#i don't want to waste money and buy a new canvas but I also don't want to ruin my work I really liked this!

[murasaki-cha]

I have been working on a painting for 2 weeks for school, I've progressed a lot

And the professor just told us there's been a mistake and we had another assignment so we have to FREAKING ERASE IT COMPLETELY!!!

I HAVE TO COVER THIS ENTIRE THING WITH WHITE!!!!!! I WANT TO THROW A TABLE!! BREAK A LAMP!! KICK A CHAIR!!!!

#i don't want to waste money and buy a new canvas but I also don't want to ruin my work I really liked this! #oil painting #painting #oil on canvas #art student #art and design #design student

[shou-jpeg]

Trick or treat! 🎃

Treat!

****

Chay pauses, empty chip packet in hand and bin lid open. He stands there, gazing down into its depths.

There is a black shirt in the bin.

It looks like one of Kim's t-shirts. Why is it in the bin?

He reaches down and pulls it out. It's clean still, the bin almost empty save for one empty yogurt container - Kim's favourite kind of breakfast.

He examines the shirt, looking for why Kim might have put it in the bin, but he finds nothing: other than a small cut in the bottom hem, the shirt looks almost new.

"Babe?" He calls, "Why is there one of your shirts in the bin?"

Kim rolls his chair back so he can look through the open home studio door. "I accidentally cut it this morning when I was cleaning my knives." He says. As if that clears up anything at all.

Chay tells him as much, holding up the shirt between them. "What? This?" He points at the little cut. "Phi why are you throwing out a shirt because of one little cut?"

Kim gives him a bewildered look. "Why would I want to wear a damaged shirt? It brings down the whole look and people would judge me."

"Judge you? P'Khun maybe, but Phi no one would even notice this little cut normally. And if it bothers you, you could just sew it up? It's so wasteful to throw away a whole shirt because of one imperfection."

Kim looks at him as if he had just suggested Kim walk about Bangkok in his underwear. "I can just buy a new one, Chay."

"You can't just drop 100 bhat on a new shirt every time you pull a thread or cut a hem, Phi."

"That shirt cost 1400 bhat."

"Fourteen hundred bhat!?" Chay yelps. That is far too much money to spend on a shirt.

"It's designer." Kim says, as if that makes the situation less insane.

"P'Kim, it doesn't even have a brand name on it."

"It's on the tag inside."

"But you can't even see the tag. Why not just buy a normal tshirt?"

"Polyester itches my skin. And I have the money, why buy cheap clothes?"

"Polyester isn't -" Chay stops himself mid sentence, taking a moment to breathe.

Kim comes from money, he reminds himself. This is hardly the first time they've clashed over something like this. If they keep going, they're not going to get anywhere, and Chay would rather not fight with his boyfriend.

"Phi," he starts, "throwing something away because of a small damage is really wasteful. There are people in the world who can't afford even a 100 bhat shirt. If you don't want it anymore, you should at least donate it to charity."

Kim looks away from him then, and Chay hates it. He hates it when Kim gets that ashamed look on his face, like there's something about himself he realises he doesn't like. He doesn't want Kim to hate himself for something he didn't even know to consider.

"How about… how about I fix it for you, Phi? I've been following these pages about visible mending and I've been dying to try some of the stitches. I could make it look really nice for you. And if you don't want to wear it out, it can be for home or when you visit me. I love seeing you wearing the stuff I make for you."

Kim still has that look on his face that Chay hates, but he also looks thoughtful and almost a little eager. He rarely says it aloud, but Chay knows that Kim really likes receiving handmade gifts from him.

"...Okay." Kim relents eventually, rolling himself back behind the wall into his studio. Chay follows after him, pressing a kiss into his hair and mumbling something sweet.

He backs off then, giving Kim some space to ruminate.

He has a project now, and he's getting a little excited the more he thinks about it. Maybe he will sew in a little leaf or two, or a flower or a little cloud. He really has been dying for an excuse to try some of these ideas. If this is going to be a thing for Kim - not wanting to wear clothes that look even slightly damaged - then Chay might have just found his canvas, as well as a way to put his mark on yet another part of Kim.

#kim is the type of rich kid to wear loafers to a bar fight #and we've seen his apartment #you cant convince me he and Chay dont sometimes hiccup over things like this #trick or treat shou style #kimchay #myfics #halloween is almost over in america but im still going to finish the last of whats in my inbox because i want to and you cant stop me

[spectral-apparitions]

I am uhhh asking for maybe some, Swatch × oc × spamton.

For uhhh no specific reason 😳 *cough cough*

-Swatch just adores taking care of you. Even after a day of tending to the needs of others, they still will put in effort to see you smile. Their energy level varies, but if they can't do it now, they'll do it tomorrow.

-Swatch also likes to make sure that you get delicious food, clothing you feel great in, quality products. They see a lot of well made items in their work, as well as the occasional cheap ripoff they have to turn away, so they certainly have standards to judge.

-Spamton on the other hand likes to take advantage of easy opportunities and salvage everything remotely good. He brings you everything he gets even an inkling that you'll like. He does however have pretty good judgement of what you generally like.

-The above does lead to the occasional disagreement...Swatch may get a little harsh in telling Spamton to stop wasting money. Both of them sometimes get a little insecure that they're not giving you good gifts (Spamton because he doesn't buy the most luxurious things, Swatch because they don't find the most personal). They work it out.

-They both have an artistic side.

-Swatch has learned a lot about art theory and tools, although they don't feel the most confident in going all out unless given guidance. Swatch does enjoy sharing tips though, and happily gives any to you or Spamton if desired.

-Spamton is pretty open to suggestion, but mostly he loves to just make whatever is on his mind. His favorite is to paint.

