#technique of creating projections

[lucile-frenchfornerds]

I've been doing a business training for the past four months and it's over on Monday, and I'm legit SAD ?? This is ridiculous lmao 😭

But it was a great training, I feel so much better and like I know where I want to go with my business, which is crazy because my new "big goal" is developing something around using creative writing & story building to practice French and like...I'm a writer. I can spend hours talking about how to create characters and stories. I literally take creative writing courses often and I do improv every week where we work on building stories and characters... How in goddamn hell did it take me 4 years to think of that lmao 🤡

Also the fact that my first EVER french teaching moment was animating a creative writing workshop in a social center for migrants, literally 6 years ago??? the wheel did a full spin i guess

Anyway this business training has been amazing idk how I'm gonna survive without them since I was constantly asking for validation and feedback (good student syndrom hello) but well

Also I guess this is my first kinda official announcement that I will be developing stuff around writing and creating stories in French (obv Im also continuing private language classes and conversation workshops!) ✨️

If you have the artistic and/or storytelling vibe and you're learning or speaking French, lets go be creative in French together 🙌

[unicodehealthcareservices45]

[teenagebluebirdstrawberry]

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[my-chemical-rot]

Looooove it (/s) when people who haven’t taken an art class since 5th grade make all kinds of judgements about college-level art classes and say shit like “isn’t it an easy class though? Don’t you get an A just for showing up? Or just for participating? You don’t actually have to be good at art to pass that class right?” Like okay maybe when you’re ten years old your art teacher isn’t gonna grade you by technique and skill but contrary to popular belief you actually have to be *good* at art and work your fucking ass off every single day to get a good grade in an art class

[urlocal-limitesshbic]

*.˗ˏˋ Use DEILD to enter the void in secondsˎ˗.*

~featuring a lucid dreamer’s unintended success story I found on YouTube~

Incoming Topics..

*PART 1 <RECAP: What is Deild? >*

*PART 2 < The success story >*

*PART 3 < How to use DEILD for the Void >*

*PART I < What is the DEILD method? > *

If you haven’t read my original post on DEILD I have linked it down below towards the end of this one. I recommend checking it out for an in depth tutorial on the method, but I’ll give a quick explanation here as well-

To put it simply, it is a technique that is traditionally used to get fast and easy lucid dreams. Upon waking you lie still and keep your eyes closed, tricking your body into thinking that you never woke up and then within seconds the dream reforms except now you’re aware in it! You can also create a new dream or you might enter a false awakening which becomes a lucid dream. This method works SO QUICKLY it’s seriously like a LD method shortcut!

I’ve heard of lucid dreamers talking about the void before but after watching a YouTubers video about a lucid dream he had, I realized he actually used the DEILD technique to go straight to the void in SECONDS, unintentionally! Which is something I hadn’t thought about doing before-merging the lucid dream technique WITH 👏🏼 THE VOID 👏🏼 TECHNIQUES!! 👏🏼 So for those of you attempting to enter the void state from a lucid dream, this can be used as a SHORTCUT on top of a SHORTCUT! 🙌🏼 Yes ma’ammmm y’all seriously need to come try this one out because when I say SECONDS I’m talking secondsss-no more waiting 20 minutes for your left brain to turn off, no more long breath work exercises or reality checks or hours of lying still, affirming, no more battling with creating portals-the void can be EFFORTLESS and induced in under a minute.

*PART 2 < The lucid dreamer’s success story> *

There’s this lucid dreamer on YouTube called TIGER123 who posts about lucid dreaming techniques and his own lucid dream experiences- he actually has a video tutorial on DEILD as well (which is linked in my OG DEILD post)

So, I was at work looking for something to watch and saw he posted a new video about a lucid dream he had recently. Well, I can tell you wasn’t expecting him to literally open the video by talking about how he woke up from a regular dream, realized it was the perfect opportunity to perform DEILD and get lucid, and then. AS HE’S PERFORMING DEILD. He enters the void! Just like that. While he was in the void he visualized the dream scene he wanted to be in and he said he was there within 10 seconds. Aka he instantly manifested entering the exact lucid dream he wanted to be in, from the void state.

This is someone who doesn’t believe in shifting or astral projection, wasn’t trying to enter the void, thinks the void is just an unformed lucid dream space that can be used to form a new lucid dream, doesn’t know you can manifest from that state and yet STILL got in and STILL manifested. Since he viewed the void as a place he can form a new lucid dream thats what he did. He still manifested instantly, he just MANIFESTED going from the VS to being in a lucid dream. This should just go to show you guys how REAL the void state is, because someone who doesn’t even know about it and wasn’t trying to get in STILL did it. (SO CAN YOU btw)

The void isn’t a concept created on tumblr. Lucid dreamers have experienced it for years, meditators experience it, yogis, followers of Neville Goddard and multiple religious practices do too; It’s just called by different names and defined differently, but all the experiences describe the same thing. So if tumblr success stories aren’t trustworthy enough to you, or motivating enough-expand your research and find hundreds of stories similar to this one-lucid dreamers thinking it’s just an unformed dream and yogis thinking it’s just a really relaxing deep meditative state etc…

*PART 3< How To Use DEILD to enter the VS> *

I linked the video at the bottom, he doesn’t really talk about the void much or deild because the video is about the actual contents of the dream he had, but the part he does talk about it is right at the beginning, the first 30 seconds or so, if you’re curious in checking it out but this is pretty much what he said about it, written out-

“First I was in a space dream and then I woke up and kind of realized I had just woken up from a dream and was able to stay still and kind of reenter into it and fall back asleep and I ended up in the void. You know that like complete blackness where it’s really easy to reform the dream and since I was there I figured I would just try to go to the beach because when I’m in this void state I can really go anywhere I want. I just reformed the beach and I ended up on the exact beach I was imagining in like 10 seconds.”

So boom. Thats’s it thats ALL. That simple. So here’s the exact steps to do if you want to enter the void through DEILD too and be the next success story:

Before bed: affirm “I will remember to stay still upon awakening. I will effortlessly enter the void using DEILD” or some variation of this (optional)

Visualize yourself waking up, staying still, and entering the void state (optional)

Go to sleep, with the calm certainty that this will work.

Wake up. Keep your eyes closed and lie still

You can keep a blank mind and wait, trusting that your subconscious will induce the void automatically, since you already set the intention the night before

5a. Or right after waking, with your eyes closed you can begin affirming that you are pure consciousnes and imagine yourself already in the void, or imagine yourself sinking gently down into the void state until you are truly there. This method is so effective you should be in the state within a minute or less.

And remember, the void state can’t be forced, just like sleep can’t be forced. All you can do is create the right conditions for it to occur naturally. It’s okay if you don’t get it right away. Focus on trust, not control. Avoid over analyzing whether it’s working while you’re performing the technique, just allow it to flow and happen. You saw he just literally lied still waiting for the dream to form and then he was in. It’s that effortless. Give it a go and report back in the comments 🫶🏼 Happy enteringgg

[pricklyjim]

[SHATTERED UNITY: MINI COMICs]

[PAGE #0 “Public affection”]

“MWAH!”

“not in public, Orion”

START HERE | NEXT

[SUMMERY]

I create a lot of mini comics as a way to experiment with different styles, colors, and writing techniques. This mini-comic collection is based on my comic Shattered Unity, but these short slice of life comics aren’t part of the official story. They’re purely for testing ideas, exploring different artistic approaches and writing techniques, and having fun with the characters and world.

Think of them as creative side projects that let me play around with concepts without being cannon to the main story.

-

CONTENT WARNINGS: SEXUAL MENTIONS

[salemlunaa]

SELF CONCEPT IS KEY — WHO ARE YOU BEING TODAY?

feel like you’re stuck in a loop?

Pete Sapper said “When you know who you are, your mirror will reflect it, when you don’t know who you are, it will also reflect”

You don’t need to anything for your manifestations to materialise, as they already have, creation is finished, but self concept is something that really helps you wrap your mind around it.

When I say that you are God, do you really and truly know that? And I ask for knowing and not believing because beliefs change all the time. Do you KNOW you are God, or do you just get this rush of excitement and adrenaline after reading some motivational posts just to fall back into old patterns a few hours later?

What colour hair do you have? Let’s say you have black hair and maybe you dyed it blonde, would you constantly go back on the fact that you have black hair, i mean if it was a dye job you got done yesterday, you might forget for a moment, but you’ll be like “oh that’s right, i have blonde hair” and go on about your day, because 1. You KNOW that’s it’s true and 2. You KNOW that you are the person who has blonde hair. That one time you forgot doesn’t negate from the fact that you have blonde hair.

A lot of you “persist and persist”, and wonder why your outer world hasn’t changed, let me tell you something i’m not gonna bullshit you and tell you that these are old thoughts playing out because they aren’t, it’s just not true, there is no separation between your outer and inner, A mirror doesn’t have a mind of its own, it can’t “test” you or show you something that you are NOT, because think of a literal mirror (that’s what this outer world is), when we say that, it isn’t some cute metaphor, it’s the truth. The reason things haven’t changed is because YOU haven’t. Again, think of a mirror, instant reflections are the ONLY TYPE OF REFLECTIONS!! be the person who assumes otherwise? you will stay waiting, looking for posts to motivate you instead of living the life you want.

You can do as many things to manifest your dream body, but if you’re still being the person who is a loser with a shitty figure, guess what?… Have you heard the phrase “You cannot trick God”, since we have now come to terms with the fact that we are God, the term can now be written as “you cannot trick yourself”, you also can’t run from who you are. God, you, your consciousness can tell the difference between believing, and KNOWING. If you KNOW and accept your unfavourable life as true, no amount of wishful thinking and hopeful attempts at techniques will change what you know. So what is there to do? change SELF.

ꨄꨄꨄ

Become God, step into that state of being now, you ARE pure consciousness now, there is nothing to do, nothing to induce. You ARE the void now. You are limitless, you have always succeeded in anything you do, so why not know? Your outer world reflects instantly because you are God and what you say goes. There is no one above you, now if you knew that why are you getting triggered with all the limiting beliefs, why would anyone tell YOU, as God, how to create.

When someone says “your manifestation will ONLY take 3 Days if you do this magnificent method that-”.

