmet. He has found the light. It's possible this show ends with him leaving his old life to retire with Omega. He could still die protecting her, but I'm starting to think otherwise.

Crosshair has suffered so much since this show started. I made a list, but we could be here all day talking about it. I feel like it would be overkill (literally) to just kill him off after he's come so far. Also, the fact that he is getting the Dad Batch ™ treatment means that they could be propping him up to take over the role from Hunter. That or they're speed-running Crosshair's dad mode activation because he was MIA for two seasons. Honestly, I think Crosshair narrative wise is mostly safe because his redemption arc is playing out right now instead of later down the line. His arc right now is mostly about coming to terms with himself, his trauma, and his identity as a sharpshooter and soldier. I really think that this show will end with him hanging up the helmet and raising Omega.

Fine:

Omega- let's be honest, they're not gonna kill off our sweet bean. She was been our focal character since the beginning and I can't see the writers going this dark. She's safe!

Alternatively: the Batch all live plus or minus one of them. The final episode could be all of them charging in together for one final fight. They make it out (mostly) and retire with Omega. Boom, the end.

[luxudus]

An art piece i made about 2 months ago but never got around to posting it. This was the final project for my school's art class in which we had to make a triptych

    In a distant galaxy that glows a faint turquoise lies a remarkable world named Iia’Oo-uo. A tropical water world larger than Earth orbiting three suns. It is home to a menagerie of strange alien forms. The line between Plant and animal life is often very blurred. Photosynthetic life comes in shades of red, purple, yellow, and pink. Colonial organisms flourish everywhere. And radial symmetry is far more common on Iia’Oo-uo than on Earth. One such group consists of Arthropod-like organisms with eight limbs for locomotion and respiration, two antennae, six eyes, and six oral tendrils akin to the Portuguese man of war.

    One such species from that phylum has made a remarkable adaptation. One that changed the course of history forever, Sapience. Referring to their people as the Uueia-Ouoo-Oo, They are a species of four-foot-long Arthropod-like predators that take on a mix of niches. But are most known for filling a role not too similar to Dolphins.

    Their oral tendrils have become strong and more flexible. Aiding in catching prey and crafting tools akin to the tentacles of an octopus. They take on a vibrant shade of magenta to identify each other in the open water. And unlike most of the other alien arthropods of their world. The Uueia-Ouoo-Oo rarely use their front six limbs, only using them to hook onto the seafloor. They mostly use their rear limbs as a set of fins for swimming.

    The Uueia-Ouoo-Oo are very agile swimmers. They are capable of changing between 3 different methods of aquatic locomotion. When relaxing the muscles in their entire body, they can perform Anguilliform swimming akin to eels. By stiffening muscles in the front half of their body, they can switch to a mix of Subcarangiform or Carangiform swimming akin to Trout. By tightening the muscles in their entire body, they can even switch to Median-paired fin swimming, akin to many fish native to coral reefs.

    Yet despite their alien appearance, they think and act like us. They enjoy art and music and feel empathy for one another. With the lack of predators, their love and curiosity far outweighs their fear. The Uueia-Ouoo-Oo may not be human, but they capture what it means to be human.

    The biggest challenge with starting a civilization underwater is the impossibility of fire and metallurgy. Where most intelligent species either stagnate or die out. The Uueia-Ouoo-Oo prevail through selective breeding and genetic engineering. Throughout their history, they have learned to modify the life around them into tools and technology.

    Coral analogs are grown into vast cities. Color-changing invertebrates bred into handheld screens. And Radio communicating hives of small alien cnidarians become the backbone of the Uueia-Ouoo-Oo Internet. Life and its protection and mastery is a focal point of Uueia-Ouoo-Oo culture. Within 20 thousand years, they reshaped their entire planet in their image and created a paradise. But this is just the beginning.

    Once they conquered their world, their eyes turned skyward to explore the heavens. It took over millennia to find out how to do it. Nonetheless, the Uueia-Ouoo-Oo still prevailed. They came to the idea of growing vacuum-sealed organisms capable of photosynthesis and omnidirectional jet propulsion. Chromatophores cover the interior, changing color to match what this bioship sees. Along with a tendril connected to its nervous system, allowing the pilot to insert the tendril into their head, effectively becoming one with the ship.

