#I have like 20 other sketches I meant to color but then I got way too tired
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Eggtober 12
Avocado Toast (Featuring Tomato and, of course, Fried Egg.)
Clip Studio Paint, Gouache Brush, Dry Gouache Brush, Airbrush (for the barely visible bread texture) and Freckle Pen (for the pepper.) 20 colors, 1 hour 30 minutes.
Took a little longer on this one because I spent an inordinate amount of time lovingly rendering the tomato that I knew no one was going to get to see in the final product. (Don’t worry, I saved it to another layer since @quezify said last time that he appreciated the peek behind the curtain.)
This was another request by a friend. I must say, I wake up every day excited to choose an egg from the many options I have available and just... have fun putting it down on (digital) paper. I’ve got some yammering about that, but since I’m already going to post a “behind the scenes” under the cut, I’ll shove the musings down there too.
As always, big thanks to the Egg Master Supreme, @quezify for organizing this. It’s wonderful to see so many people getting into art again or branching out and drawing eggs for the first time, all because one zany dude said to Tumblr “You know what? Let’s paint eggs for a month.” And enough of us said “Hell yeah” that I get to see so many different styles and mediums. Loving every moment of it!
(Art first, because LOOK AT THOSE TOMATOES! I love how they came out, I want to shove them in my mouth! AAAH!)
Now for the rambling musings.
I’m starting to get really comfortable with the gouache brush, a tool which I previously never used, and I’m also getting more comfortable with art in general. My usual process from childhood, when I did much more art, was to slap down pencil work on real life sheets of paper, line it in pen or photograph/scan it and upload it to my computer to line with the pen tool, and then just do everything with pen for bright, solid colors. Most of my other techniques were one off flukes, like the fire I did in my icon’s background.
And my newer process, as an adult who just started learning Clip Studio Paint, was fairly similar. (I just started with CSP recently because it came free with my newest tablet and my old standard, Photoshop Elements [I dunno the version, 7 maybe?], was too old and would resize on my new rig so all the buttons were SO GODDAMN SMALL it was a pain to use.) The only difference is that, as an adult who’s home more often than not, I skipped the paper. Sketch, linework with the pen tool, then color under the line art with pen. Or, for a certain other project, I color under the line art with the watercolor brush.
I’ve always wanted to try gouache because I’ve seen it worked with IRL and it’s got such pretty results! Opaque like acrylics and oils but flows like watercolor. I suppose it never occurred to me to look for it in the toolset. The last time I even used brushes meant to represent real media before CSP was when Corel Painter was a thing and I had it with my very first drawing tablet. And even then I didn’t use it often. I mostly used the watercolors because that was my favored medium IRL. But I quickly started to prefer Photoshop Elements which also came with my first tablet. And slowly I stopped using anything resembling traditional mediums. But I figured, hey, Eggtober is already a time for me to learn some new tricks and get some practice in, watercolor will look too translucent and it has a paper texture to it that I’m not sure I want. Let’s see if this thing has Gouache. And it did. And now it’s my favorite brush. The way it blends naturally, the ease of pressure controls so the opacity is easy to alter stroke by stroke. It feels like laying down real paints. Once I got used to how it behaved it just... clicked.
So yeah, now that I know how to work with it and now that I had the brain explosion necessary to figure out my new process of laying down the darkest colors first and working my way up, it was all too easy to go “Oh. I like laying down these colors. And instead of trying to predict where I’m going to put the avocado, I’m just going to draw the full tomatoes for fun and practice and then figure out the avocado slice placement.” And then I spent roughly 45 minutes just... adding detail to tomatoes. Because it was a genuine joy and I was smiling the whole time and I could just look at those juicy tomatoes forever.
So yeah, I know I say it every time, but I for real owe quezify everything for giving me a reason to pick up a new tool and learn and just have fun with it. Kicking my depression’s ass, my ADHD’s ass, my artblock’s ass, and my (lack of) motivation’s ass, all with the power of “Egg fun, draw egg.”
#Eggtober 2022#Eggtober 12#Fried Egg#Avocado Toast#Tomatoes#my art#I'm just having so much fun with art#For these last 12 days I've fallen into a world where depression doesn't exist and COVID isn't floating around outside#For the last 12 days I've lived in a magical world that's just egg#no bad things#no sadness#just egg#I love Eggtober
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NaNoWriMo 2023: Day 20
11/20/2023 Word Count: 1,748
Total 2023: 35,577
Sunny cleared his throat, and knocked on the wall next to him, his signal to Lucien to pay attention, that words were incoming. Lucien cupped his hands over his ears, but Frames’s voice was too loud to be contained.
“You got that twerp with you?” he sneered at Sunny. Lucien saw Sunny nod his head in return. Lucien wanted to smile - his silence was a defiance towards Frames, the kind of defiance most of the other Scientists seemed too scared to express. “Well, what are you doing with him?” Instead of opening his mouth, Sunny pointed just past Frames, where the playroom was located merely two doors down. “Kid doesn’t need more playtime today, he’ll get it after his computer testing. Besides, they’re scrapping the library right now.”
Apparently, this was something Sunny couldn’t respond to silently. “Scrapping the library? What for?” This time, it was Frames who responded without speaking, who raised an eyebrow at Sunny’s questions. “Well, sure, he can’t read but… well, what am I supposed to do with him? It’s been like this for years. I take care of Lucien past breakfast and drop him off in there to play. Where else is he supposed to go?”
“He has a bedroom, doesn’t he?” Frames sneered. His angry eyes darted down to see Lucien’s reaction, before he continued speaking, louder. “In fact, I think I’ll bring him there right now!”
Frames pushed past Sunny aggressively, shoving the man out of his way with his bony shoulder. Then, he clamped one of his cold hands over Lucien’s shoulder, and thrusted the child forward in front of him. Lucien was forced to walk quickly, and with no sense of direction, save for Frames jerking his body harshly around corners and through doorways. Then, Frames rammed Lucien into his bedroom, and locked the door behind him.
Lucien waited a few minutes, sitting quietly and without fidgeting, waiting to hear if Frames was planning on coming back. There were two options, generally, when Lucien was confined to his room like this: either Frames would disappear and Lucien would be unattended for at least an hour; or, Frames would send one of his assistants, either Small or Tall, to sit in the room and watch him, within minutes of Lucien’s confinement.
After waiting patiently and watching the door, Lucien let his “good boy” posture and attitude slip away. If he was in his room now, that meant that he wouldn’t be seeing Robin today. She had been coming in for morning appointments for years, now. He hopped off his bed, and shoved his arm underneath his mattress, feeling for the sketchbook he and Robin shared. It was small, no more than six inches in length, but the small size didn’t bother Lucien at all. Robin had seemed disappointed when Guardian had snuck it in for them, wishing that it could be bigger so that they could draw in it together. Lucien was just glad to have something to remind him of Robin in between their visits.
He flipped through the first few pages slowly, thoughtfully, trying to recall what each drawing or symbol had meant. Of course, on the first page, at the very top, was a very crude dolphin. Lucien may have been seven by the time he had received this gift, but he was nowhere near as skilled as Robin when it came to sketching anything but star charts. Underneath the dolphin were two birds, one drawn by each of them. Dolphin and Robin - this sketchbook belongs to us, it meant. Lucien smiled as he remembered it; this was the first time he could remember someone else giving him a name. And it had come from Robin - who pointed excitedly at the page, telling him to draw it there.
When at last Lucien came to a blank page, he stared at it for a few minutes, graphite pencil in hand, trying to think of what to draw. If Robin were here, he’d draw a wrapped gift box, like he’d seen people hand to each other when the Hospital was decorated with colorful flashing lights and pine trees. He’d ask her if she’d brought a gift today - that is, assuming that she didn’t start the day by passing him something beneath the table. And, if she already had, he would have passed the book to her, for her to tell him what it was she wanted to do together that day. Without Robin here - what was there for him to draw? He sighed, and put his pencil to the paper absently, letting scribbles flow. Scribbles like the overlapping thoughts in his brain, like the pain and dizziness of hearing a famous speech from Mr. Frames.
The pencil tip broke, and with it, Lucien’s spirit. He tossed the writing utensil across the room, roughly crammed the sketchbook back underneath the mattress, wrapped his arms around his legs, pulling them to his chest. He slowly began to cry, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. Where was everybody going? Why were they all going away again? And, more than any other question: Why am I still here?
#creative writing#writing#nanowrimo#national novel writing month#the lucien project#science fiction#excerpt#novel excerpt#original writing#nanowrimo 2023
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*cracks knuckles* Challenge accepted @bloodied-dagger :)
Have fun y'all :D
1: When you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk?
More cereal cuz crunchy
2: Do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day?
Depends on if it's dry air or not, if it's dry, NOPE
3: What random objects do you use to bookmark your books?
Unlike a certain someone I actually use bookmarks! There were these bookmarks you can make so you just put em on the corner of the page that you're reading and it's really cute :D really easy to make
4: How do you take your coffee/tea?
I don't drink tea, but I drink the fluffy coffee that my mom makes
5: Are you self-conscious of your smile?
Sometimes when my picture is being taken, other times it's "Eh fuck it, we ball."
6: Do you keep plants?
Does the bouquet that my sister bought for me from HEB on b-day count?? (They were white daisies that were dyed a light blue)
7: Do you name your plants?
No
8: What artistic medium do you use to express your feelings?
I normally just sketch it out whenever I feel like it
9: Do you like singing/humming to yourself?
In my head, but whenever no ones around it kinda spills out quietly (My singing voice is not great)
10: Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?
Side and back
11: What’s an inner joke you have with your friends?
Lol you guys hang out with your irl friends?
12: What’s your favorite planet?
I have a soft spot for Mars cuz it's what got me curious about space in the first place!
13: What’s something that made you smile today?
My mutuals hanging out with fun tags to read and Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters
14: If you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like?
We have our own rooms, with sunny windows and a balcony, maybe a cat, and it feels homey
15: Go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is!
Ain't googling nothing cuz!!! Did you know that if you fell into a black hole, you would see time speed up so fast that you could potentially see everything that happens for the rest of time? And on the other side, from the other persons perspective, you slow down so much that at some point you'd stop, and then disappear? This is because the black hole's point of singularity is so dense that it warps space-time really hard, it becomes an inverted pinpoint on the plane of reality :D
16: What’s your favorite pasta dish?
Normally my family just boil up some pasta and throw in veggies, meant, ketchup and soy sauce.
17: What color do you really want to dye your hair?
I think it's be cool if I had a dark blue fade in, cuz my hair is already really dark brown
18: Tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up.
Really old, from 7th grade lunch break, someone from the table asked "Hey, anyone know what the Spanish word for dog is?" and I confidentially go "Puta :D"
Which apparently means bitch :D so I guess I was half right?
19: Do you keep a journal? What do you write/draw/ in it?
No
20: What’s your favorite eye color?
OH it has to be amber or some form of heterochromia, sectoral or total to be exact, it's so pretty!
21: Talk about your favorite bag, the one that’s been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces.
Applies to my school bag from middle school (which I don't have anymore). Thing was with me through thick and thin.
22: Are you a morning person?
*glances at the clock* *1:35 am* No
23: What’s your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations?
Tumblr, Reddit, read, and if I feel like it, draw
24: Is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets?
Doubt it
25: What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever broken into?
Excuse me?! Yeah no never broken into a place before sorry
Oooh, a quarter of the way! Starting to regret opening the read more?
26: What are the shoes you’ve had for forever and wear with every single outfit?
Sandals lol
27: What’s your favorite bubblegum flavor?
Like Dagger said on his thing, bubblegum is a flavor. And like Dagger said, watermelon. You can't ever go wrong with watermelon gum :)
28: Sunrise or sunset?
Sunrises are pretty to look at I will say
29: What’s something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing?
When they ramble about something they're into and are very enthusiastic about it, very adorable.
30: Think of it: have you ever been truly scared?
Yes
31: What is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks.
Socks are great, I don't wear em to bed tho. I have this pair of socks that have a base grey color with the border being blue and it has colorful stars on it
32: Tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends.
Lol I've never hung out with friends on occasion, and definitely not till 3 am
33: What’s your fave pastry?
Cupcakes ig (but not too much frosting!), and sugar cookies
34: Tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. What is it called? What does it look like? Do you still keep it?
I have this stuffed doll I got from my grandmother for my first birthday (or so I'm told) and it's blond with and orange hat, dress, and shoes. I still have it, it's in my closet.
35: Do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often?
They look cool but I've only ever had the multicolor pen
36: Which band’s sound would fit your mood right now?
^ Has never listened to a band ever
37: Do you like keeping your room messy or clean?
I like it clean (rn my cousin is in my room with my sister so that one is REALLY messy, meanwhile the guest room I'm staying is really clean and I like it a lot :D)
38: Tell us about your pet peeves!
Muttering under your breath. Annoys the heck out of me
39: What color do you wear the most?
Blue cuz blue jeans lol
40: Think of a piece of jewelry you own: what’s it’s story? does it have any meaning to you?
This pastel earring set shaped like flowers/hearts/butterflies that I have, very cute (don't wear it all that much but I like it)
41: What’s the last book you remember really, really loving?
The PJO set I have right next to me rn, Salt to the Sea, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Rise of Kyoshi, Wings of Fire: Darkstalker
42: Do you have a favorite coffee shop? Describe it!
Don't have one
43: Who was the last person you gazed at the stars with?
MAN I WISH
44: When was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything?
Rn ig, it's really chill
45: Do you trust your instincts a lot?
I use them to gauge how to respond to people sometimes
46: Tell us the worst pun you can think of.
What do you call a lamp training for a sporting contest? An O-LAMP-ic athlete :D
47: What food do you think should be banned from the universe?
Would have said tomatoes, but they actually have a use (ketchup, tomato sauce on pizza etc), so pickles it is
48: What was your biggest fear as a kid? Is it the same today?
Snakes and YES STILL SCARED OF EM
49: Do you like buying CDs and records? What was the last one you bought?
Never bought one
50: What’s an odd thing you collect?
I don't collect
Halfway there Dagger and Enb :)
51: Think of a person. What song do you associate with them?
Does a fictional person count? Actually fuck it, Nimona as "All is Soft Inside" by Aroura
52: What are your favorite memes of the year so far?
The Barbie and Ken mugshots are funny
53: Have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? Heathers? Beetlejuice? Pulp fiction? What do you think of them?
Nope, never seen a horror picture show
54: Who’s the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face?
Can't recall
55: What’s the most dramatic thing you’ve ever done to prove a point?
Y'all remember that one time Dagger was making a joke about us Live Slug Reaction-ing Sofi and Human and used Esme as an example, and we all said "NAH they do the same thing", and I screenshotted a bunch of their posts of them being lovey dovey? Twas a fun day.
56: What are some things you find endearing in people?
When they are passionate about something and ramble about it
57: Go listen to bohemian rhapsody. How did it make you feel? Did you dramatically reenact the lyrics?
I can't listen to it rn cuz it's late any my headphones are far away
58: Who’s the wine mom and who’s the vodka aunt in your group of friends? Why?
No one really
59: What’s your favorite myth?
There's a lot to pick from here....
60: Do you like poetry? What are some of your faves?
Not really a poetry enthuisast
61: What’s the stupidest gift you’ve ever given? The stupidest one you’ve ever received?
My mom is like "Oh, your friend (who I haven't talked to in a long time) it grown up, lets get a gift card for her!"
And then there was that one time I got perfume. Not a person who wears perfume regularly mind you.
62: Do you drink juice in the morning? Which kind?
Does water count?
63: Are you fussy about your books and music? Do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be?
For my books? ABSOULUTLY!! Keep em safe so I can read em
64: What color is the sky where you are right now?
Black
65: Is there anyone you haven’t seen in a long time who you’d love to hang out with?
My friends Alex, Carolyn, and Nicole
66: What would your ideal flower crown look like?
As long as it's pretty I'm okay with one :)
67: How do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel?
They feel cozy
68: What’s winter like where you live?
Cold wind but no snow
69: What are your favorite board games?
Scrabble and Ludo ig?? I like Uno better
70: Have you ever used a ouija board?
I would prefer not to mess with te spirits of those who must pass on
71: What’s your favorite kind of tea?
I don't drink tea
72: Are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you’ll forget it?
Nah not really.
73: What are some of your worst habits?
Chewing my nails and inside of my mouth
74: Describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns.
Artsy, talented, definitely got a hang on life
75: Tell us about your pets!
I don't have any
Almost there! 25 questions left :D
76: Is there anything you should be doing right now but aren’t?
Sleeping :)
77: Pink or yellow lemonade?
Yellow
78: Are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub?
I wanna drop kick em
79: What’s one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you?
My sister making Pokémon drawings for me on my birthday
80: what color are your bedroom walls? Did you choose that color? If so, why?
They are the classic whitish color, was there when we got the house
81: Describe one of your friend’s eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of.
Autumn but there's still green on some trees
82: Are/were you good in school?
I could do better honestly.
83: What’s some of your favorite album art?
Uhh I dunno any albums
84: Are you planning on getting tattoos? Which ones?
Never really been into tatoos
85: Do you read comics? What are your faves?
I have a Webtoons account, I love Hand Jumper, Purple Hyacinth, Castle Swimmer, Beetle Hands, Saphie the One Eyed Cat, Rooftops and Roommates, Lumine, Little Matcha Girl, Acception and there's more I'm blanking on
86: Do you like concept albums? Which ones?
Idk what those are sorry
87: What are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives?
Nimona (sorry for the small spoilers Dagger!!), Spiderman ISV/ASV
88: Are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy?
Eh not really
89: Are you close to your parents?
Kinda
90: Talk about your one of you favorite cities.
Houston is okay??? If you ignore a lot of stuff
91: Where do you plan on traveling this year?
Eh, not really traveling anywhere
92: Are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch?
Honestly don't know, the soy sauce/meat/veggies do it for me
93: What’s the hairstyle you wear the most?
Was a ponytail until I got this haircut that's a little too short, so it's open until I'm able to tie it up again into a tiny ponytail
94: Who was the last person you know to have a birthday?
Charolette aka @angelcloves
95: What are your plans for this weekend?
Spend time with my cousin, maybe work on this draft of LDRAU
96: Do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot?
Procrastinate, but not a lot
97: Myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house?
No fucking clue, Cancer, never looked it up and never gonna
98: When’s the last time you went hiking? Did you enjoy it?
No clue man
99: List some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them.
"Pokémon Legends Arcus: Giratina"
Runaway by Aurora (I think it's neat)
"Help! Oh Well" by Something Else YT (Again, it's cool)
100: If you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? Why?
On one hand, I can go back in time and help younger me know that the bullies are gonna be gone soon, and that we'll be fine (and maybe deck said bullies while I'm at it), but on the other hand I'm uncertain about the future and myself. Can I take both? I want both please
AND THAT'S THE END FOLKS :D .... Hello?? Anypony still here???
Oh. Well, I'll leave this here if anyone wants to answer all of the question or reblog it :)
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some sketches of some old characters i'd always planned on doing something with but never got around to.
lucy's colors aren't 100% because i can't actually remember them. i just know her hair was some shade of red.
anyway brief character blurbs beneath the cut
lucy's like... an amnesiac? i guess? basically the story they're a part of have her being discovered by liam, celine, and one other and she's kind of the "mystery character." she helps out but she's keeps a distance. also the shadow isn't because i didn't feel like drawing her other eye, that's an actual part of her design. i can't remember why that is but it's on her turnaround so it was definitely intentional. her hair is meant to be reminiscent of a rosebush which is why it has angled curls and "thorns."
liam is a 14 year old edgelord. also he's the one i drew the most out of these three. he has a rapier and lived with a restaurant owner for about three years before meeting up with the others. his parents aren't dead or anything he just got separated from them. he's also trans. and i think he's neat. his design just kinda happened iirc, but the puffy jacket is a gender-affirming thing that he never takes off.
celine is either a high schooler or a college student i can't remember if i decided on that. but basically she's like 17-20 somewhere in that range. she's booksmart and owns band tees. it took a long time to finalize her design but i'm happy with it here. she's queer but idk in what way. maybe bi. idk. she just has a bunch of piercings and dyed hair.
and there was a fourth member of their group but i didn't draw them because i have like one drawing of them that i consider even close to how i want them. and i didn't feel like doing any more character design than necessary today.