Instead of mindlessly following another method like a junkie. You say “wtf i’m literally GOD not you, 3 days?? pfft my shit is instant because i’m just so fucking unlimited and ethereal”

You are God, the only free thinker in your reality. Not even im freely thinking from your perspective, im just a projection. So what if someone tells you that you have to do this and that to get what you want? everyone else is a lowly human, YOU are God. Absolute Intelligence. With words that instantly create. Once you get that through your skull you will never have a day in your life where you are experiencing unfavourable circumstances.

Who cares if Nancy’s dream bod took 3 months?

Who cares if Wyatt took 2 weeks to shift to his dream life?

Who cares if Jessica looped affirmations all day to get her grades?

YOU ARE GOD HERE. Not them. Time is not real and Creation is finished, WHO CARES ABOUT THEM?? YOU. HAVE. EVERYTHING.

I am not religious by any means but i believe a lot of religious books were guides to understand self, that got, as we can see, heavily misconstrued. And there’s this verse:

Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”

Do you know what that actually means: It means who cares what everyone else’s limiting beliefs are, who cares what everyone else “had” to do, or what everyone else believes. As for you and your mind, You will serve God, That is You.

You are one perception away from everything materialising. This isn’t the Law of Desire, if so everyone would have everything they could ever want, by simply.. wanting it. It’s the law of Being, BE GOD, and put YOURSELF on the pedestal, then you will wake up in this illusion, you will start to see that there are no big and small manifestations. You will start to see that your consciousness created all of this and none of it is real, and nothing will be hard or easy for you anymore, it will just be. You will start to understand that time doesn’t exist, and all this other noise matters not anymore, for you are sovereign. You will start to understand that you are one decision away.

Idc if you have to repeat it, or to visualise yourself as this godly being, idc what you do, even so much as a one-and-done decision as long as you understand who you are.

I get all these asks and dms too (before i turned them off) with problems that would not be problems if you guys understood who you actually are. Some of the things you guys complain about WOULDNT EVEN EXIST if you just stepped into that knowing that you are God.

And I know time doesn’t exist, but for those of you who still resonate with the 3D and human concepts (even tho that’s like, soooo dumb 🙄), you will spend a lot more “time” without what you want if you don’t start BEING the person who has it all.

Focus on that self concept, be the most egotistical, self-obsessed, head-up-your-own-ass typa bitch. For you are God and any lesser treatment of self would be nonsensical.

When you know you are, the world will reflect your power

©salemlunaa

[spicymancer]

Rumble vs Ranger Round 2 is live on the patreon!

Shaoxing A syndicate bodyguard robot who enjoys *ahem Ethanol based fuel sources. Shaoxing's employers removed many of her safety limiters. Substituting traditional qigong with internal combustion, Shaoxing combines the grace and flow of Kung Fu with the precision and horsepower of a mechanical body. Can she beat the Professor before the Hangover hits?

Professor Coach The digital mentor of the Actiranger Team! Though usually present as a hologram, in emergencies she can project a hard-light avatar in order to fight (among other things.). The hard-light body is held back by its lack of weight and solidity, leading to her avatar being somewhat fragile and reducing her damage output. However she makes up for it with her impeccable athletic technique and speed, augmented by the ability to teleport and create illusions.

Winner scores a point for their Side and will feature in an art piece "defeating" their opponent!

[reasonsforhope]

"In a historic step toward the first-ever restoration of the tiger population to a nation where they were once extinct, two captive Siberian tigers have been translocated from Anna Paulowna Sanctuary, Netherlands, to the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve in Kazakhstan.

This remarkable event is part of an ambitious program led by the Government of Kazakhstan with support from WWF and the UN Development Program to restore the Ile-Balkhash delta ecosystem and reintroduce tigers to the country and region, where the species has been extinct for over 70 years.

“It is a high priority for Kazakhstan to work on the restoration of rare species. For ecological value it is important that our biodiversity chain is restored. And that the tiger that once lived in this area is reintroduced here,” said Daniyar Turgambayev, Vice-minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan.

In the early 21st century, genetic studies were carried out on bones and furs held in national collections which revealed that the population of tigers living between Iran, southern Russia, Central Asia, and the areas around the Caspian Sea was extremely similar to Siberian tigers.

This led scientists to conclude that Felis vigrata, the former name of the Caspian tiger, was simply the Siberian tiger that developed into a distinct population, but not a new subspecies, over generations of being separated by habitat fragmentation.

Bodhana and Kuma, the male and female tigers, will be housed in a spacious semi-natural enclosure of three hectares [7.4 acres] within the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve. Any of their offspring will be released into the wild and will become the first tigers to roam Kazakhstan in decades, and potentially the first-ever international tiger reintroduction.

They will play an important role in the establishment of a new tiger population in the region where they had previously been wiped out as a result of excessive hunting.

“Today marks a monumental conservation milestone to bring tigers back to Kazakhstan and Central Asia,” said Stuart Chapman Leader of WWF Tigers Alive. “This tiger translocation is a critical step to not only bring back the big cat to its historic homeland but also to rewild an entire ecosystem.”

Progress towards restoration of the area is already well underway with recovering and reintroduction of critical tiger prey species like the Kulan (Asiatic wild ass), and reforestation of over 120 acres with native trees. Being the apex predator, tigers will play a significant role in sustaining the structure and function of the ecosystem on which both humans and wildlife rely...

“With the launch of the tiger reintroduction program, we have witnessed a significant change—the revival of nature and our village of Karoi,” said Adilbaev Zhasar, the head of the local community group Auyldastar.

“This project not only restores lost ecosystems, but also fills us with pride in participating in a historic process. Because of small grants from WWF, we have the opportunity to do what we love, develop small businesses, and create jobs in the village, which brings joy and confidence in the future.”

From the very beginning, the local community around Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve has been closely involved in the project. This includes support for improved agricultural techniques and the future development of nature tourism in the area.

The translocation of these tigers is the first of several planned in the coming years, with a goal to build a healthy population of about 50 wild tigers by 2035, starting with this pioneering pair for breeding. This initiative is not only a testament to the resilience of the species but also a powerful example of governments, conservation organizations, and local communities cooperating in wildlife and nature conservation."

-via Good News Network, November 27, 2024

[theambitiouswoman]

How To Become A Brand New Person ✨✨

Self Reflect:

Journal daily.

Think about past decisions and how they impacted your life.

Meditate regularly.

Create a vision board to visualize your goals.

Review your strengths and weaknesses.

Identify your core values and beliefs.

Figure out your passions and interests.

Think about your childhood dreams and aspirations.

Evaluate your current state of happiness and fulfillment.

Set Clear Goals:

Define specific career goals, like "Get promoted within two years."

Set health goals, like "Lose 20 pounds in six months."

Create financial goals such as "Save $10,000 for a vacation."

Establish personal development goals, like "Read 24 books in a year."

Set relationship goals, such as "Improve communication with my partner."

Define education goals, like "Complete a master's degree in three years."

Set travel goals, like "Visit five new countries in the next two years."

Create hobbies and interests goals, such as "Learn to play a musical instrument."

Set community or volunteer goals, like "Volunteer 100 hours this year."

Establish mindfulness or self-care goals, such as "Practice meditation daily."

Self Care:

Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Prioritize getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.

Practice in relaxation techniques like deep breathing or yoga.

Take regular breaks at work to avoid burnout.

Schedule "me time" for activities you enjoy.

Limit exposure to stressors and toxic people.

Practice regular skincare and grooming routines.

Seek regular medical check-ups and screenings.

Stay hydrated by drinking enough water daily.

Personal Development:

Read a book every month from various genres.

Attend workshops or seminars on topics of interest.

Learn a new language or musical instrument.

Take online courses to acquire new skills.

Set aside time for daily reflection and self improvement.

Seek a mentor in your field for guidance.

Attend conferences and networking events.

Start a side project or hobby to expand your abilities.

Practice public speaking or communication skills.

Do creative activities like painting, writing, or photography.

Create a Support System:

Build a close knit group of friends who uplift and inspire you.

Join clubs or organizations aligned with your interests.

Connect with a mentor or life coach.

Attend family gatherings to maintain bonds.

Be open and honest in your communication with loved ones.

Seek advice from trusted colleagues or supervisors.

Attend support groups for specific challenges (e.g., addiction recovery).

Cultivate online connections through social media.

Find a therapist or counselor for emotional support.

Participate in community or volunteer activities to meet like minded people.

Change Habits:

Cut back on sugary or processed foods.

Reduce screen time and increase physical activity.

Practice gratitude by keeping a daily journal.

Manage stress through mindfulness meditation.

Limit procrastination by setting specific deadlines.

Reduce negative self-talk by practicing self-compassion.

Establish a regular exercise routine.

Create a budget and stick to it.

Develop a morning and evening routine for consistency.

Overcome Fear and Self Doubt:

Face a specific fear head-on (example: public speaking).

Challenge your negative thoughts with positive affirmations.

Seek therapy to address underlying fears or traumas.

Take small, calculated risks to build confidence.

Visualize success in challenging situations.

Surround yourself with supportive and encouraging people.

Journal about your fears and doubts to gain clarity.

Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small.

Focus on your strengths and accomplishments.

Embrace failure as a valuable learning experience.

Embrace Change:

Relocate to a new city or country.

Switch careers or industries to pursue your passion.

Take on leadership roles in your workplace.

Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone.

Embrace new technologies and digital tools.

Travel to unfamiliar destinations.

Start a new hobby or creative endeavor.

Change your daily routine to add variety.

Adjust your mindset to see change as an opportunity.

Seek out diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

Practice Gratitude:

Write down three things you're grateful for each day.

Express gratitude to loved ones regularly.

Create a gratitude jar and add notes of appreciation.

Reflect on the positive aspects of challenging situations.

Show gratitude by volunteering or helping others in need.

Send thank-you notes or messages to people who've helped you.

Keep a gratitude journal and review it regularly.

Share your gratitude openly during family meals or gatherings.

Focus on the present moment and appreciate the little things.

Practice gratitude even in times of adversity.

Be Patient:

Set realistic expectations for your progress.

Accept that personal growth takes time.

Focus on the journey rather than the destination.

Learn from setbacks and view them as opportunities to improve.

Celebrate small milestones along the way.

Practice self-compassion during challenging times.