-Swatch will happily supply you with any art supplies you desire. They love to see your creativity shine. They even quietly stick around, hoping you won't mind if they watch you. Of course, they'll give you space if you want it. But they love to watch your process and to see your finished art.

-Spamton also likes to watch you work. He likes to see what you make, how you do it, and that you're having fun. He also loves making art with you, whether that's a collaborative painting, trading art, or just doodling together. When he's in the mood to be creative, he might ask you to join.

-So of course expect times for all three of you to create together. Maybe that's doodling funny and cute things together (Spamton has quite a sense of humor and Swatch likes to draw your favorite animals), or each of you completing a different stage of the same piece, or all painting different sections of the same canvas. Even if you're not the most artistic, they'd love to include you in the fun!

-Both of these guys have a tendency to get wrapped up in work or otherwise heavily focused and forget to take care of themselves. Please remind them to eat and to sleep. Bringing/cooking them meals or giving them quiet time to cuddle or sleep actually means a lot to them and helps them to feel better.

-Sometimes you might find the two of them napping together.

-Game nights can be quite chaotic, in a fun way. They’re both intelligent and quick to make up their own strategy for any game. They can both be quite competitive, although Swatch has more of a silent lurking and deception strategy while Spamton bluffs and takes risks. Play something that requires dealing with other players like Monopoly or Catan to watch them really get intense.

-Swatch is a deep thinker and excellent listener, while Spamton is great at relating topics and keeping conversation alive. So expect long conversations between the three of you, and talking about everything from how to find happiness to street crossing.

-Typically, Swatch and Spamton aren’t competitive with each other, nor do they work in tandem often. They generally just each do their own thing and try to find a good balance of one-on-one and trio activities.

-That said, they do ask each other for help in wooing you. Maybe that’s picking out the right gift, learning a new skill, or proofreading letters.

-Special occasions are an exception though. They try to plan so that they each get time with you or that all three of you can do something together, and making sure there’s enough variety for everyone to show their love in their own way.

#writing #imagines #deltarune #deltarune x reader #poly x reader #swatch #swatch x reader #spamton #spamton x reader #spamton x reader x swatch #rainbowlily

[lostinwildflowers]

Option 2: Short Letter

Chosen Character: Zeke Jeager

Name: Catherine

Personality traits

Introvert

Hates loud places with lots of people

Sleeps late and wakes up at noon

Only has 3 close friends—

very passionate about interests like literature, art, filmography and science (mainly biology)

Has glasses due to astigmatism

INTP (just google it)

Resting Bitch Face™️

Will be extroverted when the situation calls for it

Touch starved and cuddly—

enjoys praise (can't admit that out loud tho)

Hobbies

Art

-nude sketches and portraits with charcoal pencils

-likes to use ink, paint or pastel respectively

Reading (I'm a sucker for mystery, murder and tragedy)

Writing (I do it in my free time and I don't share it with people)

Note: They're already a couple by now but she lives in a far part of Marley. He calls her Catie as a nickname sometimes. (I'm sorry that the letter is long— I got carried away)

My beloved Zeke,

How are you? Have you been resting more as of late? You may be Marley's boy wonder but remember that you still need sleep. I wouldn't like to think of you passing out during meetings. Commander Magath would find it utterly absurd!

Anyway I wanted to tell you that things aren't getting any easier over here. No one seems interested enough to buy what I paint or draw so I barely get any commissions. No one's stopping by the studio either. It's rather disheartening really. I know that you've told me that I shouldn't measure my worth based on how much money I make but I can't possibly tell you how empty my wallet seems.

I can barely buy new art supplies because I need to pay rent and find food. I've resorted to using actual charcoal so I can continue drawing, and with everything happening, I'm finding it harder and harder to create new art. It's as if I've hit a wall. A tall and obscurious wall that drains my very being from any artistic inspiration.

Sleep never comes easy either. The bed seems too big as well since you're not there beside me. I find myself staring aimlessly at the ceiling until dawn. I've also noticed that dark circles have began to form around my eyes and its not very flattering to look at.

And worst of all, my family thinks I'm a fool for being with you! They said I should find someone else and marry immediately. They drag me to parties and get togethers just so they can pair me off. I hate being in those places and I find myself hiding from people whenever possible. It's too loud and crowded and I dont understand how people enjoy those sorts of things.

Mother insists that I leave you because you barely visit me anymore and she thinks that you're probably with another girl already. It's a completely absurd accusation! I know that you'd never do that to me.

Oh how I wish that I could just move in with you, away from my annoyingly conservative relatives. I can't stand a second without you. Every moment I spend away from you is a moment wasted.

To pass time, I draw you with whatever paper I have in hand. I feel less lonely that way. I long to be in your warm embrace once more. And I miss your eyes that seem to look past my worldly shell and into my very soul. Words can never describe the agony I feel from being separated from you.

I do hope you can stop by for a day or two. We could spend time in the café we always go to or take a stroll in the park. If ever, we can always stay in my house and read together. I'll have to tidy up in advance though as I have unfortunately turned my abode into a mess of scattered paper, canvas and shavings.

But anyway I just want to tell you that I love you and I hope to see you soon. I'm sure that when we're together again, all things will fall back into place. Things will make sense once I'm in your arms again. Remember that I think of you fondly everyday and I hope that that do too. Take care, my love.

Faithfully yours,

Catherine

Oh Cat~~~ here you are my dear, thank you for being one of my most amazing supporters<3

---

To my love, Catie,

I am doing well, sweetheart, though I have been quite busy with work and such recently. If you were here you would probably be nagging at me to get some rest, and I wouldn’t blame you. It’s hard to sleep when you’re not next to me, the bed’s too empty.

