#help i've never painted so fast in my life before- | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

feyspeaker · 2 months

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Hi! I made an account just so I could follow your work. Your art is brilliant and honestly and inspiration to where I want to be. I’m an older artist who has all the anxiety when it comes to improving my process. I’m trying to get into digital portraits and I have so many ideas in my head, but it’s frustrating because I’m not where I want to be to make this happen. What are some tricks that help you/software do you use? Of course, you don’t have to share anything that makes you uncomfortable. I currently have procreate and an iPad, but I feel a little lost. Wondering if I need a different writing tablet and photoshop. Not sure. I just eventually want to find that 3D, but also artistic look you are able to achieve.

hey there! thank you so much!!

ultimately, I will sound like a broken record but I always recommend you sign up for local figure drawing or painting classes. have people pose for you at home and sketch with charcoal and paper. go to the zoo and sit down in front on an exhibit for an hour and try to draw the animals in front of you as fast as you can and fill a couple of pages, move on to a new exhibit and do it again!

nothing is more powerful of a tool to learn than whatever writing utensil you have in your purse and the back of a napkin when you see something you'd like to capture. I've spent quite frankly my entire rememberable life doing this. I used to spend every single day in middle school/high school/my brief failed stint in community college with a pack of cheap sharpies and a beat up binder full of old worksheets and homework to draw on the backs of.

drawing/painting from life will teach you better than anything.

I use a very outdated version of Photoshop, and only got a "nice" tablet in the past 7 months.

Also, a huge tip to you and anyone else reading this: do NOT get too focused on a "style" that you want. Obsessing over that just ruined me for years and years. I wanted so, so, so badly to be the next Matsuri Hino when I was a kid. I copied her work religiously and it NEVER looked right. Frustrated me to no end. And you know why my stuff never looked like hers? Because I'm not her! You can't force your art to come out any way that isn't natural, and the sooner you can accept the art your hand wants to create, the happier you'll be and the easier art will get for you.

The past couple of years before I started diving into this more realism based work, I was just shoving myself through trying to make what art I envied of others. Very stylized/textured watercolor comic book style stuff. And I just was NOT getting any better at it. I have always been more inclined toward realism work, but I've hated it and yearned for stylized work. Yoshitaka Amano? God, I just drooled over that artstyle and beat myself up for never being able to capture it in studies or otherwise.

I finally essentially restructured my entire career around making the art that makes me happy instead of what I "wanted" it to look like. I was extremely depressed, my life was falling apart, and I still needed to make art to survive but I couldn't "art" if I was depressed and hated doing it, so I just had to step back and stop worrying so much about what I thought I wanted to make, and started making what felt most natural.

there's no easy way, and art can be a soul destroying path at times, truly. your software and hardware should come very last place compared to practicing from life (it doesn't matter if you want to paint cartoony stuff of realistic stuff, always start from life). naturally you will find what makes your heart sing the most.

I get a lot of messages from people telling me similar stuff "oh your art is EXACTLY what I want to do!" but I promise you that kind of thought process is chasing a dragon that is likely to harm or drag your creative process down. art style is such a deeply personal thing, so of COURSE it's important to find inspiration, but the second looking at someone else's artwork stops inspiring you and starts frustrating you, put it away.

There are some artists who I love, that I do not check up on often because their artwork ignites, like, serious bitter jealousy in me. It's the truth. I get so mad at myself for not being more like them, and it's such a poison. I think more artists should be transparent about this feeling because I KNOW the art community has a lot of jealousy and ugliness in it.

A fact of being an artist is that you will never be completely happy with a piece you make. You are always going to see the flaws, and that doesn't change whether you'd been drawing for 2 months or 20 years. Occasionally, you will get one piece that you are like "how did I make that???" and then get frustrated that you can't recreate it lol! It's a tough beast.

It's just really important to step back and work on yourself and where you are at, because at the end of the day, the way your soul wants to express artwork might be WILDLY different from what your brain wants, and it can be really detrimental to let those two go to war.

I hope this helps. I'm very passionate about this, and when I started out I ALWAYS ignored the artists who gave the same exact tips as above. I thought they were so annoying and unhelpful, but now I /get it/.

#ask

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haeryna · 3 months

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i feel like reader (especially after being called princess and the two working together to tear down her walls) would be in a dilemma— like a few things came out of them abandoning her but one being just this indescribable feeling of rage and hurt

so upon being in their hold and touch and suguru endearingly calling for her to hear them out, part of her wants to fold SO bad but the other part of her wants to stay unreasonable and not hear them out because it’s just so much easier to be angry at them and paint them as the villains in her life, if she does accept their apology she knows that feeling won’t go away— she’d have to come to terms with how bitter of a person she really was (i mean rightfully so, they did screw her over)

also bless u and ur writing— i don’t see many poly! satosugu x reader stories with a plot that has me biting my finger in absolute investment LMAO love uuuuuu 🫶🏾✨

ANON THANK YOU you perfectly summed it up !! i wanted to write a story where there was a difficult decision that had to be made, with several catalysts involving how everything went down. (splitting this so that it doesn't invade people's feeds with a wall of text LOL)

satoru's "coming out" to his parents: mine were so homophobic that i didn't come to terms with my own sexuality for a long, long time, so i empathized with the sheer panic and trauma that gave him. you don't make rational decisions when your parents are beating the shit out of you, and you also don't make rational decisions when you're 16 years old.

suguru choosing to leave reader behind: they could only withdraw so much money with the limits satoru's parents had placed on his bank account. they had to have enough to eat, to rent an apartment, to actually get away. they had to choose a place far enough so that satoru's parents wouldn't follow, which brings me to

retaliation: there's a unique kind of fear, when you're unsure if someone is hunting you down. there's a kind of terror in realizing they can track you. it's why they got rid of their phones, and immediately upon signing to the same company, received heavily protected ones. only people who had their number could reach them, or even respond.

"they could have said something:" again, they were panicked, satoru had just been beaten by his literal parents, and they were trying to flee as fast as possible. in the moment, they could not have and would not have been able to do that. as alluded to before, they did not live a comfortable life in asia. the beginning was rough as they scraped by. it wasn't until satoru began auditioning that things started looking up for them, and if you're into the kpop scene, you know how brutal training is. suguru ultimately spent all his time caring for satoru and working on the side until he also made it big.

"and what about after?:" honestly sometimes, when you know you fuck up, but you feel like you can't do anything about it anymore? that was them. and you can be upset with it all you want, but it had gotten to the point where they genuinely thought you would never be a part of their lives again. yet the chasm in their chest grew larger and larger, until they realized they couldn't continue on unless they know they at least tried.

that's not to say reader isn't in a predicament as well, like you mentioned nonnie. leaving hurts, and abandonment is worse, so it would be far easier to paint them as the bad guys. it doesn't matter what their intentions were. to reader, they left her alone, and now they're suddenly back for unknown reasons? reader is also not the most stable of mind right now (real); she's working two jobs on top of taking care of her sick parents. for the past five years, she's had to be the one taking care of herself. now satosugu need to prove that they WANT to be the ones taking care of her. i've been in this situation before, as the left party (who eventually ended up forgiving the leaver), so i hope that will help to incorporate realism into the situation.

and i'm glad you like the plot/understood the nuance of the situation! i'm grateful to you and your ask anon, thank you for allowing me to go in depth into the situation <33 i love you too!

#strawberry picking🍓⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡#idol!satoru gojo #rockstar!suguru geto #thank you nonnie #you deserve a bit smooch #me when i get to yap: i'm in love

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thoraeth · 25 days

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A/N: 850 words, gn!reader. You're the personal assistant of the weirdest punk band in the Grand Line and today you're having a breakdown. Unfortunately, Buggy has no intentions of leaving you alone.

[One Piece punk band AU/ modern AU]

Cut out for the job

The door slams closed. You kick your sneakers away, enjoying the silence of your hotel room.

You haven't been able to catch your breath all day: Mr. Trafalgar called at 6 am because Ace was held at the police station; third time this month. Then it was Barto's turn. He needed your opinion on a nice gift for his nana, but kept arguing that your ideas were stupid. Franky gave you a migraine, shouting left and right during the band's weekly meeting and Buggy…oh, Buggy. He was insufferable these days: snappy, needy, tense, constantly asking you to fetch him stuff, to take him places.

You’re starting to feel like you’re never enough, drowning in this chaotic routine.

You can almost hear your mother's voice in your head: “Are you really throwing your life away to follow a band of idiots?!” Well, in your defense, being a band’s personal assistant was supposed to be fun. But now? Here you are, tired, sad and underpaid, living in yet another horrible hotel room. Maybe you're not cut out for this job.

Your phone glows up, a text from Buggy. “It's 11 pm for fuck's sake!” you shout, throwing the buzzing device on the sofa.

Buggy has been doing it for weeks: every night he sends you tons of messages for the most trivial stuff. He’s lost his mascara, bought ten pairs of shoes, whines about his paycheck. A bratty, pushy attitude he’s never had before.

In fact, the two of you used to have the most interesting conversations and a special chemistry that made you feel some type of way more than once. Like that night, backstage. The glances, the gentle touching while you helped him get dressed…you can still feel the goosebumps on your skin.

You pick up your phone, puffing at the crowd of notifications.

[Hey, you still up? Listen, face paint is running out, I’m thinking cherry 3.2 this time but I’m not sure if 1 or 2 cans.

Heyyyy are you ignoring me?? 👺😭 You sleeping already?]

[Oi Bug, can we discuss this tomorrow? It's way past my working hours.]

[...ok.]

[Today's been rough, I really need to unwind 🥲]

[ Wanna hang out? A little fun will make you feel better.]

[ Thanks but I’m done with work, see you tomorrow!]

[seen 00:15 AM]

[Buggy? You ok?]

[seen 00:50 AM]

“Shit. He's upset now.” You whisper, your eyes and mouth wide open “What if he gets me fired?”

You feel low-key furious: you shouldn't be punished for setting boundaries. If he’s playing the cocky boss during the day, you can play that game too and clock out at night. Screw him.

The sudden sound of the doorbell makes you jump out of your skin. “Hey it's me.” A familiar voice comes from outside the door, muffled.

Stomping to the peephole, you see Buggy. He’s nervously thinkering with his blue hair, pacing back and forth in the duck hoodie you got him for his birthday.

“Are you serious?” You ask, opening up.

“I know, I’m sorry. Just five minutes and I'll be gone.”

