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69misato69 · 11 months

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ruby ribbon ✦ jing yuan x luocha

archive of our own ✦ twitter ✦ masterlist

2.7k words, smut, cw for heavy sexual themes, light bondage, unprotected intercourse. both AMAB, he/him pronouns. enjoy !

repost from my ao3. not taking HSR reqs yet because i am still digesting lore but jing yuan + luocha reqs, if you have any, are alright.

The Divine Foresight, Arbiter-General Jing Yuan. Ever so busy. Banquets, negotiations, strategy meetings, training a young apprentice on his own. There’s much to do, so much that needs his infinite wisdom and years of experience in order to operate smoothly.

The Dozing General — He’s not too mad at the title. It’s not only on point but also playful just like the way he enjoys to lead. — sometimes finds himself complaining about his workload.

Fortunately, all it takes is one short walk around the perimeter for his mind to change.

To see life bloom around him as the residents of the Xianzhou Luofu peacefully make their way through the day. Ensuring the safety of each step they take with the work of hundreds. What is it all for, if not for this?

Sometimes he gets lucky, blessed with a slow day. Times where he’s able to delegate all his work to subordinates and take a break from the everlasting chaos of it all.

And if he’s really lucky, he catches a glimpse of a blonde man, carrying a coffin. Sometimes resting on a quiet corner as he wipes sheer lines of sweat from his forehead.

Jing Yuan slowly makes his way towards the merchant, always stopping at a safe distance with his back turned to him.

“Mr. Luocha.”

“General Jing Yuan.”

Always a greeting of utmost formality. It takes a keen ear to hear that it’s laced with love.

“Hope you’ve been alright. Fancy running into you once again.”

“I share the sentiment, General. Please, carry on. I’m sure you must be busy.”

Jing Yuan departs with his fingers barely brushing against his. A touch that burns on the back of Luocha’s hand until darkness falls and the gentle intrusion is replaced by equally gentle lips.

Today, however, Jing Yuan opens the door to his chambers to an unusual sight. The same blonde man he’s used to seeing in the streets during the day or wrapped up in his bedsheets at night, sitting on his chair in broad daylight.

His hair is damp, ran through by Jing Yuan’s comb. Studied carefully by the merchant in front of his own dressing mirror, dressed in nothing but one of his towels around his waist.

His glowing skin and sunshine hair blend into the golden ornaments of the comb almost seamlessly. Until — like a seal suddenly broken, he snaps out of the ritual he enjoys dearly and spots a light breeze creeping through the entrance.

“Could you shut the door, General? I’m rather indecent.”

“Luocha?” he complies, albeit in utter shock.

“Yes, my love?” Luocha gazes at him from the mirror, “Were you not expecting me?”

“I was… Later tonight.”

“My trip was horribly eventful, thought I would rest a bit. Should I not have come here?”

There are many questions to be asked. How Luocha infiltrated the building, for starters. Jing Yuan, is unfortunately too stunned to ask.

“No… No, of course.” he shakes his head to the sides and approaches the chair from the back. One hand over the embellishments and one on his bare shoulder as he leans down to press a kiss on his cheek.

“You’re here.”

“I am.”

Still in disbelief, he takes a good look of them both — how Luocha is so beautiful and ethereal next to him. Any second without his flawless visage in his vision is disappointing. And any second with it — well, he wouldn’t trade it for anything else this world could offer.

Droplets of water pool around his collarbones, dripping and drying over his glistening skin. He gets up, facing away from the mirror to land forehead to forehead with his lover.

Jing Yuan’s clothes, the plates of his armor embrace his waist.

“I’ve missed you so much, my dearest.”

He pulls Luocha closer, hips stacked over his — pressing his lips wherever he can aimlessly. His head falls on Luocha’s shoulder, a taller frame snuggled close to his slimmer figure. Coddled and cooed with a hand entangled in his hair.

Jing Yuan’s gaze trails to the white flowers growing in the pot on his dresser, much less beautiful than the one in his arms.

“My beautiful iris.”

“Inconsistent care is more than enough to make a flower wilt, you know.” he jests.

“Then stay with me.” Jing Yuan doesn’t lift his head, face still nuzzling into Luocha’s shoulder.

“I will, for this week.”

If only he would stay, bless him with the same face each morning and breathe life into him every waking moment, effortlessly like he does now with solely his warmth.

He pulls away to face him again. The thought of him departing in less than a week is enough to paint a pout on his mouth. Luocha cups his cheek to brush his thumb over his lips.

“What’s with the face? So unsightly for a man your age…”

“You’re calling me old?”

“Of course not… You don’t look a day over 400.”

Jing Yuan chuckles, punishing him with dozens of small kisses over his lips until Luocha’s unable to form coherent sentences without being interrupted.

His expression turns worried upon closer inspection. Sunken under-eyes, dark bags that stick out on his pale skin.

“You seem tired, Jing Yuan.”

Compassionate yet firm, concerned.

The general holds Luocha’s wandering hand and kisses the palm of it.

“I’m alright. A bit overworked nowadays, but I managed to take two days off.”

“Rest. I’ll cook dinner.”

Jing Yuan hates worrying him. During their time apart, Luocha is as busy as he is, if not more. “I’m afraid we have some new changes in trading laws that prohibit you from leaving my side during your stay here.” he informs.

“Oh, is that so?”

He lifts Luocha’s hips to sit on the dresser, his back almost kissing at the mirror.

He kisses at Luocha’s shoulders, palm moving up and down along his spine lovingly. To soothe, to unwind the man he’s smitten with and dependent on — the way waves need the wind, like a good night’s sleep, a machine with its battery drained into complete exhaustion.

Luocha raises his arms, his hands in a bind over the general’s nape. As they meet chest to chest, the towel around his waist gradually slips down, folds almost falling to the sides. Jing Yuan’s gaze is fixed on the mirror again. He pulls away, ever so slightly to brush Luocha’s hair to the side.

His back — perfect on every corner and crevice despite the bruises laid by his coffin around his shoulder blades and healed marks ingrained by Jing Yuan’s nails that accompany them. He presses down with the tips of his fingers, eliciting a hiss.

Jing Yuan is unsure as to why he never tends to his own wounds.

It’s unspoken between the two, his abilities. To think that not only does he know, but he also harbors one of Abundance in his chambers.

In his heart, held between his arms. The thought of it is enough to shake the resolve of a man regardless of how strong-willed he may be.

Therefore, he refrains from discussing it. Though it’s immature of a being as old as he is and terribly reckless of a General of the Cloud Knights to avoid the matter entirely, he pretends not to be mesmerized when a fading bird comes to life inside Luocha’s palm.

He doesn’t say ‘thank you’ when he wakes up with each one of his injuries healed. Emerald green traces still sit at Luocha’s fingertips while he’s sound asleep, he stares and examines until they fade into the abyss of the night.

Jing Yuan pulls him close, before the morning sun claims the room. He holds Luocha close to his chest as his lover’s pure soul cleanses the thoughts plaguing his mind. Even in deep slumber — a blooming, white iris pressed close to his chest.

To him it’s peace, despite the war they stand for while laying breath to breath.

A week, he’s reminded of it again.

A week that he will spend kissing his bruises better, drawing fresh ones of love to be concealed under his coat for the rest of his travels. Nothing pains him more than seeing Luocha shy away from the mirror as he strips before stepping into the bathtub.

To Jing Yuan, it’s an honor to love the most dedicated man he knows, one that carries the marks of it etched into his skin. It matters not how Luocha’s mission is unbeknownst to him and possibly will be forever.

The patience in his gentle eyes, dulled with the weight of his undertaking — Jing Yuan sees a golden spark return to his pupils whenever he kisses Luocha.

When he whispers love into his heart and carves his mark deep within, he sees them catch on fire with excitement.

Jing Yuan kneels before him. Dinner can wait.

All else is fleeting but him. Unnecessary, secondary.

He kisses up at his legs, along his torso and over his forearms. Luocha’s thighs rest atop his shoulders, ankles crossed behind his back. He needs it as much as Luocha does, it’s evident. How he yearns for a taste, clutching his thighs tightly.

Growing needier by each passing minute, for the one he’s so powerless against.

Jing Yuan is — untouched until he returns. Luocha can feel his patience wane swiftly the second he’s back. His tongue, warm and soft — Luocha jolts as it’s met with the tip of his cock. Jing Yuan’s lips wrap around him ravenously.

Of lust and longing, his lips slide all the way to his base, nails digging into his hips. It’s passionate but not rushed. He takes Luocha with ease, rubbing his tip against the insides of his cheeks, over his tongue that swirls around his painfully erect cock.

“Hah.”

Luocha grips the edge of the dresser, all thoughts vanishing with the delicious sensation. His hand holds the roots of Jing Yuan’s hair, the bundle held together by the ribbon. Luocha slides his head forward slowly, not letting him wander off before he feels the back of Jing Yuan’s throat.

A tight space that welcomes him after an audible gulp. Tears well up in the corners of Jing Yuan’s eyes.

Bringing a Knight to his knees, consumed by lust, burning up for him.

Certainly a rare sight, it must be. He cherishes it deeply, always.

After a while, he finds his hips rocking against Jing Yuan’s mouth in desperation. The urge to fuck his pretty mouth for longer, painting his soft lips white — tempting but it's too soon. It’s only past the afternoon, he must save his strength.

So, he gently pushes Jing Yuan off of himself with saliva and precum dripping from his lips over the carpet. The general comes back up as tender fingers rid him of his clothes, occasionally taking breaks to pet his skin, mesmerized by the beauty. It’s a change of pace Jing Yuan never resists, feeling so adored.

“Beautiful…” Luocha whispers against his lips.

Clothes pooling around his ankles and heart racing in his chest.

Jing Yuan carries him to the bed and lays on his back with Luocha on his lap. And a heated kiss that lasts the whole, short journey.

“Lay back.” Luocha raises one brow when he’s taken by both hands.

Jing Yuan grins, holding his wrists together close to his chest and untying the ribbon in his hair — “I already have.”

It’s true, factually. Not so much in the sense that he has meant.

“I’m a guest. Aren’t I, General?”

“Do as you wish with me, my light.”

“Saying this, while you tie me up…”

“When did that ever stop you from having it your way?”

The restraints mean little to him in terms of limiting his movements, but rile him up to the extent that his breath hitches with every loop of the ribbon.

Luocha: Always content, never happy. Until he’s in Jing Yuan’s arms. When joy overtakes him so suddenly with ease. It’s different from the gradual way nature weaves its webs, the method which he respects with all his heart and soul.

This is different. Volatile and unpredictable.

It’s unusual to him whenever the emotion registers itself to them both.

Luocha gazes down at his wrists, bound on his chest in a simple yet restrictive knot with what Jing Yuan wears in his hair everyday.

It finds its way to him often, around his neck and his waist. That one night around his thigh, hidden under his clothes as they sat side by side at a banquet.

He remembers everyone’s surprise at the General wearing his hair down, amused with their reactions as the culprit. In his mind, it’s vivid as the bright red of the ribbon how he laid on the same bed as they do now, Jing Yuan’s warm breath hovering over it before he stripped him hurriedly and admired the ribbon for minutes before eventually undoing it with his mouth.

Luocha’s fond of it, the familiar feeling of the soft fabric, neatly sealed ends draping down from his forearms. The way it pulls his forehead back when Jing Yuan pins his hair up high and wraps the soft ponytail around his fist.

Luocha lifts his hips slowly, assisted by two hands on his pelvis. He holds the general’s cock, begging for attention, between his cheeks, sliding along his length without taking him in.

Jing Yuan grunts involuntarily, doing his best not to rush him but failing to hide his efforts. It takes some blissful sighs, some desperate and needy moans and a hold on his hips that gradually tighten for Luocha to eventually spread his legs further and settle over him.

His walls clench around Jing Yuan, sucking him in until he’s numb. Stuffed deep inside, then he bottoms out with a long sigh. Feeling returns to Jing Yuan’s lower body, one that overtakes him so intensely that he’s on the verge of tears once again already.

Luocha rolls his hips, swaying beautifully with every thrust that stretches his walls.

Almost like a dance — long, blonde locks flowing behind him, rhythmically like a set decor that cooperates with the show.

Jing Yuan reaches to hold his wrists as Luocha clings on instantly with both hands. He holds Jing Yuan’s hand in between them, lowering his head to pepper kisses over his knuckles lovingly.

Love. A weak word that could never describe what he feels for the man under him. How his heart flutters every time Jing Yuan moans his name and mutters words of affection, it can’t find a substitute in any language he knows of.

He feels Jing Yuan straighten his back and pull him closer, gasping at the deeper thrusts as he assists him to move faster.

A kiss on his forehead, silently asking for his attention.

“Red really suits you.”

A hoarse, enticing voice ringing in his ears.

Luocha intertwines his own fingers together when he pulls his hand away. Almost as if he’s praying his way into a kiss. As always, they are answered and fulfilled without a single word.

Luocha melts into the kiss, his body trembles under Jing Yuan’s hands. It feels like his heart is about to fall out from his chest to shower a more crimson shade of red all over their bodies.

He fights to keep his eyes open when a hand wraps around his leaking cock. Jing Yuan must be getting close, but Luocha feels too blinded to perceive a cue of it.

“Jing Yuan…”

His thumb digs into Luocha’s quivering slit, fingers moving up and down along the length of it until his movements turn shaky. Luocha whimpers into his mouth, spine slithering with pleasure.

Until he releases over Jing Yuan’s hand, spasming hips and high-pitched, fast-paced moans. His eyes suddenly widen with the impact, which is for the best since he gets to watch Jing Yuan follow his lead with a low growl.

Panting as he’s filled up to the brim with his warmth, Luocha wants nothing more to wrap his arms around and keep him locked in until the end of time.

He wants to stay, in the only corner of this world where nothing can ever hurt them.

Though not until the end of time, for now he can — he can stay caged in Jing Yuan’s arms, soothed by his kisses, cherished with his fingers entangled in his hair.

It dries, only to be soaked by Luocha’s sweat yet again.

thank you for reading !!!

#honkai star rail #jing yuan x luocha #jing yuan #luocha #smut #hsr smut #hsr fic

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insaneshane · 2 years

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Apologies for the long wait! I'm simply a lil silly thing. Anyways, moving on from the Martinverse (Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon), I'll be covering the Tolkienverse! Now, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have no shortage of unique swords, and considering my format change, I'll do armour in this post, and swords in another.

As usual, I'll start with armour, and first up we have Thorin(son of Thráin, son of Thror)'s armour!

Now, he wears two distinctive sets, and I definitely have a preference. But I refer to this first set as his Dragonsickness Armour:

Okay so first things first, I *do* like the design. Like, it's very unique, and has personality imo. But I just *know* this shit is heavy. Unless of course it's a special material made to be as strong as steel but impossibly light (/j). Under the fur cloak he's got all the right stuff, pauldrens and whatnot, and we can see that he's wearing mail under it as well, so it's all theoretically practical.

I understand it's "King Thorin" or whatever, but I'd replace the crown with a helmet. I've seen fanart of him with one, but he never wears it in the movies so shame on him. He does have a shield though, so I can forgive him.

Speaking of the shield, I like it. It looks rather small, but that's fine, if he can use a tree branch effectively, he can use this (/s).

