#I've never done this art style before just needed something to do to while working on five other things :D :P

[ginga-snappd-offical]

Detective Feenie! Based on that one character sprite of tails from The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

#digital art #artists on tumblr #small artist #quick snapps #digital artists #epithet erased #pheonica fleecity #I've never done this art style before just needed something to do to while working on five other things :D :P #like I dooooooo #jello plays games #jelloapocalypse #I’m gonna redraw this and some others eventually probably don’t like the posing :P

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

please tell me this manga/comic/show exists i do not wanna have to make it

okok I've posted about this before but I'm watching animation content on youtube again while getting work done and by GOD I WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN

There's a specific concept I want to consume as content/art so badly but it came to me in a stupid dream. BUT. Sometimes, a dream means I DID see a hint of it somewhere and my brain accidentally plagiarized it which provides me with the teensiest sliver of hope that exists already and I don't have to work on it

It's a kind of a reverse isekai, right? But instead of an instant portal, it's time passing. And what I mean by that is that it's a Sun Wukong story, but the branch off is that after the main events of Journey to the West he gets either water temple'd or trapped in magic sleep again, not for a few hundred years but a few THOUSAND.

He wakes up to an incredibly far-flung China that remembers his myth and only his myth.

The art style that operated in this dream was sort of. Textured but 3D? Think nimona's buttery lighting but instead of emphasis on light and shapes to operate with the stained glass and solarpunk-medieval style the models are textured in a way that just invokes traditional brushwork and colour bleed even in a more cyberpunkish setting. Think like. Whenever there's a night scene the astigmatism glow of lamplight bleeds a little, like ink feathering on paper.

It's a little bit of a Steve Rogers treatment in a way, the world has moved past him, but also completely mythologized and capitalized on that mythology. Rather than treat that man out of time narrative as an aspect of backstory, it's the MAIN character narrative, because this ISN'T a world that needs him. This world is doing pretty okay, actually.

This a story about him.

Not about his feats or how cool his powers are or the 8 gajillion things the magic staff can do but just.

How ya doing, bud?

From the vaguely coherent notes that I could garner from my sleepily typed googledoc, it seems that I wanted this to be a love letter of sorts to the Asian diaspora experience? A specific sort of loneliness? Where the world you experience has a sort of disconnect in that it makes plain you belong there but you also don't, you never have, and there's no way to go "back" but going forward feels like groping blind through the muck. How much right to the past does he feel like he has? When it's been built into something he can't recognize and is clearly important to other people.

I want the pickup of the plot to gain him friends, family, maybe even a conflict or two but the stakes should never elevate vis a vis physical enemies to battle.

It'd be about 2/3 of this sort of narrative drawn story and the other 1/3 just hogwild worldbuilding and design

I've looked at a few other journey to the west adaptations but they mainly just use him as a funky lil action figure hero that's there to be cool as hell and save the day

99% likely this is just a thing my brain is made up and I'd need a several million budget and about 25 additional skills to start the ball rolling but hey, worth it to ask yall again

#sun wukong #journey to the west #mia dreams #i get these cinematic dreams once every now and again maybe i'll use that tag to post more of em

[suuuupernovaaa]

Taxi Cab

Hobie Brown x f!Reader

She would never hurt anyone. He would hurt anyone for her.

Before Hobie, nothing very eventful ever happened in my life. I grew up in a happy home, went to a good school, and decided to become an art teacher. I got good grades, I made life long friendships with people similar to me, and I kept my head down and minded my business.

Though it's been nearly half a year since he came rocketing into my life, I still can't put my finger what exactly drew Hobie to me. We don't have a lot in common. Where I am passive, Hobie is active and fierce. Where I am lenient, Hobie is harsh. Until Hobie, I had never listened to punk music, considered anarchy, or pierced a single thing on my body.

Well, I still haven't done the last one. Besides my ears. Needles are too much for me. Sometimes I get nervous that the spikes on Hobie's wardrobe are going to stick me.

Hobie is a force. He's dangerous, he's passionate, he's larger than life. Being near Hobie is addictive. He has a gravity around him that draws people in, but it tends to spit them out at much the same rate.

For some reason, I've been able to hang on. Sometimes it feels like clinging for dear life, until he reminds me how much he cares.

Even though he can do that in odd ways.

Like tonight.

Ever since I met Hobie, trouble seems to follow me around. I've been mugged twice, had my tires slashed, and even had to move because someone broke into my apartment and trashed the place.

My parents are becoming increasingly alarmed, only satisfied in the fact that Spider-Punk always seems to be nearby. They don't necessarily approve of Spider-Punk (I mean, most don't), but they do at least appreciate that he seems to be looking out for me.

Which is so weird! Hobie can't figure it out either, but he says Spider-Punk is a narcissistic asshole who only saves people to get attention for himself.

He might just be mad that I said I thought Spider-Punk seemed like he'd be cute, under the mask.

I was hoping my luck had turned around and I wouldn't need to run into Spider-Punk again for a while, but I guess that was just silly optimism. On my way to Hobie's with two large bags of groceries in hand, I'm stopped suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk when a taxi cab crashes directly into a fire hydrant.

The fire hydrant lets loose a typhoon of water in my direction, and I scramble to the right to get out of the water, but it's too late. I'm soaked.

"Oi!" I hear the unmistakable sound of Hobie yelling. He was heading my direction after I told him the bags were getting heavy, and arrived just in time to witness the crash. He wrenches open the door of the car and pulls out the taxi driver. He seems unharmed, a little shaken up, with heavy bags under his eyes and a wobble in his step.

Drunk or high.

"You could've killed someone!" Hobie is shouting, looking over at me and then back at the driver. "I ought to kick your fucking arse." He pushes the man against the side of his cab as the water continues to spray. I drop the groceries, mostly ruined now, and approach Hobie.

The man is muttering something under his breath, and as I reach them, I can smell the liquor coming through his pores.

I grab Hobie's arm. "I'm okay. Come on."

"No, I saw it, he nearly killed you, Y/N. Just a few feet over, you'd be gone. Then I'd have to fuckin' kill him!" Hobie slams him against his car one more time, and I pull on his arm harder.

"But he didn't. The cops are on their way. Let's go. I need help carrying the groceries, and it's too cold for me to be all wet."

Hobie looks at me finally, really looks at me, and then with one more burning glance at the inebriated taxi driver, gruffly releases his collar and turns to me.

Effortlessly, he scoops me up into his arms, bridal-style, and I gasp. He strides with ease over to our drowned groceries, and bends down, picking them up in his hands.

"Jesus, have you been working out?" I ask.

His face is too tense for a smile, but the corners of his mouth twitch. Despite my protests, he carries me into his building and up three flights of stairs, only setting me down once we are safe inside the walls of his apartment.

Without me asking, he goes into his room and brings out a pair of leggings I've left here before, and one of his t-shirts. I change in the bathroom, drying my hair as best I can with a towel, before going back to the kitchen to see what can be salvaged of the groceries.

"I think I can still do something with this! The bread is gone but, homemade bread crumbs aren't like, necessary. They're just fancy." I turn to see Hobie leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, still scowling. "Uh, or I can go to the store, if the homemade bread crumbs were like, important."

I let out a yelp of surprise when Hobie pushes himself off the counter and strides towards me, grabbing me by the shoulders and bringing me to him for a rough, passionate kiss.

In moments, I meld into him, wrapping my arms around his waist as his fingers find their way into my hair, and his tongue enters my mouth.

This kiss feels different. Urgent, feverish, desperate. He holds me tightly, pressing me so close to him it feels like he wants us to be one person, like he would climb right into my skin.

I pull away for just a moment, gasping for breath. "Are you okay?" I say on an exhale.

Hobie stares down at me intensely, his hands still in my hair, his eyes wild and the corners of his mouth turned downward.

"I would do anything to keep you safe," he says flatly. "There's no limit to what I'd do."

I bring my hands up to his face, cupping his cheeks, nodding. "I know, Hobie."

"I would have killed that man if you hadn't stopped me."

I know he's exaggerating to make a point, but a chill runs up my spine a the way he says it so calmly, with no hint of irony. I remember his chest heaving, the wild look in his eyes as he held that drunk man up against his own car.