Buggy's not wearing his piercings and face paint; he looks serious, a bit scared. His ice blue eyes stare at you in silence and all your anger seems to melt away as he sits on the sofa.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Am I fired…?”

“What? No!” He shrieks, outraged. “Just sit, please.”

The second you're next to him, Buggy focuses on his boots, hands twitching on his knees.

“I-I know I've been a bit of an asshole lately.” He stutters. “I drove you crazy asking tons of stuff and…”

“You’re being a pain in the ass. Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to spend more time with you but I messed up.” Buggy side-eyes you, his face red and flustered.

“I think I like you. A lot.”

Those words make your heart race so fast you can barely breathe.

He continues: “I tried to write to you, but every time… I couldn't say it the way I wanted.”

“Is that why you kept texting me for hours every night?!” you snap, breaking your silence.

Buggy jumps back in his seat “I didn't realize I was bothering you! I've always enjoyed our silly chats. But I'll stop, I got it now. We're just colleagues.”

You burst out laughing. Buggy leans towards you, shouting things you can't hear over the joy exploding in your chest.

He's about to get up, distraught, when you reach for his neck and pull him towards you, pressing your lips on his. Still a bit surprised, Buggy melts into your kiss, holding you so tight it almost hurts.

“For a second I thought I didn't want this job anymore.” You chuckle in between kisses.

“I’ll ask Trafalgar to give you a raise, then.”

“He's gonna fire us both when he knows about this.”

You dive your back into the sofa, pressed under Buggy’s weight. As he kisses and laughs into your neck, you remember why you decided to follow this band of idiots in the first place: there’s no other place in the world where you’ve felt more alive.

#nevermind the blorbos #one piece fanfiction #band au #buggy the clown #buggy fic #buggy fanfiction #buggy x you #buggy x reader #one piece buggy #barto club #bartolomeo one piece #ace one piece #trafalgar law #franky one piece

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asteria-argo · 4 days

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“Shit. Shit, shit, shit, c’mere.”

So, fun fact about me is that I've never written physical whump before in my life. I also haven't written a batman fic in about two years so I figured this was as good a chance as any to warm up those two skills of mine.

Is it good? not really. Was it fun? yeah. Did the prompt do it's job of getting me to try something new and accept that writing is a skill I need to work at and can't be automatically good at all the time no matter how much I want to be? absolutely.

Anyway here you go!

In Dick’s defense, he didn’t think Jason would break his arm. It isn’t much of a defense sure, but he doesn’t have a better one. It all started pretty innocently, especially for a pair of child vigilantes. One could argue they were on the best behaviour they possibly could have been when left unsupervised in the manor all by themselves while Alfred was out for the day running errands and Bruce was at work doing whatever it is CEO’s did. They didn’t even sneak out to solve crime or anything.

They’d just been hanging out. Well, sort of. Bruce had tasked Dick with keeping an eye on Jason today, whatever that meant, and for as much as Dick had whined about it when Bruce had first asked him to watch Jay while he was at work, it wasn’t like he actually had something better to do. The rest of the titans were all busy, Babs was preparing for her SATs and had muted Dicks number for the weekend preemptively, even his regular school friends weren’t available. Besides watching Jason wasn’t actually that hard. He was twelve after all, he could feed himself and everything. Dick was just there in case of an emergency really.

Like breaking his arm because he and Dick thought sparring on a trampoline with those foam swords they got at the dollar store when they’d been helping Alfie do the groceries the day before would be a fun idea. And once again, in Dick’s defense, he didn’t think Jason was going to break his arm!

The kid was Robin! They both do way more dangerous stuff without getting injured all the time! Just the night before he and Jason had gone train surfing chasing down some of Penguins goons and come away completely unscathed! Jason being felled by a poorly timed jump and the ground wasn’t something Dick really considered a possibility when he was appointed the responsible adult of the day.

But, despite the extensive combat and survival training at the hands of Batman himself, despite the reflexes he’d been honing for months as Robin, one wrong bounce sent Jason toppling over the edge of the trampoline to meet his greatest enemy yet: gravity.

It all happened fast, but when Dick thinks back on it it’s almost sickeningly slow. Jason had been smacking him in the shoulder with his sword, laughing with the kind of maniacal glee only an adrenaline high twelve year old could manage, at the fact he’d been successfully beating Dick back into one corner of the trampoline, then Dick had lunged forward to whack Jason in the stomach and defend himself just as Jason had bounced himself. Jason, being the smaller of the two of them, promptly went flying right off the edge of the trampoline with a strangled yelp landing on the ground beside them with the kind of sickening crack Dick was very used to hearing on their nightly patrols.

“Shit.” Dick said, standing on the trampoline alone all of a sudden and not quite sure what to do until he heard Jason make a strangled noise from the crumpled heap he was in on the floor. If the crack hadn’t been enough, the mottled red skin around his wrist accompanied by an obviously out of place bone certainly painted a vivid picture of what happened. “shit, shit, shit, c’mere.”

Dick climbs down from the trampoline quickly, kneeling in front of Jason whose biting his lip so hard he’s on the verge of drawing blood, his eyes brimming with pained tears that he was refusing to let fall as he took carefully measured breaths through clenched teeth. Jason sometimes reminds Dick of a stray dog, not that he’d ever tell him that, all gnashed teeth and scary growls to hide the fact that he’s hurt and scared. It proved true enough in the moment, when Jason glared at him with as much fire as someone on the verge of tears could muster and hissed “don’t touch me!”

“I need to look at it Jay,” Dick said, trying to go for soothing. He and Jason weren’t exactly the embodiment of tenderness though. Truthfully, Dick and Jason didn’t really have a relationship at all. They were friendly, could get along by themselves for a few hours at a time, but Dick tried not to be around the manor much these days if he could help it, and Jason tended to follow Bruce like a second shadow, which was something Dick hadn’t wanted to touch with a 10 foot pole, so it wasn’t like they had a well established rapport going. “I need to check if it’s broken.”

“Obviously it’s broken dick.” Jason growled, spitting his name in a way that made it very clear he was using it as an insult. And maybe it would have been insulting, if Jason didn’t look so tiny in front of him clutching his arm close to his chest, his nose red and eyes shiny with a wobbly lip, trying so hard not to cry even with a broken wrist. Even his growling came out meek, raspy and breathless because he didn’t have enough energy to put behind it to really come across as anything but pained and defensive.

It’s easy to forget that Jason's only twelve. Robin has a way of making you seem so much larger than life, even when you aren’t wearing the mask, it’s almost like the kid that’s wearing it hardly exists underneath. Until of course, you’re abruptly reminded just how human you really are by having your wrist broken in a tragic trampolining accident.

“Okay,” Dick said gently, and he was aware he was talking to Jason the same way he talks to the scared animals he finds on patrol sometimes, but he wasn’t sure how else he was supposed to calm him down “yeah, you’re right, but I still need to look at it. I promise, I’m not going to hurt you Jason.”

It was with great reluctance Jason uncurled from the ball he’d screwed himself up into to allow Dick to check his wrist, which after a brief glance was 100% confirmed to be broken. It had taken a minute, Jason staring at dick with wide, teary eyes and a furrowed brow as he sniffled miserably, no doubt in a lot of pain. It was funny, how much more things seemed to hurt when they weren’t in their suits. Maybe it was just the body armour, but Dick was pretty sure there was some kind of psychology behind it all that made it so much easier to take a beating with a mask on.

“I want Bruce.” Jason muttered, as Dick prodded at his wrist and caused him to hiss in pain, flinching at the impact violently and looking at Dick with betrayal.

“I’ll call Bruce,” Dick promised, standing and pulling Jason up with him as gently as he could without jostling his arm “but we have to go to the hospital so they can fix your wrist.”

Jasons face screwed up, his freckled nose wrinkling in disgust at the thought. Dick didn’t blame him, he didn’t exactly like hospitals all that much himself, but for all his first aid training as a vigilante, setting a broken wrist was something better left to the professionals.

“This is all your fault.” Jason declared sullenly. He wasn’t even wrong, even if the whole thing hadn’t been his idea, he was supposed to be the responsible adult vetoing dangerous ideas like trampoline sparring. But again in Dick’s defense, he really hadn’t thought Jason would break his arm!

Dick ushered Jason to the car with a sigh. Bruce was probably never going to leave him in charge again.

#asteria answers asks #jason todd #dick grayson #prompt fill

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atombonniebaby · 4 months

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I've had this idea in my head for a while now...

We all know how much Mac hates getting wet so how would he react when faced with the prospect of a "new" New Year's tradition introduced by his Scottish boss?

The original plan was screenshots, but I had to do a write up!...so maybe today I'll get some proper visuals...but for now I hope you enjoy this silly one shot! (And if anyone wants to do some drawings...I'd love to see some of this hilarity brought to life 🫶)

just so we're clear...Deacon's swimsuit depicted below is 100% what I Invision them all wearing variations off...because...why not? 🤣 (Oh...but not Hancock and Danse...you'll see!)

Happy New Year Tumblr Buddies! Slainte Mhath!❤️

Here's to new Wasteland Traditions

"You can't be serious..." MacCready searched the boss' face. Shit-eating grin aside, there was not a single sign of a lie.

"I'm tellin' ye lad... every year without fail... rain or shine." Nate sat down on the couch beside his young companion. "Sometimes even snow." He added after a brief pause.

"So you're telling me you dressed up and—”

"Dressing up was optional... traditionally ye just shed to yer kegs and run right in."

"Run into water?"

"Cauld, sobering, icy waters."

"I guess you Scots really are crazy," MacCready chuckled to himself, "or you're full of Brahmin crap."

"Oi," Nate elbowed him. "It's real. On the day o' the new year, we'd head tae the shore, and strip to our undergarments and bolt intae the sea. 'Tis invigoratin', got the blood pumpin' in a way nothing else did. I dinnae even reckon bein' chased by a Deathclaw could get me heart goin' as fast as that did."

MacCready laughed at the mention of the oversized lizard. "Running from a deathclaw is different. You know you'll die if you lose, running into the ocean is just stupid."

"Hypothermia is nae joke, lad... and it didnae need to be an ocean... could be a river... ye know... like that one that runs aroon' Sanctuary..."

There was something in the way the Scot was talking that made MacCready nervous. That sparkle in his eye was never a good sign. "Not on your life!”

Nate's grin only grew wider. "Oh c'mon! Ye'd be the only one bein' a wee rad-chicken! Preston, Sturges, Codsworth, the settlers around Sanctuary…and even Dugmeat all want tae do it."