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Commissions are open! 0/10 slots filled!
Hi y'all!
I have a little less than a year about 3 months!! before I'm moving to start a new job, hoping to save up a bit in preparation. If you'd like to help out (of just think my art is nice) consider sending me a commission! (I also reduced my prices a bit!)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
Terms of Service <- can be intimidating if you're unfamiliar, but this is here for accountability because...well, I am asking for your money, and you're asking for my time, so please make sure to look it over!
P.S. I know I got this template from someone else but I cannot for the life of me remember where. If you know please tell me so I can link them!
Slots:
10: total (0 filled)
4: PFP (0 filled)
3: Sketch (B&W) (0 filled)
2: Sketch (color) (0 filled)
1: Digital painting (0 filled)
If filled you can ask to be wait-listed, first-come-first serve
The visual pitch:
The details in text format:
Option 1: Profile Picture
Flat colors only
1 subject only (no multiple characters in one icon please, it is simply too small)
$15 for one, $25 for two
1-2 day turnaround after I begin the commission
You can request no signature on the piece itself for no extra charge, but please credit me where you use it!
P.S. I can also do banners! If you're okay with the same flat colors and shading, the pricing is the same, otherwise, it needs to be negotiated. Depending on what you want, it may fit one of the other categories better.
You will be expected to pay the full amount upfront
Option 2: Black and white sketch
Portrait/bust is $10, full-body is $20, with +$5 per extra character on both
Chibi is $5
Backgrounds are available, but will cost extra. The exact figure depending on complexity, research required, etc., but will be fixed before you're expected to pay
You will be expected to pay the full amount upfront
Option 3: Colored sketch
Flat colors with flat aka cel-shading
Half-body is $30, and full-body is $45, add $8 per extra character
Again, backgrounds are available. A simple background of some nice colors in nice shapes won't cost any extra. A detailed background depicting some kind of room or other "3D" environment will. Again, the exact figure would be up to the scale and complexity.
I will update the examples here at some point, since these are unshaded (and you can request that!). I know I can do this sort of shading well, but I just can't seem to find a recent example, and the examples I try and create specifically for these sorts of things always seem to come out missing something :/
You will be expected to pay at least half upfront
Option 4: Digital painting
The big boys! I know it's a big price jump, but these fellas generally take in the ballpark of 20+ hours over several weeks. The others can usually be done within 1–8 hours over at most few days.
Starting at $200 for one character against a simple background
"Simple background" can range from a single solid color to some fun overlapping colored shapes. A messy scenery is a bit of a grey zone.
A "complex background" is generally a full environment and/or detailed extra objects meant to fill negative space and add to the meaning of the piece. Lighting can also contribute to complexity.
I will keep in touch about progress on the piece, you can also ask to see a WiP anytime
We will talk through the details and agree on a price based on estimated time to completion, research required, and technical difficulty. You will be expected to pay 50% of that price upfront, and the rest on delivery.
Option 5: Design commission
If the character you want has no previous art or other image I can reference, that's a design commission!
I love design comms, they are so much fun! Just be aware that the process can take a while, with several back-and-forths and revisions along the way
Design commissions can overlap with the other categories as well. You may request a new design to use used in a pfp, a sketch, or a painting. Just be aware that the design process will add to the price!
I can also do your basic reference sheet. These are highly malleable, and you can request as many elements as you want.
The most basic comes with:
-> Colored sketch of the subject (front and back)
-> The color palette, either within the piece or as a separate file
-> Closeups of 1–3 details
-> The rights to the design
Optional elements include, but aren't limited to: extra closeups on details/items/tattoos/scars/etc.; side and 3/4s views; expression sketches; dynamic sketches; size reference; etc.
As far as pricing goes, if you're requesting a reference sheet, we will discuss what elements you want and the relative difficulty of the design. We will agree on an initial estimate, of which you will be expected to pay 50% upfront. After completion, we will tally time worked, and discuss elements added or subtracted from the original order, and agree on a final payment.
If you're requesting a design to be rendered in one of the other options I have, the price of the design and the price of the finished piece will be considered separately.
-> I will not hold you to working with me to create a full reference sheet, but for any design commission, I will require feedback on the design before I begin sketching on the actual piece.
-> We'll agree on a price for the design, and it will be added to the price at the end. It won't be considered in the 50% you would be required to pay upfront (unless requested).
-> We'll work together to make sure the design is reasonably priced. The reason I ask for anything extra at all is because design work involves additional research and planning.
General points:
My style can be very malleable! It doesn't have to be strictly painterly. If you want something in a style from my other works, feel free to ask! (And I'll be sure to update more on here so you can actually see what I've done!) Basically...Don't want to order off the menu? Don't worry, just talk to the chef and we can find you something you'll like!
I specialize in humanoid characters, but I can do animals and hybrids/furries as well, just be aware that rendering fur or scales in the painterly style will count as "asking for a lot of detail."
I struggle with complex machinery—my strengths are in the organic world.
On that note, mechs are inherently high-detail, and I may not be the best person for the job. I'd be more than willing to take a look at a design to see if it's within my abilities, just know that there's a bit of a skill gap between Baymax and Gundam. I'm willing to challenge myself, though!
Lastly, please no NSFW, much like with mechs, that's simply not my area of expertise, but unlike with mechs, I have even less experience! I would need some practice before I wanted to accept.
#artists on tumblr#art of fict#my art#digital art#commission post#commissions open#open commissions#looking for commissions#commission me#commission sheet#small#small artist#digital artist
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Aforementioned long ask post please excuse me while i try to figure out tumblr's new text editor. I’ll get into the art meme questions first and then the rest at the end.
Ok first of all thank you all for sending in questions! Giving me an excuse to talk hehe. I’ll address these in number order. Here’s a link to the ask meme for reference but also I’ll restate the question for ease of reading.
1. When did you get into art?
Super cliche answer but I don’t remember a time where I WASN’T the weird art kid! I started keeping a dedicated sketchbook when I was about 12? But here’s a page from my kindergarten journal about what I want to be when I grow up.
2. What art-related sites have you ever signed up for?
LOL this is a weird question. Not sure why so many people want to know. Anyways I definitely had a dA. more than one dA account. I used to browse oekakis when I was a kid but I think I was only signed up to some small ones that internet friends owned. What else...? Mangabullet,Tegakie, Paintberri, iscribble back when that was a thing, instagram if that COUNTs, I used to post art on livejournal and dreamwidth too. Patreon, I guess. Gumroad, inprnt, bigcartel, storenvy all for selling stuff.
In terms of resources.. I have a schoolism account that I’m sharing with friends. Used to take classes on coursera for free. I signed up to textures.com for work recently haha. I can’t remember if I ever had an account on posemaniacs. Did they have accounts...? I definitely used to visit all the time.
3. Show us your oldest piece of art you have on hand.
Alright here’s me actually logging into my old deviantart account. These are from September 2008 So I was 13 years old. I don’t have a deviantart account from before then because 13 was the required age for having an account and I didn’t want to lie about my age because I wanted people to be impressed by how young yet clearly incredible at art I was LOL.
4. What defines your artistic style?
You guys are probably more equipped to answer this than me but uh... I wanna say... Focus on colors. And... a slightly heavy hand? Like confident... not always well-considered mark making HAH...
Also I think I have a pretty healthy mix of american comics/manga influences. I feel like people who are into american comics always think my art is too manga and people who are into anime/manga always think my art is too american. And I’m taking that as a good sign.
5. Do you practice other styles/have you tried other styles in the past?
I like to think I switch it up a bunch! I mean, these are pretty different, right?
I think I’ve mentioned this before but one thing I really took away from art school is that, for an illustrator at least, art style shouldn’t be consistent. Your greatest weapon is changing the aspects of your style based on the task, the emotions and message you want to illustrate etc. So depending on the project I’m working on, the fandom I’m drawing for, whether I want something to be funny or serious or dramatic, I’ll change things about my style all the time.
One thing I don’t rly post on here is really tight polished work and that’s because I do that for my day job haha. If you’re not paying me... I’m probably not gonna color in the lines.
6. What levels of artistic education have you had?
I have a whole ass diploma LOL. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. from the Rhode Island School of Design. And I had a great college experience tbh. Besides the student loans. If any of you guys are thinking about art school feel free to e-mail or message me questions or concerns, I’ll be happy to help. Be as honest as I can be.
7. Show us at least one picture you drew or sketched recently that you did not put on a public site.
heres the wandavision kids. Uhh what else do I have...I feel like I’m rummaging for loose change here...
assorted valentines prep doodles
8. What is your favourite piece that you have done?
Well, obviously this is gonna change all the time and generally it’s gonna be my most recent piece LOL. So yeah, why the hell not. I’ll say it’s this one. I have a pretty short memory which I count as a blessing for an artist. I don’t dwell that long on older work and it keeps me moving forward.
10. What do you like most about your art?
I like that it’s something that only I would make! I had this thought fairly recently and I wrote it down in my sketchbook, it’s pretty cheesy and rambling but it felt revolutionary at the time:
So yeah. I like my art best when it’s the most me and for me. And I like it least when it feels like I’m just making something for social media or for other people’s expectations or whatever.
14. What do you like drawing the most?
Kids in baggy clothing are like my go-to LOL idk if that’s obvious. but also I like being challenged so lately I’ve really loved drawing multi-character compositions, environments, weird angles, etc.
oh i LOVE drawing the underside of shoes lol. And bandages. People that are kinda beat up.. I think it comes from getting a bunch of cuts all the time. I’m always patching myself up and I want to patch characters up too.
15. What do you like drawing the least?
mmm I try to find something to like in every drawing but lets see... I don’t like doing commissions of people’s dogs. Just because it’s normally like... a family friend and my mom volunteered me without my consent and I don’t even really know what they’re expecting me to draw and I don’t even get to meet the dog. Also I’m not that great at dog anatomy. Trying to learn though.
18. What is your purpose for drawing?
This could have a million answers! Uhhh to GIT GOOD??? But also to express myself... and also to make money... I mean it depends on what the drawing IS. I draw fanart mostly to connect to people in the fandom so if you ever see me drawing fanart please take it as like an open invitation to talk to me about the character haha.
20. How would you rank your art? (poor, mediocre, good, etc.)
Good!!! I have a lot of self-confidence primarily born out of ignorance and a short attention span. If I don’t think too hard about how many other artists are mindblowingly unfathombly good... its easy to think I’m good too! LOL
In all seriousness though, I think the opinion a person has of their art is like a crazy balancing act, right? Like you have to think you suck enough to want to get better but also you have to think you’re good enough to not want to give up. I think we’re all walking that line, I know I am! But also I’m a glass half-full type of person so. Most of the time I feel good about it.
22. List at least one of your “artspirations.”
This is a good question because I’ve been trying and failing to put together one of those “influence map” memes for like a full month now. What’s giving me a hard time is I feel like none of these are actually really obvious “““influences”““ in my art? Like it’s hard to see a lot of them in the work I make...? But idk maybe you guys’ll see what I can’t.
And these are just a couple! God there’s so many more. I could talk about other artists for ages, from all different genres of art. Daumier, Rockwell like every illustrator out there, Dana Gibson, Alex Toth, Hiroshi Yoshida, a lot of the Brandywine School. Lots of current working artists too, Karl Kerschl, frikkin Masashi Kishimoto lol, Jake Wyatt, Richie Pope, Edouard Caplain, Matt Cook, Sachin Teng, - lots of big internet artists, Sophie Li, Freddy Carrasco, Milliofish, Angela Sung... like all my friends from art school too. I could just keep going but I’ll stop for now lol.
24. Do you have a shameful art past? (recolour sprite comics, tracing art, etc.)
I mean if that’s how we’re defining shameful?? sure LOL. It’s not sprite comics but I used to do pokemon sprite recolors all the time. And I used to trace manga panels and color them... Granted this was all when I was like under 12 yrs old so it’s not even embarrassing. Can you really call it shameful when a 7 year old wets the bed or whatever? Not really. In fact some of these are cool as fuck. Look
25. Draw a picture!
Man I’m so tired now but here.
I used to get a lot of compliments for drawing people smiling lol but I don’t think I’ve drawn a lot of smiling lately.. here’s proof I’ve still got it.
OK MEME DONE. onto the rest.
I read this ask first thing when i opened my computer in the morning and it made me really emotional.. I’m so glad my sketches could help you!!
I think a lot of artists on social media talk about the struggle of making art but imo not enough people talk about the joy! Like I know it’s corny but. I really meant what I said at the beginning of that sketchbook about re-contextualizing art around process and progress > product and perfection. I think its super important..! The strength of messy, unfinished, and energetic art! For the feeling of it, for the love it!
That's crazy!!! I hope you like 'em. The whole line of x-books is really good rn imo.
Hi! I totally have the answer for digital stuff on my faq lol. But in terms of drawing on paper.. it varies! I tend to use sketchbooking and any on-paper doodling I do as a way to loosen up/warm-up or experiment. But right now my go-to aresenal is:
from top > bottom
- kuretake no.55 doublesided brush pen
- tombow fudenosuke
- muji 0.38 ballpoint
- medium size poscas
- grey tombow double brush pens
- good ol bic mechanical pencil
not EXACTly sure which inking you referring to from my sketchbook but if I had to take a guess it'd probably be the kuretake no55. That's been my main inker, lately. Great for sketching with the thin end too.
You can print out and eat my art if you like. Just please don't mass produce or re-sell. <3
Thanks! I've come to accept that my art is always gonna be sort of gestural and painty naturally. It's getting it to tighten up enough to be legible that's hard lol...
uh yeah lol I agree actually. I think yolei is great.
I assume these asks are related? LOL
1) Yeah totally true. I love David.
2) I don’t take requests, sorry! But if you want to commission me to draw Legion i would be MORE than happy to. Just e-mail me at [email protected].
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i found you! | b. koutarou
hey @bokutokoutarou ! you were my recipient for the summer exchange fic. i really hope you enjoy this, and that we can become friends after this!
pairing: bokuto koutarou x fem!reader
word count: 3.1k
look out for: soulmate au, tooth-rottingly sweet fluff, pining
“...You’re hearing voices in your head?”
“No, no, there’s just one... and they keep going on and on ‘bout whatever! And it sounds like they’re trying to talk to me, too, and I’m getting a little scared!” Bokuto complained to his junior, Akaashi, about this voice he had been hearing in his mind for the past week. It was unrecognizable at first; he paid no attention to it, but throughout the course of the week the voice had been growing louder and louder. It slowly became unnerving for the ace.
“Oh, I see,” Akaashi glanced outside the window. He then turned back towards Bokuto, face still in evident distress. “It’s your soulmate.”
“My... my what?” Bokuto was appalled. His soulmate?
Akaashi, too, was appalled. “Have your parents never told you about what a soulmate is?” Bokuto shook his head, signaling a negative response. Akaashi widened his eyes in apparent shock.
“Wow.” Akaashi was rendered speechless. Looks like he’d have to tell Bokuto what a soulmate was. “Well, a soulmate is someone you’re destined to be with. You’re bound to them for life. Everyone is bound to their soulmates in different ways. In your case, Bokuto-san, you can hear your soulmate’s thoughts.” The setter glances down at the timer on his wrists. Still several more years before he could meet his own soulmate.
Bokuto “ohh”ed in realization. He then pulled a face, one that Akaashi knew all too well. It was his thinking face, usually worn by the former during their volleyball games. He stayed in that position for some time, until his face lit up with excitement.
“Ah! Akaashi, I did it! I talked to her!” Bokuto exclaimed. Akaashi gave him a small smile, proud of his upperclassman.
O N E .
“Oh no, a quiz?! We have a quiz today?! I didn’t study for it at all!”
Bokuto panicked. He sat at his desk, sweat forming on his forehead. He was so afraid for this quiz specifically, because if he were to fail it, God forbid, he most definitely would not be able to take part in the Spring Interhigh Tournament. His mind raced with the same thought over and over again. In the heat of the moment, he hadn’t realized that he was pounding his soulmate’s head with the thought.
(Y/N) was currently in class (and conveniently just a couple classrooms down), trying her best to focus on the lecture in front of her. But it was difficult. So, extremely difficult.
“Could you please, with all due respect, shut up? I’m trying to learn right now,” she communicated to Bokuto. In an attempt to make peace with him, she added on, “Good luck, though.” At that moment, Bokuto came up with the best idea.
“Wait a minute. Do you think you could help me?” Bokuto’s heart raced. Depending on his soulmate’s answer, he may or may not be able to attend the tournament.
“Sure, I guess. What is it on?” (Y/N) gave up on trying to listen to her teacher, who was droning on about a topic that was completely unrelated to the lecture. It looked like she would have to do extra studying after school. Oh, the things she would do for her soulmate.
“Classic literature. It’s my worst subject!” If it was possible to whine and complain in one’s thoughts, Bokuto was doing exactly that. (Y/N) couldn’t help but smirk a little bit. With the willpower she had, she was able to contain her chuckle.
“Alright, I’ll help you; I think I’m alright in that subject.”
—
“So, how’d you do?” (Y/N) asked him a couple days later. The substitute for her class was running late, so she made use of her free time by talking to her supposedly-unknown soulmate. She looked down at her notebook that she had taken out, sketching rough, small portraits of what she thought her soulmate looked like.
“My teacher’s handing them out right now,” Bokuto replied. Through his thoughts somehow, (Y/N) could identify the worry laced in his thought. There was a hint of confidence, however, since the answers that his soulmate provided him seemed right. At least right enough to turn in his quiz with some confidence.
After a string of “Oh, no”s, Bokuto rejoiced. Thanks to his soulmate, he was able to participate in the Spring Interhigh Tournament!
“I’m so glad I was able to help you!” Despite not knowing who in the world her soulmate was, she couldn’t stop smiling. There was a little bit of a hint she learned about him too— he played volleyball.
T W O .
In the time that (Y/N) got to know her soulmate, she learned how comforting he can be at times. Despite how he came across as an idiot at times, he was perhaps the one person she could talk to whenever she needed comfort. His simple words were enough for her.
One night, (Y/N) found herself staring at the ceiling of her bedroom. She couldn’t sleep. No matter how much she tossed and turned, or set the right conditions for maximum comfort for sleeping, she just couldn’t go to sleep. It was like the universe was keeping her awake. And for what?
The thoughts of not being able to sleep swirled around in her mind, and soon enough, Bokuto asked her if there was something wrong. She replied that it was no big deal, and that he shouldn’t worry much about it. Despite this, Bokuto insisted for her to confide in him. And so she did.
“I’m not too fond of the idea of soulmates. I really hate to tell you this, but I just... I don’t want to be destined to be with someone, you know?” It pained her to tell this boy, and she could tell it pained him, as well.
Bokuto, who had been awake for quite some time as well, lay in bed with a blank stare. He looked all around his room, trying to find at least some answer to her thoughts. (Y/N) had more to say, however.
“...And I don’t even know who you are. I mean, I know some things about you, but I don’t know-know you. I don’t know your name, or what school you go to, or what you would like to do after you graduate high school, or—“
“Bokuto Koutarou— that’s my name. You don’t have to tell me yours if you don’t want to. But... that’s something about me. To help you get to know-know me. And I go to Fukurodani High School. And I think I’m gonna continue volleyball after high school... Is there anything else you want to know about me?” Bokuto interrupted (Y/N)’s train of thought. He began to open himself up to his soulmate so that she would be able to open herself up to at least the mere concept of soulmates. It would take a bit more time, he thought, before she would want to begin to open herself up to him.
“Okay, well,” (Y/N) began, “Tell me what’s the first thing you do when you wake up, and the last thing you do before you go to sleep.” She giggled; she was curious to know what he’d say.