Realism: 7.5/10

Appeal: 6/10

Name: N/A

Overall: 7/10

Now, his other armor, what he wears throughout basically the whole series:

It's super simple, it looks like just mail under a coat. Also it seems like there's no mail on the biceps. I understand he was literally homeless, but I'd have to rob someone, I couldn't wear this.

Realism: 9/10

Appeal: 1/10

Name: N/A

Overall: 3/10

Next is the Rivendell Elven Soldier Armour:

I'm sorry it's such a shitty picture, but everything else was either a drawing or homemade. Now, it doesn't look all that protective tbh. I don't see any mail underneath, the elbows are exposed which leads me to believe other joints are as well (knees, ankles, etc.), and honestly it just doesn't scream "sturdy" to me. I understand elves are light weight warriors, but for a vanguard I'd want a little more protection.

Also, I think the solid metal "plume" on top is an interesting choice. Just like with Daemon's helmet, it's unnecessary weight, and will likely give you a sore neck after wearing it for too long. Other than that, it does look pretty cool.

Realism: 6/10

Appeal: 7.5/10

Name: 3/10

Overall: 5/10

Next we have Elrond's Armour, which is surprisingly similar to the standard soldiers armour:

The first thing I see it that he has mail on, which immediately puts this at a higher rank. However, his thighs are exposed save for the mail hanging down, which I think is an interesting choice seeing as there's a rather important artery in there. No gauntlets, or even gloves, is a downside, not to mention wearing a crown in place of a helmet again.

I will say, props to him for not wearing something drastically more fancy than his foot soldiers, it definitely inspires confidence in his leadership imo.

Realism: 6/10

Appeal: 8/10

Name: N/A

Overall: 7.5/10

Galadriel's Armour from Rings of Power! I suppose spoilers?

Firstly, oof. I think this shit is ugly tbh. But, that's more personal opinion than objective.

Onto actually reviewing it, it looks decent enough. However, the chest plate is too form fitting, I don't think it should curve inwards at the stomach like that. And yes, I understand Elrond's was pretty close fit too, but it's still a full round chestplate, not trying to accentuate anything.

Other than that, it's some genuinely good armour. Full chain underneath, so props to her, even though it's a little messy. And let's focus on the elbows a little bit. This is the perfect way to armour that joint, because it's not as exposed when your arm is outstretched as it would be with other armour. But you still have full range of motion!

Also, this is another good example of tasteful ornamentation.

Realism: 8/10

Appeal: 0.5/10

Name: N/A

Overall: 7/10

Last, but definitely not least, Lord Sauron's Armour

I'll try my very best not to be biased here, but like, c'mon, do you blame me?? This is so fucking cool.

Anyways, even without the bias, this armour *would* protect you. Like, it might shred you to pieces while donning it, but it's so worth it.

It's got all the things I usually look for, mail, helmet, joint protection, but also a fucking cape. Hell yeah.

Now, in my attempts to remain unbiased, I will say that any other time I'd dislike the spikes, namely the ones on the pauldrons and helmet, they're simply ridiculous. I do like that he sort of combined a helmet a crown (looking at you two Thorin and Elrond). But yeah this is just badass.

Realism: 7/10

Appeal: 12/10

Name: N/A

Overall: 8/10

And that concludes the Tolkienverse Armour review! As always, if there are any you wish I would've reviewed, let me know and I'll get on it! And remember, I'm aware it's fiction/fantasy, but this is something I enjoy, so I'll continue doing it!

#armour #lotr movies #the hobbit #rings of power #review #criticism #fantasy #movies #tolkien #sauron #galadriel #thorin son of thrain #elrond #rivendell #long post #? kinda

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marvelseries19 · 2 years

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A STRANGER IN A PARTY

Pairing: Kate Bishop x reader

Genre: Fluff

Summary: Kate is not having a very good day, or night for that matter. That is until she meets you.

A/N: Here is your request @aneverydaymarvelsimp I hope you like it and if you have more ideas, please do let me know. Enjoy💖

Warnings: None that I could tell, but if you see one, tell me.

Word count: 1.5k+

[You do not have permission to repost or translate any of my stories or claim them as yours]

Since the battle of New York, Kate has been completely obsessed with two things. One, being a superhero and two, her inspiration for the first one, Hawkeye, the archer that was a part of the avengers.

She had seen him fight with a bow and arrow, with no super powers beyond his training while there was a god, a super soldier and a man with a metal armor while he didn't even have a suit with sleeves.

He fought relentlessly against aliens that were far stronger than him and yet he was still able to defeat a big number of them. He was shooting arrows from the top of a building, and he didn't seemed scared at all. At least not to her. She saw when aliens had made their way to where the avenger was, and he kept fighting them. She was amazed by how he seemed to handle the situation. When he ran out of arrows, he took one of the arrows that he had previously shot from the chest of one of the aliens and used it to jump out of the building and land a few floors down.

It was at that exact moment that she decided that one day, when she was an adult, she was going to be like him. She would fight and become a superhero to help as many people as she could. She sworn that no other person would have to go through the grieve that she and her mom had gone through.

As soon as she could she started to practice martial arts and archery, she had become one of the best. She excelled every expectation, and she was definitely strong. She was all about being a hero, just like Clint Barton. That's why she chose a bow and arrow.

So, it was to be expected that she didn't like to go to fancy parties with her mom. She didn't like to wear dresses and pretend to be happy to be there. It wasn't her and she hated it, but this time she couldn't not go. She had messed up, she made a bet that didn't turn out very well, in fact, ended up with her destroying private property from her college.

Her day couldn't have been worst, but of course she spoke too soon. When her mother had told her that she had to go with her to a charity auction she was attending, Kate realized that there were a lot more swords around the house. Her mom's house. The house where she grew up, where in all her years in the place, she had never seen a single sword and they were everywhere. She asked her mom about it and that's basically how she found out that her mom's boyfriend had moved in while she was gone.

So now not only she had to attend a party she really didn't want to attend to, but she had to deal with the fact that her mom was living with Jack Duquesne, a man she barely knew and didn't quite trust.

The theme of the party was of course Christmas since it was right around the corner. It was beautiful really, the lights and trees and ornaments were stunning. At least it was something good to look at while she was there.

Kate's mood was all over the place. The problems with her college for the bet, the fact that her mom was now living with someone and didn't care to tell her and now she was in a party that she never wanted to be in was just too much for one day.

She had chosen a suit, completely black that looked really good on her and had an added bonus. Her mom had told her to wear a dress, so it was also a way to piss her off a little. The problem was that as soon as she arrived at the party, she realized that the waiters were dressed just like her. So now everyone including the waiters, confused her with a server and it just frustrated her even more.

"Excuse me dear, would you-" An old man started.

"Sorry, I'm not a waitress." She said, anger was clear on her voice and on her face.

"You are that Bishop girl!" He seemed to recognize her.

"Yes, I am" she said looking at him. She looked like she wanted to kill him. At least that's how it looked to you.

You had been hired by Clint to find Ronin's suit. That's why you were there in the first place. Apparently, a lot of things had been pulled from the ruble of the avengers compound after the final battle against Thanos and the suit was one of those.

You had followed a lead that took you to that place but so far you hadn't seen any signs that it was there. Nothing was interesting so you kept looking around until your eyes landed on a very angry brunette. She looked like she could kill the older guy just by the way she was looking at him. Despite that, she seemed to be holding just fine.

You kept scanning the place for a moment. That is until you see the same brunette walking ten time angrier than before towards a women that you could only assume was her mother. At least from the body language the showed. The seemed to maintain a discussion until the younger girl hugged the other women and walked out.

You decided to follow her outside. Something about the girl made you want to comfort her and make sure she was okey and the air could help you too. Win, win, or that was the excuse you were going with.

When you finally made it outside you saw her talking to a dog in the sidewalk until he just got up and walked away. She looked at the sky at the dog's action.

"You are not having a great night, are you?" You walked to her side and followed her gaze.

She took a quit look at you and turned her eyes back at the sky. "Not really, no"

"Problems with your mother?" You went straight to the point.

"How did you know?" She looked at you with wide eyes.

"I read your mind" You shrugged your shoulders. Now she was surprised, her eyes couldn't possible opened wider.

When you turned to look at her, she was way more affected by it than you thought she would have been. She did not understand the joke. "It was a joke" you said laughing. "It would be really cool though."

After Kate calmed herself a little, she continued the conversation. "How did you knew then?"

"I saw you arguing with her, you seemed pissed at something" This time you both kept your eyes on each other.

"Yeah, it's just… a lot happened and now I'm forced to be here" She didn't know if she should tell you her problems, you were a stranger after all.

"Who forced you to come? I assume you don't like this kind of parties"

"My mom. I kind of messed up at college and she had to paid for it" she said quietly.

"What did you do?" You were curious now.

"I kind of made a bet and ended up destroying a bell tower at my college's campus" She was kind of ashamed now.

"Was it at least a good bet?" You were completely in it now.

"It was… okay so, hear me out. When a bell rings, does the bell swing back and forth, or the dangly thingy swings back and forth?"

You thought about for a few seconds. "Both" you said shrugging a shoulder.

"What? What do you mean both?" She was not happy with your answer.

"It's both, the bell swings making the dangly thing swing along with it. That way the dangly thing hits the bells sides and makes the sound" You explained. "Oh, and the dangly thing… it's called a clapper"

"That is not! - that actually makes sense." She said while nodding. "How did you know that?"

"I like to read." You shrugged again. "Well, I need to go back inside, it was nice talking to you and just so you know, whatever happened between you and your mom, I'm sure you'll get through it" You turned to walk inside.

"I'm Kate... Bishop" Something about you was really attractive for her and she wanted to get to know you.

You turned to look at her. If you were being honest with yourself, she was the most exciting part of this whole thing. "Pretty name… I like it"

"Who are you?" She wanted to at least know your name.

"I'm just a stranger in a party" You smirked at her. "I'll see you around Kate Bishop" you said while you started to walk inside.

It was a quick conversation, but you had managed to chance her whole mood with just a few sentences and now she really wanted to know you.

Little did she know. You were about to spend a lot more time together.

#hawkeye #kate bishop #kate bishop x reader #kate bishop fluff #kate bishop x reader fluff #mcu #marvel

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eveningoftheempires · 3 years

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ROs' fashion senses? And what is the fashion like in the world in general?

Oh anon, you have absolutely HIT the mark with this question. I am a giant fashion nerd and fashion of EotE is something I’ve been working on for SO long, thanks for letting me ramble about it!!

So, I’m gonna preface this post with a little general description of the fashion in the world of Uria. A lot of parts of EotE are inspired by the 19th century, which may seem vague, as that is whole 100 years, but hey - it is fantasy, so I am mostly borrowing elements of the real world here and there while leaving out others. Therefore the fashion itself is rooted in the different styles of 19th century, with a heavier focus on the first part of 1800s. I’ve incorporated elements of fashions from all around of our world, because... it would be just weird to focus exclusively on western world’s aestheticism for a whole fantasy universe, especially as big as this one lol. Besides for historical inspirations, I do like to imagine fashion of Uria with a bit of a modern high couture vibe - think Valentino, Guo Pei, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad...

So yeah, that is a bit what the general inspirations behind the fashion of EotE are like! Of course not everyone is out there walking in outfits straight out of fashion plates; lower classes tend to wear more toned-down, practical garments, without as much flair. Styles vary from region to region as well. I may one day write a post elaborating more on that, but then this post would be enormously long nvjkfdnvkjnfdknk

So, with this out of the way, let us get into ROs fashion senses!

Laurent: Without a doubt they are the one most up to with different fashion trends, and the one who is in a position to actually dress stylishly. However, their clothing choices are not the most fabulous. They value high quality materials and fashionable silhouettes, but tend to pick out simpler garments, without as many fancy accessories as other nobles prefer. (They do have a weak spot for fancy shoes, though. Buy them nice shoes and you will own their heart.) They are mosty seen wearing deep, toned colours, like bottle green, navy blue or grape purple, with elements such as silk shirts, fitting embroidered vests, straight simple trousers or skirts, and ankle-height shoes on small heels.

Seraphim: Even though personally they do not hold much interest in fashion, given their job as the Royal Spymaster they have to blend in with the crowds. Therefore, their outfits really range depending on what circumstances they are working with at the moment. So basically, you may see them in any and all kinds of garments. They DO however, more often than not, wear different capes (most with weapons, poisons or documents hidden in small pockets inside) and tend to lean more towards practicality over aesthetics. Therefore, you won’t see them in any delicate, flowy fabrics, moreso something sturdy and, preferably, easily washed. Blood on clothes makes people talk too much.

Vael: Oh, Vael’s fashion sense is personally my favourite. Imagine a gay pirate. That’s it, that’s their vibe <3 A lot of open button-downs, high waisted leather pants along with many leather belts, tight-length boots, huge amount of jewelry and piercings, colorful scarfs worn both on the neck and as a hair adornment... There is a lot going on in their outfits for sure! They may not exactly be considered “fashionable” or “proper” by good society, but Vael could not care less about how people perceive them, honestly - they know what they want to look like and, in my humble opinion, they look flawless in their own right.

Min: Their fashion choices are certainly... something. Min doesn’t have much resources to dress according to newest trends given their social standing, but boy, do they leave an impression with their looks wherever they go! They always choose very colorful, bright garments, often contrasting with each other. A range array of patterns and textures can be noticed in their clothes as well. They enjoy mixing and matching items that shouldn’t go well with each other, but... somehow they make it work?

Noor: Although they do not get many occassions to dress up (they can be mostly seen in armor), they do have a deep running love for finery and like to keep up with the trends as much as possible. Their best friend is a talented craftsman, and whenever Noor buys a new garment, they run straight to him to alter it for their tastes and to make it more fashionable. Even their everyday outfits meant for adventuring do have a bit of a flair to them - some handsewn ornaments on the sleeves and collar of their jacket, some frills here and there, perhaps an embroidery of tiny jewels on boots... They strongly enjoy these small details, even if they are the only ones aware of them.

Orion: They have a particular color palette when it comes to all their outfits: particularily white, black and shades of grey. It is only partially a personal preference; it mostly stems from their days in the Ienowan Assassin’s Guild, which uses these specific hues as a way for the members to recognise each other. Other than that, they appreciate straight, precise cuts and simple shapes in their outfits, as well as soft and flexible materials. Orion does have a bit of a liking towards jewelry, although they keep these ornaments simple as well - nothing beyond iron rings or chained necklaces.

Again, thank you so much for the question, and sorry if I went a bit overboard with it! <3

#evening of the empires #cog wip #interactive fiction #choice of games #eote #eote laurent #eote seraphim #eote vael #eote min #eote noor #eote orion #worldbuilding #nik answers #this was soooo fun to write

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haylanmakesstuff · 4 years

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Day 9, 10, & 11 of my 21 day Skeksis Costume Build

DAY 9: OCTOBER 18th

Face, necklace

1.) First off today, I secured in the teeth and started making gums. I started with mounds of hot glue in the basic size I wanted.

I added rolls of latex covered tissue to help some.

2.) Next I took some pictures in the backpack and helmet to sketch an idea of how I was seeing this costume coming together mechanically. I have a tendency to do all this in my head but for this sake and mine, I thought for this rather ambitious project it would be good to have it visual.

3.) I tidied up the necklace and attached the chain.

4.) I spent the rest of the day painting the skin on the head. I used regular acrylic paint, the cheapo stuff that usually costs $1 or less. Sometimes I’d water it down depending on the transparency I was looking for. Sometimes I used brushes, other times I used scraps of the upholstery foam as sponges. These pictures show the different colors and layers as time passed this day.