"Right... and Dogmeat told you that how, exactly? Did he write it out on the dirt using a stick?"

Nate gave a belly laugh at that. "Gave me a paw."

"You are full of it." MacCready shook his head. "No way in hell am I doing this."

"No even for five hundred caps?”

"Five hundr--" MacCready choked on his words.

"Counted them maself... put them in a nice big jar ...but there is a catch... last man standin' ...or lady... gets it!"

MacCready groaned. This was stupid, beyond stupid, but the caps..."Fine."

"Attaboy!”

Sanctuary Hills Annual Loony Dook.

MacCready stared at the painted ply board sign as if it was personally insulting him. Perhaps it was. If it hadn't existed, he wouldn't have been standing out in the rain.

He glanced at the plastic blue pins of Rad-X piled up in the little shed next to the sign, blankets too. Nate was prepared for everything.

MacCready's laugh was almost incredulous. "Is that why you've been hoarding all the supplies!? Because you were planning this stupid event!?"

Nate laughed in response. "Notice that did ye?"

MacCready sighed. "How can I not notice!?"

"I hardly want folks getting sick from radiation poisoning while they're havin' fun. Now, c'mon, come help me welcome our guests," Nate elbowed him in the ribs before gesturing to the rest of Sanctuary.

"Fine!”

"Let's get the show on the road," Nate smiled, marching off toward the gates where the majority of the settlers were gathered.

"Hey, Blue!” Piper called out to them as they approached.

"Ah, monsieur! It is quite the spectacle you are throwing here today," Curie said as the two came to a stop. "I must say, I am rather excited to try this 'dooken' as you call it. The effects of immersion in such cold temperatures will be most fascinating!"

"Ye'll love it, lass," Nate replied.

"Where the Frick did you get bathing suits?" MacCready asked her, noticing the bright pink ruffled one piece she was wearing.

"As it turns out," Piper began. "Curie has a remarkable sewing ability...she even made something for you..."

"You made me something...?"

MacCready would have blushed if it weren't for how cold he was, the likelihood of any color filling his cheeks was slim to none–even with all his layers!

Curie nodded enthusiastically. "Wi, Monsieur Nate provided me with a list of attendees!"

He did what?

"Here you go!" She handed him a bundle of striped green and white fabric.

"Thanks... I think." MacCready looked at it skeptically. It was a one-piece suit of sorts. Not unlike what the girl was wearing, but with longer legs.

"Deacon's is blue and white, Preston also, but different shades! They look most handsome!"

"Why thank you, ma'am," Deacon appeared behind the doctor. "I think you look very dashing yourself."

"Merci!"

He looked ridiculous, a similarly striped suit to the one in MacCready’s hands, he guessed the red cape was his own addition.

"This IS most invigorating," followed another voice, this time belonging to a smiling tin can.

"Danse...lad..." Nate paused. "Do ye no think that's cheatin', son?"

The ex-Brotherhood Paladin just shrugged. "On the contrary, General. Without the appropriate protective clothing, my Power Armor provides no protection from the elements."

"Without protective—are you telling me you're in your birthday suit under there!?" MacCready blurted out.

Danse simply nodded. "Affirmative."

"General, your friend from Concord has arrived...and he brought company," Preston joined the fold, Minutemen blue in his bathing suit, and still wearing his hat.

"Jacob is here!?" Nate sounded more excited than he intended.

The group glanced at each other.

"Who's Jacob?" Piper asked after him.

Nate just waved her off.

"Does our good General have a secret to share?" A gravelly voice asked from behind them.

"John," MacCready turned to face the ghoul and he couldn't help it. His eyes dropped lower.

What the actual fuck!? Could that even be considered clothes? Red leather Speedo, cowboy boots and his signature hat...that was all he was wearing.

"My eyes are up here, kid," Hancock grinned as the younger man realized what he was doing.

"Wha--I wasn't—"

"You were," Hancock's smile turned into a smirk.

"Well ain't this quite the gatherin' and you thought people would pass up the opportunity for tradition!" Another accent entered their midst.

"I'm only here for the caps...got my eye on a new mod for my rifle," another familiar face pushed through the throng of bodies.

"Aiden's here too?" MacCready muttered under his breath. The ex-minuteman Gunner hunter didn't seem to know where to look as he came to a stop.

"Gotta say, Slick, you got a lotta people who care about ya," Jake leaned against the wooden railings of the bridge.

"Well, ain't you a handsome one!"

MacCready's smile widened. Cait!?

"Uh...thanks..." Aiden mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I uh...I'm just gonna..."

"Don't take it personally, darlin'," Jake smiled. "Aiden's not much for conversation."

"Who else are we expecting, Monsieur?” Curie asked.

"Nick's around, he's keepin' Dugmeat busy so folks can get ready and I do believe Strong is off huntin' fer our supper," Nate answered.

"Splendid! Would your boyfriend like a costume, Monsieur?”

"Boyfriend!? I—"

Nate cleared his throat.

"Thank ya, darlin'," Jake smiled at the doctor. "Much appreciated."

"Hey, Sharpshooter!"

MacCready froze. No...fuck no...he didn't hear that. He refused to turn around and look.

"Mac?"

No.

"MacCready!"

"Beau..." the mercenary reluctantly turned.

Fuck! Sturges was wearing one of those swimsuits too, and the size of him. It was...indecent.

"Howdy," Sturges tipped his head and smiled.

MacCready was dead, dying, or just having some incredibly vivid hallucination. No way. Just fucking no.

"What's wrong?"

"I'd harbor a guess our Merc here is wondering how you can fix his plumbing," Hancock chimed in.

"I—"

"Think he's wondering if your equipment is up to the task," Deacon added.

"That is most absurd," Curie commented. "Sturges is a mechanic, not a plumber."

"A certified handyman," Piper giggled.

"Shut the fu—uh heck up!"

Hancock snorted.

"That's enough...quit teasin' the poor lad." Jake stepped in to defend him.

"Yeah, lay off the kid." Nick Valentine decided to join them, standing by Nate's side, no swimsuit for him...it was almost like he was programmed to wear nothing but his detective gear. "You know how sensitive he is."

MacCready felt like he was about to spontaneously combust.

"I'm gonna go change before I get the urge to shoot someone." MacCready stormed off.

"Someone's touchy," Cait noted.

"More like he can't handle the heat," Hancock countered.

"You should probably change as well," Nick suggested to the newcomer. Knew the fella from all the times he stopped by that information broker who had taken up residence in Diamond City. "The Ron"? Or something like that.

"Right you are, Mister Valentine," Jake agreed. "I will be right back."

"So polite! Monsieur Jacob makes a most agreeable guest," Curie smiled.

"I know, right! He's a peach." Piper grinned. "Got yourself a good one there, Blue."

"No foolin' you lot, is there?” Nate just laughed. "C'mon, we might as well get a move on. It's comin' up to noon soon."

MacCready stood in front of the bathroom mirror. It took him a few minutes to figure out how to put the damned thing on. It was too tight in some places, yet hung awkwardly from his body.

At least his hat matched, because it was staying on.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"You got lost in there?” Jake's voice carried through the wooden door.

"Just give me a second!"

"Alrighty..."

A few deep breaths, and MacCready was good to go.

"Not a word...not a single freaking word!"

Jake held his hands up and took a step back. "Wouldn't dream of it."

MacCready stomped past the engineer and back towards the group.

"Christ, and I thought I was pasty... lookin' at ye, it's like a white sheet slapped 'er a skeleton."

MacCready glared daggers at the smug looking bastard and wished he had his rifle. How is this bastard not shivering? MacCready could barely keep himself from trembling, and he's standing there, barefoot with no shirt on. Only thing he has on is a pair of red plaid trunks and his glasses.

"Har har... can we get this over with already?"

Nate grinned from ear to ear. "Ye sound like ye don't wanna do this."

"Oh? What gave it away?" MacCready crossed his arms across his chest, the cool air and heavy rainfall chilling his skin.

"All the shivering, mate," Nate gestured to him. "Ye need to move...maybe jog on the spot...keep the blood pumpin'...else ye won't make it tae the end."

MacCready growled at him. "Can you stop patronizing me and just start the damn thing already!?”

Nate looked around the group, taking stock of each person involved. There was a gathering now, a relatively small crowd, but the amount of people willing to participate was surprising.

"Sir..."

Nate near on jumped out of his skin. "Where the blasted hell did you come from!?"

X6-88 lowered his sunglasses and blinked at him. "I arrived via relay at 1200 hours, sir. I was ensuring the young sir was adequately prepared for the festivities."

"Dad?” Shaun emerged from behind the courser.

"Shaun?" Nate was utterly confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Father heard you were hosting an event and thought I should attend," Shaun smiled.

The sight of him. Pajamas, Welly boots and a rain hat, standing beside X6-88 in his ...everything black bathing suit. MacCready's sides ached. He was laughing, unable to control the burst of hysteria that bubbled within him.

"Escaped synths will be shaking in their boots," MacCready managed to wheeze out.

"I believe Ms Curie has made an adequate fit for me... sir," X6-88 said in reply.

It was the boots, the damned combat boots! MacCready laughed louder.

"I do not believe you are in a position to be mocking me, Sir. If my calculations are correct, you have a higher chance of being affected by hypothermia due to your lack of body fat and muscle mass. Perhaps you should reconsider abstaining from the use of cigarettes and alcohol, it would improve your health immeasurably."

MacCready stopped laughing. "Did you just..."

"I believe the term is 'kicking while he's down,' sir."

"A'right...enough eh that." Nate stepped in.

If MacCready didn't know better, he'd have thought the courser was smirking at him from beneath those glasses.

"First things first," Nate opened the shed. "Take a couple rad-x tabs each...Codsworth is gonnae countdown from ten and ring the bell...when he does, ye run in. Simple as that. The last person out wins the prize. We've got fires burning, food grilling and booze on tap...so enjoy yerselves, aye?"

MacCready pulled his cap lower over his brow. This was going to suck.

"Let the games begin," Hancock shouted.

"Okay!" Nate announced. "Everyone in their positions. Codsworth, get ready to count us down, son!"

"As you wish Master Nate!" The Mr. Handy spun in place.

MacCready rolled his shoulders, trying to get the stiffness out of them. He could do this. He had to win. Five hundred caps were on the line.