    Lastly, they somehow learned how to create artificial wormholes, allowing the bioship to teleport anywhere in the universe. They explored the heavens with an unmatched fervor. Surveying millions of galaxies, every star within those galaxies, and every planet around those stars. All the while, they expanded at a similar pace, reshaping dead worlds into ocean worlds as beautiful as their homeworld and protecting the worlds that evolved their own alien ecosystems.

    One day, during a galaxy-wide survey, they found a unique world amongst an 8-planet star system. Like millions of other worlds, this planet had life. But it had something else. One species in this world became sapient and developed a planet-wide civilization. The Uueia-Ouoo-Oo had never seen this before, and they were eager at this discovery.

    Here 3 Uueia-Ouoo-Oo celebrate the discovery before their expeditionary fleet heads through the wormhole. Ready to venture to this world the natives call Earth.

[zoobus]

I'm not normally a victim of FOMO tactics, nor do I usually let being late to the party stop me from chatting about a piece of media but I'm genuinely sad I didn't get into Obey Me/Nightbringer earlier. It makes me want to write a million essays but the disposable and decentralized nature of gacha kind of makes it feel like you missed your chance to talk about it. I keep coming across years old, unrepliable comments that I want to jump on sooo bad but I can't because the moment is gone and most of these people have likely moved on to less overtly money-hungry games.

Which sucks! because one essay I want to write in particular is how this game is extremely skilled in arousing your desire to create, to actively engage with the characters and worldbuilding, to do fandom shit, and I find this enormously fascinating in itself. The story isn't good but to a certain extent, it's not supposed to be; it functions as an elaborate set of writing/art/rp prompts for its audience to expand on and tailor to their needs.

And I think Obey Me does this well! Amazingly well. I find discussion of narrative structure fascinating, the study of how we define writing as effective, good, or as failures, so I'm drawn to this story full of contradicting lore, one-note characters, and half-finished plots. The story isn't good but that hardly matters because it's not here to be a good story; it's here to throw you into imagination boot camp. It compels you to speculate what it could be, what this character could be, what a slightly different tone would look like, what other people think about it. It feels distinct from the average popular show fandoms where, to an extent, creators congregate simply because that's where the people are. Creating for your own sake is nice and all but validation is usually a stronger force. Usually.

I keep coming across old high effort researched posts about abrahamic religions and occultism from fans setting themselves up for inevitable disappointment. I keep coming across creators leaving notes on their work like "I haven't written a thing in ten years, but,". I keep losing it over heartfelt posts defending x and y canon story decisions with their whole chest, oblivious to the fact that they're misremembering their personal tweaks/headcanons as what happened in the game, like it's seriously so cute when they're so passionate and completely wrong.

I have no idea if fandom actually plays a role in the lucrativeness of a franchise (though as a personal anecdote, I 100% started Obey Me after a single piece of horny Mammon fanart crossed my dash), but it makes more sense to me now, less a projection of wishful/haterful thinking from those with strong opinions about Fandom. Maybe it really does matter.

---

Other essays I missed the boat on:

A Casino Right in Your Home: goddamn is the pre/sequel's gacha obscene

Satan: how to put a mid character into S-tier with one simple trick (make him insane)

Sorry Belphie defenders but you're imagining a better psycho than you were given

Solmare added a shiny new rhythm game but didn't fix the now four year old coloring error on Levi's hands lmfaooo the disrespect is crazy

Remember when you saw the Nightbringer trailer of them glaring in bdsm gear with freshly blackened wings, and you thought "ah, so this takes place right after they fought god and lost. After they went to war to protect their sister only for her to die anyway. After one brother in particular saves someone, but not her, the focal point of the war. They will finally take these to their logical, guilt despair rage pain and grudge filled ends." And you were correct until that very last sentence? lol

Remember when the Ruri-chan event gave you the option to tell Levi you're not cheating on him and then the rest of the event was just making out with his brothers? Then it ends with you kissing him in front of them? Bring that energy back!!!