DAY 10: OCTOBER 19th

About half way through now! Still have a lot to go. Today I took a break and went to a local pumpkin patch. Afterwards, I worked on the hands, face, and neck.

1.) I started off by finishing and touching up the paint job on the face I worked on yesterday.

2.) Today is when I started putting weight on my helmet so I wouldn’t end up with a totally unprepared neck on Halloween night. Super attractive and doesn’t make me look insane at all, rIgHt?

This is actually breaking one of Jim Henson’s cardinal rules of puppeteering. He said you should never ever ask puppeteer/muppeteers to put anything on their head because of the weight; it is so hard on the neck and can be exhausting and cause damage over time. I purposefully chose to ignore this rule since I will not be wearing this costume 5 days a week for 3 years the way the professional mupeteers do. I will be wearing it for one night for 1 Halloween a year or so. I don’t mind risking myself for a one night costume, but totally agree with him that I would not have made this choice otherwise. I felt this would give me the best and most lifelike control for my human puppet, since I don’t have the option to have three mupeteers controlling my one skeksis costume.

3.) I moved on to working on what I call “neck ornaments”. These are spiky jewelry like pieces that adorn Skesko’s collar. These are sets in different sizes, until the middle one (#12) is a stand alone, so I made all of them but that one together to ensure they were symmetrical.

Here are the materials you are seeing: the base with the number written on it is craft foam. The middle white chunk is foam board for stability. I needed them to stand straight and sturdy outwards away from the collar, but where they meet the collar to be curved where they are secured to the collar, so I didn’t want a rigid skeleton over the whole thing. The above photo is actually them in several different stages. To the left (9 & 10) are the just fun-foam with nothing on them. The middle, #12, shows the foam board ridge on the back of the ornament created for stability. It’s cut partially through and filled with hot glue to give it a curve. Lastly, #1 and 2 show the fronts covered in hot glue for stability and texture, and with a rim of hot glue on the edge to give it a nice 3D border.

4.) Once they were all done on the inside, I used plumber’s aluminum tape and covered them entirely. I took the back of a paintbrush and just dotted holes onto it to give it a hammered metal look.

5.) Lastly today, I painted each spiked ornament black, let it dry for a minute, or fan it for a few seconds, then wiped the black paint away, only leaving it in the indents of the hot glue and the indents we made with the back of the paintbrush black. This gives it a pretty realistic metal, hammered patina look, all while keeping them very light weight. This picture is mid paint job on one:

DAY 11: OCTOBER 20th

Hands, pack, face, neck, brooch

1.) The Crayola Magic on the hands has finally dried, so time to paint them. Skekso (or at least my version) has only 1 finger and 1 thumb’s skin exposed on each hand, so I’m only painting what will be seen in the long run. Same as the face; paint/sponge on a layer of latex first, to give it the same fleshy skin look to match the face/head.

Then do paint; Same as the face; regular acrylic paint, sometimes watered down, put on with a brush and sponges/upholstery foam. That is the Netflix reboot of She-Ra in the background – it’s absolutely endearing and I would recommend watching if you haven’t already. The whole series is out in completion now and it only gets better!

I noticed while writing this that I seem to have already done the fingernails and this is where I started to glue them on – must have forgot a picture of the fingernails process. To catch you up on that, these are just long, pointed, “witch” fingernails from a Halloween store—the cheaper ones from a regular beauty dept were just not long enough even though I had a ton of them left over from making zombie teeth for another costume. First I distressed them by chopping and slicing them to make them looked chipped and battered. Then I painted them with acrylic paint, then a layer of Sally Hansen’s Invisible Nail Polish for protection.

2.) Next, I am touching up the paint on the gums to make it look fleshy and gummy and like a the gross bacteria ridden mouth you just know Skeksis have. I also used that same Sally Hansen’s Invisible Nail Polish to coat the teeth some more, and some of the gums to give it a wet look

3.) Now It was time to bring the pieces of the head and face together that I’ve been working on so far. I attached the snout armor to the face (duh, hot glue), sealed the eye ball in (yarp, hot glue!) into the head giving me my first very over-excited view of what this costume will look like!

4.) I finished the day working on what I call the brooch. This is NOT part of the original costume from the show, but since I needed to see out of my costume in a crowd of people in the low-light of 6th street in Austin Texas, I had to come up with a window to see out of and make it look like it flawlessly blended into the costume. -The real character doesn’t have anything designed for that. I decided on making a ruffled bib below the collar in front, that would have a nice, pretty, interesting brooch of a giant beetle above it. This served two purposes, 1 – I can look out of the black chiffon ruffles and see what’s happening around me and where I’m walking without people looking at me, able to see me very well if at all. 2 – the beetle distracts people and makes the bib look like it’s just a fancy part of the shirt. It worked and people were often very confused on how the heck I was seeing out of this costume. Here is the beginning base of the Beetle Brooch made of craft foam and some beads I found in a rivers floodwaters. Waist not want not!

You’ll see the Beetle being made and finished in the next post!

That’s all for today! Come back for more posts about my journey through the very dangerous Fire Swamp to build this Skeksis costume in 21 days. Happy Halloween All Year!

#skeksis #the dark crystal #dark crystal #Age of Resistance #dark crystal costume #dark crystal cosplay #jim herman #skeksis cosplay #skeksis costume #halloween #happy halloween #halloween all year #hexmas tree

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thewritershelpers · 4 years

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How to Write (Accurate) Dinosaurs (Follower Article Submission)

By Salvatore Cucinotta

Dinosaurs are probably the most popular subject in natural sciences and show up in fiction in so many roles it’s dizzying. But they are rarely shown with any accuracy. Depending on the story, that’s okay, and nothing to be ashamed of. However, the opportunities presented with more accurate dinosaurs can often outstrip the flights of fancy they have often been assigned. There’s a lot to cover, because dinosaurs are a very diverse group of animals, and we’ve learned a lot about them since they were first discovered: Even more things recently that get ignored for the ‘popular conscious’ image of these animals.

If you would like the opportunity to write an article on something you’re passionate about for The Writers’ Helpers, please click here.

Taxonomy: Understanding through Relatives

The first thing to understand is about dinosaurs is where they fit in the tree of life. Their taxonomic cousins are Crocodilians, and their direct descendants are birds. This does mean that birds are dinosaurs. Between the two, we have some very interesting and diverse templates to draw from for comparison. We can also make some speculations on things they may have done when the fossil record doesn’t fails us. This article is going to go on with a mixture of things we do know, and things we can infer. If anything strikes you as off or odd, I fully encourage you to dig deeper on your own. Heck, by the time this article comes out, a new find or paper could make some major changes to the broad generalities presented here. But, for now, if you want to get a simplified understanding, Dinosaurs mix some of the best features of crocs and birds, which allowed them to dominate the world for millions of years.

Jaws and Teeth

With that settled, let’s focus on the animal piece by piece, starting with the head. Dinosaurs tend to have rather powerful jaws. Tyrannosaurs are famous for it, but the bites of most dinosaurs are nothing to sneeze at. Their modern relatives, Crocs and birds, are rather noted for how powerful their bites can be. This is because they all share a similar muscle structure. They have two pairs of muscles on the back of their head as well as one in the center of their head (between the eye and nose) which are all to make the bite that much more powerful. In many dinosaurs, these show up as holes so they can be clearly seen. By comparisons, mammals only have one pair of extra muscles in the back for jaw reinforcement. This is why crocs can crush bones and parrots can crack Brazil nuts. So it becomes easy to picture: a Hadrosaur pulling off chunks of tree wood in tough times, a ceratopsian munching down an entire bush to its stem, or a tyrannosaur, which have the most powerful jaws among dinosaurs, crunching up the bones of its prey. Their jaws are not to be taken lightly. Other big predators have weaker jaws than Tyrannosaurs, but still enough to leave scratch marks on bones.

Teeth come next, and dinosaur teeth are as diverse as their diet. The sauropods have simple, peg like teeth for stripping plants. Others, like Ankylosaurs and Stegosasurs have beaks to crop plants, largely forgoing teeth. All these animals likely had gizzards or advanced stomachs or breaking down plant material like modern birds do (we have known examples from Sauropods, but not from the others, but it would make sense). Ceratopsians and Hadrosaurs have massive batteries of teeth for chewing, and powerful ones at that. Ceratopsians shifted their jaws back and forth to chew rather than side to side like mammals do, while Hadrosaurs did something really weird: they flexed their skull. While their lower jaw just moves up and down, the top looks like it’s squeezed by an invisible hand as they separate, which flexes out when the close, grinding any food caught between them as the top teeth slide down and out over the lower set. In life, it would give it very puffy cheeks as it chewed. Finally, predators largely have teeth for slicing flesh and creating gaping wounds in their prey. Except Tyrannosaurs, those animals had more conical teeth for crushing bone and armor, especially Tyrannosaurus rex. After getting a small enough food item in their mouth, they’d then swallow it whole. It seems theropods ripped prey apart like modern birds do, holding it down with a foot and plucking chunks off to be swallowed.

Tongue Actions

Staying in the mouth, let’s talk about tongues. Our two modern examples show great extremes. In Crocodilians, their tongues are fused to their jaws, while in birds, they can take a variety of forms. This is generally covered by the hyoid bone and a study from June of 2018 ran through what we have of hyoid bones. The short of it being, most carnivorous dinosaurs and the big long-necked ones had crocodilian tongues (yes, even the birdlike ones), while the Ornithischian dinosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs, horned and armored dinosaurs, etc.) had tongues and could be a bit more elaborate with them. Given the simple jaws of Ankylosaurs, it is thought that their tongues might have been used to aid in grazing, being large, rough, and possibly used in pulling in food.

Horns, Frills, Domes, and Other Weirdness

Now there are dinosaurs that have horns, domes, crests, and other ornamentation on their heads, but they didn’t all use them for the same purposes. In Theropod dinosaurs like Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus, Cryolophosaurus, Carnotaurus, and even Tyrannosaurus rex, the horns, frills, and bumps were most likely display pieces like that of a modern hornbill. They look pretty, but don’t do much else. The Pachycephalosaurs dome heads are often shown ramming each other, and that’s likely accurate. We do have some evidence of lesions from impacts they could not withstand on their massive heads. Now, the Ceratopsian dinosaurs use their horns depending on their family. Chasmosaurine ceratopsians, such as Triceratops, Charmosaurus, and Torosaurus, likely locked horns like deer in shoving matches when battling each other, and used the sturdier horns to defend themselves when they could. Centrosaurine ceratopsians, including Monoclonius, Styracosaurus, and Pachyrhinosaurus did more body shoving and scraping with horns along the frill. So, instead of butting heads, they’d either T-bone their rival, or they’d circle each other to try and flip or knock over their foe. Finally, there’s the big tubes along the heads of lambeosaurine hadrosaurs. These were echo chambers for sound, which will be discussed in more detail below, but in general, these made deep, resonating sounds.

The frills of Ceratopsians likely served two purposes: defense and display. Display among other members of their species being the primary with defense a secondary bonus. And it wasn’t just bone covered in skin. The frills were covered in a keratin sheath like their horns and beaks, and like the beaks of modern birds. This means that they were quite durable, and possibly even brightly colored in life. It’s also fun to note that Tyrannosaurs had a habit of ripping off those frills in order to eat the thick neck muscles behind them.

Of course, the thing about Dinosaur heads, especially in Tyrannosaurs, Hadrosaurs, Ceratopsians, and likely Pachycephalosaurs is how much they change as they the animal ages. Ceratopsians show the most change, as they are born with frills and horns that can barely be notices, but which grow into different shapes for each stage of life. Triceratops has 5 distinct growth stages that we can determine so far, and it is likely other horned dinosaurs had similar stages. Hadrosaurs start with ‘cute’ faces, short nose and big eyes, and which elongate as they age. Tyrannosaur skulls deepen and become more robust as they age, to the point where young Tyrannosaurs have more teeth than the adults. Pachycephalosaurs might go through the most changes, starting with horn-covered heads before growing the dome as the horns shrink, but because their remains are rare and usually incomplete, we can’t say this with certainty.

As a final to-do regarding horned dinosaurs, it has been noted for years that their skulls have massive openings for their nasal passages. Holes far too big to just be for an enhanced sense of smell. One hypothesis about them is that they held air sacs that could inflate for display purposes, like that of a modern hooded seal. If that hypothesis held true, then they would be very showy animals.

(Almost) Bird Brains

Our last stop in the head is in the brain. Dinosaur intelligence is hard area to study since brains themselves don’t fossilize, but the braincase gives us some idea of its size and shape, and thus what it could focus on. This is made trickier because of the transition from more reptilian forms to avian ones, but, again, it gives us a rough estimate of what’s going on between their ears. From what we can deduce, animals like Allosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus were about as smart as modern crocodiles, with smarter ones on the way to being bird like. Some, like Tyrannosaurus, are only just, while one of the most intelligent dinosaurs (Troodon) is about 31.5 to 63% of the way to modern bird intelligence.

This does downplay the movie “Raptors” unlocking doors, or being as smart as crows or parrots, but it doesn’t make them unthinking, unfeeling beasts either. Again, crocodiles are more nuanced than most people are aware. Crocodiles have been seen bringing food to their babies, using very simple tools (putting moss and sticks on them to aid their camouflage), and can be taught a few tricks. They also play. They play with objects (wooden balls, noisy ceramic bits, their prey, floating debris, and even streams of water), they engage in movement play (surfing in waves, using waterslides, and riding currents), and even playing with others. And not just other crocodilians, but otters and even some people. Some of these play bonds can last for years. Crocodilians aren’t just reactive to their environment, they have flexibility in their behavior.

And no dinosaur has a secondary brain in the back to help out. That is total bunk.

All the Better to See You With

We can also tell a lot about the animals’ senses from these brain casts. In general, however, we can say that dinosaurs have great senses of smell and eyesight. Their hearing was good, but geared towards hearing lower sounds than humans are used to. This means that overall, the “It can’t see you if you don’t move” trick from Jurassic Park is patently false. Not only could it see you clearly, and in color, but it would just as easily identify a target through scent alone.

Resonance

Moving down to the throat, we enter the realm of figuring out what sounds dinosaurs made. This is a big area of curiosity, especially with the crests of the various Hadrosaurs being full of air tubes like massive instruments. The sounds of those is pretty well known – something like an alpine horn, but that’s not the limit of what sounds they could make. Modern birds would easily be a writer’s first thought. Birds make all sorts of sounds, from hooting owls to the lyrebirds’ perfect mimicry. However, Dinosaurs don’t have the bones for it. Most of those sounds are made with a bone known as the syrinx. This bone evolved in birds after they became their own group, and is found in no non-avian dinosaurs.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t make noises. Ostriches and bitterns and make booming sounds without the use of their syrinx, and crocodiles are very vocal animals. The chirp of crocodile babies in the nest is well known and documented, as is the mating bellow, and threatening hiss. But there are also calls to alert others to danger, call for help, and even an ‘Umph’ call to assure babies that their mother is near. These tend to be low, deep sounds for the most part, with the mating call going into infrasound ranges. This matches with many types of Dinosaurs. The singing Hadrosaurs and Tyrannosaurs both geared their ears for low frequency sounds. The Hadrosaurs to hear and locate each other, and Tyrannosaurs to listen in and find prey. This means that Tyrannosaurus wouldn’t roar, but something scarier. It could produce this sound without opening its mouth, and even if a hapless human couldn’t hear it, it would reverberate through their entire body.