He looked out for blood.

"I'm okay, Hobie. So are you."

"Move in with me. You hate that new place. Stay here."

We've only known each other six months. We're barely adults. I make no money as a new teacher and I honestly haven't figured out how Hobie seems to make so much money off the gigs he plays. It's too soon to move in together. It's not smart.

But I love him. And he loves me. We haven't said it yet, but I don't know that we need to. I can see it in his eyes, feel it while he holds me, taste it on his lips.

He loves me.

"Okay."

"Today. Like, we can get your stuff later, but don't sleep there anymore. Stay with me."

I nod and lean forward, pressing my forehead to his chest. His hands finally leave my hair, and wrap tightly around my shoulders. I listen to his heartbeat - rapid at first, but as we stand there, silently clinging to each other, it begins to slow down.

He's pressing soft kisses to the top of my head, humming quietly, and I've never felt more in love.

I've never felt more cared for, more loved in return, more safe.

Six months or sixty years. I don't think it matters.

#hobie brown #Hobie brown x reader #Hobie brown x you #Hobie brown fluff #Hobie brown fic

[allmyloveandyours]

Astrology Observations #1!!!!

These are all opinions! Take what resonates! Also I'm not a professional, correct me if I got something wrong if necessary idk this my first try

It's been said before, but the Leo + Libra combination is incredible. The planets/placements can tell what they succeed at the best. (Example: Leo Sun - personality, general shine and personality, with Libra Rising - stylish, pretty, youthful, graceful, makes someone who garners a lot of attention naturally)

I've seen 8th House Saturn manifest as actively (I guess rather than lack of trying maybe idk) waiting to get close to people in an intimate relationship. They may not even like the implication they've done anything intimate with their partner. Once they're lock in with their person, they get pretty private. Depending on the sign, they also get very sappy.

Another Saturn note: While it rules over restrictions, delays, and the father, it also rules over tradition. Whenever it is in your chart you may also more of a "transitional" (or whatever traditional means to them) opinion of/take a traditional role in. Saturn's in 5th house Gemini for me, and when it comes to art/hobbies/acting and I was VERY against digital or CGI/not doing everything by hand/not cutting corners. And the want to have twins is STRONG + the 50s aesthetic dresses and style is very appealing.

Taurus in your chart can tell you where you're the most stubborn (I know this is obvious), and it also maybe tell where you're the most simple or easy to understand. I've noticed a lot of people saying earth Mercuries are boring to talk to or dry, but I've noticed that's just Taurus Mercuries. Which isn't bad at all, but they're very to the point, but not in a bad way. A good example is Taurus Sun in 4th house. Probably the most down to earth placement possible. Chill personality, comfortable home/likes to create a good home environment.

Sun conjunct Mercury are so easy to spot. Something how the way they talk just sticks, or they have an extremely distinct way of talking. My close friend who has it in Pisces 7th house strictly talks in metaphors, and is gets the worse the closer you get to him. Whatever the sun sign is is kinda the flavor of how you talk. (Maybe Virgo would be more descriptive/thought out, Aries would be more loud/impulsive etc)

Scorpio stelliums are the easiest to notice imo. When talking 1 on 1, they kinda trigger wherever Scorpio is on your house. My aunt has a stellium with Mercury, Venus, and Mars, and every time time we talk I get the motivation to take care of my public persona/career since Scorpio is my Midheaven.

Venus conjunct Mercury is chefs kiss when it comes to your voice. Whatever house it's in can rule what kinda vibes you have within style of speaking (like 2nd house could sound expensive, may have a talent for singing, 11th is very motivational, would get most of the attention when talking in groups). You could also be good at being vocal about things you love along with having a nice voice. Any writing would also be very beautiful.

Chiron opposite anything can point to something that can hinder healing if you don't think it though. Since (in my opinion) opposite creates tension but the planets can work together, rushing results ends up with the planets/asteroids clashing. An example can be Chiron opposite Saturn: healing would require cutting no corners, hard work, and stability or a routine, but you could have the feeling of acting on impulse, or shaking off a routine that's actually good for you, or even ignoring an authority that could be good for you (Especially if that Chiron is in Capricorn).

Saturn in Cancer individuals may have issues with taking up emotional space. They're the type of people to talk about how bad their day was for 4.5 seconds then apologize. I've never heard someone apologize for even complaining more than them. A lesson they may need to learn is how to be angry. Also they may need a nicer partner.

I've seen degree theories on how the degrees of Pluto can tell when/where you had your tower moment (like the tarot card: a time of the tower falling/everything kinda crumbles), and I gotta say most have been pretty accurate. I have a friend who has their Pluto in 5th house in the 16th degree and that's when they had their first experience with distrust in romantic partners. Mines in 11th house in the 14° degree and that's when I realized all of my friends at the time were bad.

Mars in Leo do really well on social media, especially when they have complete control over their projects. They may also have trouble giving up control to others and can become workaholics if there's heavy earth placements paired with it. (Markiplier is a good example with his Taurus Moon, Leo Mars, and Capricorn stellium)

Ok that's it for now. Let me know if I should do more, and any opinions you may have (please be NICE I'm not GOOD AT THIS) and also have a good day/afternoon/night :D

#astrology #astro notes #astrology observations #astrology aspects #saturn in 8th house #mars in leo #pluto #saturn in cancer #chiron #venus conjunct mercury #scorpio #sun conjunct mercury #taurus #leo sun #libra rising #markiplier #i cant not tag him its funny to me whenever i think about it #helloeverybodymynameismarkiplierandwelcometofivenightsatfreddys

[thegrimreaperisanerd]

hi :) binge read your de fic that you have posted on ao3 last night and really enjoyed all of it! excited to see any updates. was wondering if you have any rec for other fic youve read and enjoyed-- i am not god's bravest soldier and do not enjoy trudging through tags and was wondering if you had read anything yourself that you really enjoyed lolol

Hey, thanks so much!!! Sorry it's taken a couple days to answer this, I'm poor as shit and have two jobs now wah... capitilism...

I'm working on the next 46' chapter, It's about 70% complete and I generally let it sit for an evening once it's done then re-read it the next day to catch the vast majority of mistakes (I edit everything myself) so I'd say expect that in the coming days.

I have some thoughts! I... Have never been asked for fic recs before so I'm gonna list a bunch in no particular order that I enjoyed, and reasons why. I will note that I tend to enjoy meaty plot-based works over fluff, so that's what I'll be recommending. Anyway!

Paddling Out (THE REPEATER CORPSE CONUNDRUM) - @transhitman - So this is the first DE fic I read and it set the bar pretty fucking high. YOU'VE GOT: a very cool and insular setting (don't get me wrong I like fics where they travel around Revachol too, but there's something to be said for building a set and living in it for a while) YOU'VE GOT: extremely harrowing tension and pale-fuckery YOU'VE GOT: some genuinely beautiful, heartfelt moments (I don't want to spoil anything but "people don't need your permission to care about you" kinda undid me) YOU'VE ALSO GOT: Amazing art?! Always a bonus, I wish I could draw people lol

Have You Heard The News That You're Dead? - Wizardlover - Time Loop shenanigans hell yeah! Basic premise: Kim is *unable* to save Harry's life after he's shot at the tribunal, each time he dies he Reawakens in Martinaise on the first day and desperately has to try and find a way to either prevent the Tribunal entirely, or survive it. I think the major draw to this one is how well it's characterised and how well that lends to the major source of tension: trying to convince THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SKEPTIC that you *a man he 'has only just met'* is actually stuck in a time loop. Juicy shit.

The Case Of The Man Who Two-Thirds Wasn't There - @glisteningceruleaneyes - We got another case fic here, gang. This is one of those "they travel around Revachol" numbers I previously mentioned. A lot to love about this fic; the minor OCs are all loveable (or at least well-written, looking at you Mr. Bigot-All-Rounder), the elements of writing in the game's style (particularly use of Harry's 'to do' list that you find in the ledger, you don't see that as often!) are all fantastic. Also without spoiling too much I'm a sucker for hurt/ comfort :) I like when bad things happen to our specialist guy :) ALSO! alternating chapters, Kim vs Harry's perspectives contrast REALLY well! Just a super enjoyable read. - On that note I also wanna include a special mention: there's a podfic for this one and since I mentioned my two jobs, I've been listening to audiobooks at work (I'm a cleaner. It's very boring) and that was a fun change of pace!