Stay committed to your goals, even when progress is slow.

Keep a journal to track your personal growth.

Recognize that patience is a valuable skill in personal transformation.

Celebrate Small Wins:

Treat yourself to your favorite meal or dessert.

Reward yourself with a spa day or self-care activity.

Share your achievements with friends and loved ones.

Create a vision board to visualize your successes.

Acknowledge and congratulate yourself in a journal.

Give yourself permission to take a break and relax.

Display reminders of your accomplishments in your workspace.

Take a day off to celebrate a major milestone.

Host a small gathering to mark your achievements.

Set aside time to reflect on how far you've come.

Maintain Balance:

Set clear boundaries in your personal and work life.

Prioritize self care activities in your daily routine.

Schedule regular breaks and downtime.

Learn to say "no" when necessary to avoid overcommitment.

Evaluate your work life balance regularly.

Seek support from friends and family to avoid burnout.

Be kind to yourself and accept imperfections.

Practice mindfulness to stay present and grounded.

Revisit your priorities and adjust them as needed.

Embrace self love and self acceptance as part of your daily life.

[chow0w]

oh i just LOVE your style!!!! if you wouldn't mind, could you explain how you go about designing and what your artistic process is with dragons specifically?? I love your lady jewel design the most!!!!!!

Of course, and thank you so much! @aldershadows also asked this question, and I hope I can give you a comprehensive answer, and will be taking this oppurtunity to create a one-and-done design tutorial to answer any similar questions that may come up in the future.

Bear in mind that I'm not a professional, and I'm not looking to dissuade people from following traditional techniques or other advice. This is purely a discussion of MY process, and what I consider to be good/bad design technique.

Where to Start

There are six important conceptual 'principles' I like to consider when in the initial stages of (Re)designing a character: Story, Personality, Aesthetic, Interpretation, and canon/fanon appearance. Fully understanding these principals can help you understand a character, which will make both your life and design better.

Story: What is this character's actual story? What's their lore? Where do they start, and where do they end up - and most importantly, where does your design fit into that timeline? When I design characters, I try to be clear on exactly what part of their journey they are on. (Ex: blaze and the coat -> sandwing succession war)

Personality: This one is pretty easy - what is your character like, and how do they present themselves to the outside world? When you make a character and show them to the world, everything in the canvas is interpreted by the audience: even down to simple details like posture or background. Treat it like an opportunity to show off as much of your character's personality as you can.

Aesthetic: Aesthetic plays the most important role of all: it's job is to make sure your design is cohesive. It can be a common theme, pattern, color pallet or shape - as long as it reoccurs throughout a design, it's good. Use aesthetics to amplify the other principals, and figure out how to make it *look* nice as a secondary goal.

Interpretation: This one is specific to redesigns, but could also be applied to OCs - I like to consider my personal interpretation of a character: the media I see, the opinion I have... Multi-animator projects, other fanart pieces and personal quirks make up my interpretation of most WoF characters. You don't always need to incorporate your interpretation, but it's good to have in mind.

Canon/Fanon appearances: If you want to design and OC, ignore this. If you're redesigning an existing character, it's useful to consider how your audience views them - for example, most of us collectively agree on a few key design aspects of most characters. That doesn't mean you have to follow those conventions, but keep in mind that they may make your character more or less recognizable. You can also call on the other principles of design to make up for any leap-of-faith redesign choices you make.

Narrow It Down

Now that you're thinking, it's time to narrow those ideas down! Be aware that sometimes, less is more: you might have a ton of cool concepts, but your design will look BAD if you can't stay cohesive. The number of different ideas that can co-exist in one design varies a lot by preference and similarity, so be evaluative when doing this. If you follow my blog, you might notice I tend to walk the line between detailed, cohesive design and overwhelming animator repellent. To combat this, I try to step back often and consider if I've gone too far.

At this stage, it's good to make notes or small sketches - anything to get your ideas down.

Experiment

Test your ideas out with more sketches - alter, add, subtract... whatever your heart desires. Experimentation is the best way to discover your specific design tendencies, as well as breaking new ground and stepping out of your comfort zone. The more you experiment, the quicker you'll improve. This is usually the point where I start testing out different patterns, since those are the main highlight of most of my redesigns. Pertaining to dragons, it's always a good idea to test out different shapes - especially wings, spikes, arms and tails, which are generally the most customizable features of a character. Looking to other artists for advice/inspiration is also a great tactic, but be sure to follow the 80/20 rule of originality within your designs!

Judge yourself (not literally)

Evaluating your designs as you make them is always a great idea, but sometimes you need multiple tests/sketches in order to know what you REALLY want. Compare your experiments - what do you like about them? What do you dislike? Which are more faithful to the character, and which ones confuse you? understanding the flaws in your design can help you to overcome even the biggest challenges.

I've used Kinkajou to show how important evaluation is: despite being my favorite character, she has proved exceedingly hard to redesign (to my satisfaction,) even with multiple attempts from this year and the last. She might not even be released by the time this post airs - but with the power of critical thinking and good evaluation, her design has gradually improved over my last few attempts.

Stay on your toes

Did you think you were done? Did you think it was over? NO. Life doesn't get easier just because you made it past the idea stage. When you have your final thoughts and want to get chugging with your reference page/illustration, make sure to stay alert! Keep evaluating, keep experimenting, and make sure to stay mindful of what you do! One of the more common issues I have is that I turn my brain off while I draw, and then slowly my designs drift further and further away from the idea I actually wanted to put down. Asking yourself questions along the way can help to sharpen your design, and train your mind to think more artistically.

It's always good to take a once-over of your final product: check for errors you might have made, and think about whether or not your design still looks good. Does it show personality? Is it consistent?

If you do find that your end product isn't what you really imagined, don't despair - there are plenty of lazy tricks you (And I) can pull to string things back together again. Using gradient maps is a great way to fix your colors, and simple filters like 'overlay' (procreate) can help to neutralize your pallet. My favorite trick is to use the 'curves' tool (procreate) to make certain colors darker, in the case that I feel my design doesn't use a wide enough range of light and dark shades. I also like to turn saturation down if I think there's a color problem, to see if it's actually my pallet or if I'm using too many colors with the same tone.

Keep Going

My design strategy relies on confidence. You won't be able to improve if you doubt that you can! So, my most important piece of advice is to keep going, no matter how fast or slow you seem to make progress. My second most important piece of advice is not to compare yourself to other artists - focusing on their progress is neglecting your own.

To everyone who made it this far, thank you so much! Posting here truly is an amazing experience and I adore you guys. Sorry if this got a little out of hand. I hope this was helpful to you and anyone else with the same question, as well as being a useful resource to other artists in the future! As always, my askbox is open to any and all questions + requests for redesigns!

( ´ ω ` )ノﾞ

[mercifulstate]

⋆.˚ 𖥔˚ DECIDE. JUST FUCKING DECIDE. (CW: RANT.)

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Today was supposed to be a win. And in a lot of ways, it was and is. I got recognized. I won a silver medal. A 96 on my card. I’ve worked hard, and I deserved to be celebrated. So when my mom’s best friend offered to treat us to a cute little café we hadn’t tried before, I was genuinely excited. The food was incredible, the ambiance was peaceful, everything felt like a reward. Until she started talking.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Out of nowhere, she (my mom's best friend) brought up my dream college course—multimedia arts. My passion. My calling. My decision. And instead of encouragement or even basic respect, I got a lecture disguised as concern. She started with the whole “Why is art even a course?” angle, then sprinkled in the usual “It’s just a hobby, not a career,” and wrapped it up with “We’re just worried about your future, okay?”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The amount of rage and discomfort I felt? Immeasurable.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Do you know how dehumanizing it is to have your passion—the thing that lights your soul on fire—reduced to a hobby in the middle of what was supposed to be a celebratory lunch? And the worst part? My mom was nodding. Agreeing. And I just sat there thinking, Why am I being made to feel ashamed for knowing who I am and what I want? Why do so many adults think that just because they struggled, we’re required to choose struggle too?

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎No. Not today.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎I told them flat out that this was not a conversation I wanted to be having. Not here. Not now. Not when I’ve just been awarded for excelling. Not in front of good food and good vibes. Because I will not let anyone ruin my shine, especially not in the name of “concern.” Thankfully, they backed off. But that doesn’t mean the words didn’t sting.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Still, I refuse to shrink myself just because they don’t understand. I refuse to mold myself into something more “convenient” or “acceptable” just because that’s what worked for them. The world they grew up in isn’t the world I’m building. I’m not meant for a life where I wake up every day and dread my job. I’m not meant to just survive. I am meant to create, to lead, to thrive. And they don’t have to understand it. Because I do.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎I’ve already succeeded. I’ve already won. I decided, and that’s all it took. That’s all it ever takes.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎What most people don’t realize is that this world? This entire reality? It listens to you. It listens to your thoughts, your beliefs, your decisions. I know about the Law of Assumption. I understand the Void. I work with subliminals. I manifest. I shift. I am not just living in this world—I am shaping it with every breath I take. I have access to truths and techniques that the vast majority of the population don't know about, let alone practice. That is not something I take lightly.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎And with that knowledge, I made a promise to myself: I will never live a life I hate. I will never settle. I will never chase someone else’s version of success while abandoning my own. I would rather burn every bridge than walk down a path I know isn’t mine.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Because I have that power. And so do you.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎You don’t need anyone’s approval to pursue your dreams. You don’t need the world's validation to take your place in it. You don't have to wait for the "right moment," or the "right opportunity," or someone else's green light. You are the only one who gets to decide what’s right for you. That’s it. That’s the whole secret. You want the life you dream of? Decide. Just fucking decide. Claim it. Live it. Embody it. Let reality catch up to you.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎People will project their fears onto you. Let them. That’s not your business. Your business is becoming everything you’ve ever wanted to be and embodying that. And if that threatens them, so be it.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎You are not here to beg for a life you love. You’re here to choose it. Loudly. Unapologetically. Irreversibly.

So do it. Decide.