The merc watched the crowd gather around the water's edge, everyone ready to make a break for it as soon as the robot started counting.

"Are we ready to commence the New Year's celebrations, sir?"

"Aye Codsworth." Nate smiled.

"Very good, sir. I shall begin the countdown now…Ten!"

This was it.

"Nine!"

MacCready bent his knees, ready to sprint.

"Eight!"

A quick glance left and right, and he noticed all the other competitors were doing the same.

"Seven!"

His eyes locked with Nate's, and the bastard winked at him.

"Six!"

Was he planning something?

"Five!"

The sniper shook his head.

"Four!"

He could beat Nate. He's hardy...grew up in a cave!

"Three!"

Focus, Robert. Just focus.

"Two!"

He was doing this for Duncan.

"Happy New Year, everyone! GO!!!”

He couldn't do this.

MacCready darted in the opposite direction as the rest of them.

"Ye wee bastard!" Nate shouted after him.

Fuck you, old man! He was out of there.

"Not on ma watch, laddie," Nate's footsteps pounded after him.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Stay the heck away from me!”

"Och, quit bein' such a rad-chicken!" Nate sped up.

MacCready's heart was racing, and he wasn't sure if it was from running or the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Either way, he needed to outrun the bastard.

"Ye're slowin' down!"

"Like hell I am!" MacCready shouted back at him.

Suddenly, there were arms wrapped around him.

"Got ye! Now intae the drink we go!" Nate lifted him off the ground and over his shoulders.

MacCready struggled in vain. "Put me down!"

"Not a chance! Ye're goan in!”

The world moved in slow motion. He could see Nate's feet running over the grass and dirt as he neared the water's edge. People were cheering, and dogs were barking.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"

Nate dove forward, releasing his grip on the merc, and they plunged into the icy cold waters below.

For a moment, MacCready floated through the murky depths. Then, he kicked upwards, breaking the surface of the water with a gasp.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Duncan forgive him! MacCready flailed as the frigid temperature of the water hit him. "It's freezing!"

"Aye, it's a wee bit nippy," Nate said calmly, swimming beside him. "Just breathe...in and oot."

"Breathe!?" MacCready screamed at him. "I'd rather—holy shi--"

"See, now ye're gettin' it," the older man was grinning like a madman.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"No if ye freeze...flap yer haunds aboot a bit..."

"C'mon, Mac! Dad knows what he's talking about!” Shaun called from the bankside.

"Your father is insane!" MacCready pointed at the boy.

"Our father!" Shaun smiled and gave him a double thumbs up.

What?

"Get it together, son!" Nate splashed water in his face. "Ye can do this."

MacCready growled and splashed him back. "I hate you."

Nate laughed. "C'mon...I can tell ye're getting used to it."

"I hate you so much," he swung his arms forward, moving them through the water.

"Nah, ye don't...if ye did, ye wouldn't be here now," Nate swam close to him. "It's just water...it cannae hurt ye."

MacCready glared at him. "I'm not..."

"Course not...yer the toughest son of a bitch I know..."

"Tougher than you?"

Nate's grin grew wider. "Guess we'll see."

"Bring it on, Old Man," MacCready's shivering subsided as he kept moving.

"Enough eh the "old" talk..."

"You're over 200...that's old..."

"That doesny count..."

"Says who?"

"Says me!" Nate ducked under the water, and MacCready braced himself for the inevitable.

A sudden tug on his foot, and the merc dropped beneath the surface. The shock of cold hit him once more, and he clawed his way to the top.

Nate surfaced and shook his head like a dog, somehow the glasses on his fat head still stayed on.

"Fun, ain't it?"

"How are you not frozen?" MacCready was panting now.

"Been dookin' since I was a wee lad," Nate answered. "The cauld...it's in ma blood."

MacCready cursed under his breath. "Sure, whatever you say."

Nate just laughed in response. "Another one down..."

"Huh?"

"Seems Piper's given up."

MacCready glanced around. Sure enough, the reporter was making her way back to shore.

"She's smart," the merc remarked.

"Ye did good, lass!” Nate shouted after her.

"Thanks, Blue," she waved before wrapping herself in the towel Codsworth had waiting for her.

"Woo...goddang I can't feel my digits!" Jake's voice cut through the chill in the air.

"Here's hoping your tongue is next..." Aiden drawled.

MacCready chuckled at the snide remark.

"Ma chère, this is most invigorating!" Curie was just... standing there in the water.

"That's one way of putting it," Piper pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

"I can't...I'm out...ye are all mad!” Cait finally relented.

"I have to agree with you," Preston shivered, retreating.

"As long as I outlast the Brotherhood's cheer squad...I'm a winner..." Deacon chittered next to Danse.

"My training has prepared me to withstand all manner of conditions...you should consider admitting defeat while you still can."

"Nah-uh, Tin Can," the spy retorted. "I once disguised myself as a snowman for six hours...wait till you hear where I placed the carrot..."

Danse just grunted at him.

"This is a rush!" Hancock stretched his arms above his head.

"You say that until your bits fall off," MacCready jested.

"How do you know mine haven't already?" Hancock teased him back.

"Ugh...why the hell am I here..." Aiden grumbled.

"Because Slick asked us to be...so quit your complainin'..." Jake answered.

"Ye alright, sweetheart?"

MacCready nearly swallowed a mouthful of water when he heard that. Sturges was staring right at him.

"I'm fi--fine!" he stammered.

"Yer shakin' like a leaf," the mechanic continued, sweeping back his wet hair.

"I'm just...cold...nothing I can't handle," the merc replied, trying not to stare.

"Well good luck to ya...I need a beer." Sturges swam past him, heading toward the bank.

"I'm with him on that one," Aiden followed.

MacCready gazed longingly at the shoreline. It was tempting. He could just give up now.

Nate smirked at him. "Don't ye dare..."

"I wasn't..." the merc lied.

"Sure ye weren't–”

"It appears something has entered my armor! I appear to have been compromised!" Danse's booming voice rang through the air.

"Nothin' in this water but us, big guy," Hancock called out.

"I can assure you, I am not mistaken! There is something alive inside my suit!"

The spy swam closer to him. "Maybe it's a bloatfly larvae...they like to burrow in wet organic materials..."

Danse froze. "What?"

Deacon tried not to laugh.

"I must terminate this creature immediately!" Danse was starting to panic.

"I shall accompany Monsieur Danse in his endeavor," Curie volunteered.

"I'm out...I'm not missing this! Thanks for the swim, guys." And with that, Deacon climbed out of the water.

"Fascinating...perhaps I should join them," X6-88 followed suit.

"I ain't missing this... Tapping out," Hancock was next.

And then there were three.

"How're ye feelin'?”

"Fine..." MacCready answered.

"Naw really, how are ye feelin'?" Nate asked again.

"I feel...alive," the merc admitted.

"Ye still cold?"

"Too numb to tell..."

Nate let out a belly laugh at that. "That's the spirit."

"Slick?" Jake was shivering now. "I think I'm at my limit."

"Aye...let's get ye warmed up and some scran in ye," Nate agreed.

MacCready watched them climb out of the water. Nate gathered up a blanket from Codsworth and slung it over the pair of them.

"Ye coming, lad? Or do I need tae send Strong in tae get ye?"

MacCready watched them for a moment, Nate's arm resting protectively around the engineer's waist as they walked back toward the common area.

He...he won?

"Yeah...I'm coming..."

"Well done Master MacCready! A stupendous display!” Codsworth greeted him as he clambered out of the lake.

"Thanks, Codsworth," MacCready replied.

The Mr. Handy draped the blanket over his shoulders. "Come now, you must be famished after all that excitement."

"I'm starving..."

Nate rested his head on Jacob's shoulder, fresh clothes and a warm fire and an assortment of familiar faces, it was the perfect way to spend New Years.

"I hope everyone enjoyed themselves today," he said softly.

"You know I did, Blue," Piper replied as she sipped her hot chocolate.

"Me too!" Shaun sat cross-legged on the floor with Dogmeat's head in his lap. "This place is pretty great!”

"Indeed sir," X6-88 agreed. "The festivities were quite enjoyable."

"Oh it was most enjoyable indeed, Monsieur! Perhaps we could participate in this 'dooken' again next year." Curie leaned into Cait's side.

"Ye can count me in!" Cait kissed her on the forehead.

"What are you gonna call him?” Hancock asked, his chin propped up by his hand.

"Call who?" Nate frowned.

"His Stowaway," the ghoul said, nodding to the bundle in Danse's arms.

"My desire is to call him Cutler...but I fear I may not be able to adequately tame him..."

"Cutler is a fine name for a Mirelurk," Preston reassured him.

'I think so too," Hancock agreed.

"This is fascinating. I have never observed a juvenile hatchling in this state before," Curie commented as she peered over Danse's arm. "He is so well behaved!"

"These creatures are normally quite aggressive...but this one...I find it...endearing." Danse admitted.

"I know that feeling," Hancock smirked.

MacCready shifted in Beau's embrace, stretching his legs out in front of him before settling into the comfortable warmth surrounding him.

"Happy New Year," he yawned.

"Happy New Year," Sturges echoed, pulling him closer.

An array of voices replied with similar sentiments.

It made Nate proud. Somehow in the midst of chaos, they found each other, and despite the differences they once shared, the prejudices they had held, he brought them together. He only hoped it would be enough to see them through whatever the Wastes would throw at them next.

Nate leaned over and kissed Jake on the cheek. "Welcome tae the family."

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disruptivevoib · 2 months

Note

You probably get this a lot, but I love your art style and would like to draw like that (obviously with my own flare and style and not an exact replica because idk how I would even do that), so I was wondering if you have any tips ?

(Obviously you don't have to answer ! I totally get it if you don't wanna ^^')

I never mind giving out advice when/where I can! Drawing takes a lot of time, and its even more time to get a style down (or several! Because I think you wind up finding that many artists have multiple styles or ways they can draw! But there are often still consistencies throughout!)

My biggest suggestion is experimentation. Referencing how other people draw certain things AND also referencing real life. I always suggest using poses, random photos or even your own hand to draw from or use as jumping off points before distorting or changing around anatomy to stylize it.

Messing with brushes too on whatever program you use is always a big suggestion too! I personally love rougher or less "smooth" or vector-looking brushes for things, as well as adoring bigger thicker lines that vary in that thickness depending!

