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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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¢σℓ∂єя

ⓡⓔⓥ! ⓒⓞⓝⓝⓞⓡ;

( i.) vertigo

“hank.”

the hunter’s expression is anything but warm. it tightens along with his grip on his drink, long fingers flexing along the rim of the plastic. you glance down at the movement, glimpsing an array of bandaged knuckles.

“yes. hank. he sent me to deliver a message.” you cross your arms, settling your weight onto one leg.

“right.” he says. “not interested.”

your sugary expression drops flat.

“listen,” you monotone, eyes hard with discontent. “i’m not interested in your petty little drama. you’re needed outside - either get to it or don’t.”

connor clicks his tongue. his eyes sweep up, clear, intense, and then he’s looking, really looking at you, as though it’s the very first time. as though beforehand you were nowhere near interesting enough for him to even really acknowledge.

you bristle.

he follows the twitch of your brow with amusement. “no thanks.” his fingers brush past his jaw and down his collarbone, loosening his tie with a slow, deliberate tug. “goodbye now.”

your eyes narrow into slits. “so that’s it huh? the great deviant hunter. scared by an android.”

the air thickens.

“what?”

“you heard me,” you shrug. “it’s disappointing, is all.”

you can feel the breath in his lungs, see the tension build and ripple across his body. he is an animal–a beast held under the biting chains of societal moral conduct and you envision stretching out your hand, watching the abrupt snap of his teeth.

“this is a waste of time.” connor says. there’s something else in his voice now, a creeping darkness. “go.”

you meet his stare head on.

“or what?”

for just a moment, everything goes silent. all but you and him stills and fades–the club’s deep bass of noise, the heat and the sweat–disappearing to a white buzz somewhere in the back of your skull. he smiles.

then it all floods back, the sensations slamming wild and screeching in your gut as your back hits the counter.

“two days,” he says–and he’s right there, hand squeezed tightly around your wrist. you gasp, free hand flying up in shock and shoving into his chest. his grin is all teeth, half mad. “two days ago, a deviant pushed me through a glass window.”

your pulse flutters rapidly against the hard press of his thumb. he’s tall–too tall, taller than you thought–crowding you fervid and looming against the smooth marble. “it turned and stabbed me. right there, in fact.” it takes you more than a few seconds to register his words, but when you do, you freeze, jerking back the hand that had been pushing at him. he cocks his head, features swimming crimson under the coloured lights. “i needed stitches, you know. you’ve probably bothered them.”

you don’t tremble. the counter is cold, freezing against your hot skin and his pitch black eyes are bruisedbruised as though he hasn’t slept a day in his life, but you don’t tremble, you don’t dig your nails into your palm and you don’t trap a whimper in your throat.

“it stabbed me.” he laughs. “so i shot a bullet right through it’s skull.”

just as it begins, it’s over.

he drops your wrist like it’s on fire, stumbling back. various emotions flash over his face, inscrutable, before he relaxes suddenly, goes lax like a puppet cut off strings.

“so no,” he blinks. “i don’t particularly want to see hank right now. or any android at the moment.”

the fabric of your shirt twists in your grip.

he frowns, humming.

“i’m not sure i have the self control.”

#detroit become human fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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Of Blood and Biocomponents - Epilogue

Pairing: Ruthless!Connor x reader

Summary: A soulmate AU where injuries from one person appear on the body of the other.

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: You guys must know the drill by now.

(P.s. I’m not adding links to the previous parts bc of tumblr and its link purge, but they’re all on my masterlist which can be found through my bio)

Keep reading

#beautiful op #detroit become human fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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(p r e y);

pairing: ruthless!connor x female!reader x rk900

words: 19k+ (go big or go home)

notes: please note that this is a sequel to my vampire!au fic called “Lurk” that I sadly cannot link without this post getting sniped by Tumblr. Please read that one first if you haven’t already (you can find it on my masterlist) because this will not make much sense otherwise.

dedication: YOU. To all of you who still read my stories and leave me all those lovely messages as well as like and reblog my content. This one is all for you. Also tagging @drmsqnc who threatened asked me to tag her so she doesn’t miss it.

warnings: SLIGHT NSFW (no actual smut), + SUGGESTIVE THEMES/LANGUAGE + THINGS GET A BIT…BITEY…TAKE 2…

…

Eyes as deep and as cold as the ocean.