[mandoalorian]

crimson fever [bucky barnes x f!reader]

Synopsis: In the icy shadows of 1944 occupied Europe, you uncover a dangerous Hydra secret that could shift the war’s tide. But Hydra’s ruthless scientist, Arnim Zola, marks you as a threat, unleashing a sinister drug—“crimson fever”—that set your body and soul ablaze with an unrelenting desire. As you fight to protect vital intel, your path collides with Sergeant Bucky Barnes, your childhood friend from Brooklyn, whose unspoken love for you burns brighter than the war’s chaos.

Warnings: 18+ explicit, smut, sex pollen that comes with themes of dub-con, unprotected p in v, oral (f receiving), fingering, exhibitionism sorta, reader is drugged via injectables, descriptions of pain, canon typical violence, torture, one use of Y/N, Winter Soldier foreshadowing.

Word Count: 6700

Author's note: Thank you to @notreallythatlost for helping me with all the German translations. I love youuu. ღ

ᯓ★ Masterlist

✮ PROJECT: WINTER SOLDIER ✮

Objective: Develop a serum enhancing physical strength, endurance, and healing, surpassing the Allied “Super Soldier” serum used on Captain America. The serum is paired with psychological conditioning.

Methods: Subjects— prisoners, captured soldiers, “recruited” operatives undergo experimental injections and brutal brainwashing techniques including sensory deprivation, electroshock, and chemical inducements to break their minds.

Timeline: Initial trials are active in an underground facility, in occupied France. Production to be scaled by 1945. Report to Johann Schmidt.

Der Winter Soldier wird die Zukunft von Hydra sein. (The Winter Soldier will be Hydra’s future.)

You hunched over the decrypted Hydra message, your eyes burning from hours of work, fingers smudged with pencil lead. The office buzzed with quiet urgency—typewriters clacked, a radio hissed static, and your fellow codebreakers murmured over their own stacks of intercepts. You’d been at it since dawn, unraveling Hydra’s coded transmissions, each one a puzzle that could save lives or lose them. Your role as a linguist, fluent in German and trained in cryptography, made you vital to the Allies, but tonight, the weight of what you’d uncovered felt like a stone in your chest.

“Carter, you need to see this,” you called, your voice sharp, cutting through the room’s hum. You pushed your chair back, the wood scraping the floor, and held up the decrypted page, its typed German translated into your neat handwriting. Your heart raced, the words searing your mind: Projekt Winter Soldier.

Peggy Carter, poised in her tailored ATS uniform, strode over, her heels clicking on the hardwood. Her dark eyes flicked to the paper, then to you, sharp and assessing. “What’ve you got?” she asked, voice crisp but laced with concern.

You swallowed, pointing to the key lines. “It’s Hydra. Something called ‘Project Winter Soldier.’ They’re experimenting—on people, not just weapons. It mentions a serum, like what they used on Captain Rogers, but… different. They want to create operatives with no will, no memory. ‘Perfect obedience,’ they call it.” Your voice trembled, and you tapped a name scrawled at the bottom. “Signed by Arnim Zola. He’s running it.”

Peggy’s jaw tightened, her fingers brushing the paper. “Zola,” she muttered, disgust curling her lips. “That man’s a butcher with a scientist’s ego.” She scanned the text, her expression hardening. “This is big. If they’re building mind-controlled soldiers…”

“It’s worse,” you interrupted, voice low, glancing at the other codebreakers—two women, heads down, oblivious. “They’re testing it now. Somewhere in France. Prisoners, maybe captured soldiers. They mention a ‘prototype’ and… something about breaking their minds first.”

Peggy’s eyes met yours, a silent understanding passing between you. “We need to get this to Colonel Phillips. Tonight.” She turned, barking at the codebreakers. “Eleanor, Joan, wrap up and secure the files. We’re locking down.”

You nodded, heart pounding, but a flicker of pride warmed you. You’d cracked this, you’d found the truth. You thought of Bucky Barnes, your old friend from Brooklyn—his cocky grin, the way he’d sneak you comics, the almost-kiss on that Coney Island pier in ’39. He was out there with Captain Rogers, fighting Hydra. This intel could help him, keep him safe. You tucked the thought away, focusing on the task, and began gathering your notes.

The door crashed open, wood splintering, and you froze. Four Hydra soldiers stormed in, black uniforms stark against the office’s warmth, their rifles gleaming with that eerie blue glow of Hydra tech. Peggy spun, drawing her pistol, but a soldier fired, a blast of energy grazing her arm. She hissed, diving behind a cabinet.

“[Y/N], get down!” Peggy shouted, but you were already moving, shoving the Winter Soldier intel into your blouse, your hands shaking. The codebreakers screamed, scrambling for cover, and you ducked behind the desk, heart hammering. The soldiers barked in German, their voices harsh.

“Die Linguistin! Bringt sie mir lebend!” one ordered—The linguist! Take her alive!—and your blood ran cold. They wanted you. Your codes, your knowledge, or… the intel you’d just found.

You grabbed a letter opener, its dull blade a pitiful weapon, and crouched, peering through the desk’s gap. A soldier loomed closer, his boots thudding, and you lunged, stabbing his thigh. He roared, backhanding you, and pain exploded across your cheek, knocking you to the floor. The room spun, but you scrambled up, clutching the desk, only to feel iron hands seize your arms.

“No!” you yelled, thrashing, but the soldiers pinned you, their grips bruising. Peggy fired from cover, dropping one, but another blasted the cabinet, forcing her back. You kicked, aiming for a groin, and connected, earning a grunt, but a rifle butt slammed your temple, and darkness flickered at your vision’s edge.

“Enough,” a new voice said, cold and precise, cutting through the chaos. Arnim Zola stepped into the room, his small frame dwarfed by the soldiers but radiating menace. His round glasses glinted in the bulb’s light, and his smile was a thin, cruel line. “Fräulein, you are far too valuable to kill.”

You glared, blood trickling from your lip, the intel paper crinkling against your skin. “You’ll get nothing from me,” you spat, voice hoarse but defiant.

Zola chuckled, a dry, hollow sound. “Oh, we shall see.” He nodded to the soldiers. “Take her to the transport. We have… experiments to conduct.”

A soldier jabbed a syringe into your neck, and a sharp sting gave way to a creeping warmth, a sedative, dulling your senses. You fought to stay conscious, to memorise Zola’s face, his words. “Winter Soldier…” you mumbled, half-delirious, and Zola’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise.

“Secure her,” he snapped, and the soldiers dragged you toward the door, your legs buckling. Peggy’s shouting your name followed you, but the world blurred, and you were gone, the intel tucked against your heart, a secret you’d guard with everything you had.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

You’d been gone for weeks, a fact that gnawed at Bucky Barnes like a wound he couldn’t stitch. He stood against the command post’s wall, dog tags clinking under his olive-drab jacket, his eyes scanning a corkboard plastered with mission lists, reconnaissance photos, and urgent telegrams. His fingers, calloused from gripping a sniper rifle, hovered over a typed sheet, and then froze.

Your name stared back at him, stark in black ink: Allied Linguist, Captured, Hydra Facility, Occupied France.

His breath caught, sharp and painful, like a blade between ribs. You—his friend from Brooklyn, the girl who’d steal his cap and run, laughing, through Prospect Park, the one he’d nearly kissed under Coney Island’s Ferris wheel in ’39—were in Hydra’s hands.

“Goddamn it,” he muttered under his breath. He ripped the paper from the board, the pin clattering to the floor, and his hand trembled, betraying the storm inside. Memories flooded him: summer nights on your stoop, your hair tucked under a scarf, teasing him about his latest dame. But truthfully, he only had eyes for you.

“You’ll run outta girls to charm, Barnes,” you’d said, smirking, but your eyes had softened, holding something he’d been too dumb to name.

He’d leaned in, heart pounding, only for Steve’s call to break the moment. Then the war came, you to London cracking codes, him to the front with Steve, and letters faded. Now, Hydra had you, and the thought of you in Zola’s grip—Zola, whose name he’d heard tied to twisted experiments, made his stomach churn.

“Hey, Buck, what’s got you lookin’ like you swallowed a grenade?” Steve Rogers’ voice cut through, steady but concerned. He stood across the room, all Captain America in his blue jacket, leaning over a map with Colonel Phillips. His blond hair caught the dim light, but his eyes locked on Bucky, reading the tension in his friend’s stance.

Bucky strode over, boots thudding on the creaky floor, and slapped the list onto the map, scattering pencils. “It’s her, Steve,” he said, voice tight, low, like he was holding back a shout. “From Brooklyn. You remember her—used to tag along with us, always givin’ me hell.” He swallowed, jaw clenching. “Hydra’s got her. Says she’s a linguist, crackin’ their codes. She’s in one of their damn facilities.”

Steve’s eyes widened, flicking to the list, then back to Bucky. His memory was sparking. “The one who’d sneak us into the library after hours? Yeah, I remember.” He straightened, voice firming. “She’s tough, Buck. But Hydra…”

“She’s more than tough,” Bucky snapped, then caught himself, running a hand through his dark hair. “She’s… she’s family, Steve. And you know what Hydra does…” His voice cracked, and he gripped the table, knuckles whitening. “We gotta get her out. Now.”

Colonel Phillips, puffing a cigar, looked up with a scowl, his weathered face etched with irritation. “Sergeant Barnes, we’ve got ops stacked to the ceiling,” he growled, exhaling smoke. “Hydra’s got captives everywhere—this linguist ain’t our priority.”

“She is to me,” Bucky retorted, his voice low but fierce, eyes boring into Phillips. “Sir, she’s got intel—Hydra’s codes, maybe more. She cracked somethin’ big before they took her. Losin’ her gives them an edge.” It was a half-truth; he’d burn the world for you, intel or not, but he knew Phillips needed a reason.

Steve studied Bucky, seeing the truth—the kind of loyalty that went beyond duty, rooted in Brooklyn’s streets, in quiet moments you’d shared. “Colonel,” Steve said, voice calm but unyielding, “the Howling Commandos can handle this. We hit the facility, get her out, and cripple Hydra’s operation. Two birds, one stone.”

Phillips grunted, stabbing his cigar into the ashtray. “Fine, Rogers. But if this goes south, it’s your ass.” He waved them off, turning to an aide, already dismissing the matter.

Bucky exhaled, tension easing a fraction, but his heart still raced, pounding with fear for you. He met Steve’s gaze, a silent thank-you passing between them. “We’ll get her, Buck,” Steve said, clapping his shoulder. “Promise.”