I’m sorry that your art isn’t doing as well as you had hoped. If you need something to do, or if you need more traction, I can always tell Commander Magath they can get their portraits done there. But remember what I always tell you, Catie. Your art will change the world, and you shouldn’t base it on money.

I don’t want you to have to worry about money or if you’re going to run out of supplies, so you’ll find some cash along with this letter. Yes, you will take it. It comes as a bonus to be the War Chief, so please take it, my dear.

To tell you the truth, I keep that one sketch you made on my desk with me all the time. It calms me down when I’m stressed, seeing that self-portrait you made. Just remember why you make your art, sit out on the pier and see if any inspiration hits you. I know you’re creative, you just need to unleash your mind.

Oh, sweetheart, sleep doesn’t come easy to me either. I miss your presence so much, I miss holding you close to my chest, I miss kissing your lips. You may not think you are flattering to look at, but you are still the most beautiful girl I’ve laid eyes on, no matter how you look.

I must say, your family probably isn’t wrong about us. I still don’t see why you stick with me when I’m destined to die in a few years, but you’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been. Try talking to your parents, they’ll understand someday.

I must apologize for not being able to visit, as I said things have been crazy here. We train almost every day, have meetings every couple of hours. They’ve got me walking on a tight rope and it’s hard to find time alone, even to write this letter I had to get up in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping.

There is no one else, Catie. Just work, and that seems like a cruel enough joke on its own. You are always welcome to visit me, as much as that probably is a hassle. It’s a pain to try to leave, but I bet I could pull a few strings.

I’m hoping by next week when that storm comes in that I’ll be able to slip out to come see you. I could meet you at that light post, you know the one I’m talking about. I miss you, and Pieck and the others have started to notice. I don’t even care where we meet, I just need to see you.

I’m starting to run out of parchment, but I love you, Catie. I dream of you every night and think about you every day, so don’t forget about me, alright? I’ll see you soon sweetheart.

Yours,

Z.Y.

---

THIS EVENT IS CLOSED

#Hanging with Birch🌿 #Cat🌿 #cddio04 #Birch's Thank You Event

[the-art-of-styles]

Ping-Pong

✧ Aylin and Harry go out to sell some jams and come back to a disaster in one of their homes.

Word count: 1783

Warnings: short mention of eating disorder/disordered eating/calories

Part I

Part II (you’re here!)

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

14

   Mrs. Mendes is an old woman, she has lines of love around her eyes and lips that show how happy she was throughout her life, also on her forehead, showing how she was amazed by even the tiniest things that were introduced to her.

   She has lived her entire life in the village, and everyone knows her for her exquisite blackberry jams. Aylin's mom used to buy her 2 mason jars every month for her daughter to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, until Aylin was 10 years old and she stopped.

   "No more, Aylin, you've been gaining a lot of weight. A lot of calories, few wasted."

   Those words had consequences, at the tough and young age of 11, Aylin entered a diet low in carbs and fats, where she lost a lot of weight, but from so much restriction, she began a cycle of sometimes bingeing where she couldn't stop to eat for all that she could not taste.

   For all that she could not live.

   At just eleven.

Eleven years old.

   Already at twelve she had somewhat overcome her eating disorder, according to her mother, she was still a bit chubby, but Aylin was always a strong woman, and when she looked in the mirror she wondered, what was so bad about not being thin?

   She loved food, and didn't think about going back to that hell she went through for months. Fuck the diet.

   Mrs. Mendes walked through the only green park in town until she sat down on a yellow bench and took out of her bag some bread crumbs to give to the pigeons that were listening to human affairs. Aylin was walking her dog, Luna, she has no breed and she rescued her from the street when she was about to be run over. Well, she didn't rescue her, a man who had the necklace of a moon saved her and gave her to Aylin as she witnessed all of it (crying). He did not live there and didn't have the time or the space to have a pet, so there she is, walking her new best friend until she sees the old woman and her heart warms and a smile emanates from her lips.

   "Mrs. Mendes!" She screamed and began to jog with Luna until she reached the old woman, she looked at her and her eyes narrowed at her smile.

   "Oh Aylin dear, you look so big!"

   "Yep, I'm 5'1 now, almost 5'2! Isn't that incredible? I'm going to be so big."

   "I'm sure you will honey. Who's that?"

   After Aylin told her the whole story, the two talked about different things while feeding crumbs to the pigeons who listened attentively to their conversation.

   "Hey darling, you know I sell jams right?" Mrs. Mendes suddenly said, making Aylin look at her smiling.

   "Of course! The most exquisite in the whole town!"

   The woman smiled flattered, "Oh cut it. . . Anyways, in my house I have many done, raspberry, blackberry—"

   "I love the blackberry one!" The little interrupted without thinking, instantly embarrassed to do so. "Sorry. . . continue."

   Mrs. Mendes just laughed, "It doesn't matter. Well, uh, what was I saying? Ah! Yes! So, I don't have a way to sell them, you know, I'm an old lady and I can't go from house to house delivering so I was wondering if you—"

   "Oh god! Can I go deliver the jams? It would be amazing! I would wear white and I would go with a brown basket that I have on my bike and– Ah!" Aylin squealed with excitement, "I could go with Harry! He's my friend, even though he lied to me. . . but I already forgave him, the Smiths adopted him, the house across from mine. Oh yeah, can I, please?"

   Mrs. Mendes got confused every time she spoke to Aylin, she always talked a lot and very fast and changed the subject all the time, but she liked her, she liked that she was fast and not slow, it made her feel young.

   If only that speed so characteristic of hers had remained.

   "Yes, darling, you can. And I'd like to meet this Harry boy."

   "Oh, you'll love him! I love him, he's my best friend."

.

.

.

   "No."

   "Pleaseeeeeeeee!"