(“Follow me, little bit, taste—”)

Drip.

The scream tore out of your chest the same way it always did.

Keep reading

#OH MY GOSHHHHH #AJSHSJAJWJ #nines x reader #connor x reader #dbh fanfic #detroit become human fic

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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Of Blood and Biocomponents - Pt. 7 (finale)

Pairing: Ruthless!Connor x reader

Summary: A soulmate AU where injuries from one person appear on the body of the other.

Word Count: 3.7k

Warnings: you guys know the drill by now (but fyi this part isn’t exactly one I’d read at the dinner table w/ the fam)

A/N: Surprise, lads. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me (since my updates have been so infrequent rip). Though I will be posting the epilogue in the next few days, this is the series finale!! You guys just have to trust me with this one, but I also understand if none of you want to talk to me after this.

(P.s. I’m not adding links to the previous/future parts bc of tumblr and its link purge, but they’re all on my masterlist which can be found through my bio)

Keep reading

#*inhales*#yEs #detroit become human fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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Of Blood and Biocomponents - Pt. 6

(This beautiful gif isn’t mine! It’s all @detroitconnors!!)

Pairing: Ruthless!Connor x reader

Summary: A soulmate AU where injuries from one person appear on the body of the other.

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: references to the angsty pile of words that was pt. 5 and their consequences?

A/N: *taps keyboard like a microphone* is this character development?

Also, I swear I haven’t been hacked, I am actually posting something.

(P.s. I’m not adding links to the previous parts bc of tumblr and its link purge, but they’re all on my masterlist which can be found through my bio)

Keep reading

#BLESSSS #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader #connor

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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a fragment of her

So. This is the monstrosity that crept its way into my brain and held me hostage for days on end until I wrote it. It’s the longest single piece I’ve ever written. I was almost tempted to break it up, but nah. Y’all deserve the whole shebang after the radio silence I’ve been giving lately.

A fair warning, this takes place after Connor shoots himself to escape Amanda. So it’s not exactly a happy one. My apologies (I’m not sorry). Regardless, I hope you enjoy it (can you ever really enjoy angst though? What am I saying, of course you can).

Pairing: Connor (RK800) x (Female) Reader

Warnings: mentions of suicide, general angst and sadness

Word Count: 11,793 (what have I done)

Keep reading

#wow #all i can say is wow #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader

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ice-cream-under-stars · 5 years

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ModernGods!Nines & Connor/OldGod!Reader AU (RK900 X Reader X Connor)

Pairing: RK900 (Nines) x Female!Reader X Ruthless!Connor

Warnings: None, other than a pre-agreed ménage à trois and one F word.

A/N: Based on one of my most favorite books, American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This was originally going to be Nines/Reader but I got somewhat sidetracked. And I don’t really like love triangles ‘cause honestly, why choose one when you can get both? So yeah, there we go.

I’ve never spoken with her but I’d like to dedicate this ficlet to the wonderful @the-darklings, whose Vampire AU with the RK brothers inspired me in turn.

“What should we call you?”

It’s the one with the silver eyes that speaks first. You seriously consider tossing your glass of whiskey in their faces, because really, you make me come here and keep silent for the ten minutes just to ask me that, but make do with throwing the question right back at them instead.

Leaning comfortably against the cushioned sofa, you knock back half of the drink in one go. “I believe the more important question is,” you point at them idly with the glass, “What should I call you?”

You don’t miss the glance they share between each other before they focus on you again. They are near-identical, right down to a tuft of dark hair on their foreheads, and you have no doubt they are as deadly as they are beautiful. You can appreciate that; it’s hard to get them in just the right mix, but somehow humanity has outdone themselves again with these new gods. Kids these days, you muse to yourself before putting the glass down on the ebony table between you and them. They don’t make ‘em like they used to, but this is a nice throwback to the old days.