Most of the time esp in the case of line-art I variate line thickness by erasing parts or going back over them or just generally fucking with pen-pressure. Smaller thinner lines put less emphasis on something, where thicker ones make it more evident. Its why thicker outlines all around then the inner lines or details being smaller or thinner works so well!! Bolder the line, the more somebody will see it!

Also experimenting with color and what colors you like to use. I adore a mix of colors but always like at least one to be more neon or to pop more so it stands out and highlights a point in the piece or design!

Other good tips are:

sketching a lot and as much as you are able, but also not to pressure yourself into drawing when you have no motivation or no ideas.

warm-up sketching and drawing before getting into drawing a bigger piece or returning to coloring!

Just in general experimenting more! Again, looking at what your favorite artists do and ALSO how the human form or any form you wish to study functions in reality too. I VERY often will make huges files of art from artists I like or will save photos to look back at or turn opacity up on to sort of vaguely outline. Not to trace and use for my art, but to see or break down how an artist I admire used shapes or gained the fluidity in the art they have.

I am still learning a lot, constantly. And I'm not 100% always the proudest of my work, or I will compare it to someone else with a vastly different niche or style. But, ultimately, I've got to know that art is always a process of growing and changing as much as all things in life!

A very big personal tip is patience. Art takes time, and rushing a piece because you are excited or might put pressure on yourself to finish it- maybe you're sick of it etc, it isn't healthy and it will not produce good work. Draw, color, and paint at your own pace, and allow that pace to be as slow or as fast as it feels.

o7 Hopefully all of that is helpful! I'm always happy to answer more questions!

#voidthoughts #asks #art related #art info #?? new tag ig!

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unlucky-corvid · 12 days

Text

Hairpin trigger

Yeah more of my OC phantom.

Warrning, death and gore mentioned.

Not proof read

Him.

Uldren, standard before me besides comander zavala of all people.

All this time. It had been uldren

A million secnarios race through my head because the last I saw of that slimey Prince was when I painted the floor with the insides of his head. The crimson trickling donwn the steps of ivory stone causes a shiver in me as it flashes in my head. I streach my neck uncomfortably as the pressure in my jaw builds. My hand instinctively reaches for ace.

I feel an icey breeze brush over my hand and looking down I see a second hand over my own. One made of a black mist.

Of course he's here. He's always here.

"You put a bullet in his head once.

What's another round?"

My eyes drift to the little light bobbing along beside him. Glint he had called it. Glint was...sweet. but not sweet enough to quell the sea of feelings crashing over me.

Anger flushes through my veins hot and putrid.

Why him?

My thoughts are echoed by the grim specter wearing my lovers visage that stands over my shoulder, an unwelcome companion in my day today life who was...unusually chatty now.

"Him. Him of all people gets a 2nd chance. Look at him spooks. Look at his face. That's him." It hisses angrily in my ear.

Spooks.

It never sounds as it should. Not like it used to. But to hear him say it again, even if it isn't him, is enough for me. Enough for that desperate part of me that longs for him back knowing that this twisted vial mockery of cayde is all I have.

Uldren looks concerned, he knows what he has done to him...to me. To my future.

"Think of what he robbed from you doll, from us. That time. Those moments. Those possibilities."

The nightmares words cut deep, a grimace finds its way onto my face.

"And he comes to flaunt his new power, comes to mock my death, mock your pain. He deserves a 2nd bullet, my love"

I'm suddenly aware of my fingers wrapping around aceband pulling it out of its holster

"Phantom?" zavala says my name, both in concern and warning.

"He's no better is he. Bringing in that killer. But you're not going to disapoint me again are you, sweetheart. Not again. You failed me once. But you won't again will you? You're going to make up for what you let happen to me, like a good guardian. You're going to plant another bullet in that bastards head for me, like a good girl"

My hand trembles, the icey feeling back as the nightmares arm presses up against my own as if in effort to help null my trembeling.

"Don't listen to him, phantom" zavala says firm but somehow comforting. "Its not him. You know that. You know that's not what caude would really want and you know deep down this man isn't uldren. You know what being a guardian means"

He was right, the man before me didn't have uldrens memories or feelings.

"Do it. Do it...don't make me ask again"

For a second my grip on ace loosens.

"Kill him for me my little shadow. DO IT"

In a split second my arm raises and uldren drops to the floor. Zavala looks on in disbelief,seemingly unable to fathom what I had just done.

"Jobs not done, sweetie, your so close. Dont fail me again."

That's all it takes for me to lunge toward the ghost currently hovering over crow-uldrens lifeless body.

I'm fast. But zavala is faster.

My fingers graze glints core, just unable to to curl around the small sphear. Zavala is yelling at glint to hurry up and rez crow and get them both out of there. I think.

I'm too busy clawing at zavalas arms, purple and red marks littering the titans forearms and biceps.

Cayde is screaming at me but I can't hear him over the sounds of my own screaming. Desperate cries, begging zavala to trust me to let me just crush his ghost and make good on caydes life.

Eventually I cant fight anymore. My lungs burn, my throat feels like I've swallowd razorblades and I can taste blood.

Zavala walks me back to my apartment in silence. He offers to stay but I shut the door without a word. Caydes nightmare is nowhere to be seen and somehow I feel emptier.

Stumbling to the bathroom I spash water on my face only to look up and be met face to face with caydes nightmare looking angrier than ever.

"Failure! You had one job! One simple job and you couldn't even do that! Your worthless. Your worse than Worthless. I dont know what I ever saw in you. You don't deserve the mantle of being a hunter. Or a guardian."

I stumble back against the wall as it steps closer and closer.

"Take that cloak off, better yet. Burn it"

That night everything I had that even suggested I was a hunter got placed in the same box as caydes belongings.

That night, in the darkness of my apartment, caydes nightmare watching me from the seat that was once his, as I scratch the hunter emblems off my armour.

I don't deserve them.

#destiny 2 #cayde 6 #headcanon #destiny 2 crow #uldren sov #oc guardian #oc phantom

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lostinfantasyworlds · 2 months

Note

For the writers truth and dare game 😁

🪲,🍄,🪐

Hi Liz!!! Thank you so much for the asks!!! ❤️ 😁 🥰

🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

I'm so bad at coming up with stuff on the spot so I'm going to cheat a little and use something I jotted down last night (which is probably more than 50 words 😆). This is for my main WIP, which I have talked about before but am not going to name so I can be all secretive and mysterious🤣: ------- "Do you have any informants in Hawaii?" Inuyasha asked.

Miroku seemed taken aback, but recovered quickly. "Actually, yes. One of my oldest confidants, Hachi, spends most of his time island-hopping. Why?"

"Could you -- Is there any chance he could -- Or you could ask --"

"Aw, are you trying to ask me for a favor?" His stupid blue eyes lit up like a child, and Inuyasha's hands balled into fists. "This must be important. You can do it, use your words."

Fuming, Inuyasha's cheeks burned, which he covered up by punching his annoying partner in the arm. He so badly wanted to tell him to forget it, since Miroku was pretty much insufferable when gloating. But since this was likely his only shot to help Kagome while they were gone, he took a deep breath and swallowed his pride.

"Do you think you could ask him to keep an eye on someone for me?"

"Stalking, huh? I didn't take you as the type."

"Fucking what -- no! I just...need to know she's safe. Alive. Nothing more than that."

"Oooh...she? This keeps getting better!"

Inuyasha's eye twitched, calling on every last bit of restraint he possessed not to knock the shit-eating grin off of Miroku's stupid face.

"Can you do that for me or not?" he ground out.

Miroku seemed to realize just how close he was to getting his ass beat, because his expression turned serious. "You just want a visual confirmation of safety?" Inuyasha nodded. "How often?"

"Whenever he can manage it...once a week, every few days, whatever."

"I believe that can be arranged. I'll ask him...on one condition."

"For fuck's sake, what?"

"That you tell me what the deal is with you and this woman."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Why are you like this?"

🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

I feel like Inuyasha and Kagome would probably move pretty fast in their relationship once she returned through the well. I imagine them being engaged and making out all over the place within the first few weeks. After all that time apart thinking they'd never see each other again, and since Kagome's decision to return is the ultimate show of commitment anyways, I think they'd want to make up for lost time and just go for it. That being said, I don't imagine them having sex the same day she comes through the well or anything like that. But I also don't think it'd take them a really long time to cross all of those milestones off their list. Somewhere in the middle, like a few weeks to maybe a couple months. I love reading fics that explore all of the different possibilities though, and can get behind almost any explanation/head canon.

🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now

Work is slower than it's ever been at the moment, to the point where I have had days and days of absolutely nothing to do while working at home and still getting paid (I'm salaried). My bosses have shockingly not tried to give me any busy work (there really isn't much else to do since our work is entirely project-based), so I've had a lot of time to catch up on my life and do fun things lately. It is the ultimate luxury and very rare, so I'm soaking it up while I can because once things get busy again my entire life will go back to revolving around my stupid job.

My mental health has finally reached a stable place, and I've been feeling pretty good overall. After years of depression and anxiety, it's a huge relief to feel back on solid ground again.

Our house is coming together slowly but surely. We are just about to paint the room we're currently renovating, and then just have to do flooring and we'll have another space finished and ready to use!

I have a lot to be grateful for right now, things are good 🥰

Thank you again for the asks!

From the Writer's Truth & Dare Ask Game

#asks are still very much open😁#ask game

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adobongemo · 7 months

Text

Spa Day for the Super Girl's

It was a rare and much-needed day off for the Supergirl team, and they had decided to indulge in a spa day at Kara's cozy apartment. The living room had been transformed into a makeshift spa, with soft music playing in the background, scented candles casting a warm glow, and an array of skincare products laid out.

Nia Nal, still in her robe, sat with Kara, Alex, Lena, and Kelly as they painted their nails and applied facials. Esme, the adorable daughter of Kelly and Alex, was contently playing with her toys nearby.

Nia couldn't help but smile as she looked at her friends. "You know, I'm so grateful for all of you. It's not just about being colleagues; you're like family to me."

Kara, her eyes sparkling with warmth, leaned over to give Nia a hug. "We feel the same way, Nia. You've become such an important part of our lives."

Alex chimed in, her face covered in a green mask. "Yeah, and we're all here to support each other, through thick and thin."

Lena, holding up a nail polish bottle, teased, "So, Nia, when are you going to pop the question to Brainy?"

Nia's cheeks turned a shade of pink as she chuckled. "Lena, you're relentless. We're still getting to know each other."