The Emergent Causeway - hal_incandenza - Now you KNOW this one is good because it's the only *unfinished* fic I'm recommending. Again, We've got art! We've got a brand new (non-Revachol!) setting that still feels excellently Elysium! We got that excellent balance of humour and misery from the get go! EXCELLENT murder mystery so far, I am intrigued AND also there's a fucking puppy. Hell yeah. This one's from Kim's perspective and does a really good job of it, nothing like a man being begrudgingly sent on holiday and being somewhat relieved to have a corpse to deal with.

A Spilled Kaleidoscope - @spilledkaleidoscope - I'm actually recommending a series here. Real definition of "came for the art, stayed for the writing" I mostly have a soft spot because I got to watch a few "haha, what if-?" musing text posts become a series of written chapters and INCREDIBLE DRAWINGS HOLY SHIT. Like, you really just draw hands for fun, huh? This person made a pact with some sort of devil beasts to draw hands very good, at the bare minimum we can read their fiction.

Nothing To Lose But Our Chains - Lepak - I almost forgot this one and I honestly can't believe it because this is one of these ones that you need a cigarette afterwards. Good fucking god. This is probably the best fic I've ever read in terms of not shying away from the heavy themes that make Disco Elysium such a beautiful, moving game. It tackles a racism in many forms, particularly how people like Kim (in working for the RCM) and immigration laws do their part in upholding racist systems, despite the way it hurts him too. Of course, it's also excellently written with tense scenes and some real funny moments. A real good'un here.

The Catacomb Killer - SupposedToBeWriting - Give Harry more memory loss. Make him convinced he killed a kid. Make *Kim* convinced he killed a kid... Then the plot thickens. I won't lie I can't remember fuck all about this one because I was mostly drunk when I read it, but if it was good enough that I kept reading instead of smoking a spliff or something then it must have been excellent... I will re-read it when I have the time, lmao.

MURDER ON THE AIRWAVES - @randomisedmongoose - I'm just a really big fan of murder mysteries and gore. You show me somebody with brain matter pouring from their earholes and I'm like "yum yum, more of that please." I am a sucker for curious methods of murder and this one's good for that. Lots of trekking back and forth like in the game again. More ACAB - always good.

I did not mean to include this many...........................

Oh well. Here's my list, there are plenty of others I've enjoyed but these are just the ones that came to mind! Thanks again for reading my fic! Always makes me happy when people let me know they enjoy my writing :3

#hey if i tagged u in this and u don't want to be tagged then PLEASE lemme know and i'll remove u #likewise i dont know if everyone has tumblr so if u know somebody does ping this post their way and if they wanna be tagged let me know and #i'll do that #fic recs

[twelvegrimmyplace]

Nick Grimshaw on kindness, queerness and life lessons as a grown-up.

Gay Times Honours Issue 2023

Friendly media mogul Nick Grimshaw, aka Grimmy, has done it all. He’s introduced his parents to Lady Gaga and, recently, even had tea with Harry Styles. Now, however, the former Radio 1 DJ is getting acquainted with something else – growing up. 

Getting older, no doubt, is terrifying. Carefree late nights with mates at sticky, flooded gigs are suddenly swapped for questions revolving around major milestones: partners, career, and, of course, kids. Close friends are no longer egging you on to ditch work and hangout or checking in to see if you’ve actually drank water. Instead, you’re trying to squeeze in a meetup between deadlines, dates and an ever-growing to-do list of life admin. And Grimmy is no different. Booze-driven afterparties have morphed into nourishing Sunday roast dinners with Mesh, his fiancé. Girl dinner Quaver packets have matured to conversations – on his glitzy new foodie podcast Dish co-hosted by Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett – with Miriam Margolyes on how she likes her mashed potatoes. 

Having the big four-zero on the radar prompted a new perspective for the presenter. What was once maligned (“I felt like growing older was the end of something or deeply depressing,” Grimshaw admits) has been, mostly, embraced. It’s less coming of age but, rather, coming to age. Still, new digits doesn’t need to mean the fun is over. In fact, just last night, Grimshaw partied late with celebs Jake Shears, Amanda Lepore, Jodie Harsh, and Mutya Buena in Soho. Here in Holborn, however, things are much more mild. Sure, there’s some tasteful framed nude art to our right and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ crackling over studio speakers but nothing beats a good old-fashioned launch party, or a karaoke b-day bash taking place later this evening in central London. 

Nursing a non-alcoholic beer, Grimshaw scoots across a black leather couch, arriving fresh from a photoshoot, something he describes as his “Naomi Campbell moment”. Comfortably clothed in a light-wash denim shirt and distressed jeans, he kicks off the conversation as if reuniting with an old friend. “I've never taken stock before. I'd never sat down and thought about myself, ever, and I don't think people do,” he says. Since his early twenties, Grimshaw’s image has been inextricably tied to two things: big names and his infamous towering quiff haircut. At some point, he acknowledges, you will have heard his quick-fire Mancunian comedy soundtracking your early mornings. Whether he was making jokes with Taylor Swift or having the early hours crashed by Charli XCX, the presenter became a known face at the Beeb. In his autobiographical book, Soft Lad, Grimshaw reminisces on the pull the small screen had on him as a young child. Armed with a love for glamour and theatrics, the events he saw on the telly called to a younger Grimshaw who dreamed of moving out of Manchester to take on London. 

Onboarding, in 2012, at Radio 1 to cover The Breakfast Show was something the podcaster remembers clearly; “There was a lot of pressure”. His days of spinning songs and connecting with artists over music became more than a vocation, but a specialism. While he does admit, sheepishly, that there were days his hangover ran over into work hours, he’s since taken time to reassess his habits and lifestyle. “When I was 23 I was getting absolutely wasted and doing it like a Geordie Shore night out,” he says. Now, Grimshaw is more conscious of being selectively sober in certain environments. “It can be really hard to go out and connect with people who are drunk and you're not drinking. But, sometimes, you have the best nights ever. I went out last night and went to a really fun party up until 1.30 am and had really good chats with loads of people.” He’s taking stock of the bigger moments around him, particularly ones that bring him closer to friends and family – “It's about learning. It's about growth,” he says earnestly. 

At 39, Grimshaw’s longevity has something to do with his candour and bonhomie. The most common compliment doled out about the presenter is his warmth. As a child, he recalls, the label “soft lad” was stuck to him, presenting his sensitivity as something to be ashamed of. But, years later, it’s become something – like his favourite Maison Margiela knit sweaters – that he wears openly. “At school, I always felt on edge that I was going to get beaten up or laughed at. When you've had that, you learn empathy and you think about how people might feel or what they're going through,” he explains. 

Realisng he was gay, as a child, filled Grimshaw with dread as he feared what it would mean. With limited queer culture references growing up (just Elton John and Lily Savage) his feelings were fully realised, aged 11, when he developed a crush on a poster of England footballer David Beckham pinned up on his bedroom wall. “You know what’s funny, not that I’m doing Miriam Margolyes press, but I saw her yesterday. I'd never met her and I went into her dressing room. Before I could say hello, she pointed and exclaimed: ‘You’re gay!’ and continued with ‘So, my dear, nice to meet you.’ As I got into bed last night, I thought about how that would’ve killed me if I was a teenager, but it was a really lovely bonding moment.” 

Though being a presenter and DJ took up most of Grimshaw’s early adolescent years, his move to writing has allowed him the space to trawl through his past years without expectation. From reassessing his comfort with queerness to realising the strength found in the LGBTQIA+ community outside of his town in Greater Manchester, Grimshaw is grateful for the relationships he’s built with those around him. “I learn constantly from the queer community. It’s that notion of being yourself and leaning into yourself which can be hard to do if you're queer, especially if you've had that knocked out of you when you're a kid,” he says. “The community are essential in helping everyone, and me, support one another.”

