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shirecorn · 6 months

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Your reindeer designs give me such childish joy I can't wait to see the rest. What's your process (aka any advice) for designing from scratch with something like just a name or concept?

Redbubble (buy reindeer swag) || Patreon (see all early!) || Ko-fi

See more free tutorials!

You can see my process unfold in real time by joining any tier of my patreon discord. Which doesn't even have to go through patreon! If you want, you can just pay me $20 and let you in for a year (and then lose track and probably keep you anyway)

Here's a preview using comet! (nevermind the preview thing I wrote you a whole lecture lol)

initial sketches in 2021:

Revisited in 2022 and 2023

I was constantly asking which design was the weakest, why, and how to fix it. Whenever I tested without the magical comet behind it, people could only guess who comet was by process of elimination.

I didn't want to rely on throwing icons into the design. I wanted each one to communicate through shape and silhouette alone. It would be like drawing a little cherub with a bow and arrow floating along with cupid. If you have to include a nametag to communicate, your design can be improved.

So I tried a few different strategies to say "comet" before I realized I could twist the antlers into any shape I wanted. I was worried I would have to discard the drawing and restart from scratch! Which is what I did for rudolph about 6 times before I had a breakthrough.

Then I gave my patrons a brief lesson in antlers to explain where and why I was placing the tines. When I stray from the caribou structure, I do so knowingly in order to achieve something that cannot be achieved within the caribou shape, like dancer's tutu. Know the rules before you break them. My goal is to make animal nerds (myself chief among them) happy when they see species-specific anatomy instead of cop outs.

I tried a few things before figuring out antlers could become comet

Another thing that often caribou have is an unsymmetrical "spork" that comes forward off only one antler. I figured this out by looking at hundreds of reindeer pictures and saving them to my reference folder. A few of my designs have this, that's what the little spiral is in the final comet antler design.

When I put comet in my lineup, I realized that the antlers I drew were way more stylized, chunky, and "tribal" than the others. I had already changed the proportions on one of my designs to match, so then I had to hack away at the basic comet rack to make it look natural.

I already knew that comet's colors would be easy because a basic reindeer already Has the big comet on the shoulder. But here's a peak at all the reindeer images I posted for my patrons to look at.

As you can see below, I chose reindeer markings for all my designs instead of other deer or animals. Even vixen is tied to actually possible reindeer patterns rather than copy-pasting a fox. Almost all of my designs have light-colored anklets on dark colored legs, which is very common with caribou of any color. This is the sort of thing no one tells you; you have to observe it yourself.

Ft cupid's early design! I was continually testing out my reindeer silhouettes and colors on new people, taking their feedback, and fixing what wasn't clicking.

I know I could have made vixen sexy and curvy to play into a recognizable trope, but I really wanted them to be scary and fox-like. Sometimes you gotta do what you want and not what you think will appeal to audiences. Reindeer Days is a purposeful exercise in audience resonance. Most of my art is 100% me and what I feel like doing with no regards to anyone else. So it was a fun challenge!

My patrons also got to see me making fun of corporate designs for recognizably/cliches at the expense of literally anything good

One of these is going to get a lot more "that must be vixen!" results from people who aren't constantly thinking about animal colors, markings, hunting strategies, and teeth.

And one rocks.

Vixen changed the least from the initial 2021 concept!

A Vixen is a female fox. In english slang, it means a cunning, fierce human woman, and sometimes sexually attractive or promiscuous. Quite often an insult to someone because she won't date you!

But to me, a vixen is an animal. A predator.

When designing to reference something, I like to hit it at multiple angles, referencing obscure trivia about something to delight and educate. This is done by researching a topic deeply, far below surface level and beyond what you think you need to make your design. Or in my case its just knowing a bunch of animal trivia already.

After researching/dredging your knowledge, sit there and Think. Don't draw anything. Come up with several ideas and then throw them all in at once for the ultimate trivia design.

Trivia about red foxes:

They have Long bushy tails

They have teeth that include large sharp canines, flat incisors, triangular premolars, and chunky molars with points on them that slide scissor-like with the molars above to cut meat via chewing

They hunt rodents in burrows under the snow by jumping into the air, arcing, and slamming down with their face through the snow

They are orange

They have a dark vertical stripe on their snout

They have black legs, with the backs and bottoms being orange

Translated into the design:

Pose based on a fox jumping, about to land in the snow

Antlers twisted to resemble teeth

Long (for a reindeer) bushy tail

black mark on snout

Some adjustment to the pose to be at the top of the arc and flow better.

Tinkering with the design to make it recognizable but not 100% copypasta fox

I was finally happy with a design that absolutely showed "fox" while still being creative and plausibly caribou shaped. This would absolutely communicate who it is! I thought!

The most obvious one of the bunch! After all, everyone knows what a vixen is!

Nope! No they do not

Want to be part of the design process, help me with WIPs months before everyone else, see exclusive doodles every day, and join a funky little community?

(you also get to see photos of my dog)

Connect your discord to your patreon and join any tier to automatically get added to the server. Not a fan of patreon or monthly subscriptions? message me here, on ko-fi, or via email (shirecorn.art@ gmail.com) and ask if you can pay $20 to get put in the server for at least a year and longer if we work it out later!

This was supposed to be a preview to get you to pay me but instead I wrote an entire lecture for free because I can't help myself.