[clarafyer]

MY PERSONAL ART TIPS! A big thread I'll be adding to

I too, was once a 10 year old gacha kid whose only drawings were a way too detailed catgirl persona and friends. I didn't have much in-person or online inspiration and help for a long time! So I'll help others earlier in their art journey (and perhaps the masters too, never not a good idea to try some advice!)

So let me spare some of you a few of the unnecessary mishaps during everyone's art life.

If you've never seen my blog before, hello! My name is Clara. I'm a neurodivergent teen artist, aspiring animator, and resident cat person. It's nice to meet you! If you'd like to know who you're taking advice from, here is some of my latest work!

Now without further ado, LET THE HELP COMMENCE!

STROKES: Fix stiffness in your poses!

To start off, a BIG thing I recommend for newish artists, is don't be afraid to draw loosely! The looser the lines, the less stiff the pose. And stiff poses are a very common issue within the community. Sure, your anatomy may look bad for the first while of drawing looser lines, but it will help you be more confident in strokes. The more confident the stroke, the more efficient an artist. The more efficient an artist, the faster you learn.

To practice loose lines, simply draw a long line as fast as you can. Over and over again. I know, that may seem boring, but it helps train your hand and arm to be faster. But if it's so much a hassle to do in your free time, then do it on the side of a worksheet if you're in school, or a sticky note if you're at work.

Speaking of practicing...

PRACTICE MAKES BETTER: Get over it!

I said the phrase wrong, didn't I? Oh wait, no I didn't. NO ONE IS PERFECT. And don't forget that! There will always be issues, problems, and mistakes in your art that you don't realize until the day after you've shared it with everyone you know. The artist is always their worst critic. So the best thing you can do is to keep at it. Practice your weak points to support the composition more, hone in your strong points to better make a focal point. Practice will always help, even if you don't see it. A slow pace is better than no pace!

"But Clara, what are my weak points? How do I know what I always mess up on!?" you may ask...

ANALYZING YOUR ART: Pros and cons!

Well, pick your latest finished piece and tear it apart (NO NOT LITERALLY OH GOD NO PLEASE-) I mean analyze it. Grab your pen and a separate paper, or just your notes app, and make a list of pros and cons in it. Doing this with multiple pieces is especially important, as with multiple examples, it's easier to find a pattern.

How about this, I'll give you an example!

Here we have a piece I made a few weeks ago. It's of my Western AU of my main cast of OCs. TIME TO NITPICK!

WEAK POINTS

- The clouds are too detailed compared to the rest of the composition

- The right horse seems very stiff (I already am aware I struggle with drawing animals nowadays)

- The funky hatching I did with the plateaus in the background just isn't working out as well as I thought it would anymore

- the god damn horse on the right

- The sky in the middle just seems far too empty. I could have added more indication of the sun at the top to add more noise

STRONG POINTS

- The color palette I chose blends well while having the colors still be sharp and clear against each other

- The entirety of the woman and her horse on the left

- The glitchy effect adds some zestiness to it that I love

- The whole thing looks quite cinematic, with a successful wide shot and the black bars imitating that of a movie's

- The inlines of the otherwise completely flat-colored silhouettes help define the overlapping shapes quite well

And there you have it, 5 pros and cons each I found in something you probably only noticed were little to none. No, I'm not bragging, it's an actual psychological phenomena where the artist notices so many more intricacies than the average outside viewer. Your mom isn't hanging up your art out of pity, GET THAT OUT OF YOUR HEAD! People love your art so much more than you do.

That's it for the first post. Don't worry, there'll still be more helpful tips coming! I just won't be able to fit everything in here with Tumblr's picture limit and all. Happy drawing!

