#which are....well they're practical but unnecessary

[six-of-ravens]

okay, killing time in walmart was less practical than I thought bc if I wander around a store for long enough I will be conned into buying just about anything

[23meteorstreet]

after finishing s14 it’s definitely the weakest season of the show... big mo was good but the eps before it felt like a chore to get through and i’d literally watch these characters do anything

[cupidddd-d]

heart eyes

aww, they're in love with you !

peter

"h-hey," peter's voice cracks as he tries to speak, clearing his throat as a blush creeps up his cheeks. "i-i mean, hey."

his hands fiddle with something underneath his robes, his freckles slowly disappearing as his flush grows darker.

"hi peter, what's up?" you offer him a polite smile as you try not to laugh at how adorable he is.

"s-so i noticed that um...y-you're really good at, um, ch-charms. c-could you maybe...tutor me? i-i mean, i-it's fine if y-you don't!" he stutters.

he clears his throat again as he stares down at the ground. preparing himself to be slapped. for what? he doesn't really know. maybe for even daring to talk to you, let alone asking you for anything. why would he deserve to hold even an ounce of your attention?

"sure, that's fine. i'm free anytime, so let me know when you want to meet in the library," you shrug simply, your eyes widening in shock as he shoves 3 boxes of chocolate frogs in your arms.

"okay, thanks, bye!" he rushes off before you can respond, practically running away from you.

"um...bye, i guess?"

james

"merlin-!" your neck almost collapses as james places his elbow on your skull, casually using you as an armrest and leaning his full weight on you.

"has anyone ever told you how short you are?" he ponders, letting out a quiet oomph when you shove him off.

"get off me, you...ogre!"

"sweetheart, i'm hurt. anyhow, have you heard of what happened to malfoy? i set his mattress on fire," he looks at you with a childlike grin, eager for your approval. "you said he was insulting you behind your back, didn't you?"

"oh, that's not...that's not really a prank. that's just, um...arson." you scratch the back of your neck awkwardly, your lips twisted into a weak grimace.

his smile dips slightly. "well, i didn't exactly consult the boys about it. was more of a personal project. for you. don't you like it?"

"um...it's the thought that counts, right?"

as dubious as your answer is, it causes james' spirits to lift once more, and he tackles you in a hug (which subsequently cuts off your air supply--who knew he'd have such a strong grip?).

"i knew you'd love it!"

sirius

"ahh, good evening, love. sitting at the fireplace all by your lonesome?" sirius says loudly as he plops down on the couch next to you, throwing an arm over your shoulder.

"not anymore," you gingerly pick up his hand as if it's radioactive, tossing it aside and leaving it dangling behind the couch--but most importantly, away from you. "what are you doing, black?"

"you're so cold to me," he sighs, raking a hand through his hair. "you didn't notice anything new about me?"

you shake your head cluelessly.

"nothing? really, love? shoes? haircut? rings? clothes? you don't notice anything?"

you shake your head again.

"i'm heartbroken! devastated! anguished! inconsolable, even! i did all this to fit your tastes, you know!" he complains. "can't i have a little kiss to heal my shattered soul?"

he puckers his lips, leaning in with a hopeful expression.

"yeah, maybe in your dreams, black." you snort as you get up from the couch, moving as far away from him as possible.

he bites his lip as he watches you leave, idly rubbing his jaw.

"oh trust me, i'm dreaming...hell, i'll do a lot more than dreaming..."

remus

"i couldn't stay for break, so i wanted to give you an early yule present, if that's okay?" remus rummages around in his bag and hands you a strange rectangle.

upon closer inspection, it seems to be a (poorly) wrapped gift, but it's the thought behind it that warms your heart and causes an involuntary smile to spread across your face.

yes, too much wrapping paper was used, and there's tape in unnecessary places, but remus made a gift for you. who cares that it looked like it had been constructed by a blind toddler?

"thank you, remus," you say sweetly, your voice dripping into his ears like warm honey. "can i open it?"

"o-of course, and if you don't like it, i also have a sweater in my dorm for you. i um, remember how you'd always compliment my sweaters, so i thought i might get us a matching pair." he offers you a shy smile that makes your heart melt.

"you're so sweet, rem," you say softly. you delicately tear the wrapping paper, not wanting to ruin his hard work.

"it's my favorite book. i thought you might like it, and i annotated it. i highlighted the lines that made me think of you, and i also wrote little comments in the margins," he explains quietly, picking at his cuticles. "but now that i'm saying it out loud, it seems stupid..."

"it's not stupid, rem! i love it! it's really sweet and thoughtful! thank you," you say earnestly. "i'm really excited to read it over break. i mean it,"

"you're welcome, dove,"

[k-dokja]

johan x reader :3 for funsies

You wonder if you should chase him home... your boss probably won't like the fact you let your boyfriend loiter at the convenience store while you're working. Then again, you do remember the glare he gave your boss when the older man was going to reprimand you the other day...

At the back of your mind, you hope your part-time job will stick for more than a few months this time. Without Johan's intimidation, preferably.

"...Can you at least change into the uniform and pretend you work here?" You ask with a pacifying smile.

To your relief, Johan grunts before complying with your request, sauntering to the backroom to get a change of clothes. He is not the most personable one to have around, which is the reason behind his refusal to work here with you in the first place. Johan cannot fathom how you can stand on your feet all day and smile at the customers all the time.

For all his fault, however, at least, he goes out of his way to make your life easier whenever he can. You can find comfort in his care if nothing else.

As you daydream, a few customers enter the store. All male, some of them wear uniforms, but they're maybe a little bit older than you. "Welcome to [████]!" You greet them with a smile, raising your voice far louder than your normal one. In the beginning, it has been a strain for you to do that, but with practice, you've come to put on the customer service voice easily.

Some of them catch your eyes and you notice the telltale signs of interest gleaming in their eyes. You return their attention with an eye smile before diverting your attention away, not wanting to encourage anything unnecessary.

Supposedly, that's one of the reasons Johan doesn't enjoy these retail jobs. This reason is tailored for you, however. As it happens, you attract the attention of the other guys more often than not. You don't exactly know what it is that piques their interest... you never ask either, it'd probably be impolite to question...

"Hey."

You look up to see one of the guys have approached you. This one is taller than the rest. Athletic, you noted. His smile is friendly when he leans on the counter, "Do you go to school around here?"

"Hm?" You blink. "No."

You don't go to school at all if you have to be honest... but you don't owe a stranger that information.

"Ah, that explains why I've never seen you," he grins, "my name is Taesoo, and yours is—"

He glances down at the nametag on your shirt, but before the first syllable can escape his mouth, a familiar voice cuts in.

"None of your business."

In hindsight, the blue convenience store uniform deduces some of the intimidating points from Johan's overall appearance, but you have to admit, he has mastered the art of glaring. Maybe it's something about the perpetual frown he always has on his face. You can't tell.

The other boy flinches, but with his friends returning to the counter and backing him up, his confidence stabilizes again. "What are you, her boyfriend?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Johan crosses his arms, challenging the other boy to say something.

"...Whatever."

Thankfully, the situation diffuses without further complications. You breathe out a sigh of relief as you take the products his friends brought to the counter. As you check out their purchase, Johan maintains his glaring battle with the other boy until he's all the way out of your sight with the rest of his friends.

You jab at his sight once they leave, looking up at him with a pout when he glares down at you. "Don't offend the customers," you remind him gently, "it's bad performance to talk back."

"I don't even work here," he grumbles.

"If you're wearing the uniform then you are," you narrow your eyes to read his name tag, "shape up, Haneul."

The corner of his mouth twitches, "Fine, if I'm here I might as well help," he scratches the back of his head, "I'll go count inventory or something..."

You brighten up visibly, "If you do well, I'll speak to the manager about getting you a job here!"