Dinosaurs Can’t Play Basketball

The next thing to talk about is in the hands. In movies, and even in mounted skeletons, dinosaurs are often shown with their palms facing the ground. It gives raptors a praying mantis-like arm pose and is a product of anthropomorphism. Dinosaurs did not hold their hands like we do. Birds are dinosaurs, and birds hold their hands with their palms facing inward. Maniraptors (a group of dinosaurs including Oviraptor, Velociraptor, and modern birds) could almost fold their arms up like a bird does, though their fingers point to the ground getting only half way to a full bird fold-up. This is important for them because it allows for a ‘flapping’ motion. With this down, they could do all sorts of displays, catching small prey, or execute tighter turns.

Gut-Punch

The next topic is inside a dinosaur, and that is gastralia. This, in birds, is known as the sternum or breastbone. In dinosaurs, it’s basically a set of 8 to 21 reverse ribs that run along the line of the stomach. It is known to be present in Crocodiles and the Tuatara, and we have fossil evidence for it in many Theropods and Prosauropods. It seems to be absent from the giant Sauropods and Ornithischian dinosaurs. In life, they provide extra protection and muscle attachment points for the body mostly related to how they breathe.

Huff and Puff

Dinosaurs, like their descendants and relatives, have extremely efficient and powerful lungs unlike any other group of animals. They cycle through without pause, cleanly and efficiently. Throw in the hollow bones of Sauropods and Theropods, and like birds they become even more efficient with their breathing. This means they have very high endurance. The marathon flights of birds are a good benchmark for non-bird dinosaurs. It also means they can survive lower oxygen levels than us mammals can with fewer side effects. So the longer a chase scene goes on with a dinosaur, the more likely it’s going to win.

Serpentine! Serpentine!

The legs come next, and they are one of the defining features of dinosaurs and birds. They are extremely efficient runners. Their ankles and knees are simple door hinge joints, and their hips connect to their legs with a wheel joint. Even better, dinosaurs have a muscle attaching to the back of their thigh and connecting to their tail, making their run that much more powerful and efficient. So, dinosaurs can run quite well and for long periods of time. But they have trouble on turns. The tail can be used as a lever to aid in turns, but they’d still rather run straight than turn. So, when chased by a dinosaur, the best strategy is to get to cover and zig-zag randomly. Because you sure as hell aren’t outlasting them.

Speed wise, dinosaurs can do pretty well. It varies a lot by species. Tracks can tell us some answers, as can biomechanical analysis. It’s hard to pin down, and many a mathematical formula has been put together to try and figure out these speeds, with some variable ranges. The big theropods have a speed range between 10 and 25 mph. Large raptors around 20mph, with their smaller relatives 25-30mph. Smaller therapods can hit up to 45 mph, with the Ornithomimids hitting 50 mph at the most. The hadrosaurs tend towards 25-30mph. Ceratopsians tended to run at most just under 20mph. Armored dinosaurs and large sauropods tend to be the slowest, the fastest of these going roughly 6 mph.

Like today, predators have quicker pickup than herbivores, who are geared for more long distance running. Throw in all those adaptations for endurance and we have some real marathon runners here. In other words, predators tend to be sprinters, herbivores tend to be distance runners, but both are distance runners compared to mammals.

Ouch!

While we’re inside, let’s talk briefly about healing and injury. Dinosaurs are quite robust and tough animals. Their immune system is that of birds and crocodiles. When faced with an infection, their immune system isolates it. This makes it take longer to heal, but prevents septicemia/blood poisoning among other benefits. This does sometimes lead to amputation of toes in some animals. There are instances of healed creatures in many skeletons, though a bad break in a leg or along the spine can still be fatal. They still suffered some diseases. Tyrannosaurus for example has evidence from several individuals of a bone infection that seems to have been spread among them via face biting. Whether this face biting was social interaction of some sorts, violent interspecies conflict, or minor dominance displays while feeding like wolves do today is unknown.

Warm Blooded, Cold Blooded, or Something In Between?

At this point, it’s pertinent to mention how active dinosaurs were. The term “Mesotherm” is often put about them, and it seems to fit. They are between “Hot Blooded” Endotherms like birds and mammals, and “Cold Blooded” Ectotherms, like crocodiles and other reptiles. The short of it is, Dinosaurs were on a gradient of activity levels. Mostly above that of modern crocodiles (who are already geared to be as energy efficient as possible), up to that of modern birds. They wouldn’t bask in the sun by and large, but could do with less food than a mammal of similar size. What’s really fun is the cheat they use to assist that even more. See, most energy in mammals and birds is used to keep us warm and active. But this has a direct relationship with body size. The smaller an animal is, the more energy is needed to keep it warm. But large animals can keep themselves warm through their bulk alone. This is sometimes termed “Gigantothermy.” And dinosaurs hit that sweet spot really well, being able to outdo mammals and be more fuel efficient while doing so. Still, if the idea of the warmth of a group of mammals seems fanciful, remember: opossums, echidnas, and platypus’ have an average body temperature so low none of them can carry rabies.

The Way Out

Next, we come to an ‘exit’ from the internal stuff: a dinosaur’s butt, because dinosaur butts are weird. See, mammals from horses to humans are … different from other vertebrates. We have separate orifices for releasing both forms of waste as well as our reproductive system. Most other animals, well, they have their waste disposal plant and their amusement park in the same place. This is called a cloaca and is a universal organ for waste and reproduction. Birds, crocs, and dinosaurs have it. Even egg-laying mammals have it. It’s the standard from which modern mammals deviated. Because of this, dinosaurs can’t use urine to mark territory because they have no way of expelling it separate from other excrement. So, dinosaur poo would either be like that of a bird, or like that of a crocodile. On the plus side, this does make them quite good at retaining water, and makes them basically immune to being kicked in the crotch.

Eggs, Nests, and Parenting.

The other thing to come out of that hole, eggs, leads easily into nesting behavior. We only have a few nests we can fully identify, as well as dozens more which we can’t tell who they’re from. And the nests and their uses varied a lot. Some animals were nest bound after hatching, dependent on the parents for food. Others were like young reptiles of today, hatching ready to move and work largely on their own. It is likely, given crocodiles, that there was some parental protection early in life for most species. They had a high number of young, which compensated for the high attrition rates of young individuals. So, even the best mother lizards would lose quite a few children with each brood. In short, seeing a single child from a nest or as a yearling is not only inaccurate, but has extremely depressing implications.

In general, there were two major methods of nest building: the crocodile method, and the bird method. The crocodile method was taken up by the majority of dinosaurs. This being building a nest of rotting vegetation and covering the eggs, letting the warmth of rotting vegetation incubate the eggs. The latter is far better known, where the parents) use their warmth to incubate the eggs (though they were nested in rotting vegetation as well, a between stage for bird and crocodilian styles as it were). This more modern strategy is only found in smaller animals, and of those, the ones that were heavily feathered.

Scales, Dino-Fuzz, and Feathers

Yes, feathers. Dinosaurs have feathers. This is partly because birds are dinosaurs, and partly because of the “Ancestrally Filamentous Hypothesis” where the common ancestor of dinosaurs were likely feathered, or more accurately covered in filaments that are ancestral to feathers. This is because we have dinosaurs on both major branches with feathers and filaments of varying types and it is likely that they are from the same source, but it could be independent evolution as well.

But what’s really weird about dinosaur feathers is the fact that they are not mutually exclusive (meaning a dinosaur can have feathers and scales, and not just in patches either, but all mixed together), that some of the scales on some dinosaurs might be feathers that have become scales once again, and that there are occasionally multiple stages of feathers present on the same animal. There’s three basic stages (with 5 when you really get down to the nitty gritty things). These are the filament (hollow hair-like feathers somewhat similar looking, though often shorter, than what is seen today in emus and kiwis), plumulaceous (Fluffy down-like feathers), and pennaceous (and branching feathers from a central shaft). The latter are the majority of feather types on a bird, varying in how they are interwoven.

Armored dinosaurs (Stegosaurs, Ankylosaurs), Pachycephalosaurs, and Sauropods have no direct evidence for feathers on them, and aside from polar animals, very small animals, or sporadic display points probably didn’t have any. The scale impressions we have of sauropods and Ankylosaurs indicate rather crocodilian-like heavy scales, with smaller ones at the joints to ease movement. This includes the armor which, like the backs of crocodiles, were scales with boney core. And yes, some later Sauropods (such as Saltosaurus and Alamosaurus) did have body armor, though not to the extent of Ankylosaurs.

Ceratopsians or Horned dinosaurs have evidence of the first type of feathers on their bodies, namely long quills on the top of the tail of Psittacosaurus (along with a skin of fine scales whose coloration, that is similar to a modern deer, was also preserved). The skin impressions of Triceratops dinosaurs show they had more crocodilian-like armored scales, but also knob points where either spines or feather quills could have grown out. Given the size and placement, they might have been for display structures or they could have been more porcupine-like quill spines. But because this specimen is in the hands of a private collector, it has so far not been studied.

Ornithopods (duck-billed dinosaurs, Iguanodons, and small herbivores often called “Hypsilophodontids”) have several mummies preserving scaly skin, but Kulindadromeus, a primitive member of this family, had a very distinct body covering. Its face, shins, and tail were scaly, easily enough. But the torso, neck and head were covered in filamentous feathers, while its arms and thighs had plumulaceous coverings. So, it’s possible for Ornithopods to have all sorts of feathers, though it seems the larger ones preferred scales as far as we can tell so far, it doesn’t rule out feathered parts of the body as well, or mixed/alternating scales and feathers like the feet of some birds have.

Therapod feathers are extremely complicated since they include birds, and show the most diversity. We generally don’t have evidence for feathers in Ceratosaurs, Abeliosaurs, Megalosaurs, Spinosaurs, Allosaurs, or Carcharodontosaurs, but because of what we know of their ancestry, it is possible these animals had at least some filaments in scattered parts for display. Compsognathids and Tyrannosaurs have family members depicting plumulaceous feathers, including Yutyrannus which is so far the largest dinosaur to have such feathers (30ft long).

From there we get into properly bird-like and the feathers become more obvious. Therizinosaurs have plumulaceous feathers, while Oviraptors, Ornithomimids, and “Raptors” all have pennaceous feathers. Meaning that the latter three had wings. They couldn’t fly with them (well, maybe the juveniles can when they’re small and light enough for it), but they are still useful for a wide variety of things: shading young/eggs when nesting, social displays/mating dances, guiding movement when running like modern ostriches do, to aid in climbing like modern birds use them for (flapping furiously), or to pick up speed while running, or use them for balance when sinking their claws into prey like modern birds of prey do. There are a lot of ways birds use their wings for reasons other than flight, and the same might be true for non-avian dinosaurs that had them.

But let’s not forget the scales too. The do appear on dinosaurs are for the most part rather small. The scales preserved on tyrannosaurs are best measured in millimeters, with an animal up to 40 ft. long, it would make the skin look rather leathery at a distance, but when you get close to it and feel it, it would be rougher, pebbly, but still rather soft like a bird’s foot. Some animals, like Edmontosaurus had a mosaic of tiny scales where the animal would flex, with sections of larger, bumpier scales in between. And then there are the more armored ones on Sauropods and Ceratopsians. Overall, each dinosaur is going to look different from what you see in Jurassic Park.

But, in short, a dinosaur with feathers is more accurate than one without them.

Other weird skin-related tissues include: Edmontosaurus annectens of the animal having a crest of soft tissue or wattle like that of a chicken, Tarbosaurus bataar having a throat pouch like a modern frigate bird, and Diplodocus having Iguana-like spines down their back (though how big they are in proportion to the rest of the body is unknown).

Modern birds have a myriad of fleshy formations on their heads, as well as bizarre ways of arranging feathers. From turkeys and chickens, to kiwi whiskers and quails topknots, don’t be afraid to use them to lend character to your creatures.

Colors

The last part to talk about is color. We actually do know the coloration of a few dinosaurs. Psittacosaurus and a medium sized ankylosaur Borealopelta have deer-like countershading coloration. A tan brown up top with a lighter color for their belly and dark patches around the face or armored scutes. Yes, even armored Ankylosaurs have camouflage. And those were scaly animals for the most part, most color information comes from feathers. Anchiornis feathers are largely black with blotches of gray, splashes of white (forming a white background with black spots across on the wings), and a brilliant red crest. Sinosauropteryx has a color pattern very similar to that of a modern coati, orange-brown up top with a lighter belly, bandit-mask of orange-brown over its face and white/orange-brown stripes running up its tail like a ring-tailed lemur. Finally, the proto-bird dinosaurs Archaeopteryx and Microraptor were black for the most part, with Archaeopteryx having white tips, and Microraptor’s black being more iridescent-black.

This means that, color wise, we have a lot of options between these findings and what we see in modern birds. Animals that rely on camouflage would do their best to match their environment: browns, greens, and blacks being common. But we’d also see brilliant colors for display, possibly leading to dances that go with the colors. Predatory dinosaurs might have colorations similar to eagles and hawks of today. Think first of where the animal lives and what it’s doing. Then you’re going to have to think of birds or other animals that fill a similar basic role and see what catches your eye.

I Blame Society

There’s only so much we can say about behavior that is not tied to the body directly. Footprints tell us some things, but only give us short scenes. Still, we can say a few things with some confidence. There are three ways Dinosaurs group together. The first is in what is best termed a flock. They travel among their own kind as a group for protection. We see this in sauropod trackways, mass grave sites of ceratopsians, and among hadrosaur group nesting sites. It seems Ankylosaurs were mostly solitary. Other dinosaurs seemed to form smaller groups if at all. The next structure is rare and rather speculative: a pack. Popularised among “raptors”, there is also evidence for this among some Tyrannosaurs. A pack is a family unit with parents and children being raised together, sometimes in expanded form. It’s common in mammals, but rare in modern dinosaurs. Only the Harris Hawk displays this social structure, though crows have something...similar, but different crows are always outsmarting things. The last is possibly the most frightening: a bask. Crocodiles can be social animals. In fact, many are. They gather together in certain locations they know food to be plentiful and wait together for it to show up. This is probably best exemplified by the river crossings of wildebeest and zebra in Africa. Crocodiles gather at these points to wait for their prey to arrive, and then work together to take down prey as well as rip it apart. There is evidence of such basks being used by Allosaurus and it is not much of a stretch to extend it to related animals. They gathered by a watering hole in the dry season and took down prey that came to drink.

Wrap-up and Further Reading

This is a lot to digest, but it should give you a very solid handle on how to handle dinosaurs going forward in your stories. They are weird and wonderful animals, but never forget that they are animals and not monsters. It’s fun to hype of the deadliness of predators, but remember: the most dangerous animal in Africa is an herbivore, as are most of the “African Big 5”. Herbivores are more likely to (and more willing to) kill than predators. They just want an easy meal.

If you want more information, and can’t make it to a museum to talk up a volunteer or a resident paleontologist, I suggest checking out the tumblr A Dinosaur a Day, the youtube series Your Dinosaurs are Wrong from the Geek Group, as well as the youtube channel Trey the Explainer.

