#character shorts
Text
Genshin Impact 2022 Birthday Artworks & Character Shorts (CN) - Xingqiu
#genshin impact#character artworks#birthday artworks#character shorts#xingqiu#aether#paimon#lumine#Enemies#Treasure Hoarder
202 notes
·
View notes
Text
Apropos of nothing and perhaps only a little inspired by the previous reblog to finish it, a short character story set in a New York tattoo shop, about 9 years prior to the start of the game.
Character short: Marley
The beep of the entry sensor disturbs his lunch. Sal puts down his sandwich and grumbles a few obscenities. Some people won't read. Some people won't even look at the color indicator on the door. Moments like this he wonders how come most of his clientele is young adults and wishes his business could attract the older grumpy types. Those make appointments. They know the value of time.
He squeezes out of the service room, grabbing a towel on the way to do away with the grease. Other than that, Sal deems himself presentable. At least presentable enough to tell off whomever dares enter the door he forgot to lock.
In just a few steps Sal sees who it is.
The lad has been here before. He stands there in his typically pristine clothes, of beige that Sal finds a messy eyesore, ogling the wall of Sal's previous work like he were in a damn art gallery, hands clasped behind his back. Not browsing, actually fucking studying it. Something warm wraps around Sal's neck and his chest puffs out a little.
"I ought to just straight ban you from this place." He brings down the towel onto the reception counter with passion. The intruder has the gall to smile apologetically, although he is damn capable of reading, of that Sal is sure. "I don't need mommy and daddy in here screaming their lungs out like I'm the problem."
The boy laughs—Sal cannot call him anything but a boy, although he has seen his ID to confirm that what's-his-name is at least 18—and returns to scanning the drawings. "They know who the problem is," he says with mirth.
"You all say this," Sal parries, sighing. Much to his reluctant admission, he was never good in dealing with the polite types, although rarely did he ever need to. "What do you want? Quick, it's lunch break."
"Oh." The lad turns to face Sal, expression humbled, but doesn't move to leave the shop. "You have a sketch in there, of an astrochart, not a finished tattoo. I like it."
Sal narrows his eyes, feeling wary and strangely defensive all of a sudden. "You want to buy… a sketch?"
"Ah, no." He raises his right hand and places it on the top of his left shoulder blade. "Somewhere here."
Although the drawing immediately comes to mind, Sal walks to find it on the wall, hoping to see in it what the lad has seen. The wall is busy—the best he had done was not have the images overlap—but the light lines stand out in the sea of ink. Out of the base of the databank cube lines burst out in a projection of a star system, Sal cannot recall which one even if his life depended on it. The charts are tweaked to splay like that only for expos, the everyday usage is far more prosaic. He drew it years ago, almost a decade, on a stained diner table on the way to visit his aunt. It wasn't supposed to mean anything, just a quick gift for a boyfriend he had back then, when both dreamed big and spoke tall.
Kids all like the same shiny things, he absently notes and resigns to throwing out his sandwich at a later time.
"Take the chair," Sal grumbles, and the small light in the lad's eyes flares up.
Red neon on the outwards facing sign wards off other visitors—which are rare to non-existent at this time—and Sal tells the lad to bare the shoulder. It is not the best place, he thinks, and he is used to arguing for the sake of a satisfied customer. They were never right, especially not the likes of this one.
What he sees answers many questions. The very logical spot on the upper arm is taken.
Three circlets of lines: dashed, diagonal, crossing. It is simple geometry. It is lousy geometry, too, the kind that forces you to drive your prices into the ground until you either improve or realize there are other jobs. He runs a thumb, teasing it a bit, exposing the glaring faults of the work that is already well-faded.
"Ever heard of touch up?" Sal criticizes before the dots, much like the dots in his drawing, connect. "Who the fuck did these?"
"Uh, a friend." The reply is awkward but earnest. Sal hardly wants to know more because—
He glances at the ID again: Jordan, Marley, Owen, date of birth—second of May…and it's barely June. Belated happy eighteens.
"Did your friend ask you to provide your parents' permission?"
"She did," the lad—Marley—replies with ease.