"Pass."

Ah, well. It was worth a try.

[ultrone]

𓂃  ⊹ jackielot dating deaf!reader 🧏🏻‍♀️

they've been putting in a lot of effort to learn sign language for you. lottie even convinced her parents to hire a private tutor. initially, you thought it was unnecessary, as you could teach them yourself. however, they insisted, wanting to learn it faster and properly.

whenever they learn a new phrase or word, they eagerly rush to you to show you. and it’s painfully obvious how jackie subtly directs your conversations to "casually" drop the new sign she's learned 😭😭 you think it's cute though, so you refrain from teasing her about it.

besides sign language, the three of you have developed a silent language to communicate more effectively. it includes gentle taps, specific gestures, or a certain number of squeezes. it's become so intuitive that even your girlfriends use these signals between themselves, sometimes even when you're not around, without realizing it.

they're having a bit too much fun with the sign language tho, especially during exams. "i'm not helping you cheat, jackie," you discreetly signed back at her, being cautious so the teacher wouldn't notice. jackie pouted at you but couldn't hide her silly smile.

they’re also practically forcing the other yellowjackets to learn it as well. while some of them are lazier or barely friends with you, they've managed to get all of them to learn at least ten basic words to communicate with you, even if it's just to say hi.

so far, shauna is the most advanced, likely because she spends a lot of time with jackie. you suspect your girlfriend probably put up a fight to ensure shauna learned this much. nevertheless, you're grateful because now you can have intermediate conversations with her, and you have to admit that sometimes it's nice to sign with someone other than your girlfriends.

jackie's love language is physical touch, which makes her incredibly content in your relationship. you often depend on her touch or gestures for communication when you can't rely on lip-reading or hand signals, and jackie is more than happy to comply.

on the other hand, lottie leans more towards words of affirmation, but this hasn't posed any challenges in your relationship. she consistently expresses her affection through little notes and messages, even jotting down love notes and doodles in your school notebooks.

once, you woke up and found your hearing aids were not on your bedside table. turning to jackie, who was peacefully sleeping next to you, you noticed them sitting on her bedside table instead. that's weird, you thought, not recalling leaving them there. as you picked them up, you realized jackie had adorned them with cute little stickers.

they’re very patient with you, never getting annoyed or frustrated when you ask them to say things again or speak more clearly for you to read their lips.

when watching a movie together, they always ensure the subtitles are on, so you don't have to strain to read everyone's lips all the time.

jackie has this habit of telling you that she loves you by tracing the letters "I L Y" in the palm of your hand with her index finger, giving you a soft kiss afterwards and fidgeting with your fingers.

lottie always keeps her arms protectively around you, whether it's draped over your shoulders or wrapped around your waist. when she wants to get your attention, she softly squeezes her hand around you.

when you're feeling stressed, she often soothes you by gently stroking your eyebrows with her fingers in a repetitive motion until you drift off to sleep.

they're frequently curious about your perspective and thoughts on certain things, recognizing that your experiences might differ from theirs. they often ask you how you imagine certain things would sound, sometimes out of genuine curiosity and other times playfully teasing you.

“who do you think has a sexier voice? and don’t lie just so that lotts doesn’t get upset,” jackie quipped as lottie rolled her eyes.

they're incredibly protective of you, never allowing anyone to mock or disrespect you in any way. not that anyone dares to, considering their popularity in school as members of the yellowjackets.

most of the time, you fall asleep by lying on top of either one of them, resting against their chest, or in any position that lets you lay your ear against their heart, so you can feel its steady beat.

they're constantly debating whose turn it is to cuddle you. so now, they take turns each night. while you lie on one's chest, the other cuddles you from behind, letting you feel her gentle heartbeat against your back.

[copperbadge]

The Adventures Of Joe Superfly

I haven't been able to work on Chicken Salad War much recently -- it's less writer's block and more a confluence of issues that mean when I have the time I'm too tired for something novel-sized. It's temporary, but when I don't get to write I do start to get restless.

So the other night as I was doing dishes I circled around to a small issue that keeps nipping at me, which is Ephraim. He's got the most normal name of any of the Ramblers, which is uncharacteristic of Ceece and Tully. Well, I thought, maybe they let Eddie name him, but why would they let Eddie, the oldest, name the youngest, and not the THREE OTHERS inbetween? And why would Eddie pick Ephraim?

I decided to do up a little story about Eph, how he came by his name and what his life experiences have been. Much of it's a spoiler that needs a content warning but I figured I'd share a brief fun scene. Also it's good practice for writing Eph's somewhat elliptical style of speech; he is a man who gives no unnecessary context, and sometimes no necessary context. (All the context you all need to know is that Ephraim's parents wanted to name him Cherry Windward and instead Eddie named him Ephraim Prunus.)

Noah was on dishes duty with Joan, Ed's newly adopted eldest daughter, the evening that Ephraim found Ed on the porch of the royal fishing lodge. He sat next to him companionably, rocking on the porch swing and looking out at the lake.

"How many different names do you think you'll have in your life?" he asked without preamble. Ed laughed.

"I don't know. I think once you become a king the name locks in place," he said. "I've been Theophile and Ted and Ed and Eddie, and now back around to Theophile, at least in public. And then there's 'Dad' too. Why do you ask?"

Ephraim shrugged. "Monday was telling Jes about you naming me. Got to thinking about it."

"Well, you did return the favor eventually," Ed said. "Ed has suited me. Thinking of changing your name?"

"I was thinking of going by Prunus," Ephraim said, with such a deadpan expression that Ed hesitated, then burst out laughing when Eph smiled.

"Punk," he said, shoving Ephraim gently. "I only gave you that one to make mom and dad feel better about you having a normal-ass name. Man, you could see Dad's gears turning. We can always call him Pru."

Ephraim cackled. "Pru! Funny. I guess just…thanks."

"For what, big guy?" Ed asked.

"I didn't think I'd ever see Europe. Didn't think anyone outside Santa Luna would understand," Ephraim said. "But you went all over the world and found somewhere just like home. And I get to be here too. Which means maybe…I can be other places as well."

"There will always be a place for you, anywhere I am," Ed said seriously.

"Yes but also. They get it." Ephraim put on a lilting Shivadh accent. "That's Ephraim, he's King Theophile's brother, he doesn't say much but he's a good lad. No, you let Mr. Rambler alone, he's just shy. Hello young Ephraim, point out what you want to order when you're ready." He looked back out at the lake. "They're kind. I could thrive here."

"But not just yet, huh?" Ed asked. "Not with Noah leaving soon. He's going to Aotearoa and then coming to California, where you'll be."

"Yes."

"And after he graduates?" Ed asked delicately. "Maybe both of you back here?"

Ephraim turned to him. "I don't have a five year plan," he said witheringly, and this time Ed knew he was teasing.

"You son of a -- how dare you accuse me of asking you for a five year plan! Like I'm some kind of responsible adult? Roasted by my own blood!"

"You need it, Your Majesty," Ephraim said, then sobered. "I don't know yet. We'll figure it out."

"I'm sure you will."

"If you were going to name me again, what would you pick?"

Ed tousled his hair. "Buddy, you are now and forever Ephraim to me unless someday you tell me otherwise. I can't name you again. I don't think you need it, you're only just growing into that one. But if you did want a new name, I think you'd have to come up with it yourself -- or ask Noah."

Ephraim nodded thoughtfully. "I'm okay. Just curious."

"I think if you do you should move even more towards the extremes, though. From Cherry Windward to Ephraim Prunus to, I dunno, Joe Superfly."

"Joe Superfly!" Ephraim crowed. "Joe Superfly Rambler!"

"The twins should be glad we named them Edward and Miranda," Ed mused.

