#You'll see next time

[justatinybunwriting]

Playing With Fire 4

Finally after a long hiatus part 4 is finally here! Here we get a glimpse of Aiden in his true Wile giant form. Again, I pulled from a prompt list that @lorichu and @gtypewriter made, and this time I covered the final theme- suppress.

Previous chapter is here

(CW for blood, death and other dark themes. Viewer discretion is advised)

Aiden dreamed and daydreamed of the limitless possibilities that the gift of flight would bring him. From zipping past rainbows to frolicking in the mesosphere, all while sampling the morning dew from a myriad of clouds. The sheer wonder of taking to the sky as seamlessly as one could breathe, to feel the freedom of traveling across the vast seas and beyond without stop. These bounds of whimsy accompanied Aiden in nearly every waking hour, which had helped to dwindle his perpetual unease to a mere faction by week's end.

More than anything, his excitement for all the extravagant new ways he can perform on stage showed no signs of stopping. A death defying showcase of wireless acrobatics high above the audience's heads, complete with fiery beams that whipped around the magician as he spins. His wide eyed attendees would gasp and holler, before an eruption of cheers would follow upon his climactic dive towards the stage. This scene would play on repeat in his mind, which was followed by a childlike giddiness which had nearly always lead to the perplex gazes of those around him. The fact that this would all be reality by ritual's end seemed too marvelous to be true. Indeed, Aiden's life as he knew it would cease, but the one that would take it's place will outshine it in extraordinary ways. And that in of itself gave him enough of a push to drive away his initial fears and accept Rikuo's invitation with a strident shout.

As the light of the full moon shined brightly against the treetops, the forest was bustling with activity as the entirety of Rikuo's flock went tooth and nail to perform in their last minute rehearsals. With elegance and grace, the four lieutenants waved their leaf fans in a elaborate dance, all while a series of incantations flowed out of their lips. The alpha oversaw his men's movements down to the last detail, as he gently pushed them to perform at their utmost or at least as far as he saw fit. Despite this his smile never wavered as he joined his comrades in song.

Jac meanwhile stood in front of the mouth of one of the caverns as she awaited the guest of honor to step into view. The normally adamant and stoutly witch was pacing across the room with an unsteady rhythm. Something was beginning to hover over her like a dark cloud- she understood not what was elevating her heart beats slightly in this way, nor was she able to shake off this sudden sensation. Only when she heard her friend's voice that these numbing jitters began to settle down.

"Well? How do I look?"

Aiden emerged from the shadows dressed in a white, robed garment, complete with a small, black hat that rested atop his still unkempt hair.

Jac held a hand to her mouth briefly. "You look like a bonefide Wile, at least when they appear human. Though I guess they gave you fancier clothes?"

"Fitting I suppose." Aiden sighed. "Though I'll admit it's a bit stuffy."

"It's proper etiquette I guess. Though I think..." Jac said as she folded her arms, "your outfit should be the least of your concerns right now. Do you... think you'll be ok?"

"...I have to be. I'll just have to get out there and treat it like I'll be performing on a grand stage! Yeah!... After I take a few deep breaths I should be fine. Never failed me before, heheh."

Up to this point the magician's unwavering interest took precedent above all else, but minutes before the big event cracks had begun to form in his facade. He quickly noticed the change in Jac's demeanor as well, for she lacked the booming energy she normally had in the face of the unknown.

"I guess I should be asking the same of you." Aiden said. "How are you holding up?"

"Me? Uh... Now that you mention it..."

Jac was hesitant to continue, for she was concerned that this would bring unnecessary stress to their already high nerves. Now was not the time, she thought.

"Never mind. It's probably all in my head..."

Aiden raised a brow. "Are you sure? I know that sometimes witches and wizards can feel things in the air. It causes their hair to stand in parts."

He lifted a finger and pointed it to her arm without contact. Sure enough her hairs were raised to an alarming degree.

"...Can you... sense it too?"

"I'm not a real wizard, but... sort of? I bet it's a lot more noticeable with you."

"Oh stars... you can tell that something feels kind of off, right? The vibes, the smells... all of this just seems wrong for some reason..."

Aiden did not want to believe it on his own, but he chose to trust the witch's mouth. Newly indoctrinated or not, she knew what she was saying even before she could understand any of it. The sorcerer scanned the surrounding corridors, but nothing pulled at his immediate attention. The same could not be said for Jac however, as her eyes grew wide in a near fixation towards a crevice just across from where they stood. Her shivers intensified and her body began to fold in an attempt to shield herself from the biting chills.

"What's wrong?" Aiden asked.

"I... I don't know.... but, I guess I have to find out.."

"A-Are you sure?"

"Positive!"

Jac took a deep breath and approached the cavern mouth slowly, with Aiden following closely behind. The latter offered light with a wave of a hand, and with the arrival of his flame the supposed source was revealed to them. Jac stared down at what appeared to be an ordinary wooden barrel, one of many stacked in this tunnel. No doubt this was a storage room, and there was little in the way for alarm under normal conditions. And yet, the witch's instincts began to scream at her to flee from the very sight of it. She closed her eyes and counted to ten before she lifted the lid, and not even a second later she was forced to slam it shut.

Jac lunged backwards and nearly collided with Aiden, who spontaneously grabbed her by the shoulders. Her distress was undeniable... the sheer intensity of the veins that bulged in her eyes spoke volumes greater than words.

"The... de de de..."

"Take your time. Nice and steady..."

Aiden squeezed her hands tight and encouraged Jac to take in a few deep breaths, in spite of Jac's squeals against taking in the pungent air that had seeped out. The two friends used the distant backdrop of the Tengu Wile's chants to help with the rhythm, inhaling steadily and exhaling in a similar pace, until at last Jac's panic had slowed to a halt. She looked up at the red head with near tearful uncertainty, and the former almost wanted to do the same.

"T... The deer... it was... soaked in blood..."

Aiden's eyes sprung up. "W-what?"

"The other crates must also be... oh stars..."

Aiden briefly scanned behind her at the objects in question. His face soured immensely as he winced at the first thing that cropped up in his mind.

A blood sacrifice!?

The magician's breath subtly hitched as a dark storm began to overtake his mind, but before he could react with even a peep, a familiar yet imposing shadow had sought to disrupt their conversation. Whether this intrusion was deliberate, only the Alpha Wile knew for certain. It took Aiden all his might to mask his erupting emotions in front of the feathered fiend, but on the contrary Jac refused to be silenced.

"What the hell is this?! You guys usually gorge your kills!! Oh... oh my gawds..."

Jac hunched over and held a hand over her mouth to hold back the river, which prompted a quick response from Goro as he swept her into his arms. The smaller Tengu looked up in a split second of defiance towards his master, which was followed almost immediately by a look of submission after the Alpha cocked his head slightly.