“Yeah,” Bucky said, voice rough, folding the list and tucking it into his pocket, next to a faded photo—you, him, and Steve at Coney Island, 1939, your smile bright as the summer sun. He headed for the door, the room’s chaos—officers shouting, radio static—fading behind him. Outside, the Howling Commandos lounged near a jeep, cleaning rifles and trading jabs in the grey dawn.

“Sarge, what’s the word?” Dum Dum Dugan called, his mustache twitching as he tossed a flask to Gabe Jones, who caught it with a grin.

Bucky held up the folded list, his sergeant’s calm settling over him like armour, though his voice carried an edge. “We got a job,” he said, eyes scanning the team—Gabe, Jim Morita, Monty Falsworth, Jacques Dernier. “Hydra’s holdin’ one of ours—a linguist, key to their codes. She’s in a facility in France. We’re hittin’ it, gettin’ her out, and blowin’ the place to hell.” He paused, his grip tightening on the paper. “She’s from my neighborhood. Means somethin’ to me. You in?”

Gabe nodded, his smile fading to seriousness. “Always, Barnes.”

Dum Dum cracked his knuckles, grinning. “Hell, Sarge, let’s give them a mornin’ they won’t forget.”

Jacques smirked, twirling a knife. “Pour la France,” he said, voice low, and Jim and Monty murmured agreement, their faces set.

Bucky forced a smirk, but his mind was on you—alone, maybe hurt, fighting Zola’s experiments with that fire he’d always admired. He touched the photo in his pocket, your face burned into his memory, and whispered, so quiet no one heard, “Hold on, doll. I’m comin’ for you.”

The words were a vow, and he’d keep it, no matter what Hydra threw at him.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

You lay curled on a thin cot in a Hydra cell, your body trembling, skin flushed with an unnatural heat that made your pulse race and your breath come in shallow, desperate gasps. The crimson fever drug, injected by Arnim Zola weeks ago after your kidnapping in London, burned through you, twisting your mind with a relentless need you fought to suppress. Your blouse, torn and stained, hid the crumpled Winter Soldier intel you’d kept secret, its paper pressed against your chest like a talisman.

You’d overheard Zola’s gloating—his “perfect obedience” experiments, the “winter soldier” prototype—and your linguist’s mind clung to those details, even as the drug threatened to unravel you. “Stay sharp,” you whispered to yourself, voice hoarse, your nails digging into your palms to anchor you against the fever’s pull.

Outside, Bucky Barnes crouched behind a snow-dusted ridge, his M1 Garand rifle steady in his hands, breath clouding in the frigid air. You weren’t there to see it, but you’d have felt the weight of his resolve, his heart pounding with one thought: getting you back. The Howling Commandos flanked him—Dum Dum Dugan reloading his Thompson submachine gun, Gabe Jones checking a radio, Jim Morita adjusting his scope, Monty Falsworth and Jacques Dernier wiring explosives. The plan was tight: hit hard, find you, blow the place to hell. Bucky’s jaw clenched, your face—Brooklyn summers, that Coney Island almost-kiss—burning in his mind.

“Ready, Sarge?” Dum Dum asked, his moustache twitching as he grinned, though his eyes were hard, scanning the bunker a hundred yards away.

“Let’s give ‘em hell,” you’d have heard Bucky reply, his voice low, all sergeant, but laced with something raw. He signalled, and Jacques tossed a smoke grenade, grey haze cloaking the ridge. The team moved like a well-oiled machine, slipping toward the bunker, their boots silent in the snow. Gabe’s radio crackled, confirming Allied distractions were pulling Hydra’s outer patrols away. Bucky’s heart thundered, not for the fight, but for you, trapped in Zola’s nightmare.

A Hydra guard at the entrance barely turned before Bucky’s knife found his throat, a silent kill, blood dark against the snow. “Go,” Bucky hissed, and Jacques’ charges blew the steel door, the blast rattling the night.

Alarms screamed, red lights pulsing inside, and Hydra soldiers poured into the corridor, their blue-energy rifles spitting death. You heard the gunfire, distant but growing louder, a chaotic symphony that stirred hope in your fevered haze. “Help…” you mumbled, clutching the cot’s edge, your body shaking as you tried to sit.

Bucky ducked behind a crate, returning fire, his shots precise, dropping two guards. “Push through!” he shouted, voice cutting through the din. Dum Dum’s Thompson roared, mowing down a squad, while Monty and Jim covered the rear, grenades shaking the walls. “Lab’s that way!”

Gabe yelled, pointing left, where a sign read Forschungsbereich—research sector. Bucky’s gut twisted, Zola’s name a poison in his thoughts. If Zola had touched you…

“Keep movin’!” Bucky ordered, leading the charge past sparking machinery and shattered glass, his boots slipping on spilled chemicals. Jacques planted more explosives, grinning like a kid with firecrackers.

“Pour la France!” he muttered, wiring a console. You heard the blasts, closer now, and dragged yourself upright, your vision swimming but your will iron. The Winter Soldier intel crinkled against your skin, a secret you’d die to protect.

The cell block was a maze of iron doors, damp concrete slick underfoot. Bucky rounded a corner, gun raised, and there you were—behind a barred window, slumped but alive, your hair matted with sweat, eyes flickering with fever. His heart lurched, he called your name, voice raw, cracking like a boy’s. A Hydra guard lunged from the shadows, but Bucky slammed him against the wall, the man’s skull cracking with a sickening thud.

“Bucky?” you whispered, your voice weak but sharp with recognition, cutting through the drug’s fog. You staggered to the bars, fingers trembling as you gripped them, your blouse clinging to your fevered skin. The needle marks on your arm stood out, angry red, and your breath hitched, a mix of relief and desperation.

“I’m here, doll,” Bucky said, fumbling with the lock, his hands shaking until Gabe tossed him a pilfered keyring. “Hold on.” The door swung open, and he was at your side, dropping to his knees, his hands cupping your face. Your skin burned under his touch, too hot, and your eyes, though glassy, locked onto his, a spark of you still fighting. “It’s me,” he said, voice soft but urgent, thumb brushing your cheek. You leaned into his hand, a whimper escaping, your body trembling with something more than weakness—a need that alarmed him.

“Bucky… they… Zola…” you stammered, your fingers clutching his jacket, nails digging in. “Crimson fever… it’s in me… burning…” Your voice broke, shame flickering in your eyes, but you forced out, “Winter Soldier… I know… they’re making…” You trailed off, a shudder racking you, and Bucky’s blood ran cold, the intel’s weight hitting him.

“Shush, it’s okay, I’ve got you,” Bucky hummed, his arms tightening around your body, not caring about any intel. Not caring about the war. Not caring about anything. Just you. 

Your shaky hands went to pass him the intel, but failed with exhaustion. “Winter. Soldier.” you bit out again, aimlessly, the words tasting bitter on your tongue. 

Bucky’s eyes narrowed. “Winter Soldier? No, no doll, it’s me. It’s Buck, from Brooklyn,” he was misunderstanding, and you couldn’t blame him. “What’d they do to you?” he growled, his voice low, rage barely leashed as he saw the needle marks, the fever’s flush.

But you couldn’t get your words out. 

He scooped you up, your weight light but your grip fierce, your head lolling against his shoulder. “I got you,” he said, standing, his arms steady despite the chaos. Your breath was ragged, too warm against his neck, and he felt the drug’s unnatural pull in your touch, your fingers clutching too tightly, too desperately.

“Base is rigged!” Jacques shouted from the corridor, where the team held off reinforcements, blue energy scorching the walls.

Dum Dum’s voice boomed, “Thirty seconds, Barnes!” Explosions rumbled, the facility shaking as charges blew.

“Bucky, the intel…” you mumbled, half-lucid, patting your blouse weakly. “Winter Soldier… don’t let them…” Your voice faded, the fever stealing your strength, but your words seared him, tying your fight to the horror he’d only heard whispers of.

“I won’t,” he promised, voice fierce, dodging a blast that charred the wall. It was an empty promise, but that didn’t matter right now. He still didn’t understand completely what you were mumbling about. 

He carried you through smoke and gunfire, the Commandos covering him—Monty tossing a grenade, Gabe firing steadily. “Stay with me, doll,” he said, his boots pounding as he reached the exit, the night air hitting like a slap.

The bunker erupted behind you, flames licking the sky, and the team piled into a stolen Hydra truck, Gabe at the wheel. Bucky slid you into the back, climbing in beside you, holding you close as the truck lurched forward, tires crunching snow. Your fevered body curled against him, your hand still clutching the hidden intel, and Bucky’s mind raced.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

You slumped against Bucky Barnes in the corner of the Hydra truck’s cargo bed, your body a furnace of torment, every nerve alight with the crimson fever drug’s cruel fire. Your skin burned, slick with sweat despite the November chill, and your pulse thundered in your ears, each beat a drum urging you toward something you barely understood. Your blouse, torn and clinging to your damp skin, hid the crumpled Winter Soldier intel you’d guarded since London, its paper a faint crinkle against your chest.

The drug, injected by Arnim Zola during those weeks in his lab, twisted your mind, flooding you with an aching, primal need that made your thighs clench and your breath hitch in sharp, desperate gasps. You fought it, nails digging into your palms, but your body betrayed you, hips shifting restlessly, a soft whimper escaping as you pressed closer to Bucky, his warmth both a lifeline and a torment.

Bucky held you tightly, his arm a steel band around your shoulders, his wool jacket rough against your cheek. You felt his heartbeat, steady but quick, through his chest, and his breath clouded in the cold air, his dog tags clinking faintly as he shifted to shield you from a gust. His eyes, shadowed under the swaying lantern’s amber glow, darted to you, worry carving lines into his face. You’d seen him tough, cocky, tossing quips in Brooklyn diners, but now he was raw, his sergeant’s calm fraying at the sight of your trembling hands, the way your fingers clutched his sleeve like he was the only thing keeping you sane.

“Doll, talk to me,” Bucky whispered, voice low, meant only for you, his lips brushing your ear. His calloused hand cupped your cheek, tilting your face to meet his gaze, and the touch sent a jolt through you, your body shuddering as a wave of heat pulsed low in your belly.