Sal feels his jaw grit, but he knows this line of questioning leads to a maze he is too familiar with already. The permits lends themselves to forgery, and no one cares. Some places do not even ask. Some places do it as a side hustle, and the sole damage waiver is pretending you do not know each other for the rest of your lives.
"You sure you want it there?" He pivots instead. "You won't see it."
Marley lets out a short laugh as if the question is in any way amusing. "Yes, there."
But the shitty one goes onto his upper arm, Sal notes with discontent but decides not to argue, although the whole thing feels almost insulting. Marley's track record is hardly something Sal wants to add to, given what lousy of a job he has accepted prior.
Well, he can't expect much from a kid, is how he convinces himself. Maybe once the lad gets something decent…
Instead he measures, finding the good spot and size that he will need to specify for the machine. The tattoo is numerous dots and thin lines, but the lad is not too bony, which balances it out.
Once finished, Sal turns him around to the high-pitched creaking of the chair. If this is some kind of a joke, Sal wants the punchline to land already. But Marley looks at him with a silent question in his eyes, his expectation entirely different. Sal just sighs.
"You're so weird," he voices. It doesn't explain his frustration, not even to himself, but no word of it is a lie.
The lad's hands are crossed, hanging loosely over his hips, and the look on his face is genuinely curious. "Oh, why?"
This kid is a headache, but a well-spoken one, with at least a semblance of an idea what he's doing, so Sal, despite himself, explains.
"You show up here, reeking of good grades, family vacations and a spotless record, a star athlete too for whatever sport trends now, probably. On a rapid shuttle to some top school—and you haunt my shitty shop and look at these tattoos like you are in a fucking museum. Like, fuck, yes, that's weird. Is this a rebellious phase? I might as well book you for removal in three weeks."
Oh, and the fucking beige, but that is a nail too many and too petty even for Sal.
His chest feels lighter. Still, he doesn't chase him out. The lad looks up, a pleasant smile fixed on his face.
"I'm ready to sign the contract," Marley replies.
Bullheaded. With this revelation, Sal relaxes, one foot back in the familiar territory. All of his customers are, that is why they land in his chair. Each searching for their own closure in a few dozen millilitres of ink when the rest of the civilization has found other outlets.
He looks at the sketch in the center of his screen, looks at the young man who requested it, and for a fleeting moment feels a surge of confidence his silly drawing will be taken to the stars, and there is no better place for an astrochart.
How silly.
Sal scoffs—at himself—and names the price because his feet are firmly on the ground. No discounts, not for a silliness, and he tosses the price of the sandwich on top.
23 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Thief - A short.
The city was quiet. The hum of crowds below kept them company as the last of the drinkers made their way to their taxis and trains, music still blared out of the few clubs that still remained and in the distance some sort of siren echoes through the streets. Yet it was still quiet.
Usually on nights like these, with the moon full and the stars visible, there was magic in the air. A sharp tingle of power that only those who took the time to stand still and breath could feel. Tonight it wasn’t there, or maybe they were just too apprehensive to feel it. The second thought scared them, so they ignored it. They didn’t get ‘apprehensive’. They knew what they were doing.
They took to the skies in their favourite form. A magpie. Not a nocturnal bird, but one agile enough and common enough to not draw attention, but pretty enough to not be drab.
Travelling ‘as the crow flies’ was quicker than walking, something the man they were visiting would no doubt appreciate. Even if he never showed it.
“You have it.” A statement not a question. He lent back in the red leather chair. The Thief shook off their hair and adjusted their coat. They had to admit shifting forms did have a few disadvantages, but a dishevelled appearance wasn’t much to pay.
“Was there ever any doubt?” They grinned, leaning up against the leather arm and reaching into a pocket.
The man raised his chin, waiting expectantly with a grin to match.
“Pride comes before the fall.” He warned, reaching out to grab the thin gold chain that the Thief produced.
“Shut up you hypocrite.” The thief snatched back the chain.
“We’ll both fall together, but we’ll still fall.” He shrugged. “This was just the practise. Are you ready for the real thing?”
The Thief’s grinned widened, giving way to what they thought was probably their real smile.