Soft Lad and Dish capture different versions of Grimshaw; the quirky characteristics of a presenter that couldn’t surface in a music hotbed. In his new roles, the presenter-meets-podcaster chats to hot-shot talent while unravelling stories centred around food, famous friends and frenzied stories. His book is an homage to his parents (“I realised how important they were shaping me – I love them contractually, but also really love them) and to his English and Irish roots. Bookended between stories of queer curiosity and his loathing for football, tales of community and camaraderie at Radio 1 surface. “I loved it when we had a great guest from the queer community. I had great times with Sam Smith, they would be a riot and would really gossip with us when the records were on and tell us stories that we couldn't have on the radio. Troye Sivan was a great time as well,” he recalls. 

Another memorable moment was his run-in with an early-era Lady Gaga, in Notting Hill, before she became Mother Monster as we now know her. “I did my first interview with Gaga years ago, for the telly, and it was when she was brand new. ‘Just Dance’ had just come out in America and she was making a bra out of gaffer tape on a dressing room floor,” he says, laughing. “I brought mum and dad along because they were in town so they met her right at the beginning of her career. Ever since then, whenever she'd come onto the radio show, she’d ask about my mum and dad.”

Grimshaw’s stories of famous crossovers are, understandably, endless – even if they’re ones he’s told plenty of times before. Up until recently, he’s remained embroiled in an ecosystem of music promoting a “product” but, now, he feels like his new projects allow for authentic conversations about people and their interests. His mantra, nowadays, is this: “Living in the full, truest form of yourself, without fear and judgement.” For a young Grimshaw, this unbridled queer joy took the form of “glamorous” drag shows where he dressed up as Cher for his family. Today, it’s about cooking in a kitchen packed with too many guests (and remembering to drink water). Turning 40, at one point, felt like a frightening due date. Now it’s a milestone Grimshaw is ready to take on.

#nick grimshaw #press #gay times honours 2023

[hellbreakfast]

Good Client Guide

I've been asked how to be a good commissioner, and while every artist is different, there are a few guidelines that are at least solid rules of thumb. In no specific order, and with no real presentation to speak of, here's a list.

Know what you want, or at least have a vague idea in mind

Communicate clearly: do not be coy or make an artist drag it out of you. Include details, especially if they are important to you. This isn't like buying a TV, this is getting another human being to make you something that is only for you. This is about what you want. If you need to give feedback regarding work done, do so clearly and cogently as possible. You don't have to be a poet, just a person with an idea, so don't be intimidated.

Have references: Either have a reference sheet made up (even if you draw your first one, yourself!) or gather up some images of things you like. If you're working without a sheet, first make sure the artist is ok with that, then give them the info. I have had people come to me with little photocollages listing ”Hair similar to this, but this color, clothes like this, body style like this, shoes like this, but in this color, etc.“ And you know what? I nailed it for them every time. Once you have your first image, use that as reference for the next ones.

Try to make sure your references have everything an artist will need to work from.

Ask for WIPs on big projects, and ask for changes during the sketch phase: It is generally ok to ask for a WIP sketch on a big project. General etiquette is to ask for any big changes during the sketch stage, before inking and coloring get involved.That said, do not be afraid to ask for what you want. If, at the sketch stage, something is off, speak up. Be frank, but do be polite. Every rule also has its exceptions. If your character has purple hair, and the artist has colored it blonde, mention that. If they missed that little tattoo that is on your ref sheet, mention it. One thing, though, do not ask artists to work off of several conflicting sheets. The collage idea only works if you're just starting out, and it's confusing to jump back and forth between conflicting references.

Regarding artistic license: Ask if an artist is comfy with that, first. Some people genuinely like seeing where an artist will take something. This is lovely! However, some of us are very uneasy with it, and want a clear idea of what you want. Also, if you choose to let an artist create something for you, with no more input than the initial contact and concept, please don't ask for a bunch of changes. Many people think they want to be surprised, but actually do have a vision in mind, and become disappointed if they don't get a vision they never communicated in the first place. That isn't fair to any of the parties involved!

Be respectful of boundaries: If an artist says they are uncomfortable with a subject, do not push them to engage with said subject. Period, end of story. An artist also shouldn't press you to let them use any of your characters in ways you don't like.

Don't argue with an artist's prices: If you can't afford something, that's ok. We aren't judging you, we're probably poor, too. But don't argue or be rude about a price. “Wow, I wish I could afford that!” is the “If it doesn't scan, it's free, right?” of the art world. Please do not. Especially on an open commissions announcement or something, because at that point you're getting in the way of paying clients instead of just being pithy.

Pay promptly: Some artists take the whole thing upfront, some take half upfront and half after. Some dangerous fools don't take any money upfront, paid only on completion. Whatever methodology they take, pay at the time that you agree to.

Tipping: It is good form to tip an artist, if you can afford to. Most people do not know this. Artists often undersell their wares, and if you think its worth more, even that up with a tip.

Do not buy what you can't afford: Dear, god, the last thing I want to hear from a client is that they aren't eating or paying their bills to buy something from me. Please, take care of yourself and do not buy art if you are in danger! Food, meds and shelter first! We're out of a job if our clients die off, you know!

Be respectful of time: If you have a date you need something by, make sure that's clear, and that the artist agrees to that date. Generally, there can be roughly 24 hours of play in response time on either end, since both you and the artist do have lives. You may not even live in the same time zone! Both can be patient with that. And, of course, if either has an emergency or illness, that's different. Asking after something more than once a day is a bit clingy, but also, don't leave an artist hanging for days on end if they're asking for feedback.

While my words might have gotten long in the tooth, I would like to hope these are cogent in the majority. I'm blessed to do this work, and blessed with good clients, so hopefully this little guide can shine a light for anyone wondering how to be a good one, too!

#hellbreakfast #commissions #client #etiquette #art

[felixcloud6288]

Higurashi: Curse Killing Chapter 3

There are a few details about Keiichi's attempt at cooking that make that scene even worse than it obviously is.

He washed the rice by hand inside the water it was going to be cooked in. If you're going to rinse your rice before cooking it, you want to do it in a strainer so the water can pour out.

That carrot was cut into large chunks. Those sizes aren't bad for stew, but they're far too big for soup.

He used salad oil which is not typically used for cooking.

I can't find if "egona" refers to a special type of oil or if it a brand (actual or knockoff name).

And let Keiichi's dilemma be an example about why it's a good idea to know how to cook. You don't need to be a 5-star chef, but if you at least know how to use a stove-top, you can make several dishes.

If you've never cooked before, you should follow the recipe as exactly as you can. Intuition only works when you've done something enough times that your body and brain have things memorized.

And there's no shame in using pre-prepared ingredients. Prep work is a long and tiring process. If I can just skip to the part where I put everything in my skillet, I will.

After cooking a few dishes, then you should try altering it a little. Try cooking it a little longer or shorter, try adding a bit more or less heat, and try adding a few herbs and spices.

Then you can become the iron chef Keiichi thought he was.

This is the only arc that Jiro Suzuki illustrates. Her art style is what I'd describe as fast and loose. It lets her get away with things like drawing Rika as a cat which wouldn't work in Suzuragi and Houjyou's style.

Satoko is probably borrowing Keiichi's mom's slippers. They are way too big for her. Also, I think this is the first time I've seen Satoko's lower legs in her non-school attire. The stripped socks caught me by surprise.

We've spent two arcs trying to figure out the truth behind the curse, while Rika and Satoko, who lost their families to it, were always set to the side.

We've gotten an answer to the bigger part of the mystery of Oyashiro-sama's curse, so we can focus more on the periphery. In particular, we can take time to learn how the series of deaths have actually affected the people closest to the victims.

In the last arc, Mion said Satoko's parents were cold and treated her like she's good for nothing and said Satoko's aunt was abusive. She also said Satoshi protected her.

Of all the deaths and disappearances, Satoshi's disappearance hits the main cast hardest because he was their friend. But he was also Satoko's brother. His disappearance would hurt her the most. Behind all her antics, she's a lonely child who misses the brother she relied on.

Keiichi has a bandaid on his cheek after they badmouthed curry in front of Chie.