[kibbekpopcompendium]

Styling Suits for the 10 Kibbe types

a nice suit has no gender, and no single kibbe type, either! anyone can customize an androgynous suit to complement their type and their essence.

~~~

Romantics & Theatrical Romantics

Lee Hi is a Romantic and Jessica of SNSD is a Theatrical Romantic. Both types need a suit that is predominantly made of a soft, flowy fabric that creates soft, draping lines. Jessica, as a TR, can handle a bit more sharpness and dramatic/yang qualities in a suit. The overall look is soft and 'yin' so the sharp shoulder pads don't overwhelm her silhouette.

Romantics might have a hard time with suits because many suits have strong, yang-dominant lines, but softening the shapes and 'feel' of a suit is very possible. Jessica adds a 'yin' spin to her suit with the dainty pendant she's wearing, plus the very soft look of the blouse.

~~~

Gamines

Our Soft Gamine example is Nayeon of TWICE, and our Flamboyant Gamine, Jennie of Blackpink. Soft and Flamboyant gamines need line breaks. Due to appearing 'compact' they look best when this is emphasized with small, contrasting details that break up their vertical. Nayeon honours her Soft Gamine traits with a high neckline, a cropped shirt (creating the line break) and rolled up sleeves.

Jennie's outfit plays with contrast in a delightfully gamine-ish way. She has strong, straight shoulder pads, contrasted to a round neckline. Like Nayeon, her outfit is cropped (at the ankles) to break her vertical a bit more. Both ladies also have detailed patterns and/or accessories in their outfits.

~~~

Classics

I've said this before, but the dividing line between Soft Classic (Mina of TWICE) and Dramatic Classic (Yeeun of CLC) is not that noticeable. Both ladies look amazing in a typical black and white suit, but their looks are modified to account for their yin vs yang undercurrent.

Mina's suit looks a bit 'softer', the fabric of her tie looks light and softened. Her hair is also slightly curled; if it was straight, like Yeeun's, the look might feel too harsh, but the soft shapes of her hair make this very harmonious.

Yeeun, aside from her hair, has an outfit that looks a bit 'harsher' (not in a bad way, of course). She has more straight yang lines, in the pinstripes of the suit and even in the straight-down earring she's wearing.

~~~

Naturals

Olivia Hye of LOONA is a Soft Natural and Lisa of Blackpink is a Flamboyant Natural. Olivia's look suits the relaxed openness of natural recs perfectly. It's not too chunky or overwhelming for her frame, but it's not overly dainty, either. She's wearing loose-fitting pants and relaxed shirt sleeves, plus her tie is wider than the other ones we've seen (naturals have the frame to pull off a lot of in-your-face pieces!) The suit still honours her moderate vertical vs. Lisa's tall vertical, which we'll see.