Want to thank me for the free info? Tag me when you use what you learned! Comment and give feedback! If I could pay rent with attention I would never need anything else in life.

You can also thank me by tipping my ko-fi! I use it to buy pens since I die if I have caffeine. But could you imagine??

#shire screams #shire draws #art tips #art tutorial #character design #character design tutorial #tutorial #behind the scenes #design tutorial #design tips #reindeer days #ask #ramble machine

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notyour-valentine · 1 year

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A Secret, a Fear and a Hatbox ~ dad!Tommy Shelby (Fluff)

[Masterlist] [Taglist]

Summary: With his wife away, Tommy feels more helpless than ever at the change of behaviour in his children

Note: Written for @look-at-the-soul and her 900 follower celebration: I hope you enjoy!

All my writing is produced by an adult and created with an adult audience in mind (18/21+). You are responsible for your own media consumption. I do not consent to my work being translated, copied or posted elsewhere on this platform or any other.

Warning: unrealistic dog behaviour

Wordcount: 3076 words

Of course, Tommy thought.

Of course, something would be wrong with his children in the one week of the year when his wife was out of the house, worse: un - fucking - reachable.

Ada be damned, for wanting to take all the women of the family minus Linda over to America for a week.

They were on their way back now, but that didn’t help.

While she was on that boat, Tommy couldn’t reach her and ask her if (1) she knew what was up, (2) how he could find out what was up and (3) how he could resolve whatever was up.

And that would be another three days, eight hours and forty-seven minutes, at least according to the advertising of the cruise company.

He shut the lid of his pocket watch with a sigh and slipped it back into his pocket.

Maybe, he thought as he reached for the whisky, he was simply overthinking.

He had never been alone with the children before, well technically he wasn’t now, with Frances and the maids, but he was the only parent around.

Despite their astronomical rise, she had resented the idea of a nanny, and shuddered at the thought of a nursery maid, and Tommy had agreed.

He didn’t mind other people cooking his food and ironing his shirts, but a near stranger holding his children, changing them, bathing them, rocking them to sleep?

Someone who wasn’t blood? Who wasn’t family?

Occasionally, he could tolerate the thought, but as normality?

Absolutely not.

Something tribal in him prevented the entertainment of such an idea, but that left him in the tight spot of now shouldering the responsibility for the two in her absence.

For all his faults, he had noticed the change in his children.

It had started well enough, but after a few days, it had all shifted.

Usually, Betty would be the essence of decorum, more perfect in every way than one of the children in the catalogues, as if she was born in a place like Arrow House and not, unlike her brother, in Watery Lane.

But she wolfed down her food like her little brother did, and requested to leave the table while still chewing.

That had never happened before, even at Christmas, or on Birthdays.

And little Georgie, well, usually it nearly took force or bribery to get him to stay indoors, always climbing trees and tending to the horses, but now he was his sister’s constant shadow, and as silent as one too.

His head snapped up as he heard the rhythm of little feet on the grand staircase which led right past his office, and hushed voices too, even though they were too soft for him to make out the words.

With a sigh he pushed his chair back and crossed his office in long strides. When he pulled the door open, he saw both Betty and Georgie already halfway though the entrance hall - with Betty carrying a large white box in her hands.

When Georgie saw him, he gasped and grabbed his older sister’s arm, his eyes wide in horror.

Betty turned, saw him, gulped and then offered him the sweetest of smiles.

“Hello Daddy!”, she chirped as bright as the early summer sun. “I’m so sorry if we were loud. We were just going outside for some fresh air.”

“And what’s that then, eh?”, he asked, nodding to the box.

It seemed vaguely familiar but on closer inspection, he remembered that the dark green accents were that of the London Hatmaker he had sent her to before taking her to the races a few years back.

“Are you playing with your mother’s clothes?”, he wanted to know.

“I’m sure she won’t mind!”, Betty said at once, her hands tightening around the box.

“Oh she’ll mind when you get stains on it.”

That hat had been expensive, paying not just for the craftsmanship or material, but double for the name.

She had been furious about the price, he remembered, but it had been worth it. They were moving up in the world, and that meant moving on beyond the little shops at the Bull Ring in Birmingham.

“I’ll take great care.”, Betty promised. “Goodbye now.”

With that, for her, the conversation was over.

Tommy shifted, glanced back at his office door and cleared his throat.

“I’ve got a few more papers to go through and then I can join you.”, he suggested. After all, he had hoped to spend some time with his children while their mother was away.

“Take out the horses, or the cart, how about that George?”

He could see it already, him and George driving that cart up and down the roads leading to and from Arrow House, with little darling Betty lounging beside them in one of her mother’s gigantic hats. That is, until she’d get the idea to jump on a pony’s back and try to outrace them.

To his surprise, George shook his head. “Perhaps some time else.”, Betty agreed.

That stung more than Tommy thought it would, and so he tried again.

“Why’s that then, eh?”, he wanted to know, cautiously coming closer.

“We’re very busy.”, his daughter said sharply. “Busy?”, Tommy asked as his brows threatened to vanish in his hairline.

“What have you two got to be busy about?”

George looked caught out and stared at his feet, but Betty was unfazed.

“Children’s matters, Daddy. You wouldn’t understand.”

With that, she turned, her hair and the ribbon that held it in place, fluttering behind her.

“Come along now Georgie.”, she instructed, and with that off they went, leaving Tommy alone in the hall.

He watched them leave and tried to ignore the ache in his chest as he returned to his office.