To hum in his thoughts was something typical of Bokuto, and he did just that: “Hm, I think the first thing I do when I wake up is... I mean, after I open my eyes, is jump outta bed! And the last thing I do before I go to sleep is...” He hummed again, “close my eyes. And then I think a ‘lil bit. About everything, really! Sometimes I begin to dream about my soulmate... you, and what you look like, and when we’ll meet, and how we’ll meet, too, and—“ Bokuto exhaled out loud. He’d love to meet his soulmate one day.
“Well, thank you, Bokuto-san. Hopefully we’ll meet someday. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good night,” (Y/N) told him as she dozed off to sleep.
Bokuto Koutarou, huh...
T H R E E .
“Favorite color?”
“I’d say gold! The color of my eyes!”
Another boring lecture meant another day of playing 20 Questions with Bokuto for (Y/N). She had just asked her seventh question, which, along with the past six questions, had been entirely superficial. However, they weren’t quite as ridiculous as the questions he had asked her.
Case in point: “What are you going to have for lunch today?” He asked. Without context, it probably would have been pretty ridiculous to ask that, but given that lunch followed after the current period and that Bokuto was insanely hungry, it seemed probably reasonable to ask that question.
“I think I’m going to have what they’re selling today in the cafeteria,” (Y/N) pondered. Though, she was probably going to stick with her usual whatever’s-available-in-the-vending-machine. She looked down at her notebook, doodling a very rough image of the volleyball ace that everyone at school knew.
Ever since that one night—that night when she couldn’t go to sleep for the life of her, she had been in utter shock at the fact that Bokuto Koutarou was her soulmate. Everyone knew about him— from how he’s absolutely impressive at pretty much every sport he played to his overwhelming presence that made the general atmosphere of wherever he was so much lighter. He was like a light in her eyes, but he didn’t know who she was at all.
“Can I go again? It’ll count for my next question,” Bokuto asked. (Y/N) complied, and he followed her response with “You don’t think I know who you are?”
So she was thinking out loud. “I mean, you know me only because we’re soulmates. Other than that, I don’t think you know anything else about me—“
“My next question! What makes you think I don’t know anything about you?” Bokuto asked again.
“I mean—“
“I know that you’re my soulmate, which means you’re the one for me! I’m supposed to help you. With everything,” Bokuto continued, “because you’re my everything.”
(Y/N) looked down in embarrassment, her face turning red.
“You’re embarrassing,” she thought. “Don’t you realize what you’re saying right now?”
From Bokuto’s classroom, all he could do was smile softly. “I don’t realize most things I say,” He jokingly stated. His own embarrassment started to creep up on him, making him begin to regret what he said, or thought, to his soulmate. “Sorry if it bothered you, or something.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it; let’s just keep playing,” (Y/N) responded, guilt weighing down on her for unintentionally shaming him for his embarrassing words. “It’s my turn now. Let’s see... what position do you play in volleyball?”
Bokuto’s mood instantly lightened as he proudly answered, “I’m a wing spiker! The ace!”
—
Several questions later, it was once again Bokuto’s turn. He was on his nineteenth question when he asked (Y/N), “Do you think there’s ever a chance I could show you a soulmate’s really worth it?”
“Bokuto, I—“
“My last question— my twentieth question. Can you give me the chance to show you why soulmates are destined for a reason?”
(Y/N) hesitated for a moment before she said, “... Okay.”
F O U R .
“Huh?! You’re still awake at this hour? I just woke up!”
Bokuto had jumped out of bed to begin his morning run. As he was changing from his sleepwear to something new for running outside, he heard muttering similar to white noise in his mind, which meant that his soulmate was awake and, somehow, barely thinking.
(Y/N), having been restless the entire evening, decided it would be a good idea to pull an all-nighter. Currently, she was lying in bed, watching the sun peek out through the blinds of her window. The brightness illuminated her once-dark room, and she felt a wave of guilt wash over her for not properly taking care of her body by sleeping.
“I’ve been awake. What are you doing right now? At five in the morning?” (Y/N) snapped back. The tiredness was getting to her.
“I’m about to go on my morning run! Now, what are you doing?” Bokuto replied. He was so genuinely curious to know what his soulmate was doing at this time, why she was up and awake, before he noticed that he disregarded the harsh and tired tone she used on him.
“All-nighter. Couldn’t sleep at all.”
“Oh! My friend Akaashi pulls those all the time. He’s always tired, just like you are right now!” Bokuto beamed, hoping to get at least some positive reaction out of her. But all he got was a dry laugh—if it was even possible to laugh in one’s mind— along with an obviously sarcastic “thank you, I know I’m tired right now.”
“Well, since you’re awake right now,” Bokuto continued, “why don’t you talk to me? I’d rather listen to you instead of my music.” To his surprise, (Y/N) complied, but, as she claimed, the only reasons she had were that she was tired and had nothing else to do.
—
After a conversation about Bokuto’s favorite kinds of breakfast foods followed by the sports that (Y/N) enjoys watching, the ace took a rest, sitting down underneath a tree in a park near their school, watching the sun paint the sky different shades of purple and red.
“Hm, I have a question for you. Why are you so adamant about wanting to show me the wonders of a soulmate? I mean—without me in your life, you’re pretty much free to fall in love with whomever you want,” (Y/N) spoke truthfully. Her question made Bokuto raise an eyebrow, but mostly because of the large words she used in phrasing it.
“... What does ‘adamant’ mean?” was all he could say. From the comforts of her bedroom, (Y/N) laughed heartily. The thoughts that came with her laugh were positive, as she commended Bokuto on saying the first thing that made her smile that day. She soon let him know what it meant, though, and Bokuto “ooh”ed in his mind, earning another laugh from (Y/N).
“Soulmate,” Bokuto called her this since she still never told him her name, “my friend Akaashi said that we’re soulmates because we’re bound together. There’s gotta be a reason why we’re bound together, right? Why our souls are destined to be with each other, right? Or else we’d just be... mates, and not soul-mates.”
“...I see.”
“And...I got nothing.��
“Bokuto, why don’t you try finding me?” (Y/N) suggested. “If you’re so adamant about the fact that because we’re soulmates means our souls are bound together—that our souls are destined to be together—you should easily find your way to me, right?”
Bokuto stayed silent.
“Look, this is what I’m saying. Why don’t you act on your belief? Find me, and if you do, I’ll know that our souls are not meant to be apart.”
(Y/N)’s soulmate remained silent for some time before he responded.
“I’m going to find you, soulmate. I’m going to find you one day!”
F I V E .
She stared blankly at the vending machine in front of her. She tried not to reveal that she was currently thinking about whether to choose between strawberry or banana milk, so as not to reveal her location, if Bokuto were to find out she went to Fukurodani High School. Little did she know that he had a bit of help from his volleyball teammates in deciphering who exactly she was.
—
“What’d she think now?!”
“Ah! Uh, she doesn’t know if she wants strawberry or banana milk!” Bokuto exclaimed. The Fukurodani third-years, along with Akaashi, were gathered around Bokuto’s desk. On top of it was a notebook, opened to a half-covered page of scatter-brained notes of his soulmate’s thoughts.
Konoha hummed, and placed a hand on his chin. “Okay, from that we know that she’s also out at lunch. Maybe she goes here!” In Akaashi’s mind, he thought that it was awfully quick (and definitely extremely convenient) to assume that she goes here, but he did not express this disagreement of his.
Bokuto agreed with his logic, and in the notebook he wrote, “Probably goes to Fukurodani.”
“Does she have any new thoughts, Bokuto-san?” Akaashi spoke up.
“Um, yeah. Okay, uh, she’s thinking about who to eat with,” Bokuto replied. He picked up the pencil he dropped from excitement, and began to write down keywords from her thoughts. Sarukui looked on, noticing that Bokuto was writing the names he recognized.
“Bokuto, you wrote down Suzumeda-san’s name!” He called out. The ace leaned back to look at what he had written down, and sure enough, he had written one of the two managers of his club’s names down.
“She goes here!” Everyone in the huddle exclaimed. Bokuto’s other classmates who were also in the classroom slowly turned around in questioning curiosity, wondering what in the world they were doing.
“Bokuto-san! I think you should just go look for her. What was it that you said again...?” Akaashi questioned him.
Bokuto stared blankly at Akaashi for a brief second to recollect his thoughts from the recent shock, and soon after he came to his senses he responded that his soulmate said that if soulmates really are destined to be together, he should go look for her. With that in mind, his teammates ushered Bokuto out of the room and cheered him on to go find his soulmate.
Adrenaline rushed through Bokuto as he was pressured by his teammates to go find his soulmate. He was going to meet her today!
He dashed down the third-years’ hallway to go outside, nearing the closest vending machine. For a moment he pressed his face against the clear glass, to check the contents of the machine. He could see a row of strawberry milk boxes and next to it a row of banana milk boxes. Gears inside had ceased whirring, signaling to Bokuto that someone had just used the vending machine.
Bokuto’s heart stirred, and instinct told him to run out into the courtyard. Following his instinct, he sped out of the hallway in which the vending machine was, and opened the door that led to the courtyard. He had opened them so quickly that he didn’t see the figure of a girl in his year on the other side about to open the door, despite the large window in front of him that made up a huge component of the door’s upper half.
He walked straight into the girl, and the sudden shock pulled them back, to see who they had run into.
“He actually... He found me!”
“I found you!”
#haikyuuwritersnet#hqwn secret summer#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu!! x reader#bokuto koutarou x reader#bokuto koutarou#bokuto kotaro#bokuto kotaro x reader#bokuto x reader#haikyuu bokuto x reader#hq bokuto koutarou#hq bokuto x reader#hq bokuto#cadekagi
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Parent Trap
PART 2
Marcus Moreno x Reader
It’s hereeee! Children’s shenanigans. Yearning. A kiss.
The Artist
The rest of the week went smoothly. Artemis was very excited to have a new friend and talked about Missy often.
Friday came around, and Shade had to inform the school that she was running late in picking Artemis up. A seller was taking his sweet time, in trying to decide which of the 2 pieces he wanted, before deciding he didn’t want either.
She was annoyed; it wasn’t uncommon for a seller to act like they wanted her work before making up some excuse as to why they were no longer interested. Nor was it uncommon for a person to try and haggle for lower prices, claiming ‘you should be grateful someone even wants your business.’
She was tired to say the least.
She finally, after 45 minutes, pulled up to the school, and made her way to Artemis’s class to pick her up. She was surprised when she saw Missy sitting with her.
“Missy? What are you still doing here honey?” Shade asked concerned.
“My dad’s running late, but I have no way of contacting him to find out what’s going on,” She admitted quietly.
Shade nodded in understanding, before pulling out her phone. Marcus had made sure to give her his number the other day when they saw each other dropping their kids off.
She called him. It took about 4 rings, before he answered, out of breath “Hey Shade.”
“Hey. So. I’m here with Artemis and Missy, are you uhh.. on your way hon?” She asked politely.
She hears him swear in the background before stating, “I promise I didn’t forget about her. It appears that someone has changed every clock I know. I haven’t been able to tell time for 90% of the day.”
“Haven’t been able to tell time eh? Funny. Had something similar happen the other morning when my alarm went off an hour early. Weird how these clocks… have just magically changed for both of us,” She noted staring at the two girls suspiciously.
Both of them shrugged acting like they have no idea what she was talking about, before looking away.
“Listen, can you tell Missy I am on my way, I swear,” He requested with a sigh.
“How about this… How about I take Missy home with me, and she can stay the night? In the morning, you can bring her a change of clothes, and pick us all up for our date,” She offered with a smile.
“Are... are you sure? It’s no problem for me to come and get her, it would just be a few minutes?” He questioned hesitantly.
“It’s not a problem. We will see you in the morning, yeah?” She assured.
“Sounds good, can I talk to Missy real quick?” He politely asked.
She handed her phone over to her, and they talked for a moment before she hung.
“Alright. Let’s get outta here,” She nodded her head toward the door.
The girls grabbed their things and the three of them were off.
She gets them home and told them to get to work on their homework. She checked on dinner that was cooking in the crockpot. It was crockpot chicken and noodles.
The girls finished up their homework and were currently helping her set the table an hour later. They were both giggling and whispering to one another.
“Alright you two, enough with the whisper party. Go wash your hands, while I serve up dinner,” She tells them, shaking her head.
She grabbed their bowls and ladled them a healthy portion for all of them. She had made some fruit salad to go with it and gave them a small plate of it.
By the time their plates were ready, the girls were bouncing back into the dining room. They took their seats, and she joined them.
Missy began asking questions about Shade’s work.
“So, what kind of art do you do?” Missy politely asked.
“I do mostly pencil sketches and paint occasionally even though I don’t think I’m very good at it. Been working on some new stuff, but... Mh. not sure how I feel about it so far,” Shade explained to her.
“Ooh. What kind of new stuff?” Missy asked excitedly.
Shade went to wave it off as nothing when Artemis piped up, “She’s been drawing the Heroics and their most famous battles! Kinda like a comicbook! It’s so cool!”
“What!? That’s awesome! Can I see it sometime? I mean. If you’re okay with it?” Missy asked amazed.
“Hmm. Possibly. If…” Shade began.
“If what?” Missy questioned.
“If… you promise to fix your dad’s clocks, and not mess with them again. I understand that both of you are excited to be friends and want us to get along too, but messing with clocks and alarms is not okay,” She bargained looking at both of them.
They both looked down, wincing as they mumbled apologies and swearing that they would fix things.
“Apology accepted. Finish eating and I’ll show you my workshop,” She stated with a smile.
Both of them perked back up and began eating again happily.
Once they all had eaten and cleaned up, Shade led them to her workshop. She slid opened the double doors and presented it to Missy.
There were several desks, covered in pencils, graphite and colored, pens, paints, and brushes. There was an easel and some blank canvases resting in a corner. She walked over to one of her sketch books and opened it about midway.
“Just, uh, don’t touch the ink too much. It takes a long time to dry,” She informed them setting it down on the small table where Artemis held her art supplies.
Missy was amazed. She stared at all of the drawings of Miracle Guy, Sharkboy & Lavagirl, Tech-No, and many other Heroics. She noticed one thing though.
“You haven’t drawn my dad yet?” She mentioned looking up at her.
“No. I haven’t. I for whatever reason… cannot seem to draw him. Every time I do, I worry I’ll mess it up. Your dad meant a great deal to me at one point,” Shade tells her, thinking fondly of Marcus.
Missy and Artemis looked at each other, a plan forming.
They spoke a little more about art and what Shade does before the girls ran upstairs to go play.
Or so Shade thought…
The Hero
Marcus was finishing up some paperwork that had piled up over the week when Miracle Guy stepped into his office.
“What are you still doing here, man? Shouldn’t you be at home? With your kid?” Miracle asked him.
“Can ask you the same thing, MG?” Marcus countered, referring to his nickname.
“Had a job I just came from. Mission report. Saw your light was still on, figured I should check on our fearless leader,” Miracle lightly teased.
Marcus simply hummed in response.
“So. What’s been going on with you? You’ve been jittery all week. I had thought it had something to do with the incident at Missy’s school, but now… not so sure,” Miracle brought up, sitting across from Marcus.
“Remember… when we first started out? I was with that artist?” Marcus began, biting his lip.
“Yeah. The really pretty one, that you wound up breaking up with, right?” Miracle recalled.
“Mh. Her daughter is now best friends with my daughter… and we have a date tomorrow… and I honestly… don’t know how I feel,” Marcus confessed, setting his pen down, the report no longer distracting him.
“Wh-… What? Seriously? Wow. What a small world? I mean… this is the first time you’ve gone out since Isabelle died right? I think it’s only natural that you’re nervous. But… it’s also with someone you’ve been with. I doubt she’s changed that much in 15 years,” Miracle noted with a shrug.
“Yeah. I just… hmm. I don’t know. I am nervous… but I’m also…excited? Happy? I mean… I wanted to marry this girl back in college, but life… got in the way. I guess… I’m just worried I’ll mess it up,” Marcus admitted with a sigh.
“Oh? You never told me that part? Listen. It’s one date. If you don’t feel sparks fly or whatever then, it’s not meant to be. But if you do, explore it. You deserve to be happy Marcus,” Miracle stated.
Marcus opened his mouth to reply when his phone rang.
He answers noticing it was Shade’s number.
“Hey, what’s-” He began.
“Dad! You should get over here! Like quickly! As fast as possible!” Missy voice came, rushed.
Marcus goes to question her, but the line ends.
Marcus quickly gets up, grabs his things and runs out to his car. The drive under normal circumstances was 20 minutes, but he was there in half that time.
He ran up to the door, banging on it, panicked.
When the door opened, Shade stood there, looking extremely confused.
“Marcus?” She greeted staring at him concerned.
“Are the girls okay? Missy called and told me I should get here,” Marcus explained quickly.
“Yes. They’re fine. They went upstairs to play?” She answered still confused.
“But they had your phone? And she sounded worried?” Marcus recalled the phone call.
She suddenly patted her pockets, looking around trying to find her phone.
The Artist
It slowly dawned on her what happened.
“GIRLS! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW” She yelled up the stairs.
A moment passed, and neither of them heard movement.
“I am so sorry Marcus. Artemis… must have grabbed my phone while I wasn’t looking,” She apologized, moving to go upstairs.
Marcus stopped her.
“Hey, so long as everyone is okay. Even though a CERTAIN YOUNG LADY IS GROUNDED. I’m sorry for almost busting your door down with my knocking,” He tells her, shouting part of his sentence up the stairs.
A loud groan could be heard in response.
“AS IS ANOTHER CERTAIN YOUNG LADY,” Shade mentioned loudly.
Cue another loud groan.
“Would… would you like some water?” Shade offered, twirling a lock of her hair.
“Yes. I would actually,” Marcus accepted gratefully.
The two of them stepped into her kitchen. Shade grabbed him a glass and filled it with water, before handing it to him. He downed about half of it, before setting it back down, wiping his mouth.
“So. What… what happened?” Marcus asked trying to understand.
She thought about it, trying to retrace the evening.
“Oh…. I showed them…some of my artwork… and Missy asked me why I hadn’t drawn you yet,” She realized.
“Oh? Ahem. So… Why…Why haven’t you drawn me yet?” He asked hesitantly and trying to hide his curiosity.
“I told her it was because… I was worried I would mess it up and that you meant a great deal to me… which is somewhat true… I have drawn you…but I always feel like… they didn’t do you justice,” She quietly admitted to him, not making eye contact. “Kind of hard to draw someone you were in love with for years. Especially when those feelings never quite went away.”
The Hero
He was surprised to hear that. He didn’t quite know how to respond. He did… know one thing though.
He moved around the island over to her.
“Forgive me… if this is too forward,” He whispered to her.
He gently cupped her face into his hands, and pressed a small, hesitant kiss to her lips. When she didn’t pull away or slap him, he kissed her again, but just a smidge longer.
He felt her arms move, sliding around his neck. He was extremely relieved when he felt her kiss him back. He lightly pinned her against her the island, his hands moving to her waist. They wrapped around her, pulling her close.
Their kiss lasted for a minute and would’ve gone longer if it weren’t for the fact that they heard giggles coming from the stairway.
They pulled away slowly.
“I told you that my daughter’s favorite movie was the Parent Trap, right? We’ve been Parent Trapped,” She whispered against his lips.
“You also said her number one favorite was The Mummy, which I guess it’s a good thing they didn’t unleash an unspeakable evil to get us together,” Marcus joked.
“This is true. You 2 are still grounded by the way, and Mrs. Moreno will be informed of that fact tomorrow when we leave you with her to go on our date,” She threw over shoulder.
There was a sound of 2 pairs of feet scurrying back upstairs.
“You… you still want to go out tomorrow?” Marcus inquired, hopeful.
“Yeah. Yeah, I do. If you still want to,” She mentioned, biting her lip.
“Yeah. I do. Though… I think I should go grab my little delinquent, and take her home, so you can sleep without anymore “emergencies.” Plus, I apparently need to talk to her about boundaries,” Marcus noted as he slowly stepped away from her.
“Yeah. I apparently have to have a similar conversation. We’ll see you tomorrow?” She said with a smile.
“Yeah. Tomorrow. Umm. Just one last thing,” Marcus hurriedly said.