The private room shields you from the hideously psychedelic lights in the dance floors of the club, and also from the noise. It’s one of the many prestigious establishments owned by the brothers and as much as you are loathe to admit, you haven’t been to a place this fancy in a long, long time.

You turn your gaze back to the brothers sitting across from you and take in their mirroring symmetry again. Shaped like the latest technology they embody and represent, they could be mistaken as androids at a first glance, from the shining LED on their temples to simple, utilitarian attires. But their jackets are missing the model numbers standard-issued android clothes usually sport, nor do they wear neon armbands.

Personally, you never saw the appeal in the androids, just thought great, humans are at it again, they’re too lazy to do their own recycling and actually put in efforts to make friends so they’ve created sentient vacuum cleaners with limbs when the first android models came out.

Although now, you think you can appreciate them a little more.

“You can call me Nines,” it’s the one who’d spoken first; eyes the color of full moon, dressed in a white jacket and a black turtleneck. There’s something about his haughty, cold smile that makes you want to either punch him or kiss him. Probably both―why choose one when you can do both? “As for my brother……”

“Call me Connor,” says the other, and you notice just then his frame is slightly smaller, leaner. His eyes are brown but no warmer than his twin’s; his jacket and shirt are more preppy, and the black tie held down precisely with a tiepin makes you want to laugh. Is this guy for real?

You let out a snort instead, crossing your legs and lacing your fingers together. Connor and Nines, huh. You suppose those aren’t too shabby of a name the two of the most powerful new gods, the rising threat in this upcoming war, would give themselves. There are always worse monikers to give oneself, after all. You’re not too particularly fond of your own either, and you didn’t even get to choose it yourself.

“As you may know, I have many names,” you say slowly, “but from what most of my believers are calling me nowadays, you can call me……Reader.”

Connor smiles, surprisingly softly; Nines gives a shit-eating grin that is no doubt his own version of the same. You think about growling for good measure, but decide against it, just letting out a tired sigh. You’d gotten enough shit about your new christening from ‘Hank’ and ‘Gavin’ as well, but at least you’d been able to retaliate. Not with these ones, though.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, will you,” you say irritably, “why’d you call me up for this tête-à-fucking-tête anyways? In case you didn’t notice, I thought we were at war right now. Doesn’t that mean we should be―I don’t know―trying to kill each other? Or at least pretend to?”

“Would you like to?” Nines asks, suspiciously gentle. You shrug. He relaxes again, and this time it’s Connor who opens his mouth.

“It’s their war, as far as we’re concerned,” he sounds disinterested, contemptuous even; you blink. “We want no part of it.”

“I bet The Boss Lady isn’t too happy about it.”

“She’s not,” Nines agrees, “but not even Amanda would be able to force us, once our plan succeeds.”

You mull over the remaining whiskey in your glass; you can almost feel them staring at you expectantly. Sighing quietly, you drain the remaining alcohol before popping the question. “And I’m guessing I am part of that ‘plan.’”

“Correct.”

“We know that you’re none too enthusiastic about this war as well,” Connor smoothly takes over the rein of conversation from Nines, “despite being one of the more powerful Old Gods. Many of them have lost their strength over time, but……not you. Your power has only renewed over each age, even with the shifts in cultures and civilization. It―you―might fluctuate and change, but never fade. You are unique.”

“This war is a waste,” Nines doesn’t mix words; practical and straight to the point, just like the invention he looks like and symbolizes. “If stepping away from it makes us traitors, so be it. No one will dare try to stop us, if we have you by our side.”

“Why me, though? There are other Old Gods who are still as strong as their heydays if you looked hard enough. Why’d you choose me?”

You freeze when they stand from their seat in sync. Slowly, as if to reassure you they mean no harm, the brothers settle down on the sofa with you between them, not too far but not too close either. You can smell their colognes, rich and subtle; you suddenly have difficulty breathing.

Their cautiousness annoys you for an indeterminable reason; I won’t BREAK, you want to snap at them, but choose to give them a chance.