You moaned softly, unintended, and your eyes fluttered, half-lidded, the drug amplifying his touch into something overwhelming, intoxicating. Your hips twitched, pressing against his thigh, and you bit your lip, shame flooding you even as your body begged for more.

The Howling Commandos sprawled around you, their presence a grounding hum amid your chaos. Dum Dum Dugan, sprawled on a crate, polished his Thompson, muttering, “Damn roads are gonna shake my teeth loose.”

Gabe Jones, at the wheel, cursed as the tires skidded, shouting, “Hold tight, this ain’t a Sunday drive!” Jim Morita cleaned his rifle, Monty sipped from a flask, and Jacques toyed with a looted Hydra grenade, whistling a French tune.

You looked at the men. If you wanted, you could have had any one of them. They could have given you what you needed. But it was the Sergeant who had owned your heart since the very start. He was the one you trusted more than anyone else. The infantry’s banter was a lifeline, but they didn’t see your state, didn’t hear the soft, needy sounds you stifled against Bucky’s neck.

“Bucky…” you managed, voice cracked, barely audible over the truck’s rumble. Your hand slid up his chest, fingers curling around his dog tags, the metal cool against your burning skin. The contact sent another shiver through you, your thighs squeezing together as a fresh surge of desire made your breath hitch, a low, throaty moan escaping before you could stop it. You were drowning in it—the fever’s heat, the drug’s relentless pull, the ache that coiled tighter with every second. “I… I need to tell you,” you whispered, urgent, your lips grazing his ear, the intimacy of it making your skin prickle. “Alone.”

His pulse spiked—you felt it under your fingers—and his eyes widened, alarm mixing with something deeper, unspoken. “Okay,” he said, voice rough, glancing at the team. The Commandos were distracted, Gabe wrestling the wheel, Dum Dum arguing with Monty over the flask. Bucky shifted, easing you behind a stack of crates, the wood splintered and cold against your back. He knelt in front of you, his hands steadying your shoulders, his gaze searching yours. “What’s goin’ on, doll? You’re burnin’ up,” he said, thumb brushing your cheek, and you gasped, your body arching toward him, the touch igniting sparks that made your hips rock involuntarily.

You swallowed, tears welling, the shame of your need warring with the urgency to speak. “Zola… he gave me something,” you said, words spilling in a rush, your voice trembling. “Called it crimson fever. It’s… it’s making me want things. Need things.” Your breath hitched, a sob catching as you clutched his wrist, your nails digging in. “It’s in my blood, Bucky. It’s burning me, making me… want you. Not just want—I can’t stop it. If I don’t… get release, he said I’ll go mad.” Your cheeks flushed deeper, not just from fever but humiliation, and you looked away, tears dripping onto your lap.

Bucky’s breath caught, his hand tightening on yours, crumpling the edge of his jacket. You saw the horror in his eyes, but also love, fierce and unyielding, rooted in Brooklyn nights when you’d danced around his teasing, your laughter brighter than the city lights.

“Jesus,” he muttered, voice hoarse, pulling you closer, his forehead resting against yours. Your breath mingled, hot and ragged, and you moaned again, your body reacting to his nearness, hips shifting, thighs trembling as the drug surged. “You don’t gotta be sorry,” he said, cupping your face, wiping tears with his thumbs. “This ain’t you—it’s them. Hydra. Zola. If they’re doing this, only God knows what else they have planned.”

Your body didn’t care for words. You didn’t need empathy. You pressed against him, a desperate, unconscious move, your hand sliding to his chest, fingers splaying over his heart. The drug made every touch electric, and you gasped, your skin flushing from chest to throat, a sheen of sweat glistening in the lantern’s light.

“Bucky, it hurts,” you whispered, voice raw, your lips brushing his jaw, leaving a faint heat. “I’m burning… I need you.” Your fingers tightened, tugging his jacket, and your hips rocked again, a soft, needy sound escaping as you fought the urge to climb into his lap. 

Your thighs clenched, the ache between them pulsing, and your breath came in short, frantic pants, each one a plea you hated but couldn’t stop.

Bucky’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with a mix of guilt and desire he hated himself for feeling. You saw it—the way he fought his own reaction, his breath hitching as your touch stirred him, his love for you clashing with the drug’s twisted demand.

You were so needy, so clingy. And Bucky knew it wasn’t completely you, right? None the less he swallowed, trying to ignore the erection pressing against his trousers, begging for release. Every time your fingers grazed him even in the slighest, he felt like he was going to explode. The war had him touch-starved and desperate, that’s for sure. 

“Listen to me,” he said, voice low, steady, though it shook at the edges. “You’re stronger than this. We’re gonna get you through this, you hear me?” His hand slid to your neck, holding you gently, and you whimpered, the contact sending a shiver through you, your body arching, breasts pressing against him as another wave of need made you tremble.

“I trust you,” you said, voice breaking, your eyes locking onto his, lucid despite the fever’s haze. “Only you.” Your hand found his, guiding it to your waist, and you gasped as his fingers brushed your hip, the touch sparking a moan that made your thighs quiver. You were losing ground, the drug’s pull relentless, but your trust in Bucky—forged in Brooklyn, in quiet moments he’d never forgotten—kept you tethered.

The truck lurched, Gabe shouting, “Road’s blocked! Barn up ahead, half a mile!” The Commandos shifted, readying gear, their voices a blur.

“I have one grenade left.” You just about made out Jacques’ annoucement. 

But Bucky’s world was you, your fevered whispers, your body trembling with a need that wasn’t just the drug, but you, the girl he’d loved since that night on the Coney Island pier.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

You stumbled into the barn, Bucky’s arm steadying you, his warmth the only anchor against the crimson fever’s relentless fire. Your body was a storm of torment—skin flushed and slick with sweat, pulse hammering like a war drum, every nerve alight with a desperate, aching need that made your thighs tremble and your breath come in ragged, needy gasps. The drug, Arnim Zola’s cruel creation, had twisted your desire into something overwhelming, your hips shifting restlessly, a soft whimper escaping as you pressed against Bucky, his scent—wool, gunpowder, and something uniquely him—igniting a fresh wave of heat low in your belly. Your torn blouse clung to your damp skin.

The Winter Soldier intel was still hidden against your chest, a secret you’d guarded through weeks of captivity. You fought the fever’s pull, nails digging into your palms, but your body betrayed you, craving Bucky with an intensity that left you dizzy, your lips parting as another moan slipped free.

Bucky shut the barn door with a creak, sealing you in a fragile sanctuary, the wind’s howl fading to a low moan. He set the lantern on a crate, its glow catching the worry in his blue eyes, the tension in his jaw.

You felt his gaze, heavy and searching, as he knelt before you, easing you onto a makeshift bed of hay cushioned by his folded greatcoat, its wool warm from his body. Your hands clutched his jacket, fingers trembling, and you gasped, a shudder running through you as his touch sparked electricity, your hips twitching involuntarily. “Bucky…” you whispered, voice raw, your eyes glassy but locked on his, a flicker of you shining through the fever’s haze.

“Doll, I’m here,” he said, voice low, hoarse with worry, his calloused hand brushing your cheek. The contact sent a jolt through you, your body arching, a soft moan spilling out as your thighs clenched, the ache between them pulsing sharper. He froze, his breath hitching, and you saw the conflict in his eyes—love, longing, and fear that this wasn’t you, just the drug. “You’re still burnin’ up,” he said, thumb tracing your jaw, and you whimpered, your skin flushing deeper, a rosy heat spreading from your chest to your throat, glistening with sweat in the lantern’s light.

“Bucky, please,” you pleaded, your voice trembling, urgent, as you grabbed his wrist, guiding his hand to your waist. The touch was fire, and you gasped, hips rocking toward him, your body trembling as the drug amplified every sensation. “I need you… it’s too much.” Tears welled, shame mixing with desire, but your eyes held his, fierce despite the fever. “I told you… I can’t fight it.”

He exhaled, shaky, his hand tightening on your hip, his dog tags clinking as he leaned closer. “I’ve wanted you forever,” he said, voice raw, breaking. “Since that damn pier in Brooklyn, since you laughed at my dumb jokes. But this…” He gestured to your trembling form, his eyes darkening with guilt. “I don’t wanna take advantage, doll. I need this to mean somethin’ to you, not just… Zola’s poison.” His thumb brushed your lip, and you moaned, loud and unrestrained, your body shuddering, thighs squeezing as a fresh wave of need made your breath stutter.

Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes — ever the gentleman.

“Don’t make me beg,” you said, voice sharp, almost a growl, your hand sliding to his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. He moaned, and the sound of his voice was like velvet. “I want you, Bucky. Always have. The drug’s making it worse, but it’s me.” Your eyes burned into his, lucid, defiant. “I trust you. Make me feel good. Please.” Your hips shifted, pressing against him, and a desperate, throaty moan escaped, your skin prickling as the fever surged, your pulse racing so fast you felt it in your throat.

Bucky’s resolve cracked, his breath ragged. “Alright, honey,” he whispered, voice thick with promise. “I’ll take care of you. I’ll make you feel good, I swear.” He kissed you, slow and deep, his lips soft but hungry, tasting of salt and desperation. You melted into it, your body trembling, a gasp catching as his tongue brushed yours, sending shivers down your spine. Your hands clutched his shoulders, nails digging in, and your hips rocked, the drug making every touch a spark that set your nerves ablaze.

He pulled back, eyes searching yours and you could see the question he wanted to ask ‘Are you sure?’, and you nodded, breathless, your chest heaving. “I’m sure,” you said, voice firm despite the fever’s haze.

He eased your blouse off, careful of the hidden intel, his fingers brushing your skin, and you gasped, your body arching, nipples tightening in the cold air. Your skin flushed deeper, sweat beading on your collarbone, and you whimpered, thighs trembling as his gaze alone sent a pulse of heat through you.

Bucky’s hands were gentle, reverent, as he traced your curves, his fingers lingering on your waist.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, voice raw, and you shivered, a soft moan escaping as his words stoked the fever’s fire. He kissed your throat, lips warm and deliberate, and you gasped, head tilting back, your pulse hammering under his mouth. Your body reacted vividly—skin flushing from chest to cheeks, thighs clenching as a fresh wave of desire made your hips rock, the ache between them unbearable.