He pulled her into another kiss, that she returned with a sigh.
When he finally pulled away again, he simply said, “One wasn’t enough.”
He called for Missy to come downstairs and get her things. He told her that a slumber party will have to wait for another time. As he took Missy home, he couldn’t help the smile on his face, as he thought about Shade.
He knew his evening was far from over, but he couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
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Another test
A completely different fic that im working on
Tuesday afternoons are always oddly slow, regardless of the location Cordelia found herself in. Earlier that morning, her brother had asked her to take on the role of his receptionist for a few days, as the woman who usually worked at the front desk of his office was unable. She sat at the desk, reorganizing papers out of complete boredom. Men had been coming in and out all day, but she felt like there was nobody she could talk to. She was more than happy to help whenever she was needed, but it was, in her mind, ridiculous that there was nothing to do. With a sigh, she tapped her fountain pen against the loose papers--schedules, notes, and other things--it almost took on a pointillistic look on the page. She leaned on the desk before noticing that her hair was a bit of a mess and started trying to pin stray strands back into place--she knew she should have been more careful when she was doing her hair that morning. She hated having her it pinned up, but attempted to be more professional, for her brother’s sake. She had heard rumors of a baronet all the way from England--she couldn’t remember if they had specified from where in that country--would be visiting Buffalo for the time being. A baronet, no less. That title was uncommon enough to warrant questions, as nobody she spoke to understood exactly what it meant. She made it a point to ask her friend, Edith, later--she would likely know. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the door open and shut. A tall man dressed in all black walked in, carrying a wooden case. The only other visible color on him was the silver chain of a pocket watch. He removed his top hat as he approached the desk, revealing short, dark, slicked-back hair under it. His eyes met hers for a moment and he smiled.
“Good afternoon, miss. I’m looking for a Mr. Baker. I have an appointment, though I suspect I’m a bit early.” Cordelia looked through the papers to find if there was something written down. “It’s for Thomas--ah, I’ve a card, my apologies.” He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. Printed across it, in neat black ink, was the name ‘Sir Thomas Sharpe’ and the title of Baronet under it. She had no idea how accurate the rumors would have been, but each of them mentioned he was attractive. They were inaccurate, as none of them could accurately capture how handsome the gentleman before her truly looked. Though tempted to keep him in the lobby until it was time for him to go back to speak to her brother for answers--she was curious, wanting to know more about him--she decided against it.
“My brother wouldn’t mind if you went back early, actually. If you’re ready to, of course.”
“Really?” He asked, a bit surprised. “Yes, miss, I am ready. Where do I go?”
“I can show you.” She stood, deciding against prying for information and resigning to interrogating her brother later--she didn’t want to risk seeming nosy or inconsiderate. “My name is Cordelia Baker. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Baker.” He nodded with a smile. They reached the end of the hall and she knocked on the doorway.
“I’ll be right there.” A voice from within called.
“I wish you the best of luck.” She looked at Thomas, smiling.
“Thank you.” His eyes met hers for a moment. “I might just need it.”
“I have full confidence that everything will go well for you.” There was a look in his eyes; as if he was unused to warm smiles and genuine words with no hope of recompense--no cynicism or idle words. He was unsure, for the moment, if it was how America simply operated...or if she was one of those rare, kind souls. The type that would set him free from all the horrors, all the burdens--he pushed the thoughts away from his mind, reassuring himself that he needed to take things one step at a time. Thomas brushed off his coat in an attempt to make himself at least feel more presentable. The door opened, and a man a little shorter than the Baronet was standing there. He had strawberry blonde hair and was wearing a blue shirt with a tawny vest over it.
“Sir Sharpe.” He held out his hand to the dark-haired man. “I’m Anthony Baker. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” Thomas shook his hand. “Thank you for agreeing to see me, I truly appreciate it.” He let go, the shorter of the two opening holding the door to his office open, motioning for him to follow. Cordelia left, wanting to give them privacy if they wanted.
“Please, just call me Anthony.” He said with a smile, gesturing to the chair. “I don’t know what you plan, but do make yourself comfortable.” Thomas found it odd. Other investors had not been anywhere near as considerate, or kind. He did not understand it, but he wasn’t going to waste such an opportunity.
“I have a model. May I?” He asked, gesturing to the box.
“Of course.” Again, much to his surprise, Anthony actually picked up some of the papers and things to make a bit more room for him to work. He was ready to take notes and already seemed interested. As if he was half-expecting the redhead to change his mind, the baronet quickly set the small model up, taking the jar and box that was inside. The man across from him watched, allowing him to concentrate. Taking a breath, he did his best to steady his sudden nerves.
“The Sharpe clay mines have been royal purveyors of the purest scarlet clay since 1796. In its liquid form, it is so rich in ore and so malleable that it can produce the strongest bricks and tiles.” He gestured to the jar, left of the machine model.
“May I?” Anthony asked, gesturing to the smaller wooden box with a clay tile in it. Thomas nodded. “I've never seen anything that vibrant a shade of red in my life.” He mused, letting him continue explaining.
“Excessive mining in the last 20 years has caused most of our old deposits to collapse. This is a clay harvester of my own design. It transports the clay upwards as it digs deep.” He turned the machine on. “I have absolutely no doubt this machine will revolutionize clay mining as we know it.” Anthony looked at the machine, amazed.
“This is very impressive.” Thomas looked up, a bit caught off-guard, unused to compliments. Now he had to wonder if it was those two siblings, or it was the country.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Have you had a chance to test it, full-scale?”
“Not yet, but we’re very close. We’re hoping that with funding, it will work. I've built the harvester on my estate, but more parts would be needed to keep it running smoothly.” He explained.
“Of course, of course, my apologies. Do you happen to have schematics? Sketches?” He asked. “I would like to look into this more before I make a decision. I believe it will take a bit of time. Research and all that, I hope you understand.” Thomas nodded, a little surprised he got this far.
“Of course.” He nodded, grabbing a folder from the case. “I have everything right here.” He handed it over--inside were schematics, other information that would hopefully be useful.
“This is genuinely impressive--I apologize for repeating. It's just so well designed.” Anthony smiled for a moment. “I will have to look into it, though I can't make any promises.”
“I understand. It is a bit risky but I wholeheartedly believe it's worth it.”
“I will do what I can to respond quickly. How long are you still staying in Buffalo?"
“I believe we are--my sister and I--staying until autumn. I’m unsure of the exact dates. My sister hasn’t told me anything, yet.” Anthony nodded.
“Well, I can at least guarantee it won't take that long to get an answer.” He chuckled softly. “I'm sorry to cut this short, but I do thank you for being here.” He stood. “It was nice to meet you. I'll have my sister…” He said that as if trying to show a bit of solidarity, or they at least had something in common. “...show you out." As if on cue, there was a rhythmic knock, a code of sorts. He got up and opened it. Cordelia was there. Thomas felt a little less uncomfortable...something about her, something about the way she carried herself.
“I swear I wasn't eavesdropping,” It was honest, but she was a bit nervous about how it came across. She pulled on her sleeve, letting out a soft snicker. “I just came by to drop off some letters for you. Including one from a certain Miss Cushing." She teased Anthony, who blushed a bit in embarrassment.
“Had it not been for witnesses…” He hissed. “I’ll trade you. Would you please show Sir Sharpe out?”
“Do I have to give you the letters?” He gave her a look and she handed them over, begrudgingly. Not that she didn’t want to spend the time with Thomas, she just wanted to see Anthony’s reaction.
“Shall I leave anything here for you to examine further?”
“No, thank you; if you want to take it, please do.” Thomas nodded, packing up the machine and carefully stowing the jar and box.
“Thank you for your time, sir.”
“And thank you for yours.” Anthony smiled, looking over his notes. The baronet looked at Cordelia with a soft smile. Her presence was almost comforting, in a way, he couldn’t quite explain it. She shut the door behind them both.
“Hello.” She greeted as she began to lead him back to the lobby. “How did it go?” She asked gently.
“I believe it went well--at least it seemed to.” He looked at her, tilting his head slightly. “Your brother is much kinder than others I’ve gone to.” He mused, finding the situation rather refreshing, in a way.
“Anthony loves listening to people talk, and their ideas. And from the look at the machine I got when you were putting it back in the case, it was rather interesting.” The comment caught Thomas off-guard. He wouldn’t have guessed a lady like her would have found his clay harvester fascinating. There was a level of intrigue they both felt, curiosity between strangers. The tall Englishman who dressed in dark clothing and spoke with a gentle elegance she was unfamiliar with; the American woman in rich lavender who took an interest in his work, unprovoked, not to just be polite--each unusual to the other, and yet it felt captivating. “So...you've got an accent. English, right?” She asked. “Sorry, I don’t know many people from Europe…”
“No, no, Miss Baker, you don’t need to apologize. I don’t mind answering...though I suppose others will have the same questions, no doubt.” He looked at her with a small smile. “I am from England.”
“Is it nice there?” She asked, looking up at him with a curious smile.
“Where I’m from, it’s rainy and dark in some of the most beautiful ways.” He smiled at her, finding the curiosity endearing. “Not like Buffalo.”
“It sounds beautiful, really.” She smiled, listening intently. Cordelia definitely loved his accent, though she knew there was more to him than what everyone else might care to ask about. High society had a tendency to gloss over personality, beyond the obvious and surface level. “I’ve always wanted to go to England. Everyone I know who’s been there speaks highly of it.” He looked over, a little intrigued. Her smile felt...reassuring, in a way. Her curiosity was almost comforting.
“I think everyone should go to London at least once in their life. It’s quite amazing--the art, architecture…” He looked over. “Perhaps I could be the one to show you, someday.” She looked over, unable to tell if he was subtly flirting, or if he was just being kind. She didn’t know if she was misinterpreting things.
“How could I possibly refuse an offer like that?” She looked over. “If you want, I could show you around Buffalo...make things even?” The idea of spending time with her was inexplicably something he wanted--no, needed. He was drawn to her, he needed to find out more about her. The fact that she would even suggest that she’d give him a tour was astonishing--nobody else he met up until then had brought it up.
“That sounds like a fair deal. I would love that, actually.” He admitted with a smile--it made her blush faintly. It was unexplainable...she had no idea how this man had an effect on her already. They reached the lobby, the door in sight. The soft evening light started filtering in through the glass.
“You know...I’m hosting a party on Friday night--this Friday…” She got irritated with herself, internally, wondering if she was embarrassing herself by talking too much. “...if you would be interested, you are more than welcome there.”
“Really?” He sounded a bit stunned. “I would very much enjoy that. Would it be alright if my sister came along with me? I’d hate to leave her out.”
“If she wants to, of course she can.” She looked at him with a soft smile.
“Well, that’s great.” He smiled back, brightly. “Until then, Miss Baker?”
“I’m already looking forward to it, Sir Sharpe.” He took his hat, putting it on and chuckling softly as he left. With him gone, she sighed. There was something about him that she couldn’t describe. Cordelia immediately set off to bother Anthony for information. She knocked on the door and opened it. Her brother had a completely smitten look as he was reading over the letter. “So...how’s Edith?” She teased, amused.
“She’s fine.” He muttered, closing the letter and putting it on top of the papers.
“Have either of you told the other, yet?”
“No. Stop asking.” He looked at her, half-glaring. “And don’t ask about the baronet. I’m not giving you anything, yet.”
“Fine, fine.” She shook her head. “Then I’ll get back to planning the party.”
“Alright. Have fun.”
#crimson peak#thomas sharpe#sir thomas sharpe#my writing#oc#oc ship#fic writing#wip#please critique#fanfic writer#need feedback
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But I Like One Piece (20)
They all turn to stare at him.
“Dear? How do you know that?” Okaa-san says.
Otou-san shakes his head and sits down heavily on the stairs. “The manufacturer for those weapons is in Yukigakure. Just like the incriminating ryo left at the scene of that theft.”
Oh.
Oh sweet Merry.
She mutters, “Shika said—when we were talking about the theft, he said it had to be an inside job, because an outsider couldn’t know anything. But if they were like me—if they’d read the comic based on Konoha in their past life, they would know. They’d know almost everything even if they never set foot here.”
She swallows, throat suddenly dry. “If it was plot-relevant, then they’d know more about what was valuable and how it was defended than people who’d lived here their whole lives. They’d even know the weaknesses of the ninja sent after them, if those ninja were major characters.”
Otou-san nods. “And if he or she needed to finance the manufacture of those weapons, what could be easier than to steal something from here and sell it to another hidden village?”
She sits down heavily on the stairs.
Her heart’s pounding too fast. The side of her head is throbbing in time with the beat.
“Well.” Okaa-san coughs. “That’s mildly terrifying.”
She lets out a humorless chuckle at the understatement.
Horror wars with elation in her brain. Elation at the knowledge that she isn’t alone here.
Horror at the idea of someone knowing everything about this place and deciding to use that knowledge for their own gain. If robbing Konoha wasn’t low for them, would they stoop to manipulating Naruto, Sakura, Uchiha? To hurting them to get their way, change a narrative they don’t like?
“But Iruka-sensei said Yukigakure gave us those guns for less money than they gave them to other villages.” Naruto says suddenly. “Maybe that’s the not-Mayu’s way of making it up to us?”
“You think villains who would commit such an unyouthful action would be capable of feeling guilt?” Lee says doubtfully. “Shouldn’t we tell Gai-sensei about this?”
“We can.” Otou-san sighs. “But I’m not sure how helpful it would be. Nara-san said Yamanaka-san knew about the Yuki connection between both the theft and these “guns”. For all we know, the price reduction could be a concession negotiated between the Hokage and the thief, and we just have a morsel of knowledge about that deal which would endanger Mayu more than it would help the village.”
She fidgets, tracing the scar on her lower lip.
Lee’s brows are furrowed, his mouth pulled down in a frown.
Okaa-san reaches out and smooths a hand over his hair. “Why don’t we get Ichiraku’s and sleep on it? I think Sanji would agree we’ll all make better decisions with some ramen in our bellies.”
Naruto springs to his feet. “Yeah! Ramen’ll fix everything, believe it! C’mon, I’m hungry, let’s go, let’s go!”
It doesn’t quite fix everything, she reflects later as she descales and fillets the pike for the offerings tomorrow. There’s still another reincarnated person who robbed the village, had her father take the fall for their crime, and is now mass-producing the very weapon that killed her past self, which they can do next to nothing about.
But ramen smoothed out the crease in Lee’s brow when they all agreed it was better to tell Gai-sensei than not. It lightened the mood and made everything this day had thrown at them seem a little less important in light of the celebrations planned for tomorrow.
Their small garden is now even smaller thanks to the a large wooden structure that sits next to the back fence.
It’s a bit like a cross between a shed and a greenhouse, if it only had three walls and no doors or windows. The roof is curved and the walls are sturdy, to protect the shrines inside from the elements.
There’s a length of thick white rope fastened with red twine inside the front gable, which is meant to ensure that the shrines are protected from malicious spirits.
Each one of the shrines has a small building that is sealed automatically once the shrine has been assembled, keeping a small object for the deity to inhabit safely locked away from prying eyes. There’s a small recess before this structure, for offerings to be placed, and a little column that puts them above the eye level of a kneeling person.
They’d debated setting aside a space for the shrines in the living room inside the house, to ensure they could be protected and cared for. But she kept getting impulses of outside, of wind and rain, freedom, that eventually they decided it was better than keeping them cooped up inside.
Plus this way, Luffy can’t raid the fridge as easily.
She’s already found certain small cuts of cooked meat have gone missing. If he’s anything like the manga, then she’s not giving him the chance to clean out the entire fridge.
They’ve been working on constructing it and the shrines on weekends and in the mornings during training. According to Gai-sensei, it’s excellent practice for C-rank missions.
Now all that’s left is to paint the structure and the ten shrines housed within.
Working out what to set out as offerings for tomorrow had been a challenge and a half.
For the most part, the Strawhats can be grouped into small sections of what they will and won’t eat.
Nami and Chopper are fruit lovers. Sanji, Zoro, Brook and Usopp are partial to seafood. Luffy, Franky, and Robin are happy with beef and other land-based meats.
However, Zoro, Sanji and Brook like varieties of seafood that are difficult to get in Konoha— octopus, lobster and prawns are expensive and hard to find, while sea king meat just doesn’t exist here. At least Zoro is happy enough with a traditional plate-2-bowls meal with rice.
Robin prefers sandwiches, and she’s not quite sure if the burgers Franky loves fit into that criteria. Chopper can’t stand spicy or bitter foods, but Zoro and Robin dislike sweets.
She’s just thankful that Luffy, Nami Usopp, and Merry are so easy to feed. Pike’s one of the few fish that Konoha doesn’t need to import, so it and tangerines relatively inexpensive.
There’s no chance of combining all their preferences into one dish. Her head hurts just imagining the clash of flavors.
So she had to somehow come up with a way of creating a meal that would (hopefully) make each of the pirates she idolizes happy.
No pressure.
Chouji ended up being her savior in this respect.
And maybe Uchiha did as well, but only a teeny tiny bit.
She’d been brainstorming different versions of meals she could try making that would satisfy everyone, but kept coming up short.
The added tension from Sakura’s friendly-again-but-still-not-quite-sitting-back-at-their-table thing at this time wasn’t exactly helping her think either.
“I’ve got cola, coffee, tea, heck even sake, but still no idea on what to pair any of them with.” She complained, tapping her pencil against the list in front of her.
Chouji had leaned over, a thoughtful look on his face. “Why not make them lunchboxes? That way you can make lots of things in smaller amounts and personalize each lunchbox for each of them.”
“Hm. That is a good idea.” She gnawed on her lower lip. “Only downside is working out when I can cook what and how much time the preparation of each portion is going so everything in the bentos is relatively fresh for when it’s offered... how much d’you think eleven more lunchboxes would cost?”
She’d just begun sketching out lines for a tentative timetable when Uchiha complained, “Why do you think you’ve gotta do everything on your own?”
She looked up, a little offended. “I’m not praying for help with this, are you mad? That’d be like asking someone to bake their own birthday cake.”
“What Sasuke means,” Chouji intervened. “Is that we could always split the work three-ways between us, and bring it to your house on the day?”
She blinked. “You...you guys would help me like that?”
Chouji smiled, then made a squeak of surprise when she lunged over the table to hug him tightly. “Thank you.”
“I have lunchboxes to spare.” Uchiha drawled. “Plus someone’s got to make sure you don’t mess up.”
She had then let Chouji go so she could boot Uchiha in the shin.
As a result of this arrangement, when she wakes up on The Day, all she has to worry about is preparing the pasta for Sanji, Nami and Usopp’s lunchboxes after training with Gai-sensei.
She’s almost worried that her timining be a little delayed because Gai-sensei grabs her in a bone-creaking hug when she arrives at training and spends about three minutes weeping over how youthful she is.
He then makes them run fifty times around the village balancing the paint pots they’ll be using later to ensure that the paint is agitated enough “so its most YOUTHFUL colors will shine through!!”
They nearly lose the purple when Naruto fumbles slightly over a root.
She bolts down her food at breakfast.
She puts on more rice again in preparation for the sesame onigiri, and pulls out a pot to fill with water that’s set to boil and a pan to gently heat some oil on the stove.
She smashes a clove of garlic and drops it in when the oil has begun to smoke gently, deseeding and dicing up some chilis and tossing them in as well for flavor.
She can’t help her grin when the heady spicy-savory scent fills the air, finely chopping capers and anchovies to toss in once she’s fished out the smashed garlic.
The scent mellows somewhat when the diced pike hits the pan as well, and she pushes it around until the fish is almost-but-not-quite cooked through.
Then in with a generous glug of wine and the heat is turned down to a gentle simmer to let the alcohol cook off.
Just in time for the rice to have cooked and cooled enough to begin mixing with yellow and black sesame seeds and begin forming into ten onigiri.
They don’t have any fillings other than the sesame, because they’re designed to take the edge off the stronger flavors of the pasta (her) and the takoyaki (Chouji), as well as serve as a substitute for a sesame topped bun accompanying the hamburger steaks (Uchiha).