#How to Write Accurate Dinosaurs #Writing Help #Writing Dinosaurs #Dinosaurs #Writing Advice #Comprehensive Writing Guides #TWH Follower Article Submission #majingojira #Describing dinosaurs

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thesevenseraphs · 4 years

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Bungie Weekly Update - 9/10/20

[I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted one of these. It’s been a combination of being light TWABs and a lack of motivation to post. But this one is meaty with details and changes so it’s worth sharing!]

This week at Bungie, we’re consuming stacks of Light. Within Destiny 2, the exodus of Io, Titan, Mercury, and Mars continues. Zavala has tasked you with spreading word of impending Darkness and keeping our beloved vendors up to speed. There are still a few more loose ends to tie up on these destinations, so get to it. Along your quest, you’ll have some final chances to earn unique loot and fill out your collections before access to various strikes is impeded by the Darkness.

While the Traveler may have chosen you, it’s almost time to go beyond the Light. Don’t forget where you came from, though, as we’re celebrating Destiny’s almost-seventh birthday this week! Yeah, we know, it’s been six years. But seven is darker.

If you haven’t snagged the sweet wallpapers or seen our Stasis deep dives, head on over to our fresh blog article covering the fun! While we're celebrating the past, we're also getting ready for the future. Whether you’re a veteran of Destiny or have just been rez’d in the Cosmodrome, thank you for playing, and thank you for being a part of our community.

SUIT UP

A few TWAB’s ago, Luke Smith took some time to run through changes to our philosophy in doling out rewards through the various activities of Destiny 2.

Hit the article again if you’d like a refresher on vanity, cosmetics, and more. Today, we’ll be focusing on core playlist rewards (strikes, Gambit, and Crucible).

To quote the article, here’s what you can expect on November 10:

We are adding a new set of Armor for the core playlists (strikes, Gambit, and Crucible).

This armor shares a set of new geometry, with decals and shaders specific to the activity.

We will create new sets like this each Year (e.g., Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, etc.)

This set will arrive alongside the next expansion.

This armor can be earned by completing activities or through vendor rank-ups. Weekly challenges are also being updated to offer avenues for players to earn higher-stat packages for these armor sets.

Additionally, Year 4 will see the return of pursuit weapons. For those of you who may have joined our community in the last Season or two, these weapons have static perks, but allow for some customization. The final two perk columns have multiple perks to choose from, so you can tailor your weapon to your desired playstyle. Our eagle-eyed Guardians may recognize this beauty from a recent Stasis trailer….

Our goal is to have a pursuit weapon available per Season, earned through a focused quest. Banshee will give you a choice between Strikes, Crucible, or Gambit to earn the base model. Make sure you take a moment to think about how you want to earn the weapon, as you'll be locked in to specific objectives for whichever activity you pick.

Once you finish the main quest, Commander Zavala, Lord Shaxx, and the Drifter will offer you an additional quest which will reward you with weapon ornaments to the theme of their respective activities. If you’re omnivorous and enjoy all three offerings, all three will be available to you.

So, now that we've caught your eye with some fancy armor and a new sniper, let's take a quick look at how things are changing for core activities as you launch into your new adventures on November 10. Strike, Gambit, and Crucible playlists are being streamlined.

Crucible

Starting in Season 12, the Director will be updated to reduce the number of playlists available at a given time.

Featured Modes:

Control

Elimination

Rumble

Survival

Both Survival and Survival: Freelance will be available

Weekly rotator:

Clash, Mayhem, and Showdown

Private matches

Limited Availability

Iron Banner

Iron Banner: Freelance will make its debut in Season 12.

Similar to Competitive, this will be a smaller node next to Iron Banner when the playlist is available.

Weekend Availability

Trials of Osiris

Note: Adept weapons, rewarded to those reaching the Lighthouse, return to Trials of Osiris in Season 12. (More details on functionality to come in a Sandbox preview, currently planned for October.)

Strikes

Vanguard strikes and Nightfall: The Ordeal will be your two playlist options.

Each playlist will continue to offer weekly challenges for Powerful loot.

Nightfall: The Ordeal will continue to feature matchmaking at lower difficulties, and increased rewards for higher difficulty options.

Note: We’re also looking to add Adept weapons to strikes in a future Season. We’ll have updates closer to Season 13 on what to expect.

Gambit

As covered last week, Gambit and Gambit Prime will be consolidated into a single mode. We have some additional details on specific rule changes, as well as development notes from the team on how things are changing, and the goals behind them.

Hi Gambiteers! We wanted to give you an explanations of rules changes coming to Gambit in November, as well as a key update from last week.

First, some goals we wrote down before we started:

Build a more approachable Gambit Prime, keeping the one-round format with a longer round, but without the Gambit Prime armor perks.

Rebalance the motes phase to last 2/3 of each match, rather than half of the match.

Speed up the Primeval fight (compared to Gambit Prime) to give more of the feeling of a ‘boss rush.’

We started with the Gambit Prime encounters, full stop. However, without the Reaper buffs, the Large bosses that come in enemy waves were too tanky – so we pulled them all down to miniboss or elite. The pacing should feel like how Gambit feels for a pickup group, or how Prime feels for a fully kitted team.

We also playtested the “having the motes” phase target a score of 150, and/or have a heavier mote drain, but this allowed organized teams to steamroll even more effectively – not less. So, we pulled back to the current Gambit Prime mote target and drain.

We started with the Gambit Prime Blockers, but pulled the Taken Captain from the Blocker lineup, as he proved a little too potent for a 10-mote Blocker. We replaced him with the Phalanx, who can be tough to kill, but not as lethal. Since we don’t have the armor perks, we also had to remove the 20-mote Giant Blocker.

We kept the invasions during mote phases at three – just like Gambit Prime – but pulled back the minimum time between invasions during mote phases from 10 seconds to 20 seconds. It never feels good to get invaded back-to-back.

For the boss fight, we started with the Gambit Primeval fight, removed the timed Slayer buffs, increased the Primeval health and potency of the slayer buff given by when killing envoys. We respawn the envoys every 40% damage done to the Primeval – so if you get invaded and the Primeval is healed a lot, you have the opportunity to get more Slayer buffs and catch up. The fight length ends up somewhere in between the original Gambit and Gambit Prime, so we adjusted the invasion timer during the Primeval phase to match – right in between Gambit and Gambit Prime timing.

So, overall this mode will be a little quicker than Gambit Prime – mostly due to shortening of the boss phase and the removal of the larger bosses from the fronts, but one that still gives that great Gambit feeling that you all love.

We see you’re hungry for info, and we’re excited to bring the heat. As we approach Beyond Light, we’ll have more details on how your weekly rituals are changing. Economy, Eververse, Sandbox, and more. We’re looking forward to talking about things like solo queue Iron Banner, but we have a few things left to tie up as we approach launch.

Stay tuned…

TRIUMPH TRACKERS

Last week, we announced some changes coming to Triumphs in November. Various Triumphs and Seals will soon become unavailable, leaving you to figure out which things to prioritize before the end of the Season. Partnering with some community API creators, there are now multiple options for you to create a checklist of sorts. Here’s a quick list in no particular order. They’re all amazing, and we hope you find one that suits you best!

Destiny Item Manager

Light.gg

Destiny Tracker

Braytech.org

D2Checklist.com

Many thanks to these creators, and we’re excited to see how their portals and communities grow as we begin another year of Destiny content.

THE NOBLE QUEST TO VANQUISH ALL BUGS

Destiny 2 Update 2.9.2 shipped this Tuesday, and the Player Support team has been prowling the #Help forum in search of fresh bugs to smash. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like there are any major issues cropping up!

This is their report.

Players will no longer freeze when respawning in Gambit.

Enemies will no longer stop spawning in Hexahedron area in the Prophecy Dungeon, blocking players from progressing.

Players who completed Tommy's Matchbook catalyst pursuit will no longer be re-awarded it.

Redrix’s Broadsword will now be available to reclaim from Collections.

Players will no longer block quest progress by acquiring Calcified Light without the quest active.

CURRENT KNOWN ISSUES While we continue investigating various known issues, here is a list of the latest issues that were reported to us in our #Help Forum:

Player badge counts will sometimes not update when the Season of Arrivals Collections badge is completed.

The Tribute Hall’s Completionist triumph doesn’t count Season Collections badges.

Players need to complete the Exodus: Preparation quest before they can begin the Exodus: Evacuation quest for Traveler’s Chosen.

The Artifact is sometimes enabled in Iron Banner.

Bounties/progress is sometimes not counted in Iron Banner.

For a full list of emergent issues in Destiny 2, players can review our Known Issues article. Players who observe other issues should report them to our #Help forum.

#Destiny #Destiny 2 #Bungie Weekly Update #long post #Destiny 2: Beyond Light

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megucarecord · 3 years

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Rating Genshin Impact Character Designs (Pt. 1)

Hey y’all! I’ve been thinking of doing this for a really long time and I decided to finally stop being lazy and do it. So this is going to be a review of all the playable characters in Genshin Impact from a design perspective. I don’t really have any prerequisites to make this list worth anything (unless you count one year of a fashion/sewing class in high school lol) but hey idk, seems fun?

Gonna be super long (10 characters) so putting everything under the cut.

Disclaimer: I don’t actually hate any of these designs, nor do I consider my opinions “fixing” them, this is just for fun.

Character: Lumine

I have a lot of conflicting feelings about this design. The hair and basic build are fine, very generic but that’s unsurprising for any character that is working at least partially as a pseudo self-insert. The color scheme is also very bland - and is one of the reasons I originally thought that Aether was automatically Geo traveler and Lumine was Anemo traveler. I think that adding more colors would’ve been a good thing, but also would’ve required a revamp of the dress itself, so maybe not the most practical thing, even if I think the dress is a bit too busy. The biggest changes I would make would be to get rid of the fancy part of her stockings as well as the extra flow/ruffled back of the skirt, which is just a bit too much considering the top layer of the skirt is already quite detailed (in a very nice way) and that could’ve just been extended. I also have to admit that though the scarf is very impractical and showy, but it reminds me of a costume from a series I like so I actually like it a lot, although you could definitely term it unnecessary.

Rating: 7/10

Character: Aether

Okay ngl this character design kinda slaps. Firstly, I love that Aether has long hair, it’s a good contrast to Lumine’s cut (and contrast should be super important with characters that are siblings/parallels of one another) and idk long braids are kinda cool. I love that the outfit has distinctive colors, which give the character personality and keeps him from being washed out. The design is much more streamlined than Lumine’s, and although I’m not a huge fan of midrifts (a theme in this post I’m sorry) there’s not actually much I’d change in this design. Except maybe make the cape a scarf to better match with Lumine. This is definitely the superior design in terms of the siblings in my opinion and I think the lack of intricacy fits the image of “traveler” better. It’s not my favorite and there isn’t anything that really stands out in the design, but it’s really solid and I like it.

Rating: 9/10

Character: Albedo

This design has a lot of potential, but I think in the end it’s just a bit too busy (which will be a theme in this game haha). I like the hair - in general I’m glad Genshin isn’t scared to try a bunch of different lengths and styles on guys because if not everything would become painfully boring. I also like the clothes for the most part. The boots are especially sleek, and I like that despite being a Geo character they gave Albedo a bluer, darker color scheme. I think it fits with his mysterious sort of quietly menacing vibe (this man is Frankensteining something I know it). But it really starts to get a bit too much with the coat. I think he needed a coat, again it fits the character, he’s in the middle of a frozen tundra and he’s also a magic scientist man, he needs some sort of coat. But I think the chain and the strap across the front is a bit too much. If I were the designers I would’ve continued with a sleeker theme, make the sleeves longer, the gloves shorter, if you wanted some ornamentation maybe a pack of vials on his belt. Overall very good design, greater color scheme, too busy. Also can we appreciate his banner art? It’s so good I love it.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Amber

Okay first I’m gonna say her card art is super cute. Love the pose, love the style. All gut. Now let me say that this outfit had potential but then it sorta... fell flat. I like the color scheme for the most part, except the white cause idk white is boring and in the game it looks kinda latexy, but I understand wanting three colors and black might be too close to brown. That being said, I hate stockings. Stockings are just the worst, they’re impractical, hard to put on, uncomfortable, should only be worn with dresses. No knight of Favonius needs stockings. Might I suggest pants or shorts? Or like cool pseudo armor plates like with Lumine. Also though I do like the jacket and the leather stomacher design, I think a bomber jacket might suit the character better, because idk they’re cool and they make me think of Amelia Earheart, although that’s such a culturally distinct thing I can’t blame them for not thinking that way. Again the jacket is still very cool, love the stomacher, and love the cuffs.. The belt is lovely and like I said love the embossed designs, but ultimately this design is too impractical, and too bland to get away with being impratical for me. So... yeah.

Rating: 5/10

Character: Barbara

Barbara! Our fav crazy nun. First I’m gonna thank her for having an attack of pure magic then I’m gonna say I hate the color white apparently because I also didn’t like it here. I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be a novice (could be wrong), so I’d flip the colors, have the accents be white and the main color navy. But idk that’s just me. Overall I quite like her design. It’s a pretty good balance between simple and detailed. I don’t even hate the stockings. I’d say the least good part is the top, the bow and the weird collar is just... ehh? but I don’t think getting rid of the collar would help though. I’d say ditch the bow, make the dress connect to the collar, keep the off the shoulders cold sleeves. I really like the ruffled part of the top skirt. Idk it’s the best part of the design. The hat makes her look like a nurse not a nun though. maybe make the hair ties for the ponytails little veils, might fit better. Overall mostly nitpicks, it’s a strong design.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Beidou

Firstly I’d like to apologize to the Beidou I pulled before never using her (forgive me ily); next I’d like to admit I don’t love her design. I haven’t really harped on the lack of armor on these characters - because I’m not sure how I’d integrate armor into all them without making them bland af, no one wants people running around in full plate armor how tf you supposed to climb in that - but I still wouldn’t’ve put her in a leotard and boots only when she’s a canonical fighter, without even the armor accents on most of the other character. I know that traditional qipao would probably be terrible to fight in, so I’m not going to complain about them slitting it - I actually quite like it I think it’s cool and sleek and fits her vibe - but I will complain about them putting her in a leotard underneath. As someone who dances I can assure you no one in their right mind would want to fight in a leotard, which yes I know isn’t the point and I can’t blame them for not thinking that way. Anyways, I think leggings/stockings and tall boots are quite cool so that’s prolly what I’d do, streamlines the whole design too, gives it a sense of connectivity (idk I’m weird and I don’t look at this character often so yeah). I like the top of her design, although I’d prolly replace the fur on the cap with a large collar, sort of pirate-y or Navy-like. Also let me just say I love the hair and eye patch. Fits her reckless sort of character to hate her hair whipping around, and the eyepatch really sells the concept of her having fought for years. The hand guards didn’t need to be flared, but I don’t mind them being there. Especially since handling a Claymore would definitely rip up your hands if you didn’t have protection. Also the boots though impractical are very cool so... yeah.