“You are the Dreamer,” murmurs Nines, his eyes raking over your face, neck, shoulder; whether in scrutiny or something else, you don’t know. “The Self-Created, and the Representation of Many and One. As my brother had said, you and your power are unique. There is none like you.”

Connor is the bolder one; he cautiously takes your hand, first glancing at your eyes for permission, then carefully covering your right hand between both of his. His palm and fingers are smooth in artificial perfection. It send an unexpected shiver up your spine. “Your power is especially compatible with ours. After all……”

He throws a pointed look at Nines. “You have no reason to Fear the advancement, nor Worry the evolution of technology might supplant you.”

“In fact, they will only benefit you,” you gasp when you feel silken lips whispering against your ear, large hands covering your shoulders like velvety shadows. “With the Efficiency and constant Enhancement, they……we will only continue to create more diverse desires, countless objects of lust and passion humanity will delve into further and further. It is a bottomless, insatiable hunger and you know it.”

Yes; yes you do, you of all people know it the best, because ultimately, that was what created you, wasn’t it? Desire for never-ending improvement, to be harder, better, faster, stronger, so you can have whatever you want, whatever that may be?

With that realization, you don’t resist when Nines wraps his arms around your waist. Connor covers your cheeks with his hands and you don’t push him away. Somehow, it all feels right. It’s as if the missing pieces have been found and everything is in its place. You are where you were meant to be, with these different resemblances and repetitions of yourself, you and these younger Gods complementing each other. At last, at last.

“So do we have a deal?” You can’t tell if it’s Connor or Nines speaking anymore. In the end, though―does it matter? You are where you want to be, where you were meant to be.

In the end…why choose one when you can have both?

You laugh softly; you lock your left fingers with Nines’s, and take Connor’s chin with the other hand to pull him closer for a kiss. “Yes.”

#detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #connor x reader #nines x reader

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

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Writing advice you're not going to like.

People sometimes send me Asks wanting writing advice. I suck at it. I don’t really know how I do the writing, or how one should do the writing, or what one should do to get better at the writing. All I can ever think to say is “write a lot of stuff and you will get better at the writing.” Which is true, but hardly a bolt from the sky.

Well, as it turns out, I do have one piece of Legit Writing Advice, and I am going to share it with you, right now. If you were in any of my writing workshop groups at a con, you’ve heard this advice already.

Warning: you’re going to fucking hate it. But if you do it, you will thank me.

If you have a piece of fiction you’re serious about, something you might want to actually shop around, or just something you really are into and want to make it as good as you can…do NOT edit it.

Repeat. DO NOT EDIT.

REWRITE.

As in, print out the whole fucking thing and re-enter it, every word (or use two screens). Retype the whole thing. Recreate it from the ground up using your first draft as a template. Start with a blank page and re-enter every. single. word.

I hear you screaming. OH MY GOD THAT’S INSANE.

Yes. Yes, it is.

It is also the most powerful thing you will ever do for a piece of fiction that you are serious about.

Now, let’s get real. I don’t do this for most things. I don’t do it for my fanfiction. But if it’s something original, something I might like to get to a professional level - I do it. You absolutely COULD do it for fanfiction. It’s just up to you and how much time you want to sink into a piece.

You can edit, sure. But you WILL NOT get down to the level of change that needs to happen in a second draft. You will let things slide. Your eyes will miss things. You will say “eh, good enough.”

The first time I did this, on someone else’s advice, I was dubious. Within two pages, I was saying WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN DOING THIS ALL THE TIME. I was amazed at how much change was happening. By the time I got to the end, I had an entirely different novel than the one I’d started with. When you’re already re-entering every single word, it’s easy to make deep changes. You’ll reformat sentences, you’ll switch phrases around, you’ll massage your word choice. You’ll discover whole paragraphs that don’t need to be there at all because they became redundant. You’ll find dialogue exchanges that need reimagining. Whole plot points will suddenly be different, whole story arcs will reveal their flaws and get re-drawn.

You cannot get down to the fundamental level of change that’s required just by editing an existing document. You have to rebuild it if you really want your story to evolve. You will be AMAZED at the difference it will make.