The others begin to arrive at around ten.
Sakura and the Harunos arrive first alongside Ino and her dad.
She shouts a hello as Naruto and Lee lead Ino and Sakura through the kitchen to the back garden, nails orange with peeled tangerine.
Ino darts forward and steals two slices, chortling in response to her indignant “Oi!” and passing one to Sakura, who grins as she nibbles on their way out.
Yamanaka-san is totally at home chatting with Gai-sensei and Otou-san, but he snickers when Nara-san immediately gravitates towards him when he arrives. Shikamaru gives her a nod as he follows the adults outside and she puts the pasta on to boil.
She’s set aside two extra tangerines for when Shino and his father arrive. After all, she, Chouji and Uchiha are making enough to feed eleven deities and many many people, so shouldn’t their insects also be able to eat as well?
Shino’s dad stares at her inscrutably when she explains her reasoning, before accepting the fruit with a nod and a “thank you” barely audible over a loud buzzing.
Shino shifts from one foot to the other during this exchange before gently tugging his father’s sleeve. It occurs to her as she drains the pot-full pasta and adds the sauce alongside a cup of boiling water to emulsify everything that this might be the closest she’s ever seen him to being embarrassed.
Chouji and his dad arrive as she’s sprinkling in some parsley as a finishing touch.
They’re both carrying huge containers full of takoyaki and cooked spring greens, and she spares a small moment to be envious of all the amazing things Chouji’s family can afford to do.
Then she launches Chouji another hug to thank him for all his help once he’s set his cargo down.
He squeaks like he did last time and Akimichi-san laughs loudly, for some reason.
Iruka-sensei and Uchiha arrive with eleven lunchboxes, two dogs, Kiba and his mum, and Hinata in tow.
Uchiha keeps sneaking what appear to be morsels of meat to Akamaru and Kuromaru.
There’s also a pale-eyed frowning boy who Iruka-sensei introduces as Hyuuga Neji, Hinata’s cousin who’d been sent along to act as her chaperone.
The boy sniffs disdainfully when they greet him and goes to stand in a corner of the garden near Mebuki, completely ignoring Lee when he waves to him.
She doesn’t think she likes Hinata’s cousin very much.
The lunchboxes Uchiha brought are black lacquer decorated with gold and red tomoe, much fancier than anything she’d been expecting.
When questioned, he just shrugs and says, “It’s just old stuff from New Year’s. It’s just taking up space at home, so it’s better off here.”
She knows better than to say anything like “sorry”, so she just pats his shoulder and says “No, that compartment’s too small for the onigiri, put it in this one.”
“That’s way too big, it looks tiny in that one.” Uchiha snaps, but with a bit less bite than usual.
Iruka-sensei looks mildly overwhelmed by all the people in the back garden. Okaa-san comes along, hands him a drink, pats his shoulder and says “They’re in my house,” in a sympathetic tone.
Iruka-sensei gives her a pitying look and knocks the sake back in one go.
Adults here can be weird.
Finally they’ve finished serving and she calls out “Food’s up!”
The adults come in to help take the larger platters of food outside, a huge plate of pasta, several smaller hamburger steaks in the style of what they’d call “sliders” in her world, and mound upon mound of takoyaki and spring greens and tangerines.
There’s a clamor outside as people begin getting their portions.
She, Chouji and Uchiha are each balancing either three or four lunchboxes per person as they take them outside.
Sakura is helping Kiba paint a pattern of cherry blossoms across Chopper’s already vibrantly pink shrine. Evidence of her handiwork on Robin’s shrine is clear is the decoration of swirling petals and the streaks of matching purple paint all over her forehead.
Ino and Naruto obviously have had a battle over the orange judging by the splashes on their hands and clothing. On the plus side Nami and Luffy’s shrines are looking particularly colorful.
Shikamaru and Hinata are splotched with green, light blue and black-and-white. Lee is smudged with brown, cyan and white paint and beaming proudly.
Shino has yellow paint on the end of his nose and is looking at the detailed illustrations of insects on the sides with pride.
The only shrines that aren’t quite done are Sanji’s, which has a blue overcoat but no decoration, and Zoro’s which doesn’t have half its roof painted yet.
“We were waiting,” Naruto says, holding out two buckets of green paint and blue respectively, “For you guys to add your bits.”
She beams at him.
Of course, Uchiha has to ruin it by immediately grabbing the green.
“What?” He says, offloading his three lunchboxes onto Kiba. “I’ll give it back once I’m finished with it.”
Ino rolls her eyes and shoulders her paintbrush, adding another orange splotch to her outfit. “Ugh. I’ll help Mayu-chan, it’s better to get it done quickly. Let’s go before the food gets cold.”
Orange, red, and yellow fish on the blue background are much more vibrant and eye-catching than green, though Uchiha does “help” by flicking the paintbrush at her while she’s distracted.
In thanks, she smears yellow on the back of his neck.
After the extra decorations are finished, Lee, Sakura and Kiba redistribute the lunchboxes to make their offerings.
The only problem is there’s eleven of them and ten lunchboxes.
“You all go ahead.” She steps back. “I’ll do the next bit.”
Each one of them place the pirate lunchboxes down in front of the shrines and step back.
For some reason, she feels like traditional prayers and chants appropriated from the sage guy won’t really be all that welcoming to them.
But then, what? What could help them feel at home at these shrines, so far from the sea?
Her gaze falls on Brook’s shrine.
Oh.
Oh, well it’s obvious when it’s put like that, isn’t it?
She just hopes she remembers the words correctly. She doesn’t want to butcher them on accident.
“Yohohoho, yohohoho~ Yohohoho, yohohoho~”
Her voice sounds frail and quiet, and she can feel everyone’s eyes on her. Still, she stumbles through the last two refrains of yohohoho’s to the first verse.
“Binksu no sake wo, todokei ni yuku yo, umikaze, kimakase, namimakase~ Shio no mukou de, yuhi wo sawagu, sora nya, wao kaku tori no uta~”
Naruto joins in on the next verse, singing along slightly out of tune and mixing up some of the words.
His cheeks look as flushed as hers feel, and it’s hard not to giggle when they catch each other’s eyes. Somehow they both manage to keep singing.
Gai-sensei and Lee boisterously shout DON alongside them as they join as well, Gai-sensei’s voice strong and sure, while Lee’s volume makes up for any deficiencies in wording. She almost can’t hear Okaa-san’s melodious voice and Otou-san’s decidedly tone-deaf one join in on the second set of Yohohoho’s over their noise.
Sakura and Ino’s voices are both high-pitched, but they carry the tune well enough. So does Kiba, though he’s pitching up to a falsetto for some reason. Hinata’s voice is soft, but she’s genuinely singing, unlike Shikamaru and Sasuke who’re mumbling through all the bits apart from the yohohoho’s. Shino is monotone if precise and enthusiastic, while Chouji has a surprising set of pipes on him.
Akamaru is just howling to the beat. And with that accompaniment, how could anyone stop themselves from singing along?
It feels like more people than could possibly fit into their house and garden are bellowing Bink’s Sake together by the time they’ve reached the third set of Yohohoho’s.
It can’t exactly be called “harmonious”. Everyone’s a little out of tune, a little off beat.
But the mixing of all the voices of her family and friends feels so right, it makes her voice stronger, lets her sing louder.
She opens her eyes and nearly chokes on the next note.
Hovering in front of the brightly painted shrines, slightly faded but gaining color and substance with every passing moment, They stand.
Merry appears in all her glory, as if in mid- sail. Brook is playing his violin, a foot tapping to the beat. Franky is winding up for his SUPA pose, grinning broadly. Robin is resting a hand on Chopper’s hat. Chopper himself is peeking at them the wrong way round from Robin’s leg.
Sanji’s tapping out his cigarette with a grin and giving a small salute. Usopp is waving to them, like a captain would to his 8,000 followers. Nami’s blowing a kiss as if to adoring fans.
Zoro...is climbing over the garden fence and jogging to take his place in front his shrine next to the others. Nami shoots him a Look while Luffy laughs at him, sitting in mid air and clapping his feet together.
The Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates then turns to her and gives her a wide grin.
She blinks away tears as he and his crew fade away with the last notes of the song.
The food in the lunchboxes is gone.
The food on Naruto’s plate is also gone.
In fact, all the food in the immediate vicinity appears to be gone.
It’s just that Naruto looks down at his plate and yells in indignation first.
She lets out a wet laugh. “Darn it Luffy.”
#my writing#naruto#one piece#but i like one piece#monkey d. luffy#naruto uzumaki#rock lee#nara shikamaru#sasuke uchiha#chouji akimichi#sakura haruno#ino yamanaka#hinata hyuga#kiba inuzuka#shino aburame#rookie 9#straw hat pirates#naruto oc#ketsugi mayu#ketsugi chie#ketsugi jirou#maito gai
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Once in a Lifetime: Chapter 20
Once in a Lifetime: A Harry Styles AU Imagine Series
I’m sorry that I haven’t updated for years; took me a while to find motivation and finally put what in my mind into words… so I hope you enjoy it!
All the love.xx
Chapter 20: The Muse
Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
October 2019: Barcelona, Spain (Memories)
Zayn’s POV
It was the fifth morning of our vacation. The golden sunlight peaking through our resort curtains had woken me up from my deep sleep. I tightened my eyes and winced from the slight soreness in my arms and thighs. I felt her body next to mine and my heart skip a beat.
Flashbacks from last night with Y/N hit me and a smile slowly crept across my face; it was a night that I know I will always remember. The romance, the passion, the love… all of it was new to me. I honestly never had felt this strong about anyone in my life.
Last night I realized that I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with her and it hasn’t even been a year.
I slowly inhaled and then exhaled as I opened my eyes. I looked over to my right to see Y/N sleeping peacefully on her stomach with her arms tucked under her pillows. The sun was hitting her body so perfectly and God, did she look flawless.
I slipped out of bed, pulled on my boxers and quietly tiptoed over to my bag and pulled out my sketch book and pencil set and began drawing her.
I have traveled all around the world, seen countless beautiful artwork and sculptures, visited the most amazing places and heard various pieces of music that changed my life… but nothing was a breath-taking as Y/N.
I drew every detail of her body that I could see; I added shadows, highlights, and even drew the texture of her hair that rested so perfectly down her back and along the pillow as she slept. Her steady breathing helped me focus as I worked my hands across the paper. I felt so at ease in her presence. She knew that I love to draw and paint her here and there, but she had no idea that I had began a small collection of just pieces that all pertain to her in my studio. She was my muse. She brought out this side of me that I never knew I had. She believed in me and always encouraged me to keep drawing and painting because she whole heartedly believed that one day someone will recognize my talents.
About an hour and half passed and I had finally finished, I smiled to myself as I tucked my drawing back into my bag and crawled in bed next to her and trailed butterfly kisses up her bare back and across her shoulders.
“Morning Zayn,” She whispered, eyes still closed. She snuggled her body closer to mine as she pulled the top sheet to cover us.
“Morning babe,” I grinned as I wrapped my arms around her naked body and kissed the top of her head.
She suddenly rolled over her body on top of mine, slightly confusing me. She picked her head up and placed a kiss on my lips blindly and began trailing kisses down my neck and to the other side.
Ooh.
I moved my head to the side for her to have more access to my neck, “Love… We have a lot of things to do today.” I chuckled.
She paused her movements and picked up her head and peaked through one eye, “Are you saying no to my lazy morning advances?”
She tucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and smiled before she began kissing my jawline and neck.
How in the world am I suppose to say no?
“I’m not saying no, I’m just… saying… that… we have a lot to do… today.” I breathlessly replied.
“Mmmm please, I want you,” She mumbled against my ear.
I felt my cock twitch and flipped her over; a giggled escaped from her lips, one of my favorite sounds in the world.
“Guess last night wasn’t enough for you?” I placed a kiss on her lips then neck.
“I can never get enough of you,” She grinned as she ran her fingers through my hair and crashed her lips into mine.
Damn, I am so in love with her.
September 2020: Manhattan, New York City (Present Day)
Your POV
Liam and Sophia were gone on their week long honeymoon in the Fiji Islands. I had been working like crazy all week since Eleanor and I had received new patients and had to run them through a series of tests, study lab diagnostics, and extensive research to figure out the best course of action. I had been getting headaches every single day from the stress, which was stressing me out even more because I couldn’t focus and I needed a clear head when it came to making a decision that affects my patients’ outcomes.
On another note, Harry and I have been inseparable. He and I could barely stand a few hours without each other. It’s like nothing I have ever felt before.
A few nights ago, I was absolutely exhausted after work and so was he; he had called me around 10pm after he got out of the shower and wanted to say goodnight. I honestly didn’t mind that he wanted to sleep at his own since work had drained me that day and all I wanted to do was sleep. After we said our goodnights to each other and hung up, I settled in bed and tried to sleep.
But I couldn’t.
I kept tossing and turning and going crazy because I was so exhausted, I knew I was, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I then realized that ever since Harry and I started dating again we hadn’t really spent a night without each other. It had become second nature to us to just stay at one another’s, so tonight was the first night I had been without him since June. I had just seen Harry this morning and already I was missing him.
I looked at my clock to see it read 11:36pm. An hour had already passed and as tired as I was, I was willing to drive over to Harry’s. I groaned as I sat up and grabbed my phone.
Just as I was about to call my boyfriend, I heard the front door to my condo open and jumped.
Only two people have the key to my place besides the landlord: Liam- in case of an emergencies; and Harry. I crawled out of bed and peaked my head out of my door to see Harry walking towards my bedroom with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
“Hi,” He smiled as he dropped the bag and wrapped his arms around me, “I couldn’t sleep without you.”
I returned his hug and kissed his lips, “I couldn’t either, I was just about to call you to tell you I was coming over.”
Harry guided us to my bed and lightly pulled me down next to him, “I’ve missed you love.”
We both settled into each other’s arms and within two minutes we both drifted off to sleep.
- - - - -
It was the Friday night before Zayn’s art show, Eleanor and I coerced our boyfriends into a double date since Liam and Sophia were still not going to be back for another couple of days.
“Are we really going to see an old film while sitting on picnic blankets?” Louis groaned as Harry pulled up to Central Park. Central Park was hosting a movie night for lovers, they had a giant huge screen set up with popcorn stands, cotton candy machines, soda stands and boxes of candies.
“It’s not that old Louis, there’s color.” Harry grinned as he turned off the car.
“If you’re going to be a sore sport tonight then just hail a cab and go home.” Eleanor rolled her eyes, she was getting irritated because she looked forward to tonight but Louis couldn’t stop complaining.
Louis immediately knew from her tone that he needed to shut up before he pissed her off again, “No, I’m sorry love, I want to be here!”
I stifled a giggle as I climbed out of Harry’s SUV.
Harry grabbed the two blankets he brought, handed one to Louis, as I laced his hand in mine. We found a nice spot on the grass which had a good view of the screen and as Eleanor and I set up the blankets, the boys went to buy drinks and snacks.
“Have I ever told you how cute you and Harry look together?” Eleanor grinned as she sat down next to me.
“Nope.” I crinkled my nose and shook my head.
“Well you two do look adorable, and the way he looks at you… so full of love…” She began.
“That’s how Louis looks at you.” I pointed out.
“Yeah?” Her eyes lit up.
“Of course! Come on Eleanor! I tell you all the time that Louis’ completely head over heels for you!” I nudged her shoulder with mine.
“I know he is! He actually… told me that he was ready for the next step,” Eleanor mumbled.
“What?!” I turned my body towards her with my jaw dropped, “He is?!”
“Shhhh!” She brought her finger up to her lips but couldn’t hide her smile.
“But I don’t know if he meant marriage though!”
“What else could it mean?” I chuckled, “You guys live together, have a dog together, pay bills together… didn’t he also co-sign on your car? What else could he possibly mean?”
“I don’t know! I just don’t want to assume anything when it comes to Louis, you never know what the hell goes through his mind!” She shook her head.
“That’s true-,” I was going to say something else, but we saw the boys approaching us and changed the subject.
After the movie we decided to grab a late-night dinner at one of Louis’ favorite burger joints.
“So are you two going to Zayn’s art show tomorrow?” Louis asked as we ate.
“Yeah,” I took a sip of my beer, “I’m going there first, Harry’s going to come after he gets off work.”
Harry just nodded in agreement since he had food in his mouth.
“Yay! Can we go together Y/N? Niall and Louis are going to come straight from their meeting and I don’t want to show up alone.” Eleanor batted her eyelashes at me.
“Of course! You’re going to be the prettiest date there and that I’ve ever had.” I winked at her and she jokingly blushed.
“Heyyyyy!” Harry furrowed his eyebrows and looked up at me.
“What?” I took another bite of my burger.
“What about me? Am I not pretty?” Harry pouted.
“Do you want to be called pretty, Harold?” Louis laughed.
“Well… I…” Harry didn’t know how to respond.
“Face it Styles, you have nothing on me.” Eleanor stuck her tongue out and flipped her hair.
“I agree with her on this one Styles,” Louis grinned as he rubbed one of Eleanor’s forearms with his free hand.
I kept trying not to laugh at Harry’s pouty face but failed as I wiped my mouth.
“Well fine! I’ll find someone that thinks I’m pretty to take me tomorrow night.” He jokingly huffed.
“You do that and see what happens.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh! Do it! I want to see what happens!” Louis taunted us and Eleanor nodded with a big smile on her face.
I shot Harry a playful glare before I leaned over the table and placed a kiss on his lips.
“Ew! Stop!” Louis groaned.
When we finished the movie, we joined Andy, Niall, and Katherine at a nearby bar around 11pm and caught each other up with what’s been going on in each other’s lives all week, on top of stalking Liam’s and Sophia’s Facebook photos that they posted of their honeymoon.
- - - - -
Saturday Morning (Day of Zayn’s Art Show/ Present Day)
Harry’s POV
Damn it.
I bent over to pick up the cookie pan I dropped, thank goodness there wasn’t anything in there.
“Harry! What’s going on with you today my dear?” Claudia asked.
“I’m just a bit anxious is all.” I mumbled as I placed the dirty pan into the sink.
“Anxious about what?” Claudia dried her hands and leaned on the counter next to me.
I exhaled loudly and motioned for Claudia to follow me into my office, not wanting the whole staff to hear what was bothering me.
Claudia and I took the seat next to me and waited patiently for me to talk.
“I’m just anxious because tonight Y/N and I are going to her ex-boyfriend’s art show… he’s a new rising artist. I saw an article of him in the New York Times this morning about how his pieces are suppose to be beautiful… and I don’t know… I’m just over thinking a lot of things.” I pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger and leaned back against the chair.
Claudia’s face softened, “Harry… what are you worried about? That she will go back to him?”
“Yes.” I finally admitted.
“Harry… but she chose you, did she not?”
I sighed again, “What if tonight she realizes it was a mistake? What if she sees how well his art work is doing and-”
“Is that the type of woman you think she is?” Claudia cocked her head to the side.
“No but-”
“Ah no buts,” Claudia held up a hand, “Imagine if she heard you thinking these things about her, as if you don’t trust her love for you.”
“I know… it’s why I’ve been a mess all morning, I feel like a terrible boyfriend for thinking that she would go back to him and my head is just spinning with crazy thoughts because I’m going to be half an hour late to the show tonight because we have that order.” I pulled the hair tie out of my messy bun and fixed it to make it look more neat.
“I understand where you’re coming from because I don’t want you getting hurt dear, but you are just going to make things worst if you worry about things that aren’t worth stressing over. She was with him and then even after 10 years she was still in love with you, I’m sure she loves you just as much as you love her… so please don’t worry so much.”
“I know, I know, you’re right Claudia. Thank you for talking to me. I’ve been keeping it to myself all day.” I cleared my throat.
“Yeah just take a few minutes alone and clear you head! Go for a walk or something! We have a lunch rush coming soon and we have to finish that cake before you leave,” Claudia stood up and straightened her pants before she put her hand on my shoulder and slightly shook it, “You’re an amazing person Harry, I’m sure her ex-boyfriend is good guy, but she chose you for a reason, believe in that reason.”