   "I really don't feel like selling jams."

   "But it's so nice! People will be so happy! And you'd meet so many people from this town. Harryyyyyy!"

   Harry sometimes feels very exasperated when he’s with Aylin. She always tries to involve him in things of the town; recreational activities, meetings, whatever, but even though the Smiths have kept him and a part of him begins to really believe that this family will be forever, he can't help but not want to get too fond of living there because at this point he doesn't think his heart could bear to bleed in pain once more.

   But anyway, he likes that Aylin is like that, so persistent with him since it's not something that he has lived in his life, they always get bored of him and never look for him, he is the one doing it, but now he is different and the feeling that brings him makes him fall asleep at night.

   Puppy eyes. "Please, Harry?"

   He just rolled his eyes, irritated with himself because he knew exactly what the next word would be that would slide off his tongue in a harsh way, but she would eat it anyway. "Fine."

   She squealed, he groaned.

.

.

.

   "Thank you so much, kids. I missed this jams, and say thank you for my part to Mrs. Mendes, ya?" A woman in her forties with black hair waved them off at the door of her house, exchanging the money for the jams.

   "We sure will! See you!"

   They have been selling since twelve in the morning, now the sky was burning and the clouds too, the cold was beginning to descend and there were fewer and fewer people in the streets and more in their homes. The treetops danced to the sweet whispers of the wind, Aylin joining them on the empty streets.

   "Wasn't that so fun?! We selled everything, we should get into business when we grow up, don't you think, H?"

   "Yeah sure," he replied sarcastically. Aylin always notices the comments that Harry makes and when some are real and when they are not, she is not stupid, she just ignores them because she knows that deep down he must like part of the things they do, because otherwise, he would have left her long ago. Besides, that makes her feel better, she doesn't like to think that she bores people, especially when she knows that it is something real, something that has been said to her face.

   Honestly, Harry must admit that it wasn't a total torture. Hearing Aylin talk so much is fun to him, she always has an opinion on something, and she is always in awe of things that she sees every day.

   Actually, Harry likes Aylin. Not in a romantic way, he knows about feelings and everything, he even knows about porn, but he has never seen her that way and he doesn't think he will ever see her like that. It's not that she's not pretty, he finds her quite cute, but it's just a friendship for him.

   His first friendship.

   As they turned to get to the street where their houses are, the two noticed the great fight in one of them.

   Harry stopped walking, and Aylin kept doing it.

   Her mother was throwing an open suitcase on the head of her father, who fell to the ground and began to pick up his things at full speed while she insulted him.

   At that point, Aylin started running.

   "Mum! Dad! What – what is going on?!" She squealed in concern, walking over to her dad and squatting next to him to make sure he's okay. "Why do you have a suitcase? Where are you going?"

   "He'll go fuck his assistant, that's for sure!" The mother screamed with hatred, regardless of the language she spoke in front of two children or whoever was listening (and there were several people).

   "His assistant? But, what? Mr. Gomez?" Aylin asked extremely confused with her eyebrows furrowing.

   "Exactly." She spit out to her husband and turned around on her own heels, dragging her feet into the house and slamming the door that almost made the whole town rumble.

   "D-dad?" Aylin asked with her eyes swimming in a sea of tears, but she didn't allow her cheeks to turn into rivers.

   "I'm so sorry, baby. I really am." The father composed himself and stood up, giving his daughter a long kiss on the forehead and then walking with suitcase in hand and head down, like the end of a movie where there is a climax where you think everything will be fine but in the outcome it all goes to shit and they lose everything.

   "Wha– Where are you–" She sighed, her father far enough away not to hear her, "...going." She whispered, feeling a crack form in her heart that hurt like a hundred stabs dipped in the hottest lava of the worst hell.

   Harry was at a safe distance, but he heard everything and saw everything as did some neighbors looking out in their windows to feed the curious cat without risking death. He understood everything and had a knot in his stomach from seeing his friend without life in her eyes, and being so painfully slow.

   What a plot twist. He was gay. The dad, of course.

   Aylin sat dejectedly on the edge of the sidewalk, staring at the grayish of the street without knowing what she was thinking about. She is always thinking, she is always saying something, but now there is nothing in her mind, white paint fell on the canvas and there are no more available brushes to paint on top of it.

   The curly boy did not know what to do, he is not a person of a lot of words, and besides, what do you say to someone in a situation like this? "I'm sorry your dad is gay." Sounds a bit homophobic. So he chose to approach slowly as he usually does, he has always been slow, and although sometimes Aylin is exasperated that he sees everything and does everything in slow motion, deep down he conveyed a certain tranquility that she could not create by herself. Harry sat next to her and rubbed her back.

   He didn't knew if she was crying or not, but he wasn't going to ask anything either, so he just sat with her while she hurt.

   And he wished that swiftness of hers had never gone away.

#harry styles fanfic #harry styles writing #harry styles blurbs #fanfiction #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles one shot #harry styles x oc

[connara-and-friends]

"Merry Christmas, friend."

Characters: Markus, Connor and North

***

"Connor sighed. His friend looked tired, but happy. In his hands, same as Connor, were beautiful celebrating packets with presents inside. They were standing in front of a coffee shop, waiting for theirs ginger friend. "

"– What time is it now? – Markus asked, wrapping his dark coat. It was cold enough. Little snowflakes were dancing around them, landing on the ground.

Connor looked on his wristwatch, rustle packages.

– Seven o'clock. What is she doing, really?

– She said she had forgotten to buy something important. – Manfred snorted. – As always, Con. Are you surprised?

Android only noded in understanding, gave his friend a little smile. Bright fluffy Christmas tree towered over them. Kids around the couple of friends were playing and shouting, throwing snowball in each others0. Detroit's streets were full of androids and people, walking on the Hart Plaza and talking to each other. It was so peacefully and happily – Markus didn't even get used to such kind of life. It was new to him, but he liked that. Very much.