"There's no need to be wary, rest assured." Rikuo said, as if he addressed all who stood below him. "This may all seem, bizarre to you now, but I guarantee that everything will become clear in due time."

"That's not an answer!!" Jac exclaimed.

The young witch struggled to release herself from Goro's hold as the latter shook his head with a crestfallen expression. Rikuo quickly nudged his head to the right, a signal that the Beta Wile knew all too well. With guilt in his heart and a swift shift, Goro took on his bird form and grabbed the back of Jac's cloak by the teeth. Despite being hoisted twenty feet off the ground, her swings and shrieks of protests never ceased.

Aiden's mood suddenly dropped. He could only watch as his friend was taken clear out of sight, removed to the safety of the catacombs where a barrier locked her in place. Without warning, a wing claw graced the magician's shoulder, which had caused all the hairs on his back to shoot up. He reluctantly craned his neck to lock eyes with the fiend above, as the latter upheld his macabre grin.

"Are you ready?" Rikuo asked smoothly, as he spreads a wing against the magician's back.

"It's not like I can back out now..." Aiden said.

With that confession of reluctant acceptance, Aiden gave a deep, long sigh as he followed the Alpha towards the center of the cave. Several pairs of eyes darted towards the magician, with Souji's being the most attentive. Before the metaphorical daggers grew out of hand, their leader cleared his throat which immediately prompted his subjects to heed and march back into their positions with haste. Concurrently, Goro struggled with his inability to console Jac as she continuously attempted to destroy the the invisible force field to no avail. As much as he wanted to stay by her side, he ultimately had to bend to his master's call.

"I'm sorry Jac." Goro spoke somberly. "This is a standard precaution."

"What do you mean?" Jac's voice was slightly hitched. "Why do I need protection? Is something going to happen to Ai-- the magician?"

"It may be difficult for you to understand but, he'll be fine." Goro reassured as he waddled back to his brethren, shifting back to his human-like form upon arrival. Jac was left once again without a direct answer.

"Apparently it's too much to ask of these feathered folk," she mumbled.

Meanwhile, Aiden was beckoned to the center of the King's Quarter, just as Atsushi, Goro, Harutaka and Souji took up their places in each corner of the makeshift stage. Rikuo trotted in front as he shifted into a fanciful robed attire of his own, though unlike the Beta Wiles he decidedly retained much of his avian form, with his wings tucked to his back as if they resembled sleeves. A large leaf fan emerged from his robe, and with a small wave of this peculiar wand, the unlit torch was magically transported to his other hand.

"The knowledge of unbinding has been passed down by generations among the Alphas of my clan. A sacred spell, one that must be done in a precise and concrete order. Luckily for you, young pyromancer, we shall take the bulk of the labor required. Two tasks! Is all I ask of you. Please, step forth."

Aiden gulped. His quaking began to rise to the surface for everyone to see, and although he took his time, he managed to step forward in a rather ungraceful way. He was thankful that the monster bird was patient with him in particular, as the magician walked beneath the latter's shadow.

"Now..." Rikuo said. He looked down at the smaller man, before turning his eyes to the torch with a devious glint. "You must submit your true name, as you project the very fire spell that you shared with me on that night onto this staff!"

"Surely there... must be more I have to do, right?"

Aiden could not believe the words that was coming out of his mouth, yet he decided to continue while he had the momentum.

"As you've said when I stood here last time, I must devote my life to your whims... as one of your flock. What exactly does that entail? Do I give away a hair? A limb? My soul?"

"Nonsense! Whatever gave you that idea? When I receive your name, I will perform a Wile's 'pact.' I suppose that counts as a, contract of sorts, but it literally won't matter. For a link forged like this only needs to be active for as long as the ritual is in session."

"That means... I can leave anytime afterwards?"

"...I would not be opposed to it."

Aiden could tell that these words were chosen carefully, as he took a moment to process the cards drawn to him. Surely this, fiend would not be so eager to lie for his own selfish desires... right? The magician was beginning to spiral too deep for his own good, and he had to force himself to trick his mind back into focusing on the the greater goal.

Look to the skies...

Aiden sucked in a breath as he proceeded to put on his mental blindfolds once more. A long exhale followed before the sorcerer gave the Alpha a subtle nod. An inaudible bow followed, which enlivened the monster bird to an almost maddening delight, evident by his ear to ear grin. It was as if he had just ensnared a long sought after prey.

"You won't regret this!" Rikuo exclaimed.

He rose up before addressing his men, and with one final check the Alpha lifted his fan in a somewhat similar fashion to a conductor's baton. On cue, the flock began their incantation one by one as each member seamlessly waved their leaf fans with perfect grace and precision. Such strict practice paid off, as the air that flowed from the tips of their sandals to the hairs on their heads exerted mystifying power which every perfect step. Aiden was enamored by their performance, but had to ignore it after a minute to complete his part. The sorcerer dragged his feet to the lowly torch and was ordered to grab it by both hands. So many questions still echoed in his mind, and oh how they blasted sirens. But every time a sliver of doubt crept in, he would knock them away with concentrated effort.

Remember... it's for the greater good. Just think of all the doors that will open if I do this.

One more inhale later, he finally said aloud. "My name is Aiden. Just, Aiden."

Without ceasing his dance, the Alpha Wile cocked an eyebrow. He examined the much smaller magician carefully, and concluded that the latter spoke the only truth he could have known.

"It'll do." He replied. "Now, Aiden! Ignite the artifact with your flames!!"

Aiden closed his eyes and did as he was told. He dipped one fireball on the top of the stake and began to unravel the spells from the pits of his heart.

"Suns of gehenna, bright as gold, I beseech you to bring forth your power. Light the darkness like the pits from whence you came. Come forth and unleash your elemental beauty on this staff in it's TRUE form! Let it be known the true power of its internal flame!!"

The revised spell caused the tiny fireball to erupt into a beam that shot up into the ceiling. It rested not a few seconds longer, as it once more reformed into a fiery flower that shone brighter and flashed in more array of colors than it ever had before. At the same time the Tengu Wile's song grew louder, as the back of their heads began to glow with a faint, blue light.

Aiden's eyes then flashed in tandem, as he suddenly fell into a deep trance. Rikuo then drew closer, the overbearing fire being the only thing that flickered between him and the magician. The monster bird then uttered a spell under his breath, one unlike any he had spoken in times past, and with a deep, enchanting sound that steeped from the back of his throat, the words themselves held tremendous power.

"Princi' 'al duk, ut ec dumal precadun'al ozile ultima."

"...Prim.. al duk.. et ciechz."

Aiden did not question the words that flowed from his mouth, for perhaps it was his inner Wile speaking. Regardless he was secretly hoping that the Wile giant would not try anything while the magician was left in this vulnerable state. Little did he know, this hesitation would turn the tides for the events that followed.