I grabbed my phone, wallet and pulled off my hairnet as I exited the kitchen and told Candice that I would be back in an hour.
I hailed a cab and gave him the address to Niall’s office as I clicked on his name in my phone.
Niall’s POV
“Did Harry tell you that we are going to Y/N’s ex-boyfriend art exhibit tonight?” I held my phone in between my cheek and shoulder as I shuffled through the dozens of files on my desk while trying to talk to Gemma.
“What? Come again? Y/N’s ex-boyfriend?” I heard Gemma’s shocked tone of voice on the other end.
“Yeah, his name is Zayn, he’s a really cool guy. I actually met him the same night Harry told me about him and Y/N… that was a strange night come to think of it.” I raised an eyebrow as I remembered catching Harry and Y/N making out.
“Why are you going to his art show?” She asked.
“Well he invited all of us, sort of. He invited Y/N and Louis and told them to bring whoever they want. Actually, here, I’ll show article that The New York Times did on him.”
I quickly texted Gemma the article and continued searching for the documents I needed for work.
“New York Time? Whoa, he must be good.” I heard her say as I found the file I was looking for.
“Yeah, that’s what it seems like. I might buy a piece tonight, my home office is a bit dull, yeah?”
“It wasn’t dull the other week when you were fucking me on your desk.” She nonchalantly replied.
Her words took me by surprise and I almost dropped my phone.
“What?” I swallowed.
“You heard me lover boy,” She chuckled.
“You can’t say something like that when you’re not here, that’s not fair.” I cleared my throat as I sat up in my chair.
I heard Gemma giggle, “You weren’t complaining when we had phone sex yesterday.”
“Gemma, I’m going to hang up, I swear this is pure torture.” I groaned as I adjusted my pants.
“You wouldn’t dare hang up on me.” Gemma said oh-so-matter-of-factly but then I heard my phone beeped and saw Harry’s name flash across my screen.
“I would if your brother was calling. Gotta go, love you, bye!” I smiled as I ended our call and answered Harry.
“Harry! What can I do for you?” I cleared my throat.
“I’m heading over to your office, want to have lunch?” He asked, his voice sounding a bit off.
I looked up at the clock on my wall to see that it was almost noon, “Yeah I’ll order something for us and have it sent up to my office. I have to go through some contracts so I can’t leave the building yet.”
“Alright, that sounds good, see you soon.”
I texted Louis to ask him if he wanted me to order him anything and he quickly replied saying he was starving and to order him anything.
I called a nearby restaurant that I frequently ordered from, gave them my order, and continued reading the contract.
I heard a knock on the door ten minutes later to see Louis strolling in with his hands in his pants so I stood up to greet him like I always do.
“Whoa Niall, I know that wasn’t because of me or maybe it was, are you that excited to see me or did you get a new secretary?” Louis gestured at my pants and I felt my face flush red and quickly sat down to smooth out my pants.
“Fuck off, you twat,” I groaned.
“Hey! No need to get hostile! Geez just go call your girlfriend or something!” Louis chuckled.
“She’s the reason for my predicament.” I shook my head as I crossed my legs under the desk.
I saw a smirk form on Louis’ face, “Oh really? Did she send nudes?”
“Louis, shut up. Harry’s about to be here. Just drop it.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“You really need to get laid.” Louis clucked his tongue as he sat down on the couch that was in my office.
Yes, yes I do.
- - - - -
Saturday Evening (Present Day)
Your POV
I stepped back and smiled at myself in the mirror. I was very pleased with my hair, outfit and make up for tonight.
A knock on my front door pulled my attention away from my reflection and I hurried, knowing it was Eleanor.
“Y/N! You look gorgeous!” She squealed as I opened up the door.
“You look amazing!!!” I beamed as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into my apartment.
“Who are you trying to seduce? Harry or the artist?” She teased.
“El!” I gasped and then frowned.
“I”m just saying! You have two guys that are head over heels in love with you…” She clucked her tongue and then shot a devilish grin at me.
“El-” I started.
“I’m only kidding! But you do look pretty damn gorgeous, I don’t know if anyone is going to be looking at Zayn’s artwork cause they’ll be too busy checking you out.” She winked.
“Okay, please stop.” I laughed as I pulled her into my bedroom.
Eleanor and I did some last minute touch ups before we went down stairs to get in our Uber.
New York City on a Saturday night is always the same, busy and full of traffic. The ride to the art show made me feel a little anxious. I was constantly checking my phone to see if Harry would text me even though I know he was working.
I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight with Harry and Zayn being in the same building, but I really hope that it goes smoothly. Just as we arrived to the exhibit I got a buzz on my phone.
Hey love, I just finished up at the bakery and will be heading over soon. I’ll see you in a bit! - H
I quickly responded to Harry and placed my phone inside my clutch.
We all thanked the Uber driver as he dropped us off and made our way slowly inside. I was the last person to enter since the strap of my heel needed adjustment.
From the outside looking in, I could see a lot of people in the exhibit. I was so proud of Zayn for following his dreams and never giving up on himself. I stepped into the double doors of the building and walked to the exhibit entrance, a lot of the people began to look at me and whisper. I didn’t recognize a lot of them but they appeared to recognize me.
I thought perhaps I was being paranoid but I saw a group of people around a beautiful hand crafted sculpture by Zayn of just a naked body that seemed vaguely familiar, and people silenced as I walked by.
I tried to look around for my friends but then my eyes caught a glimpse of the wall of Zayn’s artwork and I froze: they were all of... me. All of...me. Zayn’s entire exhibit was pieces of art that all pertained to me.
I couldn’t move. I didn’t know what to do. All of a sudden people started clapping and I heard Zayn’s voice from behind me that pulled me out of my trance.
“Y/N, thanks for coming, it means the world to me that you could make it,” Zayn beaned at me as he held out his arms.
“Zayn... I... it’s all me...” I was flustered and couldn’t find the right words. Everyone was watching me and I didn’t want to ruin Zayn’s night so I just hugged him, still in complete disbelief. A woman in dark maroon pant suite standing next to Zayn nodded to acknowledge me and I could see her now understand who his artwork was about.
His work was breathtaking, not in the way that it was me, but his art style. I was speechless.
Elenor came up to me and pulled me to the side realizing that I was in a shock and needed her rescue.
“Y/N!” She whispered when she pulled me into a corner away from others, “first off, wow you’re absolutely gorgeous, and two, what the fuck?!”
“I really had zero idea that Zayn had this much art work of me! I knew he sketched me here and there when we were together but paintings? Sculptures? Photos? Everything... I’m so overwhelmed right now.” I could feel my anxiety building, my heart racing and my head beginning to pound.
“Y/N, I love you but you need to make sure that Harry does not see this because he will probably lose it.”
OH SHIT. HARRY!
I tried to open my clutch but of course I was having a hard time opening it. I was fumbling and finally just gave it to Eleanor because I was a wreck.
I unlocked my phone and called Harry but he didn’t pick up.
Moments later, Zayn stood up on a podium, and began to make a small speech. He thanked everyone for coming and talked about how he came from a family with a lot of love but little money, and wanted nothing more than to be an artist and he’s finally able to make that dream come true and he wanted to thank me, Y/N, for always being supportive and encouraging him to chase his dreams. “I wouldn’t be the man or the artist I am today without her and I’m so glad to have her in my life. She has been there for me through so much of my life. She is my friend, my muse.”
The entire audience clapped and cheered Zayn congratulating him.
The woman that I recognized from earlier walked next to him and asked for the microphone after whispering in his ear. Zayn’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman, my name is Isabella Russo. I am the proud owner of Luhring Augustine and would love to thank you all for coming to support our new up and coming artist, Zayn. It has just come to my attention that every piece Zayn has graced us tonight has been purchased. Congratulations Zayn, you have won a permanent wall here at my art gallery.”
Sound began to fade as my eyes went wide. I could see everyone cheering and clapping but it was all white noise to me at this point. I felt someone grab my hand and pull me away. Thinking it was Eleanor but I finally looked up and saw it was Harry and my heart dropped. Oh no.
Harry pulled me out of the exhibit and outside into the front of the building, not realizing that I was having a semi-anxiety attack, Harry began to shout.
“How dare he just put you on display like that? Did you know? Of course you couldn’t have because you would have TOLD me! Did he even ask you for permission? Did you sign a contract or waiver? Who does he think he is? How fucking dare he just put a sculpture of your naked body for the fucking world to see?” Harry was pacing, he was angry and shouting.
“Y/N! Can you say something? What the fuck!” Harry roared.
I tried to blink back tears, “Harry I really had no idea, he never told me... I... didn’t know.” I felt my head began to pound, oh god not these damn migraines again.
Niall came out of the building and he could feel that there was a lot of tension between us. He smiled at me and walked up to Harry. “Mate, it’s handled. It’s also not Y/N’s fault and you know it.”
Louis and Eleanor quickly joined us outside, Eleanor coming to my side to make sure I was okay. While Louis handed Harry a drink.
“Breathe Y/N. Just breathe. Can I place my hands on you?” Eleanor asked, when I nodded she put her hands on my arms and rubbed them up and down to comfort me. Eleanor just knew me and tell I was having a semi-anxiety attack and god I love her so much because of it.
After I was finally able to compose myself and was able to process the events of tonight and speak. I walked up to my boyfriend, who was boiling with rage.
“Harry, you have no right to be angry with me. I didn’t know about any of this. You cannot be angry at me for something I cannot control.” I stood ground, “Zayn’s art is his art. I’m not going to stop him from doing what he loves.”
“Obviously you couldn’t control or handle it! Art? He put you on display like... like...THAT. I am not going to just let him do that to you.” He rudely stated. I saw something in Harry’s eyes. I had never seen this side of Harry, ever. He was always so kind, so generous... but this was... what?
“Mate, back off. She didn’t do anything wrong.” Louis stepped in between us.
“What do you mean like THAT?” I asked. Eleanor close behind me.
“Like you’re his girlfriend and like some OBJECT to be desired!” Harry shouted. And I just dropped my jaw in disbelief.
Then all of a sudden we heard Zayn’s voice break the silence, “She is not an object, she is much more than that to me. You have no right to be speaking to her that way. She didn’t know about this part of my work. It was my fault and mine alone. If you want to be angry at anyone then be angry at me.”
“How dare you just put her on display like that? Have you no respect for Y/N?” Harry growled at Zayn.
Louis and Niall had to step in between both of them.
“She has my most respect. She is my muse. I’m sorry that you don’t understand what it’s like to be an artist but I’m not going to apologize for my art work.” Zayn stated. He turned to me and thanked me for coming and apologize for not telling me in advance because he wanted it to be a surprise. My head began to pound even harder and my ears began to ring. This wasn’t the normal migraines anymore.
All of a sudden I see Harry trying to lunge himself at Zayn, while Niall and Louis hold him back and force him to calm down. Harry was trying to push his way through them to get to Zayn. But I moved between Zayn and Harry trying to make sure that no one was getting hurt tonight.
“Y/N get out of my way!” Harry bellowed.
“No.” I breathed trying to stay steady, “Harry, please calm down-” my was starting to blur and then all of a sudden...darkness.
The last thing I remember was seeing the rage in Harry’s eyes and then it was black.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
<3 M
#once in a life time#harry styles fanfiction#harry styles#onceinalifetimefanfiction#Harry styles angst series#one direction fanfiction#Harry styles imagine#Harry styles imagine series#one direction fanfic imagine#Harry styles fanfic#Harry styles angst imagine
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The biggest post yet: Analyzing a multipage story
Before I begin, I like to thank every follower so far and the ones who helped me over the course of the last weeks to build this tumblr up. This is for you and in a way the first test run for future, hopefully more elaborate reviews of Dobson’s comics. Hope you enjoy it and learn something.
Without further ado, ladys, gentlemen and the colorful rianbow inbetween, I present the unpublished “So you are a cartoonist?” story about the King of Queens trying to become a comic artist
Okay, this is not quite right. What is going to happen is as followed:
A few years ago Dobson released via his patreon the unpublished sketches of a multipage comic story about the struggles of a webcomic artist by the name of Kevin James, with no relation to the famous comedian who as of recently is also playing a neo nazi in a supposedly pretty damn good home invasion movie.
What I want to do is now go through this comic and point out some of the flaws in the writing/progression, okay? Cause honestly, this is not going to be the worst thing Dobson ever published. But it unfortunately has more than a few little hiccups that show Dobson’s flaws when it comes to creating a story.
So off to the next pages
Now as you can see, it is pretty obvious that the story is heading into a direction where Kevin seems to be a down on his luck creator. Having to work at the blandest named Burger Joint since Good Burger, with discount Doctor Wily as his manager and getting pretty little money into his account. Seriously, only 206 $ plus? I don’t know much about minimum wage in the states, but are you really getting that little even after taxes have been accounted for? Or is it likely Kevin is pretty deep into the reds and his deposit was even putting it into the plus again. If so… yaiks.
And now we are getting into the pages where a few slight problems may show up, depending on your own interpretation of things.
See, in my opinion it is obvious that we are meant to feel sorry for Kevin, cause he lost his minimum wage job now for simply being late. Something that can happen to all of us. And yeah, losing your job when you have not really much in the bank, that sucks. So I would wish for the character to get at least a new job soon. However, we also need to acknowledge that the manager is not in the wrong here. After all, Kevin supposedly has shown up late for work for some time and his excuse that he was late because he had to work on his comic is not reasonable. For a lack of a better word, making this comic is just his hobby, not his job. His job is to make burgers and sell them, because the manager of the burger joint is paying him for that. So excuse me if my sympathy is not that much with him
Not really much to say here. I just want to point out two things: One, the countdown that showed up also in previous pages and goes further down the longer we get into the story, two that it actually may be a good thing that Dobson has not drawn the copy shop employee in more detail. Cause one thing I came to realize over time with Dobson is, that often times his sketches have more of a softness to them than the final product, where e.g. faces are more harsher and frankly, uglier than they need to be, in addition to being a bit oversaturated thanks to the colors. And with Dobson’s tendency to make also angry faces genuinely spiteful, I wonder if the copy shop owner would have come off in the final product as more “strawman mean” than necessary. Cause it is very obvious that “poor Kevin” seems to suffer from the indifferences of his environment.
One month since he was fired and one more month till we are in the present and he loses his electricity cause he has not paid his bills. And this is where I slightly start to lose my sympathy with the character. Again, it is obvious that the story wants us to feel bad for Kevin because he is down on his luck although all he wants to do is just create his comic.
But at the same time, only halfway through the comic I have to ask, how much of his shitty situation is not just him doing nothing against it?
I mean, he has obvious money issues, he can’t pay the electricity bill and he has been fired a month ago. Shouldn’t he at this point not have attempted yet to get a replacement job? Or ask for unemployment support? Do commission work for fans in exchange for money?
I am just saying, his woes become a bit less relatable if he does not really attempt to at least try and fix the situation.
And unfortunately, this development continues still
Gesh, this comic is really old when Kevin still owns a flip phone…
Also, I need to give his mom credit. 500$ send to her son so that he can pay his debts off and live well enough for a few days. Sorry, but 500$ is actually enough for me to live for a month and pay my groceries and major bills if I am careful enough. Lets hope Kevin is the same and that he looks out for a job
… nope, he does not look for a job. Two weeks after he got the money he still does not have a job to support himself and assure he has a roof over his head. In fact, he likely loses more money than he necessarily needs to by going to a diner.
Look, unlike other characters created by Dobson, I really do not hate Kevin. Primarily because he does not show any of the despicable or idiotic traits other characters by him do. But Kevin is not doing anything to improve his situation, period. And that is not really how you should write “down on their luck” characters, cause that doesn’t really make them sympathetic. The sympathy a reader gives those characters stems primarily from the fact, that though they really try their best, fate is not working into their favor for different reasons beyond their control. But here the problem is, that Kevin has to a certain degree control over his situation. He can decide what he wants to do with the money, he can decide to either do or not do anything to improve his situation at least slightly. And he doesn’t do anything.
Dear lord, Kevin is essentially Dobson when it comes to the laters overall situation and how he does little to improve anything when he is stuck.
Then there is also the entire thing about the waitress calling Kevin’s work amazing. For starters, I kinda doubt that that in our modern day society and work environment her acting like that in front of a customer, even if the customer does not mind, would fly with her employer. After all, professionalism and all that. Next, her praise feels shallow. The typical cardboard speech praise checkmark lines you can give to any piece of work, that don’t really mean anything if you do not elaborate on what it really is you find amazing about the characters in terms of personality or what it is about the story that hits home (e.g. can you realte to the characters, are you genuinely thinking the story is funny etc)
In fact, what even is Kevin’s comic?
I get that his work is not the center stage of this story, but think about it: we are supposed to think that Kevin is talented and that he needs his lucky break. But would his work even justify success and admiration? All we know is that the comic features a character called Kat (not really an original name) who for a lack of a better word and based on the sketch outline may just be the bastard offspring of Bubsy and Talus from Alex ze Pirate. And that is it. For all I know, and taking for shit and giggles a made up meta narrative into account, his work may actually be on the same level as Alex ze Pirate itself. And if that is the case, let me just fill out an application as janitor for Kevin right now. If he is lucky he can make around 1000 dollars a month soon.
This right here is actually a prime example of a common problem in Dobson’s longer story: Him breaking the old rule of “show, don’t tell”. The narrative tells us e.g. via the words of the waitress and the fact he has fans, that Kevin is a good cartoonist. But we do not see it for ourselves. And I am not suggesting here Dobson should draw 20 additional pages of Kevin’s creations and comics, because that would be freaking overkill. But imagine if this comic started off with the first page being part of a a very fantastic fight scene or story. Something rich in color and characters. Only for it to be revealed in the next page to be actually NOT the story we are supposed to read, but something Kevin creates right now. By doing so Dobson could not only show for the actual main story that Kevin is justified in having success, Dobson could have also shown for himself how he can be imaginative. How he can toy with tropes and expectations, while also creating something “new” out of nowhere just for fun. But that is not what we got. And all we have now are four more pages.
Again, ONE MORE WEEK passed and he still did not get a job. And in fact, he is also overdue on his rent and wants to ask his mother AGAIN for money.
Dude… I am all out of sympathy. Sell your freaking kidney for all I care, offer your landlord oral sex or that you are going to do work around the house for him, just try to do something except beg mother to help you out again. Especially as she has already send you 500 dollar. What have you done with that money anyway? Did most of it get spend on your electric bill? If so, how huge was it? And did you fail to pay rent for a couple of months now that even your landlord is having enough? I ask the later in part because I genuinely do not know how fast a landlord can vacate you in the US. See, where I live you can get vacated too when you don’t pay up, but most landlords are by law forced to at least let you stay for a few more weeks till you either find a way to pay up or another place to live. Forceful removal of a tenant can mostly only happen if the person causes severe damage to the apartment or is facing criminal charges.
So NOW you are looking for a job. Good luck getting 700 dollars in three days though. I can’t imagine that even if you get hired, that anyone will pay up that amount of money upfront to help you. Again, do you have no other options, Kevin? Also, for how long was that sign up there? How often have you gone by that diner? Also dear lord, the waitress really is not the smartest if she thinks being a webcomic artist pays all the bills
So if the manager has already found someone, even if it was “just” now, why was the “now hiring” sign even still in the window? And he assumes there are even more bills? Kevin… do you have a genuine problem when it comes to handling finances? Would you do better, if you only get an allowance?
Just one more page. And with it my biggest complains
And so our comic ends with all the build up of how down on his luck Kevin is, being essentially pointless, because at the end of the day he is still lucky and all his problems get resolved not by his own doing but by deus ex machina.
Okay, this is not entirely accurate.
After all, Kevin DID create this comic. He wrote it, he drew it, he send the script to multiple publishers, he got rejected multiple times and now he is also going to finally get recognition for it all. You can say he worked to get his foot into the industry. The problem is, that none of that work is really shown in the story presented to us. We do not see him work on the script, potentially rewrite or fix up mistakes, get the impression that even with the bad situation he is in, he still wants at the very least this passion project to succeed. All we know is he worked on something and now because it is convenient for the story, his misfortune is going to end and he gets a happy end that is way too convenient for my taste.