It will take time. It will seem like a huge, Herculean task. I’m not saying it’s easy. It isn’t. But it is absolutely revolutionary.

Try it. I promise, you will see what I mean.

*PSA: Tipsy!Lori wrote this post. In case you couldn’t tell.

#writing help

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

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Resources For Writing Science Fiction

Ko-Fi || Masterlist || Work In Progress || Request

Space

Space Engine

Artificial gravity calculator

Natural gravity calculator

EarthSky

WhyFiles

9 misconceptions about space travel

Space flight in science fiction

The weapons of Star Wars

Fiction writing versus physical laws

Cryopreservation in science fiction

Realistic astronomy in science fiction

Faster-than-light travel in sci-fi

Imaging over long distances

Relativity: Did Einstein kill steampunk?

Practical spaceship design

Exoplanets and habitability

Radio waves for sci-fi authors

Distance and legal systems in sci-fi

Near-future scenarios for us & our planet

Habitable atmospheres for authors

Gravity basics for SFF authors

The future of energy

Waste management in SF

Enclosed ecosystems and life support

Futuristic Technology & Medicine

Dimensions

8 things authors should know about viruses

Plagues in science fiction and fantasy

Rogue viruses in science fiction

Genetics myths in fiction writing

Mutation myths in fiction

Dispeling archaeology myths

Editing life in science fiction

A whirwind tour of the human genome

Chemical fallacies in fiction

Explosions in science fiction

Nuclear radiation for writers

Climate change and cli-fi

Holograms in sci-fi

Writing believable nanotechnology

7 things to know about cybernetics

Computer and internet myths

Medical misconceptions in fiction

How to write about biomedical researchers

Writing realistic research labs

The science of poisons

Proper lab technique for SFF writers

The 4 Do’s and Don'ts of Time Travel

The Science in Your Science Fiction: Time Travel

An Idiot’s Guide to Teleportation

How To Explain Superpowers

List of Supernatural Powers and Abilities

Terraforming and Genetic Manipulation Both

Terraforming planets

Guide To Terraforming

Aliens, Creatures, and Robots

What Will Real Aliens Look Like?

Wildlife Biology In Fiction

Writing Outside The Human Box

Insects in fiction: what bugs me

Space bugs: microbes in outer space

The science of animal communication

Writing realistic spiders

A writer’s guide to cyborgs

Creating Aliens In 3 Stages

Believable Aliens

Guide To Creating Aliens

Aliens: Relatives of Ours?

Everything You Need To Know About Writing Robots and AI

Alien Name Generator

Alien Species Generator

Science News

bionet.anounce

sci.chem

sci.math

sci.misc

sci.physics

sci.enviornment

sci.space.news

sci.geo.geology

sci.bio.ecology

Scout Report

Netsurfer Science

Science Daily

EurekAlert

UnSci

Science, Space & Robots

Physics Today

Space News Online

Worldbuilding

SciFi World Generator

Terragen

Planet Designer

Solar Bodies

Climatology

Planetary Geography

Water Geography

Creating Religions & Belief Systems

Tornado Project

Volcano World

ArchNet (Archaeology)

BioMedNet (Biology, Medical

HealthFinder (Medical)

OnHealth (Health)

Phys(Health)

The Weather Channel

Space.com (Space)

Launchspace.com (Space)

Aquatic Network (Oceanography)

The Chemist’s Helper (Chemistery)

Physlink.com(Physics)

Earth Science Virtual Library

Constructed Languages & Miscellaneous

Creating a Language

The Language Construction Kit

The International Phonetic Alphabet – Audio Illustrations

Xenolinguistics

Realistic translation in fiction

The linguistics in Arrival

Science Fiction & Death

Science Fiction Cliches

Gunn Center For The Study of Science Fiction

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Futuristic Name Generator

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#writing help

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

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Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!

This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.

So let’s get to it.

S T A N D A R D D E S C R I P T I O N

B a s i c C o l o r s

Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.

“She had brown skin.”

This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.

Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.

C o m p l e x C o l o r s

These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.

Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.

Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.

For example: Golden brown, russet brown, tawny beige…

As some of these are on the “rare” side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.