Lisa looks powerful in this suit! As an FN, she can wear a lot of bold pieces (think of the styles that you see fashion models in) without looking like she's been overwhelmed. The black monochrome suit with very straight shapes emphasizes her continuous vertical. The chunky, glittery lapel is the sort of thing that FNs look fierce in!

~~~

Dramatics & Soft Dramatics

Eunbin of CLC is wearing perhaps an ideal suit for SDs. SDs have straight, sharp 'yang' lines with yin curves as well, and her suit honours this with the sharply tailored lines, plus the soft bow as a strong yin focal point. Her hair and makeup is also following SD recommendations. (SDs are similar to FNs, in that they look great in bold styles, but there needs to be some softness)

Nana of After School looks devastating in one of the prime pure Dramatic recs: a suit! The natural stiff, sharp contours of a suit are perfect for Dramatics. The thin pinstripes and sleek hair further complement her elongated shape.

[whimsicalpoet44]

What does our Lilith sign tell us about the obstacles we may have in life?

In astrology, there are so many placements to remember. We often forget about other important placements, like our "black moon Lilith." (I will refer to it as the moon Lilith)

So what does our Lilith placement mean?

Astro-seek defines Lilith as the following: "Lilith is a fictional point - the second empty focal point of elliptical orbit of the Moon around the Earth."

In astrology, Lilith is used to represent our "shadow self."

Based off of the figure in Jewish mythology, Lilith was said to be Adam's first wife, but refused to submit to him. (Which ultimately got her banished from the garden of eden.)

Due to this, moon Lilith has also become a symbol for femininity, sexuality, our natural instincts, and our unconscious desires.

Moon Lilith can also show us where we face feelings of restriction and abandonment.

Lilith Signs:

Aries: Moon Lilith here is thought to be very confident. You probably have a strong drive to achieve what you want and you value your independence. The goal is to retain your freedom at any cost. You may not be great at comprising and it has probably cost you some relationships. If you feel your freedom is threatened, it can drive you to make impulsive decisions, which may have some unintended consequences. You probably struggle coping with your anger and this will be a lesson you must learn.

Taurus: You could struggle to get in touch with your inner child. Though you possess an abundance of creative energy, you find it hard to channel it. Stability is the most important thing to you and you often trade pieces of yourself in order feel secure. Your biggest lesson is realizing that you're more than enough. You may cling to people or material items out of fear of losing them. Remember, you are already everything you need.

Gemini: Communication may not be your strong suit. You may fear appearing "dumb" to others and it can inhibit you from interacting the way you wish to in social situations. You might even struggle with social anxiety - often avoiding social settings to evade feelings of inadequacy. You may feel frustrated because you're chronically misunderstood by others. On the flip side, you may be a fantastic communicator and can use this against others. Your biggest lesson is to learn how to deal with the fear of rejection.

Cancer: You probably did not receive a lot of nurturing as a child. As a result, you probably harbor fear of abandonment or of being perceived as burden. You more than likely suffer in silence when you need help because you would rather perish than ask for assistance. Your biggest lesson is to learn how to be emotionally independent. Above all else, you value feelings of safety and security. You are probably the generational curse breaker in your family, and have probably been ousted by your family members as a result.

Leo: Lilith in Leo can cause you to feel over or under confident. On the plus side, you are probably adored by everyone around you and have fantastic charisma. You may have grown up having to earn love from your caretakers. This has left a scar that has made you believe that you must work to earn love and respect from everyone in your life. Your biggest lesson is to learn balance and to live authentically.

Virgo: You are probably opinionated, intuitive, and logical. Your downfall? Black and white thinking. You see the world in extremes, struggling to find the grey in situations. This can manifest in your values, making it difficult for you to stray from the path that you believe to be right. This could be due to your upbringing and you most likely had caretakers that refused to budge on very particular beliefs. Your biggest lesson is learning to be vulnerable with others and broadening your worldview.

Libra: Relationships are difficult for you. You could find yourself falling into people pleasing tendencies, where you may struggle to find friends or relationships that benefit you rather than inhibit you. Though you crave physical and emotional intimacy from someone, you probably fear it too. Your biggest lesson is to stay true to yourself while also learning how to open up to others. The benefit to this placement is that you're comfortable with independence and have a lot of empathy and compassion for others.