Finally, after few minutes a loud cry came from behind them:

– Hey, guys! Are you bored? Sorry, just little troubles.

North went to the friends, giving each of them one more packet. Connor and Markus grinned without malice.

– What's inside it...? - RK800 looked into the packet with interest, but ginger devinat, seeing this, slapped his hand with displeasure.

– Auch!

– No-o, Con, it's for Christmas. ��� she smiled. Light breeze ruffled her hair. The guy sighned once again, breathing in the night air. Streetlights were illuminating his displeased face. – Come on, if you see it now, later you won't be surprised!

"Maybe she is right" - Connor thought. But still muttered:

- Me and Markus have been stucking in the cold for more than ten minutes! We have our rights to know, what's inside, don't we? And-

– Well, quite enough, – Markus decided to intervene, raising his hands in a conciliatory manner. – Come on, we must have time to do everything before Christmas. – his friends were agreed. No one wanted to have some king of argue before Christmas, right?

North pinched Connor's nose as a sign of reconciliation.

– Don't you dare to look at your present, sweetie.

He clicked and rolled his eyes.

– As you wish.

They walked pass the Hart Plaza and up the street, gazing in amazement at the city's New Year decorations. Detroit was really wonderful in that time of year.

Tall dark buildings contrasted with the crisp white trees lining the streets. Signs and banners, Christmas tree decorations and long garlands glittered everywhere. It seemed like a dream. Such a beautiful dream. The atmosphere into which they fell was literally created for happiness and comfort. No one couldn't believe that they were so lucky to have such kind of view.

– When will we come? – Connor asked while they were going past a clozed modern zoo.

– It's over there, don't worry. – RK200 gave him a smile, slapping a friend on the shoulder. – It's our fist Christmas together. Do you think everything will be fine?

– Of course, – Connor chuckled, intercepting packages in his hands tighter. – It'll be totally fine.

– Gu-uys, we've come. – ginger deviant gleefully pointed to a large mansion overlooking the Detroit River.

***

– What do you feel about that, mh?

They were decorating Markus's house now. It was a large, spacious building, having two floors and even its own chimney. Connor liked this house, frankly speaking. It was not uncomfortable or lonely here. (Maybe because his friends were with him now) The mansion was like a big, cozy ship, intended for only them that night.

Somewhere in the kitchen North was preparing Christmas sweets, occasionally publishing dissatisfied statements due to lack of experience in cooking. Connor and Markus were diligently decorating the Christmas tree in the middle of the living room.

– About what? - android slightly surprised.

– About new type of life, New Jericho, alliance with people ...and so on. – brown-hared deviant hung another toy on the Christmas tree, glancing at his friend with interest.

He chuckled. That deviant hit him more and more every second.

– Well... I don't want make plans for the future or something like that, but I think we're going the right way. – RK200 was thoughtfully unwinding a garland, looking at the fluffy branches of a Christmas tree. – I know how do you feel, Con. It's like... change. Big changes, huh?

Detective nodded weakly.

– I live with Hank right now and feel safe, but it's seems that I still don't know, what's really going on and... Oh, sorry, I didn't want to ruin everything. Everything was so good and I just got in with my chatter–

Connor felt so embarrassing for himself. He only wanted to talk with someone about all the events that happened, but at the same time he understood that this was not the right time at all. Oh, he is such a fool...

He turned away and was about to bend over the box with toys when suddenly felt someone else's hand on his shoulder. Markus looked at him without anger or irritation, but with sincerity and kindness in the eyes.

– It's okay. I understand. - he squeezed his shoulder knowingly. – That's hard to believe. You just need time to get used to. Everything will pass and fall into place. I promise.

He hugged him, strong and loving. Connor was lost - he knew that. They all were lost for a long time. But now it is in the past. And Connor will weather the storm, Markus was sure.

Without hesitation, Connor hugged his friend back, feeling invisible support.

– Hey guys. – a red crown emerged from the kitchen. – It didn't turn out as disgusting as I thought. At least you can eat it-

But when she saw two friends hugging, all her cheerful mood noticeably faded away.

– Boys... Are you alright?

Markus and Connor pulled away from each other, continuing to smile genuinely. Misunderstanding appeared on North's face, but it quickly gave way to gaiety, as the girl realized that everything seemed to be in order.

– Okay, if you finished, suggest you to finally hang this garland and start setting the table. – RK800 nodded in agreement, as did Marcus. The bad mood disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

***

– 3... 2... 1... Merry Christmas!

Glasses with thirium clinked, joyful cries were heard from living room and from outside too. The girl, screaming: "Merry Christmas!" blew up a firecracker. Bright multi-colored sparkles flew in all directions. Guys were laughing – the most happy Christmas has finally come.

When everything calmed down, they decided to start opening the gifts. Connor looked impatiently under the tree - and found two whole boxes there. Feeling the growing excitement, he placed them in the center of the room and began to open the first. Markus and North with smiles watched the picture.

– So... What is that? New T-shirt and nice black tie, as well as a set of ...coins! – android laughed, looking at coins with enthusiasm. – Aw, thank you, North. I just needed a new shirt.

– Yep, I knew that.

The next box was from Markus. Something inside it rustled suspiciously. Wasting no time, the guy opened the gift and found there a small black puppy, merrily wagging its tail.

– OH GOD!!!

Connor was as shocked as possible. The small animal licked his hand in satisfaction, and the guy could hardly resist bursting with happiness.

– I knew you would like it.

– Are you kidding? It is the most precious little soul I've ever seen, oh god, thank you, Markus, thank you so much!!!