Kelly, her nails drying, added, "But you two are so cute together. It's obvious you care about each other deeply."

Nia sighed contentedly. "You're right. Brainy is not just a partner; he's my lover, my best friend. I've never met anyone like him. He's kind, patient, and so incredibly smart. And those moments when he lets his guard down and just smiles? It's like a ray of sunshine in my life."

Kara and Lena exchanged knowing glances, their eyes filled with their own unspoken feelings.

Lena playfully nudged Kara. "Speaking of which, when are you going to make a move, Supergirl?"

Kara blushed and stammered, "Wh-what do you mean?"

Lena smiled; her tone gentle. "Kara, we've been through so much together, and I want to be there for you, not just as friends but..."

Kara's heart fluttered, and she took Lena's hand, her voice soft. "Lena, I... I care about you so much. I just didn't want to push things too fast, given our history."

Lena nodded; her eyes filled with affection. "I understand, Kara. Let's take it one step at a time."

As Kara and Lena shared a meaningful gaze, the other women smiled, their hearts warmed by the connection that existed between them.

Nia, feeling a surge of happiness for her friends, couldn't help but gush once more about Brainy. "You know, one day, I'll figure out how to navigate the complexities of relationships, just like you all are doing. But for now, I'm just grateful to have Brainy in my life."

The spa day continued, filled with laughter, affection, and the promise of love and friendship that bound them all together. And in the cozy warmth of Kara's apartment, they knew that they were not just a team but a family, supporting each other through every challenge and joy that came their way.

As the day unfolded, the bonds between the friends and potential romances continued to deepen, leaving them all with a sense of contentment and the knowledge that they were never alone in their journeys of love and connection.

In the midst of their fun-filled spa day, the door suddenly swung open, and Brainy walked in, carrying bags of takeout food for everyone. He was taken aback by the sight of Nia, her face glowing from the spa treatments, and her hair pulled back in a messy bun.

"Brainy, you're just in time!" Nia exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face as she took the food from him.

He couldn't help but be mesmerized by her appearance. "You look... incredible."

Before anyone could react, Brainy leaned in and stole a quick, passionate kiss from Nia, leaving her breathless and the room filled with gasps and cheers.

Esme, their little observer, covered her eyes with her tiny hands, giggling uncontrollably.

Kara and Lena exchanged amused glances while Alex and Kelly burst into laughter. Lena couldn't resist teasing, "Well, it seems like Nia's spa day just got even better."

Brainy blushed, but he didn't let go of Nia's hand. "I couldn't resist, especially when she looks so... captivating."

The spa day continued, now with an added layer of playfulness and affection. And as the friends shared stories, laughter, and delicious food, they knew that love, in all its forms, was a beautiful and cherished part of their lives.

#supergirl #brainiac 5 #brainy #querl dox #nia nal #brainy x nia #dreamer #brainy 5 #kara zor el #lena luthor #kara x lena #kelly olsen #alex danvers #esme #absolutely smitten #in love #relationship

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unlikelysaintdelele · 22 days

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some interesting things i've noted during my ACOTAR reread Pt. 3 (ACOMAF edition)

*SPOILER WARNING for those who haven’t completed the series*

Oddly enough, the audio is split up into 8 chapters. I know for a fact they read up to chapter 32, so I guess it’s four chapters per section? Anyways, I’m on the first part of the dramatized adaptation. And here’s just what I’ve noted. Again.

“Maybe I'd always been broken and dark inside.”

eye in her palm, watching her like a cat

Rhys, in the end, hadn't been an enemy. she especially hadn't felt like his enemy. She hasn't told anyone about their final meeting under the mountain. !!!

Trapped in the manor, she is surrounded by luxury and money and still not satisfied. Tamlin should have done something… more and noticed her turmoil sooner. I understand Timtam is also traumatized by Amarantha, but that is not an excuse to ignore her issues. If he loved her right, he would have been helping her. Instead, he was too consumed by his issues to look past how she was a comfort to him and escape from reality to him. Meanwhile, he was just another reminder, and enforcer, of a new life thrust upon her. Her heart is still human, she can’t simply forget the dark things she had done to survive.

Lucien is lying, too overprotective Tamlin underestimates her, telling her to just go paint like he expects her to be some obedient wife. He seems to think he will tame her, the half-wild beast now turned high fae.

LMAO She hated the bright dresses (chosen by Ianthe) and wanted pants and knives. the only thing she chose for herself was something given to her by Lucien, the dagger and the belt. being armed feels safe. Worse yet, the wedding dress?? Neither Feyre nor Tamlin liked it, but Tamlin pushed for it since Ianthe was the one who wanted it. He is not looking out for Feyre’s best interests. What was once a chill vibe for a romance is going downhill so fast now that Soldier Boy has to properly play high lord.

Ianthe is the childhood friend of Tam! Ngl, if I didn’t know what I know, I never would have suspected her.

nothing she does or has is by her choice. dawn pink gown? Interesting because this is Elain’s theme. I doubt SJM did that for any specific reason as she tends to let her characters guide her writing, and Elain wasn’t there yet. If anything, Nesta was mentioned most between the two.

various stages of the moon cycle tattoo on her forehead, and teal eyes (uh-oh? Is it a coincidence that Gwyn and Ianthe have teal eyes?)

Priestesses recorded fae history, high priestesses were respected much the same as a high lord (and their offspring the same)

Ianthe is obsessed with Lucien. It’s so gross knowing what I know. Crying.

Tam kept a space away from her, but never used it? Or maybe it’s more that he’s invading her space because, again, she is his comfort.

DAMN, forgot the smut happened so early on

Ivory skin > feyre, golden skin > tamlin, sunkissed gold of Lucien's skin (his skin tone was never mentioned before..)

look of pity from Lucien and yet he still does nothing… this is so frustrating.

Omg, Tam’s growl sounded like the echo-y growl from Dune!

Wait a minute, she hates feeling trapped or spaces too enclosed for her liking. Damnit. Damnit Tamlin (because of what he will do in a future chapter).

#acomaf #acomaf reread #acotar reread #tamlin acotar #tamlin #feyre acomaf #feyre #feyre cursebreaker #feyre archeron #feyre acotar #lucien vanserra #lucien acotar #rhysand acotar #rhys acotar #rhysand #rhys #ianthe #ianthe acotar

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rubykgrant · 1 year

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Some of my favorite sketchy pictures I've done on lined notebook paper~

Sometimes it helps to draw like this, because there's less pressure to make the picture look perfect, on a brand-new sheet of blank paper... I can just sketch out something like when I was scribbling around during class haha. If something looks good, I will either polish up the sketch as it is, or occasionally trace-over the sketch and finish it on new paper.

From the top, left to right; my own character designs of April O'Neil and Karai from TMNT (a mix of all my favorite versions of them), a design of a fairy/elf creature (my idea if "Puck" was a fantasy species and not just one specific character. I colored this in by blending almost-dry markers and mixing colored pencil shavings with water to make "paint"), the way I imagine the 3 main characters from the book Doll Bones (I like when I can draw characters in profile, and really show they they all have different noses, mouths, chins/jaw-lines, etc), a sequence sketch from my Beetlejuice Sequel story (this is Lydia's daughter- Luna, having her own mis-adventure with Beetlejuice. they're riding a bus in between Limbo areas of the afterlife, and he falls asleep. Luna would rather NOT be crushed by the personification of a hefty bag full of fast-food garbage and decomposing mulch), a cute idea I had about Goku feeling baby Gohan kick for the first time while Chi-Chi was pregnant... followed by him embarrassing soon-to-be-dad Gohan many years later by loudly announcing he knows where babies come from, an idea I had about what the Alpha AI would look like without the program to be similar to a soldier (keep in mind, this isn't Alpha when he first formed, this is Church returning in an entirely new way that he's never experienced before), my Jack and Sally kid Danny (a pumpkin that grew into a little ragdoll body, brought to life with electricity, so the "stem" is his "neck", with his limbs having a similar texture to wood), my actual normal human designs for Gir and Zim (they would regular kids with Dib being the opposing invader. Zim has no idea Dib is an alien, he just hates the new kid and is only good at being annoying), some concept art about my story idea where everybody has a "shoulder angel" and "shoulder demon" that are personified as little chibi characters who help their person with cool anime powers (the angels can sometimes be cruel, while the demons are occasionally more caring. it all depends on the person they are part of. also, they aren't literal angels or demons, it's just ironic imagery), a sketch I did of Moon Stone Eugene (Blugene) and what it might be like if he had long blue hair, and my designs for gijinkas of my Pokemon from Yellow Version (Sparky the Pikachu, Shellshock the Squirtle, Charmer the Charmander, and Bough the Bulbasaur)

#concept art #character design #sketches

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13-the-lucky-unlucky · 1 month

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Mission Name: Get Everyone To Chill!

Seventeen was, for the first time ever in his life, bored.

If he was being completely honest, he hasn't been alive all that long. Even so, he's been spending nearly every conscious moment of his life in the art gallery anyways, it's not like he did much else..

Except agent work-

But he liked forgetting about agent work, and preferred his nights go uninterrupted by night terrors.

That still did not change the fact that he had nothing to do.

He had already swept ten times over and done his due diligence replacing the artworks again.

The artist stared up at the ceiling in confusion.

He never got bored, he always had an idea for a painting, or a sculpture, or busy with agent work, or being dragged into some crazy idea Sixteen or Eighteen had.

Or at least spending the day with Nineteen..

But today none of that was happening, none of the other teens had come over, there was no agent work due, and Nineteen had gone shopping..

Not even prime club had something going on.

And there was always something going on with prime club!

(I mean it has Three, Thirteen, Twenty-nine, and Five in it, there's definitely drama almost every day, you can't convince me otherwise.)

The artist was currently watering his now blossoming marigolds, Sixteen was a great gardener, and had lent him some of her plants when he had expressed his love for her garden by painting it. He was grateful for the gift and Nineteen had a field day coming up with names for each and every single one of them.

Seventeen sighed when he planted the last seed, "There. All done! How's your end, Nineteen?"

"Almost halfway there!"

"What? We started hours ago-"

He was cut off by Nineteen mumbling something.

"Huh?"

Turning fully to face the one-off, he was taken aback by her pressing kisses to every seed before sticking it in the ground, but not before whispering something.

"...and you're Junior, and you're Ronald, and you're Mia, and you're Susan, and you're Sam, and you're Iris, and you're Edward-"

"Nineteen?"