Scorpio: The theme of your life can be summed up in one word - transformation. You wish to maintain control of your life, but find that you often stuck in cycles of death/re-birth. You are probably undoing generational trauma and more than likely have a knack for discovering secrets. You may find that you have to claw things you've outgrown from your cold lifeless hands. Since security is the most important thing, letting go of people, situations, or items is difficult. You're probably great at psychology or deciphering others actions/emotions. Your lesson is to learn how to lean into cycles of transformation and relinquish your control of the situation.

Sagittarius: When you can't find a road that fits you, you craft your own. This could be attributed to being told how to think and what to believe as a child, but you may have found those beliefs never resonated. Now you want to distinguish yourself as an individual. Be careful though, because you may be prone to extremes. You're always rediscovering and analyzing yourself. You may come across as blunt and may find difficulty delivering truths kindly. Your values or opinions may be a little unconventional and you may fear that you'll be judged for them. Your biggest lesson is to develop security in your beliefs while also staying aware that not everyone is as open minded as you.

Capricorn: Stubborn. You are stubborn. You may find it easy to make your own way in life and you embody fierce energy. You may cling to control like a lifeline or you may avoid it at all costs, developing a deep rooted fear to it. You fear failure above all else and will do anything to avoid it, even if it means never trying to succeed. Your biggest lesson is to redefine what failure means and letting go of the learned helplessness that keeps you stuck.

Aquarius: Feeling like you don't belong in society can be a strong theme for you with your moon Lilith in Aquarius. You need independence and freedom in any task you do and can struggle with working within the rules of society. The only person you may trust is yourself. You are really inventive and creative, but can find it hard to manifest those thoughts into reality. Your biggest lesson is becoming comfortable with yourself and overcome the fear of being judged for your beliefs and choices.

Pisces: You may disassociate a lot and find it difficult to live outside of your own head. On the positive side, this gives you an incredible imagination and you are probably very creative. You may delve in spiritually, but you may also reject it completely. Ultimately, you want to make the world a better place and find that you have a lot of compassion for others. This can get you in trouble if you do not set firm boundaries. Your biggest lesson is set and maintain boundaries with others. Don't let them take advantage of your kindness.

[metfell]

honestly heres my little hot take but i dont like those palette challenges and request games. i think that too often artists will just colorpick directly from the palettes given and the resulting art feels flat and unfinished. i think that when using those palette challenges you should at least try playing around with those colors a bit more.

like okay. this one i pulled randomly off of pinterest for example (BY THE WAY. FOUND THE SOURCE. its striped-tie on dA as far as i can tell) :

great groups of colors. lots of variety. but what happens when we turn the saturation all the way down and we look at the VALUES of the colors:

you have to understand that this does not apply to every palette challenge, nor does this critique apply to every palette within this one challenge. but notice how so many of these are either only lights, or only mid tones, or only darks?

your art needs (READ: subjectively, though quite often) highlights, lowlights, AND mid tones. it helps draw attention to where the viewers eye should be looking. and when every tone is right around the same light level, this makes it hard for the viewer to distinguish where in the piece they need to look and what is considered most important.

however, what looking at these palettes in black and white removes is the way colors can act as focal points, and i'm aware of that. so let's look at one from this list that does this effectively. sorry for the quality here lol.

so this is a palette i think does a good job. we can look at it in black and white as well to check for the values:

you will notice how this palette has a dark tone, a darker mid tone, a lighter mid tone, and two highlights. within these highlights, the yellow stands out dramatically. this is a great way to practice color, lighting, and how using blue hued grays and one warm hue can create an interesting and contrasting color composition.

i don't know, i really just wish when artists used these palettes that they played around more with the colors in those palettes themselves, because sometimes i see artists who are INCREDIBLY SKILLED with drawing fumble when grabbing these because they dont quite understand color theory and how it works.

POST NOTICE: personal opinion on palettes and color theory. if you enjoy using these and you find them helpful to you then go for it. this post is not crafted with intent to blow up, this post is made for me to ramble about palettes and thus the argument is not very strong because it has not been proofread more than once.

[beetleartstudio]

"Flying Sentinel Guardian of the Realm Unknown"