“I’m always ready. Just say the word.”
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Character shorts: Éowyn
People often complain that Tolkien's characters are too black-and-white, not nuanced enough or too static. I disagree – I think that Tolkien created some really good characters and interesting arcs. One just has to pay attention.
Today's exhibit: Éowyn
Éowyn is a character worth writing books about, and I can never do her justice within just a few words. All the more I want to mention her. There is always lots of debate about her character arc, and I think many people see very different things in her – which is fine of course. But I feel it's often reduced to just one aspect of it when it has actually more to offer.
‘All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.’
Éowyn is known for riding with the Rohirrim to Gondor against Théoden's wishes and Aragorn's advice, and for killing the Witchking of Angmar - defying a prophecy that he cannot be killed by any man because she is a woman.
And this is a major part of her character arc: Éowyn is fed up with staying behind and "mind the house while [the Riders] win renown, and find food and beds when they return". She, too, wishes to fight battles and win glory, and is unhappy when she is put in charge of ruling the people of Rohan in Théoden's place. Her interest in Aragorn comes from the same feeling – she is interested in him as a great captain and because he is "high and puissant", but in truth she barely knows him as a person.
But what has lead to Éowyn's unhappiness in the first place?
‘It is not always good to be healed in body. Nor is it always evil to die in battle, even in bitter pain. Were I permitted, in this dark hour I would choose the latter.’
Éowyn's story, for me, is also a story about a woman struggling with a deep depression. She has taken care of Théoden for a long time while he was ill, and whoever has taken care of a sick loved one knows how painful and exhausting this can be. Wormtongue's lies made it even worse, making her believe that "the House of Eorl was sunk in honour less than any shepherd’s cot". Her self-worth was basically non-existant. When she no longer had to care for Théoden's health, she yearned to gain some self-worth for herself and her House, and became frustrated when when it seemed to her that men were given that opportunity that she was banned from.
When she joined the Rohirrim, she did not do it out of selflessness nor to sacrifice her life in the line of duty. She was desperate because she saw no other option in life, and hoped that at least with her death she could improve her own worth. But not even killing the Witchking could change her own image of herself or undo Wormtongue's lies. The glory she gained in battle did not giving her life actual meaning or purpose.
'I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.'
I have seen people who are upset about Éowyn's "change of heart" in the end – that she now longer wants to be a fighter but a healer instead. But I think often the true meaning behind this is ignored. This is not about a woman going back to doing woman-things after having been a fighter before. This is about Éowyn finding new purpose in life, beyond dying for glory. It's a sign of healing, it's about growth and rejecting the glorification of war. Famous healer's in Tolkien's work include Aragorn and Elrond, so it's not just a skill or occupation of minor importance and only reserved for women.
It's fitting that Faramir helps her with her healing. This is not about the love of a man changing Éowyn in any way, it's about what Faramir represents as a person: he is patient and kind, and he has no interest in war despite being rather famous as a captain of Gondor himself. And he shares some experiences with her that help them both to understand each other: they both went to war and did not expect to survive, both were hurt by the Nazgûl, and both lost their father figure in the war. Faramir is able to make Éowyn understand that glory and death and tragedy aren't necessary requirements for love and admiration. She is worthy of love and recognition because of who she is, not because of deeds of glory in war. And I think this is a beautiful end to her story.
One of the last moments between them I find to be very moving: Éowyn is worried about a potential marriage, fearing that the people of Gondor would call her a "wild shieldmaiden of the North" that needed to be tamed and if there was "no woman of the race of Númenor to choose" for Faramir. Her shaky sense of self-worth comes through, and inferiority complex towards the heirs of Númenor. Faramir assures her by kissing her while both stand on the walls "in the sight of many".
#Eowyn#LOTR#The Lord of the Rings#Faramir#Middle-earth#Rohan#character shorts#character analysis#my posts#atani
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
Cats of the Meadow: Moonflower
Name: Moonflower
Meaning: Peaceful and gentle
Identity: Cisgender Molly - She/Her
Orientation: Heterosexual
Rank: Hunter
Former Rank(s): N/A
A predominantly white, tabby point molly with brilliant blue eyes and a long tail. Brave, kind and powerful, Moonflower strives to be a role model to everyone around her and especially to the kits of her clan. Before she was killed in battle, Moonflower had plans to return to the Nursery as a Sitter.