"Edward Superfly," Ephraim gasped.

"It's a great movie!"

"Miranda Shaft!" Ephraim blurted, and both brothers laughed until they cried.

[bairdthereader]

Intentional Touch, Respectful Space: A By-Episode Study, Part 1

From the moment Nick and Charlie meet in the first episode, they're sat within a foot of each other and framed next to each other, but a little space remains there between them. This is the space where their mutual respect and care will live. It’s a space they nurture and protect, a space in which they navigate their feelings for each other and protect each other. This is the space where their love grows in safety.

S1E1: Meet

This is not a "who fell first" post, but I do think we can safely say that Charlie is the first to understand the full ramifications of touch in a relationship that, from Charlie’s perspective at this stage, is just friendship for Nick but friendship with a side of intense crush for Charlie. He knows that almost any touch on his part will have at least some element of attraction in it; he knows that it is unfair to touch Nick in any meaningful way while Nick is unaware of Charlie’s feelings; he knows that, because he is out, all of his own physical interactions with other boys are going to be judged by outsiders and automatically cast in a flirtatious or romantic light; he knows he has to be careful with Nick and protect him from that judgment, however unjustified it might be. He also knows he has to protect himself, as much as he’s able, from falling for a straight boy; keeping touch minimal and very intentional is one way to try to do that.

Nick is, at this point in the story and from what we can see on screen, not hugely physical in his personal interactions outside of rugby where touch is unavoidable. This is in contrast to, say, Harry, who can’t see a person without slinging an arm around their neck, or a lot of the other rugby lads who are always bumping shoulders or fists or jokingly pushing each other around, even off the pitch. Of course we learn in later episodes that Nick is a gold-standard hugger when he’s with good friends or his mom, but for now we know he generally keeps his hands to himself.

This makes the smiley face interaction a point of interest. This is the first time we see Nick touch Charlie in a moment when that touch was unnecessary. He decided to take Charlie's hand and draw on it, something that could just as easily be construed as flirting as it could just a joke. The opportunity to have fun with Charlie was too good to pass up for Nick, no matter which way Charlie could have taken it.

Nick's grip on Charlie's hand lasts a beat or two longer than either of them expects; Charlie is flustered and happy, while Nick, after checking Charlie's face for his response, looks down and realizes maybe it's time to let go. The original intention might not be quite as clear to Nick as it was a few seconds ago.

Rugby is an intensely challenging space for Charlie to navigate, since it’s a very physical sport and he has to work harder to mask his feelings when touching Nick is unavoidable. When they practice tackling, Charlie is clearly reluctant because—well, tackling is hard and might hurt—but also because, from his point of view, this is a pretty big and intimate touch. Charlie has to work through a lot here. His elbow is mostly raised as soon as the tackle is complete, leaving a bit of, again, respectful space, but he doesn’t pull his arm back from around Nick instantly. This is partly because this kind of touch is in some respect what Charlie wants, but also, confusingly and challengingly, if Charlie were to pull back like he’d been burned it could be perceived by Nick as a sign of (unlikely, but possible) disgust or (more likely) as proof that Charlie does feel attracted to him and is actively trying to hide it. Not to mention the public setting, which Charlie is always aware of on some level. Charlie is thinking through all of these things in the couple of seconds between tackling Nick and letting him go. Then we have Charlie's nervous and delighted second of rubbing his hands together, like he can't believe that moment of connection actually happened and he needs physical proof. It’s worth mentioning Nick’s reaction here too—there’s no immediate jump to pull away, but there is a nervous hair sweep, and he moves to get up fairly quickly.

When Nick suggests that Charlie try to tackle him again, while he’s actually moving, Charlie responds with “I’m going to die.” It’s funny and gets a laugh, and it likely is mostly Charlie fearing the potential literal pain of playing rugby. But also, maybe he’s thinking it’s going to be hard to survive being this close to Nick, in an arena where physicality is constant, day after day after day. Maybe he’s in over his head, just a bit.

By the time Charlie reaches the end of his one-on-one training with Nick, the tables start to turn just a little bit. They've spent a great deal of time together and grown ever more comfortable together. Charlie has become competent at rugby, so Nick's focus on his training role is less complete than it was at the beginning. In the last tackle of their last practice, the camera zooms out and high, giving us a view of the lovely leaves indicating that something sweet is happening, but also of the end of the tackle. Charlie is the one who starts to pull away first, the one who gets to his feet first, Nick slower to do both of those things as some part of him realizes that maybe he doesn't want to pull away as much as he should. This might not be able to be classed as intentional touch, but at least, perhaps, intentional lingering.

And here’s where Nick’s awareness of Charlie in relation to touch specifically really gets kicked into high gear. After witnessing, interrupting, and ending Ben’s physical attack on Charlie, Nick is very careful to keep space between himself and Charlie. Charlie isn't even in the frame when Nick asks him if he is okay. Nick admits to hearing most of the conversation between Ben and Charlie, so he knows that Charlie’s experience of either reluctantly accepted or flat-out objected physical attention from Ben has been going on for a while. Nick heard Charlie try to fight back, saw Charlie’s distress and tears, and he’s processing his own outrage, fear, and discomfort at seeing something like this happen at all, much less to a good friend. His instinct here is to offer some kind of comfort, but he senses that touch is not the right way to do that in this moment with Charlie; so he stays close, but not too close, respecting that bit of space between them.

From Nick's perspective, Charlie is still reeling from the effects of Ben’s actions; from Charlie’s perspective, any unusually affectionate attention from Nick would likely be interpreted as pity, which Charlie never wants. So, Nick and Charlie work toward some kind of equilibrium, some kind of return to normalcy, even though there is no "normal" after an experience like this one. They use humor to move forward, and then, once they are both a little more settled and Nick feels Charlie might be ready, Nick reaches out with a very considered action and briefly grips Charlie’s upper arm. It's a careful, intentional choice of touch, one that conveys support, solidarity, sympathy, encouragement, and kindness, but no pressure and no expectation of reciprocity. This is Nick giving something to Charlie--a powerful blend of care and respect, two things Charlie needs and craves in general, but especially in this exact moment.

Nick's hand is in focus here because this touch is important, but I think we have to look at the boys' faces too. Nick is out of focus, but there are at least two very telling things happening as he does this: first, he has the characteristic Nick-Nelson-is-holding-something-back face, lips pressed tightly together and curled slightly inward as he tries hard, here, to contain his emotion and possibly his desire to comfort Charlie in an even more meaningful way than he feels he can and still respect what just happened to Charlie; and second, quite a huge gulp, combined with Nick's trademark concerned eyebrow lift. There is a tremendous amount of suppressed feeling here, but Charlie can still see and recognize some of it. He knows what Nick is really trying to communicate with this gesture, and it marks a distinct shift in Nick and Charlie's friendship. They have now shared in something more deeply personal than they ever have before, tying those existing bonds even tighter. Nick is aware of Charlie's physical presence in a new way, knowing that he has experienced bodily trauma and now considering Charlie's needs around touch at least partially through that lens. And Charlie has, though unintentionally, found someone he can trust completely with one of his most difficult experiences. That it is Nick—who sees this dark part of Charlie's life and yet offers such staunch support without the strings of advice or judgment—cements and increases some of Charlie's already strong feelings for Nick, both as a romantic interest and as a friend.

It's a brave new world for these two.

[neptunes-sol-angel]

Title says it all! Pick the picture(s) that you're drawn to the most, then scroll down for their corresponding message.

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Pile One

What Needs Protection?