"So you still resist..." Rikuo whispered. He paused for a moment before continuing. "Very well then."

The Alpha Wile rose up and clasped his hands together. His subordinate Wiles replicated the action in unison, and as if controlled like a marionette, Aiden did the same. He made contact with the inflamed blossom at the base of the staff and in an instant, the inferno had engulfed him in flames. Jac's screams was finally able to cut through the barrier, and in that exact moment when he heard her voice, the fires erupted in a dazzling display of colors. The element spiraled around the young Wile, as if he was encased in a fiery cage. He was neither scorched or singed, but was completely out of it in terms of what was reality and what was not. But one thing he was certain of, he heard what he could only discern as the sound of burning cords.

A blur whipped past the blaze and emerged high over the infernal whirlpool. The Alpha Wile opened his mouth, highlighting the razor sharp edges of his terrible teeth which glistened with the same ethereal blue like that of a star's halo. He then lunged at the magician, snapping his jaws shut just inches above his head. When Aiden recovered from the shock of that unprompted action, he slowly looked up and could not believe his eyes. Long chains, invisible prior, appeared all around Aiden's body, which wrapped around every limb from front to back. Rikuo was pulling the strings with all his might, with surprising difficulty considering the Alpha's strength. He continued even as his magic shield began to fade from such a close contact. He kept on even as parts of his face became charred from the embers that managed to lash onto his cheek. Nothing could stop him until at last the wretched coils were severed with a loud snap. The ropes dissolved immediately in a fog of blackened ether, and thereafter Aiden fell into another magic induced trance.

A cold and unsettling silence drifted through the cavern, before the magician's body suddenly exploded in a sea of vibrant orange that engulfed the entire surface of the area. The surrounding birds backed off as the flames grew to an intensifying degree, increasing the temperature with a radiating heat as the fire cage ballooned to ten times it's original height. The ravens lifted their magic shields to reflect the incoming embers, and the inferno was wide enough to reach the secluded corners of where Jac stood. Her barrier was the most stable, but even then cracks began to form. The witch's fears for her friend was much more profound however, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn't see past the overwhelming juggernaut that surrounded him.

....

As the flames of gehenna seemingly appeared to swallow his entire form whole, Aiden surprisingly grew into a sense of calm. Visions began to fill in the empty catacombs of his mind, as if he was gradually being stitched back together again. Memories of nature and forests and mountains far removed. Of villages and the colors of the skies in all times of the year. The smells of freshly charred timber and smoke, surrounded by the presence of other winged sentinels who glowed a shimmering white. Their hymns of Artemis echoed in the vast plains, being carried by the passing gale in the form of ghostly rings and chimes.

...Of Artemis...

As these chains of thoughts grew more vivid and resonant, so too did his body change in turn. Aiden felt more relaxed as his molecules began to unwind and stretch out, reforming in a blink of an eye with a brilliant glow. His undefined shape quickly grew massive as he sprouted a pair of wings, first on his back, then again from his arms. He bloomed much like the fire flower that appeared elegantly on the magical torch, which burned in tandem to the Wile giant's blinding luminosity.

But as the seconds went on, the memories started pouring in an increasing rate, flashing before his mind's eye as a series of sliding vignettes. An overwhelming cascade that caused him to crash down to his knees, as he began to seethe bellows from his newly formed fangs alongside small puffs of actual flames. Yet it was not the sheer amount of reclaimed information that caused him to nearly retch, rather, the lost skeletons that came with everything else. Memories he would have preferred to be lost to the seas of time, never again to surface for anyone to see.

How... many?

He laid witness of many travesties, of grass, temples and bodies singed. Miles of tarnished land burned to its very foundation, spoiled with the stench of brimstone that rose up into ashened skies above. The darkness bleached the epicenter in heavy smoke, all while the same sentinels that glowed a blinding white rejoiced in merriment and song.

Why...? Why must you all resort to this?

A change could be seen in Aiden's demeanor. The sweat and tears that poured from his face would evaporate instantly in contact with the surrounding inferno. With little room to breathe in his newly expanded lungs, his eyes began to flicker to the point of madness.

'It is necessary to reclaim our rightful place as rulers of this world!'

That voice... Aiden turned his head around to face the shade of a being behind him, one that was unearthed from deep within the corners of the former magician's mind. A blurred silhouette of a giant bird man that stood league's taller than any of the Wiles he encountered before. Their aura was prolific like a king among kings, and their steps were equally graceful as if they commanded the utmost attention of all who gazed upon them. Aiden's eyes widened as he watched himself in his adolescence appear before the entity in a miniature form. Unlike the other memories, he pictured this with vivid clarity, as if he was watching a film on playback.

'This has to stop!' His younger self exclaimed. 'This violence is senseless. We don't have to resort to--'

'They're humans!' The figure shouted. 'Those wretched fools... their own downfall was set in stone the moment they sought to perform mass genocide towards our people. Our brothers and sisters among the fair folk... slaughtered mercilessly, and all for what? All for our blood from which they drink, and the magic coursing through our veins... Such contempt will never be tolerated!!'

The wing claws of the being, this unsettling force, was placed against the young Aiden's back. And at this exact moment the modern day sorcerer sensed a cold chill that shot up his spine, in spite of his physical form being encaged in fire. He knew then and there that this was more than just a mere vision.

'We mustn't turn a blind eye towards our fallen brethren,' the figure said, 'and to those still alive who have been dwindled down to abysmal numbers. We've lost family and pack members to man's wicked beliefs.'

'But this is excessive... humans can't regenerate like we can. It doesn't seem fair...'

'Neither can Wiles aside from the Phoebes!! The humans will swarm like ants if we give them the chance. They'll rob us of our children and our very way of life! We can't allow this no matter what, for we, Ardius, are one of the last remaining saviors of Wile kind. The only hope if any of us will stand a chance for a brighter future! It is your destiny as the Phoenix... to become one with our mission, and with me.'

"NO!!" Aiden screamed, both in his past and present form. 'You don't understand!! This will only fuel their agenda! We have to show them that magic is not this evil boogeyman that beings like us use to smite our opponents! We'll have to change our way of thinking, of how we approach--'

Half a second. That was all it took for the entity to project himself from across the room to mere inches away from the newly formed Wile giant. Quaking to his very core, Aiden felt the specter's freezing claws against his shoulders as it craned its head like an owl to meet his up close.

'Do you take me for a FOOL Ardius? Gone are the days when the two factions had mutual standing. The era of give and take, of the equal sharing of flesh and blood, is over. Give up your folly. And embrace me like you've done in lives past.'

'I will never rejoin the hi--'

'You dare to defy me? In your weakened state? You barely have a choice! You should be honored to be subject to my blessing. Consider it my gift to you, my son...'