Though they weren't on good terms in life, Moonflower had assumed that Stormtail would at least step up his daughters in the place of her death and she was outraged to find that he only distanced himself from them further.
They're kept separate by other smart cats who know that Moonflower will attack him at any given point.
Mentor(s): Windflight (deceased)
Apprentice(s): N/A
Parents: Daisytoe (dame/deceased), Rooktail (sire)
Sibling(s): Goosefeather (brother/deceased)
Mate: Stormtail (estranged/deceased)
Kits: Bluedawn (daughter), Snowblossom (daughter)
#moonflower#warrior cats#erin hunter#fanfiction#fanfic#warrior cats fanfic#erin hunter warriors#worldbuilding#the cats of strelles#character shorts#strelles stormborn#strelles the greenwood empire
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
i do unironically think the best artists of our generation are posting to get 20 notes and 3 reblogs btw. that fanfic with like 45 kudos is some of the best stuff ever written. those OCs you carry around have some of the richest backstories and worldbuilding someone has ever seen. please do not think that reaching only a few people when you post means your art isn't worth celebrating.
#i often wonder about how many things would be considered classic or high art had they only received the marketing#how many short films that were made for class could have been the most powerful thing you'd ever seen? if you'd seen them?#“you know the greatest films of all time were never made” etc etc#but like. these works of art ARE being made. it's just enjoyed by a smaller audience with equal impact though#i think about this one furry i used to follow on insta who had the coolest worldbuilding ever. it's been years.#thought prompted by that sketch of nimona from ten years ago that was just for a character design#posted to the creator's tumblr and now it's nominated for best animated feature film at the oscars#and by the genuine emotional reaction a fan comic made me feel. how much work had gone into it. how beautiful it was to me.#idk what to tag this but i hope whoever needs to hear it does#writing#writer#fandom#fandom culture#artist
58K notes
·
View notes
Text
the woman who holds the moon
prints available here. my cover for this month's issue of baffling magazine.
#i can finally share this piece!#this cover was based on a short story called “moon bearer” by celia daniels that features on this issue of the magazine#the character designs are mine#also there's a sale on inprnt again so my prints are cheaper than usual!#illustration#artists on tumblr#illo#lesbian#wlw#sapphic#lesbian art#wlw art#sapphic art#queer art#baffling magazine#blue#moon#night sky#queer fantasy
23K notes
·
View notes
Text
me: this is a background character who's in one scene, has two lines, and is completely irrelevant to the rest of the story. i am going to stop obsessing over what to name him and use the random name generator on behindthename.com. i am going to accept the first thing it gives me and move the fuck on.
behindthename.com:
#guess i can call him charlie#i'll know what it's short for#and maybe someday i'll have a Fandom and someone will deep dive this far and find out the truth#a bitch can dream#writing#writeblr#naming characters#behind the name#names#character names#my writing#charizard cockburn#pokemon#sing-you-fools#1k#5k#10k#25k#50k
50K notes
·
View notes
Text
joel with a ponytail ( best kind of joel tbh )
( plus an attempt at drawing him with green skin but idk i don't think im gonna use it )
#hermitcraft#smallishbeans#my art#sketch#i wanted to ramble about these sketches but literally forgot everything i wanted to say....#i like how this outfit has turned out... not fully traditional japanese not fully cyberpunky but the vibes are there#also another character wearing shorts bet no one saw it coming#it's either shorts or big baggy pants. no other type of pants exists in my mind
6K notes
·
View notes
Text
i feel like not enough ppl are factoring in the cultural clash between laios and shuro and the many micro agressions shuro faced while being in their group. literally the name 'shuro' in itself is one
his name is toshiro 😭 lets also not forget that he has his own communication issues, in the opposite way that laios does- thats literally a factor in their argument, that his envy for laios's ability to express himself sincerely manifested as part of his distaste for him.