“He was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.”

Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:

“His skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.”

M o d i f i e r s

Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.

D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l

W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n

F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e

Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pink…

If you’re looking to get more specific than “brown,” modifiers narrow down shade further.

Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.

As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.

While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like “tan” “fair” and “light” do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for “naturally tan” and much more likely a tanned White person.

Calling someone “dark” as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)

U n d e r t o n e s

Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isn’t just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.

Mentioning the undertones within a character’s skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.

As shown, there’s a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).

“A dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.”

“He always looked as if he’d ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.”

Standard Description Passage

“Farah’s skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summer’s sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.”

-From my story “Where Summer Ends” featured in Strange Little Girls

Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.

Note my use of “fawn” in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, it’s also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.

Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time I’m no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.

C R E A T I V E D E S C R I P T I O N

Whether compared to night-cast rivers or day’s first light…I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.

I’ve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their “smooth rose-tinged ivory skin”, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.

Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where. Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if they’re not even a secondary character.

Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do what’s good for your tale.

N A T U R AL S E T T I N G S - S K Y

Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.

Now before you run off to compare your heroine’s skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.

When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.

So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them to.

Also consider whose perspective you’re describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who can’t stand the person.

“Her face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.”

“She had a sandy complexion, smooth and tawny.”

Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.

F L O W E R S

Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose

It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didn’t have a 20 character name or wasn’t called something like “chocolate silk” so these are the finalists.

You’ll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.

Also be aware of flowers that most might’ve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.

“He entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?”

A S S O R T E D P L A N T S & N A T U R E

Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber

These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because I’ve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.

At least they’re common enough that most may have an idea what you’re talking about at the mention of “pinecone."

I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how it’ll sounds.

"Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.”

I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.

I don’t suggest using a comparison just “cuz you can” but actually being thoughtful about what you’re comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.

W O O D

Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash

Wood can be an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having “foody” terminology within their names, but again, associations.

Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure it’s appropriate to the character if you do use it.

“The old warlock’s skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.”

M E T A L S

Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze

Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skin…

I’ve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.

These also work well with modifiers.

“The dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.”

G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS

Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum

These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.

If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually “fits” the book or scene.

Even if you’re able to get us to picture what “rutile” looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.

“His skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.”

P H Y S I C A L D E S C R I P T I ON

Physical character description can be more than skin tone.

Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, hands…body posture, body shape, skin texture… though not necessarily all of those nor at once.

Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.

How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldn’t overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspots…

G E N E R A L T I P S

Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.

Get Creative On Your Own: Obviously, I couldn’t cover every proper color or comparison in which has been “approved” to use for your characters’ skin color, so it’s up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.

Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isn’t always enough to indicate someone’s ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to “dark white” or something, more indicators of race may be needed.

Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you don’t, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the “Other”).

PSA: Don’t use “Colored.” Based on some asks we’ve received using this word, I’d like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color “colored” please.

Not Sure Where to Start? You really can’t go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. It’s actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.

Want some alternatives to “skin” or “skin color”? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.

Skin Tone Resources

List of Color Names

The Color Thesaurus

Things that are Brown (blog)

Skin Undertone & Color Matching

Tips and Words on Describing Skin

Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)

Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as “red” & “brown”)

Don’t Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics 3 2 1

Writing & Description Guides

WWC Featured Description Posts

WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair

Writing with Color: Description & Skin Color Tags

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-intentioned Writers Make

I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasn’t been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!

~ Mod Colette

#writing help

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

Text

a penny for your thoughts (1/2)

summary: What do you get when you mix an aloof detective, a curious android, and a cat? Chaos.

pairing: human!nines x android!reader

words: 1.1k+

notes: a continuation of my android!reader series, requested by a lot of you wonderful people !!!!

…

“Penny is a fitting name.”

“Penny? Where did that come from?” You glance over at his bedroom side table littered with various coins, and he follows your gaze with a scoff. “I’m not naming her after spare change.”

You ignore his resistance, frankly unimpressed with his manner of dissent. “How old is she again?”

“The vet thinks she’s two months.”

As you lower onto your knees, Penny skitters out from under the bed and straight into waiting arms.