In this artwork, a gallant knight stands proudly, adorned in sturdy armor and wielding a gleaming white sword, serving as the focal point. This knight is not merely an ordinary hero but something more; they are the steadfast guardian of the Realm Unknown. The sword they wield symbolizes unyielding strength and bravery. Despite its size, the sword appears light in their grasp, ready to defend and protect the realm from any threat that may arise. However, what truly sets them apart are the pair of large wings towering behind them, granting them the ability to soar through the skies. This gives the impression that the knight not only battles on land but also safeguards their kingdom from above, watching over every corner against potential aerial assaults. The backdrop of this artwork depicts a dramatic and epic landscape of the Realm Unknown. Mountains rise majestically in the distance, while the sky above is filled with thick, slowly moving clouds. Far off in the distance, a towering fortress stands as a symbol of the realm's strength and resilience. The technique employed in this artwork may be a combination of hand painting and digital manipulation, creating a strong and dramatic impression. Dramatic lighting highlights the knight and their sword, adding an aura of majesty and power to the character. This piece is not merely a visual representation of an ordinary knight but rather a symbol of courage, protection, and dedication to their homeland, the Realm Unknown.

[lullabyes22-blog]

Snippet - Forward, but Never Forget/XOXO - A Breed Who Never Go Hungry

Young Silco has an encounter with a family of Noxians. Who could they be? :3

Forward, but Never Forget/XOXO

Snippet:

"Siegfried the Conqueror. Sea-king of Ironwater."

Silco didn't bother to feign wisdom. "Never heard of him."

"That's because he never made it to the page." The Captain's lip curls at the corner. "My daughter dreamt him up."

"She made this?"

"She makes all sorts." There was a father's pride in his voice. "A gift for art. A gift for storytelling."

"Do you sell them?"

"A hefty price, you understand, for what's essentially a fancy of youth. They're not yet ready for the world, little eel. She's an artist with plenty to learn. A few more years, maybe. For now, they’re all mine." The Captain looked fondly upon the fresco. "Soon, she’ll dream up her next piece. City of oil-slicks and slum-dwellers, maybe."

He gestured to a chamber on the far end of the corridor.  The door was open a crack. A beautiful hanging lantern peeped out, the luminous focal point of a vignette of coffee-colored wood, rich carpeting, and cream walls. Two young voices—a boy's and a girl's—lapped in dulcet harmony.

The Captain leaned in, finger to his lips. "They're neck-deep in lessons. My son and daughter. Her first voyage past the Immortal Bastion. His final."

"Final?"

"He'll be away to a war-campaign in the Placidium. Advisor to the High Command. We'll watch him from afar, see how he fares. He's clever; can keep his head down. Listen and learn." A chuckle. "My own father used to say war is the best school of survival. If you're lucky enough to survive it."

Despite himself, Silco peered through the crack.  A boy—early twenties—lazed cross-legged in a cushioned settee. He was a handsome one. He could've been a painting himself: chiseled features, smooth brown skin, a crop of raven curls, and striking eyes that reflected a lantern-lit room like bronzed mirrors.

He was reciting from an open book in his lap.

"A ruler who has moved into a new region with a different language and customs must also make himself leader and protector of the weaker neighboring powers, while doing what he can to undermine the stronger. In particular, he must take care that no foreign power strong enough to compete with his own gets a chance to penetrate the area. Why is that?"

"Because a discontented people, out of fear or frustrated ambition, will always encourage a foreign power to intercede," his sister said with a gentle confidence. She was in her late teens: a slim frame, dark hair upswept into a bun, and the same amber eyes. But she lacked the boy's classical beauty. Hers was more natural: an open countenance, bright-eyed and inquisitive. "The solution, then, is to make peace with the weaker neighboring regions. In exchange for favor, they'll give him information."

"Right," the boy said. "And should he be willing to trade favors?"

"He must! Without concessions, the neighbors will grow resentful and rebel against him. And they're better than the alternative."

"Which is?"

"War," she said matter-of-factly. "War is a costly thing. It takes time. It's risky. It's uncertain. The only certainty is that a foreign power would love nothing more than to snatch an opportunity when it rises. Therefore, a ruler must forge relations with the neighbor-states. With his own strength and their support, he can easily undermine the more powerful adversaries and hence dominate the region."

The boy grinned. "Very astute, Mel."

The girl beamed. "Thank you, Kino."

"Were you quoting Johannas?"

"Agasias," she corrected. "One of my favorites."

"Good taste. That quote's from the Treatise on the Universal Polity, isn't it?"

"Not quite," the girl said. "The Universal Polity was written in the year 931 after the Shattered Era. The Agias treatise was written in 934, three years after the Shattering, in the reign of King Vas. They're two very different texts."

The boy lifted a teasing brow. "One on war, one on peace. Different texts, indeed."

They spoke in silken vowels without a trace of the Captain's weatherworn Va-Nox.  Two scions of privilege, steeped in the traditions of their homeland. Their refinement verged on unreal; their rapport inexplicable. In the Sumps, it was difficult to find youngsters who could read, let alone engage in such rarefied banter.

Perhaps, Silco thought bitterly, there's a special breed afforded such civility.

A breed who never go hungry.