All of a sudden, the back of Aiden's skull felt as if it was being parted in two, which caused him to let out a bone curling scream. Pillars of flames erupted around his feet which surged in erratic directions, igniting all that it touched. The Tengu Wiles all huddled together, culminating their magical shields into one super sized bubble. Shifting midway, the five monster birds actually had some difficulty in keeping it aloft, as they used their full moon charged energy to protect themselves and the one behind them. The impact would thankfully not last for much longer.

Soon enough the light faded, and with it the flames that wrapped around the newly created giant. The former magician struggled to breathe air back into his expanded lungs, and during this time he could hear the faint whispers of those that surrounded him. He slowly opened his eyes, revealing metallic copper irises surrounded by a striking red. All of the Beta Wiles watched him cautiously from a safe distance, feathers raised and talons exposed, save for the Alpha who stood in a defiant stance. While battered himself, he nevertheless gave Aiden a formal bow, one befitting of someone of loyalty.

"Welcome back, Aiden of the Phoenix Wiles... if that is your true name. You were able to suppress your shackles and now look at you! You are more marvelous than I could have imagined."

Aiden looked more man than avian as he rose up to his newfound height, yet he was clad in bright golden feathers from neck to knee on his otherwise bare form. The plumage of his wings seemed to emit a soft, orange glow and the colors of his chest were incandescent much like that of a golden pheasant. Jac was in awe at the sight of her friend. At first she thought of him as yet another black bird, but the former magician had exceeded her expectations tremendously. It was as if a twinkle of starlight was standing right before her.

"You're... sparkly..." She gasped, unable to come up with something better to say. "Wasn't what I was expecting, but... it really suits you."

Aiden's renewed senses was able to pick up Jac's faint words, and he glanced back to look upon her distant figure for a few seconds as if to acknowledge it. His eyes were placid and nearly tearful when they laid upon the now much smaller witch. Jac's mood fell, through she could not discern why until she watched her friend suddenly rear his head back sharply. His expression then darkened to an eerie calm as that warm expression was replaced with a small smirk. A subtle gesture oh so unassuming, that nonetheless caused the hairs of Jac's skin to rise up an alarming amount. She took a few steps back and uttered to herself.

"Just who... are you?"

#sfw giant #oc: jac #oc: richard #oc: aiden #bun does writing #au #As if Aiden doesn't have enough problems ^^; #And in case you are wondering yes I made a story involving possession before and no that's not what this is #it's a little more complicated than that xD #You'll see next time

[julnites]

little punk Gwen doodle

#james art times #artists on tumblr #gwen stacy #spider gwen #spiderverse #across the spiderverse #into the spiderverse #glad y'all liked the punk gwen expressions! #currently working on artfight and zine jam stuff #the first I will post probably sporadically throughout the month #and the latter you'll see at the end of this month/start of next month! #a lot of fun stuff coming up

[superfruitland]

shoutout to the culture

more humans [coming soon] || leo || f!leo ||

#i can't find the ask that asked for this soz #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt donatello #rottmnt raphael #rottmnt leonardo #rottmnt michelangelo #tmnt #lee's art #this is the only time you'll see me do canon-accurate gear for donnie i'm so sorry #i never remember what he has and where and his regular version has mildly different gear than the ninpo one #too lazy to colour this too - maybe someday i'll do that #spent like an hour trying to figure out what hairstyle would look best here and i do not have the energy to figure out colours TwT #edited to add the future links to the next posts #human shenanigans

[hailsatanacab]

"give me a fandom and a prompt and i'll give you at least five sentences"

Ok then.

Jazz, Danny and Bruce are in the same age range, and Bruce has been harboring a massive crush on 7'foot tall Jazz since just after he began his training journey.

His kids know about and are mercyless. Danny thinks he's a bit of a fruit loop and 100% knows Bruce has a crush on his sister.

Into the future his coworkers find out that batman has been quietly pining after the Ghost Kings sister for years.

Chaos.

love that this reads as a challenge. Ok then. Write it. i will, let's goooo!

(sorry i kinda took it so that Jazz, Danny, and Bruce were all old friends but in that horrible adult way where you can only hang out with each other once in a blue moon when your work schedules miraculously align)

——

"Respectfully, Batman, you can take your "it's not necessary" and you can shove it up your arse. There's a demon the size of a skyscraper heading towards Metropolis and we need reinforcements."

"Superman can—"

"Superman can't. You do remember the part of the report I made telling you this, right? Or did your stubborn little bat brain just shut down when I mentioned magic?"

"Actually," Nightwing interrupts from the side, a shit-eating grin on his face, "I think his brain shut down when you mentioned the Ghost King."

"Nightwing." Batman growls in warning, his jaw clenching so hard Constantine can swear he hears the bones creaking.

Nightwing just snickers, and turns away to press a finger to his ear, no doubt letting the rest of the bat brood in on what's happening here... Whatever that is. All Constantine knows is that Batman is standing between him and fixing this mess for no God-forsaken reason.

Luckily, some of the more reasonable members of the League step in to try and talk some sense into Batman. It gives him some time to calm down.

"Batman. We need him. I know you dislike working with unknowns, but he's our best shot."

It actually looks like Wonder Woman might be getting through to him, Batman even opens his mouth to actually explain some things—a huge step forward for this incredibly emotionally constipated man.

Instead, Nightwing snorts and beats him to it. "Unknowns? More like—"

"Nightwing, please."

"Oh, for Pete's sake, get your head out of your arse and let me do this. The Ghost King is our only hope. I'm summoning him, no matter what you say."

For a long second, Constantine thinks that he'll refuse and he might have to resort to more violent methods of persuasion—which, honestly, Constantine has fantasised about many times during the more boring JL meetings—but eventually, Batman relents and steps out of the way.

"Fine. Nightwing, go check in with Red Robin."

Nightwing has the kind of devious smile that makes John glad he doesn't have kids.

"Oh, don't worry about it, B. Red Robin's coming here. So's Red Hood, I don't need to go anywhere."

"Nightwing—"

"Sh, it's starting." So saying, Nightwing then very obviously ignores Batman's protests with a poker face that even Constantine envies. What he wouldn't give to be able to shut the bat out like that.

The summoning goes quickly, thankfully. The lights flicker, the temperature drops, and the chalk circle erupts in green flames. Standard summoning practices, sure. Even the impromptu appearance of Red Hood and Red Robin—"Did we miss him?", "No, not yet! I got 2:37, what about you guys?"—doesn't throw him off.

It does pique his interest, though. Just what the hell is going on with them? Constantine's weighing up the pros and cons of asking them once all of this is over when the ground splits open and the clawed hand of the Ghost King begins to pull himself out of the ground.