A calico kitten. Malnourished, if her runty size is any indication.

Keep reading

#detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #nines x reader #rk900

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

Text

love, a definition

love/ləv/

noun

an intense feeling of deep affection.

originally, he thought that love was the quiet after the war. the prize for the victor to claim. love was brutal, ugly, and violent.

to love was to rip you apart, starting from your heart. to hold you and never ever let you go.

most important of all, it was to show the world you were his.

he loves quite viciously. with a touch of his own brand of cruelty.

love was a possessive obsession.

but then he realized––

that love is also breathing in your scent under the canopy of night, quietly wondering to himself ‘why me, why did you pick me before all the beautiful things. why, why me, the ugly and cruel machine; the tool, the weapon, the storm?”

and when he watched you slumber beside him, he found himself pleading in silence, “don’t leave me, please.” he would skim his fingers down your cheek, hoping (quite pathetically so) that you somehow heard him.

and love is––

love is the beauty of a spring meadow and the ugliness of a scarred battleground.

“don’t you dare love him (name)” he often found himself thinking whenever you spoke about the rk800. “unless you want me to tear his meager existence apart.”

but when he finally asked you what love meant, you grinned as you rest your head against his shoulder

“it means you and me, nines. love is us.”

———

a/n: uuugh i hope this makes sense im sorry but i just want to write about rk900 x reader

#im sorry i just love him so muCh #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #nines x reader #rk900

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

Text

as dark as the night (maybe darker still);

pairing: villain!rk900 x hero!reader

words: 3.3k+

request: none, but this idea began with this post and I highly suggest you read it before continuing on because this fic is a direct continuation/expansion of it.

notes: your girl is trash what can I even say? The morality/struggle of romantic villain x reader relationship is too tempting also ~Nines~

warnings: NADA

…

Keep reading

#*screams*#absolutely stunning #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #nines x reader #rk900

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

Text

(lonely god);

hero/villain!au // this is a “non-canon” piece

He catches you gently.

Folds you to him with a desperation that makes the blood in your mouth taste like triumph.

Blood, ash and dirt stains his breathtaking face. Once, it was a face you found comfort in; a face that under different circumstance you could have…

Perhaps some part of you still—

“And when it’s over, and this world is ashes, you and I will be the only ones left standing. Gods to this new world and then you will understand. We cannot exist without one another.”

He told you that once but that was then.

His grey eyes are wide and desperate as he stares at you with something almost resembling shock and despair.

“No—no, what have you done? What have you done?” he whispers and something frays the edges of his words, some hidden emotion you cannot place as he lowers you to the ground. “Why? Why didn’t you—”

Tears sting your eyes, blurring your vision as you gasp painfully, the tearing pain slicing mercilessly through your body. Nines’ hands are on you, cradling you with gentleness you knew he only ever showed you and you alone. His hands settle against your bleeding chest and you can feel his power thundering through his skin as he tries to mould his power into your broken body.

“Why didn’t you block?” Nine hisses and the words are bitter and raw, almost destructive on his tongue as his power starts cracking the ground beneath you from its raging fury. “You should have blocked. Why didn’t you? Just—keep still.”

Your lips quiver and the blood on your tongue tastes coppery and sharp, a small whine of pain slipping from you as you try to meet his wild stare, “You—you’ve taken everything f-from me. Please…I just—I just want to be free. I want to see him a-again. Let…let…let me go.”

“No,” he snarls, his lips twisting dangerously, and you groan as he presses his hand harsher against your bleeding chest. “I will not let you go. I will never let—I need you… and I will not allow you to slip away from me (Name). Do you… do you truly hate me so much you would rather die than be with me?”

Your heart aches at the quiet vulnerability in his low voice, at the desperate clench of his jaw as he tries to heal you, tries to mend you from within. He always looked so nice when he smiled at you, you recall suddenly, and it makes you sad. You can’t remember the last time he smiled, or you for that matter.

Once upon a time, you came so very close to falling in love with that crooked grin full of startled surprise.

A wasted chance to do something beautiful with the immeasurable power you were both granted.