You need to be more private about the things that you're trying to manifest and any spell-work that you do. If you're in tune with your psychic abilities, then I'm getting that any plans in store for you that your spiritual team sends you messages about, KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF. It seems like anything related to the occult that you practice, needs to be discreet when it comes to family members, friends, and what you post on the internet. Knowledge is meant to be shared, but some things reside in the occult for a reason, your gifts, relationship with spirituality and the divine, is not for everyone's eyes to see or for any and everyone that you believe to be trustworthy. Even though no one can mess up what's for you in the end, protection is still needed to prevent any unnecessary drama from others trying to bring obstacles your way.

What Needs Exposure?

I feel like a lot of you are actually new in your spiritual journey and are receiving intuitive downloads or seeing more signs that remind you of someone that's no longer living, but very close with when they were still alive. Whether you are new or a little bit more seasoned in this journey there's this message to move inward in this path, some of you could still be on the superficial side of spiritualism which could be insulting to some of your guides because it's giving off the impression that you're in it for the aesthetic when there's an actual calling for you to partake in. There's a need to be more trustful with with your guides (god(s), ancestors, angels, etc) and to communicate with them more, as well leaving offerings for them. It's very important to build a connection with them instead of just leaping in with them to ask them for guidance and assistance for rituals.

Pile Two

What Needs Protection?

You need to be more protective over your time and energy! You know that quote "givers need to learn boundaries, because takers don't have any"? That's exactly the message that I'm picking up for this pile. There are attributes that you have that remind me of the sun, you're resourceful, regenerative, you create your own energy and produce your own light effortlessly that makes others gravitate towards you, but you must be careful with burning yourself out sooner with the way you're not limiting yourself on how much you give. People could rely on you for direction, money, emotional support, or even insight that they plan to take all the credit for. I'm sensing mainly that if you guys are creatives, keep your ideas to yourself, do not tell what you plan to create unless it is finished. Another is that some of you need to have more credence, you give away your visions and ideas because you don't believe you're capable of executing them yourself and you need to stop shortchanging yourself like that. I notice you guys keep saying "no" to yourself a lot on the things that could benefit you, try working on exerting that no onto the people that you should set boundaries with, especially if there's someone that you've been having a bad feeling about for awhile.

What Needs Exposure?

People in this pile have a story that needs to be shared. Whether it's autobiographical or fictional, there's something very personal that you've worked hard on in your life that needs to be public. Maybe you've triumphed over situations that would have broken other people, and the experience and wisdom that you've gained from this could inspire others who are going through situations that they feel that they won't make it out of. You may downplay what you've persevered because you it's something that you've adapted to, but what you may view as easy, can show people that when they encounter a big mountain, they don't need to be intimidated by the thought of how they're going to get over it, they just need to go around it.

Pile Three

What Needs Protection?

You're sitting on some tea that needs to be kept to yourself. Someone or a group of people could be trying to involve you in some mess, but you need to know that that drama has nothing to do with and that you need to stay out of it. Don't give in to the peer pressure of joining cliques, because that bond together out of gossiping about others, will not have long until they're turning on each other and you. If there isn't any drama that's going on, then there's a message for people in the pile who are going through a phase of wanting to impress others or do things for a person or a group who are either high in status or something else that you'd like you to be a part of. Your self esteem and individuality needs protection, do not place everybody on a pedestal or put so much of your faith into regular people. You may see yourself as the diamond in the rough thinking that you need someone or something to give yourself meaning, but that's the quickest way to fall into manipulation and a spiral of confusion about who you are.

What Needs Exposure?

Your ability to stand on your own needs more exposure. Maybe you have a parent or someone in your work/school environment that's underestimating you by believing that you're codependent and incapable of having a mind of your own with a backbone to follow it, but you gotta show these people better than you can tell them, that you're not someone to push around or someone to discredit when it comes to your accolades and the things that you've worked hard for. Maybe some of you are hesitant to make a certain move that involves parting ways with someone who's toxic towards you, but you have to acknowledge that you've lived a life before them and that you are safe and strong enough to create a life without them. And once you do, I feel like there's this boost of prosperity, positive attention, or a period of luck that you may experience as a confirmation that these people are not the reason for your success, you're blessed because you are, not because they were in your life, especially if they were creating blockages in your money and opportunities.

[loquaciousquark]

when will eppie hawke and fenris meet tavish and astarion? (:

"And anyway, it won't be that bad. One last little Fade rift. We'll barricade it up as best we can, send a message to Skyhold, go home, and—"

One of the craggy footholds crumbles away beneath Hawke's foot, and it's only Fenris's quick hand that saves her from a plummet back down the side of the barren mountain. "Hawke, please."

"Please yourself. I said you didn't have to come."

Fenris throws her a longsuffering look, the flickering green lightning of the rift casting weird shadows over his eyes, but he doesn't let go of her arm until she's got both feet on solid ground again. "Just seal it and let this be done."

"My heart's only desire, lover," Hawke says, smiling, just as another pair of voices rises from the other side of the rift.

"Careful—careful! It shocks like the entire Hells are in there. Where's Gale?"

"Wherever Karlach dropped him, I suppose, with that little sprained ankle of his. No, I see them, they're almost here. Come away, darling. No need to get so dramatically close."

"This, from you?" says the woman, just as she and her fellow voice round the far edge of the rift. "Oh!"

"Well!" Hawke says almost at the same moment. Two of them after all: a short, slim woman with auburn hair pulled back in a low tail, and a tall, lithe man with hair as white as Fenris's and eyes that gleam like rubies. The man has a dagger drawn already, a thin smile playing over his face; the woman's fingers rest on her sheathed rapier, but her gaze is open, friendly. Hawke plants her staff on the rocky ground in as welcoming a gesture as she can manage. "Fancy running into someone like you up here of all places."

"I could say the same," the woman says. The green rift, still hanging between them and stretching a good twenty feet into the sky, gives an ominous rumble. "Our wizard's been fretting about magical disturbances along the city's borders for weeks. He finally traces the source to this location, and here you are at the heart of it. I'd like to believe it's coincidence."

"Alas," Hawke says, "one of my greatest faults is a terrible habit of being around when things begin. Fenris can attest to that better than most." She lays a hand on Fenris's shoulder, but he's stiff as iron, eyes glued to the man's dagger, and he's reached back for the hilt of his greatsword. "I'm Hawke, by the way."

"Call me Tav."

"And I'm Astarion," the man says grandly, accompanied by a wholly unnecessary flourish of his dagger. "We're here to steal the world."

"Save it," Tav says sharply.

"Of course, my dear. Save the world. What did I say?"

Fenris makes a short, disgusted noise, but Hawke's pleased to see he's let go of his own sword. She doesn't think this Astarion is going to kill them—not easily, anyway—and she likes the look of Tav despite herself. Both of them quick on their feet, she thinks, both moving gracefully with an innate, self-assured balance. As Tav steps around the rift Astarion moves with her like water, without even needing to see where she's gone. It reminds her a great deal of Fenris and herself, actually, though Hawke would give an arm to trust her own feet that much.

Fenris, it seems, has come to similar conclusions, and he rolls his shoulders as he releases their tension. Even his voice has lost its nascent fury, which for Fenris is practically friendly in situations like this. "The rift is dangerous. We will guard it until the Inquisitor can seal it permanently. Be on your way."

"Inquisitor?" drawls Astarion with that same, thin-lipped smile. "Sounds like someone from dear Shadowheart's former enclave, don't you think?"

"I don't think they're Sharran," Tav says. "Are you?"

"What a speculative look you've put on," Hawke says, delighted. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. Unless you'd like me to be Sharran, in which case, I most certainly am and in fact have always been."

Both Fenris and Astarion roll their eyes—hilarious in its own right, but heightened by the clear antipathy still remaining between them. Fenris sighs. "Hawke—"

The rift explodes.

Green lightning shatters over the rocky cliff. The rumble bursts into a deafening roar; the faint breeze that had been dancing around them sweeps up into a hurricane. The air cracks and snaps with a sudden smell of ozone.