He jumped up and hugged his friends with boundless delight. He definitely liked the gifts.

Now it was North's turn. The girl found two gifts under the tree. The first was from Connor - it was a small box containing sweet perfume, and another larger box containing a set of cosmetics. The second was from Markus. Inside the box, the girl found nothing more than her own portrait in oil on canvas. Deviant looked very belligerent and majestic on the porter, and North could not help but admire such skillful work.

– Oh dear, that's amazing! – in admiration, she could not take her eyes off the portrait. Markus looked embarassed. But Connor pushed a friend on the shoulder with smile.

– It is really amazing, friend.

– He's damn right! Exciting! – North kissed the guy on the cheek, and he felt his cheeks burn.

In his present from the girl Markus found two wonderful books about which he dreamed for – a novel about the heroes of Ancient Greece, and also small maintenance guide for musical instruments.

– Oh my god, North... That's... Oh, I have literally no words to say, – the deviant was unimaginably pleased with the donated items.

– Come on, it's Christmas! I knew you love this kind of books. Frankly, I wanted to buy you a guitar, but it was too expensive, so I decided to give you that... And I wasn't wrong.

Markus's eyes sparkled like two burning lights. He hugged her and buried his nose in a woman's shoulder.

– Tha-ank you, god, it is so wonderful...

In the second box from Connor he found a large canvas for painting and a set of brushes, watercolors, and a whole bag of colored crayons and pencils.

- That is all...for me? - Markus looked very excited. He didn't know that Connor had so much free time and money for his present.

– Of course, friend. Merry Christmas!

It looked like a dream, but it wasn't. They all were so happy. Happy and joyful.

Definitely this Christmas was awesome."

#DetroitBecomeHuman #DBH #DBHSecretSanta2020 #markus #north #detroit become human #dbh #detroit: become human #rk800 #connor #rk200 #wr400 #so yeah #i tried to make cozy atmosphere #hope u liked that

[jackednephi]

@starseedjenny you have observed my tags and for this you get an infodump

So Dylan (my husband) took levels in carpentry. He's no master carpenter but he can make furniture. His absolute favorite thing to do is to get gnarly tree roots or branches and carve them into odd length walking sticks and then sell them at the local wood shop. It's easier to use a stick instead of a cane (my back hurts a LOT from using my cane but never with a stick) and different people are different heights. Plus, something people don't think about is there are incredibly short people or even children. So why not have something beautiful and sturdy?

What he does is he carefully exposes what it is about the piece of wood that is unique. Are the different bark layers different colors? He'll strip the bark carefully to have a gradient flowing up the stick until the heart of the wood, its true color as it were, is exposed. Did it have a lot of branches? Find a way to show off the cool knots. Basically, he works with what he has to let the thing speak for itself. Less actual carving like swirls or whatever and more revealing what it is that makes that stick special. Takes less technical carving skill but a good eye for natural beauty. My uncle carved my grandmother her cane before he passed and while it's a beautiful piece, it is definitely carved if that makes sense

Anyway, as you know I love arting and crafting and making pretty things with my hands. Because of church, I know how to embroider, quilt, scrapbook, make pretty much anything you could ever want from cloth from actual clothes to scripture holders, and all the usual home stuff afab people get taught in YWs. I know how to knit (with a loom), make paper art, draw traditionally, paint traditionally (and know how to stretch my own canvas), create beautiful digital art, create rough architecture blueprints that are less rough with minecraft now, stain wood, cook, make rugs, and basically if there is a craft out there I don't know, I learn very quickly as I'm great with my hands and my hand-eye coordination is fantastic. Thank you 15 years of piano lessons

Dylan, knowing this, encouraged me to take up wood burning. Painting is difficult as I don't have an easel and unless I find a comfy recliner or wheelchair stat, I can't feasibly paint anytime soon. Due to disability (and lack of materials) there are a great number of hobbies I can no longer engage in as there I'd nothing but pain and frustration. I was a little intimidated, I'll admit, because I had no idea what a wood burning tool looked like and how would I work it anyway? From my time around big saws and other wood working machinery, I wondered if it would be something unwieldy and dangerous

Plus, let's be honest. I have a very hard time justifying spending money on myself if it's more than $5 at a time

He'd been goading me into it since November. He'd basically finished up my stick except for staining and he knew I'd want to burn it. But I hemmed and hawed. Finally, we had a pretty decent paycheck with loads of money leftover and he talked me into it. Even got that nice flat piece to get me started before taking the tips to my stick

It has been a genuine blast and a complete delight. It's like a very hot, very fat pencil and he saw right away I was going to need gloves or I'd burn myself and have loads of scars all over my fingers and hands. I'm glad he did because it hasn't been a day and already my gloves have marks on them. He got real expensive deerskin so they'd be able to move with my fingers and give me more mobility than anything else. They were expensive too and wouldn't hear any complaints I had about money. He wasn't going to have me melting my flesh or unable to do delicate work like I like

What I've been doing is outlining the thin layers of bark he left. He noticed that while the outermost layers were ugly, the innermost were interesting. You can see the grain in a way you can't with the lighter wood and you have a cool looking shade that's a nice contrast to that lighter heart. I've been going over them with the round tip (really good for drawing and writing as it's super smooth) and doing those hair thin lines with the point tip. It feels very similar to drawing a fantasy map all over my stick

I'm about 1/3 of the way up my stick though definitely not 1/3 of the way finished. I lose hours at a time bent over and carefully burning. I found out I can take the tips off hot and put them in a ceramic dish to minimize cool off and maximize time spent working. Which is critical for me as I can't spend more than about three hours tops bent over burning