ig all this to say like, was their fight heart wrenching, especially when reading laios as autistic? absolutely. anybody whos ever been in laios's position knows how much it hurts to realize someone you thought was your friend doesnt actually like having you around, especially when they didnt tell you and you had no way of knowing due to not understanding their cues. but im begging yall to step back and see the nuance of this situation cause im gonna be real a lot of you are kinda just brushing over it acting like everything is toshiros fault and that hes a terrible person when in reality hes an average guy who really, really clashed with laios and it led to a very long misunderstanding due to their supremely opposite methods of communication. even laios and toshiro, after letting everything out in their fight, were able to come to an understanding and start a foundation for an actual friendship built on better communication
#dunmeshi#dungeon meshi#shuro dungeon meshi#delicious in dungeon#toshiro nakamoto#dont get me wrong i understand relating to a character and hating whoever wrongs them cause youre protective or you relate really hard#but i think toshiros been getting the short end of the stick for a long time now 😭#even his love for falin is misunderstood#he literally states all the reasons he likes her#and none of them are superficial#but hes so closed off and has such difficulty expressing himself that instead of asking her out or smth he just#proposed to her out of the blue 😭#leading a lot of ppl to just assume that he went 'white woman spotted' and proposed#do Not misunderstand me i am#a HUGE farcille stan#obviously#but i dont think toshiros feelings are surface level and i think theyre absolutely crucial to understanding him and his motivations#as a character in this story
7K notes
·
View notes
Text
bisexual 🤝 lesbian solidarity 🏳️🌈
#arcane#arcane netflix#netflixedit#the legend of korra#animationdaily#userthing#avatar korra#asami sato#korrasami#korra x asami#vi arcane#vi#caitlyn kiramman#caitvi#piltover's finest#my two fav animated characters#short masculine fighters and their tall rich gfs are def my type of ships#mine: gifs
9K notes
·
View notes
Text
Genshin Impact 2023 Birthday Artworks & Character Shorts (CN) - Sangonomiya Kokomi (late upload)
#genshin impact#character artworks#birthday artworks#character shorts#aether#paimon#lumine#sangonomiya kokomi
32 notes
·
View notes
Text
your love returns in tragedy (ID in alt)
#farcille#falin touden#marcille donato#dungeon meshi#dunmeshi#coming face to face with the consequences of acting out of love - marcille u will always be famous#dunmeshi is really a series that keeps on moving bc it's about so many different characters and centered on the journey#rather than like... introspectively on one singular individual so i dont think we see marcille dwell on it but we can see her fatigue#her shock and surprise in the recent ep “don't hurt her she's just confused” Gah. desperately trying to grasp everything thats going on and#not to lose hope. bc undoubtedly the remains she put together was falin's - that short moment of reprieve the party had was with falin#she was able to bring her back her magic did it!! but the violence the fatal swings was not falin at all.#just pondering about holding that guilt... it's such a huge responsibility to be in charge of life in the first place and yet it is#a burden she'll keep trudging with. defying the natural orders to keep the people she love alive... i Lauv her...#also shared sentiment with the rest of the fandom but God. Chimera Falin... she is Everything....#ruporas art
3K notes
·
View notes
Text
The Ankou - Jules short
Jules stood at the side of the road. It was cold. Colder than she’d ever felt before. The type of cold that seeped right into your bones and stayed there.
She looked down, lifting her hands. Blood. She swallowed. She’d never had an issue with blood, so this should be fine. Right? This was fine.
She was dead. But, she had no choice but to be fine.
“Juliet.” The stranger across from her spoke and her head snapped up.
“I’m dead.” The harshness of her voice shocked her. The stranger’s face softened for a moment before they spoke.
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine.” She interrupted. “It’s… It happens.”
“It happens to everyone.” She felt like maybe the stranger wanted to be comforting. He was only partially succeeding. She was dead. Yes. It happened to everyone. Eternal rest came to us all. Finally, a chance to rest. No, she was less surprised she was dead, and more surprised she was aware that she was dead. It begged only one question. “What happens next?”