“Bucky, touch me,” you pleaded, voice desperate, guiding his hand lower, your boldness driven by the drug but rooted in trust.

He nodded, his forehead against yours, breath mingling. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, his fingers sliding down your stomach, slow and deliberate, tracing the soft skin above your thigh. You trembled, a sharp gasp tearing from you as his hand brushed closer, your thighs parting instinctively, inviting him.

Your skin prickled, sweat glistening, and your breath came in short, frantic pants, the drug making every touch electric. His fingers found your warmth, teasing gently, and you moaned, loud and needy, your hips bucking toward him, thighs quivering as a jolt of pleasure shot through you. 

“Bucky…” you breathed, clutching his wrist, nails digging in, your body tensing as he explored, his touch careful but sure.

Your reaction was immediate—muscles tightening, a flush spreading across your chest, your breath stuttering as his fingers circled, coaxing waves of heat that made your toes curl. You arched, hips rocking in rhythm, and your moans grew sharper, each one a desperate plea. The drug amplified every sensation, your skin hypersensitive, and you felt every callus, every movement, as if he were rewriting your nerves.

“Feels… so good,” you gasped, eyes fluttering shut, your thighs clenching around his hand as a coil tightened inside you. Bucky watched, his breath ragged, worry flickering but desire burning stronger.

“You’re with me, doll,” he murmured, kissing your jaw, and you nodded, a tear slipping free as pleasure overwhelmed you.

He shifted, lips trailing down your chest, and you whimpered, your body trembling as he kissed lower, his breath warm against your stomach. “Gonna make you feel even better,” he promised, voice low, and you gasped, hips lifting as his mouth found you, his tongue gentle but deliberate. 

The sensation was a lightning strike—your body jolted, a cry tearing from your throat, your hands tangling in his hair, tugging hard. Your thighs trembled, muscles quaking, and your breath came in short, desperate gasps, the drug making every lick a pulse of fire. Your skin flushed deeper, sweat beading on your brow, and you moaned, unrestrained, hips rocking against his mouth as pleasure built, sharp and relentless. “Bucky… oh, God…” you gasped, your voice breaking, your body tensing as you neared the edge, every nerve singing.

He pulled back, kissing your thigh, and you whimpered, desperate, your hands tugging him up. 

“Need you… now,” you said, voice raw, your eyes locked on his, lucid despite the fever. He nodded, shedding his trousers, dog tags clinking, and leaned over you, his body warm, grounding. 

“Tell me you want this,” he said, voice thick, needing your consent, his worry clear.

“I want you, Bucky,” you said, fierce, pulling him closer. “Always.”

He guided himself, the moment of connection slow, deliberate, and you gasped, a shudder running through you as he filled you, the sensation overwhelming, amplified by the drug. He was big, bigger than you had ever had before. He stretched you and you felt your body clamp down around him. Bucky’s cheeks flushed pink and you felt his short fingernails dig into your hips as he steadied himself. Your body reacted vividly—muscles clenching, thighs trembling, hips rising to meet him.

“So good…” you moaned, nails digging into his back, leaving crescent marks.

He moved, each thrust a rhythm of passion and care, his lips brushing your ear, whispering, “I’ve got you, doll.” 

You brought your hands up to his face, guiding him to your lips as he thrusted into you. This was more than sex — a cure to your condition. This was love. You kissed him slowly, leaning into the softness of his lips. He smelled like lingering smoke mixed with a sweetness you just couldn’t describe. It was familiar, like the cotton candy you picked at and shared on the pier at Coney Island.

“Do you remember that time when we stood at the edge of the pier and you were showing me the constellations in the sky?” You asked, your eyes finding Bucky’s, watching him as he fucked you.

“Mm,” he nodded his head, wordlessly. “Wanted to kiss you so bad that night.” He breathed into admittance. 

“I wanted you to kiss me too.” You replied before your words were cut off with a loud moan. Bucky grabbed your calves, pulling them up to his shoulders allowing him to go even deeper, hitting you at a new angle. Lewd, wet sounds echoed in the barn and you had visions of someone walking in. It only spurred you on even more. 

Your breaths mingled, your cries soft but desperate, the drug’s urgency blending with love. Your thighs tightened around him, hips rocking, and pleasure coiled tighter, your body trembling as you neared release. “Bucky…” you gasped, voice breaking, and he kissed you hard, just like he’d always imagined, deep and grounding, as you shattered, a cry muffled against his shoulder, the fever’s grip breaking. He followed, his climax a choked wave, shooting a warmth that painted your walls, arms tightening to hold you close.

The barn fell silent, save for your ragged breaths and the hay’s rustle. You collapsed against him, trembling, the fever’s heat gone, leaving you fragile, your skin cooling but slick with sweat. Bucky pulled his greatcoat over you both, shielding you from the cold, and held you, your head tucked under his chin. The lantern flickered, casting long shadows, and shame crept in, your voice small. 

“Was it… just the drug?” you asked, clutching the intel in your blouse, fear lacing your words. “Did I… make you?”

“No,” Bucky said, fierce, tilting your chin to meet his gaze. “It was us, I’ve loved you since Brooklyn, since that pier. The drug didn’t make me want you—I always did.” His voice cracked, and he kissed your forehead, steady. “You’re not broken. You’re mine.”

You nodded, tears spilling, but doubt lingered, Zola’s experiments haunting you. “I’m scared,” you whispered, voice barely audible. “What if they’ve changed me?”

“They haven’t,” he said, stroking your hair. “You’re still you, still the girl who cracked their codes, kept that intel through hell. I won’t let them touch you again.” His promise was fierce, but you felt the war’s weight, Hydra’s reach, and the shadow of what you’d uncovered.

Outside, Gabe’s voice cut through, soft but urgent. “Sarge, we’re clear. Ready to move.” The Commandos, loyal, unaware of the barn’s secrets, waited in the snow.

Bucky helped you sit, adjusting the greatcoat, his touch gentle. “We gotta go,” he said, voice low. “But I’m with you, every step.” He stood, pulling you up, and you leaned into him, steadier but haunted, the fever gone but the intel and emotional weight lingering. The barn door creaked open, moonlight spilling in, and Bucky led you out, his arm around you, ready to face the war—and Hydra’s lingering threat.

You followed Bucky back to the van. “Write to me?” You asked, locking a subtle finger with his, so that his men wouldn’t notice.

“Of course I will.” He promised, pressing a kiss to your forehead. He didn’t care if anyone saw. The last thing he’d do was want to keep you a secret. He had dreamed of you, of this, since 1939.

“And after the war, you’ll find me on the pier at Coney Island, waiting for you.” You told him, an oath that you’d protect with your life. You didn’t want anyone other than him. You would wait for him, even if waiting meant forever.

“I’ll be there.” 

You believed him.

“You’ll come home, won’t you?” The question lingered with uncertainty and worry as the Winter Soldier intel burned in your pocket.

“Do I look like a man who’d keep my doll waiting?” Bucky smiled, his blue eyes twinkling like an aurora, full of love and hope. 

Yeah, you believed him.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

Taglist: @notreallythatlost @houseofaegon @bunnyfella @sunday-bug @wintrsoldrluvr @maryevm @mcira

If you want to be tagged in all my future Bucky/Sebastian works, let me know. <3

[becomingthatgirl111]

New habits to adopt in 2025

Time Management

Time is your most valuable resource. This year, try dividing your day into focused blocks:

Creation time: Work on your projects with intensity and zero distractions.

Authentic rest time: Turn off your phone, read a book, or simply enjoy doing nothing.

Connection time: Dedicate exclusive moments to connect with loved ones—no multitasking!

Improve your sleep habits

It’s not just about sleeping 8 hours, it’s about sleeping well! Create a ritual before bed:

Turn off screens 1 hour before sleeping.

Write in a gratitude journal to clear your mind.

Use essential oils like lavender or practice deep breathing exercises.

Embrace Mental Minimalism

Do a “declutter” of your mind:

Cut back on unnecessary commitments.

Use “no” as a tool for self-care.

Use apps or tools to stay organized, but don’t let them dominate your life.

Learn Something New Every Month

Wellness also means growing intellectually. 2025 is the year to step out of your comfort zone! Learn:

A new language.

A fresh recipe.

A breathing or mindfulness technique you didn’t know before.

Connect with Nature

You don’t have to wait for vacations to touch base with the earth. Incorporate small moments:

Plant something in your home.

Walk barefoot on the grass.

Watch the sunrise or sunset

Cultivate Conscious Relationships

Surround yourself with people who uplift you. Dedicate time to meaningful and authentic conversations. A good exercise:

Ask someone how they’re really feeling and listen without interruptions.

Do a Weekly Emotional Check-Up

Just as you check your physical health, check your emotions. Ask yourself:

What made me happy this week?

What caused me stress or sadness, and how can I improve it?