It's so fun because it's like line art but it's on a piece of wood so it feels like I'm doing something new. It's very methodical and cathartic and I lose so much time focusing on doing this. It keeps me calm and downright happy! Which is EXCELLENT because it means I'm combatting seasonal depression in a very big way. I've already agreed to do this with all of his pieces to enhance what he's already carved. Eventually I'll probably Do Things like Actual Wood Art but for now I'm happy with this

We already have some projects planned too by the way!!! He loves making furniture and he can build better stuff for cheaper than buying it from a furniture store. So he's going to build a lift top coffee table and a dresser for sure that I'll burn. The first piece I want us to do, I'll burn the wood BEFORE he cuts it and see how that turns out. It'll be a little box (probably to hold bunny stuff) but I want to see if that does something unique or if it just is bad. If it's not something we like, hey I didn't waste weeks or months on something huge that ended up looking bad

We're probably going to make all the tables and dressers that go in our home. Maybe an entertainment center. I know we'll make my sister stuff just on the condition she pays for materials and getting it into her place. We'll probably make stuff for people who want it and I KNOW he's willing to take commissions. Closest family (parents, my sister, etc) will only have to pay for materials/shipping. Friends and other family will probably pay that and a little extra because friends and family discount. Everyone else is gonna have to pay retail value on top of materials and shipping because they'd get a unique piece you can't find anywhere else and it'd be worth it y'know?

But that's like way off sometime eventually probably

For now, I LOVE this new hobby. I can't wait to see what my stick is going to look like finished! I'm going to burn "support" on the bottom in kanji before the no slip grip goes on. Not really for any particular reason so much as like. Sentimental? I guess? Kind of like I'm burning a prayer for it to be sturdy and useful and good into it. I tried carving my wife's kanji on it (the first kanji of his middle name means dragon) but it didn't work out well so I'm gonna burn it onto the top and that'll be its name. Again, sentiment. There is also power in naming things and like. Just in case?

It has been such a very long time since I've been able to make something with my hands that I had the materials for and I'm just absolutely pink over it. I really super want people to see this stick and want some useful beauty for themselves that I can give. I love giving and making and seeing people smile over stuff I've made. It's been such a long time since something I've done has made someone smile and I just really want to bring that back y'know?

Anyway thank you for letting me gush. I just super love this and like yeah it's the butchest hobby like ever (according to Phoebe who has the most femme hobby ever of macrame) but it really fits me. It sparks joy in a way I haven't felt in a very very long time and I can't wait to see all the things I can do

#long post #text heavy #wood burning #tw burns mention #just in case :) #ask to tag

[zackcollins]

What do you think of the new Sims extension? Felt a little bit let down with some of the more recent ones so I don't want to waste money on it if it's not great (e.g. seasons)

I'm having fun with it so far!! I haven't really done anything past tending to the animals because it takes a lot of your Sim's time. But like. I'm planning on going into the town square very soon to see what's going on there.

Oh! I have done some cross-stitching too! As someone that knows how to cross-stitch in real life, it's making me yearn to pick up some canvas, needle, and thread and make my own project. I my problem is that I only have needles and the wrong kinda thread (I have tailor's thread). No canvas at all. I really need to get out and buy some proper thread, canvas, and a loop so I can actually do a project so I have some productive to do.

The lot challenge I have is really fun too. It's called "simple living." It means that you can't cook your food unless you have the required ingredients. You can either grow and produce everything on your farm and cook and eat that way or you can get groceries!! There's a grocery stall in the town square but you can also order home delivery if you don't feel like leaving the house. The grocery store, I think, has a rotating stock. So like. You can be sure to find different things on different days. So, if you're trying to cook certain things, you better buy the ingredients while you can!!

I've only had the pack since last night so I can't give you a full analysis. But like. I really like it so far. I've been playing for something like 11 hours straight today because I've been having so much fun. So, if that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will.

#this ask is from anonymous at tumblr productions and directed at robin #thank you for coming to me!! #it means a lot #i hope this helped somewhat #i tend to ramble lmfao #anyways #not hockey

[mindthump]

25 Ways to Save $250 (or More) Monthly That Most Business Owners Are Ignoring http://ift.tt/2rynPBP

I get it -- money is tight. So, how does saving $250 a month sound? There are tons of ways business owners can save hundreds of dollars (or more) each month. Sadly, most people, including business owners, don't make the effort to implement huge-but-easily accomplished savings.

This post will list 25 easy ways you can start saving $250 per month right now. While not all of these tips will save you hundreds of dollars in one shot, combining two or three of them definitely will.

1. Ditch the landline.

If you have a single-line system for your business, your costs likely start around $50/month. If you have multiple lines, you're probably paying at least double that.

Scrap the landline and let your cell phones do double duty. Bonus: You can write off your business-associated phone costs, saving you even more money.

Related: 14 Ways to Save Money When Starting or Growing a Business

2. Share advertising costs with another business owner.

Cut your advertising costs in half by teaming up with the owner of a complementary business. This works especially well for co-sponsoring local or online events.

Another cost-saving option is to ask other business owners if they want to advertise via your website or social media. This can actually be a great bonus revenue stream!

3. Create your own forms rather than paying for them.

The vast majority of business forms you need (invoice, order forms, non-disclosure agreements, partnership contracts, etc. ) can be found online for free. Heck, it's what my company does and we don't charge anything.

Check out Entrepreneur's collection of free business forms before you contact your lawyer or accountant to have a form drawn up.

Related: How to Start Saving Money Today

4. Buy second-hand equipment and furniture.

Why pay $500 for a new desk when you could get a gently-used one on Craigslist for $100? Same goes for printers, computers and other electronics.

Another great option is buying refurbished electronics from reputable electronics dealers.