The stranger exhaled, coming to stand by her side slowly. He seemed to be watching the birds. As if her dead corpse wasn’t lying on the floor before them.
“That’s up to you.” He smiled, and Jules decided that rest wasn’t something she was willing to do.
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Character shorts: Frodo Baggins
People often complain that Tolkien's characters are too black-and-white, not nuanced enough or too static. I disagree – I think that Tolkien created some really good characters and interesting arcs. One just has to pay attention.
Today's exhibit: Frodo Baggins
‘I should like to save the Shire, if I could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don’t feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again.'
Frodo is one of Tolkien's protagonists in The Lord of the Rings, and he a truly remarkable character. When we meet Frodo, he is living a peaceful Hobbit life in the Shire, but we soon realise there is more about him than meets the eye, as Gandalf would say. Frodo is a person with a lot of courage, humility and selflessness. When he fears the destruction of his home, he is ready to give it up to save it. It's by no means an easy decision – Frodo is melancolic at times and reluctant to leave, waiting dangerously long until he actually sets out on his quest.
Frodo is also a well rounded character when it comes to his realtionships with others: there is a mentor-student relationship with Gandalf, of whom Frodo learns a lot. There is the relationship with his friends like Merry and Pippin that reveals a deep affection between them - and what kind of loyalty Frodo inspires in his peers. There is the relationship with Sam, without whom Frodo would never have been able to reach his destination. There is Bilbo, who was like a father to Frodo.
And then there are two other characters that are closely connected to Frodo's major character arcs.
'Very well,' he answered aloud, lowering his sword. 'But still I am afraid. And yet, as you see, I will not touch the creature. For now that I see him, I do pity him.'
The first one is Gollum. Frodo grows a lot as a character through Gollum when it comes to his compassion and pity for Gollum. Initially he was convinced that Gollum deserved death, and that he should have been killed. However, he eventually takes Gollum in his service and takes care of him, giving even a character like Gollum a chance for redemption. And just like it was for Bilbo, Frodo's pity for Gollum was of major importance for the outcome of the quest – it's an essential element of the story.
The other character arc is closely connected to this because it makes Frodo's growth through pity necessary in the first place: the corruption through the One Ring.
'No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark. Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades.'
The relationship that Frodo has with Sauron and the One Ring is probably one of the most subtle relationships to be found in the book, and yet it's one of the most important connections. Frodo's sanity is constantly threatened by the Ring, he fears the corruption of the Ring and Sauron's searching eye, yet he can't allow himself to part from the Ring. Despite his strength, despite his courage, eventually Frodo is unable to resist the constant preassure and manipulation of the One Ring. His quest is at the center of the book, but when he reaches its end he is unable to fulfill it himself. Frodo is broken by the One Ring, and the path to this end is quite tragic. There is no reward in the end for Frodo, others like Sam, Merry and Pippin get the typical "hero" ending. He "fades 'out of the picture'" as Tolkien described it.
In an interview, Dr. Verlyn Flieger described Frodo as “somebody who takes on a job because he has to, that nobody else wants and that is doomed to failure. He is too little for it, literally and metaphorically, and yet he rises to it better than anyone else could – and he fails heroically.” I quite like that description, I think it’s very fitting.
#Frodo Baggins#LOTR#The Lord of the Rings#Middle-earth#Tolkien#Hobbits#character shorts#my posts#character analysis
13 notes
·
View notes
Text
Some key frames form my animation
#alastor fanart#alastor the radio demon#hazbin alastor#alastor#alastor hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel alastor#hazbin hotel characters#hazbin hotel fanart#hazbin#hazbin hotel fandom#hazbin hotel#hazbin art#small animation#fan animation#fan animatic#2d animation#short animation#animatic#animation#animation 2d#animator art#2d animator#animators on tumblr#small animator#radio demon#demon character#demon art#2d animated video#artist on tumblr#artists on tumblr
5K notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
moonawrites
Magical Mystery
shit-yoni-says
"They Covered A Sheet On Me,But I Was Still Alive"
smileee-more
Again & Again
detournementsmineurs
Détournements Mineurs
nekoashiii
Ashi!