NIPA BEAM!!!

back

#higurashi no naku koro ni #higurashi no naku koro ni reread #higurashi when they cry

[cchapsticck]

20 Questions for fic writers

@dreamwatch tagged me and I actually woke up with enough time to do things before I need to go into work

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

10 - Which is very surprising to me considering my reluctance to release anything beyond my google docs for many years.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

142,085 lord

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Stranger Things (but Eddie Munson in specific honestly) primarily, but I've got some Baldur's Gate and Critical Role in the tubes right now too. The unifying theme here being I Am A Tremendous Nerd Who Likes DnD

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

UNTITLED RECORDING rcd ca. 1987-1988 in the #1 slot by a wide margin, followed by ANACRUSIS ca. 1987, head line, wait, runner, and sunflower broke.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I sincerely try to! I am bad at accepting compliments or feedback so I always feel like I'm giving these sort of boilerplate platitudes and thanks and I wish I could accurately capture me reading every comment about 15 times kicking my leg under my desk. I try to be loudly receptive to the feedback I get. People took the time to read and respond! They don't have to do that!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

At first when I was going to respond to this I thought to myself "I'm not sure I really have a lot of fics that end with angst- oh its dog." Its dog. Its dog at the door. Its absolutely dog at the door. I apparently forgot I wrote it, but its dog.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I don't necessarily think of myself who writes things with uncomplicated, expressly happy endings. I think a lot of my work that does end hopefully ends with a kind of watery fragile kind of happy. That probably says something about me but maybe it doesn't. But, to answer the question properly, I think head line is probably the least complicated sense of happy.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not that I've been made aware of. I'm sure that my writing style and my takes on characters are not everyone's cup of tea, but that's just the mark of a healthy fandom ecosystem. I'm also not a very """""big""""" writer so ain't no one looking at me.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I have in the past, but I've never felt very confident in my writing when I do. I don't really feel like I can craft very erotic or romantic scenarios when it comes to physical expressions of sexuality, maybe its my writing style working against me or its just a generalized internal cringe @ me when I do. So these days I tend to skirt around it or speak more evocatively when necessary. I just feel like a total fucking goober when I start getting more direct and descriptive.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Always curious what constitutes as a crossover and what constitutes as an AU to some - ao3 tagging seems to muddy the waters for me. Because if you tag the source material for your AU it looks like a crossover but maybe you're simply using the world's logic but none of its characters? And that feels different to me than a strict crossover where characters from other titles are interacting with each other. Y'know? Instructions unclear wrote a DnD AU, one's mileage may vary if that's a crossover or not.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

That's a thing? I mean. I guess people translating without attribution or reposting fics on other platforms is a thing. I guess that's that. Huh.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Sort of? Not really? I definitely have played in the sandbox with @cwstau and their work, and have my own little toenail clipping a thing based on that work. I've done a little art here and there, and served as a sounding board, to a certain extent, in the formative stages of that fic's life but all of the heavy lifting is exclusively L's work. And while none of it will ever see the light of day I've also definitely theory crafted entire character dynamics and, sort of, speculative futures with friends in DMs. A lot of Yes And-ing each other about the threads we'll pull on.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Man don't ask me that. I'm all over the road, I'm in the wind. I'll be hard in the paint on one thing and then something old will reemerge on the breeze and I just go back to places I one dwelled and be insane there.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

lol any of them. Seriously, the fact that I have finished and published 10 things this year is a testament to. Something. I have no idea what. Something, because I have never been this kind of productive in many many moons and that productivity is a fickle thing that could leave just as soon as its arrived. My google docs is a graveyard of fics I've started and stopped and had grand plans for and mostly finished or entirely finished but never did anything with.

16. What are your writing strengths?

hahah bad at this question but I think I am good at research, when the fic in question demands it. I like to think I can synthesize that research into interesting things when the fic calls for it. I also think I can do cool things with character voice? At least, I always want to try to be interesting with that.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I am very bad at drafting, which is to say I often don't and I get frustrated and discouraged when I can't articulate myself the way I want on the first pass - which is particularly sore spot for me when I always feel like I'm trying to do things very intentionally with character voice and interpretation. I never feel super confident with my dialogue either. I'll write internal monologues for several thousand words but the minute two characters need to have an honest to god conversation I forget how human speech works. I'm also just bad at being concise. I really struggle to just let things stand, it is very hard for me to do those "200 words" writing prompt challenges because I'll start on one concept and my brain branches into a million other places this could go with a lot of detail and intersecting relevance and it can be so so hard for me to kill my darlings.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I think there's a due diligence required when writing for and in languages you, yourself, don't speak. Google translate isn't necessarily a viable solution to your multi-lingual needs, which I think everyone knows so its not like that's a bold stance. Seek out native speakers, ask for feedback, etc. When its my own work I try not to overly complicate the matter, if all parties in the fiction understand the language I'm going to keep writing in the language of the fic itself. There's a fandom I'm a part of that, in canon, uses German as a proxy language for a fantasy language - which is a language I am conversationally fluent in - and even then I find myself hesitant to just indulge in peppering in German words and phrases because that's just, in my experience, not how of multilingual people use language. Authenticity sort of matters in that regard, and there's a weird artificial presentational-ness to just jamming vocabulary words of other languages into dialogue or text that isn't justified by the character or the conversation itself. idk where I'm going with this.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Weeaboo past revealed: I'm pretty sure it was KHR but I cannot be sure anymore.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

This fluctuates based on which one I'm less mad about when I think about it retrospect on any given day, but I think UNTITLED stands as a testament to me writing in long(ish) form, something I've never done before, and was where I really learned a lot about character voice and how to use it. There's plenty I think I'd change or edit now (honestly, was talking to a friend about making a director's cut of some of the chapters of the whole MH series) but it was a big undertaking and I met a lot of really excellent people through the writing and response to that particular fic.

No pressure tags for: @cwstau, @nameslikeguns, @greenlikethesea, @dodger-chan

#tagged in

[pine-niidles]

Looking Back on 2023

Heyyy folks! Long time no news from me huh. 

I'm struggling to think of what to even say about my silence. I've not been doing so bad I'd call myself depressed, but I'm doing a tad worse than just a slump. It's been a rough 6 months, not because of one big thing. Instead, a bunch of medium-sized reasons all piled up on top of each other to leave me extremely drained. I've mostly been working on the two commissions I still had in my queue (thank you to my commissioners for being so patient with me, I'm so sorry to make you wait so long <3). I've done a little personal art other than that but didn't have the leftover focus to keep up with sharing it on social media or writing up any updates about my situation. I've pretty much only been active sharing things in my art discord. I'd like to say I've been doing better in the last month or so, but I hesitate to make any promises at this point! We'll just have to see how things go :)

Artfight

So you were promised a more in depth artfight review but I think I missed the right timeframe for that... instead have this look at 3 years of unfinished artfight thumbnails from my new year's wip clean-out!

Year of Art Summary

All things considered I made a lot of art this year, and I'm really happy with how most of it turned out ☺ I did a bunch of experimenting with more playful techniques and color schemes and I think they suit my style a lot. I want to try and much those limits even more next year to see what kind of fun art I can create! Something with colors specifically really clicked in my brain after that witch drawing I did in April, before then I would spend a long time figuring out the perfect color scheme and doing a bunch of adjustments but ever since that drawing things have really been coming together super quick? I'm not sure what changed but no complaints from me. 

Life Drawing Summary 

I rarely post my life drawing but I've been keeping at it! Actually, I put together a few pdfs showcasing all my life drawing going back to 2022, you can download them for free in my itch or ko-fi shops! :>

I also put together a yearly art improvement comparison going back to 2015 that I was planning to put here. However, seeing how long this is already getting... I'll make a separate post for it.

Commissions

I've been gearing up to open commissions again after that unintended hiatus. I don't want to open slots until I'm sure I'm back to being able to finish them in a reasonable timeframe, so I've been using that leftover energy I do have to think about revamping some things and new styles to offer. Back in November I ran a survey on what people want to see from me (it's still open if you'd like to fill it out and help me get more stats!) 

here's a preview of what's to come based on that & my whims:

- stamp commissions were super well received so they'll be added to my main repertoire

- A combo of me reading too much dun meshi and wanting to offer some kind of comicky commissions led to this idea of comic pages of characters eating together, I have a couple examples in progress, when they're done I'll add this style to my main offerings!