She stopped, "Hm?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm planting." She stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know, but what are you doing with the seeds?"

"I'm naming them." Nineteen blinked.

"Naming them? All of them?" Seventeen dropped his tiller, "But that's a lot of seeds.."

"Yeah, it is. And I've still got a lot more to get through. What did you name the others?"

The artist rubbed his head, "I...didn't?"

"What?! Why not?" Nineteen's sunhat fell off her head with how fast she stood.

"...I'm not very good at names?" He shrugged.

"Then I'll name them! You finish my side and I'll go through your side, okay?"

"But Nineteen-"

"Ooh, this is a pretty seed, what should your name be?" She held it out to him, "Got any ideas?"

He blinked at the object a few times, before hopefully offering, "...Seed?"

Nineteen looked like she was ready to cry, "What? No, you can't name it Seed!"

"Why not?" He frowned, "That's what it is."

"You can't name everything after what they are!"

"But..that's what names are for. So you know what something is!" Seventeen pulled out his paintbrush, "If I asked someone to fetch my paintbrush everyone knows what I'm talking about. But if I name it something else and ask the same question, they won't know."

Nineteen sighed, "I never thought I'd have to teach an artist how to be creative."

"What do you mean?"

She chuckled, replanting the seed. She softly took the brush from him, bringing out her pencil, "Names are more than just labels, Seventeen."

"Isn't that the point of a name?" He asked, perplexed.

"No. Sometimes a name gives one thing more meaning than others of that same thing." She pointed to him, "It's more personalized, if I asked someone to go and help me find the artist, they won't know who. But if I asked for help finding Seventeen, they know who."

He fumbled with his words for a bit, "Well.. Then only certain things must be named, but why should-"

"Because you can personalize your plants! It's easier to talk to them with a name."

"I..suppose. But why would I be talking to them?"

"Who knows, but at least you'll have something to call them!"

"...Hm."

"It does make sense now, right?"

Seventeen hummed once more, taking his paintbrush back, "I guess."

Ah, that was a fun day..

He continued humming Ten's song, honestly, he quite liked the soft melody, it was similar to his own, "There you are Goldilocks.. That should be enough for now.."

He carefully watched the water dribble down the stem and seep into the soil below, it pleased him that his compost collection was working perfectly.

He may not be very strong or particularly skilled in something that actually matters, but he was definitely very big on recycling. He'd once had a run in with Rexie, Sixteen's dinosaur, having an issue with his stomach, after finding out the poor dino had consumed an insane amount of trash, he couldn't stand seeing plastic bottles or anything else that had a place anywhere but a recycling bin.

"That, and it just ruins the natural beauty of the planet.." He sighed, "I do hope Numberland can avoid being so cluttered."

It wasn't really anyone's fault, though.

Things randomly showed up on Numberland, it just happened, and it was nice to learn about something new, but the fact that some of it was falling from space was a more than a little concerning.

"I do wonder how a tennis racket got up there, though."

He really should go do something, he's starting to talk to nobody..

The front door opened, the small bell ringing as to get his attention.

His fear spiked, but he swiftly calmed down.

It's not Nineteen, she would've let me know, so it's someone else.

Interested that somebody had ventured their way to the art gallery, he finished watering the last of the plants and hurried to the shed.

"Hello? Who is it?" He placed the watering can back on the shelf and walked into the main gallery.

His immediately relief when he caught a glimpse of apricot and a purple hat.

"Oh, Twenty! How are you?"

Twenty didn't respond at first, he was admiring...something in the corner.

"Ah, Seventeen! Here you are!" Twenty beamed, "I was just about to look for you, friend!"

Seventeen was about to answer with nearly as much enthusiasm, but unfortunately looked down at where Twenty was watching, and froze at the sight of a spider scurry up the wall corner, "Um..y-yes..Right."

"So I came to fetch you because-"

There's a spider-

"Um, Twenty?"

"Yes? Is there something wrong?" Twenty seemed puzzled, as if he hadn't just released one of Seventeen's top ten fears into his home.

He gestured to the arachnid, "Uh, why is that there?"

"Oh, that's just Carl, I brought him here with me." Twenty nodded.

So it has a name..? Does he just not know how to name things, because spiders don't deserve names- Who would need to name it?

"You....you brought a spider into the art gallery?"

"Yes?" Twenty raised an eyebrow, he reached a hand out, seemingly ready to steady the artist should he fall, "Are you alright? Something wrong?"

Seventeen gestured to the spider now higher near the ceiling, where it could disappear into the cracks and never to be seen again until it was too late-, "Yes, you cannot bring spiders into the art gallery! They're going to scare everyone!"

"I only brought one.."

"For now, do you know how many minispiders it can make?!"

"..No?"

"Like- thousands!" Seventeen's hand reached out to the side for a broom that wasn't there.

"Oh, interesting."

"No, not interesting. Terrifying. Now please take it out.."

"But-"

"Besides, there's nothing here for it to eat, it'll starve." Seventeen pleaded, "Please take it back out."

Twenty sighed, "If you say so."

He stood tall and plucked the spider off of the wall, "Do you want to hold him?"

That was an absolute no, and he needed a different subject, now.

"No thank you, but what did you need?"

Twenty brightened up, eagerly tapping his cane against the ground, "I'm gathering everyone together! I have a fun thing for us to do!"

That got his attention, "Oh, really?!"

Twenty nodded enthusiastically, it was a wonder how his hat didn't fall off, "Indeed. You're gonna love it!"

"What is it?"

Twenty chuckled, waving his hand, "I can't let you know, It's a surprise! I haven't gotten everyone yet, and I don't want to keep repeating myself."

That was fair, Seventeen surmised, Twenty was all for efficiency. If it didn't make sense to do it, he wouldn't give it a second thought, he relied on this method for many situations, and it's often gotten him out unharmed.

"SEVENTEEN!"

Seventeen let out a slight huff when Sixteen practically glomped him, "Hello Sixteen!"

"Did Twenty tell 'ya what we're doing yet?"

"No, not yet."He shook his head.

"Aw man, I was hopin' he'd tell you." She pouted.

Twenty chuckled, "Not yet, my friends! It won't be a surprise if I tell you!"

Sixteen groaned, "Why does EVERYONE say that..?"

"Because it's true!" Twenty laughed, "Alright, let's go find Eighteen and Nineteen!"

Seventeen pointed to the doors, "Nineteen went shopping a while ago..she should've been home by now.."

Sixteen hummed, "Well, do we wait for her? 'Cuz I've got loads a' things for us to do while we wait!"

She brought out a rather impressive assortment of board games and other toys, tossing them to the floor of the art gallery, Twenty stepped back, mildly impressed, "I had no idea you carried so many things with you, Sixteen."

Sixteen snorted, "The more the merrier! Six let me have this one- Roly-poly, I think.."

"Monopoly?"

"Yeah! That's what she said! N' Thirty-six let me have Clue. Then I have these spare airhorns just in case!"

"In case what?"

"In case I need more airhorns! Duh!" She laughed, honking them, "Can't have too much noise!"

Seventeen, who already thought it was too much noise, winced, "I do hope she's alright.."

"Oh?" Twenty looked back at the doors, "Nineteen?"

"Last time she went to the store she ran into Octonaughty-"

"And escaped?"

"Well..yeah, but-"

"Then she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. I'm sure she just took a detour of some kind. She'll join us again very soon, my friend, I'm certain!" Twenty placed his hand on his shoulder, giving an affirming nod, "We could go looking for her and meet her halfway!"

Sixteen, who was already setting out the Monopoly pieces, cheered, "Great! I'll get to putting these back! You guys go 'n get her, I'll catch up!"

"Are you sure?" Twenty blinked, a small frown playing on his lips, "I would hate to leave you behind."

"I'm fine! I gotta clean up anyways! Seventeen likes this place neat, and I don't wanna ruin his hard work."

Seventeen sighed, "I can clean up, Sixteen. It's alright."

Sixteen managed to shove everything back into it's place, "Well you guys oughta wait for me now! I'm almost done!"

Twenty nodded, "Do hurry."

As soon as silence began to flood back into the room, it was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Nineteen slamming open the door, completely out of breath.

"Nineteen! There you are! I was beginning to get worried-"

Nineteen let out what sounded like a strangled gasp, bringing Seventeen in for a hug, almost squishing the poor artist.

"You're safe.."

Seventeen held her at arms length, "I'm safe?? You're safe! You were taking so long!"

"Yeah, but at least you didn't come home to the door just left open! I thought someone broke in!"

He blinked, "It was?"

"Uh..yes!" Nineteen let go of him, still holding his left hand, "How did you not notice?"

"I..didn't check?" Seventeen glanced at the other two numbers in the room.

Sixteen chuckled, "That was me, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

The one-off sighed, "No...No, it's fine. I'm just glad you're okay. I've got the groceries outside, I'll bring them in."

"I'll get them, I have square power!" Sixteen jumped up, "I'm done cleaning, I can go put up the groceries then we can go!"

"Go?" Nineteen glanced at Twenty, "Where are you taking us this time?"

Twenty, mildly surprised, held a hand to his chest, fidgeting with his bow-tie, "Ah? How did you know I'd suggested that?"

"Seventeen doesn't get out unless I make him, Sixteen would've been gone already, I just got here and I haven't even suggested leaving again. So that left you, Twinkle Toes." She laughed.

"..Hm, rather logical." The tango choreographer glanced to the side, "I didn't know you were that quick with your mind."

"Are you calling me slow?" Nineteen uncrossed her arms, unsure if she should be offended.

"No, not at all!" Twenty waved his arms.

Nineteen laughed, "I'm just messing with you. So we're on our way to Eighteen's, then?"

"Right again." He tapped his cane on the ground, "As soon as Sixteen comes back we'll depart."

"So...what's the surprise?"

Twenty blinked, "I'm not even going to ask how you knew it was a surprise-.. I can't tell you!"

"Figured." She elbowed Seventeen, "Hey, can you help Sixteen find out where everything goes?"

"Will-do!" He bolted to the front door, helping Sixteen find her way to the upstairs area, "I'll show you where to put everything."

"Sure thing!"

Nineteen turned to Twenty, "Can I guess what it is?"

"Maybe." He grinned.

"Is it..another rescue mission?"

"No rescuing teddy bears from evil museum dungeons this time."

"...Hm, are we...dancing?"

"That's almost a better idea.." He stared at the ceiling, "I still have yet to show Carl how to dance."

"Carl?"