Hawke throws her hand over her eyes. She can't see—the wind tears her hair from its bindings and she can't see past the brilliant flashes of blazing green and she can't hear— "Fenris!"

Someone's fingers wrap around hers. She wrenches up her staff, calls for fire—for ice—for anything—but the rift has become a maelstrom and every scrap of magic sucks into the raging whirl before she can shape it. Her boots skid on the stone as she tries to brace against the inexorable pull, pebbles and rocks rattling along every step. She can't—the hand wrapped around hers has seized tight as a vise, but she's slipping anyway, and Maker, she can't—

A man's echoing voice, stripped bare of all artifice, wild with fear: "Tav!"

The wind dies. Not slowly, not gradually; it falls off like someone's upturned a glass over the rocky cliff, and Hawke's ears roar in the sudden silence. The wind is gone, and the rift is gone with it as if it had never been, the thunderous clouds that had been swirling above it already dissipating to glimpses of blue morning sky.

"Andraste preserve me," Hawke says, loud in the quiet, and she looks over to see Tav still crouched against the face of the mountain. One of Tav's hands clutches a dagger she'd wedged deep into a stony crevice; the other is still wrapped tight around Hawke's wrist where she'd pulled her away from the tempest.

No sign of Fenris. No sign of the other one—Astarion. A long white scrape in the stone marks where Fenris's sword had sought and failed to find purchase, disappearing at the precise place where the rift had torn itself open.

Gone. Gone, gone. Her heart hammers in her throat, and she indulges in thirty seconds of agonizing grief before she sets it aside, turns, and pulls Tav to her feet.

"Well," Hawke says at last. "Looks like it's just you and me, then. Ready for an adventure?"

"Yes," Tav says, her grip on Hawke's hand like steel, and her eyes blaze. "You and me. Let's get them back."

—

Everything hurts. Everything godsdamned hurts, and Astarion lets out a pained groan as he rolls to his back and drops his arm over his face. His ears ring like bells, and something twinges painfully in his left hip, and the inconvenient sun has decided to blaze right in his face and gods damn it, he'd known they ought to wait for Gale. Wretched wizard and his weak ankles. Wretched Tav and her complete inability—

"Tav," Astarion says, and sits bolt upright.

No Tav. Not even the dark-haired sorcerer with the wide smile. Just that taciturn warrior in leather and half-plate seated on a rock a few feet away, watching Astarion get his bearings, his greatsword slung across his knees and a deeply sour look on his tattooed face. The skies above them are clear and blue as a song.

No Tav. No Hawke. No rift. No plan, and no company besides an irascible stranger with the same sudden look of dawning horror.

"Venhedis."

"Shit."

[bbcphile]

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! Have some more of my MLC longfic! This excerpt comes from a little before the one I posted last week, when they're still in the tree and FDB is trying to convince DFS to let him help before DFS collapses. (You can find all previous excerpts here.)

**

A-Fei took a long, slow breath and swayed closer to the trunk as he exhaled, his forehead almost brushing against his battered knuckles. “Go back to Lotus Tower,” he said at last. “I’ll meet you there.” 

“Did you not hear a word I just said?” Fang Duobing snapped. “I’m not going anywhere without you. We’re leaving together. So let me help you. Please.”

A-Fei pressed his palm harder against the trunk, and faint tremors started to run through his arms. 

The branch beneath them vibrated. Fang Duobing glanced down to make sure it wasn’t about to break. 

It was perfectly sturdy. A glance at a-Fei’s stance showed he’d locked his knees. His legs must have started to buckle and shaken the branch, and this was a-Fei’s untenable solution. 

Fang Duobing sighed. “Will you at least sit down while we come up with a better plan?”

A-Fei’s head shifted subtly as he looked down and then at the branch to his right. “No need,” he gritted out, leaning harder against the tree.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Fang Duobing said. “Your legs are about to give out and you don’t think you can squat down enough to sit on the branch you’re standing on without falling. So sit on the one to your left instead,” he said, patting it with his palm. “You won’t have to bend your knees as far so it won’t put as much strain on the muscles. I can even help you, if you’ll let me.”

“Unnecessary,” a-Fei said, his voice trembling under the strain.

“That’s clearly not true, which means you don’t think you can do that, either.”

“Fang Duobing!” a-Fei spat out.

“So we have two options: one is I turn around and let you collapse on the branch and try to catch yourself before you fall out of the tree. I hate this plan and I don’t want us to do it. The other option is that you let me help you.”

Even from looking at a-Fei from behind, it was clear that his jaw was twitching. “How?” he bit out at last.

“Like this.” Fang Duobing put his right foot in front of his left, squatted slightly to lower his center of balance and increase his stability, and held his arms straight out to a-Fei, palms up. “Take my hands.”

A-Fei’s strained exhale was practically a growl. “Why.” 

“Your legs need help supporting your weight, don’t they? So deload them by supporting yourself with my arms. Pull on them as hard as you need to to keep your legs from buckling as you sit. I’ll be your counterbalance. That should help lower you to where you were sitting when I got here.”

“No.”

“Fine. Then can I put my arm around your waist and help support you as you sit?”

“No.” 

“Then let me carry you out of the tree with qinggong!”

“No.”

“Then come up with a better suggestion!” Fang Duobing snapped, flailing his arms. 

“I made one,” a-Fei snarled. “Go.”

“Absolutely not! I will give you space and I will help you only as much as you will let me, but I will not abandon you in a fucking tree! You’re my friend, a-Fei! Friends don’t do that!”

A-Fei went so still the tremors briefly stopped. “Friend?” he said, in a tone so deliberately devoid of affect Fang Duobing couldn’t begin to interpret it.

“Obviously!” Fang Duobing rolled his eyes. Then he paused and winced. “Well, I’m probably more annoyance than friend to you, but you’re a friend to me! So let me help you. Please.” 

The tremors started again without additional response.

Fang Duobing sighed. “Fine,” he said, recentering himself and closing his eyes. “My eyes are closed. I can’t see you. That’s as much privacy as I can give you. Now will you try taking my hands? I’d try it facing the other way but my shoulders don’t bend like th–” He cut himself off as large, warm hands, still tacky with blood and faintly trembling, took his.

“Stop listing left,” a-Fei said, tugging him to the right. “You can’t help anyone if you fall.” 

Fang Duobing went very still, hardly daring to move in case it shattered the precarious truce between them. “You’re . . . letting me help?”

A-Fei's whole arm twitched, the vibrations shooting through their joined hands. “Just get on with it. And–” another twitch. A-Fei’s clenched his arm so forcefully his fingers went rigid in Fang Duobing’s hand. “–Open your eyes. Before you hurt yourself.”

[arvandus]

Beloved Arvs, I would love to know your thoughts on Diavolo or Lucifer and gift giving/receiving. Like how does he go about picking what they think is “the right one”? Does he fuss a bit before giving the gift, nervous it won’t be received well or is he confident without doubt it’s the best thing the recipient will ever receive?

ohhh, bestie. I love this, and they'd both be so different, so I'm going to do both of them.... but Lucifer is getting double because I think it will also depend on if we're talking about OG Lucifer or NB Lucifer.

Lucifer (OG):

Incredibly observant, will definitely have an idea of what to get you

Picks up on all the minutiae: what game you're playing with Levi, what books you're discussing with Satan, what foods you're sharing with Beel, etc. He really benefits from having you under the same roof as him, a blessing considering his busy schedule.

Will also make mental notes of colors you wear, scents you wear (if any), will notice the things that catch your eye through the shop windows...

I can also definitely picture him gifting you something that is important to him, trusting that if it's important to him, then it'll be important to you as well.

More than anything, he'll go for something that is meaningful to both of you, something that ties to a special private moment between the two of you.