“No, no…I don’t hate you,” you choke out and his eyes close at your words. His expression is almost pained and it doesn’t make you happy like you expected it would. “I never—I never hated you. I w-wanted to…so much. But I never—I think…I think that in another universe…I would have l-loved you forever.”

It’s peaceful.

And soft.

This oblivion.

“No,” the word rips out from some dark, guttural place inside of him, so powerful and frantic you can feel his power—everything that he is, every last fibre of him—cling to you with a desperation that makes you flinch. His power wraps around you so tightly, it almost makes you cry harder. “I will not let you go. I refuse. Y-You will not leave me alone, do you understand? I will not let you—”

You smile at him softly, brokenly, and feel his fingers frantically seek your own as he laces them with yours, pressing them against his trembling lips.

“S-smile for me.”

He doesn’t. His eyes close instead, and you’re not strong enough to keep your own open anymore.

Something wet hits your cheek, and a roar of pure agony rips through the earth—a fury of a God—while the ground shakes and trembles beneath you and–––

…

an: you’re all sadists, and I love it~~

#I HAD TEARS #THANKS #WOW #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #nines x reader #rk900

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ice-cream-under-stars · 6 years

Note

for the kiss prompts, do you think you could write for either 17, 58, or 65 with nines??

Pairing: Nines x Reader

Warning(s): None

Prompt 17: “Needing to hide from the bad guys” kiss

A/N: Eeek, I’m sorry that this sucks. ://

When he grabs your hand and pulls you into his side, it takes everything within you not to halt and react in the most ill-mannered way possible.

You knew there were plenty of ways that you could have responded to his sudden outburst, but there was something about the way he grabbed onto your hand, how he interlaced his fingers through yours that had you avoiding it altogether.

Rainy wind blows through your hair, the sound of sirens blares behind you. There isn’t much you can do but follow him and hope that time is on your side.

In what feels like forever, Nines hand tightens around yours before tugging you both into the alleyway on your right. Your back hits hard on brick wall, and your mouth parts to groan, but you stop when icy gray eyes hold you captive. In your peripherals, you can see the red and blue sirens from the police cars all whiz past you, but where you are isn’t coverage enough.

“What are you doing?” You growl, eyes flickering down to his lips for a minuscule of a second before promptly finding his eyes once more.

“Hiding in plain sight.” And with that, he slams his lips onto yours right as oxygen leaves you.

His lips are cold and wet from the rain as they collide with yours, molding and delicate, and not what you thought they’d be like. In fact, the action elicits a hum of pleasure from you, and you can’t help but wrap your arms around him to anchor yourself.

There’s a fleeting moment of hesitation where you think he might pull away, but he only presses harder into you, kissing with the force of his entire weight, but careful enough not to harm you. He groans, the sound low and possessive, and you have the urge to yank on his hair, but the feeling is gone before you can even think to do so just as he pulls back.

Your eyes flutter open slowly, adjusting to the brightness around you. When you connect focus with him once again, you exhale with a shaky breath, eyes alight with blurry stars.

“What was that for?”

“Distraction.” He murmurs with a softer tone, voice vibrating through you. A smirk stretches across his lips as he watches a certain desire come alive in you. Although, he says nothing.

“That was pretty intimate for just a distraction.” You breathe out and touch your lips, somehow still starstruck with the taste of his kiss.

“Mostly a distraction,” he rectifies sheepishly, clasping his hands behind his back in order to refrain from touching you more. He has no control.

“You know,” you push yourself off of the wall, a smirk of your own curling into your lips. You gently nudge his chest, but his hand comes to keep it grounded before you have a chance to pull away. Your smirk deepens. “You’re not a very good liar, Detective.”

“I know,” he dips his head down, lips almost touching yours— needing to touch yours one more time. He let’s his lips brush over yours tenderly, infectiously. “That’s why I always tell the truth.”

#YALL DONT UNDERSTAND #THIS TYPE OF KISS IS MY FAVORITE #LIKE AHHHH #detroit: become human #fic #dbh fanfic #nines x reader #rk900 x reader #nines #rk900

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