He knew he worked long and hard, but he did it to give them everything. Still, every single time his wife had reminded him he ought to spend more time with them, with his family, rattled around in his head, as memories of every event, excursion or trip he had cancelled his participation in came back to haunt him.

He was there, for every birthday, for Christmases and Easter, even if he occasionally slipped away to his office for some work, and almost every performance?

He taught to ride and how to care for horses.

He kissed them goodnight every time he could and didn’t shy away from embraces and hugs.

Still, what if it wasn’t enough to make up for all he had missed.

What of all the family memories they had acquired were less due to him and solely due to his wife? That picnic at the lake? That trip to the sea?

In truth, he had expected that with their mother away, the children would flock to him the way they did when he returned from work, wanting to spend as much time with him as they usually did with her.

He had thought he would have to distract them in order to get a few moments alone in the office and not that his seven year old would order his return there to be rid of him.

But perhaps his children had gotten so used to his absence that his presence no longer made a difference to him.

That idea hurt, and he wished more than ever to pick up that stupid telephone hearer and demand his wife be summoned to the other side. If he couldn’t feel the warmth of her hands and the softness of her embrace to soothe his worries, her voice alone would have to do.

Three days, eight hours and fourteen minutes.

No, he would try again, he thought and hurried outside.

The swing was empty, the trees void of all invaders, and the green without anyone playing croquet or catch or hoops or anything, really.

And when he’d ask a gardener, he was told that Betty and George had formed a procession all the way behind the hedge, stayed there for a moment, and then returned to the house the same way they had done.

“Well, not exactly, Sir.”, the gardener had told him, rubbing his sun-tanned forehead. “They took the servant’s entrance, they did.”

That was the one that didn’t go through the hall and thereby avoided passing his office.

Fuck, Tommy thought and lit a cigarette on the way back.

In the coming hours he couldn’t focus on the reports, the letters and papers. He couldn’t focus on anything except the fact that his children clearly and undoubtedly were avoiding him, and that at a time when they should have come running.

When Frances asked him if he would like to join his children at their dinner, a formality, since he usually tried to if he could, he declined.

After a whole case of cigarettes, his appetite was gone anyhow.

That made him feel like a coward.

He should talk to them, should try to do better, to make up for the lost time, but a debilitating weight had draped over his shoulders and the one person to lift it was still on a boat crossing the Atlantic.

Three days, four hours and two minutes.

She’d know what to do, how to fix it.

She always did, like with Georgie’s ear infections of Betty’s coughs, or his own headaches. From somewhere in the back of her mind and the depths of her cabinets, she’d find a magical cure to make things right.

But until she returned, he was all on his own and he had never felt lonelier.

When Frances told him the children were headed for bed, it was as if he had been called to his own execution.

He knew that feeling, had felt it more than once, so it wasn’t an exaggeration.

The night nursery was right next to their shared bedroom, something they had both wanted, for their children to be close.

When he entered, they were already tucked in, Betty on the right, Georgie on the left.

“All ready for bed?”, he asked.

Both nodded.

“Would you like a story?”, he asked, glancing over his shoulder to the bookshelf, his eyes lingering on the Tales of Robin Hood - Georgie’s favourite.

For a split second he saw a glint in his eyes, but then he slammed his jaw shut and shook his head.

“No thank you!”, Betty said, leaning forward and presenting her cheek to him.

With a sigh, Tommy leaned in and kissed her goodnight, proceeding to do the same with Georgie.

At the door, he turned, and looked back at them both who were watching with wide eyes, as if they couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

“You know,”, he mumbled, his hands clutching the door knob until his knuckles turned white, as he tried to find the words.

It wasn’t too difficult, he thought, just tell them you love them, Tom

Whether it was his voice or his wife’s, he could not say.

But before the words had a chance to pass his lips, he heard a shuffle.

Then Betty was on her feet. “Right!”, she said loudly, giving him a gentle shove. “Goodnight, Daddy, goodnight!”

This insistence was new, and he didn’t know what to make of it, so he just stared.

Then he heard it again. The shuffle.

But it wasn’t coming from Georgie’s bed on the left, nor her now deserted bed on the right, but from the wardrobe across from it.

“What’s that?”, he asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

“What’s what?”, Betty asked, batting her eyelashes.

At the same time, Georgie said: “It’s nothing.”

When they realised what they had done, Betty blushed and Georgie paled.

Slowly, Tommy looked from one to the other. “You’ve got to the count of three to tell me what’s in there!”, he demanded, seriously considering if he could head back to his bedroom and reach for the bedside drawer to retrieve his gun.

Neither one of his children made a move to speak and so the three counts passed without a reaction.

“Daddy!”, Betty warned, tugging at his sleeve as he pushed past her and towards the wardrobe.

He opened it and was met with - clothes.

Betty’s dresses and skirts, all hanging in a neat, tidy row, an explosion of pastels and floral prints.

Then he heard it again, the shuffle and scratching and when he looked down, towards the boxes of shoes and hats, he noticed one large one atop a smaller one, the lid slightly ajar.

With one flick, he sent the lid flying, ready for anything.

“Fu-”

He caught himself just in time as he saw the content.

It was a dog, he realised after staring at it for a few heartbeats, even if it was in size far closer than a cat, and even smaller than one too, with pointed ears and dark, clear eyes.

He looked away, then down again, before turning to his children.