Very confident in his choice(s), will be utterly miffed if you don't like it.

Lucifer (NB):

Still very much observant of course, but doesn't have the benefit of living under the same roof as you.

Even so, you visit from time to time, so he'll try to catch what he can when passing by in the hall... but with all the work he has to do to help Diavolo set up RAD, he's bound to miss stuff. He can't be in two places at once, after all...

When he is ready to get you a gift, he'll set it up a way to expose you to his idea without exposing his plot. It could be walking by a window shop, trying a specific restaurant or vendor, listening to a particular track of music, etc.

HOWEVER... despite all of his research, I think his pride will sometimes take over a bit and cross into overconfidence. Which leads to....

Overlooking what you think you want in favor of what he knows you need.

The worst part is.... he's fucking right.

Diavolo:

He's a little simpler in that I think he'd be more or less the same in both OG and NB.

Either way, he's Prince of the Devildom, and his time with you is severely limited because of it.

He will be far more nervous than Lucifer would be when it comes to gift-giving...

First off, he's not had a lot of opportunities to do it. There's very few people he feels close enough to in order to gift give, let alone knowing exactly what to get them.

Second off, he's usually the one gifts are given to, not the other way around.

The nice thing about Diavolo is that he has a far better grip on his Pride than Lucifer does.

Which means he has no issues asking others for help when it comes to ideas (as a side note, Lucifer would NEVER ask for help).

Would absolutely text the Fantastic Three group chat to get both Barb's and Luci's opinions, as they're his two closest friends and the ones he trusts the most. He knows they're both powerfully observant and would pick up on small details that he may not have been around to catch.

When he finally is ready to give his gift, he does it with perfectly practiced calmness.

But internally, he's sweating buckets.

Maybe it's the knowledge that you have no issues refusing him, unlike so many others.

But his worries are unnecessary...

Because what he's gotten you is absolutely perfect.

[1-800reki]

❝Shoyou's Crush!❞

Summary: Oneshot with Shoyou!

Description: Shoyou has a tiny crush on one of his classmates. The only bad part is that they're his captain's little sibling!

Pairings: Shoyou Hinata x Reader

"Stop staring at them. You look like a creep."

Shoyou sat up and flinched looking his two classmates. He felt embarrassed that he was caught looking at you. "I am not! I'm just.. glancing!" Shoyou whispered shouted at them to not cause any unnecessary attention.

"Sure dude.. we're heading to lunch. Have fun.. staring." His classmates teased him before leaving to eat lunch. Shoyou pouted as muttered 'rude..' His friends weren't the best to go to when having a crush, let alone someone that's in their class.

He went back to looking at you. He was memorized by everything about you. From how you look to how you talk. Everything was just so captivating. He stared for a bit more before he saw his captain walk in.

"Hey Y/n! Come on Suga and Michimiya won't wait any longer ya know!" Daichi said with a smile. You nod and get up grabbing your stuff. Your full name was Y/n Sawamura. Daichi's little sibling. If Shoyou was brave enough he would ask Daichi about you but he isn't brave enough.

When you left the room with your brother you noticed Shoyou looking at you. Wanting to be polite you wave at him as a goodbye before leaving. Shoyou blushed a bit and hid his face with his hands. He was embarrassed to be caught looking at you. He would never live this down.

He got up from his seat and went to go find Noya. Noya had to know something about Daichi's younger sibling! Right? Well when he found Noya he was with Tanaka which was perfect! "Noya! Tanaka!" Shoyou said when he found them. "Oh hey Hinata. What's up?" Noya asked with a smile. "Do you guys know Daichi's little sibling?!" Shoyou asked rapidly. Noya and Tanaka froze and looked at each other.

"Well... they do visit sometimes since Daichi walks back with them." Noya said after thinking a bit. "Oh yeah! Plus why are your suddenly so interested in Captain's little sibling?" Tanaka asked teasingly with a smirk. Shoyou flushed. "Nothing! Just.. curious since they're in my class!" Shoyou said to cover up why he asked. "Sure bro." Noya said with a snicker. The bell rang signaling the end of lunch.

"I'll see you at practice!" Shoyou said before running off to his class. He really wanted to beat you there so he could have more time to mentally prepare himself. He had a plan! It was simple really. First he would pretend to not look at you. Next he knows his teacher is planning to do a project with partners. So he'll ask you to be his partner! Then during practice when you visit he talks to you! Finally you end up dating! It's a perfect plan!

Or so he thought. His teacher chose the partners and now he's with someone else! Plus your partner was one of his friends! They were so going to tease him about it! It's fine because at least he has practice! But how does he approach you without seeming creepy?! He'll just say that he recognized you! Yeah! This one will have no flaws for sure!

/ Time Skip \

Alright. He panicked. When you visited practice you waved at him since you recognized him. He froze and shyly waved back before running away. The good part? You laughed. You found him to be quite silly. Shoyou didn't know but you had noticed him before. You thought he was quite cute. You knew he was part of the volleyball team because your brother mentioned him before.

Shoyou didn't have the courage to speak to you but luckily you do. After practice was over you tapped Shoyou's shoulder when they were getting ready to leave. "Excuse me but you're Hinata right? I'm in your class." You say with a smile. Shoyou froze not expecting you to know him. "Yes! I mean! Yeah I am.." Shoyou exclaimed with flushed cheeks.

"Y/n come on!" Daichi called for you waiting at the door with Sugawara and Asahi. "Coming! See you tomorrow Hinata." You say before waving good bye. "Bye.. Y/n.." Shoyou waved back with a small smile. He can't believed he talked to you! Well not really but it's a start! Plus you know his name! He'll become your friend then you'll date! He can't wait to see his crush tomorrow.

a/n: oh sigma this was kind of longer! I didn't know how to end it😖

[olderthannetfic]

I've been thinking about what exactly it is I hate so much about this new round of fandom-as-activism, even though I'm a Black person, and I think it's the same reason why I avoid online book circles--doubly so, if they mostly push YA. There is this constant use of passive voice that assumes the speaker is helpless and completely without agency, as though the act of reading a book, playing a game, or watching a movie/show is the same as an attack on one's person if you don't like the media. "This game depicts a route wherein one of the love interests is a stalker!" Okay, turn off the game. "This BL manhwa depicts a stalker and a serial killer/misogynist being in a toxic, maladaptive relationship! It's not a romance! The fans are sick, evil people" Okay, this manhwa isn't the first of its kind, nor will it be the last. There's dark romance that's M/F, M/M/, and F/F., and they're extremely popular. You clearly don't like it. Stop reading. "This danmei shows the two main characters as awful people who abuse and lie to each other over and over again! How could people like this?!" Yes, that's why the core fanbase likes it. Stop reading it since it's not your thing. "This YA novel has a love triangle with an older, toxic ML who is controlling to the main character and seemingly forces himself on her! Inappropriate and pedophilia!" Ravishment fantasies are extremely common across races, ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and sexualities. Young people should have ways to engage with their sexualities without harm from the real world and older people. Stop reading it. "This fanfiction depicts instances of racism that I don't like! It's harassment!" It's not harassment, and it's not mainstream media that's everywhere. You have to go out of your way to read it. Just stop reading it. "This HBO show and its predecessor shows incestuous relationships, the most popular being an uncle-niece relationship! They're promoting incest." It's just a story. incest is common in monarch/noble-centered stories to symbolize the decay or decline of said family or noble class, as well as being common practice in real life nobles because of blood purity. You clearly don't like it. Just stop watching.