BONUS: Be Kind to Yourself

Remember: you’re a human being in constant evolution. Celebrate your achievements, big and small ✨

[whoistartaglia]

crafting with genshin mem

you can’t tell me neuvillette wouldn’t crochet with you. neuvillette would be all into it, buying you all the yarn and hooks and needles you need. and he’s unsurprisingly good at it; someone that graceful is daft at handling the crochet needle with grace and ease. if you thought you were going to be the one teaching him the basics, you’re unfortunately wrong. though, neuvilette will be fascinated if you teach him new techniques or show him new patterns and projects. crochet nights with neuvillette are relaxing, with both of you working on your own projects, together. do expect him to crochet you a lot of sweaters, scarfs, and hats; even if you protest you don’t even live in a cold climate, he won’t hear a word of it.

zhongli would knit with you. yes, there is a difference between that and crochet. you’ll be working on your own project, and zhongli will immediately be captivated. you don’t even consider yourself terribly talented at knitting, but zhongli’s watching you like you invented the craft yourself. eventually, he’ll ask you to teach him, and it’s cute. zhongli is an attentive student; he’ll listen you carefully and ask intelligent questions as they arise. his projects are questionable at first; you’ll have to reassure him every beginner starts out with random scraps and knots. his face scrunched up in concentration makes you want to laugh during his lessons, but you refrain in case he suspects you’re laughing at the “scarf” he’s trying to create.

you tell childe that you heard making abstract art is a good stress reliever, and you not-so subtly add that he should try it. and because he adores you, childe will almost immediately agree. you expected him to give it his best attempt and maybe get a new painting for your living room; what you didn’t expect was how aggressive the paintings looked. the first one was a collection of reds and oranges, jagged lines and dark streaks; the second was similar, and the third one yet again. you figure childe just as a lot of pent up stress, and hey, isn’t this better than him going out and doing hid who-knows-what with his who-knows-who fatui colleages? this is what you tell yourself as childe proclaims he’s made another painting, as if you don’t already have one for your living room… and every other room in your house.

kaeya would want to paint you. specifically, he would want to use oil paint to really “capture your likeliness on the canvas,” in his own words. kaeya will frown if you laugh at that bold declaration, but he’s persistent and you relent. but on one condition: you get to draw him as well. kaeya agrees, charmed you’d want to do such a thing. so you purchase the paints and canvases and invite him over. the rule is that you can’t look at each other’s paintings until the end of the night. expect flirty eye contact as you both try to paint the other. flowery words from kaeya stating he’ll have to use a bit more red paint since you’re blushing so much. the portraits turn out pretty good for a few hours. kaeya will appreciatively tell you that his portrait looks so handsome, and frown should you tell him it looks “nothing like him.” (it doesn’t, but he doesn’t need to know that.)

scara will blush and malfunction if you find the secret pencil drawings he’s done of you. it’s cute, you reassure him, and you’re honestly a little flattered. he’s your grumpy boyfriend going through his doodles and sketches of you, providing context (but not without grumbling a little bit) about each should you ask. some are of you when you’re not looking, others are from memory. you always asked scara to draw you and he’s always refused, so this was an endearing, touching surprise. please do tease him about this, especially given how much he refused to entertain the idea before this. even if you ask now, there’s a low chance he would specifically draw you, for you; it’s the spontaneous nature of it all that gives the drawings their charm. or, so he says.

bonus scene: if you ask scara to draw him, he will give you a disgusted look follow up by a flat-out nope, no thanks. he won’t entertain any conversation about it. not at all. but… should you “accidentally” doodle him when your mind slips or draw a rough sketch of him, scara will protest against it, then ask you to finish it, give it to him, and keep it forever.

[a-d-nox]

how can you glow up: your 10h - your public persona

here's the next hypothesis of how you can glow up using your venus persona. take a close look at your 10h!

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

enjoy my work? help me continue creating by tipping on ko-fi or paypal. your support keeps the magic alive!

10h aries (1°, 13°, 25°), 10h mars, and/or 10h ruler aspecting mars

define career goals

take initiative: initiate new projects, push forward in your career, and take bold steps toward achieving your professional goals.

action-oriented success: you’ll find that you can make progress quickly in your career when you’re proactive. use this momentum to advance in your field, whether through promotions, new opportunities, or recognition.

ambitious and goal-driven: you're determined to climb the career ladder. set clear goals, take calculated risks, and push yourself toward success.

build a reputation

project confidence: present yourself confidently in professional settings. whether it’s presenting ideas, networking, and/or taking charge in meetings, you’ll naturally draw attention.

leadership: mars gives you the courage to step into roles of authority and make decisions that others will follow. you can be a natural leader and motivate others with your energy.

embrace competition: you thrive in competitive environments and are motivated to prove your abilities. use this to your advantage in your career.

balance ambition

action toward legacy: you have the stamina and passion to work toward building something that lasts.

decisive moves: you’re likely to make bold, yet calculated decisions. trust your instincts and act decisively.

10h gemini (3°, 15°, 27°), 10h mercury, and/or 10h ruler aspecting mercury

define career goals

embrace variety: gemini thrives in roles that allow you to wear multiple hats. consider careers in media, education, marketing, writing, public relations, or technology - fields where communication and adaptability are key.

stay flexible: your career path doesn’t have to be linear. give yourself permission to explore different fields, projects, and/or interests. it's never too late learn new things... that being said...

lifelong learning: invest in expanding your knowledge and skill set. take courses, read, and stay curious about emerging trends in your field.

build a reputation

showcase your intelligence: this energy shines when you’re seen as knowledgeable and quick-witted. share insights, teach others, or present new ideas in your industry.

refine communication skills: whether it’s public speaking, writing, or networking, invest in becoming a proficient communicator.

embrace social media: use platforms to share your thoughts, connect with others, or even build a personal brand. a podcast, blog, or youtube channel could work especially well for you.

balance ambition

prioritize focus: curiosity can sometimes lead to scattered energy. use time management tools like task lists or productivity apps to stay organized.

practice mindfulness: with a mind always racing with ideas, grounding techniques like meditation or journaling can help you avoid burnout.

embrace breaks: allow yourself to step away and recharge when needed - you thrive on change, so even brief shifts in environment can boost your energy.

10h cancer (4°, 16°, 28°), 10h moon, and/or 10h ruler aspecting moon

define career goals

follow your emotional compass: think of roles where you can nurture, protect, and/or support others (ex: caregiving, teaching, counseling, creative fields, or advocacy).

create a safe space: aim for a work environment where you feel emotionally secure and valued.

build a reputation

lead with love: show your nurturing side in your professional relationships. be known for your reliability, emotional intelligence, and willingness to support others.

authenticity matters: lean into your vulnerability and emotional depth as strengths.

be approachable: this energy makes you relatable and warm. cultivate trust by being a good listener and showing understanding.

balance ambition

avoid over-nurturing: don’t let yourself become overly focused on caring for others at the expense of your own goals. set boundaries and prioritize your ambitions.

emotional resilience: this energy can be sensitive to public criticism. build inner confidence by focusing on your strengths and maintaining perspective.

work-life balance: your emotional health directly affects your productivity. create routines that allow for rest, family time, and self-care.

10h aquarius (12°, 24°), 10h uranus, and/or 10h ruler aspecting uranus

define career goals

innovate and rebel: you might find fulfillment in careers that are unconventional or ahead of their your. this could mean embracing technology, alternative industries, or positions that challenge the status quo.

pioneering spirit: you may be drawn to pioneering projects or cutting-edge fields where innovation is key. don’t be afraid to pursue new technologies, digital spaces, or progressive causes in your career.

reinvent yourself professionally: embrace reinvention and the possibility of sudden changes in your professional life.

build a reputation

align with your unique self: your public image and career should reflect your true, individual nature. don’t conform to societal expectations if they don’t align with your true desires.

challenge conventional norms: trust this impulse, as it can lead to innovative achievements and greater personal satisfaction.

create a unique professional identity: you may stand out from the crowd, and that’s a strength. cultivate a professional identity that is distinctly yours, and don’t be afraid to express your individuality through your work or public image.

balance ambition

career shifts: your career path may be marked by sudden changes, disruptions, or unexpected opportunities. while this may feel unsettling at times, these shifts often lead to growth and progress. learn to embrace the unexpected.

flexibility is key: rigidity is not your friend. be open to change, and stay flexible with your professional goals. opportunities might appear suddenly, so adaptability is crucial.

breakthrough moments: you may experience moments of sudden insight or a flash of inspiration that leads to breakthroughs in your career. trust your intuition and be ready to act when these moments arise.

10h nn and/or 10h ruler aspecting nn

define career goals

embrace your public role: build a meaningful career or life purpose that contributes to society. this may feel uncomfortable at first, but growth happens outside your comfort zone.

take responsibility: own your actions and decisions. success with this placement comes from being reliable, consistent, and committed to your goals.

have big ambitions: you’re meant to focus on long-term goals and create a legacy. dream big and work toward achievements that will stand the test of time.

build a reputation

get comfortable being seen: step out of the shadows - start sharing your voice and talents with the world.

develop a professional image: polish your public presence by curating your personal brand, whether that’s through social media, professional profiles, and/or networking.

own your achievements: never downplaying your successes - learn to celebrate them and share them confidently.

balance ambition

master time management: 10h requires discipline and structure to achieve your goals. use tools like planners, calendars, or apps to stay on track.

consistency is key: show up for your goals every day - over time, your efforts will compound into success.

learn from mentors: seek guidance from people who’ve already achieved what you’re aiming for. their insights can help you stay focused.

10h part of fortune and/or 10h ruler aspecting part of fortune

define career goals

find a career that brings joy: your greatest happiness comes from pursuing meaningful career goals or becoming recognized for your work.

define your mission: reflect on what kind of career feels truly aligned with your values and passions. you’re happiest when your work is purposeful and impactful.

be ambitious: the 10h rewards you for aiming high and committing to goals that will leave a lasting impression.

build a reputation

public recognition: your sense of fulfillment comes from being respected and acknowledged for your contributions. cultivate a professional image that reflects your authenticity, dedication, and skill.

leave a legacy: think long-term - how do you want to be remembered? focus on building something meaningful that reflects your talents and effort.

balance ambition

step into leadership: this placement often points to natural leadership abilities. don’t shy away from roles where you take charge, make decisions, or guide others.

be a role model: others may naturally look up to you for inspiration. lead with integrity, and you’ll find success comes easily.

learn from mentors: surround yourself with accomplished individuals who can guide you toward your goals and help you refine your ambitions.

10h ruler in the 5h

define career goals

infuse creativity into your career: with this placement, you thrive in fields that allow for artistic or creative expression, such as art, music, writing, fashion, theater, and/or design. even in non-creative industries, you’ll want to find ways to bring originality and fun into your work.

pursue your passion: you’ll feel most fulfilled in a career that aligns with your personal interests or hobbies. think about what lights you up and explore ways to turn that into a profession.

entertainment and performance: you may have natural talents in areas like acting, performing, and/or public speaking. if these fields interest you, don’t hesitate to put yourself out there.

build a reputation

leadership through fun: you’re well-suited to leadership roles where you can inspire others with your enthusiasm.

encourage creativity in others: you may excel as a mentor, teacher, or leader in fields like education, creative coaching, and/or team-building where you can bring out the best in others.

stand out publicly: your career may involve being in the spotlight or receiving recognition for your individuality and creativity.

balance ambition

work that doesn’t feel like work: you’re driven to create a professional life that feels enjoyable and fulfilling. you’re not someone who thrives in overly rigid or monotonous work environments.

create a balance between fun and productivity: while it’s important to find joy in your career, be mindful not to lose focus on long-term goals. blend fun with discipline for sustained success.

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