Look, I know nothing about how publishers work. If someone reads this and has genuine experience in how publishers approach you if they are interested in your work and how much money you can really make through it, you are free to tell me what you know or have experienced directly or indirectly. Cause frankly, I find it hard to believe that any publisher would immediately do the thing Kevin now experiences here. First off, why would they not attempt to call him or get into a more convenient contact with him than the mail? Second, advanced payment? Shouldn’t you at least try to handle out basic deals before you send him a paycheck over?
I get it is supposed to be a happy end for Kevin here, but honestly, with the way how even if people are getting published, success may not be immediate or not to a degree Dobson actually hopes for. Sorry, but I am also just jaded enough as a person to know that even otherwise acclaimed work does take time to really hit a certain level of popularity. Luke Pearson e.g., wrote and drew the first volume of the comic series Hilda in 2010, just a few months after he finished college. The comic was a success and resulted in him publishing up to four more books till 2016. But only with his comic being adapted into a Netflix series in 2018 did he also get recognition outside of Great Britain, from which he is likely going to make enough money to have a comfortable life for the next couple of years. Mind you, I said comfortable, not “luxurious”. Cause this is actually one thing I fear with Dobson to a degree: That he thinks that being a successful comic creator equals also becoming stinking rich. Cause as far as I know, this is not really the case for many comic creators around the world. But I digress.
This post is not about the potential delusions of Dobson when it comes to how much of a fortune he could make through a successful publication, this post is about judging a SYAC story that got never published.
And frankly, the story of Kevin James… I don’t hate it. Honestly, I think there is potential for a decent, even longer story about a webcomic artist trying to get his big break. The problem is, this is not a story about the challenges Kevin faces in creating his comic. This is not the story about someone being determined to get his work out, even if he struggles in real life. This is not the story of someone facing and dealing with his real life struggles in a mature way, making the happy end all the more feel rightfully earned. This is a story where honestly there would be no drama at all (or at least less drama), if Kevin even attempted to do something halfway logical most other people in real life would do, if they found themselves in his situation (like looking for a job, trying to work commissions etc.) . And a drama where the dramatic event would not happen if some basic logic even a kid can think off would be applied, is at least for me not really a drama.
So yeah, it is not the worst thing by Dobson, but it is very flawed to say the least.
#so you are a cartoonist#syac#andrew dobson#storytime#comic review#webcomics#comics#multi page#criticism
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Bo Burnham: Inside Songs Ranked from Worst to Best
https://ift.tt/2JMbiJl
The musical of the summer was supposed to be a life-affirming celebration of one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods, full of color, romance, and big group dance numbers. Instead for many viewers, the musical of the moment was filmed and performed by one man, alone in isolation from the comfort (or discomfort, really) of his own home, with songs centered on techno paranoia, mental health, and the fear of aging. Maybe after a year stuck in their homes, audiences could relate to the existential dread and general anxiety on display in Bo Burnham: Inside more than a conventional movie musical.
Billed as a stand-up special, Burnham’s latest musical comedy endeavor finds the former wunderkind holed up and feeling more uncomfortable than ever. Writing, editing, directing, and performing from a claustrophobic studio, Burnham’s stand-up special skews more toward being a straight-up musical, and not because the special is light on jokes and missing an audience. Rather this has all the hallmarks of a musical narrative and plays closer to experimental cinema than sketch comedy.
Burnham expresses his characters’ inner-thoughts, fears, and desires via song throughout a contained narrative, in this case the narrative being one man trying to occupy himself during a pandemic. It has ballads, charm songs, comedy numbers, “I Am” and “I Want” songs, and a big reprise. By capturing his personal pandemic experience and putting the whole affair to song, Burnham has created one of the most compelling (and catchy!) accounts of life during 2020.
To celebrate the musical that we all needed after a year in our homes, we’ve decided to rank every song from Bo Burnham: Inside. You can stream along via the Inside (The Songs) album on the streaming platform of your choice.
20. I Don’t Wanna Know
Merely an interlude, “I Don’t Wanna Know” doesn’t quite work outside of watching the special itself. However, it is a clever way to address the fact that modern audiences do not have the attention span to sit through a film at home without checking their phone or complaining about a runtime.
19. Bezos II
While certainly meant to poke fun at the real-life Lex Luthor, it’s not that fun to listen to Bezos’ name repeated. Stil, Burnham does elicit a few laughs with his over-the-top mock congratulations. “You did it!”
18. Any Day Now
A Sesame Street-like mantra that plays over the credits, “Any Day Now” suggests this could all end either hopefully soon or on a depressingly vague far-off date that will never come. We’d like to think it’s the former, but it’s safe to assume what Bo thinks.
17. All Time Low
While this number gets docked points for its short runtime, it absolutely packs a punch with its four-line, single verse. After Bo admits that his mental health is rapidly deteriorating, he describes what it’s like to have a panic attack set to a chipper ‘80s dance backbeat. Unfortunately, we don’t get to ride the wave long enough, and judging lyrics, that’s probably a good thing for Bo.
16. Content
This strong opening number musically sets the vibe for Inside, letting us know that we’re in for some synth-heavy throwback beats that would be best listened to underneath a disco ball. Also incorporating silly backing vocals, a hallmark of many of Inside’s best tracks, Burnham declares he’s back with some sweet, sweet content. “Daddy made you your favorite,” he sings, and he ain’t wrong.
15. Bezos I
Unlike the reprise in “Bezos II,” “Bezos I” gets by off its increasingly deranged energy, with Burnham roasting fellow tech billionaires and working himself up into a manic frenzy by song’s end. Musically, it sounds like the soundtrack to an intense boss battle on a Sega Genesis game before ending with a sick little synth solo and Burnham hilarious squawking. It’s arguably the only acceptable thing that Bezos has ever been associated with.
14. Unpaid Intern
While “Unpaid Intern” is one of Inside’s shortest tracks, it absolutely makes the most of its time. The jazzy tune scorches the exploitative nature of unpaid internships before Burnham breaks out into a laugh-out-loud worthy scat routine. It unfortunately ends too soon.
13. Shit
Inside’s funkiest jam sounds like Burnham wrote the lyrics for a new Janelle Moane album cut. Bo show’s off his vocal dexterity and plumbs the depths of his depression in a surprisingly danceable fashion. Throwing in a little faux crowd interaction helps bring home the fact that we have all felt like this at one point or another during the pandemic.
12. Sexting
This slow-jam details the complications of sexting, throwing out hilariously too-true punchlines like “the flash makes my dick look frightened.” “Sexting” feels like one of a few songs that could most easily appear on previous Burnham specials. Proving that Inside’s musical textures do not come exclusively from ’80s synth pop, the outro of the song expertly mirrors modern pop trends by throwing in some trap-influenced “yahs” at the end of Bo’s lines.
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11. How the World Works
Influenced by comedian Hans Teeuwen and children’s entertainment in general, “How the World Works” finds Burnham going back to the well by playing the ignorant, smarmy white guy who is oblivious of the real issues plaguing nonwhite Americans. What’s even better though is Socko calling Burnham out on forcing others to educate him for his own self-actualization instead of doing the work on his own for the betterment of others.
Socko pointedly asks “Why do you rich f—— white people insist on seeing every socio-political conflict through the myopic lens of your own self-actualization?” Not to keep things too heavy, the song ends with an absurdist bit where Burnham returns Socko to the nether place that he goes when he’s not attached to Burnham’s hand. Scathing and bizarre, it’s a great piece of social commentary.
10. FaceTime With My Mom
While most of the music of Inside feels directly transported from the 1980s, “FaceTime With My Mom” seems only inspired by the past decade’s musical trends, updating the sounds in much of the same way that the Weeknd and Dua Lipa have. This is Bo Burnham as a hitmaker, and his attempt is convincing. “FaceTime With My Mom” earns easy laughs by getting to the seemingly specific, yet universal things that all our moms do over video chat.
9. Goodbye
Every good musical needs a good closing track, and Burnham nails it with “Goodbye,” pulling off a reprise that weaves in many of the special’s signature musical moments and touches on the special’s core themes. A forlorn piano ballad before it soars through Inside’s best motifs, “Goodbye” caps a triumphant musical achievement, coming back to “Look Who’s Inside Again” just to punch you in the gut one last time.
8. Problematic
Addressing his past work and some aspects that have not aged well, while also skewering celebrity apologies, “Problematic” is self-aware critique by way of an ‘80s workout bop. From the specific Aladdin confession to the overall apology for being “vaguely shitty,” Bo has never made accountability sound so good.
7. That Funny Feeling
This is Bo Burnham’s version of Father John Misty’s “Holy Shit,” a laundry list of all the stupid things that are signaling the fall of culture and civilization as we know it. If Misty hadn’t gotten there first, we may have had this one ranked higher. Still, Burnham manages to come up with a sticky chorus that you’ll be humming the next time something makes you feel like you’re living in the uncanny valley.
6. White Woman’s Instagram
Perhaps the special’s most playful moment, “White Woman’s Instagram” uses the musical cues of an inspiring empowerment anthem to poke fun at the predictably, perfectly curated feed of a “girl boss” Instagram. The song is greatly enhanced by the accompanying visuals, which find Bo recreating the meticulously staged and glamorous portraits that women pass off as their everyday lives.
However, Bo always likes to sneak in some sentimentality, and imagines a genuinely heartfelt post to his white woman character’s deceased mother. Don’t worry, the emotional moment doesn’t overstay its welcome, and we’re soon back to laughing at horribly derivative political street art.
5. All Eyes on Me
The droning synth and pitch-down vocals make “All Eyes On Me” oddly hypnotic and beautiful. The song seems to be addressing Bo’s depression along with his need for validation and attention, a juxtaposition that many performers deal with. It becomes clear that Burnham isn’t addressing an invisible audience, but himself, trying to will himself up and out of his dreary mental state.
4. Look Who’s Inside Again
A classic “I Am” musical song, “Look Who’s Inside Again” just may be Inside’s most emotionally resonant track that seems to hit closest to who Bo Burnham was and who he is today. This is the song that I will most likely regret the most for ranking so low.
“Well, well, look who’s inside again. Went out to look for a reason to hide again,” perfectly describes the cycle of depression and will, for me, be the special’s most lasting moment. The downbeat ending “come out with your hands up, we’ve got you surrounded” is heartbreaking enough to send a shudder down your spine.
3. Comedy
The special’s real first number is absolutely packed with hooks, from the “Call me and I’ll tell you a joke” bridge to the “Should I be joking at a time like this?” change-up. This is Bo really flexing how far he’s come as a musician, expertly utilizing autotune and a key change (us “stupid motherf***ers” can’t resist them).
“Comedy” also finds Bo comfortably in the lane that we’re most used to seeing him in, playing the egomaniacal white messiah with a wink. “Comedy” is the tone-setter and it’s so good that it lets you know that you’re in good hands for the next hour plus.
2. 30
Either I’m ranking this song too highly due to its personally relatable nature or the fact that I haven’t been able to get “All my stupid friends are having stupid children” out of my head, but I really don’t care. “30” is Inside’s biggest earworm and addresses the existential terror that comes with no longer getting pats on the back for being a young wunderkind.
“30” also examines generational differences, showing how 30 year-old people are more infantile than ever. However, at the end of the day it all comes back to those shimmering keys and that irresistible refrain. Apologies to my friends with children.
1. Welcome to the Internet
No matter how deep and emotionally rich some of Inside’s other tracks may be, “Welcome to the Internet” is the one that will live on the longest. If this were a traditional musical, this would the antagonists’ showstopper; a vaudevillian romp through the alluring chaos that is the internet. Speeding up and slowing down the pace to mirror the manic, addictive nature of surfing the net, Burnham pitches the negative aspects of online culture as they are: a feature, not a bug. Promising “a little bit of everything all of the time,” “Welcome to the Internet” is almost as enticing as the dark tool itself.
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Stoki Whumptober Day 24: You’re Not Making Any Sense.
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
They were able to travel forward the next day.
“I think it’s safer that we do this over the course of several shorter jumps-- we haven’t any idea how far back we’ve gone, and the last thing we want is to overshoot our present. So… I am going to say not more than a few hundred years at a time.” Loki explained.
Steve nodded, then spun to look around at their little shelter-- their home for the last few days. “You know, it’s funny, but I feel unreasonably attached to this little fort.” He told Loki, and Loki couldn’t help the fond smile.
“Well, it did likely save your life. Some attachment is reasonable.”
Steve turned back to him, one brow raised.
“I suppose that’s even more true of people, huh?”
Loki swallowed, his mouth feeling dry and his face feeling warm.
“I suppose it depends on the person. Ah-- shall we?” He lifted the stone and held his other hand out to Steve.
He took it, and squeezed Loki’s hand reassuringly. Loki smiled at him, then closed his eyes and reached out with his seidhr, trying to use his will and his power to shape and control the power of the stone, to coax it into doing what he needed it to.
The only problem was, the stone was stronger than him. Older. Much more stubborn.
But Loki remembered Steve, at his side, and firmed his resolve. He couldn’t falter in this, could not fail.
He felt the power of the stone moving up through his seidhr again, as it had done when he was fixing Barnes’s arm, and he could feel it more potently from the source, running through him. It felt as if it was setting his veins alight, sending electricity and fire coursing through all of him.
He took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and screamed-- but didn’t let that stop him. Holding tight to Steve’s hand, he launched them both forward through the rift that his voice had somehow torn open.
They landed, sprawled on one another, on the floor of a forest much like the one they’d just been in. There were signs of life, though-- game trails and footpaths that cut through the snow, speaking of at least semi-frequent use.
Loki pushed himself upright, shivering as he finally let go of Steve’s hand and tucked the stone away into his pocket.
“Well. That was unpleasant,” He tried to say-- save that when he opened his mouth, all that came out was a croak.
He grasped at his throat, only now registering the agony of it.
His voice had been burned out by the stone’s power, which he supposed was good-- it had to come out somewhere, better there than his eyes.
But Steve was looking alarmed.
“Loki? Are you alright? You’re not-- you’re still you this time, right?”
Loki laughed, albeit soundlessly, and pointed to his throat, then shook his head.
“You can’t talk?” Steve asked, catching on blessedly fast. Faster than Thor would have, Loki was certain. He nodded.
“What-- uh, is it… is it permanent?”
That hadn’t occurred to Loki and he tilted his head, feeling around the edges of the injury with his seidhr. He put some of his gift towards helping along the healing process, and was glad to feel some small relief to the pain.
He shook his head no, then tapped his wrist, the way he’d seen Stark do.
“You just need time to heal.” Steve filled in, sounding relieved. “Okay. Good. I’m-- I’m glad. Alright-- well. Should we follow this, you think? Go in search of better shelter?”
Loki considered.
Their garb would no doubt be outlandish to any who saw them; as it was, he still wore Asgardian clothing, and Steve was in sweatpants, a thin shirt, and Loki’s jacket. Unless they wanted to be mistaken for Gods, or burned as witches, better to avoid the people of this time.
But that also meant they needed to be discreet insofar as building their shelter. Ripping trees in half was hardly quiet-- or subtle.
He tilted his hand as if balancing it, then pointed to the game trail-- which ran alongside the main path, but through the bush.
Steve frowned.
“You want to hunt-- what, deer?”
Loki huffed and shook his head.
He pointed at the path, then put his hand over his eyes, then pointed at himself.
“We can’t be seen.” Steve filled in, understanding dawning on his face. “But we should find somewhere safe to spend the night-- I assume both you and the stone need to recharge?”
Loki nodded at this.
“Okay, got it. So the game trail it is.”
They followed said trail for some ways, until it led to a small river that Loki didn’t think had been there when they’d camped in the dead of winter; it must be closer to spring now. There was still snow but it was patchy and dirty looking, and the water, though sluggish, was certainly running.
“You think it’s safe to drink?” Steve asked.
Loki looked back towards the path, which had widened into something of a road. It turned to follow the river downstream, which meant that whatever settlement it led to was also downstream, and so were any pollutants that came of it.
He nodded, grateful.
Rogers used his shield to scoop up some of the water and offered it to Loki, who drank greedily, the water spilling down his front as much as getting in his mouth, but that hardly mattered. He swallowed and relished the coolness on the inside of his throat.
Steve was openly laughing at him when he finished, and he scowled before lightly tossing the shield in his direction. Steve caught it easily, and fetched some water for himself.
While he drank, Loki saw a deer, a brave thing, venturing down for its own drink, upstream just a short way and on the opposite bank.
He carefully tapped Steve’s shoulder, then pointed.
“Oh, I didn’t realize there were actually deer.” Steve said, voice hushed.
Loki nodded, then, in a flash, embedded a throwing knife in its eye.
The deer screamed and Steve startled, but Loki was already crossing the stream to get to his quarry.
It wasn’t dead yet-- he pulled the knife out and slit its throat, putting it out of its misery.
“Wh-- why did you--?” Steve asked, looking queasy.
Loki pointed, then mimed eating, then pointed again, and pointed at the fur on Steve’s coat, then pointed a third time, and pointed in the direction that the road went.
“Wait, you want to… to sell or trade it or something?”
Loki nodded.
“I thought you didn’t want us to be seen, though?”
Loki shook his head. He pointed to himself, then his eye, then the road, then held up one finger.
“You want to see them first.”
Loki nodded, then gestured with his hands to create a little sparkle.
“Are you going to… bespell them?” Steve was frowning, already disapproving, and Loki sighed and shook his head.
He wiggled his fingers again, and pointed at the two of them.
“You’re going to bespell us-- oh, so that we fit in!”
Loki nodded.
“Great, that’s handy!”
Loki nodded, smug. Then he pointed at the deer, and then at Steve.
“You want me to carry it, I take it.” Steve sounded less enthused about this.
Loki pulled his knife free and took it to the water’s edge to rinse it off.
That done, he removed his cape and used it to fashion a sling, then, through a series of gestures, had Steve help him hoist the deer up to hang upside down and drain out a bit.
He didn’t want his coat covered in its blood if he could avoid it.
He got Steve’s attention, then pointed to himself, then to the road, and then he pointed to Steve and to the deer and to the ground on which they stood.
Steve’s brow creased, an increasingly familiar sign of his disapproval.
“If you scout ahead and get into trouble, how will I know? It’s not like you can call for help.”
That was...a fair point, Loki supposed. He wiggled his fingers again and shot off a few tiny green sparks, then pointed into the air.
“So I watch for those?” Steve asked, and Loki nodded.
For all that he was known for his words, and not particularly pleased to be without them, at least he was with someone intelligent enough to make it less painful than it would have been.
“I don’t like it, but I guess it’s the easiest way. Alright. But I mean it, the very first sign of trouble…”
Loki nodded and flapped his hand, waving off Steve’s worrying.
He followed the path, gratified to see the smoke from cooking fires off in the distance-- further than he necessarily wanted to go alone-- but he also saw a smaller spire of smoke from nearer.
He approached that one, cautious, and found what looked like a family at a semi permanent camp. Their structures looked made to be carried with them, but not so temporary as a normal camp. They’d set up several pieces of furniture, crafted with wood and weaving, and there was a woman cooking at a fire, which had been formed in an oven shaped of clay and built in place.
It was not the sort of thing one made for a day or two’s stay, but rather if one meant to be there for a time, but not permanently.
Loki located the man among all of this, and listened as they spoke.
It was not Steve’s language, he realized with a sinking feeling. And they looked little enough like Steve. That would complicate matters; he could understand them, but neither of them would be able to communicate effectively.
He silently made his way back. Steve was leaning against a tree, sketching on a small notebook that Loki didn’t think he’d noticed him having before, though he must have done.
The deer’s draining had slowed to a drip, and Loki waved when Steve heard him approaching and looked up.
“Any luck?” He asked. Loki nodded, and gestured between them, shifting both of their appearances to better match their soon-to-be hosts.
Steve looked surprised, then sheepish.
“Oh, native Americans. That makes sense. I wonder if anyone who looks like me has even made it here yet.”