A book, fanfiction, movie, show, manga/hwa/hua is just a text, of sorts. It is an object. It cannot perform action. It cannot hurt anyone (unless we're talking about propaganda, which is something different). Everyone engages with and interprets a story differently because we all have individual experiences that we bring with us that results in specific dislikes or triggers. Engaging with media is not the equivalent of someone hitting you in the head with a sledgehammer because that will universally hurt. Someone being offended by a book or show is not universal because of the previous explanation. I'm not sure if these people actually like these things but want to prove their moral purity, so they complain and attack or whatever other reason. It always just comes across as extremely performative, unnecessary, childish, and American (pejorative). They act as though the world is constantly testing them with temptation via media, and they must pursue the path of penance and flagellation or risk going to hell. Grow up. This is so embarrassing.

--

[hivefleet-hellbender]

Out in the desert, no one can find you... (Hex Tiles 1)

A sharp wind whistles through the desert dunes, bringing no reprieve to the travelers following the thin paths left out in the sand. Don't drink from the river — the plants that grow along its shores contain toxins that could leave a grown man coughing up blood, and chemical spills float through the current. A faraway road carries the rare drone-tank, long abandoned from any sort of human use.

My newest hobby, to distract myself on months when the purse is a bit too tight to be buying plastic crack from Games Workshop, is to build modular hex tiles! It's super easy — I pick up a hundred of these wooden MDF tiles from Amazon for $10 (they're advertised as 2", but they're 1.75" from tip to tip, and each side is 1"), grab any spare craft supplies I have lying around, and get to work! They're super quick (this first batch of one hundred took me around a week) and they open the door to a lot of cool experimentation. A lot of this is inspired by the work of u/Marcus_Machiavelli over on Reddit, who makes these fantastic modular hive city components that I hope to someday be able to emulate. 

I'm making these for two purposes, neither of which I've put in practice yet but I'm hoping to get to do at some point. They're for:

Any mass-battle games played at 6mm. This could also work for Adeptus Titanicus or the upcoming Epic reboot that Games Workshop is working on. 

Tactical TTRPGs like Lancer that are played with large beings, who can operate on a 6mm scale.

Once I get some games in with them, I'm sure I'll encounter future problems and reassess how I approach them. But for now, this is what I've got!

I Hate Sand

The first set of tiles I made, to serve as the backdrop for the rest of them, are these sand tiles. I chose to make this a desert (and thus make a bunch of sand tiles) because I already had some sand lying around, and because it's really cheap and easy to work with. Be careful though! Anakin was right; sand sucks. Try and pick up a finer grain than what I went with, apply the sand in a more-controlled location than I did, and secure it better than I did too. But here's how I did them:

Coat the surface of the hex with a mix of PVA glue and water.

Sprinkle on a light dusting of gravel or small rocks.

Apply a thick coat of sand on top of the gravel.

Knock off excess sand and recycle it for next time.

Spray with 1-2 layers of varnish. (I would recommend a sealant instead, but I didn't have any at the time)

For the ones with little paths on them, I painted the path on with White before applying the gravel or sand, and it shows through well enough! The paths are unnecessary — they're a fun experiment, but I don't think I'll be making more of them in the future.

The Gurgling Creek

Making the river tiles was a bit more involved, but still pretty easy. The method I came up with I think looks a lot better than just painting on water, and is a lot easier to work with than resin or water effects. 

Use some kind of texture gel to build up the riverbanks, trying to have them end around 1/4" on the sides of the tiles where you want your river to connect.

Paint a strip Black where you want the river to flow, running from one edge to another.

Apply sand as before, everywhere except where you painted the black. (If you're worried about fucking this up, you can swap the order)

Varnish (or use sealant) as before. 

Take some gloss mod podge and mix it with a light blue paint, and apply in large goopy quantities everywhere you want water to be. Leave overnight to dry. (If you want the river to be less cloudy, apply many thin coats of mod podge instead, letting each layer dry before applying the next)

As an extra, stipple green along the edges of the water and use a dark green wash to create patches of vegetation.

The river pieces are my favorites, and I'm the most proud of them. The tiny bridge was a thin strip of balsa wood, painted white and then washed black. It turned out fine.

I did a solid mix of straight river pieces and curving river pieces. If I was going to do it again I'd make more curving pieces than straight river pieces, because the curving ones make more sense for how rivers work.

The Road To Nowhere

These road tiles turned out really well, perfect for a run-down highway in the middle of nowhere. Here's how I made them:

Take a piece of corkboard and cut it down to be 1.75" long and 1" wide.

Glue it on a hex with the two edges of the corkboard touching two sides of the hex.

Go at the edges with a knife, making it all worn down and busted up.

In some of these spots, I fucked up and glued the corkboard on wrong. To fix that, break off a chunk and reposition it so it'll connect correctly. This will look like a big fat crack in the middle of the road, which is perfect.

Coat in a layer of mod podge or PVA glue. Leave to dry.

Once dry, paint the cork entirely Gray.

Drybrush White onto the corkboard, focusing on the edges and exposed spots.

Paint two thin yellow lines along the middle of the road. (These are optional, but they do a lot to make the 6mm scale convincing)

Apply sand, as before, onto the ground and up the sides of the road, so it looks like the road is emerging from the sand. Maybe apply some sand in a couple spots in the cracks to make it look like the sand has gotten in there.

Varnish and/or sealant, as before.

Apply a Black wash to the road. (There's a lot of tricks here! If you want the yellow stripes to be more vibrant, you can only paint them on after the first black wash. You can also target spots of sand on the road to make it look like it's asphalt runoff, soaking black into the cracks.)

Apply a second Black wash to the road. 

The bridge was a bit more complicated, and took some finicky positioning and a trip to Kung-Fu Tea.

Take a boba tea straw and cut it into 1" segments, then cut them in half, gluing them to the middle of the hex as culverts.

Take corkboard and glue it over the culverts, bending it so it meets the two edges you want the bridge to run along. If it breaks, that's okay — this is a crumbling, middle-of-nowhere bridge.

Use texture gel and spare corkboard to fill in the gaps.

Use texture gel to define the steep edges of the river. Apply a little bit in between the culverts.

Do all the road steps to the road part of the bridge, and all the river steps to the river part of the bridge.

I'm exceedingly proud of the bridge hex. It turned out perfectly, and feels very emblematic of what I want this project to be like.

Why You, Too, Should Make 6mm Terrain

6mm terrain is amazing to make. Mistakes look like part of the landscape or the brain smudges them over due to the small size, and small changes look like fascinating little details. It really opens the imaginative space and I absolutely adore working at this scale. Plus I'm developing a ton of experience with various materials I've never worked with before, so I get to enjoy the triumph of carving foam or corkboard. It rules! I might even try to make a 28mm bridge after the success I had making a 6mm one.

My future plans for this project include cliffs, craters, 3D-printed shantytowns, and overpasses. But all that is for a later date — for now I'm gonna rest on my laurels, and spend the rest of the evening reconfiguring various tile combinations and cackling like a mad scientist.

[venomroses]

Zones Fashion

Obviously we all know how killjoys dress, but not everyone in the desert is a killjoy. So here's my headcanons about how non-killjoys in the desert dress. Below the cut because this is gonna get long:

Note: Edited this so rb this version please!

These forms of dress are specific to smaller, more isolated groups where people are usually at least 1st gen zoneborn, and doesn't apply to neutral towns, killjoys, those who follow more traditional city styles, etc. Also I know I said I was going to do drawings for this and I might add those later but for now just text bc the drawings aren't coming out how I like.

Younger kids (2-7):

Both girls and boys have long hair because protects them from the sun without trying to get them to keep hats or hoods on since kids can be difficult about the required amount of clothes, let alone additional stuff. It can also be hard to find children's sized clothes, so many guardians don't bother with "unnecessary" items. Hair is usually kept long enough to tie out of their face because kids also make lots of messes, but sometimes hair will be a bit shorter (usually for boys).