“Why -” the absolute fuck “is there a dog in your nursery?”

“Mummy!”, Georgie quickly said.

“Mummy?”, Tommy asked.

Georgie nodded, but he didn’t miss the way Betty stared at him in surprise.

That told him it was a lie, but Georgie went further.

“Daddy, you know Mummy doesn’t like the horses as much as we do, so we thought a dog will make her happy.”

Another lie, or rather an impressively tall tale to cover up, but it didn't change the fact that he was staring at a dog, small or not, who was very much alive and who's mere existence in this moment required a reaction.

Pinching the bridge of his nose with the hand that wasn't holding the box, he sat down on the foot of Georgie's bed and stared at the intruder.

"And instead of asking for a dog,", he sighed, "you two…nicked one? Stole one?"

He wouldn't put it past them. Georgie had the guts and Betty the wits to pull it off.

Made evident by the fact that they had snuck it past him for the devil knows how long.

"Oh don’t be silly Daddy,", Betty giggled. "There was no time to ask."

Wasn't there, Elizabeth Shelby? He wanted to ask, but Georgie came to his sister's defence.

"When I found him he was all wet and shaking and he crawled into my coat, right here!"

He rubbed his side where his upper arms brushed against the side of his torso.

"And when was that?", Tommy wanted to know, sounding as tired, old and helpless as he felt.

Georgie looked to Betty who gave a shrug of resignation.

"When we were at Uncle Charlie's. We were playing Coppers and Blinders and I found him tied up in one of the caves."

The pup wouldn't have been put there by Charlie or Curly.

Charlie had his faults, but he preferred animals to humans and Curly, well, he couldn't harm a fly even with a gun to his head.

And the caves, as Georgie called them, were the places they stored boxes of goods before sending them up it down the Cut.

But that time at Charlie's Yard had been two days ago.

"How has he not made a mess yet?", He asked, seriously hoping that they wouldn't stumble on a far worse surprise under a carpet or in the corner of a cupboard.

Then he realised - the hat box.

The children must've smuggled him in and out time and time again, right under his and all the servants' noses.

Betty sat down next to him, covering his hand with her little one, soft as rose petals.

"He's been so very good and he hasn't even disturbed you with barking, has he?", She asked, batting her eyelashes up at him. "No trouble at all."

Tommy sighed, already knowing where she was intent on going.

"You can't keep a dog in the nursery, Elizabeth."

Besides, he'd probably have lice or worms.

Fuck

If his wife came back from America and the children had lice, there’d be hell to pay.

Betty stroked his hand again.

“We’d be ever so sad if we’d have to give him away now.”, she told him. “We’d cry for days and days, won’t we Georgie?”

“I don’t cry!”, he argued, puffing up his chest.

And yet when his sister glared at him, he quickly shifted gears.

“But I-I would, if you’d make us give him up.”

That appeased his sister, who gave him a pleased nod before turning back to their father. “So either a sea of tears, Daddy, or we take one my prettiest ribbons and tie it around his neck and make Mummy the happiest Lady in the whole world when she comes back.”

Tommy rubbed his temple once more.

Although he was beyond relieved that he found the reason for his children’s shift in behaviour, this caused a whole host of problems.

He didn’t want a dog.

They didn’t need a dog. Besides, this wasn’t even a proper dog who could guard a house, chase away an intruder or catch a rabbit.

But he also knew that the threat of tears wasn’t just an empty promise.

Knowing Betty and her antics, she’d probably throw herself at her mother’s feet the moment she came into view, and that Georgie wouldn’t be far behind.

And as a betting man, he knew his way around odds.

“No.”, he said, looking from one to the other.

“What?”, Betty gasped, her large eyes filling with tears, while George erupted into a cascade of protests.

He raised his hands for silence, but struggled to get it, and when he did, both his children pouted.

“You’re not putting this on your mother.”, he said sharply, pointing at them both. “If you want this dog to stay, he will be your responsibility and you’ll take care of him. You will walk him. You will wash him. You will feed him and if he pisses on the floor, you will clean it up, is that understood?”

George nodded eagerly, but Betty hesitated. “But we will have help, no?”, she asked. “After all, he’ll have to go to the vet some time and Georgie and I can’t drive. And we aren’t allowed to touch the cleaning products either.”

Sneaky menace, Tommy thought, not without pride.

She had inherited his wits and his wife’s way with words and always found a loophole in absolutely anything, and she had caught him out once again.

He nodded.

Betty looked to Georgie, who was grinning from ear to ear and nodded eagerly.

Then, on behalf of them both, she spat into her palm and stretched it out to him, a triumphant smile on her lips.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed and as always I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Daer Mar, I hope you enjoyed this story! Once more congratulations on your milestone and celebration and all my best to you and your little friend!

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@lilyrachelcassidy @jyessaminereads @chlorrox @watercolorskyy @books-livre @quarterpastmidnight @lilyevanswhore @polishcrazyone @zablife @just-a-harmless-patato @stevie75 @flyingjosephine-blog @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @babayaga67 @butterfly-skinnylegend @shelbydelrey @mrkdvidal1989 @raincoffeeandfandoms @midnightmagpiemama @adaydreamaway08

Tommy

@knowledgefulbutterfly @babayaga67 @signorellisantichrist @lespendy @geeksareunique @look-at-the-soul @lothbrokcore @rangerelik @elenavampire21 @evanore

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sl33paholics · 7 months

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Once Upon An Us

This new series I'm currently starting is a current passion project of mine. I really want to show my baby boy Santana some love (since you rarely see him mentioned in anything on here or at all). This series will be updated every Friday. Almost everything in here is fiction (yes, including the names of places n tribes n whatnot). Refer to this post here to see the jist. Other than that, enjoy :P

Chapter One here

Prologue.