- I'm still not 100% set on sketchpages but I like the idea of them so if this test goes well I'll add them as an option

Onward to 2024! 

I already completed my new year's resolution on day 1 of 2024, it was to pet a cat. I've made a second one which is to get a library card whenever my visa is approved and I move back home. It's been something I've been wanting to do for a while but never got around to, hoping this will be the excuse I need to do it.

Art-wise it's not a new goal, but I've been trying to focus on improving my rendering! Though I've also been playing around a lot with screentone... the two don't have to be at odds 🤔 

I'm dedicating this year's personal art time to making new references for as many ocs as possible with nude bases so I can easily design new outfits for them whenever I want to without fully making a new ref from scratch.

Otherwise I'm just trying to take it slow, work on things one at a time and see what happens from there.

#year in review #2023 #project updates

[metarij]

2024 Sure is Starting Swiftly !

Happy new year ! This year I have a lot of exciting things I want to do art-wise. I finally finished a dated rough I wanted to have as an animated looping icon of Solliuth, Klair & Neth, the Thorn Trio ! They're nicknamed thorn trio because they're a pain if the asses of....some people. I'm not saying anything else but they're definitely up to something.

I've been working on this one veeery on and off for almost a full year. Really ? 2023 was not as good as 2022 in terms of art I guess.

the little guy Solliuth !!! it's him. I've got a lot of roughs of him dating as far as 2015, the guy's old. Went through many, many iterations and I've had atleast 5 entirely different characters in his place.

In his first iteration, he was some edgy cool guy who managed to pull back the curtains of reality, kinda matrix-style. But instead of hope and community, all it brought him was isolation and the feeling of never belonging.

This one is from 2015 ^ And this one is from 2017 v

There was this funny other iteration in 2016 where he was some aristocratic-looking fantasy guy, greatly inspired by the Stanley Parable - he was called the Narrator in this idea. He also had a really cool mustache. This one is from 2016 v

( ^ the Narrator from 2017, as part of an attempt for a rough comic that wasnt going anywhere)

I since completely separated this guy from Solliuth, as I started realizing that maybe having a bit of Focus was a great idea if I wanted to tell stories with him. So now he's just a regular guy, no reality-peeling shtick, no Narrating gimmick. This Narrator guy though....I might be bringing him back in my roster for.....newer, cooler purposes

(^2023)

Anyway, back to actual Solliuth ! Man, Narrators huh. They keep imprinting themselves onto the narrative don't they. Whatever. I still need to actually write down scripts about his misadventures, I have a lot of ideas as to what his story is about, I want to make it as good as possible.

I used to conceptualize him as a much more boring character, him being essentially the most main-protagonist-typed oc of mine I feel. He used to be somewhat evil, and......well he still is somewhat, but there's a lot of extra steps in his characterization I want to go through. He's kind of a mystery even to me, sometimes he looks chill, sometimes fucking intense, sometimes he's a good guy, sometimes a very bad one. It'll take a while before I manage to properly write him, and I can't wait.

I'll save all of that thinking to when I get to scripting his shit, although it's not in the plans yet. I have other projects (probably Cherrypick-focused) I want to work on, as well as a refsheet for a new (old) character I hope I'll be done with for this year's artfight. But to close off this post, here's a cool 2023 sketch of the man Solliuth. For whoever is reading this. You reached the end, and therefore are deserving of enjoying this one.

Happy new year, again ! Hope this one is better than 2023 for me, art-wise. I'll see how I manage.

#character animation #sketch #solliuth #klair #neth

[pyjamacryptid]

artists self rec! when you get this, reply with your favourite five arts/sets/edits/gifs that you've done, then pass on to at least five other people. time to shine and spread some self-love and appreciation 🥰 <3

oh my god sia i am SO SORRY i am only just now seeing this ask it's been so long i am so so--

Sia!!!

This was so hard to choose wow.

FANVIDS FIRST:

I'm Sorry | Merlin & Arthur from BBC Merlin [tumblr link] [direct yt link]

This took me over 2 months and, so far, it's the best fanvid I've ever made. I'm ridiculously proud of it and I only have a tiny bit of shame in saying so XD. The finished product ended up far better than the original concept I had in my head. I wanted to make a video that focused on how Merlin and Arthur forgave one another; Merlin, since the day he met Arthur, and Arthur when he learned the truth. Because the core of their relationship was unconditional love, to their own strength and detriment. I cried almost each time I worked on it.

2. I Became Greedy | Kurosawa & Adachi from Cherry Magic [tumblr link] [direct yt link]

This took me about .. I want to say a month? I'm also proud of this one. Cherry Magic is a light-hearted BL j-drama that - at its core - is about the importance of reaching out to others, and the bravery of reaching out and accepting someone else's outreached hand. I eventually want to edit a video on the overarching meaning of the show. But I... am a sucker for pining lol and I was so taken in by Kurosawa's pining. It was so poignant, I was literally clutching my chest in sympathy pangs. So, I wanted to edit a vid that emulated that and focused just on that feeling. And I think I??? did!

3. it's not living if it's not with you | Wei Wuxian & Lan Wangji from The Untamed/CQL [direct yt link]

This was the second fanvid I had posted to my youtube channel and I used a lot of editing techniques I had never tried before, so I learned a lot! I wanted to show as many aspects of wangxian's story and relationship in one video as I could without mucking up the pacing or making it messy in general. I love the colour palette and font I chose. Something else I really wanted to achieve was using a light-hearted song with a sad meaning over both sad and happy scenes, because that's a recipe for EMOTION. And judging by the comments I got on this vid, I dare say I succeeded XD I had a lot of fun making this! Even if I got stuck on it for a month and then thankfully could finish it when I was hit with an epiphany. I also cried quite a bit while making it shkgjhdf

Listen. I have. Emotions.

ART:

4. A Favourable Misunderstanding | Merlin & Arthur [link to full comic here]

A meme re-draw turned into a fluffy comic because it took on a life of it's own and Merlin & Arthur are a force to be reckoned with when being idiots in love. I was also super proud of this! Despite the many styles in one comic (which is fine, I was just worried about nothing looking like it matched) I was happy with how I drew them! Especially as I find Merlin's face very difficult to get a grasp of, for some reason. And I was also proud of their characterisations! I still get so happy to see how well-loved it is, and so perhaps it doesn't need its own rec but what the hell. I love it, too hehe.

5. Balls the Unfathomable | a comic about a weirdly wholesome demon summoning [link to full comic here]

My friends and I, while on a call, fell into doing a bit. That lasted a really long time. And during it, I became a summoned demon nicknamed "Balls". No, I'm not joking. It was ridiculous and hilarious.

Thankfully, I remembered most of it and immediately tried to commit it to paper for - what I thought - was going to be a short, half-assed sketch comic. Nope. I ended up with a multi-page comic with clean lines and everything.

Funnily enough, I hadn't actually ever finished a multi-page comic before this. Not one so polished anyway. Balls has that effect on people, I suppose. skjdhjkfdg

So yeah, I was proud of finishing it, and of choosing a cute, simple style and sticking to it (cute, "less realistic" styles don't come easy to me, so I struggled more than you'd think trying to figure out how I was going to draw this skdjhkfg) and of how I structured the panels, especially when I really was just winging it. I do not know how to panel (yet).

Basically; I adore my friends and the fun we have together and I had to share this particular shenanigan and Balls themself. They've become a beloved character amongst my friends and I.

_________

That's it! Long-winded commentary and all.

Thank you again for the self-rec, Sia! 🥺💕💕💕

psst hey, you should go totally check out Sia's blog - she does amazing edits and gifs

#once again i'm so sorry I saw this so late skjhgdfg #ask #ren replies #courtjestermerlin #self-rec #my art #pyjamacryptid edits #fanvid #artists on tumblr #merthur #kurodachi #wangxian #the untamed #cherry magic #mdzs #viddingisart #merlin #gayble tag

[nem0-nee]

On "heavy inspiration"

First, I'd like to apologize for the contents of this post. I do not wish to be a blog that just complains about matters, but I feel like I need to say this at least once.

If you don't agree with what I say, that's perfectly fine. We can agree to disagree, that is all.