Rating: 6/10

Character: Bennett

One of my main team and prolly the closest thing I currently have to a DPS I have conflicting opinions on Bennett’s design. I think it’s a pretty good design all things considered. His belt and all his packs would be busy if you didn’t know Bennett’s character, but considering he’s a wanna be adventurer, I think it works pretty well. Although I don’t know why his extra belt straps are so long... or even exist?? Idk kinda weird. His top is... ehh? I don’t really like it, I think partially because I don’t think Bennett would wear a midrift shirt like this (midrifts where there shouldn’t be midrifts or, as I like to call it, being MagiReco-d) and partially cause the color, though understandable in such a busy design, is kinda bland. I think that’s why the collar works instead of being too busy, we needed some color. If I had to changed the design I’d get rid of the midrift and get rid of those weird extra belt things. Also that one random dagger star thing on one side of his blue collar is just so weird and random and like why does it exist? But overall I like the design, and it doesn’t bug me when I’m playing with him. I think it’s a good example of how busyness can accurately portray a character. Well done.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Chongyun

Another character who I own but have never played, though my friend has him on their main team and they look super cool. I’m not gonna lie I love this character’s design. Firstly the color palette is so good, the white feels like it works to offset all the blue hues - which I love that even the darkest parts of his design are blue not black - so it doesn’t feel bland or irritating, especially with the gold giving it a sense of luxury. I also like the choice to have a tunic that extends to the pants, I think having only white pants would be too bland - again white it a meh color for designs - so it really gives it some necessary details and color. I also like the jacket, again it gives the design a sense of detail while being simple enough not to feel like too much. Also I have no idea what the outfit would look like without the jacket and I have a feeling that answer would be Not Good, so... yeah. Some nitpicks; the left arm band thingie golden cuff is kinda too much and seems impractical and irritating. And... that’s it. I know the slippers are impractical, but I think they work, he is an exorcist not an adventurer after all. Overall, probably second favorite design in the game. Great job

Rating: 10/10

Character: Diluc

Give Diluc a high ponytail, I’m begging you. Lol anyways personal preference aside (which is impossible this entire post is personal preference) I like this design. I think the color works and the whole outfit is a good reflection of Diluc’s character, closed off, luxurious while also a bit ragged and uncontrollable. Yeah. I like it. I do think the thing chain accessory is kinda random, and I don’t think there’s anything about the design that knocks me off my feet, but I do really love the design overall. Also the gloves, good gloves. Suggestions? High ponytailed Diluc. Nothing else. Also though he’s not in this post I like that this outfit is very streamlined and simple compared to Kaeya, it’s a good portrayal of their differing views and opinions through fashion. Because unlike with the traveller siblings I think these brothers have a dynamic where contrast is better than parallel.

Rating: 9/10

Character: Diona

Okay so though I’ve never interacted with this character I skimmed the wiki and I love her backstory it’s hilarious. Also since I never interact with her I don’t have many opinions about her design except why does she only have one sock on? Honestly relatable moments. I think the extra ponytail is kinda weird and excessive considering the hat and I’d prolly make the hair orange to match the ears but overall very cute design. What do bartenders look like? Idk. Oh and also there are a bit too many colors roaming around, but I get it. Overall fairly generic but kinda cute. I still think midrifts are bad.

Rating: 7/10

And that’s it! I hope this didn’t come off as “lol these designs are gross and I’m superior and we should fix them” because no. No one should take any of these suggestions seriously. Except maybe the ponytail one lol. Anyways I hope at least one person likes this cause this took forever and I kinda burned out after a while. Next post if I make it will be interesting cause it includes my least favorite design. May you all have lovely playing and if you love a design I don’t honestly more power to you. Bye!!

#idk this is so random #plz don't hate me #genshin impact #not magia record #long post #mine

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seventh-line · 4 years

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Quinn, those Certainly aren’t her Wings

So, I’m back for round two.

Let’s take a look at the splash:

Yeah. At first glance, she isn’t the most egregious offender. Looks pretty decent. Thighs are kinda big relative to the rest of her, but it might just be me. She has some very fancy pauldrons, though I wonder if she stabs her head occasionally with the sharp piece. It doesn’t really tell me much so I’ll have to go to other sources.

Again, my thoughts are it’s a pretty solid outfit. I’m particularly drawn to the pants, as they look kinda like Akali’s, but better and frankly more fashionable. On top of that, her cape is pretty sleek, she isn’t wearing high heels and is in general pretty decently protected.

The only things I can really complain about is the ornamental sharp edges that may cause some *minor* problems. Like what if those knee protectors pierced her shin, or ruined a nice hardwood floor if she knelt down? Or you know, she goes to scratch her nose with that giant ass gauntlet acting as a raptor glove??

The second thing is leather armor doesn’t bend to fit your boobs. Unless it was flimsy leather. In which case that would be impractical considering her job puts her in potentially dangerous situations often. Even then, leather would more so bind, instead of cupping her breasts.

On a side note, I’d also like to just take a moment to appreciate her cape. Wow. Definitely not practical but I’m almost jealous.

Anyways moving on, the final picture I can cover is her first LoR card image:

While the cape is not as glorious, it certainly still looks badass. Leather was swapped out for metal, and I think it suits her very well, though I think both look good. The plate matches more closely with the Demacian aesthetic. The sharp bits of her knee protectors are still there, as well as on the ankle for some reason?? What if her heel gets caught while kicking someone or something?

Anyways, I think her LoR artwork is really nice. It’s better in every visual aspect IMO. This is personal preference but I feel the watered down extras (pauldron is less fancy, same with cape ect.) fit more for a ranger spending a lot of time in enemy territory.

Anyways. That’s my outfit assessment for Quinn. Overall it was pretty good, especially compared to the previous one, though there are still improvements to be made.

Now, time to consult the wheel for my next test subject. Cya

#league of legends #quinn #lol #league outfits

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sarahsmiles1991 · 3 years

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Xena Sharptooth - Critical Role Fanfiction

Summary: Though she was banished by the clan, Lady Kima asks her to join on her quest to Kraghammer to go into the depth below to stop a great evil within. Reluctant to go but agrees, Xena Sharptooth joins her; what dangers awaits her down there and who the hell are these clowns?!

Character Info Sheet

Name: Xena Sharptooth 30 ft Walking AC: 19

Class: Paladin lv. 9 Oath of Vengeance God: Bahamut

Race: Half-Orc Background: Urchin HP: 94

Armour: Mithril Breastplate Weapons: Animated Shield

Brooch of Shielding Flame Tongue Short-sword

Holy Symbol of Bahamut Platinum

Dragon attached by leather string and

hangs from her neck under her armour

Abilities

Strength: 20 (5+)

Dexterity: 16 (6+)

Constitution: 18 (4+)

Intelligence: 15 (2+)

Wisdom: 15 (2+)

Charisma: 16 (3+)

Saving Throws

Strength +8

Dexterity +6

Constitution +7

Intelligence +5

Wisdom (P) +9

Charisma (P) +10

Introduction/Background

Xena Sharptooth has lived as an urchin most of her life and being abandoned by her own mother she took to the street and stole food from the markets and earn gold by singing. However her luck rang out when the fruit seller caught and prepared to chop her hands off as punishment, but then an old Paladin by the name of Sir Alistair Brightworth, servant to Bahamut stopped this a says that he will take this half orc and make something out of her. With little to no choice but to go with the old paladin he takes her to the monastery and begins her training. As she grew she became a strong and skilful with a shield and sword and was given the test to become one of the generals.

Unfortunately, being a half orc the some of paladins and clerics were terrified, disgust and jealousy that such a creature would become one of the leaders. Before she could even start the test the head of the monastery struck a trial of scandal and murder on her; to her horror and sadness no one, not even her brothers and sisters in training took a stand with her and she was banished from the one place she thought was her true home. Now older and bitter Xena took to the mountains, killing bandits and evil creatures to take her mind off her anger and ignore the voice of a being who asks for forgiveness and redemption.

In town for a drink and supplies Xena comes across an old companion of hers, Lady Kima who she trained with. She pleads to Xena to come with her to Kraghammer to find a great evil that could be hidden within it’s depths; with great hesitation and a migraine from the voice in her head she agrees and goes with her to find this darkness and hopes that not only she makes it out alive but to have the voice stop talking to her.

Prologue

Xena Sharptooth was having a good day!

Not only did she get rid of the rest of the bandits that have been terrorizing a village but also found a bag of holding! How the bloody hell the leader came by such a thing is beyond her but she didn’t question it cause she can only imagine the vibrating purrs in her head would do.

Oh yes, ever since her banishment from the Paladins of Bahamut the Platinum Dragon, the stupid lizard has not let her forget that they have not forsaken her. No matter how much she tries to ignore them they seem to insist on sticking around, it didn’t really help that she was helping villages and other unpopular areas with their troubles for only a few things like food and sleep. Hell in a few minutes she is about to head out to farmers home and help them harvest their goods in exchange for a sack of vegetables, can’t exactly tell a god to fuck off when you are doing good deeds left and right.

Oddly though, as they tore her holy symbol from her armor they allowed her to keep it along with her weapons.

“The Platinum Dragon gave you those tools, though you have used them for your own gain than for others they are still yours.” one of the head ass-holes had explained as they dragged her out.

Scoffing at the whole situation, she puts the last of the goods in her new bag of holding, she puts the strap over her shoulder and makes her way to the village.

The breastplate, though showed it has seen many battles with scuff marks and a few dents here and there one could tell it was kept after Xena thanked the heavens that it was made out of mithril one of the sturdier metals in the world.

Xena hums, as she walks through the animal, made trail, feeling pretty good besides the few scars added to her body; particularly the one at her cheekbone almost making her lose her eye were it not for turning her head the last second.

There’s a spark inside us

that we can all ignite

and all that’s dark inside us

will flicker into light

Like any warrior who has been in battle; scars and wounds were merely accessories and reminders that they have survived her learned in a library that Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Her light green colored skin showed all her scars with no help and also being like a beacon if any sort of light took a shine to her and as if she wasn’t so horrific to humans, the orcs gave pause at her green flesh while they had their grey pigmentation before charging at her to attack.

Of all the healers and friendly scholars she would come across none of them could explain what was going on with her skin, she can only assume it had something to do with her parents or a mutation.

There’s a power in every breath

there’s a power in every note

a power that starts within the heart

a power that rises through the throat

Her tusks though not prominent still like to remind people of her background when she grinned in amusement or gave a sneer at a threat. She was of course teased for her features and there had been times where she wanted nothing more than to file her tusks, they did help her in a pinch when she had to bite an offender who thought covering her mouth was a good idea, she still chuckles at that memory. Her wild black hair still a mess after one of the bandits cut the string holding it up, got a stab in the foot for that, cascaded down her shoulders and to the middle of her back. Normally she would either has it in a ponytail or a plait to keep it out of her face, never once considering getting it cut.

And when it sails up through the air

more beautiful than any prayer

this power can right all wrong

and it will always thrill the ear

of those who have the power to hear

the magic of a song

Now it was her eyes that gave her confounded her; wolf eyes some called them with the yellow glare piercing one's soul if you got close enough to her. No other orc or even half-orcs had the eyes she had, maybe it was the gods' idea of a joke since her skin already make her freak why not throw in wolf eyes, she could feel the lizard admonish her, it gave the locals the idea to nickname her Einn ulfur, Lone Wolf.

There’s a strength inside us

that tells us wrong from right

becomes a song inside us

to chase away the night

By the end of her singing, she made it to the village, it was still midday so there not a lot of people about what harvest time being near and going about their own life. Xena frequent the village a lot so no one really balked at the half-orc heading straight for their elders with a slight smirk on her face. The elders consisted of three female halflings; Shaena Underbough, Portia Tosscobble, and last and certainly not the least Lavina Goodbarrel. Lavina is the eldest of the three and was the first to welcome Xena into the village with open arms, even offering her a place to stay in her home after her banishment from Paladins.

“Ah! And there she is!” Elder Lavina crowed. “Merle! You owe me a pint!”

Merle, husband to Lavina chuckles. “Aye I never should wager against Ulfer, especially against you love.”

“The bandits are no more.” Xena reports, placing the bag of holding to the ground and pulling out all the goods and other useful things for the elders and village to use. “They will not be bothering you a moment longer and I have found some trinkets and the like for you all.”

Lavina raises an eyebrow at the goods. “For bandits going after a small village as ours makes one wonder why they even bother with all this shit.”

“Them swords will be of help for certain.” Shaena says, watching the pile of weapons grow. “Heaven knows our people need them when you go off into the world again, I must say again how much we appreciate your help luv.”

“Mmm.” Portia mumbles, placing her pipe next to her knitting project before getting up and going to inspect the goods. “Plus Jeorge will getting more than enough supplies for the winter with these, did you find your own trinkets to take?”

Xena presents the bag of holding to them with a smirk. “The leader somehow got his hands on this, it is enough for me to-”

“The pretty bag is not enough of a reward for what you have done Ulfer!” Portia interrupts, frowning up at her. “Shaena may just let you do that but I and many others will draw the line if we must! I am sure there is enough gold for you to take.”

With that along with a sound of offense from the other lady, Shaena picks up a rather large sack of what is clearly gold and places it in a bemused Xena’s hand. Shaena though the youngest is the much stricter of the three and much more wary of strangers; when Xena first arrived in the village after months on her own after banishment Shaena was very hesitant to lend a hand to the creature that limped it’s way to their little village with nothing but armor and weapons on her person asking for a simple cup of milk in exchange to help any way she can. Lavina swooped onto Xena before the other two could say anything and the next thing they knew they had a mean green fighting being who protected the village and provided help to others.

“Jeorge will be heading for the city early in the morning, best get cleaned and well-rested for the trip.” Lavina informs Xena, picking up what looks like a bottle of fancy wine.

Xena smiles at the ladies, giving them a nod before heading for Lavina’s townhouse to do just that. Many of the halflings who live in the village greet her as she passes by, along with thanks as she left.

The next morning as she ate the last of her second breakfast Xena Sharptooth was ready for the road along with Jeorge. It took nearly a day to reach the city and Xena slips a gold to Jeorge in thanks as she leaves to the nearest tavern for a late dinner and sees if there were any jobs for her to do.

The Hanging Man was a dwarf-owned tavern so the place looks more made of stone than wood but with how many brawls and fights started one was pretty smart to not have many things made of wood. A large fire pit where many types of meat were being cooked in the middle of the tavern sizzled through the air and made Xena’s mouth water as she could taste that goat leg she had been eyeing as she entered.

One of her favorite meats in the world before her and the bag of holding? Maybe the old lizard was onto something.

“Hello!” a bright-eyed elf wench greets from over the booth with a smile. “Welcome to the Hanging Man! My name is Amelia how may I help you?”

“Leg of goat and a pint of ale.” Xena orders, taking a seat.

“You mean lamb?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

Xena gave it back. “No I mean that goat leg you have in the fire pit.”

Amelia looks over to the fire pit before shaking her head. “I am sorry but that is for a customer-”

“Actually it is for her.” a soft familiar voice beside from beside her. “Please get it for.”

Xena’s whole body freezes at the voice. Are you fucking kidding you lizard!

A light purr was her reply.

“Three years away and I still know one of your weaknesses, Xena. Never understood your taste in goat than a lamb but to each their own.”

From the corner of her eye she watched as the halfling woman climbs onto the stool beside her, her dirty blond hair tightly braided, complexion darker than the usual halfling with a big scar across the side of her face along with other, smaller scars and of course wearing armor representing gold, silver, and blue of Bahamut.

“Oh like your weakness isn’t teriyaki chicken wings?” Xena mutters, tapping the booth waiting for her drink.

“Oooh don’t remind me, I haven’t had those in months!” the Halfling woman laughs.

Thankfully Xena didn’t have to wait long as her pint arrived along with the goat leg... though it looks magnificent and just asking to be devoured.