In the heart of the dense, emerald-hued rainforest of Narroranna, the rhythmic pulse of tribal drums echoes through ancient banyan trees. The Bright Arrow Horde, stewards of nature's secrets, gathers beneath the celestial hood. As the elders weave tales of ancestors who communed with spirits and danced with the elements, a shadow falls upon the horizon. Unseen forces stir, challenging the delicate balance between tradition and an encroaching modern world. Little do the people realize that the choices they make will shape the destiny not only of their tribe but also the delicate tapestry of the natural world they call home.

The elders, their weathered faces etched with wisdom, recount tales of the first Bright Arrow, an ancient warrior said to have harnessed the lightning's fury and spoken to the spirits of the forest. As the tribe listens, the youngest among them, Y/N, felt an arm snake its way around her shoulder. She turned to find her father, Karey. "My little star," he murmured. Her skin prickled as if electricity crackled beneath his touch. "These stories have been passed down to generation to generation. The Great Ancestors have blessed our tribe." His words were meant for her ears alone, but she knew it was meant for all of the Bright Arrow.

As the elders started their chant around the fire, their tones got more urgent, the air charged. They spoke in voices like thunder. Y/N strained to understand, but every word seemed drowned out by an ocean of sound. Staring into the flames, she saw sparks shoot up from the wood, lighting the shadows dancing on the walls. It felt like something had crawled up from the depths below, crawling toward her, until she felt the weight of another presence hovering over her head.

Y/N tightly gripped onto her father's arm. He looked down at her, concerned. "Are you well?" She shook her head. "What are you seeing?" Another shake of her head. He held her tighter. "Do you want to leave?" She nodded. He smiled sadly, squeezing her hand. "Then stay close to me." Karey took Y/N out of the circle of elders and led her outside.

The night sky was blanketed with a thick layer of clouds. A sharp breeze whistled past, sending droplets of water flying into the darkness. Y/N and her father sat next to each other on a fallen log by the shore. Y/N wrapped her arms around her legs, hugging them tight. "Father," she whispered. "What's happening inside?" He reached out and touched her face gently. "You don't need to worry about it right now, my star." Y/N looked away. "You're young... you're only 14 years old, my little star. You'll get older and wiser and be able to see things much differently than your peers." His gentle smile made Y/N feel so safe. She didn't know what to say. "For now, you should focus on your studies and learning how to hunt and grow crops..." He paused.

"And finding love."

"Love?" Y/N asked.

"Yes. Love is what keeps family strong. It makes us stronger, too. And one day when you're older, you'll know how true it is." Y/N looked away and bit her lip. She'd never thought of it that way. But the truth seemed obvious now. Father was right. Y/N would know the answer soon enough.

It's been nine years.

Y/N walked past the circle alongside her mother, Nayeli. She heard her mother let out a huff as she continued down the path. "I remember those days," her mother spoke quietly.

"You around circle with those other children many moons ago, oh my, how time flies," Her mother said with a chuckle. "Now you're all grown up." Y/N nodded in agreement with her mother's statement, but there was no denying the truth behind it. In fact, she felt quite grown up herself now, at twenty-three years old, but Y/N's mind was consumed by thoughts of the future, of where she was going next, what life would be like when she wasn't surrounded by the people she grew up with. Even thinking about love had never really occurred to her.

She followed her mother down a small hill that overlooked the village. "Mother," Y/N said tentatively. "Will I meet anyone special someday? Someone special enough to marry?" Her mother stopped walking. The wind blew harder, causing her dark hair to whip against her face. She pulled it back with her fingers before answering. "There is someone." Y/N swallowed hard. Why was this such a big deal to her mother, anyway? "Who is he?" Y/N asked. Her mother sighed. "That is why we've waited so long. We wanted to tell you first. He comes from a noble family."

Y/N couldn't help but stay silent throughout the rest of the walk 'a noble family...?' just hearing that made her heart thumped hard in her chest. Upon entering the wigwam, she saw her father across a man and a much more middle-aged male.

Their eyes met, and the moment stretched out for Y/N. Suddenly, the room felt small, suffocatingly hot.

Soon, the three were now sitting in front of the two men.

Their heads bowed forward in respect, waiting for a reaction from the two. "Y/N, this is Chief Alo of The Golden Ribbon Children and his son, Kele."

Y/N smiled politely, offering a small bow. The younger male grunted and crossed his arms as if to refuse the offer of introductions. Y/N was relieved. It felt awkward. She wasn't used to being around people her own age. "We've been told out of many of the women he's introduced to his son, none of them seemed to suit him," her mother said, "but Kele has agreed to accept you as his wife. We've given you the proper ceremony."

Kele glared at Y/N. His dark brown eyes looked almost black. For some reason, that irked her. How dare he look at her that way? She glanced up at her father. He stared back, unblinking. She swallowed hard, hoping her nervousness wouldn't show through her expression. "When exactly are these ceremonies, Chief Alo?" she asked.