It never fails to anger me when I see any issue related to tracing and "heavy inspiration." These are definitely tools when it comes to learning more about art, but there's definitely a line that dictates whether the use of those methods are acceptable or not.

I will not be naming names, but back then there was a blog which was "heavily inspired" by me. I'm flattered that I inspire people out there, but this case was truly something else.

[NOTE: If you recognize the account I'm referring to, please don't bring them up. I don't want this to escalate, nor do I want to stir up any issues. This is just to discuss what happened.]

There was a time where I've made a character sheet/template for one of my OCs, intending it to be for her specifically; every element about it reflected her as a character in general. A few days later, I see that a certain blog had done the same with their own sheet. The only difference was that it was all mirrored. I commend them for giving me credit, however I was not on board with what they did.

DISCLAIMER #1: Yes, I am aware that I may sound like a whiny baby for being possessive over a character template. It truly sounds absurd, and even now I don't know if what I felt was valid. But my reason for it was that I had specifically designed that sheet for THAT character. It was completely original, as I had made it all from scratch. It took me a while to conceptualize it all. Then someone comes along, taking and running with it without asking me? Can you blame me for being upset?

I didn't want to cause an issue, so I privately settled this issue with them. I made it clear with them that they should've asked me first before doing it, but also added in that they don't have to take the post down. I may be protective of my works, but I'm not a jerk to force someone to take down their own hard work. Plus, I didn't want to cause any drama nor controversy over a character sheet, so I just kept my mouth shut.

Additionally, I made a post as a measure to make sure this incident doesn't repeat.

You'd think this would all stop, but it surprisingly didn't! A few months later, I released a Birthday Union Card for one of my characters. I took some creative liberties with it and added my own twist to things. So, I gave my OC a different kind of bow and nail polish. A few weeks later and what do I see? The same kind of bow and nail polish are on their own birthday card too!!

DISCLAIMER #2: I am aware I don't own these "creative liberties" or certain aspects of design. I would've brushed this off as a coincidence if they hadn't taken "major inspiration" from me before, but this was the second time it all happened. I was beginning to get paranoid; I felt like they were keeping note of everything I do so they could do the same. damn. thing. Plus from what I know, I don't think anyone has done this before? Maybe that's just me...

Don't get me even started with the post formats! I did things a certain way back then, mixing up the font styles, incorporating colors, cringeworthy quotes- you name it. Would you believe me that they got inspired by me to this degree? That they would format posts that contained similar content as me IN A SIMILAR WAY?

DISCLAIMER #3: I am aware that I don't own post formats. My point here is that they were truly coming across as a copycat. I believe they could've changed things up for the sake of originality. But I suppose you can't have everything nice in life.

Every time they post something, the first thing that comes to mind is "what did they copy from me this time?" And it's truly a shame. Any slight resemblance or similarity to what I did stirred panic within me. It wasn't healthy, and I felt like I couldn't do anything about it.

Though, I must admit I'm not entirely in the right for this. Thinking about it, I may have enabled them due to my lack of communication.

FAULT #1: I must acknowledge my fault for not telling them off enough. I really thought they'd just eventually stop and learn from their mistakes. I just didn't have the heart to tell them any more. Being accused of copying is not a great thing, and I didn't really want to be that person. Unfortunately, look where that got me.

FAULT #2: It's also my fault I decided to follow them back despite the first instance and didn't block them. Admittedly, I have a bad habit of wanting to see the good in people. So I assumed that they would change in the long run.

Things only stopped when I finally blocked them and notified them about it. I don't think they're active on here anymore, and sometimes I worry if I was the reason for that. I wished it didn't come to this point.

This is a cautionary tale for fellow artists out there. Please, don't take things without permission. This whole incident took a toll on me for months, and I still fear instances of these. Some artists may be more lenient and wouldn't mind, but there are definitely others who are not okay with "heavy inspiration." Always, ALWAYS ask.

#random rambling #please be civil if you have any comments on this #I do not condone any hate sent to this person despite what they did #I'd also like to apologize for showing their work (which may lead to them being identified) #but I really needed the evidence to back up what I'm saying #I'm calling it heavy inspiration and not copying because I feel like an ass for saying that #sorry if this isn't the usual things you'd want to see #but I really needed this to be brought up #also sorry for the typos and errors I'll fix them later-

[star-1111]

CAN WE GET A PART TWO TO THE COFFEE SHOP TOMMY FIC THAT WAS REALLY SWEET :))

AWW OFC!! IM SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT!!!

warnings: language

⭐❤️⭐

Its been about a month since your first encounter with Tommy. You thought about him constantly. Every day and night, he was always on your mind.

But you couldn't bring yourself to see him. You knew you'd flush and get nervous.

You liked him. Your friends knew, and they insisted on you going to see him, but you'd refuse.

You didn't want to seem like a fool; red faced and stumbling over your words bashfully.

You tried to not go in that café, but damn it was hard.

You could see him inside the cafe's windows, his hair more curly and styled than before, his sweet smile making your heart skip a beat or two. Sometimes three.

But today would be different. Today marks the 1 month anniversary of you and Tommy meeting. Because of that- you would confess to him.

You anxiously stood by the front doors of the café, reciting your confession in your head.

You took a deep breath, the cold wind nipping at your nose. You entered the café, a sense of Deja-vu filling you. Same like your first encounter, the sweet aroma of coffee, caramel and chocolate filling the air. Jazz played again, and this time, there were more plants and lights than before.

You smiled at your surroundings, taking a deep breath.

You were ready. You were absolutely, fucking ready.

But as soon as you stepped into line, all of your confidence washed away.

You anxiously tapped your foot against the wooden floors, your heart thumping against your ribcage as the line grew smaller and smaller.

Once you stood in front of the boy, you noticed his hair grew a bit longer. You smiled, locking eyes with the blonde.

His cheeks quickly turned red, as he ran a hand through his hair.

"O-Oh-" His voice cracked, as to which he quickly cleared his throat, forcing his voice to sound deeper. "..Hey, y/n. Haven't seen you in a while. I was starting to worry you forgot about me."

You giggled, waving your hand. "I could never forget someone like you, Tommy." You shut your mouth, your face burning. Even your ears felt hot.

Why the hell did i just say that. out loud.

His face burned too, running a hand through his hair once more. Quickly, he snapped his fingers, leaning onto the desk as a smile formed on his lips. "Lemme guess- (insert favorite drink). You want it hot/cold." Your eyes widened.

Shit. He really did memorize it.

All you could do was nod, watching as he quickly got to work. "Stand over there, when Im-uh- when Im done I'll call you. Your name, I mean. I-I didn't mean it like-" He stopped himself, his ears and face a deep red. Even his neck was red.

You smile, walking over to where you stood before. You listened to the music, sighing in content. 'Our love is here to stay' By Billie Holiday played at a soothing pace, goosebumps running over your skin.

The music was so calming. You listened to every note, sighing in content.

This café felt like a home away from home.

People you knew lounged in the small booths, talking and laughing about whatever. Your crush worked as a barista. You were about to confess your feelings to him.

You smiled to yourself, confidence filling you once again.

"I've got a nice cup of (insert favorite drink) for a lovely y/n!"

Tommy shouted, smiling in your direction. You rushed over, retrieving the drink. You glanced down in the cup, your heart skipping a beat.

Inside the drink was beautiful latte art- a heart. You noticed there were little sprinkles- (favorite color) and hearts. After you sat down, you looked in Tommy's direction, said boy quickly looking away.

You smiled, your heart pounding. You glanced down at the small note that was stuck to the cup.

'y/n <3 if you can, please stay a bit later after closing time. I need to talk to you about something.. important <3'

You smiled at the child-like handwriting, internally squealing to yourself.

You looked up at the blonde, nodding in response. He smiled, turning to let his back face you, silently cheering.

You drank your drink in content, the delicious liquids swirling down your throat.

God, you loved this boy.

Many hours had passed, groups of people leaving one by one. You stared out the window, watching the once pale grey sky turn into beautiful red and pink hue, the clouds swirling like paint brush streaks across the sky. The sun hung low in the horizon, reminding you of egg yolk.

After the sky turned dark, you turned your head in Tommy's direction. He flipped the 'open' sign to 'closed' then started to sweep. He whistled a tune, occasionally glancing in your direction.