5. Negotiate a cheaper credit card rate.

Paying credit card fees is one of the worst ways to spend your money. Look around to see what competing card companies are charging, and then try to negotiate a lower rate with your current card company.

Related: 8 Ways to Get the Most From a Business Credit Card

6. Raise your insurance deductible.

Take a look at how many times you've made a claim over the past few years. If you seldom make claims, consider raising your deductible to save on monthly premiums. Even moving from a $250 deductible to $500 can make a decent dent in your monthly insurance costs.

7. Outsource rather than hiring.

While the hourly cost of outsourcing may end up being equivalent (or even slightly higher) to hiring someone, you'll save big in terms of pensions and benefits. Why not save that extra money, or use it to pay a highly-qualified consultant who could likely do a better job in less time? I've also found a full time programmer by first outsourcing.

Related: 5 Things Small Businesses Should Outsource

8. Check the accuracy of your mailing list.

If you do large-scale mailings, you could be wasting a ton of money if your address list is outdated or inaccurate. The US Postal Services offers a number of free and low-cost services to check your list before you mail.

9. Get your family to help out.

Instead of hiring outside help for administrative tasks like filing and bookkeeping, hire an immediate family member. You still get to claim the business expense. You keep the money in the family, and your lower income-earning. Family members won't have to pay much tax on their earnings, either.

Related: 4 Reasons You Should Never Hire a Family Member

10. Always pay early to get the discount.

Take advantage of early payment discounts whenever possible. This can be particularly lucrative if a supplier is offering 2/10 net 30 (meaning 2 percent discount if paid within 10 days). This works out to an almost 37% return when annualized.

11. Barter.

You'd be surprised at how many businesses are willing to barter goods and services. I find this is particularly true when it comes to advertising. If money is tight, offer your products or services in exchange for a free ad, mention or online sponsorship.

Related: Bartering Is Back in Style! These Startups Tell Us How

12. Go as paperless as possible.

Skip the paper and ink and use email whenever possible. There are tons of free apps that can help you make the transition: CamScanner, Evernote and Due.com are just a few.

13. Share office space (or go without).

Many companies are saving hundreds or thousands a month by going virtual, sharing office space or renting temporary meeting rooms. Use a site like ShareDesk to find local office space you can book on an as-needed basis. I personally use coworking space Bootup. It helps me to cut costs.

Related: 3 Reasons to Chuck Coworking and Get a Real Office

14. Try your hand at free PR.

Hiring a PR consultant can cost big bucks. Instead, use a service like Help a Reporter to get free PR. This service lets you respond to daily, emailed queries. These queries can land you in big-name publications like Time, The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times.

Related: What Startups Should Do Differently When It Comes to PR

15. Hire an intern.

Instead of hiring or outsourcing, consider an intern from a local college or university. While this can be a very labor-intensive process (finding, training, reporting, etc.), it can save you money in the long-run.

Here's a great overview from the US Small Business Administration on how the whole process works.

16. Outsource the tough tasks.

It seems counterintuitive, but by outsourcing tasks it actually frees you up to spend more time on revenue-generating activities. Some of these tasks might be blogging, social media management or office administration.

Related: 5 Things Small Businesses Should Outsource

17. Stop using your credit cards.

Take it from someone who owns a company to accept credit card payments: don't underestimate how fast it can saddle your business with debt. According to ValuePenguin, the average rate for a business credit card in 2017 is over 15 percent. If you're tempted to carry a balance on your card, try switching to cash-only purchases.

Each month get pre-purchase gift cards for your necessities. This way you always know where you're financial standing is and can avoid racking up charges on credit.

18. Bring a bagged lunch.

Spending a few bucks a day eating out may not seem like a lot, but it adds up. According to Time, bringing your own lunch can save you up to $2,500 per year.

19. Move from traditional to online advertising.

Are you still using old-school advertising strategies like magazine or newspaper ads? Switch to digital advertising strategies. With social media, email and content marketing, you could save a ton of money each month. Plus, digital marketing tends to be much more effective.

20. Ask for a reduction in your phone or internet bills.

Your phone and internet bills are not set in stone. Investigate what others are charging, then call your provider and ask for a discount. Most phone companies will look for savings in your current plan, if you simply call and ask if there's a way to reduce your bill.

21. Use free tools whenever available.

In many cases, free tools can be just as effective as paid ones. Don't pay for a tool unless you KNOW you need it and you can't live without it!

Some free tools you should investigate are WordPress, MailChimp, Hootsuite and Canva.

22. Go open source for your ecommerce store.

Thinking of opening an e-commerce store? There are tons of great, free open source e-commerce platforms you can choose from.

This means no additional monthly fees for the privilege of selling your stuff! Look into BigCommerce, Zen Cart, WooCommerce or WP eCommerce.

23. Deduct your business-use-of home expenses.

If you run your business from home, claiming at-home business expenses can actually save you a ton of money over the year. Don't forget to claim the business portion of your mortgage or rent, phone/internet and even utilities.

24. Go without the extras.

We all have little "extras" we spend money on every day (I'm thinking specialty coffees, in-app purchases, bottled water, etc.). Cutting out $5-$10 of daily unnecessary luxuries and impulse buys can save you $150-$300/month.

25. Become a marketing DIY'er.

Hiring a marketer can cost you a lot more than $250/month. If you have the time and interest, consider teaching yourself how to do your own marketing.

Here are some blog posts that will help:

The Beginner's Guide To SEO

An Introduction To Content Marketing

10 Unique Online Marketing Methods That Most Business Owners Don't Know About

How are you going to start saving $250/month? Think about this and then implement in your life.

Related: 25 Ways to Save $250 (or More) Monthly That Most Business Owners Are Ignoring Do's and Don'ts for Mid-level Organizations Entering into M&A Transactions How to Write A Great Business Plan ?

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