“What brings you here Lady Kima?” she asks, sipping her ale. “Don’t you and those dumb-asses have to keep Emon protected since you failed that last time around, also well done on that.”

“What? Can I not wonder about my vacation?” Lady Kima asks with a small smirk completely ignoring Xena’s comment.

“Not when you have Lady Allura waiting for you at home.” Xena was quick to reply.

Lady Kima’s dark complexion became darker as she clears her throat looking around nervously. “She is busy with her own things and I am not here to talk about such things. I am here for you though.”

“Oh? What happened? Is there something else they wanted to accuse me of?” She asks rolling her eyes. “Did I throw Timmy down the well?”

“No Xena this doesn’t have anything to do with the order and more of a personnel matter.” Lady Kima sighs. “I was given a vision... a dark one.”

Xena turns her head to Lady Kima, showing that she was paying attention. It wasn’t really all surprising that paladins got visions or messages from Bahamut it was just rare when they do give it so when one says they got a vision, you listen.

“I saw darkness taking root beneath Kraghammer, the dwarven city northeast of Emon in the Cliffkeep Mountains. I have been hiring a couple of mercenaries to accompany me into the mines and into the Underdark, and I want you to join me.” Just as she finished the sentence Xena choked back her drink.

Coughing a bit, wiping her mouth with her arm Xena looks over at Lady Kima in shock. “Okay first off you owe another ale, second of all wherein all your vision did it say ‘It’s dangerous to go alone, bring the half-orc that your order banished years ago!’ like seriously Kima.”

“Xena, the Order has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with my visions and they certainly have nothing to say about who I bring with me. Besides, in my vision; within the darkness, I saw a figure of a wolf within it, guiding me through the caves of the deep.”

There was a silence between the two.

“And the last murmurs I have heard here and in neighboring villages, that there is a half-orc wondering the area, helping the less fortunate, caring for those in need with the strength of ten men and eyes like a wolf, they call her Einn Ulfer... Lone Wolf, Now I wonder would such a person does not help her old mentor in her quest to suppress the darkness from taking hold in this world?” Lady Kima asks, gently placing it beside Xena’s hand.

Xena looks down at the object, taking a deep breath as she stares at her the most precious thing that was taken away from her, her holy symbol. The lizard her head purrs comfortingly, encouraging her to do what is right and help her Lady Kima.

Reaching over she picks up the symbol, grasping tightly to it as she feels the vibrating purrs in her head transfer slowly from her head down her body and into the item in her hand.

Xena sighs. “So, Kraghammer huh?”

Lady Kima smiles.

#critical role #vox machina #fanfiction #oc x canon

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eternalstrigoii · 4 years

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Songbird

Borra (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) x Female-Presenting Fae!Reader

They called you many things when they thought you could not hear.

Abnormal. Some manner of strange creature. Changeling.

They were right. Proof lied in the leafed tips of your ears, the natural points you had to file blunt at the ends of your nails, the way your eyes flashed at the dart of movement in the brush, and the way your too-sharp canines caught the light.

But, above all, you held your inhumanity in your fingers.

You moved too quickly, too surely for the likes of careful, mortal reflex. Your weaving was always taut, and your patterns never faltered; whatever you planted bloomed in abundance. With a gesture, you called even wild animals to your side. So,it had only been natural that you take up the violin.

You played as you did all other things that required a delicate balance of knowledge and skill: with inherent perfection that made your neighbors distrust you. It was no wonder that you’d taken to the woods to play. The animals were no judgment, and many a bird seemed to join you in harmony.

You hardly noticed the flowers that began to spread from the epicenter of your private grove, their buds springing to bloom within hours of their first appearance.

You never had a precise understanding of how you felt when you went into the wood; the sting of man’s unkindness, or the pleasure of a hard day’s work, melted away with the touch of your bow to your strings in a harmony independent of reason. It was as though you tapped into the breath of the universe, and her song made its way from the earth, through you, to freedom.

You played with abandon, fingers shifting from string to string as deftly as your well-ambered bow. Something was coming. You sensed it, though you assumed you played no part in its fruition. You felt its call – wind, birdsong, instinct, you knew not what – and called out in response the only way you knew.

You hardly realized you changed your tempo to incorporate the heavy beat of large wings until they settled into silence.

Near you, if the deafening silence was to be believed.

The music ceased without warning.

You turned, hopeful that the severity of the sound you’d hardly registered had been nothing but an owl in close proximity -- but, no, a man perched on the low branches of the nearest old tree. A man who was not entirely a man, for his wings were twice the size of him, comfortably folded as he watched you from a raptor’s crouch.

You stumbled back a step, lowering your instrument when you ought’ve raised it in defense.

The fey cocked his head, and descended with a beat of his wings that sent your hair fluttering as though stirred by a sharp wind.

“Who are you?” you demanded, as though any of the old stories had truth to them; you’d given plenty of people your true name over the years and not one of them had power over you, not even the ones who’d raised you.

He made a sound not too unlike a restless animal as his eyes searched your face. Judging by his willingness to approach, whatever he found was not unexpected. “Borra.” Though you took another cautious step in retreat, his stride was long enough that it took only a few steps for him to close the space between you.

He paused before you, lowering his face near yours, and canted his head. He wanted to be certain of what manner of creature you were, that much you understood.

Despite the cold that crept up your skin, his closeness was not unpleasant. When he leaned into you, it was as though you could feel the warmth radiating from the center of him. It called to you in the midst of the cool, damp, mossy wood. You did not realize the bow and the violin had slipped from your grasp until your hands lifted seemingly of their own volition – to stop him from coming closer, by some rational part of your mind, though that was not what you did. You grasped his face, his cheekbones sharp like your own, and you allowed him to kiss you…though that was not an adequate term for what he did.

His mouth seized yours. Possessively. Hungrily. The heat that focused in the epicenter of his body became a less localized warmth as he managed to draw you closer – off your feet, you realized passively, for he was certainly more than a head taller. His tongue passed your lips, which you had not realized you parted. His hands on your back felt like the heat of a summer harvest.

And you ached for more, a strange flower opening up at the first sigh of spring.

Borra dropped to his knees. The grass was unobstructed there, the leaves, logs and bracken pushed aside ages ago to give you room to breathe, not that you did very much of that then. You did not kiss human boys, or human men for that matter (though the latter often fancied themselves as able to tame you). You had no fancy to do with them what you were certainly about to, spread beneath him on the softness of the earth. You held his face until you could no longer stand to keep him in one place, your hands traveling the path of his neck to his strong-muscled shoulders.

His wings beat softly, open behind him as though expecting your hands to settle in their feathers.

Your fingers trailed down his arms. Your lips caught his lower one between them. He made a sound not too far unlike a growl at the sensation, and he guided you back with a steady hand beneath your jaw.

His amber eyes lingered on your face. As easily as he had swept you to the ground, he gripped your dress by the collar, and tore it from the seam.

All thoughts of modesty, humility, humanity utterly and completely failed to rear their ugly heads. It took him two tugs to completely tear the fabric from hem to hem, and you willingly removed your arms from the sleeves, your bow and instrument long forgotten.

He lunged back into your arms, dragging you flush against his body. The soft material of his pants had to come partially undone before it could be pulled away from his flesh, and you spared only the briefest glance to reassure yourself his wings were the only bird-related anatomy present.

He flashed you a wild grin, as though he understood.

And then he claimed you.

You cried out in delight, your head falling back into the grass. One of his hands settled at your lower back, the other wandering your skin.

You traced the ridges that looked like cracks near the base of his left (right?) horn, surprised to feel that they weren’t entirely ornamental. You touched the leathery material of his armor, the cloth wrapping lower on his arm, before the rhythm of his hips stole all sense from you. You gripped a handful of it while you clutched his shoulder, your hips rising to meet his. He was as beautiful as he was wild, eyes flashing as he watched your face, his own lips parting for loud, shameless groans. His wings even beat when you rose to meet him when he pulled away, fluttering your hair and the petals of the flowers that had bloomed all around you.

“Borra,” you whispered.

“Are you afraid?” he asked, with an openness that surprised you.

You shook your head.

“Then say it again,” his voice had dropped an octave, rough with desire.

“Borra…”

His hips snapped against yours, and your legs clung to his hips. His smile broadened, emboldened, and he did it again, continuing to watch your face as your eyelids fluttered. “Borra!”

His cloth-wrapped hand returned to your cheek. He kissed you again, and you did not hesitate to give him the same enthusiasm in return. Somehow, your fingers ended up tangled in his hair at the base of one of his horns, and no matter how hard you tugged, he didn’t try to remove you.

He didn’t warn you, nor did you warn him when the time was nigh. But you felt it, then more than ever: the harmony of the universe rang through your veins, and when you let your head fall back with his teeth embedded possessively in your neck, you weren’t even certain that you made a sound.

But the whole of the forest floor was coated in new blossoms.

He groaned into your skin, a momentary pause before he honeyed lazily with you a little more. You drew him close for another kiss, this one longer and more peaceful than the ones that had come before.

“Do you want to be near others of your own kind?” he asked, as though the raw attraction between you hadn’t been sufficient answer enough.

“I’ve never thought about it,” you admitted. “I think they’re right – I think I am a changeling. One of you, raised in their world…”

He scoffed. “As though we’d willfully abandon our children with them.”

Your head quirked, and he took the opportunity to brush his fingers through a lock of your hair. He didn’t try to convince you – perhaps he knew the alternative of walking home with your tattered gown and violin in hand, and, preferably, him in tow, was the far less appealing one.

“I believe I could be convinced, provided wherever I’m going will be where you are.”

There was a flash of something genuine in his smile, something he tried to hide when he turned his head partially away. “It was you who called me, so that has been arranged.”

You felt as though you should have been surprised, though you weren’t. Perhaps it was not the entire universe you were in harmony with, though as long as you had your own little part of it, you supposed that was enough.

“Then yes, I suppose I would.”

“Grab that thing you made the noise with,” he said, withdrawing to kneel in the grass. The sudden lack of proximity to his warmth left you shivering, but gave you all the more reason to gather up your violin and fold it neatly in the remains of your gown for safekeeping. When you were ready, you nodded to him, and pretended not to be mildly disappointed that he had properly rearranged his clothes.

“Come,” he held open his arms for you. “We’ll have plenty of time for that later.”

A curl of anxiety shifted about restlessly in your stomach, but you were never one to turn down new opportunities. You clutched the knot you’d made of your gown in one arm, cradling it close between your chests, and wrapped the other securely around his neck.

Borra arranged your limbs comfortably in his strong arms, perhaps to give you the opportunity for modesty if you’d so desired it, but you were more occupied with clinging to his shoulders. “Do you swear you won’t let me fall?”

He chuckled, pressing you even closer. “Our kind never breaks their word.”

#Borra #Borra Maleficent #Maleficent: Mistress of Evil #Borra x Reader #Can I tag this 'monster boyfriend?'#we're posting our first drafts like men in fandom again kids #Maleficent Borra #There Is No Plot Only Zuul (lemons)#No Beta We Die Like Men

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mercurygray · 4 years

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On today’s episode of ‘Crossovers No One Some Of You Asked For,’ the Harlots x Girl Gang crossover ...got a part two.

@junojelli @majwinters @enchi-elm, collect your darlings.

Honest 18th century whoring below the cut.

It surprised people to know Dick Winters wasn't a stranger to brothels.

He had never been in one before he met Lew (He'd been Sir Lewis, then, ever and always) but a few months of acquaintance had soon put paid to that when the Baronet discovered, quite to his delight, that the company's new Captain was possessed of a rigorous moral compass, an iron will, and a more than unusual amount of respect for the female creature. Which was how Captain Winters soon found himself seconded to Sir Lewis' nocturnal expeditions as the bearer of his purse.

That first trip had been - eye-opening, to say the least. He'd grown up on a farm, and done a bit of fooling himself, but he'd never had money to throw at a problem like a cockstand, and even moreso since taking his commission. These women were professionals, and the fact that he seemed entirely uninterested became, to them, a heady aphrodisiac. (Not true: he was very interested, only also very mindful this was not his money he was holding, and it was more than he'd had in his entire life.)

When Sir Lewis emerged in the morning, rumpled and refreshed, he found his captain surrounded by three young ladies exchanging thoughts on Mr. Sheridan's latest play and how it treated the army. (The young ladies, as it turned out, had some thoughts about the stage's recent treatment of dames de nuit.) "Pay her," Lew announced, as the creature who'd been entertaining him lounged in the doorway in a dressing gown, both baronet and nymph watching, amused, as Winters rose to his feet and laboriously counted coins into her hand, thanking the girls for their time.

That had been recommendation enough for Lew, and this had become a sort of standing arrangement, one that had grown over time to that of friend, as the Regiment moved back to peacetime quarters and the life of an officer became much less rigorous where drill and paybooks were concerned.

Yes, Dickie Winters was now, indeed, quite familiar with London's brothels, high and low, and the brothels were becoming quite familiar with him. Lew's regular haunts had stopped bothering with wine and set out a cup of tea and the latest broadsheet when they had word he'd be coming round, and he could usually be assured of some good conversation with the men who kept the door, or the whores themselves who weren't working.

"I'm beginning to think," Lew said, walking home to barracks one morning, "that they like you more than they do me."

"I make sure they get paid, Lew," was Dick's reply, and Lewis only laughed.

Tonight, however, Lew was carrying his own purse, quite sure that where they were going he would not have his pocket picked. Golden Square, in Covent Garden, the most fashionable address for a whore to own to. There were a few sporting houses here for the rich and titled - Lydia Quigley's was the best, but Mrs. Ellory kept a fine table, and for entertainments, masques and plays, none could rival Mrs. Peaceman, whom clients were pleased to call Lady Columbia. Lewis' standing arrangement with Black Eileen had yielded them an invitation, much sought after, to The Surrender of the Queen, and, an even higher honor still, a personal meeting after with the Amazon.

But what he’d seen tonight troubled him.

It was a...a dream, he reminded himself, a story, told and acted for the benefit of bored aristocrats who'd seen too much pleasure in their lives to appreciate it when it came. Standing in the hallway, waiting, it came back to him in fits and starts, his mind still turning it all over. "Come then and kiss the Roman sceptre," the view they had offering only a glimpse of the actor's hand around her hair as she pleasured him with her mouth, the way the papers on his desk had slid to the floor as he pressed her into the table and took her from behind before he'd slipped a knife into her ribs, some hidden bladder bursting with blood, the way her body had slithered to the floor and she lay like the dead, “See then what Rome thinks of your surrender.”

He'd seen others slip away with waiting nymphs, their desire only getting started, but as aroused as he had been, (and he’d been aroused) he didn't want it slaked now - he wanted to pick up the woman from the floor and bathe the blood from off her face. The men watching were supposed to see themselves as the Consul - he could think only of the husband, the king who’d been dead before the scene even began.

The door opened. "She'll be right in with you, gentlemen," the little maid said with a modest bow. "She's just having her bath."

This room had a distinctly different feeling from the grand salon downstairs, obviously a space that saw less people and a deal more use. Bookshelves lined one of the walls, shelves fairly crammed with books and a stand in the corner held a stylized suit of armor, a greek hopalite's helmet perched atop it. A desk was neatly arranged with pen and ink to hand, several books waiting to be referenced. One almost noticed the bed last, though it wasn't for lack of size - but the message was quite clear: This was not the room of a simple whore.