John's a seasoned summoner. It's practically his job, he's done it countless times.

The icey fear that grips his heart, that freezes his breath in his chest, is new.

Pure, unadulterated power floods the area and he feels small, so, so small, like a child playing with things he doesn't understand. When he finally tears his eyes away from the portal, he catches a glimpse of the other magic users in the room, the same horror he feels clear in their faces. Even Captain Marvel stares slackjawed.

The pressure rises, death magic screaming in his ears, almost forcing him to his knees, and suddenly he's not so sure this is a good idea.

Too late to back out now, though.

Sickly green light pours from the crack in the ground, growing brighter and brighter as the giant figure rises, until Constantine has to close his eyes and look away. The last thing he sees are eyes, teeth, horns, a crown so bright that it burns an afterimage into his retinas.

When the light dies down and he opens his eyes again, a humanoid man floats in the centre of the circle. The ground is whole, nothing is burning, the man doesn't even have a crown. Instead, other than the wispy white hair, slightly green skin, and the—you know—floating, the Ghost King appears pretty normal. Huh.

Constantine blinks, rubbing his bleary eyes, and checks around to make sure everyone's okay. Most of the League are doing the same as him, taking fortifying breaths and trying to appear as if they've not just been completely blinded.

Most of them, that is, aside from the Gotham vigilantes.

Batman himself stands upright, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered by the whole thing and John's got to admit, he wishes he could do that, too. That was... a hell of a show.

The others, however, are waving frantically with huge smiles on their faces.

What?

There's a brief, taut silence, as everyone else tries to catch their breath.

As much as he would rather take a bit of a breather, John should probably start making introductions. Unfortunately, he only gets as far as opening his mouth before the Ghost King beats him to it.

"Oh, Ancients, hey guys! It's been forever, how are you? Look at you all, so grown up, wow—Nightwing, buddy, do a flip!"

It doesn't take much to get Nightwing going, and he certainly doesn't leave it at one flip. The whole of the Justice League and Justice League Dark watch with open mouths as Nightwing performs for the Ghost King.

What, and John can't stress this enough, the fuck?

As soon as Nightwing rights himself, Red Hood swats him across the back of the head and calls him a show off.

The Ghost King just laughs as he claps. "There's my little monkey, look at you go! And I'm loving that leather jacket, Hood, is that new? Looks good on you, really your colour. Brings out the red in your helmet."

"Thanks, Uncle D. At least someone around here appreciates fashion."

"Are you kidding me, you know I breathe fashion, need I remind—"

"Need I remind you of the Discowing incident?"

"That was era-appropriate and you know it! Uncle D, tell him it was era-appropriate!"

"It was era-appropriate, but so are crocs and it doesn't make them fashionable." The Ghost King—and holy shit, is this actually the Ghost King? Or did Constantine just accidentally summon a deceased family member, what the fuck is happening here?—turns to look at Red Robin with a smile, resolutely ignorning the argument he created. "How you doing, Double R? You get that tablet Tucker made for you?"

"Yes, thank you! It's so cool, how did he—"

"How's Tucker doing?" Batman interrupts, his hands now hidden underneath his cape.

As soon as the question leaves his lips, everyone groans. Red Robin makes a show of lifting up his wrist and staring at it intently.

"Incredible," Red Hood mutters with a shake of his head.

Even the Ghost King seems put out, rolling his eyes and answering in a flat tone as if he knows Batman isn't interested in what he has to say.

Not for the first time, Constantine feels like he's missing something.

"Tucker's doing very well, thank you for asking."

What follows is the most awkward silence Constantine has ever had the pleasure to be a part of.

All three of the Gotham vigilantes, including the Ghost King, are staring at Batman, waiting for something. Batman's cloak shifts as if he's moving his hands, fidgeting. If Constantine didn't know any better, he'd say he was nervous.

"Good. That's good, I'm glad to hear it."

Instead of saying anything else, the Ghost King just raises his eyebrows and continues to stare at Batman. Has he offended him in some way? Are they all going to die because of this?

After what seems like an agonising few minutes but could only really be a few seconds, Batman's shoulders dip and he takes a breath. "And Jazz?"

They all erupt into shouts, the Ghost King being the loudest. The only thing John can make out is when the Ghost King throws his hand in the air to point at Red Robin with a shout of "Time!"

"1:30.91, we got 1:30.91 on the clock, who's closest?"

"Did you even try to hold it in at all, old man? I'm so disappointed in you. People think you're cool. People think you're suave, I don't understand how they could be so wrong."

"Thank you for that, Hood."

"No, thank you, I won. Again. Because you're so predictable. Actually, I had one minute seventeen, so you held out longer than I thought you would."

Batman pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs loudly.

Constantine feels like doing the same thing.

Whatever. He's going to have to interrupt... whatever this is. There's still a rampaging demon heading their way that they've got to bargain for. He can untangle Batman's personal connection to the Ghost King later. Or he could leave it alone and forget everything about it.

Yeah, he'll do that one.

But before he can actually open his mouth to say anything, the Ghost King, again, beats him to it.

"So, B-Man, did you summon me here for a particular reason, or was it really just so you could ask about Jazz?"

There's a beat of silence before Batman mutters, "I asked about Tucker, too. We've not seen each other in so long, it's only polite."

"And I'm sure you meant it, you're the paragon of manners." The Ghost King nods slow and wide-eyed as if he doesn't believe him at all.

At this point, even Constantine doesn't believe him.

"It has been forever, though." The Ghost King muses, bringing his hand to his chin and folding his legs underneath him. "We should all get together sometime! If you get Alfie to make some of his cookies again, I'll get Clockwork to lend us a pocket dimension where we can spend as much time as we want, deal?"

"It's a deal."

No hesitation at all, incredible.

Hold on. Wait. John has to fight the urge to pinch himself, because this has to be a dream, right? Is Batman actually smiling? He didn't even know he could do that.

An itch niggles at the back of John's mind. He's starting to get an inkling of what's going on here and it's... weird, to say the least.

"Oooh," Nightwing singsongs, like a child in a playground tickled by the very idea of romance.

But then, who's he to judge? John's no stranger to strange bedfellows, that's for sure. Whoever this Jazz is, she must be something incredible—she'd have to be, if Batman can't even go two minutes without asking about her.

"Batman and Jasmine sitting in a tree," Nightwing continues, with both Red Hood and Red Robin joining in for the rest. "K—I—S—S—I—"

"Stop," Batman growls, completely drowned out by the Ghost King's laughter, but...

But.

It all suddenly clicks for John.

The Ghost King Phantom.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Jasmine Phantom.

Jazz.

"Holy shit, mate," John breathes, unable to stop himself as everyone looks his way. "You have the hots for the Princess of the Infinite Realms?"

The Justice League meeting room has never descended into chaos quicker.