Younger siblings will rarely have anything that isn't a hand-me-down, so if you have an older sibling of the opposite gender then you're probably going to be dressing like the opposite gender for most of your childhood. This is rarely an issue since gender doesn't usually have the same relevance as it does in the real world.

Long skirts are common regardless of gender because they keep the legs covered to protect from sunburn. Also, you can grow significantly before an ankle-length skirt becomes too short, unlike pants where you just have to get new ones when you outgrow them. When skirts get short enough to start exposing a lot of skin, extra fabric can be sewn on, or leggings can be worn underneath. Wraparound skirts are preferred because you don't have to adjust the waist at all when the kid grows, so you don't have to worry about buying/making new clothes all the time. However, other types of skirts work just as well.

A lot of younger kids get homemade shoes. They don't need to be great quality, they just need to keep the kid from burning their feet. Once a kid is old enough to begin helping with the family business (if there is one), go on trips with their guardians, etc. they get real shoes since it becomes more important once they're working or away from home for longer periods.

Then older kids (8-12):

At this age kids are old enough to want to have more freedom of expression so styles vary a bit more.

Since they're mostly still wearing kids sized clothes which are harder to find in the Zones and outgrowing things quickly, hair is still usually kept long to protect them from the sun in place of a hat or a hood that would either be too big or outgrown too quickly to justify buying it. However, sometimes they'll get their hair cut short, especially boys. Regardless of length, there's more variations in hairstyles, since it's a form of expression that doesn't cost any money.

Skirts often come above the knees in the front for more mobility/range of motion. Kids this age are old enough to help with work or chores, so it's easier if they don't have to worry about the restrictions long skirts can bring. At this age skirts are less about practicality. Long skirts are seen as a more childish style as the main point of them is to let kids grow without needing to buy tons of new clothes all the time, and skirts of any length can be impractical. Some guardians don't see the point of the skirt if the kid is just going to be wearing pants underneath anyway and the kid transitions into just wearing pants. For those who do keep wearing it, it makes their ages and allegiances clear. Since "adulthood" is pretty much "whenever you look like an adult" or "whenever you can do the same work as an adult" it makes it clear that this is a child, and that they're not a killjoy (since some killjoys can be this young).

Again, kids this age usually aren't working actual jobs yet, so sandals are more common than closed-toe shoes that might be required for a more dangerous job. Sandals are preferred over closed-toe shoes since they take less supplies to make so they're cheaper. These sandals might be homemade or might be made more professionally.

Younger teenagers (13-15):

This is the age where you'll see a lot of actual variation in style. First short haircuts are common at this age. Some kids might have a job, so hair length is usually depending on the job they have instead of gender. A job where they're often inside or where long hair would get in the way? Short haircut. A job where they're often outside? Long hair. Of course, some people will still pick a style they like over practicality, but looks over practicality is a very killjoy-esque mentality that most of the desert does not follow.

Outfits vary a lot, again based on what's practical for work, but it's common for their clothes to be a bit oversized, since they're usually still on the smaller end even if they are wearing adult sizes by now.

Some kids still wear skirts to indicate their age if their guardians feel that they're not ready to be seen as an adult, but many wear pants only.

Most kids have close-toed shoes now, but again they might be a bit too big. Rags can be stuffed in the toes until they fit properly.

Older teenagers (16-19):

Can pretty much look like anything! Just like for younger teenagers, haircuts and forms of dress are more specific to what you're doing, since most people have some sort of job at this age. Skirts are not worn anymore.

Jobs often work like trades, where you learn to do something and make that your career, instead of switching between them a lot. A lot of jobs are making necessities like clothes, candles, and food, or services like doctors/nurses, messengers, etc. Sometimes certain professions go together, like gunsmiths (who can make or fix guns) will work with artists for killjoys or anyone who'd rather have someone else paint their raygun for them. Markets are a great place to sell their wares so a lot of vendors there are going to be people like this.

If you're interested in other types of people in the Zones/time periods and how they dress send me an ask or something bc worldbuilding my beloved <3

[iztea]

They still feel off specially the eyes i could feel them about to manifest their own life and run off

Even my linework is ... Idk what's wrong and it's the problem maybe I'm staring too much but I don't think so

Sorry for bothering alot but i loved your last advice ty

i think the main problem with the first picture has to do with the proportions and anatomy of the lower body area aka the neck and shoulders. i'd make the shoulders wider and add some sort of form to the neck so that it looks believable instead of a flat rectangle shape ( maybe make it slimmer a bit too? although that might be just a stylistic choice so you do you). That's the first thing i'd fix because otherwise the head looks too big in comparison to the rest of the body, and it can throw you off

I actually think you did a great job with the eyes, they have a lot of life and that comes from the fact that they are the most rendered part of your piece, which is not a bad thing. The thing is, while it is true that the eyes are the main focal point of a face and portrait in general, that doesn't mean you can neglect the other parts, so i think it is also a consistency issue or not figuring out exactly what sort of style or rendering you want to go with that holds you back (which is totally fine and normal ofc). So let's pick a semi-realistic stylized rendering style for this since this is the vibe i'm getting from this piece.

If that's the style we're going for, then the face should have a bit more form. You have to remember that our facial features ( eyes, nose, lips) are connected with each other via the planes of the face, right? So, for a semirealistic style, revisit your reference and try to idenitify what those planes are and how they connect to those features, and most importantly, where the shadows hit, and just accentuate them more, because at the moment they look like 3rd forms plastered over a 2d surface which is not right, our skin has form as well. Color-wise, don't be afraid to go darker with the shadows, they really make your drawings pop. Without looking at a reference, i'd def add some shadow under the lips, a bit where the lips connect to the nose, under the neck, and in the lower body area.

I'm really trying to avoid the most basic answer which is " practice anatomy !!1! " because everyone can say that however, at the end of the day, this is the main thing the face lacks. And tbvh you don't have to actually know anatomy, you just gotta know some proportions things that make the face look believable enough. I feel like the features are mostly just drawn from the reference without an understanding of the structure behind it. Something tells me that in the reference picture, the person had their head tilted a bit upwards, but here it's kinda flat and the features are just painted without following the motion. Try to draw over your reference picture the vertical and horizontal lines and make up the head shape behind it to figure out the way it is tilting and facing, because the lips, eyes nose, etc will follow that same sort of flow, they're not stationary. I'd also make the eyes a bit smaller, or maybe make the skull bigger bc i think they are touching the outer edge too much now, and also narrow the distance between the nose and lips just a bit. Kinda hard to explain without actually doing it myself. But really, try to play with that, and try getting comfy with drawing 3d forms i know it's easier said than done but..... there really isn't any shortcut unfortunately As for the lineart drawing, yes it's actually pretty solid, i like that duplicate blur thing you did, i'm familiar with that technique and it def has its perks so that's great. Im not an expert on lineart, however here i think there are too many " unnecessary" lines that could easily be omitted (purple). Less is more and all that~ The hair strands at the end feel too stiff and identical (green). If you notice, they all just end in this " V" shape and they rarely overlap thus making the image look flat. Try to break this pattern by introducing more spontaneity aka random hairflies, making the strands overlap, adding more shape variety etc

Make sure that the lines connect properly whenever they meet, and also although you already did it and i think that's great, you can make some lines even thicker, go even further and add even more lineweight. As a general thing, usually, the exterior or contour lines are thicker and whatever it is inside is thinner so experiment with that, you can start from the nose- thicker lines for the nostrils thinner for that nose tip i forgot what it's called and also add thin lines that just hint at the form. Lineart is hardd so i don't blame you, but if you're gonna keep the lineart in, try "shading" with black blocks so to speak, make sure the lineart layer can stand on its own, and pay more attention to the lower part area (neck and shoulders) even if it is less exciting to ink