That would actually be a useful means of measuring time, Loki supposed, provided Steve was even passingly familiar with his history.
She took away Steve’s illusory skin color, but left the clothing. Now at least he would seem of the time, but his skin would explain why he did not know their language.
“So your plan is to be my wife?” Steve asked, and Loki nodded, glad he’d at least realized the reasoning behind changing into a woman.
“That makes sense. It’ll seem less threatening too-- I assume it’s a woman?”
Loki held up his fingers, for five people, then pointed to herself, woman, two, Steve, man, one, then he put his hand at waist height, for children, and held up two fingers.
“A family?” Steve guessed, and Loki nodded.
“Well alright. Let’s go meet them.” Steve stood and Loki helped him pull the deer down and get it situated over his shoulder.
They reached the family’s camp again, and Loki gestured for Steve to wait, then walked ahead. She could understand them, and she looked the less threatening, the more familiar of the two.
She approached the edges of the camp, openly visible.
“Who’s there?” A woman called, and the man looked up, alarmed.
Loki gestured in a circle around her mouth, then gripped her own neck to further illustrate. She bowed his head.
“I don’t think she can talk.” The woman told the man.
He nodded. “I got that. Who’s that behind you?” He lifted his voice, calling out to Loki.
Loki looked back and pointed at Steve, then at herself, and crossed her fingers, hoping they would understand.
“Her mate?” The woman guessed.
“Seems so. Funny looking guy, but maybe that’s why they are on their own.”
Loki made a gesture to draw their eyes back to her, and she pointed at Steve, then at herself, and scooped both hands forward, as if in offering.
Then she pointed at the two of them, and then at the camp behind them, and made a gesture over her head, for a roof.
“Can you understand me?” The man asked, and Loki nodded yes.
Fortunately, that seemed to mean the same thing here as it did in her time.
“Do you need somewhere to stay for the night?”
Loki nodded yes again.
“Call your man.” The man answered, and Loki turned, gesturing that Steve should join her.
He closed the distance, and when he reached her, she stopped him and turned him so they could see the deer more clearly.
“That’s a lot of meat.” The woman pointed out helpfully. “More than two people can eat.”
Loki again made the gesture for a gift.
“I think that’s the exchange-- they need a place to escape the cold tonight, and they will give us the deer. Yes?” The man was looking at Steve, who was looking lost.
Loki waved to pull the man’s attention back to her.
She pointed at Steve, then made her hand into a mouth, and opened and closed it.
“You want me to talk?” Steve asked, and she nodded. “Oh, okay, uh, Hi, I’m Steve and this is Loki.” He said. She raised a hand; that was enough to prove the point.
“He’s from somewhere else.” The man said, staring uneasily at Steve. Loki nodded.
She made the offering gesture, then the gesture for shelter, then brought her hands to her face as if to eat.
“Your deer in exchange for a night’s sleep and a meal?” The man asked, and Loki nodded, giving him a hopeful smile.
He laughed.
“That is a good deal, I think. Though I warn you, my children will be pests about your man’s looks.”
Loki smiled wider at that.
“What’s he saying?” Steve asked, and Loki looked to him, trying to figure out how to explain. She made the short sign again, then pointed at him, then sketched a heart in the air.
Steve smiled and chuckled.
“Yeah, I’m good with kids. I’m happy to watch them, if that’s what they’re asking.”
Loki smiled; close enough, and turned back to the man. She nodded.
He made a welcoming gesture.
“Come in, then. We should begin to prepare the meat, if Kanti is to have it ready for eating tonight.”
Loki pointed at herself, then at the woman.
Kanti smiled. “Of course you can help. What can we call you?”
Loki tugged on Steve, then made the speak sign again, and pointed at herself.
“Loki.” Steve said, catching on and pointing at her.
“Loki.” Kanti repeated. Then she pointed at Steve, and mimicked Loki’s talking signal.
“Steve.” He said, tapping his own chest.
“Loki. Have Steve put the deer near the log?” The man requested, and Loki nodded.
She gestured, and Steve obeyed easily. She took a deep breath, glad that this was working.
She could not imagine that it would with anyone else.
A short while later, they were all around the fire, eating the soup that Kanti had made as well as the meat from the deer that they’d provided.
True to Machk’s promise, the children were chattering at Steve and demanding that he play with them. Meanwhile, Kanti and her sister, Hausis, were talking to Loki as if she were holding up her end of the conversation seamlessly. And she did her best, with gestures and facial expressions.
It was easy, and nice, and watching Steve with those children made her feel… incredibly fond.
“Don’t worry.” Machk said, breaking into her thoughts and surprising her. “I am sure you will have some of your own, soon. It is good not to have them while traveling, though. We travel very slowly, for it.”
Kanti smacked her husband lightly with some reeds from a nearby project, and Hausis laughed.
“It’s true. Still, we wouldn’t have it otherwise. You’ll get your own blessings, when you get where you’re going.” She promised, and Loki felt herself flushing, though she glanced back at Steve, still smiling entirely too wide, and met his eye. She turned back to their hosts and nodded.
She certainly hoped so.
#Stoki Whumptober2020#Loki#Steve Rogers#Frost SHield#capfrost#stoki#mcu fic#whumptober#that writing thing I do
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read about ori and the dark forest under the cut
STATS:
full name: orion neveah kanha.
nickname(s): ori, ri, rion.
age: 23.
date of birth: January 1st 1997.
hometown: newport, rhode island.
gender: cis female.
religion: athiest.
sexuality: bisexual.
hair colour: black (xx)
eye colour: brown.
height: 5'6.
tattoos: a snake swirling from midforearm down to her wrist like so, (xx)
piercings: ears, double piercing.
blackmail
has 0 care for the elites or its establishment, thinks it’s a farce. they only joined to gain some clout for their gaming channel since that’s all they work for, but they’ll lie and say they love it while bashing the club to online players in secret.
cheated in a giant game tournament that was worth up to $5,000. she needed that money to survive and pay rent - did anything to cheat, even if that meant hacking the other despite bragging about how humble and hard-working she is, she stooped so low, going back on her word.
in order to stay in her game design program, she had to sleep with her professor - her grades were dropping and was more focused on gaming than classes, would have done anything to stay in the program
family life
DRUGS TW. PRISON TW.
the kanha family, two parents - josiah & sage kanha and their only daughter, orion. orion was spoiled with not doubt, everything she wanted - she got. she never complained, never really asked for much but since she was the only daughter - her parents wanted nothing but the best for her. although, growing up with that wealth she never took it's luxuries. she went to a public school her entire life, she never really talked about her family's wealth, she didn't care much for it, her parents came from generations of hard workers and that's all she'll brag about - is their family business and name, she's proud of it - or was once.
orion and her parents were always happy little family, love and support from both sides.. well.. until......
the kanha family has been a generational wealthy family, old money, if you please, and were originally known for its pizza chain all across america and even pretty famous back in thailand. three generations worth of publicity for their amazing, tasting pizza - even new york would argue that their pizza is better than new york's pizza!
the business has been running since 1992 and failed in 2016, why's that? well miss orion has a big mouth and heart in the wrong place. which gets her in trouble later, but that's a later issue.
the kanha family has a shady side to their business as well, they also sell wads of cocaine under the belt to different members of the mafia / mob and have been since the 90's when the mafia would bury their evidence in old buildings but as times begin to change, so did the way of dealing.
the pizza store was always a cash only store which made it easier for banks to never track transactions and launder wads of cash from their coke deals.
until orion came across her dad and some mafia head leader making an exchange and she overheard them and immediately made the call to the police when she was 19, a year into her college degree, and told them of the exchange and then there was a whole year investigation into her fathers business and a lot of places were shut down and her family lost A LOT of money and her lawyers and accountants have told them it'll take a while to generate that much wealth again - then again most of the wealth came from drug money.
her parents think the mafia tipped them off, thus causing cut in ties and her dad to go to prison for a while (20 years). she had to carry that guilt for years although, she doesn't feel all too bad because her dad was making money deals in the wrong way. her mom still cries about it, won't be able to see her husband for twenty years but it's okay, orion will make it big as a game designer one day .. aha..
fun facts / personality
orion is a.. hot head, she gets angry easily and that just came from a place of competition. she was a very active kid, she was involved in many different sports - soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, you name it - she was good at everything and she sure hecking loved to win. she also channeled a lot of her anger into boxing because that's what her mom told her to do. long story short, she loves winning
which then became a hobby, she fricken loves video games like .. a lot, she built a career her senior year of college by streaming and since then she garnered a lot of online popularity. already being known from the kanha drug money scandal helped a lot too and she makes a decent living off of it, getting paid between 5-6k a month on a video she makes. her favorite games are always first person shooters, like COD / PUBG, she will play those games in tournaments and even to the big leagues which offer a lot of money. she does like RPG games such as ori and the blind forest and gears of war but first person shooters are where it's at, and shes damn well good at aiming, and tactics.
she's a computer science major at first in her undergrad that helped her understand coding, hacking and all that - that comes with comp sci - how to build an app, what logistics go into it and such and minored in video game design. she then did her graduate in game design and science and is working on her own games as she speaks. she's really talented in what she does, and is always boastful about it.
orion, despite being a hot head, also literlaly -- hates drugs. she hates the idea of smoking and drinking and would rather remove herself whenever someone near her is smoking or drinking, she won't shun the person but her family's scandal was enough to put a distaste in her mouth. she thinks people who act silly from it are weak and should speak their minds when their sober.
that's another thing, she will speak her mind. she stands up for what she believes in, she's always humble and thankful for what she has but also will stand up in the face of injustice which is funny because she thinks she's so hardworking and then she's a hypocrite for sleeping with her professor and cheating in a game, guess the kanha family gene of being a liar runs through her veins huh?
she's a very loyal friend, like.. insanely loyal, she doesn't like being made to be a dumbass and will cut someone. like i said, these hands are rated e for everyone.
a lot of her high school life she kept to herself but she really blossomed in college the most.
she loves to draw!! sketching is what she mostly does, a lot of gaming character designs are up in her apartment, sometimes she likes to do pottery and make vases and paint. she's not good at it but she likes to
she's friendly to those that are friendly and a bitch when she can be, she matches energy.. uh that's it i think
favorite color is red <3 has a cat <3 likes sushi <3 that's about it muah
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Things We Lost in the Fire, ch 8
aka Caleo uni au
Fic summary: Calypso starts studying at a new university, but to her annoyance her new flatmate is a loud mouthed mechanic who also likes to sneak his dog in whenever. But as she learns to know him better, she realizes they might have more in common than what she first thought. Eventually, even the darkest secrets come out…
Chapter summary: Calypso makes another new friend.
A/N: Time to introduce Hazel! Since some of you may be interested in my ToA read, I'm currently reading TTT and it’s reminding me how great Frank and Hazel are. In my fic Hazel is 18 and Frank 20, just for future reference.
Thanks to Cris for helping me out and listening to my rants again, and thanks to the people who commented the previous chapter! I hope you guys enjoy this one too and don't forget that even a short comment like "nice" can make my day!
Characters in this ch: Calypso, Hazel, Leo
Words: 1900+
Genre: romance & hurt/comfort
Warnings: none
previous chapter / next chapter / AO3
...
As the fall progressed, Calypso, who had brought a couple of her favorite paintings with her to her new flat, decided to show some of her art to Annabeth. The architect student complimented them and encouraged her to continue creating art, but Calypso admitted that sometimes it was hard to find the motivation to do it on her own. She preferred making things that she could actually use, such as clothes, but she wasn’t opposed to continuing the art hobby if she found a motivator. Annabeth suggested she join the university art club that had classes for various skill levels and where she’d get feedback to help her get even better. The blonde girl wished she had more time to draw just for fun because her university assignments took a lot of her time, but in Calypso’s case her studies had quite little to do with art so maybe the club would offer her a nice break from history.
And so, only a week later Calypso was participating in her first art class at the university club house. She looked curiously around her to see if she might know someone there from her history lectures, but it turned out that wasn’t the case. However, her attention focused on a girl with curly brown hair, dark skin and eyes so unusually colored that they stood out even from afar. Something about her fascinated Calypso and she decided to approach her.
“Hi!” she greeted.
“Hello. Is this your first time here as well?” the other girl asked.
“Yes! An architect student recommended this club for me so I decided to give it a shot,” Calypso explained.
“Mmmh. I’m not a college student – yet because I’m graduating from high school a bit late – but they graciously let me join when I showed them my art portfolio. I just felt like the high school art classes don’t have much to give me anymore so I wanted to try something different.”
“I see. So, is art something you’d like to do for living? Or just a hobby?” Calypso asked.
“To be honest? I’m not entirely sure yet,” the girl admitted. “Something happened that I was kind of out of it for a few months and that’s why it was hard to think about my future for a while. But one way or another I’ll probably still keep doing art no matter what.”
“Oh. I’m sorry about that…” Calypso said sympathetically.
“It’s in the past now, I’m fine!” the girl reassured. “Uh, I already told you that but I didn’t even ask you your name yet… What is it?”
“Calypso Astal. Yes, I know, like that music style… or that Greek sorceress…”
“I was not going to say that.” the girl shook her head, smiling politely. “I was simply going to say it’s nice to meet you, Calypso! My name is Hazel, Hazel Levesque.”
“Well, nice to meet you too, Hazel,” Calypso said, shaking her hand. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t sound rude… I’m just used to people making weird comments about my name.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it! I can understand that very well. I’m a little too used to people’s comments about anything related to my life at this point…” she said sadly. Now Calypso knew what had drawn her to Hazel in the first place: somehow she had sensed that the girl was an outsider, just like she was.
“So, how long have you been drawing, Hazel?” Calypso decided to change the topic.
“Since I was small. It’s always felt like a good way to express my thoughts and also distract myself when things weren’t that great. What about you, though?”
“I think I’ve always been more or less interested in it, but I didn’t start drawing and painting more seriously until I was in high school. I had a lot of time in my hands then…” Calypso said vaguely.
“That’s cool! What else do you do in your free time?” Hazel asked when she realized Calypso wouldn’t elaborate more.
“I like all kinds of handicrafts – you know, from sewing to building small objects and tending flowers – and I also enjoy singing… although usually I do that just on my own…” Calypso admitted, sounding a little bit embarrassed.
“Wow, sounds like you’re such a multitalent!” the younger girl exclaimed. “I help take care of a horse – his name is Arion and a friend who is good with horses claims that he’s loud mouthed even though I have no idea how he can say that. Arion is just vocal, that’s all.”
Calypso snorted at that.
“Yeah, I believe you. My flatmate would probably claim that he’s entirely capable of understanding everything his dog says, though.”
“Aw, your flatmate has a dog?” Hazel asked.
“Yep, he does, but he is not allowed to have it in our flat. Though he still did, when I arrived, and the dog broke my desk. I wasn’t too happy with my flatmate after that but he hasn’t brought the dog in since then,” Calypso said, now able to smile at the memory.
“I’d love to have one too but for some reason a lot of the dogs seem a little afraid of me. I don’t know why.” Hazel shrugged. “But my, uh, friend studies to become a vet and he’s around animals a lot.”
“That sounds like a cool career. I never really got to be around animals a lot in my childhood… But I do remember enjoying watching birds from the window.” Calypso also remembered wishing she could fly freely like them but she decided to not say that out loud, wanting to focus on more positive things.
The conversation died off because the teacher started explaining the participants the schedule of their meetings and what kind of projects they would make. The first assignment sounded like a fun one in Calypso’s opinion: it was called “If I could be any other living creature”. That meant the students were allowed to draw or paint themselves as any animal or plant they could imagine themselves being. At first Calypso thought about drawing one of her favorite flowers but then she remembered her and Hazel’s discussion only from a moment ago and how she had wished she could be a bird. And that gave her an idea.
The bird she chose was called the Golden Oriole. She had only seen one in her childhood on a trip to northern Greece but she still remembered the yellow feathers and the dark wings very well. Her own hair had been lighter back then as well, more of golden blonde than the caramel brown it was naturally now (before the dyeing) which had really stood out with her dark eyes. That’s why her mother had teased her about looking like Golden Oriole. Thinking about those times made Calypso feel a bit homesick but she decided to channel her emotions into the painting instead of wallowing in them.
Once she had gotten started, she took a peek at what Hazel was making. Hazel herself had depicted herself as a horse but somehow she had also time to sketch a bear next to it. That confused Calypso.
“What does the bear represent?” she asked Hazel.
“It’s gonna be a panda,” Hazel clarified, “and it’s supposed to depict my best friend. I felt he deserved to be drawn too. He is big and strong like a panda but surprisingly soft inside… I want to show how these two animals, though very different, can get along really well.”
“That’s a great topic. And he sounds like a good guy,” Calypso said approvingly.
“He is,” Hazel nodded and took a look at Calypso’s work. “That looks pretty! So, you consider yourself a bird?”
“Well, at least I’d like to be.” She shrugged. “Maybe one day.”
“I sense something is restricting you,” Hazel commented. “But don’t worry, you don’t have to tell me more.”
“Thanks,” Calypso said with relief, and after that the girls focused on their drawings again.
…
Once the class was over, the girls continued talking on their way to the bus stop.
“I’m sorry, this might be a strange thing to say but… I got a bit different vibe from you than from most people in the class. Do you know why?” Hazel inquired.
“Could be because I’m technically a foreigner,” Calypso replied. “I was also homeschooled so… I haven’t really been in touch with people of my age a lot.”
“Really?” Hazel raised her eyebrows. “Where are you from?”
“Greece. But we moved from there when I was 10.”
“Your English is so good that I wouldn’t have been able to tell you’re not from here. I’ve lived in many places too. I was born in New Orleans but I’ve also lived in Alaska and San Francisco…”
“What brought you here, then?” Calypso asked.
Hazel seemed to hesitate a bit. “Uh, it’s a very long story. One I’d rather not talk about right now. But after I recovered from an accident I’ve been trying to find my place. My best friend moved to study here and he’s the closest family I have so I decided I’m gonna follow him.”
Calypso noticed that Hazel blushed a bit when she was talking about her friend.
“And your parents were OK with you moving?” she asked, having too much experience with overprotective parents.
“Uh…” Hazel started awkwardly. “I don’t really have any. Mom is dead and my dad only shows up when it’s convenient to him. I lived with a relative for a few months before I turned 18 but once I was that old, she told me that I was free to make my own decisions.”
“I’m so sorry. About your parents.” Calypso said sympathetically. For some reason she seemed to be pulling a lot of people with tragic backgrounds towards her.
“It might be awful to say this but I think my mom is in a better place now. She suffered a lot in her life,” Hazel said as an afterthought.
Calypso only nodded, because really, what could you say to that? The other girl seemed to sense her hesitance because she continued:
“But don’t worry about me. Frank is the best and most protective friend I could have. And here I have found some new ones as well!”
“That is good!” Calypso said genuinely. She already felt like she could relate to this girl and wished a brighter future for her. “Um, I have some things I need to do at home but I’ll see you next week, right? And if you ever want to hang out outside the class, just message me.”
“I will!” Hazel promised and waved to her as goodbye.
…
Leo was making something to eat in the kitchen when Calypso arrived and he looked at the package in Calypso’s arms curiously.
“Hiya Sunshine, what you got there?” he asked.
“I was at the art club and did this,” Calypso said, taking the drawing from the bag and showing it to Leo.
“That’s a cool bird,” Leo mumbled while trying to swallow his sandwich. “Is there some deeper meaning to it?”
“Yes, it’s supposed to depict me,” Calypso answered, emphasizing the last word.
Leo looked back and forth between the drawing and the artist.
“I’m not really seeing the connection there.” He narrowed his eyes as if trying to see the drawing clearer. “You look nothing like that bird.”
“Leo Valdez!” Calypso yelled and marched angrily into her room, leaving poor Leo wonder what he did wrong.
“I just meant that you’re way prettier than any drawing of a bird could ever be,” he mumbled to himself before sighing and focusing on his meal again.
#caleo#leo valdez#calypso#heroes of olympus#percy jackson and the olympians#trials of apollo#my fics#caleo uni au
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