Chief Alo chuckled. "Well, you mustn't be too impatient. There's nothing wrong with a few more cycles to settle down, you know." Kele shot him a dirty look. Y/N fought off a smile. Her mother cleared her throat. "Perhaps give us two months? That sounds fair, yes?"

Y/N nodded slowly. Two months sounded good. It was better than being married to a stranger. She would have to learn to live with Kele, after all.

After all of the conversation and arraignment, they said their goodbyes and left. Y/N sat there in silence beside her father. Neither had anything else to say. Eventually, she broke the silence. "I don't think I could go through with this, father." Her voice wavered with emotion. "I mean, marrying a stranger? You told me nine years ago that I should find the one that suits me best. An arranged marriage? How could you and mother do this behind my back...?" Her words tumbled out quickly, spilling forth from deep within her soul. Her father's face softened. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, child. This was bound to happen someday. The Great Ancestors have brought this upon us."

"How can you be so sure?" she cried. Her father hesitated. He stared off into the distance. When he finally spoke, his voice seemed far away. "Because I'm sure that this will bring great happiness to our tribe, to you and your siblings. This will be a blessing." He squeezed her shoulder. "A blessing? To be married off to someone I don't even know? What sort of blessing is this?" Tears started streaming down her cheeks. She tried to hold them back, but she was helpless, sobbing uncontrollably, not noticing as her father wrapped his arms around her.

She hoped that soon things would fall apart.

#anime #jojo no kimyō na bōken #black writers #female writers #poc writer #black reader #x black reader #yandere jojo #pillar men #battle tendency #santana jjba #santana jojo #yandere jjba #jjba smut #jjba part 2 #jojos bizarre adventure

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overtail · 3 months

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Chapter One - Tribal Trust

Stable Ground - Sokka x OC

🪃⛰️

I apologize if this seems boring, it is the first chapter!

...

The air was thick in the forest west of Omashu. It was hard to breathe, especially when you were running away from an angry hoard of Fire Nation soldiers. After the Gaang had their 'fun' with Bumi, they had decided to travel west.

Usually, they would escape on Appa's furry back, soaring through the air and laughing at the soldiers below, but of course he had gone to find food about 10 minutes before the ambush.

Katara was using the water from a nearby lake to whip soldiers into the air, making icicles and throwing the objects at them. Aang was running far ahead, trying to look for any sign of Appa or safety. And of course, Sokka was in the back, huffing and puffing while he let out a girly scream at the fiery arrows shooting past his head. One of them had actually pierced his coat, and he had to be drenched by Katara to not burn alive.

"I did not want to get involved with all this magic crap!"

He screamed in a high pitched voice. A Soldier cackled behind him, throwing a fireball past his head. God, they had to be playing with him, right?

"Sokka, maybe you should spend less time complaining and more time running!"

Katara. spoke, creating a wave to shove a few enemies back.

"Good- Good idea!"

It wasn't very helpful that Aang wasn't assisting with the fight. It was pissing Katara off quite a bit, which only fueled the fire of her anger towards the soldiers.

Sokka wasn't really useful either -- other than being a target. It was easy to predict the fighters throws since they were almost all directed at Sokka.

"Guys! There's a village! Come on!"

Aang's voice was heard from up ahead, turning into an open gate. Katara gasped, stopping her fight to speed up. Sokka just groaned, not happy with the loss of defense.

"How nice! Leave the guy with no powers behind!"

Sokka turned around the corner, immediately bumping into Aang who was standing completely still. He and Katara were in a battle stance, and Sokka quickly stood up straight, grabbing his boomerang.

The fire troop stopped in front of them, not stepping into the village. They stared intensely, before smiling menacingly. Their teeth were yellow and gross, obviously unhygienic from the lack of a proper bathroom.

The group dispersed, laughing manically and never removing their eyes from the group. Sokka loosened up a bit, raising a curious brow at the sudden end of the chase.

"Wha-"

"Shut up Sokka!"

Katara interrupted, shushing him.

"Why did they-"

"Shhh!"

They all stood still, quiet and looking out for any surprise attack. But there was nothing. Only the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind and their heavy breaths.

"How odd.."

Aang said, standing straight up and looking around.

"Something is weird about this place.."

"Obviously."

Katara retorted, crossing her arms and turning to face the rest of the village.

"Oh, so you guys can talk but I can't?"

Katara ignored him, and Aang just let out a sympathetic shrug. Somka groaned, stepping back and glancing at the area.

The place seemed abandoned. There were tents with assorted colors surrounding campfires, and two large buildings. One was on the opposite side of the village, and the other right text to them near the entrance.

"What is this place?"

Katara whispered, taking a step forward. Aang placed a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back.

"Be careful. There could be worse than the fire nation here.."

Katara nodded, huffing out a nervous breath. Though Aangs warning was fresh in his mind, Sokka couldn't help but walk into the center of the village. Curiosity was swarming his mind.

"Sokka be careful."

Katara spoke with urgency, looking at him with concerned eyes.

"Katara, it's fine! Look, this place is abandoned-"

Before he could finish his sentence, he screamed. The ground surrounding him and his friends rose up, like spikes growing from the floor. Katara grabbed onto Aang quickly, and Sokka got into a fighting stance, holding his boomerang in front of him.

"Who goes there?"

A voice boomed all around, the source unidentifiable. Sokka shivered, looking all around. His eyes locked onto Katara and Aang, who were also trying to find the voice.

"This is sacred land! It is forbidden for the Fire Nation to step foot here!"