#dpxdc #danny phantom crossover #danny phantom x batman #hoooolllyyy mackeral #it was hubris thinking i could keep anything to five sentences really wasn't it? #fucking played myself with that didn't i??? #anyway here's even more words on this i hope you enjoy!! #some things that didn't make it in: #duke doesn't come to see danny because he's too bright when he's in his ghost form and it gives him a migraine - he still plays the game #though and is second closest! #damian is there he's just biding his time. it's become a tradition for damian to try and stab danny whenever he turns up #he hasn't managed it yet but danny keeps encouraging him to try again! you'll get me next time champ! #it infuriates damian to no end - no he's not doing it because he's having fun he legitimately wants to kill him shut up! #danny loves cass so much and when they do all get together they always sit together - it often ends up with cass curling up around danny #ellie turns up every now and then! she's like an honourary wayne at this point #she's always down for any pranks and shenanigans #thank you for the prompt!! it was very fun. as you can see i got rather carried away haha #thank you i hope you enjoyed it!!! #my writing #cab writes

[the-wizard-dipper]

Dipper's got a little more... bite in some of the early drafts of the AU, I've been seriously tempted to lean that way again as I've grown to better understand what kind of story I want to tell with him.

Thoughts bellow the cut...

He skipped a grade, he's got the best grades in his class, he's "the gifted kid who's going places". Finding out that magic is real is the ultimate wish fulfillment of this nerdy little kid and the proof for that little inside voice of his that he's not just smart, he's special.

He's a good kid, but one who's been told how smart and mature he is one too many times. Unlike Norman, he hasn't spent his entire life being told that he's wrong for being different; Dipper's got the confidence to demand answers when with faced with something he doesn't understand.

There's probably not a world where Dipper starts bullying Norman, Norman's too good at keeping his head down and would never confront Dipper. But Norman has something Dipper needs and there are the ingredients for a very unhealthy friendship, if Dipper doesn't lean to see Norman as an equal and Norman doesn't learn to stand up for himself.

Of course, that's what the rest of the story is for.

Enough of the heavy character stuff, since you read this far you've earned yourself some of that sweet sweet Parapines content that I know you're all here for.

Art by @flipsidered

#danny phantom #gravity falls #paranorman #Masters’ Academy AU #I realized I had some unposted AU concept art and commissions I got just for fun #it has been a while since I posted real stuff #but it's past midnight here and I really shouldn't start posting right now #so you'll have to settle for this little peak behind the scenes #parapines #Art by: #okkennymay #and #flipsidered #opps spent longer on that than I meant to #See you next time! #And trust me I have some fantastic content coming #*evil laughter*

[instarsandcrimeah]

I love Sif's design-

#in stars and time #isat #in stars and time siffrin #siffrin #This game has very quickly jumped to one of my favorite games of all time #I cannot wait to see what they make next #tbh I want to see this new journey but that's prob not gonna happen #I also really wanna know what happened to the Northern Island! #Also! I want to play through Maribelle's journey! #There is so much I want to see from this world and idk if we will ever see it #it's like the cat in the box #If I open it I'll know the answers #but if it can never be opened then there will always be a mystery and always be something to think about #but who knows maybe opening that box you'll find something else #something even more mysterious inside #you never know #and you'll never know if those things should be answered #thats the fun part

[pushing500]

These two drama queens, honestly. They got to spend three whole days alone in a car cab together!! Unless Duchess sat on Blackdragon's lap the whole trip, they couldn't really get much closer!

On another note, please remember to wear a helmet when riding a motorbike unless you happen to be the last high priest of an ancient eldritch deity who grants you powers via cannibalistic tendencies thank youuu

When we arrived at our new home, M.M. decided he didn't like his topknot braid anymore and cut it into a cute lil' tuft of hair between his horns. He looks just as dashing as before <3

And finally, a sneak peek at our new home... 👀

First | Next | Previous

#rimworld #gracie plays #The Children of Ecthuctu #art #my art #traditional art #rimworld art #unpolished art #I love Blackdragon and Duchess so much #they whined the whole roadtrip #“I miss my partner so muuuchhh!!!” *reaches across to the other seat to touch their shoulder* “It feels like I'll never see them again!” #Very big fan of M.M.'s new haircut too #I forgor to get a picture though #So you'll have to make do with the artistic rendition until next time #I think an ocular forest base is fitting for an eldritch cult #it's ALMOST as horrifying as we are #Almost #have a good day everyone!! <3 <3 <3

[praxidikegal]

So in this AU, where Snow decided to fight against the Capitol. How did that happen? What happened to him that had him go "Wait...maybe this isn't the way to go. We should leave for now."

I'm so sorry for not answering sooner.

You see, in this au the ending never happened, Coryo never lied and Lucy Gray accepted him yada yada they travelled and ended up in 13. When they were found they presented themselves to 13 as runaways (himself a trained peacekeeper assigned to district 12 from district 2) Though, they were relatively safe and stable and he was able to climb to power and took back what was "stolen" from his family, Coryo does not want to stay down there forever. He hates the lack of opulence, luxury and life. He also holds a grudge against the Capitol for his "downfall".

In 13, he holds a different name along with Lucy Gray and he wants his name back and his family name's old glory back and of course he wants to get back to Tigris and Grandma'am (tho, grandma'am croaked before they meet again). He hates that he is in hiding, he hates that he is hidden and as president there, He cares little about the people in 13 but Lucy Gray does so he does his best to make the place better for her and his kids (of course himself, he is ambitious and wants some kind of privilege no matter how small in 13) so he's in semi-in contact with the rebels and the Capitol themselves, exchanging goods with them and accepts refugees due to 13's little supplies and population. Then the pox outbreak happens and it was when his son, Orpheus Sage, almost died that he can no longer bear it and so he had 13 join the rebellion fully. After the war was won, he was elected as president of Panem (and all the things it entails) and moved his family to the Capitol.

I hope this sound coherent and not a bumbling mess

Aidoneus Thorne, president of district 13 A.K.A. Coriolanus I'm-only-nice-to-my-family-Snow.

#snowbaird #coriolanus snow #district 13 #do you see how I can't take 18 year olds seriously and I'm in my 20's I still don't have my shit together and this guy got a baby at 24 #lucy gray baird #Coryo does good things either for bad intentions or to make Lucy Gray happy #that's baby Calvy in his arms #Lucy Gray knows her man is ruthless #she loves him tho #his alias is an epithet of Hades #look up hades' epithets you'll now what I mean #I noticed that the names of people from district 2 are greco-roman too. #he is ruthless and ambitious man who loves his family and he will give them the world #if it means making it making it better for them he will but not without destroying a few people first #I'll do lucy gray next once I get the time #tbosas #district 13 au #Snowbaird au

[stairset]

I think the portrayal of Spider-Man 2099 in Across the Spider-Verse is in-character in that aside from like Shattered Dimensions he's always been portrayed as a bit of an asshole who slips into anti-hero territory at times and generally has a "needs of the many over the needs of the few" mindset and given his specific circumstances in the movie it's not unreasonable to think he could take the actions he does. However it does kinda suck that since like 99% of moviegoers had no idea who he was before the movie came out their first impression of him is when he's in an antagonistic role and people think "antagonist" and "villain" are synonyms so now I'm gonna have to listen to people who've never read a comic saying he's a villain or isn't a real Spider-Man for the rest of time or at least until he inevitably changes his mind in the third one.