Dick perused her shelves, half-expecting to see novels, but there were none to be found. How many women kept copies of Marcus Aurelius in the original Latin?

“Gentleman.” Here she was - the Amazon herself. Gone the bloody classical drape, the golden ornaments in her hair, the stripe of blue paint across both her cheeks - the woman who received them was no longer a queen, only an ordinary mortal in a silk dressing gown, her skin faintly wet from the bath. “Sir Lewis, we are honored,” she said with a gracious smile, crossing the room to let him kiss her hand. “It isn't often we see you in our humble confines. What did you think?”

“Masterful, as always,” Lew said, kissing her hands and then her cheek. “I thought your pleading excellent, but then, you know me. Where did you find your Roman? He’s hung like a horse, but his delivery was poor.”

She smiled, as she did, indeed, know him - her friend was his mistress, and known to be in the whipping trade. “Would you believe he fancies himself an actor? Peaceman likes him; he has ‘the look’, she says, but that’s all he has going. I was half afraid I was going to need to feed him a line. I’m asking we not see him again for a little while, my mons can only take so much of Priapus. Wine?”

“You’re very kind, thank you.”

“I don't think I know your friend,” she said, pouring three glasses of a pale white and crossing the room to pass them out. Up close, she was...enchanting, even without the artifice of paint. He took the glass silently, mindful that she did this with everyone.

“Captain Richard Winters - he’s a member of my regiment.”

“And you, Captain?" He said nothing, but she must have seen something in his eyes, for she chuckled. "You disliked it. Not quite to your taste?"

He chose his words carefully. "Boudicca was a great queen among the Iceni, a warlord who assembled one of the largest armies in Britain, sacked two of their greatest settlements and held her ground against one of the best-trained armies in the world.” He paused. “I would have had her fight back."

It wasn’t what she was expecting, and she looked intrigued. "You'd have liked a... more violent rape, then?"

The word rape hit him like the flat of a blade, and he knew he’d flinched. “‘If you weigh well the strength of the armies, and the causes of the war, you will see that in this battle you must conquer or die. This is a woman's resolve; as for men, they may live and be slaves.’” he quoted. “I'd have liked to see a warrior who knew her worth.”

She looked impressed. "You've read your Tacitus."

"Cassius Dio has her say something similar about sheep ruling over dogs and wolves. If I recall."

For a moment she only stared, her expression hard to read, before she turned to Lewis. “Where on earth did you find him, Sir Lewis?”

“The gutter,” Lewis said succinctly. “We’ve polished him up a bit.”

Dinner was produced (acting was hard work, and she did not like to eat before in case something disagreed) and she and Dick continued their discussion of the histories while Lewis leaned back in his chair and found Eileen waiting for him. “What did you tell her?” Lewis asked, watching the conversation unfold with unparalleled amusement.

Eileen grinned. “Not a thing.”

Lewis whipped around to look at her. “What, no - no vow of chastity?”

“Nothing,” she repeated. “We were out with Leicester, and there’s you and your man across the garden, and she saw him first. Oh, Lewis. It was beautiful. I’ve known her girl and grown and she’s not an easy person to please, but you could hear celestial choirs in her eyes. She was pleased as punch when I said you’d asked to come to the house. Didn’t say a word about him - which means she’d like nothing better than to let him split her peach. And, clever man, he’s said not a word about it all evening either.”

“That’s not clever, that’s just Dick,” Lewis corrected, watching the two of them argue conjugations. “His idea of a good time in a whorehouse is a cup of tea and a chat with the help.”

“Well, it’s working,” Eileen said, still looking pleased as anything. “Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples - and Tacitus, apparently. She’s overdue to be seduced.”

It was very late indeed by the time the two men started for home - and they weren’t ten steps out the door when someone called them back. “Lew!” It was Eileen, chasing them down, her dark braid flying. “On Monday she's at Angelo's, to start practice for the next scene. Come for a fight.” Her eyes were fairly crackling with mischief as she grinned at Dick. “Captain,” she said, giving him a mock salute.

#crackfic ahoy #1780s girl gang #all the crossovers #tw: rape #tw: noncon

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dangermousie · 4 years

Photo

This scene is wonderful on many levels, but I want to talk about the insane attention to detail by the production team.

Take a look at their costumes because it says so much about them. Yu Ran, who has been brought up in the lap of luxury since birth (even before she was proclaimed an official princess she was a de facto one, living in the palace with the best of everything), is wearing a gorgeous dress made of expensive fabric and beautiful jewelry and ornaments. Unless she’s trying to run incognito as she did in the beginning, this is her default. And there is Ji Ye, who is no longer the neglected and abused illegitimate son of a family that’s not well-off to start with. He has enough money now that he could have bought those fancy furs Yu Ran fancied. Certainly enough money to get nicer clothes. But this is his default, what he is used to - his clothes look like rough housespun. They are clean and have no holes and the belt and wrist-guards are good quality (and are miles better than what he had in Lower Tang), but they are so not someone of Yu Ran’s station would ever wear - because at his heart he’s still the man who finds being with Li army slaves more comfortable because he likes the structure but also can relate to coming from nothing the most.

PS I love that even with no armor, he is still wearing wrist-guards because he’s a warrior. All that detail - swoon!

PPS After this drama, I want to watch everything Liu Haoran, Lareina Song and Chen Ruo Xuan have ever been in, honestly.

#cdrama #novoland eagle flag #lareina song #chen ruo xuan

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pokeswagmom · 4 years

Text

DIYs For Trade

I’ve collected a bunch of rare DIYs from Celeste, Pascal, and rarer diys so they’re listed below, and then my wishlist DIYs. I’m also willing to trade for materials like pine cones, acorns, and maple leaves. For zodiac diys, I’m only trading them for the other Zodiac DIYs. I have more DIYs piled around, so feel free to ask if I have them. Some DIYs I don’t have aren’t listed (like the festive set, I don’t have the materials for them) so feel free to offer what you have, DM to set up a trade.

EDIT: No longer accurate, will repost tomorrow (7/26/2020) Will include other DIYs as well

For Trade

Aries rocking chair

Bonsai shelf

Cancer table

Cherry-blossom pochette

Cosmos wand (x2)

Cosmos wreath

DIY workbench

Fancy rose wreath

Gold bars

Golden casket

Golden dishes

Golden dung beetle

Golden seat (x2)

Golden wall (x2)

Golden wand

Hyacinth wand

Iron armor (x2)

Iron wand

Ironwood DIY workbench

Ironwood bed

Ironwood cupboard (x2)

Ironwood table

Lily wand

Lovely cosmos crown

Lunar lander (x2)

Lunar surface

Mermaid chair (x3)

Mermaid flooring (x3)

Mermaid rug

Mermaid vanity (x2)

Moon

Nova light

Pisces lamp

Purple hyacinth wreath

Purple windflower crown

Rose crown

Satellite (x2)

Sci-fi flooring

Snowflake wall

Star clock

Tulip wand

Windflower wand

Windflower wreath

Wooden bookshelf (x2)

Looking For

Aquarius urn

Blue rose crown

Blue rose wreath

Capricorn ornament

Cool hyacinth crown

Cool pansy wreath

Cool windflower wreath

Cosmos crown

Cute rose crown

Dark tulip wreath

Gold rose crown

Gold rose wreath

Hyacinth wreath

Leaf stool

Libra Scale

Maple leaf pond stone

Mermaid Closet

Mermaid bed

Mermaid dresser

Mermaid lamp

Mermaid shelf

Mum wreath

Mush Lamp

Natural mum wreath

Pile of leaves

Pretty cosmos wreath

Purple hyacinth crown

Red-leaf pile

Sagittarius Arrow

Simple mum crown

Traditional Balancing Toy

Tree's bounty big tree

Tree's bounty lamp

Tree's bounty little tree

Tree's bounty mobile

Yellow-leaf pile

#acnh #acnh trade #acnh diy #acnh diys #acnh wishlist

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afreesworn · 5 years

Text

Prompt #22 | Extra Credit

“Wait, hold on. This is extra credit?”

The incredulity in Shaelen’s tone was also mirrored on Nabi’s face. She stared bewildered at the layout on the table; a large-gridded board sat at its center and a screen of some sort was set up in front of the head chair. Wide eyes went to the various items that were arranged before her, although one in particular caught her eye. It was a small crystalline figure on the board, and the sunlight from the window catching it just so, it scattered shards of color around it.

“Are you complaining? The assignment sounds easy.” Ghoa hummed, leaning over the table and plucking up an exotic coin from the assortment. She pursed her lips, silvery eyes taking in all the details of the foreign engravings on the golden currency. “I don’t recognize this, teacher. I’m going to guess… is it from Radz-at-Han?”

“Not bad,” rumbled the older Xaela who took the head seat, an amused expression tugging at his lips as he set his glasses down. “It was recovered in Uznair.”

With a coy smile, Ghoa placed a hand upon her cheek as she peered up at their geography teacher. “Oh, I would love to hear about your adventures there!” She then caught herself, glancing to the others. “None of us have been there,” she added quickly as if to justify her gushing. She leaned an elbow on the desk, canting her head coquettishly.

Batuhan answered with a patient nod. “You may learn more about it, the setting for this quest is set in Thavnair.” He gestured to the rest of the ornaments on the board. “Ghoa, that will be your figurine. Everyone pick one to represent yourself. This task will require strategy and teamwork, as well as tactical maneuvering on the board.”

Nabi glanced from the Xaela to the rest gathered around the table. It was a motley collection of students, there were faces she recognized although many of them she didn’t know well. She had agreed to attend the after school activity for extra credit, and also because Shaelen had to make up some classes she had missed. But she hadn’t expected to see Ghoa here, the most popular girl in school, and the wealthiest one to boot. The Mankhad traveled with a different crowd, where as Shaelen and Nabi had a more humble background. Shaelen had snickered something about how Ghoa was only here because of the teacher running the activity, but Nabi paid it no mind. Mister Batuhan was popular amongst many of the students, for he had the most unconventional way of engaging his class. These actual relics from foreign lands were just one example. Imperial studies usually only taught about the Empire and its policies.

The squeak of leather drew her attention across the table, to the viera who was picking up a wooden carving of a lion. Nabi couldn’t help but stare at the tall female, she was always a fierce but strange sight to behold. Pjel was usually dressed in some racing gear or another when not in school uniform, even sporting padded armor over her chest and elbows to casual gatherings, with thick leather boots that were laced all the way up to her knees. One might think that she just came off the racing tracks, but really it was just her bicycle that was chained outside. Nabi wasn’t sure how and when the viera managed to change out of her uniform into the layers of leather on her now, but the teacher said nothing of it. Pjel maintained her aloof self as she turned over the carved miniature in her hand, coppery eyes inquisitive about what was being proposed. Nabi wondered if she had failed a class or something that she needed to be here.

“Huh! This is a bullet!” Shaelen announced with an impressed huff, holding up a small oblong metallic cylinder in her fingers. She always did show interest in anything mechanical, Nabi recalled. If all the classes taught about magitek or arms, she wouldn’t have missed so many to be held back a year. But as it was, Shaelen only showed up at school when she wanted to. Fortunately, something about this geography class piqued her interest too, since she was here.

Shael arched one brow at their teacher. “Are you even allowed to bring this to school, Mister Batu?”

“It was made over a hundred years ago.” The older Xaela seemed unconcerned, his hands starting to arrange various items hidden behind the shield set in front of him. “If you could read the engravings chiseled on it, you might discern what civilization it comes from.”

Nabi blinked, then looked back to the board, where only two more items were left. Aside from the glass sculpture, there was a curious rock next to it. It was dark red, but with thin rivulets of gold running through it. It was rough and unpolished, but it still drew her eyes. She began to reach for it, when another hand snatched it away. She blinked and turned, to find Jude standing there. He gave the stone a quick look over before setting it in front of him. Nabi must have been staring at the item a bit too long, for his eyes eventually turned to her. He reached in front of her and took up the last ornament left, handing it to her.

“No way this thing be mine,” he scoffed, extending the object in her direction. “‘Sides, it suits ya better.” The last bit was grumbled under his breath. His gaze didn’t stay on her, an impatient twist pulling at his lip as he looked off to the side.

Nabi blinked and looked at the offering, now that she had the opportunity to study it closer. And it was beautiful. It was a delicate thing, a butterfly carved from crystal, its wings holding a myriad of colors as it sat upon a single glass flower. Her eyes began to reflect the refracted light from the figurine, and she smiled horn to horn in delight. She nodded and took it carefully from his hand, cupping it between her fingers as if to provide a nest for the precious ornament.

Jude turned away from her as soon as he was relieved of the item, but Nabi still lingered, watching him take up his stone. He was like Shaelen in that he was an upperclassman that was also held back a year due to absences. No one knew why he never came to school, but then again, none others seemed to care. Jude was always off alone by himself, or at the back of the school where some students went to obtain smokes. Shaelen warned Nabi away from that area, even though she herself had once belonged to that crowd.

Despite the ever present frown that never seemed to leave his face, Nabi was never intimidated by Jude. They had once been in line together at the cafeteria, and when they reached for the same fruit, he quickly withdrew, letting her have it. Even after she insisted that he should, for he was ahead of her in line, he just grumbled and turned away, insisting he didn’t want it in the first place. From that day, Nabi thought of Jude as a distant person, but not unkind.

“Good,” Batuhan regarded the students with a look of satisfaction, considering their individual choice of their avatars. “Now, these are the skills and abilities you will be working with and the scenario for the group.” He began to hand out each one of them a piece of parchment with numbers and details written on them. “Review them carefully before we start. You will need to work as a team to complete this task, but it is up to you how you use what you have at your disposal.”

“Hmph.” Jude let out an audible grunt as he sat down, slumping over his chair and crossing his legs on the table. Shaelen flipped her chair around, straddling it as she began to read what was given to her.

“Ey… a sharpshooter. I can dig this.” Shael chortled as she leaned over to look at Nabi’s statistics. “Huh! An academician. That’s fitting for ya.” Although after a brief scan, she threw a skeptical side eye in Ghoa’s direction. “At least we’re given our preset skills. Else I dunno what Miss Fancy Horns there would be doing. Throwing money at people?”

Ghoa let out a haughty snort, one hand rising to subtly rearrange the baubles that decorated her horns. “You just might be surprised at what I can do.”

A slow grin was starting to bloom on Nabi’s face. She looked from Ghoa to Pjel then Jude. This was going to be exciting. She had never had a chance to talk to them or work with them on anything really, and now they were going on an ‘adventure’ together! Even if it was just an imagined scenario! She sat down eagerly on her chair, carefully setting the butterfly on the board then holding up her sheet with both hands. She squinted to read through each line carefully. Her mind was starting to spin wildly, imagining the dungeon they were going to traverse and the traps and monsters they would be fighting. When she peeked up from behind her sheet, there was already a blueprint of a room that was being drawn on the grid in front of them, Batuhan placing their individual miniatures at its entrance.

“Last thing,” the Xaela teacher opened his hands and out rolled multiple small objects from his palm. Nabi thought they were rocks at first, until she saw numbers carved on them. Did some of them have twenty sides to it?

“We will be using dice to determine the likelihood of your success.” A slow smile split Batuhan’s lips as he took his seat behind his screen. “Now, let’s start by rolling initiative.”

(( Forgive me for just snatching up your characters in this! @anchor-management @jaliqai-and-company @shaelstormchild @wood-warder @sentryandco ))

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