It was then when you'd noticed how well built his frame was. You caught yourself staring, quickly looking away.

After some time, you heard footsteps approach you. You looked up to see Tommy, who looked nervous. "Hello." He spoke.

"Hi there." He sat across from you, anxiously fiddling with some bandages that wrapped around his fingers.

"What happened to your fingers?" You asked.

He hummed. "I was playfighting with my brother, Wilbur." You nodded, looking down at your drink.

Your heart thumped hard against your ribcage.

"This is really cute. The drink I mean. Well, it was cute. And tasty." You rambled, anxiously playing with a loose string on your top.

Tommy's eyes widened, as he leaned back against the chair. His shoulders relaxed, and he quietly exhaled, relaxing in your presence.

"Thanks. Im glad you liked it." You nodded, a comfortable silence falling over you two.

You glanced up at Tommy, flushing when you saw him staring at you. He cleared his throat. "So. Um. I'm sure you're curious about why I asked you to stay late." You leaned forward, trying to seem calm when your heart was going lightning speed.

He calmed himself, taking a deep breath.

"I like you. A lot. Like- a lot. I think you're really pretty, and really kind." His cheeks were red, his blue eyes looking everywhere but you.

"Really?" You asked, but it came out more like a whisper.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure you think that's- I dunno- weird." You giggled, reaching over to intertwine your fingers with his.

"Tommy, I've been waiting to hear those words for a month. I actually came here to tell you that I like you, too. I was so nervous, and literally memorized an entire speech." He chuckled, running his thumb over your knuckles.

"Yeah, and I memorized your order. I practiced it over and over, and literally learned latte art a couple of days ago."

You smiled, squeezing his hand with adoration.

"Well, I'm sure glad you did, Cutie."

(I LOVED WRITING THIS AAHHHH!!!)

#dsmpboyfriend #dsmp x reader #dream smp x reader #tommyinnit #x reader

[frogcraftingg]

Hey i really love your builds and stuff and i had to ask, How do you stay motivated to build? I’ve hit a real block recently and none of my stuff looks right or i can’t even start a build, any advice?

Hi dear!! Love your name btw, and thanks for such a deep question! I'm so sorry you've hit the builder's block- honestly that happens to me from time to time as well! As a creator it can be really frustrating to hit a wall with builds and not know where to go. These tips are generally what I do and sometimes they help, sometimes I just gotta ride the block until it's over.

Keep a list of projects you want to complete. You can do this for survival OR creative. I find keeping lists really helps me to stay motivated though I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I've got an entire iPad's worth of notes for my worlds. Before my iPad I used Notion and handwritten notes to keep track of everything I wanted to do! If you wanna see my lists / inspo organization feel free to let me know and I'll post~

Build something from a reference. Instead of trying to imagine it if you normally do that, open up a cool Sims house, art concept, video game screenshot, photograph, etc., and just try to build the shapes you see there into a cohesive thing~!

Try a brand new style! Sometimes to keep ideas fresh and flowing, I need to take off my texture packs and get back to basics- and building in a gothic or medieval style with different blocks than I normally use generally really helps me get the creative ideas flowing! If you're not really sure how to build that style, go find (and follow!!) a tutorial or browse online (YouTube, Instagram, MinecraftBuilds subreddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc.,) for some inspo!! Even if it's something you won't ever build again, sometimes just building the way someone else does can spark so many ideas!

Play something else for a while. This can be super helpful if you are stuck. Sometimes I get stuck because I've Minecrafted too much, and I need to take a day or sometimes even a week away from the game and play something else. But usually I end up seeing some kind of inspo from another game and come racing back to build it 😂 The days where I opened the game, got nothing done, closed it and was frustrated with myself though were harmful to my overall mindset so now I will just see how I feel when I turn my PC on. Feel like building/playing? No-> Alright, let's do something else. Everything else can wait. Videos can be released a day later. Streams can be cancelled. I need to do /something else/.

Switch up the game! There are many times I get burned out from building in survival so switching to creative where I can feel more free has definitely helped! But the opposite is also true, sometimes forcing yourself to gather the resources and really envision the build as you're doing it helps me!

Don't force yourself if you're not feeling it. I burned out hard on Minecraft building a few times trying to keep up with daily build challenges or posting insta reels/tiktoks. Wait until you're feeling how you used to or motivated before you actually jump into the game again. The longest this "recovery" period has taken me is about 2 months, in summer of 2021 before I started streaming.

Honestly the biggest one that helps me is #1, I keep track of everything I want to do and I save lots of different inspo. pictures to give myself ideas while I build. Now, I don't block for block copy stuff-but sometimes seeing a roof shape I've never tried before or a block palette that looks cool can be enough to help me. Overall, I've found that keeping track of what builds and projects I'm working on and ✔ checking things off as they're done has really helped me be more intentional with my game(s) and my time, and the less time I spend frustrated or feeling lost, the more overall I've not been hitting the block as much.

Wishing you the most luck!

#frog answered

[sunstonespells]

an appreciation post for my partner, because i don't get to brag about him enough:

- he video calls me every day on his way home from work because he misses me and doesn't want to wait until he gets home to see me

- keeps our house clean and organized better than anyone i have ever lived with

- never wants me to help him carry the groceries in cause he doesn't want me to be uncomfortable

- indulges in my interests to the extreme, and buys me just about any sanrio or squishmallow treat i find

- always tells me not to rush or get hung up on prices (within reason) when we're shopping, combatting a lot of my guilt complexes

- plays my favorite board game with me even though it's a word game and he's not a words person

- watches musicals, reality shows, and documentaries with me even when they aren't in his wheelhouse

- will play games with my family without me if we go to visit them and i need to go rest, but always comes to check on me

- cooks dinner for the family from scratch multiple days a week

- will build furniture, re-arrange a room, spend hours decorating, and always completes a project. has endless patience while doing so and stays calm and not frustrated even when the process is super irritating or tedious

- says "we" did it when he accomplishes something, because i support him and hold things down at home so he always gives me credit when he does well

- does jigsaw puzzles and builds lego with me; he gets the star wars sets and i organize the pieces for him to build, and sometimes we take turns doing pages, and he buys me the botanical sets for holiday gifts

- takes care of all of the laundry, and he works retail so he folds everything perfectly

- left me fully in control of making decisions during my pregnancy, even though he already has two kids. he would tell me his experiences and things to consider, but empowered me pick every baby product and make every medical decision

- i've never heard him raise his voice except to yell "HEY" to break up the kids when they're arguing and getting loud, before bringing it back down

- talks every day about marrying me, our plans for the future and the quality of life he wants to give me and our family and what he's willing to do to get us there

- coordinates his outfits with me and the kids when we go anywhere, has matching shoes with me, lets me wear anything of his that i want, wears my necklaces

- will let me go off for hours about my special interests while he asks questions. he recently has been asking me about queer identities and lgbt history

- never judges me for my health issues (that i'm very self-conscious about) and tells me to relax and not be hard on myself when i'm not feeling well. he never gets mad at me for not doing enough or pushing myself and will pick up extra daddy duties around the house to let me rest

- regularly takes me on dates and makes sure we get grown up time to spend with other adults so i don't feel like i'm only a mom, and encourages me to make plans with my friends and visit my hometown while he's working

- is an active parent who is determined to give the kids experiences. we pretty consistently take them out to see family and friends, trampoline parks, ice skating, mini golfing, bowling, play zones, zoos, pools, parks, beaches, arcades, etc. even when he's fully exhausted

- helps me do my hair when i try to style it and i get frustrated cause i can't see the back and i don't know what i'm doing

- re-arranged half of the house to be able to make me plant shelves out on our apartment balcony so that i can start keeping plants again, and got me my dream plant (pink princess philodendron)

- will do arts and crafts projects with me and the kids, and will cook meals with me and the kids. he let me teach him how to bake and we all made cookies together

- let me paint his nails and color his hair, has gotten his nails done with me at a nail studio, and will pick my nail colors/shapes for me

- dramatically sings lewis capaldi with me in the shower and washes my hair and cleans my glasses

- has a great butt

#personal #anh #i could go on for days tbh #my life is unreal