#hell you don't even need to read a comic just look up a let's play of spider-man edge of time you'll get what i mean #but yeah i saw a post that was like #''the first movie had a joke about how spider-man doesn't wear a cape and miguel has a cape they did that to show he's not spider-man'' #as if he hasn't had that cape since his creation 30 fucking years ago #he's not even the only spider-man to have one. spider-man unlimited is also a thing that exists. #even the first movie had that call-back joke where they see the peter from miles's universe had a suit with a cape #these movies have a lot of little details with deeper meanings but the cape thing just isn't one of them sorry #but yeah. play edge of time or find it on youtube it's good. #shattered dimensions is also good but miguel's personality in that game is closer to peter's for some reason #so edge of time is better for getting a feel of what he's usually like #but yeah i do think spider-verse miguel was probably more straightforwardly heroic like other versions before the whole dead family thing #and i think he and the rest of the spider society are just genuinely misguided about how the whole canon event thing works #cause like george and gwen don't die in every universe peter doesn't get the symbiote in every universe #even uncle ben doesn't die in every universe #but miguel THINKS those things always happen. that's why he got the others to believe it cause he genuinely believes it himself #and i think they all take comfort in the idea that these bad things that happen to them happen for a reason #i know that's josh keaton's interpretation for why spectacular peter joined and i don't disagree with it #that's also why i disagree with people saying that miles is The Only True Spider-Man There just cause he was the first to outright reject it #look me in the fucking eye and tell me spectacular peter and insomniac peter don't understand what it means to be spider-man #or actually don't cause i'll bitch slap you into next week if you do #miguel o'hara #marvel #shut up tristan

[violinist-rachel]

Song: Not There Yet

Artist: Eric Hutchinson

_____

[Prev]

We finally made it to the end of 2023!

What a wild year, huh? I got to try so many new things this time around! This blog... a shift in living situation... a career change... and many others. It's honestly been really exciting!

And among them...

Well, it's not actually my first time trying, but it has been a LONG time since I've tried learning how to animate again, and while this gif isn't anything big and flashy, I'm hoping it'll be a start to learn it a little more :]

So stay warm out there and see you next year on the next update!

#dynart #rachel #castle of nations #disclaimer: this does NOT mean I'll be making full-blown animations for this blog #the most you'll ever see from me are small looping gifs like this one #the comics already take a lot to make and I'm not hoping to run this blog for the next 10 years lmao #but that aside #I'm a little sad about how this gif came out #it has the idea down but it's not exactly how I envisioned it in my head :( #I think if i had more time to work on it #I wouldve been able to get closer #but alas u_u #thanks for reading!

[uncanny-tranny]

It's actually kind of heartbreaking how many people feel their life has ended right after high school or college, and honestly, the heavy romanticization of that period of time is so overwhelmingly predominant that it can be hard to avoid. It's insidious to constantly be told that ages 10-24 are the only worthwhile parts of life, that everything after is essentially meaningless and dull.

It's hard not to look around you and think that your life still is open and full of potential when you're told over and over again that the rose-tinted childhood is the last time you were alive. It's hard to realize that your life isn't over when you walk off the stage of your graduation.

We must realize that we will always be full of potentials. Your life won't be over until you take your final breath, and then? That's simply another chapter in your story, one of many. Let yourself realize that you're alive in the here and now. There will be good and bad, but never a complete loss of potential or hope.

#positivity #it's just... weird when you see somebody your age who says how over their life feels you know? #and i feel for them. i feel their pain and the emptiness of not knowing what's next or what you should do #and that's sometimes the scary part of life. but your story isn't over yet #one day it will be. one day you'll put the pen down and dry the ink on the yellowed pages and close your book of life. but that's not today #you are allowed to be an aimless spirit. you are allowed to breathe in without the crushing weight of productivity #the idea that your only potential happens when you're too young to realize it is wrong #your potential has nothing to do with feeling your youth and how little you know #it is hard to really internalize this and remind yourself to make space for hope and positivity... #...and you might not be ready to internalize this. that's okay. i'll wait with you (in a strictly spiritual sense) #we can wait together and not think about any of it. just to rest and collect our minds and feel the world hold its breath with us #all this to say that your life isn't over yet. you don't have to beat yourself up over not having lived at fucking 18 #allow yourself the compassion to realize that you needed time to grow and mature and explore the world in your own way

[coquelicoq]

do you ever see a bumper sticker and just think about the sequence of events that had to happen in order for you to have that encounter? someone had to have the idea "hey, this would make a good bumper sticker," someone had to hear the idea and think, "hey, i'd like to sell that bumper sticker," and someone had to see the bumper sticker and think, "hey, i'd like to put this on my car." they could all be the same person (someone designed and produced the bumper sticker for their own use), but i like to imagine that each bumper sticker i see represents at least three different parties who thought yeah there's definitely a market and audience for this bumper sticker.

anyway the other day i saw a bumper sticker that said

I'M NOT GAY BUT $20 IS $20

#'yeah i'll reblog that' but it's 'yeah i'll affix that to my car so that everyone who drives behind me will see it for the rest of time' #big commitment. and you went with 'i'm not gay but $20 is $20'. okay! #my posts #i went back the next day to take a picture but i've never seen that car ever again #you'll just have to take my word for it

[matchalovertrait]

The entree round begins! Who will cook the best dish? Who will cook the better soup? Find out... not in the next segment.

Previous / Next (Transcript under the cut)

(1.) [Mia] Somebody here did not fully follow the rules of Diced Junior.

(2.) [Carlo] And that would still be Lewis! A producer pointed out to us that Lewis here did not use the vegetables that were in the flatbread. We didn't even notice since the flatbread was so burnt.

(3.) [Lewis] Oh, I was supposed to use EVERYTHING from each basket ingredient? Anyway, thank you for the opportunity, judges.

(4.) [Mia] Thank you, Lewis. Please audition for Diced once you're older. We'd love to see you compete again.

(5.) [Lewis] Well, I already came to terms with being eliminated before they announced it. Maybe I will try Diced someday.

(6.) [Dulce] Bye, Lewis!!

[Alex] You did good, man.