Katara, in the middle of her shake, spoke,

"We mean no harm, sir -- or uh ma'am. We were just trying to escape the fire nation troops. We have made a terrible mistake wandering here."

The voice groaned, and footsteps clicking against the brick path flooring. The spikes began to sink back into the ground, shaking the floor beneath the group. The face of the man was exposed as the ground lowered.

"How shall i believe you? I surely cannot trust a bald little kid in warm colors.."

Sokka giggled, but soon dropped his smile when he saw Katara's angry stare. He looked at the floor, a nervous pool forming in his stomach.

"I'm wearing the traditional Garb of Air Nomads. I'm not a fire bender -- I'm an air bender."

Sokka crossed his arms, taking a step to the side. He glared at the stranger, not trusting him so quickly. He got a good look at the main -- he had dark skin, a similar complexion to his own, dark long hair and mustache that complimented it. He had tired eyes, full of grief and anger.

"Ha! Air nomad? You're an air nomad?"

The man laughed furiously, and giggles from all around flooded their heads. It was quite unsettling, the voices having no direct source.

"You're some uneducated Fire Benders. The Air Nomads were slaughtered 100 years ago, boy."

Aang looked a bit shocked and worried, but he didn't let the man's words faulter his faith. He couldn't back down.

"But I am an airbender! I can bend air!"

Before Aang could prove himself, Katara stepped forward.

"And i can waterbend!"

Her voice was desperate, scared. Sokka looked around, trying to figure out a way to explain himself.

"And I'm just kinda here!"

The man grinned, ready to attack. He dragged his hands up slowly, a sharp dagger made of rock making its way from the ground and pointing towards Aang.

"Prove yourself, or you'll be cast aside, firebender."

Katara's jaw clenched as she stared at the man, trying to stay poised despite her anger. As she inhaled, her hands glowed a beautiful blue. A stream of water left her hand and traveled several feet through the air.

While Katara's water traveled, flowing above her head in graceful shapes, Aang considered how to show he isn't the enemy. He held his hands together, the air swarming together between his palms. The ball grew larger and larger, before he jumped upon it, giggling as he rode the air.

He went in circles as gasps filled the air, both Katara and Aang laughing along with them.

Sokka grinned, looking about as the spikes fully sunk into the ground, exposing the people who were guarding the village. Men with knives lowered them, turning their heads to inspect the Gaang.

"That must mean.."

The man began, but smiled before he could even let out the last words.

"The Avatar!"

...

It had been a few hours since their arrival. As usual, Aang had spent most of the time entertaining children with his tricks. He did try and listen to the man for a little bit -- who he later learned to be Chief Ottawa of Izuma -- but he was always attracted to having fun.

Katara had made friends with a few girls, and had spent the time talking to them about her trip so far. And Sokka -- Sokka kind of just frolicked.

"Avatar Aang?"

Ottawa called out, looking at Aang as he showed the kids a marble trick. He looked up, the marbles falling into his hand. He stood up, waving goodbye to the kids and skipping over to Ottawa, Katara quickly following in suit.

They stood next to Sokka, who was sitting on a log picking at his fingers.

"Nice for you guys to finally join me."

He had a snarky undertone in his voice, a bit angry that he had been keeping himself occupied for hours. Aang whispered a quick apology, while Katara just shook her head.

Ottawa had his arm crossed, looking down at the floor. His energy seemed the same as when they had first arrived -- deflated, sad, angry.

"It is an honor to have the Avatar here. We'd love for you to stay, but we must come to an agreement.."

He began to speak, voice low.

"8 years ago, our tribe was ambushed by the fire nation. After much loss -- over half of our village lost -- we made a peace treaty with the fire nation."

Sokka raised a brow, looking curiously at Ottawa.

"A peace treaty? With the fire nation?"

His confusion was valid, since they didn't do 'peace treaties'. The fire nation only believed in loss and destruction, at least thats what Sokka thought.

"We were doubtful too, but at the time, that's all we had. So, we trusted them."

"That treaty was the biggest mistake of our village. Instead of attacking us head on, they sent troops to live around the area. They began destroying the land -- killing trees, tempering with the spirit world, and killing anyone who stepped foot outside Imaza. We have been trapped here. Unable to fight against the troops, our people have died from sickness, lack of crops, and smoke in the air. If these troops do not leave soon, our people will go extinct."

The realization hit Aang like a gut of wind, knocking him back. These people -- people who have been here since the beginning, since Oma and Shu created earthbending, and they would soon be a distant memory because of the fire nation.

"So.. you want me to get rid of the troops?"

Aang asked with uncertainty, messing with his pants. He looked at Katara and Sokka, who were both staring at him before he even turned his head.

"Yes. Not only you, Avatar, but your friends, Katara and uh.. uhm.. Soyki."

Sokka frowned, groaning at the name.

"I believe you can free our people, free the spirit world from the fire nation's torture."

...

THANK YOU FOR READING MY FIRST CHAPTER!!

#avatar the last airbender #sokka x reader #aang #katara #sokka #fandom #fanfic #fluff #smut #earthbending

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mad-who-ra · 1 year

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Dagger and Arrows (16)

Dagger and Arrows 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Well well well, look who still remembers how the keyboard works- Me, that's me, in case you were wondering. I still remember the sentence structure and all- You get it. I am gonna taunt myself before you do. But hey, here's the last chapter. And no, we probably won't have an epilogue since it took me months to write this chapter. But yes, here's the happy ending you all threatened me for. Enjoy.