"The spider." Twenty held out his hand, the small critter balancing on his array display.

"EXCUSE ME- WHY DID YOU BRING A SPIDER INTO-"

"Do not worry, Nineteen. I'm not leaving him here."

"Why is he IN here?!"

"Are you and Seventeen both scared of spiders?"

"N-no! It's just- Why would you bring one in here?"

"Because he's my friend." Twenty blinked, ever the clueless.

"Please take it out." Nineteen facepalmed.

"...If you say so." Twenty nodded down at the spider, "Meet me at home, the window is open, you can crawl in through there."

He opened the front door and put it on the ground, and as if it didn't even happen, he turned back to Nineteen, grinning widely, "Anymore guesses?"

"Wh-..that's just.. random."

"Well, do you have any more?"

"..Can I have a hint?"

"No."

"...What about..walking?"

"Hm."

"A hike?"

"I guess we would be hiking there.."

"Aha!" Nineteen pumped her fist, "I guessed!"

"Not entirely, we'll be doing more than hiking."

"Just let me have this small victory.."

"Perhaps.."

Sixteen and Seventeen returned down the stairs, having finished their tasks.

"Alright, who's READY TO GET TO EIGHTEEN'S HOUSE?!"

"You, I surmise?"

Sixteen huffed and put her hands on her hips, "Don't act like you're not excited."

"If you say so."

Twelve answered the door, "Oh! Hi, thank goodness you're here!"

Twenty glanced sideways at Nineteen, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!...I hope." Twelve sighed, opening the door wider, "Come in."

Shrugging at each other, the group entered and found a seat in the livingroom.

"You're here for Eighteen, right?" Twelve had her hands clasped together.

"Yes?" Nineteen hesitantly replied, "Is he alright?"

"I'm sure he's fine.." Twelve looked around, "But he hasn't been himself lately, and locked himself in his room."

"Why didn't you say so?!" Sixteen jumped from the floor, "I can have him out faster than you can say 'Squares'!"

(Why did my mind go 'buncha munchy crunchy carrots' lol)

"No! No! He's not locked in! He locked it himself. He wants to be in there."

"Oh, then what's the problem?" She sat back down.

"That is the problem!" Twelve grabbed at the sides of her head, she couldn't find anything to hold onto, though, "Eighteen never stays in his room unless he's upset about something! And I can't get him to say anything as per usual!" Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.

As Twelve struggled to keep herself from crying, the Teens looked at each other frightfully.

"...Dearie me..it's okay to cry, Twelve.." Seventeen got off the edge of the couch, making his way to the super rectangle, who had a slightly better handle on herself, and slowly touched her arm, "It's natural, and it's good to express yourself. I'm sure we can fix it."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Nineteen also rose, her eyebrows angled with worry.

"I thought I could get him to talk to me..I don't know why he never tells me- It's like everyone can talk to him better than I can.. And I just want to be a good older sister.." She mumbled, wiping the few tears that did fall, "I did ask Fourteen to help, but Eighteen wouldn't even let him in. I had to force Fourteen to go home, and now I've worried him too.."

"...I'm very sorry. I'm sure he just doesn't want to worry you.." Seventeen stared back at them worriedly, "Can someone try to talk to him? I need to call Fifteen."

Nineteen rubbed Twelve on the back, the other hand taking her arm, "You go call her, I've got Twelve."

He nodded and pulled out his communicator, walking outside.

"Twenty, I'm going to make her some tea," Sixteen got up, "Do you have Eighteen, or do you want to wait?"

Twenty sullenly watched Twelve, "Go ahead, Sixteen. I'll go cheer him up."

She nodded.

Twenty slowly made his way upstairs, noting Eighteen's room was indeed closed.

Peering down at the crack of the door, he saw that it was a lot darker, implying Eighteen had the drapes closed.

"Hm." He knocked on the door briskly, "Eighteen? Are you in there?"

A small shuffle.

He used his cane to knock again, "Eighteen?"

"...what?"

Twenty smiled, "Ah, there you are. Are you feeling alright?"

"...Twenty?...Yeah, I'm fine. Whaddya' want?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to come with us? I have a surprise planned, and I'm sure you'll like it!"

"...'mnot interested.."

Twenty blinked, "You don't even know what it is."

"I'm not interested."

The tango choreographer glared at the crack of the door, truly perplexed as to why Eighteen's drapes were closed, the super rectangle loved sunshine and open spaces almost as much as racing. "Why not?"

"....'m a little tired..okay? Can..can you come back some other time?"

"Unfortunately I cannot accept your request. Twelve is mighty worried, and I am as well."

"She'll be fine.."

"I believe you've underestimated how much she cares for you."

"...'m fine."

"Then please come with us."

"I don't feel like it.."

"It'll be worth it. I promise."

"...leave me alone."

"Not a chance friend." Twenty finally picked the lock on the door, opening it, "Sorry to intrude, Eighteen, but I do have to make sure you're truly unhurt."

Eighteen didn't even move, only turning over in his bed, "M'kay, jus leave everything where it is.."

Twenty glanced at the drapes, opening them, "Eighteen, please. I do need to talk to you."

"You already are..now close those.."

"No." Twenty pulled over a stool, "You need to discuss with me what is bothering you."

Eighteen finally sat up, surprising Twenty.

He looked...tired.

Really tired.

Burnt out tired.

"...Eighteen?"

"What?"

"Have you been getting sleep?"

"No! Because everyone keeps bothering me! I was trying to sleep, but then Twelve started asking what's wrong, then Fourteen, and now you- I'm just really tired.. and...Its as hard to fall asleep as it is.." Eighteen yawned, laying back down, "I'm so tired.."

"...My sincerest apologies.." Twenty fidgeted with his cane.

"T's fine..Tell sis that she's good too.. I'm just... I can't get comfy.. So I don't sleep, but finding a comfy spot is so hard.."

Twenty stared at the bed, "Will you come with us, Eighteen?"

"Really? Are you still on that- I just told you I'm tired.. And I'm getting cranky and stuff. I don't wanna snap at you guys.." Eighteen sighed.

"I promise you'll like it." Twenty nodded, "Please. I want to help you, friend."

The super rectangle blinked a few times, "You...fine."

"Fantastic."

Eighteen stumbled down the stairs after Twenty, and Twelve was in a way better mood.

It still didn't stop her from nearly dropping her teacup upon seeing them though.

"Eighteen! I-"

"It's alright, Twelve. 'M fine..just really tired.."

Twenty nodded, "Sleeping here is stressing him out."

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Twelve gasped.

"No, no. It's not you, Twelve. Honest." Nineteen interjected.

Sixteen nodded, "Yeah, sometimes you get really stressed out, and your room isn't comfy enough to sleep in."

"That's when you know you need a vacation." Twenty finished, "So Eighteen is coming with us."

Twelve seemed, less on edge. She looked to her brother, "...Okay..then, have fun. And get lots of sleep."

Eighteen hugged her, "Mhm. Now calm down..You can't be panicking while I'm chill...That's wrong."

Tears welled in her eyes again and she nodded.

"Are you gonna be okay here by yourself?" Nineteen asked.

Before Twelve could answer, the door was flung open and the tweens rushed in, carrying various soft items and... a handful of lavender??

"Twelve! Apologies that it took us so long!" Fifteen started, placing her green tea bags on the coffee table.

"Are you okay, Twelve?!" Eleven almost knocked Nineteen over with how she shoved her aside, pulling Twelve in for a hug much like the one-off did Seventeen earlier, "Tell me you're okay!"

Fourteen threw his skateboard and a heated wooly blanket to the side, joining Eleven in her hug, "I'm so sorry I didn't check on you, dudette!"

"I BROUGHT YOU RELAXATION!" Thirteen tossed the lavender at her, also near tears as he also engaged with the group hug quickly forming, "I'm a terrible friend, I know! But I couldn't think of anything!"

Twelve was still processing the initial entrance, and slowly began to realize that she was surrounded by her friends, and burst into tears.

"Shh. It's alright, Twelve. We're here."

"We'll fight the sadness, don't worry!"

"S'okay dudetee.."

"Was it too much lavender?"

Seventeen slowly walked back in, gasping, "Hah! You got Eighteen?"

Twenty nodded, "He's tired. So he's coming with us by default. Ready, friends?"

"Sure thing!" Sixteen answered, being the only one not watching the Tweens slowly devolve into a cuddle pile.

When they finished hiking up the mountain, all of them except Twenty gasped in amazement.

"Surprise friends!" Twenty spread his arms, "I've built us a treehouse!"

If the treehouse already didn't look magnificent, the scenery sure did, the house sat atop steady wooden poles attached to the mountainside, a thick canopy of trees below oozing the smell of evergreen and freshness. A calm mist hung over all of it, as the waterfall nearby made for the perfect background noise.

This would be the best place to relax, if Nineteen had to pick one.

"...You built this?" Seventeen piped up.

"Yes! I wanted to surprise you all, so I couldn't ask for help."

Sixteen squealed, "It's amazing! Can we stay? Pretty please?!"

"Of course, it's a vacation is it not?" Twenty grinned.

Eighteen smiled, "This..this is nice..and quiet.. but not too quiet.. And wide open.."

Nineteen laughed, "Right, go get some sleep, champ. You've earned it!"

The super rectangle yawned, slowly flying up to the treehouse and opening the door, "WOW THIS PLACE HAS EVERYTHING!"

"REALLY?" Sixteen activated her rays to join him, Twenty following them.

"Whelp. They forgot us." The one-off nudged Seventeen.

"Don't worry, I'll make a way up!" Seventeen began to paint some stairs, "This is the perfect spot for ideas! I'll come back out with my sketchbook!"

"Sure thing, buddy." Nineteen opened the door, feeling the warmth of the fire Twenty set, "Oh, it is nice in here.."

Eighteen was already knocked out on one of the nearby couches, snoring peacefully. It was clear he needed this more than all of them combined.

"Wanna play Clue with me, anyone?" Sixteen was already setting out the pieces, regardless of their answers.

Twenty chuckled, "Sure Sixteen, I'll play. What will you be doing, Nineteen?"

"...Hm. I'll read over there."

"Ah, fireplace reading, can't get better than that." Twenty nodded, "I'll be Mr. Green."

"I'll be Madame Rose, then." Sixteen laughed.

Seventeen was already out on the balcony, sketching the waterfall in his own unique inspiration.

Twenty smiled, "Well, I'd say mission accomplished."

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