[Rubiya] We'll miss you.

[Lewis] Bye, everyone. Good luck.

(7.) N/A

(8.) N/A

(9.) [Andrea] Chefs, please report back to your stations. Your baskets for the entree round have been placed.

(10.) [Dulce] Wow, they move fast here.

(11.) [Andrea] Inside your baskets, you'll find jicama, hatch green chiles...

(12.) [Andrea] ...goat chops, and chana masala.

(13.) [Rubiya] I'm pleasantly surprised with these ingredients! They won't be hard to combine. However, the real challenge here will be the time limit while using these complex items.

(14.) [Dulce] Yes! My mom is Mexican, so I am very familiar with jicama and chiles. Also, my mom's friend taught me how to cook some Indian dishes, so I know how to work with masalas. I haven't cooked goat yet, but I should be able to figure it out.

(15.) [Alex] I'm happy with the ingredients, just a lil worried about the chiles. Good thing I've cooked goat lotsa times by now.

(16.) [Andrea] Chefs, the 30-minute timer starts now!

(17.) [Rubiya] I'm making chana masala goat tacos with a green chile salsa and jicama dip.

(18.) [Rubiya] Tacos aren't necessarily easy to make, but with my thirty-minute time limit and these beautiful ingredients, this is the way to go! I'll incorporate the ingredients well. If only I could make the tortillas from scratch, but it is what it is.

(19.) [Dulce] I'm making a tomato soup with goat, jicama, chana masala, and hatch green chiles. I'll add sweet potatoes, onion, kidney beans, and green bell peppers.

(20.) [Dulce] There's a lot of things to dice and chop while also making sure the goat and sweet potatoes are thoroughly cooked, but I want to push myself. Also, the judges seemed to really like how I play with many different ingredients, so I want to do that again.

(21.) [Alex] I'm making an egusi soup with cubed goat meat, hatch green chiles, spiralized jicama, and chana masala. My other ingredients are tomatoes, onions, and spinach.

(22.) [Alex] Well, there aren't any egusi seeds here, so I have to use pumpkin seeds instead. I'll keep the name though, it sounds fancier that way.

(23.) N/A

(24.) [Andrea] Judges, any thoughts and opinions so far?

(25.) [Sofia] We love how confident these young contestants are.

[Mia] However, we also noticed how Alex and Dulce are both making soups. Unfortunately, that will make our judging harsher because we are going to have to compare the two.

(26.) [Carlo] Tsk, tsk. They should have thought more outside the box. Also, Dulce really has to watch the time. Andrea, please check on the contestants.

[Andrea] Will do, Carlo!

#alegria legacy #tjolc gen 1 #tjolc #matchalovertrait #dulce alegria #lewis mack #rubiya jabal #alex marino #andrea mixon #mia d'angelo ramirez #sofia bjergsen #carlo mancini #sims 4 #ts4 #sims 4 legacy #sorry guys for this weird reversal plot twist lol #also hello somewhat consistent/decent lighting 😍😍 i've been waiting for you this entire episode #those tacos sound so good btw omg (disclaimer: i didn't think of those ingredients myself. but i did come up with the dishes) #also the judges are gonna taste all the dishes in one post (it won't drag on like last time) but that won't be until after the next post #next post might be of some interest tho 👀 idk you'll see

[haarlen]

💡🎈

this was so much fun to do, surprisingly!

here are the stills and meanings! because obviously I wasn't gonna add things that didn't make any sense!

the plants' meanings were a bit tricky, but those were the ones every website I visited had in common

also a Sunny close-up

#december 2023 #art #digital artist #digital art #gaming #omori #omori fanart #omori sunny #sunny omori #I drafted this a long time a go #this is actually the very last art piece I did with this art style #so the next stuff you'll see from me will be different

[hopeinthebox]

tagged by the gorgeous and fabulous @cordiallyfuturedwight and @aprylynn for february's roundup:

tagging the usual music favs: @jiminsproof @thvinyl @jimin-gaon @visionsofgideontheninth @spicyclematis @kimchokejin @jihopesjoint @monismochi plus @kimtaegis for the amy macdonald of it all 💜 and also you, dear reader. MWAH

#heads up! here comes the director's commentary: #16 Carriages - now listen. i love texas hold 'em as much as the next daddy lessons supremacist #but holy shit. it doesn't hold so much as a candle to this track. #just unbelievably stunning. i'm begging you to give it another chance if you skipped over it the first time #Don't Forget Me - me and kayla and apryl all having ms rogers in this month's list... i think we might be better than everyone else actuall #End Of Beginning - good GOD we couldn't gatekeep djo any longer but it's worth it if only for all the bear tiktok edits. #and thus i have fallen for this track all over again. yes CHEF #Showtime - now if you've known me long enough you'll know i'm an absolute sucker for british indie rock bands #especially if their frontman looks like they might not make it through another winter #so you can imagine catfish has had an inexplicable hold on me. anyway their comeback single is actually pretty good #This Is The Life - fantastic tune. 2007 if you can believe it? #what a time to be alive and at the school disco and you're singing the songs and thinking this is the life and so on and so forth #Loving You Will Be The Death Of Me - tom odell can do no wrong in my eyes (ears?) anyway. lovely lovely new album #Never Need Me - been loving rachel for a while now and this single is brilliant. highly recommended. #plus the video features florence pugh and if that doesn't sweeten the deal then christ i don't know what will #Baby Now That I've Found You - i didn't even realise this was a cover of the foundations until hearing it again recently #because alison krauss just has an incredible way of making them her own and thus it's been on repeat. #Deeper Well - okay so now i'm seeing the country thread through this month's picks. #this is another lovely new one. hearing it on the radio and the fact that they have to censor “i used to wake and bake” is hilarious to me #shoutout kayla again because great minds.. #Stay For Something - CMAT is phenomenal and if you haven't listened to her yet i can't recommend her entire discography enough. #she had her arsecrack out at the brits last night and well. i would die for her #(speaking of the brits. raye... i literally cried for her. go find the recording of her live at the royal albert hall. #-watch it twice and then come back and thank me) #artists-wise - most of these guys are consistently up there. #katie melua is a new feature this time because all my amy macdonald-ing put me back onto nine million bicycles. #used to get that one mixed up with 99 luftballoons but they're really very different. i'm a fool #so tl;dr: fantastic tunes. do listen #tag #receiptify

[iobartach]

Inbox call

I'm gonna be busy trying to get things done for work over the next few days 💀 so like / reblog this if you'd like some memes and ic things in your ask box?

#ooc #you'll likely see me reblog this a few times 😅 #got told I've two weeks to finish a piece of work #with a meeting set for next monday to see what's left #when i had asked for three weeks #so that's... 🥴 fun! #still got miggy on my mind like always though 😌