Ram x (still alive) Wife!Reader

Word Count : 904

Y/N did not remember a lot. She fell in and out of consciousness. She remembered bits and pieces of what happened or what was actually going on. She remembered the pain. She remembered the desperate voice of her husband trying to wake her up. Begging her to open her eyes. She remember him screaming her name, and then Bheem’s when she tried. Bheem- She thought she heard his voice too. The next time she came to, all she saw was fire. It was blurred. She felt the wind caress her wounds. She felt something cold wherever it hurt. Before she could move, darkness surrounded her again.

When she finally gained enough consciousness to move, she realised her whole body hurt. It took her a lot of efforts to open her eyes. Her vision was blurred. She moved her fingers with last ounce of strength she could muster in her body. It hurt. It hurt to breathe, to move, to open her eyes. Was she dead? Was she in heaven? If it was heaven, why was she still hurting?

Maybe she was in hell. She would deserve it, knowing what she had done to Bheem and Malli. No amount of pain on earth would be enough to erase her sins.

“Y/N?” She heard a voice she thought she had heard before in a dizzy state of mind, but couldn’t remember who it was. She tried to focus her eyes on the person.

“Ram! She is awake!” The girl shouted before rushing to her side. She helped Y/N into a sitting position, stuffing a blanket between her and the wall. She held a glass of water to her mouth and as the water entered her system, she realised how parched she was. She drank the water slowly, trying not to hurt herself.

“Do you need more?” The girl asked. Y/N blinked. The girl’s face finally came into focus and she realised she had seen her before, in pictures. Seetha. It was Seetha.

“More water?” She asked again.

Y/N shook her head lightly. It took a lot out of her to actually focus on her surroundings. It was a small room. Probably a tribal hut. Where was she?

“Y/N-” She heard his voice before she looked towards the door. He stared at her as his eyes teared up.

“Bhabhi!” Bheem walked into the room before Ram did.

“Bh-Bheem!” She croaked out, tears clouding her own vision. He pulled her into a hug, careful as to not hurt her. She held back a wince. She did not want him to let her go and she knew he would as soon as he realised she was in pain.

“I am so sorry.” She started.

He shushed her, holding her to him. He was alive. He was fine. He was not mad at her.

“Malli?” She asked.

“She is fine, everyone is fine.” He said, pulling away to look at her. There were scars on his face. But other than those, he looked fine.

“How, what-”

“We will explain. But not right now, you need rest.” He said. She looked at Seetha.

“I-”

“Not now.” Seetha echoed.

“Rest for a while.” Bheem said, getting up, “We will go tell everyone that you are awake and fine. Everyone is worried about you.”

With that both of them walked out of the room, leaving Ram standing in the doorway looking at her like she would disappear if he looked away.

She lifted her lips into a small smile.

“Are you going to stand there?” She asked.

He took hesitant steps towards her. He, like Bheem had scars on his face. But he too, seemed fine otherwise. Healing, at the very least. He was alive. That was a relief.

“How are you?” He asked, settling on the bed beside her.

“Never been better.” She joked, lightly. He did not say anything for a long time. He did not look into her eyes. His eyes were glued to the bed sheet. She slowly moved her hand to hold his. He very tentatively laced their fingers together as a tear rolled down his cheek.

“Ram-”

“I thought I had lost you. In the cell, after we got out. I thought I had lost you on multiple occasions in the last few weeks and I-” He shook his head, “I am so sorry, Y/N. All of this is my fault. I-”

“Hey, hey.” She said, squeezing his hand as tightly as she could. It was not his fault. Both of them were to be blamed. Both of them were trying their best.

“I am so sorry.” He said, again finally looking at her. Her heart broke looking at the tears in his eyes.

She shook her head.

“I am okay. I will be okay.”

“You should rest.” He repeated, “we will talk about this later.”

They will. They will talk about this and a lot of other things. Later, when she is able to get more than a few words out of her system. But right now, she did not need to think about it. Bheem and Malli were fine. Ram and her were alive. That is all that mattered. They were together.

“Don’t go. Stay?” She asked. A thousand emotions flashed in his eyes. She recognised love as he slowly nodded, looking at her. They would talk about this, too. They had an eternity in front of them.

I love each and every one of you

@sada-siva-sanyaasi @manwalaage @maraudersbitchesassemble @gauri-vishalakshi @rambheem-is-real @seherie @how-is-it-in-london @itsfookingloosah @ma-douce-souffrance @irisesforyoureyes @cainiyor @zaddylokiandthorsimp @bromance-minus-the-b @kafkaesquebestie @hissterical-nyaan @ramayantika @reallythoughtfulwizard @phoenix666stuff @iam-siriuslysher-lokid @obsessedtoafault @budugu @chaanv @nerdreader @pavbhajiofficial @hxnky-pxnky @shawty-writes-a-little @azraelcruor @rambheemisgoated @aasthuu @vidhurvrika @jeonmahi1864 @jjwolfesworld @yehsahihai @voidsteffy @lite-teesko

@dumdaradumdaradum @eloquentree @herefornamu @shreyalokesh @rishi-sita @sukitaee @mathy-u @army24--7 @floating-mushroom @nyotamalfoy @saanjh-sakhi @sabi513 @theclumsypanda

#rrr #ram x wife!reader #dagger and arrows

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